USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 15
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with the world alone. Fortunately for him, his grandparents were still living, and he re- turned to Massachusetts and spent three years with them ncar the scene of his birth. His life during this period was probably not materially different from that of other boys of that time. He went to school and worked hard on the farm in his spare hours, and considered it the climax of earthly bliss to go to " general train- ing " with a couple of shillings in his pocket to spend. When he was sixteen years old, Mr. Howes returned to Wyoming county, and from that time on he has had to " paddle his own canoe." Three months at the academy at Middlebury, then quite a noted educational in- stitution, finished his schooling and placed him in a position to impart to others the education he had himself received. For eight years he earned his living teaching school in winter, and working on a farm during the summer months. Then in 1838, he married Angeline Ewell and settled down to farming: The issue of this union was eight children, five of whom are still living. These are : Mrs. Geo. P. Brand, Miss Charlotte L. Howes, Mrs. R. J. Quale, and Mrs. W. H. Merritt, of Silver Creek, and Mrs. L. F. W. Arend, of Buffalo. At this occupa- tion he continued for fourteen years, and appar- ently had found his life work. But, fortunate- ly, as it afterwards proved, his health began to fail and he decided that he would give up farm- ing and turn his hand to something else. A fortunate determination indeed. On the farm he had only made his living and a trifle more. In his new business he was to make a reputa- tion and a fortune.
In the spring of 1853 Mr. Howes went to Miami county, Ohio, and joined with Benja- min Rutter and Henry Rouzer in placing upon the market a combined smut and separating machine. This embodied in a crude form the principles of the Eureka machine, which has proved so successful, but, as is generally the case with new inventions, the first machines
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
made were of comparatively little value for the use intended. Still it was the pioneer, and as such is worthy of respect. Some fifty machines were made and sold during the continuance of his partnership. The work of introducing them to millers was done entirely by Mr. Howes.
In October of that year a patent was granted to Rutter & Rouzer, and then it was decided to stop making machines and to sell the patent in- stead. Accordingly, in the spring of 1854, Mr. Howes and Gardner E. Throop, acting as agents for Messrs. Rutter & Rouzer, sold the patent under which the machines were made to Ezekiel Montgomery and his two sons, of Sil- ver Creek, and the right of selling in fourteen counties in western New York ; while Alpheus Babcock purchased the right of selling in nine counties of western Pennsylvania. Mr. Howes then went to Watertown, New York, where he devoted considerable time to improving the machine; at the same time the other parties who had purchased the right to manufacture were striving in the same direction, and the re- sult naturally was much improvement. Not many machines were built, however, until in 1856 Mr. Howes moved to Silver Creek and joined hands with the Montgomerys in building the machines. In that year and the next about 120 machines were built, and they were re- ceived with favor by millers.
In 1858, after a considerable delay in the patent office, a patent was granted Messrs. Howes and Throop for improvements in com- bined smut and separating machines. The principal points of novelty claimed in this pat- ent were, first; the placing of the separators side by side, and second; the enclosing of the perforated case within an outside casing and connecting the space thus formed by means of tubes with an exhaust fan for the purpose of re- moving the dust. This patent was subsequent- ly held to be the foundation patent on combined smut and separating machines, and Howes and Throop claim to be its original inventors.
At its expiration, in 1872, it was re-issued and its term extended for seven years. In 1879 it finally expired.
In 1859 Mr. Howes sold out his interest- one-third-to his partners, and retired from the grain-cleaning machine business for a time, and during the interim between that date and 1864, the business was carried on by the Montgom- erys and also by the Babcocks, who each manu- factured a machine differing in some respects from that of the other. In 1864 Mr. Howes joined the Babcocks, and they carried on their business under the style of Howes, Babcock & Company. The Messrs. Babcock had already made some improvements in the machine, and Mr. Howes now suggested certain others.
On January 1, 1866, Howes, Babcock & Co., bought for $20,000, the business of the Messrs. Montgomery, and the firm changes since that date have consisted in the addition of Mr. Albert Horton, in 1866, who, the same year sold his interest to Mr. Carlos Ewell; the re- moval by death of Messrs. Babcock and Ewell, and the purchase of the interests of the estates of those gentlemen by Mr. Howes, who now for nearly three years has been the sole proprietor of this immense business. How steadily the business has grown may be judged by the constant enlargement of the buildings, and the great increase of the working force. In 1865 employment was given to only fifteen men; subsequently this number was increased to fifty. In 1873, large, new brick shops were erected and another addi- tion to the workmen was made, so that now about 130 men are kept steadily employed in the factory which is 220x50 feet on the ground and is four stories high.
In 1865 about 200 machines were made. All the work was done by hand, and the cast- ings were made outside. The next year the output was increased to 700 machines, and after that the number averaged about 1000 annually. At first only the combined smut and separator
OWNED AND OPERATED BY SIMEON HOWES
ـليدولييب جاد.
RESIDENCE OF SIMEON HOWES, SILVER CREEK.
143
OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
was built, but beginning in 1874 other machines were added, until now a full line of grain clean- ing machinery is made and the total sales amount to upwards of 2000 machines per year.
We have not, nor can we obtain, the figures relative to the number of men employed and the amount paid out in wages, prior to 1865, but we have figures beginning with that year, when Mr. Howes re-acquired an interest in the business, and a brief study of them will prove not only interesting, but highly instructive as well :
YEAR.
NO. MEN. YEARLY WAGES.
YEAR. NO. MEN. YEARLY WAGES.
1865
14 $18,979.27
1878
66 $47,424.33
1866
29 33,594.80
1879
66
47,456.11
1867
39
37,209.30
1880
75
53,777.15
1868
52
35,161.42
1881
89
57,819.99
1869
55
43,337.55
1882
105
68,250.62
1870
53
44,946.88
1883
131
74,650.34
1871
53
48,093.78
1884
121
70,718.69
1872
58
50,198.63
1885
112
71,601.37
1873
61
53,356.21
1886
113
74,757.76
1874
67
55,005.42
1887
113
71,227.56
1875
64
53,277.22
1888
106
68,124.77
1876
67
48,668.43
1889
128
79,813.98
1877
71
48,756.43
Total wages in twenty-five years
$1,356,208.01
Making an average annual pay-roll of $54,248. 32 ; an average monthly roll of $4,520.69 ; and an average amount of $151.71, paid ont for every day.
In all these years Mr. Howes has had sole control of the financial and business manage- ment of this company and the manner in which he has discharged his duties needs no eom- ments.
No man's word stands higher than his ; a promise is never forgotten nor in the least de- gree abated from. Finaneially, none in Silver Creek ranks higher than Simeon Howes; socially he is csteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and in general popu- larity it is doubtful if a man could be found in Chautauqua county who possesses a larger de- gree of the people's confidence.
He is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches of Silver Creek, and, although allied with neither, is now, and for fifteen years past, has been a trus- tee of the latter.
In political adherence he is a stanch republi- can, and, although four times a delegate to the State conventions of his party, has steadily refused other political distinction.
A NSON A. BURLIN is one of the nation's brave defenders, who responded when the second call was sounded, and remained until Union, one and inseparable, was acknowledged by our southern brothers. He is a son of Brad- ford and Amelia R. (Standish) Burlin, and was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, December 18, 1842. His ancestors were long to the manor born, the paternal side com- ing from the Green Mountain State, while his mother's early fathers were Puritans, and she a direct lineal descendant of the renowned Cap- tain Miles Standish. His grandfather, John Burlin, lived and died a eitizen of Vermont, and the maternal grandfather, Samuel Standish, was reared and resided in Washington county, this State. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with credit and distinction. Bradford Burlin came to Chautauqua county in 1832, and built a house in the vicinity of Broc- ton, afterwards, in 1838, coming into James- town where he died, November 10, 1864. While living at Brocton he kept a hotel, but his business in this city was the manufacture of wagons until the year 1859, when he sold out and engaged in milling at Dexterville, besides owning and cultivating a farm in the town of Poland. Mr. Burlin was a democrat, and a prominent member of Ellicott Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F. He was married to Amelia R. Standish in 1832, and had six children : George, died in infancy ; Robert H., is a contractor of Cleveland, Ohio. He served in Co. H, 6th regiment, Indiana Infantry, entering in 1861,
144
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
and remaining three years, a portion of the time a non-commissioned officer, and being attached to the Army of the Cumberland, was present at the battle of Chattanooga, where he was wounded; Anson A .; Charles, who died young ; -
Louisa I. and Samuel P., who left home in 1883, and has not since been heard of.
Anson A. Burlin received a college education and, when in his twentieth year, enlisted in Co. A, 112th regiment, New York Infantry, serv- ing until the close of the war. The greater portion of his active service was rendered along the Atlantic coast, being with his regiment until December 20, 1863. He was then detailed for recruiting service, and coming north, was in New York until May 4, 1864. Returning to the front and rejoining his regiment, he was again detailed, this time for service as orderly at brigade headquarters, remaining there until February 20, 1865, when he again joined his company, but four days later he was sent to headquarters of the 20th army corps, and en- gaged in the printing department, where he stayed until discharged at the close of the war. Being mustered out of service, he came back to Jamestown and soon opened an establishment for the manufacture of wagons and carriages, running it for one year, and then went into the oil business at Oil Creek, Pa., afterwards re- turning to Jamestown, and entered mercantile life, following it about ten years. This, in turn w as succeeded by a news and stationery store, continued for five years, and then he went to Virginia and lumbered, subsequently running a steamboat for one year on Lake Chautauqua. He then returned to manufacturing, this time wood seat chairs, when in 1889 he quit that and has since been living in retirement.
In political matters Mr. Burlin is a demo- crat and a prominent secret society man, being a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. and A. M., Western Sons Chapter; and Jamestown Commandery, and is also connected with James M. Brown Post, No. 285, G. A. R.
H ONORABLE WARREN B. HOOKER.
They who have won prominent position and honorable distinction in life are not all old men. In political, as in business or military life, those who win the rank of leaders, do so at an early age, or else give decided earnest of future achievement. Of that class of young men in Chautauqua county, who have won suc- cess by their own efforts, is Hon. Warren B. Hooker, the present member of Congress from the Thirty-fourth congressional district of New York, composed of the counties of Allegany, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus. He is a son of John and Philena (Waterman) Hooker, and was born at Perrysburg, Cattaraugus county, New York, November 24, 1856. John Hooker was a native of Vermont, and settled in Cattar- augus county, where he was a leading farmer at the time of his death, June 24, 1888, when in the eighty-second year of his age. He married Philena Waterman, of Massachusetts, who passed away in 1883, aged seventy years.
Warren B. Hooker was reared on the farm and received his education at Forestville acad- emy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872. At the close of his academic course, he determined upon law as a life vocation, and pursued his legal studies with J. G. Record, of Forestville, this county. He was admitted to the bar in 1879, and practiced in Chautauqua county until 1882, when he went west. At the end of two years he returned to Chautauqua county, and established himself in active prac- tice at Fredonia, where he has remained ever since. His political career commenced in 1878, when he was elected special surrogate of Chau- tauqua county, which position he held for three years. In 1890 he received the nomination of his party for Congress over several popular and able republican leaders, and at the ensuing elec- tion had a majority of 5,726 votes over his democratic opponent.
On September 11, 1884, he united in mar- riage with Etta E. Abbey, daughter of Chaun-
4
147
OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
cey Abbey (see his sketch in this volume). They have two children : Sherman A. and Florence E.
In addition to the duties of his profession and the calls upon him in the political field, he has always found time to serve his fellow- townsmen, or to labor in any movement for the benefit of Fredonia or the county. When Mr. Hooker was elected to Congress from his dis- trict, he was a member of the Board of Super- visors of Chautauqua, which position he lield two years, the second time being the nominee of both the Republican and Democratic parties. In politics Warren B. Hooker has steadily sup- ported the Republican party and its cardinal principles, while the part he has taken and the measures which he has advocated in political affairs has always met with the popular ap- proval of his own party, and never failed to command the respect of his opponents.
THOMAS J. NEWELL is a son of Harvey C. and Jane E. (Buck) Newell, and was born in Sherman, Chautauqua county, New York, February 29th, 1848. His grandfather, Jesse Newell, was a native of Connecticut and emigrated to Genesce county, this State, when in 1822 he came to Sherman, in this county, where he owned and cultivated a farm of two hundred acres, and where he died, aged ninety- one years. In politics he was a democrat. He took great delight in military affairs and was a captain in the New York State militia. Jesse Newell married Amarias Cole, by whom he had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all living but Harvey C. (father). One of the sons, Thomas, served in the army in the late war. The maternal grandfather of Thomas J .. Newell was Lansing L. Buck, a native of Con- necticut, who came to Sherman, in this county, about the time the Newells did (1822), when this locality was a dense forest. He was a far- mer by occupation, and an influential man among the pioneers here. Lansing L. Buck
married Lydia Lewis and had four children, one son and three daughters ; the son and one of the daughters are still living. Wallace, the son, is engaged in manufacturing in Bellville, N. J. Harvey C. Newell (father) was born in Connecticut, January 28, 1816, and died in Sherman, this county, in 1867, aged fifty-one years. His principal occupation was that of a farmer. In religion he was a member of the Methodist church, as was also his wife, and in politics he was a republican.
Harvey C. Newell was married to Jane E. Buck, by whom he had four children, threc sons and one daughter : James H., who is in mercantile business at Belvidere, Nebraska ; Thomas J .; Mary A., who married G. W. Tas- sell, a merchant, and lives in Iroquois, South Dakota ; and Ziba J., who is a railroad con- ductor and lives in Brocton, this county.
Thomas J. Newell in 1869, engaged in the mercantile business at North Clymer, this county, where he kept a general store for eleven years, and in 1880 came to Sherman and opened a grocery store, in which he still continues. In politics he is a republican, and is now on his sixth term as town clerk, and is also village clerk. While he was at North Clymer he was appointed postmaster there. Thomas J. Newell was married November 24, 1870 to Sarah E. Pitt, a daughter of N. Pitt, and has two children, a son and daughter: Edith E. and Clifford H.
JOHN W. PITTS was the son of John and Charlotte Pitts, and was born in England August 29, 1829. John Pitts (father) was a native of England, and came from there to America, settling at Chatham, Columbia county, N. Y., removing from thence to the State of Iowa, where both himself and wife died.
John W. Pitts secured his education while yonng and went into a store when a mere boy, and after a clerkship of several years, established himself in a store, first at Canaan, N. Y., where
148
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
he was a general merchant and postmaster for a number of years, and in 1866 he came to Jamestown and opened a grocery store at No. 209 Main street, which he conducted for several years, then built a brick store on Third street and removed there, but failing health compelled him to give up all business three years before his death, which occurred in December, 1881. In 1850, he married Lucy E. Bristol, a daughter of George and Sarah (Hutchinson) Bristol. This gentleman was a native of Columbia county, but removed to Oswego, Tioga county, where he died.
Mr. and Mrs. Pitts had nine children (five living), four sons and one daughter : Henry, married Allie Bassett, and lives in Washington, D. C., where he is engaged in handling dressed beef; Sarah B., is the wife of Henry Anderson and lives in Brooklyn, N. Y., where her hus- band is employed as an instructor in the gym- nasium of the Adelphi academy ; J. Edwin is employed in the U. S. Railway Mail service, and married Agnes Kretch, of Corry, Pa. ; William is employed in Jamestown, by A. D. Sharp, who is in the dry goods business ; and George is a book-keeper in the hardware store of Clark & Co., of Jamestown.
Mr. Pitts was a member of the Congrega- tional church in this city and belonged to the Knights of Honor and Royal Templars. He was a sterling gentleman, and his death, when but fifty-two years of age, was mourned by his sorrowing widow and a large circle of friends. His remains were interred in Lake View cem- etery at Jamestown.
RANK HUNT, D.V.S., comes from a long line of farmers, his great-grandfather, of whom we are first apprised, following that occupation in New England, and he was fol- lowed in the same work in turn by each suc- ceeding generation ; Dr. Hunt being so em- ployed until 1884. But while agriculture is among the noblest of man's pursuits, an active
mind and ambitious disposition often seeks a broader field, and this is what our subject decided to do in 1884. Leaving the farm he came to Jamestown and entered the insurance business, which he followed for two years, when he decided to attend the Ontario Veterinary College of Toronto. He matriculated in 1886, and pursuing the study with interest, he gradu- ated in 1887, since which time he has been suc- cessfully practicing his profession in the city of Jamestown, but retains his interest in his farm just inside the city. Mr. Hunt was born at Ellicott (now within the limits of the city of Jamestown) on the twenty-eighth day of Janu- ary, 1857, and is a son of John L. and Orilla Hunt. John L. Hunt is a son of Elvin Hunt, whose father came from New England. Orilla, wife of John L. Hunt, was a daughter of George R. Nelson, a native of England, but who came to America, and located in Chautau- qua county, New York. He left there in 1860 and went to Minnesota, where he settled and afterwards died. Elvin Hunt was born in Washington county, New York, but located near Jamestown, on what is now known as the Hunt road. He was a farmer, and in politics affiliated with the whigs, although like his children since, he never aspired to be an office holder. He married Sylvia Lee, and with her raised a family of six boys and four girls, nearly all of whom settled adjacent to James- town. Of this large family all were farmers, excepting one who was a machinist. John L. Hunt was born in Washington county, New York, in 1840, and moved to Chautauqua county with his parents when a small boy, where he died, when forty-four years of age. He was the father of four children, one of whom died young. Of the others George E. married Lizzie Loucks, and is living in the city of Jamestown on the Hunt road. He has two children : John L. and George E. Jr .; and William H., who is employed in Jamestown.
Dr. Hunt led to the altar Miss Kate
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
L. Crosby, whose father, Eliakam Crosby, one of the earliest settlers of the county, served the people acceptably as justice of the peace, and died in the town of Poland, of which place he was one of the original settlers. Dr. Hunt is a republican, but the office-holding bee does not buzz in his hat. He is satisfied that those who desire them shall have the trials and cares of political life, and is glad to see them secure all the honor and emoluments they honestly can. His veterinary practice, which is constantly growing, takes all of his time. Be- ing a good friend, he is popular with all his acquaintances.
JOHN A. SLOTBOON is a son of Garrett
J. and Scena (Huytink) Slotboon, and was born in Holland, May 22, 1841. His pa- ternal grandfather was also a native of Hol- land, where he lived and died. John Huytink (maternal grandfather) was likewise a native and life-long resident of Holland, and died there. His wife, after his death, came to America and died in Albany, this State, aged ninety years. Garrett J. Slotboon (father) was born in Hol- land, February 6, 1802, emigrated to America, spending his first winter in Albany, and came to this county in 1847, locating in Mina. Afterwards he came to Clymer about 1850, where he died September 6, 1885. He was a farmer by occupation, in politics was a republi- can, and in religion was a member of the Re- formed church. While in Holland he had, in compliance with the laws of that country, served his time in the regular army. In 1832, he married Scena Huytink, a daughter of John Huytink, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living, all in this county; three of them in the town of Clymer.
John A. Slotboon was educated in the com- mon schools of Clymer, this county, and began life as a farmer. He enlisted August 11, 1862, in Co. D, 112th regiment, N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war, when he was
honorably discharged June 8, 1865. He was promoted to corporal, and participated in the siege of Suffolk and the battle of Blackwater, siege of Charleston, capture of Ft. Wagner and bombardment of Ft. Sumter, went into Florida during the campaign there, thence to Bermuda Hundred, and was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864. In April, 1866, he entered the mercantile business at Cly- mer Hill, continuing in the same for about twenty-five years, and then moved to Clymer village, where he has been in business ever since, owning and running a first-class general store, and doing a large business. Politically he is a republican, and served as a justice of the peace of Clymer four years, declining a re- election, and has also served as supervisor of Clymer seven years.
John A. Slotboon was married on January 13, 1866, to Magdalene Kooman, a daughter of Peter Kooman, of Dutch extraction, but born near Antwerp, and emigrated to Buffalo, this State, in 1847, where he resided eleven years, and then came to this county, settling in Clymer, where he died January 6, 1879, aged seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Slot- boon have been born five children : Sarah W., wife of Abram Beckrink, a gardener in Jamcs- town, near Falconer, they have one child, a son, Marvin Edward ; William Leonard, who lives in Clymer, and is in business with his father; Ada Paulina, at home; one who died in infancy ; and Lydia Louisa.
A. JOHN PETERSON was born a subject of the King of Sweden, on June 18, 1844, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (Thranck) Peterson, of the town of Kaulstarp. His grandfather, Peter Peterson, was a life-long resident of his native land, Sweden, but his maternal grandfather, John P. Thranck, cmi- grated to America and settled in Jamestown, where he resided until his death. He was a carpenter and farmer, in politics a republican,
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