USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 29
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livery clerk for a tea house in Jamestown ; and H. Romain, Emma C., and Raymond T., who died of diphtheria. Mrs. Sterneberg is a mem- ber of the Baptist church and belongs to the Equitable Aid Union.
C HARLES E. COBB is a son of Charles and Eliza (Curtiss) Cobb, and was born in Harbour Creek, Erie county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1856. His paternal grandfather, Bassett Cobb, was a native of Connecticut, was for several years a resident of this county, whence he removed to Erie county, Pa , spend- ing the balance of his days there, being a farmer by occupation, and in politics a whig and later a republican. He married and had five sons and three daugliters. Charles Cobb (father) was born on March 3, 1826, and when a young man came to this county and settled in Sinclair- ville, town of Charlotte, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He served in the army one and one-half years during the civil war, enlisting in 1862. In 1852 he married Eliza Curtiss, by whom he had two children : Ida, wife of William Mckinley, a farmer in Ash- tabula, Ohio ; and Charles E.
Charles E. Cobb was reared on the farm nntil he was nineteen years of age, and received his education in the common schools. After leaving school he went to the oil regions and worked as a contractor in developing the oil territory, for a few years owning and operating his own terri- tory. He came to Sherman in the spring of 1884, and engaged in the lumber manufacturing business, purchasing the interest of a Mr. Burns, and operated the plant himself until 1887, when lie associated with him as partner William Free- man, and during the busy season employed twenty men, making a specialty of heading, staves and fruit barrels, besides all kinds of lumber. He also owns some oil-producing prop- erty in Butler county, Pa. In politics he is a republican, and is a member of the board of trustees of Sherman. He is a member of Olive
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Lodge, No. 575, F. & A. M., and Sherman Lodge, No. 45, A. O. U. W.
Charles E. Cobb nited in marriage with Kate M. Russell, a daughter of Wilber Russell, of Cameron county, Pa. This union has been blest with one daughter: Nina B., who was born Mareh 2, 1882.
S AMUEL N. SWEZEY, a leading member of the Farmers' Alliance and a prosperous agrieulturist of Ripley town, is a son of Daniel and Clarissa (Sperry) Swezey, who was born in the town of Russia, Herkimer county, New York, December 26, 1830. Daniel Swezey was a native of Long Island, this State, with his grandfather ; the latter going to Herkimer county from his birthplace among the very first pioneers. It took them three weeks to make the trip with oxen and earts, and upon their ar- rival they were obliged to ehop a home out of the woods. All of the hardships incident to pioneer life were known to them. Before leav- ing Long Island, he had married Sarah Beal and they reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters. The maternal grand- father, John Sperry, came from New England. Daniel Swezey, Jr., was born on Long Island, Christmas day, 1778, and went with his father to Herkimer county, but afterwards eame to Harmony, this county, in 1836, and died there in 1847. He was a singularly sueeessful farmer, methodical with his work and careful of all things appertaining to his business. He be- longed to the Whig party and served in the war of 1812. On December 25, 1805 he married Clarissa Sperry and reared a large family of children, seven sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to maturity and became good and prosperons eitizens.
Samuel N. Swezey was given a superior education at the district schools and the academy, and upon leaving them he spent a number of years in teaching, being very sue- cessful in this work. He finally decided to
adopt farming and began in Harmony, but changed his residenee to Ripley, where he now lives and owns three hundred and twenty-eight acres of good farming land all in one body. When troops were needed to suppress the Re- bellion he was drawn, but on account of physi- cal disability was unable to serve. It is on this account that we cannot record any military history under his name. He is a sharp, shrewd and sagacious business man whose ability is recognized by his farmer associates.
On October 6, 1857, he married Sarah Shel- don, a daughter of David Sheldon, of Ripley town, this county, and they have four children : Sheldon, living at home ; Flora, Ida and Alice.
Politically Mr. Swezey now favors the pro- hibitionists, although formerly a republican and has served a number of years in local offices. As one of a committee of three, he has suc- eeeded in seeuring a post office, to be known as Sheldon's Corners, of which he is postmaster, the office being in his house. Mr. Swezey is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and is its agent for their merchandize business in the town of Ripley.
E VERGREEN CEMETERY, although situated near a little country village, is one of the most beautiful in western New York. It lies within the corporate limits of the village of Sinelairville, yet its situation is such as to retire it from the localities around it. It oeeupies a moderate eminence, which termi- nates a tongue of land that extends nearly across the valley of Mill Creek, erowding the waters of the stream into a narrow passage. A high and precipitous bank forms the southern boun- dary of the valley and also the northern limits of the cemetery. Mill Creek gathered into a pond extends along the base of the bank ; there its waters darkly gleam from out the shade of overhanging elms and willows. A steep bank bounds the cemetery on the west, along which a raee, issuing from the pond, extends to an
VIEW IN EVERGREEN CEMETERY, SINCLAIRVILLE,
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ancient grist-mill. A sharp declivity substan- tially marks its southern limit. The cemetery is accessible, without hindrance, from the east, where a village street lies between it and the pleasant fields beyond.
" It would be difficult to choose a burial place so convenient of access, with such interesting surroundings, and at the same time a place of retirement so well suited to its sober uses. The wild gorge, partly hidden by twisted birches and ragged hemlocks; the pond, dimly seen down deep in its shadows; the stream, the bridge that spans it, and the old mill are pleas- ing objeets, in harmony with the peace and re- pose that pervades this abode of the dead. On every side are green fields and gently rising hills. As you look northward through foliage that fringes this border of the cemetery you have glimpses of the narrow, winding valley of Mill Creek, skirted with leafy verdure, leading to the dimly visible and far away hills that overlook Lake Erie. Southward, and near at hand, lies the pleasant village ; its handsome academy flanked by church spires; its elean yards and painted houses among shadows of maples and elms. Beyond the village are mea- dows and pastures. There the valley broadens away to the southwest, until the distant Ellery hills bound the view.
" In the midst of verdant fields and inviting seenes like this, it is proper to consecrate the spot where the living may mect the dead and soothe our grief at the loss of friends, by laying them to rest in pleasant places."
N ELSON BUTLER was a pioneer tailor and clothing dealer of Jamestown, and was identified with her carliest secret societies. He was a son of JJames and Nancy (Ward) Butler and was born at Laona, this county, August 2, 1818, and died in the city of Jamestown, Feb- ruary 12, 1857. His father, James Butler, was a native of Massachusetts and came from there to Laona, New York, and from there to James-
town, where he died. He followed farming as a means of gaining a livelihood for himself and family, and in politics was a whig. While in the prime of life he married Naney Ward, who joined the Baptist church and was a lifelong member. The result of this union was eight children-five sons and three daughters.
Nelson Butler was educated in the common schools and at the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn tailoring, which he followed for a number of years, and also conducted a clothing-house in this city. Politically he was a republican and was associated with the Meth- odist church until he joined the Masons, when, the popular feeling being opposed to seeret so- eieties, he relinquished his membership in the church. He was attached to the New York State Militia and belonged to Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. and A. M., in which he at- tained the degree of Master Mason. He was one of the incorporators of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Jamestown and at- tained some prominence in that order.
July 3, 1839, he married Mary A. Story, a daughter of Elisha Story, and by this union became the father of seven daughters-Nancy A., dead ; Adelaide N., married to Allan Smith, a miller, living at Boone, Iowa ; Agnes M. is a florist and resides at home; Evelyn is the wife of Irving Ells, a professional book-keeper in the employ of Benjamin Moore & Co., whole- sale dealers in paints and calcimining at Brook- lyn, New York ; Arabella, dead ; Mary E., a compositor in the office of the Jamestown Journal; and Sophie D., also a florist, living at home.
Nelson Butler was a man of the strictest in- tegrity and unquestionable morals. His repu- tation and private character were untarnished and he passed into that better world as unblem- ished as may be approached by man. He was a kind father and his memory is cherished with unabated love by his family still surviving.
One of his distinguishing characteristics was his kindness to the poor. No one asking him
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for help ever was turned away without a kind word and generous gifts.
E LLIS FINK, manager of the well-known Star clothing house and gents' furnishing store at No. 315 Lyon street, is a son of Alex- ander and Eva Fink, and was born in Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1856. The father, Alexander Fink, is a native of Wilna, Russia, and came to America when a young man, locating at Apollo, Armstrong county, Pa. He was one of the first men to run a boat on the old Pennsylvania canal from Apollo to Pittsburg. Mr. Fink was the owner of the boat. He lived at Apollo until 1849, when he removed to Pittsburg, and engaged in the retail clothing business until 1861. From Pittsburg he went to New York city and estab- lished a wholesale clothing house, continuing it until 1869, when he retired from business, and moved back to Pittsburg in 1870, where he has since resided. Althoughi retired from business for over twenty years he is a stockholder in several of the Pittsburg banks, and in the bridges connecting the city with Allegheny City and other suburban points. The Benevolent Hebrew society of that city has made him its president for several years. He is a republican, and is seventy-five years old. His wife is a native of the same Russian province from which her husband came, and is seventy-eight years old.
Ellis Fink was educated in Pittsburg and the New York city public schools. When fourteen years old he worked in his brother's clothing store at the Smoky City, where he remained until twenty-two years of age. He then went to Colorado, at the time when things were liveliest there, and engaged in the mining business near Leadville. He stayed two years and made several locations, one of which has recently been sold by him to ex-Lieut .- Gov. H. W. Tabor, of Colorado, and Major A. V. Bohn, of Leadville. After his return from the west he worked for
his brother until 1884, and then went to Buffalo and got employment with the large clothing house of Altman & Co., where he remained four years, and in 1888 came to Dunkirk and opened the business which he is still conducting on Lyon street. He has a fine trade, does a good business, and carries the largest stock of clothing to be found in Dunkirk. The firm name is Brown, Friend & Co., the partners being Brown and Friend, of Buffalo, who are interested in one of the largest clothing establishments in the country. Mr. Fink is genial and frank and, handling good clothing, holds the trade he once sccures.
On October 9, 1888, he married Harriet Brown, a daughter of Henry Brown, of Buffalo. They have one child, Beatrice, an interesting little girl of nearly two years.
He is a republican, and takes an active interest in politics, and it may be said of him that he is one of Dunkirk's truly enterprising business men.
w ILLIAM J. CRONYN, M.D., a prom- inent and leading physician and sur- geon of Dunkirk, and Surgeon-General of the Grand Army of the Republic of the State of New York in 1885, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, November 15, 1848, and is a son of Robert and Margaret Cronyn. In the history of Ireland, as far back as the Cronyn family can be traced, it was always op- posed to England and English rule in the Emerald Isle. David Cronyn, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Cronyn, was a large land owner in County Cork, Ireland, where he died in 1834, aged sixty years. One of his sons was Robert Cronyn (father), who was educated at the Dublin University, which differed in one important respect from its great sister universi- ties of Oxford and Cambridge, for while they consisted of several colleges, it has but one col- lege, "The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity." It was founded in 1591, and has
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given to the United Kingdom some of her most illustrious and distinguished sons. Robert Cronyn, after he left the University, resided in County Cork until 1837 when, on account of political troubles he started for the United States, but was prevailed on by friends whom he found in Ontario, Canada, to settle in that provinee, where lie died in 1852, aged fifty-two years. He was a fine elassical scholar, a pleas- ant and courteous gentleman, and a Scottish Rite Mason. His widow, Margaret Cronyn, was a native of the city of Bandon, Ireland, and died in Ontario in 1882, when in the sixty- ninth year of her age.
William J. Cronyn was educated in the Monks' sehools of his native province, and in 1864, at fifteen years of age enlisted in Co. A, 30th Michigan Infantry, in which he served until he was honorably discharged at the close of the late war. In 1867 he commenced to read medicine with his uncle, Professor John Cronyn, now president of the Medical Faculty of Niagara University, and entered the Sisters of Charity Hospital and the medical depart- ment of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated in 1870. In the same year he came to Dunkirk, where he soon established himself in a good practice, which has been con- tinually inereasing ever sinee. He was absent from Dunkirk from 1873 to 1876, during which period he was an assistant surgcon in tlie United States Navy, and served at the Boston navy yard ; the Norfolk naval hospital ; on the U. S. Sloop of war Constellation, cruise of '74 ; and had the full medical charge for some months of the iron-clad fleet off Pensacola, Fla., in '75-'6. Upon his return in 1876 to Dunkirk, he established the Dunkirk Tribune, which he edited for one year. He resides in a beautiful residenee on the corner of Deer street and Fifth Avenue, which he erected in 1882.
Dr. Crouyn is a republiean in politics, has been a member of the common eouneil, board of education, supervisor, etc., and has frequently
served his party as a delegate to County and State conventions, besides having been favor- ably mentioned in the county Republican press of late years as a suitable and desirable candi- date for Congress. He is a member of Dun- kirk Lodge, No. 767, F. & A. M., and Rochester Consistory Scottish Rite Masonry, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, Ismalia Temple, Buffalo, N. Y. Dr. Cronyn, when Stevens Post, No. 393, G. A. R., of Dun- kirk, was organized, was elected as its first commander, and afterward served a second term in that office. During 1885 he was Surgeon- General of the G. A. R., for the State of New York, and in 1886, received the appointment of Aide-de-Camp on the national staff under Commander-in-Chief Burdette. The following year he was commissioned as aid to General Fairchild, Commander-in-Chief. He has served as secretary and treasurer of the Chautauqua County Medical Society, and was also chairman of the board of censors of that body. In an account of Dr. Cronyn, which appeared in the press in 1890, we find the following tribute to him as a man and a physician : "His manly qualities and his splendid intellectual gifts, deeply rooted in his character shine forth, with- out any effort on his part to display them, and his fellow practitioners of Dunkirk say that he is the leading physician and surgeon of that city." Dr. Cronyn is a man of fine personal appearance, who favorably impresses all who come in contact with him by his honesty and straightforwardness.
O RLANDO J. HILER, an opulent eitizen of the village of Silver Creek, is a retired merchant and a large holder of some of its val- uable real estate. He is a son of Silas and Eunice (Seager) Hiler, and was born at Penfield, near Rochester, Monroe county, New York, July 3, 1842. His father, Silas Hiler, too, was a native of Penfield, where he followed farming
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until 1846, when he moved to Ashtabula county,
grey in farm life and has done a very extensive business, and, although now in his eightieth year, conducts his work with his old-time vigor. Be- sides being a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, he is prominently identified with religious and educational matters. He is a Jacksonian democrat, and throughout his active. life has been an energetic and successful business man. Both branches of our subject's family are from the New England States, and came to central New York early in this century. He married Eunice Seager in 1836, and she is now in her seventy-fifth year.
Orlando J. Hiler was reared in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and received his education in the common schools. After leaving school he learned the harness-making and saddlery business and conducted a shop of his own for two years at Conneaut, Ohio, and on April 5, 1865, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and enlisted in Co. G, 198th regiment, Ohio Infantry Vols., and served until the elose of the war. Upon the receipt of his discharge he returned home and engaged in business for one year ; then, in 1867, he went to Gowanda, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and worked at his trade; but on July 14, 1869, lic came to Silver Creek and worked for six months as a journeyman and then bought out the busi- ness, which he continued for fifteen years. The four succeeding years were spent out of business, and then he opened a general hardware store, which he conducted two years and a half and then retired. Since then he has spent his time quietly but not idly. His large property inter- ests both here and in Ohio require a great deal of attention and keep him employed.
On June 23, 1881, he married Martha R. Ward, a daughter of Doctor Spencer Ward (de- ceased), late of Silver Creek. Spencer Ward, M.D., was born at Poultney, Rutland county, Vt., in 1807, and was graduated from the Cas- tleton Medical college, afterwards coming to
Chautauqua county, in October, 1836, when he Ohio, and still resides there. He has grown ; located in Silver Creek and soon secured a large practice. Being singularly successful with dif- ficult cases, his fame spread far and near, and he was so completely overworked, and suffering from cancer, that he was obliged to relinquish his practice a couple of years before his death. He died April 13, 1874, leaving much property, the accumulations of investments made from the receipts of his large practice. He married Mrs. Aun (Wilmot) Rice, a native of Fair Haven, Vermont, and she bore him two chil- dren : Wilmot and Martha R. She died May 29, 1854.
Wilmot Ward, upon attaining his majority, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the lumber business, but died in the prime of life, January 8, 1861, when but twenty- six years of age. Dr. Ward married a second time, in 1856, to Helen Gates, of Silver Creek. This union resulted in one daughter, Hattie, who married F. W. Thomas and lives in this village. Mrs. Ward resides in her old home- stead at this place.
Orlando J. Hiler is a democrat, and has served as a trustee of this town. During his term of office he labored incessantly to improve the condition and advance the business and social interests of the place. He is a gentleman of strong character and enjoys the confidence of all Silver Creek's people who are acquainted with him.
G EORGE S. JOSSELYN, the proprietor of the well-known grape-vine and small fruit nurseries at Fredonia, was born in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, June 17, 1842, and is a son of Stephen and Eliza (Studley) Josselyn. His paternal grandfather, Eleazer Josselyn, was a resident of Plymouth county and served in the War of 1812. Stephen Josselyn was born and reared in Plymouth county, where he re- ceived his education. He was a shoe manufac- turer and conducted a general mercantile busi-
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ness. He married Eliza Studley, who was a native of the same county as himself.
George S. Josselyn received an academic edu- cation and at seventeen years of age left his na- tive county and worked in Boston and vicinity as a civil engineer. In 1863 he came to Chau- tauqua county where he became a civil engineer on the Eric railroad with head-quarters at Dun- kirk. He remained in the employ of the Erie railroad company for fifteen years, and during seven years of this time he was road master of the western division of the road. In 1870 he came to Fredonia, where eight years later he established his present grape-vine and small fruit nursery.
On August 31, 1869, he united in marriage with Mary White, daughter of Devillo White, of Fredonia.
In politics Mr. Josselyn is a democrat and has served as supervisor of his town for one term. He owns and has under lease over two hundred aeres of land in Fredonia and in the town of Sheridan, near Fredonia, which is en- tirely occupied by his graperies and small fruit nurseries. He has been a careful experimenter with new fruits, has originated and introduced some valuable varieties and has contributed his share toward placing horticulture on a success- ful and paying basis. He has the largest grape- root cellar in the United States and ships large quantities of grape-vines and small fruit plants to all parts of the country. Ile individually conducts and personally supervises his extensive business, while his necessary correspondence in connection with it requires the constant services of two type-writers. His persistent skill and industry has brought him success in horticulture where others have failed.
G EORGE D. MAWHIR, a prominent young farmer and grape grower of Port- land, is a son of Thomas and Mary Mawhir, and was born on the farm in Portland town, Chautauqua county, New York, February 11,
1857. His father, Thomas Mawhir, was a native of County Down, Ireland, and came to the United States about 1850. He first made his home in Westfield, but in 1853 he came to this town and pursued farming until the grim reaper called him away, on April 16, 1889, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Mawhir was a stirring and enthusiastic republican, ac- tive in all his party's struggles. He was mar- ried to Mary MeLevy, a native of County Down, Ireland, in 1835, who is still living with her son in Portland town, and an active member of the Methodist church.
George D. Mawhir, when arrived at a school age, alternated summer and winter between the farm and the school-house, and thereby seenred a good common school education. He then began farming for himself and now owns the one on which he resides. He is engaged exten- sively in grape culture and raises a fine erop of this fruit.
In 1882 Mr. Mawhir was married to Hattie Barnes, a daughter of Alpha Barnes (a sketch of his life will be found elsewhere in this book). Their marriage has been blest with one child, a son, Albert.
G. D. Mawhir is a republican, and is known as a representative citizen of his town.
L UCIUS LOMBARD. Among those who have experienced the excitement of specu- lating in oil, enjoyed the steady income of a judiciously managed general mercantile busi- ness, and then, preferring the quiet and peace- ful life of an independent farmer, returned to the scenes of his carly manhood, is the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketeh. Ineius Lombard was born in the town of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, July 21, 1831. His parents, Daniel and Nancy (Ransom) Lom- bard, were what is known as New England Yankees. Thomas Lombard was his paternal grandfather and lived at Brimfield, Hampden county, Massachusetts. Leaving the place of
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his nativity about the beginning of the present century he moved to Madison county, this State, where he died in 1815. The subsistence of himself and family was gained by farming. Thomas Lombard served his country in the struggle for Independence, and rejoiced with his countrymen in their success. He married first Eunice Bacon, who died, leaving five children, and after her death he married Anna Shaw, of Brimfield, Massachusetts, by whom he had four children, Daniel Lombard (father) being the eldest. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Ransom, was a native of Otsego county, where he spent his life farming. He married Sarah Temple and reared eight children. Daniel Lombard was born in Massachusetts in 1794. When his father removed to Madison county he accompanied him. In 1828 he and his brother Lucius continued the westward journey until they reached the town of Ripley, where they settled on lots Nos. 34 and 35. Some years later the latter moved into Westfield, where he died, in 1874. Daniel Lombard continued his residence on his original location until his death, in 1884. He owned at the time about three hundred and seventy-five acres of land. He married Nancy Ransom, and had four children : Lucius, Mary, who married Rev. G. W. Moore, a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Minneapolis, Minn .; Dwight married Catherine Osterman, and is farming in this town, and Sarah, widow of Henry W. Dickson, now lives in Tioga county, Pa.
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