USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 3
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
buildings. He was an old-line whig until the ination, and resumed his law practice, which had then become so extensive as to require nearly all of his time. While devoted to his profession, and giving his undivided attention and best thoughit to the interests of his many clients, yet no man takes a deeper interest in the political affairs or the material prosperity of the Empire State than Edward R. Bootey. Republican party was organized, when he joined its ranks and supported its principles as long as he lived. He was a life-long opponent of hu- man servitude, denounced negro slavery, and was one of the early abolitionists of Chautauqua county. He married Ann Convoyne, a daugh- ter of Robert Convoyne, and they had seven children. The three oldest were named Rebec- . In 1876 he united in marriage with Emma one child, Edward R. Bootey, Jr., born No- vember 25, 1878. ca, Nathan and Edward, and, dying in infancy, ; Young, of Busti, this county, and they have the next three children were given respectively the names of the deceased ones. The seventh child was called Mary Ann.
In politics Mr. Bootey has always been an unswerving republican. Not only does he com- mand the full support of his own party, but he also has a strong following independent of po- litical consideration, which has been drawn to him by his integrity of character, his honesty of purpose, and his efficient services when em- ployed in a public capacity. He is a member of James M. Brown Post, No. 285, Grand Army of the Republic. As a criminal lawyer Mr. Bootey has been very successful, and ranks with the ablest of that class in the south western served in the Peninsular campaign, under Gen- part of the State. For the last score of years
Edward R. Bootey was reared at Jamestown, where he received his education in the academy at that place. Leaving school in the spring of 1860, he entered the office of Cook and Lock- wood, and commenced the study of law, which he had prosecuted but one year, when the late civil war burst in all its fury and desolation upon the land. When President Lincoln's call for troops was issued, Mr. Bootey left the law office, and on September 10, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Ninth New York Cavalry. He eral MeClellan, and was honorably discharged on December 8, 1862. He then returned home, resumed his interrupted law studies, and was admitted to the Chautauqua county bar in 1865. Immediately after admission he commeneed the practice of his profession at Jamestown, which he has followed ever since. His political career commenced with his election, in 1865, as justice of the peace, which office his increasing law practice soon compelled him to resign. In 1871 he was elected by his party as district attorney, and at the close of his term of office he was placed on what was known as the people's tick- et. His personal popularity proved a very im- portant factor in the campaign, and he was triumphantly re-elected by the largest majority of any of the successful candidates in the field. When his second term as district attorney ex- pired, in 1878, he declined all offers of a renom-
there has not been an important criminal case in the courts of the county but what he lias ap- peared in for either the prosecution or the de- fence. He was district attorney in 1872, at the time of the celebrated Charles Marlow trial. He thoroughly studies his cases, clearly grasps every important point, and closely seans every fact however apparently trifling. By these means he often constructs a plea of seeming ir- resistible foree, and with swiftness or ease, as the case demands, frequently detects falsehood and confounds villainy. His success as a plead- er has been remarkable, his standing as a citi- zen is very high, and his popularity with the people is founded upon the integrity, energy, honesty and fearlessness in the cause of right, for which he has always been distinguished. His house is a pleasant one and he enjoys life abundantly.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
W ILLIAM MARVIN BEMUS, M. D .-
One who has kept pace with the march of progress which has characterized medical sci- ence for the last quarter of a century, is William Marvin Bemus, M.D., a young and rising phy- sician and surgeon of Jamestown, and Chautau- qua county. He was born at Meadville, Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1855, and is the eldest son of Colonel George H. and Julia (Prendergast) Bemus. The Bemus and Prendergast families were of New England an- cestry, and located in the valley of the Hudson river at an early day in the history of its settle- ment. Dr. Bemus' great-grandfather, William Bemus, was born probably in Massachusetts, and served in the Revolutionary war. His son, Charles Bemus, was born on the historic battle-ground of Bemus Heights, which were named in honor of the Bemus . family. He served as captain in the war of 1812. Dr. Daniel Bemus (paternal grandfather) was a graduate of Pennsylvania University, and served as a surgeon in the war of 1812. In one of the battles along the Canadian frontier he was shot through both knees. He lived to be cighty-six years of age. Colonel George H. Bemus was born at Russellburg, Warren Co., Pa. He read law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1855 located at Meadville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, for the practice of his profession. Strongly attached to his profession, and de- voting his whole energies to its exacting re- quirements, Dr. Bemus has deserved the success which he has won by his knowledge and skill as a physician. He has been, during his pro- fessional career, an earnest and constant student, and has kept well abreast of the rapid advances of medical science. Of quick perception and sound judgment, he entertains a contempt for all shams and pretences in his profession, He is well read, progressive and successful as a physician and surgeon, and the field of his fu- profession will by no means be limited to the boundaries of his town or county. When the late war broke out he enlisted in the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, and was com- missioned as first-lieutenant of Company F, of that regiment. He was successively promoted until he attained the rank of colonel, and was placed in command of the Fifty-eighth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, which made an enviable record for bravery and efficient service. After the close of the war he returned to Mead- ville, where he has been engaged in the prac- tice of law ever since. During his residence in Crawford county he has been sent twice by his ture distinction and usefulness in the medical fellow-citizens to represent them in the Penn- sylvania House of Representatives.
William M. Bemus passed his boyhood years at Meadville, and received his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of that place. At sixteen years of age lie entered Allegheny col- lege, where he remained two years, and had passed into the sophomore class, when he left to study medicine with the late Dr. William Church, an eminent and highly successful phy- sician of Meadville. After completing a full course of reading under Dr. Church, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, in 1876, and was graduated from that well-known institution in the class of 1878. He then came to James- town, where he has practiced his profession ever since. In 1887, he was appointed United States Pension Examiner for the district in which he resides, and at the present time is a surgeon and staff-officer of the Fourth Brigade, of New York. For the last eleven years he has served as health officer of Jamestown, but increasing practice has caused him lately to re- sign his insurance positions. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Jamestown.
Ou April 30th, 1881, he united in marriage with Minnie M. Barrows, daughter of R. J. Barrows, a leading lumber dealer of Jamestown. Their union has been blest with one child : Selden Bemus, born May 9, 1884.
CARL W. SCOFIELD.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
C ARL W. SCOFIELD, one of the most suc- cessful business men that the " Empire State " has ever produced and the second largest oil producer in the world, is a promi- nent and respected citizen of Jamestown and Chautauqua county. He was born at the village of Peterboro, Madison county, New York, November 21, 1838, and is a son of Rev. Abisha and Elizabeth (Marvin) Scofield. The Scofield family of New York is a branch of the Connecticut Scofield family. David Scofield (paternal grandfather) was born and reared in the vicinity of Stamford in the "Land of Steady habits." He was a soldier of the war of 1812 and afterwards settled in Greene county, New York, where he died. He was a farmer and married and reared a large family of children. His son, Rev. Abisha Scofield (father), was born about 1805 in Greene county. He completed a full academie course and then entered onc of the foremost eastern colleges from which he was graduated with honors. He then entcred the theological school of Auburn and was graduated from that institution with high standing in his class. He was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational church and given a charge. During the early years of his ministerial life he met and became acquainted with Gerritt Smith, who was then entering upon his life-work of proclaiming chattel slavery as a sin against God and man and de- manding immediate and unconditional enianci- pation of the negroes of the south. Rev. Sco- field warmly supported Smith's advanced posi- tion on the slavery question. He accompanied Smith through the different counties of the State where they spoke in denunciation of human servitude and formed anti-slavery so- cieties. As an abolitionist speaker and lecturer Abisha Scofield aided largely in educating the public mind in New York and preparing the Empire State for the important part which it was to take in the disruption of the Whig party on account of its anti-abolition tendencies
and the establishment of the Republican party pledged to immediate limitation and ultimate extinction of slavery. For his radical course in agitating the slavery question Rev. Scofield was called before the Onondaga conference of his church and 'silenced as a minister of the Congregational church. He then began the work of organizing independent churches in which he was very successful. His learning, earnestness and eloquence made him very power- ful in any cause which he advocated. He now resides at Spencerport, west of Rochester, in Monroe county, on the New York Central Railroad, and although eighty-five years of age, retains much of his old time vigor and energy. He married Elizabeth Marvin, daugh- ter of a Mr. Marvin, who was a native of Colchester, Connecticut, and served in the war of 1812. He was a ship owner and had one of his vessels destroyed by the English while he was in the service of the United States. Mrs. Scofield died in 1842 and left three child- ren : Henry, Carl W., and William. Rev. Scofield for his second wife married Jeannette Marvin, sister to his former wife. By his second marriage he has six children.
Carl W. Scofield obtained a common school education and at fifteen years of age became a clerk in a bookstore at a very low salary. At eighteen years of age, by careful economy, he had saved fifty dollars and with that small sum embarked in the book business for himself. His venture was successful and in a few years by his business ability, honesty and judicious management he had laid the foundations of his future financial prosperity. In 1872 he ae- cepted a position on the New York Independent but soon sought a wider sphere of operations than was afforded by his position and organ- ized an advertising agency which he rapidly developed until it furnished business for over 8000 newspapers. After six years of unceas- ing and toilsome labor in the advertising busi- ness his health became impaired and he paid
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
a visit to his father-in-law, Elijah Bishop, of Jamestown. He then saw the great future possibilities of business and wealth that existed in the oil fields of western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. Having success- fully demonstrated his capability to organize, control and direct a great enterprise of intricate combinations, he resolved upon embarking in the production of oil upon a large scale. With him to think was to act, and he immediately removed to Jamestown and engaged in oil pro- duction and dealing in oil wells. As he became better acquainted with the great industry which he was developing, he enlarged the field of his operations and perfected the organization of his vast business until to-day in size and import- ance his oil interests are second only to those of the Standard Oil Company. All his operations in oil have been of a strictly legitimate charac- ter and will bear the most rigid scrutiny. His career has been so far an illustration of the wonderful achievements of American ability and energy. From the lowest ring of the ladder he has passed, by his own exertions, to an honorable and lofty position.
In 1870 he married Anna Bishop, a daugh- ter of Elijah Bishop, of Jamestown. They have one child, Carl Wilbour Scofield, who was born June 11th, 1873.
Although not a church member, Mr. Scofield aids all the churches and is president of the Congregational society in Jamestown. Being a self-made man his sympathies are always en- listed in favor of the laboring classes with wliose true wants he is well acquainted from personal experience.
Mr. Scofield's name has been mentioned as a candidate for Congress, and if he could be in- duced to throw aside business cares for a time and turn his attention to public life, this dis- trict might secure a representative in Congress of sagacity and enterprise. Mr. Scofield, at lis handsome and elegant country residence, " the Bungalow," greets his friends cordially , daughter of M. B. Sheldon, of Sherman.
and entertains them royally. Decision of char- acter, honesty of purpose, tact and sagacity are indicated in every line of his strong, earnest and intelligent face, and he seems to have been a man born to achieve success and to command the respect and confidence of his fellow-men.
G EORGE C. VAN DUSEN, a member of tlie
Chautauqua county bar and a resident of Jamestown, is a son of Benjamin F. and Mehitable (Lovell) Van Dusen, and was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, December 8, 1851. The Van Dusen family, of Chautauqua county, is descended from Abra- ham Van Dusen, who is a descendant of the Van Dusen family of Columbia county, New York, who came from Holland. Abraham Van Dusen removed, in 1720, from New York to Salisbury, Connecticut, where he resided until his death. His son, John Van Dusen, was the father of John Van Dusen, Jr., whose son, Benjamin F. Van Dusen, now resi- dent of Jamestown, is the father of the subject of this sketch. For a more detailed history of the Van Dusen family, which is one of the old families of New York, see the biography of Judge Almon A. Van Dusen, of Mayville, in ' connection with that of Theodore F. Van Dusen, of Jamestown. The Lovells (maternal side) are descendants of the Lovell family of New England.
George C. Van Dusen received his education in the High school of Jamestown. He read law with his brother, Judge Almon A., was admitted to the Chautauqua county bar in 1877 and commenced the practice of law at Sherman, where he remained for ten years. He then came to Jamestown (1887) and has continued there ever since in the active practice of his profession. He is a member of the First Bap- tist church and Olive Lodge, No. 575, F. & A. M., at Sherman. On October 27, 1888, he united in marriage with Lucinda M. Sheldon,
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
In politics George C. Van Dusen has always been a strong demoerat. While residing at Sherman he was nominated by his party for justice of the peace and although the town was republican by two hundred majority, yet he came within twelve votes of being elected. Under President Cleveland's administration he served as postmaster of Sherman until 1887 when he resigned and removed to Jamestown. He was elected, in 1882, as a delegate to the Democratic State Convention at Syracuse, and has the honor of being one of the sixty-six delegates who cast their votes on the first ballot for Grover Cleveland for governor of New York. In the ensuing gubernatorial contest he took an active part as well as four years later when he spoke in the interests of Clevc- land for the presidency. In 1888 his time and services were freely given in the presidential campaign of that year, during which he took the stump and made many speeches throughout western New York in favor of the claims of Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman, for the presidency and vice-presidency of the United States. In addition to his law practice he takes considerable interest in business affairs ' and is a partner with his brother, Theodore F., in the undertaking business at Jamestown.
A NDREW JOHN LANNES, editor of the Swedish paper, " Our New Home," is a son of Andrew and Louise Lannes, and was born in the county of Ydre, Sweden, November 8, 1860. His grandfather, Andrew Lannes, Sr., was a native of Sweden, a soldier in the stand- ing army of that country, dying on the battle- field in the wars against Napoleon I. He be- longed like his progeny to the Evangelical Lutheran church. He married Margerita Hak- anson, with whom he had six children, all of whom, except one son, came to America, where the Lannes family is quite numerous in differ- ent states. Andrew Lannes (father) was born in Sweden in 1805, and served during a long
life in the army of that country. In 1859 he abandoned bachelorship and married Louise Larson, by whom he had one child, a son, the subject of this sketch. Andrew Lannes (fatlı- er) died in Sweden in 1871, when he was six- ty-eight years old ; his widow is in her sixty- fourth year and still lives in Sweden.
Andrew John Lannes received his education in the colleges of Eksjo and Linkoping, Swed- en, and in a three years' course at the Univer- sity of Upsala, Sweden. The curriculum fol- lowed in these seats of learning, copes suc- cessfully with any college in that country, both in depth and variety of subject. In October, 1885, he emigrated from Sweden to the United States, stopping first at Kane, McKean county, Pa., where he obtained a po- sition as clerk with a dry goods firm, but in six or seven months afterward, he moved to Buf- falo, N. Y., where he followed the trade of machinist for three years. In 1889, he re- moved to Jamestown, since which time he has filled the position of editor of " Vart Nya Hem," formerly "Folkets Rost," a well-known organ of national repute among the Swedish- Americans. The " Folkets Rost," or the " Peo- ple's Voice," was established in 1874 by a stock company composed of prominent Swedes in that section of New York. Being a paper of great influence, it now follows the principle of inde- pendency to any politieal influence. The paper was published under the title of Folkets Rost for nine years. In 1883 the name was changed to Vart Nya Hem, which title it still bears. When first issued, it was a folio, seven columns to a page, but when the title was changed to Our New Home, it was enlarged to a quarto in size. It is a large weekly paper and has a great circulation all over the United States.
Andrew J. Lannes is well fitted by eduea- tion and experience for the position which he now occupies as editor of a paper published in the interests of the Swedish-American citizens in their adopted country. Especially in west-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ern New York and western Pennsylvania is its influence felt.
R EV. CHARLES E. TUCKER. "From grave to gay, from lively to severe," has been aptly illustrated in the career of this gentle- man, and each phase has been a successful one. He is a son of George W. and Mary (Reed) Tuck- er, and was born in Bath, Maine, December 26, 1848. His paternal grandfather, John Tucker, was a native of Bath, of Scotch-English par- On December 16, 1874, Rev. C. E. Tucker was united in marriage with Mary Drullard, a daughter of Solomon Drullard, of Buffalo, this entage, and spent his whole life in the city where he was born. He was a large real estate owner there, and in politics was an old-line ; State, who was the first general freight agent of democrat, and in religion a member of the the N. Y. C. & H. R. R., occupying that posi- tion twenty years, being, also, a member of the board of directors, and also engaged in the iron business, at which he accumulated a large for- tune. This union has been blessed with three sons and one daughter : Charles M., Eddie D., Alice and Solomon. Methodist church. He married a Miss Payson and they had three sons and five daughters. Mr. Reed (maternal grandfather) was a na- tive and life-long resident of Maine. He was of Scotch descent, was formerly a contractor and builder, and in politics a democrat. He married and had four sons and two daughters. In politics Mr. Tucker is a prohibitionist, and is still a member of the Universalist church. He is an accomplished gentleman, of easy and pleasing address, suave in manner, very approachable, and a genial, interesting, entertaining companion, and his life's record gives evidence of his great versatility. He served in the war of 1812, and his widow is still living, at the advanced age of ninety- four years. George W. Tucker (father) was born in Bath, and spent his life there, where he was a large real estate owner. He was a dem- ocrat and a member of the Universalist church. In 1826, he married Mary A. Reed, and to them were born three sons and two daughters. One son, George W., was for many years a sea captain in the merchant marine, but has re- tired, and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. Another son, Henry S., is a stock broker in Rochester, N. Y.
Charles E. Tucker was educated in the pub- lic schools of Bath, and at St. Lawrence uni- versity, at Canton, this State. He entered the Universalist ministry and occupied pulpits for thirteen years, in Maine, Massachusetts, New Haven, Conn., and Titusville, Pa. In 1880 he exchanged theology for business, and en- gaged in the production of oil in Bradford, Pa., where he remained ten years. In the spring of
1890 he came to Jamestown, and entered into partnership with F. N. Marvin, in the manu- facture of shoes, the firm name being Tucker & Marvin. They manufacture the finest grades of ladies and misses' shoes. Mr. Tucker still retains his interest in the oil business in Brad- ford, Pa., and also owns a plantation of eight hundred and sixty-two acres on the James river in Virginia, where he breeds and raises blooded stock.
B ENJAMIN NICHOLS is a son of Andrew and Cordelia (Holcomb) Nichols, and was born January 1, 1835, in Jefferson county, N. Y. His paternal grandfather, David Nichols, was also a native of Jefferson connty, where he died in 1830. He married Jerusha Spinning, who bore him these children : Elijah, Andrew (father), Lucretia, George, Dimick and Juliann. His maternal grandfather, Sullivan Holcomb, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, and emigrated to Jefferson county, New York, where he resided until his death. He was born in 1776. He was a farmer by occupation, but served as a sol- dier during the war of 1812-15. He was in the battles of Lundy's Lane and Chippewa,
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
being captured by the enemy in the latter en- tie; Maud C. (deceased), who married Selam gagement. He married Abigail Lee, who bore Parker ; and Pearl L., married to F. H. Oaks. him a son and four daughters. The son, Scth, Grandchild-Maude Allene, daughter of Sclam located in Jefferson county. The father of Bell- and Maud Parker. 1132141 jamin was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1806, and removed to Chautauqua county about 1870, locating in Poland, where he is now living. He is a farmer by occupation, in poli- tics a stanch republican and in religion a Meth- odist, being a consistent member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. He married Cordelia Holcomb, who still lives, aged eighty. They had five sons and three daughters, all living except the eldest daughter. Of the others, Ira C. is a mill-man, residing in Kennedy ; Seth L. is a stock-dealer, who makes a specialty of fine horses, in Minnesota ; Andrew, stock-dealer in Minnesota, and Isaac C., who lives in Ashland, Wisconsin, and is a miner, owning and operating extensive iron-mines.
Benjamin Nichols was educated in the com- mon schools and in Jamestown academy. He learned the trade of millwright and labored in that vocation from 1852 until 1883, in the latter year engaging in the machinery and foundry business in Jamestown, and has been interested in that business to the present time. When he entered the business he liad as partner a Mr. Babcoek, whose interest he purchased in 1887, his son, C. M., being admitted as partner. Mr. Nichols in polities is a republican and has served the city of Jamestown as alderman. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nichols located in Jamestown in June, 1852, and has been a resident of that eity ever since, esteemed and respected by all who know him.
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