USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 4
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On November 10, 1856, Mr. Niehols married Jane A. Taylor, a daughter of Eli Taylor, by whom lie has had these children : Delia, married to Celestus Wilcox, of Kennedy, Chautauqua county, by occupation a painter, still residing in that town ; Melvin C. (deceased) ; Charles M., in business with his father in Jamestown ; Myr-
N ORMAN R. THOMPSON, a veteran sol- dier of the Army of the Potomac, who served his country well and honorably in the trying times of war and equally as well in the piping times of peace, is a son of Milliard C. and Samantha (Bailey) Thompson, and was born in Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, September 10, 1837. His paternal grandfather, Abel Thompson, emigrated from the eastern part of New York to Stock- ton and ereeted the first house in that town, where he resided until his death. By oecupa- tion he was a farmer. The maternal grand- father of Norman R. Thompson, was a native of the central part of New York State, but re- moved to and settled in Stockton where he resided until his death. The father of Norman R. Thompson was born in 1811, in the central part of the State of New York, and was about eight years of age when his parents removed to Stockton. After receiving such education as the common schools of that day afforded, he learned the tailor's trade, continuing in that business during his active life. In politics lie was a stanch republican, and was honored witlı the several offices within the gift of his towns- men, conscientiously discharging the duties of each. In his early youth and manhood, he was a Presbyterian, but later became a believer in the tenets of the Methodist church. He mar- ried Samantha Bailey, and she bore him the following children : Harriet C., who married W. W. Seeley, a carpenter and joiner, residing in Delanti, N. Y .; Byron W., who married Louisa Bisell, and resides in Spartansburg, Pa. He served three years in the army during the Rebellion, enlisting in 1862, in Co. I, 112th New York Volunteers, and took part in the battles of Cold Harbor, siege of Suffolk and
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
through the campaign in Florida. He was wounded in battle, but recovered ; Frederick, a clerk in a drygoods store in Cleveland, Ohio; Almedia R. (dead); Sarah J. (died young); Ella M., married to Samuel Riddle, who lives in Bradford, Pa., where he is superintendent of an oil lease ; Mary F., married to Hiram Hart, a painter in Delanti, N. Y .; George M., mar- ried to Hattie Miller, and living in Jamestown, where he is a night-watchman; Eva (dead); and Norman R.
Norman R. Thompson acquired his educa- tion, mainly at Westfield academy, this county. After graduating therefrom, he worked by the month on a farm, for a season, and then engaged in the more congenial vocation of teaching school, in which he continued for forty consecu- tive terms. He was appointed superintendent of schools of Warren county, Pa., by State superintendent J. P. Wickersham, in March, 1876, to fill a vacancy for two years, at the end of which time the people were sufficiently appreciative of his indefatigable efforts in pro- moting the interests of the hundreds of school districts, to elect him for the succeeding full term. After serving successfully the entire term, he removed to Jamestown in 1883, and engaged in book-keeping until the spring of 1890, when he was appointed city treasurer of Jamestown. He never aspired to political office, believing the office should seek the man, not the man the office, and his belief has been strengthened by the popular vote in each case where he has been an office holder at the re- quest of his constituents. In religion he is an Independent Congregationalist. His record as a soldier is commensurate to that of his life as a citizen. He obeyed the summons of his coun- try when she was in peril, and enlisted in Co. G, 49th regt. New York Volunteers, in August, 1861, Col. D. D. Bidwell commanding, and served three years. He entered as a, private soldier and was soon promoted to sergeant and when honorably discharged, was regimental and
commissary sergeant. He participated in every battle from the time of his enlistment, in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, until his discharge. Three times he was wounded, but he declined to leave his post of duty. He several times narrowly escaped being captured by the enemy. He is an enthusiastic secret society man, being an active member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. and A. M., James M. Brown Post, No. 285, G. A. R., Jamestown Lodge, No. 34, A. O. U. W., Chaut. Lake Lodge, No. 46, Knights of Honor, Eureka Lodge, No. 20, Royal Templars of Temperance; all in Jamestown. Thus the record of his life offers the best evidence of his usefulness as a citizen, of his worth as a man, and of the esteem which is justly his.
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He married, August 18, 1868, Kate Swift, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Swift, natives of New England, but residents of Carroll and Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., at the time of their death.
C HARLES LYON is a son of Alexander and Olive (VanBerger) Lyon, and was born February 12, 1819, at Oxford, Chenango county, New York. His paternal grandfather, was a native of Washington county, this State, but emigrated to Chenango county where he died. Charles Lyon's maternal grandfather, who was a native of Holland, emigrated to America and settled in Can- andaigua, this State, where he resided until his death. He was a patriotic man and served his country well and nobly, doing his full duty as a soldier during the War of the Revolution. He married Hannah Knapp. Alexander Lyon (father) was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1776, and removed to Tompkins county, this State, in 1825, where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and during the exciting times following the disappearance of William Morgan, he was an intense anti-Mason and afterward affiliated with the Whig and Repub-
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C B. Sellwood
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lican parties, never taking an active part, how- ever. In religion he was a consistent member · of the Baptist church and held the office of deacon for a score of years. He was married but once, and had born to him thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters.
Charles Lyon was educated in the common schools, and afterwards tilled his father's farm in Tompkins county until the autumn of 1844, when he emigrated to Pennsylvania and en- gaged in the lumber business. In 1848 he re- turned to New York, locating in Jamestown. In politics Charles Lyon was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, in 1856, when he became a member of that party and still continues firmly grounded in the faith. His first vote was cast for Gen. William Henry Harrison, of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too" fame, the grandfather of the present president, and he has steadily voted the straight Whig or Repub- lican ticket ever since. His standard of charac- ter is above the average and he has the reputa- tion of fully living up to that standard, exem- plifying in his private and business life all that a good citizen of the best republic in the world should be.
On September 11, 1839, Mr. Lyon nnited in marriage with Hester A. Chapin, a daughter of Roderick and Sarah (Clough) Chapin. She was born in 1817. Her paternal grandfather, Roderick Chapin, was a native of Washington county, this State, and was of English ancestry. He removed to Chautauqua county and lived with the father of Mrs. Lyon, who came to this county and settled in the town of Kiantone (then Carroll), in 1828, when there were not more than four houses south of the creek that runs through Jamestown. He was a farmer and extended his usefulness to mankind by officiating as a preacher in the Methodist Epis- copal church. In the year preceding the War of the Rebellion, he was a stanch and uncom- promising abolitionist. Mrs. Lyon was one of a family of seven children. To their union
have been born three children, two sons and one daughter : Chapin J., who died at the age of forty-four ; Septimus, who married Charlotte Howard, and is now a painter and paper-hanger in St. Charles, Iowa; and Sarah, who resides with her parents.
C LARK RAWSON LOCKWOOD, of sturdy
and honorable New England ancestry, has been for about forty years before the public as a prominent lawyer of Chautauqua county, New York, where he now resides. He was born in the town of Schroon, Essex county, New York, June 6, 1827, and is a son of Jere- miah and Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood. Jer- emiah Lockwood, Jr., (for that was his father's name) was born at Lanesborough, Berkshire county, Mass., May 17, 1797. His mother was born at the head of Schroon Lake, Essex coun- ty, N. Y., February 4, 1800, and is said to have been the first white female child born in the town of Schroon. Jeremiah Lockwood, Sr. (paternal grandfather of C. R. L.), came from Massachusetts to Schroon in the year 1810. His birth-place was Norwalk, Conn., but when quite young he moved .to Massachusetts, where on January. 19, 1776, he was united in mar- riage with Mehitable Clark. At the time of their removal to Schroon they had three sons living, of whom Jeremiah, Jr., was one. Jere- miah, Jr. and Amanda Rawson were married at Schroon Lake about the year 1819, and con- tinued to reside in the town of Schroon down to the death of Amanda, which occurred June 22, 1850. The permanent home of Jeremiah, Jr., and family was about two miles north of Schroon Lake, where for many years they kept what was known as "Lockwood's Tavern." November 20, 1856, Jeremiah, Jr., married Mrs. Margaret McCaffre Allen, a widow lady, with whom he continned to live down to her deatlı, which occurred May 15, 1868, and about June 1, 1868, he removed to Chestertown, Warren county, N. Y., where he continued to
3
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
reside with his daughter Harriet (who was the solved to engage in something for permanent business, and through the assistance of Mr. A. wife of Charles Fowler,) down to his death, which occurred April 19, 1869. Of the nine R. Catlin, then of Jamestown, he secured an children born to Jeremiah, Jr., and Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood, there are now living : Harriet R., Henry F., Pamelia J. and Clark R. Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood was the daughter of Simeon and Anna (Holden) Raw- son, who moved from Shrewsbury, Vt., to Schroon, in the year 1798, and where both re- mained down to their deaths which occurred many years since. There were born to them eleven children, the last of whom, Safford Raw- son, of Leroy, Genesee county, N. Y., died in May, 1891, being ninety-six years of age De- cember 9, 1890. If there be credit in adding multitudes to the hunian family, then, indeed, both the Lockwoods and Rawsons are entitled to very much, for from their households have sprung numerous children who, to greater or less extent, have made their mark in the world.
Clark R. Lockwood received his early edu- cation in the common schools of his native town. At the age of about sixteen years he entered the wagon-shop of Jonathan Stevens, of Castleton, Vt., for the purpose of learning the trade. His health was not good, and after remaining in the shop about eighteen months, he was obliged to leave the business, whichi he did and returned to his home. After recruiting in health, and as soon as able, he commenced attending school with the view of fitting him- self for other duties. For several winters he taught school in his native district and adjoin- ing towns, and summers attended school at Ti- conderoga, N. Y. and Poultney, Vt. Consid- erable of his time was devoted to the learning of the French language ; and hoping to make greater proficiency therein, he went to Canada where he remained in a French family for quite a time, learning to speak the language, which he did so well as to enable him to instruct oth- ers. During these several years his physical healtlı was very much improved, and he re-
opportunity for reading law in the office of Or- sell Cook, at that time an active and popular lawyer also residing in Jamestown. Almost penniless and with but little encouragement, ex- cept through his own resolution, in August, 1849, he left home for Jamestown where he- arrived August 24, and on the next day com- menced as a law student with Mr. Cook. This proved to be a very favorable opportunity for learning law, as Mr. Cook had an extensive cli- entage and the field for practice in the lower courts was such that theoretical and practical knowledge were constant aids to each other. Mr. Cook, too, was an industrious worker and gave to his students the fullest opportunities for improvement, so that the main things needed for professional success, were willingness of and actual application, all of which C. R. Lock- wood possessed. Poverty of circumstances com- pelled constant labor and, after reading and office work for less than a year, he commenced trying cases in Justice's court, from which he derived a sufficiency to nearly support him, in that great economy in dress was exercised, and he boarded himself in the office where he kept " bachelor's hall" for several years. During this time he taught a term of school in what was known as the Pine street school-house, then located on the corner of Fourth and Pine streets in Jamestown. During the winter of 1852 and 1853, Mr. Lockwood attended the Fowler law school at Ballston Spa, N. Y., and in the spring of 1853, at a general term of the Supreme Court, he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, and subsequently in the United States Courts. After his first ad- mission, in 1853, he returned to the office of Mr. Cook where he remained but a short time, and then entered into a law partnership with William M. Newton, under the name of " Lock- wood & Newton." This firm lasted to about.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
August 25, 1855, when the former principal and on East Second street four stories. Building is student formed a partnership known as "Cook of brick and stone, and was constructed under & Lockwood." Under this name they prac- the general superintendence of his son-in-law, Mr. A. E. Allen. In the block is " Allen's Opera-house," which has become quite noted in the theatrical world. Indeed the building is a bee-hive of industry, and to say that it is an ornament to the now "city of Jamestown," is no more than its merits deserve. ticed their profession, down to August, 1880, when Mr. Jerome B. Fisher was admitted into the firm, which then assumed and continued practice, under the name of " Cook, Loekwood & Fisher." About this time Mr. Lockwood's health began to fail and became so poor that in 1881, under the advice of his physician, he re- tired from the firm, and for many months re- frained almost entirely from the practice of his profession.
On July 6, 1853, Clark R. Lockwood and Miss Eunice E. Wheeler, of the town of Schiroon, were united in marriage, and soon thereafter they commenced housekeeping in Jamestown, where they have ever since resided. Nehemiah and Olive (Fenton) Wheeler were the parents of Eunice E. Their residence was at the head of Paradox Lake, town of Schroon, where Mr. Wheeler had for many years been a prosperous, and for that country an extensive lumber dealer. Their family consisted of three daughters and one son, Eunice E. being the oldest. All the children are now living : Car- oline F. and Laura W. residing in Jamestown ; and Eliza A. and Edward A. residing in Col- orado. Their parents died several years since. Nehemiah was quite a prominent man in his town, for many years holding important offices. His wife, Olive Fenton, was a native of Con- necticut, and born in the year 1805, March 5. To Clark and Eunice E. have been born three children : Olive Amanda, wife of A. E. Allen, now residing in Jamestown ; Lizzie W., wlio died in her childhood ; and Clark W., wlio con- tinucs to live with his parents.
It was during the year 1881 that Clark R. built the " Opera-house block" which is located on East Second street, Jamestown. This block is 87₺ fcet on East Second street, and extends back in depth 150 feet to East First strect. On East First street it is six stories in height, and
After about eighteen months Mr. Lockwood's health had so much improved that he re-engaged in professional work and, establishing his office in his block, he continued in practice under the name of different partnerships down to the year 1888, when he formed a partnership with Fred. R. Peterson, under the name of " Lockwood & Peterson," which yet exists. Believing in the integrity of creation and liberal in opinion, C. R. Lockwood has ever repudiated the monstros- ities and absurdities of " popular religion," and to-day rejoices that advancing years verify his belief and justify his course. Unyielding in the belief that freedom is the natural and should be the governmental right of every American citi- zen, regardless of color or sex, he was active in republican ranks, and no one more gloried at the emancipation of the slave than did he ; but when the party repudiated the well-earned and equal rights of citizen women, he regarded it as having violated plighted faith and no longer entitled to the fidelity of one whose principles of Liberty knew no distinction of right thereto between man and woman. Latterly he has de- voted liis energies to " political equality," be- lieving it the sublimity of American citizen- ship, as it will be the ultimate result from in- tellectual growth, personal need and State and National demand.
Thoughi nearly sixty-four years of age, Mr. Lockwood has much of mental and physical vigor remaining, and with the exercise of ordi - nary energy, there is considerable yet in store for him to perform; and judging the future from the past, we may rest assured that it will
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
bear the impress of wonted perseverance and industry.
p ETER H. HOYT, a prominent and re- spected citizen of Jamestown, and who is a successful, self-made man, having begun the battle of life with comparatively nothing and accumulated a comfortable fortune, is a son of John and Phœbe (Stiles) Hoyt, and was born July 22, 1838, at Mt. Salem, Sussex county, New Jersey. His paternal great-grandfather, Ebenezer Hoyt, was born in Stamford county, Connecticut, in 1712, and married Mary Green, of the same State. He served in the war of 1812 and assisted in drawing a chain across the Hudson river at Newburg, to prevent the Brit- ish vessels further ascending that river. Peter Hoyt (paternal grandfather) was born in Stam- ford county, October 24, 1764, and removed to Orange county, N. Y., where he died. He was a farmer, and married Obedience Haines, a daughter of John Haines, of Dutchess county, this State. Lewis Stiles (maternal great-grand- father) was a native of Connecticut and removed to Orange county, N. Y., where he died. John Hoyt (father) was born in Stamford county, May 7, 1786, removed to Orange county, then in 1810 to Sussex county, N. J., where he pur- chased a tract of three hundred acres of land, and two years later enlisted and served in the war of 1812. He was a very active democrat, a member of the Baptist church and died in 1847, at the age of sixty-one years. His brother Peter also served in the war of 1812. He mar- ried Phobe Stiles, by whom he had ten chil- dren-six sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Archibald is a farmer in Orange county, N. Y .; Joel is a merchant in Newport, R. I., but resides in Jamestown ; John T. is a specu- lator in live-stock in Orange county ; Peter H .; Jerard R. is also a speculator in live-stock at Clinton, Pa. ; and Louis S. is a coal dealer, iron manufacturer and railroad man in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Peter H. Hoyt was educated in the common schools of Mt. Salem, N. J., and at the early age of fourteen years was left to do for himself. After leaving school he began business, at twenty years of age, on his own account, and opened a grocery in Jersey City, where he remained seven years. In 1865 he went to New Castle, Pa., and engaged in the dry-goods, carpet and grocery business with his brother, L. S. Hoyt, under the firm-name of P. H. Hoyt & Bro., where he remained three years. In January, 1869, he came to Jamestown and opened a dry-goods, carpet and clothing store at No. 32 Main street, which building he now owns. He continued in this business until the autumn of 1882, when he sold his stock and leased the building, in- tending to go to Texas, but abandoned the idea and, purchasing some real estate on West Third street, built a fine brick block of tenement- houses known as the Hoyt block, extending one hundred and twenty feet front and forty-five feet deep, comprising five four-story houses, each containing twelve rooms finished throughout in cherry, maple and oak and supplied with the modern conveniences. He has a fine barn in the rear and keeps a half-dozen good horses. He is somewhat interested in real estate in Jamestown. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d regt., New Jersey Vols., going out as corporal, but was afterwards promoted to first lieutenant of Co. K. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run. Politically Mr. Hoyt is a democrat, is at present a member of the city council of Jamestown and is a member of Blue Lodge, No. 243, F. and A. M., at New Castle, Pa. In December, 1865, Mr. Hoyt united in mar- riage with Jennie E. Hogen, a daughter of John D. Hogen, a real estate broker of Paterson, N. J.
H AMLIN BLACKMARR was a son of Ransom L. and Eliza (Bowe) Blackmarr, and was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, September 3, 1843, and died February 25, 1886.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
Hamlin Blackmarr was a man of good edu- cation, which he acquired at the Allegheny col- lege, in Meadville, Pa., and then engaged in the mercantile business in Perrysburg, N. Y., with his father, afterwards going to Ohio, where he continued in the same business. Suc- ceeding this he returned to Pennsylvania, and began drilling for oil, some of his ventures be- ing the wonder and admiration of his less astute contemporaries. While a member of the Brad- ford Oil Exchange, it is recorded that he made the heaviest deals on record at that time. His ability ranked with the highest, and he was en- abled to secure a fortune in a few years. The fine residence at No. 417 East Second street, where Mrs. Blackmarr now rives, was purchased by lim.
In May, 1870, Mr. Blackmarr united in marriage with Mary Gray, a daughter of Dr. Henry and Mary (Parkman) Gray. This fam- ily were natives of New York city, but came to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus county, where Dr. Gray practiced medicine. He was the father of five sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Blaekmarr had but one ehild, Frank Hamlin Blackmarr, who was born February 16, 1871, and at present is attending the Allegheny col- lege, where he is preparing for a professional life.
In political matters Mr. Blaekmarr was a republican, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He stood high in his community, and was recognized as a man of good business ability. His loss was deeply felt by his many friends, and his remains are interred in Lake View Cemetery, Jamestown.
F FRANK B. FIELD, of Jamestown, now actively engaged in the undertaking and picture-frame business, is a son of Chauncey T. and Emeline (Rice) Field, and was born in the city of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, April 4, 1852. His grandfather, Tyler Field, was a native of Brattleboro, Vermont,
from which place he came to Jamestown in 1829. He was a tanner by trade, but after fol- lowing the tanning business in Jamestown for some years, he opened a boot and shoe store, which he continued until his death. He was a democrat, and married a Miss Dean, who died and left one child, the father of the subject of this sketch. He married for his second wife a Miss Cunningham, who bore him nine children. Chauncey T. Field (father) was born in Ver- mont, in 1828. He was reared at Jamestown, where he engaged, at an early age, in the mer- cantile business. He was successively a mem- ber of the dry goods firms of Sawdrey & Field, and Field & Ingersoll, on Main street. On January 18, 1875, he associated his son, the subject of this sketch, with him in the boot and shoe business, which he conducted until July 18, 1885, when he disposed of his stock of goods, and retired from active business life. He is a democrat in politics, and a prominent member of Mt. Morialı Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was treasu- rer for many years. November 25, 1850, he married Emeline Rice, and they have two chil- dren : Frank B. and M. Genevieve. The lat- ter died March 30, 189], and Mrs. Emeline Field died May 25, 1891. Both mother and daughter were favorably known in the social circles of Jamestown, and their death was uni- versally mourned.
Frank B. Field grew to manhood in his native city, where he received his education at the Jamestown academy. Leaving school he became a clerk in a dry goods store, and at twenty-one years of age went to Colorado, where he spent some time in gold and silver mining. He then became a salesman in the wholesale dry goods house of Field & Lyter (now Marshall, Field & Co.), of Chicago. In 1875, he returned to Jamestown, where he became a partner with his father in the boot and shoe business until 1885, when they sold their store, and he engaged as a traveling salesman with the Jamestown Cane-
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