USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 40
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J OSEPH APPLEYARD was born Novem- ber 22, 1834, at a place about one mile west of Haworth-the home of the gifted Bronte family-Yorkshire, England. On the maternal side of his father's family, his ances- tors belonged to the sturdy old Cromwell stock, whose niece married Archbishop Tillotson, who in his time did so much to frame public opinion, lifting up the English clergy, and, by wise counsel, influencing Queen Anne to a marked degree, during her reign. On his father's side he claims connection with the valucd craftsmen imported into England from the Netherlands, on account of their skill in the manipulation of wool, now known as worsted goods. For gen- erations back these commodities were manufac- tured in the homes of the peasants and so satis- fied were they with the profession that eaclı member of the family was inducted into its mysteries, following the footsteps of their sire with a regularity and precision almost without exception. When the subject of this history entered life, the most conspicuous pieces of fur- niture in the home were a number of hand- looms, and the first and last notes of his daily life were those created by the sonorous noise of the flying shuttle, driven by manual force across the web and on the dexterity of which depend- ed both the comfort and necessaries of life.
C. Burgess
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
Put to work, first to wind the yarn on the spools for the filling, then advanced to the loom while yet not in his teens, he became an expert, so that when by the introduction of steam, weaving became centralized in factories, a practical knowledge liad been obtained which made it easy to adapt himself to the new con- dition of things. From the position of weaver to that of overseer was a laudable desire which his ambition soon made possible, and by the realization of which, he aequired a qualification to maintain a distinguished relation to some of the leading manufacturers of the Bradford trade.
ber of the Sons of St. George-a secret society organized for beneficial purposes to its member- ship-and has served as its treasurer for nine years ; Mr. Appleyard is also a prominent mem- ber of the Jamestown Permanent Loan and In- vestment Association.
In 1860 he married Mary, the eldest daugh- ter of John and Jane Ogden of Keighley, York- shire, England, and to them have been born one son and three daughters : the son and one daugh- ter died previous to their coming to the United States; of the others, Sara, a noted voealist, and Ada M., a distinguished artist and decora- tor of china, now live with their parents at No. 39 Center street, Jamestown, New York.
In 1872, through his brother, he concluded an engagement with Hall, Broadhead & Turner to take the management of the weaving depart- EV. CHALON BURGESS, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, is a son of Dr. Jacob and Mary (Tyler) Burgess, and was born at Silver Creek, in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York, June 24, 1817. The Burgess family of America, trace their lineage through Thomas Burgess, who was one of the Pilgrim fathers, who came over in 1630 and settled at Sandwich or Cape Cod. One of his descendants was Dr. Jacob Burgess, who was a native of Lanesboro, Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, where he read medicine, and from which county he came to Silver Creek, in 1811. He was the first phy- sician of Silver Creek and his field of practice was not confined within the limits of the coun- ty, while in many instances he had no road and travelled through the woods by blazed trees. He also practiced among the Indians and after forty years of continuous practice, died at Sil- ver Creek, April 15, 1855, aged eighty years. He was a liberal democrat and a well informed man, who kept acquainted with all scientific matters and pursuits. ment in the enterprise to be established in Jamestown, New York, and in the summer of the following year took up his residence in that city, and set up the requisite machinery, produc- ing the first piece of alpaca ever made in that new industry, and which has given to James- town such a world-wide reputation. After three years of hard service he severed his con- nection with the firm-they having discarded their obligation made by Mr. Turner-and en- gaged with the firm of William Broadhead & Sons, the senior member of which only a short time before, having also withdrawn from the first mentioned firm. In 1876 he began the Broadhead Mills, which stand as a monument of persevering energy and practical skill. With an indomitable will and an assiduous applica- tion, an integrity and devotion rarely paral- leled, for sixteen years he has faithfully striven to keep up to the times and still merits the con- fidence of all who know him. Politically he is a republican, though an unswerving advocate of teniperance; in religious sentiment he is a Methodist and is sustaining the position of trus- Chalon Burgess received his early education in the common schools of Silver Creek, after which he attended Fredonia academy and then tee to the First Methodist Episcopal church in Jamestown. Previous to coming to America he joined the Odd Fellows and now is a mem- , entered Hamilton college, from which he was
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graduated in 1844. After graduation, he was employed for nine months in teaching one of the public schools of Buffalo, New York, and at the end of that time became principal of the schools of Nunda, in Livingston county, which position he held for eighteen months. He then entered the Theological seminary of Auburn, New York, from which he was gradu- ated in 1849 and immediately commenced his ministerial labors. On account of ill health he declined some important work offered him and assumed charge of the Congregational church at Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, where his ministry extended over a period of eleven years. From Little Valley he was called to the Pres- byterian church of Panama, over which his pastorate extended for fifteen years, lacking three months. While there he also had charge of the Congregational church of Ashville for five years. In November, 1875, he becanie pastor of the Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, with which he has faithfully labored ever since until his recent resignation, May 1, 1891. During his efficient pastorate the church has increased from a membership of one hun- dred and forty-four to two hundred and thirty- seveil.
June 2, 1853, Rev. Mr. Burgess married Emma J., daughter of Rev. Charles Johnston, of Ovid, Seneca county, New York. They had three children : Edward S .. professor of Botany and Natural Sciences in the Washington City high school ; Theodore C., professor of Greek and Latin in Fredonia Normal school; and Saralı Julia, now attending Wellesley college.
Rev. Chalon Burgess is a logical and pleas- ing speaker, a courteous gentleman and a deci- ded prohibitionist in political opinion. He is the author of several published sermons, one of which was delivered on the death of Abraham Lincoln and told with power and pathos the story of the martyr, whose achievements and tragic death have made a figure, the like of which has never been equaled in history.
From the New York Evangelist we quote ; " Buffalo Presbytery has furnished two striking exceptions to the proverb ' A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house.' The exceptions are the late Rev. Dr. Grosvenor W. Heacock, who, born and reared in Buffalo, became one of the most honored and beloved ministers the city ever had, and the Rev. Chalon Burgess, who, born and reared in Silver Creek, has just closed in that village a most useful and honorable pas- torate."
From the local paper : " After forty years of service in the Lord's vineyard, he seeks retire- ment in a community which honors and respects him as a profound scholar, a keen thinker, an upright Christian, a citizen of whom all are proud."
E LIAS H. JENNIER was a farmer of the town of Busti, prominent on account of his intellectual power and long connection with educational work. He was a son of Stephen and Betsey Jennier, and was born in Essex county, New York, in 1826, and came to Chau- tauqua county with his father when only eight years of age, and lived in the town of Har- mony, where they stayed a short time, and then went to Belvidere, Illinois, where the ensuing seven years were spent. In 1841, when only fifteen years of age, Mr. Jennier, who had de- veloped marked aptitude for study, returned to this county and adopted the profession of school teaching, and in the years following taught in nearly all the principal schools of the county. Some of this county's men, whose names are written highest on the scroll of fame, received their instruction from him. He was the clerk of the board of supervisors for twenty-six years, and served upon the board for a long time. Politically he was a republican, took a great interest and kept well posted in political matters, as well as the general news of the day. In 1844 he married Louisa Pier, a daughter
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
of Abram Pier, a resident of Busti, now de- ceased. By their union four children were born to them. Mr. Jennier was a gentle husband and a kind father, and was happiest when enter- taining a company of his friends. In connec- tion with his other work he operated a farm, and belonged to the Grange and the Knights of Honor.
Elias H. Jennier died in 1883, leaving a sor- rowing family to mourn his loss. His wife now resides on the old homestead, two miles from Jamestown, and has re-married to Smith Homer, whom she knew in youth. Mr. Homer spent thirty-eight years on the Pacific coast, and saw much of the life of the'49ers and others of the early adventurers, who were drawn thither by the visions of Golconda's wealth. He is now happily located with his wife at their pleasant home.
G EORGE L. SKINNER is one of the most substantial and prosperous farmers in the town of Portland, and has reached this condi- tion of affluence by his own exertions, industry and good management. He is a son of David and Mary (Williams) Skinner, and was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, September 30, 1840. Being now in his fifty-first year and having lived temperately, he is in the prime of life. David Skinner came to Chautauqua county from Chenango, where he was born in 1802, and settled in the town of Portland. During the past seventy years he has been a farmer, and still lives upon the beautiful place which he cut out from the virgin forest, and although past eighty-seven years of age, he is enjoying health that is re- markable. At one time he was the largest property owner in the town, but a great deal of it has been sold to different parties, although he is still the possessor of a large acreage. David Skinner is a democrat, and was highly pleased when his party succeeded in electing a president in the campaign struggle of 1884. Mr. Skin-
ner traces his origin to the Emerald Isle, but the family was transplanted to American soil nearly a century ago. He married Mary Wil- liams, who was of Scotch parentage, and who bore him several children. Elial W. Skinner, whose sketch appears elsewhere, is a brother of G. L., and is just two years his elder.
George L. Skinner was reared on a farm to which he has ever since been attached, and his education was acquired at the public schools, which by 1855 and 1860 had reached a good degree of excellence in western New York. He now owns a farm of forty-eight acres, two and one-half miles west of Brocton, and other land in various localities of the town, twenty- five acres being a vineyard.
On July 7, 1866, he married Susan J. Tay- lor, a daughter of Gurdon Taylor, of this town. Their union has been blessed with one child : Gurdon D., now a promising young man, aged nineteen. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have a happy home, and with their pleasant surround- ings are handsomely located to entertain their friends of whom there are many.
G. L. Skinner is a democrat of a stanch and tried character, and is a member, trustee, secretary and treasurer of the church, to which he and his wife have belonged for a num- ber of years. The fraternal and beneficial so- cieties, too, number him on their books, he being active in both the Equitable Aid Union and the Grange. There is no man in the county whose reputation for integrity, honesty and uprightness is brighter, and he has the con- fidence of all.
E UGENE E. DUDLEY was born in Che- nango county, New York, September 6, 1850, and is a son of John and Maria (Hotch- kiss) Dudley, both natives of the county men- tioned. The paternal grandfather, Lyman Dudley, came from Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, and settled as a farmer in Chenango county in 1786. He died there about 1858,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
aged seventy-two years. John Dudley was born in Chenango county in 1814, and was reared on his father's farm, which he assisted in running until 1843, when he came to Broc- ton and located. He still resides there a re- tired farmer. Farming and dairying was his life-long occupation, and by them a compe- tence was amassed. John Dudley is now sev- enty-seven years old, -a universalist and a democrat. He married Maria Hotchkiss, of Chenango county, in 1843, and by her had six children. She died in 1861.
Eugene E. Dudley spent his early life on his father's farm, and received such education as the district schools could furnish. When seventeen years of age, he received a position as brakeman on the L. S. and M. S. R. R., running between Cleveland and Erie, and fol- lowed that occupation for four years.
On November 19, 1873, he married Ellen S. Derby, a daughter of Blanchard Derby, of Cassadaga, this county, and moved on his farm, which consists of forty-five acres, located three-quarters of a mile out of Portland vil- lage. He has a fine grape orchard, and gives much attention to growing that fruit. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have three children, two sons and one daughter : Walter E., Frank H. and Clara F. Mrs. Dudley was a pleasant and Christian lady, devoted to her husband and family, and numbering a large circle of friends. She died May 19, 1888, aged thirty-five years.
E. E. Dudley is a member of Summit Lodge, No. 219, Free and Accepted Masons, which meets at Westfield; is a democrat, a genial gentleman, and one of the most enter- prising and substantial residents of the town.
W INSLOW SHERMAN is a quiet, unas- suming gentleman, but nevertheless one of the solid and substantial farmers of the town of Busti, in which he lives. He is the son of Nicholas and Hannah (Winslow) Sher- man, and was born in the town mentioncd,
January 9, 1824. The father, Nicholas Sher- man, was a native of Washington county, this State, and was one of the earliest actual settlers who came to Chautauqua. He located in the town of Busti shortly after the beginning of the present century, having secured a large tract of land from the Holland Land Com- pany. His property was more than five hun- dred acres in extent, and upon his arrival was a virgin forest. With the keen blade of his axe he felled the trees, which at that time were too plentiful to be valuable, and, as the easiest means to get rid of them, they were burned. He was a Quaker by faith, and in politics a republican, and was elected to some of the town offices. Mr. Sherman died in 1868, aged seventy-nine years ; he was a kind, good man, and entirely devoted to his family, upon whose comfort and welfare he spared no pains. He married Hannah Winslow, who was born in Cayuga county, New York. She was a de- scendant of Gov. Winslow, of Massachusetts, and died in 1877, having attained the age of eighty-four years. She too passed away, con- soled by her trust and faith in the Quaker religion.
Winslow Sherman was early taught to toil, and passing his life upon his father's farm, he was educated at the common schools, whose course of instruction at that time was nominal. His life's work has been farming, and he is now the owner of the property upon which he resides.
January 1, 1848, he married Laura A. White, a daughter of David White, who lived at North Collins, Erie County, New York. The fruit of their union was seven children, three sons and four daughters : Cynthia A. is the wife of Clinton Davis, and resides at Tidi- oute, Pa .; Jennie P. married Fred William- son, and she has her residence on the old homestead ; Annie W. and her husband, Will E. Dennison, are residents of Council Grove, Kansas ; Dora O. is married to Frank P. Stod-
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
dard, a Baptist minister located at Amsterdam, New York ; Byron W. is a farmer in the town of Busti, and married Annie B. Sterns; Erie is married to Emma A. Hudson, and lives in Livingston, Montana, where he and his brother Merle, who is single, have a large cattle ranch. Winslow Sherman is a stalwart republican, but is modest and unassuming, and he stands with the foremost substantial citizens of the town of Busti.
and Sarah both are dead. Otis Hitchcock was a whig and, during the slavery agitation, became an abolitionist. He held a number of local offices which he filled with fidelity. The Baptist church occupied a warm place in his heart and he served it as a deacon for many years. He was but a boy at the breaking out of hostilities in our second war with the mother country but he enlisted and did gallant service on the Canadian frontier. Early in life he saw that the chief requisite to make a man successful in life was tact and a good education and he began to devise plans for the improvement and popularizing of our educational system. He held a position on the school commission and was one of the projectors and supporters of Chamberlain Institute. Being a careful and hard-working farmer, he accumulated consider- able property, which he handled with skill. Mr. Hitchcock took a deep interest in public affairs and although conservative in his views, was thoughtful and philanthropic in disposition.
M ILO HITCHCOCK is a prominent and progressive agriculturist of Kennedy, this county, who has become a representative citizen through his own strong personality and vigor- ous industry. He is a son of Otis and Sarah (Delano) Hitchcock and was born September 30th, 1832, in the town of Randolph. The paternal grandfather, Bethnel Hitchcock, came from Massachusetts when quite a young man and settled near Bloomfield but afterwards moved to Henrietta, Monroe county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and at its close Milo Hitchcock secured his early training on his father's farm ; his elementary education was received at the common schools and was supple- mented by a course at Randolph academy. When he stepped forth to battle with the world, his first work was lumbering but he finally settled back to farming, to which he found him- self best adapted. In the latter '50s he went west but returned to Cattaraugus county in 1861 and bought the old homestead and lived upon it for two years. The ensuing twenty years were passed in buying and selling farms, several exchanges being made where he saw it was profit- able, and in 1884 he came to Poland town, Chautauqua county, where he now resides. came home and died. His mother's family came from Cayuga county, New York and was of Scotch extraction. Otis Hitchcock was born in the Empire State, May 9th, 1795, and spent his childhood and youth on a farm. His par- ents were not wealthy, and, although the young man went to school in early youth, as soon as his services became of some value, he was put to work, first at farm laboring but arose to the dignity of a landed proprietor at Henrietta, Monroe county, while yet young. He removed to Randolph about the year 1824, where, fol- lowing farming, he stayed the remainder of his life, with the exception of two years that he lived in Niagara county, New York. He died On March 23d, 1862, he married Louise Hill, a daughter of Julius Hill, a prominent farmer of Cattaraugus county and Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock became the parents of six children ; Harriet E., born Christmas day, 1862; Ger- trude M. ; Frank G. ; Fred ; Melva and Flor- June 19th, 1873, at the age of seventy-eight ycars. He married Sarah Delano and became the father of twelve children, ten of whom reached maturity : Truman, Jefferson, Harriett, Adaline, Eliza, Edwin, Milo, Sarah, Mary and Alvin. Alvin died in July 1864, and Adaline | ence M. Mclva died in infancy, Harriet E.
18
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
became the wife of George M. Wilhelm, of Randolph, Gertrude married E. M. Bush of Kennedy, and Frank married Nellie Harris ; she died September 17th, 1890.
Milo Hitchcock is identified with the Repub- lican party and was assessor of the town of Randolph. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, was a director of the County Agri- cultural Society and has served on the school board and excise committee. He keeps himself well posted on current events and is one of the most intelligent and well-read men in his town.
W ILLIAM HUNT was an intelligent and progressive farmer of Ripley town, whose aim in early life was to attain a superior educa- tion and prepare for a professional career, but poor health diverted his course when he mastered common English and the rudiments of science, and prevented his entering college. William Hunt was a son of Samuel and Mary (Prender- gast) Hunt, was born in the town of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, January 29, 1822, and died there on the first day of Decem- ber, 1869, honored and respected by all who knew him. The paternal grandfather, William Hunt, was a native of Washington county, this State, and came from there to Chautauqua town and county, and settled on lot 29, twp. 3, which lay contiguous to Chautauqua lake, where he lived until his death in 1845, aged seventy-seven years. He had nine children who reached mature ages and had families. Thomas Pren- dergast (maternal grandfather), the second son of William Prendergast, Sr., was born in Pawl- ing, N. Y., September 15, 1758, and married Deborah Hunt, who was born August 25, 1774. They came to Ripley in the fall of 1805, having made the long trip to Tennessee and back in wagons. Thomas Prendergast purchased three hundred acres of land in the town and lived upon it until he died June 3, 1842, aged eighty- four years. His wife died August 9, 1846. They had two children : Stephen, who became
very prominent in the county, and died January 31, 1852; and Mary (mother of subject), who, with her husband, Samuel Hunt, lived upon a part of the Prendergast farm after her father's death. Samuel Hunt was born in Washington county about 1776, but came to Ripley with his father and married Mary Prendergast in 1821. They had three children : William, Maria and Eliza, the latter two being successively the wife of Dr. Simeon Collins, now dead.
William Hunt was reared on his father's farm, and carly developing a fondness for knowledge, he was given every opportunity for acquiring it. After learning the lessons of the district schools he was sent to the Westfield academy, where he was prepared for college, but before his ambition could be realized it was discovered that the state of his health would not allow him to give study the application which he desired and the idea was abandoned. He then returned to the farm, from which so many American scholars, states- men and warriors have sprung.
On September 2, 1844, he married Augusta Mann, a daughter of Jeremiah Mann, of Ripley. Mr. Hunt continued farming until the grave reaper summoned him, December 1, 1869, when but forty-seven years of age. Jeremiah Mann was a native of Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., where he was born July 5, 1800, and twenty- five years later he came to Ripley. The next year he moved to North East, Pa., and remained eleven years, and then returned to Ripley, and lived until September 11, 1868, when he died. He was universally esteemed as a citizen, and had a strong hold upon the public confidence. He was a republican, active in the politics of the county, and was elected to the State assem- bly in 1844. Progression and public improve- ments had his attention to a large degree, and when the Buffalo and Erie railroad was con- structed he was one of its first directors. Mr. Mann was six feet tall, broad-shouldered and straight, and being finely proportioned was of striking appearance. He married Clarissa
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Brockway, a daughter of Burban Brockway, of the same town, who was a prominent citizen and a Christian gentleman ; was born at Lyme, Connecticut, March 1, 1767, and died in Ripley, September 2, 1861. Mr. Mann became the father of three daughters : Augusta, Caroline, married William Bell, Jr., of Erie, Pa., dicd March 12, 1875; and Lydia, who became Mrs. Lucius G. Hamilton. Her husband died March 16, 1874, leaving one child, Charles Mann, born January 23, 1874.1
Mrs. William Hunt is now living in Ripley, a woman highly esteemed in social and church circles, who is prominent in all good work that is proposed. She is now in her sixty-fifth year, and is enjoying excellent health.
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