USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 53
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
a resident of Jamestown, his occupation being that of a boiler-maker, in which he is accounted a skillful workman. Politically he is a demo- crat, and in his religious convictions Roman Catholic, being a member of that church. He married Mary Conigham and has had seven children, two of whom have passed away to realms above, two reside in this county, one son is a resident of Erie, Pa., and a son and a daughter reside in Colorado.
Robert Kane was reared in Dunkirk, where he received a common school education and began the industrial era of his life by learning the same trade that has provided a livelihood for his father, that of a boiler-maker, and when he located in Jamestown, in 1886, he engaged in that business in a large building on Seventh, Eighth aud Monroe streets, manufacturing all kinds of boilers, and employing in their con- struction sixty men. Mr. Kane is also inter- ested in the oil-producing business in Pennsyl- vania. He votes and works for the success of the Republican ticket, and is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Robert Kane married, in December, 1881, Jennie H. Arthur, of Kane, Pa., and to them have been born five children, two sons aud three daughters : Mary Cecelia, Frank, Robert, Jr., Beatrice and Rose, all living in Jamestown, the paternal home.
w ILLIAM E. CANDEE, the well-known capitalist and secretary-office manager for the Martin Anti-Fire Car Heating Co., who is also interested in various enterprises which, when completed, will materially add to the prosperity of our city, was born in Buffalo, Eric county, New York, October 14, 1844, and is the son of Fernando C. and Maria W. (O'Brien) Candee. Eber Candce (grandfather) was a native of Oxford, Connecticut, a carpen- ter by trade, and was one of the mechanics who helped to build the State House in Hartford. He removed to Onondaga county, this State, in
the year 1800, and again to Erie county, where he died, in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety years. Fernando C. Candee is a native of Onondaga county, this State, but removed to Erie county with his father, while yet a boy, and afterwards went to Buffalo and secured a posi- tion as clerk. In 1862 he again moved, this time to New York city, engaging in the ma- chinery business, and continued to reside there until 1889 when he came to Dunkirk, and now makes his home with his son, the subject of the sketch. Politically he is a republican, a man of strict methods in his business transactions, an untiring reader of standard literature, and is now seventy-six years old. He married Maria W. O'Brien, a young woman from Wilkes- Barre, Pa., in 1842, and she is still living, having passed seventy-three years of age.
William E. Candee resided with his parents in Buffalo until sixteen years had passed over his head, receiving a good education in the schools of that city. At the age mentioned he came to Dunkirk and secured a position as clerk in the freight department of the Buffalo and Erie railroad, and remained so engaged until March, 1863, and then went on the road as traveling salesman for the Buffalo Scale com- pany, but his heart was full of patriotism, aud feeling that his services were needed to preserve intact his country, in July of the same year, although less than nineteen years old, lie en- listed in Co. I, 16th regiment, New York Cav- alry, remaining in the service until mustered out September 22, 1865, which was three weeks before attaining his majority. He was dis- charged, having attained the rank of regimen- tal quartermaster-sergeaut, having enlisted just before, Mr. Candee was on duty in New York city during the draft riots. When he received his discharge he went to New York and secured employment as a clerk in the machinery busi- ness, remaining until 1867, when, coming to Dunkirk, engaged with H. & E. S. Coleman, millers aud pork packers, as book-keeper, being
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
connected with them until they quit business ; then, it being 1868, he went to the oil country and staid a year, but returned to Dunkirk and entered into partnership with H. Coleman & Co., hardware merchants, following this until the Centennial year, when he moved on the farm, which has a magnificent vineyard on it, still owned by him in Dunkirk town, and en- tered the Fredonia Chemical company as its treasurer and accountant until they disposed of their business to R. B. Day, with whom he remained until 1888. In the latter year he accepted the position he now holds-one of responsibility and trust-secretary and office manager for the Martin Anti-Fire Car heating company. Mr. Candee is probably without a superior as an accountant ; has helped, and is frequently called as an expert in settling and balancing the books of banks and corporations.
In 1867 he married Grace Coleman, daughter of Harlan Coleman, deceased, of Dunkirk, and has one son and two daughters : Jean McGregor, Bertram Coleman and Marian Camille.
W. E. Candee is a member of the Episcopal church, is a prominent Mason, belonging to Irondequoit Lodge, No. 341, and all the other masonic bodies, and a republican of more than ordinary influence in the councils of the party.
A LSON N. MUNSON. An industry that, although of comparatively recent origin, has grown to considerable proportions within a few years, is the raising, packing and forward- ing of grapes to market. One of the larger operators in this industry is Alson N. Munson, of . Westfield, who is a son of Samuel and Polly (Hulbnrt) Munson, and was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, April 20, 1834. Ancestral history is traced to the historical character, Captain Munson, of two hundred years ago. Samuel Munson, Sr. (grandfather), was a native of Connecticut, moved to Oneida county, this State, prior to 1800, and came from there to Portland town,
where he settled in 1818. He was a brick- maker by trade, and followed it for years. When the war with England, in 1812, made a demand for soldiers, he responded to the call and went to the front, serving with gallantry and distinction. After coming to Portland, he began to farm, and followed it until 1841, when he died, February 27th, aged seventy- nine years. He had eight children,-fonr sons and four dangliters.
Samnel Mnnson (father) was born in 1803 in Oneida connty, where he lived nntil fifteen years of age. Like many farmer boys of the time, his parents thought the farm work para- monnt to "schooling," and his education was acquired during the winter months, when there was no work to be done at home. He came to Portland town in 1818, and, upon attaining manhood, bouglit fifty acres from the Holland Land company, and built a home, which is now owned by Alson N. Mnnson. In 1823 he married Polly Hulburt, of Onondaga connty, and had five children,-four sons and one daughter. His entire life was spent as a farmer, and none better nor more successful was to be found in the town. Good stock was his delight, and plenty of it could always be found in his barns and pastures. Mr. Munson was an active, energetic man, who was anxions to advance the prosperity of the community. He was a republican, but did not engage ac- tively in politics, his taste being more domestic. His wife died July 19, 1875, aged seventy-five years, and he followed her upon the long jour- ney June 9, 1883.
Alson N. Munson was reared in the town of Portland, passing his boyhood and young man- hood upon the farm. He received a good common-school education in the public schools of his district, and then engaged in farming in his own behalf. He spent the whole of his life prior to 1886 farming in Portland town ; then he moved to Westfield, and occupied the pretty farm where he now lives. The residence
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
is a nice frame building exteriorly, and the in the office of the division superintendent. He interior is a comfortable, cheerful home. He was there for a year only, and on May 11, 1874, he obtained a clerkship with the Lake Shore Banking Co., with which he remained until March 6, 1882, when the Merchants' National Bank was opened and he came to them as cashier, which position of trust he has filled with fidelity. still owns the old homestead in Portland, and on its smooth acres has planted a beautiful vineyard, which is producing in large quanti- ties. For the past fourteen years he has been engaged in buying and shipping grapes for a Chicago firm in almost unlimited quantities. The first car-load ever shipped from Westfield station was credited to him.
January 1, 1862, he married Julia Healy, a daughter of William Healy, of Chautauqua town, and they have one child,-Harlan L., who is now a student at Cornell University.
A. N. Munson is a business man of natural and trained ability, a farmer of more than or- dinary success, and a gentleman withi as many friends as he has acquaintances.
OHN H. LASCELLES is the cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Dunkirk, and in this capacity has displayed more than usual ability. He is a son of Arthur and Ann (Tidyman) Lascelles, and was born in Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, New York, Mareh 3, 1856. Arthur Lascelles is a native of England, from whence he came about 1850. £ He settled at once at Dunkirk, where he has lived ever sinee. He was a carpenter by trade and soon secured the position of master carpenter on the western division of the Erie railway, which he main- tained for many years. He now resides in Dunkirk, and has retired from active business, having passed his sixtieth ycar. Mr. Lascelles is a democrat and has served in the council of this city. Mrs. Lascelles is also a native of England, and is yet living, aged about sixty years.
John H. Lascelles was reared in Dunkirk, and received his education at the public schools. He then obtained a place as clerk in a grocery store in Sinclairville, where he remained two years. Following this he took a position in the freight office of the Erie railway, and later was
In 1885 he was married to Annie Moran, daughter of James and Mary Moran, of Buffalo, his wife being a sister-in-law to Charles F. Bishop, the mayor of that city.
J. H. Lascelles is an active democrat and has been city treasurer steadily for eleven years. He has been actively identified with the politics of the city since becoming of age. He has served in the board of education, is a member of the Catholic church, and of the Young Men's Association, of Dunkirk. He is recog- nized as a shrewd, astute business man, and is identified with every movement that will benefit the city of Dunkirk or advanee its interests.
G EORGE M. ARNOLD is a farmer of Port- land town who takes considerable interest in the political welfare of his town. His parents were Hiram and Sally (Eley) Arnold, and he was born in the town of Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, September 23, 1833. His grandfather, Elisha Arnold, was a Connecticut Yankee, of English descent. He was born in 1778, and came to Chautauqua county in 1814. He decided to make a home in Westfield, and engaged in the distilling business which, for that day, was one of magnitude, and also owned and conducted a farm. He died in 1841, when sixty-three years of age. His wife's name was Prudence, who came from Herkimer county. They had twelve children. He was justice of the peace and supervisor of the town for a number of years, a whig politically, and a very enterprising man. Hiram Arnold was born in Chenango county, this State, in 1806, and came with his father to Westfield town when eight
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
years of age. He lived in that town for twenty- one years and then bought the farm in Portland town now occupied by his son, G. M., and moved upon it in 1835. He was also engaged in the saw-mill business and was a prominent and important business man in the section. He died in 1851. He married Sally Eley, who was born in the State of Connecticut in 1811, and is still living with her son, George M. They were the parents of five children.
George M. Arnold was reared upon his father's farm and educated in the public schools. When of sufficient age he learned the trade of a car- penter and joiner, by which he gained his liveli- hood until 1866. The subsequent two years were spent in the Corry car-shops where he had charge of the machinery. In 1868 he returned to his farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, two and one-half miles from the village of Portland, where he has since resided. He has a vineyard that has averaged the unusual yield of nine tons of grapes to the acre.
In 1861 Mr. Arnold married Mary Pecor, a daughter of Benjamin F. Pecor, of this town.
He is a member of the Congregational church, one of its trustees ; belongs to the Lodge, No. 461, Knights of Honor, is a republican, and has held the office of road commissioner, con- stable and assessor. He is the present incum- bent of the last-named office, and has held one or another for twenty-eight years. He is enter- prising and substantial-a good citizen for tlie town.
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T THE REVEREND THOMAS E. CAL- VERT. In the Book of books is re- corded the divine command, " Go forth into all the world and preach the Gospel." The sub- ject of whom we are writing left home and friends in Bonnie Scotlaud to obey the man- dates of this behest. Thomas E. Calvert, min- ister of the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, is a son of William and Mary I. (Jeffrey) Cal- vert, and was born in Annan, Dumfriesshire,
Scotland, February 14, 1858. The family name is from the French Col-vert, meaning " green hill," the founder of the family in Scotland being a French Huguenot who fled to Scotland during the persecutions. The paternal grand- parent, Thomas Calvert, was a son of Herbert Calvert, who held the place known as Orchard Farm, which has for many generations been in the Calvert family. He was a millwright by trade and a dealer in wood. He was born in Canonby, Scotland, and married Grace Hope, by whom he had nine children : James, Ed- ward, Herbert, Thomas, Margaret, Mary, Bar- bara, Grace and William (father). He died about 1850, and is buried in New Abbey, Scotland, and Mrs. Calvert died about 1874, and is buried at the same place. Adam Jef- frey (maternal grandfather) was born in Annan, Scotland, about 1810. He was a tailor and clothier of that town, and was popular and successful. He married Mary Irving, and had five children : John, Richard, Adam, Margaret and Mary. This wife dying, he took for a second, a Mrs. Henderson, who is now living in the town of Moffat, Scotland. Adam Jeffrey died in 1878, and is buried at Annan. William Calvert was born in New Abbey, Scotland, in 1835. While yet young he learned the trade of a millwright, and followed it for many years, but is now manager for the firm of Nich- olson & Anderson, dealers in wood and slate, with whom he has been for thirty years. He is an elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Annan, and is a good and trusted servant. Early realizing that a thorough education was the best legacy that he could leave his children he gave them every advantage. He married Mary I. Jeffrey on May 1, 1857, and has had eight children : Thomas E., Mary, Margaret, William, Grace, Adam, Jeannie and Edward. Adam came to America in 1887, and is now one of the firm of Calvert & Cowley, druggists, at Buffalo, N. Y. None of the others (except- ing subject) came to this country.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
Thomas, when four years of age, was sent to the Annan Female school taught by a Miss Brown, who was considered the best lady teacher in the county. Thomas being an es- pecial favorite, more than usual attention was given to his advancemeut. The text books uscd were grammar, history, geography, arithmetic, the Westminster catechism and the Bible. He was under the intellectual and moral influence of this grand and noble lady until he had at- tained his twelfth year, and it is to the stimulus given by her to his expanding intellect that Mr. Calvert attributes much of his usefulness. Leaving the kind and motherly Miss Brown he was sent to the Annan academy and began the study of language, mathematics and the clas- sics, remaining four years. The paternal Cal- vert had decided that his son, Thomas E., should be a doctor, so at sixteen years of age he was placed in a dispensary to learn medicine, but the boy, led by an unseen but plainly felt hand, decided that he was called upon to preach aud kept up his studies at nights while working during the day, until 1876, when he went to Edinburgh, and matriculated for a course in the arts, his preceptors being Professors Blackie, Greek ; Kelland, mathematics ; Tate, science ; Frazer, metaphysics ; Calderwood, moral phi- losophy ; aud Masson, English literature. He graduated in 1880, taking the degree of A. M., and then took a tutorship in the Highlands until the fall, when he entered the United Pres- byterian Hall at Edinburgh to prepare for the ministry, under the instruction of Prof. Dr. John Ker, to whom Mr. Calvert pays the high- est compliment that tongue can utter ; Rev. Cairns, D. D., Dr. Duff, and Professors John- ston and Patterson. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Edinburgh. He taught several months in prominent private families in the city, came to America in May, 1886, and was first called to preach in the Presbyterian Church at Youngstown, N. Y. While there he was called to the pastorate of the Fredonia
Presbyterian church, and now has a congrega- tion of about five hundred members. Mr. Cal- vert is an eloquent and earnest speaker. Large congregations listen to his preaching every Sun- day, and his sermons are almost entirely care- fully prepared expositions of the Word of God.
On July 31, 1888, Rev. Calvert was married to Lillie A. Woltge, a daughter of William and Anna (Andrews) Woltge, of Buffalo. They have one child, a daughter, named Anna Mary Lillie Woltge. Rev. and Mrs. Calvert made a wedding tour to Scotland, and upon returning they found a home in Fredonia elegantly fur- nished, the gift of Mr. Woltge, it being a pres- ent and a surprise. Rev. Calvert's social qual- ities rank with his oratorical abilities, and dur- ing his stay at Fredonia he has made many warm and appreciative friends.
J OHN F. KEITH, a contractor and well- driller of Mayville, was born in Thurston, Steuben county, New York, March 5, 1848, and is a son of Marius and Eliza (Hawley) Keith. Warren Keith (paternal grandfather) was of New England parentage, being born in Massachusetts, but emigrated to Steubeu coun- ty where he died. His maternal grandfather, William Hawley, was also of New England birth and parentage. Marius Keith (father) was born in Massachusetts, and came to Steu- ben county, where he still lives. In politics he is a republican and in religion a member of the Christian church. In 1839, he married Eliza Hawley and had nine children, five sons and four daughters. One of the sons, Merrill, entered the army in the late civil war, and died at City Point, Virginia, shortly after his enlistment.
John F. Keith was educated in the common schools of his native county, and after leaving school entered the lumber business in that sec- tion, continuing in it six years. He then went to Ohio and other states and engaged in con- tracting and drilling wells. Hc afterwards
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
went into the contracting business in Pennsyl- vania, and is now a resident of Mayville. In politics he is a republican.
John F. Keith was married on September 25, 1872, to Abbie J. Burr, a daughter of George W. Burr, of Steuben county, this State. Their union has been blest with six children, all sons: Burr, Arthur, Jay, Olney, Ellis and Stanley.
died in June, of 1890; Samuel H., a tanner and currier, living a retired life in Manchester, Iowa; Hervey, subject ; Luther, dead; Sabrina, (deceased); John H., a physician, died in 1846; and Peter, living in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he is a physician and wholesale and retail drug- gist.
Hervey Hall was educated in the common schools and the academy at Waterford, Penn- sylvania. He remained at home on his father's farm until twenty-seven years of age, when he bought a farm in the town of Ripley, in 1839, and operated it until 1853 when he moved into the village of Ripley. His present business is that of private banker, though he is practically retired. He is a democrat in politics and served some time as supervisor.
H ERVEY HALL, a leading citizen and business man of Ripley, New York, is a son of Hervey and Sarah (Hull) Hall, and was born in Washington county, New York, town of Granville, February 15, 1812. His ances- tors on both sides were natives of Connecticut, near New Haven. Here also was born his father, who in early life transferred his fortunes In February, 1839, Hervey Hall was first united in marriage to Miss Lavina L. Baird, a daughter of Silas and Hannah Baird, one of the oldest families in Chautauqua county. This marriage resulted in the birth of two chil- dren : Louisa L., (died at the age of twelve years) ; and Alma, died in infancy. In Feb- ruary, 1872, he was again married, this time to Mrs. Elizabeth B. Norton (née Evans). from that State to northern New York. Later he removed to the city of Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1863, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died a few years later at the age of ninety-two years. In his early life Hervey Hall was engaged in the mercantile business, subsequently became a large farmer, in connection with which, he ran a saw and wool carding and cloth dressing mill. Upon coming to Erie county, Pennsylvania, he H ENRY S. MUNSON is one of those who has made a financial success in life without a partner ; a practical exponent of the Amphyc- tion motto: " Commend a wife but remain a bachelor." He is a son of Harris and Minerva (Stiles) Munson, and was born in the present confines of Westfield town, February 6, 1820. Like the other family of Munsons in this and the town of Portland, he is of English extrac- tion and his father came to Chautauqua county in the same year, 1818. Harris Munson was a native of Connecticut, and was born in 1791. He came to this county and purchased from the Holland Land company a tract of woods from which he chopped a farm. The present and coming generations will never know the amount purchased a large tract of land, of eight hun- dred and fifty acres, in which transaction he was unfortunate, as the title to the land was de- fective. Later in life he retired to Erie, Penn- sylvania, where he lived until his death. His politics was that of the Whig and Democratic parties, in neither of which parties did he be- come an aggressive partisan. He was also a member of the Presbyterian church. To his wife were born twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity, two died in infancy and one at the age of fifteen years. His children were Hannah, married to George Hood (deceased) and is now living in Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, at the age of ninety years ; Olive, married to John Hood (both dead); George, i of toil necessary to make a farm in a wooded
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
country, trees to deaden, then to fell, brush to be gathered and burned and stumps to be pulled and builded into a fence. Years and years of toil were spent that the present generation might enjoy the comforts and pleasures of life. Mr. Munson conducted his farm until December 9, 1872, when he died. He had been a life-long democrat and held several of the town offices. His thrifty habits and simple, frugal rontine of life made him comfortably fixed with this world's goods at the time of his death. Minerva Stiles, whom he married, was also a native of Connecticut where she was born in 1798, and was united to her husband in 1818. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died February 27, 1862. They were the parents of children, all of whom are living : Henry S. ; Perry ; Hassel ; John J. ; Harriet, who married John Wilson, now his widow is living in Iowa ; and Sarah R.
Henry S. Munson was early acquainted with life on a farm, where he helped in summer and went to school in the winter, learning his knowledge from books as well as the practical knowledge of life. He now owns sixty-four acres of well-improved land located but one- half mile from the corporate limits of West- field. He is a democrat and one of the most forward of Westfield's citizens when public im- provements are suggested.
C HAUNCY A. LANPHERE, foreman of the iron and machinery department of the world-renowned Eureka Works, at Silver Creek, is a son of Chauncy and Sarah E. (Reed) Lanphere, and was born August 22, 1846, in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua county, New York, although at the time his parents' home was in Silver Creek. Chauncy A. Lanphere is a half-brother to Captain John I. Lanphere, postmaster of Silver Creek, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. A great many years ago a German family came from the fatherland and settled in the Colonies ; !
from them the Lanphere family has descended. The first of whom we have positive record was Charles Lanphere, who was our subject's grand- father, and he died while serving a term of en- listment as a soldier in the war of 1812. Chauncy Lanphere was born at Brookfield, New York, in 1807, and while still in the prime of life he came to Chautauqua county, purchased a farm in the town of Villanova and conducted a various business until his death, which occurred at Silver Creek, February 1, 1849. Politically he was a whig and by his sterling qualities, social as well as business, he occupied a high position in the esteem and con- fidence of the people. He was twice married, first to Wealthy Ann Carpenter and then to the mother of our subject, Sarah E. Reed, who was a native of Erie county, New York, lived to be sixty-fonr years of age and died at her home in Silver Creek in 1882.
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