USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 54
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Chauncy A. Lanphere was reared in the village of Silver Creek, educated at the common schools, and then served an apprenticeship of three years in a printing office. Having mastered this trade, he found it uncongenial to his tastes and the ensuing eight summers were passed in sailing on the Great Lakes and in that business he rose to the dignity of first mate on a sailing vessel, being employed in the grain trade between Buffalo and Chicago. In 1869 Mr. Lanphere went to work in Simeon Howes' grain cleaning machinery shops, at Silver Creek and since the fall of 1878 has had charge of the iron and machinery departments. Mr. Lan- phere began at the bottom of the ladder when he entered these works and advanced steadily step by step until he reached his present re- sponsible position.
On January 1, 1869, he united in marriage with Sarah Amelia Hammond, the youngest daughter of Joseph Hammond of Eden, Erie county, New York. Mrs. Lanphere was born in Hamburg, Erie county, New York, Deccm- ber 31, 1846, and on the 14th of April, 1891,
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after a week's sickness, passed to her final rest. She was a woman of rare excellence, of innate refinement and the possessor of a nature of deep, religious convictions. For twenty ycars prior to her death she had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was attached to her home and family with a rare devotion, and not only in a social sense but in every re- lation which she was called upon to fulfill, ex- hibited her lofty sense of womanliness. She bore her husband three children, two of whom still survive ; Maud Elizabeth and Helen Amelia.
Chauncy A. Lanphere is a republican aud has served two years upon the board of village trustees and for twelve years upon the school board, being president of the latter two years. In addition to this, lie was one of the projectors of the Cemetery association, of which he was a trustee for three years. He is an enterprising, energetic citizen ; has been chief of the Eureka fire company since its organization and since his connection with the Eureka Works, has de- signed several pieces of machinery, for one of which, known as the Automatic Key Seating machine, he has secured a patent.
OLONEL DAVID S. FORBES, who was engaged in business pursuits for nearly sixty years in this county, and who commanded the Sixty-cighth New York regiment from 1855 to 1864, was born at the village of Green, Che- nango county, New York, February 11, 1817, and is a son of Col. John and Statira (Phelps) Forbes. The name of Forbes was originally written McForbes in Scotland, where the family was resident for several centuries back. Col. Jolin Forbes, the father of Colonel David S. Forbes, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, where he married Statira Phelps and afterwards removed to Chenango county, this State. He was a merchant, commanded a regiment of New York militia, and in 1832 came to Fredonia, where he died, aged eiglity-seven years, six months and fifteen days.
David S. Forbes received his education prin- cipally at Fredonia, to which he came in April, 1832. He was a clerk for one year witlı J. Z. Saxton, then two years with J. & A. F. Mor- rison, at Forestville. In 1835 he became a clerk for his father at Fredonia, and two years later became his and L. B. Grant's partner in the general mercantile firm of John Forbes & Co. In 1841 this firm established a branch store at Sinclairville of which he became man- ager. In 1844 he engaged in the butter and cheese business in which he was the first dealer in the county to pay cash for those articles. From 1851 to 1855 he dealt in flour and grain and then was in various kinds of business until the breaking out of the late war. At its close he again resumed civil pursuits and was engaged in different lines of business until he retired from active life a few years ago.
In 1838 he attended a military school taught by Colonel Scott, in which he acquired quite a taste for military service, although he had served as a major in a militia regiment during the pre- ceding year. In 1855 the inspector-general of the State induced him to accept a colonel's com- mission and raise a regiment. He raised the 68th New York, which Hon. Reuben E. Fenton had failed to accomplish and commanded it until 1864. His regiment was the first in New York to volunteer in 1861, but by means of red tape- ism was never allowed to go to the front, al- though it was made the nucleus of four regi- ments in the field. In June, 1863, his regiment was ordered to Harrisburg, Pa., where he ar- rived with what remnant of it remained. Here again red tape policy prevented it from going into active service and it was sent back to Fre- donia, where it was honorably mustered out of the service and discharged July 29, 1863.
In 1842 he married Catharine J. Abell, who died in 1875 and left him two children : Mrs. Geo. Benton, of Chicago; and Mrs. Catharine L. Cushing, widow of Commodore W. B. Cushing, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
After Mrs. Forbes' death Col. Forbes married for his second wife, Sarah J. Starr, who is a native of Gowanda, Erie county.
C HARLES H. SHERMAN. Railroading has now assumed the first place among the chief industries of the world, having more capital invested and giving employment to a greater number of people than any other one occupation in the world. Among those who have seen this industry grow from insignificance to the pinnacle of greatness is Charles H. Sher- man, wlio was born to Levi D. and Hannah F. (Fairbanks) Sherman, at Boston, Massachusetts, on August 14, 1818. Levi D. Sherman was also a native of Boston, born in 1784, and upon reaching manhood was a contractor until his death which occurred when Charles was but nine years old. He came of American parents and was an orthodox church member. Hannah F. Fairbanks, too, was a strict church member. They were married in 1809, and reared a family of five children. She died in Boston in 1881.
Charles H. Sherman was reared in "The Hub of the Universe," and was educated in the schools of that city. After leaving school he was apprenticed in a machine shop from which he emerged in 1839 a journeyman workman, and entered the employ of what now is the Boston and Maine railroad, beginning as a fire- man, as was customary in those days, and two years later was transferred to the right side of the cab. He remained in the employ of that company as engineer for ten years, but in 1851 left them and came to the Erie railway, remain- ing with it, in various capacities ever since. When the road was completed to Dunkirk in 1851, it was made the occasion of a National celebration in which the president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, Daniel Web- ster and the entire Cabinet and Stephen A. Douglas took part and delivered addresses. Mr. Sherman was the engineer who pulled the train carrying these distinguished people, who
were saluted with the ringing of bells, the booming of cannons and the shouts of an assembled multitude. A year later Mr. Sher- man was advanced to the position of engine dispatcher and round-house foreman, and held that situation for about seventeen years when he was again advanced ; this time to traveling foreman and road inspector of motive power, retaining it until 1880, since which he has been foreman of the engine and car repair shops.
Charles H. Sherman, on October 9, 1842, married Marinda S., daughter of Stephen Sleeper, who lived at Fremont, N. H., and they have two sons: Clarence A. and William H. The former is a machinist in the Dunkirk & Warren railroad shops; and William H., is living in Denver Colorado, where he is em- ployed in a broker's office.
C. H. Sherman is a republican and has served for several years on the Dunkirk school board and as town trustee. He held membership in the Volunteer Fire department for many years and was its first chief engineer. He also takes an active interest in secret societies, is a thirty- second degree Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 152, of the Chapter, No. 191, Council, No. 25, and Commandery, No. 40, of which he was commander for four years. In addition to this, at one time, he held the office of district deputy for the I. O. O. F., and is still a member of Olympia Lodge, No. 602. Mr. Sherman is a thorough mechanic, which is evinced by the fact that he has remained so long with a company who employ none but the best.
A LBERT H. GODARD. Representative among the largest and most reliable establishments of Mayville is the grocery house of Albert H. Godard, the senior member of the well-known firm of Godard & Bond and a suc- cessful business man of over twenty-one years experience. He is a son of Anson H. and Elsie (Moore) Godard, and was born at May-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ville, Chautauqua county, New York, July 15, 1844. His grandfather on the paternal side, Aaron Godard, was one of four brothers who came from England aud settled iu New York some time during the last half of the eighteenth century. On the maternal side his grandfather, Elijah Moore, came from Tompkins Co. to May- ville, where he followed farming until his death. Anson H. Godard (father) was born iu Jeffer- son county, in 1808, and died at Mayville, June 8, 1879. He was reared on a farm, and in early life came to Mayville, where he fol- lowed farming for some time, at the end of which he engaged in tallow chandlering. He was an old-line whig in politics when he came to Mayville and when that great political organiza- tion went down he entered the ranks of its pol- itical successor, the Republican party. Iu ad- dition to the management of his farm and con- ducting his tallow chandlering, he also eugaged in the grocery business which he followed for many years. He married Elsie Moore and they were the parents of eight children, of whom six grew to manhood and womauhood : Hannah, William and Caroline, who are dead; Martha, wife of James Barrett, a carpenter of Mayville; Anson, who died youug; Albert H .; and Elsie, now deceased.
Albert II. Godard was reared at Mayville, where he attended the public schools and was carefully drilled in his father's grocery store for a mercantile life. After considerable exper- ience as a clerk he yet determined to better fit himself for commercial life by a full and thorough business education, and accordingly entered Bryant & Stratton's business college, at Buffalo, from which flourishing commercial in- stitution he was graduated. Although but a boy yet, his father had such confidence in his business ability as to intrust to him the buying of his large stock of groceries, which he did so judiciously and satisfactorily, that that impor- tant part of the business remained, uncondition- ally, in his hands as long as his father contin-
ued the owuer of the store. In 1869, he and Orlando Bond, succeeded to their preseut pro- prietorship and management of the grocery store under the firm uame of Godard & Bond. They have continually increased their stock and trade. They now have a very fine two-story business building with basement, 25 x 90 feet in dimensious, containing office, salesroom and storage departments. Their grocery house is fully supplied and fitted up with every appli- ance and facility for the successful prosecutiou of their steadily increasing business. The stock comprises the choicest food products, staple and fancy groceries and sundries from the leading markets of the United States. Accommodating clerks aud salesmen are employed and all pos- sible attentions are rendered for the comfort and benefit of their patrous. Mr. Godard is a republican from principle but does not allow political affairs to take much of his time from his extensive business. He has frequently been appointed as an administrator to settle up estates and to act as assignee, guardian and ex- ecutor. Mr. Godard is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Mayville, of which he is a trustee and chorister. He is a member of Mayville Lodge, No. 284, Iudependent Or- der of Odd Fellows, Mayville Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and May- ville Lodge, No. 825, Kuights of Houor.
In 1866, he married Ellen Gleasou, daugh- ter of Rufus Gleasou, of Mayville. She died in 1869, and on April 20, 1875, Mr. Godard united in marriage with Libbie J. Osborne, a daughter of Gustavus and Eleanor Eason Os- borne and an adopted daughter of Hon. T. A. Osborne, ex-judge of the courts of Chautauqua county, and a very promineut democrat as well as a leading lawyer. To Albert H. and Libbie (Osborne) Godard have been born one child, a son named Anson G. Godard, who was born July 29, 1877.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
A LFRED EATON was an enterprising and intelligent business man, and a quiet, earnest, Christian gentleman. He was a son of David and Mercy (Groves) Eaton, and was born March 4, 1815, in the town of Portland. His grandfather was Benjamin Eaton, a shoemaker, living at Farmingham, Massachusetts, who died in 1800, leaving among nine other children the father of our subject, David Eaton, who was born in the town just mentioned, February 2, 1782. He was the oldest son, and when nine years of age was put to work on a bench in his father's shop. Nine years later his father died, and the support of eleven people fell upon him. In 1805, with Nathan Fay, he visited Chau- tauqua county and made a tour through it look- ing for a desirable location, then returned to Massachusetts. April 20, 1806, he married Elizabeth Horne, and in the following month, accompanied by his mother and other members of his father's family, in a covered wagon drawn by a team of horses, he started back to Chau- tauqua. His wife was suffering from feeble health, so that they were obliged to stop at New Hartford, where she died. With a sorrowing heart he pushed on to Portland where he located his land and settled where he lived for sixty- seven years. His mother kept house for hini until 1811, when he married Mrs. Nathan Fay née Mercy Groves, who brought him five chil- dren : Edwin, married Caroline P. Baldridge, of Fredonia-he died July 2, 1880-his widow resides in Frewsburg; Emily became the wife of Josiah Whecler and lived at Frewsburg, both are deceased ; Alfred; Oscar united with Louisa A. Kennedy, and moved to Michigan, and from thence to Forest Grove, from thence to Oswego, Oregon, and died July 13, 1887 ; and Darwin G., who graduated at the Normal school in Albany, became one of its teachers, then was offered the chair of mathematics and natural sciences in the Packer Institute at Brooklyn, New York, where he taught for more than forty years. He married Ann J. Collins, of Steuben
county, October 2, 1850. David Eaton was a man of acknowledged integrity and a highly respected citizen. He served in the war of 1812, and was wounded at the battle of Queens- town, a description being given in the war history. Mr. Eaton was active in politics, and gave many years of service to local offices. In 1809 he was assessor of Chautauqua town; clerk of the board of supervisors from 1820-27 and 1831-32 ; supervisor of the town for six years, and chairman of the board in 1815; and for many years was justice of the peace. In 1844 he was appointed superintendent of the poor, and held the office for six years. David Eaton died October 7, 1872, his wife May 12, 1862.
Alfred Eaton was reared on the bosom of rural life, and receiving an education which in those days was called good, at the common schools and the Westfield High school, he went back to farming, which he followed through life. In 1836 he went to the wild and almost unknown State of Wisconsin, and settled in Racine county, where he engaged in farming. This employment he continued at that place until 1852 when he returned to the old home- stead, continuing his agricultural avocation until he died, April 13, 1890, aged seventy-five years. During the six years previous to his death, advancing years, and the infirmities thereof, pre- cluded the active management of his business, which he delegated to others, and in 1884 he moved to Westfield, but returned to his home before the grim reaper took him home.
While sojourning in Wisconsin he married Hannah C. Clark, a daughter of Jeremiah Clark, of Racine county. To Alfred and Mrs. Eaton there were born two sons and three daughters : Oscar D. is farming a part of the old homestead, his wife is Lovica Brockway, and they have one child living, Elizabeth Pearl ; two, Alfred W. and Clyde B., are dead ; Emily N. joined in marriage to Daniel E. Arnold, and now resides in Corry, Penna. They have five children- Walter G., Lillic H., Charles G. A., Orlando R.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
and Kilbourn S .; one infant, Orin, died ; and David D. married Emma A. Buck, a daughter of George .P. Buck, of Westfield, is a Methodist Episcopal minister, now stationed at Berryville, New York, he has one child, Herbert P. ; one daughter, Narrie J., died January 15, 1889, aged thirty-one years. She left a husband, Theron A. Roosa, and four children : Jennet D., Edwin A., Flossy A. and Franklin B .; Myrtic A. lives at home, and is attending the Westfield academy and Union school.
Mrs. Hannah C. Eaton now resides at the old homestead, four miles from Westfield, on the south road. She personally manages the grow- ing vineyard, which produces a large amount of grapes. In politics Alfred Eaton was a republi- can, and was earnest and enthusiastic in maintain- ing its principles. He was supervisor of Portland for two years, and was a justice of the peace for several terms. Devotedly attached to the Port- land Methodist Episcopal church, he officiated as class leader for many years. Being a man of rare good judgment and of learning, many were accustomed to come to him for advice, which was freely given, and when he died the com- munity mourned, each feeling that he had lost a personal friend.
LIVER STETSON is now an agriculturist living in the town of Ripley, who, while yet a young man, was a sailor before the mast, and knew the peculiar whistle of a stiff north wind as it blew through the rigging. Oliver Stetson is the third of his family of that name, father and grandfather also bearing it. His mother's name was Rhoda Alice Stetson, who gave him birth August 25, 1833, in the town of Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York.
Oliver Stetson (grandfather) was a native of Vermont. He came to the town of Westfield, this county, about 1827, and kept a tavern and stage line running from Erie to Buffalo. Hc was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Ripley at the time of its organiza-
tion, served as a soldier in the war for Inde- pendence, and died in 1839. He married and reared a family of eleven children : Delia Ann, married John Taylor, and is dead ; Betsey, wife of Frank Slater; Quincy ; Edwin died, aged twenty-two; John, died when seventeen years old; Asenath, wife of Ezra Burrows (both she and her husband are dead); Moses, married Fanny Porter, died in 1870, leaving a daughter Jennie, now the wife of Henry Bur- gess ; Henry A., married Elizabeth Spink, and moved to Michigan ; Robert M., married Ann Ross ; Oliver, and two sons who died young.
Oliver Stetson (father) was born in Vermont, and died in the town of Westfield, having, when a young man, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and voted with the Whig and Republican parties. He married Rhoda Adams and reared a family of four sons and three daughters. Three of the former arc yet living : Oliver, Moses and Robert M.
Oliver Stetson (subject) was taught the les- sons of the early schools, and then went on board of a ship and learned to be a sailor. He followed a seafaring life for a number of years, and then returned to terra firma and worked with the carpenter force on the railroad, but finally abandoned this life for farming.
In 1858 he married Elizabeth Lay, daughter of William Lay, who came from England in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson became the pa- rents of two daughters: Josephine, who became the wife of Franklin Rayce, but afterwards died ; and Elizabeth, who married a farmer named Frank Winters, and now lives in Rip- ley.
Oliver Stetson is a democrat, and belongs to Lodge No. 988, Knights of Honor. He is a social gentleman of integrity and stability of character.
W ARREN GRISWOLD, a well-known resident of Hanover town, Chautauqua county, New York, was born in Homer, Madi-
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
son county, New York, January 22, 1814. His parents were Warren Griswold and Lorana (Cutler) Griswold. Reuben Griswold, his pa- ternal grandfather, was also a native of New York State, county of Madison, but when well along in years removed to the western part of the State, took up his residence in Chautauqua county and there lived until his demise. While in Madison Co. lie owned and operated a farm but disposed of it and came to Chautauqua county, where he lived a retired life. He belonged to the Jeffersonian contingent of the Democratic party, and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His first marriage resulted in a family of seven children, four daughters and three sons ; his second wife was Mrs. McLain. Warren Griswold, Sr., was born at a place known as Nine Partners, Madison county, New York, January 22, 1785. He was reared and spent his early life upon a farm, and after locat- ing in Chautauqua county, purchased a farm of his own, containing one hundred and twenty acres, from the Holland Land company. This tract was located in the town of Hanover and constitutes the Griswold homestead. Mr. Gris- wold's political faith was essentially that of the Democratic party, though he was anything but a partisan. With his family he worshiped at the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. His wife bore him a family of seven children, consisting of four sons and three daughters.
Warren Griswold received his mental train- ing in the common schools and at the same time performed his duties on the farm. When old enough to attempt the struggle of life upon his own responsibility he very successfully engaged in the occupation of his boyhood life-farming. He acquired considerable property but of late years, owing to his advanced age, has disposed of all his real estate with the exception of forty- two acres, upon which he now resides in Han- over town, near Forestville. Mr. Griswold takes quite an active part in political affairs, but with
no other motive than the good of the party and a deep interest in the public welfare.
On December 26, 1836, he was joined in marriage to Miss Emily, daughter of Benjamin Smith, originally the owner of the flouring- mills at Smith's Mills, which village was named in his honor. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters : Warren (married to Ophelia Keech) living in the town of Sheridan, the owner and cultivator of a farm; Benjamin (married to Sarah Dickinson) a member of the livery firm of Griswold & Cook, of Silver Creek, New York; Wealthy, wife of W. E. Graves, who operates the farm of subject ; and Loana, wife of Oran Barrass, of the town of Hanover.
FALBERT KIRKLAND belongs to one of the oldest families in the town of Han- over. His parents were George and Sally (Convis) Kirkland, and he was born June 1, 1833, in the town of Hanover, on the farm upon which he now resides. His grandfather, Wil- liam Kirkland, came to New York State from one of the New England States, first locating in Schoharie county, but afterwards in Chautanqua county, in the latter of which he died. During the war of Independence he enlisted in the ser- vice of his country, and bravely did what he could to defend it from the tyrannous rule of the British monarchy. The result of his mar- riage was a family of three boys and four girls. The father of Albert Kirkland was ushered into life on March 15, 1797, in Schoharie county, New York, and died August 26, 1854, in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county. He came to Chautauqua county some time prior to the year 1821, and was therefore one of the pioneers of that county. His first purchase of land amounted to ninety acres, to which he afterwards added fifty acres more, both tracts constituting the old homestead now occupied by his son. He was a hard-working, cconomical man and knew fully the representative value of a dollar.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
He lived in stirring pioneer times and was fully acquainted with all those experiences which are a part of every pioneer's life. His marriage resulted in a family of ten children : Sarah, Ezra, Mary, Lovisa, Rosina, Naomi (dead), George, Albert, Edwin and Walter (dead). He was a whig in politics and a communicant of the Methodist church.
Albert Kirkland's childhood days, youth, manhood and declining years have all been passed upon the old homestead, around which, in the autumn of his life, cling many pleasant memories. His early education was acquired in the same school which he now helps to sup- port, so that it has measured the experiences of two generations. He has always followed the occupation of a farmer and is the present owner of one of the best farms in the county.
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