USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 64
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C HARLES S. PAYNE, the well known and cqnally well-liked proprietor of the Broc- ton House, an ex-steamboat captain, and horti- culturalist, is a son of Samuel and Laura (Elmer) Payne, and was born in Conway, Franklin county, Massachusetts, July 22, 1832. The Paynes eanie from the Scotch race, that hardy, honorable, persevering people, who have taken such an important part in the populating of this country. Samuel Payne was born in Massachusetts in 1801, and lived there, a tiller of the soil, for half a century. In 1852 he brought his family to the town of Stoekton,
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where he continued to farm and speculate in various commodities with the capital that he had brought with him. He married Laura Elmer in Massachusetts, and had several chil- dren. Mrs. Payne was a woman of marked force of character, which was transmitted to her children to a great degree. Mr. Payne was a strong democrat and a gentleman of pro- nounced ideas. He died in 1855, his wife fol- lowing him to her last resting place in 1859. They were members of the Universalist church and highly respected.
Charles S. Payne was educated in the common schools of Massachusetts, which was largely supplemented, liowever, by observation and in- quiry in after life. When a young man he filled the position of traveling agent for a nursery house, following it for a number of years, then changing to the same capacity for a Jamestown furniture house. In 1870 Mr. Payne navigat- ed Lake Chautauqua as captain of one of the steamboats which plowed those waters, following it for several years and becoming a part owner in a boat, but in 1888 he tired of this and came to Brocton and bought the hotel building which bears the city's name. The advent of his tak- ing charge of this hostelry was marked by great improvements in its every department, and to- day the Brocton House and Boniface Payne have the friendship of all the traveling men who come to the city. Connected with the hotel, he operates a first-class livery stable, and is engaged in the growing of grapes.
He married Jennie Martin, a daughter of Hiram Martin, who lives in Portland town, and they have one child, a son : George Porter.
C. S. Payne is an active worker in the Re- publican party, taking more than ordinary in- terest in the elections. He is one of the fore- most citizens of Brocton in all improvements that point to this city's advancement ; is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum, and of the Free and Accepted Masons.
W ILLIAM G. PECKHAM, at present commander of James M. Brown Post No. 285, G. A. R., of Jamestown, has been a farmer, blacksmith and carpenter, and is a master workman at all these trades. He is a son of George H. and Harriet F. (Perrigo) Peckham, and was born in the western part of Rhode Island, March 3, 1841.
The Peckham family are of English extrac- tion, but have been transplanted in America for considerably more than a century, and have spent most of the time in the State above men- tioned. The paternal grandfather, William Peckhanı, was born there and died at South Kingston, same State, in 1864, aged nincty-six years. He was one of those who, when the tocsin of war sounded for our second struggle with the mother country, shouldered his mus- ket and fought through the entire war. George H. Peckham came to Chautauqua county in 1855, and located at Kennedy, where he re- mained until 1872, when, as the tide of emigra- tion was flowing rapidly toward the fertile lands of the great plains, he loaded his effects on wagons and drove to the then new State of Kansas, secured him a farm in Dickinson county and now resides there, aged seventy- nine years. He is a farmer by occupation, and in politics a greenbacker; his wife, Harriet F. Perrigo was a native of the land of Roger Wil- liams, and is now in her sixty-fifth year.
William G. Peckham spent his boyhood and youth in Rhode Island and was educated in the academy at Westerly. After leaving school he engaged for a while in farming, but finding it uncongenial he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed a short time and then ac- quired the trade of carpentering and joining, which he has followed for eighteen years. A great many of the houses and barns in this and Cattaraugus county have been erected by him, many of them by contract, as he has added contracting and building to his business. Wil- liam G. Peckham came to this county in 1855,
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and to the city of Jamestown twenty years later, and has lived here ever since. In August, 1861, after President Lincoln had made his second appeal to the country for defenders to save her from disruption, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Co. E, 5th regiment New York Cav- alry, and served to the close of the war, having been mustercd out of service at New York city in July, 1865. On July 3, 1864, at the battle of Aslıland Station, he was wounded by a min- ie-ball striking him on the breast-bone. He participated in all the battles of liis regiment except one, Petersburg, there being thirty-six pitchied and seventy-eight skirmishes, and he was mustered out as the first lientenant of Company M, same regiment. They were escorts for Gen. Sheridan from November, 1864, until the close of the war.
In 1867 William G. Peckham married El- mira J. Truesdell, a daughter of Zebedee Trues- dell, who came from Rochester, New York, to Jamestown, and by this union there was born one son, Clayton J., who is a book-keeper in this city. Mr. Pcekham is a prominent repub- lican and takes an active part in his party's af- fairs. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is one of the citizens of Jamestown of whom she may be proud.
H URLBURT L. PHILLIPS is a son of Robert H. and Augusta M. (Bartholo- mew) Phillips, and was born in Geneva, Ohio, December 5, 1856. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Phillips, was a native, in all probability, of Rensselaer county, this State, and removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. Grandfather Bartholo- mew was a resident of Aslıtabula county, from which he removed to Minnesota, where he dicd. Robert H. Phillips (father) was born in Ashita- bula county and now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, being a miller there. He married Augusta N. Bartholomew, by whom he liad four sons and three daughters.
Hurlburt L. Phillips was reared in North- field, Minnesota, and received liis education in the common schools of that place and the Insti- tute at Jamestown, to which city lie caine in 1872. After leaving school, lie engaged in buying and selling live stock in the eastern states, continuing in that business for ten years, and in 1883 he purchased an interest in the furniture manufacturing business of Beaman, Breed & Phillips, remaining with them until 1886, when he sold out. The following year hie engaged in the manufacture of lounges, in which business he still remains. He lias asso- ciated with him Theodore Hanchett, L. F. Cor- nell and Arthur H. Greenland. They occupy a building, 132x72 feet, four stories high and employ eighty men, besides a half-dozen travel- ing salesmen, who cover the territory between the Mississippi river and the Atlantic coast.
On February 8, 1888, Mr. Phillips married Nellie C. Buchanan, a daughter of John Bu- chanan, of Youngsville, Pennsylvania. Their union has been blessed with one child, a daugh- ter: Parmelee.
Politically Mr. Phillips adheres to the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. and A. M., and is also a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar. In the fire department lie has been a valuable member for several years and is now assistant chief.
E' ZRA F. PABODY, now a retired farmer, living in the village of Ripley, Chautau- qua county, New York, but formerly an active agriculturist living in the town of that same name, is a son of Stephen and Mary (Gay) Pabody, and was born at New Lebanon, New York, November 19, 1818. The paternal grandfather was a native and resident of New England, where he was engaged in mercantile lifc. He descended from a Scotch emigrant, but as he died when his son (subject's fatlier) was a small infant, but little can be given about
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him or his people. The maternal grand father was Henry Gay. Stephen Pabody was born in the east, but when yonng moved to and lived in Monroe connty, New York. He followed a variety of mechanical employments, and finally, abont 1833, went to North East, Penna., where he died in 1858. He was a democrat. Stephen Pabody married Mary Gay, and reared a family of two sons and three daughters: Ezra F., Ann M., died in Buffalo ; Jeannette, married A. W. Butts, and lives at North East, Penna. ; George is farming at the same place; and Delphius lives in Nebraska.
Ezra F. Pabody followed the movements of his father until grown to manhood, and then married Almira Dixon, a daughter of John Dixon, and by her had three children : Stephen A., born August 16, 1845, married Martha Parks and now lives as a farmer in the town of Ripley ; John D. was born October 6, 1847, and now lives with his wife, Aggie Davis Pabody, at North East, Penna .; Radolphus D., born August 24, 1849, is in the employ of the B. & O. R. R., and lives at Huntington, West Vir- ginia. After the death of his first wife, Ezra F. Pabody married Clara M. Downer, a daugh- ter of Seneca Downer, of Oneida county, New York.
Ezra F. Pabody received the limited educa- tion given to boys of that day, the aggregate amount tendered him not exceeding a term of the present day. He worked with his father in the shop until reaching manhood, and then opened a chair-shop at North East, which he conducted for two years, and then sold it, pur- chasing with the proceeds a farm of one hundred and eleven acres, near the village of Ripley, where his son now lives. Mr. Pabody made his home upon that property for thirty-five years, and in 1876 he bought a home in Ripley village, where he has since lived in quiet. Politically he is a democrat, but in local matters he is entirely independent, and has held the office of assessor for three years.
IDDO A. SIKES is a wholesale and retail agent for the sale of wagons, buggies and general road vehicles at Kennedy. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, June 4, 1848, and is a son of Stephen and Caroline (Wood- ward) Sikes. His grandfather, Shadrach Sikes, was a native of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Mass., and removed to the town of West Otto, Cattaraugus county, this State, when about forty years of age, where he died fifty-seven years later, in 1890. He was a democrat of the Jeffersonian type, and served as a private in the last war with Great Britain. John Woodward was a native of the Empire State, married a Miss Blanchard, and reared three children, one of whom, Caroline, is the subject's mother. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, being con- sidered very skillful. Politically a democrat, he was enthusiastic in the campaigns prior to reconstruction. Stephen Sikes was born at Pittsfield, Mass., about 1817, and spent his youth upon his father's farm near that town. A good common school education was acquired and when sixteen years of age he came to Catta- raugus county. Besides farming he qnarried and trimmed burr-stones for grist-mills, which,
being of superior manufacture, were in great demand. In 1880, while at Niagara Falls, he died, aged sixty-three years. In 1844 he mar- ried Caroline Woodward, and they were the parents of five children: Iddo Abiathar, Flor- ence D. (dead); Winford S., resides at Eldred, Pa. ; Olney Y., lives at the same place ; and Estella (dead). Mrs. Sikes is still living, enjoys good health, and bids fair to enjoy a pleasant life for many years. Steplien Sikes was a gentleman of unusual public spirit and perspi- cacity, was a member of church, of the local military, and belonged to the Republican party.
Iddo Abiathar Sikes was born and reared at Otto, Cattaraugus county, until twelve years of age, during which time he attended school. The family then removed to Leon and he learned the trade of blacksmithing at East Randolph.
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Upon completing his apprenticeship he eame to Kennedy and embarked in business, doing gen- eral blacksmithing and earriage ironing, besides doing a large sales business in all kinds of vehicles.
In August, 1868, he married Aliee V. Saxton, a daughter of Reuben Saxton, by whom he had two children : Edith L., born June 13, 1869, was given all the advantages of a liberal education at the village schools and Chamber- lain institute, especial attention being given to instrumental musie. She is a finished seholar and performs brilliantly upon the piano; and Mabel I., born June 4, 1871, and died October 10, 1890, in the freshness of her young woman- hood.
I. A. Sikes belongs to the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his connection with fraternal and beneficial organizations is confined to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
F RANK E. SHAW, an agrieulturist, breed- er of fine horses and eattle, and a capital- ist, resides in a beautiful home on Central ave- nue, Dunkirk. He is a son of Robert T. and Martha C. (Whitney) Shaw, and was born in the town of Charlotte, this eounty, on Novem- ber 19, 1840. He comes from an old Ameriean family and is a nephew of Henry W. Shaw, better known as Josh Billings. Grandfather Hon. Henry W. Shaw, well known in New England, and a distinguished eitizen of the United States, a member of the Massachusetts Senate and Legislature for twenty-five years and also a member of Congress from the Berk- shire county distriet, was elected in 1820, when only twenty-four years of age, and took his seat the youngest member of that body at that time ever eleeted to Congress. He was a firm friend of Henry Clay, and his politieal manager in New England from 1816 to 1840, but his vote favoring the Missouri Compromise killed him politically in New England. He was a dele-
gate from Massachusetts to the Harrisburg eon- vention that tried to nominate Henry Clay for president. William H. Harrison seeured the nomination and Mr. Shaw left the party and never rejoined it. His father, Dr. Samuel Shaw, was a celebrated surgeon of the "Green Mountain State," and represented the Rutland distriet in Congress about the year 1810, and at the elose of the war he was appointed surgeon for the hospitals at Greenbush and had charge of them until the government abandoned them. He now sleeps beneath the sod in the beautiful cemetery at Castleton, close to the secne of his early life. He was contemporaneous with Ethan Allen, and at twenty years of age was established in his profession all over the north- ern portion of the State and was known far and near for his skill. His personal strength, too, was a matter of renown, and it was said that he eould throw any man in the State in a wrest- ling mateh. Grandfather Henry Shaw, read law in Albany and married Laura Wheeler of Lanesboro, Massachusetts, who was a descen- dent of the Beecher family. Her sister was the wife of Chief Justice Savage. Robert T. Shaw was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and in 1835 went to Norwalk, Ohio, where his father owned a large traet of land. He re- mained there until 1839, when he eame to Chautauqua county, and settled in the town of Charlotte, where he owned a farm. He was a gentleman of superior edueation, and died in Mitehell, Indiana. Mr. Shaw married Martha C. Whitney, and had several children. Mrs. Shaw survives and lives at Sinclairville and is now in her seventy-second year.
Frank E. Shaw was reared in Sinclairville and received his edueation in the Ellington academy, until in 1860 he went to California, and engaged in mining and staging for six years and then returned home and gave his at- tention to farming and breeding fine road horses. He is now the owner of three farms in the town of Charlotte, on which are fine herds
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of Jersey cattle. Great pains have been taken in their selection and breeding, and while there are larger herds in the country, there are none finer or more purely bred. One of the best dairies of the country is attached to these farnis which is demonstrating to the farmners of that locality that when cereals and succulents prove an unprofitable crop, they may turn to this branch of agriculture with expectation of suc- cess. When the Martin Anti-fire Car Heating Apparatus was found to be successful, Mr. Shaw took an active interest in it, and with Messrs. Chute and Martin, formed a company with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars to manufacture it for the market. He had had a wide experience with the public of western New York and elsewhere and took with him to the company a valuable experience, and to his astute sagacity is largely due the rapid development of the appliance and its adoption by so many roads throughout the country.
Mr. Shaw is now the vice-president and treas- urer of the company, which has one of the fin- est factory buildings in the country. Their business exceeds half a million dollars a year and at least five thousand cars are supplied with their improvement. He moved to Dun- kirk in 1887 and has since resided here.
On the 5th of August, 1879, he married Ada L., daughter of John Beardsley, of Norwalk, Ohio, and has two sons and one daughter: Robert Francis, Editli and Frank E., Jr.
The oldest son, although still young, seems to have inherited his grand-uncle's faculty for dispensing wit and humor at will, and is a very bright boy. Mr. Shaw is a republican and . takes an active interest in matters relating to the government, having been chairman of the county committee for some time. He is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons, and is Past District Grand Master.
G EORGE W. SEYMOUR, M.D., an active
and successful physician of Westfield, is a son of Thomas W. and Matilda (Green) Sey- mour, and was born at Mayville, Chautauqua county, New York, on December 13th, 1841. The Seymours are of English descent, and Dr. Seymour is of the ninth generation of the American branch of the family. Grand- father Seymour, and his father, Thomas W. Seymour, came in 1831 from Lee, Oneida county, to Mayville, where the former, who was a carpenter and joiner by trade, died in April, 1842. Thomas W. Seymour is a na- tive of Lee, and has been successfully en- gaged in farming ever since settling at May- ville. He is a self-educated and well in- formed man of close observation and good judgment. He is a Baptist, in religious be- lief, and a republican in politics, and has held various offices of both his church and his vil- lage. His wife, Matilda (Green) Seymour, who is a member of the Baptist church, was born in Tompkins county.
George W. Seymour received his education in the public schools and the academy of May- ville. In 1868 he commenced to read medicine with Dr. G. R. Hall, then of Westfield, but now professor of surgery in Hahnemann Medical college, Chicago, but finished his course of read- ing with Dr. Asa S. Couch, now of Fredonia. He then entered the New York Homeopathic college, from which medical institution he was graduated in the spring of 1872. During the same year he opened an office at Westfield, where he has continued ever since in the suc- cessful practice of his profession.
In 1866 Dr. Seymour united in marriage with Lucy A., daughter of A. B. Briggs, of the town of Portland. They have two children : Carl J., who was graduated from the law de- partment of Cornell university ; and Nellie E.
Dr. George W. Seymour is a republican in politics, and owns a grape farm of forty acres. While fitting for his profession he taught school
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for ten years to acquire means to defray his ex- penses at the New York Homoeopathic college. Dr. Seymour has a good practice, is a member of the New York State and the Northwestern medical societies, and has been medical exam- iner for several years at Westfield for several leading life insurance companies. He is a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Free and Accepted Masons.
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM SYKES, who
is of English descent, was born in Spring- field, Ohio, January 24, 1841. His parents were James and Laura (Varian) Sykes, who came from England about 1834 and settled at Springfield. John Sykes, grandfather of Wil- liam, was a native of England, where for many years he filled the position of foremnan in one of the large cloth manufacturing houses of that country, but afterwards came to America and located at Springfield, where he died. James Sykes (father) was born in England in 1813, and remained in the mother country until he attained his majority, when, having learned the painter's trade, he concluded to cast liis fortune in the new world. Coming direct to Springfield, he established himself near his father and fol- lowed his trade. He was twice married, his first wife a Miss Toos, and after her death he married Laura Varian, by whom he had eight children, six sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Alexander V., served during the re- cent struggle between the States in the 44th Regiment of Ohio Infantry, performing the duties of musician. James Sykes was a repub- lican, and a member of the Episcopal church.
William Sykes has had an interesting and honorable experience in life. After receiving his education, which was acquired in the schools of Springfield, he learned the trade of iron moulder, and followed it until the tocsin of war was sounded, when, at President Lincoln's first call for troops, he joined Co. F, 2nd regiment of Ohio Infantry, and served until the expira-
tion of his term of enlistment, when he re- entered for three years of the war, in the 44th regiment, Ohio Infantry, and served with it at Bull Run, Lewisburg, W. Va., Duton's Hill, Ky., Knoxville, Tenn., and all the skir- mishes in which it was engaged, enjoying with it the joys of victory and lamenting the sorrows of defeat. For recognized bravery he was made second lieutenant. In the winter of 1863-64 the 44th regiment was veteranized, and it was proposed to change them to cavalry. Many of the soldiers objected, among the others Mr. Sykes, and although he was offered a captain's commission, he did not care to make the change and was honorably discharged, having served about three years.
In 1881 he moved from Springfield to James- town, and took charge of the foundry connected with the Columbia Grain Drill works, and re- mained with them in that capacity about seven years, when he formed a partnership with a Mr. Smith, which resulted in the present machine jobbing firm of Smith & Sykes, located on Steele street, and employing about twenty men. Unlike his father, who was a republican, Mr. Sykes affiliates with the Democratic party, and, with his wife, is an attendant at the Jamestown Episcopal church, of which he is a member. He is also a member of James M. Brown Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Sykes was married to Martha E. Con- nell, a daughter of Benjamin F. Connell. Their union has been blest with oue daughter, Maria C.
J OHN A. STONEBERG is a son of Swan J. and Anna C. (Corswell) Stoneberg, and was born in Sweden, in 1848. His father, Swan J. Stoneberg, was born in Sweden, in 1820, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1878, he cmi- grated from Sweden to the United States and located at Jamestown, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and votes the Republican ticket. He
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
married Anna C. Corswell of Sweden. To their union was born but one child, John A.
John A. Stoneberg attended the common schools in Sweden and learned book-keeping, but since he came from his native land to Jamestown, he has been engaged in mercantile life ; first in the grocery business, but since 1875 has followed the retail furniture trade.
He married Anna Peterson, of Jamestown. They have three children : Anna T. C., John E. W. and Clarenee T. Like his forefathers, Mr. Stoneberg is a member of the Evangelical Lutherau church, and at elections generally fol- lows the example of his father, and supports the nominee of the Republican party.
A NSON A. STONE is a son of Stephen Bradley and Lorcy Lake (Latlin) Stone, and was born in Mansfield, Cattaraugus county, New York, February 13, 1842. His grandfather, Norman Stone, was of English aneestry, and was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, where he afterward became a blacksmith. He married Tryphena Hand, who was also a native of Con- necticut and by whom he liad several children. He died in 1838. Stephen Bradley Stone (father) was a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, born in 1810, and was one of the early settlers of Cattaraugus county, this State, where he en- gaged in farming, having purchased a tract of land there, which had been surveyed by the Holland Land company. He was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a deacon. When the church was organized in Cattarangus county, lie was elected a class leader, held to be a mark of honor, of confidence and veneration in those days. Politically he was a whig and afterward a republican, and was justice of the peace of Cattaraugus county. In 1872 he moved to Eden, Erie county, this State, where he resided until his death in 1890, at the age of eighty years. He married Lorcy Lake Latlin, a native of Otsego county, and a member of the
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