USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 68
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Jewett G. Tennant, ouly son and child of Alvin J. and Emorett (Wattles) Tennant was born November 4, 1852. Hc received a good English education and tilled the farm for a few years. He was then employed for some length of time as a telegraph operator and station
DR. CORNELIUS ORMES.
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agent at Ripley and afterwards beeame a travel- ing agent for the " Nickel Plate " railroad com- pany, in whose service he still remains. Heis a good business man, resides at Fostoria, Ohio, and travels over a large area of territory. He married Carrie Brown, and they have four children, one son and three daughters : Emma, Leah, Mabel C. and Alvin J.
C ORNELIUS ORMES, M.D., was born at West Haven, Vermont, August 4, 1807, of most excellent New England parentage. After receiving a thorough academical education, he entered upon the study of medicine with Prof. Theodore Woodward, at that time the most noted surgeon of the eastern states, and received the degree of M.D. from Castleton Medical college in 1832. After practieing for a time in partnership with his preceptor, he removed to Chautauqua county and opened an office in Panama, February 13, 1833. In that early day this portion of the county and the adjacent parts of Pennsylvania were largely engaged in lumbering, and Dr. Ormes' surgical experience, obtained under Prof. Woodward, peculiarly fitted him for the exigencies constantly arising in that occupation. His ride soon extended into northern Pennsylvania, then alınost a wilder- ness, and his duties entailed upon him great hardships from the bad roads which he was compelled to traverse, and the severe exposures to which he was frequently subjected. The success which attended his practice, however, soon gained for him a high reputation, which was unceasingly enhanced down to the time of his death. As the country became more fully oeeupied and settled, the aceidents of pioneer life necessarily diminished, and the Doetor turned his attention to new friends for the em- ployment of his surgical ability. He made a special study of ovarian diseases, and soon established a national reputation for the treat- ment and removal of ovarian tumors. During his life he removed a large number of these, and
he continued to operate successfully for their extirpation up to within a few months of his deeease. In two of his ovariatories the uterine appendages were all involved ; the tumor in one being of the colloid variety, and weighing fifty- one pounds, while the uterus measured eleven inches in length, was extensively sphaeelated from lung pressure and its cavity wholly oblit- erated. The entire mass was sueeessfully re- moved and the patient still lives in the enjoyment of excellent health. In 1863, the Doctor re- moved to Jamestown and the better field greatly enlarged his already extensive practice. In 1872, he was called to the chair of obstetrics and uterine surgery in the Detroit Homoeopathic college, and discharged its duties with marked advantage to the college and the cause of ho- mæopathy. Dr. Ormes was first instigated to examine the new system, by Dr. James Birnstil, then of Westfield, N. Y., afterwards of Pitts- field, Mass. After much study and a careful comparison of results from the old and the new systems, he gave in his adhesion to homœ- opathy and consistently praetieed it from 1848 to the time of his death. Dr. Ormes was at the time of his death, and had been for many years president of the Homoeopathic Medical society of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, was one of the physicians from western New York who assisted to re-organize the State society in 1861, and in which he was a permanent mem- ber at the time of his decease ; was a member of the new Homeopathie Medical society of west- ern New York, and "Senior " in the American Institute of Homoeopathy, he having been elected a member in 1856. In all of these soci- eties he occupied a prominent place, and in all was the frequent recipient of positions of re- sponsibility and of honor. It will thus be seen that Dr. Ormes was gathered " like a shock of corn fully ripe." Few physicians have acquired as extensive and enviable reputation and none will be more missed by the profession for those genial and excellent qualities of manhood which
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shed an additional lustre upon the achievements of an intellectual life. He died April 20, 1886. Heroic Surgery, Detroit Post and Tribune, under date of January 9, 1889, said : "The account in to-day's papers from our Grand Rapids cor- respondent, giving the particulars of a wonder- ful surgical operation, is very interesting, but he is not quite right in his statement that it has never before been done in this country. In the Transactions of Homoeopathic Medical soci- ety of the State of New York, Vol. 8, page 550, is reported a case exactly like this which occurred at Grand Rapids, with the exception that the patient recovered. The surgeon was Dr. Cornelius Ormes of Jamestown, New York, who has a widely extended reputation as a surgeon. The patient, a lady thirty-nine years of age, had a cancerous disease involving the uterus and ovaries. On the 23d of April, 1870, this entire mass, greatly enlarged, was removed. In the following June the patient was about the house, and on August 1st walked two and one-half miles. In 1872 and 1873, Dr. Ormes lectured to the class in the Homœo- pathic college in this city, and I have learned from him that the cure was permanent."
He married Angeline Moore, and they were the parents of four children : Dr. Frank D., William H. (deceased), Julia, died in 1887, and James C., who was a druggist at Jamestown until his death. Mrs. Ormes was a daughter of Daniel Moore, who was a native of eastern New York and settled near Panama, where he fol- lowed farming. He was a whig and a baptist, and married Cynthia Joslin.
JOHN A. TENNANT, a representative farm- er and a progressive business man of the town of Ripley, is the youngest son and child of Moses A and Delinda (Tennant) Tennant, and was born in the town of Ripley, Chautau- qua county, New York, May 30, 1839. The Tennant family is of English descent, and the paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this
sketch came to New England, from which his son, Moses Tennant (grandfather), came to Springfield, Otsego county. He was a farmer, a federalist and a deacon of the Baptist church. He married Sarah Selden Jewett, by whom he had one son and four daughters. This son, Moses A. Tennant (father), was born December 25, 1801, and died November 7, 1876, in the town of Ripley in which he settled in 1833. He was a democrat, served twenty years as jus- tice of the peace, and two terms as supervisor, and was a deacon of the Baptist church. He married Delinda Tennant, who was born April 18, 1802, and is still living. She is a son of John Tennant, Jr., who was a native of Con- necticut, served in the war of 1812, and was one of six children born to John and Mary (Crandall) Tennant, natives of Connecticut, and afterwards settlers in Otsego county. Moses Tennant had ten children : Alvin J. and Delos G. (see their sketches) ; Moses S., born August 2, 1824, and dicd August 19, 1847 ; O. Eliza, August 5, 1827, and widow of H. W. Shaffer ; Julia E., born January 25, 1829, and widow of David Shaffer; Wealthy A., born August 24, 1830, and married E. C. Wattles, of Buffalo ; Rev. Albert M., of Westfield, born August 9, 1834; Ellen D., born October 26, 1826, who died in infancy ; Fannie O., born February 28, 1828, widow of George Mason, and wife of Eugene Huff; and John A.
John A. Tennant received his education in the common schools of his town and the Ripley High School. Leaving school he was engaged for twelve years in teaching, a part of which time he was principal of the Ripley High school. From teaching he turned his attention to farming and dealing in musical instruments. He now owns two vineyards, one of twenty acres adjoining his property in the village of Ripley, and another of fifteen acres in the im- mediate neighborhood.
On October 20, 1862, he married Julia A., daughter of Henry Adams, who was born June
F. D. ORMES, M. D.
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17, 1796, and married Louisa Pride, who was born September 5, 1805. Henry Adams was a son of Levi Adams, who was born February 14, 1754, in New England, from which he eame to Otsego county where he followed earpenter- ing, and where he married Hannah Pettingill, by whom he had six sons and four daughters. Lonisa (Pride) Adams was a daughter of Eli- phus and Ruth (Bean) Pride, who were natives of New England and reared a family of four sons and six daughters. John A. and Julia A. (Adams) Tennant have one ehild, Frederiek Adams, who was born May 18, 1871, and is now attending Cornell University, where he is taking the full course in electrical engineering.
In politics Mr. Tennant was formerly a dem- oerat, bnt is now a prohibitionist, and served his town for several terms both as justice of the peace and supervisor. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Quincy Lodge, No. 2, Royal Areanum, and the Ripley Baptist church, of whose Sabbath-sehool he has been superintendent for several years.
F RANK D. ORMES, M.D. The medieal profession has always held a prominent position in the history of New York, and has rendered valuable services to the progress of medical seienee in the United States. Chautau- qua eounty has been fortunately favored with many able and sueeessful physicians of which Jamestown has had its full share. One of her well-known and popular practitioners is Dr. Frank D. Ormes. He was born at Panama, Chautanqna county, New York, April 2, 1838, and is a son of Dr. Cornelius and Angeline (Moore) Ormes. Prominent among the early families of Vermont was the Ormes family, from which Dr. Frank D. Ormes is deseended. His paternal grandfather, Brigadier General Jonathan Ormes, was a native and life-long res- ident of Rutland county, Vermont. In the Revolutionary struggle for independenee he was one of the first in this State to advocate armed
resistance against the tyranny of the British ministry in fettering and restrieting the pros- perity and progress of the colonies. Early in the Revolution, while in command of a body of Continental troops, he was captured by the English and confined on one of their prison- ships until the war was nearly elosed. After his exchange there was no opportunity for the display of his military talents, which were said to have been of a high order. He married and reared a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. One of these sons was Dr. Cornelius Ormes (see sketeh).
Frank D. Ormes received his literary eduea- tion at Ft. Edward, N. Y., and Oberlin college, Ohio. He read medieine with his father, en- tered Cleveland Medieal college in 1861, and was graduated from that institution in the elass of 1863. After graduation he praetieed for one year at Panama, and then removed to James- town, where he soon built up a good praetiee, which he has continually inereased ever since.
In the fall of 1864 he was married at Frank- lin, Pa., to Leona Glidden, daughter of Daniel C. Glidden. Dr. and Mrs. Ormes are the pa- rents of four children : Jesse, Frank, Graee and Leo.
Dr. Frank D. Ormes has been entirely de- voted to the praetiee of his profession, which he lias sueeessfully pursued for nearly thirty years. He was a republican until the formation of the Liberal Republican party, which nominated Horaee Greeley for president, and sinee then lias voted the democratie tieket. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. Ma- sons, Western Star Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M., Jamestown Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar and Ishmalia Temple of the Mystie Shrine, at Buffalo. In 1871 he was cleeted secretary of his chapter, and has been annually re-elected to tliat office every year sinee. He is a man of business ability and spirit, and of publie enterprise. His sueeess and modest competence have been fairly earned in a pro-
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fessional career, which promises to be length- ened out for many years to come. As a phy- sician, Dr. Ormes holds high rank in his pro- fession. He is a member of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of western N. Y., the New York Homoeopathic Society and the American Institute of Homoeopathy.
R. WILLIAM PRENDERGAST, a phy- sician by profession and a descendant of the family by that name, more closely con- nected with the history of Chautauqua county than any other within its limits, is a son of Martin and Phœbe (Holmes) Prendergast, and was born in the town of Chautauqua, Chau- tauqua county, New York, on March 20, 1854. The founder of the Prendergast family in this country was one William Prendergast, a na- tive of Ireland, of good family, but by reason of the extreme liberalism of his political views, compelled to leave that country for one gov- erned by a more liberal constitution about the ycar 1806. He accordingly emigrated to the United States, locating in Chautauqua county, New York, and purchased quite a large amount of, at that time, unimproved land. His poster- ity have since been prominently identified with the improvement, settlement and development of the county, many of whom have, in the professions of law, medicine and politics be- come widely known. Matthew Prendergast, the great-grandfather of William Prendergast, was, during the greater part of his life-time, a resident of Washington county, New York, but later in life, in company with his brother James, in honor of whom the city of James- town received its name, emigrated to Chantau- qua county, where he died. He was accom- panied to Chantanqua county by his son William, a practicing physician who located at Mayville and Jamestown, where he eon- tinued his profession and finally retired to his farm in the town of Chautauqua, where he passed away. Dr. William Prendergast, at
the time of his death, was the possessor of about one thousand aeres of land, had served in the war of 1812 as a surgeon, and was a well-known and highly respected citizen. Religiously, his family was episcopalian, while politically his views were thoroughly consistent with republican institutions. His wife bore him but one child, the father of our subject. Grandfather Seth W. Holmes was a native of Oneida county, New York, emigrated to Erie county, New York, near Buffalo, and later to Mayville, Chautauqua coun- ty, where he was practically a life-long resi- dent. He was a republican in politics, served as sheriff of Chautauqua county prior to 1849, made a voyage to the State of California, where he successfully engaged in speculation for some time and again returned to the East. Mr. Holmes united in marriage with Sarah Stone, who bore him three daughters, the mother of William Prendergast and two others. Martin Prendergast (father) was born in Mayville, Chautauqua county, New York, in July, 1816 and has always been a resident of that county, occupying the Prendergast homestead. At twenty-five years of age he became a clerk in a store and afterwards changed his occupation to farming, which he has since pursued. Martin Prendergast is a republican in politics, and served as supervisor of the town of Chautauqua for a period of about fif- teen years. His marriage resulted in the birth of five children, one of whom, Martha, married William M. Whallon, a land owner and specu- lator living in Mayville; John H. (married to Antoinette Hunt) is engaged in farming and financial matters, and is at present a resident of the town of Chautauqua; William (deceased) ; Helen, at home; and William.
William Prendergast, M.D., was educated at the Mayville academy, entered Jefferson Med- ical college, Philadelphia, Penna., in 1880, and was graduated therefrom in 1883. After his graduation, he located at Mayville, and entered
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npon the active practice of his profession, which has been attended with a very high degree of success. In connection with his professional duties he gives some time to his farm of one linndred acres, located in the town of Chantau- qua. Dr. Prendergast in politics is a repnb- lican.
W. THOMAS WILSON is a son of Chester and Hannah (Koch) Wil- son, and was born in Johnstown, Montgomery county, New York, on April 7, 1817. His grandfather was a New England farmer of English descent and a federalist in politics. He died at the age of fifty-six, while his wife died at the age of seventy-eight. Subject's father was born in Belchertown, five miles from Amherst College, Massachusetts, and was a saddler by trade. At one time during his life he had been a resident of Boston, Massa- chnsetts, where he carried on his trade of saddle making. He was a Jeffersonian democrat, a presbyterian, and died at the age of seventy years. His mother died at the age of ninety- nine years.
W. Thomas Wilson came with his father to Chautauqua county in the year 1828. He at- tended the common schools, and afterwards continued his education in a private academy at Forestville, New York. After his gradua- tion from that place, he tanght school for some twelve years, at the conclusion of which he took up the study of medicine, which he pur- sned for two years, and then relinquished it, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to practice before the several courts of Chautauqua county in 1844, and in 1870 was admitted to practice before all the conrts in the State of New York, at Buffalo. In 1868 he became justice of sessions, which position he held five years, after which he took up the special practice of pension law, and has been a pension attorney for the past thirty-eight years, justice for twenty-six years, and notary public
for six years. He is a democrat in politics and an agnostic in religion.
W. Thomas Wilson was first married in 1836 to Maria Louisa Rosenbaum, a daughter of Garrett Rosenbaum, of Albany, New York. They had one child, a son,-Thomas L. Wil- son, a journalist. His second wife was Sarah M. Atkins, daughter of the late Almon Atkins, whom he married in May, 1874.
REV. WILLIAM H. FENTON was born in West Mina, Chautanqua county, New York, December 6, 1864, and is a son of Rob- ert H. Fenton, a native of eastern New York. His father's occupation was that of an engineer, in the pursuit of which vocation he spent most of his life in the State of New York and in the oil territory of Pennsylvania. Politically he cast his vote with the Republican party, and, as regards matters of religion, he did not ally himself with any denomination until a short period prior to his death, which ocenrred at the age of forty-five years. His grandfather, Azan Fenton, came into Chautauqua county when in middle life, and remained here nntil his death at West Mina, at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He was a man posses- sing a somewhat remarkable eyc-sight, who even to his last moment was able to read dis- tinctly without the artificial aid of glasses. Azan Fenton was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which faith he had been converted when but thirteen years of age. His firm faith in the efficacy of the Christian re- ligion and in its power to give comfort through all the moments of depression which are wont to harass every life, was his mainstay and source of hope throughout all his declining years.
William H. Fenton spent thic years of his yonth in the village of North Clymer, New York, as the adopted son of Sanford Fox; received his elementary edncation in the com- mon schools of his native village, which was
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afterwards supplemented by a course of study at Chamberlain Institute and Female college, Randolph, New York, from which institution of learning he was graduated at the age of twenty-three. He taught music in Chautau- qua county and in Pennsylvania from the time he was nineteen years old, and also for a time after his graduation, after which he supplied various pulpits as a local preacher in western New York and Pennsylvania, and finally be- came a presiding minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has occupied his present position as pastor at Sinclairville for about a year, with a gratifying and encouraging out- look for the future prosperity of the church. Rev. Mr. Fenton is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance, in which he holds the position of chaplain. He is republican in politics.
On August 6, 1890, Rev. Mr. Fenton was united in marriage to a daughter of P. L. Wright, of Wrightsville, Warren county, Pa.
H ERMAN SIXBEY is a son of Charles and Mary Ann (Sherman) Sixbey, and was born in Montgomery county, New York, Sep- tember 8th, 1838. His grandfather, John Six- bey, was of Dutch extraction, of good family and was born in the State of New York, in the Mohawk valley, where his father had been one of the original Knickerbockers. From New York he emigrated to the State of Michigan, where he died, being at the time of his death a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was a woman of like extraction and birth and bore him fourteen children. Mater- mal grandfather, John Sherman, was of English extraction and lived and died in Schoharie county, where he occupied himself farming. During the war of 1812 he was captain of a de- tachment of cavalry and served in that war with bravery and merit. He united in marriage with Tirzah Smith, of English lineage and a descend- ant of an old Revolutionary family. She bore
her husband six children. Charles Sixbey, father of Herman, was given birth in the Mo- hawk Valley, New York, and, like his father, emigrated to Michigan, where he died at the early age of thirty. He was a wagon-maker by trade, voted with the whigs and communed with the methodists. He was the father of three children : Charles, killed on the D. A. V. & P. R. R. while employed as brakeman ; Mary A., wife of Fred Dutton, of Sherman ; and Herman.
On August 3d, 1863, Herman Sixbey was united in marriage to Marianna R. Buck, daugh- ter of Edwin Buck, by whom he has the follow- ing children : De Witt, an assistant in his father's store; Mary Adelia, Carlton B. and Ar- thur W.
Herman Sixbey was educated in the common schools and at the age of twenty engaged in the mercantile business at Westfield, New York, where he remained about three years. On Au- gust 1st, 1862, when the peace of our country was disturbed by the outbreak of the civil war, he enlisted in the 112th regiment, N. Y. Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until February 3d, 1865. During the first year of his service he was advanced from the rank of a private through the several official gradations to the rank of first lieutenant and finally received the recommendation for a captaincy. He took part in the following battles and engagements : The siege of Suffolk, the skirmishes around Rich- mond, battle of Cold Harbor, Drury's Bluff and the siege of Petersburg (at which he received a severe wound in the face through the famous mine explosion), and for three years his life hung by a mere thread. After his discharge from the service he returned to civil life at Westfield, where he received the appointment of assistant collector of internal revenue. He served one term of three years as clerk of Chautauqua county, at the expiration of which he embarked in business in Mayville, where he conducts one of the largest general stores in that village,
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carrying a stock of some fifteen thousand dol- of seven children, three sons and four daugh- lars. He is a stanch republican in politics, a ters. His wife was a native of Connecticut, Royal Arch Mason, and present Master of Pea- was born Juue 1st, 1768, and died at the age cock Lodge, at Mayville, a member of the A. 'of ninety years.
O. U. W. and a member of the G. A. R.
A LBERT A. JAMES, an active and ener- getie farmer and a good citizen of Nash- ville, New York, was born in Brookfield, Madi- son county, New York, February 3d, 1813, and is a son of Louis P. James and Hannah (Hill) James. His grandfather James enigrated to America from England, though he was of Irish descent. Upon his arrival he located near New London, Connecticut, where he took up his oc- cupation as cabinet-maker and continued it during the remainder of his life. His coming to America was just prior to the war of the Revolution, so that as far as his loyalty to the country of his birth or adoption is concerned, he occupied a neutral position. Subject has in his possession quite a number of souvenirs and mementoes of that memorable struggle. Mater- nal grandfather Hill was of English descent, and upon his emigration to America also settled in Connecticut. Louis P. James claims as his native State Rhode Island, where he was born April 15th, 1780. While living in Rhode Island he pursued the vocation of a farmer, but shortly removed to the county of Madison, State of New York, where he took up a like pursuit. In 1819 he removed to Chautauqua county, town of Hanover, where he spent the remaining years of liis life, and in 1865 died at the age of eighty-five years. He owned a farm of eighty-four acres of land, which he purchased from the old Holland Land company. His first political alliance was with the Whig party, but at its death he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years prior to his death and was one of its most earnest and ardent supporters. His marriage to Hannah Hill resulted in the birth
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