USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 70
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S ENECA H. GAGE, a prominent farmer and grower of small fruits of Silver Creek, N. Y. is a son of Parker Gage, and was born in Janu- ary, 1834, in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York. Grandfather Gage was born in the State of Connecticut, and died in Chautauqua county, New York, some time in the '20s. Upon his arrival in the county he first located south of Smith's Mills, in the town of Hanover, where he set to work, cleared up a |
farm and rendered it fit for cultivation. Farm- ing has been his life-long occupation. Polit- ically he cast his vote with the old Whig party and held membership in the Baptist church. He was united in marriage and reared a family of three daughters and four sons. Parker Gage, father of Seneca H., was born in Connecticut in 1801, and removed to Chautauqua county with his father, where he died in August of 1849. He always followed farming and cast his vote with the Whig party, under which he served as collector in his native town. In his religious belief he joined with the Baptists. His marriage with Miss Howard re- sulted in a family of four sons and three daugh- ters : Wallace (died young), Allen, Olive, Car- oline, Adaline, Lyman and Seneca H.
Seneca H. Gage attended the common schools in boyhood, and commenced life as a sailor on Lake Erie, which occupation occupied twenty- seven years of his life. He began at the foot of the ladder, and when he quit his sea-faring life, had arisen to the rank of captain. In 1876 he purchased a farm in the town of Han- over, and has since devoted himself to its culti- vation. The bulk of his farm has been devot- ed to the growing of small fruits and grapes, which he has made a special industry in that section of the county.
Seneca H. Gage joined in marriage with Tir- zah Maria Scott, a daughter of Chandler Scott, of the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, and is the father of three children: Emma, wife of Archibald Mulkins, a resident of the city of Buffalo, New York, in the service of the Nickel Plate R. R. Mr. and Mrs. Mulkins liave three children-Archibald, John and Emma ; Edith, wife of Charles Secord, a farm- er of the town of Hanover. They have one child-Georgia, wife of Nelson Dickerson, a farmer living near Silver Creek.
S. H. Gage has always been a democrat in politics, but has never been ambitious to hold office. He belongs to the Free and Accepted
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
Masons, Lodge No. 151, at Forestville, New York.
F FREDERICK GRON, the well-known and popular Jamestown liveryman, is a son of Andrew and Mary (Simpson) Gron, and was born near Stockholm, Sweden, in 1841. An- drew Gron was a native of Sweden where he married Mary Simpson and emigrated to Amer- iea, settling at Jamestown in 1850. He was a farmer by occupation. His wife, who is still living at the mature age of eighty-two years, bore him seven children : Caroline, married and lives in Ohio ; Charles, a resident of James- town, and a partner of Frederick ; Frederick ; Louisa, who is the wife of S. J. Westerburg, and lives at Hartfield, this county ; Augusta, resides near Parker City, Pa., with her hus- band, Benjamin Brown ; Christina, now Mrs. Wilson Stanton, also lives at Parker City ; and Hannah, wife of A. A. Anndown, a Jamestown lumber merchant.
Frederick Gron acquired his early education in Sweden, and was but nineteen years of age when lic eame to America and, after his arrival, assisted his father on the farm until September, 1861, when he enlisted with Co. F, 9th New York Cavalry, and remained in the Union ser- vice until the close of the war, receiving his discharge among the last in July, 1865. Mer- itorious conduct secured him two stripes early in the service and from that time he served as cor- poral. His brother Charles enlisted at the same time and place and in the same company, and served the same term of service. They were located during the greater portion of their time in Virginia, and participated in nearly all of Sheridan's battles. Returning from the front they soon settled down to peaceful pursuits, and together engaged in the livery, sales and board- ing stable business on Second Street, James- town, where they have a fine large brick build- ing, and own about twenty-five good horses with carriages and other equipments found in a
first-elass stable. A farm is jointly owned by the brothers where they raise hay, ete., used in feeding their stoek. Politically Mr. Gron is a republican, and is a good and highly respected citizen.
ATHANIEL J. FENNER, an enterpris- ing boot and shoe merchant of James- town, is the son of James R. and Lavina (Har- rington) Fenner, and was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, May 24, 1845. Grandfather Fenner was born in Herkimer county, this State, and removed, when a young man, to the town of Busti, and was one of the pioneer settlers. He lived there for some years, enduring the hardships and privations that be- fell the early settlers, tilling the soil to gain sustenance for himself and family. Some time later he removed to Ripley, adding to liis toil as a farmer the work of a lumberman, these oc- cupations being usually united by the sturdy residents. Mr. Fenner married a Miss Robert- son, and their union was blest with a large family of children. In politics he was an old- line whig, and died at Ripley. The Harring- ton branch of the family were also natives of Herkimer county, and went to Busti at about the same time the Fenners arrived thiere. Grandfather Harrington, too, followed the life of a pioneer, farming in summer and spending the winter lumbering. His wife was a Miss Gage, who bore him several children. They came to Jamestown, where Mr. Harrington died. James R. Fenner (father) was born in Herkimer county before the arrival of his pa- rents in this county, came with them and re- mained at home until twenty years of age, in the meantime learning the shoemaking trade. About that time he came to Jamestown, then a small place, and began shoemaking, but soon after opened a boot and shoe store, which it is believed was one of the first, if not the first, in Jamestown. This business is still conducted by Nathaniel J. Fenner, who succeeded his father.
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In connection with his store, Mr. Fenner dealt some in lumber, shipping and piloting a num- ber of rafts of this commodity down the river, although the shoe store was his main business until his death, which occurred in Jamestown. In politics he was a democrat, and a disciple of the Unitarian church. He married Lavina Har- rington, and reared a family of four sons and six daughters : James R., Jr. ; Silas, a whole- sale liquor dealer of Jamestown, resides on Ninth street-he entered the civil war in Co. B, 68th Regiment, N. Y. Infantry ; Nathan J., and Alexander, also in the shoe business in Jamestown. The names of the daughters are not given.
Nathanicl J. Fenner secured a good common school education, but early in life was obliged to assist his father in the store, beginning at his thirteenth. year, and has been steadily engaged therein since. He entered the war in the same company with his brother, and, although but eighteen years of age at the time, saw active service.
He joined in marriage with Frances I. Park- hurst, who is a daughter of Perry Parkhurst, of Elm Flats, this county.
He has always been a stanch democrat, and is one of the oldest shoe dealers in Jamestown. He is a member of James M. Brown Post, G. A. R., and is secretary of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M., which important office he has held for twelve years, during which time he has not missed more than three meetings. This record is probably without parallel, and shows admirable devotion to the order. His uninter- rupted residence here of nearly half a century is also worthy of comment.
R ALPH C. FESSENDEN, a leading farmer and dairyman of the town of Gerry, was born November 4, 1851, and is a son of Albro H. and Emeline (Atkins) Fessenden, the for- mer born on March 25, 1816, and the latter on December 9, 1817. His parents were natives
of the State of Vermont, and were united in marriage in Junc, 1842. Albro H. Fessenden, in the beginning of his career, removed from Ver- mont to western New York, to the town of Gerry, Chautauqua county, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick in connection with the operation of his father's farm. His father, the grandfather of Ralph C., had originally purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres from the Holland Land company, and was known as one of the pioneer farmers in that part of the county. Both father and son were republican in politics ; the former died in Ger- ry, at the age of seventy-cight.
Ralph C. Fessenden benefited by a common school education, and also attended for a time the academy at Sinclairville. He lives on the farm which his ancestors have occupied for the past three generations, and, in connection with his farm work, operates a large dairy. He is a member of the Grange and the Knights of Mac- cabees. In politics he has always been a stead- fast adherent of republican doctrines, and has served his party as assessor for two years. He is a public-spirited, progressive citizen, and in matters religious has a tendency toward liber- alism.
Ralphı C. Fessenden's marriage took place on February 4, 1874, at which time he was united to Jennie Sherman, daughter of the late R. D. Sherman, of Sinclairville. The result of their union has been six children : Albro, Jessic May, Norman J., Harriet, Robert and Benjamin.
ALONZO FELTON, a citizen of the town of Ellery, in high standing, is a son of Ezra and Hannah (Sherman) Felton, and was born in Pittston, Rensselaer county, New York, September 25, 1819. Levi Sherman (maternal grandfather) was a native of Rensselaer county, by occupation a farmer, cabinet-maker, and the owner of one hundred acres of land. He reared a large family and died in the county of his birth. James Felton (grandfather) was born in
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Massachusetts, and emigrated to Olio, where he passed lis remaining life and died. He was a blacksmith by trade, married and had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Ezra Felton (father) was born in Rensselaer county, this State, and when lie first came to Chautauqua county located in the western part of the town of Ellery ; subject was at this time about one year of agc. He died at Bemus Point in 1887, at the age of eighty-six years. His occupation was farming, while in politics he was a Jacksonian democrat. His first marriage was to Hannah Sherman, who bore him two chil- dren, Alonzo and one whose name is not given. His second wife was Abigail Annis, who also bore him two children.
Alonzo Felton gained his education through the common schools, and during his career has followed various vocations, but is essentially a farmer. He is the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres at Bemus Point, which at present claims most of his attention. In pol- itics he is a thoroughgoing republican, and is strongly attached to the interests of the party.
On September 24, 1844, he was united in marriage with Caroline Olmstead, who bore him five children : George (married to Cordelia Gilman), a farmer living in the town of Poland; Julia, wife of Harrison Clark, a farmer residing in Eddy county, North Dakota ; Mary, wife of Charles Chase (deceased), of Jamestown ; En- na O., wife of Edwin Olean, a farmer of Gene- sec county, this State ; and Ada, wife of Charles Arnold, a farmer of the town of Ellery. Mr. Felton is a farmer of recognized worth and standing in the community in which he rc- sides.
TOHN R. FAY. One of the most enter- prising citizens of Westfield and one who is always found in the fore-front of any move- ment tending toward the advancement of the material welfare of his town, is John R. Fay,' who was born in Stockton, Chau-
tauqua county, New York, April 14, 1847, and is a son of Nathaniel and Nancy D. (Bowdishi) Fay. His grandfather, Nathaniel Fay, was a native of Massachusetts and came to the county in 1808, locating in Portland six years before the first town meeting was held there. He was subsequently elected a member of the board of supervisors of that town. He was a farmer by occupation and died well advanced in years. His son, Nathaniel Fay, Jr., (father), a native of Portland, this county, became a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal churchı, owned and cultivated a farm in Stockton, and in 1877, moved to Iowa, where he now resides engaged in farming. In politics he is a repub- lican, and married Nancy D. Bowdish, a native of Columbia county, this State, by whom he had several children. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John R. Fay was reared on a farm, where he remained until 1873, when he came to West- field. He received a good common school edu- cation and shortly after coming to Westfield, erected a cheese factory and engaged in making cheese until 1883, when he entered the coal trade which he has most successfully continued to the present time. He has enlarged it con- siderably and at his place of business, corner of Pearl street and the Nickel Platc Railway, can be found not only coal of all kinds, but salt, plaster, stone flagging, sewer-pipe, drain tile, brick, fertilizers, etc. He is also extensively engaged in the cultivation of grapes. In his religious convictions he is a Methodist, being a member and a trustce of the church of that denomination at Westfield, and superintendent of its Sunday school. In politics he is a pro- hibitionist. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and of the Royal Arcanum.
John R. Fay married, in 1876, Emma J. Neill, daughter of Hugh Neill, of Westfield, and to them has been born one child, a daughi- ter : Clara S.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
J AMES S. ELLIS is a man who has wit- nesscd the material development of James- town and whose labor has been largely instru- mental in the erection of many of her most substantial and beautiful buildings. He was born in the town of Busti, this county, on February 19, 1841, and is a son of Edward and Angeline (Porter) Ellis. Great-grandfather Ellis was born in England, and coming to America settled in Connecticut, where he dicd. He married and had eight children, all sons. One of these, Richard Ellis, born in Connecticut, was the grandfather of our subject. He emi- grated and settled in Norwich and followed the sea for sixty years. He became a captain by promotion and was sailing during the Revolu- tionary war. During his voyages, he met a lady in one of the English ports, whom he married. Her name was Jane Brown and she never came to this country but made her home in England, during the time she was not with him. Edward Ellis was born in England in 1800. He lived in Connecticut for some years and finally drifted to western New York, settling in Niagara county. His father came with him. From the latter place he came to Busti about 1845 and in 1848 he went to Farm- ington, Pennsylvania, where he continued farm- ing until his death. He was a whig and a republican and a member of the Methodist church. Edward Ellis married Elizabeth Lov- ering and had three sons and two daughters. John W., living in Busti, entered the Union Army in the 112th regiment, New York In- fantry, and attained the rank of sergeant. George was also in the same regiment and died in the service from disease. William moved to Indiana and joined the army from that State. Nancy married Henry Fowles, who died in Saginaw, Michigan, where she still is living. Mary twice married, first to William McCay, who died, and she afterwards wedded John Kern, who is a draughtsman in Chicago, Illinois. His first wife died and Edward Ellis took for
his second, Angeline Porter. They had six children. Charles engaged in farming near Saginaw, Michigan; James S .; Solomon R. entered the 112th regiment New York Infantry and died in the service ; Calvin lives at Farm- ington, Pennsylvania, and follows farming ; Anna married William R. Bucklen and lives in Jamestown ; and Jane, died young.
James S. Ellis was educated in the common schools and the Jamestown academy. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade and worked at it by the day. He married Adelia Hunt, a daughter of Anthony Hunt, one of Chautauqua's old families, who settled in Elli- cott, and they have the following children : Jennie, married Thaddeus E. Matson, who is a book-keeper for his father-in-law. They have one child, Florence A .; Flora married Frank L. Sharp, a machinist of New Castle, Pennsyl- vania. She had one child, Louis E., and died ; Gertrude also living at New Castle, Pennsylvania, married Edward Sharp, a machinist. They have one child, Flora; An- thony E., Clida A., James G., Adelia and Allen E. live at home ; and Louis died. Industry and economy, coupled with good wages, which a first class mechanic receives, permitted Mr. Ellis in a few years to begin contracting and building on his own account, which he did in 1868 and an extensive business was the result. His work was soon recognized as equal to the best and his operations were not limited to Jamestown. He has been connected with a large number of the buildings that have been erected in Jamestown and vicinity during the past twenty-five years. He was the master builder of Halls, the largest worsted mill in the city, and has built more of the first class houses than any active firm in the city. In connection, or we had better say in conjunction, with his contracting and building business, he has a well equipped planing mill near the boat landing where they do a large custom work, as well as manufacturing doors, frames, &c., for
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
his own buildings. Politically Mr. Ellis is a republican and is serving his third term as councilman from his ward, having served ever since Jamestown was incorporated a city. He is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M. and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he, with his wife, is an active worker, a teacher in the Sabbath- school, steward and class leader.
J OSEPH WILSON EDMUNDS was born in the village of Lee, Oneida county, New York, January 14, 1847, and is a son of Ven- ner and Louisa (Hicks) Edmunds. Grandfather John Edmunds was a native of New England, born in the year 1782, and married Nancy Chapman (born 1784) in the year 1801. He died in his native State at the age of forty-three years. Venner Edmunds, father of Joseph W., and his wife were both born in Massachusetts, and both held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Edmunds was a demo- crat until the formation of the Republican party, after which he became a strong supporter of the new party. His death took place on April 24, 1881, at the age of seventy-six years.
Joseph W. Edmunds removed with his parents to the county of Chautauqua in 1850, at which time they located upon the farm-which he now occupies. Like other farmer boys, his time in youth was divided between farm duties and attending school. He went somewhat beyond the common schools, completing a course at the Fredonia academy. He remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-four years, when he entered upon the struggle of life on his own account. Besides carrying on the ordinary line of farm work, he also runs a large dairy, deals somewhat extensively in registered cattle, and is a manufacturer of maple sugar. In political creed he is a republican, and at the hands of his party has served as assessor, collector and post- master. He is a man of unblemished record,
morally and socially, and is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Joseph W. Edmunds united in marriage, on November 15, 1869, witlı Alice Brown, daugh- ter of Henry B. Brown, formerly of Cheshire, Massachusetts. They have five children : Louisa S., Lizzie M., Mary C., Henry B. and Rozelle.
TTO K. DEAN. The world is full of men
who have achieved success with the assist- ance of parents, relatives and friends, but a self- made man, one thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, to whom the world can point, before his fortieth year is reached, and say, " there is a successful man," is indeed rare. Such a man is the one whosc name heads this sketch. O. K. Dean is a son of Jerome J. and Adaline N. (Kip) Dean, and was born at Sher- man, Chautauqua county, New York, July 27, 1856. The paternal grandfather Dean came to Chautauqua county and settled in Sherman, where he became the proprietor of a tannery and followed the trade of a shoemaker. He was of English extraction and a member of the Methodist church. He married and reared a family of three children, one son and two daughters : Anna, who became Mrs. Miller ; Mary J., wife of Miles Clark ; and Jerome J. (father). Mr. Dean died and was buried at Sherman. The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Kip, was identified with the early prosperity of the town of Sherman. He was born in Johns- town, N. Y., on April 27, 1797, being of German parentage. On February 23, 1823, he married Esther Miller, of Newark, this State, by whom he had four children : Marinda became the wife of Samuel Hall; Frances, twice mar -. ried, first to Mr. Coolie, and later to Rev. D. M. Sliver ; Adaline N. is the mother of subject ; and Jennie, who married Rev. E. T. Grecn. The town of Sherman was at first called Kip- ville, where Mr. Kip died in 1850.
O. K. Dean was educated in the Sherman schools until his fifteenth ycar, when he was a
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
student in the Fredonia Normal, finishing that course in 1873, and returned to the academny at Sherman in 1876. After this lie began a clerk- ship with J. T. Green, of Sherman, and remained there two and a half years. Succeeding this le clerked eightcen months for De Forest Wills, at Jamestown. Sickness then attacked him, and for nine months he was an invalid, but his con- stitution vanquished the fever, and for a while he tilled the soil of a small farm near Sherman. When President Garfield took charge of the government, the river and harbor improvement work was revived and Mr. Dean was employed on Lake Michigan. In April, 1882, he came to Fredonia, and kept books for H. J. Putnam in that gentleman's fine grocery store, and ninc months later, in partnership with his brother, bought the Sherman hotel and livery, which was conducted until 1887, when, renting his interest in the hotel, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he remained nine months. Returning cast at the expiration of that time, he engaged temporarily with Finch & Co., tobacconists, of Corry, Pa., and later bought a coal, wood and building material business, which he is now conducting, doing a wholesale business of sixty thousand dollars per annum. Mr. Dean is a good business man, has had a varied and prac- tical experience, and knows how to do business and how to make business friends. Forest Lodge, No. 166, F. and A. M., of Fredonia, has honored him with the chair of Worthy Grand, he now being a Past Grand, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum.
On January 20, 1882, he married Edith, daughter of George and Lavina Vermilya, of Columbus, Pa., where the former is a farmer. They have two children : Jerome J., born Feb- ruary 25, 1883; and George V., born July 31, 1885.
During Mr. Dean's peregrinations his com- prehensive mind saw good investments in differ- ent localities, and he is now owner of a coal prop- erty of two hundred acres at Pittsburg, Kan.,
and one hundred and sixty acres at Joplin, Mo., covering zinc deposits of great value. Mr. Dean's mother died in 1867, and he was bound to a Mr. Flagort, who did not treat him kindly. He lived afterwards with J. P. Hall, near Min- eral Point. From this beginning he has risen, thrust aside the barriers, and to-day is a solid man, commanding the esteem of all. His father died September 13, 1882.
A LEXANDER H. DOTY, a farmer and long resident of the town of Gerry, Chau- tauqua county, New York, is a son of George W. and Mary (English) Doty, and was born in the village of Norway, Herkimer county, New York, on June 18, 1820. His father was a native of Washington county, a farmer of rec- ognized standing, a whig in politics and atten- dant member of the Baptist church. He died in Herkimer county at the age of sixty years. His mother (grandmother of Alexan- der H. Doty) was of Scotch descent and passed away in Herkimer county at the extreme age of one hundred and five years.
Alexander H. Doty was reared in Herkimer and Oneida counties, in whose common schools he gained his early education. He learned the trade of a carriage-maker at Herkimer and Sin- clairville, but came to Chautauqua county in 1851 and engaged in the occupation of farming. He practically relinquished his trade and has hitherto made agriculture and dairying his life's occupation. Mr. Doty has always voted the democratic ticket, is a man of unblemished life, and unqualifiedly honest in all his business re- lations and transactions. He has been a mem- ber of the Frec and Accepted Masons for the past thirty years, in which he holds the office of junior deacon. He also belongs to the Grange of his town and takes an active interest in all movements relating to agriculture and agricultural development.
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