USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 72
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assistant ticket agent in the Union depot. In this service he remained until 1881, when he was appointed ticket agent, which office he now holds with general satisfaction. Politically he is a straight republican and takes an active inter- est in National, State and local politics. His family are unitarians. He is a member of William O. Stevens Post, G. A. R.
John Bourne was married August, 1866, to Edith Buckley, youngest daughter of John Buckley, of Dunkirk, and has had several chil- dren, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living: Philip H., Graham M., Augusta D., and Juliet Madge. While he was at Lime- Stone Gap, Indian Territory, in 1872, in the employ of the Overland Transportation com- pany, a daughter, Lilian, was born. She was the only white child of New York parentage ever born in the Indian Territory. Her birth- place was in the reservation of the Choctaw Nation. She was an uncommonly bright and promising child, but was attacked with diphthe- ria in 1882 and passed beyond to join the angels' throng.
ILLIAM H. HARELL, the organizer and general manager of the Harell Steam Heating company of Dunkirk, was born in the city of Paterson, N. J., February 23, 1861, and is a son of Richard and Margaret (Hays) Harell. Richard Harell was born in England in 1836, and came when a boy, with his parents to New Jersey, where he was en- gaged in the machine shops in Paterson until 1877, when he went to Hudson, New Jersey, and was interested for three years in the Clapp & Jones Manufacturing company of that place. In the spring of 1880 he removed to Dunkirk and accepted his present position of foreman of the Brooks' Locomotive works. He is a re- publican in politics, a Master Mason in Free- masonry and married Margaret Hays, who was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1841.
William H. Harell passed his boyhood, days
in Paterson, where he attended Tallman semi- nary. In 1877 he went with his parents to Hudson, where he remained until 1880, when he became a clerk in the freight office of the N. Y., L. E. & W. R. R. at Salamanca, N. Y. Two years later he came to Dunkirk, where he learned the trade of machinist in the Brooks' Locomotive works. In 1886 he left these works and organized the Harell Steam Heating company, of which he is general manager and his father superintendent. They manufacture steam and hot water heating apparatus and pay attention to ventilating and plumbing. Their specialty is a steel-plate tubular boiler, patented by R. Harell in 1883, which is made in a great variety of styles and sizes and is perfectly adapted to warming all classes of buildings, from the ordinary dwelling to the largest factory. Their system of heating has been suc- cessfully applied to some of the largest manu- facturing establishments and many private res- idences in Dunkirk and other cities of western New York. Their business increased so much that on May 1, 1890, Mr. Harell organized a stock company with a capital of forty thousand dollars and they are now erecting an extensive plant for the manufacture of boilers and radia- tors on a large scale and in quantities sufficient to meet the present demand for them.
W. H. Harell is independent in politics, for which his business affairs leave him but little time. He is a Royal Arch Mason and holds membership in Dunkirk Chapter of H. R. A. M.
C RVILLE M. HILLER is of German de- scent, his ancestors coming over with the colony from Holland, which settled New Am- sterdam, now New York city. He was born in Genesee county, New York, January 21, 1831, and is a son of Michael and Rachael (Grandy) Hiller. His paternal grandfather Hiller was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the British, and spent three
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
years on board a prison ship. At the close of the war he was exchanged, but his health was so badly shattered that he died a few years afterward, and his brother-in-law, Gen. Philip Schuyler cared for his family and reared and edu- cated the children. Michael Hiller, (father) was a native of Herkimer county, N. Y., born in 1787. He married Rachael Grandy, when a young man moved to Genesee county and clearcd a farm from the wilderness. In 1837 he moved from Genesee county to Cattaraugus county, where he cleared a nice farm and spent the rest of lis life there. He was a stirring man, a member of the Baptist church, a strong abolitionist and a "conductor " on the famous " under-ground railroad." He died in 1854. His wife (mother) was a native of Connecticut and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in 1838.
Orville M. Hiller was brought up on a farm, educated in the common schools and in Spring- ville academy, where he spent two years, and then learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1851 he came to Dunkirk and pursued that occupation nntil 1863, when he enlisted for three months in company D, 68th regiment N. Y. Vols., was commissioned second lieutenant, and served his term of enlistment. In 1865 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Chantauqna county, held that office nine years, and in 1874 was elected police justice of Dunkirk for two years and re-elected in 1876 for a like term. From 1876 to 1886 he was employed at his trade by the Erie R. R. Co., having previously worked for them twelve years, 1851-1863 in same capacity. In 1886 he was again elccted police justice and has held that office ever since.
Politically he is a straight republican and takes an active part in politics. He is a mem- ber of Dunkirk commandery K. T. In addition to his other business he is interested in real estate.
Orville M. Hiller was married in 1852 to Abigail Connell, of Dunkirk, and has had
several children, of whom two are living : Mary M., who is married to Lester F. Stearns, district attorney, who resides in Dunkirk ; and Lilian E.
C HARLES F. WHITE, the intelligent edi- tor of the Dunkirk Advertiser and Union, was born Jnne 29, 1842, in Steuben county, New York, and is a son of Joseph H. and Charlotte N.' (Hilton) White. Joseph H. White was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, but came to Hornellsville, New York, when a small child and made his home with an aunt. In early manhood he followed farming, that being the principal work of the country, but in 1847 he saw an opportunity opened in furnishing ties for the Erie railway at Corning, New York, which he did for some time with profit. Mr. White was an intelligent man who took an interest in politics and was a recognized democratic leader of his section. In 1850 he went to California and after mining there for ten years went to Fort Hope, British Columbia, and was killed in a mining accident iu May, 1861. He married Charlotte N. Hilton, who was a native of Ontario county, New York, and is now living, aged seventy-four years, in Hor- nellsville, where she is a member of the Meth- odist churchi.
Charles F. White was reared in Hornells- ville and got his education from the public schools of that city. When nineteen years of age he enlisted in Co. K, 17th regiment, New York Infantry and served three years. His was a fighting regiment and they participated in the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court- house, Second Bull Run, Antictam, Fredericks- burg and Chancellorsville. He was discharged at New York in June, 1864, his term of enlist- ment having expired. Deciding to learn the printing business he entered the office of the Havana Journal, in Schuyler county, New York, learned the trade and worked there in all seven years. He was industrious and eco-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
nomical and saved money enough so that in May, 1871, the opportunity presenting, he bought a one-half interest in the Alleghany County Democrat, published at Wellsville, New York. January 1, 1873, he bought his part- ner's interest and conducted it until August 14, 1874. In November, 1875, he bought a one- half interest in the Advertiser and Union which he has since conducted with ability and to the satisfaction and instruction of its readers. It is a nine column, four page, 29x45 paper. Ag- gressively democratic-has a circulation of six- teen hundred and constantly increasing in Chautauqua and adjoining counties. It is a live and progressive journal, and is fearless in advertising what it deems to be right.
In 1873, Mr. White married Jennie E., dangliter of Henry Miller, of Wellsville, New York. They have two children, one son and one daughter : Joseph C., born March 24, 1876 ; and Nellie May, born July 4, 1877.
C. F. White is a member of W. O. Stephens Post, No. 393, G. A. R .; Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., of Dunkirk ; and the Royal Arcanum.
H ON. L. F. STEARNS, a resident lawyer of Dunkirk and now serving his second term as district attorney of Chautauqua county, is a son of Crawford and Lovina (White) Stearns, and was born in the town of Villanova, Chautauqua county, New York, July 27, 1856. The Stearns and Whites are of English descent and the grandfathers of L. F. Stearns, Benja- min Stearns and Joel White, came from New England to Chautauqua county, where they followed farming. Benjamin Stearns was a native of Vermont, and died in the town of Villanova, in 1865, while Joel White (maternal grandfather) was born in Massachusetts, where his family was founded by the White who came over in the Mayflower, and from which State he came to this county, in which he followed farming and manufacturing until his death. Crawford Stearns (father) was
born in the town of Villanova in 1830, and has been principally engaged in farming and in raising, buying and shipping stock. He owns four hundred acres of land in the town of Dnn- kirk, has been a member of the Methodist church for many years and is a strong republi- can in politics. His wife is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was born - in 1835.
Lester F. Stearns grew to manhood on the farm and attended Forestville Free academy, one of the best schools in the county. Leaving the academy he taught school for two years and then went to the Bradford oil district of Penn- sylvania where he remained for one year and had charge of several wells that were being sunk for oil, besides the supervision and over- sight of a large strip of oil territory. After re- turning from the oil fields he resumed teaching which he followed until 1879 when he com- menced the study of law with J. A. Parsons of Forestville, and then came to Dunkirk where he read for some time with Holt & Holt, but completed his legal studies with C. B. Bradley, at that time district attorney. He was admit- ted to the bar in April, 1882, and in June of that year opened his present law office at No. 221 Center street where he has fine rooms and a handsome library.
In July, 1889, he united in marriage with Mary H. Hiller, daughter of police-justice Hil- ler, of Dunkirk. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son named Harrold.
L. F. Stearns is a republican in politics, owns a neat and tasteful residence on Swan street and enjoys a good practice. In 1883 he was nominated for special county judge, but de- clined the nomination, but the following year was elected special surrogate and served as such for three years. In 1886 he was elected as dis- trict attorney and in 1889, was re-elected for a term of three years which will expire in 1893.
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
F RANKLIN SIMMONS, owner of the fine, large residence at No. 517 East Second street, Jamestown, is engaged in the manufae- ture of lumber, owning a forest traet in Catta- raugus county. He is a son of Philander and Mary A. (Wade) Simmons, and was born in Poland, Chautauqua county, New York, Aug- ust 29, 1827. His great-grandfather, Eben- ezer Simmons, was a native of Connecticut, of English extraction, and his grandfather, Zariel Simmons, was also born in that State, but re- moved to Washington county, N. Y., and after- wards to Chautauqua county, same State, where he arrived in 1817, settling in Poland, where he died. He was a farmer, and married Sallie Hunt, who bore him twelve children. His maternal grandfather, Pember Wade, was born in Connecticut, but went from there to Mead- ville, Pa., and was one of the first settlers of that ancient place. He married Martha Lord, whose brother, Samuel Lord, was also a Mead- ville pioneer, and owned a portion of the land upon which Allegheny college now stands Philander Simmons was born in Washington county, New York, March 20, 1798, came into Chautauqua county, and left his Poland farm in 1858, removing to Jamestown. Until his advent here he was a farmer, and, owning twenty acres within the city, he devoted some of his time to cultivating it. He was an enthu- siastic republican, and a strong anti-slavery man, besides being a deacon in the Baptist church for a number of years. He married Mary A. Wade, and was the father of ten chil- dren : Eliza ; Leander (dead); Franklin ; Har- vey ; Clarissa M .; Martha T .; Ira (dead), served in the civil war with his brothers, Wil- liam and Adelbert P. ; and Chester A.
Franklin Simmons was educated in the dis- triet schools and began life as a manufacturer of pails. He remained in this business one year an employee, and four years the proprietor, and then he bought a shop and made scythe snaths, grain eradles and chairs until 1857, and
then enlarged his business, turning out all kinds of furniture, which was operated up to 1867, when he sold out and moved on his farm near Ashville, and lived there three years, thien re- turned and engaged in the same business for four years longer, finally giving it up, at the same time buying the place he now owns on East Second street and selling furniture at re- tail. This was succeeded by the grocery busi- ness until 1882, when the lumber business, which has sinee grown to great proportions, was established.
He married a Miss Williams, a daughter of Asa Williams, of this connty.
Politically Mr. Simmons is a republican, and has been tlie assessor and overseer of the poor for Jamestown. Both he aud Mrs. Simmons are members of the Baptist church, the latter sinee thirteen years of age.
A NDREW SOLOMONSON, JR., a native of Sweden, was born on June 21, 1852, near the historic town of Gottenburg. Andrew Solomonson, Sr., and his wife are land-owners in Sweden, are engaged in eultivating their land and are more than ordinarily well-to-do subjeets of their king.
Andrew Solomonson, Jr., lived with his parents, helping them to eultivate their farm, until reaching the age of twenty, when he started for America. He reached New York in 1872, and at once started west, his first stop being Titusville, Pa. Remaining there a short time he decided to go elsewhere, and went down to Williamsport, Pa., where he staid until 1874, when he eame to Jamestown, where he has resided ever since. His first work here was in a planing-mill, and he continued to work for others until 1885, wlien he decided to embark in business for himself. The result is the fine, large groeery store located at the corner of Windsor and Second streets, in connection with which he conducts a first-class meat shop.
He was married to Anna A. Lawrence, a
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
daughter of John E. Lawson, of Jamestown, who is in business as a carpenter and cabinet- maker. They have had two children, David L. and A. Jonathan.
Like many of his countrymen, Mr. Solomon- son is a republican in political matters, is a good and respected citizen, and has a pleasant and comfortable home.
ON. EGBERT F. WOODBURY, a man of great natural ability, of superior legal attainments, of rare independence and earnest convictions, who deservedly won and modestly wears the honors of political life, is the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch. He is the only son of Frank and Philetta (Mills) Wood- bury, and was born March 29, 1861, in the town of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, New York. George Woodbury, grandfather of Eg- bert E. Woodbury, was a farmer who for many years lived and finally died in Cherry Creek town, a well-kuown and respected citizen. His death occurred in the early sixties. He married and reared a family of one son and two daugh- ters. Frank Woodbury was born iu Cherry Creek and lived there nearly all his life, follow- ing the occupation of a farmer. He married Philetta Mills, who bore him one child, the subject of this sketch. Hc died in 1862, while Mrs. Woodbury is still living.
Egbert E. Woodbury was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the common schools, with a three years' course at Chamberlain institute, at Randolph, Cattaraugus county, where he was graduated. After this, deciding to adopt the profession of the law, he began reading law with Hon. R. R. Crawley, of Randolph, and later attended the Albany law school. After this, in 1882, we find him a student in the law office of Lakin & Sessions, one of the leading legal firms of Jamestown, aud in 1884 he was admitted to the bar of Chautauqua county and has since been practic- ing his profession. It must not be overlooked
that the early loss of his father put great re- sponsibility upon the young man, and before the triumphs which we have recorded were achieved the hard work of a monthly farm laborer was known to him, and afterwards ex- perience taught him that a school teacher's life is not a bed of roses. On attaining his majority he cast his fortuues with the Republican party and has been active in politics ever since. In 1886, wheu less than twenty-five years old, he was elected a justice, which difficult office he filled so satisfactorily that his constituents re- quested him to accept a re-election in the spring of 1890, but he declined. In the fall of that year his party made him its nominee to repre- sent Chautauqua county in the State Assembly, and although but twenty-niue years of age, his ability was recognized and the people elected him with a flattering majority. It has been stated that Mr. Woodbury was active in the party-for two years, 1888 and 1889, he was chairman of the county committee and in the elections in which he led them they were victorious.
Ou Christmas day, 1880, Mr. Woodbury united in marriage with Florence E. Holbrook, daughter of Wills F. Holbrook, of Cattaraugus county. Their union has been blest with two children : Grace E. and Frank C.
Hon. E. E. Woodbury is an example of Ameri- can possibilities, if to a good physical constitution there be added push, determination and perse- verance. Still a young man, the eminence to which he may attain cannot be foretold, and to the world it looks as if he had everything neces- sary to make a man contented.
J JOHN F. O'CONNELL is a son of Patrick and Honora (Fiuley) O'Connell, and was born July 10, 1860, in Busti (Ashville), Chau- tauqua county, New York. His paternal grand- father, Patrick O'Connell, was a native of County Kerry, Ireland, where he married Helen Gregg, by whom he had five children. They
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OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
all came to America, four of whom, Michael, Morris, James and Patrick, settled in Chautau- qua county, and John, the fifthi son, settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he has charge of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. grain elevator. Morris entered the army and near the close of the war went home on a furlough, where he died. John Fin- ley (maternal grandfather) was a native of Abby Fail, County Limerick, Ireland, where he spent his life. His wife was Julia Sullivan and they had several children. Patrick O'Connell (father) was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and came to America in 1849, locating at Buffalo, this State, for a short time, when he removed to Danville, from thence to Lakewood, this county, and afterwards to Ashville on a farm, where he lived about four years. He next went to Kentucky, where he became interested in a whiskey distillery, in which business he con- tinued but a short time. He then returned to this county and the succeeding autumn sought new fields in Missouri and other western states, being absent about a year, during which time he speculated in fruit. He again returned to this county and, after having invested in real estate in Jamestown, he removed to that city where he now resides. He worked as a sailor on the great lakes before coming to this county and since his residence in Jamestown has under- taken contract work of various kinds. Politi- cally he is a democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Catholic chureli. He married Honora Finley, by whom he had five ehildren, four sons living in Jamestown and a daughter at home : Michael, Morris, Daniel, John F. and Mary.
John F. O'Connell received his education in the common schools and the academy at James- town and by self-study and close application. He worked for the Jamestown bedstead works for two years, afterwards with D. C. and J. W. Breed & Co. for eight years and five years withı A. P. Olson. Considering himself well skilled in the business, he, with Andrew P. Quigley,
commenced the manufacture of various kinds of furniture. This firm continued but three months, when he formed a partnership with W. T. Marsh and John Dschuden under the firm name of O'Connell & Co. They make a spe- cialty of parlor and library tables and hall racks and employ seventeen men, besides liaving five salesmen on the road. Mr. O'Connell is a liberal demoerat, always voting for the man whom he thinks is best fitted for the place. He has served as a delegate several times to the county conventions and for eleven years has been a member of the Deluge Hose Co., No. 1, having been assistant foreman for three years. Mr. O'Connell is liberal in his views, generous in temperament, and is always willing to aid in any movement which is for the in- terest of the city.
RTHUR C. WADE, a prominent lawyer of Jamestown, N. Y., is a son of George L. and Jane E. (Pearson) Wade, and was born December 12, 1852, in the town of Charlotte, Chautauqua county, New York. His grand- father, George Wade, was a native and life-long resident of the town of Charlotte, where he was engaged in the occupation of farming. His marriage to a Miss Bowen resulted in the birth of eight children. Maternal grandfather Pearson was born in England, emigrated to America while yet in the vigor of life and located in the town of Charlotte, Chautauqua county, in 1828, where he finished his labors and died. At the time of his emigration to America, his daughter, the mother of Arthur C. Wade, was but eight years of age. George L. Wade (father) was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in the year 1823, emigrated to Chautauqua county when in early manhood and at present lives in the town of Ellington, where he operates a farm and carries on his trade of a mechanic. He is a republican in politics, a methodist in his religious views, and a warm supporter of religious enterprises. His
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
marriage to Jane E. Pearson, resulted in the birth of seven children, five sons and two daughters : William, now living at Cherry Creck, this State; Jennie E., wife of Henry Irwin, a resident of Warren, Pa .; Charles E., of Pine Valley, Cattaraugus county, this State ; Alfred E., a jeweler, conducting a business in Buffalo, N. Y .; Jolın T., of Ellington, N. Y .; Lilian A., wife of Bert Willsie, a citizen of Cattaraugus county, this State ; and Arthur C.
Arthur C. Wade received his elementary education in the common schools of his native county and later attended Ellington academy. Upon the completion of his education he took up the study of law with Theodore A. Case, of Ellington, with whom he remained one and one-half years. With this preliminary ac- quaintance of the law, in the fall of 1876, he entered the Albany law school and was graduated therefrom in May, 1877, and in June of the same year commenced the practice of law at the village of El- lington. Here he remained until January, 1883, when he removed to Jamestown, where he has since remained, being at present a partner of the legal firm of Cook, Fisher & Wade. Mr. Wade is still a young man in the midst of an active and successful professional career. He is a profound student of law, a hard worker, a skilled advocate and an eloquent pleader at the bar of justice. Aside from his legal qualifications lie is a man of recognized worth and ability in the fields of politics and literature, being a political speaker of rare brilliancy and force. Personally he is a man of fine address, possessing many genial and social qualities, affable and well liked not only by the members of his profession but uniformly by the citizens of Jamestown.
F FREDERICK N. MARVIN is a son of David R. and Elizabethı (Cone) Marvin, and was born October 25, 1860, in Ellicott, near Jamestown. His paternal grandfather was
a native of Connecticut. He had three sons and one daughter : Henry C., David R., Miolon R. and Hattie. Henry C. married Belle Barlow, a daughter of Attorney Barlow, of Jamestown. He is employed by Gokey & Son, shoe manufacturers in Jamestown ; David R. was born in Connecticut, in 1821, and died in Ellicott, in 1887. He came to that town from Connecticut, in 1855, and remained there until his death. He was a farmer and owned much real estate in Jamestown. He was a republican, an active member of the Congregational church in Jamestown, of which he was a trustee. Hattie married W. N. Gokey, of the firm of Gokey & Son; Newton R. married Edith Jewett, of Jersey City, N. J. He is corrcs- ponding secretary of the A. A. Griffing Iron company in Jersey City.
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