USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 81
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John B. Rush secured his education in the common schools of Ellery, and commenced life as a farmer at the scene of his birth .. This life he continued until 1886, when he moved into the city, but still owns his farm, containing one hundred and thirty-one acres of the old homestead.
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He married Mary A. Brownell, a daughter of Peter R. Brownell, a late resident of Chau- tauqua county, but now living in the city of Jamestown. To this marriage have been born two children . Mary, who is the wife of Clayton Price, son of Anson A. Price (see his sketch), has one child, Carrie; Mr. Price is engaged in the mercantile business ; and Carrie T., wife of Linden Peterson, a butcher living in James- town; they have one child, Mabel. His younger daughter prepared herself for an active business life by a thorough course in the busi- ness department of the High school.
Politically Mr. Rush is a demoerat and as sueh is of recognized influence.
JOHN A. SKINNER, cashier of the Nation- al bank of Westfield, was born in the town of Lancaster, Erie county, New York, October 14, 1848, and is a son of Rev. Levi A. and Laura (Patterson) Skinner. John A. Skin- ner is of English and Scotch-Irish lineage. His paternal grandfather, Levi Skinner, was a far- mer and Presbyterian of Connecticut, who re- moved to Oneida county, this State, where he died in 1850. (For additional history of him and his family, see sketch of Edward A. Skin- ner.) Rev. Levi A. Skinner, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1811 and died at his residence at Westfield, in 1876. He entered the ministry of the Presbyterian church and preached in Erie and Chautauqua counties until loss of voice compelled him to re- linquish ministerial labors in 1854. From 1854 to 1876, he was connected with the West- field bank and its successor, the First National bank of Westfield, as cashier and stock-holder of the former and as director, cashier and presi- dent of the latter. He married Laura, daugh- ter of John Patterson and reared a family of several children. As a minister he was earnest and successful, as a bank offieer prompt and re- liable and as a financier was prudent and safe.
Jolın A. Skinner, at five years of age, was
brought by his parents to Westfield where he received his early education in the public schools of that place. In 1865 he attended school at Clinton, Oneida county, this State and in the fall of 1867 entered Kimball Union academy of Meriden, New Hampshire, from which institution of learning he was graduated in 1869. In the fall of the last named ycar he entered Hamilton college at Clinton, this State, but was compelled to leave when well advaneed in his sophomore year on account of ill health. In February, 1871, he went to Ottawa, Kansas, where he became a clerk and book-keeper of the First National bank of that place, in which his eldest brother, Edward A. Skinner (now president of the Westfield bank), was then a stock-holder. He held that posi- tion until April, 1872, when he returned to Westfield and entered the First National bank of that place as teller. That position he held until 1876, when he withdrew to embark in the fire insurance business in which he was en- gaged until 1884. In April of that year, at the organization of the National bank of West- field, he was elected cashier and has served as such until the present time. Mr. Skinner was clerk of the board of village trustces for eight years and treasurer of the village for nine years. He has been treasurer of the Westfield Union school for several years and is a trustee and deacon of the Westfield Presbyterian church of which he has been a member for many years. He is one of the charter members of the Royal Arcanum, which was organized in 1878, has been a director for several years in the National bank of Westfield and is a republican in poli- tics. He understands banking in all of its many intricate details as well as the general principles upon which it is based. Mr. Skin- ner is pleasant and courteous and to all whom he meets, brings to the discharge of his duties years of valuable experience and always strives to afford every possible accommodation to the business public.
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In October, 1873, he united in marriage with Jennie A. York, of Westfield. To their union have been born three children, two sons and one danghter: George York, Edward Levi and Grace R.
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PEV. CHARLES SIMPSON, who has been the popular pastor of the First Presbyte- rian church in Sherman since 1877, was born in Ithaca, Tomkins county, New York, Jan- uary 26, 1839, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Denman) Simpson. His maternal grandfather, Jacob Simpson, was a native of New Jersey, but emigrated to Tomkins county, this State, where he spent the remainder of his life, being by occupation a farmer. In religion he was a member of the Presbyterian church. He married a Miss Townley and had eight chil- dren. The paternal grandparents were of Scotch- Irish descent, who lived in Steuben county, this State, for a time and then removed to Wash- ington county. Alexander Simpson (father) was born in Salem, Washington county, this State, and spent most of his life in Ithaca, by occupa- tion a farmer. In politics he was first a democrat, and in his latter years an active republican. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, being promoted to major. Alexander Simpson mar- ried Hannah Smith and had seven children-four sons and three daughters. The mother dying, he married Elizabeth Denman, by whom he had five children-two sons and three daughters. Eugene, brother of Charles, entered the army during the late war at the age of nineteen, and was killed at the battle of Antietam, in Mary- land, September 17, 1862. The mother is now living in Ithaca, at the age of eighty-one years.
Charles Simpson was educated at the academy in Ithaca, this State, and then entered Hamilton college, this State, where he graduated in 1866. He taught one year at the military school at Peekskill on the Hudson river, and then en- tered the Union seminary in New York, and graduated in May, 1870, entering upon his min-
istry at Addison, Steuben county, from which place he was called to Pike, in Wyoming county, and then supplied a church at Lansing, Michi- gan, for a year, and then came to Sherman. The church of which he is now pastor was organ- ized as a Congregational church June 23d, 1827, most of the original members being from Farm- ington, Connecticut. The church united with the presbytery at Buffalo, and its first min- ister, Justin Marsh, from Connecticut, was in- stalled in October, 1828. The church edifice was built on Presbyterian Hill, near Ruler's Corners, and dedicated March 7, 1833. This house was taken down and moved to Sherman village in 1845, and eleven years later it was enlarged and repaired. In the spring of 1871 the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, and was connected with Presby- tery. In politics Rev. Charles Simpson is of republican proclivities, but rather inclined to be independent in his vote. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. During the war he was appointed a member of the Chris- tian Sanitary Commission.
Rev. Charles Simpson was married to Mary E. Sherrill, a daughter of Abram E. Sherrill, and has two children-a son and daughter : Clarence E. and Eleanor A.
OHN T. SPEAR was born in Boston, Mas- sachusetts, July 29, 1855, and is the son of Thomas Spear (see sketch of Thomas Spear in another part of the book). His ancestors were of Irish birth and lineage, he himself being removed from the land of his father, Ireland, by one generation. When his parents removed to Chautauqua county, he was but nine years of age. He attended school and remained in Chautauqua county until he was eighteen years of age, when he returned to Boston and remained three years. When about twenty- four years of age he crossed the continent to the Pacific coast, and after traversing a part of the coast, remained three months in San
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Francisco. At the expiration of this time, he again returned to the east, came to Chau- tauqua county and engaged in the hardware business at Sinelairville, first independently, and then subsequent to 1880, in partnership with his brother. In addition to his mercan- tile business, he has also been a dealer in real estate and at the beginning of President Harri- son's administration received the appointment of postmaster at Sinclairville. He is a thirty- second degree Mason ; a stalwart republican, politically, and although a religious man by nature and in life, he is not connected with any particular denomination. He is a good busi- ness man, is an efficient and accommodating postmaster and is altogether regarded as a sub- stantial, enterprising citizen.
John T. Spear, on April 28, 1880, was united in marriage to Florence A., danghter of Nelson Osborne of Chautauqua county, New York.
T HOMAS SPEAR is an American citizen only by adoption. His native country is that of Ireland, where in the year 1818, in the county of Tyrone he was born, a son of Robert Spear. His father was by occupation a tenant farmer, a member of the Episcopal church, and in 1847 left his native land and emigrated to America.
Thomas Spear was a puddler by occupation and followed that trade in connection with the foundry business for a number of years, after which he purchased a general store, which he operated for ten years, finally purchasing a farm in Charlotte Centre, upon which he resided for four years, thence removing to the place upon which he now lives. Besides carrying on the regular work of the farm, he has made cattle- raising a special adjunct business. He takes a lively interest in everything that pertains to agriculture and stock-raising and was one of the charter members of the Grange of his county. In politics he votes with the Republican party,
under which he was elected to the office of excise commissioner. He and his family are attendant members of the Episcopal church.
On May 24, 1844, Mr. Spear married Mrs. Eliza Jones (née Harper) and has four children : John T., Samuel, William Nelson and Fred.
Thomas Spear is still living, at the age of seventy-four years, but is practically retired from business. His wife is also living, at the age of sixty-three. Thomas Spear has always been regarded as a model farmer and a good citizen.
E. P. STEARNS, a leading farmer and dairyman of Gerry, New York, is a son of Phineas and Louisa M. (Ficher) Stearns and was born in Gerry, Chautauqua county, New York, June 23, 1849. His father was a native of Vermont, while his mother was a native of New York, the former dying on May 10, 1870. Grandfather Daniel Stearns was a Vermont farmer and came into Chautauqua county about 1820. He was of Scotch lineage, an old-line whig in his political bent and a typical Ver- inont mountaineer. His death occurred at the age of eighty.
E. P. Stearns was educated in the Gerry common schools, in which he received anything but an extensive education, and at the age of twenty learned the blacksmith trade in con- nection with carriage-building, which he has followed to within five years ago, when he built a creamery and equipped it with the best and most improved apparatus. His creamery is now capable of manufacturing sixty thousand pounds annually ; the product is known as " Gerry Creamery," most of which is shipped to Providence, Rhode Island. In politics Mr. Stearns is a steadfast republican and has been honored by his party with the offices of col- lector, inspector and justice of the peace. Hc is also a member in good standing of the A. O. U. W. and the Royal Templars of Temper- ance. He is a man who has put great energy
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
into every enterprise which he has undertaken and this together with his manner of dealing with his fellow-men, has crowned his efforts with what the world is pleased to call success.
On August 18, 1859, Mr. Stearns was joined in marriage to Eliza Ketcham, daughter of the late James Ketcham of Troopsburg, Steuben county, New York. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children ; Inez G. and Hallie Z.
IRIAN SEARS was a native of Sullivan county, New York, born, March 9th, 1811, and is a son of William and Thirsa (Sears) Sears. His father was a native of the southeastern part of Connecticut, where he owned a farm, commanded a company of militia and voted the Republican ticket. His death occurred after his emigration to Sullivan county, after he had passed the eighty-fifth year of his life.
Hirian Sears, the subject, passed the first six- teen years of his life in Madison county, New York, where he attended school in the winter time and performed the duties of a farmer boy in summer time. At the age of twenty-one, he engaged in school teaching, which he used as a stepping-stone to further his purposes and assist him in getting a fair start upon his life's career. In 1833 he came to the town of Gerry, farmed in the summer and taught school in the winter and thus continued to alternate farming and teaching for a period of. ten years, finally pur- chasing the farm which is now occupied by him- self and family. His business now is that of farming and dairying, which latter business claims most of his attention. He has a herd of twenty-two Jersey cows and makes about five thousand pounds of creamery butter per annum. Mr. Sears takes quite an active interest in poli- tics, in which he is a republican, has held the office of school superintendent, assessor, road commissioner and also belongs to the Grange. Religiously he is a member of the Congrega-
tional church and is regarded as conservatively orthodox.
On January 3rd, 1840, Mr. Sears married Lourilla Shepardson, daughter of Reuben Shep- ardson of the town of Gerry. He married a second time, in December, 1850, to Lucretia Bush of Busti. Upon the death of his second wife, he married a third time, March 25th, 1852, to Mary A. Gates, daughter of Ezra Gates of Lebanon, Madison county, New York. He is the father of one child, a daughter-Ophelia L., now living in Norfolk, Virginia.
DAVID SMITH, JR., was a man of fine and commanding appearance and with a disposition which attracted friends. He was a son of David and Phebe Smith, and was born in Otsego county, New York, March 9, 1815. David Smith, Sr. (father), came to Chautauqua county where the virgin forests stood where fer- tile fields now bear cereals, succulents and grasses that furnish food for countless sheep and cattle. He was a minister of the Congregational church and was a son of an old Revolutionary officer and had a brother, also a minister, but of the Universalist faith. Mr. Smith married and had five children. He was an active Mason and the first person to be buried with Masonic honors in this county.
David Smith, Jr., was possessed of good natural ability and was well educated, although the common schools were the fountain source of his knowledge. He lived in Chautauqua town and owned a large farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Hartfield besides a tract of timber lying between Mayville and Westfield, all of which he disposed of and removed to James- town about the year 1870, where he engaged in the dry goods business conducting it until 1881.
He married Julia Wingert, a daughter of John and Catherine (Frank) Wingert, the former a native of Somerset county, Pa., who removed to Cumberland county, Md., and engaged in milling and wool carding and at one time owned
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three hundred acres of land. He had six chil- dren at the time of his death, which occurred in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of six children: Andrew J., married Savina Wood and lives in Westfield, this county, following the business of a traveling salesman ; Julia is the wife of P. E. Slocum, a merchant of Lan- caster county, Ohio; David, a traveling man for the North American Photograph Co., mar- ried Rose Smith and at present resides with his mother ; Moses (dead) ; Arthur E., a Jamestown dentist, married a Miss Fairbanks ; and Nettic, who lives in Brooklyn, N. Y., where her hus- band, Daniel Taturn, is a cotton goods broker.
He was a republican, and actively engaged in political matters, and died July 23, 1883. Mrs. Smith now resides at her beautiful home in Jamestown.
D OCTOR ALLEN A. STEVENS, a prom- inent practitioner of Sinclairville, a gentleman of commanding appearance, fine address and comprehensive intellect, is a son of Allen A. and Eliza (Luke) Stevens, and was born in the town of Charlotte, Chautauqua county, February 21, 1848. Allen A. Stevens, Sr., was a native of Wayne, Schuyler county. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Lukc, was born at Sinclairville. Her father, Nathan Luke, came to this county from the "Green Mountain State," and settled at Charlotte Cen- tre; with five brothers he founded the settlement now known as the Luke settlement. They were all farmers, and a prosperous, contented family. Allen A. Stevens, Sr., is still living, aged seventy-three years, and has been honored by election to some of the important town offices.
Allen A. Stevens was reared on his father's farm, and educated at the Union academy, Fre- dovia, and the Jamestown Uuion schools and Collegiate institute. In 1870 he began to read medicine with Doctors Harrison and Hall of Sinclairville, and graduated from the Buffalo
Medical college in February, 1875. Since 1873 he has been practicing, and now has a large office and surgical practice. He is a member of the Chautauqua County Medical society, and takes an active interest in its welfare.
In 1876, he married Mary E. White, of Norwalk, Ohio, and they have been blessed with five children-three of whom survive: Allen White, Clarence Luke, and Catherine Price.
Doctor Stevens keeps well informed upon current matters, and is deeply read in many branches of literature. Professionally, hc stands high with his fellow-practitioners ; socially, he is a favorite, and is fine looking and entertain- ing. In stature he is over six feet tall and admirably proportioned.
J ONATHAN H. SLOCUM is one of seven children born to James B. and Maria (Hall) Slocum, and first saw the light in what was then Carroll, now Kiantone town, Chall- tauqua county, New York, on August 16, 1840. His grandfather, Jonathan Slocum, was a native of the Mohawk Valley, this State, but moved to, lived and was married in Vermont, to Esther F. Bowen, a daughter of that State, by whom he had one son and three daughters. He gained a livelihood by farming, and died at his home. His maternal grandfather, Azariah Hall, was also a native of Vermont, but went to Kiantone where he married Maria Orr, followed farming and reared a family of one son and two daughters. Jamcs B. Slocum (father) was an only son, and in 1829 he left his Vermont home, and striking into the almost unknown forests, forced his way through them and settled at Kiantone. Of a pushing dispo- sition, he soon established in business, owning and operating a stage line from Dunkirk, this State, through to Warren, Pa., following very closely the present line of the Allegheny Valley & Pittsburg R. R. This line required a great many horses with which to run it. Later he
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owned and conducted a hotel at what was then Carroll village, this State, and in addition to this he had a farm which he personally managed, and continuing to branch out engaged in the cattle, lumber and general merchandise business during the high tide of Ohio river rafting. He married Maria Hall, whose father came from Vermont, and they became the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters. He died at Kiantone.
Jonathan H. Slocum was reared at Kiantone, and inherited a great deal of energy from his father. When still a young man the mantle of his father fell upon him which he tried to sus- tain, but when the bells of war were ringing he relinquished the chase for the American dollar, and joining the 7th regiment of N. Y. sharpshooters, on August 9, 1862, he went with them to the front and served gallantly in the battles of Deserted Farm, Wilderness, was at the siege of Suffolk, and in several skirmishes until he found himself in the hospital. Remain- ing there for some time with poor prospects of an early recovery, he received his discharge on February 17, 1864. After returning home and recovering his health, he again took up his busi- ness, that of stock-dealing and lumbering, which he followed until 1868, when he disposed of his active business and bought a farm in Kiantone. Later he kept a hotel at Frewsburg for a year, and then entered the mercantile business in which he continued until 1876. On March 2, 1889, he removed with his family to Jamestown, where they now reside on Warren street. Mr. Slocum has had a busy life, and has made many friends. Politically, he favors the Republican party. but he thinks more of his family and a quiet life now than he does of the world.
He united in marriage with Eliza I. Phillips, a daughter of Aaron J. Phillips, who resided at Busti, this county. He was a native of West- moreland, Vermont, but came to Chautauqua county and married Aurelia Carey, by whom he had two daughters : Eliza J. (Slocum), and
one whose name is not given. Mr. and Mrs. Slocum have had six children, of whom but four are living, three still at home: James M .; Aurelia, wife of George Hopkins, a farmer, residing in the town of Ellicott ; George; Ger- trude and Richard (both dead); and J. Mamie.
C HARLES J. SHULTS was born in Elli- cottsville, Cattaraugus county, New York, February 23, 1865, and is a son of J. C. and Angie (Burlingham) Shults. William Shults (paternal grandfather) was born in the year 1802 and died in South Dayton, New York, - March, 1890, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a wool carder by occupation and was united in marriage to Betsey Johnson (who still survives), who bore him four sons and five daughters. J. C. Shults, father of Charles J., is by occupation an architect, contractor and builder, which business he now pursues. He is the father of two sons: Charles J. (subject) and Edward W., born April 14, 1867, at present a spirit medium
Charles J. Shults was educated at the Union schools at Ellicottsville, having been left inother- less at the age of six years. He learned the printer's trade with R. H. Shankland, a friend and co-worker of Horace Greeley, in the office of the Cattaraugus Union, published at Ellicotts- ville. After the completion of his trade he en- tered a law office and pursued the study of the law for eighteen months and also took up the study of medicine, which he pursued six months. His first newspaper venture was the purchase of the Pine Valley News, at Pine Valley, Cattarau- gus county, which he conducted for three years. He afterwards bought the Cherry Creek Monitor, consolidated both papers and evolved a new paper, which he called the Cherry Creek News. Since obtaining control of the News, Mr. Shults has made it one of the best and most reliable papers of its character in the State. It is at present the official paper of Chautauqua county. In April, 1890, he purchased the Gowanda
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Herald, and at the present time is the proprietor of two vigorous and well-edited journals. He is an ardent republican in politics, conducts lis papers in the interests of that party, and in 1887 and 1888 served as clerk of his town.
man prominent in secret orders, belonging to the Free and Accepted Masons, Cherry Creek Lodge, No. 384, and a number of other secret societies. On May 4, 1887, Mr. Shults was united in marriage to Eva M. Morian, daugh- ter of William and Marilla Morian, of Cherry Creek. They have one son-Harry H., born April 8, 1888.
M. W. Sweeney led Kate Maloney to the altar and they were united in marriage. Three children have blest this marriage : Katic, Agnes and Mary.
Like other people of thrift and economy he He is a member of the Methodist church and a is now the possessor of considerable property, the fine, large three-story brick building, 27x60 feet in dimensions located near the boat landing belonging to him, and in it lie conduets a first-class grocery store.
In politics Mr. Sweeney is independent, feel- ing bound to no political party but is a member of the Jamestown Catholic church, which he regularly attends. Like many other of our American citizens of Irish birth, who early emi- grated to this, from the mother country, Mr.
M' Edmund and Margaret (Sullivan) Sweeney, Sweeney has made a success of life.
ICHAEL W. SWEENEY decends from and was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1835. The ancestors of Mr. Sweeney were Irish and the family antedates the feudal times. His grand- fathers and father were farmers on the Green Isle and their bones rest with those of their fathers. Edmund Sweeney, (father) married Margaret Sullivan, who also came from one of the oldest families of the country, and together were the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom came to America. Miles is living at Hornellsville, New York, where he settled and for many years followed the railroad as a means of livelihood, but becoming an old man and his condition no longer requiring that he should labor, a few years ago, quit it, and is now living comfortably and quietly ; Mary, married James Buckley and is dead ; Ellen, Ann and Johanna.
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