USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
86
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
.
cational interests, Olof A. Olson has endeared himself to the hearts of his countrymen, and so thoroughly have they appreciated his en- deavors, that when, in 1878, his health became so much impaired that his medical advisors insisted on a sea voyage as the only means of its restoration, the expenses of his trip to Paris, which he himself would have been unable at that time to meet, were defrayed by his Swedish friends and admirers, who were well pleased to have an opportunity to show how highly they valued his labors in their bchalf. He returned much benefited in health, and threw himself with zealous interest into the practice of law and teaching, and the fickle goddess of fortune has opened wide her arms to receive him. His abilities are recognized as of a high order, and his time is now fully engaged. Mr. Olson also ranks high as a violin player. His prac- tice in the law consists chiefly of office work. An only brother, Johan, is a teacher in Sweden.
Mr. Olson is a gentleman, and is a recognized leader among his countrymen, and is also re- spected and honored by the entire population of Jamestown, who recognize in him one worthy of it.
THOMAS DAVIS STRONG, M. D., a
prominent and well-known physician of Westfield, was born in the town of Pawlet, Rutland county, Vermont, November 22, 1822, and is a son of Return and Laura (Davis) Strong. Many New England families have taken a justifiable pride in the preservation of their genealogies, and among that number is the Strong family, which was founded at Northamp- ton, Massachusetts, by Elder John Strong, from whom Dr. Thomas D. Strong is lineally de- scended. Elder John Strong was a member of the Plymouth colony, and afterwards removed to Northampton, where he reared a respectable family. Within two centuries and a half thirty thousand of his descendants have lived in various parts of New England and the Union,
and their names are recorded in a large, two- volume history of the "Strong family, founded by Elder John Strong," which was published some ten years ago. It is said to be one of the most accurate and carefully kept family records that is to be found in the United States. Return Strong (father) came in 1851 to Westfield, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for several years, and died.
Thomas Davis Strong prepared for college at Burr seminary in Manchester, Vermont, then under the charge of the celebrated Rev. Joseph Wickham, D.D., who is now in the ninety-sixth year of his age. He then entered the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1848. Leaving college he read medicine with his cousin, Dr. P. H. Strong, of Buffalo, this State, and attended his first course of lectures at Castleton medical college, of Vermont, while his second and third courses he took at the medical department of the University of Buffalo, which was then under charge of Prof. Hamilton Flint, afterwards of Bellevue, and from which he was graduated in 1851 with the degree of M.D. In the same year he came to Westfield, where he has enjoyed a remunerative practice ever since. Dr. Strong served as surgeon of the Sixty-eighth regiment of New York State troops, and made a trip in 1871 to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific slope, in whose development he takes a deep interest.
On May 25, 1852, Dr. Strong married Lucy M. Ainsworth, of Williamstown, Vermont.
Dr. T. D. Strong has been for twenty-five years a member of the boards of trustees of Westfield academy and Westfield Union schools. He was one of the commissioners for locating the western New York asylum for the insane at Buffalo. He is a member and has served as president of the Chautauqua and the Lake Erie medical societies. He is an honorary member of the California State medical society, was vice- president of the New York medical association in 1889, and has been for the last twenty-five
87
OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
years curator of the medical department of the University of Buffalo.
A UGUSTUS HOLSTEIN, justice of the peace of Dunkirk, was born in the mann- facturing city of Cassel, the capital of the pro- vince of Hesse-Nassau, Prussia, March 4, 1828, and was a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Burger) Holstein. His father, Peter Holstein, was an educated military man, who had accumulated a snng fortnne, married Elizabeth Burger, in 1800, by whom he had six children, and spent seventeen years in the military service of Ger- many, being colonel of the Fifth Prussian regi- ment under Gen. Blnchier at the battle of Wat- erloo which practically ended the career of the Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, of France. The battle of Leipsic and the burning of Moscow had also seen him an active participant and for his gallant conduct he had bestowed upon him the gold medal and iron cross, the most honor- able and distinguished decorations won by army officers in Germany. In religions matters he was a protestant as was also his wife. He died at his home in Cassel, in his native country, in 1858, aged seventy-nine years ; his wife, a na- tive of the same place, passing away three years previously, at the age of sixty-five years.
Augustus Holstein was reared in Cassel and graduated from the Polytechnic institute there. He spent a year in traveling over Europe, and in 1847 came to America, landing in Quebec but left that city in a week on account of the epi- demic of cholera and smallpox, which was car- rying off hundreds of victims, and by steam and rail journeyed until he reached Carbondale, Pa., where he remained five years during which tine he learned the carpentering business. In 1852 he came to Dunkirk and entered into partnership with Joseph P. Rider under the firm name of Rider & Holstein, and engaged in carpentering and contracting, in which business they continued until 1867 when he lost his right hand in an accident. In the latter year he was
elected a member of the board of education and in 1876 justice of the peace and has held the last named office ever since. In his political principles he was a republican and takes an ae- tive part in politics. Mr. Holstein was a mem- ber of the Methodist church and a member of Lake Erie lodge, No, 85, A. O. U. W.
On July 9, 1851, Mr. Holstein united in mar- riage with Mary J. Earl, a daughter of Beecher Earl, of Carbondale, Pa. To this marriage were born six children, four of whom died young : James A., who married Julia J. Dra- per, has one son and resides in Dunkirk ; James, Augusta, Charles E., George, Charles B., and Joseph E., who died July 15, 1887, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving a widow and three children, who now reside in Dunkirk. Mrs. Holstein died January 12, 1865, aged thirty-seven years, and her husband, the subject of this sketch, followed her to his eternal rest February 16, 1891, aged sixty-three years.
W ILLIAM A. CRANDALL, a veteran of the rebellion, who has converted his sword into a plowshare and resumed the peace- ful vocation of his forefathers, is a son of Paul and Betsey E. (Scrivens) Crandall, and was born, in 1840, at Beach Hill, Chautauqua county, New York. His paternal grandparents were of Puritan descent, and born in Rhode Island, where, except a few years residence in Berlin, Rensselaer county, this State, they spent their lives. Grandfather Crandall was by occu- pation a farmer. Panl Crandall (father) was born in Berlin, November 2, 1802, and in 1831 went to Troy, engaged passage for himself and family on a canal-boat, and came to Buffalo, the journey occupying nine days, it being then the only mode of public travel. Now the trip is made between the two cities in five hours by rail. From Buffalo they came down to Fre- donia, this county, a section which was then considered as the far distant west by the people of the castern end of the State, three hundred
5
88
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
miles away. Paul Crandall finally settled in Stockton, but died at Beach Hill, in Chautauqua. By occupation he was a farmer and in religion he was a member of the Baptist church. In 1823, he married Betsey E. Scrivens, a daugh- ter of William Tracy Scrivens, by whom he had eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters.
William A. Crandall was educated in the common schools, and began his active life as a farmer at Beach Hill. On September 12, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, New York Volunteers ; participated in the siege of Suffolk, and several other battles and skirmishes, and finally was taken sick and sent to the hospital. He was mustered out of service at the close of the war, and resumed farming. In 1877 he came to Sherman, where he has resided ever since, owning a farm of seven acres within the corporation. Politically he is independent, in religion he, as well as his wife, is a member of the Methodist church, and is also a member of Sheldon Post, No. 295, G. A. R. at Sherman.
William A. Crandall was married February 23, 1865, to Mary J. Hunt, a daughter of Aaron and Electa (Maxim) Hunt, natives of Vermont, who cmigrated to Hartfield, this county, where the father died. To this union have been born six children, four sons and two daughters.
D' R. FRANKLIN BURRITT, who was for many years a prominent business man of Fredonia, is a son of Charles and Orpha (Tucker) Burritt, and was born at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, February 24, 1827. Charles Burritt was born in Connecti- cut and came in 1808 to Fredonia, where he owned for some years a log shoe shop on a part of the site of the Putnam block. Ill health caused him to abandon shoemaking and engage in the drug business, of which he was the pio- neer at Fredonia, where he had a drug store for
nearly fifty years. He served as a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and was a whig until Fill- more's election, after which he became succes- sively a " silver gray " and democrat. He was an industrious and estimable man and died March 9, 1866, when he was approaching the close of his eightieth year. He married Orpha Tucker, daughter of Major Samuel Tucker, and reared a family of two sons and two daughters. Captain Samuel Tucker (maternal grandfather) was born and reared in Vermont, where he was a neighbor of Ethan Allen, and served under the latter at the capture of Ticonderoga. He was one of the company of Continental soldiers which was drawn up into line at the execution of Major Andre.
Franklin Burritt grew to manhood at Fre- donia, where he received his education in the schools and academy of that place. Leaving school he went to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained three years. He then returned to Fredonia and engaged in the drug business, which he followed until 1870, when he retired. from active business. He read medicine and practiced considerably in connection with his drug business during his early life. He served for several years with Gov. Patterson, of West- field, on the State board of charities and was a manager of the Buffalo State hospital for the insane, which position he resigned after serving four years.
On May 15th, 1849, he married Ann Norton, of the town of Pomfret. They have two daugh- ters living : Mrs. F. N. Conn and Mrs. P. B. Cary. Mrs. Burritt is a daughter of Elisha and Harriet (Lowell) Norton, who came from Ver- non, Oncida county, about 1815, and settled two miles southwest of Fredonia, where they reared a family of two sons and two daughters. Elisha Norton was a son of Isaac Norton, a native of Berkshire, Massachusetts, who was an early set- tler of the town of Pomfret.
During his active life and especially in his younger days, Dr. Burritt was an active Demo -.
89
OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
crat. He was elected supervisor of the town of Pomfret in 1870, when the Republican party had a majority of two hundred votes in the town. He served very creditably in that position for four years and continued in the Democratic party up to 1884, and then connected himself with the prohibitionists, whose principles he has supported ever since.
- -
F FRANCIS D. ELLIS is the oldest merchant in Forestville, having more than a third of a century ago succeeded his father, who had been a prominent cabinet-maker and furniture dealer in this village for nearly a quarter of a century before him. He is a son of Thomas G. and Sophia (Dickinson) Ellis, and was born in Augusta, Oneida county, New York, October 17, 1826. His paternal grandfather, Moses Ellis, was from Scotch and English ancestry, and several of the family have scored high marks on the roll of fame as literary and eccle- siastical celebrities. He was a native of Barn- stable, in the county of the same name, Mass., and settled in Brookfield, Madison county, this State, in 1812, where he engaged in cabinet- making, an occupation which has been followed in his family for over eighty ycars. He died in Wayland, Steuben county, this State, aged eighty-two years. Thomas G. Ellis (father) was born on Nantucket Island, Nantucket county, Mass., in 1803, but his parents moved to the mainland during the war of 1812. Ninc- teen years later (1831) he came to this county, located in Forestville, and established himself in the cabinet-making business, in which he continued until 1855. In religion he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which for forty years he was either a steward or trustec, and during many years held both offices. In politics he was a straight democrat, and for sixteen years was justice of the peace, also serving four terms as associate judge of Chautauqua county. He was a member of Hanover Lodge, No. 152, F. and A. M., and
died Jannary 22, 1882, aged seventy-nine years. He married Sophia Dickinson in 1826, by whom he had two sons and one daughter : Francis D., Irvine A. and Mary. Irvine A. went to Cali- fornia in 1851, where he was inspector in the custom-house of San Francisco, assisted in sur- veying southern California, was clerk of the California Senate, quartermaster in the army during four years of the civil war and then re- turned to the San Francisco.custom-house, where lie was employed until his death in 1866, at the age of thirty-three years. Mrs. Ellis was born in Fitchburg, Worcester county, Mass., in 1804, is the oldest member of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Forestville, where she now re- sides, and is a cousin of Hon. Daniel S. Dick- inson, ex-governor of New York.
Francis D. Ellis was reared in Forestville, acquired his education in the common and select schools of that place and learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, in which vocation he has since continued, succeeding his father in that and the furniture and undertaking business in 1855, and supplemental thereto does all kinds of embalm- ing, having in all branches of his business a well-established and good-paying patronage. Politically he is a democrat and in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a trustee for twenty years. He has been treasurer of the Equitable Aid Union since 1881.
Francis D. Ellis was married March 9, 1849, to Abi Phillips, of Forestville, by whom he had three daughters : Mary N. Harriet P. and Jennie L., all living. Mrs. Ellis died in 1865, and on September 3d, 1867, Mr. Ellis married Jeunie Hall, of Brocton, Chantauqua county, N. Y.
S HERMAN U. NEWTON, one of the earn- est young business men of this section, who is bound to make an indelible mark as a successful and honorable man, is a son of Har- rison and Janette (Marsh) Newton, and was
.
90
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
-
born in Irving, Chautauqua county, New York, July 17, 1867. Milo Newton (grandfather) was also a native of Irving, was by occupation a farmer and died in 1886, in the village where he was born, aged seventy-two years. In re- ligion lie was a member of the Methodist church, and in politics was a republican. Harrison Newton (father) was also born in Irving, in 1841, and has been a resident of Buffalo, Erie county, since 1870. He is a passenger conductor on the L. S. M. S. R. R., which position he lias held for thirty-three years, running between Buffalo, and Cleveland, Ohio. In politics he is a stanchi republican, is a member of Silver lodge, No. 757, F. and A. M., of Silver Creek, lodge No. 9, A. O. U. W., of Buffalo, and of the Conductor's Life Insurance Company. In 1863 he married Janette Marsh, who was born in Irving in 1843, and by her had two children.
Sherman U. Newton was reared in Buffalo, this State, and was graduated from the high school at that place at the age of fourteen, after which he took a thorough business course in Bryant & Stratton college of that city. In June, 1883, lie came to Silver Creek to assume the position of assistant cashier in the Excelsior bank, where lie discharged the duties of that office so satis- factorily that on November 18, 1890, he was appointed cashier to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his cousin, Dana C. Swift, who had held that position several years. In politics he is independent, is a charter member and Sr. Kt. Fin Kr., of Chan. Tent, No. 95 Knights of the Maccabees, and also a charter member of Huntley Hose and Fire Co., No. 1.
Sherman U. Newton was married October 21, 1890, to Minnie C. Barnes, a daughter of Charles Barnes, of Silver Creek, N. Y.
C OLONEL RUFUS HAYWOOD. A man well-known for his active and upright life, and also by reason of his services rendered to the Union cause during the late civil war, was Col. Rufus Haywood, of Fredonia, who
has been identified during the last half century with useful and important business interests in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois and western New York. He was a son of Benjamin and Polly (Sawyer) Haywood, and was born at Jaffrey, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, March 6, 1820. The territory of the " Granite State" as a royal province, was largely settled by thrifty and energetic families from the eastern part of Massachusetts colony, and among thiese pioneer families was the Haywood family. One of its members, who was born in Massachusetts, was Benjamin Haywood, Sr., grandfather of Col. Rufus Haywood. He was a blacksmith by trade and served in the Revolutionary war, during which he was severely wounded in the breast by a musket-ball in one of the principal battles of that great struggle. After the decla- ration of peace, he returned to his New Hamp- shire home, where he lived a respected citizen until his death. His son, Benjamin Haywood (the father), was born in 1786, and died in February, 1853. He inherited the industry and perseverance of his father, and judiciously and successfully improved his business opportunities. His life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and while confining his field of labor to his own county, yet ranked as one of the foremost and most substantial farmers of the State. He married Polly Sawyer, who was a native of New Hampshire and a member of the well- known Sawyer family of that State. She passed away in 1842, at forty-six years of age.
Rufus Haywood grew to manhood on the farm, received his education at Jaffrey academy, and then was engaged for five years in teaching in the district schools of New Hampshire. At the end of that time he went to Winchendon, Mass., where for over one year he conducted a butcher shop and livery stable. He then returned to Jaffrey, purchased property on which he built, and embarked in farming and merchandising. After three years he removed to Cambridge, Mass., where, in company with
R. Haywood
93
OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
H. O. Houghton, he engaged in publishing law- books for one year, and then spent several years in the west. While in Illinois he kept a hotel for one year at Belvidere, and acted as teller for two years in a bank of that place, during which time he lost over seven thousand dollars by speculating in corn. Leaving Belvidere, lie purchased a farm near Chicago, and embarked in the cattle business. With remarkable fore- sight he looked forward to a bright future for Chicago, saw in its commanding position the certainty of its future commercial supremacy as one of the great cities of the American continent, and invested in that city largely in real estate, which yieldcd him handsome returns in his sales of the same. In 1855 he settled in Brocton, this county, and engaged for several years in the stock business. In 1861 he and his brother, Albert Haywood, and a Mr. Hubbell, formed a partnership and purchased several thousand horses for the government. In February, 1863, he retired from this partnership to enter the Union army as a paymaster, with the rank of major. He was stationed at Washington city, and afterwards sent to Rochester, this State. He paid off the first regiment that was discharged, was brevetted colonel by President Johnson for meritorious services, and served until December 31; 1865. He then returned to Chautauqua county, and became a resident of Fredonia, where he has resided ever since. From 1866 to 1876 he was largely engaged in mail contract- ing in a dozen different States, and since the last-named year has been more or less interested in various lines of business.
In 1866 he was the prime mover in starting the Fredonia savings bank, of which he was chosen president. In 1877 he embarked in the oil business at Oil City, Pa., where he did a large brokerage business for several years. In the oil field his good judgment and clear insight into every possible combination rendered him successful in many ventures where old and experienced operators went down. While his
star was still in the ascendant, and before age could impair his mental powers, he left the hazardous ventures of oil and turned his atten- tion to dealing in real estate. He was a Knight Templar in Masonry, and always took a deep interest in agricultural and educational matters, as well as having been active and prominent in business affairs.
On May 6, 1841, Col. Haywood united in marriage with Elizabeth Prescott, who was born within one-half mile of his New Hampshire birthplace. They had three sous, two of whom died in infancy, and Edward A., born January 26, 1861, died February 10, 1881.
He was hospitable and generous, and no man greeted or entertained his friends with warmer cordiality. He was intelligent, honest, genial and straightforward, of strong force of character, of sound judgment, true to every interest in- trusted to his care, and a good citizen in the true meaning of that term.
He died in 1891, of valvular heart disease.
M ICHAEL K. MCDONOUGH, a wholesale and retail dealer in coal, wood and stone, of Dunkirk, was born in County Clare, Ireland, September 25, 1842, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Kelley) McDonough. The McDon- oughs and Kelleys were old families of County Clare, where they had resided for several gene- rations. Michael McDonough was born and reared in his native county, where he passed his life, and died in March, 1849, when but forty- two years of age. He was a farmer, a consistent member of the Catholic church, and a careful and hard-working man. He married Mary Kelley, and reared a family of seven sons and two daughters. Mrs. McDonough was a Cath- olic in religious belief, and in 1853 came to Dunkirk, where she passed away in 1869, at sixty-five years of age.
Michael K. MeDonough, at twelve years of age, came from Ireland to the United States, and became a resident of Dunkirk city, in whose
94
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
public schools he received his education. Leav-
hand on a farm, and during the late civil war was an employe in the freight department of the Erie railroad, at Dunkirk, where his daily business was to call off all freight for shipment before it was placed on the cars. In May, 1865, he established his present wholesale and retail coal and wood business, to which he has since added* sewer pipe, stone, sand, gravel and loam. His office and yards are at 130 Railroad avenue. He is also engaged in contracting on public works, and makes a specialty of excava- ting and teaming. Mr. McDonough commands a good trade at his yards, has been very suc- cessful in all of his business enterprises, and owns some valuable real estate in Dunkirk, be- sides a good farm in Sinclairville. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, of Dunkirk. He is a democrat in political opinion, and has served for nine years as a member of the city council, besides holding other municipal offices. Since thirteen years of age he has made his own way in life, and achieved business success by his own efforts.
On June 3, 1871, he united in marriage with Bridget Breen, daughter of Michael Breen, of Dunkirk. They have three children, two sons and one daughter: Joseph M., George W. and Kate A.
A RTHUR B. OTTAWAY, a resident of Westfield, and ex-district attorney of Chautauqua county, is a son of John E. and Sarah (Boorman) Ottaway, and was born in the town of Mina, Chautauqua county, New York, May 8, 1854. His paternal and maternal grandfathers, James Ottaway and Benjamin Boorman, were among the early settlers in the town of Mina. James Ottaway was a native of Kent county, England, and in company with his brother Horatio, came, in 1823, to that part of the town of Clymer, which, in the following year, was erected into the town of Mina. He
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.