USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them pre?minent in their own and many other states. V.6 > Part 13
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(III) John Everett, son of John Ever- ett, the immigrant ancestor, was born about 1795, in Saratoga County, New York. He became a manufacturer of measures, and his products were periodi- cally shipped down the Hudson River to New York City, where they were sold in
the open market. He was the owner of a substantial business, and acquired title to considerable land in Saratoga County ; two parcels were deeded to him in 1820 and 1836. He remained in Saratoga County many years, then moved to Ful- ton County, New York, locating at Cran- berry Creek, where he died at the age of fifty-five years.
Mr. Everett married, in Saratoga County, New York, about 1822-23, Eliza- beth Walker, daughter of John Walker, of New York. (See Walker VI.) Eliza- beth (Walker) Everett was a devout Christian, finding in religious work and belief the inspiration for a life, that, at its best, lacked many of the comforts and pleasures of the present day. To her fam- ily she was devotion itself, and to them she transmitted her many excellent quali- ties of mind and heart, a strong intellectu- ality, a love of literature and reverence for the word of God. She was an ideal home- maker, spun the family garments, and performed much of the work of the house herself, making it a place where her fam- ily, relatives, and their friends, loved to gather. She died in 1881, at Falconer, New York, where she had removed in later years with her children. John and Elizabeth (Walker) Everett were the par- ents of eight children, as follows: 1. John, of whom further. 2. Marvin N., of whom further. 3. Benjamin, died at the age of seventeen years. 4. Nelson, died at the age of fifteen years. 5. Miranda, died at the age of eighteen years. 6. Washing- ton, married Mary Adams; he was a farmer by occupation, and also was a Civil War veteran; he died in 1875. 7. William, died at the age of twenty-one years. 8. Melvin, a carpenter by trade, and the only surviving member of the family ; he resides at Falconer, New York, and is unmarried.
(IV) John Everett, son of John and
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Elizabeth (Walker) Everett, was born in Saratoga County, New York, February 18, 1825. He worked at home with his father, like his brother, Marvin N., and when a young man removed to Chautau- qua County, New York. He became a builder of flat boats, in association with his brother, Marvin N., on which they shipped various cargoes down the Alle- gheny River to the Ohio, thence to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, where their pro- ducts were sold in the market. He pros- pered in this enterprise, and later became a manufacturer of sash and doors, and one of the most prominent citizens of Fal- coner, New York.
Mr. Everett married Elizabeth Yaw, and to them were born the following chil- dren: I. Martha F., who became the wife of Jackson C. Meredith, a business man of Jamestown. 2. Walter R., of whom further. 3. John, Jr., married Jennie Young, by whom he had three children.
(IV) Marvin N. Everett, son of John and Elizabeth (Walker) Everett, was born at Maxon Hill, Saratoga County, New York, March 24, 1828, and died in Jamestown, New York, February 4, 1909, aged eighty years, eleven months and twenty days, and was buried in Lake View Cemetery. His youth was passed in Saratoga County, in association with his father, who was a manufacturer of measures. In 1850, at the age of twenty- two years, the young man left home and made his way westward, finally locating at Worksburg, now Falconer, Chautau- qua County, New York. There, with his brother, John, he engaged in the building of flat boats, which they loaded with pro- duce and sent down the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh. In 1854 he sold his busi- ness interests at Falconer to his brother, and spent the following six years in the State of California, as a millwright in Sacramento, and later located in Trinity
County, where he became a successful gold miner. In 1860 he returned to Chau- tauqua County, New York, and bought a large farm in the town of Gerry, which he owned and conducted for five years. In 1866 he married, and later went West on account of his wife's health, locating in Kansas. There Mr. Everett bought con- siderable land, and also engaged in the brokerage business in Minneapolis, Kan- sas. After spending two years in Kansas, he again returned to Chautauqua County, New York, locating in the town of Gerry.
After the death of his wife he made his home in Falconer, where he married again, in 1875, and in 1881 built a fine resi- dence in Falconer, which he occupied until 1895, then moved to Jamestown. In 1887 Mr. Everett drew plans and built the Hotel Everett on West First Street, Jamestown, at a cost of $50,000. This was a substantial building of brick and stone, five stories in height, well ap- pointed, and one of the leading hotels in its day. He continued owner of the hotel until 1892, when he sold it and retired from active business.
Mr. Everett was very fond of mechani- cal work, a genius in many ways, fond of scientific studies, and a constant reader. He also at one time had quite an exten- sive apiary, and was deeply interested in bee culture, to which he devoted much time and study. Strictly temperate him- self, he strongly advocated the cause of temperance in the most pronounced way, and to his interest and generosity the building of the First Methodist Church of Falconer is due. The beautiful house on Main Street, Falconer, was sold by Mr. Everett in 1895, and a residence estab- lished at No. 105 West Second Street, Jamestown, where he resided until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and strictly adhered to the policies of his party. He was ever interested in the wel-
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THE EVERETT HOTEL AT JAMESTOWN, N. Y. BUILT BY MARVIN N. EVERETT IN 1887
.
.
THE EVERETT HOME AT FALCONER, N. Y. BUILT RY MARVIN N. EVERETT IIT 1881
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
fare of the community and gave much of his time and material assistance to pub- lic-spirited movements.
Mr. Everett married (first), June 23, 1866, Emily J. Perry, daughter of Ebene- zer and Susan (Coil) Perry. He married (second), March 3, 1875, Viola De Ette Oburg, born November 14, 1854, daugh- ter of Oscar and Bebe (Wellman) Oburg, of Ashville, Chautauqua County, New York. (See Oburg III.) Mrs. Everett survives her husband, a woman of forceful character, business ability, and womanly virtues. She was always a true partner and helpmate, and of real assist- ance to her husband in his business under- takings. When his health failed she assumed the management of the Hotel Everett and so continued until that prop- erty was sold. In 1908 she occupied the Marvin House of twenty-one rooms, and in 1909 she bought the property from the heirs of the Isabelle Marvin estate and has since operated it with success. She also built, adjoining the Marvin House, a three-story brick block, the first story now occupied by the American Railway Express Company and the Williamson Veneer Company. The upper stories con- stitute the Lawrence Hotel. In addition to these properties, Mrs. Everett is the owner of other valuable real estate in Jamestown, where she is known and rec- ognized as a woman of rare executive ability. She is of deeply charitable im- pulse and interested in all public move- ments for the good of her community. She has a host of friends and is highly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Everett were without children.
(V) Walter R. Everitt, son of John and Elizabeth (Yaw) Everett (the for- mer spelling his name "Everitt" and the latter "Everett"), was born March 16, 1855, in Falconer, Chautauqua County, New York. He was educated in the com-
mon schools of Falconer, and in the Jamestown High School. At the age of twenty years he went to the State of Kan- sas, remaining for a year on account of poor health, then returned East, going to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in the wagon manufacturing busi- ness with a Mr. Larson. In those days there were no pipe lines to convey the crude oil found in the oil fields about Bradford, and wagon-making was an allied indus- try, thus the wagons made by Mr. Everitt were used to transport oil to market. A few years were spent here and then he returned to his native town, Falconer, where he assumed the management of the affairs of his father's estate. In 1887 he built a large warehouse and grist mill in Falconer and took in as a partner Well- ington Warner. After Mr. Warner's death in 1899, Mr. Everitt sold the mill and retired from active business life. He lived retired in Falconer until the latter part of 1905, when he went to San Diego, California, to benefit his health, remain- ing a year and a half; he then came East to look after some of his interests. He left Falconer a second time for California, and his health was seemingly improved by travel and change of climate; in 1908 he became connected with a biological station at La Jolla in a minor position. This station has since become the Scripps Institution for Biological Research of the University of California. Here Mr. Ever- itt acquired much knowledge, training, and experience in the study of biology, his studies at La Jolla being to collect and care for molluscs, fish and various other marine animals. In the course of time it was recommended by Dr. Ritter, who was director of the station, that Mr. Everitt be transferred to the University at Ber- keley. The recommendation was accepted by the faculty and subsequently he was with the department of zoology for sev-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
eral years. During his residence in Cali- fornia he made a large personal collec- tion of things pertaining to biology and one of the finest assortments of sea shells known in this country. The shells are now being prepared and will be presented presently to the University of California as the Walter R. Everitt collection. In 1911 he returned a third time to Falconer and remained eight years, until Novem- ber 30, 1919, when most of his interests here were settled. He then decided to go to La Jolla, California, establish a home and there spend the remainder of his life. His health was apparently good, having improved from its condition in earlier life, and his sudden death from heart trouble came as a great shock to his wife, rela- tives, and friends, September 30, 1920. He was laid at rest in Pine Hill Cemetery, Falconer, New York.
Mr. Everitt was a man of retiring nature and did not indulge in fraternal or club life, being a great lover of the home. His recreation was one of study, being a constant reader. He did consid- erable research work during his leisure moments in the study and collection of marine life. He was a true student of nature, very fond of travel, and a keen observer. Another of his favorite pastimes was to care for his garden, in which he did much to develop horticulture and agri- culture. He was a strong advocate of outdoor life, as has been shown by his outdoor activities. In politics he was affiliated with the Republican party, but independent and progressive with his vote, and in religion, while he was not a member of any church, his life was lived as that of a true Christian.
Mr. Everitt married (first), in 1895, Catherine Cryan, of Dunkirk, New York ; she died in 1902. He married (second), in 1920, Mrs. Ada (Pew) Mayo, of Helena, Montana, daughter of George W.
Pew. Mr. Pew was a graduate of Cornell University, and held life certificates as a teacher in the States of New York, Wis- consin, and Iowa.
(The Walker Line).
Arms-Gules, a fesse between a mullet in chief and a dove or, holding in the beak a sprig of laurel vert.
Walker has a derivation extremely in- teresting, coming from the occupation generally known under the name "fuller." In some countries these workers were called walkers because they trod or stamped with their feet upon the cloth. Piers Plowman, A. D. 1362-1400 describes the process :
Cloth that cometh fro the wevyng, Is nought comely to wear Till it be fulled under foot.
In the extraordinary ruins of Pompeii, there is a house that was once owned by fullers. One of the men of the family had the rooms decorated with mosaics, repre- senting scenes from the life of a fuller, and we can see that the process of fulling was the same then as in much later periods, Under the rule of ancient Rome and also in Greece, fullers held an impor- tant position, for their profession was con- sidered a highly skilled one and they were the caterers to the luxury of the age as goldsmiths were.
Many men bearing the name Walker have been distinguished in the army and navy of Great Britain. Sir Charles P. B. Walker, who was born near Bristol, Octo- ber 7, 1817, served as aide-de-camp to Lord Lucan in the Crimean War; he was promoted to the rank of major-general, December 29, 1873. Sir George Town- send Walker, who was born May 25, 1764, was a noted soldier, holding high rank ın the army.
Amasa Walker is noted in the United States as an economist, and his son Fran-
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WIN
rIker
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
cis A. Walker, served as a brigadier- general in the Civil War, and was also prominent as a writer on educational and historical subjects. Many members of the Walker family have been United States Senators and Congressmen.
(I) John Walker, who died at Marsh- field, Massachusetts, December 11, 1663, first settled in Marshfield, in 1643. He took the oath of fidelity in 1657. Tradi- tion says that he was a Quaker. He mar- ried, October 20, 1654, Lydia Reed, of Marshfield, Massachusetts. Her mother was Mrs. Margaret (Reed) Howland. Issue : 1. Lydia, born September 20, 1655. 2. John, of whom further. 3. Martha. 4. Mary.
(II) John Walker, son of John and Lydia (Reed) Walker, was born in Marsh- field, Massachusetts, October 26, 1657, and died in the same town in 1747. His will was proved August 8, 1747. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and was a blacksmith by trade. He married Bethiah Norcut, and they had two chil- dren: 1. Isaac, who died 1750. 2. John, of whom further.
(III) John Walker, son of John and Bethiah (Norcut) Walker, was born in Marshfield, Massachusetts, and died there some time before 1747. At one time he was living at Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He married, but his wife's name is not known. Issue: 1. Mary, born November 16, 1720. 2. Hannah, born January 7, 1722. 3. John, of whom further. 4. Genevra, born June 12, 1729. 5. Keziah, born Sep- tember 16, 1730.
(IV) John Walker, son of John Walker, was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, April 12, 1725, and died at Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York, July 4, 1804. He married Margaret Mosher, daughter of Joseph and Mehitable Mosher. Issue : I. Mehitable, born May 12, 1748, died in Peru. Clinton County, New York. 2.
Walter, born December 10, 1749, died in Macedon, Wayne County, New York. 3. Sarah, born January 30, 1751, died 1843. She married David Shephard, one of the early settlers of Saratoga, Saratoga County, New York. 4. Nathaniel, born January 30, 1754, died in 1838 in Macedon, Wayne County, New York. 5. John, of whom further. 6. Isaac, born May 17, 1759. 7. Mary, born May 11, 1768; mar- ried Nicholas Barker, of Saratoga.
(V) John Walker, son of John and Margaret (Mosher) Walker, was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, August 29, 1757, and died in Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York, August 7, 1840. He lived in Saratoga, in Watertown, and in Stillwater. By trade he was a blacksmith, and was noted by his exemplary char- acter. He was a Quaker.
In the vital statistics and various rec- ords we have had access to, we find that this John Walker was the only John Walker who lived in these various towns at his time. We cannot, however, find positive proof that he is the father of Eliz- abeth, of present interest, but we do find that he had three children, and others; it is reasonable to suppose that he was the father of Elizabeth, since we know that her father was a John Walker, and that her father was a resident of Dartmouth, Stillwater, and Saratoga, and that he was born and died at about the same dates as recorded above. He married about 1777, Lydia Smith, who was born at Hilleston, Massachusetts, August 23, 1757, and died March 28, 1837. Issue: I. Robert, born October 19, 1778; he lived in Saratoga, New York, and married Patience Mosher. 2. Joseph, born July 21, 1780, lived in Sar- atoga. He married Lydia Walker, daugh- ter of Archibald Walker, of Argyleshire, Scotland, and Saratoga, New York. 3. Lucy, born November 9, 1783; married John Wing, of Saratoga. 4. Lucina, mar-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ried Hezekiah Tyrell. 5. John, who lived and died in Corning, New York. 6. Eliz- abeth, of whom further. 7. Kate, who married and lived in Cleveland.
(VI) Elizabeth Walker, daughter of John Walker, was born in Saratoga, New York, December 13, 1800, and died in Fal- coner, New York, in 1881. She married about 1822-23, John Everett. (See Ever- ett III.)
(The Oburg-Oberg Line).
Arms-Or, two lozenges conjoined in fesse sable. Crest-Out of a tube or three peacock plumes proper, charged with two lozenges of the shield.
Supporters-Two lions rampant reguardant or.
The name Oburg is one of old origin in Sweden, and many people bearing it are of high station in life; this is evidenced by the fact that several of Sweden's fore- most citizens bear this name. The life of Oscar Oburg, of which this narrative chiefly deals, is one which bears out the traditions of the Oburg family.
(I) This line of the Oburg family of Sweden was founded in the United States by Peter Oburg, who was born near Stockholm, Sweden, and lived there until 1849, when he and his family emigrated to America, arriving in New York City. From New York City he came to Chau- tauqua County, New York, by the way of Buffalo and Dunkirk, thence to James- town, mostly by boat and stage coach.
Mr. Oburg married, in his native land, Margaret, surname unknown, and to them were born five children before coming to this country. Issue: I. Caroline, mar- ried John Anderson, and they lived near Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, later at Red Wing, Minnesota, where they died. 2. Mary, died young, unmarried. 3. Pontius, married Mary -; they went to In- diana, where both died at an early age. 4. Oscar, of whom further. 5. Frank, mar- ried Eliza -; he went to Peoria, Illinois; during the Civil War he enlisted
in the army, and served for four years, taking part in many important battles.
(II) Oscar Oburg, son of Peter and Margaret Oburg, was born February 25, 1833, near Stockholm, Sweden. At the age of sixteen he came to this country with his parents, and upon his arrival in Jamestown, New York, he found employ- ment at the old Shaw Hotel in this city, which was located at the corner of Main and West Third streets, the site now occupied by the Prendergast block. The Shaw Hotel was a regular stop for stage coaches, then practically the only means of travel, a change of horses being neces- sary at the hotel stables, and it was here that the young man secured his first em- ployment. Later, Oscar Oburg went to Ashville, Chautauqua County, New York, where for some time he was engaged in the tailoring business, having learned the trade in his native land. He remained in this business for some time, subsequently becoming interested in the shoe business, which he continued until after the Civil War, when he turned his attention to farming, following this calling until old age compelled his retirement. Mr. Oburg was a Republican in politics, and was active on the local town election boards ; a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Ashville for more than sixty-six years. He was greatly inter- ested in church work, being at various times steward, trustee, class leader, super- intendent of the Sunday school, and filled various other offices. He was a man of high religious character, kindhearted, and beloved by all who knew him. From an humble immigrant boy he arose to a sta- tion of high respect and esteem in his community.
Oscar Oburg married, in Ashville, Feb- ruary 27, 1852, Bebe Wellman, daughter of Barnabas and Pamela (Bullock) Well- man. (See Wellman Line.) Mrs. Bebe
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Oburg ( Oberg )
Bebe Qburg
Elon Medford Chung
.
. Vina . Helinda thory
.
Felia Christina Chary Fre
Abbie Derutha Qburg Hellman
Victor Francis Chung
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(Wellman) Oburg, like her husband, was a devoted Christian affiliated with the Ashville Church from the age of fifteen years. Oscar Oburg died at Ashville, April 9, 1919, aged eighty-six years. His wife died at Ashville, April 1, 1918, aged eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Oburg were the parents of six children, all born in Ashville, Chautauqua County, New York. They are: I. Elon Medford, born December 20, 1852; a farmer in Busti, Chautauqua County, New York; married Mary Sherman. 2. Viola De Ette, of whom further. 3. Nina Melinda, born October 26, 1856; resides at the family homestead at Ashville; unmarried. 4. Lelia Chris- tina, born March 20, 1859; married (first) John C. Walter, deceased; she married (second) Rollin Lee, a business man in Ashville. 5. Abbie Derutha, born Janu- ary 3, 1861 ; became the wife of Charles Wellman, who is connected with a large industry in Jamestown, New York. 6. Victor Francis, born April 9, 1863, a rail- road man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; married Irene Grunder.
(III) Viola De Ette Oburg, daughter of Oscar and Bebe (Wellman) Oburg, married Marvin N. Everett. (See Ever- ett IV.)
(The Wellman Line).
Arms-Argent, on a bend gules between two apples vert, three mullets or.
Crest-A demi-lion argent holding between his paws an apple as in the arms charged with a mul- let or.
Motto-Dei providentia juvat.
Wellman as a family quite evidently took its name from the city of Wells in Somersetshire, England, which, in turn, obtained its name from a well called St. Andrew's Well, near the bishop's palace, and from the fact that the founder of the family had received from one of the bishops charge of St. Andrew's Well, and had been called at first John the Well- man, or William the Well-man, which
later became John or William Wellman. The name has been variously spelled as Wellman, Wellmane, Wellmon, Welman, Welmon, Welmin, Wilman, Wilmon, Willman, Willmon, Willsman, Wellsman, and Weelman. In America the practice of spelling this name as Wellman began quite early and has increased in practice until it is nearly universally used by all of the family here.
The genealogy and history of the Well- man family and its origin in the Old World has been searched with some suc- cess. Investigation in this country seems to show that the early immigrant Well- mans were only two in number, Thomas Wellman and William Wellman. How- ever, family recollection points to a third, in the person of Barnabas Wellman. The name Barnabas has been carried through several generations and it is thought that a Barnabas may have been one of the immigrants, and, if not, at least one of the sons of William Wellman.
Thomas Wellman was in Lynn, Massa- chusetts, as early as 1640. He bought land, lived and died in Lynn End (now Lynnfield), Massachusetts.
William Wellman was in Marshfield, Massachusetts, as early as 1642, but moved that year to Gloucester, Massachu- setts, and thence, in 1650, to New Lon- don, Connecticut, and a few years later to Killingworth, Connecticut, where he died.
There is a line of seven generations bearing the name of Barnabas Wellman, the first of whom there is any information being a Captain Barnabas Wellman, a sea-faring man, who made voyages be- tween America and China. On one of these voyages he brought home a set of china dishes, a picture of his ship on each, and these were long preserved in the fam- ily; another Barnabas Wellman, who represented the family in the American
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Revolution ; and last, a Barnabas Well- man, who was an early settler in Chau- tauqua County, New York.
Barnabas Wellman, the Revolutionary soldier, was born August 15, 1756, in Kill- ingworth, Connecticut. According to rec- ords, he was a drum major in the War of of the Revolution. His brother and sis- ters were: Freelove, born May 22, 1753; Molly, born March 13, 1755; and Paul, born April 15, 1757. He married, and had the following children: 1. James, born November 30, 1783. 2. Homer, born March 9, 1786. 3. Barnabas, of whom further. 4. Ford, born January 3, 1796. 5. Leander, born October 14, 1801. There were also two daughters, Millie and Hannah.
Barnabas Wellman, son of Barnabas Wellman, the Revolutionary soldier, was evidently born at Killingworth, Connecti- cut, September 16, 1793. He is later recorded among the first settlers of Chau- tauqua County, New York, having located in the town of Ashville. He had a small farm there, but he was chiefly occupied as a stone mason, and it is said that he was a man of strong character, very reli- gious, and preached in the village church in the absence of the local minister. He was noted for his fine voice, which he used in connection with his church work and local entertainments. He was a kind- hearted man, reverenced by all, and known to the townsfolk as "Uncle Barney."
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