Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 7

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > New York > Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I > Part 7

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).

As a permanent memorial, to the memory

of her husband, Lucius B. Warner, his widow, Mary H. Warner, on February 20, 1911, donated the Warner mansion, on Forest avenue, James- town, to the Agnes Association, as a perpetual home for old people. Her letter is as follows:

Jamestown, New York, Feb. 20, 1911. Mrs. Charles M. Dow, President Agnes Association.

Dear Mrs. Dow: In fulfillment of a long cherish- ed desire to establish a permanent memorial to my late husband, Lucius B. Warner, in this city, where practically his whole life was spent (and in which memorial I desire my own name to be associated with that of my husband), I hereby present to the Agnes Association the Warner homestead, on Forest avenue, with the condition that it be perpetually maintained as a home for "old people," who, in their declining years, are left alone, or through material misfortune may be in partially dependent circum- stances.

The property has a frontage of 197 feet, with the residence and stable thereon, and it is free from debt, except that which will be incurred in paving Forest avenue, and this expense I desire to bear. With the house I purpose giving some of the furnishings and personal belongings.

With kindliest sentiments toward those who in my former home may find a comfortable dwelling place in the sunset of their lives, and trusting my action will meet with the hearty approval of yourself and your associates of the Agnes Association, believe me, Very sincerely yours, Mary H. Warner.

In reply Mrs. Dow said :

I believe all our citizens will rejoice with us in this splendid gift-a large well appointed, modern home. with commodious, airy rooms, broad verandas and sloping lawns, situated centrally, on an eminence, on a street car line, and, in addition, another build- ing, which can be remodeled for practical use, with plenty of land that will allow for building enlarge- ment, as needs demand.

I think you will agree with me that if we had our choice of a property, in looking over our city this would have been chosen as in every way most suit- able for this home.

In all the years to come may the donor be as blest as she has blessed others, in providing a home for the dear old people of our city and county.

The following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted at a special meeting of the governing board of the Agnes Association :

Resolved, That the Agnes Association does here- by accept the generous and magnificent gift of Mary H. Warner, in accordance with her offer of Feb. 20th, for and on behalf of the aged people to be benefitted thereby, and the members pledge them- selves, so far as in their power, to carry out the wishes of the donor, in all respects, by making this a home for aged people.

The following resolution was also offered and unanimously adopted :

NEW YORK.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Agnes Associa- tion be and are hereby extended to Mary H. Warner, for and on behalf of the people to be benefitted there- by, for her very generous gift of her Forest avenue home, to be made a home for aged people.

This was, indeed, a fitting monument to a man like Lucius B. Warner, a monument which is more lasting, in the hearts of the people, than any shaft of granite or bronze that might lift its head in cemetery or public square. It is a monument that will live in the coming years and shed its light and benefit upon this community in behalf of men and women who have taken their share in the heat of the battle during their prime, and who find themselves, in life's declining years, without the aid of lov- ing shoulders to lean upon and willing hands to minister to them, in their own homes. May the pleasure that Mrs. Warner has thus pro- vided for many who are unknown to her, and may the comforts that they will be able to re- ceive here in the future, crown her own de- clining years with peace and happiness, is the wish of the people of. Jamestown and com- munity. The home will not be for the old people of Jamestown alone, but for those of Chautauqua county, and will be conducted alone lines similar to those of the Agnes Home, the occupants paying for the privilege of resid- ing there, and the institution supporting itself.

(The Marvin Line).

Judge Richard Pratt Marvin, father of Rob- bert Newland Marvin, was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, New York, December 23, 1803, son of Selden and Charlotte (Pratt) Marvin, grandson of Daniel and Mehitable (Selden) Marvin, and a lineal descendant of Reinold Marvin, one of the original settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, having come to this country from England, about the year 1636- 37. In 1826 Richard Pratt Marvin began the study of law, with George W. Scott, in New- ark, Wayne county, New York, and continued it with Mark H. Sibley, of Canandaigua, and Isaac Seeley, in Cherry Valley. In May, 1829, in New York City, he was admitted to prac- tice, as an attorney and counselor, in the su- preme court, and as a solicitor in the court of chancery. In June, 1829, he established him- self in Jamestown, where he remained until his death. He entered into partnership with Samuel A. Brown, who was then district attor- ney. In 1835 he was elected to the assembly, in which he devoted himself principally to railroad facilities ; was a member of congress

for four years, from 1837 to 1841 ; in 1847 was elected judge of the eighth judicial district, which office he held, by reelection, for nearly twenty-five years. He was an Abolitionist, and few worked harder to free the slaves than he did. In the fall of 1834 he married Isabelle Newland, who died in February, 1872, uni- versally beloved by all who knew her. Judge Marvin died January 11, 1892, ripe in honors, in usefulness, in years, in everything that makes up the sum of human eminence.

Robert Newland Marvin was born in James- town, New York, October 13, 1845. He was educated in the public schools, Jamestown Academy, Hartwick Seminary and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Buffalo. Upon his return to Jamestown he became bookkeeper for Marvin & Company, and was given charge of his father's extensive business interests, continuing until the death of his father, when he was given full control as executor of the estate. In the development of his father's estate he reclaimed an extensive swamp, estab- lished Marvin Park thereon, and made avail- able, for manufacturing and residential pur- poses, many acres of land. By the late Mary A. Prendergast he was named as executor of the vast property, which, through her will, was transmuted into St. Luke's Memorial Church and the James Prendergast Free Library. He was also trustee of the association having in charge the Library and Art Gallery, and, for several years, was president of the board. Of other uncounted estates he was the faithful executor, absolute trust being placed in his ability and uprightness. For two years, 1886- 87, he was president of the Chautauqua Coun- ty Agriculture Society ; was one of the organ- izers and served as president of the Chau- tauqua Lake Railway Company. In 1885 he was elected president of the First National Bank of Corry, Pennsylvania, and held that office until September, 1887. Upon the death of Alexander T. Prendergast he was chosen director of the National Chautauqua County Bank to fill the vacancy, and remained in that capacity until his death, serving continuously on the most important committees of the board. He was a director and president of the James- town Street Railway Company. Among other organizations, with which he was connected in a prominent way, were the Gustavus Adolphus Orphans' Home, of which he was chairman of the committee that secured the necessary funds from Jamestown people; the New York State

NEW YORK.

Charities Aid Association ; the Woman's Chris- tian Association Hospital, of which he was a member of the advisory committee; the Pres- ton Farming Company, of North Dakota ; the Lakewood Land & Improvement Company ; honorary member of the Fenton Guards, the Firemen's Exempt Association, and the Cha- dakoin Club. He organized the first telephone exchange in Jamestown, and was president of the corporation ; was the organizer and presi- dent of the first water company formed in Jamestown ; member of the first and all subse- quent boards of water commissioners, after the city took over the private water company ; chairman of committee that drafted the first city charter of Jamestown ; foreman of Ellicott Hook & Ladder Company ; president and life member of the New York State Firemen's Association, and president of the Lake View Cemetery Association.

Throughout his life he was an attendant and generous supporter of the First Presbyterian Church, and the various departments for Chris- tian and philanthropic work connected there- with. He was a leader in Republican politics, a Blaine elector in 1884, and was a delegate to innumerable conventions. For four terms he represented the town of Ellicott, embracing Jamestown, on the board of supervisors, and would have been continued in office had he con- sented to serve longer. He distinguished him- self as a supervisor by inaugurating reforms in methods of treating the indigent and insane, and it is to his lasting credit that plans which he devised and put into operation for ameliorating the condition of the unfortunate classes were generally adopted throughout the state and have resulted most beneficiently. To a natural dignity of manner Mr. Marvin added a genial- ity that won him hosts of friends and made him welcome everywhere. He was hospitable, charitable, generous, with a ready sympathy for those in affliction or need. A keynote to his success in his many undertakings was his executive force and mastery of detail in what- ever engaged his attention.

Mr. Marvin married, February 6, 1890, Mary Elizabeth Warner, aforementioned, who sur- vives him, residing in Jamestown.

Mr. Marvin, after a life of usefulness and activity, during which he strove most earnestly to fulfill every duty and responsibility, and succeeded in so doing, as tributes from all lips attested, died February 6, 1909, on the nine-

teenth anniversary of his marriage, a sad co- incidence. Interment was in Lake View Ceme- tery.

Daniel Prophet Wescott, for

WESCOTT over forty years a resident of Jamestown, was born in the town of Norwich, Chenango county, New York, February 14, 1823; died in Jamestown, New York, October 1, 1868; son of Rev. Arthur Wescott, a minister of Addison, New York.

Daniel P. Wescott received a good common school education, and then was apprenticed to the tailor's trade. He came to Jamestown and entered the employ of C. M. Butler, as a journeyman tailor. He was a good workman, industrious and trustworthy. In a few years he had so won his employer's esteem that he admitted him to a partnership in the merchant tailoring business. The firm was a prosper- . ous one and continued in successful operation until Mr. Butler's retirement. Mr. Wescott continued the business alone until 1861, when the great fire of that year swept away the building he occupied, with all its contents. With his accustomed energy Mr. Wescott re- built. replacing the old with a commodious brick store. He continued in business until failing health warned him to retire. He was an excellent business man and stood high in public esteem. In 1844 he was converted, dur- ing a religious revival in Jamestown, and join- ed the Wesleyan Methodist Church, becoming an active and useful religious worker. He loved his church and many yet remember the earnestness and fervor of his exhortations. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fact that aroused the prej- udice of some of the church members. This finally led Mr. Wescott to withdraw from the Wesleyan Church and connect with the Pres- byterian, much to the regret of nearly the en- tire Wesleyan congregation. He remained a useful, consistent member of his adopted church until his death. He was an active worker in the Sunday school, for several years serving as superintendent. He possessed nat- ural musical talent, had a good voice, and, for years, was leader of the choir of the Presby- terian church. He was warm hearted and generous, stood loyally by his friends, whose names were legion, devoted to his family, and faithful in all his obligations. Mr. Wescott exemplified in his life the highest type of citi-

Marvin N. Everett

! .:

i. 1847. . ........

1 Mig 21. IVA1

17. (1) unbar no. 1 .

RLes . Livig v) sed on her to genfth

.,1 ani. Willon W. Laterry, Was a Mewhen war: Sarah R .. manue: Ichet Wenn : Margaret .A., man. Garboli (bilden of first matri Wewont. Leopora l'. married Karahan: Cardius Beverly, died 15." for teens years; William Street won Copy of Bara :. Motoi -: Daniel i

In poly 12. 1809. dieu Jantar

, tu survives her husband a.u. r .. . 1. istice in Jamestown where the last in . . & childhood. Her forme res Face. Ildt 1. was purchased by the Method 1 Ljus ... al congregation, in tag, as a site for a .. a church edifice. She then purchases her ; : rent home, at 417 Lafayette street. She 1: Fry active for her years, attends the Pre-bi- come church, and is greatly loved by all

Marvin Niles Everett. Non of

ES. ERET! John and Elizabeth ( Walker , I verett, was born in saratoga . enty. New York, March 24. 1828; died at Have-town, New York, February 4. Lyon. R. : as educated in the public schools, and when the . Adem of a trade confronted him he decile ! . . barn carpentering. He served a regular prenticeship, and, for many years, followed the orecupation of a builder. In 1850 he set- r'ed n Jamestown, where he installed a hay press, in association with his brother The hov. purchased from the farmers, wa. com-

citizen a:

1 de. and. im 18 48. im and ciakben. Mary. ( ... and Frank ) came to 11. thing at Sugar Giros .. . . they came to Clave .:

NEW YORK.

zenship. He was a Republican in politics, but never sought public office.

He married (first), at Corning, New York, September 13, 1847, Leonora Pratt, born at Milo, Yates county, New York, died August 2, 1860, daughter of Joel B. Pratt, of Col- chester, Connecticut, where he was born in 1795, died February 21, 1869, at Corning, New York. She was a sister of George W. Pratt, born April 17, 1821, died October 3, 1906, editor of the Corning Journal. He married ( second), September 10, 1863, Sarah R. Wil- son, born at Lewis, New York, February 1, 1827, daughter of Dr. William and Jane Agnes (Livingston) Wilson. Dr. Wilson was a native of Essex county, New York, died 1862. His wife, Jane Agnes (Livingston) Wilson, was born 1803. died on her fifty-fifth birthday. Their children were: Theophilus, deceased; William L., died in Jamestown; Mary Jane, died May 22, 1889, in her seventieth year, her husband, William W. Lathrop, was a soldier of the Mexican war; Sarah R., married Daniel Prophet Wescott; Margaret A., married Rich- ard Garfield. Children of first marriage of Mr. Wescott : Leonora P., married William Carnahan; Claudius Beverly, died 1898, aged thirty-seven years; William Steel, now a resi- dent of Harvey, Illinois; Daniel Pratt, of Jamestown. Child of second marriage: Guy, born July 12, 1864, died January 12, 1894, having been an invalid for several years. Mrs. Wescott survives her husband and retains her residence in Jamestown, where she has lived since childhood. Her former residence, in the city, was purchased by the Methodist Epis- copal congregation, in 1883, as a site for a new church edifice. She then purchased her present home, at 417 Lafayette street. She is very active for her years, attends the Presby- terian church, and is greatly loved by all.

EVERETT Marvin Niles Everett, son of John and Elizabeth (Walker) Everett, was born in Saratoga county, New York, March 24, 1828; died at Jamestown, New York, February 4, 1909. He was educated in the public schools, and when the problem of a trade confronted him he decided to learn carpentering. He served a regular apprenticeship, and, for many years, followed the occupation of a builder. In 1850 he set- tled in Jamestown, where he installed a hay press, in association with his brother. The hay, purchased from the farmers, was com-

pressed in bales, then loaded on flat boats, built by themselves, and floated to Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, and other river points. . This business was successful, and, with the profits, timber lands were purchased and a sawmill erected, near Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, New York. After four years of successful lumber- ing he went west, in 1854. He located in the gold camps of California, meeting with fair success as a miner of the precious metal. In 1860 he returned to Jamestown and resumed his early trade. He erected many buildings in Jamestown and vicinity. then purchased a farm, at Garry, New York, that he operated for five years. He then spent two years farming, in the state of Kansas, then returned east, settling at Falconer, New York. In 1881 he erected a fine brick house, which was his residence for thirty years. In Falconer he devoted himself almost exclusively to bee culture. This be- came his absorbing interest. He made a close study of the bee, secured the very best work- ers, and had one of the largest and best pro- ducing bee farms in the section. About 1888 he built the Hotel Everett, which is one of the leading hotels of Jamestown. The hotel was built for an investment, and was operated under lease by others, until later in life it was conducted, for four years, by his wife. Through kindness to others, in financial distress, he lost quite heavily. His former residence, at 105 West Second street, is now known as the "Mar- vin House," and is conducted by his widow. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Falconer, and his one hundred dol- lar subscription was the first made toward the building of the first church of that denomina- tion in that city. He was a Republican in poli- tics, but never sought or cared for public office. He was highly esteemed in his city as a good citizen and an upright man.

He married (first) Emma Jane Ferry, died in 1866, daughter of Ebenezer and Susan Ferry. He married (second), March 3, 1875, Viola D. Oburg, born at Ashville, New York, Novem- ber 14, 1854, daughter of Oscar and Bebe (Wellman) Oburg. Oscar Oburg was born in Sweden, February 25, 1833, son of Peter and Margaret (Hilgren) Oburg, of Upby, Sweden. Oscar Oburg learned the tailor's trade in Swe- den, and, in 1848, the entire family (parents and children, Mary, Caroline, Pontius, Oscar and Frank) came to the United States, set- tling at Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. In 1851 they came to Chautauqua county, New York,

NEW YORK.

being one of the three first Swedish families to settle near Jamestown, where now they are so numerous and prosperous. Later than 1851 Peter Oburg, the father, and his wife removed to New Albany, Indiana, where he died at the age of sixty-one years, the mother at the age of sixty-two. Oscar Oburg followed farming and also had a shoe store in Ashville, New York. He was drafted into the United States service, during the civil war, but was released from service on account of his family of young children, on procuring a substitute.

He married, February 28, 1852, Bebe Well- man, born April 17, 1834, daughter of Barna- bas and Permelia (Bullock) Wellman. Chil- dren : Elon M., born December 20, 1852, mar- ried Mary Sherman; Viola D., married Mar- vin Niles Everett ; Minnie M., born October 26, 1856, unmarried ; Lelia C., born March 20, 1859, married (first) John C. Walter, and (second) R. M. Lee; Abbie D., born January 3, 1861, married Charles Wellman ; Francis Victor, born April 9, 1863, married Irene Grunder.

SMITH Lieutenant Samuel Smith and his wife Elizabeth, with children Sam- uel, Elizabeth, Mary and Philip, passengers of the ship "Elizabeth," of Ipswich, William Andrews, master, left England, April 30, 1634, and landed in Boston. He was probably a member of the transient settlers of Dorchester, or its vicinity, that joined the ex- odus to the Connecticut valley, in 1635, and lived in Wethersfield up to 1661, when he went up the river to Hadley, where he was an orig- inal settler of that town, established out of the new plantation near Northampton, May 22, 1659. Here he held important offices in the church, which he helped to organize, and of the town which was co-existant with the church. He probably gained his title of lieutenant by holding that rank in the militia, organized for the defense of the settlers against the Indians. As the inventory of his estate was published January 17, 1681, he probably died in 1680, and was supposed to be seventy-eight years of age, at his death, which would make him thirty- two years of age when he left England, and make his birth year about 1602. His widow, Elizabeth Smith, died March 16, 1686, at the age of eighty-four years. Children of Lieu- tenant Samuel and Elizabeth Smith: I. Sam- uel, born in England, about 1625; he was eight years of age when he was brought to New England, and he is supposed to have removed

from Wethersfield to New London, and thence to Virginia, prior to 1664; he was accom- panied by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Henry Smith, of Wethersfield, Connecticut. 2. Elizabeth, born in England, about 1627; mar- ried, about 1646, Nathaniel Foote, of Wethers- field, Connecticut, she being his second wife: after his death she married William Gull. 3. Mary, born in England, approximately in 1630; married, in Wethersfield, John Graves. 4. Philip, see forward. 5. Chileab, born in New England, probably Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1635. 6. John, born in Wethersfield, prob- ably in 1637, was slain by the Indians on the meadows of Hatfield, Massachusetts, May 30. 1676, while defending his home and people.

(II) Philip, second son and fourth child of Lieutenant Samuel and Elizabeth Smith, was born in England, about 1633. He was the youngest of their four children who, with the father and mother, made up the family when they came to New England, and was in his mother's arms at their coming. He was brought up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he mar- ried Rebecca, daughter of Nathaniel Foote, and stepdaughter of his sister, Elizabeth (Smith) Foote. He removed, with his father, to Had- ley, about 1661, and, with him, helped to found the town and church. He was a deacon of the church, lieutenant in the town militia, and a representative in the general court of the Mas- sachusetts Bay Colony. He was, according to the account left by Cotton Mather, "murdered with an hideous witchcraft," January 10, 1685, and his widow married Major Aaron Cook, Oc- tober 2, 1688. She died in Hadley, April 6. 1701. Children of Lieutenant Philip and Re- becca (Foote) Smith: 1. Samuel, born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in January, 1659. 2. Child, died before being named, January 2, 1661. 3. John, born December 18, 1661. 4. Jonathan, see forward. 5. Philip, born about 1665. 6. Rebecca, born about 1667; married. 1686, George Stillman, of Wethersfield and Hadley ; she died in Hadley, October 7, 1750. 7. Nathaniel, born about 1669. 8. Joseph, born about 1671-72. 9. Ichabod, born April II. 1675.

(III) Jonathan, son of Philip and Rebecca (Foote) Smith, was born in Hadley, Massa- chusetts, about 1663. He was brought up in that frontier town, and endured all the hard- ships that visited the pioneer settlers of that period. He married Abigail, daughter of Lieu- tenant Joseph Kellogg, who emigrated to Bos-

NEW YORK.

ton in 1639, was among the first settlers of Hadley, in 1661, and commanded the troops from Hadley in the Great Falls fight, in King Philip's war, in 1675.

(IV) Elisha, son of Jonathan and Abigail (Kellogg) Smith, was born July 10, 1705, died November, 1786. He was widely known as "Goodman" Smith, and his wife as "Goody" Smith. About 1732 he removed, with his fam- ily, to what was afterward called Whateley. He married Sarah Field, who died July 17, 1795, aged eighty-five years, the result of a broken bone. They had eleven children.

(V) Benjamin, eldest child of Elisha and Sarah (Field) Smith, was born November 5, 1728, died February 6, 1793. He served in the revolution, under different enlistments and in various companies. At the Lexington alarm he marched in Captain Henry Stiles' company, of Whateley. During the Saratoga campaign, of 1777, he served in the company of Captain Solomon White, of Whateley. His first mar. riage, recorded at Hadley, was to Abigail Smith, probably a daughter of Jonathan and Abigail (Alexander ) Smith. She was born July 19, 1723. He married (second) Elizabeth , before 1771. Children by first wife: Elijah, married Miriam Morton; Solomon, married Polly or Mary Pratt; Rachel, married, April 29, 1781, Aaron Pratt; Elihu, married Anna Belden; Harwell, married, 1782, Mary Pratt; Mary, born 1769, died 1886, married Joseph Gilbert, of Whateley. Children by second wife: Eliz- abeth, baptized January 6, 1771 ; Isaac, of fur- ther mention; Rebecca, baptized February 14, 1773; Lydia, baptized March 26, 1775; Will- iam Coe, baptized November 12, 1776.

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.

Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 7

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680