Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 93

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

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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).

3, 1870. Sally died. July 8, 1859. Children of Aaron and Sally Bush: I. Martha, born in Westfield, Massachusetts, January 27, 1816; married, at Jamestown, New York, Alexander Campbell. 2. Judd, born in Busti, New York, April 3, 1817, died February 24, 1818. 3. William, born September 13, 1818, died un- married, at Wellsville, Ohio, June 5, 1842. 4. Mary, born July 18, 1820, in Busti, New York; died in Falconer, February 9, 1889; married Ezra Abbott, November 19, 1837. 5. Rowena, born March 31, 1822, died in infancy. 6. Di- antha, born December 11, 1823, died at Lander, Warren county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1901 ; married George Ewers, June 6, 1852. 7. Aaron (2), born December 15, 1825, died Feb- ruary 20, 1848. 8. Moses, born October 11, 1827; married (first) Martha Lewis; (sec- ond) Susan -; (third) Sarah Fairchild. 9. Sarah, born February 3, 1831; married Laurel B. Coates, August 8, 1852. 10. Lu- cretia, born June 29, 1833, died April 27, 1853; married Edwin S. Coe, February 10, 1852. 11. Thankful, June 28, 1834, died November 6, 1854; married, December 23, 1850, Cicero Crowell.

Children of Hiram Eugene Brunson, by his first wife: I. Ida Belle, born at Corry, Penn- sylvania, September 17, 1869, died October 22, 1911; married, September 17, 1889, Charles D. Pratt, who died November 27, 1902; she married (second), at Portland, Oregon, Oc- tober 3, 1905, Jesse C. Willis. 2. Claude Pliny, born in Falconer, December 6, 1874; resides in Falconer. By second wife no issue. The family reside in Falconer, New York.

(The Abbott Line).

Mrs. Mary A. Brunson is a granddaughter of Xavir Abbott, who grew to manhood in the state of New Jersey, where he married. In 1823 he came to Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, settling on a tract of wild land, which he cleared and brought under cultiva- tion. He became a prosperous farmer, was a member of the Baptist church, and a Whig in politics. He married, in New Jersey, Betsey Van Ness, a descendant of Hendrick Ger- ritse Van Ness, who came to New Amsterdam (New York) from Holland. Children : Har- vey, Whitney, Cinda, Ezra, Anne, John, Me- lissa and Brintha.

(II) Ezra, son of Xavir Abbott, was born in Morristown, New Jersey, November 19, 1814, died in Chautauqua county, New York,

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March 9, 1889. He came to Busti with his parents in 1823, and for the next twelve years worked for his father on the farm, clearing and cultivating. On attaining his majority he learned the carpenter's trade, married, and moved to Jamestown, New York. He followed his trade until he reached the age of forty-five, then purchased a farm near Falconer on which he lived one year. He was then induced by Patrick Falconer to come to the village and take the management of his sawmill. After four years spent in running the sawmill he re- turned to his farm, on which he resided until death. He joined the Baptist church in James- town, and was always a faithful member. For several years he was leader of the church choir. He belonged to the local militia company, and always turned out for drill on "training days." He was a strong Abolitionist, and acted first with the Whig, later with the Republican party. He was a strong character and held in the highest esteem. He married, in Busti, No- vember 19, 1837, Mary, daughter of Aaron Bush, whose family has been previously noted. Children : 1. Martha, born May 17, 1839, died March 24, 1841. 2. Margaret, born January 12, 1841 ; married, May 31, 1865, James A. McCall, whom she survives (1911). 3. Wil- liam A., born August 18, 1842, died August 29, 1843. 4. Amelia, born November 10, 1844, died March 29, 1880; married, July 9, 1863, Franklin D. Porter, at Farmington, Pennsyl- vania; he was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and died June 7, 1864. 5. Theo- dore, September 22, 1847, died October 28, 1908, at Edmunds, Washington; he married (first), in Jamestown, New York, May 4, 1869, Stella McCall; (second), in Muskegon, Michigan, April 12, 1883, Rose Wilson. 6. Mary, born in Jamestown, New York, Decem- ber 26, 1849; married (first), May 5, 1868, Mortimer A. Rose, who died March 20, 1879; (second), July 18, 1883, Hiram Eugene Brun- son. 7. Sarah Louisa, December 12, 1851, died November 7, 1860. 8. Clarence J., Jan- uary 5, 1858, died unmarried, May 5, 1879. 9. Elliott, April 1, 1860, died unmarried, June 24, 1885.

The American ancestor of Lewis PUTNAM Andrews Putnam, of James- town, New York, was John Put- nam, of Aston Abbotts, county of Bucks, England, born about 1580, died in Salem vil- lage, now Danvers, Massachusetts, December

10, 1662. He came with his wife Priscilla (maiden name believed to have been Deacon), and sons Thomas, John and Nathaniel, from England, in 1634. They settled in Salem, Mas- sachusetts, where the father died. Seven chil- dren.

(II) Lieutenant Thomas Putnam, eldest son of John and Priscilla Putnam, was baptized at Aston Abbotts, county of Bucks, England, March 7, 1614-15, died at Salem village, Mas- sachusetts, May 5, 1686. He was an inhab- itant of Lynn in 1640, selectman in 1642, and joined the Salem church in 1643. He was a man of education, wrote a good hand, held many of the Salem offices in town and church, and was lieutenant of a troop of horse. He married (first) Ann, daughter of Edward and Prudence (Stockton) Holyoke, who bore him eight children; (second) Mary, a widow of Nathaniel Veren, who bore him one child, Joseph, who was father of General Israel Put- nam, of revolutionary fame.

(III) Sergeant Thomas Putnam, son of Lieutenant Thomas Putnam and his first wife, Ann (Holyoke) Putnam, was baptized in the Salem church, February 16, 1652, died in Sa- lem, May 24, 1699. He married Ann, young- est daughter of George and Elizabeth Carr, of Salisbury. They had twelve children, eleven of whom were alive in 1715.

(IV) Seth, twelfth child of Sergeant Thomas Putnam and Ann (Carr) Putnam, was born in Salem village, May, 1685, died at Charlestown, New Hampshire, November 30, 1775. He was one of the pioneers in that exposed frontier town, and sent two sons to help fight the French and Indians. He helped form the first church at Charlestown, and was among the first ten members on the list. He married, September 17, 1718, Ruth Whip- ple, who died February 1, 1785. They had eight children.

(V) Timothy, youngest son of Seth and Ruth (Whipple) Putnam, was born at Biller- ica, Massachusetts, December 25, 1732, died at Charlestown, New Hampshire. He was a member of Colonel Bellow's regiment, which marched to re-enforce Ticonderoga in May, 1777, and again in June of that year, but found the fort evacuated. He married Susanna Badger, who bore him seven children.

(VI) John, son of Timothy and Susanna (Badger ) Putnam, was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, June 4, 1764, died in Mont- pelier, Vermont, June 9, 1848. He was a

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farmer of Montpelier, and was borne on the pension roll of the revolution. He married (first) Catherine Carr; (second) Mrs. Peggy Glidden, at Charlestown, New Hampshire, widow of Moses Willard. She was born Oc- tober 25, 1781, died in Montpelier, February 19. 1852. He had six children by the first wife, and five by the second.

(VII) Aaron, son of John Putnam, was born about 1814. He lived in Rutland county, Vermont ; married Abigail Howard, and came to Chautauqua county, New York, settling in the town of Charlotte, where he died. He was a farmer in both states.

(VIII) Davis Oscar, son of Aaron Put- nam, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, April 14, 1843, died in Jamestown, New York, December 8, 1905. He was but a lad when his parents came to Chautauqua county, where he was educated in the public schools and spent his early life on the farm. At the age of nine- teen years he enlisted in Company B, 112th New York Volunteer Infantry. A feature of his enlistment worth preserving is the fact that he was the first man of a crowd gathered around a newly opened recruiting station to step forward and offer his services. An old gentleman standing by was so pleased with the young man's promptness and courage that he then and there presented him with fifty dol- lars. He enlisted at Fredonia, New York, and served until his capture, seeing hard service with the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at the battle of Chapin's Farm, Vir- ginia, and left for dead on the field. The Con- federates found him and sent him a prisoner to Libby. Recovering from his wound he was later sent to Belle Isle and Florence prisons. Later he was exchanged and returned home. He was carried on the government pension rolls as long as he lived, and justly deserved all his country gave him for in de- fense of the flag he surrendered youth and health. After the war he settled in Dunkirk, New York, later coming to Jamestown, where his remaining years were passed. For a num- ber of years he kept a tobacco store, later in- vesting in a local express and draying busi- ness, continuing for twenty years, prospered, and owned considerable city property. He was a member of James Brown Post, Grand Army of the Republic, a Democrat and an at- tendant of thé Episcopal church. He married, June 18, 1874, at Jamestown, Flora Augusta Andrews, born there November 18, 1857,

daughter of Lewis and Martha (Pennock) Andrews (see Andrews). Children : I. Lewis Andrews, of whom further. 2. William Cran- dell, born in Jamestown, August 7, 1882; edu- cated in the public schools, learned telegraphy, and is an expert operator, having held im- portant positions in the large cities for both the Western Union and Postal Telegraph Companies ; unmarried.

(IX) Lewis Andrews, son of Davis Oscar Putnam, was born in Jamestown, New York, March 3, 1878. He was educated in the pub- lic schools at Jamestown. Since July 17, 1902, he has been a clerk in the Jamestown post- office. He is a member of the Episcopal church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Order of Moose and Sons of Veterans. He married Hilma Lundwell.

(The Andrews Line).

(I) William Andrews, the immigrant ances- tor, came first to Massachusetts, and in 1630 to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was a teacher in 1639.

(II) Thomas, son of William Andrews, set- tled in Middletown, Connecticut.

(III) Samuel, son of Thomas Andrews, set- tled in East Haddam, Massachusetts.

(IV) Zephaniah, son of Samuel Andrews, lived in East Haddam, Massachusetts.

(V) Philarmon, son of Zephaniah Andrews, was born in East Haddam, Massachusetts, May 1, 1763. He married. Philanda

Ten children : Gordon, born March 26, 1785; Solomon, born in Vermont, May 14, 1787; Wilson, of whom further; Erastus, born in New York state, November 14, 1790; Dudley, April 23, 1792; James, January 7, 1794; Phil- anda, November 20, 1795, Asa, March 5, 1799; Nathaniel, January 18, 1801 ; Philarmon, born in Salem, New York, January 6, 1803.

(VI) Wilson, son of Philarmon Andrews, was born at Lamson, Vermont, December 30, 1788. He came to Elm Flats, New York, where he purchased land from the Holland Land Company. He married (first), January 13, 1817, Keziah Neff, born 1793, died No- vember, . 1832. Children: 1. Newell, born 1818, died September, 1869; married Harriet Cadwell. 2. Lewis (William L.), of whom further. 3. Philanda, born July 22, 1822, died July, 1886; married, February 4, 1841, Jason Biglin ; children : Henry, Ella J. and Lewis A. He married (second) Melinda Hurlburt, born at Pompey, New York, January 12, 1802.

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(VII) Lewis, son of Wilson and Keziah (Neff) Andrews, was born at Elm Flats, New York, 1821, died at Jamestown, New York, March 7, 1896. He settled in Jamestown, at the age of nineteen years, and became a pros- perous merchant of that city, and was inter- ested in an oil refinery. He was also a member of the firm of Andrews & Preston, operating a woolen mill. He married, October 22, 1855, Martha Pennock, born October 31, 1833, who survives him, daughter of Alvin and Zelphia (Kidder) Pennock. Children : Flora Augusta, of further mention; Minnie L., born March 22, 1862, married Edgar Benham.

(VIII) Flora Augusta, eldest daughter of Lewis and Martha (Pennock) Andrews, mar- ried Davis Oscar Putnam.

(IX) Lewis Andrews, son of Davis Oscar and Flora Augusta (Andrews) Putnam, is the present male representative of the Putnam and Andrews families in Jamestown, New York (1911).

ABBEY This surname is of various spell- ings-Abba, Abbe, .Abbee, Ab- bey, Abbie, Abie, Abbeye and Abby being the forms in which it is found in old records and in the present day. The name no doubt came from a progenitor who lived near an abbey or was employed in one, or it may come from Abbe, an ecclesiastic. The family in England bore arms, those of Abbe being : Gules, five fusils in fesse between three scallop shells. Crest: on a wreath of three colors of the shield (gules and argent) an eagle's head erased, or. The first settler in America, John Abbe, was an Englishman. He settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in that part that later was set off as Wenham. The line of descent to the Abbeys of Falconer, New York, is through his son Samuel, his son Eben- ezer, his son Ebenezer (2), his son Isaac, his son Abner, his son William, of the eighth generation.

(IX) William, grandson of Abner Abbey, married Mary Elizabeth Brown. They settled in Jefferson county, New York. Two chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy.

(X) Seymour S., son of William Abbey, . was born in Jefferson county, New York, July 31, 1854. He was well educated, and learned the carpenter's trade. He worked at his trade in various places, and for several years was in charge of a gang of bridge builders for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad

Company. He is now located in Syracuse, New York, engaged in contracting and build- ing. He is a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. He married Ida May Reynolds, died in 1882, aged twenty-four years, daughter of Cyrus Gregg and Mary (Tousley) Reynolds. Children: I. Mamie, died in infancy. 2. Evo, born May 1, 1877, died April 2, 1902; married Arthur W. Far- rington ; children : Seymour and Charles A. 3. Charles Gregg, of whom further.

(XI) Charles Gregg, only son of Seymour S. Abbey, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, July 3, 1879. He was twelve years of age when his father settled in Syracuse, New York. He attended the pub- lic school in Adams, finishing his studies in the Syracuse schools. ' At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade, but did not complete his years of service. He was clerk in a hardware store for one year, and about 1892 came to Falconer, New York, where he worked until 1903 as a weaver in the Falconer Towel Company's mill. In 1903 he went to San Francisco, California, where he secured a position with the San Francisco Bulletin in the general news department. While on that paper the great earthquake and fire brought devastation and ruin to the city. He was appointed a guard by General Funs- ton in command of the United States troops, and in that capacity served until order was restored. While regularly sworn in to the United States service and under military dis- cipline, he also acted as reporter for the pa- pers, and wrote several articles concerning the disaster that appeared in the eastern papers. Later he resigned his position with The Bul- letin and formed a connection with the Oak- land Tribune, doing general newspaper work. In 1909 he returned to Falconer, New York, and entered the employ of the Jamestown Morning Post as advertising manager, which position he now holds. He is an active mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was made a member in 1903, join- ing Chadakoin Lodge, No. 130, of Falconer. While in California he took a demit and united with Unity Lodge, No. 131, of San Francisco, and during the relief period following the earthquake he was treasurer of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows' Relief Board. He passed all the chairs of Unity Lodge, and on his return to Falconer reunited with his old lodge. Politically he is a Republican and his

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family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

He married, at Falconer, December 7, 1901, Ella Anna Lydell, born in Poland, Chautau- qua county, New York, April 19, 1880, daugh- ter of Ransom B. and Mina Jane (Covey) Lydell (see Lydell). Children : Frank Lydell, born at Berkeley, California, November 20, 1907; Charles Robert, born at Falconer, New York, September 6, 1911.

(The Lydell Line).

(I) Luther Lydell came to Chautauqua county, New York, in 1828, settling in the town of Poland, on lot fifty-nine. He was for- merly of Otsego county. He cultivated his farm in Poland until his death. He married and had issue.

(II) Lucius, son of Luther Lydell, came with his father from Otsego county and set- tled near him in Poland, Chautauqua county. He married Sophrona, daughter of Judge George Burnell, who came to Chautauqua county in 1810 and settled in the town of Char- lotte. Children : Marietta, married A. J. Par- ker, now deceased; Francis, now deceased; Ransom B., of whom further.

(III) Ransom B., son of Lucius Lydell, was born in Poland, Chautauqua county, New York, July 3, 1853, died in Falconer, New York, April 19, 1909. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Poland. On reaching the age of fourteen he came to Jamestown to avail himself of the advanced courses taught in the schools there. He con- tinued his studies there for six years, but at the age of eighteen years began teaching dur- ing the winter term. He taught for five win- ters in the district schools, working at other employment during the summer months. He early became interested in public affairs and in many business enterprises, the most impor- tant being banking. At the time of his death he was president of the First National Bank of Falconer. At the age of twenty-one years he was elected justice of the peace of Poland, holding that office continuously until 1884, when he moved to Falconer. In 1888 he was elected assessor of the town of Ellicott, hold- ing about eighteen years, when he was ap- pointed supervisor to succeed H. N. Crosby, who had been elected surrogate of Chautauqua county. He was elected to the same office at the next election, holding until his death. His services were particularly valuable to his town,

his well-trained business mind being peculiarly fitted to solve the financial problems constantly arising to confront the board of supervisors. He gave freely to charity, and was always a friend to those hard pressed in business life. He was everybody's friend, and died sincerely mourned by his community. As a man of business he was systematic and energetic, as a banker, wise, conservative and helpful. Reso- lutions of respect and regret at his death were adopted by the Chautauqua county board of supervisors and by the board of directors of the First National Bank. He was a liberal sup- porter of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically was a Republican.

He married, August 11, 1877, Mina J. Covey, born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, July 27, 1854, died in Falconer, April 23, 1909, four days after the death of her husband. She was in ill health at the time of his illness, and never recovered from the shock caused by his death. They were buried at the same time and laid side by side in Pine Hill cemetery. Children : 1. Frances B., born June 9, 1878. 2. Ella A., April 19, 1880; married Charles G. Abbey. 3. Flossie J., September 4, 1882 ; married Bert L. Hough ; children : Miles Emerson and Lydell M. 4. Iva M., born March 31, 1885. 5. Bessie M., October 1, 1887; married O. Bert Ellenberger ; child: Lois. 6. Ransom B. (2), born June 10, 1890; married Myrtle McCain; child: Ransom B. (3). 7. Lucius R., born April 16, 1893. 8. Lulu M., twin of Lucius R.

Andrew RUNDQUIST Rundquist, the first of the family to come to America, was born in Gothland, Sweden, March 25, 1840, on the Borstrop estate, where his father was em- ployed as gardener. He attended school until the age of sixteen, when he left in order to assist in the support of the family; however, he continued his studies in writing and arith- metic under private instruction, being a bright and ambitious lad and desirous of obtaining all the education possible, and later re-entered school for the purpose of making a serious study of agriculture. Upon finishing the nec- essary course of instruction, he was appointed to work upon different estates in Sweden and Finland.

At the age of thirty-one years, in May, 1871, he left his native land, and coming to the United States, made his home in Jamestown, New York; here he entered into business as

32-W

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a carpenter and building contractor, continu- ing thus for several years and becoming suc- cessful and well known in the community. In 1893 he was appointed by Mayor O. F. Price to serve an unexpired term as assessor, and so satisfactorily were the duties of the office per- formed that he was elected for the following term and served continuously thereafter. Ac- cording to the recent revision of the city char- ter, Mr. Rundquist received the appointment as chairman of the board, and would have en- joyed a longer term of office than under the old system of election by the people. His work was performed with credit to himself and with much popular approval, he being everywhere regarded as a most intelligent, capable and honest official. He was also a thoroughly good business man and very successful in real es- tate ventures ; he thus acquired a considerable amount of property, the rental from which furnished him a substantial income. In his political convictions Mr. Rundquist was a staunch Republican, and was held in high es- teem in his party; he was a member of the Knights of Pythias.

In the year 1872, Mr. Rundquist was mar- ried to Miss Mathilda Johnson; four children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. and two daughters, Miss Jennie C., married H. S. Dudley, of New York City, and Miss Ruby R. Rundquist, now living at the family residence, where Mr. Rundquist died October 3, 1907.

PRESTON John Preston, the first of the line here under consideration, purchased a large tract of land in Ashford, Connecticut, for which he paid twenty-five cents an acre, and this was the home of the family for many years. He married for his second wife, Mary Haynes, granddaughter of the first governor of Con- necticut, who bore him twelve children, among whom was John, see forward.

(II) John (2), son of John (1) Preston. was born in 1737. He served in the revolu- tionary army, and was among the gallant band who marched from Ashford under Colonel Thomas Knowlton for the relief of Boston in 1775. He afterward became a member of Colonel Chester's regiment, Sixth Battalion, General Wadsworth Brigade, which hastened to re-enforce General Washington in New York. In 1777 he was in the Connecticut mil- itia, and served on the Hudson, being a ser-

geant in Captain Aaron Foote's company, of the regiment commanded by Colonel Hooker. He married, in 1759, in Ashford, Connecticut, Sarah A., daughter of Captain Peter East- man. Among their children was Noah, see forward.

(III) Noah, son of John (2) and Sarah A. (Eastman) Preston, was born February 23. 1763, died April 8, 1835, aged seventy-two years one month nine days, at Camden, New York, and his remains were interred in the an- cient cemetery in that village, with thirty-two other revolutionary patriots. A beautiful mon- ument to the memory of these brave soldiers has been erected in Camden by Camden Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revolution, on which the name of Noah Preston is in- scribed. He married Honor or Anna Rossi- ter, born May 28, 1766, died November 22, 1847, aged eighty-two years five months twen- ty-four days. Children: 1. Warren, see for- ward. 2. Rossiter, born February 4, 1788; he was great-grandfather of Mrs. Elizabeth (Gamble) Young, a member of Camden Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revolution. 3. William Riley, born February 4, 1790, died August 4, 1838. 4. Honor, born March 22, 1792, died March 30, 1819, aged twenty-seven years eight days. 5. Cyprian, born April 13, 1794, died May 26, 1819, aged twenty-five years one month thirteen days. 6. Olive, born March 1, 1796, died October 19, 1815, aged nineteen years seven months seventeen days. 7. Labra, born April 20, 1798, died March 17, 1863, aged sixty-five years ten months three days. 8. Lyman, born April 11, 1800, died March 21, 1852, aged fifty-one years nine months eleven days. 9. John Styles, born May 21, 1804, died September 2, 1879. 10. Chand- ler B., born June 18, 1806.

(IV) Warren, son of Noah and Honor (Rossiter) Preston, was born August 4, 1786, died June 25, 1837. He married Clara Pond ; children : Julius C., see forward; Junius, Gil- bert.

(V) Julius C., son of Warren Preston, was born at Camden. Oneida county, New York, April 20, 1806, died April 29, 1858, at Lander, Pennsylvania. He followed the occupation of farming, owning and conducting an extensive farm at Lander, upon which he resided all his active life. He was enterprising and progres- sive, and his influence for good was felt in the community. He attended the Congregational church, and was a Republican in politics. He

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married, January 18, 1831, Jane Jones, born in Utica, New York, 1810, died March 7, 1888. She was a member of the Congregational church. Children : 1. Lorenzo, born July 4, 1832, died March 3, 1889; married Julia Northrop; children : Clara, married Seymour A. Cramer; Homer, married Stella Knapp; Henrietta, married Edward Whiting. 2. Je- rome, see forward. 3. Emily Hannah, born December 30, 1844; educated in Jamestown Academy; member of First Baptist Church, and of Jamestown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; married, January 7, 1875, Alfred L. Jenks, born June 24, 1848; one son, Alfred Wilmer, born July 13, 1879, died unmarried, September 28, 1910.

Alfred L. Jenks, who is a resident of James- town, New York, and engaged in business in Buffalo, New York, is a son of Lafayette and Harriet Z. (Babcock) Jenks, and grand- son of Obadiah and Malintha (Mason) Jenks, who were the parents of seven children : Lafayette, Monroe, Obadiah, Lucinda, Ma- ria and Miranda (twins), and Malintha, Obadiah Jenks was a farmer by occupation, served in the war of 1812, and was an old-line Whig in politics. He removed from Schroon, New York, to the town of Poland, Chautau- qua county, New York. Lafayette Jenks was born December 30, 1818, died December 14, 1894. He married Harriet Z. Babcock, born June 3, 1831, died 1892, daughter of Abalina Babcock, and their children were: Alfred L., aforementioned; A. Frank, born March 4, 1850, attorney-at-law, Jamestown; Charles S., born September 13, 185-, deceased.

(VI) Jerome, son of Julius C. and Jane (Jones) Preston, was born January 28, 1834, died January 27, 1902. He was reared on his father's farm, educated in the schools of the neighborhood and Jamestown Academy, and at the early age of twenty years engaged in mercantile business on his own account, be- coming well and favorably known in trade cir- cles. He former a partnership with V. C. Clark, and they established a general country store in the village of Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, under the style of Clark & Preston, and for four years this connection continued, they being highly prosperous in their undertaking. Seeking a broader field for his operations he removed to Jamestown, New York, in 1869, and there spent the remainder of his days, being prominently identified with the business, political, religious and social cir-

cles of that thriving city. His first connection in Jamestown was with De Forest Weld, with whom as partner he opened one of the most extensive and best-equipped dry goods stores in Chautauqua county, which proved a highly remunerative undertaking. Being constantly alert to grasp all opportunities, and having a large faith in the future of Jamestown, he en- gaged in various branches of trade, and was a member of the firms of Preston, Harrington & Company, and Kent, Preston & Company. Jamestown was in close proximity enough to the Pennsylvania oil fields to feel the influence of the early excitement, and in 1862 Mr. Pres- ton, in conjunction with Louis Andrews, erected the first oil refinery in Jamestown, and for several years thereafter continued the re- fining of oil, in connection with his mercantile business. For many years Jamestown has been noted for its woolen mills, and during the lat- ter twenty-eight years of his life Mr. Preston was identified with that industry, having been one of the managers of the Jamestown Woolen Mills, which was conducted under the firm name of Allen, Preston & Company.

Early in life Mr. Preston began to take an active interest in political affairs, and upon attaining his majority was elected town clerk of the town of Busti. Later he served as trus- tee of the village of Jamestown, and was a member of its board of education for two years. He represented the town of Ellicott, in which Jamestown is located, in the board of supervisors of Chautauqua county. In 1871 he was called to higher honors, being elected a member of the assembly from the Second Chautauqua county district. This was a reform legislature, and among its members who be- came famous throughout the length and breadth of the country were Samuel J. Tilden and David B. Hill. Mr. Preston's course dur- ing his tenure of office in that body was such as to win the praise and commendation of his constituents, and one of the local papers, at the time of the adjournment of legislature, said: "Mr. Preston has taken a straightfor- ward, conscientious course at Albany, honor- able both to himself and the district." He dis- charged the duties of these various offices with fidelity and impartiality, and year by year he advanced in the public estimation.

During the greater part of his life Mr. Pres- ton was a communicant of the First Baptist Church, taking an active part in its affairs, believing that membership meant more than

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mere attendance and yearly contribution, and he fulfilled to the letter all his obligations. For more than thirty years he acted as secretary and treasurer of the church, and was an active factor in the work of the Sunday school, act- ing as superintendent for a third of a century. He was chosen the first president of the Young Men's Christian Association formed in James- town, and from its organization until his death was a director of the present association. This brief resume of Mr. Preston's many spheres of usefulness proved the broadness of his men- tal vision, and whether considered as employer, merchant, politician or churchman, he was ever found to be a man true to himself and true to his fellows.

Mr. Preston married, at Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, June 4, 1856, Hannah Broadhead, born September 26, 1833, died De- cember 19, 1908, daughter of Rev. John and Hannah (Hall) Broadhead. Children : I. Nel- lie Jane, born April 6, 1857; married Velona Wynant Haughwout, son of Rev. Peter B. Haughwout, of Fall River, Massachusetts, and they had one daughter, Helen P., wife of Will- iam E. Putnam Jr., of Brookline, Massachu- setts. 2. Clyde Walton, born December 3, 1858; married Nelle L. Parsons, daughter of Dr. A. B. Parsons ; they reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 3. Mary Eloise, born November 19, 1862, died July 9, 1864. 4. Ralph Julius, born May 27, 1865; married Elizabeth, daugh-

ter of Colonel William Thompson; children : William P., Jerome, Evelyn Warwick, Lewis Thompson; they reside in Redbank, New York. 5. Rose Bertha, born June 27, 1871.

Mrs. Hannah (Broadhead) Preston's father, Rev. John Broadhead, was born at Yorkshire, England, June 16, 1798, died at Busti, New York, in March, 1888. He emigrated to the United States and settled first in Busti, New York, from whence he removed to Durham and later to Jamestown, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was high- ly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He was an uncle of the late William Broadhead, one of the most prominent citizens of Jamestown during the greater part of his lifetime, aiding in its advancement and prog- ress. Rev. John Broadhead married (first) Hannah Hall, born in Yorkshire, England, 1800. Their children were: Sarah, Martha, Fletcher, Jabez, Mary, Hannah, aforemention- ed as the wife of Jerome Preston. He mar- ried (second) Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of Jonathan Cheney, and their children were: James, a resident of Busti, New York, and John. Hannah (Broadhead) Preston was edu- cated in the schools of Medina and Randolph, and in early life served in the capacity of school teacher. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, and was a woman of more than ordinary attainments.

PX 000 856 27L

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 93

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