USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of western New York; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume III > Part 7
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He married (first) Polly Smith, of Chau- tauqua county, New York, who lived about ten years after her marriage. He married (second) Hannah, a sister of his first wife. Children by first marriage: I. George W., died 1877; was a merchant in Buffalo. 2. May Matilda, died in Minnesota, in 1876. 3. William J., of whom further. 4. Marcus D., lived in Chautauqua county. Children of sec- ond marriage: 5. Lewis, settled in Iowa. 6. Eliza, married David Pugsley and moved to Iowa. 7. Maryette, married James McClure, and lived in Colden. 8. Amanda, married
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Elias Gould, and lived in Colden. 9. Ange- rona, married Merritt Pugsley, and moved to Wisconsin. IO. Delos A., moved to Iowa. II. Abraham, resided in the town of Con- cord. 12. Oliver, lived in Ashford. 13. Da- vid E., resided in Concord, Erie county. 14. Henry, lives in Concord.
(II) William J., son of Phineas and Polly (Smith) Scott, was born in Concord, Erie county, New York, August 2, 1824. He was reared to farm labor and worked for dif- ferent farmers during his earlier life. He later rented farms in different localities, which he cultivated with success. Finally, in 1852, he bought a farm on Townsend Hill, where he lived until 1876, when he moved to Chau- tauqua county, where he operated a cheese factory. He then located in the village of Springville, where he has since lived retired.
He married, in 1850, Hannah Parsell, born July 7, 1829, died March 8, 1908. Children : I. Mary, born October 28, 1851 ; married (first) Charles F. Williams, born February 6, 1849, died February 7, 1897; they lived in Chautauqua county : child, Grace, born Sep- tember 10, 1878: married, January 4, 1899. I. William Smith, of Buffalo, New York ; Mrs. Charles F. Williams married (second) December 10, 1908, Harry Foote, born March 22, 1832. 2. Albert, died at the age of eight years. 3. Dennis, married Rachel Rittman, of Hamburg, Erie county ; moved to Chat- tauqua county, in 1876, where he died. 4. Edwin A., of whom further.
(III) Edwin A., youngest son of William J. and Hannah (Parsell) Scott, was born on the Townsend Hill farm, Concord, Erie county, New York, December 26, 1858. He obtained his education in the academies of Hamburg, Forestville and Springville, and decided upon the profession of law at an early age. All during his youth he read and studied such text books as he could command. When the railroad was being built through the town, he drove a team and aided in its construction, and during this period he de- voted his spare time to the study of law in the office of C. C. Severence. of Springville. New York, where he pursued a systematic course, becoming thoroughly versed in the le- gal procedure, passing the required exami- nation in Buffalo, being admitted to the bar in June, 1881. He, however, did not begin practice immediately, but for the three years following, until 1884, he acted as clerk in a
general store in Hamlet, New York. In that year he became associated with the Hon. Dan- iel Sherman, the well known surrogate and Indian agent, firm of Sherman & Scott. This continued three years, when it was dissolved. In 1887 he located in Springville, where he practiced his profession alone and then formed a partnership with former Judge Al- lan D. Scott, the firm becoming Scott & Scott, and established a branch office in Buf- falo which continued three years, when Judge Scott died. In 1902 Ottamar Hammett began study in his office and in 1909 was admitted a partner. This continued until 1912, when Mr. Hammett retired and Manley E. King, who had studied under Mr. Scott, became his partner, the firm being changed again, becoming Scott & King, which it is at the present time. Mr. Scott is a skillful lawyer, sound in argument and thoroughly learned in legal procedure. He holds the confidence of his clients and the respect of his legal breth- ren. The most of Mr. Scott's work is estate and surrogate matters. He controls a satis- factory clientage and is one of the strong men of his town. He is an attendant of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and in poli- tics is a Republican.
He married (first) September 7, 1879, Mary E., born 1859, daughter of Charles and Susan ( West) Stowell, of Cattaraugus county. He married (second) Lucy, daugh- ter of Henry and Sarah (Vail) Kerr, and granddaughter of T. J. Kerr. Child of first wife: Bessie J., born December 19, 1881 ; married, August 19, 1908, James H. Gray ; two children: Scott Byron, born June 9, 1909, and James H. Jr .. November 30, 1910. Child of second wife: Virginia Kerr, born August 26, 1909.
Rev. Asahel Holcomb, the HOLCOMB first member of this family of whom we have definite information, was a Baptist minister in Greene and Chemung counties, New York. He mar- ried Phoebe Sweet. Children: John, referred to below ; Seymour ; and a number of daugli- ters.
(II) John, son of the Rev. Asahel and Phoebe (Sweet ) Holcomb, was born in 1812, died in 1880. He studied medicine, but his life occupation was farming. He was also a captain in the militia. He married Abigail
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Cummings. Children: Chandler L., married Lucy Morse; John C., married (first ) Erze- lia Faye, and ( second) Florence Taylor ; Asa- hel, referred to below ; Laura, married George Wood; Levi, married Cordelia Winship; Al- ice, married James Wood; Edwin, married Nancy Foote: Emma, died at the age of twenty; Carlton H., married (first) Sarah Absom, and (second) Mary Norton.
(III) Asahel (2), son of John and Abigail (Cummings) Holcomb, was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1840. In 1843 the family removed to Annin Creek, McKean county, Pennsylvania. Here he was brought up on a farm; beside farming he learned the trade of stonecutter and became a stonema- son. In July, 1864, he enlisted in Company C. Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was attached to the Fifth and Ninth Army Corps, and was in the battles of Fort Steadman, Petersburg and Chapin Farm. An eloquent proof of the reality of war, as seen by this regiment, is afforded by the fact that they went out thirteen hundred strong, but only three hundred came back for discharge in July, 1865. After the war he went to farm- ing, and in 1879 moved to Portville, Catta- raugus county, New York. Seven years la- ter he removed to Franklinville, Cattaraugus county, New York, where he followed the trade of a stonemason. A few years ago he retired from active life. He is a member of the Baptist church. In politics he is an ar- dent Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Franklin- ville. He held the offices of school director and highway commissioner of Franklinville.
He married (first) in 1861, Cornelia, born in 1840, died in 1887, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Clendenon) Chevalier. Her father came from one of the French cantons in Switzerland. He married (second) Mary Hall. Children, all by first marriage : I. Henry C., referred to below. 2. Julian, born in 1863. died in 1896. 3. Alice S., born in 1866, died in 1896: married James Greer. 4. Hector L., born in 1868. died in 1883. 5. Ella, born in 1869: married Bela Wood ; children : Lillian. Archibald, Rowena. 6. Rob- ert, born in 1871; married Edith Beebe ; children : Leana, Harold, Harriet. 7. Ethel, born in 1873; married Fred Holly ; child, Faye, died at the age of fourteen. 8. Archie, born in 1875 ; married Amelia Evans.
9. Frank, born in 1877 ; married Alberta Win- ship ; child, Percy. 10. Mildred, born in 1883 ; married Claire Norton ; lives at Turtlepoint, Mckean county, Pennsylvania ; has six chil- dren. II. Mary, died at the age of five years. 12. Frederick, died at the age of two years.
(IV) Henry C., son of Asahel (2) and Cornelia (Chevalier) Holcomb, was born in the township of Ceres, Mckean county, Penn- sylvania, December 23, 1861. He attended public school and the Rochester Business Uni- versity. In 1879 his family moved to Port- ville, and he worked on the farm until he was twenty years of age. His first business ex- perience was in lumber ; after this he learned, in a store, the mercantile life, which he fol- lowed until 1903. In that year he was ap- pointed by President Roosevelt to the post- mastership of Portville, reappointed in 1907, and again reappointed in 1911. Other offices which he has held are justice of the peace. 1893 to 1898; supervisor, 1900 to 1906; and for the past twelve years clerk of the board of education, which he is at the present time. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics ; fraternally he is a member of Portville Lodge, No. 579, F. and A. M. ; Chapter No. 150, of the Olean I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 779; and the K. O. T. M., Lodge No. 42.
He married, July 7, 1892, Mattie, born De- cember 17, 1861, daughter of Matthew and Hannah (Burt) McDowell. Her father came from Ireland, and was a farmer at Burtville, Potter county, Pennsylvania. There were nine children in this family. Children of Henry C. and Mattie (McDowell) Holcomb : Neil, born May 7, 1893, died January 8, 1907 ; Marion A., born March 14, 1899.
This family was for KRONENBERG many generations seated at Lucerne, Switzerland, where Joseph Kronenberg, the American an- cestor, was born. He was a grandson of Cas- par Kronenberg, born November 14, 1745, died June 28, 1821 ; married Regina Bock- man, born April 3, 1752, died April 14, 1821. Children: Caspar and others.
(II) Caspar (2), son of Caspar (I) and Regina (Bockman) Kronenberg, was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, June 14, 1789, died there September 20, 1822. He married Marie Arnold, who died in 1825. Children. I. Ma- rie, born March 7, 1810, died December 24,
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1864; married Le Dolf, and had six children, one of whom came to the United States in 1873. 2. Nicol, born September 9, 1812, died March 17, 1890; he married six wives and had a son Nicol, born March 30, 1845, died June 12, 1902; twice married and had three chilldren. 3. Caspar D., born Janu- ary 14, 1814; came to the United States in 1848, died in Hamburg, New York; mar- ried and had a son Dominick Henry, born March 15, 1842, died November 12, 1889. 4. Regina Cecelia, born July 16, 1816, died July 16, 1867; married L. Stiners, and had two children; one, Anna, lived at Niagara Falls. 5. Elizabeth, born July 5, 1818, died April 12, 1881 ; married Brondley ; eight children. 6. Joseph, of whom further.
(III) Joseph, youngest child of Caspar (2) and Marie (Arnold) Kronenberg, was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, November 19, 1820, died in Hamburg, Erie county, New York, December 14, 1898. His mother died when he was two years of age and his childhood was spent with adopted parents who lived at Minster, Switzerland. He was sent to school and taught the tinner's trade. In 1847 he came to the United States, locating at Buffalo, New York, where he followed his trade. In 1849 he married and the same year settled in Hamburg. He began business in a small way, prospered and continued until 1882, when his shops and store were destroyed by fire. He at once rebuilt and resumed business, continuing until 1884, when he sold to the present hardware firm of Fish & Kron- enberg. In 1878 he took a much needed vaca- tion, went abroad and visited his old home in Switzerland, revisiting the scenes of his boyhood and early manhood. Mr. Kronenberg was a man of great energy and good business ability. He was public-spirited and helpful, holding the respect and confidence of his townsmen. He was a Democrat in politics, but business was his ruling ambition and he took little part in public affairs. He lived a retired life from the sale of his business in 1884 until his death in 1898. He married, in 1849, Fanny Jurich, born in Switzerland, near the home of her husband, died November 26, 1866. Children, all born in Hamburg, New York : I. Louise, married Frank J. Fink, and resides in Hamburg, New York. 2. Fanny, died 1905; married George H. Si- mon, of Buffalo, New York. 3. John L., married Emma Folks; resides in Buffalo. 4.
William, of whom further. 5. Joseph, mar- ried Katherine - and settled in Spokane, Washington. 6. Emma, married H. P. Tucker, M. D., a practicing physician of Chi- cago, Illinois. 7. George G., resides in Tampa, Florida. 8. Sophia, married Henry Hofer ; resides in Chicago.
(IV) William, fourth child and second son of Joseph and Fanny (Jurich) Kronen- berg, was born in Hamburg, Erie county, New York, January 2, 1856. He was edu- cated in the Hamburg public schools, leaving high school in 1870. He began business for himself in 1871, his first employment being with a farmer. In 1872 he began working at the tinner's trade under the instruction of his father. He became an expert workman and continued in his father's employ and prac- tically manager of the business until January I, 1884, when he formed a partnership with Newton C. Fish, purchased his father's plant and business, which has since been operated under the firm name Fish & Kronenberg. The firm soon doubled their store capacity by the erection of new buildings and have since successfully operated a general hardware business including tinning, plumbing, steam fitting, stoves and furnaces. Mr. Kronen- berg was actively engaged in the business un- til 1901, when failing health caused by strict confinement inside compelled his retirement. He has not been actively connected with the firm since that date, but retains his original financial interest. In 1901 he, at their earnest solicitation, formed a connection with the United Natural Gas Company, engaged in the construction of pipe lines and leasing of gas lands. This company has been promi- nent in gas operations and has contracted sev- eral of the most important pipe lines in the country. In 1902 they laid a twelve-inch pipe line extending from Bradford, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo, New York. In 1903-04 laid some of the most important of the West Virginia lines. In the fall of 1904 the company se- cured from the Standard Oil Company the contract for lowering and constructing a line from the Indian Territory oil field to the com- pany's immense plant at Bayonne, New Jer- sey, at tide water, a total distance of one thou- sand six hundred and twenty miles. The work kept from twelve hundred to two thou- sand men employed until its successful com- pletion in the spring of 1906.
During this entire time, Mr. Kronenberg
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had under his immediate supervision from eight hundred to twelve hundred men, com- posed of nearly every nationality. Not only did he employ these men, making out his own payrolls, and paying each man individually in cash himself, his payrolls running from $20,000 to $30,000 per month, but in addition to this, he boarded and lodged the entire num- ber. The rare ability which it was necessary to display to deal with so large a number of men of different nationalities is almost incon- ceivable, and yet so well did he do this that he won the friendship of nearly every man em- ployed by him, and when he had finished the work, a gala was inaugurated, and upon this occasion he was presented by his employees with a magnificent diamond ring as a token of their esteem and appreciation.
He has always taken a very active part in everything connected with the development of Hamburg, and has been largely interested in The Hamburg Canning Company, of which he has been president the last eight years, and is still serving in this capacity. He is also one of the directors of the Bank of Ham- burg. In addition to his other enterprises, he has also taken an active part in real estate matters, and has built for rent and sale twen- ty-eight houses in the town of Hamburg.
In 1906 he retired from all active partici- pation in business of any kind, although he still acts as president of The Hamburg Can- ning Company, and director of bank. 1908 and 1909 he spent in travel, visiting Europe and the scenes of his father's early life, spend- ing the year abroad. The following year he toured the northwest, visiting Seattle, Yellow- stone Park and other points of unusual inter- est. He is a Democrat in politics, and in 1909 was elected supervisor representing Hamburg. He has since served in this capacity as a credit to the town and with honor to himself. He is a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Hamburg Lodge, No. 625, Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Salamanca Chapter, No. 266, Royal Arch Masons; Buffalo Commandery, No. 62, Knights Templar, and Ismailia Tem- ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds the thirty-two degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, belonging to Buffalo Consistory. He is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married Louise, born in Hamburg, daughter of George M. and Harriet (De Wight) Pierce. Children: I. Harriet, born
August 12, 1883, died 1884. 2. Charles B., born February 15, 1885; member of Fish & Kronenberg, hardware merchants, Hamburg, New York; married Ethel Crooker and has Helene, born December 29, 1911. 3. William H., born February 25, 1893.
LAKIN The Lakin family of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, is one of the early representative families of the country, among whom have been found many persons prominent in politi- cal and public affairs, and many intermar- riages with other leading families of the times. The Lakins are of old Massachusetts stock, who later moved to the state of Ver- mont, and then to Chautauqua county, New York.
(I) Luther Lakin died at Sherman, New York, July 15, 1864. He married, in 1825, at Livonia, New York, Theodosia, born Novem- ber 20, 1788, daughter of Ephraim and Ruth Lawrence. She died in December, 1869. Children : 1. Henry O., of whom further. 2. Edward L., born July 2, 1832, at Ashville, New York ; married (first), at Sheridan, New York. January 9, 1856, Mary P. Robinson ; married (second), at Sherman, New York, January 10, 1859, Martha E. Miller, and had two children: Allena M., born December 9, 1859 ; and Mary S., born September 7, 1861. Edward L. Lakin was a prominent physician, practicing his profession in Sherman, and later on became a prominent druggist in Jamestown.
(II) Henry O., son of Luther and Theo- dosia (Lawrence) Lakin, was born at West- field, New York, September 30, 1826, died July 17, 1884. He was educated at Mayville, Westfield, and Meadville, Pennsylvania, grad- uating from college at the latter place. He then studied law with Judge Lewis, of Pana- ma, and began practice in that place with John H. Pray. Coming to Jamestown in 1859, he formed a partnership with John F. Smith, which continued until 1861, when he went into partnership with H. C. Hubbell, and afterwards with Judge J. L. Ingersoll. At the dissolution of the firm Mr. Lakin re- mained alone, until in 1877 he associated him- self with Frank E. Session, admitting E. Woodbury into the partnership during the same year. In 1864 Mr. Lakin was state librarian of the legislature at Albany, New York, and upon the death of Theodore F.
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Brown, in 1866, he was appointed by Gov- ernor R. E. Fenton, surrogate of Chautauqua county for the remainder of the term, being elected also for the succeeding term. In 188I he was appointed county judge, by Gov- ernor Cornell, in place of Judge Grosvenor, deceased ; and filled the office for the remain- der of that year and the year following. At the annual meeting, in January, 1883, of the First National Bank of Corry, Pennsylvania, he was elected president of that institution, holding the office until failing health com- pelled him in June, 1884. to tender his resig- nation. Judge Lakin was held in high esteem not only because of his legal ability, but for his upright and honorable life. He was a member and one of the trustees of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, a member of the Chau- tauqua Council of the Royal Arcanum, and of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. His death, July 17, 1884, was- a great loss to the community ; he was buried in Lakeview cemetery. Jamestown, New York.
Judge Lakin married, June 10, 1850, at Panama, New York, Elizabeth Steward, born at Panama, July 20, 1826, died April 6, 1911, daughter of John and Eunice (Wilcocks) Steward. One child, Luther Steward, of whom further.
( III) Luther Steward, only child of Henry O. and Elizabeth (Steward) Lakin, was born at Panama, New York, May 10, 1852. He was educated at Jamestown Academy. Fred- erick Normal, and Poughkeepsie Military Academy, followed by a commercial and busi- ness course at Buffalo, New York. His early life was passed in Jamestown, New York, and he began his business career as a clerk in a store : after this he conducted a grocery en- terprise for about five years, discontinuing for the manufacture of furniture, lounges, tables, etc., and embarking upon various other manu- facturing enterprises. He has been extensively engaged in lumbering in Elk and Forest coun- ties, Pennsylvania, and in other places, and for the past several years he has interested himself in real estate in Jamestown. He is very active in politics in his city, being a prominent member of the Republican party, and has served as alderman and in other offi- cial capacities. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mr. Lakin married, at Jamestown, January 26, 1876, Ellen Eliza, born at Sugar Grove. May 10, 1853, daughter of Jeremiah and
Sarah C. (Jackson) Andrews. Mrs. Lakin is a woman of exceptional education, having graduated at the Jamestown high school, af- terwards taking up the study of languages with a private tutor at Buffalo; for over fif- teen years she taught languages and other branches in the Jamestown high school. She takes a very active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she is a member, and belongs to the Clotho Society of that body. She is also a member of the Browning and Avon clubs, and of the Attic Circle, Y. W. C. A., Y. M. C. A. and C. L. S. C. work. Mr. and Mrs. Lakin have two sons : I. Henry J., born April 14, 1877 ; he received a good education in the schools of Jamestown and Batavia, New York, and though heavily handicapped by poor eyesight, has good busi- ness ability, assisting his brother, who is coun- ty clerk. He is a Republican in politics, and at- tends the Methodist Episcopal church ; he re- sides at home and is unmarried. 2. Luther S. Jr., born August 27, 1878; he was educated at the Jamestown high school, taking up the study of law at Buffalo University and at Albany University. He read law early in life with the Hon. John G. Wicks, and at the age of twenty-one entered political circles ; when twenty-three years of age he was elected supervisor of the third and sixth wards of Jamestown, being reelected, and serving in all four terms, when he resigned, owing to his election as county clerk in November, 1909, the position which he now holds. He also served as game warden of Chautauqua county. Mr. Lakin is a member of the following so- cieties : I. O. O. F., O. O. O., K. O. T. M .. and Eagles ; he is a Republican in his political con- victions ; he resides at home, being unmarried.
(The Lawrence Line).
This name is now almost universally writ- ten Lawrence, and not Laurence or Lawrance, as was formerly the case: the derivation of the name is from the latin word, Laurus, Lau- rentius, and the signification is, "flourishing like a bay tree." The lineal ancestry of this stock of Lawrences in America, numerous in New England and other parts of this country, has been very satisfactorily ascertained. As traced and determined, it originates in and is derived from one Robert Lawrence, of Lan- cashire, England, born probably as early as A. D. 1150, and the ancestor of the earliest families of the name in England. Attending
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his sovereign, Richard Cœur de Lion, in the Wars of the Crusades, he distinguished him- self in the Siege of Acre, and was knighted "Sir Robert of Ashton Hall," obtaining for his arms, "Argent, a cross raguly gules," A. D. 1191 : "raguly," or "raguled," indicating a tree from which the branches have been rudely lopped. The immediate successor of Sir Robert, of Ashton Hall, was his son, Sir Robert, who was succeeded in his turn by his son, James Lawrence, who, it is said, married, in 1252, Matilda de Washington, an heiress, daughter of John de Washington ; a son by this marriage, John Lawrence, succeeded James of Ashton Hall, and is said to have been living in the thirty-seventh year of Henry III. Respecting the names "Lawrence" and "Washington," it may be noted that Lawrence Washington, a brother of the first president of the United States, was one of the earliest proprietors of Mount Vernon. John Law- rence was succeeded by his son, of the same name ; in the sixth generation we have another Sir Robert, whose third son, William, fought under the Lancastrian banner at St. Alban's, in 1455, and having fallen there, was buried in the Abbey ; in the seventh generation, an- other Sir Robert, whose grandson, John Law- rence, commanded a wing of the English army under Lord Stanley, in the battle of Flodden Field ; and so on down through the genera- tions to the sixteenth, when we come to Henry Lawrence, of Wisset. the father of John Lawrence, who came to America.
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