History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches, Part 44

Author: Young, Andrew W. (Andrew White), 1802-1877; Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. fmo; Huntington Free Library. fmo
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Buffalo, N.Y. : Printing House of Matthews & Warren
Number of Pages: 948

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 44

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Augustin 7. Alleno

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commissioned as colonel of a regiment of state militia, with his brother Dascum as lieutenant-colonel, and subsequently attained to the rank of brig- adier-general. He took an active part in measures for the prosecution of the late war. He was appointed colonel of the 112th regiment of New York state volunteers, for the purpose of its organization, and for several months gave his personal attention to recruiting. Knowing his business talents, the people of Ellicott elected him supervisor at such times as he would accept the office, until his death, which occurred just before the expiration of his seventeenth term. In 1867, he was elected a member of the constitutional convention of that year, and bore an honorable part in its deliberations. In the fall of that year, though a republican, he accepted a nomination as an independent candidate for the state senate ; and by a division of the repub- lican vote, the democratic candidate was elected. In 1874, having become fully affiliated with the "liberal republicans," who were joined by the demo- crats in his support, he was elected a representative to Congress. His health had been failing ; and he was ill able to endure the strain of a hotly contested political struggle. His active participation in this contest, and the anxiety he felt for his family, [wife, son Alfred D., and his daughter Charlotte, Mrs. Black,] who had gone to Europe, partly on account of the poor health of the son and daughter, had a serious effect upon his health, which became more and more impaired, until his friends and physicians became alarmed. His brain became affected. This increased the alarm. His family in Europe were telegraphed ; and his wife and son started for home. They came too late to see him alive ; but the burial was deferred until after their arrival. He had been a member of the Presbyterian church for nearly forty years. Never, perhaps, has the death of a citizen of Jamestown been more gener- ally and deeply lamented.

DASCUM ALLEN, second son of Elisha Allen, was born in Wardsborough, Vt., September 5, 1817, and came with his father to Jamestown in 1817. As he was, during the most important part of his business life, associated with his elder brother, Augustus F. Allen, whose sketch has been given, the facts therein stated need not be repeated. Like his brother, he was pre- eminently a business man. His business operations did not cease with the dissolution of the copartnership. He continued actively and successfully the lumber business. He lumbered heavily upon the branches of the Allegany and the Connewango, marketing his lumber at Cincinnati, every spring and fall ; and, after a diligent and energetic prosecution of his business, he found himself in possession of an ample fortune, which, however, was somewhat impaired before his death. Says the writer of his obituary: "He had a big heart, and could not see a friend in trouble. His unbounded credit was al- ways at the service of his friends, whose bondsman he became, and whose papers he indorsed, whenever he could be made to believe that the necessity was urgent, and the party acted honestly and in good faith. He never re- quired collateral, nor took a dollar for the loan of his credit. The result was, that he paid upon liabilities by indorsements, for which he never

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received anything, over fifty thousand dollars !" He took a prominent part in building up Jamestown. Probably none of the citizens invested more in buildings, and in creating facilities for business of various kinds. He was married Nov. 14, 1839, to Susan W. Darling, by whom he had 4 children : Horace F., who resides in Jamestown; Mary Eveline, who died in infancy ; Florence A., wife of Charles W. Grant, at Oil City, Pa .; and Frank H.

HORACE ALLEN, a native of Lebanon, N. H., came from Otsego county, N. Y., in February, 1815, to Jamestown with his wife and one child, [Dana H.,] with an ox-team, and moved into one end of a story and a half house ; the other end being left in occupancy by William Forbes, superintendent of Prendergast's mills. The house was on the north-east corner of Main and Second streets, and was built by Forbes in 1812. In April, 1815, he bought of Forbes this house and lot, and the lot immediately east of it, on the west side of Pine street, for $200. The house was about 18 by 38 feet. It had a stone and stick-top chimney, which stood in the middle of the house. Forbes soon built for himself another house [a story and a half ] on the east side of Main street, on lot 8, next south of the tavern house then in pro- gress, afterwards known as the " Allen House." Allen attached to the build- ing an "L," extending north along Main street about 30 feet, for a dwelling house for himself, intending to use the old building for a store. But before the completion of the new part, he sold the lot and buildings to Nathan Cass, who finished the outside of the new part, and moved into it. Allen remained in the old part until he went into the saw-mill boarding-house, which stood a little south of First street, and north side of the race, oppo- site the west end of the Prendergast store, and which had been occupied by Nicholas Dolloff, who had just built a plank house on lots he had bought of Prendergast, including the spring on the east side of Spring street. Horace Allen continued to reside in Jamestown until September, 1816, when he re- moved to the farm he had bought on the Connewango. Nathan Cass sold the premises he had bought of Gen. Allen, to one William French Allen, a merchant from Massachusetts, whose wife was a sister of Laban Bates. The old part of the building was occupied by W. F. Allen as a store, and the new part as a dwelling house.

HENRY BAKER was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1797. At the age of about 17 years, he enlisted in the war of 1812 as a musician. Two or three years after the war he came to Ellicott, in this county, in which town he resided until his death, July 31, 1863. Among those who were active in developing the business capacities of Jamestown, Col. Baker was one of the most conspicuous. He was a man of clear perceptions, persistent energy, and sound judgment in business matters. In 1817 or 1818, he located himself at Fluvanna, quite a young man, of very limited education, and destitute of means. The first few years of his residence there were spent in shoe making and lumbering. In the spring of 1823, he was elected constable, and soon Efter came to Jamestown, and for some time carried on the shoe-making business. He was married, August 6, 1822, to Anna Keyes, the sister of

Horny Baker -1.2-

a. " Banett

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Royal Keyes, who died the next May. He still continued the lumbering business, then the leading industry of the place, and in which he was engaged to some extent during the remainder of his life. On the 3d of August, 1828, he was married to Maria Fish, a daughter of Cyrus Fish, an early settler. About the same time-perhaps a year or two earlier-he bought out the interest of Judiah E. Budlong in the mercantile firm of Bud- long, Barrett & Co .; the new firm consisting of Samuel Barrett, Samuel Bud- long, and Henry Baker-firm, Barrett, Baker & Co.

He also became interested in real estate. He purchased a block in that part of the village known as the "The Swamp," and erected what was, at that time, one of the best residences in the place. He purchased also a tract of land, south-west of Jamestown, to which he afterwards removed, and where he died. This, by subsequent additions and improvements, became one of the largest and best cultivated farms in southern Chautauqua. In 1836, he, with five associates, purchased the large and valuable real estate of James Prendergast in Jamestown. After a few years he became invested with the entire estate. This was thought to be a hazardous undertaking; but through his perseverance and the liberal course pursued toward him by Judge Pren- dergast and his son, proved a profitable investment. He took an active part in public affairs. He was several times supervisor of his town, and held vari- ous other trusts, which were faithfully discharged. He was for several years a member of the Presbyterian church. His widow still resides in Jamestown. They had 7 children : 1. Anna Maria, wife of Michael Hutton, Jamestown. 2. Richard H., who married Mary Winsor, Jamestown. 3. D. Augustus, Jamestown. 4. Mary Grace, wife of Wm. Breeden, lawyer, Santa Fe, New Mexico. 5. James T., Jamestown. 6. Charles, married, and resides in Jamestown. 7. Winfield Scott, who died at 18.

SAMUEL BARRETT was born in Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 29, 1792. At the age of 14, he went to Vermont ; and in 1816, he came to Jamestown, with Daniel Hazeltine. He was married at Wardsboro', Vt., Feb. 5, 1818, to Betsey Hunt, with whom he returned to Jamestown, and for a short time kept the tavern known as the Cass House, where the Jamestown House now stands, on the south-west corner of Main and Second streets. He was next engaged for several years in the lumbering business. He then bought the interest of Salmon Grout, a partner of Phineas Stevens, in the tanning busi- ness ; in which he was engaged, successively, with Mr. Stevens, and Gen. Leverett Barker, of Fredonia, who bought out Stevens, and whose brother, Wellford Barker, came and assisted in carrying on the business. He was also, for a number of years, in the mercantile business, in Jamestown, in partnership, at different times, with Samuel Budlong, Charles Butler, and Henry Baker. He was an early director of the Chautauqua County Bank ; and, after the resignation of Judge Foote, its first president, he was elected to that office, which he held until his death. He died at Jamestown, where his widow now resides. They had a large number of children, of whom only 6 attained to mature age : 1. Henry W., who married Electa Horton, of

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Ellery, who is deceased. He is a practicing physician, in Kansas. They had 3 children, Corinne, and Henry and Electa, twins. 2. Samuel H., who married, first, Maria L. Spencer, daughter of Rev. Eliphalet Spencer, and had by her 3 children, two of whom are living; married, second, Adelia Lake, who has no children living ; they reside in Waterville, Kan. 3. Wil- liam E., who married Laura Ann Wescott, and resides in New Jersey; has 4 daughters and a son. 4. Lucy E., wife of John H. White, New York. They have 4 children living, a son and 3 daughters. 5. Mary Evelyn, wife of Elial F. Hall, an attorney in the city of New York. 6. Sarah P., wife of Willard Harvey, son of Charles R. Harvey, both deceased, leaving three daughters.

ELIJAH BISHOP, son of Major Elijah Bishop, was born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1803 ; was married Aug. 16, 1830, to Amy Jenner, who was born Aug. 13, 1810. He came to Jamestown in October, 1829, but did not permanently settle here until the fall of 1832. He was by trade a millwright. The first smut machine in this region, he built for Judge Pren- dergast's custom mill, which was burned in the fall of 1833. In the winter following he built for Judge P. a new flouring and custom mill, which is now in operation. He introduced important improvements in water wheels and in the pitch of water, making a great saving of water, and in the manner of cleaning grain. He introduced many improvements in various machinery in Jamestown and vicinity, and built many steam and water mills in this county, and in several counties in Pennsylvania. In 1850 he went into trade ; and in the great fire of 1861 he was burned out. He rebuilt on the same ground, and holds the store building, for rent. He has had 12 children, of whom 7 survived the period of infancy. They are as follows : 1. Edwin L., who married Abbie Putnam ; has one child, and resides in New York. 2. Mmy Anna, who married, first, G. R. Allen ; second, .C. W. Scofield, and lives in New York. 3 .. Coleman Erskine, who married Hattie A. Benson ; has 3 children, and resides in Buffalo; and has been editor, successively, of the Jamestown Journal, the Oil City Derrick, of which he was the founder; and is at present editor of the Buffalo Express. 4. Prentice E., who served in the late war ; was wounded in the Gettysburg battle by a grape shot on Cemetery Hill, carried from the field and reached home, but died from the wound July 22, 1865. He enlisted as a private at 18, was promoted, to Ist lieutenant, and commanded a company when wounded. He was in 17 battles, and was hit three times before his fatal wound at Gettysburg. He was promoted while in Libby prison. 5. Ellen E., wife of P. H. Putnam ; they have 2 children, and live in Chicago. 6. Charles L., who lives with his parents in Jamestown. 7. Fred C., who died at 14.

SAMUEL A. BROWN, son of Col. Daniel Brown and Anna (Phelps) Brown, was born Feb. 20, 1795. Two of his brothers, older than himself, were graduates of Yale College, Daniel B. subsequently a distinguished lawyer at Batavia, N. Y., and Henry, a lawyer at Springfield, N. Y., and afterwards first judge of Otsego Co., who also removed to Batavia, and thence to Chi-

B. Bishop

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cago, where he died of cholera in 1849. Daniel B. died at Batavia in 1842. Samuel, in addition to a good common school education, acquired some knowledge of the Latin language and of surveying., He studied law about three years in the law office of his brother Henry in Springfield, and in Oct., 1816, he came west on horseback, and located at Jamestown in November. He was in the same month admitted as an attorney in the county court, and in 1818 in the supreme court. In 1828, he was appointed by the judges district-attorney, and held the office by reappointments for ten years,, In the same year, he became agent of the Cherry Valley Land Company, for the sale of about 40,000 acres of land in the eastern part of this county. He was president of the village, a director and attorney of the Chautauqua County Bank, and took an active part in obtaining the incorporation of the Jamestown academy and the erection of the building. He served as trustee of the institution from its organization, and, after the removal of Judge Foote from the county, as president of the board of trustees until his death. . He was a member of assembly in 1827, and again in 1845. From #840 he held, by successive elections, the office of superintendent of the poor of the coun- ty, for five years ; and from Jan., 1851, he was for 3 years special surrogate of the county. In 1834, he united with the Presbyterian church of James- town ; and in 1849 was elected one of its ruling elders, which office he held until his death. About the year 1840, he became a life member of the Chautauqua County Bible Society, and also, it is believed, of other benevo- lent societies. He did not join the county temperance society in its, organiza- tion, but subsequently did so, and became an efficient advocate and liberal supporter of the cause. Mr. B., during his professional practice, had as partners, Richard P. Marvin, George W. Tew, and, in turn,his sons, Charles, Theodore, and Levant. He died June 7, 1863, aged 68 His wife, Pru- dence Olivia (Cotes) Brown, died Aug. 31, 1862, aged 63 years, 6 months. They were married March 7, 1819. For the want of a house to-be hired or of a suitable place to board, they commenced housekeeping in the rear room of his law office, in size 14 by 16, which was their kitchen, parlor, pantry and bedroom. With an outdoor fire by the side of a large pine stump in the rear of his office building, having a board roof over it, she did their cooking and washing without a hired maid, and boarded a part of the hands while erecting their dwelling house, an honorable though a rare experience among pioneer lawyers'. wives in any country. They had 6 children : 1. Charles C., who married Eliza Jane Hoskins, and died in 1847, aged 26 years; left 2 children, Charles O., now in the general land-office, at Washington ; and a daughter, Evelyn, deceased. 2. Levant B., who married Florinda M. Barrett, and had a daughter, Flora, not living. He was a lawyer, and died in James- town, 1875. 3. Theodore, who married Almena E. Knowlton, of Westfield ; was a partner in law with Levant in Jamestown; had a son, Theodore K., who died at 12 ; and a daughter, Eva, who died at 5 ; neither of whom was ever able to walk. 4. Henry E., who married Helen Sprague, and has a son, Charles, living, and a daughter who died in infancy. 5. Margaret P.,

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wife of Salathiel Batcheller; who had 4 children, of whom a daughter, Eva, and a son, Levant, are living. Family resides in Victor, Iowa. 6. John T., who married Samantha C. Neff, and had 4 children ; 2 are living, Samuel and Louis.

MADISON BURNELL, son of Hon. Joel Burnell, was born February ro, 1812, in Charlotte, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where his parents had previ- ously settled. He was the second of 11 children, 6 sons and 5 daughters. His childhood and youth were spent on the farm, and he shared in the toil of changing the wilderness into cultivated fields. His father possessed a bril- liant intellect, and was a great reader. His mother possessed a superior judgment. It was at his home where the intellect of Madison received its inspiration to thought and independent action. His few school books were easily mastered, and the miscellaneous reading about the house was easily devoured. At Fredonia academy he spent half a term, and a term at Mid- dlebury academy, Genesee, now Wyoming county. In his sixteenth year, he taught a district school in Hanover; while he was eagerly reading Black- stone's Commentaries and other law books. Cases tried before his father had familiarized his mind with court proceedings. He early conducted a prose- cution against a thief for sheep stealing with such skill and ingenuity as to obtain a verdict from the entire community, that the boy was "cut out" to be a lawyer. He soon after entered the law office of Richard P. Marvin and Emory F. Warren, of Jamestown, as a law student. He made rapid advance- ment in legal knowledge, and derived pleasure as well as profit from the study of law. . His profound knowledge of the fundamental elements of daw, became, in after years, the fortress of his strength. He once saved a creditor some $8,000, by acting upon what he thought the law ought to be, while his opponent acted upon what he supposed the law was. He spent several years with Judge Marvin, and made no haste to gain an early ad- mission to the bar. He was admitted about the year 1838, and at once en- tered into partnership with his preceptors. The firm of Marvin & Burnell is said to have done most of the heavy law business of the place. Mr. Bur- nell was a member of assembly in 1846 and 1847. The session of 1847 was the first after the adoption of the new constitution; and he was chairman of the judiciary committee. In this position he did the state great service in adjusting the statutes to the new constitution.

When Mr. Marvin was elevated to the Bench, Mr. Burnell continued the business of the office, and entered the field more largely as an advocate; and it was generally conceded that he had few if any superiors in this part of the state. Amidst the excitements of a legal contest, as well as in social inter- course, he was the same true and honest man, despising deception and trick- ishness. He had a deep insight into human nature; and he became an arch detector along the devious paths of crime. A chain broken into numerous fragments, if he got hold of one link, he would be sure to find the others and reunite them into a perfect whole. His logical acuteness gave him great influence in court. These qualities, combined with extraordinary energy and perseverance, gave to Mr. Burnell his preeminence as a lawyer.

Madien Bumell

Derrell Coole

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JAMESTOWN.

In 1840, he was married to Sarah Spurr, who still survives him. To them were born three children: Valissa, Melverton, and Ella. Melverton died in 1864, of quick consumption. Ella was married to Dr. Charles Hazeltine in 1867, and died in 1873, leaving two children. Valissa, now Mrs. J. S. Cook, resides at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is the mother of four children. On the 7th of December, 1865, Mr. Burnell was returning from Buffalo, in poor health, having for some years been afflicted with disease of the kidneys, and stopped over night at his mother's in Charlotte. The next day he took din- ner at his sister's [Mrs. H. H. Moore] in Sinclairville. On the evening of that day, he fell in the street, a few feet from the front door of his house, and breathed no more.

During the latter part of his life, he had been wading through doubts on the subject of religion, and especially the problem of a life to come. There is probably but one person living, to whom he was accustomed to express himself fully on these great subjects. It was certain that he was longing for the rest which the faith of his fathers and of his own childhood alone could give.

WOODLEY W. CHANDLER, a native of Virginia, was born Feb. 14, 1800. After a short residence, successively, in Tennessee, New Orleans, and Cin- cinnati, he came to Dexterville in 182 -. He was married to Phebe, daughter of Abraham Winsor, and settled on the Connewango, and removed thence to Jamestown in 1826, where, in company with his brother-in-law, John W. Win- sor, he bought of Abm. Winsor a part of the tract of land previously owned by Judge Foote. They built on the outlet a carding and cloth-dressing estab- lishment, where is now the woolen factory of Allen, Preston & Co. Mr. Chandler was also, at the same time, engaged in the lumbering business. He afterwards removed to Levant, on the farm where he died, April 22, 1854. He had 5 children: 1. Martin S., who married Fanny Caldwell, and resides at Red Wing, Minn. He has been elected to the office of sheriff of the county of Goodhue for nine successive terms of 2 years, which office he still holds. He has a daughter, who married Isaac Kellogg, a druggist of Red Wing. 2. Nancy S., wife of Wm. T. Clark. They reside near Levant, and have a son, James P., and a daughter, Anna L. 3. Winsor A., who married Matilda Dellon, and died at Erie, Pa., where she resides. 4. John W., who resides at Washington, D. C., where he is employed in government business. He was married to Grace M. Hatch, who is deceased; he has a son. 5. Williamson B., who started from New York, by water, for California in 1863, and has not since been heard from. He had served in the late war ; was taken prisoner while sick, exchanged, and brought to Jersey City hospital, and discharged on account of disability.

ORSELL COOK, son of Benjamin Cook, was born in Wells, Rutland Co., . Vt., February 23, 1809. He came to Busti, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1830. In 1833, he commenced the study of law with Hon. Richard P. Marvin, in Jamestown ; and was subsequently admitted to practice. He was appointed by Gov. Bouck, by the consent of the senate, surrogate of

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Chautauqua county, in which office he served three years from January, 1844. He was elected county judge in 1862, which office he held from January I, 1863, to January 1, 1867; and by reelection, for a second term of four years. He continues the practice of law at Jamestown, associated with C. R. Lock- wood. He was married, in 1839, to Ann M. Tew, by whom he had 3 chil- dren : Mariett, wife of John T. Wilson ; Florence A., wife of Henry Price ; and Celestia P., wife of Charles A. Breed-all residing in Jamestown. Judge Cook married, for his second wife, in.1849, Eliza L. Reed, of Jamestown ; they have one child, Willie O.

REUBEN E. FENTON, youngest son of George W. Fenton, was born in Carroll, Chautauqua Co., July 4, 1819. His primary education was received in a pioneer school in his native town. At the age of about 15, he was placed in Cary's academy, 6 miles north of Cincinnati, and, after a term of two years, returned, and completed his educational course, in a term at the Fredonia academy. He was about two years a student in the law-office of the brothers Waite, in Jamestown. Ill health having compelled him to give up his studies, he embarked in the lumber trade along the Allegany and Ohio rivers, in which he was successful. From 1846 to 1852, inclusive- seven years-he was elected supervisor of Carroll. In 1852 he was elected to Congress. Two years later, he was defeated by Francis S. Edwards, the candidate of the American party, generally known as the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Fenton was a democrat when elected in 1852; but being opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska bill, a leading measure of his party, he voted against that bill, and thenceforth cooperated with the republican party. In 1856, he was again elected to Congress, and reelected in 1858, 1860, and 1862-making an aggregate period of service of ten years. In 1864, he was nominated for governor, his opponent being Horatio Seymour, then governor of the state. He was elected; and was reelected in 1866. In 1869, he was elected by the legislature of the state for the office of senator of the United States, which office expired with the 3d of March, 1875.

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