USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 21
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At a special meeting of the Board of Super- visors the work of dividing the county into two Assembly districts was completed as fol- lows: First District, population 49,001 ; Ark- wright, Busti, Carroll, Charlotte, Cherry Creek, Ellery, Ellicott, Ellington, Gerry, Harmony, Jamestown, Kiantone, Poland, Stockton and Villenova. Second District, population 47,825 ; Chautauqua, Clymer, Dunkirk (town and city ), French Creek, Hanover, Mina, Pomfret, Port- land, Ripley, Sheridan, Sherman and Westfield.
Fire at an early hour of the morning of Sep- tember I, 1907, devastated a thickly settled square in the village of Lakewood.
The county returned the usual Republican majorities in the November elections of 1907, the county officials all being reelected. In Ellington, Charles J. Main, Prohibitionist, was elected supervisor over William Anderson, the Republican nominee. The uncalled-for criti- cism of Theodore A. Case, chairman of the Board of Supervisors and his consequent re- fusal to accept the nomination again, contribut- ing largely to that result. Augustus F. Allen and Charles R. Hamilton were reelected as- semblymen from the First and Second Dis- tricts.
Crawford Stearns, a pioneer resident of the county, born in Arkwright in 1830, son of Ben- jamin Stearns, and father of former State Tax Commissioner Lester F. Stearns, died in For- estville, November 28, 1907. Benjamin Stearns moved from Vermont to Chautauqua county during the first decade of its existence and settled on land now within the limits Dunkirk.
Orin Braley, of Kiantone, an octogenarian and a lifelong resident of the same section, dropped suddenly dead in his barn, April 20, 1908. His father, Elisha Braley, came to that section of the county from Vermont in ISII.
Portage Inn, Westfield's new hotel, built by former Sheriff John C. Jones, was formally opened April 28, 1908, with a banquet given by the Business Men's Association in recogni- tion of the enterprise shown by Mr. Jones in giving Westfield a new and modern hotel.
The Chautauqua County Board of Super- visors met September 28 and organized. Wil- liam S. Stearns, of Pomfret, was elected chair- man ; A. B. Sheldon, chairman pro tem .; J. A. McGinnies, clerk ; Louis Mckinstry, assistant clerk ; J. A. Clary, journal clerk. The increased assessed value of land in the county increased over 1907, $1,699,198.
James S. Sherman, Republican candidate for Vice-President, spoke in Jamestown on the evening of October 15, and was given an en-
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
thusiastic welcome. Governor Hughes, a can- didate for reelection, spoke in the same city, October 30, on his second visit to Chautauqua county during the campaign. Judge Alton B. Parker spoke for the Democracy, October 31, 1908. William H. Taft, the Republican candi . date for President, spoke at Dunkirk from the rear platform of his car, November 2.
The entire Republican ticket was elected in Chautauqua county : Edward B. Vreeland, Congressman; Charles M. Hamilton, State Senator; Emmons J. Swift, county treasurer ; Charles E. Dodge, superintendent of the poor ; Albert E. Nugent, special surrogate; Charles Blood, Bergen F. Illiston and Ellis W. Storms, coroners; Augustus F. Allen and John Leo Sullivan, assemblymen ; Charles W. Hurlburt, Charles W. Whitney and Judson S. Wright, school commissioners. Charles E. Hughes was reelected Governor by an increased plurality, his vote in Chautauqua county 15,060; Lewis E. Chanler, his Democratic opponent, receiv- ing 7,039, the highest vote cast for any Demo- crat in the county. William H. Taft, for Presi- dent, received 15,617 ; William J. Bryan, 6,174.
In this election, Chautauqua lost her prestige as the banner Republican county, Kings, Onon- daga, Monroe and Westchester all giving greater pluralities for Taft and Sherman than was given in Chautauqua. Charles WV. Hamil- ton, candidate for State Senator, received the largest vote cast for any candidate on the Re- publican ticket, either local or State.
Benjamin Franklin Matthews, one of the oldest residents of the town of Gerry, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Emory M. Kinne, three miles northeast of the village of Gerry, Sunday, December 6, 1908, in his 87th year. He was one of the twelve children born to Caleb and Margaret (Van Salisbury ) Mat- thews, pioneer settlers of Chautauqua county. At the time of his death he was the oldest man born in the town. He served during the Civil War in Company E, 112th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and was a farmer of Gerry until the infirmities of age incapaci- tated him.
Carl Frederick Abrahamson, senior member of the dry goods Abrahamson-Bigelow Com- pany, died December 21, 1908, suddenly stricken with apoplexy. He was born in Sweden, May 24, 1858, and in 1871 was brought by his parents to Chautauqua county. He be- came one of Jamestown's most prominent mer- chants, and was a pillar of strength to the First Lutheran Church and to Gustavus Adolphus Orphanage. He served as member of the Board of Supervisors from Jamestown, and in
that body made his influence felt for good. He married, in 1897, Christine Anderson, who survived him with an infant daughter.
Governor Hughes on January 6, 1909, sent to the Senate the name of Egburt E. Wood -! bury, of Chautauqua county, to succeed him- self as State Tax Commissioner. Mr. Wood- bury was born in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, and after attending Albany Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1884. In that year he began the practice of law in Jamestown; was chairman of the Republican committee, 1888-89; member of Assembly, 1890-93; and for several years surrogate of Chautauqua county.
Edmond H. Pease, the oldest volunteer fire- man in Jamestown and a veteran of the Civil War, died January 29, 1909, aged 63. He en- listed in Company G, 122nd Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, at Jordan, August 8, 1862, and was mustered out at Washington. June 23, 1865. He was engaged at Gettysburg and was then wounded; captured by Confed- erate troops, May 6, 1864, and from that date until December 9 was confined in Anderson- ville prison. After the war he located in James- town, where on January 6, 1870, he joined Deluge Engine Company, and was on the active list until his death.
Robert N. Marvin, son of Judge Richard and Isabella Newland Marvin, died in James town, February 6, 1909. Early in life he en tered actively into business life and assumed the management of his father's estate. Among the many responsible positions which he filler was that of executor of the Prendergast estat and in that capacity he was in charge of con struction of the beautiful church and library that perpetuate the name of that old James town family. For four years he representer Ellicott on the Board of Supervisors and with generous unselfish public spirit served his com munity. He married Mary Elizabeth Warner who survived him.
Westfield was visited by a destructive fir early on February 25, 1909, and it was no until help had arrived from Fredonia and Broc ton that the fire was brought under control While there were no casualities, five fireme. from Brocton had a narrow escape when th heavy cornice and part of the brick wall of th Wells block fell.
Ransom B. Lydell, supervisor of the towr of Ellicott and president of the First Nationa Bank of Falconer, died at his home on Wor street, Falconer, April 19, 1909. He was a so of Lucius and grandson of Luther Lydell, wh came to Chautauqua county and settled i
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OPENING OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Poland in 1828. His maternal grandfather, Judge Joel Burnell, came to the county in ISIo and settled in Charlotte. Ransom Lydell, at the age of twenty-one, was elected justice of the peace in Poland. In 1884 he moved to Falconer, where he became prominent in busi- ness and in public life. He married Mina J. Covey, and they were the parents of eight children.
Jay Mann, a farmer near Findley Lake, was killed in an explosion of dynamite while blow- ing out stumps on his farm, about one mile south of the village of Sherman, May 21, 1909. He had been removing stumps by means of dynamite during the afternoon, and about four o'clock arranged two charges in two different stumps, a fuse being attached to each. He lighted one of the fuses, and hurried away to what he considered a safe distance. He did not, however, place sufficient distance between himself and the stump in which the other charge had been placed, and that omission proved fatal, although he did not apprehend danger from that source. The concussion pro- duced by the first explosion caused the charge in the other stump to explode, the force of the blast carrying Mr. Mann thirty feet through the air and frightfully mangling him. He died about three hours later, retaining conscious- ness throughout the entire period.
Marcus H. Ahlstrom, one of the founders of the Ahlstrom Piano Company, its vice-presi- dent and traveling representative, died in Jamestown, June 14, 1909. He was born in Gothland, Sweden, and was the first member of his family to come to the United States. He was a resident of Jamestown from 1868 until his death, and a man most highly esteemed. He left a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Lyon Ahl- strom, and a daughter Gladys.
Nathan Dwight Belden, for nearly sixty years a resident of Chautauqua county, died at his home in Mayville, June 15, 1909, aged 73. He was born in Connecticut, but was brought to Chautauqua county by his parents. He married Sarah Aldrich, February 2, 1859, and during their more than fifty years of married life resided in the towns of Ellery, Stockton and Chautauqua. For twenty-seven years Mayville was their home, their residence on Erie street. Mr. Belden was town overseer of the poor for about fifteen years; was an Odd Fellow ; and an official member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Mrs. Belden survived her husband, with two daughters-Alice, wife of Lewis B. Bixby ; and Emily, wife of Frank Lane, of Florence, Massachusetts.
At a singularly harmonious convention of Chautauqua's Republican hosts, held in Dun- kirk, June 22, John P. Hall, of Sherman, was nominated for sheriff ; Luther S. Lakin, Jr., of Jamestown, for county clerk; and Dr. Bergen F. Illston, of Jamestown, for coroner. Later, Augustus F. Allen and John Leo Sullivan were renominated for the Assembly from the First and Second Chautauqua county districts, and Judson S. Wright for school commission, Third District, an office he had filled for seven previous years.
On Sunday, July 4, 1909, the First Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Jamestown cele- brated with special services the centennial of Methodism in Chautauqua county, the ninety- fifth anniversary of the founding of the James- town church; the twenty-fifth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the present church ; and the twenty-third anniversary of its dedication. Bishop John H. Vincent preached in the morning, the choir rendering special music of a high order. Bishop Vincent preached the dedicatory sermon twenty-three years earlier, and there were in the audience I17 persons who heard him on that occasion.
Boomerton and South Dayton suffered heavy financial and business loss on the night of July 17 by fire, which destroyed the mill of the Jamestown Panel and Veneer Company at Boomerton, and a great portion of the business section of South Dayton. The loss at the mill was $25,000 ; to the village, $45,000.
Walter Gifford, former member of the As- sembly from Chautauqua county, past mas- ter of the New York State Grange, a promi- nent farmer, and one of the oldest native-born residents of the county, died at his home on Fulton street, Jamestown, August 9, 1909. He was born in Busti, May 8, 1829, and there re- sided upon his farm until a few years prior to his death. He became interested in the Patrons of Husbandry in its early days, and was influ- ential in that organization, serving as master of the State Grange four years. He repre- sented Chautauqua county in the State Assem- bly in 1891-92. He married Eliza C. Robert- son, who survived him, with two daughters- Mrs. H. B. Jenkins, of Dumont, New Jersey, and Mrs. Orren B. Hayward, of Jamestown.
The Board of Supervisors met in the new court house at Mayville, Tuesday, August 17, 1909, and formally accepted the new building from the contractor. The building was com- pleted within the amount appropriated, $135,- 000. Bonds were issued to the amount of $130,000, the $3,000 owing above that amount being paid from other funds.
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Mrs. Eliza Bullock Albro, the oldest resident of Busti, died January 17, 1910, in her ninety- second year. She was born in Busti, Novem- ber 26, 1818, daughter of Rev. William Bullock, and was the widow of David Albro, to whom she was married at the age of twenty-five. She left a son, Frank Albro.
On February 12, 1910, Governor Hughes ap- pointed Robert J. Cooper to be special surro- gate for Chantanqua county, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Albert E. Nugent.
A special meeting of the Board of Super- visors was held March 10, 1910, to consider the report of a committee appointed by the board concerning a county tuberculosis hospital.
A fire which caused Jamestown the loss of a valuable life-Capt. Jonathan Hanson, com- mander of fire police-and a half million dol- lars in property, began in the Gokey factory, Saturday night, March 12, 1910. On Sunday night, or soon after midnight, the ruins of the factory blazed up and started a conflagration which eventually consumed the Gokey busi- ness block and the Sherman House, wrecked the Briggs block and spread alarm to the entire business section. Captain Hanson was in- stantly killed by falling debris. Joel Oberg, second lieutenant of fire police, was seriously injured, as was Alfred F. Shoestring, first as- sistant foreman of Deluge Engine Company. The entire city department, with that of the village of Falconer, was used in fighting this Jamestown's most serious fire.
The funeral service of Captain Jonathan Hanson, the gallant captain of Jamestown fire police, who fell in assisting to quell the great fire of March 12-13-14, was held March 15, from the State Armory, preceded by a brief service at the home. The large armory was inadequate to accommodate the throngs who wished to honor the dead officer by their pres- ence, and after the drill shed and galleries had been filled to overflowing, many were turned away. The funeral services, under the direc- tion of Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D. D., were of a very impressive character. Captain Hanson was buried with military honors, and after the brief service at the grave in Lakeview Ceme- tery, a squad from Company E, fired three vol- leys and the bugler sounded "Taps."
On the morning of March 15, Alfred E. Shoe- string, assistant foreman of Deluge Engine Company, who was injured at the same fire in which Captain Hanson lost his life, died at the Woman's Christian Hospital in Jamestown. Again, vast crowds assembled to honor the memory of a brave man, and the large audi- torium of the First Methodist Episcopal
Church of Jamestown was filled long before the hour for the services to begin. Business was generally suspended by request of the mayor, and it seemed as though the entire city turned out to pay a tribute of respect to the young volunteer who, leading the way into the burning building, gave up his life as nobly as ever did a soldier on the field of battle. Rev. Horace G. Ogden conducted the funeral serv- ices, and at the head of the fireman marched Chief Wilson, leading his "boys" with reverent mien and heavy heart. He was buried in Lake- view Cemetery.
On March 18, 1910, a bronze memorial tablec was unveiled to the memory of Miss Calista Selina Jones, who taught in the public schools of Chautauqua county for nearly sixty years. The tablet was presented to the public schools of Jamestown by Mrs. Elvira Stearns, a sister of Miss Jones, and was placed in the main corridor of the high school building.
Henry Le Fevre Brown, a distinguished vet- eran of the Civil War, died in Jamestown, April 29, 1910, aged 67. He was at the time of his death one of the three men residing in James- town who were awarded medals of honor by Congress for gallant deeds. Mr. Brown's deed was thus described in his citation: "Volun- tarily and under a heavy fire from the enemy, he three times crossed the field of battle with a load of ammunition in a blanket on his back, thus supplying the Federal forces whose am- munition had nearly all been expended, and enabling them to hold their position until rein- forcement arrived." For nearly thirty years he was identified with the railway mail service and held responsible position. He compiled a history of the 72nd Regiment, New York Vol- unteer Infantry, and possessed the most com- plete data of Chautauqua county men in the military service. He left a widow, and a son, Harold LeFevre Brown, of Jamestown.
William Broadhead, Jamestown's foremost manufacturer, died May 21, 1910, in his ninety- second year. He was of English birth and parentage, but from the year 1843 he was a resident of Chautauqua county. He became a large manufacturer of textiles in Jamestown, and to him the worsted interests of the city owe their origin. He retained his interest in Jamestown until the end of his life, and on the occasion of his eighty-first birthday said, in response to felicitations, "When I came to America I came to be an American, and while of course I believe that England is the place in which to be born, I most firmly believe that America, and particularly Jamestown, is the place to live." He was survived by four chil-
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OPENING OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
dren, his sons succeeding their father in the management of the Broadhead business inter- ests.
On Monday, August 1, 1910, the annual con- vention of the International Bible Students' Association began in the large amphitheatre at Celoron, on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, adjacent to Jamestown. Forty-five hundred Bible students were in attendance. The con- vention was one of the largest gatherings of its kind ever held in this country. Representa- tives from every town in the county attended during the week it was in session. The con- vention was remarkable for the number in at- tendance and for its splendid organization for the management of the formal meetings and entertainment of visitors.
Dr. James Brooks, for sixty years a practic- ing physician of Ellington, died August 5, 1910.
William H. Sprague, who for fifty-six years was engaged in the hardware business prior to his retirement, died by his own hand, August 15, 1910. He was a grandson of Captain Jo- seph Sprague, of Rhode Island, an officer of the Revolution, and a son of Nicholas Sprague, who came to Western New York about 1828 and established a paper mill at Laona. Wil- liam H. Sprague at the time of his death was seventy-eight years of age, and afflicted with chronic stomach trouble. This affected his mind to such an extent that, unable to bear the pain, he ended it.
The one hundredth anniversary of the first settlement of Jamestown was observed at the afternoon session of the Chautauqua County Society of History and Natural Science, Obed Edson, president of the society, presiding. The guest of honor was Mrs. Lucy Akin, of Ellery, a daughter of John Bowers, who built the first house in Jamestown, in ISIo. Obed Edson read a paper on "The First Settlement in Jamestown;" Mrs. Mary Hall Tuckerman, on "The Women of the Early Day;" Abner Hazeltine. on "The Beginnings of Jamestown D. A. R .; " Nichols, of Westfield, on "History of the Triangle;" and Mrs. Kate Cheney, on "Reminisences of the Prendergasts."
The Board of Supervisors met in annual ses- sion at Mayville, September 26, 1910. and or- ganized by the reelection of the officers of 1909. A. Morell Cheney, of Ellery, chairman pro tem., the only new official elected. The re- port of the clerk of the board, Joseph A. Mc- Ginnies, showed an increase in assessed value of land in the county over 1909 to be $2, 188,193.
On the afternoon of October 14. 1910, Theo- dore Roosevelt, the then only living ex-Presi- dent of the United States, addressed a political
gathering on the campus of Jamestown High School. He was given an enthusiastic wel- come, and in his speech displayed at its best the wonderful force as a public speaker. His last previous visit was on November 7, 1898.
While the State went Democratic by a large majority, Chautauqua county swung true to her moorings and gave the Republican ticket the usual majorities, although the vote was light. The vote on Governor stood Stimson, Rep., 10,547 ; Dix, Dem., 4,906. In the county the successful candidates were: Charles M. Hamilton, State Senator ; Rev. Julius Lincoln, Assembly, First District; John Leo Sullivan, Assembly, Second District; Edward J. Green, district attorney; Frank S. Wheeler, special county judge ; Robert J. Cooper, special surro- gate ; Edward B. Osgood, coroner.
John S. Nevins, of Westfield, was appointed sealer of weights and measures by the Board of Supervisors, a new office created under a State law.
Among the new public officials who assumed office with the new year ( 1911 ) was Rev. Julius Lincoln, pastor of the First Lutheran Church, of Jamestown, who had been elected Assembly- man on the Republican ticket from the First Chautauqua District. He did not give up his pastoral relation, but returned to Jamestown from Albany each week-end to fill his pulpit. Edward L. Green succeeded John K. Patterson as district attorney, and Robert J. Cooper assumed the duties of special surrogate. The other officials of the county succeeded them- selves. On January 2, 1911, John Alden Dix was inaugurated Governor of New York, and for the first time in eighteen years the Demo- cratic party was in power in the State.
A factory fire destroyed property valued at $50,000, belonging to the Peerless Furniture Company, of Jamestown, early in the morning of January 4, 19II.
The figures of the census of 1910 for the minor civil divisions of Chautauqua county were made public by the Director of the Cen- sus on January 24. The figures for the various villages showed an increase in practically all of them over the population of 1900, and many of the rural towns showed an increase. The com- plete figures follow :
Arkwright
843
Busti, including Lakewood village 2,136
Lakewood village 564
Carroll
1,564
Charlotte, including part of Sinclairville 1,258
Sinclairville . . 542
Chautauqua, including Mayville 3.515
Mayville
1,122
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Cherry Creek town and village
1,380
Cherry Creek village . 606
Clymer
1,164
Dunkirk, Ward I
5,569
Ward 2
3,399
Ward 3
3,852
Ward 4
4,401
Dunkirk town
429
Ellery
Ellicott, including Celoron and Falconer
4,371
Celoron
619
Falconer
2,141
Ellington
1,235
French Creek
882
Gerry with part of Sinclairville
1,155
Hanover, including Cattaraugus Indian Reser- vations, part of Forestville and Silver Creek village
5,670
Forestville
721
Silver Creek
Harmony, including Panama
2,847
Panama
337
Jamestown, Ward 1
4,438
Ward 2
4,577
Ward 3
4,695
Ward 4
5,511
Ward 5
6,039
Ward 6
5,636
Kiantone
520
Mina
1,033
Poland
1,447
Pomfret, including Fredonia
7,300
Portland, including Brocton
3,058
Brocton village
1,181
Sherman, including Sherman village Sherman village
836
Ripley
2,230
Sheridan
1,888
Stockton
1,781
Westfield, including Westfield village
4,481
Westfield village
2,985
Total population of county 105,126
Total population of county in 1900
88,314
Henry Rappole, a veteran of the Civil War, former county superintendent of the poor and treasurer of Jamestown, died at his home in Jamestown, January 25, 1911, in his seventy- eighth year. He lost an arm in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and to quote a comrade, "No braver soldier ever stood in line." He was born in the town of Ellery. October 27, 1833, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Rice) Rappole.
Levant L. Mason, who for sixty years was engaged in business in Jamestown, died Febru- ary 13, 1911, in his eighty-fifth year. Devoted to the art of free-hand engraving, he could not give up the work he had followed so capably for so many years, and until a few weeks prior to his death he would frequently take up his engraving tools and at the age of eighty-four was able to carve upon gold or silver as daintily and perfectly in script or old English as ever. In 1850 he brought his bride to Jamestown and established a home at No. 204 Lafayette street,
and there they celebrated their golden wedding and lived for sixty years until death. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, one of the founders of the Chautauqua County Soci- ety of History and Natural Science, and long an official member of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church. He left a son, John C. Ma- son, and daughter, Mrs. Frederick P. Hall.
At midnight, February 28, 1911, the James- town Volunteer Fire Department gave way to a paid department of thirty-five full-pay men and twenty-five call men.
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