History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 94

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 94

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In 1893, in the new Armory, at a public meeting. Corps No. 73 presented to Post Brown a Memorial Volume or Record Book with a page each for the war record of 400 soldiers. This book cost $125 and is now in the vault of the Bank of Jamestown awaiting a final resting place in a Memorial Hall when such a place is ready. It is to be regretted that more vet- erans have not placed their war record in it hereto- fore, as now many have answered the last call with this work left undone. This volume was presented to Post Brown by the president of the Corps, Mrs. Ella Stearns Tiffany, and received for the Post by Commander Henry J. Yates.

The plot of ground in the southern part of the city, where the 112th, and 154th N. Y. Regiments and the 7th Company of Sharpshooters camped before starting for the front in 1862, was owned by a patriotic citizen, Mr. Everett Johnson. He offered the survivors of these organizations a plot of this ground if they would place a suitable marker there. As soon as Corps No. 73 learned of this, they offered to place on this plot, a boulder with a bronze tablet, suitably engraved. This offer was accepted and on September 13. 1915, with patriotic exercises, it was presented to the sur- vivors of those organizations by the chairman of the boulder committee, Mrs. Lona D. Brown. Major W. S. Cameron of the 154th Regiment, Joel 1. Powers of the 112th Regiment, and John A. Brown of the 7th Company Sharpshooters accepted it for their or- ganizations; and L. L. Hanchett of the 112th Regi- ment, In turn presented it and the plot of ground to the city as a park, to be known as Lincoln Park. The boulder cost $100.

For the first fifteen or twenty years, Corps No. 73 found considerable relief work to do. Post Brown furnished fuel and groceries to comrades and families in need; the Corps, clothing, bedding and extras in food for the sick. During the first five years the Corps relief expenses amounted to $410, and was greatly increased the following years. As the years rolled by, relief work hecame less, as the children of veterans became grown; fewer veterans remained; more liberal pensions were granted. Corps No. 73 then took up more extensive patriotic work. They have presented flags and patriotic literature to Fairmount School and Euclid School in the city. and to Rice Corners and Stillwater schools outside of the city.

In August, 1916, on behalf of the Corps, the presi- dent, Mrs. Alvena Malier, presented to the Chautau- qua Veterans' Association a flag for use at Chantau- qua. The Corps has presented to Post Brown, since their organization, two flags, the last being the one that the Post now use. During the Spanish American War of 1898, the Corps collected money, purchased material, and made flannel cholera bands and hospital garments to the value of $58.57. They contributed $10 towards the support of families of these veter- ans and gave $5 towards comfort kits sent by the W. C. T. U.

Corps No. 73 has also contributed from $5 to $10 to each of the following funds to relieve suffering: Galveston Flood: Butler (Pa.) Flood; Ohio Flood; Japan and San Francisco earthquakes; Y. W. C. A .; and to a fund for the families of firemen who lost their lives; $25 to Company E (1916); $45 to Near East Relief Fund in 1920. The Corps has contributed for years to the Southern Memorial Fund for the decoration of soldiers' graves in the South, and to a flag fund for presenting flags to the schools of the citles in which the W. R. C. conventions are held. For several years the Corps gave money to a fund to help maintain and pay for the Andersonville Prison prop- erty. They have also donated numerous articles for fairs and given money to help finance smaller Corps. In 1917, when every one did war work, the Corps was one of the first to form a Red Cross Auxillary. On May 22, 1917, twenty-four names were submitted

to Red Cross Headquarters, and the Auxiliary formed with the following officers; Chairman, Mrs. Alvena Malier; secretary, Mrs. Lona D. Brown; treasurer, Mrs. Mary L. Horton. Membership, increased to 85, was not confined to Corps members; some men joined the Auxillary, supporting the work with money and their influence. Meetings were held each week in Corps Hall, there being from ten to thirty-five work- ers each meeting. One sewing machine was purchased and one hired. The Auxiliary made and turned in to the Red Cross 2691 bandages, 50 refugee garments, 128 comfort bags, 76 bed spreads. Members and their friends knitted at home and delivered to the Red Cross 673 pairs of socks and stockings, 65 sweaters, 9 scarfs, 8 pairs of mittens, 2 shawls, and 1 pair wrist- lets. The Corps received donations for this work be- sides what the Red Cross furnished, $10 from the Woman's Temperance Society, $5 from Sons of Vet- erans' Auxiliary, and $38 from their own treasury. Some members of Corps have been engaged in war work for three wars. A committee attended the Red Cross tent one day each week for several weeks. The members sold Liberty Bonds in the stores and a committee helped collect and pack refugee clothing, besides each member contributed a towel and hand- kerchief for a hospital box. This war work began in May, 1917, and ended in May, 1919.

There is a Woman's Relief Corps Home at Oxford, N. Y. where a veteran and his wife may be cared for together, or his widow cared for. In 1894 Corps No. 73 sent to this home $125 toward furnishings, in 1899, $25, and in 1902, $10 toward a W. R. C. monument in the cemetery at this Home. In 1914 the Corps gave $10 for markers for graves of soldiers buried there. At another time they sent a box of bedding valued at $14. They have also sent each year a barrel of canned fruit and jelly containing from thirty to sev- enty-five cans. One Christmas the Corps sent fifty- seven pounds of candy in half-pound boxes-one box for each inmate.

On February 4. 1887, members of the Corps organ- ized a Sewing Society to meet in the afternoons prev- lous to the Corps meeting. They brought their sup- pers with them and spent the afternoons in sewing. They quilted, tied comfortables and mattress covers, etc., for pay. The money thus made was used to help purchase dishes, linen, etc., for the Corps.

One of the first purchases of the Corps for their own use was an organ. This was later exchanged for an Ahlstrom plano costing $350. They then hegan buying dishes, silver, table linen and kitchen utensils, so that now they can easily serve from 80 to 100 persons.

One of the Corps most valued possessions in a mem- orial record book bought in 1895. It has recorded therein the resolutions upon the deaths of members, dates of death, etc. Mrs. Lucia Smith has always had charge of this book, doing all the recording in it.

To have a goodly treasury meant work. All the members worked faithfully on every project to make the money necessary to carry on the various under- takings of the Corps. They commenced by serving suppers, having at first to secure a vacant store, ar- range for tables, chairs and temporary stove; the table committee bringing from their own homes the neces- sary dishes, linen and silver, the kitchen committee doing likewise. Later the Corps purchased such prop- erty for their own use, and have for many years had chicken pie suppers, lawn fetes, war sugar and experi- ence socials, conundrum suppers, election day dinners, Fourth of July dinners, ten cent tea bazaars, rummage sales, card parties and Appomattox Day suppers.

The Ladies' Home Relief Society when it disbanded had $10 in their treasury, which they sent to Corps No. 73. in December, 1892, by Mrs. Mary A. Sampson, who was one of their members, and a president of Corps No. 73.

One of the largest projects for making money was a Merchants' Carnival in 1891. Members solicited the merchants of the city to advertise their wares, each merchant paying one dollar for such advertisement. These various advertisements were presented by young women properly costumed. Arranged as a Carnival, it was held in the Opera House for two nights to crowded houses, and as a result the net proceeds were $366.14.

For the last seven years the Broader Education Society has given each year a subscription concert under the auspices of Corps. Artists of unusual abil- Ity have been presented, and the concerts well patron- ized. These concerts have netted the Corps from $60 to $75 each year. The annual dues of the Corps have only been one dollar per member, but with a membership of over one hundred since the second year of its organization, such amounts helped keep

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PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES

the treasury full. In every project the Corps has undertaken, it has always met with loyal support from its friends and the citizens of Jamestown as a who e.

The first week of June, 1920, Post Brown and Corps No. 73 moved from the hall over 9 East Third street, which they had occupied so long, to temporary quar- ters in the Patriotic Club Rooms in Soldiers' Memorial Park, awaiting the repairing of the Gov. Fenton Man- sion as a home for patriotic organizations of James- town, New York. The officers (1920) are: President. Mrs. Lona D. Brown; secretary, Mrs. Eurydice A. Wellman.

THE AMERICAN LEGION -- In a letter of greeting to the American Expeditionary Forces, just at the time when that far-famed organization was finishing up its great task between the Argonne forest and the Meuse river. Booth Tarkington assured the soldiers and sailors that when the war was over they would "take the country and run it to suit ourselves."

A short time later the war was over, and the A. E. F. found time to think about Tarkington's letter. Hence the American Legion. The army and navy men had developed a faculty for seeing realities during the war and they saw that if they were to have much influence in enforcing their ideas they would have to keep the spirit of team work which they had built up in service.

On February 15, 1919, a group of twenty men met in Paris and concocted the idea. On March 15-16-17, rep- resentatives of every division and of every section of the A. E. F. met again in Paris. At this meeting the Legion was really born. A committee of fifteen was appointed and representatives were sent to the United States to take up the idea with those who had remained on domestic service.

A caucus was held in St. Louis, May 8-9-10, 1919, and organization work was put under way in earnest. The first national convention was held in Minneapolis on Armistice Day, November 11. 1919. From that point the Legion launched forth on its first year's work.

It has grown, in a little more than a year, from noth- ing into a body with 2,500,000 members and 9,000 posts. It is represented in every section of the United States and in Hawaii, Alaska. Paris. Coblenz, the Phillipines, the Canal Zone, wherever the American flag flies. This body, bound together by common ideals, thinks of itself as a vigilance committee created for the purpose of upholding the highest American ideals, of supporting :00 per cent. Americanism in a way to make the phrase mean something.

Exactly what the American Legion intends to do, and e :actly what are its aims, purposes and ideals, are set forth in the preamble to its constitution, one of the briefest and clearest creeds ever reduced to writing. It reads :

For God and Country, we associate ourselves to- gether for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one-hundred-per-cent Amer- icanism: to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community. state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the mases; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

Delegates representing the various posts of the American Legion in Chautauqua county met in Dun- kirk, September 25, 1919, and formed the Chautauqua

County Committee. The object of both the local and county organizations of the Legion is to keep alive the glorious traditions of the Army and Navy, and to pro- mote along practical lines the welfare of the young men who served in the armed forces of the United States during the World War. The principal object of the County Committee is connected with the employment of service men, and matters pertaining to war risk in- surance, disability claims, and all that pertains to their temporal welfare.

Each local post of the Legion in the county is a cen- ter of patriotic influence, and a social club for the ser- vice men and their families.

Thirteen delegates met, representing the then seven posts of the Legion in Chautauqua, Jamestown sending five delegates, Dunkirk two, Fredonia two, Kennedy, Ripley. Westfield and Silver Creek one each. Gerald E. Frey, of Dunkirk Memorial Post, who had been serving as temporary county chairman, presided, and was elected county chairman. The names of these thir- teen delegates to this first county convention, will long be of interest: Jamestown-James C. Rugg. Fred Morey, Ernest O. Holmberg, Earl Brookins, Joseph Midgley: Dunkirk-J. N. Van Buren, J. C. Schrantz; Fredonia-Lewis B. West, Harold F. Lovelee; Silver Creek-Claude L. Newman; Westfield-Walter J. Falvay; Ripley-Dr. Paul S. Persons: Kennedy- Gustave A. Nelson. The first elected officers were : County Chairman, Gerald E. Frey, of Dunkirk: Vice- chairman Warner Anderson, of Westfield; Secretary, Lewis B. West, of Fredonia; Treasurer, Melin A. Okerlind, of Jamestown ; employment and insurance officer, A. Bartholdi Peterson, of Jamestown.

The headquarters of the committee are located in Memorial Park, Jamestown. The present officers are (1920) : County Chairman, Melin A. Okerlind, James- town; Vice-Chairman, Albert M. Stebbins, Silver Creek; County Secretary, George MI. Bennett. James- town: County Treasurer, Fred Whitney, Mayville; State Committee, Ist Assembly District, Fritts Magnu- son, Jamestown, 2nd Assembly District, Guy C. Wat- son, Fredonia; County Committee, Kary K. Crandall, Gerald L. Dearing, Howard C. Oldenberg, Harry M. Laughlin, Walter J. Falvay, Allen S. Bartlett, E. W. Robinson, Nathan Neate, Paul A. Davis, A. B. Peter- son, Michael Lombardo, Fred Chindgren, Willard Pe- terson, Miss Selma Lincoln, Charles R. Putnam. Clase W. Crofoot, Thomas L. Lawson, Clarence Berdick, L. F. Baker.

There are now fourteen posts in Chautauqua county : John Dill Post, No. 434, Brocton ; Dunkirk Memorial, 62. Dunkirk ; Samuel Derby, Frewsburg : Fredonia Post, 59. Fredonia ; David Vern Luce, 778, Sinclairville ; Charles A. Moorehouse, 351, Ripley ; Don Martin, 148, Silver Creek ; Henry Mosher, Falconer ; Norton Raspas, Sherman ; Walter D. Perkins, Kennedy ; John W. Rog- ers. 327, Westfield; Ira Lou Spring. 149. Jamestown ; William T. Travis, 493, Mayville; Herman Kent, Cel- oron.

Most of these posts are named for heroes who made the supreme sacrifice. Ira Lou Spring Post is named for Corporal Ira Lou Spring, a young man of under twenty-one, who was killed in action June 14, 1918, the first enlisted man from Jamestown to answer the higher roll call. Falconer Post is named for the gal- lant Captain Henry Mosher, who fell in action in France, and the other names have equal title to re- membrance.

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The Young Men's Christian Association, founded in London, England, June 6, 1844, by George Williams, set in motion certain activities of immeasurable influence upon young manhood of the entire world. Its aggres- sive spirit soon reached America, and an organization of young men for young men was effected in Boston in 1851. The enthusiasm of its devotees along prac- tical lines of Christian fellowship found a ready re- sponse in our larger cities, spreading from point to point throughout the land until today there are more than two thousand Associations in North America, with approximately 1,000,000 members; over 800 build- ings, with property value at $128,000,000; 85,000 lay- men, serving as committeemen, and more than 5000 sec- retaries to carry out the Association program of ser- vice.

The first Association in Chautauqua county was or- ganized in Jamestown in 1856, and for several years carried on a useful work in the community, sustained entirely by volunteer workers. Meanwhile, the develop- ment of young men in body, mind and spirit, under the guiding hand of trained leaders in larger cities, attract- ed attention in Jamestown, and in response to a news- paper announcement in 1884 a small company of men gathered in a dimly lighted room in the old Ford Block, on the site of the present new Gifford building. There, on the 28th of February, a new organization was formed and a charter membership was soon established with seventy-seven members.

Following this preliminary organization, delegates were sent to the State Convention in session at Buf- falo, and these delegates returned accompanied by one of the State secretaries, as a result of which the Young Men's Christian Association of Jamestown completed its organization by the election of a board of directors, consisting of George W. Tew, Allen T. Usher, Edward Appleyard, Charles E. Parks, J. T. Boddy, Wm. H. Proudfit, H. L. Fairbank, John J. Aldrich, Elliot C. Hall, Fred P. Hall and W. S. Carpenter.

George W. Tew, active in business, musical and re- ligious circles, was chosen the first president, and for nine successive years rendered faithful service to the cause of young men. His failing health required him to seek a milder climate, but throughout the years he has maintained an honorary connection with the James- town Association and has liberally supported it.

The first general secretary was James B. Ferguson, who served the Jamestown Association for a period of three years, subsequently entering the ministry of the Presbyterian church. During the early period follow- ing reorganization, the activities of the local Associa- tion were largely devoted to Christian endeavor. al- though some attention was given to physical culture. Game rooms and reading rooms were maintained and social gatherings were of frequent occurrence.

Succeeding Mr. Ferguson, the secretaries have been : Albert E. Turner, one year; Charles B. White, two years; J B. Crippen, one year ; Charles N. Ramsey, eleven years; C. N. Chase, three years; A. E. Stoll, five years ; C. F. W. Cunningham, two years; P. MacG. Allen, four years; and C. F. Stratford, the present in- cumbent, who entered upon his duties in August, 1917. Limitations of space for this article prohibit more than a passing word of commendation for most of these men, everyone of whom has rendered a high character of service to the city of Jamestown. Charles B. White, overtaken by death at the zenith of his influence, stands out as the most conspicuous character in the organiza- tion of young men in Bible study. His death occurring

in the flower of his usefulness was regarded by all classes as an overshadowing calamity, and a mourning multitude followed his remains to their quiet repose in Lakeview Cemetery. Charles N. Ramsey, whose ser- vices as general secretary covered a period of over ten years, was noted for his thorough methodical work, in which he laid well the foundations for future endeavor. He engineered the Association through that period of expansion from rented quarters into the new building dedicated in 1901.

Five directors have filled the office of president of the Association, as follows: George W. Tew, 1884-93; Charles E. Parks, 1893-96; Thomas Henry Smith, 1896- 97; H. E. V. Porter, 1897-1901 ; Elliot C. Hall, 1901-16; H. E. V. Porter, 1916- -

Elliot C. Hall, who departed this life in 1917, was perhaps the most benevolent character that Jamestown has produced. He was officially identified with the Association throughout its entire history, and served as president continuously for fifteen years. The Asso- ciation was only one of many channels through which his acts of benevolence were constantly bestowed. Gentle in his devotion, broad in his scholarship and liberal in spirit, he left the impress of his spotless soul upon his labors for humanity.

The following have filled the office of treasurer : Charles E. Parks, Wm. A. Kent, Wm. H. Proudfit, Fred P. Hall, C. E. Clark, W. D. Broadhead and Frank E. Felt. The recording secretaries have been : J. T. Boddy, F. Bristow, George R. Butts, L. M. Butman, Frank E. Felt and Merlin A. Bliss.

In 1894 a new charter was secured for the Associa- tion, which more clearly defined the powers and privi- leges of the organization and its membership. Under the provisions of this charter the Association has steadily developed. For many years the local work was carried on in rooms over 9 East Third street. Here it was that General Secretary Ramsey began the introduction of new features and the expansion of edu- cational work that soon congested all available space to such an extent that more commodious quarters were secured in the Gokey Block on West Third street.

In 1894 the State Convention was held in the city of Jamestown, with over three hundred delegates. The spirit of State Secretary George A. Hull, sustained by Assistant State Secretary Fred S. Goodman and scores of prominent Y. M. C. A. workers from all parts of the State, aroused great enthusiasm and awakened anew the demand for a Y. M. C. A. building.

A big and unexpected opportunity came to the James- town Association in 1898, when William A. Hallock, a retired Congregational minister, purchased the Grange Hotel property on Second street, which covered half of an entire square, and offered it as a gift to the As- sociation upon condition that $20,000 be raised by vol- unteer subscription for the purpose of remodelling the wooden hotel and erecting a brick structure for an au- ditorium and gymnasium. Some of the older direc- tors who had struggled with the raising of funds in the past, staggered over the proposition that required the raising of so large an amount. With many mis- givings the proposal was accepted, and a campaign was launched and the amount stipulated was promptly rais- ed. It was soon found that $15,000 would be required to remodel the old building. The board of directors had become more confident, and the architect was in- structed to draw plans for a $35,000 brick structure. A new campaign was launched, and pledges for $15,000 additional was secured. It later developed that this

AMERICAN

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YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

sum would not be sufficient; the architect's plans called for $44,000. With renewed zeal, the board of directors determined to go forward, and before the handsome new building had been completed $60,000 had been ex- pended.

On the Ist day of January, 1900, the cornerstone was laid by Col. Albert D. Shaw, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. This event marked a new era in the Young Men's Christian Association of James- town. In a brief introductory address, President Por- ter referred to Col. Shaw as follows. "We are happy, and most fortunate in having secured for this occa- sion the presence of a distinguished gentleman, who not only represents the Grand Army of the Republic as its chief, but who at the same time represents that great and growing army of young men known as The Young Men's Christian Association.'" Col. Shaw stepped for- ward and with a few choice words fitly spoken re- ferred to this cornerstone, the Stars and Stripes that floated above it, to his comrades of the Civil War, and to the highest ideals of patriotism in times of peace. Accepting the trowel and the mortar presented him, the Colonel continued : "By authority of the Young Men's Christian Association, expressed through its board of trustees, we lay this cornerstone for a building to be erected and dedicated to the highest interests of young men in the development of body, mind and spirit; all of which we do in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."

The dedication of the new building, one year later, cn January I, 1901, opened the way for broader and wider activities among young men. The new gym- nasium, with its facilities for physical development, health and recreation, the swimming pool and shower baths attracted large groups of young men, many of whom were but slightly acquainted with the spirit of Association life. The first physical director, Frank L. Slater, proved a genius in his profession in shaping the policy of this new departure.

Reading rooms and game rooms were provided and educational work, embracing a variety of subjects was successfully conducted in evening classes for several years. in fact until the importance of this work prompted the Board of Education to establish evening classes at the High School. Dormitory accommodations were established for young men in the Association building. A new impetus was given to Bible study and religious work, in which a band of young men was developed in leadership for the purpose of conducting religious ser- vices in suburban towns and rural sections.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 94

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649