USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 3
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
War of the Revolution, born in Windsor, Conn., who died in 1843, at the wonderful age of 108 years. After his marriage, Mr. Fenton huilt a log cabin in Carroll, on the southern side of the Chautauqua outlet, and followed the quiet life of an agriculturist very success- fully as long as he lived. It was in that little log cabin that Governor Reuben E. Fenton was born, as was George W. (2) Fenton, the governor's brother, and father of Thomas Jefferson Fenton, to whose memory this review is dedicated. Five sons were born to George W. and Elsie (Owen) Fenton : Roswell O., George WV. (2), of further mention; William H. H., John F., and Reuben E.
George WV. (2) Fenton, son of George W. and Elsie (Owen) Fenton, was born in the log cabin at Carroll, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1812. He was sent to school at College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, there making his home with his uncle, William Cary. After complet- ing his studies, he returned home and taught the school in what is now known as the Thayer district. He also aided his father in cultivating the home farm during vacation periods, continuing that practice until reaching legal age. In 1833 he embarked in the lumber business, his first venture being a partnership with the owner of a saw mill, they clearing and sawing the lumber from a 150 acre tract of timber land. Later, Mr. Fenton bought his partner's interest, and in course of time became a very extensive manufacturer of lumber. At that day the lumber was rafted down the streams and rivers to markets south and east. Mr. Fenton also became a large landowner, having a homestead farm of 500 acres, 800 acres near Sugargrove, Pa., 1,000 acres near Kingman, Pa., and with others owned 10,000 acres in other sections. He was well known in the lumber trade in New York and Pennsylvania, and wherever known was recognized as a man of great force of character and energy. He was a strong Dem- ocrat, public-spirited and progressive, deeply interested in all that concerned the welfare of his neighbors of Chautauqua county, and a willing helper in all forward movements. He died aged over cighty years.
George W. (2) Fenton married, July 3, 1834, Mitta B. Howard, who died Jan. 6, 1892, daughter of Luther and Jemima Howard. Children: Thomas Jefferson, of further mention; Wealthy, married George Georgi, of Jamestown; Martin L., of Jamestown; Anne E .. married John H. Frew, of Frewsburg; Laura L., married Charles Haynes: Lucy M., married William Prettie: Alice R., married Edward Haynes.
Thomas Jefferson Fenton, eldest child of George W. (2) and Mitta B. (Howard) Fenton, and nephew of Governor Reuben E. Fenton, was born at Hope Hollow, Carroll, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1835, and died at his home in Jamestown, N. Y., Aug. 5, 1919. He attended the district school, and later was a student at Farmer's College, at College Hill, Cincinnati, O., and later taught for a time in Chautauqua county schools. He soon became interested with his father in the lumber business, and became an expert river rafts- man, running lumber to Pittsburgh with his brother, Martin L. Later he bought the home farm of 430 acres, which he cultivated for several years, after which he rented it and made his own home on a farm of 50 acres which he owned in Frewsburg, until 1894, when he
moved to Jamestown, his home ever afterward, his residence at No. 169 South Main street. He contin- ued his interest in the lumber business as a member of the M. L. Fenton Lumber Company until his death. He was a man of integrity and honor, energetic, and progressive, a good citizen, and held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends. He was very fond of hunt- ing, and so expert with the rifle that he was known as "sure-shot Fenton." He hunted in the game forests of New York, Maine, and Canada, and thoroughly enjoyed his trips, not alone for the shooting but for the outing itself, he being a lover of nature in her wildest moods. He knew animals, their habits and haunts, and was also correspondent for magazines devoted to out-door life and sports. For forty years he found hunting and nature study his greatest recreation.
Mr. Fenton married (first) Alice Curtis, who died without issue. He married (second) Lydia Antoinette Allen, who died in 1882 at Frewsburg, N. Y., daughter of Charles Carr and Sarah E. (Crofoot) Allen; no issue. He married (third) April 23, 1883, Evangeline D. Allen, sister of his second wife, who survives him, residing on South Main street, Jamestown. Her only child, Clora L., married Henry Allen Bowers, and they have two children: Thomas Allen, and Ruth Elizabeth Bowers.
GEORGE WASHINGTON TEW, late of James- town and Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where for many years he was engaged in industrial, commercial and financial operations, and was one of the leading citizens of the region, was a native of Rensselaerville, N. Y., where his birth occurred April 15, 1804. The name is that of one of the best known and oldest families of New England.
William Tew, the father of George Washington Tew, was a native of the Island of Nantucket, Mass., his birth occurring there Sept. 17, 1769. There is a tradi- tion in the Tew family that the father of William Tew and two brothers were taken prisoners and died on a prison ship in New York harbor during the Revolution- ary War. There was, in fact, a Henry Tew who was made second lieutenant, later first lieutenant, and still later captain in the Revolution, according to the war records of Massachusetts, and he died on the prison ship, "Jersey," in New York harbor. He may possibly have been the father of William Tew, but thus far the records are confusing. William Tew's occupation was that of a carpenter and millwright. He came to New York State, settling at Hudson, about 1796, where he continued his trade, later removing to Rensselaer- ville. He next moved to Fly Creek, Otsego county, near Coopertown, where he remained and made his home until July, 1832. In that year he came to James- town, N. Y., where some members of his family had previously settled. There he passed the remainder of his life, and died there, April 26, 1847, at the age of seventy-eight years, and he was buried in the old cemetery where the public library now stands, on West Fifth street, but later was interred in Lakeview Ceme- tery. He was an esteemed attendant at the Universalist church, and a man noted for his honest and strong convictions.
William Tew married Priscilla Fish, who was born at
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Nantucket, Mass., March 16, 1776. She died at James- town, Feb. 13, 1852, at the age of seventy-six years, and is buried beside her husband in the Lakeview Ceme- tery. She was a member of the Society of Friends, and lived up to the teachings of the society in her every day life. She was a woman of strong character, and was deeply religious, a devoted wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs. William Tew were the parents of nine children, five girls and four boys as follows: Samuel Fish, horn at Hudson, April 9, 1798; Sally Ann, born Feb. 24, 1800, at Hudson, and married Richard F. Fen- ton; John Enos, born at Hudson, Jan. 4, 1802; George Washington, with whose career we are here especially concerned; Mary Eliza. born Sept. 5, 1806, at Rensselaerville, N. Y., and married Nicholas A. Sprague; William Henry, born July 16, 1808, at Rensselaerville; Emily Jane, born in Otsego county, N. Y., March 3, 1811, and married Rufus Jones; Ann Maria born, in Otsego county, Jan. 13, 1813, and married Orsell Cook; Betsey Matilda, born April 12, 1815, in Otsego county, and married Walter Stephens, Dec. 9, 1834.
George Washington Tew passed his early life and grew to manhood at Fly Creek at the home of his parents, and there he learned the trade of tinsmith. In 1825, then a young man of twenty-one years, he came to Jamestown and started in the tin-ware and sheet- iron business, locating just north of Shaw's hotel, which stood at the northwest corner of Main and Third streets, later removing to the southeast corner of Fourth and Main streets. He was engaged in that work for a few years, but being desirous of entering the profession of law, he read his subject in the office of Samuel A. Brown, who was a prominent attorney in Jamestown at that time. In 1831, Mr. Tew was admitted to the practice of his profession and became a partner of his former preceptor, Mr. Brown, which partnership continued until 1834, when Mr. Tew was elected county clerk of Chautauqua county. He filled the office for three years, making his home at the county seat. He was reelected in 1837 and filled the office until the close of 1840, when his term expired. He removed in April, 1841, to Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, and there he became cashier of the old State Bank of Silver Creek, which had been founded by Oliver Lee, who was at that time president of the institution. Mr. Tew later succeeded Mr. Lee as president and continued in that capacity during the remainder of his life, but was not actively engaged in the business for the few years prior to his death. He died at Silver Creek, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1875, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery at Jamestown in the family plot there. He was a man of great force of character, and was the possessor of the sterling virtues of honor and sincerity. His sound judgment was pro- verbial, and he was justly regarded as a most con- vincing speaker. Mr. Tew was very much devoted to his home and family; he was a regular attendant and member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder, and frequently a delegate to the General Assembly. In his political belief he was a Republican.
George Washington Tew married (first) at Cooper- town, N. Y., May 25, 1825, Mary Day Alger, who died in 1839, at Mayville, and is buried in Lakeview Ceme-
tery. They were the parents of the following children: I. Helen, born Sept. 16, 1826; married (first) Charles A. Rice, (second) Jerome Croker. 2. Minerva, born Nov. 13, 1828; married Isaac S. Powell, of Silver Creek, N. Y. 3. George Washington, Jr., whose sketch follows. 4. Mary Josephine, born Nov. 2, 1834, and died Jan. 7, 1839. George Washington Tew married (second) June 4, 1840, Caroline (Jackson) Reynolds, born April 9, 1810, at Nelson, N. Y., a daughter of Selathiel and Sarah (Covell) Jackson, and widow of Guy Reynolds. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds a daughter, Agnes, was born, who became the wife of John J. Whitney. Mr. Whitney's death occurred Dec. 26, 1916, and Mrs. Whitney now spends most of her time at Brookline, Mass. George W. and Caroline (Jackson-Reynolds) Tew were the parents of two children, as follows: I. Grace, born July 28, 1841, died at Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1904, the widow of Alfred Wilbur. 2. Willis, whose sketch follows.
GEORGE WASHINGTON TEW, JR., son of George Washington and Mary Day (Alger) Tew, was born at Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Jan. 6, 1832. Among his early recollections is the tearing down of the log cabin after the political campaign of IS40. It stood, as he remembers, on a vacant lot just above the present National Chautauqua County Bank. He and some other boys were watching its dismember- ment when one of the logs, bounding from another, struck and broke a leg of "Hi" Thompson, one of the boys. He also recalls a barbecue at or near the corner of West Second and Cherry streets, an ox having been roasted whole; and he repeats a stanza of one of the campaign songs of 1840, which runs as follows:
What has caused the great commotion. 'Motion, 'motion our country through? It is the ball a-rolling on For Tippecanoe and Tyler too,
And with them we'll beat little Van, Van, Van. Van is a used-up man.
In 1841 Mr. Tew's parents moved to Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, and after attending school there and at Fredonia and Lima, N. Y., he began business as a clerk in the Bank of Silver Creek (a State bank), later becoming its teller. In the fall of 1864 he went to Warren, Pa., to assist in the work of opening the new First National Bank, returning after two or three weeks to Silver Creek. During the following winter he was active with Thomas D. Hammond in getting subscriptions to the stock of the Second National Bank of Jamestown, and the bank opened for business in April, 1865, with Thomas D. Hammond as president, William H. Tew, vice-president, and George W. Tew, Jr., cashier. The name of the bank was afterwards changed to "The City National Bank of Jamestown." Mr. Tew was cashier, vice-president, and president of the bank at different times, finally resigning as president in 1893 on account of ill health. and has not since been in active business. Mr. Tew was president of the local Young Men's Christian Association nine years from its organization in 1884. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, was nine years its treasurer, and for several years one of the elders. He was one of the committee which purchased its present organ.
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Mr. Tew married at Portage, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1854, Lucia Amelia Whitney, born Dec. 31, 1834, at Conesus, N. Y., daughter of Benjamin Cady and Betsey (Mar- chant) Whitney. Two children were born to them: Herbert Whitney, and Georgia Lucia, wife of Gordon B. Hayward. Mrs. Tew died in Jamestown, Oct. 12, 1906.
Music has occupied an important part in Mr. Tew's life. His wife belonged to a musical family, and for several years a vocal quartette, composed of Mr. and Mrs. Tew, John J. Whitney and Laura P. Whitney (Mrs. Tew's brother and sister), had a local reputation. About 1866 The Chautauqua County Musical Conven- tion was organized. This society met annually by turns in the villages of Chautauqua county for instruc- tion in and the practice of vocal music, being conducted by such musical composers as William P. Bradbury, L. O. Emerson, T. E. Perkins, and others of note, the session continuing for four or five days, and closing with a public concert. Judson W. Breed and George W. Tew, Jr., were president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, and did the business work of the society for a number of years.
In politics Mr. Tew is a Republican. He was present as a spectator at the convention in Chicago in 1860 which nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. He went there as a follower of William H. Seward, but became an ardent supporter of Abraham Lincoln after his nomination. There were two speeches during the convention that were especially notable to him, one by George William Curtis, the other by William M. Evarts. The former was made against the motion of a delegate that a reference in the platform to the Declaration of Independence be stricken out as unnecessary. The charm and power of Mr. Curtis' eloquence easily imagined by those who have heard him, defeated the motion. After the states which had heen instructed otherwise began to turn to Lincoln there were calls, "New York, New York lower your banner" (for Seward). Mr. Evarts, who was the chairman of the New York delegation, which was instructed for William H. Seward, stood some time shaking his head but finally, at an opportune moment, stepped forward, and in a magnificent speech of a few minutes moved that the nomination of Abraham Lincoln be made unanimous.
WILLIS TEW, a retired banker and well known and prominent citizen of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a member of a family that has been prominent in the affairs of the region for a number of generations. He was born at Silver Creek, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., Fch. 27, 1844, and was the son of George Washington and Caroline (Jackson-Reynolds) Tew, and the grandson of William Tew, all of whom are mentioned at length in a preceding sketch.
As a child Mr. Tew attended the schools of his native town, later attending Phillips Andover Academy, in Massachusetts, graduating with the class of 1862. He then entered Yale University, but did not complete his course at that institution. Upon his return to Silver Creek, he became clerk and bookkeeper in the old State Bank of Silver Creek, of which his father was president. He remained with the bank in this position until the fall of 1864, when he accepted a post as
teller in the First National Bank at Warren, Pa., which had just been established, and here he remained until January, 1869, when he came to Jamestown and accepted a position as cashier of the Second National Bank, which later became the City National Bank, which office he held for three years. Later, Mr. Tew was vice-president and president of the City National Bank, until it and the Chautauqua County National Bank organized the Chautauqua County Trust Company, in 1896, when he became one of the Trust Company's two vice-presidents, and continued as officer and director of this company until about 1901, when he retired from business. Mr. Tew is fond of music and books. He is an attendant of the Presbyterian church at James- town.
Willis Tew was united in marriage, Nov. 18, 1869, with Mary Eliza Cady, of Jamestown, where on Dec. 17, 1886, Mrs. Tew died, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery.
WILLIAM N. GOKEY-High upon the honor roll of Jamestown must always stand the name of Wil- liam N. Gokey, who for more than forty years was iden- tified with the leading manufacturing and financial interests of the city, and who represented the highest ideals of citizenship. Commercial integrity meant much to him, but intellectual enlightment, civic righteous- ness, and the things of the spirit meant much more. His influence for good was felt either directly or in- directly by all his fellow-citizens, and his life has left a lasting impression upon the city.
Mr. Gokey, who was of French extraction, com- bined in his character the strong and sterling qualities of this great nationality from which he sprang. The emigrant from France, Joseph Gokey, settled first in Canada, where he was prominent in community affairs.
(II) Joseph (2) Gokey, son of Joseph (1) Gokey, was born near Montreal, Canada. Later he came to the United States, locating in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He married Rosa Barney, a native of France, living in Canada, and among their children was Joseph, see forward.
(III) Joseph (3) Gokey, son of Joseph (2) and Rosa (Barney) Gokey, was born in Montreal, Canada, 1797. and died in Cornwall, N. Y., in 1843. He was a ship carpenter by trade. He married Rosetta Derosia, of French decent. Their children were: Louis, born 1820; Eliza, born 1822; Charles, born 1823; Joseph, born 1825; Margaret, born 1827; Gershom, born 1829; Adeline, born 1831; Noah W., see forward; William, born 1835; Frank, born 1837.
(IV) Noah W. Gokey, son of Joseph (3) and Rosetta (Derosia) Gokey, was born in Massena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., March 10, 1833. He was a shoe man- ufacturer by trade. He married, June 9, 1853, Anna L. Monroe. To this union were born four children, as follows : Charles R .; William N., see forward ; Clara R., George F.
(V) William N. Gokey, son of Noah W. and Anna L. (Monroe) Gokey, was born in Rathboneville, Steuben county, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1855. He obtained his early education in the Jamestown public schools, and completed his education in Cornell University. How- ever, Mr. Gokey left before graduation in order that
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BIOGRAPHICAL
he might assist his father in his business, which had increased to such an extent as to necessitate his help, and subsequently became a partner of N. W. Gokey Company, shoe manufacturers. After receiving in- ducements from Jamestown to locate in this city, the N. W. Gokey Company established a plant here, bring- ing with them from their former place of business a considerable number of their employees.
In the year 1881 the Gokey company built the first of the Gokey buildings on Third street. They erected a four-story structure at the corner of Third and Cherry streets, and for several years had their factory in this building. Subsequently, they purchased the Lownsberry Block at the corner of Third street and Mechanics place, and in 1891 erected a brown stone block to connect these two buildings. When the death of his father, Noah W. Gokey, occurred, Mr. W. N. Gokey continued to operate the business with the help of his brother, George F. Gokey. One year previous to Mr. N. W. Gokey's death, N. W. Gokey & Company organized the Jamestown Light and Power Company, building the first electric light plant in this city. When the Gokey factory building was destroyed by fire in 1910, William N. Gokey purchased the factory building at No. 516 East Sixth street, and continued the manu- facture of sporting boots and army officers' boots. His sons, William N. Gokey, Jr., and Marvin N. Gokey, were later taken into partnership with him and the plant was then known as the William N. Gokey Shoe Company. Mr. Gokey continued in active business until a short time before his death.
Politically, Mr. Gokey was a Republican, but never cared for office. Fraternally, he was a member of the various Masonic bodies including the Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145; Western Sun Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons; Jamestown Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar; and Ismailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In church affiliations, Mr. Gokey was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. At time of his death he had been a member of the board of trustees for nearly twenty-two years and served as treasurer of the board for some time. He was also interested in the Biblical classes and had instructed classes for both men and women.
On Jan. 15, 1880, Mr. Gokey was united in marriage with Harriet Marvin, a daughter of David R. and Elizabeth (Cone) Marvin. To this union were born five children, as follows: 1. Mabel Elizabeth, born July 3, 1881; married Nelson W. Merritt. 2. Marvin N., born Feb. 4, 1884; married Floss G. Duffee. 3. Marvin Cone, born Sept. 26, 1890. 4. Clara Ruth, born May 31, 1894. 5. Helen Royce, born Jan. 29, 1903.
In concluding this record of Mr. Gokey's life we will say that Mr. Gokey was a man well known and respected throughout the Chautauqua county district, and his death called forth many beautiful tributes, among which was one written by one of his lifelong friends, who said in part:
Three distinquishing traits stand out in Mr. Gokey's life: love of home, loyalty to his church, and passion- ate attention to business. In his home there was a tenderness and sympathy charming and radiant. He loved his family and his children confided in him.
In the church he found the opportunity to expound the highest quality of mind and heart. Wise in counsel and affectionate in direction, he could be depended upon for safe guidance. For most thirty years he was a teacher in the Sunday school and the great success that made his work popular lay in the fact of constant preparation. No sooner was the day's lesson over than he was found in diligent search for the work of the next Sabbath. In business he fell upon hard times, but diligence had its reward. Quiet, unassuming, and rather retiring of nature, yet he won the hearts of the people.
Like all truly successful men, Mr. Gokey won his way because men had no reason to distrust him, be- cause they found him honest and straightforward. He saw that other methods might prosper for a while, and that some men rise to wealth and prominence by means not strictly honorable and just. He found in his business many temptations to profit and to abuse the confidence placed in him by his employes, he found around him in various circles little disposition to respect the demands of business candor and the rights of fairness and justice; a tendency to disregard the claims of the public whose patronage and support are solicited; but he despised all that; he resisted all such influences; he would have about him only men as honest and as fair as himself, and often said that he would prefer beggary and failure rather than resort to means which the public conscience, did it discover, would condemn. Men like that are apt to be regarded as stern, hard and harsh, but people recognize very soon an honest business man and testify their apprecia- tion by cordial support and constant patronage.
As he was in public so he was in private, and his honesty pervaded his personal actions. And of his private life many men could take a pattern of its good- ness, and find themselves better in the sight of God and their fellow-men. He loved his family and was never happy away from them. He was generous, kind- hearted, always ready with a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. An injury he soon forgave, but a favor he never forgot. This fine trait of his character is illustrated by a fact that appeared when Mr. Gokey's will was read. At one time when he was in straightened circumstances and he was badly in need of money, his daughter Clara Ruth, who was then about four years of age, came to him and said "Let me help you daddy dear," and gave him a penny that had been given her earlier in the day. This little act of thoughtfulness on the part of his little daughter gave him new courage and from then on he continued to prosper. He kept the penny she had given him and when at any time he was downhearted and sad he had only to look at the penny to find new courage. That he never forgot this little act of kindness to him was shown when his will was read. He gave his daughter her penny back increased 100,000 times. And we may take the lesson that this little incident un- consciously teaches, "One little act of kindness will come back to us increased thousands of times."
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