USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 30
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L. L amidon.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
and that she died at Rehoboth, June 20, 1668. He married (second) December 27, 1668, Joanna Harwood, a daughter of George and Jane Harwood, who survived him, her death occurring July 1, 1711. By his first wife he had the following children: Sarah, Lydia, and Hannah, while by the second three more were born to him, as follows: Philip, of whom further; Henry, and Mehitable.
(11) Philip Amidon, eldest son of Roger and Joanna (Harwood) Amadowne, was born January 26, 1670, at Rehoboth, Massachusetts. He died at Oxford, Mas- sachusetts, March 15, 1747, having moved to that place in 1717. At Oxford he and his wife became members of the church at the time of its organization, and he took an active part in the general life of the community. He was a farmer and cooper by trade, and held a number of local offices, including that of selectman, to which he was elected in 1730, and constable, to which he was appointed five years later. He married (first) at Rehoboth, May 27, 1698, Mehitable Perry, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary (Millard) Perry. She, like her husband, was a native of Rehoboth, where her birth occurred, April 30, 1680, and her death July 4, 1699. He married (second) September 16, 1700, Ithamar Warfield, born March 28, 1676, a daughter of Deacon John Warfield, of Mendon, and his third wife, Han- nah (Randall) Warfield. By his first wife Philip Ami- don was the father of one child, Henry, of further mention: and by his second, of eight children, as fol- lows: Roger, Ichabod, Mary, Philip, Ephraim, Itha- mar, Jolın, and Hannah.
(III) Henry Amidon, the only child of Philip Ami- don by his first wife, Mehitable (Perry) Amidon, was born February 8, 1699, at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and died at Ashford, Connecticut, March 5, 1778. Dur- ing the major part of his life, however, he lived at Oxford and Dudley, Massachusetts, where he was en- gaged in the occupation of farming until 1744, when he removed to Ashford. He married, March 31, 1718, at Mendon, Meltiah Cheney, born October 14, 1690, died May 17, 1780, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Thurston) Cheney. They were the parents of the following children: Jacob, Mehitable, Joseph, and Henry (2), of further mention.
(IV) Captain Henry (2) Amidon, son of Henry (1) and Meltiah (Cheney) Amidon, was born May 3, 1727, at Oxford, Massachusetts, but early in life re- moved to Pomfret, Connecticut, where he engaged in the occupation of farming. Still later, some time sub- sequent to 1752, he went to Willington, Connecticut, where he made his home until the time of his death. Captain Amidon took part in the Revolutionary War, and was one of those who marched on the famous "Lexington Alarm" of April 19, 1775, from Willington, and is credited with nine days' service on that occasion. He was later commissioned by Governor Jonathan Trumbull, March 21, 1777, as captain of the Third Company, Twenty-second Regiment, Connecticut Militia, and served with that body at New London and elsewhere. He married, September 25, 1751, at Pom- fret, Sarah Doubledee (or Doubleday), who died at Willington, January 8, 1794. They were the parents of the following children: Jedediah, who died in early childhood; Jedediah (2), Moses, Jonathan, Mary,
Jacob, of further mention; William, Henry, Asaryl, and Sarah.
(V) Jacob Amidon, son of Captain Henry (2) and Sarah (Doubledee) Amidon, was born March 5, 1764, at Willington, Connecticut, and passed his childhood and youth there. In 1805, however, he removed to Onondaga county, New York, and settled near Na- varino, where he remained until the time of his death, September 17, 1838. He served as a private in Cap- tain Durkee's company of Connecticut militia from August 12, 1782, to August 12, 1783, during the Revo- lution, and in 1833 was placed on the roll of pensioners of that war. He married Hannah Pool, of Willington, and they were the parents of the following children: Samuel, Jacob, Elijah, Leonard, of further mention; Hannah, Lewis, Moses, Lucinda, Philoma, and Henry.
(VI) Leonard Amidon, son of Jacob and Hannah (Pool) Amidon, was born February 5, 1799, at Will- ington, Connecticut, but as a child, accompanied his father to Onondaga county, New York, and made his home at Navarino. Upon reaching maturity, however, he removed to the town of Clymer, Chautauqua county, and still later to Wayne, Erie county, Penn- sylvania, where his death occurred, July 4, 1872. Dur- ing his entire life he followed the occupation of farm- ing, and in all the communities where he dwelt, won the respect of his fellow citizens for his hard and consist- ent work, and sterling virtues of character. He mar- ried (first) Esther Smith, a native of Fairfield, Con- necticut, where she was born June 28, 1799, and who died April 24, 1859. She was a daughter of Jolin and Nancy (Wiggins) Smith. He married (second) in Onondaga county, Cynthia Davis. By his two mar- riages he was the father of the following children: I. Rev. John Smith, a minister of the United Brethren Church, at Corry, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred, October 3, 1898; he married, September 4. 1882, Charlotte A. Curtis, and they were the parents of the following children: Eugene C., Nelson J., Charles Fremont, Fannie, and Effie. 2. Lorenzo D., a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade, who removed to Brooklyn, Wisconsin, where his death occurred February 22, 1895; he married (first) Olive Stark- wether, and (second) Fanny Lord; his first wife bore him seven children, as follows: Henry, William A., Francis Watson Eddy, Wilbur Eddy, Esther A., Ella L., and Emma L .; by his second wife he had two chil- dren: Gilbert, and Byron. 3. Lewis, of further men- tion. 4. Eliza. 5. William Farmer, of Clymer, New York, who enlisted in the Third Pennsylvania Regi- ment, Heavy Artillery, and lost his life in the Civil War, at Baltimore, Maryland, in November, 1865, and is buried in the National Soldiers' Cemetery, No. 1818; he married Mary Jane Thompson, and they were the parents of three children: Mary Jeanette, Leon- ard William, and Thompson Smith. 6. George J., a graduate of the Spencerian Business College, of Cleve- land, Ohio, and for several years a teacher of penman- ship at Pittsfield, Massachusetts; he was later a farmer at North East Pennsylvania, but spent the last years of his life at Brooklyn, New York, where his death occurred, December 27, 1899; he married (first) Isabel J. Adams, and (second) Rosa J. Roberts, and by his two marriages was the father of five children, as fol-
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
lows: Edwin A., Clark L., Cassius M., Lucy Belle, and Georgia Alberta. 7. Mary A., who became the wife of Chester Adams, to whom she bore two chil- dren: Frank E., and Dr. Melvin L. 8. Esther Elmira, who became the wife of the Rev. William H. Hodge. a minister and a veteran of the Civil War, who served in Company C, Fifteenth Regiment, New York Volun- teer Infantry, in that momentous struggle; they were the parents of three children, as follows: Flora A., Charles, and Byron.
(VII) Lewis Amidon, son of Leonard and Esther (Smith) Amidon, was born June 16, 1825, at Clymer, New York. He continued to reside at that place dur- ing his entire life, and there followed the occupation of farming, his death occurring March 1, 1896. He served in the Civil War, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, Third Artillery, from March 7, 1863, until November, 1865. He married, March 29, 1849, Martha M. Hager, born May 2, 1839, a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Backus) Hager. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: 1. Arthur A., of further mention. 2. Alice Adell, born September 8, 1852, married, Janu- ary 1, 1872, George Beebe, of Clymer, to whom she bore two children: Clarence and Arthur. 3. Florence L., born May 18, 1855, and married, January 1, 1880, William Green, of Marvin, New York, born in 1854, and a farmer at that place; they were the parents of five children, as follows: i. Earl L., born April 28, 1881: ii. Forrest, born May 9, 1882; iii. Iva B., born November 29, 1884: iv. Charles, born in December, 1888; v. Ethel, born in March, 1893. 4. Benjamin Moses, born February 7, 1859, died April 27, 1894: married, November 28, 1892, Estella Wallace. 5. Elma Arvilla, born May 25, 1861, and married, April 20, 1879, William Schermerhorn, born September 5, 1855, died June 6, 1886; Mrs. Schermerhorn survives her husband, to whom she bore the following children: i. Lloyd B., born August 25, 1880, and married, October 16, 1901, Edith May Martin; ii. Lyle C., born Sep- tember 28. 1883; iii. Willard C., born July 18, 1886. 6. Edgar Backus, born July 23, 1863, married, Septem- ber 4, 1897, Emma Prescott, born at Eldred, Pennsyl- vania, January 27, 1876, and resides at Findley Lake, New York; they were the parents of the following children: i. Ruth Evelyn, born November 16, 1898, at Findley Lake, New York; ii. Alice Marie, born June 15, 1900, at Findley Lake, New York; iii. Prescott Ulysses, born April 16, 1903, at Eldred, Pennsylvania; iv. Marjorie M., born July 1, 1905, at Findley Lake, New York; v. Jessie Maxine, born September 16, 1907, at Findley Lake. 7. Fred Zacius, born May 2, 1870, and died March 8, 1910, at Clymer, New York.
(VIII) Arthur A. Amidon, eldest son of Lewis and Martha M. (Hager) Amidon, was born May 17, 1850, and educated in the public schools of his native place. Upon completing his studies at an early age, the youth worked in several different localities at farming and lumbering. He was exceedingly enterprising, and when no more than thirty years of age, became a contractor, dealing in live stock, while two years later he rented a farm of one hundred acres, which he cultivated in connection with his other ventures. He continued at the same time dealing in bark, lumber, horses, and real estate, and in 1880 he became hardwood lumber buyer
for Taylor & Crate, the large lumber dealers of Buf- falo, New York, with whom he remained until 1900. Prior to this, however, Mr. Amidon had been in the South, locating in 1881 at Jonesville, Virginia, where he was engaged in purchasing lumber. He returned to Clymer in 1883, and in 1884 removed to Jamestown, where he has since resided. At Jamestown, after sever- ing his connection with Taylor & Crate, he founded the wholesale lumber firm of A. A. Amidon & Sons, which continues in business at the present time. He has been largely engaged in the erection of dwellings and flats for renting purposes and has also built a number of handsome business blocks. His contracting business is not confined to the city of Jamestown, however, but | extends throughout the surrounding neighborhood, and 1 there is no man who does a larger business or enjoys : a higher reputation for the character of his work in this region. Another venture of Mr. Amidon was the opening of a department store at Jamestown, which he continued for three years, but finally gave up on account of the time and attention required by his con- tracting business. Mr. Amidon has taken a keen in- terest throughout his long life in the general affairs of the community, and is affiliated with a large number of important organizations here. He is a member of and a staunch supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association, and has been a trustee of the local body since it was founded here. He has also held a number of important public offices, has served on the school board of Clymer, was alderman of the Fourth Ward of Jamestown for one year, and was president of the local Board of Public Works for two years. He is a Methodist in his religious belief and attends the church of that denomination at Jamestown, serving therein as a member of the board of trustees. He was one of the promoters of the Jamestown Metal Furni- ture Company, which has since become the Art Metal Construction Company; was one of the original stock- holders and promoters of the Bank of Jamestown, of which he is now a director; was one of the advisory committee in charge of the erection of the Young Women's Christian Association Building; and has in many ways promoted the material interest of this com- munity. He is a member of the Lumbermen's Associa- tion, and the Patriotic Order, Sons of Veterans. He is keenly interested in local history and genealogy, and was himself largely instrumental in tracing the line of descent of the Amidons in America and publishing a volume on their genealogy.
Arthur A. Amidon was united in marriage (first) May 29, 1872, with Edith Ida Gron, born May 22, 1851, at Grossfal, Sweden, and died December 11, 1879, a daughter of Peter and Cora (Smith) Gron. He married (second) February 11, 1881, Hannah (Gron) Haven, born October 24, 1851, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Simpson) Gron, and a widow of Jacob Haven, to whom she bore a son, Charles F. Haven. The children of Mr. Amidon by his first wife were as follows: I. Byron Peter, born July 3, 1873 ,died July 8, of the same year. 2. Myron August, a twin of Byron P., who died on the day of his birth. 3. Cora Belle, born October 30, 1875, and became the wife of Manfred M. Sadler, of Russell, Pennsylvania, to whom she bore one son, Arthur Amidon, who resides at North Warren, Pennsylvania. Mr. Amidon, by his
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BIOGRAPHICAL
second marriage, was the father of the following chil- dren: 4. Levi Lewis, of further mention. 5. Otto Melvin, born February 26, 1885, educated at the pub- lic schools of Jamestown, the Jamestown Business Col- lege, and the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of Buffalo; he became a member of the firm of A. A. Amidon & Sons, and later was associated with Taylor & Crate, of Buffalo; he is a member of the Lumber- men's Association of New York. 6. Pearl Maud, born December 12, 1886, educated at the Jamestown High School, and at present a teacher in the Young Women's Christian Association. 7. Minnie, who died in infancy. 8. Nellie Viola, born December 30, 1894, educated at the Jamestown Public School, and now a member of the Young Women's Christian Association, of James- town.
(IX) Levi Lewis Amidon, son of Arthur A. and Hannah (Gron-Haven) Amidon, was born April 17, 1883, at Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York. As a lad he attended the Jamestown Grammar and High School, and later took a course at the James- town Business College. He then entered Allegheny College, where his education was completed. Mr. Amidon may be said to have been trained from child- hood in the lumber business, having taken some part in the work of his father's concern since fourteen years of age. For five years he was a member of the firm of A. A. Amidon & Sons, and later became chief buyer for the Maddox Table Company, a position which he held for thirteen years. In 1919 Mr. Ami- don, in association with his brother, Otto Melvin, pur- chased the Maddox Table Company's wholesale lum- ber yard, which was at that time owned by the Maddox Table Company. He and his brother deal in all kinds of hardwood, including mahogany, and in pine and other lumbers, and form one of the most important enterprises of the kind in the region. The concern contemplates greatly increasing the scope of its busi- ness shortly, and is now the owner of some splendidly equipped mills, where it is going to engage in the manufacturing side of the enterprise. Mr. Amidon is himself one of the most expert judges of lumber in the country, and holds a very high place in the esteem of his business associates. He is a member of the Lum- bermen's Association, a Republican in politics, and has held a number of town offices, including that of mem- bership on the town board of Frewsburg, New York, and of the school board at the same place, and was also made an associate member of the Somerville Derby Post, of Frewsburg, New York. In religious belief, Mr. Amidon is a Methodist and attends the Frewsburg Methodist Episcopal Church.
Levi Lewis Amidon was united in marriage, De- cember 24, 1903, with Eva M. Schopp, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, where her birth occurred, December 18, 1884, and a daughter of William and Barbara (Steller) Schopp. They are the parents of the following chil- dren: Dorothy Eva, born June 11, 1906; Eugene Levi, born October 5, 1908; Jeannette, born in 1913; and Catherine, born in 1917.
EMMA L. (PIERCE) JORDAN, M. D .- Dr. Jor- dan comes from a family of professional men and women, and from a distinguished New England an-
cestry, a president of the United States belonging in the family. As teachers, physicians, and members of the bar, many of the name had won fame, and in her was early developed an ambition for one of these pro- fessions. Her opportunity did not come until after her marriage, when she felt free to follow her own ambitions. She persevered until obtaining her degree, then began practice in Corry, Pennsylvania, one of the first woman physicians there. In 1902, she located in Jamestown, where she has built up a good practice.
Dr. Jordan is a daughter of John Pierce, born in New Hampshire, who when a young man lived for a time in the province of Quebec, Canada, engaged in teaching. Later he lived in Derby and Newbury, Ver- mont, but the latter years of his life were spent in Natick, Massachusetts, where he died and was buried. He married Abigail W. Fisk, also of New England ancestry, who survived him, and died at the home of her daughter, Dr. Jordan, in Corry, Pennsylvania. She was a woman of rare refincment, a devoted wife and mother. John and Abigail W. Pierce were the parents of seven children: John S., who was a well known educator of the State of California; George A., also an educator in California; Henry K., a lawyer of Los Angeles, California; Charles A., a practicing phy- sician of Natick, Massachusetts; Horace A., an agri- culturist, residing in California; Clara C., deceased wife of Charles Hanson; Emma L., of further men- tion.
Emma L. Pierce was born in Derby, Vermont, and there spent her girlhood years. She attended school in Newbury, Vermont, was a special course student at Newbury Theological Seminary, and later attended the Allen School at West Newton, Massachusetts. She then began teaching in the Newbury public school, and continued an instructor of the young in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire until completing eighteen terms. She then married Albert Jordan, a harness maker of Newbury, Vermont, and a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-third Regiment, Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and served until his health gave way, when he was honorably discharged and mustered out. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jordan moved to Pennsylvania, locating in the oil region, residing in Corry, and Russell, Mr. Jordan being employed at his trade. He died in Russell in 1902.
Prior to the death of her husband, Mrs. Jordan had read medicine under the preceptorship of her brother, Dr. Charles A. Pierce, of Natick, Massachusetts, and under other physicians, and was duly admitted to practice. She practiced in Corry, Pennsylvania, and in Russell and vicinity, beginning in 1887. After Mr. Jordan's death in 1902, Dr. Jordan located in James- town, New York, where she has since made her home. She has not practiced continuously during those years, but has taken frequent periods of rest and recreation, during which she has toured the United States thor- oughly. She spent some time in San Francisco, Cali- fornia, being connected with St. Luke's Hospital. Re- turning to Jamestown, New York, she became resident physician of The Bergman Sanitarium, an institution with which Dr. William M. Bemus, of Jamestown, was connected. She has now practically retired from prac-
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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
tice, but for twenty-two years gave much of her time and ability to the profession she loved. She is a deep student and thinker, and has devoted much thought, time and study to the problems, social and otherwise, which confront the public-at-large. She is a willing worker in the cause of the public good. and truly has the welfare of the people at heart. A firm believer in the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man, she lends her aid to all social uplift movements; advo- cates government ownership of all necessities of life, in short, is a Christian Socialist. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and true to the tenets of that church. She preaches equality of the sexes in all things, and has decided opinions on all grave ques- tions of public policy, opinions arrived at through care- ful study, and these opinions she defends with knowl- edge and vigor. She orders her life by the Golden Rule, and is a woman highly esteemed and respected by a wide circle of friends. She is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. Dr. Jordan has no living chil- dren. Her first born, Susie Ethel Jordan, an accon- plished girl, died in youthful womanhood; Lucia Joseph- ine, the second child, died in infancy; and her only son, Charles A., died in young manhood. Her adopted daughter, Vera Valentine Jordan, resides in James- town with her mother.
HARLEY NUTTING CROSBY, surrogate of Chautauqua county, residing at Falconer, New York, and one of the most influential citizens of this place, was born at Parish, Oswego county, New York, June 25, 1873. Mr. Crosby is a son of Solomon Hakes and Celia Ann (Nutting) Crosby, old and highly respected residents of Oswego county, where the former was en- gaged in the occupation of farming and was prominent in local affairs, having held the office of town assessor for a number of years.
Judge Crosby was a student at the public schools of his native place, and later attended the Parish Acad- emy, from which he was graduated in 1891, and was at the same time prepared for college. He then entered Cornell University, where he took the usual Classical course and was graduated with the class of 1896. He studied further at Cornell Law School, and in 1897 took the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately upon completing his studies, Judge Crosby came to Falconer, New York, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession continuously since March I, 1898. During that time Judge Crosby has made a place for himself among the leading attorneys of the county, and has handled much of the important litiga- tion in these parts. Judge Crosby has confined his activities to the practice of his profession, excepting in so far as he is interested as a stockholder in a num- ber of industrial concerns in this region and in the Bank of Jamestown of Jamestown, New York. He has, however, taken a very conspicuous part in the public life of the community, and is one of the leading Republicans of the region. He has been elected to a number of town offices, including that of village clerk of Falconer, a post which he held from 1898 to 1907. He was also supervisor of the town of Ellicott from 1904 to 1907, and has been surrogate of Chautauqua county from 1906 to the present time, his term expiring
January 1, 1925. During the time that the United States was engaged in the great World War, Judge Crosby was exceedingly active in war work here, and occupied the post of chairman of the draft board for Division No. 3 of Chautauqua county. He is also prominent in social and fraternal circles, and is a mem- ber of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having taken the third degree in Free Masonry. He is also a member of the Delta Chi, college fraternity, and of the University Club and Kiwanis Club of Jamestown. Although not a formal member of any church, Judge Crosby is a regular attendant at the Methodist Epis- copal church here, and has taken a prominent part in the activities of the congregation, being a devoted worker in the Sunday school.
Judge Harley Nutting Crosby was united in mar- riage, November 30, 1899, at Genoa, Cayuga county, New York, with Helen Inez Howe, a daughter of Squire and Emma (Conklin) Howe, of that place. To Judge and Mrs. Crosby two children have been born, as follows: Barbara Conklin, February 4, 1910, and Margaret Inez, October 4, 1915.
HENRY W. ODELL-The settling and develop- ment of this great continent have brought to the fore a remarkable number of brilliant and courageous men, pioneers in many different directions, whose names stand as symbols of strength and capability in most of the departments of human endeavor. Not less de- serving of reverence and admiration than the first hardy colonists, who actually cleared the ground for our first towns and villages, are those other pioneers who followed them and overcame the countless diffi- culties in the way of building up an adequate industrial and financial system in the new land. From one or two central points, which have since become the great metropolises of this hemisphere, they spread out, launching their enterprises in every direction, until there are but few parts of the world where their influ- ence does not penetrate. Especially is this true of those remarkable men who, seizing upon a new idea, an enterprise of which their fellows were still skeptical, risked great sums of money and their business reputa- tions to establish and extend the vast system of petro- Jeum production. In this vast achievement the State of New York has not been behind the remainder of the country in the enterprise displayed by her citizens or in the number and quality of the notable men she has produced. Among these the name of Henry W. Odell is prominent as that of one whose long life was devoted uninterruptedly to the development of the re- sources of his county, State and Nation, and whose death, December 17, 1919, in Jamestown, New York, deprived not only that city of one of its most influen- tial and highly respected citizens, but the entire State of New York as well.
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