USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 40
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Henry Louis Odell was born May 23, 1884, in War- ren, Penn., a son of Henry W. Odell, whose biography appears upon other pages of these volumes. When about the age of four years he was brought to James- town by his parents, and here received his early edu- cation, later attending for a short time Phillips Acad- emy, at Andover, Mass., and Jamestown High School, from which he graduated with the class of 1006. He then attended Bryant & Stratton Business College at Buffalo, N. Y., and graduated therefrom. Imme- diately after graduating, Mr. Odell formed a partner- ship with Asa Ashworth and manufactured worsted yarn in Jamestown, N. Y. They continued in this business until 1910, when the company moved to Sala- manca, N. Y., where it was incorporated under the State laws, and was known as the Ashworth, Odell Worsted Company. Mr. Odell was made secretary and treasurer of this company and continued in that position up to the time of his death. He was also one of the incorporators of the Midland Wool Company, of which, at the time of his demise, he was secretary and treasurer. Politically, Mr. Odell was a staunch Republican, but he never cared for the emoluments of office, preferring to devote his time to his home and business. Mr. Odell was also very popular in the social and fraternal circles of Jamestown and Sala- manca, where he made his home for some time, being a member of the various Masonic bodies including Cattaraugus Lodge, No. 239, Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Western Sun Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of Jamestown; Salamanca Commandery, No. 62, Knights Templar; Buffalo Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite; and the Ismailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Odell was also a member of Salamanca Lodge, No. 1025, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In reli- gions affiliations he was a devoted member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Jamestown, N. Y.
Mr. Odell was united in marriage with Agnes Ash- worth, a daughter of Abraham and Alice (Hinds) Ashworth, Oct. 3, 1906. To this union was born one daughter, Alice Lenna, born Dec. 15, 1914.
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Mr. Odell's untimely death, which occurred Dec. 27, 1919, was the cause of deep sorrow on the part of all who knew him personally, and of a very real regret in the community generally, which was the loser by the sad event. Vigorous, hale and possessed of all the keen faculties that had already served him so well in his career, there seemed every reason to believe the most brilliant things for his never-to-be-realized future. It is not enough to say that he would be one of the leading citizens of his city, that he was already, and indeed what might have been is a vain subject for speculation. Certain it is, however, that one of his most remarkable gifts was the swiftness of his actions, a swiftness so great that he had accomplished while still in his young manhood what it takes many a man of real ability a lifetime to consummate, and it is fur- thermore certain that he was traveling the road to further success, power and fame.
MARVIN LAVERN CLAPP-One of the success- ful attorneys at law of the present generation is Mar- vin Lavern Clapp, whose offices are at No. 504 Fenton building, Jamestown, N. Y. He was born in Ellington, N. Y., July 7, 1879, a son of Aaron W. and Mary S. (Smith) Clapp. His father, Aaron W. Clapp, Jr., deceased, was for more than twenty-five years a hotel proprietor of Ellington, N. Y., and his mother is now (1919) a resident of Ellington, N. Y.
Marvin Lavern Clapp received his early education in the public schools of his native town, Ellington. He continued his studies at the Ellington Academy and the Union Free School, and after his graduation in 1895 he pursued post-graduate work for two years, then began the study of law in the office of the Hon. Vernon E. Peckham, at Jamestown. In 1800 he en- tered the Albany Law School, at Albany, N. Y., and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1900. He was admitted to the bar in Nov., 1900, at Rochester, N. Y., and did his early professional work in the office of Judge Peckham. Returning to Ellington, he was for two years in private practice, then came to Jamestown, N. Y., where he formed an association with the legal firm of Wade & Stevenson. This continued until 1910, when the partnership was dissolved, and subsequent to that time Mr. Clapp and Mr. Wade practiced together until June 1, 1914, the firm of Wade, Thrasher & Clapp being formed at that time. The death of Mr. Wade caused the firm style to become Thrasher & Clapp, its present title.
In his political affiliations Mr. Clapp is Republican. He is a member and past commander of James Hall Camp, Sons of Veterans, and takes great interest in this order. Besides the offices held in the local camp of the Sons of Veterans, he has held offices in the New York division as division patriotic instructor, 1917-18, and division counsellor, 1918-19. Mr. Clapp is a communicant of the First Congregational Church, of Jamestown, N. Y. Mr. Clapp is an able master of his profession, a strong advocate, and in temperament, personality and mentality is eminently fitted for his work. He is a tireless worker in his client's cause and holds high position in his calling.
Mr. Clapp married, June 27, 1906, Mary L. White, of Kennedy, N. Y. They are the parents of two chil-
dren, Harold L., born June 14, 1909, and George E., born June 19, 1915. A daughter, Frances J. Clapp, died Dec. 28, 1918, aged eleven years.
GEORGE W. FULLER, for many years most prominently associated with the great grape growing industry of Chautauqua county, and a figure of influ- ence and importance in the community, is a member of a family that has long played a prominent part in the affairs of this region and still longer in the early history of Connecticut, where it settled in early Colo- nial times.
The Fuller family traces its descent back to one Robert Fuller, of Redenhall, England, who flourished in the early part of the seventeenth century at that place, and there was engaged in business as a butcher. He was well-to-do, and with his wife, Frances, had six or eight children, all of whom, according to the will that has been handed down to us, he provided generously for at his death. Two of his sons, Edward and Samuel, sailed for the New World in the "May- flower" on its momentous voyage in 1620, and were among the Pilgrim Fathers who first settled the Plym- outh Colony. Dr. Samuel Fuller, as he is known, was an eminent physician, and a wise and pious man, who was persecuted for his religious convictions by the faction in power in England and found it necessary to flee his native land. He was one of the band who sought refuge in Holland in 1608, and from that coun- try came to the colonies.
(I) Edward Fuller, the brother of Dr. Samuel Ful- ler, and from whom the branch of the family with which we are concerned descended, was baptized in the parish of Redenhall, Norfolkshire, England, Sept. 4, 1575. He appears to have remained in England at the time of his brother's migration to Holland, and probably joined the Pilgrims at Southampton for the epoch-making voyage. Landing at Cape Cod, in Nov., 1620, with his wife and son, he became one of the original members of the Plymouth Colony, but did not live long to enjoy the religious liberty he had sought at the ends of the earth, his death occurring at Plym- outh, April 10, 1621, and that of his wife having oc- curred still earlier in the year.
(II) Samuel Fuller, only son of Edward and Ann (?) Fuller, was born about 1612, in England, and accom- panied his parents to New England on the "May- flower." The death of his parents leaving him an orphan, he was reared by his uncle, Dr. Samuel Fuller, at Plymouth. He was granted three acres at the divi- sion of land in 1623, on the south side of the town brook, and including what is now Watson's Hill. At' the death of his uncle, he inherited from that worthy man a quantity of cattle, swine and personal effects, and, being then in young manhood, left the colony to seek a home elsewhere. He became a freeman in 1634, and settled at Scituate, where he built himself the fif- teenth house in that community and joined the church. His house, which he describes as "a small plaine palli- zadse House," was very simply constructed, the walls consisting of poles between which stones and clay were filled, the roof thatched, the windows of oiled paper, and the floor of hand sawed planks. He was the owner of about twenty acres of land, probably a grant from
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the town. He later removed to Barnstable, probably at that time the most easterly settlement on Cape Cod, and with Captain Matthew Fuller, his cousin, purchased of Secunke, an Indian, that portion of Scor- ton, or Sandy Neck, lying within the town. He also bought other lands, and appears to have prospered and become one of the prominent men of the place. He was the only passenger of the "Mayflower" who settled permanently at Barnstable, and was one of the late survivors of that company. He had been con- stable at Scituate, and his name appears as a juryman or as a member of committees to settle disputes with the Indians. His death occurred in 1683. He mar- ried, April 8-18, 1635, Jane Lathrop, daughter of the Rev. John Lathrop, pastor of the Scituate church. The wedding occurred at Mr. Cudworth's house, at Scitu- ate, and the ceremony was performed by Captain Miles Standish, "on ye fourthe daye of ye weeke." Samuel Fuller and his wife were the parents of the following children: Hannah, born at Scituate, who became the wife of Nicholas Bonham, of Barnstable; Samuel, bap- tized Feb. II, 1637, at Scituate; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joseph (?) Taylor; Sarah, baptized Aug. I, 1641; Mary, baptized June 16, 1644; Thomas, born May 18, 1651; Sarah (2), born Dec. 10, 1654; Jolin, of whom further; and a child who died in early infancy.
(III) John Fuller, son of Samuel and Jane (Lathrop) Fuller, was born about the year 1656, at Barnstable, and was generally known as "Little John," to distin- guish him from his cousin, Dr. John Fuller. He re- sided at Scorton Neck, on his father's estate until 1694, when he removed to East Haddam. He prospered highly at that place, and about 1721 conveyed to each of his seven sons ample lands, together with the neces- sary farming implements. He died at East Haddam, Conn., between Feb. 28 and May 20, 1726. He married, about 1678, Mehitabel Rowley, daughter of Moses Rowley, and a native of Barnstable, Mass., where her birth occurred Jan. 11, 1661-62. She died at East Had- dam about 1732. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Thomas, of whom further; Samuel, born about 1682, at Barnstable; Shubael, born about 1684, at Barnstable; Thankful, born about 1688, at Barnstable, and became the wife of Jabez Crippen, a son of Thomas Crippen, of Falmouth; Deborah, born about 1689, and married, in 1716, John Rowley, son of Moses and Mary Rowley; Edward, born about 1691, at Barnstable; Elizabeth, born about 1693, at Barn- stable, and became the wife of Samuel Rowley, of East Haddam and Hebron, Conn., her cousin; John, born Nov. 10, 1697, at East Haddam: Joseph, born March I, 1699-1700, at East Haddam: Benjamin, born Oct. 20, 1701, at East Haddam; Anne, born about 1703-04, at East Haddam, and became the wife of Jonathan Row- ley, of East Haddam and Sharon; Mehitabel, born April 6, 1706, at East Haddam, and became the wife of Benjamin Kneeland.
(IV) Thomas Fuller, son of John and Mehitabel (Rowley) Fuller, was born about 1679, at Barnstable, and died April 9, 1772, at East Haddam, Conn. He married Elizabetlı , born about 1689, and died Nov. 5, 1784, at East Haddam, and they were the par- ents of the following children: Ebenezer, of whom further; Thomas, born April 5, 1717, married (first)
Martha Rowley, and (second) Mary Hosmer; Nathan, born April 20, 1719, and married Abigail ----; Han- nah, born March 21, 1720, and married, in 1743, Capt. William Church, of East Haddam; Jabez, born Feb. 19, 1722, and married Lois Hubbard; Jonathan, born Jan. 12, 1725, died in 1758, unmarried; Elizabeth, born in March, 1727, and became the wife of Samuel Church, of East Haddam.
(V) Ebenezer Fuller, eldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth Fuller, was born Oct. 27, 1715, at East Had- dam, and died Sept. 30, 1749, at Hebron, Conn. He married, Sept. 30, 1738, Mary Rowley, who was prob- ably a daughter of Moses and Martha (Porter) Row- ley, of Colchester and East Haddam, where she was born Dec. 5, 170S, and died at Hebron, Feb. 5. 1798. They were the parents of the following children: Eben- ezer, of further mention; Dimmis, born Oct. 1, 1742, at Hebron, and became the wife of Solomon Hunting- ton of that place; Mary, born Aug. 25. 1743, and be- came the wife of John Filer; Ozias, born Sept. 25, 1745; Roger, born July 21, 1747; Elizabeth, born April 5, 1750, and married, in 1769, Joshua Phelps, Jr.
(VI) Ebenezer (2) Fuller, eldest son of Ebenezer (1) and Mary (Rowley) Fuller, was born May 8, 1739, at Hebron, Conn. He enlisted May 8, 1762, in Captain Timothy Northam's company, in the service of the Province of New York, according to the muster rolls in the collection of the New York Historical Society. He married Abigail Hendee, March 20, 1764, and they were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born at Hebron: Rowena, born March 3, 1765, and married, in 1784, Jared Phelps, son of John and Deborah (Dewey) Phelps; Abigail, born Nov. 25, 1766, and died in 1853, at Becket, Mass., married Na- than Phelps, son of John and Deborah (Dewey) Phelps; Mehitabel, born Feb. 13, 1770, died Dec. 6, 1773; Ebenezer, of whom further; Mehitabel, born May 26, 1775, died April 17, 1869, at Becket, Mass., and married, Jan. 9, 1800, Jesse Rudd; Elizabeth, born May 1, 1778; Sally, born June 28, 1782, and married, in 1812, Elihu Watrous; Arethusa, born in April, 1785, and died April 17, 1869, married, April 3, 1807, Isaiah Kingsley.
(VII) Ebenezer (3) Fuller, fourth child of Eben- ezer (2) and Abigail (Hendee) Fuller, was born Nov. 8, 1772, at Hebron, Conn. He is described as a man of very cheerful personality, and energetic and force- ful character, who made many friends, and was influ- ential in the community. He married, in March, 1801, Hannah House, born July 25, 1782, died April 16, 1847. They settled at Cazenovia, N. Y., about one year after their marriage, and here Mr. Fuller died, May 10, 1858. They were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born at Cazenovia: Polly. born March 19, 1802, died Feb. 7, 1854; Erastus, born Nov. 25, 1803, and married Lucretia Gilbert; Har- riett, born Oct. 25, 1804, died Jan. 25, 1876, at Corn- ing, N. Y., married David Smith; Emily, born July 27, 1806, died in Feb., 1858, married Orange Hill; John H., born Jan. 9, 1809, married (first) Wilhelmina Tucker, and (second) Susan Garder; Terrell, born Aug. 18, 1813, married (first) Charlotte Frizell, and (second) Jane Card; Dwight A., born Jan. 27. 1815, and married Jane H. Merrick; George Washington,
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born March 1I, 1818, and married Adeline Bradley: Ralph D., who is mentioned at length below.
(VIII) Ralph D. Fuller, youngest child of Ebenezer (3) and Hannah (House) Fuller, was born Feb. 26, 1820, at Cazenovia, N. Y. He was the founder of the Fuller family in Chautauqua county, removing to this region in the year 1840. His childhood was passed at Cazenovia, where he received his education at the local public schools, attending these institutions until his removal to Chautauqua county. Upon first reaching this district, Mr. Fuller settled in Portland township, where he was engaged in a mercantile business for upwards of thirty years. Four of these years were passed in association with William Barnhart, but the remaining twenty-six he was in business for himself. In 1866, while residing at Portland, he purchased a wine cellar and winemaking plant and from that time on, during the remainder of his active life, was en- gaged in the manufacture of wine from the native grapes, for which Chautauqua county is so famous. He formed a partnership with J. A. H. Skinner, in Sept., 1879, which continued until the death of Mr. Fuller, in 1886. Besides being active in the business and industrial world, Mr. Fuller was also prominent in local politics and was a strong supporter of the Democratic party in this region. He held a number of local offices, including that of supervisor for Portland township. He was exceedingly successful in his vari- ous enterprises, and amassed a large estate as the re- sult of his industry and intelligence, which he left to his heirs at his death. He inaugurated the winemaking business at Portland, which has since been so impor- tant a factor in the industrial life of the community. Ralph D. Fuller married, Dec. 22, 1859, at Jamestown, N. Y., Adeline Coney, a native of Portland, where her birth occurred Feb. 12, 1830, and a daughter of Oliver and Sophia (Fales) Coney, old and highly respected residents of that place. Mrs. Fuller was one of eight children born to her parents as follows: Lucius, who married Diana Lowry; Dexter F., who married Thirza Burley; De Witt Clinton, who married Carrie
Jeremiah, a veteran of the Civil War from Colorado, who died unmarried; Adeline, who became the wife of Ralph D. Fuller, as mentioned above; John R., who married Mary Young; Alice, who died in early youth; Oliver, who died at the age of twenty-two years. Ralph D. Fuller and his wife were the parents of but one child, George Washington Fuller, of whom further.
(IX) George Washington Fuller, son of Ralph D. and Adeline (Coney) Fuller, was born Nov. 26, 1860, at Portland, Chautauqua county, N. Y. As a lad he attended the public schools of his native place and Westfield Academy, where he gained an excel- lent practical education. Upon completing his studies at the last-named institution, he was admitted by his father as a partner in the latter's business of manu- facturing wine, and became an expert in grape culture, as well as in the art of turning the fruit into wine. He remained associated with his father until the death of the latter, when he became manager of the business, in partnership with J. A. H. Skinner. The firm of Fuller & Skinner continued in active business until 1907, when Mr. Fuller purchased his partner's inter- est, after which he continued in this line by himself
until failing health necessitated the disposal of his plant.
Mr. Fuller was for a time assistant postmaster of Portland, but in April, 1918, he was appointed postmas- ter by President Wilson, which position he fills most acceptably. He is a Democrat in politics, and keenly interested in public affairs, although he never took part in the political life of the community. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 219, Free and Accepted Masons, of Westfield: Westfield Chapter, No. 239, Royal Arch Masons; Dunkirk Council, No. 25, Royal and Select Masters; Dunkirk Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar, and Buffalo Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, in which he has taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry.
Mr. Fuller married, May 5, 1891, Berdena Fay, daughter of Elisha H. and Ada (Dodge) Fay, and a member of an old distinguished New England family. Mrs. Fuller is a native of Portland, N. Y., where she was born March 8, 1869. George W. Fuller and his wife were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born at Portland: I. Viola Beatrice, born March 13, 1893; was educated in the Portland district schools and Westfield High School; she married Will E. Skinner, of Portland. 2. Ralph D., born Aug. 26, 1897; was educated in the Portland district schools and Westfield High School, and is now an electrician in Erie, Penn. 3. Donald C., born Feb. 2, 1899; was edu- cated in the Portland district schools and Westfield High School, and is now (1920) in the Pennsylvania State University. 4. Gertrude L., born Jan. 1, 1904; was educated in the Portland district school and the Westfield High School; now at home. 5. George Wins- ton, born March 6, 1907; now (1920) in the district school of Portland. They were also the parents of another child, Elisha Fay, who died at the age of two years.
REV. FATHER RICHARD COYLE-"We pause with reverence for the man whose life has made James- town a better place in which to live."-Editorial col- umn, Jamestown "Morning Post," Aug. 26, 1914.
No more fitting caption could be selected for the review of the life of the subject of these memoirs. Self-sacrifice in the cause of which his life had been consecrated when but a youth extended far beyond the mere addition of members to his church and the erection of buildings-it included the uplift of all the people of the community in which he lived, and what he accomplished in this way can never be adequately told. The following beautiful tribute culled from the editorial column of the Jamestown "Journal," Aug. 26, 1914, says:
Father Coyle was a great priest and a great man; given a strong body, a strong mind and strong will, he used them all in the high work of the Master. In addition to his services to his Church, which would have burdened, to exceed the limit, one of lesser strength, he still found time for good citizenship and to take an intelligent interest in the development of the growing city. Under his leadership has been built a splendid parochial school, maintained at the personal expense of the Catholic people of this city, and yet Father Coyle made no fight against the public school. He was no harping critic as to their management, to the support of which he and his people contributed thelr share of the expense, and he always spoke most kindly of the good work they were doing. He was
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Queo. R. Coyle
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a patriotic citizen. Those who remember that call for volunteers to sustain the country and support the flag, at the outhreak of the Spanish-American War, will re- call the inspiring address made by Father Coyle at the Armory, when that great building was filled to tts utmost capacity, in which he placed the flag of our country next to the Cross of the Church. In his death it is not in SS. Peter and Paul's Church alone. nor the Roman Catholte church in general, that sustains a great loss, but our city, state and nation. Especially is this true of Jamestown, where his presence has been an inspiration to right living, where by precept and example he taught the importance of an upright life, and for more than forty years he met every ohliga- tion that came to him and faced every storm with the calm assurance of one who modestly has faith in him- self, in his people, and the good Lord in whom he put his trust.
Father Coyle was born at Scio, N. Y., Jan. 21, 1844, and was one of six brothers. In 1861 he took up a course of study in Saint Bonaventure's College at Alle- gany, N. Y. In 1867 he went to Genoa, Italy, to con- tinue his theological studies, and there, on Dec. 21, IS72, he was ordained a priest. Arriving in Buffalo, N. Y., he was sent by the late Rt. Rev. Stephen Ryan, C. M., to assist the esteemed Monsignor Gleason. After serving a year and a half he was sent to James- town, N. Y., June 10, 1874. The now thriving busy town on Lake Chautauqua was then sparcely popu- lated, and his parishioners were few and far between; also he was given charge of stations that entailed long and laborious rides on horseback, and but few knew and no one but himself realized the almost unsur- mountable difficulties he was obliged to overcome. Nothing daunted his heroic soul, however, and amidst many trials his zeal was augmented. His mission then comprised an area of sixty miles, including Ran- dolph, Onoville, Conewango, Kennedy and Lakewood. It is needless to say that in rural districts that are seldom visited by a priest much bigotry exists. This great evil with many others then prevalent were met and overcome by Father Coyle.
Father Coyle built three churches on the present site of SS. Peter and Paul's Church. He also erected the magnificent buildings now standing, the church, rectory, convent, and school, all of which were paid for before his death. He also purchased twenty acres of land and dedicated the new Catholic Cemetery, the interment of Father Coyle being the first one in this cemetery, which is now called Holy Cross. Father Coyle passed to his eternal reward, Aug. 25, 1914. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Chau- tauqua county, and among the many beautiful tributes to his memory, given by men of Chautauqua county, was that of the proclamation of the mayor, Samuel A. Cari- son, who said:
To the Citizens of Jamestown:
In the death of Rev. Father Richard Coyle this com- munity has lost one of its strongest and purest char- acters. A man who has devoted forty years of un- selfish service to the moral uplift of his fellowmen. Real Christianity is found not in the autocracy of force and murder, but in the democracy of peace and brotherhood, and in such lives of tenderness, mercy and righteousness as exemplified in our own com- munity by such a man as Father Coyle and by all who live up to the ideals of peace, whether Catholic, Prot- estant, Hebrew, or Gentile. Father Coyle died as peacefully as he had lived. He filled in our com- munity a place that no one else can fill, and as a tribute of respect to his memory, I deem it proper to urge that all business places of the city he closed during the hours of his funeral.
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