USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 47
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Samuel Thorstenberg was born near Lindsborg, Kan. He attended the public schools, and Bethany College, one of the leading educational institutions of the West. At Bethany he specialized in music (voice, piano, and pipe organ), graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Music. During his six years at Bethany he also gave special attention to the study of languages. After graduation, he spent a year abroad, studying at the Royal Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, and in London, England. He returned to Lindsborg, and at once accepted an offer from Bethany College to become assistant director of music. He filled that position two years, then was advanced to the position of direc- tor of music, a post he filled successfully until 1900, when he severed his connection after twelve years de- voted service, and located in Jamestown. During those twelve years he won fame, not alone as an instructor in piano and history of music, but as a director of the world famous Oratorio Chorus of 565 voices, accom- panied by an orchestra of sixty pieces. Most of the performers were musical enthusiasts and students of the Conservatory of Music, a department of Bethany College. During his career as director, Professor Thorstenberg rendered Handel's "Messiah" seventy- five times, an annual event at Lindsborg during Holy Week. Other master works rendered included: Men- delssohn's "Elijah;" Haydn's "Creation:" and the many works of modern composers, both sacred and secular. When Prof. Thorstenberg came to Jamestown, he accepted the position of organist at the First Lutheran Church, of which he is a member. He later added to Jamestown's musical organizations by reorganizing the First Lutheran Church Band, which is fast winning its way to public favor.
GEORGE AUGUSTUS CHATFIELD, principal of the Jamestown firm of Chatfield & Sharpe, general contractors in the heating, plumbing, and associated lines, has been in independent business in that city since 1885. From 1885 until 1889, he traded in part- nership with Mr. John A. Conway under the firm name of Conway & Chatfield; from 1889 to 1898, was alone; from 1898 until 1913, the firm name was Chatfield & Armitage; and from then until the present, the busi- ness has been conducted under the firm name first mentioned, that of Chatfield & Sharpe. And this busi- ness history of almost thirty-five years in Jamestown resulted from the casual alighting of Mr. Chatfield at Jamestown station one day, in 1880, while en route from Portland, Me., to Chicago. On that day, he had to wait at Jamestown four hours, from 8 p. m. until midnight, for train connection. With the exception of one break of ten months, spent in Kansas City, Mr. Chatfield has been a resident in Jamestown ever since. The year 1920 will make his fortieth year of residence.
George A. Chatfield was born in Brantford, Canada, March 8, 1857, he son of Walter Chatfield, who was in business in that place as a tinsmith and sheet metal worker, and later established himself as a coppersmith at St. Catherine, Ontario, Canada. Walter Chatfield came to Jamestown, N. Y., in 1908, and lived with his son, George Augustus, until his death, which occurred on Dec. 2, 1917. He was buried in Jamestown.
George A. Chatfield went to school at St. Catherine, Ontario, Canada, and to the Collegiate Institute of that place. When he had reached the age of seventeen years, he began to work in the plumbing business of his father, from the years 1873 to 1877, serving an ap- prenticeship at that trade to him. In the latter year, George A. went to Montreal, Canada, to work at his trade, and he remained in that city for nine months, after which he came into the United States. finding employment at his trade in Portland, Me. He was on his way from Portland, Me., to Chicago, Ill., in 1880, to take up a business connection in the latter city, when he stopped for four hours in Jamestown. During that period he saw sufficient of the town to form the opinion that its prospects of development were good, and that it might be to his business advantage to stay there. Therefore, he did not catch his train that night for Chicago; in fact, he did not go to Chicago at all. He worked at his trade for the Jamestown firm of Armi- tage & Smith for one year, then for ten months he was out of the town, having gone to Kansas City. That, however, has been the only break in thirty-nine years of association with Jamestown. When he re- turned to the town from Kansas City, he entered the employ of Charles W. Morgan, working as a plumber for him from 1881 to 1885. In the latter year, he formed business partnership with John A. Conway, and they both traded, in partnership, under the name of Conway & Chatfield, as plumbing and heating con- tractors, for two years. Mr. Chatfield was alone in business from the year 1889 until 1898, in which year he took Mr. Armitage into partnership, the firm name under the reorganization becoming Chatfield & Armi- tage. As such, the business was continued until 1913, for fifteen years. In that year, Mr. Armitage died, and the business again reverted to Mr. Chatfield, who then took Floyd H. Sharpe into partnership. As Chat-
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field & Sharpe the business has since been continued, and notwithstanding its many years of establishment it is still healthy; in fact, it is one of th most reliable enterprises, in its line, in that section of New York State.
Many are the local associations in which Mr. Chat- field has been interested during the long period of his residence in Jamestown. His business connections have drawn him into membership in the Jamestown Master Plumbers' Association, and the Jamestown Board of Commerce; also the Jamestown Builders' Ex- change, and the Business Builders' Club. And he be- longs to the National Association of Heating and Piping Contractors, and the Association of Master Plumbers of New York State. And his technical promi- nence at one time brought him into the city administra- tion, as supervisor of plumbers and plumbing.
In the functions of local branches of fraternal orders, Mr. Chatfield was at one time prominently active. In the Masonic bodies, he belongs to the Free and Ac- cepted Masons Lodge, is a thirty-second degree Ma- son, belonging to the Knights Templar and Shrine. And he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Also, he belongs to the Exempt Fire- men's Association. Politically, Mr. Chatfield is a Re- publican. In church matters, Mr. Chatfield has always taken a keen and active interest. He is a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and for years has been a vestryman.
On June 10, 1885, in Jamestown, Mr. Chatfield mar- ried Josephine, daughter of Benjamin Myers, of that place. Mrs. Chatfield is still in good health, and active in community, church, and patriotic affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Chatfield have been born three children: I. Rosalia, who is the wife of Clyde J. McGrew, of West Virginia. 2. Walter Myers, of whom more is written hereinafter. 3. Alberta, who married Clark R. Sisson, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Walter Myers Chatfield, second child of George Au- gustus and Josephine (Myers) Chatfield, was born in Jamestown, on June 6, 1888. He attended the James- town grammar and high schools. In 1902 he took resolutely to business activities, his first employment being that of clerk at the soda fountain of a local drug store, that of Phelps & Brown. Of course he did not take that employment merely with the object of be- coming a soda fountain clerk; he desired to eventually become a pharmacist, and with that object in mind he studicd drugs and pharmaceutical matters at every spare moment. He was in the Phelps & Brown store for five years; thereafter, for five years, he was with Wellman Brothers, druggists; and in 1912 he bought an interest in the Jamestown Pharmacy, which was then known as Meredith & Meredith, but which does business now as Meredith & Chatfield.
During the great war just ended, Mr. Chatfield was in the United States Army for more than twelve months. He enlisted on Dec. 13, 1917, for service anywhere that he may have been needed. As a matter of fact, he had no option, as he would have been sent wherever his past experience in civil life indicated to the army authorities that he might be expected to give hest service, no matter what might have been the con- ditions of enlistment. Mr. Chatfield probably expected
to be sent over to France quickly, but his profes- sional experience prompted the assigning officers to decide that he was well fitted for service in the medical supply depot, at Washington, D. C., and consequently to that post he was sent. And, as he fitted into the requirements at that point, he was held there until there was no further need of his services, the war being over. He was discharged on Dec. 21, 1918, having probably given as strenuous service as he would have been called upon to give had he been in an overseas unit, instead of at a home station. This was made clear in President Wilson's letter to home troops soon after the signing of the armistice, in which letter President Wilson expressed the nation's appreciation of the serv- ices rendered by the home forces, at the same time explaining that those held on this side, and denied foreign service, were so held mainly because of marked administrative or professional ability. Upon his return to Jamestown, Walter Myers Chatfield again resumed his pharmaceutical connection, and the firm of Mere- dith & Chatfield is expanding its business well. Mr. Chatfield is a member of the Jamestown Board of Commerce, belongs to the same Masonic bodies as does his father, and is a member of the Jamestown Club. By religious conviction, he is an Episcopalian, a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Jamestown. He is unmarried.
PATRICK STEPHEN GUINNANE, member of the law firm of Cawcroft & Guinnane, of Jamestown, N. Y., and an active and rising member of the legal bar of Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a native of Jamestown, born there on Dec. 25, 1892, the son of John and Rose (Mullaugh) Guinnane, both of whom still live.
John Guinnane, father of Patrick S. Guinnane, is a ! well regarded and responsible citizen of Jamestown, and for many years has been a substantial employer of labor in that place and its vicinity. In that section 1 of New York State, John Guinnane for many decades has been well known as a contractor and builder. In addition to Patrick Stephen, regarding whom this article is particularly written, the children of John and Rose (Mullaugh) Guinnane are: John J., Jr., Don F., and Edward V., all of whom reside in Jamestown; and Mary and Anna M., both of whom are unmarried and live at the parental home.
Patrick Stephen Guinnane, who by the way is one of the editors of this historical work, received his academic education in local schools, first attending the Jamestown Parochial School, and later the Jamestown High School, creditably graduating from the latter in 1912. Having decided to enter the legal profession, he took the law course at the Albany Law School, eventually, in 1915, gaining the degree of LL. B. In Sept., 1916, he was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., and in the same year began general practice of his profession in his native place, Jamestown, N. Y. Since beginning practice in 1916, Mr. Guinnane has been associated with other leading attorneys of that place, but formed no professional partnership until the year 1919 opened, when the law firm of Cawcroft & Guinnane came into being. The individual reputations of the members of the firm, and their local associations,
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indicate that their partnership for general practice will be successful.
Mr. Guinnane holds membership in many profes- sional organizations, including the American Bar Asso- ciation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Jamestown Bar Association. And he is advocate and legal advisor of the Knights of Columbus. Religiously, Mr. Guinnane is a member of the Roman Catholic church, a devout and active member of the SS. Peter and Paul's Church, of Jamestown. Fraternally, he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, and the Eagles, and his college fraternity is the Delta Chi. In political matters, both national and local, Mr. Guinnane is active. He is a staunch Democrat, and for that party is candidate for the post of district attorney. He is a convincing speaker, and a conscientious, courage- ous advocate.
On Sept. 24, 1914, Mr. Guinnane was married to Irene Kilzer Happel, of Albany, N. Y. They have one child, Jane Elizabeth, born May 7, 1918.
LOUIS HERVEY SNOW, M. D., stands at the head of the medical profession of Chautauqua county as a scientist and specialist in the use of the Roentgen and X-rays, upon which he is regarded as an author- ity not only in this locality but throughout the State. Dr. Snow was born Sept. 12, 1858, at Rochester, N. Y., and is a son of Hervey Dwight and Cordelia (Bly) Snow, both of whom are deceased. The former was a machinist by trade and an inventor of note. Hervey Dwight Snow was associated with the firm of Hall & Snow, of Rochester, and, in association with his part- ner as individuals and as a firm, invented and put on the market over forty important devices of various kinds.
Louis Hervey Snow began his education at the pub- lic schools of Rochester, N. Y., and was a student in the high school of Cohoes, N. Y., in 1874. He then entered the preparatory school at Bennington, Vt., and later attended the Mt. Anthony Seminary at the same place. Somewhat previous to this, Dr. Snow had de- termined to become a physician, and with that end in view, left the Mt. Anthony Seminary after a year or so of study there and came to Ashville, Chautauqua county, where he entered the office of Dr. Boyd, one of the most celebrated physicians in this region at the time, and the surgeon of the 112th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. This was about 1876, and Dr. Snow began the study of medicine there under the preceptorship of the elder physician, who was a man well calculated not only to teach him the technical side of his subject but also to inspire his interest in the more abstruse departments of the science. He remained with Dr. Boyd for about five years and then, in order to complete his studies, entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md. After a short time spent in that insti- tution, he transferred to the University of New York, where he studied in the medical department and finally graduated from same in March, 1886, with the degree of M. D. Not satisfied with his already great knowl- edge of his chosen science, Dr. Snow then took a number of special post-graduate courses at Bellevue Hospital, and in the spring of 1887 began the gen-
eral practice of his profession at the small town of Watts Flat, a typical cross-road center in those days in Chautauqua county. Dr. Snow was then the only phy- sician within six miles of the place, and he remained there for about five years, and at the end of that time came to Jamestown and began practice here. Two years later, he took up the study of electrotherapy and not long afterwards that of radiology. For about eight or ten years, Dr. Snow has quite abandoned his gen- eral practice and devoted himself exclusively to his specialty, excepting in cases of his old patients and his personal friends. He is now the possessor of an ex- ceedingly complete equipment of X-ray and radio im- plements and accessories and his offices occupy eight different rooms, including a handsome waiting room, dressing rooms, parlor and operating room. He also has his own dark room for developing his exposures. He has installed in these offices a complete equipment of photographic X-ray, radio, electric and gas ma- chines, and he is himself an expert in the use of all these. Dr. Snow is exceedingly interested in the branch of therapy which he has taken up, and is still most actively studying the subject and enlarging his scope of usefulness therein. Besides his private prac- tice, he holds the post of X-ray and radio specialist for both the hospitals at Jamestown and for many smaller institutions of the same kind in the neighborhood, and in addition does much of the work of this kind for other physicians hereabouts.
Dr. Snow has had a very remarkable career up to the present time, and it is greatly to his credit that, although it was not necessary for him to do so, he worked his own way through the various educational institutions where he studied, and entirely financed his medical education. In order to do this, he started by selling papers, and later was the owner and editor of a successful newspaper in Vermont. Dr. Snow is also keenly interested in other aspects of the life of the community, and is a staunch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, but the great de- mands made upon his time and energy by his own pro- fessional activities prevent him from taking that part in public life for which his abilities so eminently qualify him. In his religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and attends the First Church of that denomination at Jamestown. He is a member of and ex-president of the Jamestown Medical Society, a member of the Chautauqua County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, and is also affiliated with Mt. Moriah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Jamestown.
Dr. Snow was united in marriage, Jan. 1, 1891, at Jamestown, with Lilla Belle Gron, a daughter of Charles and Charlotte (Johnson) Gron, old and highly respected residents of this city. Dr. and Mrs. Snow are the parents of one daughter, Alice Johann, born at Jamestown, May 5, 1896. Miss Snow was educated at the Jamestown public schools, and was graduated with honors from the high school here with the class of 1916. She is an unusually brilliant student, and was president of her class while in the high school. In addition to her regular studies, she took special courses in elocutionary and dramatic schools, among them being the Washington Square Players School in New York City. She also served an engagement on the
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stage in New York City, hut at her parents' request (she was at the time merely a child) gave up her stage career and returned to Jamestown. She is at the present time employed as a reporter on a special assign- ment for the Jamestown "Journal," and has worked in the same capacity for the Jamestown "Post." Miss Snow is in great demand as an entertainer and has given many delightful elocutionary and dramatic re- citals, and is also very popular socially. In past years, Dr. Snow used to spend his vacations in fishing and hunting, but his increasing and very exacting business has made it impossible for him to continue to do this and he now finds his chief recreation in automobiling.
ALBERT G. JOHNSON, who for the last twelve or fifteen years has been a successful business man, independently established, in Jamestown, N. Y., and during that time has come into more than one office in the city administration, and has proved himself to be an able, honest and unselfish public worker, has lived in Chautauqua county for more than fifty years, and is particularly well known in farming circles. His father, Fred Johnson, was a farmer in Busti, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., until his death, and Albert G. farmed in that place for about twenty years prior to coming to Jamestown, where he established himself in business as an agricultural implement dealer, the business developing many other allied lines, such as harness, wagons, feed, and seed. His record in James- town is not only one of successful business efforts, for he has given good public service, having for four years been a member of the Board of Aldermen, and formerly a councilman, during one year of which serv- ice he was president of the Council.
Albert G. Johnson was born in Sweden, May 16, 1865, the son of Fred and Louise Johnson. The John- son family eventually came to America, and at the time of their crossing, 1867, Albert G. was only two years of age. The family settled in Busti, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., where Fred Johnson purchased a farm. Albert G. attended the district school at Busti until he was thirteen years old, doing, however, much work on the farm during vacations, and before and after school hours. At the age of thirteen, he was permitted to leave school and work for a farmer in the vicinity of his home, for the remuneration of five dollars monthly. He worked for many farmers in the neighborhood of his home during the next five years. When he was eighteen years old, he went to Sugar Grove, Pa., and there worked for two years, as engi- neer in a grist and saw mill. Returning to Busti in 1885, he again took to farming occupations, and, hav- ing married, he bought a farm and worked it for thir- teen years, then rented it so that he might move his family into Jamestown, there to live while their daugh- ter was in high school. Mr. Johnson had rented his farm for three years, intending to return to Busti and to his farm after his daughter had graduated, there- fore he did not place much importance upon the agri- cultural implement business he temporarily established while in Jamestown. He wished to profitably occupy himself, if possible, but at the best he looked upon the business as only a temporary expedient. But before his daughter had completed her course, he dis-
covered that the business had developed so promis- ingly that he decided to remain in Jamestown and fur- ther develop the business. Originally he opened, as an agricultural implement dealer, on Taylor street, but fourteen months later he removed to Nos. 40-42 South Main street, where he has carried on the business since. As the demand grew, he added other associated lines, buggies and wagons, harness, though he discontinued this line about five years ago, also seed and feed. His farming experience was, of course, invaluable to him in his later business enterprise, and his honesty of trading brought him many friends as well as customers. Mr. Johnson is very well known and respected among the agriculturists of Chautauqua county.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been active in local affairs. Politi- cally, a Republican, he has confined himself mainly to local movements, and has manifested a keen interest in city government. He had the confidence of the people, and was elected to the Council, eventually be- coming president of that body. And for four years he was on the Board of Aldermen in Jamestown.
His Jamestown business has demanded much of his time during the last ten years; in fact, only an inde- fatigable worker could have accomplished all that has been demanded of him; but now that his son has re- turned from military service, he hopes to pass on much of the business affairs to him, and so have more time to devote to other matters in which he is interested. Mr. Johnson is an enthusiastic agriculturist; he proba- bly was the first in Chautauqua county to produce a herd of thoroughbred Holstein cattle; at all events, he was the first to exhibit such at the Jamestown Agri- cultural Fair and, as is well known, his stock gained many red ribbons. He is also a lover of horses, and has owned and reared many valuable ones. It is not surprising that Mr. Johnson has succeeded well in business, for he is naturally a man of alert, logical reasoning, prudent and yet enterprising. In conver- sation he gives one the impression that he is well read, and his general bearing is that of a cultured man. Ob- viously, his learning did not end with his school days. His enterprise led him to build the Johnson and Gif- ford block, on Pine street, and it proved a satisfactory investment.
Mr. Johnson married, at Ashville, N. Y., Nov. 4, 1885, May A. Abbott, daughter of Robert C. Abbott, of that place. They have three children : I. Olive, who graduated from the Jamestown High School; married Robert Johnson, of Jamestown. 2. Frank A., who now assists his father in the management of the agricultural implement business he has in Jamestown. 3. Margaret, now training as a nurse in the Homoeo- pathic Hospital in Buffalo, N. Y.
Frank A. Johnson was a graduate of the grammar and high schools of Jamestown, and is a veteran of the World War. On Feb. 15, 1916, he enlisted in the National Guard of New York State, and when trouble was threatening to develop into actual war between the United States and Mexico, the guard units were mustered into the federal service, and ordered to the Mexican border. The New York National Guard left in July, the unit to which Frank A. Johnson was attached, Company E, 74th Infantry, leaving on July
F.A. Grow
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5, 1916. He served at MacAllen, and at Fort Texas, and was on the border until Feb., 1917. In March, 1917, the National Guard was again called into service, this time because of the impending state of war with Germany. The Jamestown unit, when war was certain, was detailed to guard the railroad at Silver Creek, N. Y. Later the regiment was federalized and went into training at Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, S. C. On Aug. 5, 1918, Frank A. Johnson was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry, and transferred to the 82nd Division, Aug. 15, 1918. He was in the terrible fighting at the Meuse and Argonne, France. Latterly he served as battalion intelligence officer for the 328th Infantry, at Battalion Headquarters. He eventually sailed from Bordeaux, May 15, 1919, and was honorably discharged at Camp Upton, N. Y., May 29, 1919.
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