USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 50
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On March 6, 1894, Murray H. Davis married Laura J. Cook, of Rochester, N. Y. They have two children : Paul A., who follows literary work, and is a senior on the editorial staff of the Jamestown "Morning Post;" and Herschell C., who is a chemist, employed in the laboratory of the Salisbury Wheel and Axle Company of Jamestown.
HARMAN FARR-In or about the year 1882 a family named Farr crossed the boundary line separating Canada from the United States. The family consisted of the father, Thomas, and his wife Maria (Knott) Farr, and in addition to these, six children, one of whom was Harman.
Harman Farr was born in Toronto, Canada, March 14, 1872, and was ten years old when his parents moved to Buffalo, N. Y. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, and boy like, he was most anxious to leave
i
George McCartney Dle.
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school and go to work. He found employment in an upholsterer's shop where, in 1885, he started to learn that trade. For two years he remained at this work, and then gave it up to begin learning the trade of machine wood working. This was in 1887, and for the next three years he devoted himself to learning every- thing in connection with this line of business. In 1890 Harman Farr and his brother Joseph started in part- nership to do wall papering, painting, and other work of this kind. For a time they continued it, then Harman Farr went out to the Pacific coast, remaining there eight months, during which time he was engaged in wood working in the State of Washington. Upon his return to Buffalo in 1892, Mr. Farr started in business for himself, again taking up papering and painting. Four years later he sold out, and in 1896 went to Chau- tauqua, and upon a very limited capital opened a shop to do papering, painting, and all kinds of interior decor- ating. He met with considerable success, and continued in this line for ten years; at the end of this time he sold out again and with his own capital started in the lumber business, supplying the entire territory about Lake Chautauqua. He started with six men and two trucks. Now it is known as the Farr Lumber Com- pany, dealers in lumber and builders' supplies, Harman Farr being president and general manager, and James Powers secretary and treasurer. Mr. Farr is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the commandery. He is independent in politics, being free to vote for which- ever candidate he prefers. The Farr family attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Chautauqua.
In Chautauqua, Sept. 30, 1893, Harman Farr was united in marriage to Pauline M. Nash, a resident of that town. From this union six children were born: 1. Hazel M., now a teacher in the Buffalo Normal School. 2. Alfred E., at present in the mechanical engineering school of the University of Cincinnati; he enlisted in the navy, in March, 1918, and was assigned for duty on a torpedo destroyer about to make a trip to the other side; after reaching their destination he was taken sick and was transferred to the United States Steamship "Allegheney." 3. Elsworth J., also a student at the University of Cincinnati in the chemical engineering class; he was in an officer's training camp for the army at Oberlin College, Ohio. 4. Harriet M., a pupil at the Chautauqua High School. 5. Marion Maud, also attending the high school. 6. Helen, also attending the high school. Mr. Farr is very desirous that all his chil- dren shall have the benefit of a good education.
During the years that Mr. Farr's father lived in Ontario, Canada, he was a farmer on a large, general scale, and also conducted a distillery. He died in April, 1902. The mother of Harman Farr was born in Syra- cuse, N. Y., and died in Buffalo in Feb., 1911. The brothers and sisters of Harman Farr were: I. Arthur William, a bus driver in Buffalo. 2. Joseph Victor, died at Buffalo. 3. Alfred Ernest, a wood worker and car- penter, died in Sacramento, Cal., at the age of eighteen. 4. Harry Loftus, a dealer in lumber at Buffalo. 5. Ida May, living in Buffalo.
William Farr, grandfather of Harman Farr, was the first business man in that section of the country known as Muddy York, Toronto; he started a distillery to
supply the demand for liquor of an army post sta- tioned near by. He had crossed the ocean seven times, on three of these trips being shipwrecked. William Farr died in 1881.
Harman Farr has been a very successful man in busi- ness; he has given much energy and concentrated thought to the various undertakings in which he has been engaged, and now is enjoying the reward which is the due of all selfmade men that their own hard work has brought about.
GEORGE MICHAEL McCARTNEY-One of the best known practitioners of Jamestown, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., where he has an office at No. 121 West Third street, is Dr. George Michael McCartney, whose reputation in his own special line is second to none in this entire region.
Dr. McCartney was born on a farm in Mercer county, Pa., January 17, 1876, a son of William Perry and Mary (Slater) McCartney, the former for many years a farmer and now deceased, and the latter surviving him. Dr. McCartney attended as a child the local district schools, and then began his preparation for his profes- sional career by becoming an attendant at the State Hospital of Pennsylvania at Warren. He quickly showed such skill and aptness in performing his task that he was promoted to the position of orderly, and a little later was transferred to the Turkish Bath Depart- irent of the same institution. While thus employed he made a study by himself of the subject of therapy, and later with the money he had saved took a full course at the American College of Mechano Therapy at Chicago, Ill., graduating from the same with the class of 1909, with the degree of M. T. Dr. McCartney then began the practice of this profession, but at the same time continued his studies along the same lines at the Na- tional School of Chiropractors and graduated from that institution in 1912 with the degree of D. C. Still con- tinuing his studies, he graduated from the Gregory Chiropractor College with the degrees of D. C. and D. S. in 1914. He had begun his practice at Jamestown in 1911 and so continued it, but of late years his studies, which he has conducted by himself, have taken the direction of securing a complete knowledge of the human frame, and at the present time Dr. McCartney is the only bone setter in the county and the one with the largest practice between Jamestown and New York City to the east and to Youngstown, Ohio, to the west. Dr. McCartney is particularly adapted by nature to engage in the art of bone setting, and the reputation which he has won is well deserved. An unusual amount of credit is due him for the position which he has attained in his profession, as he has from the start entirely financed his own education, it being necessary for him to engage in a remunerative occupation at an early age on this account. Dr. McCartney is a member of the Presbyterian church at Jamestown, and in poli- tics is an independent Republican.
Dr. McCartney has been married and has one child, William Theron McCartney, who was educated at the Jamestown Grammar and high schools, and is now studying mechanics in a Michigan factory.
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HENRY GUENTHER, the popular and efficient postmaster of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a native of Laubenheim-by-Mainz, Germany, where his birth occurred March 3, 1861, a son of John A. and Anna (Mueller) Guenther. Adam J. Guenther, the grandfather of Mr. Guenther, was a prominent citizen of Laubenheim, where he was proprietor of a hotel. Dur- ing the Revolution of 1848, being a sympathizer with the Revolutionary leaders, he took an active part. These activities proved rather expensive as, after the restoration of the monarchist, the family's finances were rather in straitened circumstances. In order to seek fortune anew, Mathew and John A., the sons of Adam J. Guenther, went to Australia, John A. taking his fam- ily with him. John A. Guenther remained there until 1868, when he came to the United States. His son, Henry Guenther, was two years old when he accom- panied his parents to Australia, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel and occupying six months. He lived in the State of Queensland, in that country, and dur- ing that time attended a school conducted by Joseph Franski, a man of great education, who was also an exile from Europe, and who had been private secretary to Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, and who also held the post of private secretary and manager of a large mining company in Australia in addition to run- ning his school. Henry Guenther had many interest- ing experiences as a child in wild Australia, and learned to throw a boomerang with the skill of a native. He returned with his father's family for a brief visit to Germany in the autumn of 1868, and the following spring came to the United States, landing in New York City. From there he came directly to Jamestown, then a city of about five thousand inhabitants, and at once attended the public schools, as he had learned to speak English fluently in Australia. After leaving school, he went to work at cigar making. In 1880 he gave up his work for a time and took a pleasure trip through Ger- many, Holland, and other European countries, his travels occupying about nine months, after which he returned to the United States in the spring of 1881. He then entered the cigar manufacturing business with his father, under the firm name of J. A. Guenther & Son. From this concern the elder Mr. Guenther event- ually retired, and his son continued the business under the same name for some time, after which he changed the name to Henry Guenther, and did a large wholesale and retail business. He continued in this line until the year 1915, and then, on March 19, was appointed postmaster of Jamestown.
During the forty years in which Mr. Guenther had been engaged in the cigar manufacturing business, he had become identified with the business interests of the city. Mr. Guenther has always been active in the gen- eral life of the community, and has taken a special interest in politics, being a staunch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic party. Indeed, no Democrat in the locality has done more to assist his party in spite of the fact that in this strongly Repub- lican section it is difficult for any one of this political belief to get an elective office. He is at the present time giving his community excellent service in the important post of postmaster, his department being run in the most efficient and up-to-date manner. Under his admin-
istration a branch post office has been established on the South side, the first branch office in this city. . Mr. Guenther is a member of a number of fraternal orders.
Henry Guenther married, May 1, 1884, at James- town, Emma C. Lawson, a daughter of John and Anna Lawson, highly respected residents of the city. They are the parents of three children, as follows: I. John H., who was educated in the Jamestown public schools and prepared for college in the high school here. He then took a special course at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., and is now the assistant superintendent of a large cement manufacturing plant in Tennessee. He married, in Zanesville, Ohio, Louanna Smith, by whom he had one child, Hope Guenther. 2. Desmonda, who was educated in the public schools of Jamestown, and afterwards took a four years' course in the Margaret Morrison School at Pittsburgh, Pa. She is now dietitian in the Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Pa. 3. Regina T., who was also educated in the Jamestown public schools and is now a member of the senior class at the Carnegie School of Technology, where she is studying the arts and interior designing.
HOWARD S. RODGERS is chief of the fire de- partment of Jamestown.
JOSEPH L. FRICK, who has been for a number of years a conspicuous figure in the business life of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, N. Y., is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred on a farm at Armstrong county, that State, March 26, 1872. Mr. Frick is son of David and Anna (Grimm) Frick, both of whom are now deceased, the former having pursued the occupation of farming in Pennsylvania for many years.
The early life of Joseph L. Frick was passed on his father's farm, and as a lad he attended the district schools of Armstrong county during the winter months, and during the summer assisted his father in the work about the farm. He accompanied his parents to James- town, N. Y., where the family removed when he was sixteen years of age, and in this city he continued his education attending the Jamestown High School for three years. He did not complete his studies in that institution, however, but entered Jamestown Business College, where he took a commercial course in order to fit him for his business career. Upon completing his studies at the last-named institution, Mr. Frick secured a position with the Jamestown Street Railway Company and remained with that concern for about seven years. In the meantime he worked his way up to the position of conductor. He was in the monument business for four years as Peterson & Frick, in James- town, and in 1911 opened his present enterprise in the automobile business, his garage being one of the finest in the locality. The Washington Garage at No. 317 Washington street, which he has operated since that time, is one of the best in Jamestown and contains stor- age room for some ninety automobiles, and in addi- tion has a large repair department and offices. At the present time Mr. Frick handles the agency in James- town of the Dodge, the White, and the Nash pleasure cars and trucks, and the Detroit electric and Cleveland
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tractor. He handles a full line of auto supplies and accessories, and does a large and very remunerative business throughout the region. Mr. Frick is a mem- ber of the Order of Maccabees, of the Jamestown Board of Commerce, and the Jamestown Automobile Club. In politics he is a Republican, but the demands made upon his time and energies by his large business inter- ests prevent him from taking that part in public affairs for which his abilities and talents so eminently qualify him.
Joseph L. Frick was united in marriage, April 4, 1902, at Jamestown, with Helen Peterson, a native of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Frick are the parents of two chil- dren. as follows: Roland, born July 2, 1908, and at the present time is a member of the freshman class of the Jamestown High School; Ruth, born May 4, 1914.
JOHN GALLOWAY-Somewhat more than a cen- tury ago William Galloway came from Scotland to make a home in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada. Here he built a dam and erected a mill on the southern end of a long 100 acres, a Canadian concession, on the northern end of which now stands the Grand Trunk Railway station of Millbrook. This pioneer had three sons: William, David and John.
The youngest son, leaving home, settled in Durham county, about four miles west of the present village of Bethany. This place, which became one of the best wheat producing farms in the county, is still in pos- session of the Galloway family. This John Galloway became the father of ten sons and four daughters, and of these children four are still living.
The one of these ten sons who bore his father's name, John Galloway, was born on this farm in Manvers township, Ontario, June 3, 1843. Here he lived until he was nineteen, attending the district schools of the neighborhood. Leaving this home, however, he went to Oil Creek, Pa., about 1862. Only three years earlier Drake had found oil below Titusville and had by this discovery initiated the great oil industry in this country. Mr. Galloway was an active operator at Oil Creek, Tidioute, Pithole and Pleasantville. He soon obtained several successful wells on the Espy farm and in Venango county, where oil then sold for about $6.00 per barrel. These early oil interests were gradually extended until Mr. Galloway became a successful opera- tor, not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma. He partici- pated actively in every important oil field from Pithole to the McDonald field in 1891. In addition to produc- tion activities, Mr. Galloway was interested in pipe-line development also. He was for more than thirty years associated with those interests which afterwards hecame the Pure Oil Company. Although his business led him to spend much time away from home, he lived during most of his life in Jamestown. He took a keen satis- faction in his beautiful home on East Fifth street, where it was his pleasure to entertain his friends freely. He was strongly attached by sentiment to the First Bap- tist Church, which he attended and whose interests he promoted in many ways. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons ; Western Sun Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons ;
Jamestown Council, No. 32, Royal and Select Masters ; Jamestown Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar ; Buffalo Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons; Ismailia Temple, Mystic Shrine; Jamestown Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Jamestown Club.
On Jan. 28, 1869, at Pleasantville, Pa., Mr. Galloway was married to Sarah Calhoun, a daughter of George and Angelina ( Porter) Calhoun. Their daughter, Grace Galloway, died Nov. 3, 1898. Their son, Fred J. Gal- loway, resides in Jamestown.
Mr. John Galloway died at Jamestown, May 20, 1917. Mr. Galloway was a man of very powerful physique, and an unusually strong will. His characteristic energy and ability as a pedestrian was known and recognized throughout the oil country. These factors combined with persistent industry and business ability to bring him a large success as an oil producer. His word was inviolate. He held his views very positively and frankly. He was generous, with the means to gratify this taste. He was very genial and hospitable, and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining his friends at his home. He was a friend of children and delighted to have them around him. He has left the impression of a virile and kindly personality.
FLOYD E. WILSON, D. V. M .- Dr. Wilson, immediately after graduation in 1914, opened an office for the practice of veterinary medicine in Fredonia, and during the six years which have since intervened he has built up a practice which takes him well over the entire country on his professional visits. He is one of Fre- donia's native and highly regarded sons, his father, Fred- erick Wilson, a butcher and dealer in meats in Fredonia for thirty-five years prior to his death, Dec. 17, 1917. He was a man of influence, trustee of the village, an organ- izer of the Fredonia Board of Trade, and the incumbent of several other village offices of trust. He married Augusta Schmeiser, and they were the parents of three sons : Edward, a graduate Mechanical Engineer, Cor- nell University, 1911, now employed as a mechanical engineer in Detroit, Mich .; Floyd E., of further men- tion; Arthur, a veteran of the World War, serving with the 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces in France.
Floyd E. Wilson was born in Fredonia, N. Y., March 14, 1892. He was educated in the village public schools, Fredonia State Normal, Cornell University, Veterinar- ian Department, and New York State Veterinary Col- lege, receiving his degree D. V. M. from the last-named institution at graduation, class of 1914. He began prac- tice in Fredonia the same year, and is there well estab- lished and prosperous. He is a member of the college fraternity, Alpha Psi; Fredonia Chamber of Commerce ; second vice-president of the Chautauqua County Fair Association ; member of the Citizens' Club, the Episco- pal church, and in politics is a Republican. His profes- sional society is the Western New York Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Wilson married, Aug. 16, 1916, Paula Marie Phelps, daughter of Charles and Caroline Phelps. They are the parents of a daughter, Ruth Phelps Wilson.
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JOHN WALWORTH HUNN-The name of the president of Fredonia village is one which will attract attention without the assistance of any introductory clauses. Nevertheless, it may not be inappropriate to say of Mr. Hunn that he has been for years a well known business man, and that he has always taken an active part in any movement having for its object the betterment of community conditions.
John Walworth Hunn was born June 21, 1849, in the town of Dunkirk, then Pomfret, on a farm about two miles from Fredonia, and is a son of Alexander and Julia (Clark) Hunn. The Hunn family came to Pom- tret from Ontario county, N. Y., in 1835. The educa- tion of John Walworth Hunn was received in local dis- trict schools and at the old Fredonia Academy, and until attaining his majority he remained on the farm, going then to Fredonia and obtaining a clerkship in a store during the holiday or "rush" season. It followed that he remained in that store for ten years, at the end of that time engaging in the manufacture of corsets and forming a partnership which is now in process of liquidation. In the present year Mr. Hunn retires from business. The principles of the Democratic party are those to which Mr. Hunn has always given his alle- giance, and he has ever been active in local politics. For five years he served on the Board of Health, for another five years was trustee, and while holding that office served as chairman of the fire, water, sewers and finance committees, holding each position in turn. He is now president (mayor) of the village, and giving his fel- low citizens a most satisfactory administration. He affiliates with the Masonic lodge of Fredonia, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Hunn married, June 30, 1880, Kitty, daughter of C. T. and Martha M. Wygant, of Fredonia, and they became the parents of two children: Nettie, who died at the age of four years; and John, who lived to be only three. Mr. and Mrs. Hunn had an adopted daugh- ter, Katharine, who is now the wife of L. M. Evans, of Mississippi, and the mother of one child, Louis Jean. Mrs. Hunn passed away on March 16, 1907.
John Walworth Hunn has a most worthy record, for not only has he devoted many years to the service of his fellow citizens, but he is now, as the guardian of their rights and interests, faithfully performing the duties of an extremely responsible office.
EDWARD BERGQUIST-A resident of James- town, N. Y., from his ninth year until his death at the age of fifty-one, Mr. Bergquist was well known and highly esteemed as business man and citizen. He was one of the founders of the Alliance Furniture Com- pany and, until the complete failure of his health in 1917, was its able superintendent. He was a man of progressive spirit, very friendly and generous, devoted to his home and family, with a love for out-of-doors which he indulged in in auto riding with his family. Baseball appealed to him, and he greatly enjoyed a good game. He was a son of Andrew Gabriel and Maria Gustavia (Isaacson) Bergquist, his father a coffin manufacturer of Sweden. They were the par- ents of six sons, all save one, Charles, coming to the United States; Gustav, now living in Jamestown, Frank, William, and Peter, in Buffalo, N. Y. Four daughters
also came to the United States: Mrs. Carrie (Berg- quist) Jones, of Madrid, Iowa; Mrs. Emma (Berg- quist) Johnson; Mrs. Josephine (Bergquist) Berg; and Mrs. Otelia (Bergquist) Westrom, all of James- town, N. Y. In 1876, Andrew G. and Maria G. Berg- quist came to the United States, settled in Jamestown, N. Y., and there resided the remaining years of their lives.
Edward Bergquist was born at Bodeberg, Steinberger, Forsainlinger, Sweden, April 9, 1867, and died in James- town, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1918. From the age of six years until brought to the United States, three years later, he attended school, and from the coming of the family to Jamestown, in 1876, until about 1881, he attended the public school there. He was in his fifteenth year when he began wage earning at the Novelty Works on Wil- lard street, and from there he went to Buffalo, N. Y., entering the employ of the Jewel Refrigerator Com- pany. In Buffalo, he met his future wife, and after their marriage in 1892 he returned to Jamestown, their first home being on Walnut street. He was employed in Jamestown in factory work for others until 1905, when, with seven others, he organized the Alliance Furniture Company of Jamestown. Mr. Bergquist was chosen superintendent of the plant, and in that position remained until about one year prior to his death, when his health failed and he was compelled to retire from all active participation in the company's affairs. Mr. Bergquist took no part in the political life of his city, and was not bound by party ties, casting his vote for the candidates he considered best fitted for the offices to which they aspired. He was a member of the Swedish Brotherhood of America; Jamestown Chamber of Commerce ; Jamestown Manufacturers' Association ; and the First Swedish Church, his family also belonging to that church.
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