USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 56
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saw his first fighting, but at Williamsburg, a little later, he was in his first heavy engagement. Company H in that battle lost eight killed, eleven wounded and five taken prisoners. First Lieutenant Marcus was wounded, and one of the killed was a tentmate of Mr. Jones. He was all through the "Seven Days" at Seven Pines, Chickahominy Swamp, Malvern Hill, and Fair Oaks. Fighting was going on every day, and for three days no rations were issued. At Malvern Hill Capt. Doyle was killed, a company commander deeply beloved by his men, especially by private Jones, whoin the captain had looked after with fatherly interest. Finally the army reached the base at Harrison's Landing on the James river and went into camp for a much needed rest.
Soon after the campaign, Private Jones was taken sick and sent to a hospital on David's Island in the East river at New York. Six weeks later, with 106 convalescent soldiers, he was sent on board the steamer, "Planet," bound for Washington; a terrific storm was encountered, and eleven days later they were landed in Philadelphia to be sent to Washington by rail. After rejoining his regiment, the army went into winter quarters at Fredericksburg, and the next few months picket, guard, and drill filled the soldier's days and nights. The next great battle in which Private Jones was engaged was at Chancellorsville, where his bunk- mate was killed, and his colonel, W. O. Stevens, fell May 5, 1863. The 72nd lost 101 men in that battle, Company H losing several. At Gettysburg, their next battle, the regiment lost 114 men, several again being out of Company H, but Private Jones escaped injury. At Wapping Heights, Manassas Gap, Kelly's Ford, and Locust Grove, during the pursuit of Gen. Lee, the regiment lost twenty men, four of them from Company H. After months of hard fighting the regiment went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. During the winter a call was made for volunteers, all soldiers who had served two years being allowed to enlist as veterans, and those who did enlist could have a furlough of thirty- five days. Mr. Jones being just over the two years mark reënlisted and availed himself of furlough privi- lege to visit his Chautauqua county home. He was received with open arms by his parents, brothers and sisters, and all the good things of a prosperous Chan- tanqua farm were showered upon him.
With the expiration of a wonderful thirty-five days, he returned to the army, and in the spring of 1864 en- gaged with the gallant army of the Potomac in the hard fighting of that year. He was in many of the hard battles which ensued until Gen. Lee was finally com- pelled to surrender at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, and in front of Petersburg and the Wilderness, as well as in minor engagements, he bore well his part. He was reported dead at Petersburg, but upon returning consciousness he resumed his place in the ranks, although ordered to leave the field and report to the hospital. From March, 1862, he ranked as corporal, and finally, when peace had returned to his loved country, he marched in the "Grand Review" with the veterans whose prowess had won the victory. He was honorably discharged and mustered out, July 9, 1865.
From Oct. 2, 1864, Corp. Jones served with Company A, 120th Regiment, New York Infantry, and on that
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date all the members of the 72nd Regiment who had not rëenlisted were honorably discharged, their three years term of enlistment having expired. He served with the 120th Regiment until June 1, 1865, then was transferred to Company B, 73rd Regiment, New York Infantry, serving until honorably discharged. Mr. Jones fought in twenty-three hard battles, is the pos- sessor of a Gettysburg medal of honor, and was several times publicly praised by his officers. He was a good soldier, always to be depended upon to do a little more than his full duty. He was a member of the G. L. Pierce Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Forest- ville, and quartermaster for eight years. After moving to Fredonia, he became a member of the E. D. Hall Post, serving as quartermaster and senior vice-com- mander several years. For many years he was clerk for the school district No. 5, town of Hanover. When the war was over, he was content to resume the duty of farm and dairy, and until 1890 continued farming activities.
Mr. Jones married (first) Nov. 25, 1866, Ellen E. Ellis, daughter of Thomas Ellis, and sister of Dolly Mary, Sarah, and Robert Ellis. In 1890 they moved to the village of Fredonia from the farm, and on Jan. 27, 1895, Mrs. Jones died. Mr. Jones married (second) in Nov., 1895, Eliza H. Holt, who died June 11, 1913. Col. E. D. Holt, after whom the post is named, was a brother of Mrs. Eliza H. (Holt) Jones. Col. Holt was commander of the 49th Regiment, New York In- fantry, and fell April 2, 1865, a gallant officer and an upright citizen. He served all through the war until his death. Mrs. Jones was a sister of Mrs. Hattie Clayton, deceased, and of Miss Carrie L. Holt, who now resides in Longmont, Colo., with her brother, Asa D. Holt. Mr. Jones married (third) Aug. 20, 1914, Eva M. Chapman, born in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1857, daughter of Marcus Chapinan, born in Sheridan, Dec. 4, 1827, died April 21, 1904, and his wife, Mary A. (Mulford) Chapman, born in the town of Portland, Dec. 24, 1826, died Nov. 1, 1905.
JOHN WILLSON, who during a lifetime of in- tense and well directed activity was one of the forceful factors in the community affairs of Jamestown, entered upon the active business of life unaided by influential friends or adventitious circumstances. He was the sole architect of his own fortunes, molding his own character and shaping his own destiny. He came to be an agriculturist of commanding ability, and he champ- ioned the highest interests of the municipality and of the people of his adopted country. He was always found in the foreground of any enterprise that had for its object the upbuilding and progress of his com- munity. His name came to be held in the highest honor while he lived, and his death, which occurred Oct. 17, 1864, at his home on English Hill, was regarded with sorrow that was at once general and sincere.
John Willson was born Jan. II, 1799, in Ely, England, a son of Mark and Sarah Willson. He only attended the schools of his native country three days but later obtained his education in the hard school of experience; he assisted his father in his business. In 1834, accompanied by his wife and small children, he
emigrated to the United States. They were one of a group of four families-Fuller, Booty, Willson and Wilson-all from Ely, England, and settled in James- town, N. Y. The group included two families of the same name, whose ancestors were related, although the name was spelled differently, and the decendants of one of these families now spell their name Wilson. The four families secured adjoining land, each buying fifty acres, John Willson purchasing his from Horace Allen, and gave the place the name it bore for many years, "English Hill." John Willson settled on his tract, later buying fifty acres from John Wilson. The land was originally owned by the Holland Land Company, and here John Willson proceeded to make a home for his wife and children, clearing and improving the land, and shortly afterwards erected a fine frame house, and became known as one of the substantial agriculturists of the township.
Mr. Willson lived to see the change of his adopted city from a small village to a progressive town, still making great strides toward its goal of being one of the largest manufacturing cities of the United States. Politically Mr. Willson was a Republican, but he never cared for the emoluments of office. He and his family were prominent members of the Presbyterian church, and were active in all its social as well as business affairs.
Mr. Willson married, in England, Jan. 11, 1821, Sarah Moffett, who was born Feb. 22, 1801, died Dec. 4, 1886. To this union were born nine children, as follows: I. William, born Nov. 25, 1822, died July 3, 1823. 2. David, born Nov. 27, 1824, died July 2, 1900, in Poland township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., married Dec. 25, 1845, Heziah Collen. 3. Jolin, born March 17, 1826, died July 16, 1859; he married June, 1849, Eliza Jane Nelson. 4. William (2) born Nov. 9, 1833, died in Jamestown, N. Y., 1840. 5. Susannah A., born Nov. 10, 1835; resides in Jamestown, N. Y. 6. Sarah E., born Jan. I, 1838, on English Hill, Ellicott township, Chautauqua county, N. Y .; married (first) Ira Simmons, who was a native of Poland township, and a son of Philandor and Mary Ann (Wade) Simmons; he was a veteran of the Civil War, died Oct. 7, 1867, in James- town, and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery of that city. Sarah E. Willson married (second) Jefferson W. Prosser, who was a native of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., died at Bloomville, N. Y., March 29, 1914. He came to Jamestown, about 1864, and engaged in the wall paper, paints and oil business; his store was located in the Derby block on second street; he built also a grocery store near by, where Mrs. Prosser now lives. 7. Mark Thomas, born in Jamestown, N. Y., June 3, 1840; he received his education in the public schools of his native city, and after completing his studies en- gaged in the agricultural business; Mr. Willson was a veteran of the Civil War, and his death occurred in Jamestown, Oct. 16, 1901; Mr. Willson married Mary Anne Bootey, daughter of Simon Bootey, Dec. 8, 1869; they were the parents of two children as follows: Nathan M .; and Anna E., who married Tesse P. Parker. 8. Robert I., born Oct. 5, 1843, died May 15, 1848. 9. Sanford Q., born March 3, 1846, died Dec. 23, 1903.
It is a pleasure to write of the career of such a man as
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Mr. John Willson, who was a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, begin- ning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, grad- ually overcomes environment, removes one by one the obstacles in the pathway to success, and by master strokes of his own force and vitality succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a position of esteem and influence among his fellow-men. Such is the career of John Willson, and when he died he left to his children and their children the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
J. EDWARD ECKERD-By a constant effort to accomplish an object which he had determined upon J. Edward Eckerd became after several years of preparation, the proprietor of his own drug store and an ever increasing business. He has a brother who is engaged in the same line of work and who owns his own place also.
J. Edward Eckerd was born in Mechanicsburg, Pa., the son of Joseph and Sarah J. Eckerd. The father was a contractor and builder with a large business in Mechanicsburg, but he has now retired from active life. Mrs. Eckerd died some time ago. They had three children: J. Edward; J. Milton, now a druggist in Wilmington, Del .; and Minnie S., deceased.
During his boyhood young Eckerd attended the public schools of Mechanicsburg, graduating from both grammar and high schools. During this time he learned brick laying with his father, working after school and on Saturdays and during vacations. For a year after leaving school he followed this trade, hut he was not satisfied and wished to learn the drug busi- ness, so obtained a position as clerk in the store of Eckerd Brothers, druggists in Mechanicsburg, remain- ing with them for two years, after which he went to Harrisburg, entering the drug store of J. N. Clark, remaining there two years. His next place of occupa- tion was with W. H. Kennedy, continuing in his em- ploy two years, then he went to Erie, Pa., to become manager of the store located at No. 1105 State street, owned by his brother, J. Milton Eckerd. On Sept. 13. 1913, Mr. Eckerd went to Jamestown, N. Y., to look over the possibilities of success in the way of another drug store there. He saw that there was a good field for a general drug business and he opened one at No. 106 East Second street and has found that he had seized the moment of opportunity that came knocking at his door. He made a special feature of the cut rate business, being the first to start price cutting on drugs in the city. He has prospered from the start, increas- ing the size of his stock from time to time; he started with a stock valued at $35,000, and his last spring inventory showed goods worth $38,000. Mr. Eckerd is connected with a number of societies in Jamestown and is also an active participant in the work of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Order of Eagles and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is very much interested in the church of the United Brethren, being one of the board of trustees of the church and also secretary. As a citizen Mr. Eckerd is highly regarded, and as a business man he is thought to be wide awake and full of energy.
While in Erie, Pa., Mr. Eckerd married, in 1905, Blanche Zimmer, a resident of that city. Of this union one child was born, Anna S., who is at present attending the public school.
ALBERT FEETER FRENCH-As treasurer and general manager of the Fredonia Preserving Company, of Fredonia, Mr. French is the active head of a canning enterprise, having plants located at Fredonia, Silver Creek, and Modeltown. He has been connected with the preserving industry in Western New York since 1888, and since 1890 has operated in Chautauqua county, located at Fredonia. His activities have benefited many, and he has in a broad and public-spirited manner aided mightily in Fredonia's development. When fire destroyed the city's leading hotel, he later volunteered to take half the stock in a new one, and in August, 1920, the White Inn, a first class hostelry creditable to any community, was opened to the public. This but shows how willingly he responds to civic needs, and instances of his public-spirit could be multiplied indefinitely. He was a tower of strength to the government in bond selling and other campaigns, his example and per- sonal efforts stimulating and encouraging workers and purchasers. He is a son of Joseph and Pamelia (Feeter) French, his father' a civil engineer, connected with the improvement of the Erie canal; his mother of an old Mohawk Valley family; an ancestor, Colonel Feeter, carrying on horseback the first government mail out of Albany, west; he also was a patriot of the Revo- lution. In 1856, Joseph French with his family left Syracuse, N. Y., and settled at Westernville, and later at Rome, N. Y., where Albert F. began his business career which has culminated in so gratifying a success.
Albert Feeter French was born in Syracuse, N. Y., July 4, 1854, and there the first two years of his life were passed. He attended Westernville and Little Falls public schools until seventeen years of age, then became a clerk in a country store, continuing two years. The following two years were spent as a clerk in a dry goods store at Rome, N. Y .; he then going west to DesMoines, Iowa, where he remained until 1888, becoming engaged in the retail grocery and com- mission business. Mr. French married, in Des Moines, fowa, Oct. 21, 1882, Emma P. Brockett, of Rome, N. Y., and they are the parents of two children, both born in Des Moines, lowa, and educated in Fredonia: Alice B., married Kenneth H. Lovelee, of Fredonia, and they are the parents of two children, Jane and Ruth Lovelee; Emma Gertrude, married Ernest W. Christ- ophers, of New Jersey, and they are the parents of a daughter, Gertrude.
In 1888 he disposed of his western interests and returned to New York, locating in Buffalo, with the Erie Preserving Company. He remained in Buffalo until the spring of 1890, when he became part owner of the Fredonia Canning Company, and moved to Fre- donia, Chautauqua county. For nine years he con- tinued in business as the Fredonia Canning Company, that company merging with the United States Canning Company in 1899. In 1901 Mr. French retired from any connection with that company, and organized the Fredonia Preserving Company, of which he is treas-
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urer and manager. With his business in Fredonia well established and prosperous, he extended his field of operations and established a plant at Silver Creek, another at Modeltown, another at Wilson, another at Newfane in Orleans county, and at Sinclairville bought a plant already in operation, these all located in Western New York, and at the present time (1920) retains and operates the plants of the Fredonia Pre- serving Company at Fredonia, Silver Creek, Chautau- qua county, and Modeltown, Niagara county. The Fre- donia plant contains about 100,000 square feet of floor space in four buildings of frame and brick construction ; also adjacent sheds; the Silver Creek plant covers 75,000 square feet in two buildings, also with ample sheds for handling peas, tomatoes and corn. Before disposing of some of the plants, they at times employed 1,000 hands in canning and preserving operations, and now, in the height of the season, five to six hundred hands are kept busy. While the Fredonia Preserving Company is a corporation, Mr. French is the chief owner and directing head of all its operations, owning and controlling the business he established and developed.
He is vice-president and director of the Fredonia National Bank, which he aided in organizing, and is also interested in the Citizens' Trust Company of Fredonia. He is a member of the Fredonia Chamber of Commerce and chairman of its industrial committee; and a member of the Citizens' Club; and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. His church is the Presbyterian, which he serves as trustee. In politics he is a Democrat.
LEWIS ROESCH-One of the prominent business men of Fredonia, N. Y., is a native of the village of Hauingen, Baden, located in the extreme south-western part of Germany, born Jan. 4, 1851, son of Phillip and Maria (Glaser) Roesch, well known residents of that village.
Lewis Roesch attended the common school in the vicinity of his home until fourteen years of age, when he went to work in a cotton factory, working from 5:00 a. m. until 7:30 p. m., for which he received a man's wages, which amounted to 32 cents per day in American money. In 1868 he accompanied the family to the United States, his first employment being on a farm in Albany county, N. Y., and later serving in the same capacity in Brocton, N. Y. During the first winter he attended school in Brocton, and also in Dunkirk. He then moved to Fredonia with his parents, where he and his father bought four acres of land on the site of his present place, now known as the West Hill Nurseries, office at 57 Berry street. Settling in a berry-growing and market-gardening community, Mr. Roesch engaged in the same business and learned the trade from his neighbors and the agricultural pages of the New York "Tribune." But this locality soon failed to furnish market enough for his produce and he essayed to ship it to the then new oil fields of Allegany county, N. Y., and Mckean and Warren counties of Pennsylvania. This trade in turn quickly exceeded the capacity of his planting, and he became a wholesale dealer in fruits and vegetables. Plants are a by-product of the growing
strawberries, raspberries, etc. These he also developed and thus became a nurseryman, growing grapevines, small fruits, fruit trees and, in fact, general nursery stock. But the time came when the nursery business grew so large that fruit growing and shipping had to be abandoned.
From this humble beginning has resulted the exten- sive plant that Mr. Roesch directs at the present time (1920). Thrift, honest dealing, steadfastness and courage, are the sterling traits that have marked his whole life. Mr. Roesch's establishment is entirely de- voted to general nursery stock, grapevines being a specialty. His nursery cellars, 60 by 100 feet, designed and built by himself 32 years ago, are still the best adapted for the purpose to be found in Western New York. During the busy season he employs as many as forty hands, and ships his trees, vines, shrubs and plants to every State in the Union and to Canada, also to such far-away lands as South Africa, New Zealand and Japan. He publishes annually a beautiful and useful illustrated catalog of 68 pages, describing and pricing over 500 varieties. Mr. Roesch has modernized his equipment everywhere, and has installed telephones, service tubes, city water, gas, hoisting apparatus for loading heavy packages, a farm tractor, and up-to- date farm machinery. He finds it necessary to rent other farms to meet the continual growth of his exten- sive trade.
He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a director in the Citizens' Trust Company, and served as city trustee for two years. He is a Presbyterian in his religious belief, independent in politics, and a member of the Fredonia Grange, No. I. Mr. Roesch finds his recreation in traveling, both at home and abroad.
Mr. Roesch married (first) Sept. 22, 1879, Sophia H. Miller, who died Jan. 31, 1909. Three children were born to them: Flora M., bookkeeper for her father; Sidney C., manager of the Milks Seed Company, East Randolph, N. Y., who married Helen Baker; and Milton E., manager of propagation and packing, in his father's business. Milton E. married Florence Derby and they are the parents of three children: Milton D., Stanton G., and Alice M.
Mr. Lewis Roesch married (second) Nov. 16, 1912, Elizabeth A. Lyon.
JOHN JOSEPH MAHONEY, M. D., one of the public-spirited and influential citizens of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he holds the respons- ible office of superintendent of public health and that of sanitary supervisor for the State Department of Health, the Sanitary District of Western New York, is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Moynihan) Mahoney. He was born at Jamestown, June 28, 1869, and his entire active career has been associated with this place.
Dr. Mahoney's father, Thomas Mahoney, came originally from Ireland, having been born at Tarbert, on the River Shannon, and it was from that place that he and his family migrated to America, reaching this country when he was a lad of eight years of age. The family consisted of his widowed mother, and several brothers and sisters, and the voyage was made
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in the year 1849, when passage was not the holiday excursion that it has since become. They settled at Binghamton, N. Y., and remained there for a year or two, after which they came to Jamestown, in 1851, and have made their permanent home, where Thomas Mahoney passed away, Dec. 29, 1911. While yet young, Thomas was sent to work to help alleviate the condi- tions of the family finances, and being of an ambitious nature he did not allow the fact that he was poor to hinder his progress. The young man was desirous of some day engaging in an enterprise of his own, and with this end in view, worked hard and consistently, and was thus eventually able to gratify his wish to become a contractor and builder. He continued to be thus occupied throughout his entire life, and at the time of his death was a highly respected citizen of Jamestown. Mr. Mahoney was a self-made man in the best sense of the term and had to overcome many obstacles which were thrown in his path before reach- ing his goal. He had an unusual personality, keen foresight, and in business was considered a shrewd and honest man who appreciated the rights of others. He never forgot the struggle he had had while climb- ing to the top of the ladder, and assisted the young men of the community, wherever possible, upon their business careers. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and was one of those who founded and built the first church of this denomination at Jamestown. Mr. Mahoney married Margaret Moyni- han, a daughter of Patrick Moynihan, and a native of Ireland, her birth having occurred near Killarney, Oct. 8, 1845. Her parents and a sister and brother came to the United States in 1849, and located at Buffalo, remaining there for a few years, after which they came to Jamestown. She was herself nineteen years of age when she came from Ireland with another brother to join them. Patrick Moynihan continued living in Jamestown up to the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 2, 1906, at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. Like her husband, Mrs. Mahoney was a Catholic and reared her children in that faith; she passed away April 7, 19II.
Dr. John J. Mahoney attended the Jamestown public schools, and graduated from the high school in 1887, when he obtained a position in a local drug store and worked there until 1893, in the meantime learning the drug business in all its detail. It was while thus employed that Dr. Mahoney decided upon a medical career and in 1893 he entered the medical school of the University of Buffalo, where he studied medicine, and in 1896 won the degree of M. D. After graduation, Dr. Mahoney became an interne at the Sisters of Charity Hospital at Buffalo, and in 1897 came to Jamestown, where he opened an office and began the practice of his profession. Since beginning his practice, Dr. Mahoney has gained great popularity and is regarded here as an able practitioner both by the community-at-large and his professional colleagues. He was appointed, in May, 1906, superintendent of public health at Jamestown. It was in February, 1914, that he became connected with the New York State Department of Health and since that time has given up all private practice, confining his attention entirely to the work of that important department, as supervisor
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