USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
of the Sanitary District of Western New York. Dr. Mahoney has recently taken especial interest in that much dreaded disease, tuberculosis, and his extensive research into the question of its character and treat- inent has been such as to entitle him to be classed as a specialist in this subject. Dr. Mahoney may claim to have rendered honorable service to the community during fourteen years of association with the local Board of Health and during the five years as sanitary supervisor with the State Department of Health. He is still devoting all his time to the public health service.
Dr. Mahoney served as the medical member of the local Selective Service Board during the period of the World War.
In religious belief Dr. Mahoney is a Roman Catholic and attends the Church of SS. Peter and Paul of that denomination. He is a prominent figure in social and fraternal circles, and is a member of many important organizations, among which should be mentioned the Knights of Columbus, of which he is a past grand knight; the Order of Eagles; the Order of Maccabees; the American Medical Association; the New York Medical Society; the Chautauqua County Medical Society, and the Jamestown Medical Society, of which he is past president. In politics Dr. Mahoney is an independent.
Dr. Mahoney was united in marriage, Nov. 27, 1902, with Mary M. Shaughnessy, a native of Elmira, N. Y., and a daughter of John and Bridget (Walsh) Shaughnessy, old and highly respected residents of that city. To Dr. and Mrs. Mahoney one child has been born, Geraldine E., born Jan. 27, 1904, and now a student at the Jamestown High School.
CHARLES JAY JENNER, Superintendent of Public Works of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., with offices in the City Hall, is a native of Belvidere, Ill., born Oct. 27, 1850. He comes of good old New York stock, his parents being Asher and Jane (Cook) Jenner, who were born in Essex county and Ashville in this State, respectively. The elder Mr. Jenner was a con- spicuous figure in the pioneer days in Western New York and in the region extending from there to west of Chicago. During his youth there were no railroads constructed further west than Dunkirk, N. Y., and the stage coach was in common use. He early learned the trade of jeweler in Jamestown, in a small establishment located on the site of the present Union Trust building, and afterwards followed his trade at Belvidere, Boone county, Ill., being the only jeweler and watchmaker west of Chicago at that time. He first went out into that country on an expedition in which he assisted to erect the first telegraph lines to extend beyond Chicago into the then practically unsettled region to the West. He became a prominent figure in Boone county, being treasurer and city clerk of Belvidere City and also county judge, and knew miany of the men conspicuous in the life of the West, especially Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, afterwards a major-general in the Civil War. He held all county offices except that of sheriff.
It was while the elder Mr. Jenner was living in Boone county, where his death finally occurred at the
that J Jeuner
221
BIOGRAPHICAL
age of ninety years, that Charles Jay Jenner was born, and it was in that region that his childhood was passed and there that he attended school until he was twelve years of age. At the time the Civil War broke out and, seeing his elders responding to the call to arms of President Lincoln, the ambition of the lad was fired to take part in the great doings that were afoot. His youth and size were against him, however, and he finally found his way into the headquarters of Gen. Hurlbut, the warm friend of both his father and him- self. Gen. Hurlbut, admiring the spirit of the lad, allowed him to remain about the camp and there he set himself to any task that offered, selling papers, etc., in order to make himself useful and prolong his stay with the armny. This occurred just before the battle of Shiloh, in which, seeing his opportunity, he took an active part and proved himself as courageous as he was ambitious. Thereafter he continued in a sort of un- official connection with the army, and took part in many of the campaigns in the South during the remainder of the war. He was present at New Orleans at the time of President Lincoln's assassination, and observed the feeling of intense bitterness between the Southerners and Northerners in the city following that event. During the war period he also continued his studies and paid his own way through a business college in order to fit himself for a career in life. After the close of hostilities, he travelled to various parts of the country until, in 1874, he came to Jamestown, N. Y., and here settled permanently. Mr. Jenner first opened a skating rink on the site of the present custom house, and was exceedingly successful in that venture, be- coming very well known to the community-at-large. His popularity was soon shown in the fact that he was elected deputy sheriff of the county, after which he gave up his rink in order to devote his entire attention to his official duties. Later he became under sheriff of the county, and eventually was elected to the post of sheriff. After completing his term in that office, Mr. Jenner returned to private life for a time, and opened an establishment on Main street, where he remained twelve years. In 1911 he was appointed to his present position as superintendent of public works, and at the present time, (1920) is continuing to dis- charge his duties with the greatest efficiency and to the satisfaction of the entire community. He has, alike in his public capacity and in his private business deal- ings, gained the name of a most public-spirited citizen and one who ever bears in mind the best interests of the community which he so long and so faithfully served.
Mr. Jenner was reared in the Presbyterian church, but is not now a formal member of any church, although always interested in any charitable and philanthropic movement undertaken for the advance- ment of his fellows. He is prominent in social and fraternal circles, and is a member of many organiza- tions in the city, especially the Masonic bodies, being affiliated with Mt. Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Western Sun Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Jamestown Commandery No. 61, Knights Templar, and a past officer in his Chapter and Com- mandery at the same time. A staunch Republican in politics, he has been very active in party affairs, and is
recognized as one of the factors in the political situa- tion in Chautauqua county. Mr. Jenner has always taken a keen interest in out-door sports and pastimes. especially hunting and fishing, and for a number of years spent his vacations in the West hunting big game.
Charles Jay Jenner was united in marriage, Feb. 5, 1885, with Inez C. Moore, a daughter of Dexter and Lucretia (VanDine) Moore, old and highly respected residents of Jamestown.
PHILIP FREDERICK SIMON, who has been for many years a prominent figure in the business life of Jamestown, N. Y., is a member of an old family which was originally of French derivation, His ancestors fled from their native land in the year 1690, during the time of the religious persecution of the Huguenots, and settled at Heidelberg, Germany, where they engaged in business as tanners, and were highly respected in the community.
The grandfather of Philip F. Simon was born at Heidelberg, and made that place his home during his entire life. He was engaged in business as a tanner. He married Christina Frederika Schaaf, one of their children being the late Johann Frederick Simon, the father of the Mr. Simon of this sketch.
Johann Frederick Simon was also born at Heidel- berg, and died in Munich, in the year 1902, at the age of 75 years. He owned and operated two large tanner- ies, and took a prominent part in the life of the city, being well known and highly respected by his fellow citizens. He married Matilda Frank, who died in 1887, at the age of 56 or 57 years, and they were the parents of the following children: Philip Frederick, mentioned below; Emma, who became the wife of Carl Schaaf, and resides at Aschaffenberg, Germany, where her husband is a civil engineer in the employ of the govern- ment; Matilda, who became the wife of Clemens Gehrenbeck, of Halle, Germany.
Philip Frederick Simon, only son of Johann Frederick and Matilda (Frank) Simon, was born March 20, 1854, at Heidelberg, Germany. He received the elementary portion of his education at the public schools of that city, and later went to Switzerland, where he com- pleted his studies. He then returned to Heidelberg and worked for two years as an employee of his father in the tanneries there, but was obliged to give up these activities by the requirement which forced all young men to serve an appointed time in the German army. He afterwards engaged in clerical work at Heidelberg for about two and a half years, and then went to Belgium, where he continued in the same line in the city of Antwerp. It was in the year 1876 that Mr. Simon came to the United States and at first located at Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained four months. From there he went to Sheffield, Pa., and later to Pittsburgh, and other western cities, remaining in that region until 1877, when he returned to Germany. He remained four years in that country, and in 1881 came to the United States for the second time and located once more at Buffalo, where he made his home for six years. During that time he served as a book- keeper for a local brewing company but being exceed-
222
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
ingly ambitious to become independent in business, he saved up a large proportion of his earnings, and in 1887 found himself in a position to realize his desire. In that year he moved to Eldred, Pa., where he en- gaged in the bottling business and met with a high degree of success therein. In 1895, his attention being called to the great opportunities awaiting enterprising young men in the growing community of Jamestown, he came to that place and purchased the plant of the Milwaukee Bottling Company. Mr. Simon rapidly ex- tended his interest to include other industrial concerns, and in 1902 was elected president of the Jamestown Brewing Company, an office that he continues to hold at the present time. He is also a director of the National Chautauqua County Bank of Jamestown, and a member of the Board of Commerce, in which capacity he has done much to promote the material interest of the city. Mr. Simon's entry into his present business was somewhat unusual. A tanner by trade, he saw as a young man an opportunity to engage in the bottling business with two other gentlemen and was so successful that in a short time a second bottling plant was required. Still later a third was decided upon, each one of the partners to be in charge of a separate plant. The third plant was the one in James- town and Mr. Simon was placed at its head, and thus came to this city. Mr. Simon has always taken a keen interest in the general life of Jamestown, and partici- pated in many departments of its affairs being a con- spicuous figure in social and fraternal circles. He is a member of Eldred Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Bradford Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Jamestown Council, Royal and Select Masters; James- town Commandery, Knights Templar; Ismailia Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Buffalo Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret. He has taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry and held a number of Masonic offices, being past senior warden of his lodge and past commander of his commandery. Besides these Masonic bodies, Mr. Simon is affiliated with the local lodges, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Order of Maccabees, and his club is the Jamestown. He was always devoted to outdoor sports and pastimes, and at one time was an enthusiastic hunter and fisher- man, and also keenly interested in photography, being a member of the Jamestown Camera Club. These avocations Mr. Simon has since given up, owing to the great demand upon his time and energies made by his business activities. In religious belief he is a Lutheran.
Philip Frederick Simon was united in marriage, Oct. 10, 1878, in the city of Speyer, Germany, with Babette Faust, daughter of Franz and Adele (Gruner) Faust. Mr. and Mrs. Simon are the parents of the following children: Hedwig; Fritz, who died in infancy; Emma, became the wife of Frederick Hemphill; Adele, who died very young.
EARLE O. HULTQUIST-The subject of this sketch, as a man whose business capacity, energy and honorable, straightforward dealing have brought him the substantial reward of honest industry, a competency, as well as the prominent and active part he takes in every public measure or enterprise calculated to re-
dound to the honor of his city, State and Nation, stands among the most worthy of those citizens whose names and lives appear on the pages of this history.
Earle O. Hultquist was born in Jamestown. N. Y., May 10, 1891, a son of Clarence and Matilda C. Hult- quist. His early education was received in the common schools of Jamestown, N. Y., and after grad- uating from the Jamestown High School in the class of 1909 he immediately accepted a position in the Swedish American National Bank as clerk. He re- mained in this institution for three years, advancing to teller when he resigned to take the office of city auditor, an honor confered on him in September, 1913, by the mayor. Mr. Hultquist was reappointed twice, but refused the third reappointment in order to take the position of secretary and treasurer in the Art Metal Construction Company, which office he still holds.
In March, 1916, Mr. Hultquist, with his father and brother and Mr. F. A. Nelson, purchased the James- town Upholstery Company, Mr. Hultquist being elected a director and treasurer, which interest he still retains.
In politics Mr. Hultquist has ever been an earnest and consistent Republican, but in local affairs votes for the man and measure that he thinks is for the good of all the people, city, State and Nation. He is a member of the First Swedish Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the Board of Commerce, secretary and treasurer of the Campus Improvement Associa- tion, Alpha Zeta fraternity, Norden Club, Masonic Lodge and the Chadakoin Club.
In Jamestown, July, 1916, Mr. Hultquist was united in marriage with Miss Marguerite G. Peterson, a daughter of Fredrick R. and Edith O. Peterson. To this union was born one daughter, Jane Osgood, Aug. 7, 1917.
Mr. Hultquist is an ardent lover of the outdoor world. He is an unusually good athelete, having won the Track and Field Meet Championship of the city in 1910. He was also captain of the Jamestown High School Track Team, and was manager and member of the 1909 High School Championship Football team, which won all its games that season.
Mr. Hultquist is a selfmade man in the truest sense of the word; while his life is always a busy one, his everyday affairs making heavy demands upon his time, yet he never shrinks from his duties as a citizen. Always calm and unassuming, never demonstrative, his life is an exemplification of right principles. He has a hearty sympathy for his fellowmen, and is ever willing to aid and encourage those who are struggling to aid themselves, yet without ostentations.
GEORGE BATES WAITH, one of the well known business men of Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he has for a number of years conducted a successful hardware establishment, is a native of Ellington, N. Y., where his birth occurred Oct. 4, 1868. Mr. Waith is a son of George and Helen M. (Bates) Waith, the former horn Sept. 25, 1828, in London, England, and the latter Jan. 8, 1829, at Ellington, N. Y. The elder Mr. Waith was a shoemaker by trade, came to this country at an early age and settled at Ellington, where he carried on that line of business successfully until the close of his life. During the Civil War, Mr. Waith
-
J.J. Parker,
223
BIOGRAPHICAL
volunteered his services in the cause of the Union and served with the 112th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, as an independent sharpshooter with the rank of second lieutenant.
George Bates Waith passed his childhood at his native town of Ellington, and it was there that he received his education, attending for this purpose the local public schools and after he left school he worked in the wholesale hardware business of Walbridge & Company and with Weed & Company of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Waith engaged in the hardware business, which he founded in 1908, and which he has conducted with notable success ever since that time, his estab- lishment at the present time being one of the largest and best conducted of its kind in the neighborhood. In politics, Mr. Waith is a staunch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and although he has never been ambitious for public office of any kind, is regarded as one of the leaders of his party in this region.
George Bates Waith was united in marriage, Oct. 27, 1892, in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., with Mary S. Servis, of that place, a daughter of Howard and Lydia (Bailey) Servis. Mr. and Mrs. Waith are the parents of two children, Helen Alma and Doris Lydia. Helen Alma is the wife of Stanley N. White, who is now associated with Mr. Waith in his business as an active partner; Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of two children: Margaret Mable and Waith Walter White. Mr. and Mrs. Waith and family attend the Congrega- tional church at Ellington, N. Y.
JULIUS JOEL PARKER-A native son of Chau- tauqua county, born in the village of Fredonia, which was also his home at the time of his passing, Julius J. Parker spent his life in the business of a horticul- turist, adding not alone to the material prosperity of his village, but to its beauty and attractiveness. With horticulture he combined market gardening, a most happy combination of the opportunity offered the agri- culturist. He was a son of Joel R. Parker, born in Oneida county, N. Y., Feb. 16, 1812. Joel R. Parker settled at Fredonia, in the town of Pomfret, and there established a seed business, being a pioneer grower and dealer in seeds of various kinds. He was very successful in business, became well known, and was highly respected. He married, Jan. 12, 1837, in Fre- donia. Levina Scott, born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 18, 1813, died Jan. 27, 1866, and with her husband is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia. Mr. Parker was one of the incorporators of Forest Hill Cemetery, and one of the earliest lot buyers. Children : Julia Levina, married (first) Walter Wilcox, (second) Sewall Clark; Julius Joel, twin with Julia L .; Calista Lucy, born April 1, 1841, married Fernando C. Brown; Cornelius Walter, born May 16, 1842, died in the Union army during the Civil War; Pulaski Martin, born March 9, 1844, deceased; Henry Christo- pher, born Oct. 9, 1847, died Sept. 24, 1864.
Julius Joel Parker was born in Fredonia, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1838, and died at his home, No. 377 East Main street, Fredonia, Jan. 8, 1914. He was educated in the public schools and Fredonia
Academy. He early became associated with his father in the seed business and continued his associate until the death of Joel R. Parker in 1862, then succeeded to the ownership and continued its head for several years. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Parker was a member of the New York National Guard, but having a wife and three young children he did not go to the front, but sent a substitute whom he paid, but was never reimbursed. Near the close of the war he entered the army and saw some After service. abandoning the seed business, Mr. Parker devoted his time to market gardening, his land lying within the corporate limits of Fredonia. He was very successful in his business and prospered abundantly. He greatly improved his land, erected a fine residence thereon, and there resided until death ended his useful life. He brought his acres to a high state of productiveness, and became one of the substantial, highly respected men of the village.
Mr. Parker was a charter member and secretary of Fredonia Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and was very active in the work of that organization, being secretary for many years. He was a member of Fredonia Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and in politics a Repub- lican, later a Prohibitionist. Later he became inde- pendent in his political views, and supported men and measures that appealed best to his judgment. He attended the Baptist church, and was rated one of the progressive, public-spirited men of the village.
Julius J. Parker married (first) in 1860, Mary Wheelock, who died April 6, 1874, daughter of Rev. Alonzo Wheelock, for many years pastor of the Fre- donia Baptist Church. They were the parents of four children : 1. Helen S., born July 7, 1861 ; married Free- man Calkins; resides in Seattle, Wash., and has five children : Fred; Forest; Frances; Julius, and Norman. 2. Grace Elizabeth, born June 27, 1862; married Donald R. Miles, and resides in Iowa. 3. Mary Esther, born Feb. 4, 1864: married Edward R. Carpenter; lives near Syracuse, N. Y. 4. Joel Wheelock, born Aug. 5, 1866, died Jan. 24, 1899. Mr. Parker married (second) June 23, 1880, Lucy H. Tremaine, born in Rodman, Jefferson county, N. Y., daughter of Gaius and Mary A. (Sawyer) Tremaine, her father a farmer, who came to Fredonia in 1864, and there spent the re- maining years of his life. Mrs. Parker continues her residence in Fredonia, and is well known as a lady of high intelligence and business ability. She was educated in the public schools and the State Normal; is a member of Fredonia Grange, No. I, Patrons of Husbandry, and was chairman of the finance committee of the Red Cross for her district during the World War. Mr. Parker is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia.
A. AUSTIN BECKER, M. D., is one among many successful physicians in Jamestown, enjoying his work and always ready to respond to the call of the sick or dying. Kind and sympathetic, his patients feel cheered by his visits, and their confidence in his ability to help them is one of the rewards for the constant strain under which any physician with a large general practice labors. Dr. Becker has few days of rest, but he does
224
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
enjoy the yearly outings he allows himself, and his greatest pleasure is to spend part of the season at his summer home on Lake Chautauqua.
Dr. Becker was born a Canadian, his parents, Charles Samuel and Sarah (Irish) Becker, having lived at Brighton, Province of Ontario, Canada, at the time of the boy's birth, Nov. 9, 1873. Charles Samuel Becker was a farmer, and his son assisted him in the work about the place, also attending the public schools and eventually entering the high school. He did not grad- uate from the high school, for the family left Brighton and came to the United States when the son Austin was fifteen years old. They settled in Jamestown in 1888, and A. Austin Becker found employment in various places for some time until finally he became permanently located as cashier for a firm named Schoffield & Dinsmore, where he remained until 1895.
The young man had determined to study medicine and had chosen the medical school of the University of Buffalo as the college he would attend. The course occupied three years, and at the expiration of that time A. Austin Becker graduated in 1898, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and his diploma with which to start upon his profession. Several months were spent as an interne in the hospital to gain experience, but Dr. Becker was desirous of getting settled in general practice, and in that same year, 1898, opened an office in Jamestown, embarking upon what proved to be a very successful career.
Dr. Becker is actively interested in the various medical societies of which he is a member, among them being the American Medical Society, the New York State Medical Society, the Chautauqua County Medical Society, and the Jamestown Medical Association. He is also a member of the Sigma Nu (I. C. I. ) fraternity. In addition to his general practice, Dr. Becker has been a lecturer at various times in the local hospitals; he is also a medical examiner for several life insurance companies, among them being the Union Central Life Insurance Company, and the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company.
On Dec. 24, 1902, Dr. Becker married in New Rich- mond, Pa., Maude Jane Burch, a resident of that town. Of this union one child was born, Oct. 15, 1916. Both of Dr. Becker's parents are dead.
MAJOR EDWARDS H. PRATT-It was in the year 1887 that Major Pratt came to Fredonia, and during the more than two decades which elapsed be- tween that year and his passing he came into a close relation with public and private interests of the village and to a place near the hearts of the villagers. He was of New England birth, parentage and ancestry, a son of Rev. Miner G. Pratt, his father a Congregational minister.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.