USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 8
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Alice Rebecca Fay was born at the homestead in Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1850, was educated in Brocton schools, and has spent her life in her native village. When her father, Clinton S Fay, died, in 1879, the dairy and farm was continued hy his widow, with Miss Fay as her chief assistant, she being the eldest daughter. When her years grew heavy, Mrs. Fay surrendered much of the burdens to her daughter who made her mother's declining years happy and contented through her loving ministrations. Mrs. Fay passed away in 1902, and Miss Fay still continues the farm with its dairy and vineyards as her parents had before her. She has added many im- provements to the old farm and still successfully (1920) continues its operation. She is a member of
the Brocton Baptist Church and for twenty years was treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society of that church. Miss Fay has a host of warm friends in the village in which her useful life has been passed, and all regard her with affection and esteem.
JOSEPH BELKNAP FAY was born in Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., May 17, 1817, and educated in the Brocton public school and academy. He was his father's associate in his grape-growing experiments and successes and in 1851 began grape culture for his own account. In 1859 he became a member of the firm, Fay, Ryckman and Haywood, and began manu- facturing wine on a large scale. When war broke out between the North and the South, he helped to raise a company in Brocton, and on Aug. 2, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company E, 154th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, Captain Griswold, from the town of Arkwright, Chautauqua county, commanding, and of which he later became captain. At the battle of Gettysburg he fought, and early in July, 1863, he was confined for nine months in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. He was then exchanged and rejoined his company, but his prison life and privations had undermined his health, and on July 16, 1864 he resigned his commission -captain-and returned to the farm at Brocton, and again engaged in grape culture and wine manufactur- ing, he being the secretary of the Lake Shore Wine Company, successors to Fay, Ryckman and Haywood. In 1865 he was elected supervisor from Brocton, and in 1866 was elected assemblyman, and in 1867 reelected. He later accepted a position as United States railway mail clerk, running between Buffalo and New York. In 1872 he sold his Brocton interests and moved to Topeka, Kan., engaging there in farming for several years, going thence to the State of Colorado, there owning and operating the Eureka, a silver mining property. His family moved from Topeka to Chicago, [11., where he joined them and resided until his death, Jan. 20, 1886. His body was brought to Brocton and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. He was very popu- lar wherever known, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church.
Captain Fay married (first) Oct. 8, 1837, Maria M. Sage, of Brocton, who died Oct. 29, 1840, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, leaving a son, Ransom, who died in childhood, and a daughter, Maria Sage, who married (first) Harvey Selleck, and (second) Frank French, Captain Fay married (second) March 15. 1843, Martha Haywood, daughter of James Hay- wood. They were the parents of two children: I. Evelyn, who married Clinton Bradshaw, and resided in Topeka, Kan., but is now deceased. 2. Josepli Ransom, now residing in Topcka, Kan. Albert Fay, an adopted son of Captain Fay, was a soldier of the Civil War. He died in Brocton, Chautauqua county, May 22, 1920.
ARTHUR RAYMOND CLARK-The Clark Hardware Company of Jamestown, N. Y., is built upon the business founded about 1850 by Rufus Jones, but the Clark name did not appear in it until 1884, when Stephen A. and Milton H. Clark, grandfather and father
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of Arthur Raymond Clark, the present vice-president of the company, purchased the business then being conducted under the firm name, Windsor & Glidden. In 1892, after other firms had been absorbed by purchase, they all were incorporated as the Clark Hardware Company, and eventually this company became the largest firm in Chautauqua county, dealing in both wholesale and retail. Stephen A. Clark never lived in Jamestown, although his interest was an im- portant one, the burden of management falling upon his son, Milton H. Clark, a man of rare business ability, who won high rank in the business world, and the unvarying respect of the community. Arthur R. Clark," of the third generation, succeeded his father in the management of the Clark Hardware Company, and has proved his fitness to the position he holds in the business which has borne the Clark name since 1884, a period of thirty-six years.
Arthur R. Clark is of the ninth generation of the family founded in New England by Samuel Clark, who came to Wethersfield, Conn., in 1636. Burke says: "The Clarks of Bucklands were from the North, I believe from Elgin. They settled down in Devon some time in 1500, were worthy, upright, and respected people." Well confirmed tradition credits Samuel Clark with being a resident of the Clarks of Bucklands in Devonshire.
Arms-Ermine a lion rampant azure on a chief sable a leopard's face argent between two crosses crosslet or.
Crest-A demi-lion gules collared or, on the shoulder an estoille argent, in the paw of a baton sable.
Motto-Victor mortalis est.
(I) Samuel Clark was born about 1619, in Devonshire, England, locating in Westfield in 1636, and on May 16, 1640, was one of the twenty men who bound them- selves to establish a home at Rippowams, now Stam- ford, Conn. He appears on the list of settlers at Stam- ford until 1642. He is then traced to Milford, Conn., where he is believed to have lived until 1669, removing then to Hempstead, L. I., and later, in 1685, to New Haven, Conn. He died ahout 1690. He married Han- nah Fordham, daughter of Rev. Robert Fordham, and they were the parents of sons and daughters.
(II) The line of descent from Samuel and Hannah (Fordham) Clark is through their son, William Clark, born in Stamford, in 1645, died in Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., in 1712. William Clark was one of the original proprietors of a part of the township of Bedford, lie with fifteen others purchasing of the Mohegan chiefs, Dec. 23, 1680, the land where Bedford now stands. In 1794, Queen Anne confirmed to the town of Bedford 23,000 acres to twenty-nine land- holders, the Clarks appearing in the list-William Clark, Sr., William Clark, Jr., and Nathan Clark. The records show that William Clark had three sons, the name of his wife being unknown. Descent in this branch is traced through Nathan, the second son.
(III) Nathan Clark, son of William Clark, was born about 1666, and settled in Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., in 1680. He was one of the twenty-nine land- holders of the town of Bedford, lived on his farm a quarter of a mile north of the village, and there died, his father, William Clark, also ending his days there. Nathan Clark was a prominent man in the village, a
member of the church, and the owner of mill rights as well as several parcels of land. He was twice married, descent in this branch being through Nathaniel, a son of the second wife.
(IV) Nathaniel Clark, son of Nathan Clark, was born in Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., in 1714, died June 2, 1784. By his wife Mary he had thirteen children, descent being traced through Amos, the twelfth child and youngest son.
(V) Amos Clark, son of Nathaniel Clark, was born in Bedford, N. Y., April 3, 1765, and there passed his years, thirty-two, dying Aug. 20, 1797. He married Patience Newman, and they were the parents of three children, the second being a son, Stephen.
(VI) Stephen Clark, son of Amos Clark, was born in Bedford, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1791, died Dec. 25, 1847. He was a farmer of Salem, N. Y., the first in this branch to leave the old family home in Bedford. He married, Jan. 18, 1816, Lydia Howe, born March 26, 1795, died April 26, 1851, the mother of six children, the fourth being a son, Stephen Augustus, one of the founders of the Clark Hardware Company of James- town, N. Y.
(VII) Stephen Augustus Clark, son of Stephen Clark, was born June 7, 1825, died Feb. 24, 1890. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Salem and Somerton, and in those towns his youth was spent. Although descending from a long line of agriculturists, he craved a husiness career, and when a young man secured a clerical position with a grain dealing firm in New York City. From New York he moved to Ossining, where he was employed for a time, later returning to the home farm in Salem. At Salem he bought and shipped produce to New York, and for several years conducted a very successful commission business. He purchased a farm at Croton Lake, N. Y., and there resided four years, later moving to Ossining, where he engaged in the dry goods business very successfully. While he had important business interests in Jamestown, N. Y., he was never a resident of that city, his interests being in charge of his son, Milton Howe Clark. Stephen A. Clark was a member of the Baptist church, and a Republican in politics. He was buried in Dale Cemetery, Ossining, N. Y. He married Feb. 21, 1849, in New York City, Mary Elizabeth Foshay, born there Oct. 8, 1829, died Feb. 24, 1890, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Banks) Foshay, and of French descent. Mrs. Clark was an active member of the Ossining Baptist Church, and a lady greatly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of three children: Milton Howe, whose career is herein traced; Isabel Gertrude; Matilda Roper, married Charles Augustus Trowbridge, and died March 20, 1895, and with her infant son, Charles A. Trowbridge, Jr., is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, N. Y.
(VIII) Milton Howe Clark, only son of Stephen Augustus and Mary Elizabeth (Foshay) Clark, was born in New York City, April 1, 1850, died in James- town, N. Y., July 19, 1911. He was educated in the public and private schools of New York City, then finished his education with a course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He began his business career as a clerk, later joined his father in the Ossining dry goods store, and later, for three years,
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was engaged in the hardware business in Van Wert, O., remaining in business there for two years, going thence to Jamestown, N. Y., in 1884. His experience in the hardware business had left him favorably inclined toward this branch of merchantile life, and finding the business of Windsor & Glidden could be purchased he formed a partnership with his father and became its owner, they trading as S. A. and M. H. Clark. That was the nucleus of the present Clark Hardware Com- pany, the D. C. Bachus hardware store being purchased hy the Clarks in 1888, and the George T. Fenton business in 1890, all being combined in 1892, under the firm name, the Clark Hardware Company. The entire management of the business devolved upon the should- ers of Milton H. Clark, even before the death of his father, and for seven years after the death of Stephen A. Clark the son continued the business alone. In 1897 he admitted George B. Pitts as a partner, and in 1900 the business was incorporated under the old firm name, the Clark Hardware Company. Mr. Clark was a man highly esteemed by his business associates, and was ranked with the able men of his city. The com- pany under his management was very prosperous and the largest of its kind in the Chautauqua county dis- trict. While he shared its emoluments with his father as long as the latter lived, the business owed its devel- opment to Milton H. Clark, and it is a proud monument to his business sagacity and enterprise. In addition to his wholesale and retail hardware business, Mr. Clark was connected with the Maddox Table Company, and the Home Telephone Company, both of Jamestown. He was progressive and public-spirited, always ready to respond in aid of any movement for Jamestown's benefit. He was a member, trustee, and treasurer of the First Baptist Church, of Jamestown, and in politics a Republican.
Mr. Clark married, at Ossining, N. Y., Oct. 25, 1877, Jane A. Hull, horn in Newark, N. J., March 22, 1858, died in Jamestown, in May, 1912. daughter of William Gaunville and Mary A. (Hosser) Hull. Children . 1. Mabel Gertrude, wife of Horace Howard Bogue, a dry goods merchant of Alliance, Neb. 2. Helen Nor- wood. wife of Lyle Blystone Himebaugh, a furniture manufacturer of Jamestown, N. Y. 3. Milton Stanley, graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M. E., class of 1908. 4. Arthur Raymond, whose career is herein traced.
(IX) Arthur Raymond Clark, youngest son of Milton Howe and Jane A. (Hull) Clark, was born at Jamestown, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1888. He was educated in the Jamestown public schools and the Jacob Tome Institute, Port Deposit, Md., completing his studies at the later institution with graduation. In 1908 he entered the employ of the Clark Hardware Company, and since the death of his father has been associated with the management as vice-president. Mr. Clark entered his country's service in November, 1917, and was first assigned to duty with an ammunition train. Later he entered officers' training camp at Fort Dix, and was commissioned second lieutenant, June 1, 1918. He was sent to France with Company H, S11th Pioneer Infantry in October, 1918, and was in the service over- seas until ordered home in July, 1919. Six months of his foreign service was with Company H, in the Paris
district. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service, July 19, 1919. He is a member of the American Legion; is a Republican in politics; a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Jamestown, and a member of the vestry, and is also a member of the Rotary Club.
Mr. Clark married, Oct. 12, 1012, Johanna Stark Searle, of Scranton, Pa., daughter of Edward R. W. Searle, her father a lawyer. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of a daughter, Margaret Jane, born July 20, 1917, she a representative of the tenth Clark gener- ation in the United States.
MARVIN N. EVERETT-The passing of Marvin N. Everett removed from Jamestown, N. Y., one of the most highly respected and substantial citizens of that city. From the year 1850, when he came to what is now Falconer, Chautauqua county, until the end of his life, he was a resident of Chautauqua county, save for a period of six years spent in California, 1854-60, and another two years in Kansas. The experiences through which he passed, beginning as a boy in Sara- toga county, would substitute a deeply interesting nar- rative of adventure of those pioneer days when lumber and produce were sent down the river on rafts, and often a man's life was the price paid for his efforts to wrest a livelihood from forest, river, and mine. Mr. Everett finally located in Falconer, where he built a handsome residence, then the best in the town, there residing until 1895, when he sold it and removed to No. 105 West Second street, Jamestown, his home until Feb. 4, 1909, when the Death Angel passed and beckoned him away.
Mr. Everett was a man of great energy, of broad, diversified tastes, delighting in the use of tools and mechanical work, yet equally fond of bees and their care. In his personal life he was a kind, generous neighbor, very fond of his home, and a man whose life was a benefit to the communities in which he lived. He prospered in his business affairs, and never failed in ascribing a fair share of his success to his capable wife, Mrs. Viola D. (Oburg) Everett, who survives him. She stepped forward when failing health incapaci- tated Mr. Everett, and for four years was the managing head, and since her husband's death has managed the estate with consumate skill, and has proved herself of strong executive and managerial ability.
Marvin N. Everett, son of John and Elizabeth (Walker) Everett, was horn at Maxon Hill, Saratoga county, N. Y., March 24, 1828, and died in Jamestown, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1909, aged eighty years eleven months and twenty days, and was buried in Lake View Cem- etery. His youth was passed in Saratoga county in association with his father, who was a manufacturer of measures, their product being shipped to New York City. In 1850, at the age of twenty-two years, the young man left home and made his way westward, finally locating at Worksburg, now Falconer, Chautau- qua county, N. Y. There with his brother he engaged in the building of flatboats, which they loaded with produce and sent down the Allegheny river to Pitts- burgh. In 1854 he sold his business interest at Falconer to his brother, and spent the following six years in
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the State of California, being employed as a millwright in Sacramento prior to locating in Trinity county, and becoming a successful gold miner. In 1860 he returned to Chautauqua county, N. Y., and bought a farm in the town of Gerry, which he owned and con- ducted for five years. In 1866 he married, and later went west on account of his wife's health, locating in Kansas. There Mr. Everett bought considerable land, and also engaged in the brokerage business in Minne- apolis, Kan. After two years in Kansas he again returned to Chautauqua county, locating in the town of Gerry.
After the death of his wife he made his home in Falconer, where he married a second wife, in 1875, and in 1881 built the fine residence in Falconer which he occupied until selling it in 1895, and moving to Jamestown. In 1887, Mr. Everett drew the plans for and built the Hotel Everett on West First street, Jamestown, at a cost of $50,000. This was a sub- stantial building of brick and stone, four stories in height, with basement, and well planned. He continued manager of the Hotel Everett until his health failed, when his capable wife succeeded him as manager. In 1892 he sold the Hotel Everett and retired from active business.
Mr. Everett was a good mechanic, and very fond of mechanical work. He also at one time had quite an extensive apiary and was deeply interested in bee culture. Strictly temperate himself, he strongly advocated the cause of temperance, and to his interest and generosity the building of the First Methodist Church in Falconer is due. The beautiful home on Main street, Falconer, was sold in 1895, and a home established at No. 105 West Second street, Jamestown, where he resided until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and always active in local affairs.
Mr. Everett married (first) June 23, 1866, Emily J. Perry, daughter of Ebenezer and Susan C. Perry. He married (second) at Falconer, N. Y., March 3, 1875, Viola D. Oburg, daughter of Oscar and Bebe (Well- man) Oburg, of Ashville, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Mrs. Everett survives her husband, a woman of force- ful character, business ability, and womanly virtues. She was always a true partner and helpmate, and of real assistance to her husband in his business under- takings. When his health failed she assumed the man- agement and acted as manager of the Hotel Everett until that property was sold. In 1908 she rented the Marvin House of twenty-one rooms, which she con- ducted until 1909. Later she hought the property of the heirs of the Isabelle Marvin estate, and has since operated the property with success. She also built, adjoining the Marvin House, a three-story brick block, the first story now occupied by the American Railway Express and the Williamson Veneer companies. The upper stories constitute the Lawrence Hotel. In addi- tion to these properties, Mrs. Everett is the owner of other valuable real estate in Jamestown, where she is known and recognized as a woman of rare executive ability. She is of deeply charitable impulse, and inter- ested in all public movements for the good of her community. She has a host of friends and is highly esteemed.
OSCAR OBURG-Mrs. Viola D. (Oburg) Everett is a daughter of Oscar Oburg, who was born in Sweden, Feb. 25, 1833, son of Peter and Margaret Oburg. The family came to the United States in 1849, coming via Buffalo by stage to Dunkirk, N. Y., thence to Jamestown. Oscar Oburg at that time, a lad of sixteen, found employment at the Shaw Hotel, located at the corner of Main and West Third streets, the Prendergast block now occupying the site. The Shaw Hotel was a regular stop for the stage coaches, then the only means of travel, a change of horses being made at the hotel. Later Oscar Oburg located in Ashville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where for some time was engaged in the tailoring business. and while there he married, Feb. 27, 1852, Bebe Wellman, daughter of Barnabas and Permelia (Bullock) Well- man, she born in Ashville, of an old and highly respected Chautauqua county family. Later, Oscar Oburg became interested in the shoe business, in which he continu- ously engaged until after the Civil War, when he turned his attention to farming, continuing until old age com- pelled his retirement. Mr. Oburg was a Republican in politics, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, belonging to the Ashville congre- gation for more than sixty-six years.
His wife, Bebe (Wellman) Oburg, was the daughter of Barnabas and Permelia (Bullock) Wellman, who were among the early settlers of Chautauqua county, N. Y. Her grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, her great grandfather an English sea captain who made many voyages between America and China. On one of the return voyages he brought home a set of china dishes, a picture of his ship on each dish, these being long preserved in the family. Bebe (Wellman) Oburg was a devoted Christian, affiliated with the Ashville church from the age of fifteen. She died April 1, 1918, aged eighty-three years, eleven months and fourteen days. Oscar Oburg died at Ashville, April 9, 1919, aged eighty-six years, one month and fifteen days. Both are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at Ashville, where the parents of Bebe (Wellman) Oburg are also buried. Mr. and Mrs. Oburg are survived by their six children: Elon M., a resident of the town of Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y .; Viola D., widow of Marvin N. Everett, of Jamestown; Minnie N., who resides at the old homestead in Ashville: Lelia C., wife of Rollins M. Lee, of Ashville; Abbie D., wife of Charles Wellman, of Jamestown; Victor F., a resident of Pittsburgh, Pa.
ROLLIN D. POWERS, owner of an up-to-date electrically driven flour milling plant at Westfield, N. Y., and now entering into a new business with all the zest he manifested forty years ago, when, as a young and optimistic business man, he undertook the man- agement of three stores at the same time, has had a most energetic and versatile commercial career. He has been in independent business for almost fifty years; was a merchant doing substantial business when only eleven years old; was a justice of the peace at twenty two; was a peddler; an auctioneer; has had retail stores in such different lines as dry goods, notions, hoots and shoes, groceries, five and ten cent stores, men's furnish-
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ings, house furniture, clothing, in some of the stores employing many hands; and he has been a farmer, a travelling salesman, a fruit grower, a livery stable owner, an auctioneer at fairs, a State land surveyor, and nursery inspector, and finally, notwithstanding that the many businesses he has been in during his long life of extremely active trading all contributed to some extent to his present comfortable financial state, and notwithstanding his age, he is entering ener- getically into plans for the renovation and dismantling of one property he owns, so as to install with the least possible delay milling machinery of modern type capable of handling fifty barrels of flour or buckwheat daily. His certainly has been a busy life, and through- out the county, among agriculturists, it would probably be difficult to find a man more widely known than he.
Rollin D. Powers is a native of Chautauqua county, born in the village of Harmony, Dec. 20, 1858. He comes of one of the old families of Chautauqua county, at least four generations, including that of his children, having had residence within its borders. His father was born in 1836, and his mother also was of the county. His parents were Joseph B. and Jennie (Royer) Powers, and he was one of twelve children born to them, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, and all married, with the exception of one brother. At least one of his uncles, Joel A. Powers, saw service in the Civil War.
Coming as he did from such a large family, it would be natural to expect that he would be self-reliant; and it is not surprising to find that his parents, in rearing so large a family, did not accumulate much monetary wealth; as a matter of fact, the family was poorly circumstanced, and Rollin D. found at a very early age that it was necessary for him to work. He was a confident, alert boy, and when only eleven years old started out with one horse and a stock of sundry useful articles, such as needles, notions and groceries, to sell his wares to the neighboring farmers. And he prospered, his wagon eventually being stocked in almost all the small things a farmer or housekeeper might need. At one time, Rollin D. Powers thought of going into professional life, and started reading law in the law office of Mr. Sessions, at Panama, Chau- tauqua county. But his real forte was salesmanship, and he eventually took to the road again. He did well, and embarked in the responsibility of a store business: in a short while he had two stores at Panama, retailing dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, had a store at Ellery Center, and a general store at Watts Flats. He did moderately well, and at the age of twenty-two years was elected justice of the peace at Boomertown, N. Y., holding that judicial office for three years, also post- master. Disaster came to him in the gutting of his store at Watts Flats by fire, and in 1890 he moved into Westfield, possessed of very little money. But he had unbounded optimism and grit, and he was soon busily driving his team and wagon over the country roads, selling dry goods and groceries, boots and shoes, to farmers as before, and he became widely known and very much liked. For twenty-seven years he took his wares to the agricultural fairs of the county, retailing horsewhips and notions, meanwhile conducting many other enterprises. He established a cash bee-hive
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