USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume II > Part 80
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Lym R. Van black
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from Forestville High School, in 1903, began the study of law under Judge W. S. Thrasher, of Dayton, N. Y. He then entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, whence he was graduated LL. B., class of 1910. He was admitted to the New York bar the same year and located at Cherry Creek, Chautau- qua county, where he formed a partnership with Richard A. Hall, and as Hall & Van Vlack they practiced until the fall of 1914, Mr. Van Vlack then practicing alone in South Dayton until his enlistment early in 1917. At the close of his military activities, Dec. 19, 1918, he returned home and from March 1, 1919, until Feb. 1, 1920, he was professionally employed by the firm of Thrasher & Clapp, of Jamestown. He then became a member of the law firm, Van Vlack, Peterson & Bargar, with offices in the Fulton building, Jamestown. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and of the Jamestown Bar Associa- tion.
Mr. Van Vlack aided in organizing the 174th Com- pany, Home Defense Reserve, and on Sept. 1, 1917, was commissioned second lieutenant of the New York Home Defense Reserve by Governor Whitman. In that capacity he aided materially in the training of a large number of men who later entered the service. Lieutenant Van Vlack made application to enter the First Officers' Training Camp, but was declared physically unfit. He was, however, selected as an alternate to the Second Officers' Training Camp, and reported for duty at Fort Niagara, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1917. He was assigned to Battery 2, Fort Niagara Training Regiment, but on Sept. 9, 1917, was discharged on physical grounds. Being denied military service, Lieutenant Van Vlack returned home and devoted him- self to home service. He was appointed associate member of the Legal Advisory Board for Cattaraugus county for service in the towns of Dayton, Perrysburg and Persia. In that capacity he rendered continuous gratuitous service to registrants in all four drafts, aiding in preparation and filling their questionaires.
On Dec. 12, 1917, Mr. Van Vlack became by appoint- ment a member of the Legal Service Committee of the Cattaraugus County Home Defense Committee, giving free service to drafted men and their families in procuring insurance allotments and allowances. As chairman of the Third Liberty Loan Committee of South Dayton, he was instrumental in South Dayton in winning a flag containing two extra stars, certifying that the quota arranged had been duplicated. On March 18, 1918, Mr. Van Vlack was appointed govern- ment appeal agent for the local board, Division No. 3. Gowanda, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., by C. H. Sher- rill, adjutant-general of the State of New York. He examined all questionaires filed with the board, subpoenaed and examined more than one hundred registrants, and made recommendation as to the dis- posal of their cases. On Sept. 20, 1918, he was appointed field investigator for the Bureau of War Risk Insur- ance, this office, like the preceding one, being without pay. On Oct. 10, 1918, Mr. Van Vlack enlisted as a private in the Tank Corps, United States army, and on Oct. 17 following reported to the officer command- ing Fort Coll at the Gettysburg battle grounds. By order dated Oct. 26, 1918, he was assigned to 310 Center
Tank Corps, and acted during his service there as first, top, mess and supply sergeant. His unit was ordered overseas Nov. 7, 1918, but delays followed and the signing of the armistice cancelled the order. He was warranted sergeant, Nov. 11, 1918, went to Camp Dix, N. J., with his unit Nov. 16 following, and was there honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant, Dec. 10, 1918. He is past junior commander of Ira Lou Spring Post, No. 149, American Legion, and past commander of James Hall Camp, No. 111, Sons of Veterans. Other orders of which he is a member are: Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons; Jamestown Lodge, No. 263, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; and Pine Valley Lodge, No. 605, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, South Dayton. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Van Vlack married, at Cherry Creek, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1910, Florence A. Harmon, daughter of William Henry and Minnie (Merrill) Harmon, of Cherry Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Van Vlack are the parents of four children, the first three born at Cherry Creek, the fourth at South Dayton, namely: Virginia Merry, born Dec. 30, 1910; Merrill Harmon, born Feb. 23, 1912; Russell Raymond, born Sept. 1, 1914; Florence Janet, born Aug. 30, 1916.
DR. LEVANT R. DRAKE, one of the prominent and prosperous dentists of Jamestown, N. Y., was born at Cambridge Springs, Pa., on Sept. 22, 1882, a son of Alphans S. and Ella M. (Sherwood) Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Alphans S. Drake were the parents of four children, as follows: Effie M., who became the wife of William Stanley, of Corry, Pa .; J. Floy, who married Roy Mallory, of Union City, Pa., Elbert A., a sales- man, of Buffalo, N. Y .; and Levant R., of whom further mention.
Levant R. Drake received the preliminary portion of his education in the public grade schools of North East, Pa. For his elementary and preparatory training, he attended the high school at Union City, Pa., and he completed his studies here with graduation in 1903. Having decided upon the profession of dentistry as his career in life, he entered the University of Michigan, where he completed the course in dentistry and gradu- ated with the class of 1907, at which time he received his degree of D. D. S. Dr. Drake began the practice of his profession immediately after his graduation from the university, when he entered the association with Dr. Charles E. Anderson, with whom he continues to date (1920).
The popularity of Dr. Drake is not confined only to the limits of his profession as a dentist. During the World War, he was a member of the local organization which was engaged in doing dental work for service men, and in this Dr. Drake served his locality, his fellowmen in service, and his country, with untiring and unselfish effort. In his political faith he is a Republican. Dr. Drake is prominent in the Masonic order, and is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons. He belongs also to the fraternity, Psi Omega.
On June 30, 1908, Dr. Drake married Incz M. Jenkins. Dr. and Mrs. Drake have no children.
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SAMUEL FREDERICK NIXON- The third of his line to bear this name, Mr. Nixon received with it the tradition of useful activity conducive of the general good as well as productive of private benefit. Mr. Nixon is a son of Samuel Frederick Nixon (2), and grandson of Samuel Frederick Nixon, his grand- father, born 1826, died in 1876, a younger son of an old family of County Down, Ireland. The founder of the American line, receiving none of the paternal estate under the English custom of primogeniture, came to the United States as a youth of nineteen years, settling in Westfield, N. Y., in 1845. He engaged in the marble business, founding a house that continued many years after his death, and was well known in business circles. He prospered in large degree, and throughout a busy life bore the undivided regard of his fellows. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and in political faith was a Republican. He married Mary C. Johnson, born in County Down, Ireland, who died in Albany, N. Y., in 1899. They were the parents of : Emmett C., and Samuel Frederick, of whom further.
Samuel Frederick (2) Nixon, youngest son of Samuel Frederick (1) and Mary C. (Johnson) Nixon, was born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1860, and died there Oct. 10, 1905. He was graduated from Westfield Academy in 1877, entered Hamilton College, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1881. He spent a year with the Vermont Marble Company at Sutherland Falls, Vt., then, in 1883, returned to West- field, where he continued the marble business founded by his father, having as a partner his brother, Emmett C. Later in life he was extensively engaged in the culture of grapes and in agriculture. He had a most active and remarkable political career. Before he was twenty-four years of age he was elected trustee of the village corporation, and two years later was chosen supervisor, an office he held for twenty years, thirteen of which he was chairman of the board. In 1888 he was elected to the New York State Legislature, and each year thereafter he was annually nominated by the conventions for supervisor and for assemblyman by acclamation, except for four years. He represented Chautauqua county in the Legislature for fifteen years, twelve of these years being continuous. During these years he was chairman of committees, on railroads two years, member of ways and means, three years being chairman, and Republican leader of the house two years. He was speaker of the house seven years, the longest continuous term in the history of the State that a man has held the office of speaker. As speaker he had no peer in the dispatch of public business, while the prominent position he occupied enabled him to forward much business that was of particular benefit to Chautauqua county, notably the appropriation to rebuild the normal school building at Fredonia. He was deeply interested in the cause of education and supported all important measures in aid of agricultural education. To him was largely due the large increase in the free school fund, the apportionment for teachers in sparsely settled districts, the law allowing any dis- trict to provide free text books, and the law giving pupils in rural towns where there is no high school the benefit of a high school education in some other town at the State expense. In agricultural education he
obtained the first appropriation for holding farmers' institutes at the College of Agriculture, Cornell Uni- versity. The experimental station at Geneva had his warm support, as did the State Agricultural College. He was an indefatigable worker and held his high position at Albany by sheer force of merit, there being many able and deserving men who were covetous of the high honor he held so long. His elections to the speakership were by acclamation, no one entering the list against him. This is also true of his successive elections as chairman of the board of supervisors.
Mr. Nixon married, in Westfield, N. Y., May 21, 1885, Myrtle Redfield, born in Spring Lake, Mich., April 27, 1861, daughter of George Redfield. Issue: Samuel Frederick (3), of whom further; George Redfield, born Oct. 11, 1889, married Josephine Van Buren, and is now associated with the Continental Radiator Company, of Dunkirk, N. Y .; Dorothea Frances, born March 5, 1892, now Mrs. Stanton Griffis, of New York City, her husband a member of the firm of Hemphill, Noyes & Company, at 32 Wall street; Edith Catherine, living in Westfield, unmarried.
Samuel Frederick (3) Nixon, son of Samuel Fred- erick (2) and Myrtle (Redfield) Nixon was born in Westfield, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1887. After attending the grammar and high schools of Westfield, he prepared for college at the Cornwall Heights Preparatory School at Cornwall-on-Hudson. Upon the completion of this course he entered Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., and completed work in the agricultural and law departments. Subsequently he enrolled in the law department of the University of Buffalo, and was grad- uated in 1912 with the degree of LL. B. Returning to his home in Westfield, Mr. Nixon entered business in connection with the grape industry, among his holdings being several large grape farms. During this period he was associated with the law firm of Ottaway & Munson, combining his business and professional pursuits.
Upon the death of his father, Mr. Nixon was appointed administrator and trustee of the estate of the elder Nixon, also succeeding to his father's interest in the Nixon Brothers' Marble & Granite Company, founded in 1846 by his grandfather. This business was long directed in the Nixon name, first by Samuel Frederick, the founder, then jointly by his sons, and finally, after the death of Samuel Frederick (2), by Emmett C. Emmett C. Nixon, an authority on granite and marble, and a designer of no mean skill, had devoted his entire life to the business. He was a bachelor, and a wide circle of friends mourned his death on May 21, 1918.
Among Mr. Nixon's business interests is the West- field Telephone Company, of which he is a director and manager. This is one of Westfield's old business houses, the elder Nixon one of its founders, and for a time president. He has been a member of the West- field School Board since 1913, and from 1914 to 1918 was a member of the board of trustees of the village of Westfield. Mr. Nixon is a member of the Masonic order, the Royal Arcanum, and from his college days of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity.
Mr. Nixon married, at Dunkirk, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1912, Marion G. Hequemborourgh, a resident of
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Simeon Houses
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Schenectady, N. Y. They are the parents of Samuel Frederick (4), Constance Groves, and Alastair Nixon.
Entering upon unusually heavy responsibilities when beginning business life, Mr. Nixon has not only dis- charged these obligations in capable manner, but has assumed other connections, social, business, and civic, and does his full share in bearing the burden of citizen- ship. He is fond of the out-of-doors and of athletics, and while in college he was a member of the track team and captain of the indoor relay team, his special cvents the quarter mile and the broad jump. His social connections are numerous and complete a thorough identification with all departments of the life of his home city.
FRED SPENCER BRICKELL-Beyond doubt one of the most conspicuous figures in the life of Silver Creek, N. Y., and the surrounding region is Dr. Fred Spencer Brickell, whose career as a physician has been consistently devoted to the welfare of his fellow- citizens with a success achieved by but few.
Fred Spencer Brickell was born Dec. 3, 1879, at Olean, N. Y., the son of William Spencer and Hattie L. (Dexter) Brickell. His father, William Spencer Brickell, is a prominent architect in Buffalo, N. Y., and designed some of the buildings for the Pan-Ameri- can Exposition at Buffalo.
Dr. Brickell received the preliminary portion of his education in the public schools of his native place, sub- sequently spending one year at Masters Park High School, Buffalo. During this time his attention was turned forcibly to the profession of medicine and he decided to make it his career in life. With this end in view he matriculated at Buffalo Medical College, the medical school of Buffalo University. From this insti- tuition he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1904, and after serving his interneship of one and one half years at the Buffalo General Hospital, he became Railroad Hospital sur- geon at Buffalo. He opened an office at Silver Creek in 1909, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, gaining for himself an extraordinarily large clientele which has grown uninterruptedly up to the present time. He belongs to the New York State Medical Association and the Chautauqua County Medical Society. In everything relative to the welfare of the community, Dr. Brickell takes a keen and active interest, upholding by vote and influence the principles of the Republican party. He is health officer for the towns of Hanover, Sheridan and Faustville, and is also examining physician for the Loyal Order of Moose and the Orioles. He affiliates with the Free and Accepted Masons and Alpha Omega Delta fraternity, and belongs to the Motor Boat Club of Silver Creek.
Dr. Brickell married, Aug. 12, 1908, Estelle L. Cott, a graduate nurse of the Buffalo General Hospital, and they are the parents of one child, Carlton Frederick. The family are members of the local Presbyterian church.
Dr. Brickell's career has been rounded with success and marked by the appreciation of men whose good opinion is best worth having, being a close student, keeping fully abreast of modern thought in all matters
pertaining to his profession, he possesses the high esteem and implicit confidence of the medical fraternity and the general public.
SIMEON HOWES-Many years have elapsed since Simeon Howes ended his life work, but during the three last decades of his life he erected to himself a monument which yet endures. That monument is now seen in the thriving village of Silver Creek, a com- munity to which he came in 1856, and from that year until his death, thirty-six years later, never wearied in promoting. He was an important factor in the development and prosperity of the village, and when he died, the Eureka Works, which he founded, furnished employment to workmen who with their families repre- sented perhaps one-third of the population of Silver Creek. But great as was the bitsiness he founded, his memory is revered more for the good he did and for the honorable, upright life which he lived. He was the soul of honor, kind and considerate to all, just to his employees, and ever ready to assist the deserving. As a financier and executive he was without a superior, and as a citizen he was public-spirited and progressive, supporting every moral movement and laboring untiringly for the welfare of Silver Creek, a village he loved. He was a son of Sylvanus and Persis (Crittenden) Howes, of Franklin county, Mass., who in 1816 moved to Wyoming county, N. Y., where both died.
Simeon Howes was born in Franklin county, Mass., March 28, 1815, died at Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1892. He was brought by his parents to Middlebury, Wyoming county, N. Y., when but little more than one year old, and when left an orphan, barely in his teens, he returned to Massachu- setts and spent three years with his grandparents in Franklin county. At the age of sixteen he came again to Wyoming county, there finishing his education at Middlebury Academy. For eight years after leaving the academy he taught school during the winter months and during the summer season was a farm employee. At the age of twenty-three he married, and for four- teen years thereafter engaging in farming, His health failing, he went to Miami county, Ohio, and with Benjamin Rutter and Henry Rouzer placed upon the market an invention for cleaning grain. This patent was sold to Ezekiel Montgomery & Sons, of Silver Creek, N. Y., and Mr. Howes returned to New York, locating in Watertown, where he perfected his inven- tion. In 1856 he moved to Silver Creek and became associated with Montgomery & Sons in building the machines. Later he became associated with Babcock Brothers, under the firm name Howes, Babcock & Company, that firm in January, 1866, purchasing the business of Montgomery & Sons. The manufacture of grain cleaning machines, when the business came to Howes, Babcock & Company, was a very small enter- prise employing about fifteen men, but it prospered and waxed strong until 125 men were turning out 2,000 machines yearly. Albert Horton was a partner for a time, his interest being bought by Carlos Ewell. After the death of the Babcocks and Mr. Ewell, Mr. Ilowes bought their interest in the business and for three
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years was the sole owner of the Eureka Grain Cleaning Machinery Works. During most of the years from 1866 to 1892 he was the financier of the company, and it was to his energy and ability that the success of the works was due. He brought the Eureka Works to a high condition of prosperity, and the product of the plant was sold in all wheat growing countries.
A Republican in politics, he never sought political office outside the village corporation, but sat as delegate in several State conventions of his party. As president of the village he served two terms and during his administration Dunkirk street was paved with macadam. He was one of the organizers of the Silver Creek Cemetery Association, a liberal contributor to all churches, but especially to the Methodist Episcopal, a church of which he was a trustee for sixteen years. The day of his funeral the entire village seemed in mourning. The men of the Eureka Works, followed by those of the Monitor and Excelsior factories, marched in a body, the president and trustees of the village with an escort of business men also accompany- ing the body to the cemetery. Letters, telegrams, and cablegrams of sympathy came to the family from every quarter, and resolutions of respect and appreciation were passed by the employees of the Eureka Grain Cleaning Machinery Works, the Eureka Fire Company, the Village Board of Trustees, the trustees and official board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Silver Creek Cemetery Association, and by the session and trustees of the Presbyterian church of Silver Creek. The employees dwelt particularly upon the "long con- tinued and amicable relations" that had existed between them and Mr. Howes, while the trustees of the Metho- dist church gratefully acknowledged that without his persistent efforts and wise counsel they would still be worshiping in the old church. All spoke of his upright life, his wise counsel and hearty cooperation.
Simeon Howes married. on the bride's twentieth birth- day, Oct. 1I, 1838, Angeline Ewell, daughter of Eli and Charlotte (Walker) Ewell. Miss Ewell was born in Castile, Wyoming county, N. Y., and during her married life resided in Castile, Middlebury and Silver Creek, her residence in the last-named village beginning in 1856. For nearly fifty years Mr. and Mrs. Howes trod life's pathway together, seven daughters bright- ening their lives, then on Aug. 22, 1888, the devoted wife and mother passed away, mourned by a wide circle of true friends, husband, children, and grandchildren. Mrs. Howes was always active in those things which were of interest to her village, and to every story of sorrow and want she listened kindly and responded generously. Both to churches and to the enlargement and beautifying of the Silver Creek Cemetery her aid was timely and frequently extended, and in their sympathy the board of trustees passed beautiful resolu- tions, expressing highest appreciation. Like her husband who followed her four years later, Mrs. Howes was borne to her last resting place by employees of the Eureka Works, the entire shop force attending in a body.
Five children of Simeon and Angeline (Ewell) Howes survive their parents : Mrs. George Powell Brand, now a widow, and resident of Silver Creek; Miss Charlotte L. Howes, still a resident of Silver Creek; Miss Howes
is a member of the Benjamin Bostwick Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Silver Creek; Mrs. R. J. Quale ; Mrs. W. H. Merritt ; and Mrs. L. F. WV. Arend.
JAMES O. BENNETT-The Bennett family of Silver Creek was originally of Steuben county, N. Y., where Marshall Bennett, father of James O. Bennett, was engaged in the flour and feed milling business. It was not until 1871 that Chautauqua county became the family home, they coming then to Silver Creek. James O. Bennett, now postmaster of the village (1920) has always been an active party worker, sitting in a State convention of his party before reaching legal ·age. His appointment to the office by President Wilson in 1915 met with general approval, and his conduct of that department of the government which comes nearer the people than any other has been generally approved.
James O. Bennett was born in Hornell, Steuben county, N . Y., Sept. 9, 1870, son of Marshall and Mary (Shaughnessy) Bennett. He was brought to Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, in 1871, this having a strong claim to lifelong residence in the county. He passed the Silver Creek public school grades from primary to high school, and after finishing his school years, entered the employ of the "Nickel Plate" rail- road in bridge construction along the lake shore front. He spent two years with the railroad, then was employed for three years by the Huntley Manufacturing Company. He later learned the carpenter's trade and became an expert workman. During the years 1893-96, he was associated with Charles O'Neil, contractor and builder, but in 1896 established the Bennett Furniture Company in Dunkirk, N. Y. Later this business was sold to Lang & Graft, Mr. Bennett then going to New York City with the Adams Bros. Company, Eastern repre- sentative of the Omaha Packing Company, as manager and collecting agent. He later returned to Silver Creek and was connected with the Silver Creek Upholstering Company as traveling salesman, continuing until 1907. In 1908, with Martin V. Ryan, he contracted the building of a state road from Elmira to Wellsburg, N. Y. Later he was a traveling salesman for the Osborn Company of Newark. N. J., remaining with that company until 1913, when he was appointed steward at the State Hos- pital at Gowanda, N. Y. In 1915, he was appointed postmaster at Silver Creek, a position he still holds by reappointment. In 1912, he was on the Democratic State Ticket, as presidential elector from the Forty- fifth District, and received the second largest vote among the electors. He has been a delegate to Demo- cratic State conventions many times, and was an alternate to the Democratic National Convention in 1896, which first nominated William J. Bryan for the presi- dency. He is a member of the Silver Creek Motor Boat Club; the Loyal Order of Moose, (trustee since organization) ; Ancient Order of Hibernians of Dun- kirk; was a trustee of the village of Silver Creek in 1908; supervisor of the town of Hanover, 1912-13; and a member of the Silver Creek Democratic Club.
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