USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 12
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The farm has never been without its attraction for Mr. Marvin, and he has been for several years an extensive grape grower and general farmer. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Silver Creek Motor Boat Club. In politics he is a Republican, and during the years 1016-17-18 he served as the duly clected sheriff of Chautauqua county. In religious affiliation he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1920 he was elected president of the First National Bank of Forestville, of which he was an organizer and incorporator.
Mr. Marvin married, Sept. 7, 1898, in Forestville, Alice L. Reynolds, daughter of Sylvester and Frances (Gould) Reynolds, of Forestville.
Milliano H. Marine
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LAWRENCE WARREN WILTSIE-In 1875, Mr. Wiltsie was admitted to practice at the New York bar, and the same year he settled in Jamestown, in his native Chautauqua county. There during the forty years which have since intervened, he has con- tinuously been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, his standing high with a large and influential clientele. Mr. Wiltsie is a descendant of an ancient Dutch Colonial family founded in New Amsterdam (New York), by Phillippe Martin Wiltsee, a soldier in the Dutch army, who came in the ship "New Nether- lands," with his wife, two children and two servants. He was one of those detailed to build Fort Orange (Albany), but when the Indians forced the first Colon- ists at Fort Orange to return to New Amsterdam, Phillippe M. Wiltsee and his family settled at Waal Bogt, N. Y. Later he and his sons, Pierre and Hen- drick, were killed by Indians at Swaanendael. His wife was Sophie (Ter Bosch) Wiltsee, born in Hol- land, who after the death of her husband is believed to have returned to Holland with the younger members of the family. Descendants settled all along the Hud- son Valley from New York to Albany, and thence west along the Mohawk Valley, radiating eventually through all Western New York counties, this branch settling in Chautauqua county.
Mr. Wiltsie is a great-grandson of John Owens, a soldier of the French and Indian War and the Revo- lution, whose daughter, Elsie Owens, in 1806, married George W. Fenton, the father of Rueben E. Fenton, once Congressman, Governor of New York, and United States Senator. John Owens was born in Windsor, Conn., who, after his Revolutionary War service, left New England, and in 1808 settled in the town of Carroll, Chautauqua county, N. Y. He kept a tavern in Carroll for the entertainment of lumber- men and travelers all over the State road from Chau- tanqua county into Pennsylvania. He also operated a private ferry over the Conewango, and died in Car- roll, Feb. 6, 1843, at the wonderful age of one hun- dred and seven, probably the oldest citizen who ever lived in the county. His military service was with the English army under General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec, and with Ethan Allen at the taking of Ticon- deroga. He was a jovial, story-loving man, and his house was very popular with the weary raftsmen who sought his hospitality when tied up for the night.
Lawrence Warren Wiltsie, son of David and Jane P. (Hadley) Wiltsie, was born at the home farm in Carroll, Chautauqua county, N. Y., March 30, 1850, his father a farmer and lumber dealer at Frewsburg. He attended the public schools of Frewsburg, and the Union School of Jamestown, later studied law, and on April 9, 1875, was admitted to the New York bar at Rochester. He opened law offices in Jamestown the same year, rose rapidly in his profession, and is rated one of the strong men of the Chautauqua county bar. Mr. Wiltsie is a member of the Chautauqua County Bar Association, the New York Bar Associa- tion, Sons of the American Revolution, and is affili- ated with Mt. Moriah Lodge, Western Sun Chapter, and Jamestown Commandery of the Masonic order. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been the party stand- ard bearer in several campaigns, but the normal ad-
verse Republican majority is rarely overcome by a Democratic candidate in Jamestown.
At Olean, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1883, Mr. Wiltsie married Caroline P. Abrams, who died March 19. 1918. leaving a son, David Hadley Wiltsie, born in Jamestown, March 13, 1888. He was educated in Jamestown grammar and high schools; Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N. H .; Yale University, A. B., class of 1912: and the University of Berlin, being a student there in 1914, when the world was fanned into a flame of war through the action of Germany. Mr. Wiltsie had a hard time in getting out of Germany, but finally reached England, his health seriously effected. He returned to Jamestown, where he died July 3, 1920.
FRED VICTOR ANDERSON, an alderman of the city of Jamestown, and assistant cashier of the Liberty National Bank, is a native of Jamestown, born Jan. 1, 1886, a son of John A. and Emma C. ( Abrahamson) Anderson, both of whom are now living. The elder Mr. Anderson is at the present time connected with the firm of Abrahamson-Bigelow Company, the owners of the largest department store in Jamestown, an asso- ciation which has existed for many years.
Fred Victor Anderson received his education as a boy in the local public schools, completing his studies in the grammar grades and continuing for two years in the high school. Being ambitious to begin the active business of life, he then gave up his studies with that institution and entered the Jamestown Business Col- lege, where he took a commercial course and was grad- uated in the year 1904. Upon completing his studies there, he at once secured a position in the Bank of Jamestown, where he remained for about thirteen years, gaining in the meantime an intimate know- ledge of banking and business methods generally. For one year following his connection with the Bank of Jamestown, Mr. Anderson was associated with the International Flag Company, but retired from that position in order to accept the offer made to him by the Liberty National Bank to become its assistant cashier. He has continued in this office ever since and has made himself exceedingly useful to this concern. Mr. Anderson has been exceedingly active in local public affairs, and is a very prominent member of the Repub- lican party in the county, his voice being heard in all their councils. It was in the year 1917 that he was elected to the Board of Aldermen of Jamestown and still serves on that body, having proved himself a most capable and disinterested public servant. He has also participated prominently in the war work of the community, and is chairman of the finance committee of the Board of Aldermen, positions of great responsi- bility for so young a man. In his religious belief Mr. Anderson is a Lutheran and attends the First Luth- eran Church at Jamestown. He possesses an unusual talent for music, and at the present time is choir direc- tor of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church, pos- sessing himself a fine and well-trained baritone voice. His love for music induced him to take a full course in that art at the Jamestown Conservatory of Music, so that he is thoroughly educated in this line, and for three years was a member of the Presbyterian quar-
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tette here. Mr. Anderson is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is now passing through the chairs of this lodge. He is also a member of Mt. Tabor Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, of the Northern Club, of the Scandinavian-American Founda- tion (charter member), and a director of the Young Men's Christian Association.
Fred Victor Anderson was united in marriage June 4. 1912. at Jamestown, with Elma E. Sandburg.
CARL FRANKLIN STRATFORD, the well known and popular citizen of Jamestown, N. Y., where he is secretary of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. is a native of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, where he was born, Aug. 31, 1880. He is a son of Eli T. and Minnie ( Moore) Stratford, his father having been a railroad worker upon coming to the United States, and was also engaged as a sub-contractor. While Carl F. Stratford was still an infant, his parents moved to Buffalo. N. Y., where the family resided for a num- ber of years, and it was here that he received his pre- liminary education, attending the grammar schools and later the Buffalo High School. He was but twelve years of age when he became interested in the Young Men's Christian Association work, and after leaving high school, Mr. Stratford continued his studies in the sch o's of the Young Men's Christian Association, identifying himself and becoming acquainted with all the letails of the work of this splendid organization. U'pon reaching the age of nineteen, Mr. Stratford was given his first official appointment in the employ of the "Association." namely, that of assistant at the Buffalo Central "Y." He held this post for a period of two years and then, upon reaching his majority, was ap- pointed secretary of the Lackawanna branch of the Young Men's Christian Association at Buffalo. Mr. Stratford filled this post with exceptional skill, and it was due to his able management and clear foresight that the Lackawanna branch owes its rapid growth and development. Mr. Stratford's next appointment was that of membership secretary of the Young Men's Christ. n .Association at Eric, Pa., where he continued his brilliant work. It was not long after receiving this Trist that Mr Stratford was sent to Kane, Pa., there " ta'e charge of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion work, and at this city he was given the position of ineral secretary, a mo t deserving office. In Au- "" ". 1917. Le came to Jamestown to accept the office of general secretary of the "Y" here, and up to the pre .nt Mr. Stratford can claim the honorable service den war with the Young Men's Christian Asso- Mr. Stratiord may be classed as a "miracle man" with regard to the exceptional progress he has tid, wel the work entrusted to him. Ile has a strong 'of ina ty an! an ability to handle men, and at pres- r. l., ie than ten as istants who aid him in his ir orate duties connected with the "Y" work. The Ty Mon' Chrishan Association building here is a .. rohit ce and has room for seventy-five guests. ita . det a summer branch on Lake Chautau- qua. Mr Stratford enjoy his works, especially that bran h which Fas always been so attractive to him,
namely, the Boys' Department, in which he takes a very active interest.
During the World War, Mr. Stratford served as publicity director for Chautauqua county in all the Liberty Loan drives; as campaign director for the county in the United War Fund Campaign, and local director for the Young Men's Christian Association and Red Cross drives. In his religious belief Mr. Stratford is a Presbyterian, and attends the church of this denomination in Jamestown. He is a member of the national organization of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association workers. Mr. Stratford does not take an active interest in politics, due to the exacting duties connected with his important post at the "Y." He is not affiliated with any party and may be regarded as an independent voter, preferring not to ally him- self with any political party whatsoever.
Carl Franklin Stratford married, at Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1912, Edith Thomas, a resident of that place, and a daughter of F. A. and Ida (Jefferies) Thomas, old and highly respected citizens. The Thomas famn- ily originally came from Rochester, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Stratford are the parents of two children: Ruth Thomas, and Thomas Alanson.
CHARLES A. JOHNSON, a well regarded and re- sponsible citizen of Jamestown, N. Y., for more than thirty-five years, and a leader among the Swedish peo- ple of that place, has for thirty years been a director of the Atlas Furniture Company, under that name and under its former trading designation, the Swedish Fur- niture Company, and has been vice-president of the company for twenty-four years. Charles A. Johnson is quite a self-made man, as that term is known; the success which has come to him has been entirely by his own efforts, by his resolute application to study, even after he had begun his business life, and by his honesty of purpose and moral integrity. He applied himself steadily to honest production, and that pro- duction in due course hrought an honest return. And some of his outside associations indicate that he is a man in whom others have confidence, and that in the affairs of his fellow-citizens of Swedish antecedents he has taken an active interest. He is a director of the American National Bank, and is president and director of the "Scandia," a Swedish newspaper.
Charles A. Johnson was born Feb. 23, 1860, in Sweden, and in due course attended the school of his native place. His father, now deceased, was Jonas Johanson, and on his father's farm Charles A. worked during his boyhood. He remained near his parents until he had reached the age of twenty-two years, but then decided to come to America, his brother having already gone, and, according to report, having suc- cessfully settled in Jamestown, N. Y. Therefore, Charles A. came, and upon arrival in America came to Jamestown, where ever since he has remained, inces- santly working, and for the greater part of the time working amid associations of consequence or promise to the city of Jamestown. He has taken appreciable part in the maintenance of the city in continued pros- perity during the last thirty years, for the companies with which he has actively been connected, in respon-
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CharaJohnny
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sible capacity, have been steady producers, and steady employers of labor, in the production of a commodity which has been marketed almost exclusively outside the city. Upon arriving in Jamestown, in 1882, he began to work for the Jamestown Banding Company, with which company he remained for five years. In his early years, he was much handicapped because of a poor understanding of English, and he saw that in other academic and fundamental subjects his Swedish schooling was deficient. Therefore, he assiduously studied during the early years of his residence in Jamestown, attending local night schools for the pur- pose, but mainly studying at home. He was a young man of alert intelligence, apt in most things, and he soon became a skilled workman; and his private learn- ing soon closed the gap in his knowledge of general subjects. And by steady attendance at his work, and consistent thrift, he was able to grasp other opportuni- ties which came. In 1887, he acquired an interest in the Swedish Furniture Company, which, under a later reconstruction, became the Atlas Furniture Company, under which name it now trades. Charles A. Johnson has had charge of the finishing and shipping depart- ments of that company for the last twenty-five years ; has been director for thirty years, since 1889; and has been its vice-president since 1896; so that he has held a sufficiently responsible capacity in the affairs of a substantial industry of Jamestown. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Norden Club of Jamestown, and of the "Swedish One Hundred Member Society." For many decades he has been an earnest member of the church, and in Jamestown attends the Swedish Zion Church, to which he has given due support.
Mr. Johnson was married, in Jamestown, in 1901, to Hannah Collin. They have three children: 1. Lillian, who is now a high school undergraduate. 2. Mildred, who attends the elementary school. 3. Marion, who also attends the public school.
THE ATLAS FURNITURE COMPANY of
Jamestown, now among the large manufacturers of fur- niture in Western New York, was founded principally by L. E. Erickson and Gustave Holmberg, and others, in 1883, under the corporate title "The Swedish Furniture Company," Gustave Holmberg, president; L. E. Erickson, secretary and treasurer. The original plant of the company was located on East Second street, Jamestown, but a fire destroyed that building and new quarters were found on Harrison street, which were occupied until 1887, when a plant was purchased in Randolph, N. Y. At that time the capital stock was increased and about fifteen new stockholders admit- ted. The officially active members were and always have been but few in number, and among them are F. O. Strandberg, C. A. Johnson and L. E. Erickson. At about this time the corporate name was changed to the Atlas Furniture Company, F. O. Strandberg, pres- ident ; C. A. Johnson, vice-president, and L. F .. Erick- son, secretary-treasurer; the latter died in 1905. Gus- tave Holmberg relinquished active part in the new organization in favor of the new members, his home being too far from Randolph for him to continue active in the management. The plant of the company in Randolph was occupied four years, then sold, and
a large modern plant erected on the Allen street exten- sion in Jamestown. This plant was enlarged as needs required until 1910, when the Atlas Furniture Com- pany purchased the nearby plant of the Liberty Fur- niture Company on Blackstone avenue. The company now (1920) employ about 200 highly skilled mechanics and manufacture high grade bedroom furniture. The present officers of the company are: President, Frank O. Strandberg; vice-president, Charles A. Johnson; secretary-treasurer, John A. Hagg. The directors are: F. O. Strandberg, C. A. Johnson, Andrew Wal- lin, Gustave Wallin, Carl Nelson, Andrew Venman, Lester Strandberg.
The Atlas Furniture Company since its inception has enjoyed remarkable success and prosperity. Its products are well known in the furniture world and dealers are supplied in all parts of the United States, as well as some in foreign countries.
GEORGE WASHINGTON JUDE, one of the most prominent and successful attorneys of James- town, N. Y., where he has an office in the Wellman building, is a native of Chautauqua county, his birth having occurred there Feb. 22, 1867. Mr. Jude is a son of Joseph and Mary (Graham) Jude, and a mem- ber of an old English family, his ancestry having held an important position in the community where they lived. The elder Mr. Jude followed the occupation of farming for many years in this region, and is now deceased, as is also his wife.
George Washington Jude attended as a lad the dis- trict country school, and at the same time assisted his father with the work on the latter's farm. Later he became a pupil of the Sugar Grove Seminary at Sugar Grove, Pa., where he was prepared for college. He then matriculated at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, from which he graduated with the class of 1891, taking at the same time his degree as Bachelor of Arts. After completing his general education, Mr. Jude taught in Sugar Grove Seminary, and then went to the University of Chicago, where he took a number of special post-graduate courses. The following two years were spent as a teacher in the same school, dur- ing which time he determined to follow the profession of law as a career, and with this end in view entered the law office of Green & Woodbury, prominent attor- neys of Jamestown, where he pursued his legal studies to such good purpose that he was admitted to the Chautauqua county bar in July, 1899. Mr. Jude had during this time been obliged to engage in remunera- tive occupations of one kind or another in order to pay for his tuition in the various institutions of learn- ing which he had attended. Upon his admission to the bar, he opened a law office in Jamestown and since that time has been active in the general practice of his profession here. Mr. Jude has proven himself particu- larly well qualified for his legal practice and has built up for himself an enviable reputation, both on account of his ability and the high standard of professional ethics which he has maintained. He has now one of the largest clienteles in the city and handles a great deal of important litigation in the region. Mr. Jude is also active in the general life of Jamestown, and is a member of a number of important organizations here.
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He is keenly interested in local politics and classes himself as an independent Republican, having been elected to a number of public offices on the ticket of that party. Although entirely unambitious for politi- cal preferment, he has held the office of judge of the Police Court for one term and has served on the Board of Education for three years. He also repre- sented Jamestown in the State Legislature in 1913, and in all these capacities has proved himself a most able and disinterested public servant. Mr. Jude is a mem- ber of Mt. Moriah Lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: Jamestown Lodge, Scottish Rite Masons; Mt. Tabor Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows: and the Sons of St. George.
George Washington Jude was united in marriage, Dec. 20. 1002, with Lyda Pearl Boardman, a daugh- ter of Alphonso M. and Alice (Kay) Boardman, old and highly respected residents of Bradford, Pa. One child has been born of this union, Robert Boardman, Nov. 8. 1906.
JARED HEWES, well known as an agriculturalist and man of affairs, is one of the prominent figures in the agricultural. industrial, business and social life of Chautauqua county. He has for thirty-five years been a director and for thirty years secretary of the Patrons' Fire Relief Association of Chautauqua county. N. Y., and has seen the growth of this association from a small beginning to one carrying an outstanding insur- ance at the present time amounting to $15,931,130, insured on property exclusively within Chautauqua county. And his identity has meant much to the material increase in the Order of the Patrons of Hus- handry, as well as other things which he has been iden- tified with.
Jared Hewes, son of Daniel H. and Abigail (Irwin) Hewes, was born July 23. 1848, in Chautauqua county. His birthplace was on the ground which was later occupied by the well known Chautauqua Institution. His father, native of the East, came from Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and was amongst the first pioneers of Chautauqua county, and here became a prosperous farmer, stock dealer and butcher. lle was prominent in local affairs, being a supervisor of the town of Chantauqha, and during the Civil War was an agent for the United States Government, his duty being to purchase horses for army service.
In his youth, Jared Hewes attended the common s hor's of his town, after which he, with his brothers, as-i ted his father in farming and the butcher busi- ness. The meat business in which they engaged became the well-known firm of Daniel H. Hewes & Sons, and for many years supplied people on the Chautauqua Ground .. When still quite a young man Jared llewes tageht school for five winter terms, and by his con- siMerit effort he prospered, and as a result he acquired a farm. : bout 1876, consisting of 50 acres of unim- pro.ed land and later added to this 150 acres. He cultivated and did much to develop hi- farm, and thus Parsed the reputation of being one of the county's Lest now farmer He remained in the pursuit of a farmer for a number of years, and m 1918 sold his land and established a home at Cheney's Point on Lake Chautauqua.
The Patrons' Fire Relief Association was organized in 1877, and he being a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry insured his farm property in the association, the first insurance he ever carried of any kind. He took an active interest in this organization in connec- tion with his farm work, and in 1885 was elected a director, and in 1800 succeeded Walter C. Gifford as secretary. Both positions he ably filled until his retire- ment in 1920. While Mr. Hewes was secretary, he originated an accounting system for the association's records, which was one of the most simplified methods that could be employed in the large field of insur- ance. He devoted the greater portion of his time to the duties of his office, and was a regular attendant at the meetings of the Patrons of Husbandry, attended exclusively by farmers, and with them Jared Hewes was one of the ardent workers. He represented the Patrons' Fire Relief Association at the annual meet- ings of the New York Central Organization of Co- operative Fire Insurance Companies, and in 1919 was chairman of the memorial committee. As a member of the legislative committee of the New York State Cen- tral Organization, which represented one hundred twenty companies of the State, he did much to pro- mote good understanding and relations in the insur- ance world. Besides the foregoing activities, he was able to identify himself with other important inter- ests, being a director of the Bank of Jamestown upon its organization in 1903 and until his resignation in 1920; director of Jamestown Metal Furniture Com- pany from its organization until the sale of this com- pany to the Art Metal Construction Company; an offi- cer in the Federal Land Bank and the United States Treasury Department as an appraiser of farms, with headquarters at Springfield, Mass. He was one of the organizers of the Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, the third of its kind in New York State, of which he served as president for five years. A Republican in politics, Mr. Hewes represented the town of Harmony in the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors, 1890- 1895, inclusive, succeeding Loren B. Session, who held the office continuously from 1873 to 1889; at numerous Congressional, State, and County conventions he has represented his party as a delegate. He was one of the charter members of Stedman Grange, No. 241, Patrons of Husbandry; the Harmony Farmers' Club, and an attendant of the United Brethren Church of Chau- tauqua.
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