USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 13
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Mr. Hewes married, in the town of Chautauqua, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1871, Lorilla Wier, born April 17, 1846, in Washington county, N. Y., died in Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 7, 1915, daughter of Hiram and Maria (Gifford) Wier, both of Washington county, N. Y., and later of Chautauqua county. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hewes: I. Clara, born April 23, 1873, educated in the district schools, May- ville High School, and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y .; married Jesse E. Ford, of Harmony, and to this union there are two children, Helen L., and Jared H. 2. Walter W., born Sept. 23, 1875, educated in the district schools and Jamestown High School; married Edith C. Cowles, and to them were born two children, Cath- erine C., and Warren J.
Jared Hewes comes from a long line of descent; a
Chas. E. Conduson SSS
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number of his forebears were amongst the first colon- ists into America, his great-grandfather, George R. T. Hewes, who died at the age of one hundred nine years and two months, was the last survivor of the old Bos- ton Tea Party, and Joseph Hewes was among the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
JOHN SHIRLEY EDDY-The Eddys came to the town of Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., about 1830, from Rutland county, Vt., settling on a farm at Watts Flats, which John Eddy bought. He left a son, Jonathan Eddy, born in Rutland county, Vt., who married Bessie B. Holbrook, born in Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y., and they were the parents of John Shirley Eddy, who lives on, owns and cultivates the old homestead farm, bought from the Holland Land Company by his wife's father, Lucius Button.
John Shirley Eddy was born on the farm at Watts Flats, town of Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., July 1, 1845, and resides near Panama, seventy-five years later, a successful, substantial agriculturist. He was educated in the public schools of his district, and from youth has been familiar with farm labor and man- agement. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry, a Baptist in religious faith, and a Republican in politics.
Mr. Eddy married, in Panama, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1867, Mercy M. Button, born April 12, 1847, in Panama, daughter of Lucius and Almira (Lamb) Button, her parents born in Rutland county, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy are the parents of four chil- dren: 1. Lucius Button, born Feb. 18, 1869, married Bertha Sherwood, and has three children: Shirley T., Neta, and Ruth. 2. Eugene R., born April 3, 1878; married Inez Eddy, and has one child, Beth; the fam- ily resides in the State of Washington. 3. Martin C., born March 7, 1881; farmer and resides on the farm adjoining that of his father; married Eugenia Swart, and has four children: Edith, Dorothy, Clemons, and Robert. 4. Almira May, born Dec. 2, 1884; married W. W. Towne, and has three children: Allison Hol- brook, Bruce Eddy, Alma Marie Towne; they reside in the State of Washington.
CHARLES EMIL ANDERSON, of the firm of Anderson & Drake, and one of the best known dentists in Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he has been in practice for upwards of thirty years, is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in that country, May 6, 1864. His childhood was passed in his native land, and he there began his education, attending for that purpose the local public schools.
Dr. Anderson is a son of John B. and Mary Ander- son, and when a mere lad was brought by them to the United States, the family coming direct to Jamestown, where he continued his education and was prepared for college. He entered the Philadelphia Dental College and there took the regular course in dentistry, gradu- ating from that institution with the class of 1888, and at the same time receiving his degree. He at once returned to Jamestown and formed a partnership with Dr. E. J. Swetland, under the firm name of Swetland & Anderson, and here carried on his profession with a
high degree of success. This association continued uninterruptedly until the year 1915, when Dr. Swet- land retired from active practice. Dr. Anderson then took Dr. L. R. Drake as a partner and the business is still continued under the name of Anderson & Drake. A large and high-class clientele has been built up by this firm, which is now recognized as one of the leading concerns of its kind in Jamestown, and Dr. Anderson is personally the possessor of an en- viable reputation both for ability and for the high standards of professional ethics maintained by him. Dr. Anderson has always been keenly interested in the general welfare of his profession, and is a member of the Jamestown Dental Society, the New York State Dental Society, and the National Dental Association. He is also a conspicuous figure in the general life of the community, and affiliated with a number of impor- tant organizations here, both social and fraternal, among which should be mentioned, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Royal Arch Masons, Royal and Select Masters, Knights Templar, and Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In addition to these Masonic bodies, he is also a member of the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, and has been very active in promoting the general material welfare of the community in this capacity. His club is the Nor- den, which claims a large and distinguished member- ship among the numerous citizens of Swedish birth and origin in these parts.
Dr. Anderson was united in marriage, June 26, 1889, at Jamestown, with Henrietta C. Johnson, a daughter of Gust. A. and Mary Johnson, of Jamestown. Dr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of one daughter, Sherleigh Anderson, who became the wife of D. H. Mitchell, of Santa Paula, Cal.
T. HENRY BLACK-In reviewing the past history of any individual it is often necessary to touch upon their antecedents as bearing directly on the character and make-up of the person described. Thomas Henry Black, subject of the present sketch, is a well known photographer and business man of Jamestown, N. Y., and has been prominently identified in his profession for many years, being one of the leading photograph- ers of Chautauqua county. He numbers among his patronage many important personal, commercial and landscape subjects of the city and surrounding coun- try. The studio which Mr. Black conducts is known to be one of the oldest in the county, being in existence for many years before his coming to Jamestown in 1884. Originally this building was a hotel, but in 1871 it was remodeled into a studio, the entrance being directly from the side street. In those days it was operated by veteran photographers who made their own photographic plates and paper, and, in fact, Mr. Black has a number of valuable negatives made by these photographers that are marvels of workman- ship. These negatives depict many of the residents back in the early days of Jamestown's history. Mr. Black had his photo taken in this studio many years ago as a small boy in knee pants and it is treasured by him as a unique souvenir of photography in those days.
Thomas Henry Black, son of Thomas and Eliza (Gormley) Black, is a native of Toronto, Canada, born
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Nov. 22. 186 ;. His father came from the North of Ireland. likewise his mother, and it was in their native land that the parents of Thomas Henry first met. They were married in Ireland in 1863. and shortly afterwards emigrated to Canada, locating in Toronto. Thomas Black, the father, was a remarkably talented man in many ways, and was widely noted as a land- scape gardener, his services being frequently sought to oversee the work of laying out large estates. He spent a number of years in Toronto, and about 1871 he came to the United States, bringing with him his family, going direct to Titusville, Pa., during the oil excit ment. His brother John had preceded him there, and together they built a home for their respective families. It was while living in Titusville that Mr. Black met Henry Harley, then the country's oil king, and Mr. Harley made a flattering proposition to him to go to Long Point. on Chautauqua Lake, and take complete charge of Mr. Harley's country estate at that place. This commission was accepted, and in 1875 Mr. Black and his family became residents of Chautauqua county.
While at Long Point, Mr. Harley gave him carte blanche over the entire estate and during the following nine years the development of horticulture and agri- culture made of Long Point one of the model show places and farms on the lake. It was here that his son. Thomas Henry Black, spent his carly boyhood, and attended the district school at West Ellery, some considerable distance from home. In fact, it was the remoteness of Mr. Black's home from schooling facili- ties that influenced him to come to Jamestown in 1884, and so, with regret, his resignation was tendered to Mr. Harley in that year.
The subsequent years were spent in Jamestown, with the exception of a short period in the South as fore- man over a large plantation, and in a part of this city, then called Dexterville, he operated a successful truck farm. and later managed the estate of the fate Gov. R. E. Fenton. At the time of his death he was engaged by Frank Edward Gifford, president of the First Na- tional Bank. Honesty, simplicity and a desire to serve were the prevailing characteristics of this man, who by carnest toil carved for himself an enduring place in the hearts of all who knew him. His death, in 1890, came as an extreme loss. Thomas and Eliza (Gorm- ley, Black were the parents of nine children, of whom Thomas Henry is the only surviving one.
Very early in life Thomas Henry Black showed a remarkable talent for art, and was able to sketch in frechand drawings objects of interest. He was never tired of drawing pictures of scenery, and frequently adoried the blackboard in the district school with accurate reproductions of local scenes. In fact his pencil wa, more frequently employed in drawing pic- ture than in figuring sums, and as a result his lessons weer frequently neglected. As he grew older his fatural talent for drawing was augmented by his desire to ware, and had he received proper encouragement at thi peri don life along these line,, he would have la'er d " punt hed him elf a an arti t or a litterateur. Hr p ren' however, had other aims in view and so aver paying chool he went into business, drifting from one thing to another in quest of his ideals until finally be aded into the harbor of photography, where he anchored for hic.
As has been stated, his boyhood days were spent on the farm at Long Point. The year 1884 marked the real beginning of his literary life, and on March 4, 1884. he began writing a diary and, remarkable as it may seem, kept a constant record of his life for thirty- five consecutive years. This practice gave him experi- ence in writing so that he was able to contribute to various newspapers and magazines. In fact he was the editor of the first news publication in the old Jamestown Union School in 1886. In 1893 he was interested in newspaper work and got ont a creditable Chautauqua Lake edition to the Jamestown "Sunday Sun."
Although Mr. Black never made use of his literary ability as an asset, he is gifted with a poetic sense and has written some creditable poems. These are char- acteristics of the man which are not generally known, but which serves to show his artistic and literary ten- dencies.
Mr. Black's early training in his chosen profession was with B. E. Prudden, one of Jamestown's best photographers in those days. This was in 1893. In 1890 young Black's father died and he was left with his widowed mother to battle with life's problems. Dur- ing this time he essayed writing short stories and did considerable newspaper work up to the time he began traveling for the North American Portrait Company, at that time a progressive and thriving enterprise of Jamestown. For several years he represented this house on the road. In 1893 he made his first venture into business and bought out a third interest in the Loucks Aristotype Company, of Jamestown, N. Y. This company, composed of Tom, George and Will Loucks, manufactured printing-out paper for the use of photographers. Later in this same year Mr. Black exchanged his interest in this company for the photo studio which is still conducted by him. In 1895 he conducted a branch studio in the village of Sinclair- ville for over a year. In 1899 the big convention of the Photographers' Association of American was held at Celoron, N. Y., in which Mr. Black was prominently identificd, and he captured one of the prizes for good workmanship. In 1905 Mr. Black traveled extensively, visiting New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and other large cities in quest of experience in his chosen work. The year 1914 marks a sad period in the life of Mr. Black, as it was in this year he lost his mother, a sainted woman, whose influence for good was felt by all who knew her. This irreparable loss cast a gloom over the events immediately after, and a series of misfortunes attended every step. It was in the latter part of this year that Mr. Black ventured into the moving picture business while also conducting his photo studio, but owing to mismanagement of those he employed to run his moving picture business, this venture came to grief. This, however, taught him a lesson, since which time he has confined his entire time and attention to his photographic affairs. As a result he has succeeded in bringing the business to its pres- ent high degree of success and efficiency.
Mr. Black is identified with numerous social organi- zations of the city. Hle belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Jamestown Board of Commerce. During his carly life in James-
D Comp Black
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town, he took an active interest in the Young Men's Christian Association, just then starting; and in 1886 was confirmed in the Episcopal church, and was for several years librarian of the Sunday school.
Modest and retiring in disposition, earnest and con- scientious in his work, it is but natural that he is get- ting the recognition he deserves, and future history will record the name of Black as among those who worked and won. As an example of Mr. Black's liter- ary efforts in his early days, the writer submits the fol- low poems:
MOONLIGHT ON CHAUTAUQUA.
Pray come with me, those who have never tried The sweet enjoyment of a moonlight ride Upon Chautauqua, sparkling in the light Of Luna, lovely Goddess of the night.
The dipping oars so gently move the boat, The silver moon reflected, seems to float Beneath the clear calm surface of the lake And sheds soft radiance o'er the rippling wake.
The quiet stillness, which o'er all prevails, Embues our nature with responsive thrills. We're lost in thought, scarce moves the oars apace, And silence reigns supreme in every place.
What are our thoughts as o'er the lake we glide, Surrounded by the peaceful eventide? Are they of love, or hate, or philosophic lore, Of present, future, or of days no more?
Nay, none of these, we think of nature fair, More lovely far than artist's pictures rare, O, rapturous beauty of the silent night, Clothed in voluptuous robes of pale blue light.
CHAUTAUQUA CHIMES.
Dedicated to the Bells at Chautaqua, in the year 1888, by T. Henry Black.
Chautauqua Chimes, Chautauqua Chimes, Methinks I hear them now at times, Filling my soul with melody,
Inspiring thoughts of poetry.
Hark! in the chambers of my brain Again I hear that sweet refrain. And with it happy thoughts of yore Come drifting through my memory's door.
Blissful the walks beneath the trees, Fanned by the cooling evening breeze, While clear the notes ring from the bells In silvery tones the cadence swells.
AUTUMN.
Autumn is here, the time of year When Dame Nature doth appear In a twofold character.
Sad, though gay, she seems to say, I'll rejoice, then die away. The autumn breeze sighs through the trees Adorned with many colored leaves, Which, blown around, lie on the ground, In every nook and corner found. Rustling now beneath our feet, Trampled in the muddy street, Floating lazily through the air, Suggesting sadness everywhere. Flushed, though faded, there they lie, The cymbol of a summer sigh. The birds are gone, we miss their song At eventide, and at the dawn, As flying round from tree to tree They filled the air with melody. The crickets, too, which chirped all through The summer days, have bid adieu; Likewise the bee no more we see, Nor the butterfly floating idly, For silence reigns throughout the land, Touched by autumn's withering wand.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN GLEASON-During his lifetime A. Lincoln Gleason built up a high reputation as a breeder of pure Holstein cattle, as a dealer and ship- per of live stock, and as the owner of Apple Grove Farm, apples being a specialty with him for many years. He was well known far and near as a thor- oughly modern, progressive farmer, a reliable, ener- getic business man and as a man of upright life and high principles. He was a son of Rufus and Marie Etta (Northrop) Gleason, his father a farmer who came from Connecticut and early settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y.
A. Lincoln Gleason was born at the home farm, Open Meadows, town of Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1866, and died on a farm in the same town, May 21, 1920. He was educated in the public schools, and adopted his father's calling, beginning his farming and stock growing operations when a young man. At his death at the age of fifty-four he was the owner of a fine farm consisting of 250 acres of well improved land, his apple orchard the most extensive in the county. He was an enthusiastic breeder of Hol- steins, his pure bred nearly white cattle being a prize herd. He dealt heavily in live stock, and was one of the best known shippers in the county. Apple Grove Farm, named for its orchards, was equally well known in the produce market, the annual shipment of fruit being very large. Mr. Gleason was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a Prohibitionist.
Mr. Gleason married, Nov. 26, 1903, at Open Meadows, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Johanna Peterson, born in Denmark, March 28, 1882, daughter of Peter and Johanna (Swanson) Peterson, her parents of Swedish birth. Children: Ellen Maryetta, born Sept. 16, 1904: Eva Hazel, born July 25, 1906: Ethel Mar- tin, born March 7, 1908; Abraham Lincoln, Jr., born Sept. 14, 19II; John Samuel, born Feb. 21, 1913; Richard Norman, born Dec. 18, 1918. Mrs. Gleason survives her husband and continues the management of Apple Grove Farm.
JOHN EVELEN CANEEN, M. D., graduate of the University of Buffalo, medical department, in 1883, has passed many years of his professional practice in Ripley, Chautauqua county, N. Y., even though from 1901 to 1918 he was in medical practice in Nebraska. From 1887 until 1901, Dr. Caneen practiced success- fully in Ripley, to which place he returned in 1918 to resume his practice.
John Evelen Caneen is a native of New York, born in Cattaraugus county, Aug. 20, 1855, the son of Thomas and Dollie (Cooper) Caneen. His father was a successful merchant, having extensive business in that part of the State, and the son was given good educational opportunities. For primary instruction he attended the district schools, later taking a preparatory course in the Rudolph Academy, and subsequently entering the State Normal School, from which he grad- uated in due course. Then he proceeded to the Uni- versity of Buffalo, and became an undergraduate in the medical department. After proper application to the study of medical science for the requisite period,
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he graduated, thus gaining the degree of Doctor of Medicine. That was in 1883. He began to practice as a general practitioner in that year at Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., removing to Ripley in 1887, and there practicing continuously until 1901, when he went to Nebraska, there engaging in professional work until 1918, when he returned to Ripley and resumed his practice.
Dr. Caneen is well regarded in Ripley, and in Chau- tauqua county generally, and during his earlier prac- tice in this State had good place among his profes- sional conireres. He has held membership in the American Medical Association, the New York State Medical Association, the Chautauqua County, New York Medical Association, and the Nebraska Medical Association. Religiously, Dr. Caneen is a Baptist, and fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows.
Dr. Cancen married (first) Minerva Graham, of Olean, N. Y., by whom there was issue, a daughter, Ethel, who now is Mrs. George McIntosh. He mar- ried (second) Bertha S. Stilson, of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., to whom also one child has been born, Dorothy Kathryne, who attends school in Ripley.
FRANCIS GEER-At a ripe old age, Samuel Geer, a pioneer of the Fredonia district of Chautauqua county, N. Y., died, leaving a son Francis Geer, born in Fre- donia, April 19, 1812, who died in Jamestown, Aug. 8, 1&S ;. He grew to manhood at the home farm and attended the district school, remaining his father's assist- ant until coming of age, then learned the tanner's trade, which he followed for several years. He then located in Jamestown, where he learned furniture finishing and became an expert in that line. He was well known in the furniture trade, and continued in business in James- town until his death. He was a member of the Baptist church, and a Republican in politics, coming to that party upon the collapse of the Whig party. He was a man i quit, domestic tastes, temperate in all his habits, never using tobacco, and was of most correct, upright, moral life. lle is buried in Lakeview Cemetery.
Iran.i. Geer married, in Jamestown, Julia Marsh, b. rr. in Kiantone, Chautauqua county, N. Y., daughter .f .A-a B. and Della ( Davis) Marsh. Mrs. Geer was a member of the Baptist church, and a woman highly es *** med. She died July 16, 1894, and is buried heside her h.i'd in Lakeview Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Geer were the pore os of eight children: Judson Francis, a U'n . soldier in the Civil War, who died in the army; The d re Orlando, also a soldier of the Union, who And in f. ervice; Isadore, married Joseph Hegeman, bol de eased, she a teacher in Jamestown prior to her ·arriane : Le ter Clement, deceased; Delia Elmira, died ared tarly . years; Louise E., of further mention ; Emer- n 1 .. deceased ; Adalaide, a resident of James- t ær ; I'm a dood in youthful womanhood.
Ix : . I. Geer was born in Jamestown, N. Y., where she war derated in the public schools, finishing with hilde Col graduation. After a special course in the . . r. al des: riment, . he began teaching in the Fairmount public school; she remained here for one year. This was followed by a long term of service in the public schools of Jamestown, N. Y .; this was preceded by five
years with the school at Sinclairville, as well as a number of district schools. In 1888, she began her career as an educator in Jamestown, as principal of the Central School, succeeding Mrs. Ella Lakin. For thirty years Miss Geer continued head of Central School, retiring in 1917, after forty years of able, faithful service as an educator. The good which has come to the youth who have come within her sphere of influence as teacher and principal cannot be reputed, but her friends are legion, and she is rich in the love and respect of thousands of former pupils.
Miss Geer continues her residence in Jamestown. She is a member of the County and State Teachers' Associa- tion and other societies, a communicant of the Baptist church since 1870, and a teacher in the Sunday school for about the same period, and an interested Christian worker. In 1912, she toured Europe, visiting the differ- ent capitols and thoroughly enjoying the opportunities offered to a lady of her culture and refinement to enjoy the art treasures and senic wonders of the countries visited.
NORMAN R. THOMPSON-The Thompsons came to the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., at an early date, Abel Thompson erecting the first house in the town. Newell C. Thompson, son of Abel Thompson, and father of Norman R. Thompson, was born in Cen- tral New York, in 1811, and was brought to Stockton by his parents in 1813. He married Samantha Bailey, and they were the parents of ten children, two of whom, George M. and Norman R., are now (1920) residing in Jamestown, N. Y. Abel Thompson, upon coming to Stockton in June, 1812, purchased 100 acres of lot 29, and 178 acres of lot 37, his land extending west beyond the creek and north to and including a part of the village of Delanti. His house was square, built of logs, with a split log floor. In the spring of 1813, while the snow was yet deep and covered with a crust, he brought his family, using an ox team for the purpose. He died in 1831.
Newell C. Thompson, aforementioned, was a tailor by trade, a Republican in politics, held several town offices, and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children of Newell C. and Samantha (Bailey) Thompson were: Harriet C., became the wife of W. W. Seeley; Byron W., a veteran of the Civil War, wounded in battle, married Louisa Bissell; Frederick; Almedia; Sarah J., died young; Ella M., became the wife of Samuel Riddle; Mary F., hecame the wife of Hiram Hart; George M., married Harriet Miller; Eva; and Norman R., of whom further.
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