USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 14
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Norman R. Thompson, son of Newell C. and Samantha (Bailey) Thompson, was born in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1837, and since 1883 has been a resident of Jamestown, his present home (1920) No. 50 Allen street. He was educated in the district school and Westfield Academy, and after a short period as a farmer began teaching school, a pro- fession he only abandoned after teaching forty consecu- tive terms. In March, 1876, he was appointed by J. P. Wickensham, Pennsylvania Superintendent of Public Instruction to fill a vacancy in the office of County Superintendent of Schools for Warren county, and for two years continued in that office under appointment.
Chus. Dahlstran
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He was then elected by the people for a full term and served until its close with efficiency and fidelity. In 1883 he moved to Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and until 1890 was engaged as a bookkeeper. In that year he was appointed treasurer of the city of Jamestown, an office he held continuously for eight years. In 1899 Mr. Thompson was appointed to a position in the office of the adjutant-general at Albany, N. Y., his duty the compiling of Civil War records of New York State men. In that capacity he compiled the officers' records for the work, "New Work in the Civil War." He remained in that position for twelve years, 1899-191I.
When a young man of twenty-three years, on Aug. 21, 1861, Mr. Thompson enlisted at Stockton in the Union Army to serve three years. He was mustered into the United States service on Aug. 30 following, as corporal of Company G, 49th Regiment, New York Vol- unteer Infantry, and went to the front. Colonel Daniel D. Bidwell commanded the regiment, and Captain Jeremiah C. Drake commanded Company G. The 49th was a fighting regiment, and with that command Mr. Thompson saw three years of strenuous military life. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant, Dec. 26, 1861, was wounded in action at the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, and at the battle of the Wilderness, May 12, 1864. On July 30, 1864, he was promoted regimental commissary sergeant, and on Oct. 18, 1864, was honor- ably discharged and mustered out at Buffalo, N. Y. Two monuments mutely testify to the valor of the 49th, one on the battlefield of Gettysburg, erected by the State of New York, another marks the "Bloody Angle," erected by the survivors of the regiment near Spottsyl- vania Court House, Virginia, erected in 1902 by the then surviving members of the regiment, Norman R. Thomp- son being a member of the committee in charge of the raising of funds. The monument was dedicated on Oct. 9, 1902. At the ceremonies attending the dedication of the Gettysburg monument, July 2, 1893, Mr. Thompson was one of the speakers. He is an official of the Forty- ninth Regimental Association, and in 1920 was one of the thirteen survivors who attended the annual reunion at Kennedy, N. Y.
Mr. Thompson is a member of James M. Brown Post, No. 285, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Union Veteran Legion. He has recently been elected quarter- master-general of the National Union Veteran Legion for the seventh time. He is also a Master Mason of Mount Moriah Lodge, Jamestown, and a member of other beneficial and fraternal orders. In religious faith he is liberal, and in politics a Republican.
Mr. Thompson married, Aug. 18, 1868, Kate F. Swift, daughter of Gordon and Hannah M. Swift; the former was born in Vermont, and the latter in Worcester, N. Y., but later were residents of Chautauqua county, N. Y., residing in Carroll and Jamestown. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Carl Gordon, born in 1870, died in June, 1900.
This brief record reveals Mr. Thompson as a good soldier and a good citizen. He has never sought prefer- ment or public position, every honor which has been conferred upon him coming unsought. He has won the commendation of his superiors in office and rank, in peace and in war, every duty having been ably and
honorably fulfilled. His long life has been a useful one and he holds the confidence and respect of all who know him.
CHARLES PETER DAHLSTROM-Western New York, and particularly Chautauqua county, owes much of its prosperity to the activities of a number of distinguished citizens of Swedish birth or ancestry, mem- bers of this nation having settled here in large numbers during a considerable period. Among these distin- guished citizens none is better known than the late Charles Peter Dahlstrom, who was for many years identified prominently with the industrial interests of the community, and who as head of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company of Jamestown won a position high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens and did much to promote the material advancement of the region.
The Dahlstrom family is of Swedish origin, and Mr. Dahlstrom himself was born on the Island of Gotland in that country, Sept. 4, 1872. He was a son of Lars Peter Dahlstrom, likewise a native of the Island of Gotland, Sweden, and a man of culture and education. For many years he held a high rank in the Swedish military organization, and acted as practical instructor for the army. After his retirement from this position he returned to his native land, to the old Ducker Farm, which has been in possession of the family for over two centuries, where he has since resided. He is a prom- inent member of the Swedish Lutheran church. At one time the elder Mr. Dahlstrom paid a long visit to his son in the United States, but eventually returned to Sweden. Lars Peter Dahlstrom married Jacobina Strom, and they were the parents of the following children : Olga, who became the wife of Captain Hjelmer Osterman, to whom she bore two children, Ehrich and Sbea; Charles Peter, with whose career we are here especially concerned; Andries Frederick, born in 1875, died in 1907; Ervid, born in 1879, died in 1907; and Laura.
Charles Peter Dahlstrom passed his childhood in his native land, and attended the public schools of Gotland until he had reached the age of twelve years. He then became a student in a school of technology at Stockholm, where he completed his education. After graduation from the latter institution, he served an apprenticeship in the trade of tool and die-making, and immediately afterwards, in the year 1890, came to the United States. He was an exceedingly skillful mechanic and had made a reputation for himself for inventive genius and the skill he had in devising improvements on machinery and the construction of new mechanisms adapted to special uses. When he first came to this country he settled in Buffalo and secured employment there at his trade. After several years spent in that city, three of which were passed as an employee of the Spalding Machine & Screw Company, where he invented a num- ber of devices and took out several patents, he went to Chicago and worked in the same line in that city and in Milwaukee. His old employers, however, valued his services so highly that they persuaded him to return to Buffalo and again enter their service. Mr. Dahlstrom, however, was anxious to find new openings for himself, and after a short period with the old concern, left them a second time and went to Pittsburgh, where he was
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given a position with the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. While thus associated, Mr. Dahlstrom was brought to the attention of George Westinghouse, the remarkable inventor and scientist, and the two men formed a close personal friendship, which continued until the time of the former's death.
It was in the year 1809 that Mr. Dahlstrom first came to Jamestown. N. Y., and in this city he first entered the employ of the Art Metal Construction Company, with which concern he signed a five years' contract, During his employment by this company, Mr. Dahl- strom invented a metalic door, the great possibilities of which he was quick to realize, so that on the expiration of his contract he at once withdrew from his associa- tion with the Art Metal Construction Company and organized the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company, of which he was the head. At first the concern was a small one. with a plant at Jamestown occupying but a single floor of the old Gokey building, but his door met with such instant favor among architects and builders that his business grew by leaps and bounds. The Dahl- strom Metallic Door is especially adapted for use in high buildings and hotels, where its fireproof qualities render it invaluable, since by its use fires may be con- fned entirely to the room in which they started, thus saving immense loss in life and property. It was not long before Mr. Dahlstrom found it necessary to in- crease his quarters, and with this end in view he erected a four-story brick plant on Buffalo street, Jamestown. At the time this building was first designed, it appeared adequate to the needs of the company for some years, yet so rapid was the increase of his business that even before its completion extensive additions were planned and begun. The Dahlstrom door has been adopted almost exclusively by construction companies in this country. and an enormous number of them are now disposed of throughout the United States. Its advan- tages have recommended it beyond the confines of this country, however, and it is now extensively used in Canada and even in Europe. The whole of this great gr. with occurred under the direct management of Mr. Dahlstrom himself who, up to the time of his death, which occurred April 10, 1000, continued as its active head, and it was his genius both as an inventor and bu-in -> man which is responsible for the enormous proportions to which the concern has grown.
Mr. Dahlstrom always took a keen interest in the public affair- oi Jamestown, and was a Republican in politics, but the tremendous demands upon his time and clergy made by the huge development of his business interests rendered it impossible for him to take that part in the general life of the community for which his talere and abilities so admirably fitted him. He was, i werer exceedingly public-spirited and always dis- riared . the full his duties as a citizen as well as . por s liberally every movement undertaken for the psill saldare. It has sometimes ben hold that men warinver ive genius lack the practical fre Wer he car, to mar'st the results of that genius soo inl' but certainly thi- theory has not been justi- I.d or won: American inventors who have reaped dene thor lite the fruit of their genius, and especially wal n rot ju thed in the career of Mr. Dahlstrom,
whose invention was placed before the public so suc- cessfully that almost over night it became a universal public necessity. In addition to his inventive genius and to his practical grasp of affairs, Mr. Dahlstrom had another quality which undoubtedly played a part in shaping his success. He was a man of most genial and warm hearted personality and possessed in an un- usual degree the power of making and keeping friends. Nowhere was this ability more conspicuously shown than in his relations with his employees, over whom he exercised a most extraordinary influence. The men who worked in his plant felt him to be their friend and held him in the highest esteem and warmest affection, On the occasion of his death they petitioned to be allowed to refrain from work in order to attend his funeral in a body, and otherwise showed the deep devotion which they had for him. The factory of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company was perhaps the most important industrial establishment in Jamestown, and was an important factor in the industrial develop- ment of the community. Mr. Dahlstrom was also a prominent figure in the social and fraternal circles of the community, and was affiliated with Mt. Tabor Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Jamestown Lodge, Knights of Pythias. In his religious belief he was a Lutheran and attended the First Lutheran Church of that denomination in Jamestown.
Charles Peter Dahlstrom was united in marriage, Oct. 20, 1900, at Jamestown, with Anna Elfrida Phillips Petersen, like himself a native of Sweden, where she was born at Stockholm, March 10, 1873, a daughter of John Phillips and Matilda ( Fagerstrom) Petersen. Mr. Petersen was born in Sweden, May 1, 1839, and died Aug. 27, 1878. He was a stone mason by trade, highly respected in the community where he dwelt, and a prom- inent member of the Lutheran church there. He married, in 1863, Matilda Fagerstrom, born Dec. 21, 1841, died April 2, 1904. Mrs. Petersen was a woman of many virtues and was a most devoted mother and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen were the parents of the following children : Augusta, who became the wife of John Burk- land, of Jamestown, N. Y., to whom she bore two children, Margaret and Vivian; Anton Phillips, who married Augusta Ax, by whom he has had two children, Burdette and Rose: Amanda, who became the wife of Charles Johnson, of Jamestown, and the mother of two children, Norman and Chester ; Anna Elfrida Phillips, who became Mrs. Charles P. Dahlstrom, as mentioned above; and Alma, who was a nurse in the Women's Christian Association Hospital of Jamestown; she died April 7, 1910. These children of John Phillips Petersen, after coming to the United States, dropped their family name and are now known by their father's middle name of Phillips. Anna Elfrida Phillips (Petersen) Dahl- strom received her education at the schools of her native city of Stockholm, and after coming to the United States took a special course in English. She is a woman of strong Christian character, and is a prominent figure in the life of Jamestown, where she enjoys the highest esteem and regard. Mr. and Mrs. Dahlstrom became the parents of two children, as follows: Phyllis Matilda Margarette, born July 13, 1901; and Frederick Phillips, born Sept. 7, 1903.
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HERBERT B. VINCENT-Long passed from mortal view, Herbert B. Vincent lives in the memory of his many friends in Jamestown, where his widow yet resides. He was one of the men who, when clouds of war broke over our land, rallied to the defence of the old flag and maintained a government of free people. He lived long and well, his record and his life unspotted. His parents, Edward F. and Lucinda (Boise) Vincent, resided at Warren, Pa., on a farm, finally moving to Hesperia, Mich., where Mr. Vincent, Sr., continued farming operations until his death.
Herbert B. Vincent was born in Warren, Pa., Jan. 3, 1836, and died in Jamestown, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1905. He was educated in the public schools of the district, and upon arriving at a suitable age learned the harness- maker's trade, worked at it several years, and established a business of his own. Later he sold out and moved to Spottsylvania Court House, Va., where he purchased a farm which he operated for five years. He traded off his Virginia property for a farm in Mckean county, Pa., locating there, where he remained for five years. Here he "struck oil." He then traded this farm and oil field for a farm in Chautauqua county. He lived in Jamestown one year, then went to the farm for four years, after which he moved back to Jamestown and retired, residing there until his death.
Mr. Vincent enlisted in Company I, 109th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, Dec 2, 1861, serving under Captains A. W. Alvord and S. R. Jones, Colonels B. F. Tracy, and Coxlen, the regiment part of the Ist Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. Until April, 1864, Mr. Vincent was on guard duty, later was engaged at the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Ann River, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Welden railroad, Reams Station, Hatcher's Run, and witnessed the surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865. On May 31, 1865, he was trans- ferred to Company I, 5Ist Regiment, New York Intan- try, Capt. W. W. Hatch, Col. J. J. Wright, and was mustered out June 3, 1865. He was held at Washington, D. C., and at Alexandria, Va., on special service, finally receiving honorable discharge at Alexandria, July 25, 1865. All his after life Mr. Vincent retained a lively interest in his war comrades and was long a member of McKean Post, No. 347, Grand Army of the Republic of Smethport, Pa. He was also a member of the Masonic order, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery.
Mr. Vincent married, April 17, 1859, Julia A. Ogden, born June 9, 1839, in Apalachin, Tioga county, N. Y., daughter of Isaac and Julia (Jewett) Ogden, who yet survives her husband, residing in Jamestown, active and well preserved, her friends many and devoted to her. Children : 1. William, born Aug. 23, 1860, died Nov. 24, 1864. 2. Susan E., born Feb. 23, 1863; married, April 2, 1883, at Jamestown, J. A. Yerdon, and has a son, Herbert B. 3. Robertine, born Aug. 16, 1865; married, June 17. 1890, Daniel Bacon, and has three children : Ivan Julia, born Sept. 4, 1892; Ellen, born Oct. 21, 1893, died Oct. 16, 1918; and Margaret, born Jan. 22, 1905. 4. Willard E., born Nov. 13, 1875, now engaged in the drug business in Buffalo, N. Y .; married Clemen- tine Crum, of Indianapolis, Ind. 5. Edith, born Sept.
I, 1877, died Sept. 17, 1877. 6. Earl R., born March 18, 1879; married Grace Waller, and resides in Indian- apolis, Ind. He has one daughter Margarett.
DANIEL A. SULLIVAN, who was for many years one of the most prominent figures in the lumber interests of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and whose death at his home in Jamestown, May 17, 1904, was felt as a severe loss by the entire community, was a native of County Cork, Ireland, where his birth occurred April 12, 1863, a son of Michael and Susan Sullivan. He was but two years of age when his parents removed with him to England and settled in the town of Olewitch, where they made their home for about four years. They had in the meantime, however determined to come to the United States, and in 1869 set sail for this country, and after a long voyage reached the port of New York City. It is probable that their destination had already been deter- mined upon before leaving England, as they did not tarry in the metropolis, but came on at once to the city of Salamanca, N. Y., where they have since made their home.
Daniel A. Sullivan was but six years of age at that time, and his childhood and early youth were spent at Salamanca, where he attended the local public schools and obtained his education. He was still young, how- ever, when he gave up his studies and went to the village of Red House and there secured employment with Daniel Griswold, who was one of the pioneer lum- bermen of the region. Mr. Sullivan was sent to work as a woodman in this region, and for a time worked in that capacity for Mr. Griswold. He was exceedingly ambitious, however, to become independent in business, but realized that further education would be a valuable asset to him before embarking on an enterprise of his own. Acordingly, he became a member of Mr. Gris- wold's household in Jamestown and there attended the high school until he had qualified himself as a teacher. Mr. Sullivan then was appointed to take charge of a school near his old home at Salamanca, and taught in that institution for one year. He was keenly interested in his profession and decided to study further in order to perfect himself in that line. About this time, how- ever, his attention was forcibly called to the great oppor- tunities offered by the lumber business, and by the time he had completed his course of study at the Fredonia Normal School, Fredonia, N. Y., he had practically decided to take up this occupation. For two years he rafted lumber for a Mr. Quinn on the Allegheny river, below Corydon, transporting the rough logs down that stream to the southern market, where he disposed of them for his employer. During this time he made the acquaintance of Mr. Robert Carson, of Randolph, and entered his employ, opening for him a general store at Quaker Bridge. He also looked after the lumber interests of Mr. Carson, and continued thus occupied until the spring of 1893, making his home at Quaker Bridge in the meantime. In that year, however, he severed his connection with his employer and came to Jamestown, N. Y. Here he formed a copartnership with C. A. Breed and D. D. Hazeltine, under the name of the Union Lumber Company, and began operations
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here. In the year 1804 Messrs. Breed and Hazeltine retired from the business, leaving Mr. Sullivan the sole proprietor thereof, who continued it under the old name until 180 ;. He then admitted M. D. Stone into the con- cern as a partner, who remained with him until 1903, after which Mr. Sullivan became once more the sole proprietor of the company. His business developed to large proportions under his exceedingly capable manage- ment. and he was regarded as one of the most sub- stantia! citizens of Jamestown, his home there, which was situated at No. 314 West Fifth street, being one of the handsomest in the place. He was very active in the general life of the community, and was especially prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of all the Masonic bodies in the city. He was also affiliated with the Jamiest wn Club, and was a director of the bank in Jamestown for many years. The Masonic bodies with which Mr. Sullivan was connected were as follows: Mt. Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Western Sun Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: Jamestown Council, Royal and Select Masters: Jamestown Commandery. Knights Templar ; Ismailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Buffalo Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret; and the Jamestown Lodge of Per- fection. He was also a member of Jamestown Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Daniel A. Sullivan was united in marriage, May 9, 18\, with Mary Elizabeth Grunder, of Warren, Pa., and they became the parents of two children : Irene S., who resides at the family home at Jamestown, and Paul Revere, who is mentioned at length below. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were members of the Presbyterian church, and are buried in Lakeview Cemetery here, the death of the latter occurring Feb. 27, 1919.
Paul Revere Sullivan, only son of Daniel A. and Mary Elizabeth (Grunder ) Sullivan, was born at James- town. Dec. 4, 1804. He attended as a lad the public schools of this city, and later the Military Academy at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was graduated with the class ci 1914. He then took a commercial course at the Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Buffalo, upon completing which he returned to Jamestown, where he became interested in the automobile business. He continued in this line until the entrance of the United States into the great World War, when he enlisted as a member of the Reserve Force Aviation Service, con- nected with the United States navy. He served therein mitil the close of the war, when he was retired with the rank of ensign. Upon receiving his honorable dis- har e, Mr. Sullivan reentered the automobile business and has already met with considerable success in this De He i, a Presbyterian in his religious belief and at nds the church of that denomination in Jamestown. Pa 1 Revere Sullivan married, May 10, 1019, at lamp ton, U'rsnla Jones, a daughter of Cyrus E. nd Mary ( Beebe) Jones, old and highly respected r. .. . . f Jame town.
Att ruime of the death of Daniel A. Sullivan, there was printed a long obituary article dealing with his life in the course of which the following appears:
At the time of his death he was at the head of the I'nion Lumber Company and his business abilities won for him a recognized place among the lumber dealers Ju't and honorable In his dealinga.
generous and considerate to associates, gentle and kind-hearted in his family relations, his death will be regretted by all who knew him, and his family will have the sympathy of the community In their great bereavement.
JOHN H. TOUSLEY-Among the prominent busi- ness men and merchants of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., the name of John H, Tousley, whose death occurred Aug. 3. 1909, stands high. Mr. Tousley, who had nearly completed his seventy-ninth year at the time of his death, was a native of Madison county, N. Y., his birth occurring in the town of Morrisville, Dec. 28, 1827. The family is of old New England stock, and Mr. Tousley's father, William Tousley, was a native of Connecticut and came to New York State in early manhood. He located at Morrisville, Madison county, where he followed the occupation of farming and was also a successful blacksmith until the close of his life. He married Charlotte Houghton, a daughter of John Houghton, who came from England as a young man and settled in this country before the Revolution. John Houghton was impressed in General Burgoyne's army, but eventually escaped and joined the Colonial troops and supported the American cause to the end of that momentous struggle. William Tousley and his wife were the parents of six children, the youngest of whom was John H., of whom further.
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