USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 17
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Dr. Beard-ley married. April 12, 1802, Rose Coxe, i Wyoming canty, N. Y., and they were the parents i a child. Ruth Esther, a school teacher of Redlands, Cal. Mr -. Beardsley passed away May 5, 1910.
Strength of character, tenacity of purpose, breadth i mind and iberality of sentiment, these are the :los. Law bren strikingly manifested through- . Dr. I ard . " arrer. With a thorough knowledge Fund sture tou rance of its weakness, and appre- Si:1 .1 . 1 . of good ; ardent and loyal in his le . amber hi friends by the legion both ar 'het of ler profe ion.
OTTO E. WALTER A native son of Dunkirk, Mr .: t. r lad there por fed the years of his useful Die 's heart une 22, 1969 but closed with his cide tal death Life in. in ;. Otto E. Walter was of Ferran frente. I father dying soon after coming
to Dunkirk, leaving his widow, Ernestine, with a family to care for.
Otto E. Walter was but three years of age when his father died, but his mother gave him all the advantages of the public schools, which he attended until he was fourteen. He then became an apprentice in the boiler department of the Brooks Locomotive Works of Dun- kirk, and after becoming proficient continued there as a journeyman for several years. He left the locomotive works to accept an appointment as a member of the Dunkirk police force, on which he served for six years. He again entered the employ of the Locomotive Works, and later was promoted to the position of foreman of the boiler department, a position he filled most capably for nineteen years. 111 health then compelled him to resign his post to accept the lighter work of an inspector in the same department of the works, and in that position he continued until his death. Mr. Walter was a member of Dunkirk Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Lutheran church, and in politics an independent Republi- can. He was well known in Dunkirk and was highly regarded as a man of honor, public-spirited and enter- prising. He served under Charles J. Wirtner as a member of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, was for a time assistant chief of the Fire Department, and in all things measured up to all the requirements of good citizenship.
Death came to Mr. Walter without warning, June 13, 1914. He with his brother-in-law, Frederick G. Bird, the latter's son, George Bird, and others, were on their way to Wesleyville in an automobile when they suddenly found themselves on the railroad track at Forsythe crossing near Ripley, in front of a rapidly approaching Eastern Express. There was no time to do more than realize the danger before the train struck the car, Mr. Walter, Mr. Bird and his son George, being killed in the collision. Mr. Walter is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia.
Otto E. Walter married, in Dunkirk, Millie Ludwig, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schulte) Ludwig, her parents both born in Germany, but old residents of Dunkirk. Frederick G. Bird, brother-in-law of Mrs. Walter, was born in Dunkirk and for many years was a foreman in the Brooks and American Locomotive works at Dunkirk and at Schenectady, N. Y., being general foreman of the Dunkirk works at the time of his death, June 13, 1914. Mr. Bird married (first) Elizabeth Paxton, mother of George Bird, who was killed with his father and uncle. He married (second) Carrie Ludwig, sister of Mrs. Walter, and they were the parents of a daughter Mildred. Mr. Bird was a member of Dunkirk Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Both Mrs. Walter and Mrs. Bird continue to reside in Dunkirk.
MICHAEL J. RATKOWSKI-Among the promi- nent citizens of foreign birth residing in the town of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he has become a conspicuous figure in the mercantile life of the community, is Michael J. Ratkowski, a self-made man in the best sense of the term, who by his own efforts has attained a respected position and the high esteem of his fellow-townsmen.
Mr. Katkowski was born Aug. 27, 1873, in Poland,
вЛисон А. Рислаш
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and is a son of Michael and Mary Ratkowski, residents of that country. The elder Mr. Ratkowski-died about the time of his son's birth, and shortly after, his wife came to the United States bringing her child with her, then but five years of age. They settled at Dunkirk, N. Y., and it was there that the earliest associations of the lad were formed and there that he gained his education as he grew older, attending for this purpose the parochial school of St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church. His mother's circumstances being none too good, he worked as a lad on the fruit farms of the neighborhood picking fruit Upon completing his studies, he secured a position in the local planing mill of Alcott, Ross & Skelley, and worked in that establishment for three years. His next position was in the grocery store of D. Scannell, where he served successively as order boy, delivery man, and was eventually put in charge of the delivery department of the business. He then left Dunkirk for a time to take a place as salesman for the wholesale grocery house of W. H. Granger & Company, of Buffalo, and was on the road for this concern about eighteen months. From the time of his first employment as order boy young Mr. Ratkowski had taken a keen interest in his work, and up to the time of his resignation from the Buffalo house had devoted himself with the most commendable industry and ambition to learning the grocery business in all its branches, both retail and wholesale. He was accordingly excellently well fitted to engage in business on his own account, when on March 26, 1909, having saved up sufficient capital, he returned to Dunkirk and started a grocery store of his own. It was not long before he had established an enviable reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and his enterprise rapidly grew in size and importance until 1918, when he opened another grocery store, which has likewise prospered. His ventures having turned out so well, Mr. Ratkowski decided to extend the realm of his operations into allied lines, and in 1919 opened his present meat market, also in Dunkirk. He now con- ducts these three flourishing establishments and enjoys a large and high class patronage throughout the city. In addition to his private business, Mr. Ratkowski has become interested in the Serv-us-Stores, a chain of mercantile establishments dealing in groceries with branches in Dunkirk and elsewhere, where a large and growing business is done,
From early manhood Mr. Ratkowski has actively interested himself in local affairs and has become an influential figure in politics, being affiliated with the Democratic party, of the principles and policies of which he is a strong supporter. In 1920 he was elected fire and police commissioner for Dunkirk for a two year term, and is now discharging the difficult and responsible duties of his office with an efficiency and disinterested- ness which has commended him to all classes of the community. In his religious belief he is a Roman Cath- olic and attends St. Hyacinth's Church at Dunkirk, serving the parish as a member of the finance committee. He is a member of the local chapter of Knights of Columbus and of the Order of Maccabees.
Michael J. Ratkowski was united in marriage at Dunkirk with Florence Barbara Kosciuszko, a member of one of the most distinguished Polish families, and a daughter of Marcell and Staniszewska Kosciuszko.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rat- kowski, as follows: Sophia, Mary, Helen, Bernice, died aged nine years; Stesia, Leon, Edward, and Agnes.
ARCHIE VINCENT PARLATO, D. D. S .- Among the most popular and successful of the younger professional men of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he is engaged in the practice of dentistry, is Dr. Archie . Vincent Parlato, who has recently opened a handsome office here. Dr. Parlato is a native of Buffalo, where his birth occurred, Nov. 12, 1893, and a son of Vincent and Frances (Barone) Parlato, of that city, the former being engaged in agricultural pursuits in the neighborhood. To Vincent Parlato and his wife seven children were born, Dr. Parlato being the only son. As a lad he was brought by his parents to this region and attended the grammar and high schools of Fredonia. After graduation from the latter institution, he entered the Fredonia Normal College and was grad- uated there in 1915. The young man had, in the mean- time, decided to take up dentistry as a profession, and with that end in view entered the dental department of the University of Buffalo as a member of the class of 1918. Shortly after the entrance of the United States into the great World War, he left his studies to enter the artillery forces of the United States army and was sent to Camp Dix, where he remained one month. He was then temporarily discharged in order to permit him to complete his professional studies and returned to the University of Buffalo, where he was graduated in 1918. He also served for six months as demonstrator and instructor in pathology and bacteriology at the same institution, and won an enviable reputation for earnest interest in his work and good scholarship. He reënlisted in the Medical Reserve Corps at the time of his discharge from the artillery and held himself ready to respond to his country's call to that branch of the service. On Feb. 12, 1919, he opened his present handsome office at Dunkirk and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession here. During this brief period, Dr. Parlato has built up a large practice, which is steadily growing, and is already to be numbered among the most popular dentists of the place. Dr. Parlato is a Roman Catholic in his religious helief and attends the St. Anthony Italian Church of that denomination at Fredonia. He is a prominent member of the local branch of the Order of Knights of Columbus. He is a Republican in politics.
CLESSON ALLEN PUTNAM, a prominent citi- zen of Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and one of the organizers and owners of the Nahoth Vineyards. Incorporated, is a native of the town of Stockton, N. Y., where his birth occurred April 5, 1864, a son of Allen and Marilla (Smith) Putnam, old and highly respected residents of that place.
Mr. Putnam as a lad attended the public schools of Stockton and later, having determined to follow the profession of teaching, entered the Fredonia Normal School. He did not, however, follow out his intention, but afterwards took a commercial course at the Cole- man Business School of Newark, N. J. Thereafter he was employed in the railway mail service for a number
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of years, until he met with an accident in the year 1902. L'pon returning to his native region from that city, Mr. Putnam rented a fine co acre farm in Portland township, Chautauqua county, which he cultivated for a time. He then gave up this work, and in association with a number of other gentlemen founded the Naboth Vineyards, Incorporated. This flourishing organization was founded in the year 1003 with Franz C. Lewis as president, Mr. Putnam as secretary and treasurer, and Vernon Mathews as vice-president. It was originally designed to manu- facture grapeand other fruit juices, but has since that time been expanded into a cannery and packing establishment. where all sorts of fruits are canned and packed as well as many other farm products. A branch of the business which has recently assumed large proportions is that of the manufacture of tomato catsup. It was reorgan- ized on April 1, 1919, with James R. Nicholson, presi- dent. Mr. Putnam, secretary, and Franz C. Lewis as general manager. Since this time it has carried on the same line of business and increased greatly in size and importance. The first building erected for the company's plant measured 65 x 40 feet and was five stories in height, but in 1908 two additions were made, both five stories in height and measuring respectively 30 x 70 iee. and co x 90 feet. There is included in this large plant a complete steam power equipment as well as all kinds of modern machinery and devices for the carrying on of the work. At the present time about 150 men are employed, and the products of the factory are sold ver the entire United States. Mr. Putnam is a Repub- Ican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He is also affiliated with the Lake Shore Lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was secretary for several years, and with the local lodge of Knights of Pythias.
C: sson Allen Putnam married (first) Nov. 27, 1893. Persis Peek, of Portland township, a daughter of Ashael a: ! Arn Peek. Her death occurred in the year 1901. (): Jan. 4. 1914, Mr. Putnam married (second) Janc V. Martir. of Brocton, a daughter of William and Lodeska ( Hall ) Martin, of that place.
THE WELLMAN FAMILY-It is quite evident t': the W.Wman family took its name from the city i Well- in Somersetshire, England, which in turn esine l it, name from a well called St. Andrew's Well, 'r the Bishop's palace, and from the fact that the ir of the family had received from one of the ; Charge of S. Andrew's Well, and had been alled at 'r t John the Well-man, or William the Well- na . which Uver became John or William Wellman. The new has been variously spelled as Wellman, Well- PR. Willmen. Welman, Welmon, Welmin, Wilman, W . Wvilman. Willmon, Willsman, Wellsman, and In America the practice of spelling this Melman began quite carly and has increased in .w ul it i- nearly universally used by all of the
Tie goaboy and history of the Wellman family and It origin of the Old World has been made with Investigation in this country scom, to d' what the carly immigrant Wellmans were only two in number. Thoma. Wellman and William Wellman. However, family recollection points to a third, in the
person of Barnabas Wellman. The name Barnabas has been carried through several generations and it is thought that a Barnabas may have been one of the immigrants, and if not at least one of the sons of William Wellman. Thomas Wellman was in Lynn, Mass., as early as 1640. He bought land, lived and died in Lynn End (now Lynnfield), Mass. William Wellman was in Marshfield, Mass., as early as 1642, but moved that year to Gloucester, Mass., and thence in 1650 to New London, Conn., and thence, a few years later, to Killingworth, Conn., where he died. It was from Killing- worth, Conn., that the following Wellmans came.
There is a line of seven generations bearing the name of Barnabas Wellman, but the first of whom there is any information was a Captain Barnabas Wellman, a seafaring man, who made many voyages between America and China. On one of these voyages he brought home a set of china dishes, a picture of his ship on each, and these were long preserved in the family, another Barnabas Wellman, who represented the family in the American Revolution, and last, a Barnabas Wellman who was an early settler in Chautauqua county, N. Y.
Barnabas Wellman, the Revolutionary soldier, was born Aug. 15, 1756, in Killingworth, Conn. According to records, he was a drum major in the War of the Revolution. His brothers and sisters were: Freelove, born May 22, 1753; Molly, born March 13, 1755; Paul, born April 15, 1757; and John, date of birth unknown. Like Barnabas, his brothers Paul and John fought in the Revolutionary army. He married and had the following children: James, born Nov. 30, 1783; Homer, horn March 9, 1786; Barnabas, born Sept. 16, 1793, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Ford, of whom further; Leander, born Oct. 14, 1801. There were also two daughters named Millie, and Hannah.
Ford Wellman, son of Barnabas Wellman, was born in Killingworth, Conn., Jan. 3, 1796, and at the age of sixteen years, or in 1812, he was among the first pioneers who came into Chautauqua county. He followed the occupation of a farmer for many years, and died in the town of Harmony. He married Sally Patchin, by whom he had the following children: Harriet, William Dighton, of whom further; Calvin M., Phylander H., Sally, Alvira and Fidelia.
William Dighton Wellman; son of Ford and Sally (Patchin) Wellman, was born in the town of Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1819. He followed the occupation of farmer a number of years, and later moved to Jamestown, where he resided until his death, Dec. 5, 1895. He was a leading member of the Repub- lican party. He married Laura Louisa Martin, like him- self a native of Busti, N. Y., born Feb. 11, 1825, a daughter of George and Laura ( Hatch) Martin. William Dighton and Laura L. ( Martin) Wellman were the parents of the following children : Warren Dighton, whose sketch follows; Julia E., who married H. N. Urmy, of Los Angeles, Cal., where they now live; Elmer Ellsworth, whose sketch follows; and Arthur Martin, whose sketch follows.
DR. WARREN DIGHTON WELLMAN, who has for many years occupied a prominent place among the active physicians of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a native of the town of Harmony, in this county,
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where his birth occurred Feb. 15, 1855. He is a son of William Dighton and Laura Louisa ( Martin) Wellman, old and highly respected residents.
The childhood of Dr. Warren Dighton Wellman was passed in his native town of Harmony, where he attended the local district schools. He was later a pupil at the public schools of Sugar Grove, Pa., and still later at the Jamestown Union School and Collegiate Institute (now the Jamestown High School), where he was prepared for college. He then entered the Roches- ter Business University at Rochester, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1877. Having in the mean- time determined to follow medicine as a profession, the young man entered the Electric Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881, taking at the same time his degree as Doctor of Medicine. He then began practice at Sugar Grove, Pa., where he remained a number
of years, but in the spring of 1888 removed to James- town, where he has been practicing his profession ever since. In addition to his professional activities Dr. Wellman has also become interested in the business life of the community, and is now the president and a member of the well known firm of Wellman Brothers, Incorporated, owners of the Jamestown Sample Fur- niture Company. He is also a director of the Liberty National Bank, and is one of the most influential citi- zens and business men of Jamestown. Dr. Wellman is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Protected Home Circle, the Jamestown Medical Society, the Chautauqua County Medical Soci- ety, the New York State Medical Society, and the Amer- ican Medical Association. In politics he is a Republican.
Dr. Warren Dighton Wellman was united in marriage, July 14, 1886, at Merritton, Ontario, with Dora Phelps, a daughter of Noah and Adeline (Loveland) Phelps. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps were natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, and the former was president of the Lincoln Paper Mill Company, and also engaged in business as a lumberman in Ontario. Dr. and Mrs. Wellman are the parents of two children, as follows : Clarice Lonisa, a graduate of Simons College, Boston, and Syracuse University; Donald P., who is now a student in the senior class of the University of Penn- sylvania, where he is taking the usual classical course.
ELMER ELLSWORTH WELLMAN, president of the Liberty National Bank, of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and one of the well known financiers of the county, is a member of the old and prominent Well- man family.
Elmer Ellsworth Wellman, son of William Dighton and Laura Louisa (Martin) Wellman, is a native of the town of Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and as a lad attended the local public schools. Later he was a student at the Tidioute High School, Tidioute, Pa., from which he graduated with honors. He was am- bitious to begin his business career, and shortly after leaving school he secured a position as a traveling repre- sentative for a Jamestown concern, in which he was exceedingly successful, and finally secured enough capital to engage, with his brother, Dr. W. D. Well- man, in the retail drug business on his own account at Sugar Grove, Pa. From the outset Mr. Wellman
showed himself to be a most capable business man and this enterprise, which they continued to conduct for some six years, was successful. He then came to James- town, where they opened a retail drug store in 1888, and conducted the same until 1916, a period of twenty- eight years, during which time they had developed one of the largest and best known drug establishments of its kind in the city. In the latter year Mr. Wellman sold his business interests and organized the Liberty National Bank, which was opened for business, July I, 1919, Mr. Wellman being elected its president. This bank has already made an important place for itself in the financial interests of the community, and bids fair to be one of the most prosperous organizations of the city, under the capable management of its founder and president. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Wellman is also a member and vice-president and treas- urer of the firm of Wellman Brothers, Incorporated, of which his brother, Dr. Warren Dighton Wellman is the president. This concern is owner of the Jamestown Sample Furniture Company, deals very largely in fur- niture, and possesses a market for this commodity throughout a very large territory and to cities within a radius of hundreds of miles.
Mr. Wellman is a staunch supporter of the Republi- can principles and policies; although he is well known and popular, he has consistently avoided holding public office. He is prominent in fraternal and club circles here, and is especially prominent in Masonic circles, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of Free Masonry. He is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Western Sun Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Jamestown Commandery, Knights Templar; Jamestown and Buffalo Consistories ; and Ismailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also affiliated with the local lodge of the Order of Eagles, with the Jamestown Board of Commerce, and the Sportsman's Club, of this city. In religious belief Mr. Wellman is a Presbyterian and attends the church of that denomination at James- town.
Elmer Ellsworth Wellman was united in marriage, Sept. II, 1895, at Jamestown, N. Y., with Bertha Julia Fenton, a daughter of Elliot A. and Helen (Leslie) Fenton, both members of old and distinguished New York fam- ilies. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wellman, as follows: Robert Fenton, who is now attending high school at Jamestown.
ARTHUR MARTIN WELLMAN, well known business man and prominent member of the Wellman Brothers' interests of Jamestown, is secretary of this well known concern and general manager of the James- town Sample Furniture Company.
Arthur Martin Wellman, son of William Dighton and Laura Lonisa (Martin) Wellman, was born Feb. 18, 1866, in Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y. He was educated in the district school at Harmony and Sugar Grove Union School. He assisted his father at farm work until he was about twenty years of age, and then went with his brothers, Dr. Warren D. and Elmer E., as clerk in their general store at Sugar Grove, Pa. When the two elder brothers came to Jamestown and located their drug business here, Arthur M. Wellman
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followed within a few months afterwards, and joined his brothers in their new undertaking. The Wellman business gradually increased, and in 1898 he was officially taken into the firm partnership by his two brothers. The subsequent years following and up to the present time, Mr. Wellman has entirely devoted his time to the busi- nesses conducted by the Wellman Brothers, of which he is secretary, as well as being general manager of the Jamestown Sample Furniture Company. He is also a director of the Liberty National Bank, of which his brother. Elmer E. Wellman, is president. Mr. Wellman is oi a retiring disposition and his club and fraternal life is quite limited, being a member of the Masons, Pro- tected Home Circle, and the Rotary Club. He is a staunch member of the Republican party.
He married, in 1001, Ada Orr, daughter of Austin J. and Elizabeth M. ( Nichols) Orr, of Jamestown, N. Y. To this union were born two children : Howard Q. D., born May 3. 1902: and Albert A., born April 23, 1905.
The business romance of the well-known Wellman Brothers oi Jamestown, has been one of success from its very inception. This success was brought about by the consistent effort and practical views taken by the three brothers in all the enterprises in which they en- gaged. In 1888. when Messrs. Warren D., Elmer E. and Arthur M. Wellman located in Jamestown and started the Wellman Brothers Drug Store, it was little thought at that time that this enterprise was the nucleus of the businesses which have followed and made the Wellman name a record in Chautauqua county history. The drug business prospered and as larger quarters were needed the Wellman building was crected in 1898, at the corner of West Third and Cherry streets, and this business was conducted therein until their retirement from it in 1416. In 1010 more room was required to meet the demand for rentals and a large addition was built on Cherry street. adjoining the original Wellman building. These buildings now honse the Liberty National Bank, the Wellman Brothers Store, Paquin Jewelry Store, besides many suitable offices and the quarters of the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce. The Jamestown Sample Furniture Company conducted in this building by Wellman Brothers is a very well known concern among the furniture dealers and consumers, and the business, like all other Wellman enterprises, is remark- ably increasing its sales from year to year. The Liberty National Bank, of which Elmer E. Wellman is president, has likewise enjoyed a prosperous era and much credit can be given the Wellman spirit in this institution.
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