USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 29
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Sven Edward Nelson was united in marriage, Oct. 14, 1910, at Wilcox, Pa., with Elin E. Berge, born in Sweden, May 1, 1884, a daughter of Albin and Josephine Berge. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following children: Elizabeth D., born Nov. 21, 1911; Lawrence Edward, born Feb. 11, 1913; Helen Josephine, born March 7, 1917; Robert Warren, born Nov. 5, 1919.
PAUL STERRETT PERSONS, M. D., graduate of the University of Buffalo, medical department, began the general practice of medicine and surgery in his home town, Ripley, Chautauqua county, N. Y., in July, 1917, after having pursued a post-graduate course in the science and practice of surgery in the Massachusetts General Hospital, and an interneship for the same pur- pose in the Buffalo General Hospital. It is his intention eventually to confine himself wholly to surgical practice, to which branch of medical science he seems to be well adapted. He is an enthusiastic young professional man, of good family, and good college record, and he is in- defatigable, careful and skillful in practice, so that in all probability he will succeed, giving good service to the community in which he has established himself.
Paul Sterrett Persons was born in Moorheadville, Pa., May 21, 1891, the son of Charles Dietly and Mary M. (Sterrett) Persons, the former now deceased, a miller by trade, and the latter, who still lives in Ripley, of an old Lancaster, Pa., Colonial family. Charles Dietly Persons removed his family from Moorheadville,
to Ripley township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., when his son, Paul Sterrett, was only five years of age, and that township has since been the home of the family. Paul S. obtained his elementary education in the Union District School, later attending the Ripley High School, and Westfield High School, from which he graduated in 19II.
He had decided to enter the medical profession, and without delay became an undergraduate in the medical college of the University of Buffalo. In due course, in 1916, he was graduated therefrom with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For the purpose of special surgi- cal research, he served an interneship in the Massa- chusetts General Hospital before his graduation, and for one year thereafter was an interne in the Buffalo General Hospital, there also specializing in surgical practice. And in the wide clinical opportunities of those two large hospitals, he must have obtained more than a general understanding of that branch of medical science in which he hopes at some future time to special- ize exclusively. Meanwhile, he is well regarded in Rip- ley and is developing a satisfactory practice.
The Persons family is of Presbyterian affiliation, and in politics Dr. Persons is a Republican, though he takes no active part in political affairs. He is a Mason, belong- ing to Westfield Lodge, No. 219, and Westfield Chapter, No. 239; and his college fraternities are the Nu Sigma Nu and the Theta Nu Epsilon. Professionally, he is a member of the American Medical Society, the New York State Medical Association, and the Chautauqua County Medical Association.
On Oct. II, 1917, Dr. Persons married Elizabeth T. Mosser, then resident at Sligo, Pa., but formerly of N. Y. Mrs. Persons is a trained nurse, and since their marriage she has given her professional services to her husband.
GEORGE ARTEMAS ROSS was born at Clymer, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1883. His parents were Dr. Artemas Ross, and Eva Evangeline (Bush) Ross. Dr. Ross, who was a physician of good standing in Chautauqua county, was a graduate of the University of Pennsyl- vania, who after receiving his degree practiced one year at Corry, Pa., going from that village to Clymer, where he continued to practice for thirty years. He was a son of George and Barbara Ross, who were among the county's early settlers. On his mother's side, George A. Ross is descended from an historic and nationally prominent family, the Greeley family, one member of which was Horace Greeley, an earnest advocate of the abolition of slavery, United States Congressman from 1848 to 1849, and presidential candidate on the Liberal Republican and Democratic ticket. Mr. Greeley was perhaps best known as founder of the New York "Tri- bune." The grandfather of George A. Ross was William O. Bush, and his grandmother, Margaret (Greeley) Bush, was a sister of Horace Greeley. In the immediate family of Mr. Ross are two sisters, Mrs. Freda Cornell, a Fredonia State Normal graduate, and Miss Margaret Ross. a graduate of Allegheny College, who is now instructor in English at Ticonderoga, N. Y.
George A. Ross received his education at Clymer High School, Alfred Academy, Alfred University, and Allegheny College. He spent five years in teaching ; one year at Findley Lake, one year at Clymer, and
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three years as principal of Chautauqua High School. He was for six years traveling salesman for the Stran- burg Music House of Jamestown. Upon the expiration of the term of Mr. Frank M. Potter. then postmaster at Chautauqua. Mr. Ross, who is a Democrat, became a candidate for the position. He received the loyal sup- port of Chautauqua Institution officials, all of the county's prominent Democrats, and was on Dec. 17, 1915. appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to the position of postmaster which he now holds. Mr. Ross is a Free Mason. a member of Peacock Lodge No. có, oi Mayville.
George A. Ross was united in marriage to Mary Pearl Ferguson, of Erie, Pa., June 29, 1904.
HENRY S. HOLMES, one of the successful man- ufacturers of Jamestown, N. Y., is a native of James- t wn. born Dec. 28. 1888, a son of M. C. and Margaret ( Ronne ) Holines, the former named the founder of the business which is now operated by his son. The elder Mr. Holmes died in the year 1915, survived by his wife. who makes her home at Jamestown.
Henry S. Holmes attended the local public schools as a lad. and attended for a time the Jamestown High School. He did not graduate from that institution, how- ever, but matriculated at Ridgeley College, Ontario. Canada, where he took the usual academic course. Being ambitious, however, to begin business, he aban- doned his studies before completing them and entered the Jamestown Business College, where he took a com- mercial course. Upon the completion of this, Mr. Holmes was employed in his father's establishment and there learned the business of manufacturing tents and awn- ings. This business had been established by his father ir 1838, and the young man continued to work as an assistant until the death of his father In 1015. He then took over the business for himself, and during the in- " rrening years it has developed to very large propor- tions under the capable management of Mr. Holmes. At the time of its founding. Mr. Holmes, Sr., did all the work of the establishment unaided, but at the present time ( 1620) the plant is a very large one with eleven thousand square feet of floor space, gives employ- ment to fifteen hands, and has a market for its goods throughout New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where Mr. Holmes. Jr. has established agencies. He is regarded at the present time as one of the most successful and sichstantial business men of the community, and occupies a high place in the es'cem of his fellow business men. In addition to his business activities, Mr. Holmes is prominent in the general life of the community, and is a member of a number of organizations including the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the National Try and Awna& Manufacturery' Association, and the York State Ten' and Awning Manufacturers' . 1. so- ran of which he is a director. In politics, Mr. Holmes is a Democrat, but does not take an active part in the political activities of the community, his time and energies being entirely occupied in caring for his own large b ineed interests
Henry & Holmes was united in marriage. April 20. 1014 at Chicago, 11, with Annie Pidell, daughter of Fra-k R. and Susie ( Whiteley) Pidell, old and highly respected resident of Oak Park, Ill.
LYMAN P. HAPGOOD-As superintendent of light and water, Mr. Hapgood requires no introduction to his fellow-citizens of Jamestown. In the years dur- ing which he has held this very responsible office he has so devoted himself to the advancement of these two extremely important interests of his community, more especially the latter, as to merit and receive the gratitude of the many who have reaped the benefit of his strenuous fidelity.
Herbert L. Hapgood, father of Lyman P. Hapgood, is of Athol, Mass., where he was formerly engaged in the manufacture of match splints for old style matches. He married M. Josephine Proctor, and they are the parents of two sons: Lyman P., mentioned below; and Frederick H., graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Insti- tute, and now employed as civil engineer by the firm of Hazen & Fuller, New York City; he was master engi- neer in the Engineers' Corps, Water Division, at Camp Dix ; France, during the World War.
Lyman P. Hapgood, son of Herbert L. and M. Jose- phine (Proctor) Hapgood, was born June 18, 1876, at Athol. Mass. He received his education in the public schools of his native town. For three years he studied civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology at Boston, and in 1899 entered upon the practice of his profession as clerk in the Water Company of Beyer & Beyer, of Athol, Mass. His choice of a pro- fession dated from boyhood, when in his summer vaca- tions he had worked with engineers who were employed in his home town. This had given him an interest in the work and eventually led him to make the profession his own. In 1900 Mr. Hapgood was made superintendent, and in 1906 the plant was sold to the town. He went to Springfield, Mo., for the same firm and served as super- intendent of their plant in that place until 1910. In that year he came to Jamestown, N. Y., as assistant super- intendent, and in 1011 was made superintendent. In political principle and practice, Mr. Hapgood is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the American Water Works Association, and the New England Water Works Asso- ciation. In fraternal life he is affiliated with various Masonic bodies, member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of Athol, Council of Jamestown, and the Shrine of Buffalo, also belonging to the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology Alumni Association. He was reared in the Unitarian faith.
Mr. Hapgood married, May 7, 1907, at St. Louis, Mo., Emma C. Barrett, daughter of P. J. Barrett, of Adams, Mass.
The promotion and improvement of the water supply system has been Mr. Hapgood's life work. His admin- istration of his office entitles him to be regarded as a public benefactor, and in Jamestown he is held in high esteem by his fellowmen.
FRANK JOHN THIES, who has been prominent for some years in business circles at Fredonia, Chau- tanqua county, N. Y., where he is the owner of the J. C. Thies & Son Greenhouses and the Cherry Park Gardens, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on a farm at Arkwright, Sept. 0, 1879. Mr. Thies is a son of John C. and Minnie (Deitrich) Thies, the former the founder of the firm of florists of which his son is now the head. The elder Mr. Thies died in
That. ST. · Black
CHERRY PARK GARDENS, FREDONIA, N. Y. FRANK J. THIES, Proprietor
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1919, but his wife survives him and continues to make her home in Fredonia.
Frank John Thies was little more than an infant when his parents removed from Chautauqua county to the West, and located on a farm in Nebraska, where the lad attended the local district schools and was brought up in the healthy environment of the western plains. His parents remained in Nebraska for about seven years and then returned to New York State, making their home for a time at Laona, Chautauqua county, where young Mr. Thies completed his general education at the public schools. He then attended the Fredonia Normal School. About this time, in the year 1889, Cherry Park Gardens was established by his father on property which had been badly run down through neglect of its former owners and was indeed not entirely cleared of its original growth of timber. There was no improve- ments on the land at the time but the elder Mr. Thies, assisted by his son, soon brought the land under culti- vation and began there the fruit and flower culture which has since been carried to so high a point of devel- opment. A tract consisting of a little more than fifteen acres was originally devoted to this purpose, but the present Mr. Thies has found it more profitable to cut the acreage to precisely fifteen acres and concentrate his efforts in bringing them to a high state of cultivation. Great improvements have also been made on this place and a fine mansion has been built, together with offices and a number of large greenhouses. There are four of these latter, No. I measuring 150 x 25 feet, No. 2, 150 x 28 feet, No. 3, 150 x 22 feet, and No. 4, 150 x 20 feet. In addition to the delicate plants cultivated under glass, there are also grown outdoors a great number of flower- ing and fruit-bearing shrubs, and a large business is done in this line. First class shipping and packing rooms have been established and the 20,000 square feet which are contained under glass are equipped with modern furnaces and power rooms for the most ade- quate carrying on of the large industry. In addition to Cherry Park Gardens, Mr. Thies, who has succeeded his father as sole proprietor of the business since the latter's death, has a splendid fruit and vegetable farm of twenty acres in the township of Fredonia, which he also keeps in the highest state of cultivation. He all together employs as many as seventeen hands during the busy season, and grows about every known fruit, vege- table and flower on his various properties, although he
specializes in carnations geraniums and tomato plants, shipping these and his other products to every part of the State. Mr. Thies is well known in the general life of the community, and is a member of a number of im- portant organizations here, including the South Shore Grower & Shipper Association and the Florists' Club. He is a Republican in politics and attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frank John Thies was united in marriage, June 21, 1907, with Gertrude Neff, of Frewsburg, N. Y., a daughter of Ed. and Eliza (Bouquin) Neff. old and highly respected residents of the town of Pomfret. Mr. and Mrs. Thies are the parents of two children : Laura, aged ten, and John, aged two.
HARVEY W. PARKER, one of the leading farm- ers of the Mayville section of Chautauqua county, N. Y., is representative of the worthiest agricultural effort
in Chautauqua county ; he has risen to success from the humblest of beginnings only by the most resolute appli- cation to hard tasks. When he took the first portion of his present valuable farming property, it had no improve- ments and was covered with heavy second growth tim- ber, which, little by little, with scarcely any help, and only by dint of the hardest kind of work, often under most discouraging conditions, he and his wife gradually cleared. It was work such as the pioneers did, such as his own father did when he first came into the county in 1818. At that time the land upon which Harvey W. was eventually born was practically all virgin forest- wilderness-and it was that worthy pioneer spirit which enabled William Parker to keep doggedly on, at tasks which seemed almost impossible of accomplishment, until such time as he could realize that he owned a cleared acreage of good agricultural yield. And an effort similar to his was that of his son, Harvey W., sixty years later, although perhaps the circumstances of the son were even more discouraging, for when Harvey W. Parker started to develop his first holding it was under an incubus of debt; he had to incur heavy liabilities in making his first purchase, and his present rich farm and fine buildings, plus that wealth which is without price-a worthy family of seven children-rep- resent the sum total of the life effort of two worthy Chautauqua county people-Harvey W. Parker and his wife, Anna (Stebbins) Parker, who was his stay. his comfort, his encouragement, and also his co-worker, through all the hard times and trials of their early years upon the farm.
Harvey W. Parker was born Oct. 17, 1855. on the farm which adjoins his present property, near Mayville, Chautauqua county, N. Y. His parents, William and Sarah (Davis) Parker, are both now deceased, but dur- ing their lives were much respected hy the people of the neighborhood.
Harvey W. Parker, in his early years, attended the district school to some extent, but very early in life he was doing sundry light tasks upon his father's farm, and as he grew in strength and stature, so his agri- cultural duties grew in responsibility and in the physi- cal effort necessary. He conscientiously and ably assisted his father in the development of the family property until he was twenty-three years old, by which time he had become a good farmer, conversant with most of the operations of a general farm, and possessed of a strength and spirit such as to give him confidence that he himself could accomplish the hard task of winning a piece of land from the wild state. For a while he rent- ed a farm nearby, but eventually purchased the first forty acres of his present holding, going deeply into debt to buy it. His early trials have already been referred to, and not many of the farmers of this generation would enter upon such tasks. As opportunity came, he added to his acreage, until now he has a compact estate of 122 acres of good land, properly improved. His residence is an imposing one, commodious and sub- stantial, which was necessary, for he and his wife raised a large family. And all the farm buildings are spacious and substantial. Every building on the place was built by Mr. Parker, as was also every fence, and the property is well fenced. About fifty-five acres are in cultivation, and the remainder is rich pasture and woodland, and upon one piece of property more re-
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cently acquired is some virgin timber. Altogether the farm is a well-balanced one, adapted well to the purpose to which Mr. Parker has put it, dairy and general farm- ing.
Mr. Parker is a member of the local Grange, and in political allegiance is a Republican. He has been school trustee, and he has been urged upon many occasions to stand for public office, but he has consistently refused, feeling that he could not spare the time from the re- quirements of his own farm management. But he would have probably succeeded, had he stood for public office, for he is a man who is much esteemed in the neighbor- hood.
On Dec. 16, 18;9. Harvey W. Parker married Anna Stebbins, who lived on a nearby farm, and was of an old Chautauqua county family. She was his constant l:elpmate in all things until her death, which occurred in 1903. and they were the parents of eight children, seven of whom they reared. The deceased child, Francis Leon, died in infancy. The seven surviving children, in the order of their birth, are: 1. Fred, who was edu- cated in the district schools of Chautauqua township, and now has a farm of his own near Brocton, N. Y. 2. Grace, who attended the same schools as did her elder brother, and also took the course of the training school at Westfield. N. Y., eventually becoming a school teacher. 3 Grant, also educated in the district schools of Chau- tauqua township, and now a farmer. 4. Bert, similarly educated, and also a farmer. 5. Edna, who attended the district school and is now at home. 6. George, also a: home. 7. Ruth, also at home. All the children at- tended high school at Mayville after attending the coun- try school.
The value of Chautauqua county. N. Y., from an agricultural standpoint, has been developed by such note- worthy efforts as those of Harvey W. Parker and his father. William Parker. And Harvey W. Parker has given four stalwart sons to continue the development, and all are in agriculture.
WESLEY G. BRONSON, who since 1912 has been the owner of the extensive farm in Ripley township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., upon which his parents settled in 1835. They, Alvin and Maria ( Hamm) Bron- son, may be considered to have been among the pioneer setlers. for their farm in 1835 was practically in its wild state, unimproved.
It was upon this same farm that Wesley G. Bronson was born. Sept. 27. 1860, and he has lived in the dis- trist practically all his life. For six years he worked at farming occupations in Sherman township, and for four year, was similarly employed in Mina township of Chatrauqua county, but the remainder of his life has been p: ced in Ripley township, and mostly in culti- vating the farm upon which he was born. He was edu- i. the district school of Ripley township, and afterward took resolutely to farming operations upon the parental farm. In 1912, the ownership passed to him. « having purchased the share of the other heirs, and he Fas ince undertaken considerable improvements iff n the plaer. Every improvement, of course, was Det there either by his father or by himself. but during the last seven years he has made rapid progress. The 150 acres, which is the extent of the property, is now
a valuable holding, and during the years since he be- came sole owner of it he has rebuilt barn and house, has built a large silo, and has laid out a large grape vineyard. Upon the farm he maintains twenty cattle, and has some fine horses. He is progressive, energetic and skillful in his farming, and his average yearly out- going in wages for farm help is $300.
In national politics Mr. Bronson has not taken much part; he is an Independent in national politics, and is independent in most of his relations to political ques- tions ; he is a man who thinks for himself, and some matters of national policies have been the subject of deep thought by him. In local administration, however, he has always been very much interested, and has con- sented to participate, to some extent, in the work of local administration ; he has held the office of school trustee, and in many other ways has cooperated in community affairs. Religiously he is a Methodist, member of the local Methodist Episcopal church and a substantial supporter thereof. During the recent war Mr. Bronson proved himself to be wholly patriotic, contributing sub- stantially to the national loans, and to the other funds raised by various agencies of the government for the purposes of the nation in the war.
On Aug. 23, 1888, Mr. Bronson married Lida Thorp, of Jamestown. She is a woman of marked intelligence and refined bearing, and it is of interest to note that in her schooldays some of her playmates were boys who later took prominent part in the affairs of Chautauqua county, and of Jamestown, and some of them are the historians on the editorial board of this historical work of Chautauqua county. To Wesley G. and Lida (Thorp) Bronson have been born seven children, as follows: I. Hazel, born July 16, 1889; was educated in the district school of Ripley township; married R. L. Waite, to whom she has born one child, Nelson. 2. Walter E .; born June 2, 1892; enlisted, Nov. 22, 1917, at Westfield, N. Y., serving in first enlistment period at date of dis- charge; appointed corporal, Feb. 13, 1918, in the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces; worked at construction work at Camp Dix, N. J., Camp Kelley, Tex., Camp Seveir, S. C., and in England, reaching England, Aug. 23, 1918, serving until the close of the war; his discharge paper says: "Character excellent, service honest and faithful;" he returned to the United States, Dec. IL. 1918; married Alma Perdue. 3. Florence, born Feb. 8, 1804; educated in the district school of Ripley township, and later a graduate of a business college; she is now in commercial life, having a satisfactory position in Erie, Pa. 4. Lillie, born Fch. 15, 1896; educated at the district school, and now at home. 5. Harvey, horn April 13, 1807; educated similarly, and now at home assisting his father in the management of the farm. 6 Bernice, born Aug. 16, 1800; similarly educated, and now at home. 7. Alvin, born July 9, 1905; still at school.
Mr. and Mrs. Bronson have a worthy family, and have a large number of sincere friends in the neighbor- hood. They are very hospitable, and live the wholesome, happy and comfortable life that comes by upright actions, honest toil, and conscientious dealings.
JOSEPH BREADS, well-to-do farmer, and repre- sentative of the responsible agriculturists of Chautau- (ma county, N. Y., has lived in the county since 1862.
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and upon the farm he now owns, near Volusia, since 1868. He comes of a pioneer family of Chautauqua county, for when his father and his brothers came to that section of the county in 1862 it was mainly uncul- tivated land, and there is only one farmer now living in the neigborhood of Volusia who was there when the Breads brothers settled in the vicinity.
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