USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 30
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Joseph Breads was born on the family homestead in Oneida county, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1845, the son of William and Sarah (Sims) Breads. His father had a farming property in Oneida county and there the family lived until Joseph was fifteen years old, and in the district schools of the neighborhood Joseph received his educa- tion. About 1862, his father, William Breads, and his brothers, Benjamin and Isaac, who were also farmers in Oneida county, decided to remove with their families to Chautauqua county. William Breads settled on a large farm of 300 acres near the one now owned by his son, Joseph, and Benjamin and Isaac settled near him. In the spring of 1868, Joseph Breads, son of William Breads, came to the farm he now lives on with his father, and in 1870 bought 80 acres. Joseph Breads is a skilled agriculturist, and has developed the land until it is now a valuable property, the fifty-two years of his cultivation of it having brought him substantial return, both in material possessions and in the respect of his neighbors. He has a twin brother who also has lived in Chautauqua county most of his life, and has con- ducted a general repair shop. And he has one sister, Charlotte, who married and went to Australia, but he has not heard from her for twenty years.
The Breads family are earnest Methodists, Joseph Breads and his wife, Mary (Gossett) Breads, being members of the Volusia Methodist Episcopal Church, and good supporters thereof. Mr. Breads is a Repub- lican in national politics, but has never held what might strictly be called political office. He has always been interested in the affairs of his own district, and the neighboring community of Volusia, and has at different times taken active part in its affairs; he was trustee of Public School No. II, for some years; and in the functioning of the Lombard Grange he has been prominent; in fraternal and benevolent society move- ments he has been interested, being a member of the Westfield Blue Lodge of Masons and the Sherman, N. Y., Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
During the World War, he worthily did his part, both in contributing substantially to the various patriotic funds, and in the closer application to the matters of production upon his farm, which increased production of foodstuffs by American farmers had such an import- ant bearing upon the final victory which came. It is now a matter of history, and generally recognized, that the war was not won only in France. Those who labored in the home countries had almost as appreciable a part as had the armies in the field ; certainly the question of foodstuffs was at one time of such vital urgency that but for the increased effort of the patriotic and hard- working American farmer the outlook for the cause of America and her allies would have been desperate. Therefore, to the individual American farmer, who had his share in the effort, is due a recording of that share.
Joseph Breads was married, April 19, 1871, to Mary Gossett, of Sherman, N. Y., and they are now drawing near to the golden anniversary of their wedding. Both are highly esteemed in the neighborhood in which they have lived for so many years. They have one child. Flora. She received a good education, attending the dis- trict school for the elementary grades, and then going to Westfield to attend the high school at that place. She eventually graduated, and some years later married Henry Witt, a man of responsible position in industrial life, being foreman in the tinners' department at the American Locomotive Works at Dunkirk, N. Y. One child, a daughter, Juva May, has been born to them.
Joseph Breads has lived an upright, industrious and productive life, in which steadiness of purpose and in- tegrity, both material and moral, have been marked characteristics, and he has a definite place in the histori- cal record of that section of Chautauqua county.
JOHN A. KLING-Mayville, N. Y., and Chautau- qua county in general, seem to be regions where a number of men of Swedish birth have elected to make their homes. They have, upon coming to this country from Sweden, established themselves here, and many of them have successfully engaged in enterprises which have not only benefited themselves, but the community- at-large as well. John A. Kling, of this sketch, may be mentioned as one of the successful men of foreign birth to have settled here and a man whose integrity and square business dealings have won for him a dis- tinguished place in the esteem and regard of his fellow- men.
John A. Kling was born in Sweden, July 31, 1868, and is a son of Andrew Peter and Marie Kling. The elder Mr. Kling was a contractor and builder of high standing. John A. Kling received his education in the schools of his native land, and in 1885, at the age of seventeen, came to America. Upon arriving here, he worked as a cabinetmaker, obtaining a position in the establishment of Breed & Johnson, in Jamestown. He did considerable work in the large factories hereabouts, gaining a considerable amount of experience. He accepted a position in the employ of Charles Norquist, where he remained for two seasons. Here his work consisted of making roll top desks. He later accepted a position as foreman of the cabinet department of John Benson & Son, proprietors of the Chautauqua Desk Company, with whom he remained two years, and then went with the Cadwell Cabinet Company. In the latter establishment he was the superintendent, laying out the work and estimating the cost of production, two very important posts. He remained with these people for a period of seven years, during which time he learned a great deal and at the same time saved a considerable portion of his earnings, with a view to some day be- coming independent. About 1901 he became superin- tendent of the Randolph Furniture Company and re- mained with these people for about ten years. At the end of this time, having saved up enough money, he was enabled to realize his long cherished ambition, and began independently in business in a small way. organ- izing a stock company at Mayville, N. Y., under the style of the Chautauqua Cabinet Company, manufacturers 01 bedroom furniture. The officers of the concern are as
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follows : John A. Kling, president and treasurer, Arvid J. Kling, vice-president, and Mrs. J. A. Kling secretary The concern was incorporated in April, 1911, with John A. Kling as president and treasurer, Edwin Hitchcock, vice-president, and Anton T. Anderson, secretary. These four gentlemen were also directors of the corporation. They obtained the building of the Chautauqua Spring Bed & Lounge Company, a three-story structure, 75 x 00 feet, and installed all modern machinery. The concern new employs fifty to sixty hands, and they ship their product to all parts of the United States. During the recent World War the plant was turned into a war man- ufactory and made airplane parts, magazine containers, and hospital trays, with great success. In addition to this enterprise, Mr. Kling is also actively interested in the Brocton Furniture Company, of Brocton, N. Y., taking the management in 1915, and is also secretary.
The Chautauqua Cabinet Company and the Brocton Furniture Company employ approximately 150 hands, with a combined output of over three-quarters of a million dollars. Mr. Kling has been a representative of the Village Board of Mayville for four years, and is a prominent member of the Republican party in this region.
John A. Kling was united in marriage, Oct. 1, 1890, with Anna Augusta Anderson, a daughter of Andrew Anderson, a resident of Jamestown. To Mr. and Mrs. Kling four children have been born, as follows: Arvid J .: Edith Augusta, who is deceased; Holger, deceased ; and Denold.
THE ALLEN FAMILY-More than a century has elapsed since Elisha Allen, the first member of his family to leave his New England home, journeyed west- ward to Chautauqua county, N. Y. In all of the progress and development of the early time and down to the present, Allens have figured in all important measures of movements, and been identified with the county through service in many fields. The paragraphs and pages following contain extracts from a history of the century in Chautauqua county showing the lives and deeds of four generations of this branch of the Allen family.
Th. New England progenitor, Captain Allen, of Princeton, Mast, while serving as sheriff there, was murdered by a prisoner he was guarding. His widow moved with her family to Wardsboro, Vt., and there Eli ha Allen, son of Captain Allen, spent his youth and early manhood.
Elisha Allen was born in Princeton, Mass., in 1786, and died in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1830. He married, . early manhood. Juliette Holbrook, born in Stur- Frider, Mass, in 1700. her family later coming to Chant- tarqua count :. Elisha Allen first came to Chautauqua county in 1816. and in that year bought the property on which tard the Jamestown House and the Gifford Hoge Ile first came on a trading trip, and the same wear returned to his New England home. In 1817 he ame again with his wife and two sons. He was a man of forceful character and good business ability, and wiely he invested the capital brought by him from Vermont. For many years he kept the Allen House. and just south of Jamestown he owned a farm which later became the property of his eldest son, Augustus
Franklin Allen. Elisha Allen, in addition to his hotel and his farm, was a merchant, and operated Durham boats on the lake and streams of Chautauqua. It was Elisha Allen who built and operated the famous "horse- boat" on Chautauqua Lake, described in this work, and he had large lumbering interests. He prospered, and when he passed away in 1830 he left a considerable fortune for that period and place. The children of Elisha and Juliette ( Holbrook) Allen were: Augustus Franklin, of whom further; and Dascum, born in 1815; these two children were born in the East. Those born in Jamestown were: Adaline, born in 1817, died in 1851 ; Prudence Olivia, born in 1821, died in 1854; and Abner Holbrook, born in 1823, died in 1849.
Angustus Franklin Allen, son of Elisha and Juliette (Holbrook) Allen, was born in 1813 and died in James- town, N. Y .. Jan. 20, 1875. He was seventeen years of age when the death of his father, Elisha Allen, left him, the eldest son, head of the family. He met his responsibilities in a wonderful manner, and within a year or two had with his brother Dascum formed a mercantile and lumbering firm, which operated in Chau- tauqua and Cattaraugus counties, N. Y., and Warren county, Pa., very successfully until 1846. In 1848, with Daniel Grandin, he formed the firm, Allen & Grandin, woolen manufacturers, which operated until 1867, when it was succeeded by Allen, Preston & Com- pany. Augustus F. and Dascum Allen had also exten- sive real estate interests which continued mutual until 1865, when the brothers separated.
Colonel Allen was heartily in favor of bringing a railroad to Janiestown and as early as 1851 he partici- pated in the organization of the Erie & New York City Railroad, which originally extended from the Little Valley Creek to the Pennsylvania State line, and had a capital of $750,000. The town of Ellicott and various towns on the line of the road issued bonds, or in their corporate capacity took stock in the road, as did many private individuals. This company did considerable grading on the line of the road, but failed as an organ- ization, and was afterwards sold to the Atlantic & Great Western Railway. It was mainly owing to Augustus F. Allen's sagacity and good management that the greater part of all the investments made by the different towns on the line were saved to them in the transfer, and that the line of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway was finally completed through Southern Chautauqua with very little cost to its citizens. Mr. Allen was for many years a director of the Atlantic & Great Western Rail- way, and of all the men who interested themselves in opening up this section of the country by proper rail- road facilities, none devoted so much time and energy to the project as Augustus F. Allen, who clearly recog- nized the necessity of better traveling and freight accommodations to develop the interests of Southern Chautauqua. He gave much time to the public service, and for seventeen years represented the town of Ellicott on the Board of Supervisors, 1847-48. 1852, 1856, 1860 tr 1868, 1871 to 1874.
During the war period, 1861-65. he was chairman of the County War Committee, and labored unceasingly for the welfare of the soldiers at the front and their families at home. In his carly manhood, Augustus F. Allen had been commissioned a colonel in the State
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militia, and during the Civil War was appointed colonel of the 112th Regiment, New York State Vol- unteers, for the purpose of recruiting, organizing and equipping the regiment. In 1867 he was elected a mem- ber of the State Constitutional Convention.
In the winter of 1872-73, the building of the Buffalo & Jamestown Railway was first agitated, and Colonel Allen gave his best efforts to the inception and organi- zation of that enterprise, the first public meeting on the project being held at his office. His character and personal influence inspired confidence in the project, and although not completed until after his death, the success of the road was largely due to his efforts.
In the fall of 1874, Colonel Allen accepted an Inde- pendent nomination for Congress in opposition to the regular Republican candidate, Walter L. Sessions. Colo- nel Allen was nominated in a district which under ordi- nary circumstances gave from five to seven thousand Republican majority, but with characteristic zeal he waged his campaign, and after the most hotly-contested campaign that the district had ever known he was elect- ed by a large majority. But the ardnous work of the campaign, and the incessant labor of long years of intense business activity, culminated in an attack of brain fever, to which Colonel Allen succumbed on Jan. 20, 1875.
Colonel Allen married, in 1836, Margaret Cook, daughter of Dr. Robert Cook, of New York City. Eight children were born to them, two only surviving child- hood : Alfred D. Allen, of whom further, and Mrs. Charlotte Oliva Black, of whom further. Colonel Allen built the family home on the corner of East Fourth and Spring streets, which is yet standing practically unchanged, although it has passed out of the hands of the family. Through all the years they lived in this house Augustus F. Allen and his wife Margaret made their home a community center in the truest and best sense. Here were received alike distinguished visitors and the humblest neighbors with true and cordial hos- pitality that brought happiness and cheer to many lives.
Colonel Allen became the owner of the farm just south of Jamestown, which by the extension of the city in now within its limits. Part of that farm Is now (1920) in the hands of the fourth Allen generation, another portion now being Allen Park, deeded to the city in 1908 by his daughter-in-law, Virginia M. Allen, in memory of her father-in-law and husband. Colonel Allen was loved by his contemporaries as a friend, esteemed by them as a neighbor, and honored as a citizen. Energetic, progressive and public-spirited. he served well his day and generation, and left an honor- able record to his posterity.
Alfred D. Allen, son of Colonel Augustus Franklin and Margaret (Cook) Allen, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1841, and died there in 1877, in his thirty-seventh year. After completing his education he, when quite young, became manager of his father's farm, lying south but near Jamestown. He was also for several years prior to his passing engaged in flour milling, his plant known as the Dexterville Mills. From 1875 to 1877 Albert D. Miller was associated with him in the milling business. It was at the Dexter Mills that the first "patent" flour was made in Jamestown. At the corner of East Third and Pine streets, Mr. Allen main-
tained a flour and feed store, the site of that store his own birthplace. That property descended to his sons and later passed out of the family name. Mr. Allen was a good business man, and although cut off before even reaching middle age he had accumulated a hand- some competence from his business enterprises.
Mr. Allen married in 1869, Virginia M. Mahon, of New York, who survived her husband forty-two years, dying in Fort Worth, Tex., while traveling with her son, Augustus F. Allen and family in the South. She is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Jamestown. They were the parents of two sons who survived childhood : Augustus F., named for his grandfather; and Alfred D., named for his father. Both are of further mention in this review.
Charlotte Olivia Allen, daughter of Colonel Augustus Franklin and Margaret (Cook) Allen, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1848, and died in Alameda, Cal., Jan. 20, 1888. She was given all the advantages of education, and her charming personality won her many friends. In 1867 she married James Black, of New York City, and they were the parents of a daughter, Melita. Mrs. Black was widely traveled, her tours covering Europe and Northern Africa, quite ont of the beaten tourists routes. From her travel she gained a culture and a broad outlook on life, obtainable in no other way. She resided several years in New York City, and was there identified with charitable canses and different organizations. After the death of her mother in 1885, Mrs. Black's health failed and with her daugh- ter she sought the mild air of California, making her home in Alameda, where she died aged forty years. After her death the old Allen homestead, corner of East Fourth and Spring streets, Jamestown, so long the abode of hospitality and good fellowship, was closed and later passed out of the family.
Augustus F. Allen, eldest son of Alfred D. and Vir- ginia M. (Mahon) Allen, was born in Jamestown, Sept. 7, 1873. He attended the Jamestown schools and Harvard University, took up the study of law and gained admission to the bar. He did not devote much time to the practice of his profession, but upon his return to Jamestown conducted extensive real estate operations. The large tract of farm land on the south side of Foote avenne and extending to the city line was platted in building lots, and encouragement in such practical form was given prospective home owners that one of the most attractive residential sections of the city was built up. The beauty of the local- ity was still further enhanced by the gift of a tract of land by Virginia M. Allen, the property being given over to the park commission and by that body greatly improved. It is now the principal park of Jamestown and known as Allen Park.
As a young man Mr. Allen entered public life, in which a wide acquaintance and a personality of magnetic charm were his strongest assets. His first office was supervisor of his district, and his first campaign was for the Republican nomination, which was equivalent to an election. The manner in which he secured this and his subsequent election brought him into conspicuous notice as a future factor in local politics. After a term as supervisor, 1905-06, in which his record was generally approved, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for
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the New York State Assembly from the First Chautau- qua District, and was successful in the ensuing election, serving four terms 1907-08-09-10. Mr. Allen was a loyal and consistent supporter of Governor Charles E. Hughes in all of the constructive legislation sponsored by that executive, regardless of the dictates of policy or of party leaders. He was known in the legislature and among his constituency as a strong adherent of Govern- or Hughes and was close to the governor in much of the important political action of the times. He was honored by an invitation to join the governor's party in a visit to the St. Louis Exposition.
Jir. Allen left the Assembly to assume the duties of postmaster of Jamestown, and his administration was one satisfactory from every point of view. Upon his retirement from office he became deputy election com- missioner of the State with headquarters in New York City, serving until with the change of party power a Democratic successor was appointed. Since that time he has given his time to his Jamestown properties and to oil operations in the South, and in this line he has met with great success.
Mr. Allen is a veteran of the Spanish War. 1m- mediately after the outbreak of war with Spain, in 1898, he began the recruiting of a cavalry company in James- town. This was speedily done, but about the same time the 202nd Regiment was being formed in Buffalo, and in order to get more quickly into the service Mr. Allen discontinued his recruiting work in Jamestown and enlisted as a private in this regiment. Many others who had originally preferred the cavalry organization followed his lead. Soon after the departure of the 202nd from Buffalo, he became sergeant major of the regi- ment. and when it was assigned to winter duty in Cuba he was commissioned second lieutenant, a distinction won through faithful, soldierly service. He served with the 202nd until its return in the following year and sut sequent demobilization. Although Mr. Allen was beyond the draft age in the World War, he sought opportunity for service, and when the armistice was signed he was making preparations to close up his affairs and to enlist as a private for overseas duty.
Mr Allen married Mrs. Ilelen Crane, of Buffalo, N. Y. They are the parents of a daughter, Virginia M. Allen, named after Mr. Allen's mother.
Alfred D. Allen, youngest son of Alfred D. and Vir- vinta M. ( Mahon) Allen, was born in Jamestown, N. Y. in 1877. He was educated in Jamestown public schools and completed his studies in the Berkeley School, New York City. In 1906, he went to Okla- Vom and entered the hotel business and has operated - Oklahoma, Illinois, and Texas. He is a veteran of : war. He erved in the Spanish- American War in : I'm ! States Volunteer Infantry, and served .rl tw y or in the Phillipine I lands. When the Trist .|'tatet entered the World War. he enlisted and colis iones a second lieutenant. He served with 2-th Divi ie in France and went through the hard Why the the divi jon bad without any serions ..
WALTER RECORD-Hra generations of Kre- La Leder inon tapon the history of Chan- MY. to plich the first of the name,
Israel Record, came less than a century ago. Israel Record settled in the town of Sherman, in 1830, but later inoved to the town of Hanover, where he ended his years, eighty-nine, fifty-seven of which had been spent in Chautauqua county, and nearly all of them in the town of Hanover. He was one of the strong Demo- crats of his day, and never surrendered an iota of his confidence in the party of Jefferson and Jackson, His memory was a wonderful storehouse of knowledge, and and it is said that within a few days after President Cleveland's inaugural address was published he repeated it verbatim and remembered it perfectly until he died. Dates and places, laws and State constitutions, amend- ments and the men who advocated them, were as familiar to his memory when past eighty years of age as to the eye of an ordinary man when looking at the printed page of an open book, and when he once asserted the correctness of a statement it was useless to refer to a book for corroborative proof-he was al- ways bound to be correct. The old pioneer left sons who worthily bore his name, and one of these sons, John G. Record, practiced law for thirty-six years at the Chautauqua county bar, and in turn left a son, Walter Record, who after the privilege of association in law practice with his honored father until the latter's death, then assumed the business, and for another quarter of a century has maintained the high reputation the Record name has always borne in the profession and in private life.
The Records came to Chautauqua county from the Valley of the Hudson, where Rev. John Record, an active minister of the Baptist church of Poughkeepsie, was later prominent in business, operating a grist mill for several years. His son, Israel Record, born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1798, died in the village of Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., July 16, 1887. In 1830, with wife and two children, he came to the town of Sherman, Chautauqua county, and a few years later moved to the town of Hanover, where his entire after life was spent. He was a farmer and cattle dealer all his active years, and a man universally esteemed. He married Mary Gardner, born in Dutchess county, N. Y., died in Perrysburg, Cattaraugus county, in 1880, aged eighty-four years. They were the parents of eight chil- dren : Emily, married William Wood; Ursula, married Norman Babcock, of Silver Creek; Laura, married William Parkman; William K .; John G., of further mention ; Walter; Cornelius ; and Daphne.
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