USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 35
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Mr. Herrick married, in Jamestown, N. Y., June 7, 1804, Gertrude E. Proudfit, daughter of William Il. and Ellen E. ( Hall) Proudfit, her father one of Jamestown's veteran business men, her mother of the eminent Hall family of Jamestown and Chautauqua county.
This brief review reveals Mr. Herrick as a man of energy and ability, interested in the social and religions activities of his city as well as in its material side. All good causes appeal to him and he is always ready to "lend a hand." To his interest and careful supervision the chapter on "Banks" in this work is due.
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WILTON H. DeLANEY, well known dry goods merchant of Jamestown, and considered an expert in this business, had many years of experience in merchan- dising before becoming the president of the well known concern, DeLaney & Throop, Inc., at Nos. 14-16 North Main street, Jamestown. Wilton H. DeLaney is a native of Stockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., born March 20, 1858, son of Jonathan and Maryette (Howard) DeLaney. The elder Mr. Delaney was a well known resident of Stockton, where he kept a general store, and was a justice of the peace before his removal to Cherry Creek in this county.
Wilton H. DeLaney attended the village schools of Stockton and later Cherry Creek, this being followed by a course at Randolph Institute, Randolph, N. Y. When he was but eighteen years of age he had a firm desire to start out and earn his own livelihood, and connected himself in a line of business which afterwards proved him to be one of the leaders of the mercantile life of Jamestown. His first attempt was at Panama, N. Y., where he clerked in a general store for one year, after which he was in the employ of DeForest Weld in the latter's stores, first at Bradford, Pa., and then at Jamestown, N. Y., where he remained until about 1884, when Mr. Weld went out of business. Following this he became connected with the well known merchant, A. D. Sharpe, in whose employ he remained for a period. The subsequent fourteen years were spent respectively with the old merchants, Scofield & Adams, later changed to Scofield & Dinsmore, whose interests were disposed to Jones & Audette, after the death of Mr. Dinsmore.
It was in the year 1904 that Mr. DeLaney, after work- ing diligently in the pursuit of merchandising, particu- larly of dry goods, felt himself experienced enough to embark in this endeavor himself; he formed a partner- ship with the late Henry W. Throop, and with a small capital started a dry goods store at No. 16 North Main street. The small beginning prospered, and five years later they added two more floor spaces above the street floor, one being directly over the original address, No. 16 North Main street, and the other over an adjoining store at No. 14. A few years later, in 1917, they further expanded and took the adjoining floor space on the street at No. 14, thereby giving them spacious quarters in which to conduct their growing business. The building has been remodeled and improved, and now it has a double store with basements; first and second floors, at Nos. 14 and 16 North Main street, making it the second largest dry goods store in Chautauqua county. The title in 1917 become DeLaney & Throop, Inc., Mr. Throop being the president until his death, Aug. 2, 1920, and Mr. DeLaney secretary and treasurer. After Mr. Throop's death, Mr. DeLaney succeeded to the presidency, and R. M. Stewart, a long time employee, became secretary and treasurer.
As a business corporation, DeLaney & Throop have a most excellent reputation as conservative merchants of high standing. Their customers number among the well known families of Chautauqua county, and the mark of quality can truly be placed upon the goods handled by this concern. This firm now conducts a large, general dry goods business and is a shopping center for Jamestown and the surrounding country.
Mr. DeLaney married, in Jamestown, June 16, 1887, Chau-29
Harriet, daughter of G. C. and Loretta (Butler) Smith. Mr. Smith was a well known resident of this city, a veteran of the Civil War, being commissioned a captain near the close of hostilities. Mr. and Mrs. DeLaney have one daughter, Florence L., now the wife of Henry L. Beakes, a chemist of Louisville, Ky.
Aside from his own business, Mr. DeLaney has been active in the general affairs of the city. He is one of the Exempt Firemen of Jamestown, member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the various Masonic bodies. Politically he is a Republican, and has always taken an interest in the political situation as a voter, but has not sought office.
A. FRED HELGRAN, who for almost twenty years has been a responsible enterprising merchant and con- tractor of Jamestown, as one of the principals of Carl- son & Helgran, and latterly as the head of A. Fred Helgran & Son, painters and decorators, and wholesale and retail dealers in wall paper and like commodities, has had well merited success. He is a native of James- town, has lived in it for almost fifty years, and has many times manifested his sincere interest in the development of the city.
He was born on March 10, 1871, the son of John and Hilda Helgran. The Helgran family is of Swedish origin, and has had honorable part, with other industrious residents of Swedish origin, in the development of James- town. His father, John Helgran, industriously worked in the city almost until his death, and gained many true friends. His mother, Hilda Helgran, is still living in Jamestown, esteemed and respected as a good Christian woman of charitable spirit.
A. Fred Helgran attended the public schools of James- town. When he finally put aside his academic studies, and definitely entered business life, he was fifteen years old. He engaged with the Jamestown Lounge Company, learning the upholstering business. With that company he remained for fourteen years, until 1900, when he ven- tured into independent business. He, in partnership with another Jamestown man, C. F. Carlson, established the firm of Carlson & Helgran, undertaking to trade as wholesale and retail merchants in paint, oils, wall paper, and allied commodities of interior decorating, and also to work as painting and decorating contractors. The partnership was maintained in successful operation until May 1, 1916, when Mr. Carlson died. Mr. Helgran soon thereafter purchased the interest of the relatives of his deceased partner in the business, and soon afterwards he took his son, A. Gordon, into business partnership, and caused the firm name to be changed to that of A. Fred Helgran & Son. As such it has since been con- tinued.
Mr. Helgran is a business man of commendable appli- cation to and concentration upon his business, and the keynote of his success has been his consistent, persistent effort, and close attention to grade of workmanship. Politically, he is a member of the Republican party, and has taken some part in local political activities. For four years he was alderman of the fourth ward, and now is supervisor of the fourth and fifth wards. He is a director of the Norden Club, of Jamestown, and also of the Eagle Temple. Religiously, he belongs to the
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Lutheran church, and attends the First Lutheran Church of Jamestown.
His wife, Mary Louise Helgran, whom he married in Jamestown, has borne to him three children, all of whom have given satisfaction to their parents by their lives. The children, in their order of birth, are: I Hazel, who is married, and lives in Jamestown. 2. Ches- ter, who is an able executive, and is secretary and treas- urer of the Chautauqua Cabinet Company, of Mayville. 3. A. Gordon, who is a member of the firm of A. Fred Helgran & Son, and also a veteran of the Great War; he was in France for nineteen months, a member of the First ( Regular) Division, which probably was the most famous of all the American divisions.
LOUIS JOSEPH LODICO, D. D. S., who in spite of his youth and the comparatively short time that he has been established here is already regarded as one of the leading members of the dental profession at Fre- donia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a native of Buffalo, born Dec. 29, 1896. Dr. Lodico is a son of Frank and Mary ( Siragusa) Lodico, who resided at Buffalo for a number of years, but afterwards removed to Fredonia, where they now make their home.
Louis J. Lodico was but three years of age when he was brought by his parents to Fredonia, and since that time has continued to reside there, taking an active part in its general life since he has reached maturity. As a lad he attended the public schools of Fredonia, and completed his studies at the high school of the Fredonia State Normal School. In the meanwhile, however, the youth had determined upon a professional career, and with this end in view, after his graduation from the Normal School in 1915, matriculated at the Dental De- partment of the University of Buffalo, where he pursued his professional studies until 1918, when he was grad- uated with the degree of D. D. S. In the same year he also passed the examinations of the New York State Examiners, and at once returned to Fredonia and opened a handsome office at No. 7 East Main street and engaged in active practice. It was not long before the community began to realize the ability and skill of the young dental surgeon who had come amongst them, and his patrons rapidly and steadily grew in numbers, so that at the present time his clientele is a large one and still is increasing uninterruptedly.
Dr. Lodico is prominent among his professional col- leagues, by whom he is respected and honored for his technical knowledge of his subject and his native skill, as well as for the close observance which he consistently gives to the etiquette of the profession and his high code of ethics. His career seems assured for the future, and such success as he has already won or may win in time to come is entirely deserved and the result of his own indefatigable efforts and carnest devotion to the work he has taken up. There is no advance in dental science with which he does not keep abreast, and his constant endeavor is to keep himself familiar with its most modern theory and practice. During the interval between his graduation from the University and the close of the late war, Dr. Lodico offered his services to his country in that gigantic struggle. These were accepted, and after his recommendation for the army he was undergoing a course in the training school and was
in direct line for a commission when the armistice was signed. In his religious belief Dr. Lodico is a Roman Catholic and attends the Italian Church of St. Anthony at Fredonia, while in politics he is an Independent. He is also a member of St. Anthony Club. Dr. Lodico is unmarried.
LEONARD J. FIELD has for years been one of the leading furniture merchants of Jamestown, N. Y., executive of the Field and Wright Company, successors to the Aldrich Furniture Company, and once prominent in the city administration. He was born in Gerry, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1867, son of Myron and Lucy B. (Thompson) Field, both of whom are now deceased. His father, Myron Field, who had an agricultural estate at Cherry Creek, and followed farming industriously, was a man of steady purpose, strong character, and fixed convic- tions. He was one of the pioncer Prohibitionists of his section of the State, and courageously expressed his opinions long before the subject was received with the present favor accorded to it; in fact, at a time when only a man of courageous spirit, and the most unbending Christian principle, would raise his voice in a public place in its favor. His mother, Lucy B. (Thompson) Field, was a woman of superior education, and prior to her marriage was a school teacher.
Leonard J. Field attended local schools, and acquired a good education. After attending the Cherry Creek High School, he took a course at the Fredonia Normal School. He had reached the age of twenty-one years before he closed his years of schooling and entered upon a business career. His first employment was in the capac- ity of bookkeeper for the furniture firm of H. M. Gage, on Third street, Jamestown, and as such he remained for six years, when he was appointed manager of the Aldrich Furniture Company, Main street, that company also being owned by Mr. Gage. He was manager of that branch for eight years until the death of Mr. Gage, soon after which occurrence he took even greater respon- sibility. He took part in the organization of a com- pany, which, when incorporated, took over the business interests of a large part of Mr. Gage's estate, and there- after conducted it under the corporate name of the Field and Wright Company. The incorporators were: Leonard J. Field; Mary M. Field, his sister; Judson S. Wright, and John J. Beustrom, hoth substantial James- town business men. The present officials of the corpora- tion are: H. T. Wilson, president; L. W. Brainard, vice- president ; Leonard J. Field, treasurer and general man- ager; and M. M. Field, secretary. The business is a substantial one, handling furniture and rugs of all grades, crockery and allied commodities, and having extensive salesrooms. By those who know, it would hardly be considered an extravagant statement to state that the success of the Field and Wright Company has been due in great measure to the business ability and enter- prise of Mr. Field.
Mr. Field is a man much interested in the prosperity of the city, and cooperates in all ways within his power and means to aid in its development, but in later years has not taken an active part in public affairs because of impaired health. Mr. Field is interested in the cause of Prohibition, and manifests in this and in many other ways much of the estimable character of his father.
JOSEPH (. WELLARD
WELLARD HOMESTEAD
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And although in general political campaigns he has not aken conspicuous part, he has been outspoken in his efforts to further the cause of Prohibition, which met with such signal national success in the year 1919. During the years 1908 and 1909, Mr. Field was a mem- ber of the Jamestown Board of Aldermen, representing the first ward.
His rise to important place in business life, and to a post of honor in the affairs of the community, is com- mendable and noteworthy, seeing that it came wholly as a result of a resolute purpose, consistently main- tained. Mr. Field is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Jamestown, and substantial in his support thereof. He is also a member of the James- town Board of Commerce.
On Oct. 17, 1895, at Utica, N. Y., Leonard J. Field was married to Florence L. Hebron, daughter of Har- vey Hebron, of that place. They have three chil- dren : I. Helene Mara, who married D. Niel Fleek, of Jamestown. 2. Jeanette Francis, who has finished her academic schooling, and having marked musical ability is now studying the piano and pipe organ at Allentown, Pa. 3. Lois Minnie, who is still a student at Jamestown schools.
ERNEST CAWCROFT was born at Lawrence, Mass., April 29, 1881. He is a son of Aquilla Cawcroft, who now resides at Cassadaga, Fla., and Elizabeth (Carden) Cawcroft, deceased.
Mr. Cawcroft attended the Jamestown public schools and the New York University. He toured North Amer- ica, Central America and Europe for various magazines. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1907, and formed a co-partnership with William L. Ransom, now of the firm of Whitman, Ottinger & Ransom, of New York. He has practiced law at Jamestown, N. Y., since he was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Cawcroft has acted as special counsel for the city of Jamestown in connection with various charter and ordinance provisions. He was nominated for State treasurer of the Progressive party of New York in 1912; in 1916 was elected Republican presidential elector on the Hughes ticket ; and in 1915 was appointed deputy treasurer of New York State. Mayor Samuel A. Carl- son named him as corporation counsel of the city of Jamestown in 1918, and he has been the legal advisor of the city of Jamestown since that time. During the fall of 1918 he was special counsel to the United States Shipping Board in connection with the legal or- ganization of the various shipping towns created on the coast by that board. In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Cawcroft has been connected with many business and civic enterprises. He initiated the building of the Eagle Temple, which is the civic center of James- town, and is now the chairman of the board of directors of that institution. He is a member of the board of trustees and on the executive board of the Chautau- qua Institution. Mr. Cawcroft is a member of: The Jamestown Bar Association; the New York State Bar Association; the American Bar Association ; the Young Men's Christian Association; Jamestown Club; Amer- ican Academy of Political Science; a thirty-second degree Mason; a director of the Jamestown Board of Commerce; and is interested in many other fraternal, social and civic welfare bodies.
JOSEPH CHARLES WELLARD, respected and prosperous farmer of Ripley township, where he has lived for seventy-two years, is one of the worthy and representative agriculturists of Chautauqua county. Although blind for the last thirty years, he has con- tinued cheerfully pursuing a useful life of industry and productiveness, has undertaken many public duties, and has lived honored and respected among his neigh- bors.
He comes of one of the pioneer families of Chautau- qua county, and was born on a farm in the town of Mina, this county, Sept. 5, 1848, the son of Joseph and Polina (Geer) Wellard. Seven weeks after his birth, his parents removed to the farm upon which he has ever since lived, that is, for more than seventy-two years. His mother died when he was quite young, and a worthy uncle came to superintend the operation of the farm, and to care for and rear the children, includ- ing Joseph C. The children were all educated in the Ripley township district schools, after passing through which, Joseph C. took resolutely to farming, manfully helping his uncle. Joseph C. Wellard was thirty-seven years old when, in 1885, his uncle died, and during the twenty or more years in which he had steadily farmed since the close of his school days he had accumulated some material wealth, sufficient to enable him, after the death of his uncle, to acquire the farm upon which he had been reared and had worked for so long. Since that time the property has remained his, and he has materially helped in its cultivation for the greater part of the time, notwithstanding that four years after he purchased the farm he had the crowning misfortune to lose his sight altogether. He is fortunate in having a worthy son who with filial faithfulness stayed near his father, and of late years has taken the entire burden of the farm management from his father's shoulders. Mr. Wellard's eyes were weak even in his early days, but to have completely lost sight when still in the prime of vigorous manhood must have been a very great misfortune, one very hard to bear. He bore the calam- ity cheerfully and determined that it should not end his usefulness nor undermine his general health. That was thirty years ago, and he is still in good health and still maintains the farm in successful cultivation, thanks. it must be admitted, to the loyalty and labor of his sor, who is a skillful and energetic farmer.
Mr. Wellard has been a Republican in politics for the greater part of his life, and at times has shown much interest in national politics. During the World War he felt the loss of his sight more keenly than per- haps at any other time, for he longed to be able to read all the news that the papers printed of the momentous happenings of those days. He has always been interested particularly in local affairs, and has held some local offices including those of school trustee and collector, which offices he has held several times. Of course all matters pertaining to farming are of interest to him, that having been his life long occupation, and bearing in mind his physical handicap he is particularly well informed on most subjects. For many years he has been a member of the local grange, and in his younger days took active part in its functioning. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a consistent supporter of the local church. Throughout
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his life he has manifested worthy characteristics such as would emanate from the wholesome thoughts of a con- scientious Christian, and as a neighbor he has been ever ready, where possible, to lend a helping hand and ever ready to receive his neighbors with open-hearted hos- pitality. He is a good conversationalist, and his con- pany is appreciated.
Mr. Wellard was also blessed by another loyal loved one. as well as his son, during his many years of sight- lessness : his dear wife was more than a companion to him, so that. as is so often the case, he has had blessings to compensate for misfortunes. To go back to the year of his marriage is a stretch of forty-six years, for it was on Sept. 10, 1873. that he married Mary Hubbard, of Sherman. Chautauqua county. Her death occurred March 20, 1003. Five children were born to them, but only three still live. The five children, in the order of birth. were: 1. Mary Jane, who was educated in the district school of Ripley township, married (first ) Willis Urch: they had two children, Mildred, and Nelson: Mr. Urch died Jan. 5. 1919, and she married (second) Thomas Urch. 2. Flora, who died when only three months old. 3. Henry D., who was educated in the dis- trict school of the township, and afterwards stood man- fully at his father's side, ready to assist him in all things; he lives on the farm, and of late years the entire management has devolved upon him; he mar- ried Rua Whitford, and they have two children, Blos- som and Jesse. 4. Nellie Polina, who duly passed through the local school, married Clyde Wilson; died in 1 /1, leaving one child, Nellie, who married Edward Albrecht. 5. Nancy, educated in the local district school; became the wife of Ernest Scott, to whom she has borne four children: Virgil, Kenneth, Helen and Cecil.
The life of Joseph Charles Wellard has been one of upright, manly endeavor and commendable fortitude in misfortune. He accepted with good cheer the will of destiny, and by his many spheres of usefulness since has demonstrated that the will to accomplish is the greater part of the task to be accomplished. He has lived through practically three generations of Chautauqua unty life, and for more than fifty years has been a pr durer. He is therefore worthy of note in the present bisori al record of worthy sons of Chautauqua county. And in any case, he would be so deserving by reason of the a sociation of his family with the carly pioneer . ffert, within the county.
DR. ELMER AUGUSTUS JONES, M. D .- One the fly intar ci ch tinction in the city of Jamestown, Thatyoua counts, N. Y. who holds a place of high .e.n. i Elmer Angi to Jones, M. D., whose reputa- a thy iciar and a a man is valued in great degree hit the circle of the medical profession and in the - born in Chandlers Valley, State of Pene Ivama, Feb. 11, 1872, a son of Au- Withar and Carry Loni e (Lawson) Jones. His theowater of a aw mill and lumber busi- Chandler Valles for many year , but later in "aved in the precery brine in North Warren, Fr .Here h and he wife till reside. Mr. and Mrs. Sopot W Jeo are the parent of three children : De Hler A Jore. of whom further ; Alice Carrie,
the wife of H. D. Wade, an oil operator, who lives at Warren, Pa .; and Dr. Claud William Jones, a dentist of Corry, Pa.
The elementary portion of Dr. Elmer A. Jones' educa- tion was acquired at the local public schools of Chandlers Valley, and he next attended the Sugar Grove Seminary, where he took the usual preparatory course and gradu- ated in 1893. Having decided upon the career of a medi- cal doctor as his life's work, he entered the University of Buffalo, at Buffalo, N. Y., where he pursued the study of medicine, resulting in his graduation with honors therefrom in 1896 with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. That same year he passed the New York State board examinations which entitled him to the privilege of the general practice of his profession. He came almost immediately to the city of Jamestown, and here he began in active practice as a physician on his own account. His residence in Jamestown has covered a period of almost a Quarter of a century, and here his time has been devoted to unrestricted and faithful service in behalf of those whom he was able to serve both as a phy- sician and citizen.
Dr. Elmer A. Jones is a member of the Jamestown and Chautauqua Medical societies, the American Medical As- sociation, and various others. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mt. Tabor Lodge, No. 780, of Jamestown, and the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 248, of Jamestown. He was a mem- ber of the Medical Corps of the 113th Separate Com- pany, National Guard New York, during the Spanish- American War. During the recent World War, Dr. Jones gave much of his time to the various war activi- ties. He was on the reserve list for medical service and rendered what aid he could to his country. In his politi- cal faith, Dr. Jones is a Republican. He and his family attend the First Congregational Church, of Jamestown.
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