USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 42
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Mr. Bagg married, in Ellington, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1883, Nellie E. Terry, daughter of Hiram and Jerusha (Hatch) Terry. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bagg, namely: Marion Luce, born June 6, 1885. and Nellie Priscilla, born March 15, 1902.
CHARLES J. CARLSON, proprietor of one of the finest theaters in Chautauqua county, N. Y., is not a native of this country, but was born in Sweden, Sept. 26. 1875. He is a son of Henry and Hannah Carlson, who were natives of Sweden and came to this country in 1886, leaving their son, Charles J., under the pro- tection of his uncle. Charles J. and his uncle followed one year later, landing in America in 1887.
Charles J. Carlson received his education in the schools of his native land, and after coming to this country joined the family at Gerry, N. Y., assisting his father in the work upon the farm there which the elder man had purchased. He also bought and sold timber to the veneer companies hereabouts, sawing and ship- ping same, in which line he was engaged for a period of eight years. Mr. Carlson was an adventurer by nature. and hearing of the boom in the southern states, came to Texas, in 1906, where he purchased a saw mill and, engaging 125 men to assist him, began operating the same. He continued in this business for a period of about four years, and in 19to returned to the North and settled at Sinclairville, N. Y., where he opened a moving picture theatre with a capacity of 200 seats, and equipped it thoroughly. He sold this place in 1915, and then went to Union City, Pa., and purchased the Star Theatre, with a capacity of 400 seats. It was not until October, 1916, that Mr. Carlson went to Westfield and at this place he built a fine brick building, on the corner opposite Welche's office building, which he operates as a theatre. This building was erected on a plot of ground. 70x130 feet and is a two-story struc- ture, comprising the Grand Theatre, with a capacity of 760 seats and boxes on the main floor, and 175 seats in the balcony. On the second floor of this building Mr. Carlson has his apartments, his rooms being arranged on the fashion of a hotel. Mr. Carlson's theatre can claim a very large stage, which can accommodate any production. The theatre displays moving picture shows, and at times a stock company plays here. It is the auditorium of Westfield for lectures and special church services, and is the finest place of its kind in the county, claiming a large patronage. In his religious belief, Mr. Carlson is a Lutheran and attends the Swedish Lutheran church here, ardently supporting the
charitable and philanthropic undertakings of the con- gregation. He is a Republican in politics, but his enormous activities do not permit him to take any great part in politics, although his abilities well fit him for public office.
Charles J. Carlson was united in marriage with Jessie Gretchin Kennedy at Corry, Pa., Jan. 20, 1904, a daughter of Charles H. and Elsie K. (Lewis) Ken- nedy, old and highly respected citizens of this place. To Mr. and Mrs. Carlson one child has been born, Alfred Henry, who is a student in the schools of this region.
HERBERT S. CHASE-Among the farmers and agriculturists of Chautauqua county, N. Y., there are many of the more progressive type who have added other allied activities to their original occupation, and have built up large and prosperous businesses of a com- mercial or industrial character, making use of the produce of their own farms as well as that of the other farms in the neighboring region. There are, for in- stance, many of the larger grape growers who have turned to the successful manufacture of grape juice and other grape products and established enterprises that have grown into a national reputation. Others have used the products of their orchards as the basis of large canneries or preserving plants, while the owners of large dairy farms have developed extensive milk busi- nesses. There are still others who have turned to the milling business with a high degree of success, and among these in the region of Cherry Creek is Herbert S. Chase, whose large modern mill was a conspicuous object in the industrial life of this town.
Mr. Chase is a son of Stephen and Carnila (Spencer) Chase, Stephen Chase, a native of Rochester, N. Y., from which place he removed as a young man to Char- lotte, Chautauqua county, and there followed the occu- pation of farming with much success until the time of his death. Their son, Herbert S. Chase, was born at Charlotte, and there passed his childhood, attending the local public schools and gaining an excellent gen- eral education. He also became acquainted with agricultural methods through assisting his father on the latter's farm, and upon reaching manhood took up that occupation. In the year 1871 he became the owner of his present fine farm in the vicinity of Charlotte Center, several miles from Cherry Creek, and since then has carried on general farming on an extensive scale. Mr. Chase has always been one of those men who have real- ized and combined the knowledge that comes from long practical farm experience. Being enterprising, Mr. Chase conceived that great opportunities awaited the man who should establish an adequate mill in the neighborhood of Cherry Creek, so he set about to ac- complish this purpose, and in toro built his present mill, equipping it with every modern device and in- stalling a powerful electric dynamo for the motive power. He conducted this mill with great success tintil he sold it to E. A. Tickner & Company, 1920. Mr. Chase is a member of the local grange, and in his religious belief is affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren. Mr. Chase is a Prohibitionist and has done much for the advancement of this worthy cause.
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Herbert S. Chase married (first) Oct. 31, 1876, Philema Collins, whose death occurred July 28, 1892. He married (second) July 3, 1894, Mrs. Emelia A. (Fluker) Moore, the widow of Morris Moore. To Mrs. Chase was born one daughter by her former marriage, Elvy Moore, who married Bernel Gardner of Villenova, Chautauqua county, N. Y.
WALTER SKELLIE-Among the late successful merchants of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., the name of Walter Skellie was prominent, both on account of the large and high class business built up by him during his thirty-five years activity and be- . cause of his consistent adherence to the best standards of business integrity and honor. Mr. Skellie was a native of Washington county, N. Y., born Aug. 9, 1845, a son of Andrew and Jane (Edie) Skellie, old and highly respected residents of that place.
As a lad, Walter Skellie attended the schools of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and upon graduation from the Eastman Business College of that city, began at once his successful business career. For thirty-five years he was continuously engaged in the grocery business at the corner of Third and Pine streets, Jamestown, having removed to Chautauqua county when about twenty years of age. He showed throughout his long career a most commendable public spirit and always kept the best interests of the community of which he was a member at heart. He won the universal respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen and did much for the material advancement of Jamestown. His grocery establishment, which he always conducted in the most up-to-date manner, was one of the largest of its kind in the city and drew upon a large area for its extensive patronage. He was a Presbyterian in religious belief and attended the church of that denomination at James- town, having been regarded as one of the most active and liberal members of the congregation.
Walter Skellie was united in marriage, Oct. 16, 1904, at Jamestown, with Mary E. Wiard, a daughter of George A. and Keziah (Patterson) Wiard, of Watts- burg, Pa. Mr. Skellie died in 1908, at his home in Jamestown.
HIRAM ALDRICH DAMON-In Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, N. Y., the two places of his resi- dence in his busy and active life, Mr. Damon has been constantly in some form of the public service, in elec- tive offices to which he was called by the votes of his fellow-citizens. He has been a resident of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., since 1906, and since that time has filled the offices of president of the vil- lage for six years and justice of the peace for fourteen years. Mr. Damon's position in his community is one of usefulness and influence, and the weight of his sup- port has ever been on the side of right and progress.
Hiram Aldrich Damon is a son of Edmund and Achsah (Aldrich) Damon, and grandson of Charles Damon. Charles Damon was a native of Scituate, Mass., and in early life moved to Salisbury, Vt .. where he operated a grist mill. He also conducted farming operations, and soon after his marriage moved to Ran- dolph, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1854 moving to
Conewango in the same county. Here he took up land, continued in the pursuit of agriculture, and here both he and his wife died. Achsah (Aldrich) Damon was born in Shrewsbury, Vt., daughter of Abner Aldrich, a farmer of that place.
Hiram Aldrich Damon was born in Randolph, Cat- taraugus county, N. Y., July 25, 1851, and spent his early life on his father's farm at Conewango. He attended the district schools and a select school, and as a young man was a teacher in the schools of Cone- wango, remaining in this calling for fourteen years, all of the time in Cattaraugus county schools. He became the owner of farms in Conewango and Leon, Cattarau- gus county, residing in the latter place for a period of eleven years. Farming has always been his principal occupation, and in this line of endeavor he has been uniformly successful.
Mr. Damon's first public office was as supervisor of highways in the town of Conewango, to which position he was elected as a young man of twenty-four years, being then the youngest man ever elected to that office in the State of New York. Through successive annual re-elections he remained in the supervisor's post for six years. In 1887 he was first elected justice of the peace in Conewango, and was in office continuously until his removal to Cherry Creek, in 1906. His ap- pointment in that year to the same responsible place in Cherry Creek to fill an unexpired term, was a strong tribute to his reputation for impartiality and even judgment that accompanied him from his former home. At the following election his appointment was confirmed for another term of four years, and he has been successively re-elected ever since. In the current year (1920) he was reelected for his fourth full term in Cherry Creek, where he has thoroughly and conscien- tiously performed the duties of his place. Throughout his active political career, Mr. Damon has remained steadfast in the support of the Republican party. whose principles embody his firm personal convictions.
Mr. Damon married, Nov. 12, 1872, Addie M. Brand, of Leon, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., a native of Canan- daigua, N. Y., daughter of Lamay Brand, a farmer. Mr. Damon and his family are attendants of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Children: Edmund L., a farmer of Leon, N. Y .; Harris A., also a farmer of that place; Milton E., of Ripley, Chautauqua county, and Alva M., married Guy E. Cooper, of Cherry Creek.
JOSHUA ERWIN CUSHMAN-The Cushimans of Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., trace descent from the Pilgrim, Robert Cushman, and in Chautauqua county, from Mason Cushman, born in Hamilton, N. Y., who, on coming to the county, settled in the town of Villenova. There he engaged in farming, but later moved to the town of Hanover, where he purchased 200 acres of land which he improved and devoted largely to grape culture. Mason Cushman married Melissa Tanner, and they were the parents of three children: Mason, of Syracuse, N. Y .; Joshua Erwin, to whom this review is dedicated, and Livia Melissa, who married Willis B. Horton, of the town of Hanover, N. Y.
Joshua Erwin Cushman was born on a farm in Vil-
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lenova. Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 12, 1851. He was young when the family moved to Hanover, and there was educated in the public schools. He remained at home, his father's assistant, until the death of the latter, when Joshua E. succeeded to the management of the homestead, operating its acres and large vine- yards with profit and success, his farm and vineyards yielding abundantly. In 1905, he removed from the homestead to the village of Silver Creek, but retained his interest in the farm. He entered the employ of the then postmaster of Silver Creek as assistant, and from that year until his death in Silver Creek in August, 1916, he held that position. He is buried in the ceme- tery at Hanover Center, Chautauqua county. Mr. Cushman was a Republican in politics and for many years was a member of the county committee. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Cushman married, in Hanover, Millie E. Young, born in Dayton, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., daughter of George and Emily (Sherman) Young, her mother a descendant of one of the important early families of Rhode Island. Miss Young was educated in the public schools. Westfield Academy, and Fredonia State Nor- mal, teaching in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus county schools until her marriage, also serving as principal. Since becoming a widow, she has sold the Cushman homestead in Hanover, and continues her residence at Silver Creek, where she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, president of the Foreign Missionary Society, an active member of the Ladies' Aid Society, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and yet retains membership in the Farmers' Club of Hanover, of which her husband was a one-time president. Mr. and Mrs. Cushman were the parents of two children: 1. Vera C., educated in the public schools, Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Buffalo, Fredonia State Normal School, and Syracuse University, receiving the degree of Ph. D. from the last-named institution; she adopted teaching as her profession, and after serving as an instructor in the commercial department of Youngstown, Ohio, High School, became principal of the commercial department of the East Technical High School, Cleveland, Ohio. 2. Livia E., who after high school graduation, entered Syracuse University, whence she was graduated; she married Dr. R. S. Moore, a medical specialist in the Syracuse University Hospital: Mrs. Moore died in October, 1918, leaving a daughter, Rachel Cushman Moore; she was an active Young Women's Christian Association worker and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Cushman was devoted to his family. He was a man of strong character, honorable and upright in all his dealings, and of sterling principles. Mrs. Cushman resides on Christy street, Silver Creek, N. Y.
GLEN W. CLELAND-Despite the fact that this is the name of a man, the span of whose life embraced a period of only thirty years, there are few citizens of Chautauqua county who will not greet its appearance with a heart-throb of recognition. Mr. Cleland, who alway remained a re ident of his native township of Charlotte, was one of those youthful patriots, who in
the recent World War laid down their lives for their country and for humanity.
Samuel Cleland, great-grandfather of Glen W. Cle- land, was one of the pioneer settlers of Charlotte town- ship. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving at Fort Erie. He married Elizabeth Holdridge.
Orrin Cleland, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hold- ridge) Cleland, married Drucilla Rhynder. Like his father, he was a resident of Charlotte township.
Orrin William Cleland, son of Orrin and Drucilla (Rhynder) Cleland, was born in 1858, in Charlotte township, and received his education in local schools. He became a farmer in the neighborhood of Charlotte Center. He married Emma, daughter of William and Margaret (McClaran) Shannon, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Cleland died Jan. 24, 1888, leaving his young widow to rear the son to whom she was devoted and whom relentless war has taken from her. Mrs. Cleland, who has always lived in Charlotte Center, now resides in Cassadaga.
Glen W. Cleland, son of Orrin William and Emma (Shannon) Cleland, was born April 24, 1888, in Char- lotte township. He attended the public schools of his native place, afterward studying at the Sinclairville High School. Having a mechanical turn of mind he preferred machinery to farming, and found employment in automobile repair shops in Jamestown, Cassadaga and Sinclairville. At the time of the outbreak of the war, Mr. Cleland was thus employed, and when the United States became a participant in the great con- flict, obeying the impulse of patriotism, he responded to the call to arms, enlisting in Company F, 39th Battalion, and was ordered to the camp at Syracuse, N. Y. While training in camp for overseas duty, Mr. Cleland fell ill with influenza, which in a few days turned to pneu- monia, and on Sept. 28, 1918, he passed away at the training camp. He was buried with military honors at Sinclairville, in his native county. He had been a good soldier, ever faithful to duty and well liked by his comrades.
The life of Glen W. Cleland was a valuable life, for he was a useful citizen and wholeheartedly devoted to his widowed mother, but he hesitated not to offer himself on the altar of patriotism, being in this, as in all other respects, a typical representative of American manhood.
FRED A. NELSON, who for many years had been responsibly connected, in executive capacity, with the furniture industry in the city of Jamestown, N. Y., was one of the organizers of the Jamestown Upholstery Company, manufacturers of high grade upholstered fur- niture in leather and fabric, and of later years has been its president. He is a native of Jamestown, born Sept. 21, 1874, the son of Victor Fred and Caroline Nelson, the former for many years connected with the police department of Jamestown, but now in business with his son, in the Jamestown Upholstery Company.
Fred A. Nelson received his education in local schools, taking the primary grades in the grammar school and then becoming a student in the high school. lle was an industrious boy, and for some years while
Ray &. Crandall
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at school he worked during the evenings and the whole of Saturdays in a Swedish book store in Jamestown. Eventually he went to the Middle West, to an uncle who was at Rock Island, Ill. While there the boy attended the Augustana College, Rock Island; he took the general and business courses and helped to pay for his schooling by working in a general store after school hours and on Saturdays. In 1893 he graduated, and soon thereafter returned to Jamestown. On Aug. 28, 1893, he entered the employ of the Jamestown Lounge Company, as a clerk. He remained, in clerical capacity, with that company for six years, and steadily advanced in responsibility until he had entire clerical charge of all the work that went into the factory. He became a valuable executive and he manifested marked ability in salesmanship. From 1900 to 1913 he spent practically the whole of his time traveling for the company in the middle and southwestern sections of the country, and worked so successfully that eventually his territory em- braced fourteen states. During these years of suc- cessful salesmanship, he steadily increased his individual capital, and in 1913 was the prime mover in the organ- ization of the Jamestown Upholstery Company. Mr. Nelson is president of that company, regarding the development of which reference is made in the follow- ing sketch. He has always been popular in Jamestown, in the circles in which he has moved, and he has mani- fested a sincere interest in his fellows.
Mr. Nelson is a veteran of the Spanish-American War. In his early manhood he was much interested in military activities, and was a member of the local com- pany of the National Guard of New York. When war was declared against Spain, and the various National Guard units mobilized, he was a member of Company E, 65th Infantry of New York, which regiment was ordered to Camp Black. There the regiment under- went training and later was ordered to Camp Alger. The shortness of the campaign, however, made it un- necessary to bring the regiment into action, and it was eventually mustered out of the Federal service in December, 1898. During his military service, Mr. Nel- son served as brigade and division clerk. His service during the war brings him membership in the Spanish- American War Veterans' organization. He belongs to several fraternal orders, among them the Masonic bodies, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Maccabees. He is a member of the Norden Club of Jamestown, and the Jamestown Board of Commerce, and also belongs to the Manufacturers' and Merchants' Association of New York State, and the National Association of Up- holsterers. Politically he is a Republican, and re- ligiously he is a Lutheran, member of the First Swe- dish Lutheran church, Jamestown.
Mr. Nelson married (first) March 24, 1898, Bessie Nellie Greenlund, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Greenlund. This happy union was all too brief, for her demise took place Dec. 19, 1898, after a short illness. Mr. Nelson married (second) in Mayville, N. Y., June 28, 1905, Belle Carlson, whose antecedents were Swe- dish, but whose immediate family and relatives are well known in the Jamestown district. They have two chil- dren: Frederick A., Jr., and Philip, who are both at school.
THE JAMESTOWN UPHOLSTERY COM-
PANY, Inc., which was established in 1913 by sub- stantial business men of the city of Jamestown, N. Y., received corporate powers, under the laws of the State of New York, in April of that year, and proceeded at once to erect a building of four floors, having a floor space of 24,000 square feet, which they considered they would need for the proper housing of their plant, which was to specialize in the making of upholstered furniture of the highest grade. Every device of mechanical nature that, without depreciating quality, could be advantage- ously used in their class of work was installed, and electric power installed, with 150 horse-power boiler, for future use, and the plant started operations with a skilled force of twenty-five people. It has gone steadily ahead, and at present needs forty employees to cope with its demands. The company is gaining a good reputation for quality and workmanship, the fundamen- tal principle of the managers, since the inception of the company, being to send out of their shops only work of the highest grade. The factory force of forty does not give a true indication of the volume of the business done, because the whole of the band saw work is done in other factories, and sent to the Jamestown Uphol- stery Company's plant to be assembled and upholstered. During the World War the company did useful war work, manufacturing fine leather cushions for torpedo boat destroyers.
The original officers and managers of the company were: J. H. Prather, president; Fred A. Nelson, vice- president; L. N. Olmsted, secretary and treasurer, and Frank J. Kling, superintendent. In 1916, the company was reorganized, and Mr. Nelson became president. Associated with him in the active management of the business is Mr. Carl A. Hultquist. They, together with Clarence A. Hultquist, a retail merchant of the city, and Earle O. Hultquist, secretary and treasurer of the Art Metal Construction Company, constitute the board of directors. The principals are members of the Jamestown Board of Commerce, of the Manufacturers' and Merchants' Association of New York State, and of the National Association of Upholsterers.
RAY G. CRANDALL, one of the well known busi- ness men and prominent citizens of Kennedy, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., and an active figure in public affairs here, is a native of the town of Poland. Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., born Dec. 30, 1865. He is the son of John D. and Malinda (Colburn) Crandall, the former a builder in this region for many years.
Ray G. Crandall attended the district and high schools of Ellington, and Chamberlain Institute, where he completed his education. He afterwards engaged in the live stock brokerage business in Kennedy. From that time to the present (1921) Mr. Crandall has con- tinued most successfully in that line and has built up a large and successful business, which has become well known under his able management. He handles in the course of a year about 2,000 head of cattle, and has a well equipped plant for dressing beef, pork and other cattle; besides this he has a well established meat market in Kennedy, and a farm consisting of 112 acres
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under cultivation. In addition to his business interests. Mr. Crandall has participated actively in local public affairs and has held the office of supervisor for the town of Poland for eight years. Politically he is a Prohibition- ist and has done much for the advancement of this cause. He is a well known figure in social and fraternal circles, being a member of the Patrons of Husbandry and the Order of Maccabees. He is also affiliated with the Farmers' Club and has been active in agricultural affairs. Mr. Crandall attends the Methodist Episcopal church of Kennedy. He has been exceedingly active in the work of the congregation, serving as church sec- retary and trustee.
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