USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Ray G. Crandall was united in marriage, June 30, 1887. at Randolph, N. Y., with Bertha R. Cornell, a native of the town of Chautauqua, born Oct. 30, 1865, a daughter of Ephraim W. and Electa C. (Hunt) Cornell, old and highly respected residents of Chautauqua. The name of Cornell has for years been borne by many of the leading men and their families in Chautauqua county, and they were numbered among the pioneer settlers. Mrs. Crandall is one of the prominent women in Ken- nedy, and is active in church, social, civic and other town activities. Mr. and Mrs. Crandall have the fol- lowing children: 1. Una E., born May 1, 1888, became the wife of Bliss Van Every, of Buffalo, N. Y. 2. Erie R., born April 27, 1892, married Mildred R. Wil- liams. of Poland. 3. Edna B., born July 25. 1893. died in February, 1895. 4. Fern B., born July 17, 1895, mar- ried J. B. Wheelock, of Poland. 5. George A., born Dec. 5. 1896, now residing at home. 6. Howard D., born March 26, 1898, married Kathleen Penfield, of Conneautville, Pa.
DUANE M. CONLEY, retired merchant and prom- inent citizen, for many years was engaged in business at Randolph, where he met with notable success, and played an influential part in the general affairs of the town while he conducted his business and resided there. He is a native of Collins Center, N. Y., born Sept. 29, 1853. a son of Benoni and Mary (Fox) Conley, the former a Methodist Episcopal minister, who in later life preached and resided in Conewango for a number of years and there died.
Duane M. Conley was educated at the district schools at Hamlet and Conewango, Chautauqua and Catta- rangus counties, respectively. Upon completing his studies, Mr. Conley followed farming for a number of years and began his business career in 1892 by conduct- ing a bakery establishment in Randolph, continuing for six years, meeting with considerable success, which was undoubtedly due to the high standard of service and material always maintained by him. lle was never satisfied with anything but the best and gained an envi- able reputation throughout the entire district for quality and service. So greatly did he prosper that after six year conduct of this business, Mr. Conley was able to retire from active business pursuits, lle di pred of his large baking plant and store, and then berand connected in a passive way with George K. Mar b in the grocery business, continuing for the fol- lowing . ix year. Upon the death of his wife's father, he les! busine . life and succeeded to the management
of the farming property at Waterboro in behalf of his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Conley conducted this farm for seventeen years, at the expiration of which time they sold it, subsequently removing to Kennedy, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Conley is a staunch sup- porter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and has discharged his duties as a citizen to the fullest extent. He attends the Methodist church at Kennedy.
Duane M. Conley was united in marriage, Aug. 10, 1873, at Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., to Lois L. Ingersall, a native of Ellington, born June 28, 1855. a daughter of Martin Van Buren and Mary (Davis) Ingersall, well known residents there. Mr. and Mrs. Conley are the parents of the following chil- dren: 1. Arthur Ray, born Aug. 23, 1875; educated at Chamberlain Institute and University of Syracuse Law School; practiced law for a number of years in Ran- dolph with Rodney R. Crowley, and a few years after the death of Mr. Crowley, went to Buffalo, where he is now practicing his profession: married Louina Jensen, of Randolph. 2. Mary Ingersall, born Feb. 3, 1878; educated at Randolph and Chamberlain Institutes, after which she taught school for ten years at Randolph and Conewango; she became the wife of Thomas Reid, a farmer of Sinclairville, and they have a child, Catherine L. 3. Lamont H., born Sept. 3, 1881; educated at Ran- dolph and Chamberlain Institutes; has been connected with the furniture business for a number of years in Jamestown and other places. 4. Lois Elizabeth, born May 12, 1898; educated at Ellington High School, where she trained and took special courses in teaching for two years; she taught school for two years, and then accepted a position as assistant cashier in the Conewango National Bank, serving for two years; she is now office manager for the L. C. Strong Real Estate Agency in Jamestown. /
LEON E. BUTTON-The name Button as a family surname is first found in the town of Harmony with the coming of Alvin, Rufus, Elijah and Joseph Button, their settlement being as early as 1830. A descendant, Joseph H. Button, a corporal of Company E, 112th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, was killed at the taking of Fort Fisher, Jan. 15, 1865. Button's Inn, a name made familiar by the novelist, Judge Albion WV. Tourgee, was located in Chautauqua county near the crest of the hills south of Westfield, on the main road to Mayville. From 1904 until 1920, inclusive, Harmony has had but six men elected to the Board of Supervisors, and the present supervisor, Leon E. But- ton, is now serving his tenth term, his first term be- ginning in 1904, this being the third time that he has been returned to the office after heing out for a time. Hle is a substantial farmer of Harmony, and a resident of the Panama district.
Leon E. Button is a grandson of Alvin Button, who came from Vermont to Panama, Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1830, and a son of Franklin Button, born in Panama, where he spent his life, a farmer. Franklin Button married Matilda Cook, daughter of William G. and Amy (Bentley) Cook. William G. Cook, son of Warham and Olive (Gay) Cook, was born in Oneida
C. Frank 2 hotpione
481
BIOGRAPHICAL
county, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1808, came to Chautauqua county in 1828, bought part of lot No. 51 in the town of Harmony, but ten years later moved to the vicinity of Panama. In 1832 he married Amy Bentley, and they were the parents of a son, Lyman C., and a daugh- ter, Matilda, who became the wife of Franklin Button. In 1831, William G. Cook lost his right arm, but he afterward performed many kinds of farm labor and even cleared land for others, contracting that work by the acre. He died April 12, 1894, surviving his wife, Amy (Bentley) Cook, two years. They joined the Bap- tist church in Panama in 1834.
Leon E. Button, son of Franklin and Matilda (Cook) Button, was born in Panama, town of Harmony, Chau- tanqua county, N. Y., June 17, 1860. He was educated in the public schools, and has all his life been engaged in farming in his native town, and is there most highly regarded as a man of sterling worth and character. Mr. Button has given a great deal of time to the public service, and in an unselfish, public-spirited way, has done much for the good of his town. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and was first elected supervisor of Harmony for the year 1904. He was reelected in 1905 and 1906, then was out of the board until 1912, but in the meantime was elected sheriff of Chautauqua county, an office he held for three years. He was again elected supervisor of Harmony in 1912, reelected in 1913, 1914 and 1915. He was again out of the board for three years, then was again elected, and is now (1921) serv- ing his tenth term. That he has proven a valuable public official this evidence of the continued confidence of his townsmen is ample proof. During the period of the war with Germany, 1917-1918, he was active in support of the various county movements, and was chairman of the selective draft board in his section. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Button married, June 20, 1880, in Jamestown, N. Y., Hattie L. Steres, born June 3, 1859, in Harmony, daughter of Isaac E. and Mary (Graves) Steres, both of the town of Harmony. Mrs. Button died Dec. 8, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Button were the parents of four children: I. Earl, born June 22, 1881; enlisted in the 202nd Regiment, New York Volunteers, for service in the Spanish-American War, July 1, 1898, served ten months, when he was honorably discharged and mus- tered out at Savannah, Ga .; he died Aug. 1, 1920, from malaria, contracted during his service in the Spanish- American War. 2. Ida, born May 24, 1883, died May 4, 1895. 3. Horace H., born Jan. 7, 1887. 4. Hattie, born June 30, 1891.
ALBERT L. IRONS, postmaster of Cassadaga, N. Y., was born in this town, Dec. 21, 1862, the son of Albert N. and Lovina (Richardson) Irons. He is one of the foremost citizens of the community, having been distinctly and prominently identified with every forward movement during his mature years.
After completing his studies in the district school of his native place, he entered the drug store of F. A. Pond and there gained a thorough knowledge of this business, and later established himself in the drug business, being thus engaged at the time of his appoint-
ment by President Wilson in 1919 to the office of post- master, which position he still holds. In politics, Mr. Irons is a Democrat, keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen, and taking an active part in public affairs. He is well known in fraternal life, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Albert L. Irons is a man of sterling character, strong in his business integrity and loyal to his friends, of which he has a vast number.
Mr. Irons married, Sept. 26, 1902, L. Blanche Sage, and they are the parents of one child, Ruth.
WELLINGTON H. GRIFFITH-Griffiths came to Chautauqua county with the earliest settlers, Jere- miah Griffith, of Madison county, N. Y., settling in 1806, in the now town of Ellery, at the old Indian fields at Griffith's Point. Many descendants sprang from Jere- miah Griffith, and a most valuable grist and flour mill was built in 1832 by Seth and Samuel Griffith, sons of Jeremiah Griffith, the first settler. Other sons of Jeremiah Griffith were: John, Jeremiah (2), and Alex- ander. . All came to Chautauqua and helped to clear away its forests, found its communities, schools and churches, and on the foundation they laid the present prosperity of the county rests. On the paternal side the Griffiths are of Welsh ancestry.
Wellington H. Griffith, grandson of Jeremiah (1) Griffith, and son of Jeremiah (2) and Margaret (Loucks) Griffith, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 10, 1818. Wellington H. Griffith was a miller and learned his trade from Henry Baker. For many years he op- erated the old Grandin Mills. He was a member of the Masonic order in Jamestown, and for many years a member of the School Board. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, and a man highly respected.
Wellington H. Griffith married, Oct. 29, 1846, in Jamestown, N. Y., Rhoda Bucklin, born Jan. 15, 1823, died in December, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were the parents of four children: I. Frances Isabel, born July 22, 1848; married, Sept. 22, 1869, in Jamestown, Wil- liam H. Shaw, who died Oct. 11, 1916, leaving two children: Ralph B. and Margaret Louise. 2. Georgi- ana Victoria, born Oct. 2, 1852; married (first) Sept. 10, 1873, Douglas W. Clark, and to this union was born one child, Alice Cary Clark; he died Dec. 15, 1879; she married (second) Nov. 18, 1891, Smith T. Culver, who died July 18, 1916. 3. Laurence Wellington, born Nov. 22, 1856; married Jessie Button. 4. Florence Rhoda, twin with Laurence W., died July 22, 1859.
FRANK L. KOLPIEN exemplifies in a remarkable degree not only the achievements of a man of great natural talent, but the wonderful possibilities whereby a poor boy can attain distinction in a community in a short period of time. The success of Frank L. Kolpien, known in the business world of Dunkirk, N. Y., as the head of the O'Donnell Lumber Company, in all his un- dertakings is so marked that his methods must be of interest to the commercial world. He has always based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules that govern industry, economy, and strict integrity. His progressive spirit has made
Chau-31
482
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
him a typical American in every sense of the word. and he well deserves mention in a work treating of the business life and substantial development of Chautau- qua county.
Frank L. Kolpien was born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y .. Oct. 30, 1868, eldest son of Frank and Dora (Lahl) Kolpien. He received a meager education in a district school which he was obliged to leave at the age of fourteen and go to work. For the first six years after leaving school he worked among the farms and vineyards in the townships of Westfield and Ripley. and then started his apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, working at this until 1892, when he formed a partnership with Herman Hutchinson, this partnership continuing for a period of three years, at the end of which time, his partner removing to another city. he continued the business alone. Between the years 1895 and 1907 he developed a remarkably successful con- tracting business, employing a large number of men at a time, and besides building more than 200 residences in Dunkirk during these twelve years, he received con- tracts for the following buildings: Schools Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5: the temple of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: St. John's Lutheran Church; beacon light on the pier and the keeper's dwelling; St. Hyacinth's Roman Catholic Church; the business block occupied by Weingart Hardware Company: additions to the Dunkirk Electric Light Plant; No. 4 Hose Fire House of the local fire department.
In 1007. Mr. Kolpien bought the M. J. O'Donnell planing mill and lumber yard, which he incorporated and of which he is president, treasurer and principal owner. He employs about thirty-five people, has his own delivery equipment, and ships lumber to Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, New York City, Washington, District of Columbia, Cincin- nati and Cleveland, Ohio. This business, which Mr. Kolpien has built up, is of very great value in the de- velopment of Dunkirk. A man of singularly strong personality, he has exerted a deep influence on his asso- ciates and subordinates, and toward the latter in par- ticular his conduct has always been marked by a degree of kindness and consideration which has won for him their loyal support and hearty cooperation.
In politics, Mr. Kolpien is a Republican, and has served one term on the local Board of Health, but the engrossing duties of his business take all his time and he has never since consented to hold office. His church is the Methodist Episcopal, of which he has always been an active member, working in its cause, at present serving on the official board, and at the time of the erection of the new edifice was chairman of the building committee. He affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masons, being a member of Irondequoit Lodge, No. 301, Free and Accepted Masons; Dunkirk Chapter, No. 191, Royal Arch Misons: Dunkirk Council, No. 25, Royal and Select Master,; and Dunkirk Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar. During the World War he did his share as a citizen, giving of his time to serve on the various committees for the Red Cross and the Liberty loans, and was also a member of the Legal Advisory Board.
He is also acting as director for the Lake Shore Loan Association.
Mr. Kolpien married, Sept. 14, 1893, Alice Bolling. Mr. and Mrs. Kolpien are the parents of three chil- dren: 1. Alton L., who while attending the University of Michigan in 1917 joined the Michigan Naval Militia and volunteered for active service as soon as war was declared: after training at the Great Lakes Training School, he became instructor of small arm fire at Wake- field, Mass., Norfolk, Va., Baltimore, Md .; he then transferred to the Aviation Corps, and after a technical training at Boston was commissioned ensign at Pensa- cola, Fla; he was subsequently sent to Queenstown, Ireland, as chief pilot, and served in this capacity until the end of the war, then being detailed to the Naval Officers' Reserve; he has returned to the University of Michigan, where he expects to graduate with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1922. 2. Esther, a graduate of Syracuse University. 3. Alma, now attending a seminary at Louisburg, W. Va.
Mr. Kolpien is in the best sense of the term a self- made man. He has made his way up the ladder of success until he has become one of the most substantial and influential citizens of the community whose life is inseparably identified with its general welfare. This simple account of his career, however, describes far more eloquently than any formal praise the splendid powers he possesses, especially if it be remembered that his ardent, sincere nature will not permit his undertaking anything which he is not prepared to do, any obligation which he cannot observe to the fullest. His labors are great but his powers are equal to their adequate per- formance.
WILLIAM HENRY OTTAWAY, who was one of the most influential citizens of Westfield, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., and a prominent farmer of this re- gion, was a member of one of the oldest county families. The name of Ottaway has long been associated with the town of Mina, the founder of the family here having settled in this region only seven years later than that of Alexander Findley, who was the first white man to locate in that part of the town of Clymer which after- wards became Mina.
The Ottaways were for many generations residents of County Kent, England, where James Ottaway, the first American ancestor, was born. He was a miller by trade and operated a mill in his native county, but being of an adventurous disposition and hearing many reports of the great opportunities awaiting young men of energy in the New World, he determined to emigrate. Accompanied by his wife, children and his brother, Horatio Ottaway, he sailed from England in 1823 with Western New York as his destination. Six weeks later he arrived at New York City, and at once pro- ceeded up the Hudson River to Newburgh, which was the starting point of his long trip through the western wilderness. At Newburgh he purchased a large wagon and a team of horses which he loaded with the neces- sary supplies, and shortly afterwards embarked with his family upon what was then an exceedingly perilous journey. After many hardships and vicissitudes, he
483
BIOGRAPHICAL
finally reached Buffalo, at that time little more than a frontier town, and, leaving his family there, he set out to find a suitable location for a home. He was not successful, however, in finding anything to his liking in that immediate region, and accordingly he took up his journey once more and came to Chautauqua county, over the Buffalo & Erie road. Here he first located at Mayville, but shortly afterwards came to Mina, over the Waterford road, and here permanently settled. At that time the location of Mina was entirely covered by the virgin forest of Western New York, but Mr. Otta- way, perceiving that the soil was highly fertile, decided to make his home there and purchased a portion of lot No. 13, which he cleared of the timber and built a log cabin. His was the first deed given for land in the western part of Mina, and he was the first of the many English families that settled in that section, his house forming a sort of rendezvous for those who followed. He was a man of a very hospitable nature, and it is said of him that "his latch string was always out for his countrymen until their own log houses could be built." Eventually, after much hard labor, he cleared his prop- erty of the timber standing there and brought under cultivation a good farm, upon which his children were born and which is still in the possession of the family. James Ottaway was three times married and was the parent of the following children: James, William, Horace, mentioned below, Ann, Charles, Edmund, Jo- seph, Henry, John E., Susan, and Horatio.
Horace Ottaway, son of James Ottaway, was born on the family homestead at Mina, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where his childhood and early youth were spent. He subsequently removed to the town of Volusia, West- field township, and there became the possessor of a large farm which he cultivated continuously until the time of his death. He married Sarah Noxon, a daugh- ter of Lodema Noxon, who was also an early settler in this region, and among their children was William Henry, mentioned below.
William Henry Ottaway, son of Horace and Sarah (Noxon) Ottaway, was born May 2, 1854, on his father's farm at Volusia, Westfield township, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., and died suddenly on his farm at Westfield, March 25, 1920. As a lad he attended the local district school, and assisted his father on the latter's farm, gaining at once great physical health and strength and a wide knowledge of agricultural methods, which stood him in good stead in later life. The farm where he was born consisted of 200 acres of excellent land, and was operated as a dairy farm, but has since been divided among the heirs of his father. Thirty-five acres of excellent farm land was afterwards purchased by Mr. Ottaway in the near neighborhood of the home place, and these he cultivated highly and grew grapes thereon with notable success. From 1894, when he first came into possession of it, until his death, the property improved continuously under his able management, and was regarded as one of the model vineyards in this region, where so many grapes are grown. Mr. Otta- way always maintained a lively interest in public affairs, and was a staunch supporter of the principles and poli- cies of the Republican party, of which he was one of the leaders in this district. He also held a number of
important local offices, and served the community in the capacity of school trustee and tax collector. He was a member of the local grange, and was active in promoting the agricultural development of this region for many years. In his religious belief Mr. Ottaway was a Presbyterian, and attended the church of that de- nomination at Westfield.
William Henry Ottaway was united in marriage, Feb. 22, 1898, with Susie Reynolds, a native of Eng- land, a daughter of Henry and Cynthia Reynolds. She was but three years of age when her parents embarked for the United States, but the vessel was wrecked and both parents lost. She, however, was rescued and was taken by her rescuers to Portland, N. Y., where she grew up to womanhood and eventually met her hus- band.
JAMES L. BROWN-The region comprised within the boundaries of Chautauqua county, N. Y., is doubly blessed, first, in possessing an unusually fertile and productive soil offering the splendid opportunities to farmers and agriculturists generally, second, in the pres- ence there of men capable and anxious to take full ad- vantage of these opportunities. For many years it has enjoyed an enviable reputation for the prosperous development of its natural resources, and for the pro- gressive and yet stable character of its rural population. Typical of its sturdy citizens in all their best charac- teristics is James L. Brown, a resident of Ellicott township, Jamestown, where for some years he has car- ried on a successful milling business and taken con- spicuous part in the general life of the place.
Mr. Brown was born Aug. 31, 1873, at Fluvanna, N. Y., a son of Alex. S. and Sarah (Hudson) Brown, natives and lifelong residents of that town. His child- hood was passed at his father's home at Fluvanna, and during his early years he assisted the elder man with the lighter work on the home farm and there learned from practical experience the best agricultural meth- ods. He also attended during the winter months the public schools of the district, gaining a good general education, and later engaged in the milling business of which he has subsequently made so great a success. At the present time he owns a large saw mill, where he shapes timber from the forests of the region into various forms of lumber for the local markets and does a large business in this line. He also operates a good sized cider mill, manufacturing vinegar in large quan- tities. The excellent quality of his products and the fairness and even liberality of all his business dealings have made Mr. Brown a highly esteemed figure in the community, as has also the public spirit he has dis-
played in its general life. He has taken a conspicuous part in the affairs of the township, and today occupies the responsible office of superintendent of the public highways for Ellicott. He is also a member of Lodge No. 585, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bemus Point, and of Jamestown Encampment, No. 96, of the same order.
James L. Brown was united in marriage, Feb. 10, 1897, at Jamestown, with Grace Stevenson, a native of Rochester, N. Y., born July 4, 1878, a daughter of Frederick J. and Elizabeth A. (Doherty) Stevenson, of
+8+
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
that city. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of five children, as follows: Anna, born March 5. 1898; Sarah, born March 15, 1000; Alexander, born May 19, 1909; Grace Louise, born Jan. 16, 1914; and Irvin J., born Nov. 20, 1919.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.