USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 47
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with the resulting business, and an additional adjoining building had to be rented, temporarily. During that year an addition to the plant was decided upon, erection commenced, and the building completed in 1906. The contract with the builders of the United States Express Company sky- scraper was satisfactorily completed, and the product in place in the new building demonstrated conclusively to architects and owners the beauty of the new material, and the possibilities of elegant economical finish opened by the enterprise of the Dalhstrom Company. This in- stallation undoubtedly influenced the selection of the Dahl- strom material for the Singer Building, a forty-two story building at No. 149 Broadway, New York City, which was the next large order to be executed. Of course, other makes of metallic doors and like fittings eventually came into the market, but the Dahlstrom Company, as pioneers of the new industry, benefited appreciably from the initial publicity its product gained, and it has enabled the company to continue in the forefront of American manufacturers of such products. It has been stated, ap- parently with authority, that the Dahlstrom plant at Jamestown, N. Y., is the largest in the world of its kind, and the best equipped for the exclusive manufacture of metallic doors and trim, etc., such as it specializes in. Its products are well known in building circles in this and foreign countries, and its doors have been used in the fitting of many large fireproof structures. In the cities of New York, Chicago, Washington, and others about this country, the Dahlstrom Metallic fireproof doors and fittings are now the standard specifications in the erection of office buildings, hotels, industrial structures, apart- ment houses, churches, schools and other buildings.
The plant, which is situated at East Second and Buf- falo streets, Jamestown, comprises ten buildings of mod- ern construction, affording a factory floor space of 250,000 square feet. The well-kept lawn fronting the factory buildings indicates the fundamental policy of the management, namely, to provide congenial conditions for its employees. In the plant are dining and rest rooms, and every endeavor is made to interest the operators in the introduction or invention of any device, or design, that may tend to be of value to the company, in produc- tion or in quality of product. All the machinery and equipment of the plant is of the most modern design, and because of the unique nature of the work a good deal of the machinery was designed by experts of the company and made on the premises. The company con- trols valuable patents which enter into the manufacture of its principal product.
The Dahlstrom Company was responsible for the in- terior equipment of the first all steel Pullman cars, and supplied the Pullman Company with metal interior trim, including berths, etc., for such purpose, for a long time, in fact, until the Pullman Company considered the de- velopment large enough to build its own plant for this particular purpose. And it also developed, and put on the market, drawn or rolled metal mouldings, which later developed into windshield and other tubing, the Dahlstrom company now being probably the principal manufacturers of windshield tubing. Some of the first mouldings manufactured in quantities by the company, in 1905, were exported to Great Britain, and used in the cars of the London underground railroad system. It is not possible herein to enumerate all the articles that have
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come within the scope of the Dahlstrom Company's metal working devices. By its unique methods of press work and moulding of metal, it has augmented the pro- duction of many metal parts for automobiles, and various other industrial necessities. It did valuable work for the government during the great World War. as has been described herein. The plant is operated on the bonus system, which has drawn to its shops skilled workmen, capable of producing quality as well as quantity. The company is making good use of the water power coming from the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, converting this power to electricity, and also has steam power for auxil- iary and emergency purposes.
The standard of efficiency maintained by any plant, reflects the personalities of its executives, the Dahlstrom Company having been fortunate in this respect since its inception. The original officers were : Charles Swanson, well known contractor of Jamestown, president ; Charles Lindbeck, vice-president; and the originator, Charles P. Dahlstrom, general manager, who died in April, 1909. The late Elof Rosencrantz succeeded to the presidency in 1906, and his connection with the company at this early period helped materially to establish it on a firm business basis. His partner, Carl A. Lundquist, succeeded Mr. Rosencrantz to the presidency, and when he retired. the late James L. Weeks, a prominent attorney, served in this capacity successfully until his death, Fabian Sellstrom serving as vice-president during the term of office of both Mr. Lundquist and Mr. Weeks. Mr. John A. West- man was the company's secretary and treasurer until Mr. Dahlstrom's death in 1909, when the office of general manager was added to his duties, and Fabian Sellstrom was elected treasurer. Mr. Sellstrom was later suc- ceeded by Major Fred W. Hyde, who subsequently be- came general secretary of the National Bank Section of the National Association of Bankers, and he in turn was succeeded by Eric E. Carlson, the present treasurer. For about ten years E. W. Sellstrom has been superin- tendent of the plant. The present officers are : H. E. V. Porter, president : Carl Olofson, vice-president ; J. A. Westman, secretary and general manager: Eric E. Carl- son, treasurer ; Sam Lundquist, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer ; and E. W. Sellstrom, assistant man- ager and superintendent. Its main offices are in James- town. and the company maintains sales and service es- tabli-hments in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit, and has representatives in all the principal cities. Its executive officers belong to the Manufacturers' Associa- tion of Jamestown, the Jamestown Board of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the Man- min( turers' and Merchants' Association of New York State, and the National Association of Manufacturers.
JOHN A. WESTMAN, well known and highly re- abd citizen. of Jame stown, N. Y., came to this country ard ted in Jame town in 1887. Possessed of com- ne . d:11 por onal trait , ability, and carnesiness to suc- od. h ha for almost two decades been prominently tid : ph the in: ferment of the Dahlstrom Metal- In Der Cor gan, of fame-town, including the offices and reperibilitie of cretary and general manager. A de frein he ine , he has in private life and church cori ALa re je ted ple among his fellowmen and
John A. Westman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, Feb. 9, 1871, the son of John A. and Caroline Westman. His father was a sea captain, and both parents lived and died in Sweden. John A. Westman was educated in the public schools and commercial establishments of Stock- holm, and when he had attained the age of sixteen years resolved to come to the United States. He came alone in that year, went to Jamestown, N. Y., and began work very soon after his arrival. He worked for five years as a cabinet maker with Shearman Brothers, of James- town. He then entered a business college in Elmira, and subsequently spent some time with a prominent law firm of that city before going to New York City, where for about ten years he was employed in commercial and con- tracting work before returning to Jamestown in 1904. He has prospered, but in going closely into his early years in the United States it was discovered that his advancement come only because of his own resolute determination to prepare himself by education for the opportunities that might come. He assumed control of the office work of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company, in August, 1904, which at that time was of recent organization, but rapidly expanding. From that time on he has remained a mem- ber of the executive body of that important industrial concern. In 1905, he was elected secretary and treasurer of the company, and after the death of Mr. Dahlstrom, the founder of the company, he was asked to take the responsibilities of the general managership, in addition to his other offices. Later, Mr. Fabian Sellstrom was appointed treasurer, and Mr. Westman has been able to cope with the duties of the secretaryship and the multi- tudinous details of the general management. In addition to being a director of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Com- pany, Mr. Westman is a director of the International Casement Company, which company he was instrumental in organizing and which manufactures a product allied to that of his own company. He is an earnest Christian, and for many years has been an active member of the Swedish Mission Church. He has been a deacon of that church, and at one time was superintendent of the Sun- day school.
In November, 1896, Mr. Westman married, in New York City, Signe A. L. Carlson. They have two chil- dren : Esther M. and Florence A.
CHARLES E. FISK-The entire business life of Charles E. Fisk, of Jamestown, president of the Pearl City Veneer Company, Incorporated, has been devoted to the one activity, the making of vencer, his introduction to the business heing in his youth as an employee of the Strong Veneer Company at Gerry, N. Y. The Pearl City Vencer Company is the modern consummation of the business founded in Jamestown in 1897 by Mr. Fisk and others as the Jamestown Vencer Works, and under different owners has come down to the present, Mr. Fisk having been president of the corporation since 1914. The family of Fiske is of ancient English name, dating in Suffolk from the eighth year of the reign of King John, 1208, the name Daniel Fisc being then found appended to a document confirming a land grant. Fiske is a form of the word Fish, and was borne by Symond Fiske, Lord of the Manor of Stadhaugh, and supposed to have been a grandson of Daniel Fisc.
John Westman
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He bore arms :
Arms-Chequey argent and gules upon a pale sable three mullets pierced or.
Motto-Macte virtute sic itur ad astra.
The Fiskes of early New England ancestry are de- scendants of this ancient family, whether the name is spelled Fisk or Fiske. The line in this branch is traced from Symond Fiske, Lord of the Manor of Stadhaugh, through his son William, his son Simon, his son Simon (2), his son Robert, his son William, his son Nathaniel, his son Nathaniel (2), his son John, the founder of the family in New England, and ninth in descent as here- tofore traced.
John Fisk was born in England, about 1619, and came to New England with his father, Nathaniel (2) Fisk, and brother, Nathan Fisk, tradition stating that the father died on the voyage over. John Fisk took the oath of fidelity in 1652, bought land in Watertown, Mass., and there resided until his death, Oct. 28, 1684, aged sixty-five years. He married Sarah Wyeth, who bore his five chil- dren, including a son, John (2).
From John Fisk, the founder, descent in this branch is traced through John (2), of Watertown, and his first wife, Abigail (Parks) Fisk; their son, Lieut. John (3) Fisk, of Waltham and Worcester, Mass., and his first wife, Mary (Whitney ) Fisk; their son, John (4) Fisk, of Worcester, and his wife, Arubah (Moore) Fisk ; their son, John (5) Fisk, a commissary in the Revolu- tionary army, and his wife, Irene ( Buck) Fisk ; their son, David Fisk, of Brookfield and Ellington, N. Y., and his wife, Lydia (Bugbee) Fisk; their son, James Fisk, of Ellington, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and his wife, Har- riet (Larkins) Fisk ; their son, Charles Edward Fisk, of Ellington, N. Y., a soldier of the Union, a martyr to the inhumanity of the commandant of Andersonville prison, and his wife, Sarah (Falconer) Fisk; their son, Charles Edward (2) Fisk, of Jamestown, of the seventeenth re- corded generation of his family, and of the eighth Fisk generation in this country.
David Fisk, of the fifth American generation, came to Chautauqua county, from Brookfield, N. Y., settled in the town of Ellington, and there died in 1862. His son, James Fisk, was born in Brookfield, Aug. 3, 1815, and came to Chautauqua county, where he became a farmer. His son, Charles Edward Fisk, was born in Ellington, in January, 1841, and in 1862, enlisted in Company B, 112th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. At the en- gagement at Chapin Farm he was taken prisoner. sent to Libby prison in Richmond, thence to the stockade at Andersonville, where he died. He married Sarah Fal- coner, born in Randolph, N. Y., daughter of Cyrus Fal- coner. They were the parents of an only son, Charles Edward (2), who never knew a father's love and care.
Charles Edward (2) Fisk was born in Ellington, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., Feb. 21, 1863, and spent the first seven years of his life at the old Fisk homestead. In 1870, the family moved to a farm two and a half miles from Fluvanna, Chautauqua county. later settling in the town of Gerry, Chautauqua county, N. Y. The lad was educated in the public schools and Ellington Academy, and when school years were over he entered the employ of Milton Ferguson, operating creameries through Chau- tanqua and Cattarangus counties. During that period he married, built a residence in Gerry, and there his
daughter was born. He then accepted a position with the Strong Veneer Company, at Gerry, and there remained for ten years, becoming an expert in the business and rising to a good position. He then spent a year as super- intendent of The Grand Rapids Company, followed by eighteen months service as superintendent of the Welsh Dixford Veneer Company, positions which fully pre- pared him for the management of a business of his own. In 1897, he became interested in a veneer manufactory in Jamestown with George Griffith and Frank Cadwell, in 1895. They sold out to Messrs. Peterson, Thayer and Willson, and in 1897 Charles E. Fisk with these men formed a partnership under the firm name, the Jamestown Veneer Works. There were several changes in person- nel during the following years, but the business pros- pered, Mr. Fisk always retaining his interest. In 1904, the firm became the Pearl City Veneer Company, Incor- porated, Theodore Hanchett, president; Charles E. Fisk, vice-president ; Nathan M. Willson, secretary-treasurer. President Hanchett died in 1914, and was succeeded by Charles E. Fisk, who still continues the executive head of the company. Later Frank C. Rice and Ralph G. Sage were admitted to an interest. The present officers of the Pearl City Veneer Company are : Charles E. Fisk, president ; N. M. Willson, general manager; T. C. Rice, secretary-treasurer ; Ralph G. Sage, vice-president. The business of the company is the manufacture of veneer of every kind, from hardwoods, native and imported, their customers the first class furniture manufacturers of the country and other users of fine veneer. The company is well managed and prosperous and ranks high among Jamestown's manufacturing houses. Mr. Fisk is a mem- ber of the First Seventh Day Adventist Church, a Re- publican in politics, member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Fisk married, Sept. 30, 1886, Minnie Waite, daugh- ter of Ephraim and Lovilla (Starr) Waite. Mr. and Mrs. Fisk are the parents of a daughter, Mabel Cleo, born in Gerry, married Ralph G. Sage, and resides in James- town. Until 1901, Gerry was the family place of resi- dence, but since that year the Fisks have resided in Jamestown, owning a beautiful home at No. 1207 Pren- dergast avenue.
REV. CHRYSOSTOM SMITH, C. P .- The influ- ence exercised upon a community by the life of a good and devoted priest is not like that of other men, whose sphere of activity is in worldly affairs, to be measured by material standards, is not, as a matter of fact, to be measured accurately at all nor can we say of it that it is great or small, for its results are to be felt chiefly in the souls of the flock of which he is the pastor and to be noted in the moulding of their characters and the gradual drawing of their hearts to higher things. But we can say at least that this influence is of the most precious type, for the regeneration of one such soul certainly constitutes a greater and more important work than the erection of great buildings or the amassing of unlimited wealth. In the Rev. Chrysostom Smith, the City of Dunkirk, N. Y., possesses a citizen who exercises such influence, and who, as the beloved pastor of St. Mary's Church, has long been known for his pious life and effective ministry.
Father Smith is a native of Newark, N. J., born Sept. 18, 1876, and his early childhood was spent there. As a
Chau-32
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lad he entered the parochial school of St. James' Church, in Newark, and after completing his studies there en- tered St. Benedict's College, where his general education was carried to its close. Quite early in life he had felt the call to a religious life, and in order to fit himself for the priesthood came. at the age of eighteen years, to St. Mary's Monastery at Dunkirk, N. Y., and there en- gaged in his theological studies. He continued a student for about nine years at St. Mary's and other monasteries of the Order of Missionary Fathers, and was finally ordained to the ministry in 1903, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Archbishop Miller. He was first sent to St. Paul's Mon- astery at Pittsburgh, Pa., where he held the position of assistant master of novices for three years, and then, being a scholar of high attainments, spent the following five years in teaching in the monasteries in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. In 1908, he was appointed assistant pas- tor of St. Mary's Church, Dunkirk, and filled that office until 1011. Father Smith had already displayed consid- erable executive ability, and in 1012 was appointed to take charge of St. Agnes' Hospital, Baltimore, Md., an institution which he headed for some six years. He had. however. made himself much beloved in Dun- kirk and especially St. Mary's parish, so that when, in the latter part of 1917, he was returned to this post as pastor his congregation welcomed his home coming with profound pleasure, and he is now (1921) installed not only as pastor of the church but in the hearts of all his flock. In his former pastorate, he had done much for the benefit of the church, and its future under his care is a bright one. He has always taken a strong interest in the social life of his parishioners, especially of the young mer, and is a member of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, of the fourth degree, and the chaplain of the organization.
CARLINA MAVIS MONCHOW-As librarian of Dunkirk Free Library since 1900, Miss Monchow is widely known professionally, while her personal acquaint- ance in the city is equally large, Dunkirk having been her birthplace and lifetime home. She is a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth ( Rieck) Monchow, of Dunkirk, ard in the public schools of her native city she obtained 1 : education. She came to her present position, librarian of Dunkirk Free Library, in the year 1900, and has since " :* in :ously held that position.
Mi -- Monchow is a member of the Women's Literary Club of Dunkirk, New York State Library Association, American Library Association, Women's Alliance ( Uri- Mariar 1. and of Adams Memorial Church ( Unitarian ). Inter . fiical view , Miss Monchow is an Independent.
THE PITTSBURGH AND FREEPORT COAL COMPANY, of Jamestown, N. Y., is a co-partnership ci tro leading Jamestown men, Cornelius J. Moynihan, . : many year was traffic manager for the con- lidand ; toms of the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Ir- Railvav, the Chautauqua Lake Navigation Com- pany, and the Chantanqua Traction Company, and director of other transportation companies, and Edward B' Thompson, who for years was connected with the Cor olidation Coal Company and the Shawmut Coal and (o)- Company
The business partnership of these two men, under the trading name of the Pittsburgh and Freeport Coal Company, began on Dec. 15, 1916, the company dealing as wholesalers in bituminous coal. This company sells the output of various bituminous mines, selling coal throughout Canada, New England, New York and Penn- sylvania. They have built up a large and substantial business, selling chiefly to large industrial consumers and others.
Messrs. Moynihan and Thompson are experts on the analysis of coal, and through their knowledge of this subject they have established a reputation for dependa- bility of service and are considered the largest and lead- ing brokers of coal in this region.
CORNELIUS J. MOYNIHAN, a native of James- town, N. Y., and well regarded in this city by reason of his long association, in responsible capacity, with the affairs of local railroad companies, is at present in charge of the Pittsburgh & Freeport Coal Company, and on the directorate of the J. W. & N. N. Railroad, and the Chau- tauqua Lake & Navigation Company. Until Jan. 1, 1919, when he resigned, he was traffic manager of the consoli- dated systems of the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Erie Railway, the Chautauqua Lake Navigation Company, and the Chautauqua Traction Company, so that it will be appreciated that Cornelius J. Moynihan was a factor in the operation of local railroads.
He was born in Jamestown. N. Y., Nov. 12, 1879, the son of Daniel and Margaret (Howard) Moynihan, both of whom are living, and have been esteemed as worthy and responsible residents, in Jamestown, for more than fifty years. Daniel Moynihan has loyally served the Erie Railroad Company for more than forty years, for the greater part of the time being in the freight depart- ment at Jamestown.
Perhaps it was because of his father's association with railroad operation that the son, Cornelius J., had a nat- ural leaning to railroad affairs. At all events, his busi- ness record, as shown in the data now before the writer, indicates that his entire life since he left school at the age of nineteen years has been spent in executive work with various public carriers. After obtaining a good educa- tion in local schools, taking the elementary grades of the grammar school, the full course at the high school, at which he graduated, and the commercial course at the Jamestown Business College, Cornelius J. Moynihan entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Company, as a stenographer in the passenger department in Jamestown. He remained with them for seven years and six months, and when he left that company's employ he had advanced in their service so rapidly that he had been latterly as- sistant to the division passenger agent. But he had been offered a more responsible office with the Chautauqua Traction Company, which was then beginning to operate. Mr. Moynihan was general passenger agent of that system from July 1, 1904, and subsequently also served in like capacity for the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Erie Railway, and the Chautauqua Lake Navigation Com- pany. When the two last named companies were con- solidated by Mr. Broadhead with the Chautauqua Trac- tion Company, Mr. Moynihan was appointed traffic man- ager of the three systems. He held those offices until
Esther M. ( Waite) Fredrickson 1
P. W. Fredrickson
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Jan. 1, 1919, when he resigned to assume management with Mr. Thompson, of the Pittsburgh & Freeport Coal Company.
In matters of transportation, Mr. Moynihan has always been interested, and probably for many years will have some connection with local public service companies of that kind; he is director of the J. N. & N. N. Railroad Company and of the Chautauqua Lake Navigation Com- pany. He belongs to Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, the Transportation Club, Buffalo; and to the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Traffic Club, and is often brought into con- sultation regarding matters of transportation. Frater- nally, he is connected with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and with the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus, of which at one time he was secretary. He is a member of SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Jamestown. He is brother of John Patrick Moynihan, general man- ager of the Blackstone Manufacturing Company, of Jamestown.
In 1908, Mr. Moynihan was married, in Jamestown, to Della Monroe. They have two children, sons, James D. and Monroe H., both of whom are attending local schools. .
EDWARD B. THOMPSON, one of the owners, with Cornelius J. Moynihan, of the Pittsburgh & Free- port Coal Company, of Jamestown, N. Y., extensive wholesalers of bituminous coal for manufacturing pur- poses throughout Canada, New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, has been known to Jamestown people for many years as a man closely connected with important mining interests, and as a man of integrity, financial and moral.
Mr. Thompson was born in Eckhart, Md., Jan. 1, 1879, and was educated in schools of that place, eventually graduating at the age of fifteen years at the Eckhart High School. Immediately after leaving high school, he entered the office of the Consolidation Coal Company, and he has been connected with important coal mining interests ever since. He was for five years with the
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