USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 5
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FRANK ANTHONY OGNIBENE, M. D .- In 1897. Dr. Ognibene fret came to Fredonia, N. Y., he then a boy of six years, accompanying his parents, Ross and Rosalia ( Randazza) Ognibene, who in that year moved from Buffalo to Fredonia, and there both yet reside ( 1920). While yet a boy, Dr. Ognibene deter- mined upon his choice of a profession and he never lost sight of his goal, although he was obliged to help finance his own medical education. After obtaining his M D. he did not at once locate in Fredonia, and it was not until March, 1919, that he returned to his
old home where he is building up a fine reputation and practice as physician and surgeon.
Frank A. Ognibene was born in Buffalo, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1891, but came to Fredonia in 1897 and there completed the courses of study furnished by the grammar and high schools. He then entered Fredonia State Normal School, pursuing the classical course to graduation with the class of 1910. Through the financial assistance of his sister, Josephine, he was enabled to enter the medical department of the University of Buffalo, and in that way, with that which he was able to personally earn, the course was financed. He was graduated M. D., class of 1914, and for one year he served as interne in Buffalo, N. Y., and after spending three years in Amsterdam returned to Fredonia and is building up a good practice among his old friends and townsmen. He served the city as health officer. He is a member of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Medical Society, Chautauqua County Medical Society, New York State Medical Society, the Roman Catholic church, and the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a Republican.
Dr. Ognibene married, Nov. 28, 1916, Sarah Guarino, of Buffalo. They have a son, Frank Anthony, Jr., born in Amsterdam, N. Y., March 14, 1918.
Dr. Ognibene has two brothers, Samuel and Peter, residing with their parents in Fredonia; a sister Josephine, a teacher in Buffalo schools; and four other sisters; Minnie, Mary, Jennie, and Lucy, residing at home.
DAVID JOSIAH CLARK belongs to that class of citizens who, undemonstrative and unassuming in their natures, form the character of the community in which they live. Mr. Clark has devoted his entire life to the lumber industry, and though he has engaged in many other enterprises he has always reverted to his original business. Mr. Clark, who is now living retired, is a veteran of the Civil War and a pioneer in the lumber industry of Chautauqua county. He was born in the town of Poland, Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 8, 1838, a son of Joseph Clark.
Joseph Clark (grandfather) lived in Otsego county, N. Y., near Schuyler Lake, where he engaged in the agricultural business. He married Hannah Wallace, and among their children was Joseph, of whom further.
Joseph Clark (father) was born in Otsego county, N. Y., on his father's farm, July 4, 1811. There he attended the district schools of that time, and after finishing his education he assisted his father upon the farm. Later he decided to strike out for himself in the business world and accordingly journeyed to Chautauqua county on foot, a distance of some 300 miles. Arriving in Poland township he found employment with Nicholas Dollph, a lumber man of some prominence, and with him remained for nearly seven years, receiving $13 a month with his room board and laundry for his work. How- ever, desiring to engage in business for himself, he bought large tracts of land in Poland and adjoining townships and also succeeded in buying more timber lands in Cattaraugus county. He cut the timber and rafted it down the Allegheny river to Pittsburgh and down the Ohio river to Louisville, where he soon found a market for it. Not satisfied with the progress he was
Frank G. Ognitene InQ
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making in the lumber industry he conceived the idea of keeping a hotel as another means of increasing his business interests. This he did, keeping a hotel first at Levant, which was known as the Levant Hotel, for seven years, later moving to Mud Creek Corners, where they located a post office and they called it Clark's Corners. Here he managed the A. H. Phillips Hotel, continuing in this occupation for nearly ten years. During this - time Mr. Clark had increased his land holdings until he was the owner of about 700 acres of the best timber land in Chautauqua county, and after giving up the hotel business he engaged in the cattle raising and agricultural business and continued in this until his death which occurred at his home in Clark's Corners, Oct. 22, 1876. Mr. Clark died while still in the prime of life and his death was sincerely mourned by his family and many friends throughout Chautauqua county. He is buried in Myrtle Cemetery, Poland township, N. Y. Politically Mr. Clark was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, of which he was a staunch upholder, though he never cared for office. In religious affiliation Mr. Clark was a Universalist and he and his family were prominent in the church of that denomination at Kennedy, N. Y. This was built as a union church, but the different denominations did not agree and it was sold to the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
On July 14, 1833, at Dolphville, in the township of Poland, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Abigail Hitchcock, who was born Dec. 26, 1819, in Poland township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., a daughter of John Hitchcock. Mrs. Clark's death occurred Feb. 29, 1898, and she is buried beside her husband in Myrtle Cemetery, Poland township. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born nine children, as follows : I. Joseph L., born Oct. 21, 1835; he was a hotel land- lord and lived in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, N. Y. 2. David Josiah, of whom further. 3. Joel B., born Aug. 5, 1840; he was a soldier in the Civil War, in Company A, 112th New York Volunteer Infantry, a farmer, and died at Clark's Corners. 4. Caroline Melinda, born Nov. 13, 1842; she married Louis Rush, and died at Fluvanna, Chautauqua county, N. Y. 5. Egbert R., born March 13, 1845; resides in Jamestown, N. Y., and is engaged in the railroad business with the Erie railroad. 6. Samuel A., born Sept. 13. 1847; died at Clark's Corners, Chautauqua county, N. Y. 7. Hannah E., born July 21, 1850; married Revell Parks and died at Clark's Corners. 8. Abigail A .. born Nov. 12, 1853, died at Clark's Corners in early girlhood. 9. Clyne A., born March 14, 1863; is residing in the State of Washington and is engaged in the lumber business.
David Josiah Clark obtained his early education in the district schools of Poland township. After complet- ing his education he assisted his father in the lumber business, making his first trip on a raft down the river at the age of seventeen. He continued in business with his father, making as many as three trips down the river with rafts, until the Civil War was declared. He enlisted Aug. 2, 1862, in Company A, 112th New York Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel J. C. Drake and Captain John F. Smith. He served until the close of the war, being discharged with honorable mention from Washington, D. C., for bravery under fire at Raleigh, N. C., being mustered out of service at Buffalo, N. Y.,
July 1, 1865. Mr. Clark participated in nearly every battle that his company engaged in and was mentioned twice for bravery. He was in the hospital for four months with fever during the year 1863, but rejoined his regiment and fought with them until the close of the war.
After returning from the war he purchased from his father about 250 acres of farm land and for some time engaged in the agricultural business, but finding this occupation rather slow and not suited to his liking he sold back his land to his father and engaged in the lumber business for himself, rafting it down the river to the markets in Pittsburgh and Louisville. Later he took up lumber contracting, delivering the logs to the saw mills. Mr. Clark was for some time engaged in this business for M. L. Fenton & Company, both in Chau- tauqua county and South Valley township, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. Later he engaged in the same line of work for Lyman Mason, another well known lumber- man of the Chautauqua county region, and was with him for four years, when he went with the Wheeler & Scudder, lumber manufacturers in South Valley, Cattar- augus county, N. Y., and continued working for them for nearly five years. Returning to Poland township, Mr. Clark bought the Cold Water Creamery and was for some time engaged in the manufacture of grade butter. Seven years later he settled in Falconer and with his son-in-law, P. B. Waite, conducted the Linden House for seven years under the name of Clark & Waite. In 1907 he gave up the hotel business and since then has lived retired, making his home in Falconer, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Mr. Clark is a member of the H. C. Sturdevant Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kennedy, N. Y., and is also a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Clark has filled all the offices of both these organizations.
On Nov. 11, 1857, Mr. Clark married (first) Susan Wheeler, daughter of John and Julia (Love) Wheeler. Mrs. Clark's death occurred July 27, 1864, at Clark's Corners, and she is buried in Myrtle Cemetery, Poland township, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born two children, as follows: 1. Alfred, who died in infancy. 2. David Josiah, Jr., born April 25, 1863: received his early education in the public schools of Poland township and Jamestown public school; taught four years in the public school at Falconer, and is now engaged in teach- ing; resides at Stillwater, N. Y. Mr. Clark married (second) Sept. 24, 1865, Coralinn Hunt, born at Clark's Corners. Aug. 7. 1848, daughter of Henry N. and Cynthia M. (Ives) Hunt. To this union was born one child, Bernice M., who became the wife of P. B. Waite; they are the parents of one child; they reside in James- town, N. Y.
Mr. Clark is an intense lover of the out-door world and particularly enjoys life in the woods whither his business so often led him, delighting to fish and hunt and being very expert in both these sports. He was an unusually good athlete and spent as much of his spare time as possible in pursuit of such pleasures, the wholesome character of which no doubt accounts for the excellent health which he has enjoyed through- out his entire life. A man of unbounded generosity, gentle and genial in his nature, Mr. Clark has gath- ered around him a circle of admiring friends who
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ieel honored by his friendship and proud of his suc- cess in life. His heart is ever in sympathy with the unfortunate and his hand ever ready to contribute to the alleviation of distress. His life is a happy illustra- tion of the honor and rewards of business fidelity and industry, when combined with high principles and un- swerving honesty. As a business man his character is unimpeachable and unclouded, and he adhered with staunch consistency to sound, conservative and unques- tionable methods. His name is known among the highest circles of the business world as that of a man who can be trusted. and with whom it was a satisfaction to transact business. His life teaches the old and ever valuable lesson that success comes only through tireless industry, guided by a singleness of purpose. It emphasizes also the priceless value of unswerving loyalty to right, and the assured rewards of exemplary living.
THEODORE D. HANCHETT-Self-made in the truest sense of the word, successful in his business undertakings and aims, the career of T. D. Hanchett is an apt illustration of the value of character in the determining of the measure of success possible to attain. One of Jamestown's native sons, and through his long connection with the manufacturing business cne of her best known manufacturers, educated in the public schools, trained in business methods by James- town manufacturers and in business in that city until his death, he was emphatically a Jamestown man, a true representative of that city, her institutions and her citizenship. Industry, thrift and perseverance marked his way through life, and to these qualities he added business ability of high order and an honesty of purpose that enabled him to avoid those business and moral pit- falls that abound in a large city to trap the unwary. He began life in a career of his own choosing, and during his years of service for others gained the capital and experience with which he later entered his own business. He was an energetic worker and devoted to his work, but when his day's labor was done his own fireside claimed him, and there most of his hours "off duty" were spent. He was most hospitable, loved to entertain in his own home his friends in social games and enlivening conversation, finding in such intercourse the keen enjoyment that flows from a charitable heart.
No man attained higher reputation than he for honor- able dealing, and in the business world his friends were many. His promises or statements could always be relied upon, for he held his word sacred, and his excel- lent business judgment often enabled others to profit as well as himself. He gave close attention to the details of his large business, never dividing his energy, but holding closely to the one line of commercial activity he had chosen as his, that of manufacturer. Neither did he seek to hold public office not allow fads or amuse- ments to distract his mind from the great business of life, yet he was intensely public-spirited, every ready and willing to aid a good cause.
Theodore D. Hanchett was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., Nov. 4, 1847, a son of William and Eveline Hanchett. He came to Jamestown when but one year old with his parents, and to the public schools of this city is he indebted for his carly education. Later however, he took a course of study in the Jamestown
Academy, and after graduating from this institution in 1861, he entered the employ of Allen & Grandin. He remained with this firm for one year, but being offered a better position with the Breed-Johnson Furniture Company, resigned and entered their employ. In 1883 he entered the employ of Shearman Brothers, lounge manufacturers, as foreman of the woodworking depart- ment, a position which he held for five years, when he left to assist in the formation of the Jamestown Lounge Company. On Jan. 1, 1888, Mr. Hanchett, with Lynn F. Cornell, Arthur H. Greenlund, and the late Hurley L. Philipps, formed the Jamestown Lounge Company, which was gradually developed into one of the largest manufacturing industries of the city. The firm continued as a copartnership until Dec. 11, 1899, when the com- pany was changed to a corporation with the following officers : H. L. Philipps, president ; T. D. Hanchett, vice- president; A. H. Greenlund, second vice-president; L. F. Cornell, secretary and treasurer. In 1904 Mr. Han- chett was elected president and held that office until he retired from the lounge business in 1913, but at the time of his death was president of the Pearl City Veneer Company.
Mr. Hanchett was united in marriage with Charlotte R. Lamson, July 10, 1872. To this union were born four children, as follows: I. Bertha V., born June 20, 1873. 2. Ralph Theodore, died in infancy. 3. Donald C., who resides at home, and who married Caroline L. Stumpf, a daughter of Henry Stumpf, a well known resident of this city; they are the parents of one child, Carolyn R. 4. Lucie R., born March II, 1890, who is the wife of Marvin N. Gokey, of Jamestown, N. Y., and the mother of one child, Robert Marvin Gokey.
In politics, Mr. Hanchett generally voted on the Demo- cratic ticket, but he wore no party collar, the character of a candidate and not a party emblem determining his vote. He was also popular in fraternal circles and was a member of the various Masonic bodies, including Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, joining in 1883, and serving as master in 1892 and 1893; of Western Sun Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons, serving as high priest in 1894 and 1895; of Jamestown Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, serving as eminent commander in 1908; and of Buffalo Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was also a member of Ismailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Buffalo. Mr. Hanchett and his family were also members of the First Baptist Church, they being prominent in all its social as well as business affairs. Mr. Hanchett served as a member of the board of trustees for many years, and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Hanchett gave of his best to his City, State and Nation, and was one of the best known and most popular men in the community in which he lived, and when his death occurred Dec. 18, 1914, it left a gap in the social world as well as the business world that cannot be filled. lle was a man of the most genial, open nature, and that sort of cheeriness which one instinctively feels that it flows from a charitable heart, a manly, courageous and gentle heart. It has been said of him by a friend that people turn naturally to his kindly, sympathetic per- sonality as the flowers to the sunshine, and this indeed is an apt illustration of the manner in which strangers
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were impelled to make his acquaintance, and acquaint- ance was speedily turned to the kind of friendship that does not fail. The occupation that he had engaged in brought him into contact with a great number of men of every class and type, and acquainted him with the motives that spring from human nature beyond the range of many, making him at once tolerant of his fellows and filling his memory with a thousand tales ever at his tongue's end, which made his a most delight- ful comrade. His home life too was ideal and he proved himself no less a loving husband and father than a true friend, a good neighbor and a model citizen. The true grief of his fellow-citizens at his death is shown in the following editorial which appeared in the Jamestown "Evening Journal," Friday, Dec. 18, 1914:
The death of Theodore D. Hanchett, which occurred this morning, following an illness of some months' duration, came as a sorrow to the business community, and to the people of the community generally where he spent his entire life in the activities that naturally attend the life of a forceful man of affairs.
Mr. Hanchett was one of the incorporators of the Jamestown Lounge Company, more than twenty-five years ago, and was an important factor in that manu- facturing plant during the years of its rise from a small beginning into one of the great industries of the city. He devoted his time and talents unsparingly to its interests, and to him and his associates came the knowledge and satisfaction of achieving more than ordinary success in the strenuous competition found in establishing a modern manufacturing indus- try.
Always ready to do his part in that which had for its sole object the advancement of the interests of his home city or its people, he was not one who sought prominence in the affairs of the community. Ready at all times to respond to the call of duty as he saw it. he had no desire to pose as a leader or to win personal praise for that which he did.
In addition to his attention to the affairs of the big establishment with which he was concerned, Mr. Han- chett was devoted to his family, to his church, and to the Masonic fraternity, with which he was promi- nently identified. There were few men in that fra- ternity better grounded in the principles of Free Masonry than he. He believed earnestly in its teach- ings and exemplified in his life the high principles which it tries to inculcate into the lives of all its members. He had been master of Mt. Moriah Lodge, F. and A. M., high priest of Western Sun Chapter, R. A. M., eminent commander of Jamestown Commandery, Knights Templar, and had been advanced to the thirty- second degree in the mysteries of the order. He was for many years a member of the board of trustees of the First Baptist Church, and gave freely of his time and support.
Such men as Theodore D. Hanchett are an honor to the community in which they live, and are sincerely mourned and missed when they depart. They live to bless and to build up, not to destroy and tear down, and the city of Jamestown is the better and the richer because of the years that he spent here.
FRANK L. KOLPIEN-The subject of this review exemplifies in a remarkable degree not only the achieve- ments of a man of great natural talent, but the wonder- ful possibilities whereby a poor boy can attain distinc- tion in the community in a short period of time. The success of Frank L. Kolpien, known in the business world of Dunkirk, N. Y., as the president and treasurer of the O'Donnell Lumber Company, in all his undertak- ings 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 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 Chautauqua county.
Frank L. Kolpien was born in Westfield, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1868, a son of Frank and Dora (Lahl) Kolpien. He received a meagre education in the district school near Forsyth station, and later supplemented this with a one-year course at Westfield Academy. He left school at the age of fourteen as he was obliged to go to work. For the first six years after leaving school he worked among the farms and vine- yards in the townships of Westfield and Ripley, and then started his apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, work- ing at this until 1892, when he formed a partnership in contracting with Herman Hutchinson, this partnership continuing for a period of three years, at the end of which time he established himself in the same business and until 1907 carried on a very successful contracting business of his own, employing on an average thirty-five men at a time, and besides building two hundred resi- dences in Dunkirk during these twelve years, he received contracts for the following buildings : Schools Nos. I, 2, 4, and 5; the temple for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; St. John's Lutheran church building ; Beacon light and keeper's building on the pier; St. Hyacinth's Roman Catholic Church building; Weingort Hardware Company's building ; additions to the Dunkirk Electric Light Plant; No. 4 Hose Fire House of the local fire department. In 1907 he bought his present business, the O'Donnell Lumber Company, of which he is the president and treasurer. He employs thirty-four people, has his own delivery equipment, and ships lumber to Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, New York City, Washington, District of Colum- bia, Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio. This business which Mr. Kolpien has built up is of very great value in the development of Dunkirk. A man of singu- larly strong personality, he has exerted a deep influence on his associates and subordinates, and, toward the latter in particular, his conduct has ever 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, and he has ever been an active member working in its cause, at present serving on the official board, and at the time of the erection of this new edifice he was chairman of the building committee. He affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masons, being a member of the Blue Lodge. 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.
Mr. Kolpien married, Dec. 14, 1893, Alice Bolling. Mr. and Mrs. Kolpien are the parents of three children : 1. Alton L., who, while attending the University of Michigan, volunteered, April 17, 1917, and became attached to the Michigan State Militia; he was later taken into the United States navy and was transferred to the aviation corps, subsequently becoming instructor of small arm fire at Wakefield, Mass., Norfolk, Va., Baltimore, Md., and Pensacola, Fla., where he was com- missioned ensign; he was then sent to Queenstown as chief pilot, and served in this capacity until the end of
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the war; he is still in the service, being on the inactive list, but has returned to his studies at the university, from which place he will graduate with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1922. 2. Esther, a teacher in Long Island. 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 affairs. The simple account of his life, however, and the various activities engaged in, tell far more eloquently than any formal praise of the remarkable powers possessed by him, especially if it be remembered that his ardent, enthusiastic nature will not permit his undertaking any- thing which he is not prepared to do, any obligation which he does not observe to the fullest. His labors are great, but his powers are equal to their adequate performance.
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