USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 56
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During these years he became interested in several of the manufacturing industries in the city, and became one of the strongest supporters of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company, this institution owing much to his loyal support during times of difficulties and financial stress. During the early period of organization he was com- missioned to handle several important business deals and problems of this concern. In 1912 Mr. Sellstrom sold out his meat business, retiring from active commercial life. He took active part, however, in the affairs of the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company as vice-president and treasurer until 1918, when he retired entirely from active business. His interests in real estate and manufacturing concerns continue to keep him in touch with the business life of Jamestown. In politics, Mr. Sellstrom is a Re- publican, but in practice is an independent voter, giving his support to the candidate he feels most nearly meets the requirements of the office. In fraternal life, he is a member of all the Masonic bodies up to and including the thirty-second degree, and also is a member of several social organizations.
During all these years of business life the constant aid and encouragement of his devoted wife meant a great deal to his achievements and progressive development. On August 3, 1882, at Jamestown, he was united in marriage with Emily Eugenia Lundberg. To Mr. and Mrs. Sellstrom were born four children: 1. Elmer W., received his carly education in the public schools, later attending Cornell University and graduating with the degree of Civil Engineer in 1907. Leaving the Univer- sity he became associated with the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company, being active in the uphuilding of that institution. He has been actively identified with com- munity work, serving in many capacities. He is a mem- ber of all the Masonic bodies and past eminent com- mander of Jamestown Commandery, Knights Templar. He is at present the president of the Jamestown Rotary Club. 2. May H., also attended the public schools, graduating in 1004, and later taking up special work in piano at the Sherwood Music School at Chicago. Upon graduating from there she became one of Mr. Sherwood's able assistants. Later she was associated in the music department of Miss Bennett's School for Girls at Mill- brook, N. Y. In 1917 she became the wife of Crawford N. Bargar, a sketch of whom follows, to whom one child has been born. 3. Lilla E. F., died in 1894, at the
Emily & Allstram
ELIAS C. BARGAR
ALICE E. (TOTMAN) BARGAR
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age of four years. 4. V. Emily, was educated in the Jamestown public schools, graduating with the class of 1915, and the next year graduating from Dana Hall at Wellesley, Mass. She also attended Simmons College at Boston and Smith College at Northampton, Mass., re- ceiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the latter institution in 1920, and is now active in the educational and social life of the community.
Mrs. Emily E. Sellstrom was born in Wester Gotland, Sweden, in 1857, a daughter of John Eliason and Maria Christina Lundberg. Her father was a well known mer- chant in Longared, Sweden, and lived to the ripe age of eighty-nine years. Her mother died in her early forties. Mrs. Sellstrom is next to the youngest in a family of five children. Her brothers, John Edward and William, came to this country and were engaged in the tanning industry at Ridgeway, Pa., for many years, and C. Oscar in the steel industry at Duquesne, Pa. John Edward and William are now deceased. Her sister, Mrs. Solomon Johanson, lives at Osarp, Limmared, Sweden.
Mrs. Sellstrom came to this country as a young girl, and has been active in the church and community life of the city. For a number of years past she has been the president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Norden Club, and has contributed much to the literary, educa- tional and social interest manifested there. Always inter- ested in the best of literature, considerable of her time has been devoted along these lines and she has written many verses which have been a joy to her friends. She has also written a number of plays, one of which, en- titled "Then and Now," an historical play, has been given on many occasions to the interest and benefit of the audiences. Being interested in the advancement of equal suffrage and an ardent supporter of the cause, she contributed much of her time and thought to it. As a member of the First Lutheran Church, of Jamestown, she has taken active interest in church work.
THE BARGAR FAMILY-Andries Bargar or An- dres Barrager came to Dutchess county, N. Y., from Holland or Germany, and settled with his wife, Phebe Lehman or Leighman, in that section now known as Putnam Valley, Putnam county, N. Y. The children of Andries and Phebe (Lehman) Bargar were: Andres (2) ; John, of further mention; Morton, Peter, Franz, Hannan, Sophie, Betsey, Jerusha and Maria.
John Bargar was born in 1748, died in 1818. He was a farmer of Putnam Valley all his active years, and during the Revolution served with the Seventh Regiment, Dutchess County Militia. He married Martha Tomp- kins, daughter of Cornelius Tompkins, of Putnam Val- ley. Children : 1. Cornelius, born 1770, died Feb. 27, 1847. 2. Mary, born July 21, 1778, married Jeremiah Chapman, Jr. 3. John, born July 21, 1779, died Dec. 24, 1856, and is buried at Adams Corners, N. Y. 4. Nathaniel, of further mention. 5. Jane, born Nov. 14, 1781, died Oct. 17, 1851. 6. Phebe, born 1786, died Sept. 9, 1830; married Jedediah Hill. 7. Fanny, born April 22, 1789, died May 22, 1874; married Annanias, son of Bartholomew Tompkins. 8. Reuben, born 1792; mar- ried (first) a Miss Horton, and (second) Mary Travis.
Nathaniel Bargar was born in Putnam Valley in 1780, died Dec. 28, 1816; his will bearing date of Dec. 23,
1816, names his father John, wife Susannah, two sons and three daughters. The witnesses to his will were John and Reuben Bargar. He was a farmer of Putnam Valley. He married Susannah Crawford. Children: I. Nathaniel C., of further mention. 2. Mary, born Sept. 11, 1812, died April 30, 1833. 3. Martha (or Sarah). 4. Susan, born Oct. 16, 1815, died Jan. 15, 1872; married Samuel F. Smith, of Putnam Valley, born Feb. 1, 1814, died March 1, 1899. 5. Elias, removed to Kansas.
Nathaniel C. Bargar was born June 24, 1808, in Put- nam Valley, New York, died in Gerry, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1859. He was one of the early pioneers in Chautauqua, having come here with his young wife, driving all the way in an ox-cart. He mar- ried (first) Catherine Tompkins, born in 1812, daugh- ter of John Tompkins. She died Feb. 14, 1837, at Ellery, Chautauqua county, N. Y. They were the parents of three sons : 1. John D., born Sept. 10, 1829, died June 20, 1889, at Charlotte, Chautauqua county, N. Y .; he married Elizabeth Lewis, and lived the greater part of his life on a farm about two miles north of Sinclair- ville; a son, George L., was born to them in 1847. George L., the son, married Hattie M. Putnam, and they had one son, Allen E., born 1889, a graduate of the law department, University of Buffalo, admitted to the New York bar, 1915, served overseas in France with the United States Army, attorney in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1921. 2. Nathaniel T., born Feb. 17, 1834, died Jan. 9, 1903, at Sinclairville, N. Y .; he married (first) in 1854, Ruth A. Austin, who died in 1886, leaving twin daugh- ters, Jennie and Jentie, born in 1866; he married (sec- ond) Ella Tyrrell, who survived her husband a few years. 3. Lowree D., born Feb. 7, 1837; he enlisted during the Civil War, fought with the 154th Regiment, was cap- tured and died in Libby Prison; he married Sarah Van Wert, and had a son, Seth, born in 1861. Nathaniel C. Bargar married (second) Tamar Tompkins, a sister of his first wife, and they were the parents of five children : 4. Emory O., born May 2, 1838, died in Sinclairville, N. Y., July 16, 1885; married Cynthia J. Mccullough, and they had six sons and a daughter; Emory O. Bar- gar was proprietor of a drug store in Sinclairville, which after his death passed to his six sons: John M. C., who was well educated, a musician, and prominent in church and community life at Springville, N. Y .; Edgar N., a wealthy business man of Buffalo, N. Y .; Emery J., Floyd L., Clayton T., Victor H. Ethel is the name of his daughter. 5. Mary A., born 1840, died 1845. 6. Martha J., born 1843, died 1845. 7. Elias C., of further mention. 8. Westoby, born Sept. 8, 1851, died in Eskeridge, Kan., Oct. 20, 1884; was a well known merchant of that town. 9. Lewis C., died aged sixteen years.
Elias C. Bargar was born May 19, 1846, in the town of Gerry, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and until 1891 was a farmer of that town. In that year he moved to James- town, where he later engaged in the grocery business, continuing until 1905, when he retired and continued to reside in Jamestown. From 1908 to 1910 Mr. Bargar served in the City Council as alderman from his ward, and still takes an active interest in all public affairs.
Elias C. Bargar married (first) in 1870, Alice E. Tot- man (see Totman), born in the town of Pomfret, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., March 4, 1851, died Jan. 1, 1906,
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in Jamestown. Mrs. Bargar was a woman of refinement, with marked literary ability, fluent of speech and ready of pen. Unselfish, loyal and womanly, she was to her children a faithful counselor and guide, and they "rise up and call her blessed." She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Jamestown, the James- town Political Equality Club, and Union Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, being an officer of the two last named organizations at the time of her death. Elias C. Bargar married (second) 1908, Elnora King (Bowen) in James- town. Elias C. and Alice E. ( Totman) Bargar were the parents of five children: 1. Lewis T., born Feb. 16, 1875, resides in Jamestown, a machinist; he married, in 1902. Elizabeth Rogers, and they are the parents of eight children : Lewis T., Jr., born April 12, 1903; Thomas D., born Feb. 9, 1905; John C., born March 22, 1907; Mary A., born July 20, 1909; Clarence E., born 1911, died 1914: G. Arthur, born July 9, 1914; Roger, born Oct. 23, 1916; Lawrence M., born Oct. 12, 1920. 2. Daniel T., born May 23, 1877, died Dec. 13, 1905, a graduate of Jamestown High School, class of 1899; his death in young manhood was a great shock and loss to his family ; he was a man of lofty ideals and keen mind, as was evidenced in all that he undertook; at the time of his death he was engaged as a partner in the grocery busi- ness with his brother Crawford N. 3. Crawford N., of further mention. 4. Mary A., of further mention. 5. Alice E., born August 7, 1882, died Jan. 30, 1884.
Crawford N. Bargar was born June 4, 1878, in Gerry, N. Y. After receiving a sound education in the James- town public and high schools, he entered the grocery business as an employee in his father's store, remaining in such capacity for eight years, when he with his brother, Daniel T., purchased their father's interest. This partnership was continued for two years until Daniel T. Barger's death, after which time Crawford N. Bargar resumed business alone for the subsequent seven years. In January, 1911, he became manager of the S. M. Flickinger Company, Inc., wholesale grocers of Jamestown, a position he continues to the present time. Mr. Bargar is a director of the S. M. Flickinger Com- pany, Inc., the Flickinger Stores, Inc., the Empire Worsted Mills, the Bank of Jamestown, and the Pren- dergast Building Company. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons; Western Sun Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons; Jamestown Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, and the Crescent Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He also is affiliated with Union Grange, the Young Men's Christian Association, Kiwanis Club, the Norden Club, and active in the Board of Commerce. He is a progressive, public- spirited citizen, always ready to "lend a hand" in further- ing any canbe in his community.
Hle married, in Jamestown, April 28, 1917, May H. Sell,trom, daughter of Fabian and Emily E. (Lundberg) Sell from (se Sell.trom). Mrs. Bargar is a woman of culture and refinement with mu-ical talent. She is a graduate of the Jamestown High School, 1904, and of the Sherwood Music School, Chicago, Il. Mrs. Bargar has appeared in concert work in both Chicago and Chau- tanera. While in Chicago she was a member of the Amateur Musical Club. She is a member of the Mozart Club, Union Grange, Ladies' Auxiliary of the Norden Club, and the Northside Sunshine Club. Mrs. Bargar
was once president of the Campaign Club of Jamestown, an organization that was instrumental in the suffrage movement of Chautauqua county. Mr. and Mrs. Bargar are the parents of one child, Robert Sellstrom Bargar, born August 8, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Bargar are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church.
Mary A. Bargar is one of Jamestown's best known women, and has been prominently in the public eye for several years as teacher and public official, her three years in the office of city clerk bringing her forward. Her political career has been unmarred as yet by defeat, even though in a city where nothing without a Repub- lican label can survive, she made her entrance as a candi- date on the Prohibition ticket and was elected over her Republican competitor, and so acceptably served her term that two years later she carried the Republican primary and was reelected at the March election, 1920. Mary A. Bargar was born May 20, 1879. She was edu- cated in the public schools, finishing with graduation from Jamestown High School, class of 1899. The four years following graduation, she taught in the James- town grade schools, then entered Syracuse University, whence she was graduated, class of 1910. The next eight years Miss Bargar spent in teaching, three years in high school at Gloversville, N. Y., two years in high school at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and three years in Jamestown High School. In March, 1918, she was elected city clerk of Jamestown, which position she holds at the present time. She is interested in many of James- town's organizations, social, charitable and religious, and is a woman of fine quality, her public service being of most efficient and praiseworthy character. She is a member of the First Methodist Church.
(The Totman Line).
There were four of the Totman brothers: Abijah, Daniel, Harvey, and Joshua, sons of Joshua Totman, who was also a son of a Joshua Totman, born in 1751; two of these sons were by a first wife of the father, and two by the second wife. Abijah Totman, the eldest brother, was born about the year 1800, and in 1826 married Betsey -, aged twenty-five years. They were the parents of nine children : Levi, David, Edsel, Julia, Phoebe, Esther, George, Perry, and Sophia, all deceased, the last sur- vivor dying in 1920. Harvey Totman, the third brother, had two sons. Joshua Totman, the fourth son, had a son, Joshua (2), whose son, Roy Totman, now resides in Cassadaga, Chautauqua county, N. Y.
Daniel Totman, the second brother, was born April 8, ISII, died June 27, 1880. He was a man of strong char- acter and high ideals, his early life a fitting example to his children, and his influence in his community always for good. He married Elvira P. Fisher, and they were the parents of two children: Stephen D. and Alice E. Stephen D. Totman, born May 26, 1846, married and left three children: George, born 1879, married Flossie A. Pope, and died Feb. 15, 1912; Franklin D., born 1880, married Emily Adell Webber, who died in 1900; Alice E., born 1885, married Leslie S. Wood.
Alice E. Totman, only daughter of Daniel and Elvira P. (Fisher) Totman, was born March 4, 1851, in the town of Pomfret, Chautauqua county, N. Y., died in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1906. She was educated in the district schools, Gainesville Seminary, and Jamestown
Oscar a. Lemig
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BIOGRAPHICAL
High School, and before her marriage she taught school. In 1870 she married Elias C. Bargar, of previous men- tion in this review, and for twenty years thereafter their home was on the farm in Gerry, Chautauqua county, and their five children were born there.
OSCAR A. LENNA-Like many other prominent business men of Chautauqua county, Oscar A. Lenna is of Swedish birth, having been born April 16, 1876, at Helsingborg, a seaport of Sweden, where he spent his youth. At the early age of seven it became necessary for him to seek employment away from home to assist a widowed mother with two younger children to support ; he, however, attended school five winters, and at the age of twelve was prepared to enter high school, but instead he continued to work away from home to assist his mother.
In 1894 he came to United States, arriving at the port of New York, and immediately went to Ridgway, Elk county, Pa., where he worked in the lumber woods for about two years; for Several years after that he worked in the steel mills at South Chicago, Ill., Niles and Hazelton, Ohio; he then engaged in the hotel business at Johnsonburg, Elk county, Pa., and continued there until 1904, when he moved to Jamestown, N. Y., and entered the wholesale liquor business. In 1914 he began an active career as a manufacturer-organized the Jamestown Car Parts Manufacturing Company, which concern was incorporated in August of that year, and is now capitalized at $500,000. The company manufac- tures automobile, truck, and tractor radiators and other car-parts. Mr. Lenna has been its president from the beginning. A factory was rented at first where sixty people were employed. The expansion of the business, however, soon made a larger plant necessary and a site was purchased on Allen street extension, where a large factory was erected in 1917 and occupied in December of that year. From the very outset this company has been ably managed and has had a prosperous career, Mr. Lenna giving it his personal attention, and it is among the leading manufacturing concerns of the city of James- town.
In June, 1920, Mr. Lenna, with several other promi- nent business men of the city of Jamestown, incorporated the Jamestown Malleable Products Corporation, which concern was capitalized at $500,000.00 and is now erect- ing a large plant, and when plans are completed will be one of Jamestown's largest industries; since its incor- poration Mr. Lenna has been its president. Mr. Lenna is also a director of the Union Trust Company of James- town, N. Y., and has other business interests of impor- tance; in fact, is one of the prominent and well known figures in Jamestown's business affairs.
The rise of Mr. Lenna in business, and as a well known, esteemed and honored citizen has been indeed remarkable and can be attributed to these essential quali- fications-an energetic and careful well trained business man, and a genial personality of the kind that makes friends; in fact, in every respect he is a self-made man. Mr. Lenna is a member of several of the leading clubs of the city of Jamestown, N. Y .; is also a Mason, and a member of other leading fraternal societies.
Mr. Lenna was married in Johnsonburg, Pa., in 1903, to Hilda M. Nordstrom, and they are the parents of three children : Harry A., Reginald A., and Helen M.
MAJOR AUGUSTE BARTHOLDI PETERSON, native of Jamestown, is by profession an attorney, and by practice a soldier of honorable, indeed notable, war record.
He was born in Jamestown, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1888, the son of Edward A. and Edith (Kirkpatrick) Peterson, the former a much esteemed resident of that city, where for so inany years he was one of its leading merchants. Mrs. Edith (Kirkpatrick) Peterson died while her son, Auguste Bartholdi, was still an infant. He received his academic education wholly in local schools, attending the Jamestown Grammar School for primary instruction, and in 1908 graduated from the Jamestown High School. Deciding upon law as a profession, he then entered the Albany Law School of Union University, and in 1912 was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After serving a clerkship of one year with one of the leading law firms of Jamestown, Auguste B. Peterson established himself in independent practice in Jamestown, and gave indications of an alert mind, a good understanding of law, and a readiness of expres- sion which promised well for his success in his future practice at the legal bar.
Of course, when the national emergency came in 1917, all private interests became secondary, and the men of professions, important and unimportant, and the men of business, employer as well as employed, stood pre- pared to cease their civilian occupations when the national call came. As a matter of fact the national call came to Major Peterson quite a while before the entry of the United States into the World War. He was pro- bation officer of Jamestown at the time National Guard regiments were federalized in 1916 to proceed to the Mexican border because of the trouble with Mexico, and when the local company of the New York State National Guard was mustered into the Federal forces, Attorney Peterson set aside his personal and professional affairs, and took his military post of junior command, first lieu- tenant of the Jamestown unit. That was on July 1, 1916. Proceeding to the Mexican border, Lieutenant Peterson was detailed to headquarters company and had full charge of all the signalling of the corral and of the mounted scouts and orderlies, and detailed to act as adjutant of the second battalion, in addition to his company duties with his own unit, Company E. In February, 1916, the New York National Guard units returned to their home stations, and were mustered out of the Federal service, but scarcely a month had passed before another call came from Washington for the federalization of State Na- tional Guard units, this time because of the grave and almost certain involvement of the United States in the World War. On March 28, 1917, Lieutenant Peterson was mustered into the Federal service, and left with his company on Easter Sunday, April 8, 1917, for Silver Creek for guard duty. He was later detailed back to Jamestown on recruiting duty, and on August 13, 1917, left for Buffalo with a detachment of eighty recruits. On Sept. 29, 1917, he, with former New York State Na-
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tional Guard units, left Buffalo for Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, S. C. While there he was trans- ferred from Company E to Company C, and detailed as assistant judge advocate of the General Court of the division. On Jan. 31, 1918, he was detailed to Aurora, Ill., there to take a special course in cipher and code, and upon his return to Camp Wadsworth was detailed to the office of the chief of staff of the 27th Division, as instructor in this work. Shortly afterwards, on May 16, 1918, he sailed for France. The glorious record of the 27th Division in France is too well known to make necessary a reviewing herein of its achievements, and it will suffice if the writer adheres strictly in this article to a recounting of Major Peterson's part in the work of that division, which brought fame to itself and to il. American Army and Nation, particularly by its thrilling achievement of piercing the supposedly impregnable Hindenburg Line. Major Peterson was intelligence officer of the division, and as such had to constantly follow the fighting, and as is well known the 27th Divi- sion had to endure some of the most desperate fighting of the war. He was in three major battles: At the Hindenburg Line, near Bony, Sept. 29, 1918; at La Selie River, near St. Souplet, Oct. 17, 1918; and at Jonc de Mer Ridge, near Arbie Guernon, Oct. 18, 1918. And he was present at the following engagements: Vierstratt Ridge, near Mount Kemmel, Sept. 2, 1918; at the Knoll, Guilmont Farm, and Quennemont Farm, Sept. 27, 1918; and at St. Maurice River, near Catillon, Oct. 19, 1918; and also in minor actions at the East Poperinghe Line, July 9 to August 20, 1918, and in the Dickeburch sector, August 21 to 30, 1918.
Major Peterson's work as intelligence officer was ap- parently meritorious, as the following citations indicate :
Headquarters, 27th Division, U. S. A., A. E. F., in France, Jan. 11, 1918.
1. I recommend that Captain Auguste B. Peterson, assistant chief of staff of this division, be appointed a general staff officer. This officer has most satisfactor- ily performed general staff duty, as G-2 in this divi- sion. for the past four months, part of which service was rendered during active operations. He has demon- strated special qualifications for the duties performed by him. Captain Peterson possesses the bearing, habits. and manner which an officer should possess to reflect credit upon the general staff. He is thor- ough in his work, quiet and unassuming in manner, energetic and resourceful in the performance of duty. I am informed that at the staff college at Longres, Brit- igh officers who have lectured on intelligence work. have noticed and recommended, as an example, the intelligence work of this diviston during operation If so, credit is due to Captain Peterson.
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