USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 61
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On Oct. 15, 1891, in Busti, N. Y., Merle Shearman was married to Audrey M. Palmer, of Ellicott. They have two children: Allene, who became the wife of Webster Gokey, of Jamestown; and Adelaide, who is at home.
HUGH MARCUS FLEMING, one of the leading residents of Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., secre- tary of the Brocton Fruit Products Company, secretary- treasurer of the Ahira Hall Memorial Library, and one of the most prominent and active men in the district, was born in Forest county, Pa., May 15. 1858, the son of John and Esther ( Henderson) Fleming. His father was a farmer, who later came into Chautauqua county, and was well known in Portland township, where he settled and purchased a farm.
The education of Hugh M. Fleming was obtained in the district school in the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, and a commercial college in Mt. Union, Ohio. After completing his studies, he resolved to enter com- mercial life, and became interested with his father in the grocery business in Portland, so continuing for sev- eral years. Later he was in the employ of a nursery company for several more years, in the same town. after which, in 1809, he came to Brocton, becoming secretary and treasurer of the G. E. Ryckman Wire Company, so continuing until 1915. In 1919, he became secretary of the Brocton Fruit Products Company, the position he is holding at the present time (1921). Mr. Fleming has taken a prominent part in most of the public movements of Portland and Brocton. Politically, he gives allegiance to the Republican party, and for eighteen years was town clerk of Portland and village clerk in Brocton since 1900. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masonic order : the Independent Order of Odd Follows. and the Knights of Pythias, of which he is pas chancellor. . As a Mason, he has advanced to the thirty -second degree, and has been through practically
all the chairs of the Blue Lodge, the chapter, the council and the commandery. He was the first master of Lake Shore Lodge, of Brocton, and district deputy for the Chautauqua district ; member of the Dunkirk Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dunkirk Council, Royal and Select Masters : Dunkirk Commandery, Knights Templar; the Buffalo Shrine; Buffalo Consistory; and the Brocton Eastern Star. It will therefore be appreciated that he is widely known in the district, and has high standing among his fellow townsmen and fraternal associates. Mr. Fleming is a man of pronounced literary inclinations and has been actively interested in the work of the Ahira Hall Memorial Library having been a member of the board of that institution for nine years. For eight years he has been secretary-treasurer for the li- brary, and his wide knowledge of books has been in- valuable to the institution. During the World War he took an active part in the work of making successful in his district the flotation of the various Liberty Loans and other funds.
Mr. Fleming married (first) Maila Mitchell, who died in 1897. He married (second) Viola Mitchell, sister of his first wife, both of the town of Portland. By the first marriage there was one child, Clifford Marcus, born Dec. 27. 1883, who was educated in Westfield High School, and Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; he married Maud Hodge, of Broc- ton, and they have two children, Frances and Charles.
EDWARD NEIL SKINNER, a prominent busi- ness man of Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he is engaged in the automobile business, is a native of the town of Portland, N. Y., born Aug. 10, 1879, and a member of an old and distinguished New York State family.
His grandfather, David Skinner, located at Norwich, N. Y., as a young man, and later came to Chautauqua county. His son, Frank Skinner, father of Edward N. Skinner, was born at Portland, N. Y., and died there in April, 1907, being occupied as a farmer during his entire life. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Methodist in religious belief. He married Catherine O'Neil. a native of Ireland. She came to this country as a young girl and married Mr. Skinner at Portland. Among their children is Edward Neil, with whose career we are here especially concerned.
Edward Neil Skinner attended the public schools of Westfield, N. Y., also the Westfield High School. Upon completing his studies at the latter institution, he turned his attention to farming and was employed in this occupation until he had reached the age of twenty-six. Mr. Skinner, however, felt that a larger opportunity awaited him in business life, and with this end in view he became a traveling agent for the Woodmen of the World. He remained with this concern three years, and then removed to Westfield and in 1909 engaged in the automobile business in partnership with William Nicol, under the firm name of Skinner & Nicol, a garage known throughout Western New York. In 1913, Mr. Skinner became identified with the Chautauqua Cooperative Live Stock Insurance Company of West- field, N. Y., and since that time he has held the office of secretary and treasurer of the company, which is now
EM Skinner
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a flourishing concern and owes its success to his capable management. Mr. Skinner is a prominent Democrat in this region, his voice being influential in the councils of his party. He was elected a trustee of Westfield in 1911. In 1915, Mr. Skinner was appointed postmaster, taking office in the month of April in that year and being confirmed in his appointment in the following December. Mr. Skinner is a well known figure
in social and fraternal circles here, and is especially prominent in the Masonic order, being affiliated with Summit Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Westfield Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is also a member of the local lodges of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. His clubs are the Masonic of Westfield, the New York Automobile, and the National Automobile Dealers' Association.
Edward Neil Skinner was united in marriage, Nov. 26, 1902, at Westfield, N. Y., with Lydia A. House, a native of Westfield, born Dec. 5, 1878, a daughter of David and Mary (Caldwell) House. Mr. House, who was born at Portland, N. Y., was a farmer by occupa- tion, and a staunch supporter of Republican principles and policies. Both he and his wife are deceased. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Theodore R., who is now a student in the local high school.
RALPH J. PALMER-The insurance interests of Chautauqua county have certainly no more aggressive or successful representative than they possess in the man whose name stands at the head of this article. As active manager of the Tremaine Insurance Agency, Mr. Palmer ranks among the foremost in his line of busi- ness.
Ralph J. Palmer was born July 25, 1893, in Fredonia, son of Joseph N. and Anna (Curran) Palmer. The education of Ralph J. Palmer was received in the gram- mar and high schools of Fredonia, and at the age of sixteen he began his career in the insurance line. At that time he entered his father's insurance agency with which he continued to be identified until Dec. 1, 1913, when both father and son purchased the G. M. Tremaine Insurance Agency and the two agencies were united under the name of the Tremaine Insurance Agency, of which Mr. Palmer is now active manager. The Tre- maine Insurance Agency is the oldest in northern Chau- tauqua county, if not in the entire county. In Novem- ber, 1859, it was established under the name by G. M. Tremaine. The united organization is now one of the largest agencies in existence, dealing in all kinds of insurance. The following are the companies repre- sented : The Agricultural Insurance Company : Colonial Fire Underwriters, Fire Association, Firemen's Fund, Glenn Falls, Home of New York, Insurance Company of North America, Travelers' Insurance Company, the New Hampshire, the Northwestern Underwriters, the Royal, Security and others. The political principles of Mr. Palmer are those advocated and supported by the Republican party. He affiliates with the Masonic fra- ternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Fredonia, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of the same place. During the late war he was identified in various war activities.
Mr. Palmer married, Oct. 2, 1912, Alice V., daughter of Albert H. and Clara A. (Chapman) Bierce, of Fre- donia, and they are the parents of three children : Bruce Albert, Mark Joseph, and Ethel.
HARRY A. METTENDORFF-Prominent in town affairs, and superintendent of Westfield's mu- nicipal electric light system, is Harry A. Mettendorff. He has held this post since March, 1913, and is one of the well known younger citizens of the town.
Harry A. Mettendorff was born in the city of Dun- kirk, N. Y., March 4, 1889, his parents being Peter and Anna (Britcher) Mettendorff, and they were also the parents of one daughter, Mary Pauline. Peter Met- tendorff was, at the time of his son's birth, connected with the Brooks Locomotive Works of Dunkirk, but when the boy was four months old the family moved to Westfield and Mr. Mettendorff then accepted a po- sition with the Lake Shore Railroad. Harry A. Metten- dorff attended the grammar school of Westfield and later the high school, after which he became employed with the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Erie Rail- road, remaining there until 1908. He then secured em- ployment with the Westfield Municipal Lighting Plant, and while employed there he became interested in and took a course of study in electricity. Just at this time there was a vacancy in the Dunkirk Light, Heat and Power Company, and he became night engineer in the plant. For three years Mr. Mettendorff remained at Dunkirk, and then returned to the Westfield plant, ac- cepting the position of superintendent in March, 1913. He immediately began to make improvements in the equipment of the plant, making many important changes and installing new generators. Up to this time the plant was only able to supply very limited night service, and now they have 250 street lights and 500 customers, in- cluding people in dwellings, offices, for churches, etc., with thirty-six miles of well lighted highways; and the electric switch board is of the most modern type. This is a municipal plant, having started in operation in the fall of 1893 with one engine, a belt drive, 150 horse- power engine of the Skinner automatic variety, belted to a live shaft supplying power to three arc light ma- chines and one small lighting generator. They now have an additional engine of 225 horsepower, and these en- gines supply a total power of 300 K. V. A. capacity in the generators. In the boiler room are two 150 horse- power "Erie City" horizontal tubular boilers. Since Mr. Mettendorff took management of the plant he has done much to give efficient service and stands well with the users of electric power in this vicinity. He is like- wise well known in a social way. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a Republican in politics, and an Episcopalian in religion.
În Westfield, Sept. 15, 1913, Harry A. Mettendorff married Gertrude Newell, of that town, and they have two children, Jean Louise and Vivian Grace.
SALISBURY AXLE COMPANY, INC .- One of the leading manufacturing industries of Jamestown, N. Y., is that of the Salisbury Axle Company, which cer- tainly has upheld the reputation of the city for manu-
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factured products of the highest grade. One writer regarding the city and the connection of the Salisbury Axle Company with it, stated recently :
Quality is the keynote which has made James- town's products known throughout the world for its excellence, and this assertion finds confirmation in the reputation achieved by the Salisbury Axle Company.
The company, whose immense plant on Tiffany ave- nue, Jamestown, is devoted almost exclusively to the manufacture of automobile axles and hubs, had its inception eighteen years ago, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Its organ- izers were men of business and foresight, who saw that for a product of uniformly high grade and relia- bility there was every prospect of finding a ready and adequate market. Its progress has kept pace with the rapid development of the automobile industry during the last few years, and new markets are constantly be- ing opened. Undoubtedly, there is a promising future of successful expansion before the company, because the factor of prime importance at the plant is excellence of product.
As the plant was when last written of, it consisted of three large and modern structures, affording a total floor space of 70,000 square feet. It is equipped with the latest machinery and appliances for the manufac- ture of automobile axles and hubs, and provides em- ployment for from 200 to 500 efficient workmen. The product is marketed throughout the United States and Canada among the more representative manufacturers of automobiles. The corporation is fortunate in its executive personnel, the direction of its affairs being in the hands of men who are, stated a local writer, "potent factors in Jamestown's industrial development, and hold an undisputed position in local manufacturing circles." The executives of the Salisbury Axle Company in July, 1919. were: F. P. Hall, president ; S. H. Penfield, vice- president and sales manager; E. D. Cook, secretary ; Fletcher Goodwell, treasurer; E. D. Shearman, general manager ; F. E. Clark, purchasing agent ; F. P. Hall, Jr., chief engineer. This company, in 1919, sold its interests to a New York syndicate and now they have a new board of officers, all outside men.
Certainly, a manufacturing industry yielding work to 500 persons is a factor of appreciable importance to a city of the size of Jamestown, and many of the city's well wishers would naturally hope that the expansion of the Salisbury Axle Company's business be even more rapid than heretofore.
CHARLES MASON DOW, LL. D .- Long a mem- ber of the Jamestown banking fraternity, president of the National Chautauqua County Bank, the "mother" of all Chautauqua banks, a citizen honored with high appointment by his State and National governments, Charles M. Dow occupies a strong position in the public Die of Chautauqua county. Not less was he honored in private life, while his interest in all that pertained to the home and family life of the county was well proven by his service as president of the Chautauqua County Historical Society. Conservation of our natural park as ! our forests, and the establishment of a park py m i. Jame town, were subjects which interested 'rd f r valuable p ronal service. To this
add literary ability, public spirit, and patriotism, and a fairly faithful likeness of one of Chautauqua's most eminent citizens is obtained.
Mr. Dow traced descent from the Dows of Hampton, Mass., who came from Norfolkshire, England, to New England in 1637. He is a great-great-grandson of Solo- mon and Mary (Saunders) Dow; great-grandson of Captain Richard and Elizabeth (Clough) Dow; grand- son of Captain Solomon and Elizabeth (Buzzell) Dow; and only son of Albert Gallatin Dow and his second wife, Lydia Ann ( Mason ) Dow.
Of Albert Gallatin Dow, centenarian, it has been written :
He was one of the most remarkable men of this age; mentally and physically one of the most perfectly bal- anced men of whom history gives record; who without being a genius or a specialist had the ability to quickly grasp any subject; a man of medium size, with body splendidly developed, and every organ functioning nor- mally. As a centenarian he took the same active inter- est in current affairs, presiding over a meeting of the board of directors of the Chautauqua County National Bank at the age of ninety-seven, and within a few weeks of his death wrote his personal reminiscences to be distributed among the guests at his anticipated one hundredth birthday anniversary. He attained suc- cess as merchant and banker; was chosen State Sen- ator, and held the rsepect and friendship of every man who knew him. He was born in Plainfield, N. H., Aug. 16, 1808, died at his home in Randolph, N. Y., Saturday night, May 23, 1908, not quite reaching his one hundredth birthday.
Albert G. Dow married (first) Freelove Mason, who died at Randolph, N. Y., Aug. 21, 1847, daughter of Wheaton and Octavia (Belden) Mason. They were the parents of five children: James, Warren, Sarah, who died in childhood; Mary, and Albert G. Mr. Dow mar- ried (second) at Schenectady, N. Y., April 25, 1850, Lydia Ann Mason. She was born at Pembroke, N. Y., June 9, 1814, and died at Randolph, N. Y., June 11, 1891, leaving an only child, Charles Mason, to whom this review is inscribed.
Charles Mason Dow was born at the family home in Randolph, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1854, died in Jamestown, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1920. He was edu- cated at Randolph Academy and Oberlin College, later pursuing law study under the direction of Johnson & Crowley, of the Cattaraugus county bar. He did not practice law, however, but embraced business life, be- coming a member of the banking firm, A. G. Dow & Son, in 1876, being then twenty-two years of age. A. G. Dow & Son maintained a bank in Randolph and from 1879 until 1884, Charles M. Dow was manager of a branch bank in Bradford, Pa. In 1884, he retired from business and spent three years in travel and leisure. In 1888, Mr. Dow reentered business life as organizer of the Jamestown National Bank, of which he was presi- dent from its organization until its consolidation in 18go with the Chautauqua County Trust Company. He was president of the latter institution from the con- solidation in 1899, until a later reorganization as the Chautauqua County National Bank, of which he was president until his passing, his term as chief executive of the same institution under its three corporate titles covering the entire period 1888-1920. (Scc banking
chapter).
Mr. Dow was called to other important positions in the financial world, and held various directorships. He organized the banking department of the Title
Charles In Dow
Eleanor 2.5cm
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Guarantee and Trust Company of New York in 1903, and for two years, 1903-04, served that institution as vice-president. He was a trustee of the American Surety Company of New York, 1903-15; member of Buffalo Board Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 1919-20; vice-president and director of Salamanca Trust Company ; director of the Lake Shore National Bank of Dunkirk, besides various others, but Jamestown was the scene of his constant interest and business activity.
Eschewing politics as an active participant, Mr. Dow nevertheless devoted much time to the public service and rendered to both county and State public-spirited endeavor of value. He was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention, 1915, serving as chairman of the conservation committee, and in Jamestown was an active advocate of public parks, and president of the first Board of Park Commissioners in 1900. In 1898, he was appointed a commissioner of the Niagara State Park Reservation, an office he held continuously for sixteen years, and for eleven years, 1903-14, was president of the commission. The question of preserving State forests appealed to him, and he became so prominent an advo- cate of forest conservation that he was elected vice- president of New York State Forestry Association, trustee of the Society for the Preservation of the Adi- rondacks, trustee of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, and director of the National Con- servation Association. He was for many years asso- ciated with William P. Letchworth in many activities for the State, and at the latter's death, when he be- queathed to the State beautiful Letchworth Park in the Genesee valley, Mr. Dow was made the director of the commission which took charge and made of the park one of the beanty spots of the State, which has attracted the admiring attention of thousands of travelers as well as the many visitors from our own and adjoining states. It was through his influence that the arboretum was established in Letchworth Park, regarded as the most important of its kind in the United States. The function of the arboretum as laid down by the director is thus stated :
The principle upon which the Letchwork Park Arboretum is established is that it shall consist of a permanent collection of the various species of the world's timber trees likely to thrive in this northern climate, planted scientifically, to test their value and illustrate the processes of development, so supplying not only knowledge for knowledge's sake, but also knowledge for practical use.
During the period of war between the United States and Germany, 1917-18, Mr. Dow was appointed Federal Fuel Administrator for Chantauqna county, his appoint- ment being made Oct. 26, 1917, and in 1918 he was made a member of the Federal Milk Commission. These trusts were accepted by Mr. Dow, and he rendered effi- cient service, directing the energies of the Fuel Con- servation Commission in his district with devotion to the best interests of the people and the government.
Almost his last county public service was as president of the Chautanqua County Historical Society, and in that office he made extraordinary efforts to interest the people of the county in the preservation of family history and records. The aid of the society was freely offered, and personally the president gave substantial prizes to the school children to interest them in county geography and history. There has never been any salary
connected with any of the above positions, and it may truly be said that few men in Chautauqua or any other county have given more freely to non-remunerative public service. But his pay has been ample in the con- templation of the good accomplished.
An extensive traveler, having spent long periods in practically every country in the world, where he was an honored guest on various occasions, a wide reader, and associated with scientific societies, Mr. Dow acquired a most pleasing style, and from a full mind, in the in- tervals of a busy, useful life, wrote much of interest concerning his years of study, research and work. Be- sides articles in "Outlook" and "Review of Reviews," he is the author of "A Century of Finance and Com- merce in Chantauqua County" (1903), "A History of the State Reservation at Niagara" (1915), and "Bibli- ography and Anthology of Niaraga Falls" (1919).
Mr. Dow married, Jan. 12, 1876, Eleanor Jones, daughter of Elisha L. and Emily ( Sibley) Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Dow were the parents of four children: Al- berta Gallatin, wife of Fletcher Goodwill; Charles Mason, Born Sept. 25, 1878, died Dec. 27, 1907, a gradn- ate of Yale College and Harvard Law School; Howard, born Aug. 15, 1880, now vice-president of the Chantau- qua County National Bank; and Paul Livingston, born March 15, 1884, died Sept. 9, 1884.
The estimation in which Mr. Dow was held among men of learning is best attested by the fact that in 1914 Bethany College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, and a similar degree was conferred by Niagara University in 1915. No man in the State was more deeply interested in those things which count for the advancement of the nation and the uplift of society than he, as is attested by the numerous societies and organizations of which he was a member and for which he earnestly labored. In his home city he was universally respected, and his passing in the full prime of his splendid powers brought forth universal regret. When conditions developed that gave assurance that the end was near Mr. Dow, with the dignity and patience that was always his, awaited the end with calm resigna- tion, and with a full realization that his life's work was ended.
The following extract is from the pen of Dr. James Sullivan :
He touched life at more points than any other man whom I have ever known intimately; he knew min- utely more of the inward life of the people, not alone of this locality. but of the country generally, than most of the philosophers. He instinctively knew, and he had a delicate appreciation for, the finer side of every person with whom he came in contact, and his kindly, though often blunt, methods of bringing men together and smoothing out the rough places has served to preserve and perpetuate friendships which otherwise would have drifted into animosities which could not have failed to mar the life of the community. Add to these splendid qualities that charity which delights, not in ostentatious giving, but in daily doing; which appreciates that men and women need encour- agement in the development of character and an abid- ing faith more than a fostering of their self-pity, and We have a composite picture of the man.
MRS. ELEANOR (JONES) DOW-A woman of noble character and fine mind, Mrs. Dow was a leader in charitable and philanthropic movements in Chautau- qua county, and for all time her name will be inscribed among those real women of her State who gave them-
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