USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 62
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selves without reservation to the cause of humanity. That she became so prominent a figure in the work of the Woman's Club was not through her wish, for her heart was in another phase of woman's work, and her everlasting monument is in the Agnes Home for Young Women and the Warner Home for the Aged, institu- tions to which she devoted her splendid powers for many years. Practically she gave her life to the cause of charity, and spent her best efforts in that cause.
Mrs. Eleanor (Jones) Dow was born in Allegheny, Pa .. Dec. 14. 1857, died at Jamestown, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1920, daughter of Elisha Livingstone and Emily ( Sibley) Jones, her father one of the pioneer lumbermen of the Allegheny section. In ISto, Mr. Jones retired from business, and with his family moved to Randolph, N. Y., then the home of his daughter's future husband, Charles 31. Dow. Mrs. Eleanor ( Jones) Dow was a graduate oi Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, N. Y., class of 1875. A portion of her course was devoted to voice culture and expression, studies which were invaluable to her in her later public activity in women's organiza- tions. In 1876 she married, and in 1888 Jamestown he- came her home.
In the city of Jamestown Mrs. Dow became well known through her interest in charitable work and other forms of woman's work, her popularity among the women of Western New York leading to her clec- tion in 1899 to the presidency of the Western New York Federation of Women's Clubs. She held that office two years, and during that period was a member of the board of directors of the New York Federation, succeeding to the presidency of that larger group of women's clubs in 1902.
In 1902 Mrs. Dow wrote:
With federation comes not only a breadth of outlook, of purpose, of association, of work, which means growth, things supremely to be desired in the indi- vidual club, but there Is that which cannot be put into cold words; a broader charity, a more tolerant spirit, and a sweetness and strength of sympathy and coop- eration among strong reserved women widely sepa- rated. yet standing together in a concerted movement for the common good. If the club life means any- thing. it means higher ideals for the individual and It should tend toward simplicity, plain living and high thinking.
Mrs. Dow was also a member of the National Federa- tion of Women's Clubs ; member of Sorosis. New York City; and in 188 was a member of the Scribblers Club of Buffalo. In Jamestown she founded and for seven- teen years was president of the Art Club, and held similar relation to the Mozart and Fortnightly clubs. Her work for charity was both consistent and persistent, and it was through her able leadership and personal effort that the Agnes Home for Young Women and the Warner Home for the Aged, both Jamestown instittt- tion-, were raised to their present plane of usefulness, and placed upon a sound basis. The following resolu- in- express the feelings of Mrs. Dow's contempora- ries in this her great life work :
With a feeling of sadness and deep personal loss, We. the directors of the Agnes Home. would record the death of our beloved honorary president, Mrs. Eleanor Dow, which occurred at her home in this elty on Iwcemher 29, 1920. Mrs. Dow was one of the founders of the Agnes Home and Its president from the organi- %atlon until she took up the active direction of the Warner Home six years ago, at which time she was made honorary president.
fr wax dure 10 her energy and perseverance that both Women and later the the Agnes Home for Young
Warner Home for the Aged became realities. Her interest in young women and in the aged and infirm led her to be untiring in her efforts in behalf of these institutions. Her optimism and marked ability in organization and administration brought success where many others might have failed. Her splendid faith inspired her co-workers, and what she accomplished will always be a monument to her broad vision and spirit of helpfulness.
She needs no song that we can sing, No public praise the world can bring, For other lives have felt the cheer Her deeds have shed for many a year.
Tributes to the memory of Mrs. Charles M. Dow, by the board of directors of the Agnes Association at a meeting held Jan. 27 :
At this, the first meeting of our Board in the New Year, before we look forward to all that may lie before us, it is fitting that we should pause to look backward, even to the beginning of this work, recall- ing the inspiration, the untiring effort of the one who made it all possible.
The death of Mrs. Eleanor (Jones) Dow, our co- worker and our friend, has severed a tie that has bound us together for nearly sixteen years and to-day we wish to pay tribute to her memory, and to her work. A loving tribute from saddened hearts.
Mrs. Dow was the first President of the Board of the Agnes Home, and at the time of her death, its Honorary President. The President of the Warner Home, and the President of the Agnes Association. For ten years, the trying formative years of the work in the Agnes Home, she stood steadfastly at the helm, and when she relinquished the active control of this Board to take up the more pressing and needed work of establishing the Warner Home for the Aged, she still retained her membership and interest in the Agnes Home, and became its Honorary President. Always ready and willing to advise and to assist. Always happy in our achievement, the foundations of which she had so successfully builded.
We who have been associated with Mrs. Dow in these organizations will always remember that so much that is good and beautiful and dear to our hearts in the work in which we are privileged to have a share but for her we might have missed.
Mrs. Dow traveled extensively at home and abroad, her last voyage abroad being taken in the summer of 1920, with special reference to her health. She was not benefited, and after her return to Jamestown her health gradually failed, her condition being such that upon the death of her husband, Dec. 17, 1920, it was deemed best not to inform her of that sad event. During her active years, the Dow home was a center of hospitality, in which many persons of note were entertained, as well as the many personal friends of both Mr. and Mrs. Dow.
IN MEMORIAM-MRS. ELEANOR J. DOW.
The grim messenger of death has claimed another member of our board. With the passing of the year, our beloved president, Mrs. Eleanor J. Dow, was called to her eternal rest.
Mrs. Dow's entire life has been given in service for the uplift and betterment of the standards of life. She was interested in all of the institutions of James- town, and actively identified with the work of many of them at sometime or another: hut, in the latter years, her supreme efforts were In behalf of the Agnes Association. She has been not only president of the Agnes Association since its organization, but presi- dent of both branches of the Association. After bringing the Agnes Home to the point where it was nearly self-sustaining, she resigned the chair; but never relinquished her efforts in its behalf.
It was through the efforts of Mrs. Dow and those of its donor, the late Mrs. Mary HI. Warner, that the Warner Home for the Aged was made possible. Mrs. Dow was gifted with rare executive ahility. We recall the time, the thought and the energy that she gave to the organization of this Home. To many of us, it sromed an Impossible undertaking. Not so with Mrs. Dow. With her, to concelve a good thought was to execute it, and giving unstintingly of her time and energy the work of organization was soon accom- plished. She was made Its first president, which office she continued to hold until the time of her death. All
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through the years of the Home's existenee, she had not only planned ways and means to carry on the work, but, by reason of her faith, her courage and her resourcefulness has been an inspiration and help to her various committees at all times.
Not until stricken in health, while abroad this past summer, did she relax her efforts for the furtherance of this work which was so dear to her heart. For- getting self entirely, she worked unceasingly toward her goal which was to make the Warner Home for the Aged self-sustaining.
The entire community recognized Mrs. Dow as a most remarkable and estimable woman; but only those who worked with her intimately can know the keen, sincere, earnest efforts she made for those less for- tunate than herself. She gave ungrudgingly of her time, her thought, her means and her energy for the promotion of a worthy cause.
Although in years, her life was somewhat shorter than that allowed mankind, yet, in point of service, she was able to aceomplish more than many who live their alloted time.
This board can ill afford to lose so gifted a leader as was Mrs. Dow; but, her spirit will continue with us. "God buries the worker; but carries on the work."
Knowing and loving Mrs. Dow, we share with her family the sorrow which this sad event occasions and we extend to them our sincere sympathy in their bereavement.
Large is the life that flows for others' sakes, Expends its best, its noblest effort makes. Devotion rounds the man and makes him whole; Love is the measure of the human soul.
THE M. R. NELSON DRY GOODS COMPANY -On the twenty-ninth anniversary of his birth, March 4, 1911, Martin R. Nelson, in partnership with Enoch Lindstrom, established the Nelson & Lindstrom dry goods store at No. 110 East Second street, Jamestown. They started with an up-to-date stock of high quality mark, and made it their special business to entirely satisfy their customers. Mr. Nelson's long experience in the dry goods business helped largely to make the venture the great success it proved to be. This partner- ship continued until May, 1914, when Martin R. Nelson, in connection with his brother, Ernest L. Nel- son, bought out Mr. Lindstrom's interest in the store, and the firm name was changed to the M. R. Nelson
Dry Goods Company. The new combination opened another store at No. 627 East Second street, near Winsor street, which they occupied until July 1, 1920, when they moved to their new and modern store at No. 623 East Second street. This store, which might be termed No. 2, is one of the finest and best stocked shopping centers in Jamestown. Their original store at No. 110 East Second street also is a very finely stocked store, in the heart of the shopping district, and in the ownership of these two places it can be truly said that the Nelson brothers are among the leading merchants of Jamestown. They make a specialty of wash goods, white fabrics, fine linens, hosiery, under- wear, sweaters and general dry goods. The business is growing steadily each year, and larger quarters will be needed from time to time as they have been in the past. The firm is a member of the Board of Com- merce, and the Dry Goods Men's Association, both of Jamestown ; and of the National Dry Goods Association of America.
MARTIN R. NELSON-The saying, "when dreams come true," might be applied to Martin R. Nelson, a leading dry goods merchant of Jamestown. When a small boy his favorite pastime was "playing store," and as he grew older he began to have visions of the time
when as a man he would own a store of his own. The dream of his youth has been realized by the grown man, for he is now president and one of the proprietors of the M. R. Nelson Dry Goods Company, of Jamestown, and the ambition of his life is an accomplished fact.
Martin R. Nelson is a native of Sweden, his birth occurring in Smoland, March 4, 1882. He was only ten weeks old when his parents, Charles A. and Christina Nelson, left Sweden for the United States. They landed in New York City with their two children, Martin R. and Esther, but did not remain there, starting at once for Jamestown, N. Y. Here two more children were born to them, Nanny and Ernest L. Charles A. Nelson was with the Morgan Manufacturing Company many years in Jamestown. He died Aug. 9, 1913, his widow surviving him.
Martin R. Nelson was educated in the public and high schools of Jamestown. When sixteen years of age he began his business career, accepting the position of clerk in the Boston Store, and his fidelity to duty and faith- fulness in all that he undertook was rewarded by pro- motion to the position of window dresser, for which he was well qualified, and at the expiration of a few years he had the entire charge of the first floor of the store, the various departments in which he was stationed giving him the best experience possible for his future enterprise. Mr. Nelson was connected with the Boston Store for a period of thirteen years.
On March 4, 19II, on the twenty-ninth anniversary of his birth, Mr. Nelson, in partnership with Enoch Lindstrom, established the firm of Nelson & Lind- strom, dry goods merchants, a sketch of which business precedes this article. Mr. Nelson's long and varied experience in the dry goods business was a prominent factor in the growth and development of the enterprise, which has assumed large proportions.
Martin R. Nelson married, in Jamestown, Sept. 15, 1903, Mabel Peterson, born in Jamestown, the daughter of William and Mary ( Peterson) Peterson, who were among the pioneer settlers (Swedish) of Jamestown. Mr. Peterson, for many years, was with the Warner Sawmill Company of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of one son, Weldon M., born in Jamestown, July 13, 1907. Mr. Nelson and his family are members of the Swedish Lutheran Immanuel Church, he serving on the board of trustees. He has taken great interest in church work, being a member of the choir at one time, and has served in various other capacities con- nected with the church work.
This is a story of a remarkable romance of a young business man, for Mr. Nelson had no more advantages than any other employee who embarks as a clerk in a retail business. It was his strict application to the service of his employer, observation of the business details and a strong desire to be a leader in the dry goods world that led him to his present successful business career. He stands high in the estimation of the business men of the city, and is well regarded in trade circles.
ERNEST L. NELSON-The success of any busi- ness is due to concentration, study of business principles, confidence, and faithful partnership, and in the M. R.
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Nelson Dry Goods Company there is a complete exam- ple of these foregoing qualities.
Ernest L. Nelson, secretary and treasurer of the above-named company, for a number of years before becoming connected with his brother was assistant sec- retary and treasurer of the Crown Metal Construction Company of Jamestown. Here he became well versed in business methods, and feeling that he could better apply his knowledge in an independent way, he re- signed his position and joined his brother, in November, 1914. in the dry goods business. This undertaking, as before mentioned, has proven a success, and the com- bination can truly be termed one of confidence and faithful partnership. Mr. Nelson has gone along with his brother. Martin R., in the building of this promising mercantile business and likewise shares the distinction of his brother as a leading merchant.
Ernest L. Nelson married, in Jamestown, Sept. 9, 1914. Ada Lundberg. born in Sugar Grove, Pa., the daughter of Peter and Matilda (Anderson) Lundberg, who were early Swedish settlers of Sugar Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of three children, as follows: Rachael L., born June 21, 1915; Ruth E., born Oct. 14, 1918; and Helen, born Dec. 31, 1920.
Mr. Nelson, like his brother, Martin R., takes an active part in church work, being treasurer of the Swe- dish Lutheran Immanuel Church, a member of the choir, and interested in other activities of the church.
WAYNE NELSON CHENEY-William Cheney was a very early resident of Roxbury, in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New England (now included in the city of Boston). The oldest records of that town which have been brought down to modern times are contained in a volume whose opening sentence says that the book was bought in 1639 for the purpose of record- ing various matters relating to the inhabitants. Its earliest entries are not dated. One of these is a list of the men who owned land and lived in the town, en- titled "A note of the estates and persons of the In- habitants of Rocksbury." Seventy men are enrolled; they range from "Edward Pason," possessor of three acres of ground, to "Mr. Thomas Dudley" with his 356 acres. "William Cheiney" is the fortieth name, with twenty-four and one-half acres, showing that he was above the average in wealth. This list is on a page where the year 1640 is given as the date of a preceding entry ; and 1642 is the date of the entry on the follow- ing page. A number of circumstances indicate that the list was written near the close of the year 1640. On other pages of the old record book there are deeds of land recorded, and in the bounds of two of these "the land of Cheney" and "the meadow of Cheyney" are mentioned: both were made in 1640. These records demonstrate the fact that William Cheney was a land- holder and resident of Roxbury before 1640. He and his wife Margaret had seven children.
William (2) Cheney, son of William (1) and Mar- garet Cheney, made his home in Medfield on lands whi h hi- father had acquired in the early laying out of the town, when it was a part of Dedham. He after- ward resided in Dorchester. He died in 1681, bequeath- ing hi- property to his widow and her sous. Only two of h's children lived to maturity and had families.
William (3) Cheney, son of William (2) Cheney, was born Aug. 3, 1666. He married Margaret who died April I, 1740. She and her husband were both members of the church. His name first ap- pears on a list of persons taxed for the support of the minister in Mendon, in October, 1695. The town voted, March 5, 1705-06, to give him "liberty to leave some land on Magor Miscock and take same and instead neer to Seth Chapin's house, neer to the road leading to Sherburne." He received another grant, April 13, 1706. He resided in that portion of Mendon which was afterward incorporated into Milford, and carried on his large farm amid the hardships and dangers of the time. He died July 1. 1753. He was a man of excel- lent character and much esteemed by all who knew him. In 1750 a member of the Milford church was dis- ciplined for intoxication and for "casting vile reflec- tions" at Mr. Cheney; and the pastor took occasion to record his opinion of Mr. Cheney as an "honourable and aged" man. Among his seven children was Wil- liam.
William (4) Cheney, son of William (3) and Mar- garet Cheney, was born Feb. 7, 1704. He married, at Dorchester, May 20, 1726, Joanna, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Wales) Thayer, of Braintree, born Aug. 18, 1706. She received a bequest from her father in 1752. Mr. Cheney was a member of the church of Mendon and one of those who were dismissed from that body to form the Milford church in 1741; was clerk of the Milford precinct from its organization until 1747. He was a joiner and a farmer, a man of good faculties. He died July 18, 1756. The seventh of his ten children was Ebenezer.
Ebenezer Cheney, son of William (4) and Joanna (Thayer) Cheney, was born in Mendon, July 10, bap- tized July 19, 1741. He married (first) March 18, 1760, Abigail Thompson, who died in Warwick, Jan. 16, 1776, aged forty-one years. He married (second) (published Oct. 18, 1776) Hannah Gould, who died Oct. 10, 1828, aged seventy. He served in the French and Indian War; enlisted from Mendon, April 27, 1760, in Captain William Jones' company; was discharged Nov. 26, 1760, after thirty weeks' service, roll dated at Boston, Feb. 25, 1760-61. He was a sergeant ( Archives Vol. 97, page 384). He was received in full communion in the church of Milford ( formerly part of Mendon), Aug. 30, 1767. After a few years he removed to Warwick, where he was at one time a member of the Board of Selectmen. The town of Warwick was divided in 1783, and the portion in which the Cheneys and Goodells resided was called Orange, and incorporated in 1810. This fact accounts for some statements made else- where. He remained in Orange and took rank as a leading citizen, a town officer in several instances. He and his wife sold, in 1798 and 1824, lands in Framing- ham, which had belonged to her relatives by the name of Learned. He died in Orange, Nov. 14, 1828. The line traces through Ebenezer, Jr.
Ebenezer (2) Cheney, son of Ebenezer (1) and Abigail ( Thompson) Cheney, was born in Mendon, Sept. 7. 1761. He married ( first) Feb. 17, 1785, Anna, daughter of Seth and Silence (Cheney) Nelson, born June 10, 1767; married (second) Anna Noyes of Mil- ford. He enlisted, May 10, 1777, in Harvey's company
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of Well's regiment, and served two months and ten days, serving at Ticonderoga, where his father had camped eighteen years before. Again, as a boy "of seventeen years, five feet and seven inches high," "hair brown," he enlisted from Warwick in Proctor's com- pany of Williams' regiment, April 5, 1779, for eight months. He served a whole year, receiving his dis- charge, April 15, 1780.
Ebenezer (2) Cheney lived for a time after the Revolutionary War at Wardsboro, Windham county, Vt., and in 1808 became a pioneer in the Chautauqua county region of New York. He made three journeys to Chautauqua, all of them on foot. On the first occa- sion he was accompanied by his son, Nelson E. Cheney, the journey being made for the purpose of locating a tract of pine timber adjacent to water power so that it might readily be converted into marketable lumber. He purchased 160 acres of land in the township of Kiantone from the Holland Land Company, and subse- quently returned to Vermont. Between 1808 and 1812 he made a second trip to Chautauqua county for the same purpose. Eventually another parcel of land was secured from the Holland Land Company, this tract in Poland township, a part of it on the main road between Jamestown and Kennedy, seven miles east of Jamestown, and two and one-half miles west of Kennedy, now in the possession of Wayne N. Cheney. The stream which furnished the power for the conversion of the timber into lumber was known as Cheney's brook, later named Dry brook. Eb- enezer Cheney was a man of remarkable physical en- durance, as is proved by the long distance he covered on foot. While prospecting for timber sites to and in Chautauqua county, he frequently traveled for weeks at a time without seeing a human being, his way often lying through dense forests of primeval growth. Through woods so thick that sunlight could scarcely penetrate, with giants of the forest towering often one hundred feet to the first limb, and fifty, seventy-five, and one hundred feet beyond, he made his way, often having to climb a high tree or hill to sight his bearings, with only the rivers and streams as dependable paths and guides. The game of the woods supplied him with the means of subsistence. There were plenty of bears, deer, panthers, wolves and smaller species, and the birds of the forests were numerous, and the streams were abounding in fish. Strange as it may seem, the most fierce animals gave him little trouble as they had their own natural prey. He came on an errand of peace, and the Indians, who were the sole inhabitants of the wild country, let him pass un- molested. Throughout his life he enjoyed visits to new territories, and on one occasion he traveled on foot through Western Pennsylvania and down the Ohio river as far as the settlement, now the city of Cincin- nati, crossing the Ohio by wading. He went to various parts of the counties adjoining Chautauqua, and passed through Fredonia and Jamestown when there were but a few log cabins in these places. After his second trip to Chautauqua county he returned to Vermont, gathered his belongings, and with his family returned to the place he had explored so thoroughly, locating in Kiantone township, clearing a piece of land, building a house of logs, and there making his permanent home. He died
Aug. 12, 1828. Among his children were Nelson E., of whom further ; Levi, Seth, Maria, Abigail, and Ruby.
Nelson E. Cheney, son of Ebenezer (2) Cheney, was born in Wardsboro, Windham county, Vt., Nov. 30, 1793. As a youth of fifteen years he accompanied his father to Chautauqua county, and later returned with all of Ebenezer Cheney's family to settle in Kiantone township. After his marriage he located in Poland township, on land purchased from his father, who orig- inally bought it from the Holland Land Company, and to this tract he added from time to time until he held title to more than 800 acres. He devoted himself largely of lumber operations, built a sawmill of good size at Cheney's brook in 1832-33, and there sawed much of the timber cut in the neighborhood. A large part of the product of his mill was rafted down the Conewango creek, the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Nelson E. Cheney, in addition to his pri- vate lumbering interests, was one of the founders of the National Chautauqua Bank of Jamestown, and a man of influence and standing in the locality. He is buried in Levant Cemetery. He married Hannah Merrill, and they were the parents of: 1. Maria, died aged eighteen years. 2. Emery M., of whom further. 3. Nelson, a well known physician of Chautauqua county and Corn- ing, N. Y., later in life a well known lecturer on Eng- lish literature. 4. Newell, a teacher and farmer, active in public life as collector of internal revenue, member of the County Board of Supervisors, and of the New York State Legislature; he held the rank of captain of the Ninth Regiment of New York Cavalry during the . Civil War, served under General Sheridan in the Shen- andoah Valley, and was historian of the Ninth Cavalry.
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