USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 71
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George Burnham Martin, youngest of the children of Abraham and Mary E. ( Burnham) Martin, was born in Carroll, now Kiantone, Chautauqua county, N. Y., June 3, 1853, and died at his farm in Kiantone, April 29, 1896. He was a graduate of Jamestown High School and Princeton College, receiving his degree of A. B. from Princeton in 1876. He did some teaching and tutoring and about this time of his life pursued a course in the- ology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, later, however, following the life of a farmer. He was a man of intellect and high character, greatly be- loved by all who knew him, and was highly regarded in Kiantone.
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Mr. Martin married, in Kiantone, July 2, 1878, Tella Evans, born in the town of Carroll. June 8, 1853, daugh- ter of Addis and Helen (Traver) Evans. Mrs. Tella (Evans) Martin survives her husband, and in 1909 bought her present farm consisting of twenty-one acres at Cheney's Point in North Harmony, her postoffice, Ashville, R. F. D. 63. Her only son, Frederick P. Martin, born May 8, 1882, in Effingham, Kan., resides with his mother. Margaret Helen, the only daughter, born in Jamestown, N. Y., Nov. 12, 1887, became the wife of Maynard T. Strickland, and resides at Cheney's Point.
MARTIN JOSEPH PAQUIN-Though Martin Joseph Paquin may be a native of Canada, he is never- theless a good, staunch American, a citizen who is a credit to his city and who endeavors to assist in the welfare of that municipality. In business he is pains- taking and careful, and may be classed among the re- liable jewelers of Jamestown.
Born in Hamilton, Canada, Nov. 11, 1881, Martin Joseph Paquin was only six years old when his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Paquin, crossed the border line and took up their residence in Jamestown. The elder Paquin immediately entered into the grocery business, meeting with considerable success. He is now deceased, as is also his wife. Martin J. Paquin attended the parochial schools as a hoy until seventeen years of age, when he entered the employ of J. M. Cushman, who was in the jewelry business at Brooklyn square, James- town. He served an apprenticeship for three years, at the expiration of which time he went into the store of Joseph Keiser on Third street as a salesman, remaining with Mr. Keiser for two years; then, Mr. Keiser selling out his business to Frank Chase, young Paquin remained with the new owner for one year. He then had an opportunity to better his position, and he entered the store of S. P. Carlson on South Main street, but at the end of six months he returned to Mr. Chase, where he had formerly been employed. Eventually Mr. Chase sold his business, and Mr. Paquin accepted a position with B. L. Arnson on Main street. After five years he entered into partnership with his employer, the firm name being Arnson & Paquin. This was in 1912. Two years later the young man sold his interest in the busi- ness to Mr. Arnson, and in 1914 established the store of Paquin & Company at No. 103 West Third street, dealers in jewelry, silverware, etc., and is still located there. Mr. Paquin is a member of the Board of Com- merce, of Jamestown, and is actively interested in all its work. He also is connected with the Knights of Columbus, taking a prominent part in the association. The Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks are others of Mr. Paquin's interests. being affiliated with the local lodges. He and his family attend the Roman Catholic church.
Martin Joseph Paquin was married in Jamestown, Ate. 31, 1004, to Catherine Clair Cooper, the daughter of James Cooper, who was for several years prior to his death in the Art Metal Company of Jamestown. Mr and Mrs. Paquin have one child. James, who is at present a pupil in the parochial school. The greatest pleasere of Mr. Panquin's life is to spend his little va- cation' out in the open. With his gun or fishing rod he may be found tramping for miles through the deep,
still woods or beside some quiet stream in search of the wary trout, enjoying the life of the great out-of- doors.
CHARLES T. CHAPMAN, D. D. S., is one of the well known professional men of Mayville and Chantan- qua county, as was his father, the late C. Frank Chap- man, who was a prominent attorney. C. Frank Chap- man was born at Woodstock, Windham county, Conn., but came to Chautauua county with his parents, who settled in Stockton, and when old enough, attended the village school of Mayville. Later the young man en- tered the law office of Obed Edson at Sinclairville, in preparation for his future legal studies. He became a student at the Albany Law School, graduating from it in 1876. Following this, he located in Sinclairville, where he practiced law for some time. He later moved to Stockton and eventually, in 1896, located in Mayville, continuing the practice of law there until his death, Ang. 6, 1914, at the age of sixty-three years.
Mr. Chapman was very active in all public affairs con- nected with Mayville, serving on the Board of Education and the Village Board for some years while he lived there. He also represented the towns of Stockton and Charlotte. C. Frank Chapman was a man highly respected in the community in which he lived, and his death was greatly lamented. He married Fannie Morris Chapman, and to them were born four children : Leo L., a business man of Fargo, N. D .; Lena M., now residing at the home of her mother ; Anna M., a teacher in one of the schools at Utica, N. Y .; and Dr. Charles T. Chapman, of fur- ther mention.
Dr. Charles T. Chapman received his early education in the grammar and high schools of Mayville, taking the regular high school course. After that he went to the Chamberlain Military Institute, at Randolph, N. Y., where he received a course of military training, and at which he was commissioned a captain. Following his graduation from the military school at Randolph, he pursued a course in dentistry at the University of Buf- falo, from which he graduated in 1912 with the degree of D. D. S. He passed the examination of the State Dental Board, and in the same year went to Medina, where he was associated with Dr. G. H. Simmonds. He remained there but a short time, when he came back to Mayville and in 1913 opened an office of his own, where he has practiced ever since.
Dr. Chapman is a Republican and greatly interested in the political life of his home town. He was at one time a member of the School Board and is now a trustee of the village. Ile is a member of the State and National Dental societies.
In Mayville, Nov. 29, 1913, Dr. Chapman married May Granger, a resident of that place. Of this union two children were born : Mary Anne and James Morris. Mrs. Chapman's father, Dr. James Granger, was a den- tist of Mayville. He was very active in all things con- nected with Freemasonry, being a Mason of some prom- inence, a highly respected gentleman, and a successful dentist. Ile died in 1913.
WILLIS H. WHITE, a prosperous and representa- tive farmer of Conewango Valley, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and for some years an overseer of the poor in
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Artur R. Losanna
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that district. is a native of the county, having been born in Ellington, Chautauqua county, N. Y., June 8, 1880, the son of Delos W. and Martha M. (Main) White, the former a respected and successful farmer of that neigh- borhood for the greater part of his life.
Willis H. White in his young days attended the graded school at Ellington, after passing through which he became a student in the Ellington High School, from which he eventually graduated, creditably. Thereafter, until the present, he has applied himself industriously, intelligently and successfully to farming occupations, and has applied many modern scientific methods to the working of his farm at Conewango Valley. He is a member of the local Grange, and is a conscientious Christian, member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Conewango Valley, of which institution he is a steady supporter. And during the recent war, he contributed loyally and unstintedly to the various national funds raised for the proper prosecution of the war, in its many phases. Also, during that time of tension and national effort, he, as a loyal, whole-hearted American agriculturist, applied himself with even greater zest to matters of production upon his own farm, to coop- erate in the supreme national effort to bring such an abnormal yield of foodstuffs that this nation would be able to make up to its allies what they, because of the close proximity of the strife, had been unable to pro- duce. What was the result of that effort by American farmers is now history, and creditable history, and those who had part in the endeavor have reason to be pleased with the outcome, and to have such individual part duly noted in individual history.
Willis H. White was married at Ellington, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., March 27, 1907, to Rosa E. Alverson, born Sept. 3, 1881, the daughter of James W. and Mary A. (Davis) Alverson. Her father was born in Leon, Cat- taraugus county, N. Y., and lived there until about twelve years old, then moved to Ellington, and her mother belongs to the Davis family of Ellington, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Willis H. White are the parents of three children : Muriel, born Feb. 25, 1909; Grace, born Feb. 11, 1912; Mary Alice, born Dec. 28, 1915.
Mr. White is representative of the enterprising younger farmers of Chautauqua county, is an indefa- tigable worker, a good and hospitable neighbor, and a man of good integrity, moral and material.
ARTHUR R. GORANSON is reckoned to be one of the foremost musicians in Jamestown. From his boyhood music had a great attraction for him, forming the one great interest in his life.
He was born in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 1, 1889, his par- ents being Nels R. and Julia (Jacobson ) Goranson. They were both natives of Sweden, but came to Amer- ica before the birth of their son Arthur R., residing for a time in Chicago. Nels R. Goranson was a teacher of music and the organist and choir director of the Swe- dish Zion Church in Jamestown at the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 8, 1912. His wife is still living.
Young Goranson attended the public schools of Chi- cago, graduating from the high school. After this he took a course at North Park College, and it was during
this time that he decided upon music as his future career. Taking up the serious study of this art he entered the American Conservatory of Music at Chi- cago, taking the academic and normal course, and after that the post-graduate course. He received a certificate of efficiency, having completed the course of study in piano and harmony, testifying as to his ability to be a teacher in these branches. Mr. Goranson left Chicago in 1908, going to Jamestown, N. Y., where he taught a class in piano training at his home. In the fall of 1909 he returned to Chicago and completed his post-graduate course; he returned to Jamestown and resumed the teaching of music in the summer of 1910. About this time Mr. Goranson became assistant organ- ist in the Swedish Zion Church, and in January, 1911, he became organist of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church, which position he held until July, 1913, when he returned to the Swedish Zion Church as organist and director, a position he continued to hold until Sep- tember, 1917, when he became organist and musical director at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Jamestown, and at the present time occupies this posi- tion. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Goranson became con- nected with the Jamestown Conservatory of Music, and since that time has been the teacher of piano, organ and cornet playing and the theory of music. At one time Mr. Goranson was on the Board of Aldermen, repre- senting the Third ward. He also was connected with the Hanvey Motor Sales Company, being vice-president of it, and at the present time is proprietor of the Goranson Music Store, having succeeded J. A. Eck- man, May 15, 1920.
Mr. Goranson married, in Jamestown, June 23, 1915, Evelyn Lindberg, a resident of that city. They have one child, Phyllis, born May 16, 1918.
ELMER E. WILLING, respected and successful farmer, well known to agriculturists in the Westfield section of Chautauqua county, N. Y., prominent in the functioning of Volusia Grange, and a member of the Republican county committee, comes of one of the pioneer families of Chautauqua county, N. Y. His family has been in the county for a century, in fact, his father, a century ago, came to live on the tract now tilled by him, and he was born in the house in which he has lived all his life, with the exception of two years.
Elmer E. Willing was born Feb. 28, 1861, the son of William J. and Sarah (Parment) Willing. In his youth he attended the district school nearest to his home, and long before he finally closed his schooling he had be- come skilled in many of the minor tasks of farm life. After leaving school, he applied himself busily to the affairs of his father's farm, and when his father died, and the property passed to his brother and himself, in equal shares, they became business partners, and jointly cultivated the land until the former's death. Isaac Jenkins Willing, brother of Elmer E. Willing, never married, and at his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1916, the farm became the property of the surviving brother, Elmer E. It is a well-improved tract of 114 acres, there is an extensive vineyard, and the balance of the acreage is well adapted for the purpose to which it has been put, dairying and general farming.
Mr. Willing is a Presbyterian by descent and con-
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viction, but there being no church of his faith within convenient distance of his farm, he and his family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he con- tributes consistently. He is interested in all things relating to agriculture, and for many years has been a member of the farmers' fraternal organization, the Grange: he is a past master of Volusia Grange, and also its present overseer. In political movements he has taken some part, but he has not concerned himself actively in the majority of national political campaigns, although he has been a loyal member of the Republican party. In his district, however, he is a factor of some consequence in political matters, and has held some offices in the local administration, including those of collector and constable.
On Jan. 20, 188;, Mr. Willing married Minnie Eliza- beth Swartz, of the same township. They were the parents of three children, two of whom they succeeded in rearing. The deceased child, Ruth, whose fine na- ture caused them to love her with parental devotion, was a student at the Westfield High School when she became sick and died, at the age of seventeen years, just as she appeared to be blossoming into a becom- ing womanhood. It was a sad blow to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer E. Willing, but the keenness of the loss has been tempered by the realization that they still have two devoted daughters, who have both remained with them. These two, the surviving children of Elmer E. and Minnie Elizabeth (Swartz) Willing, are : I. Alice Irene, who was educated in the district and Westfield high schools, and afterwards, having decided to enter the teaching profession, at the State Normal School at Fredonia, from which she graduated and went into pro- fessional life in due course. For seven years she was a teacher in Chautauqua county schools, but recently she has remained home with her parents. 2. Dorothy Esther, who was educated at the district and Westfield high schools, and has since remained at home.
By reason of the association of his family with the pioneers of Chautauqua county, Elmer E. Willing has a right to inclusion in county history, and also by reason of his own steadfastness of purpose, many decades of activity in useful productiveness and material indepen- dence. his interest in all things pertaining to Chautau- qua county, and the esteem and respect felt for him by other responsible Chautauqua county people should be sufficient to gain him note in the work. He is much esteemed in his own community, is well known among agriculturists in other sections of the county, and he appears to be universally liked.
HENRY SHERMAN STRUNK-The Strunk fam- ily formed an important clement of the community in the town of Ellicott. About the year 1750, Henry Strunk and his sister, Katharine Strunk, arrived in New York from the north of Germany. Henry worked for five years and Katharine for three years to pay their pa age money. Later llenry Strunk settled at Troy. ". Y., where he died in old age, leaving ten children. John Strunk, eighth son, and Jonas Simmons c: me to Jame town, N. Y., in 1800. Jonas Simmons, ho e wie was Elsie (Strunk) Simmons, settled on what has later been known as the Gilbert Strunk farm at Finanna, and John Strunk located on the Dwight
Strunk farm northwest of Jamestown. The Simmons' family had fifteen children, of whom thirteen came with them, while John Strunk and wife brought six chil- dren with them into the wilderness. Jacob Strunk, an elder brother of John Strunk, brought his wife and ten children from the old homestead in Rensselaer county to Chautauqua county in 1816. From that day to this the Strunk family have been prominent in this part of Chautauqua county, intermarrying with many of the old families of the county, and developing a family history that every member of the family may well be proud of. There are few of the old families in the town of Ellicott that are not related in some way to the Strunks.
Henry Sherman Strunk, whose career is herein traced, is a descendant of Jacob Strunk, aforemen- tioned, his parents, Charles R. Strunk, born in Flu- vanna, and Amy (Sherman) Strunk, born in the town of Ellicott, being lifelong residents of that section. Charles R. Strunk was a prosperous farmer, a man well liked and highly esteemed.
Henry Sherman Strunk was born at the homestead in the town of Ellicott, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Ang. 3. 1869, and is now (1921) an honored, substantial farmer of his native town. He was educated in the public schools and Jamestown Business College, his years of school life having been well improved. His entire business life has been devoted to agriculture in its varied forms, and he has caused his acres to yield him profitable returns. He is a man of enterprise and progress, standing well in the community in which his life has been passed. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, an official of the local grange, and a Re- publican in politics.
Mr. Strunk married, in Jamestown, Oct. 21, 1897, Aurilla Sherman, born March 3, 1872, in Columbus, Pa., daughter of Ira G. and Frances (Bull) Sherman, and granddaughter of Gideon Sherman, a prosperous farmer and cattle buyer of the town of Busti, in the part that is now Ellicott. Ira G. Sherman was born in Ellicott, Chautauqua county, N. Y.,, and his wife was born in England. Mrs. Strunk is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Strunk are the parents of two children: Hazel Allene, born Sept. 9, 1898, an expert bookkeeper in the employ of the Pennsylvania Gas Company in Jamestown; Charles Henry, born April 18, 1902, a clerk in the Bank of Jamestown.
R. LISTON SPENCER, a well known agriculturist, residing on lot 13, Kiantone township, N. Y., was born in Kiantone, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1869, and is the son of Smith Spencer, born in Kiantone, Aug. 28, 1820, and Mary Ann (King) Spencer, born in Ashville, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1838.
R. Liston Spencer received his early education in the public schools of Kiantone and Jamestown, N. Y., and Jamestown Business College. After finishing his studies, he spent several years at office and mill work in Jamestown and Frewsburg, N. Y., and Hazelhurst, l'a. In 1902, he returned to the old homestead in Kian- tone, now known as Eastview Farm, a part of which was purchased by Mr. Spencer's grandfather, Charles Spencer, from the Holland Land Company, in 1818,
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the latter named having come to Chautauqua county in 1816. Mr. Spencer's great-grandfather Smith came to Chautauqua county in 1817. R. Liston Spencer de- voted his time to general farming, in which occupa- tion he continues at the present time. In politics, Mr. Spencer votes independently. He is connected finan- cially with the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Jamestown. He is prominent in social circles as well as business circles, being a member of the Knights of the Maccabees; Dairymen's League; Farm Bureau, and the Grange.
On Sept. 8, 1894, at Kantone, N. Y., Mr. Spencer married Hattie Bell Wright, born Dec. 1, 1871, a daughter of Joel L. Wright, born at Knoxborough, N. Y., Sept. 23, 1843, and Emily Francisco Wright, born at Augusta, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1846. To this union have been born four children: Iva May, born Aug. 17, 1896; Fern Isabelle, born July 17, 1898; Mildred Eliza- beth, born May 30, 1901; and Marion Emily, born May 10, 1906, died March 30, 1909.
In conclusion would say that Mr. Spencer is a man of superior business ability, of strict integrity and sterling worth, stands high in the esteem of his asso- ciates, and has a host of close friends throughout his native township.
FRANK WORTHINGTON SMITH, owner of the oldest grist mill in the town of Chautauqua, Chautauqua county, N. Y., has had a successful career in merchan- dising, milling, and farming enterprises, and has lived in Chautauqua county all his life.
The Smith family homestead, in which he was born July 27, 1874, was situated about one-quarter of a mile from his present home and place of business, Hartfield, Chautauqua county. His parents, William and Amanda (Dibble) Smith, had lived in the neigh- borhood for many years prior to that; in fact, William Smith was an infant when his father, grandfather of Frank W. Smith, settled in Chautauqua county, and took part in the early pioneer efforts to bring the wild country into successful cultivation.
In his youth, Frank W. Smith attended the old Plank Road district school, and even in his youngest school days did much work upon the paternal farm. When he was eleven years of age, he bound himself to a farmer in Ripley township so that he might be able to attend school in that place, where the facilities were so much better than those which prevailed in the smaller school of his own district. He continued work- ing for the Ripley farmer until he was in his second year in the Ripley High School. Then he closed his school days altogether, and for seven years thereafter found steady employment on the state highway, taking part in the construction of a substantial brick and ce- ment highway, twenty-nine miles in length, between Westfield and Jamestown, N. Y. In March, 1913, he went into independent business in Hartfield, as a dealer in grain, feed and coal, and in course of time acquired another mill and farm, within the boundaries of the town of Chautauqua, N. Y., this later purchase giving him the distinction of owning the oldest grist mill in Chautauqua,
Mr. Smith has always been an energetic, resolute worker, and his success has been based mainly upon
that good quality. Ability as a man of business has had of course consequential part in his success, and other good qualities have contributed, but in the main deter- mined application to the work that came to his hand has been his main stepping-stone to success. His farm- ing operations need quite a lot of his time, and his feed business is of such extent that he has steady employ- ment for three men, for besides the retailing of feed, grain, coal, and such like commodities, he does quite a lot of custom grinding for neighboring mills.
The Smiths were originally from Herkimer county, N. Y., but four generations have now had residence in Chautauqua county. Amanda (Dibble) Smith, mother of Frank W. Smith, is still living, and is with her son. The family church is the Methodist Episcopal, of which Mr. Smith is a steady supporter.
On Nov. 28, 1895, Mr. Smith married Lillian Shaw, of Mayville, N. Y. They have six children: I. Clif- ford, born Feb. 10, 1897; he graduated at the May- ville High School, and is now agent of the Jamestown & Northwestern Railway, at Mayville, N. Y .; he mar- ried Eva Hall. 2. Clayton, born Oct. 9, 1898; was educated in the public schools of Mayville, N. Y., and now assists his father in the management of the feed and coal business. 3. Leola, born June 5, 1905. 4. Clair, born Aug. 8, 1907. 5. Cleo, born Jan. 6, 1912. 6. Linetta, born April 29, 1913. The four last named children all attend school.
Bearing in mind that his success in life has been entirely unaided, and despite many discouraging cir- cumstances in his years of schooling, and early business effort, the rise of Frank Worthington Smith from com- parative poverty to a position of consequential substance in his community is a meritorious achievement. He is a sincere worker for the advancement of his home town and in its political life has taken some part. He is a Republican, and member of the town Republican com- mittee. During the war, he gave unstinted support to the various patriotic funds raised for the furtherance of the great cause.
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