USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 73
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ALLEN RATER-As an all but lifelong resident of Ripley, Mr. Rater is numbered among the representa- tive men of his township. Successful as an agricultur- ist and active as a citizen, he holds a prominent place in his community and stands high in the esteem of his neighbors of three generations.
Allen Rater was born Jan. 17, 1852, in Mina town- ship, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and is a son of Henry and Henrietta Rater. When the boy was three or four years old his parents moved to Ripley township, and there he received his education at district school No. 10. Having been born and reared on a farm it was natural that, on reaching manhood, Mr. Rater should choose agriculture for his life work. The farm of 106 acres on which he now lives is the Rater home- stead, every one of its numerous improvements having been made by Mr. Rater or his father. It is situated at Rater's Corner and there Mr. Rater carries on a fine dairy in conjunction with general farming. Eighty-six acres are under cultivation, and the estate includes the best timber land. The livestock comprises nineteen cows, three horses, four hogs and one hundred chick- ens. In politics Mr. Rater has always been faithful to the principles of the Republican party, and at various times has served as trustee of school No. 10, his tenure of office comprising in all ten years. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Rater married, Jan. 7, 1880, Mary Meader, of Westfield, and they are the parents of three living children: 1. Edward Allen, educated in district school No. 10; married Winnie Russell; they live in Ripley village, and have four children: Howard, Luella, Gladys and Clara Belle. 2. Frederick Herbert, educated in
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the same manner as his brother: married Mary Booth; they live on the homestead with Mr. and Mrs. Rater, and have two children: Doris Mildred and Ethel Vir- ginia. 3. Bertha Lillian, educated at the same school as her brothers: married Lonis J. Curtis, Nov. 12, 1919; they reside in North East. Two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rater are deceased: Louis Murray, who died at five years old, and Mand, who was educated at district school No. 10, married E. W. Watson and be- came the mother of one child, Harold. Mrs. Watson passed away in June, 1917.
The veteran farmers of an agricultural community are the men who have laid the foundations of its prog- ress and prosperity. Allen Rater, by aggressive, per- sistent and honorable industry, has helped to make Chautauqua county what it is today.
PHILIP B. PICKUP, prosperous and respected farmer of Conewango Valley, Chantauqua county, N. Y .. and a man of admirable characteristics, was born Feb. 29, 1876, at New Albion, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., the son of Chancy W. and Kate Juda (Rich) Pickup, the former a retired farmer, well known in Chautauqua county.
Philip B. Pickup was well educated, passing from the graded to the high school, and successfully gradu- ating therefrom. In due course, he became a farmer, his early years as such being with his father. Eventu- ally, however, he took the responsibility of the farm management. and proved himself to be a capable farmer. He has always been energetic, and he has given modern methods of farming close study and has profited thereby. He is a member of the local Grange, and is active in his co-operation therewith. And in all mat- ters pertaining to farming, he takes marked interest. Also in community affairs he has taken much part. During the World War he was particularly active; he would have liked to have entered the military forces, and when the time came for those over thirty-six years of age to register for such service he did not hesitate to comply, notwithstanding that he was the father of a large family. His greatest value to the country, how- ever, was as a farmer, and he probably would not have been taken for military service. But. as a whole-sonled patriot. he had ielt keenly upon matters relating to the war since the nation first entered the struggle, and had been one of those zealous ones among American farm- ers who had applied themselves more closely to the cultivation of their own holdings as soon as it was an- nounced by the Government that the allies of the nation looked to America for food. The supreme effort made by the American farmer is well known, in the aggregate, and the effect it had upon the war is also we'l known, and is a creditable page of national history of that trying period, but the individual part taken in the national war effort by the individual American farmer could not be noted excepting in local histories : uch a this. And not only in personal services did Philip B. Pickup help in the national war work; he subscribed to the limit of his means to the several funds raised for the purposes of the war and his home was ever open to welcome returning soldiers. Had he been younger, and less encumbered, he would undoubtedly have joined the military or naval forces, for his heart
was in the cause, from the beginning until the final, victorious end. Mr. Pickup is an earnest churchman, a Methodist, and a member of the local church, to which he contributes, and in the work of which he has taken an active part. Fraternally, Mr. Pickup is an Odd Fellow, member of the local branch of that order.
Mr. Pickup married, Dec. 15, 1895, at Lavant, N. Y., Jessie May Potter, daughter of Allen and Amanda (Hodges) Potter. She was born in Dayton, N. Y., Jan. 5, 1877, and is the mother of six children: Arthur Gerald, born June 29, t897; Leigh D., born Dec. 13, 1899: Marguerite Mabel, born Nov. 29, 1901; Everitt P., born April 24, 1905; Sidney Paul, born May 13, 1908: Catherine Phyllis, born Feb. 25, 1918.
Mr. Pickup is yet in the prime of manhood, but has prospered well in his farming, and has earned a good reputation, being straightforward in all his dealings, which characteristic has made him a good neighbor and a valuable citizen. As a farmer, he comes well into the responsible class of representative Chautauqua county agriculturists.
CHARLES HENRY NUNDY, esteemed and well- to-do farmer of the Westfield section of Chautauqua county, N. Y., is a native of the county, born in West- field. March 29. 1871. Although he learned the print- ing trade, and spent about six years at it, he has lived in the vicinity of Westfield throughout his life, and for more than forty years has lived on a farm. He has been a responsible farmer for almost thirty years, and has always been very keenly interested in all that per- tains to farming. He has had prominent connection with the local Grange, is past master of the lodge, was treasurer and also purchasing agent for it, and is one of its best workers. He has held office in the local dis- trict administration and his church record is com- mendable, indicating that he is a man of strong char- acter and conscientious Christian spirit; he is steward, trustce and deacon of the Methodist Episcopal church at Volusia.
Charles Henry Nundy married, Dec. 30, 1903, Bertha M. Fowler, of Owosso, Shiawassee county, Mich. They have two children: 1. Janet, who is now ( t920) six- teen years old, and is a student at the Westfield High School. 2. Lloyd, now thirteen years of age, and in the seventh grade of the public school.
PETER ALFRED NELSON-The farming and stockraising interests of Chantanqua county, N. Y., have a worthy representative in Peter Alfred Nelson, who is the owner of a fine farm. It is a well improved place, its neat and thrifty appearance indicating the supervi- sion of a careful and painstaking owner, as well as a man of good business ahility, who thoroughly under- stands the vocation which he follows. A native of Sweden, Mr. Nelson was born March 23, 1862, a son of August and Christine (Safey) Nelson.
Peter A. Nelson received his cducation in the schools of Sweden. Soon after leaving school, he came to the United States, locating in Chautauqua county, N. Y., and immediately took up the tailoring trade, at which occupation he worked for a number of years. How-
THE SHUFELT FARM NEAR WESTFIELD
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ever, believing that farm life was better and more suited to his tastes, he purchased some land and turned his attention to the development of a good farm. There he carried on agricultural pursuits, and since that time success has attended his efforts, he now owning about 150 acres of the best farm land in the county. Mr. Nelson has lived in Chautauqua county the greater part of his life, and is numbered among its active and influ- ential farmers. Deeply interested in all the affairs of his county, he takes an active part in all measures for the general good. He is regarded throughout his town- ship as an honest man, enterprising, energetic and reli- able, who is willing to give a helping hand to all in need.
In politics, Mr. Nelson is a Republican, but in local affairs votes for the men and measures that he thinks are for the best interests of all the people. He is also prominent in social circles, as well as business, being a respected member of the Grange. Mr. Nelson is finan- cially connected with the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Jamestown, N. Y. He and his family are prominent members of the Swedish Mission Church of James- town, and are interested in all its affairs, whether social or business.
On Feb. 3, 1903, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Anna Mary Johnson, who was born in 1874, in Sweden, a daughter of Nels and Ellen Johnson. To this union has been born one child, Elmer.
In conclusion will say that his life has been one of hard, resolute and persevering industry, illustrative of the essentials of true life, and one that will insure him immeasurable success.
CHARLES H. TAYLOR, one of the most enter- prising and progressive farmers of Kennedy, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., where he has for many years been successfully engaged in general farming, is a native of Essex county, N. Y., where his birth occurred April 14, 1847. He is a son of Eli and Lucinda (Jenks) Taylor, who came West in 1852 from Chester, Essex county, N. Y., where the former followed the occupation of milling.
In 1864 Charles H. Taylor and three brothers pur- chased the property on which he now lives. This prop- erty, which has always possessed natural fertility, but which under his most capable operation has been brought to the very highest state of cultivation possible, is now justly regarded as one of the finest farms here- abouts. Mr. Taylor has always been keenly interested in public issues, both local and national, and through- out his life has been a staunch supporter of the prin- ciples and policies of the Republican party. Although he has always discharged his duties as a citizen to the fullest extent, Mr. Taylor has never been a politician in any sense of the word, nor has he sought political pre- ferment or public office of any kind. During the great crisis in the Nation's history, which culminated in the Civil War between the North and South, Mr. Taylor responded readily to the necessities of the Union and enlisted, Aug. 20, 1864, in Company C, 9th Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry. He served for nine months and twenty days in the great struggle, and was then honorably discharged, June 1, 1865. Mr. Taylor
has always kept up the associations formed by him at that time, and is now a prominent member of Sturde- vant Post, No. 282, Grand Army of the Republic, of Kennedy. He is also a member of the local grange at Kennedy, and has taken an active part in promoting the agricultural interests of the community. He is a Meth- odist in his religious belief, and is a prominent member of the church of that denomination at Kennedy. He is a liberal supporter of the work of the congregation, especially that connected with the philanthropic and benevolent undertakings of the church.
Charles H. Taylor married, May 17, 1871, Flora V. Jobes, a native of Pennsylvania, where her birth oc- curred, June 9, 1850, and a daughter of John J. and Mary (Morton) Jobes, old and highly respected resi- dents there. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of a son, Lynn H., born Nov. 28, 1873, who married Fanny Wheelock, of Kennedy, where her birth occurred July 24, 1888, and by whom he has had two children: Hu- bert L., born March 2, 1912, and Frances A., born Oct. 22, 1913.
JOHN NEGUS-The farm in section 58, town of Busti, now owned and managed by Miss Mary E. Negus, was bought from the Holland Land Company, in 1831, by Elijah Bacon Carpenter, the maternal great-grand- father of Miss Negus. Elijah B. Carpenter, born on the Island of Nantucket, Mass., married Catherine Tanner, in Saratoga, N. Y., and later arrived in Chautauqua county, having made the journey with an ox-team. Joshua Negus, grandfather of Miss Mary E. Negus, was a Pennsylvania farmer, residing at Union City.
John Negus was born in Union City, Pa., Aug. 9, 1826, and died at his home in the town of Spartansburg, Pa., Sept. 7, 1890. He was a farmer all his active years, and a man of strong character and upright life. In reli- gions faith he was a member of the Society of Friends, and in political belief a Republican. John Negus mar- ried, in Busti, Emmeline C. Smith, born in Busti, May 22, 1837, daughter of William and Emmeline (Carpen- ter) Smith, her father born in Cattaraugus county, her mother in Saratoga county, N. Y. John and Emmeline C. (Smith) Negus were the parents of eight children : I. John R., born Nov. 8, 1858, died in infancy. 2. Clayton W., born Aug. 19, 1860; married Mary L. Cole- man, of Youngsville, Pa., and their son, Marion, was a soldier of the World War, but was not sent overseas, his service being at Camp Sherman, Ohio. 3. Mary E., born in Union City, Pa., Sept. 24, 1862, now owning and residing on the old Carpenter farm in Busti. 4. Elwood, born May 23, 1865. 5. Nellie M., born April 2, 1870. 6. Mercy A., born Nov. 25, 1872. 7. Ray, born May 29, 1876. 8. Susie, born Feb. 6, 1878, deceased.
ARTHUR CLARK MESSINGER, prosperous and respected farmer of Summerdale, Chautauqua county, N. Y., is the present head of the Chautauqua county family of that name, and for fifty-two years has lived on the farming property of the family at Summerdale.
Arthur C. Messinger was born in Sherman, May 16, 1859, the son of Calvin and Emeline (Dorman) Messin- ger. His father first bought 234 acres of land, and until he was ten years old Arthur C. attended the district
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school situated at the town line, but his father having found that so large a farm was more than he could satisfactorily handle, he sold that farm, and bought one of 100 acres which now belongs to the son, and there- after Arthur C. attended the district school of Summer- dale. Since his school days, he has applied himself in- dustriously and successfully to the cultivation of the home farm, which now is a valuable dairy farm. He has been very enterprising in his farming, and has mani- fested a resolute spirit in adversity. In 1880 a spacious barn belonging to him was burned to the ground, and the one that he built to replace it was eighteen years later also razed by fire, notwithstanding which his farm to-day is equipped with as fine buildings as one would wish for on a property of that size. Included in his equipment is a modern butter making plant, which has been very satisfactory in operation. Politically, Mr. Messinger is a Republican, and being a man well re- spected in the district, and as capable as he is honor- able, he has more than once been approached by the party leaders to stand for office. But he has always refused, preferring to give what service he can to the party without return.
On Nov. 25. 1885, Mr. Messinger married Cordelia Northway, of Summerdale, N. Y. They are the parents of one child, Cora Sophia, born Jan. 23, 1891. and eventually married Elmer Griswold, a substantial farmer of Summerdale, N. Y. They have three children : Mil- dred, Ralph, and Clark.
As a family, the Messingers were by religious con- viction Presbyterians, and although Mr. Messinger has not been a regular attendant at church services, he is an earnest, conscientious Christian, and by the general acts of his life has manifested an adherence to the true principles of Christ's teaching. He has had his due part in community activities, and during the World War gave unstintedly of his means to the several patri- otic funds promoted to further the cause of the country and its allies. Especially was his effort appreciable in the national cause by his whole-hearted cooperation with the government to bring about increased yield of foodstuffs from American agricultural lands during the years of struggle and the consequent impoverishment of European lands. The part played by the farmers of America in the sustenance of the world during the World War is now national history, of meritorious rec- ord, in the reading of which every loyal and patriotic farmer who did his share must find pleasure.
IVA FRANK MOORE, who for years was in pos- ton of a substantial barbering business in Kennedy, N. Y . and now devote- his entire time to farming upon the property he acquired at Conewango Valley, is a broadminded man who is generally esteemed by those whe know Him: that is to say, by the majority of the prope of the neighborhood, for he is known to most of t . fem'e who have been accustomed to come to Kon- Mr. Moore i very popular, is an engaging con- wer-ationali-t. and has had an interesting career.
Ita Frank Moore was born May 26, 1861, at Lcon, forrige county, N. Y. the son of James M. and La Grave. Moore, the former a successful farmer of th . prace. He attended the elementary school of
his native place. When he was twenty-six years of age, he enlisted in Company H, 18th Infantry, and served in the regular military forces for three years and three months. Coming into Chautauqua county, N. Y., he became a barber at Kennedy, N. Y., and there for many years had a very lucrative business in that line, so much so that he was eventually able to acquire a farming property of appreciable extent, to which estate he eventually retired from the barbering business alto- gether. He has been a Republican in politics for very many years, and has followed national politics closely, and has at various periods of high political controversy shown that he is a close student of politics, and also a man of broad mind. He has been of appreciable serv- ice to the Republican cause in his locality through many presidential campaigns, but he has never sought nor accepted political office. Of late years, he has taken an increasing interest in the activities of the farmers' organization, the Grange, of which he has been a member for many years. He is a popular member of Kennedy Lodge, No. 522, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His genial disposition and sincere interest in his fellows bring him in return genuine friendship from a very wide circle of representative Chatauqua county people.
On April 17, 1892, at Cassadaga, N. Y., Mr. Moore was married to Myrtie Ray Kapple, who was born in Sheridan, Oct. 6, 1871, daughter of Ray and Emma (Rundell) Kapple. To them have been born five chil- dren: 1. Eunice, born March 4, 1894. 2. Florence, born April 15, 1895; married Leo B. McKoon, and now has two children. 3. Charles W., born June 11, 1897; married Mabel Willis. 4. Ruth, born March 27, 1902. 5. Emmett H., born Jan. 30, 1908. His son, Charles W., is a veteran of the late war, having served for fif- teen months in the military forces. He entered the army, Oct. 15, 1917, and was sent to Camp Wheeler, Georgia, for training. From that camp he was honor- ably discharged, Dec. 20, 1918, the signing of the armi- stice making the holding of the home troops for a further period unnecessary.
CLARK HARRISON SHUFELT, honored and prosperous farmer of Chautauqua township, Chantau- qua county, N. Y., a man who has reached substantial success in life entirely by his own efforts, is a native of the county, and was born within half a mile of his pres- ent home, in Chautauqua township. For more than fifty years he has farmed in Chautauqua county, and for the last fifteen years or more has owned the rich farm of 175 acres he now cultivates, and each year he pays out in wages to hired help, quite an appreciable sum of money.
He comes of a family long known in the Westfield- Mayville section of Chautauqua county. He was born on Aug. 20, 1852, the son of Jeremiah and Charlotta (Smart) Shufelt, the former a man widely known and much respected in his day. Jeremiah Shufelt was one of the oldest blacksmiths on the main Mayville-West- field road, and established himself as a blacksmith in that location in 1845.
llis son, Clark H. Shufelt, was educated in nearby district schools and later became a student at the May-
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ville High School. Since leaving school he has farmed, following agricultural pursuits for wages in his early manhood, and later becoming an independent farmer, possessed of a good property and prosperous. He has always been a hard worker, and has always shown him- self to be a good farmer, observant and enterprising. He enters extensively into dairy farming, having a fine herd of forty cattle. Including pasturage, about 125 of the 175 acres which constitute his farm are in culti- vation, and he has considerably improved the property since he acquired it; the improvements are substantial; he has remodeled the residence, which is a fine ex- ample of the earlier country house, and among other improvements executed by him are a capacious silo and a commodious barn. In his farming, Mr. Shufelt has kept himself quite up-to-date in the developments of agriculture, and has adopted many of the modern methods of scientific farming, especially in the dairy. He has been very successful in the raising of cattle for milk production, and has a very comprehensive un- derstanding of food values.
By political allegiance, he is a Republican, and al- though he has not entered very actively into national political movements, he has for many years taken a whole-hearted interest in local affairs, and to some extent he has identified with the local administration, having been collector of taxes for his district and school trustee. He is a man of good moral standing, and has always endeavored to treat others as he would like to be treated by them. He and his family attend the local Baptist church and he has been always ready to support any worthy local project.
On Jan. 16, 1875, Mr. Shufelt was married, in Chau- tauqua township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., to Mary Shaw, who was from Canada. They have had nine children, but only three survive. They are: I. Nellie Maud, who was educated in the district school and at the Mayville High School; she is the wife of Stephen Penny, and they have three children, who in order of birth are: Gerald, Beatrice and Irene. 2. Callie May, who received educational facilities similar to those af- forded her elder sister, and is now the wife of Harry Smart. 3. Lee Harrison, educated in the district schools and the husband of Nellie Henry; he is the only one of their nine children to carry forward the family name, and has done so, to the next generation, having two children, Clara and Robert Lee. The six deceased children, who all died in infancy, were: Henry, Clara, Genevieve, Clara. Henry and Walter.
The life of Clark Harrison Shufelt has been one of worthy and manly effort; he has gone forward to sub- stantial affairs unaided, by self-reliant industriousness, and has always held to the honorable code in his deal- ings. During the years he has found labor at good wages for many other Chautauqua county men less for- tunately situated than himself, and has well earned the respect in which he is held in the neighborhood.
CLARENCE N. TAYLOR, who has for many years been a prominent citizen of Poland, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he has followed the occupation of farming with a high degree of success, is a native of this county, and was born in Jamestown, Sept. 9, 1856. Mr. Taylor is a son of Bravity and Alvina D. (Emery) Taylor,
lifelong residents of this region, where the former was engaged in farming during the past generation.
Clarence N. Taylor spent his childhood and early youth on his father's farm, assisting with the work upon the place as soon as he had come of an age to do so, and attending the local public schools. He later en- tered the Jamestown Institute and established an excel- lent record for industry and general good character. Upon completing his studies, the young man continued to work as his father's assistant for some time, and in the year 1883 became the owner of his present farm, which is a valuable piece of property of great natural fertility near Kennedy. Here he has engaged in the raising of general farm products, has made a notable success in this line, and markets his produce throughout this district. In politics Mr. Taylor is a staunch Re- publican, and has taken his part in local public affairs, having served two terms as supervisor of the town of Poland. He is president of the local branch of the Dairymen's League at Frewsburg, and county presi- dent of the league. He is a member of the Union Grange, Jamestown, and of the Carroll Farmers' Club. Mr. Taylor attends St. Luke's Episcopal Church at Jamestown.
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