USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Through their long business career as manufacturers, Messrs. Olson and Love maintained the most cordial and satisfactory relations with their employees, who, in turn, were invariably loyal to the interests of their employers. Each partner gave personal attention to the details of his department and both being men of conservative nature and inspired by a common interest, there was no friction in the management, but the best of feeling always existed between the two men. Early in the twentieth century, Mr. Olson visited his old home in Denmark, and while abroad informed himself as to the actual conditions in foreign markets. He continued the active executive head of the Diamond Furniture Company until his death.
Mr. Olson married, in Jamestown, Ida Johnson, born in Gottenburg, Sweden, who died April 12, 1896, daugh- ter of Jesse Johnson. They were the parents of three children who, deprived of a mother's care when young, found in their father a loving friend and tender, faithful guardian. Children : I. Louis A., who, after finishing his education, became a travelling salesman in the em- ploy of the Diamond Furniture Company ; he now resides in Detroit, Mich. 2. Ellen J., who was educated in the Jamestown public schools, and the Curry School of Ex- pression in Boston, and became a public reader and enter- tainer, covering in her varied repertoire a wide range of subjects from the light sketch or ballad to Browning and Shakespeare. The principal numbers in her reper- toirs are: "Julius Caesar :" "The Merchant of Venice;" "Much Ado About Nothing ;" Browning's "A Blot in the 'Scutcheon ;" and Lovell's "Ingomer." She impersonates the leading characters in these plays, and every recital is given from memory, entirely without the use of notes. Miss Olson married, May 8, 1913, Alfred Holmes, born in Copenhagen, Denmark, who came to Jamestown, N. Y., in October, 1909, and is an architect. They are the parents of a son, Ernest L. Holmes. 3. Evelyn Isabel Olson, who is a graduate of the Jamestown (N. Y.) High School, class of 1906, and was her father's housekeeper up to the time of his death; she is now associated with the Art Metal Construction Company and resides at the old home, No. 63 Barrett avenue, Jamestown.
The Jamestown "Journal," at the time of the death of Mr. Olson, said editorially :
Death has removed another important figure in the development of the industries of Jamestown. August P. Olson, the head of the Diamond Furniture Company,
344
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
who has been honest and earnest in his efforts for the betterment of the conditions of the men in his employ, and for the advancement of the best interests in Jamestown as an industrial centre and a place of resi- dence. The community has lost an earnest worker and a good man in the passing of A. P. Olson.
HENRY SALEM EDMUNDS, M. D .- There are few names so well known in the medical profession, especially among the younger and rising physicians, as that of Dr. Henry Salem Edmunds, of Fredonia, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., who has established himself in the forefront of his profession in this region and has won the respect and admiration alike of his professional colleagues and the community-at-large.
Dr. Edmunds was born Feb. 8. 1883, on a farm at Sheridan, N. Y., and is a son of Walter A. and Minnie E. (Daniels) Edmunds, old and highly respected resi- dents of Sherman, where the former is the owner of the Sherman Steam Mills, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the western part of the State. The Edmunds family is an exceedingly ancient one, not only in this country but in the Old World, the members of the family being able to trace their descent back to the time of William the Conqueror, their ancestor having come over with that Monarch from Normandy to Eng- land in the year 1066, A. D.
The elder Mr. Edmunds located at Sherman, N. Y., when his son was about nine years of age, the latter having begun his elementary education at the public schools of Sheridan. He continued his studies at the similar institutions of Sherman and graduated from the High School there in the class of 1902, having been prepared for college. He had by that time determined upon the medical profession as a career in life, and with this end in view entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908, taking his medical degree. He then entered the hospital in connection with the University of Michigan, where he served for a time as interne, and later held the same position at the Shenango Valley Hospital at Newcastle, Pa. Upon completing this period of apprenticeship, he returned to his native region and began the practice of his pro- fession at Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, where he remained six years and made for himself an enviable reputation. His next move was to Cassadaga, where he practiced medicine until the entrance of America into the World War. He volunteered his services in April, 1917. being one of the first physicians to do so, and was commissioned on June 30, following. Dr. Edmunds was then sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, where he studied at the Officers' Training Camp for five weeks, and was then ordered to Kelley Field, San Antonio, Tex .. the famous aviation camp. After remaining four works there, he brought his squadron to Mineola, L. I., where after remaining three weeks they embarked for England. Here they were quartered at South- hampton until their removal to France, the unit landing at Havre in that country. From Havre they were sent to Clermont, where Dr. Edmunds was appointed sur- gron to the Seventh Aviation Center, where he super- intended the building of the Base Hospital. Ile was next appointed surgeon to the Officers' Training Camp Hospital and for some time occupied the position of chief surgeon at this post. From there he was sent to Valbonne, in the neighborhood of Lyons, where he was
connected with the Valbonne Hospital, and still later was sent to Advance Depot No. I, in Isle-Sur-Tille. At the latter place he superintended the construction of a 1,000 bed hospital. He also saw service on many operating teams and remained at this point until he himself became a casual, having been gassed in March, 1918. He was not, however, seriously injured on this occasion and was soon at work again, but was once more gassed, Sept. 22, 1918, this time with almost fatal results, and was sent to Base Hospital No. 17, at Dijon, where he remained from Sept. 23, to Oct. 3. On the latter date he was sent to Base Hospital No. 20 at Beau Dessert, where he was also a casual. By this time, however, he was back in active duty and so great was the press of work that it was necessary for him to operate and care for the wounded in spite of his own hurt, the hospital being crowded at that time with the injured from the front. He had charge of two of the largest wards in the hos- pital and remained actively employed there until he was finally sent back to the United States as adjutant in charge of 2,500 wounded men. He landed at Hoboken, N. J., Dec. 17, 1918, and was sent to the Base Hospital at Camp Merritt, where he did Evacuation Hospital Work, in charge of the sending out of the wounded men to their various State hospitals when they were able to be moved, although still a casual himself. Dr. Edmunds was then sent to the United States Army Hospital No. I, as a casual, and received a thirty-day furlough, and spent the month of Jan. 6 to Feb. 6, 1919, at home. He then reported back to Base Hospital No. I and was honorably discharged from the army there on Feb. 15, 1919. He was sent, however, by the Federal Board of Rehabilitation to New York City, where he remained under observation until July 21, 1919. On Sept. 1, 1919, he came to Fredonia, and has here purchased a beauti- ful house on Temple street. He has once more resumed practice and has already won wide recognition for himself. Dr. Edmunds specializes in surgery, in which his work at the front has given him such wide experi- ence, and he is familiar with all the latest surgical methods, many of which have been developed purely as a result of that experience. Dr. Edmunds is a member of the Methodist. Episcopal church, and in politics is an independent Republican. He is affiliated with a number of important organizations here, fraternal and otherwise. He is a member of the American Legion, composed of the veterans of the Great War; Silivan Lodge, No. 303, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Sinclairville ; Buffalo Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Council, Royal and Select Masters; Commandery, Knights Templar; Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Buffalo Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret, and has taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry. He is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and holds the rank of past noble grand of Cassadaga Lodge. Besides his private practice, Dr. Edmunds holds the position of medical examiner for the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, the New York Life Insurance Company, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York City, the Prudential Life Insurance Company of New- ark, the Order of Maccabees, the National Protective League, the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, and a number of beneficial companies in this region.
Dr. Edmunds married (first) Kathrine Francis, by
ASEdmunds, MD,
Day Nelson
345
BIOGRAPHICAL
whom he had two children, Frances Helen and Mar- garet. He married (second) Nov. 24, 1909, at Corry, Pa., Mable A. Mead, a daughter of Dr. James and Sada (Bushnell) Mead, old and highly respected resi- dents of that place, where Dr. Mead died Dec. 13, 1918. Two children have been born of this union, as follows : Richard Mead and Dorothy.
HARRY BROWN THOMPSON-The Forestville "Free Press," the medium through which Harry B. Thompson has made himself best acquainted with Chau- tauquans, was founded by Edward L. Husted in Febru- ary, 1891, Mr. Husted having previously founded the Sinclairville "Spectator." Twelve years later the "Free Press" passed under the control of Harry B. Thompson, who has successfully guided its destinies as editor and publisher for seventeen years, 1903-1920. Mr. Thompson began his career in journalism with the opening of the present century, his early experiences as a reporter being a fitting preparation for the post he has ably filled. He is a son of De Hart and Orlantha (Brown) Thompson, his father formerly a well known merchant of Sinclair- ville, N. Y.
Harry Brown Thompson was born in Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., March 23, 1874. He was edu- cated in Sinclairville grade and high schools, Chamberlain Academy, Randolph, N. Y., Alleghany College, Mead- ville, Pa., and Erie Business College, Erie, Pa. He was variously employed during his early manhood years, but in 1900 entered upon his carcer as a journalist as a reporter on the Randolph "Register," at Randolph, N. Y. He spent three years as a reporter with the "Register," then was for a time otherwise engaged, but in 1903 became editor and publisher of the Forest- ville "Free Press," a weekly publication founded in 1891 and conducted by Edward L. Husted through its first twelve years of life.
The "Free Press" under the editorial and business management of Mr. Thompson has steadily grown in circulation and influence, and circulates freely in the four townships of Arkwright, Villenova, Sheridan and Hanover, while in Forestville it is a welcome visitor in three-fourths of the village homes. It is an eight page newspaper, appearing every Friday from a well equipped printing plant, which also includes a job print- ing department. In politics the "Free Press" is Repub- lican. The local reporters and assistants are Mrs. H. B. Thompson and Helen R. Barnard.
Mr. Thompson is also the head of another prosperous business, writing fire, life, liability, theft, auto and tornado policies, known as the Forestville Insurance Agency. This business was established in 1865 by S. W. Reynolds and now represents such leading companies as : The Hartford, Home, Aetna, Continental, Great American, Globe; London, Liverpool and Globe, North America, Phoenix, Franklin, Connecticut, Springfield Fire and Marine, and the National Liberty. The busi- ness of the agency has greatly increased under Mr. Thompson's management and is the leading business of its kind in that section of the county. He is also inter- ested in the Commercial and Improvement Association of Forestville, which he serves as secretary.
Mr. Thompson married, at Auburn, N. Y., April 30, 1901, Elnora A. Coe, daughter of George and Sarah Ann (Mixer) Coe, of an old Steamburg, Cattaraugus county, family.
JOSEPH NELSON-The business which Joseph Nelson and his brother Robert founded in Dunkirk, N. Y., in 1850, under the trade name, Joseph Nelson & Company, wholesale jewelry and silverware dealers, is notable as the oldest in its particular line of all firms in the United States operating under a firm name. Joseph Nelson, after his brother's resignation from the firm, continued the business until his retirement late in life. His three sons-in-law, Henry F. Vander Voort, James Lyman van Buren and J. Franklin Gilbert, were taken into the business by Mr. Nelson during later years. Mr. Vander Voort resigned from the business before Mr. Nelson's death and went to Buffalo to conduct a similar business of his own. After Mr. Nelson's death the two sons-in-law, Messrs. van Buren and Gilbert, continued the business until their own death and since that year, 1916, the name of this well known firm became extinct. This house operated all those years under the same name, Joseph Nelson & Company. Joseph Nelson built into warp and woof a name and reputation for the house, and for himself a character beyond reproach.
Of ancient Scotch Covenanter blood, his Nelson fore- bears fled from Scotland in the days of religious perse- cution and settled in the North of Ireland, whence came that famed Scotch-Irish people, so many of whom came in early days to the American colonies. Joseph Nelson's grandmother was a descendant of John Knox, Scotland's great reformer. His parents were Joseph and Mary Jane (Gilbert) Nelson, of Dromore, County Down, and Banbridge, Ireland. Joseph Nelson, the father, was a noted clock maker, his specialty the olden time "Grand- father's clock," many of which were sent to the United States. He was also a manufacturing jeweler, and taught the business to his sons. His wife, Mary Jane Gilbert, was the daughter of a divine of the Scotch Covenanter church, Rev. Adam Gilbert, D. D., who became a Presbyterian after the merger of the denomi- nations. Joseph and Mary Jane (Gilbert) Nelson were the parents of four children : Robert, Ann, Joseph and Gilbert. Robert and Joseph came to the United States, as did their sister Ann, this review following the career of Joseph.
Joseph (2) Nelson was born in Dromore, County Down, Ireland, Aug 7, 1832, died in Dunkirk, N. Y., June 28, 1909. He obtained a good education, and from an early age was allowed to become familiar with the details of his father's business, displaying marked aptitude. After the death of Joseph and Mary Jane (Gilbert) Nelson, their children, Robert, Ann, Joseph and Gilbert, disposed of the jewelry business and all other property pertaining to the estate and came to the United States, arriving in Dunkirk, N. Y., May 4, 1850. The brothers at once established in business along the same lines their father had so successfully followed in Ireland and for several years they prospered, but as retailers only. They then decided to become wholesale jewelry dealers and dissolved partnership. Robert establishing in Toledo, Ohio, Joseph continuing under the firm name, Joseph Nelson & Company. The latter built up a strong business house, admitting later his sons-in-law, Vander Voort, van Buren and Gilbert, but he continued himself the active head of the business up to the time of his death.
For more than half a century he was a pillar of strength to the First Baptist Church of Dunkirk, although he was reared in the Presbyterian faith of
346
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
his mother. But he liberally supported all Christian organizations and benevolences, and was most public- spirited and progressive, supporting all forward move- ments. civic and moral. He was devoted to his home and family, belonging to neither club nor fraternity. He was a man who won public confidence to an un- usual degree, and when the time came to show him a final mark of respect all business houses of the city stood closed during the funeral hour.
Joseph Nelson married, in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua county. N. Y., June 29, 1858, Julia Ann Bartholomew, born in Sheridan, Dec. 12, 1840, daughter of Henry and Isabella ( Patterson) Bartholomew, her father of New England birth hut from boyhood a resi- dent of Chautauqua county. Joseph and Julia Ann ( Bartholomew ) Nelson were the parents of four daughters, as follows: I. Isabelle Bartholomew, married John Franklin Gilbert, whom she survives (q. v.). 2. Leah, married Henry Vander Voort, and has three children : Hildegarde, Joseph Nelson, Henry Ferdinand Vander Voort. 3. Julia, married James Lyman van Buren, whom she survives (q. v.). 4. Josephine, died in infancy. Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. van Buren continued their residence in Dunkirk after widowhood. Mrs. Julia Ann ( Bartholomew) Nelson survives her husband, and resides at Dunkirk where she is held in the highest esteem.
(The Bartholomew Line).
This surname was derived from the ancient Hebrew or Syriac personal name Bartholmai, modified in Greek and Roman spelling. Like the other names of Christ's Apostles, Bartholomew came into use as a baptismal name in every Christian country even before the use of surnames.
The Bartholomew family in England appears to date back to the origin of the use of surnames. The ancient crat-of-arms: Argent a chevron engrailed between three lions rampant sable. One branch of the family bears this: Or three goats' heads crased sable. Crest : A demi-goat argent gorged with a chaplet of laurel vert.
John, Robert and Richard Bartholomew were living about 1550, in Warborough, Oxfordshire, England. Robert and Richard were brothers, and from the fact that John's son was an overseer of Richard's will it is infered that John was a brother also. They were land owners, church wardens and men of consequence in the community. They frequently used the term, "alias Martyn," after Bartholomew, presumably having adopted the name of a maternal ancestor, as was frequently the case, to secure an inheritance. Oliver Cromwell's name is given in early records alias Williams, his maternal ancestors bring of the Williams family.
(I ) John Bartholomew lived in Warborough, England. He married there Alice Scutter, who was probably his second wife.
(IT) John (2) Bartholomew, son of John ( 1) Bar- tholomew married in Warborough, Margaret Joyes. He was made overseer of his uncle Richard's estate in 1577 llis four sons apparently all settled in the neigh- boring towns of Oxford and Burford. Children : John, baptized Jine 19, 1556. married Ales Vicarage; Row- land. baptized Dec. 5, 1561, died 1587; Richard, twin of Rowland, buried in Burford, April 29, 1632; William, of whom further.
(III) William Bartholomew, son of John (2) Bar- tholomew, was baptized in Warborough, Feb. 7, 1567, and buried May 6, 1634. He settled in Burford, where he was a mercer, a dealer in silks and woolens. His will was dated April 25, 1634. He married Friswide, daugh- ter of William Metcalfe, mayor of New Woodstock, a neighboring town. She was buried in Fulbrooke, Dec. 10, 1647. Children : Mary, married, June 28, 1620, Richard Tidmarsh; John, inherited his father's estate and busi- ness, and died Nov. 15, 1639; William, of whom further ; Henry, born 1606-07, died Nov. 22, 1692, in Salem, Mass .; Richard supposed to have died in London, or on a return trip from London to Massachusetts; Francis, baptized in Burford, Feb. 13, 1613-14; Thomas, baptized June 30, 1616; Abraham, died in Burford, March 22, 1646-47 ; Sarah, baptized April 14, 1623.
(IV) William (2) Bartholomew, son of William (1) Bartholomew, was born in Burford, England, 1602-03. He received a good education. He went to London, and married Anne, sister of Robert Lord, afterward his next neighbor in Ipswich, Mass. Before September, 1634, he had entertained the famous Anne Hutchinson at his London home. On Sept. 18, 1634, he arrived in Boston, Mass., in the ship, "Griffin," in the same com- pany with Anne Hutchinson, Rev. John Lothrop and others. He was admitted a freeman, March 4, 1634-35, and at the same time was given permission to trade with vessels at Ipswich, where he settled. He received several grants of land there in 1635, and was deputy to the General Court the same year, serving again in 1636-37-41-47-50. He was often on the jury, was com- missioner, town clerk, assessor, selectman, treasurer of the county, and often on important committees. He removed to Boston about 1660, and in 1662 was overseer of the mill of William Brown, of Boston. He is called a merchant of Boston. He died in Charlestown, at the home of Jacob Green, Jan. 18, 1680-81. His grave is in the Phipps Street Cemetery, Charlestown, near that of John Harvard, the founder of Harvard College. His wife Anne died in Charlestown, Jan. 29, 1682-83, and her gravestone is still standing. Children: Mary, married ( first) in Gloucester, Dec. 24, 1652, Matthew Whipple, (second) Jacob Greene; Joseph, born about 1638, resided in London, England, in 1693; William, of further mention.
(V) Lieutenant William (3) Bartholomew, son of William (2) Bartholomew, was born at Ipswich, 1640-41, and died in the spring of 1697. He learned the trade of carpenter, and settled first in Roxbury. He sold his Roxbury land in 1676-77, and removed to Deerfield, Mass., where he bought the home lot of Peter Wood- ward. At the time of the raid of the Indians on Hat- field, Sept. 19, 1677, he was there with his family. His daugliter Abigail, aged four, was among the captives taken to Canada and was ransomed eight months later. In 1679 he removed to Branford, Conn., where he was granted twenty acres of land, built a saw mill and kept an ordinary inn. He was elected surveyor and fence viewer. In 1687 the town of Woodstock requested him to build a mill in their town and offered him a grant of land. He was commissioned ensign of the new Rox- bury company, as Woodstock was then called, July 13, 1680, and in 1601 became lieutenant. In 1602 he was the first deputy to the General Court from Woodstock. Hle died in Woodstock, in 1697. He married, in Rox-
347
BIOGRAPHICAL
bury, Dec. 17, 1663, Mary Johnson, born April 24, 1642, daughter of Captain Isaac and Elizabeth (Porter) Johnson, granddaughter of John Johnson, who held the title of "Surveyor of all ye King's armies in Amer- ica." Her father was killed in the Narragansett fight, Dec. 19, 1675, as he was leading his men over the bridge (a fallen tree) into the enemy's fort. Children : Isaac, born Nov. 1, 1664, died Oct. 25, 1727; William, born Oct. 16, 1666; Mary, born Oct. 26, 1668; Andrew, of further mention; Abigail, born Dec. 8, 1672, married (first) Jan. 1I, 1691-92, Joseph Frizzel, (second) 1709, Samuel Paine, died 1732; Elizabeth, born March 15, 1674-75, married, Nov. 21, 1699, Edmund Chamberlain ; Benjamin, born about 1677; John, born about 1679; Joseph, born about 1682.
(VI) Andrew Bartholomew, son of Lieutenant William (3) Bartholomew, was baptized Dec. II, 1670, in Roxbury. He managed his father's mills in Branford after the latter's removal to Woodstock, and after his father's death owned and operated them in company with his brother Benjamin. On Jan. 1I, 1711-12, the property was divided and Andrew bought large quanti- ties of land in Branford, Wallingford and adjoining towns. He removed to Wallingford before 1729, and continued there the remainder of his life. He was a leading citizen, and often held positions of trust. He was admitted to the church there in 1701. He married Hannah Frisbie, who died Feb. 2, 1741, daughter of Samuel Frisbie, of Branford. Children: I. William, born Feb. 2, 1699. 2. Susannah, born Feb. 4, 1701-02. 3. Hannah, born Aug. 17, 1704; married, Nov. 19, 1724, Joseph Barker. 4. Samuel, born Sept. 12, 1706, died 1795. 5. Daniel, born Oct. 16, 1708, died Oct. 25, 1777. 6. Rebecca, born March 28, 1712; married, Oct. 19, 1732. Peter Hall; died Oct. 3, 1791. 7. Rev. Andrew, born Nov. 7, 1714; graduated at Yale College, 1731; was settled minister at Harwinton, Conn., Oct. 4, 1738, and continued as pastor thirty-five years. 8. Timothy, born Feb. 28, 1716-17, died April 27, 1749. 9. Joseph, of further mention. 10. John, born Feb. 8, 1723-24. II. Martha.
(VII) Lieutenant Joseph Bartholomew, son of Andrew and Hannah (Frisbie) Bartholomew, was born in Branford, Conn., May 6, 1721, and died in Walling- ford, Conn., Oct. 27, 1781. He marched on the Lexing- ton Alarm of April 19, 1775, and served eight days. His commission of lieutenant from the General Court placed him in command of all the men in town subject to military duty. He married Jan. 13, 1741, Mary Sexton. Children : Hannah, Andrew; Joseph, died young ; Jona- than ; and Joseph, of further mention.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.