USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 92
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(II) John Crissey, only child of Mighil Cresse by his first wife, was born in August, 1659, at "Royalside," Salem, Mass. His father's death occurred when he was but eleven years of age, and after that event he lived with his Grandfather Bachelder. In 1675 he chose in court his uncle, Joseph Bachelder, as his guardian. As a man he followed the occupation of tailor at "Royalside," residing on land which he had inherited from his maternal grandfather, and he be- came well known in the affairs of the community. He was a deacon of the second church at Beverly, and was a man of strong religions convictions. His grave is marked by a slate stone, upon which appears the in- scription : "Here lyeth the body of Deacon John Cresy, who died July 22nd, 1735, in ye 76th year of his age."
He married Sarah Gaines, born Nov. 23, 1665, a daughter of John and Mary (Tredwell) Gaines, of Ipswich. Her death occurred at "Royalside," April 4, 1751. They were the parents of the following children : Mary; John, who died in infancy; Sarah; John; Jo- seph; Daniel, mentioned below; Job, Benjamin, Hannah, Abigail and Noah.
(III) Daniel Crissey, sixth child and fourth son of John and Sarah (Gaines) Crissey, was born July II, 1698, at Salem, but removed at an early age to New Hampshire, and from that State to Connecticut in 1740, where all trace of him is lost. He married, Oct. 20, 1720, Sarah Ingleson, of Salem, and they were the parents of the following children: John, mentioned below; Ruth, who died in infancy; Mary Ruth, Sarah, Daniel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Richard, Ebenezer and Anna.
(IV) John (2) Crissey, eldest child of Daniel and Sarah (Ingleson) Crissey, was born at Salem, Mass., in the year 1721, and removed to New Hampshire, where he settled in the town of Bath. From there in 1790 he went to Fairfax, Vt. He was a very religious man and was the leader of the first public service held for worship at Fairfax, in June, 1790. This was held in a log cabin, Mr. Crissey conducting the service, while his son James constituted the choir. John Cris- sey married Martha Davenport, and they were the parents of the following children : John, James, Gould, Samuel, mentioned below : Nathaniel and Sylvanus. The three last named settled at Stockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and Sylvanus eventually removed to the Far West.
(V) Samuel Crissey, son of John (2) and Martha (Davenport) Crissey, was born March 2, 1771, in Ver- mont, and at an early age came with his two brothers, Nathaniel and Sylvanus, to Stockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where his death occurred March 1, 1848. In 1815, he is recorded as having taken up 100 acres of land, and in the following year located his home in the northern part of Stockton, on lot No. 30, which comprised about 160 acres of wild land. This tract Mr. Crissey cleared and improved, and there carried on agricultural operations during the remainder of his life. Like his father, he was a deeply religions man, and was one of the founders of the Baptist church at Delanti, where he on occasion filled the pulpit in place of a regularly ordained minister. He married, in the year 1799, Lucy Grosvenor, and they were the parents of the following children : Almira, who became the wife of Ethan Cooley, who bore him a child who died in early youth; Harlow, mentioned below; Jason, who married Roxana Winsor, a daughter of the Rev. Washington Winsor, by whom he had four children : Mary, Sardis, Jirah, Edward; Lucy, who became the wife of Chauncy Winsor, of Delanti, to whom she bore two children, Wealthy Ann and Washington; Cynthia, who became the wife of Zalmon Jennings, and removed to Pennsylvania; Martha, who died at the age of twelve years ; Samuel, who married Julia Grant, by whom he had three children, Lucy, Forest, Myra.
(VI) Harlow Crissey, son of Samuel and Lucy (Grosvenor) Crissey, was born Dec. 18, 1802, at Fair- fax, Vt., and went as a child with his parents to Stock- ton, N. Y., where his death occurred April 30, 1892. He married, Nov. 2, 1826, Anna Shepard, born in Ash- field, Mass., March 29, 1807. Children: Newton, a sketch of whom follows; Samuel S., mentioned in sketch of Jay Crissey, which follows; Seward M., men- tioned in sketch of Miner S. Crissey, which follows; and Elverton B., of this review, mentioned below. (A complete sketch of Harlow Crissey follows this in the work).
(VII) Elverton B. Crissey, son of Harlow and Anna (Shepard) Crissey, was born June 23, 1843, at Stock- ton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and died at Jamestown, Feb. 29, 1908. As a lad he attended the public schools of his native place and Fredonia Academy. After completing his studies at the last-named institution, Mr. Crissey followed for a time the profession of teaching in the schools at Stockton and Brocton, N. Y., and Marengo, Ill. He removed in the spring of 1870 to Missouri, where he purchased a tract of land at King City, near St. Joseph, and made his home there for seven years. Mr. Crissey developed a strong af- fection for Missouri and this remained with him un- diminished until the close of his life. He took an active part in public affairs in that community, and held the office of county assessor. Later, however, Mr. Crissey returned to Brocton, N. Y., and there for a time re- sumed his old profession of teaching, but, feeling that a larger opportunity awaited him in business, eventu- ally gave this up and removed to Sinclairville, where he established a mill and conducted that for a time. In 1882, in association with Joy Love, he organized a bank, under the firm name of E. B. Crissey & Company, bankers. This was his first introduction to banking, a
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line which he continued to follow uninterruptedly, and with the highest degree of success, from that time until his death. In 1800 he organized another bank, at Cherry Creek. N. Y., and made his home at that place for about twelve months. It was in 1891 that he first came to Jamestown, where he organized the Farmers and Mechanics Bank and started it on its progress to a prosperous development. He withdrew from that organization, however, in order to organize the Union Trust Company of Jamestown, and a few years later sold his interest in the latter institution to accept the office of president of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, which he himself had founded some years before. This institution he continued at the head of until his death, and under his most capable management it grew to be one of the leading organizations of its kind in the county. In addition to the banks organized by him- self. Mr. Crissey was also affiliated with a number of other financial institutions, among which should be mentioned the Cherry Creek Bank and the First Na- tional Bank at Falconer. He also organized the banking firm of E. B. Crissey & Company at South Dayton, and the private bank of Crissey & Crissey, at Little Valley, N. Y., which was later managed by his son, Harlow J. Crissey.
Mr. Crissey has enjoyed, with justice, a reputation as one of the most successful organizers and executives in this region of the State, and during his life was regarded as the leading financial authority here. He was also exceedingly active in the public affairs of the community, and held a number of important offices in the gift of the town, including a membership on the Board of Public Works, in which he rendered invalu- able service to Jamestown. He was public-spirited in a high degree, and was a liberal contributor to all worthy ohjects connected with the betterment of civic affairs, and was especially generous to the Associated Charities, which he aided in organizing and in which he always held office. Mr. Crisscy was independent in his religious and political views, and was not affiliated formally with any church or political institution. He was a member of the local lodges, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and was a well known figure in social and frater- nal circles here. He was a man of profound learning and the broadest culture, taking a keen interest in lit- erature and other forms of art, and he was the nosses- sor of a splendid library in which he found his chief recreation. Ili- record as an organizer is practically unique in Western New York, and in the last thirty years of his life he founded no fewer than seven banks, and at the time of his death was in control of four large and prosperous financial institutions. In spite of this fact, he had no especial ambition to become wealthy, and a tale is told of him characteristic of his public spirit It appears that on one occasion a friend sug- gested to him that it would be easier for him and probably bring in larger returns to make impersonal investments in general securities, rather than in indi- vidual loans, to which Mr. Crissey replied : "My business is not first of all to make money; it is to do good in this community." He retained in a remarkable degree his youthful energies and point of view to the last of his life, a fact which is attributed by the many who
knew and admired him, to his always preserving his i terest in others, so that his activities always contain a large element of altruism. He possessed an unusual positive character, but at the same time a delightf personality, and his companionship was regarded as boon by all who knew him. So strong was his sense . justice and the rights of others that he never presse home an advantage which ran counter to the interes of others, and he often was willing to suffer person loss rather than transgress his own exceedingly hig standards of right.
Elverton B. Crissey was united in marriage, Jan. 1867, at Sinclairville, N. Y., with Mary Langworth born there March 29, 1844, a daughter of Jacob an Cornelia (Love) Langworthy, and a member of a old and distinguished New York family. The Lov family came from Vermont to New York in the persc of Jolin Love, who settled at Sinclairville, where } married. His daughter, Cornelia Love, was born : Gerry, N. Y., and died Dec. 24, 1891, at the age ( seventy-five years and eight months. She marrie Jacob Langworthy and was the mother of Mrs. Cri: sey. Jacob Langworthy was born in Washingto county, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1806, and died Oct. 4, 1883. H was the son of James and Rhode (Shaw) Langworth: and came to Chantanqua county, N. Y., when a yout of eighteen. He purchased here a farm of 200 acre situated about a mile and a half west of Sinclairvill where he carried on the occupation of farming wit much success until the close of his life. He was man of very high character and enjoyed the affectio and respect of the entire community. He married March 6, 1834. Cornelia Love, and they were the par ents of the following children: Ellen, who died at th age of fifteen; John, died April 19, 1896; Janet, die at the age of eleven; Mary, who became the wife o. Elverton B. Crissey, as mentioned above; Lewis, o Cherry Creek; Emily, who died at the age of twenty two months : and Charles, who died at the age of thirty three years. Jacob Langworthy's father, Jame Langworthy, came from Washington county, N. Y. where he had been a successful farmer, to Chantauqu: county, a few years before his death, and made hi home here with his children. The children of Elvertor B. and Mary (Langworthy) Crissey were as follows I. Lena Cornelia, horn Jan. 12, 1868; became the wifi of Frank Merz, president of the Union Trust Company of Jamestown, to whom she bore the following chil dren : Lucy A., Elizabeth L., Margaret C., and Franci: C. 2. Harlow Jacob, born July 15, 1870; now presiden of the Citizens Trust Company of Fredonia; he mar. ried Jessie Blackstone, by whom he had three chil. dren as follows: Rachel V., Eleanor V., and Caroline F. 3. Lucy Love, born July 17, 1873; became the wife of Henry P. Robertson, president of the H. P. Robert- son Furniture Company of Jamestown; they were the parents of the following children: Mary Crisscy, Lu- cius Elverton. 4. . Harold Elverton, born Oct. 26, 1883 now vice-president of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Jamestown, of which his father was so long the head Afrs. Crissey survives her husband and continues to make her home at Jamestown, where she is held in re- gard by the community.
It will be appropriate to conclude this brief sketch
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with some of the resolutions adopted by the boards of directors of the many institutions which owe their origin and prosperity to him, at the time of his death:
By the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, of which he was the founder and president: There was about Mr. Cris- sey a personality which drew men to him, and it was to him they went, in their hours of adversity as in their moments of success. His advice and his encour- agement comforted and aided them in their adversity, as did his congratulations cheer them in their success. His love for children was marked; his interest in the young man starting out on life's journey, prompted him to extend much material assistance. He was a believer in men and in all that was characteristic of the man.
By the First National Bank of Falconer: Mr. Crissey was a man of wide experience, rare ability, and one in whom sympathy had to do with judgment. Many a young man, in this community, looks back to the aid and counsel of this man as the starting point of his success.
By the Associated Charities: Realizing keenly our loss of so sincere and practical a friend, we desire to place on record our deep appreciation of his helpful consideration and assistance, and of his willingness, amidst his many duties, to give of his time and ability to the furtherance of the work of this association, in which he was so deeply interested.
In the diary presented by Mr. Crissey to the cus- tomers of the bank, he had cause to be printed the following :
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has left the world better than he found it; who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty, or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others, and given the best he had; whose life is an inspiration, whose memory a benediction.
HARLOW CRISSEY-A strong will and a loving, gentle and unselfish nature, firm convictions and a modest spirit, keen intellect and high ideals, marked business ability, and a humble and devout Christian faith and practice, were characteristics of the pioneer of Chautauqua county, Harlow Crissey, who was born in Fairfax, Vt., Dec. 18, 1802. Mr. Crissey, speaking at a reunion of the Crissey family at Stockton, N. Y., Aug. 14, 1886, said :
Our family history here represented dates back to 1815, when four families came to Stockton, their whole number then was twenty. Of that number I am the only one left in town to speak from memory. I was then in my thirteenth year, the descendants inheriting the Crissey name at this time numbering seventy-eight. Of these twenty-one are in Stockton, ten in Fredonia, six in Sinclairville, five in Michigan, two in Pennsyl- vania, three in Washington, D. C., and thirty-one west of Chicago. Of the descendants known by other names there are forty-two, making at this date a total of one hundred and twenty.
Harlow Crissey was the next to the oldest of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of the family of Samuel and Lucy (Grosvenor) Crissey. In the cold season of 1816 Samuel Crissey came with his family to Stockton, taking up 100 acres in the north part of the town, on lot No. 30, where he resided until his death, March 1, 1848, aged seventy-seven. Harlow Crissey had only a few weeks' schooling each winter, and when scarcely yet of age began teaching, among other dis- tricts he taught two terms in the town of Charlotte in the Pickett district, where lived Judge Burnell, and in the intervals he assisted his father on the farm. He developed unusual literary ability, and for many years was the correspondent for the "Censor" of Fredonia,
N. Y. His articles, especially of historic reminiscences, were very interesting. Among the best of these was his "Historical Recollections," written on his eightieth birthday. Quoting from his article of that date, Mr. Crissey says :
My grandfather died in my fourth year, I remember his aged look, manly voice, and his death. I remem- ber the great eclipse of the sun in June, 1806, also the cold Friday of 1807-08 is vividly in my mind. A little later I received my anti-slavery impressions when a tall, well built negro, who was stolen from Africa when young, and who had experienced the horrors of cruel slavery, and was released by military enlistment, came to our town. I attended a religious meeting where this Christian man told of his life sufferings. I believed every word he said and from then on never faltered in a desire for the emancipation of the colored race. The War of 1812, as we lived near Canada, deeply effected all classes of people. Most of the first battles were defeats, however there were naval vic- tories on the ocean. I remember on Sunday, Septem- ber 10, 1814. we distinctly heard the naval battle on Lake Champlain. The spring of 1815 was pleasant and my father, with two of his nephews and their families, arranged to move westward and with horse and ox- teams started on the 20th of June. The wagons were heavy canvass covered with eight or nine inch tires on the wheels; we passed through many villages and towns, finally coming to Buffalo, which at that time was scarcely anything but a name. We reached Pom- fret in about forty days, a distance of about five hun- dred miles. A partial look over the county, we con- cluded to make Stockton our home and there located. Then it was a dense forest, scarcely broken. Fre- donia, with its few stores and trades, was our main resort. Among the names of the early settlers of that time, I remember, Miller, Kelly, Vial, Bacheller, Thompson, Haywood, Colly and Sackett. Our town grew rapidly, I think the largest number coming in 1823. The absence of a market and money required an economy born of necessity. Fifty bushels of oats for a barrel of salt. Farm laborers got fifty cents per day working from sunrise until sunset. Our minister's salary for the year 1822 was by agreement to be $85, payable in provisions. The arrival of General Lafa- vette created universal enthusiasm. He was accorded a grand reception by our military companies. Lafa- yette's personal appearance was not impressive of a soldier. He was below medium size, dark complexion, thin, hair tinged with white, dressed very plainly, and limped when walking.
In my early memory intoxicating drinks were used by all classes of persons with as little compunction as going to church has now, but from 1829 efforts for the suppression of intoxicating beverages have been unre- mitting.
Mr. Crissey wrote many articles on various subjects and frequently spoke at old settlers' meetings, his speeches holding many an interested listener. He was a well preserved man of his years, of rare intelligence and great probity of character, a Christian gentleman, greatly respected by a large circle of acquaintances. He was strictly conscientious in his daily life, and a leading member of the Baptist church. Although his school advantages were limited in those early times, yet the influence of his teachings in the rude log school houses of the pioneers will be felt by future generations. Mr. Crissey was first a Whig in politics, and then a Republican. He held various town offices, was justice about 1850, and county supervisor for two terms, 1864- 1865.
On Nov. 2, 1826. Harlow Crissey was united in mar- riage with Anna Shepard at Stockton, N. Y. She was the daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Cobb) Shepard, natives of Massachusetts, who were married June 17, 1768. He was a farmer, and both were members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Crissey was a first cousin of Mary Lyon, the founder of Mt. Holyoke College.
On the evening of Nov. 2, 1886, in the Universalist
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church adjoining the Crissey home, was celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the marriage of Harlow Cris- sey and wife. (Diamond Wedding). There were upwards of 150 relatives and guests present. Mrs. Crissey was a woman of strong physical and mental temperament, combining an active religious nature; she was the ideal pioneer wife and mother. Her memory of historie persons and places was remarkable, and for years she was an authority on the unwritten history of her county. She was born in Ashfield, Franklin county, Mass .. March 29, 1807, and came to Stockton, N. Y., with her parents in 1819. Mrs. Crissey passed away Aug. 28, 1894. Mr. Crissey's demise occurred in 1892. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Crissey was born four children: Newton, Samuel S., Seward M., Elverton B ..
To such men as Harlow Crissey, who were the old pioneers of Chautauqua county, we cannot pay too much honor, when we realize the hardships they endured in subduing the forests and erecting houses. They were men of strong character, trained amidst hardships, and laid the foundations of our society broad and deep, on enduring principles of righteousness. Mr. Crissey lived to see marvelous changes in civilization, and Chautau- qua county people will ever hold in venerated remem- brance the pioneer schoolmaster, Harlow Crissey, whose work instilled noble aspirations and righteous principles into their youthful minds.
NEWTON CRISSEY, son of Harlow and Anna ( Shepard) Crissey (q. v.), was born April 6, 1828. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Stockton, and in the district schools of his native town he received his education. He took up the occupation of farming in Stockton, where he owned and operated a tract of land consisting of 200 acres. He improved this land and made general farming his business, and resided there until 1892, when he moved to Jamestown, N. Y., where he became interested in banking, and was a stockholder and director of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, which he served as president from 1894 to 1908, when he re- signed and retired from active business life. He was a successful man and this was because he was a good manager, and in the community of Stockton he was well known and respected, for he was active in the affairs of the town of Stockton. In his political belief he was a Republican. He was a member of the Baptist church of Stockton until he came to Jamestown; he then united with the First Baptist Church and continued until the Calvary Baptist Church, through his efforts, was organized. He was at one time supervisor of the town, as was his father, Harlow Crissey, many years before him.
Newton Crissey married Cynthia Miller, a daughter of I. R. Miller. She died on May 8, 1806. Mr. and Mrs. Newton Crissey were the parents of four children, one son and three daughters, as follows: Charles Miller, deceased ; Anna L .; Mary R .; and Jennie C. Both Anna L. and Mary R. reside on Lakeview avenue, Jamestown. Jennie C. Crissey, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Crisscy, married S. B. Burchard, of Kankakee, Ill., and now resides in Jamestown, N. Y. Newton Crissey died on May 1, 1914, and was buried at
Lakeview Cemetery, Jamestown. His death was fe as a great loss not only by his many friends and h family, but by the county in which he had resided dui ing his entire life.
JAY CRISSEY-For two decades, Jay Crissey, pres ident of the Star Furniture Company, has been identi fied with the manufacturing interests of Jamestowr He came to the city in 1900, having retired from th profession which had claimed him from the time o his graduation-pedagogy. A successful educator, h has duplicated that success in the business world an holds honorable rank among Jamestown manufactur ers. He is a son of Samuel Shepard and Mary A (Leonard) Crissey, of well known Chautauqua families
Samuel S. Crissey was born in Stockton, Chautauqu. county, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1833, and died July 28, 1911 son of Harlow and Anna (Shepard) Crissey. He wa educated in the district schools and Fredonia Academy and after completing his own education began teaching Later he engaged in fruit culture, specializing in grapes becoming a local authority on fruit growing and fo seven years serving the Chautauqua County Horticul tural Society as secretary. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Baptist church of Fredoni: for many years, and the author of a "Centennial His tory" of that church. That work is an indication of hi: thoroughness and faithfulness, for it is a historica compilation of ever increasing value as a reference work. He was well and most favorably known as a man of upright life, and his strong, pleasing personality held his friends to him until the end of his useful life
Samuel S. Crissey married (first) in December, 1859 Mary A. Leonard, who died May 31, 1868, daughter of George V. and Anna Leonard. She left three children Jay, of further mention ; George H., born Dec. 24, 1864; Howard B., born Feb. 22, 1866, died Oct. 11, 1889. Mr Crissey married (second) Jan. 15, 1871, Mrs. Ella K Wright, widow of Dr. A. A. Wright, of Fredonia. Their only child to survive infancy was Newton K. Crissey, born July 12, 1873.
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