History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 58

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1068

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 58

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The Canadaway valley has ever been a great tanning district. Horace White and Henry HI. Bumpus, who had been conducting a tannery for some years at Shumla formed a partnership with Lyvenus Ellis in 1859, and built a tannery at Laona, which from rSS9 has been conducted by Henry B, and George E. White and Willis D. Leet. They tan from 45,000 to 50,000 "sides" of leather. Lyvenus Ellis started the tannery business of " Ellis & Son " in 1877. His son, Clarence D., is manager. They can tan 30,000 sides annually. These firms give employment to fifty men.

Pliny Smith, E. A. Curtis, H. B. Jenkins, Sidney Smith and D. L. Roberts in 1868 organ- ized a company to manufacture the " Matchless" churn. Pliny Smith was made manager. They bought Person Crosby's cabinet factory and have employed several men, using water from the Canadaway as motive power. The factory is at Cordova.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

PHYSICIANS .- From the first settlement Fredonia's medical men have been conspicuously able ones. The pioneers, Dr. Squire White and Dr. Benjamin Walworth, not only took high rank in their profession, but were conspicuous public men, discharging responsible duties with conscientious care and conceded ability. Their successors have, in the main, been worthy of their fame. Dr. Franklin Burritt has lived a long life of usefulness in this his native town. From 1845 Dr. Charles Smith has ministered to a large circle of patients, and is nearing the " four-score years " of life. Among the other physicians of today, Dr. N. G. Richmond is ably maintaining the reputation of the allopathic school, and is president of the county medical society. The homeopathic school is represented by Dr. Asa S. Couch, a native of the county, who is one of the foremost physicians of that practice in the state, and Dr. A. Wilson Dods who, besides being popular as a physi- cian, is noted for his scientific attainments.

LAWYERS .- Emory Force Warren was born at Eaton, Madison county, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1810. His parents were of New England origin, and came to this county in February 1819, and settled in Charlotte. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he acquired the rudiments of an English education in the district school ; and after he was IS years old he taught winter schools for several seasons. In May, 1531, he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Richard P. Marvin in Jamestown. In November following, he went to Kennedy's Mills ; and in March, 1832, he was elected a justice of the peace to fill a vacancy, and the next year for a full term of four years. He married, December 24, 1533, Timandra J., daughter of David Sackett, an early settler in the county. In May, 1534, he returned to James- town, and resumed his place in Judge Marvin's office ; and at the June term of that year was admitted to practice in the court of common pleas. In 1539, he was admitted as an attorney in the supreme court, and in due course took the degrees of counselor in that court, solicitor and counselor in chancery, and all the degrees entitling him to full practice in the district and circuit courts of the United States in the northern district of New York. In 1540 he was appointed examiner in chancery by Governor Seward. In 1542 and I>43, he represented the county in the assembly. In 1545 he compiled "Sketches of the History of Chautauqua County " which were published in 1846. This was a valuable volume. In 1546 he removed to a farm in Stock- ton on account of failing health, but soon removed to Sinclairville and re- sumed the practice of his profession there until 1556. He was appointed postmaster in 1-49, held the office several years when he resigned. He held the office of surrogate for four years from January 1851. In 1856 he removed to Fredonia where he resides. He held the office of excise commissioner for the county from 1561 for 5 years. In IS71 he was elected county judge for 6 years. Judge Warren has been connected with some of the leading lawyers

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of the county, Judge Marvin, Madison Burnell and Lorenzo Morris, and ever maintained their respect and esteem for his honesty, fidelity and ability. He is now passing the evening twilight of an active, pure and useful life at Fre- donia, honored and revered by an unusually large circle of friends.

Edwin F. Warren, born in Jamestown, September 3, 1841, was the only son of Emory F. and Timandra J. Warren, daughter of David Sackett. He had a common school education, and in 1556 entered Fredonia Academy to prepare for college. He was graduated therefrom in 1:60, and the same year entered the freshman class at Tufts college, Mass. In 1 62 he entered the junior class at Yale, was graduated with high honors from that univer- sity in 1864, and afterwards received the degree of M. A. He then became professor of mathematics and sciences at the Caldwell Institute, Danville, Ky. In 1865 he was with the Freedsmen's Bureau as principal of the chief school for colored people in New Orleans, La., was soon made head of the three directors appointed for governing the colored schools of New Orleans and adjacent country. His work was wholly executive, and was so well appre- ciated that he was made state inspector of schools. He accepted the position but before he could enter upon its duties it was found impracticable to per- form them, owing to the lack of revenues of the Bureau. He resigned, returned to Fredonia, studied law with Warren & Morris, and was admitted to the bar at Buffalo, May 8, 1865. The next fall he removed to Nebraska City, Neb., where he has since resided and been in practice. He has been admit- ted to all the courts, state and federal, and has devoted his life to his profes- sion. Like his father, he has little taste for politics, and has never run for any important office, although once almost nominated by the Republican party for judge of the supreme court of Nebraska, where a nomination is equivalent to an election. He has held the positions of county and city attorney and president of the board of education of his city. In masoury he has held high offices : Grand Master of the Grand Lodge; Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter ; Grand Master of the Grand Conneil ; Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, and is Inspector General, 33rd A. & A. Scottish Rite. Mr. Warren married September 2", 1×69, at Fredonia, Miss Martha A., daughter of J. B. Wygant. They have one daughter (adopted,) Gertrude Stella, born July 25, 1575. He has a good practice, and, like his father, a well-earned and well-deserved reputation of a sound lawyer, and he says he " has never had an ambition outside of the law."

Hon. Lorenzo Morris was born in Smithfield, Madison county, August 14, IS17. His parents settled in Chautauqua in 1>29. He was graduated from the Mayville academy in 1836. In 1837, he commenced his law studies with Hon. T. A. Osborne, in 1540 he read law with Judge Cook of Jamestown and was admitted to practice and became Judge Cook's partner. In 1844 he was admitted as an attorney of the supreme court. ' He then practiced in May-

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

ville until 1852 when he established himself at Fredonia in active and suc- cessful practice. In the old militia days he served from 1838 to 1842 as lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the 207th Regt., N. Y., S. M. From 1871 to 1575 lie was one of the trustees of Buffalo Insane Asylum. In 1867 he, a Democrat, was elected state senator by 203 majority in the strongly Repub- lican district. In 1872 he was a member of the state constitutional conven- tion. He has been president of the state normal school and did much to develop its great usefulness. He married in 1834 Fannie E. Strong of West- field who died in 1873 leaving 3 children. In 1885 he married Mrs. Marian H. Stillman. Dr. Hazeltine says : " If as an advocate the mantle of Madi- son Burnell fell upon the shoulders of any compeer, it will be found in the possession of Lorenzo Morris."

Thomas W. Glisan was born in Linganore, Frederick county, Md., April 26, 1821. He was educated at the Literary Institute, Franklin, N. Y., and at Fredonia academy ; admitted to the bar at Albion in 1849, and has pur- sued the practice of law in Fredonia.

Samuel Ulrice Bruck, born in Lafayette, Ind., May 25, 1837, studied law with Hon. D. W. Parshall, of Lyons, N. Y., and was admitted at Rochester September 6, 1555. He began practice in Lyons and in 1859 went to Buf- falo, where he was for 12 years deputy clerk of the superior court and two years special deputy county clerk of Erie county. After practicing five years in Sandusky, Ohio, Mr. Brunck came to Fredonia, July 14, 1587, where he now follows his profession. In 1890 he was elected justice of the peace to fill vacaney, and in 1892 was reelected for the full term.

Benjamin F. Skinner, son of Alfred and Huldah (White) Skinner, was born in Pomfret July 23, 1837. He was educated at Fredonia academy, studied law with Warren & Morris and Hon. George Barker, was admitted to practice in the supreme court and United States district court at Buffalo, began the practice of law January 1, 1867, at Fredonia, which he has contin- ued. He was district attorney one term, supervisor of Pomfret three years and justice of the peace for nearly twenty years.

Hon. Jolm S: Lambert was born in Jolmsonville, Rensselaer county, in 1851, read law with Morris & Russell at Fredonia from 1874 to 1877, when he was admitted to the bar. From 1878 to 1881 he practiced law in Fredonia ; then he was elected county judge. In 1888 he was reelected. He was nominated as the Republican candidate for justice of the supreme court for the Eighth Judicial District. He was elected for a term of 14 years, and took his seat upon the bench in January, 1890. Judge Lambert has many warm friends. At the bar he was recognized as an able lawyer and on the bench he has presided with ability and impartiality.

Arthur R. Moore was born in Stateburg, S. C., January 1, 1855. He was a student in the office of Morris & Lambert at Fredonia, and was adinit-

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ted to the bar at Buffalo, in October 1884. January 1, 1885, he established himself as a lawyer in Fredonia.

Hon. Warren B. Hooker, son of John and Philena (Waterman) Hooker was born in Perrysburgh, Cattaraugus county, November 24, 1856. He graduated at Forestville academy in 1872, studied law with J. G. Record, Esq., at Forestville, was admitted to the bar in '79, practiced law three years, then went west. Returning in 1884 he established himself as a lawyer at Fre- donia, and has been actively in practice. He has held various offices accept- ably, and is an extremely popular official. He is now serving his second term as member of Congress for this district, and has won a high reputation by his energetic and faithful performance of the duties of that office. He is now in nomination for his third term. He married in 1884, Etta E., daughter of Chauncey Abbey, president of Fredonia National Bank.

John A. Warren is also a practicing lawyer at Fredonia.

SUPERVISORS .-- 1808-18, Philo Orton ; 1819-22, Leverett Barker ; 1823-5, Abiram Orton ; 1826-8, Benj. Douglas ; 1829, Leverett Barker ; 1830-3, Geo. A. French ; 1834, Orrin McClure ; 1835, Elijah Risley, Jr .; 1836, Elisha Norton ; 1837, Pearson Crosby ; 1838-9, Squire White ; 1840-4, Elisha Nor- ton ; 1845-6, Leverett Barker ; 1847, Daniel W. Douglas; 1848-9, Rosell Greene ; 1850, Win. Risley; 1851-3, Alva H. Walker; 1854, Hiram F. Smith ; 1855, Abner W. Camp ; 1856, Elisha Norton ; 1857-8, Edmund Day ; 1859-60, Elisha Norton ; 1861-2, Orson Stiles ; 1863-4, Henry B. Benjamin ; 1865, Orson Stiles ; 1866, Horace White ; 1867-8, George D. Hinckley ; 1869, John P. Hall ; 1870-2, Franklin Burritt; 1873, Harmanus C. Clark ; 1874, Franklin Burritt ; 1875, James D. Wells ; 1876-7, John S. Russell ; 1878-9, M. M. Fenner ; 1880, George S. Josselyn ; 1881-2, John S. Lambert ; 1883-5, B. F. Skinner ; 1886, Arthur R. Moore ; 1887-8, Otis M. Hall ; 1889- 90, Warren B. Hooker ; 1891, D. G. Pickett ; 1892, James R. Adams ; 1893- 4, Willis D. Leet.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLARD MCKINSTRY.

The venerated editor, Willard Mckinstry, was born in Chicopee, Mass., May 9, 1815. His great-great-grandfather, Roger Mckinstry, emigrated from Scotland to Ireland about 1669. Mr. Mckinstry's great-grandfather John Mckinstry, was born in Ireland in 1677, graduated at Edinburgh University in 1712, emigrated to America in 1718, became a Congre- gational clergyman first at Sutton, Mass., then at Ellington, Conn. His grandfather, John Mckinstry, was born at Sutton, in 1723, was graduated from Vale in 1746, and was the first pastor of the 2d Congregational parish of Springfield from 1752, and labored with that church until his death in 1813. Perseus Mckinstry, son of John of Springfield, was born at Chicopee in 1772, married Grace Williams in 1803, was a tanner at Plainfield, then a farmer at Chicopee and died in 1829. They had eleven children, Willard and A. Winthrop survive. The latter once associated with Willard in publish- ing the Censor, now publishes the Faribault (Minn.) Republican. Willard McKinstry's character was formed in that industry, frugality, integrity, patriotism and piety for which New England was noted 75 years ago. There was much work, little play, some schooling, and the small farm furnished a frugal support for the large family until he was 14, when his father died. Then Willard worked out two summers, attending school winters. In 1832 he became an apprentice in the office of the Northampton (Mass.) Courier. He journeyed to Northampton, 14 miles, on foot, carrying all his effects in a handkerchief ; his wages was $30 the first year, $35 the second, So the third and $50 the fourth. That knowledge of public affairs and of the English language which made him such a clear and vigorous writer was chiefly acquired by careful study and extensive reading during this apprenticeship, and service as a journeyman printer in New York, Hartford, Springfield and Mayville. In Springfield he worked three years for G. and C. Merriam, publishers of Webster's dictionary, and in Mayville he worked on the Sen- tinel for his cousin Beman Brockway, with whom he was a fellow apprentice at Northampton. In the spring of 1842 Mr. Mckinstry purchased the Fredonia Censor, which he has since published. He is now the oldest editor in the state. He married in 1842, Maria A. Durlin of Fredonia, a person well adapted for the helpmate of a pioneer printer, possessing energy of character, fine literary taste, extensive reading and winning sociality, and whose judg-

yours truly MOSS ENG. Co.N.Y.

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ment of literary merit was almost unerring. She died in April, 1882. Of their four children, three lived to maturity. Louis, the oldest, now a mem- ber of the state constitutional convention, has been associated with his father in business since 1867 ; Willard D., now a proprietor and editor-in- chief of the Watertown Times, and a civil service commissioner of the state ; and Anna, with whom he resides, the wife of Prof. M. T. Dana, vice-princi- pal of the Fredonia State Normal School. In 1887 Mr. Mckinstry married Mrs. Mary A. Baker, of Ackley, Iowa. She died in less than a year. She was highly esteemed.

Mr. Mckinstry made a profession of his Christian faith when 14, and united with the same Congregational church to which his grandfather had preached long before he was born, and he was a member of the Northampton church from 1832 until 1847, when he united with the Presbyterian church in Fredonia, of which he is an honored member. His vocation as an editor and his intense patriotism made him thoroughly conversant with all public questions, while his sincerity and modesty unfitted him for a professional politician or office-seeker. He was a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, and has been a steadfast Republican since the organization of the party. He was postmaster at Fredonia for eight years, first appointed by President Lincoln in 1863. He was "anti-slavery " from youth, and has been strongly " Union " throughout his life. In 1865 he was for a time with the army near Petersburg in the service of the Christian Commission, and is a staunch friend of the soldiers, having advocated every measure for their relief or benefit. He has been foremost in many public improvements ; was one of the original trustees of Forest Hill cemetery, of which he has been president the past nine years; was an original stockholder in the Dunkirk and Fredonia Railway Co., of which he has been president for 14 years ; was one of the first movers to secure the location of the State Normal School in Fredonia, and was a member of its first local board of managers. He is opposed to any sort of formalism, and has never departed from those charac- teristics of simplicity and sincerity which he acquired in his early Puritan home. He has prepared public addresses and memorials of marked vigor and literary merit ; and now, having entered his Soth year, he is found at the Censor office nearly every day, and writes occasional editorials with clearness and force.

HON. GEORGE BARKER.

Hon. George Barker was born in Venice, Cayuga county, N. Y., Novem- ber 6, 1823. He studied law at Auburn with David Wright, Esq., and located in Fredonia in January, 1848, immediately after his admission to the bar. His father, Jolin A. Barker, was born of English ancestry at Lloyds- neck, Queens county, in 1787, and was a son of Joseph Barker, a Revolution-

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ary soldier, who did service at and near Norwalk, Conn., where the family then resided. His mother, Phebe Ogden, was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., in 1787. Her father, Joseph Ogden, was a descendant of John Ogden, one of the first settlers of that town, the head of the family by that name in New Jersey and New York, many of whom have held distinguished public positions and been prominent in business affairs. The first known of her ancestors was a countryman in England. After the battle of Leicester, in which Charles II. was defeated and left with only a single courtier, Charles threw himself upon the protection of this countryman, who secreted him in a hollow oak tree, and, after providing for his wants for several days, dis- guised him as a peddler and conveyed him to the seashore, where he found a ship to convey him back to France. All of this time a reward of £5,000 was offered by Cromwell " for the head of Charles II." When he afterwards recovered his throne he offered to ennoble his benefactor, which he declined. The king however changed the family name to Oakden, and gave it a liberal pension for three generations. (The dropping of a letter afterwards, with a slight change in pronunciation, made the name Ogden.)

Judge Barker was educated in the common and select schools in the neighborhood of his father's home and at the Aurora academy. His wife, Achsalı Elizabeth Glisan, was born in Frederic Co., Md. They were mar- ried in October, 1857, and have one child, Mary Eliza, wife of John Wood- ward, Esq., of Jamestown. Soon after becoming a resident of Fredonia Judge Barker interested himself in the affairs of the village, was its clerk for several successive terms, and was elected its president for two terms. He was elected district attorney in 1853, and served one term, greatly to the sat- isfaction of all but the criminal classes. He was reelected in 1862, but resigned before the expiration of his term, his increasing general practice requiring all his time. In 1867 he served as a member of the constitutional convention of New York, and rendered effective service on the committees of the judiciary, and the legislature and its organization. In 1867 also he was elected a justice of the supreme court for the Eighth Judicial District. His success at the bar had demonstrated his eminent fitness for a place upon the bench. He was elected again in 1875 for a term of 14 years, by the unani- mous vote of the district, being nominated as a candidate by both of the great political parties. During most of his last 14 years of service he was a member of the General Term for the Fourth Judicial Department, and during the last years was presiding justice of the General Term. He was a member of the constitutional commission which assembled in 1890 to propose amend- ments to the judicial article of the constitution.

It is not as much the reputation which Judge Barker acquired as a model district-attorney, as an eloquent advocate before courts and juries, or as an able and impartial judge whose opinions enrich our judicial records, that

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win our regard as the possession of the common qualities which link man to man and make a full, true and rounded manhood. He has won his success by honest toil, by energy that never rested, by common sense and a con- science sensitive to right and wrong, and that made him equal to all the emergencies and duties of life, whether great or small, and which at the bench and bar guided him when precedents were wanting. He has ever taken an active interest in all things pertaining to the good of humanity. He is ever ready to counsel his neighbors, and to aid them. His energy inspires, his sympathy strengthens, his judgement directs his fellow men. His genial manners invite and repay the confidence of all. His life has been a boon to the community which has been his home for ahnost half-a-century. An ample competence has rewarded his business sagacity, and has brought comfort and beauty to his hospitable home, which the fit and worthy com- panion of his youth still hallows and blesses.

Judge Barker's career stands as an example to the young of the qualities which command success, and of the respect and affection which ever crowns a useful and honorable life.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON, A. M.

Oscar W. Johnson, son of William and Olive Jolinson, was born in But- ternuts, Otsego county, N. Y., September 8, 1823. His father with six brotli- ers emigrated to New York from Vermont, and his mother's family from Washington county. In 1835 Oscar moved to Hamburgh, Erie county, and in 1838 to Laona. He received his education in district schools, and in Gil- bertsville and Fredonia academies. In 1842 he returned to his old home in Otsego county, and the next spring entered as a student in the law office of Col. John Wait of Norwich. After being admitted to the bar and practicing about one year in Norwich, he removed in 1850 to Fredonia, where he has since resided. In April, 1851, he was married at Norwich to Emily Murray. In 1853, during the administration of Franklin Pierce, he was appointed post- master at Fredonia. In the years in which the Normal School was secured and built at Fredonia he was a member of the board of village trustees. Dur- ing the life of the water commissioners he was chairman of the water board. Mr. Louis Mckinstry, in his quarter-centennial address before the Normal School says : "The village officers took hold ardently, and when the comll- mission of state officers met in November to hear propositions for location of these schools, Mr. O. W. Johnson appeared in behalf of the village, and by his able and eloquent argument as to the advantages of a rural location over that of a city like Buffalo, did much to secure the vote in our favor." In 1868 he became attorney for J. Condit Smith who was then building the railroad from Dunkirk to Warren, Pa., and continued as such attorney up to the time of Col. Smith's death in New York city in 1883. During his professional con-

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nection with Colonel Smith the latter constructed the Dunkirk, Allegany Valley & Pittsburg Railroad, the Warren & Venango, the Rochester & State Line (in part), the Northern Central Michigan, and the Chicago & Atlantic. Mr. Johnson was made the sole executor of the will of Colonel Smith in 1883, and has only just completed his trust, the estate being large, complicated and diversified.

These duties have interfered with the general practice of his pro- fession. He had literary tastes which for more than 40 years have led him to deliver many addresses, as occasions have arisen, at home and abroad, and to contribute to the press. His lectures before teachers' institutes, literary associations and agricultural societies have been given in a majority of the counties of the state. In 1867 he received from the teachers' institute of Chautauqua county, held at Mayville, a gold headed cane toward which over 600 teachers contributed. This was given him as a recognition of his work for popular education. In: 1890 he published, only for gratuitous distribu- tion among his friends and kindred, a volume entitled "Addresses, Essays and Miscellanies from 1840 to 1890."

He is a charming writer. His lectures, addresses, speeches and papers are models of good English, forceful, original and seasoned with a quaint humor. He ranks with the best writers of his generation. His lecture on Gen- eral Grant has received high commendations from leading critics, and has been pronounced the best article ever written on that distinguished patriot. In 1869 the degree of A. M. was bestowed on him by Hamilton College. Mr. Jolmson has been a life long Democrat. "Even if a Democrat in Chautau- qua county had qualifications for official position, his chances to obtain it would not be as good as the Scriptures assure us a lawyer's are of reaching the kingdom of Heaven." He has always done the duty of a good citizen in aiding to build up and maintain an elevated public sentiment in the com- munity, and wrought well in its social, educational and religious fields. His domestic relations have been most pleasant. Mated with a wife possessing intellect, executive ability, and rare social qualities, his residence has been in the truest sense a home. Mrs. Jolison before her marriage was precep- tress of Norwich Academy. She was the first woman to hold a public posi- tion in Fredonia, and is now serving her third term as member of the board of education. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, one of whom died in infancy : Mary E., the wife of D. M. Totman, M. D., of Syra- cuse, a graduate of Yale, the present health officer of that city, senior physi- cian of St. Joseph's Hospital and professor of surgery in the Syracuse Medi- cal University. Fanny L., the wife of Stephen Stedman of Syracuse, who is a graduate of Williams College, managing editor of the Syracuse Daily Her- ald and proprietor of the Syracuse Weekly Express. Emily M., the wife of William S. Rann, who was educated at Hamilton College and is now the city

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 58

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1068