History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 81

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 81

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Horace Allen (born in 1790, at Lebanon, N. H., died October 3, 1863), came to Jamestown in 1815, worked in the Prendergast mills, and about 1823 built a sawmill on the site now occupied by John T. Wilson's mill. After some years he purchased a farm south of the Chadakoin, built a house, laid out streets, sold some lots, and commenced that development which brought the " south side " into the city. In 1843 he bought 12 acres between Allen, Warren and Mechanic streets, laid it out in lots, and it was soon covered with residences. This was the starting of the rapid growth of that part of the city. He was made captain of militia in 1820, and became major general. He was one of the most active in church, civil and business relations of his generation.

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Col. Nathaniel Fenton in 1823 settled in Poland. He was an important, bold, brave and trusty colonial scout in the Revolution before he was 18 years old, and about 1780 came from New Hampshire to Otsego county, where he was twice member of assembly. He also represented this county in the assembly. His wife, Rachel (Fletcher) Fenton, died in 1842, when he removed to Jamestown. He was an active Congregationalist from 1802. His daughter Ovilla married William Smith, an early settler of Ellery. Fanny was the wife of Gen. Horace Allen. Elsie married Cyrus Coe an early settler of Poland. Richard F. Fenton, son of Col. Nathaniel Fenton, born in Otsego county August 28, 1800, died in Jamestown, June 25, 1876. He first came to Jamestown in 1815 with Horace Allen. In 1819 he taught day and singing schools in Poland. From that time to 1823 he was a prominent teacher, in 1822 teaching a summer school in Jamestown. In 1824 he was elected constable and collector and appointed deputy sheriff. In 1825 he and Henry Baker were keeping tavern on the southwest corner of Main and 'Third streets. In 1833 he joined N. A. Lowry in merchandising until 1838. The same year he engaged with Hon. E. T. Foote and Wilford Barker in tanning, and had a shoe and leather store -on Main street until 1850. He was a member of the Presbyterian church 35 years ; an earnest temperance and anti-slavery worker, he held a high place in the community. His first wife was Sally Ai Tew. He married second, Mary Ann Lawrence, June 9, 1833. They had four children. Two of the daughters occupy the old homestead on East Second street opposite the high school building.

Daniel Hazeltine was born in Wardsborough, Vt., March 9, 1795. In 1812 he began to learn clothmaking, by the advice of his uncle Solomon Jones, with the intention of coming to Western New York to pursue that vocation. In 1816 he came and was the pioneer maker of textile fabrics in Jamestown, manufacturing them till 1865. He possessed great business capacity, strict integrity, and his mark on his goods was a guarantee of their quality. He had a deeply devout nature, and was one of the nine founders of the Con- gregational church, and was one of its most active and useful members. He married, in 1818, Mehetabel, daughter of William and Mary ( Prendergast) Bemus. Their oldest daughter, Susanna, married William Post and died June 23, 1870. Daniel H. Post is their son. Mr. Hazeltine died August 3, 1867. "He was loved and respected by all classes and conditions of men." His wife died September 22, 1889, in her 95th year. She had " many strongly-marked and worthy traits of character."

William Hall, born in Wardsborough Vt., August 17, 1793, died in James- town, July 6, 1830. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Carroll, first making a location at Kiantone In 1816 he came to Jamestown, was clerk for Elisha Allen for a time, purchased the lot now occupied by the Prendergast block, built and opened a hotel in company with Solomon Jones. In 1828

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he removed to his farm on the "south side," but continued to buy lumber to sell in southern markets. He built the Hall block on Main and Third streets in 1860. He was identified with most of the enterprises tending to improve Jamestown both public and private. He was a director and vice- president of the Erie & New York City R. R. Company, a director in the Chautauqua County National Bank, and, although not the originator of the textile industry of Jamestown, contributed fully as much as any one to bring it into existence. He married July 4, 1824, Julia, daughter of Solomon Jones. She died January 18, 1888. Of their five children, three, William C. J. ; Clara M., (wife of Rev. William A. Hallock) ; Elliot C. ; survived him. Mr. Hall possessed those New England characteristics, sound judge- ment, energy, prudence and industry, dominated by a christian char- acter of rare excellence. W. C. J. Hall, born August 8, 1828, died October 31, 1887, was a true representative man of Jamestown in public spirit, in developing its manufactures, in patriotism (winning a major's com- mission by gallantry in the most dangerous service in the civil war), and occupied a front rank as an educator in science, philosophy, science and art. He was a christian philanthropist and an active promoter of the V. M. C. A.

Henry Baker, (born 1797, died July 31, 1863), a musician of the war of 1812, located at Fluvanna in 1817 or 1818 as a shoemaker and lumber worker. In 1823 he was elected constable, removed to Jamestown, and first as a shoe- maker, then a lumberman and merchant, and later as a real estate operator, he attained prominence. He was one of the syndicate that bought the Prendergast interests in 1836, and soon acquired the rights of all the others. He was a most influential citizen of great kindness and tenderness of heart, of unbounded loyalty to friends and country. He was many times supervisor and held all of his offices acceptably. He was a colonel of militia and was universally known as Colonel Baker.

Colonel Augustus F. Allen, son of Elisha and Juliet (Holbrook) Allen was born in Wardsborough, Vt., September 13, 1813, and came to Jamestown in 1826. The death of his father in 1830 left him the head of the family. He acquired a good English education at the academies of Jamestown and Fre- donia. The fine property of his father's estate, grew to large pro- portions under the energy and sagacity of Augustus and his brother Dascum. They engaged in merchandising in 1856 as "A. F. & D. Allen," and dealt largely in lumbering and real estate. Their opera- tives extended over all of southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, and the partnership continued for many years. In 1831 Mr. Allen joined the Congregational church, but subsequently trans- ferred his membership to the Presbyterian church of which he was a most faithful and liberal member. In 1836 he married Margaret, daughter of Dr. Cook of New York. Of their eight children but two, Alfred

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D. and Charlotte, survived him. He was one of the brightest, most energetic and persistent of the many able business men of this section. In 1848 he engaged in woolen manufacturing with Daniel H. Grandin and was con- nected with that industry when he died. He freely contributed of his ser- vices and of his wealth to advance the interests of Jamestown, aided in estab- lishing the alpaca mills, the cane-seat chair factory, and other large indus- tries, and in fact no project looking to the advantage of the town or city was ever considered without submitting it to his careful scrutiny. He was always prominently engaged in matters of public importance. His labors and influence are indissolubly connected with the bringing of railroad facilities to Jamestown. A director in the " Erie and New York City R. R.," chartered in 1851 to run from Salamanca to Erie, upon the abandonnent of its con- struction, he actively threw himself into the organization of the "Atlantic and Great Western R. R." until its completion. He was also an active power in the construction of the Buffalo and Southwestern R. R. For 17 years he was supervisor of Ellicott, during the war he was the efficient chair- man of the county war committee, he was commissioned colonel to organize the 112th Regt., and was in command of Camp James M. Brown at James- town during its organization and that of the 154th Regt., and was later con- missioned brigadier general of militia. In 1867 he was an influential mem- ber of the state constitutional convention, and the same year he was nomi- - nated for state senator by the " Independent Republicans," which gave the election to the Democrats. In 1874 he was elected to represent this con- gressional district in the National Congress by a coalition of " Liberal Repub- licans" with the Democrats. The intense strain of this heated contest, act- ing upon his already weakened physical system, developed disease of the brain of which he died before the meeting of Congress. "The manliness, purity and integrity of his life were never questioned."

Dascum Allen, brother of Augustus F. was born in Wardsborough, Vt., September 5, 1817, and died in Jamestown April 7, 1872. He was, like his brother, pre-eminently a business man, and took a prominent part in build- ing up Jamestown. He was a large operator in lumbering all of his life, and amassed a large fortune which his readiness to oblige any one desiring help much reduced. Probably none invested more in buildings in Jamestown or in creating facilities for business. As one very truthfully writes : " Daseum Allen was a born lumberman ; what he did not know about that business was not worth knowing. He was everywhere known from Jamestown to Cincinnati as the 'big-hearted lumberman.' If any man had been infor- tunate and needed assistance, no matter whether friend or foe, he had but to go to ' Dasc. Allen' and his necessities were relieved. He was frequently imposed upon by the designing, and lost a good fortune by endorsing the notes of those who never expected to pay." His wife, Susan, (Darling) Allen,

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died April 7, 1886. Their children were Horace F., Florence (Mrs. C. W. Grant), Frank.

EARLY INDUSTRIES .- The necessary shops of a small community, tailors, blacksmiths, shoemakers, coopers, etc., were here before 1816. Simmons & Blanchar, who operated a woolcarding machine in the gristmill in 1815 are credited with first announcing the name of the place as "Jamestown " in a circular they sent out this year. The "Chautauqua Manufacturing Co.," $100,000 capital, was incorporated in 1815 to manufacture cotton cloth. James and Jediah Prendergast, Samuel Sinclear, Jacob Houghtou, Solomon Jones, Ebenezer Cheney, Nathan Cass, David Boyd, John Thompson were the corporators. A large building was erected where the stone gristmill stands and operations were then suspended. Rufus Pier and Elmer Freeman commenced to buy and sell furs and make hats in 1816, and both were for many years identified with Jamestown. Daniel Hazeltine built a cloth dress- ing mill in 1816, in 1823 purchased Horace Blanchar's carding mill, and in 1824 began to make cloth " on shares." The Burge tannery established in 1813 was sold to William Pier & Co., in 1817, and was conducted by them and others until 1832. Prior to 1822 Phineas Stevens and Salmon Grout owned a tannery at the foot of Cherry street. Selling this to Barrett & Barker in 1824 they built one at the foot of Spring street. Both were closed before 1840. William Knight (in 1821) and Day Knight and Silas Shear- man had saddle and harness shops before 1827. Samuel Garfield at a very early date invented a scythe snath that gave great satisfaction. He manu- factured many as did others, among them Edward Reynolds, A. B. Cobb, Cobb & Sons, William Broadhead, Simmons & Tyrrell, N. & E. Breed, W. R. Denslow, Harmis Willard. Rakes and grain cradles were also made by some of these. In 1827 the making of window sash, the first made in a large area, was commenced at the lower dam by Benham, Seymour & Good- win. This assumed large proportions. John Scott later bought an interest in the factory. Sash were also made by various parties later, as were doors and blinds, woodenware, etc. In 1831 Parley Smith & Bro., made pails, tubs, etc., at the sash-factory dam. Various parties succeeded them, the last being Salisbury, Kibling & Co.

PRINCIPAL EARLY MERCHANTS .- According to Dr. Hazeltine, J. & M. Prendergast built a store 20x45 on the northwest corner of Main and First streets in 1814, where general merchandise, dry goods, hardware, liquor, salt, fish, etc., were sold until 1836 when it was closed. William B. Allen, John- son Goodwill, and Elial T. Foote, built a small store about the same time on the northeast corner of Main and Second streets, and Allen & Goodwill sold goods. They were succeeded by Foote & Fenton, who sold to Silas Tiffany in 1816. He built a large two-story building, and became the first resident merchant. He was for many years in business and ran much lumber to

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southern markets. His brother Jehial was in partnership with him from 1819 to 1832. In 1829 they bought the mill privilege at East Jamestown and 1,000 acres of land on both sides of Chadakoin river, discontinuing the Jamestown store. The business center they developed was long called Tif- fanyville. Samuel Barrett, who first came to Jamestown in 1816, and was first a hotel keeper, then a lumberman, tanner, merchant and president of the bank in succession, was in trade at various times with different partners, Samuel Budlong, Charles Butler, Henry Baker and others. He was one of the most prominent business men. Dr. Hazeltine says that Henry Baker bought an interest in 1827 in the store of Budlong & Barrett, who were suc- cessors to J. E. & S. Budlong. Mr. Budlong retired in 1830, and Barrett & Baker continued the business for several years. Colonel Baker in 1846 became a partner of Rufus W. Pier in merchandising. In 1849 he sold to Wil- liam E. Barrett. Alvin Plumb built a store in 1826 at 215 and 217 Main street, and with Erasmus Smith and one Alcott engaged in trade. Later Charles Butler became his partner, and finally sole proprietor, selling in 1831 to C. R. Harvey and J. J. Leonard. Elisha Hall built the first brick house in Jamestown at 306 Main street, and sold goods some years in an adjoining store. Nathaniel A. Lowry came from Sugar Grove in 1833 bringing a stock of goods. He and Alvin Plumb built a brick block on the northeast corner of Main and Third streets. Lowry had various partners, Horace Jacobs, R. F. Fenton, S. C. Crosby, W. F. Wheeler and others. George W. and Wil- liam H. Tew, in 1829, built a large building on the southeast corner of Main and Fourth streets for a stove and tinware store. After 1835 W. H. Tew continued the business, and in 1847 erected a brick block on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets, where he opened an extensive hardware store. He was in trade for over 40 years alone and with various partners. " He amassed wealth without dishonor." Alonzo Kent came in 1832, and in 1834 opened a small dry goods store, and was in lumbering many years.

The mercantile interests have generally been in the hands of good busi- ness men. Some have developed into bankers and larger operators in other fields, some have retired, and those in trade today, with but few exceptions, are citizens of recent date. One of the oldest establishments is the leading jewelry store of F. A. Fuller, Jr., which was founded by his father, Frederick A. Fuller, in 18.11, and conducted by him for 40 years, when in 1881, he retired from trade, transferring the business to the present proprietor. The " beehive " jewelry store of Levant L. Mason was established by Mr. Mason in 1849 and is still conducted by him. J. R. Fenner & Son's shoe store is also an old time landmark, dating back to 1840 when J. R. Fenner went into trade. He conducted it until 1865, when J. R. Fenner, Jr., succeeded him. . The pioneer house in the clothing trade is that of W. H. Proudfit, which has been conducted for over 40 years. Proudfit & Osmer in 1866 purchased

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the dry goods and clothing business then conducted by Andrews & Preston, carried it on until 1872, when they devoted themselves solely to the manu- facture and sale of clothing, etc. Mr. Proudfit became proprietor in 1880, after the death of Mr. Osmer. The leading dry goods houses are emporiums of commerce, carrying immense stocks and employing small armies of employes. The oldest is that of A. D. Sharpe, founded in 1874 by De For- est Weld, and conducted since 1880 by Mr. Sharpe. The other leading houses are Samuels & Sons, Jones & Audette, and Allstrom & Abrahamson.

MANUFACTURING-Furniture : In 1815 Royal Keyes, a carpenter and joiner, came to " The Rapids." In 1816 he built a two-story shop, on the west side of Main street above Third, and devoted part of it to cabinet mak- ing, and employed S. E. Colton, the first cabinet maker of the village. William Breed came in 1820, soon formed a partnership with Mr. Keyes, whom his brother John C. bought out January 1, 1823. Win. & J. C. Breed in 1825 built a shop on Pine street above Third, and employed two men and in 1833 built a large factory. They more than supplied the local demand, and flatboats were built, loaded with furniture, which, floated down the Chad- akoin, the Conewango, the Allegany and the Ohio, was sold at the river towns. The best cherry and rock maple was then worth $8 to $1o per thousand. In 1835 Almon Partridge became their partner. They built another factory in 1837 which contained the first machinery run by water for planing or turning cabinet work in Jamestown. Albert A. Partridge. succeeded his brother September 1, 1839. In 1846 the firm was again " Wm. & J. C. Breed," in 1850 Dewitt C. Breed and George B. Ford. In 1853 Ford sold to Breed, who, with his father and uncle, renewed the old firmn "Wmn. & J. C. Breed & Co."* By this time loads of assorted furniture were sold and delivered by teams to dealers within 100 miles. In 1860 the railroad gave increased distributing facilities. The war brought an enormous demand for furniture, and factories multiplied. In 1862 D. C. Breed bought the Baker factory, and with H. J. Comstock and W. D. Botsford formed the firm of Comstock, Botsford & Breed, succeeded in 1865 by D. C. Breed ; in 1867 Judson W. Breed became partner and, Jannary 1, 1870, Augustus Johnson. This year they sold $65,000 worth of their goods. January 6, 1879, J. W. Breed sold to " D. C. Breed & Co." January 1, 1881, the firm became the " Breed Furniture Co." with J. J. Aldrich as partner until June 1884, when D. C. Breed and Augustus Johnson continued the business. In 1892 their new factory on Jones & Gifford avenue was completed. It is iron clad, 226x54 feet, 4 stories high, heated by hot air and lighted by electricity.

*William Breed was born Oct. 24, 1795, in Saratoga county, and died September 15, 1883, at Jamestown. " He was a noble embodiment of integrity and uprightness in every relation." John C. Breed, born in 1804, came in 1821 and was in the furniture trade over 60 years. He died December 16, 1886. " A noble christian worker ; for nearly 60 years a deacon of the Baptist church." The Breeds appreciated good workmen ; some of their employes remained with them for 30 years. With such employers and workmen, labor agitations and strikes are unknown.

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George B. Ford, an apprentice to the Breeds from 1837, was their partner from 1850 to 1853. In 1869, with George and Ezra Wood, he formed "Ford, Wood & Co." In 1871 he sold out, and in 1875 began to make tables. His factory was burned, and April, 1881, he purchased a large factory on Forest avenue ; in 1883 G. M. Hodgkins became his partner. Mr. Ford retired in 1888, and had then been longer in the business than any other man in the city. Jolin Cadwell succeeded him, the firm becoming " Hodgkins & Cadwell." In 1892 they employed 35 hands. In May, 1894, they moved their factory to Foote's avenue. Martyn Bros., in 1865, commenced to make lounges with two men. Their buildings now cover nearly one block. They have employed 100 workmen. In 1866 Charles E. Weeks, Corban Willard and Frank Davis as " C. E. Weeks & Co." made chamber sets and extension tables, and employed 25 hands. In 1882 Mr. Weeks became sole proprietor. In 1871 George Wood & Co. succeeded " Ford, Wood & Co." In 1874 they transferred their chair department to " Chase & Son," and, in 1875, M. H. Wood succeeded George Wood and took H. J. Comstock as partner. Their factory was burned in 1876, Mr. Comstock continued the business some months, sold it and purchased the store of Hila M. Gage, and made lounges. Selling his store in 1877 to A. S. Prather, he manufactured lounges for some years. A. S. Prather came here in 1871 from the "oil regions," and built a large brick factory on Steele street, which he sold in 1876 to the " James- town Bedstead Co." and the "Jamestown Wood Seat Chair Co." The "Jamestown Bedstead Company," one of the flourishing manufactories, was founded in 1873 by William A. Marsh. The members are William A. Marsh, Daniel H. Post, A. W. Crum and Charles Ipson. Their plant is a large building on Steele street, operated by steam. In 1874 A. P. Olson & Co., (John Love) began to make wood and marble top tables. In September 1887 they occupied their new factory on Taylor street to which they added largely in 1892, and the power is furnished by a 40 H. P. engine.

J. R. Newman came from Franklin Pa., in 1875, and commenced to make woven-wire and spiral-spring beds with four men. He removed in 1881 to a larger factory, and employed 30 to 35 men. After his death in May, 1887, a company, his son Harry J. Newman at the head, continued the business. This firm became H. J. Newman & Co., in 1889. F. A. Johnson and H. V. Herrick became members in January 1893, and later purchased Newman's interest. Their factory is on Holmes street. 43 men were employed in 1893. About 1878 Landon & Co. commenced manufacturing spring and woven- wire beds. They were succeeded in 1886 by Joseph M. and William L. Hime- baugh who are in business on Harrison street. John F. and Samuel S. Carl- son commenced manufacturing chamber sets in 1878 with 3 hands. S. S. Carlson afterward carried on the business until January 1, 1890, when Sam- uel A. and Charles L. Carlson purchased it. In 1892 C. L. Carlson was suc-

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ceeded by Oscar W. Erickson and John A. Burch, with firm name of S. A. Carlson & Co. Their factory is on Willard street. They make chamber sets, employ 20 hands, and do an annual business of $20,000. In 1879 R. P. Shearman and L. H. Lakin began to make lounges. In 1880 the firmn " Shear- inan Bros." was formed, Addison P. Shearman buying Lakin's interest. They built a factory in 1881 at Shearman Place which was burned in October, 1883. They immediately built a large one of five stories, and exten- sively manufacture lounges, couches, etc. August C. and Andrew P. Nor- quist formed a partnership in March, 1881, for furniture manufacturing, and in 1883 built their factory on Chandler street extension. They lost quite heavily by fire in 1886 but recuperated quickly: In 1887 they employed 30 men on chamber work. Frank O. Norquist later became a member of the firm, now " A. C. Norquist & Co." The "Swedish Furniture Manufacturing Co." was incorporated in July, 1883. The stockholders were all Swedes. June 1, 1885, they lost heavily by fire. In November, 1887, they employed 40 men, had a factory in Jamestown, and another at Randolplı. Later they moved to Randolph and formed the " Atlas Manufacturing Co." Some years ago they returned to East Jamestown and built a large factory. Charles Nor- quist in 1884 commenced to manufacture cylinder desks and bookcases. In 1887 he employed 17 men. In 1884 he was succeeded by a stock company of which he is manager. The factory is on Chandler street extension.

Phillips, Maddox & Co. engaged in manufacturing furniture in 1885; in 1886 the Maddox Reclining Chair Co. was organized. This was reorganized as Morgan, Maddox & Co. ; in 1890 was Maddox, Bailey & Co., the partners being W. J. Maddox, C. E. and E. C. Bailey. Their factory is on Winsor and Harrison streets. They have purchased the old plant of the " Breed Furniture Co." W. I. Blystone established a manufactory of mattresses and bedding in 1886. His factory is on Briggs street. The "Jamestown Lounge Company " was organized in 1888 by H. L. Phillips, T. D. Hanchett, L. F. Cornell and A. H. Greenlund. In 1892 they enlarged their factory on Win- sor street. They employ 100 hands. The Chautauqua Table and Cabinet Company, 700 East Second street, (East Jamestown), was established in 1890 and. in 1891 was succeeded by the present corporation. The directors are Swedes. They employ 20 artisans. The "Jamestown Desk Company " manufactures writing desks, bookcases, etc., on Taylor street. It was estab- lished in April, 1890, by W. A. Warner and G. Brandin. The latter was succeeded in June, 1890, by F. O. Crosgrove, and the present name was adopted. In November, 1890, G. O. Meredith acquired one-third interest, and Mr. Warner sold to his partners March 7, 1891. They employed 35 operatives in 1893. "Johnston, Lawson & Co." manufactured parlor and library tables on Foote's avenue. This firm was formed in 1890 when it employed 20 hands. They employed 30 men in 1893. They were succeeded

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 81

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