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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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ALONZO FELTON, a citizen of the town of Ellery, in high standing, is a son of Ezra and Hannah (Sherman) Felton, and was born in Pittston, Rensselaer county, New York, September 25, 1819. Levi Sherman (maternal grandfather) was a native of Rensselaer county, by occupation a farmer, cabinet-maker, and the owner of one hundred acres of land. He reared a large family and died in the county of his birth. James Felton (grandfather) was born in Massachusetts, and emigrated to Ohio, where he passed his remaining life and died. He was a blacksmith by trade, married and had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Ezra Felton (father) was born in Rensselaer county, this State, and when he first came to Chautauqua county located in the western part of the town of Ellery; subject was at this time about one year of age. He died at Bemus Point in 1887, at the age of eighty-six years. His occupation was farming, while in politics he was a Jacksonian democrat. His first marriage was to Hannah Sherman, who bore him two children, Alonzo and one whose name is not given. His second wife was Abigail Annis, who also bore him two children.
Alonzo Felton gained his education through the common schools, and during his career has followed various vocations, but is essentially a farmer. He is the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres at Bemus Point, which at present claims most of his attention. In politics he is a thoroughgoing republican, and is strongly attached to the interests of the party.
On September 24, 1844, he was united in marriage with Caroline Olmstead, who bore him five children: George (married to Cordelia Gilman), a farmer living in the town of Poland; Julia, wife of Harrison Clark, a farmer residing in Eddy county, North Dakota; Mary, wife of Charles Chase (deceased), of Jamestown; Emma O., wife of Edwin Olean, a farmer of Genesee county, this State; and Ada, wife of Charles Arnold, a farmer of the town of Ellery. Mr. Felton is a farmer of recognized worth and standing in the community in which he resides.
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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891.
View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies
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