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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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CHAUNCEY M. RATHBUN, D.D. S., of Fredonia, one of the progressive and leading dentists of western New York, is a son of Dr. Byron and Thirza A. (Jillson) Rathbun, and was born in the city of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, New York, May 28, 1867. The Rathbuns are of English descent and Rev. Levant Rathbun, paternal grandfather of Dr. C. M. Rathbun, was born at Camden, Oneida county, in June 1803, and removed to Pine Grove, Warren county, Pa., where he farmed until 1837. He then entered the ministry of the Baptist church and preached in Jamestown and Dunkirk and at Panama where he died September 18, 1869. In January, 1826, he married Laura Brainard Comstock, who was born at East Haddam, Connecticut, and died August 24, 1845, leaving five children: Dorliska, Theron, Andrew, Dr. Byron and Milton. Rev. Levant Rathbun married for his second wife, on August 10, 1846, Mrs. John Paden, who bore him five children: Wilbur, Laura, Charles, James and Willie. Dr. Byron Rathbun (father), now the oldest practicing dentist of Dunkirk, was born at Pine Grove, Pa., October 28, 1834, worked on a farm at Mayville, from twelve to fifteen years of age and then went to Erie, Pa., where he studied dentistry with Dr. Thompson in day time and worked in a printing office at night. He left there in 1853, held a position for two years in A. T. Stewart’s dry goods store in New Orleans and returned in 1855 to Erie where he was a partner with Dr. Thompson for three years. In 1858 he opened his present office on Center street, Dunkirk, where he is now an influential member of the city council. He has a large practice, is wealthy and has been for several years a Knight Templar of Dunkirk Commandery No. 40, K. T., and a member and vestryman of St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church. On December 28, 1865, he married Thirza Ann Jillson. They have three children: Chauncey M.; Mary J., born March 28, 1877; and Jean A., born January 27, 1882. Mrs. Rathbun’s father, Samuel C. Jillson, was born October 4, 1820, and on August 28, 1842, married Mary Shale, of Rochester, N. Y., by whom he had four children. He was a son of Oliver Whipple Jillson, who was born in 1786, married to Sally Sackett in 1819 and died in Genesee county in 1829, leaving four children: Samuel C.; De Witt C., born in 1822; Mary, born January 2, 1824; and Amanda, born March 20, 1826.

Chauncey M. Rathbun attended the public schools of Dunkirk until he was seventeen years of age when he entered a military school at Peekskill, on the Hudson, where he remained one year. He then returned home, studied dentistry with his father, and matriculated in 1887 at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1888 with the degree of D. D. S. In the autumn of that year he came to Fredonia where he has been successfully practicing dentistry ever since. His office is fully equipped with modern appliances and he keeps fully abreast of the times in the line of his profession.

June 12, 1889, he united in marriage with Julia S., daughter of P. Ten Eyck and Caroline (Sparks) Smith, of Wilmington, Delaware, where Mr. Smith is cashier of the First National bank of the city.

Dr. C. M. Rathbun is energetic and active in whatever he undertakes. He is a conservative republican and a Master Mason of Forest Lodge, No. 166, Free & Accepted Masons. He is a member and vestryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal church of Fredonia.

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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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