My Genealogy Hound

J. D. MAYNARD is one of the leading druggists and pharmacists in Fredonia, and has, by his own exertions, accumulated a very comfortable competency. He was born in Ontario county, New York, June 19, 1820, and is a son of John and Sarah (Putney) Maynard. His paternal grandfather, John Maynard, had four sons and one daughter: Elisha; Needham; John (father); Permelia and Joseph. The last named son was a house joiner in Lockport, Niagara county, this State, acquired considerable property and was one of the influential men in his section. John Maynard (father) was born in Goshen, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, in 1783, and was a mechanic and contractor until 1830, when he came to this county and settled in Charlotte, where he bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres. Prior to this transaction he had built a mile and a half of the Erie canal under the administration and supervision of Governor DeWitt Clinton. He occupied and cultivated this farm until his death, in 1862, aged seventy-six years. He was colonel of a regiment in the war of 1812, and worshipful master in a lodge of F. & A. M. in Niagara county. In religion he was a member of the Christian church, first in Niagara county and then in Sinclairville, this county, of which he was a deacon for several years. He was always a conscientious and able man and filled local offices in his town. John Maynard married Sarah Putney, in 1805, and by her had seven children, four sons and three daughters: Abigail, who married Pascal Darling, a farmer in Michigan; Almeda, married to Daniel Burgess, a merchant and extensive farmer in Wisconsin, where he owns eight hundred acres; Needham, a farmer in Niagara county, this State, where he owns one hundred and sixty-five acres, was keeper of Lockport poor-house two years, married first, Polly Buzbee, second, Elmira Culver; Addison, a farmer in Gerry, and merchant in Ellington, this county, and removed to Michigan, married to Amanda Bronson; Adeline married Evison Maynard, a farmer and speculator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Elisha, who died young; and J. D. Mrs. Maynard died in 1823, and John Maynard, the following year, married Charity Andrew, a daughter of Loudon Andrew of Royalton, Niagara county, this State, by whom he had six children, three sons and three daughters: John, a farmer in Iowa, married to Lydia Smith; Harriet married James Lacker, a farmer in Niagara county; Daniel, a farmer in Wisconsin, married to Mary King of Niagara county, this State; Eliza married Joel Fletcher, a farmer of Greeley, Colorado; Perry, farmer, but now a merchant in Iowa, married to Mary Fletcher; Martha married to Job Reynolds, a wealthy retired gentleman in Iowa. The second wife of John Maynard, died in 1870.

J. D. Maynard was educated at Sinclairville, this county, attending the common schools until he was eighteen years old and spending two years in the select schools. Being brought up on a farm, he worked at farming until he left school in 1840, and then labored at the business of carpenter and joiner in summer and taught vocal music in winter for eighteen years, two years in Pennsylvania and the remainder in this State. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B., 112th regiment, New York Volunteers, of which he was first lieutenant, and served one year, during which time he was besieged twenty days by General James Longstreet’s army, and participated in the battle of Deserted House, where the first man of the 112th regiment was killed. Lieutenant Maynard’s health failing so as to incapacitate him for service, he was honorably discharged May 28th, 1863, and in the following September he engaged in selling musical instruments, which business he continued for three years, then bought an apothecary store in Fredonia, a very fine three-story brick, now known as Maynard’s drug-store, and has continued in the drug business ever since, having one of the best selected and most complete lines of drugs, chemicals, etc., in the county, his average stock being worth seven thousand dollars. A farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres in Sinclairville, is also owned by him. In religion he favors the Presbyterian church, (Mrs. Maynard being a member), is a constant attendant upon its meetings, and contributes toward its support. He is a member of Holt post, G. A. R. in Fredonia.

J. D. Maynard was married September 30, 1845, to Amelia Bronson, a daughter of Samuel Bronson, a farmer and mechanic of Sinclairville, this county, and this union was blessed by the birth of a daughter, Margaret, who was born Feb., 1847. She married Charles P. Ingersoll, a merchant at Jamestown, who is now in politics, having been in the Assembly for several years. He is also interested in the insurance business in New York city. Margaret was drowned in Cassadaga lake with her three-year-old son, July 3, 1876. Mr. Maynard then took an orphan boy, three years old, who is a bright young man and has taken the name of Maynard.