My Genealogy Hound

JOHN J. ALDRICH, the leading furniture dealer of Jamestown and Chautauqua county, is a son of George and Maria (Munger) Aldrich, and was born in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, November 23, 1841. His grandfather, Tillotson Aldrich, was a native of Rhode Island, where he was a prominent manufacturer of cotton goods for many years. He then removed to Tompkins county, this State, and afterwards settled in the town of Ellery, where he resided, and was a farmer until his death. Among his possessions was a fine farm on the East side of Lake Chautauqua. He was a Quaker or Friend in religious belief, reared a family of five sons and one daughter, and sold his farm to his son William, who afterwards became prominent in the politics of his town. Another of his sons was George Aldrich, the father of the subject of this sketch, and who was born April 1, 1806, in the City of Providence, R. I. He removed from Rhode Island with his father to Tompkins county, and thence to Ellery, this county. He is a farmer by occupation, and in politics supports the Republican party, but was formerly an old-line whig. He married Maria Munger, who died in 1873, aged sixty-nine years, and since that time has lived in Jamestown with his son, John J. They were the parents of two children, who lived to maturity: John J. and Orin T., now a resident and commercial traveler of St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Aldrich was a daughter of James Munger (maternal grandfather), a farmer and resident of Tompkins county.

John J. Aldrich was reared in the town of Ellery where he received his education. When fifteen years of age he became a clerk in a general mercantile store in which he served five years and then bought out his employer. He conducted this store for over four years, and during his connection with it for nine years as clerk and proprietor he acquired a thorough knowledge of merchandising, and laid the foundations for his future success in business life. In connection with his mercantile business he purchased butter and eggs for a produce firm in New York city, and when he disposed of this store in 1866, he came to Jamestown, where he was engaged for ten years in the dry goods business. At the end of that time, in 1876, he was elected county clerk and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, being the only clerk during the last forty years who was elected for a second term. During the last three years of the time which he served as county clerk at Mayville, he was a member of the Breed Furniture Manufacturing Company, of Jamestown. When his second term of office expired, he soon after retired from his association with the Breed Furniture Company, returned to Jamestown, and, in January, 1887, he established his present furniture establishment on Main street. He is carrying on this business under the firm name of John J. Aldrich, and keeps constantly on hand a full stock comprising all lines of furniture from the best down to the cheapest. His trade extends to nearly every section of the United States east of the Mississippi river. His business establishment is conveniently located and well fitted up and arranged for the display of his different styles of useful and elegant furniture.

In 1860 Mr. Aldrich married Lizzie Foster, of the town of Linden, Cattaraugus county, who died and left one child: Clara M., now the wife of Dr. D. R. Redgers, of New York City. He married for his second wife Hattie S. Coe, of the town of Ellery, who bore him two children: Minnie C., and John D. She died August 2, 1871, and on October 23, 1872, he united in marriage with Clara I. Breed, daughter of Dewitt C. Breed (see his sketch), and of the two children born to them, one died in infancy and the other is named Lucy Genevieve.

Mr. Aldrich has always been a republican in politics and is now serving his fourth consecutive term as supervisor of the city of Jamestown, and is chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Chautauqua county. He is a member of the Jamestown First Baptist Church, Jamestown Lodge, No. 34, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Chautauqua Lodge, No. 46, Knights of Honor; and Chautauqua Council, No. 73, Royal Arcanum. He was chairman of the finance committee of the Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Honor of the United States for four years, has been a member of the Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum for one term and served as a presiding officer of the Grand Council of the Royal Arcanum of the State of New York for two terms, as well as being a member of the New York Grand Lodge of the Knights of Honor for several years. He is at present President of the Board of Trade of the city of Jamestown, and is prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of the city.