Person Page - 324

The registration listed the following official witnesses: John Blodow and Gette Rista. His parent(s) were listed as F. Verch and H. Verch. Her parents were listed as G. Kuhl and C. Kuhl. According to Ontario Marriage Registration 010425.¹¹

Survived by his wife, Buelah Gillette. Survivor(s): Mrs. Howard Aldridge.⁸

Bertha died at Brooks Memorial Hospital, Dunkirk, NY after a short illness. She resided on Wilson Road, Fredonia, NY at time of death.
     Member of the Laona Evangelical United Brethren church and the Laona Ladies aid.²

Survived by his wife, Blanche G. Gilray. Survivor(s): Mary Corey, Bertha Goldberg, Alice Sweet, Lily Cave, Pearl Bolling, Ruth Christy, Leonard Gilray and Hugh A. Gilray. Predeceased by his parents: James Gilray and Mary Ann White.⁵

Mayman is listed in the 1920 census living in the town of Sheridan with his brother Leonard, sister, Ruth, and his mother, Mary. The census shows that his mother came to America in 1888 but Mayman and Leonard came in 1890. It is possible that the children might have stayed in Canada until the parents were settled in the United States. The 1920 census also shows Mayman being naturalized in
     1917.Mayman was reared under rural conditions, attending a district school near Cherry Creek, and early learning the advantages and disadvantages of agriculture. He farmed until he was 22 years of age, then went into the furniture business in Dunkirk. Four years of merchandising was enough for this man, whose primary interest was in the soil. He sold his holdings in the Dunkirk establishment and purchased a farm in Sheridan, which he cultivated with skill, enterprise and efficiency. Experience on the land and in the city taught him that the specialist is more often better paid than one who generalizes, whether in industry, commerce or the professions. He centered most of his activities on truck growing and was one of the best known specialists in the production of young plants for which there is normally a great demand. In public life, he did well his duties as a good citizen and was honored with election to the town board for over 20 years when poor health forced him to retire. He was first elected to the town board in 1925. He was a Republican in his political faith. Fraternally, Mayman was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Lodge. On January 1, 1950 he and his wife, Blanche Cook went to Tucson, Arizona because of a severe asthma condition. He only lived four months there, dying April 28, 1950 -- not from asthma but a gall bladder problem.
     Part of the above information was taken from "The Historic Annals of Southwestern New York" copyright 1940. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove
     He was a commissioner of the Sheriden Fire Department, a member of the County Laboratory Board, a director of the Chautauqua County Agricultural Corporation, a member and past district deputy president of the Sheridan Odd Fellows lodge, the last charter member of True Union Rebeka lodge, a member of Irondequoit Lodge of Masons, Dunkirk, and a member of the Sheridan Grange. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove.²

Alice and Charles were married at the home of her parents on W. Main in Sheridan.
     Alice was a Past Noble Grand of the Sheridan
     Rebekahs.She died at Brooks Hospital, Dunkirk after a lengthy illness.
     "Alice" was always working. She and her husband had a dairy farm for years and she helped milk and did all the chores that went with a dairy farm. She and her husband sold the farm and retired to Fredonia, NY. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove.¹

Check for 1940 & 1950 census for Susan Alice Beatrice Gilray.¹⁴

Leonard is shown in the 1920 census living with his brother, Mayman, and sister, Ruth in the Town of Sheridan. Also living in the household is his mother, Mary. Leonard is shown coming to America in 1890 and being naturalized in 1917. His occupation is listed as farmer.
     Leonard lived in Egypt, NY; Hamlet; and Cherry Creek before settling in Sheridan.
     Leonard served in WWI in the U.S. Army and served in Europe. He ran the greenhouse and farm at the homestead in Sheridan for a time then was a greens keeper for Shorewood Country Club until he retired. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove
     The Gilrays bought a home on Dove Street in Dunkirk. Their home was always a gathering place for the young and old and Leonard always enjoyed having folks around and seeing them have a good time. After retiring from Shorewood where he was head greens keeper, Leonard worked for a time as a guard at the old Alco Plant. He was a Honorary Member of the Western New York Golf Course Superintendents Association, the American Legion and the Dunkirk Lakeside Club, Inc. He died in Dunkirk of a cerebral hemorrhage.⁴

Retrospective
Items of Local Interest From Observer Files
Twenty Years Ago - 1918
...The marriage of Ralph Bolling of West Lake road and Miss Pearl Gilray took place before the groom left for Camp Dix...²

Pearl was an excellent baker and at one time she and her husband baked rolls and bread to sell. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove
     Pearl is listed in the 1920 census age 31 with her husband, Ralph living on W. Lake Road in the Town of Dunkirk.
     Pearl died at age 82 at the Hope Haven Nursing home in Jamestown.
     Funeral services from McGraw Funeral Home, Dunkirk, Rev. P. Burdette Howe officiating.¹

Ruth is shown living with her brothers, Mayman and Leonard in the Town of Sheridan in the 1920 census. Also living in the same household is her mother, Mary. Ruth, age 26 is listed as being a stenographer.
     She resided at 9 Jackson St., Silver Creek, NY at time of death.
     Funeral services at Hole-Parker Funeral Home, Rev Willett Smith officiating.⁵

Survived by his wife, Lena Gilray. Survivor(s): Carlton Gilray, Robert (sic) Lucas, Hilma Walker, Leonard Gilray, Mrs. John Christy, Mrs. Clarence Cave, Mrs. Ralph Bolling, Alice Sweet, Mary Cory (sic) and Bertha Goldberg.⁶

Gilray-Lucas
Hugh A. Gilray, proprietor of Sheridan garage, and Mrs. Lena Lucas also of Sheridan, were married at the Methodist church parsonage on Saturday evening at seven o'clock by the Rev. Bernard Howe. After a short wedding trip Mr. and Mrs. Gilray will reside at Sheridan.⁵

Hugh may m 2nd Dora Lucas b 20 Mar 1889.
     After graduating from Dunkirk High School, Hugh learned the machinist trade and followed this work both in Dunkirk and in Erie, until 1917, when he enlisted for war service. He was attached to the 67th Balloon Corps and was stationed at Camp John Wise. He received his Honorable discharge after 14 months of service and then went to Baltimore to reenter the machinist field. He continued there until 1921, when he returned to Sheridan to establish the garage business in which he was most successful. Since 1923, he operated the Nash agency, was the local headquarters for the Case line of farm implements, and also had the dealership for GMC trucks. "Shorty" was a supporter of the Republican party, and fraternally, was affiliated with Silver Lodge No. 757, Free and Accepted Masons and Sheridan Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served as chief of the Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He died while on vacation in State College, PA of a heart attack. Part of the above information was taken from "The Historic Annals of Southwestern New York", copyright 1940. - Marjorie (Gilray) Crosgrove
     Hugh was a member of Silver Lodge 757, F. and A.M., and Scottish Rite Lodge, Silver Creek and the Jamestown Consistory. Hugh was a veteran of World War I and was a member of Don Martin American Legion Post 148, Silver Creek. He was a director of the Chautauqua County Automobile Club. He had been in the garage business in Sheridan for 32 years and had served the town as fire chief for 15 years.¹

Lookup later census records.¹⁰

Villenova Merchant is Buried at Wright Cor.
     Hamlet - Funeral services were held here on Dec. 14 for Nelson Hemphill, life long resident of this place and merchant here for many years.
     Mr. Hemphill's death occurred on Dec. 11. He was a trustee of the Methodist church, and a member of Villenova lodge, I.O.O.F., Villenova grange, and South Dayton Lions club.
     Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Annah Hemphill; a daughter, Mrs. Grace Sager; a sister, Mrs. Laura Swanson of Brademon, Fla., and four brothers, Frank and Hartley of Hamlet, Lester of Dunkirk and Samuel of Uniontown, Pa.⁴

Nelson Hemphill left a will and Letters of Administration were issued on 14 January 1948 at Surrogate Court, Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York, USA.

     His estate included $3,000 real property and $3,000 in personal property.⁸

He came to America in 1888 with his parents. He is listed as a farm laborer in the 1900 US census.
     The 1920 census shows him coming to America in 1890 and being naturalized in 1912. He is shown living in the village of Hamlet, Town of Villenova with his wife, Annah, and daughter, Grace. He is shown as a merchant in a store.
     Nelson lived in Hamlet the last 40 years of his life. He was a member of the Hamlet Methodist church and the area's Mason lodge. He died in the WCA hospital in Jamestown.¹