Person:Job Staples (1)

Job made his mark in life and helped carve out the history of Elba.Few men in Genesee County enjoyed so wide a circle of friends and nocitizen had experienced greater influence in the development of Elba.As a young man he began his arduous career as a lumberman, running anold-fashioned water saw mill. Soon after he became interested instave, heading and lumber business in Elba. He built up amanufacturing establishment on Mechanic Street which became theprincipal industry of Elba. His partnership was first with GardnerTracy Southworth, under the name of Staple & Southworth.Subsequently, with his older brother George, and later with his son,Nathan, the business was continued under the names of J.A. Staples &Co. and Job A. Staples & Son, until a partnership was formed withAlbert A. Grinell of Oakfield. In 1889, Job and Charles Andrews were operating a grocery and feedstore on Mechanic Street. In April of 1890, the business wasenlarged, building an addition upon the front of the store, bringingit flush with the sidewalk. But by July Mr. Staples left, moving intothe A.U. Willis store on the east side of Main St. that was being usedby A.L. Turner as a feed store (present site of the old Grangebuilding). Staples & Son employed Evy Stephens in the store. He wasreplaced June 1891 by B.F. Moore. Louis Hundredmark was taken on inJuly 1894. In March 1898, Russell Crosby sold his grocery stock toMr. Staples and retired owing to the pressure of other business. In Mar 1899, Job purchased the property from the Willis estate andproceeded to make extensive repairs. The K.O.T.M. hall was held overthe store which also received extensive improvements. He had a cellarconstructed under the building in May, George Kulp doing the masonwork. Heavy rains caused the new wall to cave in. By July it hadbeen redug and shorn up. The store was fitted up in January, 1902with an acetylene gas plant to provide light to the store, MacabeesHall and club rooms. Job suddenly took seriously ill at his store in March 1901 and wasconveyed home. Dr. Lewis and Dr. Gray pronounced his ailment as heartfailure. In March 1903, He sold his grocery stock to Crosby & Ganshaw andretied permanently from active business due to ill health. Firedestroyed the building on the morning of Sept 15, 1903. At about 2amflames were discovered issuing from the rear portion of the buildingby a girl employed at the Hotel Swartz. The fire alarm was sounded atonce and reaction was quick, but the flames had gained too muchheadway and were beyond control, attention was then directed towardssaving W.A. Hundredmark's dwelling. Everything in the Staples building was consumed, with the exception ofthe safe and a portion of the books and documents in the post office,including the carrier' desks. An attempt was made to save the generaldelivery, but the intense heat prevented any other removals. Gone wasMr. Ganshaw's grocery stock, the Maccabees Hall furnishings, all theGrangers belongings and the Gentleman's Club was a total loss. Thepool tables, chairs and other furniture were all gone. In response to a telephone message, two large wagons loaded with aboutthirty members of the Batavia Fire Dept. arrived to aid in the battle.The only thing that could be done was to contain the fire and keep itfrom the adjoining buildings. Afterwards, with their efforts relaxed,refreshments were available, including bakery stuff, lemonade andsausages provided by W.A. Hundredmark & Sons, the Raymond Brothers,the Burdett Brothers and John Swartz. Total loss amounted in excessof $6,000 with insurance covering the major portion of the damage. In October a special meeting was called at the Swartz Hotel to vote ona proposition from Mr. Staples regarding the construction of a newbuilding on the old site. The 26 by 60 foot hall, complete withkitchen and closets, an ante room and cloak room, would be leased tothe K.O.T.M. for $200 a year for the term of five years. As soon asthe contract could be drawn up, the building would begin at once. Butthe building was never constructed. Job had purchased the lot adjoining Sylvester Wait (now the residenceof Richard Dilcher) on Chapel Street, from A.U. Willis and erected hishouse and barn during April and May of 1874. The large structurecontained many rooms which were needed for his large family. In November 1900, Job had a narrow escape. Clad only in a flannelnightrobe, he attempted to light a match, the fire end of which flewoff, igniting his garment and enveloping him in flames. His wifesprang from the bed and rushed to her husband's assistance, puttingout the fire, which had slightly burned him. Mr. Staples was always heartily in favor of whatever made forimprovement and the beautifying of the home, village, and community.As an officer having charge of highways, he left examples of goodbridges and splendid roads. He was many times a Supervisor of Elbaand held other offices of trust. He was an advocate of good schoolsand the champion worker for the incorporation of Elba into anestablished village. He initiated the construction of concretesidewalks, scientific sewerage mains, and artistic street curbing andfostered other improvements. He retired from his active career onJuly 27, 1905.

The Progressive Batavian - Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y. - January 291886 Job A. STAPLES is still absent on a visit to Washington, Annapolis,East Shore and New York. He is expected home Saturday.

The Progressive Batavian- Batavia, Genesee Co., NY - Dec 12 1873 J.A. STAPLES & Co. have leased the sawmill at Idleport, and will docustom sawing at considerably reduced prices.

Progressive Batavian Batavia, Genesee County, NY -September 15-1893 A small blaze on the roof of the cooper shop of Staples & Son, in thewest part of the village, was discovered about 2 p.m. Tuesday, by Wm.C. RILTER. It caught from sparks from the chimney. A few pails ofwater subdued the fire, but left a hole in the roof.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Scott Benz. Elba, NY Town Historian, Family group sheets, photos, wills, andnewspaper clippings..