My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE S. JOSSELYN, the proprietor of the well-known grape-vine and small fruit nurseries at Fredonia, was born in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, June 17, 1842, and is a son of Stephen and Eliza (Studley) Josselyn. His paternal grandfather, Eleazer Josselyn, was a resident of Plymouth county and served in the War of 1812. Stephen Josselyn was born and reared in Plymouth county, where he received his education. He was a shoe manufacturer and conducted a general mercantile business. He married Eliza Studley, who was a native of the same county as himself.

George S. Josselyn received an academic education and at seventeen years of age left his native county and worked in Boston and vicinity as a civil engineer. In 1863 he came to Chautauqua county where he became a civil engineer on the Erie railroad with head-quarters at Dunkirk. He remained in the employ of the Erie railroad company for fifteen years, and during seven years of this time he was road master of the western division of the road. In 1870 he came to Fredonia, where eight years later he established his present grape-vine and small fruit nursery.

On August 31, 1869, he united in marriage with Mary White, daughter of Devillo White, of Fredonia.

In polities Mr. Josselyn is a democrat and has served as supervisor of his town for one term. He owns and has under lease over two hundred acres of land in Fredonia and in the town of Sheridan, near Fredonia, which is entirely occupied by his graperies and small fruit nurseries. He has been a careful experimenter with new fruits, has originated and introduced some valuable varieties and has contributed his share toward placing horticulture on a successful and paying basis. He has the largest grape root cellar in the United States and ships large quantities of grape-vines and small fruit plants to all parts of the country. He individually conducts and personally supervises his extensive business, while his necessary correspondence in connection with it requires the constant services of two typewriters. His persistent skill and industry has brought him success in horticulture where others have failed.