My Genealogy Hound

JOHN K. DERBY, an aged citizen of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, has resided here since 1836, and for many years was a painter, and conducted a paint and oil store here until 1866; he then sold out the business to his brother Silas S. Derby, who had been a partner for a number of years. Mr. Derby is the third son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kenyon) Derby, and was born near Batavia, Genesee county, New York, February 9, 1816. He comes from two very old families. Phineas Derby (paternal grandfather) was one of two brothers who came from England and settled in Vermont; he followed farming until his death. He was active, politically, and served in the Colonial army; the maternal grandfather, Rouse Kenyon, was a native of Rhode Island, but removed to Genesee county, near Batavia. Joseph Derby was born in the State, whose bosom holds the form of the glorious Ethan Allen, and he remained there until reaching manhood, when he left the place of his nativity and saw it no more. He first went to Genesee county, New York, and there married Elizabeth Kenyon, and a few years after they removed to Monroe county, this State, and still later he removed to Warren county, Pennsylvania, and died there March 14, 1837. Mr. Derby gained a livelihood by farming and stone mason work. His marriage resulted in five children: Phineas, died October 6,1887; Sylvanus, died in 1886; John K. and Silas S. Derby (see his sketch) reside in Jamestown, New York; William R. Derby resides in North Warren, Pennsylvania, where he is engaged in the butchering business.

John K. Derby was educated in the common schools of Monroe county, acquired the painting trade at Rochester, New York, and was employed in that city five years. He afterward, in 1836, came to Jamestown, and for twenty-eight years was proprietor of a paint and oil store. He then went out of active business, but since then has not been idle, but has been engaged in building and repairing his houses and has done considerable joiner’s work and painting, besides building two steam yachts and a few row-boats for his own use on Chautauqua lake.

He has been twice married, first to Ruth Smith, of Busti, New York, December 13, 1837, by whom he had two children, a son. Ami, died at the age of thirteen months; and a daughter, Edna, who married N. A. Arnold and died when twenty-three years of age. His second was L. Antoinette Dill, by whom he has one child, I. Frederick Derby, born May 30, 1882.

J. K. Derby is in more than comfortable circumstances, owning considerable real estate, houses and lots. Politically he is a republican, his first vote being cast for Martin Van Buren, when that gentleman ran for President. He has held no office except that of poor-master for ten years, and a trustee of the Jamestown schools. Mr. Derby is a member of Ellicott lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F., of which he has been a member for eighteen years.