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MISS DOROTHY BEUTER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leon W. Beuter of Breesport and Wilford M. Park, son of Mr. and Mrs. Manley C. Park, also of Breesport, were married Saturday, June 1, 1946, at the Breesport Baptist Church. After a trip to Lake Ontario, the couple are making their home in Breesport. (Personius-Warne Photo).
George A. Moll, 74, 823 W. Gray St., died Saturday, Mar. 27, 1948 after an extended illness. He was a communicant of Hedding Methodist Church. Survived by wife Mrs. Mary E. Moll; brothers, John of Waterville, Ohio, and Wallace Moll of Forksville, Pa.; several nephews. Body is at the Holly-Keck Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Alfred P. Coman. Burial at Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin.
Miss Bertha Hollenbeck of Erin, formerly of Elmira Heights. The body is at the Ballard Fu-neral Home, Elmira Heights, where friends may call today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Thursday at 1 p.m. will be re-moved to the Erin Methodist Church for funeral at 2 p.m. The Rev. Horace R. Pittman. A committal service will be held in Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin.
William Herbert Mellin, 10 month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Mellin of Erin. Wednesday, May 18, 1949. Survived by parents; sisters, Linda and Beverly, at home; grandparents, Mrs. Arthur Gardner of Erin, the Rev. and Mrs. Arnold Mellin of Tyrone. Private funeral Friday, 2 p.m. at the home. Rev. Leslie Simon. Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. M Shinebarger died unexpectedly Wednesday, Aug.
5, 1942, about 1:30 p.m. in a train-bus accident while en route from Ocala,
Fla., to Jackson, Miss. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie
B. Shinebarg-er of Erin, N. Y.; a sister, Mrs. Stanley Patterson of Breesport;
a sister, Betty, and a brother, Fran-cis, at home; his grandparents the
Rev, and Mrs. J. H. Richards of Port Byron, N. Y.; a niece Lana Patterson
of Breesport, also.
Mrs. Shinebarger leaves her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hutcheson,
407 Hendy Ave.; a sister, Eleanor M.; a brother, Ralph A., both at home;
her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Barrett of St. Petersburg, Fla.
The bodies were forwarded from Jackson, Miss., Thursday at 11:30 p. m under
Army escort and upon arrival in Elmira will be taken to the Barber Funeral
Home, Horseheads. Later they will be removed to the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Hutcheson. Funeral announcement later.
Military Rites Scheduled for Shinebargers
A military committal service was to be conducted this afternoon at
the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. M. Shinebarger, killed last Wed-nesday
in a bus-train collision at Crysta1 Springs, Miss. Mr. Shinebarger
was a member of the Army’s Aviation Cadets.
The funeral was to be held at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Church. Bur-ial
will be in Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin. A firing squad from the 30th
Military Police Battalion will discharge a volley, and a MP bugler will
sound taps, at the ceme-tery. The service was arranged by the Mayor’s Committee
for Che-mung County Service Men with the cooperation of Capt. R. R. Faison
of the Military Police.
Miss Helen Julia Park, about 81, life resident of Monroeton, Pa., Thursday, March 8, 1956. She was a member and former organist of the Monroeton Methodist Church and secretary of the WSCS for 15 years. Survived by sister, Miss Elizabeth Park, and nephew Ralph S. Park, both of Monroeton; nieces, Mrs. Jane Park Strong of Towanda, Pa., and Mrs. Kathryn LoBean of Orlando, Fla. The body is at the Maryott Funeral Home, Towanda, where friends may call tonight from 7 to 9. Funeral Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Mon-roeton Methodist Church, the Rev. Glenn Stewart. Monroeton Cemetery.
West Elmira
Resident Marks 100th Birthday Anniversary Thursday - Mrs. Mat Peterson,
“Grandma Peterson
Time has touched only lightly owed shoulders of Mrs. Mat Peterson,
“Grandma Peterson,” of 1527 W. Water St., who Thursday will celebrate her
100th birthday.
Long after the time when most people are content to retire to a rocking
chair to watch the rest of the world go by, “Grandma” Peterson goes about
her daily tasks of cleaning house, cooking her own meals, making beds and
doing the countless other chores which make up a home-maker’s life.
Until a year ago Mrs. Peterson had a companion, but since then she has
lived alone—doesn’t want anyone in the house to tell her what to do, and
when.
Her only living son, Dr. Henry A. Peterson, Elmira dentist who lives
next door, and members of his family look in occasionally and almost every
day Mrs. Peterson visits her son’s home.
She keeps regular hours, usually is up by 6:30 or 7, takes an after-noon
nap and retires by 9 or 9:30.
While Mrs. Peterson’s living quar-ters are all on the first floor,
she is capable of going upstairs or down in the basement, and quite often
does. She gets out, too; likes a ride in the car and when the mood strikes
her, she will visit the neighbors. Among her favorites are Mr. and Mrs.
Raymond A. Harvey, 1811 W. Water St., about a half-mile away. If
the Harveys don’t visit her quite often enough, she walks up to their home,
Both Mrs. Harvey and Mrs. Peterson are of Swedish descent. “She was up
to see us during a mild spell in the weather just before Christmas,” the
Harveys relate.
Mrs. Peterson doesn’t read anymore, her eyes aren’t quite as good as
they were, but she sews some and keeps up an active interest in current
events. “If anything, her health is even better than it was a year ago,”
her son believes.
Dr. Peterson chuckles over a re-cent incident which occurred when he
was looking over a coal bill. His mother inquired if the bill had been
paid and if it was paid soon enough to get the discount. “She doesn’t
miss a thing.”
Mrs. Peterson is looking forward to tomorrow when an open house from
3 to 6 p.m. will be the oc-casion to meet her many friends. Members
of the Peterson family will serve tea and Granny will cut her own birthday
cake.
The reception will be held in the house which her husband built in
1889 and which she has since called home.
The Centarian, daughter of a Swedish smithy, was born in a village
south of Stockholm, Jan. 19, 1850. She and her boyhood sweet-heart, Hans
Peterson, her father’s helper, came to America in 1872. After a few days
in Elmira, they moved on to Buffalo where they were married and lived for
13 months.
Returning to Elmira Mr. Peterson established a blacksmith’s shop near
Fitch’s Bridge. They lived near there until Mr. Peterson bought three acres
of land and built the house in which his widow still lives. Mr. Peterson
died in 1927. Besides Dr. Peterson, the couple had a daughter, Ella,
who died in 1915, and a son, Frank, who died a year later. Mrs. Peterson
has three grandchildren, Dr. Henry H. Peterson, Dr. Stewart B. Peterson
and Frank K. Peterson; also four great-grandchildren, all of Elmira.
Accompanying photo has the following caption:
1850-Century Old Today-1950
With a steady hand, Mrs. Mary Peterson of 1527 W. Water St. today cut
the birthday cake which graced the table at her 100th birthday party.
Open house was held by the remarkable woman who carries on her daily work,
prepares her own meals and lives alone.
Solomon Jaynes - Bridge Worker Dies In Station
Auburn - A heart attack caused the sudden death of Solomon Jaynes,
64 of Swartwood, a bridge worker for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company.
He died about 8:30 a.m. today in the rest room at the local station.
Dr. Alfred F. Hodgman, coroner, investigated, and directed the body be
turned over to Undertaker Glen F. Mosher.
Mr. Jaynes had been an employee of the railroad company many years.
He came here Monday from his home, where he spent the weekend. He
is survived by his widow, a son Sydney C. of 1841 Davis Street, Elmira.
Chemung Pastor Dies; Served Area Churches
The Rev. James Gordon, 83, pastor of the Chemung Methodist Church for
the past three years and former pastor of several area churches died Friday
night at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre. Mr. Gordon, father of Herbert
J. Gordon former pastor of Riverside Methodist Church, had been at the
hospital since a cerebral thrombosis seizure two weeks ago. Former
pastorates of Mr. Gordon included: Wayne, Big Flats, Millerton, Beaver
Dams, Newfield, Ulster, Jordan Erin, East Canton and New Albany, Pa.
Born near Belfast, Ireland, he moved to England with his parents as
a child. There, at the age of 12, he worked in a coal mine and through
night school and correspond-ence courses, prepared himself for the ministry.
He became a local preacher in England shortly before coming to the United
States in 1913. Shortly afterwards Mr. Gordon became affiliated with
the Central New York Conference of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Gordon was a member of Big Flats Lodge 387, F&AM, Chemung Grange
and the Che-mung Parent-Teachers Association. Possessor of an excellent
bass voice, he was for many years a member of the Central New York Conference
male quartet. At one time his son, Herbert was a fellow member.
Former Breesport Resident Joins University Staff
George G. Thompson of Williams-ville, formerly of Breesport, has re-ceived
an appointment to teach two courses in introductory psy-chology at the
University of Buf-falo this year. Mr. Thompson received his B.A.
degree, cum laude from the Univer-sity in June and was accepted for advanced
study in the graduate school. He will teach part time while earning
his master’s degree in psychology. For 23 years Mr. Thompson attended
Hough-ton College, transferring to Buffalo for his senior year. He has
taken special courses at the Uni-versity of Michigan and also at the University
of Rochester.
During World War II he spent 39 months In the Air Corps. He was flight
officer and radar observer based on Guam.
In 1946 Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Caro1 Watson of Perry.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Manley C. Park, reside at Almond.
The Rev. Albert E. Weaver, for-merly of Dundee. Unexpectedly Fri-day morning, July 27, 1951. A former pastor of the Dundee Methodist Church, Mr. Weaver retired about three years ago. He had recently made his name at Rose, N. Y. Sur-vived by wife and one son. Funeral services will be held Monday, 1 p.m. at the Rose Methodist Church.
The Rev. Norman L. Campbell, 75, of 461 Waverly St., Waverly, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1959. He was retired Lockwood Methodist Church pastor; member of the Waverly Methodist Church. Sur-vived by wife, Mrs. Bertha J. Campbell; sons, Richard of Van Etten, N. Wood of Elmira and Frank of Athens; sisters, Mrs. Georgiana Lance of Wildwood, N.J., and Mrs. Winifred Wilbur of New York; brother, Clayton of Hollywood, Fla. Body at family home. Funeral Friday at 3 p.m. in the Waverly Methodist Church, the Rev. Norman Clem-ens, the Rev. Arthur Salin, the Rev. Porter Adams and the Rev. Frederick Reinfurt. Tioga Point Cemetery.
Miss Jeanette DeGraw, Bride of Wm. Wright:
The Methodist Church of Union Springs, was the setting on Saturday,
May 26th, for the marriage of Miss Jeanette DeGraw, daughter of Rev. and
Mrs. Bernard DeGraw, of Union Springs, and William Bruce Wright, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Wright, South Cayuga Street.
The bride’s father performed the double ring ceremony. Escorted
to the altar by her brother, Eugene DeGraw, the bride wore a ballerina
length gown of satin and net with matching cape and veil of French lace.
She carried a white Bible with carnations and lilies of the val-ley as
her bouquet. Miss Donna Ann DeGraw was her sister’s honor attendant.
She wore a ballerina length gown of blue satin and net and carried red
roses with white carnations.
Theodore Wright, Jr., of Cayuga, was best man for his brother.
Acting ushers were Eugene DeGraw, brother of the bride, and Ralph Cul-ver,
brother-in-law of the bridegroom. Miss DeGraw is a graduate of the
Union Springs Central School and is employed by the Mosher and Berry Insurance
Agency in Auburn. Mr. Wright, also a graduate of the Union Springs
Central School and Cornell University, is now serving in the U. S. Army
and is stationed at Fort Dix, N.J. A reception for one hundred guests
was held at the bride’s home imme-diately following the ceremony.
After spending a week in New Jer-sey, Mrs. Wright will return to the home
of her parents.
John Rostedt, 63, of Erin. Thurs-day, July 22, 1948. Survived by daughter, Mrs. Irja Aber of Swart-wood; sons, Thomas of Cincinnati, Robert of Utica. Funeral Sunday, 2 p.m. at the Arnold Funeral Home, Van Etten. Scotchtown Cemetery.
FINCH — Entered into rest on Thursday, May 18, 1930, Theodore W. Finch of 522 So. Goodman St. He is survived by his wife, Leona V. Pinch; a son, Warren D. Finch; his father, Frank A. Finch of Syra-cuse; a brother, Harlan Finch of Syracuse, and a sister, Mrs. Frank Schooley. Friends may visit The Frick Home, 436 South Avenue, where a service will be held Monday at 2 o’clock. Interment in Oatka Cemetery, Scottsville.
Millspaugh, Photographer, Dead at 66
George P. Millspaugh of 351 Riverside Ave., prominent local portrait
and commercial photographer, died unexpectedly this morning. He was
66. Mr. Millspaugh was found dead late this morning at the Millspaugh
Studio at 315 E. Water St., which he operated. Although he had been
under treatment for a heart condition, Mr. Millspaugh worked constantly
up to his death. His wife entered the studio this morning and found
him dead apparently as the result of a heart attack. He had gone
to work as usual this morning. Mr. Millspaugh was in his 40th year
as a photographer in Elmira. During that period he has been active
in the Finger Lakes Section of the Professional Photographers Society of
New York. In 1932 he was elected president of the state association.
For 38 years he operated his photographic studio on the second floor of
315 E. Water St. For many years Mr. Millspaugh was a widely known
bowler in the city. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and a communicant
at Riverside Methodist Church.
Jesse D. Finch, 53, of Venice, formerly of Erin. Thursday, Jan. 18, 1951. He was a native of Erin. Survived by wife; son, Donald; father, Anson Finch; sisters, Mrs. Ethel Pedley, Miss Leora Finch, all of Venice; brother, Walter Finch of Elmira; a granddaughter.
Smith-Davis Wedding Held
CAYUTA—Mrs. Edith Smith of Cayuta and Alva Davis of Van Etten were
united in mar-riage Wednesday, July 25, 1956, at the Methodist Church parson-age
in Burdett, with the Rev. William Thomas officiating.
The attendants were her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest
Giles of Beaver Dams. Mr. and Mrs. Davis and their attendants were dinner
guests at the Hickory House. The couple will reside at the bride’s
home in Cayuta.
Erin Historical Society Maps 2 Activities
Improvements to neglected ceme-teries and erection of historical markers
were listed as the two principal projects of the coming year for the Erin
Historical Society at a dinner Wednesday night celebrating the 126th anniversary
Of the Town of Erin’s charter. About 250 attended the dinner in the
Erin Methodist Church.
James Smith, president of the society, outlined the contemplated program
and also reviewed the ac-complishments of the ‘historical’ group since
it was founded. Other speakers at the affair in-cluded J. Lawrence
Kolb, president of the Chemung County Historical Society; the Rev. Clyde
Rosekrans and the Rev. Roy Smith. Among the guests were Clark Wilcox, county
historian, and Dr. Rufus Rockwell Wilson, Lincoln biogra-pher.
Theodore Van Brunt gave sketch-ing demonstrations, and also made a
charcoal sketch of Erin’s oldest resident, Merritt Rosekrans, 89, who is
honorary president of the Erin Historical Society.
Mrs. Nora Moulter was awarded first prize for bringing the oldest Bible
to the dinner. Her Bible was published in 1825. A large collection
of antiques, equipment and implements used by pioneer settlers in Erin,
was on display at the dinner. One of the several shingle horses owned
by the Erin organization was donated to the County His-torical Society.
The shingle horses were used in shaving shingles. Because of the,
success of Wed-nesday night’s affair, it has been decided to make the anniversary
dinner an annual event.
Mrs. Anna Smith Knight of 107 Morningside Dr., Saturday, Feb. 5, 1949. Survived by husband, Floyd S. Knight; daughters, Mrs. Clair Hollander and Mrs. James M. Gray, both of Ithaca; granddaughter, Ann Elizabeth Hollander, also of Ithaca; brother, James Smith of Erin. Body is at the Smith & Fudge Funeral Home, where friends may cal1 today from 3:30 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and where funeral will be held Tuesday, 2 p.m. The Rev. Alfred F. Coman Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin.
Mrs. Alice M. Van Aken, 72, of 529 Gray St. Sunday afternoon. Feb. 11, 195l. She was a com-municant of Grace Episcopal Church and charter member of Horse-heads Chapter Order of Eastern Star. Survived by husband, Charles Van Aken. The body is at the Holly-keck Funeral Home, where funeral will be held Tuesday 2 p.m. The Very Rev. Frederick Henstridge. Woodlawn Cemetery, Erin.
Saturday Candlelight Wedding Plans Announced by Miss Treat
Miss Patricia Ann Treat of Breesport will become the bride of Glenn
E. Mallow Jr., tomorrow evening at 8 at a candlelight ceremony in the Breesport
Methodist Church. The Rev. Horace Pittman will be the officiating clergyman
and wedding music will be supplied by Miss Mary Catherine Heron, organist,
and Miss Marie Vosburgh, soloist. Miss Treat is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. Jairus Treat of Breesport. Her fiance is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Glenn E. Mallow of 723½ W. Water St. Mr. Treat will give
his daughter in marriage. Miss Nancy Treat of Breesport will be maid
of honor and brides-maids are to be Miss Linda Mal-low of 723½ W.
Water St. and Mrs. Raymond Preston of 359 Pomeroy P1. Junior bridesmaid
will be Miss Carol Bush of Brees-port and serving as flower girls will
be Misses Kathleen and Mar-garet Foy of 759 E. Church St. Best man
for the bridegroom will be James Irvine of Lock Haven, Pa., and ushers
are Ray Mallow, Jerry Mallow and Jan H. Treat. The reception is planned
at 8:30 at the Breesport Masonic Temple.
Edward S. Traynor of Breesport. Funera1 services were held this after-noon at 2 at the Van Buskirk-Lynch Funeral Home, Horseheads. The Rev. Leon Northrop officiated. Pall-bearers: Raymond Genther, John Davies, Milton Bodine, Samuel Miller, Erastus Carson and Lawrence Lennard. Scotchtown cemetery, Erin.
Edward S. Traynor, 76, of Breesport. Unexpectedly Monday, Aug. 27 1951. Survived by wife, Mrs. Rebecca E. Traynor; several nieces and nephews. The body is at the Vat Buskirk-Lynch Funeral Home, Horseheads, where friends may call today and Wednesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and where funeral will be held Thursday, 2 p.m. The Rev. Leon Northrop. Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin. Please omit flowers.
Ford A. Cady, 50, of Pine City. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1947. Survived by wife, Gladys; son, Gerald of Big Flats; mother, Mrs. Ber-tha Cady of Pine City; sister, Mrs. Mildred Brewer of Elmira; three grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral Saturday, 2 p.m. at the Hagerman Funeral Home. Rev. O. H. Travis and Rev. Owen Barrett, Wood-lawn Cemetery.
J. Gordon Wilcox, 75, 1500 Sul-livan St. Today, Jan, 13, 1951. Sur-vived by wife, Ellen Baker Wilcox; son, Martin of Elmira; sisters, Lula and Nell Wilcox of Elmira. He was a member of Carpenter’s Local and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The body is at the James D. Barrett Funeral Home, 1004 Lake St. Funeral arrangements are incom-plete.
H. P. Wilson, Gainesville Supervisor
Henry P. Wilson, Supervisor of the Town of Gainesville for the last
ten years, died in his home on the Castle-Gainesville Road, Thursday evening,
April 8, 1948. He suffered a severe heart attack in January and since
his return from the Community Hospital, his condition apparently, had continued
to improve. His going came suddenly and um expectedly.
Mr. Wilson was born August 21 1884, in the town of Gainesville where
he had spent his entire life. He was the oldest son of the late Charles
and Emma Thing Wilson.
The deceased was a member of the Gainesville Methodist Church, superintendent
of the Sunday School, an honorary member of the W.C.T.U., member of the
Castile Grange, Wyoming County Farm Bureau, and the County Board of Supervisors.
He is survived by his widow, Lois French Wilson to whom he was united
in, marriage on May 4, 1910. To this union a daughter Edith was born.
Edith Wilson MacComb died January 9, 1937. Mr. Wilson leaves to mourn
his loss, a sister Mrs. Albert Ward and two brothers Gordon and Earl Wilson,
all of California, the son-in-law, Kenneth MacComb and wife, Mrs. Ruth
MacComb of Rochester, several nieces, nephews and cousins, besides a host
of friends.
The funeral services were held from the Methodist Church in Silver
Springs, Monday afternoon. Rev. Ellis Munyon, pastor, of the Gainesville
Methodist Church, officiated. The high esteem, in which Mr. Wilson was
held, was also expressed in words from former pastors to his home church,
Rev. Arthur Wright of Buffalo and Mr. K. T. Wood of Chicago. Rev.
N. Van Cossaboon of the Silver Springs church offered the closing prayer.
The burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery in Gainesville.
The Rev. Ernest L. Beuter, 29, of Friendship, N. Y., formerly of Breesport. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1949. Survived by wife, Dorothy; two daughters, Mary-Anna and Rhoda Esther; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Beuter of Horseheads; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Park of Pine City, and Mrs. Claudia Forrest of Horseheads; two brothers, Harold and Clyde Beuter of Horseheads; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Paddock of, Breesport; several aunts, uncles, cousins and one niece. The body will arrive in El-mira Saturday morning and will be taken to the Hagerman Funeral Home, where friends may call af-ter 4 p. m. Announcements later.
Mrs. Jarvi Dies in Florida Boarding Train
Mrs. Aino Jarvi, 65, of Watkins Glen, died of a heart attack Thursday
at Miami Beach, Fl. Death came as she was boarding a train with Mrs.
Warren Clute Sr., of Watkins Glen, by whom she had been employed for several
years as a cook.
Mrs. Jarvi for many years was cook for Mrs. Samuel G. H. Tur-ner and
the late Mr. Turner of Montour Falls and Elmira. Mrs. Jarvi formerly
resided in Erin.
Mrs. Ethel W. Campbell, 67, of Lockwood, N. Y. This morning, Aug. 4, 1952. Survived by husband, the Rev. Norman Campbell; sons, Richard E. Campbell of Elmira Heights, N. Wood Campbell of El-mira and Frank David Campbell of Athens, Pa.; nine grandchildren; aunt, Mrs. Lewis Bieder of Athens; several nieces, nephews and cousins. The body is at the Arnold Funeral Home, Burdett, and Wednesday afternoon will be removed to the family home in Lockwood, where friends may call. Funeral Thursday, 2 p.m. in the Athens Methodist Church. The Rev. Dr. Earl Tolley and the Rev. George Youngs. Tioga Point Ceme-tery, Athens.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil E. Minor of Breesport announce the engagement of their daughter, Patricia Anne, to Jack FitzGerald, son of Mr. and Mrs. John FitzGerald of Erin. The bride-elect is a graduate of the Horseheads High School. Mr. FitzGerald graduated from the Van Etten Central School and at-tended Cortland State Teachers Col-lege. He is serving a three year enlistment in the Army.
Mike Louko, 75, of Erin, Mon-day, July 1, 1957. Survived by sons, Edwin Louko of Akron, Ohio, Arne and Eino of Van Etten; daughters, Mary of Roch-ester, Bertha, at home; seven grandchildren; two great-grand-children; sister; Mrs. Artha Erickson of Lougley, B. C. Body at Arnold Funeral Home, Van Etten, where friends may call. Funeral Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Finnish Hall, Van Etten. Scotchtown Cemetery, Erin.
Bert J. Sharp, 75, of Erin RD 1. This morning, May 27, 1953. Mr. Sharp was a retired American Bridge Co. employee. He was a member of the Erin Methodist Church. Survived by wife, Mrs. Lena Sharp; sons, Harry R. and Albert C. Sharp of Elmira und John Arthur Sharp of Sidney, N. Y.; daughters, Mrs. Dor-othy H. Pelham of Corning and Mrs. Myrtle L. Fitzgerald of Breesport; brothers, Frank C. Sharp of Erin and William Sharp of Elmira; 23 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren. The body is at the Holly-Keck Fu-neral Home. Funeral announcement later.
Mrs. Aino Alina Jarvi of Erin, unexpectedly Thursday, April 26, 1956, at Miami Beach, Fla. Survived by niece, Mrs. Kaino Tommola of Providence, R.I., and several cousins. The body will be removed Monday morning to the Allen Funeral Home, Spencer, where friends may call Monday afternoon and evening. Funeral there Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., the Rev. Ruben Ahiskog of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Spencer. Evergreen Cemetery, Spencer.
Mrs. Sanni Louko, 66, of Van Etten. Friday, July 19, 1946. Survived by husband, Mike Louko; sons, Eino of Lorain, Ohio, Edwin of Elmira, Arne of Van Etten; daughters, Miss Mary Louko of Honolulu, Hawaii, Bertha, at home; sister, Mrs. Mary Cleveland of Cooper, Wyo.; brothers, Michael Waali with U. S. Navy, at sea, Oscal Waali with U. S. Navy, at sea, Charles Waali of Alaska; five grandchildren; several nieces. The body is at Arnold Funeral Home, Van Etten, and will be removed to Finnish Hall, Van Etten, Sunday noon. Funeral there at 2 p.m., Oscar Riihinen officiating. Scottstown Cemetery, Erin.
Farewell Party Honors Pastor At Breesport
Breesport — Friends of the Rev. and Mrs. Edgar L. Kinner and son, held
a farewell party at the Meth-odist Church re-cently after serving six years
as pastor of the Methodist church-es in the Brees-port, Erin and Sullivanville
field. They were trans-ferred to the Cuyler and Fabius field. They
mov-ed Saturday to Cuyler.
A musical pro-gram was enjoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Kinner were presented
a gift of money from the Erin Church and a floor lamp from the Breesport
Church. Refreshments were serv-ed to about 70.
Park Family Reunion Invitations for 1938 and 1940
Yourself and family are cordially invited to attend the thirty-six
annual reunion of the Park family, to be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Gus Bauer, Reading Center, N. Y., Saturday, August 20, 1938. Dinner
at 1 P.M.
Mrs. Cornelia Bauer, Pres.
Mrs. Alice McDowell, Sec.
Yourself and family are cordially invited to attend the thirty-eighth
annua1 reunion of the Park Family, to be held, at the Austin Hill Church,
about two miles north of Erin Saturday, August 24, 1940. Park Family
Book ready for sale at reunion.
Margaret Neish, Pres.
Mrs. Alice McDowell, Sec.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hill of Montour Falls have four sons in the armed service. Denzel Canfield, seaman first class, has been in the navy a year and is now in the Pacific war zone. Leland Can-field, Marine private first class, has been in service two years and is also in the Pacific area. Raymond Canfield, sergeant in the Army, has been in service two years and is now In Hawaii. Clair Canfield, in the Army anti-aircraft division, has been in service a year and is at Camp Davis N.C.
Mrs. Bertha M. Covert, 70, widow of Albert J. Covert, died on Tuesday
of last week after a long illness. She was born at Newfield and had
lived most of her life in Seneca County.
Surviving are her daughter Mrs. Char1es Hicks of Romulus, two sons,
Wayne of Albany and Erford of In-terlaken, two brothers, Bailey Dun-ning
of Shortsville and Mont Dunning of Waterloo, six grandchildren, several
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at the Coryell funeral home on last Fri-day
at 2 p.m. and were conducted by the Rev. Andrew S. Taylor, pas-tor of West
Fayette Presbyterian Church. Burial is in Mount Green Cemetery at
Romulus.
The bearers were Harold Dun-ning, C1ayton and C1yde Van Nost-rand,
Francis Covert, Ralph Crane, and Alton Conkling.
CARD of THANKS: We wish to thank Dr. Keill and the medical staff
at the infirmary, for the wonderful care given to our dear mother, with
specia1 thanks to the ward two nursing staff, both at the infirmary and
main building.
We also wish to thank our many friends for their kindnesses extend-ed
during our mother’s long illness and our recent bereavement. The
Family of Bertha M. Covert
Miss Louise A. Wilcox of 512 Spaulding St. Saturday, Sept. 18, 1954. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she was a Sunday School teacher. Survived by sister, Miss Ellen Jane Wi1cox of Elmira; several cousins. The body is at the Holly-Keck Funeral Home where friends may call today from 7 to 9 and Monday from 3:30 to 5 and 7 to 9. Funeral Tuesday 4 p.m. Rev. Martin D. Hardin Jr. Woodlawn Cemetery.
Charles V. Deane of 105½” Columbia St., this morning, July 26, 1956. Survived by wife, Mrs. Elva Blauvelt Dean; son, Harold C. Deane of Lynnbrook, L. I.; daughter, Mrs. Clarence Pettit of Spearman, Tx.; brothers, Durwood of Elmira Heights and Danie1 of Sayre; sisters, Mrs. Grace Guild of Almond, N.Y., and Mrs. Mabel Grace of Chemung; three grandchildren. Body is at the Ballard Funeral Home, Elmira Heights, where the family will receive friends Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Funeral announcement later.
Couple Marry At Chemung
Mrs. Ada Landon of Elmira and Judson Minturn of Chemung were married
July 11, 1956, in a double ring service by the Rev. Paul Cook in the Chemung
Bap-tist Church. The bride was attired in an ashes of roses taffeta
dress with white accessories and a corsage of white carnations. Mrs.
Elsie Palmer, sister of the bridegroom, the only attendant, wore a pink
and white polka dot dress and a corsage of carna-tions. Clarence
Bixby was best man. A dinner was served at Buddie’s Restaurant and
later the couple left for a trip through the northern part of the state.
They will live at 517 W. Second St.
Services for Arnold Mellin
Born January 23, 1882, England
died July 28, 1956, Utica, N. Y.
Services Held at Folts Home, Herkimer, N. Y.
11 A. M., Monday, July 30, 1956
Clergyman, Rev. Fred G. Cotnam
Interment, Sodus Rural Cemetery, Sodus, N. Y.
A Conversation Covers 90 Years
Crossroads Comment by Lois O’Connor, The Ithaca Journal, Ithaca, NY,
Thursday Evening, July 1
Perhaps she believes in mir-acles because she was born on Christmas
Day.
“So many miracles have hap-pened in our family,” she said. And as she
talked of them, I wondered what mark of wisdom it is that some have, to
see their daily lives so illumined.
It was a long talk I had with Mrs. Judson Tupper the other morning
at her home tucked in among the Tupper orchards of West Danby. It
is the home she and her husband built more than 50 years ago. Our
conversation covered a lot of ground—a 90-year span.
She was born on Christmas Day (just how many years it is over 90 she
doesn’t care to admit) in Swartwood, Chemung County. The family always
thought it odd that her only sister should have been born on the Fourth
of July.
When I arrived, Mrs. Tupper was enjoying a mid-morning snack so I pulled
up a chair by the kitchen table and to keep her company dipped into some
juicy ripe cherries she had just picked. Mrs. Tupper bakes her own bread
and cookies. When I helped myself to a second cookie she said, “Now
you begin to act human!”
On the back of the stove stood the most beautiful batter jug I have
ever seen. Its handsome-ly rounded grey sides and spout were decorated
in deep blue de-sign. It was made by White & Company of Binghamton.
Mrs. Tupper has always loved music. For nearly 50 years she played
the organ and directed the choir in the West Danby Baptist Church. She
started mu-sic lessons when very small and then went to Horseheads for
les-sons when she was big enough to go by herself on the train. In 1932,
when the Westminister Choir was located in Ithaca, Mrs. Tupper went through
the nearby countryside and got pledges of funds to pay one of the choir
members to come out and train a community choir in West Danby.
After studying at Cortland Normal School, Mrs. Tupper taught school
on Rumsey Hill and in the Ennis District before she married Judson Tupper
where she had just turned 20. They came to live in the tenant house on
the Tupper farms, where they remained until they built her present home.
Mr. Tupper died in 1942 at the age of 89.
“I’m just as interested in things going on today as ever,” she said.
‘There were always so many things I wondered about that when my children
were small
I started a scrap book of how things were made.” It is a fasci-nating
collection of clippings. There are bits on making fire-crackers, oil cloth,
clothes pins and snuff. Answers to what fog and allspice are and “the archi-tecture
of snow.”
There is an item describing es-tablishment of the Ithaca Soap Factory
on West Hill by J. K. Bradford and George King. The process of making the
soap is explained and states that “at a single pull of the press handle
each cake not only is cut to uni-form size and weight but the name ‘White
Rose’ is stamped on one side and ‘Ithaca’ on the other.”
Mrs. Tupper confessed to a weakness for writing ditties. “Never could
write a composi-tion when I was in school,” she said, “and now it is funny
to take to writing in my old age.” Many of the verses are religious in
tone but I remember one rol-licking bit that started “When Grandma Tupper
fried oysters for supper.”
“It was through my writing dit-ties that Rob and I got acquaint-ed.
Rob turned out to be Robert E. Treman who holds a major spot in Mrs. Tupper’s
affection. “Rob’s been so good to me,” she said, “see this pen and notebook
be brought me to put my ditties in.”
We talked about the Tupper orchards and how the pear crop has always
been shipped to Phil-adelphia, about the time her fa-ther sold off the
team and brought home a yoke of oxen and we looked at some family keepsakes
including the butter paddles that her mother had used.
“How fast the seasons go,” she commented as we looked at a family reunion
picture. She point-ed out herself and I told her she is better looking
now than she was then. Later she returned to the subject. “It does beat
all you’re sayin’ that about me. No one ever told me anything like that.
You’re just yarnin’.” I tried to
convince her I wasn’t.
To make a slight retrogression, I want to mention a hearse. It seemed
too lugubrious a topic to start off with although I spied it when first
starting out. I was al-most by Kouf Brothers on the Elmira Rd. when the
old vehicle caught my attention. What a relic it is and I should like to
find out some of its history. The Koufs bought it some 12 years ago out
in Danby but couldn’t remember who owned it. They think it may have been
built before 1850 as it has iron-bound wheels. It must have been an elegant
sight when new. It is light in build and both sides are glassed: Remnants
of the fringed drapes remain but the gilt angels that decorated the outside
were pried off long ago.
I though that Archie Allen of Newfield might know something about it
or to whom it once be-longed but there wasn’t time to check with him.
From Mrs. Tupper’s I wound down a narrow, shaded roadway into West
Danby. I turned just before entering the village and couldn’t resist stopping
at a white house where two dogs were gamboling on the lawn and the occupant
of a porch rocker looked cool and comfortable.
So it was I met Miss Evangeline Thatcher and discovered that her home
was the first frame house built in the West Danby settle-ment. Miss Thatcher
teaches French and is senior adviser at Newfield Central School.
The house was built by John Patchen, whose father Jared was the first
supervisor in Newfield. Jared owned the West Danby land which was often
said to go “from hilltop to hilltop.” All of the cherry for floors and
woodwork was cut from the property and John built the house prior to his
marriage to Elizabeth Colegrove. The door is built with double cross to
ward off witches. When the home was completed, the couple were married
there. The ceremony was performed with the two parlor windows as back-ground.
When Evangeline’s grand-mother, Polly Patchen was mar-ried, she too chose
that spot for the ceremony.
“I still remember her,” Evan-geline said. “How I loved her stories.
She remembered the last of the Indians coming through here and there was
one in par-ticular who always stopped for food.”
The Thatchers came into this part of the country in the early 1800s
by ox team from New Jer-sey. I saw two chairs that were brought along on
that trip. One an arm chair, the other a lady’s tea chair.
In the living room are a drop leaf cherry table with three leaves,
each 22 inches wide, a mahogany sofa and two matching chairs and one of
a set of straight back chairs. “They are part of one of my favorite stories
from Grandmother Polly Patchen Thatcher,” Evangeline said. She used to
point them out one by one and say, “These were my set-ting out.”
They were the gift of her father at the time of marriage—a dowry—something
for the bride “to set out with.” I also saw a lovely taffeta wedding dress
in a soft blue, stripped in ‘narrow bands that had threads of shell pink.
It is some 128 years old and there isn’t a break in the silk.
Polly Patchen’s cord bed, around 150 years old, stands up-stairs. I
found that it still has the original stencil pattern—a cornucopia design
with other small patterns that resemble snowflakes.
When brass beds became the vogue, the old one was relegated to the
corn shed where it stood for a number of years until Evangeline’s father
decided it should once again have a place in the house.
A fine, old brass candlestick made a similar circuit. Some years ago
Evangeline found it stuck away on a ledge in the unused pig pen. When kerosene
lights came in, the candlestick was taken out for use at butchering time.
After she had it polished up her father remarked, “Well, it took three
generations to get it from the parlor to the pig pen and back to the parlor.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Meyer dropped in for a few minutes. I wanted to go on
to see her later but there wasn’t time. She owns what was the former Jeremiah
Thatcher property. Jeremiah was a Civil War veteran.
I was very personally inter-ested to see the class picture of eight
girls, among them Evange-line’s mother, who were gradu-ated from Elmira
College in 1885. It was a somewhat later date that I too had my class picture
taken at what was often referred to as the Elmira Female College for Women.
There was also a pic-ture of her father’s graduating class at Cornell in
1890. Sitting in the front row, straw hat on knee, dimples flashing above
a prodigious mustache is Prof. James Rice, now retired from the Cornell
faculty. The addition of a false mustache would make his son James of Trumansburg
a double for the young man in the picture.
The day was completed with a stop at the Walter Ewald home in the center
of the village. The broad lawn set with magnificent old trees shading the
white house and the colorful flower beds were like a picture in the late
after-noon sun. They must have im-pressed others too for inside I saw a
painting of the house done by Mrs. Leona Gelder, who is principal of South
Hill School.
Local history was still in the picture. The home was originally in
the Thatcher family but at the time the Ewalds bought it, it was owned
by Mrs. Tupper’s son, Theo. It has been remodeled into a charming, gracious
home. Anyone who has struggled with a difficult remodeling job could well,
appreciate some of the humorous and frustrating experiences the Ewalds
encountered. Mrs. Ewald has the copy of a letter written to relatives in
February, 1945, about a year after they took over the property. Witty and
wry by turns it is an amazingly graphic account and I did appreciate that
Mrs. Ewald permitted me to read it.
They planned to raise ducks and geese, which thrived before proper
pens were up; bossy was not always tractable and the calf raised problems.
Bees too were in the plan and Jimmy Miller left his bee colonies in their
care when he went into military service. At one time they had as many as
35 colonies but now keep only four to insure enough honey for their own
use.
We walked out to see Mrs. Ewald’s herb garden sweet and pungent with
thyme, sage, savory, apple mint and lemon balm. She also raises sweet woodruff
to give that extra flavor to summer coolers.
I could have stayed much longer—it was so pleasant, scratching the
ears of the two magnificent German Shepherds, hearing about the cats Dyna
and Mite and hear-ing about how Mrs. Ewald came to start raising herbs.
It all came about because Mr. Ewald’s mother sent her an old family cook-book
which called for herb sea-sonings.
Purple shadows were drawing down over the West Danby hills as I came
in toward Ithaca. I paused once more to lecture a wandering turtle
for risking his life by resting in the “middle of the highway and to set
him down headed toward the protecting cat-tail swamp.
SAD FOOT BALL FATALITY - Charles Hope, of Corning, Who Received Fatal
Injuries at Canisteo.
It was a dreadfully sad accident which occurred in connection with
the football game at Canisteo, Saturday, where Corning’s team went to wrest
the honors. Charles Hope, full back on the Corning team, had his spinal
cord lacerated, and Tuesday morning he died. The young man was taken to
a hotel in Canisteo after the game, where he remained until his death without
being able to move a muscle. Dr. Henry A. Argue, of Corning, was sent to
examine his injuries, and Sunday found him fa-tally injured, saying there
was little, if any, hope for his recovery. He was so lost to sensibility
of pain, through the laceration of his spinal cord, that he could not tell
when a pin or knife blade punctured his flesh, as his nerves were rendered
insensible. The young man was a student at the Corning Free acad-emy, and
was considered one of the best players among the students, and the ter-rible
accident he met with in the game is regretted sadly by his associates and
many friends. In the report of the game it is said to have been a hard
one, fought with great tenacity on each side, al-though Canisteo won out.
The exact manner in which Hope was injured was when he had the ball, near
his opponent’s line and he was grabbed around the neck, and the crowd fell
upon him. A number of Hope’s schoolmates went to Canisteo Sunday and Monday
to see him and he survived until 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The deceased
was a brother of W. H. Hope and Joseph Hope, of Corning the former, proprietor
of the Pickwick hotel. Hope formerly lived in Elmira and played on the
academy team. The Corning Free academy team dis-banded owing to Hope’s
death, and the Elmira academy team disbanded two or three weeks ago on
account of the kill-ing of one of its team members. The Corning team disbanded
Monday and before Hope died. The board of education of Corning will hold
a meeting and probably decide to stop future gridiron con-tests among the
students. A high school or academy without a skilled coach or trainer should
not permit football con-tests.
The funeral was held Thursday after-noon from the First Congregational
church at 2 o’clock. The services were very largely attended, both by stu-dents
from the North Side high school and, from the academy. The Rev. George
Laughton, the Rev. N. E. Fuller and the Rev. A. H. C. Morse all officiat-ed.
The bearers were former members of the football team and were as fol-lows:
B. Cram, Charles Callinan, Thomas McAvoy, Frank O’Hara, George Rey-nolds
and Frank Densberger. The flow-er bearers were also from Hope’s school
friends, as follows: C. N. Roach, Robert Allison, Fred Carr, Ernest Whipple,
Rush Stevens, James McAvoy, Guy Cheney and Ashier Pitts. The following
students, relatives and friends attended the services from out of the city:
From Addison, Students Paxton, Baldwin, Fox and Crane; from Hornellsville,
Students Carroll and Hogan; Robert H. Hopes, Buffalo; Frank D. Hope, Montrose,
Pa; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Hope, and family, of Syracuse; Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Garbett of Niagara Falls; Mrs. H. Martin and son, Frank Hope, Elmira
Heights; Mrs. James Hamilton, Mrs. Robert Hamilton, and Frank and James
Hamilton, Caton. Burial was in Hope Cemetery
Binghamton, N. Y., Nov. 21.—Owing to the crippling of the team by the injury of the two players at Ithaca last Satur-day, the management of the high school foot ball team has decided to disband the team for the rest of the season.
Ellen A., wife of James P. Blau-velt of Erin, died at the Packer hos-pital,
Sayre, Friday morning follow-ing a brief illness from pneumonia. She is
survived by her husband; one son, Cameron P.; three daughters. Marguerite,
Marian and Virginia; her mother, Mrs. Jennie Park; two sisters, Mrs. Fred
Rick of Erin; Mrs. Anna Park of Lakewood; two broth-ers, Marco H. Park
of Elba and Man-ley C. Park of Erin. Funeral serv-ices were held at the
late home Monday afternoon conducted by Rev. Norman Campbell of Erin.
Inter-ment in Scotchtown cemetery. De-ceased became sick and her physician
diagnosed the case as appendicitis and recommended her removal to the hospital
and an immediate operation. She was accordingly taken to Sayre and prior
to the operation pneumonia developed and the operation could not be performed.
Deceased was a native of the town of Erin, being a daughter of the late
Byron Park of Erin, who died suddenly less than a year ago. She was a woman
of accomplishments and amiable character. To add to the husband’s sorrows,
the children at home are sick with the measles.
(handwritten note: Died Apr. 23, 1926)
Byron T. Park of Park hill, town of Erin, died unexpectedly Sunday evening. He was a highly respected citizen and had lived in the locality all his life. While having reached an advanced age he was unusually active physically and mentally. He is sur-vived by his widow; two sons, Marco H. of Elba, and Manley C. of Erin; three daughters, Mrs. Fred Rick and Mrs. James Blauvelt, both of Erin, and Mrs. Leon Park of Lakewood; a sister, Mrs. Chauncey Hollenbeck of Erin and 17 grandchildren. The fune-ral was held at the home Wednesday afternoon.
Wilson C. Rosekrans, 67, a long resident of Erin, died at the family home Thursday, Jan. 5,1939.s He is survived by his wife, two sons Lynn of Elmira and Leland at home; four daughters, Mrs. Erma Leonard of Erin; Mrs. Edna Swart-out of Van Etten; Mrs. Dorothea Peet of Spencer; Mrs. Vera Jen-nings of Valois. Funeral in the Erin M. E. Church, Monday at 1 p.m. Rev. Mr. Mellon. Scotchtown Cemetery, Town of Erin.
Mrs. Lelia Belle Berry, 59, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1938 at the family home south of Burdett. Mrs. Berry had been a resident of the Town of Hector 37 years. She is survived by her husband, Edward D. Berry; a son, Seward Berry of Burdett; three daughters, Mrs. Lewis Smith, of Chittenango; Miss Inez Berry of Burdett; Mrs. Fred Goosen of Montour Falls; her father, Edgar Rosekrans of Burdett; a sister, Mrs. Susie Sackett of Ithaca; and a brother, Lawrence Rosekrans of Lodi. Funeral in the home, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Burial in the Hector Union Cemetery.
Mrs. Lois Eva Bement, 64, of Interlaken, died at the family home Friday,
Aug. 13, 1937. She lived most of her life in Van Etten. Sur-viving are
her husband, Milo Bement; three sons, Orrin, Bertrand, and Leolin Butts
of Van Etten.
The body is in the home of Ber-trand Butts, Van Etten, where the funeral
will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. J.R. Bragan of Pultneyville.
Burial in Scotch-town Cemetery, Town of Erin.
MEMBERS of the Methodist Good News Quartet as they appeared 20 years
ago when doing evangelistic work In the Elmira area, From the left, the
Rev. Richard Wentz, the Rev. Earl H. Robertson, the Rev. Elroy Van Dyke,
the Rev. Herbert E. Erway.
Van Etten – Twenty years ago four young ministers then starting in
their work, united in an evangel-istic team and called themselves the Good
News Quartet. The quar-tet was made up of the Rev. Elroy Van Dyke, then
pastor of the Meth-odist Church In Chemung; the Rev. Richard Wentz, at
that time pastor of the Methodist Church in Erin; the Rev. Herbert E. Erway,
then pastor of the Methodist Church in Van Etten; the Rev. Earl H. Rob-ertson,
at that time pastor of the Methodist Church in Wellsburg.
These ministers held two-week meetings in their churches. The quartet
sang as part of the services, the ministers took part and one minister
preached the sermons at each church. The above picture appeared in the
Star-Gazette 20 years ago as the Good News Quar-tet went to the churches
in this section.
For a time the quartet was in-active because the Rev. Mr. Robert-son
was away from this section. The other men have served the churches of Central
New York Con-ference continuously. All four are now members of this Conference
and they will unite Sunday evening for an old fashioned Good News Quartet
service in the Methodist Church of Van Etten, where the Rev. Mr. Robertson
is the pastor.
The Rev. Mr. Van Dyke, pastor in Penn Yan, and the former pastor of
Oakwood Church, Elmira, will preach the sermon. The Rev. Mr. Wentz, now
at the Methodist Church in Seneca Falls, will have charge of the singing;
the Rev. Mr. Erway, now Protestant chaplain at the Elmira Reformatory and
former pastor of Epworth, Elmira, will read the scripture and pray. The
Good News quartet will sing. The Rev. Mr. Robertson, as pas-tor of the
Van Etten Church in-vites all friends of these ministers, their former
church members and associates to join with the people of Van Etten in this
unusual serv-ice. The service will begin at 7:30.
Birth Announcement to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rick:
Ada Mae Park, June 11th 1946
By Mr. and Mrs. Justin C. Park
Job of Carrying Rural Mails “a Cinch’ Compared to Oldtime Task
Says Giles A. Hollenbeck, Carrier Out of Erin for 30 Years
FOR 30 YEARS Giles A. Hollenbeck of Erin has carried the mail to farmers
on routes out of Erin. He is shown with three of the rigs be used in his
early days as a rural letter carrier. At the left is the light carriage
he used on summer days or when roads were rutted with mud. In winter
he used a light sleigh. At the right is the wagon which was a familiar
and welcome sight on all country roads. Mr. Hollenbeck’s horse was
a faithful aide, traveling an estimated 45,000 mile in Uncle Sam’s postal
service. It died several years ago, aged 32 years.
Carrying the mail on rural routes today is a cinch compared to the
job 30 years ago. Giles A. Hollenbeck, a carrier out of Erin for 30 years,
knows for he has seen times change from when a 20-mile route could be a
tough chore to today when rural letter carriers roll over routes of 50
miles.
He started carrying the mail behind a horse—winter and sum-mer, in
fair weather and foul. And Mr. Hollenbeck has seen his share of foul weather.
He remembers plunging through snow drifts until he would shout at the
welcome sight of a team of oxen plowing through the snow to-ward him. Before
the days of snow plows, farmers would break open the roads for the mail
carriers, who were their only link with the world outside their snowbound
countryside. Farmers were as con-cerned as the carriers to see that the
mail would get through and with oxen or horses would open the road through
their farms.
Rural Free Delivery was estab-lished by Congress in 1896 but not until
about 1900 wasn’t started in Chemung County. In the early days farmers
were served on 26 RFD routes. Through consolida-tions this number has been
cut down to 16 today. Rural mail car-riers now work out of Elmira, Pine
City, Wellsburg, Lowman, Che-mung, Horseheads, Millport, Erin and Van Etten.
WHEN MR. Hollenbeck entered the postal service, most of the carriers
were Civil War veterans. As the veterans died, younger men took their places.
Good pay of-fered in industries during the First World War took many out
of serv-ice. After the war many veterans joined the service.
Good roads and the automobile are credited with bettering the lot of
the rural postman. Mr. Hollen-beck kept three vehicles when he started
carrying the mail. One was a wagon with a boxlike body and which was almost
standardized equipment with the carriers. He used a light carriage when
the roads softened up and mud made the going heavy. For snow he had a light
carriage sleigh.
Mr. Hollenbeck was never in want for horses. Besides those on his father’s
farm, each winter he had available all the horses of farmers he served.
When the snow would keep a team in its stalls for days at a time, a farmer
was grateful if the mail carrier would use the team to give it exercise.
A CURIOUS personal relation-ship grows up between a rural mail carrier
and the farm families who live on his route. Persons awaiting a letter
from a son or daughter might meet him on the road and ask “Have you a letter
from Jim?” or “Has Mary written today?” The automobile, radio and telephone
have ended the isolation of most farm folk but the mail carrier remains
an important fac-tor in their lives.
Of this personal side of his work Mr. Hollenbeck could say little be-cause
of the rural carriers’ ethics and regulation. Carriers get to know the
financial status of a farmer and the condition of his family life but of
these things they talk to no one.
The rural carriers are practi-cally complete post offices on wheels.
They must be ready to give any postal service.
AN IMPORTANT phase of Mr. Hollenbeck’s life is his work with the Rural
Letter Carriers’ Associa-tion. He is now secretary-treas-urer of the district
association and has held posts in the county and state organization Mrs.
Hollen-beck is secretary of the state RLC Auxiliary and their daughter,
Vir-ginia, is president of the state RLC Juniors. Last year she was national
president of the RLC Jun-iors.
For many years the Erin carrier has been named a state delegate to
the national conventions of the organization and through this has been
able to make a claim of a visit to every state in the union except four.
He has been within sight of two of the missing states and expects to add
them to his list soon.
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