Obituaries of Hamilton County Residents #3
From Misc. Newspapers

Transcriber's notes in [ ], if no notes within brackets, then word(s) are missing or illegible.


Mrs. C. Baumas and little daughter of George Davis
From: Utica Morning Herald, Utica, NY, Thursday, 10 Aug 1876

Northville, August 8, - This afternoon, Mrs. C. Baumas and a little daughter of George Davis were fishing in the creek near their residence at Hope Falls, Hamilton county, when the child slipped. Mrs. Baumas sprang in to save the little one, but both were drowned.


John Becraft
From: Boonville Herald, Thursday, 5 Nov 1908

Death of John Becraft
Lived at Morehouseville and Russia Corners - Killed Panther at Age of 17

Following an illness of two weeks John Becraft died Friday at his home [175?] Tayler Ave., in Utica, aged 79 years. He had been in poor health for several months and about the middle of October he was seized by an attack that confined him to his bed. Surviving are a son and daughter, Harlin F. Becraft of Syracuse, Mrs. L. A. Biel of Utica; and two brothers, William Becraft of Syracuse and Freeman Becraft of Belleview, MI.

Mr. Becraft was of Dutch descent and was born at Schoharie Court House, Schoharie county, October 27, 1829. His grandfather who lived to be 100 and his great-grandfather, who lived 110 years, were both pensioners of the Revolutionary War. John Becraft lived at Schoharie Court House near the ruins of the old Revolutionary fort - ruins that still exist - where his grandfather and his great-grandfather had once been stationed, until he was 14[?] years old when his parents removed to Morehouseville in Hamilton county. Here his father, who was among the first settlers in that locality, cleared 16[?] acres of woodland and developed a very productive farm[?]. Bear, deer and panther were plentiful. At the age of 17, John killed a panther with a single charge from a shot gun after crawling into the entrance of a dark cave that was inhabited by the big cat.

At the age of 22 John Becraft went to Russia Corners, where he worked for four years on a farm. Then he went ot New Hartford and for the next five years was employed by Moses T. Meeker. Afterward he went to Utica and during several years was emplyed as a driver by the American Express Company.

Thirty-three years ago Mr. Becraft entered the employ of the wholesale clothing house of Cooper and Chamberlain, which afterward became Cooper & Company, and is now H. A. Cooper & Company. He remained there until four years ago, when he was forced to retire because of failing strength. Mr. Becraft was a Republican and while in New Hartford was a member of the Tent of [ ]. He was also a member of Olive Church of Utica. In Utica 51 years ago Mr. Becraft was united in marriage with Miss Almira [ ]. He was a man who was well known throughout the city and was esteemed by all his acquaintances.


Ira Bennett
From: Broadalbin Herald, Thursday, 8 Aug 1908

Ira Bennett, aged 75, who had resided in Gloversville for twenty-three years, died Saturday afternoon at his home, NO. 47 East Boulevard. He had been in ill health for some time and his death was not unexpected.

The survivors are his widow and five sons, Alvin, John, William, Fred and George Bennett, all of Gloversville.

A prayer service was held at the late home Monday and the funeral service and interment took place at Hope Falls, Hamilton county, the former home of the deceased.


George Brownell
From: Auburn Weekly Bulletin, abt Feb 27, 1900 or 1901

Gloversville, N.Y., Feb. 27 -

George Brownell, aged 30 years, a well known Hamilton county lumberman, was instantly killed Monday. He was riding on a load of logs and while going down a hill the sleigh slid. He was thrown off. His skull craushed and his neck was broken. His brother, Seymour, who was on another load a short distance behind, picked up the dead body of his brother, put it on one of the loads and guided both teams to Hope Falls. Seymour at once went to the home of his aged mother, Mrs. Joseph Boos, to inform her of the accident. Upon entering the house he found her lying on the floor dead. She had prepared breakfast for her sons in the morning adn when they started on their trip she apparently was as well as usual. She died of heart disease. Her husband is in the Klondike.


Miss Jennie Dupont
From: Boonville Herald, Thursday, 28 Jan 1892

Prospect

Miss Jennie Dupont died at the residence of William Baxter yeasterday morning of pneumonia, aged 20 years. The funeral will be held in Morehouseville Friday at 2 p.m.


Theodore Hart
From: Utica Morning Herald, Saturday, 27 Feb 1897

Hamilton County
Death of Theodore Hart

Morehouseville, Feb. 26 - Theodore U. Hart died suddenly at his home in Albany, on Feb. 19, of pneumonia, aged 40 years. The deceased was well and favorably known in this place, having spent all his life here except the last six years. In 1889 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kreuzer of this place and the next year they removed to Albany. His business, which he carried on very successfully, was that of manufacturing and selling ice cream and candies. Mr. Hart leaves besides his wife and little son to mourn his untimely death three sisters and four brothers; Mrs. Sophie Parks and Walter Hart of Grant, N.Y. and Mrs. Maggie Becraft, Miss Lizzie Hart, John, Herman and Charles Hart of this place.


Mrs. Hoffmeister
From: The Auburn Bulletin, Tuesday, 16 Oct 1900

Mrs. Hoffmeister Dead

Utica, N.Y., Oct 16 - Mrs. Hoffmeister, known to hundreds of sportsmen and summer resorters, died suddenly at her home, Fairview, near Morehouseville, as the result of a second stroke of apoplexy. She was nearly 80 years old.


Henry Krebs
From: Utica Morning Herald, Thursday, 12 Sep 1878

Henry Krebs, of Elm street, who was recently injured while on the Black River railroad, died at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, aged 31[or 81?]. His wife is hopelessly ill at the same institution.


Albert Kreuzer
From: The Citizen-Advertiser, Auburn, NY, Saturday, 3 Aug 1935

Dead From Stroke

Morehouseville, N.Y., Aug 3 -

Albert Kreuzer, 54, whose Hamilton County Home was headquarters for the party searching for the lost airliner in the Adirondacks last December is dead today, victim of a stroke.

Kreuzer claimed to be the first to have heard the plane crash and his informaiton led to discovery of the party several days later.


Freddie Krezer
From: Boonville Herald, Wed. 23 [or 28?] Oct 1895

Morehouseville

Once again the grim messenger of Jes[] has entered our community and taekn from our midst the dear and loving [] of Freddie Krezer, who was [...] As we bury our older friends... [difficult to read]


Mrs. Alvah Park
From: Boonville Herald, Thursday, 30 Dec 1909

The death of Mrs. Alvah Park, wife of Alvah Park, occurred at her home, [] Nichols street, Utica, at 8:30 Tuesday evening as the result of an illness of six months or so. Mrs. Park was born in Marcy in 18[] and was married in Morehouseville 35 years ago last June. With her husband she resided at different times in Trenton, Stittville and Northwood and four years ago last fall went to Utica. She was a member of the Centenary M. E. Church and was highly regarded by all who knew her. She was greatly devoted to her home, ever thoughtful for the welfare and happiness of her husband and children and finding her chief pleasure in doing for them. She is survived by her husband, six daughters, Mrs. Howard Evans of Newport, Miss Mayme Park of Utica, Mrs. James A. Hyer of Rolling, Mont., Miss Lulu Park of Utica, Mrs. Gordon Potter of Syracuse and Miss Mabel Park of Utica; two sons, William and Benjamin Park of Utica; three brothers, Walter, John and Charles Hart of Morehouseville, and a sister; Miss Margaret Becraft of Morehouseville.


Emma Reymonda
From: Utica Morning Herald, Tuesday, 8 Feb 1898

Herkimer, Feb. 7.-

Early this morning at the hotel Empire in this village, occurred the death of Miss Emma Reymonda at the age of 33 years. She had been ill for several weeks with a complication of diseases, but the immediate cause of death was peritonitus. Miss Reymonda's home was in Morehouseville, where her widowed mother resides but she had been employed in this village for the past twenty years. Besides her mother, she is survived by two sisters and three brothers. They are Mrs. Charles Francisco of Newport, Mrs. Jacob Tetlock of Grant, Fred E. Raymonda of Wilmurt and A. M. and T. C. Reymonda of Morehouseville. The funeral will take place from the hotel Empire to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. W. C. Prout officiating.


Joseph Sanborn [not an obit, but possible death]
From: Utica Morning Herald, 5 Apr 1882

Mayfield, April 4, -

Joseph Sanborn and wife, living at Hope Falls, Hamilton county, were struck by lightning Sunday morning while in bed. Sanborn is in a critical condition and is not expected to recover. His wife received serious injuires. A child in the same bed escaped uninjured.


Mrs. Thomas Sullivan
From: Courier and Repbulic, Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, 16 May 1874

A Terrible Crime
A Drunken Husband Burns His Wife to Death
The last act of a terrible tragedy in Hamilton county, is given to the public by the daily Saratogian:

Mrs. Thomas Sullivan, of Hope, Hamilton counyt, which is located a few miles west of the town of Edinburgh, died last Saturday evening after lingering for a period of six weeks in the most intense agony. The facts of the case seem almost incredible. Thomas Sullivan, wife and one son, aged about sixteen years, resided in a small wooden house in a secluded section of Hope. Sullivan was a farm laborer and lumberman, and generally known as a man of dissolute habits. On the fatal night he returned home from Hope Centre about midnight almost crazed from excessive drink. Entering his home (that might have been a happy one but for the supremacy the dregs of the accursed cup had obtained over the man) he opened a violent tirade of ause against his wife. She did not respond. In his drunken frenzy he seized a lighted karosene lamp and with the vilest imprecations against all concerned hurled it against the wall, dashing it to atoms. Its combustible contents instantly ignited, enveloping the premises in flames. Now comes the most horrible portion of the affair. Sullivan instantly abandoned the fired building, closing the door behind him. His son gained egress through a window. Mrs. Sullivan also attempted to pass through the door, but the intoxicated brute huried her back into the seething and crackling flames. Two or three times did she attempt to escape the premises, only to be kicked, beaten and flaung back by the infuriated demon, who defied all the powers of earth and elsewhere to swerve him from his purpose of roasting her alive. Finally the boy, unaided and alone, seized his father and pushed him from the door, but not until after a terrible contest, during which the intrepid youth seemed to have developed super-human strenght and employed it effectually. The father, by this time undoubtedly realizing the extent of his crime and becoming partially sober, immediately decamped his farewell being an oath. The son, as soon as possible and with great difficulty, succeeded in rescuing his mother. Finding that she could not get out of the house, the poor woman had seized and wound round her body and limvs all the quilts and bedding she could readily lay her hands on. When the boy reacher her almost all of this scant protective material had burned and fallen off, and several places on her person were burned to a crisp. Notwithstanding her injuries, with his assistance she staggered from the house, which a few moments later fell in one mass of burning ruins. He placed her at the side of the road and started for the nearest neighbor's, half a mile distant, for help. On the way he met quite a number rapidly coming towards him, they having been attracted hither by the reflection of the flames. Mrs. Sullivan was immediately transported to the house of a relative and medical assistance summoned. It was apparent to all that she could not recover and the tenacity with which she clung to life and underwent six weeks of the most intense suffering is truly remarkable; Her remains were interred on Sunday. Sullivan has not returned, and probably will not. A day or two following his flight he was seen at Caldwell, Warren county, en route to Canada, where he probably is at the present time.


Minnie Wiley
From: News and Bulletin, Auburn, NY, 1883 [about mid Feb]

Minnie Wiley, ten years old, died at Hope, Hamilton county after an illness of two weeks. Before death she vomited considerable corrupt matter and in it an insect or animal three inches long, having wings, six legs with claws two horns and a beak half an inch long, supposed to have been swallowed while drinking spring water from her hand.


Minnie Wiley
From: The Palladium, Oswego, NY, Saturday, 17 Feb 1883

Killed by a Lizard

Minnie Wiley, a ten year old girl, died a day or two since at Hope, Hamilton county, after a two weeks illness. She was taken suddenly worse, and Dr. F. N. Wright administered an emetic. She vomited considerable corrupt matter and with it an animal or insect having wings, six legs with claws, two horns, and a beak half an inch long. When laid out flat it measured three inches. Dr. Wright thinks it was alive in her stomach until the medicine killed it. It is supposed she swalllowed it while drinking water from her hand from a brook a year before, when she was out in a field with two other little firls. A lady remembers hearing her say she guessed she had swallowed a lizard or something when drinking, as she felt something to down her throat. Her health last summer was good, except sometimes she would clasp her hands on her stomach and say she was sick and she would for a few moments be extremely pale, but as the pain lasted less than five minutes, no alarm was felt.

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