Reprinted with permission from the
Hamilton County News!
Transcribed by Annie Weaver
Note: These obits were reprinted in the newspaper in the 1970s and are taken from the later papers.
One young Griffin resident would never hear frogs again. On Saturday May 5, 1906, while fishing from the rocks just below the iron bridge at Griffin, little Willie Barney, 8, oldest son of Mr. And Mrs. Mattie Barney, tumbled into the water and was instantly swept away. The current was very rapid at that point and the bed of the river thickly strewn with rocks. There was no possible chance of rescue. The body was recovered Tuesday afternoon, May 8, by Harry Damphier, who was driving logs, at a point opposite William M. Earley's five miles below the scene of the accident. Besides his parents, he was survived by four sisters and two brothers, Mrs. William Damphier of Wells, Miss Margaret of New York, Mable, Martha, Earl and Kenneth, all of Griffin.
William Barney, 8, school student, died from accidental drowning at Griffin on May 5. He was born at Griffin of Mattie Barney and Frances Ross. Burial was at Wells.
George Sanford Brooks, 61, farmer, died at Indian Lake March 31, 1906. He was born at Indian Lake of Aaron and Lucinda Brooks. Burial was at Indian Lake.
January 7, 1906,
Newton B. Carr, 74, died at Wells. He was born at Wells of Seymour Carr and Cloie Reynolds. Burial was at Wells.Blanchard C. Colby, Jr., 79, died at his home in Ashton, Town of Wells, on March 19, 1906. He had been a resident of Ashton since 1871, when he moved with his family from Essex County. He was a Civil War veteran. Surviving him was a widow, two sons, William and Harvey; four daughters, Mrs. Annette Wood of Wisconsin, Mrs. Emery Dunham, Mrs. Samuel Fisher, and Mrs. Charles Savage, all of Wells. Interment was at Wells.
Minnie Davis, 16, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Elmer Davis, died at her home at Wells on February 15, 1906 after a two-year long illness. She was survived by her parents: two sisters, Ellen E. and Maggie M.; and three brothers, J. Louis, Clifford, and Charles, all of Wells. A prayer service was held at the home Saturday, Feb. 11 and interment was in the village cemetery, the funeral service being delayed at her request until the Rev. I. D. Hall could be present to officiate.
On April 25, 1906,
Charles Henry Dennie died at his home in Lake Pleasant. He was born in Wells, Feb. 26, 1841 but moved to Northville after marrying in May 1867. Susannah Dunham, by whom he had two daughters, Matilda, residing in Philadelphia and Emeroy in Utica. On Oct. 28, 1903 he was married to Mrs. Susan Dunham of Lake Pleasant, sister-in-law of his first wife. A cooper by trade, he was occupied for many years as a storekeeper. During the past summer, he sold fruit, running from Northville to Lake Pleasant. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Northville and was sexton for 20 years, but on his second marriage, transferred his church and residence to Lake Pleasant. He was a Civil War veteran, having served for three years in Co. D, 4th NY Hvy. Arty., under Captain Sweetman. Burial was in Prospect Cemetery, Northville.January 10, 1906,
Dennis Donahue, formerly of Rudeston, died at Gloversville. He left a widow, the former Mary Coady, and sons, Thomas and James Donahue. The funeral was held in Gloversville and burial was in Amsterdam.January 18, 1906:
Elijah Earls, formerly of Wells, where he had a number of relatives, died at his home in South Corinth. The funeral was Jan. 20.Thomas Fox, a teamster and lumberman who made his headquarters at L. N. Foote's at Rudeston, died there Wednesday morning, April 14, 1906 from an overdose of laudanum. His body was taken to Glens Falls for burial.
Timothy Hill, 72, a native of Indian Lake, died at his home in Bolton on February 7, 1906. He left a widow, a son, William, and two daughters: also a brother and sister, Chauncey Hill and Mrs. Sidney Terry, both of Indian Lake. Interment was in the Huddle Cemetery at Bolton.
On April 9, 1906,
Mary Ann Keller, 79, single, tailorist, died at Long Lake where she had lived for 50 years. She was a daughter of David and Christina Keller. Burial was at Long Lake under the direction of the local undertaker, Merrit Lamos.On April 3, 1906,
Ray Kennedy, 36, was found dead in bed of heart failure at this boarding house in Lorain, Ohio. He was son of Edward and Maria Kennedy of Buffalo, formerly of Wells. Mr4. Kennedy was a nephew of Mr. And Mrs. Patrick Hanley of Wells. Mrs. Kennedy was a sister of Almeda Burgess and Mrs. Henrietta Abrams of Wells.Virginia Krebs, 61, died February 7, 1906 at Morehouseville of chronic nephritis. She was born at Morehouseville of Francis B. Germany and Christine Kassing.
On April 30, 1906,
Philix Lagreffe, 17, single, laborer, died from drowning in Long Lake. Born in New Brunswick. He was buried there.May 16-31, 1906:
The bruised and mutilated body of Willard Letson, 60, of Alvord was discovered in an upstairs room of Hartmen's Hotel Klondike on the Wells-Lake Pleasant Road on Tuesday, May 23 by David Arnold. Hartman was doing jury duty but returned home each night, Letson watching the business during his absence. Hartman had been home the night before and had an altercation with his wife, who left, leaving Hartman and Letson together. The next morning, Hartman returned to the county seat and David Arnold accompanied him home. The house was locked, but they gained entrance at the rear and went looking for Letson. They immediately went back to Lake Pleasant and notified Sheriff Call, who took charge of the remains and arrested Hartman for murder.
District Attorney Wilson and Sheriff Call carefully examined the premises, which showed evidences of a frightened struggle, the walls, floors and furniture being blood spattered and in great disorder. The body was found lying on a bed newly made, and was a mass of bruises, indicating that the man had been literally kicked and pounded to death.
Hartman's clothes were covered with blood and he endeavored to conceal them, a bloodstained towel and shirt being found behind a dresser, and his vest and trousers hidden in a hollow log a few rods up the hill behind the house.January 10, 1906,
Gertrude G. McCane, 38, married, died at Indian Lake. She was born in Benson of George W. and Jerusha D. Farrington and had lived at Indian Lake for 24 years. Burial was at Indian Lake.Hugh McCormick, 59, died February 10, 1906 at Indian Lake of typhoid fever. Born at Clintonville, N. Y., a son of James and Ethel McCormick, he had lived at Indian Lake for 40 years. Burial was at Indian Lake.
Frank Olmstead of Northville, a blacksmith well known in Wells, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Duane Palmer at Northville January 22, 1906.
Wayland Palmatier, 24, brother of Herbert Palmatier of Indian Lake, died Thursday, Feb. 22, at his home in North Creek, after an illness of six months. Other survivors were his mother, Mrs. A. B. Palmatier and a sister, Gertrude Palmatier, both of North Creek. The funeral was held at the North River Baptist Church with the Rev. Mr. Smith officiating, assisted by the Revs. M. Clair, Randall, and LaBarr.
Mrs. Elizabeth Cramer Politsche, 76, died at her home in Benson on February 12, 1906 of pneumonia. She was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, but had resided at Benson 52 years. She was survived by her husband, Ludwig Politsche; three sons, Henry and Louis of Gloversville, and George of Benson; and one daughter Libbie of Benson. The funeral was held February 15, the Rev. Weinleder of the Lutheran Church of Bleecker officiating. Interment was at Benson.
On March 22, 1906.
Ludwig Poltische, 78, died at Benson of pneumonia less than five weeks after death of his wife, Elizabeth from the same cause. Born in Germany, he had resided at Benson for the past 42 years. He was a son of Ludwig Poltische of Germany. Burial was in Benson Center.On January 28, 1906,
Stanley Rice, 3 months, son of John and Hilda Rice, died at Long Lake of pneumonia. He was buried at Long Lake.The entire county was sobered and saddened by the death of the Indian, Mitchell Sabattis, 89, first settler of Long Lake, on Tuesday, April 17. He was born in Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., Sept. 29, 1817 and came to Long Lake region at age of 11 with his father, Capt. Peter Sabattis. Sabattis had married Elizabeth Dornburgh, who came from the Mohawk Valley. Their union was blessed with nine children. Elizabeth Sabattis preceded her husband's death.
About 20 years ago, the deceased had a shock of paralysis, and about seven years ago, another. He had not walked since, but was always with complaint. Always sought as a foremost guide, he was a great hunter and trapper. He could speak several languages fluently. His funeral was held at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, build through his efforts in 1865, and a lasting monument to his memory.Mitchell Sabattis, 89, widowed, redman, died of paralysis at Long Lake. Burial at Long Lake was in charge of local undertaker Merrit Lamos. Survivors were sons, Charles, Isaac and Harry Sabattis and daughters, Mrs. Lorenzo Town, Mrs. Fred Gokey and Mrs. Calvin Town, all of Long Lake.
Adelia Stacey, 79, married, died April 19, 1906 at Rudeston of ulceration of the stomach. She had lived at Rudeston eleven years. Her father was from Ulster County, N. Y. and her mother, Hannah Lindsay, was born in Orange County. Burial was at Lake Pleasant.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14-May-2008 13:14:37 PDT
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