Obituaries from the
"Hamilton County News"
1958

Reprinted with permission from the
Hamilton County News!
Transcribed by Annie Weaver
 


April 25, 1958: James W. Augiltree, husband of the late Ruth Maxon Augiltree and brother of Rachel Augiltree, died April 16. Services were held in the Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church. Interment was in Long Lake.

Leon L. Duheme, 94, died at Johnstown Hospital, Johnstown, March 8, 1958. Mr. Duheme was born Jan. 11, 1864, in the Province of Quebec, Canada. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. George Burns, Montreal; one son, Warren Duheme, Lake Pleasant; one brother, Paul Duheme, Long Lake; two sisters, Mrs. Ben Shappee, Long Lake and Mrs. Albert Meek, Durhamville; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
    He was brought to his sister's home in Long Lake. The funeral was held at St. Henry's Church, March 11. Rev. Julian O'Brien officiated at a requiem mass. All the nephews, Edmund Clement, Wilfred Parker, Robert Parker, Jr., Alec Duheme, John Mzic and John Minahan, were bearers.

(Jan. 17th edition) Mrs. Luella Buyce Fish, 51, wife of Townsend Fish, died Tuesday morning after several weeks illness. Mrs. Fish was the 3rd and 4th grade teacher in the Wells Central School where she had taught for 27 years. She was organist and choir director of the Methodist Church. She was a member of the Mary and Martha Guild of that church.
    Mrs. Fish was born in Wells Aug. 2, 1906 and had always resided in town. She was a graduate of Wells Central School and Oneonta State Teachers College.
    Survivors, besides her husband include one son, William of Scotia; one sister, Mrs. Lewis Viskman, Munsing, Mich.; 4 brothers, Orra, Hassan and Roy of Wells and Harvey of Northville; two grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
    Funeral services were held from the Wells Methodist Church with the former pastor, the Rev. Myron Cheney, officiating.
    The School Board and teachers attended in a body. The bearers were: Millard Chamberlain, Frank J. Belmont, Reuben C. Mick, Hiram Craig, Irving Clouthier and Fernand Allie. Interment was in Wells Cemetery.

Beecher LaPrairie, a life long and respected resident of Blue Mt. Lake, died May 8, 1958 at Raebrook Hospital, Saranac Lake, of a heart attack. He was in his 66th year, the descendent of a famous family who came to the Adirondacks from La Prairie, Canada, and settled at North River in the early 1800's.
    His grandfather and two brothers fought in the Civil War. His father, Henry LaPrairie, built and operated a famous fishing and hunting lodge at Terrill Pond in 1875, which was destroyed by fire in 1917. His father was also one of the last of the famous drivers of the six horse Concord coaches, which operated between North Creek and Blue Mt. Lake. He also operated the LaPrairie House in Blue Mt. Lake for some years.
    Beecher LaPrairie was for many years a guide in the Blue Mt. Lake community and with his father at Terrell Pond. He also enjoyed the distinction of having been the last of the firemen who operated on the steamboat, Tuscarora, on Blue Mt. Lake and steamers on Raquette Lake. Another distinction is that he carried the mail on snowshoes from Blue Mt. Lake to Raquette Lake in the winters of 1913 and 1914.
    (Henry) Beecher LaPrairie is survived by his wife, Addie LaPrairie who is 94; four sons, Henry, Norris, William and Ernest; a sister, Mrs. Zoe Smith and 12 grandchildren, all of Blue Mt. Lake.

Robert J. Lewis, a long time resident of Inlet, died April 20, 1958 in St. Luke's Hospital, Utica, where he had been a patient for three days. Mr. Lewis was born Feb. 2, 1876, in Martinsburg. In 1912 he married Una Murdock of Inlet.
    Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons; Howard, Philadelphia; William, Alexandria, VA; Allen, Pensacola, Fla.; Robert Jr., Ontario, Canada; two brothers, Everett, Inlet; Jerome, Westchester, Penns.; four sisters, Mrs. Olin Smith, Sounthington, Conn.; Mrs. Fred Hiltbrand, Bristol, Conn.; Mrs. J. Olen Campbell, Sarasota, Fla.; Mrs. Leon Stewart, East Martinsburg; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
    Mr. Lewis was Town Superintendent of Highways for about ten years. He was also a school trustee for a number of years. Prayer services was held at the home at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and the Funeral Service was held at the Church of the Lakes, with the Rev. Lyle Buck, former pastor, officiating.
    Bearers were the Messrs. Ralph, William, Donald Edson and Evan Murdock (all nephews of Mr. lewis) and Leon Stewart. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery, Old Forge.

Rudolph O. (Red) Malmberg, 47, died April 1, 1958. Born May 11, 1910, in Gloversville, he was the son of Mrs. Hilda Malmberg and the late Oscar Malmberg. He was a member of the James Lutheran Church, Piseco; the Piseco Violators Club and the Piseco Volunteer Fire Co.
    Mr. Malmberg was a well known guide and taxidermist. He had also been a Justice of the Peace. Besides his mother, he leaves his wife, Elizabeth L.; a son, Charles; and two daughters, Aloise Lana and Sonja Lee Malmberg, all of Piseco.
    The funeral was held April 3 from the Yates and Corey Funeral Home, Northville. Burial was in Piseco.

April 1958: Marvin Schuyler, 78, one of the town's oldest residents, died Thursday night at his home. He had been in good health until Sunday when he was taken ill. Mr. Schuyler was born in Arietta and was employed as a teamster and lumberman.
    He was married to Minnie Burton in 1905 and they resided in Wells and vicinity all his life. Besides his wife, he leaves two brothers, Nelson of Northville and George of Gloversville; two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Buyce, Speculator and Mrs. Ruby Abbott of Morehouseville; one step daughter, Miss Blanche Ostrander, Wells; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
    Funeral services were held from the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon. Burial was in Wells Cemetery.

Delos Smith, 84, died Feb. 23, 1958 at Herkimer Memorial Hospital. He was born May 6, 1873, in Ephratah, son of Ervin and Amanda Duessler Smith.
    He attended Fairfield Seminary and taught school for several years after graduation. He first married Florence M. Jukes, who died several years ago. Later, he married Grace Brown in Phelps Dec. 12, 1933.
    He was a member and trustee of the Community Church. He operated the Inlet Garage for many years, retiring about fifteen years ago. For the past few summers, he was in charge of the Information Booth.
    Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters: Mrs. Lois Bell, Ilion; Mrs. George Brondstater, Herkimer; one son, Ivan, Concord, Cal.; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The funeral was held Feb. 26 from the Fenner Funeral Home, Herkimer, with the Rev. Arthur Lacey, of the Ilion Baptist Church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. C. E. Humiston, of the Inlet Community Church.
    Burial was in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion. The bearers were Walker Coleman, Wilson Tyler, William Netherton, Herman Williston, Oscar Holl and John Rogers.

James Thompson died January 27, 1958, in his home in the Pumpkin Hollow section of Wells. Funeral services were held Jan. 30 in the Jeffords Funeral Home, Broadalbin. The Rev. F. E. Piper of the Broadalbin Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial was in Mayfield Cemetery.

 

Last Updated: Wednesday, 14-May-2008 13:14:29 PDT
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