Obituaries (Ho) MHD Collection

 

N.A. Holcomb died at his home at Tunnel [Broome Co., NY], May 11, 1912, at 2 o'clock p.m. after an illness of several months.  He is survived by a wife, four daughters, Mrs. Chas. Goodsell of Bakers Corners, Mrs. Geo. Christman of Sanitaria Spr., Minnie and Eva of Schenectady and two sons, Smithie of Cambridge, N.Y. and Hugh, who lives at home.  Two brothers, Smith of Tunnel and Edgar of Ouaquaga.  Funeral will be held Tuesday at 1 o'clock at the home of the deceased. 

 

Miss Nancy Holcomb of Tunnel [Broome Co.,  NY], aged fourteen years, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. B.C. Barnum, at Union, Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1 o'clock p.m., after an illness of only three days.  She attended school on Thursday apparently in good health and on Friday was somewhat ailing, but was not considered dangerous until Sunday morning.  The efforts of the most skilled physicians of Binghamton could not relieve her suffering, and she died that afternoon.  One week before she confessed her Savior in revival meetings being held in the Lestershire M.E. Church, and what consolation her faith was in her dying moments.  Her body was brought to her old home at G.A. Holcomb's at Tunnel, where her funeral was largely attended on Tuesday.  Her pastor, Rev. Williams, officiating.  The text being from St. John 14:1.  The floral tributes were many and beautiful showing the esteem in which she was held.  Burial was in New Ohio cemetery [Colesville, Broome Co., NY]beside her mother, Mrs. Eunice Ann Holcomb, who was buried just five weeks before; therefore the bereaved family have the sympathy of the whole community in this their double affliction.  [MHD notation:  d. 1904]

 

The death of Smith Holcomb, of Tunnel, a well known citizen of this town, occurred on Wednesday, February 25th, of Bright's disease.  The funeral occurred on Saturday afternoon from the home, Rev. Ira L. Bronson officiating and the interment was in the New Ohio cemetery [Colesville, Broome Co., NY].  Deceased was 70 years of age, a staunch Republican and had held many offices in the town and for the past 20 years had been a justice of the peace and member of the town board.  He leaves, besides his wife, one son Richard and a large circle of relatives.  The floral offerings were beautiful especially the one from the members of the town board, a number of whom were present at the funeral...[MHD notation:  d. 1914]

 

Tunnel [Broome Co., NY]:  Smith Holcomb died at his home in Penn Yan [Yates Co., NY], last week.  He was born and lived in this vicinity all his early life.  He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Jennie Beman; two sons, Nathaniel Holcomb of Oneida and Richard Holcomb of Rochester; one granddaughter, Dorothy; two sisters, Mrs. George Christman of Sanitaria Springs and Mrs.Eva Baxter of Schenectady, and one brother, Hugh Holcomb of Tunnel.  He was 66 years old.  The body was brought here for burial at the New Ohio Cemetery [Colesville, Broome Co., NY], Sunday.  Funeral services at the grave were conducted by Rev. MacKenzie of Sanitaria Springs.  [MHD notation:  d. Sept. 1939]

 

Funeral services were held at the Holmes Funeral Home here today for Arthur James Holmes, 74, dean of Delaware County undertakers, who died Saturday in Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, after a brief illness.  The Rev. William N. Tuttle, Lockport, former pastor of the Congregational Church here, and the Rev. Harry H. Bergen, present pastor, officiated.  Mr. Holmes was born at Granton May 2, 1868, the son of James Wells Holmes and Amy Mallory Finch Holmes.  He spent most of his boyhood in Granton and Deposit, learning the undertaking and embalming business in the latter village, as an apprentice of Robert Brown.  He married Miss Katherine S. Reynolds of Deposit March 1, 1894.  He practiced his profession for more than 51 years, starting in Franklinville, later moving to Afton, and coming to Walton in the fall of 1912.  Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Walter E. Lyon, Akron, Ohio; Mrs. George T. Hargitt, Durham, N.C.; Miss Letha Holmes, Walton; three sons, Arthur K. Holmes of Walton who manages the funeral home here; Robert B. Holmes, Lansdale, Pa., and Chaplain R.C.S. Holmes, U.S.Army.  Also surviving are two brothers, Frank Holmes, Deposit; Walter S. Holmes, Owego, and eight grandchildren.  [MHD notation:  d. Sept. 12, 1942]

 

Once more, one of our Afton boys has made the supreme sacrifice, a victim of the Hun ruthlessness.  Willard F. Holmes, an electrician, was on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga which was sunk Sept. 30th by a submarine.  This was his third trip across.  He gave his life for another.  Formerly, he had been on the U.S.S. Missouri, which cruised along the coast, but he felt he was not doing as much as he would like to, so changed places with a man on the Ticonderoga who preferred to stay this side.  Willard was a son of S.E. Holmes of Afton, and was born in Thompkins, Delaware Co., and was 27 years of age.  His mother died when he was a small boy.  Two sisters, Mrs. Clayton Slawson, of Herkimer, N.Y., and Elva Holmes Cable, of Walton, besides a host of other relatives and friends mourn his loss.  He was a member of the Afton Baptist Church and the Gold Star on the Church Service Flag will ever be a reminder of his service, and sacrifice for his Country.  On a poster in the Y.M.C.A. huts in France are these words, "Hardships will be your lot; but trust in God will give you comfort; temptation will befall you, but the teachings of our Savior will give you strength.  Let your valor as a soldier and your conduct as a man, be an inspiration to your comrades and an honor to your country,--J.J. Pershing."  Willard's life was typical of these words.  The high esteem in which he was held by his associates is proven by letters received by his father, since his death, expressing sympathy and admiration of his Christian character, and sterling qualities.  One writer expresses a beautiful thought when he says "These brave young souls are taking heaven by storm, by the millions have they left the earth.  Is not every boy who is laying down his life to save the world from sin following in the footsteps of Christ to Calvary and do not the fathers and mothers who are giving their all to save the world know something of what it cost God to give His Well-Beloved Son for the sins of the world?  The ascent to Calvary was never easy."  We cannot fathom the mysteries, but we know God rules and righteousness and justice will triumph.  The sympathy of the community goes out to the sorrowing father, sisters, relatives and friends.

"Comrade true,

Born anew,

Peace to you;

Your soul shall be where the heroes are,

And your memory shine like the morning star.

Brave and dear,

Shield us here--

Farewell!"

[MHD notation:  d. 1918]

 

Afton [Chenango Co., NY]:  Funeral services for Mrs. Fannie Horton, prominent in civic and church affairs of Afton for many years, were held Friday afternoon at the home, with Rev. George B. Graves, pastor of the Afton Methodist church, assisted by the Rev. Alan Douglas, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiating.  Mrs. Horton who had been a resident here more than 40 years, died Wednesday at Bainbridge Hospital following a long illness.  She was born October 5, 1880, the daughter of Charles W. and Mary Truesdell Hare of Harpursville.  After being graduated form the Harpursville school and the State Normal School at Oneonta, she taught in Athens, Rhinebeck and Afton.  She was united in marriage to Harry G. Horton of Afton in 1908.  She became active in church and civic affairs, and continued her interest in them despite her long illness.  Survivors include her husband, prominent hardware dealer and former mayor of Afton; a brother, James W. Hare of Binghamton; a sister, Mrs. Robert S. Boyce of Ithaca, and three nieces, Mrs. Arthur Amner of Binghamton; Mrs. Miles Lumbard of Ithaca, and Mrs. Harold Westcott of Nineveh.  [MHD notation:  d. Mar. 16, 1949]

 

Reuben W. Hotchkiss, 71, of Harpursville [Broome Co., NY], died Monday afternoon at the Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Margaret Hotchkiss, of Harpursville; three daughters, Mrs. Gladys McNally, of Cincinnatus, Mrs. Harry Craft, of Triangle, and Mrs. Gordon Totman, of Earlville; a son, William Hotchkiss, of Endicott; a sister, Mrs. William Foster, of Greene; six grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.  The body was removed to the Nichols Funeral Home in Whitney Point, where friends may call until Wednesday noon.  The body will be taken Wednesday afternoon, to the Harry R. Rogers Funeral Home, Greene, NY, where friends may call Wednesday evening.  [MHD notation:  d. Jan. 30, 1950]

 

A kindly, familiar figure for the past several years, and one who had scores of friends about the village, passed away suddenly at Preston Sunday morning, Riley Hougaboom, aged 72.  He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Edna Phetteplace of Plymouth, N.Y., a sister, Mrs. Clara Fox of Chenango Forks; two brothers, Ernest, and Floyd, both of Florida, a granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Atwell of Windsor, R.D.1.  Also several nieces and nephews.  Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Karschner Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Alan Douglas officiating.  Burial was in Glenwood Cemetery, Afton [Chenango Co., NY].  [MHD notation:  d. Jan. 22, 1947]

 

Erving Houghteling, 74, of Tunnel [Broome Co., NY], died Tuesday morning in the Binghamton City Hospital.  He is survived by his wife, Ellen of Tunnel; three sons, Stafford and Ralph, both of Tunnel, and Clarence L., of Binghamton; two daughters, Mrs. Maurice Rowland and Mildred Squires, both of Portlandville; a sister, Mrs. Effie Thompson of Binghamton; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.  The body was removed to the Harry G. Kark Funeral Home in Harpursville, where friends may cal today and Thursday afternoon and evening.  [MHD notation:  d. Feb. 4, 1947]