Mysterious Disappearance of Mrs. Timothy G. Donovan
Mrs. George H. Mahan of Norwich
Whose Psychic Power located the Dead Body of Mrs. Donovan
Utica Saturday Globe, April 1900
Rome Citizen, February 6, 1900
Clinton [Oneida Co., NY]: The family of Mrs. T.G. Donovan who so mysteriously disappeared Tuesday evening, from her home on College street, has given up hopes of finding her alive. Mr. Donovan has found the following note pinned on a pillow in her bed room: "Forgive me, Tim," signed "Mary." It is the general opinion that Mrs. Donovan either strayed away from her home and perished in the cold from exposure, or else that she ended her life in the Oriskany creek. The sad affair has cast a gloom over the whole community. Mrs. Donovan was well known and greatly respected by all. It is a great blow to Mr. Donovan and the children, and they feel it keenly.
Dead Body Found
Chenango Semi Weekly Telegraph, April 11, 1900
A special from Clinton, N.Y. to the Union Observer of Monday evening said: The remains of Mrs. Timothy G. Donovan, who so mysteriously disappeared from her home on College street ten weeks ago, were found yesterday about a mile west of the village in the wood lot of Lyman S. Harding. Donald Risley, a son of A.D. Risley and another lad were passing through the woods, when they made the ghastly discovery of the remains lying at the foot of a large tree that stood by itself some distance from any others on the outskirts of the woods. From appearances she had wandered here the night of her disappearance, and having removed nearly al her clothing made a bed of a portion of it, and having lain down, drew the rest over her as a protection from the cold. She had also removed her false teeth and glasses and placed them beside her. It was a very cold night, and she probably never awakened from the sleep or stupor which the extreme cold must have very soon produced. The position in which she was found indicated that she had not moved after lying down.
It will be remembered that Mrs. Donovan stole away from home early in the evening while laboring under a mild form of insanity, and although the most diligent and thorough search was made that night and for days and weeks afterwards, no trace of her could be found. Harding's woods had been gone over time and again, but it was the denser part of the wood that was searched, under the supposition that if she had gone up there she would seek to hide where the wood was thick. For several weeks workmen have been engaged in chopping wood near where she lay, and lately sugar making has been in progress, but as the particular tree at the foot of which she had sought shelter was out of the way somewhat, her remains had remained undiscovered.
Today's, Tuesday, Morning Sun, says: Mrs. George H. Mahan of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] has in a quiet sort of way in her own family circle practiced clairvoyance, and Clinton relatives who had heard of these powers, asked Mrs. Mahan's aid about three weeks ago in trying to solve the mystery of Mrs. Donovan's whereabouts. Mrs. Mahan held a sitting and described every minute detail, giving a lucid description of the Donovan house and a locality she had never seen, and explaining where the body lay and the route the unfortunate woman took in reaching the woods. This description was sent to Mr. Donovan, but on account of the deep snow the search was deferred and it had been planned to make an investigation yesterday. Mr. Mahan, the husband of the "medium" received a message from Clinton Monday that the body had been found precisely as described in the former communication to Mr. Donovan. He left on the afternoon train for Clinton to verify the report, being somewhat anxious to see for himself whether Mrs. Mahan's first attempt at anything of the kind had been successful.
Harriet A. Sholes
Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, April 11, 1900
Mrs. Harriet A. Sholes died at her home in Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Thursday, April 5, 1900, aged 63 years. The funeral was held Sunday. The deceased was the mother of Supervisor George L. Sholes of Sherburne. She had been in fairly good health for some time, although had not been able to be about any since she received a fracture to a leg by failing on the sidewalk in this village some four months ago. She was sitting by the window playing with her little grandson when she suddenly complained of a severe pain about the heart and in the stomach and before medical aid reached her she was dead.
Merlin J. Ford
Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, April 11, 1900
The death of Merlin J. Ford occurred at Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY], April 3, 1900. His demise had been expected for several days, he having been slowly failing since taking to his bed nearly three months since. His death was caused by a complication of troubles that for several years past have gradually broken down his health. Mr. Ford was one of our oldest and best known citizens, having been born in this village, November 30, 1825. He was the only son of Russell Ford, and had one sister, Mrs. Caroline Smith, now residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was married March 15, 1848 in the town of Unadilla to Miss Cynthia Peck, who survives him. Two children were born to them, both of whom are living, Truman R. Ford of this place, and Frederick Ford of Jamestown, N.Y. During his active lifetime deceased served the town and government in an official capacity for many years. He was postmaster of the place under the administrations of Lincoln and Grant, and he also served several terms as justice of the peace, about the time of the civil war, when the enlistment of soldiers and the bounties paid by the towns made that office of considerable responsibility and importance. For many years he was identified with the Republican party, in the success of which he took an active interest. Upon all genealogical and questions of local history, he was probably better informed than any of our inhabitants now living. During his lifetime he compiled a very complete genealogy of the Ford and Hyer families, extending back a hundred and0dtwenty-four years.--Otsego Journal.
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