C. Linn Stone
1882 - 1940
C. Linn Stone, senior member of the firm of Stone & Munyan,, clothiers of Oxford and Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and one of Oxford's foremost businessmen for more than a quarter of a century, died Monday at 11 a.m. after a 11-day illness of pneumonia. Mr. Stone was stricken with pneumonia Thursday night, Jan. 11 and his condition was considered serious from the start. While the pneumonia condition was soon relieved, it was impossible to clear up the toxic poisoning which followed.
He was born May 23, 1882, on the Stone farm on East Hill, the son of Charles M. and Ada Smith Stone. His father was supervisor for the town of Oxford for two terms and was the first county superintendent of Highways in Chenango county.
His grandmother, Mrs. Joshua Stone, was a Baptist minister and preached for nearly 50 years. She often conducted services in the Free Will Baptist Church at East Oxford, known as the Basswood Meeting House. The original Stone farm was that now [in 1940] owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Meek, the house which burned only a few weeks ago. This property remained in the Stone family for over a hundred years.
Mr. Stone attended the district school on East Hill and the school in Oxford for a short time and completed his education in the Williston Seminary near Boston. His first position was in the department store of the Chapman & Turner Company at Norwich which he was forced to relinquish after several years on account of ill health. He remained on his father's farm for over a year recuperating and then bought out the W.A. Bentley Insurance Agency in this village, the name of which he changed to the C.L. Stone Agency. This agency he continued until in 1938 when he sold it to Charles J. Parker.
His automobile business was freely developing in Oxford shortly before the World War and Mr. Stone began to sell cars about 1915 along with his insurance business. In 1917, he and Charles J. Parker organized the Oxford Motor Sales, Inc. and took over the garage facing Taylor street, now [in 1940] owned by Samuel Jones of Norwich and operated by Ray Roney. Here they developed one of the most flourishing automotive businesses in the county, handling Hudson-Essex, Packard, Willis-Overland cars and White and Indiana trucks. One year, 175 new cars and trucks were sold by this concern. In 1925 this company was transferred to the Rife Motor Sales and the business moved to Norwich.
Mr. Stone then went back to his insurance business which he continued until 1934 when he and Clarence Munyan leased the Corner Store on Navy Island formerly occupied by the Baldwin Company and later by Fred A. Herrick, and started a new Men's clothing store. The success of this venture was immediate and only last summer the firm purchased the clothing business of Merrill & Aldrich at Norwich, bought the stock of the Ray Oakley estate, combined the two and opened a second store in that city at the Merrill & Aldrich location. Mr. Stone remained to manage the Oxford store and Mr. Munyan took over the new store.
Mr. Stone was a charter member and past president of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, an organization in which he has taken an active part since its formation in 1929. He was president in 1936-37 and had been chairman of the retail merchants' committee for several years, and was a member of that committee this year. He was also a charter member of the Oxford Rotary club and served as president for one term, although not a member at the time of his death. He at one time held memberships in the Oxford Masonic lodge and Oxford Chapter and was a past master of the lodge.
Mr. Stone served on the board of education for many years before the formation of the central district and when the present district was approved, he was one of the village members to be retained on the new five-man board. The problem of a new school was the most important before the board and Mr. Stone was chosen chairman of the building committee. He spent the greater part of two years on the plans and construction of the present school and probably had more to do with the excellency of the present school plan than any one on the board. His name, with the other members of the board at that time, is raised in relief on a bronze plate in the front hall of the building.
During his entire business career in this community Mr. Stone was an active worker for community advancement, and few indeed, have been the community projects undertaken here which have not benefited from his splendid judgment and his energetic support.
He leaves a widow and two daughters, Miss Thelma Stone of Syracuse, and Miss Jessie Stone of Oxford; also one sister, Mrs. Irving McNitt of Arkport. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist church with the Rev. Frederick Connell officiating. Burial was made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, NY]. Oxford business places were closed during the services. Bearers were Charles J. Parker, Jesse Jacobs, Carl Emerson, Hugh Shepard, Clarence Munyan of Oxford, and Everett Barnes of Binghamton.
Anna (Van Wagenen) Estelow
1869 - 1940
Mrs. Anna Van Wagenen Estelow, aged 71 years, wife of Jared C. Estelow, passed away at her home on Fort Hill Park [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], Thursday evening after an illness of seven months. Mrs. Estelow was the daughter of James G. and Mary Millard Van Wagenen and was born in Oxford Feb. 20, 1869. She graduated from Oxford Academy and for several years following was organist at St. Paul's church and active in musical circles in Oxford for the greater part of her life. She and Mr. Estelow were married July 14, 1891, and they have always made their home here. Mrs. Estelow was an active worker in the Ladies' Village Improvement Society and served as treasurer of that organization for many years. She was also a member of the Travelers' Club, the Grange and the Congregational church. During her life she gave unstintingly of her time and talents for the upkeep of the church and Sunday School and was likewise active in many movements sponsored by the community for the betterment of Oxford. She is survived by her husband, one son, Van, and three grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth, Phyllis and Paul, all of Oxford. Funeral services were held from the home Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock,. The Rev. Howard F. Deller, D.D., of the Congregational church officiated and interment was made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, NY]. Honorary bearers were A.S. Burchard, H.C. Stratton, V.D. Stratton, D.H. Loomis, Dr. C.E. Thompson, J.L. Harrison, R.H. Baldwin and S.S. Hale. Active bearers were Hubert Emerson, Van Burchard, Lyle Preston, Donald Morse, Arthur Harrison and Leon Cowles.
Death Notices
Chenango Union, September 30, 1875
FOOT: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 23, Leonard Foot, aged 84 years.
BALDWIN: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] Sept. 25, Thomas Baldwin, aged 70 years.
HICKOK: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 25, Mrs. Fanny Hickok, aged 76 years.
DODGE: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 21, Cora [Dodge], daughter of Charles Dodge, aged 5 months.
WALKER: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 25, Merrit O. [Walker], son of Willard & Hannah Walker, aged 5 years.
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