These obituaries were taken from a scrapbook, which were taken
from various newspapers and pasted into the scrapbook by my grandmother, Hattie
Dibble Johnson. She was b. 1887 and d. 1973. She lived all of her married life
on Roses Brook in South Kortright, N.Y. Contributed by Richard
Nesbitt.
To view the Delaware County obituaries in Hattie's scrapbook visit the Delaware
County website
Index of obituaries: Mrs. Flora Sutton Johnson, Emma L.
Johnson , Ahira Z. Truesdell, Mr. Anthony Barnum, Mrs. Delina Barnum, Charles
Johnson, Mrs. Augustus Lewis, Mrs. Frances Shoemaker, Miss. Rebecca
Brandow
From the Ashland Cor.
Mrs. Flora Sutton Johnson:
Gloom was cast over our community on Monday evening when the sad news came that
Mrs. Flora Sutton Johnson, aged 67 years and wife of Alonzo Johnson, had passed
away very suddenly at her home in this village. She had been feeling unusually
well and had been about her daily duties until about six o'clock when she was
taken suddenly very sick. Dr. Sutton was called, but nothing could be done to
relieve her and at 8 o'clock Monday night, February 27, 1928, she passed away.
Mrs. Johnson was a cheerful and friendly nature and made many friends wherever
she lived. She was a true Christian woman and had recently remarked that when
God called her she was ready and asked her friends not to mourn for her. She is
survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Walter Munson of Downsville, and
Mrs. Don Andrews of Conklin; one son, Albrick Howard; five sisters, Mrs. T.W.
Demming, Mrs. George Cobb of Ashland, Mrs. A. L. Allen of Albany, Mrs. Margaret
Mattice of Otego, Mrs. Emery Christian of Oneonta; two stepsons, William Johnson
of Poughkeepsie, and Charles Johnson of Lexington, and one stepdaughter, Mrs.
Fisher of Oneonta. Much sympathy is felt for them all. Her funeral services were
held at the M.E. Church on Thursday, March 1st, conducted by her pastor, Rev. R.
Thorn.
Emma L. Johnson :
Emma L. Johnson, wife of Ahira Z. Truesdell, passed away at her home in Little
Westkill, town of Lexington, Friday, June 15th, aged about 70 years.
Mrs. Truesdell was a very highly respected woman and leaves a wide circle of
friends to mourn her demise. Although she had not been in good health for some
time, she had been able to be about until a few days before her death, which was
caused by internal cancer.
Deceased is survived by her husband; three brothers, Alonzo Johnson of Grand
Gorge, James Johnson of Lexington, and Lowell Johnson of Westkill; three
sisters, Miss Sarah Johnson of Lexington,, Mrs. A. J. Truesdell of Little
Westkill, and Mrs. Whitcomb of Jewett Center. The funeral was held from the M.E.
Church, this village, Monday, Rev. C.E. Hewitt officiating. A large number of
out of town relatives and friends were in attendance. Interment in Fair Lawn
cemetery. [Note, written in “1917”]
Ahira Z Truesdell: From Lexington Cor.
Ahira Z. Truesdell, an aged and much respected resident of this town, departed
this life at his home near this village on Tuesday, May 1, 1934, at one o'clock
p.m., after two days of illness. He had been in his usual health and the
saturday previous he rode his bicycle a distance of about 1 mile to the post
office and back as was his custom. He was taken suddenly ill sunday afternoon.
Dr. A.O. Persons of this village and Dr. I.T. Sutton of Prattsville were
summoned and diagnosed the disease as acute indigestion.
Mr. Truesdell was born on the old Truedsell homestead in Little Westkill on
October 25, 1846. He was the second of a family of ten children and a son of
Josiah and Margaret Brandow Truesdell. He was united in marriage with Emmaline
Johnson. Two daughters were born from this union, one dying at birth and the
other daughter, Edna, passing away when about 24 years of age. The death of his
wife occurred in 1917 and later sold his farm to W. J. Martin and made his home
with relatives for a time. For the past 13 years he made his home with Miss
Lilliam White, where he received the very best of care during his declining
years and his last illness.
Deceased is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Horace Dunham of Ashland and Mrs.
Delina Barnum of Little Westkill; one brother, Adram Truesdell of this village
and many nieces and nephews, besides a wide circle of other relatives and
friends. Much sympathy is extended to the family, also to Miss white whose home
is left lonely by his departure. The funeral was held at the M.E. Church in
Prattsville on Friday at 1pm. Elder Bellows of Roxbury, assisted by Rev. M. E.
Douglas of Prattsville officiated. Burial in the family plot in Fair Lawn
Cemetery. Wesley Hand of this village and son, Ray, of Red Hook, had charge of
the funeral arrangements. Services at the grave were in charge of the Masonic
Order of which he was a member.
Mr. Anthony Barmum:
The residents of Little Westkill and this village were greatly shocked Tuesday
noon by the announcement of the death of Anthony Barnum, a life long and
respected resident. Mr. Barnum was as well as usual Tuesday morning and with his
son-in-law, William Dibble, was engaged in building a hay- rigging and at about
11 o'clock, complained of a terrible pain in his breast just over his heart. He
laid down for a few minutes when not feeling any better, was assisted to the
house and onto a bed, when Dr. Sutton was summoned by telephone, but he died
before the doctor arrived, having been sick only about an hour. Neuralgia of the
heart is thought to have been the cause of his death.
Mr. Barnum, who was about 58 years of age is survived by his wife and five
children-two sons Ernest and Leo, and three daughters, Mrs. William Dibble, and
Misses Nina and Louise Barnum, all of whom reside in Little Westkill. His
funeral was held on Friday. Interment in Little Westkill cemetery.
Mrs. Delina Barnum: From Little Westkill Cor.
Mrs. Delina Barnum, 88, widow of the late Anthony Barnum and a lifelong resident
of Little Westkill, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wm. Dibble, at
1:15 Wednesday morning, after seven weeks of illness. She recovered from her
first illness, pneumonia, but owing to her advanced age was unable to rally from
her weakened condition and gradually grew weaker until death released her from
her suffering and she passed on to join loved ones who had gone on before, and
to take up her abode in that home not made with hands, eternal in the heavens,
prepared for her by her Saviour, whom she served.
Mrs. Barnum early in life united with the Methodist Church and when heath and
opportunity permitted was always a faithful attendant. She was a kind mother and
a neighbor who was always ready to help in time of sickness or other trouble as
long as her health permitted.
She was one of a family of ten children, and was born on March 24, 1859, to
Josiah and Margaret Brandow Truesdell at the Truesdell homestead in this place.
On September 19, 1878, she was united in marriage with Anthony Barnum, who
passed away suddenly on July 3, 1917. Seven children were born of this union.
Two daughters died in infancy. Five children survive; Mrs. Wm. Dibble, Mrs. Ray
Sutton and Leo Barnum of Little Westkill, Mrs. Lewis Ryan of Devon, Conn. and
Ernest Barnum of Prattsville. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, one
sister, Mrs. Horace Dunham of Ashland, and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at Dibble home at two o’clock Friday, conducted by
Rev. Andrew Case of Poughkeepsie, a former pastor, assisted by Rev. Arthur
Cataldo, pastor of the Lexington M.E. Church.
Mortician Albert Shaver of Prattsville had charge of the funeral arrangements.
She was laid to rest in the family plot beneath a mound of beautiful floral
tributes. Bearers were Rev. Lewis Ryan, Ernest Barnum, Leo Barnum, Ray Sutton,
Julius Howard and Wm. Dibble. [ She died in 1947]
Mrs. Phoebe Jordan: From Ashland Cor. Beloved Ashland Resident Died February 24th, at South Kortright
This community was deeply grieved to hear of the death of Mrs. Phoebe Jordan on
February 24, 1933, at the home of her son, Brayton Johnson, and family at South
Kortright, in her 82d year. She had been a member of the M.E. Church of Ashland
for many years, and was always ready to care for the sick and to help in time of
trouble. She was a loving mother and grandmother, a dear good sister and aunt
and a kind friend. Her funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at her
home, conducted by Rev. G.W. Baldinger of the United Presbyterian Church of
South Kortright. and on Monday morning at eleven o'clock services were held at
Ashland M.E. Church conducted by Rev. R. McLaren, assisted by Rev. Mack Truby of
Prattsville. The text was the last words spoken by the deceased " O Death
Where is Thy Sting". Two beautiful duets were sung by Mrs. Claud Tompkins
and Mrs. Wallace Demming. " Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and The City
Foursquare."
Her nearest survivors are a son, Brayton Johnson, and wife; one grandson, Roger
Johnson; two granddaughters Doris Johnson and Pauline Colby of Middleburg; a
son-in-law, Thos. Colby of Mount Vernon; two brothers, Ahira and Abram Truesdell
of Lexington, and two sisters, Mrs. Delina Barnum of Little Westkill and Mrs.
Horace Dunham of Ashland, besides many nieces and nephews and other relatives
and friends whose hearts were made sad by her death.
The bearers were Melvin Wier, Arthur Voorhees, Claud Tompkins, Fred Dodge,
Chester Jeralds and Claud Campbell. Interment in the Pleasant Valley cemetery by
the side of her first husband, Dr. B. A. Johnson. Funeral arrangements conducted
by Undertaker Kimball of Bloomville.
Charles Johnson: From Ashland Cor. ASHLAND RESIDENT FOUND
DEAD IN BED
This community was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Charles Johnson, who
had been caring for his father Alonzo Johnson, on upper Main street for several
months. He went to the barber shop on Friday in his usual health, as far as
anyone knew, and came home at an early hour and, as was his custom he read the
paper a short time and then retired. On Saturday morning August 15,1931, he did
not get up at the usual hour and his father called him and getting no response
he went to his room and found him dead in bed. Dr. Sutton of Prattsville was
immediately summoned and pronounced death due to heart trouble. He was 56 years
of age. He was a quiet, friendly disposition and made many friends since coming
to Ashland. He is survived by his aged father, one brother, William of
Poughkeepsie, one sister Mrs. Ernest Fisher of Oneonta, for whom much sympathy
is felt. His funeral was held at the M.E. Church at Lexington on Tuesday at 2
o'clock, the funeral arrangements being in charge of Sutton's Funeral Home,
Stamford.
Mrs. Augustus Lewis: From Ashland Cor.
This Community was deeply grieved to hear of the sudden death of Mrs. Hazel
Wilson Lewis on Monday afternoon, July 8, 1940, aged 51 years. She had been
feeling better than usual for some time. She had prepared dinner and while
washing dishes she apparently commenced to feel badly and she went to the barn
which they were remodeling and called her husband, Augustus Lewis. He and his
son came quickly to her aid and before getting to the house they had to carry
her. Dr. I.T. Sutton of Prattsville was called, he being at the Maggie Ferris
home. He arrived in about ten minutes, but found her unconscious and she soon
passed away.
Mrs. Lewis was a kind, loving wife and mother and a good friend and neighbor,
always ready to do a kind deed for any one in trouble. Her funeral was held at
her late home on Thursday afternoon, the house being filled with sorrowing
friends. The service was conducted by Rev. James Russell, and arrangements were
in charge of Willis Baldwin and son of Hunter. Burial was in the Windham
Cemetery. Her nearest survivors are her husband, Augustus Lewis; one son Verner
Lewis; four brothers, three sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends
to whom much sympathy is extended.
Mrs. Frances Shoemaker: From Little Westkill Cor.
Mrs. Frances Shoemaker died at the home of her niece, Mrs. Warren Becker, in
Prattsville on Thursday afternoon, November 21st. She was 78 years of age. Mrs.
Shoemaker had been in about her usual health until early Thursday morning when
she was seized with a heart attack from which she succumbed. On December 20,
1881, she was united in marriage to Charles Shoemaker and for about 33 years
she, with her husband, lived on the former Gilbert Persons farm in this place.
About 13 years ago they sold their farm, because of failing health, and moved to
their home on upper Main Street, Prattsville, where her husband’s death
occurred July 26, 1933. Since his death she made her home with her niece, Mrs.
Becker. For many years she had been a member of the M.E. Church and a faithful
attendant. She was a wonderful neighbor, beloved by all who knew her.
Her nearest survivors are two sisters, Mrs. Emma Clough of Catskill, and Mrs.
Ella Peckham of Prattsville; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives
and friends who will be saddened by her death. Funeral services were held on
Monday at 2 p m from the M.E.Church in Prattsville. Interment in the family plot
in Fair Lawn Cemetery.
Miss. Rebecca Brandow: From Ashland Cor.
Miss Rebecca Brandow, aged about 72 years, passed away at the home of Mrs. Nancy
Buell at Prattsville on Sunday, May 10, 1931. Miss Brandow spent nearly her
whole life in the town of Ashland. She was a faithful member of the M.E. Church
and always attended services when she was well enough. She leaves many friends
who will miss her. Her nearest relatives are one brother, Addie Brandow, of
Ashland; one nephew, Milton Brandow, of Windham, and one niece, Mrs. Frank
Robinson of North Settlement. Her funeral was held at the M.E. Church, Ashland,
on Tuesday at eleven o’clock, conducted by Rev. R. McLaren. Funeral
arrangements in charge of E.W. Brown of Prattsville. Interment in Pleasant
Valley by the side of her parents and sister.