Eckerson, Engle, Oliver, Pierce
Dedicated to Cousins. Finding you is a great end to a search, but the beginning of knowing you, is even better. Acknowledgements: Norman Schworm, Cecelia Caprio Flanigan, Perry Miller Jr, Ellsworth Miller, Jennie Chase Hardy, Iris Sisler, Reggie Greenleaf, Gloria Greenleaf Quinn, Laura Engle Gallerie, Gerald Winans, Gertrude Pierce Chichester, Leitha Pierce Oliver. Special thanks to Raymond Caprio for spending hours taking picture of pictures.
Pictures of the descendants are now available. Click on the blue underlined names.
THE FOLLOWING BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST LIBRARIES: TITLE and AUTHOR Schoharie County Veteran of Four Wars George W. Warner, 1891
The Epic of New York City Ed. Robb Ellis
History of Harlem Riker
The Dutch in America
Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey (1600-1825 Carl Boyer III
The Fireman's Guide 1834 U. Wenman, F. Desobry
The Frontiersmen of New York Jeptha R. Simms, 1882
History of Schoharie County and Borders Wars of New York Jeptha R. Simms, 1845
History of Schoharie County Roscoe
Hot Whiskey for Five also Schohary Both, Ed Hagan
ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES: Ackerson/Eckerson Descendants Ethel, Genealogist e-mail: ethelkk@aol.com
Schoharie County Historical Society RR 2, Box 30A Schoharie, N.Y. 12157
Stone Fort Museum Complex Genealogy Room, ph: 518 295-7192 Schoharie, NY 12157
ECKERSON LINE
Sara Hugeson, believed to be the widow of Thomas, married for the second time around the early 1640's to Hendrick(Henry) Peers(Pierce) and they presented four children, shortly after their marriage, for baptism (Sara, Jan, Thomas, Elizabeth) at the New York Dutch Reformed Church, Manhattan, Sara, the oldest of the four, was probably from Plymouth, Mass. or Plymouth, England. Jan is our progenitor of our family line of Eckerson's. It has been surmised that their father Thomas, was probably killed during an Indian uprising in Conn. or Mass. If a woman didn't marry again quickly she would have been sent back to the old country for lack of money or support. Jan's mother, Sara, and Jan's step father, Henry (Hendrick Peers=Dutch Speeling), were most likely from England. The Dutch Reformed Church made most people be babptised again, if they came from another religion.
Jan Eckerson (using this form in the late 1690's and in a variety of spellings) married Appolina Cornelis in 1665 and their marriage is recorded in the Dutch Church in Manhattan. Appolina was the grandaughter of the famous wheelwright, Claes Cornelissen Swits (the Swiss?) who had leased a small farm from Jacob Van Corlaer's bowerie south of the Harlem river also known as Turtle Bay (about 45th Street on the East River). Her grandfather Claes was killed by an Indian, whose uncle had been killed several years earlier. Her Poor grandpa was in the wrong place at the wron time. Claesen Swits, Appolina's father was killed by the Indians in 1655 while eight year old Appolina and her family and her family were abducted by this same tribe and along with about 100 other settlers, were kept for ransom for several months. Finnally they were released and Appolina lived to mother twelve children.
Thomas Eckerson, was the second child, and the first son of Jan and Appolina's. He was baptised in 1669 in the same Dutch Reforme Church in Manhattan. His first wife died, no children. His second wife was Elizabeth Slingerland, married in 1697. Thomas was believed to be a constable and owned a large brick house and 12 acres on the corner of what is now Houston and Broad Street around 1703. Thomas and Elizabeth along with their several children moved to the Schoharie area in New York, around the 1720's.
John Eckerson was the first born child and son of Thomas and Elizabeth, above. Hew was born and baptised in the Dutch Reformed Church in Mahattan. He moved to Schoharie along with his family andsoon prospered, owning mills and farms and after being widowed three times he married his fourth wife Marytie Vedder. In 1750 John struck a deal for some land and creek rights with Myndert Schuyler where the Stone Fort of Schoharie now stands. Sometime before 1772 John donated the land on which the famous Stone Fort Church occupies; and John Eckerson's name is inscribed along with other famous townsfolk in the stone right of the entrance doors of this Stone Church. It was used as a fort and commly called the Lower Fort during the Revolutionary War. He had fifteen children with his four wives.
Thomas was the second child and first son of John and Marytie. Thomas was born in 1750. He married Elizabeth Eckers in 1779. He was in the Revolutionary War and seved under his renowned uncle, Thomas J. Eckerson Jr. of Middleburgh. They both served with the first company, fifteenth regiment, New York Levies and Militia. Our Thomas was a private, but after the conflict served as a major. In "History of Schoharie" by William E. Roscoe page 405 it lists his children and John, Nicholas, William, Cornelius, Agline(Mrs. Nicholas Snyder), Maria, (Mrs. John Dykman), Catherine, (Mrs. Henry H. Aker). After the Revolution Thomas settled on a farm occupied in 1882 by Alexander Hays.
John Eckerson was the first born son and child of Thomas and Elizabeth above. He was born in 1780, resided for a time in Cobleskill where several of their children were baptized. He married Deborah Bice sometime prior to 1806. (Nancy Roarick and Hezekiah Pierce Sr's children are descended from this line.
Nichlaas Eckerson was the fifth child of John and Deborah Bice, was baptized in 1819. He married Barbara Fredendoll sometime prior to 1845. He died in 1858 and his widow married Nichlaas's distant cousin John Henry Schafer Eckerson.
Jacob Eckerson is the third child of son of Nichlaas and Barbara. He was born in 1847. He marrid Rebecca Pierce in 1871. They had six children: Mary, Jennie, Mabel, Millie, Elsie, and Ellsworth.
Page 5 Jacob Eckerson, NYC December 1908 Rebecca Pierce, NYC December 1908
Page 8 Mabel Eckerson Miller, 1885-06 Ellsworth Eckerson, Reggie Greenleaf, Jacob Eckerson, NYC 1912-03
Page 9 Jennie Eckerson Miller Millie Eckerson Schworm Mabel Eckerson Miller, 1908 NYC
Page 10 Mary Eckerson Caprio, Elsie Eckerson Greenleaf, Cecelia Caprio Flanigan, Gloria Greenleaf Quinn, late 1920's Elsie, Reggie, and George Greenleaf, 1930's
April 14, 1936
To Jennie Chase Hardy, when she was almost 16 and still a Chase. From her Aunt Elsie Eckerson Greenleaf.
Dear Jennie and all, Your letter rec'd. this morning and was so surprised to hear from you. Well Jennie I have been very sick. I came out of the hospital three weeks ago today. They brought me home and put me in my bed, and Iam still in bed, I sat up yesterday for a few minutes for the first time. You see they can not do any thing for me in the Hospital. They can not operate on me again and it costs $5.00 a day where I was. I guess I will not get much better, but am so glad to still be alive. I only weigh 99 lbs. I am just a skeleton now. Well I am glad to know you are all well and I think your sister does fine the way she wrote her name. So you like roller skating. It is lots of fun. Gloria always enjoyed it, too. How is Blanche and her family? Tell then I was asking for them. Ellsworth and Anna went out to Mabel's for Easter. It did not rain here but it was cold. It rained all this month here. Well you should have seen my room, it was just filled with the most lovely flowers and bunnys. It was like a flower shop. I did not know my friends thought so much of me. Well Jennie, I guess I will have to close for this time as I am getting very tired now. I hope to hear from you soon. With lots of love to you all from all. Excuse this pencile and the writing as it is hard to write laying in bed.
Loving, Aunt Elsie 4103 Paulding Ave. NYC
(Editor's note: Elsie died a few month later)
Page 11 Elsie Eckerson Smith Greenleaf, 1905-08 NYC Memories of Cecelia Caprio Flanigan, daughter of Mary Eckerson and Angelo Michele "Mike" Caprio.
....I went to my grandfather, Jacob Eckerson's funeral when I was six years old and can still remember it. My mother used to tell me all about Schoharie, Middleburg, Cobleskill and Schenevus. Jennie and Mabel lived there. We went to Schenevus when I was about thirteen and stayed with my Aunt Jennie. She had a large colonial house. I'll never forget her feather beds, and beautiful blue dishes. She was a wonderful cook, breakfast was a regular meal.
...My Aunt Elsie was a model at one of the big stores, Macy's, I think. She walked and held her head like a queen. Her first husband was a wealthy man. She had a maid and a chauffeur, everything a woman would want. Later she married George Greenleaf. We visited them in N.Y.C. when I was seventeen. They came to Livonia to vist us the next summer and we all had a great time.
...Aunt Elsie and Aunt Jennie were taller than my mother, Mary, who never put on much weight. They all had grey-blue eyes, more grey than blue. Uncle Ellsworth and Aunt Elsie had the most beautiful eyes, large and expressive. They all were very clean house keepers. My Grandmother Rebecca had the cutest kitchen. We visited her when she was living in Schenectady with her second husband, Melvin Robinson. She had a rocking chair, braided rugs on the floor, plaid table cloth on th table, Pretty dishes, her cupboard had lovely shelf paper and everything just so. You could eat off the floor, it was so clean.
Page 12 Blanche Miller and Art Lowe Greenleaf and Miller family members
Page 13 Mabel, Perry, Sr., Harry, Lester, and Howard Miller
Page 14 Mabel and James Miller's home in Schenevus, NY Harry, Mabel Miller and Elsworth Eckerson's first wife, Elizabeth James and Harry Miller Mabel Eckerson Miller Vera Craft Miller
Page 15 Elsie Greenleaf, Ellsworth Eckerson and 2nd wife, Rebecca Pierce Eckerson, 1933
Page 16 Memories of Cecelia Caprio Flanigan, daughter of Mary Eckerson and Angelo Michele Caprio.
...Uncle Ellsworth Eckerson took off for New York City when he was about sixteen. He went to trade school and learned to be a stage carpenter, who makes scenery for the stage. The trees, houses, etc., are put together in small parts and folded up for storage or for the road. It takes skill to put up a tree in a hurry for the next scene. After Ellsworth finished the school he got a job with the Opera Company. He was in charge of the scenery and well paid for those days. He told me of seeing Caruso and all the great singers. After the opera season was over he worked in the carpenter shops. He met Anna when she was in charge of costumes.
....Later Ellsworth worked for the Fred Stone Family, Called the "Stepping Stones". They were famous when I was young. The Stones were friends of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. The Pickfords came to visit the Stones and they had Douglas, Jr. with them. Aunt Anna took care of Douglas, Jr. many times, as a child. The Stepping Stones came to Rochester one winter with their show. Ellsworth and Anna were with them. I was very young at the time. Uncle Ellsworth got spcial choice tickets for us (1920's), Paul, Elma, Leo, Gladys, my father, mother and me. We took the train from Livonia to Rochester that day and stayed overnight at Paul and Elma's house. Ellsworth and Anna treated us to dinner at one of the best restaurants in Rochester before the show. Then they took us to the Theatre and we went backstage. We saw the scenery and Anna showed us all the costumes. I was so thrilled. It was a terrific show, beautiful show girls, etc. The Stones were from California and decided to move back there with their show, so off they went to Hollywood. Uncle Ellsworth went with the Stones.
...The show lasted about a year and then broke up. Uncle Ellsworth was out of a job and went back to New York City, where he got another job with a good company. Anna was a good wife and they were together until her death. Anna had a full figure, a pretty face and beautiful skin. Ellsworth was a good looking man up until the end. Ellsworth and his sister Elsie, had the most beautiful eyes and smile.
...One summer Anna and Ellsworth came for a visit to Livonia. They had one of the first German Shepard dogs to come out of Germany after World War One. She was with them and they paid a fortune for her. We were al sitting on the back porch. My father had chickens in the chicken yard. Our big rooster flew over the fence and into the chicken yard. the shepard made chase for the rooster. Ellsworth called the dog but to no avail. We held our breath as we watched the rooster fly back over the fence to safety. What a relief! Ellsworth said, " My dog ran so fast, but couldn't catch your rooster". and every visit after that Ellsworth would ask, "Mike, how is your rooster?" Everyone would have a great laugh.
...The last time I saw Ellsworth was at my mother's funeral in 1951. His hair was white and thick as ever, he didn't have any wrinkles. He was about 65 or 66 at the time. He wore a beautiful black suit and the whitest shirt I ever saw, and was charming as ever. He stayed with us. Many friends remarked how good looking he was. But he was alone now, his beloved Anna gone, his sister Elsie, too. He died not too long after my mother's funeral.
Page 17 The Engle Clan at Will Engle's, 1919 The four generations: George, Jet, Juliette and baby, 1920
Page 18 Juliette Engle and Paul Pierce, 1919 Obit 1921 The body of Mrs. George W. Engle was brought here for the interment in the Middleburgh cemetery on Saturday. Mrs. Engle reached the ripe age of 83 years and is survived by several children. She is pleasantly remembered by many of our older citizens. The family formerly resided on the Manning Farm just below the village and were highly esteemed by all who knew them. Mrs. Engle was a woman of many sterling qualities. She was the daughter of the late Justus Hagadorn and after her removal from Middleburgh many years ago, resided with her son to the town of Broome.
Another Obit Feb. 18, 1921 Mrs. George Engle, a native of the town of Broome and for many years a resident of the town of Middleburgh, died at the home of her son William Engle near Hawyerville Feb. 18th as the result of a shock sustained some weeks before. Had she lived until the 12th of March she would have reached the age of 84. She was a daughter of Justice Hagadorn of the town of Broome who lived to reach the age of 100. Mrs. Engle was one of the good women of the world and made friends whereever she went. She had a host of the among the older people of the community where for years she was held in high esteem. Since her husband's death several year ago, she has lived with her children. She is survivied, by three sons, Justus, Lyman, and William and two daughters, Mrs. Rolland Whitney of Albany and Mr. F. W. Hallenbeck, also of Albany. Her funeral took place Monday at Livingstonville. Her remains were laid to rest by the side of ther husband in the Middleburgh cemetery.. --Last week, in writing up the obituary of Mrs. George W. Engle, the Name of Thomas Engle of Potter Hollow was inadvertantly omitted as one of the sons. Four sons survive her.
Page 19 Fred Engle George Engle and Ulysses Pierce Family outing From Laura Engle Gallerie ...Fred and George attended Cornell University to learn cheese making, also worked for a dairy in Newburgh, NY, then both worked for railroads until they retired. George's ashes were scattered of the Gulf of Mexico and Fred's ashes over the Atlantic Ocean.
Page 20 Louella Eager and George Engle, 1919
Page 21 Alice Engle Paddock and baby Ruth
Page 22 Fred Engle and friend Berlin New Haven Sunday 6:30 pm (1932?) To Ann Mae Pierce Engle from her son Fred Engle
Dear Mother, Being Mothers day I'll write- you a line and let you know I'm thinking of you. Have been home alone all day. The Stules went to Spfld. yesterday. I worked las night- got home about 5 am- did not get in bed till six, got up about noon. Read the Sunday papers and played the radio until around 3 and then I got myself some dinner, had steak, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, cake and milk, then washed dishes, shaved and I sat around, was lazy-tell asleep about 5:30 pm, I guess I just woke up, so after I finish this I'm going for a walk. Its been a blue day, no sun not even rain, and I was a bit lonesome-- Ihad no place to go to so I listened to the radio and most pograms dedicated to Mothers, so it was quite appropriate. Did you get the card Sat. I sent you? I thought-very good. Well Mother the birthday party was O.K., there were 12 here, me a batchelor that had to get a pardner for me, guess all enjoyed thereself. I got a bathrobe-some ties and so on. Didn't expect any. You say I'm foolish to do as I do with Carrie. Oh I know I'm a sap- but what am I doing to do about it. Well some times it drives me half mad. When I think, 42 years old, no home, no bank account, no children, nice furture to look to. Eh?! Oh well - I made my own bed- so why grumble. So Roy and Ralph are working now, Who is going to do this farm work- Pop? Had a letter from George yesterday, first he had written me since in Dec. I guess. He said they are only paying 2.58 per on the road there.Oh, by the way how is the road from your house to P.H., is it passable? Sometime ago Jim was talking of going up on Sat. before Decoration, and come back Mon. as he has that day off and that is also ,y long day over. I don't think they would brind the boys up. Next Sat. is my long day in so I tolds the Baileys I'd go up there, they expect to go to the cottage and I've been two years going to that cottage and did not get there yet. Is Dot home and has she a license, if so she could meet me at Middleburg couldn't she? Well I guess I'll close now and take this out to mail and get some air. Will be seeing you soon-
With best love- Fred
(Editor's note: Fred did eventually marry his Carrie-Caroline Macavoy from Canarsie, Brooklyn)
Page 23 Ralph and Ed Engle, 1910 Newspaper clipping
Corporal Edward Engle No. 109706 Born Feb. 5, 1898, at Bates, town of Conesville, N.Y.. the son of Justus Enle and Anna Mae Pierce, enlisted in Battery F. 21st Artillery at Newburgh, N.Y., May 9, 1917 and was sent to Fort Slocum. He left the U.S.A. for for overseas March 4, 1918 on the Leviathan, arriving back in the U.S.A. July 22, 1919 on the Rotterdam. He served with the 5th Division throughout the war. Frappille Aug. 16, 1917: St. Mihiel, Sept. 12 to 16, 1917 and (wounded by shell fire near Thiancourt, France, Sept. 23, 1918) St. Die Sector July 28 to aug.. 23, 1918; Puvenelle Section, Sept. 16 to Nove. 11, 1918; Army of Occupation, March 4th, 1919 to July 22, 1919. Received Honorable discharge at Camp Upton, L. I. Aug. 4, 1919.
Newspaper clipping
Corp. Edward Engle Writes to His Parents at Livingstonville. Corporal Edward Engle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Justus Engle of Livingstonville, who enlisted May 9th, 1918, and who went over Last March and has been at the front fighting since early in July, was recently slightly wounded while in action. His letter to his mother dated Sept. 23rd follows: Dear Mother and all: I wrote you a letter a couple of days ago, but as I don't very often get a chance to write will do so to-night while I can. A friend of mine and I are in a nice little dug-out and both are writing a letter. I cannot write very well, but guess you will be able to read it all right. I received my first wound to-day and I will let you know about it so you need not worry at all should you see my name in the casuality list. It is on my right hand, and is not very severe, as you may know because I am writing, although it is quite sore and will put me on the bum for a week or so, because my job I have to use my right hand a great deal, as I am a gunner and Corporal too, but some one else will have to take my place until I am able to go back again. I think I was lucky getting hurt as little as I did from the way the shells were bursting around. I got in this dug-out as soon as I had my hand well dressed. That was the most activity I have seen yet. I suppose you have all the crops gathered and are getting ready for winter, which will soon be coming. Hope I can be there to spend next winter with you. Ralph ought to be large enough to hold a gun now. Ask him if he remembers the time he shot at that fox. I often think of the good times we children used to have when we were all at home together. Has Alice started in school yet? How is dad and Dorothy? Well I will ring off for this time. Now don't worry the least bit about me, please don't mother. With love to you all, as ever. You son, Edward
Page 24 George Engle
Page 27 and 28 Jan.10, 1990 To Kathy Albaum, my new cousin, From Leitha Pierce Oliver, Schoharie
Dear Kathy, I received your card I'm sorry you cam home sick, I am sick too. I think I have the flu on top of this heart condition. I've been sick three weeks and now have a pain in my side or lung, its, hard to say since I get pluresy about once a year. I'm glad you got home again to see your brother. My brother was up the other day and we were visiting right a ong and all of a sudden I looked out the window and his car was on the other side of the road. My drive is so icy all winter once the snow gets packed it never gets bare until spring. I have seen so many cars go across that road and in that orchard no matter how they park. There is a little grade there. If a tree or something didn't stop them they would go off that high cliff in back of the brush. (Editor's note: this looks over the little valley of the Town of Schoharie, such a pretty spot) One Day last Summer a woman parked on the drive and left three children in the car and it rolled over in the field. She had a truck pull her out. Lucky they didn't go off the cliff. So if you come don't park in the drive way if its snowy and don't park under the big apple because Roger did so he would't slide on the ice, but the wheels sunk down in the soft mud. He hasn't been up since, but he will after awhile. I looked for Leona today but she didn't come. Maybe the sitter didn't come to stay with Midred. It's raining here and I hope it doesn't get colder and I hope I get better and not end up in the hospital as usually I do. I know the spelling and writing which I'm doing on my lap, is bad but will write a better letter when I feel better. Hope you are well by now, my age and health is against me but I haven't given up. Please excuse this paper. When Spring comes I will get some decent paper. I haven't been out since we went to Leona's. Its to hard to get in and out a car this time of year. So long and all my love to a new found cousin.
Leitha
(Leitha died a few months after this letter was written. Oh, how I miss those great little chats.)
Page 30 Ralph Pierce and daughter Anna Mae Pierce Engle, 1913-14
Page 31 Anna Mae Pierce Engle, late 1880's Obit 1915 Civil War Veteran Passes Away Ralph Pierce a native of this town and a veteran of the Civil War, being a member os the 176th Regiment New York Volunteers, died at Schoharie Feb. 26th aged 93. Until the death of his wife several years ago he resided near the Lime Kiln in this town. Since her death he resided among his children, there being a number.Most of his children survive him. He leaves nearly a hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His funeral took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schworm at Schoharie March 1. Services conducted by Rev. Charles Worrick. Burried at that place in the Lutheran Cemetery.
Page 32 William Pierce, 1933 Article in Local Paper County's Last veteran of 1862 to Salute 1934 Bill Pierce, Who Ran Away to War at 15, Looks Back on Exploits
Schoharie, Dec. 30-He ran away to war at the age of 15 , was felled once by a bayonet and again by a bullet, yet William Pierce hale and hearty. tommorw night will see his 87th New Year arrive. His 25 grandchildren and26 great granchildren will deliver their usual greetings. Had he been born three generations later, Bill Pierce would be a song and dance man, he delcares, but his was a more rigorous era when men fought for glory and labored hard for the bread. So, Bill at the price of many scars, won his glory and spilled much sweat wrestling a living fromt he soil. His story belongs to a hardier era than this.
County's Last 1862 Vet Bill Pierce today is Schoharie's last surviving veteran of the War Between the States. It was March 6, 1862, that he rode a stagecoach from here to Albany where, "looking for my father," enlisted in the Union Army. Not until the wat was over did Bill find his dad, and then at home here, but he found plenty of action in the meantime. Despite his mother's protest that he had misstated his age to enlist, Bill, then 15, was shipped to Alexandria, Va., as a member of the 86th First New York Volunteers and from there he went directly into the firing line. At Gettysburg a rebel bayonet ripped his leg (he'll show you the scar; "When it throbs it means rain.") and sent him to the hospital. In the Battle of the Wilderness a bullet carried away a piece of his jaw. He tells how a giant, Irishman carried him off the battlefield, how he lay for months in th hospita. His head ina cast and a nurse feding him with a spoom. But he was in the fray again, and saw Lee surrender to Grant at Appomattox... "I can see them yet. They sat on boxes, Grant wrote out the terms and Lee signed them. The rebels were fought out-ragged and hungry. They proudly but gratefully took food we gave them from our knapsacks."
Describes Lincoln Three times it fell to Pierce's fortune to see Lincoln. The Emancipator had "kind, sad eyes, the kindest and the saddest, I ever saw. He was weary and haggard the last time I saw him. And the war--sometimes I dream about it at night." Strong was the pioneer stock that begot Bill Pierce. After a reunion with his family here, he took Mr. Greeley's advice and sought fortune in the West. Well before the turn of the century it was, and Indians were hostile. There was trouble along the Canadian border. Bill found his share. He stook his first wife on returning from the West, wiser but no wealthier. Settleing down meant no cessation of excitement for Bill. Looking upon men of the present generation as weakling, Bill recounts free for all fights staged in friendly fashion with drinks and cigars for the winners. Wrestling and bare-fist boxing were every man's pastimes, he declares. Bill now dwells with his second wife and a daughter, Mr. Harry Bazios, in the latter's Bridge Street home. It is his unhappy predicition that the United States is destined for another internal war, with wealth rather than slaves as the crux.
Page 33 Obit 1941 Two Men Die In Car Crash: Trio Injured Car Strikes Pole after leaving Raod Near Isaac Deitz Farm Two men were instantly killed, and two women and a child were injured when the car in which they were riding left the road near the Isaac Deitz Farm on the Central BridgeSchoharie Road, Crashed through a fence, climed the embankment and wound itself around a telephone pole. Frank Pierce of Schoharie, 65, reported driver of the car was instantly killed and throuwn clear of the wreckage while Franklin Mace, 59. of Preston Hollow was killed when he was pinned in the rear seat and his body was extricated by a wrecking crew. Mrs. Helen Tryone of Schoharie was cut and bruised about the head and face and her son, Jacob, four years old miracurously escaped with minor custs and abrasions. Sheriff Eli Shelmandine who investigated the accident said it occurred between the Deitz and Sternber farms. The car was being driven towards Schoharie when in some unknown manner, cut to the left side of the road scraped a telephone pole, jumped a ditch, ran through a fence through the fence the second time and down a steep embankment, then and started to clib back into the road eventually crashed into a second pole. How the car got into the postition it did without killing all the occupants is still a mystery. Pierce was killed on his 65th birthday. Funeral services were conducted Sunday at the Galen White Funeral home for Frank Pierce. He was botn March 6, 1876 the sone of Mr. and Mrs. William Pierce and has always resided in this village. He is survived by four sons, Theodore and William of this village; Ira of Cobleskill and David of the Hawaiian Islands; three daughters, Mrs. Mabel Mancheffer of Stamford, Mrs. Ruth Intro of Schnectady and Mrs. Gertrude Chischester of Broome Center; two brothers, Charles of Cobleskill, and Jacob of Schoharie; a sister Mrs. Armeda Boise and twenty three grandchildren. Reb. George R. Kyle officiated and interment was made in the Lutheran Cemetery.
At the same hour in the settlement of Preston Hollow, services were conducted for Franklin Mace. He was born August 27, 1890 in Broome Center, the son of William and Liddia(Rheinhart) Mace. At the time of his death he was an automobile salesman for the Cobleskill Sales Company. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. William Rivenburg. Intermen was made in the Preston Hollow Rural Cemetery.
Page 37 Paul and Cora (Decker) and Ulysses Pierce about 1919 To: Laura Engle Gallerie From Cora Decker Pierce an excerpt from a 1962 letter.
Dear Laura,
....Your other letter came in Sept.., about the Pierce etc.. background, don't know as I can tell you to much, I ask U.(Ulysses Pierce, Cora's husband) to write some of it down, but said he didn't feel to much about it, some other time, but seems some other time never comes, there is an awful lot of Cousins, way back, some he hasn't seen in a long time, don't know where they live. Grandma Anna Engle(Pierce) she is a sister to Ulysses father(Nehemiah) she had a brother Bill that lived in Schoharie. He had 5 children, Jake he still lives just out of Schoharie and works in the tree nursery, a girl Uread(sp?), she lives in Balston Spa with her daughter, Frank and Charley Pierce are dead and another sister. Grandma Engles Father was Ralph, (U.'s Grandpa), her sisters and brothers, were Pet(Peter), Bill, the one I mentioned in Schoharie, Nemehiah (U.'s dad), Hezz (Hezekiah), Rebecca and your grandma Anna, these are all Grandma Engles. Ralph Pierce, your (great grandad) his wife was Maria Oliver, this Rebecca Pierce, her granddaughter Blance Lowe is where I go to visit in Schenevus and Blanche's (mom, Jennie) married Ulysses uncle Jim Miller, then there was Elsie, dead, that lived in New York. Harry Pierce, Vi's hubby, his father was John, boys were: Harry, Jim, Ralph, Will, John, girls: Unice, Rhoney, Hattie, Hattie married Charles Brown. Nehemiah, U.'s dad, had Clarence, Leland, Schuyler(dead). Uncle John Pierce's granddaughter Finch, she married Kenneth Brooks, she had three girls, they are the ones that Callie brought up. This Gertie Chichester I don' know who she would be, didn't know she married in the Pierce family (Gertrude was actually born a Pierce). Ulysses just told me some of the Pierce's, but he has forgotten some of them, don't know if you can get any head or tail about any of what I have written, but perhaps Geo. can straighten you out. Perhaps if you wrote this Blance Lowe at Schenevus, N.Y., sh would help you out, tell her I said she might know, there are a lot more cousins but U. don't know them, it's been so long since he has heard or seen any of them. U. said if you could find the old Pierce Bible that would tell you more, don't know is I have told you any thing but what Geo. knows...... From, Cora (Ed. note: see Eckerson, Blanche Miller Lowe)
Page 38 Ulysses Pierce Mary Eckerson Caprio and Anna Mae Pierce Engle, 1940's Ulysses Pierce
Page 40 Mystery picture #1 Mystery picture #2 Mystery picture #3