Death Notices of Prominent Citizens of TURNERS FALLS, Massachusetts As reported in the Turners Falls Reporter For the dates given in the document. Page 1 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 Death Notices of Prominent Citizens of TURNERS FALLS, Massachusetts As reported in the Turners Falls Reporter For the dates given in the document. Compiled, Printed & Bound by Ed Gregory July, 2017 Page 2 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 Death Notices Abercrombie, Daniel Putnam 5 Allen, Myron B. 6 Bankwitz, Charles E. 7 Bartlett, Joseph F. 8 Bartlett, Leander L. 12 Briggs, Frank E. 12 Bush, James F. 14 Cameron, Angus 15 Chapman, James Monroe 16 Clapp, Frederick 17 Colle, Mrs. Christina 23 Crocker, Alvah 24 Crocker, William O. 28 Farnsworth, William R. 29 Farwell, Alfred A. 32 Field, D.C.G. 34 Gilmore, W. H. P. 37 Griswold, Joseph 38 Gunn, Levi J. 39 Hance, George 40 Hitchcock, Edward P. 44 Holdsworth, Milton E. 45 March, Lucas J. 46 Martel, A.E. 48 Messer, C. C. M.D. 48 Oakman, Richard N. Jr. 49 Maurice O'Keefe, Maurice 42 Perry, Enrico M. 55 Purcell, Rev. L. J. 58 Ray, Walter H. 59 Ripley, Danforth Field 60 Russell, John 63 Ryan, James K. 64 Sumner, Charles N. 67 Ward, Myron A. 68 Webster, Franklin I. 69, 73, 74 Welch, Patrick F. 74 Wise, Clarence Parker 76 Page 3 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 Limited editing of the archetype has been done to this document in terms of spelling and grammar. Obvious edits are shown via the insert . [sic]1 e.g. 1 Thus; so. Used to indicate that a quoted passage, especially one containing an error or unconventional spelling, has been retained in its original form or written intentionally. Page 4 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 December 24, 1919 Death of Daniel Putnam Abercrombie Daniel Putnam Abercrombie died at the McLean hospital in Waverly, after a long illness following a paralytic shock, Sunday, the 21st, instant. He was cashier of the Crocker National Bank for over forty years, being third cashier from the founding of the institution in the fall of 1872, when Richard N. Oakman, Jr., came from Charlestown, S. C., to open its doors in the southern rooms of the Farren hotel block, now occupied by Koonz's barber shop and the telegraph office. The Crocker Institution for Savings was also in the same rooms, conducted by the National bank officials, as an economical way to get a peoples saving bank on its feet. Mr. Oakman became treasurer and manager of the John Russell Cutlery Co., and the next cashier was Samuel Sewall, of Lowell, brother of the well known village blacksmith of Montague. He was succeeded June 27th. in the year1876, by Mr. Abercrombie who came over from Millers Falls, where he was clerk for the Millers Falls Company, of which he was a stock-holder, and remained with the Crocker National Bank ever since, being chosen to the presidency in 1915. When the State separated all savings banks from the national banks, he passed the treasurership[sic] over to Norman P. Farwell, who had long been connected with both institutions, and the rooms were separated as they are now, Mr. Abercrombie was a very capable bank official, ever conservative and safe in his judgment on financial affairs. He was president of the Connecticut Valley Banker's Association, and was highly esteemed in banking circles in this valley and far beyond. Mr. Abercrombie was born in Lunenburg, January 21, 1844, the son of Otis and Dorothy Putnam Abercrombie. He graduated from the Highland Military Academy in the city of Worcester in 1862, and entered Harvard, graduating there from with the class of 1866. He was a leading player in the Harvard base ball team, during his college course, playing centre field. Those were the days before professional base ball had gripped all the people with its infatuation, and the series of games between the Harvard and the John A. Lovell amateurs foreshadowed what has made base ball dreams come true, and amateur dreamers to come to earth. Mr. Abercrombie entered a business house in Baltimore after his graduation, where he stayed a short time, then came to Grout's Corner (now Millers Falls) presumably by suggestion of his uncle, the father of Robert Abercrombie of Cheapside, then belonging to Deerfield. Millers Falls was at first a very email village, the shops being on the Erving side of Page 5 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 the river, and most of the new houses were built on that side. However, Mr. Abercrombie lived at the old Grout tavern on the Montague aide, and was chosen as a selectman of Montague to represent that region, even before Turners Falls had anyone willing to claim such an honor. Mr. Abercrombie married Julia A. Clapp of Montague on Oct. 7, 1874, and when he entered upon his duties as cashier he built a home at Montague City, where he lived several years, then he built a home on High street, and moved to is village. The deceased leaves his widow, two sons, Fred G., who is a director in several of the local corporations, and D.P., Jr., vice-president and manager of the Connecticut Valley street railway company; and a daughter, Mrs. Louis T. Merriam of Cohasset, and a sister, Miss Martha A. Abercrombie of Lunenburg. The funeral was held at the home of D.P. Abercrombie, Jr., on High street, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the officiating clergyman being Rev. Alfred Free of Winchendon, a former pastor of the Unitarian church here, when a house of worship of that faith flourished here. The interment was in Springdale cemetery, where lie the ashes of scores of his business associates during the years of growth of the village and its various manufacturing enterprises. March 31, 1915 Death of Myron B. Allen Turners Falls has lost one of its most prominent citizens and veteran merchants through the death of Myron B. Allen, who died at his home on Prospect street last Wednesday night, after a long and distressing illness. Mr. Allen was but 58 years of age, but for nearly 40 years he had been a resident of Turners Falls and identified in many ways with community life and interests. He was well known by every man, woman and child in town, and his passing marks the removal of one more of the early residents who actively figured in the days when Turners Falls was beginning to be. A man of sterling character and integrity and of marked kindliness and friendliness, his circle of friends and acquaintances was very large. He always had a good word for everyone and had a way of seeing the sunny side of every person and situation. Though he never held public office, he took an intelligent interest in all questions that affected the interests of the town, and his active and hearty co-operation could always be depended upon for any enterprise that promised to be of benefit to the public. Mr. Allen was born in Gardner in 1857, a son to Hannah Maynard and John Allen, and one of a family of seven children. Page 6 of 79 Ed Gregory July 2017 In 1876, when a youth, he came to Turners Falls to grow up with the place and had lived here ever since. He became a clerk for Rist & Alger, who started a clothing store in the wooden block on Fourth street, where the Water Commissioners now have their office. In 1881 Mr. Allen and his older brother, Fred E. Allen, went into the clothing business together, and established the firm of Allen Brothers, which is still doing business under the same name. They opened their first store in what was then the Kellogg block on the corner of Third street and Avenue A, where the People's 5 to 25 cent store is now located. Later they bought the land and built the brick block on Avenue A, where the business has since been conducted. Mr. Allen was clerk of the Unitarian society for a great many years. He was also a trustee of the Crocker Institution for Savings, and for ten years was a member of the Finance Board of the Institution. He also for a number of years was a member of the finance or appropriation committee of the town, and acted as chairman of the committee for a number of years. He was also a member of the Peskeompskut Club and the Board of Trade, and was very much interested in both organizations. In 1884, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Clara A. Bardwell, who survives him with one daughter, Mrs. F. C. Abercrombie, and one grandson, Allen Abercrombie. He also leaves two brothers, Charles D. Allen of Greenfield and William P. Allen of Gardner. The funeral was held from Mr. Allen's late home on Friday afternoon, Rev. Alfred Free of Winchendon, formerly of Turners Falls, a warm friend of the deceased, officiating. The funeral was largely attended, and during the hour of the service, the places of business in the town were closed as a mark of respect. There was a huge number of beautiful flowers. The bearers were Charles D. and William F. Allen, brothers; Fred C. Abercrombie, his son-in-law; Henry D. Bardwell, his Brother-in- law, and Herman F. Seller and Edward Columbe, who are employed as clerks at the store. Burial was in Springdale Cemetery. August 26, 1914 Death of Charles E. Bankwitz Another old resident of Turners Falls has passed on, by the death of Charles E.