PILLMORE Documentation
Children of Sarah ROWBOTTOM & William PILLMORE

Excerpts from a letter written by Eleanor Pillmore before 1953. Regarding the children of great grandfather Wm Pillmore coming to the USA in 1836 from Nunnington in Yorkshire, England. He [William Pillmore] had a store in that village and after his death she decided to come to New York state as she had either relatives of friends in and near Westernville. they sailed for New York, but a storm blew their ship off course, they landed in Quebec from where they went to Montreal and then to Utica. Having no further transportation they walked from Utica to Westernville, which is about fifteen miles. My father Frank Pillmore told me the child was lost on the voyage and buried at sea. He also said that the reason Sarah came to America was because when her husbannd died, she was lewft with no visible means of support for herself and her children and according to English law the children would have been taken away and place in the King's care in an orphanage. That she came steerage because there was no money to come any other way. A note I have says that William Rowbotham and Robert Rowtbotham were brothers and that William had one son in New Jersey, Jess Rowbotham. Generation 1 William and Sarah Rowbotham Pillmore William and Sarah Rowbotham Pillmore lived in Yorkshire, England. William died in April 1835 at Warrington. Sarah was born in January 1796 or 7 and died in April 1882. After William's death, Mrs. Sarah Pillmore came to America in 1836 with 8 children:

George b. May 25 1817 d. 1903
Jane (Mrs. Wm. Floyd) b. Feb 19, 1819 d. Dec 7, 1891
William b. Mar 22 1821 died Sep 15, 1896
Mary (Mrs. Pardon Macomber) b. 3/24/1823 d. 1876
Robert b. Feb 28, 1826 d. Feb 18, 1905
Thomas b. Aug 15, 1828 d. May 1, 1905
John b. May 15, 1830 d. May 21, 1909
Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Shirley) b. 5/7/1832 d. 1910

William left two brothers, John, Ralph; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Barker, Mrs. Anne Jobson also known as Hannah. The family sailed on the Medusa and were on the ocean 4 weeks and 2 days. they were blown out of the course for New York and landed in Quebec, went to Montreal and then to Utica, New York. It is said the family walked from Uitca to Black River House. In Rome they slep in the fields and Wm Floyds' offered them help to get to Western. Sarah Rowbotham Pillmore came from Floyd to Western in 1837 lived in Floyds Mill House down side of vines below Cicard home, next to Frank Floyd (Boresk) house. This is where Wm Floyd got acquainted with Jane Pillmore." --Charles Pillmore It was reported that another son Edward/Richard was left in England and never heard from. This comment was not proved/disproved.


Jane PILLMORE (1819-1891) & William FLOYD (1790-1885)


4 Aug 1860 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 564
William Floyd age 70 Farmer b.  NY
Jane age 35 b. ENG
Mary age 35
Julia age 36
Elizabeth age 22
Anna age 15
David age 13
Catharine age 8
Charles age 5
William age 2
John Black agd 17 Laborer

22 Aug 1870 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 556
William Floyd age 80 Retired Farmer b. NY�Jane age 47 keeping house b. NY
Anna age 24 at home b. NY
Kate age 17 at home b. NY
Frank age 15 at school b. NY
William P age 11 at school b. NY

William PILLMORE (1821-1896) & Catherine McAlpine (1819-1900)
Obituary in Rome Sentinel, Sept 15 William Pillmore Sr, was taken sick February 1, and for the last month he suffered intensely. his disease was cardiac delema. For the last twelve days he has been in such a distressed and restless condition that it required the constant attention of from two to four persons His son, Dr. Johnson Pillmore, with W. F. Pillmore, Frank and David, have been most attentive, with the unceasing attention of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Owens, doing everything skill and patience could accomplish for his comfort. After such a terrible struggle with disease he at last fell asleep in Jesus this morning at 6:30, aged 75 years. The funeral will be attended from the home of the deceased on Friday, Sept. 18, at 1 P.M.

1850 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 319
William Pillmore age 28 born England  Farmer
Catherine Pillmore age 30 born NY
Sarah Pillmore age 5 born NY
Johnson age 3 born NY
Mary age 1 born NY


Mary PILLMORE (1823-1876) & Pardon Macomber (1803-1877)

15 Aug 1860 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 566
Pardon Macomber age 57 Miller b. NY
Mary age 37 b. ENG
Eliza age 4 b. NY

30 Jul 1870 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 545
Parden Macomber age 67 Frmer b. NY
Mary age 47 keeping house b. ENG
Eliza age 14 at school b. NY


Robert PILLMORE (1826-1905) & Margaret Carmichael(1832-1901)

This documentation courtesy of Barbara Harding.

NOTES: Biography from Lafayette Co, Wis, 1881 Robert Pillmore, Farmer Section 15, P O Apple River, Born in Yorkshire, England, On Feb 28, 1826, and came to America in 1836. He lived in N Y, 18 yrs farming and came to Wisconsin in 1854. He bought 40 acres of land, made the improvements and now owns 200 acres of land. His wife, Margaret Carmichael, was born near Albany, NY in 1832. They were married in 1852 and have 9 children: Millard F, William J, in Nevada, John C, Robert, Earl, Matt, George W, Carrie M, and Minnie. In Politics, Republican, in Religion, Methodist.

NOTES: WARREN NEWSPAPER-15 Feb 1905 Obituary Grip claims another victim-- old Mason Robert Pillmore died at the home of his son-in-law J J Walton in this city at seven o'clock, Monday night from the effects of a severe attack of the grip He was born in England, February 28, 1826 and came to Westernville, NY at the age of 9 years, where he lived with his parents until 1850, when he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Carmichael of Albany,NY. In 1852, Mr and Mrs Robert Pillmore arrived at Warren and driving across the country to what is now Dunbarton, Wis settled on a farm there. To the marriage, four boys and two girls were born. Mrs J J Walton died two years ago, Millard F died in May 1885. The four surviving children are: Mrs Will Bushby, Warren, J C who resides in California J W of Telluride, Colorado, G W of Phillippsburg, Kan. Two of Mr Pillmore's brothers are now living at Rome, NY. Mr Pillmore lived on his farm at Dunbarton until 1900 when he moved to Warren and has since made his home with his son-in-law J J Walton. Mrs Pillmore preceded him by four years, having passed away in 1900. Mr Pillmore was a devout christian and very active in the recent revivals at the Methodist church. He has for many years been an active mason and lived up to the excellent tenets of that institution, in every particular, being always ready to help a worthy distressed brother as far as ability would permit, never speaking ill of any one but exerting every energy to engender peace and harmony among his brothers and all mankind. He was also an honored member of the Eastern Star and even at the last kept the star to the east ever in view. By his death, his family loses an excellent and beloved father, the lodges to which he belonged a faithful and upright member and the community one of its most honored and respected citizens. The funeral services were held today at the M E church under the auspices of Jo Davies Lodge AF&AM assisted by Rev Cass Davis. It was the request of Mr Pillmore that the beautiful and impressive ritualistic service be given at his funeral. Interment was in Elmwood.


Margaret CARMICHAEL (1832-1901)

This information provided by Barbara Harding (April 2000) Margaret Carmichael Margaret's BIRTH: Family History of Carrie Carmichael, of Boonville, NY in 1941. DEATH: Copy of obituary in poss. of B Harding, Valley View,Tx. NOTES: Margaret had 9 children with the possible names of Earl, Robert Jr or Matt. NOTES:DEATH OF MRS PILLMORE--passes away in Warren last Monday Morning Mrs Margaret Pillmore, nee Carmichael, was born in Albany, NY Dec 18, 1932, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs John Walton, in Warren, Illinois, to the early morning of April 15, 1901, being 68 years, 3 months, and 27 days old. She moved to Booneville, NY in 1834 with her parents, where they resided for several years. Margaret Carmichael and Robert Pillmore were married in Westernville, NY on the 23 rd day of June, 1852, and for nearly a half century they have met life's vicissitudes together.There were born to them nine children, five of whom are still living: John Pillmore and Mrs Carrie Walton living here and being present at her death, Joseph Pillmore and Mrs W R Bushby live in Colorado, while George Pillmore lives in South Dakota. Besides these she left two sisters, Mrs Burroughs of Shullsburg, Wis, and a brother Joseph Carmichael of Oneida county NY to mourn her loss. In 1854 Mr and Mrs Pillmore came to Gratiot, Wis and for forty five years lived on a farm near that place. For one year they lived in Apple River and for the past year have lived in Warren. Mrs Pillmore had a large circle of friends to whom she had endeared herself by her quiet, unassuming manner and cheerful spitit. For the past seven years she has been an invalit, suffering intensely much of the time, but the death was peaceful. She was conscious to the last and although she she lost her power of speech, gave many tokens of loving recognition. Mrs Pillmore was truly a christian women, guileless, patient, loving, hope ful and resigned in the severest suffering. She was a woman of strong convictions and although undemonstrative and quiet in her manners, exerted an influence for good among all her friends. She became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church on the Shullsburg, Wis circuit, in 1857 and was a member of that church in Warren at the time of her death. The funeral was held at her late home this afternoon.the services being conducted by the Rev Cass Davis and the Rev Wm Rowe of Shullsburg. The 3 Carmichael sisters all moved to Wis. Sister Mary J marriedWilliam Burrows and Joseph Jr md Nancy Burrows,children of Alexander Burrows, neighbors of the C familyin Boonville. Then, sister Susan, my line went to Wis visit and married Robert Glendinning-my g grand-parents. Joseph Jr and Nancy then ended up with the Carmichael farm and the Burrow farm. Its Joseph and Nancy'schildren, that I don't have much information. They arethe only ones that stayed there. Carrie C, the youngest daughter of this couple, died in 1980-last of the family,and all was sold. Carrie wrote down the history of the Burrow family, Cumming and connecting families.


Thomas PILLMORE (1828-1905) & Kathryn Vanderhyden NEWMAN (1838-1909)

Rome Sentinel Newspaper Articles: In July 1, 1895 Thomas Pillmore bought stage line and son-in-law, Charles Hartman, drove the state from Western to Rome. October 4, 1895, page 2, North Western - Henry J Pillmore and wife of Utica are visiting at the residence of Postmaster Hartman. Westernville, Octover 14, 1895, Fred Pillmore and family moved to Rome. John Pillmore and son Charles returned from woods with two deer.

Westernville- Oct 25, 1909 Katherine Vanderhyden Newman, widow of Thomas Pillmore died at an early hour this morning at her home in this village. She had been out of health for some time suffering from a complication of diseases, but was able to be up and dressed on Sunday. She leaves two sons, George F Pillmore of Cape Vincent and Merritt and one Mrs Charles E Hartman of Rome. She also leaves a sister, Mrs David Shaver of Mantorville, Minnesota. Mrs. Pillmore had lived in this vicinity for most of her life and will be sadly missed in this community. She was an ernest member of the Methodist church and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her. Mrs Pillmore was born in Troy 71 years ago last Friday. Although ill, she celebrated her birthday in a quiet way and received the congratulations of many friends. She also received 70 odd postals and several presents. When very young, Mrs. Pillmore went to Rome to reside where she lived for many years. After her marriage to Thomas Pillmore, they came here to live, where he died four years ago.

Death Certificate from NY State # 46064 (Kathryn Vanderhyden Newman Pillmore) -died 25 Oct 1909. Lists parents as Samuel Newman and Eliza VanDehyden. Gives age as 71 years and 3 days. Newspaper Obituary - 25 Oct 1909 - Rome Sentinel States that she was born in Troy 71 years ago, Friday. And that her husband, Thomas, died 4 years earlier.

Death certificate from Milton, Dodge Co., Wis for death information of Samuel Newman(father of Kathryn Vanderhyden Newman). He moved out west with his son after the death of his wife, Eliza.


Eliza Jane PILLMORE (1857-1934) & Charles HARTMAN (1846-1930)

"Moccasin Tracks to Ski Trails, The Story of the Town of Western:", 1976 Town of Western Bicentenniel Committee, p 5 - Mentions that a grocery store was run by Charles Hartman in the town of North Western in the late 1800s. Bible Matrimony Certificate by Rev. W B Parmelee 16 Sept 1879 at Western Bible Record of Births 2 Mar 1846 Bible Record of deaths 19 Apr 1930 HARTMAN Bible presented to George Hartman by his brother Charles March 2nd 1879. This Bible was in the possession of Jim Pitcher of Boonville in 1980s. Births: Fassett Hartman born May the 5 1805 Elsie Hartman born April the 8 1815 Synthia Hartman born February the 24 1836 Martha Hartman was born Sep 27th 1837 Albert Hartman born April 20th 1839 Libbie Hartman born March the 19 1842 Sanford Hartman born February the 17 1844 Charles Hartman born March the 2 1846 George Hartman born October 27th 1848 Herbert F. Hartman born Dec the Third 1876 Deaths: Elsie Hartman died September the 21 1887 Fassett Hartman died January the 28 1892 Cynthia Hartman died Sept 24th 1840 Martha Hartman died June 28 1914 Sanford Hartman died March 12 1914 George Hartman died November 5 1934 NY State Death Certificate # 22364 for Charles C. Hartman residing at 120 Turin St. Rome, NY. Parents were Fassett and Elsie Devoe Hartman. He died of Pneumonia on April 19, 1930 at age 84 years, 1 month and 17 days. And was married to Eliza J. Pillmore.

Newspaper Obituary in Rome Newspaper;Mrs. Eliza E. Hartman succumbs in hospital. Mrs. Eliza E. Pillmore , widow of Charles C. Hartman, died at the Rome Hospital here this afternoon. Mrs. Hartman was a native of Western and had resided here for the past 25 years. Mr. Hartman died four years ago and a daughter Mrs. Bertha Beddlecome died last month. She was born July 8, 1867. Mrs. Hartman was a member of the Presbyterian Church and Holly chapter OES. Surviving are a son L T Hartman and a daughter , Mrs. Thomas Crowe, both of this city. And two brothers, George E Pillmore of Cape Vincent and Merritt C Pillmore of Havana, Cuba. Date Jan 6, 1934 Also Eliza E Hartman Called By Death Native of Westernville Expires in Rome Hospital, Aliling over YEar Eliza Elizabeth Pillmore, 76, widow of Charles C. Hartman, died Saturday in the Rom ehospital after an illness of over a year. Mrs. Hartman, who lived at 120 Turin St., had been in the hospital several days. She was born in Westernville on July 18, 1857, the daughter of the late Thomas and Katherine Neuman Pillmore. On September 16, 1879, she married Mr. Hartmanwho died April 19, 1930, the ceremony being performed in Westernville by the Rev. Mr. Parmalee. Mrs Hartman resided in the Town of Western until moving to Rome 28 years. She was a member of the First PResbyterian Chruch and of Holly Chapter, No. 650, O.E.S. She leaves a daughter, Frankie, wife of Thomas Crowe of this city; a son, Leon T HArtman, also of Rome, and two brothers, George E Pillmore of Cape Vincent, NY and Merritt C Pillmore of Havana, Cuba. Six gradnchildren also sruvive. A daughter, Bertha Biddlecome, died December 14, 1933. Mrs. Hartman for many hears was a school teacher, having taught in the Union School at Westernville and also in several district schools in Oneida County.


1880 Western, Oneida Co., NY Census page 387A
Charles Hartman self age 34 NY NY NY Mail Carrier
Eliza Hartman wife age 22 NY NY NY keeping house

30 Jun 1900 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 173
Chas Hartman head b. Mch 1851 age 49 m. 20 yrs NY NY NY
Eliza wife b. Jul 1859 age 40 m. for 20 yrs  NY ENG NY
Leon son b. Feb 1884 age 16 NY NY NY
Bertha dau b. Jul 1887 age 12 NY NY NY
Frankie dau b. Feb 1899 age 1 NY NY NY


1910 6Ward Rome, Oneida Co., NY page 259
Charles C Hartman head age 55  NY NY NY own income
Eliza E Hartman wife age 45 married 28 years, 3 children, 3 children living NY ENG NY
Jennie E Hartman daughter age 11 NY NY NY

1920 6th Ward, Rome, Oneida Co., NY census page 236
Charles Hartman head age 68 married  NY NY NY
Eliza Hartman age 58 married NY ENG NY
Frankie Hartman daughter age 20 single NY NY NY


John PILLMORE (1830-1909) & Margaret VanALSTYNE

Oneida County and its People, by Daniel Wager 1896 Part III, Family Sketches page 100 Pillmore, John was born in Yorkshire England, May 14, 1830 a son of William and Sarah Rowbottom Pillmore. In 1836 he came to America, a widow with eight children, George, Jane (Mrs. William Floyd), William, Mary (Mrs. Pardon Macomber), Robert, Thomas, John, and Sarah (Mrs. Thomas A. Shirley), who located in Western. John was reared in Western and in 1849 he crossed the plains to California, where he remained 8 years successfully engaged in mining. In 1857 he returned home and in 1866 purchased the farm in Western which he still retains but resides in Rome. In 1860 he married Margaret daughter of Daniel D. and Mary Young VanAlstyne of Danube, Herkimer County, NY. And they had three children, Charles of Western, Fred and Grace of Rome. Mr & Mrs. Pillmore are members of the Methodist church. In politics he is a Republican. Tradition links the early history of the Pillmores with that of Rev. Joseph Pilmoor, one of two of the first traveling preachers sent to America in 1769 by Rev. John Wesley.


Rome Daily Sentinel, Saturday Evening, July 12, 1902 Excerpts from article : "A Forty-Niner's Story" John Pillmore Crossed the Plains in Early Days He was only 19 - Was accompanied by William Floyd, Robert Rowbotham, Enoch VanVleck and Ebenezer Remington...
Comparatively few of the men known as Forty-Niners, who took part in the great rush to California upon the discover of gold there, are to be found in this vicinity. Among them, however, is John Pillmore, of 412 W. Bloomfield Street.
Mr Pillmore was a resident of Western and but 19 years old when his brother-in-law, William Floyd of that place, offered him a chance to go with a party then starting for the gold fields. ...Robert Robowtham, an uncle of Mr. Pillmore, Enoch VanVleck, who married a cousin of Mr. P. .. [They] came to Rome on May 17, 1849 . and engaged passage on a line boat for Buffalo. Mr Pillmore, although the youngest member, acted as purser of the company. Their passage cost $3.50 each to Buffalo, including board and lodge. From Buffalo, they went to Chicago on a propeller paying $7.50 each for their accomodation and food during the trip.

At Chicago, Mr Floyd joined the party, having come by rail, and assumed the managership. .......Memoranda kept by Mr. Floyd Excerpts Route followed May 17, 1849 men started for California; May 23, I started home May 29 left Chicago June 1 left Peoria, Ill June 5 left Burlington June 20 left St. Joseph and crossed Missouri River Jul 5 left Ft. Kearney 250 mi from St. Joseph Jul 18 left Ft. Laramie 350 mi from Fr. Kearney Sept 6 arrived at Salt Lake City Sept 21 left Salt Lake City Dec 6 crossed Sierra Nevada Jan 7 1850 got to Los Angeles Jan 17 got to San Pedro Feb 2 left San Pedro Feb 12 left Santa Barbara Feb 25 got to San Francisco Mar 4 left for mines Mar 11 left Marysville and got to the mines Mar 12 The data shows that Oct 20, 1850, Mr Floyd left the mines and reached Sacramento on the 23rd leaving the next day for San Francisco, leaving there on Nov 2 by boat reaching Panama Jan 14 1851. Arrived back to New York in Feb 7 and returned to Western.

In Burlington, a wagon and team of gray horses were purchased. The men walked beside the wagon to St. Joseph, Missouri, where a purchase of a yoke and cattle, and a trade for a lumber wagon were made. They lost an ox and were compelled to borrow one from some soldiers who were going their way. Afterward they traded one of the horses for another ox and when near Ft. Laramie, they traded the remaining horse with an Irishman for a yoke of 2 year old steers and a 2-wheeled cart.

On the way to Salt Lake City, Mr. Pillmore picked up a worn out horse on the Plains which he sold to his Uncle Robert Rowbottom for 10 cents. The horse was afterward sold for $65.00. Some of the train thought the money should be divided evenly, so when the party reached Salt Lake City, its members were called up before the elders of the Mormon Church and the money was ordered divided. Mr. Pillmore never received any of the money because before the party reached Salt Lake, hard luck had been experienced and some of the oxen had died so it was determined that the whole outfit could not continue. Mr. Pillmore decided to stay behind in Salt Lake and run his chances of getting through to the mines, and the remainder of the party went on.

He never came across the others again, but reached the mines before they did. He spent 4 weeks in Salt Lake City , working for Bishop Everatt....and was frequently in the council chamber and in the tithing house. He also saw Brigham Young several times.

Mr. Pillmore engaged with a trader named Blodgett, who had 42 wagons and was going from St. Lake to Los Angeles. There were 2 drivers to each wagon and nearly every man beside Mr. P. was a Mormon. About 40 miles from St. Lake near Little Utah Lake, the Indians stampeded the traders' cattle and it required a great amount of work to get them corralled again.

About 4 weeks was spent near Los Angeles when 9 of the party, 8 mormons and Mr. P. borrowed money enough to take them up the coast on a sailing vessel. Here 4 weeks more were spent when they went up the Sacramento to Sacramento City. Whence they made their way to Greenwood Village, 13 miles from Coloma, where the first gold was discovered and claims were staked out. This party did not hold together long after reaching the mines, and before 2 years had passed, it was entirely broken up. Mr. P. was in the mines about 8 years.

The company built a flume, the timber for which was cut on the mountains and slid down the sides to the riverbanks, where it was made into rafts and sent down the river to the scene of the mining operations.

One of the rafts which Mr. Pillmore was piloting, was swung around broadside to the current and nearly overturned, throwing its occupant into the river. With much trouble he made his way to shore.

All the mining that this party did was of the placer method by washing the dirt deposits. Personally, Mr Pillmore was fortunate, after the first 2 years, cleaning up a considerable amount of gold, and when he started for home, brought with him to San Francisco about $11,000 worth of dust, which he coined there, in addition to what he had previously made.

The main trouble with many of the miners was that they became discouraged too quickly and did not give the thing a long enough trial. While on his way to California, Mr. Pillmore met many who were returning because they had hard luck on the road or lost friends by death.

About the only souvenirs of his trip across the continent that Mr. P. has are a chamois skin vest, with pockets for carrying gold dust, which is made to be worn next to the person and a 5 chamber Colts revolver.

Of the original party from Western, Mr. Remington is said to have eaten the heart of a deer which had not been properly cooked and died at Ft. Laramie. Mr. Rowbottom died at Marysville. After about 7 months there, Mr. Floyd returned home and only about a year had expired before Mr. VanVleck was back. After an absence of 8 years and 10 months, Mr. Pillmore returned home by way of Panama.


13 Aug 1870 Western, Oneida Co., NY page 551
John Pillmore aged 40 farmer b. ENG citizen
Margaret age 35 keeping house b. NY
Charles age 9 at school b. NY
Frederick age 2 b. NY
Frank Moses age 16 Black  b. NY  laborer

Rome Sentinel - Newspaper Obituary Highly respected Roman who has Answered the Final Summons Rome- May 21, 1909 John Pillmore, a highly respected resident of this city, passed away Saturday at his home, 412 West Bloomfield St. Diabetes was the cause of death. He had been confined to his bed since March 1. Mr Pillmore was born in Yorkshire, Eng. May 14, 1830 and when six years old he came to this country with his mother and four brother and three sisters. They settled in Westernville, this county, where later Mr Pillmore engaged in farming. At that place in 1860 he was married to Miss Margaret VanAlstyne, of Little Falls. About 13 years ago they came here to make their home and to live a retired life. Mrs. Pillmore passed away here seven years ago. Mr. Pillmore was an ernest member of the M.E. Church and a man who had lived an honest life. He enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintenance. Surviving are two sons and one daughter, Charles of Westernville, Fred of Syracuse, and Miss Grace Pillmore who lived with her father. Mr. Pillmore was one of the original forty niners. He left here for California Gold fields in May 1849. taking the overland route. He left on the Erie Canal for the Great Lakes and went by way of Salt Lake City where the remainder of the party gave up. He remained there six weeks among the Mormons, earned enough money to carry him into Los Angeles. He remained away about 8 years returning to his home in Westernville in the fall of 1857 where he contined his occupation as a farmer till he retired and came to this city.


Sarah PILLMORE (1832-1910) & Thomas Albert SHIRLEY (1833-1914)

Rome Sentinel 1914
Grandpa Shirley
Grand Old Man of Westernville Goes to his Reward
Rome, May 22-Thomas Albert Shirley died yesterday at the home of his son, Fred F. Shirley, in Westernville. He had poor health since January, caused by liver trouble, but he has been confined to the bed only a few days. He was born in the town of Steuben, February 20, 1833, a son of John P. Shirley and Anna Shirley and was one of a family of eight children. When 8 years old his parents moved to Western and he had since lived there. His early years were spent on a farm. For 18 years he was engaged in boating, and for a number of years he was in the saw mill at Frenchville. After that he again took up farming and followed it till the death of his wife 4 years ago. Then he made his home with his son. December 27, 1855 Mr. Shirley married Miss Sarah Pillmore. Five children were born to them the following four of whom survive: Mrs. Eliza Grower, Mrs. Charles Shaul of Deansboro, Fred Shirley of Westernville, and Mrs. F. J. Grower of Oneida. Mr. Shirley was a member of the ME Church at Westernville being one of the first to join, and he was the oldest member of the congregation at the time of his death. For several years he was superintendant and teacher of the Sunday school and it was through his efforts that Children's Day was observed by that school. He had served the Epworth League as president and was a trustee and steward of the church at the time of his death. During the Civil War he was drafted but was not accepted on account of a minor deformation of one foot. He was a member of a military organization in that village and was a strong admirer of Abraham Lincoln. He was a lifelong Republican and was often chosen as delegate to conventions. He was elected Justice of the Peace of the town holding that office for several years. Besides those mentioned he is survived by eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and three sisters: Mrs James Smith and Jennie Shirley of Niagara Falls, and Mrs. Elizabeth Savage of Cleveland, Ohio. He was very fond of children and they called him Grandpa Shirley. He was kind, considerate, and charitable and loved by all. The funeral will be held at the church at 2 p.m. Sunday.


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