Chauncey Shoultes

At some period of time during the early 1890s, Chauncey Shoultes united in marriage with the former Kate Zimmer (1871-1921). Kate Zimmer was born on August 5, 1871 at Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York, the daughter of Ransom Zimmer (1840-????) and Martha Saddlemire (1848-????). The Zimmer family were early settlers to this region and appear frequently in the Shoultes genealogical history. Her siblings were: Orrin (1865-????); Thaddius (1869-1953); Azuba (1873-1936); Gracia (1875-????) and Bryant (1879-????).

Chauncey and Kate Shoultes were involved with the Shoultes family enterprise early in their marriage. In later years, it appears that they established their own farm along the Jenksville Road in West Newark. There were no children born to them.

Mrs. Lena Bushnell (1890-????) of Newark Valley recalls Chauncey and Kate Shoultes, and in her letter of January 25, 1977, she stated the following memory:

CHAUNCEY SHOULTES - I knew very well as they were great friends of my parents and were frequent visitors at our home in the days of "Pedro Players" (Mrs. Bushnell later told the researcher that Pedro Players was a card game). As I have previously written, Kate's maiden name was Zimmer, and they had no children. Then Chauncey married Mary Brick, and she never had children.

Kate had severe medical problems and appeared to have suffered a crippling stroke in July of 1921. Her condition worsened and she died on July 31, 1921 at the age of 49 years. The August 4, 1921 issue of the OWEGO GAZETTE carried the following article about her death:

The funeral of Mrs. Chauncey Shoultes is to be held at her home, Wednesday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, the Rev. W.W. Watrous of Union Center officiating. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Shoultes had suffered from the effects of a shock, which she had about six weeks ago. She leaves her husband, Chauncey Shoultes, an aged father, Ransom Zimmer of East Newark, and one sister, Mrs. Ollie Zimmer of this place, and two brothers, Thad Zimmer and Orin Zimmer.

On February 28, 1922 at the Congregational Church of Newark Valley, Chauncey Shoultes united in marriage with the former Mary Brick Johnson (1862-1935). Mary Brick was born at Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York on November 4, 1862, the daughter of Thomas Brick and Anne Mahan. Her siblings were: Thomas (????-????); John (????-????); Margaret (????-????) who married ??? Rawley; Katherine (????-????) who married ??? Sandwick; and "unknown female" (????-????) who married George Mix. The Brick family had migrated from Ireland and settled in Newark Valley during the 1850s.

Mary Brick was the widow of George W. Johnson (1858-1918). It is speculated that the Johnson and Shoultes families may have been great friends. They share the same burial plot and gravestone in Hope Cemetery.

On August 18, 1922, Chauncey Shoultes published his last Will and Testament. During the summer of 1978, the researcher found this document in the Surrogates Office at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, New York. The document is transcribed as follows:

I, Chauncey Shoultes, of the town of Newark Valley, in the county of Tioga, in the State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the manner following; that is to say:

First, I direct the payments of all my debts and funeral expenses.

Second, I give and bequeath unto my wife, Mary Shoultes, all my household goods, all of my household furniture, wearing apparel, silverware, jewelry, beds, bedding, and other household items, other than money or securities, which shall at my death, be in or about my dwellings.

Third, all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, real and personal, in whatever situated, or which I may die seized or possessed, or of which I may have any interest or income arising from, for her own use and benefit during the term of her natural life. She the use, interest, or profits arising from the said real and personal estate be insufficient to support, maintain, or care for my said wife during her natural life, in such a manner and such a place as she would desire, I direct my executrix hereinafter appointed, to pay over to my said wife, the sum or sums of my said estate, in addition to the use, benefits, and profits arising from said estates that will be sufficient to properly support, maintain, and care for my said wife, in a manner in which she may desire. My said executrix, hereinafter appointed, to be the sold judge of the time, necessity, and manner and amounts of such payments. Upon the death of my said wife, should there remain any of my said estate that has not been used or expended by her, I hereby devise and bequeath the unused portion of my estate as follows:

One, to Martha Saddlemire, daughter of Merritt Saddlemire, the sum of five hundred dollars.

Two, the rest, residue, and remainder of my said estate so remaining, I direct to be equally divided between my brothers and sisters, or should any of my brothers and sisters die before my death, or before the death of my said wife, the portion or share of said estate which would have went to them, had they been living, will go to the children of said deceased brothers and sisters, if any, should they be alive at the time of the death of my said wife.

Fourth (will has no provisions for a THIRD), I hereby authorize the power of my appointed executrix, to lease, mortgage, or sell any or all of my real estate in such times, and in such manner, and for such sums as she would deem advisable, and to execute a lease, mortgage, or conveyance for same. If the devises and requests herein given to my said wife are so given in lieu of her third interest in my estate, and also in lieu and satisfaction of her statutory rights and personal exemptions in my personal estate.

I direct that my executrix hereafter appointed shall not be required to give a bond for the faithful performance of her duties under any of the provisions of my said will.

Lastly, I appoint my wife, Mary Shoultes, executrix of this, my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, the eighteenth day of August, in the year nineteen hundred and twenty two.

Chauncey Shoultes must have suffered a lung ailment for many years. There is record of his treatment for emphysema since the year 1922. It is wondered if he smoked tobacco, and how much. No one seems to remember.

Chauncey Shoultes died on April 12, 1927 at the age of 56 years. The cause of his death was some kind of chronic lung ailment. The April 21, 1927 edition of the OWEGO GAZETTE records his life as follows:

Chauncey Shoultes, a well known farmer of the town of Newark Valley, died at his home north of Newark Valley village, on the Jenksville Road, on Tuesday evening, April 12, aged 56 years. The funeral was held at the house last Friday afternoon, Rev. D.C. Lewis officiating, and burial was in Hope Cemetery, Newark Valley, New York. He was the son of Ira and Lana (Snapp) Shoultes, and was born on August 12, 1870. He had been a farmer in the town of Newark Valley all of his life. Besides his wife, he leaves two brothers, Ira (should be Charles) and Fred Shoultes of Newark Valley, and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Westfall of Newark Valley, and Mrs. Henry W. Stevens of Owego.

Chauncey Shoultes is buried in Hope Cemetery, in the village of Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York. Both of his wives are buried in the plot with him, under a majestic marble tombstone. Since there were no children, this branch of the Shoultes family ends with his death.