Elmer E. Shoultes

Elmer grew up on the farm of his grandfather, Ira Jacob Shoultes (21Nov1827-18Apr1905) and received his education from the local schools. It is not known to what extent he attended school but it is noted that he could read and write. Although he was of age during the Spanish-American War, no records indicating military service have been found. Perhaps as an only son, he was exempt from military service.

On November 7, 1908, Elmer E. Shoultes united in marriage with the former Nina Mae Westcott (1888-1955). Nina Mae Westcott was born at Union Center (Broome County), New York in 1888, the daughter of Frank Westcott (27Jun1860-1948) and Sarah Carman (1868-1953). She was the granddaughter of Nicholas Westcott (8May1828-15Oct1895) and Margaret Cornick (30May1827-1922) and the great-granddaughter of Major Westcott (1792-17Jan1851) and Angelica Van Patten (1796-22Dec1871) who settled this area during the early 1820s. The following newspaper was provided by Ms. Jean Calverley, a cousin of the researcher, and a resident of Birmingham, Alabama. It was taken from a scrapbook kept by her mother and reads as follows:

SHOULTES-WESTCOTT

On Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, Elmer Shoultes of this place was married to Miss Nina M. Westcott at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Westcott, at Union Center. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Frank W. Young of this place. The rooms were prettily decorated in pink and white, and the pair took the marriage vows under an arch of evergreen. Promptly at eight o'clock, the bridal party entered the room to the strains of a wedding march. The bride was beautifully gowned in white and carried white flowers. Miss Ethel Waterman was bridesmaid and Ralph Kenyon best man. After congratulations, refreshments were served to the guests who numbered about thirty. The bride received many beautiful presents, including a gold watch, silverware, linen and fifteen dollars in money. Mr. Shoultes is extensively engaged in the poultry business, and will continue to reside with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Shoultes. Among the guests from out of town were A.E. Baldwin and family of Whitney Point, Mrs. D. Hardenros of Binghamton, Mrs. M. Westcott of Union and Mrs. E. Orcutt of Endicott, and the following from Newark Valley: Mr. & Mrs. Chauncey Shoultes, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Shoultes, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Shoultes, Clarence Snapp, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Shoultes.

The couple joined in the partnership of the Shoultes farm and became very successful. Elmer Shoultes became a respected poultry and livestock breeder and entered exhibits throughout the state. This enterprise remained in the family until failing health forced the sale of the Shoultes farm in 1927.

Elmer and Nina Shoultes became the parents of two children; Helen Marie (13Feb1912-25Dec1912) and Lloyd Frederick (14Nov1913-17Jun1925). Both tragically died in early childhood. Thus, no survivors of the Fred Shoultes lineage survive.

Their first child, daughter Helen Marie Shoultes, was born on February 13, 1912. The tragic event of Christmas day is recorded in the January 12, 1913 issue of the OWEGO GAZETTE and reads as follows:

Newark Heights, Dec. 29 - Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Shoultes had the misfortune to lose their little baby girl, ten months old. She had been ill for about a month. The little one suffered terribly, and Christmas Day, died and the body was buried Friday. The whole family have the sympathy of the neighborhood.

Helen Marie, only child of Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Shoultes, who had been ill for nearly four weeks, died at 1:30 p.m. Christmas Day, of pneumonia. The funeral was held at the house Friday. Interment was at the East Newark Cemetery. The little one was 10 months and 13 days of age. The family have the greatest sympathy of many friends.

Their second child, Lloyd Frederick Shoultes, was born on November 4, 1913. Lloyd is remembered by some cousins still living in the area. During a trip to the East Newark Cemetery during the summer of 1977, the researcher met a Mr. Dodson, who said he was a schoolteacher in the area during the 1920s. He observed the gravesites and stated that he remembered Lloyd Shoultes as a very sickly child. Lloyd Frederick Shoultes died of rheumatic fever on June 17, 1925 at the age of 11 years.

The three years preceding Elmer's death in 1930 were not happy ones for this branch of the Shoultes family. Around the year 1928, Elmer developed prostate cancer. Several attempts were made to cure the disease, all in vain. In 1929, his father suffered a crippling stroke. The two men required constant nursing care which was supplied by their wives.

In 1930, preceding the death of his father, Elmer Shoultes published his last Will and Testament. This document was found by the researcher in the records of the Tioga County Surrogates Office in Owego (Tioga County), New York during the summer of 1978. The document is transcribed as follows:

I, Elmer Shoultes, of the village of Newark Valley, of the County of Tioga, State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish, and declare this, my last Will and Testament in the manner following:

That is to say, first, I direct that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

Second, I give, devise, and bequeath all of my property and estate, both real and personal, of whatsoever name or nature, to my wife, Nina M. Shoultes, the same to be here absolutely, and forever.

Lastly, I hereby appoint my wife, Nina M. Shoultes, executor of this, my last Will and Testament, with full power and authority to sell and convey, lease or mortgage real estate, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness thereof, I have subscribed my name, the first day of February, in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty.

Elmer Shoultes died a horrible death on June 22, 1930 at the age of 47 years. The lineage of the Frederick Shoultes branch of the family ends here with his death. The June 24, 1930 edition of the OWEGO TIMES recorded his life events as follows:

Elmer Shoultes, a well known and highly respected citizen of Newark Valley, died at his home on John Street, in that village, at about midnight Sunday evening, of acute Brights Disease. Mr. Shoultes had been ill for about one year, but confined to his bed for many months and an extreme, but patient sufferer.

The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home. The Rev. W.E. Elwood officiating. Burial in McCullough District Cemetery.

Mr. Shoultes was the son of Fred and Mary (Dodge) Shoultes, and was born on the Shoultes farm in the eastern part of the Town of Newark Valley, 47 years ago. He married Miss Nina May Westcott more than 21 years ago and she survives him. They have no children, a son, Lloyd Shoultes having died five years ago this month, following a long illness. Besides his wife, he is survived by an aged mother, his father, Frederick Shoultes, having died exactly two months previous to his death. Mr. Shoultes had spent his entire life in this vicinity, having been associated with his father in the farm and dairy business in East Newark. For many years, they were engaged in the raising of purebred stock which they exhibited at the fairs for premiums. They later discontinued the stock showing and went into the poultry business very extensively, having at one time about 4000 hens. This poultry wa also exhibited at the fairs for many years, and they were numbered among the largest poultry raisers in the state. About three years ago, father and son sold the Shoultes farm, at East Newark, and moved into the village, the father Frederick Shoultes purchasing the former Walter Westfall home on Maple Avenue, and Elmer Shoultes purchasing the former Lydia Howard home, on John Street. Large poultry houses were at once erected on John Street, and they still carried on an extensive poultry business.

Much sympathy is extended to both wife and mother who have so tenderly cared for him in his long illness and extensive suffering. Mr. Shoultes spent much time in hospitals two different times in an effort to regain his health, but all in vain.

Another account comes from the scrapbook of Jean Calverley of Birmingham, Alabama and is transcribed as follows:

(Newspaper article, Friday, June 27, 1930

DEATH OF ELMER SHOULTES

Elmer Shoultes died at his home on John Street in this village on Sunday night, June 22, after an illness of over a year and weeks of extreme suffering.

The funeral was held at his home on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. W.E. Elwood of the M.E. Church officiating with N.P. Lewis in charge. Burial was at the East Newark Cemetery.

The deceased was 47 years of age and born at East Newark, the only son of Fred and Mary Dodge Shoultes. He married Miss Nina Westcott, twenty-one years ago and she, with his mother, are all of the immediate family surviving. An only son, Lloyd, died when a young boy some five years ago.

Mr. Shoultes was a quiet man, respected and well liked by all who knew him, and widely known among the many former large exhibitors of cattle and poultry at the various fairs. His early life was spent on the farm of his father at East Newark and as a young man, he became an extensive poultry breeder and dealer and he was also associated with his father in breeding and exhibiting a large herd of cattle at the fairs. He was at one time, the largest exhibitor of poultry in the state, showing over 2,000 birds, and during these years was also extensively engaged in breeding poultry for laying; at one time they having over 4,000 birds. The showing of poultry at the fairs was discontinued twelve years ago.

About three years ago, the Shoultes farm was sold and the two Shoultes families removed to this village. Elmer buying the former Howard place on John Street and Fred, the Westfall home on Maple Ave. On the John Street property, they built large poultry houses and father and son continued engaged extensively in this business, keeping upwards of 2,000 laying hens.

Elmer E. Shoultes is buried in the East Newark Cemetery, along with his wife, children, and parents. This branch of the Shoultes family ends here, with his death.