Frederick Charles Shoultes

His siblings were as follows:
1. Jacob Henry (2Sep1849-5Nov1851);
2. Emma D. (16Aug1856-4Nov1924) who married Alonzo Baldwin;
3. Nancy (17Nov1859-6Jul1916) who married John Niefer;
4. Charles Henry (10Aug1863-11Oct1934) who married Henrietta E. Zimmer;
5. Mary Elizabeth (18Dec1866-11Nov1943) who married Henry W. Stevens;
6. Ella C. (18Mar1868-12Sep1944) who married Frank Westfall;
7. Chauncey (12Aug1870-12Apr1927) who married 1) Kate Zimmer and 2) Mary Brick.

Fred, as most records refer to him, grew up on the Shoultes farm and eventually became one of the controlling factors of the family enterprise. The United States Census Report of 1870 indicates that Fred was attending school. The extent of his formal education is not known.

Frederick Charles Shoultes united in marriage with the former Mary L. Dodge (1Oct1855-13Aug1933) on September 29, 1881. Mary L. Dodge was born on October 1, 1855 near the village of Owego (Tioga County), New York; the daughter of James Dodge and Abigail Herrick. The Dodge genealogy is not known at the time of this writing but it is noted that the name goes very early into the history of Owego (Tioga County), New York.. Fred and Mary Shoultes gave birth to one child, Elmer (4Mar1883-22Jun1930).

Father and son were enterprising and formed a partnership when Elmer reached the age of adulthood. In a letter received from Mrs. Lena Bushnell (1890-????) of Newark Valley on January 25, 1977, the following account of the Fred Shoultes family was remembered by her.

Fred Shoultes was a farmer at East Newark and the father of Elmer. I remember both Mr. & Mrs. Shoultes traveling to FAIRS in the fall. They were fancy poultry raisers and exhibited poultry and I'm not sure but some live stock. I do not recall if Elmer was an only child.

Upon reading his father's last Will and Testament published in 1898, the text would indicate that considerable investment was made in this enterprise by the father. The following text taken from the last Will & Testament of Ira Shoultes is an interesting entry.

Fifth, I give and bequeath unto my beloved sons, Chauncey and Charles Shoultes, all the goods and chattels of every kind on my farm, except household furniture, including farming tools, team, stock, wagons, fowl, etc. be divided equally between them. This bequest is made to them to offset what I have already advanced to my son, Fred Shoultes.

In 1927, Fred and Elmer Shoultes sold the remaining tracts of the Shoultes farm, thus ending 101 years of ownership by the Shoultes family. They moved to the village of Newark Valley; Fred and Mary purchasing the Walter Westfall home on Maple Avenue, and Elmer and Nina purchasing the Lydia Howard home on John Street. They attempted to remain in the poultry business, but poor health had beset both of them. Elmer had developed cancer and Fred suffered a stroke in January of 1929.

From his death bed, Fred Shoultes published his last Will and Testament on February 21, 1930. The researcher found the published document in the Surrogates Office, at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, New York. The text of the will is transcribed as follows:

I, Fred Shoultes, of the village of Newark Valley, County of Tioga in the State of New York, do hereby make, publish, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, in the following manner:

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 said property and estate, both real and personal, whatsoever name, and my nature, and wherever located, unto my wife, Mary L. Shoultes, should she survive me.

Third, in the event of the death of my wife, Mary L. Shoultes prior to my death, then and in that event, I give, devise, and bequeath all of my said property and estate to my son, Elmer Shoultes, should he survive me, or in the event of the death of my wife and my son Elmer Shoultes, prior to my death, then in that event, I give, devise, and bequeath all of my said property and estate to my daughter-in-law, Nina Shoultes, wife of my son, Elmer Shoultes.

Lastly, I hereby appoint my wife, Mary L. Shoultes and my son, Elmer Shoultes, as executors 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 whereof, I have hereto subscribed my name, the twenty first day of February, in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on the afternoon of April 23, 1930, Frederick Charles Shoultes passed away. The April 29, 1930 edition of the OWEGO TIMES recorded his life events as follows:

Newark Valley April 29 - Frederick Shoultes died at his home on Maple Avenue, on Wednesday afternoon, at the age of 72 years, after having been in ill health for a long time with heart trouble. He was the son of Ira Shoultes and Laney (Snapp) Shoultes and was born at East Newark, May 3, 1858. He married Miss Mary Dodge forty-nine years ago. The funeral was held at the M.E. Church on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. W.E. Elwood officiating with burial at East Newark. For many years, Mr. Shoultes was engaged in the raising of purebred cattle and exhibited these at county fairs. Later, in company with his son, Elmer Shoultes, they became poultry breeders, which they also exhibited at fairs and became one of the largest poultry raisers in the state. About three years ago, they moved to Newark Valley. Frederick Shoultes purchasing the Walter Westfall bungalow on Maple Avenue, and Elmer Shoultes purchasing the former Lydia Howard place on John Street, and erected large poultry houses on the later place.

Mr. Shoultes is survived by his wife, and one son, Elmer Shoultes, and a brother, Charles Shoultes, all of Newark Valley. Much sympathy is expressed to the entire family as Mr. Shoultes's health has been very poor, and the son, Elmer Shoultes, has been an invalid for the year past, and a great sufferer.

Another obituary was received from Jean Calverley of Birmingham, Alabama. It gave a slightly different account and is transcribed as follows:

Newpaper - Friday, April 25, 1930 (my mother has written in "lived where Ted Johnson lives now)

DEATH OF FRED SHOULTES

Fred Shoultes, well known former stockman and poultry raiser, died at his home on John Street in this village at 2:45 Wednesday morning, April 23.

Mr. Shoultes for over a year had suffered from severe heart attacks and his death was not expected. However, on Tuesday he was about the premises as usual, spent the evening talking to his family and went to bed and asleep. At about 11:00, his wife awakened and hearing an unusual noise from her husband's room, found him unconscious, and he could not be revived.

The funeral will take place at the Methodist church tomorrow at 2:00, Rev. W.E. Elwood officiating, undertaker Lewis in charge, and burial will be at the East Newark Cemetery.

Frederick Shoultes was the son of Ira and Laney Snapp Shoultes and he was born at East Newark on May 3, 1858. In 1881, he married Mary Dodge and built a house on his father's farm and they began housekeeping there. This house burned about ten years ago and another was built. Years ago, Mr. Shoultes became interested in purebred stock and developed a large herd of Guernseys, Ayrshires, and Holsteins, with which for some years, he made the circuit of the fairs, showing his stock for premiums. About 24 years ago, as he was just starting his stock from his home for fairs, he was attacked by a bull and narrowly escaped with his life, and was so badly injured that he was laid up for a long time and never fully recovered. He then quit the stock showing and with his son, Elmer, went into the poultry business extensively. At one time, Shoultes and Son had nearly 4,000 hens, and they took large numbers of birds of many varieties on a circuit of the fairs each year. They discontinued showing at the fairs in 1917, but continued to keep a large number of laying hens and were among the largest poultry producers in the state. Three years ago, they sold the farm and purchased property on John Street in this village, where they built large poultry houses and presently have about 2,000 hens there. Elmer, who has always been associated with his father in business, has been ill for over a year past, and has now been confined to his bed for months and is not improving, after various treatments and an operation at the hospitals.

Mr. Shoultes is survived only by his wife and son and one brother, Charles Shoultes, of this village. He was a man most highly respected by all who knew him.

Frederick Charles Shoultes, aged 71 years, was buried in the East Newark Cemetery, located near the village of Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York. In later years, the graves of his son, wife, and daughter-in-law were placed beside him. The resting places of his father and grandfather Jacob Ira Shoultes (8Feb1798-25Apr1856) are all within close distance in this tiny hillside cemetery.