Terry married Lucinda Ann Youngs [Group Sheet]

1. Lacey Erin Sisco

Notes:

Leon Arthur Sisco was the second child born to Olin Reece Sisco and Ethel Mae (Banker) Sisco on Monday, April 9, 1923 at the Wilson Memorial hospital in Johnson City, NY. Leon was a twin to Leo Howard, who was born with a spinal defect that took his life at nine months of age. At the time of Leons birth, father Olin was twenty-six and mother Ethel was twenty-three.

Leon spent his formative years growing up at 6 Theron Street, Johnson City, New York. He attended elementary school in Johnson City.

His grandparents owned a small family farm located on Bogart Street, Hallstead, PA and as the country was at the end of the Great Depression, they were having difficulty maintaining the farm financially. So, in early 1935, Leon´s father Olin made the decision to move the family from Johnson City to the Hallstead farmstead to assist. Leon's parents waited until June when school was out for the summer before making the move.

His sister Dorotha Sisco Thomas, relates a couple of stories that she remembers. In Hallstead, Leon and his grandfather Luther Sisco tended to chores on the family farm while Olin Sisco sold Prudential Insurance during the day. Olin never had more than three or four cows at a time. Leon and his grandfather had completed milking the cows and they had put the milk into the separator located in the basement of the home. At one point Leon did something that didn't suit his grandfather and Luther kicked Leon down the cellar steps with a pail of milk. Olin scolded his father for disciplining Leon saying that if there was any disciplining to do of his son that he would be the one to do it.

Soon after moving to Hallstead, Pa, Leon got a dog and named him King. King would follow Leon everywhere he went. Leon told his mother that if he were ever sick and not able to do chores, just follow King because he knew where to go. The milk man that drove the delivery truck would intentionally get King to chase him. One day the driver deliberately ran over King. Leon found his best friend dead. Dorotha Sisco Thomas remembers Leon leaning against the kitchen counter crying saying that "My King is gone." He was very distraught at losing his best friend.

While attending Hallstead High School, Leon met and fell in love with one of his classmates, Esther Louise Bailer. After school he would walk her from the school, located on Franklin Avenue, near the First Baptist Church to the DuBois farm on Harmony Road in Hallstead, Pennsylvania where her parents were the caretakers and the family lived.

On December 7, 1941, Leon was milking the cows in the family barn. While milking, he had the Emerson box radio tuned to a music station when the news reports of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were announced. After graduating from high school, Leon felt compelled to join the cause and on December 12, 1942 enlisted in the United States Navy. The day that he left from the Binghamton, NY train station bound for basic training in Albany, NY, he had left his dirty clothes on the bathroom floor having just taken a bath. Upon seeing his clothes his mother broke down and cried.

While in the Navy, Leon was the signalman on supply ships and held the ratings of AS, Signalman Third Class (SM3c), Signalman Second Class (S2c), and Signalman First Class (S1c). He attended service schools at the US Naval Training Center in both Newport, RI and Noroton Heights, CT, SERVsch in Newport, RI, USN ACG Brooklyn, NY, USN ACG Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA and served on the ships USS Yucca and USS Thorn. He was honorably discharged in December 1945. Most of his travels were throughout South America and the South Pacific.

When on leave, Esther would meet Leon in New York City. It was while on leave that on July 27, 1943, he and Esther were married at the First Baptist Church, Hallstead, Pennsylvania by Reverend Joseph B. Harrison. Leons son Terry Sisco has a notebook that contains the love letters that they exchanged throughout the war.

After the war, they both worked in the Hershey Chocolate factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Leon had heard during the war that working for a utility provided consistent, secure work at good pay so he applied at the New York State Electric & Gas Company in Westover, New York. He started in 1946 as a laborer at the Goudy Station in Johnson City, New York, working on the coal piles moving the coal to the coal burning turbines. He advanced to pump operator in 1950, to turbine operator in 1951, to switchboard operator in 1955 and to unit boiler operator in 1968. He worked his way up through the ranks eventually becoming the foreman of the Goudy steam plant.

Leon worked three jobs to support his family while the children were young. In addition to the electric company he also worked for the Pepsi-Cola company delivering soft drinks and then in evenings he would collect money that people owed for magazine subscriptions. Even though he worked long hours, he always spent time with the family on special outings such as visiting the Ross Park Zoo or weekends at the Chidesters cottage in Pennsylvania.

On November 4, 1955, Leon and Esther signed a mortgage of $12,250 to purchase and build a home at 806 Douglas Drive, in the new and expanding suburbs of Endwell, New York. Both Leon and Esther were very active at the Berean Baptist Church in Endwell, New York. Leon helped to build the current structure on Farm-To-Market Road across from the Maine-Endwell High School. They enjoyed traveling and camping with other families of the church spending summers at the Chenango Valley State Park and Sherkston Shores in Canada.

They purchased a mobile home at the Colony Park in St. Petersburg, Florida after retirement where they would spend the winter months near their son, Terry Sisco who lives in Tampa, FL. During summers, they spent time at Lake Timberline in St. Joseph, Pennsylvania where they permanently park their camper. In their retirement, Leon and Esther enjoyed traveling the country.

In the late 1990's it was discovered that Leon had hepatitis C. Through the spring of 2000, Leon grew progressively weaker. He began kidney dialysis as his kidneys had begun to shut down. He wanted to get back to his home in Florida before the cold weather set in. It was only a short time after arriving in St Petersburg that on October 20, 2000 he passed away at 9:40 am with his entire family at his side.


Buried:
Lot 155 Section K Floral Park Cemetary Johnson City NY

Leon married Esther Louise Bailer 27 Jul 1943, Hallstead, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Esther (daughter of Charles Bailer and Dora Maude Hobart) was born 2 May 1923, Otisco, Onondaga, New York, United States; died 7 May 2002, Johnson City, Broome, New York, United States; was buried May 2002, Johnson City, NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Esther was born at home on Route 80 Otisco, New York. She fondly remembered growing up next door to her 'Aunt Kate' Catherine Schneider. In fact she spent most of her time at Kate's. She attended school in the one room schoolhouse on Route 80, which is now a house next door to the Otisco fire station. She was sick quite often suffering from tonsillitis. Her aunt Kate would give brother Horace a nickel a day to go to the store to buy Esther ice cream to make her throat feel better.
Esther´s father Charles and his brother John Bailer ran the farm together but they were not able to make it a profitable venture. John moved to Great Bend, PA to go to work for the D, L, & W railroad and urged Charles to do likewise. When Esther was in the sixth grade the family did just that, It was while attending Hallstead High School that Esther met her future husband, Leon Sisco. After graduation she moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania and worked in the Hershey Chocolate factory cafeteria. In December 1942, Leon enlisted in the Navy and at this time Esther moved to Endicott, New York and went to work for IBM where she worked on the B-29 bomber. She lived on Roosevelt Avenue in Endicott renting a room from Mrs. Harrington.
Esther and Leon were married at the First Baptist Church In Hallstead, PA in July 1943 while Leon was home on leave. When Leon was discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II, her employment with IBM was terminated as they would not employ married women to provide as many families as possible with at least one source of income. At this time Leon and Esther rented an apartment on Main Street, Hallstead, Pennsylvania. One year later, her first child Yvonne was born. Approximately one year later they moved to Hawley Street in Binghamton, New York. At this time she was working at Sears Roebuck, Inc. on Court Street. While pregnant with their second child, Leon and Esther moved to Chenango Street. When Sandy was born Esther stopped working at Sears. Now with two children, the family needed more room, so they moved to 4 Newton Street on the second floor. Then in 1952, Esther had their third child, Terry. In 1955, Leon and Esther purchased their home at 806 Douglas Drive in Endwell, New York. Harvey's Chicken Farm was located between 553 Hooper Road and 565 Hooper Road, Endwell, NY. It ran west across Patterson Creek and up the hill to Stonefield Road where the parking lot is for the Catholic church. In 1957 Esther went to work a few blocks from their home at Harvey's Chicken farm where she candled and packed eggs. In 1962, she went to work for approximately one year with the General Electric Company in Westover, New York until they lost their government contract. She then went to work again for Sears in the catalog department eventually retiring twenty-four years later from the electronics department. Church life was very important to Esther & Leon. They were very active at the Berean Baptist Church on Farm-to-Market Road, Endwell, NY located directly across from the Maine-Endwell High school. Esther taught children´s Sunday school and was a leader in the Pioneer Girls program. Sunday nights after evening church the Sisco home was the place to go for dessert and fellowship.
Once the General Electric government contract ended, Esther was laid off at which time she went back to work for Sears Roebuck & Co. on Chenango Street in the Catalog department. This department was located in a separate building from the main store and was without heat. It was extremely cold working there in the winters. She eventually was transferred to the Electronics department and sold TV's, stereos and other consumer electronics.
Esther and Leon loved to travel and


Buried:
Floral Park Cemetery

Died:
Wilson Memorial Hospital

Notes:

Olin Reece Sisco was born on Friday, March 26, 1897 in Nicholson Township, Pennsylvania to Frances "Luther" and "Mary" Mercy (Phillips) Sisco. By April 15, 1910, at the age of thirteen Olin and his family were living in Factoryville, Pennsylvania on Capwell Hill Road. His father worked as a laborer and bridge builder for the Steam Railroad Company. By 1920, the US Federal census shows Luther and Mary living on Silk Mill Road Hallstead, PA. It is unknown when between 1910 and 1920 they relocated from Factoryville to Hallstead nor whether Olin had ever lived at the Silk Mill Road residence. The only indication that he may have lived in Hallstead is the family lore has it that Olin had to walked the family cow from Factoryville to Hallstead a distance of about thirty-one miles.

Sometime around 1915, Olin must have heard about job availability at the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company (aka EJ) and began working at one of the Johnson City, NY factories. There is a photo of Olin working at EJ as a teenager with Ellsworth Banker, Olin's future brother-in-law who was also from Hallstead. It is not known how or where Olin Reece Sisco and Ethel Mae Banker met. It may have been in Hallstead which is where Ethel lived or at the Endicott Johnson Shoe Company where they both worked. They were married on September 1, 1917 in Binghamton, NY at the parsonage of the Grace Baptist church. Ethel continued to work for the Endicott- Johnson Shoe Company until she and Olin began their family.

On June 5, 1918, after one short year of marriage, Olin registered for the World War I draft as required by law and joined the US Army. His draft registration card indicates that he and Ethel lived at 28 Carhart Street in Johnson City, NY. It was there that they became friends with Eunice and Tom Watkins who lived in the apartment above them. They always joked that they could hear each others conversations through the bathroom walls. Eunice and Tom must have been good friends and neighbors taking care of Ethel while Olin went off to basic training. Olin never deployed as the war came to an end on November 11, 1918 now forever known as "Armistice Day."

At some point between 1918 and 1920, Olin and Ethel moved a few short blocks over to 90 Endicott Road in the Village of Johnson City, Town of Union, NY. It was while living there that on February 25, 1920 that first daughter Dorotha Sisco Thomas was born. Three years later, Ethel delivered twins Leon Arthur and Leo Howard. Leo was born with a spinal defect. In a photo taken of the two infants, it was necessary to wire Leo's neck and head upright as he was unable to do so on his own. Leo died nine months after he was born which must have had an emotional toll on both Olin and Ethel. Dorotha remembers that the undertaker had a big car and she sat between her mtoether and father with baby Leo's casket lying across their lap as they drove to the Floral Park Cemetery to bury the baby.

Sometime around 1923, perhaps just prior to the birth of Leo and Leon, Olin and Ethel had purchased a home at 6 Theron Street, Johnson City, New York, near what is currently the Riverside Drive traffic circle. The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company provided employees with many benefits unknown in today's economy. Homes were built and sold at cost. Playgrounds, recreation halls for bowling, roller skating and dancing were provided. Hospitals and a medical plan which received world-wide attention and acclaim were established. An eight-hour day, one of the first in a large industry, and other benefits were inaugurated. They even provided each employee's child with their first shoes and each Christmas each year thereafter. The home on Theron Street was one of the Endicott Johnson built homes which Olin purchased for $3,000.00.

The period from 1930 to the mid-1940's was the period of Great Depression in the United States. It was during this time of struggling economy that Olin's parents, Luther and Mary Sisco, were having difficulty maintaining and affording the small farm that they had in Hallstead, PA from the income generated from the crops grown in their fields. To help keep the farm, Olin moved his family in with his parents. They waited until June to move the family allowing Dorotha and Leon to finish the school year in Johnson City.

Relations became strained between Olin and Ethel and Olins parents. Olin's mother despised Ethel and had threatened to do all that she could to sabotage the marriage. Olin gave his mother the choice of staying in their current home or moving into the former Severson's home. Mary chose the latter. Eventually, Olin purchased the family farm from his father and also purchased the home on the road above them from the Severson's for his parents to move into as shown in the 1940 federal census. He added more property to the farm from tax sales and in time had a large farm along Route 7 (Church Street) on the road that leads from Conklin, New York to Hallstead, Pennsylvania. The first piece of property that he purchased was along the main road and the creek. Olin's dream was for both he and his son Leon, to run the farm together. Olin must have rented the Theron Street residence out as Real Estate records show that he sold it on October 19th, 1942.

Ethel would bake and can fruits and vegetables from their gardens, taking them to Johnson City to sell for extra income. The basement of the farmhouse was simply dirt floors with stones collected from the fields and creek beds stacked on top of each to provide some insulation from the dirt walls. Wood shelves were built along the walls to provide storage for canned goods and vegetables for the winter. The cool, dark and damp basements provided excellent storage for winter vegetables. Leon and Dorotha had to do the house and farm chores while Olin sold insurance.

Olin was very stern and possessed a good business sense. In 1922, to provide the family with additional income Olin joined the Prudential Life Insurance Company and was a sales agent throughout the Binghamton, NY and Susquehanna, County, Pennsylvania area.

He was well respected throughout the area for his business acumen and insights. Many people turned to him for advice on business matters. He retired from Prudential after his first heart attack. Olin was fiercely protective of his family making certain that everyone was provided for. Between January 1918 and December 1920 the world suffered from a major flu epidemic called the "Spanish Flu" that killed between 50 to 100 million people one of which was Olin's twenty-one year old sister Clara Almira who died on March 1, 1920, She left behind a husband, George Lynn Jamison and two children, four year old Lloyd and two year old Luther.

After Clara's death, Lynn abandoned the boys. His WWII Draft registration in 1942 shows him living at 60 Hamilton Street New Haven, CT. Luther was sent to live his paternal grandparents believed to be in New Haven also and Lloyd was sent to live with his maternal grandparents Mary and Luther Sisco in Hallstead, PA. Luther ended up in a children's home in Connecticut. At that time a children's home was viewed almost like a juvenile detention center as opposed to an orphanage. Olin went to Connecticut and got him out. Unfortunately, Luther became a liability. He began to drink heavily. One day Lloyd got a call from the local Hallstead theater that Luther was there drunk and causing a disturbance. Lloyd went to get him but instead of taking him to Luther and Marys, he took him to Olins house. In the process of attempting to get him under control Olin slapped Luther in the house to get him to pay attention. Luther then attempted to punch Olin but missed putting his fist through the wall in the back room that served as Olin's office. Rather than repair the wall, Ethel simply hung a picture over the hole.

On another occasion, Luther went to the Swift's slaughter house that was located across SR 1033 behind what is now the American Legion building. Olin had warned him not to go there because some of the animals to be slaughtered had diseases. Luther brought back pig cholera to Olin's pigs that he was growing for market.

While living in Johnson City in their early married life, Olin and Ethel attended the First Baptist Church, Johnson City, New York. He served the church by teaching as a Sunday school class. The family later attended the Primitive Methodist Church in Johnson City. Sometime after he joined Prudential, he got away from the church until many years later after he suffered a heart attack. At that point he became active at the First Baptist Church, Hallstead PA eventually becoming a deacon. He would travel throughout the Southern Tier of New York and northeastern Pennsylvania to hear preachers. He purchased a portable reel to reel tape recorder to record their messages for greater insights and understanding of the scriptures.

When first grandchild Yvonne Bonnie Sisco came along Olin planted a stand of pine trees in her honor across Bogart Street, then a dirt road with two ruts. Olin was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing on the Susquehanna River and gardening. He had two hunting hounds named Skipper and Tony that he kept outdoors even in the coldest weather because he didn't want to "ruin" them. At times the snow would accumulate to 24-36 inches, so deep that a path needed to be dug from the house to their dog houses near the detached garage in order to feed them. Only on a few extremely cold nights did he allow them into the house for warmth.

Olin began smoking while working for Prudential. As a result of years if smoking he developed a "smoker's cough" better known as pulmonary edema. Olin suffered his first heart attack around 1960, eventually succumbing to atherosclerosis and severe myocardial fibrosis on October 10, 1965


Buried:
Lot 155 Section K Floral Park Cemetary Johnson City NY

Died:
Heart Attack

Olin married Ethel Mae Banker 1 Sep 1917, Binghamton, Broome, New York, USA. Ethel (daughter of Nathaniel James Banker and Lila Ann Hinds) was born 23 May 1900, Hallstead, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA; died 20 Feb 1972, Binghamton, Broome, New York, USA; was buried , Johnson City, Broome, New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ethel Mae Banker Sisco was born the third of six children of James Nathaniel and Lila Ann (Hinds) Banker on May 23, 1900 in Hallstead, PA. Both twenty-seven years old at the time. The family rented a home at 213 Fourth Street in Hallstead, PA., within walking distance of the Hallstead train depot where Ethel's father worked as a brakeman for the D, L, & W Railroad.

The 1910 US Federal census shows ten year old Ethel still living at the Fourth Street address. The Banker family were some of the first settlers in the Hallstead area. The family farmstead and cemetery are located at the intersection of SR1022 and Hunzinger Road up DuBois Street, just up the hill from the Fourth Street home of James and Lila.

Like most of her generation, Ethel's education perhaps ended around the sixth grade. Not much is known about her teenage years.

While it is not known when or where she met Olin Sisco, it can be surmised that they either met each other after Olin's family relocated from Nicholson, PA to Hallstead sometime between 1910 and 1917 or, perhaps she began working at the Endicott Shoe Company where her brother was employed before she was seventeen and met Olin there. Seventeen year old Ethel and twenty year old Olin were married on September 1, 1917 at the parsonage of the Grace Baptist church by Rev. H. M. Shepson, a well known evangelist throughout the area. Ethel continued to work at EJ until she and Olin Sisco began their family in 1920.

One year after their wedding, Olin would be called to enlist in the US Army and sent to basic training in Georgia. While Ethel must have missed Olin during this period, his time in the army was shortened and he would never deploy as WWI came to an end five months into his enlistment.

On February 25, 1920, three years after their wedding and at 20 years old Ethel would experience joy as first child Dorotha was born. Life continued to get better and better and by 1923 they purchased a home at 6 Theron Street and in 1923 the twins, Leo and Leon were born.

Unfortunately that joy would begin to turn to sorrow, grief and misery as Leo, born with a spinal defect died nine months after his birth. As was customary in those days, the deceased would be mourned in the home and then taken by the funeral home to the grave site. Dorotha Sisco Thomas remembers sitting in the back seat of the funeral home's large car between her mother and father with Leo's casket sitting across their laps as they were driven the few short blocks to the Floral Park Cemetery in Johnson City, NY.

In 1925, the federal census shows that Olin, Ethel, Dorotha, and Leon lived at 6 Theron Street along with Lorena Banker and Ellsworth Banker, Ethel's sister and brother who were also working at the EJ sho factory at the time. The 1930 census shows that Olin, Ethel, Dorotha and Lillian continued to live at the 6 Theron Street address and that Lorena and Ellsworth had moved out.

By 1940, the family had moved to Hallstead where Ethel's tribulations continued in marriage. It is often said that when you marry, you marry the entire family. This unfortunately was the case for Ethel as her mother-in-law for some reason despised her. Grandson Terry Sisco remembers Ethel as a warm, caring and giving woman who was very devout in her faith in Christ. It is not known when her relationship with Mary Sisco deteriorated but she endured a difficult relationship with her mother-in-law who overtly expressed that she would do all in her power to break up Ethel's marriage to Olin if "it were the last thing I do before I die."

While Dorotha and Leon grew up as model children, Lillian, the Sisco's third child was more of a free spirit. She died at the young age of twenty-three of kidney failure adding to the emotional toll that Ethel had endured her entire married life. It was Ethel's faith in God that sustained her through these tribulations.

Ethel typically wore a "house dress" with an apron over it and black orthopedic high heel shoes. She loved baking. Her baked goods along with canning fruits and vegetables added to the finances of the family. She would take her goods to market in Johnson City, NY along with produce raised on the family farm.

She was a faithful member of the Hallstead Baptist church and was a very devout Christian who intensely loved her family. Her lifelong friend was Bessie Gathany, with whom she spent many hours sewing and conversing. Bessie, her husband Dan along with Olin and Ethel took trips from Hallstead to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida in the days before Interstate highways.

She was a very talented seamstress. Esther Sisco, Ethel's daughter-in-law worked for the Harvey's Chicken farm in the 1950's and would bring collect the empty chicken feed bags that were typically made of flannel. She would give these to Ethel who would make grandson Terry Sisco pajamas from the material. Ethel loved her grandchildren and enjoyed them spending weekends at her house and attending church with her. As a treat she would make "bread, butter and sugar sandwiches.

As a hobby she raised African violets.


Buried:
Floral Park Cemetary

Died:
Stroke and Diabetic complications

Notes:

Charles Bailer and his generation lived in a world vastly different than that of today. His was the last of a trully agrarian American culture. His generation didn't have the advantages that resulted from the advances of the industrial revolution such as the gas engine. They plowed their fields with oxen and horses, not tractors. Life for Charles generation was hard, yet simple. The pleasures of life didn't cost in terms of dollars. Esther (Bailer) Sisco remembers each Sunday evening the family would have apples and popcorn as a treat. Recreation consisted of swimming in Otisco Lake or visiting neighbors who were in some manner, likely related. Their pleasures were simplistic by today's standards. The change in the American culture began as the children of this generation began leaving the farm, favoring the opportunities and lifestyle available in the cities and suburbs.

Charles and his siblings were the first generation of Bailers born in America. Born the fifth of twelve children to Johann "John" Bailer and Elzabeth (Edinger) Bailer on Wedneday, November 8, 1882 at home in Otisco, NY, he was particularly close to his older brother John Bailer. Due to the fact that there were so many children in the family, it was expected that the next older child would take care of and watch out for the next youngest sibling. Therefore, John being fourth born took care of Charles, the fifth born.

Charles attended the one room schoolhouse in Otisco which was located next to the present day post office (see photos) completing his education to the sixth grade. This was not uncommon in the rural farm areas of New England at the time. The reason that public schools close for the summer stems back to the agrarian roots of the United States. It was during the summer that the children were needed to assist on the family or they were hired out by other families to work on their farms thus providing added family income. This was true of Charles experience. At twelve years of age he went to work as a farm-hand since there were so many children in the family and his parents couldn't afford the expenses. He lived on the farm he hired out to and then in winters would move back home and go to school. This is evidenced by the fact that according to the 1900 US Federal census, Charles was working as a farm hand for Samuel Cowles of Otisco, NY. His daughter, Esther (Bailer) Sisco remembers Charles telling her how homesick he would get for his family during these summer jobs.

Charles and his brother John became partners in a farming venture sometime between 1900 and 1910. The April 1910, U.S. Federal census shows them as partners and sister Anna as a farm-hand. It was also during this time that Charles met Dora Hobart and began courting her. He would ask John for permission to take the horse and buggy to pick Dora up to take her on a date. Since these were the days before telephones were widely used, they were write back and forth to communicate. In his letters to Dora, Charles would always sign his name, "Your Friend."

On March 29, 1911 Charles and Dora were married at the home of her grandfather, Henry J. Tuffley (See Photo Scrapbook below for images). He continued to work the farm with John Bailer after he married Dora. Both Horace and Phyllis Bailer were born in this house.

Around 1921, Charles and Dora purchased a farm on Tully Road (Route 80) in Otisco, New York because the original farm was too far for their son Horace to walk to school. The home is located at 1779 Route 80 in the town of Otisco. It was in this home that Esther Bailer was born and grew up.

Phyllis stayed home and took care of her younged siblings. Esther used to have to help harvest cabbage. It was picked by the wagon full and she would have to throw it off wagon. Esther recalled that one of her "tosses" accidently hit Charles in face and gave him a bloody nose. Then they would unload the cabbage and place it on the ground near the barn with the core down and it would be covered with hay. In the winter, when the price of cabbage would go up, it would be loaded on a wagon and taken to the Tully railroad. Esther relates that her father would get so cold that he would wear a full length horse skin coat. Sometimes his nose would freeze. He had blankets that he would put on the horses. Esther would also have to pick up potatoes after school. Her hands would get very cold.

Charles found that after his son Horace graduated from high school and began attending college, he could no longer work the farm by himself. Charles brother, John had sold the original farm and had moved to Hallstead, Pennsylvania and began working for the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western (DL&W) Railroad. In 1935, through John's encouragement, Charles and family moved to Hallstead, Pennsylvania and went to work for the same railroad as a laborer. As a laborer he repaired rails and ties.

The trains ran frequently during this time so he and the work crew had to be off the tracks when a train went by. He knew what time each train was to pass by so he had to keep his pocket watch accurate. He wore bib overalls and kept his pocket watch in the pocket of the bib.

They originally rented a house on Chase Avenue just off of DuBois Street in Hallstead, PA for a short time. Approximately one year after moving to Pennsylvania, Charles and Dora heard that the DuBois's were looking for a caretaker for their farm. So they moved to the DuBois farm on Harmony Creek Road in Hallstead, PA and became the caretakers of the farm. The Bailer family lived in the main house as the DuBois's would only visit for a few weeks each summer. At this same time Charles continued to work for the railroad which ran from New York City to Buffalo, New York.

Charles & Dora eventually were able to purchase their own house at the corner of Church and Tannery Streets in Great Bend, Pennsylvania. The house has since been torn down to make way for expansion of the fire station parking lot. Directly behind the house were Lackawanna railroad tracks. Even in retirement, sitting in his recliner watching television Charles would take out his pocket watch to check the time when the train went by. The trains ran so precisely on schedule that Charles would actually adjust the time on his watch based on the time that the train passed by their house. Terry Sisco remembers placing pennies on the tracks for the trains to flatten.

The kitchen in this home was located at the back of the house and had a wood burning stove. The stacks of wood to fuel the fire were stored on the back porch. Dora planted a vegetable garden in the back yard and at one point raised chickens for fresh eggs to eat and sell. To the rear and left side of the house was an unattached garage. Later in life Dora would not let Charles drive becuase he tended to be "heavy on the peddle."

Charles had very strong opinions concerning just about everything. He was a staunch Republican and was never afraid to express his opinion that "being a Democrat was worse than being a Catholic." He was a very gregarious person who "never met a stranger". He loved people and loved to tell stories. The Bailer children had an exceptional ability to remember dates such as birthdays and anniversaries. Charles was a hard worker even into his senior years. Two things that he believed a man should never be without were a pocket watch and a "jack knife", both of which Charles always carried.

He enjoyed chewing tobacco much to the chagrin of Dora. Each time he heard Dora coming he would take the wet chewed tobacco out of his mouth and hide it in his back pocket. Charles enjoyed whittling wood and playing what he referred to as the "mouth organ" or harmonica. He impressed his grandchildren by being able to carve a whistle with his jack knife out of a willow branch. He loved to watch the Lawrence Welk Show but despised the popular singer Perry Como, because he was a "foreigner." This was humorous because Charles mother and father immigrated from Germany.

Later in life, Charles suffered from arthritic hips and walked with a bad limp. He walked with a cane that also came in handy when he wanted to reach some or get someone's attention.

Charles married Dora Maude Hobart 29 Mar 1911, Otisco, Onondaga, New York, United States. Dora (daughter of Dix R. Hobart and Mary L. Tuffley) was born 10 Apr 1886, Preble, Cortland, New York, USA; died 17 Sep 1966, Binghamton, Broome, New York; was buried 1966, Vesper, Onondaga County, New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Dora Maude Hobart grew up with a loving mother and an abusively alchoholic father. Dora told daughter Esther (Bailer) Sisco, that when she and her siblings were young her father would make them place the straight backed dining room chairs in the room in a circle with the chairs facing inward. The children were required to sit there for hours and not be allowed to speak for reasons unknown, but perhaps because he simply required silence. As is typical of children, they figured out how to make a game of the circumstances by developing hand signals and jestures to communicate one with the other. Sometime after the year 1900 and at the age of fourteen, Dora's mother Mary (Tuffley) Hobart secreted Dora and her siblings away from their achoholic and emotional abusive father Dix to live at the home of Mary's father Henry Tuffley.

Living in the home of her grandfather, who was born in England influenced Dora's speech patterns. For example instead of saying "It was," she should would say "'Twas" and for "It is" was expressed as "'Tis."At 18 years of age, Dora who loved sewing had saved enough money to purchase a trendle sewing machine which is still in the possession of her grand-son Terry Sisco.

In 1910, as a 24 year-old Dora was living in Otisco, NY with the Newman family as a "servant" which most likely meant that she was tending to the Newman's three chidlren ages four and under along with houshold chores and duties. It was perhaps around this time in Otisco that Dora caught the eye of a shy Charles Bailer.On March 29, 1911 at 25 years old Dora married Charles in the home of her grandfather Henry. Then by May of 1911, Dora was expecting her first child. Ethel Bailer came into their lives on February 14, 1912 but the joy would be short lived as Ethel contracted erysipelis which, before the days of antibiotics could lead to death. Ethel died on July 14, 1912. Daughter Esther Bailer Sisco remembers Dora telling her of the bouts of depression that she would lapse into after the loss. Dora also suffered from excrutiating migraine headaches throughout her life.

After an unsuccessful attempt at farming in Otisco, Dora and Charles left the area of their childhood and support of their family close by to move to DuBois Street near the end of Chase Avenue, Hallstead, PA. Charles brother John Bailer had gotten a job working for the D, L, & W railroad as a laborer and urged Charles to follow. Charles and Dora were able to land the job of caretakers on the DuBois farm on Harmony Road, Hallstead. James Taylor T. DuBois (1851-1920) was born in Hallstead, Pa. He began his illustrious career as a Newspaper editor; He then began a career in government first as U.S. Commercial Agent (Consul) in Aux-la-Chapelle, 1877-81; U.S. Consul in Aix-la-Chapelle, 1881; Leipzig, 1884-85; U.S. Consul General in Saint Gall, 1897-1901; Singapore, 1909-11. He became the U.S. Minister to Columbia, 1911-13. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution dying May 27, 1920 at the age of 69 years. His burial location is unknown.Turning on to Harmony Road off Highway 11 in Hallstead, the farm is the first road on the right once and is the tract of land East of downtown Hallstead (Hwy 11), west of I-81, south of the Susquehanna river. The proprty at one time extended up the mountain behind the farm which was used for game hunting and contained a hunting lodge used by James Dubois and associates.

At some point in time prior to1943, Dora and Charles moved to the corner of Church Streets and Tannery in Great Bend, PA. The home is no longer there as the Great Bend Fire Department needed the location for extra parking. The home was burnt in a controlled setting and used for practicing fire fighting.Joe Scalzo and family lived next door to Dora in Great Bend and the grandchildren were not permitted to speak to any of the Scalzo kids as she had an ongoing feud with Joe about his "junk yard." The house contained a wood burning stove for cooking and heating. The back porch was always stacked with wood for the stove. Even though they eventually purchase a gas stove, Dora and Charles preference was the wood stove.Dora was a the dominant personality in the marriage. For example, she wouldn't let Charles drive the car because he had a "heavy foot" meaning that he drove too fast. Later in life, Dora's eyesight got bad with glaucoma and cataracts. This was before the days of eye surgery and the only relief was to place drops of medicine in the eyes.

They were poor and relied on government subsidies. Grandson Terry Sisco fondly remembers how wonderful it was to eat peanut butter at their home. It came in a large tin that used a "key" to open. There was a heavy layer of peanut oil on the surface that had to be mixed into the peanut butter. He didn't realize until he was older that it was government surplus peanutbutter. At Christmas the Hobarts would enjoy English pudding.

Notes:

Frances "Luther" Sisco was born to Stephen and Mary Ann Johnson Sisco on Tuesday, May 24, 1870 in Nicholson, Pennsylvania. The US Federal census of 1880 confirms that Luther was living at home with his parents in Nicholson. Luther married Mary Mercy Phillips who was nine years his junior on August 25, 1895 in Factoryville, PA. Dorotha (Sisco) Thomas, Luthers grand daughter relates the story that Luther worked for Mary's father who owed Luther money. Since he couldn't pay, he gave Mary to Luther in payment. By 1900, the Federal Census shows Luther as married to Mary Phillips and having two children, Olin and Clara.

Luther was a carpenter and bridge builder who worked on the Nicholson Railroad Bridge in Nicholson, Pennsylvania. His grandson, Leon Sisco recalls visiting him in a shanty village as he was building the bridge. In 1910, the US census shows the Sisco's living on Capwell Hill Road in Clinton, PA. In 1920, Luther and Mary, now in their forties were living alone on Silk Mill Road, Hallstead, PA. It is intereseting to note that their neighbors were the Elveys and Chidesters who would be their neighbors in other locations. In 1930, they were living on River Road with their thirteen year old grandson George "Lloyd" Jamison living with them as his mother Clara Sisco Jamison had died of the "Spanish Influenza" in 1920.

In 1940, Luther and Mary were living on Road 710 (now Bogart Avenue) in Hallstead in the "Severson's" house that was purchased for them by their son Olin. Olin, Ethel and their three children were living down the dirt road in the home that the Luther was originally living in. See Olin Sisco's narrative for the reasons for the living arrangements.

He possessed a bad temper. Luther died in Scranton, PA at the Moses Taylor Hospital.


Buried:
Rose Hill Cemetary

Died:
Age: 78

Frances married Mary Mercy Phillips 25 Aug 1895, Factoryville, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, USA. Mary (daughter of Charles Harris Salsbery Phillips and Almira M. Gardner) was born 1 Aug 1879, Nicholson, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, USA; died 20 Jan 1953, Hallstead, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried , Hallstead, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary died at the home of Lloyd Jamison.

Notes:

James Banker Killed in Train Wreck
Sisco Family GenealogyTerry Sisco

Each year the Primitive Methodist Church of Johnson City, New York set aside a special Sunday in June to celebrate Childrens Day and the date selected in 1925 was Sunday, June 14. Ranked somewhere after Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, Childrens Day was a special celebration to recognize and honor the children of the church. The childrens choir would sing. Memorized Bible verses would be recited by kids too young to understand the full impact of their message. Some of the older children even got to read something that they had written in Sunday school about their faith.

It was also a day for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to marvel at how much cuter, taller, smarter or prettier their child was compared to the others. The week leading up to this special day was spent memorizing lines and rehearsing parts.
There should be no doubt that there is something truly special about granddaughters, especially first granddaughters. On this particular Sunday morning, number Six Theron Street in Johnson City, New York was full of energy and excitement. First child, first grandchild and first niece, Dorotha Sisco was about to make her debut in the childrens program.

Like a favorite doll, Dorothas two aunts, Lillian and Lorena Banker spent an inordinate amount of time curling and fixing her hair, making certain that she would be the cutest girl in the five-year-old class. Ethel Sisco appreciated her two sisters help dressing Dorotha. She and husband Olin had their hands full getting two year old Leon dressed and ready for church.
Dorothas grandparents James and Lila Banker had spent the night as they wouldnt have missed this performance for the world. James, a conductor for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (D, L & W) railroad line was elated that his schedule worked out so that he could enjoy the festivities and family time together. That is, until sometime after breakfast.
With no phone of their own, the Sisco's relied on their next door neighbor who had a phone to relay messages. At approximately 8:45 a.m., the neighbor came over and advised James that there was an emergency call for him. He had left the neighbor's number as an emergency contact number for work. The caller advised him that he was needed immediately to fill in over the next few days for a fellow conductor who had fallen ill.
The eastbound passenger train was known as Extra 1104. It was called Extra because it was a non-scheduled special run of German-Americans on an excursion from Chicago, Illinois to Bremen, Germany.

Each year travel agent Leopold Neumann arranged this trip of mid-western Germans to visit the fatherland from which they or their ancestors had emigrated years earlier. The D, L & W train would take them to Hoboken, New Jersey where they would board transatlantic steamer, "Republic" awaiting to take them the remaining distance to Bremen. The designation of "1104" was given because this was the number permanently assigned to the massive steam engine.

Trailing behind Engine No. 1104 were two coaches and five Pullman sleeping cars, all of steel construction. All 182 passengers, mostly from Chicago were aboard and the porters were loading the final bags for the Monday, June 15, mid-morning departure. The Chicago travel agency had nailed large banners on the sides of the cars emblazoned with "See the Old Country Again."

Under the grey Chicago skies that threatened rain, one can imagine the care-free group of German-Americans leaning out of the windows waving good-bye as No. 1104 and its seven cars gradually strained and shuttered as it pulled away from the station.

Leaving Chicago, the excursion travelled westward through Buffalo, New York. The drizzle grew into a heavy rain by late-afternoon as the train entered the Binghamton, New York area. The bad weather was probably never noticed by the passengers now a few hours into the excitement of their adventure. Children were likely running through the aisles or exploring their little sleeping compartment on the Pullmans. Some of the adults were perhaps sitting around in the coach cars in animated discussion about finally returning to the old country. Others stared out the windows enjoying the panorama as the train swept along the scenic Susquehanna River, passing by the lush green farmlands and crossing one of the marvels of modern engineering, the historic Starucca Bridge in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania.

The rains subsided about twenty miles down the tracks from Binghamton in New Milford, Pennsylvania. Within forty-five minutes the train would be making a stop in Scranton for fuel and a fresh crew.

Two experienced railroad men took charge of the train at the Scranton station. Up front, Engineer Loomis was in charge assisted by a fireman whose job it was to shovel coal into the firebox of the engine, maintain the steam pressure of the boiler and to keep the cylinders on the drive wheels oiled while the train was underway. Conductor James Banker, now into his second day filling in for the ill co-worker was responsible for the seven cars, the D, L, & W employees, the cargo and most importantly, its passengers. He was assisted by a head brakeman along with a flagman by the name of Judge who was stationed in the rear of the train. There were also several porters on the Pullman sleeping cars.

This final portion of the trip would take them southeast from Scranton through Moscow, Gouldsboro, and Pocono Summit. It would then continue down through the Delaware Water Gap at East Stroudsburg crossing the Delaware River exiting Pennsylvania into New Jersey. From there it would head on an easterly route through Hackettstown, Morristown and on into Hoboken where the passengers would board their awaiting ships. The rains intensified as the train left Scranton at approximately 10:15 pm.

Hackettstown, New Jersey is nestled among the historic Revolutionary War farm towns and villages with names such as Great Meadows, Liberty and Washington. It marks the halfway point between the agrarian tranquillity of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to its west and the modernity of New York City fifty-two miles to the east.

The same storm front that drenched Binghamton hours earlier stretched all the way east to the Atlantic Ocean. Hackettstown was hit with a violent thunderstorm the evening of Monday, June 15. A lick of lightning made a direct hit on the Williams and Hibler Lumberyard (now the site of Blue Ridge Lumber). The ensuing fire, fuelled by the stacks of lumber lit the dark night sky of Hackettstown like a flickering candle lights a darkened room. Most of the townsfolk worked unsuccessfully to quell the blaze that eventually burned the lumberyard to the ground. Yet, unbeknownst to anyone, the storm had also set the stage for another, more deadly disaster.

The Rockport Crossing is the point where the D, L, & W track crosses rural Hazen Road in Rockport, New Jersey. In 1925, the state completed the purchase of 492 acres for a pheasant farm where Hazen Road slopes steeply towards the tracks.

Joseph Snyders house sat about three and one-quarter miles from the Hackettstown train station not far from the Rockport Crossing. Having spent most of his evening watching the lumberyard blaze from his home, Joseph was surprised when he looked at his pocket watch and it read 2:23 a.m. On his way to retire for the evening he could see the headlamp of Extra 1104 approaching from a distance. As it got closer he noticed that the tender, the small car just behind the engine that carries the supply of coal seemed to be oddly derailed.

The recommended speed for trains through this section of track is seventy miles per hour. Due to the poor weather, Engineman Loomis was travelling at approximately fifty miles per hour when his engine No. 1104 began to derail from the track twisting out of control. There was no way for him to see or know that the torrential downpour had washed debris across the track at the Rockport Crossing. With the tracks covered with five to six inches of dirt and gravel there was nothing to keep the steel wheels of the front engine truck, the first set of wheels of the engine on the tracks. At 2:24 a.m. the engine ploughed through the crossing but the pony tender with its wheels off the track clutched the frogs of a switch derailing the engine and causing the coach cars to jump the tracks and begin a staccato bone jarring tap dance along the wooden ties of pine and oak.

The forward inertia twisted and tossed the steel frames of the cars as if they were mere toys. Loomis never had time to apply the brakes. At 2:25 am, on the morning of Tuesday, June 16, 1925, engine 1104 came to rest on its side. The first two cars, the coach cars filled with fifty people decoupled and came crashing across the steam engine.

The first car came to rest across the boiler of the engine while the second coach car came to rest across the rear of the boiler. The impact of the collision practically ripped all of the steam fittings and valves away from the boiler permitting the pressurized steam and hot water to spew upward like a geyser into the two passenger cars resting above. A New York Times article later appropriately dubbed the first coach car as the Death Car.

Joseph Snyder sounded the alarm by telephone and then, with his wife rushed to the aid of the victims. Lyman Gulick, another farmer rode half clad in his automobile to Hackettstown, two miles away and summoned physicians and ambulances from there and other towns.

With little rest from fighting the earlier fires at the Williams and Hibler Lumber Yard, the citizens and doctors of Hackettstown rushed to aid the victims of this horrific accident. Arriving to the hissing and whistling sounds of the pressurized steam escaping its boiler, No. 1104 appeared in the dark as a moaning, writhing, dying behemoth. They were aghast at what they found. The suffering was intense.

Using sheets and pillows appropriated from the Pullman cars, the citizen rescuers struggled to bring the slightest bit of the comfort to those scalded by the steam. One man jerked a roll of bills from his pocket and begged Joseph Snyder to kill him ending his misery. Only a few trainmen and passengers were killed instantly. One woman was decapitated. The others went through hours of agony before they succumbed to their injuries.

Those that could be transported were taken to the hospital in Easton, Pennsylvania twenty-five miles to the southwest of Hackettstown. Others were transported to hospitals in, Dover and Morristown as there was no hospital in Hackettstown. On June 17, police were forced to draw up lines around the Easton hospital as hundreds of grief stricken relatives caused a near riot in an effort to ascertain any information about their loved ones.

Grand-daughter Dorotha Sisco Thomas remembers hearing the story that James Banker was seen walking down the tracks with his conductors lantern aglow, perhaps in a state of shock from severe scalding shouting, My God, would someone please help me. James Nathaniel Banker died nine days later on June 25, 1925 at the age of fifty-two.

Mr. and Mrs. John Pfeiffer, an elderly couple from Hold Corss, Iowa, riding in the front of the first coach miraculously survived with only a few bruises. Other survivors told of a slightly scalded Chicago woman who limped moaning through the wreckage until she found her missing purse.

A total of fifty passengers died, some from the impact of the crash, most from being scalded by the inescapable steam. Of the five crew members, only Flagman Judge survived as he was positioned at the rear of the train.

An investigation into the accident by the W. P. Borland, Director of the Bureau of Safety for the Interstate Commerce Commissions found that it was just that...an accident. There was no blame to be placed, no fingers to be pointed as all had done their jobs appropriately. It was deemed an act of God.

Today, the Rockport Crossing near Hackettstown, New Jersey is peaceful and quiet. In the area of the pheasant farm on Hazen Road near the crossing there is a simple garden to mark the site of the crash that happened generations in the past. In the garden is a brass plaque memorializing the final stop of engine No. 1104 and honouring the souls that were lost that early Tuesday morning of June 16, 1925


Buried:
Rose Hill Cemetary

Died:
Train Wreck

Nathaniel married Lila Ann Hinds 1897. Lila (daughter of Albert Post Hinds and Lilly P Sweet) was born 20 Jul 1872, Montrose, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA; died 30 Oct 1950, Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried , Hallstead, PA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Lila had two or three strokes.


Buried:
Rosehill Cemetary

Notes:

Johann Bailer was born April 14, 1842 to Richard Bailer and Johanna (Seele) Bailer and according to church records received his first communion in 1856 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Salmendingen, Germany.

Salmendingen is a small agrarian village located on the Swabian Alb in the southern German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. In Germany, whenever a town ends in “ingen” it indicates an Alemannic settlement. Church records have the Bailers living in Salmendingen in 1777.

Johann (John) Bailer and his brother Christian (Chris), who was three years younger were the only two children of Richard and Johanna Bailer to immigrate to America. While the exact reason that compelled them to leave family and friends has been lost to history, family lore provides two possibilities. Johann's son, Floyd Bailer shares that he had always heard that they immigrated to escape conscription into the Kaiser's army and most certain death. Johann's grand-nephew Eugen Bailer, who lives in Germany believes that they immigrated because farming conditions became poor due to famine and drought making farming jobs became scarce. America held the promise of jobs.

In 1865, Johann received his official papers allowing him to immigrate to North America. The 1920 US Federal census lists his immigration year as 1865. He became a naturalized citizen sometime before 1875 according to the 1875 NYS Census.

It is believed that Johann landed in New York harbor. Family lore has it that he had heard that the landscape and climate of central New York was like that of his hometown of Salmendingen which is located in the Black Forest area of Baden-Wurttemburg Germany. Johann kept a journal documenting his voyage to America. The journal is now in the possession of Richard Bailer, son of Horace Bailer. While the journal is written in German, written in English on the inside back cover is the note, "Please direct to Baldwinsville, Clay Corners, Brewerton, West Monroe." Baldwinsville. This address is in the Syracuse vicinity which is near where he settled. The name Basil Bailer is also notated in the journal with an address in central New York. It might be assumed that Basil was a relative who had already immigrated and was a "sponsor" for Johann.

John worked as a laborer on what began as the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad. In addition to passengers, this railroad also carried coal mined in Pennsylvania to be used as fuel for the salt mines of Syracuse. In 1869, this railroad company merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company therefore Johann may have been employed by the D, L & W railroad.

He met Elizabeth Edinger in the United States. Even though her family immigrated to America from Germany, Elizabeth was born in the United States after her family’s arrival. They had their first child, Elizabeth "Lizzie" on January 9, 1873 and according to the 1900 Federal census they were married in 1874.

At some point, Johann Bailer leased a farm in Skaneateles, NY from Ann C. Briggs, entering into a lease agreement on August 26, 1874. He agreed to pay $160.00 annually along with paying highway and school taxes on the property. The lease agreement also required Johann to supply Ann Briggs with all the apples that she and her family might require.

John (Johann), then settled in a small empty house at 1999 Buckwheat Rd., Otisco. The house, built in 1850 was vacated when the owner, John O'Connell and his family decided to follow Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism westward abandoning their Buckwheat Road home. Sometime after the Bailers had moved into the house, John O'Connell showed up and demanded that they get out. The matter ended up in court and the court found in favor of the Bailers, therefore they were able to take over ownership of the house and property. During the time that the property was being contested a guard had to be posted at the Bailer house because the O’Connell’s were threatening to burn the house down while the family was asleep. On January 15th, 1894, John O'Connell pointed a gun at Johann resulting in an arrest warrant for O'Connell.

After John and Elizabeth passed away, the house was occupied by the son Floyd Bailer, who lived there until his death in 1972. James and Lynn Cummings now own the home. It has been remodeled but the Cummings incorporated a large beam from the existing structure as the Bailer family had made inscriptions in it.

John and Elizabeth spoke German in their home, so English was a second language for the children.


Buried:
Lake View Cemetery

Johann married Elizabeth Edinger 1874. Elizabeth (daughter of Johann Georg Edinger and Maria Elisabetha Cappel) was born 6 Sep 1849, Erdesbach, Germany; died 26 Dec 1926, Otisco, Onondaga, New York, USA; was buried , Amber, Onondaga County, New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Notes:

There is not much information known about Dix Hobart. This is due to the fact that Mary Tuffley, his wife left him due to his abusive nature, a result of alchoholism. Sometime after 1900, Mary developed a plan to leave him. While he was at work she packed the children's belongings and hid them from his sight. In the middle of the night, perhaps with the help of the older children she hitched the horses to the wagon and loaded it with the children's belongings. She then woke the children and quietly spirited them to the awaiting wagon. She fled to her parent's house. From that point forward, no one ever spoke much of Dix R. Hobart. According to his daughter Dora Maude Hobart Bailer, while they were married, Dix would come home from work and he would make the children sit in a circle in the the straight backed dining room chairs. They weren't allowed to utter a word. According to Dora, the children developed hand signals to silently communicate and make the situation tolerable. When Dix was 72, he was living in the Cortland County Almshouse which was a county "poorhouse."

Following the US Federal Census information allows us to piece together where Dix was living and with whom every ten years.
In 1860, Dix was 1 years old living with his parents Amasa and Jeanette Hobart in Marcellus, NY where his father was a laborer most likely on a farm.
In 1870, Dix was 11 living with his parents in Tully New York where his father was a farm laborer.
In 1880, Dix was 21 living with his parents and six siblings in Tully, NY where he was a farm hand.
In 1900, Dix was 41 living in Scott Town, Cortland County, NY. He and Mary had been married to Mary for 18 years and had nine children living with them. Dix owned the farm
In 1910, Dix was 51 living in Spafford, Cortland County, NY. He and Mary were divorced and living with Dix on a farm that he owned was his 70 year old mother Jeanette who was widowed and his 24 year old sister Carrie J Hobart
According to the 1910 US Federal Census, Dix ex-wife Mary and her four youngest children were living with her father Henry Tuffley and her brother Edward Tuffley in Otisco, NY
In 1920, Dix was still living on the farm in Spafford, NY but by himself.
In 1930, Dix was 72 living in Cortlandville Township listed as an "inmate" in the Cortland County Almshouse.

Dix death certificate reflects that he died July 6, 1937. His death certificate was witnessed by his sister, Carrie (Hobart) Keyes.


Buried:
Elmwood Cemetery Hwy 281

Died:
Cortland County Hospital

Dix married Mary L. Tuffley 25 Dec 1881, Otisco, Onondaga, New York, USA. Mary (daughter of Henry J. Tuffley and Anne Tuffley, daughter of Henry J. Tuffley and Ann Skinner) was born Nov 1863, New York; died 3 Dec 1942, Onondaga, Onondaga, New York, United States; was buried , Vesper, Onondaga County, New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary married Dix R Hobart in 1882 according to the 1900 US Fderal Census. In 1900 the Hobart's had nine children living with them. At some point between 1900 and 1910,she seperated and divorced Dix. According to family lore, fearing for her children's safety, Mary (Tuffley) Hobart, then in her late-thirties devised a plan to remove herself and nine children ranging in age from age seventeen to five months old at the time of the 1900 census from the intolerable circumstances of abuse. She spent days furtively packing the children's belongings and hiding them under their beds. Then, in the middle of one night she must have been both dreading and dreaming of for weeks, she snuck out of the house and into the barn to hitch the wagon to the horse. One can only imagine the fear awaking Dix with sounds eminating from the process. She then returned to the house and awoke the children begging their silence. She quietly spirited them out of the house back to the barn each carrying their own belongings. is difficult to comprehend the level of fear as she slowly pushed the barn door open to the creaking, screetching groaning sounds that used to be so familiar to this agrarian generation. One wonders, did she move the buggy slowly out of the barn or did she take of like a bolt? At what point in the journey from the hell of home to the security of her father's house did she feel that sense relief and release? Did her mother and father know of her plan and help her plan or were they stunned to see Mary and the children?

In 1910 Mary is shown living with her four youngest children with her father Henry Tuffley and her brother Edward.