Family Profile
of

Erman Francis Shoultes

WRITTEN BY:
Terrell Wayne Shoultes
17582 123rd Terrace
Jupiter, Florida 33478

Source: This information was contibuted by Terrell Wayne Shoultes, the owner of the original receipt.

Copyright 1997 Terrell Wayne Shoultes

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Erman Shoultes

Erman Shoultes

Erman Francis Shoultes was born at Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York on August 10, 1872. He was the second child of Ira Adam Shoultes (12Oct1844-5Mar1922) and Nancy M. Schoolcraft (7Oct1841-10Jan1921). It is believed that his childhood and educational opportunities were had near this village. It is not known how much education he received, nor details about his early years.

On August 27, 1892, Erman Shoultes united in marriage with Rhoda Euneth Henry (15Jul1876-15Jun1912). Rhoda Euneth Henry was born on July 15, 1876 at Nanticoke, New York. She was the daughter of George Henry (1852-????) and Euneth Brown. The family moved the village of Newark Valley when she was a young girl. Her siblings included Leda (1885-????), Lena (1886-????) and Lynn (1893-????).

It is believed that Erman and Rhoda Shoultes made their home in Newark Valley. However, the United States Census Report of 1900 shows their residence in Owego (Tioga County), New York. There were four children born to them. Erman worked at several jobs during this period and the family appears to have moved to new locations often.

Rhoda Shoultes developed erysipelas in 1912 and suffered greatly with the disease. On June 15, 1912, it claimed her life. The TIOGA COUNTY HERALD of Newark Valley recorded her death as follows:

Mrs. Erman Shoultes, whose critical illness for several weeks has been previously mentioned, died at her home in this village on Saturday morning, at 4:00 o'clock. The cause of death was officially certified as erysipelas.

The funeral was held at the home at 10:00 a.m. yesterday, and burial was at Hope Cemetery. Rev. W.F. Tower of the Baptist Church officiated. The floral offerings were very beautiful, and included pieces sent by the Senior Class of the High School, and Baracca and the Philathea Classes of the Baptist Church. The Baraccas also attended in a body.

Rhoda E., the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Henry, was born in the town of Nanticoke, on July 15, 1876, but this town had been her home since a young girl. She was married 18 years ago to Erman Shoultes and is survived, besides her husband and parents, by four children - Vera, Paul, Jay, and Stacey. She also leaves three sisters and one brother - Mrs. F.L. Blair of Union Center, Mrs. Leda Pitcher of Binghamton, Miss Lena Henry of Binghamton, and Lynn Henry of this place.

Especial sympathy is had for the eldest daughter, who is a member of the graduating class at the high school, and was preparing to take the trip to Washington, D.C. with the class. She was under the painful necessity of taking her examinations at the school yesterday afternoon, where a private examination was arranged for her.

By the medical standards of today, her death was caused by extremely high blood pressure and resulting seizures. Rhoda Euneth Henry Shoultes was buried in Hope Cemetery, in the village of Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York. This tragic event appeared to split the family. Daughter Vera Rhoda (27Dec1895-15Nov1944) married in 1915 and took over the care of younger brother Stacey (30Jul1907-1Feb1960). Jay (22Jul1899-30Oct1975) and Paul (11Apr1897-10Dec1944) established bachelor quarters until Paul married in 1916.

Around the year 1917, Erman married a second time, to the former Wilma E. Cole (5Jul1898-6Mar1971). Wilma E. Cole was born at Dryden (Tioga County), New York on July 5, 1898. She was the daughter of Andrew Cole and Carrie Hammond. Very little is known about her adult life.

Wilma Cole was remembered by one of the elder residents of Newark Valley. In a correspondence from 1977, the following observation was offered by Mrs. Lena Bushnell (1890-????).

"WILMA COLE SHOULTES JOHNSON - her birthplace was either Dryden of Richford, as her parents lived in both places. I knew Wilma very well as she worked for me for a time. It was sort of a May-December wedding, but she was a very likable girl with luscious big brown eyes. I well remember when Lloyd (1920-1920) died, but I had forgotten that he was born after Erman had died."

Erman Shoultes continued employment at the Bordon Creamery at Newark Valley until the winter of 1919. Although documentation has not been observed, it is believed that Erman and Wilma separated and Erman took employment near the village of Catatonk (Tioga County), New York where he worked as a laborer on a large (Robinson) farm. In February of 1920, he developed a severe case of influenza.

Erman Francis Shoultes died on March 3, 1920 at the age of 47 years. He died two months before the birth of his son Lloyd Francis (4May1920-4Aug1920). The March 11, 1920 edition of the OWEGO GAZETTE recorded his death as follows:

Erman F. Shoultes died Wednesday morning, March 3, of meningitis, following influenza, at the home of his son, Paul Shoultes, at Newark Valley, aged 47 years. The funeral was held on Friday afternoon and burial was in the cemetery at Newark Valley. He was employed at the Bordon plant at Newark Valley until about two months ago when he moved to the Robinson farm two miles south of Catatonk. After he was stricken, he was taken to the home of his son. Besides his wife, he leaves three sons; Paul Shoultes of Newark Valley; Jay Shoultes of Waverly; and Stacy Shoultes at home; and a daughter Mrs. Roy Tuttle of Owego.

It is interesting to note that his son by marriage to Wilma Cole, Robert Merle (1919- ) is not mentioned in the obituary. Erman Shoultes was buried with his first wife Rhoda E. Henry, at Hope Cemetery in the village of Newark Valley (Tioga County), New York.

The son he never saw, Lloyd Francis Shoultes (4May1920-4Aug1920) tragically passed away in his sleep on August 4, 1920 at the age of three months. The cause of death was probably what has become known as "crib death." The August 20, 1920 edition of the OWEGO GAZETTE told the story as follows:

A BABY IS SMOTHERED - A Richford correspondent says that Lloyd Shoultes, the infant son of Mrs. Wilma Cole Shoultes, was found dead in bed last Wednesday morning by the mother when she awoke. Dr. Goodell was summoned and decided that the child had in some way been smothered in the bed clothing during the night. The funeral was held Friday. The baby was born May 24, several months after the death of the father, Erman Shoultes, who died at Newark Valley of pneumonia.


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