On this day 79 years ago, Jasper Hollenbeck died. Yes, it was Valentine's Day, but for him the days of celebrating Valentine's Day had ended fifteen years prior, when his wife, Mary Ellen, died.
Jasper was born on the 9th of June, 1861, in Willet, Cortland County, New York. He was the son of Nicholas Hollenbeck, Sr. and Lucy Ann (Shevalier) Hollenbeck. Jasper and his family owned large tracts of land in central New York, ever since the military tract was created after the American Revolution. He married Mary Ellen McGinnis, the daughter of Irish immigrants, William & Catherine McGinnis. She was a school teacher. Together they had one child, Rose Ellen Hollenbeck. Rose married Albert Jay Leonard on July 12, 1922, one month after Rose's mother died. Rose and Albert had one child, Robert Jasper Leonard, born on Sept. 16, 1924. For more information on these families, see "Leonard Road".
Obituary:
Jasper Hollenbeck, 75, of West Willet passed away Sunday morning at about nine o'clock. Mr. Hollenbeck was only ill a few days having fallen on the ice last Wednesday, Feb. 10, which resulted in a fractured skull. Mr. Hollenbeck was the son of the late Nicholas and Lucy Sheveler Hollenbeck. He married Miss Mary McGinnis, Jan. 16, 1889. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Rose Leonard, and two grandsons, Billy and Robert Leonard. One sister, Mrs. Addie Jones of Willet and two brothers, Seymour Hollenbeck of Willet and Nicholas Hollenbeck of Blodgett Mills.The funeral (handwritten note: "Feb. 17, 1937") was held at his late home in West Willet, Wednesday at 2 o'clock. The Rev. L.L. Vought of Marathon officiating and burial was in the Marathon cemetery.
For more more information, see the Leonard page and the Hollenbeck page.
If anyone has a photo or portrait of Jasper, his wife, or daughter to share, please do!