1927 Jan 14, Waterville Times, Waterville, New York

WILLIAM T. LOFTUS PASSES AWAY AT HOME

William Thomas Loftus, one of the town of Marshall's most prominent farmers, died at his home at Dicksville at 6:15 p. m. on Thursday,April 7, following an illness of six days with pneumonia. The deceased was born in Clinton on November 23, 1S53, son of James and Ann Fay Loftus. Following the death of the husband and father, the widow, desiring to live near her brother-in-law, Thomas Loftus, a most exemplary man, came to this town and later to Waterville, where they lived for several years. Mr. Loftus was united in marriage on November 27, 1877, to Mary A., daughter of Patrick Milet of Madison, where the young couple made their first home and in the springtime of 1881 they moved to the Charles I. Peck farm at Peck's Corners, where they continued to live for eighteen years. Mr. Loftus has often been heard to say that the C. I. Peck farm was his school of agriculture. A warm friendship and admiration existed between the two men which continued until Mr. Peck's death.

In 1899 Mr. Loftus purchased Meadowbrook and proceeded to develop it until it became, one of the most productive along Willona. He was one of the first to have electricity installed and gradually came into all modern equipment. Though possessing but common school training he became familiar with many of the masters of English literature. He was keenly interested in the science of government and read carefully every president's message to congresses of the past twenty-five years. He loved the humor and pathos of our poet Riley and four volumes of the Hoosier poet's work have a place in the bookcase at Meadowbrook. He was a man of heart and principle, with highest ideals of personal conduct and of citizenship.

He leaves to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father, his wife,two daughters and four sons. They are: Miss Elizabeth Loftus and Mrs. Alice L. Jordan, James and W. Fay Loftus of Dicksville, Fred J.Loftus of Earlvllle and H. Milet Loftus of Ontario Center. Also one sister, Miss Mary F. Loftus of Hollywood, and two brothers, James P. Loftus of Ocean Park, Calif., and Patrick H. Loftus of New York City.

The funeral was largely attended from his late home at 5:30 on Monday and from St. Bernard's Church at Waterville at 10 o'clock, Rev. D. M. Hennessy officiating. Mrs. George Hayden presided at the organ, Miss Alice McElhinney sang the offertory solo, and a cousin of the deceased. T. Edward Russell of Utica, rendered "O Salutoris." Interment was made in St. Bernard's Cemetery.

Note: The New York death index shows he died in Marshall, Oneida County, New York