The Otsego Farmer and Otsego Republican
Friday, December 17, 1915

KILLED BY FALLING TREE

Emerson Stickles, aged about forty five years, residing about three miles north of Hartwick, near the village of Burlington, met death Wednesday afternoon of last week by being caught by a falling tree in the woods at which he was at work.
Mr. Stickles, together with his father, Robert Stickles and son in law, Murry Benjamin, had gone to the woods shortly after noon hour and was engaged in cutting trees for firewood. During the early afternoon a heavy wind prevailed and while the three were at work on a tree they had cut down, a dead tree, standing nearby, toppled over and crashed down on the younger Stickles, pinning him to the frozen ground. One large limb had caused a frightful wound to his head and had rendered him unconscious. By almost superhuman strength the other workman raised the tree so the unfortunate man could be extricated. They saw that his injuries were grave and at once started to carry him to his home but before the house was reached he had expired. A medical examination later, by Dr. C. V. S. Evans of Cooperstown, acting coroner disclosed a fracture to the base of his skull, a broken neck, and a fracture of the right leg.
The deceased was for many years a resident of Fly Creek. Early last Spring he purchased the Ainslee farm near Hartwick but in mid summer sold this property to a Dane and removed to the Mickle farm about three miles north of Hartwick and has resided there since. He was a man held in high esteem by all his acquaintances and his untimely death will be a source of much sorrow to all who knew him.
Besides his father he is survived by his wife and nine children; Mrs. Murry Benjamin, residing at Burlington Green, and the following residing at home, Emory, Bertha, Jesse, Harry, Ora, Robert, Zara *(should be Zella), and Cecile, the youngest being but two years of age.