Percy H. Caster, 88, of Lacona, a living legend known to readers of "Tug Hill Country" as "Bear Trap" Caster, died early Wednesday, March 23, 1983 at the Harwood Nursing Home,
Oswego where he had been admitted Tuesday.

Born June 13, 1894 at Redfield, son of Theodore and Lucy Booth Caster, he attended local schools, and married Maud Nemier Sept. 4, 1917 with Rev. T.T. Davies, pastor of the Sandy Creek Congregational Church, officiating. The couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last September.

Mr. Caster owned and operated a farm in the Town of Boylston 22 years, selling the farm in 1939 and moving to Lacona. He was a lumberman and an authority on native timbers, and planted many of the maple trees along the Lacona village streets in 1940.

He was an ardent fisherman and maple syrup maker, maintaining a roadside sugar bush in and a round the village of Lacona for many years.

Serving six years as Town of Boylston highway superintendent, he was Lacona street superintendent for 24 years and superintendent of the Sandy Creek Community Park 14 years.

Mr. Caster was a former Lacona fire chief, an organizer and charter member of the Sandy Creek Fish and Game Club and was
a member of the Sandy Creek Grange for over 65 years.

He is survived by his wife, Maud, a resident of the Harwood Nursing Home; a daughter, Mrs. Lucian (Celia) Aubin, Dexter; a son, Elwood, Lacona; three grandchildren, Mrs. Betty Miller, Sandy Creek, Teddy Aubin, Palermo, and Rosalie Englert, Henderson, and seven great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Mrs. Ida Shirley, died Dec. 6, 1977.

Funeral services for "Perce" were held Saturday at the Summerville Funeral Home, Sandy Creek, with Rev. Stanley Tanner, pastor of Sandy Creek United Methodist Church, officiating. Spring burial will be in the Wesleyan Cemetery, Lacona.

Source: Sandy Creek News, March 30, 1983
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Percy was also well known for his hunting and hunting guide expertise and often guided hunting parties to the best hunting areas within the Tug Hill Plateau. On Sunday 15 August 1956 Percy became well known throughout the area and the country as a man of his word, as he, using his bare hands to set a Newhouse Bear Trap before a stunned audience of public local officials, and the press, therefore earning the nickname of "Beartrap"

Percy H. Caster, 88, of Lacona, a living legend known to readers of "Tug Hill Country" as "Bear Trap" Caster, died early Wednesday, March 23, 1983 at the Harwood Nursing Home,
Oswego where he had been admitted Tuesday.

Born June 13, 1894 at Redfield, son of Theodore and Lucy Booth Caster, he attended local schools, and married Maud Nemier Sept. 4, 1917 with Rev. T.T. Davies, pastor of the Sandy Creek Congregational Church, officiating. The couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last September.

Mr. Caster owned and operated a farm in the Town of Boylston 22 years, selling the farm in 1939 and moving to Lacona. He was a lumberman and an authority on native timbers, and planted many of the maple trees along the Lacona village streets in 1940.

He was an ardent fisherman and maple syrup maker, maintaining a roadside sugar bush in and a round the village of Lacona for many years.

Serving six years as Town of Boylston highway superintendent, he was Lacona street superintendent for 24 years and superintendent of the Sandy Creek Community Park 14 years.

Mr. Caster was a former Lacona fire chief, an organizer and charter member of the Sandy Creek Fish and Game Club and was
a member of the Sandy Creek Grange for over 65 years.

He is survived by his wife, Maud, a resident of the Harwood Nursing Home; a daughter, Mrs. Lucian (Celia) Aubin, Dexter; a son, Elwood, Lacona; three grandchildren, Mrs. Betty Miller, Sandy Creek, Teddy Aubin, Palermo, and Rosalie Englert, Henderson, and seven great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Mrs. Ida Shirley, died Dec. 6, 1977.

Funeral services for "Perce" were held Saturday at the Summerville Funeral Home, Sandy Creek, with Rev. Stanley Tanner, pastor of Sandy Creek United Methodist Church, officiating. Spring burial will be in the Wesleyan Cemetery, Lacona.

Source: Sandy Creek News, March 30, 1983
________________________________________________


Percy was also well known for his hunting and hunting guide expertise and often guided hunting parties to the best hunting areas within the Tug Hill Plateau. On Sunday 15 August 1956 Percy became well known throughout the area and the country as a man of his word, as he, using his bare hands to set a Newhouse Bear Trap before a stunned audience of public local officials, and the press, therefore earning the nickname of "Beartrap"