Hallstead- We have just received a message that Mark O’Neill, son of Mr. and Mrs. P.J. O’Neill, had been killed in action in France. He was the first soldier from Hallstead to go to France. He served in the heavy artillery. ALSO Conductor Eugene F. Wilmot has been retired on a pension after 49 years faithful service with the Lackawanna railroad. He is one of the most widely known of all the men employed on the Lackawanna system and has been over every foot of the main line, from Hoboken to Buffalo, as well as all the road’s branches. It is surely some record to have been in the employ of one railroad company for 49 years.

Clifford – In recognition of valor shown when he succeeded in driving off three German albatross airplanes, which attacked the machine he was piloting over the enemy’s lines, Lieutenant A.J. Coyle, a native of this place, has been decorated with the French War Cross. Coyle is a member of the American flying corps in France, being among the first to enlist after the declaration of war.

New Milford – David VanBuskirk, who has conducted the undertaking business here for many years, has sold the business to A.H. Crosier. Mr. Crosier is an experienced undertaker and funeral director. F.K. Sutton will represent the new proprietor here.

Jackson – A severe wind storm, accompanied by much lightning and thunder, visited this section Sunday, May 12, and did extreme damage to fruit orchards and wooded territory; also to much valuable farm property. In North Jackson and Lakeview several farmers had roofs torn from farm buildings and several silos were blown to the ground. A number of buildings were completely demolished.

Great Bend – The commencement exercises of the Great Bend high school were held Monday evening in the M.E. church. The following were the members of the class of 1918: Mara Burke, Marguerite Sine, “Max” McCormack, Helen Miller, Edna Luce, Milly Carnegie, Kathryn Dobson and Pearl Cook.

Montrose – C.M. Read arrived on Saturday from the National Soldiers’ Home, Johnson City, Tenn. Mr. Read has spent a comfortable winter and still speaks in the most enthusiastic terms of our government’s care of her veteran soldiers. His brother, B.C. Read, formerly of Hallstead, is located at the same home and may spend the summer there. ALSO There will be a hop at Colonial Hall, Friday evening, in honor of the 103 drafted boys, who will leave Saturday morning. General admission, 10 cents; Dance tickets, 50 cents a couple plus war tax. Music by Mahon’s orchestra. ALSO The King’s Bible Class of the African Methodist-Episcopal Zion church has a service flag displayed in the church, upon which appear two stars. The members of the class now serving their country are Carl Smith and Claude Slaughter.

Brooklyn – Memorial services will be held in the Universalist church next Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. Rev. Halfacre will address the few remaining veterans of the Civil War. It will be a union service, in which the other two churches will join. On Decoration Day the exercises will be held in the M. E. church. The Odd fellows and Boy Scouts will participate in the parade as well as the Hopbottom band.

Forest City – Next Thursday afternoon, Memorial day, there will be a parade and patriotic meeting under the auspices of the Forest City and Vandling chapter of the American Red Cross. The parade will begin at 2 o’clock and the line of march will be from North Main street to Kennedy’s corner in Vandling, then counter march to the Forest City High School, where the patriotic exercises will be held. F. M. Gardiner, Esq., will be Grand Marshall, with J. J. Connelly, James Dutchman, James Chudinski and William Painter, Jr., aides. ALSO An enthusiastic meeting was held in the Family theatre Sunday afternoon. The object, as stated by the Rev. J. Mroziewski, who presided, was to encourage the movement organized several months ago to build up a large force of men of Polish extraction to aid the allies in crushing the Hun.  Rev. J. Mroziewski made a powerful plea and urged his hearers to aid the movement by extending their physical and financial support.

Uniondale – An invitation has been given the surviving members of Mathew McPherson Post, G.A.R., to participate in the parade at Forest city on Memorial day.

Harford – We are pleased to learn that Charles R. Labarre, of Wysox, is steadily recovering from an operation. He is a former Harford young man and was at one time the principal of the Kingsley school. Knowing him, we half surmise that his energy and ambition caused him to work beyond his strength—and he is no weakling—on his farm in helping increase food production to the detriment of his health.  His brother, Frank, of Harford, is with him at present.

200 Years ago from the Montrose Gazette, May 23, 1818.

*From the Saratoga, NY Republican. DIED. At Ballston, on the 24th instant, Mrs. Abigail, wife of Seth C. Baldwin. The loss which society and the church of Christ sustained in the death of Mrs. Baldwin, is alleviated by the reflection that she departed an eminent example of the power of Religion to give peace in death, and has left the most satisfactory evidence of having entered into rest. She has left a family in circumstances peculiarly afflicting. In addition to the loss of an invaluable mother, they have a few months since been reduced by the pressure of the times, from a state of affluence to poverty, and the father having separated from them at that time, from the same causes, they are cast in the morning of life, upon the world, without property and in effect parentless. **This afflicted family not knowing where to direct a letter to the surviving parent—Editors of Newspapers, particularly those in the southern and western states, are requested to give this notice an insertion in their papers.  Ballston, 29 April, 1818. (The 1810 census lists Seth Baldwin, Ballston, Saratoga, NY,  as having a total of 15 free whites, free colored, and 2 slaves living on his property.)

*STATE ROAD. Notice is hereby given that the Commissioners appointed to expend the monies appropriated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the East and West road, so called, will attend at the house of Asa Lathrop, in Springville township, on the 21st day of May inst., at 10 o’clock, A.M. to contract with any person or persons wishing to work said road. JABEZ HYDE, jr., H. TIFFANY, JONAH BREWSTER, Commissioners.