Colman’s Spirit Of Service Lives On In Otsego County Name Rare Locally, But Relatives Of First USDA Secretary Plentiful By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com RICHFIELD SPRINGS – There may be no “Colmans” around here, but there’s plenty of Colman kin: Burches, Osterhoudts, Ainslies and Blisses, among others. “It’s an honor to have somebody at that level in our government related to me,” said Orlo C. Burch Jr. of Hartwick, who called after reading last week’s article about a…
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Indiana Remembers Tiny Greenville Erects 1st Marker To USDA Chief, Richfield Native By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com RICHFIELD SPRINGS – From 655 miles away, Greenville, Ind., is claiming Norman Jay Colman, the nation’s first U.S. secretary of agriculture, born on May 16, 1827, in Richfield Springs, as its own. “We wanted to honor him: He was the first to hold a national office,” said Matt Uhl, chairman of the Greenville Historic Preservation Commission, which is planning to unveil…
IN MEMORIAM: George E. Key Jr.; County Native Drove Milk For Living HOBART – George E. Key Jr., a Richfield Springs native who spent his career as a truck driver, shipping milk and cattle locally and across country, passed this Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, passed away at his home peacefully with his family close by his side following a short battle with cancer. Born in Richfield Springs, he learned young what a hard days work was on…
IN MEMORIAM: Ward Fish Jr., 79; Spent 19 Years At Remington Arms COOPERSTOWN – Ward C. Fish, Jr., who spent almost two decades at Remington Arms, peacefully passed away Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. He was 79. Ward, known as Jim, was the son of the late Dorothy (Sheridan) and Ward C. Fish, Sr. of Richfield Springs. Jim was born on the family farm on March 7, 1938. He met his “huggy bear,” Merri Lynn (Macomber) at the roller skating rink…
IN MEMORIAM: Anna E. Taggart, 94; From Family Farm To Dairy Queen ONEONTA – Anna E. Taggart, 94 years, 364 days and 12 hours old, passed away Feb. 21, 2017, just 12 hours shy of 95. Anna was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Richfield Springs, the daughter of Lawrence Graves and Etta Bouton. She married Willis B. “Jiggs” Taggart at their family home in Oneonta, next to Foti’s Bakery.…