Rock Stream Cemetery

West side of Old Lake Road, North of RockStream Road

Starkey, Yates Co., NY

H - N

If you would like to submit Yates Co Cemetery data to this site please contact me.  Copyright resides with the contributor.  Owned and transcribed by Dianne Thomas. 

Returnto Home Page                                 Returnto Cemetery Index

H   -   N

A- G             O- Z 

ClickHERE forpictures of Headstones donated 

This is the largest burial ground in the townof Starkey, after the Dundee village Hillside cemetery.  It is currently ownedand maintained very well by an active cemetery association. An original transcription of the cemetery was made by Mrs. Grace Perry Ameigh, supplyingreadings of many unmarked graves. Most of the older lots are not associated withan actual owner. In this listing, the names attached to plots and monuments donot bear any necessary connection with their owners. The cemetery is easilyaccessible from the road.

WatkinsExpress            Thurs               Sept 7, 1882

Suicideof Stephen Kimball of Starkey -  StephenKimball, aged eighty-two years, who resided between Rock and Big streams,in the town of Starkey, Yates county, committed suicide by hanging, at about twoo'clock p. m., on Thursday last.

Thedeceased had resided for upwards of fifty years upon the premises on which hedied, and although he had purchased them by contract many years ago and had madea small payment thereon, he had never received a deed to the property, and onlyby the sufferance of a relative was allowed to remain in possession. About ayear ago, however, the title to the premises passed into other hands and a writof ejectment was served upon the old man. During February last,  his wifedied and almost alone in the world, with no place to lay his head in his oldage, he vowed never to leave the place alive.

Theday of his death was the last day the law allowed him to remain on the premises,and after the noonday meal, he requested his niece, MissMargaret Seeley, who has been his housekeeper since the death of hiswife, to summon Major G. W. Ruscoe, who resides inthe neighborhood. Fearing that he contemplated suicide, she lost no time inacquainting Major Ruscoe of the fact, and heanswered the summons as soon as possible.

Hewas, however, too late to prevent the rash act, as be found Mr.Kimball hanging by the neck in the woodhouse. He immediately cut him downand endeavored to resuscitate him, but without success, the old man havingfulfilled his vow and thus only leaving the premises, on which he had toiled forover half a century, with death.

CoronerHarvey, of Dundee, held an inquest over the remains Thursday evening, theburial taking place at Rock Stream Cemetery the Friday following.

GenevaDaily Times   Wed                  Jan 29, 1919

WatkinsNYExpress                          Aug 16, 1922

AGEDVETERAN OF CIVIL WAR DIES AT ALTAY -  At Altay, this county on July 30thoccurred the death of the aged and well known Civil War veteran, ArchibaldJones. -  Mr. Jones was born at Rock Stream February 5, 1842. Heserved in the Army of the Potomac, Company G., 97thRegiment, New York Infantry, First and Fifth Army Corps. He was madeCorporal and served in severalimportant engagements, among which were The Battle of the Wilderness, ColdHarbor, Five Forks and Gettysburg. 

Mr.Jones was twice married. His first wife was MissMary Marshall, who only lived a few years. Later he married MissAbbie Miller of Rock Stream, who survives him. On July 3rd occurred their51st wedding anniversary. To them were born nine children, seven of whomsurvive: Mrs. Alletta Still andArchibald Jones of Watkins; Mrs. Susie Cadyand Mrs. Gertrude Broadbent of Sugar Hill; Mrs.Grace Hathaway of Altay; Mrs. Delia Lercox ofStar key and Mrs. Mary Knapp of Rochester.

Thereare also 28 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren surviving besides severalbrothers and sisters. Mr. Jones had lived all hislong and useful life in this vicinity and will be greatly missed by hisneighbors and friends as well as by the bereaved family. While he had been inpoor health for some time, the end came very suddenly and was a shock to hisfamily and friends. He was a member of the Rock Stream Presbyterian Church,serving as an elder. Rev. V. G. Shaffer, assistedby the Rev. W. Y. Roberts of Rock Stream,officiated at the funeral on Wed., August 2nd. Interment was in Rock Streamcemetery.

WatkinsExpress, WatkinsGlen                 June 10, 1931

TheWatkins Express, WatkinsGlen               Jan 11, 1933

MaryEllen Hetfield - Last Friday at the close of a most beautifulwinter's day the Angel of Death spread his wings over the little village of RockStream and bore away the soul of an aged pilgrim, and when the day closed,neighbors and friends called one to another on their phones, saying, "Ella",as they called her, "is dead."

MaryEllenHetfield was born in Rock Stream, on Oct. 28, 1851 in the same room inwhich she died.  She joined the Christian church at an early age and wasalways one of it's faithful members, having been church organist for 25 years.

Shewas the second daughter of Moses and Eleanor WarnerHetfield and she with her sister, Eugenia,lived in the home. She was highly esteemed by the community and the home wasalways open to all. Many a church supper or social was held there.  Severalyears ago, the two sisters took to live with them, a little girl, who has nowgrown to womanhood and is the wife of Harry Jessop,who has been a great comfort to both her and her sister.

TheWatkins Express, WatkinsGlen                Jan 6, 1937

Mrs.Homer Hubbard - The funeral of Mrs. Adella SquiresHubbard, 83, wife of Homer Hubbard ofReading, was held in the family home on Tuesday, December 22, 1936, in thepresence of the immediate family and a few relatives. Interment was made in the RockStream cemetery.

WatkinsNYExpress    July 12, 1939

Thedeath of Alfred Helsing occurred at his home inRock Stream early Saturday morning, July 8, following an extended illness. 

Mr.Helsing was born in Finland on March 31, 1861. He came to this country 51years ago and had resided in Rock Stream for the past 12 years.  He issurvived by his widow, Mrs. Maria Wickman Helsing, sixchildren: Mrs. Walter Slack of Pasadena, Cal., Mrs.Cecil Terpening of Wingdale, N. Y., Mrs. DelbertBenson of Elmira, Oscar Helsing of Canton,Pa., John of Seneca Falls and Charlesof Elmira, 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held athis late home on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Rev.Geo. McCulloch, pastor of the Rock Stream Presbyterian Churchofficiating. Burial in the Rock Stream Cemetery. Mr.Helsing was a kind neighbor and friend and will be missed by his manyfriends.

HTML by Dianne Thomas

Copyright 2004 - 2014

additions by SusanMc Adam

additions by CliftonHathaway

additions by Dianne Thomas

These electronic pages may be printed as a link or for personal use, but is NOTto be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by ANY otherorganization or persons.


[NYHistory and Genealogy]