George B. Folts

Photo is from the book Morris New York 1773-1923 by Joyce Foote

George Buchanan Folts

George Buchanan Folts. Oldest son of Spellman and Mary Ann Colvin Folts, entered into rest Sunday, February 6, 1921, after a tedious illness of over four years duration.
Mr. Folts was born September 16, 1856, on the Folts homestead.
His early education was obtained in the district school and the village school; later he entered Lowell business college, Binghamton,where he graduated with honors.
After leaving business he entered Henry R. Wasbbon’s law office, remaining until the spring of 1881, when in company with H. March Washbon he went to southern Kansas taking up a claim in what was then a vast prairie.
In 1883 Mr sold his interest in Kansas returning to Morris to engage in carpenter work for short time.
Following this he entered A. P. Barber’s law office where remained until the death of Mr. Barber.
Mr. Folts served the town very efficiently as postmaster during Cleveland’s second term.
Early in 1886 he entered into partnership with E. M. Sloan in the hardware business retiring from the same in the fall to buy out J. H. Elliott’s drug and grocery store. This business he enlarged and improved and for years until failing health made active work an impossibility, he was one of the leading business men of the county.
In February, 1917 he suffered his first shock and continuing to fail in health he sold his business to A. L. Welch Co. In June 1918, after which he did what he could in his garden and about his home.
He suffered his last shock January2, which was followed by a state of mental despondency which resulted in the act which hastened his death.
Mr. Folts too great interest in public affairs and was a zealous worker in the Democratic party, being for a long time a member of the County committee.
He served for many years as Justice of the Peace and was a director of the Morris Fair Association until his death.
Ever ready to support any measure that he believed to be of benefit to the the town, he was hale fellow well met and was always addressed as George by his friends, young and old.
Many a person will remember the helping hand that he extended to them in time of need.
He was for many years a member of the Tienuderrah Lodge F. & A. M.
A large concourse of friends assembled to pay their last tribute of respect at his funeral which was held at his funeral which was held at his late residence, Wednesday, February 9, Rev. F. G. Leonard of the Universalist church officiating, speaking from the text; “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Interment was in the family plot in Hillington cemetery.
Mr. Folts is survived by one brother, James Folts of this village, and two nephews. Richard Folts and Leo Folts, both successful business men of Geneseo.

God of the living, in whose eyes
Unveiled thy whole creation liest
souls are thine, we must not say
That these are dead who away
From this our world of flesh free,
We know them living unto thee.
Released from earthly toil and strife,
With thee is hidden still their life;
Thine are their thoughts, their wards,
their powers,
All thine, and yet most truly ours;
Fore well we know, wherever they be,
Our dead are living unto thee!

Thetext above if from The Morris Chronicle, February 16, 1921, page 3

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174792011/george-b-folts

SUICIDE AT MORRIS

George B. Folts, long a respected resident and until a few years ago a prominent business man of Morris, died Sunday evening at 7 o'clock from the effects of a bullet wound inflicted by him with su
icidal intent on the preceeding Friday afternoon. Mr. Folts, who was about sixty-four years of age, was for many years a leading and successful druggist of Morris, but some six years ago he suffered a shock which compelled his retirement from business. He occupied rooms in the Colvin residence, and is known to have often expressed his weariness of life and a desire to be at rest from the suffering which he endured. On Friday afternoon he was alone in the house, and on the return of a member of the household at 5:30 o'clock he was found lying on the floor in the bath room, suffering from a self-inflicted bullet wound in the head. Dr. Allen was summoned, and though Mr. Folts had suffered greatly from loss of blood, immediate attention was given, and it was believed that he would recover. This was the case until Sunday morning, when he became unconscious and so remained until the end ... Interment in Hillington cemetery."

[The Otsego Farmer & Republican (Cooperstown, NY), Feb. 11, 1921, p. 8]