Individual Notes

Note for: Elizabeth Abigail Simmons, 28 FEB 1907 - 30 OCT 1989 Index

Individual Note:
At the age of six, Elizabeth was raped by a boarder (Frank Luckins) who was living in the house at 50 Onondaga Street. He was convicted and went to Auburn prison. Elizabeth had problems the rest of her life as a result of that event.
Later, she met an auto mechanic in Auburn, NY named Harold Miles. One night after a big fight with her mother, Elizabeth ran off with Harold to Ithaca together to the hotel where Harold's two sisters worked. The state police caught them at the hotel in Ithaca.
The couple married on Oct. 12, 1924. They were married by a justice of the peace in Skaneateles. Elizabeth's marriage license, which is in the Skaneateles town office, lists her as Elizabeth "Adelle" Simmons. Witnesses at the marriage ceremony were Charles R. Sinclair and Ina (Ira) Larcum. They had five children but according to Ruby, only Joe was Harold's.
On February 9, 1939, when Harold, Sr. was sent to Attica State Prison, Elizabeth went to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility as an accomplice of some sort.
After Harold got out of Attica he returned to Skaneateles where he may have built a tiny house on Jordan street (from town... on the left, a few houses after the Catholic Church, set back, maroon). The land probably belonged to the Miles family who gave it to Harold, Sr.
At some point, probably in the 1940s, Herald built a house across from Lakeview Cemetery (near Genessee and Franklin streets.) He was helped by a man named Joe. Joe lived in Skaneateles and may have had a construction company, or just did carpentry work. Ruby says that Joe was well-to-do, and well-liked. He may have assisted in the building of this house either with labor or materials or both. According to Ruby, Joe was in his mid-40s in 1935. (24 Jordan St was where the
Skaneateles Lumber Company was located. Joe Squires lived on Jordan Street.)
According to Ruby, Elizabeth told her that Joe is Helen's real father. She says Elizabeth was very fond of Joe, but that he was married. He wanted to have children but his wife was unable. And it is Joe that wanted her named Helen. Joe bought all of Baby Helen's clothes.
Before the trial, Harold and Elizabeth were living in the house that Joe helped them build. Elizabeth signed the house over to her lawyer who eventually got the house.
Elizabeth died in a nursing home in Auburn, NY. She is buried in the rural cemetery in Weedsport, NY

Individual Notes

Note for: Harold Clifford (Provo) Miles, 18 MAR 1898 - 28 MAY 1984 Index

Individual Note:
Harold was born Harold Provo in Ithaca but was adopted by the Miles family. He was not Catholic. At the time of his marriage, his occupation was listed as farmer. His father murdered his mother in front of him when he was two... chopped her up with an axe. Harold had two sisters that were not adopted. They either ran, or were involved with, a hotel in Ithaca, NY. On February 9, 1939, Harold, was sent to Attica State Prison, sentenced to 4-8 years for second degree rape.

Individual Notes

Note for: Roscoe Perry Simmons, 17 MAY 1922 - 14 JUN 1993 Index

Individual Note:
Roscoe went to West Point. A gunnery sargeant? He got polio there and had a pension for the rest of his life. He married a woman named Helen and they had six children but were later divorced. He traveled around the country playing music on guitar and organ. He had a beautiful voice. He lived in a mobile home, sold Singer sewing machines door to door.

Individual Notes

Note for: Bertha Belle Hemmingway, 29 OCT 1896 - 28 APR 1969 Index

Individual Note:
She was married to Prince before Vargason. Prince died.

Miss Ella Simmons and Wilfred Hole were the two witnesses at her marriage. Copy of marriage license in book at Skaneateles town office.

When Bertha died, she left the house on the corner of East Lake Street to Harold Miles, Sr. Harold Miles, Jr. got the house when Harold, Sr. died.

In 1967 she lived at 40 Onondaga St, Skaneateles. That year, Harold Miles, Sr sold her the house at the corner of East Lake Street and Onondaga St, for the sum of $1.

Individual Notes

Note for: Lee Prince, - BEF 1920 Index

Individual Note:
Died in some type of barn contruction accident. Hit by a beam

Individual Notes

Note for: Walter Vargason, 1895 - Index

Individual Note:
Paper mill worker. He lived in Mottville at the time of his marriage.