Rome Sentinel, Feb. 17, 1916
O. S. DORMAN DEAD IN HIS 101 ST YEAR
Passed away quietly at his home in this city
WOULD HAVE BEE 101 SOON
He Was Born at Colbrook River, Conn., March 29 1815 and Had Lived in Rome Since 1877--Had Been a Very Active Man All His Life, and Had Engaged in Various Pursuits--Interesting Sketch of His Busy Life.
At his home, 308 N. James street, at 11:25 o'clock, this afternoon, occurred the death of Orvel S. Dorman, Rome's oldest man, who was approaching his 101 birthday. The end was peaceful and resulted from his great age and a slight cold, which he contacted a short time ago. He had been up and about his home every day until Wednesday, and was bright and cheerful.
During the forenoon he asked his housekeeper, Mrs. Emogene Pexton, if she thought he was dying. She answered him by saying that she did believe so, but he said he thought he was. A short time later, he dropped asleep and passed peacefully away.
During the night, Mr. Dorman slept from 8 to 12 o'clock and from that time until 6 o'clock this morning. He was restless. Later he took a nap and felt refreshed.
When he awoke from his nap he sought to get up but his strength failed, and he appeared to be worried over his condition. Mrs. Frances Pexton, who has attended Mr. Dorman for the past 15 weeks, as a nurse, lifted him to a sitting position in bed. He remained in that position for a short time when he said he wanted to lie down. The request was granted and the end soon came.
Orvel S. Dorman was born at Colbrrok River, Conn., March 29, 1815. He was the son of Clark and Phebe Dorman. His father was a wool carder and cloth dresser and conducted an establishment at Colbrook River. Young Dorman worked is his father's shop and learned the business. In those days there was no machinery in such shops and everything was done by hand. Almost every farmer kept sheep, not only to furnish his family with food but also with raiment. After every sheep shearing time the wool would be taken to the carding shop. A part of it would be carded into rolls to be spun into yarn by the housewife, who would also knit the yarn into stockings to be worn by all the members of the family. The rest of it would be woven into cloth to be made into warm, stout suits of clothes for the men folks and dresses for the women. Very few "store Clothes" were worn at that tine. Everything was done by hand in the most laborious way. Those days were long before the advent of sewing machines or other labor-saving devices, and from the time the sheep were sheared till the stockings and clothes were made all was hand work. Even the logwood that was used in the shop of the elder Dorman was cut by hand and it was owing to this fact that Orvel Dorman carried a mained hand all through his life. When he was two and one-half years old he went to his father's shop one day and in the absence of the parent, he undertook to cut up logwood as he had seen his father do. The result was that he cut two fingers off one of his hands.
When Orvel was 18 years old, he left home to seek his fortune. The first employment that he found was with J. C. & W. Moore of Montgomery, Mass. This firm dealt in Yankee notions and they engaged Orvel to peddle tin ware on foot. He received &10 a month and board. After three months he obtained a place to clerk in Canaan Four Corners, in this state, and staid there for four years, when he went to Monterey, Mass., and clerked in the Union Store for two years. At the end of that time, March 13, 1839, he married Miss Achsah C. Reuwee, who died in April 1900, in Rome, in the same house where Mr. Dorman's death occurred. Mr. And Mrs. Dorman had lived together over 61 years. A short time after their marriage, they went to West Becket, Mass., where he bought up and ran a country store for one year. He then went back to Monterey and conducted a store a number of years. Then he quit merchandise and went to farming until the spring of 1850, when he went to Verona, in this county and bought a farm between the village and the depot and staid there nine years. He then bought a place of six acres in the same town and ran a medicine agency for three years, after which he bought a one horse tannery in Verona, conducting it for three years, when he traded the tannery, house and six acres with the late W. S. Armitage for a brick store and goods in the village, which he conducted for three years. At the end of that time, he traded for another farm, later run by Thomas Dapson. After five years, he traded for a 50-acre farm between Tilden Hill and Lowell. After that he traded for two houses and lots in this city, located on Canal street and in East Rome. He also bought a house and lot on Kossuth street. He had lived in Rome since about 1877.
At the age of 62 years, after removing to Rome, Mr. Dorman retired from active life. An illness followed some months later which continued for over a year, and at the end of that time he was advised by his physician that in activity lay the only hope of recovery, and that he must go to work if he wished to get well. Upon this advice, Mr. Dorman applied for a clerkship at the grocery store foe the late C. W. Elmer. Later he worked as a clerk in the bakery of the late G. W. L. Cheney and still later in E. U. Howland's store; also one year in Utica, earning &3 a week and boarding himself.
After six years Mr. Dorman decided this his time was worth more to himself if wasn't to his employers. His employers didn't think it was so he began to do business for himself. He bought land on contracts, cut it up into 40 building lots, speculated in various ways and made and lost money. Those forty building lots are all sold and other speculations were not as cheerless as they might have been. And in the twilight of his life, Mr. Dorman found himself with a comfortable income--"enough to see me through" as he expressed it.
On January 26, 1915, Mr. Dorman while going upstairs, slipped and fell. He seemed to have received no injuries, and for a week made no complaint. Then, feeling some of the effects from his fall, he called in a physician, who found that he had suffered a fracture of one of the upper ribs on the right side and had slightly strained the muscles of his right shoulder. He was afflicted with a weakness of the right ankle, necessitating the use of a crutch. He was able to go all over the house but not to get out of doors very much. He took a lively interest in current affairs, although owing to a cataract on his left eye he could not read the daily papers, several of which he took, but which he had read to him.
He was always a very acvtive man. A year ago while talking to himself he said: "When I was between 20 and 30 years old I could take three hops on my right foot, kick a beam six feet from the ground with my left foot, return to balance and then take three more hops. I don't think I could do that now."
Mr. Dorman was a remarkably interesting man, had a memory that reached over three-quarters of a century and his mind was as clear as when he was many years younger. His life was one of activity and free from excesses, to which he largely attributed to his long life.
On the Occasion of his 99th birthday, Mr. Dorman remarked: I have always tried to live a clean life and that pays."
On March 20, 1915, Mr. Dorman received a letter from President Wilson and on March 24 one from Governor Whitman congratulating him on the approach of his 100th birthday.
Mr. Dorman was a member of the Free Methodist Church and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Last fall he cast his vote in favor of woman suffrage.
Mr. Dorman was the father of six children, three of whom lie in the cemetery at Verona. Twins, a son and daughter, died in 1859 , on the day they were a year and five months old, and a son was drowned at the age of sixteen in the Erie Canal, near the R. W. & O. bridge while bathing with companions. Three daughters are living, Mrs. Martha C. Gearhart of Dansville Pa.; Mrs. Julia C. Merrill of Vernon and Mrs. Eva L. Wolsey, who resides near Auburn. There are also a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dorman made all arrangements for his funeral some time ago. He arranged with the undertaker, picked out the bearers and the minister to conduct the funeral services and also selected the hymns to be sung at the funeral.
O. S. DORMAN DEAD IN HIS 101 ST YEAR
Passed away quietly at his home in this city
WOULD HAVE BEE 101 SOON
He Was Born at Colbrook River, Conn., March 29 1815 and Had Lived in Rome Since 1877--Had Been a Very Active Man All His Life, and Had Engaged in Various Pursuits--Interesting Sketch of His Busy Life.
At his home, 308 N. James street, at 11:25 o'clock, this afternoon, occurred the death of Orvel S. Dorman, Rome's oldest man, who was approaching his 101 birthday. The end was peaceful and resulted from his great age and a slight cold, which he contacted a short time ago. He had been up and about his home every day until Wednesday, and was bright and cheerful.
During the forenoon he asked his housekeeper, Mrs. Emogene Pexton, if she thought he was dying. She answered him by saying that she did believe so, but he said he thought he was. A short time later, he dropped asleep and passed peacefully away.
During the night, Mr. Dorman slept from 8 to 12 o'clock and from that time until 6 o'clock this morning. He was restless. Later he took a nap and felt refreshed.
When he awoke from his nap he sought to get up but his strength failed, and he appeared to be worried over his condition. Mrs. Frances Pexton, who has attended Mr. Dorman for the past 15 weeks, as a nurse, lifted him to a sitting position in bed. He remained in that position for a short time when he said he wanted to lie down. The request was granted and the end soon came.
Orvel S. Dorman was born at Colbrrok River, Conn., March 29, 1815. He was the son of Clark and Phebe Dorman. His father was a wool carder and cloth dresser and conducted an establishment at Colbrook River. Young Dorman worked is his father's shop and learned the business. In those days there was no machinery in such shops and everything was done by hand. Almost every farmer kept sheep, not only to furnish his family with food but also with raiment. After every sheep shearing time the wool would be taken to the carding shop. A part of it would be carded into rolls to be spun into yarn by the housewife, who would also knit the yarn into stockings to be worn by all the members of the family. The rest of it would be woven into cloth to be made into warm, stout suits of clothes for the men folks and dresses for the women. Very few "store Clothes" were worn at that tine. Everything was done by hand in the most laborious way. Those days were long before the advent of sewing machines or other labor-saving devices, and from the time the sheep were sheared till the stockings and clothes were made all was hand work. Even the logwood that was used in the shop of the elder Dorman was cut by hand and it was owing to this fact that Orvel Dorman carried a mained hand all through his life. When he was two and one-half years old he went to his father's shop one day and in the absence of the parent, he undertook to cut up logwood as he had seen his father do. The result was that he cut two fingers off one of his hands.
When Orvel was 18 years old, he left home to seek his fortune. The first employment that he found was with J. C. & W. Moore of Montgomery, Mass. This firm dealt in Yankee notions and they engaged Orvel to peddle tin ware on foot. He received &10 a month and board. After three months he obtained a place to clerk in Canaan Four Corners, in this state, and staid there for four years, when he went to Monterey, Mass., and clerked in the Union Store for two years. At the end of that time, March 13, 1839, he married Miss Achsah C. Reuwee, who died in April 1900, in Rome, in the same house where Mr. Dorman's death occurred. Mr. And Mrs. Dorman had lived together over 61 years. A short time after their marriage, they went to West Becket, Mass., where he bought up and ran a country store for one year. He then went back to Monterey and conducted a store a number of years. Then he quit merchandise and went to farming until the spring of 1850, when he went to Verona, in this county and bought a farm between the village and the depot and staid there nine years. He then bought a place of six acres in the same town and ran a medicine agency for three years, after which he bought a one horse tannery in Verona, conducting it for three years, when he traded the tannery, house and six acres with the late W. S. Armitage for a brick store and goods in the village, which he conducted for three years. At the end of that time, he traded for another farm, later run by Thomas Dapson. After five years, he traded for a 50-acre farm between Tilden Hill and Lowell. After that he traded for two houses and lots in this city, located on Canal street and in East Rome. He also bought a house and lot on Kossuth street. He had lived in Rome since about 1877.
At the age of 62 years, after removing to Rome, Mr. Dorman retired from active life. An illness followed some months later which continued for over a year, and at the end of that time he was advised by his physician that in activity lay the only hope of recovery, and that he must go to work if he wished to get well. Upon this advice, Mr. Dorman applied for a clerkship at the grocery store foe the late C. W. Elmer. Later he worked as a clerk in the bakery of the late G. W. L. Cheney and still later in E. U. Howland's store; also one year in Utica, earning &3 a week and boarding himself.
After six years Mr. Dorman decided this his time was worth more to himself if wasn't to his employers. His employers didn't think it was so he began to do business for himself. He bought land on contracts, cut it up into 40 building lots, speculated in various ways and made and lost money. Those forty building lots are all sold and other speculations were not as cheerless as they might have been. And in the twilight of his life, Mr. Dorman found himself with a comfortable income--"enough to see me through" as he expressed it.
On January 26, 1915, Mr. Dorman while going upstairs, slipped and fell. He seemed to have received no injuries, and for a week made no complaint. Then, feeling some of the effects from his fall, he called in a physician, who found that he had suffered a fracture of one of the upper ribs on the right side and had slightly strained the muscles of his right shoulder. He was afflicted with a weakness of the right ankle, necessitating the use of a crutch. He was able to go all over the house but not to get out of doors very much. He took a lively interest in current affairs, although owing to a cataract on his left eye he could not read the daily papers, several of which he took, but which he had read to him.
He was always a very acvtive man. A year ago while talking to himself he said: "When I was between 20 and 30 years old I could take three hops on my right foot, kick a beam six feet from the ground with my left foot, return to balance and then take three more hops. I don't think I could do that now."
Mr. Dorman was a remarkably interesting man, had a memory that reached over three-quarters of a century and his mind was as clear as when he was many years younger. His life was one of activity and free from excesses, to which he largely attributed to his long life.
On the Occasion of his 99th birthday, Mr. Dorman remarked: I have always tried to live a clean life and that pays."
On March 20, 1915, Mr. Dorman received a letter from President Wilson and on March 24 one from Governor Whitman congratulating him on the approach of his 100th birthday.
Mr. Dorman was a member of the Free Methodist Church and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Last fall he cast his vote in favor of woman suffrage.
Mr. Dorman was the father of six children, three of whom lie in the cemetery at Verona. Twins, a son and daughter, died in 1859 , on the day they were a year and five months old, and a son was drowned at the age of sixteen in the Erie Canal, near the R. W. & O. bridge while bathing with companions. Three daughters are living, Mrs. Martha C. Gearhart of Dansville Pa.; Mrs. Julia C. Merrill of Vernon and Mrs. Eva L. Wolsey, who resides near Auburn. There are also a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dorman made all arrangements for his funeral some time ago. He arranged with the undertaker, picked out the bearers and the minister to conduct the funeral services and also selected the hymns to be sung at the funeral.
Rome Sentinel, Feb. 17, 1916
O. S. DORMAN DEAD IN HIS 101 ST YEAR
Passed away quietly at his home in this city
WOULD HAVE BEE 101 SOON
He Was Born at Colbrook River, Conn., March 29 1815 and Had Lived in Rome Since 1877--Had Been a Very Active Man All His Life, and Had Engaged in Various Pursuits--Interesting Sketch of His Busy Life.
At his home, 308 N. James street, at 11:25 o'clock, this afternoon, occurred the death of Orvel S. Dorman, Rome's oldest man, who was approaching his 101 birthday. The end was peaceful and resulted from his great age and a slight cold, which he contacted a short time ago. He had been up and about his home every day until Wednesday, and was bright and cheerful.
During the forenoon he asked his housekeeper, Mrs. Emogene Pexton, if she thought he was dying. She answered him by saying that she did believe so, but he said he thought he was. A short time later, he dropped asleep and passed peacefully away.
During the night, Mr. Dorman slept from 8 to 12 o'clock and from that time until 6 o'clock this morning. He was restless. Later he took a nap and felt refreshed.
When he awoke from his nap he sought to get up but his strength failed, and he appeared to be worried over his condition. Mrs. Frances Pexton, who has attended Mr. Dorman for the past 15 weeks, as a nurse, lifted him to a sitting position in bed. He remained in that position for a short time when he said he wanted to lie down. The request was granted and the end soon came.
Orvel S. Dorman was born at Colbrrok River, Conn., March 29, 1815. He was the son of Clark and Phebe Dorman. His father was a wool carder and cloth dresser and conducted an establishment at Colbrook River. Young Dorman worked is his father's shop and learned the business. In those days there was no machinery in such shops and everything was done by hand. Almost every farmer kept sheep, not only to furnish his family with food but also with raiment. After every sheep shearing time the wool would be taken to the carding shop. A part of it would be carded into rolls to be spun into yarn by the housewife, who would also knit the yarn into stockings to be worn by all the members of the family. The rest of it would be woven into cloth to be made into warm, stout suits of clothes for the men folks and dresses for the women. Very few "store Clothes" were worn at that tine. Everything was done by hand in the most laborious way. Those days were long before the advent of sewing machines or other labor-saving devices, and from the time the sheep were sheared till the stockings and clothes were made all was hand work. Even the logwood that was used in the shop of the elder Dorman was cut by hand and it was owing to this fact that Orvel Dorman carried a mained hand all through his life. When he was two and one-half years old he went to his father's shop one day and in the absence of the parent, he undertook to cut up logwood as he had seen his father do. The result was that he cut two fingers off one of his hands.
When Orvel was 18 years old, he left home to seek his fortune. The first employment that he found was with J. C. & W. Moore of Montgomery, Mass. This firm dealt in Yankee notions and they engaged Orvel to peddle tin ware on foot. He received &10 a month and board. After three months he obtained a place to clerk in Canaan Four Corners, in this state, and staid there for four years, when he went to Monterey, Mass., and clerked in the Union Store for two years. At the end of that time, March 13, 1839, he married Miss Achsah C. Reuwee, who died in April 1900, in Rome, in the same house where Mr. Dorman's death occurred. Mr. And Mrs. Dorman had lived together over 61 years. A short time after their marriage, they went to West Becket, Mass., where he bought up and ran a country store for one year. He then went back to Monterey and conducted a store a number of years. Then he quit merchandise and went to farming until the spring of 1850, when he went to Verona, in this county and bought a farm between the village and the depot and staid there nine years. He then bought a place of six acres in the same town and ran a medicine agency for three years, after which he bought a one horse tannery in Verona, conducting it for three years, when he traded the tannery, house and six acres with the late W. S. Armitage for a brick store and goods in the village, which he conducted for three years. At the end of that time, he traded for another farm, later run by Thomas Dapson. After five years, he traded for a 50-acre farm between Tilden Hill and Lowell. After that he traded for two houses and lots in this city, located on Canal street and in East Rome. He also bought a house and lot on Kossuth street. He had lived in Rome since about 1877.
At the age of 62 years, after removing to Rome, Mr. Dorman retired from active life. An illness followed some months later which continued for over a year, and at the end of that time he was advised by his physician that in activity lay the only hope of recovery, and that he must go to work if he wished to get well. Upon this advice, Mr. Dorman applied for a clerkship at the grocery store foe the late C. W. Elmer. Later he worked as a clerk in the bakery of the late G. W. L. Cheney and still later in E. U. Howland's store; also one year in Utica, earning &3 a week and boarding himself.
After six years Mr. Dorman decided this his time was worth more to himself if wasn't to his employers. His employers didn't think it was so he began to do business for himself. He bought land on contracts, cut it up into 40 building lots, speculated in various ways and made and lost money. Those forty building lots are all sold and other speculations were not as cheerless as they might have been. And in the twilight of his life, Mr. Dorman found himself with a comfortable income--"enough to see me through" as he expressed it.
On January 26, 1915, Mr. Dorman while going upstairs, slipped and fell. He seemed to have received no injuries, and for a week made no complaint. Then, feeling some of the effects from his fall, he called in a physician, who found that he had suffered a fracture of one of the upper ribs on the right side and had slightly strained the muscles of his right shoulder. He was afflicted with a weakness of the right ankle, necessitating the use of a crutch. He was able to go all over the house but not to get out of doors very much. He took a lively interest in current affairs, although owing to a cataract on his left eye he could not read the daily papers, several of which he took, but which he had read to him.
He was always a very acvtive man. A year ago while talking to himself he said: "When I was between 20 and 30 years old I could take three hops on my right foot, kick a beam six feet from the ground with my left foot, return to balance and then take three more hops. I don't think I could do that now."
Mr. Dorman was a remarkably interesting man, had a memory that reached over three-quarters of a century and his mind was as clear as when he was many years younger. His life was one of activity and free from excesses, to which he largely attributed to his long life.
On the Occasion of his 99th birthday, Mr. Dorman remarked: I have always tried to live a clean life and that pays."
On March 20, 1915, Mr. Dorman received a letter from President Wilson and on March 24 one from Governor Whitman congratulating him on the approach of his 100th birthday.
Mr. Dorman was a member of the Free Methodist Church and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Last fall he cast his vote in favor of woman suffrage.
Mr. Dorman was the father of six children, three of whom lie in the cemetery at Verona. Twins, a son and daughter, died in 1859 , on the day they were a year and five months old, and a son was drowned at the age of sixteen in the Erie Canal, near the R. W. & O. bridge while bathing with companions. Three daughters are living, Mrs. Martha C. Gearhart of Dansville Pa.; Mrs. Julia C. Merrill of Vernon and Mrs. Eva L. Wolsey, who resides near Auburn. There are also a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dorman made all arrangements for his funeral some time ago. He arranged with the undertaker, picked out the bearers and the minister to conduct the funeral services and also selected the hymns to be sung at the funeral.
O. S. DORMAN DEAD IN HIS 101 ST YEAR
Passed away quietly at his home in this city
WOULD HAVE BEE 101 SOON
He Was Born at Colbrook River, Conn., March 29 1815 and Had Lived in Rome Since 1877--Had Been a Very Active Man All His Life, and Had Engaged in Various Pursuits--Interesting Sketch of His Busy Life.
At his home, 308 N. James street, at 11:25 o'clock, this afternoon, occurred the death of Orvel S. Dorman, Rome's oldest man, who was approaching his 101 birthday. The end was peaceful and resulted from his great age and a slight cold, which he contacted a short time ago. He had been up and about his home every day until Wednesday, and was bright and cheerful.
During the forenoon he asked his housekeeper, Mrs. Emogene Pexton, if she thought he was dying. She answered him by saying that she did believe so, but he said he thought he was. A short time later, he dropped asleep and passed peacefully away.
During the night, Mr. Dorman slept from 8 to 12 o'clock and from that time until 6 o'clock this morning. He was restless. Later he took a nap and felt refreshed.
When he awoke from his nap he sought to get up but his strength failed, and he appeared to be worried over his condition. Mrs. Frances Pexton, who has attended Mr. Dorman for the past 15 weeks, as a nurse, lifted him to a sitting position in bed. He remained in that position for a short time when he said he wanted to lie down. The request was granted and the end soon came.
Orvel S. Dorman was born at Colbrrok River, Conn., March 29, 1815. He was the son of Clark and Phebe Dorman. His father was a wool carder and cloth dresser and conducted an establishment at Colbrook River. Young Dorman worked is his father's shop and learned the business. In those days there was no machinery in such shops and everything was done by hand. Almost every farmer kept sheep, not only to furnish his family with food but also with raiment. After every sheep shearing time the wool would be taken to the carding shop. A part of it would be carded into rolls to be spun into yarn by the housewife, who would also knit the yarn into stockings to be worn by all the members of the family. The rest of it would be woven into cloth to be made into warm, stout suits of clothes for the men folks and dresses for the women. Very few "store Clothes" were worn at that tine. Everything was done by hand in the most laborious way. Those days were long before the advent of sewing machines or other labor-saving devices, and from the time the sheep were sheared till the stockings and clothes were made all was hand work. Even the logwood that was used in the shop of the elder Dorman was cut by hand and it was owing to this fact that Orvel Dorman carried a mained hand all through his life. When he was two and one-half years old he went to his father's shop one day and in the absence of the parent, he undertook to cut up logwood as he had seen his father do. The result was that he cut two fingers off one of his hands.
When Orvel was 18 years old, he left home to seek his fortune. The first employment that he found was with J. C. & W. Moore of Montgomery, Mass. This firm dealt in Yankee notions and they engaged Orvel to peddle tin ware on foot. He received &10 a month and board. After three months he obtained a place to clerk in Canaan Four Corners, in this state, and staid there for four years, when he went to Monterey, Mass., and clerked in the Union Store for two years. At the end of that time, March 13, 1839, he married Miss Achsah C. Reuwee, who died in April 1900, in Rome, in the same house where Mr. Dorman's death occurred. Mr. And Mrs. Dorman had lived together over 61 years. A short time after their marriage, they went to West Becket, Mass., where he bought up and ran a country store for one year. He then went back to Monterey and conducted a store a number of years. Then he quit merchandise and went to farming until the spring of 1850, when he went to Verona, in this county and bought a farm between the village and the depot and staid there nine years. He then bought a place of six acres in the same town and ran a medicine agency for three years, after which he bought a one horse tannery in Verona, conducting it for three years, when he traded the tannery, house and six acres with the late W. S. Armitage for a brick store and goods in the village, which he conducted for three years. At the end of that time, he traded for another farm, later run by Thomas Dapson. After five years, he traded for a 50-acre farm between Tilden Hill and Lowell. After that he traded for two houses and lots in this city, located on Canal street and in East Rome. He also bought a house and lot on Kossuth street. He had lived in Rome since about 1877.
At the age of 62 years, after removing to Rome, Mr. Dorman retired from active life. An illness followed some months later which continued for over a year, and at the end of that time he was advised by his physician that in activity lay the only hope of recovery, and that he must go to work if he wished to get well. Upon this advice, Mr. Dorman applied for a clerkship at the grocery store foe the late C. W. Elmer. Later he worked as a clerk in the bakery of the late G. W. L. Cheney and still later in E. U. Howland's store; also one year in Utica, earning &3 a week and boarding himself.
After six years Mr. Dorman decided this his time was worth more to himself if wasn't to his employers. His employers didn't think it was so he began to do business for himself. He bought land on contracts, cut it up into 40 building lots, speculated in various ways and made and lost money. Those forty building lots are all sold and other speculations were not as cheerless as they might have been. And in the twilight of his life, Mr. Dorman found himself with a comfortable income--"enough to see me through" as he expressed it.
On January 26, 1915, Mr. Dorman while going upstairs, slipped and fell. He seemed to have received no injuries, and for a week made no complaint. Then, feeling some of the effects from his fall, he called in a physician, who found that he had suffered a fracture of one of the upper ribs on the right side and had slightly strained the muscles of his right shoulder. He was afflicted with a weakness of the right ankle, necessitating the use of a crutch. He was able to go all over the house but not to get out of doors very much. He took a lively interest in current affairs, although owing to a cataract on his left eye he could not read the daily papers, several of which he took, but which he had read to him.
He was always a very acvtive man. A year ago while talking to himself he said: "When I was between 20 and 30 years old I could take three hops on my right foot, kick a beam six feet from the ground with my left foot, return to balance and then take three more hops. I don't think I could do that now."
Mr. Dorman was a remarkably interesting man, had a memory that reached over three-quarters of a century and his mind was as clear as when he was many years younger. His life was one of activity and free from excesses, to which he largely attributed to his long life.
On the Occasion of his 99th birthday, Mr. Dorman remarked: I have always tried to live a clean life and that pays."
On March 20, 1915, Mr. Dorman received a letter from President Wilson and on March 24 one from Governor Whitman congratulating him on the approach of his 100th birthday.
Mr. Dorman was a member of the Free Methodist Church and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Last fall he cast his vote in favor of woman suffrage.
Mr. Dorman was the father of six children, three of whom lie in the cemetery at Verona. Twins, a son and daughter, died in 1859 , on the day they were a year and five months old, and a son was drowned at the age of sixteen in the Erie Canal, near the R. W. & O. bridge while bathing with companions. Three daughters are living, Mrs. Martha C. Gearhart of Dansville Pa.; Mrs. Julia C. Merrill of Vernon and Mrs. Eva L. Wolsey, who resides near Auburn. There are also a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dorman made all arrangements for his funeral some time ago. He arranged with the undertaker, picked out the bearers and the minister to conduct the funeral services and also selected the hymns to be sung at the funeral.
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