Tenth Generation

9343. Sherman David Skillman was born on 16 December 1898 in Chautauqua, NY. He died on 1 January 1972 at the age of 73. Skillman, Sherman D. b. Dec. 16, 1898 Town of Ellery. d. Jan. 1, 1972 at his home on Bemus Point-Ellery Center Road, Bemus Point, NY. bd. Jan. 4, 1972 Lot 150 Section 5 G - 2. Age 73. s/o John E. & Jessie (Fisher) Skillman. md. Oct. 18, 1923 - Idabelle "Belle" Blossom (Brown). PJ: l/ /1972: Bemus Point: Sherman D. Skillman, 73, of the Ellery Center Road, Bemus Point, partner in Skillman Brothers General Store for nearly 40 years, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, (Jan. 1, 1972) at his home. He retired from the store in 1964. Mr. Skillman was born Dec. 16, 1898 in the Town of Ellery, the son of John and Jessie Fisher Skillman. A member of the Bemus Point United Methodist Church, and a Bemus Point Fire Policeman, he was also an exempt member of the Bemus Point Volunteer Firemen, and a member of the Penn Yan Hunting Club. Survivors are his wife, Belle B. Skillman; a brother, Elmer Skillman of Jamestown; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Bemus Point United Methodist Church. The pastor, the Rev. Sheldon Peterson, will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Bruce Hankey of Jamestown. Burial will be in the Bemus Point Cemetery......Bearers at the funeral of Sherman D. Skillman were: Norman Skillman, Edwin Skillman, Stanley Cameron, John Cheney, Elmer Hallberg and David Sack He was buried at Bemus Point Cemetery in Ellery Center, Chatauqua, NY. Sherman had Social Security Number 053-28-9633 NY.

Sherman David Skillman and Idabelle Blossom "Belle" Brown were married on 18 October 1923. Idabelle Blossom "Belle" Brown, daughter of George Brown and Ida Cornell, was born on 22 September 1901 in Falconer, NY. She died on 16 September 2001 at the age of 99 at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA. Skillman, Idabelle "Belle" Blossom (Brown). b. Sept. 22, 1901 Falconer, NY.. d. Sept. 16, 2001 Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pa. bd. Sept. 19, 2001 Lot 150 Section 5 G - 3. Age 99. d/o George A. & Ida L. (Cornell) Brown. w/o Sherman D. Skillman. PJ: 9/18/2001: Bell Skillman, 99, of 4711 Bemus-Ellery Road, died Sunday (Sept. 16, 2001) in Hamot Medical Center, Erie, six days short of her 100th birthday. She was born Sept. 22, 1901, in Falconer, a daughter of George & Ida Cornell Brown. In earlier years, she had been employed at the Hotel Lenhart and at Skillman’s Store, both in Bemus Point. She was a member of the Bemus Point United Methodist Church, where she had been active in the Women’s Club, the Morning Bible Class and the Wednesday Mission Group. She was also a past president and life member of the Ellery Senior Citizens and was a past Grand Noble of the former Sunset Rebecca Lodge 508. Surviving are several nieces and nephews, including Norman Skillman and Onalee Gustafson, both of Bemus Point, Elaine Barone of Lakewood, and Albert Hazzard and Anita Hoag, both of Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sherman D. Skillman, whom she married Oct. 18, 1923, and who died Jan. 1, 1972; a daughter, Lillian Skillman on June 12, 1941; three brothers: Roy, Orrin and Charles Brown; and two sisters, Violet Burch and Ruby Hazzard. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Bemus Point United Methodist Church. The Rev. Daniel G. McBride, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery. No calling hours will be observed........Belle Brown Skillman was the youngest of six children, growing up in Falconer. Her parents both worked in the knitting mills, or factories of Jamestown. She learned early to help around the house, both cooking and cleaning. At the age of 14, she had her first summer job, working at the Lenhart in Bemus Point. She waited table, and also helped in the kitchen. She did this for seven summers. Her Mother brought her here on the steamer from Jamestown. Belle belonged to the marching band sponsored by the local insurance agency in Falconer, all girls. When she was to be a high school junior, she dropped out of school in order to go to work and earn money so she could go to St. Louis with the band. She also played basketball for the Falconer high school, being a tall person at an early age. When she married Sherman Skillman (From Bemus) she became a farm wife, as he was running the family farm along with his brother Elmer. Their daughter Lillian was born in 1924. Sherm built them a home on the Ellery Center Road in 1932. Sherm left the farm and went into business with his brother Frank at Skillman’s Store on Main, St., Bemus Point. As a general store they opened daily at 7 until 6, except Saturday when they stayed open until 11 p.m. Tragedy struck when their daughter fell ill with a strep infection. Belle was a girl scout leader when Lillian was growing up. After Lillian’s death she worked with her husband at the store. She was always a great cook. When her husband was making maple syrup, she cooked up wonderful maple cream, a toast topping, which was sold in Skillman’s Store. Bell worked hard at any undertaking, and said it was the secret to a long life. She was buried on 19 September 2001 at Bemus Point Cemetery in Ellery Center, Chatauqua, NY.

Sherman David Skillman-8654 and Idabelle Blossom "Belle" Brown-56937 had the following children:

12149

Lillian Dorcas Skillman was born on 23 June 1925. She died on 12 June 1941 at the age of 15. Skillman, Lillian Dorcas. b. June 23, 1925. d. June 12, 1941 of a strep infection. bd. June 15, 1941 Lot 150 Section 5 G - 1. Age 15. d/o Sherman D. & Idabelle "Belle" Blossom (Brown) Skillman. PJ: 6/13/1941: Lillian Dorcas Skillman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Skillman, Bemus Point-Ellery Center Road, one of the most promising Girl Scouts in Chautauqua County, died last night at 10:30. She would have been 16 years old on June 23. Miss Skillman died after an illness of twenty months. She had earned eighteen of her 33 merit badges since becoming bedridden in November of 1939. She is considered a remarkable feat by area Girl Scout officials. Surviving in addition to her parents, are her maternal grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. George Bown of Falconer, and her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Howell Griffith of Bemus Point. Miss Skillman was one of the most popular students at the Bemus Point Central School until stricken nearly two years ago. She was a member of the Bemus Point Methodist Church and of the Junior Class of the Bemus Point Central School. Unusually active in Girl Scouting, both before and after her illness, Miss Skillman registered in Scouting in November, 1935. She was a Senior Scout, First Class, in Troop 58, Bemus Point, and had also achieved the rank of Mariner Scout. She had received her five year numbral and a Curved Bar over First Class rank. She had done some work toward several of the awards, such as dancing, before she became bedridden, then continued her Scouting by doing research work for other badges. The Bemus Point Girl Scout leader, last night, said that the girl was one of the finest examples of Scouting ever known in this county. Earned since November, 1939, were these merit badges: Photography, Glass, Clothing, Foods, Color, Craft, Baskerty, Interior Decoration, Weaving, Home Saftey, Home Health, Dancer, Public Safety, Scribe, Fresh Water Life Finder, Salt Water Life, Wide World, My Troop and Transportation and Communication. The funeral will be held Sunday at 2:30 from the Bemus Point Methodist Church..........We didn’t know 15-year-old Lillian Skillman but we wish we had and in learning of her death at her family home near Bemus Point we cannot help but feel a deep sorrow. It is always sad when a bright youngster is taken in death but sometimes the courage, the enthusiasm for life, the will to do holds one out among the many others. Nearly two years ago Lillian became ill and has been bed- ridden since then. But that did not close her enthusiastic interest in life and that particular little part in life to which she had been attracted, Girl Scouting. When she was taken from this life she held 33 merit badges in Girl Scouting and she won eighteen of those after she was taken ill. She didn’t just sink back in bed and let her grieving mother wait on her hand and foot. She wanted to keep living in the full sense of the word and she got the full measure from those too brief 15 years allotted to her. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Skillman, need have no thought that she failed to get the most out of her life. She must have. She was that kind of girl. It is a real loss to the world that enthusiasm should be taken away such spirit, such courage, such enthusiasm when there is so much trouble that is trying the courage and enthusiasm of all. But the world is better for her having been with us even for those few years. The Journal joins in sympathizing with the Skillman family in their sorrow at this time but they can be truly proud of Lillian and will have wonderful memories to carry with them thru their lives. She was buried at Bemus Point Cemetery in Ellery Center, Chatauqua, NY.