Family:Spring, Alfred F. (1856-1913)

Alfred F. Spring (Sylvester P., Erastus, Amos, Amos, Abigail Chadwick, Sarah⁴ Whitney, Nathaniel³, John², John¹, Thomas^A, Robert^B), son of Sylvester P. and Julia E. (Brewer) Spring, was born April 1856, Orangeville, Wyoming County, New York, and died 2 June 1913, Alexander, Genesee County, New York.

He married 4 July 1878, Portage, Wyoming County, New York, Ella May Winchester, daughter of Winfield C. Winchester and Margaret Alice Van Epps, daughter of Abraham Van Eps (a descendant of the sisters Margaret and Katherine Duncanson and through them Robert III of Scotland). She was born 19 January 1860, Attica, Wyoming County, New York, and died 30 April 1946, Alexander, Genesee County, New York.

Extract of Batavia Daily News, June 3, 1913 - Obituaries:

"Alfred F. Spring, 57 years old, a farmer who lived a mile north of Attica, in the town of Alexander, committed suicide by hanging himself by a strap from the roof of his horse stable last night. His body was found by his wife early this morning, several hours after death had ensued, and Coroner Snow of Batavia granted a certificate of death from hanging with suicidal intent. It is believed that Mr. Spring's mind was affected.

"Eight years ago Mr. Spring suffered a severe illness from a sunstroke and relatives and friends had frequently observed that his mind had since appeared unbalanced. Added to this, Mrs. Spring says, her husband was in the habit of indulging in protracted sprees. On such occasions on his return from the village of Attica he often slept in the barn.

"It was not considered extraordinary, therefore, when Mr. Spring returned from Attica about 9 o'clock last evening and did not enter the house. Mrs. Spring saw his lantern and heard him putting his horse in the barn. After a short time the lantern was extinguished. This morning Mrs. Spring went to the barn about 6:30 o'clock and found her husband hanging from the roof of the stable, in which three horses were hitched. He had used a long Leather strap, fastening one end over a rafter and knotting the other securely about his neck. He stepped off a beam at the side of the stable. The body appeared to have been cold several hours and it is thought that the hanging occurred immediately after the light had been extinguished after Mr. Spring's return from Attica.

"No message was left by Mr. Spring in explanation of his deed. He had been frequently heard of late years, however, to threaten suicide and five years ago he took a large dose of paris green. The act was discovered in time to administer antidotes which saved his life.

"Besides his wife, Mr. Spring is survived by three sons, Clayton and Glenn, who live on a farm about a mile distant from their parents towards Alexander, and a boy of twelve years who lived at home, and several daughters."

Children of Alfred F. and Ella May (Winchester) Spring:

i.	Clayton Burton Spring, b. 7 Dec 1885, Attica, Wyoming County, New York; m. Bertha Nellie Green.

References

Adrian Benjamin Burke, "Grave marking by descendents of Brewster, Rogers and Hopkins," The Mayflower Quarterly, Vol. 68 No. 1 (March 2002).

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Copyright © 2006, Adrian Benjamin Burke, Esq. and the Whitney Research Group