Sunday's Obituary: Charles W. Stratton I (1832-1886)

Charles W. Stratton I (28 May 1832-10 February 1886), death notice, diary insert

Opening Day 5 is a box of newspaper clippings that includes the death notice of Dr. Charles W. Stratton I. So many of our obituaries are news clippings that have been tucked away in drawers and diaries! (See companion post, Opening Day 5: Archiving Newspaper Clippings).

1885 Diary Insert

1885 Diary Insert

Except as noted, these newspaper clippings were taken from the 1885 diary of Charles W. Stratton II (1876-1945) on Opening Day 3: Dear Diary .... The 1885 diary was never used as a diary but does contain notations of charges incurred by boarders. Within a month of Dr. Stratton’s death, Lucy (Baker) Stratton had begun converting the house to a boarding house. Dividing doors were installed to separate the boarding house from the family’s private quarters. Lucy was fortunate to find a way to support her family as life was not kind to widows in the 1880s.

Charles W. Stratton II (1876-1945), 1885 diary

Death notice clipping ca 1886

Another death notice was found in Charles W. Stratton II's office desk.

"Dr. Stratton, after two weeks illness, died last week at his residence on Park street. He was about 52 years of age. His practice extended to a number of places out of town and he was well known as a good doctor and citizen. He leaves a wife and two children." 

Charles W. Stratton I and II have been featured here before in The "Horse-and-Buggy" Doctors of Lee, Massachusetts and Wordless Wednesday (Nearly): Stratton Family Photo. Just another Cock and Bull Story, Bringing Home the Bird and The Best Medicine - New Clues tell more of Charles W. Stratton II.

Sources:
"A Little While." Undated clipping. Ca. February 1886, from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011. Clipping from the 1885 Diary of Charles W. Stratton II. Stratton diaries were a gift from Charles W. Stratton III, son of Charles W. Stratton II of Lee, Massachusetts.

"Rest in Resignation."  Undated clipping. Ca. February 1886, from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011. Clipping from the 1885 Diary of Charles W. Stratton II. Stratton diaries were a gift from Charles W. Stratton III, son of Charles W. Stratton II of Lee, Massachusetts.

"Lee Locals." Undated clipping. Ca. February 1886, from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011. Clipping from the desk of Charles W. Stratton II. Clippings were a gift from Marita Stratton, daughter-in-law of Charles W. Stratton II of Lee, Massachusetts.

Stratton, Charles W., I, death notice. Undated clipping. Ca. February 1886, from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011. Clipping from the 1885 Diary of Charles W. Stratton II. Stratton diaries were a gift from Charles W. Stratton III, son of Charles W. Stratton II of Lee, Massachusetts.

Stratton, Charles W., II. "Diary." MS.  Lee, Massachusetts, 1885 [diary used in 1886].  Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011.