(January 28, 1848-June 23, 1928)

Sumner M. Hale, oldest member of What Cheer Lodge No. 689, F. & A. M., of Norwood, died at the home of his son, Roscoe Hale, Saturday morning following an illness of two days. Death was attributed to heart disease. He had been in failing health for the past year, but his condition was not serious until Thursday. Mr. Hale had been visiting at his son’s home for the past month.

Mr. Hale was born Jan. 28, 1848, in North Stockholm, a son of the late Mr. And Mrs. Moses B. Hale. He lived at that place until October, 1908, when he removed to Norwood. Mr. Hale was a member of No. 689 What Cheer Masonic Lodge, and was the oldest member of the lodge. He was a member for 59 years.

Mr. Hale was section foreman on the Rutland Railroad for many years but in later life was a crossing flagman in the Norwood yards. In 1875 he married Harriet Cheney. He is survived by his widow, three sons, Sumner Hale of Massena, Fred and Roscoe Hale of Norwood, and one daughter, Mrs. Harry Little of Massena.

Funeral services were held from his home in Cottage St. Monday at 2 p.m., Rev. Mr. Clark of the Methodist Church officiating. The Masonic lodge had charge of the services at the grave. Burial was in Hale Cemetery in North Stockholm.

(From the Friday, June 29, 1928 edition of the Potsdam Herald-Recorder, page 2, courtesy of the Northern New York Library Network @ news.nnyln.net).