Family Gatherings

I believe that this is a gathering of the Moon and Chandler Families. One thing that has not changed from that time until today is how people fail to write names or descriptions of who, what, and where on the back of their photographs.

Now is a good time for me to share with anyone viewing these entries of words and pictures that copies of any photographs on this site are available upon request. Of course, you have to be related in some family way (and be prepared to explain that briefly to me), but all is needed is a request.

Likewise, if anyone can identify ANYONE in any of these photos send me word via the 'comments' feature here. Thank you.

Elva Chandler Olney

This is the last Woodgate Farmer's grandmother, Elva Chandler Olney.

She was an original Adirondacks woman. Nobody loved their children and grandchildren more from what I was told by some of those surviving grandchildren, now in their late 60s, 70s and early 80s.

Elva married Archie Olney. They had a total of 6 children. Only 3 boys survived. A little known fact of Woodgate Farmer history is that all the children were born in Canada, in a community near Toronto. The three deceased children each died from illness of that time period while still being under 2 years of age. I imagine that had to put a strain on the marriage of Elva & Archie. While that may be true, it didn't stop Elva from coming home to Woodgate.

In her later years, she worked as a cook at the State Hospital in Rome, New York. She knew how to handle a gun and could shoot as well as any man. During her life, Elva also worked in a couple logging camps cooking and performing basic nursing duties. She was a strong willed woman; independent and unafraid to tackle life on her own, a good daughter to her parents, Uretta (Moon) and Nelson Ray Chandler. Her daughter-in-law, Ella Lillian (Olney) Olney is remembered for all the things that Elva taught her after Ella married Nelson R. Olney. Nelson R. Olney, Jr. also has very fond memories and nothing but kind thoughts for his grandmother. As I said, Elva Chandler Olney was a fascinating and strong willed woman. Those qualities and her basic body frame is still found in women born into the Olney family lineage today.

Nelson Ray Olney Sr.

In 1925 in Woodgate, then called White Lake Corners, you had to have at least one horse. People had farms. They grew potatoes and other vegetables. They raised cows, sheep and chickens. Wildlife was plentiful. There was no television and you were lucky as a family to have quiet evenings reading books, or letters or writing to loved ones elsewhere.

By the 1940s, the Olney farm was pretty well known. But don't search the MidYork Library system. They don't appear to have as well-rounded a community view in photographs as they have in reportings made from one particular family. I would suppose that priacy also played a large part in why some families slipped beneath the radar. The Chandler's, Olney's and the Moon family each contributed to the small community. They were families grown on hard work and love.

Charles Lewis Olney on the farm

Charles Lewis Olney tending to livestock on the farm back in 1919.
There are only a few known photographs of Charles, as he died at the age of 16 years, due to an accidental hunting accident.

It was getting towards evening, and Charles went out to hunt. The three boys had been schooled by the best in the ways of hunting and proper gun handling, but it is imagined that Charles was in a hurry to get to a place in the woods where he had previously had 'luck' taking a huge Adirondack whitetail buck. Being in a hurry was the only reasoning that could be applied to how young Charles lost his life .

He had set his gun down against the barbed wire fencing that so often back then outlined the property and containment lines. It was a freak mishap that his gun managed to fall and discharge by accident on its own, striking and killing him. As darkness approached, Nels Olney (oldest of the surviving Olney three brothers) set out into the night to find his brother. He carried the boy home and the entire community mourned the loss of young Charles.

Today, Charles rests beside his older two brothers and their wives, his mother, and his grandmother and grandfather in the Woodgate Cemetery.

Lee Emerson Olney

Lee Olney was born in Canada and served in the military. He was the second eldest surviving son (of 5) to Archie Olney & Elva Chandler Olney. I am looking into his life presently and will share what I can as I learn of it.

Another Photo of The Woodgate Homestead

From age of the car parked at (what was) the back entrance, this photo looks to be taken during the late 1920s.

In later years, the bushes along the sides of the house were removed. Two apple trees had grown to the left side area of the photo. No bushes blocked that first window, which by the way was where the original parlor was housing a superb collection of older family portraits. Unfortunately, Robert C. Olney Sr., son of Nelson R. Olney Sr., disposed of the wall mounted portraits and the piano, which dated back to the mid 1800s. It is now believed, while no 'official' notations have surfaced that Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, and an earlier State Legislator and Governor may have visited the Chandler Homestead during the span of time from 1886 -1918 while engaging the Adirondack Guide services of Nelson R. Chandler.

In the late 1940s until 1964, the Olney farm had been known by the locals to be the largest and most fruitful in providing farm produce. It had the distinction of being the largest pieces of total acreage in producing quality grown white and red potatoes.

The Nelson R. Olney Sr. Family of Woodgate & Utica, New York

Standing: Nelson Ray, Jr.(1st son), Richard Lee(3rd son), Robert Charles (2nd son).

Seated: Nelson Ray, Sr., Linda Jean (youngest daughter), Ella Lillian (Olney), Marilyn (oldest daughter), Donald Herbert (4th son).

This photo was taken in Utica at the Sunset Ave residence in the parlor. The year is 1948-1951.

At one time, Nelson Olney had the largest farm in Woodgate, New York. People came from near and far for a bushel basket of his potatoes.

Presently, as of this date (August 21, 2008) only Nels Jr., Robert Sr., Marilyn(Palaski), and Donald, Sr., are living.