Individual Details
Frank Harmon Bresee
(23 Jul 1864 - 26 May 1941)
See Wilmer Bresee file. Source e-mail dated 28 Dec 2003 from Phyllis Kinzie.
Hartwick College 's main building, then known as Science Hall, was renamed Bresee Hall, in honor of Frank H. Bresee, founder of the Oneonta Department Store.
"As a citizen and a merchant Frank Harmon Bresee exemplified in life the high character of a Christian gentleman. His character, service and gifts helped Hartwick winter the perilous days of its career. His devoted service will follow him to the service to those who gain their education here."
Bresee was a major player in the survival of the college during the Great Depression and World War II, when the college nearly closed because of low enrollment.
May 1941: " Heart Attack Fatal to Frank H. Bresee . Frank H. Bresee, 76 years old, for the past 42 years a leading figure in many phases of the life of Oneonta, died suddenly about 11 last night following a heart attack suffered while attending Hartwick College-Cortland Normal baseball game at Neahwa park.
For nearly sixty years Mr. Bresee had been engaged in the mercantile business, first calling from door to door with a stock of notions and for 42 years he had operated a store here, one which grew into the Oneonta Department store. He had also been a leading force in the Citizens National bank which he assisted in founding and which he had served as board member and president.
An obituary notice will appear in The Star on Wednesday. Funeral services will be held from the Main Street Baptist Church Thursday afternoon at 2.
Watching the baseball game with his son Lynn H. Bresee and Dr. Henry J. Arnold, president of the college, Mr. Bresee seemed to be in usual health until he was stricken although he had known of heart trouble for several years. The city ambulance was called and he was rushed to the Fox hospital, but life had passed before admission there.
Dr. F.M. Johnson attended him on arrival and called Dr. N. W. Getman, coroner who decided death was due to the heart attack.
Sons Share Estate of Frank H. Bresee Cooperstown- Three sons and three grandsons are sole beneficiaries of the estate of Frank H. Bresee, Oneonta merchant of nearly half a century whose death occurred May 27.
The will admitted to probate in the Surrogates court last week disposes of an estate of over $100,000.
The three grandsons Wilmer E. Bresee, Robert F. Bresee and Philip W. Bresee all of Oneonta were designated to receive $5000 each.
For the three sons , Lynn H. Bresee, Clyde F. Bresee and Fred H. Bresee, all of Oneonta trust funds of $25,000 each were established . The Citizens Nat'l Bank & Trust was designated as the trustee of these funds.
The residue of the estate, after obligations have ben met, legacies paid, and the trust funds have been set up, is to be equally divided between the three sons who are also named executors.
Hartwick College 's main building, then known as Science Hall, was renamed Bresee Hall, in honor of Frank H. Bresee, founder of the Oneonta Department Store.
"As a citizen and a merchant Frank Harmon Bresee exemplified in life the high character of a Christian gentleman. His character, service and gifts helped Hartwick winter the perilous days of its career. His devoted service will follow him to the service to those who gain their education here."
Bresee was a major player in the survival of the college during the Great Depression and World War II, when the college nearly closed because of low enrollment.
May 1941: " Heart Attack Fatal to Frank H. Bresee . Frank H. Bresee, 76 years old, for the past 42 years a leading figure in many phases of the life of Oneonta, died suddenly about 11 last night following a heart attack suffered while attending Hartwick College-Cortland Normal baseball game at Neahwa park.
For nearly sixty years Mr. Bresee had been engaged in the mercantile business, first calling from door to door with a stock of notions and for 42 years he had operated a store here, one which grew into the Oneonta Department store. He had also been a leading force in the Citizens National bank which he assisted in founding and which he had served as board member and president.
An obituary notice will appear in The Star on Wednesday. Funeral services will be held from the Main Street Baptist Church Thursday afternoon at 2.
Watching the baseball game with his son Lynn H. Bresee and Dr. Henry J. Arnold, president of the college, Mr. Bresee seemed to be in usual health until he was stricken although he had known of heart trouble for several years. The city ambulance was called and he was rushed to the Fox hospital, but life had passed before admission there.
Dr. F.M. Johnson attended him on arrival and called Dr. N. W. Getman, coroner who decided death was due to the heart attack.
Sons Share Estate of Frank H. Bresee Cooperstown- Three sons and three grandsons are sole beneficiaries of the estate of Frank H. Bresee, Oneonta merchant of nearly half a century whose death occurred May 27.
The will admitted to probate in the Surrogates court last week disposes of an estate of over $100,000.
The three grandsons Wilmer E. Bresee, Robert F. Bresee and Philip W. Bresee all of Oneonta were designated to receive $5000 each.
For the three sons , Lynn H. Bresee, Clyde F. Bresee and Fred H. Bresee, all of Oneonta trust funds of $25,000 each were established . The Citizens Nat'l Bank & Trust was designated as the trustee of these funds.
The residue of the estate, after obligations have ben met, legacies paid, and the trust funds have been set up, is to be equally divided between the three sons who are also named executors.
Events
| Birth | 23 Jul 1864 | New Lisbon, New York, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 28 Feb 1883 | Hartwick, Otsego, New York, United States - Ella C. "Cora" Benjamin | | ||
| Occupation | 1899 | owned and operated Bresee Dept. Store - Depaermenr Store, Oneonta, New York, United States | |||
| Death | 26 May 1941 | Oneonta, Delaware, New York, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Ella C. "Cora" Benjamin (1865 - 1932) |
| Child | Clyde F. Bresee (1894 - 1970) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | William Edger Bresee ( - 1909) |
| Child | Lynn Harmon Bresee (1889 - ) |
| Father | William Edgar Bresee (1836 - 1899) |
| Mother | Martha E. Irons (1846 - 1887) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Alida Bresee (1862 - 1864) |
| Sibling | Living |
Endnotes
1. John Whelchel Finger, Register of the General Society of the War of 1812 (The Society 1972), 433.
2. Wilmer E. Bresee, "The Bresee's and their name," page 3; dated about 1935, received from the author 23 June 1995, by Melvin A. Bresee, .
3. John Whelchel Finger, Register of the General Society of the War of 1812 (The Society 1972), 433.
4. Wilmer E. Bresee, "The Bresee's and their name," page 3; dated about 1935, received from the author 23 June 1995, by Melvin A. Bresee, .
5. John Whelchel Finger, Register of the General Society of the War of 1812 (The Society 1972), 433.