Here’s an interesting series of articles I ran across… that might make a good story line for The Twilight Zone. The incident actually happened on July 20, 1866 which was a Friday… so it also qualifies as a Freaky Friday!! [There are some inconsistencies, so the story may have been embellished some. My comments are in brackets.]
Abram Fonda visits James Thorn (his co-editor) on his death bed to write his obituary for the paper. Fonda has a premonition that he will die before Thorn does. That night, Fonda falls out of a third-story window and dies the next morning, two hours before Thorn succumbs.
Deaths of Editors (New York Herald, 1866-07-22)
Troy, July 21, 1866 – Hon. James S. Thorn, Member of Assembly from this city in the last Legislature, died at two o’clock this morning, at the residence of his father, of consumption. Mr. Thorn was one of the associate editors of the Times of this city. [The Times article below says Thorn died at noon]
Troy, July 21, 1866 – Abram Fonda, associate editor of the Times of this city, fell from the third story of the Phoenix Hotel, at Lansingburg, yesterday morning, and died, at four o’clock this morning. [The Times article below says Fonda died at 9am]
A Singular Fact (New York Herald-Tribune, 1866-08-20)
A singular fact is mentioned in connection with the decease of the editors of The Troy Times. Mr. Fonda, expecting Mr. Thorn’s death of consumption had prepared a sketch of his life for publication, whenever it should occur, yet the former died two hours before the latter. [Now here it says Fonda died two hours before Thorn]
Presentiment (New York Times, 1883-08-02)
In the year 1866, the late James S. Thorn who was the city editor of this paper, was lying on his death-bed slowly succumbing to the inroads of that fatal disease consumption. The intelligence was brought to the office that he could not possibly last more than a day or two longer. He was a man of such genial and loving qualities and had so tenderly entwined himself around the hearts of all his associates till no one could endure the thought of writing his obituary in advance of his death and yet it was quite important, if not imperative, that a proper memorial should be prepared, ready for insertion in the paper at a moments notice upon the receipt of the news of the death of our young associate.
One after another declined to write the obituary, until it was finally determined that Abram Fonda, an editorial writer on the paper should perform the melancholy task. Mr. Fonda accordingly began it, omitting the introduction and was engaged some time upon the work when the writer of this paragraph, who occupied a chair in front of Mr. Fonda’s table turned around and inquired how he was getting along. He responded that he was not progressing satisfactorily, that it was a harder task than he had anticipated and then went on with his work. Instantly as quick as thought could frame the expression there flashed through the brains of the writer these words, “Old fellow, you’ll die before Jimmie does!”[Not sure if he was recalling something Thorn said to him, or if this was a premonition]…
And he did. That night after retiring Mr. Fonda arose for some purpose, went to an open window in his room, and fell headlong out of it to the sidewalk below. In the morning he was found laying upon the ground speechless and insensible. He died at nine o’clock in the forenoon of the day. Mr. Thorn survived until nearly noon. The hand that writes this wrote the introduction and close of the obituary of Mr. Thorn that Mr Fonda began, and also wrote the last tribute to the memory of the latter. (from the Utica Observer, July 1881)
I received these photos from Becky Kaufman of Seattle who is tracing her lineage from Michigan back to the Knickerbocker family of Rensselaer, New York.
Rebeckah Fonda is buried in Schagticoke, Rensselear, New York in the Knickerbocker Family Cemetery. She was born 14 Apr 1718 in Albany, New York and died 8 Jan 1800 in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., New York. The Find-A-Grave cemetery listing is here.
Rebeckah Fonda Knickerbocker gravestone.
Knickerbocker Cemetery next to mansion in Schaghticoke.
Recent picture of the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke.
Oil painting which hangs in the Knickerbocker Mansion.
The sketch which appeared in Harper's Magazine in Dec. 1876 (Vol. 54, p. 42)
This is a duplicate of the listing on the fonda.org website.
Abraham Janse Fonda; Merchant, Ship Captain, Justice, Revolutionary War Soldier; born 18-Jan-1708, died 30-Jul-1762 at 54 years of age; b. Claverack, Albany Co., New York; moved from Claverack to Albany in 1745; d. Albany, Albany Co., New York; Abraham had 6 sons enrolled in the Albany County Militia in the Revolutionary War, 8th Regiment, Claverack Battalion; Peter, Lieutenant; Laurens, Quartermaster; Abraham (1744-), Captain; Jeremiah, Douwe, and Cornelius, Private.
Douw Adam Fonda; Dry Goods Merchant; born 14-Oct-1824; b. Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of Caughnawaga, Fonda, Montgomery, New York; 1880 United States Census, District 2, Mohawk, Montgomery, New York; In 1885, Douw A. Fonda, the oldest merchant in Fonda, assigned (filed bankruptcy). His liabilities were about $50,000 and his assets about one-third of that amount. Many farmers from whom he bought hay lost largely. Ref. NY Times Oct-4-1885.
Douw Henry Fonda; Druggist, Railroad Ticket Agent; see www.darcisplace.com; born 10-Sep-1830, died Feb-23-1908 at 77 years of age; b. Fonda, Montgomery, New York; d. Albany, Albany Co., New York; Yearbook of the Holland Society of New York: 1915: List of Deceased Members; President of the D. H. Fonda Drug Company, Albany. Engaged in the railroad business. He was a ticket agent at Palatine Bridge under the late Hon. Webster Wagner. In September 1853, he became teller of the Spraker Bank, Canajoharie, and two years later was made cashier. In 1885, D. H. Fonda presented a pass from the Mount McGregor Railroad to New York Governor (future US President) Grover Cleveland. the pass was graciously returned with appreciation.
Edgar Louis Fonda; Railroad Office Clerk, Clothes Store Salesman; born 14-Dec-1884, died Nov-1-1982 at 97 years of age; b. New York; 1910 US Census, Rensselaer, Rensselaer Co., New York; 1930 Census, New York, Rensselaer, Rensselaer, District 35; SSDI Issued New York, Death Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona; bur. Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, East Greenbush, Rensselaer Co., New York
Franklin Jerome Fonda; Hotel Manager (Ford Hotel, Phoenix, 1930); born 2-Apr-1875, died Sep-21-1943 at 68 years of age; b. Ross, Michigan; 1930 Census, Arizona, Maricopa, Phoenix, District 5; Franklin at an early age went to live with his aunt, Emily Fonda Richards in Bergen, Genesee, New York. He died in Los Angeles after being struck by an automobile.
Frederick Peter Fonda; Market Bookkeeper, Civil War Soldier; born 31-Dec-1842, died Jul-31-1903 at 60 years of age; b. Troy, New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Rensselaer, Troy Ward 1; res. Knoxville, Tennessee 1868-1869; 1880 United States Census, 7th Ward, District 2, Troy, Rensselaer, New York; bur. Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York; Sergeant in Co. E, 2nd Regiment, New York State Volunteers
Frederick Theodore Fonda; Entrepreneur; born 1872, died Jan-23-1906 at 34 years of age; b. Ross, Michigan; d. at sea; He went west to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma when about 20 years of age where he became successful in acquiring mining interests in Nevada and Utah. He was lost at sea on January 23, 1906, when he was en route from San Francisco to Seattle on the steamship “Valencia“. He was returning to Alaska where he was prospecting for gold when the ship encountered bad weather and it foundered on the rocks off Vancouver Island
George Arthur Fonda; Automobile Dealer; born 31-Aug-1890, died Feb-1-1970 at 79 years of age; b. New York; 1930 Census, New York, Onondaga, Syracuse, District 30; SSDI Syracuse, Onondaga, New York; George A. Fonda of Syracuse, New York was the distributor for Packard automobiles in central New York state for many years, operating under the corporate name Fonda Motor Car Company.
George Dockstader Fonda; California Gold Miner, NYC Policeman; born 1834, died 29-Jul-1898 at 64 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; res. Sacramento, California (Tuolumne County where they owned 160 acres and found gold), then Brooklyn, New York; 1870 US Census, Columbia PO, Tuolumne Co., California; 1880 United States Census, Brooklyn, Kings (Brooklyn), New York City-Greater, New York; d. Brooklyn, New York.
Gysbert Nicholas Fonda; Merchant, Landowner; see www.nysm.nysed.gov; born 25-Sep-1720, died Aug-1788 at 67 years of age; bp. First Dutch Reformed Church, Albany, New York; Gysbert prospered in business, being counted among the wealthiest Albanians during the 1760s. In 1766, he stood with his neighbors in opposition to the Stamp Act. However, ten years later, this cautious merchant was identified by the same neighbors as opposed to the American cause, refused to sign the non Importation association, and was ordered disarmed. In 1778, he refused to swear allegiance to the United States and was threatened with deport and banishment to the British. With much to lose, Fonda then took the oath! those reservations aside, Gysbert Fonda survived the war and even was granted a bounty right in conjunction with the Albany regiment of the county militia.
Henry Vrooman Fonda; Merchant, Miller; born 10-May-1768, died 4-Apr-1815 at 46 years of age; b. East Greenbush, Rensselaer, New York; One of the first signs of modern commerce in the Mohawk Valley was a cotton-mill, carried on for about five years by a company organized in 1811, consisting of John and Simon Veeder, G. Van Deusen, Henry Fonda and Myndert Wemple. A woolen-mill and carding-machine for custom-work was attached. Simon I. Veeder rented the building, and started a satinet factory in 1825, which he continued till 1830, when he sold to John Booth. the water-power afforded by Cayadutta Creek led, at a very early day, to the establishment of grist-mills at this point. One is said to have stood, previous to the Revolution, half a mile above the site of the Cayadutta, or “Upper”, mill. Cayadutta Creek begins as a trickle in the hills some three miles north of Gloversville. It flows southward for more than 17 miles to the Mohawk River/Erie Canal, passing through the communities of Gloversville, Johnstown, Sammonsville, Berryville and Fonda.
Horace Fonda; Grocery Store Owner, Town Clerk; born 1809, died 20-Dec-1866 at 57 years of age; b. Wilton, Northumberland County, New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Saratoga, Saratoga Springs; Horace Fonda was one of 13 men who were the first board of directors of Commercial Bank of Saratoga Springs. the Fonda building at 384 Broadway, built by Horace Fonda in 1846. Fire damaged the store in 1856. Stores burned were H. & W. A. Fonda’s dry goods, operated by Barton Fonda & Horace Fonda. All the buildings were wooden structures. Horace & family lived above and conducted a grocery store on the street level. Became the Adelphi Hotel in 1928.
Jacob Peter Fonda; Boatman, Coal Dealer, Cider Maker; born 22-May-1808, died 22-Aug-1883 at 75 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery Co., New York; bp. Caughnawaga Reformed Church, Montgomery Co., New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Montgomery, Glenn; 1880 United States Census; Fultonville, Montgomery, New York; bur. Old Cemetery, Fultonville, New York
John V. Fonda; Drapery Maker, Salesman; born 15-Feb-1892, died Dec-17-1989 at 97 years of age; b. Harlem, New York City, New York; raised in Syracuse; 1930 Census, Illinois, Cook, Chicago (Districts 1-250), District 231; returned to Syracuse in 1950; SSDI issued Indiana, death benefits Syracuse, Onondaga, New York; d. Chesapeake, Virginia
Nicholas B. Fonda; Boatman/Cartman, Variety Store Owner, Civil War Soldier; born 1829; b. New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Saratoga, Waterford; 1860 U.S. Census, North Galway, Milton, Saratoga Co., New York; 1880 US Census, Cohoes, Albany, New York; Civil War – enlisted as a Private on 10 September 1863 at the age of 34; Company B, 16th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York; Mustered out Company B, 16th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York on 21 August 1865 in Washington, DC
William Brace Fonda; Oil Company Salesman, Merchant; born 12-Feb-1879, died 13064 at 56 years of age; b. and d. Omaha, Douglas Co, Nebraska; 1880 US Census, Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska; 1930 Census, Nebraska, Douglas, Omaha, District 114; res. Omaha, Nebraska, in partnership with brother Ten Eyck per 1910 Omaha Business Directory, adv novelties business.
