William L. Laman

from The Oxford Review Times, Oxford, Chenango County, NY,
June 9, 1922:

      WILLIAM L. LAMAN
 Esteemed Resident of Coventryville
    and Veteran of Civil War
    Answers Last Roll Call
    (Staff Correspondent)
 Mr. Laman was in usual health,
attending his store work and dur-
ing the week of May 15, he and his
wife took a trip to Johnson City
visiting his daughter and family and
his brother. Upon his return home
he remarked to friends what a de-
lightful visit he had, also how well
he was feeling but Thursday, May
25, he took a severe cold which de-
veloped into pneumonia. Everything
that doctors, nurse and loving
friends could do was done but of no
avail. He suddenly grew worse and,
Memorial morning his soul took its
flight to the Great Beyond. As was
his custom he had made and complet-
ed the arrangements for Memorial
Day services. He was deeply inter-
ested in these annual services as is
attested by his last request. Early
Memorial morning he asked that the
speaker of the day, Rev. A. Land-
messer of Coventry, also the choir
might come to his bedside for a brief
memorial service. Ere the hour of
service had arrived the roll had been
called and he was mustered out to
meet his beloved comrades who had
gone on before.
  A deep gloom was cast over the
entire community and the service
at the church was a solemn one, yet
it was a great spiritual message for
all. In well chosen words Rev. Land-
messer dedicated to the memory of
the departed comrade a beautiful
waxen wreath and bouquet borne to
the platform by his granddaughter
and nephew.
  William LeRoy Laman, the second
son of William and Maria Rice La-
man was born in Greene, July 9,
1843. He obtained his education
from the district schools also at-
tended the old Norwich Academy.
Later he taught school until his
country called for volunteers. To this
call he gladly responded offering his
services and life if necessary to save
his country. He fought in the war
of the rebellion, joining the 114th
regiment of the New York State
Volunteers serving the full term of
the war from 1861-1865. He was
enlisted as a private, promoted to
Corporal April 15, 1863 and promot-
ed to Sargent February 1, 1865. He
received a medal for being the best
drilled soldier in the 19th Army
Corps which is now in the Capital
building in Albany.
  He fought in many of important bat-
tles among the most noted were
Cedar Creek, Winchester and Gettys-
burg. In the battle of Opequau he
was severely wounded in the head 
and leg. It was in this battle that
two out of every three soldiers were
killed.
  June 15, 1867 he was united in
marriage to Miss Julia E. Minor,
daughter o George and Eliza A.
Minor of Coventryville.  Mrs. Laman
died May 19, 1899. On November
14, the same year he married his
wife's sister, Miss Henrietta Minor.
  He was associated with his father
and brother in the cooper business
for several years. In the year 1890
he purchased the mercantile busi-
ness of Geo. R. Johnson of Coven-
tryville which he successfully con-
ducted to the time of his death.
  Mr. Laman was a staunch Demo-
crat, a public spirited citizen, serv-
ing acceptably in different town
offices. He possessed a keen intel-
lect, his many friends often sought
his advice on important subjects.
He united with the First Congrega-
tional church in Coventryville in
1878. He always gave liberally of
his means of support of his
church.
  He is survived by his faithful wife,
Mrs. Henrietta Laman, an adopted
daughter, Mrs. Earl S. Laman of
Johnson City; two grandchildren,
Julia and Paul Laman. Two broth-
ers, James G. Laman of Coventry-
ville and Sidney E. Laman of John-
son City, also a number of nieces
and nephews.
  The funeral service was held at
his late home Friday, June 2, at 2
o'clock p. m. The service was con-
ducted by Rev. Robert B. Stratton of
Oxford, a former pastor, he speak-
ing words of comfort from a passage
in Paul's letter to the Phillippians,
"For me to live in Christ and to die
is gain." A favorite song selection
of the deceased, "Only Remembered
by what we have done" was impres-
sively rendered by his five nephews,
Fred, Earl, Donald, Albert and Wil-
liam Laman of Johnson City. Also
a solo, "Looking this way" was ef-
fectively rendered by Mrs. E.B.
Matteson of this place. The profus-
ion of beautiful and costly flowers
were silent tributes showing the
high esteem in which the departed
was held by relatives and friends.
  Those present at the funeral from
out of town were: George H. Minor
and his wife, New York City; James
Minor, Brooklyn; Clinton S. Minor,
Albert Pearsall and wife, Deposit;
Ernest R. Pearsall, Salamanca; P.
H. Parker, C.J. Parker, Jesse Jacobs,
William Merritt, Oxford; Frank La-
man, Binghamton; Mr. and Mrs.
Aubrey Laman, Endicott; Mr. and
Mrs. Sidney E. Laman, Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Laman, Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Laman, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Laman,
Miss Julia Laman, Paul Laman, Wm.
Laman, Fred Laman and Herbert
Laman, Johnson City; L.A. Miles
and wife, Ivan Miles, Juliand Miles,
Frank Willoughby, Norwich; Mrs.
Mary De Lamarter, Greene; Fred L.
Foote and wife, Franklin; Miss Lena
Dorwin, Utica, Delos Decker, John-
son City and Floyd Laman, Oxford.