Frank Errold Wydman Sr.
(1872-1956)
Frank
Errold Wydman Sr. was born on on March 6, 1872 in Indiana, the son of Rev.
William H. and Lucy Ellen (Minor) Wydman. He was a prominent Republican,
police commissioner and secretary of the board of health of Corning, New York.
He likely was born in or near the towns of Henryville and Wooster, Scott County, IN, where his father was serving at the time as a minister of local Methodist churches. As a boy, he moved frequently as his father received new pastoral assignments every few years.
At the age of 34, Frank married 21-year-old Alice Agett (1885-1956 ), a native of Lyons, NY, and the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Albert H. Agett. The wedding ceremony was performed on Aug. 28, 1905 by Rev. William H. Reese, pastor of the First Methodist Church. The couple was 13 years apart in age.
The Wydmans resided in Corning, Steuben County, NY, and had four children -- Byron Wydman, Frank "Errold" Wydman Jr., Mary Lange and Alice Bishop.
A local newspaper reported that Frank:
... came to Corning in 1898 as a local representative of the Niagara Bakery, now known as the National Biscuit Company. He permanently settled here shortly after the turn of the century... [He] was active in politics and from 1930 to 1934 served as alderman of the Second Ward. For many years he served as a Republican committeeman. During the early 1930s he sought the GOP nomination for mayor and opposed Dr. John L. Miller in the primaries. When Dr. Miller became mayor, he appointed Mr. Wydman police commissioner. Subsequently, he was named a health commissioner by Mayor Daniel Stimson. He served in this capacity for the next 12 years, after which he was designated clerk of the board... [He] was an enthusiastic follower of baseball games and participated in the sport in his youth.
Frank was a member of the Northside Club in Corning and was a 32nd Degree Mason.
Sometime after the Wydmans moved to New York State, Frank's widowed mother Lucy came to live with them.
At first, they lived in Buffalo, and then later in Corning, Steuben County, NY, where in 1906 was residing there at 194 East Third Street. When the federal census was taken in 1910, their home was located at 223 Cedar Street. Lucy passed away on Dec. 13, 1917, and her remains were returned to Indianapolis for burial.
Erie Railroad station and St. James Hotel in
Corning. Note the tracks in the foreground.
Frank's older brother Howard, age 60 and apparently suffering from a serious illness, came to live with the Wydmans in Corning in 1927. At the time, the family home was at 202 Watauga Avenue. Apparently failing in health, Howard later went to the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Bradford County, PA, in late March, where he died on April 13, 1927.
Alice herself kept a high profile in the community. Said a local newspaper, she was:
... a life member of the Crystal City Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of Mizpah Court Order of the Amaranth and of Corning Rebekah Lodge. She was a past worthy matron of the OES, a past royal matron of Mizpah Court and a past noble grand of the Rebekahs. She was also a member of the Steuben District Association of present and past matrons of the OES. A long time member of the First Presbyterian Church at Corning, [she] was one of the founders of the Nichols Bible Class of that church, and president of it at the time of her death.
In August 1955, the Wydmans celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
At the age of 84, Frank passed away on April 6, 1956, after suffering a heart attack at the home of their son Byron in Phoenix, AZ.
Alice died just a few months later, on July 5, 1956. She was laid to rest with her husband in Hope Cemetery Annex.
Son Frank "Errold" Wydman Jr. ( ? -1985) married Allie (?) and Lillian Rawcliffe ( ? - ? ). Circa 1917, he lived with his wife and parents in Corning. Errold had two children -- Gary Wydman and Beverly School, and two stepsons, Kent Rawcliffe and Lee J. Rawcliffe. Said the Corning Leader: "A science teacher in the Corning-Painted Post School District, he retired in 1972. He coached the East High School track team from 1969-73. He received his master's degree in education at Cornell University. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church; the Northside Club, Masonic Lodge 1036, the Corning Consistory; and in 1984 was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame fo rhis contribution to sports. A past-president and secretary of the Babe Ruth League, he also was a coach and taught all skill levels. He was active in the Boy Scouts." Errold passed away after a battle with Alzheimers on Aug. 10, 1985, at the age of 76. He was buried at Hope Cemetery.
Daughter Mary married (?) Lange. Circa 1956, they lived in Sherman Oaks, CA. In 1985, she was married to (?) Settle and made her home in Arizona.
Daughter Alice married (?) Bishop. They resided in Sherman Oaks, CA in 1956. She was last known to be alive in 1985.
Son Byron lived in Phoenix, AZ, in the 1950s through the 1980s.
Copyright © 2006-2007 Mark A. Miner