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J. J. Warfield

Meets Death While Working on Potter Lease, 4 Miles Southeast of Andover, Wednesday.

b. 6-3-1856   d.7-17-1912

While returning from an oil well upon which he had been working, Josiah J. Warfield was instantly killed by a bolt of lightning, Wednesday evening at about 5:30 on the Potter farm about four miles southeast of this village.

Wednesday Mr. Warfield and Fred Stebbins went to work on the Potter Lease, owned by the Empire Gas and Fuel Co.  Having finished their work at about 5 o'clock they started for home.  After driving a few rods Mr. Warfield remembered that he had left some of his tools where he had been working, tied his horse to a fence and went back after them on foot.   A heavy electric storm was threatening, so Mr. Stebbins drove to F. S. Potter's barn to wait until it had passed.  Mr. Warfield got this tools, consisting of a pair of combination pipe tongs, two combination wrenches, a double pitted axe and some other small tools, and was on his way back, walking in an oil road through a piece of wood, when a bolt of lightning struck a large soft maple tree but a foot or two from him instantly killing him.  The body was not much burned, indicating that death was caused more from the shock than from injuries received direct from the bolt, although a straw hat he was wearing was completely demolished.

F. S. Potter and man were drawing hay from a field the other side of Mr. Warfield to his barns.  Hearing the terrible report from the lighting bolt, they started immediately for the barn, and had gone but a short distance when they found Mr. Warfield's body lying prostrate in the roadway.  They rushed to his aid, but death had preceded them.  They immediately summoned help.  Dr. W. H. Loughead of Andover, was called, and by the use of his automobile was at the side of the body in 30 minutes after receiving the message.  Coroner Ayers was summoned from Alfred and came immediately.

Mr. Warfield was 54 years of age, and leaves besides his wife, a son Herbert Warfield and a daughter, Mrs. Clara Childs to mourn the loss of a loving father.  He was a man beloved by all in this community.  A member of the Andover Methodist Church, of Andover Odd Fellows and Rebecca Lodges, Andover Grange the Andover Macabee Tent, and the Lucy Stone Club and was an active and faithful worker in them all.  He will be greatly missed by every one.

Mr. Warfield had been employed in the Andover Oil and Gas field since its development, having worked some twenty years for the Empire Fuel and Gas Co., formerly the Mutual Gas Co.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist Church.

from ANDOVER NEWS, ANDOVER,NY