Notes:

17 July 1928 Tonawanda News

Man At Work In Cellar of Store in Tonawanda Electrocuted Last Eve.

Standing in Pool of Water When He Switched on Extension Light, 110 Volts Shot Through His Body with Fatal Results

Raymond Hartman of 372 Adam street, stepped into a small pool of water in the cellar of Kopf’s drug store, at precisely the same moment switched on an extension light late last evening, and electrocuted himself. Mr. Hartman leaves a wife, a two weeks old baby, and an eight year old boy.

Mr. Hartman was working in a dark corner of the drug store cellar last night, when he suddenly thought of an old extension cord which would give him better light. This he succeeded in rigging up with little difficulty, but unfortunately he was at the time standing flat upon the damp floor in a pair of shoes which had become thoroughly soaked by his work with the cellar pipes. When he turned on the switch the current shot straight through his body by means of the perfect ground connection, and Hartman fell to the floor unconscious.

Boy Ran For Aid

His little boy who was with him at the time, ran immediately for help, and Hartman was quickly carried upstairs and laid upon a bed, where Schweitzer, a neighbor, applied artificial respiration at once, but to no avail. Dr. R. H. Wilcox, responding to a hurry call, arrived within a few minutes, as did the police with the city pulmoter and an oxygen tank. All possible efforts were made to bring the electrocuted man back to life, but after more than an hour’s fruitless labor, the impossible task was given over.

110 Volts Killed Him

City electricians examining the cord, switch, and house current, could find nothing defective in the electrical apparatus. Hartman was electrocuted by the ordinary 110 volt current; ordinarily not considered dangerous. If the connection between his body and the wet ground had not been absolutely perfect, he would have experienced no more than a slight shock.

The body was removed to Hamp’s funeral parlors, where Medical Examiner Long pronounced death due to accidental electrocution.

Mr. Hartman is survived by his wife Elsie, a son Douglas, and baby daughter, Donna. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hartman of the Town of Tonawanda are still living, as are two brothers, Henry Hartman, Jr., of Niagara Falls and Charles L. Hartman of the Town of Tonawanda, and one sister, Mrs. Charles Patterson.

Mr. Hartman was a veteran of the World War. The funeral will be held Thursday at the late residence at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Interment will take place at Elm Lawn, the Rev. Andrew Hils officiating.

Raymond married GIERKE, Elsie on 21 Feb 1918 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY. Elsie (daughter of GIERKE, Herman Albert and KARING, Fredericke Karoline Albertine) was born on 29 Apr 1896 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY; died on 22 Sep 1938 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: THIELE, Jeanette H. Jeanette (daughter of THIELE, Heinrich T and SCHROEDER, Helena E) was born in 1913 in Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY; died on 2 Nov 1969 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Donna F. Belling

Of the Town of Pendleton, passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023, in Niagara Hospice House. She was born in Tonawanda, NY, on June 28, 1928, the daughter of the late Raymond and Elsie [Gierke] Hartman.
 
Mrs. Belling graduated from Niagara Falls High School. She loved being a homemaker taking care of her family. Mrs. Belling was a member of the Home Bureau and enjoyed doing crafts.

She was the wife of the late Ralph E. Belling, who passed away in January of 2011. Mrs. Belling  is survived by her sons Roger J. Belling and Roy D. (Patti) Belling, four grandchildren Kimberly (Shawn) McIntyre, Kevin Belling, Angel and Lisa Hartman, great-grandchildren Ella, Cole, Michael-Jacob, also many additional great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Douglas Hartman.

Her family will be present on  Thursday October 12,  from 3-7 PM at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 5893 Hoover Road, SANBORN, NY.

Funeral services will be held  on Friday October 13, at 10:00 AM at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 322 Old Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda, NY, with the Rev. Meghan James officiating.

Memorials in her name to NCCC Foundation for the Home Bureau Scholarship, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road Sanborn, NY 14132. 

Interment in White Chapel Memorial Park, Amherst, NY.

Visit www.rhoneyfuneralhome.com, for guest register.

Donna married BELLING, Ralph E on 23 Sep 1950 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY. Ralph (son of BELLING, John Gregor Conrad and WOLF, Elsa Anna Helene) was born on 25 Sep 1922 in Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY; died on 28 Jan 2011 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joyce married BELLING, Carl John [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roger married SOLLARS, Rebecca Ann [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roy married WOODS, Betty Jane [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: KRAMARZ, Patricia A. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: DAYFERT, Justine M. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MCINTYRE, Shawn. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]