Posson, Rufus Valentine
Birth
Rufus Valentine Posson was the fifth child of ten, and son of William Posson and Mary Catharine Becker. He was born on July 15, 1833 in Gallupville, Wright, Schoharie County, NY.
Marriage & Children
Rufus married Eliza J. Leman on February 19, 1853 in Middleburgh, NY. Eliza died on April 27, 1854. Children:
- Harvey, b. 1854, m. Betsey E. Hulbert
Rufus married Susan Van Kleeck by 1865. Children:
- Irvin (Irving) Posson, b. 1865, m. Anita Cook, d. Nov. 5, 1951
- Charles Arthur Posson, b. 1870, d. Mar. 29, 1885
Occupation
In 1850 Town of Wright, Rufus was a farmer living with his parents. In 1855 Wright, he was married to Eliza and had one son, Harvey 1, and was a farmer. By 1860 his young wife had died, and he was a farmer back with his parents. By 1865 he'd remarried, and lived with wife Susan and a new infant; his son Harvey was living with relatives. Rufus lived in 1870 Berne with Susan and 3 sons, Harvey 16, Ervin 5, and infant Arthur (Charley) . Rufus was listed as a farmer in the 1872-1873 Gazetteer and Business Directory (Schoharie County). 1880 saw Rufus back in Wright, still as a farmer, and surrounded by Posson neighbors. In 1885, his son Charley died as a teenager. On August 16, 1902, Rufus and his wife attended a Posson reunion held at Schoharie Park, where the families of four Posson sisters and two Posson brothers were in attendence, he being one of the attending brothers. Rufus and Susan often visited relatives in Middleburg and entertained company; one of their guests was Mr. Elwin Posson of South Dakota, a former resident of Warnerville.
Death
Rufus died on August 5, 1920, in East Gallupville, and was buried at the Lutheran Cemetery in Schoharie, N.Y. His wife Susan died on November 25, 1925, and is buried with him. Etched on their cemetery stone are the words “In My Father’s House Are Many Mansions.”
Obituary
Published in the Altamont Enterprise August 13, 1920 (East Gallupville) Rufus Posson, an aged resident of this village, died very suddenly last Thursday night. His funeral was held at the home on Sunday afternoon. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery at Schoharie.
Altamont Enterprise August 13, 1920
Gallupville: Rufus Posson died suddenly at his home in this village last Thursday night. His funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. L.J. Westfall officiating. Mr. Posson was 86 years old.
Additional Media
Rufus Valentine Posson, 1902 
Rufus V. Posson, Lutheran Cemetery, Schoharie, NY 
Irvin & Charley Posson, Lutheran Cemetery, Schoharie 
Harvey Posson stone, Old Stone Fort
Sources
