The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean Co., PA, Friday, September 18, 1953

Prominent Industrialist Dies

In the death of J. Russell Case, Bradford loses a man recognized as head of one of the leading cutlery manufacturing firms in the entire nation. A midwesterner by birth, he nonetheless had been a Bradfordian since before the turn of the century and had seen his firm grow to great prominence. The products of the company have brought prominence to Bradford in world markets and have ment employment for many area residents. Active in many business ventures as well as in civic and fraternal endeavors, Mr. Case typified a successful American business executive. His record of achievements will be long remembered.

The Era, Bradford, PA., Monday, September 21, 1953

Local Briefs

Among those in attendance at the funeral services for J. Russell Case on Saturday, were the following cutlery industry figures, business associates and friends of Mr. Case: Mr. and Mrs. Harlon Platts and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Platts, Boulder, Colo.; Mrs. Emma Case and Artel Case, Sistersville, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Case, Clarksburg, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin, Ray Utlev, Louis Groves, all of Washville, Ark., Mr. and Mrs. B. O. Corley, Union City, Tenn.; Harry Slefkin, Tucson, Ariz.; J. C. Saunders, St. Petersburg, Fla.; A. C. Branon, Kane; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. McCulloch, Westfield, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wustof, Perry, N. Y.; Rex Goble, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. John Spignard, Nashville, Ark.; Mrs. Hazel Andrews, Mrs. Addie Burrell, Mrs. Lina Champlin, Mrs. Jay Elliott Case, all from Little Valley, N. Y.; Mrs. C. B. Howard, Decatur, Ill. and Mrs. M. J. Leighty, Pana, Ill.

The Era, Bradford, PA., Monday, September 21, 1953

Local Briefs

Among those in attendance at the funeral services for J. Russell Case on Saturday, were the following cutlery industry figures, business associates and friends of Mr. Case: Mr. and Mrs. Harlon Platts and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Platts, Boulder, Colo.; Mrs. Emma Case and Artel Case, Sistersville, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Case, Clarksburg, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin, Ray Utlev, Louis Groves, all of Washville, Ark., Mr. and Mrs. B. O. Corley, Union City, Tenn.; Harry Slefkin, Tucson, Ariz.; J. C. Saunders, St. Petersburg, Fla.; A. C. Branon, Kane; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. McCulloch, Westfield, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wustof, Perry, N. Y.; Rex Goble, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. John Spignard, Nashville, Ark.; Mrs. Hazel Andrews, Mrs. Addie Burrell, Mrs. Lina Champlin, Mrs. Jay Elliott Case, all from Little Valley, N. Y.; Mrs. C. B. Howard, Decatur, Ill. and Mrs. M. J. Leighty, Pana, Ill.

John Russell "Russ" Case Death Certificate.

The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean Co., PA, Tuesday, June 9, 1959

Mrs. J. R. Case, 73, Dies in Hospital; Funeral Thursday

Mrs. Florence Leighty Case, 73, of 12 Russell Blvd., widow of J. Russell Case, prominent businessman and industrialist, died in Bradford Hospital at 9:15 p.m. Monday. Mrs. Case fell and fractured her hip six weeks ago and had been a patient at the hospital since. She was born July 22, 1885, at Tower Hill, Ill., and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis Leighty. She came to Bradford in 1930. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Case was active in church and civic affairs. She was former commissioner of the Girl Scouts Council and also served as an officer of the Bradford Civic Music Association. She was a member of the of the Women's Literary Club and the Pennhills Club. Surviving are two brothers, C. L. Leighty of Decatur, Ill., and M. J. Leighty of Pana, Ill; three sisters, Mrs. Burt W. Brown of Decatur, Mrs. C.. B. Howard of Ferguson, Mo., and Mrs. R. A. Graves of Bradford, and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the Koch-Chatley Memorial Chapel starting tonight. Funeral services will be held on Thursday a time to be announced later. Burial will be in the Little Valley, N.Y., Cemetery.

Florence Jeanette (Leighty) Case Death Certificate.

John Russell Case

Case family

Northwestern Pennsylvania

J. RUSSELL CASE - Known throughout the United States for his accomplishment as a cutlery manufacturer, J. Russell Case continues, in Bradford, the firm of W. R. Case & Son, founded and for years headed by his father. This organization occupies a prominent place in Bradford industrial life and in the cutlery business of the Nation.

Mr. Case was born October 27, 1878, in Nebraska, son of William R. and Mary (Fox) Case, both of whom are now deceased. The father, William R. Case, went west with his brother, Jean Case, when he reached the age of twenty-one years, and the two brothers together operated a mail and freight route for the Federal Government in Kansas and Nebraska. In 1878 Mrs. Mary (Fox) Case, whom he had married at the age of twenty and taken west with him, died, whereupon, in 1879, William R. Case returned to the East and entered the cutlery business in Little Valley, New York. The present firm, or its predecessor, was established there in 1895, and there William R. Case continued it until 1905. Then he decided to come to Bradford, where he put up a thoroughly modern plant and initiated the present firm of W. R. Case & Son. They manufacture “Case Tested Double XX” cutlery, popular throughout the United States. W. R. Case remained president of the organization until his death in 1931, where­upon he was succeeded by his son, J. Russell Case, who has continued the work down to the present. William R. Case was also the main sponsor of the Case Land Company, and was instrumental in transforming the swamps in Foster Brook into a fine residential district. He was the first man in the United States to travel and sell cutlery from samples, according to records of the industry.

Common schools of Little Valley, New York, where the family formerly lived, provided J. Russell Case’s early formal education. He “grew up” in the cutlery business from a very early age, and has remained in it since that time. The enterprise was established, as already indicated, back in 1890, and since its removal to Bradford he has been prominent in its management. Through the years of the firm’s history the number of employees has grown from forty people to about 350. At the time of the father’s death, in 1931, there were about two hundred. Originally, in Bradford, the business was situated in a small establishment in Bank Street, very different from the fine up-to-date plant now operating in Russell Boulevard.

Quite aside from his work with this company, J. Russell Case operates a fine farm, raising roughage to feed a herd of about sixty head of milk cows. Politically he follows an independent course, casting his support in favor of candidates and measures of his choice rather than on any partisanship basis. He belongs to the Bradford Club and the Bradford Board of Commerce, and in the Free and Accepted Masons is affiliated with Little Valley Lodge, Buffalo Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and Zem Zem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (in Erie).

J. Russell Case married (first) Effie L. Crouse, and (second) Florence Lichty.

Crandall Knives

The company that eventually became the Crandall Cutlery Company of Bradford, PA, had its start in Little Valley, NY. There is little known of the company started by Ira Clinton Crandall (1823-1904), other than it "moved" to his son, James Etsel Crandall (1850-1917) and then James’ son, Herbert Etsel Crandall (1876-1922), who gave the company its "last" name. As it turns out, there were several cutlery companies in that same general area (western NY, along the PA border), the largest and most powerful of which was W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery in Bradford. William Russell Case wanted all the cutlery business of that area, and was quite a "cut-throat" businessman of the time. If he could not buy a competitor outright, he made sure that his children married into the family! Through this method he "acquired" the Platts Cutlery Company, the Crandall Cutlery Company, the Unique Knife Company, and the Robinson Knife Company! Case’s daughter, Theresa, married Herbert Etsel Crandall, and W. R. Case bought out the Crandall Cutlery Company in 1911. Original CCCo. knives are a keepsake — so look to see if you have one. They frequently come up at auction on the Internet at such places as E-Bay. However, you have to watch carefully to make sure that you’re not bidding on a repro! After Wm. Russell Case died, the Case Cutlery Co. ended up in the hands of a Crandall again, Rhea (Crandall) Osborne O’Kain (b ~1900), his granddaughter. There were no male heirs, hence it passed on to her in the mid-50s. She and her husband and her son were in charge until about 1973. Over the years there were many other businesses bought out by the Case Co., but in 1989 Case was bought out by Smoky Mountain Knife Works of TN. Smoky Mountain sold the company to Zippo of Bradford, PA, and it is Zippo that still owns it. References: John Cortland Crandall: "Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island ... "; private; New Woodstock, NY; 1949; pp 224, 429-30, 564. Giles, James S.: "The First 100 Years (A Pictorial and Historical Review of W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery)"; Smokey Mountain Knife Works; Sevierville, TN; Oct 1989; pp 2, 18, 72

The History of Knifemaking

By looking at the history of W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, you are really looking at the history of knifemaking in the United States.

W. R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company's history began in 1889, in the burgeoning center of the American cutlery industry in upstate New York. The secrets of tempering steel to the perfect heat that gave blades optimum strength and grinding a breathtakingly sharp edge were learned. The Case reputation began to grow. And knives sold from the backs of wagons became the foundation of a great company.

In the beginning of 1902, that knowledge and reputation became the bedrock upon which W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company was founded. By the time the company moved to Bradford, PA in 1905, "Son" acquired an "s" at the end, and the most respected name in cutlery was established.

The name grew through word of mouth, and the product offerings expanded to include a wide range of knives and straight razors.

Tens of thousands of Case knives went to World War I with U.S. troops, and by the 1920s demand for Case knives far outstripped the original factory, requiring the building of a new facility in Bradford.

Founder J. Russell Case formed W. R. Case & Sons with financial backing from his father, William R. Case, in 1902. When J. R. Case founded W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, he was pursuing the passion that seemed to be his destiny. His father, W. R Case, had been one of six siblings involved in the cutlery business since 1889. With Case family offspring founding no fewer than seven separate cutlery companies, the Case name became synonymous with high-quality knives and cutlery. But who was J. R. Case? A look back at the "Golden Years" for W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. might explain more.

During the half century-plus of control and guidance by chairman John Russell Case success and the "good life" seemed to come easily. J. R. Case, or "Russ" as close friends and relatives fondly called him, managed Case Cutlery with a style that was both authoritative and unpredictable. From his formation of the company until his death in 1953, J. R. was final decision-maker at Case.

J. Russell Case, The Farmer

Mr. Case always loved farming and farm animals. His personal records have many references to horses and cattle. In 1903, he sold a Sorrel horse, harness and wagon to an acquaintance, and agreed to accept time payments of $10.00 per month, plus interest until it was paid for. He owned several farms in the Pennsylvania and New York State areas on which he raised cattle and hogs. One farm, the Maple Grove Farm, was a dairy farm that bottled and sold milk by home delivery. His Red Bird Farm, near Sinclairville, NY contained 916 acres of ground. Of course, he hired managers and employees to work the farms, but he made frequent appearances to supervise improvements and operating procedures.

J. R.'s Final Years 

Throughout his life, J. R. Case had been aggressive, vigorous, and seemingly untiring. Around 1950, at age 72, his health began to fail. In 1952 and 1953, it seemed that he spent most of his time with doctors and in hospitals and he was seldom able to appear at the factory. John Russell Case passed away in 1953.

J. R.'s Legacy Lives On 

W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. continues striving to maintain the high standards of John Russell Case. The knife business was clearly in J. R. Case's blood, and his legacy lives on. The first Case knives were made by hand, and in that regard little has changed.

Company Lineage

W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company was created around the turn of the century during a time when pocketknives were as essential as a watch. Through the years, the company has been recognized as a leader in pioneering new materials and designs in the knife industry. However, Case has always been careful to temper its innovation with a steadfast commitment to uphold its longstanding tradition of quality and craftsmanship. Case knives are made today much as they were when the company was under the stewardship of its founder John Russell Case (J. R.).

John Russell Case, named for his father, W. R. Case, was one of six siblings involved in the cutlery business since 1889. As a young man, he started as a grinder and finisher in a company owned by his father and uncles. During the winter, he worked in the factory and in the summers, he sold cutlery from the back of a wagon to feed/supply stores, hardware stores, hotels and even door-to-door.

At the turn of the century, J. R. Case decided to incorporate his own business with the backing of his father for whom the company is named. With several family members in the business, the name Case became synonymous with quality cutlery throughout the country. John Russell was at the helm of Case Knives until his death in 1953.

For several years, Case was family owned and operated. In fact, family management weathered it through the Great Depression and two World Wars before American Brands purchased the company in 1972. In 1989, the company was sold to Jim Parker of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Two years later, Rivers Associates, a holding company, purchased Case and in 1993 sold it to Zippo Manufacturing Company, makers of Zippo lighters.

Zippo, another family-owned Bradford-based company, has given W.  R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company the stability and focus it has not had since the Case family owned it. Case now has over 350 skilled employees working three shifts, seven days a week to meet ever-increasing demand for its world famous knives.

Just as it did in the early 1900s - when traveling salesmen would go door to door offering Case knives for 25 or 50 cents - the brand continues to offer versatility, from a handy tool that fulfills a variety of everyday uses to hobby knives for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, camping, golfing or hunting.

In December of 1904 a meeting was held in the office of L. Emery Jr. and Company to consider a proposition for the establishment of a large cutlery company in Bradford. W. R. Case and J. Russell Case, member of the firm of W. R. Case and Son of Little Valley were present and submitted an offer to erect a plant in Bradford. The firm was engaged in cutlery business in Little Valley, New York. The proposed name for the firm W. R. Case & Son Cutlery Works.

By January of 1905 a finance committee appointed to sell stock in the proposed new cutlery company was actively at work. At a meeting of Case Cutlery Company stockholders four sites were offered for consideration. The cutlery company would decide on the location.

February 1905 a meeting of the stockholders of Case Cutlery Company was held, bylaws for the corporation were adopted and matters pertaining to the concern were discussed. It was decided to leave the selection of site for the proposed concern to the officials of the company. A site was selected. Case Cutlery plant was located on the corner of Howard and Bank Street. The members of the Third Ward Industrial Association concluded to purchase the Lovitz lot and offer it in competition as a desirable site. Mr. Case on the seeing the location was well pleased with it. As soon as weather permitted the work of erecting the factory began

By the middle of 1905 the building was completed and W. R. Case & Son becomes part of Bradford's manufacturing history.

The year 1928 finds the cutlery company looking for more space. The citizens of Erie, Pennsylvania make a bid for relocating plant to Erie, Pa. July 1928 Bradford Era headline reads "Loss of W. R. Case & Son Virtually Certain" November 1928 Board of Commerce negotiated to buy Case Plant and a new plant was built in East Bradford.

By 1972, ownership of Case Cutlery passed from the Case Family to American Brands, Inc. In 1973 Case purchased approximate twenty acres of land on Toad Hollow Road (Toad Hollow road was changed to Owens Way, named after Owens-Illinois Container Factory located on the same road.) south of the city. The building was completed late 1974 and production started in spring of 1975.

On January 1, 1989 the ownership of W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery changed to James F. Parker. Oct 1990 Case Cutlery entered Chapter 11 involuntary bankruptcy. By November 1990 sale to River Associates was approved.

May 1993 sale of W. R. Case & Sons to Zippo Manufacturing was officially approved. The joining of two historic Bradford companies, provided stability for Case Cutlery and knife and lighter collectors benefited in 1995 when the first Zippo-Case Swap Meet was held in Bradford, Pennsylvania. You might say knife and lighter collector heaven. No doubt the collectors are dreaming of July 1998 for another dose of heaven.

The Central Overland Pony Express of 1860-61 was not the first nor the last venture to transport and deliver mail by horseback. While most attention has always been focused on the Transcontinental Pony Express route to California, there were many comparable services scattered throughout the west. Often these services lasted but a short time.

The purpose of this page is to provide a forum to list other riders and other routes and to provide a means of recognizing those gallant riders who provided the communication links that helped to bind our country together.

Andrew Jaxon Case

Born: March 4, 1862, Napoli, Cattaraugus County, New York

Died: January 15, 1940, Little Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York

Andrew Jaxson Case rode for a pony express, probably in 1878.

Evidence: "Historic Annals of SW NY; pub 1940; Vol 3, pp 180-181. "A. J.Case, who during his young manhood had a romantic career as one of the pony express riders over the prairies in the days before the Union Pacific RR was built."

He lived in Furnas County, Nebraska, and Norton, Kansas, 1880-1883. He was married in Norton Kansas. His first child was born in Norton in 1883. He was a salesman for Case Brothers Cutlery of New York and was a stock breeder, both in the 1890s.

Information submitted by Karyl Hahn January 1998

40. Jobe Russell CASE was born on 5 Jul 1821 in Spafford, Onondaga, NY. He was born on 5 Jul 1821 in Spafford, Cattaraugus, NY. He appeared on the census in 1850 in *Napoli, Cattaraugus, NY. 1850, NY, Cattaraugus Co., Napoli; pg 68; #181/182
CASE, Job R.; 29y; M; farmer; $1300 real estate; b NY
CASE, Deborah M.; 31y; F; b NY
CASE, Anna; 6y; F; b NY
CASE, Mary T.; 5y; F; b NY
CASE, William; 3y; M; b NY
CASE, Eugene; 1/365; M; b NY He appeared on the census in 1855 in *Napoli, Cattaraugus Co., NY. 1855; NY, Cattaraugus Co., Napoli; pg 292 & 292; dwelling #45
CASE, Job R.; 35y; male; b Washington Co.; married; in town 8y; farmer
CASE, Deorah; 35y; female; wife; b Washington Co.; in town 30y;CASE, Anna V.; 12y; female; child; b Wis.; in town 8y
CASE, Mary G.; 11y; fmale; child; b Wis; in town 8y
CASE, William R.; 8y; b Cattaraugus Co.; in town 8y
CASE, Gean; 3y; male; child; b Catt. Co.; in town 3y
CASE, Emme E.; 1y; female; child; b Catt. Co.; in town 1y He appeared on the census in 1860 in *Napoli, Cattaraugus, NY. 1860, NY, Cattaraugus Co., Napoli; pg 36; #290/301
CASE, Job R.; 38y; M; $1900 real estate/$500 personal; b NY
CASE, Deborah M.; 40y; F; b NY
CASE, Ann V.; 16y; F; b Wisconsin; domestic
CASE, William R.; 12y; M; b NY
CASE, Jean A.; 7y; F; b NY
CASE, Emma E.; 5y; F; b NY
CASE, Jessie; 3y; F; b NY
CASE, John; 1y; M; b NY
CASE, Theresa M.; 14y; F; domestic; b NY He appeared on the census in 1865 in *Napoli, Cattaraugus Co., NY. 1865; NY, Catt. Co., Napoli; pg 25-6; dwelling 178; family #179
CASE, Jobe R.; 44y; male; b Catt. Co.; married once; farmer;
CASE, Deborah; 45y; wife; b Washington Co.; has 10 children; married once;
CASE, William R.; 17y; child; b Catt. Co.; single; farmer
CASE, Gean; 12y; male; child; b Catt. Co; single
CASE, Emma; 11y; female; child; b Catt. Co; single
CASE, Jesse; 9y; male; child; b Catt. Co.; single
CASE, John; 7y; male; child; b Catt. Co.; single
CASE, Andy; 3 3/12y; male; child; b Catt. Co.; single

dwelling #178; famly #179
WADKINS, John; 26y; male; b Catt. Co.; married; farmer
WADKINS, Virginia; 21y; female; wife; b Wisconsin He appeared on the census in 1870 in *Napoli, Cattaraugus Co., NY. 1870 US Census; NY, Cattaraugus Co., Napoli; pg 6; #48/48
CASE, Joseph R.; W; M; 49y; farmer $5000/$1000; b NY
CASE, Maria A.; W; F; 30y; keeping house; b NY
CASE, Jessie; W; F; 14y; b NY
CASE, John; W; M; 12y; b NY
CASE, Andy; W; M; 8y; b NY
Osere ?; W; M; 1y; b NY He appeared on the census in 1880 in *Norton Precinct, Norton Co., Kansas. 1880 US Census; Kansas, Norton Co., Norton Precinct; ED#201; pg 10; line 13; #99/99
CASE, Job; W; M; 58y;married; farmer; b NY; f/b RI; m/b CT
CASE, Maria; W; F; 39y; wife; married; keeping house; b Michigan; f/bCT; m/b CT
CASE, Andy J.; W; M; 18y; son; farmer; single; b NY; f/b NY; m/b NY
CASE, Edwin D.; M; W; 11y son; at home; b NY; f/b NY; m/b MI
CASE, Mable E.; F; W; 1/12 yr b in May; at home; single; b Kansas; f/b NY; m/b Mi

family #100/100 living next door
CASE, William E.; M; W; 30y; farmer; married; b VT; f/b VT; m/b VT
CASE, Lou N.; F; W; 27y; wife; keeping house; b OH; f/b VT; m/b not listed
CASE, Stella; F; W; 5y; daughter; single; at home; b KS; f/b VT; m/b not listed
CASE, Ida; F; W; 2y; daughter; single; b KS; f/b VT; m/b not listed
CASE, Bertha; F; W; 9/12 b Aug; daughter; at home single; b KS; f/b VT; m/b not listed He was Newspaper article on 22 Feb 1894 in Norton Co., Kansas. Champion Newspaper, Norton, Kansas 2 Feb. 1894

Job Case was the third son in a family of 10 children and was born in Washington County, New York July 1, 1822. Mr. Case's parents were New Englanders of English and Scotch descent. His father, William served with honor in the war of 1812: he was the son of Isaac Case who was an officer in the Revolution, and was noted for his great feats of strength and daring.

Job was a sturdy boy and showed early signs of more than ordinary physical strength and energy, qualities that have stood him well in hand in the path that fate seemed to have marked for him to follow. Removing at an early age to Cattaraugus County, New York, then an almost unbroken wilderness of rocky hills and giant forests, but where today hundreds of acres of pleasant meadows and fruitful orchards stand as monuments to this man's great energy and almost superhuman endurance, and many a Kansas urchin has been made glad at sight of the rosy cheeked apples shipped from some of those same orchards.

Mr. Case was married at the age of 22 to Miss Debbie Milks of Napoli, New York. This proved to be a marriage of natural adaptation. The wife bringing the industrious loom and spinning wheel of those days which played an accompaniment, to the music of the ax and flail of the thrifty farmer. There were born of this marriage nine children, five boys and four girls, which with the exception of one infant all lived to be men and women grown, as follows: Mrs. A. V. Reed, now residing in Little Valley, New York; Theresa, wife of J. B. F. Champlin, manufacturer of Cutlery, Little Valley, New York; Wm. R. Case of the firm of Case Bros., stock breeder of Spring Green, Nebraska; Jean Case of the same place and business; Emma, wife of J. W. Brown, merchant at Little Valley, New York; John D. Case of Case Bros., Spring Green; Andrew J. Case of same place and business; Jessie, wife of J. H. Barnard, farmer near Spring Green, Nebraska.

Mrs. Case died in 1868 and Mr. Case again married, this time to Miss Marie E. Dolbeir to whom was born one son and one daughter. The son Edwin, is in the dairy and fruit business in New York; the daughter, Mable, is still with her parents.

In 1873 two of the oldest sons, Wm. and Jean, having settled in Furnas County, Nebraska. Mr. Case determined to test the qualities of the prairie soil and moved to Nebraska locating in October 1873 near his sons on the Sappa in Furnas County.

About this time Mr. Case met with a severe financial loss through the failure of the banking firm of S. S. Marsh in Little Valley, New York, sweeping away much of the hard accumulation of years.  Although the strength of his youth had begun to wane, and crippled financially the old fire and ambition still remained; proving up on his first settlement in 1874 he homesteaded the same year, land in Norton county one mile northwest of Norton.  He remained on this land until 1880. He then moved to Norton. Mrs. Case opened a millinery store.  Mr. Case was engaged in numerous enterprises on a small scale.  He became a shareholder in the Norton town company and was at one time President of the association.  He has a well disciplined mind and would speak on public questions with great force and originality in our debating societies.  His outward appearance was cold and austere; but close acquaintance showed him to be companionable and communicative, although he never smiled.  The expression of his face spoke volumes.  He owned the Wm Maudlin farm, six miles east of Norton, and lived out there for a short time.  Beginning to feel the weight of years and longing for old familiar scenes of his native state, in 1884 he returned to his old home in Little Valley.

Having in his day perhaps subdued as many acres and planted as many orchards as any man now living, giving employment to hundreds, he has undoubtedly earned a quiet and peaceful old age.  He now lives in retirement at Little Valley, New York.

Politically Mr. Case has of late years been a prohibitionist.  Always a temperate man it is his boast that he never has tasted whisky or tobacco, and takes a just pride in his vigor which he attributes to his temperate habits, neither has he a son or grandson who uses either of them although he represents twenty-one male descendents.  In religions matters Mr. Case might be termed a "Free Thinker."  In reply to a question asking him regarding his belief in the future state, the following lines apply admirably.
When we do a good deed it is done to stay:
And though evil we do in another day
It taketh not that good away,
Nor can we to a saviour pray,
And wash our evil deeds away.
But each by their own full record must stand.
When the books are balanced
In the other land.