Obituaries from Orange County
James Riley Mapes
Middletown Daily Press, Monday, November 4, 1889
James Riley Mapes, the Erie telegraph operator in Port Jervis, died at 4:40 o'clock this morning. Over a year ago Ralph Ketcham, of Mount Hope, a relative and friend of the family, took up his residence in Mr. Mapes' family for the purpose of attending the public schools of Port Jervis. These weeks since young Ketcham was stricken down with a most severe attack of typhoid fever, his fever being so high that he was delirious most of the time. Almost the entire care of the boy devolved upon Mr. and Mrs. Mapes, until finally a few days ago they were both, taken down from care and anxiety. In the case of Mr. Mapes, owing to the fact, that he endeavored also to attend to his duties as operator in the Erie dispatcher's office, the disease affected the brain. The deceased is a cousin of Mr. C.C.V. Ketcham, of this city.
He is survived by his mother, who resided with him and by his widow, Arminta, daughter of S.B. Beyea, of New Vernon. The funer will occur at New Vernon church, Wednesday, at 2 o'clock.