Charles Thomas Major (1896-1962)

Charles Thomas Major m. Anne Elizabeth Curtin (1898-1971). They had two sons, Charles (1934- ) and Peter (1939- ).

Charlie Major graduated from LeMoyne College and Syracuse University Law School. He worked for 35 years as a trial lawyer. In 1963, he became a justice of the peace for Skaneateles Village. He began serving as town justice in 1965. Two years later the town and village consolidated these positions and he remained town justice until 1977 when he became town supervisor, a position he kept for 14 years.

Until four years ago, Major served as a justice on the state Supreme Court for the fifth district. His retirement from this position led Major back to the town justice position.

“I was retired for about nine hours and 22 minutes,” Major told the Syracuse Post-Standard. “And I became the town justice again. I just love it, I love this town, I love the people and I enjoy the work and working with all the people and trying to help them.”

Even though retired, Charlie still serves with the state Supreme Court as a hearing officer in areas of mediation, as well as serving on Fridays for family court in Syracuse, hearing matters of custody.

Oh, yes, he's also an active member of the Skaneateles Fire Department, with 50 years of service.

However, if you Google Charlie Major you'll find most of the websites listed deal with the Charlie Major Nature Trail which was named in his honor. The nature trail is located off Crow Hill Road near Skaneateles Creek in Mottville, a tiny community a few miles north of the village of Skaneteles.

Charlie and Margaret Major have eight children: Michael, Mary, Margaret, Mark, Matthew, Martha, Martin and Mitchell:

Floyd Joseph Major (1899-1984)

Lloyd "Red" Major (1899-1963)

Lloyd (Red) Major m. Clara Westlake (1908-1986)

From the Auburn Citizen Advertiser, August 20, 1973:

Lloyd F. (Red) Major of Skaneateles Falls died Sunday at his home. 4531 Jordan Road, after a long illness. He was a life resident of the area, and a retired employe of the Waterbury Felt Co.

Mr. Major was a communicant of St. Bridget's Church, Skaneateles Falls. Surviving are his wife, Clara Westlake Major; two brothers, Floyd J. of Skaneateles Falls, and Sarto C. of Skaneateles; two sisters, Laura M. Major and Mrs. Nellie M. O'Shea.of Skaneateles Falls; nieces and nephews.

Laura Major (1900-76)

From the Marcellus Press-Observer, October 20, 1976:

Miss Laura M. Major of School Street, Skaneateles Falls, died October 13 in Auburn Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was a life resident of Skaneateles Falls and a 1929 graduate of St. Joseph's Shool of Nursing in Syracuse.

For 26 years she was head of the Onondaga County Physical Handicapped Department. She was a Republican committee woman for 52 years. She was a communicant of St. Bridget's Church of Skaneateles Falls and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Skaneateles.

Cecil Major (1902-1903)

Sarto Cecil Major (1904-2001)

Sarto Cecil Major was the Onondaga County (NY) Sheriff from 1959-63. He died on March 9, 2001, two days after his 97th birthday. He was named after the Italian cardinal who later became Pope Pius X.

He joined the sheriff’s department in 1929, during Prohibition. His early career included many raids on illegal liquor operations. Sarto himself never had a drink, says his cousin, Charles Major, also of Skaneateles. Sarto became president of the St. Bridget's Temperance Society in Skaneateles Falls.

Charles Major told the Syracuse newspapers that after the United States entered World War II in 1941, Sarto tried to enlist in the Navy, but was turned down because of his age. This didn’t discourage the 37-year-old. He drove to the draft board in Albany and asked if they could use a fingerprint expert.

“When they found that out," Charles added, "they called the Pentagon, and they said, ‘How soon can he get down here?' Sarto never took basic training.”

After the war, Sarto returned to the sheriff's department. In 1959 Gov. Nelson Rockefeller appointed Sarto Major as Onondaga County Sheriff. Sarto was elected to the position the next year, but in 1963 lost his re-election bid to Democrat Patrick Corbett.

He was married to the former Jane Hourigan (1904-1989).

John Edward Major (1905-1952)

Ellen Veronica "Nellie" Major (1907-1997)