Skaneateles Free Press, February 27, 1914
James McLaughlin, a native and lifelong resident of the town of Skaneateles, and for years one of its most enterprising and active citizens, died at his home at Skaneateles Falls at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, Feb. 26, 1914, in the 65th year of his age. For several years past he had been in poor health, but was confined to his bed only since the 19th of December.

James McLaughlin was the eldest son of James and Ann McKinney McLaughlin, both natives of County Donegal, Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in 1848, settling in the town of Skaneateles.

He was born near Mandana, September 15, 1849, and came to this village with his parents when 6 years old. In his boyhood days he entered the employ of the late F. G. Weeks of this village, engaging at work in the latter’s teasel shop. Here he mastered the business in a thorough manner and in the early ‘70s he engaged in the teasel business on his own account, conducting a big shop on the McLaughlin premises on Railroad Street which was destroyed by fire in the later ‘70s.

He rebuilt the shop, which is now the one conducted by his brother, Cornelius McLaughlin, and for over 40 years he had continued in the business, establishing a branch in Leeds, England, now under the management of his son, Charles J. McLaughlin. He engaged in exporting as well as importing teasels and did a large business in this line, both in the United States and abroad, selling the articles in Russia, Germany, France, Australia, and all other countries engaged in woolen manufacture.

In 1882 Mr. McLaughlin purchased for $4,000 the idle and bankrupt Skaneateles Iron Works property at Skaneateles Falls, converting the same into a woolen mill, which was operated under the firm name of McLaughlin Brothers, his brother, John McLaughlin of this village, being his partner.

Financial difficulties arose about 25 years ago, when the business was reorganized under the name of the Glenside Woolen Mills, which has developed into the most extensive industrial plant in the town of Skaneateles. He was the secretary and a leading stockholder in the company and took an active part in its management until about 10 years ago, when failing health and other causes compelled his retirement.

Mr. McLaughlin was courageous, enterprising and liberal and in his prime was one of the local captains of industry. He made several trips abroad, covering all the industrial sections of Europe. He was the author of many articles in the local papers, covering topic of public interest and especially the local teasel industry. He was well informed on many subjects and delighted in maintaining his views and defending his opinions. He was a Republican from his first vote and a loyal adherent of the party to the day of his death, though never a candidate for office.

Besides his wife, formerly Miss Mary O’Neill of this town, Mr. McLaughlin is survived by two sons, Charles J. McLaughlin of Leeds, England, and George McLaughlin of this town, and by five brothers, Dennis of Syracuse, John and Cornelius of this village, and William and Hugh McLaughlin.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s church in this village at 10 a.m. Monday morning. Interment in St. Mary’s cemetery.

Skaneateles Press, February 18, 1938
Charles J. McLaughlin, 66, son of the late James McLaughlin, former owner of Glenside Woolen Mills at Skaneateles Falls, died Saturday in the General Hospital at Syracuse. He had been in failing health several months.

A former resident of Skaneateles, Mr. McLaughlin had lived in Syracuse many years. He was in the teasel industry and traveled all over the world as a representative of the Glenside Woolen Mills.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Sarah A. McLaughlin; four sons, Henry W. McLaughlin and L. Douglas McLaughlin of Syracuse, John T. McLaughlin of Miami, Florida, and Charles J. McLaughlin Jr. of Cleveland Ohio; seven daughters, Misses Dorothy A. McLaughlin, Martha E. McLaughlin, Mary A. McLaughlin and Patricia McLaughlin, Mrs. Thomas W. Hall and Mrs. Joseph Ball, all of Syracuse, and Mrs. J. V. Connor of Utica; his mother, Mrs. Mary McLaughlin; one brother, George McLaughlin of this village; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted at the home, 128 Delaware Street, Syracuse, Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and in Most Holy Rosary Church at 10 o’clock. Burial was made in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

2. Henry W. McLaughlin (1901-1979) married Dorothy Bishop (1905-1989). They had three children:

7. Mary Alexandra Victoria McLaughlin (1911-1997) married John O'Leary. A native of Leeds, England, Mary Alexandra Victoria McLaughlin lived in the Syracuse area most of her life. She retired in 1967 as a licensed practical nurse with the Visiting Nurses Association. She was a communicant of St. Daniel's Church and Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church in Mexico; a member of the Mary-Martha Society and the Catholic Nurses Association, and a former CCD teacher.

John O'Leary was a native of Butte, Montana, later lived in Solvay and was a 1932 graduate of Solvay High School. He retired in 1984 as an area manager after 26 years with American Linen Supply Company.

The couple had two children:

Skaneateles Press, March 30, 1945
Credited with having personally destroyed three enemy fighter planes during a Pacific air battle, as well as the destruction of another three grounded planes during a strike against islands of the Philippines, Lachlan Douglas McLaughlin, USNR, of 128 Delaware St., Syracuse, NY, has received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, it has been announced by Third Naval District Headquarters.

The son of Mrs. Charles J. McLaughlin of the Syracuse address, Lieutenant McLaughlin was employed by the Central New York Power Corp. before entering the naval service. He had previously attended Syracuse University.

The McLaughlin family lived at Skaneateles Falls. They moved from there about 15 years ago. He is related to the McLaughlin family of Syracuse.

A veteran of 36 combat missions, he trained at the Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, Calif., and was commissioned on May 18, 1943. Flying an F6F (Hellcat), he has participated in major actions at Guam, Palau, the Volcano Islands, the Bonin Islands, Mindinao, Cebu, Leyte, Luson, Formosa, as well as in the Second Battle of the Philippines.

Award of the two honors to Lieutenant McLaughlin was authorized in the name of the President by Vice Admiral John S. McCain, USN, Commander Fast Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet. The citation accompanying the Distinguished Flying Cross read:

“For distinguishing himself by heroism while participating in an aerial flight while serving as pilot of a carrier based fighter aircraft on 6 Nov 1944 when he was one of a group of six fighters which aggressively countered attacks by fifteen enemy fighters, shooting down thirteen without loss to themselves. He personally destroyed three of these fighters thus contributing materially to the success of his mission. His courage and disregard for his own safety were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

The text of the citation accompanying the Air Medal follows:

“For distinguishing himself by meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights as pilot of a carrier-based fighter aircraft in strikes against islands of the Philippines from 10 Sept. to 21 Oct. 1944. His low level strafing attacks destroyed three planes on the ground and badly damaged five others during this period. Again on 12 Oct. he joined his division in strafing runs which destroyed two small enemy ships and damaged three others near the Pescadores Islands. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Vice Admiral McCain signed both citations.

Lieutenant McLaughlin is 24 years old. He was born at Skaneateles Falls.

Skaneateles Press, April 11, 1947
Mrs. Marion McLaughlin Coombes of 38 State St., well known saleswoman, died unexpectedly last Tuesday morning (April 8, 1947) at her home. Death was attributed to a cerebral hemorrhage.

She was a native of Skaneateles and had clerked in local stores for several years, most recently at Ceil’s Shop.

She was a member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Church and its Altar Society.

Surviving are a daughter, Miss Dorothy Coombes, a son, George Coombes, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George McLaughlin, a sister, Mrs. Herbert Kopp, all of Skaneateles, and three brothers, James McLaughlin of Akron, Donald McLaughlin of Syracuse and George McLaughlin of Skaneateles Falls.

Auburn Citizen-Advertiser, July 25, 1961
SKANEATELES – George A. Coombes Jr., 42, died unexpectedly Sunday at his home on Long Beach, Long Island.

A native of Skaneateles, he was a graduate of Skaneateles Central School and Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana. He was an engineer for the New York Port Authority.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Annette Coombes; one son, Kenneth; two daughters, Georgia and Susan, all of Long Island; his father, George Coombes Sr.; his stepmother, Mrs. Irma Coombes; a half-brother, Robert Coombes, all of Auburn; a sister, Miss Dorothy Coombes of Syracuse; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Annie Coombes of Skaneateles.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the O’Dell Funeral Home, Rev. David Gillespie, rector of St. James Church, officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery.

Skaneateles Press, January 23, 1965
The James McLaughlin children of Stump Road, Skaneateles Junction — at least, the older ones — are looking forward to pushing Daddy around the house in a wheel chair for some weeks.

Mr. McLaughlin, who is 33,, had both legs broken and was badly cut and bruised last Saturday night when he was struck by a car on Jordan Road, near Skaneateles Falls.

He is in Auburn Memorial Hospital and the compound fracture of his left leg is expected to keep him there for several weeks. After that he will be home with both legs in casts for several more weeks.

The children are Carol, nine; Nancy, five; John, three; Susan, two, and David, three months.

Mrs. McLaughlin is the former Elsie Skardinski of Jordan. When she explained what had happened to Daddy and how he would have to get around for awhile, the children decided they would plan on helping by pushing the wheel chair.

Mr. McLaughlin works in the chlorine plant at Solvay Process and it may be two months before he is permitted to return to work.

The accident happened in a blinding snowstorm when Mr. McLaughlin tried to help a motorist whose car had skated off the road.

Police said the driver of the car which injured Mr. McLaughlin was John P. Bowen of Hamilton Road, Elbridge.

Mr. Murphy was called by telephone to do work as a plumber at Mr. McLaughlin’s house and he charged according to the union scale in Syracuse. The first train leaving Syracuse in the morning making connections was at 10:30 o’clock, but Mr. Murphy charged for the time after 8 o’clock. On returning home, he left Mr. McLaughlins house at 9 o’clock in the evening, but did not get home until 11 o’clock, and he charged for this and from 5 o’clock in the afternoon until 11 o’clock and for half time extra in excess of the eight-hour day.

Mr. McLaughlin disputed the legality of these charges, claiming that in Skaneateles the custom was to charge only for the time actually at work.

The decision is in favor of Mr. Murphy and judgment is given in the full amount claimed and costs. Charles E. Cooney appeared for Mr. Murphy.

Mr. McLaughlin died on February 26th at his home at Skaneateles Falls. His will directs that his entire estate be turned into a trust fund, with his executors, John McLaughlin and Charles J. Keegan, as trustees.

The trust fund may terminate at the end of ten years, if in the judgment of the trustees, the two sons, Charles J McLaughlin and George McLaughlin, have not dissipated themselves or in any other way impaired their ability to manage the estate. Then, the entire estate is to be divided equally among them.

Out of the income of the estate, $20 a week is to be paid to the widow, Mrs. Mary J. McLaughlin. She has been declared an incompetent person. F. E. Stone is her committee. The bequest is to last throughout the lifetime of the beneficiary.

Mr. McLaughlin’s estate consists of 240 shares in Glenside Woolen Mills, valued at $72,000; a farm, $20,000; eight houses in Skaneateles Falls, $30,000; a teasel business, $20,000; total, $142,000.

A damage suit against the Glenside Woolen Mills for $40,000 is pending.