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The following content is taken from a post on the Clinton County Historical Association's Facebook page written by Julie Dowd, a researcher and volunteer with CCHA. We urge you to visit our Facebook site to discover a wealth of similar historical notes.

PLATTSBURGH SENTINEL – February 16, 1883 – 138 years ago

The Sudden Death of Willis Mould

“Keeseville experience a terrible shock on Monday of this week by the sudden and unexpected death of Willis Mould.

Mr. Mould was in his usual health till Monday morning at about 11 o’clock when he was suddenly attacked with congestion of the brain, from which he died at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

The deceased has been identified with Keeseville for about 40 years, coming here a comparatively poor young man, and by those inherent qualities of energy, application, perseverance, and courage, building up a fortune and a reputation which have reflected credit alike upon himself and the community with which in early days, he cast his lot.

Born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence County, May 16, 1822, when that country was a comparative wilderness, his early years were surrounded with all the incidents, hardships and disadvantages of a pioneer life; but at an early age, he developed a talent for business which would brook no discouragements.

In 1842, Mr. Mould married Amanda Goulding, daughter of Joseph Goulding, a prominent manufacturer in Keeseville and in 1845 settled here, and was engaged as bookkeeper for Goulding and Peabody, proprietors of the Keeseville Foundry, a position he held for 12 years with the exception of two years, when on account of ill-health, he visited California, and subjected himself to an outdoor life in the gold diggings.

In 1857, Mr. Mould purchased the Hasbrouk Drug Store on the site of the present store of W. Mould & Son, where he continued in business until the present time, and which has to the day of his death been Mr. Mould’s business headquarters.

For the past 25 years, Mr. Mould has been the agent for the National Express Company, a position which his death leaves vacant.

In a variety of business enterprises, Mr. M. has accumulated a large property, and the handsome brick row known as Mould’s block, and his model residence remain as monuments of his public spirit in improving and beautifying the place.

He was ardently patriotic, and during the War did much to aid in raising and equipping Union volunteers – including sending his son, Henry, who joined the 118th Infantry.

It is worthy of remark that, during the afternoon of the funeral, the schools were dismissed, and work in the factories suspended, and there was a general cessation from business throughout the village.”

He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville.