(from Belmont Dispatch, Jan. 31, 1913 – Transcribed by Karen Meisenheimer)
DEATH OF A LIFE LONG RESIDENT
C. L. Slafter, a Well Known Belmont Man Died on Monday – Nearly 81 Years of Age.
Carlos Lewis Slafter died at his home on South Street last Monday morning. Mr. Slafter has been ailing for the past two months but only for one day previous to his death he has here been confined to his bed.
C. L. Slafter was the son of Thomas J. Slafter and Rebecca Seaver Slafter, who moved from Vermont and settled near Belmont in 1831, and was born March 16, 1832 in this town, which has for 74 years of his life been his home. March 16, 1864, he married Miss Lucy Chamberlain Tracy, who survives him, together with one daughter, Miss H. Annie Slafter of Belmont.
In 1880, Mr. Slafter entered the livery business and conducted this business until a few years ago, when owing to advancing age, he retired. In 1885, he built the Belmont opera house, which burned December 29, 1893. He was the last surviving member of his father’s family to two sons and one daughter.
In religious matters, Mr. Slafter was a Spiritualist and was always a strong advocate of spiritualism. There was a prayer at the home on South Street by Rev. Jerome Kates on Thursday and the burial took place in Forest Hills cemetery.