Obituaries (July 17)

The community was startled Monday morning when it was announced that N.D. Card was dead. Although the public was cognizant of the fact that Mr. Card was battling with an insidious disease his condition did not assume a critical form until a few days before his death.  This village has lost an highly esteemed and respected citizen and the people mourn the departure of a true and loyal friend.  Mr. Card had been a factor in this village in all social and business circles so long that his worth and value as a man and citizen had been weighed and he was never found deficient in the qualities which go to make up each.  The deceased was born in Laurens, Otsego Co., in the year 1833.  He first came to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] in 1859, when as a young man he early identified himself with the business interests of the village.  He was associated with Mr. Hiram Locke who was engaged in the hotel business in the town, and there still lingers in the memory of the older residents the cordial and gentlemanly demeanor toward the public of Mr. Locke and his associate in business Mr. Card.  Mr. Card in 1860 married Josephine M. Locke, daughter of Hiram Locke and in the year 1864 engaged in agricultural pursuits, occupying a farm about two and one-half miles from this village on the road leading to Sidney.  Mr. Card with his father-in-law while on the farm took up the culture of strawberries and they gained a reputation of being superior in that industry--the Locke and Card berries as they were called being known throughout this section of the state.  In 1888, Mr. Card moved again into the village, when he entered into the insurance business, which was known by the firm name of Bristol & Card, his partner being D.S. Bristol of this village.  This business was continued up to two years ago when the failing health of Mr. Card caused his retirement.  The cause of his demise was Bright's disease, which first made its appearance 18 years ago, but proper and prudent care warded off its fatal ending till last Monday morning.  Mr. Card was a religious and very up right an.  His church was the Episcopal and he was conspicuous for his regularity in attendance, being present at every service, excepting, when prevented by sickness.  For 10 years he has been vestryman and a leader in his church's counsels.  He was also a most prominent Mason, being a member of that fraternity for 35 years, and during his long connection with the order he kept alive his interest and was in later years considered one of the fatherly members of the Bainbridge chapter.  He was also trustee of the village and a member of the school board for many years.  His principal traits of character were his cheerfulness, kindness, charitableness and regard for the feelings of others, never indulging in criticism, always speaking well of other people.  Besides his wife, Mr. Card is survived by one son, Dr. Clelland Card, a successful dentist in Philadelphia, and one brother who resides in the west.  The funeral was largely attended at his late home on N. Main st., at 2:30 this afternoon, conducted by Rev. A.H. Grant of the Episcopal church.  The floral offerings were many and beautiful.  The Susquehanna lodge of Masons attended in a body and Masons were present from Sidney, Afton, Masonville and Walton, and also a large delegation of Knights Templars from the Commandery of Binghamton of which the deceased was a member.  The interment was in Green Lawn Cemeteery [Bainbridge, NY] and made by Masonic rites. [Bainbridge Republican, May 31, 1899]

 

On Tuesday of last week Coroner Blair of Norwich went to Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] to view the body of a man apparently 70 years of age found dead upon the edge of woods four miles from Sherburne in town of Columbus.  It was thought the body had lain there since in the winter.  It was badly decomposed.  The man was identified as Jerry Alverson, a homeless man, who went from place to place.  Alverson had probably fallen down, was made unconscious and had frozen to death.  [Bainbridge Republican, May 31, 1899]

 

About 1 o'clock Sunday morning, the badly mangled body of James Keach, a well known citizen residing in that portion of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], known as Brooklyn, was found near the O.&A. tracks in the village.  Keach was about the streets during the previous evening and was seen to start for home, but the circumstances that surround his death will probably never be known.  Coroner McKinnon of the village took charge of the case but after a thorough investigation decided that an inquest was unnecessary, as the facts obtainable make it morally certain that  no one else was responsible for his death.  Mr. Keach was about 35 years of age and mason by trade.  He was well thought of here.  He is survived by a wife and one adopted child.  Deceased was formerly a resident of Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY] and was for a time, it is stated, employed as brakeman by the D.&H--Oneonta Star [Bainbridge Republican, June 7, 1899]

 

The following taken from an Elmira paper of June 2d will be of interest to some of our older citizens:  "The death of Mrs. Emily Boynton Carpenter, widow of the late George E. Carpenter, occurred at her home No. 609 College avenue, yesterday morning at 4:30 o'clock.  She was eighty years of age.  Mrs. Carpenter was one of the oldest and most respected residents of Elmira and leaves behind a host of mourning friends.  The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the parlors of the First Presbyterian church."  Mrs. Carpenter was the daughter of Dr. Boynton and was born at Bettsburg, now called Vallonia Springs.  Her father removed his family to Elmira [Chemung Co., NY] many years ago.  Mrs. Carpenter was a relative of Mrs. D.A. Gilbert and Miss Phebe Evans of this place, and the Misses Susan M and Sarah E. Sayre of Binghamton.  The deceased visited Bainbridge at intervals, her last coming being two years ago when she was accompanied by her sister, Miss Sarah Carpenter.  The latter is in very feeble health at her home in Elmira.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 7, 1899]

The Republican office received a few days ago a remittance from Mrs. Hines Grover of Wales, Mich., in payment for her husband's subscription.  Mr. Grover died the 18th of April, '99 at his home of ulceration of the bowels which was induced by his army life in the civil war.  He was married in 1880 and is survived only by his wife.  He was successful in business in his Western home, was honorable, upright and highly respected by the citizens of his town.  In politics he was a Republican and a spiritualist by religious faith.  Mr. Grover was well known in Bainbridge some forty years ago when his mother, a widow, resided here with her three sons.  Hines was the youngest and a young man when he left here to seek his fortune.  We remember him as an intensely jovial fellow, full of frolic which was always harmless, and possessing too, the greatest respect for women.  He belonged to an old order of knighthood in that line.  We regret to record his decease.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 14, 1899]

Commander Henry E. Nichols, of the monitor Monadnock, died in Manila harbor Saturday from sunstroke.  He was a  native of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] and probably his remains will be brought to this country and interred in the family plot at Greene.  He was a son of Stoddard Nichols a former merchant of Bainbridge.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 14, 1899]
 

A motorcycle that went out of control today had carried to his death on the Wells bridge-Otego road Elwood Leon Porter, 22, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Otsego county's third highway victim of the year and second within four days.  Funeral services for young Porter will be Sunday at the Tabor Funeral home in Afton.  The Rev. Herman McGonigal of Harpursville Baptist church will officiate at the 2 p.m. (E.S.T.) service. Burial will follow in Glenwood cemetery [Afton, NY].  The victim was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Porter of Afton.  The fatal crash occurred at 7 o'clock last night shortly after the young man had passed the car of William Van Over of Johnson City.  Trooper R.B. Merritt and Trooper Harry Shephard of the State Police at Sidney investigated.  The wheel began to weave while still in Mr. Van Over's sight, they said.  It went off the road, struck the shoulder and there threw its rider.  The victim's body was picked up about 25 feet from the cycle.  Death was instantaneous.  Verdict of accidental death from a fractured skull was issued by Dr. Louis Rothman of Otego, acting as coroner's physician for Dr. Norman W. Getman of Oneonta.  Mr. Porter was one of a party of four motorcyclists who were traveling west on three machines.  They had been trying out each other's wheels and the victim had only a few minutes before the crash exchanged wheels with Edward A. Higgins of Sidney.  Also in the party were Kenneth Tait of Afton and Valent Baciuskai of Nineveh, Trooper Merritt said.  The latter three had gone on and were waiting for the victim in Wells Bridge when notified of the accident.  Mr. Porter is believed to have been trying to catch up with his companions when the fatality occurred.  [LMD  notation:  d. July 1940]

 

Mrs. Nettie Ann Doolittle, 67, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], died Thursday night.  She is survived by her husband, Elbert Doolittle; two sons, Fay and Tracy Doolittle of Afton; two daughters, Mrs. Frank Todd of Afton and Mrs. Ray L. Flint of Oneonta; a sister, Mrs. Joseph Makely and a brother, Henry W. Hail, both of Afton.  [LMD notation:  Sept. 9, 1943]

 

The grim reaper has claimed another of Bainbridge's honored and respected citizens, Alfred A. VanHorne, who passed over to the great majority Tuesday at 2 a.m.  Mr. VanHorne's health had been very poor for a number of years, the cause of which has always been attributed to injuries received by a fall on the sidewalk four years ago, but colliquative diarrhea was the immediate cause of death.  Alfred A VanHorne was born in Lexingtohn, Greene county, in 1832.  In 1838 his parents moved to Bennettsville [Chenango Co.,  NY], where he resided with them until he commenced his mercantile career at Masonville [Delaware Co.,, NY].  The same year he was married to Miss May J. Scofield of that town.  During the War of the Rebellion he represented Masonville on the board of supervisors.  It was 27 years ago that Mr. VanHorne came to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] to make it his home.  During his residence here he was engaged in various lines of business and was known only as an honest and upright man.  Politically Mr. VanHorne was a Democrat, and for 21 years had held the office of Justice of Peace.  Last October Mr.. VanHorne was obliged to give up any attempts at business, and the time intervening has been passed in an effort to regain his health.  He made his daughter in Norwich a visit during the winter, and while there joined the congregational church.  A wife and two children, Mrs. Lucy Chapman of Norwich and Perry VanHorne of Canton, O., survive him.  The funeral was attended at the house at 3 p.m. yesterday, Rev. John Vassar officiating.  Interment in the Episcopal cemetery.  The bearers were A.L. Palmer, C.M. Priest, S.E. Tinkham, Geo. Woodruff, and Charles Humphrey of Bennettsville.  The remains lay in state from 11 until 2 o'clock.  [Notation:  Aug. 4, 1898]

 

Mrs. Christianna Schweitzer, aged 40 years, wife of Christoph Schweitzer, and daughter of the late Martin Toby, Yaleville, town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], after a long and painful illness, passed into rest, July 21st, 1888, just as the sun sank behind the western hills, she went from suffering to rest in the home where they have no need of the sun for the Lord God giveth them light.  She leaves a husband and a bright little boy to mourn her loss in their lonely home.  They have the sympathy of a large circle of friends and neighbors in their sad affliction.  The funeral was held from her home, on Tuesday, Rev. D.N. Grummon officiating.  A large concourse of people attended the services and brought sweet offerings of flowers to strew upon her grave, which is at Yaleville cemetery [Guilford, NY].