News has been received in Bainbridge of the death of Mrs. Olive A. Johnson, widow of a former Baptist clergyman of Norwich, Rev. Charles H. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson died on Wednesday of last week at a relative's home in Brooklyn. Her body was brought to Norwich and burial was made in Mt. Hope cemetery last Friday. Mrs. Johnson was about 72 years of age. She was the daughter of Jeremiah Scott, deceased, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], who sixty years ago lived in the house now occupied by Marvin Strong, on North Main street. Miss Olive Scott is remembered as one of the engaging young ladies of Bainbridge. [Bainbridge Republican, Jan. 17, 1907]
Coroner George D. Johnson, of Oxford, has been advised that the Bender Laboratory of Albany declines to examine the stomach of George Kroft, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], who died December 21, very suddenly. The coroner is asked to guarantee the bill, as there is no authorization by law for examination on the order of the coroner. Kroft was engaged in the Borden milk plant at Afton, and was a strong, healthy man. He drank some, and on the evening of December 20, was drinking in one of the hotels of the village. He was seized with great pain in the stomach and was taken home with difficulty. All night long he was in great agony and died the next morning. A post mortem was held and all the organs of the body were found in a healthy condition but congested. The symptoms of death indicted the presence of wood alcohol, and the coroner forwarded the body to Albany for examination. He is now awaiting the action of District Attorney Brown. What action the district attorney will take has not been learned. As Afton in a no license town and all the hotels are alleged to be selling openly, interest in the case has been aroused. [Bainbridge Republican, Jan. 17, 1907]
On Sunday, Jan. 13, 1907, Homer B. Bristol, died at the home of his brother, Daniel S. Bristol, on Academy street, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], aged nearly 85 years. Mr. Bristol had been in feeble health for some years but was able to be about among his friends until a few days ago when a severe attack of grip so prostrated him as to result in death. Mr. Bristol had been a resident of Bainbridge for about sixty years. He came with his uncle, Oliver Somers, from above Morris at about that date. The uncle had sold his farm which was one of traditional interest in the section of Morris, it having belonged, until the members became extinct, to a Bowne family, who were descendants from the English nobility. Mr. Somers located upon a farm below Bainbridge village and as Mr. Bristol never married he continued to reside with his uncle and was associated with him in farming until his decease thirty years ago. Latterly Mr. Bristol's home has been with his brother, Daniel. Mr. Bristol was a respected citizen of this town and one of whom it could be said had no enemies. He was universally polite and courteous to all, his genial social ways attracting and making friends. He was never more pleased than when making others happy. In his young manhood and in middle age he was the life of society and his influence was lasting because of its pure type. Mr. Bristol's life was without a stain. He had always been a strict attendant at the Episcopal church until failing health intervened, promoting its welfare in material ways and honoring all its ordinances. The funeral was held at the brother's home Tuesday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, Rev. Wilson E. Tanner, assisted by Rev. W.A. Carrington, officiating. Selections of music were sung by Mrs. Rolder, Mrs. Graves, Dr. R.D.L. Evans, and Hugh Collins. The burial was in St. Peter's church yard. The bearers were Eli Springstein, Clark Northrup, Harvey Whitman, George Taylor, J.M. Barlow and J.B. Williams. Very beautiful floral offerings were borne on the casket to the grave. The deceased is survived by one brother, Daniel S. Bristol, of Bainbridge, and one sister, Mary J. Hollenbeck, of Belvidere, Ill.
In Loving Remembrance
The birth place of the late Homer B. Bristol, was Hamilton, Madison Co., N.Y. When a young lad he was a student of Zion Church Parochial School, Morris, Otsego Co. When arrived at the age required for military honors, he was appointed Lieutenant of the State Militia and when attired in his full uniform, with cocked hat, white plume, sash and sword, which, owing to the shortness of his stature, easily touched the ground, caused some dry jokes from his uncle Mr. Somers, an exceedingly dignified gentleman; but little Homer, pretty as a picture, laughed as he ever did, not at all disturbed. The Peck family of Hamilton, of which his maternal ancestor was the youngest daughter, and the beauty of a large family, whom uncle Homer greatly resembled in many ways, were of winning personality, and lovable temperament; they were a race socially charming, religiously and morally exemplary. Uncle Homer, as he was familiarly called by old and young, was a true scion of the family, and endeared himself to all, with his cheerful, cheery ways, keeping his youth up to within a few years of his demise. At the last, he was a great sufferer, and the household of which he was a beloved member, mourn his absence deeply, and sorrowfully regret that his favorite niche in the cozy room by the fireside, on earth, will be graced by his presence, alas! nevermore.
Out from a little niche,
Then, a vacant place,
And sadly missed
Is a sunny face.
Out from a little niche,
Homeward bound,
The rapids passed,
The haven found.
Out from a little niche,
Anchored above,
Securely encircled
By Omnipotent love.
[Bainbridge Republican, Jan. 17, 1907]
The funeral of Joseph H. Pearsall, a well known Civil War veteran, who died suddenly at 6:30 Saturday evening at his home, 140 California avenue [Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY], aged 75 years and ten months will be held form his late home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Romeo Gould, curate of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. Mr. Pearsall's death resulted from heart trouble. He was found unconscious about 4 Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25, in North Indiana avenue by Albert W. Schryver, a mail carrier, lying upon the sidewalk. The home in California avenue is not far from the place where Mr. Pearsall was found, and Mr. Schryver with some assistance carried the unconscious man to the residence. A physician was summoned. It was announced that he had suffered an attack of heart disease. He rapidly regained his strength and was able to leave his bed Saturday afternoon. He sat up for some time and about 6:30 decided to go to bed. He was alone in the room at the time and relatives, upon returning, found him unconscious on the floor. His death occurred almost instantly. He never regained consciousness following the second attack. Other than being annoyed by a severe cold and a slight attack of grip this winter Mr. Pearsall had been in his usual good health. He was unusually active for a man of his years, spent considerable time in walking, and exhibited the general activity of a person of robust constitution. Mr. Pearsall was probably one of the best known of Watertown's Civil war veterans. He was born March 11, 1841 at Bainbridge, Chenaango county, son of the late Robert and Flavia Pearsall. He had resided in this city for the past 30 years. He attended the common schools in Bainbridge, and when a young man entered Oxford Academy at Oxford, preparing himself for entrance to Yale university. He graduated from Oxford, and it was his father's desire that he enter college. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Pearsall who was not yet of age, was living with his parents at Bainbridge and his father would not consent to his enlistment. In the spring of 1862, the young man, who had wished to join the Federal army, attained his majority, just after the defeat of McClellan in Peninsula, and he at once enlisted in the 114th New York Volunteers, recruited in Chenango county, and started with his regiment for New Orleans. On the way he was taken sick and was left at Fortress Monroe, and that was the last he ever saw of his regiment, for on his discharge from the hospital he was transferred to the engineering corps with headquarters at Cumberland, West Va. It had been learned that he studied civil engineering, and he was thereafter engaged in surveying roads and mountain passes especially in the Shenandoah valley region during the summer months, and transferring the data to maps during the winter. Mr. Pearsall was a member of the engineering party engaged in making a survey of the railroad between Clarksburg and Parkerburg, soon after the battle of Cedar Creek, when Lieutenant Meggs was shot down by bushwhackers. They were standing on the track about a half mile from a piece of woods when the bushwhackers fired from the edge of the timber and the bullet shot Lieutenant Meggs from his horse and killed the sergeant standing beside Pearsall. An order to burn everything within ten miles of the spot in reprisal was given, and soon nothing was standing in all that section but chimneys. Whenever Southern non-combatants shot Union men, they were warned by the fire against bushwhacking. Mr. Pearsall had a remarkable memory and could relate many interesting episodes of the war. One day while on a survey Pearsall and a comrade went over to see a fine-looking plantation house across a creek from a blockhouse garrisoned by Federal soldiers, near which they were surveying. The object of their visit was to secure milk for their troops. The planter was in a bitter mood on account of the loss of some slaves, but the woman of the house was uncommonly courteous and hospitable, and offered to prepare a dinner if the soldiers would stay, which they agreed to do. While awaiting for the dinner they saw a boy scampering away over a hill back of the house and told the woman that they would have to break their dinner engagement and return, which they quickly did. No sooner had they reached the blockhouse than a troop of Confederate cavalry appeared at the top of the hill, but were evidently signaled ot go back and disappeared. While Mr. Pearsall was not injured or wounded in the war he was once picked up for dead at the shops of the New York Air Brake plant, in this city, where he was employed in the pattern and draughting department for 27 years. He was retired two years ago on a pension. He had been working on a lathe in the pattern room when a stick flew out and struck him on the right temple. He was picked up unconscious and supposedly dead, and placed on a table and a physician summoned. It was then discovered that he was still breathing. He was taken home and was unconscious for six weeks and when he recovered consciousness he did not even know the names of his children nor how to read or write. He started to learn over again to read, finding it difficutl at first, but after several weeks "things came back to him again," although there were many incidents that he never could recall. He bore the depression in the temple bone to his death. Upon returning from the war, he resided for several years at his old home in Bainbridge. He was married about 49 years ago to Miss Jane Harrison Kenah, who was then residing in Pittsburgh, Pa., where the ceremony was performed. They lived for a brief period in Wellsville, N.Y., later moving to Jamestown, N.Y., where they resided for several years before coming to this city [Watertown, NY], about 30 years ago. Mrs. Pearsall died in this city in 1895. Twenty-nine years ago he accepted a position with the New York Air Brake Company, where he worked until two years ago. About five years after coming here he became instructor of mathematics and engineering in one of the Y.M.C.A.'s education courses. He was instructor for that institution over three years and many of the city's prominent men received training under him. For many years Mr. Pearsall had been a member of the Lincoln League and delighted in playing checkers there. He held the championship in the league. He paid almost daily visits to the league and was known intimately to almost every member of that organization. Last year on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, he was asked to give the annual address at the annual banquet of the league. He prepared the address himself and committed it to memory. The speaker traced the growth of this country, from its earliest Christian settlers, through the Revolutionary war period, to the slavery problem and there gave a vivid account of the existing conditions. He reached the climax of the address and eulogized Lincoln, recounting the Emancipator's acts. He said he personally knew Lincoln and had passed him almost every day in the street in Washingon, at one period in his life. Mr. Pearsall again delivered his address by request at a meeting of the members of Joe Spratt Post, 323, G.A.R. of which Mr. Pearsall had been a member since its organization. He had also been chaplain of the post many years and held that position at the time of his death. Members of the Joe Sprat Post will attend the funeral in a body. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. L. Budlong of Fort Edward, N.Y.; and Mrs. Harry D. Curtis, who lvied with him at 140 California avenue. He also leaves three sisters. Mr. Pearsall's uncle, Thomas Pearsall, a justice of peace, conducted the trial of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church. About 80 years ago Smith made such a nuisance of himself around Bainbridge, where Mr. Pearsall was born, that he was charged with being an imposter and arraigned before Pearsall's uncle. Mr. Pearsall could remember of reading the old justice's docket. Mr. Pearsall described the evidencve as ridiculous and said that Joseph Smith was a very ignorant man. At one time Smith pretended that there was located a pot of gold on the farm of Mr Pearsall's grandmother and had men digging, although gold was never found there. Mr. Pearsall's sister, Emily, was asked by Bishop Tuttle of Utah, formerly of Morris, Otsego county, to do missionary work in Utah among the Mormon women in 1870. While there she sent to Mr. Pearsall for the evidence in the trial from the justice's docket and Bishop Tuttle ued it for many years. Later he was transferred to Missouri, and then sent the evidence to Mr. Pearsall's sister, Mrs. Amy Robinson, of Erie, Pa., who mailed it back to Mr. Pearsall in 1890. Unfortunately she failed to register it, and it was lost, with the result that no one has ever seen it since. Watertown Daily Times, Jan. 29 [Bainbridge Republican, Feb. 15, 1917]
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