Obituaries (August 3)

Daniel A. Carpenter, a life-long resident of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], died suddenly Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. from acute indigestion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Seeley of that village, aged 83 years.  Mrs. Carpenter, the wife, died within the past year, since which time the home has been broken up and Mr. Carpenter was boarding.  The deceased had always been a prominent citizen of Afton, representative and leading in all public matters.  He was a merchant for many years, had served as supervisor and county sheriff, given his counsels on the Board of Education, was instrumental in building the handsome bridge across the Susquehanna, and in the erection of St. Ann's Episcopal Church which was dedicated in 1868.  But his greatest achievement was in carrying to a successful issue the decision of the town of Bainbridge in November of 1857, when South Bainbridge was set off and became a separate town, taking the name of Afton.  The division saved much inconvenience in many ways, notably that at election time, when heretofore the two places had alternated polling votes in North Bainbridge one year and the next in South Bainbridge.  But there was a bitter struggle over the matter of separation, so much so that the South Bainbridge people chose to signalize their victory by selecting a name beginning with "A", that took precedence over Bainbridge in the alphabet.  In politics he was a Republican and strongly devoted to party interests.  The name of Carpenter is closely associated with the early annals of Bainbridge.  The father of the deceased, Benjamin S. Carpenter, came from Orange county in 1800 and settled in Bainbridge village and bought the major portion of the lands comprising our present village site.  He built the first hotel which was on the site of the Central House, and the first store which stood on North Main street where the Dormer Evans house is now.  In 1802 he gave two acres of land which is now occupied by the Presbyterian Church and the village green to encourage the establishment of a church and school and to provide a public parade ground.  His benefactions were many but after a time he became involved financially and then moved to a farm near Afton.  He died in 1836, aged 70 years.  He had eleven children and the son, Daniel A., who died on Tuesday was the last one to survive.  The death of Daniel A. Carpenter of Afton, removes one of the inspiring forces of that town and causes a void not easily filled in any of the relations of life.  He leaves three sons H.R. Carpenter of Colorado, D.A. Carpenter of New York city, and S.F. Carpenter of Carbondale.  Mrs. Joseph Juliand of Bainbridge, and Mrs. Johnson, wife of Rev. Allen Johnson, of Connecticut, were his nieces.   [Bainbridge Republican, July 16, 1903]

 

Entered into rest Friday morning, July 17, 1903, at "Sunnyside," her home on Academy street, from a complication of chronic diseases, Mrs. Sarah E. Nearing Bristol, aged seventy-one years.  Mrs. Bristol's early education began in the Zion Church Parochial or parish school, at Morris, Otsego Co., and was continued and concluded in Gilbertsville and North New Berlin academies.  An unusually bright pupil, excelling especially in book keeping and mathematics, she rendered efficient aid to her father in his business affairs ere she completed her girlhood days.  Mrs. Bristol was of English extraction and descended form ancestry conspicuous for honor and sterling worth.  She inherited their pure principles and her daily life was an expression of this natural endowment.  Her standards of right were moulded upon a high plane which cast out all artificiality, all subterfuges, and excluded any resort to expedients not consistent with the most upright living.  Had Mrs. Bristol not been afflicted with ill health in her latter years, she would have proved a valuable aid in the state and national work of temperance in which she took great interest, for she had natural executive ability and her enthusiasm was boundless and energy limitless in whatever she engaged.  She had been a county officer and attended state conventions but her frail physique retarded any continued public effort.  The home life of Mrs. Bristol was one of devotion to her family, systematic in administration and open in hospitality to her friends.  Bright and vivacious by temperament, appreciative of every kindness, charitable to the needy, loyal and steadfast in friendship, she has left to her family an unblemished reputation and a spotless name.  The Episcopal form of burial service was impressively rendered by Revs. Spaulding and Reed at the Bristol home Sunday morning at 8:30 o'clock.  Musical selections were rendered by Messrs. Banner, Smith, Ives and Bentley beautiful in sentiment and expression.  A large quantity of cut flowers, an exquisite floral pillow, beautiful carnation plaques and a harp with severed chord from the family, attested the affection of neighbors and friends and also the mournful truth of the melody vanished from out the household forever.  The bearers were, Lewis Taylor, George Taylor, H.W. Whitman, T.E. Searles, I.J. Tillman and Elliot Truman.  Interment was made in Hillington cemetery, Morris, where amid the tearful leave taking of dear relatives and old friends, the late Mrs. Sarah E. Nearing Bristol sleeps her last sleep in the silent companionship of many of her kindred.  [Bainbridge Republican,  July 23, 1903]

 

George Rhodes, who for several years lived in this village, coming here from Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], was taken to the Soldiers' Home at Bath two weeks ago and died there last Thursday.  He was formerly a member of Bradford Post, Sidney, being a member of the 89th Regiment.  As there were no relatives here to care for the remains interment was made at Bath.  All cherish kindly remembrances of the little old man who was seen around our streets until compelled by illness to give up an active life.  His faithful dog now wanders about uncomforted and uninformed of his master's death.  [Bainbridge Republican, July 23, 1903]

 

William A. Smith, a farmer living about a mile above the village of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] was struck by lightning Monday afternoon, while drawing hay and instantly killed.  The horses attached to the wagon were also killed.  [Bainbridge Republican, July 23, 1903]

Charles A. Church, 48 years old, died Thursday morning at his home, 2 South Mountain Terrace, after a long illness.  Besides his widow, Martha, he is survived by a son, Charles Ganow Church; three daughters, Cynthia S., Margaret and Clara Church, all the Binghamton; a sister, Mrs. Grace Herkimer of Afton, and three brothers, Levi R. Church of Binghamton, Richard R. Church of Mt. Vernon and A.L. Church of Leeds, N.D.  The body was removed to the T.O. Watrous Funeral home, 206 Vestal Avenue where the funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The Rev. Einar Rohne-Scholt and the Rev. H.W. Haines will officiate.  Burial will be in Afton [Chenango Co., NY].  [MHD notation, d. 1934]

Charles M. Sheldon, 73 years old, died Tuesday morning at the home of his son, Earl D. Sheldon, 85 Mill Street.  He is survived by two sons, Earl D. Sheldon and Roy F. Sheldon of Schenectady, and several nieces and nephews.  The body was removed to the C.F. Prentice Funeral parlors, 62 Carroll Street.  The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the First Baptist Church in Afton.  Rev. Lester D. Huxtable will officiate.  Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Afton.  [published April 6, 1927]

Died, of consumption, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E.L. Davis, Kewance, Cherry Co., Nebraska, Dec. 31, 1895, Mrs. Emeline Broad, at the age of 69 years.  She was a former resident of Bennettsville [Chenango Co., nY] and Masonville [Delaware Co., NY] and is well known in that vicinity.  She was the mother of Mrs. L.E. Payne of this place.  She united with the Baptist church at Masonville at the early age of 13 years and lived a devoted Christian life.