Obituaries (October 7)

John W. Treadway died last Saturday evening at his residence in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  The interment took place Monday, May 30th, and, by a singular coincidence, it was one month from the burial of his wife which occurred April 30th.  Mr. Treadway was a man of advanced years, being born Sept. 9, 1817, in the state of Connecticut.  The early part of his life was passed in Coventry up to 1864, when he removed to Bainbridge where he has since resided.  For the past few years Mr. Treadway has been in failing health.  His wife's sickness required his constant care and the loss of this devoted companion had its effect upon the aged husband; and about ten days before his death he was obliged to yield to increasing feebleness and resort to the bed from which he never arose again.  Mr. Treadway's occupation was that of harness maker which business he had followed from his early life to within a few weeks of his death.  His harness shop in Bainbridge was a familiar business place for thirty-two years, and he remarked to the writer a short time ago that the business circle of the place had entirely changed since his first coming here.  The deceased has always been an active citizen and was a good man, highly respected by all.  Mr. Treadway is survived by three children:  Mrs. Ella Stoughton of Bainbridge, Charles Treadway of Binghamton and Leroy Treadway of Jacksonville, Florida.  The funeral was held at the home Monday at 3 p.m., and was conducted by Rev. C.H. Sackett.  Burial was in the family plot in St. Peter's burying ground [Bainbridge, NY], the same bearers officiating who acted at the funeral of his wife.  Among the relatives present at the funeral from out of town were:  a son, Charles Treadway and wife of Binghamton;  a grandson, Charles R. Stoughton of New York; an aged brother, James Treadway of Coventry; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Thorpe of Coventry; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pearsall of Coventryville, and Mr. and Mrs. John Manning of Coventry.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 1, 1898]

Benjamin T. Ash, Washington street jeweler and prominent in the affairs of the community [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], died at the City Hospital at 3:25 o'clock yesterday afternoon, following a mastoid operation.  Mr. Ash was out last Saturday, but was taken ill at his home in Conklin avenue Sunday, and his condition became such as to necessitate his removal to the City Hospital yesterday morning.  Mr. Ash's physicians found that an operation was necessary, and the opening of the mastoid bone revealed an abscess of the ear which had induced a violent case of meningitis.  Dr. Paul B. Jenkins, Dr. S.B. Blakely and Dr. Sanford H. Kinne, who performed the operation said that it is seldom that a case similar to that of Mr. Ash develops as rapidly as did his.  He suffered intense pain and became unconscious Tuesday night.  He did not regain his consciousness up to the time of his death.  He was 55 years of age.  Mr. Ash was born June 11, 1867, on Alexander Hill in the town of Windsor, being one of nine children.  When he was 14 years of age, his father sold his farm and moved into the village of Windsor.  The lad hired himself out to the farmers in the vicinity of Windsor at the meager pay that was considered the "hired" man' s due in those days.  Then  he went to Susquehanna to attend school.  He earned his way by driving a horse for a brother who ran a lumber mill.  When Benjamin had been in High School three years the school building burned down.  As he could not finish his school course there, he borrowed some money from another brother, William E Ash, and came to Binghamton to enter Lowell's Business College.  That was in 1878.  Nine months later, when he had completed his course, he went to work in E.D. Vosbury's jewelry store, then located on the second floor of the Perry building.  In 1885, he rented a little store in North Chenango street and went into business for himself.  He employed only a watch repairer, being his own clerk.  In order to speed up trade which was pretty slow at that time for a jeweler in a neighborhood where jewelry was in little demand, he went out and solicited business from the railroad men who were the best buyers of watches at that time.  He prospered so that in the year 1902 he was able to move to court street where business came unsought.  His business continued to flourish and some time ago, he bought the building in which his store is now located in Washington street.   At all times during his business career Mr. Ash has been interested in community affairs.  He took a leading part in the movement to reopen the Hotel Bennett after it had been closed for some time.  He was active in the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.  For two years he was president of the Merchants and Advertisers' Association and was a director in the People's Trust Co.  He was a prominent Mason and an Elk.  Mr. Ash was a member of the Board of Education from 1913 until 1914 and was instrumental in getting the requisitions for the new High School and for the Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln schools.  He had a genial and optimistic nature which enabled him to gather about him hosts of friends and which counted largely in his business success.  He is survived by his wife, two sons, C. Harold Ash and Robert F. Ash, of this city; a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth W. Banta of East Orange, N.J.; two brothers, Charles  H. Ash of Susquehanna and John Walter Ash of Johnson City; one sister, Mrs. Emma Mallery, of Syracuse.  [MHD notation:  died May 24, 1922]

 

The sudden death of Benjamin T. Ash, which yesterday afternoon shocked the entire community, brings to mind the old, old story of the self-made man.  Born and reared on a farm near Sky Lake, he early took advantage of what little schooling he could get and came to Binghamton where he attended business school.  He first started in the jewelry business on the North Side, but found that business would not come to him, and he went out after it.  Success crowned his efforts, and soon he was able to move his store to Court street, where his business ventures met with more than ordinary growth.  Since then, his successes have been rapid and remarkable.  Not only was Mr. Ash a credit to the business life of Binghamton, but his public service was of such merit as to call forth praise from his friends, his business associates and the people at large.  From 1912 to 1914, as a member of the Board of Education, his work for the city was especially marked by the appropriation of funds for the new High School and the Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson schools.  These institutions stand as monument to his efforts in bringing to Binghamton better schools and to his public service.  In fraternal circles Mr. Ash was as well known as in business.  He was a member of many organizations, and held high places in several of them.  "Ben" Ash was an apostle of the smile in business.  His rule was that if one couldn't go to work with a smile, then it was best for all concerned to stay at home until the grouch had worked off.  This undoubtedly is one reason for his success.  It was an example which the rest of the world might follow.  This city will miss "Ben" Ash.  His career will stand for many years as an example to the new generation coming up, and his smile will not be forgotten in those many places where it was best known.  [MHD notation, May 24, 1922]

 

Mrs. Eunice A. Gifford, widow of Willis H. Gifford, died Saturday afternoon at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. John McGinnis, near Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], aged about seventy-five years.  Mrs. Gifford was born in Milford, N.Y., and came with her husband to the town of Bainbridge to reside forty-four years ago.  Mr. Gifford bought a farm three miles from the village near the Guilford line, and this was retained as the family home to her death.  Mrs. Gifford's life has been one of many trials and vicissitudes but she shrank from no duty and bore up bravely through all.  Her husband joined the army of the civil war in January 1863, and was killed at Cedar Creek October 13th of that year, while with a band of others reconnoitering the enemy.  The big battle of Cedar Creek occurred five days later, October 18th.  The wife widowed, and with three children, aged twelve, ten and six, fatherless, and a farm to care for, went to work courageously to meet the responsibilities of her position.  The family was reared and educated, and all the exigencies of life found her resolute, cheerful and patient.  In the course of years her children had grown up and she was being relieved somewhat of the burdens of her onerous situation, when seventeen years ago she met with an accident--her hip was fractured and since then she was unable to walk only by the aid of crutches.  Her last sickness was of two months' duration which was borne with resignation.  Mrs. Gifford had an ardent attachment for the Baptist church becoming a charter member of the village church at the formation of the society some thirty or more years ago.  Notwithstanding the infirmities of health she neglected no opportunity to attend its services as often as expedient.  The deceased was known as the sister of Mr. Jacob Bixby, who was, twenty-five years ago, and to the time of his death, an active and influential citizen of Bainbridge doing much for the expansion of the place.  He did more in opening streets and erecting houses and furthering other improvements in his fifteen years' residence in the village, than any other man in so short a time.  He laid out Pearl, Scott and Tyler streets, was instrumental in opening Kirby street, and Railroad avenue with its dwelling houses was entirely due to him.  Mrs. Gifford is survived by her three children:  Mrs. Stephen Lanckton of Otselic; Mrs. John McGinnis and William E. Gifford of Bainbridge.  The funeral services of Mrs. Gifford were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of Mr. McGinnis, Rev. J.E. Vassar officiating.  The music furnished was by Messrs. Hart, Salisbury and Yale of Bainbridge, and William Carruth of Afton.  It was very fine in quality.  There were many flowers contributed by friends, some of the designs being an anchor, by Mrs. Walker Curtis; a pillow, by Mrs.  john Lindgren, and a wreath by Mr. George and Mrs. Fred Burton.  The interment was in St. Peter's burying ground [Bainbridge, NY].  [Bainbridge Republican, June 15, 1898]

 

Mrs. Helen E. Saunders of Vallonia Springs [Broome Co., NY] died on Friday evening last of consumption, aged 72 years.  The funeral occurred on Sunday, Rev. Henry Hill officiating--Afton Enterprise Mrs. Saunders was formerly of Bainbridge and the youngest daughter of Winthrop Fairchild of Bainbridge, whose home was on North Main street.  He was the first furniture dealer in Bainbridge, making all of his furniture, also all of the coffins used in these parts.  Mrs. Saunders married Zebulon Burch of Bainbridge for her first husband and Mr. Saunders of Sanford for her second.  She left children by both husbands.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 15, 1898]

 

The  Hon. Ezra P. Church, died at his home near Bennettsville [Chenango Co.,  NY] yesterday morning, June 21, aged 94.  His wife, Laura C. Church, died this spring, May 16th, aged 84 years.  Mr. Church had been gradually declining from old age for sometime.  He was a man of wonderful vitality and his mental faculties were preserved with his physical strength to the last.  He was the oldest man in the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] and was recognized for over half a century as a strong, reliable political factor, belonging to the old line of Whigs, and transferring his allegiance to the Republican party upon its organization.  Mr. Church held town offices for many years serving as Justice of the Peace term after term.  He was elected to the Legislature as Assemblyman in 1848.  As a citizen he was widely esteemed and considered the soul of honor.  In early life and middle age Mr. Church carried on a lucrative business in carding wool and dressing cloth, his establishment in Bennettsville being the only one of the kind in this region  Fifty and sixty years ago, nearly every housewife spun the wool and wove the cloth used for family wear and Mr. Church's mill was resorted to, to turn the wool into rolls and to color and press the cloth when woven.  this practice has become obsolete about us now and the old mill has gone into decay, but Mr. Church's kindly ways, urbanity and strict integrity, are not forgotten by his old-time customers and their children that survive him.  Mr. Church had been married 63 years.  He leaves three children:  Walter E. Church of Bennettsville, William G. Church of Port Crane, N.Y., and Mrs. James Humphrey of Anoka, Minnesota.  The funeral will be held at the home tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, Rev. Mr. Adams of Afton, officiating.  The interment will be in Afton.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 22, 1898]