Obituaries (November 11)

-The funeral of Herrick Searles, who died Friday evening at his home in Unadilla Center [Otsego Co., NY], was held at the M.E. church, of Bainbridge, on Tuesday at one o'clock, p.m., the Rev. W.I. Randall, pastor of the Wells Bridge Methodist church, officiating.  Interment was made in St. Peter's cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  Mr. Searles was taken ill about two weeks before his death and while he was busy at light work near his home.  He seemed to experience a paralytic shock and feeling his strength leaving him he made an outcry for help, and feeble though it was, some member of the family heard him and rushed to his assistance others following.  His prostration was complete.  He was placed upon his bed his speech and strength going daily until he died.  Mr. Searles was 82 years of age.  He was born at Searles Hill and became a mason by trade.  In early life he came to Bainbridge to live leaving here for Unadilla Center about ten years ago.  He had been married twice, his second wife who survives him being Miss Georgia Coy of Afton.  He leaves also a granddaughter, the widow of the late J.B. Williams of Bainbridge, and a brother Lester Searles of Unadilla Center.  Mr. Searles was a good man, one of the best as a model citizen.  His loyalty to the Methodist church of which he had been a member for sixty years, was staunch, firm, unwavering to the last.  The Bainbridge church remembers him with affectionate regard.  Besides the wife in attendance at the funeral here there were L.D. Searles and family of Unadilla Center; Louis Murdock and Urias Pearsall of Mt. Upton; Bryan Coy and Mrs. Owen of Oneonta, and Mrs. F.W. Hopkins and son of Oxford.  [Bainbridge Republican, Apr. 9, 1908]

 

Mrs. Maria Bennett Thayer, widow of the late William Thayer of this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], died last Monday morning, April 13, 1908, at her home on Front street aged sixty-five years.  The past year was one of great excitement to the patient in mind, being at times so happy in the apparent decision that she was on the road to recovery and that there would still be an opportunity to carry out cherished plans for the future, then would follow a relapse of prostration so overwhelming as to convince her that death must come at a not far distant date.  These changing features recurred so often toward the last that Mrs. Thayer was led more and more to think of the uncertainty of human life, and, as the Easter season approached, to anticipate leaving earth and joining the heavenly throng beyond.  Her departure was painless and quiet.  Mrs. Thayer was a most estimable woman, filling her mission on earth, whether in the home circle, among her friends and neighbors, or in the society of her choice, that of the Methodist church.  She had been a member of this church for over forty years and to her it was the joy of her life to assemble among its people, participate in its rites and help to spread its influence.  Though Mrs. Thayer has passed to another world she has left behind an example of sweetness, purity and religious devotion that her friends will always treasure.  Mrs. Thayer was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Israel Bennett.  She was married to William Thayer in 1865, and soon after they came to Bainbridge to live, residing here for the most time since.  Her husband died in the winter of 1906.  Of the immediate family there survives but one daughter, Mrs. Lillian A. Mead, who lived with her parents.  The deceased left two sisters, Mrs. Czar Prince of Bainbridge and Mrs. George Prouty of Binghamton; four brothers, E.J. and Hubert L. Bennett of Bainbridge; Herbert A. Bennett of Plymouth and Riley J Bennett of Buffalo.  Mrs. E.M. Elwell of Troy, was present at the funeral.  The funeral was held in the M.E. church this (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. E.G. VanWoert officiating.  Burial in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  Many flowers reposed on the casket, expressions of affection from a large number of friends.  [Bainbridge Republican, April 16, 1908]

 

The family of Chester W. Neff of Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY], were greatly shocked on the morning of April 12, when they went to awaken him, to find that he had quietly passed away sometime during the night.  He retired feeling, as the family supposed, better than he had been at all during the winter.  Sixty-one years ago, Mr. Neff and his brother, William, moved into the woods near the village of Bennettsville and turned the forest into rich and productive farms.  Chester was the last of the original settlers.  Mr.  Neff lived to the good old age of 86 and is survived by three daughters, Eva Neff, of Bennettsville, Mrs. Ida Davis of Bainbridge and Mrs. Mary Wheat of Sidney Center, two sons, Edward, who resides at Bennettsville and Edwin whose home is in Deposit, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.  His funeral was attended by relatives from Union, Binghamton, Oneonta, Sidney, Sidney Center, Masonville, Deposit, Lebanon and Bainbridge.  deceased was for many years a consistent member of the Baptist church.  Funeral services were held at the house, Rev. H.T. Hill of Bainbridge officiating.  Interment was made in the Bennettsville cemetery. Bainbridge Republican, April 23, 1908 

 

A few weeks since we recorded the death of Czar Prince, a resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], and today we note that of his wife, Syvania Bennett Prince, who died Friday, April 17, 1908, at her home above the village, aged 63 years.  She had bee afflicted for several years with creeping paralysis which gradually sapped her strength and life until she was completely helpless and unable to minister to her husband in his dying hours.  Mrs. Prince knew that death was inevitable, that there was no reprieve from the gradual decay of her physical system, but there was a serenity of mind, a calm acceptance of what the future should bring and a firm reliance upon the Bible teachings of her life.  Thus the pure soul of this sincerely good woman passed into immortality.  The funeral was held at her late home on Monday at 2 o'clock p.m., Rev. G.E. Van Woert of the M.E. Church, of which the deceased was a member, officiating.  The burial was in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY], the flowers which kind friends had bestowed resting upon the casket.  Mrs. Prince was a native of Guilford.  She was married to Mr. Prince 35 years ago.  Her home had been for the most part in Bainbridge since that time.  She is survived by three children, Mrs. Anna Roberts of Chenango Forks, Mrs. Grace Ingersoll and George Elliott Prince of Bainbridge.  There remains also a sister, Mrs. George Prouty of Binghamton, another sister, Mrs. William Thayer of Bainbridge, having recently died; four brothers, Eli J. and Hubert S. Bennett of Bainbridge, Riley Bennett of Buffalo, and Herbert A. Bennett of Plymouth.  [Bainbridge Republican, April 23, 1908]

 

News was received in Bainbridge Wednesday of the death of C.I. Perry, a former resident of Bainbridge, who died Tuesday of cancer at his home in Flushing, L.I.  The remains were brought to Bainbridge today on the 1:36 p.m. train, and the interment will take place in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  Rev. Mr. Sizer of St. Peter's church will read the burial service.  Mr. Perry was probably over 60 years of age.  [Bainbridge Republican, April 23, 1908]

 

The wife of Nathan Hand, Mary C., died Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock of pneumonia, at their home in Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY], aged 85 years.  The funeral will be held at the house Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, Rev. Mr. more of Masonville, officiating.  Burial in the village cemetery.  [Bainbridge Republican, April 23, 1908]

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  The funeral services of the late Luke Hollenbeck, aged 67 were held Wednesday of last week at the home of his son-in-law C.H. Goodwin, Rev. A.C. Salls, of the Congregational church officiating.  Although Mr. Hollenbeck  had been in ill health for the past two years, his death came suddenly from heart trouble.  Among those present at the services were Mr. and Mrs. James Crandall, Ben Hollenbeck and George Hollenbeck of Brisbin, Chas. Sharpe and wife of Tyner, Scott Gilbert and daughter, Mrs. Madden of Preston, Eugene Soule of Oxford, who with friends from this town accompanied the remains to Brisbin [Chenango Co., NY], the birthplace of Mr. Hollenbeck, where the interment took place.  [Bainbridge Republican, May 7, 1908]