Obituaries (December 16)

Early Wednesday morning August seventeenth, Mrs. Daisy Wilkins, aged forty-four, after weeks of suffering entered into rest.  In March she was taken to the Johnson City Hospital, where during the course of three months two very serious operations were performed.  In June she came to the home of her daughters in Bainbridge and for several weeks seemed on the road to recovery.  More serious complications developed and she grew rapidly worse.  She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Lydia Wilkins, one brother, B.A. Wilkins of Ault, Colorado, and two daughters, Irene and Dorotha Banner of Bainbridge.  Private services were held at the home, August nineteenth.  Rev. Lester Kilpatrick officiated.  Burial in Green Lawn cemetery ]Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  [Bainbridge Republican, Aug. 25, 1921] 

Susannah B. Patchin, wife of John Patchin, was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] July 26, 1854 and was married to her now sorrowing husband John Patchin 49 years ago.  This union God blessed with three children namely Leon A. son, and two daughters, Cora B. and Grace, the latter having passed on to the Glory world in infancy.  Five sisters and one brother still survive.  Mrs. Emily Hutchinson, Mrs. May Cole, Mrs. Hannah Ballard, Mrs. Jane Burdit, Mrs. Classie Tripp and one brother Elward Blenco.  For many years Mr. and Mrs. Patchin lived on their farm on the Guilford road but on account of their poor health and age they sold their farm and moved to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] where they still reside.  No matter where they made their abode in life they always had many friends for the fact that they were always willing to do for others.  Early in life Mrs. Patchin gave her heart to God and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, she was a patient sufferer, from complication of diseases until finally the end came on Wednesday evening, August 17, for which she waited knowing full well she was going.  May our Heavenly Father comfort the deeply sorrowing husband and safely keep them all to the end, give them a glorious home in a bitter world.  The funeral was very largely attended at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, Rev. O.L. Buck, the former pastor of Bainbridge, M.E. church now pastor of a very prosperous M.E. church in Avoco, Pa., officiated by request of the departed.  The bearers were John Matteson, O.W. Fletcher, Sebert Hollenbeck, Albert Wilcox.  Interment was made in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY]....[Bainbridge Republican, August 25, 1921]

Word has come to Bainbridge that Norman Slater was killed in action in France in October.  Norman Slater left Bainbridge with the Chenango County contingency and sent overseas during the summer months.  [Bainbridge Republican, Dec. 19, 1918]

Norman Slater who was killed in action in France in the taking of Grandpre, was winner of the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously,  He was with Company "H," 312th Infantry.  He was a great soldier, fearless and dashing and of that conspicuous type which has rendered immortal the name of the American soldier.  Just recently a tree has been planted in his memory at the West Bainbridge cross roads and Bainbridge people will always revere his name.  ][Bainbridge Republican, May 15, 1919]

 

The body of Norman Slater who was killed in the battle of the Argonne, now rests in Hastings & Colwell's undertaking rooms.  It reached Bainbridge from overseas on Wednesday.  The American Legion Post of Bainbridge will pay full honors to the memory of this gallant lad by a military funeral to be held Sunday.  Members of the Legion in full uniform will assemble at 1 o'clock Sunday and will escort the body from the undertaking rooms to the Methodist church where services will be held at 2 o'clock.  Soldiers from Sidney and Afton will join the home men.  The Band and all Civic organizations will attend.  The body will be drawn by four black horses attached to a caisson and a military procession will escort the body to the church and after the services to Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], where burial will occur.  Norman Slater entered the service from West Bainbridge.  He fought overseas, was wounded, but returned to the battle when he was killed [Bainbridge Republican, Sept. 15, 1921]

 

The military funeral of Private Norman C Slater was held Sunday afternoon.  It was a fitting and impressive affair.  The townsmen of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] both village and country accredited themselves worthily in the recognition afforded the memory of one who by his extraordinary valor and sacrifice distinguished himself in the service of his country and brought great honor to the community that reared him.  The utility and patriotic organizations of the town had large representations present at the services both in the Methodist Episcopal church and at the Green Lawn cemetery where the body was consigned to its resting place with military honors.  The Slater-Silvernail Post of the American Legion had charge of the services and acquitted itself in a laudable manner.  the Post in its official designation bears the name of the one whose remains it had the privilege and honor of bearing to its final rest.  Norman C. Slater was born April 13, 1893, drafted April 30, 1918, left for overseas, May 19, 1918, he was wounded in the leg by a shell fragment in the battle of Grand Pre, France, October 17, and was ordered to the dressing station, arriving at which he found so many who were in greater need of treatment than he that he surrendered his place and offered himself as a litter bearer at which work he served during the remainder of the day.  The next day  his company went over the top.  It was noticed that Slater limped and he was ordered to remain in the trench, but he begged to be allowed to go to the front with his company, his request was granted.  His platoon occupied an advanced position with its gun, the position becoming untenable because of the withering fire of the enemy, the platoon was ordered to retire to a more protected position.  In obedience to the command it began to retire, Slater was the last man to leave, as he was going to the new position a piece of shell struck him in the head and he was instantly killed.  Thus loyally and heroically he made the "Supreme Sacrifice."  His government recognizing his valorous service bestowed upon him though dead the Distinguished Service Cross, the highest recognition it can bestow.  During the service in the church this cross, which had never been pinned upon his breast lay upon his casket, placed there with fitting words.  The Rev. R.F. Lesh pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church assisted by Revds. Cady, Scovil and Allnatt of this village and Rev. Landmesser of Coventry conducted the service in the church.  Rev. Lesh paid fitting tribute to the men who in the hour of their country's need were not found wanting.  He spoke of the confidence we all had in our boys, a confidence that led us to say again and again "When our boys get across and get into the war a different story will come back across the sea.  How our hearts thrilled with irrepressible joy when we read of the gallant and effective service of our boys at Chateau Thierry Belleau Woods, and later. The brave soul whose earthly tenement lies before us and the tens of thousands of other heroic souls, many of whom made the supreme sacrifice make it possible for you and me to pursue our respective courses undeterred by a hateful autocratic and despotic power, they permit us to go our way under the flag we love, the government we enjoy, and the history we revere.  Norman C. Slater epitomized the spirit of American loyalty and American valor.  There was his duty to be done.  And he did it.  Two words have become woven into the warp and woof of our Nation's history; these two words are Sacrifice and Patriotism.  Patriotism is love for country and that love again and again finds expression in the sacrifice that men and women make for the welfare of the land of their birth or the land of their adoption.  Philip Nolan, the countryless wanderer made such, because as a soldier in fit of madness he had cursed the flag and the country and for which he was punished by being denied for the rest of his life to see the flag or to hear about it, as he lay dying gave to his young companion the advice that ought to be treasured in every heart.  'And for your country boy, and for your flag, never dream a dream, but of serving her, even though the service carry you thru a thousand hells, no matter what happens to you, no matter who flatters you, or who abuses you, never desert that flag.  Remember boy, that behind all that you have to do with, behind the officers and government, there is the country itself, and that you belong to her as you belong to your mother.'"  [Bainbridge Republican, Sept. 22, 1921]