Thursday, January 23, 2014

Obituaries (January 23)

Henry Sherman, aged 83 years, died Saturday morning at his rooms in the Colwell block [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], after a brief illness.  He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Frances Hall of Binghamton, Mrs. Charles Beilby of North Sanford; one niece, Mrs. Julien Vandewarker, three nephews, Manville, Ralph and William Sherman.  The funeral was held from the Methodist Episcopal church, Monday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. M.V. Williams officiating; burial was at Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  Mr. Sherman was a veteran of the Civil War, serving with the 114th regiment.  The American legion soldiers attended the funeral in a body in respect to him who was one of the Nation's soldiers.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 26, 1924]
 
William Dewey Kirby, father of Ralph W. Kirby, President of First National Bank, died at his home on South Main street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] at midnight, Monday, in his 85th year, following a general impairment of health due to his advanced years.  For several weeks Mr. Kirby had exhibited great feebleness although he was about as usual.  The steady decline could not be checked and he passed away, retaining his full mentality and consciousness to the end.  Mr. and Mrs. Kirby came to this village to reside three years ago from the farm on the East Side, which had been the scene of his activities all his life and which had descended to him from an ancestry who was among the pioneer settlers of Bainbridge.  Mr. Kirby was a prosperous and successful farmer.  He loved the work and the attachment which he felt for this home, whose parental fields he had trodden for over four score of years, was a testimonial and monument of devotion to those of his own blood who had penetrated the forests and cleared the land over a century and a quarter of years before.  He was born August 5th, 1839, and married to Hattie J. Cudworth, daughter of John Cudworth of Cortland, February 1, 1870, who survives.  They together found complete happiness on this historic farmland so rich in sturdy scenes and memories of long ago.  The rugged character and honesty of purpose which marked those who prepared the way for civilization in Bainbridge left their full traces in the life of the deceased, yet intermingled with gentleness, kindness and a love for his family and consideration for his fellow men.  He was endowed with a strong public spirit and his loyalty to country and its institutions was a subject of great pride to him.  He studied political events and being a steadfast Republican he was at the polls whenever elections occurred.  He was a devoted member and a deacon of the Baptist church.  He was prominent in the business life of the community and was one of the directors of the First National bank.  Mr. Kirby's grandfather was Reuben Kirby, who with William Guthrie, his father-in-law, came from Litchfield, Conn., in 1787.  They settled on lands situate about three miles above Afton, which they had purchased of Mr. Robert Harper of Harpersville, Delaware County.  They built their cabins and made some improvements and returned the following fall to Connecticut.  In the spring of 1788, they returned with their families crossing the Hudson river at Hudson, and proceeding thence to Cherry Valley to Otsego Lake.  There they constructed a float by placing boards upon two canoes, and on this their families and household goods were conveyed down the Susquehanna to the place of settlement. They drove through the forest some cattle and a horse, the latter of which having been subsequently lost for nearly four months, were returned to them by the Indians.  Their title to these lands proved defective which were based on purchase made of the Indians.  Mr. Reuben Kirby then purchased from the State a mile square of land in this same locality and he removed to the east side of the Susquehanna river about two miles below the village of Bainbridge and which land was eventually divided among his four sons, Reuben, Joseph, Phinny and Philo and the share of Reuben Kirby has been in the family ever since and occupied by the deceased during his lifetime excepting the last three years.  Reuben Kirby was a Revolutionary soldier.  His ancestry came to Connecticut from England and were near kinship to Oliver Cromwell, the great English reformer, the Kirby name then being "Kirkby."  Besides the widow two sons, Ralph W. Kirby and Clarence Kirby, and one daughter, Eudora Kirby, all of Bainbridge, survive, and also two grandchildren, Eleanor and Barbra Kirby of Binghamton, daughters of John R. Kirby, who died six years ago.  The funeral was held at the late home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon.  Rev. R.B. Whitman, pastor of the Baptist church officiated and the burial was in Green lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  [Bainbridge Republican, June 26, 1924]
 
Once more the Great Reaper has entered another home in this village and the familiar form of Jessie Ella Marble, wife of Charles D. Marble passed away on May 28, 1924 after several months of patient suffering.  The deceased was of New England blood, her birthplace being at North Bennington, Vermont, on August 26th, 1882.  She was the daughter of William  H. and Jessie Knott Harwood and was a graduate of North Bennington High school.  When a young girl she gave her heart to God united with the Baptist church and was a deep consecrated Christian  After coming to Guilford she joined the Guilford Center Congregational church by letter.  Early in life she was united in marriage to Charles D. Marble at Rockdale and from this union four children came to bless this home, chiefly to be mentioned, Mrs. Mildred Bump of Binghamton, Jessie Marin, who preceded her to the better land several years ago, Richard L. and Doris E. Marble of Guilford.  Besides the three children now living she is survived by a husband and two sisters Mrs. Herman Judd of Oquaga; Mrs. Frank Doolittle of Albany and a little granddaughter Emily R. Bump.  The funeral was held from the home Saturday afternoon at one o'clock.  Rev. Bump officiating.  interment was made in the cemetery at Mt. Upton.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 5, 1924]
 
Afton [Chenango Co., NY]:  William Gardinier, aged 78, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Earl Gregory, on June 15.  A brief service was held at the home on Wednesday.  The funeral service was held at the M.E. church at Hale Eddy, by the Rev. W.D. Lathrop of this place, assisted by the Rev. P.A. Thompson of Hale Eddy.  Burial in the Hale Eddy cemetery.  [Bainbridge Republican, July 3, 1924]
 
Died in Chicago on the early morning of June 3, 1924.  Elizabeth Sumner, wife of William Heald Groverman and daughter of the late Charles Bennett and Alice Johnston Sumner.  Elizabeth Sumner was born in Bainbridge, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], coming as a little child with her parents to Delavan, where much of her life has been spent.  She was a graduate of the Delavan high school and of the Stout Training School at Menominee, Wis., and prior to her marriage, taught in the Minneapolis Public Schools.  As one of her friends has said:  "She is one of the most beautiful memories of my life, so close to everything true and beautiful, so tolerant and so just."  The service was held at Christ church Delavan, Wis., Thursday afternoon at three-thirty.  [Bainbridge Republican, July 10, 1924]

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