Obituaries (January 31)

Mrs. Phoeby Sliter died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Kelley on West Main street, Monday morning, of cancer of the stomach, aged 80 years.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. D.N. Grummon, assisted by Rev. H.H. Cook, at the house, on Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock.  The burial took place at West Bainbridge cemetery [Chenango Co., NY].  The subject of the above notice was born in Dutchess co., N.Y., In 1808, and at the age of eight years, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Searles, came to this town and settled near what is now known as the farm of A.G. Searles, in the western part of the town.  In 1826 she was married to William Sliter and their married life extended over a period of 51 years, and there were born unto them eleven children, eight of which, four boys and four girls, are now living.  In 1877 the husband of deceased died, and from that time on until last February, she toiled as she ever had done, unceasingly, when she was stricken with that fatal disease, cancer of the stomach, and died as above stated. Her willing hands and kind heart have done much for the rising generation.

 

Died--In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 10, 1890, Wm. Banner, aged 84 years.  Deceased was born in England, coming to this country nearly 50 years ago, and settled in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] where he resided until last November when by request of his five children who live here, he with his wife moved to this village.  They have two daughters living in Guilford and two sons are west.  Nearly everyone in this community was acquainted with Uncle Banner and will miss him. The funeral service, conducted by Rev. Wm. Blair on Wednesday, were held from his late residence on West Main street with interment in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY]

 

Funeral services for United States Judge, George W. Ray were held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon in First Congregational church, Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Rev. Roderick MacLeod, officiating.  Burial was in the family plot in Mount Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY].  Norwich business places and industries were closed during the hour of the funeral out of respect to the memory of a man who dearly loved the city and county.  The public schools of the city also were closed for the afternoon.  Judge Ray served more than 35 years in the cause of education and for 29 was president of Norwich board of education.  The Chenango County Bar were present and also attorneys from all over the district gathered to pay their honor and respect to the noted jurist.  Federal Judge George W. Ray died last Friday night at 12:30 o'clock in his home in Norwich, after a long brave fight for life.  The cause of his death was due to gangrene from an affected foot.  He was taken ill on Labor Day last year with pneumonia and had recovered from that illness when he again fell ill with gangrene.  Federal Judge George Washington Ray has been rightly called Chenango county's distinguished son.  His career was typically American.  From an humble birth he rose by sheer ability and energy to an honored place on the bench of a high court and stood forth as the foremost native of Chenango in his generation  He was the second son and the fifth among eight children of Asher L. and Melissa Gray Ray and was born on a farm in the town of Otselic, Chenango county,  February 3, 1844.  His parents came from Connecticut stock, his father living to 84 and his mother, 76 years of age.  Judge Ray was the last of his family to pass away.  His education began in the district school of his native town and was being continued as a student in the old Norwich Academy when the Civil War broke out.  He enlisted as a private in Company B, 90th Regiment, of New York Volunteer Infantry and became a clerk for the first division of the 19th army corps.  In March, 1866, he took up the study of law in the office of Hon. Elizur H. Prindle and so aptly did he apply himself that the following year in 1867, he was admitted to the bar.  For another year, he was associated with Mr. Prindle and former District Attorney David H. Knapp and then set up an office of his own.  Exact in his information as to details, painstaking in his preparation of cases and a past master in the art of pleading, he soon found a place among the foremost criminal lawyers of his field and entered upon a brilliant and conspicuous successful career.  Few, if any men in Central New York had so intimate or extended acquaintance with State and national politics and none had seen more public service.  Early in the 80's his first political ambition was to represent the 26th district of New York in Congress, and he was chosen to the Forty-eighth Congress, serving from 1883 to 1885.  By a change in the counties composing the district, he was forced to forego his ambition for a few weeks, but was reelected to the Fifty-second Congress, and continuously until the 57th, serving from 1891 to 1903, when he resigned to accept a place on the Federal Court bench.  His work at the national capital attracted favorable attention from men of all parts throughout the country. His ability was recognized by appointment upon committees and he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a place second only in importance to the heart of the Ways and Means Committee.  In debate he could hold his own with men of national reputation as orators.  It is a matter of record that by his impassioned and impressive eloquence he broke down opposition to measures he advocated.  His Washington experience brought him into touch with the leading men of his party.  He was a personal friend of Theodore Roosevelt, who, while on a visit to Norwich while Governor of New York State, was entertained at the home of Congressman Ray.  After Roosevelt became president he sought to honor the congressman among his appointees, and when a vacancy occurred on the Federal Court bench for the northern district of New York he offered the place to Mr. Ray, who resigned from Congress in September 1902 to accept the appointment.  His record on the bench continuous since then, has been marked by fairness and fearlessness.  He could not be deterred from doing his duty as he saw it, even by threats upon his life, as was the case in the trial of a member of a blackhand gang.  His written opinions are masterpieces of analysis and clear thinking and concise expression.  He leaves a son J. Johnson Ray, and grandson, George W. Ray, 2nd.  [Bainbridge Republican, Jan. 15, 1925]

 

James L. Hyde, a lifelong resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] and Civil War Veteran died at his home on Juliand street Thursday at 12:30 o'clock, aged 83 years, after an illness of 19 months.  Mr. Hyde was born on the farm about a mile below the village in September 1842.  His parents were Ira and Sallie Humphrey Hyde he had one sister Sarah and a brother Thomas.  James was the last member of the family living.  On March 14, 1872, he married Miss Lucretia A. Wildy of Afton, who died May 10th, 1889.  On March 19th, 1890 he was married to Miss Emely White of Bainbridge who survives him.  The only other nearest relatives are second cousins.  About eight years ago he sold his farm to Adna Talcot and purchased the Harvey Whitman property on Juliand street, where he lived until his death.  The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the home.  Rev. C.G. Cady officiating.  Burial in Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  [Bainbridge Republican, May 21, 1925]

 

Mrs. Carolyn Rowe-Reeve:  The early birds had arrived, and the sun was beginning to warm vegetation into life, as elaborate and  careful preparations were in progress, during the Spring days of 1850, in the London home of James Roffe, a wealthy and successful wheelwright, for a welcome guest was expected.  On March 7th, Mr. Rowe's wife, Eliza, gave birth to her fourth child, a baby girl, who was named Carolyn. As the years passed, the child developed into a beautiful and accomplished woman, and in 1869, at the age of nineteen, was lead to the alter of Westminster Abbey by Thomas Rowe, a special detective of the City of London.  Imaginative and progressive, Mr. Rowe was not satisfied with the opportunities offered in his native city and in 1872, after a protracted voyage, landed with the young wife and their first child, a baby girl, at the port of New York and immediately went to West Laurens, near Morris in Otsego Co., New York.  Mr. Rowe became a naturalized American citizen and until his death, in 1893, was a successful mason and cooper.  Six daughters and four sons made up the happy family of Mr. and Mrs. Rowe.  Many years after the death of her first husband, Mrs. Rowe married Mr. Charles Reeve, a merchant of Morris, N.Y., but within a short time was again a widow.  Since the death of her second husband, Mrs. Rowe-Reeve has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Jay Bouton at Newburgh, N.Y., and it was here at high noon, on the eleventh instant, surrounded by her daughters, that she slipped quietly into the beyond to join the loved ones on the other side, and await the coming of those whom she has left.  A truly successful early career has closed to be resumed in the clearer light of the eternal day.  Carolyn Rowe-Reeve is no more.  The good she has done, the hearts she has cheered, eternity alone will reveal.  Her life, her presence, her wise council have been a blessing.  her memory is a benediction.  The funeral services were conducted on May 14th by Rev. Dr. Flynn of the Liberty St., Newburgh, Baptist church, from her late residence, with interment in Woodlawn cemetery.  The numerous beautiful floral tributes and the telegrams received attest to the high esteem in which the deceased was held.  The surviving children, all of whom attended the funeral are:  Mrs. Charles Wealtherly, Lincoln City, Del; Mrs. Duncan McRae, Rochester, N.Y.; Mrs. Jay Bouton, Newburgh, N.Y.; Mrs. Leland C. Yale, Bainbridge, N.Y.;  Mrs. George Schneider, Richfield Springs, N.Y.; Mr. Lynn Rowe, Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Roy B Combs, Rochester, N.Y.  [Bainbridge Republican, May 21, 1925]

Charles Phillips, aged about 65 years, a farmer residing between Afton [Chenango Co., NY] and Nineveh [Broome Co., NY], was trampled to death by his horse Sunday afternoon.  While no one saw the accident, it is believed he was fixing a board in the stall of his barn, when the horse became frightened and knocked him under his foot.  He was driven to the home of Dr. Dodge in Afton, but died before he reached there.  His chest was completely crushed.  [Bainbridge Republican, June 4, 1925]