Wm. H. Douglass died at his home on the East side of the river [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] of cancer trouble, Aug. 29th, 1897. He inherited a strong constitution from good old Scotch ancestry. He was socially inclined and although his sufferings were acute they were not discernible to others. About 20 years ago his physician pronounced him cured, but only three short months elapsed ere the delusion was dispelled, and he fully realized that no human aid could stay the fell destroyer. Mr. Douglass was born in Speedville, Tompkins Co., April 29, 1826. He was the second son of James and Flora Douglass. The father, mother and six children are now deceased. He was married to Miss Adeline Chandler Aug. 1, 1852, and since 1857 has made his home on the Chandler farm. His widow, the eldest of three daughters of Lockwood and Mary Ann Chandler, and a son survive him. Mrs. Chandler is still living at the advanced age of 94 years and retains all her faculties. He together with his wife united with the Presbyterian church of this village under the pastorate of Rev. Pattengel and was fully prepared to fall asleep on the Lord's day. He was a member of Susquehanna Lodge, F.&A.M.
Judson B. Galpin, proprietor of The Oxford Times for a period of forty-five years, and a printer for about fifty-nine years of his life, died at his residence on Clinton street [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] at six o'clock, Monday morning February 20th, 1893, after an illness of several months. Death came peacefully and he passed to that rest of which no man was more entitled. Deceased was a descendant of Benjamin and Rebecca Galpin, who settled at Woodbury, Conn., in 1680. He was born in Washington, Conn., May 15th, 1816, and was the eldest and sole survivor of a family that consisted of three brothers and one sister. At the age of seventeen years he entered the office of the New Haven (Conn.) Palladium as an apprentice, and after a faithful service he, in January 1838, became one of the publishers of that paper, which is still in existence, in partnership with Jas. F Babcock, a leading man of his time. The partnership continued until October 1839, when he sold his interest in the paper, but remained in the office until May 14th, 1841. During his residence in New Haven he married Catharine Jane Brownson, a resident of Middlebury, New Haven county, Conn., on the 16th day of May 1841, the fiftieth anniversary of which was quietly observed in 1891. The fruits of this marriage were four children--Theodore B., Henry J., Florrie G. (Walker) and Jennie H. Galpin, all of whom, with his widow, survive him. In 1841 he removed to Greene, Chenango county, N.Y., at the solicitations of his brother-in-law, Elisha N. Hawley, who had preceded him, a journey that in those days was called "going west," and as much if not more of an undertaking than it now would be to remove to one of the Dakotas. There he entered into partnership with Mr. Hawley in the general merchandise business. This firm continued business some four years. In 1845 a yearning for his chosen profession induced him to remove to Oxford, and engage upon The Times. Later he became associate publisher with Waldo M. Potter, who survives him and is now a leading state officer of North Dakota. On March 4th, 1848, he became sole proprietor and has had full charge of the paper ever since, up to within a few months back, when disease compelled him to lay down the stick and rule and submit the management of the paper to other hands. During the long years of his management of The Times the paper never failed to be issued on the day set for publication, and was hardly ever behind the usual hour. He was never absent from his post during his active management but twice on publication day. That he was faithful to his trusts, true to his friends and conducted The Times for the best interests of the town and its welfare, the readers of the paper are his judges, and the files of the paper his monument. In connection with newspaper work he had for years, until his sons were able to assist him, the additional burden of the book store upon his hands, which he conducted for about forty years. At his death he was the oldest business man in town, and had noticed the change of every business place in the village. Deceased was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a regular attendant at its services. He had held the office of Trustee of the church and was clerk of that board for many years. Public spirited, he gave generously of his means to advance any industry or institution that would benefit the village, and no subscription paper was ever returned unsigned by him that was circulated to help a poor man in distress. Public office he never sought nor ever held. Of a quiet, retiring disposition, he was never to be found away from his business, yet he had a keen appreciation of good fellowship and enjoyed the companionship of neighbors and old friends who sought him out. No man was ever more wedded to his trade, or more willing to accommodate a patron. He had but one fear and that was that someone might be discommoded, and in this often made more and harder work for himself. So devoted was he to his lifelong work that the hardest task that came to him was the final surrender to disease, and retirement from active business in August last. To his family there was that devotion that characterized him in his business. Kind and indulgent, no expressed wish ever remained long ungratified. He was at all times everything in that one sweet word that is expressed by Father. The funeral services will be held from his late residence on Wednesday at 2 p.m., the Rev. Mr. Simpson officiating. Interment in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, NY].
Seeing a notice of the death of Mrs. George Knapp of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] last week greatly saddened me, as we had been life-long friends, she being but one month older than myself. We became acquainted in June 1822, when we were but twenty years of age. On visiting an uncle three or four miles east of this village, I found Betsey Lyon boarding there, she being the teacher of their district school, to whom I was introduced. We seemed to have impressed each other favorably, and soon confided to each other the history of our childhood and youth She told me she was the oldest child of Col. Lyon, who was killed at the battle of York, Canada, in the war of 1812, by the same explosion of the mine, secretly laid by the British, that killed General Pike, our commander while taking possession of their batteries. Betsey was then in the twelfth year of her age, and had one sister and two little brothers. Their mother was left on a small new farm, in the north east quarter of this town. Betsey soon after came to this village, to live in the family of Joseph Fenton, one of our first prominent merchants, that she might have a chance to attend the village schools, and be getting an education. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton were excellent people, and gave her a good chance. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and I believe Betsey also became a member in early youth. She acquired an education sufficient to enable her to teach a common school, as soon as old enough, and thus support herself, and help her mother some. She and I studied together, evenings, while at my uncle's to our mutual advantage, and I found her a noble, high minded young lady, and we became warmly attached friends. During her five years of school teaching, we often met socially, and always with pleasure and profit, on my part at least. The last year before her marriage she taught in this village, in a school house on West Main street, near where her daughter, Mrs. Mandeville, now lives, and boarded with Thomas Steere, who married her aunt. The art to which my life had then become devoted soon led me to the cities and enabled me to form the acquaintance of ladies of wealth and culture; but during my long life I have never seen one that I thought surpassed Betsey Lyon in all the best and highest attributes of woman. Norwich Feb. 3, 1883 .[Chenango Union, Feb. 28, 1884]
Rev. Stephen H. Wood, a retired Methodist minister, died at his home in Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY] last Saturday morning, some years following his retirement from the ministry, a resident of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], and had many friends here who extend sympathy to the bereaved family. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted when 16 years of age. After the war he studied for the ministry and served several charges in the Wyoming conference. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, two daughters, Mrs. Maud Geer of California. and Mrs. Susie Rose of Oneonta and a son John of Port Dickinson. The funeral was held in Oneonta on Tuesday and burial in Binghamton. [Bainbridge Republican, Jan. 19, 1928]
George W. Payne, who died at his home in South Broad street Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] Tuesday morning March 6th was born in the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], April 5th, 1845, removing at the age of 18 to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]. On August 31, 1864, he enlisted in Company A of the 114th Regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Bainbridge and was a traveling salesman until l894 he was elected sheriff of Chenango County. Later for fifteen years he was deputy internal revenue collector with office in Binghamton. He was a 32nd degree Mason, an Elk and a member of the Norwich Club. For several years he was commander of Smith Post, G.A.R. until its dissolution a few months ago. His funeral was held Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock with burial in Greenlawn cemetery at Bainbridge. Mr. Payne was twice married, a daughter Mrs. Thomas Kelleher, of this village being the nearest surviving relative. Members of S.S. Post No. 806 of American Legion accompanied the body to the cemetery upon its arrival here and conducted service at the grave. [Bainbridge Republican, Mar. 8, 1928]
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