James H. Pratt, throughout his life of 76 years a resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], passed away at his home in South Main street at 2:15 Monday morning after an illness of several months. He was born at Bainbridge, June 10, 1857. His parents, Aurelius and Mary C. Pratt, came in 1850 from Poultney, Vt., to Bainbridge, where the father, an expert moulder, and foundryman, took a position with Moses Burgess, who at that time operated a foundry at the extreme end of Newton avenue. He attended school at Bainbridge, in the school then located in the lower corner of what is now the village park. Upon completion of his work at the school he entered the employ of John Codworth, Bainbridge jeweler, where he learned the jeweler's trade. After several years' work for Cudworth he left the jeweler's shop to take an apprenticeship under his father, who by this time had gained a country-wide reputation as an artisan in fine iron and brass castings. He worked with his father in the plant of Don A. Gilbert, successor to Burgess, until 1898, at which time he entered the employ of The American Separator Company as foreman in the assembling department, which position he held until July, 1929, when failing health necessitated his resignation. Since his retirement he has lived quietly at his home. In 1874 Mr. Pratt married Ettie A. Minor, of Fulton, N.Y., who died Oct. 24, 1925. To them seven children were born. Five daughters: Mrs. John Dardis, of Detroit; Mrs. Milo Marble, of Guilford; Mrs. Will Hartmann, Mrs. Leo Wheeler and Mrs. Ina Getter, of Bainbridge; two sons, Don C. and Henry J. Pratt, of Bainbridge, survive, as well as a sister, Mrs. Allen Hodge, and a brother, Don C. Pratt, Sr. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr. Pratt was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge which he attended all his life. He was an exempt member of the Danforth Hose Co., and a faithful member of Susquehanna Lodge, F.&A.M., which he joined in 1888, serving as treasurer for several years. No spoken or written tribute to the exemplary life of this grand old man could be as effective or as lasting as the love and respect borne his memory in the hearts of countless friends. Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 13, at 3:00 p.m. from the Colwell Funeral Parlors. Pall bearers were his grandsons, Byron and Corwin Marble, Harold Thornton and Homer Hodge. The funeral procession was led by three of his youngest grandsons, Donald Pratt, Lawrence Getter and Sterling Hodge, who acted as flower bearers. The Rev. E.A. Snyder, pastor of the First Baptist Church, was assisted in the service by Rev. Fowler, of Clayton, N.Y., a dear friend of the deceased. Burial was in the family plot in Greenlawn Cemetery, with the impressive Masonic service at the grave. [Bainbridge News & Republican, Sept. 14, 1933]
Driving south on Route 7, about a mile north of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], a car owned and driven by Philip W. Young, struck and fatally injured Seth Baker, of Sidney, last Saturday night about 11 o'clock. A coroner's inquest conducted Sunday morning in the Carr & Hare Funeral Home in Sidney by Coroner D.R. Davidson, of Delaware county, returned a verdict of accidental and unavoidable homicide. Baker was walking south on the concrete pavement when Young's car rounded the curve in front of the Wade house. The driver asserts that he did not see Baker until he had straightened his car after coming around the curve. His lights had been pointing into the field while rounding the curve and Baker was about five feet in front of him when he first saw the pedestrian . The man was struck by the right front fender and thrown off the road to the right. Young turned around and returned to the scene of the accident. A car driven by William Van Baalen, Jr., of Bainbridge which had been proceeding in the opposite direction, also turned around and came back to where Baker was lying. Young, his passenger, George Cannon, also Unadilla, and Van Baalen put Baker in the latter's car and he was rushed to the Sidney Hospital. Dr. Loomis, of Sidney, summoned by the hospital authorities, declared that the man was dead and had died almost immediately from a blow on the head which had gashed the skull. State Troopers Bentley and Metzer, of Sidney Barracks, investigated the accident. After carefully taking the testimony of all those involved they proceeded to the point on Route 7 where the accident occurred and determined just how it had happened. The body had been removed in the meantime to the Carr & Hare undertaking parlors. A search of the corpse revealed only a fountain pen and a letter addressed to Seth Baker, care of William Sisson, Sidney. Questioning Sisson, the troopers were able to determine that the dead man was Seth Baker, who had recently moved to a house owned by Sisson on West Main street, Sidney, a few doors from the Troop C Barracks. Accompanied by Sisson and his wife, the troopers performed the unpleasant duty of informing Mrs. Baker and her 10-year-old daughter. Baker was about 40 years old and a World War veteran. He had left his home Saturday morning and it was not determined where he had been from then until he was struck by the car. According to Van Baalen's testimony at the inquest he had seen Baker walking in the center of the road as his car approached the curve. Baker appeared to be limping or stumbling and was walking diagonally across the road evidently unmindful of the cars approaching in both directions. It was a mystery to all, Saturday night, what Baker's head had struck to produce the gash that he received. In the morning however it was seen that the handle on the right door of Young's coupe was bent and it was deduced that Baker had been thrown over the fender striking his head on the handle before being thrown to the shoulder of the road. Binghamton city police in response to a teletype message from Troop C headquarters early Sunday morning located an uncle of Mrs. Baker, Fred Babcock of 37 Hayes street, Binghamton, and Millard Siddon, employed at the D.L.&W roundhouse, who came to Mrs. Baker's aid in the sudden tragedy. Mrs. Baker became hysterical when informed of her husband's death and the names of these relatives were given to the troopers by little Miss Baker. [Bainbridge News & Republican, Sept. 21, 1933]
Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]: Saturday evening the body of Roger Ostrom, who worked for Frank Schlafer, of Guilford, was found dead in the creek at the rear of the farm buildings. It seems that Mr. Ostrom and William Miles, who also works for Mr. Schlafer, had been cutting corn on the flat. In the afternoon when they finished, Mr. Miles said, "I believe I will go home by the road, as the creek is so high." But Mr. Ostrom said, "I have on new high rubber boots and I'll go across the creek, the shorter way." So both of them went their different ways. Supper was eaten and the chores finished, but Mr. Ostrom did not appear. Finally Pershing Schlafer decided to go down by the creek to see if he could locate him at a neighbor's. He immediately discovered the body in the creek. Dr. A.H. Evans was called and coroner Wilcox, of Norwich, summoned. They stated death was not due to drowning. What caused his death has not been ascertained as we go to press. Not much is known concerning his relatives. We believe he has a mother living on Chenango avenue, Norwich, Breese undertakers were called. [Bainbridge News & Republican, Sept. 21, 1933]
Jennie E. only daughter of George W. and Pardelia Dexter, died at her father's residence in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], November 1st, at 12:30 o'clock A.M. Deceased was born at South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], September 6th, 1868, and hence was in her sixteenth year. When she was about three years of age her parents removed to Guilford, which has since been her home. For nearly five weeks she has been confined to her bed with chronic laryngitis. She was apparently improving until the Sunday preceding her death, and it was not until Wednesday that the physician lost hope of her recovery. Jennie was a general favorite with her companions, and by her quiet and lady-like bearing she won the esteem of her senior. It can be truly said of her that she always acted as she thought was right. When such as one falls, silence most becomes us, tears are the most befitting eulogy. The funeral service ere held at the M.E. Church, Sunday, conducted by the Rev. P.R. Tower. The church was crowded with sympathizing friends. At twelve o'clock the remains were borne up the aisle by the remaining members of her Sabbath school class, following these came the relatives and immediately after them the public school in a body. As soon as the casket had been placed in position, Misses Anna Warrener and May Dickinson stepped forward and placed upon the lid a beautiful floral cross, a tribute from the teachers and pupils of the school. The services were of a very impressive nature, and scarcely a dry eye was to be seen in the audience. At the conclusion of the services, the remains were borne to the cemtery, accompanied by the relatives, friends, and the school. Here was committed to the earth, "dust to dust, ashes to ashes," the body of one who was true to her friends, true to herself, true to her God. [Chenango Union, Nov. 15, 1883]
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