Sunday, August 3, 2014

Obituaries (August 3)

Andrew Ackerley, of Beaverkill [Sullivan Co., NY], died suddenly Tuesday afternoon of a heart attack while trying to get his car, which had skidded, back into the road.  Mr. and Mrs. Ackerley had been to Livingston Manor shopping and on their return to their home the car skid, going over the embankment near the Kagnor home near Edgewood Inn.  Mr. Ackerley took his wife to the Wittenberg home and Mr. Wittenberg and Fred Oestrich returned to help him right the car, and in the attempt to get it back into the road Mr. Ackerley passed away.  He was brought to the office of Dr. Denman, and the remains were taken to the Russell Funeral Home.  Mr. Ackerly was 77 years of age.  He is survived by his wife, and three children, Miss Lucy Ackerley, of Beaverkill, Mrs. Fred Smith, of Livingston Manor, and Fred Ackerley, of Middletown.  He is also survived by his mother, who lives at Union Grove and who celebrated her 100th birthday last week.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 4, 1945]

The Village of Harford, and that entire section of Susquehanna County, Pa., has been deeply saddened by tragedy which has darkened the home of Prof. and Mrs. Rush Symonds.  Their 10-year-old son, Richard Symonds, while in the woods near the family home on Christmas Day, was struck by a falling tree.  He was rushed to the General Hospital in Carbondale where it was found that he had suffered a fracture of the skull.  The boy succumbed to his injuries in the hospital Tuesday morning, Dec. 26.  The father, Prof. Rush Symonds, is teacher of agriculture in the vocational school at Harford, and is well known in educational circles all through Susquehanna County.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 4, 1945]

Death was almost instant for Philip Ficco, 51, in an accident at Sheffield by-products plant near Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], early Sunday morning.  Engaged in operating a sugar washer, Mr. Ficco, according to fellow workers, was about to shut the power off after noticing that the machine was wobbling.  As he reached for the power switch a casting from the machine flew through the air and struck him in the chest, knocking him down.  Ficco suffered several fractured ribs and a badly lacerated liver.  He lived only a few minutes after the accident.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 4, 1945]

Leland B. Smith, one of Chenango County's most prominent farmers, died at his home in Oxford, Sunday morning, December 24.  Although Mr. Smith had been in failing health for several years, he had been ill only 10 days, death being due to a heart attack.  Mr. Smith was born in Oxford, December 27, 1873, and had been a life-long resident of that town.  He retired from farming about two years ago and moved to Oxford village.  About eight years ago, Mr. Smith was chosen as master farmer of New York State.  He was a member of the Farm Bureau and had taken an active part in the work of that organization.  He had been a member of the Oxford Grange for more than 30 years, and a member of the Pomona Grange for several years.  He was also a  member of the New York State Grange and the National Grange and had served as state deputy for the Grange for seven years.  Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Chester Stratton, of the Bronx; Mrs. Lawrence Bliven and Miss Margaret Smith, of Oxford; and one son, Turner Smith, of Havre de Grace, Md.  Funeral services were held Wednesday morning, with burial in Oxford.  [Bainbridge News & Republican,  Jan. 4, 1945]

After a long period of failing health, death came to one of the community's most highly respected citizens in the person of James T. Purvis on Wednesday, January 3.  Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2:00 p.m. in the Colwell Brothers Chapel, with the Rev. Paul L. Carpenter officiating.  Bearers were Arthur Clark, Amos Tuckey, Moritz Roehlk, Leigh Evans, Frank Turk, and Harry Bluler.  He was born in Livingston Manor [Sullivan Co., NY] on Feb. 8, 1877, the son of George and Rachel Ellis Purvis.  On Feb. 19, 1902, he was united in marriage to Lora B. Spohn, who died May 30, 1935.  Coming to Bainbridge about the year 1900, he was employed by the America Separator Co. as a machinist for over twenty-five years, and had been employed by the Casein Company of America for over twelve years before his retirement on account of ill health two years ago.  He was not only interested in sports in the community, but was a local fireman for many years, occupying the office of assistant chief of the department.  In recognition of his many years of service he was recently presented with a gold medal and was made honorary chief.  He was a member of the first Presbyterian Church for nearly thirty years.  Highly esteemed by all who knew him, his loss will be keenly felt in the whole community.  Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Dicks; a grandson, James Dicks; and four sisters and a brother; Mrs. Will Steele of Los Angeles, Cal.; Mrs. Lillian Johnson and Mrs. Rose Johnson, both of West Endicott; Mrs. James Tompkins, of Norwich; and Theodore Purvis of Bainbridge.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 11, 1945]

Virginia Ann Jeffers, 17 years of age, died in her sleep early Sunday morning, Dec. 31, at the home of her mother, Mrs. Marian Jeffers, in Mountain Home, Pa., where she was spending the holidays.  Death was attributed to a chronic heart condition.  She is the daughter of Attorney Fred H. Jeffers, of Windsor [Broome Co., NY].  She had attended school at Mountain Home, and was a senior at Windsor Central School at the time of her death.  A member of Windsor Methodist church, she was active in its Sunday School and Youth Fellowship classes.  The funeral was held Wednesday at the Mountain Home Methodist church.  The Senior Class was represented at the funeral by Minerva George and Laurene Wood; also her pastor, the Rev. E.G.W. Estlow, of the Methodist church, Windsor.  Survivors besides her father and mother include a sister, Sally, and a brother, James, of Mountain Home, Pa., and grandmother Mrs. Emily H. Jeffers, of Windsor.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 11, 1945]

Charles Warren Gray, 86, a prominent lifelong resident of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], died at the Greene Hospital Wednesday afternoon of last week after a few days' illness.  He was one of the few insurance agents in the United States to be awarded a medal for 50 years of continuous service.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 11, 1945]


 

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