Miscellaneous items

Dr. R.H. Gilbert Visits Guilford

Bainbridge Republican, May 29, 1879

 

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  Wm. D. Gilbert of Canton, N.Y., and his son Dr. R.H. Gilbert of New York the projector to the Gilbert Elevated railway in N.Y., have been the guests of A.P. merchant a few days. Dr. Gilbert left this place at the age of 14 years in 1846 and with the exception of a short visit 23 years ago has not been here since.  From here he removed to Corning in this State where he studied medicine and afterward removed to New York.  At the breaking out of the war he went out as surgeon of Durzaes Zouaves, from that was promoted to Medical director which was a very responsible position having at times upward of 20,000 sick and wounded soldiers under his supervision.  This position he held until the close of the war.  Since then he has devoted his time to R.R. interests having been assistant superintendent of the N.J. Central R.R. and the proejcting and construction of the Gilbert Elevated Railway.  It is unnecessary to say that the Dr. was warmly greeted by his former friends and school mates and Saturday evening was pleasantly spent by them at Mr. Merchant's relating incidents of their boyhood days. 

 

Simon Gager Throop

Oxford Times, July 16, 1889

 

Cuba, NY, July 9, 1889

Editor of Times:  In my last letter I mentioned Simon Gager Throop, the son of Major Dan Throop of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], who raised a number of boys.  Gager grew up a smart young man, studied law and became prominent in his profession.  He married a daughter of Theodore Burr, the famous bridge builder, and had a residence on Fort Hill with an office near by.  This office was headquarters for the citizens on particular occasions, meeting there to discuss politics, and on Saturday evenings to compare cards and dice.  Chauncey Morgan, Gen. Peter Sken Smith and others took part in these convivial session.

 

When the strife between Oxford and Norwich over the county seat was in progress Mr. Throop was sent to Albany as a lobby member in the interest of Oxford.  When the session had closed and he had returned, the citizens gave him a reception, which was held in the afternoon and evening at the residence of Mr. Morgan.  A numerous company of gentlemen and ladies assembled, and among the good things prepared for the feast was a large roast turkey.  By some means it fell to Mr. Throop to do the carving.  Taking off his coat and rolling up his sleeves he seized the carving knife and fork and went to work, keeping the company in a roar of laughter by his witty jokes.  The carving finished he wiped his fingers with a napkin, put on his coat and striking a parliamentary attitude at the head of the table said:  "Gentlemen, I submit this subject to your immediate consideration," which was received with laughter and applause.  Among the ladies present were Mrs. Throop, a splendid lady, richly dressed and wearing a profusion of jewelry, who did much to make the recepiton pleasant; Mrs. Chauncey Morgan, formerly Miss Betsey Bepac, of French descent, and her younger sister, Miss Harriet Bepac, lent their French vivacity to the pleasures of the evening.  At a late hour the party retired.--Thurlow Weed in a letter to me speaks of Mr. Throop in these words:  "Simon Gager Throop was elected Member of Assembly from Oxford in 1818; a few years ago he wrote me that he was then a judge in Monroe county, Penn., in his 82d year." 

 

The business in the Gazette office was suspended for the time, which gave the little apprentice boy a good chance to see and hear all that transpired on that memorable occasion.  -- D.P. Fitch

 

Swindle

Chenango Union, December 18, 1890

East Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY]:  About three weeks ago, an unknown gentleman called on the widow of Leroy Babcock (who resides, we believe, in the town of Plymouth, possibly part of the premises lie in eastern part of Pharsalia) and communicated to her that he was in the employ of the government, and had found a silver mine on her farm; also that he would not report the discovery to the government, but would show her where it was and give her papers purporting to be a clear title to the mine for a certain amount--telling a very smooth story, of course, that it would cost a good deal to have it tested, etc.  The widow gave him forty dollars, and the miscreant took her eighteen year old son out to exhibit to him where the great silver ore was located.  He began digging and picking up the precious metal; the excited boy being so elated did not observe the glittering metal as it dropped from the sleeve of the swindler.  After a good supply had been obtained they returned to the house, and showed them to the overjoyed widow.  He requested that the discovery be kept a secret.  The son then carried him to Norwich, thence he was to go to Washington to have the ore tested, with the understanding that the son meet him in Norwich at a stated time, a few days later.  Alas!  after several days of anxious expectations, the widow began to surmise she had been cleverly swindled.  It will be remembered that several dollars were raised in Pharsalia, Preston and Plymouth, for Mrs. Babcock, last February, at the time of the sad accident and death of her husband.  Moral:  Beware of strangers, as humbugs of every description are swarming our land.