Obituaries (October 24)

Charles J. Humphrey, a resident of the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], died Sunday, January 19th [1902], at 4:30 p.m., at his home in Bennettsville, after an illness which had extended over four years.  His disease was an affection of the heart which caused him much suffering, the last few weeks being extremely painful though the end was peaceful.  Mr. Humphrey was born in the vicinity of Bainbridge village, February 13th, 1829.  He attended the select schools of Bainbridge, of which there were none better in those days for giving a thorough and practical knowledge for all business purposes.  Mr. Humphrey was a hard student and mastered all difficult studies under such experienced and scholarly teachers as Samuel L. Banks and Henry Rockwell.  Mr. Humphrey became quite early in life interested in the milling and lumbering business in which he was successful and which he had followed until incapacitated through failing health.  In 1855 he went to Tioga, Pa., where he resided about twenty years then returning to Bennettsville.  Mr. Humphrey was united in marriage to Euncie A. Corbin Kirby in 1853, who survives with the two children, a son, Charles B. Humphrey, jeweler of Bainbridge, and a daughter, Minnie A. Humphrey, residing at home.  The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey was a very happy one.  They were very congenial and made all visitors so welcome, entertained them so hospitably, that each parting guest wished to linger.  Bennettsville, Mr. Humphrey's immediate neighborhood, will miss him sadly, as all who knew him will regret his death.  The deceased was one of the substantial men of our town.  he was a good citizen and could always be counted upon to further every beneficial interest of his community.  He was the soul of honor, inflexible in deciding between right and wrong, despising all shame, earnest, outspoken and straightforward both in public and private matters.  Mr. Humphrey had a strong intellect and a cultivated mind.  His reading was extensive and his conversation was always instructive and a pleasure to the listener.  In politics he was a staunch Republican, loyal and steadfast, and an advocate of the purest party principles.  Mr. Humphrey was an admirable type of the sturdy, rugged, educated American citizen.  To these eminently sterling qualities, so conspicuous, were mingled the softer, finer attributes of man's nature, and among them was a special talent for music, which he had cultivated to a rare degree.  Mr. Humphrey never professed to be more than an amateur, but his skill upon the violin and clarinet was exceptional, being a source of intense enjoyment to himself and delight to his friends and audiences.  Our deceased friend was a noble man, uniting harmony, lofty ideals and practical virtues.  The funeral was held at the home in Bennettsville Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Rev. A.H. Grant of St. Peters church, this village, officiating.  The quartette, Daniel Banner, Fremont Bentley, Geo. Ives and Mr. Darling sang.  The burial was in Bennettsville cemetery and the attending pallbearers were Samuel P. Neff, Geo. Vanderwalker, Edward Bradshaw and Byron Tripp. 

Wallace Crosby, 44, of Bennettsville [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], died suddenly of a heart attack while at work at the Scintilla Magneto plant, Wednesday morning, Dec. 29, 10:30.  He was born in Otego [Otsego Co., NY] on July 22, 1899, the son of Maynard and Viola (Fullington) Crosby.  The deceased is survived by his wife; a son, Wallace, Jr.; six brothers, William, who is in the Armed Forces; Harry, of Masonville, Homer, of Cortland, Donald, of Afton, Leonard, of Deposit, Lloyd, of Bainbridge; three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Backus, of Guilford, Mrs. Leonard Sampson, of Cannonsville; and Mrs. John Poque, of Miami, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.  Funeral services were held at Colwell's on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Burial will be later in Greenlawn Cemetery, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY].  [Bainbridge News & Republican,  Jan. 13, 1944]

Mrs. Eliza Davis, widow of Hiram Davis of the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], died Saturday at Sulphur Springs, Montana, aged 76 years.  Her remains were brought to Bainbridge Thursday for burial.  The funeral will be held at the home of George Race Friday p.m., and burial in St. Peter's burying ground [Bainbridge, NY].  Mrs. Race was a niece of Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Mary  Miles, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. Race, is a sister.  Mrs. Davis was a sister of the deceased brothers, John and Nelson Parsons [Jan. 11, 1902]

 

Mrs. Anna Fisher, 75, died Friday in her home on Webb Island from asphyxiation by coal gas, an investigation by Oneonta City Police indicated.  A verdict of accidental death was issued by Dr. Norman W. Getman, Otsego County coroner, after he investigated the circumstances causing the aged woman's death.  Dr. Getman said that her death appeared to have been caused by escaping coal gas from a coal stove in the kitchen of the Webb Island home.  A neighbor discovered the body of the Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY] woman and her son, Arthur Fisher, 55, who was unconscious in the house.  Although there was no fire in the stove at the time the discovery was made, police said that it was apparent that the occupants had been overcome by coal gas.  Mr. Fisher was taken to Fox Memorial Hospital in the city ambulance.  A hospital attendant said he was resting comfortably Saturday.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 13, 1944]

Warren L. Dunham, a lifelong resident of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], died in the Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta New Year's Day.  Mr. Dunham was born on Aug. 8, 1861, in Colchester.  He married Mrs. Elsie L. Brown of Sidney.  Mr. Dunham worked for a great many years in the old hardware firm of Taylor Bros. in Sidney.  After the firm went out of business, he took a position as salesman with the Eureka Tent and Awning Company, of Binghamton.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elsie Dunham; a niece, Mrs. Nathan Phillips, of Sidney, and two nephews.  The funeral was held in the Carr & Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney, Wednesday afternoon.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 13, 1944]

Edward Sanford, 97, and the only Civil War veteran in Chenango County, died at his home in Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on New Year's Eve.  He would have been 98 on Jan. 29.  He was born in Delhi [Delaware Co., NY], Jan. 29, 1846, and attended Delhi Academy.  He enlisted in Norwich in 1862, when he was 16 years old.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 6, 1944]