Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Obituaries (December 30)

William Walter Reid
June 13, 1876 - Dec. 14, 1895

In the course of time there are many fatal accidents that cast a gloom over the community, but none of recent years more so than of William Walter Reid who lost his life in the Susquehanna last Saturday evening.  He was skating up the river expected any moment to meet his companions, in all the strength and buoyancy of youth, with pleasant thoughts of an hour's enjoyment in that exhilarating sport, when without a second's warning he plunged into open water and went down to his death without a friend or helping hand near.  William Walter Reid was a quiet, unassuming young man of 19 years, who was trying hard to get an education which would enable him to get a position, and what he was able to earn went for the support of his mother and brother.  He lived with Mrs. John Fletcher, about two miles west of here, working for his board and attending school.  He was a good scholar and this was his second year at the academy.  Although of a quiet disposition he had a generous nature and those best acquainted with him were his best friends.  Saturday evening he came down town and after getting the 8 o'clock mail started for the river, as some one had told him the other boys had gone skating.  He skated along up the river expecting at any time to find his companions, and unconsciously skated into open water as the ice did not give.  There was every evidence that the young fellow had fought bravely for his life.  The ice had been broken for nearly fifteen feet and his hands were cut and bruised.  he was undoubtedly dead before he went under as there was no water in his lungs; he must have succumbed to exhaustion.  The last few moments of his life must have been terrible, with no help in sight, knowing that his strength was going and that without aid he was lost.  He was not missed until Sunday morning, when Mrs. Fletcher sent her boy over to Walter's mother in Coventry to see if he had gone home.  Not finding him there, inquiries were made and the last seen of him was when he was going toward the river.  Monday morning a cap was picked up on the ice, which proved to be Walter's and immediately a searching party was organized.  The cap was seen Sunday but no significance was attached to it at the time.  B.J. Smith headed the searching party as he knew the river, and it did not take him long to get to work.  A hole about twenty feet long was sawed in the ice, a skate was seen and the body was soon brought out.  The remains were taken to Ramsdell & Son's undertaking rooms and prepared for burial.  The funeral was held in the Presbyterian church at 11 o'clock Wednesday, Elder Horton, with whom Walter had lived at one time officiating.  The academic room was dismissed and the pupils attended in a body.  A delegation of the Afton lodge, I.O.G.T., of which deceased was a member, consisting of Will Kelley, Walter Roe, David Little and Chas. Seeley, acted as bearers and seven from the school accompanied the remains to North Afton where the interment was made.  The young man was born in Golden, Col., and came here six years ago from Texas.
 
Jessie M. Clark
Oct. 21, 1882 - Apr. 9, 1897
Jessie M. Clark, daughter of Adelbert B. Clark, of Mt. Pleasant [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], died Friday morning of cancer, aged fourteen years.  The funeral was held at the house Monday morning, at 10 o'clock, with Rev. Mr. Spaulding, officiating.  Burial was at West Bainbridge.
 
Sherman Holden
About 1895
Sherman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Holden, residing south of Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY], died Sunday afternoon of typhoid fever aged five years.  Funeral was held yesterday (Tuesday) at 1 o'clock at the house and burial was at Bennettsville.
 
Alice E. (Ireland) Merchant
1842 - 1900
A sad occurrence which has called forth much sympathy, both for the friends and the untimely fate of the deceased, was the death of Mrs. Merchant, wife of A.B. Merchant of Cobleskill, last Sunday morning in the Binghamton hospital, the result of a surgical operation, an expedient which was necessitated from the precarious condition of the patient, hoping that a chance might prolong her life.  Mrs. Merchant had been in feeble health for sometime and several weeks ago she thought to try a change of air and scene and so came to West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], her old home, and among her kindred.  She stopped with her brother, John A. Ireland. The unremitting care of her friends and the attention of her former valued physician, Dr. Roberts of Greene, did not stay the progress of a cancerous trouble and she was taken, by her desire, to the hospital two weeks ago. The operation was performed Saturday morning and she died the following day.  Mrs. Merchant was fully aware of her critical state and bade her husband and friends not to be despondent over the impending crisis, as it was all right if life or death eventuated.  Her husband was with her at the time she died.  Mrs. Merchant was reared in West Bainbridge and her parents and brother and sisters have been known in and about Bainbridge for many years.  her father was John Ireland, and her mother was the sister of John and Nelson Parsons, deceased.  Mr. and Mrs. Merchant after marriage often visited in West Bainbridge and were well known in this village, having resided here a few years.  people never forgot the kindly face of Mrs. Merchant, nor her many womanly qualities of heart and hand.  In the home, she was always the cheerful and loved companion of both husband and children.  There was no parental authority.  Love only was the law.  And this spirit of love went out to all.  She was the friend of the soldier, and enjoyed attending all G.A.R. reunions, with her husband who was a member of the 114th regiment.   Mr. and Mrs. merchant belonged to the Red, White and Blue order of Binghamton, which holds monthly meetings and they were often present. The deceased was allied with the Methodist church to which she was strongly attached. Mrs. Merchant's remains were brought up from Binghamton Monday afternoon and conveyed to the home of her sister, Mrs. Mary Gilmore, Weat Bainbridge. The funeral was held at the Union Valley M.E. Church Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. T.F. Hall of Oneonta preached the sermon.  The quartette, Messrs. Banner, Burdick, Ramsdell and Smith sang.  The large congregation and the long procession to the West Bainbridge cemetery testified to the high esteem in which the deceased was held. The floral offerings were many and beautiful one specially significant tribute being brought by the twenty delegates to the funeral from the Red, White and Blue order of Binghamton.  Besides her husband, Mrs. Merchant is survived by two children; a son, A. Burr Merchant of Howe's Cave, and daughter, Mrs. Walter Carey of Cobleskill; a brother, John A. Ireland, and sisters, Mrs. Mary Gilmore, Mrs. Esther Francisco and Mrs. Edward Loomis of West Bainbridge.   The families of the children attended the funeral and some others away from Bainbridge were the Misses Eunice Stilson and Stella Slater of Cobleskill; Martin Swartz and wife, Wm. Williams and wife and Benjamin Ireland of Oneonta.
 
Pearle Marguerite Reynolds
Bainbridge News & Republican, June 13, 1946
 
Pearle Marguerite Reynolds, wife of Raymond Reynolds, died Thursday, May 30, in Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton.  Funeral service were held the following Sunday in the Joyce Funeral home, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery.   Mrs. Reynolds was born in Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] July 27, 1901, daughter of Henry and Gertrude Nichols.  She was married Mar. 28, 1923.  Six years ago they moved from Otego to Rogers Hollow.  She is survived by her parents; her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Garland Ryan and Mrs. Chester Crr, and a son, Raymond, Jr., all of Rogers Hollow; two brothers, Henry W. Nichols, Jr. and Rowland Nichols, Otego; a sister, Mrs. Kenneth Eighmey, Otego; and two grandchildren.
 
William H. Coons
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 9, 1946
 
William H. Coons died at his home in Walton [Delaware Co.,  NY] on Monday, Apr. 29, after a three-year illness from an incurable malady.  he was 67 years of age.  Mr. Coons was born in Albany, Oct. 29, 1878, and when a boy his family moved to Walton, where he has since resided.  Mr. Coons is survived by his second wife, the former Carolyn H. Money, whom he married on Aug. 12, 1925.  Of this marriage three daughters, Florence, Hester and Carolyn, and one son, George, survive.  He also leaves three sons, Roswell, Keith and William, by his first marriage to Kate Davis, of Walton, who died on October, 1918, during the influenza epidemic.  Other relatives are a sister, Mrs. Florence Lockwood, of Walton, a stepson, Bernard Cangro, and a stepdaughter, Miss Isabel Cangro.
 
William D. McAdams
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 9, 1946
 
William D. McAdams died at his home in Walton [Delaware Co., NY] on Friday, Apr. 26.  Mr. McAdams was injured in an accident 17 years ago and has been incapacitated for heavy work since.  During his last illness he was confined to his bed for two months.  he was born at Roscoe Oct. 31, 1870.  On July 4, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss Dora Ingraham who survives him.  He also leaves a son, Elmer McAdams; a daughter, Mrs. Anna Tompkins, and a sister, Mrs. Betsey Rogers.  When a young man Mr. McAdams started out as a lumberman and followed this occupation as long as his health permitted.  The funeral was held Monday afternoon at Christ Episcopal Church in Walton. The Rev. V. O. Boyle officiated.  Burial was made in Walton cemetery.
 
 

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