Obituaries (January 2)

William H. Havens
Chenango Republican, Oxford, NY, May 6, 1829

At the residence of his father in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] on Wednesday last of a consumption, William H. Havens, aged 25 years.  Among the numerous victims selected by the grand destroyer, few there are whose last sad exit cause more universal gloom.  Mild and generous in his disposition; gentle and conciliating in his manners; and correct and manly in his deportment, he gained the friendship of all who knew him.  With a mind naturally fertile and elevated, strengthened and refined by education, he disregarded all minor considerations and humbly sought with a becoming devotion to be useful to his fellow men.  Through a long and painful illness he manifested the fortitude and resignation of a Christian, and when the long expected summons come he calmly resigned himself to the cold embrace of the ruthless messenger.  If the bitter anguish of fond and doting parents, the tears of tender brothers and affectionate sisters, or the entreaties of friends could have turned aside the envenomed shafts of death, he had not died--but alas!  On Friday the last mournful rites were paid to his mortal remains.  A most strikingly solemn and impressive discourse was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Mr. Bush, of Oxford, to the most numerous congregation ever recollected to have assembled in this town on a similar occasion.  Farewell dear youth--beloved companion--the fond recollection of thy virtues shall long remain entwined around the hearts of thy acquaintance, and the remembrance of thy worth be affectionately cherished in the bosoms of thy friends, when the monuments of art shall have long been consumed by the ravages of time.--Guilford, May 2, 1829.

 

Oleavia Ingersoll

Chenango Union, August 22, 1878

 

In the death of Mrs. Oleavia Ingersoll, wife of Eathan Ingersoll, which occurred on the 12th ult., in the sixty-seventh year of her age, our community has lost one of its most estimable citizens.  For several years the infirmities of increasing age have been gathering upon her, and about four years since she had the misfortune to fall and fracture her hip with added greatly to her burden.  Under all these afflictions, however, she bore up with cheerful resignation, and continued to attend to her domestic cares until some eight weeks since when she was stricken with partial paralysis and which was followed about nine days since with an apoplectic shock with its fatal attendant result as above stated. For many years Mrs. Ingersoll, with her husband, has been a resident of our neighborhood--either upon their farm near there in our village--meantime earning and retaining the universal respect of all who knew her for her combined qualities of intelligence and kindness of heart.  She was a Christian in the true sense of the word, and her large circle of relatives and friends will sincerely mourn her death.  It has been a great consolation to her during the past few months that her only daughter, Mrs. S.W. Nott, who came from his distant home in Colorado, was with her to receive her counsel, and equally so now to the daughter to have been enabled to administer the last wants to a devoted mother.  A husband and an only son, after doing all in their power to sooth the pillow of the dying wife and mother, are left to mourn her great loss. 

 

Harriet A. Humphrey Jewell

Bainbridge Republican, September 21, 1888

 

JEWELL:  Died in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], September 13th, '88, Harriet A., wife of E.L. Jewell, in the 71st year of her age.

 

Harriet A. Humphrey was born at Norfolk, Connecticut, in May 1818, and was brought to Guilford, in this county [Chenango Co.].  when six months old.  This county has been her home ever since.  In 1837 she was married to Mr. E.L. Jewell, and for fifty years has been a devoted wife.  In 1844 she and her husband together united with the Presbyterian church at Guilford, and she has always taken an active interest in the church, and in the cause of Christ.  Some ten years since they moved to this village [Bainbridge, NY], united with the Presbyterian church here, and made hosts of friends.  For many years her health has not been good, and for many months past, she has been very feeble, but tenderly cared for by her companion.  Her tribulation was for the profit of her soul.  On the thirteenth inst. she quietly fell asleep in Jesus, and on the fifteenth a multitude of relatives and friends met at her late home to pay their last tribute of respect.  Her remains were carefully laid away in a beautiful spot in Green Lawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].

 

Alvin Hollenbeck

Bainbridge Republican, October 12, 1888

 

Last Sunday morning Alvin Hollenbeck, who lives in the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], only a few rods from the line between that and this town [Bainbridge], arose well as usual and went about his morning's work, dressed himself and went down into the meadow adjoining the horse barn and tried to drive the horses into the barn for the purpose of attending the funeral of Sherwood Shapley, at the Free Will Baptist church in the town of Oxford.  The horses were not inclined to go into the barn and Mr. Hollenbeck called to his son Berton and said to him:  "You drive them in for I am all played out."  Mr. Hollenbeck passed along into the barn and sat down while his son drove the horses into the barn, put them into their stalls and was ascending the stairs to the floor above to get some hay for them, when he heard his father fall to the floor.  Descending quickly and calling to his mother, they tried to render some assistance to the stricken man, but they soon discovered that he had (to them so suddenly) passed from life to death. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Cook of this village, from his late residence, on Tuesday at 10 o'clock a.m., and the remains were referred at the West Bainbridge cemetery. The deceased was born in Broome county, but has been a resident of this county nearly all his life.  He has been one of the leading members of the Methodist church at Union Valley, this town, for nearly thirty years.  His life's acts have been such as to gain the respect and confidence of all who knew him, and to assemble a large concourse of people to pay their last respects on the day of his burial.  He leaves a wife, one daughter, and two sons to mourn his loss.

Dr. Solomon Fenton McFarland

Dr. Solomon Fenton McFarland, one of the leading physicians of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], died at his home, no. 76 Front Street, Thursday morning, April 26, 1900.  Dr. McFarland was the sixth child of Aaron Barber and Polly Fenton McFarland, and was born on July 12, 1828, at Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].  He studied medicine with Dr. George Douglas of Oxford, and was licensed to practice medicine and surgery on April 21, 1854, by the Chenango County Medical society.  He began the practice of medicine at Troupsburg Center, Steuben county.  He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan with the class of 1857, and thereafter began professional work in Oxford.  On August 22, 1862, Dr. McFarland was commissioned assistant surgeon by Governor E.D. Morgan, and as he had requested in passing his examination, was assigned by Surgeon General VenDepoel to the 83rd New York Volunteers, a regiment already in the field.  He was mustered into the United States service by Major lee at Norwich and went at once to the front.  On orders from the surgeon general, U.S.A., he reported to the surgeon in chief of General Banks' corps.  This was directly after the second battle of Bull Run.  He was in active service until severe illness compelled him to return home on October 15, 1862.  He was appointed by the president, surgeon of the board of enrollment of the 19th New York district on April 19, 1863.  The board had headquarters for a time at Unadilla, after which it remained at Norwich until the close of the war. Dr McFarland was determined upon doing his full duty to his country, and it was a great disappointment to him that on July 20, 1864, continued ill  health again compelled him to resign in favor of Dr. George Douglas of Oxford. Returning to Oxford, he resumed private practice.  The value of his services during the war was inestimable.  Dr. McFarland was twice married.  His first wife, whom he married on May 15, 1851, was Miss Hannah Bradford Folger, daughter of Peleg V. Folger, a descendant of the Folgers of the island of Nantucket.  She died on June 24, 1883, the same year with their oldest daughter.  With his son and daughter, Dr. McFarland moved to Binghamton on June 30, 1884, and has since confined his attention to diseases of the eye and ear and attendant troubles.  With him was formerly associated Dr. Brooks, and his associate at the time of his death was Dr. J. Killen, who continues the practice.  In April, 1885, Dr. McFarland married Miss Ada L. Chamberlin of Afton.  She survives, together with a daughter, Agnes P. McFarland, and a son, F.H. McFarland, both of this city; and one brother, C.A. McFarland of Oxford. Dr. McFarland had lived a useful and busy life, and his death will be keenly felt--Binghamton Republican.  [died 26 April 1900]

Albert C. Hovey

Oxford Times, February 13, 1901

Albert C. Hovey, a prominent farmer and citizen of this town [Oxford, Chenango Co., nY], died at 7:30 o'clock Friday night, aged 71 years, 9 months and 21 days, having been in failing health for a long time.  Mr. Hovey was born in the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].  At the age of about twenty years he went to West Millbury, Mass., where he resided for several years and was untied in marriage to Mary L. Small, of that place.  Later he removed to Oxford and took possession of the farm on the Guilford road, where he had resided for forty years up to January 2d last.  His first wife died a number of years ago and a few years later he married Mrs. Betsy S. Woodruff, of Guilford, who survives him.  Four children also survive him, Harriet, wife of Gerritt Wheeler, and H. Fred Hovey, of this village, William A. Hovey, of Guilford, and Mary, wife of E.V. Salisbury, who occupy the home farm where the father died. George, another son, died a few years since.  In politics Mr. Hovey was a Republican, and in his early days an enthusiastic worker for the party.  He had held the office of town assessor one or two terms. He was, until his health failed him, an active energetic, hard worker in everything he undertook, and one of Oxford's most successful farmers.  The high state of cultivation to which he brought his farm, and the building improvements he made testify to his work and enterprise.  Funeral services were held form his late residence on Monday forenoon, Rev. J.H. Littell, of the Methodist church officiating.