Obituaries (January 4)

Franklyn Mowry

Chenango Union, November 25, 1897

 

The dead body of Franklyn Mowry, of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], who had been missing from his home since Tuesday of last week, was found on Saturday within fifty rods of his own house.  Mr. Mowry was a popular man in the neighborhood where he resided, east of the village, and was a kind husband and father and an obliging neighbor.  His only weakness was appetite for liquor.  On Tuesday he returned from a visit at Binghamton.  Before going from the village to his home on the hill he purchased a suit of clothes and eight ounces of carbolic acid which he said he wanted to kill lice in his hen house.  Shortly after five o'clock he started to walk to his home.  About six he called at the residence of Seymour Young, about a mile from home.  He said that he had fallen and broken a bottle of carbolic acid in his pocket and the acid had burned his leg.  He asked for a liniment, which was brought and he bathed the injured parts.  He was invited to spend the night but refused and the offer of the Seymour boy to see him home with a lantern was also declined, Mr. Mowry stating that he would be at home in a few minutes.  From that time nothing was seen of him until his body was found by his son-in-law, J.E. Brown, of Oxford, Saturday morning.  It was about fifty rods from the house, under a tree just over the fence from the road and covered with snow.  Mr. Brown summoned assistance and Dr. Fernald was called.  He found the broken bottle which had contained carbolic acid is one packet and in another a partially filed whiskey bottle.  The coroner decided an inquest unnecessary, but ordered a post mortem examination which was conducted on Sunday by Dr. H.E. Smith, of this village. Traces of carbolic acid were found in the man's stomach and death was due to that poison.  It is probable that he took a drink from the bottle of acid by mistake. The funeral was held from his late residence Tuesday morning, Rev. Mr. Parsons, of Oxford, officiating.  The deceased leaves a widow, one son, Ira A. Mowry, of Oxford, one daughter, Mrs. J.E. Brown, of Oxford, and a sister Mrs. Albert Seeley, of this village.

 

Howard Salisbury

1875-1900

 

This community was terribly shocked last evening by the news that Howard Salisbury had been killed in a railroad wreck at Harpursville [Broome Co., NY].  Mr. Salisbury went to Lestershire on Tuesday of last week and was returning home when the accident occurred.  The dispatch announcing the sad news, which was received here at about six o'clock last evening, was very brief and gave no details.  He was on the second section of train 98 which reached Harpursville at about 5:30 p.m., and was riding on a flat car, loaded with rails.  Just before the train reached the Harpursville station a car wheel broke and five loaded cars were wrecked, including the one on which Mr. Salisbury was riding.  Undertaker Erwin Ramsdell, accompanied by Dr. D.L. Taylor and Jesse Anderson went to Harpursville on train 5 last evening.  The broken car wheel was on the forward end of the car of rails upon which Mr. Salisbury was riding.  The car was turned around nearly at right angles to the tracks.  The end upon which was the broken wheel being pushed down the steep bank so that the load of rails stood partially on end and Mr. Salisbury was lying under the ends of the rails.  Death must have been instantaneous.  One leg had been severed near the hip but otherwise the body was not greatly mutilated.  The tracks were of course blocked by the wreck.  Train 16 was held at that place until No. 5 reached there when the passengers were transferred from one train to the other, 16 returning to Binghamton. As soon as the work of removing the rails from Mr. Salisbury's body had been completed train 5 came east again, bringing Undertaker Ramsdell and party with the body in charge, reaching here at midnight.  Howard Salisbury was 25 years old and the only son of Mrs. Amanda Salisbury of this village.  His father, the late George R. Salisbury, died ten or twelve years ago.  The deceased was an estimable young man.  He had a genial disposition and was a social favorite.  He was an excellent bass singer and had been a member of the choir of the Baptist church for several years.  His death is a crushing blow to his mother and the sympathy of a host of friends is extended to her.  The funeral services will be held tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, but the hour had not been decided upon when this paper was printed.  [Buried in St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery, Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY]

 

Mary Davis

Bainbridge News & Republican, July 18, 1946

 

Miss Mary Davis, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], East Side, died Wednesday afternoon when she fell from a hay tedder which she was operating near the home of Carlton J.H. Hayes.  It is believed that Miss Davis suffered a heart attack.  The horses, becoming frightened, dragged Miss Davis for some distance.  They then continued on across the lawn of the Hayes residence through fences and shrubbery until they were finally stopped by Fred Holdredge.  Miss Davis suffered an extensive laceration on her scalp and died soon after the arrival of Dr. William H. Crull, who ordered the body brought to the Karschner funeral Home where the funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. George B. Graves, Methodist pastor, officiating.  One brother, June Davis, survives, also a niece, Mrs. Blanche Partridge, of Bainbridge. 

 

Bennett P. Agana & Geraldine Herndon

Bainbridge News & Republican, July 18, 1946

 

A former Binghamton soldier and his Asbury Park, N.J., fiancée drowned Sunday night when a canoe carrying them and another young couple capsized in Lily Lake at Chenango Valley Park.    They are:  Bennett P. Agana, 23, of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], and Miss Geraldine Herndon, 22, of Asbury Park, N.J.  Mr. Agana lost his life trying to save his fiancée who could not swim.  Calvin Cox, of Binghamton, also a former soldier, rescued his companion, Miss Marcheta Whitfield, 21, of Binghamton.

 

Sheriffs men said the canoe capsized while Mr .Agana and Miss Whitfield were exchanging seats so that the former could sit in the bottom of the canoe with his fiancée.  The double drowning happened about 7:35 p.m. in 10 feet of water about 125 feet from shore and about 200 yards from the bathing beach.  Deputy Sheriff Carroll Smythe said Mr Agana apparently became exhausted diving for Miss Herndon, who was visiting at the Agana home.  Mr. Cox managed to grasp Miss Whitfield, who also cannot swim, after she had gone down twice.  He started to shore with her as Mr. Agana continued diving for his fiancée. Four young girls in a rowboat met the couple as they neared shore and took Miss Whitfield into the boat. 

 

Meantime, two lifeguards at the bathing beach started for the scene of the drowning in a rowboat.  They had recovered Mr. Agana's body when Mr. Cox returned to the scene. The former soldier dived a couple of times and located Miss Herndon.  Authorities estimated Mr Agana and Miss Herndon had been in the water between 10 and 15 minutes before they were found and taken to shore.  The State park inhalator was used in an attempt to revive Mr. Agana as soon as he was brought to shore.  Deputy Sheriff Ernest S. Youngs, of Port Crane, arrived minutes later with another inhalator which was applied to Miss Herndon. The lifeguards administered artificial respiration.  Two physicians who were at  the park assisted.  Dr. A.J Stilson, of Windsor, a Broome County coroner, was summoned more than two hours later when attempts to restore life in the young couple failed. he issued a verdict of death due to drowning in each case. The four young persons has been at the park since afternoon.

 

Mary Albert

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 1, 1946

 

Miss Mary Albert, age 90 years, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Albert, passed away Thursday evening at 8:10 at the Kings' Daughter's Hospital, Portsmouth, Va.  She was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] on Merchant street.  In early life she made her home with Dr. and Mrs. R.M. Clark, Guilford, and remained with them until death claimed them both.  For some time after that, she resided with Dr.and Mrs. Blinn Buell in Binghamton.  She was affiliated with Christ church in Guilford.  The body arrived in Binghamton Sunday at 2:30 where it was taken to the Prentice funeral Home, 55 Main street, where friends could call.  Final rites were held Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock form Christ Church, Guilford, the rector, the Rev. Phillip Pearson, officiating.  Burial was in Sunset Hill Cemetery [Guilford, NY].  Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Esther Zoert, of Sidney; two nephews, Laurence Carney and James Carney, of Guilford.  Although many years have lapsed since Miss Albert left Guilford, her friends will pay a final tribute to her memory.

 

Augustus D. Burk

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 1, 1946

 

Augustus D. Burk, 88, of Nineveh [Broome Co., NY], R.D.1, died Sunday of last week at his home.  He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Roby Lord, Mrs. Minnie Craft and Mrs. Edith Martin, all of Oneonta; a son, Floyd, of Nineveh; several grandchildren and great grandchildren. The funeral was held at the Harpursville Baptist church, on the following Wednesday.  The Rev. Grover Thompson officiated.  Burial was in the Plains Cemetery.

 

Francelia S. Young

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 1, 1946

 

Mrs. Francelia S. Young, 90, of Windsor [Broome Co., NY], died Friday at the Binghamton City Hospital after a long illness.  She is survived by three nephews, Dr. A.J Stillson and Nelson Stillson, both of Windsor, and Robert L. Stillson, of New York City; two nieces, Mrs. Mary Backenstoe, of Windsor, and Mr. Ella Sanford, of Binghamton; several grandnieces and grandnephews. She was a member of the Windsor Presbyterian Church.