Obituaries (February 24)

Fred James Pray

 

 

Fred James Pray, of Sherburne

A Bright Cornell Student who Died of Typhoid Fever

[Utica Saturday Globe, March 21, 1903]

The following is taken from the obituary notice of the late Fred James Pray, grandson of Mr. Smith Pray of this town, published in last Saturday's Sherburne News:

 

Fred James Pray was born at the Bullock homestead, just below the village [Sherburne, Chenango Co., NY], on November 5, 1881, and was the only son of James A. Pray and Emma Bullock Pray.  Fred attended the public school at Sherburne and graduated with honor from the High School June 26, 1901.  Earnest and industrious, filled with a deep desire for knowledge, he determined to prepare himself for the battle of life by a more advanced education.  In September, 1902, he entered the Freshman class of the State Veterinary College, Cornell University. Here he made rapid progress.  Possessing an active mind, readily grasping his work, entering into it with all his might, he led his class, gaining at the same time the confidence and love of his instructors and classmates.  Fred's many friends in Sherburne and elsewhere watched with pride his advancement picturing an honorable and successful future for this young man.  But it was not to be; feeling slightly unwell, as he supposed, he returned to his father's home.  There, after a three weeks' struggle with the dreaded typhoid, receiving the most loving care and the best medical aid, but all in vain, in the early hours of Thursday morning of last week he entered into the rest of Paradise.  In 1897 Mr. Pray was confirmed at Christ Episcopal Church by the Rt. Rev. F.D. Huntington, Bishop of Central New York, and has been at all times a faithful and consistent communicant of that church and a member of the Sunday school.  By nature diffident and retiring,  the splendid moral excellence and mental ability of the young man were known to few but his intimate friends, and to those he exhibited more and more the possibilities of a brilliant future.  Why should that young life apparently close before it had reached the fruition?  None can tell.  Somewhere in the bright universe of God, let us hope, the same life is going on under the protecting hand of a loving Father.  May he rest in peace. [Waterville NY Times, March 1903]

James Pray

Waterville, NY Times, April 1903

The death of Mr. James Pray, formerly of this place, son of Mr. Smith Pray of Sangerfield, occurred at his home near Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] on Wednesday morning.  About three weeks ago his son, Fred James Pray, died of Typhoid fever contracted at Cornell University.  The father who had assisted in the care of the son, soon came down with the disease as stated.  Mr. Pray was a respected farmer in Sherburne and his death following so soon on that of the son, is a terrible blow to his family and his relatives here.  All deeply sympathize with them.

Erford Beardsley

Erford C. Beardsley died at the Central Hotel in Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] Thursday afternoon.  He was past 60 years of age.  Mr. Beardsley was born in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], where he resided up to eight years ago.  He was the only child of John C. Beardsley, one of a large family of brothers, who were prominent in business affairs in and about Oxford 20 or 30 years ago.  he was educated at Oxford Academy, served a long term as clerk in the old dry goods store of Clarke & Co. and later became a traveling optician. The funeral was held at St. Paul's Church in this village yesterday at 2 o'clock, Rev. Theodore Haydn officiating.  [date unknown]



Mrs. Daniel Hastings

Wednesday evening of this week Mrs. Daniel Hastings died of fever at her home in this village, age 18 years.  The funeral will be held on Saturday at 10 o'clock at the house.  The burial will be at Green Lawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  Mrs. Hastings leaves a husband in poor health and a child six months of age.  [date unknown]

Elizabeth S. Chapin
1829 - 1893

Miss Elizabeth S. Chapin died October 4th, 1893, of dropsy, at the home of George Marsh, in this village at the age of 64 years.  The funeral services conducted by Rev. D.N. Grummon of Binghamton, were held on Friday, Oct. 6th, at her late home.  Burial at Green Lawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], this place.  In the death of Miss Chapin the last member of the Chapin family has passed away, her ancestors having been identified with the progress of this section for more than a century.

 

Etta Nichols
1878 - 1893

 

For several years Mr. and Mrs. E. Nichols have lived in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  They had two daughters, Etta and Iva, their ages being 15 and 7 respectively.  Saturday evening Miss Etta complained of a headache and went to bed about seven o'clock.  About one-half hour later Iva went to bed with her sister and Mrs. Nichols went down town to meet friends coming on the train.  Iva had been in bed but a few minutes before she called to her father to come and see what was the matter with Etta.  Mr. Nichols went into the bedroom and found Etta in spasms, from which she soon recovered.  About this time Mrs. Nichols returned and asked Etta what was the matter.  She answers, "Papa says I have had a fit but I do not believe it."  Shortly after she went into another spasm and Dr. Bullis was summoned, He left medicine and returned home, shortly after the doctor departed she went into another spasm and the doctor was called again.  On a closer examination he detected symptoms of Poisoning and by request of the parents Dr. Evans was summoned and he pronounced the patient suffering from an overdose of Morphine.  After the third spasm she did not gain consciousness but sank rapidly and died at four o'clock the next morning despite the strenuous efforts of the physicians to save the life of their patient.  Coroner P.A. Hayes of Afton was summoned and after a careful examination concluded there was nothing in the case warranting  him in holding an inquest. At a post mortem examination by the doctors a large quantity of morphine was found in the stomach, and was the cause of death.  Where Miss Nichols got the morphine and just when she took it is not known by anyone.  Mrs. Nichols kept a little morphine in the house which she sometimes took for a severe headache, but the children were cautioned to let it entirely alone. There was nothing before or since the death of Miss Nichols that would indicate that she intentionally committed suicide.  Not feeling well it is supposed she did as her mother had done, took morphine and not knowing its effects took enough to kill several persons.  At two o'clock Tuesday afternoon a large number of relatives and sympathizing friends assembled at the home of the bereaved parents on Green Lawn ave. to pay their last respects to one who had, in the morning of life been so suddenly taken away. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A.W. Ashley. The burial was in Green Lawn cemetery, this place [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].