Obituaries (February 26)

Cornelia E. (Maydole) Merritt

Utica Saturday Globe, April 25, 1903

 

 

Mrs. Cornelia E. (Maydole) Merritt

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  After an illness of several weeks, Mrs. Cornelia E. Merritt died at her home on North Broad street on Friday afternoon of last week.  She suffered a stroke of paralysis on February 20 and never rallied from the shock.  Mrs. Merritt was the youngest and last surviving daughter of the late David and Mary Hartshorn Maydole and was born in Eaton, N.Y., where she resided until 5 years old, when her parents removed to this village and her father laid the foundation of the hammermaking industry which has since made the name of David Maydole familiar the world over.  Here she grew to girlhood and attended the old Norwich Academy, completing her education at Cazenovia Seminary and in the study of art in New York.  While engaged in that study she met Andy Hartshorn, a resident of the metropolis, whom she married in 1854.  One daughter, Mrs. May M. Campbell, of this village, widow of the late Editor Reed Campbell, survives this union.  In 1862 she married the late Charles H. Merritt, with whom she spent a long and happy married life of 29 years before his death in October, 1890.  One daughter, Nettie M. Crombie, survives this marriage.  Her death brings to a close the career of an exceptional woman, conspicuous for years among the residents of this village.  While not lacking in the womanly instincts and love of home, she possessed a natural aptness for business management, which had become thoroughly developed by close and constant association with her father in his manufacturing interests.  Her judgment on matters pertaining to this business was so keen and her knowledge of the details so comprehensive that when by the death of her father in 1882 and of her husband, the first president of the Incorporated company, eight years later, she became the half owner of the hammer factory, she was well equipped to look after her interests therein.  For a number of years she was vice president of the company and a year ago, upon the death of the then president, Hon. Cyrus H Martin, she was chosen his successor.  During her participation in the management of its affairs many changes and improvements were made in the arrangement of the plant and the new buildings erected during the past year by which the capacity was doubled. From the preparation of the plans, she had watched carefully the progress of the work and looked forward eagerly to the day when these buildings designed with especial care for health and comfort and now nearly completed, should be occupied.  In 1891 Mrs. Merritt purchased the Chenango Telegraph and later became the proprietor of the Morning Sun, established by her son-in-law Reed Campbell.  She also acquired large realty holdings and was the owner of several business blocks, being one of the largest taxpayers in the village.  The indulgence of her love for the beautiful found gratification in the furnishings of her home, which was replete with works of art and literature.  In 1894, accompanied by her daughters, she made an extended tour in Europe and later in the Bermudas, where many of the handsome adornments of her home were collected.  In her youth she became a member of the Congregational Church and for a number of years was a teacher in the Sunday school and an efficient officer in various auxiliaries, and was ever interested in the work of the church and one of its generous supporters.  She identified herself with every movement for the bettering or beautifying of the village.  She was a leading spirit in the organization and work of the Ladies Village improvement Association and for 20 years was the president.  During the period of her presidency many of the lasting and substantial improvements for which the association is responsible were inaugurated, among them being the grading and curbing of the public parks, the building of the receiving vault in Mount Hope Cemetery and the erection of the fountain on Broad street.  Her deep interest in the success of her various enterprises and keen desire for the progress and development of the village did not crowd out of her life a thoughtful care for those less fortunate. To the sick and needy she was always generous and her timely assistance heightened the dark hours in many homes.  By her employees, for whose welfare she was always considerate, remembrances of many kindnesses will ever be treasured.  Funeral services were held form the family residence on North Broad street on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. D.W. Dexter, pastor of the Congregational Church, officiating.  The casket rested in the south parlor and was surrounded with a profusion of cut flowers and floral designs. The services were largely attended, the employees of the hammer factory attending in a body, as did also the employees of the Morning Sun and Chenango Telegraph and a delegation from the L.V.I.A. Maydole Hose Company in full uniform acted as escort to the cemetery.  The singing was by a quartet consisting of Lewis H. Burnside, Mrs. B.W. Stover, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey H. Daniels.  The bearers were Hon. Albert F. Gladding, Hon. Jotham P. Alids, Hon. William P. Jenks, T. DeWitt Miller, Edward l. Nash, Ransom D. Brooks and Augustus E. Race.  The business places were closed during the passage of the procession to Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY], where the remains were laid away in the family plot.

 

Stowell Jacquins
1797 - 1890

 

Death has claimed this week two of our oldest and very much respected citizens.  On Sunday morning June 22, 1890, at the home of his son, Emery Jacquins, near this village the spirit of Stowell Jaquins left its tenement of clay and passed to the reward on the other side.  The funeral was held Tuesday and the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery on the farm owned by Michael Frank.  Mr. Jaquins was 92 years and 9 months old and for years had been an honored and respected citizen of this town.  It will be remembered that he sustained an injury from a fall a few weeks ago the effects of which no doubt hastened his death.

Briggs Lyon

1805 - 1890

After a lingering illness of heart disease, Mr. Briggs Lyon quietly breathed his last Monday morning, June 23, 1890, at his home on South Main street, in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], aged 84 years.  The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with interment in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY], Rev. Blair conducting the services.  Mr. Lyon has been a life-long resident of ths town--an honored and respected citizen--a loving husband and a kind father.  A wife and seven children survive him.  The children are Mrs. Hamilton Greene, Mrs. Smith Lane, Mrs. Luman lane, and Mrs. Frank Davis, all of this town; T.J. Lyon of Binghamton, J.E. Lyon of Unadilla and Orville Lyon , who lives in Pennsylvania.  [Note:  Briggs Lyon has a stone in West Bainbridge Cemetery where many other Lyon family members are buried].

Daniel Niven

1816 - 1890

Daniel Niven died at his home in Binghamton Monday evening [May 5, 1890], aged 74 years.  He was born and spent the best part of his life on a farm at Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].  About 20 years ago he went into the mercantile business at Nineveh, and for the past 8 years has lived at Binghamton [Broome Co., NY].  He was a prominent member of the M.E. church and an ardent republican, his influence being strongly felt in this county.  His remains were buried at Coventry Wednesday.