Obituaries (April 19)

Mercy Ann Babcock

Utica Saturday Globe, March 3, 1906

 

Mercy Ann Babcock

Norwich [Chenango Co., nY]:  Mercy Ann Babcock died Tuesday night at the residence of James Cadwell on Mitchell street, where she had made her home for the past year or more.  She became ill three weeks ago following the death of her sister, Mrs. Clarissa Button.  Mrs. Babcock's age was 82 years.  She was born  at West Pharsalia [Chenango Co., nY] November 1, 1823, and resided there until about 10 years ago when she came to Norwich and had since made her home with relatives here.  Her husband, Alonzo Babcock, to whom she was married in 1841, died November 13, 1881.  Mrs. Babcock was the mother of 15 children, eight of whom are now living:  Burton Babcock, McClellen Babcock, Mrs. Wilson Lucas, Mrs. Byron Tucker and Lora Babcock, of Norwich:  Henry H. Babcock, of California:  Mrs. Ettie Clark, of Oneida, and Adelbert Babcock, of Hamilton.  There are also 24 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren living.  Mrs. Sally Parkhurst, of Hillsdale, Mich., is a sister of the deceased, as was the late Clarissa Button.  Deceased was of a deeply religious disposition, was a member  of the Baptist Church and was respected and loved by all who knew her.  A poem which Mrs. Babcock penned in 1889 but had kept secret until a day or two before her death was read at the funeral services on Friday afternoon, the burial taking place from the undertaking parlors of William Breese.  Rev. Wilson Treible officiated and interment was made in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Paul Clark
1900 - 1910

 

Paul Clark

 

"I'll do the best I can," said little Paul Clark yesterday afternoon as he hitched the sled in front of that of his chum.  He did, but his best was not enough and a minute later he lay dead in the snow, the victim of one of the  most pitiful little tragedies Waverly has ever known.  His best was not enough.  Paul was the Manly, bright-eyed little son of the Rev. Robert L. Clark, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of this village.  At about four o'clock he joined the merry party of coasters on Clark street and hitched his little sled to that of his little friend, Don Albertson.  "Keep her straight," said Don.  "I'll do the best I can," the little boy replied and away they sped down the terrible incline of the hill from the top.  The track down the street all the way to Broad is like glass and a sled once started is almost beyond any control except that of the fierce downward rush.  On the two little sleds sped to Moore street, where for some unaccountable reason they swerved and plunged into a tree.  Young Paul was hurled ten feet in the air and in falling crashed head foremost into a big round boulder that marks the crossing of Moore and Clark streets.  His skull was crushed and his death was instantaneous.  Mail Carrier Kinney and Frederick Lyford happened to be among the big crowd of spectators on the street at the time and picked up the dead boy and carried him into the house of Mrs. Angeline M. Smith on the opposite corner.  Dr. L.S. Betowski was immediately summoned, but the life of the little boy was extinct before he arrived.  Mr. and Mrs. Clark were at once notified and immediately came to the house, where the body remained until late in the evening, when it was removed to the home.  A large number of other children coasting on the hill were witnesses of the fearful accident and they will never forget it.  Little Paul was ten years of age and was one of the brightest pupils under Miss Arnold in the fifth grade of the West End school.  He was a sturdy, manly, mischievous, thoroughly American and thoroughly honorable little fellow, affectionate, loving and kind, and his handsome young face will be missed by all who knew him.  The sad crushing out of the young life has cast a gloom over the community and the sympathy of everyone goes out to the home so suddenly and so terribly bereaved.  The funeral will be held from the house, 168 Waverly street on Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. with services at the Methodist Episcopal church at four o'clock.  The body will be taken to Utica for interment on Tuesday morning.  There will be no school Monday afternoon in Paul's class who will attend in a body.

Elmira Star - Gazette, February 12, 1910

Waverly [Tioga Co., NY]:  Paul Clark, aged nine years, oldest son of the Rev. and Mrs. Robert L. Clark of the Methodist Church, was instantly killed while coasting on the Clark street hill at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  The terrible accident has cast a gloom over the entire village.  After school the sturdy youngster went to the Clark street hill to coast. The incline is very steep and was glary with ice, and although less than a quarter of a mile in length such terrific speed is attained that some of the sleighs go nearly a mile after reaching  the level.  Hundreds of coasters, many of them adults, were enjoying the coasting at the time, arrangements having been made to guard against accidents.  At Clinton avenue and Chemung street all trolley cars were stopped each trip by order of Superintendent Case to avoid collisions.  The little fellow fearlessly mounted his sled and Daniel Albertson, a boy of his own age, arranged to take the trip with him, grasping the rear of the Clark boy's sled and riding upon his own.  It is estimated that the speed down the steep incline is at least 60 miles an hour.  Just before reaching the bottom of the hill the Albertson boy's sled swerved to one side and threw the Clark boy's sled from the beaten track to the side of the street into a tree.  The Albertson boy rolled from his sled and only received slight bruises.  The body of the Clark boy was thrown several feet into the air and came down upon a boulder at the corner of Clark and Moore streets lifeless and bleeding.  Mail Carrier William Kinney witnessed the accident and rushed into the house of Mrs. Charles Smith and instructed the occupants to summon a physician.  He then hurried to the boy, who was dying huddled up in the snow and, with Frederick Lyford assisting, the little fellow was tenderly carried into the home of Mrs. Smith. The women of the neighborhood soon removed the boy's shoes and stockings and placed his feet in hot water, bathed the blood from his face but could produce no signs of life.  Dr. Leon S. Betowski soon arrived, hurriedly made an examination and announced that death had been instantaneous.  The boy's parents were summoned and the remains were removed to the Methodist parsonage.  Dr.  Betowski found that the boy's skull was fractured at the base, probably from striking the tree, and his face was badly cut where it struck the boulder.  The coasters quietly dispersed from the hill and the news of the terrible accident spread throughout the village very quickly.  The funeral will be held from the church Monday afternoon at 5 o'clock, and District Superintendent the Rev. C.M. Surdam, assisted by the Rev. H.H. Dresser, will officiate. The following day the remains will be taken to Utica for burial.  The church will be closed on Sunday.

Jennie (Shaw) Knapp

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 1, 1944

Mrs. Jennie Knapp died suddenly at her home in Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] last week Wednesday of a heart attack.  She was the widow of G. Emmett Knapp, who died several years ago.  Mrs. Knapp was born in Hamden [Delaware Co., NY] April 12, 1865, a daughter of Donald and Elizabeth (Williams) Shaw.  The funeral was held at the Carr & Landers Funeral Home Saturday.  The Rev. Charlton Opdyke, pastor of the Congregational Church, officiated.  Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery [Sidney, NY].  Mrs. Knapp; is survived by two daughters Mrs. Susie Fritz and Mrs. Maude Dunn, of Sidney.

Bert Dorman

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 1, 1944

Memorial services were held for the late Bert Dorman in Ives Settlement Cemetery [Guilford, Chenango Co., NY], Saturday at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Ralph Gamewell officiating.  Mr. Dorman passed away at Newburgh [Orange Co., NY] on Dec. 19, 1943, after a brief illness, at the age of 65 years.  He was the only son of the late David and Mary Dorman, of Guilford. Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. James Horton, of Florida, Mrs. Joseph Forrest, of Oneonta, and Mrs. Ransom Ives, of Guilford.