Albert A. Ainsworth
Utica Saturday Globe, December 6, 1902
Albert A. Ainsworth
At his home, two miles north of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Tuesday, occurred the death of Albert A. Ainsworth, aged 76 years. Deceased was born in the town of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], February 16, 1826. He was at one time engaged in the nursery business in Rochester, and for some years was head clerk in a large hotel at Fairport, Conn. Coming to Norwich about 16 years ago, he engaged in the business of buying and selling live stock, of which he was a most excellent judge, and he became widely known throughout this section. He is survived by a daughter, Miss L. Belle Ainsworth, who resided with her father and sister in South New Berlin. The funeral was held from his late home Friday morning, Rev. Mr. Rollins, of South New Berlin, officiating, and the remains were taken to that place for burial.
Daniel S. Dickinson
Chenango Union, April 18, 1866
The Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, United States District Attorney, died at the residence of Mr. Courtney, his son-in-law, No. 129 East Thirty-fourth street, last evening at 8-1.2 o'clock. He was in his office on Monday attending to business, and went home afterward complaining of an illness the nature of which was not then understood. His physician soon discovered that Mr. D. was suffering from a severe attack of hernia. Mr. D. lingered on till yesterday, when it became evident that he could not outlive the night. At 3 o'clock he said so himself, and at 6 the doctor told him he might live three or four hours or even twenty four hours, but the latter probability was doubtful. he remained perfectly conscious to the last, and died while sitting up in bed, without any struggle. He was 66 years of age--N.Y. Times, Friday, April 14.
Mr. Dickinson was in early life a resident of Guilford, this county [Chenango Co., NY], his father and family having moved into that town from Goshen, Connecticut, the deceased being at the time a lad of about six years of age. He had but limited opportunities for early education, and for a time devoted himself to a mechanical pursuit; but his large and active brain thirsted for knowledge, and through diligent reading and study he fitted himself for the law office, and laid the foundation of that rich and varied learning which afterwards rendered him an accomplished as well as practical statesman. He read law with the late Lot Clark, in this village [Norwich, NY], and during his legal studies taught school here, and perhaps in other places, for the means of support. After his admission to the bar he removed to Binghamton, where he soon became distinguished in his profession. His career has ever since been watched by the people of this county with peculiar pride and interest. With a decided liking and aptitude for politics, he devoted himself with ardor to the Democratic party, and shared in it glories and triumphs. His election to the Senate of the State, where he served for four years; his election as Lieutenant Governor, and his election to the United States Senate, all attest the respect in which he was held, as well as the power which it was given him to wield. He subsequently became conspicuously identified with divisions in the party, and afterwards, through resentment towards individual leaders of the Democracy, whom he believed were unfaithful to his advancement in the Charleston Convention, sought and found new associations in politics among his life-long enemies. Yet this never severed the ties of personal regard that bound to him the most of his former friends and associates, all of whom will hear the announcement of his decease with unfeigned sorrow. Except in his ambition which perhaps was not an unreasonable one, he was the most unselfish of politicians; his integrity in both public and private life was not only pure but above suspicion; which as a citizen, relative or friends he was ever kind, generous and true. Peace to his ashes!
The remains of the late Hon. D.S. Dickinson arrived here today. A committee of citizens met the funeral party at Susquehanna, and accompanied it to Binghamton. The train was draped in mourning, and approached the depot in perfect silence, the assembled thousands uncovering in veneration for the departed statesman, their friend and neighbor. The procession was formed, and to the sound of solemn dirges escorted the remains to the late residence of the deceased, "The Orchard." The line was very imposing, consisting of the fire department, Masonic fraternity, the bar, board of trustees of the village, etc. All business was suspended. The public buildings, places of business, and dwellings, were draped in mourning. Profound sorrow reigned throughout he village at the loss of so good and great a man.
The closing obsequies of the late Daniel S. Dickinson were concluded here this afternoon. The distinguished statesman was buried in accordance with the rites of the Episcopal church. The funeral took place from the home of the deceased, known as the "Orchard," and was witnessed by upwards of six thousand people. The funeral cortege was composed of many distinguished and prominent gentlemen from all parts of the country, members of the Binghamton bar, the village authorities, the Masonic fraternity, and the firemen. Special trains were run on both the Erie and Syracuse roads, for the accommodation of the relatives and friends of the deceased. The body of the lamented Dickinson was deposited in a quiet little cemetery on the outskirts of the village, known as "Spring Grove.:"
Lydia (Knapp) Dickinson
Bainbridge Republican, April 16, 1880
Mrs. Daniel S. Dickinson died in new York city at the residence of her son-in-law, Samuel G. Courtney, on the 8th inst. The deceased was born in Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], June 21st, 1803, and was therefore, in her 77th year at the time of her death. The remains were taken to Binghamton and on Saturday last, were deposited by the side of her revered husband's remains in Spring Forest cemetery [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY]
The New York Times of the 30th ult. has a sketch of the life of a lady who more than half a century ago was a resident of Guilford, in this County [Chenango Co., NY], the wife of an humble law student and district school teacher, who in after life arose to distinction and honor, and whose devoted partner lived to share with him his successes as she had his privations in early life. We condense from the article:
Mrs. Lydia Dickinson, wife of the late Daniel S. Dickinson has for weeks past been lying dangerously ill at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Samuel J. Courtney, at High Bridge. In early life Mrs. Dickinson's social and personal accomplishments added to the high political position and deserved fame of her husband, made her a notable figure in the society of New York and the National Capital. She was born in June, 1803, in the township of Unadilla. Her father, Dr. Colby Knapp was a leading citizen of Southern New York, the founded ot the village of Knappsburg, in Chenango Coutny, twelve miles from Unadilla. In her girlhood, Mrs. Dickinson attended the well-known Oxford Academy, at Oxford, N.Y., where among her follow pupils were Horatio Seymour and Ward Hunt, afterward Judge of the Court of Appeals. Daniel S. Dickinson, then unknown to fame, was a rising young wool dresser, who, although he had never gone to school more than two weeks in his life, was ambitious of doing something better. He fell in love with Lydia and married her, she being then 19 and he 22. Woman-like she was quick to discover her husband's talents, and urged him by every means in her power to persevere in his law studies. The Rev. Mr. Garvin, of Guilford, was Dickinson's tutor, and taught him Latin and surveying, and other branches, in the evening. Dickinson worked patiently at his law books in the daytime. In winter he taught school to pay the expense of his education. For seven long years he labored, cheered and encouraged by the smiles of his young wife, until at last, in 1829, he was admitted to the Bar of Chenango County. Three years later he removed to Binghamton, where he speedily outdistanced other competitors, and became the acknowledged leader of the Bar in the southern Counties. In 1844 Gov. Bouck appointed him to fill an unexpired term in the United States Senate and in the year following he was elected by the Legislature for the full term of six years. Mrs. Dickinson entered heartily into all her husband's projects, and rejoiced as became a devoted wife at his unexampled advancement. She accompanied him to Washington and took a prominent part in the social life of the Capital. The summers were passed at the Senator's beautiful home on the outskirts of Binghamton. Mrs. Dickinson's fame as a hostess was widespread, and the mansion and grounds on the bank of the Chenango were the constant resort of distinguished guests in rapid succession, and few persons of note visited Binghamton without partaking of the Senator's hospitality. They had four children, two of whom died and were buried on the banks of the river. The two daughters, Mary and Lydia, became, respectively, Mrs. John T. Mygatt and Mrs. Courtney. The former, who resides at Fort Washington is known among her friends as an authoress of acknowledged repute. After her husband's death in 1866, Mrs. Dickinson moved to New York, where she has since resided. In person Mrs. Dickinson was tall and slender with dark blue eyes, dark brown hair and gentle manners. Though naturally of a modest and retiring disposition, she possessed great spirit and determination which shone forth in times of trial or emergency. Years after Mr. Dickinson had attained his fame, he visited the little academy at Oxford where his wife had been educated. To the assembled magnates of the village who came to greet him he said "that though he had never studied at their institution, he had carried off its greatest prize." Five days before his death when he was 66 years old, and his wife 63, he penned a poetical tribute to her, entitled "To Lydia," three verses of which are as follows:
"We started hand in hand to tread
The chequered, changeful path of life,
And with each other, trusting, tread
The battle-fields of worldly strife.
"No change of life, no changes of scene,
No favored dreams, no cankering cares,
No hopes which are, or e'er have been,
Nor wrinkled brow, no silver hairs.
"Have ever changed that vow of youth,
Or blotted it from memory's page,
But warm as love and pure as truth,
It ripens with the frost of age."
Thomas Dickinson
Chenango Union, May 28, 1885
Thomas Dickinson, Esq., whose feeble condition was recently noticed in our paper, died at his home, in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th last, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Mr. Dickinson was one of the early settlers of that town, having removed there with his father, Daniel T. Dickinson, from Goshen, Conn., in 1807. He, like the other members of his family, was blessed with a vigorous constitution, which enabled him to combat successfully with the hardships and labor of a new country. He married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, who now survives him, about the year 1824, and after residing upon the old homestead, at Smith's Corners, for a number of years, removed to the village of Guilford, where he resided till his death. For nearly forty years, at different periods, he held the office of Justice of the Peace, discharging its duties with great satisfaction. He was also Deputy Sheriff for two terms, and Notary Public for several terms. He was the last of a number of brothers, all of whom attained political distinction, and some of them that of a high order. Among them was the late Daniel S. Dickinson, the eminent lawyer, Lieut. Governor, United States Senator, Attorney General, etc., of this State; John R. Dickinson and Erastus Dickinson, who also held exalted positions. As a family it was early and long identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Dickinson leaves surviving him, his wife, as above stated, with whom he had lived upwards of sixty years, his son Andrew, with whom he resided, Thomas, living near Mt. Upton, and Frederick, who resides at Chicago. His two daughters--Mrs. E.S. Bradley and Mrs. B.A. Morse--died some years ago.
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