Obituaries (September 15)

Theron M. Philley

Utica Saturday Globe, January, 1903

 

 

Theron M. Philley

The death of the well known and greatly respected citizen, Theron M. Philley, occurred at his home on Division street on Sunday afternoon last, after a six months illness.  Last July he was stricken with paralysis, which affected his left side rendering him nearly helpless much of the time since, though he recovered sufficiently to be able to ride out on several occasions, and to be carried to the polls to vote at the late election.  Just a week before his death he suffered a chill, pneumonia developed, and in his weakened condition he could not resist the disease, which terminated fatally.  Theron M. Philley was descended from revolutionary stock.  His grandparents, Remembrance and Hannah Hubbard Philley, came from Westchester, Conn., near the close of the 18th century, and located at Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], where Elijah Philley father of the deceased, was born.  A few years' later the family moved to Guilford, and afterward to McDonough, then an almost unknown country and where subsequently three brothers, Elijah, Uri and Isaac Philley, owned adjoining farms.  Theron was the son of Elijah and Jerusha Perkins Philley, and was born in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], May 17, 1834.  February 5, 1857, and married Miss Cornella Carr, and lived in McDonough until about 1880, when he moved his family to Smithville Flats, where for a number of years he engaged in making cheese. During his residence at McDonough he was deputy sheriff for several years.  He was a member for many years of the Methodist church at that place, and for 13 years was the chorister.  At Smithville Flats he served as justice of the peace for several terms. About 10 years ago he moved with his family to Norwich, where they have since resided.  Up to a short time before his illness Mr. Philley conducted a milk route and became well known in the community as an honest and respected resident.  He had many friends in the southern and western towns of the county, as well as in Norwich, who will learn with regret of his death. In politics he was an ardent and uncompromising Republican and his assistance and advice were frequently sought in town and county affairs.  Besides his widow there survive him three sons and one daughter, William H. and George W. Philley, of this place; Fred M. Philley, of Cooperstown, and Mrs. Mary Tafft, of Killawog. One son Charles H. Philley, died in April 1893, One brother, Clark L. Philley of McDonough, and one sister, Mrs. Serella Bailey, of Greene, also survive.  Funeral services were held from the late home on Division street at 1 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon.  Rev. Wilson Treible, of the M.E. Church and Rev. S.J. Ford, of the Calvary Baptist Church, officiated, Canasawacta Lodge I.O.O.F. of which deceased was an honored member and a past grand, conducted the committal  services at Mt. Hope Chapel, where the remains were placed awaiting burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Samuel P. Hill

d. March 4, 1895

Samuel Hill, a farmer living about three miles above this village in the town of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], died on Monday from the effects of cancer.  Mr. Hill, about seven years ago, was connected with the shooting affray which resulted in the death of Robert Peasley.  Hill had succeeded in postponing the case from time to time and no conviction was given.  Mr. Hill was buried Thursday. [Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney, NY]

 

The Newburgh Daily Register, March 9, 1895

Middletown, NY [Delaware Co., NY]:  Samuel P. Hill, late of Sidney, defendant in the celebrated Peaslee-Hill murder case is dead.  Cancer was the direct cause of his death.   Hill in September, 1886, killed Robert Peaslee in Sidney.  Peaslee alleged that Hill had uttered slanderous remarks about his mother and attacked him.  After long litigation and fierce fighting, in which the case went no less than three times to the court of appeals, the attempts to convict Hill were finally abandoned.  Hill was 68 years of age.  He was born in Roxbury and is said to have been an old schoolmate of Jay Gould.

 

Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY, October 11, 1890

The Norwich Telegraph learns that the trial of Samuel P. Hill for the killing of Robert Peasley, at Delhi [Delaware co., NY] resulted in a verdict of manslaughter in the second degree last week.  The sentence of the court was that the defendant be confined in the state prison at Auburn, for the period of five years and two months.  The maximum punishment for the crime of which he was found guilty, as provided in the penal code, is fifteen years in the State prison, but the court in passing sentence announced that it had taken into consideration the advanced age of the defendant (sixty-five years), and also informed him by good behavior he could shorten the term of imprisonment.  The indictment was first tried in March 1887, and then resulted in a verdict against the defendant, followed by a sentence to State prison for ten years.  Afterwards a new trial was granted by the general term in the fourth department, and the case was removed to the Oyer and Terminer on application of the District Attorney of Delaware county.  Samuel P. Hill was a farmer living in the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], about two miles below Sidney, Robert Peasley lived in Sidney, and was a fireman in the employ of the O.& W.R.R. Co.  He formerly lived in Middletown.  Arthur W. Hill, a son of Samuel P. Hill, married a sister of Peasley, Friday, Sept. 6th, 1886, Samuel Pl. Hill shot and killed Robert Peasley, in the village of Sidney.  He was indicted by the grand jury in October 1886, for murder in the second degree.   

 

New York Herald, December 31, 1893

Sidney, NY:  The recent action of the General Term in granting a new trial in the case of the people against Samuel P. Hill for the murder of Robert Peaslee, in this village, on September 10, 1886, is the latest development in a remarkable case.  Hill has been twice tried by jury, his case has been acted upon by the General Term four times, and it is now going to the Court of Appeals for the third time.  When Hill shot and instantly killed Peaslee he was about sixty-one years old.  He is a man of slight build, weighing about 120 pounds, and is blind in one eye and wears glasses.  his victim was a powerfully built man, about twenty-four years old.  he was a fireman on the Ontario and Western Railroad.  The trouble between them grew out of family affairs.  Peaslee claimed that Hill had slandered his mother.  He was conversing with his son, Arthur, near the railroad crossing in River street on the morning of the murder.  He was seated in his wagon, while his son was standing in the road.  Peaslee, passing by on his engine saw the father and son.  he jumped off the locomotive and asked Hill if he had called his mother vile names.  Hill made an evasive reply and started away.  Peaslee jumped into the seat and seized Hill by the coat.  He fired a small revolver, the bullet killing Peaslee.  Hill delivered himself into he custody of Justice of the Pease William H. Pierce.  He was indicted for murder in the second degree, and his trial took place on March 17, 1887, and resulted in his conviction of manslaughter in the second degree.  He was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.  Hill's counsel appealed to the General Term, which reversed the judgment and ordered a new trial. The people then appealed to the Court of Appeals, and their appeal was dismissed.   Hill's second trial was held in September 1891.  He was again convicted and sentenced to five years and eight months' imprisonment.  He again appealed to the General Term.  The judgment was reversed and judgment of reversal was remitted to Delaware county and entered. The District attorney made a motion at General Term last April that the order and judgment of reversal be amended by granting a new trial. At the September term the General Term granted the motion for a new trial, and Hill will now go once more to the Court of Appeals.

 

James A. Graves

Otsego Journal, May 11, 1887

Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY]:  James A. Graves, whose illness we mentioned some time since, died on Friday afternoon at the home of George F. Graves, in the lower part of the village.  He came home from Oxford, where he has been employed for several years past, about the middle of February, since which time, although provided with competent medical attendance and the best of care, he grew steadily worse until death relieved him from his sufferings.  His disease, which at first was thought to be a complication of heart and lung trouble, developed into Bright's disease toward the last, when all hope of his recovery was given up by his friends. he was, however sanguine to the last that he would get well and never admitted the possibility of a fatal termination to his illness.  Through it all he maintained the cheerfulness and consideration for others which was always a marked trait of his character.  He was attended ....smooth his pathway to the tomb.  The large number of sympathizing and mourning friends that assembled at his funeral and followed him to the grave attested the high regard in which he was held wherever he was known.  He possessed the happy faculty of making friends of all with whom he came in contact, and we don't believe he had a single enemy on earth.  Affected as he was by a misfortune which would have made so many burdens upon their friends, his life was an example in that he was always cheerful, making the best of everything and by his industry maintaining himself in comfort and independence.  The funeral occurred on Sunday at two o'clock from the house, Reverends Weeks and Nobbs officiating.  The deceased would have been forty-four years of age the 15th of the present month.  He was buried in our cemetery, where a father, mother and sister have preceded him.  To his memory, a fadeless immortality, and to his ashes, peace. 

 

George H. Graves

The Norwich Sun, June 24, 1915

George H. Graves died at his home in Norwich Quarter [Chenango Co., NY] at noon Thursday aged 80 years.  Mr Graves fell on Monday afternoon and fractured his right hip.  He did not long survive from the shock.  About a year ago his wife died after a similar accident.  Mr. Graves is survived by his son, Louis A. Graves, two grandchildren, George Louis and Miss Elizabeth Graves and two brothers Frank O. Graves of the town of Norwich and Edwin P. Graves of the town of New Berlin.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock Reverend Paul Riley Allen officiating and burial will be made in the Quarter cemetery.