Obituaries (August 29)

Capt. Edwin O. Gibson

Utica Saturday Globe, June 1902

Capt. Edwin O. Gibson

1840 - 1902

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  On Thursday evening of last week Capt. Edwin O. Gibson died at his home on Mitchell street.  About three weeks ago he was prostrated by a paralytic shock, from which he rallied somewhat only to suffer a second and fatal stroke on the evening previous to his death.  Edwin O. Gibson was the son of Dr. Stanford C. Gibson and his wife, Martha R.  Hall, who was a sister of Dudley S. Hall, of this village, and was born at Pitcher Springs [Chenango Co., NY] August 22, 1840.  Soon after his birth his father removed to South New Berlin, where he located for the practice of his profession and where the youth of Capt. Gibson was spent.  While yet a boy he developed a great fondness for mathematics and remarkable proficiency in the study, and won a State prize for original mathematical work.  In the schools of New Berlin and afterwards in Norwich Academy he pursued his favorite study in a course preparatory to college under the inspiration of prof. David G. Barber, whose great success as a teacher is fondly recalled by many pupils in this and adjacent counties.  He had passed the entrance examinations and had been admitted to Union College when the call for troops by President Lincoln changed the young student's plans.  He gave up his scholastic career and engaged enthusiastically in recruiting for Company B, of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, then organizing in this village.  September 2, 1862, he was mustered into the United States service and commissioned second lieutenant.  he went with the regiment to the front and in November, 1863, was promoted to first lieutenant.  In the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana, in April 1864, he was seriously wounded and a month later, in May, in an attack by guerillas upon the steamboat John Warner on the Red river he was wounded in both legs and taken prisoner.  After remaining a prisoner for two months he was sent to Camp Parole, at Annapolis, Md., and subsequently exchanged.  Being unable from his wounds to rejoin his regiment he was put on detached duty at Hart's Island, New York, where he remained until his discharge from duty at the end of the war.  Having a decided preference for military life he decided to follow it as a profession and in February, 1866, accepted a commission of second lieutenant in the regular army and was assigned to the Seventeenth Infantry.  In May, 1869, he was transferred to the Tenth Infantry, was promoted to first lieutenant and appointed adjutant of his regiment and served in that capacity for 10 years.  For a long time he was stationed at Fort McKarett, Texas, and was appointed by Gen. E.O.C. Ord to the highly responsible position of judge advocate of the department of Texas.  While in the discharge of the duties of judge advocate and when returning to Fort McKarett from a court martial at Fort Clark, the stage in which he was making the journey was upset.  In the accident his right leg was broken and amputation became necessary.  In 1883 he was promoted to a captaincy and two years later was retired.  Since 1895 he had been a resident of Norwich.  He is survived by four brothers:  Dwight T. Gibson of Waverly, Ia.; Dr. Kasson C. Gibson, of New York; Supt. S.J. Gibson, of this village, and Principal Charles S. Gibson, of Utica; and by two sisters, Mrs. Nettie Eccleston of Smyrna, and Mrs. Mattie B. Thompson, with whom he made his home at the time of his death.  He was a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, Commandery of New York, and of W.W. Jackson Post, no. 489, G.A.R., of South New Berlin.  The funeral obsequies were largely attended Sunday afternoon from his late residence  Rev. W.D. Benton, rector of Emmanuel Church, and Rev. S.J. Ford, pastor of Calvary Baptist church, officiated. There was a profusion of choice flowers.  The casket was draped with the American flag.  A delegation from Smith Post, G.A.R., were in attendance. The pall bearers were members of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, most of them from Company B, which the deceased was instrumental in organizing. The remains were conveyed to Arlington, Va., where they were laid at rest Monday afternoon in the National Cemetery in a plot selected by Capt. Gibson about 10 years ago.  Two brothers, Dr. Kasson Gibson and Prof. Stanford G. Gibson, accompanied the remains.

Son of Laverne Smith

1890

A little son of Laverne Smith, aged 5 years, of the town of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], was killed Monday by a hay rigging falling upon him.  He and other children were playing in the barn when the rigging fell over crushing his skull.

Birdsall Yale

1886

Last Sunday afternoon, Nov. 28, 1886, about four o'clock, Birdsall Yale, of Yaleville, town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], departed this life at the age 75 years.  The funeral was held on Tuesday at 11 o'clock a.m. at his late residence, the Rev. Mr. Wilbur, of Guilford, officiating.  The remains were interred in the Yaleville cemetery, at Yaleville, N.Y.  In the death of Mr. Yale, the community loses an active upright man, one who has borne life's toils manfully and honorably.

Charlotte Dunlap

Troy Daily Times, February 6, 1890

Miss Charlotte Dunlap, a highly-respected young woman of Susquehanna, Penn., who was connected with one of the best families of the place, committed suicide yesterday by taking strychnine.  It is said that her act resulted from a love affair.

 

Binghamton Republican, February 1890

The Troy Press in commenting editorially upon the suicide of Miss Charlotte Dunlap, of Susquehanna says:  "The motive which caused Miss Charlotte Dunlap of Susquehanna Pa., to commit suicide one day last week ought to be a serious subject for contemplation on the part of every parent blessed with a daughter.  She was twenty years of age, and took a fatal dose of poison rather than wed a young man strongly favored by her parents, but unloved by herself.  In fact her affection had been bestowed upon another who encountered paternal hostility.  She left a note requesting to be buried in her wedding dress, and she preferred death to marriage with a man she did not love. The marriage was to have taken place on Wednesday next.  If the parents look upon the tragedy as absolutely a suicide, free from every element of murder, it may not be amiss to add that their views are at least debatable.  Miss Dunlap was a heroine and a martyr. With the alternative of death and dishonor confronting her, she had the moral courage to die a woman true to herself, true to her lover.  A compulsory marriage of the character contemplated is prostitution.  It is idle to treat it as the law does in any other light.  It involves dishonor as well as sacrifice of happiness.  The legal quibbler may disagree with us, but in a moral sense prostitution is no less awful and abominable because it does not transgress law and custom. When Miss Dunlap placed the poison to her lips she demonstrated the integrity of her character and gave the highest proof of virtuous womanhood.  In a case of this kind the parents are not alone guilty.  There is a no more despizable wretch unhanged than he who will insist upon or permit himself to be married to a woman against her will.  Parentage does not imply slave ownership. This is a truth that has not been universally grasped. There are many daughters who are as much driven to the marriage altar as a slave was ever driven to the auction block.  Pains are taken to disguise the shameful compulsion, and the fair victims are not infrequently influenced to assume the veneering of smiles and satisfaction.  But they are slaves driven to the mart, none the less.  There are faded and unhappy wives who will read these liens, whose own experience is eloquent in proof of the statement.  It is unsafe to always assume that a girl marries of her own free will because violent hands are not laid upon her person, and she is not dragged to the altar by the hair of her head.  There is the very refinement of cruelty in the barbarism which finds covert expression in modern society."

 

Elmira Telegram, February 16, 1890

Susquehanna Pa.:  Much indignation was created in this community Wednesday by the appearance in the Binghamton Republican of an editorial article copied from the Troy Times, in which Miss Charlotte Dunlap, the unfortunate young lady who, while suffering from temporary aberration of mind, took her young life, is called a "heroine and martyr," while her respected parents and the worthy young man to whom she was betrothed, are treated to the coarsest billingsgate.  The article in  question is an outrageous one.  Since the unfortunate and deplorable event, which cast a shadow over the town, certain writers, whose pens should have been used for a nobler purpose, with an amazing and reckless disregard of the truth, and relying upon their fertile imaginations for their facts, have sent broadcast over the land the most slanderous, misleading, mischievous versions of this distressing affair imaginable.  The Troy Times editorial writer has undoubtedly come across one of these, else why does he sit in solemn judgment upon a case, which personally, he knows naught of?  The editorial does not fit the case in the least.  It is a foul libel, both upon the living and upon the dead.  To those who reside in Susquehanna, these lines are unnecessary, but there are hundreds of thousands of people scattered all over the land, who have ere their read the fool Troy calumny, and the majority of them, not knowing the facts, will accept this version, for the simple reason that it looks plausible, and because they do not know the facts.  From the outset we have known that there were some sensational features connected with the affair.  This was patent to all.  We did not thrust them before the public for the simple and very good reason that we respected the departed and mourned with the living.  We had no heart and no desire to give all the little bits of sensation in the case merely to satisfy the morbid taste of people whose hearts are in the wrong place, and who rejoice when others mourn.  Let us add right here that in all this there was not one thing discreditable either to the living or to the dead.  Today in all Susquehanna there cannot be found one person whose opinion is worth having and whose mind is not diseased, who has one word of censure or of reproach, either for Mr and Mrs. Dunlap or for Mr. LeBar. We know whereof we speak. If the Troy writer could spend a day in this borough and learn the facts in the case he would curse the day when he was caused to write his damning screed.  Of the pure girl who has gone to an untimely grave, we need not write one line in defense.  She needed none while living.  Her character was beyond reproach, and she went so to her grave mourned by all who knew her. Why she snapped the vital cord is known only to her and to her God.  It is not for the living to judge of her motives.  Her case will be judged by a more just judge.  With her life's fitful struggle is over.  All that was is not. She sleeps the sleep that knows no waking. Her peaceful slumbers in the bosom of mother earth will not be disturbed by the misjudgments of the living. She is at rest!  Our people since the last tributes of respect have been paid the dead, have in every way tried to forget the unfortunate affair, and to make the grief to the mourning ones less terrible, by deeds of loving kindness in every possible way. They have respected the sanctity of their grief.  The newspapers of the place have made little or no allusion to the affair.  Now come the human jackals and vultures upon the quiet scene, and rake up again the dreadful affair with unrighteous judgment, born of ignorance of the subject, and renew the heartaches and add to the crushing grief by calumny and shameful insinuations.  Out upon such detractors!  Such as spread these sentiments are but one grade better than those who originate them.  Happily, however, here at home the mourning ones will now receive more sympathy than ever.  They are of us and with us.  We know them. We honor them. Their grief is ours. They will be respected and remembered in kindness when censorious detractors are forgotten.

The Funeral

Susquehanna Pa:  Susquehanna was greatly saddened on Sunday afternoon, when Miss Charlotte Dunlap was placed beneath the sods of the hillside.  Long before the hour appointed for the funeral the house and grounds adjacent were thronged with sympathizing friends, who had come to pay the last tribute of respect. The body rested in a beautiful white casket, emblematical of the purity of the character of the deceased.  There were several very fine floral tributes.  Rev. B.H. Abbott, of Carbondale, pastor of the Episcopal church in this place, officiated, and a quartette, consisting of Messrs. Cook and Howe and Misses Tingley and Cook, rendered several selections.  The following young gentleman acted as pall bearers:  John McDonald,  Hugo Spearls, Charles Ottinger, William H. French, Jr., Harry Dougherty, and David Mason.  The funeral cortege wended its way to the Evergreen cemetery, where the burial service for the dead was read, and all that remained of a bright, pure, lovable girl was shut out from earthly view.  Green be her memory forever.

 

Frank Addison Rexford 1876 - 1941

Frank A. Rexford

Popular and Successful Smyrna Instructor

Utica Saturday Globe, September 1901

  

 

Frank Addison Rexford

 

Frank A. Rexford, whose portrait appears on this page is a native of Smyrna in this county [Chenango Co., NY], and was born in that village in August, 1876.  He was educated in the public school in his native village, the Sherburne Academy, the Oneonta Normal School and in June, 1900, graduated with high honors from the State Normal School at Brockport, N.Y.  At the Oneonta and Brockport schools he was an influential member of the Philalethian Society, was the organizer of the society at the  latter institution and its representative at the annual meeting at Plattsburg in the fall of 1899.  At both these schools he was the leader of the guitar and mandolin clubs, said to be two of the finest school orchestras in the State.  The past year Mr. Rexford has successfully conducted the scientific department of the Bayshore (Long Island) Union School., and was unanimously re-elected to the position for another year but declined the honor to accept the chair of chemistry in the Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, one of the largest and best conducted schools in Greater New York.  Mr. Rexford is thoroughly competent to fill the new and important position.  He is an earnest and enthusiastic instructor and wherever he has taught has been very successful and has won the confidence and respect of both patrons and pupils. 

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Marriage

The Rome Citizen, January 6, 1903

A pretty home wedding took place New Year's day at New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], when M. Gertrude Pratt, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Pratt, was married to Frank Addison Rexford of Brooklyn.  About 85 guests were present.
 

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Obituary

Brooklyn Eagle, January 6, 1941

 

Funeral services for Frank A. Rexford, former director of civics in the high school division of the Board of Education in New York City and a former teacher in two Brooklyn high schools, who died Friday, will be held at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at the home here [Earlville, Madison Co., NY].  Mr. Rexford, who was 64, retired from the New York City school system in 1935.  He taught chemistry and biology at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and from 1910 to 1919 taught industrial chemistry in the Brooklyn Evening Technical and Trade School.  From 1919 to 1922 he was principal of the latter school.  In 1917, Mr. Rexford conceived the idea of having high school students work on farms to grow food for soldiers.  As a result of this work the agricultural school at Newtown High School, Queens County, was organized in 1919.  By 1932 it had become the second largest agricultural course in the State. 

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Obituary

Utica Daily Press, January 1941

 

Earlville [Madison Co., NY]:  Funeral services for Frank A. Rexford, 64, former teacher in New York City schools, who died Friday night, will be conducted at his home at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.  Burial will be in Sherburne Hills Cemetery, near Earlville.  Mr. Rexford, who died at his home after a long illness, began his teaching career in upstate schools in 1903, and became a member of the Bay Shore, L.I., High School faculty in 1901.  In 1910 he became a teacher of industrial chemistry at the Brooklyn Trade School.  During the World War he was active in boys' work as chief zone director, Boys' Working Reserve, supervising the activities of 14,000 boys who cultivated 212,000 acres of food.  From 1932 to 1935 when he retired, he was director of education, Museum of the City of New York.  He married Gertrude Pratt of New Berlin, Jan. 1, 1903.  She died in 1909.  He married Florence Gilillnad of Geneva, who survives with a son, Pratt, of Plainsboro, NY.; a sister, Agnes C. Rexford of Schenectady; a niece Mrs. Arthur D'Aprix of 3313 Dearborn Pl. Utica, and two grandchildren, Henry and Frank Pratt Rexford Jr.

 

Reminiscenses of Afton, NY

Mrs. Jennings Writes of Caswell Family

Afton Enterprise, May 30, 1957

 

As I remember the map of Afton Township [Chenango Co., NY], it is of irregular shape.  It takes in some of Nineveh and to the southwest are Nurse Hollow and Church Hollow, settled years ago. To the Northwest are Newton Hollow and Wilkins Settlement and North Afton.

 

Afton village has no such settlement names.  The Landers and Church families and others took up land on the East side of the river, or on the west side.  Our streets are East Main, Maple, Main Street, Pleasant Ave., Spring Street etc., but only the one running parallel with Spring Street and west form Main is named for a family, the Caswell family and goes to the turn where it joins with Algerine street, near the one time Kirby home called "The Pillars."

 

Moses Caswell and his wife, Abigail Somes Caswell, came to this place from Grafton, N.H., about 1832; and purchased a tract of land extending from what is now Spring street to Academy street.  It must have extended back quite a distance, for it was a large farm.  There were seven children, Alvira Jane, Harrison Richmond, Anna Dickerson, Amos D., Gilman N., John F. and Harriet.

 

Anna Dickerson [Caswell]., Aunt Ann, beloved by everyone, married Edgar Garret, September 18, 1846.  They had two children, Ella and Anna. The first home was a small one, but about 100 years ago the present house was built.  It is now owned by Mrs. Mary Farnsworth.  Ella was an invalid, but outlived the others; Anna married Mark Dutton and eventually that piece of property came to the Mark's family.

 

Alvira [Caswell] married William *Bill) Herkimer and her father built the house for her where her grandson, Allen Herkimer resides.  They had one son Gilmore, who married Myrtie Allen of Afton.  They left a son Allen G. and daughter Ina who is married to Edwin Benedict.

 

Moses [Caswell]  himself lived in the next.  When Amos Caswell came home from  New Hampshire with his bride, they lived there and Abigail Somes Caswell died there.  Sometime later, Moses married a widow, Mrs. Rice.  She had two children, Mabel and Wilbur and they lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Bulkley.  The children were in school when I was.  Mabel married Burr Wilkins of No. Afton.  Gilman N. [Caswell] built on the corner and married Eugena Ferguson.  They had six children.  Kittie [Caswell] married George Raymond of Norwich and their daughter Blanch married Roger Miller and they lived in Lewistown, N.Y.  Estelle [Caswell] married George Tanner and both died in the Amos Caswell home.  Edith [Caswell] married Frnak Horton.  Girard [Caswell] married Alta Phillips.  Bertha [Caswell] married Mag. Medbury.  It was Amos who willed the town land for a park.  It is known as Caswell park, and was looked after for several years by several elderly men, Addison Brewer, Eric Linge, Charles Seely, and others who reset trees, mowed, kept up fences, when some one awakened to the fine gift Amos Caswell had made Afton.  The War Memorial is there and it is a place for band concerts, and ball games, a beauty spot (with a little care).  Let's have it blooming by July 13, 1957.

The little house on the corner has always been spoken of as the "Susan Post House."  Back of it Harrison Richmond [Caswell] built a small house.  He married Sarah Jarett Chamberlain, daughter of Col. John Chamberlain, U.S. Senator at one time.  They had two children, Joseph Pollard and Sarah Janette.  Sarah Janette Caswell married George Jap of Nineveh and eventually moved to California where both died.  They left one daughter, Margaret Jay.  She taught in Whittier Calif., until retirement.  She was in Los Angeles Calif., last year and is yet [in 1957], I think.

For his second wife, he married May Ursula Landers in 1858.  In 1850 he sold the house and bought of Col. Chamberlain and Bill Moffit, the farm on which he built the home on the corner of Main and pleasant Ave.  He gave to the little band of Episcopalians, the ground on which St. Ann's Church was built in 1868 and was Senior Warden for many years.  Two children were born, Mae Ursula and an infant that did not live.  Mae married George Armstrong Liggett of Rahway, N.J., June 27, 1900.  He was a Presbyterian minister, well liked in his parish in New Jersey which he served for many years.  Mae died August 9th, 1956.



Marriages (August 28)

Bayer - Howland

March 9, 1957

 

Atilla and Arlene (Howland) Bayer

Newlyweds:  Mr. and Mrs. Atilla Bayer of New York city were honored at a reception and shower Saturday at the home of her mother, Mrs. Olive Howland, Deposit [Broome Co., NY].  Mrs. Bayer is the former Arlene Howland.

Clark - Briggs

1946

Miss Vera Jean Briggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Briggs of Deposit [Brome Co., NY] was united in marriage to Lloyd A. Clark, Jr., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, Sept. 7.  The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents by the Rev. Clyde H. Snell, pastor of the Methodist church.  Attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Durwood Briggs, sister-in-law and brother of the bride.  The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a suit of gold gabardine with brown accessories.  Her corsage was of talisman rosebuds.  Mrs. Durwood Briggs wore a brown suit with gold accessories and a corsage of yellow rosebuds.  Mrs. Briggs, mother of the bride, wore a black crepe dress and a red corsage.  Mrs. Henry Dooley, mother of the groom, wore a navy crepe dress with a red corsage.  A buffet luncheon was served following the ceremony to the 20 guests present.  Refreshments included a three-tier wedding cake.  The bride is a graduate of Deposit Central School.  She completed two years at Ithaca college and has been attending the university of Miami.  The groom is a graduate of William and Mary college in Virginia. He spent three and a half years in the navy.  The couple will make their home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

 

Northrup - Taylor

1958

Miss Joan Wanda Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Taylor of Mt. Upton, R.D.1 [Chenango Co., NY], became the bride of William E. Northrup of Mt. Upton Saturday, March 1, at 2 in the East Guilford First Presbyterian church.  Mr. Northrup is the son of James Northrup of Treadwell and Mrs. Theresa Northrup of Cliffside, Goodyear Lake.  Rev. Leroy A Gemmell, pastor of the church, officiated at the double ring ceremony, Clinton Taylor, uncle of the bride, furnished the wedding music. The bride was given in marriage by her father.  She wore a floor length gown of white lace over taffeta with pleated skirt and scalloped neck line.  Her veil was fingertip length.  her attendants were Miss Barbara Markert of Cazenovia, maid of honor; Miss Marjorie Northrup and Miss Dolores Northrup of Goodyear Lake, bridesmaids; Miss Sharon Northrup, flower girl,  the Misses Northrup are sisters of the bridegroom.  Their gowns were styled identically of net over taffeta.  Miss Markett was in pink, Miss Marjorie Northrup and Miss Sharon Northrup in yellow and Miss Delores Northrup in blue.  Jon Boyce of Sidney was best man and Charles Ostrander and Rodney Schultes of Rockdale ushered.  A reception for 100 guests was held in the church parlors. The bridegroom is a 1957 graduate of Mt. Upton High school and is employed at the Atlantic service station on Riverside, Sidney.  Mrs. Northrup was graduated from Sidney Central school in 1957 and is employed at the state police barracks.

Obituaries (August 28)

Elizabeth (Gibson) Hughes

Utica Saturday Globe, August 1903

 

Elizabeth (Gibson) Hughes

 

Norwich [-Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Elizabeth G. Hughes, widow of John Hughes, died at her home on Coomes avenue Sunday after an illness of several months.  Mrs. Hughes was 46 years of age and was the daughter of William and Alice Gibson, well-known residents of Smithville, in October, 1876 she married john Hughes, of Allegan, Mich., and 16 years ago they came to Norwich from Smithville to make their home.  Mr. Hughes died two years ago.  Mrs. Hughes was a very industrious, energetic woman whose greatest interest centered in the welfare of her family.  She was a woman greatly respected by all who knew her.  She had formerly attended the Presbyterian Church.  Her mother and three brothers survive; Joseph, James and Anderson Gibson, all residents of Smithville.  Four daughters also survive, Mrs. Byron Norwood and Misses Jessie, Mary and Julia Hughes, and one son, Harry, all of whom live in this village.  The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Wilson Treible officiating.  Burial was in Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

Anna A. Burlison

1908

Mrs. Anna A. Burlison, wife of Albert N. Burlison, died Tuesday afternoon, April 21, aged  60 years.  The funeral services were held at 10:30 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Congregational church at Guilford Center [Chenango Co., NY], Rev. A.C. Salis officiating.  Burial was in the family plot at Yaleville.  Mrs. Burlison was born in Andes, Delaware county.  she is survived by her husband, one daughter, Mrs. Maud Palmer of Rockdale, three sons, A.A. Burlison of South Edmeston, R.L. Burlison of Guilford Center, and F.E. Burlison of Edmeston, and a granddaughter, Edna Burlison.  By Mrs. Burlison's request her three sons and her son-in-law acted as her bearers.  There were many floral tributes from friends and relatives of the deceased. ---We take this method to thank the friends and neighbors for their kindly assistance during the illness of Mrs. Burlison and for sympathies extended in the hour of our bereavement. - Albert N. Burlison and family.

 

Julian Simmons

Binghamton Press, December 27, 1948

Julian Simmons, 94 Susquehanna Street, died Friday afternoon from a heart attack at his home.  He is survived by his wife, Rosella; one daughter, Mrs. Raymond Osteen; one son, Chauncey; two grandsons, Leal McBerney and David Simmons, all of Binghamton; three granddaughters, Mrs. Marie Cleveland, Miss Virginia Simmons, both of Binghamton, and Mrs. Grace Sparling of California; one niece, Mrs. Forrest Miller of Philadelphia; three great-grandchildren.  The body was removed to the Frank L. DeMunn Funeral Home, 36 Conklin Avenue.

 

Emaline A. (Beebe) Doolittle

1863 - 1954

Mrs. Emiline A. Doolittle, 91, widow of Ivey W. Doolittle, died at 4 a.m. today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles B. Meredith of 1 Chapman Street.  Besides Mrs. Meredith, she is survived by two other daughters, Mrs. Virge Livingston of Harpursville and Mrs. Raymond Hurlbut of Chenango Bridge; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  The body was moved to the William R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 44 Exchange Street. [South Windsor Cemetery, Broome Co., NY]

 

Milo A. Saxton

1957

Milo A. Saxton, 62, of 105 Roosevelt Avenue, Endicott [Broome Co., NY], died at 4:15 p.m. yesterday at Wilson Memorial Hospital, after a short illness.  He is survived by is wife, Mrs. Ethel Saxton; one daughter, Miss Ida Saxton, both of Endicott; three sisters, Mrs. Louisa Collins of Haskenville, N.Y., Mrs. Lynn McDaniels and Mrs. Sylvia Grey, both of Hornell, N.Y., three brothers Grant, Darwin, and Irving Saxton, all of Hornell, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was a veteran of World War I, a member of the Union-Endicott American Legion Post 82, Endicott, and of the FOE, Aeriel 2269.  He was an IBM employee for the last 36 years, a member of its Quarter Century Club, and County Club, and of its safety council advisory board.  The body was moved to the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott.

Death Notices - Chenango Union, January 28, 1892

 

McFARLAND:  In Oxford, January 20, 1892, Dr. A. McFarland, of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], aged 60 years.

HARRIS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], January 21, 1892, Albert G. Harris, aged 76 years.

WELLS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], January 21, 1892, Benjamin W. Wells, aged 90 years.

RUSSELL:  In DeKalb, Ill., January 16, 1892, of pneumonia, Gertrude C. Hill, wife of Adelbert C. Russell, formerly of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

KIMBER:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], January 20, 1892, Thomas P. Kimber, aged 86 years.

ROUNDS:  In Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], January 7, 1892, of membranous croup, Ida Almanda, youngest child of George M. and Jennie Winsor Rounds, aged 17 months and 8 days.

STODDARD:  In Coventryville [Chenango Co., NY], January 8, 1892, Henry Stoddard, aged 73 years.

BEARDSLEY:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], recently, Augustus Beardsley, an old and respected resident of that village.

GATES:  In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], January 21, 1892, Lewis E. Gates, aged 66 years, 11 months and 17 days.

HAYES:  In Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY], January 24, 1892, Ur Hayes, aged 85 years.

WOOD:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], January 25, 1892, George Wood, aged 71 years.

TORRY:  In Brisben [Chenango Co., NY], January 20, 1892, William N. Torry, aged 67 years.

WASHBURN:  At Manusville, Jefferson county, N.Y., January 20, 1892, Dr. W.A. Washburn, aged 30 years, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

RANDALL:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], January 24, 1892, Adelia S., wife of Levi Randall, aged 58 years.

LEWIS:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], January 20, 1892, Stephen Lewis, aged 85 years.

KEELER:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], January 19, 1892, Frances E., daughter of Edwin and Hannah B. Keeler, aged 34 years.

Marion Doi, Janapese WAC - 1944

Japanese Wac's Fighting Spirit Soon Convinces

Curious That She is 100 Per Cent American

August 1944

 

 

Marion S. Doi

 

Atlantic City, N.J:  "Yes people are curious and ask me a lot of questions, but they don't bother me much when they realize that i have no sympathy for Japan, " said American-born Japanese WAC Private Marion S. Doi of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], when she report here for assignment.

 

"I suppose their curiosity is natural," continued the private, who has just completed the specialists' course at the WAC Statistical Control School in Orlando, Fla.

 

Reporting here for her first U.S. Army assignment in the Personnel Distribution Command's Statistical Control Division, she said the anger and resentment which she felt when she read about Pearl Harbor left her speechless with rage. "It also inspired me with an urge to do my utmost in the war effort," she said.

 

Unable to attend college and study medicine, she went to work in the Scintilla Magneto Division of the Bendix Aviation Corp. in Sidney, as a clerical worker, and continued working there until she enlisted.

 

She received her basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., where she was a member of the 1st Co. in the 21st Regiment, and subsequently completed the specialists' course at Orlando, Fla.

 

"I know I'm going to like it here," commented Private Doi, whose parents Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Doi reside at 49 Riverside Drive, Sidney, "for I've made more friends since I've joined the WACs than I've ever had in my life!  Besides, the WAC uniform symbolizes everything I believe in, and will show people how glad I feel when I read about American victories in the Pacific."

Marriages (August 26)

Lewis - Blowers

March 12, 1942

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Kermit Lewis

 

The marriage of Miss Mary Jane Blowers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Blowers of 25 Ayres Street, to Sergt. Kermit H. Lewis of Presque Isle, Me., son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Lewis of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], took place at 10 a.m. yesterday in St. Patrick's Church, with the Rev. D. Francis Curtin officiating.  Miss Elizabeth Kane of New York City, a former classmate at the College of New Rochelle, was maid of honor, Randolph Lewis of Afton, a cousin of the bridegroom, was best man. The bride, who was given in marriage by her father was gowned in white organza, with a Juliet cap to which was attached a fingertip veil of tulle. She carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley and gardenias.  Miss Kane wore a gown of dusty rose chiffon with a large picture hat, and carried a bouquet of pink roses and delphinium.  Mrs. Blowers, mother of the bride, wore a blue sheer gown with a corsage of pink roses.  Mrs. Lewis, the bridegroom's mother was attired in brown sheer with a corsage of yellow roses.  Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, after which the couple left for Presque Isle where the bridegroom is stationed with the U.S. Army Air Corps.

 

Mr. & Mrs. A.B. Smith

Bainbridge Republican, January 27, 1888

A.B. Smith, whose notice of his golden wedding will be found in another column, was married Jan. 19,  1838 at Guilford Centre, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], and he and his estimable wife immediately came to this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] where Mr. Smith commenced blacksmithing and from that time to the present he has ever been ready to "forge and weld" for his many customers.  Although for three or four years past Mr. Smith has worked but little, still the same muscular arm and many of the tools of half a century ago that earned the bread and made a home for his family of eight children, are not altogether idle, but ready almost any day to do a job of repairing.  How few there are who continue in the same line of business fifty years.

 

Gardner - Griggs

Oct. 9, 1943

Mrs. Hazel Esther Gardner of 33 Fayette Street and William L. Griggs of Afton [Chenango Co., nY] were married Saturday night, Oct. 9, in the parsonage of the First Baptist Church by the Rev. john Sivewright. They will reside at 84 Main Street, Afton, after Nov. 1.

 

Fuller - Warner

January 7, 1945

Miss Esther Warner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Warner of Deposit [Broome Co., NY], was united in marriage on Sunday Jan. 7, to Lieutenant Charles L. Fuller of the U.S. navy son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fuller of Deposit.  The ceremony was performed at the groom's home by the Rev. John C. Eason, pastor of the Methodist church.  Mrs. David Biggs of Hancock, sister of the bride, and Gerald Fuller of Deposit brother of the groom, were the attendants.  Mrs. Fuller is a graduate of Deposit Central school. She will make her home in Deposit.  The groom returned to his duties on Jan. 15.

 

Obituaries (August 27)

Francis N. Grant

Utica Saturday Globe, May 1904

 

Francis N. Grant

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Francis N. Grant, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Norwich, died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. F.D. McNitt, in Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] Thursday of last week, aged 88 years.  Deceased had been a resident of Norwich for nearly 80 years, coming here from his birthplace, Stonington, Conn., when 9 years of age.  For many years he was a prominent and successful farmer.  He retired from active business life about 12 years ago.  He is survived by four daughters and one son, Mrs. Charles W. Winsor and Mrs. J.F. Crowell, of Norwich, Mrs. F.D. McNitt, of Plymouth, and Mrs. Oscar Bishop, of Blue Earth City, Minn., and Fred Grant, of Waterbury, Conn.  Funeral services were held from the residence of Dwight McNitt on Hale street on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. S.J. Ford, pastor of the Calvary Baptist church officiating.

Jane Emma (Bailey) Smith

1818 - 1902

In the Bainbridge Republican of last week the announcement was made of the death of Mrs. A. Bulus Smith, a former resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], At Grand Rapids, Mich.  Mrs. Smith died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Newton and a letter received by her son, George A. Smith, of Bainbridge, who is the oldest, living child, gives some details of the last illness of the deceased.

Mrs. Smith had been very well the past winter and though in her eighty-fourth year was full of ambition and with busy eagerness shared with her daughter, the domestic duties of the family.  On Saturday afternoon, March 22, she sat, sewing, putting together pieces of an intricate bed quilt pattern, a kind she was especially fond of, when she arose from her chair saying, "I will lie down, my head aches so hard."  Mrs. Smith went to her bed and rapidly grew worse each hour until she died the following Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Her disease was pneumonia, which caused intense suffering, but she was able to reason in her customary, practical way, and when death drew near she called the family to her to bid them good-bye.  Her nearness to the grave had no terrors and she sank peacefully into the last sleep.  Mrs. Smith had written only the week before to her son George in Bainbridge of her excellent health, and of her plans to visit him this summer.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith gave up their residence in Bainbridge eight years ago and went to Michigan to reside with their daughter, Mrs. Newton, who before marriage was Miss Jennie E. Smith.  Mrs. Smith was born in Cherry Valley, in 1813, and when a young child her parents moved to Guilford and in 1838 she was married to A.B. Smith. The young couple came to Bainbridge to reside and had lived in this village 55 years, respected and honored, and identified with every change for the permanent advantage of Bainbridge. They were prominent members of the Presbyterian church and their influence was always for the material advancement of that denomination.  Mrs. Smith was a very patriotic woman and took a great interest in finding out the soldiers who went from this vicinity to the Civil War, and to her conscious efforts through the four years' struggle many unfortunates beyond the pale of our town were helped.  Mr. Smith died in the fall of 1900, and though the wife was lonely her daughter's family sought to make her life happy.  Mrs. Smith was able to attend church regularly to the last week of her life.  Mrs. Smith was a good woman, strong in character, pure and loyal to everything true.  She is survived by five children.

 

Alfred A. Van Horne

1834 - 1896

Alfred A. Van Horne died at his home in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] early Tuesday morning, Aug. 4th, after a lingering illness.  Mr. Van Horne was born in Lexington, Greene Co., N.Y., Sept. 27, 1832.  His parents David and Lucy J. Van Horne moved to Bennettsville in 1838.  He was the third of five children.  He lived in Bennettsville until he entered the mercantile business in Masonville in 1854 and was married the same year, October 30, to Miss Mary J. Scofield of Masonville.  As a merchant in Masonville [Delaware Co., NY], he was very popular, doing a thriving business, and held the office of supervisor during the war.  Mr. Van Horne came to Bainbridge in 1869 and entered business.  He was elected justice of the Peace on the Democratic ticket holding the office successfully till the time of his death, comprising a term of twenty years.  This illustrates the remarkable confidence bestowed upon Mr. Van Horne as he was chose from a strong Republican town.  Mr. Van Horne's long weary sickness, since October last, when he was compelled to give up business entirely, was the result of a fall he received upon an icy sidewalk four years ago, this brought upon him rheumatism and other complications which culminated in his death.  In December of 1895 while stopping in Norwich, he received the communion from Rev. W.H. Scudder and united with the Congregational church of that place. This consecration was a source of comfort to him while his life was ebbing away and enabled him to enter the dark shadows with calmness and serenity fully conscious, that:

"The souls of those that die

Find the pure joys of earth lifted higher."

Besides his wife, two children survive him, Mrs. Lucy A. Chapman and Perry a son, one of the reportorial staff of the Daily News-Democrat of Canton, Ohio. The funeral will take place at the house Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, the Rev. John E. Vasler, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiating.  Interment will be in the Episcopal cemetery [St. Peter's Churchyard, Bainbridge, NY]. 

William Fields Doolittle

1883 - 1944

DOOLITTLE:  William Fields Doolittle died at his home, 1451 Upper Front st., Broad Acres [Broome Co., NY], Friday at 4:30 p.m. He is survived by his widow, Maude May Doolittle, one daughter, Mrs. John H. Rinker of Broad Acres; one son, Raymond E. Doolittle of Lisle, and four grandchildren.  The body was removed to the William R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 44 Exchange st., where the funeral will be held Monday at 2 p.m.  The Rev. G. Arthur Woolsey will officiate.  Burial in Chenango Valley Cemetery.

Dorothy Mary Hyatt

Binghamton Press, April 14, 1944

Miss Dorothy M. Hyatt, 23, of 110 Roosevelt Avenue, Endicott [Broome Co., NY], died at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pa., after a long illness.  She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hyatt of Endicott; a brother, J. Edgar Hyatt of this city; also two nieces and several aunts and uncles.  Miss Hyatt was a member of the First Methodist Church of Endicott and an IBM employee.  The body was removed to the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street Endicott.

Bainbridge High School Class of 1953 - Part 3

Bainbridge Central High School - Class of 1953

Senior Portraits

"Echo" 1953

 

 

James Richard Hitchcock

 

Richard Glenn Hurlburt

Class Vice President

 

Carl Tracy Knowlton

Class President

 

Patricia Lou Landre

 

Douglas Walter Lee

 

Roger Wayne Lord



Ryan Brothers in Service - 1944

Four Ryan Brothers in Service - 1944

 

 

 

Few parents have the distinction of having four sons in service.  Such is the case of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan of Deposit [Broome Co., NY], who have three sons, Lawrence, Bernard and Vincent, in the army, and one son, Paul, in the Seabees, construction division  of the navy.

 



Private Lawrence J. Ryan was inducted from Walton last June.  His basic training was given him at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where he was assigned to the infantry.  He also trained at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and at Pine Camp in northern New York state, before being sent to Camp Pickett in Virginia.  He is now serving overseas with a tank battalion....

 

Corporal Vincent M. Ryan, now a member of the Signal Corps, was inducted from Walton in February, 1942, and was trained at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.  He also received training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas before going to Wisconsin....

 

Corporal Bernard A. Ryan, now with the 22nd Transport Squadron at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, was inducted at Newark, N.J., last July.  He received his basic training at Atlantic City and Fort Dix, New Jersey, and was assigned to the army Air Corps.  he had been stationed at Santa Monica, Calif., before going to Florida where he is at present.

 

Paul L. Ryan, who holds the naval rating of carpenter's mate, second class, enlisted in the Seabees in Buffalo last January.  He received his "boot" training in Virginia and Rhode Island and was then transferred to California, where he now awaits orders to go into foreign service. 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have two daughters, Katherine and Eileen. The former is engaged in defense work at the Binghamton medical depot, while Eileen is a student at the Deposit Central School.

Marriages (August 26)

Mable - Stanzel

1944

 

Mr. & Mrs. William P. Mable

Before an altar banked with white delphiniums, palms and candelabra, Miss Bette Jean Stanzel, daughter of Mr. and Mr. Walter E. Stanzel, Sr., of 63 Park Street, was married Saturday afternoon to Lieut. William P. Mable, son of Mr. and Mr. F. Leon Mable of 41 Mitchell avenue. The ceremony was solemnized at 3:30 o'clock in the West Presbyterian Church by the Rev. George W. Brown.  The wedding music was played by J. Emery Kelley.  Given in marriage by her father, the bride was attended by Miss Margaret Downs of New York city, as maid of honor.  the bridesmaids were Miss Naida Lee Brunner and Miss Frances Stretz.  Robert T. Mable, brother of the bridegroom, was best man.  First Class Private James A. Fancher, U.S. Army, Walter E. Stanzel, Jr., Capt. Wayne Frease, U.S. Army Air Forces and Ensign John R. Roberts, U.S.N.R., were the ushers.  The former Miss Stanzel was dressed in a princess style gown of blush rose imported organza fashioned with rose point lace at the sweetheart neckline and a full skirt ending in a long train.  Her illusion veil fell from a tiara of heirloom rose point lace and she carried a bouquet of white orchids and bouvardia. As her only jewelry she wore a heart shaped heirloom pin of seed pearls, a gift of the bridegroom. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids were dressed alike in heavenly blue organza gowns with matching lace yokes and medallions on the bouffant skirts.  They wore picture hats of the same color and edged in horsehair braid.  They carried flower baskets made of sweetheart roses and delphiniums. The mother of the bride chose a mist blue crepe dress with matching accessories and she wore a corsage of pink orchids. The bridegroom's mother selected a gown of gray crepe accented with deep purple and her corsage was of purple orchids.  Following the ceremony a reception for 150 guests was held in the Art Gallery of the Arlington Hotel.  A three-tiered wedding cake flanked by snapdragons and maiden hair fern centered the table. The couple left for a wedding trip to New York City. The bride is a graduate of Binghamton Central High School and an honorary member of Delta Kappa Sorority. Lieutenant Mable was graduated form Lakemont Academy, Lakemont, N.J., and he received his commission at Foster Army Air Field, Tex.  At present he is stationed at Harding Army Air Field, Baton Rouge, La. 

 

 

Lt. William P. Mable, U.S.A.A.F. and his bride, the former Miss Bette Stanzel, are shown with their parents as they greet guests at the reception which followed their wedding on Saturday.  From left to right are:  Mr. and Mrs. F. Leon Mable, the bridal couple, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Stanzel, Sr.

 

 

Lowe - Gifford

1959

Wedding vows were exchanged by Miss Phyllis Gifford and Ralph Lowe Nov. 21 in Afton Baptist church.  The Rev. Allan Douglas officiated at the double-ring ceremony.  The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Gifford of Afton.  The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lowe of Afton.  Miss Carrolyn Tryon of Afton was maid of honor. Best man was Gary Budine of Bainbridge.  Reed Packer and Ronald Brewer ushered. The reception took place in the church parlors after the ceremony.  Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are living in Sidney [Delaware Co., NY].

Obituaries (August 26)

Patrick Quinn

Utica Saturday Globe, October 1902

 

 

Patrick Quinn

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Patrick Quinn, who died at his home on Adelaide street Saturday evening, was born in County Clare, Ireland, 82 years ago.  At an early age he came to America and for a number of years made his home in Virginia.  He came from that State to Norwich about 50 years ago and had since made his home here.  For many years he was employed by the late William R. Tiffany.  For the greater part of his long life he followed the occupation of farming.  Mr. Quinn enlisted in the United States Army during the war of the rebellion and was assigned to the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, Company B, in which he heroically served.  He was honorably discharged and became a pensioner.  Patrick Quinn was a remarkable man in many ways.  He had a fund of Irish wit and though eccentric was generally of a happy, sunny disposition that drew many friends to him and made him one of the best known men in the village.  For years he pastured his small herd of cows in the northwestern part of the town, near the :"Red still," and during the summer season in the early morning and again at evening on his way to and from the pasture his voice became a familiar sound as he sang some old favorite song out of his rather limited repertoire.  He was a man who will be greatly missed from the community.  Besides his widow, Mary, he is survived by two sons, Richard J. Quinn, of Preston, and Matthew J. Quinn, of Middletown; two daughters, Mrs. M.W. Cox and Mrs. James J. Dolan, of Norwich; a brother, Thomas Quinn, of Wood's Corners, and four sisters, Mrs. Nellie Touey of King's Settlement; Mrs. John Brennan, of Norwich; Mrs. Margaret Hogan, of Utica, and Mrs. Betsey -?-.  His funeral was largely attended Tuesday morning from his late home on Adelaide street at 9:30 and from St. Paul's Church at 10 o'clock.  Rev. John A.  Hart officiated. Interment in St. Paul's Cemetery [Norwich, NY].  Among the out-of-town people in attendance were James Dolan, John F. Dolan and Miss Anna Dolan, of Oriskany Falls; Mrs. Daniel Laden and James Laden, of Oneida, and Patrick Keane, of Binghamton.

Oliver Beers

Otsego Farmer, Cooperstown, NY, March 29, 1907

Oliver Beers, an old and respected resident of Morris [Otsego Co., NY] died on Friday, March 22, aged eighty-nine years.  he has been in poor health for quite a while, his head bothering him a good deal.  Mr. Beers has lived in Morris and vicinity the most of his life.  He leaves one daughter, Mrs. Hyde Hunt, with whom he has lived and who has given him the best of care in his declining years, and one sister, Mrs. Lovina Beers Whitcomb.  Mr. Beers  was a man of means and left considerable property to his daughter.  The past winter, he took to his bed and declined from that time until death relieved him and he passed on to the other land.

 

Joseph Henry Fitch
1859 - 1914

Joseph Henry Fitch, well known in this city, died suddenly Saturday at his home in Rochester [Monroe Co., NY], aged 54.  His body was brought to Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], his former home, Tuesday and burial made in Mt. Hope Cemetery.  Mr. Fitch is survived by his wife and two sons, Harry and Edward Fitch, of Rochester; a daughter, Mrs. Otis Thompson, of this city; three grandchildren and one brothel, Frank E. Fitch, of Rochester.

Grace E. Storrs

Smyrna, NY, 1868 - 1911

Mrs. Grace E. Storrs died at her home in Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] January 21, aged 44.  She is survived by her husband and 10 children:  Mrs. Charles Burchard, of Norwich; Mrs. Walter Brown, of King Settlement; John Storrs of Norwich; Ada Storrs, of Albany, and Mabel Storrs, Leon Storrs, Lamott Storrs, Leslie Storrs and Donald Storrs at home.

Alfred R. Kinney

New Berlin, NY, 1888 - 1911

Alfred R. Kinney died at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kinney, in New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Sunday February 5, 1911, aged 23.  He was a son of Elmer and Winnie Kinney, both of whom died several years ago.  Mr. Kinney had been in Norwich for some time, where he was employed as a baker by one of the local firms.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wilson E. Tanner of St. Andrew's Church.  Burial was made in New Berlin.

Mary Louise (Obenauer) Holmes

Norwich, NY, 1876 - 1911

Mary Louise Obenauer, wife of Lucius  H. Holmes, died at the family home on Cortland street [Norwich Chenango Co., NY], Sunday evening, aged 35.  Mrs. Holmes was taken suddenly ill Sunday morning, and although everything was done by her physician and family during the day to relieve her suffering, death came in the early evening.  Mrs. Holmes was a member of the Congregational Church and of the Loyal Workers' Circle of King's Daughters, by whom she will be greatly missed. She leaves to mourn her early death her husband, and one daughter, Christine, her parents Mr. and Mrs. George Obenauer, one sister, Mrs. George Hudson, and brother, George Obenauer, all of Norwich.  Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from her late home on Cortland street, Rev. Paul Riley Allen officiating.  Burial was made in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

Francis Chapel

Chenango Union, May 8, 1884

From a Sioux City (Iowa) paper we copy the following mention of the death of  Francis Chapel, a native of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] and well remembered by our older citizens.  He was a son of the late Joseph Chapel, and a brother of Mrs. C.B. La Hatt, of this place and Mrs. H.L. Bullock, of Fulton, N.Y. He was one of the pioneers of Sioux City, and one of its mot respected citizens.

Died at his home near Sioux City, Ia., Wednesday, April 23, 1884, Francis Chapel, aged 56 years.  The deceased was one of the old settlers of Sioux City, having come up the river with Dr. Cook to assist in surveying the town site.  He was born in Norwich, Chenango county, N.Y., and came to this city in 1855, remaining until 1860.  then he returned to his old home in Chenango county, married and engaged in the hotel business.  After spending eighteen years there, and wrecking his health and fortune, he returned to his farm near this city in 1878, and has resided there since.  He seemed in his usual health until shortly before his death, which was caused by hemorrhage of the stomach.  he leaves a wife, a son about 11 years, and a daughter 8 years old, to mourn the death of one of the kindest hearted of men. 

C.K. Smith, one of the party that came with Dr. Cook to survey the town site, gave the reporter this interesting talk about the deceased.  he said:  "The party was hired at Council Bluffs by Dr. Cook.  There was Frank Chapel, George Chamberlain, a man named Ross, Hiram Nelson--he located the claim on which Middle Sioux City stands--Frank Wixon--he recently died at Yankton--and myself.  We left council Bluffs in May, 1855.  Council Bluffs was a little Mormon village then--you dared not speak against the Mormons unless you wanted to hang.  Over at Omaha there were only two or three claim cabins.  The crossing of the Missouri was between Crescent City on the Iowa side to Forence, on the Nebraska side. There was where the Mormons crossed when they went to Utah.  We came through Crescent City--that was Mormon--and Calhoun close to where Missouri Valley now is, another Moron town. At the Little Sioux there was a ferry kept by Charles Larenter. At Onawa Henry Ashton kept a hotel and there was a store.  That was about all the settlement between Council Bluffs and Thompson town, a mile below the mouth of the Floyd.  There was were Dr. Cook wanted to make Sioux City, but Thompson wouldn't give him an interest in the place.  So we came on to where Sioux City is.  Joe Leonsis was living in a little cabin at the mouth of Perry creek.  Dr. Cook laid out the town on the west side of the creek, Sioux City proper, and then bought out Leonsis for $3,000.  While we surveyed the lots we boarded with Gus Traverse; that place is now the Spalding farm, two miles below the mouth of the Floyd. The only neighbors were Judge Townsley, who lived where Needham now has a cattle farm, north of Spalding's place, and two Frenchmen who lived further south toward the river.  All the men who were with Dr. Cook took claims.  George Chamberlains claim shanty was near where Van Keuren's house is on Seventh street.  Frank Chapel took the claim which he always held, and on which he died, the farm north of the fair grounds.  He was the first sheriff elected in the county, though one may have been appointed before that to organize the county.  He lived alone on his claim, and we used to go up from Sioux City Sunday afternoons to take dinner with him. In 1860 he went back to York State and it was there that his health broke down.
 

 

Reminiscenses of Afton, NY

Mrs. Jennings Talks of Old Residents

Afton, Chenango Co., NY

Afton Enterprise, May 17, 1957

 

Blessed by Diaries!  What a fund of knowledge comes from the old ones! 

 

I've wondered who the first Postmaster was and was pleased to learn that it was Cornelius Atherton, who still has descendants in Afton.  Mr. and Mrs. Atherton were the kind of lovely old people the children love. 

 

The Postmaster I remember was Mr. E.M Shay.  He owned the "Shay Block" recently rebuilt by Attorney Sam Whitman.  As one went into the present Beauty Parlor, the Postoffice was on the left and his grocery store on the right.  Mr. Shay was a quiet, kindly man liked by everyone.  There were three children, Jennie, Martina and Ina Catherine, always called "Kitty."  Two sisters of Mrs. Shay lived with them, Beolia Clapper, who was an invalid, as long as I can remember, and Amelia Clapper, a musician.  She played the organ at St. Ann's as long as she was able and had music pupils.  Miss Charlotte Shay, Mr. Shay's sister was a school teacher for many years and spent the vacations with the Shays. 

 

The present doctor's office was used by  Mr. and Mrs.  O.N. Swift.  He was Afton's jeweler--his bench in the front window and Mrs. Swift kept a fine supply of yarns and taught the women to make it up.  The basement was used by Andrew Fisher and Wirt Newley for a meat market.  I must have been about four years old which I went to do errands for my mother.  Nothing around those days to harm children.  I don't know the age of the Shay block, but it was older than either D.A. Carpenter's house and store, now the Town Clerk's Office or the Riley Ester house, now the home of Miss Mildred Merrell.  They were built about 1850.  Both were used as family homes until the early 90s.

 

The Handy home was one of the old buildings and back of it was one still  older.  I think it belonged to Mr. Champlin and family in my time.  The Dr. Cook house, now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jere Jenks must have been built about the same time as the Easton and Carpenter houses and possibly H.R. Caswell's was at that time.

 

The oldest house in Afton now standing, is the one built by Heth Kelsey in 1804-5 on a grant of land from the government, as he was a Revolutionary soldier.  It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Cook.  In the Cook home one finds the construction to be much as it was in the old days, with plank walls, heavy timbers which are visible in the attic fastened with wooden pins.  In the ground floor rooms are still to be round some of the original hand blown window panes.  Some of the flooring in the upstairs rooms is laid with foot wide boards.

_______________________________________________________________

 

Notes From Sketch by Mrs. Mae Liggett

Afton Enterprise, May 23, 1957

 

The Sash and Blind factory run by Adison Brewer and Billy Wright was another busy place. Here one listened to the constant buzz of the machinery where timber was sawed while the yard lumber wagons brought the large logs of pine and hemlock which were piled for sawing.

 

In front was the carriage shop of Coggins and Merrill and in back of the building was the blacksmith shop of Jack Swift.  Here one saw horses waiting to be shod and saw the sparks from the anvil as the shoes were being made and thrown into the tub of cold water. At the back of this building was the place where the staves and barrels were made by George Champlin.  All day long men came and went.  It was a happy place as one listened to the sound of the whistle re-echoing through the town and heard the laughter of those who worked.

 

In front of the wagon shop was the town pump and here small boys and girls assembled not only to get a drink of water but receive a ducking if one was not very careful.

 

There stood the Sentinel Building where the town paper was published by Mr. Seaman and it was here one leaned of the important happenings in Afton.  Mr. Seaman's son had received some distinction as a tight rope walker.

 

Mary and Sally remember the stories told by their mothers and grandmothers of the times when the pioneer settler were living in their log homes with the great fire places and brick ovens where all the food was cooked.  They told of the times when they killed their own meat and how the Indians came during the butchering and brought them salt (in return for a share of the meat) saying, "My squaw she love them."  The Indians knew of a secret place where it could be obtained and gave it to the white people.  Conkopet was their chief and they were tall and brave.  One time their grandmother had prepared a dinner for the noon-day meal and put it in the open window for a moment but when she turned it was no longer there, but was being carried away by a number of indians.  The streams were filled with fish and the woods with deer and bears and all kinds of wild game which they shot with bows and arrows.

 

The Landers family lived in a little home built of logs above Afton near the bank of the Susquehanna.  It was a cold morning in winter when Philander and his brother Hial started for the woods on the hill to cut wood.  They had commenced to cut down  a large tree with a  hollow at the bottom when suddenly a big black bear appeared.  As the bear commenced to slowly come toward them they realized their danger.  Hial ran to the house to get his gun, while the little brown dog remained with his master, barking and yelping at the bear, which grabbed it, throwing it in the air, but all the time getting nearer.  Philander realized that Hial would return too late. he raised his sharpened axe and struck the bear a piercing blow which cut its head open.  Standing on its hind feet it put its two front paws to its head holding it together and with the most pitiful cry died, leaving the little cubs which the boys took home.

 

Mary and Sally were familiar with the story of the two little Indian boys who lived with their tribe on Cunahunta Island (now owned by Charles Arnold, known as the Chamberlain Island) and one summer day caught a very large grasshopper and a dispute arose as to the ownership as each claimed it.  All the children of the tribe took part in the dispute, relatives joining in the fight, and still the quarrel continued until several different tribes came and a battle was fought known as the Grasshopper War.  Each generation finds the arrows still left in the ground telling of the struggle.

 

Then came the time when wagon roads took the place of the trails through the forests which had been marked by the Indians.

 

Down the years these stories of these early days had been carried down the generations in the families of these early settlers of the beautiful Susquehanna Valley.

 

Selected and edited for the Afton Centennial Committee May 10, 1957 by Frances Fenner, Afton, New York from writings of Mae Caswell Liggett preserved by Celia Landers Liggett.

 

 

 

 

 



Marriages (August 25)

Musa - Gallagher

Betrothal, 1957

 

 

Patricia Joanne Gallagher

Mrs. James Gallagher of 114 Roosevelt Avenue, Endicott [Broome Co., NY], announces the engagement of her daughter, Patricia Joanne, to Richard D. Musa.  Miss Gallagher, also the daughter of James Gallagher of Garfield Avenue, Endicott, is a graduate of Union-Endicott High School.  Her fiancé, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Musa of 107 Oak Hill Avenue, Endicott, is also a graduate of Union-Endicott  High School.  The couple will wed on July 13.

 

Judd - Birdsall

Marriage, 1944

Miss Marian A. Birdsall and Justus Judd were married Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church, with the Rev. Wilton J. Dubrick performing the ceremony.  The bride wore a long dress of white satin and net with long sleeves and fingertip veil, and carried white sweet peas and roses.  the matron of honor, Mrs. Arthur Crawshaw of Walton, cousin of the bride, wore a pink satin and net dress and carried pink carnations.  The best man was Merrill Snitchler of Sidney, brother-in-law of the bridegroom.  Miss Doris Hover sang "O Promise Me" and "Through the Years" with Mrs. Earl Case at the organ.  A reception was held at the home of the bride's aunt, Miss Bertha Birdsall, 68 East Main street, after which the couple left for a trip to New York.  Mrs. Judd is the daughter of the late Mrs. Katherine Sager Birdsall and Archie Birdsall of Downsville [Delaware Co., NY] and lived with her aunt, Miss Bertha Birdsall.  She was graduated from the Sidney High school and of Rochester business school and has worked for several years in the Payroll Department of the Scintilla Magneto Division.  Mr. Judd, son of Mrs. Hazel Judd, and the late Frank Judd of Sidney, attended the Sidney school and is at present in business in Binghamton. They will live at 130 West End avenue, Binghamton.  Two pre-nuptial showers were given the bride in Sidney.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Hiram Warner

50th anniversary, 1955

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Hiram Warner

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Warner of Deposit [Broome Co., NY], married Feb. 1, 1905, recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.  The couple, born and wed in Cannonsville [Delaware Co., NY], has lived in Deposit since 1927.  They have four sons.  Mr. Warner farms with a son, Clayton.

 

Marriage Notices

Chenango Telegraph, June 29, 1859

 

WESCOTT - BEALS:  In this village, on the 22d last, by Rev. Mr. Blakeslee, Paul L. Wescott, Esq., to Mrs. \Sarah Jane Beals, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

 

FOSTER - BANCROFT:  In This village, on the 23d inst., by P.I. Wescott, Esq., Isaac Foster, of North Norwich, to Miss Almada Bancroft, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].

 

FREEMAN - BOSWORTH:  In Pittsfield, Otsego County, on the 25th isn't., by Rev. O. Ketcham, Samuel Freeman, of Lincklaen [Chenango Co., NY], to Mrs. Betsey Bosworth, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

 

HYDE - GRAVES:  In St. John's Church, Northampton, Mass., June 10th, 1859, by Rev. Andrew Cromwell, Wm. H. Hyde, Esq., of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Myra B. Graves of Northampton.

 

HARE - VAN HORNE:  In Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY] on the 12 inst., by Rev. Mr. Jacobs, Devillo L. Hare of Westkill, Greene Co., to Miss Augusta E. Van Horne.

 

HASTINGS - YOUNG:  In Guilford, on the 10th inst., by Rev. W. Southworth, Wm. Hastings, to Miss Mary J. Young, all of Guilford [Chenango Co ., NY]

Obituaries (August 25)

Harriet L. (Rathbone) Pike

Utica Saturday Globe, August 1902

 

 

Harriet L. (Rathbone) Pike

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  After a long and very painful illness, Mrs. Harriet L. Pike passed away at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Edgar Phetteplace, near East Norwich, on Friday of last week, at the age of 72.  Deceased was the daughter of Amos and Eliza Rathbone and was born in the town of German [Chenango Co., NY], this county, January 29, 1830.  She had spent the last 40 years of her life in this vicinity, the last 20 years having been passed with her daughter, Mrs. Phetteplace.  She was married in 1847 to Daniel S. Pike of McDonough.  Three children survive her, Ransom B. Pike, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Adelaide H. Phetteplace, of Norwich; and Fred J. Pike, of Geneva, N.Y. She is also survived by two brothers, Isaac H. and Charles I. Rathbone, of McDonough, and by four sisters, Mrs. George W. Carpenter, of Oxford; Mrs. Charles Sheldon, of West Eaton; Mrs. Austin W. Race, of Brisben, and Mrs. James Blackman, of Beaver Meadow.  Mrs. Pike was of a cheerful disposition and found great enjoyment in doing good to others, and was loved by a large circle of relatives and friends.  She bore her last illness with great fortitude and passed into the beyond with Christian faith in Him who doeth all things well. her funeral was largely attended from her late home on Tuesday with Rev. Wilson Treible officiating.  Interment was in Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

Rena Bell Breffle

Bainbridge Republican, July 2, 1880

On Thursday last a little daughter of Albert Breffle, of the Breffle House at South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], was burned so terribly that death ensued the following day. The little girl, with other children, had been building fires with chips and sticks, and burning potato bugs, and one of the children went to the house and brought the kerosene oil can, in order to increase the fire by pouring its inflammable contents upon the chips.  Getting the can too near the fire it exploded, throwing the burning mass completely over the little girl's clothing,...The little one was a bright and lovely child and her death strikes her parents with crushing weight and overwhelming affliction.

Hancock Herald, July 1, 1880

Rena Breffle, of South New Berlin, was burned to death Thursday by the explosion of a can of kerosene oil

Albert Breffle

Otsego Farmer, Cooperstown, NY, March 29, 1907

Albert Breffle, one of the most widely known residents of Otego [Otsego Co., NY], died at his home in that village Tuesday evening, shortly before 5 o'clock, after two years illness from liver trouble.  The funeral services were held from the house on Thursday at 2 o'clock, the Rev. N.R. Ripley of Binghamton, formerly pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church there, officiating. The burial was in charge of the Masonic Lodge of which deceased was a member.  Mr. Breffle was a native of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], sixty-two years of age.  He was formerly in business in South New Berlin and later at Morris.  He conducted the Susquehanna house here since for a short time, but later returned to Morris, where he remained for a number of years.  Some fourteen years ago he returned to Otego and built the Breffle  house, which he conducted for a time.  Of late years it has been leased, owing  to the poor health of Mr. Breffle.  He is survived by a wife, who was formerly Miss Amy Weeks of New Lisbon, two brothers, Erastus of Otego and Spencer Breffle of Morris and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Harris of Morris.

Col. Rufus Chandler

Chenango Union, January 3, 1884

The funeral of Col. Rufus Chandler will be attended at 11 o'clock today, at the residence of Mr. J.M. Phillips, Coventry.  Having been in failing health for some time, he was suddenly prostrated and after lying unconscious for thirty-six hours, gently passed to the other life, on Friday evening, December 29th.

 

Anna E. Teed

Sidney, NY, 1946

Mrs. Anna E. Teed, 10 River street, passed away at the Sidney hospital this afternoon following a heart attack.  She was the widow of Elmer Teed, who passed away some years ago.  Mrs. Teed was born July 28, 1868, at Cannonsville [Delaware Co., NY].  She is survived by two sons William Teed of this place, with whom she resided, and Robert Teed of Elmira.  Funeral services will be held at the Carr & Landers funeral parlors Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Carlton Opdyke, pastor of the Congregational church, will officiate.  The burial will be in Prospect Hill cemetery [Sidney, Delaware Co., NY].

 

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna E. Teed were held at the Carr and Landers Funeral Parlors Monday afternoon, August 13, at 2 o'clock.  Rev. Carlton Opdyke, pastor of the Congregational Church, officiated.  Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery.  Mrs. Teed had her home on River street with her son William E. Teed, where she passed away Thursday, August 9, at 5:30 p.m. She was taken ill the previous Tuesday afternoon.  Mrs. Teed was born July 28, 1868. at Cannonsville.  She married Elmer Teed in 1886 and they lived in Masonville for three years.  They came to Sidney to reside 54 years ago.  Mr. Teed passed away about 12 years ago.  Mrs. Teed was a member of the Congregational Church.  She is survived by two sons, William E. Teed, employed in Scintilla, and Robert Teed of Elmira, and a granddaughter, Freda Teed.  She is also survived by nephews and nieces.  A son, Raymond Teed, passed away in 1917.

 

Michael Ryan

Deposit, NY, 1954

A retired farmer and lifelong resident of Deposit [Broome Co., NY], Michael Ryan died at his Beebe hill home at 12:40 Tuesday morning, Oct. 19, 1954, after a long illness.  He was 86 years old.  Mr. Ryan was born May 13, 1868, at Deposit, son of Dennis and Kathrine Leo.  He was married Nov. 27, 1908 to Mary Margaret Dunleavy who survives him.  Mr. Ryan was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church of Deposit.  Surviving besides his widow are two daughters the Misses Kathrine J. and M. Eileen Ryan, both of Deposit, and four sons, Paul, Lancaster; Bernard, Green Village, N.J.; Lawrence, West Hurley, and Vincent, Deposit.  A rosary was recited Thursday evening at 8:15 and high  mass of requiem is to be celebrated this Friday morning at 9:30 at St. Joseph's church, Deposit.  Burial is to be in St. Joseph's church cemetery.

 

Emery Newby

Oneonta, NY, 1958

Emery Newby, 58, of 5 Potter Avenue, Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], died Wednesday at Fox Hospital, Oneonta.  He is survived by a nephew, Lloyd Wayman of Afton.  Born April 8, 1900, in West Sanford [Broome Co., NY], Mr. Newby was a carpenter's assistant on the D&H Railroad for 30 years.  The body was removed to the Brookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.

 

Edna (Ferry) Couse

Deposit, NY, 1958

Mrs. Edna (Ferry) Couse of Deposit [Broome Co., NY] passed away Friday, Sept. 12, 1958, while en route by ambulance to the Sidney hospital.  She had suffered a stroke a short time before.  She was 70 years of age.  Born near Masonville [Delaware Co., NY], she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Ferry. She taught school for many years in the vicinity of Masonville and Barbourville.  Her husband, Edgar Couse, passed away several years ago.  She was a member of the Masonville Federated church.  The funeral was held at the Walter A. Dains Funeral home in Deposit on Sunday with the Rev. Ronald Thomas, pastor of the Deposit First Presbyterian church, officiating.  Burial was in Masonville.  She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Clara Hager of Bainbridge and several nieces and nephews.