Edward M. Wilkie
Utica Saturday Globe, December 1906
Edward M. Wilkie
Like a soldier struck down by a random bullet after the battle was over and the field was won. thus was the death of Edward M. Wilkie, as conscientious a man, as faithful an employee, as careful a railroad conductor as ever gave the best that was in him to the calling which he had chosen as his own. Monday evening in his capacity of freight conductor he had set out with his train for Binghamton. He was due back in Utica Christmas morning. His regular engineer was W.O. Greenia, but this time the train ran as a double-header and at his own request, Engineer Fred Wilkie was assigned to the second engine. This was done so that the brothers might both be home at Christmas and especially on the 26th when there was to be a family gathering in honor of a beloved mother's 73d birthday. The trip was a hard one, for the train was heavily loaded, but it was made without special incident, arriving in Utica about 11 o'clock Christmas day. Turning in his report, Conductor Wilkie set out for his home at 447 Whitesboro street, his mind dwelling affectionately on the aged mother, the devoted wife and the loving children who would not even open their Christmas packages until papa came. Ed Wilkie was a careful man. He appreciated to the full the dangers and responsibilities of his work. Carefulness, natural to him, he had cultivated to an extreme, and his watchful eye and word of caution had served many a youthful brakeman. In impressing the value of a steady hand and a cool head upon a brakeman only a few days ago he said: "If I were coupling cars and the station should fall down behind me I would not look around." And yet, with all this caution, it was reserved for poor Ed Wilkie to be crushed to death while hurrying homeward to the good cheer of the greatest of Christian holidays. Exactly how death came to him is not known--may never be known. It is supposed that he was hurrying along the Lackawanna siding near the Hoyt street crossing, when a New York Central flier came by and enveloped him in a cloud of smoke and steam. Just at that moment a couple of freight cars were shunted onto the siding and the sound of their approach drowned by the noise of the passing train, struck him in the back. He was thrown forward and doubled up and pushed along until such inward injuries were inflicted that death came almost instantly. Engineer Fred Wilkie had just telephoned from the station to his wife that his train was in and that he would soon be up to dinner; then the telephone bell rang again and he learned to his horror that his brother was badly injured or dead near Hoyt street. Hurrying there he found the worst to be true. The sad news was conveyed to the home on Upper Whitesboro street and joyful anticipation gave way to broken hearts. The body was carried to an undertaker's and thence to the home, where for many years the recurrence of Christmas must bring this saddest of recollections. Ed Willkie was a home man. His business claimed his best efforts, his most careful attention when on duty. The time which was his own he devoted to his family ad his books. By frugality he had paid for a comfortable home and in its cheer he was happiest. As a husband he remained the lover of 18 years ago; as a father he had the love and confidence of his children; as a son he was a prop on which an aged mother leaned with all confidence in his filial love. His sister said of him: "He grew in nobility with every year of his life." His 16-year-old son said with trembling lips: :"He was my dad." What more of eulogy is needed? Ed Wilkie will be missed outside his family. He was secretary of Kincaid Division, No. 150, Order of Railroad Conductors and his judgment was considered so sound that his advice was often sought even by railroad men of riper years. From Utica to Binghamton every village, every hamlet contains the friends of Ed Wilkie and the hearts that are saddened by his death are many.
The Rome Daily Sentinel, September 26, 1906
Utica [Oneida Co., NY]: Edward M. Wilkie, aged 45, a freight conductor on the D.L. & W. Railroad, living at 447 Whitesboro street, was instantly killed in this city yesterday. He returned from Binghamton with his train at 11 a.m. and started for his home. Half an hour later he was found dead on the D.L. & W. Tracks near the Hoyt street crossing. He had taken a short cut home along the Lackawanna tracks, and was walking along the siding which immediately adjoins the Lackawanna main track through the yards. On the other side of this main track is New York Central track No. 1, along which the fast east-bound passenger trains are run. At just about the time the accident must have happened a fast through passenger train on the Central went east. It is supposed that the big passenger threw up a cloud of snow, dust, steam and smoke, and this cloud enveloped Mr Wilkie so that he could not discern what went on about him. While he was wrapped in this cloud, two steel gondolas came upon him on the siding, shunted along by a switch engine. Struck down he fell upon the rail and the wheel crushed him so terribly that he must have died almost at once. Mr. Wilkie had planned long for his Christmas holiday and Monday he spent with his three children decorating a tree that was to be one of the features of their celebration. And while the children waited for the father's coming he was killed. Besides his children, he is survived by his wife, his mother, a brother and two sisters. Conductor Wilkie was very popular with all who knew him, and no employee of the railroad had a better record than he. He was a man of rare carefulness and in his quarter century of railroad service had never met with an accident.
Elvah (Hillard) Lucas
Chenango Union, September 27, 1906
The sad news reached this place on Sunday of the death of Mrs. Elvah Lucas. She has been a great sufferer for several weeks and although two physicians were called to see her they could not arrest the disease, she passed away on Sunday, the 23d. She resided in Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY] at what is known at "The Spring house."
Sadness again has reached our midst. The death of Mrs. Charles Lucas, daughter of John and Lisa Hillard occurred the 23d. The deceased has been sick for a long time. She leaves a husband, father, two brothers, Adelbert and Elmer of Norwich, one sister, Iva Hillard, of Norwich, one sister, Mrs. Mertie Frink, of this place, and many friends to mourn her loss. The deceased was 35 years of age and loved by all who knew her.
Chenango Union, October 4, 1906
North Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY]: Mrs. Elva Lucas aged 37 years, after a painful illness, departed this life September 23, 1906. Funeral at the house by Elder Chapman, an unusual large concourse of friends and mourners being present. Burial at Northwest Corners. The deceased was much admired and esteemed by all. She leaves behind to mourn her loss, a husband, father, two brothers and two sisters besides three stepsons. She will be greatly missed in her circle of acquaintances.
Death Notices
Chenango Union, January 10, 1872
GRIFFEN: In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 5th, Thomas H. [Griffen], son of Thomas and Mary Nealon Griffen, aged 2 years and 10 months.
YALE: In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] Jan. 3d, Miss Sarah Yale, aged 14 years.
KING: In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 3d, Jennie, wife of L.B. King, aged 34 years.
EDDY: In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 3d, Mr. George W. Eddy, aged 73 years.
BUSH: In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 31st, Charles W. [Bush], son of Richard and Lydia O. Bush, aged 13 years.
COLEMAN: In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], suddenly, of bilious colic, Mr. Joseph Coleman, aged 63 years.
BURNHAM: In Utica [Oneida Co., NY], Jan. 3d, Mrs. Fanny Burnham, widow of the late Hon. Clark Burnham, and mother of O.C. Burnham, of this village, aged 63 years.
PHILLIPI: In New London, Conn., Dec. 31st, Helen P. [Phillipi], wife of Charles P. Phillipi, and daughter of Rev. J.S. Swan.
RANDALL: In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 29th, of scarlet fever, Charlie H. [Randall], only son of Simon and Amelia Randall, aged 2 years, 3 months and 14 days.
"How we loved him"
FINKS: In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 3d, of scarlet fever, Charlie O. [Finks], son of Perry and Almira Finks, aged 5 years, 8 months and 14 days.
These little cousin Charlies were much together on earth, but now in heaven. Our loss is their gain.
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