Obituaries (January 9)

John S. Nedurian

Utica Saturday Globe, September 1912

 

 

John S. Nedurian

1886 - 1912

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  After an illness of more than a year John S. Nedurian died at the Ulster county Hospital in Kingston, August 26, aged 27.  Deceased was born in Egin, Turkey, and in his 11th year, having lost his parents in the Armenian massacre, was received into a missionary orphanage at Bardizag, Turkey, and educated in an American college conducted by Dr. R. Chambers.  In 1904 he graduated from the college and a year later came to America and directly to Norwich.  He had since lived at the home of J. Cline on Henry street.  Soon after locating in Norwich he joined the Broad Street M.E. Church.  He was an earnest Christian, active in all the departments of the church.  He was faithful in his attendance at prayer meeting and until illness interrupted had missed but one such service in six years.  Two years ago he obtained naturalization papers for America citizenship.  He was greatly interested in the effort for an establishment of a county hospital for tuberculosis.  During the period that he was able to work he was employed most of the time by the Norwich Pharmacal Company.  He is survived by a younger brother, Vram, who is pursuing a medical course in the University of Pennsylvania, and by a sister, Miriam, of Battle Creek, Mich., both of whom he assisted during his years of health and by whom he will be sorely missed.  The remains were brought to Norwich from Kingston by Mr. and Mrs. Cline and given a place in their plot in Mount Hope Cemetery.  Funeral services were held on Friday from the Cline residence, Rev. A.R. Burke officiating.  Members of the Wesleyan Brotherhood, in which deceased was a popular and prominent worker, acted as an escort to the cemetery and surrounded the open grave.

 

Lydia G. (Heath) Webster

Northern Christian Advocate, October 3, 1849

September 14, 1811 - September 16, 1849

Mrs. Lydia G., wife of Elias Webster, died in Binghamton, N.Y. [Broome Co.] on Sunday, the 16th inst., aged 38 years.  She was born in Braintree, Vt., and was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Heath, who were among the first Methodists, and whose sainted spirits are now doubtless mingling with those of many of their posterity amidst the glories of the throne.  At the age of eleven, sister Webster experienced religion, in the town of Choconut, Susquehanna Co., Pa., and from that time to the day of her death she was a consistent Christian.  As a wife, mother, sister, neighbor, friend, member of the Church, she was all that could be desired.  The classroom and the prayer circle were sure of her presence, so long as she was able to go abroad.  Wherever she went, she carried a good influence. The sick and afflicted will long remember her.  A protracted consumption occasioned great bodily suffering; but all was borne with unrepining submission.  Heaven seemed to fill her soul with unutterable tranquility.  With hands uplifted, and a countenance radiant with heavenly light, she said repeatedly during the last few hours, "Come Lord Jesus, Come quickly."  Here was just such a death as any one might wish to die.  On the 18th, her remains were taken to a rural cemetery in the very neighborhood where she found the Savior, there to rest in juxta-position with those of her father and mother, four children and other friends, till the morning of the resurrection.  "Devout men and women carried her with great lamentation to the grave."  She loved all, and was universally beloved.   Z.P.   [Buried French & Indian War Cemetery, Choconut, PA, findagrave memorial #37298142]

 

Julia McNitt Leslie

the Norwich Sun, July 1938

 

 

Julia McNitt Leslie*

December 9, 1869 - July 17, 1938

 

Hosts of friends and acquaintances were deeply shocked and saddened to learn Sunday afternoon of the death of Julia McNitt Leslie.  Since Thursday evening, when she and Mr. Leslie were injured by an automobile, she had been in a critical condition in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.  Her death occurred at noon Sunday.  Born in the town of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], the daughter of Chauncey Morgan McNitt and Frances McNitt, Mrs. Leslie had passed the greater part of her life in the community.  She attended the Norwich academy, later graduating from Utica Conservatory, where she studied public speaking and dramatics.  In 1897, she was married to George Leslie, who survives her.  As a girl she united with the Frist Baptist church, and for many years was a teacher in the Sunday school and a member of the choir.  Mrs. Leslie was probably best known as a teacher of public speaking and dramatics in the public schools, and hundreds of former pupils will remember gratefully her friendly interest, as well as the valuable training they received.  From this work she retired in 1931.  Throughout her life Mrs. Leslie served the best interests of the community in which she lived giving freely of her time and talents.  Possessed of a rich contralto voice and always deeply interested in music and dramatics, she took an active part in local musical and theatrical productions, both as participant and director, and frequently served as judge of speaking and dramatic contests in surrounding communities.  It was most fitting that the last evening of her life, prior to the accident, was spent in a rehearsal of church music.  In recent years much of her time was given to the flowers she loved so much and which she shared so freely.  She was a charter member of The Monday Evening Music Club and was at the time of her death, an active member of The L.V.I.A.; the Captain John Harris Chapter of D.A.R., the Garden Club, and the choir of the First Congregational church.  It is perhaps for her kindness and thoughtfulness that Mrs. Leslie will be best remembered, not only by her friends and neighbors, but also by many who knew her less intimately.  In spite of outside interests, her first thought was always of her home and the small family circle. Besides her husband, she is survived by one brother, Charles McNitt, and by several cousins.  Her funeral will be held at her home on Court street at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. D.G. DeBoer is to officiate and burial will be made in Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

*Photo courtesy of findagrave.com memorial #10129085

 

Death Notices

Chenango American, Greene, NY, February 28, 1889

 

BOWERS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 16th, Clarence D [Bowers]. , son of the late Joseph A. Bowers, aged 3 years, 5 months and 13 days.

 

BOWERS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 17th, Mary E. [Bowers], wife of Owen Bowers, aged 19 years and 6 months.

 

COOPER:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 19th, Marcus Cooper, aged 72 years.

 

LEWIS:  In Garrettsville [Otsego Co., NY], Feb. 11th, Betsey A. [Lewis], wife of Albert H. Lewis, aged 56 years, formerly of Norwich.

 

McCall:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 23d, John H. McCall, aged 69 years.

 

NIGHTINGALE:  In McDonough, Feb. 16th, Mr. John Nightingale.

 

TINKER:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 18th, Frances I. [Tinker], widow of John Tinker, aged 54 years.

 

WOOSTER:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 7th, Goldie [Wooster], daughter of George Wooster, aged 9 years.

 

UTTER:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 20th, suddenly, Mr. Benjamin Utter, aged 27 years.

 

BLANDING:  At Hawleyton [Broome Co., NY], Feb. 25th, Mr. William Blanding, aged 60 years.