Obituaries (April 15)

William C. Bliven

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1913

 

 

William C. Bliven

1829 - 1913

The funeral of William C. Bliven, who died on Saturday, was held from the home of his son-in -law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunckel, in Preston [Chenango Co.  NY] on Monday and was attended by a large number of relatives and friends.  Mr. Bliven was nearly 84 years of age and had passed most of his life in Preston, coming there when a boy with his parents from Rhode Island.  He had always been an unswerving Democrat and in his earlier years [he] and  his two brothers were among most prominent men of that town, both socially and politically, his brother Rowland Bliven, holding the office supervisor for many terms.  Besides his daughter, Mrs. Dunckel he is survived by three grandsons Charles, Neil and Dorr Dunckle; brother, Rowland Bliven, and a sister, Mrs. Ely Ross, and several nephews and nieces.

 

Calvin Woodcock

Afton Enterprise, April 16, 1914

Otego [Otsego Co., NY]:  Calvin Woodcock, an old resident of Otego, passed away at his home on River street on Saturday morning, of valvular heart trouble, age 75 years. The funeral was held at the house on Monday morning with interment at Monday morning with interment at Milford Center.  The deceased leaves a son and daughter to mourn their loss.

 

Mary Ann Deuel

Afton Enterprise, April 16, 1914

Otego [Otsego Co., NY]:  Mrs. Mary Ann Deuel, an old resident of this place died on Friday morning last from the effects of a shock at the advanced age of 82 years at the home of her son, Emory Deuel, the funeral was held on Saturday at 10 o'clock the remains were taken to Milford Center for burial. 

 

Beatrice May Rackett

Afton Enterprise, April 23, 1914

Beatrice May [Rackett], the 10 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Rackett of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] died Saturday afternoon from strychnine poison, the result of eating seven of the poisonous tablets.  The child was seated in a high chair near the kitchen cabinet, and on a shelf nearby was a box containing the tablets.  It is thought that the box must have fallen from the shelf and landed near the child who innocently began eating them.

 

Guy N. Dibble

Afton Enterprise, April 30, 1914

The body of Guy N. Dibble, aged 24, was found north of the railroad crossing above the depot last Saturday morning by the crew of No. 312, known as the night express.  The engineer of that train had received instructions at Sidney to pull through Afton slowly as an east bound freight reported having struck a carriage somewhere between Nineveh and the private crossing two miles north of Afton [Chenango Co., NY].  The crew of No. 312 called up G.M. Herkimer and notified him of the finding of the body.  Herkimer immediately notified Coroner Hayes and Undertaken B.Y. McHugh, and after a careful inspection of the surrounding circumstances by the coroner the remains were conveyed to the undertaking rooms of B.Y McHugh.  A couple of post cards found near the scene of the accident aided in identifying the body as that of Guy Dibble whose home was near Perch Pond Hill.  The body was badly mangled...

 

At the coroner's inquest held Monday morning, Henry L. Symonds, of Carbondale testified that he was the engineer on engine No. 1018 leaving Binghamton at about 1:50, that he was not aware that he had struck anything until about two miles above Afton when he stopped and discovered the rear axle of a carriage hanging to the pilot of his engine and a robe hanging on the flag staff. After debating the matter for a few minutes he decided to proceed, until he met a west bound train and have them examine the east bound tracks for signs of an accident.  He met no train between Afton and Sidney and the circumstances were reported to the authorities in Sidney. When asked why he made the stop north of Afton, Symonds said that he had seen sparks flying under the forward trucks of the engine and stopped to investigate. 

 

John J. Hope, also of Carbondale, testified that he was head brakeman on engine 1018 on Saturday morning, that his duties were to keep a lookout ahead, and that he had seen nothing unusual between Nineveh and the time the stop was made. Also that the engineer blew the whistle and rang the bell for the crossing.  John Evans, the fireman of that engine also testified that he had neither seen nor heard anything unusual on the trip until the stop was made.

 

Guy Dibble left home on Friday night between seven and eight o 'clock without making his destination known, but it has since been learned that he spent the evening near Masonville leaving there about 11 o 'clock.  It is supposed that he fell asleep on the way home and the horse crossed the track immediately in front of the train.  The coroner rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts.  Guy Dibble is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Dibble with whom he lived and by one brother and two sisters.