Obituaries (April 27)

William Riley

Utica Saturday Globe, June 1913

 

William Riley

1893 - 1913

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  A drowning accident occurred on the Hudson river shortly after 6 o'clock Sunday afternoon by which William Riley, of Norwich, lost his life.  Four boys attempted to cross the river from Troy to Waterford in a steel round bottom rowboat. The boat was overloaded, a strong wind was blowing and the boat began to fill soon after the start was made from the Troy side.  The boys made a determined effort to reach the other shore but were swamped.  All were thrown into the water.  Only two of the four boys, Clifford Paul and George Geroux, could swim.  Walter Kelley could not swim but saved himself by clinging to the boat.  Both Paul and Geroux went to the rescue of Riley. The drowning lad caught Geroux around the neck and together they went down twice.  To save his own life Geroux then broke away.  Paul caught Riley by the hair but was not able to hold him until help came.  Two men in a motor boat were not far away and reached the struggling boys as soon as they could.  They were able to save Kelly, Paul and Geroux, but Riley had sunk out of sight.  Men in boats began grappling for the body at once.  Coroner Granger of Cohoes was summoned and went at once to the spot.  The body was recovered at an early hour Monday morning. Meanwhile Norwich relatives had been notified and the unfortunate lad's father, John Riley, accompanied by George J. Devine, left by the first train for the scene.  They returned on Tuesday morning bringing with them the remains.  William Riley was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Riley of Gold street.  He reached his 19th birthday December 12.  After leaving school he was employed in the Chapman-Turner department store and later at the store of J.A. Le Tarte. For several months he had been in the employ of the Carl Dry Goods Company, of Troy.  He was of a genial nature and made friends of all with whom he became acquainted.  He is survived by his parents, three brothers, John, Charles and James, and one sister, Mrs. John O'Connor, all residents of Norwich.  Funeral services were held from the residence on Gold street Wednesday morning and from St. Paul's Church. The impressive services were conducted by Rev. Father Smith, of Sherburne assisted by Rev. Richard Purcell, of Oxford.  The deceased had been an altar boy for 13 years and the pathos of the occasion was intensified by the voices of his former companions as they sang from Stabat Mater, while the casket was being borne to the altar.  Other musical parts of the service were a magnificent rendering of "Ave Maria" by Franklyn Batie and a solo "Heaven is My Home," by Miss May Cox. The bearers were James Macksey, Felix Belisle, Franklin Daley, Albert O'Connor, Gregory Allen, Henry Griffin, Walter Redmond, Robert Knapp, Walter Fay and Leon Hanan. At the open grave in St. Paul's Cemetery, prayer was said by Rev. Father Purcell.  Miss May Cox and Mrs. J.J. Dolan, assisted by Rev. Father Smith sang "Near, My God, to Thee."  Rarely, indeed, has there been seen on a similar occasion such a profusion of beautiful flowers and floral designs. There was an elaborate pillow from the three companions of his last hours of life, and appropriate remembrances from the altar boys, the O.&W. shopmen, Le Tarte store, Chapman-Turner Company employees, the Oakland Club, Norwich Council, Knights of Columbus, Elks, pupils of Miss Thompson's room at the public schools, and the Carl Company, of Troy.

Charles W. Latimer

Chenango Union, April 29, 1897

Charles W. Latimer, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], died at his home at Dixon, Ill., April 14, aged 52.  He was a marble cutter by trade, and was employed at that business when he lived in Norwich.  He was one of the members of the Alert Hose company, in its earliest days and is remembered by many of the older firemen.  He was one of the leading citizens of Dixon, and had held responsible positions in the city government.

Elsie Whipple

Chenango Union, April 29, 1897

Mrs. Elsie Whipple, grandmother of James H. Throop, died at her home on Pleasant street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday evening shortly after six o'clock.  The funeral will be held from her residence Friday morning at nine o'clock.  Burial at Clinton [Oneida Co., NY].  Mrs. Whipple was born at Williamstown, Mass., February 12, 1800, and was therefore a few months over 97 years of age at her death.  When she was 14 she moved to Poolville, Madison county, N.Y., and was a resident of Madison county until about five years ago, when she came to Norwich to live.  For several years she lived in the family of her grandson, but more recently has lived with her daughter, Mr. Throop's mother, at No. 1 Pleasant street.  She was a remarkable old lady, retaining to the last all her physical and mental faculties, and taking a lively interest in the affairs of the world about her.  During her last illness she has suffered intensely but through all her pain has exhibited a wonderful patience and thoughtfulness for those about her.

Ruth Brown Arnold

Chenango Union, May 6, 1897

A marked copy of the Adair, Iowa Messenger, comes to our desk, containing an obituary notice upon the death of Mrs. Ruth Brown Arnold, who died at the home of her son, F.D. Arnold, at Chicago, on April 8.  She was born in New Berlin, Chenango County, N.Y., June 8, the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Frink Brown, whose family comprised eight daughters and four sons, only one of which, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, of Oxford, N.Y., survive her.  On February 1st, 1835, Ruth Brown was united in marriage to Mrs. John F Arnold, of Otsego county, N.Y., five children being born to them, three sons and two daughters, four of whom are living--F.J. Arnold, Adair, Iowa; F.D.Arnold, of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Mary Angels Corman of Brooklyn, N.Y, and Mrs. Sarah Augusta Sisson, of Redfield, South Dakota, all of whom were born in Otsego county, N.Y.  The family moved to Lacrosse county, Wisconsin, in 1853.

"Since then", continues the Messenger "Grandma Arnold, as she was familiarly called by her friends, has resided with her children and other relatives in New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois, always a welcome visitor.  Her acquaintance was extensive and all who knew her were her friends; an invalid most of her life, she was ever patient and self-sacrificing, the comfort and welfare of others always her first care; reading much, she was posted on current events, manifested a lively interest in public affairs and was overflowing with sympathy for the  suffering and oppressed everywhere.  She was well posted on American and European politics, was familiar with the histories of the royal families of the old world and manifested to her last day on earth a warm sympathy for the Cubans and Cretans as well as for the suffering masses of her own country.  Her sympathetic nature which ever revolted at injustice and tyranny caused her religious belief to be liberal; she could not believe that God ever created a soul to be destroyed, but that all would progress to a higher plane of life; that our Creator would take the same pleasure in protecting and perfecting a soul that he did in creating it; that God created to preserve, not to destroy.  Eight weeks before death symptoms developed which she understood as unmistakable signs of early dissolution, from which time she waited patiently and cheerfully for the end, and when the silent messenger, death, was stealing over her, she was well aware of its presence, told her friends she was dying and asked how long they thought she would live.  Her daughter from Dakota and friends from Wisconsin came to assist in ministering to her comfort and were among the friends surrounding her on the early morning of April 8th, when her gentle spirit silently departed.  her remains are laid, at her request, beside her husband's in the Adair cemetery."