Obituaries ( May 11)

John Samuel Shattuck

Utica Saturday Globe, October 1913

 

 

John Samuel Shattuck

1827 - 1913

John Samuel Shattuck died Sunday morning after a brief illness at his farm, on the Oxford road [Chenango Co., NY] which had been his home, since his birth, May 26, 1827.  He was the son of Leroy and Mehitable Cook Shattuck.  His great-grandfather and grandfather bought 192 acres of the present farm in 1801 for $407.97.  The acreage has since been increased until now it includes about half a square mile.  It is a refreshing rarity in this shifting era to find an American farm that has been in the same family for five generations.  Only one other tract of land between Norwich and Oxford remains the property of the descendants of the original settlers.  Mr. Shattuck found nothing narrowing in his life upon the farm of his father.  When he was a lad of 15  and sheep raising was common among the farmers, he prided himself upon being able to tell at sight where a sheep belonged whether in his father's flock or that of some neighbor.  In middle life he gained high rank as a dairyman.  In 1878 he won the first prize of $50 at the New York dairy show for October butter.  For several years preceding his death he had furnished high grade, certified milk for the New York market.  he always kept pace with the times in improved methods of farming.  In 1888 he succeeded Hon. Harris Lewis as president of the New York State Dairymen's Association, serving two terms.  When the Chenango County Patrons' Fire Relief Association was organized, he became the first secretary and later was chosen president, continuing in the office until his death.  On May 29, 1850, Mr. Shattuck married Joanna Terry, who died November 23, 1900.  Of this union four daughters were born.  The oldest, Hetty, died August 2, 1900.  The living are:  Mrs. Beatrice S Fulton, of Pasadena, Cal.;  Mrs. J. William Ellis of Buffalo, N.Y., and Miss Myra L. Shattuck, of this place, who cared for her father during the last three years of his life.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Miss Ruth Fulton and Mrs. Robert Freeman, of Pasadena, Cal., and Sam, Jean and Billy Ellis, of Buffalo, and two great-grandchildren, Robert and Bertrice Freeman.  Mr. Shattuck was genial and gracious and the big farmhouse was always a center of hospitality.  On May 29, 1900, it was crowded with friends who came to help the bride and groom of 50 years before celebrate their golden anniversary in the home hallowed by memories of half a century.  In February, 1855,  Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck were baptized by Rev. Lyman Wright into the Frist Baptist Church of which both remained members until their death.  Since 1865 Mr. Shattuck had been a deacon of the church and from 1870 to 1876 was superintendent of the Sunday school.  He was also active in the work of the Chenango Baptist Association.  It is a pleasure to have known one who had kept clean and conscientious throughout 86 years of living; 86 years of activity and without mental impairment.  In his church he was a wise and faithful leader; in secular life he was an active and interested citizen. The sunset of so long and so useful a life brings welcome and well earned rest.  Funeral services were held at his late home Tuesday afternoon, conducted by his pastor, Rev. Dr. J.A. Monk.  The bearers were:  W.F. Eldredge, Addison Benedict, Mortimer Barber and Leon Walworth.

 

Elizabeth Hadlock

Bainbridge Republican, July 26, 1917

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  The body of Elizabeth Hadlock of Middletown was brought to Guilford on Friday afternoon and interment made in Sunset Hill Cemetery.  Mrs. Hadlock was 85 years of age and will be remembered by some of the older residents of Guilford as the widow of Lewis Humphrey long since deceased. The remains were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Edwards of Middletown and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Purdy of Massachusetts.  Friends from Bainbridge were also present at the burial.

 

John Hastings

Chenango Union, July 8, 1897

Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY]:  The funeral of John Hastings was attended at his late residence, Friday, July 2d.  Rev. William T. Blair preached a very appropriate sermon, and Mr. Spooner offered prayer.  Messrs. Winsor, Richmond, Callan and Wadsworth gave some fine selections of music, and the profusion of flowers robbed the occasion of gloom.  The funeral director was Mr. W. Hasting, of Sidney, nephew of the deceased.  A large concourse of friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last tribute of respect, and the remains were held beside those of his family in the Shaw burying ground.  His age was 83.  Harry Hastings, his brother, aged 88, was in attendance.

 

Betsey Ives

Chenango Union, July 8, 1897

Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Betsey Ives, aged 89 was buried on Monday, leaving the fragrance of a long life filled with kindly deeds.  Her aged was 89.

 

Allen Handy

Chenango Union, July 15, 1897

Allen Handy died at his late home on West Hill, New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Monday evening July 5th, of Bright's disease.  Mr. Handy was one of the oldest and best known residents of the town, having lived in this vicinity seventy-five years.  Those left to mourn his loss are his wife and four children, Adelbert A., Charles M., William H., ad Mrs. G.S. Burrows. Rev. Daniel Ballou, of Utica, officiated at the funeral at his late home Wednesday afternoon.  Interment in St. Andrews cemetery.

 

Michael Pendergast

Chenango Union, July 29, 1897

Michael Pendergast, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], our inspector for the Delaware, Lackawana & Western railroad, was run over by milk train No. 11, near the Division street crossing Saturday night about 9 o'clock....He was removed to the Palmer House and physicians summoned.  It was evident that there was no chance to save his life, but everything was done which could be.  Pendergast realized his condition, and requested that a priest be sent for and his wife summoned.  He remained conscious to the end, and talked rationally of the accident and of his personal affairs.  he died about 2:30 Sunday morning, and his body was at once removed to his home on Piano street.

 

Train 11 is due in Norwich about six o'clock but Saturday night was delayed at Brisbin by a broken truck under the engine.  An engine which was just pulling a freight train into Utica was cut off and sent back to Brisben to bring up the milk train.  Pendergast was ordered to Brisbin to repair the broken engine, and when the accident occurred was on the way to the tool house in the lower yard, after tools, which he expected to take to Brisbin on the night express. Section Boss John Fahy and R.B. Cross accompanied him on a hand car.  Before starting out they enquired about the whereabouts of the milk train, but were unable to get any report concerning it.  It was dark and rain was falling in torrents.  Just before the lower yard was reached the men on the hand car heard the noise of an approaching train and jumped from their car.  Not seeing any headlight Pendergast supposed the train to be some distance away and returned to the hand car and attempted to remove it from the track.  He was engaged in this when the train struck him, dragging him under the wheels.  When the train was stopped he was under the tender.

 

The engine on the milk train was running without a headlight.  The lamp was lighted however, after the accident, and before the train left Norwich.  While at the Palmer  House Pendergast made a statement absolving the railroad company from blame and stating that the accident was caused by his own negligence.  The funeral services were held Tuesday morning, burial at St. Paul's cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Coroner Fernald was summoned and empanelled a jury which viewed the remains and then adjourned until Monday morning at the Court House. The jury was composed of Patrick Byrne, foreman, Joseph Winsor, C.O. Darke, C.A. King, Walter Case, J.B. Lewis, John Coleman, Charles Winsor and S.W. Berry.  The engineer and fireman of the milk train, John S. Fay and R.B. Cross, who accompanied Pendergast down the track and Dennis Feeley, a track laborer, were sworn as to the facts of the accident, and Drs. Thompson and Harris as to the injuries.

 

George F. Bryant, the engineer, swore positively that the headlight was burning when he blew for the Norwich station, a short distance below where the accident occurred but immediately after the accident he noticed that the light was out.  The fireman swore to the same thing.  Fahy, who was on the car with Pendergast, said that soon after passing Hale street he and Pendergast saw a light ahead which they thought might be the train.  Fahy said he thought it was a mile away.  They stopped the car and Pendergast went ahead with the red lantern while Fahy lifted his end of the hand car off the track.  Pendergast then returned, set down the lantern and attempted to lift his end of the car off.  He was in that position when the engine struck him. A minute and a half or two minutes had elapsed after they first saw the light.  It was only a flash and they did not see the headlight after the train came nearer.  Fahy testified positively that the light was not burning when the accident occurred.

 

Pendergast was dragged about thirty feet from the place where he was struck.  His first words when the trainmen reached him were "Poor Pendergast has lost his life trying to save the hand car."

 

Attorney W.H. Sullivan, representing Pendergast's widow, was present at the inquest and examined witnesses in her behalf. The jury returned a verdict finding that Pendergast came to his death "by train 11, on the D.L.&W. in the lower year, Norwich, while in the performance of the discharge of his duties."

Odd Fellows Ruled Out

The funeral of Michael Pendergast, who was killed on the D.L.&W. railroad Saturday evening was not attended by the Odd Fellows, as was expected.  Pendergast's dying request was that the members of Canasawacta lodge, I.O.O.F., of which he was a member, attend his funeral in a body. Arrangements were made accordingly and the usual funeral notices were sent out to members of the lodge.  On Monday, however, Father Conway, who is acting pastor at St. Paul's church, during the absence of Father Hart, summoned Undertaker Lawrence, who had charge of the funeral arrangements, and informed him that if the Odd Fellows attended the funeral as an organization he should refuse to say Mass and would also refuse a permit for the burial on consecrated ground.  In making this statement, Father Conway was acting under the directions received from Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, of Syracuse, Bishop of this diocese, to whom he had applied for instructions in the case.  At a meeting of Canasawacta Lodge on Monday evening, it was decided to abandon the original plans, and not attend the funeral in a body.

Several years ago a Papal Bull was issued from Rome, forbidding members of the Catholic church from joining or becoming members of any secret organization, the obligations of which would interfere with the Confessional. The Masonic and Odd Fellow organizations were specifically mentioned in the decree.  The Papal Bull has been honored in the breach rather than in the observance, however, and about thirty of the members of St. Paul's church are Odd Fellows. This is the first time the question has come up in this section, and there is considerable feeling manifested over it.