Obituaries (September 29)

Dewain Crosby

Utica Saturday Globe, September 1916

 

Dewain Crosby

1866 - 1916

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The funeral of Dewane Crosby was held from the home of his mother, Mrs. Marvin Crosby, on Silver street, Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.  There was a large attendance of relatives and friends, the interment being made in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].  Rev. H.W. Foreman officiated.  Mr. Crosby was 50 years old and was born in Norwich. After attending the public schools he learned the trade of candy making in the Nagel factory.  For the past 14 years he had been employed by Silver Brothers in Hartford, Conn.  Deceased is survived by four children, Miss Marian and Reed Crosby, of this city, and Marvin and Ralph Crosby, of Bridgeport, Conn.  Besides his mother, who resides here, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Clara Phillips of Norwich, Mrs. A.P. Vincent, of Auburn, and Mrs. Joseph Letson, of Norwich.

Ernest J. Albee

Norwich Sun, September 14, 1916

Hamilton [Madison Co., NY]:  Ernest J. Albee, 38 years old, and for several years a victim of tuberculosis, died yesterday afternoon in the street near his home while on his way to a barber shop.  Mr. Albee had eaten a hearty dinner and was apparently in no worse health than usual. After dinner he started to walk across the street, but was taken with a hemorrhage and fell to the street.  He called for his mother, who, with neighbors, carried the young man to the porch of Victor Newton's house, where, after one or two gasps, the young man expired. The body was then removed to his home.  Mr. Albee was a painter by trade and for several years he followed his profession in New York city, where he was affiliated with the union there.  Five years ago his health failed and he came home.  He continued to work until a year ago, when he gradually became worse and gave up work entirely.  Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Albee, he leaves four sisters, Mrs. Charles Briggs, Norwich, Mrs. Arthur Legg, New York city, Mrs. W. Clark, Hamilton, and Mrs. A.L. Ross, Detroit, Mich., and two brothers, Arthur and Roe Albee, both of this village.  The funeral will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. and Rev. P.L. Arthur will officiate.

William H. Gunn

Chenango Union, January 19, 1888

On Sunday afternoon last, William H. Gunn, one of our old and respected citizens, died at his residence on Court street in the seventy-second year of his age, after a long illness.  William H. Gunn was born in Guilford this county [Chenango Co., NY], in 1816.  His father, William Gunn, came to that town from Cambridge, N.Y., in 1810, and settled on the Unadilla river, where he erected the first carding mill and cloth dressing establishment in the county, now known as Rockwell's Mills.  Deceased grew to manhood in that vicinity, and for a time attended the Academy at Oxford, after which he engaged in teaching.  In 1839 he was united in marriage with Miss Esther B. Latham, daughter of Hon. John Latham, and in 1863 he removed to this village.  Here he entered the store of D.C. Rogers, where he remained until January, 1869, when he entered upon his duties as Justice of the Peace, to which office he had been elected the spring previous.  He was twice re-elected, thus holding the position for twelve years.  When a lad he united with the Union Church, near his home, and upon his removal to Norwich he became a member of the Methodist church here.  He held every office in the church within the reach of a layman, and for many years was its Treasurer.  He was a man of noble impulses, benevolent, and generous to a fault.  As a citizen he enjoyed the respect of all, and in the church, of which he had been an honored member for upwards of half a century, and to which he was devotedly attached, he will be missed.  His widow survives him. Funeral services were held at his late residence, Wednesday afternoon, Rev. A.J. Van Cleft officiating, assisted by Rev. O.H., McAnulty, of Carbondale, Pa.

Chenango Union, January 26, 1888

Mr. Editor--Will you permit me, through the columns of your paper, to place upon the new grave of my old friend, some flowers of loving tribute.  Before we left your pleasant town, Mrs. W. persuaded him to provide for us the next best thing to his own sunlit face, and while I write I look upon that form which now lies under your northern snow.  Less than seven years ago I first saw him, as I stepped from the car at Norwich, with my family, to make my home and fill my pastorate.  During the whole term, I found him to be constant and true.  The history of my work is known to the citizens full better than to my church. To serve a church so full of burdens, so constantly under pressure, so unable to meet the just claims of creditors, is not an easy task, and certainly no sinecure.  Under such circumstances it is refreshing to find sympathy, and some great heart a little less than divine, to lean upon.  Such a man I found in my grand old friend, whose blessed spirit has reached the land of love.

From my pulpit I always saw him in his place, and always an inspiration.  First at his loved shrine in the prayer room--never last at the council room--and ever thoughtful of the home of his pastor, where his presence was a quiet, pleasant benediction. We all loved him, and each member of my family feel the loss in his departure.  I knew William H. Gunn well.  He opened to me the heart-world in which the real man is known.  Others may have known him well, and formed different and various opinions.  His temperance convictions would not gather to him the friendship and good will of a certain class; his firm adherence to his church might draw out unpleasant criticism; his love for the higher walks of the Christian life, and his faithfulness to the precious services of the little gathering, might disturb the less devoted.  No man has lived above criticism, even if he lived pure.

The flowers I send from my southern home to his grave, are all white. Reading his motives and actions, for the brief years of a peculiarly difficult pastorate; hearing his words, which could have been at time sharp; I am sure that the white blossom best represents the purity and goodness of his life.  My blossoms are thoughts, sweeter than any rose.  Few knew the warm love I had for your aged citizen and neighbor.  We have prayed together so often and together felt the crushing weight of responsibility as servants of the church  It was a relief to his heart when the cloud broke which had hung so black and so long over the church he loved, and the clear, bright light of heaven shone out.  He lived to realize his fond hopes, and the answer of his prayers.  No man came nearer the heart of him who said:  "One thing have I desired of the lord.....that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life."  The church was his home.  It was his custom to visit the sanctuary daily.  There was one who saw that presence, and heard the tender petitions which went up from that burdened heart.  I have that face before me in art, and that life deep in my heart, for I loved him.

Bailey, in his Festus, says:  "It matters not how long we live, but how."  It is my hope to greet my honored brother in the land of the undying.  Since my residence in the south I have had a pleasant correspondence with him, which gave me much comfort.  That pen of his drops, and that hand takes the crown of eternal life.  I.T. Walker, Lexington, Ky., January 19, 1888

Erastus L. Brown

Chenango Union, January 19, 1888

Erastus L. Brown, another of our old and esteemed citizens, who has for many years been identified with the interests of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], died at his residence on Front street, Saturday afternoon, aged seventy-two years.  He was born in Groton, Conn., in 1815, and in May, 1835, in company with his brother, Erasmus Brown and cousin, Coddington B. Brown, came to this village and commenced the blacksmithing business in the stone shop on East Main street.  Among his fellow workmen was David Maydole, afterwards noted as a manufacturer of hammers. The firm conducted business here for five years, during which time they filled contracts for making the iron work for the aqueducts, locks and bridges on the Chenango canal, then being constructed.  Later they erected a shop on South Broad street, where they continued in business.  In 1850, the firm disposed of their business, and four years later deceased purchased the interest of Hiram Goodrich in the carriage and harness hardware trade, becoming a partner of his brother, Erasmus Brown, who had preceded him in the business.  Here they conducted the business for thirteen years, until the spring of 1868 when they were burned out by the fire which occurred on South Main street, when they retired. Afterwards deceased, with his son, Charles, resumed the business, which was afterwards sold to A. Cary & Son, by whom it is now conducted.  Mr. Brown was one of the Directors of the National Bank of Norwich at the time of his death.  he had for many years been a consistent member of the Baptist church in this village.  He leaves surviving him his widow, two sons, Charles A. of Milwaukee, and Frank H. of Brooklyn, and one daughter, Mrs. E.A. Steele, of this village.  His funeral was attended Monday afternoon, at his late residence, Rev. W.G. Partridge officiating.