Obituaries (December 12)

John W. Ryan

Utica Saturday Globe, August 1920

 

John W. Ryan

1853 - 1920

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  John W. Ryan, who died at his residence on Hickok avenue last Monday morning [August 9, 1020], was a long time resident of this city, whose health had been failing for about a year. For three months he had been confined to his bed.  Mr. Ryan was the son of the late Andrew and Mary Ryan, of Kings Settlement, where he was born 68 years ago. As a young man he became a practical quarry man and discovered the deposit of excellent blue stone on West hill that led to the opening of the extensive quarries there, which are now operated by the Clarke-Conroy Company.  Besides his wife, deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Curley, Miss Anna Ryan and Mrs. Edward Haley and by four sons, John, William, George and Lawrence, all residents of this city.  Funeral services were held Thursday morning at 9:30 at St. Paul's Church, Rev. James S. Tiernan officiating. [Buried St. Paul's Cemetery, Norwich, NY]

Cyrus John Westcott

Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, NY, February 3, 1930

C.J. Westcott, one of the best known veterans of the civil war in this vicinity, formerly for many years active in the hops business of this section, died Saturday evening about 8:10 o'clock, following an illness of 13 months as the result of a shock.  Since Christmas he had failed steadily and his condition had been considered critical for the past 10 days.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home, conducted by Dr. Herbert F. Randolph of the First Methodist church assisted by Dr. John W. Flynn of Binghamton, formerly pastor of that church.  The body will be placed in the vault of the Bookhout Funeral home for interment next spring in the family plot at Glenwood cemetery.  Cyrus John Westcott was born, February 5, 1843, at Richmondville, the son of Alonzo and Charlotte (Lane) Westcott. The family later moved to Worcester and it was from that village that he enlisted in August of 1862, in company I, of the 121st New York volunteers, with which he served until the close of the Civil war.  He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, being shot in the hand, but after a short furlough he returned to his regiment.  Mr. Westcott participated in over 25 battles and skirmishes, taking part in the battle of Salem Church, in which the killed and wounded during the first 20 minutes totaled 62 percent of the strength of his regiment, in the battle of the Wilderness, of Gettysburg, of Cold Harbor, of Cedar Creek and of Appomattox.  Returning from the war, Mr. Westcott went to Decatur where his parents were operating a farm. There he married Miss Angelia Davis in 1865, and to them was born the surviving daughter, Mrs. George B. Brooks of Unadilla.  Mrs. Westcott died in 1868.  Mr. Westcott was later engaged in the lumber business in Guilford and there he took as his second wife, Miss Eva Norton.  Following her death he married on March 15, 1876, Miss Celia Stebbins, who survives him.  Their married life extended over nearly 54 years.  Shortly before 1880, Mr. Westcott removed to Milford, where he was for many years engaged with D. Wilber & Sons in the hop business, doing both buying and selling.  In 1889, Mr. Westcott came to Oneonta to make his home and later was employed in the hop business by Luzerne Westcott.  For a number of years before retiring about 20 years ago Mr. Westcott was engaged with Frank D. Miller, also in the hop business.  Mr. Westcott was a man of unusual activity, well read and keenly interested in local and national affairs; and these qualities he maintained through his advancing years and to a remarkable degree until his last illness.  He was one of the most active members of E.D. Farmer post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was for many years quartermaster, and he was one of the men instrumental in the organization of the 121st Volunteers veterans' organization, in which he had held office for a number of years.  Mr. Westcott was possessed of a friendly disposition and he had made wide circles of friends throughout the city.  He was a devoted member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. Surviving besides the widow and daughter mentioned are a brother, Orville D. Westcott, of Milford; two sisters, Mrs. Andrew J. Dillenbeck of Palentine Bridge and Mrs. Herman Van Cott of Bainbridge; and a number of nephews and nieces, among them Mrs. Leona Wilcox and Mrs. Barney Walrath of Milford, Earl A. Westcott of Bainbridge and Harrison H. VanCott of Schenectady.  To them the sympathy of hosts of friends will be extended.

Marilla Stead Wheeler

Bainbridge Republican, December 2, 1909

Marilla Stead Wheeler, wife of Randall A. Wheeler, died at her home about two miles west on the Oxford road, Thursday morning, November 18th, after a painful illness of several months.  The funeral services were held the following Saturday afternoon, and were attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. The service was conducted by Rev. R.M. Pascoe of the Methodist church of which Mrs. Wheeler had been a faithful member over 40 years.  Many beautiful floral offerings were in evidence. The interment was made in the family lot, Guilford cemetery, beside the grave of her son Myron H.  Mrs. Wheeler is survived beside her husband, by one son, Floyd, of Syracuse University and two brothers, Rial and James Stead of Guilford. She was born at Masonville [Delaware Co., NY], January 21, 1852, and her death is mourned by a large circle of friends.

Dexter Owens

Sidney Enterprise, March 24, 1920

Dexter Newell Owens, whose death has already been noted, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abrams Owens of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] who conducted a store for many years in that village and later in Unadilla.  Mr. Owens was united in marriage to a Miss Lemoyne a daughter of a Baptist clergyman at Unadilla.  The death of his wife occurred about 25 years ago. When a young man Mr. Owens taught school.  He was exceptionally well educated and was considered a very brilliant accountant, especially in the lumber industry where his services were always in demand.  He was very industrious all his life.  He served one term as postmaster at Unadilla and was considered very efficient. For many years he has been a resident of Sidney boarding at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Milligan where his death occurred last Wednesday morning.  The funeral was held Friday afternoon and the remains were taken to Bainbridge for interment in St. Peter's cemetery.  He was born in Cannonsville [Delaware co., NY] 75 years ago.  Mr. Owens is survived by three sons, Homer D. Owens of Bainbridge, Evan C. Owens of Wilcox, Pa., and Wilfred A. Owens of Ilion.