Obituaries (December 17)

Fred N. Storrs

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1921

 

Fred N. Storrs

1892 - 1920

 

Fred N. Storrs, who passed away at his home in Denver, Col., on December 27 last, at the age of 28, was born and lived in Chenango County the greater part of his life until about three years ago he went west on account of ill health, expecting to recuperate and return.  During his absence his family and friends have waited patiently for the realization of his hopes.  For a time there appeared to be a marked improvement in his condition and on October 16 last, a beautiful autumn day he was united in marriage with Miss Florence Shay, of Denver. Two months later he was stricken with pneumonia to which he succumbed after a week's illness.  His friends were greatly saddened when the news of his death reached them for he had been a favorite with all who knew him.  Besides his bride, he leaves a father, Rayard Storrs, of Plymouth, and four sisters and brothers John Storrs, of Buffalo, La Mott Storrs, of Sherburne; Leslie Storrs, Mrs. Ada Kenney and  Mrs. Charles Burchard, of Norwich; Leon and Donald Storrs, Mrs. Walter Brown and Mrs. Leroy Bowers, of New Berlin.  The burial was made in the west where he resided.

 

Samuel Seymour

Chenango Union, June 22, 1876

We buried yesterday in Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], near North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], the oldest inhabitant of the latter town.  His remains were interred upon the farm where he first settled, seventy-one or two years ago.  Perhaps he has lived in Chenango County longer than any man now living.  His father settled in the town of Guilford, near the Centre, upon what is known as the Fitch farm. This settlement was begun when Samuel Seymour was but seven years old.  So for eighty-six years he has lived in our County; for he died on Friday last, June 16th, at the age of ninety-three years.  He has seen great changes in North Norwich and vicinity during his long and useful life.  He went into the forests of this region with strong hands and brave heart, possessing a strong constitution and iron will.  The forests receded before him; and today smiling fields and prosperous farmers are on every side, where was unbroken wilderness seventy-one or two years ago.  He retained his bodily and mental powers in a good degree till the very close of life; though for the past winter and spring confined mostly to the house.  A good man has fallen.  He died in the faith of the Gospel; a living Christian man for some sixty years or more.  He said to me once, as I called upon him, " I have seen great changes in my day; many ups and downs; I have been young, and now am old, yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken, not his seed begging bread."  So the links that bind us to former generations are being severed one by one.  But while the fathers fall asleep, and we bear our loved ones to the Silent City, all is not dark and sad about us.  The beauty of spring and the glory of summer are upon us. Evil auguries and apprehensions of men do not thwart the grand dealings of God with us.  The fields stand dressed in their beautiful green, and everything at present foretokening abundant harvest.  Just enough of rain and showers to put our weather prophets to the blush, for their prophesies of drought, thus far have failed.  Pity people wouldn't move out of Grumbling Avenue over into Thanksgiving Street.

King Settlement, June 19, 1876   B.B.C.

 

Lucy Warren

Chenango Union, September 21, 1893

The funeral of Mrs. Lucy Warren was attended at her late home in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on Tuesday, September 12.  She was ninety-four years old, and until within a year her life has been one of remarkable health and activity.  A brother, Mr. Lemuel Lewis survives her, and although not far from ninety, in looks and appearance he might be taken for seventy.

 

Clark P. Miner

Chenango Union, September 21, 1893

Mr. Clark P. Miner, who for some time past has been gradually failing in health, was called home on Friday last.  he was one of the very few yet remaining to us, of his generation  His quiet and exemplary life bears testimony that he has only entered upon a higher one.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. M. Whitney, on Saturday afternoon, at his late home, and were largely attended.  Of relatives from other places were his son, W.H. Miner and wife, of Towanda, Pa., Mrs. Sarah Franklin, of Norwich, sister, and only one left of the family; C.C. Rogers and Dwight Rogers, of Binghamton; Mrs. Darwin and children, Afton, and Mrs. Maria Pearsall and son, Bainbridge.

September 18, 1893   B.

 

John Hinman Sherwood

Chenango Union, March 24, 1887

John Hinman Sherwood, the well known and wealthy resident of New York city, died Thursday morning at his home on Sixth avenue, after an illness that had lasted for several years.  Deceased was a native and for years a resident of Chenango county [NY], and the following sketch of his long and useful life, which we copy from the New York Tribune will be read with interest by many who knew him in former as well as in later years.

 

"His career was an exceedingly active one from his boyhood.  He was born in the village of Guilford, Chenango county, New York, on February 9, 1816, and he received what education could be obtained at a country school.  Early in life he learned the trade of a shoemaker and he worked at that trade in his  native town until his early manhood.  When twenty years old he went to Monroe, Mich., and there established a leather and hide business.  Three years later he returned to Greene, Chenango Co., this state, and engaged in the dry goods business.  He came to New York in 1852 and became associated with the firm of Wesson, Vanderhoff & Co., in the boot and shoe trade.  In 1857 he withdrew from that firm and opened a real estate office, beginning his building operations, which made him a prominent and wealthy man.  His first buildings were erected in Park place, which was then a narrow and irregular street. As business increased and he could do so he put more money into his buildings, putting them up in a strong and substantial manner.  Over a hundred structures were put up by him. The Sherwood apartment house is one of these, and together with an old acquaintance he put up the block of houses between forty-third and Forty-Fourth sts., in Fifth avenue. This plot of ground was the site of the colored Orphans Asylum which was burned down by a mob during the draft riots of 1863.  Mr. Sherwood bought the ground for $200,000.  He was  a large owner of real estate, and had a considerable amount of property north of Central Park.

 

"After the financial troubles of 1873 he was instrumental in organizing the Fifth Avenue Bank, for which he subscribed most of the stock, and he was a prominent officer of the institution for many years.  He was a member of the finance committee of the Mutual life Insurance Company, for which his acquaintance with New York real estate especially fitted him, and was also a trustee in the company, and a director in the Washington Life Insurance Company.  The Real Estate Exchange was instituted principally through his efforts and he was a prominent member of it.  He took an active part in the fight against the gas monopolies, and as President of the Gas Consumers' Association he performed an important part of the work of securing the passage through the Legislature a year ago of the bill reducing the cost of gas.  He was also a stockholder of the Sun and was one of Mr Dana's warmest friends.  he had at one time a large collation of paintings, but when they were sold they were disposed of at a sacrifice.  He built and owned the Sherwood studio building at Sixth Avenue and Fifty-Seventh street.

 

"Mr. Sherwood was liberal in his charities and built a church and gave it to the Protestant Episcopal Society at Greene.  He was a member of Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church in Harlem.  In Politics he was an ardent Republican and during the war did much to sustain the Administration. All who had dealings with him, found him a man of spirit and strong opinions, but strictly honorable in all his business affairs, and an old associate with whom he had handled millions of dollars paid a high tribute to his uprightness yesterday.  His property is estimated to be worth $2,000,000. 

 

"A widow and one daughter, the widow of J.H.A. Blodgett, survive him and a brother and other relatives are living in and near his birthplace. The funeral will be at his home at 4 P.M. Sunday. The burial will be at Greene" [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Greene [Chenango Co., NY]:  The remains of the late John H. Sherwood, who died at his home in New York, last Thursday, arrived here this afternoon on the 4:30 train, for interment tomorrow.  Deceased had many friends in this vicinity, where he spent considerable time in his early manhood in business pursuits.  For many years he has been a successful business man in New York, and acquired a large fortune, much of which was derived from real estate transactions and the erection and disposal of buildings of different kinds. At the time of his decease he was connected with several important business interests in New York.  One of the last of his many acts of liberality, was his munificent gift of $25,000 towards the erection the new stone Episcopal church in this village, now in process of construction, and which, although it will become a source of gratification and pride to the town, it is to be regretted he could not see completed.  Deceased was seventy-one years of age.  Funeral services are to be held a Zion church at half-past two tomorrow and the remains will be interred upon tthe Sherwood lot in Sylvan Lawn Cemetery.