Obituaries (December 2)

Riley Preston

DeRuyter Gleaner, September 3, 1903

 

Riley Preston

1817 - 1903

He was the son of Levi and Charity Olin Preston, and was born in Lincklaen, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], March 25, 1817.  His father settled on the farm now owned by H.D. Preston, Esq., then a dense wilderness, and with heroic labor cleared the land, erected commodious buildings and made a comfortable home for his devoted wife and twelve worthy children.  Here amid the labors and love of pioneer life, they laid the foundation for future usefulness in the sterling virtues of industry, honesty and Christian charity, then as now, the abiding basis of all noble character. 

 

It was but a little way through the heavy timber to Rhode Island street where the pioneer Baptist church of that section met in the school house and indeed often in his own hospitable home for worship.  Among these plain and pious people the children went to church and Sunday School and here Riley in mature manhood joined the church and was a faithful member and a generous giver through life.  In this same Baptist church, his sister, Mrs. Betsey Reynolds, though 91 years old, is still a member.

 

On Jan. 14, 1844, Riley Preston was happily married to Miss Lucy Loantia Maine, whose father's farm was in Lincklaen Center, and on this they began housekeeping and ever after made their home.  God blest them with four children, one dying in childhood, and the three still living are:  Emily A. - Mrs. B.F. Greenman, Eldred, Pa. who so tenderly cared for her father since the mother's death,  Arthur M., superintendent of schools, Attica, N.Y., and Miss Alva Nette Preston, Boston Mass.

 

During the many years of business and church life, Mr. Preston was a leading citizen in Lincklaen, a justice of the peace and Captain of the State Militia.  Indeed, he was so tall and straight and commanding in appearance, even down to old age, that he challenged respect by his manly appearance and courteous manners.  Since the mother's death, March 22, 1880, he has made his home with his daughter at Eldred, Pa. where his lifelong simplicity fo plain living and plenty of exercise, gave him a good old age and a serene and happy death.  He was confined to bed scarcely three weeks and with no disease whatever.  On Aug. 19, 1903, like the old patriarchs, he fell asleep.  His daughter was prevented by sickness from coming, and the son-in-law, Mr. Greenman, brought the body back and the services were held in the Seventh Day Baptist church, Lincklaen Center, just across the street from his former home.  A large congregation gathered that beautiful afternoon to look upon that venerable face and then to lay the body to rest in the cemetery on the hillside, overlooking his old home.  The relatives present from abroad were:  Principal A.M. Preston, Attica, Miss Alve-Nette Preston, Boston, Mass. his aged sister, Mrs. Betsey Reynolds, the last of his father's family, Seth Stearns and family, Cornelius Steele, and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Whaley, DeRuyter, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cardner, Delphi Falls, Albert Preston, New Woodstock, Miss Delina Preston, Georgetown, Mrs. Spencer Styward and Mrs. Betsey Curtis, Otselic.   L.R.S.

Mary Jane (Hudson) VanDuesen

Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, August 26, 1903

Mrs. Jerry Van Dusen died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O.P. Hazard in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Saturday morning, August 15, after an illness of several years, in the 76th year of her age.  She was a daughter of the late Col. George P. Hudson, and was born and always lived in New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY].  She was first married to Daniel W. Putnam, who was killed at Port Hudson in 1863.  Several years later she married Mr. Van Dusen, who survives her.  She is also mourned by five children, Mrs. O.P. Hazard and Mrs. Lucy Gibbs of this place, Mrs. John Denton of Edmeston, Charles H. Putnam of Brookfield, and Lee A. Putnam of Utica.  For more than thirty years she has been a faithful member of the M.E. church.  Funeral services at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon, were conducted by Rev. G.H. Kirkland.  Burial was made in the Scribner cemetery--New Berlin Gazette.  Deceased was a grandmother of Mrs. John C. Robinson of this place [Norwich, NY].

J. Delos Bixby

Oxford Times, February 6, 1861

In Philadelphia, Jan. 14th, Mr. J.D. Bixby, aged 22 years, son of the late Rial Bixby of Bainbridge [Chenango, Co., NY].  and for six years past, in the store of Clarke & Co., of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY].  Mr. Bixby was one of those quiet, unassuming persons, whose even tenor of life flows as silently as the streamlet whose existence is revealed only by the increased beauty and fertility of the verdue upon its borders. Faithfully he labored at his desk, until the pen dropped from his nerveless grasp, and physical debility compelled him to seek rest and medical aid.  But his own hopes of restoration and those of many friends, proved alike fallacious--slowly but surely, fell disease had wrought its effects, and in a few short weeks from his departure, he was brought to his early home of interment.  The funeral services, held in Bainbridge, Sunday, Jan. 20th, were attended by a sorrowing group of Oxford friends, who paid their last tribute of brotherly affection to him whom living they loved, and in death was not forgotten.  [Buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Bainbridge, NY]

Dr. Daniel H . Shumway

Oxford Times, February 6, 1861

In Berlin, Wisconsin, January 2d, 1861, Daniel H. Shumway, M.D., formerly of Oxford, Chenango County, N.Y., aged 43 years.  The autumn of professional life has early appeared in our midst, and leaves of the choicest trees have fallen.  Within three brief months, a Dentist, a Druggist, and a Surgeon, each a leader in his profession, have yielded to the demands of death. The last was removed when limb and life were most in danger, and when valuable services were most required.  His native and accumulated resources gave him eminence in his profession, and which to the last he held in his power to maintain.  His ready perception, his unagitated nerve, and his ambition to do all that Surgery would allow, appeared to great advantage in the wide range of operations submitted to his treatment.  But though Surgery was his forte, yet as a physician he maintained equality with his medical brethren.  In the opening chapters of the history of this city, prominence will be given to his name, and his grave will tell of a broad chasm made in our midst.--Berlin Courant [Wisconsin]

Charles B. Sheldon

Oxford Times, February 6, 1861

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult.  Charles B. Sheldon, son of Stephen and Sarah Sheldon, aged 3 years.

Another little form's asleep,

And a little spirit gone;

Another little voice is hushed,

And a little angel born.

Two little feet are on the way

To the home beyond the skies;

Our hearts are like the void that comes

When a strain of music dies.

 

A pair of little baby shoes,

And a lock of golden hair;

The toy our little darling loved,

And the dress he used to wear;

The little grave in the shady nook

Where the flowerets love to grow--

And these are all of the little hope

That came three years ago.

 

The birds will sit on the branch above,

And sing a requiem

To the beautiful little sleeping form

That used to sing to them;

But never again will the little lips

To their songs of love reply--

For that silvery voice is blended with

The minstrelsy on high.