Obituaries (February 18)

Reed Campbell

Utica Saturday Globe, April 1899

 

Reed Campbell

1854 - 1899

Reed Campbell, editor and founder of The Morning Sun died at his home on North Broad street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] shortly after 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.  Mr. Campbell had been in failing health for a number of years and for two months had been confined to his room.  While the end was not entirely unexpected all hope had not been abandoned until Friday of last week, when there was a sudden and decided change for the worse, and the tide of life ebbed slowly and steadily until it went out forever.  His death removes from the community a prominent member and robs the central New York newspaper field of one of its most conspicuous figures.  Mr. Campbell was but 45 years of age.  He was born at Coxsackie, N.Y. January 26, 1854.  He early evinced a liking and aptness for editorial work and enjoyed his first experience, at the age of 15, when he edited an amateur paper called The Loyal Union.  Later he was connected with several juvenile publications. The last and most successful being The Young Sportsman.  This paper gained a wide reputation and made for the youthful editor many acquaintances among amateur publishers of that period and many friendships were then formed which lasted through life.  Among these friends were the sons of Charles Schribner who have since won fame and prominence as magazine and book publishers.  After leaving school Mr. Campbell went to New York city and served as a clerk in a large dry goods house.  In the early '70s he came to Norwich and for a time filled a clerkship in the dry goods store of Thomas S. Miller.  He later returned to New York and became the traveling representative for Meyer, Johnson & Co. ---k Manufacturers...with Blumenthal & Co. he ... for 11 years and was one of the most successful salesmen in the street and every part of which he traveled.

 

His taste for newspaper work still clung to him and he was a contributor to various publications and acted as one of the representatives of the Associated Press.  In 1891 he founded The Morning Sun, the pioneer daily paper of Chenango county, the first issue appearing on the morning of March 16 of that year.  At the start the failure of the project was freely predicted, the attempt to maintain a daily in a place the size and scope of Norwich being looked upon as little less than foolhardy.  But time has told a different tale.  From the first the paper bore the imprint of the marked individuality of the editor, who chose as his motto, "Onward and Upward."  In the initial number it was announced that the paper would be independent "in politics and religion,"  and later it sounded as its slogan, "The sun shines for all."  Today it lives in proof of its founder's foresight and superior sagacity.

 

Personally Mr. Campbell possessed a happy, genial disposition, and made friends without any effort.  He was generously endowed with the instinct of a newsgatherer and the imagination of  a genius, coupled with an ever ready wit and fearlessness in expressing his views. To these qualities his success was due.  Though conducting a neutral paper he was much interested in politics.  he was a Republican of the Stalwart school and a personal friend of Hon. Thomas  Platt.  He never aspired to political office himself, but was content with the influence he wielded with his pen.  On September 6, 1875 he was united in marriage with May M. [Merritt], eldest daughter of Mrs. C.E. Merritt, and she has proved a loving wife, a loyal companion an a wise counselor.  She survives him together with three brother, Hoik D. Campbell, of Middletown; Samuel J. Campbell, of Brooklyn, and John Campbell, of East Florence, and a daughter, Miss Maude Campbell, of this place.  The funeral was attended from his late residence at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, Rev. E.J. Klock, of the Congregational Chruch, officiating.  The solemn service called together a large concourse of people, among whom were many representatives of the county press.  Burial was made in Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

 

Della Prindle Scott

Utica Saturday Globe, April 1899

Mrs. Warren L Scott died at her home on Haynes street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] at a late hour on Tuesday evening.  For the past 25 years Mrs. Scott has been an invalid and confined to the house for the greater part of that period, and during that time has been more than once near to death's door, but her remarkable vitality and force of will have carried her each time over the crisis.  In spite of her long suffering, which she bore with exemplary patience, she was devoted to her family and beloved by a large circle of friends.  Mrs. Scott was born at Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] on October 13, 1837, and was the sixth child of Seth Prindle, a prosperous and prominent farmer.  A few years later her father died and the family moved to Cincinnatus, Cortland county, and resided there for a brief period, and then removed to Richburg, Allegany county, where she was untied in marriage to Warren L. Scott October 3, 1865, and the following spring came to Norwich.  She took an active interest in the religious and social affairs of the village until prevented by disease.  Her husband survives her and also two daughters, May, the wife of Rev. E.B. Olmstead, D.D., of Binghamton, and Frances, wife of Mark F. Brown, of this village, and a son, John P. Scott, a student at Oberlin University. The funeral was held this morning at 11 o'clock.  Interment in the family plot at Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

Lydia A. (Frink) Brooks Brown

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, April 1, 1899

Lydia A. Frink was born in the north-west part of the town of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on December 12, 1834, and died March 9, 1899, in the 79th year of her age.  Her parents, Nathan and Eunice Frink, had seven children, two of whom preceded Lydia into the eternal world.  Russell B. Frink was the eldest child, and he died at East Pharsalia two years ago.  A younger brother, Daniel, died in California. The remaining members of the family are Joshua Frink and Mrs. Betsy C. Baker of East Pharsalia, and Marshall D. Frink and Mrs. Francis M. Harrington, whose homes are in Michigan.  Lydia lived with her parents at Pharsalia until her marriage, at about the age of 30 years to William H. Brooks, when she removed with him to South Plymouth.  where they resided together until his death.  Mrs. Brooks was later married, March 17, 1874, to Ira S. Brown.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown had lived in the home where she died at Plymouth, for about 24 years.  Mr. Brown had been in feeble health for some time past, and Mrs. Brown was unremitting in her attention to him.  But she herself was taken ill the latter part of the winter, and after a brief but painful sickness, succumbed on the 9th of March.  Mrs. Brown was a faithful member of the M.E. church at Plymouth for over 40 years.  She was a woman of strong character, of genuine piety, and of cheerful and genial disposition and commanded the confidence of all with whom she came in contact. The high esteem to which she was held was manifest on Sunday, March 12th, when her funeral service was conducted by her pastor, the Rev. A. Clarke.  On that day notwithstanding heavy rains and very bad roads, a large company gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased.   The interment took place at South Plymouth.  Mr. Brown leaves her husband, Ira S. Brown, and son, James W Brooks, to mourn her loss.

Nina L. Bentley

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, April 1, 1899

Again have we been reminded that "Death loves a shining mark."  On Tuesday morning, March 21st, the angel of death entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Bentley and the spirit of their eldest daughter, Nina L. [Bentley], returned to the God who gave it.  Miss Bentley was born in West Bainbridge, October 28, 1861.  Mr. Bentley and family removed to this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] October 28, 1881, since which time Miss Nina has been a favorite, both in school and in church and her death is felt by all to be an irreparable loss.  About the first of February she was stricken with peritonitis, from which she had apparently been recovering, when on the 15th of March she suffered a relapse and gradually failed until Tuesday morning, when she passed away.  The deathbed scene was peculiarly affecting for those dear ones who gathered around her.  After bidding them all farewell, she asked her father to read a chapter from the bible, after which her pastor offered a prayer.  At the close she began singing with a feeble voice that beautiful hymn which she had so often sung in the choir.

"Oh, think of the home over there,

By the side of the river of light.

Where the saints, all immortal and fair

Are robed in their garments of white, over there."

Thus she passed away, with perfect faith in the love and wisdom of her Heavenly Father.  She was a consistent member of the M.E. church and Epworth League, always ready to do whatever she could toward the upbuilding of her Savior's kingdom here on earth.  She leaves to mourn her loss, a father, mother, two sisters and a brother, who have the sympathy of the whole community in their deep sorrow.  The funeral services were held on Friday, March 24th, from her late home at 1 o'clock.  Rev. C.R. Sackett, her pastor, officiated, assisted by Rev. T.F. Hall of Oneonta, and Rev. Mr. Coggshall of Windsor.  the Epsorth League attended the funeral in a body as did also a delegation from the High school.  The casket was covered with beautiful flowers, which whispered of love, rest and home. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at West Bainbridge.

The circle is broken--one seat is forsaken--

One bud from the tree of our friendship is shaken--

One heart from among us no longer shall thrill

With joy in our gladness, or grief in our ill.

 

Weep!,--lonely and lowly are slumbering now

The light of her glances, the pride of her brow

Weep! --sadly and long shall we listen in vain.

To hear the soft tones of her welcome again.

 

As a cloud of the sunset, slow melting in heaven,

As a star that is lost when the daylight is given.

As a glad dream of slumber, which wakens in bliss,

She hath passed to the world of the holy from this.