Obituaries (March 20)

William Edmond Reed

Utica Saturday Globe, July 1900

 

William Edmond Reed

1843-1900

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  William Edmond Reed, a prominent citizen and former leading merchant, died at his home on Hayes street at an early hour Thursday morning, after a protracted illness.  In 1867 Mr. Reed came to Norwich and entered into partnership with John O. Hill and Theodore Hill in the dry goods business, under the firm name of John O. Hill & Co., which for years conducted one of the leading mercantile establishments between Binghamton and Utica.  The firm began business in the old wooden store on the east side of Broad street, now occupied by William Smith's shoe store, and in 1875 moved into the large and substantial brick block which they built at the corner of Broad and West Main streets.  Mr. Reed survived both of his partners.  He retired from active business in 1886, but had since maintained an office, attending to his many and varied business matters.  For the past year or more, illness had confined him to the house much of the time.  Mr. Reed was born in northeast, Dutchess county, N.Y., May 6, 1843.  He was a son of William B. Reed, who had business interests in Norwich many years ago.  His mother was Mary Ann Dakin.  He was educated at Amenia Seminary.  He left the family homestead in 1867 and came to Norwich at the age of 24.  In the same year he married Mary Bushnell, of Salisbury, Conn., who, with two daughters, Mrs. J.B. Turner and Mrs. R. Curtiss Chapman, and one grandson, Master William Reed Turner, survives him.  Mr. Reed was for many years a trustee of the First Congregational Church and was a director of the National Bank of Norwich at the time of his death.  He was a prominent Mason.  His funeral will be held from his late home, on Hayes street, at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon.

 

Mary Bushnell Reed

Norwich Sun, February 14, 1934

Mrs. Mary B. Reed died early Wednesday morning at the Chenango Memorial Hospital where for the last six months she had been a patient.  Mrs. Reed was born at Salisbury, Conn. on Feb. 29, 1844. She was the daughter of Albert Bushnell and his wife, Ann Lee.  Descended from old New England colonial families, her ancestry gave her membership in the Mayflower Society of the state of Connecticut, as well as the Captain John Harris chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which chapter she was a past regent.  On Oct. 9, 1847 Mary Bushnell was married to the late William Edmond Reed, well remembered as one of the prominent merchants of this city.  The marriage ceremony was performed on Iona Island in the Hudson river.  Immediately after the wedding the couple came to Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] where Mr. Reed became a member of the firm of John O. Hill and Co., merchants.  Mrs. Reed, altho for the past years an invalid, was during the active years of her life prominent in many good works in this community.  She was for many years a member of the board of directors of the Chenango Valley Home for Aged People, also for many years an active member of the board of women managers of the Chenango Memorial Hospital. She brought her church membership from the historic old Congregational church of Salisbury and became an active worker and teacher in the Congregational church of this city.  Her husband, William E. Reed, died in 1901 [sic].  Mr. and Mrs. Reed were the parents of two daughters, both residents of the city. The elder daughter Mary Bushnell Reed, wife of J.B. Turner of this city, recently died in June, 1933.  Mrs. Reed thus leaves two grandsons W.R. Turner and John B. Turner, both residents of this city.  Mrs. Reed's younger daughter, Fanny, is the wife of R.C. Chapman of this city, and her daughter, Mrs. Clark Belden of Cambridge is the third grandchild of Mrs. Reed surviving. Six great grandchildren survive, the children of W.R. and John B. Turner of Norwich.  Funeral services are Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Chapman, 48 South Broad street, committal at Mt. Hope cemetery.  Service will be private and friends are requested to omit flowers.

 

Emily (Wells) Edwards

South New Berlin Bee, January 30, 1897

In this town, Mrs. Emily Wells, wife of Aaron Edwards, died at her home Sunday morning Jan. 17th, in the 51st year of her age, of consumption.  Funeral services conducted by Rev. Mr. Clark of Norwich. Burial in Evergreen cemetery at White Store [Chenango Co., NY].  Mrs. Edwards leaves a husband, two sons and five daughters to mourn the loss of a very affectionate wife and mother.  She has been a great sufferer for several months and has been very tenderly cared for by her family; her eldest daughter, Mrs. Edwin R. Curtis, South New Berlin, was with her much of the time during the last of her sickness; also her only sister, Mrs. Martha Stratton.  Her gentle unassuming ways and kindness to all with whom she had dealings will always be remembered.

 

Josephine Edwards

Otsego Journal, July 11, 1918

The funeral of Mrs. Edwards occurred from her late home at Rockwell's Mills [Chenango Co., NY] on Friday last at 2:30 p.m.  It was attended by many of her old friends and neighbors and a considerable number of relatives. The family had resided at the Mills for fifteen years, during which deceased had formed many friendships.  She is survived by her husband E.C. Edwards, to whom her loss is hard indeed to bear, also by one son Ivan and one daughter, Mrs. Frank Johnson.  One daughter, Mrs. Edith Bailey, died in 1912. She is also survived by several grandchildren. The service was conducted by Rev. W.D. Lathrop, assisted by Rev. W.D. Clough, of the Baptist church. The burial was in Evergreen cemetery, White Store [Chenango Co., NY], by the side of her daughter, Mrs. Bailey, mentioned above.

 

Rockwell's Mills:  The wife of E.C. Edwards, of Rockwell's Mills, died July 3rd, of cerebral hemorrhage at 4 o'clock a.m., aged 66 years.  She was a woman of vivacious and social nature which won her many friends by whom she will be sincerely missed.  Her sympathy and aid for the sick or needy will be remembered by many.  Not in rugged health for years, yet her best efforts were used in planning and working for the interest and welfare of her family.