Obituaries (March 21)

William J. Cozier

Utica Saturday Globe, November 1900

William Cozier

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  While hunting on East Hill Wednesday afternoon, Irving North discovered the dead body of William J. Cozier, a well-known local character, whose home was in a hut not far from where the body was discovered.  The body was lying face down in the edge of a chestnut grove and beside it lay two bottles, one of them containing kerosene and the other empty, but giving forth the odor of liquor.  Coroner Harris was at once notified and ordered the remains removed to the undertaking rooms of William Breese.  For a number of years Cozier had lived alone in the hut which was his home.  His boon companions were a horse and dog.  The latter was shot a few weeks ago by the Norwich police, having escaped the vigilance of his master while in the village and vented his vicious disposition upon a lady whose skirt he tore and then ruined a bicycle tire and was attacking a buggy top when his career was cut short by the police.  Grief over the death of his dog drove him into deeper dissipation and he was arrested and sent to jail.  He had not been seen in the village for several days and it is believed that while returning home he fell, was unable to rise and died from exposure.  Mr. Cozier was born in Lebanon, Madison county, about 68 years ago and while a young man came to Norwich and followed the life of a boatman on the Chenango canal. At the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted and was with Gen. McClellan in the peninsular campaign.  In 1862 he came home on sick leave and afterwards enlisted in Company H, Seventeenth New York Infantry, for the unexpired term of his enlistment, and then enlisted in Company L, Twentieth New York Cavalry.  For injuries received in the service he drew a pension and with this he purchased five or six years ago a plot of 10 acres of ground upon the top of the East Hill where he erected the hut which he made his home and lived with his horse and dog.  His appetite for liquor was his worst enemy.  The funeral was held from Breese's undertaking rooms on Thursday afternoon at 3, Rev. J.R. Edwards officiating, comrades of the G.A.R. acting as pall bearers.  Burial was made in the soldiers' plot in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].  One brother H.H. Cozier, formerly of Norwich, now of Syracuse, survives and one married sister lives in Minnesota.

 

"Billy" Cozier No More

Morning Sun, November 15, 1900

William J. Cozier is no more.  His dead body was found in the edge of a piece of woods on the east hill yesterday afternoon by Irving North, a hunter.  North reported his find to Coroner Harris, who viewed the body and decided an inquest unnecessary. The body was transferred to Breese's undertaking rooms.  Cozier lived the life of a hermit in a hut near where his body was found.  He has been a familiar figure on the streets of Norwich for many years and within the memory of most people he has been known only as "old Billy."  His troubles were many and were mostly the result of his fondness for liquor.  He was an old soldier and has been an inmate off and on of the State Soldiers' Home at Bath.  Of late years he has been looked after by the poormaster of Norwich during the winter months.  "Billy" was last seen alive on election day.  It is presumed that on his way to his hut he fell, and died from exposure.  Two large bottles were by the side of his body.  One was filled kerosene and the other empty....

 

Chenango Union, November 17, 1900

"Billy" Cozier was a familiar figure in Norwich.  He was born in the town of Lebanon, Madison county, and came to Norwich before the war.  He first enlisted in the Eighty third N.Y. Infantry, and later was transferred to Company H., Seventeenth Infantry.  He was discharged from service for disability, but later re-enlisted in the Twentieth N.Y. Cavalry, and served to the close of the war.  He made a good soldier, as many will testify, and drew a pension with which he managed to live his lonely and friendless life.  Away up on east hill, in a little old log hut back in the woods, with no companions but his horse, his hens and his dog, he made his home, he having purchased and paid for out of his pension money some 12 acres of land.  Winters he had lately spent at the Soldiers' home at Bath, or at the county home at Preston.  he was a harmless sold fellow, fond of his cups, to which all of his misfortunes of life could doubtless be traced.  His pleasant salutation of "nice day." with which he always greeted those he met, whatever the weather, will be heard no more.  One brother, H.H. Cozier of Syracuse, formerly of Norwich, and a sister in the west, survive.  H.H. Cozier, while residing in Norwich, had often tried to care for his unfortunate brother, but was met with a firm refusal.  He came to Norwich at once upon learning of his brother's death, and made arrangements for the funeral, which was held from Breese's undertaking rooms Thursday afternoon. Burial was made in Mt. Hope.

 

Charles Henry Evans

Norwich Sun, October 18, 1928

Charles Henry Evans, an aged and highly respected citizen, passed away Sunday, October 14 at the home of his son, Bert M. Evans.  Mr. Evans was born in Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] December 12, 1846, the son of Albert and Deborah (Cooper) Evans.  He was married in Guilford, July 8, to Miss Ella Mills by the Rev. J.L. Jones, then pastor of the Guilford Center Presbyterian church. Three children came to bless this union, two now living, one son, Bert M. Evans of this place and a daughter, Mrs. Laura Gadsby of Oneonta.  One daughter, Mrs. Grace Johnson preceded him across death's sea.  For the past six years he has been confined to his room with rheumatism having been affectionately cared for by a loving son and daughter-in-law in all these years of severe suffering. Through all he was a patient child of God trusting in the Father of all. As a father, his sweet home life and indulgence to loved ones will long linger in their hearts.  Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at his late home by the Rev. Cecil Plumb, pastor of the Guilford Presbyterian church. Burial was in the White Store cemetery [Chenango Co., NY] beside loved ones. Those who survive are the son, Bert Evans and a daughter, Mrs. Laura Gadsby, above mentioned, and five grandchildren, Myrtle and Russell Evans of Guilford, Edna Gadsby of Oneonta, Theodore Johnson of Batavia and Rose Johnson.

 

Zoa Louise Evans

Norwich Sun, June 4, 1936

Mrs. Zoa Louise Evans died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry D. Morse, in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], about 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.  She was born in Riverdale, Ohio, in 1855  The deceased spent her girlhood in Wilmington, N.C., but was united in marriage in Brooklyn and lived there for many years.  Her husband died in Guilford in July 1925.  Mrs. Evans was an accomplished artist and was active in charitable work. She had been ill three months.  Besides Mrs. Morse she is survived by three other children, Alfred Evans of Riverside, Conn., Dr. John N. Evans of Brooklyn and Geo. C. Evans of Crenford, N.J., also six grandchildren. The remains will be taken to Brooklyn for funeral services and burial in Evergreen cemetery at Brooklyn.