Obituaries (March 24)

John Wager Touey

Utica Saturday Globe, November 1900

 

John Wager Touey

ca 1848 - 1900

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  After a long illness from a complication of diseases from which he had suffered for 10 or 12 years, John W. Touey died at the home of his mother, Mrs. John Touey, in King's Settlement on Saturday last, aged about 52.  Mr. Touey was born in King's Settlement and educated in the Norwich schools.  He learned the printers' trade in the office of the Chenango Telegraph and Chronicle, under Kingsley & Berry, and while a young man went to New York to strike out for himself.  He secured a situation on the Commercial Advertiser, under Hugh Hastings, 32 years ago, but only remained for a few years when with others he organized a stock company and engaged in publishing the Shoe and Leather Reporter, of which he was managing editor for 18 years, or until incapacitated by illness.  He has since made his home with his mother at King's Settlement.  Mr. Touey was a leading member of the famous Typographical Union, No. 6, whose struggles in behalf of the craft are familiar in the minds of many.  He was popular among his fellow craftsmen and numbered among his personal friends many prominent people, among them Gen. Grant. The funeral services were held from St. Paul's Church on Monday morning at 10 o'clock, burial being made in St. Paul Cemetery [Norwich, NY]. The aged mother of deceased survives and three sisters out of a family of seven children, Mrs. Ella Richmond, of Buffalo, and Miss Mary Touey and Mrs. William Tiffany, of Norwich.  A soldier brother, Lieut. Timothy Touey, is buried in Chicago.

 

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 1, 1900

The current number of the Shoe and Leather Reporter with which the late John W. Touey was formerly connected ahs the following:

 

Word comes to us from the little hamlet of King's Settlement, near Norwich, Chenango county, N.Y., that John W. Touey, who for a long term of years prior to 1888 was connected with the Reporter in a responsible editorial capacity, ahs passed away.  Mr. Touey has been living in retirement with his relatives at that place for 12 years.  He was a man of remarkable attainments in many ways, which with industry and perseverance should have won for him a very high place in American journalism.  His old associates remember him with feelings of sincere affection, and he was known and highly esteemed by members of the New York leather trade, some of whom have passed away.  Mr. Touey was of Irish extraction and the charm of the wit and naïve philosophy which is so abounding in the Irish nature was extraordinarily developed in him.  He conducted for years the "Phosphorescence" column of The Reporter, which gleamed each week with the kindly, persuasive humor of which he was so thorough a master.  His work was highly regarded.  It was copied extensively into the daily papers, and many of our readers, although they had never met him, felt a personal attraction to our departed friend.  The "Phosphorescence" department, after his departure in 1888, had a precarious existence, and was finally abandoned.  It practically died with him, like the "Easy Chair" in Harper's Magazine, with the death of George William Curtis.  Mr. Touey was one of those "characters" so abounding in originality and hearty good cheer that he was welcome everywhere.  Many of his expressions are yet current in our New York office, where he was once so important a factor.  He enjoyed the cordial esteem and friendship of our late editor, Isaac H. Bailey, who appreciated in no light degree the sparkle, the luminous intellect, that has paid nature's last penalty.

 

Mrs. John Ray Clarke

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 6, 1902

Mrs. John Ray Clarke, who formerly resided at Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] and was well known to many Norwich and Chenango county friends, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Stone No. 55 Main street, Binghamton, Sunday evening, November 30, 1902, at 8:30 o'clock.  The Binghamton Republican says Mrs. Clarke who was seventy-five years of age, has been a resident of this city since 1874 when she moved here from her birthplace in Oxford.  Since the death of Mr. Clarke, several years ago, Mrs. Clarke has done much for church and charity work in this city, having given liberally for many benevolent enterprises many of which acts she has modestly kept from becoming public, the gifts being announced as simply coming form "a friend."  It was largely due to her contributions that the beautiful Trinity Memorial church was built. She has always been one of the most active and liberal members of that church.  Mrs. Clarke has been troubled for some time with heart difficulty, and to this is attributed her death.  The Oxford Times says Deceased was born in Oxford, September 11, 1827, and was the only surviving child of the late James A. Glover. Aside from four years' residence in Buffalo, where Mr. Clarke was in business for a time, she spent her life here until their removal to Binghamton. She kept up her acquaintance through visits here and hospitalities extended at her own home, to an extent that her loss will be felt by a large circle of relatives and friends. She loyally co-operated with her lamented husband in laying out his philanthropic plans and was permitted to live to carry them out after death had relentlessly deprived him of that high privilege.  Oxford Memorial library has a testimonial of her thoughtfulness and bounty in the beautiful upright clock which adorns its walls. The funeral of Mrs. Clarke was held Wednesday afternoon from Trinity Memorial church, Binghamton. The church was crowded with friends and relatives. The Rev. Dr. J.H. LaRoche officiated assisted by Rev. J.M. VanIngen of Millburn, N.J., a  nephew of the deceased.  Mrs. Georgia Moore Doughty sang "The Holy City" and "These are They Which are Arrayed in White Roses."  Various religious and benevolent organizations with which Mrs. Clarke had been identified during her long and useful life, sent flowers. These were the Charity Aid, the Women's Auxiliary, the King's Daughters and the Sunday school, also the King's Daughters of Lestershire, and the City Union of King's Daughters. The Secure Mutual life insurance company sent a wreath, as also did the employees of the John Ray Clarke company.  Besides these there were many beautiful floral pieces from individuals.  Bishop Frederick D. Huntington was in attendance at the funeral and took a part in the service.

 

Frankie Sweet

Otsego Journal, September 21, 1887

Frankie Sweet, whose serious illness we mentioned last week, died on Tuesday last.  the cause of his death being said on Wednesday attended by Drs. Jacobs of this place, and Winans and Allaben of Gilbertsville.  The disease was found to have been acute peritonitis.  He died at the house of Geo. Cornell, where Mr. Sweet has made his home for some time past and where he had the best of care during his illness.  The funeral was largely attended from the Baptist church on Thursday, the officiating clergyman being Rev. Mr. Remington, of the Mills, assisted by Rev. L.B. Weeks. The burial was at Morris [Otsego Co., NY].