Obituaries (April 13)

Julius A. Schorn

Utica Saturday Globe, December 1900

 

Judson A. Schorn

1863 - 1900

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The death of Julius A. Schorn, which occurred at his home on Clinton street on Friday, November 30.  The examination of the body by Coroner Harris revealed that the ball had entered the brain through the skull.  Mr. Schorn rose as usual on Friday morning and after breakfast busied himself about the house for a time.  He went to his sleeping room on the second floor and shortly afterwards the household was startled by the sound of a shot.  Mrs. Schorn hastened upstairs and asked what the shot meant.  He replied that he was just trying the revolver.  In the light of later developments this is believed to have been an attempt on his life. The ball passed through a window pane and lodged in the frame of a shutter. A few minutes later he said he would go uptown, but went to the basement instead and succeeded in his effort at self-destruction.  Coroner Harris did not deem an inquest necessary. Dr. R.A. Thompson, the family physician, states that when Mr. Schorn was a lad of 10 years his skull was fractured by a large stone falling upon his head.  The skull was trephined and the injury repaired so far as possible by the aid of a silver plate.  He has recently suffered severe pains in his head, resulting probably from this early injury, the effects of which, aggravated by his business and other difficulties, led to his taking his life. The funeral was held from his late residence at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.D. Benton officiating. The two local tribes of Red Men attended in a body and escorted the remains to Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY]. There was a large number of beautiful floral offerings. On Monday F. Joseph Schorn, a brother of the deceased was appointed administrator of his estate and has since disposed of the Riverside Brewery to John H. White, of Unadilla, who has already taken possession.

 

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 1, 1900

Julius A. Schorn, a well known business man and prominent citizen, committed suicide by shooting.  He was up this morning as usual. About seven or eight o'clock he was in his rooms on the second floor of his house, corner of Clinton street, and the O.&W. yard, opposite the freight tracks.  His wife hearing a pistol shot, went up to the room and asked what the matter was, and received the reply that he had shot his revolver and laid it on a shelf, and that he was about to go uptown. But he went into the cellar it appears, for in a few moments his wife heard another shot, and going hastily to the cellar found him dead.  The bullet penetrated his head on the right side and upper part.

 

Julius A. Schorn was born in Norwich thirty-seven years ago, in the house where he last lived, we think.  He was a very energetic young man, and had accumulated a respectable property.  He was a cigarmaker, and since 1884 had been in partnership with his brother, F. Joseph Schorn who was older.  On the death of the late Thomas D. Scott, the deceased bought the latter's estate, the well known Riverside brewery on the east side of the river at Norwich.  Misfortune followed this purchase and probably added to the worry which finally made him insane. About four years ago a large stone was dropped on his head, and at intervals since he has complained of the effect.  Coroner Harris was called in the case and reports the circumstances substantially as above given.

 

Deceased is survived by one brother, F. Joseph, and three sisters, Mrs. Daniel L. Belden, and Mrs. Josie Borden of this village, and Mrs. Bruen of Patterson, N.J.  The deceased leaves a wife whom he married last June. She was Miss Martha Helm.  There is a daughter by his first wife, who lived at home and is twelve or fifteen years old.

 

Lieutenant Max Wagner

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 1, 1900

A letter to the Watertown Standard from its correspondent with the Twenty-sixth Infantry in the Philippines gives a detailed account of the death of Second lieutenant Max Wagner of that regiment, who formerly lived in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and brother of Clement S. Wagner of this village.  These are the first details that have been received of his death. According to the letter, Lieutenant Wagner was killed on the evening of October 2d, while enroute to Santa Barbara from Jaro with Private Lamoreux, his orderly. The two men were attacked by insurgents hidden in the bamboo brush. At the first volley private Lamoreux asked lieutenant Wagner what they would do and the gallant officer replied:  "Fight." Both sprang from their horses, but the next instant the young lieutenant fell dead with a bullet in his brain.  Lamoreux rode to Santa Barbara and reported the affair.  A scouting party was at once sent out and found the body in the rear of an old shack.  All of his valuables and weapons had been taken.  The funeral was held on the afternoon of October 3d from the residence of colonel Rice, commanding the Twenty-sixth Infantry at Jaro.

 

Frederick Bisbee Hopkins

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 1, 1900

Frederick Bisbee Hopkins died at the residence of his son, Dewitt C. Hopkins in Hancock, N.Y., Wednesday morning November 28, 1900.  Mr. Hopkins was born in the town of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], August 18, 1818, and has been a life long resident of the town, except for a short time prior to his death, and as such will be well remembered by a host of friends and acquaintances. For a great many years he has been a consistent member of the First Baptist church of this village.  His was a genial, kindly disposition, which made friends easily and held them closely.  His character was well known and sterling.  He is survived by four sons and one daughter:  Dewitt C. of Hancock, N.Y.; Charles H., of Middletown, N.Y.; Frederick W., of North Norwich; J.D. of Paterson, N.J., and Lucy Ada Webb of Chillehack, B.C., two brothers, Samuel of Norwich and William of Smyrna, and three sisters, Martha, wife of H.C. Weller of Sidney; Emma, wife of Lorenzo Samson, deceased, of DeRuyter, and Abby, wife of Dr. W.N. Hodgins, deceased, of Belleville, Kas. The body was brought here yesterday and funeral services will be held at the home of Frank ad Inez Hopkins, Hickok avenue, this morning at 11 o'clock.

 

Albert I. Evans

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 5, 1900

In the town of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], November 24, 1900, Albert I. [Evans], son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Evans, died, aged 21 years and 6 months. The remains were laid away in Mt. Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY], Tuesday, November 27th.  His death was a shock to all as he had been confined to his room only three days and very few had thought that his disease would prove fatal.  Although called so quickly he was not "found wanting."  His most earnest desire as expressed frequently in his testimonies was "I want to live so that I am ready to die at any moment."  Utterly unselfish, he had the power of brightening the lives of all he met.  Prayerfully thoughtful, he assisted many a brother bear his burden.  Loyal to God, he helped us all to lead a higher and holier Christian life.  Can the life of such a one die?  Rather, does not his life continue to live by shining through the lives of those to whom he has been a bright ray of God's sunshine!  It is only the useless clay that is lost sight of, while the spirit with its manifold beauties lives on, growing ever brighter and accomplishing its work with greater accuracy than possible if hampered by an earthly form.  Peace, peace to thee, our brother.  Thy trials and sorrows are over, but thy work is not ended.  Silently and surely the great spiritual forces are moving this world upward to God, and the power of thy life is among them, continually widening and expanding until the time for which you have so often prayed when "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord."