Obituaries (June 26)

Erma Hill Vail

1897 - 1927

On Thursday evening, October 13, at the Binghamton City Hospital, occurred the death of Mrs. Carroll F. Vail, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall G. Hill of Afton. She was born in Afton [Chenango Co., NY], July 1, 1897, and spent most of her life there.  She was graduated from Afton High school in 1915 and from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs in 1917.  On June 12, 1921, she was married to Carroll Freese Vail of Afton.  After their marriage they resided at Waterbury, Conn., Endicott and Afton.  Besides her husband and parents, she is survived by a daughter, Janet, four years old, and three sisters, Mrs. George R. Stratton of Oxford, Mrs. Bruce Keator of Afton and Mrs. Stephen L. Prime of Bridgeport, Conn.  Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, October 16, at the Presbyterian church, in which she was married six years ago, and were conducted by Rev. Harry Brooks. Burial was in Glenwood cemetery, Afton.

 

Frederick J. Dedrick

1856 - 1928

Frederick J. Dedrick, dean of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] business men, secretary of the Lake Ludlow Club, and a highly respected citizen of this community, died at his home on Fort Hill Sunday, March 25, after being confined to his house for three and a half weeks as a great sufferer.  Last Decoration Day Mr. Dedrick and his family went to the Adirondacks for an outing and while there he received several insect bites from which he suffered all summer and which resulted in pemphigus, a fatal skin disease.  Mr. Dedrick was born in Greene [Chenango Co., NY], November 18, 1856, the son of William and Clara Hayes Dedrick.  He was married in Guilford September 30, 1884, to Miss Minnie Root of that place.  His early life was spent in Greene with the exception of a few years when he lived in Kingston.  He moved to Oxford in 1880 and opened a barber shop in the old Harrington block. He was the oldest business man in the village, having been actively engaged in local concerns for the last 48 years.  In 1882 he installed a telegraph instrument, the first in the village, and for years maintained this service for local people.  In 1892 he and George P. Meade formed a partnership and started the local telephone company.  At first there were only 6 users of telephones and the business was carried on with difficulty. As the years went by, however, more and more instruments were installed until now there are about 600 in Oxford and the immediate sections.  Mr. Dedrick was secretary and a member of the board of directors of the Lake Ludlow club and together with Taintor Corbin the present president of the club was largely responsible for the continued prosperity and growth of this organization.  Many times when funds were needed for the improvement of the club buildings or property, it was Mr. Dedrick who made the canvass of members, and he who succeeded in raising the funds for the improvements.  Mr. Dedrick was also a member of Oxford lodge No. 175 F.&A.M.  He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. W.D. McNitt; two grandsons, Clifford and Robert McNitt; two brothers, William of New Haven, Connecticut, and James of Norwich; two sisters, Mrs. D.C. Doolittle of Norwich and Mrs. E.H. Towle of Waterbury, Connecticut. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the home at 2 o'clock with the Rev. H.C. Whedon, rector of St. Paul's Chruch officiating. The masonic commitment service was held at the grave in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, NY].

 

Fannie E. (Cushman) Cronk

1878 -

Mrs. Fannie E. Cronk, 58, widow of the late Charles O. Cronk, died Tuesday morning at the Chenango Memorial hospital [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY]. She was taken ill Sunday and Tuesday morning was removed to the hospital suffering with pneumonia.  Her death occurred at 1 o'clock Wednesday morning, after she had failed steadily.  Mrs. Cronk was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] December 19, 1878, the daughter of the late Timothy and Eliza Cushman.  On March 21, 1895, she was united in marriage to Charles O. Cronk of this village, who died July 16 of last year.  For a number of years Mrs. Cronk has been a practical nurse, and for some time she has conducted a maternity hospital on Albany street. She was a member of the Oxford Methodist church and the Ladies' Aid society. The survivors are four sons, Orville J., of Garden city, L.I.; Waldron of Schenevus, and Floyd and Clarence of Oxford. Two grandchildren also survive.  Elizabeth Ann Cronk of Garden City and Elsie Ruth Cronk of Schenevus. A private prayer service will be held at the home of her son, Floyd Cronk, on Taylor street Saturday afternoon, at 1:30 o'clock. The funeral will be held form the M.E. church at 2 o'clock, Rev. Leon Bouton, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial will be made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY].  Funeral arrangements are in charge of F.W. Seymour & Son.

 

Death Notices

Chenango Union,  September 16, 1875

 

THOMPSON:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], September 8, Mr. Ira S. Thompson, aged 58 years.

 

SAGE:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], September 5, 1875, Mr. Jewett Sage, aged 84 years.

 

HAMILTON:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], September 12, Mrs. Nancy Hamilton, aged 89 years.

 

MILLER:  In South Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], September 13, John R. [Miller], son of Ira and May Miller, aged 5 weeks.

 

BENNETT:  In Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY], September 8, Mrs. Flavilla Bennett, aged 79 years.

BARNES:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], August 31, Mr. Robert C. Barnes, aged 21 years.

 

SKILLMAN:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], September 4, Mr. Joseph Skillman, aged 78 years.