Obituaries (July 15)

Alonzo B. Merchant

Cobleskill Index, March 29, 1906

The death of A.B. Merchant occurred this (Thursday) morning at his home in Warnerville [Schoharie Co., NY], after a two weeks' illness which was due to a complication of diseases and a chronic heart trouble.  He had not been in robust health for several years.  He was 68 years old.  Mr. Merchant was widely known in this section, having served as station agent at Howes Cave for 24 consecutive years.  He had been a resident of Cobleskill for considerably more than 20 years, having located his family there shortly after he accepted his position with the D.&H. at Howes Cave.  He resigned his position there about three years ago.  Deceased was a veteran of the Civil war and had an extended acquaintance among the grand army men of the state.  He was a member of the 114th Regiment, N.Y. Vol. and did excellent work in his country's service during the Civil war.  He is remembered as a loyal, patriotic, trustworthy citizen, a generous, kindhearted friend and a loving and indulgent husband and father.  Mr. Merchant's first wife died four years ago last October.  He then broke up housekeeping and leased his home on Spring street. About two years ago he married a second wife at Afton and in the spring of 1905 returned to Cobleskill and once more occupied his home.  Last fall he sold the place to A.J. Brown and removed to Warnerville.  The remains were brought to Cobleskill this morning to the home of his daughter, Mrs. W.J. Carey, on Spring street.  No arrangements for the funeral have been made as yet, although it is expected that the body will be taken to Bainbridge for interment on Saturday and that the funeral will be held there.  Mr. Merchant is survived by his second wife and two children, Mrs. Walter I. Carey and A.B Merchant, Jr., both of this village.

 

C. Walter & Minnie W. Norton

The Courier, Brookfield, NY, June 6, 1923

C. Walter Norton was born in Columbus [Chenango Co., NY] May 20, 1882, to D.L. Norton and Mrs. Josephine Norton.  He was married to Minnie Westmorland at Gaines, N.Y., Nov. 7, 1906.  He took over the old homestead, adding several nearby farms.  He kept a large dairy of fine cattle and was a very prosperous and up-to-date farmer.  Walter possessed a genial disposition and had a pleasant word for everyone.  He died of pneumonia March 9, 1923.

 

Minnie Westmoreland was born in Shoals, N.C., Nov. 13, 1882, daughter of Jasper and Elizabeth Keiger Westmoreland.  She came to Columbus in 1903 and made her home with Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Tuttle until married.  She was devoted to her home and was a kind and thoughtful neighbor, ever ready to do her share in the church and social work of the community.  She died of pneumonia March 4, 1923.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Norton were buried at Columbus Corners [Chenango Co., NY] on May 3, 1923, the funeral services being held at the church in Columbus, Rev. C.H. Burroughs of Savannah, N.Y., officiating.  Mr. Burroughs had attended the funeral of Mrs. D.L. Norton in July, 1900, and of Harry H. Norton on Nov. 8, 1920.  He also married Walter and Minnie at Gaines, Nov. 7, 1906.  The bearers were Walter and Fred Clark, Hoyt Shawler, Uri Larchar, Howard Harrington and Harold Miller, all life-time neighbors.  They leave to mourn their loss two sons, C. Howard, aged 14 years, and Robert H., aged 12years; his father and three sisters, Lena and Vera Norton and Mrs. Florence Havell; and one uncle, Charles G. Norton, of Bainbridge, N.Y.; and several cousins in Michigan.  Mrs. Norton leaves her aged father; two brothers, Joseph and Charles Westmoreland; one sister, Mrs. Julius Mickey, all of North Carolina.

 

The funeral was largely attended by neighbors, friends and associated. The many and beautiful flowers showed the esteem in which they were held in the community.  Walter and Minnie "were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in death they were not divided."  They were held in very high regard, and not only the family but the whole community has suffered a great loss in their death.

 

Emma (Odell) Elsbree

The Courier, Brookfield, NY, June 6, 1923

Mrs. George Elsbree, at one time a resident of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], died at her home near Erieville [Madison Co., NY] on Monday, May 14th, 1923, after an illness of several weeks. Emma Odell Elsbree, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Odell, was born in Columbus in 1869.  As a 15-years-old girl she experienced religion and joined the Free Will Baptist church at Columbus.  In 1887 she was married to George Elsbree, and three children were born to them, two of whom survive.  In 1889 they moved to Erieville, where she was a faithful attendant of the Methodist church until her health failed.  The funeral was held at her late home on Thursday, May 17th, Rev. J.T. Harris officiating.  She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, George Elsbree, a daughter and son, Mrs. Arlington Morgan of New Woodstock and Ray Elsbree of Syracuse; six grandchildren, also three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Minnie Benson of West Eaton, Mrs. William Brooks of West Burlington, Mrs. Arthur Hubbard of West Edmeston; O.P. Odell of Fulton and H.A. Odell of Edmeston.

 

Warren Howard Bartle

The Oxford Review-Times, July 21, 1916

Warren Howard Bartle, a native of this town [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], and for a number of years a resident of New York city, died in a sanitarium in that city on Saturday.  Mr. Bartle was born in Oxford 48 years ago.  In early life he made his home in St. Johnsville with his brother, the late Elroy C. Bartle, and later resided in Little Falls.  When he removed from St. Johnsville he went to New York city, where he held a responsible position with the Corn Products Refining Company at 17 Battery Place.  His father, Martin Bartle, who resided with his nephew, Perry A. Loomis, on Clinton street, survives. 

 

 

Minnie E. (Holmes) Root

The Oxford Review-Times, July 21, 1916

Mrs. Minnie E. Root, wife of Nelson B. Root died at her home in Rock Rift [Delaware Co., NY], Monday afternoon, July 10, after an illness of nearly a year's duration.  She was 45 years of age.  Mrs. Root was born in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] January 28, 1871, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Martha Holmes of Coventryville and the late Clark K.  Holmes of this village, who for over 50 years was a compositor in the Oxford Times office.  She was married to Nelson B. Root in Coventry on July 24, 1907.  Mrs. Root is survived by her husband and her mother, and also by one sister, Mrs. Etta Wells of Middletown, N.Y. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and the funeral was held at Rock Rift, Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. George Guild officiating.  The interment was at Union valley, West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]