Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Obituaries (July 25)

Mrs. Edgar Cornell
Chenango Union, June 17, 1886
Unadilla Valley:  The death of Mrs. Edgar Cornell was a great shock to the community.  the estimation in which she was held was shown by the large attendance at the funeral, which occurred on Wednesday, at Union church.  Loving hands had made many floral devices and beautiful flowers were everywhere, but the lovely white robed form in the casket was more beautiful than all.  Rev. Mr. Weeks preached a fitting discourse form the words, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but shalt know hereafter." The mournful music, "She's Gone." thrilled all hearts.  Kittie will be missed in the church, in the Sabbath School, in society, but most of all in the home circle. The bereaved husband and motherless babe have the heartfelt sympathy of all.
 
Lizzie Angell
Chenango Union, June 17, 1886
Unadilla Valley:  Again the death knell is sounding.  Lizzie Angell was brought to her uncle, J.H. Curtis at White Store [Chenango Co., NY], from her school at Oswego, some three weeks since, very ill.  Friday, June 11th, she died.  Many will remember the tragic fate of the beautiful Elva Curtis Angell, and her young husband. The little orphan girl they left has often asked, "Will I know my father and mother in heaven?"  The question is answered now.  Lizzie had a mind of great promise, and was earnestly engaged in fitting herself for usefulness.  She has gone to a higher sphere, where the clog of mortality will not hinder the development of mind, and where with the loved and lost she may find rest forever in the home her Savior went before to prepare for her.
 
Maria Winston
Chenango Union, June 17, 1886
Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]:  Last Monday evening, Mrs. Maria Winston, aged 79 years, widow of the late Timothy Winston, who has lived with her son, W.H. Winston, who has lived with her son, W.H. Winston about one mile north of this village, retired well as usual. At 15 minutes to 11 o'clock, she awoke the family saying she was feeling badly. A physician was sent for, but at 11:15 she passed from this life, from what is supposed to be heart disease. The funeral service was held at her late home on Thursday at 1 o'clock P.M.  Rev. D.N. Grummon officiated.  The remains were interred in Prospect hill cemetery at Sidney Plains [Delaware Co., NY] --Republican
 
Mrs. Albert J. Wilkins
Chenango Union, June 17, 1886
Mrs. Albert J. Wilkins, an estimable lady well known in this county, died at her home in Sidney [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., from a protracted and painful illness of nearly two years, and a complication of disorders which the best medical skill was unable to remove.  Mrs. Wilkins was a daughter of Deacon Hector Porter, formerly of Coventry, and only sister of the late William D. Porter, of this village. She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in September, 1831.  At an early age she came with her parents to Chenango, where, and in Delaware, most of the years of her useful life was spent.  About 1857 she married him who is left alone to mourn his loss, faithfully discharging the duties of wife, being moreover foremost in the cause of temperance, Sunday Schools, and every good work, till prostrated with disease.  Possessed with rare conversational powers, with cultivated intellect, she was a most agreeable companion and friend. The funeral was largely attended on Sunday, from her late residence, Rev. C.C. Hayes, of Unadilla, officiating.
 
Dr. William D. Purple
Chenango Union, June 17, 1886
William D. Purple, M.D., was born in Burlington, Otsego county, April 6, 1802.  He was a son of Edward Purple, an early settler in the town of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].  Dr. Purple commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Charles Josslyn, of Greene, in 1820, and remained with him four years.  He afterwards continued his studies with Arthur Packer and Charles Rouse, of Oxford.  He was licensed to practice in 1824, and entered upon the duties of his profession in Bainbridge, where he remained six years, when he removed to Greene.  he practiced here till 1853, when he received the appointment of postmaster, which he held eight years.
 
It is not necessary to inform any resident of Chenango county, that all the influence, feeling and affiliations of Dr. Purple were with the Democratic party, yet, although he took an active interest in the welfare of his party, no man could ever justly say that the motive of his action was self-interest.  He was often a delegate to State and County Conventions, but his efforts were invariably to secure nominations creditable to his party and honorable to the people.  During his early days, when opportunities of education were very limited, his thirst for knowledge prompted him to devote himself assiduously to the study of such books and papers as were accessible, and he availed himself of every privilege to obtain the coveted information, and in his mature years became a writer of considerable energy.  His articles on current topics contained apt and appropriate matter, often experienced in crisp style.  He continued his love of reading until his last year, when total blindness came upon him, as he result of an accident.
 
His medical writings were dignified, and contained much originality and sound philosophy, and were so free from technicalities that they were readily comprehended.  Many of them are to be found in the "Transactions of the N.Y. State Medical Society," and the "Chenango County Medical Society," and one of his medical articles was translated into French and published abroad.  Many of his miscellaneous articles were contributions to the Chenango Union.
 
Dr. Purple possessed a remarkably retentive memory, characterized, also, by a surprising facility for the recollection of dates, statistics, and historical occurrences, so that he was called sometimes, as veritably he was a walking encyclopedia.  He could tell at once the names of candidates, the year of their nominations, the names, methods, and characteristics, and management of all parties, and the principal history of nearly all political leaders during every year of the past eighty years; would one ascertain the number of miles distance between Utica and Rochester, or Buffalo and Albany, Dr. Purple had it at his tongue's end; also the year and frequently the month when almost nay important event had happened in his own country, as well as much that transpired in more remote localities during the period of his lifetime.
 
The marked changes of the country for the better in the locality of his residence were always appreciated by him.  Although he lived to see the railroad and steamboat, the telegraph, telephone, and Atlantic cable, the common means of transportation and communication, yet he also lived when the beautiful village where he died was a settlement whose occupation was mainly lumbering, and where the mail arrived but once a week---brought many miles on horseback.  And he, as well as most octogenarians, must have viewed with fervent gratitude an infant republic, whose people were loyal, faithful and united, rise from the successes and dignity following the revolution, to its position of power, wealth, commercial importance, superior government and prosperity among the great realms of civilization.

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