Obituaries (August 17)

Dorothy Ellen (Hogan) Back

1911 - 1943*

Funeral services for Mrs. Dorothy Ellen Back were held in the First Congregational Church of Cromwell [CT], Thursday, June 17, and were in charge of the minister of the church, the Rev. Sumner Osgood.  The large number of floral offerings completely filled the space around the pulpit platform.  The organist of the church, Mrs. Anna A. Doering, used the music of some of the songs which Mrs. Back had sung at church services as a member of the choir and frequent soloist. There was a large attendance of members of the church at the services and the Young Married Couples' Club, of which Mrs. Back was a member, attended in a body.  Mrs. back was especially active in the choir, and this organization took part in the services.  In his remarks, the minister said, "Mrs. Back will long be remembered in this church for the zest which she put into her living.  Many lives are dull and drab but hers was bright and eager.  Many people complain over the simple tasks of church life, but to Dorothy Back it was a joy to help. She will be sorely missed, not only in the church, but by a host of friends and neighbors. Though her life was short as we measure time, she put so much into her days that they were indeed full of deeds of helpfulness.  It suggests to us that the best way to live is to act as if every day might be our last and therefore to fill it full of the best we have."  The above was contributed by Mrs. Back's pastor, the Rev. C. Sumner Osgood.  [obituary posted to this blog on June 25, 2017]  *estimated from available census and obit data.

 

Esther Anna  (Padgett) Roys

1843 - 1926

Mrs. Esther Anna Roys, widow of the late Samuel N. Roys, died at the home of her eldest son, James N. Roys, on Friday, December 17, aged 78 years.  She was the daughter of Charles and Mary Wilbur Padgett and was born in Oxford, February 29, 1848.*  She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Polly King and Mrs. Mary Ogden; two brothers, Robert J. and Riley J. Padgett; two daughters, Mrs. Roy E. Nichols of Utica and Mrs. Grover Hamilton of Coventry; eight sons, James N. Roys of Oxford; Erford S., of Vestal; Elbert E., of Naples, N.Y., Charles A. and Frederick E. of Greene; Benjamin Eli, of Tuloumne, Cal.; Emmet L. and F. Lina of Johnson City; also twenty-two grandchildren.  The funeral was held at her home on Mechanic street on Monday, Dec. 20, conducted by Rev. Charles A. Winters.  Burial was made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY]. *tombstone gives birth year of 1843.

 

Ethel (Cone) Robinson

1863 - 1926

Mrs. Ethel Cone Robinson died at her home on Fort Hill Sunday, December 12, at the age of 63 years.  Her release came after suffering for many years with an illness which confined her to the house.  Mrs. Robinson was the daughter of Samuel and Sabrie Hull Cone and was born in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY] November 9, 1863.  On October 24, 1882 she was untied in marriage with Edward S. Robinson.  They made their home in Greene [Chenango Co., NY], where Mr. Robinson was engaged in business until 1901 when they removed to this village and have since then resided here.  She is survived by her husband and one son, Almon L. Robinson, of Syracuse; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Mead, Mrs. Cora Smith and Mrs. Sarah Leach, all of Oxford, and a brother, T.L. Cone, also of this town.  A prayer service was held at her home on Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. H .C. Whedon, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which she was a member.  Funeral service was held in St. Paul's Church at 2 p.m.  Burial in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY]

 

Martin N. Hall

1895 - 1926

The entire community was shocked on Tuesday evening when the tragic death of Martin N. Hall became known.  Mr. Hall, who had been employed by the Lackawanna railroad, as telegrapher, for the past twelve years was that evening at the station working on a report for the section boss, Tony Furnari, which was afterwards found on his desk.  He phoned Furnari that he would come and see him after a freight had cleared the station.  The freight left at 9:26 and soon afterwards Hall mounted his wheel and rode away.  He had no light on his wheel.  Riding northerly on the east side of Fort Hill park at a point about half way between the residence of F.J. Dedrick and Main street he was struck by the car driven by Ronald Root, thrown to the pavement, and sustained a fracture of the skull in the left temporal region.  The point where the accident occurred is a little to the left, or the park side, of the center of the street.  Mr./ Hall was removed to the office of Dr. A.R. Morse, which is close to the scene of the accident, and everything possible was done to revive him.  Later he was taken to his home where he died about an hour after the accident.  Mr. Root states that he did not see Mr. Hall until he had turned the corner and was almost upon him.  It was then too late to stop.  He was proceeding slowly at the time and had the car well under control, which is evidenced by his sudden stop.  An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon by Coroner A.R. Morse.  The Coroner found that Mr. Hall's death was due to accident.

 

Martin N. Hall was the son of Mrs. Edith M. and the Late William Hall, and was born in this village on December 5, 1895.  He attended school at the Academy and upon finishing school entered the employ of Willard E. Cronk, who then conducted a grocery store now occupied by K.B. Simonson.  While employed here he made many friends by his cordial and pleasing manner.  Upon entering the employ of the railroad he applied himself to the work in hand and was one of the most valued employees at the local station always discharging his work in a most trustworthy manner, and his untimely death creates a loss that is hard to fill.  Always courteous and good natured he was loved and respected by all who knew him and with whom he came in contact.  In February, 1922, he was united in marriage with Miss Mable Palmer of this village.  He was a member of Oxford lodge, No. 175, F.&A.M.; of Oxford Chapter, No. 254, R.A.M., and of the Niagara Hose company, and was a communicant of St. Paul's church.  Surviving is the wife and his mother.  The funeral will be held on Friday at 2 o'clock from the Episcopal church, Rev. H. Curtis Whedon officiating. Burial will be made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], the Masonic bodies having charge of the services at the grave.  The sympathy of the community will be extended to the wife and mother of Mr. Hall.

 

Harvey Shaffer

1900 - 1926

The sudden and tragic death of Harvey Shaffer, an employee of the Oxford Basket and Manufacturing Company on Monday afternoon shocked the entire community.  Mr Shaffer was engaged in cutting basket bottoms, working on a saw at one side of the big saw.  In the mill at the same time were:  head sawyer, R.E. Dove and Raymond Preston.  The accident happened at 2:50.  At the time Mr. Dove was standing a short distance from the saw with his back to it.  He knew the carriage was coming back following a cut through a log and hearing a noise he turned in time to see Shaffer toppling towards the rapidly revolving 40 inch saw.  He tried to catch the doomed man, but failed, and saw him strike the whirling steel.  In an instant the head of the unfortunate was cloven from above the left eye to below the left ear and he could only ease the lifeless body to rest by the side of the carriage track.  Preston heard the same noise but was slower in turning and did not witness the death of his co-worker. The carriage was stopped at the point where it was when Shaffer fell.

 

Coroner E.W. Willcox, of Norwich was called and with Dr. Hall investigated the accident.  He interviewed the employees of the factory and said that in his judgement the death of Mr. Shaffer was purely accidental. The body was taken to the undertaking rooms of F.W. Seymour & Son before being conveyed to his home on Main Street.

 

Harvey Shaffer was born in Dansville, Pa., September thirteenth, 1900, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Shaffer.  he came to Oxford with C.H. Knepka, about seven years ago, when the silk mill was brought from Norwich.  When the mill closed he worked for a time for James Gordon, but about two and one-half years ago secured a position with the basket company.  Three years ago on August 9, the day of his death, he was united in marriage with Miss Mildred Mead of this village who survives him.  He is also survived by is parents, who reside at Ellisburg, Pa., and four brothers and five sisters.  During his residence in this village Mr. Shaffer has made many warm friends and was esteemed for his many virtues. With his wife he was active in the work of the gospel service group, faithful in attendance and conscientious in service. The funeral service was held at his home on Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. C.A. Winters, his pastor. Burial was made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY]