Obituaries (August 2)

Joseph Willard Whiting

1821 - 1843

In Guilford, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], March 3d, Joseph Willard Whiting, aged 22 years, son of the late Julius Whiting, of the same place.  the son, in reference to whose conversion the father uttered the prayer of Simeon "Lord now lettest thou thy servant," etc. a little before his departure.  After the death of the father, he of all others was selected as the one to fill the wide breach occasioned by the father's removal. The untiring zeal, activity and efficiency which he ever manifested from the moment of his conversion, made us all feel that we were not to be disappointed.  But God's thoughts are not as our thoughts. The day that he with near sixty others was to be connected with the church, was appointed by God for the day of his funeral.  Though his prospect for future usefulness and happiness rendered life to him peculiarly desirable, yet he met death thus early in his career, with uncommon composure and Christian resignation--not a murmur escaped his lips during all his distressing sickness. A few hours before he breathed his last, he deliberately made disposal of his worldly goods, a part of which he bequeathed to the Lord Jesus Christ.  His last words, and those repeated while in the agonies of death, were "precious Jesus."  [Buried Guilford Center Cemetery]

Margaret (Watkins) Jones

1822 - 1906

New York Mills [Oneida Co., NY]:  Margaret Watkins, widow of Evan Jones, one of the oldest and best known residents of New York Mills passed away at 6:15 o'clock this evening.  Mrs. Jones had been feeble for some years on account of infirmity incident to advanced age, but had been in her usual health until yesterday.  Margaret Watkins was born in Merionethshire, North Wales, May 1, 1822, and was the daughter of the late John and Ellen Watkins of Deerfield.  when nine years of age she came with her parents to America and settled in Utica, where her early life was passed and where she married Evan Jones in 1843.  Forty-six years ago Mr. and Mrs. Jones came to New York Mills, where she had since resided, and where Mr. Jones died four years ago.  While living in Utica Mrs. Jones was a member of the old Calvinistic Welsh Church on Seneca street. When she came to New York Mills she united with the Welsh Congregational Church and had remained a faithful member to her death, although for quite a number of years she had been unable to attend the services of the church. She was of a cheerful disposition, and although feeble in health, she remained patient and uncomplaining and it was a great pleasure to her friends to visit her.  The news of her death will cause sincere sorrow to many friends, who admired her beautiful character.  She was a kind and affectionate mother and a good neighbor, always interested in the welfare of her old friends.  For the past few years, and since the death of Mr. jones she had been tenderly cared for by her children, and the sympathy of the entire community is extended to them in their bereavement.  She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. H.S. Hughes, of Milwaukee, Mrs. Anna Evans and Mrs. Mary Esmay, who lived at home, and one son, E.W. Jones of Yorkville. She also leaves three sisters, Mrs. E.R. Jones of Minneapolis, Minn. Mrs. R.N William of Bridgewater, and Mrs. Owen Morris of Lime Springs.

Zidana E. (Greene) Rood

1836 - 1901

Zidanai E. Greene, wife of Mr. Perry Rood of this village, died at eight o'clock Monday morning at their home on Pruyn Hill [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], aged sixty-five years. Although ill for two months or more with a complication of erysipelas and scrofula, and known to have been a great sufferer, the community was startled to hear of her sudden passing away from heart failure.  Mrs. Rood had everything to live for; she enjoyed life, had a beautiful home, loved her family devotedly, had a large circle of friends, was prominent in the church, and yet with all the attractions of earthly life, she talked with great composure of the possibilities of her shortened stay, assuring those beside her "that it was all right," if she were to die, and earnestly besought her friends not to grieve.  Mrs. Rood became a member of the M.E. Church at Mt. Upton when a child of eleven years of age, and had thus given over fifty years of active, earnest and useful work to the church of her choice.  By her brave and cheerful spirit she inspired the weak and added strength to the strong, and gave an impetus to whatever propositions came up for the prosperity of the church.  Her seat was never vacant unless rarely kept away by ill health.  Mrs. Rood's Christian life was a remarkable one in its length, its tireless activity and its intense loyalty to her religious convictions. She will be sadly missed from the society of the Bainbridge M.E. church in companionship and as an example of untiring devotion.

The qualities Mrs. Rood displayed in her church associations were never obtrusive. She sought no pre-eminence, but those characteristics pervaded her home life.  She was essentially a home woman, cheerful, energetic, her supreme happiness being in contributing to the comfort and pleasure of her family.  Her husband paid a beautiful tribute  her character in saying that in all their married life he had never known her to speak a harsh word in her family.  Unfailing brightness and sweetness of temperament always predominated.

Mr. and Mrs. Rood were married thirty-six years ago in the town of Guilford.  They had resided in Guilford and Mt. Upton until they moved to Bainbridge thirteen years ago.  Mr. Rood opened up the Grange store in this village and located his home upon Pruyn Hill.  Beside the husband, two children survive the mother Eva G., wife of Harry J. Mosher, Esq., of New Berlin and Helen M., wife of Jay L. Anderson of Bainbridge.  Of her father's family there is only a brother, H.D. Greene of Mt. Upton.

The funeral was held at the M.E. church yesterday (Wednesday) morning at ten o'clock, Rev. C.H. Sackett and Rev. J.S. Crompton conducting the services.  There was a large attendance and many flowers were lying upon the casket presented by relatives and friends of the deceased.   delegation from H.H. Beecher Post, of which Mr. Rood is a member, attested their sympathy by attending the services in a body. The bearers were S.J. Hollenbeck, A.J. Wilcox, Chas. Ellis, Harvey Whitman, George Taylor and Melvin Yale. The burial was in the Mt. Upton cemetery.

 

Death Notices

 

WHITING:  At Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. [1848] in the triumphs of Christian faith, Mrs. Lucinda Whiting, relict of the late Julius Whiting aged 63 years.

 

WHITING:  Also on the 11th inst [1848], Willard N. [Whiting], only child of Jenison J. and Sarah J. Whiting, and grandson of the above, aged 4 years.

 

Up to the realm above the skies,

Dear child, we bid thee go,

Since death hath severed all the ties

That bound thee here below.

 

There Christ the lord forever reigns,

There songs of rapture swell,

And free from sorrow and its pains

We'll meet you, there to dwell.

 

FISH:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult [1851], Mary Elizabeth [Fish], youngest daughter of Luman B. and Jane E. Fish, aged 2 years.

 

LANDERS:  In South Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. [1851] Mrs. Olive [Landers], relict of Major Ebenezer Landers, aged 93 years.

 

BLOOD:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], July 23d [1851] of consumption, Mrs. Eliza E. [Blood] wife of Mr. Orson Blood, and daughter of Carlton Humphrey.