Obituaries (August 26)

Huldah Slosson

Chenango Telegraph, January 25, 1860

SLOSSON:  In Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 30, Mrs. Huldah Slosson, aged 68? years.  Mrs. Slosson became pious in early life, and has always manifested her warm attachment to God and His Cause at home and abroad.  Her place was always filled at the prayer meeting and on the Sabbath.  Those who met her in the prayer circle will long cherish her memory, and the special fervency of her prayers.  For the last two years of her life, she seemed to be ripening for Heaven.  Her whole conversation (and she wished to speak of nothing else) was the wonderful plan of God's Grace to fallen man, the divine efficacy of Christ's atoning blood in renovating and purifying the hearts of sinners, and preparing them for Heaven.  As she lived, so she died in the full confidence of the merits of Him who died for all.

Siley Evans

Chenango Telegraph, January 25, 1860

EVANS:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., Siley [Evans], wife of Riley Evans, aged 54 years, 1 month, 10 days.

Northern Christian Advocate, May 9, 1960

EVANS.--Sister Siley Evans, died at South Plymouth, New York, Jan. 17, 1860, of consumption, in the 55th year of her age. She was awakened to a sense of her lost condition, under the labors of the Rev. L. Bowdish, and sought and obtained peace in the atoning blood. Soon after her conversion she connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she remained a consistent member until death. For twenty years she exemplified the doctrines of Christ by a well ordered life and a godly conversation. Her situation was a trying one, and in scenes of sorrow and affliction which would have disheartened and discouraged others, her faith sustained her, and she was enabled to exhibit to the world the meek and quiet spirit of the Christian. Her last sickness, which commenced in June, 1859, was attended with much physical suffering, and borne with Christian patience. Conscious from the first of the fatal tendency of her malady, she looked calmly on the approaching end of life's trials as an introduction to that "rest which remains for the people of God." And at times joyfully anticipated the moment when she would step out on the plains of immortality, clad in the righteousness of Christ, and shining with the glory of God. The closing scene was such as her life would warrant, calm, peaceful, and serene. Her soul was full of Christ and heaven, and she affectionately admonished her friends to seek an interest in Christ, and be prepared to join her in songs of praise where the lofty seraph burns before the throne. Reader, follow the advice of this departed saint. Get religion. It will sanctify life's elevated joys. It will give patience in trials, and succor in the hour of sorest need. It will give consolation in affliction, and cheer us in the solemn hour of death. There is no condition in life that religion will not render more beautiful and attractive. It adds new charms to the palaces of the rich, and sheds an unearthly glory around the cottages of the poor. It ennobles the head blossoming for the grave, and crowns with peculiar grace and dignity, manhood in its prime. But O! how lovely, when it has found a home in the hearts of the young and beautiful. Take the advice of our departed sister--you that read this brief record of a Christian life, resulting in a never-fading crown, and "go and do likewise." Sister Evans, within three years, followed three daughters to the grave. All died in the triumph of Gospel faith, and are now praising God in the bright abodes above. She leaves a large circle of attached friends to mourn her loss.  -- Rev. Nelson Benedict, South Plymouth, February, 1860 

 

Joseph Henry Moore

Chenango Telegraph, February 15, 1860

Died in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th instant, Joseph Henry Moore, in the 60th year of his age.  Mr. Moore was a native of Hillsboro county, New Hampshire and had resided in this village for the past forty years.  He was many years since a magistrate of the town, and he possessed a mental capacity of mucy more than usual vigor and clearness.

 

Mrs.  F.D. Eldridge

Chenango Telegraph, January 25, 1860

One of the most painful accidents ever known in this village occurred on Wednesday evening last, at about half past seven o'clock.  At that hour our citizens were startled by the report that a man and woman had been thrown from a cutter into the canal just below Maydole's Hammer Factory [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], and but a few moments elapsed before a crowd of several hundred had assembled at that point to aid in rescuing them.  The facts were, simply, that Mr. F.D. Eldridge, a well-known citizen, had, while riding with his wife, attempted to drive a skittish horse around the narrow turn between the bank of the canal where the waste water enters it below the lock and the building on the corner of Mr. Maydole's lot, and the horse became so badly frightened as to be unmanageable, finally turning around and backing the cutter over the bank, and falling with its occupants into the open water at the lower end of the race.  Mr. Eldridge cried out for help as soon as he could get free from the sunken cutter, and Mr. C.C. Gager, who was fortunately near the spot, succeeded in reaching him and bringing him from the water.  After Mr. Eldridge was rescued it was with the utmost effort that those who came up prevented him from plunging in again to search for his wife, and it was only by using considerable force that he was taken from the scene of his calamity.  He was found to be much hurt about the head and body, but is now doing well.  After a search of nearly an hour the body of Mrs. Eldridge, was found some two of three rods below the place where the cutter was tipped in.  It would seem that she was rendered insensible at the very first by some injury inflicted by the horse, as her body showed no sign of any struggle in the water. Every effort made for her recovery was, of course, fruitless, though Dr. Smith did all that could be done to that end.  A more sorrowful accident than this has not occurred in this village within our knowledge.  We trust that some means will be used to make the point where it happened more safe for passengers, or that the road itself will be made impassable by those who own the "right of way."

 

Isaac Foote

Chenango Telegraph, February 15, 1860

Died in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th instant, Isaac Foote in the 84th year of his age.  Mr. Foote was one of the early settlers of the town of Smyrna, where he continued to reside until his removal to this village, a few years since.  He filled the office of High Sheriff of this county [Chenango] from 1809 to 1811, and again from 1813 to 1815, succeeding and being succeeded in each appointment by the late Col. William Monroe.  He has also been the frequent Supervisor of his town and the holder of other places of trust from his townsmen.  He acted as the Land Agent of the Lawrence Estate in the towns of Smyrna, Plymouth, and Otselic up to his death.  In every position he was able, honest, diligent, methodical, and accurate, and secured by these qualities the unlimited confidence of the community.  In his intercourse with his fellow men he was courteous and gentlemanly.  He was, withal, a Christian in faith and in works and the consolations of religion were his stay in his life and at his death.

Since the above was written, a friend has handed in the following:  The deceased has been so well known in this region, for the last fifty years in all his official and private relations that the first impulse on the announcement of his death was the strongly marked character of his life. 

His father is well remembered by our elder inhabitants as an early representative of Chenango in both branches of our Legislature and as a County Judge.  The deceased was appointed one of the early Sheriffs of this County.  In addition to other official employments, he has been entrusted with an extensive land agency and in every condition in life and as an officer of the church has sustained the position of a high minded gentleman and Christian.  From a thorough knowledge of his character for nearly half a century, we can say we never knew an act or motive of his to be unfavorably called in question.  Possessing the means of liberality, they were generously employed in promoting every public spirited moral and religious object.  It is proper to state that he appropriated annually certain sums for particular moral and religious purposes, making his benevolence one of the fixed principles of his life.  The obituary notices of such men need not be long, their lives may be written on their tombstones just as they lived them.  His memory will be cherished by all who knew him, and be justly dear to a highly respectable circle of relatives in Chenango, Madison and Delaware.  [Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Norwich, NY, 1776 - 1860]

 

Death Notices

Chenango Telegraph, January 25, 1860

 

ELDRIDGE:  in Lincklaen [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 9, very suddenly, Ephraim F. Eldridge, aged 66 years and 10 months.

 

WATROUS:  in Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 14, Clifford B. Watrous, aged 9 years.

 

BURROUGHS:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 14, Charles Burroughs, aged 33 years.

 

JOHNSON:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 15, Thomas Johnson, (colored) aged 71 years.

 

HUNGERFORD:  in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 13, David Hungerford, aged 26 years.

 

HARRINGTON:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., Byron Frink [Harrington], son of James S. and Frances M. Harrington, aged 1 year and 4 months.