Obituaries (September 21)

Elijah Atherton

Otsego Journal, April 5, 1928

Funeral services for Elijah Atherton, who died in the Norwich Memorial hospital Sunday morning, March 25th, were held at the Baptist church in this place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Rev. Ashmore of Norwich officiated.  Mr. Atherton, who was 83, had been in the hospital since last fall. He leaves one brother, Silas, of Preston, and one sister, Mrs. Chas. Dyer of Norwich.  Burial was made in Riverside cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY]

 

William R. Sheldon

Norwich Sun, November 12, 1907

Monday, occurred the death of William R. Sheldon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Hamilton, No. 40 Henry street in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].  For over a year Mr. Sheldon has been in an almost helpless condition, the result of a shock suffered at that time.  William R. Sheldon was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] 79 years ago.  He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sheldon.  In 1852, he married Mary A. White of Guilford. To them five children were born, three of whom survive.  Mrs. Sheldon died in this village, June 22, 1906.  For several years, Mr. Sheldon engaged in farming in Guilford.  He then moved to Norwich where for a number of years he was the proprietor of a livery.  After that he went to Greene, where he again engaged in farming, until advancing years compelled his retirement from active life.  He was a member of Norwich lodge, No. 302, F.&A.M., which body will conduct the interment ceremony at the grave, Wednesday.  Mr. Sheldon is survived by three daughters:  Mrs. George H. Berry of Sault Ste Marie, Mich., Mrs. James H. Throop of Haynes, and Mrs. Charles W. Hamilton of this Village.  He is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Philo Shelton and Mrs. Victoria White both of Guilford and Mrs. Nelson Bemus of Odell, Ill. The funeral will be held from his daughter's home, No. 40 Henry street, Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. W.D. Benton officiating.  Interment at Mt. Hope [Norwich, NY].

 

Willie Baker

Sidney Record, November 16, 1907

Willie Baker, a colored lad, 14 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Baker of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], was accidentally shot and almost instantly killed last Saturday afternoon.  Exactly how the accident occurred will probably never be known.  Just before dinner, Willie Baker and Lewis Cook, a white boy about his age, purchased 22 caliber Flobert rifles and after the noonday meal, started on a hunting trip.  They followed Mechanic street to the O.&W. tracks, then turned up the railroad.  At a point nearly halfway between Gold and Rexford street, the accident occurred.  The flagman on the Gold street crossing stated Saturday afternoon that he saw the boys scuffling beside the tracks just before the fatal shot was fired.  The Cook boy denies this emphatically.  Be that as it may, however, the gun carried by the Cook boy went off, the bullet entering the head back of the ear, and killing him almost instantly.  Coroner Manly, after investigation, ordered the release of the Cook boy. The funeral of the Baker boy was held at the A.M.F. Zion church on Monday afternoon.  Much sympathy is expressed on both sides.

 

Norwich Sun, November 12, 1907

The funeral of Willie Baker was largely attended from his home on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and from the A.M.E. Zion church at 2:30 Rev. Wilson Treible and Rev. M.H. Rosa were the officiating clergymen.  The grade of which the deceased was a member attended in a body accompanied by their teacher.  There were many beautiful floral pieces and loose flowers from friends which spoke of the esteem in which the bright, energetic young lad was held.  Among the floral offerings was a beautiful wreath from his grade and teacher, another wreath and a star from his Sunday school class.  Music was furnished by a quartet consisting of Messrs. Blackman and Brown, Mesdames Roper and Pike, who rendered three beautiful selections.  Willie Baker was born in Norwich on the 16th day of June, 1893.  He was an apt pupil at school, a loving child at home, and one who not only made many friends but retained them.  "They alone can feel for mourners who themselves have mourned."  The body was escorted to its last resting place by six young lads of his own size, among them the heart-stricken youth with whom he was on the day of his untimely death.

Dora Stearns Parker

Norwich Sun, September 24, 1918

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1918, at South Hamilton [Madison Co., NY] occurred the death of Dora Stearns Parker, aged 46 years.  She was the youngest of a family of eleven children of Harris and Diana Stearns of Georgetown, Madison county, where she lived and grew to womanhood.  On Dec. 28, 1892, she became the wife of William Parker and to them were born four children, Clarence, now with the colors; Harris of Georgetown Station; Tacie, who died at the age of two and a half years; and Raymond, who has always been with his mother.  She also leaves to mourn her loss four sisters, Mrs. Jennie Osborn of Cazenovia, Mrs. Polly Mack of Mezzeppy, Minn., Mrs. Lottie Fuller and Mrs. Emma Banford of Earlville, with many other relatives and a host of friends. Several years ago she accepted Christ and was baptized.  The remains were taken to Otselic [Chenango Co., NY] on Friday where the funeral was held and burial made in Maple grove Cemetery beside her daughter.

Stephen A. Sheldon

1830 - 1895

SHELDON:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] September 22, 1895, Mr. Stephen A. Sheldon, aged 65 years.  [Chenango Union, Sept. 26, 1895]

 

Stephen A. Sheldon, a well-to-do citizen, died at his residence on Albany street Sunday afternoon, after an illness of a few weeks.  His age was 65 years. In the early days of the gold excitement in California, deceased went to that state, where he remained for a year or so experiencing all the hardships and exciting scenes of the mining camps.  Returning to this section he engaged in farming, which he conducted successfully for a number of years.  Some twenty years or more ago he retired from the farm, purchased the residence on Albany street, where he lived in retirement.  He is survived by his wife and a daughter, Mrs. Myron E. Powers, of Plainville, Connecticut.  [Buried Riverview Cemetery, Oxford, Chenango Co., NY]

Death Notices

Chenango Union, January 13, 1858

In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] on the 7th inst., Mr. Benjamin Hammond (father of John Hammond, Esq., of this village), aged 78 years.

In Butternuts, Otsego Co., N.Y. on the 29th ult. Mrs. Betsey [Peabody], wife of Wm. P. Peabody, aged 49 years.  Mrs. Peabody during the last few weeks of her illness was called to suffer severely from the peculiar nature of her disease, yet in all her affliction, she did not murmur nor complain, but bore her sorrow with Christian fortitude without whose notice, not even a sparrow falls to the ground. She has ever been a warm friend, a confiding wife, a devoted mother and a consistent Christian dying in the strength of that faith which assures the final resurrection from the dead, when Christ shall come to make up his jewels.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us."