Obituaries (September 22)

Philo Shelton

Norwich Sun, January 24, 1914

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  Philo Shelton, a much respected citizen of Guilford died at the home of his nephew, Irving H. White, aged 70 years. The funeral will be held from the home of his son, W.P. Shelton, in Guilford village, on Monday, Jan. 26th, at 1:30 p.m..  Burial will be made in the Sunset Hill cemetery at Guilford.

 

The death of Philo Shelton occurred Friday afternoon at the home of Irwin White.  Mr. Shelton had been helping Mr. White for a few days and had seemed as well as usual.  Thursday morning he did not rise as usual, and when one of the family went to his room he was found unconscious.  He did not recover consciousness.  The remains were taken to the home of his son, Wm. Shelton in Guilford, where the funeral was held Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock.

 

Annice Angelia (Burlingame) McLagan

Norwich Sun, May 7, 1934

An illness that had kept her confined to her home for the past seven months resulted in the death of Mrs. Benjamin McLagan Sunday night at seven o'clock at her home in Springvale [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].  Born December 8, 1870, the daughter of Freeman and Helen Jackson Burlingame, the deceased had spent her entire life in Springvale, where she leaves numerous friends to mourn her death.  In addition to her husband, Benjamin McLagan, Mrs. McLagan is survived by one son, Lawrence; a grandchild; one brother, Arthur Burlingame; her mother, Mrs. Helen Burlingame; two aunts, Mrs. William Jackson of Deposit and Mrs. Florence Graves of Toronto Canada; two uncles, Addison Jackson of Kuttel and Spencer Jackson of Gallaway.  Funeral services will be held from the Breese funeral home Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock with the Rev. J.K. Romeyn officiating at the services.  Burial will be made in the White Store cemetery [Chenango Co.., NY].

 

Benjamin McLagan

Norwich Sun, June 25, 1934

The body of Benjamin McLagan, former city mail carrier and more recently employed as a carpenter, was found in a pasture on the Frank McNitt farm at Polkville [Chenango Co.., NY] about 9 o'clock Monday morning with a bullet wound over the heart.  Near the body, which was badly decomposed, was found an old type 32 revolver containing two discharged cartridges.  In an inside coat pocket was found a note written on a piece of wrapping paper and addressed to Lawrence McLagan, so of the deceased, which gave certain instructions as to funeral arrangements and disposition of his effects.  The body was found by Merton Winsor and Allen Chapman, the latter employed by Mr. Winsor. Dr. E.W. Wilcox, coroner, was notified and gave the remains in charge of the William Breese Company.  No inquest will be held, Coroner Wilcox deciding that death was due to gunshot wounds self inflicted.

 

As nearly as can be ascertained, it is believed Mr. McLagan ended his life last Friday.  He resided in Polkville and Friday reported he was not feeling well. Dr. J.C. Lee was called to administer to the man, but when the physician arrived, McLagan could not be found.  Since then his son and family have been looking for him and inquiring among relatives and friends whom he might have visited.  The search had continued from time to time since then and Monday morning Mr. Winsor and Mr. Chapman found a trail which indicated some person had been walking through the grass. They followed this and soon discovered the body of Mr. McLagan in the pasture on the McNitt farm.  A box of 32 short Winchester shells, two having been removed, was found in the man's coat pocket.

 

Mr. McLagan had not been in good health for some years, and the death of his wife six weeks ago had preyed heavily on his mind.  In the note addressed to his son, Larry, he wrote:  "Please forgive me for this.  I can't help it.  If you only could know how lonesome I have been for the last six weeks, you would not blame me.  Solitude, solitude, unbearable.  Gram told me I could have to go to my own side, so I did.  I could not eat all alone and I have felt miserable for a long time.  The note continued with instructions to the son as to the funeral plans and closed asking forgiveness.  Mr. McLagan, who was a native of Chenango county, was about 72 years old.  Besides the son, Lawrence McLagan, there survives a sister, Mrs. Addie Jacoby of this city.