Obituaries (October 1)

Emma (Banks) Hall

Chenango Union, May 9, 1878

HALL:  In German [Chenango Co., NY], April 30th, Emma, wife of William T. Hall, and daughter of Walter O. and Angeline Banks, in the 28th year of her age.  The funeral services were held in the M.E. Church, in McDonough, on Thursday afternoon, May 2d, and were attended by a large number of relatives and friends of the deceased. The services were conducted by Rev. A.C. Smith, of Cincinnatus.

She has gone to the grave, but we will not deplore her.

Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb;

The savior has passed through its portals before her.

And the lamp of his love is her guide through the gloom.

 

Alonzo Phillips

Afton Enterprise, March 1, 1894

Last week Tuesday evening, Duncan Parker, who resides on the farm known as the Geo. Taylor farm, in North Afton, and Miss Florence Bond of this place, who had been keeping house for Mr. Parker, came to Afton, and were married.  The "boys" old and young, concluded to give the newly married couple a horning, and Tuesday night of this week some 26 or 27 men and boys from Afton and that immediate neighborhood assembled in front of Mr. Parker's and also in his yard, and blew horns, rung bells, fired guns and made a big jubilee.  It seems that the crowd was not content in simply making a noise, but also threw stones at the house, breaking windows, marring the building and filling the chimney with straw, evidently for the purpose of smoking them out, but which might very easily have set the house on fire.  Mrs. Parker is a woman of considerable determination and ordered the "Horners" out of the yard, telling them if they did not go someone would get hurt. The crowd evidently did not believe she would harm them, and continued their work of "raising Cain" in general.  Mrs. Parker stood it as long as she could and the boys not heeding her requests, she fired her revolver in the hopes that they would stop damaging her house.  It seemed to have no effect upon them, and she fired again.  Five shots were fired from the revolver and two from a rifle, and still the crowd continued throwing stones, etc.  At last a stone weighing some 2 pounds was thrown through a window on the east side of the house, smashing the blind and glass and striking Mr. Parker in the chest.  Things continued to grow worse and finally, Mrs. Parker sent into the sitting room, and raising the window facing the south, again fired her rifle again.  Immediately the noise ceased and all was quiet.  In a few seconds Mr. Alonzo Phillips, one of the horners, who happened to be apart from the rest, came up to the others and said, "Boys, I'm shot, the ball is going down my pant leg," and instantly fell to the ground.  He was carried into Geo. McDonald's house, nearby, and Dr. P.A. Hayes, of Afton, and Dr. R.D.L. Evans, of Bainbridge summoned.  On examination it was found that the ball had entered the stomach and passed through the body, taking a downward course and coming out about 4-1/2 inches to the right of the spinal column.  Nothing could be done for the wounded man to relieve his terrible sufferings, and at 7:30 o'clock Wednesday morning he died.

Afton Enterprise, March 8, 1894

The funeral of the late Alonzo Phillips was held from the M.E. church at North Afton last Saturday, and was largely attended.  The sermon was preached by Rev. C.R. Personeus.  Vandenburg Post, G.AR., of which deceased was a member and the Woman's Relief Corps, attended in a body.  It was one of the saddest funerals that has been held in Afton for some time. The community deeply sympathize with Mrs. Phillips and her daughter, Mrs. S.G. Caswell.

Laura (Beatman) Phillips

Bainbridge Republican, June 13, 1907

Afton [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Alonzo Phillips, living with her daughter, Mrs. Girard Caswell, of Etna, died Tuesday, June 4th, 1907, and her remains were brought to Afton for burial, being taken to the home of her brother, J.O. Beatman.  The funeral was conducted by Rev. I.J. Smith, and interment in North Afton cemetery by the side of her husband.  Mrs. Phillips has been in ill health for many months but recently suffered a creeping paralysis affecting the brain and the past three weeks of her life was helpless and unable to recognize her friends or surroundings. She is survived by one daughter. Mrs. S.G. Caswell of Etna, three brothers, J.O. Beatman, of Afton, Seymour and Leroy Beatman, of North Afton, four sisters, Mrs. Lydia Bush and Mrs. Pauline Loomis, of North Afton. Mrs. Emory Pierce, of Maine, Mrs. Betsey Burdetta of Norwich.

Bainbridge Republican, June 13, 1907

The funeral of Mrs. Laura Beatman Phillips, widow of Alonzo Phillips was observed from the M.E. church at North Afton on Thursday of last week, with burial at that place.  Mrs. Phillips resided with her daughter, Mrs. Girard Caswell at Etna, new York and her death was the result of a shock.  Her age was about 66 years.

Alta (Phillips) Caswell

Afton Enterprise, April 6, 1950

The body of Mrs. S. Gerard Caswell of Ohio [Norwalk, Huron Co., OH] was brought to Afton [Chenango Co., NY] for burial in Glenwood Cemetery, Sunday.  Mrs. Alta Caswell was formerly of North Afton, the daughter of Alonzo Phillips of that place. She married S. Gerard Caswell, brother of Mrs. George Tanner, who lives on Caswell street, Afton. There are two sons and a daughter who survive. The body of her husband, S. Gerard Caswell was brought to Afton for burial in January.