Obituaries (November 1)

Samuel R. Beckwith

Sidney Record, April 15, 1899

In the death of Mr. Samuel R. Beckwith, Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] loses its oldest inhabitant in point of continuous residence, having been a permanent resident of Sidney since 1833.  For over forty years he was employed as a village blacksmith, and was known as a steady, reliable and hard working man and by his industry he acquired considerable property.  Mr. Beckwith's loss is very much regretted by a large circle of mourners.  He expired in the 75th year of his age and the funeral which was held from the family residence on Willow street last Tuesday, was attended by many sincere mourners who felt that they were bidding adieu to an old, life long friend.  He leaves two children, Henry and Samuel Beckwith, the former resides in New York and the latter is a resident of Sidney.  In 1871 Mr. Beckwith's son, Milton, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun. The family wish to express their thanks for the kindness of many good friends during the illness, death and burial of their aged parent.

 

William Wallace Hastings

Sidney Record, April 15, 1899

Last Monday afternoon the mortal remains of William Wallace Hastings were consigned to the grave.  Death after many years of suffering came to his relief.  In spite of his long illness, his appearance was the sublimity of calm.  He apparently rested as one might at the close of a long journey, peacefully and quietly. The beautiful casket in which he reposed and the exquisite floral tokens lent impressive luster to the scene.  A magnificent floral pillow was sent from Albany by Mrs. S.S. Cole, of Des Moines, Iowa.  Mr. and Mrs. Willard Hastings contributed a wreath; a pretty basket of flowers was sent by Mr. and Mrs. S.F. Cumber; callas by Mrs. Myron Bundy, violets by Mrs. Wright and palms by Mrs. W. Wall Hastings.  The services were conducted at the residence of ex-postmaster Wood on liberty street by Rev. W.T. Edds and Rev. E. Melville and the interment services were held in Prospect Hill cemetery [Sidney, NY].  Of the immediate family, but two now remain, Mrs. Hastings and her young son Claude.  May they be spared to one another for many years to come is the earnest wish of many friends.  Mr. Hastings died in his 48th year.  Of the parent family, children of the last William Hastings, there are two surviving members namely, Willard M. Hastings, of Bainbridge and Mrs. S.S. Cole, wife of the eminent jurist of Des Moines, Iowa.

 

Electa Chase

Sidney Record, April 15, 1899

During the early hours of last Saturday, Death beckoned into its fold one of the gentlest and purest souls that ever tenanted the human tabernacle.  In the death of the venerable Mrs. Electa Chase a shining light is removed and the world loses a choice beloved spirit. The power of love was never better exemplified.  By gentleness and true loving kindness, she firmly welded her heart to that of others, binding them with the silken threads of a mother's warm love more firmly than bands of steel.

 

Mrs. Chase's death at the advanced age of 90 years was not unexpected.  For some time it had been apparent that the inevitable end could not be very remote. As in the seasons so we find it in the human life; there is an autumnal equinox when after the sun crosses the line, nature begins to decline. There is an unmarked line in all lives which once traversed leads to decline, death and decay.  Mrs. Chase passed that line ten years ago when a serious accident befell her while residing in Windsor.  One dark night she was found lying in the yard unconscious from a severe fall.  from that period was marked her decline.  But no accident could rob her genial, sweet disposition. The sun may be occasionally obscured but still it remains the sun.  So did this venerable mother warm all hearts with her genial sunshine of love, which death alone could blot out.

 

The funeral services were of a most simple, brief yet deeply touching character and were conducted at the residence of Mr. T.G. Smith last Monday at 12:30 p.m.  Rev. W.T. Edds conducted the services.  Many friends were gathered to pay their tribute of respect to the exalted memory of the deceased.  The interment was held in the family burying ground near North Afton [Chenango Co., NY], where Mrs. Chase now rests by the side of her beloved husband, Nathan B. Chase, who died in 1866.  Mrs. Chase leaves five devoted and exemplary children of middle age to mourn her loss, namely, James W. and Jarius Chase, of Windsor, N.Y., Mrs. T.G. Smith and Mrs. Garlick, of Sidney, N.Y. and Prof. Nathan B. Chase, of Cornwall, N.Y. The great grief of this family is shared by the deeply stirred hearts of many friends, who pour forth their condolences to these sorrowing ones.

 

Emma H. (Williams) Russell

Afton Enterprise, February 16, 1905

Early Tuesday morning, Feb. 7, 1905, Mrs. Emma H. Russell entered into the joys of eternal life.  She had been a patient sufferer for many years and since November 12, 1904 confined to her bed, lingering in extreme weakness, tenderly cared for by her husband and children in the home.  At the last, suddenly, without a moment's warning, her pure soul took its flight to join the throng of redeemed ones in heaven.  Always tenderly solicitous for the welfare of others, loving patient sympathetic, keenly appreciative of even the slightest act performed for her comfort, the memory of her beautiful sale-sacrificing life will be a constant benediction to all who knew and loved her.  Early in life she gave her heart to God and united with the M.E. church and was a truly devoted follower of the Saviour "who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."  She lived in the immediate presence of God taking everything to Him in prayer. To one who thus knew God, death held no terrors.  It was only going home to her Father's house of many mansions, where Jesus had prepared a place for her, with a sure confidence that she would find a welcome there.

 

"Oh how sweet it will be in that beautiful land,

So free from all sorrow and pain;

With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands

To meet one another again."

 

She was the daughter of Wm. O. and Harriet Williams, born March 18, 1841, and married to Lewis l. Russell March 27, 1861.  Besides her husband she leaves a sorely bereaved family of children, Mrs. Gertrude L. Pearce, of Gilbertsville, Rev. O.G. Russell, of Herrick Center, Pa., George W. Russell, of Sidney, Minnie A., Mary E., Ernest R. and Edgar J., at home.  Also a large circle of near relatives and friends, who with the immediate family deeply mourn their loss. The funeral service was held at the home at 11 o'clock, Feb. 10. 1905.  Her pastor, Rev. F.A .Matteson, spoke comforting and appropriate words from the text which she had chosen, "We look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God," Heb. 11:10.  Her four sons tenderly bore the beloved one to its last resting palce. The burial was in Glenwood cemetery [Afton, NY]

 

Pearl Ruso

Afton Enterprise, August 10, 1905

On Sunday, July 31st last at 8 o'clock in the morning, occurred the death of Pearl, wife of Abram Ruso.  She had been ill less than twenty-four hours, and her sudden and untimely death has saddened many hearts.  A husband and little boy less than twenty months old, beside an invalid mother, one sister and three brothers, are left to mourn her loss. The funeral was held the Wednesday following at 10 o'clock from her late residence on Searles Hill, Rev. Odell of Bainbridge officiating.  Interment was in Glenwood cemetery at Afton [Chenango Co., NY].  The funeral was largely attended by relatives and sympathetic friends who brought a profusion of flowers, wrought in various and artistic forms.

 

The light of her young life went down,

As sinks behind the hill

The glory of a setting star

Clear, sudden and still.

 

Fold her, oh father, in thine arms,

And let her henceforth be

A messenger of love between

our human hearts and thee.

 

The husband and immediate family, hereby extend thanks to friends and neighbors for the manifold acts of kindness shown in the their hour of affliction  It is sweet to be remembered in the lesser trials inseparable from earthly existence, but when death has recklessly entered our door and snatched from our midst a loved one; and all is dark, with scarcely a ray of light to pierce the seemingly impenetrable gloom, it is then, indeed sweet to be remembered.

 

No radiant pearl which created fortune wears,

No gem that twinkling hang from beauty's ear,

Nor the bright stars which night's blue arch adorns

Nor rising suns that yield the vernal morn,

Shine with so much luster as the tear that breaks

For others too, down virtue's manly cheek.

 

Kind friends be assured that the memory of your benevolent deeds and sympathetic tears will ever remain green and be indissolubly linked with that of the loved and lost one who now sleeps in yonder church yard awaiting the coming of an eternal morning.  O.B.I.

 

Orrin C. Beach

Afton Enterprise, August 10, 1905

Orrin C. Beach of Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], lost his life in a serious wreck which occurred Friday morning about 3:30 o'clock near Sidney [Delaware Co., NY].  Mr. Beach was the engineer in charge of the east bound sleeper.  The first sign of danger which he received was the explosion of two torpedoes on the rails.  Mr. Beach applied the brakes and had no sooner done so than he sounded two short whistles, indicating that he saw the signal of a flagman and applied the emergency brakes and cut the whistle wide open.  In an incredible short time the train crashed into the rear of an east bound freight that was standing on the main line disabled by the breaking of a draw head.  The engine of the passenger train crashed through the caboose of the freight train. This derailed Mr. Beach's engine and threw it down the embankment at the right of the moving train. The tender followed and pulled the front trucks of the baggage car from the rails. The occupants of the passenger coaches were badly shaken up, but none were seriously injured.  Engineer Beach was found with his lower extremities pinioned beneath the boiler of the engine and badly crushed.  He was conscious about two hours before he passed away. It was not until the engine was raised at about 8 o'clock that the body was freed.  Mr. Beach is survived by a wife and two children.