Obituaries (November 12)

William B. Purple
Chenango Union, September 28, 1864

In Canton, St. Lawrence co., N.Y., Wm. B., son of Dr. Wm. D. Purple of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], aged 23 years.  Thus has suddenly passed away an only and beloved son in early manhood, dutiful, kind, affectionate in his filial character, and a loving brother.  In feeble health for some time past, he yet with great resolution continued up to the very last at his place in the Bank where his duties called him, and died at his post, passing unexpectedly hence.  The loving and bereaved family received the first intelligence of his decease by Telegraph from the friends among whom, at the distance from his dear home, he died.  Beloved by the officers with whom he was associated in his duties, and by all with whom he was brought in contact,--of great simplicity and purity of character, confiding and generous in his feelings, it is a sad necessity that we have thus to register his early death.  The parental heart leaned upon him in the hope that he might be spared to be their confidence and stay in advancing years. Developing as he had a capacity for business which would have made him valuable in society, it is sad to realize that these hopes of dear parents and friends are doomed to disappointment.  But God's ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts. 

Jane (Randall) Follett

Utica Saturday Globe, November 1903

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Jane Randall Follett, widow of Judge David L. Follett, died at her residence on North Broad street Monday evening last.  Her death was due to chronic Bright's disease and was a great shock to the community, she having been in her usual health up to Saturday, when she was stricken with the fatal attack, which the best medical skill and tenderest care could not overcome.  Mrs. Follett was the elder daughter of Hon. Henry F. and Jane P. Randall.  Her father was a distinguished orator and politician and at one time was secretary of New York State.  She was born October 4, 1837, at Cortland [Cortland Co., NY], where she lived with her parents until her marriage to David L. Follett, September 23, 1862, when she came to Norwich and had since resided here.  Mrs. Follett was the first vice president and secretary of the Chenango Valley Home and had been an officer and director and largely interested in the home ever since it was established.  In 1902, Mrs. Follett gave her late husband's law library, one of the finest and most complete private law libraries in the State, for the benefit of the Chenango county bar.  An act of the Legislature passed in 1902, makes this library one of the sixth judicial district law libraries, and incorporates it under the name of the "David L. Follett Memorial Library," and it is now permanently located in the Guernsey Memorial Library Building in this village.  She was an attendant of the Congregational Church. She is survived by an only son, Henry R. Follett; one brother, Roswell S. Randall, and a sister Mrs. Harriet Mosher, all residents of Norwich. Funeral services were held from the family residence on North Broad street at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, Rev. Daniel W. Dexter officiating.  Interment was in the family plot in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Finette Kingsbury

Utica Saturday Globe, December 1903

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  At her home on Piano street, Friday , occurred the death of Mrs. Finette Kingsbury, who had been in the millinery business in this village for nearly 40 years.  Her death came as a shock to her many friends.  Her illness was of only a few days' duration and was known to but few before the announcement of her death.  Mrs. Kingsbury was born in Sherburne[Chenango Co., NY] March 8, 1838, the daughter of Stephen and Jerusha Skinner Kinney.  Her ancestors were pioneer settlers of Chenango county, who came to New Berlin early in the 19th century from Connecticut and who later settled in Sherburne.  Her great-great-grandfather was a scout between the American forces and Canada, and her great-grandfather, Ebenezer Costin, was bodyguard to Gen. Washington during the revolutionary war.  Ebenezer Costin and his wife, who after his death married a man named Eastman, are buried in the Episcopal Cemetery at Sherburne.  Mrs. Kingsubry was married to Hamilton DeLong at Sherburne, in 1855, and came with him at once to Norwich, where she had since resided, Mr. DeLong entering the employ of Hayes & Rider in the manufacture of pianos.  Sometime in the 60s Mrs. Kingsbury (then Mrs. DeLong) engaged in the millinery business, which she continued down to the time of her death, being for over 30 years located in the store at 176 South Broad street, from where she removed in April last to the Baker building on North Broad street, at the time the building she had occupied so many years was torn down to make room for the Reed store now nearing completion.  Her long business career in Norwich had given her a wide acquaintance, and won for her many friends.  About seven years ago she married for her second husband Sanford Kingsbury, who died some three years later.  An adopted son, Fred DeLong, a druggist at new Holland, Pa., one brother, ex-Sheriff, A.S. Kinney, of Albany and one sister Mrs. M.D. Firman of North Norwich survive.  Her funeral was held from her late home Sunday, Rev. Daniel W. Dexter officiating. Burial was made in Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

Death Notices

Chenango Union, September 28, 1864

In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 17th, Helen A. [McNitt], wife of Aaron D. McNitt, aged 19 years, 6 months, 2 days.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 18, 1864, Ruric Henry [Franklin], son of George and Esther Franklin, aged 4 years and 6 mo.

In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 12th, Henry W. [Grant], infant child of Edwin and Lucinda Grant.

At the home of Isaac Foote, in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 18, Miss Lucy Stebbins of Long Meadow, Mass., aged 42 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 18, of cholera infantum, Hannah E. [Eyrich], only child of Reuben and Jane Eyrich, aged 6 months.

In Oshkosh, Wis., August 28, 1864, Frederick H. [Knapp], son of Daniel D. and Betsey Knapp, formerly of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] in the 27th year of his age.