Obituaries (November 13)

Theron M. Philley

Chenango Semi Weekly Telegraph, December 31, 1902

 

 

Theron M. Philley

1834 - 1902

[Utica Saturday Globe, January 1903]

The death of this well known and highly respected citizen occurred at his late home, 21 Division street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Sunday afternoon, December 28, 1902, after 25 weeks of patient suffering.  Deceased was stricken with paralysis in July last, which affected his left side, since which time he has been practically helpless a large portion of the time, although he recovered sufficiently to ride out on several occasions, and to be taken to the polls on election day to vote.  A week ago Sunday he suffered a chill, pneumonia set in, and in his weakened condition he could not rally from the disease, which terminated fatally on Sunday afternoon.

 

Theron M. Philley was the son of Elijah and Jerusha Perkins Philley, and was born at McDonough [Chenango Co., NY]May 17, 1834.  He was descended from Revolutionary stock, his grandparents, Remembrance and Hannah Hubbard Philley, coming from Winchester, Conn., at about the close of the seventeenth century.  They first located at Sidney, where Elijah Philley, father of the deceased, was born.  A few years later the family moved to Guilford, afterwards located at McDonough, then a nearly new country, where three brothers, Elijah, Uri and Isaac Philley subsequently owned adjoining farms.

 

Mr. Philley was married February 5, 1857, to Miss Cornelia Carr, and resided in McDonough until about 1880, when he moved with his family to Smithville Flats, where for a  number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of cheese. During Mr. Philley's residence at McDonough, he was deputy sheriff for several years, and was also for many years a member of the M.E. church at that place, and for 13 years the chorister of the church.  At Smithville Flats he served his town as justice of the peace for several terms.  About ten years ago the family removed to Norwich, where they have since resided.  During his residence in Norwich, Mr. Philley conducted a milk route up to a short time before his last illness.  He was well known throughout the county and in this community, and was everywhere honored and respected for his unquestioned honesty and Christian character.  He had many friends in the southern and western towns of the county, as well as in Norwich, who will earn with sorrow of his death.  In politics he was an uncompromising Republican and his advice and assistance were frequently sought and freely given in town and county affairs.

 

Deceased is survived by his widow, and three sons and one daughter, William H. and George W. Philley of this place, Fred M. Philley of Cooperstown, and Mrs. Mary Tafft of Killawog, who mourn a kind and Indulgent husband and father.  One son, Charles H. Philley, died in April, 1893.  One brother, Clark L. Philley of McDonough, and one sister, Mrs. Serelia Bailey of Greene, also survive.

 

Funeral services will be held from his late home on Division street, Wednesday at 1 o'clock p.m., Rev. Wilson Treible of the M.E. church, and Rev. S.J. Ford of Calvary Baptist church, officiating.  Canasawacta lodge No. 205, of which the deceased was an honored member and a Past Grand, will conduct the committal services at Mt. Hope chapel, where the body will be placed awaiting burial in Mt. Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Emily H. (Hayward) Funnell

Chenango Semi Weekly Telegraph, January 3, 1903

Mrs. Emily H. Funnell, wife of Alfred Funnell of 29 Grove avenue [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] died December 31, 1902, aged 47 years.  Mrs. Funnel was born in Wye, Kent county, England, and had lived in Norwich 20 years.  She had been a great sufferer from Bright's disease for the past two years, pneumonia being the immediate cause of her death.  Besides her husband, eight children survive, Mrs. R.A. Bushley of Norwich, Mrs. C.L. Robinson of Syracuse, Fred of Jersey City, William of Middletown, and Walter, Burton, Howard  and Harvey of this village.  Funeral Saturday at 2 p.m. Rev. W.D. Benton officiating.

 

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1903

Norwich:  Mrs. Emily H. Funnell, wife of Alfred Funnell, died at her home on Grove avenue, on Wednesday evening, aged 47 years.  Mrs. Funnell had been an invalid for two years.  Her death was caused by pneumonia which developed a short time since.  Mrs. Funnell, whose maiden name was Emily  H. Hayward, was born in Wye, Kent county, Eng.  Her marriage to Alfred Funnell occurred 32 years ago and a year later they came to America.  They lived in Syracuse, Middletown, and other places before coming to Norwich 20 years ago, where they have since made their home.

 

Jacob Butler

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1903

 

 

Jacob Butler

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Jacob Butler, chef at the Continental Hotel, died at an early hour on Friday morning of last week, after a brief illness.  He had been in his usual health until about 5 o'clock the afternoon previous when he was stricken with an acute attack of Bright's disease, from which he had been suffering for some time.  Medical assistance was at once summoned and was in constant attendance until his death at 4 o'clock Friday morning.

 

Deceased was about 56 years of age and was born in the south.  He came to Norwich from Louisiana with Col. William M. Rexford, at the close of the war in 1865.  He remained in the employ of Col. Rexford for about 15 years and afterwards was with the late Levi N. Smith of Sherburne, before coming to the Continental 12 years ago.  He was a quiet, unassuming man, an expert in his profession and one of the leaders of his race in this section.  He left no known relatives, but during his long service at the Continental formed a wide acquaintance by whom he will be missed.  The remains were removed to the residence of Mrs. Louise Sherman, on Lock street, and the funeral was largely attended from the A.M.E.Zion Church on Sunday afternoon, Rev. M. Cooper, the pastor, officiating.

 

Bartella Testa

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 31, 1902

Bartella Testa, commonly known as Mike Bush, employed at the Clarke stone quarry at Oxford, had the whole front part of his head blown off Saturday, by the premature explosion of a blast.  Mr. Testa has been the Italian foreman and interpreter in the Clarke quarry for eighteen years.  He had finished connecting the leading wire to the battery and called to his son to get out of the way as they were going to fire the blast, when Antonio Furnara, who had charge of the lever, understood his call to be the signal to set off the blast, which he did with fatal results.  Henry Hill, the foreman, stood a short distance behind Testa and was struck in the back by a large stone which threw him down a fifteen-foot bank, but did not seriously injure him.  Coroner Wilcox of Norwich, was called and held an inquest Monday.  Mr. Testa was about fifty-four years of age and is survived by a wife and eight children.