Thursday, November 16, 2017

Obituaries (November 16)

William P. Buckley
Utica Saturday Globe, August 1905

 
William P. Buckley
1838 - 1905

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  At his house in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] Wednesday morning occurred the death of William P. Buckley, a prominent contractor and builder, well known throughout this section.  Mr. Buckley was attacked with cystitis last week and underwent two operations which gave temporary relief, but he was unable to rally from the effects and gradually failed until death occurred.
 
Mr. Buckley was born in Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] October 2, 1838, his parents being Jacob and Clarinda (Hastings) Buckley.  He attended Oxford Academy, taught district school and at the age of 20 years took up the work of contractor and builder.  He was a good mechanic and had many large contracts in this section.  He built the Norwich High School building on West Main street, Firemen's Hall in Greene, two of the Woman's Relief Corps Home buildings near Oxford and many fine residences in this and adjoining counties.  He was honest and upright, a kind-hearted and genial friend and neighbor.  Mr. Buckley was twice married.  In 1865 he married Ruth A. Bartle, daughter of Uri Bartle, of Oxford, and to them was born one son, J. Burr Buckley.  Mrs. Buckley died in 1902 and some time later he married Mrs. Helen Lewis Brown, who with his son survives him.  He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. John P. Davis and Mrs. Mary A. Warn, both of Oxford.
 
Alexander Mahan
Norwich Sun, August 23, 1905
The death of Alexander Mahan, the well known music dealer at Cortland [Cortland Co., NY] who managed the musical festivals at that place for a number of years, is announced.  It occurred at Buffalo on Monday.  He has been in poor health for some time and was in Buffalo for treatment.  Many music lovers from this county attended his festivals, or conventions as they were sometimes called, and will learn of his death with deep regret.  He secured the services of many artists of note for his festivals and did much to cultivate a taste for what was the best in music.  The following sketch of Mr. Mahan is taken from the Cortland Standard.
 
Alexander Mahan was born in Virgil [Cortland Co., NY] in 1841, and lived there 27 years.  In 1868 he came to Cortland and bought out Apgar Bros., who in 1865 had started the first bookstore in Cortland.  He was in the store now occupied by F. Daehler, the clothier.  Mr. Mahan added musical instruments and sewing machines to the stock carried by Apgar Brothers, and in 1870 took D.F. Wallace, his brother-in-law as a partner.  The business increased very rapidly and in 1874 the partners decided to separate, Mr. Wallace taking the book business and Mr. Mahan the music.  Mr. Mahan at this time erected the business block which he has occupied for over 30 years, and where he has built up a business known all over the state for its sterling worth.
 
It is almost impossible to estimate what Mr. Mahan has done for Cortland in a musical way.  For 26 years from 1874 to 1900, the town was famous for its great music festivals and Mr. Mahan was the originator and sole proprietor of these.  He secured the services of eminent conductors and famous artists.  The choruses numbered at times as high as 500 voices and singers came to Cortland from all the surrounding country to participate in these.  But in the great artists Cortland had a special treat.  They were selected by Mr. Mahan with rare discrimination and secured often regard less of expense, and the result has been that many who seldom visit the large cities and who might never have heard these artists enjoyed them at their own homes. As a consequence, a musical taste was built up and the foundations were laid for education in music that is far in advance of that of many other places of the size.
 
Ellwood Caswell
Utica Saturday Globe, August 1905
 
 
Ellwood Caswell
 
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  At the home of his mother, Mrs. E.M. Caswell, on Brown street, Friday afternoon last, occurred the death of Ellwood Caswell, aged 16 years.  Deceased had been in poor health for some weeks, but his condition was not considered dangerous until two days before his death, when he was taken with a severe attack of pleurisy and grew rapidly worse until the end.  His death was a severe shock to his relatives and a large circle of young friends with whom he was justly popular.  He was born in Brockport, but had lived in this village since he was three years of age.  He attended the village schools until about two years ago, when he was employed in the silk mill until poor health compelled him to give up his work.  Besides his mother he leaves one brother, Frank, of Flushing, L.I. and a sister, Clara, who resides with her mother. The funeral was held from the late home Tuesday afternoon, Rev. S.J. Ford officiating.  Burial was made in Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].  The bearers were six young friends and companions of the deceased, Arthur Slater, Clarence Osborne, Robert Foy, Charles Newcomb, Frank Bird and Hugh P. Erwin.
 
Dr. Blin S. Sill
Chenango American, Greene, NY, July 10, 1873
Died at Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the evening of Tuesday, July 1st, Dr. Blin S. Sill, in the 66th year of his age.
 
The deceased was a son of the late Andrew Sill of Burlington, Otsego Co.  He came to Bainbridge about the year 1837 and in company with Dr. S.W. Corbin commenced the practice of medicine.  He then resided in the house now occupied by Henry A. Clark.  he was a member of the regular profession of allopathic physicians, and attended medical lectures in the city of Philadelphia. Dr. Sill had been twice married; first to Mrs. Lathrop of Sherburne, who died in this village some twenty-five years ago.  He afterwards united to Miss Jane Ann [Chandler], daughter of the late Lockwood Chandler, of Bainbridge.  He had three children by his first wife, only one of whom is living. Two sons are the fruits of his last marriage, both of whom are minor children.  He was several times elected Supervisor of the town of Bainbridge, and had been postmaster about five years at the time of his death.  As a professional man he was one of the best read physicians in the country.  He received a good academic education, with the expectation of becoming a minister of the gospel, but afterwards changed his purposes.  He was a communicant of the Episcopal church, and was for sometime a member of the vestry.  He was very much of a politician, and was well versed in the political history of the country.  He was a Jackson Democrat until about 1854, when he joined the then newly formed party, in which he ahs since been an earnest laborer.  But few men were more widely known in the vicinity in which he lived, and he died generally respected.--Bainbridge Review.
 

No comments:

Post a Comment