Obituaries (December 31)

Body Found Sunday Afternoon in Woods Below North Norwich

Chenango Union, November 7, 1895

Stephen Titus, of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], while strolling in the woods just north of the John Mitchell farm, on the east side of the river, Sunday afternoon, saw what he took to be a man asleep on the ground.  A closer examination showed that it was a dead body.  Coroner Fernalld was notified and viewed the remains, after which the body was given in charge by Burr & Lawrence, undertakers, and was brought to their undertaking rooms in this village, where it was viewed by a large number of people.  The face had a familiar look, but no one seemed able to identify it.

The body was that of a man about seventy years of age, about six feet in height but sparely built.  His hair was snowy white and he wore a close cropped beard of the same color.  His hands were callous and evidently those of a laboring man.  He was well dressed, having on a black coat and vest, striped shirt and necktie, brown pants, heavy shoes and a gray suit of nearly new woolen underwear.  He had been a sufferer from hernia on the right side, but did not wear a truss.  Nothing was found upon the body to assist in the identification.  An empty pocket book, a pair of steel bowed spectacles, a knife and two bottles, one of which had contained morphine, were the only things found on the person.

The evidence of circumstances indicates that the man had been dead for a week. The body certainly lay out through the rain of Thursday and the evidence of persons is to the effect that death must have occurred last Monday.  A lady who lives not more than twenty rods from where the body was found, saw a man answering the description of the dead man, sitting beside the road eating an apple, last Sunday.  A partially eaten apple was found near the body.  On Monday, a farmer who drove flock of sheep past the spot reported that there was a man up the woods who was either crazy, drunk, or dead.

Charles E. Phillips

Chenango Union, December 7, 1870

PHILLIPS:  At the residence of his father, in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the morning of Nov. 20th, Charles E. [Phillips], second son of Edgar and Hannah Phillips, aged 25 years.

Young Phillips possessed in more than an ordinary degree those qualities of mind and heart calculated to secure esteem and friendship; and though somewhat reserved in manner and retiring in habit, he did, by his noble and manly qualities, most warmly attach to himself all who were in any degree intimate with him. About six months since, he was united in marriage to Gertrude [Parker], only daughter of J.S. Parker, of this town; and though he was then, and had been for some years, in delicate health (having settled pulmonary disease) he was yet looking hopefully forward to many years of happy wedded life.  While his death was so sudden that he refused to believe himself in any immediate danger, up to the very day before his decease, yet, when the truth was realized by him, that his end was close at hand, his faith in his Savior at once and with remarkable vigor sustained him, so that calmly and even triumphantly he was enabled to meet the dying hour.

Betsey Burton Hovey

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, October 9, 1901

The death of Betsey Burton Hovey, widow of the late Albert C. Hovey, occurred at her home on Tuesday last, after an attack of pneumonia dating from the Thursday previous.  Funeral services were conducted at a house yesterday afternoon at one o'clock by Rev. E. Kilpatrick of the M.E. Church. Burial was made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY].  Betsey Burton was born June 22, 1826, at New Milford, Conn. and was first married to John Woodruff, to whom were born three children, Lewis I. Woodruff, now of Guilford, J. Burton Woodruff of West Colesville and L. Louise Willoughby of Coventry.  She continued to live in New Milford until after the death of her husband, when she came to Guilford with her parents.   January 2, 1859 she married Mr. Hovey, whom she has survived since February 8th last.  To them was born one daughter, Mrs. E.V. Salisbury, who lived with and cared for her parents until their death which thus occurred within so short a time of each other.  Twenty-two years ago last March Mrs. Hovey lost her speech as the result of a shock, but notwithstanding this affliction she was always cheerful in disposition.  She had lived forty years on the farm where she died, and her many friends will long hold her in fond remembrance.---Oxford Press

Frances E. (Harvey) Frink

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, October 9, 1901

Frances E. [Harvey], daughter of Daniel D. and Lydia A. Harvey and devoted wife of Eli W. Frink, was born in Pitcher, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], March 15, 1843.  In the peaceful and pious home of her parents she grew up an industrious, intellectual and noble woman.  Her only brother passed away when young, and she with her sister, Mrs. L.P. Nichols of Georgetown, early made a profession of religion and joined the Lincklaen S.D.B. Church.  On the 23d of April, 1865, she was happily married to Eli W. Frink, and God blessed them with five children. Fred D. who died when eight years old, Levi U. of DeRuyter, Minnie B., now Mrs. Fred E. Neal of Cuyler, Bertha C., who died when only 16, in 1892, and Harry B., who lives at home. j From childhood she had been troubled with asthma and at times suffered severely and with marvelous patience, and nine years ago they moved from Cazenovia to DeRuyter.  But her industry and helpfulness knew no bounds and kept her busy and happy in the duties of home.  She was such a devoted wife and loving mother that it seems well nigh impossible to give her up.  But God, who does all things well, made her last sickness, though brief, most peaceful and happy and her spirit took its flight in the early morning of September 29, 1901.  The funeral service was held in the home she loved so well and had made so comfortable.  Amid a great profusion of flowers and with tender and touching music by the Ladies quartette and comforting words from the Book of Life, her life labors were portrayed and the heavenly rest that follows.---DeRuyter Gleaner.