Chenango & Unadilla Valleys 50 years ago

The Chenango and Unadilla Valley Fifty Years Ago

S.S. Randall

Chenango Union, February 28, 1872

 

Norwich, Chenango Co., NY

[A walk about the downtown of the 1820s]

The Public Square or "Green" occupying a space of about three acres, and divided by the main street running north and south, into the "East and West Greens," was originally the gift of Peter B. Garnsey and Stephen Steere, the former owning the land west, and the latter that east of the highway.  Both were among the earliest settlers of the village; the former residing in the house now occupied [in 1872] by his descendants, a little south and west of the Court House, on the site, it is believed of the first dwelling house (a log building) erected in the village.  Judge Steere resided in the house on the north east corner of the Public Square; afterwards, at the period to which this sketch relates, occupied by his son, Mark Steere, as a Hotel (with the various Masonic emblems on the capitals of its pillars) and subsequently known as the "Eagle Tavern" of Gen. DeForest, which was burnt down some twenty years since.  The judge, at an early period in the century became the purchaser, from Silas Cole, of the entire tract west of the river to the Main Street, and from the Canasawacta Creek on the south, and the Harris farm on the north. The Garnsey property was originally purchased by Col. William Munroe--afterwards Sheriff of the county--and comprised all that portion of the village lying west of the Main street, from the north line of the Garlick property to the Dickinson farm. Elisha Smith, Esq., subsequently purchased this fine property--erected mills upon the creek--the only ones north of Tioga Point--and sold out to Mr. Garnsey.

 

The old Court House, fifty years ago, occupied a commanding site on the western extremity of the "Common"; and was built in 1808 by Josiah Dickinson, and George Saxton, at a cost of about $6500.  It was of wood, two stories in height, with a neat cupola, and contained in addition to the Court and Jury rooms, three rooms for prisoners, and ample accommodations for the residence of the Jailor.  Hither three times in each year came the Judges of the County Court--Uri Tracy, first Judge; John Noyes, Nathan Taylor and Levi Bigelow, Associate Judges--and once a Justice of the Supreme Court--Chief justice Spencer or Judges Van Ness or Yates--to hold Circuits.  In their train came all the County Lawyers--prominent among whom, at this period, were James Clapp, Henry VanDerlyn, John Tracy, Simeon G. Throop, Abial Cook, James Birdsall, David Buttolph, Smith M. Purdy, Noah Ely, John Hyde, Robert Monell, John C. Clark and Charles A. Thorp--and on special occasions such foreign lawyers of distinction as Samuel Sherwood of Delaware, Henry Stephens, of Cortland, John l. Viole, of Rensselaer, John Birdsall, of Seneca, John A. Collier, of Broome, and Joshua A. Spencer, of Oneida. The County Clerk's office--a small red-brick building, occupied a niche on the southern side of the Square, nearly opposite the court House--the Presbyterian church a fine building, afterwards burned down, adjoining it on the east; and directly opposite the court House, on the "East Green," stood the old Baptist Meeting house--unpainted, primeval, with large square pews, high galleries and pulpit--Elders Randall and Spaulding presiding.  Only the Presbyterian Chruch was furnished with a bell.  Its pulpit was filled, ably and eloquently, at this time, by the Rev. Edward Andrews, who was exceedingly popular with the congregation, and the citizens generally.  He subsequently went over to the Episcopalian Chruch, and was located at New Berlin in 1832, from whence he went to Binghamton, where he died a few years since, universally esteemed and respected. 

 

At this time no other buildings occupied the space between the Presbyterian Church and the corner of South Main Street, or between the latter and the office of Birdsall & Buttolph, south of what is now [in 1872] known as the Guernsey Block.  Next east of the store of Johnson & Noyes, on the opposite corner, was a dwelling, then recently erected by John Noyes, Jr.; occupied afterwards by Cyrus Strong, and more recently by Abial Cook.  Still farther on East Street resided Joseph Chapel, and between him and Mr. Buttolph's stood a house, afterward owned by Daniel Gray and occupied in 1821 by two maiden sisters, Celestia and Sophronia Whaples, and in 1835-6 by me; also a small house, then owned and occupied by Henry Snow and his mother, and subsequently by Jason Gleason and his son-in-law Eli M. Gibbs.  These buildings were mostly situated on the south side of the Public Square.  On that side of the street only two other dwelling houses intervened between those already mentioned and the river--a distance of nearly an entire mile.  These were the residence of Mr. Shumway, a carpenter, near the site of the present Episcopal Church, and that of Stephen Steere, Jr., for nearly half a mile south, comprising a beautiful and quite extensive grove of native forest trees, whither on the long afternoon of summer days the villagers of both sexes and all ages, were wont to ramble.

 

To be continued

Marriages (October 14)

Marriage Notices

Anti Masonic Telegraph, January 21, 1835

At South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on Sunday, the 4th inst. by the Rev. W. Bullard, Mr. Smith Thompson, of Norwich [Chenango Co.., NY] to Miss Jane Eliza Rathbone, of the former place.

 

On Thursday, the 8th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Chamberlin, of New Berlin, Mr. John Monroe, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Emeline Palmer, of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

 

In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst. by Elder J.S. Swan, Mr. Alfred Slocum, of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Amelia B. Randall, daughter of Deacon Charles Randall, of Norwich.

 

In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst. by Nathan Taylor, esq. Mr. Theodore Tanner to Miss Susan Snow.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, February 4, 1835

 

Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] Matrimonial Record for January 1835

 

January 1st, by the Rev. L.S. Rexford, Mr. Orrin B. Gilbert, of Lebanon [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Servilia Benedict.

 

January 6, by Philo Robinson, esq., Mr. H. Tinker to Miss Caroline Weeks of Cincinnatus [Cortland Co.., NY].

 

January 13, by Elder J.S. Swan, Mr. Olney Davis to Miss Sarah Ann Sturdevant

 

January 14, by the same, Mr. Benajah Benton to Miss Matilda Lewis.

 

Same date, by the Rev. L.S. Rexford, Mr. Hiram Pratt to Miss Marilla Harris, of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]

 

Same date, by the same, Mr. J. Crane, of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Abigail Harris.

 

January 22, by the Rev. Mr. Field, Willard Welton, esq. of Madison [Madison Co., NY] to Mrs. Blair.

 

January 25, by the Rev. L.A. Barrows, Mr. Zebulon Willoughby to Miss Mary Jane Doty.

 

January 26, by the Rev. I.S. Rexford, Isaac U. Wheeler, esq. to Miss Nancy Palmer.

 

January 28th, by the same, Mr. Hezekiah Gifford of Illinois to Miss Mary Jane Smith.

 

January 29, by Elder Jones, Mr. John Bressee to Miss Lucy M. Master

 

Same date, Mr. House, organ builder, to Miss Moore, of Virgil, Cortland county.

___________________________

 

January 15, by the Rev. Mr. Adams, Mr. Albert Card, of Cazenovia [Madison Co., NY], to Miss Catharine Storrs of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY]

 

In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult., by Richard D. Taylor, esq, Mr. Alonzo Bacon to Miss Sally Cutting

 

 

 

Obituaries (March 14)

The Complaining Corpse

Sidney Enterprise, January 29, 1917

Vernon Green, an undertaker at Herman, St. Lawrence county, [NY] was called on the telephone and was told that a man was dead at a certain place and was probably another "flu" victim.  He said he was so busy with other calls that he could not go there that night, but left instructions that the body be placed in a cold room with the head elevated, and he would be there to do the embalming the first thing in the morning.  When he reached the place the next morning, he went into the cold room prepared to do his work.  The supposed corpse raised his head and looked at Mr. Green with as much displeasure as a man in his condition could.  "It is about time someone came," he said.  "You are the first person to come near me since last night."

 

Ernest Louis Hartmann

Bainbridge Republican & Express, January 30, 1919

The funeral of Ernest Louis Hartmann, Vice President of the American Separator Company, was held last Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at his late home on South Main street.  Rev. R.W. Nickel of St. Peter's church [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] officiated.  The employees of the Separator Company attended in a body and viewed the remains of their friend with whom they had long been associated.  Great quantities of flowers and floral designs spoke impressively of the affection  held for him and the deep sorrow manifested was a tribute to the marked kindness of the man whose love in life was in doing for others.  The burial was in Green Lawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].

 

During the funeral services, the business places of the village were closed, which was a mark of respect to him who had long been identified with the business interests of the community and an evidence of the keen appreciation felt over the great loss his death has occasioned.  As soon as Mr. Hartmann's death was known, telegrams and letters came to the American Separator Company giving expressions of deep sympathy to the members of the firm over this sudden break in the business relations of years standing and also giving expressions of profound sympathy to members of his family.  Among the telegrams received were those from J. Rosenwald, President and Albert H. Loeb, Treasurer of the Sears, Roebuck Co., Chicago from the Moser and Cotins, Utica, Lyon Iron Works, Greene, and Sweet Bros. Foundry, Johnson City.

 

For a quarter of a century, Mr. Hartmann had been prominent in the industrial life of Bainbridge.  He was one of the founders of the American Separator Company, whose rise from infancy to a phenomenal growth of prosperity has been marvelous.  Mr. Hartmann was one of the originators of the cream separator about which the business developed and ever since its manufacture until recently he had been the superintendent.  He came to Bainbridge in 1892 as a machinist with the Swedish Cream and Butter Separator Company. The machine then made was impractical and the company did not succeed.  Mr. Hartmann and Thomas Collins, now President of the America Separator Company, and at that time associated with Mr. Hartmann in the former company, devised the new machine which was the basis of the present large industry built up from their early efforts.

 

As a mechanic, Mr. Hartmann had no superior.  Not only could he conceive the construction of a piece of machinery, but he could build it to completion.  He would even design and make the tools with which to perform the work.  His mechanical skill was most remarkable.  He also possessed another wonderful ability.  He was a naturalist.  He knew all about birds, fish and animals.  He [possessed extensive knowledge] of trees, plants and shrubbery and the valleys and hills where he was accustomed to roam in recreation hours will miss his friendly journeys.

 

Mr. Hartmann was a quiet and unassuming man and was the personification of kindness.  He loved his family and friends, and his chief joy seemed to be in continuously doing something for them.  Without ostentation or show, he would quietly bestow a kindness and seek out opportunities when he could administer some happiness.

 

For the past six months, Mr. Hartmann had been in poor health, but he believed his indisposition to be due to stomach trouble.  Up until Saturday previous to his death which occurred on Tuesday, January 21st, he was about as usual, going to the factory.  On Sunday he was taken suddenly ill and his condition was at once diagnosed as serious.  An intestinal trouble had developed.  An operation was advised as the only hope and Dr. miller of Binghamton was summoned.  On Monday the operation was performed and Mr. Hartmann rallied nicely from the results, but the disease which had gained a serious lodgment could not be eradicated and carried him away the following day, Tuesday.

 

Mr. Hartmann was born at Werdau, Saxony, on September 26, 1849.  He came to the United States in 1866 and at once became a citizen.  He was the oldest of 16 children of Andrew H. and Henrietta Hartmann all of whom emigrated to this country.  In 1870 he married Margaret Renth of Turners Falls, Mass., and later moved to Philadelphia, Pa.  Leaving there with his family, he came to Bainbridge where all have since resided.

 

Besides his wife, there survive three sons, William E., Louis H., and Walter E. Hartmann and two daughters, Mrs. Julien Scott and Mrs. Henry Hill.  Of his brothers and sisters the following survive:  Max and Robert Hartmann of Greenfield, Mass.;  Richard and Bruno Hartman of Hartford, Conn.; William Hartmann of Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Schielding and Mrs. Hedwig Harris of Glastonbury, Conn.; Mrs. Henry A. Clark of Greenfield, Mass.

 

Death Notices

Anti Masonic Telegraph, January 21, 1835

 

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. of scarlet fever, George [Shattuck], youngest son of Leroy Shattuck, aged 6 years.

"All that's bright must fade,

And all tha's fair decay,

And all we love, was made

To bloom awhile--then fade away."

 

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday last, Mr. Jabish Howel, aged 80 years.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, January 28, 1835

 

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst. Col. Caleb Seabury, aged 68 years.

 

Died on Tuesday, the 20th inst., in a fit of apoplexy, Mrs. Jerusha Burlingame, aged 58 years.

 

Died in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., Jonas W. Ogdan, aged 28 years and 10 months.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, February 4, 1835

 

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday 22d ult. at 10 minutes past 11 o'clock A.M., Mr. Bradford Willcox, son of Mr. Whitman Willcox, aged 21 years.  Also at 14 past 12 o'clock of the same day, Miss Almira Willcox, daughter of Mr. Whitman Willcox, aged 18 years.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, February 11, 1835

 

Died in Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. Mr. Olney Eddy, a Revolutionary soldier, aged 84 years.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, February 18, 1835

 

Died on the 12th of December last, in Yorkshire (England) where he had gone for the benefit of his health, Simeon [Kershaw], son of Thomas Kershaw, of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], aged about 20 years.

 

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] on Friday last, Mr. Abner Giles, aged 29 years.

 

Anti Masonic Telegraph, February 25, 1835

 

Died, in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday last, Mrs. Tamar Hull, aged 77 years.

 

Obituaries (October 11)

Frank Crandall

Bainbridge Republican & Express, January 30, 1919

Pneumonia claimed another victim in Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] Saturday at midnight in the person of Frank Crandall, aged 37.  Mr. Crandall had been very ill for about a week.  He is survived by a wife and two small children, who need the sympathy of the community.

Katherine (Palmer) Vernon

Bainbridge Republican & Express, January 30, 1919

Word came last Monday of the death from influenza of Katherine Palmer Vernon of Middletown, N.Y.  Mrs. Vernon was a daughter of Mrs. Elbert J. Palmer of this place.  Besides her mother, she is survived by her husband and two small children, also a sister, Mrs. Alice Palmer of this place.

Sidney Enterprise, January 29, 1919

Mrs. George Herbert Vernon, formerly Miss Katherine M. Palmer of Unadilla, died of pneumonia on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 19, at her late residence, 69 Wallkill avenue, Middletown, N.Y.  She is survived by her husband and two children; also her mother, Mrs. Elbert J. Palmer, and sister, Miss Alice A. Palmer of Unadilla.

S. Dana Russell

Bainbridge Republican & Express, January 30, 1919

Last Thursday, the family of Rev. A.E. Holmes received word of the death of Dana Russell of Philmont, N.Y.  Mr. Russell married Mrs. Holmes' oldest daughter, Miss Vivian Holmes who survives him also two young children, a son and a daughter.

Sidney Enterprise, January 29, 1919

S. Dana Russell passed away Thursday morning, January 23, at Philmont, N.Y., after a short illness of pleuro-pneumonia following influenza.  The funeral services were held at the home of the deceased Saturday at 11 a.m., burial in the family plot at Windham, Pa.  The deceased was born in the town of Windham September 9, 1882.  He took a course at the State College in Pennsylvania, after which he was appointed superintendent of the Borden plant at North Orwell, Pa.  From there he was transferred to Youngs and later to Sidney Center, holding this position until he resigned September last, to accept a more lucrative one as superintendent of the States Metal Co. at Mellenville, which position he held at the time of his death.  Mr. Russell was a faithful member of the M.E. church at Sidney Center.  He leaves a wife, Vivian Holmes Russell, and two small children, Marjorie Mae and Howard Townsend, also a brother Theron Russell, manager of the La France garage of Binghamton, and two sisters, Mrs. G.G. Manning of Owego and Mrs. J.T. Marsden of Towanda, Pa. to mourn his loss.

Coralin Louise (Sands) Westcott

Bainbridge Republican & Express,  January 30, 1919

On Thursday morning, January 21st, at her home in Binghamton, N.Y. occurred the death of Coralin Louise Sands Westcott.  She was born in Greene, N.Y. [Chenango Co., NY], June 4th, 1883.  Her early life was spent at Vallonia Springs, N.Y.  She was graduated from the Bainbridge High School and the Oneonta Normal School and taught with marked success at Babylon, L.I., and at Oxford, N.Y.  In May, 1910, she was married to Mr. Joseph R. Westcott, who, with a seven year old daughter Nettie Sands Westcott, survives her. She also leaves a brother, Orin A. Sands and mother Mrs. Jeams C. Sands, two aunts, Mrs. P.O. Wheeler of Sidney, N.Y. and Miss Jane Sands of Bainbridge, two uncles, Fred J. Sands and William Sands of Bainbridge, and a host of sorrowing friends. The funeral was held on January 23rd at the home.  Burial in the family mausoleum in Spring Forrest cemetery [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY].

 

 

Post Listing, October 2-9, 2017

Listing of blog postings for October 2-9, 2017

Marriages

Posted October 2, 2017

Charles J. Taber - Lillian Parsons (1905)

Ida May Parsons - John Makay Cairns (1911)

Elizabeth Matilda Taber - Howard Carver Fell (1940)

Marriage Notices - 1889

     William J. Russell - Ruth E. Donley

     Judson A. Burton - Minnie A. Foote

     Milan B. Marsh - Eliza Wagner

     Homer B. Parsons - Lillian E. Phinney

 



 

Obituaries

Posted October 2, 2017

Robert Gallup (Greene, 1858)  Revolutionary War soldier
William A. Corey (Waverly, 1896)

Elizabeth Jane (Jay) Phinney (Bainbridge, 1923)
Death Notices - 1858
     Zoe Foster (Stockbridge)
     Celestia R. Ayres (Oneida, 9y)
     Harley Curtis (Point Coupee LA, 57y)
     Lester Blake (Hamilton, 38y)
     Merrells L. Blair (Farmersburgh, IA, 21y)
     Amelia Harp (Lenox, 2y)

Posted October 3, 2017
Eli Ackley (East Hamilton, 1798)  Revolutionary War Soldier
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Burdick (Sidney Center, 1896)
Abigail Phinney (Bainbridge, 1870)
Moses Orvis Pingree ( Nothrfield VT, Des Moines, IA, 1902)

Posted October 4, 2017
Deacon William Gibbs (Norwich, 1876)
Dr. Garvis Prince (Bainbridge, 1891)
Ira Merrill (Oxford, 1891)
Fred Hayes (Norwich, 1891)

Posted October 5, 2017
Archibald Campbell (Willet, 1846)  Revolutionary War Soldier
Henry Gibson (Orange County NY, 1852) Revolutionary War Soldier
Capt. Frederick A. Bolles (Unadilla, 1891)
Stephen Puffer (Oxford, 1889)
Susan (Haynes/Haines) Puffer (Oxford, 1889)

Posted October 6, 2017
Hannah (Wilcox) Barber (Lebanon, 1854)
Awrea A. Couse (Masonville, 1853)
Loretta B. Couse (Masonville, 1853)
Betsey Jane Couse (Masonville, 1853)
Death Notices - 1875
     David Lord (Pharsalia, 75y)
     Nellie Mahan (Preston, 13y)
     Jane E. Rouse, Scranton, Pa, 69y)
     Teresa E. Horan (Eau Clair, WI)
     George Griswold (Factoryville PA, 56y)
     John Tinker (Clockville, 74y)
     Pamelia Foster (Norwich, 82y)
     Mary E. Webb (Greene, 64y)
     Susan Grover (Afton, 28y)
     William B. Cole (Greene, 31y)
     Harriet Whitman (New Berlin, 69y)

Posted October 7, 2017
Hattie A. Raider (South Otselic, 1937)
Kate Webster (Georgetown, 1919)
Jerome F. Wheeler (Cortland, 1910)
Clara (Christinsen) Wallstrom (Otselic, 1942)
Antoine Vegiard (South Otselic, 1903)
Michael Leo Stack (South Otselic, 1926)

Posted October 9, 2017
Eudora Kirby (Bainbridge, 1955)
Maud Ellen Nichols (North Afton, 1897)
Harriet Ruth Nichols (Bainbridge, 1915)
Celia Grover Chamberlin (Afton, 1915)


 

Miscellaneous

Posted October 2, 2017

Chenango and Unadilla Valleys 50 years Ago, S.S. Randall - New Berlin (written 1872)

Posted October 3, 2017
Chenango and Unadilla Valleys 50 Years Ago, S.S. Randall - South New Berlin (written 1872)

Posted October 4, 2017
Chenango and Unadilla Valleys 50 Years Ago, S.S. Randall - Guilford, Bainbridge (written 1872)

Obituaries (October 8)

Eudora Kirby

1874 - 1955

There died on Friday, Dec. 2, in the Bainbridge Hospital [Chenango County, NY], after a lingering illness, Eudora L. Kirby, the last of the descendants of William D. Kirby and Harriet Cudworth

whose ancestors were among the original log cabin settlers of this community.  Her funeral was held in the Baptist Church Monday, 2 p.m. the Rev. Ruthvan Chambers officiating.  She was at the time of her passing the oldest member, having been an interested member for 63 years.  Eudora graduated from Bainbridge High School and Oneonta State Teachers' College and spent her life as a teacher in the school system of Brooklyn. She was a woman of wide and varied interests, a great reader, and active worker in the church locally and in the Green avenue Baptist Church, of Brooklyn, and aided in the missionary activities of the churches.  Much of her spare time was devoted to Christian work among the Chinese of New York city.  She is affectionately remembered by a number of Chinese young men who are now grown up and have a family life of their own.  She was a member of the local chapter of the D.A.R. and an associate member of the General Nathaniel Woodhull Chapter of the D.A.R. of New York City.  She was active in the Woman's Club of our village, and an officer of the Illuminate Woman's Club of Brooklyn.  Miss Eudora was highly regarded as a genuinely good person, kind, unselfish to an unusual degree, giving her talents and energies generously and gladly wherever trouble and need arose. She touched life at so many places with a homespun friendliness.  She was never comfortable in the presence of wrong; she had inner delight in the presence of truth and right.  Survivors of Eudora Kirby are two nieces, Mrs. Eleanor Kirby Roehrl, of Erie, Pa., and Mrs. Barbara Kirby Moore, of Eugene, Ore., daughters of John Reuben and Sarah Kirby; grandnieces and grandnephews; four cousins, Mrs. Cleon Parker, Harold and John Cudworth, all of Groton; Mrs. Arthur McCormick, of Cortland, also cousins in Kansas.  Local cousins are Mrs. Margaret Kirby Casey, Mrs. Arthur Kirby and Mary Kirby Lord.  Pallbearers at the funeral were Carroll Niles, Orris Coe, Ernest Hoyt, Maurice McGinnis, George Myers and Maurice Wilcox. She was laid to rest in the family plot in Greenlawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  A life-long close friend of Eudora Kirby is Miss Ella Hawkins. She, too, graduated from Oneonta State Teachers College and taught in the same school system with Eudora. They had many interests in common and traveled extensively in this country and abroad.  During Eudora's more than two years' illness.  Miss Hawkins has been constantly at her bedside and has ministered tenderly to her.  No friend could have done more.

 

Maud Ellen Nichols

Afton Enterprise, February 4, 1897

It is our sad duty this week to chronicle the death of Miss Maud E. Nichols, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. E. Nichols, of North Afton [Chenango Co., NY], which occurred Wednesday morning, after an illness of about forty-eight hours.  The direct cause of her death is thought to be an internal abscess, followed by heart failure.  Deceased was a young lady nearly sixteen years of age and was dearly loved by her associates.  The grief stricken parents have the heartfelt sympathy of their many friends in this sad hour of affliction.  The funeral will be held from the late home Friday afternoon at two o'clock.  Rev. J.L. Thomas will officiate and Funeral Director Emens will have charge of the arrangements.  Burial at North Afton.

 

Miss Maud Nichols was born in North Afton, Sept. 8th, 1881 and died at the same place last Wednesday, Feb. 3d,  The report of her death was a startling surprise to the community  where she lived and her many friends at a distance who were not aware that she was sick.  The nature of the disease that hastened her death was not known, but the physician thinks that possibly there was an internal abscess, which on discharging did the fatal work that took from the home, a much beloved daughter, and from the community one whom everybody cherished as a dear friend, for she was a favorite with all.  Dying at the early age of fifteen at a time when her bereft parents were planning and arranging for her future as to school life, for it was hoped she might receive an education, but it was not to be, nevertheless.  She was a beautiful character, had a pure life, for she was learning in the school of Christ, was being fashioned and developed.  She loved her Bible and in her brief life actualized the precepts and principles therein taught.  Among her schoolmates who mourn her loss, she was the peacemaker, the arbitrator, always striving to settle the little differences and grievances among the younger scholars.  Indeed, with them Maud was a bright, loving, kind sister.  her religious life as to outward profession, was very brief, but long before our dear friend had confessed Christ, she was persuaded of her need of salvation and at the revival meetings held last December, she with others knelt at the altar, expressed her desire to become a Christian and the first Sabbath afternoon of the new year, she was baptized and received on probation.  Those who have been permitted to listen to her testimony could not but be impressed with the fact that the blessed Savior was her joy, and her anxiety that many of her young friends might become Christians was always expressed.  Our dear, young friend is gone, but she lives. She will be missed in school and church and the fragrances of her sweet life will remain.  Funeral services were held at her residence Friday, Feb. 5, 1897, by pastor Rev. J.L. Thomas of Afton.

Harriet Ruth Nichols

Afton Enterprise, November 18, 1915

Ruth Nichols, the daughter of George E.  Nichols, of Bainbridge, formerly of North Afton [Chenango Co., NY]. Miss Nichols died at her home near Bainbridge, Nov. 12.  Burial was at North Afton, Sunday afternoon.  She was a Christian girl, always cheerful, well-liked by all.  She leaves to mourn her loss, her father and mother and two brothers and one sister.  The family have the sympathy of all in their great sorrow and loss.

Oxford Review Times, November 19, 1915

Much sadness prevailed in our community [Wilkins Settlement, Chenango Co., NY] when it was learned that Miss Ruth Nichols had died Friday morning after a brief illness.  The deceased was a daughter of George Nichols of Bainbridge, who until about six years ago owned and occupied the old Nichols homestead near North Afton.  The funeral was held Sunday at 12 noon, from the house with burial in the cemetery at North Afton. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.

Celia Grover Chamberlin

Afton Enterprise, November 18, 1915

Tuesday morning, November 9th, 1915, Celia Grover, wife of Randolph A. Chamberlin passed into her eternal rest.  She was born in Westford, Otsego Co., N.Y. on May 9th, 1851, the daughter of Wm. and Abijal Grover.  When a very young woman, the family moved to Afton, N.Y., near Middlebridge, where she met and married Randolph A. Chamberlin, son of Rufus and Eliza Chamberlin, in 1868, the ceremony being performed by Rev. B.T. Jacobs, then pastor of the Afton Baptist church.  Two sons came to bless this union, she being survived by her husband, Randolph A Chamberlin, her two sons, Edward R., of Yonkers, N.Y., and Frederick G. Chamberlin of Afton, N.Y., a sister Mrs. Henry G. Carr of Afton and a brother Fred Grover of South New Berlin, N.Y.  In her early life, she united with the Afton Baptist church where she was very active and devoted in the work of the church, it being her great desire to aid in the work that would tend to bring the kingdom of God nearer this earth. She was a consistent Christian woman who lived as she believed, following the one straight path before her and never wavering or fainting by the wayside.  She knew whom she served, and no task for her Master and her Church was too great for her to undertake.  One of the griefs of her latter days was the affliction by which she was barred from many of the church activities which she loved.  In her home, she was the center, and well merited the love and devotion of those whom it was her great pleasure to serve, never wearying in her self-appointed tasks to make others happy.  Naturally of an energetic temperament, her work was but another expression of her true self.  Nine years ago she was stricken with an illness which in later years, developed into Bright's Disease, and for the past two years has been an invalid, most of the time, being confined to her home.  During these years of suffering, no work of complaint has passed her lips, her reply to inquiring friends being "I am all right," for she believed in greeting the world with cheerfulness, it being her philosophy that, "God is in His Heaven, and all's right with the World."  Patiently she sat, awaiting the summons that would relieve her pain racked body. The funeral services, which were held at her late home on Thursday, November 11th, were largely attended by many relatives and friends form Binghamton, Castle Creek, Harpursville, Nineveh, Oneonta, Milford Center, Franklin, Wellsbridge and South New Berlin. The services were in charge of Rev. Fuller of the First Baptist church of Afton, assisted by Rev. Ketchum of the Presbyterian church.  Interment being in the Glenwood cemetery, Afton [Chenango Co., NY]