Obituaries (January 24)

Justin Dwinelle

Madison County Whig, September 25, 1850

Died, on Tuesday the 17th inst. Justin Dwinelle, aged 65, after a prolonged and painful illness.  Judge Dwinelle was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont; graduated at Yale College 1808, and shortly after located in this place [Cazenovia, Madison Co., NY], and for a period of more than 40 years occupied a large space in the community in which he lived, and became intimately identified with the legal business and political history of the town and county in which he moved.  By the legal profession he was esteemed a most worthy member, and had the respect and kindly feelings of all with whom he mingled. At different periods of his long and useful life, he filled in turn the honorable stations of District Attorney, First judge of the county, member of assembly and member of the House of Representatives in Congress; and in whatever station he occupied discharged its various and arduous duties with a distinguished ability and honesty of purpose seldom surpassed.  In private life had few superiors. As a husband and father, he was kind, affectionate and indulgent.  As a neighbor, obliging, confiding and faithful; and in the discharge of all the varied duties of life, for honesty and integrity of purpose, above reproach.  For a few of the last years of his life disease had so preyed upon his constitution that he was withdrawn from active duties and confined to the circle of his family and friends.  His demise tho not unlooked for, has cast a gloom over the county in which he lived, and caused a void not soon to be filled.  We mourn his loss, yet not as one without hoe.

 

Elihu Phinney

Freeman's Journal, January 30, 1863

Death of Elihu Phinney.  Another of the aged men of Cooperstown [Otsego Co., NY], whose family name has been identified with this place from its early settlement, has passed away.  Mr. Phinney was born at Canaan, Columbia co., N.Y., July 1, 1785.  He was therefore in his 78th year.  He was first taken ill on the 25th of November, and after having partially rallied from a severe attack, took finally to his bed on the 9th of December; from that time until his death--which seems to have resulted chiefly from pulmonary disease--he was unable to sit up, and remained in a comparatively helpless state.  On Monday morning last (after having passed three unusually comfortable days) he experience a sudden change, being seized with violent pain and laborious breathing, which continued with slight intermission during the day terminating his life at 11 o'clock in the evening.  His last moments were calm and peaceful, and his mental faculties unimpaired. 

 

Judge Phinney, father of the deceased, came to this county in the winter of 1795, bringing his family with him. As he stated in his own paper, "he penetrated a wilderness, and broke a track through a deep snow, with six teams."  He established a book store and printing office, and was the pioneer Editor and Publisher of the country west of Albany--a man of sound judgment and sparkling wit.  He was succeeded in business by his sons Henry and Elihu, and after the death of the father in 1850, the book store was continued by Elihu--he retaining an interest in the business until his death.  He was better known to a large number of our readers, and especially to the old residents, than to the writer of this brief obituary.  He was a man of great industry and untiring energy, as the fruits of which he left a handsome estate to his heirs.

 

Lucia Williams

Afton Enterprise, March 30, 1905

Mrs. Lucia Williams, the wife of Andrew Williams, died at her home in the town of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], March 17, 1905.  She was born August 8, 1831.  The loss of our dear sister is deeply felt in this place, but we hear from the lips of her many friends the same beautiful words, "God has taken His own to Himself."  She has gone home.  She now lives in one of those beautiful homes our Saviour went to prepare for us.  The longing of her soul is now satisfied.  Its ideal realized. Today she dwells among kindred spirits, loving and beloved.  She is now in the midst of all things lovely. The life of our dear sister was more than praiseworthy.  She was so patient and so kind.  Her life, her soul were so full of Jesus.  Her bible was her chart.  She followed that chart until she dropped the anchor in the beautiful harbor of heaven.  What a beautiful life she lived, what a beautiful death she died.  How worthy of imitation.  Her children who were so faithful, so kind and true to mother, will at their death know where to find her, for mother is in heaven.  Father and mother will now be joined in their home above.  Mr. Williams died some five years ago, both are buried in Glenwood cemetery, Afton, N.Y. They leave six children:  Mrs. Horatio French, north Sanford, N.Y.; John Williams, Sanford, N.Y.; Mrs. Fannie Yaple, Afton, N.Y.; Almond Williams, Afton, N.Y.; Floyd Williams, North Sanford, N.Y.; Mrs. William Cole, Oswego, N.Y. The funeral services were held at the home.  Rev. Frank A. Matteson, pastor of the north Sanford M.E. church officiated.  F.A.M.

 

Death Notices

Freeman's Journal, July 9, 1852

 

At Laurens [Otsego Co. N.Y.], on the 4th July Hiram H. Keyes, son of Harvey and Margaret Keyes, aged 12 years, 9 months and 25 days.

 

At Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], June 22d, Roe McDonald, aged 25 years.  He was a young man of good promise, possessing many estimable qualities.