Obituaries (January 27)

Charles Benjamin Smith

Chenango Telegraph, Greene, NY, May 3, 1871

Our citizens were pained to learn on Friday last of the death of Charles Benjamin Smith, Esq. of Omaha, Nebraska, and a native, and for many years a resident of our village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].  His death occurred suddenly of apoplexy, on Tuesday morning last (April 25th) at Washington D.C. whither he had gone upon business.  He retired on Sunday evening in usual health.  On Monday morning his room companion spoke to him and awoke him from sleep.  Mr. Smith responded smilingly to the summons, and his companion left him.  In a short time he returned and found Mr. S. in a semi-conscious state, and to all appearances laboring from apoplexy or congestion.  Medical assistance was at once called, but he was past help and died on Tuesday morning.  His wife was telegraphed on Monday and reached Washington Thursday when she left with the body of her husband for the village where he was buried in the family yard in our village burying ground.

Mr. Smith was the fourth child and second son of Judge Elisha Smith, the late Col. Elisha B. Smith, being his older brother.  He spent his boyhood, youth and early manhood in our midst; having been engaged for several years in mercantile and other business pursuits in our village.  Something like twenty years ago he moved to the west and has lived for the last seventeen years in Omaha.  During the war he held several confidential positions in the Quarter Master's Department and did good service therein.  He was a gentleman of excellent acquirements, good business and social habits, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.  His remains were expected on Monday evening.  He was in his 51st year.

James Hawkins

Afton Enterprise, November 26, 1886

Our usual quiet community was thrown into a fever of excitement, last Thursday evening, by the report that Mr. James Hawkins, an honored and respected citizen of this place, had been drowned in the Susquehanna river at Wells' Bridge, a small station of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad. The report, which proved only too true, spread like fire throughout our village, and many were the exclamations of sorrow and regret on hearing this sad news.

Mr. Hawkins, who was a mason by trade, was engaged in working on the piers of a new bridge about to be erected over the river at Wells' Bridge.  He was mending on a scaffold about ten [feet] above the water, and having just finished his work, he told a fellow workman that he was going up on the ground.  Hearing a noise a moment later, the gentleman to whom Mr. Hawkins had just been talking, turned his head, and was horrified to see Mr. Hawkins jump into the river.  It is supposed that in ascending from the scaffold where he was at work he lost his balance, and seeing that he was about to fall, turned and jumped into the river, thinking that he could easily reach the shore, he being an excellent swimmer.  Owing to the hard rain of the preceding days, the river was very high, and burdened by his heavy clothes, he could make just little headway towards the shore.  He was rapidly being carried downstream, while his companions were doing all they could to render him assistance.  By a great effort the unfortunate man came within about twenty feet of the shore and a pole was pushed out into the stream for him to catch hold of.  He was nearly exhausted, but with a desperate struggle he tried to reach the pole but failed, and being completely overcome by his hard battle for life and chilled by the cold water, poor James Hawkins was obliged to yield to the inevitable and sank back into a watery grave.  Searching parties were immediately organized, but on account of the high water, their efforts have been without success.  A party from this place, composed of Stephen Jennings, Chas. Hawkins, N.M. Cook, John Hoyt and Elvil Fairchilds, left Monday for the scene of the accident, and everything will be done to recover the body.

Mr. Hawkins was one of our best citizens; quiet, unobtrusive, never meddling with the affairs of others, he has won the confidence and respect of all.  His sudden demise, together with the terrible manner in which he came to his death, has cast a gloom over the entire community.  Deceased leaves a wife, who is nearly distracted with grief, besides a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss, which will be deeply felt.  His age was 46 years.

Body Recovered
Sidney Record, May 5, 1887

After lying five months and twelve days in the Susquehanna river, the body of Mr. James Hawkins was discovered last Sunday, about half a mile above Sidney, in a bennekill, or offshoot of the river, which runs thro' the Artles property.

While boating last Sunday noon, three of H.B. Daniels' boys happened up in that neighborhood, when Lee Daniels saw a pair of heavy boots sticking out of the water.  Approaching closer, they could see the outlines of a man's body in the water.  The boys very sensibly decided to leave it alone, and quickly rowed back home to report to their father.  Mr. Daniels notified Leroy Smith and the two proceeded to the scene.  They lifted the body into the boat, and landed it on Otsego bank of the river, a few rods above the toll bridge. The body was cleaned, and was found to be in a fair state of preservation, considering the length of time it had been drifting about.  Mr. Burrell, who works under Foreman Wood in the O.&W. yard, recognized the dead man's features as being those of James Hawkins.  Burrell was working on the new bridge at Well's Bridge at the time Hawkins fell into the water.  But aside from this, everything indicated that the long lost body had been found. The heavy boots, his overalls, letters in his pocket addressed to him, a plan of the pier on which he was working at the time of his death, his home-made red flannel shirt and stockings, left no room for doubt that the remains were those of James Hawkins, who was drowned near Well's Bridge on the 18th day of last November.

Word was sent to the Coroner in Oneonta, to justices Sweet and Jennings of Unadilla, and to Mrs. Hawkins in Afton.  Mrs. Hawkins, accompanied by her two brothers-in-law Charles and John Hawkins, other relatives and friends, reached Sidney on No. 2, Monday morning and iimmediately proceeded to the river bank.  They promptly identified the remains.  The most conclusive proof, however, was established by Charles and John Hawkins, brothers of the deceased.  Charles stated that 30 years ago, while chopping wood, James cut a deep gash just below his ankle, on the inside of his right foot. They said that if the scar was visible on the body, the last vestige of doubt would be removed from their minds. The scar was there and plainly visible.

Justice Jennings, of Unadilla, also appeared on the scene as Coroner, but wisely decided not to hold any inquest, deeming that under the circumstances it was wholly unnecessary. The remains were then placed in care of Undertaker Winsor. The body was tidily dressed and put in a casket, and a team took it to Afton, where the funeral, with appropriate ceremonies, was held Monday afternoon.

Mrs. Hawkins earnestly desired to see the remains of her unfortunate husband, but her kinsmen urged her to change her purpose, and their wiser counsels prevailed.  The family are deeply grateful for the kindness and attention shown by the people of Sidney, and return their deepest thanks for the same.  Another touching circumstance occurred which illustrates the general public sympathy for the afflicted family. When the two brothers went to Funeral Direction Winsor to pay the funeral expenses, they were surprised to learn that everything was paid for and that there was no bill there against them or any of the family.  It seems that Messrs. Pratt & Lockwood, the contractors for whom Mr. Hawkins was working at the time of his death, had called and generously paid the bill.  It was an act of noble charity.

Afton Enterprise, May 6, 1887

It will be remembered by the readers of the Enterprise, and by all residents throughout this section, that Mr. James Hawkins, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY] was drowned by falling from a bridge at Wells' Bridge, upon which he was at work, on the eighteenth day of November last.  Although diligent search was made at that time, the body was not found, probably owing to the swollen condition of the river when the accident occurred.

As time passed on and no report was heard of the finding of the body, it was generally believed that it would never be found; that the river would never give up its dead.  Last Sunday afternoon, however, report reached this village that the body of a man, answering the description given of Mr. Hawkins had been found in the river at Sidney [Delaware Co., NY].  Believing that the body might possibly be that of our unfortunate fellow townsmen, Mr. Z. Tarble, of this village, drove to Sidney, and after examining the clothing, papers, etc., concluded that it was Mr. Hawkins. As nothing could be done that day, further investigations were postponed until the following morning, at which time Mr. Z. Tarble, J.W. and Chas. Hawkins, the last two named brothers of the deceased, and Messrs. Pratt and Lockwood, the bridge contractors, accompanied by an Enterprise scribe, visited Sidney.

The party was met at the depot by Coroner Church, of Oneonta, who had been notified, and at once repaired to the place where the body was lying, and upon inquiry the following facts were learned:  Sunday morning between 11 and 12 o'clock as Leon J. Daniels, a young man living just above the village of Sidney in the town of Unadilla, was out rowing on the river, he saw a pair of boots sticking out of the water near the shore, and going nearer discovered the body of a man.  Obtaining help the body was taken from the river on the Otsego side, and afterwards removed to a point just above the toll bridge at Sidney.  The town authorities were notified, the clothing was removed and the body placed in a boat filled with water, to await identification.  It was impossible to recognize the body by the face as the mustache and part of the hair on the head had been washed out, besides being terribly jammed.  The clothing was recognized as that worn by Mr. Hawkins at the time he was drowned.  By papers found in the pockets and by a scar on the inside of his right foot, the body was identified as that of James Hawkins beyond a shadow of a doubt.

A casket was obtained and the remains placed therein and brought to Afton, and deposited in Glenwood cemetery.  The body had been in the water for about five and one-half months, and was in a remarkably good state of preservation.  It had floated nearly nine and one-half miles down the river.  It was supposed that Mr. Hawkins had about $10 or $15  in money on his person when he was drowned, but only one cent was found.  His account book was also missing, and the money and book were probably lost in the river.

After considering the circumstances connected with the case, Coroner church very wisely concluded that it was not necessary to hold an inquest.  Thus the second scene in this sad affair is ended.  It has recalled the heartfelt sorrow that prevailed in our community last November, and has brought to mind again the terrible manner by which an honored and respected citizen came to his death.

Death Notices

The Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, February 23, 1850

Died in Maryland, Otsego Co., Jan. 4, after a severe illness which was borne with exemplary patience,  Miss Cynthia [Chamberlain], daughter of Claudine Chamberlain, aged 24 years.  The deceased in early life became a subject of redeeming grace, and died in hope of a glorious immortality beyond the grave.

Madison County Whig, September 25, 1850

Died of Consumption in this village [Cazenovia, Madison Co., NY], on the 7th inst., at the residence of H. VanDrieson, Miss Gertrude VanSyke, aged 27.

Died in this village [Cazenovia, Madison Co., NY] on the 17th inst., Hon. Justin Dwinelle, aged 65 years.  Locating in this place in 1811, he has ever since been identified with the interest of our community.  Few men have enjoyed a larger share of public confidence.  Possessed of quiet and unobtrusive manners, of superior intelligence of mind, of the most uncompromising integrity and of great purity of character, he has ever retained the highest respect and unqualified friendship of all who knew him. Expressing himself even in the hour of his departure, as relying alone upon the merits of the Savior for salvation, he has gone to the land where the "weary are at rest."