Obituaries (February 3)

Jessie Rider Owen

Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, February 18, 1896

Born March 29, 1858, Died February 17, 1896

Jessie Rider Owen died at her home in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Monday morning, Feb. 17, 1896, shortly after 1 o'clock.

"Let the lifeless body rest;

She is gone, who was its guest--

Gone, as travelers haste to leave

 An Inn, nor tarry until eve.

In what gardens of delight

Rest her weary feet tonight."

Three weeks ago, she was hurriedly summoned home from Des Moines, Iowa, where she had gone to visit her sister, Mrs. E.R. Mason, to the bedside of her dearly loved father, Hon. George Rider, who was dying of pneumonia.  But before his death, her husband, Holdridge T. Owen, was prostrated with the same disease and lies now at the point of death. She attended her father's funeral and then in turn she was stricken.  The pathos of this sequence of sorrows appealed to the heart of everyone, and for many days this entire community has watched, as it were, by her bedside and with bated breath, awaited the outcome.  Hope was not crushed till the end came; then it yielded to the inevitable.

Jessie Rider was born in Norwich, March 29, 1958.  She was the eldest daughter of the late Hon. George Rider and Elizabeth Rider.  She grew to womanhood here in Norwich, and was highly esteemed and prominent in social circles.  In October, 1884, she was united in marriage to Holdridge T. Owen, who survives her.  Her mother and only sister, Mrs. Kiefer Rider Mason, also survive.  She early manifested those marked attributes which characterized her as an exceptional woman.  Firm to do what she considered as right, honest as to her convictions, open and frank in her every day intercourse with others, possessed of great tact, generous in thought and indeed, loving and loyal to parents and friends, democratic in feeling and meeting the highest and the lowest on the universal plane of our common humanity; impelled, comforted and sustained by a deep, abiding and childlike faith in her Savior--she impressed all as a strong individuality, which once known commanded respect, and much known, fostered well deserved love.  

She early became a communicant of Emmanuel church.  for many years she was a teacher in its Sunday school, and was deeply interested in the social and religious work of the church.  When some years ago, the parish undertook the work of building the new church edifice it now occupies, she willingly and eagerly pushed on the enterprise and contributed by untiring labor to its accomplishment.  The people of that church know what she became, what she accomplished, what labor she put forth, what a stimulus her efforts were to others, and how great was the reward which came to her in the final success.  Her kind deed among the sick and the poor were done so quietly and unostentatiously that few, except the recipients, knew of them.  Yet she was found in many a home of poverty, blessing it by her presence and by substantial gifts for the alleviation of its distress and needs.  Into the room of the sick and despondent, she came as a sunbeam of light to cheer and uplift; she bore then delicacies to tempt their lagging appetites, she sat by their side and read to them by hours, or lent a sympathetic ear to their tales of sorrow. She bore their griefs and left them comforted.

In her home she was the loving daughter, tender wife and care taker.  Father, mother, sister, husband--they were thought of; the last one to be considered, was herself.  The community sorrows over the early close of such a beneficent and beautiful life.  But though Jessie Rider Owen has gone from us the memory of her will be sweet and fragrant in the recollection of all who knew her.  

"Weep not that her toils are over; weep not that her race is run;

God grant we may rest as calmly, when our work like her's is done;

Till then we would yield with gladness our treasure to Him to keep,

And rejoice in the awe and assurance--He giveth his loved ones sleep."

Bainbridge Republican, February 26, 1896

Last Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of her mother, Mrs. George Rider, on South Broad street, Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], occurred the funeral of Mrs. Jessie Rider Owen. The services were conducted by Rev. Henry D. Stebbins, rector of Emmanuel Episcopal church.  Only a few intimate friends and relatives were present. The interment was at Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].  The following acted as bearers:  W.H. Brower, W.H. Sullivan, W.B. Andrews, Geroge N. Barnes, Edward L. Nash of Norwich, James messenger, of Middletown, and William Allen, of Frankfort. The casket was of pure white and was nearly hidden from view by the floral offerings, contributed by sorrowing friends. The flowers consisted of lilies of the valley, roses, Easter lilies and orchids. The grave also was filled with blossoms of every description.

Holdridge T. Owen

Bainbridge Republican, February 26, 1896

Holdridge T. Owen died at the residence of his mother-in-law, Mrs. George Rider on South Broad street in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] at 1:45 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  Four weeks ago he was stricken with pneumonia and that developed into blood poisoning which caused his death.  Four weeks ago, Mr. Owen's father-in-law, George Rider died of the same disease and but scarcely a week since Jessie Rider Owen, the wife of the deceased died.

Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, February 26, 1896

Born Oct. 17, 1857 - Died Feb. 25, 1896

About two o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, February 26, 1896, Holdridge T. Owen died at the residence of his father-in-law, the late Hon. George Rider, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.  His demise was the culmination of a series of distressing events, which have visited that afflicted family and saddened our community.  His father-in-law, Hon. George Rider, died January 28.  Before the latter's death, Mr. Owen was prostrated by disease.  Later his wife, Mrs. Jessie Rider Owen, was seized and died February 17.  At the time of her death, the shadow of the grave was upon him and it was decided not best to tell him of his great loss.  Now, after eight days have passed away, they are reunited in the great heaven.  Twas one after the other, father daughter and son have layed down the burden of their mortality and sleep side by side the sleep that knows no wakening.  "Because man goeth to his long home and the mourners go about the street."

We pause for the moment, for it is not often that such a sad day comes to the recorder of passing events as comes to us today.  It is rare indeed that death in four short weeks annihilates one household and deprives another of father, daughter and son and removes them from the activities of life to the the unbroken quiet of the grave.  It impresses one and all with the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life. 

Our years are like the shadows

On sunny hills that lie,
Or grasses in the meadows
That blossom but to die;
A sleep, a dream, a story
By strangers quickly told,
And unremaining glory
Of things that soon are old.

Holdridge Owen was born in Auburn, N.Y. [Cayuga Co.] October 7, 1857.  His education was acquired in that place and like many another young man he devoted himself to teaching school.  Becoming tired of that occupation,. he cast about for other business.  In 1878, being in Norwich upon a visit, he was introduced to Superintendent C.W. Lampher and was given a position in the offices of the old Midland railroad. So intelligently did he undertake his new work and so faithfully did he perform the duties entrusted to him, that promotion speedily followed.  He soon became confidential clerk of the superintendent and then chief clerk of the division.  This latter place he held until he retired from the services of the Ontario and Western, into which the old Midland had been reorganized.  Since leaving the railroad about six years ago, he has been engaged in the management of the extensive acid works of the Culosia Chemical Company of Hancock, Delaware County.  At the time of his death he was secretary and treasurer of this company, also secretary and treasurer of the Delaware Land Company and several other similar enterprises in which his father-in-law, Mr. Rider, was a leading spirit and stockholder.

Of his aptness, good judgment and skill in his railroad work, Superintendent Lampher speaks in the highest terms and pays him this distinguished compliment.  "I have been," said Mr. Lampher, "in railroad service over thirty-five years, have hired more or less responsible persons and have had from one to thirteen hundred men under managing from common laborers to corps of clerks, engineers and office men, and have a great deal to do with railroad men, but I must say I never saw a man or had a man in my employ in whom I had possessed greater confidence than Holdridge T. Owen.  I never had one who made less errors. I may say he is the only man I ever had under me, to whom I referred for advice.  Owen understood men and was always fair minded towards them.  He never allowed any personal feelings, even with men who had injured him or did him a wrong, to bias his judgement.  His advice could ever be relied upon in an emergency."

In politics, he allied himself with the Democratic party.  He came on the scene of political action at the time when the Democratic party needed young and fresh blood.  He soon made his influence as a worker felt.  In 1887 he was nominated for and elected supervisor of Norwich.  So well did he perform the duties of the place, that he was successively re-elected in '88 and '89.  In the fall of 1890 he ran for county treasurer on the Democratic ticket, and though unsuccessful, cut down the majority of his Republican opponent more than half.  At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Democratic county committee.

In October, 1884, he was married to Jennie Rider, whose untimely death is mentioned above.  He did not know that she had preceded him to a better land.  Let us trust that there has been a joyful reunion "beyond the smiling and weepings."  What Holdridge T. Owen was, the citizens of Norwich and Hancock and the employees of the Ontario & Western railway, with whom he was so long associated, know. We recall his Democratic spirit, his genial and happy disposition, his ever pleasant greeting to acquaintance and friend, his  honesty and loyalty to principle, his trustworthiness, tact and unbiased judgment in his work, and his faculty, only too rare in the hurry of this scheming age, of making and retaining friends.  What more can we add to this eulogy on his character to that which has already been said by his trusted friend, Mr. Lampher, who knew him so long and intimately?  He has died, a young man.  He was on the threshold of larger opportunities.  But the immortelles of his unstained character will mark the place where he sleeps and will keep green his name in memory. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon.  Knight Templar service.  Burial in Mt. Hope [Norwich, NY] 

Holdridget T. Owen

Democratic Party Memorial

Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, June 15, 1896

Holdridge T. Owen born October 17, 1857, died February 25, 1896

The absence of the late Holdridge T. Owen from this, the first Democratic county convention held since his death, again renews our grief and more clearly shows to us the irreparable loss we have suffered in his untimely end.  Now, more than ever, do we feel the need of the guiding hand the wise counsel upon which we had long learned to lean and to rely.

Mr. Owen's prominence as a Democratic leader makes it peculiarly appropriate that this convention should voice its sorrow for his sad death and solemnly spread upon its records a tribute of the admiration and respect he had won from the Chenango County Democracy.

He was a man of courage and resources, of foresight and prudence, a skillful politician in the best sense of the term.  Honest, high minded, generous, and undeviating, a pleasant smile and a cordial greeting awaited everyone who approached him.  Our association with him as chairman of the Democratic County committee, brief though it was, soon ripened into a strong and enduring friendship.  His nature was very kind.  His heart went out toward others, and largely without regard to their station in life.  He had as kindly and true an interest in the common people as in the more favored, and the people of Chenango County feel that they have sustained a severe bereavement when he was taken away.  It seems sad indeed that his loving family should be so sorely tried in the crucible of affliction.

He was pre-eminently a brave fighter; when he had once determined that a particular course of  conduct was for the best interests of the party, he battled courageously for that principle regardless of opposition without or within the party ranks. And for this courage, all men admired him, whether or not they believed in his policy.

Today, all bitterness, all difference are forgotten, we only feel, we now more clearly see that Holdridge T. Owen was a true and loyal Democrat devoted to the interests of his party and striving solely for its success.

Today, we say a kindly word and sad farewell to our absent comrade. We who knew him, respected his worth.  We admired his manly and noble character, we appreciated and cherished his warm and generous friendship.  Our farewell does not imply forgetfulness, for our brother will always live in our memory and affection.