Obituaries (February 7)

Steward M. Barnes

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 3, 1902

Steward M. Barnes, son of Frederick S. and Ella Barnes of this village, died at his home on Turner street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Sunday night, from injuries received from the fall from the roof of the Maydole Hammer factory Friday morning.  An autopsy performed Monday by Coroner E.W. Wilcox, assisted by Drs. Drake, Phelps, Fernald, Harris and Manley, revealed a badly congested brain, and a fracture of the skull from the right orbital plate of the fron albons extending backward through the speroid and petrous portion of the temple bone, about four inches in length.  Deceased was 21 years old, and was the eldest son.  He is survived by his parents and two brothers.  Funeral services will be held from his late home on Turner street, Wednesday afternoon at 8 o'clock, Rev. Wilson Treible officiating.  Burial in Mt. Hope [Norwich, NY].

 

Troylous C. Lewis

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 3, 1902

T.C. Lewis of Fish's Eddy [Delaware Co., NY], an O&W brakeman, was found dead on top of a box car at 6 o'clock Monday morning when Conductor Debiney's train 34, south bound, pulled into the yard at Sidney [Delaware Co., NY].  He was found prostrate on the car with a bad fracture of the skull which, with the concussion, probably caused instant death.  It is thought that he had been standing on the car and that his head had probably come into contact with the overhead bridge at the Bradbury crossing at Guilford, as the train passed underneath.  There were. suspicious of foul play at first, but his hat was afterwards found near the crossing.  Deceased leaves a wife and five children.  He was a sober, industrious man and made friends wherever he went.

 

Sidney Record, December 6, 1902

This was the first fatality of the day.  Mr. Lewis, whose sorrowing wife and five little children reside at Fish's Eddy, was a new brake man on the O.&W., having commenced work on train 34 early in November.  On Monday morning, at about four o'clock a.m., while 34 was moving towards Sidney on the down grade between Summit and Guilford, while on top of a car, Mr. Lewis's head was struck by an overhead bridge near the farm formerly owned by Mr. John A Clark.  He was hit back of his head, as evidenced by a severe gash, which must have caused instant death.  His body was discovered on top of the car only when the train arrived in the Sidney yard.  His cap with a big hole in it, was found near the bridge.  The remains were taken and cared for at Heath's moratorium in the basement of the hall block and were conveyed to Fish's Eddy on No. 2 on Tuesday.

 

Lena Boise

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, December 3, 1902

Miss Lena Boise, 17 years old, employed at the Riverside Manufacturing company's factory in Meadow street, Utica [Oneida Co., NY], was found dead in her room at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Duke, 73 Hicks street, in that city Tuesday evening.  Says Monday's Utica Observer.  When Miss Boise returned about 10 o'clock Saturday night, there was nothing in her appearance which caused remark.  Two hours later when Lizzie Duke who worked in the same factory and shared her room, went to the room, Miss Boise asked for a drink of water.  Her friend got it and thought no more about the incident, as Miss Boise made no complaint about illness.  The girls slept during the forenoon, and when Miss Duke arose, her companion appeared to be still asleep, though she was breathing heavily.  On account of the absence of Mrs. Duke from home at noon, Miss Boise was not called.  At 6:45, when Mrs. Duke returned, she went to the room, and shook the girl gently at first, but on failing to awaken her, summoned a physician.  Upon arrival he found that the girl had been dead for several hours.  Coroner Dodd was notified of the death and he at once commenced an investigation.  In the girl's trunk was a small unlabeled vial which contained a quantity of fluid supposed to be laudanum. An autopsy was performed Monday morning.  The coroner stated at its conclusion that they would not make an affidavit as to the cause of death until the contents of the stomach had been submitted to an analysis.  The girl's father arrived in Utica Monday evening and took the body to Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] for burial.   Lena Boise was the daughter of Joseph Boise. She was born in Sherburne in April, 1885.  She resided in that village up to a year ago last May, when she went to Utica and found employment in the Capron knitting mill. She left that place a year ago, and took a positon at the Riverside manufacturing company, where she was employed at the time of her death   Miss Boise's mother died about eleven years ago.  Her father afterwards remarried.  Besides her father she is survived by three brothers, John, Elbert and William Boise of Sherburne, and two sisters, Mrs. Crandall of Sherburne, and Mrs. Herbert Hebbard of Utica. She is also survived by two half brothers and one half sister.

Utica Herald Dispatch, December 16, 1902

The verdict in the case of Lena Boise was as follows:  "That the said Lena Boise died on the afternoon of November 30, 1902, at No. 73 Hicks street, in the city of Utica. The evidence shows that the said Lena Boise retired at about 10 o'clock p.m., November 29, 1901, in apparent good health; that on the following day she was not called until about 6:47 p.m..  When discovered she was dead.  After investigating the circumstances attending such death and obtaining the report of Drs. Deecke, Groniann and Kinlock, who made an examination of the body of the deceased, I decide that the said Lena Boise died from an overdose of laudanum administered by her own hand, but whether accidental or with intent to commit suicide is to me unknown."

Death Notices

Chenango Union, November 25, 1875

GIBSON:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 22, Mr. Stephen Gibson, aged 60 years.  Burial in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].

HADLOCK:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 17, 1875, Mr. Hosea Hadlock, aged 88.  A veteran of the War of 1812.

BRABAZON:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 13, Julia M. [Brabazon], wife of Chas. J. Brabazon, aged 65 years 11 months.

CUMMINGS:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 18, 1975, Mrs. Abigail Cummings, widow of the late A.W. Cummings, aged 70 years.

HUNT:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 23, 1875, Mr. Charles Hunt.

ROCKWELL:  In Preston (County House) [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 21, 1875, Mr. Chapman Rockwell, aged 89 years, formerly of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY]