Obituaries (January 12)

B. Carman Russell

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

A friend in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] furnishes us with the following particulars of the sad fate of a former resident of that village:

The sad announcement of the death of B. Carman Russell, by accidental drowning at Brockville, Canada, on Thursday afternoon last, cause a gloom of sadness to appear over our community that will long be remembered.  His elder brother, William, and the young bride, arrived with his remains by the D.L.&W. railroad at 8:23 A.M., Saturday.  The remains of the unfortunate man were quietly conveyed to the home of P. L. Russell, his father, where they were viewed by a large number of friends. At 6 P.M., after a brief service at the house, they were taken to the cemetery and consigned to earth, in the presence of a large and sad assemblage.  Memorial services of the departed were held at the church, Sunday at 2 P.M., Rev. W.G. Queal, of Norwich, officiating.  The church was well filled and the occasion was one of great solemnity.

The deceased was widely known in this community, and highly esteemed.  He was a tinman by occupation, and an excellent workman, was industrious and obliging, polite, social, and a man of excellent habits.  His sudden death was a great blow to his family and especially to the young bride, who was made a widow after only eight days of married life.

The circumstances of the affair are as follows:  The deceased, who had resided in Utica [Oneida Co., NY] about a year, and was employed at J.A. Williams'  locomotive headlight works, was married on Wednesday, June 1st, to Miss Mary L. Loftus, of that city, at the St. John's church. They left Utica by the Black River railroad, to visit the bride's parents, who live at Packingham, Canada, on their wedding tour.  From Packingham they went to Brockville, Wednesday, and were waiting there for some baggage which for some reason had been delayed on the way.  Shortly after dinner, Thursday, the 9th, he informed his wife, who was stopping at the Ottawa Hotel, that he intended taking a walk, and it was his wish that she should accompany him.  She told him that she would be ready in a few minutes, and asked him to take a walk while she was getting ready. This he did, going down on the wharf.  While walking along to the edge of the dock he was seen by those standing around to suddenly stagger and fall into the water, apparently in a fit. The water at the place was about twenty-five feet deep.  A long pole was immediately procured by a man named White, but although it was placed in the unfortunate man's hand, still he did not grasp it, and in a very short time he sank beneath the surface, to rise no more in life. There were some eight or ten persons by when the accident happened, and still his life could not be saved.  A grappling hook was secured, and after a few minutes grappling, the body was lifted up from its watery position by Mr. James A. Bresland. A doctor was immediately summoned, and as quickly as possible Dr. McGannon was on the spot.  He tried in vain to detect some sign of life, but his efforts were of no avail, and he pronounced life extinct.

The sad news was immediately telegraphed to William Russell, who was in Utica at the time, looking for his brother's return at any moment.  He received the dispatch Thursday night and left Utica the next morning, and arrived at Brockville at 1 P.M.  Eddy Russell, the youngest brother, who is attending the Business College at Binghamton, was summoned and arrived home Saturday morning.  The family have the sympathy of the entire community in this sad hour of their bereavement.  They desire as an acknowledgment of the kindness manifested by their friends and neighbors, to thank them for what they have done at this time of their sad affliction.

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A correspondent favors us with the particulars of the drowning of B. Carman Russell at Brockville, Canada, on Thursday last, and of the burial at North Norwich on Saturday.  Mr. Russell was thirty-eight years of age, and a son of Peter W. Russell, of North Norwich.  He was a tinner by trade and was formerly employed in the shops of D.M. Holmes & Son and J.H. Latham, in this village [Norwich, NY].  It appears that he was subject to fits, one of which was the cause of his death.  He was a young man of good habits, and much respected, and the sincere sympathy of many friends here will go out to his relative, and particularly to his wife, in her early bereavement.

Miles Ireland

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

The funeral of the late Miles Ireland, who died at his home Thursday morning last, after a long and severe illness from lung disease, was held at the Union church on Saturday at 3 P.M.  The church was crowded, many G.A.R. comrades from Norwich, Plymouth and Smyrna being present and participating in the solemn ceremonies.  The speakers on the occasion were Dr. H.H. Beecher and Rev. Mr. Moore, of Smith Post, No. 83, and Rev. Mr. Beers, pastor, Rev. W.G. Queal and Rev. L.C. Hayes, of Norwich. The remarks from the above named gentlemen, as well as the sermon delivered by Rev. L.C. Hayes, made a deep and lasting impression upon the congregation. The singing was supplied by the congregational choir of Smyrna and highly appreciated.

The deceased was born in the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]\, in 1838; enlisted as private in Company F, 114th Regiment in 1862, and was discharged from the hospital at Washington, for physical disability, in May, 1863.  He was a member of the Grand Army Post at Norwich, and was highly esteemed by all of its members.  Ritualistic ceremonies were performed at the grave by the members of that grand order.  He was a prominent member of the M.E. church, and was ever ready and willing to lend a helping hand to advance the cause of Christianity.  He was a benevolent man, and did much to alleviate suffering humanity.  As a citizen he stood high in the estimation of his friends and neighbors. he was an indulgent father and an affectionate husband, a true soldier, and a zealous Christian and will be missed in the community where he lived, as well as in the home circle.  He leaves a devoted wife and four children to mourn his loss, who have the heartfelt sympathies of a large circle of friends to help to comfort them in their bereavement.  North Norwich, June 13, 1887

John Dell

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

John Dell, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] was drowned near Clyde [Wayne Co., NY], Wednesday afternoon of last week.  Mr. Dell and a companion were in a boat, on the Clyde River, about half a mile from the village, trolling. They attempted to change places in the boat, when it capsized and both were thrown into the water.  Dell at once struck out for the shore, but when about half way there was seized with a cramp and went down.  His companion clung to the boat and was rescued. The body was recovered from the river in about an hour and placed in the morgue at Clyde.  On Thursday it was taken to Albany, his former home, for burial.  Deceased was well known in Norwich, having worked at his trade of a tailor with G.E. Van Heynigen & Co., leaving here last spring for Oneida, where he engaged in business for a few months, when he removed to Clyde a few weeks since.  He was about twenty-eight years of age, and unmarried.