Obituaries (March 22)

Richard P. Showin

Northern Christian Advocate, October 25, 1848

Richard P. Showin, died of consumption, in Louisville, St. Lawrence county, Sept. 6, 1848, aged 56 [69?] years.  He was born in New Hampshire in 1779.  He removed from thence to Canada, and then to Louisville, New York state in 1815, where he lived until he died.  Mr. Showin was one of the early settlers in Louisville.  He brooked the difficulties and toils of a new country.  He was distinguished for mildness, honesty, and generosity of character, and for kindness and affability of manners, and was highly esteemed and beloved by all his neighbors. We thought he met with a change of heart about nine years ago, and died in tranquility, reposing confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has left a widowed companion and three children to mourn their irreparable loss.  May the Lord pour upon them the abundant consolations of his grace.    O. Lathrop, Norfolk, Sept. 27, 1848

 

Walter Samuel Clark

The Guilford News, February 25, 1931

Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]:  Walter Samuel Clark died at the home of his son, Arthur Clark, at 1 o'clock Friday afternoon, Feb. 13, following an illness of three weeks.  Mr. Clark was 74 years old, having been born in Brookfield, O., July 9, 1856.  He was married March 19, 1876, to Miss Kate Draper McMullin, and they resided in Brookfield until 1912 when they came to New York state. Mr. Clark bought the Jim Phelps farm near Sidney, but at the time of the World War he sold it and purchased a farm in Bainbridge which in turn he sold about three years ago, since when Mr. and Mrs. Clark have lived with their children.  He is survived by his wife, one son, Arthur Clark of Bainbridge, three daughters, Mrs. W.E. Wheeler of Brookfield, O., Mrs. Elsie Struble of Binghamton and Mrs. McKelvey of Binghamton. Ten grandchildren and twelve greatgrandchildren also survive him. The funeral service was held from the home of his son, Arthur Clark on Pruyn hill, Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, the officiating clergyman being Rev. Cecil Plumb of Guilford Center, assisted by Rev. Orvis of the Bainbridge Presbyterian church.  Interment was in Prospect Hill cemetery, Sidney [Delaware co., NY].

 

Rev. Oscar R. Beardsley

Oxford Times, May 31, 1905

Rev. O.R. Beardsley, whose serious illness was announced last week, died early in the morning of Thursday, at his residence on Scott street [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY].  He was attacked with pneumonia, other diseases set in and ended a well spent life.  Mr. Beardsley accepted the pastorate of the Oxford Universalist church July 19, 1903, and during his residence here not only endeared himself to the members of his congregation but won the high regard of our people generally.  Liberal minded, companionable, he was a pleasant man to meet in church and out.  His loss to the church and to the societies with which he affiliated will be keenly felt.  During his pastorate here he also had charge of the Universalist church at Tyner and supplied the pulpits at Sherburne and Poolville.  He was a member of Afton Lodge, F.&A.M., Vallonia Chapter, R.A.M.; acting chaplain of Oxford Lodge and chaplain of Lafayette chapter, Order of Eastern Star of this village, and also held the same office to the local and county Grange.

 

Rev. Oscar R. Beardsley was born in the town of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Aug. 30, 1841.  His parents, Seba  and Rhoda Beardsley, were of New England ancestry and removed from Delaware county to Coventry during the anti-rent trouble in that county.  He in early youth determined to enter the ministry, but the death of his father left the care of the farm in his hands and he was denied the cherished desire of a theological course of study.  However, with a common school education and two or three terms of study at Afton academy, he gained the end sought for and was ordained to the ministry, in the intervals of study working at the carpenter's trade and teaching school.  His first regular charge was at Nicholson and Foster, Pa., Brooklyn, Pa., later being added to his pastorate which he held from 1884 to 1891.  Resigning this charge he for two years was State missionary of Pennsylvania, preaching his faith wherever sent.  Then he held pastorates at Oswego, N.Y., Cicero, N.Y., Scranton, Pa., and Sherman, N.Y., his last charge being Oxford.

 

In March 1846, Mr. Beardsley married Alice Hackett of Colesville, who died in 1898.  Three children were born to them, two of whom survive, Paul D. Beardsley of Afton, and Mrs. Llewellyn Shields of Scranton, Pa.  Deceased is survived by two brothers, George and David Beardsley of Alba, Pa., and two sisters, Mrs. Julia F. Reed of Afton and Mrs. Harriet Kasson of North Colesville.

 

Funeral services were held in the Universalist church Saturday morning.  The church was filled.  the Masonic fraternity attended in a body, a delegation of the Order of the Eastern Star were present, together with representatives of the Grange, members of his congregations here, at Tyner, Sherburne and Poolville, and prominent citizens. The service was in charge of Rev. Charles Kramer, a Universalist clergyman from Nicholson, Pa., all the Protestant clergymen of the village taking part. Rev. Mr. Kramer made the opening address referring to the deceased clergyman's life and character.  Rev. Mr. Shipman of the Methodist church read a passage of Scripture, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Parsons of the Baptist church, who spoke of the work of the late pastor in his charge here.  Rev. Mr. Harris of the Congregational church offered prayer, and Rev. Mr. Broughton of the Episcopal church closed the service with a tender tribute to the deceased as a man and a Mason. The service was a remarkable one in some respects. The unity of the village clergymen was noted by those who attended from a distance, and the large attendance and tributes paid the deceased impressed all.  The body was conveyed to Afton [Chenango Co., NY] for interment, services for better convenience being held in the Methodist church in that village Sunday afternoon.  It was one of the largest attended funeral ever held there. Afton Lodge, F.&A.M., had charge of the commitment at the grave.  A delegation from Oxford lodge was present.

 

Death Notices

Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 27, 1855

 

In Triangle [Broome Co., NY], Sept. 14th, Daniel G. Saxton, aged 32 years 6 months and 20 days.

In Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], after a lingering and painful illness, Charles Parker, aged 63 years.

Suddenly at the Hartford Retreat, in Hartford, Ct., on the morning of the 11th inst., Justus M. Masters, Esq., formerly of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY].

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Elisha B. Smith, Jr., only son of Hon. Elisha B. Smith, aged 1 year and 12 days.

In Cazenovia [Madison Co., NY], suddenly, Nelson R. [Reddy], son of Rev. Wm. B. and E.C. Reddy, aged 1 year and 8 months.

 

Chenango American, Greene, NY, October 17, 1855

 

In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst., David F. Smith, aged 46 years.

 

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th isn't., Jotham [Rounds], son of Joseph and Catharine Rounds, aged 14 years.

 

In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., Nathan Phillips, in the 79th year of his age.