Marriages (April 29)

Westover - Waite

Chenango Union, June 3, 1880

A Buffalo local paper gives a half-column account of the marriage of W.G. Westover, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], in that city on the 20th of May.  It says that a stranger arrived at the Continental hotel and registered his name William G. Westover, Elmira, and asked the clerk to "send for a minister, not for a common, cheap one; but for a high-toned, gilt-edged minister."  The clergyman came, and the young man said the lady would arrive by the Lake Shore Railway, the train then being due, and going to the depot he returned with a charming young woman, who was introduced as Miss Lotta E. Waite, of Muncie, Indiana, and the two were soon made one. Westover, after the ceremony, told a reporter that at last his fond anticipations had been realized and the cold and causeless objections of obdurate parents had been surmounted and love had triumphed. The bride is described as a belle, whose hand was much sought after by the Indianans; but the fair William captured it with the heart, to the dislike of cruel parents, hence the romantic, runaway marriage.

Muchly Married

Career of the Scamp Who Operated in Greene

Oxford Times, February 26, 1895

The Elmira Telegram published a long account relative to Charles Howard, the champion bigamist of the world, who in the summer of 1893 was engaged in the heart smashing business in Green [Chenango Co., NY], winning the confidence, and love, we suppose, of a young widow of this village, and then swindled her out of $1,000 and a couple of gold watches, then deserting her at Binghamton, the story of which is familiar to our citizens.

The Telegram article declares that he has a wife in every State in the Union, and several in some States.  He has been in the business of marrying, robbing, and then deserting his victims, for the past 15 years.  Widows, young ladies, and even girls, just budding into womanhood, have felt the sting of this human viper.  He has received from these women from $75 up to $3,000 in money, besides jewelry and fancy apparel.

In Chicago, and other cities, he has conducted riding schools for the instruction of ladies and gentlemen, and they being of the wealthy class, it is asserted that he has robbed them in many ways. At these schools, however he was always looking out for some confiding woman, and (alas! the world is full of them), whom he could beguile into his loathsome embrace, and then rob them.

His real name is Charles H. Jones, and his people reside in Lacrosse, Wis. He has been known under many names, and since he left Greene he has been married many times, and once under the name of Spaulding, the name of his Greene victim.  Only last December he married a young woman near Owego, and of course robbed and deserted her.  One of his many victims is now making a desperate effort to bring this much married individual to justice.

Marriage Notices

Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 17, 1856

At the M.E. Church, in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by Rev. W. Bixby, Mr. Edward H. Davies, to Miss Sarah A. Palmer, both of this town.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., by the Rev. N. Ripley, Mr. LaFayette Briggs of Deposit [Delaware Co., NY] and Miss Almira H. Smith, of Oxford.

At Smithville Flats [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst., by Rev. O. Ketchum, of East Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], Mr. Hugh G. Crozier, of New York City, to Miss Nancy Harrison, of the former place.

In Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., by Rev. E.L. Benedict, Alfred Nichols, Esq., of Earlville, Madison Co., to Miss Pamelia Post, daughter of Dea. Levi Post, of the former place.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., by Rev. JC. Ransom, Mr. Alvah Green, of Triangle, Broome co., to Miss Alzina Sacket, of this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].

Also at the same time, by the same, Mr. Emer Aldrich, of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Drusilla A. Aldrich, of McDonough (Chenango Co., NY].

In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by Rev. W. Bixby, Mr. Molbro Wells to Miss Jerusha Gale, both of the above place.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., by Rev. D.W. Thurston, Mr. George Thomas to Miss Huldah E. Mallory, both of German [Chenango Co., NY].