Obituaries (April 13)

Cora A. (Meade) Scott

Afton Enterprise, October 30, 1902

Mrs. Harry Scott of Woodland township died suddenly Sunday evening at half past six o'clock at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Washington Meade, in this city [Clark SD].  Mrs. Scott had suffered for about five years with consumption and last week was brought to Clark, but it was not thought at that time that her death would occur so soon, although there was little or no hope for her recovery. The funeral was held from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. M. Evans officiating, and the remains were laid to rest in Rosehill cemetery. Cora A. Meade-Scott was born at Afton, Chenango county, N.Y., April 18, 1863. She came to Clark in July, 1882, and was married to Mr. Scott in March, 1888.  Three children were born to them--Flora, Rosabell and Luella.  In 1887 Mrs. Scott joined the Methodist church and was a devoted and faithful wife and mother. The sorrowing husband and children together with her parents and sister have the deepest sympathy of all in their bereavement.  --Clark, SD.

Mary Hoag

Afton Enterprise, April 28, 1910

Miss Mary Hoag died at the home of her nephew, Henry G. Carr on Sunday morning at 10:30, aged 80 years.  She had not been well for several months and her death was not unexpected.  She was born in Laurens, Otsego Co. in 1830, and was one of our oldest inhabitants.  She resided for some years in Morris but has lived for about twenty years in this vicinity.  For 8-1/2 years she has made her home in this village [Afton, Chenango Co., NY].  Her eyesight became poor in her later years, but her other faculties were well preserved. She was a woman of excellent character.  Her brothers and sisters have all passed away and she was the only survivor of the family. The funeral services were held from her late home on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev. C.H. Colegrove. The remains were laid to rest in the East Side cemetery [Afton, NY].

Mary A. Peckham

The Rome Daily Sentinel, November 19, 1901

Mrs. Mary A. Peckham, a much esteemed resident of this community [Dix, Schuyler Co. NY], died Saturday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S.M. H. Gould, aged 85 years.  Mrs. Peckham was the widow of the late Daniel Peckham and was a member of the Friends Church. For many years she was a preacher among them.  Her only child is the above named daughter with whom she lived.  Her funeral was held today from the Friends Church.

James Puride Knowles

The Phrenological Journal & Science of Health, vol 123-124, April 1910, pp 134/5

We regret to note that Mr. James Purdie Knowles, of Smyrna, N.Y. [Chenango Co.] has passed away, at the age of seventy-five.  He had subscribed for the Phrenological Journal for over fifty years.  Mr. Knowles was in New York in December last, and attended our monthly meeting;  he made a few remarks, and advocated the work of the Scientific Christian Association which was outlined at the meeting.  He did much good work where he lived, and was constantly making other people happy.  He recently helped a neighbor to rebuild his house because labor was hard to obtain.  While yet in his teens Mr. Knowles was attacked by a nervous trouble, and in search for help his attention was called to the Health Reform Movement and he carefully read the works of the best writers on the subject, and upon Phrenology and Mental Science.  He became a vegetarian in 1884, as well as prohibitionist, and used his influence at home and abroad on all reform subjects.  Educated as a Friend, he believed in the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things.

Frank B. Knowles

Chenango Union, April 16, 1885

One of Smyrna's most promising young men died last Saturday, at Kingston, Pa., where he was attending the Wyoming Seminary.  Frank B. Knowles was born in the town of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], twenty-one years ago last October.  He received a district school education, and afterwards attended the Union School at Sherburne, where he took high rank in his studies.  A little over a year ago he took a short course at a Phrenological school in New York, and commenced lecturing at various places in Chenango county upon that subject. About this time a series of revival meetings were in progress at Smyrna, in which he took a deep interest.  Although a member of the M.E. Church for some years, it was at these meetings that his soul was so deeply stirred that he resolved to enter the ministry.  Early in the spring on 1884 he was licensed to preach. During the summer he supplied various pulpits throughout the county in the temporary absence of the pastors.  In August he entered the conference Seminary of his church, at Kingston, where he pursued studies preparatory to entering Drew Theological Seminary.  While at the Seminary he occasionally supplied pulpits of various churches, with satisfaction and was often in demand to supply such places.  He made rapid progress in his studies, and won the hearty approbation of his teachers.  A few weeks ago he came home to spend his spring vacation, apparently healthy, and in the best of spirits.  It was our good fortune to meet our old schoolmate of former day, and to hear of his progress and of his plans for the future, plans destined never to be fulfilled.  He returned to his school and commenced the work of the spring term, but was soon stricken with typhoid pneumonia.  His illness was only of a few days, and on Saturday morning last he died.  Kind friends ministered unto him, the best of medical aid was procured, but of no avail. When the telegram was received announcing his death a deep gloom fell upon the community which knew him from boyhood.  His funeral was held from the M.E. Church, Smyrna, Monday afternoon, Rev. L.B. Weeks officiating.  Many friends were present from adjoining towns, to pay their last respects to him whom they had learned to love.  Clear in conception, concise and fearless in argument, he was a speaker that had but few equals among the young men.  Never possessing what might be termed oratorical gifts, he had a style so forcible and clear that he always won a reputation.  It took a good man to refute his arguments.  His life was an exemplary one, marked by all the traits of a Christian character, conscientiousness, perhaps being the most prominent.   W.S.L.

Robert Hoxie Knowles

Norwich Sun, June 21, 1927

Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY]:  Robert Hoxie Knowles, a native and for many years a resident of this town, passed away at his home in Earlville [Madison Co., NY] on Monday, June 20, aged 81 years.  Mr. Knowles was one of four children of the late Hoxie and Polly Kenyon Knowles, and was born on the Knowles homestead just north of this village, the farm now owned by William G. Clark, on September 21, 1845, and for many years that was his home.  For some years he was successfully engaged in the creamery business at Windsor, Conn., and for a time he was in Kansas City, mo. where he was engaged in the railroad business.  Some 25 years ago he returned to his birthplace and successfully carried on his farm for about ten years, when he sold it to its present owner, moving to this village.  Later he purchased a home in the village of Earlville, where he had since made his home.  Since May 5, 1872, he had been a member of the Congregational church at this place and took an active and earnest part in all branches of the work, holding important offices much of the time.  A man of genial ways, always dependable for good and careful judgment, he was a counsellor and friend to many who will mourn his passing.  He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Eliza Burlingham and his second Miss Hattie Kenyon, both of whom, with an infant son, preceded him to that better land.  Although surrounded and looked after in his declining days by many friends, he is survived by no near relatives excepting cousins or more distant relatives, among whom are J.M. Wilcox of this place, Mrs. G. B. Towner of Norwich, B.E. Willcox of Earlville and Mrs. Alice Anderson of Fenton, Mich.  Funeral services will be held from his late home in Earlville on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. C.V. Slocum, his former pastor, officiating, and interment will be made in the family plot in the Willcox cemetery [Smyrna, NY]