Obituaries (April 14)

William Peter Sprague

Norwich Sun, January 8, 1929

Friends of our esteemed townsman William P. Sprague will be sorry to learn that he is confined to his home west of this village with a broken hip, sustained on Friday of last week when he suffered two falls on the ice in the streets of Earlville, where he had gone to attend to business matters. After the first fall he managed to get up and get from near the Methodist church to the corner by the Cross meat market, where he again fell and was carried to the office of Dr. Stradling where an examination revealed an injury to his hip.  He was brought to his home by his grandson, Lytle Stowell where Dr. A.K. Benedict of Sherburne was called and found a dislocation and break at the hip. The joint was reset but the break was of such a nature as to make the use of a cast or splint impracticable and he was made as comfortable as possible with the use of packs.

Norwich Sun, February 18, 1929

This community was shocked on Sunday to learn of the sudden death of our respected townsman, William P. Sprague, at his home west of the village [Smyrna, Chenango Co., NY].  For several weeks he has been confined to his home, suffering with a fractured hip, from which he had been making a good recovery, and his sudden passing was a surprise and shock to his family and friends. Funeral services will be said on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Baptist church in this village with interment in the Willcox cemetery [Smyrna, NY].  

Norwich Sun, February 22, 1929

In the Northup district of this town July 15, 1865, on the old homestead where no building now stands, the eleventh child of Peter and Electa Conkey Sprague, William Peter Sprague was born.  He died February 17, 1929.  He was the last one of the brothers and sisters to answer the final roll call and the first member to break his immediate family circle, being survived by his faithful life companion of forty-nine years and who was his tender nurse, thru much sickness, Mary Maria Ellsworth and three children born to them. Three grandchildren also survive.  He will be remembered by the few remaining members of his generation as a wrestler of fame and a man of unusual muscular strength.  In his younger days and by those and younger ones as an ardent lover of fun and frolic.  His schooling ended in the district of his birth, yet possessed of a high natural musical ability he was a singer somewhat out of the ordinary and a snare drummer of extraordinary dexterity as the remaining members of the Coye martial band, in whose ranks he leaves another gap, will testify.  In religion, although never a member of any church, he had settled the paramount question of life years ago. A faithful husband; solicitous for the welfare of his children, educationally, and otherwise; jovial, truthful and honest; accommodating and generous to a fault and ever militant against the bullying of the weaker by the stronger; William Sprague leaves a sensitive spot in the memory of friends and acquaintances whom he has left behind.

Beatrice Mae (Dennis) Onan

Norwich Sun, March 23, 1934

Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY]:  Beatrice Mae, wife of Ray M. Onan, passed away March 18, 1934 at her home in Smyrna at the age of 40 years, six months and 15 days. After a prayer at the house on Wednesday at one o'clock, services were conducted from the M.E. church in this village, Rev. Clayton W. Hoag, the pastor, officiating. The remains were placed in the vault on Sherburne West Hill to be laid at rest later in the Wilcox cemetery [Smyrna, NY].  Mrs. Onan was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert D. Dennis and was born at Lowell, Michigan, on September 3, 1893.  On March 26, 1913, she became the wife of Ray E. Onan, also of Lowell and to this union were born three sons, Ronley, Jason, and Hugh.  In 1926, with the family, she came to New York state to reside and has since made her home here.  In 1927 she united with the Frist congregational church in Sherburne.  Mrs. Onan was a good wife, a loving mother and always cheerful throughout the past two years of patient waiting.  Her husband, the three sons, her parents, a sister, two brothers and a host of friends survive to morn her untimely passing.

Charles S. Billings

Norwich Sun, July 6, 1920

The funeral of Charles S. Billings who died at his home, 29 Guernsey street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Monday night at 6:30 o'clock, will be held from his late home Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Wilson Treible officiating, and burial in the Willcox cemetery at Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].  Mr. Billings had been a resident of Norwich for the past 11 years, and was well known and highly respected.  He had just passed his 75th birthday, having been born in Lebanon, June 4, 1845.  He was one of a family of eight children.  The deceased was a former resident of Smyrna, having lived in that place nearly all his life.  He was united in marriage with Miss Priscilla Willcox of Smyrna, 52 years ago last January. Besides the widow there survive three brothers, Delos of Earlville, Frank of Hamilton and Jay of Lebanon, also two sisters, Mrs. Mary Finch of North Norwich and Mrs. Julius Baker of Hamilton.

Priscilla Willcox Billings

Norwich Sun, January 20, 1926

Following a stroke of apoplexy suffered Monday morning, Mrs. Priscilla Willcox Billings, aged 75 years, died at her home, 29 Guernsey street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Wednesday morning.  Mrs. Billings was the widow of the late Charles S. Billings and for many years resided in Smyrna, where she was born Nov. 22, 1850. She was a daughter of Henry H . and Marrion L. Purdie Willcox.  Her father was of pioneer stock, and erected the first frame house built in Smyrna.  Her mother came from Norwich, England.  Both her parents were members of the Society of Friends.   The deceased was well known in Norwich for she had a wide acquaintance. She was of an especially cheerful disposition, hospitable and loyal to her friends. She attended the Methodist church. The nearest survivors are the following nephews and nieces:  Henry H. Willcox of Earlville, Dr. Hadwin P. Willcox of Central Square, Mrs. Harriet Willcox Briggs of Norwich, Mrs. Henry Kenyon of Smyrna and Mrs. Harvey R. Cook of North  Norwich. The funeral will be held from the late home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon.  Interment will be made in the Willcox cemetery, near Smyrna.

Samuel A. Billings

Chenango Telegraph, April 24, 1861

BILLINGS:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], April 17th, of typhoid fever, Samuel A. Billings, M.D., aged 23 years.  Dr. Billings graduated at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in May, 1857, with credit, attracting attention while there, as a student of more than ordinary ability.  He opened an office in this place soon after his return, and by his pleasing manners, close attention to business, and diligence in his studies, secured at once the confidence of those who sought his advice. Gentlemanly in his deportment, persevering in the profession of his choice, the future of his career certainly gave abundant promise of usefulness.  His early defiance upon public life, has been followed by an early, and greatly lamented death.  During his long and distressing illness, attendants, were put forth to save him, but death was inexorable.  His protracted sickness was improved in seeking acceptance with God, through Jesus Christ, a work which he most deeply deplored, having neglected until then. The most precious evidences of pardon and justification were enjoyed by him for a number of days before his death.  His end was peaceful "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, and release me from all pain, Jesus is all, and in all," were the last words he uttered. At his request the services of his funeral were held in Smyrna, among the people with whom his childhood and youth were spent, and where his body now reposes, by the side of kindred dust. The deep sympathy manifested by the large audience which attended his funeral, bore testimony to the high esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best. Being a staff officer in the 41st regiment of N.Y. S. Militia, the company under Captain Tyrrell, kindly tendered their services, and he was buried with military honors. He leaves a heart stricken wife, to mourn his early death.