Obituaries (July 16)

Willie Murray

Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 22, 1863

The Homer [Cortland Co., NY] Republican has the particular of a sad event which took place in that village on Saturday morning. Two boys, Masters Willie Murray and Eddie Mathews, youngest son of Messrs. George Murray and David Mathews, while skating on the upper mill pond there, broke through the ice, and one of them, Willie Murray, was drowned.  His body was in the water a quarter of an hour, and all efforts to resuscitate him was fruitless.  he was a promising lad of eleven years. Eddie Mathews clung to the ice until rescued. Several men attempted to reach the drowning boys, but all broke through and narrowly escaped drowning. A boat was finally procured, and by this, one of the boys was saved.

Mathew Murphy

Norwich Sun, September 10, 1906

At his home on the farm where he had lived for eighty-two years, on last Friday evening, Matthew Murphy passed peacefully away.  His death closed a remarkable life, not only for his longevity, but for the important events in the history of this vicinity in which he took part and personally witnessed.  Mr. Murphy was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, On July 23, 1812; he came with his parents to this country in 1821, and lived in Albany county until 1824, when they removed to Preston and located near the house in which he died; in the early part of the last century he purchased several hundred acres of land on and near Butler's Range in the town of Preston, land formerly owned by General Benjamin F. Butler.  In 1833 he was married to Bridget McGown of Smithville, who died in 1878.and to them was born Mrs. Cornelius Conway, who died in 1890, Edward M. Murphy who died in 1903, James A. Murphy who died in infancy, Catherine Guinane, John C. Murphy, Margaret Welch and Mrs. James Quinn, survive him.  He worked on the construction of the old Chenango canal in 1837 and was a frequent visitor in Norwich during the construction of the present Court house about 1845.  He was present at the public execution of George Dennison which took place on the hillside between Auburn and Pleasant streets in this village in 1833 when Amos A. Franklin of Oxford was sheriff of Chenango county.  He was one of those sturdy pioneers who rugged honesty and industry has done so much to clear the wilderness where now are located some of our best agricultural lands.  His funeral was held from St Paul's church this morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Nicholas J. Quinn of Utica, N.Y. officiating.  Interment at St. Joseph's cemetery, Oxford, N.Y. [Chenango Co.]. 

Dr. Horatio Knight Bellows

Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 8, 1880

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  On the 24th of January, 1879, while engaged in his office with patients who had called to consult him, Dr. Bellows was suddenly stricken with congestion of the base of the brain.  Since that time--now more than fourteen months--he has been a helpless invalid, most of the time deprived of reason.  On Monday evening of this week he was seized with convulsions, which lasted most of the night, but abated in severity towards morning.  He sank rapidly, however, and it was apparent to all who attended him that his end was nigh.  At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock Tuesday morning, surrounded by his loving family and friends, he expired.

Stillman Pike

Chenango American, Greene, N.YH., April 8, 1880

The McDonough correspondent of the Chenango Union says:  Death has snatched suddenly from our midst a well known citizen, Stillman Pike who met his fate in a sad way on Tuesday last. Deceased was prescribing for a sick horse, said to be poisoned, and received on a slight scratch of the hand, some of the saliva  from the animal which caused a sore diseasing the whole arm, when, penetrating the organs of his body, death quickly ensued. The funeral was attended from the residence of D.B Pike on Wednesday.

Death Notices

Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 29, 1863

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 26th inst, Mrs. Elizabeth B. [Upham], wife of John Upham, aged 73 years, 1 month and 8 days.

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst., Lenthel [Stanton], youngest son, of Cephas and Betsy Stanton, aged 18 years and 7 months.

In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th inst., Walter Morey, aged about 10 years.

In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th inst., Treana Hunt, aged 61 years.

In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., Delos W. [Gleason] son of Joel and Almana Gleason, aged 5 years and 6 months.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., Aristarchus Monroe, aged 64 years.

At sea, Thomas Dolan, son of Patrick Dolan, of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], and a private in Co. H 114th Regiment, aged 19 years.

In East Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., of diphtheria, Jenny Rorapaugh, aged 12 years and being the third child which Uri and Julia A. Rorapaugh buried within twelve days.

Also, in Smithville, on the same day, of same disease, Alburtus Holdridge, aged 10 years.