Obituaries (August 14)

Nancy Smith

September 1881

Died in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d inst., Nancy, widow of the Rev. E.P. Smith, aged 65 years.  The deceased was called to bear a protracted and painful illness, which she endured patiently to the end.  A lady of culture, intelligence and refinement, has been taken from the midst of a large circle of loving friends on earth to join a husband and happy throng who have gone before, and to whom she has hastened gladly to meet, ready and anxious for the summons that should call her home.  Her funeral was largely attended on Thursday last, Revs. Mr. Randolph, of Sherburne, Joseph Hunter, of New York, and Mr. Pearse, of Christ Church, taking part in the services.

Zeruah Yale Burtch

1796 - 1882

BURTCH:  In Coventry, N.Y. [Chenango Co.] at the residence of her son-in-law, A.M. Anderson, on the morning of March 29th, 1882, Mrs.Zeruah (Gilmore) Yale Burtch, aged 86 years and 23 days.

It seems fitting that more than passing mention be made of the departure of one so long identified with the best interests of the community in which she lived.  The deceased was born in Bennington, Vt, and when she was about two years of age, her father, Peres Gilmore, with others, settled in Jericho, now Bainbridge, on the farm now occupied by Nathaniel Barstow.  Later they removed to Coventry, where she was married to Joel Yale, January 5th, 1815, and took up her residence in Guilford, where most of her long and useful life was spent.  Her husband died in June 1864; they having lived together almost half a century. They had five children,  all of whom survive her.  Subsequently she became the wife of James Burtch, and by her unexampled faithfulness and tender care, she enjoyed the love of his surviving children, who ever treated her with the most affectionate respect.  During the greater part of her life she was an exemplary member of the Baptist church. Quiet and unassuming in manner, she was diligent in well-doing. To her many warm personal friends, who may read these lines, it is unnecessary to speak of her many virtues. They are fresh in the memory of those that loved her.  Her sudden death was caused by the breaking of an abscess or tumor, in the left side, which had troubled her for several years, especially as she laid down at night; her sufferings were very severe at times and she frequently expressed her conviction that it would cause her death, and suddenly. She possessed her mental faculties unimpaired till the last. By a previous request, Rev. E.T. Jacobs was called upon to conduct her funeral services, which were held at her late residence.

"Life's work well done,

Life's race well run,

Life's crown well won,

Now comes rest."

Anna, Charles, & Mrs. Darius Jackson

1883

The home of Darius Jackson, Esq., ex-Sheriff of Delaware county, has been desolated by death, in the form of diphtheria; taking, first, his daughter, Anna, a lovely girl; next, the devoted wife and mother; and last, a son, Charles, in the prime of manhood, who died April 5th, last.

"Three from our home were taken,

Three from our household band,

Three--and they faded and left us;

Ah, how hard to understand;

Three from our home were taken,

Daughter, mother and son--

For two life had been eventful,

For one it had just begun.

Anna went first--our darling;

Beauteous, fair as a flower,

Budding in richest promise,

For the soon to come--"God hour."

Sweetly, gently patient,

She went at the close of one day,

Asking her favorite hymn sung

While angels bore her away.

Next went the loving mother;

She folded her tired hands still,

Finished her work was, early,

But she knew the Maker's will,

Calmly resting from labor,

She's left him--her early choice;

How he misses her from the fireside,

And the sound of her gentle voice.

Then the son, he so fair in manhood,

A picture of strength to see,

Answered the call of the Saviour

Who took from us "our three."

Three golden lines to be fastened,

When we meet together, "up there,"

And the chain shall be united

Which was broken early here.

We miss them--oh so sadly I

None but the dear God knows;

Where the streets are pearled, "up yonder,"

They shall bloom like unto the rose,

We shall enter the gates so golden,

And our hearts shall forget their pain

When we hold the dear ones--our treasures,

And God shall untie us again.

M. Annie Knowles, Bainbridge, April 17, 1883