Obituaries (August 20)

Frederick Hubbard Burchard

1855 - 1910

Frederick H. Burchard died at his home on Hayes street, Norwich [Chenango Co.], Tuesday evening, February 8th, as announced in The Times last week.  His death was a great shock to his friends in Norwich as well as the people of Oxford, where his boyhood days were spent.  Mr. Burchard was born in New York city, August 1, 1855, and with his parents removed to Preston in 1857.  In 1865 he moved to Oxford, where he remained until January 1, 1902, when he went to Norwich.  For 28 years he was interested in the hardware business in Oxford.  First he entered the employ of William A. Martin, later going with the firm of Vanderlyn & Company.  In 1888, he formed a partnership with his brother Albert S. Burchard.  In 1902 the firm purchased the business of Daniel P. -?- of Norwich and F.H. Burchard went there to take charge.  The Burchard Brothers company was organized in 1908 and incorporated to take over the interest of the firm.  Mr. Burchard was for nine years, before going to Norwich, chief of the Oxford fire department.  He was village assessor and a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal church.  In Norwich he was one of the directors of the Ireland Machine & Foundry Co.; of the Young Men's Christian association and a vestryman of Emmanuel church, a director of the hospital association and an officer of the Business Men's Association.  He was a master mason in Oxford lodge, transferring his membership to Norwich lodge, no. 302.  He was also a member of Harmony chapter, No. 151, Royal Arch Masons and of Norwich Commandery, No. 46, Knights Templar. December 23, 1879, he married Mary Ellen Bruchhausen, daughter of the late Dr. Casper Bruchhausen.  Four children, Elizabeth, wife of Floyd Miner, Leonard, Florence and Margaret, with the wife, survive.  He is also survived by two brothers, Albert S. and George B. of Oxford and by a sister, Miss Prudence Burchard, of New York city.  The funeral was held Friday morning.  Private services were held at the house on Hayes street, followed by services in Emmanuel Episcopal church. The floral offering was large and beautiful, showing the high esteem in which he was held. There was a large attendance of representative citizens of Norwich and Oxford, more than seventy-five attending from this village.  Burial was made in Mount Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY], commitment at the grave by the Knights Templar ritual service.  During the funeral the business places in Norwich were closed as well as here in Oxford.  The citizen bearers were Millard D. McNeil, Frank T. Corbin and Peter V. Newkirk of Oxford and R.D. Eaton, Edward L. Nash and W.C. Hartigan of Norwich. The bearers from Norwich Commandery were Henry Slater, Edward S. Moore, Charles G. Nash, George W. Nagel, W. Brad Doane and Walter C. Case, all past commanders of Norwich commandery.

Alice C. (Squires) Burchard

1854 - 1910

The friends of Mrs. George B. Burchard of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] were shocked to learn Thursday night that she was stricken with cerebral hemorrhage at the home of her sister-in-law, Mrs. F. H. Burchard of Norwich, and died in a few hours.  She had left Oxford on the morning train, and in company with Mrs. S.S. Stafford expected to return at 7 o'clock.  Mrs. Burchard had just finished supper with her sister-in-law and family and had stepped away from the table, when she exclaimed, "How queer my head feels!  I'm afraid I'm going to have a shock."  She immediately became unconscious and remained in that condition until death ensued. A singular fact is that her death was similar in nearly every detail to that of Frederick H. Burchard three months previous in the same house.  Mrs. Burchard suffered a partial shock three years ago, caused by a growth near the ear.  Mrs. Burchard's maiden name was Alice C. Squires, and she was born in Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] fifty-six years ago, the daughter of Willis and Harriett Chapman Squires, who reside on Scott street in this village.  She was married to Mr. Burchard, December 2, 1874. Given to hospitality and neighborly kindness she was beloved by all her acquaintances.  Her natural kindness and affection worked out through social channels.  She was a member of St. Paul's church, Phoenix Legion, No. 136, N.P.L., the Thimble Club, and other social organizations.  She is survived by her parents and husband.  The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at her late residence and was largely attended. The service was conducted by Rev. Charles D. Broughton of St. Paul's church and interment was made in Riverview [Oxford, NY]. 

Harriet A. (Smith) Sphon

1845 - 1910

Harriet A. Sphon, the eldest of the children of Monson A. and Lauretta Dodge Smith of Oxford, died in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] September 12, 1910.  For more than four years she was a great sufferer from the disease that she only found relief from in death.  Through the long months of suffering, devoted children and kind friends did all that could be done to ease the weary hours of pain.  Mrs. Sphon was born in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] November 23, 1845.  For many years she was a successful teacher in the district schools of this town.  She united with the Free Baptist church of East Oxford in November 1872, and after her removal to Bainbridge united with the Presbyterian church, whose pastor conducted the funeral services.  She married Joseph F. Sphon of Bainbridge, November 18, 1874, and since that time has resided there most of the time.  She was a woman of great determination, strong force of character and though quiet in her ways, her influence was always felt on the side of right and many who confided their troubles to her were comforted by good counsel.  Of the five children, Mrs. James Purvis, Frederick and Milton reside in Bainbridge, the latter giving up his work in Binghamton and returning home to be near his mother during her sickness; Mrs. Warren Gunderman resides in Endicott and Homer is in the United States navy.

Ethel (Ogden) Tompkins

1882 - 1910

The death of Mrs. Ethel Ogden Tompkins, wife of Patrolman Carl Tompkins of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], occurred at their home in that city Saturday evening, and her twenty-two months old son, resulting from her turning on the gas.  Mr. Tompkins went to Syracuse Saturday to play with the Binghamton police in their ball game in that city.  He said nothing had happened to indicate that his wife contemplated suicide and it was a shock to him when he arrived home at midnight to find the rooms filled with gas, and his wife and child dead.  Coroner Hooks declared the deed was caused by puerperal insanity.  She had remarked that "She never would or could go through the same thing again."  Both husband and wife were highly esteemed by their neighbors, and in evening, Mrs. Tompkins was wheeling her child on the sidewalk in a gocart, and nothing indicated that she had anything on her mind to disturb her.  But results showed that she had made preparations for the terrible deed.  Blankets were placed over the door and windows to prevent the escape of the gas and it was conveyed to the pillow on which she and the child were lying through a rubber hose attached to a gas jet, and the hose was pinned to the pillow close to their faces so that it could not get away.  Mrs. Tompkins was 28 years of age and had been married four years. She and her husband were very devoted to one another. She was the daughter of Irvin I. Ogden of Bainbridge, and resided in this village with her parents about twelve years ago. The sympathy of the friends of the family is extended to them in their terrible bereavement.  Mr. Ogden was in town last week, and while in The Times office referred to his daughter with a tender fatherly pride. The funeral will be held in Bainbridge today.

Perry Tillotson

1829 - 1910

The death of Perry Tillotson occurred at his home in the eastern part of the town of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY] on Sunday.  Mr. Tillotson, owing to his advanced age had considerable stomach trouble for several years, and Friday had a bad spell, which confined him to his bed.  His family had no particular anxiety, as he seemed to rally and Sunday morning he sat up while his bed was being aired and changed.  Just before going back to bed he took a drink of water, got into bed and was dead in five minutes, passing peacefully away. Mr. Tillotson had an extensive acquaintance over this entire section.  For over forty years he had been engaged in buying and selling cattle.  He was a man who endeavored to do at all things a little better than he agreed to do, and was content to let the other man have his share of the fruits of his labor.  He was a good citizen, and while of a nature that did not take active part tin public affairs, always exerted an influence for good.  Mr. Tillotson was born in the town of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] April 4, 1829, and was the son of David and Sallie Simmons Tillotson.  In 1858 he was married to Clarissa Rorapaugh, daughter of Andrew Rorapaugh of Smithville, who died Nov. 23, 1866.  In 1870 he was again married to Julia Rorapaugh, sister of his former wife.  His residence has been during his entire life in Smithville and McDonough, and for many years his face has always been familiar on the streets of Oxford on the days when he shipped cattle.  For several years his sons, Floyd and Richard have practically succeeded him in the cattle business, but he has nevertheless been active up to the time of his death.  In his family life Mr. Tillotson was greatly beloved, was a good neighbor and friend.  Besides his wife he is survived by four sons, Floyd Tillotson of McDonough, Richard Tillotson of Oxford, and Dr. Clarence Tillotson of Colinga, Cal., (children by his first wife); William Tillotson of Garden City, and one daughter Clare, wife of Frank Brown of Hamilton. The funeral will be held at his late residence today (Wednesday) at 12:30 o'clock, Rev. W.S. Milburn, pastor of the Universalist church of Oneonta, officiating.  Interment will be made in Riverview cemetery, at Oxford [Chenango Co., NY]