Obituaries (October 20)

David Reed

Chenango Union, July 1907

David Reed, a stranger, died of tuberculosis at the Bainbridge town hall, on Sunday, where he had been cared for after an attempt to get him in elsewhere had failed.  He was walking to Albany and was exhausted when he reached Bainbridge.

Source unknown

A death accompanied with circumstances occurred in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] Sunday morning.  Friday morning a stranger called at Charles Br--- house and asked for nourishment, saying he was sick and that he had lain in a barn nearby two days and two nights unable to move or summon help.  Justice of the Peace John M. Cooper, was notified who in turn apprised Overseer of the Poor, Geo. Ireland.  Mr. Cooper in the meantime secured a physician and prepared a comfortable place in Corporation Hall for him. The stranger was well dressed and was gentlemanly in appearance.  He was very weak and in sore need of help and care, all of which were given him by Mr. Cooper and Overseer Ireland.  He gave his name as David Reed and occupation as a waiter and had been employed in Keeler's hotel, Albany, until March last when his health failed and since had been at the home of a cousin, his only relative, in Corning.  Feeling better he had started to return to work. Being without money he walked and had got as far as Bainbridge when his strength gave out and he sought rest in this barn.  Though he received medical attention he was beyond help.  He died Sunday morning at 9 o'clock [July 28, 1907].  A message was sent to his relative in Corning asking what disposition to make of the body. As no satisfactory response came Overseer of the Poor, Geo. Ireland, took charge of the remains which were taken to Hastings undertaking rooms on East Main street.  Monday afternoon at 5:30 a short service was held at these rooms, Rev. VanWoert officiating, and burial was in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  The unfortunate man was about 30 years of age and was suffering from catarrh of the stomach and accompanying ailments from which he died.

Albany Evening Journal, July 31, 1907

David Read, a stranger, died at Bainbridge under distressing circumstances Sunday.  Before death he made a lengthy statement to justice of the Peace Cooper, in which he said that he was an employee of Keeler's restaurant in Albany, and early in March, being in poor health, went to Corning.  His funds gave out, and he started to walk back to Albany.  He reached Bainbridge, and being unable to go any farther he crawled into a barn, where he remained three days without food or drink.  Finally he made his way to a nearby house, and was cared for. Death was caused by consumption.  Inquiry was made at Keeler's hotel and at Keeler's on state street and on Green street, but nothing was known of the man in those places.

William F. Wells

Binghamton Press, September 1907
August 13, 1851 - August 15, 1907

A blow from a cow's tail caused the death of William F. Wells, a prominent resident of Newark Valley [Tioga County], on Thursday evening, according to a dispatch to the Associated Press.  Mr. Wells was in his usual health on Thursday and attended his farm duties. Toward night while milking a cow the animal, annoyed by flies, switched her tail, striking Mr. Wells on the forehead.  He returned to the house, complaining of a pain in the head where the cow's tail had struck him.  He attempted to eat supper, but the pain increased at a rapid rate, and home remedies having no effect, a physician was summoned, who found Mr. Wells suffering from a stroke of apoplexy superinduced by the blow from the cow's tail.  He sank rapidly until death occurred.  Mr. Wells was 56 years of age, and is survived by a wife.  He was prominent in Masonic circles, and the funeral will be held at Newark Valley tomorrow, in charge of the Masons.

Eli Watrous

December 1907

Coventry [Chenango Co., NY]:  Eli Watrous died of heart failure at his residence here Thursday last at 4:15 p.m. aged 73 years.  He was a veteran of the war for the union and belonged to the 50th Regt., N.Y. Vol.  A faithful member of the M.E. church and a consistent Christian and a good quiet citizen.  His son, George, and two surviving daughters mourn his loss.  Interment was made at Ouaquaga.

Joseph Mascovatio

December 1907

Joseph Mascovatio, aged nine years, son of Michael Mascovatio of Afton [Chenango Co., NY] was accidently shot and killed by an elder brother at their home in that village Sunday morning at about 7:30 o'clock.  The father is a flagman at the railroad crossing near the milk station and left home early that morning to go to his work leaving his three boys alone in the house, their mother being dead.  The brothers, two being older than Joseph, became engaged in play in the sititng room and had an old broom set up for a Christmas tree, which they were decorating with various articles.  Joseph had a piece of rope with which he started to tie one of the brothers in a chair. The brother stepped into the kitchen and took his father's revolver, 38 caliber, from a shelf. The two  met almost in the doorway when the revolver was discharged and the ball tore a large hole through Joseph's head, killing him instantly. Coroner Geo. D. Johnson was called to Afton, and after investigating the case decided that it was an accident. The boy said he did not know the revolver was loaded, and the father said he thought it was unloaded when he put it away in the kitchen.  It was one of many fatalities that have resulted by careless parents leaving firearms where children can get hold of them.

Iva Johnson

August 1907

Coventry [Chenango Co., NY]:  Iva, the only child of Elmer and Ella Johnson, yesterday received injuries that resulted in her death, after a few hours. About four o'clock the child went to the old sawmill, north of the Johnson home, on the Converse farm in the south part of the town, with her parents and two aunts to get a load of wood. While there one of the women said "I wonder can we roll this log over?"  and started to roll a heavy piece of timber down a hill.  The little girl's dress caught on the timber and she was carried under the log.  Dr. Chapin of Greene was hastily summoned and stayed until morning.  The child never gained consciousness and died at seven o'clock this morning.