Mary Chaffee Schrom
July 1905
The Gazette of Whitewater, Wis., in its issue of August 3d, announced the death in that city of a former resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Mrs. Mary Chaffee Schrom, wife of James B Schrom, son of the late Col. Hiram Schrom of this village, which occurred July 29th, 1905. The father of the deceased, Mr. Chaffee, was, not far from sixty years ago, the landlord of the Central House of Bainbridge, in those times called a tavern. It was a good public house, excellently well kept by Mr. Chaffee. His daughter, the deceased, is well remembered by many citizens of this place as a most estimable and attractive young lady. The Gazette says: "Mrs. Schrom was a woman of many noble qualities, a sincere Christian, a devoted mother and a good friend. She was especially devoted to her home and children." She is survived by one son and three daughters. She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal church of Whitewater. Her age was about 70 years.
Colonel George Downs Wheeler
Colonel George Downs Wheeler
1818-1906
Obituary
Colonel George Downs Wheeler, Deposit's [Broome Co., NY] "Grand Old Man," died at his home in this village Monday night, Jan. 1, 1906, at 10 o'clock, after an illness of about six weeks, due to a weakness of the heart and the infirmities of age. Mr. Wheeler was born in Deposit, June 24, 1818, and has always lived here, his father, Deacon William Wheeler, having been one of the pioneers of this village. The Colonel's relation to Deposit has been like that of the landmark. So long and so well has he been identified with its commercial prominence and substantial prosperity that his departure from this life, notwithstanding his age, will be as the severance of a large limb from a gigantic tree. In his personal relations Mr Wheeler was a kind, warm-hearted gentleman and a public spirited man. He was the first to heed the cry of distress and the last to leave the house of sorrow. His purse was open to every legitimate want and his arm and his time were at the disposal of every good work. His own advancement was secondary to all else. This man ran the course of life smoothly and without clamor. His step was light and he passed in and out on his errands of good, public and private, without the herald of notoriety. Mr. Wheeler was a great Sunday school worker. He was superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school of this village for a quarter of a century and leader of the choir for over thirty years.
Mr. Wheeler was of Welsh descent and an illustrious example of a hardy race of pioneers, possessing all the requirements of primitive times. At his birth there were only twenty-five houses in Deposit, so that he witnessed its development from a very small beginning. He attended school here, receiving a fair education which was supplemented by a course in the Delaware Academy at Delhi. While not in school during the years of his boyhood, he assisted his father in the lumbering business and on the farm. After leaving the academy he engaged with his brother, Addison J. Wheeler, in the mercantile business in Deposit, the style of the firm being A.J.&G.D. Wheeler. They dealt in dry goods and general supplies; and Mr. Wheeler was thus engaged in trade at the time of the building of the Erie Railroad, and was present to see the first shovelful of dirt placed which initiated that great enterprise. Like his illustrious ancestors, he was noted for his agility, strength and courage.
Mr. Wheeler was first married September 17, 1845, to Antoinette Downs, of Colchester. By this union there was one daughter, also named Antoinette, who is the wife of Robert M. Cannon. Colonel Wheeler's second wife was Mary Waterbury, of Middletown, Conn., a daughter of Rev. Daniel Waterbury, the founder of the Delaware Institute and a graduate of Union College and of Princeton Theological Seminary, and a sister of Hon. Daniel Waterbury, of Margaretville, Delaware county. She died leaving one son, George W., who, with his family reside at the homestead.
The Colonel continued in business with his brother about six years, when he sold out and took up farming and dairying. He was prominent in military circles in Broome county and throughout the state, having the finest physique and the most attractive military bearing of any man in any company or regiment with which he was connected. He joined the state infantry of the state militia, under the appointment of quartermaster of the 261st Regiment, August 7, 1839. June 24, 1840 he was appointed adjutant by Governor William H. Seward, who, realizing his ability, commissioned him Lieutenant Colonel on April 10, 1841, and on April 18, 1844, he was commissioned Colonel by Governor William C. Bauck. He continued as Colonel of the regiment until the militia was disbanded. He was active in raising the first company organized in Delaware county for service in the Civil War. Mr. Wheeler was supervisor of the town of Deposit, and a member of the state Legislature in 1876; a life member of the New York State Dairymen's Association, and a frequent contributor to the leading agricultural journals of the state. Thus it will be seen that Colonel Wheeler was a man of excellent endowments, the possessor of many talents faithfully improved, an example of a rounded nature, well developed physical, mentally and spiritually.
Surviving him are his two daughters, Mrs. Robert Cannon, of Deposit, and Mrs. H.K. Wilcox, of Middletown; also his son, George, of this village. The funeral will be held at the Presbyterian Church tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial in the family plot in laurel hill cemetery.
Funeral
At four o'clock last Thursday afternoon, the mortal remains of our respected townsman, Col. George D. Wheeler, were borne to their last resting place on the sunny slope of "Laurel Hill," overlooking the village of Deposit and the beautiful Delaware valley which he so loved. A short prayer service was held in the home at 2 o'clock. By 3 o'clock the Presbyterian Church was filled by a large concourse of friends and townsmen to pay their last tribute of love and respect. The entire community felt that they had a claim on Mr. Wheeler, so it was most fitting that the leading ministers should assist in the services. Rev. W.L. Bates read the 91st Psalm and Rev. J.S. Tredinnick offered prayer. Rev. J.H. Colelough, his pastor, made most appropriate remarks; taking for his central thought Isaiah's words,"Precious in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints;" and John's words, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord," lifting the thoughts of all to the great joy of this heroic spirit, "God's soldier going home," entering into his reward and receiving a crown of glory. Then in a beautiful eulogy telling of the places left vacant in the home, in the village, and in the church by the death of Mr. Wheeler; and that only love can fill these vacant chairs.
Mr. Wheeler's Bible class, which he loved and taught so faithfully, was represented by twelve ladies who were able to be present out of the whole number. They occupied seats near the friends, and about fifty elderly men occupied seats of honor in the body of the church. The floral tributes were many and beautiful. The pall-bearers were C.S. Minor, Charles E. Mastin, of Chicago, a brother of F.E Mastin, C.E. Scott, Ezra Miles, George W. Demoney, A.E. Lovejoy. The ushering was in charge of J.S. Minor and S.B. Isaac.
Sleep on! Sleep on! ye toilers of the past,
Heeding not summer's heat or drifting snow,
Nor village lights as through the night they glow,
While the grand old river flows on below.
O, noble ancestry of Deposit!
Potent forces to shape her destiny,
Of future civilization the key,
Generations will pay homage to thee.
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