Obituaries (January 24)

Jane Pentecost

Norwich Sun, April 20, 1917

Miss Jane Pentecost, a former resident of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], died in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] April 18, aged 83 years.  A niece, Miss Lottie Kenyon, is the only surviving relative. Burial was made in the Friends' cemetery in Smyrna.

Henry Knowles Peckham

PECKHAM:  At Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], May 16, 1918, Henry K. Peckham, aged 68 years.  funeral May 20, and interment at Sherburne West Hill cemetery. [Norwich Sun, May 21, 1918]

Henry Knowles Peckham, the son of John J. and Susan Knowles Peckham, was born in Utica [Oneida Co., NY] May 30, 1849, and passed into that richer, fuller life beyond in the forenoon of May 16, 1918, in the old home he loved and in the house built by his grandfather nearly one hundred years ago.  While young he removed with his parents to this town, and while a youth showed an eagerness for knowledge and after attending a Home School with his cousins was in a Friends Boarding School at Westtown, Philadelphia, Pa.  March 1st, 1870, he was married to Sarah Babcock, of this town, to whom were born eight children, one of whom died in infancy, seven of whom live to mourn their father's memory. They are:  Ada, of Springfield, O., Mrs. Estella Weaver and Adelbert F., of Smyrna, John J. of Indianapolis, Ind., Mrs. Edith Nitcher and Harry E. of Rautoul, Kas., and Roy R., of Republic county, Kansas. When his oldest child, Ada, was an infant they removed to Kansas where he engaged in farming and for some years had charge of a drug store and the post office, and where in 1889 his wife died.  In 1898 he returned to New York, bringing with him his daughter, Estella, as housekeeper and young son, Harry, to care for his aged father and in 1899 was married to Phebe A. Weaver of this town, who survives him to mourn his loss. During the past winter he and his wife visited his old home in Kansas and spent five and one-half most delightful months visiting the three children and the dear grandchildren whom he had never seen and renewing old acquaintances, and early in March the trouble with his throat which he had suffered for three winters and which he hoped to avoid by a change in climate, became aggravated and in spite of the treatment of a specialist in Kansas and continued on his return here, ultimately causing his death. The funeral was held from his late residence May 20th, 1918, at 2:00 p.m. in charge of Rev. A.G. Shepard, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Field Secretary of New York Yearly Meeting of Friends and a close personal friend of Mr. Peckham. The great concourse of neighbors, friends and relatives, cousins from Rome, Earlville, Sherburne, Plymouth, Ilion and Endicott, his son John, and daughter, Ada, from Indianapolis and Springfield and friends from Brookfield spoke eloquently of the love and esteem in which he was held.  Through all the years whatever has made for righteousness has had his support from the time when as a young man he was an ardent worker in the Good Templars lodge here,to his last days.  He was a birthright member of the Friends church and a veritable pillar he proved to be, wise in his counsels, indefatigable in his efforts for upbuilding of the church and for the good of the young or inexperienced.  For many years in Kansas, where he attended a Methodist church, and in the church at Upperville, he was superintendent of the Sunday school and his knowledge of and love for the Word and love for the young and divine ambition which was always reaching out after better things made him a great power in this branch of the church. Through all the years he had constantly read good books which took a wide range and his broad, analytical mind assimilated it all and gave him a breadth of thought which made him a most entertaining talker, and to exhibit a most beautiful charity for all. The church will miss him, The Town Sunday School Association will miss him, the neighbors and most of all his family, his wife, will miss him but-- 

"When a good man dies, 

For years beyond our ken, 

The light he leaves behind him lies, 

Upon the paths of men."  

May his light fall on our paths and illuminate the pitfalls and guide us in that same beautiful pathway!

Adelbert F. Peckham
Norwich Sun, October 3, 1928

Two Smyrna farmers, Adelbert Peckham, aged 48 years, and Ralph Simons, 40 years old, escaped death by a hair's breadth Wednesday noon when the Ford sedan in which they were riding was struck by O.&W. passenger train No. 2, south bound, at what is known as Sexton's school crossing, about one and a half miles south of Smyrna.  Both men were brought to the Norwich station of the railroad by the train that crashed into their car, and were taken in the William Breese Company ambulance to the Chenango Memorial Hospital, where Dr. Thomas F. Manley was called to attend them.  Peckham, the more seriously injured of the two, sustained a fracture of the skull.  He is still unconscious.  Simons is suffering from severe shock and is also a patient at the hospital; where absolute quiet has been ordered for both men.  Simons and Peckham are brothers-in-law and had been at the latter's home for dinner. They were returning to their work, that of filling silos for farmers in the vicinity of Smyrna, when the accident happened.  Whether the men failed to see the approaching train in time or were trying to beat it to the crossing is not known, as neither is in condition to give any statement of the accident. The passenger train was in charge of Conductor L.C. Boyser of Utica and engineer William Murphy of Norwich, and leaves Smyrna at 12:36.  The train was said to be traveling at its usual speed.  Peckham is understood to have been driving the car.  He was knocked unconscious by the collision, which Simons is conscious.  As soon as possible Engineer Murphy brought his train to a stop, and it was backed up to the crossing.  Peckham was placed aboard the train by the crew, while Simons was able to walk into the coach. The Ford sedan in which the men were passengers was completely demolished.

Norwich Sun, October 9, 1928

Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY]:  The death of Adelbert F. Peckham of this place which occurred at the Chenango Memorial Hospital [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] on Thursday evening October 4, following an accident on Wednesday when he was struck by a passenger train on the Ontario and Western railroad crossing near his home removes from the town one of its most valued and best loved citizens and from the family a husband and father whose one thought was for their welfare.  In the home he will be missed as a wise and careful counsellor for every material and spiritual need of the family, in the community as an ever obliging friendly neighbor, always interested in the progress of the better things of his town, state and nation, and in the church as a dependable help and inspiration in the various departments, always willing to take his part and more to make the work a success and further the work of the Lord whom he trusted and obeyed.  Of Quaker parentage, he was born September 7, 1881 at White Rock Kansas, the son of the late Henry Knowles and Sarah Babcock Peckham.  His early home training made a lasting impression on him and wherever he went he affiliated himself with the church and became active in its every interest.  In the year 1901 he came to New York state to reside and since then Smyrna, the home of his parents, has been his home.  For many years he has been a member of the local Methodist Episcopal church where he will be greatly missed.  On December 28, 1907 he was united in marriage to Louise Barber who, with two daughters and one son survives.  He is also survived by three brothers and three sisters, Harry of Rantoul, Kansas; John of Newark, New Jersey; Roy of Hardy, Nebraska; Mrs. Edith Vinson of Rantoul, Kansas; Miss Ada Peckham of Springfield, Ohio and Mrs. Estella Weaver of Smyrna. Funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon from his home, Rev. Harry Brooks of Afton, his former pastor officiating with interment in Sherburne West Hill cemetery [Chenango Co., NY].

Death Notices

Chenango Union, November 8, 1894

BRIGHAM:  In Washington, D.C. Oct. 21, 1894 Mr. Charles D. Brigham, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

PITTSLEY:  In Maple Grove, NY. Oct. 21, 1894, Mrs. Locia P. Pittsley, aged 74 years.

Chenango Union, November 15, 1894

MUSSON:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 8, 1894, Isabelle S. [Musson], daughter of Uri B. and Mary A. Musson, age 18 years.

WETMORE:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 10, 1894, Frances A. [Wetmore] daughter of Frank E. and Lottie Wetmore, age 3 years, 1 month.