Obituaries (January 7, 2019)

Ellen C. (Sprague) Dixon

Chenango Telegraph, April 16, 1874

Entered into the life to come April 5th, 1874, in the 31st year of her age, Ellen C. Sprague, wife of Mott C. Dixon, of Smyrna, N.Y.  [Chenango Co.] Mrs. Dixon was the last surviving daughter of Mrs. Wm. Sprague, of Smyrna, and a sister of C.A. Sprague, Esq., late City Treasurer of Brooklyn, N.Y. She was married Sept. 24th, 1867, and leaves a daughter - little Lizzie - too young to fully realize the loss of a mother.  At the age of eleven Miss Sprague became a member of the Sabbath School at Upperville.  She was converted under the preaching of Rev. T.M. Williams, February, 1863, baptized March 29th, and received into full communion of the M.E. Church, at Smyrna, Sept. 27th of the same year.  After marriage, that she might walk with her husband, she united by letter with the Congregational Church at Smyrna.  She became an earnest and faithful S.S. teacher, winning and holding the love of a large class.  Consistent and faithful in all her Christian life, her death was a rich testimony of triumph in the Christian faith.  Her last words, " Is this Jesus?" indicate that the portals of heaven were open for her entrance. The funeral took place from her late residence on Wednesday, where a large concourse of relatives and friends gathered to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the departed one, pastors Chas. C. Johnson, of the Congregational Church, A.F. Brown, of the M.E. Chruch, and H.S. Jones, of the Baptist Church, participating in the ceremony, the former preaching the discourse.  Her remains were interred in the Sherburne West Hill Cemetery.

Clarissa Brown

Chenango Union, June 19, 1884

In Pharsalia (Chenango Co., NY), April 15th, 1884, of pneumonia and heart disease, Mrs. Clarissa Brown wife of Luther Brown, left her mortal body, at the age of sixty-three years.  Something more than a passing notice is due to one whose lifelong history as daughter, sister wife, mother and friend, were so full of excellence that any poor words of praise that I may offer will seem cheap to those whose privilege it was to know her intimately as I did, for a period of over forty years.  It is seldom we find in human character the opposite qualities of firmness and ambition, united with amiability, and unselfishness, yet these traits were beautifully combined in her nature,, making her one of the best of women. she was loved by all for her uniform kindness of disposition and her unfailing devotion to every duty.  Over twenty years ago, when diphtheria was making its first dreadful ravages in the neighborhood, she was one of the bravest to stand by the bedside of the sick and dying, until her own precious child caught the contagion and lived but a few days.  No mother ever loved their children better than she, yet her fortitude and unselfishness were exhibited in this, her hour of trial; she laid her treasure in the dust, and resumed without a murmur her daily duties, moving on cheerfully to the end.  She never made any profession of religion or goodness, yet in all her relations to the world she exhibited continually and at all times the noblest attributes that are usually ascribed to the best Christian character.  Clara, as she was familiarly called, had the rare domestic qualities for making home attractive.  No hired man or woman ever felt themselves a menial in her house. They were ever treated with consideration and kindness, which fact made it easy for Mr. Brown to always have the best help about his farming affairs; and it is but just to say that Mr. Brown's success as a farmer is largely due to the patience, kindness, industry and economy of his wife, and whose devotion as a wife was rarely equaled.  Mrs. Brown was the mother of four children.  One died in infancy, a second at the age of eleven years; two daughters and one granddaughter are still living, Mrs. Elizabeth Eldridge of Pitcher, being the eldest child, and Mrs. Antoinette Warner, of Cincinnatus, the youngest.  It was the sweet privilege of these daughters, as well as the kind husband and grandchild, to minister to the wants of one of the dearest of wives and mothers during her last and almost only illness.  These four, together with an aged sister, who was a member of Mr B's family at home, are left to mourn the loss of one for whom they can never find a substitute.

Eunice Lucretia (Lyon) Smith

1822 - 1895

Died, March 21, 1895, Eunice L. Smith, wife of Dea. J. Wheeler Smith, aged 72 years, 6 months.  She united with the church at fifteen and until her death was an ornament in society, a treasure in her loving family, and a mother in Israel.  She was married at nineteen and for fifty-three years has walked before her family a model mother.  Twelve years ago she received a paralytic shock which incapacitated her for labor and in all those years not a murmur has escaped her lips.  Having buried three children, she quietly folded her hands in death, leaving a husband and six children to mourn her irreparable loss. Thus

"One by one earth's ties are broken;

Step by step age come apace;

One by one farewells are spoken,

And the one last fond embrace."

Her funeral was conducted by her pastor, Rev. F.E. Benjamin, text, Proverbs 31:28.

Sophronia A. (Sumner) Bixby

1823 - 1896

Mrs. Sophronia A. Bixby was born in Windsor, Broome county [NY], Aug. 16, 1823, and died in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Sunday morning, Sept. 6, 1896, aged 73 years.  Mrs. Bixby's family name was Sumner and her parents were residents of Bainbridge in early life.  Besides Mrs. Bixby there was a brother, Hon. George W. Sumner, of New Berlin, who was in the State Legislature in the years 1864 and 1865.  The deceased was married in 1840 to Joel J. Bixby of Bainbridge, whose father was one of the first settlers of the town.  After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bixby resided in our village for some years, and then removed to Norwich.  Mr. Bixby was thorough and successful in business and his devotion thereto, so impaired his health that he retired from active life altogether in 1862 and returned with his family to Bainbridge.  He died here in 1865.  Mrs. Bixby lived in Bainbridge holding a prominent position together with her family in the community till 1886 when she again became a resident of Norwich where she remained until her death. She is survived by three children:  Mrs. Theodore R. Campbell of Binghamton, Mrs. Joseph E. Packard of Oxford, and Joel J. Bixby, esq., of Norwich.  Mrs. Bixby left many friends and acquaintances in Bainbridge, all of whom regarded her as do the people in Norwich, her last home on earth.  The Norwich Sun speaks thus beautifully of the deceased:

"To have known Mrs. Bixby during these last ten years in Norwich is not to have known her thoroughly.  For whereas none could fail to note her dignity of manner, her refinement, her intelligence, her affection for her children and her strong religious convictions, few would imagine from seeing her thus with the sunset of her life casting its calm over her, that she had borne exceptional responsibilities with uncommon bravery.  From girlhood she was a devout communicant of the Episcopal church and regularly attended services until bodily infirmity prevented.  At all times she was loyal to her church and its teachings.  In its rites and ceremonies she found pleasantness and peace; that peace, which now is here forever."

The funeral services were held at her home on Hayes street, Norwich this morning and the remains were brought to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] this noon. A large number of relatives and friends accompanied the body to the Episcopal cemetery where the services were held, Rev. Mr. Stebbins of Norwich officiating.

Eli Prince

1830 - 1897

The death of Eli Prince, a lifelong resident of the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], occurred Friday afternoon at his home two miles above the village, upon the west side of the river.  Mr. Prince had been in feeble health for several months prior to his death, suffering from an affection of the kidneys which terminated in a paralytic condition the last few weeks of his life. The deceased was born June 1st, 1830, and was the second of the large family of thirteen children of the parents, Czar and Anna Skeel Prince. He was married in 1876 to Mrs. Mary Hackett who survives him.  There were no children.  Mr. Prince had always resided upon the farm where he died, the grandfather coming from Connecticut in 1805, settling upon the land which had not been cleared and laying the foundation for the present handsome property. The grandparents were succeeded in ownership by the son, Czar, the father of the deceased.  The father's home was an ideal one in the happiness of its members and the generous hospitality offered socially.  It was the center of much gayety forty years ago.  Mr. Prince left one sister, Mrs. Smith, wife of Judge A.P. Smith of Cortland, and seven brothers, one of whom, C. Prince, resides in Bainbridge.  The funeral was held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Episcopal church, of which the deceased was a communicant, and attended by the Masons in a body. The Rev. Mr. Cresser, the Rector, officiated at the church service and the Masons conducted the burial ceremonies. The remains were interred in St. Peter's churchyard [Bainbridge]