Obituaries (January 9)

Hattie Reynolds

July 14, 1866 - July 18, 1882

Last week we had time to barely notice the death of Miss Hattie Reynolds, which had just occurred, and were obliged to defer further particulars till this week.  She was the second daughter of Rev. N.S. Reynolds, and had just passed the anniversary of her 16th birthday but three days before her death.  For a year past that insidious and fatal disease, consumption, had sapped the fountain of life, and her friends were compelled to see her droop and fade like a tender plant in the noontide heat, powerless to interpose any obstacle to the relentless fate that claimed her, and at last softly and silently as the shadow steals across the landscape, her spirit floated away to the God that gave it, and she was at rest.

"We watched her breathing through the night,

Her breathing soft and low;

As in her breast the wave of life

Kept heaving to and fro!"

"Our very hopes belied our fears

Our fears our hopes belied;

We thought her dying when she slept,

And sleeping, when she died."

Her patience and thoughtful consideration of others throughout her long illness, endeared her to all around her, and only made it seem the more lamentable that the grand possibilities of a life just budding into usefulness and beauty must all be swallowed up in death.  Her funeral took place on Thursday from the M.E. church of which she was a member, and the beautiful floral decorations in emblems and mottoes attested the esteem in which she was held by the members of her church, and Sunday school.  The following reverend gentlemen from abroad were present and assisted in the services:  W.L. Thorpe, Norwich; W.W. Bixby, Gilbertsville; G.A. Severson, Sidney; P.R. Tower, Guilford; Mr. Sweet, New Berlin, also Rev. I.J. Bailey, of this place.  The remains were interred in Prospect Hill cemetery, Sidney Plains, where in the beautiful sunshine of the summer day, amid the singing of birds and the perfume of flowers, she was laid to rest in a grave that loving hands had robbed of half its gloom, by covering the interior with evergreens, and bordering it with water lilies.

"Have you heard that mournful story,

Told so sadly of that clime,

Where the rose in crimson glory

Blossoms all the summer time!"

"Oh, it tells us of a maiden,

Golden haired and sunny eyes;

Young in years, by thought o'erladen,

Who in angels beauty died."

Charles L. Fairchild

May 17, 1836 - June 28, 1895

C.L. Fairchild, who resided with his family on Pruyn Hill [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], died Thursday evening last, aged 59 years.  He had been a patient sufferer for the past two months with cancer of the stomach.  Mr. Fairchild was born in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], but for the past twenty years he resided in Sanford [Broome Co., NY] moving from the latter place to Bainbridge last March.  Mr. Fairchild was honest and upright man, a member of the M.E. church, and highly respected by all who enjoyed his acquaintance.  His funeral at the M.E. Church in this village, Sunday was attended by a large number of his old friends and neighbors, Rev. E. Kilpatrick conducting the services.  Burial at Ouaquaga.  [buried Knox Cemetery, Ouaquaga, Broom Co., NY]

James A. Prouty
ca 1823 - February 13, 1896

James A. Prouty died last Thursday at the age of 73 years at the home of his son, William Prouty, in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  He had been in feeble health for some time and succumbed to old age at last.  He leaves a wife and seven children.  The funeral was held in Rockdale Saturday, Rev. E. Kilpatrick officiating.

Rachael Hare
1813 - February 12, 1896

Mrs. Rachael Hare, whose serious illness was mentioned in our last communication, died at her home on Wednesday morning. The funeral was held at the house on Friday at 1 o'clock, Rev. J. Bundle officiating.  Mrs. Hare had lived in this town [Harpursville, Broome Co., NY] nearly all her life and was beloved by all who knew her. The remains were interred in the Harpursville cemetery [Broome Co., NY].

Jessie Rider Owen
1858 - February 17, 1896

Last Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of her mother, Mrs. George Rider, on South Broad street, Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] occurred the funeral of Mrs. Jessie Rider Owen.  The services were conducted by Rev. Henry D. Stebbins, rector of Emmanuel Episcopal church.  Only a few intimate friends and relatives were present.  The interment was at Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].  The following acted as bearers:  W.H. Brown, W.H. Sullivan, W.B. Andrews, George N. Barnes, Edward L. Nash of Norwich, James Messinger, of Middletown and William Allen, of Frankfort.  The casket was of pure white and was nearly hidden from view by the floral offerings, contributed by sorrowing friends. the flowers consisted of lilies of the valley, roses, Easter lilies and orchids. The grave also was filled with blossoms of every description.