Obituaries (February 2)

Caroline B. (Oliver) Clark

Chenango American, February 23, 1860

At the residence of her father-in-law, Amasa Clark, in Great Bend, Pa., on the 30th ult. of Consumption, Caroline B. [Clark], wife of D.D. Clark, U.S.N. and daughter of Mr. Oliver of Rome, Oneida Co., N.Y., in the 26th year of her age.

Thus has a circle of loving hearts been entered and a priceless jewel taken.  And though we mourn, deeply mourn our loss, yet we feel assured that her great attainments in personal piety, her devotedness and untiring activity in the cause of Christ, her living and triumphant faith, afford ample evidence that through the merits of our Saviour, she is now a white-robed ransomed one in glory.  It seemed that we could not part with "Our Carrie" yet for a few years at least.  Her gentle and unassuming manners, her generous regard for the happiness of others, her amiable, self-sacrificing and uncomplaining, disposition; won the affection and esteem of all who made her acquaintance.  She possessed superior mental powers, and a poetic nature, but her extreme delicacy forbade her submitting many of her thoughts to the public.  She has woven her "garment for Eternity," and purified in the Saviour's blood, it is a shining one.  Although she was yet young and looking forward with joyous expectations to the time when her husband would return from his service in the Navy, and they should again be united, to be no more separated except by death--yet, when she learned her Father's will to take her home; the stronger attractions of a Saviour's love, and the anticipated rapture and bliss of Heaven, outrivaled all earthly charms, and she cheerfully responded, " I come, my Father!"  When the heart-rending and unexpected tidings shall reach her husband, Oh! in that bitter hour may he exercise in all its strength, that Christian faith and confidence in the wisdom and mercy of an over ruling Hand which will sustain him, beneath this crushing weight of grief.

Charles E. Cards

Chenango Telegraph, April 12, 1865

DIED:  In Prison Hospital, Salisbury, N.C. Feb. 8th, 1865, Charles E. Cards, of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], a member of the 90th N.Y.S.V., aged 34 years.

Feeling it his solemn duty to respond in person to his country's call for help in her hour of sternest trial, with a brave heart and holy purpose, went forth in Sept. 1864, to join the noble Sheridan. But not long did he follow the promptings of his patriot heart.  Meeting the enemy at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19th, he fell captive into their hands.  He was taken to Libby Prison for a few days, then removed to Salisbury, where, after more than three months of utmost suffering, such as rebel ingenuity only can devise, kindly death came and set the prisoner free. During this time, his loved wife and children in their pleasant home were constantly before his mind, from whom he had heard nothing since he left, and whom he desired so much to see.  His bible was his constant and well tried friend, his solace and comforter, whose teachings he loved, and precepts obeyed. Through his illness, his sufferings were made much more endurable by the self sacrificing exertions of his brother-in-law, Jacob Gibson, who gave him every possible care, even sacrificing his own liberty for over three long months, that he might cheer by his presence, and soften his dying pillow.  To him the friends of the deceased will ever owe a debt of gratitude and they sincerely pray that the angel that seems waiting to bear him over the river of death, may stay its wayward flight, and leave the brave soldier a little longer with his friends.

Sophia Twitchell

Telegraph & Chronicle, June 12, 1867

Our obituary column records the decease of Mrs. Sophia Twitchell of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].  By a singular coincidence she was buried at the same time with the re-interment of the remains of her deceased husband, Mr. Benjamin S. Twitchell, and side by side they now await their final resurrection.

Mr. Twitchell was for a long time a well known and estimable citizen of Guilford, in this County [Chenango Co., NY]. Soon after the discovery of gold in California, he went there with others from this County, for the purpose of adding to his fortune, and was there barbarously shot, near San Francisco, on the 2d of December, 1853, by one Samuel Gilmore.  This murder was without any provocation.  Mr. Twitchell was engaged with a surveying party, and had while measuring a line, stepped a foot or two on Gilmore's land, and for this he was shot by Gilmore, and almost immediately died, at the aged of fifty-five years.  He was buried in Yerba Buena cemetery near San Francisco, and his remains have lain there till recently, when they and those of Caleb Winsor and John Bradbury of Guilford, who had lost their lives in California, by the explosion of the boiler of the steamer Jenny Lind, were disinterred and brought home, reaching Guilford some little time since, but Mrs. Twitchell being ill, the remains of her husband were kept unburied until Tuesday the 11th inst, when they were placed side by side in the cemetery of Guilford--so long severed, the two are now together again for the long sleep and the glorious awaking.

Mr Winsor's remains had previously been buried--those of Mr. Bradbury were interred at the same time as those of Mr. and Mrs. Twitchell.  The murderer, Gilmore, was tried for his crime and sentenced to State Prison, but being pardoned, he had another affray relating to lands, in the course of which he was shot dead, receiving thus the retribution for this own crime.

Chenango Union, June 12, 1867

Under our obituary head this week will be found the announcement of the decease of Mrs. Sophia Twichell, an estimable widow lady, who died on Monday last.  Her husband, formerly of Guilford, this county, was murdered some thirteen years since in California, when running a disputed boundary line between two pieces of land.  Mr. Twitchell was carrying the chain, when the claimant of a portion of the property told him if he crossed a certain spot he would shoot him.  Nothing daunted, but pleasantly remarking "You will not shoot me, will you?" he crossed the spot, when he was instantly shot down by the person who had threatened him. The assassin was arrested and tried, his counsel being the Col. Baker who was killed during the late civil war at Balls' Bluff.  The trial result in his conviction, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for life in the State prison, but was afterwards pardoned.  He became mixed up in another land controversy, and was shot dead in a bar room by the opposite party, whose life he had threatened.

Recently Mrs. Twitchell had made provision for having the remains of her husband brought from California and re-buried in Guilford. They arrived but a few days since, in company with the remains of Caleb Winsor and John Bradbury, two of the victims of the explosion of the steamer Jenny Lind, which occurred in California thirteen or fourteen years ago.   Mr. Twitchell was on board the boat at the time, but was singularly spared, afterwards to fall by the hand of a murderer.  Since the arrival of his remains they have been waiting the termination of Mrs. Twitchell's illness, when, if it proved fatal, husband and wife could be reunited in a common grave. The remains of both will be interred at Guilford today, Wednesday, June 12th. We have thought it a coincidence worth relating, that after their long separation, these two should be brought together just in time to be laid together in their last, long resting place.  Peace to their ashes!

Death Notices

Telegraph & Chronicle, June 12, 1867

MINER:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Saturday June 3, 1867, John B. [Miner], oldest son of S.W. and Sarah L. Miner, aged 2 years and 10 months.

TWICHELL:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], June 10th, 1867, Mrs. Sophia Twichell, aged 66 years.

JOHNSON:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], May 2d, Willie Ray [Johnson], son of DeForest and E. Jane Johnson, aged 5 months and 3 days.

WINSOR:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Apr. 13th, of diphtheria, Helen D. [Winsor] wife of Lafayette Winsor, aged 29 years.

WINSOR:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], April 22d, of diphtheria, Clarence M. [Winsor], son of Lafayette Winsor, aged8 years 8 months and 26 days.

WINSOR:  In Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], May 3d, of diphtheria, Emmet P. [Winsor], son of LaRayette Winsor, aged 2 years 9 months and 11 days.

It is a saddened home,

For one by one its treasures have departed,

And in its silence, worn and broken hearted,

The father weeps alone

So still, so still

The soft fair arms that round his neck were twining,

The little feet that were so found of climbing

Upon his chair.

Forever gone

The rosy faces watching for his coming,

And eager pattering footsteps swiftly running

When he came home.

"My God, and can it be

That in the long and dreary years to come

I nevermore shall in my lonely home

Their faces see?

"There's rest in Heaven,"

The mother said, as there by the river side

She fearless stood "sweet rest for me," she cried,

"By Jesus given"

And waiting there,

The mother and the children joyful stand.

Beckoning the father to a better land,

Where angels are.

Note:  Lafayette Winsor the husband and father referred to above, died 29 November 1868 at the age of 43 years, having survived his family by only 18 months.