Obituaries (February 8)

Mary B. Hill

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

Miss Mary B. Hill, daughter of James B. Hill, of Jamestown, N.Y., a student of the freshman class in Cornell University, was returning with friends from church at Ithaca, on Sunday afternoon, along the Cascadilla gorge, and at a narrow place in the path turned to speak to one behind her, when she stepped too near the edge, a bit of earth gave way beneath her feet, and she fell to the bottom of the gorge, a distance of about sixty feet. She was immediately taken to the Sage College building and did not seem to suffer much pain.  She insisted on walking to her room, and did so.  An examination disclosed no injury except a fracture of one rib and a cut upon her knee, and it was thought she would soon recover. In the evening, however, a collapse occurred, supposed to be caused by an internal hemorrhage, and she gradually sank until two o'clock Monday morning, when she died.  She was a young lady of most exemplary Christian character, and extremely bright promise.

Mrs. Ira W. June

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

Many friends in Chenango county will grieve at the announcement of the death of Mrs. Ira W. June, which occurred on Saturday last.  She had been in ill health for a number of years, much of the time confined to her bed, and suffering severely, but had borne it all with patient Christian resignation.  When death finally claimed her for his own, she sank to rest in the blessed assurance of a happy immortality.

Mrs. June, whose maiden name was Race, was a native of the town of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], and had reached the age of fifty-five. She was married to Mr. June in 1850, and they resided for many years in Oxford.  In 1882, when Mr. June was elected Sheriff, they removed to Norwich, where they have since resided.  Her delicate health prevented her from forming a large acquaintance, but she was known to be a devoted Christian woman and received the respect and sympathy of the entire community.  One married daughter in Oxford and the bereaved husband are the only immediate members of the family. Their affliction can only be assuaged by the remembrance that she has gone to her reward.

"There is no flock, however watched and tended

But one dead lab is there!

There is no fireside, howso'er defended,

But has one vacant chair."

The funeral services were held at the residence of Mr. June on South Broad street, Tuesday afternoon, and the remains were taken to Oxford for interment, where services were also held in St. Paul's Episcopal church.

John Dell

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

John Dell, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] was drowned near Clyde [Wayne Co., NY], Wednesday afternoon of last week.  Mr. Dell and a companion were in a boat, on the Clyde River, about half a mile from the village trolling.  They attempted to change places in the boat, when it capsized and both were thrown into the water.  Dell at once struck out for the shore, but when about half way there was seized with a cramp and went down.  His companion clung to the boat and was rescued. The body was recovered from the river in about an hour and placed in the morgue at Clyde. On Thursday it was taken to Albany, his former home, for burial.  Deceased was well known in Norwich, having worked at his trade of a tailor with G.E. Van Heynigen & Co., leaving here last spring for Oneida, where he engaged in Business for a few months, when he removed to Clyde, a few weeks since.  He was about twenty-eight years of age, and unmarried.

B. Carman Russell

Chenango Union, June 16, 1887

A friend in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] furnishes us with the following particulars of the sad fate of a former resident of that village:

The sad announcement of the death of B. Carman Russell, by accidental drowning at Brockville, Canada, on Thursday afternoon last, caused a gloom of sadness to appear over our community that will long be remembered.  His elder brother, William, and the young bride, arrived with his remains by the D.L.&W. railroad at 8:23 A.M., Saturday.  The remains of the unfortunate man were quietly conveyed to the home of P.L. Russell, his father, where they were viewed by a large number of friends.  At 6 P.M., after a brief service at the house, they were taken to the cemetery and consigned to earth, in the presence of a large and sad assemblage.  Memorial services of the departed were held at the church Sunday at 2 P.M., Rev. W.G. Queal, of Norwich, officiating. The church was well filled, and the occasion was one of great solemnity.  The deceased was widely known in this community, and highly esteemed.  He was a tinman by occupation, and an excellent workman, was industrious and obliging, polite, social, and a man of excellent habits.  His sudden death was a great blow to his family and especially to the young bride, who was made a widow after only eight days of married life.

The circumstances of the affair are as follows:  The deceased, who had resided in Utica [Oneida Co., NY] about a year, and was employed at J.A. Williams' locomotive headlight works, was married on Wednesday, June 1st, to Miss Mary L. Loftus, of that city, at the St. John's church. They left Utica by the Black River railroad, to visit the bride's parents who live at Packingham, Canada, on their wedding tour.  From Packingham they went to Brockville, Wednesday, and were waiting there for some baggage which for some reason had been delayed on the way.  Shortly after dinner, Thursday, the 9th, he informed his wife, who was stopping at the Ottawa Hotel, that he intended taking a walk, and it was his wish that she should accompany him. She told him that she would be ready in a few minutes, and asked him to take a walk while she was getting ready. This he did, going down on the wharf. While walking along to the edge of the dock he was seen by those standing around to suddenly stagger and fall into the water, apparently in a fit.  The water at the place was about twenty-five feet deep.  A long pole was immediately procured by a man name White, but although it was placed in the unfortunate man's hand, still he did not grasp it, and in a very short time he sank beneath the surface to rise no more in life. There were some eight or ten persons by when the accident happened, and still his life could not be saved.  A grappling hook was secured, and after a few minutes grappling the body was lifted up from tits watery position by Mr. James A. Bresland. A doctor was immediately summoned, and as quickly as possible Dr. McGannon was on the spot.  He tried in vain to detect some sign of life, but his efforts were of no avail, and he pronounced life extinct.  The sad news was immediately telegraphed to William Russell, who was in Utica at the time, looking for his brother's return at any moment.  He received the dispatch Thursday night and left Utica the next morning, and arrived at Brouckville at 1 P.M.  Eddy Russell the youngest brother, who is attending the Business College at Binghamton was summoned and arrived home Saturday morning.  The family have the sympathy of the entire community in this sad hour of their bereavement.  They desire as an acknowledgement of the kindness manifested by their friends and neighbors, to thank them for what they have done at this time of their sad affliction.