Obituaries (April 11)

Edward Francis Hicks

Died February 3, 1943

Edward F. Hicks, rural mail carrier, who suffered a stroke of apoplexy in the Norwich post office Monday morning, died at his home, 30 Eaton avenue [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Wednesday morning at 8:25.  Mr. Hicks was born in Otselic Feb. 15, 1875, and for the past 10 years had carried the mail between Norwich and South Otselic.  He was a member of the First Baptist church of Norwich.  His sudden death will be mourned by friends and acquaintances.  There survive his wife, Floribel Weaver, a son, Malcolm Hicks of Daytona Beach, Florida, and daughter, Mrs. Reed Whitfield of Dearborn, mich.  He also leaves three grandchildren, Miss Marcella Whitfield fo Dearborn, and Faith and Filicia Hicks, and two sisters, Miss Mary Hicks and Mrs. Howard Robinson of South Otselic.  Services are to be held at the Breese Funeral Home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon, with Rev. H. Eddy officiating.  Burial will be made in South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY]. 

Services for Edward F. Hicks, rural carrier from South Otselic to Norwich, were held at the Breese Funeral Home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon with Rev. B. Eddy officiating. The services were largely attended and a floral tribute was evidence of regard held for Mr. Hicks by friends. Burial was made at South Otselic. Acting as bearers were Edward Wheeler, Lewis Mott, Pat Barnes, Packer Brown, A. Whitfield and William Mein.

Homer H. Higley

Died July 24, 1938

Homer H. Higley, president of The Chenango County National Bank and Trust company for over sixteen years, died Sunday at St. Luke's Hospital, Utica.  He was born April 2, 1861.  His father, Walter Higley, was a native of Canton, Conn., who upon coming to Chenango county, married Alice Wade of Guilford.

From the position of clerk in Joseph H. Latham's store, which was his first employment when he came to Norwich nearly fifty years ago, by steady promotion and advancement he became one of the community's most prominent citizens in church, business and official life.  After a brief period as clerk, a partnership was formed between Mr. Higley and Charles  H. Latham, the son of the former proprietor. This partnership was dissolved when Mr. Higley entered the employ of The Chenango National Bank of which his father-in-law, Cyrus B. Martin, was president.  He left the bank upon purchasing the Whitcomb interest in the stationery store on North Broad street.  Upon the death of Mr. Martin, in 1902, he was elected a director of the bank of which he was later president, and in 1906 when George T. Dunham resigned as cashier, Mr. Higley succeeded him.  He was elected vice president, July 10, 1906, and president, to succeed Judge Gladding, on June 6, 1922.  For many years Mr. Higley was a member of the board of trustees of the village of Norwich.  He was a delegate from this congressional district in the Republican national convention which nominated Calvin Coolidge in 1924.  He became vestryman of Emmanuel Episcopal church in 1901 and served until 1919 when he was elected warden, which position he occupied at the time of his death.  He was one of the founders and continued a member of the Norwich club to his death.  He was also a member of the Canasawacta Country Club, Norwich lodge of Elks, George Rider Hook and Ladder company, director of the William H. Dunne Company of Norwich, a director and vice president of the Chenango and Unadilla Telephone Company.

February 24, 1892, he married Cornelia Merritt Martin, a granddaughter of David B. Maydole, who founded the Maydole Hammer Company, for years Norwich's best known industry.  Mrs. Higley died December 31, 1933.  Their four children survive:  Cyrus Martin Higley, cashier of the Chenango County National Bank and Trust Company, Rev. Walter M. Higley, rector of Johnson City Episcopal church, and the Misses Katharine V. and Dorothy V. Higley, both of Norwich.  Mr. Higley is also survived by two sisters, the misses Sarah A. Higley of Norwich and Mary E Higley of Jersey City.

Funeral services will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal church, Norwich, N.Y., at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, the rector, Rev. L.S. Charters, officiating.  Interment will be made in Mt. Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY].

Death Notices

Chenango American, March 1, 1860

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult, William R. [Thomas], son of Samuel P. and Maria Thomas, aged 13 months and 21 days.

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult., Mr. Rufus Tyler, aged 39 years.

In Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY], on the 18th ult., Eunice [Brown], wife of Maj. D.M. Brown, aged 46 years.

In West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on 23d ult., Mr. John K. S. Green, aged 70 years.

In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d ult. of the Spotted Fever, Jay E. [Bailey], son of Nathan M. and Caroline M. Bailey, aged 1 year, 11 months and 8 days.

Death sought a lovely victim,

When he bore away our flower

To the realms of spotless glory,

To Heaven's eternal bower;

To blossom in the garden

Of the ever living God,

While the frail fair little casket

Lies beneath the dark damp sod.