Obituaries (June 20)

Blanche (White) Smith

Died December 14, 1933

Mrs. Blanche Smith, 56, died at South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] Thursday after a week's illness.  There survive two sons, James of Mt. Upton and Paul of South New Berlin; four grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. E.W. Hovey of South New Berlin.  Funeral services will be held from the Hovey home at 1:30 Sunday afternoon, with burial in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Rev. Clinton Skinner officiating.

On Thursday, December 14, at 12:10 p.m. occurred the death of Mrs. Blanch White Smith at the home of her sister, Mrs. E. Hovey, at South New Berlin .  Mrs. Smith's death came as a great shock to her relatives and many friends. She had only been ill for a week, but her condition was considered critical from the beginning, necessitating a council of Doctors the day before she passed away.  For many years Mrs. Smith resided with her family in Ives Settlement [Guilford, Chenango Co., NY].  in later years she had lived with her sister.  Blanch Smith was born 56 years ago in McDonough the daughter of Alice Kenyon and James White.  Surviving are two sons, Paul, of South New Berlin, and James of Mt. Upton; four grandchildren, and the sister above mentioned.  Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 from her late home.  Burial in McDonough [Bainbridge News & Republican, Dec. 21, 1933]

Mildred Elinora (Leonard) Steward

Died February 10, 1940

Mrs. Mildred Elinora Steward, wife of Wesley Steward, died suddenly at her home, 72 Canasawacta street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], at 12:45 Saturday afternoon from a heart attack. She was born in Plymouth June 1, 1906, the daughter of Corey Leonard and Edith Harkness.  Mrs. Steward was engaged in preparing the noon day  meal when she was stricken. The deceased was a member of Broad street church and the societies connected with the church. She was held in the highest regard by a wide circle of friends and her sudden passing will be a source of much regret to many. There survive her husband and two sons, Lawrence and David, both of Norwich; her mother, Mrs. Edith Leonard of Norwich, and a sister, Mrs. Roger Jones of North Norwich. Services will be at the Breese Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with Rev. George B. Callender, officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope cemetery. the body will remain at the residence until Tuesday.

Clara (Towslee) Smith

Died June 27, 1941

After a brief illness the death of Clara Towslee Smith occurred at the Chenango Memorial Hospital [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] Friday, June 27. The deceased was born in Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] September 22, 1879, and was the daughter of Edward S. and Annis Tackabury Towslee. Some time later she went to Sherburne where she lived for 19 years and here on March 31, 1907, she was united in marriage to Louis A. Smith. While living in Sherburne she was a member of the choir of the M.E. church of this village and took an active part in the work of the church.  In 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Norwich and have since resided many years on North Broad street in this city where Mrs. Smith became a member of the Broad Street Methodist church and at one time was affiliated with Norwich lodge, 367, O.E.S. Since 1924, she has assisted in the home of Dr. John H. Stewart until prevented by her recent illness. Clara Smith was a woman of exceptionally fine Christian character and was known for her unusual kindness and devotion to duty. To know her was to appreciate her sweetness of disposition. She loved all God's creatures and was ever ready to minister to their needs. A devoted wife and kind neighbor has passed beyond and no tribute inscribed to her memory can be as beautiful as the one she has written in the hearts of her many friends:

"The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells,

The book of Life the shining record tells."

She is survived by her husband and one nephew, Edward Campbell of Oneida and several grandnieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Breese Funeral home where the Rev. Dr. W. Gray Jones, pastor of the Broad Street Methodist church, officiated. Burial was made in Sherburne West Hill cemetery.

George S. Stead

Died July 3, 1937

George S. Stead was born at Guilford, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], April 14, 1894, the son of James L. and the late Mary E. Stead.  he received his education in the Guilford schools, Oxford academy and Albany Business college.  For several years after his graduation from the business college he served as a substitute clerk carrier at the Norwich postoffice, and in 1916, in partnership with A.L. Shelton of Guilford, opened an automobile salesroom in this city.  In 1917 he enlisted in the United States air service, being a member of one of the earlier classes at the ground school at Cornell.  From Cornell he was transferred to Tallaferro Field in Texas, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 8, 1918 and assigned successively to the teaching staff of Kelly and Hicks fields where he remained until the close of the World War.  In 1919 he accepted the Dodge Brothers' dealership in Norwich and carried on a successful business until 1929 when he retired to enter active service with the air corps. Shortly thereafter he was commissioned a first lieutenant.  He resumed his reserve status in 1931 and in 1935 was promoted to the rank of captain.  Each year from his retirement from active service he has served the required period of duty at Mitchell Field where he was popular with his associates and superior officers.  In addition to his enthusiasm for flying, he was interested in gliding and held a soaring license, having operated at one time a gilding school at the Norwich airport. On several occasions he participated in the soaring meets at Elmira.  He attended the ceremonies of the opening week of the 1937 meet at Elmira and planned to return this week to take part in the activities.  Among the signal honors that were his in the flying fraternity was membership in the "Quiet Birdman" and the Caterpillar Club, this latter honor having been conferred upon him following a forced jump from a burning army plane in April, 1933.  For several years he acted as pilot for H.H. Linn of Morris, and flew his employer to all parts of the country on business trips.  Mr. Stead was twice married, his first wife being Miss Stella Rockwood of Guilford, whom he married June 28, 1916.  After a few years of most happy married life she died July 13, 1922.  On April 7, 1928, he married Miss Irene C. Morgan of this city who survives him after nine years of perfect companionship in which, as their friends know well, they shared beautifully their common interests.  He is also survived by his father James l. Stead, now 81 years of age, and by three brothers, Lester A. Stead of Bainbridge, J. Otto Stead of Guilford, and Kenneth R. Stead of Norwich.  He was a communicant of Emmanuel Episcopal church, a member of Norwich lodge, 402, F. and A.M.; Harmony chapter, 151, R.A.M.; Norwich commandery, 46, K.T. and Kalurah Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Binghamton.  In 1925-1926 he served Norwich commandery as commander.  He was also a member of Norwich post, American Legion; Norwich lodge of Elks, The Norwich Club and the Canasawacta Country Club.  The funeral service will take place Wednesday morning, July 7 in Emmanuel church at 10 o'clock, Rev. Lloyd S. Charters officiating, with military and Knights Templar escort to Mt. Hope cemetery, where the firing squad of the American Legion will pay final tribute to their departed comrade. The Elks will conduct a memorial service Tuesday evening in the Breese Funeral Home at 7:30 o'clock, this to be followed by a similar Masonic service at 8 o'clock. Friends are invited to one or both of these services.  George Stead had a host of friends who appreciated his wholehearted sincerity, his unswerving loyalty, his readiness to give aid and comfort in times of anxiety, but few, even among those with whom he was most intimate, ever knew the extent of his unostentatious benefactions, and the number of instances in which his sympathetic understanding found expression. Asked on one occasion why he had felt called upon to devote so much time personal effort and money to a particular case, he replied:  "I think my mother would have wanted it so."  The tragic event of Saturday ended a life which was short in years marked by the calendar, but long in deeds of service--rich in devotion to that which he believed to be his duty.  [Note:  Story of plane crash that took the life of George Stead, posted June 21, 2019]

Death Notices

Chenango American, November 22, 1860

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., Hon Samuel H. Barnes, in the 53d year of his age.

In Salem, Ohio, on the 16th inst., of dropsy, Laura [Brooks] wife of Lyman Brooks, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 64 years.

In King Settlement [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult. Rev. Lester M. Sackett of the Oneida Annual Conference, in the 88th year of his age.

In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th ult., Seymour Isbell, aged 80 years.

In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., David F. Coates, aged 82 years.

In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th isn't., Mrs. Lois Fenton, mother of Erastus Brown, aged 82 years.