Obituaries (July 13)

Esther Hoadley Dunning

Chenango American, March 21, 1861

We notice in the Binghamton papers, the death of Mrs. Esther Dunning at Kirkwood [Broome Co., NY], on the 20th ult., at the age of 91 years.  She had been twice married.  Her first husband was Ira Hoadley, and they were pioneers in the then new town of Windsor, 70 years ago, their nearest neighbors residing four miles from them.  The old lady had seen a howling wilderness pass through many and varied changes until a few scattered tracts of woodland only were left to remind her of her early trials.

Stoddard S. Nichols

Chenango American, March 14, 1861

In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Mr. Stoddard S. Nichols, aged 45 years.  Thus has passed away one of our most esteemed and valuable citizens in the prime of life.  The subject of this notice was a man of high and honorable bearing and principles; true in his friendships, intelligent in mind, of sound judgment, well informed, and courteous in his spirit towards all with whom he was brought in contact.  He would seem to have been fitted for positions calling into requisition a different class of intellectual powers from those which business develops.  Through a protracted sickness his bearing was that of calm courage, fortitude and submission to the divine decree. The thought has often occurred to the writer of this, how much truth there was in the remark of Longfellow, "We often think a person cold when he is only sad and suffering."  Mr. N. suffered from long continued depression, resulting from the taxing and exhausting influence of deep and protracted disease. But will all the anguish resulting from the prostration of physical energies and the blighting of earthly hopes, he yet bore up with wonderful strength of purpose and at no time with higher or calmer resolve than as the shades of death were gathering over his wasted brow. We shall miss him in all enterprises where public spirit is required, and in all the valued associations of our village life. We rejoice to know that as life was closing he reached forth for strength in trusting to the merit of atoning blood, and that in divine strength he passed through the dark valley and that he now rests in peace beneath the shadow of the ever sheltering cross.

It is with sincere and profound grief that we record the decease of Stoddard S. Nichols of this village. Mr. Nichols has been for a number of years, one of our most valuable citizens, and his loss will be severely felt in our midst.  Though not unexpected, Mr. Nichols having for  along time been a sufferer from an insidious disease, yet this blow is heavy and not soon to be forgotten.  His many virtues, and rare traits of character, had won for him the esteem and respect of an entire community, who deeply mourn his loss.  Much as they miss his familiar face, and his friendly counsels and advice in business associations and social intercourse; with how much more sorrow and loneliness will he be missed from the home which he loved with a father's affection and a husband's fond devotion.  In this deep and overwhelming bereavement, made doubly acute by the recent sudden death of a bright and beautiful boy, the invalided widow, and fatherless children have the warmest sympathy of a large circle of friends. Surely the dark wing of the Angel of Death has cast a gloomy shadow over this afflicted household, and they have been compelled to drink deeply from the bitter cup of desolation.  May they be blessed with sufficient grace and strength to bow in meek submission to the Supreme mandate, and to be patient and resigned under their great sorrow.  The obituary remarks in another column, penned by a friend who watched by the bedside of the deceased in his later hours, and whose high privilege it was to administer the consolation of a hope beyond the grave, to the patient sufferer, are a fitting tribute to the memory of our departed friend.

Marjorie Sweet

Died November 14, 1937, Morris, NY

Miss Marjorie Sweet was born in the town of Morris (Dimmock Hollow) [Otsego Co., NY] at the old Ford homestead July 18, 1904, and died at the same place November 14, 1937.  She was the youngest daughter of Warren and Emma Ford Sweet.  The first two and a half years of her life was on Staten Island, where her father was a teacher.  After his death in 1906, the mother with the two little girls returned to the Ford home, Marjorie attended the district school and also Morris High School.  She was a home loving girl and had a beautiful Christian character. She saw God in all nature and enjoyed the birds and animals in the woods as well as those around the farm.  For several years she had taught a Sunday school class, and being a great lover of children she was happy in her work with them. After she was unable to attend services at the church she wished that she might be able to have a Sunday school class at her home. She was a member of the Holmesville Baptist church.  For several months she had been ill but bore her suffering with patience, but anxious for the Master to call her home, where she could meet her Savior and loved ones that had gone before. She will be greatly missed, not only in the home, but in the church and community and by all who knew her. She leaves her mother, step-father, Blynn Daniels, sister, Mrs. Orr Daniels, uncle, Allie Ford, aunts, Mrs. Theodore Fox, Miss Lillian Sweet and Mrs. Charles Johnson, a nephew, Paul Daniels, niece, Shirley Daniels, several cousins and a large circle of other friends. The funeral was held at the home, Wednesday afternoon and was very largely attended.  her pastor, Rev. H.E. Danielson, officiated, assisted by Rev. Clyde Hurlbutt of Mt. Vision. The many beautiful flowers showed the esteem in which she was held. Burial was in Hillington cemetery at Morris.