Marriages (November 29)

Weltz - Youngs

Married July 3, 1931, Norwich, NY

At Emmanuel episcopal church here [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] Friday night, July 3, at 7:30 the marriage of Emma Emogene Youngs to Philip John Weltz, both of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], was solemnized by the rector, Rev. L.S. Charters.  The attending couple were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Frey of Leonardsville.  The ceremony was performed in the presence of only the immediate relatives of the contracting parties.

Neff - Wilcox

Married July 3, 1931, Norwich, NY

Miss Elizabeth Grace Wilcox and Harold Emery Neff, both of Erieville [Madison Co., NY] were united in marriage by Rev. N.S. McPherson at his home on North Broad street last Friday evening at 7:30.  They were accompanied by Mrs. Adella Wilcox, mother of the bride, who resides in King Settlement, and the brother of the bride, Harold Wilcox of Erieville.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox plan to reside in Erieville.

Oechslin - Scarlett

Married October 4, 1947, Sidney, NY

Mrs. Frederick A. Ives of Merchantville, New Jersey, has announced the engagement of her daughter, Frances M. Scarlett, to Ernest Oechslin, both of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY].  An autumn wedding is planned.  Miss Scarlett formerly resided in Norwich.

Mr. & Mrs. Kendrick D. Wheeler

50th Anniversary, March 3, 1930

Monday March 3 dawned as a day of supreme joy in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick D. Wheeler of 10 Rexford street this city [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], and is the day of their golden wedding anniversary.  Congratulations from a wide circle of friends and relatives were showered upon this charming and delightful couple as they reminisced over a span of 50 years of wedded life.  A half century ago, in an event that was all important to them, they became man and wife at the home of the bride's father, H.A. Jewell who resided near Mt. Upton, where Mrs. Wheeler was born, March 24, 1860.  Eight of the guests who were present for the ceremony are living today, from a list of 50.  Then followed the happy honeymoon which was joyfully recalled Monday morning.  "We left Mt. Upton for our wedding trip which took us to Ithaca," said Mr. Wheeler, the groom of 50 years ago, and Mrs. Wheeler, his rosy cheeked bride of then and now, joined in by saying that "It took us two days to get there." They left Mt. Upton for Binghamton and spent an entire day getting from Binghamton to Cortland where they passed the night, resuming their journey the next day to Ithaca.

Tonight Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler will be the guests at a wedding dinner at the home of their daughter Mrs. Ralph Reynolds of 78 Elm street.  Mrs. Wheeler is the sister of Thomas A. Jewell, a former resident here and of Mrs. Don Prentiss of Earlville, also a former Norwich resident.  Another brother, H.A. Jewell resides on Conkey avenue, this city.

Following their "extended honeymoon trip" to Ithaca the bride and groom returned to the old Wheeler homestead at Rockwells Mills where they started their "homekeeping."  It was there that Mr Wheeler was born, as well as his father, the late Silas Wheeler and where his great grandfather, Ezekiel Wheeler settled in 1795.  French's Gazetteer give it that the Wheeler homestead was the first in the town of Rockwells Mills, that stout hearted pioneer having built his home across the road from the present schoolhouse in Rockwells Mills.  Ezekiel Wheeler also conducted the first inn in that village and soon after with two others built a schoolhouse.

Two daughters were born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler.  One, Lida A., who died March 26, 1889 and the other, Louise Jewell Reynolds who tonight is the hostess of the golden wedding party.  Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have one granddaughter, Gertrude Wheeler Reynolds of this city who was also born in the old homestead, making four generations.  Mr. Wheeler sold the old farm about eight years ago.  Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have never lived out of Chenango county.  They are staunch republicans in politics and being of a very retiring nature have never become affiliated with any fraternal organizations. When they lived at the old homestead they were active members of the home church and of the Sunday school and always interested intensely in the life of the community.

The bride and groom of fifty years ago are of old American stock, both being descendants of Revolutionary ancestors.  Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Mr. Wheeler proudly showed the writer the old powder horn carried by his great grandfather, Ezekiel Wheeler in the last year of the Revolutionary War.  It is a prized possession, a relic seldom seen these days that fairly breathes the patriotism that fired their ancestors to fight for liberty and freedom.  Another of his treasured possessions is the old compass that directed Ezekiel Wheeler as he paddled his way in a canoe down the Unadilla river to his new home, trekking his way from Massachusetts.  Clearing the land and building that homestead meant untold hardships, and another choice possession of the family is the bear trap used by the forefather as he sought to provide his family with food.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are enjoying sound health.  Mr. Wheeler is always to be seen about the city in fair weather.  He maintains a garden in the summer and also prizes a flock of hens that take up his spare time.  He formerly served his school district in Rockwells Mills as a trustee.  "Times have changed very much since we were first married," said Mrs. Wheeler. Asked if she had rather turn back to the times of 50 years ago or to continue the present day, she replied emphatically 'No."  She declared this to be a most remarkable and a most wonderful age.  "But we had pretty good times 50 years ago," said Mr. Wheeler, and his bride concurred, saying, "yes, for we didn't know anything different then."  Mr. Wheeler recounted that they had spent many happy times as they hitched up old dobbin and took a buggy ride to Binghamton where they have many friends today and to Elmira where they were well acquainted.  And today, their golden wedding anniversary, Norwich congratulates them.

Marriage Notices

Chenango Telegraph, April 6, 1859

CHEESBRO - BLODGETT:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. at the house of Col. E. Proctor by D. --alon, Esq., Silas Cheesbro, of Brookfield [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Permelia Blodgett of Plymouth.

BAILEY - DeFOREST:  In Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] March 29th, by rev. S.B. Norton, John Bailey to Miss Jane H. DeForest.

Chenango American, September 11, 1862

At Parker's Hotel, in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., by Rev. W.S. Adamson, Mr. Charles Lockwood to Miss Jeanette Church, all of this place.

In Whitney's Point, on the 3d inst., by Rev. Wm. Gates, Mr. Henry Johnson, to Miss Alice Sharp, both of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].

In Brooklyn, on the 2d inst., by Rev. L.B. Mills, Mr. Mills R. Callender, to Miss Amelia M. Swain, both of New York City.

In Vernon Centre, Oneida co., on the 1th inst., by Rev. Mr. Hall, Samuel Williams, Esq., Associate Editor of the Albany Evening Journal, and Miss Lizzie F. Balmer, of Vernon Centre.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., nY], on the 8th inst., by Rev. S. Scoville, Mr. Van B. Crain to Miss Phebe A. Ackley, both of Norwich.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., by Rev. Wm. Searls, Mr. Abel Comstock, to Miss Cynthia M. Thompson, both of Norwich.