Obituaries (January 12)

Almira Curtis Claghorn

Bainbridge Ledger, January 15, 1869

Died, in Masonville, Delaware Co., N.Y., Dec. 31st, 1868, Almira Curtis [Claghorn], wife of Geo. Claghorn, aged 71 years, and a member of the Baptist Church in Oxford, Chenango Co., N.Y., where she had been a faithful member 51 years, always filling her place in the Prayer Meetings, Bible Class and Sabbath School, and in one case she had a class of eight young ladies who were all converted.  She then took another class of eight who were also converted under her labors.

Spencer Follett

Died June 8, 1939, Boonville, NY

Spencer Follett passed away Thursday, June 8, 1939, at the home of his son, Mark Follett, about one mile from Boonville [Oneida Co., NY] with whom he had made his home the past fourteen years after an illness of four weeks.  The deceased was born in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], October 16, 1855, the son of Marshall A. and Susan Goodrich Follett.  He was united in marriage with Mary Dyer of Council Bluff, Iowa, January 3, 1877.  They resided in the West for five years and then came to Chenango county.  Mrs. Follett died December 18, 1925.  Mr. Follett was a member of the Methodist church and the Cornell Community Club at Boonville.  All his life he had followed the occupation of farming.  There survive two daughters, Mrs. Leon C. Gerowe of South Kortright, N.Y., Mrs. Scott Brownson of Whitney Point, N.Y., one son, Mark Follett of Boonville.  Another son, Frank, died in 1910.  He also leaves the following grandchildren:  May Bartholomew of New York city, Frank Bartholomew of New York city, Russell Brownson of Newark, N.Y., and Muriel Follett of Boonville.  Another grandchild, Pauli Follett, died in 1927.  there also survive two brothers, Albert of Earlville and Henry of New Berlin.  Mr. and Mrs. Follett and children were residents of our village for a number of years and lived in the house now occupied by Ernest Wellman.  Here their children grew to young manhood and womanhood and were educated and they attended the Methodist church, where Mr. Follet was a trustee and steward for several years.  They were esteemed in this community where they had many friends, all of whom extend sympathy to the bereaved ones.  The body was brought here from the Boonville home on Tuesday and services were held at the Methodist church at 1:00 o'clock where many relatives and friends gathered to pay their last respects to the departed.  Rev. William Eddy, pastor of the Methodist church of Boonville of which Mr. Follett was a member, officiated. Burial was in the family lot in Hillside cemetery.

James Samuel Flanagan

Died April 1, 1939, Norwich, NY

James S. Flanagan, one of Chenango county's best known and most highly respected citizens passed away suddenly at his home on North Broad street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] Saturday afternoon.  His life was one of unstinted service. To his family, to his church, to a wonderfully large circle of friends, to his local community and to the larger community of county and state, to those individuals and corporations whom he represented professionally, to his party, to every movement which promised to make for civic betterment, and moral upift, he gave unquestioned devotion.  He was a veritable Abou Ben Adam.  No more comprehensive eulogy could be written than this:  "He loved his fellow men.  Out of a broad tolerance and his own sincerity of purpose he gave to those who differed, credit for a similar integrity.  So he earned for himself a genuine affection in the hearts of a multitude."

James Samuel Flanagan was born at Smithville Flats [Chenango Co., NY] in 1888.  Removing to Norwich with his parents he was graduated from Norwich high school in 1905 and from Albany Law School in 1909.  Soon after graduation he became associated with the late Jotham P. Allds and Harry R. Follett in the practice of law, withdrawing after three years to open his own offices and develop a practice which served a large number of individual clients and many corporations, including the Norwich Pharmacal Company, the Chenango County National Bank and Trust Company, Victory Chain, inc., Chenango Ice Cream Company, Aldrich Transportation Company, Western New York Motor Lines, Z.&M. Independent Oil Co., New York Electric and Gas Corporation, and others.  Taking up the study of motor transportation in behalf of a client interested in that business, he became one of the recognized authorities on the subject in New York state and as attorney or counsel was active in the organization or reorganization of several of the more important motor transportation lines in the east.  In local political, civic, philanthropic, social and fraternal organizaitons he occupied positions of trust and gave freely of his service and counsel.  He was a member of the Norwich board of education, trustee of the Follett Memorial Library, member of the board of managers of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, past president of Norwich Rotary, past president of the Norwich Club, trustee of St. Paul's church, past exalted ruler of Norwich lodge of Elks, past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, president of the Chenango County Agricultural Society, counsel and one of the charter members of the Chenango County Historical Society and director of many of the corporations which he served as attorney.  Mr. Flanagan was associated with the Y.M.C.A. and in 1937 was elected to the board of trustees, serving as secretary of the board.  He was much interested in the work of the Y.M.C.A. and out of respect to his memory the "Y" will be closed during the funeral services.

Despite his varied and many lines of activity, Mr. Flanagan was a loyal friend of the firemen and greatly interested in what volunteer firemen attempt to accomplish.  He was a member of the Norwich fire department, an honorary member of the Chenango County Firemen's Association and also an honorary member of the Tri-County Chiefs Association.  In his death the firemen of Chenango county have lost a steadfast friend.  In his chosen profession the associates delighted to heap honors upon him.  He was a past president of the Chenango County Bar Association, past president of the sixth district Federation of Bar Associations and had served on several of the important committees of the state association. For several years he was a member of the board of visitors of the Oneonta Normal school.  For 15 years he served his party as chairman of the Republican county committee, was a member of the state committee and for many years a delegate to state conventions, where he played an important part in the inner councils of the party.  For 17 years he was attorney for the city of Norwich, counseling the authorities through many of the critical periods when the fiscal policy of the city was established.  For years he was called upon frequently as a speaker on political, patriotic and social occasions.  He believed sincerely in the principles of the Republican party and was able in exposition of its policies.  His patriotic addresses were inspiring appeals for devotion to the principles of the republic and as a toastmaster he combined wisdom suitable to the occasion with a delightful wit.  One of the busiest of men, he found it difficult to refuse the urging of his friends and only a day or two before his passing had accepted invitations to preside at two important social functions.

He is survived by his widow, Lena Manley Flanagan, two sons, Thomas Manley Flanagan, a student at Cornell and James Manley Flanagan, a student at Syracuse university, and a brother, Leo J. Flanagan of this city. Funeral services will be held at the late North Broad street home at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, and at 10:30 in St Paul's church, Rev. Charles M. Coveney officiating, with burial in St. Paul's cemetery.  

Death Notices

Bainbridge Ledger, December 18, 1868

At Oneonta Plains [Otsego Co., NY], Mrs. Francis E. Star, wife of Berah Star and daughter of Joseph Brisack aged 26 years and 20 days.

At Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], Dec. 15, of typhoid fever, Charles S. Miller, late of Poughkeepsie, aged 23 years.

Bainbridge Ledger, January 1, 1869

In Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], on Dec. 27, Mrs. Garret Quackenbush, in the 87th year of her age.

In Masonville [Delaware Co., NY], Dec. 24th, Warren Arnold, aged 38 years.

In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 28th, 1868, Miss Polly Ingersoll, aged 67 years.

Bainbridge Ledger, January 8, 1869

In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 3d, 1969, Sidney Eggleston, aged about 60 years.

At Sandy Hill, Washington Co., Charles Foot, formerly of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], aged 8 years.