Obituaries (January 4)

James Thayer

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, November 15, 1807

At Springfield Centre, Nov. 7, 1807, of typhoid fever, Mr. James Thayer, aged 46 years.  Mr. Thayer was born in Springfield [Otsego Co., NY], and continued to reside there until the time of his death  He was a man of strict integrity, a good citizen, and an obliging neighbor.  Those who were the most intimate with him esteemed him the most highly.  To his invalid wife he was especially devoted, aiding her by his constant kindness to bear with fortitude and cheerfulness her great trials. The large concourse of people gathered at his funeral attested the esteem in which his townsmen held him.

Caroline Melissa (Angell) Ford

Died May 12, 1923, Morris, NY

Caroline Melissa Ford, wife of the late George W. Ford, died Saturday evening at about 10:30, May 12, after a short illness of bronchitis.  Mrs. Ford was born in Chenango county 79 years ago, was the daughter of George and Melissa Angell.  She was married to George W. Ford in 1869 and has resided on the farm where her death occurred a period of over fifty years.  Unto them three children were born, all of whom survive her:  Mrs. Theodore Fox of Bayonne, N.J., Albert D. Ford, of Morris and Mrs. Blynn Daniels, of Dimock Hollow, with whom she resided and who has tenderly cared for her in her declining years.  She is also survived by four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was a member of the Methodist church of South New Berlin.  She was a good wife, a loving mother, and a kind and sympathetic friend and neighbor, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in trouble. The sympathy of the entire community go out to the bereaved family.  The funeral was held from her late home Tuesday at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. F.J.W. Chubb officiating. Burial beside her husband in beautiful Hillington cemetery, Morris. The many floral tributes and the large gathering of old friends and neighbors to pay their last respects to one who had lived among them so many years show the high esteem in which she was held.

George Follett

Died July 9, 1926, Norwich, NY

Funeral services for George Follett, 81 years of age, and for sixty years a leading farmer in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] were held from the home of his son, Frank Follett, on the South New Berlin road Monday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. S.S.T. Harding officiating.  Mr. Follett died at Matterson Hospital Friday, July 9, after several days' illness. Burial was made in Mount Hope cemetery [Norwich, NY].  He was the last of twelve children of Samuel and Marinda Rockwell Follett, and was born in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].  He married sixty years ago Mary Elizabeth Gile, who died about forty years ago.  Besides the son mentioned he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Fred Woodard, and two other sons, George Follett, Jr., and Whitman Follett; twelve grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Mr. Follett was a former road commissioner in the town of North  Norwich and was serving as assessor at the time of his death.

Al Lewis & Mertelle Foster

Died August 3, 1930, Norwich, NY

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Norwich suffered its first fatal airplane accident today shortly before 12 o 'clock, when Al Lewis, Norwich aviator, and Mertelle S Foster of 25 Seminary Avenue, Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], crashed on the farm of Fred Figary, just across the Chenango River from the Norwich Airport.  Lewis and Foster had taken off from the Norwich port just a few minutes previous in a Travelair plane belonging to the Central New York Airways of Norwich and were headed toward Binghamton, where they had intended to take up passengers today at the Binghamton field.  Lieut. George Stead, of the Army Reserve Flying Corps and James Daugherty, a local flier who were up in another plane just north of where the ill fated plane crashed, were the first ones to reach the scene of the accident, but notwithstanding the fact that they reached the ground a few moments later, they were helpless to render any aid.  All that was left was the charred remains of the wooden frame of the wings, and the smashed and burned engine, under which were the burned bodies of the two victims. The body of Lewis was hanging from the front of the engine with the feet in the air and the head down, burned beyond recognition. Foster's body was back of Lewis with the head hanging down also.  Lieutenant Stead said after the accident that he was looking down upon the airport when Lewis and Foster took off.  He said he noticed that they were slow in starting but that just as soon as they got into the air and over the edge of the field, he turned to look in another direction. A couple of minutes after, he said he saw people running from the airport and he looked at the ill-fated machine again and then he saw them on the ground in flames.  He motioned to Daughterty, who was flying the machine at the time, that he would take the controls, which he did and landed near the burning plane, but too late.

Mr. Eaton is positive there was nothing wrong with the motor of the plane.  He believes the dead air may have been the cause of the accident, for air conditions yesterday made it difficult for planes to gain a high altitude.  Lewis and Foster were up less than 100 feet when the plane fell.  Mr. Eaton is of the opinion that Lewis realized the poor air conditions and had just circled to return to the flying field when the machine nose dived.  "It is a case of dead air conditions," said Aviator Eaton this afternoon.  Apparently Mr. Lewis was getting no altitude and intended to return to the flying field when he ran into difficulty and dropped in a nose dive."  Inspector Meadows reached Norwich at 10:30 this afternoon, made an examination of the wreck, and gave permission for airport officials to remove the plane. The wreckage will be buried on the grounds at the Norwich airport.  Inspector meadows would give out no statement following his examination of the wreck.  He is not allowed to do this, for any statement must come form the department of commerce at Washington.  No insurance was carried on the plane, as the cost of such insurance is almost prohibitive and airport officials placed their insurance in allowing no one but an experienced flyer, such as Lewis was, to handle planes.  Although the tragedy brought gloom to everyone, airport officials have reason to be proud of the remarkable record maintained since the airport was dedicated a little over two years ago. This is the first fatality. There have been few if any accidents and none were serious.  Injuries suffered by both Lewis and Foster make it almost certain that the men were instantly killed in the crash, and that life was extinct when the wreckage caught fire.  Fracture of the skull and of bones in the legs and arms of the men gave almost positive assurance they met death at the time of the crash.

Foster was an employee of the Investors' Syndicate at Syracuse and was for many years salesman for the Mileage Gas Company.  His home was in Binghamton, but he had been living in this city recently, with headquarters at Hotel Norwich.  He sold tickets at the local airport Saturday and Sunday of each week, and was greatly interested in aviation.  His only survivor is his father, W.J. Foster of 25 Seminary street, Binghamton.  He was 32 years old.

Airport officials are appreciative of the assistance given by the Chenango & Unadilla Telephone Company in transmitting phone messages.  To Miss Gladys Kennedy, toll operator, is due credit for her promptness in establishing phone connections with Buffalo, Binghamton and other points.

Neither Lewis nor Foster was married and the former's father and mother have been dead several years.  He made his home with his uncle, Duard H . Lewis of 12 Lee avenue.  His stepmother also resides there.

Death Notices

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, November 15, 1807

In Westford [Otsego Co., NY], October 9th, Ann Ashley, aged 20 years.

Chenango American, December 25, 1862

In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 7th ult., of diptheria, Stephen L. Phillips, aged 16 years.

Chenango American, December 11, 1862

In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Mr. John C. Van Name, of Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY], aged 23 years and 9 months.

In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Jane Mowett [Davidson], twin daughter of George A. an dsusan A. Davidson, aged 3 years, 11 months and 28 days.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. after a brief illness, Mr. Benjamin Gardner, aged 52 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult., of diptheria, Velma E. [Smith], aged 5 years and 10 months; on the 29th ult. Marshall J. [Smith], aged 1 year and 4 months; on the 30th ult., George A. [Smith], aged 9 years and 8 months--only children of Alpheus and Ruth M. Smith.

In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., Mary D. [Hotchkiss], only daughter of Henry and Cornelia J. Hotchkiss, aged 4 years, 11 months and 11 days.

"I take these little lambs, said he,

And lay them in my breast;

Protection they shall find in me,

In me be ever blest."