Obituaries (February 11)

Benjamin Welch, Jr.

Chenango American, April 16, 1863

Commissary General Welch died at Clifton Springs on the 14th inst., aged 44 years.  He was a resident of this county [Chenango Co., NY], where he commenced his Editorial career at Oxford, about 1840.  He was soon transferred to the Oneida Democrat, and subsequently to the Buffalo Republic.  He was a vigorous political writer, and possessed much influence among his associates.  Some years since he was elected State Treasurer, and for the last four years has held the office of Commissary General of the State.  About a year since he entered active service in the Army as a member of Gen. Pope's Staff, and was present at the engagements of that officer in front of Washington.  His health for some years past has been frail, his exposure in that campaign left his system a prey to typhoid disease from which he has never recovered. We learn that his funeral will take palce from the residence of his father in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY] on the 17th inst.

Benjamin Welch, Sr.

Chenango American, August 6, 1863

Benjamin Welch died at his residence in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on Friday evening last, aged 75 years.  Mr. Welch was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co., N.Y.  His early years were passed in Kingston, Ulster county, where he resided until the spring of 1837 when he removed to this county [Chenango Co., NY].  Though living a life of quiet retirement, devoting himself to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Welch, was not unknown to a large circle of friends among whom he was highly respected and esteemed for his dignity of character, uprightness and strict integrity.  Under his careful training a large family has been reared to excellence and usefulness, some of them filling high and honorable stations in the service to the State and Nation.  About fifteen years since Mr. Welch, in somewhat feeble health, removed to this village [Greene, NY], where he resided until the time of his death. The loss of his son Benj. Welch, Jr., who a few weeks since fell a victim to the cause of his country, preyed heavily upon the old man's mind, already enfeebled by disease, and gradually declining, this venerable sire peacefully passed away to his final rest.

Colonel Elisha Brown Smith

Chenango American, July 16, 1863

By a dispatch from Lieut. E.P. Pellet, received on Wednesday, our citizens were informed that the body of Col. Smith had reached New York, and that it would be brought to Chenango Forks on Friday morning.  Preparations were made for meeting it there, and on Thursday a number of gentlemen went down to act as an escort to accompany the remains to Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].  The body reached the Forks at about 9 p.m. on Friday, and was taken in charge by the committee from here.

On the way up the valley demonstrations of respect and sorrow were made at Greene and Oxford by a general turn out of the people.  At Greene the procession was met at the south bounds of the village by the Masonic Fraternity and by the Fire Department, as well as by a large number of other citizens, and these, with a military band accompanied the remains as far north as the bridge over the canal. As the procession moved through the village, the church bells were tolled and the heavy sound of cannon awoke the mournful echoes of the hills which surround the early home of the lamented Colonel.  It is due to the citizens of Greene to say that they twice turned out in this manner to do honor to the remains.  It was first expected that the body would be brought up the valley on Thursday morning, and they then assembled to escort it through their village.  At Oxford the people were found gathered together when the procession came up, and accompanied by these, the remains were borne slowly and solemnly through the town, its coming and going marked by the tolling of bells and the firing of cannon.

The approach of the procession to Norwich was announced by the firing of one gun, at about six o'clock, and immediately the people began to move towards the south to meet it.  Carriages and foot passengers thronged the streets all the way down to the Cemetery, and when the remains passed the creek bridge they were followed by at least one hundred carriages and by hundreds of people on foot.  The body was taken to the Court House, and it lay in the large hall, in state, until the hour appointed, on Sunday, for conveying it to its last resting place.  While the coffin lay in the Court House, it and the hall were decorated in a very tasteful manner by the ladies of the village.

The fact that the funeral ceremonies would take place on Sunday at one o'clock had been announced to the people of all parts of the adjoining country, and at an early hour on that day the village began to be filled.  Emblems of mourning were displayed on many buildings, and flags draped in black were hung out by all who possessed them.  At a quarter to one o'clock the body was taken from the Court House to the hearse, and conveyed to the residence of the widow of the lamented soldier, accompanied by a vast concourse of people.  Immediately after it followed the firemen to the number of at least five hundred.  Companies were present from Oxford, Sherburne, Smyrna, and these, with the two Norwich Companies, made up the number. After these came members of the Masonic Fraternity from Greene, Oxford, Bainbridge, Sherburne, Hamilton, New Berlin, Unadilla and Norwich, in all numbering something over four hundred.  The coffin was not taken from the hearse at Mrs. Smith's residence. Rev. Samuel Scoville read a portion of the scriptures and made a short but very impressive prayer, when the procession returned to the front of the Court House. There an eloquent prayer was offered up by Rev. Mr. Benedict, followed by remarks by Mr. Scoville.  During the ceremonies the immense audience was deeply affected, and the voice of lamentation and sorrow was heard on every hand.

At the close of the Ceremonies in front of the Court House the remains were given into the charge of the Masons, to be by them borne to the grave and deposited therein according to the rites and ceremonies of the Order. The number of people that followed the body to the cemetery could not have been less than five thousand.

Those who have been present during the burial exercises of the Masonic Fraternity know how beautiful and impressive they are, and how eloquent each word is of the sorrow that finds its way to utterance from the wrung heart of each bereaved brother as he says his last farewell over the grave of one with whom he had close fellowship in life, and these can appreciate the feelings of the multitude who gathered around the spot where the earthly part of Col. Elisha B. Smith was laid--a spot that will be forever sacred to those who love their country and the memory of its defenders. At the close of the Masonic Ceremonies a prayer full of feeling and earnest supplication, was offered b Rev. Mr. Searles, and then the people slowly separated.

Rev. William L. Gilman

Chenango American, August 13, 1863

Rev. Wm. L. Gilman, formerly a native of Greene in this county [Chenango Co., NY], and well known by many of our citizens, recently died near Gettysburg.  He graduated at Canton, in the class of 1862, and soon enlisted as a private in the 32d Massachusetts Volunteers.  At the battle of Gettysburg, while lying on the ground with his Regiment, he was struck near his left knee with a Minnie ball which passed through the limb and would have entered his breast, had it not come in contact with a Testament which he had in his pocket. The limb was amputated and for several days bade fair to heal successfully, but a hemorrhage set in which closed his career. Thus has the life of another Christian and patriot been sacrificed on the altar of our common country.  He proved himself willing to support by his works, what he taught with his lips, and in defense of those principals he has given his life.  His memory will be sacred to all who knew him, especially to his brethren in the ministry.  A Christian, a soldier, and a patriot has gone to rest. The Ruler of the nations of the earth has granted him a furlough from all earthly duty, and permitted him to enter into that rest which the bugle notes of war can never disturb.--Oxford Times

Charles D. Follett

Chenango American, August 13, 1863

Charles D. Follett, of Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], Captain of Co. K, 8th N.Y. Cavalry, who was shot from his horse in the Gettysburg battle and taken prisoner, has since died of his wounds.

Franklin K. Garland

Chenango American, August 13, 1863

Franklin K. Garland of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Lt. of Co. B, 61st Regiment N.YV., who was shot through the lung on the second day's Gettysburg fight, died on the 4th July.