Obituaries (April 20)

Henry Gartsee & Fayette York

Chenango American, December 15, 1864

News has been received, through Charles Gross, who is a detailed nurse on board the steamer George Leary, that Henry Gartsee, of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY] died some months ago in the rebel prison at Andersonville, of dropsy.  He was taken prisoner near Fredericksburg, Va., during the first days of the fighting in the Wilderness, together with a number of others from this place.  He enlisted last winter in the company formed here by Capt. Henry Vaughn for the 22d cavalry.  He was a printer by trade, and had many friends among the young men of the county.  Of a genial, kindly, cheerful disposition, his nature was of the sort to draw about him the pleasant hearted and the gay. He was one of the "laughing sons of mirth" whom nothing could make sour and gloomy, and we are sure that the untold horrors of a Southern prison and the near approach of death therein did not shake the firm faith he cherished that "there is no darker fate before us than that we've left behind."  He will be long remembered and regretted.  By the same letter we learn that Fayette York, son of C.C. York, who was taken prisoner at the same time with Gartsee, died at about the same time at Andersonville.  --Chenango Chronicle.

Ernest R. Worden

Died October 10, 1948, Norwich, NY

Ernest R. Worden of East Avenue, Minoa [Onondaga Co., NY], died Monday morning.  Survived by his wife, Mrs. Pearl Baerthel Worden; one son, Arthur; his father Addison W. Worden; two brothers, Fred and Howard Worden; one sister, Mrs. Richard Fitzgerald; several nieces and nephews.  Private funeral will be held at his late home, Thursday, 1 P.M. and 2:30 at Minoa Methodist Church, the Rev. Frank D. Boyd officiating.

Irving Raymond Dietz

Died September 15, 1934, New Berlin, NY

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Irving Raymond Dietz, 18, was killed; Maynard Bryant, 14, is at Chenango Memorial Hospital with a fractured left wrist and possible fracture of the skull; James Saunders, is at the home of his uncle, Henry Robinson at South New Berlin, suffering with severe cuts about the head and possible fracture of several ribs; P.J. Malone, suffered a possible brain concussion and is being treated by Dr. W.R. Elliott, New Berlin, at the South New Berlin Hotel; Harold Lindberg, received several severe cuts on the left writst and hand, and a cut on the left side of the head, all of which require sutures; Mrs. Ethel Shillabeer, received a bruised right eye and a contusion of the right cheek; and Martha Burke escaped with minor cuts and bruises, and Mrs. Catherine Cowan received a bad bump on the forehead in an automobile collision about 10:30 o'clock last night on the Norwich-South new Berlin highway near the Washburn farm. Five persons were in one car and four in the other, and Robert Wort was the only one of the nine who did not require medical attention.

Dietz was brought ot the office of Dr. E.N. Morgan at South New Berlin, and died a few minutes later, without regaining consciousness.  Dr. Earl W. Wilcox coroner who was called, stated that the cause of death was a fractured skull.

Saunders driving his own coupe was returning from Norwich.  In the seat with him were Miss Burke and Wort.  Dietz and Maynard were riding in the rumble seat.  Maynard stated this morning at the hospital that he was riding on the left side of the car.  He said that he saw the lights of the approaching truck, then he heard a click and that was the last he knew until he regained consciousness in the office of Dr. Morgan.  He stated that he was talking with Dietz and could not say how fast the car was going, but did say that Saunders was on his own side of the highway.

Lindberg, Malone, Mrs. Cowan and Mrs. Shillabeer were all riding on the one seat of the small truck.  The truck and the car were between 140 and 150 feet apart following the crash.  The coupe struck a telephone pole cutting it off at the ground, continued on for some distance and then turned over on the side of the road.  The truck turned on its side and according to measurements made by Deputies Frank Machio and Dudley Crumb, slid in that position a distance of 14 feet off the side of the highway, through the fence into  a pasture lot.  It is believed that all of the occupants of the coupe were thrown out before it came to its final resting place.  The four in the truck were jammed down into the cab, according to Mrs. Cowan, who stated that she crawled out through the windshield and pulled Mrs. Shillabeer after her.  Lindberg said he saw the lights of the coupe approaching but could give no explanation for the accident.  All parties involved in the accident are residents of South New Berlin.  Dr. Wilcox reported the accident to District Attorney Glenn F. Carter this morning, but no decision has been made as yet as to whether an inquest will be held.  Troopers Lawrenson and Wright of Troop C investigated.

The Dietz remains were brought to Norwich and the funeral will be held from the Breese Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Reverend Skinner of South New Berlin officiating.  The victim had been making his home for the past two years with K.B. Simonson in South New Berlin.  He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Richard Franklin of Preston; a half-brother, Albert Dietz of Norwich; an uncle, Henry Dietz of Norwich; two uncles in Herkimer and one uncle in Herrick Center, Pa.

Elwyn Johnson & Minnie May Monroe

Died February 24, 1939, Pharsalia, NY

Minnie May Monroe & Elwyn Johnson

A Chenango County love tangle ended tragically near here this morning when 55-year-old Millie May Monroe killed Elwyn Johnson while he slept and then turned the gun on herself. They were found dead shortly before noon at Johnson's dairy farm by Henry Tefft, Mrs. Monroe's son-in-law.  Coroner L.T. Kinney said the murder and suicide was caused by Mrs. Monroe's jealousy of another woman, whose identity authorities refused to disclose. Before shooting Johnson and killing herself, Mrs. Monroe wrote four letters.  One was addressed to the "other woman."  A widow for 20 years, Mrs. Monroe had acquired a householder's permit for her .32 caliber revolver on Nov. 29, 1938.  The climax in the widow's jealous frame of mind apparently came Thursday night when Johnson returned to the farm eight hours late.  He was expected back at 11 o'clock in the morning, and didn't return until 7 p.m.

Johnson is believed to have gone to bed thinking Mrs. Monroe would retire later.  When the bodies were found on Johnson's bed, the farmer was clothed in his underwear while Mrs. Monroe's body was fully dressed.  She remained downstairs and wrote the four letters in which officials said she explained her actions.  One missive was to Lester Shadel of Pharsalia, another addressed to her daughter, Mrs. Henry Tefft, the third to the unidentified woman who she believed was replacing her in Johnson's affections, and the fourth to Henry Tefft.  Investigators believe it was 4 a.m. when she shot Johnson in the back of the head. There were no signs of struggle, fixing the belief that the victim slept. The widow then placed the muzzle at her right temple and pulled the trigger.  When her body was discovered, the gun was still held firmly in her hand, pointing at her chin.

At 11 o'clock this morning, Tefft, who lives nearby, went to the home of his mother-in-law.  He entered by the kitchen door, saw the letter addressed to him.  He read it before exploring further. The letter's details sent him running up the stairs and into the bedroom where the bodies lay. Tefft then sped to the home of former Supervisor Leon R. Davis and telephoned Dr. J. Mott Crumb of Otselic before notifying the sheriff's office at Norwich.  His call brought Sheriff Neil D. Lewis, Undersheriff Frank J. Machio and Coroner Kinney to investigate. The entire official party was taken to the Johnson home in a sleigh by George White who had been waiting at the junction of the Camp Trail Road and the Main Otselic-Pharsalia highway. Depth of snow made the trip impossible in automobiles from the main highway.

A brother of Mrs. Monroe, Edward Church, lives in Cortland.  She is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Elwyn Ingersoll of Otselic.  Johnson's son, George Johnosn, lives in the Town of Plymouth.  He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Helen Youngs of Otselic and Mrs. Harlow Abbott of German.

Death Notices

Chenango American, November 3, 1864

In Hospital, at Winchester, Va., on the 18th ult., of a wound received in battle at the above place, Corp. Calvin B. Weld, of Co. E, 114th Reg., N.Y.V., son of Luther Weld, of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], aged 28 years and 3 months.

In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th ult., Charlie Ray [Farnsworth], youngest son of Jonathan and Lydia Farnsworoth, aged 4 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on Sunday, Oct. 23, 1864, Georgie W. [Hutchins], son of James and Sattira S. Hutchins, aged 9 years and 6 months.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Oct. 21, Mary [White], relict of the late Jeremiah White, aged 58 years.

In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Oct. 17, after a short illness, Mr. John Sage, aged 56 years.

In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Oct. 17, Susan C. [Hovey], wife of Hiram P. Hovey, aged 27 years.

In Richmond, Va., Sept. 22 Mr. Jesse G. Davison, formerly of Sherburne [Chenango co., NY], aged 41 years.