Obituaries (April 27)

Myrtle Matterson Edelman

Died February 19, 1938

Mrs. Myrtle Matterson Edelman of 119 South Broad street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] suffered fractures of both legs below the knee, possible fracture of the nose, possible fracture of the hip, lacerations about the head and shock when the Ford coupe she was driving collided head-on with a two-ton truck Friday morning at 10:15 o'clock on the Oxford highway at the spot where the road to Georgetown intersects.  Dr. William D. Mayhew of Oxford was called and took the injured woman to the Chenango Memorial Hospital where x-rays will be taken Friday afternoon.  Mrs. Edelman was driving south on the straight stretch just this side of Oxford, while the truck, owned by T.A. Johnson of North Pharsalia, and driven by his son, Bernard Johnson, was proceeding north and started to turn into the dirt road which leads to Pharsalia and Georgetown, thinking that Mrs. Edelman was also making the same turn. Both the truck and car tried to avoid the collision by turning to the left and to the right but they met head-on on the west side of the road.  The force of the collision drove Mrs. Edelman's car 21 feet back from the point of contact, telescoping the front end of the coupe. The truck rode up over the hood of the car as far as the coupe's windshield.  The driver of the truck said he was going 28 miles an hour and estimated Mrs. Edelman's speed at about 40 miles per hour.  Riding with the driver was his brother, Bud Johnson, who suffered lacerations of the nose and a bump on the forehead. Bernard Johnson, driver, injured his right hand which became badly swollen. The rescue squad of eight or nine men from the Oxford fire department was called to extricate Mrs. Edelman from the car. The coupe was so badly smashed the doors had to be forced off with crowbars in order to remove the injured woman.  Troopers James Heath and Walter Sweeney and Deputy Fay Edgarton of the sheriff's office investigated the accident.

The funeral of Mrs. Myrtle Matterson Edelman, who died at the Chenango Memorial Hospital early Saturday morning from injuries received in an automobile accident was held from Emmanuel Episcopal Church this morning with the rector, the Rev. Lloyd S. Charters officiating. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery. The bearers were Paris and Warren Barnes, Charles Thayer, Dennis G. Normile, Leon Franklin and James Lucas.  The church was filled with friends and relatives including the members of Lily of the Valley Rebekah Lodge of Norwich.

Giles H. Dickinson

Died November 2, 1940

Giles H. Dickinson, 62, of 42 Riverside Drive, prominent in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] business circles for many years, was killed instantly Saturday night when he fell from an 11th story window of the Press Building.  Dr. Frank Paul Kane, Broome County coroner, announced a verdict of accidental death last night.  Dr. Kane said that Mr. Dickinson had been subject to epileptic seizures for 25 years.  The body was found on the brick courtyard 150 feet below an open window on the next to the highest floor of the building a few minutes after 6 p.m.  Mr. Dickinson, son of the late Charles M. Dickinson, who was minister to Turkey under Theodore Roosevelt's administration, was a former partner of Edwin R. Weeks, who was killed by a lightning bolt last July on the Binghamton Country Club golf course.  Mrs. Elma C. White of 542 State Street, operator of an elevator in the Press Building, told Dr. Kane and police investigators that Mr Dickinson rode to the 11th floor at 6 p.m.  She said he was perspiring freely and mopping his face with a handkerchief as he bade her "good evening" and stepped from the cage to the floor where his office had been located until Oct. 1.  Seven minutes later police were notified that a body had been found on the courtyard by Mary Campbell of 113 Henry Street who was passing through an alleyway in the rear of the building.  Robert Walker of 737 Chenango Street, parking lot attendant, told investigators that he heard a dull thud on the bricks and ran around a small shed to find the body on the pavement.  Detective Thomas Broughton with Sergt. Amos Adams and patrolmen Lester Huntley and Michael O'Neil took up the investigation.  They succeeded in identifying the body.  Detective Broughton said that the only window found open on the 11th floor was at the west end of the hallway, directly above the spot where the body was found.  Mr. Dickson was treasurer of the Deacons Fund of First Presbyterian Chruch and played an active part in other religious organizations and activities.  He was a member of the Binghamton Rotary Club for many years and was president of the service club in 1924 and 1925.  For a time he was a member of the Binghamton Country Club and also was affiliated with the Y.M.C.A.  Only last Thursday he had taken part in a Rotary meeting skit.  Mr. Dickinson was a partner of Weeks and Dickinson music store since 1916 until he retired as vice president and treasurer with the death of Mr Weeks last July. After attending a preparatory school at Aurora, he entered Williams College but discontinued his studies when his father was appointed consul general to Turkey and the family left this country.  Later he returned to the United States and attended Princeton University, where he was graduated.  Mr. Dickinson's father won an international reputation for his consular service.  he was the first of five consul generals selected form 1,000 after the reorganization of 1906 and won the praise of President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root for his service. The elder Mr. Dickinson also was well known as an author and poet.  Mr. Dickinson is survived by his widow, Alice M.; a son, Charles M., manager of the Providence, R.I., IBM office; a daughter, Mrs. Bruce Messer Smith of Shanghai, China; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Allan Curtiss Hoffman of Dayton, Ohio; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Virginia and Marjory Ann Smith and two grandsons, David and Bruce Smith, all of Shanghai.  Private funeral services will be held from the family home at 42 Riverside Drive Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.

Death notices

Chenango American, December 8, 1864

In Jarvis U.S. Hospital, Baltimore, on the 2d ult., Erastus [Sill], son of Blin S. Sill, M.D. of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], aged 19 years of the 114th Reg.

In Cooperstown [Otsego Co., NY], on the 23d ult, of pulmonary consumption, Dr. W. Webber Ryer, formerly of Plymouth, Me., aged 39 years.

In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult., Mr. Judah Edward Andrews, aged 86 years.

In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th ult., Sarah M. [Angell], daughter of George and Abigal Angell, aged 12 years, 7 months and 10 days.

Chenango American, December 22, 1864

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Betsey [Hubbell], wife of Ira Hubbell, aged 65 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Chas. Elmer [Barber], son of Chas. Barber, aged 5 years and 6 months.

In North Norwich, on the 6th inst.  Mr. Jas. Benedict, aged 84 years.

In Quincy, Ill., Nov. 29th, Doct. N.B .Mead, of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], aged 74 years.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., Wm. L. Tuttle, aged 62 years.