Obituaries (June 2)

Mellpomene (Pratt) Spohn

Died September 13, 1913, Bainbridge, NY

God's people are nearer the Gates of Gold and the Morning Land than they know.  It was last Sunday evening, Sept. 14, 1913, while the Church bells in your towers were calling the reverent and devout to holy worship and service, God just drew back the intervening curtains and sister Spohn heard the bells of Heaven calling her to worship and service in the Temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  Love could not keep her here, nor beat back the power of death, nor keep the tabernacle of clay from dissolving.  But she is in heaven for you who loved her, and you can go where she is, for she waits your coming. The deceased friend was born in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 3, 1874, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Pratt, well known and respected people.  In the year 1895, Feb. 28, she was united in holy wedlock with George Spohn and during the years has lived in the village and on the Spohn homestead north of the village.  One child was born of this union and has grown up to womanhood and is a bright and progressive student in our High School.  Mrs. Spohn was a woman of charming personality and rare Christian virtues. She was a member of the M.E. Chruch and through the years of her brief life exemplified in a forceful manner those sterling virtues, faith, hope and charity. She will be missed from the home where she was a loving, faithful and devoted wife and mother; missed from the Church in which she was devout and sincere and a frequent attendant; missed from the community where she was so kind, charitable and hospitable. The funeral services were held from the home Wednesday afternoon Sept. 17, at 1 o'clock, and were conducted by Rev Frank James.  A quartette, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. L. Andrews and Mrs. J. Russell rendered in a touching and effective manner two vocal selections, "No Night There, " and "Sometime We'll Understand."  The floral designs were many and most beautiful and their fragrance witnessed to the love and esteem in which the translated friend was held by her many friends. The deceased is survived by her husband, George Spohn, a daughter, Bernice Spohn, a sister, Mrs. A.L. Hodge, two brothers, Don and James Pratt. The interment was made in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge].  Mr. George Spohn and the family connections desire to express their deep and abiding gratitude for the sympathy and loving services rendered them during the hours and days of their grief and great sorrow.

Frank Albert Spohn

Died December 21, 1922, Bainbridge, NY

Frank Albert Spohn was born in the town of Guilford, Chenango Co., N.Y. June 19, 1859, died December 21, 1922, being 63 years old, his parents were Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Spohn who for many years occupied a farm on Guilford Street now owned by George J. Spohn.  To this union were [born] eight children, five of which are still living.  They are Joseph F., John M., Charles E., and George J., and one daughter, Mrs. George S Cook of this village.  Mr. Spohn was married August 28, 1884 to Miss Mary Hohrieter of this village, and later settled on the farm from which he died having spent most of his married life there.  Mr. Spohn contracted asthma when a boy three years old and suffered from that disease nearly all his life.  Mr. Spohn had been in failing health for some time when early in the fall, kidney trouble set in, from which he has been a great sufferer, when at last he contracted a severe cold from which he was unable to withstand, he passed away peaceful Thursday evening Dec. 21, at `10:40.  The funeral services were held from his late home Sunday, Dec. 24, at 12:30, Rev. M.V. Williams of the M.E. church officiating. The body was placed in the receiving vault in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge].

Arthur T. Kirby

Died September 15, 1938, Cooperstown, NY

Bainbridge friends heard with deep regret of the death of Arthur T. Kirby at the Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown [Otsego Co., NY], at noon on Sept. 15, following a week's illness which developed into bronchial pneumonia.  Mr. Kirby was born Oct. 13, 1892, at Afton [Chenango Co.., NY], the son of Edward and Effie (Cable) Kirby.  He is survived in his immediate family by his wife, Mrs. Marjorie Kirby, and by one daughter, Miss Mary Kirby, a student at Syracuse University.  He is also survived by his sisters, Mrs. Margaret Casey, wife of Principal F. J. Casey, and by a cousin, R.W. Kirby, and an uncle, C.C. Kirby, of Bainbridge.  Mr. Kirby has been a resident of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] for about 12 years where he owned and operated a contracting and trucking business.  Mr. Kirby was one of the survivors of the torpedoed English ship, Laconia, during the World War.  He and Floyd Gibbons were companions in a life boat which drifted for nine hours in the waters of the Irish coast before being picked up by another vessel.

Egbert Schermerhorn

Died January 2, 1930, Guilford, NY

Egbert Schermerhorn, 82, and for the past thirty years a resident in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], passed from the scenes of earth at the home of Miss Barbara Zeigler, Thursday, January 2, 1930.  Deceased was born in New York state November 21, 1847.  He was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the 192nd New York infantry January 25, 1865, and was honorably discharged August 18, 1865.  The 192nd regiment was not organized but a short time before the surrender of Lee.  Mr. Schermerhorn with his regiment journeyed south, but saw no active service.  Norman G Axtell, who was called the "fighting Chaplain of the Thirtieth Regiment" was colonel of the 192nd.   The deceased was a former member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  His casket was most beautifully decorated with the American flag and a wreath of flowers.   His funeral services were held from the home of Frank Yale Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Cecil Plumb, veteran of the World War and Chaplain of the American Legion, Charles L. Caeobi post No. 183 officiating.  The funeral was held with military honors, the firing squad being present fired salutes and sounded taps at the grave.  Burial in Yaleville cemetery.  He was the last of the Schermerhorn family and probably has no near relatives living.

Death Notices

Chenango American, April 20, 1865

In Sacramento, Cal., on the 20th ult. of typhoid fever, Mary T. Dederer [Wood], wife of Dr. Charles S. Wood, Surgeon U.S.A., formerly of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], in the 81st year of her age.

In Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., on the 9th inst., Prof. J.A. Thomas, formerly of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], aged 88 years.  His remains were brought to this place for interment on Friday last.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult., Jeremiah Tuttle, aged 49 years.

In the hospital, at Elmira, on the 19th ult., Henry Thetga, of Otselic [Chenango Co., NY] formerly of Co. I, 114th N.Y.V., and lately of the 19th V.R.C.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st ult., Palmer Edmonds, aged 81 years.

In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th ult., Mary Osgood, aged 53 years.