Obituaries (June 8)

Walter Friedel

Died October 17th, 1934, Bainbridge, NY

Walter Friedel, one of Bainbridge's most popular young men, passed away at the Bainbridge Hospital, Wednesday night, October 17th where he had been undergoing treatment for the previous three weeks.  Walter was born April 22, 1900, on a farm in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], located on the Guilford road, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Friedel, both of whom are now deceased.  After attending the Bainbridge High School, he entered the employ of Charles D. Dix and with the exception of a short time when he conducted a meat market in partnership with Will Sargent in the Clark block, South Main street, and a few months spent in work in local factories, he has been in the employ of Mr. Dix, and eight years of the time he had lived at the Dix home in Evans street.  His courteous treatment had made him a valued employee, and his sense of humor and friendly manners made for him a large circle of friends who regret his passing.  Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Freda Powers, of Gloversville; two brothers, Michael, of Sanitaria Springs and Lewis, of Oneonta; also a half-brother, Stewart, of Bainbridge.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and his pastor, Rev. G.R. Orvis, conducted the funeral service which was held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the funeral chapel of Colwell brothers, West Main street, followed by interment in Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge].  The bearers were Charles Dix, Arthur Clark, Bert Bliss and Harry Bluler.  The merchants of the village closed their places of business during the hour of service. The funeral was largely attended and the floral tributes were a fitting expression of the respect and admiration for the deceased.  

Ernest Palmatier

Died March 4, 1933, Center Village, NY

Trapped in the living room of his home when the stove in which he was pouring kerosene oil to kindle a fire exploded and knocked him senseless, Ernest Palmatier, 45, of Center Village [Broome Co., NY], was burned beyond recognition at 8 o'clock Saturday morning.  His charred body was taken from the ruins at 11:30 a.m.  His wife, whose hair was singed badly, and Mr. and Mr.s Starr Casey, who tenanted the upstairs apartment, escaped down an outside staircase.  The flames, which enveloped the two-story frame dwelling within two minutes after the explosion, set fire to the garage in rear and destroyed it.  A hastily formed bucket brigade succeeded in removing two automobiles from the garage.  Its  members also saved the gasoline station which Philip Rafferty leases from Arthur Dyer, after sparks had ignited the roof.  His wife was asleep in a downstairs bedroom. She was aroused by the explosion and ran into the living room in night attire.  She saw her husband in flames.  She ran upstairs and notified the Caseys.  Mr. Casey said he arose at 8 o'clock and heard a terrific explosion.  Shortly afterward Mrs. Palmatier burst in crying hysterically that her husband was burning up.  He  tried to rescue the victim who was lying unconscious on the floor, but the flames gained such headway he was forced to abandon the mission.  Their exit cut off from the inside, the three had to leave by the rear staircase outside.  Windsor Fire department sent a small chemical truck to the scene, a village rule prohibiting removal of the large truck from the corporation limits.  Mrs. Palmatier, still hysterical, was taken to her daughter's home on Gracemore Farm, near Ouaquaga.  Coroner Austin J. Stillson's verdict was one of accidental death and no inquest was thought necessary.  the body was removed to the undertaking establishment of Harry Kark at Harpursville.

Paul Marquis French

Died October 29, 1931, North Lake, NY

Death came as it must to all men, to Paul Marquis French, 33, greatly loved and respected citizen of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], by accidental gunshot wound Thursday October 29, 1931, while deer hunting with friends near the west shore of North Lake, N.Y.  Born December 29, 1897, Afton, N.Y. [Chenango Co., NY] son of Charles and Harriet Broome French, he attended school in Afton and other places where the family lived, including Bainbridge High School.  During the World War he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Jun 2, 1917 where he served faithfully on the U.S.S. Huntington, Southbury and Manchuria, conveying troops to France, with the distinction of rising in rank through the six grades to Yeoman 1st class at the time of his honorable discharge October 6, 1919.  besides being past commander of the local American Legion Post, he was a member of the Cooperstown lodge of Masons and of the Odd Fellows at Bainbridge.  After employment for a year in New York City, following his discharge from the Navy, he came back to this community and engaged in various enterprises, including a feed and coal business at Hartwick, N.Y., part ownership of the Bainbridge Garage, and was associated with Ford Sales, Afton, N.Y. at the time of his death.  Wherever Paul French went he made a host of loyal friends who loved him for his brave, bright generous self and admired him for his honesty. A shrewd business man once said of him that he was a man to whom he would make a loan without any other security than Paul's word.  Lying mortally wounded in the rain in the deep Adirondack woods he showed his grief stricken comrades how bravely he could die; with a word to each of them and his family, a request that he be not moved from those woods he loved so well, forgiveness for the accident, and a smile upon his lips.  With the whole town mourning his loss and the flags at half mast, a private funeral was held Monday, November 2, at 2 p.m. at his South Main street home under the direction of Colwell Bros. the service by Rev. Landmesser, of Cresent, N.Y., a personal friend of the deceased.  Amidst an abundance of Flowers he was buried, as he had requested, with military and Masonic honors at Afton cemetery, covered by the Flag he had fought to defend.  He is survived by his wife, Irene Louise, sister, Mrs. Warren Corbin of Bainbridge, and brother Kenneth of Oneonta.

Lucinda G. Slater

Died March 24, 1933, Bainbridge, NY

Lucinda G. Slater, widow of James Slater, died at the home of her son, Cory D. Thornton, on March 24th.  She had lived in the village of Afton [Chenango Co., NY] for the past twenty-one years, but went to live with her son about four months ago.  Mrs. Slater was born April 30, 1852, at White's Store [Chenango Co., NY], the daughter of John W. and Sophronia  Hopkins Wrench. The funeral was held at the Thornton home on Monday, March 27th, the Rev. Clifford Webb, pastor of the First Presbyterian Chruch of Afton, officiating.  The body was taken to Afton for burial in Glenwood cemetery.  She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Ernie Johnson, of Belden, and three sons Cory D. Thornton, of West Bainbridge, Bert Thornton, of North Afton, and Lawrence Slater, of Afton.

Death Notices

Chenango American, May 11, 1865

In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], of consumption, on the 5th inst., Martha A. [Short], wife of N.H. Short, aged 32 years.

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Miss Sarah E. Wheeler, aged 17 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 7th inst., Hon. George Buell, in the 80th year of his age, formerly of Windsor, Broome County.

In Chicago, Ill., on the 25th ult., Thomas Morris, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 65 years.

In Addison, Steuben Co., on the 29th ult., Andrew Miller, aged 83 years.