Obituaries (July 26)

Rev. Daniel Bullock

Bainbridge Republican, September 5, 1879

Rev. Daniel Bullock, a well-known Methodist divine, who has preached many times in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] and vicinity, died in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]  recently of cancer in the kidneys.  His remains were brought to this village Tuesday for interment. The funeral was largely attended at the Methodist church and the remains deposited in the Episcopal burial ground.  The Chenango County Baptist Association met at Oxford Wednesday of this week, and a large delegation from all parts of the county was present, and a very harmonious feeling was manifest. The dedicatory services of the church on Tuesday were very impressive, and the fine sermon of Rev. Patten of New York city was listened to with great interest.  On the afternoon of Tuesday Rev. Jabez Swan, a resident minister at Oxford over forty years ago, now a resident of New Lebanon, Ct. preached a very able sermon, which was thoroughly enjoyed by his old friends, as well as many new ones.  The full amount of the church indebtedness was raised, and all departed with the consciousness that a great good work had been accomplished.

Sherburne News, October 4, 1879

On Sunday morning Sept. 28, a Memorial service, commemorative of the life and service of the late Rev. Daniel Bullock, was held at the Union Church in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], where he has resided during the last few years of his life. There could be no more interesting and impressive evidence of the respect and affection of the people toward the deceased, than was demonstrated in the great solemn gathering of his friends in the town of his residence.  The desk and wall behind it were heavily draped in black, and the former appropriately decorated with vases of rare and beautiful flowers, showing, in some measure the appreciation by friends of the Christian virtues of their deceased pastor, as well as their sorrow for the sad dispensation which had called them together.  The services were opened with a voluntary upon the organ, followed with an appropriate quartette by members of the Norwich choir who had kindly consented to aid in that department of the memorial exercises.  This was followed by reading from God's Word, by the M.E. pastor, Mr. Albert Loomis, after which Rev. C.C. Williams invoked the Divine blessing.  After singing again, Rev. L.H. Kinn, D.D., commenced his sermon from the following appropriate test:  Philippians, 3:13--"But this one thing I do."  The distinguished gentleman delivered a most able and eloquent sermon, appropriate to the occasion using many clear and forcible illustrations, suited to the text, of the grand and honored success which has crowned the efforts of the class of one idea man, who had but one object in life, and to that was given their untiring and undivided attention; and occasionally referring feelingly to the life and service of the deceased, while in the ministry.  He compared Mr. Bullock's ministerial life with that of St. Paul; that since his early conversion, the many years of his life has been spent in successfully preaching the gospel; that he shone in the church as a light in the world, and held forth the word of life, in the circle in which he moved by an open profession of evangelical truth connected with a holy life.

After concluding his sermon, which was listened to with untiring attention, he read a historical memorandum of the deceased, which had bene prepared for the occasion.   The Rev. Daniel Bullock was born in Norway, Herkimer County, in the year 1806, his age at his death, 73.  At the age of 25 he experienced a miraculous conversion at Hancock. Soon after, seeing that he displayed the true missionary spirit, and became deeply interested in the salvation of other souls than his own he was licensed to exhort.  In the year 1836, he was ordained Deacon in New York City, by the bishop of the M.E. Church, and was subsequently admitted as member of the conference. Meanwhile he was married to Miss Mary Ann Johnson of Sidney.  He then resumed his labors in Tyringham, Mass., where he had preached during the preceding year.  In 1837 he went to Middletown, N.Y.  In 1838, to Charlotte; in 1839, to Deposit; in 1840, to Jefferson Circuit; in 1842, to Winham; in 1843, again to Middletown; and again in the year 1844, to Charlotte.  In 1845, his health gave way, and being unable to continue preaching he located in Sidney and followed his new vocation--farming.  Fourteen years after he sold his farm and moved to Bainbridge, where he entered in partnership with his brother, Capt. D.D. Bullock in the mercantile business, which business he followed for three years, occasionally preaching during the time.  In the year, 1862, he left this and bought a farm on which he spent three years of retired life.  In 1865-6, he preached in Triangle as a supply under Presiding Elder William Cobb of Oneida Conference.  In 1867-8-9, he resided in Greene, but meanwhile preached in Coventry.  Thence he went to Kings Settlement where he remained two years, supplying that and the charge in North Norwich. After that he took up his residence in the latter place, and continued to supply both places as before, it being the last work he done in the ministry.  having bought a small farm near the village, he devoted the last few years of his life at his home on the farm.  Since 1874, he had suffered from the effects of a cancer which caused his death. During the many years of ministerial work in the vineyard of his Master about five thousand souls have been converted under his powerful preaching--an average of one hundred a year.  Just before departing from this life, he said to friends who stood near his bedside, "that he disclaimed all merits of his own, and trusted in the merits of his Savior only."

Mr. King was followed by other eminent ministers from abroad, who devoted considerable time in giving to the life and service of the deceased the most glowing tribute that can be paid to departed worth, "That he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith."  Before services the members of the choir met to practice at the parlor of Per Lee Shaw where kind hospitalities were meted out to them.

[Compiler note:  Rev. Daniel Bullock, his wife Mary Ann Johnson, daughters Clarissa & Mary, and brother Dyer D. bullock are buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY.]

Dr. Andrew Baker

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 16, 1863

It is our melancholy duty this week to record the decease of Dr. Andrew Baker, one of our most highly respected citizens, and a physician and surgeon of deserved eminence in his profession.  He expired at his residence in this place [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] on Monday last, the 14th inst., aged 58 years.  Dr. Baker came to this village, from Steuben county, not far from 25 years ago, and through his talents and skill, aided somewhat by the friendship and patronage of the late Dr. Henry Mitchell, soon acquired a wide and successful practice.  He devoted himself exclusively and zealously to his profession, and throughout his life maintained a high rank among its members.  He was an amiable, generous, accomplished Christian gentleman, and dies universally esteemed and lamented.  he leaves a large family of children to deplore his loss.

George L. Rider

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 16, 1863

Death of George L. Rider:  This venerable and widely known citizen of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] departed this life at his residence in this village on Sunday morning last, aged 71 years.  He was one of the early settlers of the place, and by his intelligence and enterprise, greatly contributed to its prosperity and growth. As the just reward of his integrity and exertion, he accumulated something more than a competence of this world's goods, and dies with the respect and attachment of his fellow townsmen, and of all who knew him.  Mr. R. was a prominent and active member of the fraternity of Masons, by whom his remains were consigned with appropriate ceremonies to the dust.

Sylvester Humphrey

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 16, 1863

The death of Sylvester Humphrey occurred at his residence in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] on the 5th of November, aged 77 years, after a short but decisive illness.  Mr.  Humphrey came from Greene County to Guilford, nearly thirty years ago, and became identified with the building of the Oxford and Butternuts Turnpike Road, of which he at a later day became the sole owner.  He possessed to a marked degree sterling integrity, together with an indomitable fixedness of purpose, which characteristics attended every transaction of his life.  He early connected himself with the Democratic party, to the principles and interest of which  he ever maintained an undeviating adherence.  He had held the office of Supervisor of his town, as well as other minor offices, within the gift of his townsmen.  He lived to see grown to manhood a large and intelligent family, most of whom had became settlers in the distant South and West.