Vital Records from July/August 1850

 Oxford Times, July 3, 1850

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., Elizabeth C. [Brown], wife of Mr. Roswell S. Brown, aged 23 years.

Oxford Times, July 10, 1850

Death from lightning:  During the severe thunder storm which occurred on Tuesday last, a barn in the town of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY] was struck by lightning.  There were six persons in the barn at the time, three of whom, who happened to stand near a post which conducted the fluid to the ground, were struck.  Two of them were instantly killed, and the other died the next day. We have not learned the names of the deceased, except one, which was Thompson.

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by the Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Milo L. Cook to Miss Samantha Shipman both of German [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on the 6th inst. Mr. James W. Ingersoll, aged 23 years.

Oxford Times, July 24, 1850

Mr. Berthier M. Smith, who was so badly burned by the explosion of fireworks in Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] a few weeks ago, died on Tuesday evening last, from the effects of his injuries.  He lingered in great agony, and previous to his death, the flesh rotted from his arms and portions of his body.  Telegraph.

Oxford Times, July 31, 1850

Married:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., by Rv. M.M. Tuke, Mr. Luther Curtiss of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Wrexavill French of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 23d inst., Mrs. Charlotte Harris, wife of Dr. Blin Harris, aged 63 years.

Oxford Times, August 7, 1850

Married:  In South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult., by Rev. Mr. Carver, Enos Johnson, Jr., Esq., to Miss Huldah R. Warner, both of Otselic.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., Sarah C. Fish, daughter of L.W. and P.P. Fish, aged 7 eyars and 9 months.

Oxford Times, August 14, 1850

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] on the 7th inst., by the Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Olney J. Harrington of Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], to Miss Laura A. Sperry of the former place.

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on the 8th inst., by Rev. A.W. Bruce, Mr. Orrin Wood to Miss Sarah Bancroft, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Louisville, Otsego Co., June 30th, by the same, Mr. Allen Hoag to Miss Respie Hunt, both of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., by the Rev. H. Callahan, Mr. Lucius J. Weaver of Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Susan Hough of Preston.

Married:  At Vallonia Springs [Broome Co., NY], by Rev. W.M. Hoyt, Mr. William G. Shifter to  Miss Mary Carrington, both of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Mr. Francis Balcom, aged 83 years.  The deceased is the last of the first settlers of this village, being one of the many who cut the first road, as well as to help put up the first framed house in this place.  It can be truly said of him he always sustained an honest character.  He died as easy death, with a hope of changing worlds for the better.

Oxford Times, August 21, 1850

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on the 15th inst. by the Rev. S. Hansen Cox, Mr. John R. Clarke to Miss Elizabeth W. Glover, all of this village.

Married:  At Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., by the Rev. F. Rogers, Augustus Willard, M.D. to Miss Laura Perry, daughter of Dea. John Perry of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY]

Oxford Times, August 28, 1850

Married:  In St. Paul's Chruch, Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., by the Rev. S. Hanson Coke, Oliver W. Himrod, of New York, to Mary J. [Cruttenden]; also D.W. Clinton Clapp of New York, to P. Agnes [Cruttenden], both daughters of Lyman Cruttenden, of Oxford.

Married:  At Sidney Plains [Delaware Co., NY], on the 14th inst., by Rev. Mr. Fish, J.E. Owens, Esq., of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dies, of the former place.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., Ruthany [Potter] daughter of Benjamin and Lucretia Potter, aged 8 months.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst., of inflammatory Rheumatism, Col. Otis J. Tracy, aged about 53 years.  The deceased was a son of the late Hon. Uri Tracy, was born in Oxford, and has always resided in Chenango County.  Unassuming in his manners and retiring in his habits, he instinctively shrunk from the strife and turmoil incident to political life.  He was however for several successive years Supervisor of his native town, and discharged the duties of the office with ability and fidelity.  He was a good husband, a kind father, a true friend, a worthy citizen and an honest man.  While his talents and integrity commanded the respect and esteem of all, the kindly sympathies of his manly heart endeared him to a large circle of friends by strong and endearing ties.  he was patient under trials, forgiving, merciful and magnanimous.  Those who have enjoyed his hospitality and have seen the exhibitions of the generous impulses and kindly emotions of his noble nature, can attest to the sincerity and dignified simplicity which characterized the dispensations of his unostentatious charities.  He was emphatically a peace maker and a philanthropist, and he delighted to devote the energies of his benevolent mind to calm the tempests of strife, to remove the elements of discord and restore to order and harmony what passion and prejudice had disjointed and sundered. Wherever probity and sterling integrity are held in estimation, such men will be highly prized while living, and deeply lamented when dead; and however painful the loss, it is truly grateful to those who mourn his departure to feel the assurance that he has gone where the benevolent and the humane, the magnanimous and the merciful, the peacemaker and the just receive an appropriate reward.