Vital Records - December 1852

 Oxford Times, December 1, 1852

Married:  In Guilford [Chenango co., NY], on the 16th ult., by Rev. A.B. Jones, Mr. George Blanchard to Miss Mary Nusom, both of Triangle, Broome Co. [NY].

Oxford Times, December 8, 1852

Afflicting Event:  Major John V.N. Locke, son of C.F.T. Locke of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], dazzled with the dream of the golden region in July last left his comfortable home in Oxford to realize his vision of wealth in California.  He escaped the perils of the voyage, and arrived in safety in San Francisco.  Fortune favored his efforts.  He saw the glittering pile accumulate and looked with fond anticipation to his happy return to wife and children.  Alas, vain hope!  On the 17th October, between Stockton and the mines while driving a loaded team, the mules took fright, precipitating the young man to the earth, where the wheels of the wagon passing over him, terminated his existence and all his golden hopes.  His death makes a widow of his once happy wife, renders fatherless two lovely children  and fills with desolation and sorrow the mansion of his worthy parents.  Young Locke was esteemed for many virtues; and they left a large circle of friends to deplore his untimely end.  He expired in his 22d year.

Died:  In the town of Willet [Cortland Co., NY], on the 1st instant, Mrs. Mary Willcox, wife of Mr. Simon H. Willcox, aged 67 years.

Died:  At his residence i Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., Mr. Eleazer H. Fitch, after a short illness, in the 55th year of his age.

Oxford Times, December 15, 1852

Died:  In Jacksonville, Florida, on 29th Nov. of a brief illness, Ira Willcox, of this place (Oxford, Chenango Co.) merchant aged 64 years.  The deceased occupied a prominent position in society.  His death is viewed as a public calamity and is universally deplored.  Mr. Willcox was born in Durham, Green County, New York, the 22d August 1788(?).  He commenced business as a merchant in the county of his birth, where he resided until 1812 or 1813.  He then removed to Norwich, and soon after made his home in Oxford, where he lived until his death, 39 years.  Mr. Willcox served his county as a Member of Assembly for the session in 1831  In 1830 he was elected President of Bank of Chenango, which place he continued to fill while he lived.  The deceased was a man of strong mind, great energy of character, and of persevering industry.  These qualities soon enabled their possessor to acquire a fortune.  In 1840, he retired with ample means, from the business of merchandize, and devoted himself for the residue of life to the care of his invalid wife and to the liberal dispensation of his wealth to the want of the poor, the Chruch and the good of community.

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the morning of the 13th inst., by Rev. A.S. Graves, Mr. Thomas Bishop of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Eliza A. Ingersoll of Oxford.  

Married:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. by E.B Dimmick, Esq., Mr. Leroy Paugh of Plymouth, to Miss Mary Shaver of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY]

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., Ann Jane King, daughter of the late Thomas J. King, aged 15 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 7th inst., Robert [Loomis], son of Vincent and Betsey Loomis, of Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], aged 2 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 1st inst., Hannah W. [Avery], wife of Mr. Stephen L. Avery, formerly of Oxford, aged 36 years.

Oxford Times, December 22, 1852

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., by Rev. F. Rogers, Mr Richard H. Hodge of Greene, to Miss Cornelia [Smith], daughter of John Smith Esq., of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., by Rev. A.G. Burlingame, Mr. Uriah Waterman of Lisle [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Louisa Chapman of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1th inst., Mr. James Derby of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], to Miss Mary Bishop of Greene.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th Nov. Mr. Henry Beals, in the 62d year of his age, after an illness of about two weeks, occasioned by a fall from a building.

Doed:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst., Mr. Andrew J. Moore, aged 33 years.

Oxford Times, December 29, 1852

The remains of the late Ira Willcox were brought to this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on Thursday last, and were interred from his late residence on Friday, in the beautiful rural Cemetery which had been improved and adorned by his own hands. The plot which received him is enclosed by a neat iron fence, and is marked by a marble obelisk erected several years since over the tombs of a deceased wife and children.  The funeral was attended by his neighbors and former friends and by the Directors of the Bank Institution over which he presided for many years.  An impressive funeral discourse was preached on Sabbath morning by Rev. Henry Callahan, Pastor of the Presbyterian Chruch.  Mr. Willcox had given his attention and united his assiduous labors with those of his townsmen for many years to promote the growth of the village and increase and enlarge its business.  During that time, the officers which adorn and the enterprises which improve it have been in great part erected and aspired by the [benefit] of his counsels and personal labors.  His enterprise and public spirit have been so identified with the growth of Oxford as to be inseparable from its early and mature history.  Besides the enterprises to which he engaged for private business and profit, institutions of education, religion and charity were promoted by him with unflagging zeal.  His death is deplored not only by a large circle of relatives and family friends, but by the entire body of citizens of Oxford as a great and irreparable public calamity.  One by one the early citizen of Oxford are being gathered to their fathers and after a few more strokes of the relentless destroyer, their places will be left (perhaps unfilled) to [newer] generations.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., by Rev. Wm. Reddy, Mr. Alphonzo M. Bennett of Homer [Cortland Co., NY] to Miss Diana M. Mandyville of Colesville [Broome Co., NY].

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th inst. by Eli Willcox, Esq., Mr. Oscar F. Bradley of Preston [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary Houghton of Oxford.

Married: In S...., Oneida Co., on the 19th(?) inst., by Rev. Mr. ...., Henry M. Hyde Esq. of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Jane G. Priest(?) of the former place.

Died:  In New Berlin Centre on the 10th inst.,Adelaine B [Harris], youngest daughter of John Harris, age 21(?) years.