Vital Records - October 1855

 Oxford Times, October 2, 1855

Married:  At Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 27, by Laman ingersoll, Esq., Mr. Warren B. Decker to Miss Desiah Martindale, both of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  At Albany [NY], Sept. 13th, J. Stacy Phelon, formerly student of Oxford Academy, aged 29 years.

Death of Doct. Wm. P. Holmes:  Dr. Holmes was a son of the late Hon. Silas Holmes of Plymouth, Chenango Co. [NY].  His father by some misfortune lost his property, and the Doctor determined and resolute, taught school to procure means to defray the expenses of his education at the Oxford Academy, during which time he became intimate with a Physician in this village, and expressed a desire to prepare  himself for the practice of medicine, and the means being the only obstacle in the way, which was at once advanced, on barely the confidence well established in his honesty, perseverance and fidelity.  He commenced the study of Medicine in 1836, attended Lectures at Philadelphia in 1837 and 8, and at New York in 1838 and 9, graduating in April 1839, practiced medicine in this village until the spring of 1841, when he emigrated to Chautauqua County, being indebted for the means to procure his education nearly two thousand dollars.  Always considering his whole professional services in honor bound to pay that debt, as he expressed in one of his letters on that subject, "Myself and wife (who fully cooperates with me) are determined to deprive ourselves of all luxuries, expending barely what is necessary for our subsistence until that debt is paid, considering it as we do a debt of honor, only hoping that my life may be spared till I can procure the means to accomplish so desirable an object."  That object was fully accomplished on the 1st day of January inst.

As a student, industrious, persevering, never surrendering, but determined to perfectly understand the most intricate parts and when through, ready to answer any questions pertaining thereto and defend his positions with logic that would have done honor to those of riper years.  As a friend he was true, faithful, discreet and always ready to risk his own life and reputation if there was a greater probability of saving that of a friend, than of losing his own. As a physician, few commence the practice of Medicine as well qualified, and still less improve on those qualifications and arrive to the pinnacle of fame in one of the most intricate important and honorable professions, in the short space of 19 years from the commencement of his studies.

Doctor Holmes died at Mayville, Chautauqua County, on the 14th of Sept. inst. of dysentery, the fatality of the disease evidently being produced by extreme devotion to his profession, while in the incipient stages.  The citizens of Mayville realizing the loss they have all suffered held a public meeting to cooperate with each other to induce some eminent physician to supply his place. This we fear they will not be able to accomplish.

Oxford Times, October 9, 1855

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday the 4th inst., of croup, Anna Glover [Van Wagenen], daughter of William Van Wagenen, Esq., aged 2 years and 10 days.

Oxford Times, October 16, 1855

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th Sept. by Rev. H. Gee, Mr. Alonso Fowler to Miss Lydia Packard, both of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Sheldon Bolles to Miss Eveline Armstrong.

Married:  On the 27th Sept. by the Rev. Henry A. Neeley of Utica, N.Y., at the residence of Mrs. A. Mitchell, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, Henry S. Monroe, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Mattie Mitchell of Chicago.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., Miss Hannah Cary aged 53(?) years.  The subject of this notice was the daughter of the late Amon Cary, deceased, an early settler in this town, and one of the pioneers of this village.   Born in those earlier and purer days, when accomplishments consisted in the art and tact of usefulness, and the display of them in being useful, educated and nourished in the faith and practice of those days, she early learned what were the duties of life, and its stern struggles and realities, and gave her days and her strength to the discharge of those duties heroically conquering those struggles and rendering as pleasant as possible those realities.  A native goodness and nobleness of heart, cultivated and enlarged by the pure and mild precepts of Christianity led her to place a small estimate upon herself and her own importance.  To others, to their comfort, happiness and enjoyment, she gave her days and nights, her care, her strength, her toil and her life.  In their joys she participated and helped to render them doubly sweet; with and for them, she wept and sought by every means in her power to bind up and soothe the bleeding, aching heart.  To acting well and faithfully the part assigned her by Providence in the great battle of human life, she early in the spring time of her existence, gave herself unreservedly, and nobly did she carry out her purpose and fulfill her destiny.  Hers was indeed a life of usefulness, a journey checkered by alternate joys and sorrows, tears and smiles, a lease with the terms of which she had to the best of her ability, faithfully complied, was prepared at its expiration to surrender it, and was quietly and peacefully "gathered to her father.", having the testimony of a good conscience in the communion of the Catholic Chruch, in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a reasonable religious and holy hope, in favor with God and in perfect charity with the world.

Oxford Times, October 24, 1855

Married:  In the Baptist church, in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], by the Rev. N. Ripley, Mr. Charles H. Cooke of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Theresa M. Bradley, of Oxford.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst. by the Rev. F. Rogers, Mr. Charles B. Wheeler, of Whitney's Point, Broome Co., to Miss Permelia [Carter], daughter of John W. Carter, Esq., of Greene.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on 18th inst., Mrs. Maryette [Daniels], wife of Stephen Daniels, aged 27 years.

Died:  In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst., David F. Smith, aged 46 years.

Died:  In Liberia, Africa, Aug. 13, 1855, Miss Sarah Maria Reynolds Breed, daughter of Levi Breed of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], aged 22 years, who had been for four years a Missionary Teacher in Moravia. 

Oxford Times, October 31, 1855

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., Mrs. Fanny Fray, aged 73 years.

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d inst., Mr. William Randall, aged 27 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on 24th inst., Mr. Henry Wheeler, aged 73 years.

Died:  At Portsmouth, Ohio, on the 19th inst., Chas. Oscar Tracy.  He was the son of the Hon. Uri Tracy, and was born at Oxford, Chenango County, N.Y., on the 22d August 1804.  He was educated at Oxford, and studied law in the office of Henry VanDerlyn, in the years 1823 and 1824, when he removed to Portsmouth and finished his studies in the office of his brother, Samuel Miles Tracy.  Endowed with shining talents, and great kindness of heart, he soon became distinguished for the extent of his professional knowledge, his integrity and his manly eloquence.  Without vanity of ostentation, he acted the part of a Christian, ever foremost in works of charity and kindness. The sordid worship of mammon never entered his mind; but he sought for the treasures of a better world; and found through a busy and active life, that happiness which all pursue, but which is allotted only to the children of God. The goodness of his heart overshadowed the brilliancy of his genius, and rendered him the comforter of every age, and the beloved of every circle.  Mr. Tracy was one of Oxford's noblest sons, and he has left to his native place, the example of his virtuous life, and the memory of his honored and unblemished name. This generous son of humanity has closed his earthly career; supported in the agonies of death with the Divine consolation that the grave is the portal of eternal life and happiness, to all who have loved God, and kept his commandments.  His early instructor pays this sad tribute of respect and affection, to the memory of his distinguished and beloved pupil.