Vital Records - September 1856

 Oxford Times, September 3, 1856

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult., by Rev. H. Callahan, Mr. Leonard Read to Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary Ann Torry of Greene [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on 27th ult., by Rev. H. Callahan, Mr. Egbert Babcock of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Laura Ann Stanley of Preston.  

Oxford Times, September 10, 1856

Married:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 7th inst. by Rev. N. Ripley, Mr. Joseph Pike of Colesville [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Clarinda M. Lyon of West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY].

Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 11, 1856

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., by Rev. J. Abercrombie, Mr. Daniel B. Bullock to Delta, Oneida Co., to Miss Helen L. Chapel, of Norwich.

Married:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst. at the house of Daniel Dodge, by Rev. A. Queal, Mr. Thomas E. Anthony to Miss Sarah J. Dodge, both of the above place.

Married:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. J.A. Davis, Mr. George B. Throop, to Miss Martha Crumb, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  Drowned, in the canal, in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Horace [Fredenburgh], son of John and Adaline Fredenburgh, aged 8 years, 10 months and 21 days.

When the sun rises in splendor, who may tell if the day shall be light, who knoweth the lurking places of the clouds which in a brief hour may obscure the sky?  If the plant bad, who can tell if it shall blossom?  Who can read in the eyes of a child if he shall tread the dubious pathway of life up to manhood, or if in a few short years a little delay sown turf shall be all that is left "of the little boy that died!"

To watch for death by the bedside of a sick child, to hold its little hand in yours, to listen to its words, to perform tenderly for it the last sad offices, when expectation of death has partially blinded the pang, is agonizing to a parent's heart.  But how much more deplorable the event when unlooked for, unforeseen, when the beloved child, in full health, is suddenly called away, as in the case of our friends who have been called to mourn the loss of their child.

The deceased, though a child, possessed many of the qualities which are common to some of more mature years. General and obliging to his companions, kind and affectionate to his parents, he was a favorite with all.  Little did he think as he repaired to his boat, on the morning which he was drowned, that a ride in it would occasion his death, and so soon!  But such is life, in the midst of which we are in death.

"Little Horace," will be missed by his associates.  They will remember their little companion for many a day.  Often will tears steal to their eyes as they think of his sad fate; but chiefly will the sorrow for his loss fall upon his parents' hearts.  It is a loneliness which makes the heart ache, to miss the dear little child whose presence shall cheer the home no more.  Yet it is an everyday grief.  He who has said "Suffer little children to come unto me," is daily gathering them home to  his arms.  Then weep not and [--portion unreadable--] but how richly fraught with varied incidents which if brought to mind, will be as bright and shining lights to guide the brother and sisters he left.  No more will he be seen on earth, but he is with immortal spirits in that land where sin and death so common to our world can never enter.

How peaceful, how sweet, and how soothing the thought, / To the stricken and mourning, whose minds are full fraught, / With memories of loved ones, who here could not stay, /That in bright worlds above they're with Jesus alway.

Died:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult., Mrs. Louis Hinman, aged 75 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult., Mrs. Sarah Fuller, aged 73 years.

Died:  in Willet [Cortland Co., NY], on the 8th inst., Mrs. Abigail Pember(?) aged 64 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., very suddenly in child birth, Ruth K. [Baker],  wife of Dr Andrew Baker, in the 43d year of her age.

Oxford Times, September 17, 1856

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th, by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. DeForest Johnson of West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Ednah J. Barthlomew, of Oxford.

Married:  In Canajoharie [Montgomery Co. NY], Sept. 8th, by the Rev. S. Comfort, Mr. Peleg Ashcraft of Preston [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Mary D. Tillotson of the former place.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] on the 12tyh inst., Mr. James Purdy, aged 65 years.

Mr. John Jacox of South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], a young man about 22 years of age, was found dead Saturday afternoon in a Buzz Saw Machine Shop in that village, in which he had been employed as a workman.  The balance wheel was found to be broken and, it is supposed the deceased had in some manner received a fatal blow from some part of the deranged machinery.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 18, 1856

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., by Rev. E.D. Thurston, Mr. Hiram P Hovey of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Susan C. Gordon, of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  At Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY], on the 13th inst., Mr. Horace D. Hibbard to Miss Eunice Hazard, both of Willet, Cortland Co. [NY].

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst., Mrs. Phebe Kendall, aged 64 years.

Oxford Times, September 24, 1856

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst., by the Rev. H. Gee, Mr. Israel Burroughs to Miss Lucy C. Warner.

Married:  Also, by the same, Mr. David Sherwood to Miss Rosannah Warner, all of Greene [Chenango Co., NY].

"There is a reaper whose name is Death, / And with his sickle keen, / He eats the bearded grain with a breath, / And the flowers that grow between."

Died:  In Buffalo [NY], on Tuesday morning, Sept. 16th, on his homeward journey from the West, Mr. Elias Bolles, aged 72 years.  Mr. Bolles was born in Middle Haddam, Conn., in Jan. 1784, but for many years has been a resident of this State, and for 25 years a much esteemed citizen of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].  The religion he revered was the rule of his daily life, his word was ample security for anything with those who knew him, and his promises were sacred and inviolate.  He leaves to his family that most precious legacy, a name sustained to continuously an example of spotless integrity and honor; while the best and truest memorial love could desire.  "An honest man, the noblest work of God."

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 4th, Mr. Ira Bradley, aged 69 years.

Chenango American, September 25, 1856

Married:  In Clarkville, Madison Co., [NY], Sept. 11th, by Rev. J. Clark, Mr. E. Philo of Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N.Y. to Miss Cordelia S. Clark, of the former place.

Died:  In Willet [Cortland Co., NY], on the 14th inst., Mr. Silas Courtney, aged 50 years.

Died:  In the village of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst., at the residence of her son-in-law, C.A. Stevens, Mrs. Sarah Gurnsey, relict of Samuel Gurnsey of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], deceased, aged 81 years.

In the decease of this estimable lady, noticed in the obituary department of last week, something more would seem to be due than the slight reference therein given.  She had attained to advanced age and was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of this valley. As the writer of this sketch stood by the grave in which her mortal remains were to be deposited, a friend stood near him, whose memory of the deceased ran back through a period of over fifty years.  He spoke warmly of her noble qualities of character, which shone out even to the last of her mortal existence. Through a very long portion of the closing years of her life, she had been a sufferer through pains and infirmities of body, but her intellect retained its clearness unbroken to the last.  She bore with meekness the chastening hand of God, but longed to depart to her home in Heaven.  Deep was the interest she felt and manifested in her spiritual welfare.  In her case age had not blunted those religious feelings and affections which look to Christ and the hopes that centre in his cross.  Many and marked were the changes in social life, as well as in the aspect of the natural world in the progress of cultivation, which she had witnessed. She had seen most of those whom in this early home she had known as neighbors and friends pass away before her.  And the time had come to her, long before her departure, that she had realized the force of the language of the Psalmist, "though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow."  Her spirit passed gently away beneath the roof of a kind and devoted daughter where every attention had been bestowed upon her that filial love could suggest, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness."