Vital Records, Oxford, NY, March 1859

 Oxford Times, March 2, 1859

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th ult. by J.C. Ransom, Mr. George H. Randall of Wellsborough, Pa., to Mrs. Elsa Styles of Oxford.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult. Mrs. Lucy [Morse], wife of Benjamin Morse, aged 81 years.

Died:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th ult. Mr. Isaac N. Angell, aged 79 years.

Oxford Times, March 9, 1859

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Clark Holdridge of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Hannah M. Matteson of Oxford.

Married:  In Coventryville [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 9th, by Rev. Mr. Cornwall, Mr. Oscar R. Pearsall of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Marion A. Benedict of the former place.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult., by Rev. Mr. Patterson, Mr. William S. Blivin to Miss Philena S. Smith, both of Preston [Chenango Co., NY]

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst. Mr. Lewis Derrick, aged 30 years.

Died:  At Beloit, Wis. Feb. 15, 1859, Polly [Williams], wife of Mr. John A. Williams, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], aged 47 years, 6 mo and 11 days.

Oxford Times, March 16, 1859

Married:  In German [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by Rev. N.D. Wilkins, Mr. John N. Dillinbeck to Miss Mary C. Tice, all of German.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., Mr. John Davidson, Jr., aged 41 years.

Died:  In German [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 18, Mr. Asa Shattuck, aged 75 years.

Burned to Death:  We learn that Elizabeth Bussy of Sandford [Broome Co., NY], about four miles from this village, was burned to death by her clothes taking fire on the 3d inst.  The girl was about 11 years old; her parents were absent, visiting a brother's children, who were sick and this girl, with three others younger than herself, were left at home, and while she was at work about the stove about 9 A.M., her clothes caught fire, when she ran out of the house to put it out with snow, but as soon as the door was opened, the wind, which was high, blew the fire into a blaze all over her, and although the school mistress of the district ran to her assistance and folded her in a blanket as soon as possible, Dr. OT. Bundy, who was immediately sent for, informs us that her skin was burned to a crisp all over her body, except where her skirts were fastened about the waist. She lingered in great agony until about 7 P.M., the same evening, being perfectly sensible all the time.  Deposit Democrat.

Child Burnt to Death!  We learn that a little girl about 10 years of age, daughter of Mr. Nelson Edwards, living five or six miles from this village, near Morris [Otsego Co., NY], was burnt to death on Saturday, during the temporary absence of her mother form the house.  Her clothing acciently took fire, by some means unknown, and on the mother's return she found the crisp and blackened remains of her poor little girl lying on the floor of a bedroom, where she had crawled in her agony, entirely lifeless, and so disfigured as not be be recognized.  New Berlin Pioneer.

Oxford Times, March 23,  1859

Married:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst., by the Rev. A. T. Matteson, Mr. Carol Lathrop and Miss Lovisa Norris, both of Smithville.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst., Mary [Hiller], widow of Wing Hiller, aged 80 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Sylvenus [Rice], only son of Robert E. and Ruth E. Rice, aged 1 year and 11 months.

Died:  At the residence of his son, Uri Osgood, In Juliet, Ill. on the 15th inst. Luther Osgood, late of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].

Oxford Times, March 30, 1859

Married:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by Rev. B.S. Williams, Mr. George R. Thompson of Plymouth, to Miss Mary A. Reed of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. suddenly  Mrs. Relief Slater, widow of the late Capt. Joseph Slater, aged 80 years.

Died:  In Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], on the 7th inst. Mrs. Raby Whitman, wife of Randall Whitman, aged 103 years.

Died:  In Triangle [Broome Co., NY], on the 16th inst. Mrs. L.C. Spencer, wife of the late Dr. G. L Spencer, aged 63 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. Mrs. Cole, wife of Mr. Leonard Cole.

Died:  Also, on the 17th inst. Mr. John Pachin, aged 79 years.

Oxford Times, March 2, 1879

Death of Henry Barnes, Jr A.B.:  On Thursday last, our community were called to mourn the death of one of our most valuable citizens, Henry Barnes, Jr. Principal of the Oxford Academy. The Sunday before, Mr. Barnes spoke of singular sensations to his immediate friends.  Monday, disease exhibited fearful and rapid progress, tending to the head, taking possession of the brain reducing its victim wholly to its sway, and baffling by its vagueness and complicity all efforts to arrest its course, until its fatal termination.  Mental aberration succeeded, but his wanderings were towards his scholars and was developed to the last, in a sad but admirable anxiety for those whose educational interests had so recently occupied his time and energies.  His age was thirty.

Mr. Barnes had nearly completed his second term as Principal of the Academy, securing the increasing respect and affections of his scholars, and the confidence of the community.  He was earnest, active and persevering in season and out of season, and his scholars and their welfare, and his school and its success, were foremost in his mind, engrossed his thoughts, and nerved him with an energy and an enthusiasm which were felt by all, who came within the circle of his influence. To the usual routine of the class recitation, Mr. Barnes frequently added the duties of a public lecturer, with a grace, beauty and strength which much enlarged the sphere of his usefulness, and enabled him at the same time to instruct parent and child.  Many will recollect the appropriate address with which he commenced his labors among us, and the question "wither bound!" its burden and its theme, which he has so soon and so solemnly answered,  in his own case, will recur with tenfold earnestness to those so lately sitting as his disciples.  How all unguessed his death, it seems but yesterday that with eye flashing with joy and a heart throbbing with patriotic emotion, he invited us to join at the Academy, in honoring the Washington Anniversary.  But when it came, the closed halls of the Academy, the darkened windows, the useless festal wreaths and the hush of music, were sadly eloquent with impending sorrow.  His funeral was attended at the Presbyterian Chruch, Sunday afternoon, by a large concourse, and the services were unusually solemn and impressive.  He sleeps embalmed in the tears of faithful, loving scholars, and sorrow stricken parents, and the solemn question, "whither bound," has ere this, we trust, found for him a joyful response in Heaven.