Vital Records, Greene, NY - March 7, 1861

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, March 7, 1861

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. by Rev. L. Wright, J.I. Denison of Norwich, Ct., to Miss Frances M. Breed, of the former place.

Died:  At Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY], on the 24th ult. Ida [Walker], youngest daughter of Scovell and Mary Walker, aged 21 months.  "She is not dead, but sleepeth."

"God looked among his cherub band, / And one was wanting there, / To swell along the holy land / the hymns of praise and prayer. / One little soul which long had been / Half way 'tween earth and sky, / Untempted in a world of sin, / He watched with loving eye. / It was too promising a flower / To bloom upon this earth, / And God did give it angel power / And bright celestial birth. / The world was all too bleak and cold / To yield it quiet rest. / God brought it to his shepherd fold, / And laid it on his breast. / There, mother, in thy Saviour's arms, / Forever undefiled, / Amid the little cherub band, / Is thy beloved child."

Died:  At  his father's residence in this town, on the 20th ult. Mr. George E. Burrows, aged 30 years.  He has been prostrated three years with a acrofulous disease, the last two of which he has been enabled to bear his sufferings with patience in hope, through faith in Jesus, of that country where the inhabitant never says "I am sick;" and particularly for the last few weeks his Bible has been his companion and he has delighted to converse of the love of Christ, saying that it was "his meat and drink;" and when struggling with the last enemy, he said "he was happy" in answer to questions from friends.

Railroad Accident - The Other Victim:  We regret to announce the death of Mr. James Tripp, the engineer who was scalded by the late accident on the N.Y. & Erie R.R. near this place last week.  Mr. Tripp was supposed to be recovering rapidly during the past few days, and until yesterday (the 26th) was not considered to be in much danger and today (the 27th) died at about half past 11 A.M.  Mr. Tripp was an engineer of much ability, and had been in the employ of this road about 9 years, during which time he had narrowly escaped with his life by a collision of trains.  he has a family at Owego [Tioga Co., NY], a daughter had been with him, at the Lewis House, up to the time of his death.  Binghamton Democrat.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, March 14, 1861

Died:  In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., Mr. Stoddard S. Nichols, aged 45 years.  Thus has passed away one of our most esteemed and valuable citizens in the prime of life.  The subject of this notice was a man of high and honorable bearings and principles; true in his friendships, intelligent in mind, of sound judgment, well informed, and courteous in his spirit towards all with whom he was brought in contact.  He would seem to have been fitted for positions calling into requisition a different class of intellectual powers from those which business develops.  Through a protracted sickness his bearing was that of calm courage, fortitude and submission to the divine decree.  The thought has often occurred to the writer of this, how much truth there was in the remark of Longfellow, "We often think a person cold when he is only sad and suffering."  Mr. N. suffered from long continued depression, resulting from the taxing and exhausting influence of deep and protracted disease. But with all the anguish resulting from the prostration of physical energies and the blighting of earthly hopes, he yet bore up with wonderful strength of purpose and at no time with higher or calmer resolve than as the shades of death were gathering over his wasted brow.  We shall miss him in all enterprises where public spirit is required, and in all the valued associations of our village life.  We rejoice to know that as life was closing he reached forth for strength in trusting to the merit of atoning blood, and that in divine strength he passed through the dark valley and that he now rests in peace beneath the shadow of the ever sheltering cross.  

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst. Julia Ernestine [Sumner], daughter of Dr. C.G. Sumner, aged 4 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., Mrs. Mehitable Church, relict of John W. Church, aged 82 years.

It is with sincere and profound grief that we record the decease of Stoddard S. Nichols, of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].  Mr. Nichols has been for a number of years one of our most valuable citizens and his loss will be severely felt in our midst.  Though not unexpected, Mr. Nichols having for a long time been a sufferer from an insidious disease, yet this blow is heavy and not soon to be forgotten.  His many virtues, and rare traits of character, had won for him the esteem and respect of an entire community, who deeply mourn his loss.  Much as they miss his familiar face and his friendly counsels and advice in business associations, and social intercourse; with how much more sorrow and loneliness will he be missed from the home which he loved with a father's affection and a husband's fond devotion  In this deep and overwhelming bereavement, made doubly acute by the recent sudden death of a bright and beautiful boy, the invalided widow, and fatherless children have the warmest sympathy of a large circle of friends.  Surely the dark wing of the Angel of Death has cast a gloomy shadow over this afflicted household, and they have been compelled to drink deeply from the bitter cup of desolation.  May they be blessed with sufficient grace and strength to bow in meek submission to the Supreme mandate, and to be patient and resigned under their great sorrow.  The obituary remarks in another column, penned by a friend who watched by the bedside of the deceased in his later hours, and whose high privilege it was to administer the consolations of a hope beyond the grave, to the patient sufferer, are a fitting tribute to the memory of our departed friend.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, March 21, 1861

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., by Rev. M. B. Cleveland, Mr. John B. Benedict, to Miss Annis Dalrymple, both of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Upper lisle [Broome Co., NY], on the 12th inst., by Rev. H. Lyman, Mr. E.S. Weld, Editor of the Marathon People's Journal, to Miss Virena Austin, of the former place.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d ult. Mr. John Harrison, aged 40 years and 5 months.  Mr. Harrison was the youngest of four brothers, and the earliest called hence.  He was an exemplary Christian, a member of the Congregational Church, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.  He was a kind husband, a fond and judicious father, having an adopted son and daughter from the Children's Home in New York, and a public spirited citizen.  Not only have the loved ones of his household been made desolate, but the Zion of God in this place are called to weeping by his decease.

Died:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., John Stevens, aged 78 years.

Death of an Old Inhabitant:  We  notice in the Binghamton papers, the death of Mrs. Esther Dunning, at Kirkwood [Broome Co., NY], on the 20th ult. at the age of 91 years.  She had been twice married.  Her first husband was Ira Hoadley, and they were pioneers in the then new town of Windsor [Broome Co., NY] 70 years ago, their nearest neighbors residing four miles from them.  The old lady had seen a howling wilderness pass through many and varied changes until a few scattered tracts of woodland only were left to remind her of her early trials.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, March 28, 1861

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 25th inst. by Rev. Wm. Potter, Mr. Hiram E. Lewis of Oxford, to Miss Jane Webb of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. by Rev. J. Lord, Mr. Albert Blindberry of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], to Mrs. Cynthia Purdy, of Smyrna.

Married:  In Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California, Jan. 3d, Mr Wm. P. Goodwin, of New York, to Miss Sabra E. Weaver, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In East Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., by Rev. E.N. Ruddock, Mr. Albert Sumner, to Miss Marilla Wells, all of East Pharsalia.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., Mr. Samuel Dickson, aged 55 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., Miss Polly Foster, aged 70 years.

Died:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d ult. George F. [Titus], aged 15 years and 1 month.

Died:  In Roscoe, Ill. on the 7th inst., Mr. Asa Ballou, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 91 years.

A Whole Family Poisoned!!  It becomes our duty to chronicle one of those sad events which sometimes occur thro' carelessness or mistake, in the poisoning of the family of Mr. Putnam Mersereau, residing just in the edge of Owego township [Tioga Co., NY].  Mrs. M. had just returned home from Union, and in making warm biscuit, by mistake used arsenic instead of cream tartar. The entire family, with the exception of Mrs. M.'s mother and the hired girl, partook of the biscuit. When the mistake became known, the oldest son was dispatched for assistance, but upon arriving at a neighbor's he gave every appearance of being poisoned, and was immediately carried home.  Physicians were summoned, and the greatest care taken of them.  So much of the dreadful poison had been used in mixing the bread that all who ate of it were vomited.  Up to Tuesday noon, four or five of the nine were slowly improving, but the rest were in great danger.  Union (Broome Co.) News.