Oxford Times, May 1, 1861
Married: In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 30th ult., at the residence of Dr. W.G. Sands, by Rev. D.H. Macurdy, Mr. Andrew J. Sands to Miss Addie Hill, all of Oxford.
Married: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th inst., by Rev. J.B. Hoyt, Mr. Henry L. Farr of New York city to Miss Frances R. Hoyt, youngest daughter of Chauncey Hoyt, of Greene.
Died: In Elmira [Chemung Co., NY], after a short illness, Mr. Samuel Ross, aged 76 years, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].
Died: In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th inst., Mr. Jabez Manwarring, aged 80 years.
Died: In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th Samuel R. Billings, M.D., aged 23 years.
Died: In Galena, Illinois, on 9th inst., Mary C. [Scott], wife of D.W. Scott, Esq., of Galena, and daughter of James Thompson, Esq. of Norwich, aged 30 years.
Died: In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., Lutta [Bradley], wife of Mr. Lambert Bradley, aged 53 years.
Oxford Times, May 8, 1861
Married: In Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], on the 21st ult., by Rev. W.V. Garner, Mr. Charles D. Platt, of Binghamton, to Miss Kate A. Roe of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].
Died: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., Isabel Ann [Wescott], daughter of James F. and Thankful M. Wescott, aged 10 years.
Died: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Mrs. Lucretia Levee, aged 84 years.
Died: In Morrisville [Madison Co., NY], on the 25th ult., Judge Epenetus Holmes, aged 76 years.
Died: In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th ult. Chloe [Winsor], wife of Mr. Joshua Winsor, aged 76 years.
Died: In South Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th ult. of consumption, Mr. Woodbridge G. Baker, aged 43 years.
Oxford Times, May 15, 1861
Married: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. by Rev. W.R. Cobb, Mr. C.L. Willcox of Wellsborough, Pa., to Miss Harriet L. Comstock of Oxford.
Died: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., Mr. Underhill Miller, aged 75 years.
Died: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult., Amanda [Mead], daughter of Mr. Richard Mead, aged 8 years.
Died: In Hornellsville [Steuben Co., NY], on the 28th ult. Mary B. [Gray], daughter of Elijah R. and Mary B Gray, aged 4 years and 4 months.
Died: In Jersey City [NJ], on the 6th inst., Mary H. Pell [Youlin], wife of Dr. J.J. Youlin aged 20 years.
Died: In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., of cancer, Nancy [Hamilton], relict of John Hamilton, aged 42 years.
Oxford Times, May 22, 1861
Married: In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. by Rev. W.R. Cobb, Mr. C.L. Wilcox, of Wellsborough, Pa to Mrs. Hannah L. Comstock, of Oxford.
Married: In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Charles Turner to Miss Augusta R. Stratton, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].
Married: In Lane, Ill., on the 4th of April by Rev. Mr. McRee, Mr. Judson E. Carpenter to Miss Olivia Detwiler, both of that place.
Married: In Brooklyn, Thursday, May 9th, by the Rev. N. Chapman, Mr. R. Samuel Lewis to Miss Imogen M. [Chapman], daughter of Lebbeus Chapman, Esq., all of Brooklyn.
Died: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., Mr. John M. Bennett, aged 75 years.
Died: At Sauquoit, on the 12th inst., Henry Mygatt [Hyde], son of Henry M. and Jane G. Hyde of the city of New York, in the fourth year of his age.
Died: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., William Dally, aged 64 years.
Died: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on 14th inst., Orrill [Tyler], wife of Harry Tyler, aged 66 years.
Died: In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst. Mr. Barney Bowers, aged 56 years.
Oxford Times, May 29, 1861
Married: In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 29th ult., by Rev. E. Holroyd, Mr. John A. Griggs to Miss Elsie M. Siens, both of Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY].
Died: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on 18th inst., Mr Benjamin Birdsall, aged 94 years.
Died: At New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on hte 17th inst., Sally Aylsworth, aged 77 years.
Oxford Times, May 22, 1861
The late Samuel Ross of Elmira [Chemung Co., NY], was for many years a resident of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], and the writer of this feels that in making a brief statement of the leading events of his life, he will not only discharge a duty to the memory of a truly good man, but will trace a record which will be read with affectionate interest by a large circle of former friends, particularly the "dear old Oxford friends," as the deceased termed them to his dying moments.
Mr. Ross was born in the city of New York. Of his boyhood we learn little, except that he was studious, devout, "characterized by extreme sensitiveness and an ardent love for the spiritual and beautiful." He graduated at Princeton College. The year is not remembered, but he was contemporary with Theodore Frelinghuyeen, and was the room mate and valued friend of N.S. Primo, father of Ireneous Primo of the New York Observer. He subsequently spent some years of his life in Virginia, where he married Miss Robel White, from the "Eastern Shore." He was ordained a Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and regularly itinerated for about six years. There are those yet living who well remember his earnest, impressive sermons and his fervent prayers; but his excessive timidity and painful self-deprecation, rendered him doubtful of his ability to discharge properly the duties of the Christian ministry, which he esteemed higher than any other human duties. Accordingly, with characteristic conscientiousness and disregard of self, he meekly relinquished the chosen and favorite pursuit of his life.
In 1815, Mr. Ross and his wife moved to Oxford, and as boarders entered the family of a previous acquaintance and friend, Rev. (now Dr.) W.B. Lacey, Rector of St. Paul's Church. Mr Ross united himself with the Episcopal Church, and Bishop Hobart and other zealous friends urged him to become a candidate for holy orders in that communion. But the impressions of his own unfitness which had caused his retirement from the ministry could not be effaced from his mind. He was elected a Warden of St. Paul's Chruch in 1816, and continued a Warden or Vestryman until 1820. His associates in the latter body were John Tracy, Uri Tracy, James Clapp Simon G. Throop, Stephen O. Runyan, Ransom Rathbone, Erastus Perkins and others, not less well known in that community. Among gentlemen so distinguished in official, professional and business circles, and of whom Oxford may be so justly proud, Mr. Ross was "on the most important Committees, and was always associated with the prominent persons of the Vestry."
While he ever remained warmly attached to the Episcopal Church, in whose communion he died, his heart was too large for bigotry, or religious exclusiveness. He was a constant and fearless investigator in theology, and "held fast" only to that which his own ultimate convictions, and religious experience, satisfied him was "good." It was his favorite saying to good men of all denominations "If thy heart be as my heart, then give me thy hand."
His wife died at the Rev. Mr. Lacey's and he subsequently married Mrs. Maria Stephens, widow of Alvan Stephens, and daughter of Robert Randall of Brookfield, Madison County, N.Y. This long and happy union was blessed with sons and daughters, who have evinced by their character and success in life, the benefits of good parental care and example. His widow, as much beloved by the older citizens of Oxford, as her lamented husband, still survives.
Mr. Ross passed his life in agricultural pursuits. His residence near Oxford, and his subsequent one about six miles from that place, are well remembered. He disposed of the latter to move to Elmira to reside among his children. Some incidents connected with this sale will illustrate his character, and that we may be permitted to remark, of a distinguished Lawyer of Chenango county. After the sale, a defect in the title of the farm appeared, arising from a will, and if the will was valid, Mr. Ross' title was totally bad. The testator had been dead over thirty years, and the will had been admitted to probate over twenty-five years. Yet an investigation of the facts led Henry R. Mygatt to the conclusion that the will was obtained by fraud and undue influence, when the testator by reason of habitual intoxication was incompetent to transact business and difficult, and doubtful as was the task of legally establishing a fraud so ancient, Mr. Mygtt, with characteristic professional decision and good judgment, advised the attempt. The farm sold had greatly increased in value, and the value was more than Mr. Ross' entire property, yet he steadily declared that if the suit was decided against his interest, he would surrender his entire property to the grantees. The citizens of Chenango remember with what energy and ability this suit was conducted by Mr. Mygatt. The result was the success of his client. To the writer of this, Mr Ross with feelings which could scarcely find utterance expressed his boundless gratitude to the lawyer who had "saved his all, and who utterly and peremptorily refused to accept a cent's compensation for his services."
Mr. Ross lost two grown up children, and his feelings were painfully and lastingly affected by it. Otherwise his sunset of life was serene and happy. His health was comparatively good, eyesight, memory and the capacity to enjoy the society of his friends and favorite authors were vouchsafed to him up to the moment of that brief illness of a week (bilious fever) which terminated his life. Hs death bed was not only that of the resigned, but of the exultant Christian. He was conscious to the last. While with looks and words of tender sympathy, he addressed those who wept about him, it was evident that his eyes were turned rapturously to the bright shore which gleamed on his dying vision from the other side of "the dark river of death." In the intervals of prayer and praise, his most fervent recollections reverted to the friends of other days, particularly the "dear old Oxford friends." To the last he spoke of them with the deepest emotion.
To declare that Mr. Ross was a truly good man in every relation of life, would be but a cold expression of the opinion of all who knew him, and would give no just idea to the finer and individual shades of his character. He was wholly unselfish. His spirit was gentle and loving. Warmly attached to friends, he was too tender and forgiving to wound the interests or even the feelings of his enemy, if indeed he ever had one. In all that pertained to the domestic and social relations, his character had a feminine delicacy and softness. In truth, no where had he a hard or harsh feature, either openly exhibited or masked under some pretense, least of all under the austere pretense of religion and duty. A more perfectly kind and tolerant heart never beat to the "still, sad music of humanity." He had the guilelessness and simplicity of a child, and a certain native spontaneity of manner which threw these traits into the strongest relief. The older inhabitants of Oxford will all have passed away before the memory of this good man will cease to be warmly cherished in the place where he spent most of his life.
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