Vital Records, Oxford, NY, February 1864

 Oxford Times, February 3, 1864

Married:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult., by Rev. Mr. Holroyd, Mr. Lewis W. Lamb to Miss Frances L. Wales, all of McDonough.

Bennett Aylesworth living in Church Hollow, in this county [Chenango Co., NY], started from Ninevah for his home on Monday evening 4th inst., and was found the next morning, within half a mile of home, frozen to death.  This is the only instance of death from freezing we have heard of in this county during the recent cold term.  Chenango American.

Death by Poison:  A most shocking and heart-rending incident occurred at the Daguerrean Rooms of S.H. Farnham, in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] on Thursday afternoon last, at about 5 o'clock.  A bright and beautiful little daughter of William and Sarah Stimpson, of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], aged about two and one-half years, had accompanied her aunt to the rooms of Mr. Farnham to sit for her picture. After the picture had been taken, and while the child was running about in a playful mood, she darted into the chemical room unobserved by anyone, and seized a cup containing Cyanide of Potassium and swallowed its contents.  A single shriek from the little victim was the only warning that the agonized witnesses had, before she had passed from time into eternity. The poison took immediate and deadly effect, and all efforts to restore the little sufferer were useless and unavailing. The aunt, Mrs. Shaw, was so shocked by the sudden and unexpected accident as to occasion fears that she might not long survive the event, but we are informed she is gradually recovering. the bereaved mother arrived about midnight, and evinced a womanly fortitude and resignation which under the circumstances was most desirable but hardly to have been expected.  Keen anguish and deep grief strove against a high resolve to bear the heavy burden with becoming resignation, but did not overpower the mother's heart. The sympathies of our community moved promptly to do all that could be done under the circumstances, for the stricken parents and friends of the deceased child.

Oxford Times, February 10, 1864

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. by Rev. W.T. Potter, Mr. Edward Tucker to Miss Mary E. Hemenway, al of Oxford.

Married:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th ult. by Rev. A. Lewis, Mr. Bruce A. Borden to Miss Olive L. Button.

Died: In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], suddenly on the 30th of Jan'y, Hattie Louisa [Simpson], only child of Warren and Alma Simpson, aged 2 years and 17 days.

Died:  in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY] on the 29th ult. Widow Warren, aged 86 years.

Died:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst. Mr. Marshall Newton aged 69 years.

Died:  At White Store, in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst. Mr. Wilmarth Peters, aged 80 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 1st inst. Blin Harris, M.D., aged 54 years.

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Sarah M. [Edwards], wife of Mr. William Edwards, aged 37 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst. of scarlet fever, Hiram Eugene [Stratton], only child of Thomas J. and Ruth Stratton, aged 3 years, 4 months and 24 days.

Oxford Times, February 17, 1864

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. by Rev. Mr. Searles, Mr. H.H. Pike of North Norwich, to Miss A.R. Trumble of Norwich.

Married:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. by Rev. T.M. Williams, First lieut. Eugene H. Corey of the 5th Conn. Vol. to Miss Sylvia A. Lawson, daughter of S.C. Lawson, Esq., of Smyrna.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 3 inst., Susan Hyde [Tracy], wife of the Hon. John Tracy, aged 76 years.  Those who witnessed the sweet repose, with which death sealed the features of the lamented dead, realized the truth and beauty of "A smile upon the lips, / Unquenched by life's last agony."  There is that in such a death which mitigates the sorrow of friends, while it intensifies and strengthens Christian confidence and hope.  No long weary hours of watching and waiting and pain, no alternations of struggling doubt and hope, but the Death Angel gently touched the departed mother, wife and friend, and beckoned her to her rest.  So the toil worn reaper in the yellow autumn rests from  his labors amid the garnered sheaves.  Such is the repose of the mariner returned from his ocean voyage, as he catches a glimpse of his haven and his home.  "So He giveth his beloved sleep."  It is now more than fifty years since the deceased with her honored husband, who survives her, came to our village a bride.  Those years are their own best eulogy.  It would be a needless task to praise the trees which have grown up around the family dwelling, and so the excellency and beauty of the social and domestic graces, and Christian virtues, which have sprung up and borne fruit under the fostering care and influence of that mother's life and example, like the trees of the old homestead bear their own testimony to three generations, and like them, have spread their branches and went deeper their roots with years. A new generation came upon the scene of action were refreshed by the vision of the beauty and completeness of the social and Christian excellence before them, and when the scene was closed by death, thanked God for the good example that had been given them, while they dropped tears of real sorrow for him, who must travel alone the remaining space of his life journey.

"The stream is calmest when it nears the tide, / And flowers are sweetest at the eventide, / And birds most musical at close of day, / And Saints divinest when they pass away."

"Oh! when our sun is setting may we glide, / Like Summer evening, dawn the golden tide; / And leave behind us as we pass away, / Sweet, starry twilight round our sleeping clay!

Died:  In this village on the 10th inst., Henry N. [Miller], aged 18 years, third son of Henry L. and Elizabeth Mygatt Miller.  The sad and sudden event briefly recorded above, has brought unspeakable sorrow to a large family circle, and touched a responsive chord of sympathy throughout the community in which he lived.  Sunday found young Miller at his accustomed place at Church and the Sabbath School. Monday at his usual pursuits. The following day he complained of pain in the heard, not at the time however, considered alarming. Wednesday morning a violent congestion of the brain became manifest, baffling medical skill and science, and resulting in death before the setting of the sun.  "What so unguessed as death!"  Had any among the large circle of his acquaintance been asked whom death had marked for his victim, the deceased would certainly have been little apt to have been suggested for the sudden change. Before him above all others, life seemed to open up to all the fascination which buoyant hope, elastic spirits, a cheerful disposition, and sound health lent to existence. A large brain and a generous heart made him a favorite with a wide circle of personal friends of his own age, and caused those linked to him by family ties, to already cast for him the horoscope of a future opening into a vigorous active and useful manhood.  How soon the scene is changed, the horoscope of that earthly future sealed immutably by death.  Man proposes, but the All-Wise father disposes as to him seemeth best "Death! thou art infinite; it is life is little."

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. William Henry [Wade], only child of Henry L. and Sarah W. Wade, aged 1 year and 11 days.

"Oh, it was the lamp of our life, / Blown out in a night of gloom; / A leaf from our flower of love / Nipped in its fresh spring bloom. / But the lamp will shine again, / And the leaf again shall grow, / Where there are no bitter winds, / And no dreary, dreary snow"

Died:  In this town [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th ult. Mr. Charles E. Hopkins, aged 62 years.

 Died:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], suddenly, on the 7th inst. at the residence of her son, Asa Pellet, Mrs. Abigail Pellet, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 52 years.

Died:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] on the 5th? inst., Mrs. Lucy Ackley, widow of Samuel Ackley, aged 85 years.

Died:  In Butternuts, Otsego Co. [NY], on 26th? Jan., Rev'd Thomas S. Judd, Pastor of Christ Church.

Oxford Times, February 24, 1864

Married:  In Butternuts [Otsego Co., NY], on the 11th? inst. by Rev. E. Cope, Mr. Nelson D. Davis of Cato [Cayuga Co., NY] to Miss Julia E. Baker of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]. 

Married:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. by Rev. W.G. Queal, Rev. A.J. Lindsey of the conference of the M.E. Church, stationed at -?- Chautauqua Co. [NY] to Miss Jennie Brooks of Guilford.

Died:  In this town [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 18th? inst. Frances A. [Waters], wife of Mr. Daniel Waters, aged 31 years.

Died:  in Greene [Chenango Co., NY] on the 17th inst., Loretta [Hayes], wife of Elias Hayes, aged 63 years.

Died:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst. Wm. Tallman, aged 62 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Arthur T. King, aged 21 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. Mr. Jonas Leach, aged 84 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst. Susannah [Hayes], wife of Henry Hayes, aged 52 years.