Vital Records, Afton, NY, April 1880

 Home Sentinel, Afton, NY, April 9, 1880

Miss Mary A. Swift died at O.K. Swift's residence, in Nineveh [Broome Co., NY], last Saturday, in the 75th year of her age.

At the residence of Wm. S. Landers, Esq., on he 31st of March, 1880, Fred Grover and Emily P. Landers were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock by Rev. E.T. Jacobs. The citizens of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], from an intimate acquaintance with these two young peoople, will join us in the decision that this is a happy union, and we all wish them much joy.

On April 2d, 1880, Homer T. Nichols died in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], of inflammatory congestion aged 8 years.  After the death of the child, it was thought best to hold a post-mortem examination, as he had met with a severe bruise from being run over by a wagon about six months ago.  Upon examination, it was found that the heart case had adhered to the anterior to the ribs and also to the lungs, and that a part of the heart was found to be apparently perished away. The lungs were found to be badly congested and but a small part of them that would float.  From all the showing of the case, no doubt the little boy was a great sufferer and found a blessing in the rest of death.

On Friday morning of last week, W.G. Nearing, of New Lisbon [Otsego Co., NY], was killed by a tree which he had cut, falling and striking him on the head and crushing him to the ground.

"Was the child murdered?" is the general query upon hearing the story that Mr. John Van Loan is telling to his neighbors.  It seems that Mr Van loan, who resides between Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] and Sidney Plains [Delaware Co., NY], was called away from home one day last week and was prevented from returning till along towards midnight. The night was very dark, and just after he had ascended the hill near the residence of Milton Johnstone, and when near the town line that divides Bainbridge from Sidney, his horse shied at something and on turning his dark lantern in a opposite direction, he beheld a woman very shabbily dressed, with a young infant in her arms beneath her tattered shawl. The child screeched and made such a noise at this instant that he stopped his horse and watched the retreating figure for some distance until it vanished in the darkness.  His surmises were that no woman would be carrying a babe at that time of night along the street unless for some evil purpose.  He has learned nothing more concerning the strange incident nor who the woman could have been.

Weekly Press, Afton, NY, April 22, 1880

Allen - Doolittle:  At Harpursville [Broome Co., NY], Wednesday, April 14th, by the Rev. A.W. Cornell, Bennett B. Allen and Miss Nancy Doolittle, both of Harpursville.

Phelps - Dykeman:  At the M.E. Parsonage Saturday, April 10th by the Rev. N.J. Hawley, Mr. Oliver D. Phelps of Afton [Chenango Co., NY] and Mrs. Frances Dykeman of Colesville [Broome Co., NY].

Mrs. J.B. Kirkhuff

The tragic death of Mrs. Kirkhuff has cast a gloom over the whole community, and all hearts sympathize with the afflicted family in their great distress.  Mrs. Kirkhuff was a cultured and refined lady, modest and unassuming in her manners.  Her loss will be deeply felt in the family, where she was a faithful and affectionate wife and mother  and in the church, of which she was a consistent and devout member.  But it is our comfort that we sorrow not as those who have no hope. She sleeps in Jesus. The weary head and aching heart are forever at rest.  Her ransomed spirit is in joy and felicity in the Paradise of God.  Cheered by this hope, our grief for her loss loses its sting, and it is not so hard for us to say "God's Will be done."