Vital Records, Norwich, NY, November 25, 1868

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, November 25, 1868

Marriages

At Emanuel Church, in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday evening, Nov. 18th, by Rev. E.Z. Lewis, Mr. Charles T. Marston, of Hartford, Conn., to Miss Mary P. Hayes, daughter of E.T. Hayes, Esq. of Norwich.

In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 16th, by Rev. G.E. Flint, Mr. Andrew Pudney, of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Emily Matteson, of Pittsfield [Otsego Co., NY].

In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 17th, by Rev. A.M. Bennett, Mr. T.B. Lyon, of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Emma Holdridge.

In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 17th, by Rev. R.H. Spafford, Mr. James P. Smith, to Miss Katie W. Hollenbeck, both of East Greene.

In Smyrna Centre [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 5th, by Rev. S.M. Keeler, Mr. Thomas Sprague to Miss Rachel Messenger, both of Smyrna.

In Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], Oct. 24th, by Rev. R.H. Clark, Mr. A.C. Coats, to Miss O,M, Parker?, both of Pharsalia.

In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 11th, by Rev. W.W. Andrews, Mr. Charles R. Hawkins of Sandford [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Maria H. Davidson, of Afton.

In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 19th, by Rev. J.A. Robinson, Mr. Frederick Vincent, to Miss Ellen Firney?, all of Bainbridge.

In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 18th, at the bride's residence, by Rev. D.D> Brown, Mr. William D. Warner to Miss Ezilea? M. Sabin, both of Plymouth.

In Deposit [Delaware Co., NY], Nov. 19th, by Rev. C.H. DeLong, assisted by Rev. Thomas La Monte, Mr. Charles R. Smith to Miss Mary L. De Mandes,? all of Deposit.

At St. John's Church, Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], Nov. 6th, by Rev. Father Lynch, Mr. Clark J. White, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Margaret O'Brien, both of Binghamton.

Deaths

In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 21st, of consumption, Mr. John Nelson, Jr., aged 24 years.

In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 17th, Mr. Luther Martin, aged 40 years.

Telegraph & Chronicle, Norwich, NY, November 11, 1868

WAIT:  At his residence in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Monday afternoon, the 2d inst., Col. John Wait, aged 59 years.

Mr. Wait was born at Preston, in this County [Chenango Co., NY] in the year 1809, and was one of a large family.  In early life he gave indications of that energy and perseverance which commands success, with a desire for improvement that soon carried him so far as the common schools of the town could afford an opportunity.  With this he was not satisfied.  Desiring an academic education, but lacking the means to acquire it, he made an arrangement with his father who was carrying on a distillery, to chop wood for him, at two shillings per cord, the same price paid to others, and was in addition to be paid at the same rate for all he cut over an average days' work.  This privilege was so well improved that at the end of the winter he had earned $10 extra.  With this he brought two very fine sheep which he hired kept for $1.00 a year, having all the increase which was very large.  With this increase, as we are informed, he supported himself at Hamilton Academy, where he spent some time, acquiring a good education, and also while reading law in this village, the result being that after his admission to the bar, or about that time, he sold the remainder of his flock for about $100.

He commenced reading law in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], about the year 1833, and, as we are informed, with C.A. Thorpe, Esq., being admitted to the bar about 1836, and then entering into practice with Abial Cook, Esq., and remaining with him for several years.  After this, he practiced alone for a long while, but later was successively the partner of Harvey Hubbard, Franklin Beebe, and B. Gage Berry, Esqrs., with the last of whom he dissolved partnership in the year 1861, since which he has remained alone, and doing a comparatively small business owing to his failing health.

From the first, Mr. Wait had a fair practice and a deservedly high reputation, as a high minded, talented lawyer, which his success before a jury was beyond the average.  He principally excelled as a sound, wise and sagacious counsellor, whose legal opinion was of great value, implicitly trusted and rarely overruled even by our highest Courts.  In this department of the profession, he has never had a superior in the popular estimate, in the whole history of our county.

He was never an aspirant for public or political honors.  Nevertheless, he has been President of our Village, in the preparation of the Charter of which he took great interest and was one of the candidates for Judge of the Supreme Court of this district at the first judiciary election under the present constitution.  He was also frequently sent, by his constituents to State and other conventions, where his opinions and counsel were influential, and was also, in other respects trusted by the leading men in the old Whig party, and later of the Republican party, of both of which he was an active, and conscientious member.

He has been, for several years, the victim of a wasting disease, which has finally removed him from us.  He passed away with the unfeigned regrets of his many friends, leaving no enemies behind him, and in the full assurance of the Christian faith.