Vital Records, Norwich, NY, March 30, 1870

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, March 30, 1870

Marriages

BRYANT - FOOTE:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], March 21st, by Rev. F.B. Peck, Mr. Calvin Bryant, to Mrs. Emily E. Foote, both of North Norwich.

BASSETT - CRANDALL:  At the Chenango House, in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], March 22d, by Rev. Sam. Scoville, Mr. William J. Bassett, to Miss Dell S. Crandall, both of South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY]

KENYON - SMITH:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], March 15, by Rev. C.W. Burt, Mr. Benjamin Kenyon, to Miss Ellen Smith, all of McDonough.

STAFFORD - HORTON:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY] Feb. 28th, by R.W. Osgood, Esq., Mr. Elmore Stafford of Preston, to Miss Hattie Horton, of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

ROOT - SCOTT:  In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], March 20th, by Chauncey Carrier, Esq., Mr. Vurne G. Root, to Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, both of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY].

NEWTON - DAVIDSON:  in Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 10th, by Rev. W.W. Andrews, Mr. James M. Newton, to Miss Emma Davidson.

ROBB - NICHOLS:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], March 7th, by the same, Mr. John Robb, of Morris [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Ellen L. Nichols, of Afton.

PARSONS - HUMPHREY:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], March 10, by the same, Mr. Miles L. Parsons, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Emma C. Humphrey, of Afton.

PERKINS - CLOSE:  At the residence of Mrs. A. C. Allen, in Washington, D.C. March 22d, by Rev. Mr. Gibson, Mr. Warren Perkins, of Washington, to Mrs. D.T. Close, formerly of Norwich, N.Y. [Chenango Co.].

Deaths

CARRINGTON:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], March 29th, Mr. J. Dwight Carrington, aged 26 years.  His remains were taken to Baldwinsville, Onondaga Co. [NY] for interment.

BROWN:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], March 26th, Franklin Eugene [Brown], son of Isaac Brown, aged 17 years.

BROOKS:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], March 23d, Mr. Charles W. Brooks, aged about 45 years.

TANZY:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], March 25th, Miss Jane Tanzy, aged 20 years and 1 month.

THORP:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], March 21st, Mr. Weston Thorp, aged 40? years.

TEW:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], March 16th, Mr. George Tew, aged 53 years.

PARK:  In Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], March 20th?, Mr. John F. Park, aged 40? years.

HODGES:  In oxford [Chenango Co., NY], March 10th, Adella [Hodges], daughter of Alexander Hodges of Whitney's Point [Broome Co., NY], aged 11? years.

MILLER:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], March 20th?, Louisa [Miller], daughter of John and Alvira miller, aged 21? years.

BARSTOW:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 18th?, Lydia P. [Barstow], wife of Chauncey Barstow, aged 42 years.

BAKER:  In Ithaca [Tompkins Co., NY], Feb. 20th, Mr. Theodore Baker, formerly of Oxford, aged 44 years.

ATHERTON:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], March 19th, Mr. Hiram Atherton, aged 74 years.

LANE:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], March 29th, James [Lane], infant son of Lewis and Josephine Lane, aged 1 year.

HARRINGTON:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], March 21st, son of W.O. Harrington, aged 4 years.

LOOP:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], March 16th? Mr. Willis Loop, aged 45 years.

SPENCER:  In Rockdale [Chenango Co., NY], March -?- Day [Spencer], son of L.C.A. and Malinda Spencer, aged 2 years.

Death of Hon. Smith M. Purdy

PURDY:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], March 28th, after a brief illness, Hon Smith M. Purdy, aged 74 years.  The funeral will take place at his late residence, on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Our community was startled on Monday afternoon by the announcement that Hon. Smith M. Purdy was dead.  Although he had been in feeble health for a number of years, having long since withdrawn from active business, it was not generally known that he was more than usually ill until his death was announced.  Indeed he had not been wholly confined to his house till within a very few days.

Judge Purdy was a son of Abner Purdy, an early pioneer of the County, and was born in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on what is known as the Abram Per Lee farm, in July, 1796.  Evincing an aptitude for study, at an early age he came to Norwich to attend a select school, and after pursuing his studies and teaching for a number of terms, at length entered the office of James Birdsall, Esq., then a practicing lawyer of this village.  Admitted to the Bar, he located in Sherburne in 1819, where he remained some eight years in the practice of his chosen profession.

In 1827 he removed to Norwich, receiving the appointment of Attorney for the Bank of Chenango.  About this time he formed a co-partnership with the late Abial Cook, Esq., the firm standing at the head of the legal profession in this section of the State.  In 1833 he was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Surrogate in place of Judge Tracy, who was elected Lietu. Governor in 1832.  His health failing him, in 1835, he resigned his office.  In 1837, on account of local matters connected with the building of the Court house, he was unanimously elected Supervisor by both political parties.  In 1838, he removed to his farm at Polkville, which place derived its name from James K. Polk during the memorable political campaign of 1844, where he resided about six years.  During this time, in 1842, he was elected to Congress from the District then comprising the counties of Chenango, Broome and Tioga.  Unwilling to abandon the profession, which by study and ripe experience he was eminently fitted to adorn, soon after his return from Congress, in 1845, he again removed to this village, associating with him his nephew, the late Sherwood S. Merritt, Esq., in the practice of law, the firm continuing till he was elected judge and Surrogate in 1847, under the revised Constitution adopted in 1846.

His term of office having expired, all his public duties well and worthily performed, he retired to private life, where he has since enjoyed a serene and green old age in the bosom of his family and friends, beloved and respected by all.

Few men, probably, when in the vigor of health, had greater powers of endurance or could transact a larger amount of business within a specified time.  Although not of great fluency in debate, his speeches and arguments were always convincing and forcible, and commanded the highest respect.  His honesty and integrity were proverbial, his every act, public and private, prompted by pure motives.  No one before or since his time wearing the judicial ermine, it may be said without disparagement to others, is more eminently entitled to the appellation: "He was a just judge."

He was an economist in the strict sense of that word, and the extravagance and profliency in official station in these latter days, shocked his high sense of honor.

But he has passed away.  Another milestone on the road that connects the past and the present has been taken down.  His record is made up, and worthily, as we trust, hears the endorsement, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Judge Purdy married Prudence Gates in 1821, and she with an only son, Dr. C.M. Purdy, survives him.  They have, by this act of Providence, sustained the loss of a noble husband, kind father and faithful companion.  In their sad bereavement they have the sympathy of the entire community.

The funeral will be held at his late residence on South Main Street, on Thursday afternoon, at 2 o'clock.