Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, May (concluded)

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, May 29, 1872

Marriages

BELLINGER - NEWTON:  At the residence of Dea. Dennison Newton, in North Pharsalia [Chenango Co. NY], May 22d, by Rev. A.M. Totman, Mr. Monzo D. Bellinger of Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Ette Newton, of North Pharsalia.

HICKS - LEIGH:  In Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], May 19th, by Rev. Cyrus Steere, Mr. Andrew Hicks, to Miss Harriet C. Leigh, all of Otselic.

BACON - CONVERSE:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], May 22d, by Rev. W.H. Sawtelle, Mr. Howard Bacon of Canton, Pa., to Miss Lucy B. Converse, adopted daughter of Alvin Converse.

Deaths

HICKS:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], May 15th, 1872, Dorah F. [Hicks] daughter of Gurdon and Ruth Hicks, aged 22 years.

BROWN:  In Preston [Chenango Co. NY], May 22d, Mr. Austin Brown, aged 46 years.

LULL:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], April 18th, Mr. Benjamin Lull, aged 77 years and 9 months.

AMSDEN:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], May 23d, Mr. David R. Amsden.

WOOD:  In Chicago, May 18th, Willie E. [Wood] only son of Omer J. and Frances C. Wood, formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], aged 8 years 1 month 3 days.

Mrs. Henry Per Lee died this (Friday) morning at 8-1/2 o'clock, of consumption.  Mrs. Per Lee was a lady possessing many virtues, and whose kindness of heart and generous disposition had endeared her to many in this community, who now mourn her untimely death Binghamton Democrat.  Deceased was a daughter of the late Gen. O.G. Rundell, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], and her husband a former resident of North Norwich.

An old lady named Gardner died in Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], on Sunday, the 19th inst. at the advanced age of 100 years, 3 months and 22 days.  Probably the oldest person in this county.

Casualty at Eaton [Madison Co. NY]

We last week made a brief mention of the death by drowning of three persons, near Eaton, Madison Co. on Saturday evening, the 18th inst.  From accounts since published, it appears that the accident occurred at the pond of the Aderbrook mills, or what is known as Morse's Mills, a short distance west of Eaton village.  We copy the following additional particulars from the Morrisville Observer:

"On Saturday evening last, a distressing calamity occurred at Alderbrook, about 8 miles south of this village, by which three persons lost their lives.  On that evening a little after 6 o'clock, Mr. Coonrod Betts, foreman of the Alderbrook Woolen Factory, went out upon the factory pond in a small boat, for pleasure; but being hailed by his daughter, aged about 12 years, he ran ashore and took her into the boat and returned to the middle of the pond.  Soon after this Miss Genie Tousley, aged nearly 17 years, a beautiful girl, and only daughter of Edwin Tousley, expressed a wish to join the boating party, and was allowed to enter the boat.  After reaching the deepest water of the pond, one of the young ladies were seen to stand upright in the boat, and in an instant afterwards fell overboard, capsizing the boat and carrying it beyond the reach of any of its recent occupants.  No help was at hand, and none of the drowning party could swim; but Mr. Betts was seen to struggle manfully for life and appeared to be assisting one of the girls.  Soon, however, all disappeared, and the bodies were not recovered until nearly three hours after the sad occurrence.  Mrs. Tousley was an eyewitness, from her door, of the capsizing of the boat, and although suffering untold anxiety did not lose her presence of mind and seemed to be the first to recommend a rational attempt to save the lives of the party.  But no means of reaching the party were at hand, and she was compelled to give up the child whom she loved better than her own life.  Mrs. Betts did not witness the terrible scene, but when informed of the loss of her husband and daughter, swooned, and on Monday (our last intelligence) had not returned to consciousness, and it was feared she could not survive the terrible shock.  The funeral of the victims of this lamentable calamity took place yesterday.  Mr. Betts was in his 39th year and left two surviving children."

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 29, 1872

Death

WOOD:  In Chicago, May 18th, Willie E. [Wood] only son of Omer J. and Frances C. Wood, formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], aged 8 years 1 month 3 days.

Oh, call not back to earth again, the form of Willie dear, / For he is happier, happier far, than when he adjourned here. / And from disease no more shall pale, our daring loved one's brow / For he has passed away from earth, he is an angel now.

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, May 29, 1872

Three Persons Drowned in Madison County

The Utica Observer, 21st, says:  Information from Eaton, Madison County, conveys the sad intelligence of the deaths by drowning of Superintendent Betz, of the Alderbrook Woolen Mills, his daughter, 12-years of age, and her friend, Miss Genie Tousley, aged 16 years, last Saturday.

Mr. Betz, accompanied by his daughter and Miss Tousley, got into a small boat to enjoy an evening ride on the pond above the mills, which are located between Eaton and West Eaton.  Quite a number of the employees of the mills were on the banks of the pond when this party started out.  Both of the young ladies were in the stern of the boat.  After the boat had got out a short distance one of the young girls was seen to rise from her seat, probably with the intention of going to the forward part of the boat.  Mr. Betz got up and took her by the hand.  Just then the boat capsized, and the father, daughter and friend sank under the surface.

The spectators were chilled with horror.  There was no other boat at hand, and no possible chance of rendering timely assistance.  A raft was constructed as promptly as possible, but it was too late to be of any service in saving life. The bodies were recovered and taken to the shore, one by one, where they were surrounded by a large number of saddened friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Betz had resided for two years in the community where the sad accident occurred. He was in the prime of life, and highly respected and esteemed as a worthy citizen.  Miss Tousley was until recently a student at the Hamilton Female Academy.  Her father is absent, engaged in business on the Hudson River.  This terrible accident has shocked the whole community, where the unfortunate victims were beloved and respected by all who knew them.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, May 30, 1872

Deaths

In Orland, Steuben Co., Ind., May 17th, Ward A. [Salisbury] eldest son of F.A. and F.M. Salisbury, formerly of this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], aged 12 years.

Rev. Enos Puffer died suddenly at his residence in Osborn Hollow, on Wednesday evening of last week shortly after returning from his church, where he had preached a sermon.  The Binghamton times says he was a man universally respected throughout the county.  He was a member of Assembly in 1856, receiving a very large majority of votes.  He was chairman of the late County Convention.  His loss will be widely and deeply deplored.