Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, February 1875 (continued)

 Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, February 10, 1875

Deaths

Ira Willoughby a former well-known resident of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co. NY], died at Nebraska City, Jan. 26th, 1874.  His age was 75 years.  The Daily Press of that city says:  "Ira Willoughby, for a number of years a resident of this city, died yesterday, 26th, and will be buried tomorrow with funeral services at 10 o'clock in the Irish Catholic church.  He lingered sometime with his last sickness.  On Saturday week for the first time, he sent for the priest, Father Dennis, and made his first profession in the Catholic faith, and received the last rites of the Church.  Since that time he was perfectly happy, and never once delirious and longed to go home, saying his last words to his devoted daughter-in-law, who nursed him day and night, "Catherine, I shall pray for you in heaven."

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In Memoriam

We copy from the Herald, published at Port Henry, the following notice on the death of Edward Bradley.

"How sudden and so sad.  Our generous friend has left us.  No more his genial voice will interest us; no longer will his tones, so full of wit and sentiment amuse us in the social circle.  Edward Bradley was a noble, honest fellow.  We admired his talents and loved him as a friend.  Kind and obliging always, every day the same; free and courteous in his manner; possessed of these talents and endowed with that desirable tact which at all times made him agreeable; and gained him friends he has during his transient residence with us left tokens of his worth, indelibly written on our memories, which bar forgetfulness.

He had an open heart which made him always ready to aid and succor those in distress.  With a vein of wit, running through his composition in his general conversation, he drew all towards him.  Smart and always ready with an answer.  We have often seen him turn away insults with some witty remark which, if it did not change the insulter to a friend, called forth his admiration.  But as we consider how sudden he was taken away, even when the glow of a hopeful future was so radiant before him, it becomes us to inquire "are we ready? ready to meet the Grim Destroyer?"  Many and nearly all turn from the thought of death. We do not like to think of it, and perhaps too often drive the thought from the mind, and forget, as it were, that all must die.  But this is most certain and the only thing that man is fully certain of, Surely, "Mora Veniet' is written on all things around us.  The tender bud, read to burst into a beautiful flower, is often nipped by an immature frost, brought by a sudden change in nature, and even if it escapes this ruin, the beauty of the flower soon fades, leaving nothing but withered leaves, which soon fall to earth and decay. So is life, the bud of childhood, the flower of manhood, and the ripe fruit of old age, return to dust from whence they came, sooner or later, bringing to the mind the Savior's words, "Be ye also ready, for ye know not the day or the hour when the son of man cometh."

Mr. Bradley was naturally of a weak frame, nature was not liberal in giving him a strong constitution; yet his life bid fair for one of usefulness. Wednesday evening, January 27th, he was among his friends as the light and spirit of the social gathering. Thursday evening, he was taken with the scarlet fever, and on Sunday night between 11 and 12, we bade him good-bye.  And how sad was that parting; more so because so young, double so because he was our true and consistent friend, and a kind and affectionate husband. Reasonable and free from prejudice in his views, he possessed many characteristics of the true Christian.  Taking principle for his guide, he would banish from his mind the dark side of life, keeping his troubles to himself whenever in misfortune. Always hoping for the best, and always looking on the bright side. Charitable to all, he loved his friends, and remained silent in regard to his enemies. To say we miss him, goes far from expressing the sadness which broods over the household that so deeply feels his loss. There is a vacant seat at the table, sorrow is visible on every countenance.  Ed is not there, telling his anecdotes, so full of wit and fun.  Expressions so gentlemanly and courteous, no longer fall from his lips.  Death hath set its cold seal upon them; they are silent; while the sad reality that he is no more changes the happiness of the home circle into mourning and fills the rooms, once made so vocal with his voice, with the gloom and sadness of a charnel house.  Poor man, to die so young, at the age of twenty-five.  He leaves a widow who, faithful to her trust, deeply mourns his loss, and as this cruel blow falls so heavily upon her, may the hope of meeting him she loved in life so well, where parting is no more, console her in this her great affliction.  It seems it was his time to die. Thus are the ways of Providence, so full of mystery.

Mrs. H., so kind and obliging to all who dwell with her, gave all the assistance in her power.  Good care could not save him, for his friends were ever near.  God saw fit to call him home and may he find his reward in Heaven.

Between Dr. Halsey and the deceased there had matured a strong personal friendship.  During his illness the Doctor remained almost constantly by his bedside, leaving it only when the duties of his profession obliged him to. They thought much of each other, and he who has a friend in life, may well mourn when he has gone, for how often does envy, jealousy or policy bring to light the shallowness of human friendship.  And often controlled by slander or prejudice, they who should be charitable and wish each other well, turn and condemn their fellows and very often without a cause, wholly ignoring the golden rule, forgetting that men "are created equal," and condemning the old adage of "live and let live," or that men should be friends if not always brothers. These are the principles that governed Mr Bradley, that made him a kind and affectionate husband, and true as steel to his friends.  Judging from his life, we have strong hopes that he was prepared to meet his God, and that he has gone to enjoy "That inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

Perhaps it is wrong to wish him back, although cut down in the early period of his usefulness and missed so deeply by all who knew him.  And now, as we have looked for the last time upon the cold clay, and as the mourners convey it to its final resting place, a friend who loved him in life and mourns his loss in memoriam would add: Let us hope that the soul of our much loved and departed friend and fellow associate may rest in peace, and that when the resurrection morn shall dawn, and the messengers of a merciful Judge shall summon the people to judgment that with the departed, all who were near and dear to him on earth, may enter to life eternal, where the angel of death never enters, and the anguish of bereavement is felt no more forever.  Geo. W. Watkins.

Funeral of Edward Bradley

The remains of Edward Bradley reached Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], Thursday evening last, and the funeral services were held at 1 o'clock Friday. The services at the grave were conducted by the Oxford Masonic Lodge, of which deceased was a worthy member.  His last illness was scarlet fever, being taken on Thursday evening, Sunday evening he felt much better and retired with the remark that "he should get a good night's rest."  In the night his wife noticed a change in his breathing, and failing to awake him, summoned a physician who boarded in the same house.  He found his patient in a stupor, from which he never rallied, although everything in the power of the physician and counsel was done.  Kind friends at Port Henry, his late residence, did much to comfort the afflicted wife, and assist the parents who went after the remains.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, February 11, 1875

Death 

In DeRuyter [Madison Co. NY], Jan. 28th, Mr. Paul O. Maxson, formerly of Preston [Chenango Co. NY], aged 70 years.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, February 13, 1875

Deaths

BULLOCK:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY], on the 7th inst., Miss Eliza Bullock, aged 55 years.

PRATT:  In this village [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], on the 4th inst., DeEtta S. Pratt daughter of Talcott and Caroline Pratt, aged 27 years.  Miss Pratt was a lady of more than ordinary intelligence and amiability, and very highly esteemed among her friends and acquaintances.  Her illness was borne with great patience and Christian fortitude, and she passed away leaving the conviction in many hearts that Christ had but taken his own to Himself.

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DAVISON:  At the residence of her daughter, in Brooklyn, on the 6th inst., Mrs. Nancy G. Davison, widow of the late Peter I. Davison, aged 78 years.

Mrs. Nancy G. Davison, widow of the late Peter I. Davison, died of acute bronchitis, on Saturday last, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah W. Pierce, in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the age of 78 years.  Her remains were brought to Sherburne and interred in Christ church Cemetery on Tuesday. The funeral services, which were held in the church, were well attended, notwithstanding the severity of the weather.  Rev. Mr. Randolph read the burial service, and extemporized with touching eloquence, a brief discourse upon the words of St. Paul, "Sorrow not, brethren, for them that are asleep as others who have no hopes."  

The deceased, whose maiden name was Garrett, came from Garrettsville to Sherburne over half a century ago.  Here she has resided ever since, with the exception of the interval since her husband's death, which she passed with her daughter in Brooklyn and here she reared a large family of children, all of whom were present at her funeral, excepting the eldest son, who was too ill to undertake the journey.

Though Mrs. Davison's health has been declining for a few years past, her death was sudden at last.  A woman of peculiarly domestic habits, she mingled but little with society, but was known as a devout Christian, a devoted wife and mother, and an exemplary citizen.  The family have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their painful bereavement.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, February 13, 1875

Death 

Mrs. Eliza Yale, whose death was noticed last week, was born in Smithville, Chenango County [NY], Sept. 16th, 1812.  When four years old her parents removed to Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY].  At the early age of sixteen years, she gave her heart to Christ and united with the 2d Baptist church of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], with which she retained her connection for forty-one years, and during this time was held in high esteem by the Chruch as a worthy, consistent member and universally beloved by all who knew her.  From here she removed to this village and united with the Baptist church here, to which she had so greatly endeared herself that her sudden and unlooked for death was deeply felt by the Church and community and by a large circle of friends and relatives; but upon her affectionate companion with whom she has walked for so many years in sweet harmony the journey of life, and her dear children who were strongly attached to their devoted mother, who had given that care, love, counsel and sympathy which only a mother could give, the loss is deeply felt. but she lived to see all but one of her children walking in the way of life that she had taught by example and precept.  therefore, they mourn not without the hope of a glorious reunion beyond the river. The funeral rites were performed at the Baptist church of which she was a member by Revs. A.B. Richardson and D.N. Grummon, and attended by a large concourse of her bereaved relatives and friends.

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