Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, November 1874

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, November 5, 1874

Marriages

SEWARD - WIGHTMAN:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], Nov. 3d, by Rev. W.J. Judd, Mr. John G. Seward to Miss Nettie Wightman all of this village.

CARPENTER - BURDICK:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], by Rev. W.H. Waldron, Mr. Fayette Carpenter of Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY], to Miss Sarah J. Burdick of Norwich.

MATHEWSON - HURLBURT:  In Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 20th, by Elder M.A. Poole, Mr. Quincy Mathewson of Groton, Tompkins County [NY]\, to Miss Addie J. Hurlburt of the former place.

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Wooden Wedding:  The many friends of Rev. J.C. Nightingale, so long the loved pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], will be interested in the following pleasing incident, which we find in the Babylon (L.I.) Signal.

"Rev. J.C. Nightingale and lady were the recipients of a very pleasant surprise, on Wednesday night, October 28, from the congregation in the place, the event being the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the marriage of this highly esteemed and worthy couple.  The surprise was complete and was rendered very enjoyable by the manner in which it was received by the host and hostess.  Wooden ware of great variety was piled upon the back parlor table, until no more could be placed upon it, and the floor had to act as a receptacle for the favors of the large corps of friends. The presents included many articles for household use, and others for ornament.  The bird house, from Theo. N. Hawkins marked "For the nightingale Family, 5 years old," was much admired, while the mammoth boot jack caused much merriment.  It has been going the rounds since October 29, 1872, when it was presented by J.J. Robbins to Theo. N. Hawkins, who in turn presented it at the wooden wedding of Dr. J.O. Smith and lady, who after using and appreciating the valuable and useful gift for a short time presented it to M.F. Ketcham and lady, on the occasion of their wooden wedding, and now the identical boot jack has found its way to Rev. J.C. Nightingale, bearing the date of the transfers upon its surface. The other presents, many of which were very valuable and ranging from a wheelbarrow to a box of matches, were too numerous to mention. The whole parsonage was thrown open for the reception of the guests, all of whom seemed to enjoy themselves, while the bride of five years was flitting here and there with a pleasant word for all, and the groom with a hearty handshake, welcomed all their friends, with a vim that made all feel at home immediately. A splendid table was set by the ladies, in the dining room, which was not slighted by the guests. After spending a very pleasant evening, all retired with expressions of joy, as they wished the happy couple a good evening, and hoped to be able to meet them on the occasion of their Golden Wedding, 45 years hence."

Deaths

BRIGGS:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], on the morning of Oct. 28th, after a long and painful illness, Susan M. [Briggs] wife of Erastus Briggs, aged 55 years.

SMITH:  In German [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 25th, Mr. John P. Smith, aged 82 years.

KNAPP:  In Grand Rapids, Mich. Oct. 27th, at the residence of L.H. Knapp, Mrs. Eunice Knapp aged 89 years.

JUDSON:  In Candor N.Y. [Tioga Co.] Oct. 6th, Philecta [Judson] relict of Everett Judson, aged 75 years, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY].

Luther Bush, a farmer who resided in the town of Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY], was recently killed by accident while intoxicated.  He was driving home from the grist mill, and being helpless, fell from his wagon, thus inflicting a fatal wound.

Hon. William Addison Fitzhugh died at his temporary residence in Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY], October 24.  In 1831 when Monroe County was a single Assembly district, he represented it in the Assembly.  He as well known in Rochester and leaves numerous relatives in Monroe County.

Dr. J.D. Houghton, formerly Principal of the Oneida Seminary [Madison Co. NY], died at Carthage, Jefferson Co. [NY] on the 21st ult.

Mrs. Sarah Thornton, wife of Joshua Thornton, who resides near the village of Union [Broome Co. NY], was murdered on Sunday last by Levi Thornton, a brother of her husband.  The murderer is a dissipated, worthless character, who succeeded some time ago in inducing his sister-in-law to leave her husband and live with him, but after some months' separation she returned to her husband, was received by him, and was determined to have no more to do with her worthless admirer.  He has since tried in vain to induce her to go and live with him, and on Sunday, taking advantage of his brother's absence, he visited her again, and renewed his request, which she refused, when he attacked her with a pocketknife, and inflicted fatal wounds.  He then drew the knife across his own throat, inflicting a serious but not fatal wound, after which he fled and was pursued by the neighbors, who were enabled to follow him by the blood stains on the ground, and who found him about a mile from the house, in an exhausted condition.  He confessed the deed and gave particulars.  His statement was corroborated by the murdered woman, who, when discovered, was able to explain the whole transaction.  He is in custody.  His victim was about thirty-six years of age, has two children, and until her unfortunate elopement was regarded as a very fine woman, and above reproach.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, November 5, 1874

Marriages

DAVIS - STEVENS:  At the residence of the bride's parents in this village [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 23d?, by Rev. Lyman Wright, D.D. of Binghamton, Mr. Isaac Davis of Binghamton [Broome Co. NY] to Miss Jennis L. Stevens, daughter of Capt. S.S. Stevens.

CARPENTER - BERDICK:  In Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], by Rev. W.H. Waldron, Mr. Fayette Carpenter of Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY] and Miss Sarah J. Berdick of Norwich.

Death

HOAG:  In Dane County, Wis., October 25th? Mr. Daniel Hoag of consumption, aged -?- years and 8 days.

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DIED:  In Sidney Plains [Delaware Co. NY], October 24th, Nettie [Hill] aged 9 years and 8 months.

Death has knocked at our portals, knocked and entered, and away with him has borne our jewel.  Dear little Nettie, how we loved her!  With her sweet, winning ways, and her sunny disposition, she had so wound herself about our hearts that when the separation came and the golden chain was severed, it seemed as if our earthly sun was acting in a long night, and we bowed in the darkness with heart torn and bleeding. She was a great favorite at school, and each scholar let fall a silent tear upon hearing that their beloved playmate had gone above with the angels, no more with them to play and pass the pleasant hours by.  We laid her away in the silent churchyard, and above her grave shed some of the bitterest tears our eyes have ever known.  Our circle is broken, the Father called, and now looking up through our tears, we seem drawn with angel hands toward that golden city, which is fairer, dearer to us since o'er its streets lightly fall the little feet that bound through our home no more. We bow in submission to the benign will of the Father, who sent His guardian angel and wooed her from this life with its pain, its anguish, its trials, temptations and sin.

DIED:  In Sidney Plains [Delaware Co. NY], October 26th, Miss Bertha Winegard, eldest daughter of Richard and Jennie Winegard, aged 10 years.

Another star added to the crown in glory.  Oh, how beautiful!  She passed away from earth as gently as the snow before the sun of a spring day. She was young, beautiful, and beloved by old and young, and at her death it seemed as if a pall hung over our little village - we were all mourners. The school room where she was wont to enter, and over whose threshold she had passed many times, now has a vacant seat, and her pleasing countenance sparkles no more with the glow of youth but has been paled by the hand of death.  It seems strange that the hand of the spoiler should touch with his blight the bud that was so sweetly unfolding, but we could not hear the harps of the angels nor see the brightness beyond that was wooing her from life.  That sweet home band is broken, and on earth seems robbed of its brightness of father, mother, brother and sister, but oh, amidst your gloom remember that you possess the richest treasure than can be given to parents here, a little grave, and up above the gates, to you, ajar, an angel band beckoning within. She had recently given her heart to God, and the parents have the consolation of knowing that she died in Christ. She was aware that her end was approaching and bid all an affectionate farewell.  She will be missed in the Sabbath school, of which she was a shining member.  Farewell, Bertha, and may we at the close of life's toil here upon earth, meet you above with the angel throng.

These two little girls that have so soon passed from our midst were fast friends and during their illness heard from each other every half hour. They sleep side by side in the church yard and are now singing glad hosannas on the other shore.

The subjects of the above notices, taken from the Sidney Herald, of October 31, were near relatives of our much-respected citizen Justice Gunn.  The children, it will be noticed by the careful reader, were very near of an age, and as their earthly home was so situated that they could readily communicate with each other, the places of their parents joining, they met daily and depended upon each other for the enjoyments this world affords to those of tender years.  In a meadow halfway between the houses of Nettie's and Bertha' parents, the dividing line was provided with a gate and near this was the regular place of appointment for these two happy youths.  Stealthily and suddenly that uncompromising disease Diphtheria made its way into the family of Mr. Hill and carried off little Nettie, on October 24th, and only two days passed before darling Bertha also fell a victim to this dreadful intruder.  Inseparable in life they were quickly united forever in their heavenly home. The story is most pathetically told in the following poem:

The old red gate at the meadow, / Was the place where they used to meet, / That opened into the waving grass, / And the clover, and daises sweet, / Where the sheen of the early morning, / Made the beautiful valley lie / Like a precious jewel, guarded round / By the purple hills, and sky.

At the old red gate by the meadow, / They made their plans for the day; / In spring they curried the dandelions, / In summer, they tossed the hay, / And only the robins and bluebirds know / The happy secrets told / When Bertha's clustering brown locks touched /Sweet Nettie's hair of gold.

At the old red gate by the meadow, / They said good-bye for the day; / Then going home, the one had gone / With the other one, "half-way," / And merrily jesting, wild with glee, / The childish voices, clear and high, / Bubbling over with ecstasy, / Sang their songs and called, goodbye.

At the old red gate by the meadow, / They never more shall meet, / The grass-fringed path shall never / Be pressed by their eager feet, / For an Angel came from the heavenly land / Of joy, and light and love, / And bore sweet Nettie away with his hand / To her beautiful home above.

Are Angels ever lonely? / Do they ever stand and wait / With outstretched hands and ongoing eyes, / By the shining, pearly gate / Did Nettie ask for Bertha? / That the Angel came next day / And carried her ransomed spirit / In his tender arms away?

Ah! never so joyous a greeting, / By the meadow gate of old, / As came from the lips of the blessed ones, / On the gleaming streets of gold, / Ah, never such glad surprise, / As Nettie, and Bertha, clasping hands / On the shores of Paradise.

As the summers will shine on the meadow, / And the bobolink sing his strain, / You will pause, half thinking, that you can hear / The old-time songs again. / Listen for the angelic message, / for the heavenly whisper wait, / Come hither, come hither, we long for you / By the heavenly city's gate.