Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, April 17, 1875
Deaths
Nelson C. Rexford, died at Naples, Italy, March 26th, 1875. the sad event was announced by letter of the American Consul at Naples, written March 27th, and received at Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] April 12th, 1875.
The deceased was in his fifty-seventh year, having been born at Sherburne May 29th, 1818. He was the third son and sixth child of the late Benjamin Rexford of Sherburne, who died in 1825. He was educated at the old Sherburne Academy and the Homer Academy. When quite a young man he was for a time an assistant clerk in the Chenango County Clerk's Office under Perez Randall. He went to New York early and established the commission House of Rexford & Van Riper, at No. 29 Moore Street. In addition to his commission business, he was for a time the New York Agent of the Chenango Lake Boat line. He retired from business about fourteen years ago satisfied with his success. His life since then has been spent in study and travel. He was an extensive reader, especially of books in the French and Italian languages. He made seven voyages to Europe. In his extensive travels he was a diligent collector of pictures and other objects of interest illustrative of the history, customs, scenery and architecture of the various countries he visited. His collection of stereoscopic views is thought to be the best in the country.
Mr. Rexford was a man of active but unostentatious benevolence. He selected meritorious of charity, but such as were most to escape the notice of others. His helping hand placed many a poor and friendless person in comparative comfort. Two objects of a public character here in Sherburne were especial care. He purchased the land on which are the Sherburne Falls and Glen, cleared away rubbish, constructed walks and made that charming resort accessible to visitors. To the Congregational burial Ground he devoted his time and money as freely as if it had concerned him alone. His remains repose in the Protestant Cemetery at Naples where he requested to be buried upon finding he would not return home.
Upon his going abroad last fall he showed anxiety about his health and engaged Dr. Henry C. Lyman of Sherburne to go to Europe and accompany him home upon being summoned by telegraph. During the winter he had written that he had what is called the Naples fever, which is a malarial complaint prevalent in those regions when the winter season is damp, but that he was getting better and expected to come home. He seems not to have been aware of his danger until the very last. Though he died in a foreign land and away from kindred, yet his country's representative was present with him to take the place of kindred and friends. One of the loveliest attributes of a great nationality is the ability to stretch a hand to the remote parts of the earth to comfort and protect wanderers.
The Hon B. Odell Duncan, United States Consul at Naples, has the heartfelt thanks of the friends of the deceased for his care and kindness to him during his illness, and for his thoughtful and delicate manner of communicating the circumstances of his death.
Mr. Rexford was never married. Out of a family of five brothers and three sisters, but two survive, Mrs. Sarah R. Havely of Sherburne, the eldest of the family, and J. DeWitt Rexford, Esq., of Janesville, Wis. Three have died within the last three years, Hon. Benjain F. Rexford of Norwich, Mrs. Emily Adams and the subject of this sketch.
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The following from the Union City (Mich.) Register on the death of the late Darius Buell will be read with interest by many of the former acquaintances of the deceased who yet reside in this County:
"In many respects the sudden blotting out of the life of our old and esteemed townsman, has left a vacancy that cannot easily be filled. Darius Buell, who for thirty-nine years has been an active worker, and prominently connected with the growth and prosperity of this people, through all these changing years, has been called to that bourn from whence no mortal ever returns. The dull, solemn tolls of the Church bells, emblematic of mourning have spoken of a public and private bereavement, that strikes all hearts with the keenest and deepest sensibility. But a few short weeks ago, he was in the full possession of mental and physical vigor, ready and willing to grapple with the great problems of life. Now he lies cold and still beneath the sods of Riverside Cemetery.
Mr. Buell was born at Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, on the 6th day of July 1808, and was therefore nearly sixty-seven years of age at the time of his death. He lived in the town of his birth, learning the business of a builder, and at the age of nineteen entered into a partnership with his employer, which continued until he came to this place in 1836. In 1835 he was married to Miss Cornelia Lincoln, by whom he has had six children, four of whom he now sleeps with in their last resting place. At the time he came to Union City, there was but few houses where now stands the beautiful city. At that time he was the only builder competent to lay out work and carry it through to completion. In 1837 he planned the work for the water flour mill now owned by Dicks & Co. on the flats, and it is told that many days during the progress of the work, he would lie down by the side of a timber, indulge in the luxury of an old-fashioned ague shake, and then get up and go on with the planning and laying out of the work. In these early times, life was not always surrounded with the luxuries and comforts of our more modern civilization. The mill had to be built, the workmen kept employed, and the whole responsibility rested upon his shoulders. His was the mind that gave shape and direction to its colossal proportions. Nearly all the older houses of this pace bear either the evidence of his handiwork or show the planning of his master mind. The inside work of the Congregational Church was also matured and brought into its present beautiful proportions by him. When the formation of the old Union City Iron Company was effected, he was one of the original stockholders, and was made foreman of the mechanical department which position and interest he retained until the company sold out to Col. Thomas Moseley. In 1847 he engaged in the mercantile business at this place, which was continued until his partner, Mr. Abram Young, went to California, when the concern passed into other hands. His store built by himself, was then located upon the ground now occupied by W.E. Shumway. During the war for the preservation of the Union, he was active and persistent in efforts to do what he could to cripple the power of the enemy, by using his influence to induce our young men to enter the service, and his vote to raise money for the support of the families of those who went into the army. One of his own sons fell a victim to the nefarious demands of our country's enemies. He was also energetic and always used his best efforts for the permanent growth and prosperity of our city, giving largely for the purpose of establishing a railroad through this place, and other necessary improvements. At an earlier date still, when it was thought that the St. Joseph River was unnavigable for boats to this place, he entered heartily into the proposition for the formation of a Stock Company, whose object was the building of a boat to test the theory. The boat was built, it went down the river, but never came back. Much of the woodwork was done by his own hands.
Darius Buell was in every sense of the word a good man. In life he bore the reputation of being honest and upright in all his dealings with men, and in his death our citizens can but feel that a good man, a man of energy, a man whose life was a shining light, and a glowing example to others, has gone out. He was a representative man and sought to inculcate in the minds of his fellow men, a high and lofty purpose in life, and his departure from earthly scenes into the bright and glorious beyond, has created a vacancy not easily to be supplied."
Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, April 10, 1875
Deaths
She is not dead but sleepeth! So, we thought as the sad voice of a friend informed us that Mrs. A. Wooster was dead. For He who spake as never man spake said, "he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." None knew the deceased but to love and respect her, and there is a vacant spot in that home circle that will not soon be filled. It was not our privilege to see her during her brief illness, but those who were present were deeply impressed with the calm resignation and submission to the will of the Almighty. Strong in the faith that this mortal should put on immortality, she welcomed death's gracious angel with calmness and child-like trust, and she had no doubts but the Everlasting Arm would support her while passing through the valley and shadow of death; no doubts but on the other shore loved ones that have gone before would welcome her home; no doubt but in the sweet by and by she would again be united with loved ones left behind. She is gone, and although many hearts are made sad, and the happy home made desolate by her departure. Heaven rejoices that another is added to the choir above to swell the redemption song. A.J.Y.
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Died in Afton, March 2, 1875, of pneumonia, Mrs. Adelia O. Camp, aged 51 years.
As one after another of these earlier friends depart, I am led to exclaim "death is a ruthless foe. By it beauty is marred, bliss invaded, hopes blasted, fairest prospects blighted and Joyous homes made desolate!"
I remember sister Camp as one of a little band of Christians that gathered at the Chapel in the southwestern part of Bainbridge, now North Afton. She, with her husband, and a few others, made my heart glad as they gave me the kindly hand, and greeted me with happy smiles the first Sabbath of my itineracy. Many of those loving Christian friends are gone, safely, sweetly resting in the Glory land. She, too, has joined her voice to sing the eternal praise of Him who came to prove that God is love.
She was born in Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], early gave her heart to Christ, and after many years of sadness and joy, of trial and triumph, she passed away to her reward.
She had been a widow for quite a number of years; her husband having sacrificed his life in the late rebellion; but in all her care, and toil, and struggle, no murmur of complaint, always a cheerful happy spirit, she has left a noble example of Christian fortitude and patience to friends and to three orphan children. Her last days were peaceful and serene, her triumph in Christ complete. She said in her last moments, "sing, sing "Rock of ages cleft for me."
Thus, we learn our friend passed from this world of sickness, pain and death, to the Bright Beyond, where no sickness enters, no death destroys.
All may thus triumph trusting in the same Christ and say "to die is gain." My heart would dictate the wish, that all earlier friends, and those of later years in your vicinity, that when death comes, they may "Wrap the drapery of their couch about them / And lie down to pleasant dreams." B.B.C.
Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, April 17, 1875
Marriages
WEBB - HOVEY: At the M.E. parsonage in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co. NY], April 12th, 1875, by Rev. A.B. Richardson, Mr. Geo. Webb of Bainbridge, to Miss Mary E. Hovey of Guilford Centre [Chenango Co. NY].
HODGINS - SLITER: At the Susquehanna Valley House, on the morning of Sunday April 11th, 1875, by A.A. VanHorne, Esq., Wm. E. Hodges to Adelia Sliter, both fo Sidney Plains [Delaware Co. NY].
Deaths
IRELAND: In this town [Baibnridge, Chenango Co. NY], April 8th, 1875, Thomas Ireland aged 92 years.
Mr. Thomas Ireland whose death we record this week, was one of the two oldest men in this town. He moved form Saratoga County, N.Y. about 60 years ago to the farm on which he died, having never changed his place of residence since coming to this part of the country. The farm referred to is known as the Ireland homestead and occupied by Alexander Ireland.
BUCKTESHLER: In Yaleville [Chenango Co. NY], April 11th, 1875, Freddie [Buckteshler] only son of John and Libbie Buckteshler, aged about 4 years.
HOUSTON: In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], of scarlet fever, April 2d, 1875, Charles W. [Houston] only son of James and Augusta Houston, aged3 years and 1 month.
SMITH: In Masonville [Delaware Co. NY], April 7th, 1875, Olivia Smith, aged 18 years.
DEWEY: In Masonville [Delaware Co. NY] April 8th, 1875, Dolphus Dewey, aged 34 years.
HYDE: In Afton [Delaware Co. NY], Aril 11th, 1875, of consumption, Howard Hyde, aged about18 years.
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