Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, April 5, 1876
News Item
There is an odd genius (not usual with bachelors) over in Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] by the name of O.D. Merchant, well known to many in this village. The room he occupies in his boarding house is 10x15 in size. In it is placed 61 pictures, 7 clocks, and 17 brackets, covered with a multitude of curious trinkets. He has also a counterpane 100 years old, on which is beautifully embroidered the following: "The King George, June 17, 1716". When asked why he does not get married, he replies that he would not have a woman continually displacing things in that room for anything in the world.
Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 6, 1876
Marriage
Our old friend Judge M.I. Hotchkiss has gone and did it. The ceremony occurred at Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] on Wednesday of last week. The Judge, weary of single blessedness, has finally united his fortunes to those of Minnie J. Platt of New York, and now all is serene, and unbounded happiness is spread out before the joyous twain. The Judge is a good soul and if the lady to whom he has united is as calm, dignified, self possessed and even tempered as he, we are sure that they will retain their hair to a good old age. That they may prosper and dwell in peace is the wish of the American.
Deaths
In this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY] (Page Brook) March 31st, Byrtie [Winston] son of Charles Winston, aged 3 years, 6 months and 15 days.
In Smithville Flats [Chenango Co. NY], March 27th, Mr. Thomas J. Read, aged 66 years.
In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], March 27th, Mr. Henry Hayes, aged 75 years.
In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], March 20th, Mr. Stephen Goodger, aged 56 years.
In Upper Lisle [Broome Co. NY] March 19th, Mrs. John Burghardt aged 79 years.
In Triangle [Broome Co. NY], April 2d, Elwyn [Eggleston] aged 12 years and 5 months.
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Died March 17 at the residence of his eldest daughter, Mrs. R. Augustus Trowbridge, near Greene village [Chenango Co. NY], Mr. Whiting Cornish in the 93d year of his age.
Born in Berkshire, Mass., May 18, 1784. Removed and settled in Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] about 1805, seventy years ago; residing during all his active life on the farm he had cleared and tilled.
He was married in Coventry to the daughter of James Wiley, a neighbor, who died Aug. 30, 1846, 30 years ago. They had 10 children of whom seven survive him; George Cornish of Bainbridge, and six daughters.
He ceased to take any active part in farm work, 15 years ago and kept up at least occasional attendance on public worship, until 7 years ago, when the increasing infirmities of age forbade the effort. In his religious connection he was a Methodist and exemplary in his attachment and in his life.
His children do not remember his ever having had a fit of sickness, except that having skipped over the mumps in his boyhood, he supplied this gap in his experience in sympathy with that of his boys when they went through it as some of our venerable citizens are not doing in the matter of whooping cough.
The use of his faculties of sight and hearing remained to him but slightly impaired and with it the solace of reading and conversation.
For near 20 years he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge and his empty armchair in the corner by the window commanding a view of the road, the river, the canal and railroad, makes a sad change to those who had so long taken a pleasure in answering every wish of "grandpa."
On the wide windowsill there are still his large print New Testament read daily and hourly by him; his spectacle case and the pipe and tobacco box which he used with restrained moderation at set times daily, till the last; tho' nothing could persuade him to smoke within doors, until disabled from walking in the last fortnight of his life.
To fill his pipe and place it in his hand unsteadied by age and hold the light to it was a grateful task to every member of the household and then he took his seat on the porch to enjoy the harmless luxury.
To the last he kept up a scrupulous regard to neatness in person and apparel and was always in these respects a model, reminding one of George Herlbert's aphorisms:
"Let thy mind's cleanness have its operation, / Upon thy body, dress and habitation."
And again:
"Be neat / That all may board then as a flower."
His last short illness and breaking down was occasioned by a misstep in the dark and a fall with a severe shock and some contusions, but his reason and speech were spared to him to almost his last breath; as he yielded up his willing spirit in Christian peace and hope, amid loving prayer offered by the eldest of the 4 daughters who waited around his bed. the sudden sickness and death of his lamented son-in-law, Mr. Trowbridge, to whom he was tenderly attached, intensified his own longing to depart; and to the writer of this who had taken a great comfort in sacred converse and frequent prayers with him, he suggested modestly and with emotion as one fit text for Mr. T's funeral, To me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Rev. W.H. Gavitt, the Methodist preacher at his funeral adopted it as a theme for his discourse. A voice from his grave speakes to us--"Keep innocency and take heed to the thing that is right, for that shall bring a man peace at the last."
"Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee."
Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, April 8, 1876
Death
HILL: In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], on the 2nd inst. Mrs. Ardellissie Hill, aged 88 years.
A fatal accident occurred about one and one-quarter mile south of this village [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY] on Monday of this week. Mr. Devillo Preston of Poolville [Madison Co. NY] was engaged in moving the goods for Mrs. Chancey Palmer and was riding upon a load when it is supposed he was taken with a fit and fell to the ground. When first discovered, the team had stopped, and Mr. Preston was lying under the wagon. The lower jaw was found to be broken in two places; the upper jaw was also broken, and the skull was fractured back of the ear. It was difficult to decide whether the wagon passed over him. Some think that he was fatally injured by the fall, others that he was kicked by the horses after falling. When found his hand was grasping the lines and it is presumed that by becoming entangled the horses were stopped, though it was evident that Mr. P. had been dragged a number of rods after falling. He was taken up and carried to a house nearby and medical aid called, when he revived and though unable to speak, lingered until about 12-1/2 o'clock P.M. The deceased leaves a wife and two children, and it is reported a property of $25,000 to $30,000.
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