Saturday, July 15, 2023

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, March 1876 (continued)

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, March 9, 1876

Marriages

HENDERSON - DOOLITTLE:  In So. New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY] March 4th, by Rev. J.H. Barnard, Mr. Delos Henderson of West Edmeston [Otsego Co. NY] and Miss Celestia A. Doolittle, of Edmeston Centre.

SMITH - SISSON:  In Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], March 7, 1876, at the residence of the bride's father, Humphrey Sisson by Rev. J.G. Eckman, assisted by Rev. Wm. J. Judd, Leeman W. Smith Esq. of Preston [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Libbie N. Sisson of Norwich.

A pleasant and happy gathering took place at the residence of Humphrey Sisson in this village on Tuesday evening last, the occurrence being the marriage of his daughter Libbie and Mr. Leeman W. Smith of Preston. A large number of friends were present to witness the uniting of two happy hearts in one, which was quickly and beautifully done by Rev'ds Eckman and Judd.  Then came congratulations and a right royal spread of refreshments followed, to which the guests all paid due attention, and then came the inspection of a splendid and costly array of presents bestowed upon the happy bride by kind friends.  At a late hour the happy party dispersed with good wishes for the prosperity and happiness of the newly wedded pair, in which the Telegraph desires heartily to unite.  We also wish to make acknowledgement for very generous remembrance from the festive board.

Deaths

BENNETT:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], on the 4th inst. Marcia [Bennett] wife of Howard Bennett and daughter of William R. and M Caroline Breed of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] in the 24th year of her age.  But few pass away mourned with sadder tears than this amiable and excellent young woman.  Funeral on Thursday, 9th inst., at 1 P.M. from her late residence in Oxford, opp. Half-Way House.

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BROWN:  At Avoca, Iowa on Saturday, March 4 after a brief illness, William L. Brown formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], aged 48 years.

We regret to learn of the death of our old friend William L. Brown, at Avoca, Iowa, on the 4th inst., at the age of 48 years.  Mr. Brown will be remembered by our older citizens as the second son of the late Eleazer Brown, and brother of Henry M. and Cyrus R. Brown and Mrs. Russell A. Young of this town.  Last July, William made his last visit to the old homestead and friends in Norwich and was warmly welcomed by all.  His health though not first rate then, gave no token that Quick Consumption would so soon carry him off.

During his residence in the west, Mr. B. has been fairly successful in business and has enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him, and his death will be greatly regretted there as well as here by his many friends and acquaintances.  He leaves we believe, a wife and children.

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East Pharsalia [Chenango Co. NY]:  The funeral of L. A. Rathbone took place at the Congregational church Sunday afternoon.  He was taken sick on Tuesday with inflammation of the bowels and died Friday night.

News Item

Chenango's First Newspaper

The Lyon's Republican is publishing a series of interesting reminiscences under the head of "Lyons in the Olden Time."  In one which appeared in that paper of March 2d, we find the following allusion to the first newspaper printed in Chenango County. The notice of the paper and subsequent history of its proprietor, Abraham Romyen, may interest some of our older readers, and is, of itself, an interesting reminiscence of the past.

Abraham Romyen was a native of Sussex County, N.J. where he spent the early years of his life.  In 1770 his father removed from there and settled in the valley of the Mohawk river at Caughnawaga (now Fonda) where he spent twenty-five years of his life, and as early as 1800 published a weekly paper in Johnstown.  In March 1804, he removed into then the newly organized county of Chenango with his printing establishment, locating at Sherburne Four Corners and there published the first newspaper in Chenango County under the title of the Western Oracle, some numbers of which are in my possession and now lying before me, the earliest dated May 10th, 1804.  They contain a notice of the location of the county buildings in Chenango County and all the particulars of the duel between General Alexander Hamilton and Col. Aaron Burr, the correspondence before the duel, and the funeral and one of them is dressed in mourning for the death of Hamilton.  In 1806 Mr. Romyen removed to Manlius, Onondaga County, and there published the first newspaper printed in Onondaga County with the title of the -?- Gazette.  The office was in a small frame building on the north side of the street in the second story, and the entrance to it was occupied by Mr. Bela Farr as a silversmith's shop. The population was sparse, the people were poor, the mail facilities small, and taken as a whole it was an uphill job, and after maintaining a sickly existence for a year and a half the newspaper died in -?-.  He came to Lyons, visited in the village two years and then went into Galen when it was almost an unbroken wilderness, where he resided the rest of his life, which terminated March 19th, 1838, in the 77th year of his age."

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, March 8, 1876

Deaths

FURGUSON:  In Smithville [Chenango County, NY], Feb. 28th, Mr. Isaiah Furguson aged 45 years.

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The Late Aaron B. Main

Editor of the Times:  I noticed in a previous number of your paper a brief notice of the death of Aaron B. Main, an old and long respected citizen of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY]. Something more than a brief mention of his death is due to his memory.

He was one of the Pioneers of the time when a strong physical frame and patient persevering effort were the only fortunes left for the sons of those days to begin life with, and he succeeded by his own industry to give his family a pleasant, comfortable home, educate his children, and give liberally to every object of benevolence.  His table was always spread for the poor, and the houseless wanderer found there a place of repose.  His was a heart moved by impulses of kindness and sympathy.  In early life he gave his heart to God, trusting in Christ for justification and believing that "whosoever will let him take the water of life freely."  He was always in his place at the Chruch to which he belonged and was deeply interested in the Sunday school, always in place as teacher and laboring to do something to interest and please.

For the last forty years or more he has been wont to come to the village almost daily, till it became as natural to see "Ancle Aaron" as he was called, as it was to see the sun rise, and everyone had a cheerful smile and a pleasant word for him, which was pleasantly returned.

But he has passed away, and as we stand by his grave or pass the cottage on the hill, memory will recall the scenes of other days and we see him again with his family and friends. but soon the spell is broken, and we awake to the reality that he is gone.  And now we think of him in that bright summer land where there is eternal Spring and light without a cloud.

Unadilla Times, Unadilla, NY, October 3, 1875

News Item

Harvey Hunt of Otego [Otsego County, NY], has been enjoying a happy family reunion.  His family consists of himself, wife, one daughter, seven sons, six daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and ten grandchildren.  One son resides in Neenah, Wis., and has not visited his native place in seventeen years.  Another resides in Fairbury, Ill.  three sons reside in the city of New York, and the daughter and other two sons in Otego.  All were present at the dinner given by the parents on the occasion except one son, necessarily detained in the city.  Mr. Hunt gave his children a descriptive history of the ancestry.  Ninety years ago, they removed from the Green Mountains of Vermont to where now stands the beautiful village of Otego, then a hemlock swamp and dense forest, with only one framed house in the vicinity.  His father lived in a log house, but subsequently built a part of what is now the Otego Hotel.  Here Mr. Hunt was born.  They purchased 300 acres of land at $1.20 per acre, and whenever he could get together $100 in silver, for that was then the currency to use here, he took his old saddlebags and mounted his horse and road to Albany to make a payment.  Then wild animals prowled about the country, devastating and devouring stock with great boldness.  The [story of his life] in the joys and sorrows was completed. It was at touching scene and will be long remembered.

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