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

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 4, 1876

Deaths

The funeral of Charles S. Bradford of Sidney Plains [Delaware Co. NY], was largely attended on Tuesday.  Mr. Bradford was a life-long resident of this place, and his many virtues and Christian character will long be cherished when his remains shall have moldered in the dust.

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DAVIS:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], April 26th, after a brief illness, Mr. Paris O. Davis, in the 58th year of his age.

Mr. Davis was born in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], and was a son of Joseph Davis, who immigrated from Rhode Island many years ago and settled in the eastern portion of this town.  His mother was Abigial Pray Davis, a sister(?) of the late Mrs. Hiram Meller(?) of this village.  Though Mr. Davis's life has been that of a tiller of the soil he possessed -?- traits and -?- habits.  He was one of the most industrious and energetic men we ever knew.  In all his business dealings he was upright and honest, yielding to every man his just due, and in return feeling it but right to acquire it from others.  In this spirit he accumulated wealth and at the time of his death he was one of the large farmers of our county.  He was withal a benevolent man and though his charity may have been believed -?- only, many a poor man has had occasion to bless him for noble deeds of charity.  Knowing the object worthy, he hesitated not to impart to it a portion of that with which he was so abundantly blessed.  By reason of his removal from the business center he was not called upon to aid greatly in the public enterprises, yet the church and other public institutions came in for a share of his benefactions.  He was warmly attached to his town and home friends and seldom traveled even without the confines of our county.  Some twenty years ago he visited the west with a view to settling there, but after considerable observation abandoned the idea and returned to make this his permanent home. We believe he also visited the Eastern States.  He has been twice married; the last time in 1842 to Miss Emily E. Parker, eldest daughter of Nathan Parker, Jr., Esq., now deceased, a most estimable lady, who survives him.  He also leaves surviving him one child, a daughter, Emma, wife of Prof. James H. Werman and the grandson, "Bennie," of whom he thought so much. He had one sister, the wife of Washington Winsor and another, Lydia, wife of Francis N. Grant, who died last year.

Mr. Davis was one of our sterling men who abjured alike the luxuries and vices of our times.  His word once given was always relied upon as "good as his bond."  And in all his business and social transactions he was found on but one side of the question, and that generally the right side.  He was not a member, but an attendant of the Baptist Church in this village, and he died in the Christian faith.  Cheerful in his sickness when advised by his physician that he could not survive but a short time, he was resigned and expressed himself as ready for what the Master had in store for him.

His funeral was attended from his late residence on Friday afternoon last, and though the day was exceedingly stormy, an unusually large number of the citizens of the village and town gathered to pay a last tribute of respect to his worth.  

In their bereavement the relatives and friends have the sympathy of our entire community

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DIED:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] on Saturday the 20th ult. of scarlet fever after a brief illness, Miss Minnie L. Conway aged 19 years.

The unusually sad circumstances connected with the death of this young lady seems to call for something more than a passing notice.  She was born in Ireland and was the daughter of Major Thomas Conway, an officer in the English army, now stationed in London.  She was thoroughly educated in Maryborough Convent, Ireland, and came to this country with a desire to see and judge for herself of its beauty and learn so meting of our institutions.  She made it her home with Mr. Dennis Conway, who together with his brothers Michael and Cornelius were cousins of hers.  Her education and fine ladylike bearing at once gave her an excellent position in the young society of our village. Last year, learning of her superior acquirements, the Board of Education sought her out and at their earnest request she accepted the position of a teacher of one of our ward schools, a position which she filled with great acceptance up to her death.

The dread disease which has hovered over our village for some weeks, now happily subsiding, sought her out and marked her for its own, and she was stricken down last week, and, in a few days, disease had done its work.

Her funeral was held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in this village on Monday last and was largely attended by sympathizing friends from our Protestant as well as the Catholic community.

She was beloved by all who knew her for her real worth and truly estimable qualities.  In the school system with which she was connected she was considered to be one of the best teachers and enjoyed the respect and confidence of officers and patrons.

Though stricken down in a foreign land far away from near relatives and friends, yet it will be a pleasure to them to know that their daughter and friend was ministered unto with loving hands and everything possible done for her restoration, and in her circle here she is greatly mourned as one who never could go in and out before them without shedding a ray of light and pleasure upon all around her.

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Jedediah Barber, for half a century a resident and leading businessman of Homer [Cortland Co. NY], died on Wednesday evening of last week.  He may almost be said to have been the maker of Homer.  Coming to that place at a very early day, he soon after engaged in mercantile business, and during his long and active life, always had the interests of the village at heart and did everything in his power to forward them.  His acquaintance throughout the county was very extensive and for many years he was probably better known than any other man in it.