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

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 11, 1876

Death

SOULE:  In Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], on the 26th ult. of consumption, Wise W. Soule in the 67th year of is age.

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, May 10, 1876

Deaths

CHAPMAN:  At Easton, Penn., April 30th, Labbous Chapman, Jr., son of the late Labbous Chapman.

CHAPMAN:  At the residence of her son-in-law, R.S. Lewis, at Elizabeth, N.J., April 30th, Mrs. Ellen Chapman, widow of Labbous Chapman, and mother of the late Labbous Chapman, Jr., aged 76 years.

DYER:  In Whitesboro, N.Y. [Oneida Co.], April 30th, Mr. H. Sam Dyer, aged 31 years.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, May 13, 1876

Marriage

At the house of the bride's father, in this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], May 3d by Rev. J.H. Sage, Mr. Sam'l Dorn, of Boonville, Oneida Co. [NY], to Miss Angeline L. [Sprague] daughter of Francis L. Sprague.

Deaths

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], May 3d, Miss Ida [Smith], daughter of the late Orlando and Caroline Smith, aged 19 years and 5 months.

April 30th, at her late residence near Chenango Forks [Broome Co. NY], Mrs. Lucy [Seymour] wife of Anson Seymour, aged 75 years.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, May 13, 1876

Deaths

BUSH:  Near Union Valley [West Bainbridge, Chenango Co. NY], May 4th, 1876, Emma J. [Bush] wife of Rossman Bush, aged 37 years 3 months and 10 days.

On Thursday afternoon of last week, Mrs. Rossman Bush who has long been a sufferer, died at her home near Union Valley. The fact that her death was not sudden relieved in a great measure the sorrow which naturally would fall to the lot of her husband who is left to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate wife.  Her funeral took place from the M.E. Church at Union Valley, at which she has for years been a regular attendant.  She was buried in the West Bainbridge Cemetery.

Fielding S. Gant, one of our most respected and esteemed citizens, died very suddenly about 10 o'clock Thursday morning last.  He had contemplated a journey to Yonkers and had gone to the depot to take the train, but on his arrival there, complained of being faint and desired to return to the Hastings house where he and his family are residing.  Being too weak to walk alone Mr. Hastings and Mr. Barlow assisted him but had not proceeded more than thirty yards before he fell dead in their arms.  Heart disease is supposed to have been the cause.  He was about 75 years of age.  His remains will be taken on Monday of next week to Greenwood Cemetery for interment.

News Item

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, May 11, 1876

An Old Letter

The following letter was written by Lewis Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence to his son, Gen. Jacob Morris, of Morris [Otsego Co. NY], when a member of the State Senate.  It was found among the papers of Capt. Richard Morris and to now held by James S. Masters (grandson of Richard Morris) of Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY].  Shortly after the date of this letter, Lewis Morris departed this life, about twenty-one years after signing the Declaration of Independence.

Morrisania, 26 December 1797

My Dear son:  I should have answered yours of 7th Nov. before, but I have a sore heel.  It is very troublesome still.  A few days ago, I had a letter from your brother Lewis.  He assures me that he will be here by the 1st of June.  He brings with him his two sons to put to some good school or academy. Valentine has wrote to Harry Walton for his opinion of the one at Schenectady.  I wish you would write me your opinion of it.  Lewis begs of me to make every enquiry in my power which I shall, for he is exceedingly anxious about the education of his sons.  He says they are promising boys and wishes to give them the best education this country can afford.  I was sorry to hear your son john had so disappointed you.  I was in hopes that Lewis Morris would have been kind enough to attended to his morals, and make some enquiry about his studies, and had the tutors been honest they would have informed the Gen'l that he was not attending to books and then you might have taken it in the bud.  Your daughter, Sally, is here, when she came from Elizabeth Town, it was too late to send her and no person going that she would be trusted with.  She is much improved.  Her aunt and uncle Valentine take grain pains with her. She writes and reads every day.  She could not have better tutors.  It is a pity that Shadow came to you so thin, it was a long journey for a horse not used to travel, and the man I suppose did not take the best care of him.  However, if you grind some corn and oats together and feed him regularly, he will be as fat as a coal by the spring for he is a good feeding horse and his stock surpasses anything we have among us. 

This will be handed you by Colonel Burr.  His talents will give him great power in the Assembly.  He can do a great deal of good or harm, just as the fit takes him.  Your house may be able to make a stand against his intrigues.  In my opinion he will bend all his force against the Governor though I do not think he will be able much to hurt his Election.  I am sure the governor will have a great majority in this county and I believe in all the Southern districts.  However, if we can, it will be best to make use of Burr's talents to bring forward the Morrisania Road.  Doctor Brown is concerned in the event.  I therefore conclude Burr will take it up and perhaps he may be Sanguine.  If so, we may carry it agreeable to our wishes.  It is very hard on me to give the road and fence both and for the Legislature to dissolve a solemn act, done according to Law, because Mr. Jones says so.  I believe James will write you on the subject.  I will speak to the Doctor to write to Burr, and I think something may be done in the business.  

Your sister Sally is at Mr. Rutherford's.  Sally writes me that Mr. R. is better, but that he mends very slowly, that he will not be able to move to Trenton this winter nor attend Congress.  I was happy to hear the good account of your son Leo, and the younger ones.  When you write Polly give my best love to her, and that we yet hope when the Old Soldier comes, she will join us.  The Capt., Nancy and your daughter Sally, join me in our best love to you and remember me to all friends at Albany in particular my old friend the Governor, and believe me your Affectionate father and Friend.

Lewis Morris.