Thursday, November 16, 2023

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, April 1877 (continued)

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 5, 1877

Marriages

At the M.E. Parsonage, Triangle [Broome Co. NY], March 23, by Rev. George C Andrews, Mr. Peter Johnson to Amy A. Eggleston, all of Triangle.

In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], March 22, by Rev. E.T. Jacobs, Mr. D.A. Hyde to Miss Angelia Johnston, both of Afton.

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, April 5, 1877

Marriage

On Thursday, March 22d, 1877 in Milford, N.Y. [Otsego Co.], at the residence of the bride's parents by Rev. S.C. Van Camp, Nelson Scott of Milford and Miss Kate L. Goodrich youngest daughter of Chauncey Goodrich, Esq.

Deaths

At Edgewater early Easter morning, Mary Ann [Purpelly], wife of John Purpelly and daughter of the late Surgeon Lyman Foot, U.S.A.

Born at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, when this was a frontier post, her infancy was surrounded by the rude accompaniments of Indian and early settler life.  Upon the breaking out of the Florida war, Dr. Foot removed his family to Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY], where the subject of this sketch grew up to womanhood.  Passing much of her early life in this village, she was well known to many here, while numerous friendships formed in other places often called her hence.  To all she was known for her sprightliness of manner, for her quick and ready wit, and for her varied accomplishments which served to entertain and enliven all those with whom she was associated.  Had she chosen to make use of her talents for the benefit of the public, a career of successful authorship would have been opened before her.  But frequent and long endured period of ill health, and the many vicissitudes of a somewhat chequered life prevented.

Her characteristics of mind and heart shone forth in the intense sufferings of her final sickness of more than a year's duration.  Of strong and resolute will, of unwonted cheerfulness when all around were sad and of patience under pain and trial, she was an example to many who shrink under the lesser ills of life.

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In Oaksville [Otsego Co. NY], Saturday night, March 21st, Abel Brooks in the 88th year of his age.

Mr. Brooks was born in this state [NY] and had always lived in this section of the country.  His trade was that of a miller, although he did not follow this occupation continuously through life.  He was an industrious man, and wherever known highly respected for the singleness of his motives and the honesty and uprightness of his character.  No one could impeach his integrity.  Constitutionally strong and strictly temperate in his habits, he lived to the good ripe age of 87, even more than fulfilling the Psalmist's allotment of three score years and ten.  His strength gradually failed, and he died apparently of old age.  Like a shock of wheat fully ripe he was gathered into the Father's great store house, no more to be chilled by the storms of earth or to be burdened by trials and crosses.  Those of his kindred living may justly feel proud of his memory for the cardinal virtues he possessed.  They may rest in the faith that although his deeds were not great, as the world measures greatness, yet in the sight of heaven they will receive their just recognition and reward.  "For a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."  His funeral was attended from the home where he had lived, on the 3d inst., by Rev. E.S. Peck of Cooperstown, and the remains were interred in the old cemetery at Fly creek.

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At Schuyler's Lake, March 26th, John Austick aged 66 years.

Mr.  Austick immigrated to this country from England when a mere youth.  By frugality and industry, he rose from poverty and became one of the wealthiest and most successful businessmen in Exeter [Otsego Co. NY].  Although requiring prompt and full payment of all indebtedness, he was by no means oppressive with debtors, and liquidated all claims against himself with equal exactness.  His death leaves a vacancy in the ranks of businessmen not easily replaced.

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In Milford [Otsego Co. NY], at the residence of Mr. Newton, Viola F. [Cooper], infant and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A. Cooper, aged three weeks.

"Her's was the morning hour, / And she hath passed in beauty from the day, / A bud not yet a flower, / Torn in its sweetness from the parent spray. / The death wind swept her to her soft repose, / As frost in springtime blights the early rose / Not lost, but gone before."

In Worcester, N.Y. [Otsego Co.], After a lingering illness, borne with Christian fortitude, relying entirely on the merits of her Saviour, and supported by His presence, Mary Waterman, consort of H. Waterman, aged 57 years, 11 months and 15 days.

In Otsego [Otsego Co. NY], March 20th, Mrs. Betsey Eddy, wife of David Eddy, and daughter of Col. Joseph Gardner, aged 78 years and 4 months.

At Schenevus [Otsego Co. NY], April 2d, Hon. E.E. Ferrey aged 65 years.

In Toddsville [Otsego Co. NY], March 19th, Mrs. Amy J. Doolittle wife of the late John Doolittle, in the 76th year of her age.

In Plymouth, Ind., March 19th, Lucy May [Wilbur] only child of Leroy and Ophelia Wilbur, aged 2 years and 7 months.

In Roseboom [Otsego Co. NY], March 20th, Mrs. Harmon Howland, in the 70th year of her age.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, April 7, 1877

Marriage

JACKSON -SCOTT:  At the residence of the bride's mother in this village [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], on March 31st, by Rev. James Chambers, Mr. Willard Jackson and Miss Laura Scott, both of this place.

Deaths

ANDERSON:  In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], March 23, 1877, Mr. Foster Anderson, aged 86 years.

PARKER:  In this village [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], April 1st, 1877, Gettie Floy [Parker] daughter of H.R. Parker, aged 2 yrs and 5 months.

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Hezekiah Gifford, Esq.  (From the Elgin (Ill.) Advocate)

The subject of this notice died at Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas on March 2, 1877, of congestion of the lungs, aged sixty-six years, four months and twenty-eight days.

Mr. Gifford was really the first white man to locate in what now comprises the bountiful city of Elgin, having come here first in the fall of 1834, from Sherburne, N.Y. [Chenango Co.].  After looking around for a short time, Mr. Gifford returned to New York and induced his brother James T. [Gifford] to remove to the then far west with him. The two brothers left New York in January of 1835 and after a tedious tramp, they arrived at Chicago in March of the same year.  They left Chicago on horseback for Milwaukee and soon after sent their horses to Chicago and started on foot to explore the country.  After a long, weary march of three days and nights, during the greater portion of which time they were without food and obliged to wade deep creeks and rivers, they arrived at what is now Algonquin.  Here the travelers rested overnight, resuming their journey early next morning, they soon reached the ground on which Elgin now stands, and they at once resolved to locate here.   Hezekiah built the first house in this city, and in May was joined by his wife, and they settled upon their farm, remaining there a few years, when they removed to Grafton, Wisconsin.  They tarried in that state about two years, when they returned to Elgin and Mr. Gifford embarked in the commission business and kept a general store, which was about the first of the kind in the place.  He soon after removed to Aurora, where he engaged in the milling business. From that city he removed to Kansas in 1856, and returned to Elgin in 1862, and started business in the mill then owned by Dr Root.  A year later he started in the grocery business and put on the road the first delivery wagon in this city.  In 1866 he moved onto a farm in Cook County, where he remained until 1872, when he again returned to this city, and occupied the large, new and elegant house he had just completed on Villa Street, where he lived surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of life until January, 1875, when his wife, who shared the toils of life with him, was called home to her rest.  In May, 1876, he started on a business trip to Kansas, when he was overtaken by failing health, which grew worse until death released him from earthly troubles. 

In his last moments, he was surrounded by all his children, two daughters who live in Kansas and one son, S.J., who lives in this city.

It would be almost impossible to write a sketch of the deceased without embracing in it a history of Elgin, and in fact, of northern Illinois.   Mr. Gifford, very early in life, took a decided stand in favor of religion and united with the Baptist church, and was instrumental in organizing a church near St. Charles and later the one here, of which he remained an honored member up to the time of his death.  He was a kind, loving father and husband, a warm and genial friend, a man of deep convictions and always earnest for the right as he understood the right.

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