Chenango American, Greene, NY, June 7, 1877
Deaths
In Barker [Broome Co. NY], May 11th, Mrs. Ruth Harrington, after a long and painful sickness, aged 67 years.
In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], June 4th, Mr. John W. Edwards aged 28 years.
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In this village [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], June 2d, Edgar B. [Conklin], son of Thomas and Sarah Conklin, of the town of Kirkwood, Broome County, [NY], aged 26 years.
Death is ever an unwelcome visitor, but it is doubly so when it removes from a community like this one of God's noblest works, an upright, honorable, and worthy young man, as in this case it has.
The subject of these few lines has been a resident of this village only about three years, yet in that brief space of time he has endeared himself to the entire community by his manly bearing and unquestioned integrity. A life of usefulness and honor was just bursting upon him, when, lo! the messenger came and he bowed to its mandates, and entered into that unknown world, where the spirits of the just are made perfect.
Mr. Conklin commenced the study of the law in the office of E.J. Arnold, Esq., two years and a half ago, and it is here that he has shown to us what his aspirations and character were. In the capacity of a student, he had exhibited those qualities which in time would have ripened into a full blown and useful career. Indeed, such was the confidence of his ability and integrity which was reposed in him by Mr. Arnold, that it was his intention, when he should have been admitted to the bar, to have taken him as a partner in his business. But all these earthly anticipations of a bright future have been dashed to the dust by the workings of an inscrutable Providence, and that young and manly form will no more be seen in our midst and the void occasioned by his death in the office, where he was so well beloved by his instructor and friend, will be hard to fill.
During the last year it has been our fortune to be near him in business, and we have found that he was composed of the material which once developed the world admires. We always found him an agreeable and genial young man and one who, if he differed with us, did it from an honesty of purpose, and from an opinion founded upon research which it was hard to undermine. In connection with all his noble characteristics, he was a Christian and when the destroying angel was hovering over his wasted and diseased form, it found him ready, and he exclaimed: "All is well!" And now that bright spirit is wandering by those golden shores waiting, yes, waiting for those loved ones he left here.
To the young men of our village, we would point to our departed friend as a character worthy of emulation. Strive as he did to be a man. Live as he did for a purpose, not only in this life but in the life to come.
His funeral was largely attended on Sunday, and an able and touching discourse was delivered by Rev. E.P. Eldredge, of the M.E. Church, of which he was a worthy member. A pleasing feature of the obsequies was the attendance of the large Sunday School, of which he had been Ass't Superintendent. We noticed also that the class of which he was instructor wore the badge of mourning, betokening their grief and deep loss.
Our community not only mourn the loss of this promising young man, but they extend to the young and bereaved wife, and all of his near and dear relatives their heart-felt sympathies in this their hour of deep affliction.
And may we all be as fully prepared to enter the portals of another and a brighter world when the messenger comes as he was for whom we mourn. "All is well!" Peace to his ashes.
Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, June 7, 1877
Death
"Aunt Ruth" Coe died at the residence of her brother-in-law, Dexter Hunt, on the 31st ult. She was beloved and esteemed by all who knew her. Her age was 81. Her remains were taken to White Store [Chenango Co. NY ] for interment.
Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, June 7, 1877
Marriages
At the home of the bride's father, May 30th, by Rev. H.H. Fisher, Wallace S. Hathaway of Morris [Otsego Co. NY], to Miss Jessie A. Young, of New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY].
At Gilbertsville [Otsego Co. NY], May 27th, by Rev. S.H. Moon, Wm. D. Babcock and Mrs. E.B. Greene, both of Gilbertsville.
Deaths
In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY], June 1st, 1877, Mrs. Naomi Lakin, aged 60 years.
In Toddsville [Otsego Co. NY], May 31st, 1877, David Finch, aged 45 years.
At the residence of Luther Goodrich, at Oaksville [Otsego Co. NY], June 2d, 1877, Wm. Northrup aged 69 years.
At Schuyler's Lake [Otsego Co. NY], April 25th, 1877, Mr. James Hayner in the 88th year of his age.
In Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY], May 23d, 1877, Wm. Oliver aged 50 years.
The last of the Harper Brothers is dead. James Harper, the eldest died in March 1869; Joseph Wesley [Harper], the third brother died a year later; John [Harper], the second, died on the 22d of April 1875, and Fletcher Harper the youngest brother died on the 29th ult. after a lingering illness. The business is now conducted by sons of the old firm.
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Died at Milford, N.Y. [Otsego Co.], May 31st, 1877, of prostration, succeeding pneumonia, and congestion of the brain, Sarah Hamlin [Bissell], wife of George N. Bissell and eldest daughter of David Hamlin of Watertown, N.Y. [Jefferson Co.], aged 28 years.
The funeral was held on the Sabbath of June 3d, at her residence, Milford, and after the burial of the deceased, memorial services were conducted at the Presbyterian church by the Rev. E.C. Van Camp, assisted by the Rev. A.B. Richardson. The services at the residence were held amidst a profusion of floral offerings which symbolized in their quantity and beauty the depth of affection for her of her friends and acquaintances. At the church, an assembly gathered filling the auditorium to overflowing. the exercises were intensely impressive. Rev. S.C. Van Camp, her pastor, referred eloquently and at length to the usefulness of the deceased, as a member of the church and to the graces of her character. And the Rev. A.B. Richardson spoke feelingly of the void her loss must cause in the community.
Mrs. Bissell united with the Presbyterian church at Milford in December 1872, by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, N.Y. and has ever since remained an active member thereof. During most of that time period she has been its voluntary organist. While she excelled in that position, her especial musical accomplishment resided in singing. Possessing a pure, rich, soprano voice, completely at her command, and in addition, a rare comprehension which can only insure the proper expression of sentiment, she almost invariably delighted her listeners. The last time she attended church service was in May, when she sang the melodious solo of P.P. Bliss, entitled, "What Shall the Harvest Be" with an intelligence and sweetness which fairly charmed the audience. Little thought her listeners that the harvest reaping would contain so rich a sheaf, and one so valuable to the community and to her three children, husband and friends, as herself.
In the Sabbath School of her church, she manifest to an extraordinary interest, extoling that practical piety which nothing but the love of so noble a sphere of work can better call forth.
Nor was she alone conspicuous in the church. Socially she was such a boon as only an active, cultured young woman can be. No person of her circle of acquaintance cast a brighter light about her as their painful suspense throughout her illness attested.
The last words that she uttered were addressed to her husband in admiration of her children as follows. "George, our children are beautiful children; our children are beautiful." Though her soul has fled to the realm of light and her voice is silent in the sleep that has no waking, the influence of her intelligent, Christian, earnest life, must long remain as an inspiration to all her friends.
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