Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, July 26, 1877
Marriage
At the residence of the bride's mother, in the town of Hartwick [Otsego Co. NY], July 18th, 1877, by Rev. A.N. Daniels, Addison L. Stewart and Miss Ruth A Luther, both of Hartwick.
Deaths
In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY], July 4th, 1877, Albert S. [Harper], son of Wm. I and Mary E. Harper, aged 6 months and 11 days.
At Brooklyn, Sunday, July 22d, Sarah C. [Brown], only daughter of Arthur A. and Mary A. Brown, aged 19 years and 8 months. This young lady was a native of Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY], where she has many friends who will learn of her early death with sorrow. She was possessed of those lovely traits of character, combined with a very pleasing manner, which win the admiration and love of those who appreciate their charm.
In Burlington [Otsego Co. NY], June 28th, 1877, John Smith, aged 79 years and 8 months. Born, lived and died on the same farm. He was highly respected in the community by all, and died as he had lived, the noblest work of God, an honest man. Peace to his memory.
At Garrisons on the Hudson, Friday July 20, 1877, Rev. Henry O. Stowell, son of the late Jas. Stowell, aged 67 years.
In West Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY], July 15th, Mary [Hodge] wife of Daniel Hodge, aged 71 years, 1 month and 8 days.
In Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY], July 12th, 1877, after a lingering illness, Mrs. G.A. Rockwell, aged 49 years.
At Deadham, Mass., July 19th, Sophia M. [Edgerton] wife of Col Erastus Edgerton, aged 65 years and 9 months.
Morris Chronicle, Morris, NY, July 25, 1877
Deaths
Gilbertsville, Otsego Co., NY: Sunday 15th. Mr. Zadock Shaw was down with an apoplectic fit. he shaved himself about 2 P.M. and went out to the penstock, as was his custom to wash, when he fell forward inflicting a severe wound on his face. He remained insensible and died on Tuesday, was buried on Thursday in the burying ground near his residence at 2 P.M. Rev. B.B. Carruth officiating.
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Hon. Daniel Stewart died in Hobart, Delaware County [NY] on the 12th inst., aged 52. He was a man of superior ability and education, ready to speak or write on any subject at a moment's notice. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1853 and 1869. At the time of his death, he was engaged in the mercantile business in Hobart. A correspondent of the Stamford Mirror says:
"Mr. S. delivered an address on the 4th, admitted by all who heard it, to have been one of unusual brilliancy. As is the case many times on the glorious Fourth, with those who are celebrating, indulged in partaking of strong drink, and had since drunk more or less. The night before his death, he was usually salubrious and not desiring to go to his boarding place, went into the "court room" in the hotel and slept on the floor all night. In the morning on making his appearance, he told the bartender he did not feel very well and thought a drink would do him good. He took one, two, and three portions of bourbon and went down to his store. there he sat down on a sack of coffee, fell asleep and in this unconscious condition was carried upstairs placed on a slat bedstead, with only a piece of carpeting under him, and a bag of feathers for a pillow. Here he remained until found, not even a glass of water furnished him, or any attention given to him, until 5 o'clock P.M., when he was discovered to be dead and cold, lying on his back, in exactly the same position as when placed there at 7 o'clock in the morning. He had not partaken of food of any account, for several days."
Stamford Mirror, Stamford, NY, July 178, 1877: I heard one woman who went and saw him on his deathbed say: "Oh! dear, how I wish I had known of his condition, I would have taken him to my house, cared for him, nursed him up, and saved his life. It is too bad to think that he died in this manner." According to the opinion of doctors at the inquest, he must have been dead for five or six hours.
One Hobart man told me that S. had been on a spree, and they could not do anything with him, and they had agreed to let him have all the liquor he wanted, "Keep him filled up," and perhaps he would get sick and ashamed of drinking and quit the habit. Like others, many times he did not realize when he had enough and needed a friend to tell him. It was the last hair that broke the Camel's back, and the last drink that intoxicates. He knew this fault and had often told his friends that when they discovered him in this condition to take him home, away from the sight of liquor, even if they had to use force to do so, as he had no recollection of what occurred when he was too much under the influence of the "vile monster." It took but little to create such insanity, the mental strain was too great, and when the sad effects of stimulants were exhausted, the "lamp of life ceased to burn," and thus passed away a noble man, a good friend, and a valuable citizen; a victim of one fault.
Other such cases may happen. Let this be a warning to all "Touch not the fatal cup," and when we see so good a man unable to help himself, not fail to assist the weak, especially when unconscious and unable to help himself. It is a sad case. Let us remember the good qualities of the departed and avoid dangers that beset us at every step.
Oneonta Herald & Democrat, Oneonta, NY, July 27, 1877
Deaths
At Davenport [Delaware Co. NY], July 15, Andrew Mathews, M.D., of Breakabeen [Schoharie Co. NY]
In New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY], July 20th, the [Elvira Reed] wife of Calvin Reed, aged 56 years.
Garrettsville Otsego Co., NY: The wife of Calvin Reed died on Friday night. Mrs. R. had been quite unwell for a short time and had not been able to attend to her household duties but was so much better that she dismissed her hired girl and thought she could do her work alone. She commenced coughing in the night and did not live but a short time. Her funeral services were held on Sunday.
Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, July 25, 1877
In Memoriam
"As melts the snowflake on the water, So fades and sinks earth's peerless daughter."
An old proverbial philosopher has written that "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," and many who have never experienced at the hand of the great destroyer the withering of heart blossoms during life, have believed this saying true. But unto those whose image of hope has suddenly draped with the sombre hangings of despair, whose sunshine of the soul has been so irretrievably obscured by the cloudings of woe, such sentiments as these fall like the pale moonbeam upon the frozen fountain, mocking its desolation.
Eva [Seacord], the lovely and adopted daughter of Stephen Seacord, of Ouleout, the love of the household, the pride of the school, and the honored member of every circle in which she as a child appeared, sleeps in death.
The shining mark hath been pierced; the opening bud has withered, and the young, the beautiful, and the loved one, like an autumn rose leaf, hath been torn by the frost and hurried out of existence by the blast.
As a gentle sunbeam, stealing from behind a cloud, lends a pleasing charm in everything around, so, she, blessed with a mild, amiable and affectionate disposition, never failed to endear herself to all who came within the sphere of her influence.
In the springtime of her life, this one characteristic shone forth bright and unfading, one which deserves to be imitated and remembered by all the youthful who would wish to be useful and honored. It was a cheerful and happy acquiescence to the will of her adopted parents. To fulfill their behests was the first ambition of her heart.
Her closing scene was what might have been expected in the termination of such a life. "At eventide" there was still "light for her / Her sun set as sets the morning star. / That goes not down behind the darkened west / Nor hides obscured amid the tempest of the sky, / But melts away into the light of heaven."
All that medical skill could perform was done, but the gentle spirit was tired with a heavenly ardor and panted for its eagle flight. Just before she closed her eyes forever, she sang in a rich, clear voice, "Hold the Fort," which she had been accustomed to hear in the Sunday school.
If it were reasonable to conjecture that, as in old and ancient times, angels did now sometimes leave the heavenly world, and for some holy purpose, shroud themselves int he habiliments of humanity for a season, then it would not be at all difficult to conceive this a cheruble incarnation from the spirit world, who after having performed its mission, had been recalled. Responsive to the call her unfettered soul, borne away upon the wing of faith and hope, bade farewell to earth and the weeping friends and ascended to her Lord.
"Midst the gloom of the earth for a moment she trod. / Farewell to thee, Eva, twere sinful to weep / O'er thy casket of clay so sweetly asleep; / Tis the slumber of rest, where spirits of love / Await thy waking to bear thee above.