Death of Charles Chilson, Earlville, NY, September 1876

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, October 5, 1876

Sudden Death Near Earlville [Madison Co. NY]

The Utica Herald gives the following particulars of a singular death near Earlville, on Wednesday night of last week:

"Wednesday night the engineer of the Utica express on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad saw a man standing within four inches of his engine as he was coming north, between Sherburne and Earlville.  The man seemed to step off the track just as the train approached.  Thursday morning the body of a man who had been seen at Earlville the preceding day, was found lying near the side of the track.  He acted strangely and was believed to be insane.  A coroner's inquest was held, but no injury was found upon the body, except a scratch that was probably caused by his fall. The postmortem examination disclosed the fact that a small, sharp-pointed piece of bone was attached to the outer covering of the skull and extended down into the brain.  This was undoubtedly the cause of his insanity. Death was probably caused by fright or heart disease.  Papers on his person gave his name as C. Chilson.  He had relatives at home and Cazenovia, and his mother resides at Canastota.  As his family was sick and the deceased had no property, he was buried at Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY]."

The Sherburne News says that it was ascertained the Chilson was in Earlville the day previous very ill. His singular appearance inducing the belief that he was insane.  At the depot he called for paper and ink and did some writing, which was found on the body when it was examined.  He wore a French yoke shirt which was observed to be the wrong side in front.  Twenty-five or thirty apples were found in pockets of deceased and stuffed inside of his vest.  There was some evidence that his struggle in death was a severe one, but no indications of violence.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, October 7, 1876

Coroner's Inquest

The inquest on the body of Charles Chilson, of which mention was made last week, was adjourned to Monday the 2d inst., Isaac Plumb, Albert R. Gladwin, John B. Wilbur, William R. Walker, Albert C. Parker, Rush W. Carrier, Benjamin F. Matteson, and Archibald Whitford were sworn as jurors.  Henry C. Lyman Coroner.

Geo. F. Merrills, being sworn testified, that he works for Jacob G. Reese near Earlville; Thursday morning, Sept. 28, was going to work in company with Jacob [John] Carrol; was on the road running north and south from Earlville, through the Reese farm; discovered the body of a man lying on the eastside of the road near the top of the hill north of Reese's house, about two miles from the village of Earlville; was dead; he lay with his head down the hill on one side of his face; off the traveled part of the road outside of the wheel track; it had the appearance of his having struggled considerable; this was in the town of Sherburne; the grass and the ground had the appearance of his having fell twelve feet from where we found him; the grass was trampled down; he looked as though he had laid there some time; did not see any evidence of any violence having been used on his person; I did not disturb the body; I immediately came down and notified the coroner at Sherburne; the hat was lying near his head and his clothing all on; that was the first I saw of him when I found him dead; he had forty-one apples on his person and lying behind him, all on his person except two; the apples were very hard, not fit to eat; I saw the marking on his clothing; it was C Chilson; I think it was Wednesday, instead of Thursday that I found the body.

John Carrol, being sworn, testified that he works for Mr. Reese, was with Merrills when the body was found and corroborated the statement of Merrills throughout.

George W. Shaw sworn:  Is an employee on the D.L.&W.R.R.; resides opposite the depot in Earlville; have seen the body in the coffin, and know him to be the man I saw in the forenoon at Earlville station, Wednesday the 27th; he passed my house about 6:15 in the afternoon going towards Sherburne on the track; saw him fall from a bench on the depot steps that forenoon on the platform and picked him up; he was picking kernels of corn and eating them; said he was not hungry; Mr. Gross asked him if he would eat and he said he would; he did not appear to have good use of his left arm and leg; said he had not been drinking; said sometimes a person got down and could not get up; he ate a good hearty meal; do not think when he fell off the bench he could get up alone; never saw him before Wednesday.

David G. Stafford sworn:  Is a constable in Earlville; has seen Mr. Chilson in the coffin; is the same person I saw at Earlville Tuesday the 26th; saw him in a saloon; was brought there for me to take charge of; I could not get any place for him to stay; he had something to eat in the saloon kept by Frank Goshaw; I left him in Ike Brown's hotel about 10 o'clock Tuesday evening; he said he come from Chicago last April, the 16th or 19th; that he had been among his friends in the town of Madison; said he went about three weeks before to his brother-in-law near Cazenovia, by name of Clark, about four miles from there; that his sister brought  him to the depot to take the train; said his name was Charles Chilson; I asked him which house he put up at in Earlville and he said "down here on Fifth Avenue, they used to call it Milk Street until within the last three years;" I received the impression from talking with him that he was insane; that was the last I saw of him.

Devolson Willcox testified to seeing deceased about the mill at Earlville, Monday or Tuesday evening; he was told to go away, as the dog might bite him; his actions made witness think he was crazy or a fool; he came back again to the mill and winters then took him to Stafford.

William Cassels sworn:  Saw deceased pass his house about 6 o'clock Wednesday morning; he had a cane and limped.

William P. Beach sworn:  Live about 3/4 mile from where the body was found; heard a scream as if a man in distress on the railroad track; took a lantern and with another man went to search but did not see anyone; heard the scream three times.

Andrew S. Douglass being duly sworn, testified as follows:  "I am a practicing physician and surgeon at Earlville, N.Y.; I have seen the body of the deceased here in the coffin; I know it and recognize it to be the body of Charles Chilson; I have known him for as much as thirty years, since we were boys; he resided in the town of Fenner, Madison County;  he was brought up by David Hess; he lived with him I know for several years; I lived within about two and a half miles of him at that time; should think his age was about forty-four or five, he was about my age; he lived with Hess until he was about twenty-one; they educated him well; he went to Cazenovia to school; think when he was twenty or twenty-one he commenced teaching; he taught two for three seasons; he went from there to Chicago, and read law; he was admitted to practice; was in real estate and broker business;  I then lost sight of him until last May; saw him then in Cazenovia; he was a smart business man; it must have been sixteen or eighteen years ago when he went to Chicago; he came to visit one time at Mr. Hess's;  when I met him last in the spring he looked different from what he used to; I asked my bother-in-law what was the matter with him; he said he was deranged; from his actions and deportment I thought he was evidently deranged; he was married in Chicago, and lost his wife; was burned out at the large fire there and people thought that was the cause of his losing his reason.

Elisha S. Lyman being duly sworn, testified as follows:  I reside in Sherburne; am a practicing physician and surgeon; have been for the past forty-two years; I saw the body of this Chilson where it lay before it had been removed; as he lay, from appearances, should think he was paralyzed on his left side; he lay partially on his left side; he had not, I should think, struggled hard, from his retaining the quantity of apples he had on his person; don't think the apples he ate had any effect upon him; his limbs were rigid; at time I found him, his head lay down the hill; nothing unusual in his countenance for a person dying in that position; there was no blood on his head only a little scratch over his right ear; it was of no consequence; I made a postmortem examination of the body with the assistance of Charles  L. Easton, Jr. at the Medbury Hotel, in the village of Sherburne, on Friday morning, the 29th of September, we found no external marks of violence on his body; was examined his throat, heart and lungs, stomach, liver and intestines, found no marks of injury or disease; on removing the scalp and sawing through the skull on the back part of the right side, under the back part of the parietal bone, found some dark blood, two or three tablespoon full, which run out on sawing the bone; there was no blood in any of the sinuses; on removing the dura mater the surface of the brain looked healthy; in the dividing membrane of the hemispheres was a deposition of bone not connected with the cranium, but attached to the part of the dura mater (the falx cerebri) which divides the two hemispheres; one portion of this was one and quarter inch in length; could not see any place in the brain that showed irritation from these; the brain was a very firm brain, which is common to lunatics; I judged that insanity might be expected to follow the formation of this bone, owing to the pressure produced by them on the brain.

Verdict of the Jury, State of New York, Chenango County, ss.

At an inquest indented and taken this second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, for the People of the State of New York, in the town of Sherburne, in said County, before Henry C. Lyman, one of the Coroners of said county, on view of the body of Charles Chilson, then and there lying dead in the village of Sherburne, upon the oath of Isaac Plumb, Albert R. Gladwin, John B. Wilbur, William R. Walker, Albert C. Parker, Rush W. Carrier, Benjamin F. Matteson, Archibald Whitford, good and lawful men of said County, who being sworn and charged to inquire how and after what manner the said Charles Chilson came to his death, say, upon oath aforesaid, that he was found lying dead in the highway near the house of Jacob Reese, in the Town of Sherburne, County of Chenango, and that he had no mark of violence appearing upon his body; And so the said jurors upon their oaths aforesaid, say that the said Charles Chilson died from exposure.

Henry C. Lyman, Coroner

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

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, October 5, 1876

Marriage

At the residence of the bride in this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 27 by Rev. J.H. Sage, Mr. Costard W. Gross to Miss Pollie E. Slauson.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, October 7, 1876

Deaths

TUTTLE:  In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], on the 1st inst., Mr. Albert Tuttle.

MEDBURY:  In this village [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], October 2d, Mrs. Nettie A. [Medbury] wife of Oscar H. Medbury, aged 30 years.

The death of Mrs. Medbury falls with crushing weight upon a large circle of devoted friends who loved her for her kindness of heart and genial, sunny temperament.  By her early demise, in the bloom of womanhood, a void is left in the home, in the Church, in the social circle that cannot be easily filled. We can only console ourselves by the assurance that "our loss is her eternal gain," and that she left us for the portals of a brighter home where her many virtues will be rewarded in the Everlasting Presence.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, September 30, 1876

Deaths

In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 21st, Mr. Isaac S Marsden, aged 63 years.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, October 7, 1876

Marriage

HODGE - WHEELER:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], October 4th, 1876, by the Rev. George D. Horton, Leroy Hodge of Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Ettie Wheeler, of Greene [Chenango Co. NY].

Death

NEWTON:  In Binghamton [Broome Co. NY], Sept. 29, 1876, Mrs. Philo Newton, aged 50 years.

Obituary:  In Binghamton, Sept. 29th, 1876, of typhoid fever, Lucy M. [Newton] wife of P.R. Newton, aged 50 years.

Mrs. Newton was a daughter of Ely King, Esq., born in North Sanford, Broome County [NY], May 8th, 1826, and spent her early days as a dutiful child, thus gaining the esteem of her parents and schoolmates.  After the death of her father, she took full charge of the household duties, keeping house for her brother until January 1860, when she accepted the position of stepmother to four children, the youngest but a few months old, filling the position with unceasing care.  In 1865 she was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist Church of Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] by the Rev. George Balcom.  Soon after removing to Afton, Chenango County, she became a faithful member of the Afton Church, gaining the respect and esteem of all who knew her, where she remained until May last, when she removed to Binghamton, Broome County, there taking great interest in the construction of a new house where she anticipated great pleasure in her new home, when she was stricken down with the fatal disease.  Her loss is deeply felt by the companion towards whom she has always been faithful and kind; by the children over whom she has been a model mother, and by the church who have lost a faithful member, as well as by a large circle of relatives and friends.  Beloved and respected by all.  P.R.N. [Philo R. Newton]

New Berlin Gazette New Berlin, NY, October 7, 1876

Death

Died:  In Edmeston, Otsego Co. N.Y. Oct. 4th, 1876, Orilla S. [Muzzy], wife of Rev. Lawson Muzzy, pastor of the Edmeston Baptist church, aged 59 years, 6 months and 17 days.

The devoted wife, the pastor's true helpmate, the careful and tender mother, the faithful friend, the self-sacrificing Christian, the unselfish and earnest worker in every good cause, has passed away to her heavenly reward.  She was born in North Brookfield, N.Y. [Madison Co.], March 17, 1817.  There at an early age she professed her faith in Christ and united with the Baptist Church.  On the 18th of August, 1841, she was married to Lawson Muzzy, and moved to Williamsburg, N.Y., where she commenced the interesting duties of her new position.  These she performed with such rare fidelity and efficiency as to secure the confidence, friendship and love of all, and she leaves in Williamsburg, Deep River and Greenville, Ct., Pulaski, Mexico and Edmeston, N.Y., the sweet memory of her virtues and name.  After thirteen days of intense suffering, she peacefully fell asleep amidst a throng of warmly attached and sympathizing friends who deeply mourn their loss.  "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, October 1876

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, October 5, 1876

Marriages

BILLINGS - KENYON:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 27th, at the residence of her sister, Mrs. Charles M. Bliven, by Rev. D.E. Loveridge, Mr. Jay Billings of Lebanon, Madison Co. [NY], to Miss Ella Kenyon of Norwich.

SHOALS - KING:  At the M.E. Parsonage in Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 27th, by Rev. L.C. Hayes, Mr. Henry C. Shoals, of Cortland [Cortland Co. NY] to Miss Ella King of Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY].

MARSHALL - LEDDY:  In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 23d, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Charles E. Marshall of Afton [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Anna E. Leddy, of Binghamton [Broome Co. NY].

RULAND - MYRES:  In Sidney Plains [Delaware Co. NY] by Rev. E.G. Cheesman, Mr. O. Ruland of Jefferson, N.Y., to Mrs. Benjamin Myres, of East Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY].

McFARLAND - OUTRIM:  In Trenton, N.J., Sept. 16th, by Rev. J.L. Scoy.  Mr. James McFarland, formerly of Smithville Flats [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Clara S. Outrim, of Trenton.

HILL - JAQUITH:  In Columbus [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 17th, by Rev. B.F. Williams, Mr. Almon L. Hill, of Pittsfield [Otsego Co. NY] to Miss Frankie A. Jaquith of Columbus.

Deaths

POOLE:  In Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 27th, Eliza [Poole], wife of Horace Polle, sister of Warren Thurston of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], aged 64 years.

STEPHENS:  At the residence of her son-in-law, H.W. Hunt in Chicago, Sept. 16th, Mrs. Sally Conkey [Stephens], widow of the late Harvey Stephens of Martinsburg, N.Y. [Lewis Co. NY] and sister of the late Walter M. Conkey, Esq., of Norwich, N.Y. [Chenango Co. NY], aged 82 years.

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WALTER:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], on Wednesday afternoon, October 4th, of typhoid fever, Mr. Horatio N. Walter, aged 64 years.

As we go to press the (Wednesday) evening, we learn that Horatio N. Walter expired at his residence in this village, about two o'clock this afternoon of typhoid fever, after an illness of one week, in the sixty fifth year of his age.

Mr. Walter has been engaged in business - that of jeweler - for about forty years in this village, a longer period than any of our merchants or dealers now in trade.  During all these years he has pursued an honorable course, giving his business his strictest attention, dealing justly with all and winning the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and all with whom he became acquainted.  Although not an aspirant for official honors, he has repeatedly been called upon by his townsmen to fill offices of trust, and has acceptably discharged the duties of Village Trustee, Town Clerk and Supervisor, in which latter capacity he was an active and influential member of the Building Committee which superintended the erection of the present County buildings in Preston.

In the death of Mr. Walter, this community sustains a great loss.  He was a public-spirited man, ever ready to assist in forwarding enterprises for the public good, prompt in aiding benevolent objects, genial in the social circle, and courteous in his intercourse with all, a consistent member of Emmanuel Church, and a kind and indulgent husband and father.  He leaves a widow and an adopted daughter to mourn his departure.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, September 28, 1876

Deaths

THORNTON:  Coventry [Chenango Co. NY]:  Death left its grim message at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, a few days since, taking for its victim a darling little son.  A large number attended the funeral at the house, on Friday.

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The Republican gives particulars of the drowning of two men in Otsego Lake on Friday evening three hop pickers, Wm. Brown, Wm.  McCarthy and J.G. Emery of Albany hired a boat to row to three-mile point.  On Saturday morning Brown appeared at the house of Mr. Phinney, wet and muddy and inquired, "is Billy here?"  On being informed that he was not, he replied that he must be in the lake.

Brown then stated that they were all in a boat bound for a dance at the Point.  While changing seats for the purpose of rowing, the boat capsized and threw them all in the water.  they clung to the boat about an hour, when Emory, who was an old sailor, said he saw land and swam out for it, followed by McCarthy.  He (Brown) continued to cling to the boat for about an hour, pulling and swimming until he touched bottom.  He then wandered about until he came to the residence of Mr. E. Phinney, when he was cared for.

The father of McCarthy arrived from Abany on Tuesday, but returned, the bodies not having been recovered.  Two hats have been found, which are identified as those of McCarthy and Emory.  the village trustees have offered a reward of $80 for the recovery of the bodies and the lake is being dragged by parties, but at the latest advice the bodies had not been recovered.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, October 5, 1876

Marriage

PARKER  - GIBBS:  In Pitcher, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], Sept. 30th, by Rev. Geo. P. Turnbui, Mr. A.S. Parker of Cuyler, to Mrs. Mary Gibbs of Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY].

Death

BADGER:  In McDonough [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 28, Myrta Badger, adopted daughter of Isaiah Gale, aged 7 years 4 months 7 days.

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The Register gives the following particulars of the death of Dudley B. Weaver, of Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY], Laudanum:

"On Thursday morning he did not get up as usual and one of the family with whom he was staying went to his room to see if he was sick.  He complained of headache but said he should feel better and would get up in a short time.  About ten o'clock he arose and partly dressed himself and laid down again upon the bed.  About two o'clock, Mr. C.M. Nichols, at whose house he was staying, in company with the editor of the Register went to his room to ascertain what was the matter.  He was found sleeping heavily but was awakened with a little effort and although he at first appeared not in his right mind, he soon became rational and said he felt better and would get up; took a little stimulant and a glass of water and was apparently feeling better.  Not the least suspicion was aroused in our minds that he had taken poison, and his slight aberration of mind was attributed directly to something else, and he was requested to lay down and take another sleep.  About 7 o'clock the same day two persons called again at his room, to see how he was.  A woman in the house, a short time previous, had found under the window of his room a vial which had contained laudanum, but had been emptied and thrown out of the window.  We at once made haste but found him in his death struggles, and but a few moments elapsed before he expired.  It is not generally thought that he took laudanum with the intent to destroy himself, but to allay the pain which he was suffering and that he took an overdose.  He was about 46 years old and had many warm friends in this vicinity."

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

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 21, 1876

Marriage

At the bride's home in Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 12, by Rev. A.F. Brown, Mr. Francis B. Edmonds of Harford, Cortland Co., and Miss Susan M. [Hotchkiss], daughter of the late Spencer Hotchkiss of Smithville.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, September 23, 1876

Marriage

CARPENTER - PHELPS:  At the residence of the bride's parents in South Edmeston, N.Y. [Otsego Co.], Sept. 20th, 1876, by Rev. J.S. Southworth of Sidney Plains, Mr. Willie H. Carpenter to Miss Mattie E. Phelps of the former place.

Deaths

COMSTOCK:  At Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Stephen Comstock, aged 64 years.

HUNT:  In Anoka, Minn., Aug. 22d, 1876, of Consumption, Oscar [Hunt] son of Dr. P.J. Hunt, aged 23 years.

Mr. Hunt has been sick nearly all summer, and his many friends could see some time ago that he was gradually failing, until at last the dreadful summons came and he passed over to the other shore where all is rest and where sickness, pain and sorrow are not known.  Highly gifted by nature and just entering upon manhood, with bright prospects before him, he has been cut down and He that doeth all things well took him home, and another house is left desolate.  Anoka, Minn, Union.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, September 23, 1876

Marriage

In Masonville [Delaware Co. NY] at Mr. Broad's Sept. 13th, by Rev. S. Mandeville, Wm. D. Johnson of Afton, N.Y. [Chenango Co. NY] and Miss Susie Jenet Stewart of Tompkins, N.Y.

Death

In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], Aug. 28, of infantile fever, Johnny L. [Robbins] only child of Fred and Libbie Robbins, aged 10 months.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, September 28, 1976

Marriages

TAYLOR - EASTMAN:  At the residence of the bride's parents in Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 26th, by Rev. J.G. Eckman, P.E. Rev. Fred P. Taylor Pastor of the M.E. Church at Osborne Hollow [Broome Co. NY], to Miss Nettie A. Eastman.

YALE - HILL:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 21st by Rev. H.P. Collin, Mr. Tracy R. Yale to Miss H. Eugenie Hill, both of Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY].

COATS - GLAZIER:  At Ninevah Junction [Broome Co. NY], Sept. 20th, by Rev. W.H. Sawtelle, Mr. George Coats to Miss Bertha C. Glazier, both of Afton [Chenango Co. NY].

GREEN - BOWEN:  At the home of the bride, Sept. 19th, by Rev. C. Hayes, Mr. N. Luzerne Green, of Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss EDna P. Bowen, of Mt. Upton [Chenango Co. NY].

THURBER - WILLARD:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 20th, by Rev. F.W. Townsend, Mr. U. Thurber to Mrs. C.P. Willard, both of New Berlin.

MATTESON - SPURR:  In Edmeston [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 7th, by Rev. L. Muzzy, Mr. John R. Matteson to Mrs. A.E. Spurr, both of New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY].

WALES - BROOKS:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 12th, by Rev. H.A. Smith, Mr. George H. Wales of Morris [Otsego Co. NY] to Miss Clara Brooks, of New Berlin.

THAYER - DEMING:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY] Sept. 13th, by Rev. H.A. Smith, Mr. Theodore S. Thayer of Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY] to Miss Mary M. Deming, of Morris [Otsego Co. NY].

BURDICK - WHEELER:  In Willett, Cortland Co. [NY], Sept. 6th, by Rev. H.C. McDermott, Mr. Nathaniel Burdick of Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Emma Wheeler of Pharsalia [Chenango Co. NY].

BRIGGS - SWEET:  In Cincinnatus [Cortland Co. NY], Sept. 18th, by Rev. H.C. McDermott, Mr. A.F. Briggs of Willett [Cortland Co. NY] to Miss Emma J. Sweet of Cincinnatus.

HOUSE - DINGMAN:  In Milford [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 13th, by Rev. A.B. Richardson, Mr. Fernando House of New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Rachel Dingman, of Portlandville [Otsego Co. NY].

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Silver Wedding:  On Saturday, September 9th, there gathered at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tifft a host of relatives and friends, to attend the celebration of the Twenty-fifth anniversary of their married life.

In a bower arranged for the occasion was spread a most tempting feast.  Nearly everything the season affords was there to be found.  After partaking of this, came another very interesting part of the programme; that part of any gathering which enriches a man's mind and soul, and leads him to think of other than the mere temporal affairs surround him. The programme was as follows:

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Jacobs; Poem, "The Silver Wedding" Miss Lucy A. Balcom; Toast, "The Bride and Groom of Twenty-Five Years", Response by Rev. Mr. Crocker; Toast, "Married Life" Response by Dr. Cone; Poem by Mrs. Elam Barstow; Toast, "Our Children" Response by Dr. Beardsley.  Remarks by Rev. Mr. Bass of Brooklyn, Response in behalf of Mr. and Mr. Tifft, by Rev. Mr. Jacobs; Prayer by Rev. Mr. Cronin of N.Y. City; Doxology by the company; Benediction by Rev. Mr. Crocker.

I wish I might give you everything in full, but space forbids only a passing notice.  The poem by Miss Balcom was a very fine production, as was also the one by Mrs. Barstow, and in fact, all participating did themselves ample justice.

Then, with many and hearty good wishes the guests departed, and it was echoed from one to another "Truly, we have passed a very pleasant time."

The present were many of them costly, and everything was very fine indeed.

It was truly one of those occasions when one "feels it good to have been there."

Coventry, Sept. 14, 1876

Deaths

TINKER:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 27th, Mr. Squire Tinker.

TAYLOR:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 20th., of scarlet fever and diphtheria, Barry Prindle [Taylor] son of J.C. and Ida P. Taylor, and grandson of Dr. L.A. Rhodes, aged 3 years and 8 months.

HUNT:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 20th, Vernette J. [Hunt] daughter of Sylvester W. and Mary J. Hunt, aged 22 years.

GARATT:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY] Sept. 20th, Mr. Ulricus Z. Garatt, aged 76 years, 9 months and 27 days.

MARDEN:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 21st, Mr. Isaac S. Marden, aged 63 years.

BEAL:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 18th, Mr. David Beal, aged 77 years.

BROWN:  In Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], August 3d, Minnie J. [Brown] daughter of George and Ann Brown, aged 4 years 5 months and 10 days.

WEAVER:  Suddenly, in Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 21st, Mr. Dudley Weaver, aged about 40 years.

PRINCE:  In Binghamton [Broome Co. NY], Sept. 23d, Mr. E.H. Prince, aged 70 years, formerly of Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY].

E.H. Prince, for more than forty years a businessman in Binghamton [Broome Co. NY], died at his home in that city, on Saturday evening, aged seventy years.  He was a native of Bainbridge, Chenango County.

ALLEN:  A Mrs. Allen dropped dead while washing clothes, at Smith's Valley [Madison Co. NY] on the 11th.

BYRNE:  About noon on the 13th Mrs. Byrne wife of Wm. Byrne, of Bouckville [Madison Co. NY], was found dead.  It appears she had been about her work and was stricken down and was found dead by someone who happened to come in.

Three Strangers, who had been engaged in hop picking, went to Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] on the night of the 15th, in company with others, and after drinking considerable liquor, took a rowboat to go to Three Mile Point.  The boat was capsized when about two miles up the lake and two of the men drowned; the third clung to the boat and finally reached shore. The party were from Albany, the names of those drowned being William McCarthy and James G. Emery; that of the survivor, William Brown.  On Thursday of last week the body of McCarthy was recovered by Capt. P.P. Cooper and was in a good state of preservation.

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YOUNGS:  Suddenly, in Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 25th, Mr. Daniel Youngs, aged 67 years.

On Monday forenoon, Daniel Youngs, a well-known and respected farmer residing just above this village [Oxford, Chenango Co. NY], and near the old cemetery, met his death in a sandbank opposite his residence.  The last seen of him alive that morning he was sifting sand at the bank.  About 10:30 Uriah Rorapaugh of Smithville, drove up there after a load of sand.  Mr. Youngs not being in sight, his daughter went to the field where his son-in-law, Will Davy, was at work.  Davy came up and made some search for Mr. Youngs and finally noticing that the bank had lately caved, took a shovel and dug in the bank for him; but discovering no signs indicating his presence in the sand, loaded up Mr. R's team.  After this Davy began further search.  The alarm was given and help soon arrived, when the unfortunate man was uncovered and taken out dead.  He was buried to the depth of about four feet and is supposed to have been buried from twenty-five to thirty minutes.  he was sixty-seven years of age, and leaves a wife, three sons and a daughter, all married.  His sudden death cast a gloom over our village.  Mr. Youngs had been in the habit of going away and leaving the bank when it looked like caving, and as he had been searched for before, no great fears were at first entertained this time, and his shovel was standing nearby.  He had another shovel in the pit, and he was found face downward, in a stooping position."

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SUTTON:  Suddenly in New York, Sept. 23d, Dr. Robert Sutton of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY].

The sad news of the sudden death of Dr. Robert A. Sutton, for the past four or five years a resident of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co. NY] and a partner of Dr. C.H. Eccleston in the manufacture of artificial teeth, was received here on Monday.  he was in New York on business and Saturday, a private letter says "he was at the house of Dr. W.C. Bennett, dentist, 84 West 12th street, where he accidentally leaned against a door that was unfastened, outside of which was a rather steep flight of steps leading down to the rear yard.  He fell over backward, not able to catch the rail to save himself, and struck the stone pavement with the top and back of his head.  It instantly stunned him.  He made no cry whatever and died in fifteen minutes without a movement."  Dr. Sutton was a very able and learned man and was a one time editor of a dental review.  He was much liked and respected by all who had formed his acquaintance.  He leaves three daughters and two sons, who reside in Connecticut, with the exception of one daughter who has recently come to Oxford to make a home with her father.  Dr. Sutton's remains were taken to Guilford, Conn., for interment.

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

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, September 21, 1876

Marriages

BROWN - METTHEWSON:  At the residence of the bride's mother, in this town, Sept. 18th, by Rev. S. Scoville, Mr. Charles G. Brown of Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Ida A. Matthewson, of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY].

BROWN - RAYMOND:  On Thursday, September 14th, 1876, at Calvery Church, Summit, New Jersey, by the Rev. Edwin E. Butler, assisted by the Rev. J.F. Butterworth, Charles W. Brown, of Oxford, N.Y. [Chenango Co.] to Angeline B. [Raymond], daughter of the late James H. Raymond, of New York.

SMITH - BRIGGS:  In Hartwick [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 13th by Rev. S.M. Cook, Mr. Justus Smith, of New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY], Miss Mary Briggs of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY].

WALKER - ANDERSON:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 13th, by Rev. John C. Ward, Mr. Frederick C. Walker to Miss M. Gertrude Anderson, all of Oxford.

THOMAS - CLARK:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 10th, by Rev. N.S. Reynolds, Mr. Charles D. Thomas to Miss Adelia D. Clark, both of Bainbridge.

PARMELEE - KONKLIN:  In Hartwick, N.Y. [Otsego Co.], August 21st, by Rev. J.W. Ainsworth, Mr. Edward M. Parmelee of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], to Miss Katie M. Konklin of Hartwick.

Deaths

GRAVES:  Suddenly, in New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 19th, Mr. Lewis Graves, aged 65 years.

DINGMAN:  In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 16th, Mr. Peter Dingman, aged 72 years.

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POPE:  Suddenly, in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 19th, Mr. Orson Pope, aged 58 years. Funeral services at the Baptist Church, on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Orson Pope, one of our most respected citizens, and a member of the firm of Hayes, Rider & Co., piano forte makers, died suddenly of heart disease, in the storehouse of S.R. Per Lee & Son, on Mitchell Street, about half past one o'clock on Tuesday afternoon last, aged fifty-eight years.

Immediately after dinner, Mr. Pope repaired to the residence of Mrs. Chase, one door west of Per Lee's storehouse, for the purpose of making some repairs upon a piano.  Soon after entering the house he complained of faintness, and went out of doors, where he leaned upon the fence, evidently very ill.  Col. Per Lee was called to his assistance, who led him into his office, seated him in a chair, and administered some stimulant.  Mr. Pope was apparently conscious, said he was in no pain, and soon, becoming more faint, expressed a wish to lie down.  He was assisted to a bed upon the second floor, upon which he was placed, when he lost all consciousness.  Dr. Avery was in the meantime sent for, who did all in his power to restore the unfortunate man, but he gasped a few times after the Doctor's arrival and all was over.

Deceased was born in the northern part of this State [NY], and when about fourteen years of age he came to this village, making it his home for some time with the late David Griffing, he working at painting and other work about the village.  He afterwards moved west, and worked at piano making in Rochester and New York, spending some time in Canada.  Eighteen years ago last March, he removed from Rochester, where he had resided for several years, to this village, when he took a situation as a journeyman in the piano works of Messrs. Hayes & Rider.  This position he continued capably to fill until December 1871, when he became a partner in the present firm, which relationship continued until his death.

Although his death was sudden, it was not wholly unexpected to his friends, as his health had for months been feeble, and he had suffered from two or more attacks which came near proving fatal, on one occasion falling apparently dead, while engaged in a game of croquet with a party of friends near his residence, one evening last summer.  He had since that time taken every precaution to guard against a repetition of the attack and had of late appeared better, in fact, on the day of his death he ate a hearty dinner and remarked at the table that he felt better than he had for days before.

During Mr. Pope's long residence in this village, he has enjoyed in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends.  Although of a naturally quiet and retiring disposition, dividing his time between the workshop and his pleasant home, there was that about him which attracted acquaintances, and made everyone his friend.  His loss will be felt by this community, whose sympathies will go out to his bereaved widow, his adopted daughter, and his aged father who resides with them.

Funeral services will be held at the Baptist church on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock, and Canasawacta Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he was a worthy member, will attend the funeral in a body.

________________________________

JEWELL:  Mrs. Tompkins Jewell died August 22, 1876, in the 65th year of her age, in Mt. Upton [Chenango Co. NY].  She was a good mother, a kind neighbor and was loved by all who knew her.

Our Mother

With the music of the summer, / With the blossom of the flowers, / Our dear Mother now has left us.  / She is now in heavenly bowers.

Much we miss her in our household, / Much we miss her pleasant smile, / But we cannot have her with us. / Jesus now has called His child.

How the music now is swelling / Through the heavenly choir above, / Some are coming, some are going, / Round about the throne of love.

One among that happy number / They have gathered to that shore, / Saying "Sister, you are welcome, / See thy toils and pains are o'er."

Yes, thou'st crossed the dark, deep reiver, / Only waiting, nothing more, / For the bright and angel boatman, / To convey thy dear ones o'er.

Yes, She'll stand there waiting, watching, / For her dear ones here below; / Just a little and we'll meet her / Where no partings we shall know.

O, how happy then our meeting! / And may we never go astray; / For there we'll find our angel mother, / Calmly waiting o'er the way.

May her spirit ever visit / This cold earth we call our home, / Pointing upward with her radiance / To the joy that's yet to come.

And may Jesus keep and guard us, / May we sleep upon His breast; / Then with friends and mother gathered, / May we enter into rest.

But we'll look beyond this darkness, / Look where Christ and mother stand; / And we'll soon with thee and angels, / Gather in the at "Happy Land."

"Leonora"

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, September 21, 1876

Marriages

HAVEN - PERKINS:  In Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], at the residence of the bride's father, Sept. 13th, by the Rev. Geo. P. Turnbull, Mr. Geo. A.  Haven of Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Addie Perkis, of Otselic, N.Y.

BROWN - COOK: At Burlington, Ohio, on the firs t inst. by Rev. F.H. Grube, Frank R. Brown, of Chicago, and Miss Julie M. Cook, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY].

Death

Luther Niles 81 years old, died at Georgetown [Madison Co. NY], Sept. 1st.  He was the first white child born in Madison County.  He resided most of his life in the town of Lebanon [Madison Co. NY].

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

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, September 14, 1876

Marriages

Coventry [Chenango Co. NY]:  Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tifft celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedded life on Saturday afternoon, the 9th inst.  A goodly number of friends gathered at their home where every arrangement was found for a good merry making time.  A rustic bower had been built out of doors in which was served a bountiful repast.  In short it was one of those rare occasions when everyone is willing to lay aside the petty annoyances of life, and see everybody else happy, and the guests after enjoying themselves to the fullest extent, at last retired to their homes, leaving besides some substantial tokens of esteem, together with their best wishes for the bride and groom for a golden wedding.

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On Wednesday evening, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church [Oxford, Chenango Co. NY], occurred the beautiful and impressive ceremony which united in marriage Mr. William R. Mygatt, one of our junior members of the bar, and Miss Agnes P. Hull.  Rev. Mr. Duff gracefully performed the marriage service.  Soon after 7 o'clock the seats at the Church were being rapidly filled, under direction of the ushers, Messrs. W. Mygatt miller and Robt. M. Cannon, Ben S. Miller and Gerrit H. Hull, and at the hour of 8, there was scarcely standing room for more.

The bridal party entered the Church accompanied by Misses Kitty Hull and May Mygatt, as bridesmaids, and Messrs. Jonas Brooks, of Albany, and Mr. Charles Rhodes, of Philadelphia, as groomsmen.  Mr. John T. Mygatt of New York afforded most acceptable music from the organ.  The bride was charmingly attired in a rich white silk with a profusion of bridal veil and orange blossoms, which added new luster to an ever-attractive face and manner.  "She was good as she was fair."

The groom, in the usual dress of black, lost none of his bright and ruddy look, and moved towards the altar, with a brisk business air, though it was evidently necessary to make haste slowly, if one kept time with the very deliberate wedding march.

At the pleasant residence of A.J. Hull, Esq., father of the bride, were afterwards gathered relatives, numbering sixteen families, with scores of other friends, to speak words of congratulation and enjoy the rare feast of good things so amply provided.

Seldom do we see a happier company.  Seldom are met more genial souls than were assembled to convince the fortunate pair that they were indeed one and inseparable.  The bright lighted parlors furnished a brilliant scene of fair faces, and rich dresses among whom were several recent brides, of no small attractions, while the perfume of flowers and strains of sweet waltz music, filled the air.  Beneath the traditional marriage bell, of varied texture and bright colors, a work of deft fingers, the bride and groom received good wishes from their many friends.  In a cozy little room adjoining, were spread out in most tempting array, an almost countless number of rich and costly gifts of gold and silver, cut glass, etc. upon which many bright eyes were constantly bent.  Numerous friends and relatives were present from a distance bringing choice gifts and congratulations.  The happy party was prolonged with dancing and sociality till long after midnight.

Mr. Mygatt and his bride are now on a trip to Philadelphia, Saratoga and Lake George.  We hope for them a safe return.  May they see a silver lining in every cloud, and may "love rule without law," in their future home.

Deaths

John Wikoff of Cherry Valley [Otsego Co. NY], 80 years of age, was fatally injured by a horse Thursday of last week.  He was standing in the barn, where his son, Thomas Wikoff, was threshing with horses, leaning against a post, when one of the horses bumped its head against a scaffolding and sprang back against him.  His collar bone and two of his ribs were broken and several internal injuries received.

Deacon Comfort Lee, an aged citizen of North Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], was found dead in his field near the barn on Thursday morning last.  He went out at evening to do his chores, and not returning, his wife, an aged lady, thought he might have gone to one of his neighbors to settle a matter of account.  Mrs. Lee, becoming somewhat concerned, asked Rev. Mr. Davenport, who occupied as a store a portion of the building in which the old people resided, to have his boy, if he had not gone to bed, go to the neighbor's house and see if the old gentleman was there.  The boy having retired, and no fears having been excited in the minds of Mr. Davenport's family, no search was made till morning, when the deacon was found dead, apparently having died in a fit.  The aged wife spent a night of anxiety, yet scarcely dreamed that so bad a fate had befallen her husband as the morning revealed. Deacon Lee had long been a resident of Otselic, and he was respected wherever known.  Dr. Mason examined the body and an inquest was deemed unnecessary.

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A correspondent of the Cazenovia Republican gives an account of the death of Mr. Charles Jackson, formerly of Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] which took place recently in San Francisco.  It was his daughter's wedding day.  Some five hundred invitations for the wedding were issued about two weeks since, and today being the birthday of the groom was selected for the bridal. brilliant preparations had been made. Grace Church to which the family belonged was to be the scene of the nuptials.  the guests were assembling; the streets were thronged with carriages, elegantly dressed ladies, and gentlemen who had left the marts of trade to see their friends united in marriage.  At half past twelve the nuptials were to be solemnized, when suddenly, like an eclipse at noon the announcement came that Mr. Jackson had fallen dead in his room, and there would be no wedding at the church.  A thrill of sympathetic grief, mingled with terror, ran through that gaily attired and expectant throng.  It did not seem possible that such could be the case.  Mr. Jackson was never ailing, never sick.  Friends felt sure it must be Mrs. Jackson, who had been an invalid for several months, but who had for some time been improving and was to be present at the church today.  But the sequel revealed the sad fact of Mr. Jacksons sudden and really shocking demise which is thus told in the San Francisco Bulletin:

"The bridal party was ready to leave the house and proceed to the church, the arraying of the bride in her wedding habiliments had been finished, and with a face beaming with smiles, she presented herself before her father to receive his admiring approval.  Mr. Jackson heard his daughter, when she tripped into the room, and his attention being called to her presence he turned around, looked admiringly at her, and dropped dead at her feet.  His sudden death is ascribed to heart disease."  At the wise suggestion of friends, the marriage was solemnized in the house of mourning and in the presence of the dead, by Revs. Dr. Platt, of Grace church and Easton, of Benecia

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, September 13, 1876

Death

PARSONS:  At Brightly, Goochland Co., Va., Sept. 2d, Carrie Elizabeth [Parsons], daughter of W.A. and Anna P. Parsons, aged 1 year, 11 months and 25 days.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 14, 1876

Marriage

At the residence of the bride's father in this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 7th, by Rev. J.H. Sage, Mr. Eugene Marcey Spencer to Miss Alice A. [Harrington] daughter of William S. Harrington, Esq.

Deaths

Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], Aug. 29th, Jesse E. [Perkins], youngest son of Oscar R. and Jenny C. Perkins, aged 4 months. 

In Marathon [Cortland Co. NY], Sept. 4th, Nellie [Kelley] oldest daughter of Wallace and S. Louesa Kelley, aged 8 years.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, September 16, 1876

Death of Nellie Pratt Avery

Everyone has an interest in the city of the dead.  The ground where the good are taking their final sleep has a sacredness for the living.  Such a place is the one on earth the nearest to heaven, and their friends love to go there.  Should certain of the readers of The News go to Greenwood they will be glad to visit the grave of one from them.  She read the News with deep interest and felt that Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] was her real home.  Turn to the right at the main entrance of the cemetery past "Arbor Water" on the right and "Valley Water" on the left and along "Landscape Avenue," by "Evening Dell" and "Mathews" monument and beyond a few steps to "Sunset Path" go down that a few steps to a bend in it and to the right and close to the path lies all of earth there is of her that was once Nellie Pratt [Avery].  All that now marks the place is the gentle gray mound surmounted by a wreath of white immortelles, graced with the tender words, "My Nellie" traced in purple ones. A few call there and all that do drop tears of unfeigned grief, because they believed in and have felt the soft pressure of her generous hand.

She tried constantly, her whole life, wisely or not, to tide the poor, the sorrowing and suffering over their wants, griefs, and pains.  Such was her largeness of heart that hunger, thirst, pain, cold and wretchedness, day or night, on her part was not to be thought of or counted as anything if by suffering one or all she could aid a fellow mortal.  Of the severest simplicity, yet of such queenly feelings, she must be supreme in her social circle and loved to adoration to be happy. She kept to the last read up in the literature of the day and daily increased in knowledge for her own and the pleasure and comfort of her near friends and spoke of what she read and knew in the most unobtrusive manner and bore with the ignorance of others without giving them the least pain or mortification. She observed every article of taste and domestic use and studied minutely its actual value and informed her friends. She was so thoroughly versed in metaphysics and told others their thoughts and feelings with such precision that she seemed almost inspired.  

For years she suffered almost constant pain and apprehension with scarcely a complaining word, and for the neglect of those near and dear to her she had a silent, smothered grief. The beauty of her soul shone with its brightest luster as she breathed her last prayers. She as it were took each of her relatives and friends in her arms and brought them to her God and begged of Him for each, every blessing heaven can bestow, with all the pathos and earnestness of her sympathetic nature.  Unfortunately for her she was led to feel that she was an orphan, and while she lived sighed night and day for an own mother's single love, and yet loved her father with an unbounded affection.  

She was born in Sherburne, May 10th, 1838, the child of Joshua and Rebecca Pratt.  Her mother died when she was only two years old. She was educated with care, enjoying the advantages of the schools at home and of the Seminaries at Binghamton, Cazenovia, Cooperstown and Poughkeepsie.  In the year 1856, Oct. 21, she was married to Geroge P. Avery.  She continued to reside in Sherburne until June 1861, and before that time united with the Congregational Church of the place upon a profession of her faith in Christ.  In the last year named she moved to Prattsburgh in Steuben County, the girl home of her mother and there by letter became a member of the Presbyterian Church of that place.  In 1870 she left there and finally took her last home in the city of Brooklyn. She became a constant attendant at Dr. Talmage's Tabernacle so long as her health would permit and until this summer's vacation.  After years of suffering from a complication of chronic diseases and when those near her began to think she might yet get well, the typhus fever set in, and in a short time burned out her remaining life and unconsciously and placidly she dropped into eternity on the 28th of August 1876.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, September 16, 1876

Death

In Rockdale [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 3d, 1876, Mr. Enos Brainard, aged 77 years.

News Item

Mr. Leroy Scott, marble dealer of this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co. NY], has just completed a set of tomb stones for Floyd Wylie of Coventry, which, for quality of marble, beauty of design and finish, we have not seen anything to compare with in this vicinity.

Historic Sketch, Settlement of New Berlin, Chenango Co. NY

 Historic Sketch of the Settlement of the Town of New Berlin

by John Hyde

New Berlin Gazette, New Berlin, NY, September 9, 1876

Jeremy Goodrich

Jeremy Goodrich came up from the land of steady habits and wooden nutmegs and settled in New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], towards the last days of the last century [ca 1799].  He married Lydia Downing a daughter of widow Abigail Downing.  She at that time lived in a log house on Capt. Samuel White's farm, nearly opposite the old Brewery where it then stood.  After their marriage, Mr. Goodrich, his wife and mamma Downing, as she was familiarly called, resided together as one family the remainder of their lives.  Mr. Goodrich commenced manufacturing black salts into pot and purlash.  For this purpose, he bought the salts from farmers who, when clearing their lands in burning the log heaps, took the ashes occurring therefrom, and leeched the ashes and boiled the lye into black salts.  In the new settlement of the town, the business of clearing the lands and boiling black salts, as the term was used by back woodsmen, was an important affair, for that was the only product relied on to obtain money to pay for their farms.  No other product could be sold for money in those primitive days of the early settlers.  Mr. Goodrich's ashery was on the north side of the village creek near the North Street bridge, where he had a long row of potash kettles set in arches to boil salts into potash and ovens to make purlash.

The business was profitable to him and advantageous to the settlers, making a market for their salts.  In the spring days might be seen ox trains with sled loads of salts coming down the mountain paths in every direction and wending their way to Goodrich's ashery, with their loads and when arrived await their turn to have their salts weighed and receive their money.  On such occasions, the crowd of business seemed almost equal around the ashery to the cheese and butter business, in modern times around the depot.  In the one case, the money obtained from the sale of the proceeds was applied in payment of farms in the other in payment of luxuries mostly.

Mr. Goodrich became the owner by purchase from Samuel Anderson, the land where the ashery stood on both sides of the creek, down to the Unadilla River.  On the south side of the brook, he built a small house where for a time he sold merchandise and in the progress of business he erected a large, wood building fronting the East and North streets. The eastern part was made into a dwelling for the family, and the other part was made into a large store in which he carried on the mercantile business for many years, in connection with his potash and purlash business.  He also kept tavern in that building for a while.  He was postmaster some years.  In that home dwelling, Mr. Goodrich, his wife and her mother resided until their decease.  Their habits were peculiar, seldom mingling in social intercourse with their neighbors.

Mr. Goodrich, somewhat deficient in common school education, was nevertheless, a correct businessman in all his dealings.  He had a capacity to determine things rightly, but he was much aided in all his affairs by the assistance of "Mrs. Lydia," a term he always applied to his wife, and mamma Downing, who took an active part in the selling of the goods, and he never made a bargain without first consulting with "Mrs. Lydia and mamma."  It was an old and right observation that "they were his right-hand men."

After the lands became cleared up and the facilities for making potash no longer existed, he closed up the business and built a tannery on the creek near the river.  In that business he was successful and made it his principal occupation during the remainder of his life.  He also purchased a piece of land on the south side of the East Street extending from South Street down East Street to the Charles  Medbury homestead lot.  On the corner lot opposite his store, he kept bees in large numbers of hives.  That place of ground is now [in 1876] occupied by a tavern and the hum of the busy bee colony in their daily toil, is changed into the humdrum discordant sounds of bar room loungers.

Mr. Goodrich died in 1830, at the age of 62 years, leaving a valuable property earned by his industry and the help of his female coworkers, but no child to inherit his estate.  Mamma Downing survived him eleven years.  She died in 1841 at the age of 93 years.  She was born nearly a quarter of a century before the Revolution and retained the full vigor of her mental faculties to the last period of her existence.  The writer of this article wrote her will but a few months before her decease and makes the statement from personal knowledge in regard to her mental faculties.  She was a remarkable woman.

The Goodrich estate was made the subject of long, acrimonious litigation after his decease, by the distant relatives of his wife.  As the usual event of such things, lawyers claimed thousands on the dead man's estate and consequently in the final distribution, between the legal profession and wranglers, a few thousand dollars only found lodgment with a granddaughter of Mr. Jeremy Goodrich's wife.  Thus, ended the Goodrich property. A few years after his decease his tannery caught fire and was consumed but has never been rebuilt.

No relation now owns any part of his estate which he died seized of. On the bank of the creek where his store business was carried on, now [in 1876] stands two sumptuous, enticing buildings [pool halls].  Within are large [magnificent] and splendid rooms furnished with tables covered with rich green prize cloth.  On the tables are number of round balls of different colors and long slender poles and around these tables may be seen young men, youth and middle-aged men day after day and night after night, toiling and working with anxious faces, pushing with those long poles, the balls around on the table, gradually melting away the patrimony their ancestors acquired by honest labor. The store part of the Goodrich building has been taken down and the place remains vacant, except a small round music building erected on the corner.  The Goodrich dwelling for the family remains and is now [in 1876] owned and occupied by Lewis Brown, a son of the late Judge Barnabas Brown, one of the oldest settlers and who will be noticed more particularly in a subsequent article.

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

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, September 14, 1876

Marriages

SCOTT - HALL:  In Syracuse [Onondaga Co. NY], September 5th, by Rev. H.S. Lockwood, Mr. Thomas D. Scott to Miss Hattie L. Hall, both of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY].

SELDEN - HOYT:  In Coventry [Chenango Co. NY], September 5th, by Rev. A. Crocker, Mr. Samuel Selden, of Schuylerville [Saratoga Co. NY] to Miss Alice Hoyt of Coventry.

BEARDSLEY - BURROWS:  In Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY], August 16th, by Rev. S.H. Green, Mr. Frank E. Beardsley  of Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Ella M. Burrows of Cazenovia.

CONKLIN - MANWARING:  in Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY], September 2d, by Rev. C.C. Johnson, Mr. John Conklin to Mrs. Myra Manwaring, all of Smyrna.

Deaths

GOODRICH:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], September 12th, Frank D. [Goodrich], son of Hiram and Clymenia Goodrich, aged 18 years.  Funeral services at the residence of his parents on Mitchell Street at 2 o'clock P.M. on Thursday.

CHURCH:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], September 7th, Mr. Sanford W. Church, aged 76 years.

BULGER:  In Otselic [Chenango Co. NY], September 9th, Michael [Bulger] son of Matthew and Bridget Bulger, aged 6 months.

BALDWIN:  In Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY], September 2d, Mertie [Baldwin], daughter of A.P. and Delia Baldwin, aged 9 years.

GREGORY:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], September 5th, Mr. Henry Gregory, aged 68 years.

Mr. Henry Gregory, an old resident of our town [Guilford], living a mile west of our village, died on the 4th instant.  Mr. G. had been in failing health for several years, and for two or three years past confined to his bed in a very helpless condition.  His mind in sympathy with his body was towards the last very much impaired.  He was one of the early settlers of this region, and consequently participated in the labors and hardships of those days.  A man of strict integrity, he accumulated a good property, and died respected by all who knew him.  He was about seventy-five years of age.  He leaves a widow, and two sons and two daughters.

ROOT:  Mr. Silas S. Root also died in our village [Guilford, Chenango Co. NY], on the 3d instant, aged about thirty years.  He had been subject to epileptic attacks for some time which terminated in paralysis.  Industrious when his health permitted through life, he died, as many more exalted and wealthy do not, without an enemy.  He leaves a wife and two children.

LEE:  Mr. Comfort Lee a resident at North Otselic [Chenango Co. NY] left his dwelling last Wednesday evening, as was suppoed, to make a call at soem of his neighbors; so his wife retired at her usual hour, thinking he would return in due time, as was his wont.  But to her surprise, when she awoke Thrusday mronign, she discovered that she was alone, and had so remained through the night.  She alarmed the citizens of his mysterious absence.  His body was found lying uponthe ground, near the back side of his barn, where it weems he had fallen from a fit.  His remains were interred on Saturday last.  

News Item

A pleasant family reunion commemorating the 72d birthday of Mrs. Anna Race, occurred at Mr. Frederick S. Race's residence in this town, August 29th.  All the children met together for the first reunion since their leaving the home nest; viz:  Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Jewell, of Binghamton; Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Race, G.E. Race, Greene; Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Race, of Brooklyn; Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Race of Norwich. The oldest grandchildren were also of the company.  After supper the old lady spoke feelingly of her gratitude to God for the prosperity of her family and gave them her blessing.  After prayer offered by Mr. Jewell, all sang in chorus "Shall we gather at the river," and "Home sweet home," accompanied by the harp and flute. The assembly broke up at twilight with hearty handshaking and goodbye.  Greene American

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

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, September 7, 1876

Marriages

BAGLEY - BRADLEY:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], August 23, at the residence of the bride, Mr. Henrik S. Bagley of Rochester [Monroe Co. NY], to Miss Mary E. Bradley.

BENNETT - TYLER:  In Mt. Upton [Chenango Co. NY], August 31, by Rev. I.J. Bailey, Alvin Bennett, Esq., to Miss lucy E. Tyler,  all of Mt. Upton.

THOMPSON - HENREY:  In Greene [Chenango Co. NY], September 2d, by Rev. H.H. Gavitt, Mr. Geo. K. Thompson to Miss Eda M. Henry, all of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY].

Deaths

FLOWERS:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY] at the residence of his brother, John M. Flowers, Augustu 24, Mr. Titus Flowers, aged 76 years, 1 month and 19 days.

St. JOHN:  In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], Aubust 25, Mr. Nathan St. John, aged 83 years.

News Item

Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY]:  N.A. Humphrey, of this town, unearthed a full grown human skeleton on Monday last, while grading the yard about his house.  The skeleton was found at the depth of three feet below the surface of the ground, and from indications had lain there a great many years.  Mr.  Humphrey's farm is the oldest in town, and was first settled by Gould Bacon, but no one seems to have any recollections of a person being buried in that locality.  Republican

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, September 7, 1876

Deaths

Coventry [Chenango Co. NY]:  Since our last communication two venerable and highly respected residents of our town have passed away.  Mrs. Sukey Bassett's death occurred first, and her burial took place at Coventryville, in sight of the Church where she had listened so often and profited so much from the preaching of the word.  A few days after this the remains of David Ingersoll were borne to their last resting place at Union Valley [Chenango Co. NY].  It rarely falls to our lot to chronicle the death of two persons so ripe in years, and each having possessed such a rare combination of excellent attributes of character.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 7, 1876

Marriage

The largest and one of the most enjoyable parties ever given in our village was held last Monday evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Barnard; the occasion being the 25th anniversary of their marriage, and if excellence can be excelled, it was certainly done in the superb manner of receiving and entertaining the host of friends who came to offer congratulations and enjoy the hospitality for which this worthy couple are so noted.

The evening was an auspicious one with cool air and bright moonlight and their large and elegant mansion was brilliantly lighted throughout.  At an early hour the guests began to arrive and before ten o'clock the rooms below and above were filled with over 300 happy, smiling, hand shaking people, and in the presence of so much geniality even a misanthrope must have thawed out.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnard are too well known to require any eulogy from our pen, for the many friends scattered all over the land sufficiently attest the pleasant, social relations which they have held so long.

Many who were unable to attend sent regrets, expressed in language that touched tender cords in the hearts of bride and groom. 

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, September 9, 1876

Marriage

On Wednesday evening last the Episcopal Church in Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] was crowded to its utmost capacity.  The occasion was the marriage of Mr. William R. Mygatt, son of the late Henry R. Mygatt and Miss Agnes P. Hull, daughter of ex-Harbor Master A.J. Hull, all of Oxford. The contracting parties were so widely known and respected that expectation in regard to the event had been on the qui vive among social circles for some time.  Promptly at eight o'clock the wedding party were ushered in.  Miss May Mygatt and Miss Kitty Hull acted as bridesmaids, and Mr. Charles Rhodes of Philadelphia, and Mr. Jonas Brooks of Albany, as groomsmen. the ushers were Messrs. Robert M. Canon and Wm. M. Miller of Oxford, and Gerrit Hull and Ben S. Miller of Binghamton. The bride looked lovely in white silk with the usual veil and orange blossoms. The groom in the conventional dress appeared to advantage.  Binghamton Times.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, September 9, 1876

Marriages

At the Presbyterian Chruch in Coventry [Chenango Co. NY], Tuesday, Sept. 5th, 1876, by Rev. Amos Coocker, Mr. E.H. Truesdell of Harpursville [Broome Co. NY], to Miss Ella Niven, of Coventry.

At the same time and place, by the same, Mr. Samuel Shelden, of Schuylerville [Saratoga Co. NY] to Miss Alice Hoyt of Coventry [Chenango Co. NY].

Death

At the residence of F.M. Bennett in Bennettsville, Sept. 4th, of heart disease, Mr. Hiram Bennett aged 73 years.

Died, in Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], on the 3d inst., Mr. Silas Root, aged 31 years.  Deceased has been an invalid for a number of years and although a great sufferer was always cheerful and uncomplaining, hoping against hope.  He leaves a wife and two children to mourn his loss.

News Items

Guilford Center [Chenango Co. NY]:  Mr. William Hovey's family monument has been removed from our cemetery to Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], and the remains of his son Frank [Hovey] is soon to be removed thither also.

As Irving Fleming and wife were going to the funeral of Mr. Gates' daughter, last Friday, in a buggy drawn by his young Arabian horses, while passing along the dug road about two miles up the river, near the railroad track, the horses became frightened at an approaching train and plunged madly down the bank into the river, throwing out the occupants of the carriage upon the adjacent rocks and into the river.  Fortunately, they were not seriously injured, though badly bruised.  The train was the way freight, with passenger car attached, due here at 1:50 P.M.  The conductor saw the accident, stopped the train and went to the assistance of Mr. Fleming and lady, bringing them down to the depot on the train, and also had the team brought down to the village.  The horses were not much injured.  Such action on the part of the conductor is commendable. Unadilla Times.  That conductor was Tom Vanaman, one of the most whole-souled, genial conductors to be found on any railroad.