Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, October 1877

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, October 4, 1877

Marriages

WILCOX - GIBSON:  At the residence of the bride's parents in Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] (near Mt. Upton), Sept 23d, by Rev. H.G. Harned, Mr. L.J. Wilcox of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Angelia Gibson.

JOHNSON - TOBY:  In Earlville [Madison Co. NY], Sept. 28th, by Rev. E.C. Brown, Mr. William Johnson of Hespania, Mich., to Miss Annette Toby of Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY].

BREMER - MUNROE:  At the residence of the bride's father, Sept. 27th, 1877, by Rev. L.C. Hayes, Mr. George H. Bremer to Louise M. Munroe all of Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY].

HOFFMAN - FISH:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 27th, by Rev. R.M. Duff, Mr. John Hoffman of Pennsylvania to Miss Georgianna Fish of Oxford.

BLOOD - BLISS:  In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY] Sept. 19th, by Rev. J. Woodry, Mr. Lewis Blood of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], to Miss Flora A. Bliss of Smithville.

Deaths

FRINK:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 20th, Betsey A. [Frink] wife of Coddington Frink, aged 50 years.

HOLLIDAY:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 29th, A. Leroy  Holliday aged about 48 years.

ALLEN:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 1st, Chester Allen, aged 83 years.

CRANDALL:  In South Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 12th, Leon [Crandall] only son of Henry O. and Helen M. Crandall, aged 4 months.

SMITH:  In McDonough [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 28th, Mr. Daniel Smith aged 81 years.

HUMPHREY:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] Sept. 28th, Dr. Charles Humphrey, aged 24 years.

HUMPHREY:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] Sept. 30th, Mrs. Samuel Humphrey.

WHITE:  In Lisle, Broome Co. [NY], Sept. 12th, after a lingering illness, Caroline [White] wife of L.L. White, aged 58 years.

BATES:  At the County Insane Asylum, Preston [Chenango Co. NY], Sept. 28th, Mrs. Harriet A. Bates, formerly of New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], aged 55 years.

McDonough, Chenango Co. NY:  Again, the Angel of Death has passed this way, and many hearts are made sad by the sundering of ties which bound them to those who have now "crossed the narrow river and entered the pearly gates."  Mrs. Beardsley, one of the oldest residents of this town, died at the residence of her son-in-law, Charles Greene, on Tuesday last.  Her funeral was held on Thursday morning, at the methodist church and was largely attended, Rev. Mr. Burnside officiating, assisted by Rev. Mr. Elwell.  The floral decorations were -?- consisting of a bunch of lilies, a sheaf of wheat and a sickle composed of pure white flowers.  Mrs. B. was a member of the first church established in this town and was eighty-seven years old at the time of her death.

McDonough, Chenango Co. NY:  The funeral of Ida Pike aged thirteen, also occurred on Thursday, being held at the residence of her father, Milton A. Pike.  It seemed so sad that one so young and who, but a few days before was with us in health and strength should be lying there so still and cold in death, but as the precession moved away to the quiet cemetery on the hill, the casket covered with lovely flowers and borne by her young schoolmates and friends, we could but trust that God knew best.  We cannot see the way, but He in his infinite love and tenderness still cares for us, although the way looks dark and dreary.

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News Item

Packard Family Reunion

On the 21st ult., seven of the children and most of the grandchildren of Larkin D. Packard celebrated his birthday by a family party and dinner at his residence in New Ohio in Broome County [NY].  Mr. Packard was born in Bridgewater, Mass., September 21st, 1794, removed to Harpersfield, Delaware County [NY] when but five years of age, served during the war of 1812 and in 1816 located in Coventry, Chenango County, where he remained upwards of forty years, a well-known and respected citizen.

January 31st, 1821, Mr. Packard united in marriage to Miss Amanda Atwater of Woodbridge, Conn.  The fruits of this marriage is a family of nine children, all living, and in robust health.  Mrs. Packard, after seeing her children grown up and occupying respected places in society, departed this life September 7th, 1863.  Late the next year, Mr. Packard was again married, Mrs. Betsey Montgomery being the bride.  Two years later they removed to New Ohio, where they still live, in the enjoyment of unusually good health.

For six successive years, the family have held a reunion at "Father's," and now find him a man eighty-three years of age, strong and healthy, doing all his work on a farm of forty acres.  Most of the children are located in the vicinity of the old homestead in Coventry.  Adney, the eldest, aged fifty-five, is at Piermont, N.Y.; Ira, another son, at East Union; and Elizabeth, wife of S.B. Tyler, at East Union.

Many incidents are related of the early life in the wilderness, among which it is stated that Mrs. Packard attended church regularly seven miles away, going on horseback guided only by marked trees. 

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, October 3, 1877

Marriage

On Saturday afternoon last, Mr. and Mrs. Marquis D. Brown celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding day, at their residence two miles above this village.  They were greeted by some seventy-five of their relatives and friends and a right enjoyable affair it was.  The side boards were loaded with rich and tasty presents in honor of the occasion, many of which were exceedingly beautiful and elaborate.  On behalf of the donors they were presented in an appropriate speech by H.M. Tefft, Esq., which was responded to by Rev. C.C. Williams. The bountiful repast was a fine feature of the occasion to which all sat down to, after which in music and mirth the afternoon was whirled away.  Mr. and Mrs. B. gracefully received the warm congratulations of their friends upon the prosperity which has thus far attended them, and we are sure that all will unite with the Telegraph in the wish that it may be continued to them until the golden period shall have crowned them the age and honors. The large gathering was a fitting tribute to a worthy couple who have so long lived in our midst and who are in the enjoyment of the respect and confidence from the entire community.

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Death of Chester Allen

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, October 4, 1877

Smyrna, Chenango Co., NY:  We have to record this week the death of one of our oldest and most respected citizens, Uncle Chester Allen departed this life on Monday noon, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.  He has spent the most of his life in this town and was always very much esteemed by all who knew him.  He has always enjoyed good health and up to the time of his sickness, was very active and energetic.  About three weeks since he suffered a stroke of paralysis and since then has failed gradually until death came to his relief.  He will be greatly missed by all.

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, Oct. 6, 1877

Another pioneer has gone to his rest.  Uncle Chester Allen peacefully breathed his last at his home in Smyrna village at noon on Monday, the 1st inst.  Had he lived until yesterday he would have been eighty-three year and seven months old.  Although at times in feeble health he was considered quite smart and active for his extreme age and many a string of the speckled beauties - fishing being his favorite pastime - have found their way to the "frying pan," even during the past Summer.  About a month ago, while on one of these excursions he received a partial sunstroke or shock of paralysis of the brain and throat, affecting him so he was barely able to get home, and although receiving the best of care and medical treatment, he did not recover from the stroke but continued to grow weaker until his naturally strong constitution succumbed to the disease and his desire "to be with Christ," was granted him.  He did not seem to wish to recover from the first and frequently remarked that "all is well, I am ready to go," and similar expressions.  Truly he was like full corn in the ear, "ripe for the harvest" and "although dead he yet speaketh," and his faithful consistent Christian life and example, with an always cheerful temperament and pleasant word for all around him, cannot but have its effect upon his friends and the community at large.

He was born in Gill, Mass., March 3rd, 1794, and was not quite three years old when he came with his father's family, Apolos Allen, and settled in this town, his father building a log house in 1797, on the ground now used [in 1877] by his nephew, L.C. Sweet, Esq., as a garden.  Apolos Allen and Seth Hutchinson were among the first settlers here, and were joint farmers, owning all of the tract of land where the village now stands.

Apolos Allen died in September 1807, aged 52 years; and his father Noah, in February 1802, aged 77, and were buried on Sherburne Hill.  Among the early settlers with them were Mr. Carven, who built the first grist mill, Judge Isaac Foote, now of Hamilton, Squire Simons, Thomas Tracy, Joseph Collins, Samuel Kelsy, Roger Case; and later the Talcots (Joshua and Harvy), Deacon Chester Hammon, Briggs, Stovers, Wilburs, D. Hubbard, Hunts, Knowles, Holts, Gutherie, etc.; and before them of Sherburne Hill, in 1794, were Major Joseph Dixon - Grandfather of the "Dixon Brothers" - who, with a family of four boys and one girl, moved from Vermont in 1795, when at the age of forty-one years; the Raymonds, Hutchinsons, Grays, etc.  Do we realize what noble men these pioneers were, and the great sacrifices they made to secure homes for us - their grandchildren - I am afraid not!

He was converted to Christ in 1816 when a young man and joined the M.E. class when only a circuit station here; but afterward joined the Reformed Methodists - now extinct - who held their meetings for a time in the old Free Church, now removed near the Stover burying ground, on the hill north of the Norwich road, about three miles south of the village; which was built by Rev. Wm. Stover (a good Methodist pioneer preacher) for his own use, and any others who wished to occupy it for religious services, and who also laid out the lovely spot now occupied as a cemetery, and where many of the oldest families of our town lie buried; the Stovers, Wilburs, Wilcoxes, Cleavelands, Briggs etc.; and where we buried the remains of our departed neighbor, brother and friend yesterday beside the loved companion of his youth and manhood, Hannah Blair, who died some fifteen years ago.  He united with First M.E. Chruch of Smyrna in 1847, when Rev. J.G Queal, now of Sherburne, was the pastor, and was one of its main pillars till Jesus called him up higher to receive the reward of his faithfulness and trust in His Word for salvation.  He was the oldest member - but one, living, viz Uncle John Tobey, of Smyrna Hill - now one, 90 years of age, and still faithful to God, although not privileged to hear the Gospel anymore.  His only blood relatives living, I believe, are Hon Samuel P. Allen, formerly of the Telegraph, now publisher of the Republican at Geneseo, and L.C. Sweet, Esq., both nephews.  It was a great disappointment to he former that he could not be present at the funeral.  The latter will "have his reward" for his untiring faithfulness to the deceased for years in every time of sickness and trouble and for his kind attention to those that remain.

Miss Theodosia Blair, a niece of his wife, who has lived with him since she was eleven-years of age, and inherits his property, has always been faithful to her dear old uncle, and will miss him so much.  May God comfort her and all of the friends and help them to live so they can be reunited above, is our prayer.  How true - "we never prize the music till the sweet voiced bird has flown!"

The funeral services were attended by a large circle of friends and relatives at 2 o'clock, Wednesday.  Rev. A.M. Colegrove of Guilford, making a prayer at the residence, and his pastor, Rev. J.L. Race, preaching a funeral sermon at the church from the words in Numbers 23:10, "Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like his," after the opening prayer and reading of Scripture by Rev. F. Taylor, of Binghamton District.

We shall never forget his interest in the great work of Grace enjoyed here last winter, under the preaching of the Evangelist Earle and our faithful pastors; when, although confined to the house by infirmity and sickness, his whole heart was in the work, and it seemed to rejoice him so, to learn that such and such neighbors and friends were enlisting for God.  He was always interested in the great reforms of the day - an earnest anti-slavery advocate, and warm Republican in his politics, and although at one time he owned a distillery - on the lot now occupied [in 1877] by A. Wilbur's house - he has for years been a teetotaler in principle and practice, and never shrank from "showing his colors" at the ballot box for Prohibition and no license in our corporation and town elections.  Would that all Christian and Temperance men were as consistent in their action, we would soon be rid of the old giant monster alcohol in our otherwise beautiful land.  It comes to me just now a circumstance he related to the writer - that occurred when he was in the old distillery.  Captain Whitman Barber, of the old Smyrna militia company, came one day and wanted him to make him three gallons of pure alcohol or whisky, and he did so, and when he came for it, he warned him that he must not allow his men to take more than one swallow of it, but the old Captain (who by the way died in the same house Mr. Allen did), got a little careless - from taking two swallows himself probably - and he and his company were all lying under the fence, drunk!