Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, October 4, 1877
Marriage
In Homer, N.Y. [Cortland Co. NY], October 2d, 1877, at the house of the bride's father, Benjamin K. Davis, formerly of Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY], by Rev. W.F. Benedict, C. Chatfield Leonard of Cooperstown, N.Y. [Otsego Co. NY] to Miss Effie Davis of the former place.
Deaths
In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY], October 2d, 1877, Jeremiah C. Adams aged 54 years. Funeral this Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from his late residence on Eagle St.
In Portlandville [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 25, Mr. Briggs Wilber aged 72 years and 9 months.
In Roseboom, Sept. 19th, of dropsy and heart disease, Ann E. [Elwell] wife of F.A. Elwell, aged 57 years.
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Death on the Rail
As a special train on the O.&S.V.R.R., which left this village early on the morning of Wednesday last, was near the county house, the engineer discovered a man standing on the track. He immediately sounded the signal of danger, tooted the brakes down, and reversed his engine, but before the iron horse could be stopped the man was struck by the pilot and thrown from the track. the train was backed up as soon as possible, where they found the man dead.
Coroner Dr. Parshall was notified, and he took the body in charge. On examination it was found that both legs were badly broken, the left one just above the ankle, where the flesh was also fearfully bruised.
This unfortunate man had been an inmate of the county house, having been brought from the town of Laurens [Otsego Co. NY], as a transient pauper and gave his name as Geo. W. Hopkins. He was between 75 and 80 years of age, and had probably spent a good part of his life in the vicinity of Clayville and New Hartford, Oneida Co. [NY] as was ascertained from stories told by him at the county house.
The verdict of the Coroner's Jury was that the deceased was of unsound mind, that the engineer used prop[er means to get him off the track but of no avail. From the effects of broken limbs and the shocked system, a speedy death resulted.
Oneonta Herald & Democrat, Oneonta, NY, October 5, 1877
Marriages
At Otsdawa [Otsego Co. NY], Sept -?- by Rev. Stevens, Leonard V. Miller and Eliza A. Reynolds.
In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY], Oct. 3d, by Rev. H. Brown, James Markley of Sidney [Delaware Co. NY] and Libbie Wright of Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY].
Death
In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY], October 1st, Fred Whittenhall aged twenty-four.
"Fred Whittenhall is dead!" This was the exclamation that passed from ear-to-ear early Monday morning. He expired without a struggle at 6:10 a.m. of that day.
As for nearly three years we had been closely associated with Mr. Whittenhall in business, as printer and associate editor, we dispose toward giving something of his rather remarkable life from facts as he related to us at one time and another. He was born in Addison, N.Y. [Steuben Co. NY] in June 1853, and was consequently something over twenty-four years old. Before reaching three years of age, he had croup, scarlet fever, congestion and inflammation of the lungs, and catarrh of very bad character, from the latter he never recovered. For a few years prior to his tenth, Mr. Whittenhall was in school as much of the time as his health would allow and was more devoted to bookkeeping than other studies. During these years he often expressed a fixed determination to become a printer. When ten years old Henry Whittenhall, his father decided to move to California; Fred, of course, went with him. His first two years residence there was spent in school. Near the expiration of that time his mother died. Mr. Whittenhall and his son both sickened and repaired to the mountains of that state to recuperate their health. The former there contracted to build several snow sheds on the Central Pacific Railroad, and for some months his son was employed as newsboy on that line. During his labors on the railroad, he once fell from a car, sustaining a severe fracture on an arm. Again, as he was leaving the rear end of a car, in a dark night, the conductor came upon the platform from the following car. Not noticing the young man, the conductor, in swinging his lantern as a signal to the engineer, hit the newsboy on the head, knocking him between the coaches, two cars passing over his body, breaking collar and chest bones in a horrible manner, from which he never entirely recovered. During the year after Mrs. Whittenhall's death, Mr. Whittenhall was killed by falling from a snow shed, leaving Fred an orphan, with his home at an uncle's.
For about three years after his brief but unfortunate railroad experience, Mr. Whittenhall was employed as a bookkeeper, during which time he earned money enough to arrange in a handsome manner the lot where his father and mother were buried, all alone performing offices of affection and self-sacrifice, which calls into action a brave and honorable nature.
In 1863, he returned to Addison, and after a few months of severe sickness by rheumatism, commenced the trade of a printer with Johnson & Roberts, publishers of the Addison Advertiser. He worked continuously on that paper until 1873, when Mr. Johnson commenced published the Oneonta Herald and Democrat, and has since worked on that paper, about two years of the time as foreman.
Last winter it became evident that Mr. Whittenhall's disease of catarrh was leaving his head and settling on the lungs. Since that time, he has steadily declined, yet having his good days, until Monday morning, when death came a relief to one who had borne many times more than men of his age usually sustain. The affectionate and constant care of a grandmother, the unlimited kindness and attention of an uncle and aunt, the loving tenderness of his affianced, careful medical treatment and kindness from hosts of friends were of no avail. All was done that could be done. There was no setting aside the will of the Lord.
Fred Whittenhall was a young man of unusual natural abilities. Although receiving but a limited education, he picked up in everyday life all that is of practical necessity in business. He had a use of language that but very few persons of the completest education and culture ever command. An intelligent and careful reader, he devoted much time to means of information and was a well-informed gentleman.
In his business of a printer, at the "frame" and as foreman, Fred was a good hand; skilled, faithful and as energetic as his sensitive and feeble constitution would allow. He was always agreeable with associates, willing at all times to do his part, never asking anything unreasonable of others. We all miss Fred, and as weeks and months glide along, he will be affectionately spoken of by those who see every day in this printing office things to remind us of him. A large number of young people in the village will think often of their departed friend and say nothing but good things of him.
The funeral Tuesday morning was largely attended. Besides citizens the fire department, under management of Lewis Hose Company, of which Mr. Whittenhall was a member, attended in liberal numbers. The Hose Company was full and appeared in uniform. The Steamer Company was largely represented, ununiformed except by their handsome new fatigue hats and gloves. The Hook and Ladder Company were also dressed as citizens. Passing through Main Street to Riverside Cemetery, Military Band rendered the Death March in a very effective manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson desire in this manner to extend their warmest gratitude to those friends who have aided and upheld them during the trying period of sickness and death of their nephew, Mr. Whittenhall; to the band, fire department and chief officers for their kind courtesies.
We have extended this notice somewhat longer than ordinary obituaries in this paper and our only excuse is the admiration and affection we had for Fred Whittenhall, and to demonstrate somewhat the qualities of heart and head that have appealed to our affections and judgment.
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