Chenango American, Greene, NY, June 20, 1878
Marriages
At the home of the bride, June 5th, by Rev. J.L. Race, Mr. Edward Daniels to Miss Ettie S. Harrington, both of Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY].
At Pitcher Springs [Chenango Co. NY], June 9th, by A.F. Smith, Esq., Lewis I. Weeks to Miss Laura Ann Eaton of Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY].
Deaths
In this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], June 13th, Mrs. Desire Driscall, aged 91 years.
In Chenango Forks, N.Y. June 16th, Hannah M. Roos aged 46 years.
In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], June 17th, Mr. David L. Davis, aged 51 years.
At Wood's Corners [Chenango Co. NY], June 7th, Theresa J. [Waters] wife of Amos Waters of North Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], aged 27 years.
In Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] June 2d, Mr. Justin M. Gager aged 49 years.
Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, June 22, 1878
Death
HARRIS: In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY], on Tuesday the 18th inst., Mrs. Smith Harris, aged 51 years, 8 months.
News Item
An Interesting Reunion
Thursday June 18th, 1878, the residence of A.W. Church, about 2-1/2 miles south of Sherburne village [Chenango Co. NY] was the scene of a pleasant gathering of the friends and neighboring relatives of Col. Benjamin Church for the purpose of celebrating his 90th birthday. The weather was fine, and a company numbering thirty-five were early assembled to offer their congratulations. This venerable gentleman was born in Stonington, Connecticut, June 18th, 1788. His parents soon removed to Norwich of the same state [Connecticut], the family consisting of five boys and two girls. At the age of ten years, he was "bound out" for a year to do work in the summer and attend school three months in winter. There he remained until the fall of 1801, then thirteen years of age, when he in company with some cousins by the name of Stafford, in the month of November started for Chenango Co., N.Y., taking a route nearly direct to Albany, thence to Cooperstown, New Berlin and to Sherburne "Landing," as they termed it on what is now known as "Buell Hill." They were about 20 days in making the trip, the road not being as nice as it is now, being obliged to ford streams and encounter all the difficulties of traveling a wood through hundreds of miles of unsettled territory. At that time Sherburne village consisted of one "Log-house" situated where Elsbro & Co's large store now stands [in 1878], pretty much the whole of the surrounding country being covered by dense forests. This house was owned and occupied by one Mr. Gray, who then held a contract for turnpiking the road from Sherburne to Smyrna. To Mrs. Gray the venereal subject of this communication hired and began work immediately at the river bridge west of Sherburne. He has lived in this vicinity since then, being engaged in various kinds of labor and most of the time hard labor, such as our forefathers who settled and cleared our beautiful valleys only understood. At the age of 21 he became united by the holy bonds of matrimony to one Miss Coy of DeRuyter [Madison Co. NY] who continued his cherished companion and helpmate until March 1867 when she died. Sixty years ago, they removed to what is now known as "Church Hill," then in the town of Norwich, now in North Norwich, and settled on the farm where the birthday party assembled last Tuesday. He reared a family of ten children, five only of whom are now living. He has now living five children, seventeen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He enjoys excellent health, is active, in fact it is very seldom we see persons of his age retain their memory and other faculties so well. According to our tables of mortality, he has lived out three generations. Indeed, it was a pleasant sight to see him surrounded by three generations of posterity, his countenance beaming with delight, bespeaking the kind nature by which we have always known him, answering congratulations with kindly wishes that a like experience could safely be vouched for all. It was an occasion of rare occurrence and one long to be remembered by those present. We could but notice the contrast between the faces of a baby grandchild and that of its grandparent. The countenance of the one was marked by a thousand little creases, which in the other, busy time had taken pleasure in wearing away with the flat part of his scythe leaving in their stead the well-worn furrows of his deeper operations The brow of one manifesting no sign of thought, while on that of the other, the same deceitful time and his brother care had set their well-known marks. The one just beginning, the other seemingly near the end of the journey of life. And so, amid contemplations and exchanging friendly communications we passed the day, and the time gradually approached when we should part again. In behalf of this venerable gentleman, his grandson B.A Church thanked the company for their kindness towards his aged grand sire. At the same time paying due respect to the absent living relatives, and a tribute to those who have from time to time been called to their final homes "not made with hands eternal in the heavens." And thus ended one of the pleasantest birthday celebrations, if so it may be termed, that it has ever been my lot to participate in and ere we had all departed.
"The day was done, and darkness had fallen / From the wings of night, / Like an eagle wafted / Downward in his flight."
Weekly Press, Afton, NY, July 20, 1880
Deaths
Tuesday afternoon, about 2 o'clock, as Dr. J.L. Purdy, of Smithville [Chenango Co. NY] was returning home from a professional visit on what is called the "ridge road," accompanied by his little son, Orlie [Purdy], aged about seven years, and as they were crossing the Hazelton bridge, the horse (which was blind) was frightened by a passing bird which struck him on the ear, causing him to jump from the bridge, throwing the carriage and occupants clear over him. Little Orlie struck on the top of his head on the stones in the bottom of the creek, a distance of about twelve feet, crushing the whole top of his skull and his father struck on top of him. He was immediately picked up and carried to the nearest house, where he lived until eleven o'clock the same evening. Dr. Johnson and Dr Wood of Greene were called but could do nothing for him. His father sustained no serious injury. His parents are almost crazy over the terrible death of their only son, who was a very brilliant child and respected by all who knew him. The funeral was held at 1 P.M. Thursday at the home of his parents. Bainbridge Republican.
News Item
Five Times Married
A very remarkable case was developed at the police court on Tuesday, when Zachariah Butcher was arraigned on the charge of bigamy. The complainant is Ellen Sanders Butcher who lives on Third avenue, New York. The prisoner was sent to jail to await an examination. Strange to say, the accused looks upon himself as something of a romantic hero. He apparently delights in a rehearsal of connubial exploits. He is sixty years old, and according to his own statement has enjoyed the associations of five wives. Wife No. 1 was Sarah Debman an English woman, whom he married in England in 1846, and lived with three years, when she died. He then came to America. Wife No. 2 was a widow, Mrs. Maria Costello whom he married in 1851. In January 1852, she died suddenly while at the supper table. Wife No. 3 was Miss Pattock aged 36, whom he married in 1856. He says she did not like his style of living and left him. Wife No. 4 was Mrs. Sanders the complainant who he married in 1867. They lived together until a daughter was born to them, when he became dissatisfied and in 1876 went to Providence, R.I. From there he came to this city [Albany, NY], bringing his daughter along. Wife No. 5 was Miss Mary Jones living on Clinton Avenue in this city to whom he was married November 20, 1876. Three months afterwards she left him and proceeded to England. His marriage with Miss Jones he says could only have recently reached the complainants knowledge. He says they agreed in 1872 to separate and if he has committed any offense, he is willing to suffer. The daughter, of which wife No. 4 is the mother, and which has been with its father for four years, was sent to the house of shelter by Justice Nott until the case has been disposed of. Mrs. Butcher, wife No. 4, left for New York Tuesday evening to obtain the necessary proof of her marriage. Albany Press
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