Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, November 1, 1877
Marriages
HOVEY - BARBER: In Afton [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 24th, by Rev. H.N. VanDeusen, Mr. George T. Hovey of Guilford Centre [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Eva S Barber of Afton.
STRATTON - McFARLAND: In South Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 24th, by Rev. D. Ballou of Utica, Mr. melville Stratton to Miss Hattie McFarland.
NEWELL - CHURCH: In Harpersville [Broome Co. NY], Oct. 18th, by Rev. A.W. Cornell, Mr. Albert Newell of Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], to Miss Mary Ida Church of Afton [Chenango Co. NY].
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ANGELL - SAGE: In South New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 22d, by Rev. J.H. Boyce, Mr. Olin T. Angell of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Abbie J. Sage daughter of Nelson Sage, Esq. of South New Berlin.
Editor Chenango Union: Permit me to say a few words through your journal of a most pleasant affair which occurred at the residence of Mr. Nelson J. Sage about a mile south of this village [South New berlin], on Monday evening, October 22d. It was the occasion of the marriage of his eldest daughter, Abbie J. to Mr. Olin T. Angell of Guilford Centre. Weddings are nearly always pleasant, but when every circumstance conspires to make them so, they are especially interesting. The circumstances on both the part of the bride and groom were seemingly all that could be desired. On the evening referred to, a large company mostly of relatives, numbering about seventy, gathered to witness the nuptials. At eight o'clock the bridal pair came into the parlor, which had been decorated for the occasion, and took their stand underneath an archway of evergreens to take upon themselves the solemn obligations of husband and wife. A brief and fitting ceremony uniting the twain and making them one flesh was pronounced by the pastor of the M.E. Church and an appropriate prayer was offered by the pastor of the Baptist church of this village. Then followed congratulations, hand shakings, salutations, toasts and jokes and abundant refreshments were served in the parlors of our host and hostess. After these things were over, Rev. Walter Scott at the request of the bride's father, in a few, well-chosen and timely remarks performed the pleasant task, as he termed it, of thanking the relatives and friends in behalf of the bride for the many and valuable presents, enduring tokens of their interest in her welfare and that of her husband. After this, the company soon dispersed to their homes, except a few young ladies who remained to make melody for the newly married couple. On Tuesday morning the happy pair started on a tour to Niagara Falls and other places of interest. Many are the prayers and good wishes that will follow them through life's journey. No young lady could be taken from our social circle who would be more sincerely missed than the bride. May both she and her husband live long, useful, noble and happy lives. And when they may gather to celebrate their golden wedding, among other pleasures may many youth rise up to call them blessed.
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Editor Union: A very pleasant affair took place in our village on last Sunday evening (21st inst.) in form of the wedding of Mr. Bert G. Palmer and Miss Ella A. Morse. The weather was very unpleasant, a steady rain having fallen all day, but notwithstanding this, at the appointed hour, 6 P.M. the Baptist church was filled with an impatient and eager audience. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion. The chandeliers and lamps were tastefully trimmed with evergreens. In the arch over the pulpit hung a garland of flowers forty feet long. On either side of the pulpit were tables elaborately covered with flowers, ferns and evergreens and a beautiful vase of rare flowers stood upon either side of the Bible. Over the main aisle, up which the bridegroom and bride passed, was erected a beautiful arch, hung in the top with the "marriage bell." This was so ingeniously contrived that at the moment the happy pair should be directly underneath it, the bells would chime. At the appointed hour the couple entered, attended by two groomsmen and bridesmaids. The wedding march from Mendelssohn was finely rendered upon the organ by Mrs. Hooker. the ceremony was most solemnly and fittingly pronounced by Rev. I.J. Bailey, of New Lisbon, formerly pastor of this church who afterwards preached upon the "Bridal of the Lamb." The couple have the best wishes of their numerous friends.
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Rodman Bates, aged 82, of Amenia [Dutchess Co. NY], and Mrs. Phebe Wilcox, of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], aged 68, were married in Dutchess County [NY], recently. He was groomsman at her wedding fifty years ago.
Deaths
COLLINS: In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 30th, Charles Collins, aged 28 years.
NILES: In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 24th, Vanness G. [Niles] son of George and Olvie Niles, aged 7 weeks and 3 days.
GIBSON: In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 24th, Edwin Bryant [Gibson] son of Kasson C. and the late Grace W. Gibson, of New York, aged 1 year and 8 months and 13 days.
HILLIARD: In Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY], Oct. 26th, Mr. Samuel Hilliard, aged 77 years.
BUNNELL: In Tioga, Pa., Oct. 21st, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Bunnell, formerly of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] and mother of K.E. Bunnell of that town, in the 57th year of her age.
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McWHORTER: At Grand Rapids, Mich, Sept. 2d, Dr. David McWhorter, aged 83 years, formerly of Pitcher [Chenango Co. NY].
Died, at Grand Rapids, Mich September 2d, 1877, Dr. David McWhorter, aged eighty-three years. David was born in Hebron, Washington County, N.Y. His grandfather, Matthew McWhorter, was a member of the colonial Assembly of New York before the revolutionary war. His father was a farmer in the same County, and David grew up with the scanty privileges afforded by that new and then border region of our country. At the age of seventeen he came to reside with his uncle, a practicing physician in Cincinnatus [Cortland Co. NY]. He remained with him three years, during which time he chose the profession of medicine. He graduated at the New York Medical Institute, as it was then called. Receiving his diploma, he returned to his uncle's and married Miss Nancy McWhorter, his cousin, and moved to Pitcher, where he remained thirty-three years, during which time he won a leading place in his profession, and so high a place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, that for two successive seasons he represented them in our Legislature His wife died, and a few years after he married Miss Sarah R Wakeley, daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Wakeley, of this town, by whom he had two daughters, who died a few years after their marriage with Mr. Miner, a gentleman of New York. After the death of his second wife, he married Miss Sarah Murdock, of Smyrna. Soon after he made his home in Pitcher, he joined the Baptist Church and was a man of integrity, a wise counselor, and a devoted Christian. He moved to Grass Lake, in Michigan, in 1848, and devoted his time to his profession, obtaining the good opinion of all with whom he associated. In 1865, he moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and connected himself with the Baptist church, of which he died a member and officer, holding the honored position of deacon. For the last few years, the malady which has taken him away has so preyed upon his physical system as to confine him to his bed most of the time. Each day more fully defined the way of the heavenly, until he left us for the inheritance above. Two sons and two daughters now mourn his departure.
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Funeral of Ralph Johnson
The funeral of Ralph Johnson on Friday last, although the day was very stormy, was attended from his residence on Broad Street [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], by a large circle of relatives and friends of the deceased and a large concourse of people.
The services were conducted by Rev. L.M.S. Haynes, his pastor, and were very impressive. Rev. Samuel Scoville, during all his residence in Norwich, a near neighbor of Mr. Johnson, spoke feelingly in regard to his noble traits of character and his exemplary Christian life, paying a well-deserved tribute to his excellence and worth. Rev R.A. Paterson of Binghamton, a former pastor, made appropriate and affecting remarks. He came as a mourner, not to speak, but to sympathize with the afflicted, and pay a last tribute to the memory of a devoted counselor and friend. the only daughter, Mrs. Bigalow, of New York, it is greatly to be regretted, was unable from illness to be present.
It was a sad day indeed when so prominent a citizen, when a man so intelligent and observant, of such vast experience and so competent to communicate and instruct, with a mind stored with the accumulated knowledge of current events, secular, political and religious for sixty-seven years, was buried out of sight.
News Item
Spiritual Seance
A number of ladies and gentlemen assembled by invitation in the parlors at the residence of Benjamin Hartwell, Esq., on East Main Street [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], last Monday evening, to witness the manifestations by Mrs. Belle Young, of Washington, D.C., a spiritual medium. Mrs. Young presided at the piano, giving some fine selections inspired, as she says, by the spirit of the great Mozart. While playing, the forward legs of the instrument would rise several inches from the floor, and fall again, keeping time with the music. At times the piano would remain tipped, and upon her invitation, gentlemen exerted their utmost strength to force it to the floor, without success. Again, she invited as many as chose to sit upon the piano, which request was complied with by several gentlemen - as many as could find seats - when the piano was raised from the floor as before and kept time with her playing. whether sitting or standing, the result was the same. How this movement of the piano was accomplished was what puzzled the audience, among whom were some of our village clergy. Of course, it is claimed by believers to be the work of spirits, but all we can say is, we don't know anything about it. Mrs. Young is an intelligent lady and made a very favorable impression with those present.