Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, July 1878

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, July 4, 1878

Marriages

BRONSON - MORGAN:  In German [Chenango Co. NY], June 8th, by A.E. Perry, Esq. Mr. Charles H. Bronson of Smithville [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Laura C. Morgan of Willett [Cortland Co. NY].

LOOMIS - ANDREWS:  At the residence of the bride's parents in Waverly, N.Y., June 20th, 1878, by Rev. S.F. Brown, Mr. Frank Loomis of Troy, Pa., to Miss Marie Clark Andrews daughter of Rev. W.W. Andrews.

Deaths

COLSON:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], June 30th, Minnie E. [Colson] daughter of Mrs. A.M. Colson, aged 20 years and 11 months.

The death of Miss Minnie Colsen is announced in another column.  Her funeral was largely attended on Tuesday afternoon.  She was a beautiful girl of rare accomplishment, possessing attributes that always endeared her to her acquaintances and friends.  Her disease was quick consumption and quickly it did its work.  "Death loves a shining mark."  [Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1878]

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PLUMB:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], July 1st, Mr. Justus Plumb aged 73 years.

On Monday last, Justus Plumb, an old resident of this village, died at the residence of his son-in-law, W.R. Barber, on Grove Avenue, aged seventy-three years.  Deceased was a quiet, unassuming man, whose life has been an humble but an honest one, and there are many who will miss him.  His funeral was attended on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. S. Scoville officiating.  

Justus Plumb died suddenly on Monday morning last at the residence of his daughter.  he has lived here for many years and was well known to all our older citizens as a quiet, peaceably disposed citizen.  He will be missed form our streets. [Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1878]

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STACK:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], July 1st, Kate Louisa [Stack] daughter of James and Ellen Stack, aged 4 years.

GREENE:  In German [Chenango Co. NY], May 25th, Mr. James H. Greene, aged 68 years. 

KNAPP:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] July 3d, of cancer, Mr. George Knapp, aged 76 years, father of David M. Knapp, Esq. of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY].

George Knapp, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Guilford, died on Wednesday of this week, after months of intense suffering, of cancer, aged seventy-six years.  He was father of David H. Knapp and Henry M. Knapp, of this village.

JOHNSON:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] June 26th, Mrs. Betsey Johnson, aged 97 years.

KELLY:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], June 28th, Mr. James Kelly, aged 27 years.

James Kelly of this place [Guilford] died on the 28th ult. of strangulated hernia, brought on by over work at a barn raising.  An operation was performed, but it was of no avail.  The remains were taken to Hamilton [Madison Co. NY] for interment, his former residence. [Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, July 3, 1878]

TROY:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] June 17th, Mrs. Mary Troy, aged 24 years.

RICE:  In Greene [Chenango Co. NY] June 26th, Nellie Parker [Rice] only child of William G. and Almira Rice, aged 7 years.

LEWIS:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY], June 15th, Mr. Israel P. Lewis, aged 74 years.

BROWN:  In Binghamton [Broome Co. NY], June 24th Mrs. Elizabeth Brown aged 75(?) years, formerly of Preston [Chenango Co. NY].

Preston, Chenango Co. NY:  Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, widow of the late Walter Brown of this town, died at Binghamton the 24th and was brought back here the 26th and buried. [Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1878]

FISHER:  Jared Fisher for many years a resident of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], died in Utica [Oneida Co. NY] June 28th, at the advanced age of seventy-four years.  He will be remembered by many of our citizens as an upright man, a sincere Christian and one whom all respected for his virtues, his kindness of heart, and geniality in his daily intercourse with his neighbors and friends.  He was the father of Hon. F.B. Fisher, of Brooklyn.

At his residence, No. 3 Elm Stret, Utica, on Friday, June 28th, Jared Fisher, aged 74 years.

Under its appropriate head in today's Telegraph will be found the announcement of the death of Mr. Jared Fisher at the advanced age of 74 years.  Mr. F. came to this village about the year 1832 and went into the employ of the late Ansel Berry with whom he remained until the latter retired from business.  Mr. Fisher removed to Utica about fourteen years since where he has since resided.  He was a worthy citizen, an industrious mechanic, and a conscientious Christian gentleman.  He was long a member of the M.E. Church here and an official member.  His death will be learned with regret by many old friends.  He was the father of Hon. F.B. Fisher of Brooklyn, and Rev. A.N. Fisher of Rochester. [Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1878

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Frederick Barrows aged about twenty-five years, son of Harrison Barrows, of McDonough [Chenango Co. NY], came to the show on Saturday, accompanied by two brothers.  In the evening, between eight and nine o'clock, he was found near a pump in front of the Spaulding House barn, in an unconscious condition.  He was taken into the house, and Drs. Stuart and Avery were called, who found that there was a contusion over one of his eyes, and his right wrist broken. The fracture was reduced, and he received every attention from the physicians and the host and attendants at the hotel.  Towards morning he became partially conscious and stated that when he had started for home with one of his brothers on Saturday evening, while turning the corner at the Guernsey residence, corner of West Main and Court Streets, he for some reason jumped form the wagon and was run over by a team moving in the opposite direction.  It is supposed that he went back to the Spaulding House, through the rear alley, and in attempting to quench his thirst or bathe his broken limb, fainted.

At an early hour on Sunday morning, he was conveyed to his home, and we learn that he died, probably on Sunday, and was buried on Tuesday.  It is the opinion of the physicians who attended him here that there was a concussion of the brain which resulted in his death.  Whether his removal in his condition was proper is a question. We are informed that he was a man of good habits.

Frederick Barrows, of McDonough, the young man who was run over on East Main Street the night after the circus, died from the injuries sustained on that occasion at his home in McDonough on Tuesday night last. Who it was that ran over him is not known, but that rapid driving on our public thoroughfares is a dangerous pastime, and one that ought not to be tolerated, all concede, and the statutes in regard to that offence ought to be rigidly enforced. [Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 6, 1978]

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CLARKE:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], June 30th, James W. Clarke, Esq., aged 63 years.

Mr. Clarke died at his residence in this village Sunday June 30th.  He was the oldest son of the late Ethan Clarke and was born at Brookfield, Madison County [NY] in the year 1815 and removed with his father's family to Oxford about 1831 where he resided continuously until his decease.

From the time he came to years of manhood until his death, Mr. Clarke has been an active businessman, devoted thereto but at the same time not forgetting the higher duties which he owed to the church and to society.  Few men were his equal in point of business capacity, judgment and foresight and his integrity and truthfulness were never questioned.  By his energy attention to his work and great capacity, he built up and carried on for a long series of years what was for the locality a large mercantile business.  In 1864 he entered upon the work of establishing the First National Bank of Oxford of which he became President, which position he held at the time of his death. The Bank was from the start a successful venture and that it was so, was owing in a large measure to the guidance, foresight and wisdom of Mr. Clarke. The instances are rare where a man without effort, without self seeking, has been so much looked up to, and in whose judgment and capacity such implicit confidence has been placed as was the case with the deceased.  For long years Mr. Clarke has been closely identified with St. Paul's Chruch, first as a vestryman, and for the last twelve years as one of its Wardens.  Oxford Academy has also shared in the labors which he has been willing to and has bestowed upon matters of public and universal interest.

Public appreciation of Mr. Clarke is second however to that which was felt and recorded by his family and immediate friends.  He leaves these scenes with a lasting record as a devoted husband, a loving father, a kind and affectionate brother, and a reliable friend.  His loss can hardly be estimated, time and events will tell and surely demonstrate how great it is.  His death is a shock to his family, to his friends, to the Church, to the Bank, to the Academy, to society, a shock few if any can now fully realize. The loss to all these, however, can scarcely equal the gain which is his in exchange for his happy surroundings here, joined to the large number of relatives and friends who have gone before, he awaits the coming of the loved ones whom he has left here but for a time.  Oxford Times, July 3d.

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There are many of the older residents of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] whose recollections of old-time association as they pass from this to the undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler returns, who have a pleasing remembrance of Samuel B. Garvin who died suddenly of apoplexy, at his residence in the Hotel Royal in New York on Friday evening last. The New York journals state that his health had been very good of late, but about 9 o'clock on Wednesday night he was seized with an apoplectic stroke, at No. 131 West Twenty-third Street while attending to some legal business. A physician was called in, but nothing could be done for him as the entire right side was paralyzed.  He remained in a semi-comatose condition until midnight when he was removed to the hotel.  Though unable to speak, he seemed to rally somewhat after his removal to the hotel and in a few hours could move his hands on the paralyzed side.  On Thursday afternoon a consultation was held between Dr. Bryant, Dr. Austin Flint and Dr. Patten.  From this examination there seemed to be strong hopes of his recovery, but at 1 A.M. Friday he began to grow rapidly worse, and he expired at 8:30 P.M.

Mr. Garvin was born in 1811 at Butternuts, Otsego County [NY].  In the village of his birth, he resided until between seventeen and eighteen years of age, when he removed to this village where he engaged in the study of law in the office of David Buttolph and Chas. A. Thorp, then law partners in this place.  Here after being admitted to the bar, he married a daughter of the late Dr.  Henry Mitchell.  We copy from the Utica Observer:

"About 1840 he removed to Utica.  Here he established an enviable reputation as a lawyer and a citizen.  In 1850, he was elected District Attorney of Oneida County, and during this time he conducted successfully several important criminal trials.  By President Pierce, in 1856, he was appointed United States District Attorney for the Northern District of New York.  After serving in this capacity for two years he resigned his office, went to New York City and engaged in the practice of the law.  He became a member of the law firm of Schaefer, Garvin & Dodge.  About 1862 he was elected judge of the Superior Court.  Resigning this office, he was appointed District Attorney by Governor Hoffman to fill the vacancy caused by the election of A. Oakey Hall to the Mayoralty.  Upon the expiration of this partial term, he was elected and filled the term preceding that of Mr. Phelps, the present District Attorney. Since his retirement from this position, he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession and is said to have been highly successful.

"On the evening of January 24, 1873, Judge Garvin came very near meeting a terrible death.  He was seated in his library, it appears, busily engaged in writing, when suddenly the house was filled with the most heart-rending shrieks, while the cry of "fire!" resounded through it.  Following the direction from which the shrieks emanated the Judge bounded upstairs and found his daughter rushing about her room enveloped in flames. The curtains and bedding in the room were also on fire. the judge at once seized a blanket and throwing it about his daughter, he succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not until both had been severely burned.

"Mr. Garvin leaves a wife, three daughters, all of whom are married, and one son, Henry M. Garvin, who has been connected for fifteen years with the New York City Department of Finance."

Vital Records, Otsego County, NY, 1809, 1847, 1848

 Impartial Observer, Cooperstown, NY, May 27, 1809

Marriages

In Milford [Otsego Co. NY] on Sunday last by the Rev. Mr. Toll, Mr. James Dietz to Miss Mary Walley daughter of Mr. Garret Walley both of that place.

At Homer [Cortland Co. NY] on the 10th instant, Mr. Mathias Cook late of Albany, [Albany Co. NY], to Miss Elizabeth Coburn, daughter of Jonathan Coburn Esq. of Pennsylvania.

Cooperstown Federalist, Cooperstown, NY, June 17, 1809

Death

On Thursday morning, 8th inst. in the City of N. York, Thomas Paine, author of the Crisis, Rights of Man, &c.  Mr. Paine had a desire to be interred in the Quaker burying ground and some days previous to his demise, had an interview with some Quaker gentlemen on the subject, but as he declined a renunciation of his deistical opinions, his anxious wishes were not complied with.  He was yesterday interred at New Rochell, Westchester County [NY] perhaps on his own farm.  I am unacquainted with his age, but he had lived long, done some good, and much harm.

Cooperstown Federalist, Cooperstown, NY, July 8, 1809

Elopement

Whereas my wife Diodama [Taft] eloped from my bed and board on Saturday the 24th instant, without any just cause or pretense, all persons are forbid harboring or trusting her on my account, as I am determined not to pay any debts of her contracting.  Simon Taft.  Middlefield [Otsego Co NY] June 29, 1808.

Otsego Democrat, Cooperstown, NY, November 27, 1847

Marriages

In Springfield [Otsego Co. NY] Sept. 28th, by the Rev. H.A. Smith, Rev. G.W. Gates, Pastor of the Baptist Church, Westville [Franklin Co. NY] to Miss Amanda H. Reed of Springfield.

In Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY] on the 14th inst. by the same, B.A. Sheldon, M.D. of Albany [Albany Co. NY] to Miss Elizabeth Ann Pitts of the former place

At the same time, Mr. F.B. Shipman to Miss Ann Pitts, both of Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY].

In Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY] on the 21st inst. by the same, Mr. John Holliday to Miss Elizabeth M. Page, both of Middlefield.

In Colliersville [Otsego Co. NY] on the 14th inst. by the Rev. C. Champaugh, Mr. Stiles Silliman to Miss Martha [Burnside] daughter of Thomas Burnside, Esq. all of Colliersville.

In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY], on the 16th inst. by the Rev. N.D. Wilkins, Mr. George R. Whitney of Meredith [Delaware Co. NY], to Miss Mary M. Wing, daughter of Rev. A. Wing, of Oneonta.

Deaths

In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] on the 16th inst. of consumption, Mary Z. [Hutchins] eldest daughter of the late Rev. Stephen Hutchins, aged 17 years.

In Maryland [Otsego Co. NY] on the 6th inst. Mrs. Ruth Carpenter, aged 60 years.

Cherry Valley Gazette, Cherry Valley, NY, March 15, 1848

Marriage

In Seward, Schoharie Co. [NY], on Wednesday last by Rev. Mr. Bogardus, Mr. Charles Eldredge to Miss Elizabeth [Pinder] eldest daughter of Mr. John Pinder.

Deaths

In this city [NYC] on Friday morning, 10th inst., after a short but severe illness, Charles Fitch [Hall], only son of John C. and Ann Eliza Hall, aged 1 year, 5 months and 11 days.

His remains will be deposited in the vault of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, corner of Prince and maroon Streets, this day (Saturday) at 2 o'clock, there to remain until the opening of navigation, when they will be taken to Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York, for burial.  New York Daily Globe.

"As fades the lovely, blooming flower, / Sweet, smiling solace of an hour - / So soon our transient blessings fly, / And loved ones only breathe to die!"

Murder of Catherine Mary Richards, Plainfield, Otsego Co. NY, 1878

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1878

Murder at Plainfield, Otsego Co.

The home of the girl Catharine Mary Richards, who was brutally and cruelly murdered last Tuesday on the Plainfield Hills, Otsego County [NY] overlooks in all directions views which cannot be surpassed in the world, one of the most delightful landscapes of valleys and hills intermingled that can be imagined.  The would-be ravisher and murderer left his work, which commanded these views, and sent into eternity one of the happiest and most promising young girls that lived in that section of the country. She is described as the picture and embodiment of good health and happy, buoyant spirits, an idolized namesake of a darling child who had been removed from her family by disease and was beloved by all who knew her.

The inquest continued through Thursday and up to nearly 3 A.M. Friday and after the case was submitted to the very intelligent jurors by the clear-headed coroner and skillful surgeon, Dr. Spencer, they compared notes for half an hour and then requested the coroner to adjourn the inquest so that additional evidence might be obtained. The request was granted and an adjournment, subject to the call of the coroner, was ordered.

Wednesday and Thursday little or nothing could be done toward "working up" the details of the case.

The testimony in the preliminary examination at Unadilla Forks, Monday, of Myron A. Buell, the farm hand, charged with murdering Miss Richards, leaves the young man hardly a foothold upon which to stand in the midst of an outraged and saddened community.  The evidence as taken before the coroner's jury seems to form a strong chain of circumstantial evidence against him and he will doubtless be turned over to the criminal court to be tried for murder.

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, July 14, 1878

Mysterious Tragedy

On Tuesday the 25th ult. about 5 o'clock P.M. Catherine Mary Richards aged 14 years and 9 months, daughter of Wm. C Richards of Plainfield Center in this county [Otsego Co. NY] was found dead in a stall where a bull was kept and the bull running at large.  At first it was supposed that the bull had caused her death and her father, who was absent on a visit to Remsen, was notified of her death from that cause.

On examination of the circumstances connected with the case, suspicion was aroused that it was not the work of the bull but of some fiend in human shape and an inquest was organized Wednesday night by Coroner Dr. W.M. Spencer of Edmeston, who summoned a jury, and after viewing the body, adjourned till 9 o'clock A.M. Thursday.

The family of Mr. Richards consisted of himself and wife and two daughters, Catharine and Maggie, the latter nine or ten years of age, and two hired men, Myron A. Buell and Daniel G. Bowen.  The father had been absent a week on a visit to Remsen, and the mother had gone to Winfield on the day of the tragedy, leaving the two girls and the two hired men.

Under Suspicion

Suspicion began to point towards young Buell, who was known to be an unfavored suitor for the company of the girl.  As soon as Coroner Spencer was notified, he was put under surveillance.

From the proceedings of the inquest, which occupy more than eight columns of the Utica Herald, we extract the following:

Daniel G. Bowen:  first witness sworn, testified: lived previous to my residence here in Florence, Oneida County [NY]; knew the deceased about a month before death; last saw her previous to her death at the dinner table of her father's house, Tuesday, June 25; she was in her usual health; saw her next in the barn dead, about 5 P.M., same day; my business called me to the barn; went to drive the bull into the barn; passed through the northeast door, which was open; I was the first one who discovered her dead; the door was entirely open; I stepped into the door and saw the body of the girl lying on the right side; she laid in front of the stanchion which was used to confine the bull; the bull could not have entered his stanchion without disturbing the body; the bull made no signs of fear; didn't see any unusual movements by the bull;  I said, "Oh Myron, what's happened?  The girl's dead, surely!"  Myron Buell was with me; he accompanied me to the stable; Buell was inside with me; I walked up toward the girl and the bull retired from the stable; then we looked at the girl; Myron then went to the house, followed the bull and drove him from the barn; then Maggie (the youngest sister of the deceased), Miss Jones and Myron came to the barn, and all entered the stable and looked at the girl; Buell was going to get the horse and go to West Winfield, when I told him we had better carry the body into the house as it was in a bad shape; Buell, myself and two or three men carried the body into the house; when we picked her up her head lay toward the south and her feet toward the north; her clothes were intact, in their usual shape; no part of her person was exposed.

Bowen's examination was discontinued at this point, and the inquest was adjourned to the Welsh Congregational Church.

Dr. J.M. Rose of West Windfield, a practicing physician of over forty years, testified that he first saw Catharine M. Richards, the deceased, since death, Tuesday about 8 P.M.; examined the body and found a cut about three-quarter of an inch long which reached to the bone; the cheek about the outer angle of the eye was injured and congested; a probe passed up from the wound under the flesh to the eye; there was a wound on the point of the shoulder in the form of a half circle, convex cut nearly through the skin; there was an abrasion on the left groin and on the right elbow from which the scarf skin was rubbed; a mark or discoloration on the neck extended around to within about two inches of the back part; Drs. Dively and Huntley assisted in the postmortem; there was no fracture of the skull. the doctor described minutely all the appearances of the body upon the postmortem examination and continued, the blow on the right cheek seemed to be one of the causes of death; the impression that I would have is that a wound from a bull's horn would be torn out more than this.  This wound was not made with a knife or a sharp cutting instrument; death might be caused by suffocation; the blow might have been sufficient; the heart and brain and all the abdominal viscera, including the uterus, were all in a normal condition; the ring appeared to be true all around the neck; the appearance was not like that made by a person handing, it appeared to come up pretty close under the chin.

On my first visit, my first impression was that she had been injured about the head very severely and then I thought death had been caused by the mark on the neck; I cannot account for the mark on the neck except that it came from applying some force from a strap or some ligature put about the neck.

Drs. Huntley and Dively who assisted in the postmortem examination were called and they corroborated Dr. Rose. The opinion of both as far as they would express it, was that death was caused by the combined injuries to the head and probable strangulation.

Witness Bowen was recalled; I was  hoeing hops that afternoon; Buell was helping me; I did not leave the hop yard after dinner till the horn for supper was blown; I went to the hop yard direct after dinner; Buell followed me; he did not remain all the afternoon; he left the yard at half-past three o'clock as near as I can guess; he was with me until that time; he had on rubber boots and said he was going to change his boots; as near as I can guess, he was gone about half an hour; he left the yard and went toward the house; when he returned I asked him where he had been so long; he told me he had been to the meadow driving the horses up; could not see the meadow from the hopyard; I knew one of the women was going away, but did not know which way; I hitched up the horse for Mrs. Richards, but went to work after dinner; I walked to the hopfield by the path; John Davis was at the hopfield about a quarter to four; that was while Buell was gone; I knew it was a quarter to four when Davis was there because John Pugh, who was in the next lot working said that Davis left at that time; Pugh was fifteen or more rods away; Davis stopped and talked to me between five and ten minutes; Buell came back about five minutes after Davis left.  Tuesday I think they blowed the supper horn for us about five o'clock; I came to the house over the hill; the bull was behind the cheese house; Myron was ahead a little ways, probably a couple of rods; I spoke about the bull first; I remarked "Myron the bull is out;" the bull was eating grass; he was not bellowing or pawing; both had hoes; the bull did not offer to molest us; in passing the door we would stand about five or six feet from the door; I stepped onto the barn floor; I said "Oh Myron, what has happened, the girl is dead;" I thought she was dead because she laid there and her eyes were shut; her face was from me, but I could see one of her eyes; it was shut; the girl's head was not over an inch or two from the stanchion; there was a little blood on the cut; the hands were part way open along by her side; I took particular notice all over how she laid; there was no dirt or manure in her hands; her clothes were not disarranged; I said "the girl is dead;" Buell said "Oh my stars, my stars;" Buell went to the house and I went after the bull; I said I thought the bull killed the girl; I had not examined the girl; I had not examined the horns; I was afraid of him; Maggie Richards and Miss Jones, who was sewing, came out; the body was carried to the house; Buell was talking of going after Richard Owen Richards; I heard Buell say "the bull had killed the girl;" Myron Buell and me carried her in. Catherine Mary and Maggie Ann were in the habit of milking in the stable where the bull was kept; I never knew of any trouble between Buell and Catherine; they did not speak; he said when he spoke to them and fooled with them they could not get along, but went and told the folks; there were two girls at home; he said he did not speak to them because they got along better that way; Catharine told me that Buell asked her to go with him and no one else; she then told him that she had a fellow at the Center that she liked better than him; he went to the house crying and the girls used to put their hands to their face to tease him; Mrs. Richards and he were on speaking terms; have not known Buell to speak to the girls since I was there; he never made any threats; he said he thought as much of them as ever.

Myron A. Buell testified; I will be 21 the twelfth of next September; I have been to Mr. Richards' a year last April; my father, Egbert Buell lies in this town; the day of Catharine's death we fixed the fence; In the afternoon we hoed hops; he went a little first; I went to turn the other horse out; Mrs. Richards went to Winfield with the other; I turned out the  sorrel colt; she drove the brown mare "Fanny;" Dan hitched up the colt; when eating dinner, she said she wanted Fanny hitched to the buggy; I did not see Mrs. R. Start; I came back to the house; I put the halter in the barn and went to the field by the path that afternoon; cannot tell how many rows we hoed in the afternoon; did not stay in the hopfield all the afternoon; I had on my rubber boots; we had a late dinner; do not know now many rows we hoed; I left the hopfield about half-past three; it might not have been as late; I went up to get on my leather boots in the cheese house; we keep our clothes there; I met John Davis going up to the house, this side toward the buildings half way up the hill; he was going toward the  hop yard; he was coming from toward the garden, the east; he came where I was; we had some talk; he wanted to see if he could get Richards' horse hoe; told him John Griffiths had it; we then went into the barns were the calves and the bull were; we talked about ten minutes; I changed hats after I went into the stable; the bull was stanchioned then; everything was all right; the west stable was hooked; the manure doors were closed; I might have noticed the doors were closed, I would have been apt to; Mr. Davis started toward John Griffith's;' I started into the cheese house and staid long enough to change my boots; this girl and Hannah Jones were in the house that afternoon; after that I went directly back toward the hop yard and got to the top of the hill; the mare with the colt had just jumped over into the meadow; Richards has six horses with the colt; there were three horses in the field; the colt mule never gets over the fence; the mare got over the fence a few lengths east of the southwest corner; one "rider" was off; the stakes were low; the fence was low; the mare jumped back when I got there; the mare was eating; after turning the mare out I walked below the head of the stream; I left the meadow west of the straw stack and then went into the hop yard by the maple tree; I did not see Catherine Mary when I was about the barn; I did not see her after dinner; I saw John Davis; did not hear Davis; after I got back I told Bowen that I had been and got the horse or horses out of the meadow; he did not ask me where I had been so long; I did not tell him I was going to be gone any length of time; I have been frequently called time and time again to get the horses out; I took my boots off and hoed a spell bare-footed.

Hannah Jones testified that she was acquainted with Catherine M. Richards; she was apparently well in the forenoon; Buell came to the house and said "For God's sake did you know that Catharine is dead?" I followed him to the barn and started immediately for Mr. Griffith; when I returned they had carried her into the house; I hadn't seen either Buell or Bowen since Mrs. Richards went away; saw no one else except John L. Davis; he came and asked for the boys and Mrs. Richards and then went away; afterwards I saw him go through the yard towards the road; after he went out of the yard Catherine went out with the kittens; think it was half or three-quarters of an hour after Mr. Davis was at the house before I saw him go through the yard; the boys were both very much excited; it couldn't have been more than five or ten minutes after Davis passed through the yard before Catherine went out.  Catherine was in the house when Davis came to the house, and when he passed through the yard.

John L. Davis testified:  Was at Mr. Richards' Tuesday last about three o'clock; went into the house and saw Miss Jones and Catherine; I asked for Mr. and Mrs. Richards and Myron Buell; I went out the back door and around the cheese house; met Buell a short distance about the cheese house; we went out of the barn together; Buell went into the cheese house and I went down by the house to the road and then went toward Griffiths;' I saw John Pugh at Griffiths' lot and talked with him about the horse hoe; Pugh looked at his watch and said it was 3:15 o'clock; while I was there with Pugh I was the mare and colt down in Richard's pasture and talked with Pugh about it; I then went across to Richards' hop yard; stayed there perhaps about five minutes; went from there down the path past Richards' stable and into the road and then home; I saw the bull in the stable, in the stanchion; didn't meet or see anybody when I was coming home.

Myron A. Buell was recalled.  He was shown the boots he testified that he wore on the day of Catherine's death.  Drops of blood were shown on the lower part of the upper of the left boot.  Buell - I can't explain how that blood came on there, unless it dropped when I carried the body into the house - unless it got on last night when I had the nosebleed while milking; I held my head to one side and kept on milking; I thought nothing of it at the time; Morris O. Williams, Wm. Pugh or someone else was there milking and I spoke of the nose bleed; do not know how blood drops came on the vest.

Morris O. Williams said he was milking with Buell; but did not hear him speak of the nosebleed.

William Pugh testified: I assisted in milking at Richards' Wednesday night.  I knew that Mr. Buell had the nosebleed while milking; I saw the blood drop; he said he had been in the habit of having the nosebleed; he bled while milking two cows; it was quite early, between five and six o'clock.

Jedediah Gorton testified:  I have been to Mr. Richards' barn tonight; I have just examined the floor of the barn and find blood at the point where Mr. Pugh said he saw Buell bleeding;  Mr. Wood scraped away some dirt and there seemed to be blood there; I was satisfied that it was blood; the two points were near together, the blood marks could be made while sitting at one cow.

G.M. Aylesworth testified:  in the stable back of where the bull stood, Mr. Brown picked up a milking stool, three-legged; it was in a box; there was blood found on the corner of the stool; Dr. Huntley took it off for microscopic examination.  I measured the mark on Catherine's neck, marking it with my knife; in the same box with the stool, was this strap (strap exhibited) it is about three feet long and three-quarters of an inch wide; I examined for a track of footprints over the points where Buell said he had passed when he saw John L. Davis, but could fine none; I cannot say that I see any blood on the milking stool now.

Mrs. Margaret Richards, aunt of the deceased testified:  Talked with Catherine two weeks ago last Sunday; It was in her father's house; she said she was afraid that Myron would kill her some time or another; a week before that her mother told me about what the boy did; I told her to go home and turn that boy off or he would kill her some day; Catherine said he had been insulting her; but did not say what it was; I know Mr. Buell; never heard him say anything about it; Catherine said; "I am afraid Myron will kill me;" she said Myron acted kind of crazy after she told him she like Lewis Davis better than she did him.

On Saturday the coroner had not completed the examination and it was adjourned until Monday forenoon.

On Monday the body of the murdered girl was disinterred and a further examination of it was made by the physicians making the first autopsy, assisted by Dr. Bassett of this village.  The evidence obtained is reserved for the grand jury.  What verdict has been rendered by the coroner's jury, if any, we have not learned.

Buell, to whom the evidence pointed as the one guilty of the atrocious crime, was arrested on Friday evening at West Winfield by constable Main of Plainfield, on a warrant issued by Esquire Williamson on complaint of the father of the girl.  He was kept in custody of the constable until his examination, which was commenced on Monday afternoon following.  Justice Williamson called his court and H.M. Aylesworth appeared for the People and S.S. Morgan for the prisoner.

John Pugh, referred to in the testimony before the coroner was sworn and testified to remarks made by Buell in relation to the girl.  John L. Davis was sworn and his testimony went to show that Buell's statements before the coroner as to his movements when absent from the hop yard were not true.

Daniel G. Bowen's testimony was more full than it was before the coroner, particularly as to means which might be used and which evidently were used.  In this case to accomplish his hellish purposes and which resulted in the death of his victim.  He testified as follows:

I had a conversation with him about a cousin of his a week ago last Saturday night; he said there were some young girls from 14 to 15 who didn't know any better; he said the way his cousin accomplished his purposes was to take a strap and buckle around their necks so they could not scream; then he could carry out his designs; he asked my opinion about it, and I told him I would be afraid it would choke them to death.  "Oh no," said he, "not draw it too tight and then it wouldn't."  Had a previous conversation during that week in relation to this subject; he expressed a desire to indulge his passions; had a conversation the next morning after the murder about it; he said he was afraid it would go pretty hard with him because he had been away from the lot, and asked how long I supposed it was before he came back after Davis left; I told him I didn't know; he told me to make the time short as I could, not to make it over five minutes.

After the close of the examination of this witness, the case was adjourned till 9 o'clock Tuesday.  the proceedings on Tuesday resulted in the commitment of the prisoner to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury and about 4 o'clock of that day Constable Main delivered him to the custody of the Sheriff who placed him in confinement.  The feeling against the prisoner is intense, scarcely one in a hundred expressing any sympathy for the wretch who could commit so base a crime.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, March 6, 1879

Buell to Hang

The trial of Myron A. Buell for the murder of Catharine M. Richards, of Plainfield, Otsego County, was closed on Thursday evening of last week, at Cooperstown by the verdict of guilty, rendered by the jury.  On Friday morning he was brought into Court, when Judge Murray sentenced him to be hung on Friday, April 18th.  When sentence was pronounced, the prisoner, who had up to this time conducted himself with remarkable coolness, broke down completely, and wept bitterly, while many in the audience were moved to tears.  Immediate steps will be taken by the prisoner's counsel to obtain a stay of execution, pending an application to be made to the General Term for a new trial under a writ of error.  It is probable that the stay will be granted, that the case may come before the higher court, which convenes in May.

On the trial it was shown that the unfortunate girl was ravished and murdered, and there exists scarcely a doubt in the community as to the guilt of Buell.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, November 20, 1879

Execution of Myron A. Buell

Myron A. Buell was executed at Cooperstown on Friday last for the murder of Catharine Mary Richards on the 25th of June 1878.  The gallows used was the same used for the execution of McCann.

At 10:30 the death warrant was read to the prisoner in the cell by Sheriff James F. Clark, who then asked the prisoner if he wished to say anything on the scaffold and Buell answered that he did not.  Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hiller, and the procession started for the enclosure.  Rev. Messrs. Wells and Hiller led and were followed by Sheriff James F. Clark and the prisoner, supported by deputies John Kelly and Charles N. Merrills.  Buell was very pallid and seemed to take no notice of anything.  He was dressed in a black coat and vest, dark cashmere pants and wore a pair of carpet slippers on his feet.  He took his position on the platform and turned his eyes heavenward and kept them wide open in a fixed stare, uttering no sound and remaining motionless until the black cap was put over his head.  His lips were moving constantly in inaudible prayer.  At 10:39 the sheriff asked Buell again if he had anything to say, and being answered no, at 10:39-1/2 pulled the cord which dropped the weight.  Buell sprang into the air and settled back with scarcely a perceptible tremor.  At 10:53 he was pronounced dead by the physicians, Drs. G.A. Westlake and L.H. Hills, just thirteen and a half minutes from the springing of the trap.  The corpse was taken down at 11:05 and examined by the physicians who pronounced the neck broken. The body was then placed in the casket and removed to a room in the jailer's residence, where it was viewed by a few persons and Buell's father and mother, two sisters and a younger brother took their last leave of the remains.  A prayer was offered, when the coffin was quickly placed in a hearse and followed by the Buell family in an open wagon started for the cemetery in Clarksville, where Myron, at his own request, was buried by the side of his brother.

Buell's Confessions

Buell has made confession at four different times.  One of these was made to the Rev. Mr. Wells in July last.  In September he told the story of his crime to the Rev. Mr. Cassler and on Tuesday last to Rev. Mr. Hiller.  On Tuesday night he made a formal confession to his counsel, J.A. Lynes, and three clergymen aforementioned.  The unpublishable portion of the story cannot of course be printed in the newspapers.  Barring these details, Buell's story is as follows:  "On the afternoon of June 25th, I left the hop field where I was at work with Daniel G. Bowen.  I intended to kill Catherine Mary if she resisted me.  I found her in the cow stable.  I threw a hame strap over her head and choked her till nearly dead, and then committed the other crime which has been charged against me.  When I was about to leave her, I was afraid she would tell of me, and then I struck her on the temple with a three-legged milking stool which lay at hand in the stable.  I then dragged the body where the bull was standing and unhitched the bull and let him out so that it would appear that the girl had been gored by the bull.  I determined to kill Catharine Mary because she had before this told her parents that I had repeatedly tried to run her."

This is the substance of the story which Buell told to the clergymen and his counsel.  From the known circumstances of the murder, there is no doubt that it is in every respect true.

Buell's Body Stolen

The remains of Buell, the murderer, who was hung in Cooperstown on Friday last, which were buried in the family lot in the cemetery at Clarksville, Otsego County, have been stolen.  A dispatch to the Utica Herald on Monday says the robbers got possession of the body during the night, enclosed them so as to avoid detection and they were shipped to Albany on the 6 A.M. coal train. The physicians at the execution were prepared and anxious to make a postmortem examination, which the family refused.  It is said that on the day of his execution $50 was offered for his body.

Vital Records, Otsego County, NY, 1878

 Oneonta Herald & Democrat, Oneonta, NY, July 5, 1878

Deaths

In Laurens [Otsego Co. NY], June 23(?), Infant son of Geo. D. Weeks.

In Franklin [Delaware Co. NY], June 26, John Taylor aged 80 years.  He was a soldier in 1812.

In New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY], June 28(?) Alonzo Van Steinburgh aged 38(?) years.

Jas. B. Clark President of the First National Bank of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] died Sunday afternoon.  He was a very wealthy and much respected citizen.

Ex Judge Samuel B. Garvin died in New York Friday, aged 67 years.  He was born in Butternuts, this county [Otsego Co. NY] lived there until 18 years old, and then commenced the study of law at Norwich, where he married a daughter of the late Dr. Henry Mitchell.

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Twice last week our people were shocked by the sudden deaths of prominent citizens.  But two days after the burial of the venerable Timothy Sabin, the death of Rev. E. Vine Wales occurred, Friday, the 28th ult.  He had been in unusually poor health for a few days previous but was about the house the day of his decease, which resulted from paralysis of the throat.  He had been a great sufferer from this disease for several years and death must have come to him as a sweet boon from Heaven.

Mr. Wales was born in Plymouth, Chenango Co. [NY] in 1817 and was therefore 61 years of age.  He was graduated from Oneida Institute at Whitesboro and the Theological Seminary at Auburn.  In 1844 he entered the Presbyterian ministry, his first charge being at Laurens.  He afterwards preached in Livingston Co. and the Mohawk Valley, and finally returned to Laurens where he remained a few years, moving in 1865 to this place.  He still supplied the Laurens church for a time and in 1872 retired wholly from active service.  In 1849 he married Helen M. Comstock, a daughter of the late Gen. Comstock of Laurens, who with one daughter, Mrs. C.E. Ford, survives him.

In 1868, Mr. Wales' only son, E. Vine Wales, Jr., died, and was brought here for burial.  From the death of this son, Mr. Wales never recovered and the ill health that followed was largely promoted by grief.  He sunk into a serious study and investigation of the Future, reading every available work concerning that problem to mortals still unsolved [unreadable] the more he questioned and considered, never doubting God, but all the time trying to satisfy an unquenchable longing to ascertain the exact and true condition of those who inhabit Heaven.  Just two weeks before his burial, Mr. Wales was conversing with Rev. J.T. Wright concerning the Future and said that the Bible was a source of consolation to him, but he desired to know of his boy's welfare, his occupation, what he was doing.  Mr. Wales believed in a future of activity and that the inhabitants of Heaven are not mere idle angels but engaged in general pursuits.  They are freed from temptation, sin and anxiety, but a state of progress is maintained, thought he.  

Since 1845, Mr. Wales had kept a record of temperature and from that date not a day has passed but the items have been recorded.  His daily reports to this paper have been valuable and closely watched by many people.  Since 1860 he had kept a journal of personal and general interest.  One singular feature was that he recorded matters of thought, concerning his opinions upon public subjects, religious faith, etc.  He frequently visited the grave of his son, the record tells just how often, and with each entry are noted impressions suggested by the vitiation.

About 1870, Mr. Wales' name was proposed as a Professor of Hebrew at Auburn Theological Seminary, and at the meeting of the Trustees he came within two votes of being elected to that position.  This action was unsolicited by Mr. Wales and unknown to him until several days after the election.  As a learned man, we doubt if there is his equal in Otsego County.  As a preacher, he was noted for writing sermons of choice diction, profound though and sound theology.

The funeral was attended Sabbath afternoon, Rev. J.T. Wright officiating, who referred to his long acquaintance with Mr. Wales and his regard for the ability and piety of the deceased.

Ere this, if one can believe God's word, what Mr. Wales failed here to understand has now been made plain.  While mourning exists here, there is rejoicing in the spirit land.

News Item

About six weeks ago, A.G. Harrington a married resident of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] eloped from Otego [Otsego Co. NY] with Mrs. Hettie Young of the latter town.  Both left families.  They were traced to Rutland, Vt., and Deputy Sheriff Stearns of that place, worked up the case.  On the 25th ult he found them living at Proctorville, under the name of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Clark.  Harrington was arrested and lodged in the Rutland jail to await a requisition from Gov. Robinson, in the absence of which he will be held for adultery, which is a felony under the Vermont statutes. The woman was not arrested.  Harrington has also passed under the alias of D. A. Cregg, since the elopement.  Albany Argus

Vital Records, Otsego County, NY, 1878 & 1853

 Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, July 4, 1878

Marriages

At the Baptist Parsonage in this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY], June 19th, by Rev. F.J. Parry, Milton McCollister to Mrs. J. Murphy all of Westville [Franklin Co. NY].

At the residence of the bride's father, June 26th, D.H. Cooper of the Baptist Church officiating.  Wm. H. Hawd to Miss Mary E. Camp, both of Westville, N.Y. [Franklin Co.].

At Otego [Otsego Co., NY] June 5th, by Justice Abner Ferry, Geo. Northrup to Miss Julia Chapman, both of Otego.

Deaths

In West Burlington [Otsego Co. NY], June 22d, '78, Rufus Spencer aged 84 years, 7 months and 16 days.  He passed peacefully away.

At his residence near Richfield Springs [Otsego Co. NY] June 10th Thomas Brooks, aged 55 years.

At Hartwick Seminary [Otsego Co. NY], June 28th, Clarence H. Whitbeck aged 13 years, 3 months 10 days.

In Westville [Franklin Co. NY], June 27th, '78, Amanda Ferris aged 31 years.

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The Adrian (Mich) News of the 26th ult. has the following:

Ralph Waldby one of Adrian's old and respected citizens, died yesterday afternoon.  For nearly a quarter of a century he has been a resident of this city, coming from the State of New York in 1854.  He early learned the printers' trade in Albany, was for many years a resident of Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] in the employ of the Phinneys, founded the Rome Sentinel and everywhere he was esteemed for his genial good nature and high sense of honor.

Mr. W. was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1801, and came to this country in 1805, and to Otsego in 1808 and remained till his apprenticeship at Albany, after which he returned to Cooperstown and in 1824 married Miss Mary Ann Ingalls.  At the time of his death, he resided with his brother-in-law, R.W. Ingalls, his wife having died in 1871.  He is well remembered by older citizens, and it is but two or three years since he visited his friends in this vicinity and made his accustomed calls upon his fellow "craftsmen."

Morris Chronicle, Morris, NY, July 10, 1878

Marriages

July 8:  At the Empire House Gilbertsville [Otsego Co. NY], by Rev. J.S Southworth, Oscar A. Garner of New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY] and Tina A. Matteson of Mt. Vision [Otsego Co. NY].

Also, at the same time and place, by the same, Melvin C. Gardner of Morris [Otsego Co. NY] and Emma E. Ball of Pittsfield [Otsego Co. NY].

June 27:  At Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY] by Rev. B.P. Ripley, Mr. Jefferson Ferry of Otego [Otsego Co. NY] and Miss Minerva B. Rowley of Unadilla.

Death

Ex District Attorney Samuel B. Garvin died on Friday evening June 28th at his home in New York.  Mr. Garvin was born in the town of Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY] in 1811.  Removing to Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] when 17 years of age, and about 1840 went to Utica [Oneida Co. NY] where he acquired an extensive law practice.  President Pierce appointed him United States District Attorney for the Northern District of New York.  He afterwards took up his residence in New York city, where he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court and on resigning this office was appointed District Attorney.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, August 10, 1853

Deaths

In this village [Oneonta, Otsego Co. NY] on Saturday, the 6th inst. after a short but painful illness, Mr. George Furry aged 27 years and 4 months.  The deceased was from the town of Otsego, Indiana.  He was a man beloved and respected by all, the community has lost a good citizen and the church a good and worthy member.  He leaves a widow and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss.

James Holmes died recently in Owego, Tioga County [NY] in the 99th year of his age.  He was a native of Sussex County, N.J. and has resided most of his life in Tioga and Schoharie Counties.  He was engaged in the battles of Germantown, Brandywine and Monmouth.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, August 24, 1853

Marriages

At the hotel of Joh Williams in the village of New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY] on the 18th inst. by Geo. W. Sumner, Esq., John W. Root to Miss Amelia Ann Gunn all of this place [Oneonta, Otsego Co. NY].

In Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY], on the 7th inst. by Rev. E. Baldwin, Mr. Oscar Strait to Miss Zulen A. Cooke, both of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY].

At the same place, by the same, on the 11th inst. Mr. Davis Sanders of Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] to Miss Mary Jane Burchard of Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY].

Deaths

In Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY] on the 13th inst. Mr. Henry Hanford aged 35 years.

Rev. E. Vine Wales died suddenly in Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] on Friday June 28th, aged 61 years.  He had, says the Herald, been in unusually poor health for a few days previous, but was about the house the day of his death, which resulted from paralysis of the throat.  He had been a great sufferer from this disease for several years and death must have come to him as a sweet boon from Heaven.  Living next door neighbor to Mr. Wales for several years in Oneonta, the editor of the Chronicle can bear testimony to his excellency of character; a true Christian and a kind and obliging neighbor.  His last ministerial work as a pastor, was at Noblesville.

______________________

We learn from the Cooperstown papers that Miss Ophelia Antisdell of Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY] was drowned at Turncliffs Five Mile Point, on Tuesday afternoon the 16th inst.  Miss Antisdell was one of a party of ladies and gentlemen from Middlefield who had gone on a picnic excursion up the lake.  Miss A. in company with another young lady attired themselves in bathing dresses and proceeded to a retired spot a few rods below the hotel for the purpose of bathing.  They joined hands and waded to where the water was some two feet deep when they separated.  Her companion turned toward the shore and when she looked around the unfortunate girl was struggling with her head just above the water, but immediately disappeared and did not raise to the surface again.  The most vigilant efforts were made to rescue her before life was extinct but to no purpose.  The body was not recovered till the next day.

Vital Records, Delaware & Broome Counties, NY

 Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, January 12, 1825

Marriages

In Kortright [Delaware Co. NY], on Sunday the 9th inst. by H.R. Phelps, Esq., Mr. John E. Denio of Delhi [Delaware Co. NY] to Mrs. Polly Burnside of the former place.

In Meredith [Delaware Co. NY] on Thursday the 6th inst. by Elder Tuttle, Mr. Charles Dibble to Miss Louisa Benedict, daughter of Jonathan Benedict.

In Harpersfield [Delaware Co. NY], on Sunday the 2d inst. by the Rev. Stephen Fenn, Mr. John Bristol to Miss Polly Merriam all of that place.

At Hudson, Columbia Co. [NY] Mr. William Thomas of Stamford in this county [Delaware Co. NY] to Miss Angeline Folger of the former place.

Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, January 19, 1825

Marriage

At Franklin [Delaware Co. NY] on Wednesday the 12th inst. by Roger Dewy, Esq., Mr. Jerre Johnson to Miss Permelia Smith.

Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, January 26, 1825

Marriages

In this town [Delhi, Delaware Co. NY] on Wednesday the 19th inst. by the Rev. E.K. Maxwell, Mr. Harry Millard to Miss Esther Comstock.

In Franklin [Delaware Co. NY], on the 20th inst. Mr. Selden Finney of this town [Delhi, Delaware Co. NY] to Miss Annis Johnson of the former place.

Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, February 2, 1825

Marriage

In Franklin [Delaware Co. NY] on Thursday the 27th ult. by the Rev. Mr. Waterbury, Mr. Henry Edgerton to Miss Susan Bartlett daughter of Mr. Ichabod Bartlett, all of Franklin.

Death

At Harpersfield in this county [Delaware Co. NY], on the 26th ult. Mr. Clark Bryan aged 28 years.  He was the last and the youngest of five children.  The mother and all the children have gone with the consumption after they had arrived at manhood.  The old gentleman, Mr. Zachariah Bryan, father of the deceased, still survives.  In his old age he has not a child to lean upon for support.  He bears the loss of his last child with remarkable calmness.  He says understandingly and with full approbation of the divine dispensation, "Shall not the judge of all the Earth do right?" How applicable to the aged mourning father are the words of the prophet Jeremiah "write the man childless."

Delaware Gazette, Delhi, NY, April 13, 1825

Marriage

At Cooperstown, Otsego Co. [NY] on Thursday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Tiffany the Hon Samuel Nelson, Circuit Judge of the 6th District to Miss Catharine Russell daughter of Dr. John Russell of that place.

Death

In this town [Delhi, Delaware Co. NY], on Monday evening last Mrs. Easton, consort of Mr. Joel Easton.

Broome Republican, Binghamton, NY, September 20, 1832

Marriages

In this village [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY] on Sunday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Jesse Orcutt to Miss Catharine Sawtell all of this village.

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY], on Thursday evening last by John Munsell, esq. Mr. Erasmus D. Hall to Miss Betsey Bevier all of this town.

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY] on Sunday last, by John Munsell, Esq. Mr. Sampson Merchant to Miss Emily Temple, daughter of Captain James Temple, all of this town.

In St. Luke's Church in the village of Harpersville [Broome Co. NY] on Monday morning last, by the Rev. Mr. Adams of this village, the Rev. David Huntington Rector of St. Luke's Church to Miss Lydia Allen, both of Harpersville.

Death

In the town of Vestal [Broome Co. NY] on Tuesday last, John Seymour, son of Lewis Seymour, Esq. aged 11 years.  This is the third child of Mr. Seymour's whose death we have recorded int he space of three weeks.

Broome Republican, Binghamton, NY, April 27, 1837

Marriage

On Tuesday morning last by the Rev Edward Andrews, Mr. Locy Halstead, merchant, to Miss Halmina [St. John] daughter of Lewis St. John, Esq. all of this village.

The Printers were kindly remembered on this joyous occasion.  Accompany above notice they received a generous share of the "spoils," for which the parties will please accept their thanks.

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, June 1878 & 1880

 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. [Broome Co.] June 16th, Hannah M. Roos, aged 46 years.

In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], June 17th, Mr. David L. Davis, aged 51 years.

In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY], June 8th, Mr. Elisha Chafey, aged 79 years.

In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], June 2d, Mrs. Carrie O. Smith, wife of Wm. A Smith, aged 22 years.

In East Guilford [Chenango Co. NY] of malignant diphtheria, May 16th, Jessie May [Swart] aged 10 years, 2 mos. and 5 days; also, May 22d, A.J. [Swart] aged 11 years, 6 months and 10 days, children of Samuel and Julia Swart.

Widow Phoebe Lincoln formerly of Smithville [Chenango Co. NY], a sister of E.T. Hayes of this town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], died suddenly of dropsy of the heart at her home in California, June 9th, aged 79 years.  Mrs. Lincoln will be remembered by many of the older inhabitants of this town and Smithville as a worthy and estimable lady.

Mr. Wm. Stuart died at his residence in Binghamton [Broome Co. NY] last Thursday night, aged 68 years.  for years he has been an invalid, and for the past seven years blind.  He was founder of the Daily Republican and a most vigorous, able writer.

News Items

In one of the most beautiful and delightful sections of our town [Greene, Chenango Co. NY], there might be seen on Saturday last, relatives, friends and neighbors, accompanied with their children, from far and near going to attend a birthday party of one of our most respected citizens, Nathan Aldrich, which was held at his residence.  Mr. Aldrich was born in Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], June 22, 1816, and being the son of an enterprising farmer, has followed the occupation of farming for a livelihood up to the present time.  Having entered into a copartnership early in life with his brother-in-law, John Gross, forming the firm of Gross & Aldrich, they have become by their untiring industry, good management and strict economy well to do farmers, who are far above the pressure of the times which are crushing many of our less fortunate citizens.  How truly in this instance the wise saying of one in olden times has been verified "United we stand, divided we fall."  One of the firm giving council and direction while the other acting as a regulator and ballast to guide their little bark successfully over the tempestuous sea of this earthly life.

Of his sisters, Mrs. John Gross, of Greene; Mrs. Wm. Gross, of Triangle; Mrs. Benjamin Evans, of Norwich; with some of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were present, numbering 35.  Of his brother's family present were Mr. and Mr. Wm. Ross of Preston; Mr. and Mrs. Eli Ross and daughter of Plymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Aug Ross and daughter and Mrs. John Noyes and Mrs. Dr. Blin Harries, of Norwich; Isaac, Almira and Lois Ross of Preston; his aunt, Mrs. Samuel Aldrich and cousin King Cook, and Mrs. Amy Norton and Mrs. Alonzo Thorington and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Childs of the same place; Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Parker and Mrs. Alphonzo Gross.  Among those of our own citizens might be seen George R. Lyon, John Fredenburgh and Charles O. Davis.

____________________________

Mrs. Hill of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], wife of Ed. Hill, now in Auburn prison, recently borrowed a horse and buggy of a farmer in Guilford, Chenango County, and eloped with Frank Hebbred of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY].  The team and runaways have not been found.  Hebbred left a wife and child.

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, June 29, 1878

Marriage

HYATT - BENEDICT:  In Brooklyn, the 26th inst., Hon. F.A. Hyatt of Perryville, N.Y. and Miss Libbie Benedict, daughter of the late Josiah Benedict, of this place [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY].

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, June 27, 1878

Marriage

GATES - EVANS:  At the home of the bride in Center Village, Broome Co., N.Y. June 15th, 1878, by Rev. H.G. Harned, Mr. Adison Gates of Lebanon, Madison Co. [NY] and Miss Ada A. Evans.

Deaths

AVERY:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY], June 21st, 1878, Mrs. Leonard Avery aged 72 years.

HUNT:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], Saturday June 22nd, 1878, Dexter Hunt aged 79 years.

Yaleville, Chenango Co. NY:  Another bright and shining light gone.  On the morning of Saturday June 22d one of our oldest and most respected citizens passed away, and nothing but good deeds and remembrances of his purely Christian life, are left to remind us of his former existence.  The subject of this sketch, Dexter Hunt, was born in Rhode Island in 1799, and moved to this place several years ago, where he has since resided.  At the time of his death, he was 79 years of age.  He was the youngest of the family and leaves many sorrowing friends to mourn his loss.

Say ye, his life is lost our home's sweet comfort and our crown of hope! / Nay, friends his life has now a grander scope, / A living holocanst to God and truth and right; / A hero heart is still and eyes are sealed and loving lips are mute, / Which bore on earth the spirit's golden fruit, / but peace, it was God's will.

News Item

A man of venerable years.  Mr. Jeduthun Roe, now in the 91st year of his age, is still smart and active, often walking the distance of 1-1/2 miles to the post office and home again, without the appearance of much fatigue.  His mind is also remarkably vigorous, remembering dates and business transactions with a precision scarcely equaled by those in the prime of life.

Weekly Press, Afton, NY, August 31, 1880

Death

Died in Binghamton [Broome Co. NY], August 25th of the congestion of the lungs, Gracie [Owens] little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Owens, aged 2 years and 25 days.

The funeral services of L.S. Owens little girl were held at the Presbyterian Church last Friday morning by Rev. J.F. Williams.

Vital Records, Chenango County, NY, June 1878

 Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, June 26, 1878

Marriage

LYON - GALE:  At the M.E. Parsonage, Port Crane, N.Y. [Broome Co.] June 23d, 1878, by Rev. K.L. Bennett, Mr. Charles W. Lyon of Glen Castle, N.Y. [Broome Co.} and Jennie A. Gale of Binghamton, N.Y. [Broome Co.].

Death

WINSOR:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], on June 4th, Mrs. Lovina Winsor, aged 92 years.

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, June 29, 1878

Marriages

STOWELL - GREGORY:  At the residence of B.F. Gregory in Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], June 25th, 1878, by Rev. T.P. Halstead, Mr. Chas. C. Stowell of Mexico, N.Y. [Oswego Co.] and Miss Alice L. Gregory of Guilford, N.Y.

PURDIE - NORTHUP:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] at the residence of the bride's father, June 26th, by Rev. C.C. Johnson Alexander J.N. Purdie, M.D. of Otselic [Chenango Co. NY] and Miss Mary A. Northup of Smyrna.

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RILEY - CLARK:  The Congregational Church in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] on Tuesday afternoon, was the scene of a happy event by which two loving hearts were united in matrimony.  We allude to the wedding of Mr. George H. Riley of Utica [Oneida Co., NY] and Miss Anna Clark of this village.  At an early hour the church was well filled with invited guests and admiring friends, and at last the bridal carriage arrived, the busy hum of joyous voices was hushed into silence broken only by the soft mellow music of the organ, and the happy pair stood beneath the marriage bell.  Rev. S. Scoville briefly addressed them on the sacredness of the obligation they were about to enter into, and then in his usual happy manner performed the ceremony that made the two, one.  The invited guests then repaired to the residence of the bride's mother on East [Main] Street, where a brief reception was held and congratulations exchanged.  At 7:30 P.M., the happy couple departed on the Binghamton train enroute for St. Louis, the objective point of the bridal trip. We learn they will be absent about two weeks.

The church and house were beautifully decorated with evergreens, roses, callas and other rare and beautiful plants and flowers, and just above the marriage bell rested the monogram "R.C." typical of the union there to be celebrated of the persons whose initials they were. At the house there was a most beautiful display of rare, costly and elegant presents, the gifts of warm friends here and elsewhere.  Prominent among the gifts was an elegant tea service.  Upon the large piece was engraved "Compliments of the employees of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad and Express to George H. Riley, June 25, 1878."  Valuable presents were also received form Utica friends as well as many from those living in this village, and take them all in all, we think we never saw upon any similar occasion a more beautiful and elegant grouping of gifts, and well might it be so, for Mr. Riley has won hosts of friends during his service of many years upon the Express train for his polite attentions to all and his faithful and courteous performance of his duties.  Miss Clark is one of Norwich's favorite young ladies, possessing charms of virtue and beauty and withal of disposition that never fail to commend her to all with whom she comes in contact.  She deserved a good husband and such a one we believe she will find in Mr. Riley.  While we regret to lose her from Norwich society, all will join with the Telegraph in wishing the happy couple a bright and joyous future, which shall even more than realize the anticipations of the present.

Deaths

ROE:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] June 27th, 1878, Mrs. Miranda Roe, aged 70 years.

WELLS:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], on the 27th inst. of paralysis, Matthew O. Wells, formerly of Preston [Chenango Co. NY] in the 70th year of his age.  The funeral services will be attended at his late residence in Oxford today, Saturday at 10:30 A.M.

STUART:  In Earlville [Madison Co. NY], June 26 of pneumonia, J.A.B. Stuart aged 69 years, father of Dr. Stuart of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY].

PENDLETON:  W.R. Pendleton of Cincinnatus [Cortland Co. NY] died on Monday last of what was then thought to be typhoid fever, but we now learn that the doctors are undecided as to the nature of the disease, some fearing that it is smallpox, while others call it a malignant form of Erysipelas.  People were advised not to see the corpse, though we learn no decided steps were taken to prevent it.  The body was taken Tuesday night to Ninevah [Broome Co. NY] for burial.  He was a son of the venerable William Pendleton of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] and was highly respected.

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, June 26, 1878

Marriages

CASWELL - BLIVIN:  In Preston [Chenango Co. NY], by Rev. A.P. Merrill, Mr. E.M. Caswell of Brockport [Monroe Co. NY] to Miss Nettie A. Blivin of Preston.

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GIFFORD - CARHART:  In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], June 19 at the residence of the bride's parents by Rev. Wm. R. Baldwin, Ray Gifford and Ida C. [Carhart] only daughter of Oscar Carhart, all of Oxford.

Early last Wednesday forenoon there was an unusually large amount of travel over the roads centering near the Freewill Baptist Church.  the quiet house of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Carhart, always beautiful in situation and surroundings and crowded with internal attractions, was shortly transformed into a scene of lively activity by the arrival of several scores of invited guests from far and near, young and old, tastefully appareled and light-hearted.  A little after the hour of eleven, an ominous hush prevailed and Miss Ida [Carhart] the only daughter of the host, now the center of attraction, as always of respect, gracefully entered the parlor, wearing a handsome chocolate au lait richly trimmed with satin of the same color and a bridal wreath of pure white flowers and leaning on the arm of Mr Ray [Gifford] son of the widely known General Gifford.  The marriage service was short; the responses were clear and prompt, and the congratulations which followed, hearty and multiplied.  Then came a feast, abundant and delicious, which would have done credit to a Delmonico, culminating in strawberries the ripest and sweetest and ice cream of which it is only necessary to say, as of the excellent cake, that it was prepared by the experienced hands of Mrs. Humphrey, of this village. Then music and social converse continuing until the sun had neared its setting.  Meanwhile, after an inspection of the many bridal gifts, useful and ornamental, at twenty minutes before two, accompanied by several of the party, the happy couple started for Bainbridge where they are the guests of Mrs. Lathan, sister of the bridegroom.  Long life attend the pair and fill with days as calm and bright and beautiful as the day of union in holy wedlock.

Deaths

BARBER:  In Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], June 15th, Ella A. [Barber] wife of George Barber, aged 29 years.

BILLINGS: In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] June 14th, Frederick P. [Billings] son of Burdette and Ella Billings, aged 5 years and 6 months.

CONWAY:  In Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], June 14th, Katie [Conway] only daughter of Cornelius Conway, aged 20 years.