Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 29, 1879
Deaths
Chenango Forks, Broome Co., NY: The wife of John Page of Page Brook [Broome Co. NY], died last Friday evening. The funeral was attended at the M.E. Church at North Fenton [Broome Co., NY] Sunday at 2 o'clock.
Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 1, 1879
Marriages
Silver Wedding: Messrs. Editors: I have failed to see an account of a very enjoyable affair that occurred recently in Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] on the edge of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY]. The occasion was the 25th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Scott's wedding day, which occurred January the 18th inst. Sixty guests were invited but owing to the inclemency of the weather only about half that number were able to attend. But those who braved the storm were in good spirits and gave good proof their social qualities long before the festival began. When all had arrived, the company were called together by Hon. Romeo Warren. The worthy couple were led to the hymeneal altar, as of yore, where they were addressed by the Rev. Mr. Stewart, their newly arrived minister, in words most fitting and appropriate, followed by prayer by the Rev. G.D. Horton of Bainbridge.
After the usual congratulations the happy couple led the way to the dining room which was tastefully decorated with evergreens and on either side the dates 1854 and 1879 appeared. The company were seated in groups of four and six at tables and served to a feast of such variety and abundance as "beggars description." They received some very fine presents and many letters of regret from friends unable to be present.
Mr. Scott, so long and favorably known as a successful businessman, a practical and thriving farmer, was born and reared in the vicinity of his present home. He and his wife are still in their prime; age and grief have dealt gently with them and no grey hairs have as yet sprinkled their looks, and they bid fair to live to celebrate their golden wedding. Two dutiful children, a son and daughter, share the duties and honors of their cheerful home, while a loved one sleeping in the church yard, reminds them of the home above.
May health, happiness and usefulness attend them for another twenty-five years, is the best wish of their numerous friends.
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More orange blossoms: The coming event in our village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY], was the wedding, which came off at the Congregational Church, on Wednesday evening. The parties to the marriage contract, were Mr. DeWitt C. More, a young and enterprising merchant of Whitney's Point [Broome Co. NY] and Miss Grace Smith, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Smith of this place [Norwich]. The large auditorium of the church was densely packed. The ceremonies were performed by Rev. T. H. Griffith and was very impressive. Six young men acted as ushers, and Miss Stella Smith, bridesmaid, and Mr. Merchant of Whitney' Point, groomsman. C.N. Hollister presided at the organ, playing the wedding march before and after the ceremonies. About one hundred and fifty relatives and friends attended the reception at the house and partook of the hospitality of the genial host and hostess. All were profuse with congratulations and the occasion will be a time honored one. The refreshments were sumptuous. The collection of presents was quite large and comprised many valuable articles in silverware, etc. Vocal and instrumental music of a very high order, and pleasant social intercourse completed the evening's program, when the party dispersed. They have the best of good wishes of their many friends here, in which we unite.
Deaths
TURNER: In Versailles, Woodford Co. Ky., Jan. 19, 1879, Ulysses Turner in the 60th year of his age. Deceased was the only brother of Dea. Lester Turner of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY].
WILKES: In Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY], Jan. 20, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Wilkes wife of Horace Wilkes, aged 48 years two months and 10 days.
We loved her, yes, no tongue can tell, / How much we loved her and how well, / God loved her too, and he thought best, / To take her home to be at rest.
McCRAY: Smithville Flats, Chenango Co. NY: Robert McCray died last Sunday morning, gradually wasting away with a lingering disease. His funeral was attended at the Presbyterian Church. Wednesday Services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Congdon. Robert was the only surviving son of the late Wm. McCray, an early settler in town, one of the first Irish settlers. Robert has been a hard laboring man, a kind and loving husband and father, and was highly respected in the community. He leaves a wife and four children. His age was fifty-seven.
GILLESPIE: Our people were pained to learn on Monday last, the 27th, of the death of David Gillespie, one of our old, respected citizens. In the death of Mr. Gillespie, our town loses one of the three oldest inhabitants which remain with us, his age being over eighty-three. For nearly forty years he has been a resident of Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY] where he died, and it will be no discredit to others to say that he was foremost in all good work. Mr. G. has, all within about one year and a half, been a remarkable instance of one who, to an extreme old age, retained not only his vigor of mind but youthfulness and buoyancy of feeling. As a father, he was kind and indulgent and while we all shall miss him, in his family circle where his virtues were best known, his loss will be keenest felt. Mr. G. has for several years resided with his son and daughters at Burdick Settlement who have exercised a watchful and tender care towards their father.
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BENTON: At his home near Earlville [Madison Co. NY], in the town of Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] Jan. 15, 1879, of malignant scarlet fever, Jason M. Benton, aged 30 years and nine months.
A Tribute to the Memory of Jason M. Benton; Delivered in the Baptist Church at Earlville, N.Y. by the Rev. W.W. Staples, Jan. 26, 1879
"None knew thee but to love thee, / None named thee but to praise."
Dear Friends: That was a memorable scene, as Abner, Saul's great general, was borne to his last resting place in the tomb. Not only did a multitude of the people join in that funeral train but "King David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the King lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept."
Why, we may ask, was all this grief in Israel? David answers this question by saying to his servants, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"
Death is indeed a ruthless destroyer. He takes whom he will, and none can let or hinder, even,
"The flower that smiles today, Tomorrow dies, / All that we wish to stay, tempts and then flies. / What is this world's delight, Lightning that Brief, even, as bright."
Brethren and Friends, Do you ask why we sorrow today? "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" Tried by the standards set before us in the world of God, our brother, whose loss we mourn today, was a very prince, a great man in Israel. Brother Jason M. Benton was born on the 15th day of April 1848. On the 15th day of July, 1866, he was baptized upon a profession of his faith in the lord Jesus and became a member of this church. After a brief illness he fell asleep in Jesus on Jan. 15th, 1879. His age therefore was but 30 years and nine months. For 12 years he was a faithful member of the church on earth, and then the Great Head of the church transferred him to the church triumphant above. As an officer in the church, and as a teacher in the Sabbath school, he leaves a large place vacant, but thanks be to God, our loss is his eternal gain. And So:
"I blame not Death, because he bare the use of Virtue out of earth; / I know transplanted human worth will bloom to profit otherwhere. / For this alone on Death I wreak the grief that garners in my heart; / He put out lives so far apart we cannot hear each other speak."
Life is made up, not of years but of deeds. these may not be the deeds that make us call their doers heroes, but though known to few, they are heroic deeds. Not every hero has had his name emblazoned on the sky of fame. He who in the strife of life "acts well his part" is a hero, for there the honor lies.
The man who is what we call an "everyday man," that is, one who is upright and just today, and we believe will be tomorrow as he was yesterday, such a man is the real hero. Heroes are they who do well the work that [is] placed before them. Those who know our brother Benton know him an everyday hero. Life was -?- him and he did well his work.
As I looked upon his calm, cold face as he lay in his last sleep, prepared for his narrow couch in mother earth, I could only say to myself, "Oh my brother! Your heart shall live forever. It is well with thee, for the Saviour has said, "Happy, the pure in heart; for they shall see God." We have said before that the heart makes the man. Our brother had a large heart. He loved his friends. His heart was warm and sympathetic, and when he made a new friend his heart was opened to receive him. He loved his father and mother and the whole circle of family relatives. His heart held them all. But double dear to him were the tender ties and loving hearts of his own pleasant home. Affectionate and tender as a father, he was kind and loving as a husband. He loved the church of God with a love that never failed, but, higher than this he loved God. In youth he gave his love to God in a covenant that manhood made more strong. He had a large heart. A man is what his heart is my friends, therefore there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel. like every other one, his heart must live forever. How shall it live! Ah. thanks be unto God who gave him the victory "his heart shall live forever in the presence of the God he loved, for he was pure in heart. As you can at times look down through the clear sparkling water of a brook and see the clear pebbles at the bottom, so one could look into brother Benton's eye, and be sure he saw a pure soul beneath. His heart was not a dark and hidden recess, a place in which to treasure up evil thoughts, hatred and deceit. Those bright eyes of his always seemed to be the windows of his soul. His soul was pure, not spotless of course, but he was everyday more and more learning to love what God loves, and to hate what God hates. His prayer was "Oh, God, put iniquity far from me." He loved honestly, earnestly, everything that is lovely and of good report. His life, his words, his works are ended, but his heart shall live forever. Gone in his early manhood, gone long ere he had seemed to us to have finished his work, gone from his home below to the mansions above, gone from the church in bondage to the church triumphant, gone from the Sabbath school to join the great company that acts at the feet of the Master, gone from his place among those who sing God's praises here to unite in the song that the great choir above shall sing forever. Oh, we shall miss him.
Dear friends, the call that came to him was unexpected, but his life tells us he was ready. As suddenly may our call come. May our life be hid with Christ in God and may that happiness be ours that is the promised inheritance of the pure in heart.
Tears fell, when thou wert dying / From eyes unused to weep. / And long where thou are lying, / Will tears the cold turf steep.
When hearts whose truth was proven, / Like thine are laid in earth, / There should a wreath be woven / To tell the world their worth.
It should be mine to weave it / Around thy faded brow, / But I've in vain essayed it / And feel I cannot now.
While memory bids me weep thee / Nor thoughts, nor words are free, / The grief is fixed too deeply / That mourns a man like thee.
The above followed an impressive memorial sermon from the text found in Psalms XXII, 24; "Your heart shall live forever."
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