Vital Records, Otsego County, NY (1859 & 1879)

 Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, January 19, 1859

Marriages

At Laurens [Otsego Co. NY] Jan. 4th, 1859, by Rev. Wm. Baldwin, Mr. Malcom Keenan of Oneonta, to Miss Julia A. Babcock  of Laurens.

On the 9th inst. by Geo. W. Edwards, Esq. Horace Keits of Otselic [Chenango Co. NY] to Miss Julia Miller of Morris, Otsego Co. [NY].

In Croton, Jan. 6th before breakfast, by Rev. Mr. Moulton of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY], Mr. D.W. Morehouse to Miss Charlotte [Treadwell] daughter of D.S. Treadwell, all of Croton.

In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] on the 6th inst. by R, Mr. C.E. Stebbins of Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY] to Miss Eliza A. Palmer of Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY].

Deaths

In Keokuk, Iowa, Dec. 28th, 1858, Mr. Ira E. Hawkins aged 38 years.

In Milford [Otsego Co. NY] on the 25th Dec. William Stevens aged 87 years.  Mr. S. was probably the last survivor of the "Wyoming prisoners."  His father died near the fort just before the approach of the enemy, and William, then in his 7th year, was taken into the fort.  He had a distinct recollection of the events which transpired at its capture.  Mr. Stevens was for 70 years a resident of Otsego - 60 of which were spent in Milford.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, January 26, 1859

Death

In this town [Oneonta, Otsego Co. NY] on the 19th inst. Hellen [Baker] daughter of Spencer and Caroline Baker, aged 3 years 11 months and 11 days.

The Walton Journal [Delaware Co. NY] says that on Friday last, a little daughter of Mr. Demelt, about a year and a half old, residing in Franklin [Delaware Co. NY] was choked to death by a bean lodging in her throat.

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, March 20, 1879

Marriage

In Burlington [Otsego Co. NY] on the 12th inst. at the residence of Mr. Harry Parker, by Rev. Wm. Church, Robert Wright to Mrs. Fanny S. Smith.

Deaths

In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] March 17th, 1879, Lucina [Fitch] wife of Zadoc Fitch, aged 70 years.

In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] March 15th, Cora [Husbands] wife of Charles F. Husbands, aged 18 years.

In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] March 12th, 1879, Hattie [Webster] daughter of Abijah and Libbie Webster, aged 5 months.

In Westford [Otsego Co. NY] March 15th, 1879 Robert Hall aged 73 years.  A native of Roxburghshire Scotland.

In Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY] Feb. 10th, at the residence of his son, Isaac D. Church, Ebenezer Church aged 88 years 1 month and 12 days.

In Maple Ridge, Bay Co., Michigan, March 9th, '79, Eben J. Church aged 32 years, son of Isaac D. Church of Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY].

In Toddsville [Otsego Co. NY] March 16th, Elizabeth M. [Campbell] wife of Sylvanus Campbell, aged 63 years, 2 months and 11 days.

In Albany [Albany Co. NY] on the 12th inst, Kate [Shaw] wife of Daniel Shaw, formerly of Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] and editor of this paper.

In Hastings, Minn. Feb. 28th, 1879, Mrs. Mercy Lewis aged 92 years, a former resident of Fly Creek [Otsego Co. NY].

A telegram to the Editor of the Journal brings to him intelligence of the death of his cousin Robert Woodward head of the domestic goods commission house of Woodward, Lawrence Co, of New York aged 60 years. He was the son of Benjamin Woodward and Mary Shaw of Orange county [NY], a high minded, sterling man and enterprising merchant long and favorably known in commercial circles in New York, where he had done business for about forty years. He died Tuesday P.M.

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In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] March 18th, '79, Major William Lewis, aged 87 years and 11 months.  Funeral at 1:30 o'clock this Thursday afternoon, from the residence of A.H. Watkins, Chestnut Street.

The oldest citizen of Cooperstown died on Tuesday morning after a brief illness, doubtless contracted by his attendance at the Buel trial in which he felt a great interest, lacking about five weeks of 88 years of age.

Major Lewis had previously been so well and active that his death was unexpected in this community, where he had lived so long and was so well known.  He was the son of William and Elizabeht Noyes Lewis; was born in Stonington, Conn. April 29, 1791, where he resided until 1807, and where he married Esther Sisson, who died in this village Feb. 18, 1875, aged 82 years.  when he left his native village, he removed to Pharsalia, Chenango County [NY], going with a neighbor who made the journey with an ox team and horse before a sled with a canvas covering, the snow being most of the way about four-feet deep and the country an almost unbroken wilderness. After remaining there about a year, he returned home, walking the entire distance and carrying his pack on his back.  Mr.  Lewis continued to reside in Stonington, following the occupation of a farmer before and after his marriage, until 1827 when he moved to Richfield Spring [Otsego Co. NY\] and commenced the business of hotel keeping, which he continued there and in Norwich until 1839, when he purchased the Eagle Hotel in Cooperstown of the late G.A. Starkweather.  He made a large addition to the building, and it became the then leading hotel in town.  Here he continued in business until the great fire in 1862, at which time he was burnt out.  He then retired permanently from business, passing most of his time in Cooperstown and in visiting his children at other points. But the Major had so long led an active life that he liked something to do, if it was only to do the family marketing.

When living at Richfield, Maj. Lewis took an active part in the military organization of this State.  He was elected a Lieutenant and received a commission from Gov. Pitcher; was promoted to the rank of Major, and commission by Gov. Troop. He became a member of North Stonington Lodge of Masons in 1816 and has been an active member up to his last sickness.  He leaves an only sister, Mrs. B.F. Kipp, three sons and two daughters.

Major Lewis had lived to a great age, but he was still active on foot, very seldom sick, cheerful, courteous in manner and a favorite with the young as well as with the old.