Vital Records, Chenango County, NY (1879)

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, February 20, 1879

Marriage

Chenango Forks, Broome Co. NY:  An unusual happy event, in which the young people of our place largely participated was the first anniversary of the marriage of mine esteemed host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. C.N. Hollister, at their residence, Friday evening, Feb'y 14th.  Rev. I.M. Ely read an excellent article he had prepared upon the "duties of a good housewife."  It was quite interesting and amusing.  After the guests had extended their congratulations, the order of refreshments was announced.  After the "inner self" had been satisfied with the many good things, our social propensities were awakened, which could not be otherwise in the hands of the genial host and hostess, and the hours flew rapidly by, are we were aware.  The event will linger long in the memory of those present that evening and it is our desire that the declining years of their conjugal bliss may ever be as bright and happy as their first anniversary, in which none join more heartly than [the correspondent, Zar].

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, February 22, 1879

Deaths

SMITH:  In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY] on the 18th inst., Mrs. Hannah L. Smith aged 73 years and 7 months.

COOK:  In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY] on the 19th inst., Miss Hattie A. [Cook] daughter of Alonzo Cook, aged 21 years.

YOUNG:  In this town [Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY] on the 14th inst. Mrs. Charlotte F. Young aged 76 years and 3 months.

On Monday of this week, the funeral of Mrs. Young was held at the F.B. Church.  Rev. James Chambers preached an excellent sermon from the text "We all do fade as a leaf."  Mrs. Young was the mother of Mrs. Albert Whitney of this place.

Bainbridge Republican, Bainbridge, NY, February 27, 1879

Marriages

ALCOTT - GREGORY: In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] Feb. 19th by Rev. F.B. Lewis, Mr. Edwin W. Alcott to Miss Jennie E .Gregory, both of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY].

HUMPHREY - UTTER:  Bennettsville, Chenango Co. NY:  Hard times doesn't affect the young people. Miss Minnie Utter and Austin Humphrey were united "for better or worse" one day last week. The young couple have our fervent wishes for future joy and happiness.

Deaths

COOLY:  At South Norwalk, Conn., Jan. 29, 1879, of inflammation of the bowels, Mrs. H.M. Cooly eldest daughter of Ezra Stiles, formerly of Deposit [Delaware Co. NY].

CLEVELAND:  In Elmira [Chemung Co. NY] Feb. 20, 1879, Mrs. Julia A. Cleveland formerly of Bainbridge, aged 72 years.

CHAMBERS:  A lady by the name of Sally Chambers, an inmate of the Broome County Poor House, recently died, at the advanced age of 107 years.

ALGER:  A report was current a few weeks since that Ezra Alger of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] family was killed in an encounter with a Delaware County [NY] deputy sheriff, last November.  It turns out that he was seriously injured but not killed.  He soon after departed for Kansas where he died on the 20th of January from his wounds.

News Items

We are informed that J.T. Hummell a former merchant of Davenport [Delaware Co. NY] and who is well remembered by the inhabitants of the Charlotte Valley [Delaware Co. NY] as a man guilty of an act which alone would place him among savages, was recently hung in Texas.  Some two or three years ago, he left a respectable wife and child and eloped with a young woman "to parts unknown." But recently he turned up in Texas as one of their most noted horse thieves and desperadoes.  Not long since he was caught in the act of stealing a horse and was seized by a mob, who strung him to the first place they found, thus ending a most miserable life.  Hummell had many friends while he was in the mercantile business and was considered as being an active businessman, but like many others he became a victim to bad habits and has reaped his reward at the hands of an indignant people.  It should be remembered that the "Lone Star State" is the place for people of his stamp. We could not say what ever became of the girl he eloped with, but it is not at all likely he lived with her long.  Charlotte Valley News

Hummel was well known in this section as quite a noted auctioneer.  The Unadilla Times of this week denies there being any truth in the above statement as his friends there have news direct from him to the contrary.

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Our Businessmen - H.C. Weller, Esq.

Sidney Plains, Delaware County, NY

It is a strange and almost an unaccountable circumstance that of late years, the general business of our place is wholly conducted by those who but a short time since were strangers and unknown to this community.  And it is also remarkable that out of the first long line of ancestral lineage not any of the settlers have really a representative in the business circles of this town.

Mr. H.C. Weller, Esq, whose name we have placed at the head of this article is now what may be properly termed the oldest resident businessman living in this village.  He was born at Norwich, Chenango Co. [NY] Feb. 25, 1826.  His father Hiram Weller was an old resident of Norwich and carried on the tin and hardware business for a number of years and was favorably known as one of the honorable and enterprising businessmen of the place.  Mr. H.C. Weller worked in the shop of his father until he had passed his 18th year, when his health becoming impaired, he sought a change of climate by visiting Germany where he spent one season in company off Capt. Paul Latham of Norwich, traveling over the "province" and visiting many places of interest.  On his return home he once more engaged in his former occupation with renewed health and also engaged in the foundry business, in which he continued for 15 years.  He was married in 1849 to Miss Martha Hopkins daughter of Frederick Hopkins, Esq., one of the prominent citizens fo Norwich.

In 1860 having closed out the foundry business, he went to Richmond, Virginia, and other points South and West prospecting for one season, when he returned east, and spent the winter in New York.  But in the spring of [1861], he entered the employment of the United States and was assigned a position in Missouri where he had the supervision of the erection of telegraphic lines for the use of the government, protected by the United States troops.  In 1863 he returned home to Norwich where he remained for two years, and in the spring of 1865 he came to Sidney Plains and purchased the David Johnston farm about one mile east of this village, where he remined for two years, when he exchanged his farm for a residence and grocery store in this place, where he conducted the grocery business for three years, and in '68 transferred the grocery into that of the drug business, in which he still continues.  

His father died in Oct. 1851 aged 53 years. His mother died Aug. 26th, 1875, in the 76th year of her age.  Mr. Weller was early connected with the Masonic Lodge in Norwich and of which he is still a member, and by his good deportment soon gained the confidence of our townsmen, and was appointed to the important position of Railroad Commissioner, which office he retained for nearly four years, and during his tenure of office that the Sidney bonds for the building of the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road were sold at the auspicious moment, when they "went at par."  Mr. Weller having resigned his position as Railroad commissioner was elected Supervisor of the town, the duties of which he discharged with credit and ability.

Mr. Weller has two children, a son and daughter.  The latter was married some five years ago to Mr. D.M. Bowers and now resides in Syracuse [Onondaga Co. NY].  The son remains in the store with his father and is also interested as a poultry fancier, in keeping and breeding blooded fowls, of which he  has different varieties.  But his greatest favorites are the "Plymouth Rocks."  

Mr. Weller is possessed of a kind and charitable disposition and is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need or give in aid any assistance which may be productive of good to the community.  In person, Mr. Weller stands six feet high and is well proportioned weighing 180 lbs and is possessed of a good address and is one well calculated to make friends.  His features are open and well defined, and he wears his whiskers, which are dark, close cut, and which with his hair are interwoven with those silvery threads that betokens coming age.