Vital Records, Madison County, NY (1866)

 Oneida Dispatch, Oneida, NY, September 1, 1866

Marriages

WATERS - HUSE:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co. NY] Aug. 21, by Rev. William Russel, Mr. George P. Waters of Hamilton [Madison Co. NY] to Miss Sarah C. Huse of Brookfield [Madison Co. NY].

THOMPSON - SWEET:  In Verona [Oneida Co. NY] Aug. 23, by Rev. O. Eastman, Mr. Wm. H. Thompson of Lenox [Madison Co. NY] to Miss Agie M. Sweet of Canastota [Madison Co. NY].

PLANK - FRANK:  In Durhamville [Oneida Co. NY], Aug. 22, by Rev. D. McFarland, Mr. Samuel W. Plank of Mexicoville N.Y. to Miss Frances M. Frank of Durhamville.

MANLEY - CAIN:  In Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] Aug 26, by Rev. P. Brady, Mr. Michael Manley of West Eaton [Madison Co. NY] to Miss Anne Cain, both natives of Killalla Co., Ireland.

Deaths

STONE:  In Pine Woods, Aug 25, of malignant scarlet fever, after an illness of less than three days, Charles Carroll [Stone] youngest son of Reuben W. and Laura D. Stone, aged 9 years, 11 months and 15 days.\

STURTEVANT:  In Milton, Rock Co., Wis., Aug. 20 of consumption, Mr. Retire Groves Sturtevant in the 31st year of his age.

THOMAS:  In Morrisville [Madison Co. NY], Aug. 24 Mrs. Mary A. Thomas aged 53 years.

BRAND:  In Fon-du-Lac, Wis. W.B. Brand formerly of Brookfield [Madison Co. NY] aged about 56 years.

FLETCHER:  In Pratt's Hollow [Madison Co. NY], Aug. 23, Mr. Stillman Fletcher aged 77 years and 8 months.

MARSH:  In Smithfield [Chenango Co. NY] Aug. 24, Mrs. [Abigail] Marsh wife of the late Silas Marsh, aged about 70 years.

LOCKWOOD:  In St. Louis, Mo. of consumption, Mrs. Elmina M. [Lockwood] wife of G.G. Lockwood and daughter of Wm. and Rebecca Merchant, formerly of Fenner [Madison Co. NY].

HART:  At Red Wing Minn. Aug. 1, Miss Nettie Hart daughter of Ira hart, formerly of Morrisville [Madison Co. NY], aged about 24 years.

WARD:  At the same place, Aug. 2, Mrs. Nancy Ward wife of Israel Ward, formerly of Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] aged 62 years.

MERRILL:  In Gloversville [Fulton Co. NY], Aug 25, Blennie [Merrill] daughter of Asa and Charlotte Merrill of New Woodstock, aged 23 years.

CURTIS:  A very sudden death occurred in Madison village [Madison Co. NY] on Tuesday morning of this week.  A daughter of Mr. Uri Curtis, aged about 22 years, residing near Madison called on the Presbyterian minister who formerly practiced dentistry for the purpose of have teeth extracted.  Dr. S. Curtis was called and chloroform administered and after three or four teeth had been taken out, Miss Curtis suddenly expired. We do not learn that any blame is attached to either the Dr. or the minister, as the deceased had before taken chloroform without serious injury.

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STONE:  In Morrisville [Madison Co. NY] Aug. 26, Asahel C. Stone, Esq. Sheriff of Madison County, aged 61 years.

The funeral of Hon. Asahel C. Stone, High Sheriff of the county of Madison [NY] took place at his late residence in Morrisville on Tuesday forenoon, 28th inst. A large concourse of people assembled to pay their last sad respects to the memory of an excellent and kindhearted man.  Among those present were Judge Holmes, our member of Congress; Hon. James Barnett and Hon. Caleb Calkins, of the Legislature; Hon, John Cochrane, ex-Attorney General; Messrs. Kennedy and Cramphin and other members of the Bar; and many others of our prominent citizens.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hard, of Morrisville, and an address was made by Hon. Gerrit Smith of Peterboro, which was listened to with great interest by the crowded auditory.  In the course of his remarks, Mr. Smith spoke of the well-known kindness of heart of the deceased and bore his testimony to the faithfulness with which he had ever discharged his duties as a friend and neighbor.  He also spoke of the fact that our departed friend had long since abandoned the theologies of the day; and had become a sincere believer in rational Spiritualism.  That he had long looked upon death without fear or dread, as a natural and beautiful change ordained by an all wise and benevolent Creator; and that it was only an entrance into a higher and better state of existence.  Rev. Mr. Hard followed with a few remarks in reference to the kind and generous nature of the deceased.  One of the hymns sung by the select choir was the following:

"It is a faith sublime and sure, / that ever round our head /Are  hovering on noiseless wing, / The spirits of the dead.

It is a faith sublime and sure, / When ended our career, / That it will be our ministry / To watch o'er others here. 

To bid the mourners cease to mourn, / The trembling be forgiven, / To bear away from ills of clay / The deathless soul to heaven."

At the close of the services the funeral procession was formed, and the remains taken to the cemetery at Peterboro, Mr. Stone's former place of residence. When the long line of carriages arrived at the village, a number of citizens, and the pupils of the Academy - of which the deceased was formerly a trustee- under the charge of Rev. Mr. Bride, the Principal, joined the procession.  On arriving at the cemetery, the coffin was opened, that the people might take a last look at the countenance of their much beloved friend and neighbor.  A beautiful wreath of flowers - the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth S. Miller - was laid upon the coffin.  

Hon. Gerrit Smith then made some further remarks, in which he sketched the history of Mr. Stone.  He spoke of his early struggles with adverse circumstances, of his gradual rising by his own efforts, and the force of a fine intellect to a high position among his fellow men and of their confidence in him, as shown by the many offices of trust and honor which he had held during his life.  He feelingly alluded to the fact that only himself and the venerable Capt. Asa Raymond, of all that large company assembled, could remember the deceased when in his early childhood, fifty-eight years ago, he came with his father's family to Peterboro.  All the rest of those who knew him then had passed away and we should remember how short is the time remaining to any - even the youngest present - in which to do the earnest work of life.  

At the close of Mr. Smith's remarks, Rev. Mr. Hard made a short but touching address, closing with the benediction and then the remains of our beloved friend were laid away to be seen no more by mortal eyes.  

Seldom has the decease of a citizen excited so much feeling and created so deep an impression.  Mr. Stone was well known as an able lawyer.  He had held many prominent and responsible offices in all of which he had proved himself to be a man of superior ability. But it was his kindness of heart, his strong sympathy with human suffering, which had most endeared him to the people.  No tale of distress was ever told in vain.  His soul was full of kindness, and he gave freely of his means to all who needed.  His faithfulness to the great causes of temperance and Freedom was well known to all.  He felt deeply the great crisis through which our country is now passing and in the occasional delirium of his last days, his thoughts wandered upon the mighty issues of the hour, showing that the love of the great principles for which he had so long contended was deep and sincere.  His departure has left a void which will not be easily filled, and the remembrance of his generous nature and of his many kind deeds will long be cherished by the people among whom he had spent his life.