Vital Records, Otsego (1879) & Broome (1858) Counties, NY

 Morris Chronicle, Morris, NY, May 21, 1879

Marriages

TEFFT - SNEDEKER:  At the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. F. Stanton in Richfield Springs [Otsego Co. NY] on the 7th inst. by Rev. M. G. Wadsworth, Mr. Geo. Tefft of Bridgewater [Oneida County, NY] and Miss Eliza Snedeker of Richfield Springs.

TALBOT - CHASE:  At Edmeston [Otsego Co. NY] May 7th, by Rev. L. Muzzy, DeForest Talbot of the firm of Wm. Talbot & Son to Miss Hattie Chase.

Deaths

BEARDSLEY:  In Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY] May 8th, Levi Beardsley, in his 56th year.

BEARDSLEY:  Rev. Wm. Beardsley of Franklin [Delaware Co. NY] died at the residence of his uncle, Henry S. Edwards, on Friday evening last of heart disease.  He had been in feeble health for some time but was so much better that he preached in the Episcopal church the Sunday before his death and was out riding alone only a few hours before his death.  A large circle of friends mourn his loss.

MOAK:  In Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] May 11th, Amy C. [Moak] wife of Jacob M. Moak, in the 68th year of her age.

THOMPSON:  In Fly Creek [Otsego Co. NY] May 10th, Edward T. [Thompson] son of Lee and Jane Thompson, aged 17 years.

VOSBURGH:  Jacob Vosburgh, proprietor of the hotel at Salt Springville, in the town of Cherry Valley [Otsego Co. NY], was drowned in the canal between Fort Plain and Canajoharie, on Saturday, May 10th.  The unfortunate man was in a wagon with a companion by the name of Jacob H. Miller, and through mismanagement the horse backed into the canal, Miller jumping out in time to save himself, but Vosburgh and the horse went down and were drowned.  Both men were said to be intoxicated.  Republican 

STEVENS:  A Miss Stevens of Walton [Delaware Co. NY] died on Thursday, May 1st of toothache.  Although this is a rare occurrence, it is an undisputed case of death resulting from an excruciating toothache.  The victim, who was a young American woman employed in a family in Walton, had suffered some days with a terrible toothache, which accompanied an ulcerated jaw.  An attempt was made to extract the troublesome members, but her teeth were broken off and her face was too sore to permit their removal by the painful process of cutting away the gums. The girl suffered and entire nervous prostration from the extreme pain and gradually sank away under it until death ended her sufferings.  An army surgeon, who attended her, pronounced her symptoms the same as those following the amputation of a limb  Walton Chronicle

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BIRDSALL:  In Otego [Otsego Co. NY] May 12th, Marion Jennings [Birdsall] wife of Wm. Birdsall in the 27th year of her age.

Funeral of Mrs. Wm. Birdsall:  The body of the late Mrs. Birdsall, who died May 12th was buried from the residence in Otego on the 14th.  there was a very large attendance, not only from the village and the neighboring towns of Unadilla, Bainbridge, Oneonta and Afton, but from far distant points, friends gathering to pay their last sad respects to one whose personal worth had won a close place in their hearts.  The services of the Episcopal Church were read, both at the house and the grave by the Rev. John H. Fitzgerald.  Mr. Fitzgerald was the former rector of Immanuel Church in Otego, and but a few months more than three years ago, performed the marriage ceremony for the one over whom he now read the offices for the dead.  After the gospel lesson he spoke briefly of the winning grace and loveable character of  Mrs. Birdsall that in her brief life had won and kept for her so many steadfast friends.  The following named persons acted as pall bearers:  Mrs. C.A. Corbin, Mrs. Eugene Phillips, Mrs. T.H. Goodwin, Mrs. W.H. Parker, Mrs. Charles Stillson, Mrs. Orrin Shepherd.  They wore white satin ribbons upon their left arms.  The husband of these ladies, with broad bands of crape at their elbows bore the casket from the house to the hearse and from the hearse to the grave.  the floral offerings were not numerous, but were tasteful and apt.  Chief among them was a large lyre of Calla lilies and white roses that stood at the head of the casket, also a cross of similar flowers that laid at the foot.  The body was almost hidden by white roses, itself the finest flower of them all.  Mrs. Birdsall leaves a husband and two little children, the smallest hardly two weeks old, to mourn a loss that can never be made good to them. Binghamton Republican

Findagrave.com Memorial #51304593

Union News, Union, NY, July 22, 1858

Horrible Tragedy!!

We learn that a most shocking affair occurred about one mile from Maine Village [Broome Co. NY] in this county, at about 8 o'clock on Friday afternoon last, the 16th inst.  Mr. Oliver Howard, a man aged about 30, murdered his two little boys by cutting their throats with a razor.  The circumstances of this most shocking tragedy, as related to us by a neighbor of Howard are as follows:

Oliver Howard, the murderer, who lives about one mile from Maine village, has a wife and four children, two boys and two girls.  On the day previous to the murder, Mrs. H. with the two little girls, went to spend a day or two with her mother, leaving the two little boys, one aged six and the other about four years and six months old, at home with their father.  At about 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon, Howard went to the schoolhouse, where the boys attended school and took the boys home - fastened the door - took a razor and cut both of their throats.  The house was visited by one of the neighboring women a few moments after and on finding the door fastened she looked into the window and discovered the boys lying dead on the floor.  she immediately gave the alarm and many person's assembled at the scene.  Howard was immediately arrested and on an examination before Esq Eastman, he admitted that he committed the double murder.  He was taken to Binghamton the same evening by Constable Gray and lodged in jail.

The informant says that he has appeared at time, for a few years past, of being deranged and it is supposed he committed this horrible murder during one of these spells.

P.S.  Since the above was in type we copy the following additional particulars of this horrid tragedy from the Binghamton Republican, being facts that were clarified at the Coroner's inquest.

After he was in custody and had admitted his guilt, he related to a physician present how he killed the boys.  He first took the oldest one between his knees and holding him by the chin with one hand, he drew the razor across his throat with the other.  The boy at first fell to the floor but afterwards got up and walked across the room where he died. The other boy was then killed in the same manner.

This is the most horrible affair we have ever been called upon to record.  The verdict of the Coroner's Jury was in accordance with the facts as related above.  The bodies of the murdered boys were taken on Saturday to Kattelville [Broome Co. NY] the residence of Mrs. H's mother, for interment, their mother being too sick to go to Maine.  Their names are Reval and Alfred - the oldest seven years old and the youngest five.

Union News, Union, NY, Aug. 5, 1858:  We learn from Sheriff Smithy, who has this notorious murderer in charge, that he now evinces many symptoms of insanity.  He is reading the Bible very attentively and justifies himself by saying that the lord commanded him to offer them as a sacrifice, as he did Abraham.

Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, Oct. 13, 1858:  The Grand Jury of Broome County, refused to find an indictment against Oliver Howard, who murdered his two sons last July, the evidence before them showing him to be insane.  He has been taken to the Asylum at Utica [Oneida Co. NY].