Obituaries (June 17)

Charles H. Davis

Utica Saturday Globe, January 13, 1906

 

 

Charles H. Davis

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Early Friday morning of last week Luzerne Brown received a message from Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY] notifying him of the death at that place of his brother-in-law, Charles H. Davis, who had gone there the day after Christmas to visit friends.  Mr. Brown took the mornig train for Oneonta and returned with the remains the same afternoon.  In the pocket of the dead man's clothing was a letter written by his sister a day or two before his death, and, as shown by the postmark, received by him on Thursday afternoon.  At 6 o'clock the next morning he was dead.  The cause of death was inflammation of the bowels.  Oneonta acquaintances said he had been ailing for a day or two, but Norwich friends had no word of his sickness until the news of his death.  Mr. Davis was 59 years old and had spent most of his life in Otsego county, following the occupation of a farmer.  Previous to the death of his wife some three or four years ago he lived on a farm near Morris. Since her death he had made his home with his sister, Mrs. Brown, they two being the only survivors of 10 children of George Davis, who was a well-known Norwich farmer.  Mr. Davis was fond of trapping and hunting and spent much of his leisure time in outdoor enjoyment.  He was popular among a large circle of friends, who sincerely mourn his demise.  His funeral was held at 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon from the Brown residence, on Northrup avenue.  Rev. Wilson Treible officiating.  The remains were placed in Mount Hope vault [Norwich, NY] awaiting burial.

John Niskern

Bainbridge Republican, November 28, 1879

A fatal railroad accident occurred at Howe's Cave [Schoharie Co.,  NY] Monday evening by which John Niskern, an old resident near there, was killed.  Mr. Niskern, who is a man sixty years of age, was standing on the depot platform conversing with a number of railroad employees.  As the down express train approached he stepped backward and off the platform on to the track. The engine struck him and knocked him down.  The engine and baggage car passed over the prostrate form, cutting off one arm and a foot.  Mr. Niskern was taken into the depot, and from there removed to a house near by.  His injuries were fatal.  Mr. Niskern was a farmer and had resided at Howe's Cave for a number of years.

Nellie Rhodes Rogers

Chenango Union, January 10, 1884

The sudden death of Mrs. Rogers, which occurred December 28th, 1883, produced a sadness throughout the whole community.  Her genial spirit and cheerful presence had won for her a large circle of friends, whose sympathies were apparent both in words and in kind offices rendered.  The funeral services and burial took place on Thursday, January 3d, and not withstanding the extreme cold weather of the day, there was a very large attendance of relatives and friends. The services were held at the residence of Dr. L.A. Rhodes, father of the deceased, and were under the direction of Rev. J.G. Eckman, of Binghamton. They consisted of the reading of selections from the Scriptures, by Rev. H. Fox and Rev. I.T. Walker.  Appropriate prayers were offered by Presiding Elder Thorpe and Rev. L.C. Hayes. The address was delivered by Mr. Eckman, founded upon Heb. 13:14--"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."  Excellent singing was furnished, under the direction of Mr. Cary.  Revs. Eckman and Walker conducted the services at the grave.  The family of the deceased feel very grateful to their many friends, for the kind sympathy given them in time of their great sorrow.

Thomas L. Willcox

Chenango Union, January 17, 1884

Again we are called upon to record the death of an old and respected citizen, one who was  held in the highest esteem by a very large circle of friends and acquaintances.  Thomas L. Willcox, after a somewhat extended illness, departed this life at his late home in Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on Sunday morning last, at the advanced age of eighty years. Deceased was born September 21st, 1803, his birthplace being a log cabin on the farm on which he has always resided, then the home of his father and mother, Lillibridge and Anna Willcox, who came from Richmond, Rhode Island, in the year 1798.  He was the second of seven children, and was the last surviving member of the family.  In 1846 he was married to Catharine B., daughter of William Stover, and four children were born to them;  Anna E. the esteemed wife of Benjamin E. Cone, of Columbus, who died but a little more than a year since; Arthur L. and Stephen K., who now reside upon the homestead; and William R., now the Principal of the Union Free School at Webster, Monroe county, N.Y.  He has seen a primitive and unbroken forest merge into cultivated fields and fertile valleys, and log cabins and the woodmans hut gradually disappear to make room for more costly and more comfortable homes, better adapted to the wants of civilization.  By energy and industry he became one of the leading citizens of the town.  In the old days of "General Training" he was always at his post, and the name of Captain Willcox was well known throughout the county.  He was an active Democrat of the old school, and a member of that party until the Free Soil movement was brought before the people, when he cast his fortunes with those of the republican party, in which he has since served.  He was always a subscriber to the Chenango Union, his subscription commencing when the paper was known as the Norwich Journal. Truly a good man has fallen, and one who will be greatly missed in the community in which he has so long resided. The fathers are fast passing away, and the places that know them now will soon know them no more forever. The funeral is to be held on Wednesday morning, at his late residence, and the remains interred in the Willcox burial ground, about three miles north of Smyrna village, where a large number of relatives sleep their last sleep, and wait the coming of the last Great Day.

 

Rev. Albert Childs Salls

1869 - 1915

Rev. Albert Childs Salls, the faithful and beloved pastor of the Congregational Church at Guilford Center [Chenango Co., NY] who has been spending the summer with friends in the northern part of the state seeking restoration to health, entered into rest Sept. 21st, at Burke, N.Y. [Franklin Co.]  His passing away brought profound sorrow and sadness not only to his many friends in Burke, his birthplace and the home of his earlier years, but to the members of his congregation here and to all classes in the community.  The funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. at the home of an aunt whose guest he had been for several weeks and in the Presbyterian church at Burke of which he was a member and where he often preached.  Rev. Samuel Eaton, pastor of the church, delivered the sermon using for his text, Psalms 29:4.  The music was rendered by a quartette of old time friends and the flower covered casket in which he lay peacefully asleep was tenderly borne by four elders of the church who had known and loved him from boyhood.  From the church he was taken to the quiet cemetery of Burke where he was laid away in the Salls family plot.  Many friends from Burke and surrounding towns gathered to pay their tribute of love and respect, among whom was a classmate, Charles McKensie, of the Albany Normal School.  Mr. Salls was born in Burke in 1869 and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Childs, who died when he was a child.  He was legally adopted by Mr. and Mr. Reed Salls of Burkett.  He is survived by is mother, Mrs. Salls, who has been closely associated with him in church work.  He received his education in the Chateaugay school and Dartmouth college, where he was salutatorian of his class, in Princeton Theological Seminary and in Auburn Seminary, and his ill health only prevented him from filling a wider field of labor.  He had an attack of illness last February which prevented him from continuing his work here.  He planned to resign but was offered a six months' vacation and with his mother left for a trip north.  It was the wish of both pastor and people that his work here might be resumed, but although he had improved somewhat during the summer his strength again began to fail and he sent his resignation which was received with deep regret and soon after came the sad news of his death.