Obituaries (July 8)

William Sweenburg

Utica Saturday Globe, July 13, 1907

 

 

William Sweenburg

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The death of William Sweenburg occurred unexpectedly from brain fever at his home on Cortland street on Friday of last week, after an illness of only a few days.  Mr. Sweenburg was born in Hanover, Germany, August 8, 1845.  His parents died when he was a youth and he came to America finding employment first at Boonville, N.Y., and a little later at Cherry Valley, where, in 1870, he married Ordelia Herdman and the following year they came to Norwich where they had since made their home.  Six children were born to them, of whom four with their mother survive.  They are three daughters, Lena, Bessie and Margaret, and one son, John.  A brother, Henry Sweenburg, of Buffalo, also survives.  Mr Sweenburg was raised in the Cherry Valley Lodge No. 334, F.&A.M. to the sublime de3gree of master Mason in 1870.  In December 1876, he affiliated with  Norwich Lodge, No. 302, of which he has since been a faithful member.  By trade Mr. Sweenburg was a tailor and for many years had been employed by the best custom tailors in Norwich.  He was an expert coatmaker and always took pride in doing all work entrusted to him in the best manner possible.  He was hardworking and painstaking in whatever he undertook.  Last spring he opened a shop of his own and conducted it successfully until his death.  As a  husband, father and friend Mr. Sweenburg was kind and thoughtful in every act.  His widow and family have widespread sympathy in their sudden affliction.  The funeral was largely attended from the late residence of the deceased on Cortland street at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Rev. Dr. W.D. Benton officiated, using the Episcopal ritual.  The remains were escorted to Mount Hope Cemetery by Norwich lodge.  At the grave the Masonic ritual was used, Worshipful Master M.W. Davis conducting the service.  The pallbearers were F.M. Fowlston, Epenetus Winsor, Jay Cline, L.A. Arnold, Joshua Winsor and N.S. Donaldson.

 

Chester W. Corbin

 1842 - 1923

Chester W. Corbin a surviving member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a life long resident of the towns of Bainbridge and Afton [Chenango Co., NY], passed away at his home on Juliand St. [Bainbridge, NY] Sunday morning, January 14th, after a brief illness of pleurisy and pneumonia.  He had but recently passed his eightieth birthday having been born on the Corbin homestead near Bennettsville, December 31st, 1842.  He married Gertrude Humphrey of Osceola, Pa. on October 13th, 1869, and a long, happy life of nearly fifty-three years followed this marriage.  Twenty-one years ago, on account of failing health they moved to Bainbridge where the home fire had been kept burning until August 4th, 1922, when his wife passed away.  Five months only have passed, and they are re-united where there is no more pain of parting.  During his early life he manifested a great devotion to his country, which never wavered until his death.  On October 9th, 1862 he enlisted in the country's service for three years and was mustered into service at Norwich, N.Y., in company H of the 114th regiment of the N.Y. Volunteer Infantry, under Captain D.D. Bullock and Col. E.B. Smith. Many a time, has he told to both young and old the interesting story of the Civil War period, which he knew by heart and many a time has he fired the patriotism of young men by his description of that crucial time.  In October 1862 he contracted typhoid fever and lay in St. Mansion Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, and convalescent camp in Virginia until on January 28th, 1863 he was mustered out and honorably discharged.  He tried twice to re-enlist but each time was refused this privilege because of poor health.  At the time of his death he was a member of the G.A.R. Vandenburg Post No. 12, at Afton, N.Y.  The funeral services were held at the home of Herman H. VanCott, Wednesday p.m. Jan. 17 at 2 o'clock, Rev. Charles G. Cady pastor of the Presbyterian church, conducted the services and paid tribute to him as one of the boys in blue, as an ardent admirer of the great Lincoln and a firm believer in the love of God.  Members of the local G.A.R. Post and a detail of the World War Veterans attended the funeral in a body.  The boys in khaki, escorted his body to the grave and at the sound of taps, the earthly remains of a true soldier, a loving father and kind friend were given back to their Creator.  He is survived by his daughter Mabel Corbin VanCott and one grandson Harrison Corbin VanCott of Schenectady, N.Y.

"Soldier rest, thy warfare o'er

Sleep the sleep, that knows no breaking.

Dream of battle fields no more

Days of danger - nights of waking"

 

Mabel Corbin VanCott

1883 - 1923

Six months after the death of her mother and in less than a month after her father, Mrs. Mabel Corbin VanCott was stricken with pneumonia and died on Wednesday night Feb. 7th.  On Aug. 4th Mrs. Gertrude Corbin died and Mrs. VanCott felt the first sting of a broken filial devotion.  A few days before Jan. 14 she was summoned to the bedside of her father, Chester Corbin whose death was the second broken tie to add its grief to a heart full of parental love.  Each vacation time Professor and Mrs. Harry VanCott have been wont to come to Bainbridge from Schenectady to brighten the lives of those dependent upon them.  Last summer, they came, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays they came, but on Saturday last the husband came alone for his brilliant companion in life had been suddenly winged to the other world, reunited with those who had just gone before.  Returning to Schenectady from attending the sickness of her father, Mrs. VanCott was again called to administer in the illness of her husband and her infant son, Harrison Corbin VanCott.  She too was stricken, pneumonia developing with a fatal termination only after a few days.  Prof. VanCott's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman VanCott, were summoned who were with their son.  The body was brought to Bainbridge on the 11:30 train Saturday morning accompanied by the grief stricken husband and taken to the home of his parents on Pearl street.  Also with the remains were large quantities of flowers of great beauty, given by various friends in Schenectady for the deceased was prominent in church and educational work and in the society of the city.  The funeral was very largely attended at 4 o'clock the same day.  Rev. C.G. Cady of the local Presbyterian church officiating.  The body was placed beside her honored father in the receiving vault in Green Lawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  Mabel Corbin VanCott was the only daughter and child of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Corbin.  She was born on the Corbin homestead near Bennettsville 39 years ago.  Twenty-one years ago she came to Bainbridge with her parents to reside.  She was educated in the Bainbridge High School from which she graduated and where she served as teacher for several years. Harry VanCott was a student in the High School at the same time.  He graduated and later completed with honor a course at Columbia University   These two young people were married in August 1906 and Mr. VanCott began teaching in the High Schools at Schenectady.  He rapidly rose in his profession and is now Principal and an Instructor of note.  His wife, through her high mental attainments, personal accomplishments, and charm became a favorite in Schenectady circles and was sharing in the emoluments of an honored and successful career, when death overtook her.  A son, three years old, is left to mourn the loss of a mother and a mantle of sorrow rests in the now broken home.  The sympathy of a community where both have lived and where both have labored goes out to the husband and son and though time may soften the grief it cannot obscure the memory of a splendid woman who lived a life of great usefulness.

 

Alice M. Bennett
1882 - 1918

Alice M. Bennett died of pneumonia at Middleville [Herkimer Co., NY], October 11th.  She was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bennett and was born 36 years ago at Oxford, N.Y. [Chenango Co.] where they lived until 1893 when the family came to Bainbridge.  She was a graduate of Bainbridge High School and had taken courses of Normal Teaching.  Miss Bennett was a member of the Faculty of the Oxford High School for several years and for the past six years has been a member of the Faculty of the High School at Chappaqua, Westchester County.  In September she accepted a position to teach in the High School at Middleville. The funeral was held at Oxford in the Chapel of the Congregational Church.  Services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Wilcox, and burial was in the family plot in the Oxford Cemetery.  She is survived by her mother and one sister, Deliaette Bennett, a trained nurse in Syracuse, her father having died last March.  The news of her death came as a great surprise to her friends here in town as none had learned of her illness.  Her nature was most loving and kind, self sacrificing, ready and willing to help in every good work. She is sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends, whose sympathy is extended to her bereaved mother and sister.

"To those who knew her not,

no words can paint.

While those who knew her,

know all words are faint."

 

Miss Alice Bennett of this village died at Middleville, Herkimer County where she was teaching, yesterday from the results of influenza.  Miss Bennett was 36 years of age and had taken up school work at the opening of te fall term.  Her mother, Mrs. Howard Bennett, was living with her at Middleville.