Obituaries (August 16)

Isabella Cowan

Utica Saturday Globe, February 1902

 

 

Mrs. Isabella Cowan

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  At the home of her daughter, Mrs. Euphemie Coon, 35 Fair street, Tuesday afternoon, occurred the death of Mrs. Isabella Cowan, aged 85.  Deceased was the widow of John Cowan and was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.  She came to America in 1850 and for 20 years the family resided in New York before moving to Gilbertsville, Otsego county, where Mr. Cowan died 34 years ago.  Mrs. Cowan afterwards came to Norwich and had since made her home with her daughter.  While living in Scotland she joined the Presbyterian Church and after she became a resident of Norwich she became a member of the Congregational Church in 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Scoville.  Mrs. Cowan was the mother of seven children.  She had been in strong and vigorous health until last winter.  She was a woman of beautiful Christian character and her life has left a strong impression upon those who knew her well.  She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Euphemie Coon, with whom she made her home:  Mrs. Susie Paddleford, of North Fenton, N.Y., and Mrs. Clarence E. Kellogg, of Tacoma, Wash. Her funeral was held from her late home this (Friday) afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. D.W. Dexter officiating.  Interment in Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

 

Nathan Geer

Northern Christian Advocate, May 1849

Nathan Geer died in Plymouth, Chenango county, N.Y., at the residence of his son, Wm. R. Geer, May 4, 1849, aged 83 years.  He was converted and joined the M.E. Church about 40 years ago, under the labors of Rev. Charles Giles and father White.  His companion also became the subject of saving grace about the same time and with her husband shared the privileges and responsibilities of the Church until about four years ago, when she finished her course with joy, bidding farewell to earth in full hope of immortality.  Father Geer still continued to trust in the God of Jacob, and though he was the subject of great bodily affliction, yet he endured patiently as "seeing him who is invisible."  He served the Church many years in the capacity of class leader and steward.  In short, he was a Methodist of the old stamp.  His last illness was only of five or six days continuance, but he was prepared for his final change.  He expressed the strongest confidence in God.  ---  E.P. Beecher

Henry Champlin

1794 - 1884

Chenango Union, May 15, 1884

Afton, [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mr. Champlin, an old resident of this place, who has been in feeble health for some time, died at the home of his son, Mr. George Champlin, on Friday of last week.  The remains were taken to Harpersville for interment.  His age was 89 years, and was a veteran of the war of 1812.  [Buried Nineveh Presbyterian Cemetery]

David J. Palmer

Chenango Union, April 10, 1884

Last Friday afternoon a terrible accident occurred on Melondy Hill west of this village [Afton Chenango Co., NY], whereby Mr. David J. Palmer, a blind man, well known in this place, was killed.  Mr. Palmer was at work in the woods assisting Stephen Fredenburg saw wood.  The tree on which they were at work had been sawed into logs and on the stump, which was on one edge, the tree having been blown down, remained a piece about eighteen inches in length which they had just sawed off and stepped back. Mr. Fredenburg started to walk around the stump to give Mr. Palmer his cane, when the stump fell, crushing Mr. Palmer beneath it, killing him instantly.  Deceased leaves two grown up sons, and was a brother of Mrs. D.D. Smith of this place.  His funeral was held Sunday and the remains were interred in the Glenwood Cemetery.  His age was fifty-four years--Afton Enterprise.

Abby Pixley

Chenango Union, April 10, 1884

On Friday afternoon, the 28th ult., Abby, a three-year-old son of Asa Pixley, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], was drowned in a creek near his residence.  He had been playing in the yard, when he was suddenly missed, and search was made by the ladies of the house, which was unsuccessful.  Mr. Pixley, who was at work in the sugar bush, was notified, and the child was tracked to the creek, upon the bank of which the hood worn by the little boy was found.  A few feet distant the body of the little boy was discovered in the water and carried to his home by the distressed father.

Eva Porter

Chenango Union, May 22, 1884

Eva, youngest daughter of William D. and Mary Porter, on Friday evening, the 16th inst., entered into rest.  Fragile as a reed, delicate as a rose, trustful, confiding, as a child, she seemed young indeed for her years.  One could scarcely realize that sixteen summers and more in her life had come and gone.  Vivacious, ever cheerful, with cultivated intellect and a mind not void of useful knowledge, she appeared older than indicated by her pallid face and slender form.  Thus were her associations more than ordinarily extended and enlarged.  She was a general favorite, a fitting and agreeable companion for both those older and younger than herself, and by all who knew her was she universally beloved.  Her happy temperament and cheerful disposition could not fail to win a multitude of friends.  The circumstances attending her sickness and death were peculiarly sad.  A doting father, whom she loved with all the ardor of her affectionate nature, at a public institution from mental derangement; an only sister detained from her bedside on account of sickness; her only brother far away at his chosen labors; and next of kin, her father's only sister, prostrated with disease, she was left almost to the last under the sole care of her devoted mother, except such assistance as kind and sympathizing neighbors and friends were anxious and more than willing to bestow.  Always of a delicate organization, nearly a year since it was noticed that Eva did not appear as well as before, dating from a severe attack of lung disease at that time; yet so cheerful and uncomplaining was she that few, even those most intimate, suspected that she was subject to the least physical suffering.  Some six weeks ago, while absent with her mother caring for an invalid member of the family, she became decidedly worse, from some existing cause, and rapidly declined till at length, in spite of all that could be done, life went out as gently as dies away the summer breath. Eva was emphatically the child of religion, and died as she lived, strong in the faith. The funeral was largely attended on Sunday afternoon at the residence of deceased's parents, corner of Henry and Court streets, Rev. A.G. Upton officiated, and the services were most impressive. The floral offerings were exquisite and profuse, and it was a common remark that seldom if ever had they been so tastefully and appropriately arranged. The beautiful white casket in which Eva seemed to rest so comfortably was literally embedded in flowers, and the gloom and darkness of the tomb dispelled by the emblems of the resurrection life.  Friends were in attendance from Coventry, Binghamton, Munnsville and other places. The Sabbath School class, of which Eva was a member attended in a body. The deep sympathy of the whole community is extended to the bereaved family in their sore affliction.  The following expressions of sympathy but voice the sentiments of all who knew Eva:

From the Union School Teachers,

Academy and Union School,

Norwich, N.Y., May 19, 1884

Mr. and Mrs. Porter--Dear Friends--We wish, as the teachers of your daughter Eva, to assure you of our appreciation of her.  She was faithful as a student, and discharged to the best of her ability all her duties, and was conscientious and sincere in all her relations with us.  We commend you to the care of our Father in Heaven, who causeth all things to work together for good to those that love Him, and who alloweth not a sparrow to fall to the ground without his notice.  Yours in sorrow and sympathy--James H. Shults, Mable E. Dart, Maria W. Bishop, Mary E. Lewis

From Her Sabbath School Class Mates

Norwich, N.Y., May 19, 1884

Mr. and Mrs. Porter--We, as Eva's class mates, wish to express our deep sympathy for you in your great loss.  We shall miss her in our school life, for she was a general favorite with both scholars and teachers.  May you take comfort in the thought that her life was one of gentleness and obedience.  She always tried to do what she thought was right and showed by her life her love for the Savior.  With love and sympathy, Matie Reed, F.H. Kinney, Frank Fitch, Committee.

We are desired by Mrs. Porter to extend to her neighbors and friends, and all who were so kind and sympathetic in her sore bereavement, her sincere acknowledgements and heartfelt thanks.  Words, she assures us, cannot reward them for their many kindnesses and substantial deeds.

James Casey

Bainbridge Republican, October 8, 1880

James Casey, quite well known through this section as a stone cutter, died at the residence of Court Robbins, in this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday night of last week, aged about 50 years.  Mr. Casey had, seemingly, enjoyed comparatively good health up to within about three weeks of his decease, when he returned from a business trip to Binghamton and Syracuse complaining greatly of rheumatism, and had to be assisted home from the depot.  From that time on he grew rapidly worse, chronic diarrhea setting in, and other troubles, which for a week or so prior to his death rendered him unconscious the most of the time, though at times he would rally and converse quite rationally.  The deceased was born in Ireland, but had resided in this country for several years, and had become thoroughly Americanized.  He came to this section of country about seven years since and commenced work at Grieg's stone quarry in the town of Unadilla, and since then has been engaged in quarry work the most of the time.  Last Spring he leased, for five years, a right to quarry on the farm of Wm. Seeley, in East Guilford, and succeeded in opening up a very excellent quarry of stone, said all who have seen it  to be one of the best in the country.  He immediately began to do a thriving trade in stone, shipping large orders to Utica, Syracuse and other points and he appeared in a fair way to become quite well off in this world's goods.  But success was his misfortune, for, from having led a sober life for a long while, and being a member in good standing of the Good Templar's Order in this village, he began a life of dissipation, and squandered his money lavishly and foolishly, until his dissipation culminated in the disease which terminated fatally.  The deceased is said to have a brother residing at Saugerties, Ulster county, this State, and also a wife and children residing somewhere on the Hudson.  The small procession of scarce a half-dozen, which conveyed the remains to their last resting place, appeared solemn enough as they passed through the streets, and a short prayer by Elder Houghton at the grave constituted all the ceremony of the interment.  Those who had profited most by "Jim's" liberality, forgot him in his distress and death, and showed how true it is, that a man who squanders his money on drink makes friends but to lose them in adversity.  "Jim" was a liberal hearted, kind dispositioned Irishman when sober, and had he left strong drink alone, might have been an honored and wealthy member of society.  This is an excellent temperance lesson for the young.