Obituaries (August 30)

Mary Essie (Grant) McNitt

Utica Saturday Globe, July 1902

 

Mary Essie (Grant) McNitt

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Mary Essie McNitt, wife of A. Dwight McNitt, died at her home on Hale street Sunday morning last after a very brief illness.  She had been ill but four days, death being due to stomach trouble and other complications.  Deceased was 52 years old and the daughter of Francis N. Grant.  She was born at the Grant homestead east of the village and had spent her entire life in the town of Norwich. In 1871 she was untied in marriage with A. Dwight McNitt.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church, but an attendant at the Calvary Baptist.  Mrs. McNitt was a woman of quiet disposition, thinking much and making much of her home.  She was kind to all and beloved by her friends and neighbors.  Besides her husband she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. George Cleveland and Miss Maud McNitt, of this village, and a son, Ira McNitt, of Oxford.  She is also survived by her father, Francis N. Grant, of this village; four sisters, Mrs. C.W. Winsor, Mrs. Ophelia Crowell, of Norwich; Mrs. Frank McNitt of Plymouth, and Mrs. Ella Wells Bishop, of Blue Earth City, Minn., and one brother, Fred Grant, of Waterbury, Conn.  Funeral services were held form the family residence on Hale street at 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, Revs. S.J. Ford and John L. Ray officiating. Burial in Mount Hope [Norwich, NY].

Rufus J. Converse

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, October 27, 1886

Departed this life, Oct. 6th, Rufus J. Converse at his home in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].  Deceased was born in Butternuts, Otsego county, July 3d, 1817, and came with his parents to their new home in Coventry, in 1819, when the place where the old home now stands was surrounded by the primitive forest.  Here he grew to manhood, always showing a decided taste for mechanics. The pleasant home and all the buildings on the farm were planned by him and mostly built by his own hands.  At the age of 21 he went to Harpersville and there learned the trade of wheelwright.  In 1845 he married Mary L. Dart, of Harpersville, where he purchased a home and resided till the death of his father in 1849, when at the desire of his mother he came back to the old homestead where he has since lived, attending to the farm and spending many hours working in his shop at mechanical work.  Soon after his return to the farm, the wife of his youth was called to her heavenly home, leaving two children, one an infant daughter whose life was scarce begun when the wife's and mother's ended; the other a son, of nearly two years.  In 1857 he married Mary L. Bingham, of Greene, by whom he had four sons and one daughter all of whom survive him.  He united with the Presbyterian church in early manhood and was always an active and consistent member.  Often in his last sickness he was glad that he had been led in youth to take Jesus as his friend.  he left bright testimony behind of his faith and trust in Jesus.   He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends, and his seat in the church will be vacant. The day of his funeral was bright, calm and peaceful, a type of his life.  After a few brief remarks by his rector, Rev. J. Janes, and prayer by Rev. D.N. Grammon, of Bainbridge, his remains were taken to their last resting place, followed by a large number of mourning relatives and friends.

Reuben T. Comstock

Chenango Telegraph, April 1, 1875

DIED:  In Brooklyn, N.Y., on the 27th ult. at the residence of his son, A.A. Comstock, Esq., Mr. Reuben T. Comstock, aged 88 years.

Many years ago Mr. Comstock was a resident of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], and was a well known and popular teacher of the village school.  During his stay in Norwich, many of our rising young men were in attendance at his school, and even now credit their success in life to his early teaching.  Mr. Comstock was a vigorous hearty old man and up to the time of his death took great interest in the passing events of the day, particularly during the war for the suppression of the rebellion was he anxious for news ,and never failed in public or private conversation to show that his sympathies were with the Union cause.  In his old age too, his mind frequently recurred to the years he spent in Norwich, and he kept his memory green by the weekly perusal of the Telegraph, and several times he has favored our readers with "recollections" of his life in Norwich, which were read with interest  by all.  Thus has passed away another of our early pioneers, and though long removed from our midst, his memory is still green in the minds of our older citizens who survive him.

Margaret Combs

Afton Enterprise, January 18, 1906

Mrs. Margaret Combs, who died a few weeks ago, left a will in which she bequeathed her property, a house and lot to St. Peter's church, giving her daughter, Mrs. Emily Wicks, the use of the same during her life time provided she kept the place in repair, paid the taxes and kept up the insurance, Dr. R.D.L. Evans, was made executor.

Whit Yeoman McHugh

September 23, 1955

Whit Yeoman McHugh, of 30 Spring Street, Afton [Chenango Co., NY], died at 2:45 p.m. Friday at his home, after a short illness.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jessie E. McHugh; a son, Donald Coburn McHugh; a granddaughter, Colleen M. McHugh, and a grandson, Donald Sheridan McHugh, all of Afton.  He was a member of Afton Lodge 360 F.&A.M. and was a volunteer fireman for the Afton Fire Department for 48 years. The body was moved to the Karschner Funeral Home, Afton. 

Lemuel B. Mitchell

September 24, 1955

Lemuel B. Mitchell, 76, of 114 Roosevelt Avenue, Endicott [Broome Co., NY], died at 4 a.m. today at his home, after a long illness.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Mitchell, a daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Clink of Owego; two sons, the Rev. Floyd B. Mitchel of Nigeria, British West Africa, and George E. Mitchell of Endicott, 11 grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was a member of the First Baptist church of Endicott and Lodge 925 IOOF, of Endicott.  He was a retired IBM Corp. employee, a member of its Two Generation Club and a life member of the IBM Country Club. He operated an automotive and radio sales store in Washington Avenue, Endicott, from 1925 until 1935.  The body was moved to the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott.