William P. O'Donnell
Utica Saturday Globe, June 1901
William P. O'Donnell
News reached Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Monday of the death in Buffalo of William P. O'Donnell, which occurred Saturday evening. For several years Mr. O'Donnell had been a member of the Buffalo Fire Department and for some time had been assistant driver of Engine company, No. 13. Saturday night when an alarm came in, the regular driver being absent, O'Donnell jumped to the seat in his place. The trip to the fire was made in safety and the blaze extinguished. On the return trip, when within a short distance from the engine house, it was noticed that the driver's seat was empty. The assistant jumped off to stop the horses, which were going slowly, and discovered O'Donnell's body beneath the engine, the rear wheel at that instant passing over him. He died soon after. He is believed to have been stricken with heart disease or dizziness. Mr. O'Donnell was about 35 years of age and was the second son of Martin O'Donnell, of Silver street [Norwich, NY]. He was born in Norwich and lived here until about 12 years of age, when the family moved to McDonough. they afterward returned to Norwich and he lived here for a time before going to Buffalo about 12 years ago. He was something of an athlete and made a great many friends, and the friendships being renewed by different visits home. He had never married. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. martin O'Donnell; two sisters, Mrs. Edward Murphy and Miss Ella O'Donnell, and a brother, Charles, all residents of Norwich. His older brother, Martin, is a resident of Cleveland, O., and in his charge the remains arrived in Norwich Tuesday morning. Funeral services were held from St. Paul's Church at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning. Rev. Father John A. Hart officiating. Interment was made in St. Joseph's Cemetery at Oxford. A copy of resolutions of regret and respect passed by the Board of Fire Commissioners of Buffalo has been received by the bereaved family.
Buffalo Evening News, June 10, 1901
William T. O'Donnell, an extra driver on Engine No. 13, stationed on Staats street, just north of Fire Headquarters, was killed in a horrible manner shortly before 10 o'clock last night. While returning from a fire on Delaware avenue he tumbled from the engine seat, was thrown to the ground and crushed under the wheels. he died a few minutes after being taken in the Emergency Hospital. The alarm for the fire was received at Fire Headquarters at 9:35 o'clock on the discovery of a blaze in the three-story brick house at 194 Delaware avenue. All the firemen in the downtown district went to the scene, and subdued the fire, after $1000 damage had been done. Chief McConnell ordered the fire apparatus to be returned to the houses, at 10 o'clock. O'Donnell was in charge of Engine No. 13, having taken the place of James Murphy, the regular driver, who had his day off yesterday. O'Donnell had been in the work for five years, and was one of the most careful drivers in the department.
He drove his team slowly back to the fire house, and everything went all right until after the horses had turned into Staats street and were within 200 feet of the firehouse. The engineer of the engine and two firemen were on the rear step. They suddenly were surprised to see O'Donnell throw up his hands and pitch headlong to the flagging. The horses started up at a brisk pace, and the engineer and the firemen quickly applied the brake to the wheels, stopping the two-ton engine 20 feet from where O'Donnell had fallen. O'Donnell still held the reins when he fell and he struck the pavement and was dragged under the rear wheels of the engine which passed over his body. Several firemen ran to his assistance and carried him into the fire house. He was breathing feebly and it was at first supposed that the was dead. A doctor in the neighborhood was summoned and advised that the injured driver be removed to the hospital without delay. The Emergency Hospital ambulance was summoned and O'Donnell was removed to the hospital. He died without regaining consciousness.
Dr. E.C.W. O'Brien, surgeon of the department made an examination of the body. He found that O'Donnell' pelvis and been fractured, his right leg broken, his skull fractured and that he had been disemboweled. Dr. O'Brien and Chief McConnel think he was seized with an attack of heart disease and while suffering form it fell from his seat. O'Donnell had never complained of heart trouble, but in view of the fact that the horses were going at a walk, it is thought the theory of heart trouble is a reasonable one. O'Donnell's body was removed to the Morgue and Coroner Boller was summoned. He will hold an inquest. O'Donnell's relatives live at Norwich, N.Y. He was unmarried and was about 35 years old.
Buffalo Evening News, June 11, 1901
A detail in which every fire company in the city was represented, headed by the chief and assistant chief, yesterday afternoon escorted to the station the body of William P. O'Donnell, who was killed while returning from a fire on Delaware avenue Saturday night. O'Donnell fell under the wheels of the engine he was driving. The body was shipped to his former home in Norwich.
Hon. George W. Sumner
Chenango Union, August 16, 1865
The Hon. George W. Sumner, of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Member of Assembly from the First District of this County, met with his death under peculiarly sad and painful circumstances, on Thursday, the 10th inst. He was on a visit to Hon. William E. Bonham, of Bath, Member of Assembly from Steuben County, with whom as a member of the same Committee of the House, and otherwise, he had been intimately associated for the last two sessions of the Legislature. From Bath, in company with Mr. J.W. Taggart, of the same county, they rode over to Hammondsport on Thursday in a carriage, on a pleasure excursion, and to take a look at the vineyards of the shores of Crooked Lake. At Hammondsport they took a row boat, about 1 P.M., and visited one of the wine-making establishments up the Lake some three miles. On their return, about 5 o'clock the same evening, and when about two-thirds of the way back, and forty or fifty rods from the shore, Mr. Sumner capsized the boat by sportively rocking it, precipitating himself and companions into the water. Mr. Sumner and Mr. Taggart both swam for the shore. Mr. Bonham seized the stern of the boat, himself remaining in the water, and pushed after them. Mr Taggart reached the shore, but in nearly exhausted condition. Mr. Sumner had arrived within a few rods of it, when it was seen that he was struggling, strangling, sinking, as though about to drown. Mr. Bonham who discovered him in that state, called out to Mr. Taggart to go to his relief-- he (Bonham) being the farthest away--and Taggart, exhausted as he was, attempted to do so, but too late to effect his rescue. He had reached within a single rod of him, when Mr. Sumner sank for the last time, and disappeared from sight. The friends then, in conjunction with others, immediately made efforts to recover the body, but were unable to accomplish it that night--The next morning it was found some two rods from the shore, and about the same distance form the spot where it went down. As soon as a messenger could reach Bath thereafter, news of the dreadful occurrence was telegraphed to Mr. Sumner's friends. The remains were carefully coffined, and in charge of Mr. Bonham and others reached this place by the packet from Binghamton Saturday evening. Here they were met by a delegation of citizens from New Berlin, where they were taken the same night. Many of our own people, most of them personal friends of the deceased, followed in procession the remains through our village from the boat. The funeral was held at New Berlin on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a large concourse, including several carriage loads from this place.
Mr. Sumner left here the fore part of the week in company with Judge H.G. Prindle to attend Court at Cortland, where they separated with the understanding that they would meet at Binghamton on Friday night or Saturday morning, and return to Norwich together. They did meet at the time and place appointed, but under very different circumstances from what was expected by either. Mr. Prindle was enquiring at the hotel in Binghamton on Saturday morning to ascertain if Mr. Sumner had arrived, when he was accosted by a stranger, who told him that he had in charge Mr. Sumner's remains. This was the first that Mr. Prindle had heard of the accident. Mr. Sumner was a lawyer by profession, and a gentleman universally esteemed for his amiability and his social disposition. In 1863 he was elected Member of Assembly for this District, and was re-elected in 1861, in which position he gave entire satisfaction to his party. We do not know that he had an enemy in the world, while we do know that he had literally troops of friends. His age was not far from 45, and he leaves a widow and an only child, a boy of 17. His sad, untimely loss will be sincerely mourned wherever he was known.
Hezekiah Pellet
Chenango Union, March 27, 1884
Although not unexpected, the announcement of the death of Hezekiah Pellet, which occurred on Friday morning last, was painfully received by his many friends here and elsewhere. He was a son of the late John Pellet, was born and passed his youth in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], and with the exception of a few years spent in New York and Bridgeport, Conn., had made this his home. Genial, frank and kind-hearted, he was respected by all. Some two years since he barely rallied from a severe attack of pneumonia, since which time he has gradually failed in health, wasting with consumption. His wife died several years since, and he leaves one daughter, Mrs. Lillie Ryan, of New York, to whom the sympathies of many friends go out in her trouble. He was in the fifty-fourth year of his age. Funeral services were held at the residence of this stepmother, Mrs. John Pellet, on East Main street, Monday morning last, Rev. Mr. Fulton, of Oxford, officiating.
Eliza Brennan
Chenango Union, March 27, 1884
Mrs. Eliza Brennan, widow of the late John T. Brennan, died at her residence on Pleasant street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on Thursday evening last, after a long illness, aged sixty-five years. An amiable woman, an exemplary member of Emmanuel Church, a kind neighbor and friend, her death is sadly felt by a large circle of acquaintances; but to her only child and daughter the loss is irreparable. She has the sympathies of all in her affliction. Funeral services were held at her late residence, Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Mr. Fulton, of Oxford.
Luther De G. Adams
Chenango Union, March 27, 1884
Luther De G. Adams, formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], died at Cobleskill, on Friday last, of typhoid pneumonia, aged twenty years. For upwards of two years he was a clerk in M.P. Green's drug store, and was known and esteemed by a large circle of friends, by whom his death is regretted.
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