Obituaries (November 17)

Austin R. Lewis

Utica Saturday Globe, March 1911

 

 

Austin R. Lewis

1839 - 1911

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Austin R. Lewis, a veteran of 72 years, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. H.H. Cozier, 23-1/2 Front street, early Saturday morning.  Deceased had resided in North Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY] with the family of Ernest Blossom.  When the Blossom home was burned about three weeks ago Mr. Lewis escaped from the house without his shoes and otherwise only partly clothed.  The exposure brought on pneumonia which caused his death.  Mr. Lewis was born in June, 1838, in Andover, Conn.  He became a veteran of the civil war, serving four years in Company H., Sixty-fifth Regiment, New York State Volunteers.  He was wounded at Malvern Hill and Fredericksburg.  At the close of the war he came to Chenango county and had spent most of his life since in this locality.  He is survived by two sons, William and Henry Lewis, of Preston, and by two sisters, Mrs. H.H. Cozier and Mrs. Ervilla Sprague, both residents of Norwich.  Funeral services were held Monday.  Rev. Dr. M.D. Fuller officiated, the G.A.R. services being used at the house and at the grave in the soldiers' plot in Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].

 

Hattie Marsh Babcock

1846 - 1928

Hattie Marsh Babcock passed peacefully away Monday, April 9, 1928, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Horton in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY].  This word came with crushing force to those who were near and dear to her.  For a week past she had not been quite as well, but retained her faculties to the very end.  Mrs. Babcock made her home winters with her daughter, returning to South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] in the Spring.  Her homecoming was always a most pleasant one, as she inspired and cheered every one who came in contact with her, by her wonderful courage and determination.  She rarely complained of her own ailments.  She had the trait of enduring her own sufferings and bearing a smile.  She will, indeed be sadly missed.  Mrs. Babcock united with the Baptist church in 1871 and until recent years, when health failed, was a faithful attendant and trained her children in the way they should go.  She was the oldest of eight children born to Nathan Marsh and Sara Hunt Marsh.  She and two others of the children were born in Ohio, moving to Cassopolis, Mich., when she was five years old.  Her father and oldest brother served in the Civil War.  She, then a girl of nineteen, came East on a visit to her uncles Daniel and Randall Hunt.  She spent four years here and during that time was united in marriage on December 16, 1868 to Charles Bruce Babcock of South New Berlin.  Five children were born to them:  Alva, May, Fred, Vernia and Ethel. Three now survive, Alva Babcock of Norwich, Mrs. Edward Horton of Binghamton, and Fred Babcock of New Berlin.  Mr. Babcock, in partnership with his brother Robert, most successfully conducted the store in South New Berlin for many years.  Mr. Babcock passed away December 19, 1896.  Of the eight children in Mrs. Babcock's family, four still survive:  One sister, Mrs. Elvira Kinney, South Haven, Mich. and three brothers, Mr. Nate marsh of Constantine, Mich., Mr. Norman Marsh of Cassopolis, Mich., and Mr. Will Marsh, of California.  The funeral was held from the home of the daughter in Binghamton Wednesday, April 11 and conducted by Rev. T. Valentine Parker, pastor of the First Baptist church.  Dr. Parker spoke briefly very sympathizing and comforting words.  Then came the journey to South New Berlin where burial was made in Riverside cemetery, Rev. Bisson officiating.  This a good mother has gone from the home circle.  Her encouraging words to "Trust in the Lord, that things will come out all right, are a sweet peace and consolation.  But they sorrow, not even as others who have no hope, for she ahs gone to receive the "Crown of Rejoicing." laid up for the finally faithful.

There's a land beyond the sunset,

Just beyond the gates of gold,

Where our loved ones wait our coming

To the land that ne'er grows old

But the greatest joy before us

In that heavenly meeting place,

In the land beyond the sunset

We'll see our Maker face to face.

 

Linn Horatio Babcock

 

 

Linn Horatio Babcock

1876 - 1937

Linn Horatio Babcock, a life long resident of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], died suddenly Tuesday night at his home on East Main street following a brief illness.  The son of Linn Babcock and Eliza Jane Potter, he was born in Norwich, May 11, 1876.  Educated in the city schools, a star football player during his high school days, he later graduated from the Albany Business College.  For several years thereafter he was engaged in the piano business, beginning his career as a clerk in the store of L.&A. Babcock, a firm established by his father and uncle and located on the site of the present Chenango hotel.  On June 14, 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Marion Olive Whitmore at Christ church, Sherburne, by the Rev Frederick B. Keable, rector of the parish.  Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Marion Babcock, one son, Whitmore Babcock of Sidney; three daughters, Mrs. Harold Tracy of Norwich, Mrs. Roy D. Kelley of Deep River, Connecticut, and Miss Elsie L. Babcock of Norwich; also one grandchild, W. Babcock Lowe of Norwich; and only one other near relative, a niece, Mrs. Frederick T. Weber of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey.  Always a communicant of Emmanuel Episcopal church, he was for many years a member of the choir, and unselfishly gave of his time and talent almost to the day of his death. The same kind of service he rendered to the city of Norwich, always without thought of self, his offices ranging from village trustee and alderman, street commissioner, and chief of police; being elected to the highest executive office within the city in 1917 and served continuously as mayor for ten years until 1927.  It has been said of him that he served the city faithfully and zealously for eighteen years, his many acts of kindness over and above the call of duty establishing him in the memory of young and old and winning for him the reputation of honesty and generosity in public life.  In fraternal organizations, his associations were many.  He was a charter member of the local lodge of Elks, having been chaplain for many years, was a past exalted ruler, and at the time of his death was serving as chaplain.  He was a past president of the Eagles, a member of the Odd Fellows, and Red Men, and belonged to several Masonic bodies, including Norwich lodge 302, Harmony chapter, Norwich Commandery, and Kalurah Temple in Binghamton.  He was in addition, a 32d degree mason.  He was also a member of Alert Hose Company.  Of late years he was associated with the Home Owner's Loan Corporation.  The funeral service will take place in Emmanuel church, Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock, the Rev. Lloyd S. Charters, rector, officiating with interment in the family plot at Mount Hope [Norwich, NY]. At the close of a life marked by the element of genuine simplicity, a few lines may be remembered by loved ones and friends alike as bearing striking tribute to the man known as "Linn."

"Farewell dear voyageur 'twill not be long.

Your work is done; now may peace rest with thee.

Your kindly thoughts and deeds--they will live on.

For this is not death; 'Tis immortality."

 

Dr. Warren Babcock

1874 -1927

Funeral Services for Dr. Warren Babcock, Syracuse [Onondaga Co., NY] dentist who died at his home in that city Saturday night, aged 52 years, will be held in Syracuse Tuesday afternoon and the body brought to South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] for burial Wednesday.  Dr. Babcock who had practiced in Syracuse 17 years, was born in South New Berlin, Jan. 22, 1874, the son of Hobart and Sophia Babcock.  During his early life he resided in several places in the vicinity; including Norwich, Albany, and Edmeston.  He received his degree at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with the class of 1898.  Afterward he took up his practice at Edmeston, where he remained for eight years, moving to Syracuse 17 years ago.  Dr. Babcock was a member of the Dental Society of Philadelphia, and of the Citizens' club in Syracuse.  Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ida Moyer Babcock and a niece, Mrs. E. F. Gibson of this city, Linn H. Babcock and Alva Babcock of this city and Fred Babcock of South New Berlin are cousins of the deceased.