Obituaries (November 22)

Rev. James Chambers

Utica Saturday Globe, June 1911

 

 

Rev. James Chambers

1851 - 1911

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The death of Rev. James Chambers, D.D., at his residence on South Broad street early Saturday morning last followed an illness of less than a fortnight.  For 10 years Rev. Chambers had been a resident of Norwich, coming here upon his retirement from an active ministry of 21 years.  James Chambers was the son of Maj. Robert and Catherine Lucas Nesbitt Chambers and was born March 1, 1851, in Holbrook, Ontario, Canada.  When he was prepared for college he entered --eeton University and was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1872.  In the same year he entered the theological department and was graduated in 1875, receiving at the same time the degree of Master of Arts from his Alma Mater.  Upon the completion of his theological course he was invited to supply the pulpit of the Congregational Church at Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY].  The church was without a pastor and so favorably were the members impressed that a call was extended to Mr. Chambers to become their minister.  The call was accepted and was the beginning of a pastorate lasting until 1882 when Mr. Chambers accepted a call to the Calvary Presbyterian Chruch of New York, where he remained until 1899, impaired health making it necessary for him to lay down the heavy burdens of the city church.  Rev. Chambers was a man of broad stature, strong convictions and unwavering faith.  He did not shun public conditions or shirk public responsibility.  A sermon delivered from his pulpit aroused the city and stated the campaign against political corruption; and again and again during his long pastorate in New York city he lifted up his voice for social purity and civic consciousness.  He has left many documents which should find their way into print, besides the numerous critical reviews and reform articles which he had time to contribute to various periodicals during his busy pastorate.  Pastors came to him, public duties were thrust upon him.  Three times he was made moderator of the Presbytery of New York, five times a member of the General Assembly.  He was a life member of the American Board, the Missionary Society, the American Tract Society, the American Bible Society.  In 1890 he received the honor5ary degree of doctor of divinity.  After his resignation from Calvary Church and a much needed rest Dr. Chambers came to Norwich in 1901 and became correspondent of the National -?- of Norwich, which position he held at the time of his death.  He was a faithful attendant of the services of the Congregational Church and often occupied the pulpit in the absence of the regular minister.  In so far as health and strength permitted he was always ready for every service and true to every religious duty.  In 1877, Mr Chambers, then pastor of the Congregational Chruch at Sherburne, was married to Miss Jessie Irene Buell, of Sherburne, who survives her husband. Three children were born to them, two of whom, Robert Newton Chambers, of New York, and Mrs. Katharine Chambers Hook, of Marinette, Wis., are living.  Jessie Irene, the youngest child, died in 1894.  Funeral services were held from his late residence on Monday afternoon, Rev. Paul Riley Allen officiating. The remains were taken to Sherburne for interment. [Glen Buell Collection, Guernsey Memorial Library, Norwich, NY]

 

Edgar Pearle Banton

1860 - 1937

Edgar Pearle Banton died at his home in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] Thursday evening.  He was born in Hamilton, N.Y. [Madison Co.], Feb. 22, 1860.  He was married to Lillian Ophelia Frisbee of Delhi, N.Y., April 16, 1889.  They lived in Binghamton until about eight years ago when they moved to their present home.  Mr Banton had been in poor health for six years.  He is survived by his wife and sister, Mrs. W.C. Coe of Norwich, also four nephews, Carl, Lester and Roy of Norwich; Charles of Flushing, L.I., and a niece, Mrs. Marion Tunney, who is living in Cortland.  Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the late home on the Chenango Lake road.  The body will be put in the vault at Sidney, awaiting burial at Walton [Delaware Co., NY] in the spring.

 

Henry Barnes

1877 - 1937

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Funeral services for Henry Barnes, brother of former District Attorney Frank W. Barnes will be held from the Breese Funeral Home here, Monday afternoon, at 2 o'clock.  Burial will be made in Mt. Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY].  Mr. Barnes died last night after a short illness.  He was confined at the Chenango Memorial Hospital.  Had he lived until Saturday he would have been 60 years old.  Born in this city, he had operated a farm for the last 37 years on the Mt. Upton Road.  He was successful in agriculture and was widely known.  One sister survives, Miss Helen Barnes, who resided with her brother; also the following brothers, Warren, Albert and Paris of this city, and Asa of Preston.

 

Bertha Frances Barney

Funeral services for Mrs. Bertha Frances Barney, wife of Frank Barney, who died at her home in the town of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] Saturday morning, aged 51 years, will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Presbyterian church at New Berlin, Rev. Mr. Reed officiating.  interment will be made in New Berlin.  Besides her husband, there survives one son.