Obituaries (June 19)

Abigail P. (Fisher) Peck

Utica Saturday Globe, April 1914

 

 

Abigail P. (Fisher) Peck

1828 - 1914

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Abigail P. Peck died at the home of her son, William C. Coe, on East Main street last week, aged 85.  Deceased was the daughter of Nathan and Abigail Fisher and was born in Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] September 19, 1828.  After her marriage to her first husband, William Coe, she made her home in Hamilton, and at is death married Philip Weeden, with whom she resided in Madison county until his death.  On June 10, 1887, the deceased married Rev. B.D. Peck, pastor of the former Free Will Baptist Church of Norwich, who later became a Congregational preacher.  Since her marriage to Dr. Peck, she had made her home in Norwich and at his death went to live with her son, by whom she is survived, and also one sister, Mrs. Rhoda Upham, of Hamilton.  Funeral services were held from the home of her son on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock.  Rev. Paul Riley Allen officiating. The remains were taken to Hamilton [Madison Co., NY] for interment.

 

William Wallace Ray

Chenango Union, July 15, 1899

A telephone message received by J. Johnson Ray, shortly before noon, on Tuesday, announced the death of his uncle, William Wallace Ray, by his own hand.  Mr. Ray had been ill for several days, having been nearly prostrated by the excessive heat of last week.  Nothing serious, however, had been apprehended, as he was able to be out most of the time.  His wife was in South Otselic, having called there by the illness of their only son, Truman, who was suffering from an attack of inflammatory rheumatism.  Mr. Ray during the wife's absence had been boarding at the hotel Maxwell.  Monday night he staid in his room, with Lewis H. Watkins as company.  Tuesday morning he went to Rowlands & Beal's store for a few moments, returning soon to his room to "lay down" as he said.  L.H. Watkins and W.W. Luckhurst were with him.  Leaving them for a moment to go into another room the deed was committed.  He had been connected with the undertaking establishment of the firm now bearing the name of Rowlands  & Beal for 26 years and was a man widely known through the eastern part of the county.  He was genial, kind and courteous.  Coroner Burhyte, of North Brookfield arrived at noon, and after examining those who had the care of Mr. Ray, decided that no inquest was necessary.  William Wallace Ray was the youngest son of Col. and Mrs. Asher Ray, and was born in this county in 1849.  He was one of eight brothers and sisters and is the first to depart this life.  The remaining brothers and sisters are:  Rev. Charles W. Ray, of Philadelphia; Hon. George W. Ray of Norwich; Rev. J.L. Ray of Brooklyn; Mrs. A. Blackman of Eaton; Mrs. E.F. Calkings of Randallsville; Mrs. DeWitt Fredenburg of Beaver Meadow and Mrs. Brown of Winsor.  He leaves a widow and one son, Truman, aged 21.

 

William H. Blakeley

Bainbridge Republican, August 1, 1878

Died:  At his residence near Effingham, on Friday morning, July 5, 1878, Hon. William H. Blakeley, aged seventy years.  Mr. Blakeley was born in Columbia county, N.Y., October 16, 1808.  His parents were from New England and when he was four years of age they removed to Otsego county in the same State where they spent the remainder of their days, and where Mr. B. grew to manhood.  In 1834 he came west, crossing the Alleghenies and journeying the entire distance on horseback.  Effingham county had just been organized  There were but few settlements along the line of the National Government.  Young Blakeley was persuaded to stop and try his fortunes.  He entered into business at Ewington just established as the county seat, and for forty-four years was an active, upright, and honored citizen of the county.  For many years he was a merchant, but in later years he was most generally known as a large, thrifty, and successful farmer.  In 1839 Mr. Blakeley was appointed clerk of the circuit court by the late judge Sidney Breese.  He held that office until 1847, and those who have had occasion to examine the records of the court, will attest the care and faithfulness with which he discharged the duties of the office. The records kept by him are models of neatness, plainness and accuracy.  In 1847, he was a member of the Constitutional Convention from the district composed of the counties of Effingham and Clay.  In 1852, he represented the district composed of the counties of Cumberland, Effingham and Clay in the General Assembly.  There was much important legislation by that body.  The adaptation of the laws to the excellent constitution of 1848, which he had assisted in framing, an amendment of the Charter of the Illinois Central Railroad required a large amount of careful labor and good judgement. The result of that session had a great influence on the future prosperity of the State, and no one took a deeper interest or brought to bear more earnest labor in that legislation than did William H. Blakeley.  In 1872, after twenty years of private life. Mr. Blakeley was again elected to the legislature by the counties of Shelby, Cumberland and Effingham.  Although one of the oldest members, he was one of the most industrious.  His seat was never vacant; and whether in the committee or on the floor, his constituents always had a watchful, earnest representative.  Mr. Blakeley was a kind neighbor, a high-toned and courteous gentleman. The esteem in which he was held was manifested in the constant attendance of his neighbors during his long sickness and the long procession of friends who followed his remains to their last resting place. Good judgement, thrift, economy, and genuine good sense were distinguishing traits of his character. 

"The elements

So mixed in him that nature might stand up

And say to all the world, 'This was a man'"

[The subject of the above sketch was a son of Hon. John Blakeley and a brother of the Hon. Ebenezer Blakeley of Otego, and will be remembered by many in this valley.  It was taken from the Effingham Republican--Ed]

Orrin L. Anderson

[Source unknown]

1855 - 1940

Orrin L. Anderson died suddenly of a shock at the home of his son Daniel E Anderson, on the South New Berlin-Norwich road [Chenango Co., NY].  Monday evening, Nov. 25, 1940.  Mr. Anderson suffered a shock a year and a half ago from which he never fully recovered.  Had he lived until Friday, Nov. 29, he would have been 85 years old.  Born in Pitcher, N.Y. [Chenango Co.], Nov. 29, 1855, his early life was spent in Smithville Centre, but he had been a resident of this community for the past sixty years.  he was the oldest of a family of five, all of whom have proceeded him in death.  They were Mrs. Hannah Wells and Mrs. Lillian Mathewson of Norwich, Mrs. Vener Aldrich of Sherburne and Laverne Pratt of Erie, Pa.  He was a member of the Smithville Centre M.E. Church and was one of 32 young people who formed a club known as the Smithville Literary Society in the year of 1872.  Only one original member of this club, Mrs. Emma Graves, survives him. On December 25, 1879, he married Miss Alice C. Skinner who died May 27, 1935.  Two children were born to them, a son, Daniel E. Anderson and a daughter, Eunice Anderson Pudney who was the wife of Charles Pudney, and who died April 2, 1926.  Surviving are his son, Daniel E. Anderson and four grandchildren, Laverne of South New Berlin, Olive of Northampton, Mass., Richard and Donald, also several nephews and nieces.  The funeral was held at the Breese Funeral Home, Thursday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m., Rev. C.H. Skinner of South New Berlin officiating, with burial in Mt. Hope cemetery.  Norwich.  The bearers were Roy Wells, Oscar Mathewson, Levi Skinner and Linn Skinner of Norwich, and Robert Steere and Harold Cowles of Smithville Centre.

Death Notices

Chenango Union, April 15, 1875

FRINK:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], April 8, Col. Benadam Frink, aged 84 years.

SHERWOOD:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], April 9, Mr. William Sherwood, aged 82 years.

STURGES:  In So. Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], march 31, Julia [Sturges] wife of Austin Sturges, aged 29 years.

HOYT:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], March 30, Mr. Henry Hoyt, aged 53 years, 5 months.

JONES:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], April 6, Murbie M. Jones, aged 1 year, 7 months, 13 days.

WILLOUGHBY:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], April 9, Bertha [Willoughby], Daughter of J.H. and Louisa Willoughby, aged 3 years.

DYE:  at the county home in Preston [Chenango Co., NY], April 6, Mr. Hazard Dye, aged 66.

BENEDICT:  At the county home [Preston, Chenango Co., NY], April 9, Mr. Uri Benedict, aged 81 years.

BUELL:  In Union City, Mich., March 28, Mr. Darius Buell formerly of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], aged 66 years.

PURDY:  In Oneida [Madison Co., NY], April 5 , Dr. Albert Purdy, born Jan. 31, 1809 in Sherburne-4-corners. At the age of 16 went to Smyrna and entered the office of Dr. Mead, as a medical student, aged 66 years.