Obituaries (July 27)

Eugene Reynolds

DeRuyter Gleaner, September 1933

Milton Eugene Reynolds, 65, passed away Friday morning, September 8, 1933, after a long illness.  Surviving are his wife, two sons, Clive and Max Reynolds, five grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Harriet Burdick of DeRuyter and Mrs. Arthur Mitchell of Auburn, and several nieces and nephews. the funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the M.E. church at South Otselic.  Rev. Harold Steer officiated, with burial in the family plot at South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Clara Brown

DeRuyter Gleaner, January 26, 1933

Mrs. Clara Brown, 77 years of age, passed away Sunday morning, January 22, 1933, at the home of her son, William with whom she made it her home.  She was the widow of Charles D. Brown, whose death occurred in 1921 and on October 30, 1918 occurred the suicide death of her son, Byron C. then again in 1926 she mourned the loss of another son, Arthur H.  Besides her son, William, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Albert Fisher of Cleveland, Ohio.  Funeral services were held on Tuesday at two o'clock.

 

Harley D. Priest

DeRuyter Gleaner, April 25, 1935

Harley D. Priest, 56, former janitor at the Cortland city hall, died suddenly Sunday afternoon, at his home, 67 Floral Avenue, Cortland [Cortland Co., NY].  He was apparently in his usual health following a late Sunday dinner when he was stricken while lying down.  He died before Dr. C.D. VerNooy reached his side.  Mr. Priest was born in Pharsalia, Chenango County, September 4, 1878, a son of the late Charles and Rose Jones Priest.  He had made his home in Cortland for the past nine years.  he was employed at the Wickwire Brothers plant and was janitor at the city building for a few years.  he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alida M. Harvey Priest; one daughter, Mrs. Harold Balch of Cortland and a brother.  Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at Beard Memorial Home, Rev. R.E. Pierce, pastor of the Homer Avenue Methodist church, officiated. Burial was made in South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Mary E. (Sliter) Kelly

1833 - 1914

Mrs. Mary E. Kelly, mother of Mrs. Wm. Watrous, a lifelong resident of this town, was called to her Heavenly Father Saturday, Feb. 21st, 1914, at 12:30 a.m.  She lived the last years of her life with her daughter and it was there after more than two years of absolute confinement to her bed, that she passed away.  Mrs. Kelly was eighty years old and had always lived in this vicinity and was loved and honored by all who knew her. After prayer at the house the funeral service was held at the Baptist church, Monday, Feb. 23d, at two p.m., the services being conducted by the pastor of the Church, Rev. Carley W. Halsey.  She was then laid at rest in the vault of Green Lawn Cemetery [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].  The deceased is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Wm. Watrous, with whom she made her home, one great-granddaughter, Inez Watrous; three brothers, Joseph Sliter, Wm. Sliter and Smith Sliter, all of the West, and three sisters, Miss Nettie Sliter of Norwich, Mrs. Wilkins of Bainbridge and Mrs. Hodge, of Binghamton.

 

Robert Sliter

Norwich Sun, December 1907

At the residence of his daughter, Mrs E. Ryan, Christmas morning, Robert B. Sliter died, his age being 65 years.  The deceased served three years as 1st Sergeant Co. A, 51st regiment, N.Y. Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War and was a member of the E.B. Smith Post, no. 83, G.A.R.  The post will attend the funeral in a body and a ritual service will be conducted in Mount Hope chapel [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY]. All members of the post are requested to meet at G.A.R. hall at 1 o'clock Saturday, December 28. The funeral services will be held at the residence, 22 Wescott street, Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Samuel Moore officiating.  Interment in Mount Hope cemetery.

 

Funeral services for Robert Sliter, whose death was reported last week, were held from the late home on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Samuel Moore officiating.  The services were largely attended and there was a considerable number of members of E.B. Smith Post, who attended in a body and conducted the services at Mt. Hope chapel, using the beautiful G.A.R. ritual.  Many floral offerings were received from those who knew and esteemed the deceased.  Robert Sliter was born in the town of Bainbridge [Chenango co., NY], Nov. 27, 1842, therefore was 65 years of age at the time of his death.  In the early days of the Civil War he enlisted in the 51st Regt. NY. Vol. infantry and was given the rank of sergeant. In the early days of the war he was wounded and came north on a furlough but as soon as possible he returned to the front, carrying the bullet in his body, and fought on until the war was over.  He carried the bullet in his body to the day of his death, and many years of his life were spent in pain because of that wound and the sacrifice he had made for his country.  On Christmas day, 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Arlina Wheaton of New Berlin.  Three children were born of this union, one dying in infancy and two daughters surviving, Mrs. William Ryan and Mrs. Edward Ryan. At the home of the later the father spent his last days, ministered unto and comforted by the kindly care of those who knew and loved him best.  Mr. Sliter was one of a family of eleven children, four sisters and three brothers of whom survive.  His death occurred on Christmas morning, the 38th anniversary of his marriage. Some years ago, Mr. Sliter united with the Congregational church but of late, owing to his increasing infirmities, he has bene able to attend church but seldom.

Charles Hodge

Afton Enterprise, September 6, 1894

A sad drowning accident occurred at Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] Friday afternoon in which Chas. Hodge, of that village, lost his life, and B. VanNostrand, of Oneonta, came very near meeting the same fate.  The two men were fishing about two miles below Bainbridge in the Susquehanna, when Mr. Hodge, attempting to pull in the anchor, fell over backwards into the water, capsizing the boat. The boat floated out of the reach of the men and VanNostrand seized Hodge and tried to swim to shore.  Their strength gave out, however, and both tried to get to the shore separately.  Hodge insisted he could swim but both went down twice.  VanNostrand reached the shore, when his strength gave out.  Hodge went down and drowned within 12 feet of the shore and in 12 feet of water.  VanNostrand was so exhausted in trying to save Hodge that he barely escaped drowning.  Van Nostrand went to the village and gave the alarm, when rescuers went to the scene.  The body was in the water one hour and thirty minutes.  Chas. Hodge was a young man 32 years old and leaves a wife.  He was a son of Homer Hodge of that village.