Obituaries (August 20)

William Barriger

Utica Saturday Globe, October 1915

 

William Barriger

 1818 - 1915

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  William Barriger, an aged resident of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], passed away at the home of his son, B.F. Barriger, in Binghamton at the age of 97.  Mr. Barriger was born in Canada [in 1818].  In 1850 he married Emeline Bickford who survives him.  For 26 years they were residents of Norwich, removing to Binghamton four years ago.  Besides his widow, he is survived by four sons, B.F. Barriger, of Binghamton; Norman Barriger, of Madison; James Barriger, of Rochester, and Ezra Barriger, of Norwich, and by three daughters, Mrs. A.H. Eccleston, of Binghamton; Mrs. H.D. DeWitt, of Rochester, and Mrs. M.N. Phetteplace, of Norwich.  He leaves 24 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Burial was made in the Chenango Valley Cemetery at Binghamton.

Dr. B.F. Smith

Chenango Union, February 28, 1895

Between five and six hundred people attended the funeral of Dr. B. F. Smith on Sunday, February 24, or attempted to be present, as large numbers turned away from the crowded house, unable to effect an entrance.  Amid the dense crowd, the empty pew draped in black, where he had been accustomed to sit, spoke eloquently of the loss the church had sustained, while the falling tear and the heaving sigh told that all had lost a friend.  The A.O.U. W. attended the services in a body, and six or eight physicians sat as mourners for one who was "one of the best physicians in the county."  Flowers, the gift of loving friends, adorned the casket and the altar.  The pastor, Rev. W.H. Blair, said that the best encomium he could give him was, "He was the poor man's doctor."  Such never sent for him in vain. Rev. Bishop Carruth, of Afton, a former pastor added some feeling remarks to Rev. Mr. Blair's excellent address, and after mournful and appropriate music the hundreds within and outside the house took a last look of the honored dead. Friends from all the villages around mingled with the throng.  He sleeps in Evergreen cemetery, White Store [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], which he has assisted in enlarging and beautifying.

Caroline M. Smith

Otsego Journal, January 11, 1900

Caroline M., wife of Joseph H. Smith, died at the home of her son, Edward Smith, opposite Lathams Corners in Butternuts, on the evening of Monday, January 8th.  The whole of her married life, a period of fifty-six years, was spent upon the farm where her death occurred.  Mr. Smith having inherited it from his father who was one of the pioneers of this section of country.  Mrs. Smith was born in Ballston, May 28, 1817, and was consequently nearly 83 years of age.  She was a woman who in the active period of her life possessed the esteem of a large circle of friends, all of whom without exception she and her aged husband have survived.  She died of no specific disease, but simply from the breaking down of the worn out machinery of life.  Her husband, who has reached the advanced age of 85  years, survives her, and one son, Edward Smith.  Another son, older, was drowned many years ago near the Lathams Corners bridge. The funeral will occur on Wednesday, from the house at 1 o'clock.

Minnie Coyle

Otsego Journal, January 11, 1900

Minnie Coyle died this Tuesday forenoon. She was one of the poor, innocent unfortunates, who was born into the world with a weak mind and a frail, weak body.  Although she was nineteen years old, she was yet like a child, never could stand on her feet or talk, and the woman who helped lay her out says she does not think the corpse would weigh over twenty pounds.  Her mother, Mrs. Coyle, has tenderly and lovingly cared for her nineteen years; watched over her night and day, and is entitled to great credit.

Joseph C. Satterlee

DeRuyter Gleaner, July 24, 1958

The funeral of Joseph G. Satterlee of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY] was conducted at the Davis Funeral Home last week.  Mr. Satterlee died from a stroke of short duration. Interment made at Valley View [South Otselic, Chenango Co., NY] with the Reverend Richard Meeker of New Berlin officiating.  Mr. Satterlee married Miss Roby Brown of Otselic. They are well known and respected here, having many friends and relatives in this community.  he was 64 having been born June 14, 1894 and passed away July 14, 1958.  Our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

Edith M. Smith

Otsego Journal, May 14, 1890

On Wednesday morning last at 6 o'clock, Edith, the youngest daughter of Edward and Mary Smith, faded from earth as softly as the shadows stole away from the radiance of the newborn day.  Whose breaking saw her pure spirit wafted to a world where there is no night and shadows never come.

For many weary weeks her life had been going out gradually but with a certainty that nothing earthly could prevent. At the early age of sixteen the beautiful life is ended; but who is there who has heard the story of her patience and resignation through all those weeks of suffering, of her thoughtfulness and care of others, and of the simply, holy trust with which she approached the dark river, that would not gladly resign his life into the hands of the God that gave it, knowing it to be as pure and unsullied and free from blemish as the one she laid down so cheerfully.  It is not a matter of wonder that one who had borne the storms and sorrows of many years should contemplate the approach of death with calmness; but for one so young with the pathway of life smiling with hope and scattered with roses, with loving friends and a happy home, to endear her to life, to resign them all without a murmur or one vain regret, reveals a spirituality as rare as it is sublime and beautiful.  It would be difficult to convey an adequate idea of the gentle, unselfish heroism and devotion that characterized her whole sickness and, it might be said as truly, her whole life.  With a mind unclouded to the last she arranged everything as she wished it at her funeral, even to the minutest detail.  It was her wish that her death should not be the occasion of mourning and sorrow to her family, assuring them that she should be happy, she wanted them to be happy too, and not give way to grief over an event that meant only peace and happiness to her.  Her conscientious regard for the truth was attested in her request to her pastor, Rev. Mr. Sabin, that in preaching her funeral sermon he should not represent her as being better than she was. The loss of such a one is a terrible blow to any home, and the bereaved family have the heartfelt sympathy of all who have heard of their great affliction.

The funeral occurred on Friday from the Union church, according to her wish, which, as in everything else was faithfully carried out. A wilderness of bloom and floral emblems surrounded the casket, contributed by sorrowing and sympathizing friends. At the close of the service hundreds passed by to gaze upon the peaceful glorified face of the dead and then she was borne  away to her last resting place in Evergreen Cemetery, White Store [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], where in the bright sunshine of the beautiful April day she was gently laid to rest.

"And the sunbeams fell,

And kissed her grave as though they loved it well,

She was fair,

We used to frolic I her sun bright hair;

but she grew tired and she fell asleep.

Let her lie here the while a watch we keep.

 

And the West Wind said:

"Why watch you here?  She is what men call dead."

"Nay," said the grasses, "she but fell asleep.

They put her here that we a guard might keep."

"Hush," said the sunbeams, "let her lie and rest."

With her fair white hands across her pulseless breast.

She was so very tired, it is best."