Obituaries (November 4)

William T. Morse

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, January 5, 1901

The venerable William T. Morse, one of the oldest residents of Chenango county, died at his home in the settlement of White Store [Chenango Co., NY] in the town of Norwich, on Christmas day at the advanced age of 83. He had been a resident of the county for more than three-quarters of a century, coming here from the place of his birth, Spencer, Worcester county, Mass., in the fall of 1824, when but six years old.  He was born April 21, 1818. His father, Stephen Morse, brought his family and household goods overland from Massachusetts by way of Albany and Binghamton, The  mother and children were drawn in a carriage by one horse.  A team drew the household goods and the father walked most of the way.  They settled first in Guilford on the farm now owned by Henry White.  Eight or nine years later they moved to White Store, where Mr. Morse had since lived.  About 1840 he purchased the farm which is now occupied by his son and namesake.  Mr. Morse had a remarkable memory and was one of very few residents who could recall the circumstances of the hanging of Dennison which he witnessed March 19, 1833.  He had a large collection of family relics, a description of which with an account of his life appeared in The Globe of March 17, 1900.  Until about a year ago, when his health began to fail, he was hale and hearty and his physical powers were remarkably well preserved, except that he was very deaf.  He prided himself on always having been a Republican and having voted for Harrison in 1840.  For a dozen years or more he was one of the road commissioners of the town of Norwich during the period that there were three of these officials in the town.  Mr. Morse was the last member of his father's family.  Just one year before the day of his death, on Christmas, 1899, his only remaining brother, Edwin, disappeared from his home near Holmesville, and the most diligent search failed to find any trace of him until more than three months afterwards, on April 8, 1900, his remains were discovered beside a fence within 20 rods of his own door, death being due to natural causes.  William Morse was the father of six children, two of whom died in infancy.  Four sons survive, William, with whom deceased made his home; Arvin, who lives on a farm in the town of Butternuts; Alah, a farmer in Holmesville, and Stanford G., of this village.  Burial at White Store, Saturday, December 29th --Utica Globe.

 

Iantha Morse

Chenango Union, December 22, 1887

MORSE:  At White Store (Norwich), Dec. 12th, of pneumonia, Mrs. William T. Morse.  Amid the summer-like days of December, the death knell sounds again.  One week ago, Mrs. William Morse of White Store [Chenango Co., NY], was in usual health.  Wednesday, December 14th, she was buried in Evergreen Cemetery [White Store] after a week of intense suffering from typhoid pneumonia. The large concourse at the funeral was an indication of the esteem in which she was held in the community.  The Rev. Leroy C. Hayes preached the funeral sermon.  One son has just reached California, where the sad tidings of his mother's death will follow him.

 

William Morse

Norwich Sun, October 31, 1908

MORSE:  In Holmesville [Chenango Co., NY], Oct. 26, 1908, William Morse, aged 48 years.

 

Norwich Sun, October 30, 1908

South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY]:  William Morse died at his home on the Radley farm south of this village, Mondays afternoon at about 3 o'clock.  Mr. Morse was born in the town of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] 48 years ago last June and was a son of Mr and Mrs. William Morse.  He is survived by a wife and three brothers and other relatives.  Mr. Morse had always resided in this immediate vicinity and was well known.  HIs death was due to pneumonia after only a brief illness. The funeral was held today at 1 o'clock.

 

Phyllis Bickler

Norwich Sun, October 30, 1908

Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY]:  The third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bickler of Bloomingdale, N.J., died on Monday morning.  She was about ten years of age.  She had been a great sufferer from heart trouble for a number of months.  The child was somewhat acquainted in this place, having spent several summers here with the family.  F.H. Bryan on Monday morning, received a telegram announcing the death of the little one. The many Sherburne friends of Mr and Mrs. Bickler extend sympathy in this their great affliction.

 

Mrs. William Rose

Otsego Journal, November 17, 1898

Mrs. William Rose died at her home three miles below this place on the Guilford road on Friday morning last.  She was 78 years of age and the cause of her death was consumption from which she had suffered for years.  She was a person of quiet tastes and habits, devoted to her family and friends and well deserved the respect and consideration which she had always enjoyed in the community of which she had been a resident for many years. She leaves her husband, William Rose, who is in feeble health to mourn her loss, also a daughter, Mrs. George Roe, with whom she lived, and one son, John Rose, of Pine Grove, all of whom deeply feel the bereavement that has come to them.  One sister, Mrs. Odell, also survives her.  Funeral services occurred at her late residence on Monday forenoon at 11 o'clock, Rev. W.T. Blair, of this place officiating.  Interment in the Godfrey Cemetery near Guilford Center [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Agnes Nicolls

Chenango Union, May 23, 1878

Unadilla Valley [Chenango Co., NY]:  Our Sabbath School, which dates back more than half a century, has been visited by death, for the first time (among the children) in fifteen or twenty years.  Little Agnes Nicolls, one of our most faithful scholars, has been smitten by diphtheria, and laid away in her early grave.  This little girl has for the year past rarely been absent from her place in the school, walking more than a mile each Sabbath.  A lady said to her on her last appearance at the school, two weeks before her death:  "I'm afraid you will get sick, walking so far."  She answered, brightly smiling, "Oh, no, I'm never sick."  A brief, sharp struggle with the dread diphtheria, and she has gone to the land where the inhabitants know no sickness or death.  Three successive Thursdays one has been borne to the grave from the home where she died, and there are still other cases of diphtheria in the family.  Nineteen have died at East Guilford, from this disease.  It is especially fatal among children.