Obituaries (May 12)

Maria Merchant

Chenango Union, October 31, 1878

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  Another of our old and respected residents, after a lingering illness, died in the 18th inst., aged 77 years.  Of those who witnessed the early settlement of our vicinity, Mrs. Merchant was among the few who lived to behold its many changes.  The ranks of this class are growing less every year, and the few whom she has left must soon follow her, She survived the loss of her husband nearly fifteen years, and beheld her family grown up and respected.  With characteristic Christian fortitude she bore her long suffering patiently to the end.

 

Died in Guilford, N.Y., Oct. 18, 1878, Mrs. Maria Merchant, widow of the late Niam Merchant, aged 77 years.  the death of this estimable lady deserves more than a passing notice.  Her parents moved from Danbury, Conn., to Guilford in 1800. She was born in 1901, being the first child born in this place.  Her parents occupied the house where the hotel now stands so that her whole life was spent in sight of her birth place.  She was intimately acquainted with all the affairs and events of interest in town, and had lived to see nearly all the friends of her youth passed away.  She with her husband were among the first and earliest supporters of Christ's Church.  In her death the Church has lost a zealous and active worker, society a charitable friend, and her family a devoted Christian mother.  Although an invalid for months, she retained her faculties to the last. The loving care bestowed by her children attested well what she was to them.  Her funeral was attended from her late residence on Sunday last by her many friends and acquaintances, and as she was gently laid to rest all felt to say "that the end of the just is peace."

 

Orrin G. Merchant

Chenango Union, March 11, 1880

A pioneer gone.  To the large number of early and aged citizens of our community who have died within the past few years, we have now to add that of Mr. Orrin G. Merchant, who, after a long illness, died at his residence in our village, on the morning of the 6th  inst., aged seventy-seven years.  Mr. Merchant was one of these who early settled in our midst, coming here from Butternuts, Otsego County in 1828, and in conjunction with his brother, the late N.R. Merchant, contributed through their mechanical labors to add materially to the growth and prosperity of our village.  For several years past Mr. M. has devoted himself, when his health permitted, to the more light branches of farming.  In his death our community have lost not only one of tis oldest citizens, but one respected for his honesty and good example through life.  He was a prominent member of the Episcopal Church.  He leaves a wife and three children.

Joshua Mersereau

Oxford Times, February 25, 1857

Died:  January 20th, 1857, at the residence of his son, James G. Mersereau, in Tioga, Tioga county, Pa., Joshua Mersereau, aged 97 years, 7 months and 12 days.  The deceased was born on the north side of Staten Island, resided a long time at Guilford, Chenango Co., N.Y., and lately near Erwin Center, Steuben Co., N.Y.  His father Joshua, himself and his bother L. (late of Covington, Tioga Co. PA.) were devoted and active Patriots in our Revolutionary struggle.  He has voted at every Presidential election, and gave his first vote to Washington, and his last to Fremont.  He was descended from Huguenot ancestors who were driven from France by the bloody persecutions which ensued on the revocation of the edict of Nante's; and he exhibited in no small degree the virtues justly attributed to the Huguenot character.--Tioga Agitator.

Freeborn Lewis

Norwich Journal, March 6, 1822

Died in this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. in the 28th year of his age, of a lingering disease, Mr. Freeborn Lewis, formally of Rhode Island.  He has left a wife and six children to lament his early death.  Mr. Lewis was an honest and respectable and industrious mechanic a --- husband, an affectionate parent, ---obliging neighbor.  connected by the --- endearing ties to a family dependent in a great measure, on his industry, an aversion to dissolution is what might reasonably have been expected.  Few there are who have attained the age of Mr. Lewis so free from inveterate enemies.  Faithful in the performance of his duties, he has acquired numberless friends; but God, the all-wise disposer of events, has seen fit, ere he passed into the autumn of life, to call him from this world of sorrow and perplexity, we trust to enjoy the felicity of a higher and a better existence.  Peace be to his grave, "the house appointed for all the living" that contains his relics!  May those who are daily called to follow, "be also ready."

John L. Brown

Norwich Journal, April 24, 1822

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on Friday, the 19th inst. after a lingering illness, Mr. John L. Brown, student of medicine, aged 23 years.  During his sickness Mr. B. though exercised with excruciating pain, supported himself with more than ordinary patience and fortitude. The deceased, though he had not been favored with the advantages of a public education, has made good proficiency in several branches of useful and polite literature.  From the rapid progress he had made, and from the vigor with which he prosecuted his studies, he promised to make one of the brightest ornaments of the healing art.  Mr. B. has left an aged mother, with brothers and sisters, to mourn his untimely departure form this life.