Obituaries (June 4)

Clarissa Brown

Chenango Union, June 19, 1884

In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], April 16th, 1884, of pneumonia and heart disease, Mrs. Clarissa Brown, wife of Luther Brown, left her mortal body, at the age of sixty-three years.  Something more than a passing notice is due to one whose life-long history as daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, were so full of excellence that any poor words of praise that I may offer will seem cheap to those whose privilege it was to know her intimately as I did, for a period of over forty years.  It is seldom we find in human character the opposite qualities of firmness and ambition, united with amiability and unselfishness, yet these traits were beautifully combined in her nature, making her one of the best of women. She was loved by all for her uniform kindness of disposition and her unfailing devotion to every duty.  Over twenty years ago, when diphtheria was making it s first dreadful ravages in the neighborhood, she was one of the bravest to stand by the bedside of the sick and dying, until her own precious child caught the contagion, and lived but a few days.  No mother ever loved their children better than she, yet her fortitude and unselfishness were exhibited in this, her hour of trial; she laid her treasure in the dust, and resumed without a murmur her daily duties, moving on cheerfully to the end.  She never made any profession of religion or goodness, yet in all her relations to the world she exhibited continually and at all times the noblest attributes that are usually ascribed to the best Christian character.  

Clara, as she was familiarly called, had the rare domestic qualities for making home attractive.  No hired man or woman ever felt themselves a menial in her house. They were ever treated with consideration and kindness, which fact made it easy for Mr. brown to always have the best help about his farming affairs; and it is but just to say that Mr. Brown's success as a farmer is largely due to the patience, kindness, industry and economy of his wife, and whose devotion as a wife was rarely equaled.  Mrs. Brown was the mother of four children.  One died in infancy, a second at the age of eleven years;  two daughters and one granddaughter are still living, Mrs. Elizabeth Eldridge, of Pitcher, being the eldest child, and Mrs. Antoinette Warner, of Cincinnatus, the youngest.  It was the sweet privilege of these daughters, as well as the kind husband and grandchild, to minister to the wants of one of the dearest of wives and mothers during her last and almost only illness.  These four, together with an aged sister, who was a member of Mr. B's family at home, are left to mourn the loss of one for whom they can never find a substitute.   M.P.

Dewitt C. Bissell

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, May 23, 1894

Dewitt C. Bissell died at the home of his mother, Mrs. Fitch Bissell, in Woods Corners [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Saturday evening.  He was forty-seven years of age.  Mr. Bissell had been a sufferer from heart trouble for a number of years.  A short time since he experienced a shock which resulted in his death.  He leaves, besides his mother, a wife and three children, Mrs. Charles E. Porter and Misses May and Theresa Bissell.  He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Jackson Bissell, of North Norwich and Mrs. Charles H. Brooks, of Norwich. The funeral was held Tuesday, from his late home and the body taken to the cemetery at North Norwich, for burial.

Sarah Warner Burlingame

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, January 16, 1897

After four score and one years, the golden bowl of a beautiful life of self sacrifice is broken and the gentle heart of mother, grandmother and sister is at rest.  After an illness of six days, at her home in Springvale, Jan. 4th, 1897, she, subject of this notice, yielded to the Supreme Conqueror and peacefully passed away.  Mrs. Burlingame was born in Cambridge, Washington county, N.Y., Nov. 26, 1815.  She was the eldest daughter of the late Philip and Lovina Warner. She came with her parents to this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] in 1825.  Her parents located about three miles east of this village on the quarter rod.  With the exception of the five years she lived in South New Berlin, she has always resided in the neighborhood where she died.  In 1831 she was married to the late Reuben Burlingame, who died 15 years ago.  Their union was blessed with nine children, eight of whom, two sons and six daughters, survive her, who were all with her to minister unto her during her last sickness.  At the age of fourteen, she gave her heart to Christ and united with a Methodist class, which was organized in that place, and was baptized in the brook a short distance from her late home.  Her distance from church and with a family of children to care for, made it impossible for her to attend the village church as often as she desired.  She loved the prayer meeting, and although of modest and retiring nature, her voice was always heard in testimony in cottage prayer meeting, and for nearly seventy years she was a gentle, earnest, consistent Christian.  Fourteen years ago she met with an accident which crippled her and deprived her of the full use of her limbs, since that time she has suffered from the injury almost constantly, yet she was always cheerful and happy and no one ever heard a murmur from her lips.  As the years went by she became more gentle, pure and sweet, and those that knew and loved her best felt that she was ripening for Heaven.  Of her it could truly be said, none knew her, but to love, none named her but to praise.  Her last birthday was celebrated Nov. 26, 1896, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harris Lewis of this village. She was the queen of the occasion, and the center of attraction, and all who looked on that calm, happy (and we thought it almost angelic) face can never forget it.  She was wonderfully preserved and her fingers were always busy with any kind of needle work, and at the time of her death, she had just completed some pieces of fancy work that would have done credit to one of much younger years.  Her mind was active and clear to the last, and she talked of things she desired to have done after she was gone. some of her last were "It will be a glorious meeting over there.  I am safe in the arms of Jesus.  I am not afraid, O, how good the Lord is."  But mother is gone, and now that she has passed away, she leaves a memory fragrant with good offices, loved, honored and respected by all, a priceless legacy to her children and to her children's children.

Mary Hynes Lally

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, January 7, 1903

The following obituary on the death of Mrs. Mary Hynes Lally of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], mother of ex-Sheriff E.A. Lally and Mrs. W.F. Lennon of this village, who died on Monday of last week, is taken from the Oxford Press of Tuesday. 

Mrs. Lally was born in Talbert, County Roscommon, Ireland, December 25, 1833, and having obtained an exceptionally good education in the parish schools of her native township, came to this country and was married to William Lally in 1854.   Mr. Lally died November 7, 1878, aged forty-eight.  He was a farmer and resided in this town near Guilford.  They were the first couple married in St. Joseph's church, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Callahan, who then resided in Oxford, in the house, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Callahan on Greene street.  They had eight children, two boys and six girls, two of whom are dead.  Mrs. Agnes Smith and Mrs. Anna Jones.  She is survived by ex-Sheriff E.A. Lally and Mrs. W.T. Lennon, Norwich, Mrs. Charles Byron Grant and Mrs. Joseph E. Albert, Guilford, Mrs. J.W. Martin, Parksville, N.Y. and William H. Lally of Oxford.  Mrs. Lally is also survived by her sister, Delia, wife of the late Professor DeLima, Brooklyn.  Mrs. Lally was a devout member of St. Joseph's church and always took a deep interest in its spiritual and temporal welfare.  Only serious indisposition kept her form mass on Sunday or Holy day, because she always strove by her good example to lead others to God.  Her faith and piety were known to all and the esteem to which she was held was shown by her large funeral and the number of friends who followed her to her last resting place in St. Joseph's cemetery, where she lies beside the remains of her husband, children and mother.  the funeral services were simple but impressive, and were conducted by Rev. Father Mahon, who spoke of the great influence of a mother's love and devotion to her children.  He also gave a brief history of Catholicity in Oxford fifty years ago. The singing of Miss May Cox of Norwich was very impressive and her rendition of "Heaven is My Home" was most solemn and pathetic.