Obituaries (October 18)

Frank Lyman Jackson

February 15, 1870 - October 7, 1907

Frank Lyman Jackson was born in Windsor, Ill., on the 15th day of February, 1870, and departed this life on Oct. 7, 1907, aged 37 years, 7 months and 20 days.  His early life was spent in Illinois where he attended school and was a bright and promising scholar.  In 1882 he removed with his parents to Oneida, N.Y., where the family remained two years, later returning to Illinois and living in Edinburg for awhile; afterward removing to Southern Kansas where the family resided in Anthony and Hugoton until after the death of the mother in 1887.  Returning to Oneida in the winter of 1889-90 he had since resided in this State, making his home in Greene [Chenango Co., NY], where he served his time as an apprentice for a machinist.  Nearly all that time he had worked for the Lyon Iron Works until the past four months he had been employed in Norwich by the A.B. Ireland Iron Works.  He was married to Bessie L. Ingraham of Chenango Forks on Feb. 16, 1893, and to the happy union were born two children, Lora Eliza, on June 23, 1897, and Percy John, on May 28, 1904, both of whom are living.  He enrolled his name on the records of the M.E. church in Greene some years ago and lived honestly in that faith.  His life was one of self sacrifice and devotion to family and friends, and his warm heart and impulsive desire to help those in need won him hosts of friends wherever his lot was cast.  His faults and imperfections incident to all humanity were more than outweighed by acts of loving kindness and charity, and his untimely end is deeply mourned by the family and friends.  Beside the wife and two little ones he is survived by one brother, R. Percy Jackson of Danville, Ind., and one half sister, Alma Hazel Jackson of Oneida. The remains were taken to Greene for burial.

George C. Roberts

February 2, 1834 - July 1907

George C. Roberts, junior member of the firm of Denison & Roberts publishers of the Chenango American, died at his apartments in Greene Friday morning last. Deceased had been in failing health for the past year, and on the preceding Wednesday morning on being spoken to replied that he felt as well as usual, but would sleep awhile longer before arising.  An hour or so later he was found in an unconscious state from which he never rallied.  Mr. Roberts was born in Troy, N.Y., February 2, 1834, and at the age of six years removed to Greene with his parents, his father, Dr. George W Roberts, being the first homeopathy physician to locate in Chenango county.  His education was obtained at common schools of that day and at Oxford Academy. While a boy in his teens he went with a party of gold seekers to California, where he remained for six years.  During his residence there he witnessed many strange and wild scenes that were common to California in those days among the rough and lawless men from every clime, which he interestingly told from time to time in the columns of the American. Returning to Greene he learned the printer's trade in the American office, then conducted by Fisher & ---ison.  During the Civil war he enlisted in the Navy and severed several months on the U.S. Steamer Maumee.  Again returning to Greene he purchased a half-interest in the American and since then has been, ---  Mr. J.D. Denison, closely identified with the publication of that newspaper.  Mr. Roberts was a terse local ---, and intensely loyal to Greene and her institutions.  In politics he was a staunch Republican, seeking no local office but had held several other town offices and positions in the fire department.  He had a large group of friends outside his town.  Mr. Roberts was married in December, 1864, to Helen J Gray of Greene, who died some three years ago, and is survived by two sons, George B. and Wilkie C. Roberts of Greene, and one daughter, Mrs. Charles B. Cooley of Chicago. There also survive him two sisters, Mrs. Dora C Read of Greene and Mrs. Anna Stevens of New York city, who is a physician, and one brother, Dr. Frank Roberts of Connecticut. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in Zion church, of which deceased was a member, and were largely attended, several representatives of the newspapers in the county being present.  

Norwich Sun, July 22, 1907

Greene [Chenango Co., NY]:  The funeral of the late George C. Roberts was held Sunday afternoon at half-past two from Zion church, Rev. P.T. Olton officiating.  Burial was made in Sylvan Lawn cemetery [Greene, NY].  Mr. Roberts' health had been gradually failing for months and the end came Friday morning.  He was 73 years of age.  He is survived by two sons, Wilkie C. Roberts of Greene, and George B. Roberts of Chenango Forks; one daughter, Mrs. Charles B. Cooley of Oak Park, Ill.; a brother, Frank, of Connecticut, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Stevens of New York and Mrs. D.C. Read of Greene.  Mr. Roberts was born in Troy, February 2, 1834.  His father came to Greene when he was but six years of age, and in this village he received his primary education.  He then took an advanced course in Oxford academy, and upon leaving school went to California, where he remained for six years. Returning to Greene in 1857, he began to work in the office of Chenango American and a few years later he purchased a half-interest in the same, which business has interested him ever since.  On Dec. 12, 1864, he was united in marriage with Helen J. Gray, and they were the parents of three children--George B., Wilkie, C. and Mabel L. Cooley.  In politics, Mr. Roberts was an uncompromising Republican and held to the principles of his party with the steadfastness that characterized all the other actions of his life.  He was decided in his opinions and fearless in the maintenance of them.  Mr. Roberts enlisted in the navy during the Civil War and served several months on the united States steamer Maumee, and on his discharge received papers from Captain Parker, marked "Conduct most exemplary."  The local department of the Chenango American of which Mr. Roberts has had full charge, has been filled with locals, crisp, fresh and entertaining and his "Man About Town" was one of his best writings. Although on several occasions he has been asked to take political honors, he refused all.  he has been first assistant engineer of the Greene fire department, village trustee and has filled other offices in the village.  Mr. Roberts in all his walks of life was honorable and his newspaper work will be missed in this section.

Marshall F. Porter

Norwich Sun, August 15, 1907

Greene [Chenango Co., NY]:  Marshall F. Porter of Greene, one of the most prominent attorneys of Chenango county, passed away at 8:30 o'clock this morning at his home here.  Heart failure is said to be the cause of death.  He was 59 years of age.  Mr. Porter had been in the yard this morning and then came into the house and sat down to read the morning paper.  He had been reading only a few minutes when his daughter heard the paper fall and her father's head fell to one side.  He expired almost instantly.  He had been troubled with his heart for some time and that trouble is thought to have caused his sudden demise.  Mr. Porter was born in the town of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] but in his younger manhood went to Greene and studied law in the office of Edgar Arnold and after being admitted to the bar, settled in Greene where he has since resided.  He was prominent in local affairs and at the time of his death was the president of the village.  He was a vestryman in Zion church and a member of Genegantslet tribe, I.O.R.M.  He leaves a wife and daughter, Mrs. George Burdick of Greene, and a granddaughter to mourn his untimely taking away.

Ben Sherwood

August 1907

Ben Sherwood, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY] up to --- years ago a resident of Bainbridge, fell from a third story window Wednesday night at a hotel in Carbondale, Pa., and received a fracture of the skull.  he died Sunday morning without gaining consciousness. Ben Sherwood had been in Carbondale for the past few months working in a harness shop and roomed at the hotel with a companion.  Wednesday night they went to their room which was on the third floor and prepared for bed. The room had dormitory windows and the sill being up from the floor only about six inches. When his roommate retired, Sherwood was sitting in the window to get the benefit of the breezes. This was his custom warm nights.  3 o'clock the next morning he was found in his night clothes on the pavement below unconscious and his skull fractured, and was taken to the Emergency Hospital.  He did not respond to treatment and Sunday morning an operation was performed and several clots of blood removed.  He died one hour after completion of the operation.

Maurice Birdsall

June 15, 1815 - March 2, 1907

Maurice Birdsall, aged ninety-two years, died in his home in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] Saturday afternoon, March 2, at five o'clock.  Mr. Birdsall was born in Hillside, N.Y., June 15, 1815, and resided in Greene until 1882, since which time he has reside din Binghamton.  He was a member of Otseningo Lodge, no. 435, F.&A.M., Malta Commandery and Christ Episcopal Church.  He is survived by two sons, Henry Birdsall, of Binghamton, and Richard Birdsall, of Chicago. The funeral was held from Christ church Tuesday afternoon at 2:15 o'clock, and the burial was held here that afternoon on the arrival of the four o'clock train and was conducted by Wor., Bor, Longley, of Otseningo Lodge. Delegations from Otseningo Lodge and Malta Commandery accompanied the remains, which were met at the station by Eastern light lodge, No. 126, F.&A.M., of which Mr. Birdsall had been a member, and the last rites over their departed brother were held in the old cemetery.  Mr. Birdsall, in his active business life in Greene, was energetic and successful.  For many years he was in the mercantile trade, and his firm was the leader in the dry goods trade.  he also speculated in butter and bought largely of this and other farm products. At one time he with Lewis S. Hayes, did quite a banking business here in the rooms now occupied by Dr. J.E. Bartoo, for about three years.  Mr. Birdsall was one of our leading business men who was ever active in promulgating plans for the benefit of Greene. As a citizen he was always a pleasure to meet his stately form upon our streets.