Democratic Union, Oneida, NY, May 30, 1872
Funeral (Conrad Betz, Fanny Betz, Genie Tousley)
West Eaton [Madison Co. NY]: The funeral services of the three unfortunate victims of the Alderbrook casualty were held at the M.E. Church in this place on Wednesday afternoon last and was an occasion the memory of which will never pass from the minds of those present, not only because of its deep solemnity and the manifestations of sympathy for the bereaved relatives and friends, but from the peculiarly distressing circumstances of the accident, the causes of which must, of a necessity, forever remain a mystery.
Long before the hour appointed for the services, large numbers of people were congregated in and around the church, and hopes were entertained that the services would be held in the open air that all might have an opportunity of listening to the services, as it was very evident that not over one-fourth of the people present could be accommodated in the church. But the objection to speaking in the open air and as no preparations had been made, the change was not effected. The number of people present was variously estimated at from fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred, the latter number being, in our estimation nearest the actual number, the number of teams arriving from the east alone numbering three hundred and twenty-three.
The services at the church were conducted by the Rev. B.W. Hamilton of Canastota, assisted by Revs. F.J. Whitney, Judson Davis and O. Tayntor. The sermon by Eld. Hamilton, from the text "All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me," (ps. XLII, 7) was necessarily short, but exceedingly appropriate and eminently worthy of its author. At the conclusion of the sermon, Rev. Judson Davis addressed the audience in a very affecting and appropriate manner, at the close of which, Lodge 658, F.&A.M. of Morrisville, assumed charge of the services, which were conducted in the usual manner by Geo. F. Burn, H.P. of Cyrus Chapter, R.A.M., No. 50, of Hamilton, of which the deceased, Mr. Betz was an honored member.
That all present might have an opportuning of looking upon the remains, the bodies were brought out into the open air, and under the admirable management of G.B. Mowry and W.E. Enos, the large crowd of people, without confusion or crowding, passed slowly around, all seeming to feel deeply the solemnity of the hour, while the tear-bedimmed eyes attested their sorrow and their sympathy for the bereaved families. Owing to the lateness of the hour and the immediate prospect of rain, the services at the graves were shortened and somewhat hurried.
The following short essay was written by Miss Tousley and read in school, at Hamilton, the day before her death:
Life's Voyage
Our life is one long voyage. At our entrance into the world, we were placed upon a deep, dark sea, surrounded on every side by dangers, and all are hastening towards one goal. The waters o'er which our frail barks must pass are at times smooth and bright; but how often does the storm gather and suddenly break upon us, veiling our vision with the dark clouds of trials and sorrow? Our barks are light, and the current into which we are thrown is strong. Many, heedless of the danger to which they are hastening, are idly drifting with the tide, grasping at every trifle while they are being steadily but surely borne onward to their ruin. Their crafts are too fragile to battle the rough waters and their cry for help will come all too late. Their boats will sink slowly, while the dark waves will break over them, engulfing them in darkness. This sea upon which we are sailing is dotted in every direction by these frail crafts laden with their precious freight of human life, but if we can truly say "Our Father's at the helm," by-and-by our boats will be safely moored in the harbor of rest beyond.
Oneonta Herald & Democrat, Oneonta, NY, October 4, 1878
Birth
Wells Bridge, Otsego Co. NY: Mr. and Mrs. Daius Palmer have a visitor. She weighs 9-1/2 pounds.
Marriages
In Portlandville [Otsego Co. NY] at the house of the bride's father, Sept. 26th, by Rev. J.W. Ainsworth, F.W. Packer and Alice Wellman, both of Portlandville.
In Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY] Oct. 2d, by Rev. Mr. Bundy, of Otego, Frank Weidman and Lucy A. Brewster.
At the same place and date by the same, Ezra Brewster and Fanny M. Bundy.
In Edmeston [Otsego Co. NY] by Rev. S.S. Cady, Wm. F. Payne and Miss Louisa A. Meeker, both of Edmeston.
In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] Oct. 3, by Rev. Geo. Woodworth, George E. Woodworth son of the officiating clergyman and Amanda Mickel.
Deaths
In Portlandville [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 30th, Elizabeth [Wright] relict of the late Daniel Wright, aged 77 years.
In Middlefield [Otsego Co. NY], Sept. 20th, Milton U. Chase, aged 76 years.
News Item
Biography of Rev. Young C. Smith, D.D.
The following sketch of Rev. J.C. Smith, at present pastor of the M.E. Church in Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] we find in a work recently issued entitled First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary:
Rev. Young C. Smith, D.D., was born in South New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, February 14, 1820. His early educational opportunities were limited to the common School and to an occasional term in such select schools as a small country town now and then afforded. With these aids he made sufficient attainments to venture upon the work of teaching and taught his first school when fourteen years of age. It was during this same year that he gave his heart to the Saviour and sought "first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."
His first academic privileges were enjoyed at the Oxford Academy during the years 1839-40, when Merritt G. McKoon, an enthusiastic and successful educator, was principal. In 1841 he spent his first summer in the Seminary in Cazenovia. Upon leaving the Seminary, the Quarterly Conference of Cazenovia station gave him his first license to preach. Entered the junior class in Union College in 1846. The peerless Dr. Nott was president of the college at that time, and no one that ever sat attentively at his feet in his palmy days went away without carrying with him the fragrance of his preceptor's wisdom and new qualifications for the inevitable duties of life. Mr. Smith graduated with honors in July 1848, with a class of eighty. He immediately took charge of Deerfield Academy in Knoxville, Pennsylvania, but before the end of the academic year he left that position for a more inviting one in Wyoming Seminary, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. For nearly thirteen years he was professor of ancient languages in that institution and during that time bore an important part in fitting a large number for college, for teaching, for professional study, or for the duties of business life. In the spring of 1862, he was chosen principal, but resigned after little more than a year's service in that position, and turned his attention to the work of the ministry in the Wyoming Conference of which he was a member. For four years he was secretary of that conference.
His style of preaching is plain and direct. He aims to instruct and lead to Christ by the use of pertinent and convincing truth, rather than by the more pretentious arts of oratory, or by compliance with any of the demands of petted and "itching ears." During his ministry his services have been in demand for the most responsible class of appointments in his conference and every charge over which he has presided has been faithfully and successfully served. Three years after graduating, he received the master's degree in course, and in 1868 Dickinson College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
In 1859 he was married to Miss Mary E. Wood at that time, and for several preceding years, preceptress of Wyoming Seminary. She was a lady of intelligence and culture and of established and active piety and has always held her qualifications at the disposal of her Master and of his Church. Dr. Smith is a rare Christian gentleman of a high order of talent, scholarly, genial, charitable, and broadly benevolent. He is a model professor and a model preacher. Were his ambition to be in the highest offices of his church commensurate with his qualifications for such offices he would long ago have been placed in them.
