Vital Records, Chenango County, NY (1879)

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, July 3, 1879

Death

Death of Col. Ezra Hewitt

Again we are called upon to record the death of one of our old citizens.  Col. Ezra Hewitt expired at his residence in this village on Saturday morning last, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.  Though not a pioneer in this region, he has been so thoroughly identified with the best interests of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] since before its present generation of businessmen, that very few remember that his residence here covers only the comparatively short period of thirty-six years.  We have chronicled the death of so many of our citizens during the past few years, whose lives took in a much larger part of the history of this village, that his life here, in comparison, seems short, yet so full has it been of activity and power, that to call him one of our old residents is not a name misapplied.

He was born at Stonington, Ct., October 7th, 1795, and was the son of Elias and Desire (Hull) Hewitt.  December 8th, 1829, he married Phebe Esther Randall, a daughter of Col. William and Martha (Cheesbrough) Randall, of Stonington.  Her father and grandfather were noted men in the old nutmeg State, the latter being prominent in the Revolution and the former in the War of 1812 and took an active part in framing the State Constitution.

Mr. Hewitt was two or three times elected to the Assembly of Connecticut and by his great efficiency in drilling a regiment was made Colonel in the State militia.  He was also Selectman several times in his native town.

September 16th, 1839, his wife died.  July 6th, 1843, he married Harriet Augusta Randall, daughter of the late Col. John and Hannah (Snow) Randall, of this village [Norwich].  He went back to Stonington to settle up his affairs and attend a political campaign in which he was a candidate for the State Senate, but was defeated, he having been nominated on account of his popularity, in a district strongly Democratic, he being an old-line Whig.  He very soon removed to this village and the next year bought of Samuel Randall the farm on the north border of the corporation, on which he has since lived.  He moved back the old house and built the present substantial dwelling which he occupied for the first time May 21st, 1845.

March 30th, 1846, himself and wife joined the First Congregational Church of this village - he had been a member of the Church at Stonington - and he immediately took a foremost place in the membership.  July 12th, 1847, he was elected Trustee with Benjamin Chapman; was elected July 10th, 1854, and February 19th, 1856, to fill vacancy, and again March 2d, 1857, and February 14th, 1860, for full term.  February 20th, he resigned and was not again a trustee.  In 1868 he was appointed by the Church a building committee and made quite extensive repairs on the Parsonage at an expense of $4,000 the most of which amount he advanced to the Church.

Outside of his Church relations he has been an exceedingly active man, but his activity has not been in an official capacity. Very seldom has he accepted any public office.  He was Street Commissioner a few years, but further neither his taste nor ambition seemed to urge him.  In 1855 he was president of the Chenango County Agricultural Society and for a long time he took a great interest in the Annual Fairs.  At the one which occurred the year he was President, September 27th, P.T. Barnum delivered the address.  Very many of our readers will remember the large wagon, drawn by twenty-one yoke of fine oxen, with which the President proudly led the long procession and carried the speaker to the grounds.

Col. Hewitt was a man of great energy, and whatever he undertook was sure of success, but he never did anything under handedly.  His whole life was open and frank - known and read of all men - and he never feared to denounce any kind of sin, whether of high or low degree, yet he had a tender heart and many a poor and burdened and sorrowing soul has been cheered by his sympathy and substantial aid.  His hospitality, good nature and sociality were unbounded, and he was always ready with a joke or pleasant story and a hearty laugh on all occasion.  It will be impossible for anyone that knew him to forget him, for there were very few such men as was Col. Hewitt.

He leaves surviving him his stricken widow and the widow and little daughter of his only son, William, who was buried one year and one week before his father.  The funeral of the Colonel was largely attended at his late residence on Monday afternoon, where the services were conducted by his beloved pastor, Rev. S. Scoville, and his remains were followed to the grave by many sympathizing neighbors and friends.

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 2, 1879

Birth

The wife of G.W. Adams, of South Plymouth [Chenango Co. NY] presented her husband with three boy babies on the 7th inst. Afton Sentinel

Death

The funeral of George Griffin of whose death we made mention in our last, was largely attended from the residence of Anson Gorham, on Mitchell Street [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY].

News Item

From statistics furnished by Thomas A Dye we gather the following information.  He came to this village [South New Berlin, Chenango Co. NY] and established the undertaking business in April 1846, and in the 33 years, ending April 1st, 1879, 960 were conveyed by him to their silent resting places.  The first burial was for Mrs. Lucretia Davis, mother-in-law of our esteemed neighbor Harry Bagg.  One person lived to be 104 years of age, Josiah Stedman of Guilford, who died February 1st, 1856.  Ten came to their death by drowning, four by cutting the throat, three by hanging, and one with poison.  The greatest mortality is shown to have been in the year 1862.  Eleven were buried in the month of April that year, 63 during the year.  Mr. Dye has kept a correct record of the names and ages of the deceased and other information which friends can refer to at any time.