Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 2, 1869
The Funeral of the Late Mrs. Harrison
In Smithville Flats [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d inst., Mrs. Elizabeth Harrison, widow of the late James Harrison,...aged 102 years.
This aged and estimable lady was buried at Smithville Flats [Chenango Co., NY], on Friday last. A very large concourse of relatives and friends participated in the sad ceremonies of the burial. The services in the church were conducted by Rev. Dr. Strong, of Syracuse, assisted by Rev. John Cairns, of this village, and Rev. Mr. Payson, of Oxford. A very impressive discourse was preached by the former gentleman, which evinced a very high order of intellect, and a spirited and impressive manner of delivery. His feeling address to the relatives of this member of the Christian church of 85 years standing, was truly eloquent and impressive, and exhibited the spirit that should impress their minds in their bereavement. His remarks were reverently listened to by all present, and the soothing sentiment pervaded all hearts-that when The aged Christian lies / Upon the bed of death, / In second childhood dies / And yet is a feeble breath, / We grieve not then as death is given, / To waft them to the joys of Heaven.
We regret to announce that the sad intelligence has been received from China, of the sudden death of Mr. G. S. Pratt, son-in-law of Mrs. Julia Halsey, of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY]. Mr. P. died of disease of the heart at Shanghai, July 6th, shortly after his arrival at that place. Mr. Pratt was an officer of Customs under the Chinese Government at Haskow, and was on a visit for the improvement of his health at Shanghai, when he suddenly departed this life. His widow, Mrs. Emma Pratt, is thus left in a distant land under this sudden bereavement, yet with friends who can care for her and sympathize with her in this deep sorrow Her many friends here will receive the mournful news with warm condolence in her bereavement. Mr. Pratt was enjoying the favorable consideration of the department of the Chinese government under which he has for years served, and his home was surrounded with all the comforts which an ample salary could furnish, when death suddenly throws the pall of gloom over a happy household.
Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 9, 1869
Marriages
In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on Monday evening, the 6th inst., by Rev. J.H. Sage, Mr. Oscar E. Merrells, to Miss Mary E. [Walker], daughter of Samuel Walker, all of Greene.
At the residence of the bride's father, on the 1st inst., by Rev. W. Burnside, Mr. William J. Hotchkiss to Miss Emma E. [Bixby], daughter of Reuben Bixby, all of this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].
In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 31st ult. by Rev. T.D. Hammond, Mr. George J. Warner of Colesville [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Nettie M. Salisbury, of Greene.
In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., by Rev. J.L. Bennett, Mr. J.O. Hammond, of Preston to Miss Mary A. Steere, of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].
In Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], on the 2d inst. by Rev. Edson Rogers, Mr. James Sturtevant and Miss Cornelia A. [Kingman], daughter of Hon. O. Kingman, all of Cincinnatus.
Deaths
In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 31st ult., Mrs. Betsey Prindle, mother of Hon. E.H. Prindle, and R.B. Prindle, M.D., aged 73 years.
In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Mrs. Hannah Marsh, aged 87 years.
In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d ult. Jennie Bell [Foot], daughter of Lewis R. and Martha A. Foot, aged 6 years.
Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 16, 1869
Marriages
At Zion Church in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst., by the Rev. Dr. Rogers, Mr. William L. Juliand to Miss Mary P. Cushman, all of this village.
In Farmer Village, N.Y. [Seneca Co., NY], on the 8th inst., by Rev. N.M. Wheeler, Dr. E.S. Walker, of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Julia A. Peck, of the former place.
At the residence of the bride's father in Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., by Rev. D. Bullock, Mr. Emulous M. Monger, of Colesville [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Ella [Cornish], daughter of W.A. Cornish.
In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst., by Rev. G.D. Horton, Mr. Peter Parker to Miss Ada A. [Pearsall], only daughter of Hon. Charles Pearsall.
Deaths
In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., Mary Hunnewell [Balcom], wife of Henry Balcom, Esq., aged 65 years.
In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Mr. Jonathan Willcox, aged 85 years, formerly of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY].
In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult. Emily [Curtis], aged 9 years; on the 23d ult. Henry C. [Curtis], aged 16 years; children of Mrs. C. Curtis.
Sad Accident at McDonough [Chenango Co., NY: We learn of a sad accident that happened a week ago today, Wednesday, at Ludlow Pond, in McDonough. A lad by the name of Merton Holdridge, about fifteen years of age, and living just south of McDonough village, was at the house of his uncle, Asa Wilcox, at Ludlow Pound making a short visit. The rest of Mr. Wilcox's family were absent at the neighbors or berrying, leaving Merton, and a little daughter [Garfelia A. Wilcox], his cousin, about eleven years of age, as well as two younger children. In rummaging around the house, Merton found a pistol that was loaded, but which he did not know. He playfully cocked and snapped it at his cousin several times, she retreating and he following. finally it went off, the ball hitting her in the side and passing nearly through her body, causing her death in a very short time - not exceeding half an hour. She was a bright, smart and beloved girl. Her death is deeply lamented by all who knew her. Tel.&Chron.
Note: Another report posted to this blog Feb. 3, 2022 (Chenango Union, September 8, 1869)
Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 23, 1869
Marriages
In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by Rev. E.H. Payson, Mr. Henry M. Juliand, of this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Sarah D. [Stratton], daughter of A.G. Stratton, Esq., of Oxford.
At the M.E. Parsonage in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., by Rev. W. Burnside, Mr. Wm. H. Whipple, of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Hellen E. [Knickerbocker], daughter of Harvey Knickerbocker, of this village.
At the Baptist Parsonage, in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst., by Rev. J.H. Sage, Mr. H.C. Beadle to Miss A.L. Willcox, both of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].
Also, at the same place, by the same, on the 15th inst., Mr. Garry D. Wheeler, to Miss Jennie E. Gray, both of East Greene.
In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 19th inst., by Rev. T.P. Halstead, Mr. S.M. Brown, of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss S.A. Bennett, of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].
Deaths
At Castle Creek [Broome Co., NY], on the 14th inst., Miss Emeline [Stevens], daughter of George Stevens, aged 45 years.
In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., of injuries received from a fall, Mr. Willard Leach, aged 52 years.
Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 30, 1869
Marriage
In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by Rev. J.A. Robinson, Mr. Albert W. Brown to Miss Amelia F. Merchant, both of Guilford.
Deaths
In North Fenton [Broome Co., NY], on the 24th inst., Mr. Ebenezer Balcom, aged 85 years.
In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], on the 20th inst., Mrs. Mary Ann [Dixon], widow of J.M. Dixon, deceased, aged 66 years.
At the Poor House, in Preston [Chenango Co., NY], July 18th, John Campbell, aged 73 years, formerly of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].
At the Poor House, Aug. 25th, John McMoran, formerly of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], aged 93 years.
At the Poor House, Sept. 21st, Otis Bennett, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].
In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on the 25th inst., Mary E. Mills, aged 39 years.
In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st inst., Lois Evans, aged 80 years.
In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 30th inst., Miss Ada J. Radcliffe, aged 19 years.
Death of William Hatch
Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 9, 1869
It becomes our melancholy duty to announce the sad intelligence of the death of our former and respected townsman William Hatch, which occurred at Batavia [Genesee Co. NY], his late residence, on Tuesday evening of last week. Mr. Hatch died from the poisonous effects of coal gas, the particulars of which we give below as taken from the Rochester Union and written by a Batavia correspondent of that journal.
Mr. Hatch came to this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY] in 1821, with the late Chas. E. Barnard, and from the year above mentioned, was in business with him until 1837. He then formed a business connection with Rathbone & Hunt, which continued about ten years. He then retired from active business and removed to Batavia about fifteen years since. He was Sheriff of this county, one term, from about the year 1837.
Mr. Hatch was one of the old pioneers of this town [Greene, NY], and one of the active businessmen who helped mould this section into its present beauty and richness. He was ever alive to the interest and welfare of our village, and in the early days of Greene, no man guarded and nourished the prosperity and growth of our town, more than William Hatch. He was a man of excellent business ability, and one whose honesty and integrity looms up a noble monument to his memory. His mild and gentle manners, connected with his general knowledge, made him an agreeable companion, and his social relations were of an exalted and noble character.
He was with us about a year since, and although he was walking in the shadow of eighty years, we could not observe that time, the destroyer, had made any serious inroads upon his physical or mental powers since he left us to take up his abode where he met his sad death.
But our old landmarks are passing away, and it is for us who are now engaged in the battle of life, to act well our part, and strive to emulate the virtues of such men as William Hatch.
The village of Batavia was thrown into a state of intense excitement yesterday noon by the announcement that William Hatch and his niece, Elizabeth N. Bingham, were found dead in one room, at his residence near this village. Coroner Curtiss was summoned, and in an incredibly short time the Pine Hill Road was crowded with vehicles of all description filled with citizens eager to learn the particulars and to render any assistance necessary under the circumstances. On the arrival of the Coroner at the house, which is pleasantly located on the Pine Hill road, about 2 miles north of the village, he found the room in which the bodies were, just as it was when they were first discovered by the servant girl in the forenoon, and the sight was a painful one. The inmates of the house were the deceased, William Hatch, and the niece, both unmarried, aged respectively 75 and 38 years. The body of Mr. H. was lying on his left side, on the carpet, the lower limbs and the arms drawn up, his face discolored and showing signs of congestion. He had on a cashmere double gown, under clothes and stockings, and apparently had fallen from a chair which was lying on the floor beside him tipped over. On his left temple was a bruise caused from striking the floor. Near him, and on a couch was the lifeless body of his niece, clad in a calico wrapper over her under garments, her feet hanging over the end of the couch, hands drawn up over her breast and closed tight, and her face white as snow.
Besides Dr. Coates, the family physician, and other physicians who conducted the post mortem, there was sworn, Mary Dumphy, the servant, a bright, intelligent girl, 15 years of age; Reuben Hatch, a nephew of deceased living near him; his wife; Mr. Harris, a neighbor, Messrs. Worthington and Rostwick of Batavia, stove dealers.
The testimony of the witnesses was to the effect that yesterday afternoon Mr. H. took the niece to a ladies' society at the Asylum for the Blind. He returned at half past five o'clock and took tea alone, got a hod of hard coal and went to his room. He brought from Batavia about half a bushel of charcoal. He remained in his room during the evening, Miss B. returned with Mr. Harris. About half-past seven she went to her room upstairs, and prepared to retire about nine. Half-past nine Mr. H. called to her from the hall, said she need not come down if she had gone to bed. She replied she had not and would come down in a moment. The girl (Mary Dumphy) saw her put on her wrapper and slippers, take a lamp and go downstairs. This was the last she saw of her alive. Mary got up in the morning, prepared breakfast, and waited until about nine o'clock. She then went to Miss Bingham's room and found that the bed had not been occupied. She then went to Mr. H.'s room door; it was closed and dare not go in; went round to the west window of the south wing, looked in; could see her feet hanging over the longue, and his body on the floor; notified the nephew about 11, who come with his wife, opened the door, and found the bodies as described. The nephew observed a peculiar smell issuing from the room before he entered; could not describe it. The covering on Mr. H.'s bed was turned down, but the bed had not been occupied. A kerosene lamp was burning on a sideboard in the bedroom, and everything in the room indicated he was preparing to go to bed. Mr. Worthington thought about six quarts of charcoal was missing. The stove in the room was warm and contained some hard coal, a little burned, and a very little charcoal. The stove was examined by Worthington and Bostwick, who found the upper damper closed tight, the lower (base) flues almost closed with soot and ashes; closed so that the gas from both coals could not escape up the pipe but must go into the room; windows all closed; also, doors. Both were in feeble health and delicate. Miss B. was a daughter of his deceased sister. He came from Greene, Chenango county, N.Y., about twelve years ago, where he had been a merchant, and a partner of the late Alvah Hunt. He was never married. He was highly esteemed by all. He possessed a large property. About 28 acres of land adjoining the house was owned by him, but he leased it to his nephew Reuben. The stove is called The American Base Burner, No. 11, Van Wormer & Garey markers, Albany.
