Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, April 10, 1879
Marriages
ROGERS - BUTTS: In Oxford {Chenango Co. NY] April 1st, by Rev. S.C. Fulton, Mr. George R. Rogers of Oxford to Miss Kitty Butts of Preston [Chenango Co. NY].
LOOMIS - McINTOSH: In Greene [Chenango Co. NY] March 26th, by Rev. J.F. Tount(?), Mr. Perry Loomis of -?- to Mrs. Florence McIntosh of Greene.
SERGENT - BURGESS: In Columbus [Chenango Co. NY] April 24(?) by Rev. F.W. Townsend, Mr. Adelbert G. Sergent to Miss Eliza M. Burgess both of New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY].
MYERS - EVANS: In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] March 28th by Rev. D.N. Grummon, Mr. W.C. Myers to Miss Hattie N. Evans, both of Bainbridge.
STILLMAN - SANDERS: In Lincklaen [Chenango Co. NY] March 22d, by Elder E.A. Poole, Mr. George R. Stillman to Miss Phebe Sanders, both of Lincklaen.
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HART - TITCOMB: In Iowa City, Iowa, April 1st, by Rev. Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Eugene Hart, formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] to Mrs. Emma M. Titcomb all of Iowa City.
From the Iowa City Republican of the 2d inst. we clip the following mention of the marriage of one of our former townsmen.
"The marriage of Eugene Hart, an employee at Wilde's Store, to Mrs. Emma M. Titcomb, occurred last evening. Rev. Mr. Kenyon officiating. A singular circumstance is recalled by the union of this worthy couple. The former husband of Mrs. Titcomb, it will be remembered, was prostrated with the smallpox and during his illness, Mrs. Hart was in almost constant attendance until death relieved him of his sufferings. In nursing the sick man, Mrs. Hart contracted the dreaded disease and her body, in a few days thereafter, was followed by mourning friends to the silent city, she having nobly sacrificed her life to relieve a distressed and stricken family. Mr. Hart is a member of that large New York Colony which has brought into our work and farm and business life so much of energy and zeal. He and his helpmate are perfectly worthy of their place in the community and will fill it in a most becoming manner."
Deaths
MONROE: In East Norwich [Chenango Co. NY] April 2d, Mr. John Monroe aged 71 years.
John Monroe, a well-known and respected farmer residing near East Norwich, came to his death on Wednesday of last week in a somewhat singular manner. While engaged about his work a few days previous, a small piece of skin was broken from one of his little fingers, from which inflammation set in, followed by erysipelas, his arm swelling to a great size. Notwithstanding the efforts of physicians, the disease reached his body and resulted in death as above stated. His age was seventy-one years.
CASE: At White Store [Chenango Co. NY] March 30th, Ida [Case] daughter of Andrew and Rebecca Case, aged 3 years and 22 days.
White Store, Chenango Co. NY: It is with feelings of sadness we pen the above notice. The little one was known in our neighborhood as the little "Warbler," and, although she tarried not long with us, we miss her sadly.
COLE: In Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] April 1st, Mrs. Fayette Cole wife of Calvin Cole, aged 71 years.
SCOTT: At the County House in Preston [Chenango Co. NY] April 2d, Mr. John Scott formerly of Afton [Chenango Co. NY], aged 80 years.
John Scott, a brother of A.C. Scott of this village, died at the County House on Wednesday of last week. For many years, deceased has at times been affected with attacks of partial insanity and while suffering from one of these visitations he died. His age was nearly eighty years. the remains were interred on Friday in an ancient cemetery near Rockdale where those of the family who have preceded him are buried.
SLOCUM: In Earlville [Madison Co. NY] March 29th, Mr. Freeborn Slocum formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co. NY] aged 64 years.
WILBUR: In Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] April 2d, Grace [Wilbur] infant daughter of Wesley D. and Kate Wilbur, aged 5 months and 12 days.
GILES: In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] March 24th, Lucinda P. [Giles] wife of Elisha T. Giles, aged 43 years and 1 months.
PORTER: In Coventry [Chenango Co. NY] March 24th, Sarah N. [Porter] youngest daughter of Lorin B. Porter, aged 38 years.
INGERSOLL: In Smithville [Chenango Co. NY] March 30th, Mr. David H. Ingersoll aged 78 years, formerly of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY].
LOWE: In Sherburne [Chenango co. NY] March 28th, Mr. Robert Lowe aged 66 years.
THORNTON: In Nurse Hollow, Afton [Chenango Co. NY] March 30th, a daughter of Alexander Thornton aged 8 years.
FLEMING: In Afton [Chenango Co. NY] March 30th, Jane [Fleming] wife of W.E. Fleming, aged 29 years.
STRONG: In Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] April 2d, Louie [Strong] only child of Charles and Ursula Strong, aged 6 years.
CAMPBELL: In Lebanon [Madison Co. NY], April 6th, Olan [Campbell] son of Stephen and Alice Campbell, aged 18 months.
SPICER: In South Edmeston [Otsego Co. NY] April 3d, Mr. Henry Spicer aged 62 years.
BIRLEY: In Birley, Kansas, March 18th, Mrs. William Birley, aged 66 years, formerly of Greene [Chenango Co. NY]
BOYNTON: In Cortland [Cortland Co. NY] March 30th, of pneumonia, Hattie [Boynton] only daughter of Fitz and Annie J. Boynton and granddaughter of William S. Copeland of the Messenger House, aged 8 months and 26 days.
BOWERS: Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY: Bertha Bowers, who has been ill for some time past, died at the residence of her grandfather, Sylvanus Waters on Saturday last. Her death is mourned by a large circle of friends.
ALCOTT: New Berlin, Chenango Co. NY: There was a funeral at the Episcopal Church yesterday, A Mrs. Alcott living up in North Street having died.
ROOD: Unadilla Valley, Chenango Co. NY: Sabbath, April 6th, was a sad day in the history of our valley. In the morning the funeral services of Olin [Rood] were held in the Mt. Upton M.E. church. Rev. T.P. Halstead officiated, and the sermon was deeply impressive. A few weeks ago, Olin gave his young heart to the Savior, in a series of meetings held in the Union Church and during the progress of the dread disease of which he died, diphtheria, often said he wanted to go to Him. It was hard to lay the young form in the grave, as was done immediately, but blessed to know that the freed spirit was with the God he loved.
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BOWEN: Unadilla Valley, Chenango Co. NY: Since the building of Union Church, two funerals have been held within its walls; Mr. Ollis Bowen, nine weeks since, and now Mrs. George Bowen, two of our prominent members. Rev. Mr. Halstead said in his remarks at her funeral, that thirty-five years ago, under the labors of Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, well known for fifty years in this village, these two persons were converted. Their long lives of Christian faithfulness proved the genuineness of the work.
Rev. Mr. Carruth, of Gilbertsville, assisted Rev. Mr. Halstead in the services and we have never seen a congregation more deeply moved than the very large one gathered at this funeral. The numberless kisses falling upon the unconscious clay attested the love in which she was held by her family and friends. Her sufferings have been long and severe, but she triumphed over the last enemy. The family have the sympathy of the entire community in their sore bereavement.
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COLE: In Greene [Chenango Co. NY] suddenly on Monday morning April 7th, Mr. T.J. Cole aged 45 years.
The Binghamton Republican of Tuesday morning publishes the following account from a correspondent of the sudden death in Greene, on Monday morning, of T.J. Cole, one of the leading businessmen of that village and a gentleman universally esteemed.
"The people of our village were shocked this morning at a little before eight o'clock, at the announcement of the sudden death of T.J. Cole of this place, who appeared as well as ever two minutes before his death. He arose this morning at his usual hour, and went to the Chenango House, where he has been a boarder for more than twenty-five years, to get his breakfast and talked and joked in his usual way, seemingly in the best of spirits. After breakfast he went back to his storehouse, went into the office and took off his overcoat, and then stepped into the storeroom where his partner, Mr. Wheeler, and his clerk John Fredenberg, were. As he came where they were, he spit a mouthful of blood and said, "Oh, look at this." He then told John to go after a doctor and asked his partner to bring him some salt and went to the well room and sat down in a chair. The blood then gushed from his mouth in a frightful manner and he simply had time to say, "I guess that I am a goner this time," and then afterwards, "This will be the last of me." He then expired without a move. Dr. L.M. Johnson arrived just after his death and pronounced the trouble apoplexy of the lungs. Mr. Cole had a spell of bleeding from the mouth about a year ago, but in that case, the blood did not come from the lungs.
"The deceased was forty-five years of age, and had been in business here for many years, and for the past seven or eight years has been an extensive produce dealer. He recently formed a partnership with M.W. Wheeler. Mr. Cole leaves a brother and four sisters to mourn his death, besides his many friends here and in other places."
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WRIGHT: In Binghamton [Broome Co. NY] April 2d, Rev. Lyman Wright, D.D. aged 62 years, formerly pastor of the Baptist Church in Norwich [Chenango Co. NY].
Although not unexpected, the announcement of the death of Rev. Lyman Wright, which occurred at his residence in Binghamton, on Wednesday morning of last week, was received with sadness by many friends in this village and vicinity, who remembered him as a former beloved pastor of the Baptist church in this place. The Binghamton Republican of the 3d inst. gives the following brief sketch of the life and services of deceased:
"Rev. Dr. Wright was born in Westfield, Otsego County [NY], September 28th, 1816, and had consequently reached his sixty-second year. He was educated for the ministry at Madison University and commenced preaching at the age of twenty-two. He was married at Westford to Miss Mary Jane Tyler, a most estimable lady, who survives him. Two sisters and several half-brothers are also living.
"First the young minister supplied the church in his native place. After six months he was settled over the church at Schuyler's Lake where he remained for three and a half years. His next pastorate was at Clockville, Madison County, for the period of four years. During the succeeding eight years he was settled over the church at Fayetteville. the service of the Foreign Missionary Society next claimed his labors. Subsequently he was the financial and Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist Educational Society. In this office he was highly successful, raising $75,000 for endowments at Madison University during three years. He was called to the same office three years ago, but declined it. His next field of labor was at Norwich, where he filled two pastorates covering about six years, with an interval of a year at Trenton. Four years' pastorate at Newburgh next preceded his coming to this city.
"Ten years ago last fall, Doctor Wright settled over the church in this city [Binghamton]. His labors here speak for themselves. He exemplified the religion he professed in a wonderful degree. Those who knew him in the pastoral relation, knew him even better than those whose privilege it was to sit under his preaching alone. the Doctor was a man of great power and popularity in his denomination, and his loss is severely felt. His unselfish devotion and great worth made such warm friends for him throughout the community that when occasion has offered, it has extended sympathy and aid with the unanimity of a popular movement.
"More than two years ago, the fatal malady, Bright's disease, fastened upon him. About a year and a half since he was compelled by failing health to relinquish active duties. Still he continued to take part in the management of the church and to attend service and when this was denied him by the state of his health to write helpful letters to his people."
Funeral services were held at the church in Binghamton on Sunday afternoon last. Along the galleries and across the pulpit were draped black hangings, relieved by rosettes of white. Among the many floral offerings was a cross contributed by friends in Norwich, which stood at the foot of the casket. The seats and aisles were filled with people, and hundreds were turned away, unable to gain admittance.
The solemn services were participated in by the clergy of the city and Rev. L.M.S. Haynes, of this village, preached the sermon from the text "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." It is spoken of by the Republican of Monday as "an eloquent discourse, truthful in its conception of his character, sympathetic in reviewing his work, and helpful in consoling the stricken hearts and pointing out the way that the pastor trod."
News Item
Breach of Promise
The New York Sun of the 30th ult publishes a lengthy account of the unhappy termination of the courtship of two schoolteachers, and as one of the parties is a native of this county [Chenango Co. NY] we give an abstract of the affair.
In 1872, Charles Boss of Smyrna [Chenango Co. NY] entered the Normal School at Brockport [Monroe Co. NY] as a pupil. Here he formed the acquaintance of Miss Alice Braman, principal of the primary department of the school and daughter of Dr. A.N. Braman who is a member of the local board of the institution, and a resident of Brockport. Boss became the young lady's escort and in 1875 they were engaged to be married. A year and a half later, the young man graduated and at once secured the principalship of the Union School at Cobleskill, Schoharie County [NY] which position he still holds. Correspondence was kept up between the parties, until something like a year since, the lady noticed that the form of address in his letters was changed. Boss visited Miss Braman last summer, stated that he was not satisfied with the education he had received at the normal school and informed her that he had decided to take a four years' course in college. He therefore wished her to consider herself freed from her engagement, but he did not say that he wished to be freed from the engagement. This is Miss Braman's understanding of what her lover said, and it was so reported by her to her father. She said she looked upon the proposition as a chivalrous offer on his part and did not dream that he desired to break off the marriage engagement. Her consent, also, was based on the understanding that he was to go to college, but he did not go to college.
After the fall term of his school was begun, he wrote to her asking that she would burn his letters or return them to him. this did not astonish her, because he had often expressed an opinion that such letters ought not to be kept. She therefore unsuspectingly sent him his letters and requested him to return hers to her. He did so, and these letters she has preserved. They afford indirect evidence of the tenor of his letters to her. After this exchange of letters he ceased to write.
After waiting a long time she began to suspect that something was wrong. So, she wrote to him, asking him to explain what had caused his apparent coldness toward her. His letter in reply was filled with high praises of her disposition, deportment, and intellectual worth, but in frank response to her inquiry it also contained this sentence: "You no longer hold the first place in my affections." In conclusion, he wrote that he supposed under such a state of affairs she would not desire to become his wife.
Then Miss Braman for the first time realized the breaking of the engagement. Her return letter was filled with reproaches, and he replied that while he admired her character and ability, it would not be right for them to become husband and wife. Dr. Braman, upon being informed of the facts of the case, corresponded with Boss, but no satisfaction was received, and the father commenced suit in behalf of his daughter, for breach of promise, with the damages laid at $10,000. Four weeks ago, Boss was arrested by the Sheriff of Schoharie County on an order of the Supreme Court, when he promptly furnished $3,000 bail and employed counsel. Boss claims that at the last interview, mentioned above, there was a mutual agreement to cancel their engagement.
While spending his winter's vacation at his home in Smyrna, he consulted George W. Ray, Esq. of this village who visited Brockport where he was detained several days by the snow blockade. He called on Dr. Braman and was politely received, but the Doctor refused to converse with him on the subject. According to the Sun George became satisfied that Boss was a "fool." Whether he meant that he was a fool for desiring to break off the engagement with so charming a young person or for his manner of doing so, could not be definitely learned.
