Cornelia R. (Van Rensselaer) Rutgers - 1861

RUTGERS.--In Easton, Penn., on Thursday, Nov. 21, at her residence, Mrs. Cornelia R. Rutgers, widow of the late Robert B. Rutgers, and daughter of the late Henry R. Van Rensselaer, late of Hudson.

     Her remains will be taken to Claverack for interment.

Source: The New York Times, 26 November 1861

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Henry Livingston - 1881

     Henry Livingston, of Brooklyn, who committed suicide at Albany Sunday week at the age of sixty, was the prodigal  son of Henry W. Livingston, of Claverack, and after spending a fortune in waywardness left there with his family.  His greatest exploit was the forgery of the name of Cornelius Vanderbilt, upon which, clad in the garb of an expressman, he presented a gold check for $75,000 at the counter of a bank in New York city, and obtained the money.

Source: Standard, [Minnesota], 20 October 1881

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General James Watson - 1884

     General James Watson Webb, the noted journalist, died in New York last Sunday morning.  With the death of Mr. Webb passed away the last of the old school of New York editors - - Bennett, Bryant, Greeley and Raymond, his co-workers in the journalistic field, having expired before him.  He was son of Samuel B. Webb, a soldier of the Revolution and was born at Claverack, N. Y., on February 8, 1802.

Source: Weekly Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada, 14 June 1884

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Robert Elkins Livingstone - 1916

LIVINGSTONE -- On Thursday, March 16, 1916 at 9:30 p.m. at 1249 Kenyon street northwest, ROBERT ELKINS son of Col. and Mrs. Colin H. Livingstone, aged seventeen years and six months.  Funeral from his late residence today.  Interment at Claverack, N. Y.

Source: The Washington Post, 17 March 1916

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OBITUARY

______

Mrs. Emma Saunders Wardle - 1919

     Hudson, October 17 -- Mrs. Emma Saunders Wardle, widow of the Rev. Dr. John Knight Wardle, died at her home in this city of pneumonia.  She was the daughter of the late Randall Saunders and Ann Turner of Athens, and was educated at Claverack college.   She excelled in her paintings and was a relative of Turner, the English landscape painter.

     She is survived by two daughters, the Miss Emma and Miss Ethelwyn, three sons, J. Harold and William E. Wardle, general purchasing agent of the Remington Arms company of Inon.  Also by one brother, Benjamin Saunders of Claverack, and three sisters, Mrs. Anna N. Morrison and Miss Jane and Miss Abbie Saunders of Athens.

Source: Middletown Times-press, New York 17 October 1919

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THEIR CHRISTMAS DAY.

Dr. Stephen E. Best - 1891

     The following excerpts from the New York World's account of the railroad wreck that occurred Christmas day near Hasting's station on the Hudson River division of the New York Central, are sad reminders of the uncertainty of man's tenure upon life and all that he holds dear.  The simple narrative of the two accidents is full of pathos, though devoid of any attempt at art.

     "Dr. Stephen E. Best, who was severely scalded, died at St. John's Hospital, Yonkers, shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday.   His home was at No. 244 Lenox avenue in this city  He was a dentist and had a large clientele among uptown people.  He was twenty-eight years old and unmarried.  He was graduated form the New York College of Dentistry in the class of '88, and then took a year's course in medicine at the Homoeopathic Medical College in this city.

     All day Thursday Dr. Best busied himself preparing for a trip to his home in Claverack, near Hudson.  He was an only son, and his annual visit to the old home made the crowning event of the year for this fond  mother.  On Christmas eve Dr. Best, in high spirits, came down to dinner in the house where he made his home.  He was to take the 8:30 train on the Central at the One Hundred and Thirty-eight street station, and before midnight he expected to be at his old home in Claverack.  He chatted gayly with his friends and showed them a diamond brooch that he had bought as a Christmas gift for his mother.  When his body was taken from the wreck, disfigured almost beyond recognition, a small bag was found beside him, and in it, among other things was the brooch.

     "Miss Gertrude Moore" was the name next announced as that of one of the recognized victims.  Her aunt and uncle, who were stopping at the Perry hotel, recognized their dead niece.  It was learned that she was from Medina, N. Y.  The hot steam had choked and burned her life out.  Miss Moore had sent this dispatch to her father in Medina:

    Your Christmas present is coming - Gertrude.

     She had not been home for some months.  Her body was claimed by an uncle last evening."

     The mother awaiting her son's visit, the father expecting his daughter's present--how can language express what their feelings were when the dread news was brought to them of what death had wrought.

     While such is life, and up from this vast earth on Christmas day and other days of joy, the cry of bitter grief goes up from breaking hearts sorrow pieces, while others laugh and make merry in the full vigor of health and happiness unalloyed, how blest a thought it is that this earth is not all we have, that behind the stern form of death, that comes so cruelly and so suddenly upon so many when they are reveling in the joys of life, there stands the angel of immortality, who, when death has done its worst, will conduct the righteous soul through the portals of the tomb to behold "the dawning of eternal day."  Else it would seem that the mystery of earth's mingled joys and sorrows would remain unsolved and even-handed divine justice be a mockery and myth.

Source:  Davenport Daily Leader, [Iowa], 30 December 1891

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DIED IN AN ASYLUM.

Career of Ancram Livingstone.  Once one of the Richest Men in New York.

Ancram Livingstone - 1895

     New York, Dec. 2.--The funeral occurred at Claverack of Ancram Livingstone, grandson of the late Gov. Van Ness, and at one time reputed to be one of the richest men in New York state.  He was 71 years old.  Livingstone was the son of Henry Livingstone, once a prominent New Yorker.  Ancram's father died at the age of 25 years.  The young man seemed to care little for the enormous wealth he controlled, and the vast estate dwindled away.  By another death in the family young Livingstone became possessed of another fortune.  He married, but continued his carelessness in regard to his affairs, and the second fortune finally went the way of the first.  A third fortune came into his control, but his previous experiences apparently taught him no lesson, for again the money disappeared at a rapid rate.  He was not a drinker, nor had he any bad habits.  He had a habit of giving to all who appealed to him.  He died poor and almost friendless at the state asylum.

Source: The Evening Bulletin [Decatur, Illinois], 2 December 1895

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Unknown White - 1890

A dissipated man named White was found dead in his bed at Claverack village, recently.

Source: Middletown Daily Press, [Middletown, New York], 23 September 1890

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HOWARD WILLIAMS - 1929

     Howard Williams, 84, died Thursday morning at his home in the town of Rose.  Born in Hillsdale, he had resided in Wayne County for 18 years.  He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Daniel Converse of Rose and Miss Edith Williams of Philmont, and two sons, Frederick and Harry Williams of Philmont.  Bush & Mann, Clyde undertakers, took the body to Hillsdale this morning.  Funeral services and burial will take [rest of sentence missing].

Source: The Syracuse Herald, [Syracuse, New York, 12 January 1929, p. 14

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RUTH MARITTA HUNT - 1921

Woman, 104, Dies at Albany.

     Albany, Feb. 24 -- Mrs. Ruth Maritta Hunt, wife of the late Rusten Hunt, one of the founders of the village of Hillsdale in Columbia county died in the 104th year of her life yesterday.  She would have celebrated her 104th birthday today.  Mrs. Hunt died at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary E. Hunt, in Thurlow terrace, Albany.

Source:  The Syracuse Herald, [Syracuse, New York], 24 February 1921

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Mrs. W. H. Atwood - 1909

W. H. Atwood left yesterday with the remains of his wife for interment at Kinderhook, New York.  Mrs. Atwood was born in Stuyvesant, Columbia county, N. Y., on July 23, 1843.  When but a child she moved to Kinderhook, where she lived for twenty years or more.  At an early age she united with the Dutch Reformed church at Kinderhook and became an active worker in the church and Sunday school.  The family moved to Huson about 1866, where she resided most of the time until she moved to Lincoln in 1893.  Wherever she was, Mrs. Atwood evidenced her lovely Christian character, and was loved by all who knew her.  Mrs. Atwood died on March 18 perfect in faith.  She will be buried in the old cemetery at Kinderhook with her family for several generations back.  Mr. Atwood will remain in the east for about two months.

[Note: This is Mary Helen wife of William H. Atwood]

Source: The Nebraska State Journal, [Lincoln, Nebraska], 20 April 1909

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OBITUARY

------

Thomas Edward Tierney.  1917

     Thomas Edward Tierney died at his home, 67 Prince street, this morning at 6 o'clock after a week's illness of acute Bright's disease.  Mr. Tierney was born in Stockport, July 24, 1874, his age being 42  years, 11 months and 20 days.

     Mr. Tierney was the son of John Tierney and Elizabeth Hennigan.  He had resided in this city for the past 27 years.  He was one of the first conductors of the Middletown-Goshen Traction Company and for the past eighteen years had been a conductor on the ). & W. Railroad.

     On June 23, 1909, he was married to Theresa M. Feiseler in this city by the Very Rev. Dean McClancy.  He is survived by his wife and several sisters, as follows:  Mrs. Ellen Holland, Mrs. Mary Kirk.  Mrs. Osmer Grant, Mrs. John Schlitt, all of this city; Mrs. John Finan, of Port Jervis; Mrs. Anna Beattie, of New York city; Mrs. Oscar Constable, of Binghamton.

     Mr. Tierney was a devout member of the St. Joseph's Church, and also a member of Middletown Council, No. 4K6, Knights of Columbus.  Middletown Lodge No. 40, Millard Division, No. 101, Order of Railway Conductors.

     The deceased was a man of integrity and uprightness and of a very happy and genial disposition, one of whom it may be truthfully said that he did not have a known enemy in the world.  He was very highly esteemed not only by his fellow workmen and many friends, but also by the officials of the O. & W.

Source: Middletown Times-Press, Middletown, New York, 14 July 1917

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EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS STRIKES ARTHUR FONDA

Hudson Electrician Killed by the Flyers at Stockport.

Arthur Fonda - 1902

     HUDSON,  Sept. 6.--Arthur Fonda, employed at some electrical work on the New York Central Railroad, was killed to-day at Stockport by the northbound Empire State Express.  He lived in Hudson.

Source: The Post Standard, Syracuse, New York, 7 September 1902