History of Otsego Co., NY
page 198Richard B. MORRIS was born in the town of Milford, Otsego County, April 3, 1811, being the youngest son of Charles and Catherine Morris. His early life was passed on his father's farm, being the same property on which his grandfather settled about 1790, and which is still owned by members of the family. He took for his companion in life, March 1, 1838, Zilpha, daughter of Reuben and Wealthy WESTCOTT. She was born in the town of Milford, Nov. 1, 1820.
The result of this marriage was three sons and three daughters. And, by God's will, the sons alone are left to preserve their father's name and honor for posterity.
The eldest son, Albert, was born in Milford, Jan. 2, 1840, and married Mary J. BIRDSALL, Nov. 5, 1868; they have two children, viz., Burton H., born Nov. 28, 1869, and A. Stanley, born Oct. 28, 1871. The second son, William H., was born in Milford, July 21, 1841, and married Ada ANGELL; they have two children, Susan, born May 21, 1870, and Willard, born June 21, 1872. For twelve years these two sons have carried on a large and extensive flour and feed business in the village of Oneonta, and are among its most prominent citizens. Charles, the third son, was born in Milford, March 10, 1860.
Mr. Morris originally belonged to the old Whig party, but on the formation of the Republican party joined that organization. He held several minor town offices, and in his early life was connected with the New York State militia. He was an active member of the Baptist church for over thirty-five years, having been a deacon for thirty-three years. His grandfather was the leading organizer of the first Baptist church in the town of Milford. All mankind have at one time to end their earthly career and render an account to the Almighty. None was better prepared for this than the subject of this sketch, who passed away Dec. 26, 1877, mourned by his friends and neighbors.
_____
Oneonta Herald
January 11, 1878DIED At Milford Centre, Dec. 26, Deacon R. B. MORRIS, in the 67th year of his age. Here he was born April 3d, 1811. Here he lived and died. For thirty-five years he had been a faithful and highly esteemed member of the Baptist church, and for 33 years had served it as deacon. His generosity and activity in obtaining and building up the property owned by the church, his influence and support in all the affairs of Christ's kingdom and regular attendance upon the services of God's house; these and like characteristics with many pleasant incidents of his old friends will gratefully recall. Of the life and character of our departed brother, it is not easy to speak too highly. He was looked upon by the young as the model man of the whole community and was very highly respected by his neighbors and by his friends everywhere. He was a successful farmer, and a man of great energy. Honored and almost idolized by his family, his loss to them is beyond the power of words to express. After a long and painful illness which he bore with christian patience, surrounded by his friends and family, he fell asleep. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." So he lives. He also "lives in Christ" awaiting the glorious resurrection. There may those who knew and loved him here meet both him and his Lord. His Pastor.
I desire in this manner to cordially thank my many friends who have during the illness of my late husband shown numerous courtesies and done much to render our loss the less grievous. Mrs. Zilpha Morris.
Deaths From Sherburne Newspapers, Chenango County, NY 1864-1900Mrs. Eli WESTCOTT, died Binghamton, Dec 31, 1885; 51yr. She was born in Otsego Co., and was for many years a resident of Sherburne, removing to Binghamton about 8 years ago. She is survived by her husband, 5 daughters and a son. Burial was in Sherburne Quarter cemetery.
Deaths From Sherburne Newspapers, Chenango County, NY 1864-1900
Mrs. Esther P. WESTCOTT, died Sherburne, 2 May 1883; 49yr
Deaths From Sherburne Newspapers, Chenango County, NY 1864-1900
Frank Wescott, oldest son of the late Philetus Wescott, died in Sherbur
ne 3 Mar 1865 ae 8 yr of diptheria.
Oneonta Daily Star
August 23, 1920Luzern Westcott, a native of the town of Milford for forty three years a universally respected resident of the city of Oneonta, died at half past one o'clock Saturday morning, August 25 (sic), after an illness of several months duration, which, however, had not been of a critical nature until about three weeks before. On Thursday, July 29, at was noted in the Star of the following day. Mr. and Mrs. Westcott celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. Surrounded by children and grandchildren, the day was spent very pleasantly, and Mr. Westcott himself rallied to a notable degree from his illness, and was exceptionally active and cheerful. The day was one toward which he had looked forward eagerly, and it seemed that it was in ... the culmination of his dream. A day or two later his condition became more serious, and he failed gradually for three weeks, when, surrounded by his wife and family, who gave devoted attention during his entire illness, he died, as above stated, on Saturday morning.
Mr. Westcott was born March 6, 1843, on the homestead farm at Milford Center, and was the son of Reuben and Wealthy Westcott, the family being one of the earliest to settle in Milford township. When but 18 years of age he went to Watertown and engaged in the egg business. The following year he was married to Miss Charlotte Ball of that city and returned to the homestead farm in Milford. His first wife dying in 1868, he was married two years later to Miss Emma Hubbard, with whom more than half a century of happy wedded life was spent. Mr. Westcott moved to Oneonta in 1877 and was for several years employed in the hop business by George I. Wilber, an occupation in which he was engaged for practically all his life thereafter. He was an excellant salesman and a remarkable judge of hops. He was for several a member of the firm of M & L Westcott, and after the death of Monroe Westcott carried on the business alone. Afterwards he was in the employ of Kenyon and Saxton, F.D. Miller and Smith & Capron, but for the last year and a half he had been with the wholesale firm of Morris Brothers.
This work, however, by no means limited his activities. Associated with M. Westcott he built the Wetcott block, then the largest commercial structure in Oneonta, in 1882, and he also dealt largely in oneonta real estate, building many houses in the city. With Eugene Rose he founded the first ice business in Oneonta, a business which, under the namr of the Oneonta Ice company, still remains in the family of his descendants. He was an energetic business man of real abilty, and hid advice was often sought and given.
Mr. Westcott is survived by his second wife, above named, and by six children - Mrs Helen Crandall, Mrs. Minnie Lunn, Mrs. Mary Denton and Reuben H. Westcott of this city; Arthur L. Westcott of New York and Mrs. Ckarles H. Clark of Bainbridge. The first two are children of his earlier marriage. Also he leaves six great grandchildren - Luzern W. Crandall, Alice E. Wendall and Herbert Denton, Mrs. Charlotte Wyckoff and Herbert Lunn.
Oneonata HeraldDied 1969 - At Milford, April 26th, Mrs. Charlotte A. WESTCOTT, wife of Luzerne Westcott, aged 24 years.
Marriage Notes for Luzerne Westcott and Emma Hubbard
MARRIAGE:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WESTCOTT FAMILY
Domestic and foreign copyrights and patents applied for.On this, the 29th day of July, in the year of our lord, 1920, we, the members of the famous Westcott family, are gathered together to duly celebrate the most momentous day in our lives, the 50th or Golden Wedding anniversary of Luzerne and Emma Westcott. We come with hearts full of love, with due reverence and with God-given thankfulness that their lives have been spared to us so that we all may pay homage and render unto them, in our humble way, the wondrous glories they so justly deserve. There have been other important days in the history of the Westcott family.
Let us briefly mention the events which occurred on these days.
The marriages of the four beautiful Westcott sisters.
The day Charles Clark blew into town wearing a silk hat.
When Reuben came back from the war.
The fatal day those pesky twins were born.
The Sunday Minnie attended a cabaret in Albany.
The morning that Winks fell off the roof and hurt his foot.Great occasions as they were, however, they all fade into dim insignificance when compared with the great histronic event of today. Think for a moment, Oh Ye Westcott Tribe, how wondrously full and complete have been the lives of Luzerne and Emma. The golden years back on the old Homestead, where Mother had to bake only nine dozen pancakes every morning for breakfast, do all the household chores, the family washing and mending, make her own clothes, feed eight hired men and drive one team of horses during haying time. Truly, what a soft life Mother had in her youthful days. We, the younger generation, wearied and worn out by our hard labors and tiresome tasks, can fully appreciate the life of luxury and ease Mother lived in her early days. Father, too, was a gentleman of leisure back on the farm, arising at the late hour of four in the morning, just before the moon came up, he took a bit of light exercise in order to build up an appetite for breakfast. He milked 18 cows, fed and watered the horses, cows, calves, pigs, ducks, chickens, geese, squirrels, woodchucks, robbins and any other livestock he happened to see, chopped two cords of wood, mended a few harnesses, drove nine miles down to the milk station and hoed 6 acres of corn. By that time he was a bit hungry and after a light breakfast, ready for the day's work.
How we men folks envy the light, easy work Father had to do, But no wonder he is just what he is today - hale, hearty, with a wonderful constitution; due to real, honest, hard work in his early youth.
One startling event in the early history of the Westcotts deserves special mention. On one of the coldest days in winter, with the thermometer well below zero, Luzerne and Emma decided to become baptised. So they went down to the river at Milford Center, chopped through about twenty-four inches of ice and took an icy plunge while the ceremony was being performed. Now this is not my idea of having a good time at all. It has always been a source of wonderment to me why they selected such a time for this ceremony. Why didn't they wait until some nice hot day in August when they could have enjoyed a cool, refreshing plunge and maybe had a little swim on the side? Furthermore, Luzerne could have bet the Parson a good cigar that he could beat him swimming across the river. Emma could have worn a nice, stylish one-piece bathing suit and thus caused all the other ladies to turn green with envy. I shall always think that the Westcotts overlooked several bets when they decided to have this ceremony performed. This incident, however, is a striking example of their vigorous and robust constitutions during their youth.
The second period in the history of the founders of the Westcott family may be properly called "The Era of Prosperity". Luzerne became restless back on the farm, and fired with ambition decided to move to the big city of Oneonta and show the boys down there a few tricks. That he succeeded within a few years, even beyond his fondest hopes, may be well shown by the fact that he built up a large and lucrative hop business, owned and built the Wescott block with the historic town clock as an ornament, developed the Oneonta ice business and became the owner of many pieces of real estate throughout the city.
Perhaps the most enjoyable period in their Iives was the time they lived at No. 28 Elm Street.(Now the location of St. Mary's School.) There they were surrounded by every luxury that money could buy. How proudly they would drive around town, behind that handsome pair of horses, Colonel and Maje. As that eminent authority on correct English, Mrs. Charles H. Clark would so aptly remark: "Them was the happy days".
They also had a cow those days, safely hidden at night in a shed back of the barn. How well Iremember that cow. How I did love to drive that darn critter about l,000 miles up to the pasture at the head of Elm Street. I recall how my brother and myself would fight for the privilege of duly chaperoning said cow twice a day.
During my brief residence at 28 Elm Street it seems to me, outside of chasing this cow, I was mostly engaged in attending the family weddings and in running errands for my sisters, who worked that old gag on me " Well, If you won't go, then I will".
The remarkable business ability of Luzerne was very well reflected by the prosperity the entire family enjoyed during that time.
Unfortunately, however, the panic of '93 came along and hit the hop market and real estate an awful wallop. This necessitated a "back to the farm" movement, which takes in the third period in their history. Father showed his true courage and his strong will by facing conditions squarely and began again to build up his fortune.
Many pleasant days, however, were spent on the little farm near Davenport Center. The only disturbing elements there were the wild howls of the twins (born in 1899), and my attempts to learn to play the cornet. My playing did not seem to agree with some of the cows, who I understand, complained very bitterly to Luzerne about the noise I used to make down in the meadows.
I recall the dry humor of old "Doc" Thorne, the farmer living next door to us at that time. As Doc often remarked with considerable pride, he was "shot" in the Revolution and stabbed in the Rebellion". Also he had a sorrel-topped son named Surell who was one of the funniestguys I ever met. What wonderful blackberries we used to pick and what a lot of fun we used to have with the hop pickers.
In due time the hard work and careful planning of Luzerne brought about satisfactory results and once again the Westcott family moved to Oneonta.
This brings us to the fourth or Reconstructlon period in their history. Luzerne and Emma seemed to have in those days an acute attack of wander-lust, as they lived on almost every street in town until they finally reached their present comfortable quarters at No. 6 Walnut Street.
During this period Luzerne exhibited some good business judgement, buying, selling and trading real estate and finally becoming the sole owner of that famous block of apartment houses on Cliff Street. This wonderful property, so ably managed by one Mary Denton, will go down in history as a lasting remembrance and striking example of the true courage and marvelous "comeback" of Luzerne Westcott. As Cicero so aptly remarked in his "Essay on Old Age", the most wonderful period in our lives is reached after the age of sixty, providing the early years have been spent in good, healthy work which had resulted in notable achievements.
Luzerne and Emma, after many wonderful years of work, periods of hardship and prosperity and many years of happiness, can now sit quietly and really enjoy life; basking in the love of their children, surrounded on all sides by lifetime friends, they can spend their remaining days in peace and comfort, looking forward with confidence to the ultimate reward which they certainly have won - "Front Seat in Heaven." I can peer into the dim future and see Luzerne trying to persuade St. Peter to aIlow him to use a little Lyknu on his harp and shine it up a bit; or try to find some farmer to talk to about the superior qualities of Morris Brothers' new products. I can also see Emma trying to locate several congenial ladies for a quiet game of 500, or discuss the latest doings of the Baptist Missionary Society.
The following descendents of the founders of the Westcott family hereby sign their real names and extend to Luzerne and Emma many happy returns of the day, and express their deep love, loyalty and admiration for the founders of the Westcott family.
Signed: July 29th, 1920
Helen Crandall, Minnie W. Lunn, Mary W. Denton, Charles H. Clark, Bertha Westcott Clark, Reuben H. Westcott, Cora Bell Westcott, Arthur L. Westcott, Luzerne Westcott Crandall, Evelyn Cash Crandall, Wm. H Lunn, C. L. Wyckoff, Edna Westcott, Alice E. Denton, Herbert Denton, Wendall J. Denton.
Oneonta Star
July 26, 1958
Reuben H. Westcott, 35 Spruce St., was one of Oneonta's best known seni
or citizens. He served his country in three wars and the Phillipines Insurrection, was a retired assistant armorer of State Armory and had been a city assessor. His father and uncle created the Westcott block on which the city clock stands.
Yesterday Mr. Westcott died at the age of 82 at Veterans Hospital, Albany, after a long illness.
A full military funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lewis Funeral Home, with the Rev. August F. Ballbach Jr. of First Baptist church officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood cemetary. He was a member of First Baptist Church.
Mr. Westcott was born March 15, 1876, at Milford, son of Luzerne and Emma (Hubbard) Westcott, and had resided in Oneonta more than 75 years.
His first wife, Cora Cameron, whom he wed Aug. 17, 1903, died March 3, 1934. He married Minnie Michaels July 22, 1941 in Oneonta.
When a young man he worked as a coffee roaster at Oneonta Grocert Co. During the Spanish American War he served with Co. G. 1st Voluntary Infantry, and was in Hawaii. During the Phillipine Insurection he was with Co. M. 21st U.S. Infantry, seeing service in the Phillipinesa. In World War One he was with Co. G. 10th Infantry State Guard, and in World War Two he served as a member of draft board 303.
He was a member and commander for four years of Col. Walter Scott Camp 42, United Spanish War Veterans, also a member and past commander of Sgt. Elbert N. Patten Post 1206, Veterans of Foriegn Wars.
He was employed by the State Armory for 25 years, retiring on July 1942. As an assesor he served four years, leaving office at the end of 1955 because of ill health.
Besides his wife he is survived by two nieces, Mrs. Charlotte Lynn Wyckoff of Oneonta and Mrs. Gloria Westcott Johnson of Hialeah, Fla.; and four nephews, Luzerne Westcott Crandall of Lois Angeles, Calif., William H. Lunn of Oneonta, Herbert Westcott Denton of Bainbridge and Wendell J. Denton of Albany.
14921. Gustavus Adolphus Morris
The History of Otsego County, New YorkAmong the early settlers of the town of Milford was the MORRIS family. Their forefathers, about the time of the Revolutionary war, emigrated from Wales to the State of Rhode Island, and subsequently moved west to Rensselaer county, and some time between 1790 and 1800 settled in this town in Otsego County.
David E., a descendant of this family, was born in the town of Milford, Otsego County, May 2, 1801, being the son of Charles and Catherine Morris. He was married to Susan, daughter of Reuben WESTCOTT, she being a native of Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Mass., born in 1802, and came to this county with her father in 1815.
Their family consisted of eight children, the eldest of whom, Adolphus G., was born Aug. 20, 1826, in the town of Milford. He was married Feb. 14, 1855, to Mary J., daughter of Albert HOWLAND, she being a native of the town of Laurens, and was born Oct. 19, 1838.
Five children have blessed their union:
Wellington L., born Aug. 23,
Clarence S., Dec. 19, 1858;
Hiram, Dec. 28, 1862;
Frank, Sept. 8, 1871;
Belle, March 3, 1877.Mr. Morris mourns the loss of both father and mother, the latter having passed away November, 1868, and the former May 3, 1876. Politically he belongs to the Republican party, and is one of the most useful, energetic, and public-spirited citizen of the town in which he resides.
Oneonta Star
March 12, 1951
Miss Belle Elizabeth Morris, 5 Maple St., died at Marshall Sanatorium in T
roy Sunday morning. Funeral will be held at the Lewis Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. E. Theodore Lewis of the First Baptist Church and Dr. E. Scott Farley will officiate. The body will be placed in Glenwood vault for later burial.
Miss Morris was born in Milford Center March 3, 1877, daughter of Adolphus G. and Mary Jane (Howland) Morris. She had lived in Oneonta since 1898.
She was a member of Oneonta Chapter, DAR. a life member of Oneonta Woman's Club, and of the First Baptist Church.
She is survived by two nieces, Mrs. Harold S. Smith and Mrs. Helen Stewart, Oneonta; two nephews, Clark W. Morris, Oneonta, and Richard T. Morris, Jackson Heights
Oneonta Daily Star
February 11, 1922Milford Center, Feb 10, - Mary Morris, wife of the late Enoch B. Wright, died early this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Daniel Smith, of this place, where she had been tenderly cared for for a long time. Death was largely due to the infirmities of age, she being 85 years of age.
Mrs. Wright, who was the last of the damily of the late David and Susan (Westcott) Morris was born April 9, 1837, in the town of Milford, where with the exception of four years when she had resided at Rockwell's Mills, her whole life had been spent. While living at Rockwell's Mills, both Mr. and Mrs. Wright united with the Baptist church at Gilbertsville; and she was an attendant at the Milford Center church as long as health permitted.
The deceased is survived by the daughter above named, and four grandsons, Stanley, Stuart, Cliiford and Carleton Smith, and by several nieces and nephews.
The funeral services will be held at the home of her daughter, Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. W. W. Ward, Pastor of the Milford Center Baptist church, will officiate and the body will be laid to rest beside her husband in the Milford Center, cemetery.
Oneonta Daily Star
May 5, 1917The funeral of Mrs. Rebecca Westcott, who died at her home at the Plains on Tuesday last, was held from the house Thursday at 11 o'clock. The services were held by Rev. N. B. Ripley of Milford and the interment was at Milford Center, she having ling been a member of the Baptist church there and a former resident of that locality.
Mrs. Westcott was the daughter of the late Isaac and Caroline Shepard, lomg residents at Oneonta Plains, and she would have been 85 years of age had she lived until May 14. She was one of a family of 12 children, the last to survive being one sister, Mrs. Lurissa Vam Woert of Oneonta Plains.
Mrs. Westcott leaves, beside the sister, a son, Harry Westcott of Milford, and one daughter, Miss Lottie Westcott, who has resided with the mother and cared for her. She was the widow of the late George westcott and was well known to all the older residents of the Plains and Milford.