“The death of Miss Belle Cowdrey, which occurred about 1 o'clock Sunday morning at her residence on East State street, marked the conclusion of a life story as unusual and as interesting as any to be found in fiction. Miss Cowdrey was believed by her friends to be about 83 years of age, and had lived alone in the old rambling house at 408 East State street ever since her mother's death a quarter of a century or more ago.
About four years ago she had a fall which injured one hip, since that time she has been an invalid, but she consistently refused to have a regular nurse or attendant until about a month ago, when she contracted pneumonia. Since that time she had had a nurse. Her death was due to the pneumonia which had weakened her heart. Miss Cowdrey leaves no near relatives.
A few of the older residents of Ithaca still remember Belle Cowdrey as she appeared in her youth—a tall, slender girl wearing curls, handsome, well dressed, and vivacious, the daughter Adam S. Cowdrey, president of the Village of Ithaca one time, and for many years a trustee—a blacksmith and wagoner by profession, and a rich man for those days.
Many more, however, remember the Miss Cowdrey of recent years, a kindly, benevolent, but eccentric old lady, dressing in the fashion of 50 years ago, who was occasionally to be seen on the streets or even at the theater until health prevented: her leaving the house except when a friend took her driving.
House on Old Landmark.
The house itself is an old landmark, dating presumably from early [18]40s. It was once one of the handsomest residences in the village, but has in the last few decades been neglected by the owner, who spent nearly all her money on others and saved very little for her own use or the upkeep of her property. The grounds have become a wild tangle of shrubbery, and the house itself is filled with the accumulated belongings of years.
Adam S. Cowdrey, father of Miss Belle Cowdrey, came to Ithaca in 1822 and established his trade of carriage maker and blacksmith about where the White Studio building now stands. His wife, Mary Frances Riley was a native of England. They had two children, a son and the daughter who has just died.
The son, Charles, graduated from Union College, and then left Ithaca with the intention of spending a few years in travel. The few years, however, lengthened into many, and for a long time the family had heard nothing of him when suddenly, without warning he appeared riding into the village on a white pony. It was said that he came from Texas. This was apparently shortly before his father died in 1879.
Never Heard From Again.
Charles Cowdrey remained for a short time in the village and then left, as suddenly as he had come, leaving behind him the white pony which his sister often rode in later years. From that time on apparently his relatives never heard from him. At one time an attempt was made to trace him, and it was thought that he had gone to Australia but no record of his arrival could be obtained. A few years ago, therefore, he was declared legally dead, and so far as is known he left no heirs.
Miss Cowdrey was never willing to sell any of the real estate which she owned, partly because of the possible claim of this brother.
Fond of Birds and Squirrels.
When her mother died she continued to live in the old home, occupying herself with charity, with her birds, flowers and books. All of these things had become passions with her.
She kept parrots, cockatoos, canary birds, and a large family of squirrels. The books had accumulated until they not only filled the shelves intended for them but were piled on the floor, tables and chairs. At one time Miss Cowdrey had a green house, but that was allowed to fall into ruins. The yard around the house was full of wild flowers and in the spring school children used to scramble over the fence to pick the violets which had become very much at home in this spot although it was in the very center if the city. Miss Cowdrey was much interested in botany and cherished the weeds and the wild flowers as much as others might a formal garden.
Very few persons know the fund of benevolences and kindliness which Miss Cowdrey possessed or the number of persons, obscure individuals, whom she helped continually. She was also much interested in the City Hospital and at one time a trustee, and more recently she had taken an interest in the Infantile Paralysis [Polio] Reconstruction Home, but for the most part her charity took the form of unostentatious giving to individuals.
Interested on Bargain Sales.
Another interest she had, and that was the accumulation of all sorts of unrelated objects, many of them picked up at bargain sales and then left, many of the bundles still untied, to pile up all over the house. The house is said to contain many valuable paintings, as well as a large number of worthless things.
Miss Cowdrey possessed a keen mind and had had an excellent education, attending a private school in Albany at one time. Her mind remained clear up to the very last, and a conversation with the solitary occupant of the old house was always interesting. She had a number of friends who were in the habit of seeing her often, and of caring for her during the years when she refused to have a regular nurse or attendant.
As an example of the clarity of here[her] mind up to the very end it interesting to note that Miss Cowdrey recognized a picture in the rotogravure section of The Journal News Saturday evening showing group of children at the Infantile Paralysis Reconstruction Home.
The funeral will be held on Thursday morning at 10:30 o'clock from Gilbert, undertaking parlors. Rev. Henry J. Condit, pastor of the Congregational Church will officiate, and interment will be in the City Cemetery.”
“Death Claims One of Ithaca’s Oldest Citizens,” Ithaca Journal, February 27, 1922, 5.