0bits 241-250

241. Mrs. Mary McCarthy (paper dated March 16, 1937)
Services for Mrs. Mary McCarthy, 73 who died Thursday at Traverse City State hospital following a heart attack will be held Saturday afternoon at Gary, Ind. She moved to this country from County Down, Ireland, when 17, and settled in Thompsonville 24 years ago. Surviving are four sons, Samuel and William of Chicago, Dave of Detroit and James of Thompsonville; three daughters, Mrs. Helen Dillehay of Thompsonville, Mrs. J. Agnew of Chicago and Mrs. Al Larsen of Minneapolis; twenty- one grandchildren; and one great grandchild, and a brother and sister in Ireland.

242. Mrs. Mary Kraft
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Kraft were held Tuesday at Grace Evangelical church, Scottville. Mrs. Kraft died at her home in Scottville. She was born in Victory township and spent her whole life in Mason county. She was a member of Victory Baptist church. Surviving are two sons, Clarence and Leon at home; a daughter, Mrs. Clifford Bateson of Peoria, Ill; five grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Minnie Anderson of Victory and a brother, John Hansen of Grant township.

243. Mrs. Everett Silby
Mrs. Everett Silby, 52 of Grand Ledge, died at St. Lawrence hospital, Lansing. Funeral at the Teman funeral home at 2 Friday with internment in Oakwood cemetery. She is survived by her husband, three children, Marvin, and Eva at home and Mrs. Albert Slee of Lansing; two brothers, James Curry of Jackson and John Curry of Grand Rapids, and two sisters, Mrs. Agness Obermeyer of Grand Rapids and Mrs. Alice Mark of Copemish. Mrs Silby was born Nov. 18, 1886, in Manistee county near Bear lake.

244. Henry Cutler, Luther, Dies Former Lake County Sheriff was Civil War Veteran
Luther - Henry Allen Cutler, 98, resident of Luther since 1882, died at his home Wednesday. Mr Cutler was born near Belding and was married at Lowell. His wife died--- years ago. Mr Cutler was one of the last two surviving Civil war veterans in Lake County, having served in the Michigan Infantry. He was undersheriff of Lake county four terms and served as sheriff two terms. He is survived by four sons, George and Ward of Luther, William of Marne and Hal L. Cutler of Ludington, former Circuit judge; one daughter Marie at home a sister, Mrs Thomas Woodruff of Grand Rapids, a brother in the east, three grandchildren and one great grandson. Funeral services will be held at the home Friday afternoon.

245. Sandra Jane Menold (1934)
Sandra Jane Menold, aged 4, youngest of the two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Renaldo Menold of Detroit, died there Sunday and the remains were brought here today. The funeral is being held at the Wm. Menold home this afternoon, Rev. Otto Lamb officiating, and burial will be in the local cemetery. The parents have the sympathy of everyone in their sorrow.

246. MRS. JOSEPHINE HOST, 71 CLOTHIERS WIDOW DIES
Mrs. Josephine Host 71 of 849 Turner Ave N.W. died Monday at St Mary's hospital.
She was the widow of Theodore Host, Monroe Ave clothier for many years. Mrs. Host was a member of St. Mary's church and active in its organizations.
She is survived by two sons, Dr. Lawrence N. of Detroit and Theodore J. of Grand Rapids, two daughters, Mrs. Loraine Brodell and Mrs. Parke Hicko, both of Detroit; a brother, Joseph Vogt of Grand Rapids and three sisters, Mrs Augusta Vogt of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Anna Dutmer of Gooding and Mrs. Mary Steinbach of Hanna.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock Friday. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary cemetery.
247. Mrs. Ella LeVant (from paper of Dec 18, 1924)
Ella May Diamond was born at Saint Charles, Saginaw county, Mich., October 18, 1875 and died at Allegan, Mich, December 9, 1924. Her father died when she was quite young and she made her home with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Ed McIntyre. In 1892 she was united in marriage to Lee LeVant of Keslar. They moved to Thompsonville in 1896 where she has resided most of the time since. Mrs. LeVant was of a kind and living disposition and made friends readily. A few years ago following the death of her mother, Mrs Ella Diamond, who was the founder of the Hotel Diamond, she had a severe sickness from which she never fully recovered physically. But she was brave and cheerful throughout. She with her husband were the proprietors of a show, with which they made the larger part of the towns in Michigan. When the show seasons closed they would return and spend the winters here, where she took an active part in the social life of the town.
Mrs. LeVant was a member of the local order Eastern Star, and Lady Maccabee lodges, from who's midst she will be greatly missed. She was interested in seeing the town progress and ready and able to help in any good cause.
She was taken with an attack of bronchial pneumonia on Monday night and was taken to the hospital at Allegan where she passed away Tuesday morning. the remains were brought here Thursday noon.
She leaves to mourn her loss a husband, Lee LeVant, one sister, Mrs. Clara Anderson and one brother, Charles Diamond, besides other relatives and a host of friends who extend their sympathy. Services were held at the home on Friday afternoon. Rev. Ball officiating, , the services being conducted by the local order of the Eastern Star, with burial at the local cemetery.
Card of Thanks
We wish to express our sincere appreciation of the many acts of kindness and expressions of sympathy extended to us in our sad bereavement.
Lee LeVant, Mrs. Clara Anderson, Chas Diamond

248. FLORENCE DELANEY
Florence L. Stewart was born in Bronsen, Branch Co. Mich., Oct 31, 1872, and departed this life at Grandville, Mich. Oct. 28, 1924 aged 51 years, 11 months, 28 days. She came with her parents to Thompsonville in 1891 and in July 1892 was married to Ed DeLaney. To this union three children were born, the oldest one passing on before the age of ten years. She leaves to mourn her loss a devoted husband and two daughters, Hazel DeLaney of Grandville, Mich and Mrs. Vera Harrison of Shelby, Mich. her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Stewart, and one brother John Stewart Jr. all of Thompsonville. Mrs. DeLaney lived here the first 20 years of her married life, where she made a hose of friends who extend their sympathy to the bereaved family. She was a member of the local Rebekka lodge the members attending the funeral as a body.
Mrs. DeLaney was of a kind and pleasing disposition, making friends with all with whom she became acquainted, and was especially devoted to her family and home.

It is hard to break the tender rod, when love has bound the heart;
It is hard, so hard, to speak the word, we must forever part;
Yet again we hope to meet thee when the day of life has fled
There in heaven with joy to greet thee, where no farewell tear is shed.

Those from out of town that came to attend the Funeral of Mrs E. DeLaney were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Therman of Lansing, Mr. and Mrs. F.D. McVicker of Grand Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. McVicker of Ludington, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McKillop and Miss Verna Henderson of Pt. Betsie, Jessie McVicker and Guy Bender of Grand Rapids.

Card of Thanks
We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to our many neighbors and friends for their expressions of sympathy and kind assistance both at Grandville and Thompsonville during the sickness and death of our loved one, also to Rev. Glen Ball for his comforting words and to the singers and those who so generously sent their floral offerings, the Rebekka's and the Odd Fellows for their floral offerings, as well as the bearers and the friends who so kindly loaned their cars.
Edd DeLaney, Miss Hazel DeLaney, Mr. and Mrs. John Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Stewart,
John Stewart Jr.

Resolutions of Condolence
Whereas, it has pleased out Heavenly father to take from our midst our late sister, Florence DeLaney, and we the members of the Unity Rebekah Lodge No. 19 record her death with deepest sorrow.
Resolved, that in the death of our sister, we recognize the hand of God and bow in submission to his Holy will and cherish the kind deeds of our departed sister.
Resolved, that we drape our charter for the period of thirty days. And that we tender our sympathy to the bereaved family and commend them to God, who does all things well, and that we record this tribute of respect on our minuets, And also a copy will be sent to the bereaved family.
Minnie Bell, Etta Stever, Eola Eddy

249. MRS. DAN KEITH, 73, DIES AT SCOTTVILLE
Pioneer Resident of Mason County Passes (1938)
Scottville - June 25 - Ill many weeks, Mrs. Dan Keith, 73, pioneer resident of Mason county died at her home Saturday morning.
Mrs. Keith had been a resident of the county since 1886, coming as a bride to a farm in Victory township. The family lived in Victory until 1929 when Mr. and Mrs. Keith, retired and moved to their present home in Scottville.
Mrs. Keith is survived by her husband, three daughters, Mrs. Charles Radke of Grant township, Miss Nettie Keith, a teacher at South Bend, Ind. and Mrs. Clarence Stolberg of St. Petersburg, Fla; and a son John Keith of Scottville; five sisters, Mrs. R.J. McArthur of Plymouth, Mrs. Margaret Calder of Mt. Forest, Ont; Mrs. Robert Kinnon of Pense, Sask. and Mrs. Catherine Moddy of Mission City, B.C.; a brother John McArthur of Mt. Forest, and seven grandchildren. A son R.D. Keith, died at Camp Custer in 1918.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon in Victory Methodist Episcopal church with the Rev. Allan Scheur officiating. Burial will be in South Victory cemetery.

250. Frank A. Host
Frank A. Host, aged 74, of 843 Front av. N.W. passed away Tuesday morning. Surviving are two sons, Raymond M. and Al A. Host; two daughters, the Misses Thelma and Lucille Host; three grandchildren, three sisters and one brother. Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Thursday morning at St. Mary's church. Internment in MT. Calvary cemetery. Mr. Host's body reposes at the family home where members of the Holy Name society will meet at 8:30 Wednesday evening to recite the Rosary. Arrangements by Alt.

Obits 251-260

251. NELSON DRAKE, 90, CLAIMED BY DEATH (Jan.28, 1935)
Nelson Drake, Civil War veteran, who Jan 7, celebrated his ninetieth birthday anniversary, at his home 842 Scribner av. NW. died Monday at St. Mary's hospital where he had ben taken with an attack of pneumonia. He had been a resident of Grand Rapids 25 years. Mr Drake was born in 1845 at Dansville. He was one of seven children born to George and Sarah Drake. His grandfather had been one of the builders of the Erie Canal. He enlisted at the age of 18, in 1863, and served until the close of the Civil war. later he learned the stone mason trade and was a contractor and builder in Ionia an number of years. for 20 years prior to coming to Grand Rapids he resided on a soldiers claim of 160 acres which he had taken near Custer in Mason county.
He was married in 1869 to Ada Ward of Chesaning to whom three children were born. She died in 1889. He was married again in 1922 to Mrs. Ella Ruggles, who survives him. Besides the widow three children survive, Clarence of Vestaburg, Rev. Floyd Drake of Hubbardston and Mrs. Fred (Florence) Deiner of this city, the latter two being twins.
Up until a few days preceding his death Mr. Drake had remained unusually active.
Funeral services are to be held at 10:30 Thursday morning at Rauschenbergers funeral home. Rev. J.C. DeVinney of Second Street Methodist church will be officiating. Burial is to be in Custer cemetery near Ludington.

252. DEATH CLAIMS BENZIE'S LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN (JAN 31 1937?)
James Henry Merrill -Thompsonville - Funeral services were held here Wednesday for James Henry Merrill, 93 Benzie county's last veteran of the Civil was. Merrill died here at the home of a great- granddaughter, Mrs. Yalmer Lonn, with whom he had made his home for the last few years.
Enlisting in the Union army when he was 18, Merrill saw service with Company B, 6th Michigan Calvary in the Battle of Gettysburg and other eastern encounters.
He was married to Miss Edith VanValkenberg on Jan 1, 1868. Spending 45 continuous years of service with the Pere Marquette railway, he lived in Grand Rapids, Rodney, Newaygo and White Cloud before moving here.
He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Jane Woods of Sparta; one son Roswell of Buelah; two daughters, Mrs. Allen Bowman of Newaygo and Mrs. James E. Hamilton of Dayton, Ohio; five grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and six great- great-grandchildren.

253. Charles Hunt
Charles Hunt, a former well known resident of this place, died at the home of his brother Leslie on June 12. Mr. Hunt was 74 years of age. He went to bed apparently in good health and was found dead in the morning. Death is thought to have been caused by paralysis. He leaves a wife, two daughters and one son. Burial was at his old home at Onondaga, Mich.

254. LESTER F. TRIMBLE PASSES AT BELDING
Belding, Jan 17 - Lester E. Trimble, 67 in the bakery business here 21 years, died here early Tuesday after a short illness.
He was born in Benton harbor and had conducted a bakery at Traverse City before moving to Grand Rapids and then to Belding 24 years ago. He was a member of the R.A.M., the White Shrine of Ionia, and the consistory in Grand Rapids.
Surviving are the widow, two sons, George of Traverse City and John of Avelon, Pa., and a daughter, Mrs. Minnie Little of Fennville. Funeral services will be held at the Fitzjohn funeral home at 2:30 Saturday, under Masonic auspices with burial in River Ridge cemetery here.
255. Jacob C. Gilson
Jacob C. Gilson , aged 41, of 5043 Carson av. S.W. entered into rest Sunday morning in the Veteran's hospital at Camp Custer. Surviving are his widow, Mae G. Gilson; a daughter, Joyce; two sons, Lester and Ivan; five sisters, Mrs. J. Gannon of Manistee; Mrs. B. Linde of Thompsonville; Mrs. J. Miller of Ravenna, Mrs. H. reed of Muskegon, Mrs. W. Hartman of Milwaukee, and a brother, Ernest Gilson of Grand Rapids. He was a World war veteran and a member of the Custer post No. 3240. The body will arrive in Grand Rapids Monday evening and will lie in state at the Clarence D. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc. Funeral announcement later.

256. Mrs. Mennie Hagstrom (Sep. 1934)
Mrs. Mennie Hagstrom, 62 lifelong Free Soil resident, died at Midland. Survivors are two sons, Earl and Forest of Flint; two daughters, Mrs. Lee Boynton and Mrs. Percy LaBree of Midland and eleven grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Free Soil Latterday Saints church. Burial in Maple grove cemetery.

257. SPARTA BOYS DIE ON SLED
Gerald Langford, 11 and Fritz Ruth, 15 killed by automobile
Sparta, Jan 4 - Gerald Langford, 11 and Fritz Ruth 15 both of Sparta, were killed late Friday night when their toboggan sled was struck by an automobile driven by Ward. C. Stauffer, 21 and swerved into the path of Ingersol's car as it rounded the curve.
The accident occurred about 10;20 Friday night on county highway 500 one and one-half miles west of here. Both youngsters were dead upon arrival at the office of Dr. Frank Bull who said the deaths were caused by fractured skulls.
Coroner Calls Inquest
Coroner Harmon C. Wolfe of Grand Rapids and Prosecutor Bartel Johkman Saturday decided there would be an inquest next week. In the meantime State Police Troopers Lester Coyendall and Claude Bartell of Rockford post said the two drivers had been ordered to appear before Justice O.T. McGrady Saturday afternoon to answer to charges that neither of had a drivers license.
Gerald is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Langford and a brother Maurice, 19 and a sister Carrol June, 8.
Funeral services will be held at the Baptist church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with burial in Sparta - Greenwood cemetery.
Fritz leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ruth; two brothers, John Jr. and Robert and a sister, Elizabeth.
Service fort Ruth will be held at the Baptist church at 2 p.m. Monday.
The body of each boy will lie in state at the church from 12 to 2 p.m. the day of the services, after removal from the Bettes funeral home here.

258. MINER D. KING, RESIDENT OF THOMPSONVILLE, DIES
Thompsonville, July 8 - Miner D. King, 66 resident of Thompsonville for 38 years, died at his home Saturday.
Mr. King was born at Ada on Oct. 17, 1869. His childhood days were spent at Ada and later he moved to Grand Rapids where he was employed for six years.
He is survived by the widow and three daughters, Mrs Will Chichester of Hart, Mrs. Ed Burmaster of Muskegon and Mrs Ivan may of Copemish, and one sister, Mrs. Anna Davis of Grand Rapids.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Congregational church. Burial will be in Thompsonville cemetery.

259. THOMPSONVILLE DOCTOR'S WIFE DIES AT AGE OF 68
Mrs. Etta Stever
Thompsonville, Sept. 24 - Funeral services for Mrs. Etta Stever, 68, who died Sunday, will be held at the home Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs. Stever, wife of Dr. M.F. Stever, died from a heart attack. Her husband was away from home. She was found by her daughter, Mrs. Roy Wareham.
Mrs. Stever was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barringer and was born in Marine City. She was united in marriage to Dr. Stever in 1883 and in 1897 they came to Thompsonville. She was a member of the Congregational church and was an active member in the Eastern Star and Rebekah lodges. She leaves besides the husband, two daughters, Mrs. Roy Wareham and Mrs. C.G. McMaster of Thompsonville and two sons, David H. and Benjamin H. Stever of Findley, Ohio.
Burial will be in Thompsonville cemetery.

260. CLARENCE C. HOOT
MT PLEASANT - Funeral services were held Sunday for Clarence C. Hoot, 50, former resident of White Could who died of a heart attack here Friday. He was born in White Cloud in 1919 and when he moved to Mt. Pleasant and became freight agent for Ann Arbor railroad. He remained with the company until 1934. In recent years he was connected with an oil supply company. He leaves two sons, Harold and Donald; the widow, Susie, and his mother Nellie.

261. ACCIDENT WAS FATAL
Margaret Boak Dead From Injuries Received in Collision at Thompson Avenue Crossing
Was Just Starting Out For a Sunday Evening Sleighride With Two Companions When Struck by an Ann Arbor Engine
"Maggie Boak is dead." The sad words were passed from lip to lip last Monday morning shortly after 9 o'clock, and the report, the unfortunate result of the most distressing railway accident in the history of our town, was all to true.
The accident occurred about 7:10 Sunday evening when Robert Anderson, proprietor of the depot candy store, Miss Margaret Boak and Miss Grace Brandow started out with a team and cutter for a pleasure drive and were struck on the Thompson avenue crossing near the depot by a north bound engine and caboose on the Ann Arbor railroad. The engine as near as can be learned struck off the horse about on the shoulder dragging the team and rig clear across the read and throwing the occupants out in various positions. Miss Boak who was on the side of the cutter next to the direction from which the train came is thought to have been thrown against the locomotive as the cutter slewed around from the force of the collision. Several ribs were torn loose from the spinal column, a bad gash cut her forehead and her body was covered with bruises. She was unconscious when picked up and up to the time of her death was rational but a few moments and suffered terrible agony. The post mortem examination made by Drs. McDermott and Bracy showed that a fractured rib had perforated a large vein and projected into the lung causing an internal hemorage.
Miss Brandow sustained several painful cuts and bruises but was able to walk to the Hotel Diamond (where both girls were employed) without assistance. Mr. Anderson miraculously escaped without a scratch, probably due to the fact that he was holding to the lines at the time and was jerked out in that manner. Both horses which were owned by Liveryman Tolbert and Rutherford were all battered up and were shot a few moments after the accident to get them out of their misery.
Miss Boak was carried at once to the Diamond house where Drs. Bracy and McDermott worked over her nearly the entire night.
Where and How it Occurred
The crossing at which the fatal accident happened is a very dangerous one to say the least, under normal conditions when through trains are passing. The view to the south along the Ann Arbor right of way to a person crossing from the west is obstructed by buildings until the person is within about 10 feet of the track.
The train in question that caused the mishap was an engine and caboose known on the records as Extra 35 and was following close behind a through freight, No. 37. Mr Anderson had driven from the livery barn to the Diamond house , crossing the track just as the freight No. 37 was whistling for the crossing south of the depot. While the ladies were being loaded into the cutter a the hotel No. 37 passed the station at a high rate of speed and Anderson shortly after started out toward the east across the railroad with the horses at a smart trot. Scarcely three minuets had elapsed since the passing of train 37 and as it was not reasonable to expect another so closely following no more than ordinary precaution was taken at the crossing. As the cutter reached the switch which crosses the street forty-five feet west of the main track of the Ann Arbor they met Will Menold who with his wife was driving in the opposite direction at a rapid trot. Mr. and Mrs. Menold had seen the head light of the rapidly approaching locomotive and as they passed the cutter Will called out to the three to look out for the train. The warning was plainly heard by the occupants of the cutter Robert throwing all his weight onto the lines endeavoring to stop the team. They were too close to the rails however and the momentum of the rig carried the horses onto the track before they could be stopped and ere they could begin to back the train was upon them.
No warning of any kind from the approaching train had been heard by the three people in the cutter though Mr. Menold states that he heard one blast of the whistle as the train was near the Ann Arbor depot.
The Coroners Inquest
On Monday shortly after the death of Miss Boak, justice E.S. Northrup acting as coroner, summoned a jury of six business men, viz, D.E. Slawson, H. Ritter, C.L. Bennett, Wm. Hoag, J.E. Farnham and L.B. Putney and began inquiry regarding the accident. About twenty different witnesses were sworn including the engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman that were on the train at the time of the collision. The inquest took the greater part of two days and it was about 6 o'clock Tuesday evening when the jury brought in the verdict which is in substance as follows; That the deceased, Margaret Boak, came to her death from injuries received while sleigh riding with Robert Anderson and Grace Brandow at the main crossing of the Ann Arbor Railroad in the village of Thompsonville, by colliding with special train No. 35 north bound; That Robert Anderson used every available effort to avoid the accident after being warned by Wm. Menold; That No. 35 was running at a higher rate of speed than the state allows for trains passing through villages; That the space of the time between regular train No. 37 and special train No. 35 was less than three minuets and the entire blame of th unfortunate accident is attached to negligence on the part of the Ann Arbor Railroad.
Margaret Boak or Maggie as she was familiarly known among her acquaintances, was the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boak of this village and was eighteen years of age last July. Two brothers and two sisters in addition to her parents are left to mourn her departure. Born in Newberry, Upper peninsula, she came to this place with her family about five years ago and, with the exception of about a year spent at the home of her grandmother in Newberry, she has been here ever since. She attended the local schools for some time and about a year ago entered the employ of the Diamond Hotel where she was working at the time of her death.
Always pleasant and vivacious, Margaret had endeared herself to all with whom she was associated and was greatly liked by her fellow employees and the boarders at the hotel.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Congregational church, Rev. Sprague preaching the sermon. a great profusion of beautiful flowers contributed by sorrowing friends decorated the casket. The remains were laid to rest in the local cemetery. the sorrowing parents have the sympathy of the entire community in their sudden and irreparable bereavement.

262. VICTORY RESIDENT FOR PAST 63 YEARS PASSES TO REWARD
(last part of June 1927)
Mrs. Floyd Robertson and Husband Who Survives Came From New York State.
PROGRESSIVE FARMERS WERE KINDLY PEOPLE
Leader in Community Life Will Be Buried Thursday From Hjortholm Home
Mrs. Floyd Robertson, one of the oldest and best known of Victory township's pioneers, passed away Tuesday morning from the farm home where she had lived for 63 years - nearly three-fourths of her long life.
Vesta Watkins was born in September, 1843, in Italy Hollow, Italy township, Yates county, New York, a place so named because the picturesque hills surrounding it reminded the first settlers of the mountains of Italy.
Married Life 64 years
She was married there 64 years ago to Floyd Robertson, who lives to mourn her loss.
In 1867, when the country was beginning to recover from the Civil war and was seeking to aid the veterans by opening new lands and offering special opportunities to settlers, much talk drifted "back east", regarding opportunities in Michigan. Mrs. Robertson had a cousin located in Lowell who had done surveying in this region and it was upon his advice that they located in victory where the land is exceptionally good for general farming.
There were few clearings in the dense forest that covered that section at that time, but the Robertsons were more fortunate than some because of a curious coincidence which goes to prove how small the world really is.
Arrived at Pentwater they recognized among the woodsmen waiting for the boat to dock, a man from their own New York village, who had been arrested and convicted there for wife beating, and had fled the contempt and scorn of his neighbors to hide himself in the northern wilds and had been effectively hidden from his wife and all former acquaintances until that moment of recognition.

Buys Wife Beater's Claim
It developed that he was "proving up" on an 80-acre claim and about to be married, regardless of the wife back home. This meeting up with old neighbors changed his plans however. He had no mind to live where the story of his former life would soon be known to his associates, and so offered his 80 acres of land and his 10 x 12 log cabin with it's primitive furnishings to Mr. Robertson for $75. The offer was accepted and the wife beater went farther into the woods to hide himself again.
The Robertsons prospered and were happy from the first. Mrs. Robertson was wont to say: "We were young and well and we didn't mind doing without things." The cabin had a dirt floor, with the exception of the beards upon which rested the legs of the cook stove: the beds were bunks filled with hemlock boughs at first and later with mattresses filled with"stripings" from birch and basswood bark and artificial light was from a single, small kerosene lamp. But. since wealth is a matter of comparison, they were wealthy compared to many of their neighbors and rapidly added to their comforts, developing the comfortable home and the well tilled acres of later days.
Leaders In Community Life
Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were leaders from the first in developing the better side of community
life. Their intelligent and successful conduct of their own affairs, their kindly generosity to the new neighbors fast crowding into the settlement won for them the respect, confidence and affection of all and won ready co-operation in their efforts to further the founding and support of church, school and all desirable community interests.
Two daughters were born to them, Laura, Mrs. Giddings of Lansing, and Alice, Mrs. Samuel Hjortholm. When Alice married Mr. and Mrs. Robertson had reached the age when they felt unequal to carrying the burden of the farm alone and they could not bring themselves to leave the place into which practically all their life experiences were woven, and so it was arranged for all to remain on the farm.

Four Early Neighbors Left.
Of the early settlers who were in Victory when Mr. and Mrs. Robertson came there, only Mrs. Peter Heyse and LeRoy Pratt remain in Mason County. Alfred Dow of Florida and Mrs. John Phelan of Grand Rapids were also neighbors in those days.
Mrs. August Miller, who passed away some months ago, was a resident of Lincoln at that time and was one with whom Mrs. Robertson dearly loved to visit.
Mrs. Robertson, though lame, enjoyed fairly good health until in April when she suffered a stroke of paralysis. She has been bed ridden much of the time since then, suffering many slight strokes and with a distressing heart malady.
Surviving, other than Mr. Robertson and the daughters, are four granddaughters, Gladys, Grace and Evelyn Hjortholm and Myrle Giddings.
Funeral Services Thursday
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Hjortholm home and at 2:30 from Victory Methodist church, conducted by Rev. E.L. Sutcliff of Scottville.

Contributed by Vicki Wilson