Three Pioneers
WHOSE DEATH OCCURRED WITHIN THREE DAYS.
All Had Done Their Share Toward Making This Country What It Is.
This week it Is our duty to chronicle the deaths of three of the pioneers of this section, all of whom had done his and her share of the work incident to settling a new country. To each Is due full credit of leading blameless and industrious lives and leaving a monument in the shape of a fertile country to perpetuate their names.
GEORGE W. THOMAS.
George W. Thomas was born in Pontiac, Oakland county, August 12, 1832, and died at his home on North Bridge street In this city, November 20, 1904.
When he was two years old his father, Heman Thomas, located on section 23 of Eagle township and built a log house In which the family lived for many years. Mr. Thomas taught school winters and worked on the farm during the summer. When he grew to manhood he possessed the confidence of his neighbors to the extent that after being elected to every township office they sent him to St. Johns as register of deeds of Clinton county in 1884. When the Ionia & Lansing R. R. was built he furnished all the ties used between Lansing and Portland and was appointed the first station agent at Portland.
Deceased leaves a widow and two sons, LeRoy of Duluth and Chapin of this city. He was the first worshipful master of Grand Ledge Lodge No. 179, F. & A. M. and was a member of Grand Ledge Chapter, R. A. M. He has been a lifelong, active member of the Masonic fraternity.
Funeral services were held In the Congregational church, Wednesday, November 23, Interment at Nilles cemetery.
REUBEN WOOD.
Among those who helped to make this city what it la was Reuben Wood, whose death on Saturday afternoon was not entirely unexpected, owing to his advanced age. He had been 111 but a week although be had been ailing for the past two years with heart trouble.
Mr. Wood was born In New Hampshire in 1824 and in the following year came with his parents to Michigan, settling at Farmington. In 1848 he came to the spot now known as Grand Ledge and has lived here continuously since that time. In point of residence he was the oldest citizen in this city. He assisted afterward in platting the village and gave it its name.
In 1854 he was married to Miss Alice Esler, one of the pupils In the school In which he was teacher. They were the parents of four children, two of whom, Alice E. of this city, and Clark of Lansing, with the faithful wife and mother, survive him.
He was one of the first members of the Congregational church in this city and has been one of Us deacons for years, and at the time of bin death was senior deacon.
Funeral services were held at the home on Madison street, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Revs. Secord, Wilson and Kelley. Interment at Oakwood.
Mr. Wood’s early struggles in making a home in the wilderness will he taken up in the history of Grand Ledge, which is now being published in installments in the Independent.
MRS JUDITH SANBORN.
Miss Judith Pike was born April 7. 1818, In New Hampshire and died in Grand Ledge, Mich., November 18, 1904, Aged 85 years, 7 months, 11 days.
On May 15, 1836 she was united in marriage to Dearborn Sanborn at Brasner Falls, N. Y.
From this union ten children were born, four of whom survive her: B. F. Sanborn of Grand Ledge; Lucetta Monroe, Bath; Adalalde Richardson, East Syracuse, and Amaelia Schutt, Roxand. In 1845, Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn settled in Danby, Ionia County, remaining there until 1863, when they moved to Eagle, where they lived until the death of her husband in 1890. Since 1891 she has made her home with her son, B. F. Sanborn.
The deceased lived to see the fifth descendant of her children which is very remarkable. For a great many years she has been a member of the M. E. church and was a considerate worker therein until age prevented.
Funeral services were held at the home of her son, B. F. Sanborn, on Sunday by Rev. B. S. Pratt. Burial at the Simmons Cemetery in North Eagle.
