BACK TO OBITUARIES HOME PAGE

 

HOPKINS, JESSE:  (The Burr Oak Acorn, Thursday, May 7, 1925, Page 1 Column 4)  TWO MEN DIE AS RESULT OF AUTO ACCIDENT.  A fatal automobile accident occurred on the Chicago Road near Snatz Corners, about 1 ¼ miles nearly straight south of this village, last Wednesday afternoon, in which Claire Straehly, aged 19, and Jesse Hopkins, aged 33, both of Bronson, received injuries that caused their deaths two days later.  Straehly sustained a double fracture of a leg, a mangled arm, several cuts and bruises in addition to internal injuries. He was taken to a Kalamazoo hospital where he died Friday evening from resulting pneumonia.  Hopkins had both legs broken above the knees. He was taken to Wade Hospital at Coldwater, and never fully recovered consciousness after his legs were set. Death was caused by a blood clot at the base of the brain, also Friday evening.  Straehly was driving the car when the accident happened and admitted having gone to sleep at the wheel. The auto jumped the cement and bumped against a big tree at the roadside. Both men had been working in Sturgis factories and were en route home by the Fawn River route to the cement road at Ely’s corners.  Mr. Straehly was engaged to be married to a Bronson young lady, who with his parents are left to mourn. Hopkins was a married man and leaves a widow and two small boys.  The funeral of Claire Straehly was held at Bronson on Monday, and that of Jesse Hopkins was held at the same place on Wednesday.
HOUTS, SADIE ELIZABETH:  (died 17 Nov. 1908, dau. of James Sherman Houts & Effie Swan) The funeral service for Miss Sadie Elizabeth Houts, who died recently of pneumonia, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Houts on South Howard St., was held at the home this morning at 10 o'clock.  Rev. C. W. Chadwick, of the Baptist church and. Rev. W. J. Wilson of the M. E. Church, officiating.  The young ladies who were fellow employees of Miss HOuts at Darling & Beahan's attended the service.  The remains were interred in Greenwood cemetery.
HOWALD, ALICE (Wilcox): (The Bronson Journal, Fri., Nov. 17, 1922, p. 6)  Alice Wilcox was born in Ovid township, Branch County, Michigan August 8, 1858, and died November 12, 1922.  November 18,1880, she was married to Fred Howald.  Five children were born to this union, all of whom , with the husband, survive.  Mrs Howald was a member of the Methodist Church and Woman's Christian Union. Until her declining years she was actively connected in Church Work and Civic betterment.  When death came she was 64 years, 3 months and 4 days of age.   Funeral service was held at the M.E. Church, Wednesday afternoon, Rev. W.P. Manning officiating. Internment was made in Bronson Cemetery.
HOWALD, FRED: Fred Howald was born in Massilion, Ohio, June 16, 1853, and passed away July 22, 1923, at the age of 70 years, one month and 5 days at his home in Bronson, Michigan.  At the age of four years, he moved with his parents, Christian and Catherine Howald, to Camden, Michigan, where he spent his early boyhood.  On November 18,, 1878, he was united in marriage to Alice Wilcox, who passed away to the great beyond just seven months ago.  five children were born to this union; Henry of Engadine, Michigan; Myrtle, wife of O.F. Miles of Phoenix, Arizona; Ray of Bronson; Gladys, wife of L.S. Smith of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Kenneth of South Bend, Indiana.  He joined the Odd Fellows Lodge when a young man of 21 and has been a member in good standing until his death.  Besides his immediate family he is survived by a brother, John Howald of Camden, Michigan, three sisters , Rose White and Barbara Morgan of Camden, Michigan, and Louise Jenkins of Cunningham, Kansas, nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives and friends.  Funeral services, conducted by Rev. W.P. Manning, were held at his late home, Tuesday afternoon, with internment in the Bronson cemetery.
HURLEY, JACOB: (Coldwater Daily Reporter, Tues Afternoon, July 28, 1931, p1)  Coldwater Cigar Maker Succumbs at Farm Home Near Here.   Jacob W. Hurley, 70 years old, cigar maker by trade and a Coldwater and Branch County resident for more than six and a half decades, died at 4 pm Monday at his farm home wet of the city after a brief illness.  Born July 19, 1861 at North Lima Ohio, Mr Hurley came to Ovid Township with his parents, John H. and Margaret Hurley, when but two years old. After a brief residence there the family moved into Coldwater.  Mr Hurley began work as a cigar maker when 13 years old. At that time he was in the employ of Lucius Wing. Later he was employed by Barton Tibbits, and after mastering the trade he established his own cigar business which he maintained for 30 years or more.  During his residence here Mr Hurley also served as constable, volunteer fireman and night watchman. He was slightly wounded by a bullet from the gun of a would-be assassin while on night police duty here. During later years he was employed as flagman at the Clay Street railroad crossing. His one hobby was the collecting of antiques and rare historical relics.  Fifty-one years ago he joined and served an enlistment with the Coldwater Lightguards under the command of Capt. Frank Newberry.  He married August 1, 1880 and with Mrs Hurley observed their golden wedding anniversary a year ago. His death Monday was the result of an illness which followed a paralytic stroke which he suffered the first part of this month.  Surviving family members include the widow, Emma; four sons, Jesse, Fred and Irvin, all of Coldwater, and Henry of Detroit; three daughters, Beulah Hillen of Chicago, Alta Greenrich of Coldwater and Oneita Sullivan of Birmingham; and one brother, Frank Hurley of Coldwater.  Funeral arrangements which were left in charge of the McConkey Funeral Home will be announced Wednesday, family members stated today.