THE SEBEWA RECOLLECTOR Bulletin of the
Sebewa Association (Sebewa Township, Ionia County, MI).
AUGUST 1999, Volume 35, Number 1. Submitted with written permission of Grayden
D. Slowins, Editor:
SURNAMES: McNEIL, SMITH, BOWERS, DOAN, COOK, PROBASCO, HALLADAY, COTTON, HAMLIN,
DROSTE, HEATON, LUSCHER, ERDMAN, EARTHMAN, FAES, HUNZIKER, HUNTZINGER, THORPE,
SANDBORN, GIBBS, JOHNSON, TUSSING, YORK, DEATSMAN, BENSCHOTER, MILES, KRAUSZ,
SUMMERS, ROGERS, SQUIRES, THOMPSON, YEOMANS, DEXTER
RECENT DEATHS:
ATHEL McNEIL SMITH BOWERS DOAN, 88, widow of H. DeVere SMITH, BOWERS & Leo DOAN,
mother of Barbara DAGGETT, Norman SMITH & Donna COOK, daughter of Fern PROBASCO
& Theron McNEIL. She retired from Auto-Owners Insurance, buried in East Sebewa
Cemetery.
MILDRED M. HAMLIN HALLADAY, 93, widow of Russell HALLADAY, mother of Paul
HALLADAY, sister of Russell & Richard HAMLIN, daughter of Oscar & Maud COTTON
HAMLIN. She was a teacher for many years, including Sebewa Center School, and is
buried in East Sebewa Cemetery.
NORMAN CARL DROSTE, 43, son of Marvin & Cilinda HEATON DROSTE, buried in East
Sebewa Cemetery.
THE LUSCHER FAMILY OF SEBEWA by Grayden SLOWINS, with front page
photo of JACOB LUSCHER, JR. FARM & FAMILY, SEBEWA CENTER):
Jacob LUSCHER Sr., born in Remach, Aargau, Switzerland, April 23, 1807, died in
Sebewa Township February 5, 1883, son of Hans Jakob LUESCHER & Anna FAES, was
married in 1838 in Schoeftland, Aargau, Switzerland, to Anna HUNZIKER (HUNTZINGER),
born January 3 or 14, 1816, in Ober Kulm, Aargau, Switzerland, daughter of
Johannes HUNZIKER, died in Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan, February 5,
1904.
They farmed at W ½ SE ¼ Sec. 16 Sebewa, north side of BIPPLEY Road just west of
Phoebe SHAY, on land now owned by HADEWAYS and farmed by CARRS. They are buried
in East Sebewa Cemetery.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Maria Elizabeth (Lizzie) LUSCHER born July 1837, Schoeftland, Switzerland,
died 1922; married Frederick C. ALBERTS & Elias STEINBAUGH (STAMBAUGH)
2. Rudolph LUSCHER born December 1839, Switzerland, served in American Civil War
3. Jacob LUSCHER, JR. born October 17, 1844, in Switzerland, died October 19,
1925, Sebewa; married to Minnie ERDMAN & Emma SHILTON
4. Died in infancy
5. Maria (Mary) LUSCHER, born July 16, 1848, Switzerland, died June 14, 1902;
married Phide McCLURE & a GUNN, divorced both.
6. Verena Frances LUSCHER, born 1852, Switzerland, and died 1854
7. Margaret LEUSCHER born 1854, Cleveland, Ohio, died 1881, Sebewa; married
Charles HIAR
8. William LUSCHER, born July 25, 1857, Cleveland, OH, died September 6, 1938,
Sebewa; married Nettie (Rose) THORPE, January 18, 1885, and Louise SIEG
September 12, 1900
JACOB LUSHCER, JR., born October 17, 1844, Switzerland, died October 19, 1925,
Sebewa; was married June 12, 1873, to Minnie C. ERDMAN (EARTHMAN), born June 8,
1854, Ralston Township, Niagara County, New York, died in Sebewa June 20, 1889.
They farmed on his parents’ homestead in Sebewa increased to 120 acres, and
their stately house & barn set back from the road amid pine trees survived them
until just a few years ago. After her death, Jacob married Emma SHILTON, who
finished raising the children and died March 10, 1932. All are buried at East
Sebewa Cemetery.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Elma Winifred LUSCHER born August 13, 1874, died January 8, 1928; married
Lawrence (Lon) SANDBORN
2. Emma M. LUSCHER born May 29, 1876, died January 20, 1961; married Norman E.
GIBBS
3. Ada LUSCHER born March 27, 1878, died June 9, 1971 in Utah; married John D.
JOHNSON and went with the Mormons. Their descendant, John J. JOHNSON, 80 N.
First East St., Brigham City, Utah, provided much of this information
4. Norah Belle LUSCHER born April 22, 1881, died April 28, 1935; married Harry
B. TUSSING
5. Walter LUSCHER born October 28, 1883, died September 28, 1885
6. Homer LUSCHER born July 21, 1885, died September 18, 1906
7. Edna LUSCHER born May 4, 1887, died October 16, 1981; married Bert McNEIL, J.
Peter LICH & Robert WENGER
8. John LUSCHER born June 20, 1889, died April 16, 1918
WILLIAM LUSCHER, born July 25, 1857, in Cleveland, OH, died September 6, 1938 in
Sebewa; married January 18, 1885 to Nettie (Rose) THORPE, born 1870. They farmed
120 acres at NW ¾ SE ¼ Sec. 2 Sebewa Township on north side of Clarksville Road.
His sister Mary owned 20 acres directly across on the south side, which he also
worked.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. George A. LUSHER born December 21, 1885; engineer on Pere Marquette Railroad
in Grand Rapids.
2. Carrie LUSCHER, died young
3. Warren C. LUSCHER born August 16, 1889, died 1959; married Gertrude YORK,
born August 19, 1894, farmed home place.
4. Kittie LUSCHER, married Hector McINTOSH
After Nettie (Rose) died, William married Louise SIEG on September 12, 1900.
THEIR CHILD WAS:
1. Harry W. LUSCHER
ELMA WINIFRED LUSCHER, born August 13, 1874, died January 8, 1928; was married
April 10, 1892 to Lawrence WATSON (Lon) SANDBORN, born May 25, 1869, died May 4,
1932, son of Columbus & Sarah Jane GIBBS SANDBORN. They farmed first at N ½ SE ¼
Sec. 4 Sebewa Township, part which was his parents’ land, and ended at S ¼ NW ¼
Sec. 19 Danby Township, part of where Melborn, Luke & family are now.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Herbert Orlando SANDBORN, born May 22, 1893, died June 6, 1951 in Detroit;
married Ruth SQUIRES born June 17, 1898, and died June 15, 1973; buried in
Danby, had 3 daughters.
2. Columbus Lincoln SANDBORN born February 12, 1896, died January 18, 1920 in
Boise, IDAHO, of Tuberculosis. Buried Portland.
3. Jacob Watson SANDBORN born February 19, 1898, died February 13, 1974; married
March 28, 1917 to Bernice Esther HALLADAY born March 5, 1894, died August 3,
1968, daughter of Arthur & Jane DEATSMAN HALLADAY, had 3 children
4. Riley Howard SANDBORN born August 22, 1900, died May 30, 1983; married
February 28, 1920 Anis Berthelda BENSCHOTER, born October 20, 1901, died January
24, 1990; daughter of John & Bertella BRADLEY BENSCHOTER, had 13 children.
5. Lawrence Chester SANDBORN born April 4, 1904, died October 8, 1985; married
May 15, 1930 to Margaret Elaine THOMPSON, born March 9, 1908, died November 28,
1994, had 1 son
6. Allen Roy SANDBORN born August 8, 1906, died August 6, 1976, married June 15,
1929 Meredith Aileen MILES, born April 30, 1911, daughter of Charles & Myrtle
BANDFIELD MILES, had 5 children
7. Vera Ilene SANDBORN born March 23, 1909, died August 9, 1934; married
September 20, 1930, to Richard KRAUSZ who died November 6, 1934; had 2 sons
8. Raymond Blair SANDBORN born October 25, 1911, died March 4, 1974; married
July 2, 1940 to Florence Evelyn SUMMERS, born September 20, 1916 to Arthur &
Helen SHAY SUMMERS. 5 children
9. MELBORN Ellsworth SANDBORN born October 25, 1913; married April 8, 1936
Fannie Margaret ROGERS born May 1, 1918, daughter of Roy & Gertrude COON ROGERS,
had 4 children.
EMMA M. LUSCHER born May 29, 1876, died January 20, 1961, was married to Norman
E. GIBBS, Jr. born 1874, died December 28, 1949, son of Norman & Mary E. AMES
GIBBS. They farmed at S ½ NE ¼ Sec. 3 Sebewa on KNOLL Road, where Lynda SANDBORN
RUSSMAN lives now. Later they moved to E ¼ W ½ NE ¼ Sec. 31 Portland Township,
on Grand River Avenue across from George BOWER and later Henry LEIK, where they
raised and sold garden produce.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Nelson E. GIBBS born 1894, died April 12, 1895
2. Minnie GIBBS died February 17, 1958; married Al GILMORE
3. Ruby GIBBS married Charles WILSON, had Gerald & Betty.
ADA LUSCHER born March 27, 1878, died June 9, 1971, was married to John D.
JOHNSON, went to Utah with the Mormons and their son or grandson, John J.
JOHNSON, entered all the family in the Morman Archives.
NORAH BELLE LUSCHER born April 22, 1881, died April 28, 1935, was married to
Harry B. TUSSING, born 1878, died August 13, 1957. They farmed, and after her
death he had a truck garden in a muck hollow near his home on Donna Drive,
SCHNABEL’S Landing, south side of Jordan Lake.
EDNA LUSCHER born May 4, 1887, died October 16, 1981; was married March 25, 1906
to Bert McNEIL, born March 31, 1886, died December 19, 1950. They farmed at N ½
SW ¼ Sec. 8 Sebewa, where Edna was a good shepherd. After his death she married
J. Peter LICH, father of John M. LICH, Sr., in November 1956, and he died in
January 1957. In August 1960 she married Robert WENGER, born in Switzerland,
died May 5, 1987.
EDNA & BERT’S CHILD WAS:
1. Charles J. McNEIL, born March 27, 1918, died July, 1977; married Patricia M.
THORPE, born June 10, 1926, had Clay & Corrine, was Supervisor of Sebewa
Township for 25 years.
WARREN C. LUSCHER born August 16, 1889, died 1959; married Gertrude YORK, born
August 19, 1889, farmed the home farm.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Walter W. LUSCHER born December 14, 1912, died October 5, 1961; married to
Joyce E. WILSON born May 30, 1922, added 40 acres at SE ¼ SE ¼ Sec. 2 to the
family farm, had Judith, William and Laurel
2. Gerald LUSCHER born July 2, 1914, died April 8, 1990; married Arlene (SPEED)
HOPPES born May 25, 1929, lived on corner of the family farm.
JACOB WATSON SANDBORN born February 19, 1898, died February 13, 1974; married
March 28, 1917 Bernice Esther HALLADAY born March 5, 1894, died August 3, 1968,
daughter of Arthur & Jane DEATSMAN HALLADAY, farmed first where his father &
brother Melborn later farmed on the Danby side of the road, later in South
Boston Township on KEEFER Hwy. Buried in East Sebewa Cemetery.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Kathyleen Alaire SANDBORN born July 3, 1918; married September 30, 1939
Donald ROGERS born April 20, 1918, farmed Orange (Twp.). Kathyleen’s children
were Larry, Joan, Mary Jean & Douglas
2. Max Vance SANDBORN born February 22, 1921; married July 6, 1946 to Delores
LUZ, born November 8, 1926, operated an earth-moving business and retired to the
home farm. Their children were Craig, Randy, Diane, Ryan, Lynn & Jill.
3. Dwaine Arthur SANDBORN born October 24, 1922; married Lois EASON born
November 7, 1927. He was a pilot. Their children were Carol Ann & Steven Eric.
RILEY HOWARD SANDBORN, born August 22, 1900, died May 30, 1983; married February
28, 1920 Anis Berthelda BENSCHOTER, born October 20, 1901, died January 24,
1990, daughter of John & Bertella BRADLEY BENSCHOTER. They farmed at NW ¼ Sec.
26 W ½ SW ¼ Sec. 27, W ½ NW ¼ Sec. 34 & Center ½ E ½ E ½ Sec. 33, all in Orange
Township.
THEIR CHILDREN:
1. Howard Alden SANDBORN, born July 1, 1920, was married August 19, 1941 to Mary
Mae GOODRICH, born February 25, 1926. Their children were: William Howard,
Robert Alden & Edwin Gene.
2. Opal Maxine SANDBORN born November 2, 1921; married June 22, 1946 to Paul
Albert VOLK born October 7, 1919, died June 30, 1990. Their children were:
Donald Eugene & Barbara Anne.
3. June Elaine SANDBORN born June 15, 1923; married November 22, 1946 Robert
Vern HIGBEE born November 13, 1918, died October 9, 1962. Their children were:
Kathleen Anne, Mark Robert, Jane Louise & John Phillip.
4. Riley LaVerne SANDBORN born January 20, 1925; married May 28, 1945, Maxine
Claire ALLEN. He farmed and retired from TRW. Their children were: Julie Anne,
Marcia Sue, Vicky Jo, Suzan Kay, Katherine June, LaVerne Thomas & Thomas Wayne.
5. Louis Eugene SANDBORN, married June 7, 1947 Mary Ann Wohlscheid. Their
children were David Lynn, Joy Marlene, Michael Riley, Sandra Ann, Rick Wayne,
Steve Louis, Georgia Lee, Gwendolyn May, Lawrence Eugene & Timothy Scott.
6. Joyce Jean SANDBORN was married March 11, 1950, to Donald Edward LYON. She
was a teacher in Sunfield. Their children were Gerald Edward & Diane Carole.
7. Richard Cloyce SANDBORN was married June 10, 1949 to Marcia HUVER. He retired
from GR to his carefully kept farm. Their children were: Terrance Richard, Dan
Robert, Deborah Kay & Colleen Sue.
8. Janet Marilyn SANDBORN was married March 4, 1950 to Gerald Wesley GILBERT.
They farmed at W ¾ S ½ Sec. 28 Sebewa and he retired from GM. Their children
were Karen Joyce, Nancy Ann, Peggy Jo & Marilyn Sue.
9. Kendall B. SANDBORN married Barbara Anne COON. They farmed with Riley and
continued his sheep flock. Their children were: Carol Jean, Christopher Kendall,
Denise Lynn, Joel Robert, Scott Anthony & Heidi Marie.
10. Bonnie Jo SANDBORN was married February 8, 1958 to Marvin LeRoy JAMESON.
Their children were Thomas Lee and Jacki Lyn.
11. Gary Lynn SANDBORN who married Carolyn Lois McKENNA and they were divorced.
Their children were: Kimberly Jo, Bethany Lynne & Michael Gary.
12. Judith Carole SANDBORN was married to Alvin George McCRUMB. Their children
were: Rebecca Sue, Todd Alvin & Steven Paul.
13. Elizabeth Ann SANDBORN was married November 12, 1966 to Thomas J. RUSSELL.
Their children were: Lisa Anne, Peggy Sue, Joseph Thomas, Jonathan Paul & Amy
Lynne.
ALLEN ROY SANDBORN born August 8, 1906, died August 6, 1976; married June 15,
1929 to Meredith Aileen MILES born April 30, 1911, daughter of Charles & Myrtle
BANDFIELD MILES. They farmed in Danby & Sebewa Townships and he retired from
Michigan Reformatory. She was Easton Township Clerk for many years.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Allen Royce SANDBORN married Dorothy JOLLEY. Their children were: Vivian
Aileen & Lawrence Henry.
2. Patricia Joanne SANDBORN died September 7, 1988, was married March 27, 1954,
to Ernie FOX. Their children were: Peggy Ann, Pamela Kay & Brenda Lee
3. Bruce Gordon SANDBORN born December 21, 1933, died October 11, 1994, was
married August 23, 1950 to Mary Lee BAILIFF. Their children were: Bruce Gordon,
Cherilee Sue & Marlene Kay.
4. Robert Charles SANDBORN born December 9, 1942, was married June 15, 1963, to
Linda BLEVINS. Their children were: Teresa Renee, Kristine Marie, Robert
Charles, Lynn Allen, Kimberly Kay, Renee Maree & William Lynn.
5. James Paul SANDBORN married April 16, 1965, Bobbie Jean ROUSE. Their children
were: Melissa Ann & James Paul, Jr.
VERA ILEENE SANDBORN, born March 23, 1909, died August 9, 1934; married
September 20, 1930, to Richard KRAUSZ who died November 6, 1934, son of Eben
KRAUSZ. They farmed on David Highway in Orange Township. She died in a kitchen
fire; he in an auto accident.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Lawrence Eben KRAUSZ died October 18, 1981; was married April 7, 1956, to
Joan Margaret SIMMONS. Their children were: Debora Joan, Diane Marie, David
Lawrence, Douglas Eben and Daniel Michael.
2. Gerald Richard KRAUSZ born February 5, 1934 was married January 4, 1958 to
Sylvia ROBERTSON. Their children were: Thomas Eben & Richard Gerald.
RAYMOND BLAIR SANDBORN, born October 25, 1911, died March 4, 1974, was married
July 2, 1940 to Florence Evelyn SUMMERS born September 20, 1916, daughter of
Arthur & Helen SHAY SUMMERS. They farmed on Clarksville Road, Sec. 6 & 7 Danby
Township & he delivered milk.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Constance Joan SANDBORN who married Robert STIFFLER and their children were
Michael Robert & Michelle Renee
2. Jeffery Blair SANDBORN who married Sharon MERRIFIELD and their children were
Jeffery Blair, Rhonda Marie, Rebecca Ann & Kristine Lynn
3. Lynda Mae SANDBORN who married James Lyle RUSSMAN and they had 3 children
4. Jack Edward SANDBORN married Mary MILLER and they had 5 children.
5. Daniel Rayond SANDBORN married Barbara Lynn JENKINS and had three children
MELBORN ELLSWORTH SANDBORN, born October 25, 1913 was married April 8, 1936 to
Fannie Margaret ROGERS, daughter of Roy & Gertrude COON ROGERS. They farmed at S
¾ W ½ Sec. 19 Danby Township and ran the International Harvester dealership in
Portland.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. John Franchot SANDBORN who married Shirley Ann SHACKLEFORD. He was in the
implement business with his father and brother. John & Shirley had 2 children
2. Sharon Kay SANDBORN married George ZARKA and they had 4 children
3. Cynthia Ellen SANDBORN married Dale Earle HEFTY and they had 4 children
4. Luke William SANDBORN had 2 children
HERBERT ORLANDO SANDBORN, born May 22, 1893, died June 6, 1951; married June 17,
1918 to Ruth SQUIRES born June 17, 1898, died June 15, 1973, daughter of Warren
& Cora MARROW SQUIRES. They lived in Minnesota & Detroit, and are buried in
Danby Township Cemetery.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE:
1. Robyn Ruth SANDBORN born December 16, 1921, was married February 16, 1942, to
Henry Wesley RICKARD born July 24, 1917, and they were divorced. She then was
married November 4, 1973 to William C. WAKEFIELD born February 5, 1919. Her
children were: Randall Wesley, Ryan Henry and Rodney S.
2. Coralyn Elma SANDBORN born April 5, 1926, died February 2, 1964, was married
about 1946 to Chet RALPH; June 1, 1955 to Clyde Spencer LARSON, lived in
California.
3. Sondra Squire SANDBORN born in Minnesota.
LAWRENCE CHESTER SANDBORN born April 4, 1904, died October 8, 1985; was married
May 15, 1930 to Margaret Elaine THOMPSON, born March 9, 1908, died November 28,
1994.
THEIR CHILD WAS:
1. Lawrence Watson SANDBORN, born May 15, 1932, married March 7, 1951 Shirley
ASPERHEIM. Their children were: Greg, Debra Leigh & Laura Ann.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For history of the ERDMAN family, ancestors of Minnie ERDMAN, who
married Jacob LUSCHER, Jr., see Vol. 29 No. 4 February 1994 Sebewa RECOLLECTOR.
UPDATE TO A SISTER PUBLICATION: A recent issue of the IONIA
SENTINEL STANDARD states that 10-year-old Dan YEOMANS is the 7th generation to
be born on their family farm in Easton Township. Not quite true! Erastus YEOMANS,
Sr. and Fife Major in the War of 1812, and son of Daniel & Esther YEOMANS of
Connecticut, came to Ionia with his wife, Phoebe ARNOLD, in the DEXTER Colony of
1833. He was the first Village Clerk, Postmaster & Judge. YEOMANS Street was
their farm lane from their house still standing on West Main to the farm
buildings on HAYNOR Road.
Their son, Sanford A. YEOMANS, was 16 years old at the time. He soon became
Township Clerk, then Supervisor, then Superintendent of the Poor. He was father
of Edwin S. YEOMANS, father of Edwin R. YEOMANS, father of Sanford YEOMANS,
father of Greg YEOMANS, father of Daniel YEOMANS again. So in 166 years we have
five generations born in Easton Township, or in Dan’s case, probably in Ionia
Hospital.
