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Sebewa Recollector
THE SEBEWA
RECOLLECTOR Newsletter from Sebewa; Sebewa Township, Ionia County, MI.
Front page photo of BERNICE HALE &
LeROY NELSON DARLING
Page 2: THE DARLING FAMILY OF IONIA
AND SEBEWA TOWNSHIP, Thanks to Benjamin T. Darling & Merrilee Morrison Cotter –
With Introduction by Grayden Slowins
The first
Darling settler in Ionia County was Theodore Rice Darling, born at Lake
Chautauqua County, NY, 1816, died in Orange Township, Ionia County, MI, 1883,
buried in Union Cemetery on the Portland Township side of Keefer Hwy.
His father was Ephraim Darling, born in Dutchess County, NY, February 7,
1791, and later of Washtenaw County, MI, died 1879.
Ephraim was married four times:
1. Mary Hager, 2. Anna B. Markham of Washtenaw Co.
While Ephraim came to Washtenaw Co, MI, Mary took Theodore elsewhere, and
he became known as Darling Stratton as a foster child of the Stratton family.
He eventually moved to New Haven Twp, Huron County, OH, where he married
Mary Clarissa Holly/Selden, foster child of a Selden family, October 8, 1840,
and legally changed his name back to Theodore Rice Darling.
Theodore & Mary
Clarissa came to Orange Township in 1844 and settled on 120 acres in Sec 26,
just east of Eli Coleman’s 160 acres, which in our lifetime has been owned by
the Riley Sandborn family. Through
several land swaps, Alfred Whitlock and later his son Harold eventually owned
most of the Darling land, except for a 15-acre sliver, which belonged to one of
Theodore’s sons, Charles Asa Darling, until his death in 1912, and remained
under his name until the death of his brother Benjamin’s son, John Charles
Darling, in 1965, at which time it was sold and divided into small
tracts---building lots. Charles Asa
had married Lydia Grinnell and had no children, while John Charles married
Adeline Mariah Grinnell, not Lydia’s sister, and had two daughters.
Perhaps this double connection explains how the 15 acres never got
re-titled, long after Charles Asa’s death.
Theodore & Mary
Clarissa Darling had ten children:
1. Ephraim Rice Darling, 1842-1916,
married Melissa Eddy.
2. Mariah (Maria) C. Darling,
1842-1864, married Jesse Martin.
3. Hope Darling, died soon.
4. Ira Selden Darling, 1845-1915,
married Eliza Ann Rockwell.
5. Celia Darling, 1847-1847, died
soon.
6. Charles Asa Darling, 1849-1912,
married Lydia Grinnell.
7. Cynthia C. Darling, 1852-1874,
married Harvey Rockwell.
8. Benjamin Franklin Darling, 1854-1926, m. Charity Loretta Slaught, Lydia
Lovina Johnson, Rosantha Ruby Johnson.
9. Myron Tupper Darling, 1858-1926.
10.Orlando Cyrus Darling, 1862-1938.
In this issue we
are including mainly the descendants of LeRoy Nelson Darling & Bernice Hale.
Family residences and burials are as follows:
Ira & Eliza Ann resided in Eagle Township and are buried in North Eagle
Cemetery. Their son Wellman Rice
Darling and wife Bessie Wilbur owned and farmed the Shimnecon land at the foot
of Okemos Road, Danby Township, buried in Portland Cemetery.
Their son, LeRoy Nelson Darling and Bernice lived at Sebewa Corners,
Sebewa side, southwest corner, buried Portland.
Their son Wellman Roy Darling & Barbara lived on Sunfield Rd., he is
buried West Sebewa Cemetery, his son Wellman Jr. also.
Their wives are still living at this writing.
DESCENDANTS OF THEODORE RICE DARLING:
1. Theodore Rice Darling
b. 22 Jan 1816; d. Jan. 22, 1883.
Married Mary Clarissa Selden b. Feb 1820, m.
Oct. 8, 1840, she d. Feb. 8, 1884.
Their children:
1.
Maria C. Darling b. Oct 8 1840, m. Jesse Martin 10-4-1862, she d.
3-14-1864
2.
Ephriam Rice Darling b. 9-28-1842, d. 3-29-1916.
He married 2-21-1864 Melissa E. Eddy born 11-6-1842, married 2-21-1864,
she d. 5-17-1912.
3.
Ira Selden Darling b. 1-12-1845, d. 2-13-1916.
He married Eliza Ann Rockwell 3-5-1870.
She was born 5-12-1848 and d. 8-23-1924.
4.
Charles Asa Darling b. 6-03-1849, d. 3-30-1912; married Lydia Lovina
Grinnell 2-22-1876. She was born
1-14-1857, d. 8-4-1892.
5.
Cynthia C. Darling b. 3-01-1852, d. 4-16-1874.
She married Harvey Rockwell b. 4-15-1852 on Feb. 22, 1876.
He d. 8-15-1892.
6.
Benjamin Franklin Darling b. 4-18-1854, married Charity Loretta Slaught
12-24-1883 and he d. 5-7-1926. She
was b. 3-17-1868 and d. 6-23-1945.
He m. Lydia Lovina Johnson 12-11-1916. She was b. 9-1896 and d. 5-23-1977.
Oct.
4, 1919, he married Rosantha Ruby Johnson b. 10-1-1892.
She died 12-20-1979.
7.
Myron Tupper Darling b. 1-29-1858, died May 1926.
8.
Orland Cyrus Darling b.
5-28-1862 and d. 1938.
9.
Celia Darling b. 8-22-1847 and d. Abt. 1847.
DESCENDANTS OF IRA SELDEN DARLING:
1. Ira Selden Darling
b. 1-29-1845, d. 2-13-1916. He
married Eliza Ann Rockwell b. 5-12-1848, married 3-5-1870.
She d. 3-12-1924. Their
children were:
1.
Frances Mahala Darling b. 10-07-1873 who married 10-9-1899 Arthur Finney
Sellon b. 3-21-1866. He
d. 2-28-1930.
2.
Wellman Rice Darling b. 10-7-1873, d. 10-3-1941.
3.
Oscar Lafayette Darling b. 2-28-1877 and d. March 11, 1926.
He married 12-21-1911 Emma Sophia Parks b. 11-2-1892.
She d. 6-3-1988.
DESCENDANTS OF WELLMAN RICE DARLING:
1. Wellman Rice
Darling b. 10-7-1873, d. 10-3-1941.
He married 1-10-1892 Mary
Libolt b. abt. 1877.
Their children:
1.
Cloye B. Darling b. 1-9-1904 d. 1937; she married Samuel J. Stemm b.
3-26-1902, d. 12-22-1986.
2.
LeRoy Nelson Darling b. 3-21-1906, d. 12-22-1986, married 10-10-1924
to Bernice Enola Hale b. 1-19-1908 who d.
6-27-1959.
3.
Cleo Margaret Darling b. 4-18-1911 and m. ca. 1930 to Burt F. Towner b.
3-1911. They were married about 1930
and Burt was b. 3-29-1911 and died 3-1-1979.
Cleo d. 3-1971.
DESCENDANTS OF LeROY NELSON DARLING:
1.
Ethadelia Mable Darling b. 6-06-1925, d. 6-1925.
2.
Ilene Marie Darling b. 2-10-1927, d. 11-16-.
He then married 1903 2nd wife Bessie B. Wilbur b 9-24-1886.
She d. 6-24-1966.
She m. 9-26-1943 George Carr b. 4-14-1922 who d. 11-16-1989.
Their children:
1.
LaVern Edward Carr b. 7-1944 who married 8-8-1964 Helen Pung b. 8-25-1944
2.
Cheryl Lynn Carr b. 8-29-1965 and married Jamie D. Arnold b. 3-7-1964, m.
4-26-1985.
Their children:
1.
Jessica Marie Arnold b. 4-25-1985
2.
Jennifer Marie Arnold b. 7-03-1988
3.
Karen Ann Carr b. 6-3-1968 who married 5-18-1990 Dale Hoppess.
Their children:
1.
Calvin Hoppess b. 4-13-1991, Shelby Hoppess
b. 7-03-18-1998.
2.
Daniel LaVerne Carr b. 7-4-1980.
1. Kendall George
Carr b. 6-15-1975; married 8-1-1970 Jacqueline Smith b. 2-5-1949.
Their children
1.
Kendra Marie b. 6-15-1975 married Ryan Bowser July 2004.
Their
children: Noah Bowser, Carrson
Bowser.
2.
Sara Louise Carr b. 6-9-23-1977, married 12-1999 Joshua David Good.
Their
children: Brayden Good, Lainey
Good, Grant Good.
3.
Amanda Kae Carr b 6-7-1979, married Matt Platte 8-5-2006.
2. LeRoy Nelson
Darling b 8-26-1947, married Alma J. Hayes b. 3-19-1930.
Their children:
1.
Dewayne LeRoy Darling b. 9-26-1947, d. 3-25-1950.
2.
Dan Nelson Darling b. 11-4-1948 and died 5-5-1982.
3.
Charlene Jenkins married 1974. Their Children:
A. Damon Andrew Darling b. 9-21-1974; B. Danielle Theresa Darling b.
12-9-1976, Christine Ann Darling b. 11-30-1980
3. Dennis Mitchel
Darling b. 2-26-1950 married Vivian Stanton 1-9-1978.
Their children: 1.
Tracie Lynn Darling b. 11-16-1979, 2. Troy Daniel Darling b 4-17-1982, 3.
Casey Nelson Darling b. 12-19-1984. 4. Shawn Mitchel Darling b 8-31-1986.
4. Kathy Marie
Darling b 5-1951, married William Muth
2-8-1969.
Their children:
1. Lonnie Lee Muth b. 11-9-1990,
2. Ashley Muth b. 11-25-1990, 3. Britney
Muth b. 6-25-1992, 4. Casidy Muth b.
5-24-1996, 5. Tru Muth b. 9-1998,
6. Hunter Muth b 11-08-2002,
7. Beau Muth b. 6-21-2006,
Lonnie Lee Muth b. 09-11-198.
5. Timothy Wayne b.
10-16-1970, m. Drema Musgrove 4-1-1989.
6. Kena May Darling b
1-07-1956, m. David Kerekes 9-14-1974.
3. Kerri Ann Darling b
7-2-1975, m. 6-21-2007 Chad
Taylor. Their child Madilyn
Sara Taylor b. 7-2-2007. 4.
Scott Allen Darling b. 1-22-1977 m. 7-18-1998 Jessica Ann Sottillie b.
12-3-1977. Their children:
1. Austen Chance
Darling b. 5-5-1999, Chrishtiauna Jo Marie, b. 5-10-1999. 5.
Steven Gerald Darling b. 7-23-1979.
3. Benjamin Thomas
Darling b. 9-7-1952, married
11-25-1974 Carolyn Yuk Lan Lee b. 2-28-1947.
Their child: 1.
Jennifer Mariko Darling b 2-6-1976 married 7-28-2007 Nolan Edward
Ferreira b. 7-14-1973. Their
children: 1. Noah Thomas b.
11-3-1999, Aidan Edward b. 3-18-2006
4. Barbara Jean
Darling b 11-3-1953 married 5-6-1972 Anthony D. Wydeck b. 1952.
Married 2nd,
6-18-1977 Richard Eugene Todd b.
7-1-1947. Their children were 1. Melissa Marie Todd b. 4-29-1978,
2. Heidi Ann Todd b.
4-24-1979 who on 8-31-2008 married Barry Michael Rockburn, and 3.
Aaron Lee Todd b. 2-12-1981.
5. Susan Diane
Darling b 5-7-1959, married 9-25-1982 Rodger Duane Meyers b. 12-23-1956.
Their children were 1.
Jason Andrew b. 6-12-1983, 2.
Justin Charles Meyers b. 11-60-1984, 3.
Joel Wellman Meyers b. 7-10-1986.
6. Kathrine May Darling b.
8-19-1934 m. ca. 1951 Keith Russell.
Their children: 1.
Denise Fay Russell b. 10-16-1952 who m. 1-20-1968 and had
children 1. Robert Edward b.
8-24-1968 who married 5-8-1993 Barbara Lee Harris b. 6-15-1961, 2.
Scottie Wayne Jackson b. 9-18-1971 who married 6-1991 Lynn Williams
6-1991. 2nd husband of
Kathrine May Darling: Henry
Edward Hembree b. 4-25-1920, married 6-6-1955, d. 6-20-2008.
Their children:
1. Gary Edward Hembree b. 7-29-1959 who married 12-29-1981 Anita Massey
b. 8-29-1981. Their child:
1. Brandon Paul b. 12-6-1981.
2nd wife of Gary Edward Hembree, married ca. 1982
Debora Waters.
2. Sanford Thomas Hembree b.
12-8-1961 married 8-3-1980 Sandra Lynn Tate b. 7-4-1962.
Their children were 1.
Chadd Thomas Hembree b. 3-3-1983, 2.
Brandie Lynn Hembree b. 10-2-1984, who married Shawn Jones b.
8-3-1979. Their children:
Keaton Eustis Jones b. 8-21-2001.
Second husband of Brandie Lynn Hembree John Patterson m. 11-2008.
RECENT DEATHS:
Leo Carr, 90, widower of Margery Pranger Carr, father of Delores
“Sid” (Jim) Stank, Darrell “Butch” (Vicki) Carr, and David (Joyce) Carr, and the
late Duane (Diana) Carr, and Diane (Richard) Timrick, brother of Delores (Lynn)
Stedge, and the late Clara (Otto) Timrick, Kathryn (Robert) Martini, and George
(Ilene) Carr, Edward “Jack” (Jean) Carr, and Gene (Bernadine) Carr, son of Mary
Zbikowski and John Karczewski Carr, who met and married in Chicago, after
emigrating from East Prussia/Poland as small children with their parents.
Leo was born in Sebewa Township, October 14, 1918, graduated from
Sunfield High School in 1936, farmed for several years, and then was a building
contractor for over 50 years. Leo
was a member of Sebewa Center United Methodist Church.
He died at Hastings, January 29, 2009, and will be buried at Lakeside
Cemetery. (For more on the Carr
family, see our December issue, Volume 44, Number 3.)
Maxine June Duffey Brown, 86, wife of Walter M. Brown, mother of
Larry (Nancy) Brown, Lynn (Mary) Brown, Don Brown, Marge (Catlin) Duffey.
Born December 1, 1922, Maxine died January 29, 2009, in the house where
she was born and raised, on the Danby Township side of Keefer Hwy. at Tupper
Lake Road. Much of her life was
spent on the Sebewa Township side, where she loved gardening, baking,
needlework, crossword puzzles, and Tiger baseball.
She is buried at Danby Cemetery.
PORTLAND REVIEW December 4, 1952:
Former auto dealer and village commissioner, Burke B. Bowes, died at age
80. Mr. Bowes was sent to Lyons by
Ford Motor Co to establish an agency.
One afternoon in 1917 he came over to Portland to make a sale, and when
he left town that evening, he had purchased a business lot on Kent Street at
Academy St. It had always been
vacant and Dr. F. W. Martin had used it as an enclosure for his horses.
A few weeks after the purchase, the garage building now owned and
occupied by Leik Brothers was under way.
In 1924 he ran for the village commission and served many years as
commissioner and mayor. He had
previous business experience in the auditing and advertising departments of Post
Cereal Co. He sold his Ford Agency
to P. W. Willard Auto Co, and for a time was the local representative for Buick
and Oldsmobile. Gradually the family
spent more time at Crystal Lake, where they owned cottages.
A few years ago they moved from Portland and Crystal to Bellevue, where
he soon suffered a stroke. Although
somewhat improved, he never recovered, and about a year ago they moved to Ann
Arbor, where he died.
Funeral services were held for Frank Urie, 88,l found dead at his
home. One sister, Mrs. Bert Sowles
of Belding, and several nieces and nephews of Portland, survive.
(The Urie family once lived in Sebewa Township on the farm that is now
our park, Sunshine.) Born June 15,
1864, Frank came to Portland over 50 years ago and owned one of the first
machine shops here, located on Maple River.
For years he specialized in fixing bicycles.
MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP NEWS, February 5, 2009, 512 Westshire Drive,
P.O. Box 80078, Lansing, MI
48908-0078
Dear Editor, Evelyn David will be retiring soon and I thought you
should have my “Bill Stump” story.
You and many township officials have heard it at district meetings when I was
MTA President, but there is a whole crop of newer officials who have not:
I
first met Evie when she was about sixteen years old.
She was hauling corn to town in the fall for her Dad.
Each morning she drove a tractor and two wagons, or a straight truck,
loaded with corn, to town, then ran up to school.
All day her dad combined corn, rotated loads to the mill, and didn’t need
to wait to be unloaded, because there was always an empty vehicle. Then after
school was out in the afternoon, Evie had an empty rig to drive home.
When she graduated, Evie married her high school sweetheart, Ken, moved
out of Sebewa township, and started a family.
About 10-12 years later, Evie & Ken moved back into Sebewa Township with two
small children. Soon Evie began to
work part time as a cashier and lay-away-clerk at Meijer, usually at night while
Ken baby-sat. Old Mrs. Gezinnia
Meijer, Fred’s mother, rated Evie as the most efficient and most pleasant
cashier in the whole chain. When
they came to register to vote in 1972, I asked Evie if she would like to be an
election inspector at the next election.
She said yes, and after only one or two elections I confirmed what a good
employee she was, and I made her chairperson of election inspectors.
About four or five years later, our Sebewa Township Supervisor with twenty five
years on the job was dying of cancer.
He said to the Board “You folks better get someone lined up to appoint in
my place.” With gentle but firm
persuasion, I convinced then to appoint Evie, one of the first women
Supervisor/Assessors in mid-Michigan, and one of only a few in the State.
Within that same year, several other women also were appointed to the job
and most later won election.
That fall Evie was back hauling corn to town, this time for her brother John,
who had succeeded Old John on much of the same land.
Each trip she took a different road to Lake Odessa, Woodbury, or
Sunfield, and along the way she watched for new structures, plus one or two that
had burned. When she had a free day,
she came back with tape measure & note pad to assess those properties.
When Board of Review came around in March, Evie was ready for it.
A number of skeptical farmers were lounging around outside the Town Hall.
One of the first to go in was Bill Stump.
He was a portly old German gentleman with his thumbs tucked behind the
bib of his overalls and was chewing tobacco.
Bill said to the other fellows outside “I’m going to tell that ‘girlie’ a thing
or two!” And he addressed her as
“Girlie” all through the hearing, as in “Girlie, you got my assessment all
wrong!”
“Oh” said Evie, “How so?”
“Well, Girlie, I’ve got a five-acre pothole out in the middle of my farm, and
you didn’t subtract it from the cropland acres!”
“Oh, I subtracted it all right, but you would say it measured about 8 rods by 10
rods?” I should explain here that we
farmers think in terms of rods, not yards like city folks.
Bill thought a minute and said “Ya, Girlie, I guess you got that about right.”
Well, that’s half an acre, not five acres, and that’s how much I subtracted.”
He
thought a minute and said “By golly, Girlie, you got that right.”
“However, I noticed you had cleared some more land back along the woods.”
This was before the days of Al Gore and the “Greens”, when a farmer could
improve his/her own land as they saw fit.
“Would you say it was about two acres?”
“Ya, Girlie, I guess you got that about right too.”
When he walked out the door, the fellows said “Well Bill, did you tell that
girlie a thing or two?”
He
broke into a big grin and said “Yup, I told her!”
His assessment had been raised, not lowered, and he was happy as a clam,
because Evie got it right! Which she
almost always did, as Supervisor/Assessor of Sebewa Township for 11+ years, and
as Membership Information Director of Michigan Townships Ass. 20+ years.
Last update October 20, 2021 |
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