Arenac County Obituaries - 1900's

Arenac County Independent
Feb. 15, 1901

    An Old Settler Gone
    Daniel Beecham one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Sterling passed away on Sunday evening at about 7 o'clock after a long and lingering illness.
    Came to Arenac Co. over 30 yrs. ago and settled on his farm in Sterling, where he has made a comfortable home, and where he died. Seven yrs. ago he buried his first wife, the mother of his children. Four yrs. ago he married his 2nd wife, who, with his five children, four sons and one daughter, survives him.
    He was 74 yrs. old and has been a robust and hard working man up to 2 yrs. ago when he had a stroke of paralysis which left him in a failing and broken down condition, and from which he never recovered.
    The funeral occurred on Wed. at 2 o'clock from Sterling M.E. Church, Rev. Rosey preaching sermon.
    The remains were interred in the family lot in Sterling Cemetery and thus another has gone the way of all the earth; and in his death the wife and family loose a kind and loving husband and father, and the neighborhood an honest and faithful friend.

(Unknown newspaper)
May 1905

     The funeral of the late Joseph Southworth who was killed by lightning on Thursday of last week, was held on Monday, May 8, from the M. E. Church at Sterling. Rev. H. C. Elliott officiating. Joseph G. Southworth was born in the village of Deep River, Saybrook, Connecticut, and came to Michigan about 1850 and took an interest in the lumber business with his father, who them operated a saw mill in West Bay City. For several years he was active as a lumber scaler, but was compelled to give up the business because of the loss of his hearing, and total deafness soon caused him to give up his interest in the lumbering business. He was married to Mary Westbrook of Lapeer, MI 23 years ago and with his wife came to Deep River. After a residence of about two years they moved back to Bay City, where they lived for six years before moving back to Deep River, where they have since lived. He was a man of quiet disposition, a great student and a perfect gentleman. He was one of the best known men in Deep river Township, and was for many years post master at Deep River until the office was discontinued. He has for many years successfully followed the business of painting and paper hanging. He had for several years been director of the Deep River school and has held several other positions of trust. He leaves two sisters, Mrs. Mary A. Watrous and Mrs. M. E. Daglish, living in Bay City, and a wife, son, son Chester, and one daughter, Mrs. Johnson Orr, living at Deep River. The remains were interred in the Sterling Cemetery. The floral offerings, gifts of loving friends, were rich and beautiful. The funeral was exceptionally large.

Arenac County Independent
June 15, 1905

Mrs. Watrous Dead
Passing of Another Pioneer Yesterday Afternoon    

     Mrs. Mary A. Watrous, 71 years of age, died at her home on Thirty-eighth street yesterday afternoon after a long illness from Bright's disease. Deceased had been a resident of this city since 1861, and was well known and highly esteemed. Three children, William Watrous of Seattle, Mrs. Harriett Mengle and Mrs. William Niemann of this city, and one sister, Mrs. M. E. Daglish survive her. She was a prominent member of the Eastern Star, having been a Past Worthy Grand Matron, and also of Grace Lodge, D of R. The services at the house tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock will be conducted by the latter and  Sharon Chapter will officiate at the cemetery. - Bay City Evening Times      Deceased is a sister of the late Joseph Southworth of Deep River.

Arenac County Independent
June 29, 1905

An Old Settler Gone

   James Corbitt of Deep River passed away Wednesday morning, June 28th, of acute paralysis, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. J. Riblet of Sterling.   Mr. Corbitt was born in Liverpool, England, May 9th, 1833, and came to this country in 1841, lived in Toronto, Canada, when her married Thressa A. Kenna in 1854. They moved to West Bay City in 1864, and from there to Deep River, Arenac County in 1883, where he has lived ever since.   Mr. Corbitt was an honorable upright citizen and respected by all.   He leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters to mourn his loss, Wm. of Minn., David of Wis., Chas. of Indianapolis, In., Mrs. Rose Personeus of Toledo, Ohio, and Mrs. E. J. Riblet of Sterling.   The saddest part of it is his aged wife is dying with cancer of stomach and his daughter took them home as to give her mother the care she needed, not thinking her father was in any danger by the Grim Reaper took the strongest first. His death is hastening his wife’s, and at this writing she is very low.   The funeral will be held in Sterling Methodist Church, Sunday, July 2nd at two o’clock.

Arenac County Independent
June 29, 1905

     Mrs. Anna Moore Dead

     Mrs. Anna Moore, aged 61 years, dropped dead of heart disease June 16 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harvey Fox, of Wisner. The deceased had been a resident of Arenac county in the year of 1864 to 1884 and will be remembered as one of the first settlers of Pine River. She was well known and highly esteemed by all who knew her. She leaves three children, Mrs. Geo. Brink of West Bay City, Mrs. Harvey Fox of Wisner and John Moore of Wisner.  The services were held from the Baptist Church in Wisner. The remains then laid by those of her late husband, Marshall Moore, in the Wisner Cemetery. Mrs. Moore often said that Arenac county seemed home to her. On her last visit in October she made the remark that her dear old friends seemed like one of the family, having known so many of them since childhood.

Arenac County Independent
July 6, 1905

Follows Husband
Mrs. James Corbitt Died While Body of Husband was Yet In The Home  

     Mrs. Theressa A. Corbitt died July 2nd and was buried July 3rd. She was born Theressa A. Stenna at Cyril, Ont. She was married to James Corbitt in 1854 and they lived together for fifty one years, her husband dying just four days before her. She had been a great sufferer all her life from stomach trouble.   She was a woman of great mental attainments, highly educated and a good Christian woman beloved by all who knew her. She was anxious to go and was just awaiting the summons, as she said to be called up higher. She had not seen her husband after he died and she wanted to wait until Sunday noon, by that time she was with him. She could not live without him. Her funeral was held Monday. At her bedside when she died were her daughter Mrs. Riblet, her son Charles and wife of Indianapolis, Ind., her sons-in-law L.W. Personeus of Toledo, O., and J. E. Covert of Caro, Mi.

Funeral of the Late James Corbitt

    The funeral of James Corbitt was held Sunday at two o’clock in Sterling M. E. Church and was followed to the grave by all of the old residents and a great many of the younger. Relations from out-of-town were son Chas. A. Corbitt and wife of Indianapolis, as well as their daughter Mrs. G. H. Riblett, who watched over her mother and father continually from the beginning of their sickness until they both passed away.

Louis Biskner Dies in Wisconsin
Aged Standish Pioneer Passed Away At Son’s Home  

     Word was received just this morning that Louis Biskner had just died. He has been spending the winter with a son and daughter in Green Bay, Wis. Last fall he suffered a paralytic stroke from which he never recovered. He was past 75 years of age at the time of his death and had lived in Standish since 1871    He leaves nine children, seven daughters and two sons. They are Mrs. Jos. Chaltraw, Mrs. Tom Valley and Mrs. Jos. Valley of Saganing, Mrs. W. G. Wilson, Miss Fannie Biskner of Standish, Mrs. Chas. Bloyer and J. E. Biskner of Green Bay, Wis. The body will be brought here for burial but complete arrangements had not been made this morning.

Source Unknown
May 1907

JAN WABBENA DEAD

It was a real surprise Thursday morning to his friends and neighbors when the news spread rapidly around that Mr. Wubbena had passed away of heart trouble. Everything that medical skill could do had been done but the hand of death was stronger and our friend had to succumb to it. He was a sincere Christian man being especially noted for his honesty and highly respected by all who knew him. He has held several township offices and the school with which he was connected since its origin was closed for two days on account
of his death.  Death was not a horror to Mr. Wabbena for he was prepared to go.

He leaves a family of ten children, six boys and four girls and a host of friends to mourn his loss for they have lost a good friend, kind neighbor and a good citizen.

The funeral services were held at the Gospel Hall on Saturday afternoon. Mr. McKay of Saginaw conducting the services. The floral offerings were very large and the crowds of sympathizing neighbors and friends was immense the hall not being nearly large enough to hold a great many as the sidewalk out side was lined with friends who realized that one whom they respected and loved has gone from their midst.

Jan Wabbena was born April 10,1845 in Fergast, Germany, died May 30,1907 at his home in Standish. Mr Wabbena was orphaned at an early age. Altho very well educated in several different languages he received his education through his own efforts, graduating from high school in Lear, Germany, after which he was married to Louise Jungjohann.

He traveled all over the world, leading a sailor's life for  many years after which he moved his home to Standish so as to be with his family, where they resided twenty-one years, he being one of our early pioneers.

The death of his wife in 1894 was a terrible stroke as it left him with a family of ten small children the youngest of which was only three weeks old and the oldest daughter twelve years of age, and took upon herself the household duties. He was an ideal father, the welfare and the education of his children being his chief aim, and he has succeeded.

Arenac County Independent
9/26/1907 p1 c4

C. Sonnenberg Dead
    Christian Sonnenberg, a very highly respected German resident of Deep River township died at his home 1 mile north of Sterling on Tuesday, September 17. Deceased was born in West Briegen Germany, where he was educated and from where he entered the Germany army service as a regular soldier for three years.
    He was married at the age of 27 and soon after came with his family to America and settled on the farm where he died, in 1881. Deceased was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the vicinity, where he resided. He had been in poor health for about a year, but was able to be around and plan work but not to do any work.
    Dr. F. E. Abbott was consulted and found a severe case of Bright's disease which continued to grow worse and he was compelled to give up the cares of his farm early in the summer but continued to be around and only took to his bed two days before his death. He was the father of 13 children, 5 of which are still living, 2 sons and 3 daughters.
    The funeral was held Saturday at 2 o'clock from the German Lutheran church at Sterling of which he was a faithful and honored member. Rev. Myers officiating.
    The interment was made in the old cemetery at Sterling. Deceased leaves a loving wife and many other relative and friends to mourn his death.

Arenac County Independent
abt. December 21, 1908

The Grim Reaper
    Mrs. Reynold Hertzberg, daughter of John Treichel, died Monday, December 21st. She was twenty-five years, eleven months and eighteen days old at the time of her death. She leaves to mourn her loss two children, a boy and a girl, her husband, a father and mother, three brothers and one sister. The funeral was held at the Lutheran church in Sterling last Friday at two p. m. Rev. John Reckle officiating. Many beautiful flowers were brought by loving friends and members of the family.

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