Obituaries
From the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society Collections

Volume 32 (1903) page 581

Volume 33 (1904) page 730

 Four pioneers have died in this county during the last year.

WATERS - Rev. O. B. Waters, a prominent Congregational clergyman, the second teacher in the Grand Traverse College, who preached at many places throughout the State. He died in Detroit.

BANCROFT - Robert Bancroft took up the first homestead in Lake township and was a prominent public man in his vicinity.

 SMITH - E. P. Smith was one of the foremost business men of Benzonia.

GOODRICH - Mrs. Goodrich, widow of James R. Goodrich, the first probate judge of this county.

Volume 35 (1907) pages 708-709

A SKETCH OF MRS. L. A. C. BAILEY
BY WILLIAM A. BETTS.

            While we always mourn the loss of our friends, yet time will at length wear away the feeling, and we forget them. Yet there are some persons whose personal characteristics, or social positions, entitle them to a more permanent record. Such was the subject of this sketch.
            MRS. LAURINDA A. CLARK BAILEY, the last one of the original company, who came into the unbroken wilderness of Benzie county, to locate and lay the foundation of Grand Traverse college in Benzonia. She was born in Penfield, Monroe county, N. Y., on the 8th day of May, 1825. She came in early childhood with her parents to Ohio and settled in Rochester, Lorain county. Educated in Oberlin college, married October 1, 1850, to Rev. Charles D. Bailey, came to Benzonia in 1857, died December 25, 1904.
            Inheriting from both her parents a lively, cheerful disposition, she was naturally fitted to meet the difficulties and privations incident to he new settlement. Her house was always open, her heart was always warm, and her table was always free to her friends, and the strangers who came inside her roof. She was an enthusiastic member of our pioneer society, and her stories of the early days were interesting and much enjoyed by us all.
            She cared for her aged parents in their last years, and when it seemed best to remove to Maryland she remained behind to care for her blind and feeble mother while she lived. Several of her last years she was a great sufferer, but always cheerful and patient, and finally on Christmas day, 1904, she passed away, leaving hosts of friends to mourn.

REV. ALONZO BARNARD was born in Vermont, educated at Oberlin college and came to Benzonia in 1863. A true record of his life and labors among the Indians in Minnesota, Dacotah and Manitoba would fill a volume. In his later years he became very deaf and when invited to speak at the county pioneer meeting in 1905 gave a talk in Indian, saying, "Now I am even with you. I could not understand a word you have been saying and you could not understand my speech." After which he gave an interesting and valuable address on his life and experiences. This was his last public speech.

MRS ANNA MARSHALL was born in Scotland in 1812 and came to Benzie county in 1864. She died in Benzonia, March 6, 1905, aged 93, loved and mourned by all.

Last update March 07, 2018