| GARMAN, SAMUEL: died 18 Aug 1926 in East Gilead, Branch Co., Mi., One of Branch Co. Pioneers, Born in Switzerland, Served in Civil War; Lived Here Over 50 Years, The death of Samuel Garman at his home in East Gilead Wednesday, August 18, removed form this community one of the best known residents of the county. Born in Flutigau Canton of Berne, Switzerland, February 21st 1840, he reached the ripe old age of 86 years. Coming to American with his parents at the age of 16 months, he has known no other land than this and has been a good loyal citizen. The parents settled first in Buffalo, N.Y., and later located in Columbiana County, Ohio. With the exception of his early years, Mr. Garman has lived in Branch County all his life. He was married to Rosina Wyss March 22, 1865 at Canton, Ohio, at the close of the Civil war after experiencing four years and three months service in the army. Mr. and Mrs. Garman settled in Grant County, Wisconsin, where they lived for eight years. In 1876 they moved to Gilead which has since been their home. Mr. Garman enlisted in the service of his country July 1861, joining Company G, 11th Michigan Infantry and served until August 24, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. He is a member of Butterworth Post No. 109. The couple celebrated their Golden wedding day, March 22, 1916, and what is still more unusual lived to raise their large family of twelve children without experiencing the sorrow of a single loss the head of the family being the first to answer the summons. March of this year saw the family, with a few exceptions, gathered around the parental fireside to observe the 60th wedding anniversary although even at that time Mr. Garman's health was poor and he was not expected to survive many more days. Besides his widow there live to mourn his passing the twelve children: Eugene Garman and Mrs. W. A. Benjamin of Coldwater; Mrs. Stephen Minogue, Grand Rapids; Mrs. Carrie Rumfelt, Allen, Mich.; Mrs. R. E. Parker, Kankakee, Ill.; Fred Garman, Alliance, Ohio; Leo Garman, Detroit; Mrs. Clyde Brown and Harry Garman, Bronson; Charles Garman, Bethel; and George and Wallace Garman, of Gilead. He is also survived by four brothers and three sisters, twenty-three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Deceased with the exception of one other resident, Lemuel Graham, was the oldest resident of Gilead. Funeral services will be held at East Gilead Saturday afternoon at (paper cut) o'clock, standard time. |