Notes taken by Mary Althaver

D- in Albion Twp. Jan 2, Mrs. Amanda, wife of Hiram Keslar, in her 67th yr.

D- at res. of his stepfather, SH Burt, in Clarendon, Jan. 1, after a long, severe illness, Welles B. Swart, in 22nd yr.

1-14-1874

D- at res. in village, the 13th, Mr. Joseph Gibbs, in 85^th yr.

1-21-1874

Nothing of great interest this issue.

M- at Presbyterian parsonage, Jan. 22, by Rev. John Gerrish, Robert L Paul & Miss Jane Gordon, both of Homer.

2-4-1874

D- in Tekonsha, Mrs. Mary Florence, wife of Edward Florence, Jan 24, burned to death.

D- at res. of her mother in village Feb. 7, of consumption, Miss Myra L. Hoffman, age 18y,2m,24d.

M- at res. of bride's mother, Jan 29 by Rev. H Worthington, Robert Jones & Miss Elva Rogers, all of Homer.

JS Smith's lease expired on the Osborn House.

2-18-1874

D- suddenly at Wash., DC, Feb. 9, John L. Swart, of consumption, in 26th yr. He was born in Homer, and was stepson of SH Burt.

D- at res. of his stepfather, Rev. H. Worthington, in village, Feb. 15, Charles L. Clowes, age 24y,1m,14d. Burial in Cassopolis.

M- at res. of bride's parents, Mr & Mrs Chauncy Marvin, onthe 11th inst, by Rev. H Worthington, AC Drake of Homer & Miss Jennie M. Howard of Albion Twp.

M- at res. of bride, Tuesday the 24th, by Prof. JS Copp, HB Hayes of Eckford & Mrs. LA Rogers of Homer village.

3-4-1874

M- at res. of Mr______ Prior in Clarendon, Mar. 1, by Rev. Henry Coddington of Tekonsha, Dr W Shattuck & Miss Mary Newman, both of the former place.

D- Mr. Fancher received a telegraph- news of death of Mrs.Hattie Pusey (Hattie Fowler) at Jacksonville, Fla, where her mother arrived about 10 days before she died. Burial will be in St. Paul.

M- Mar. 8, at Lockwood Cook's in Eckford, Wm. Cherry of Pentwater & Miss Harriet W Cook, of Eckford, by Prof. JS Copp of Hillsdale.

Dr. G Barnum left to live in Palmyra, NY, due to ill health.

D- in Woodstock, Canada, Miss Sarah L Fancher, where she was teaching. Her father brought her remains here. Mrs. Fancherwas en route to St. Paul, with remains of her dau., Mrs. Pusey. Parents now wholly bereaved of their children.

HL Hopkins commenced casting at the new foundry.

Brooks & Mumbrue dissolved their business.

D- at Jacksonville, Fla, Mrs. Hattie M Pusey, dau. of Mrs. Fancher, Mar. 9.

D- at Woodstock, Ontario, of congestion of the brain, Miss Sarah L. Fancher, Mar. 16, in 22nd yr., funeral at Homer on Mar. 20 (contains long account of funeral)

M- at Richardson House, Mar. 25, by TS Dorsey, Esq., John Smith & Ida Penoyer, both of Pulaski.

M- at ME parsonage Apr. 2, by Rev. H Worthington, Frank Snyder & Miss Cora Bronson, both of Albion.

D- in Butler, Branch Co, Mrs. Nancy Ann Vangieson, age 56y,4m,28d.

Twp. election results - 343 votes cast, Stephen F Snyder, Sup., Edward Henderson, Clerk, Benjamin F. Wetherbee, Treas.

D - in Clarendon - April 12, Henry A, son of Henry H & Margaret E Shears, age 5y, 25d.

M- in village on 14th by MM Camburn, Esq., Wm. Ford & Miss Ella Smith, all of Homer.

D- Levi Carter, for 27 yrs a conductor on Mich Central RR- on the 4th.

Geo W Davis has cellar wall up for a new res., corner Webster & Everett.

D- at his res. in village April 16 after a long illness, Mr.Ezra Brown, in his 77th yr.

D- at res. of his son, Andrew M., in Albion Twp., Apr. 18, Martin W Osborn, a former res. of village, 77y, 8m, 13d.

D- at res. of grandfather, WH McCartney, in village, Apr. 20, Frank Stanford, only ch. of James & Della O'Dell, age 2y,2m,15d.

Fire in rear of house belonging to HA Wintersteen, No. 235 Sprague St, occupied by VD Swart, who was away.

D- Martin W Osborn, who died on the 18th inst, another of the pioneers of Calhoun County passed away. He was born in Austerlitz, Columbia Co, NY in 1796, where he lived nearly half a century, united with Congregational Ch of his native place in 1825. In 1845 he moved to this county, settling in Eckford, where he lived about 15 years, then in this village about the same length of time. No long illness, he died easily in full possession of his mental faculties. He was an old fashioned gentleman, reserved & dignified, courteous, loved as a brother & father, etc.

Thos. Lyon has cellar dug for new house on Hamilton St.

CJ Murray - new house on Everett St, an ornament in that part of the village.

OW Mumbrue is bldg. res. corner of Hillsdale & Sprague Sts.

D- Philip Fisher fell dead in the road near his res. Tuesday, while talking with a peddler. He was one of the oldest res. of twp.

Geo. N Cady is near death in Albion.

D- Hiram Smith, res. of village 26 yrs, died at his res here May 4. Hon Hiram Smith, born in Westchester Co, NY May 24,1804 and at time of his death lacked only 20 days of being 70 yrs. He leaves 4 bro. & 2 sis. surviving him, the youngest 60, the oldest 76. He married June 29, 1828 to Miss Hannah Parkinson of Junius, Seneca Co, NY, with whom he passed 36 yrs of wedded life, she dying Aug. 4, 1864. He later married Mrs. Lucinda Walhart, who survives him. He was in mercantile business, in Marengo & Clyde, Wayne Co., NY for 10 yrs or more before coming to Mich. In May 1837 he removed from Clyde to this village, and in company with Arza Lewis from the same place, engaged in business of selling goods and milling. The firm was the leading business house in the place and in fact in this whole section of the State for several years.

He was active, energetic and liberal in enterprises calculated to promote the public good and build up the village. Lively interest in educational matters, for his own children, and rendering substantial aid in furnishing a school of high order in the village as early as 1845, and some 10 yrs later

was one of the supporters of the Homer Academy. Member of board of trustees in it and the Union School after they merged. In April 1839, he joined Presby. Ch, very active, and contributed largely to the bldg of the new church, erected in 1853, and to other churches in the village. Choir leader, fond of music, gave his only dau. the best music instruction. He held several elected offices and in 1847-48 represented this district in State Legislature. He was an unwavering Democrat. Retired from active business in 1856, since then farming- choice fruit and fine stock.

Dr Collins is driving the most stylish brown horse, from Chicago.

M- on the 9th, at ME parsonage by Rev. H Worthington, D Anglo Lyon & Miss Susan L Center, all of Pulaski.

A Arthur has new shoe store on site of his old one.

HJ Stine has cellar wall up for his new market, adjacent to Arthur's.

5-27-1874

Homer Temperance Alliance meeting.

Wm Raby is bldg. house on Leigh, between Sophia & Hillsdale.

M Carpenter bldg. house corner Hamilton & Burgess.

D- of consumption at res. of her mother in Eckford, May 28, Miss Hattie E Hopple.

M- at res of bride in village, June 24, by Rev. Gerrish, Mr ____ Gates of Toledo, & Mrs. Hannah Clark of this village.

Chas. Imus exchanged his house on Adams St with AN Hopkins, Esq. of this village, for a farm in Steuben Co., Ind.

RD Murray, finest harnesses.

D- in village, June 20(?), Sunday, Charlotte, wife of James Hadley, in her 46th yr.

Dr EA Collins is quite sick.

John B. Wetherwax, one of village's early settlers, visited here from Elderado, Calif., where he now resides.

Census report- Homer Twp. as taken by supervisor – total population 1772. (Also more info. available in this article.)

D- in village on 29th, Mrs. Melissa, wife of Sidney H. Stafford, in her 40th yr. She was the first burial in the new cemetery, located N of this village (Note - this isreferring to Fairview Cem.)

M- at his res in Homer, July 4, by Rev. Bela Fancher, Adelbert G. Elliot & Mary E Sharp, both of Albion.

Mr JB Green will bld. res. on Platt St.

M- at ME parsonage, on 11th by Rev. H. Worthington, Charles M Wilkinson, of Allegan, to Miss Eliza T Ellick of Albion.

M- in Marshall July 4, WH Potter & Miss Phebe Dowding, both of Convis.

M- at res. of bride's parents in village, July 8, by Rev. Fancher, Peter Arthur & Miss Ida Barns, all of this village (Note - originally reported minister was Gerrish, corrected in next week's paper to Fancher)

M- in Homer July 19 by TS Dorsey, Esq., Byron H Percival of Homer & Mary A Bailey of Clarendon.

M- on 18th at ME parsonage by Rev. Worthington, JC Moore & Miss Sarah F Osborn, both of Duplain.

Long article on business men of village.

CD Burt, of this office, has a new res. enclosed on Hamilton St.

Index is moving to ground floor, 2nd door N of bank, on Sophia St.

D- at res of grandfather, Wm. Peppet, Aug 2, Alice, dau of Edward & Mary Waldron, age 11 mo.

Hiram Vick - barber- left for Canada.

AE Nelson sold grocery stock to OW Mumbrue.

D- Mrs. Mary E Mead, wife of Franklin Mead, Esq., of Clarendon, died very suddenly at the res. of her father, Deacon Arza Lewis, in this village, on July 31, in 42nd yr. She & her husband came into town the evening before her death to call on her sisters, expecting to return home the same evening, she being in her usual good health. She died before morning after becoming suddenly very ill, closely following that of (looks like infant daughter, but is hard to read) to the spirit world. The father & mother hastened home from a visit to NY State. Funeral at Presby. Ch., where she had been a member over 20 yrs. Large circle of friends in Clarendon, where she has lived the past 15 yrs. Husband and motherless boy survive.

D- "Manny", in Clarendon, Aug. 10, after long & severe illness, Marion Dwight, called Manny, only son of R & CL Hazen, age 23y, 20d.

M- at Richardson House, on 18th by TS Dorsey, Esq., Horace Hall of Burlington & Elvira Havens, of Hillsdale.

M- in Tekonsha, July 29 at bride's father's res., John Main, Esq., by Rev. B Fancher, Milan D Merrill of Byron, NY & Mrs. Mary T Main.

WO Wells has new res. enclosed on Hillsdale, between Platt & Barney Sts.

JB Green - new large res. corner Hillsdale & Platt Sts.

M- in Presby. Ch. Aug 16 by Rev. John Gerrish, Miss Alice M Markham of Homer, to George Henry Gregory of Jonesville.

Cyrus Smith, furniture dealer, sold his stock to Hezzlemehatch & Dolph of Litchfield.

M- in Jonesville Aug 25, Fri, by Rev. LH Corson, RF Church of Homer & Miss Jennie Webster of Maple Rapids.

Nothing of interest this issue

Homer - a sketch of the town continued - tells about merchants, etc., part of a series.

D- Sept. 4th, at his res. in Eckford, Deacon Henry Cook, in 87th yr. He was born in Palestine, Montgomery Co., NY Feb 16, 1788. He moved to Oneida Co., where he married Aug. 7, 1814 Maria Mumbrue. She died 6-15-1871. They settled in Aurelius, Cayuga Co., NY, 9 mi W of Auburn, where they resided several years. In autumn 1831 he moved to Mich with his family, settling first on a farm in Saline, Washtenaw Co., only remaining there until the following spring. They came, with Anthony Doolittle, to Eckford (Note: see Homer & Its Pioneers book, for more information on him) He was one of the first settlers here. (Note - obituary very lengthy) Member Congregational Ch, later merged with Presby. Ch. He held several offices, including in fall of 1839, served to represent the County in the State Legislature. Accumulated large holdings of real estate - owned at one time over 1200 acres of land, much of which he passed to his sons. Homestead now owned by youngest son.

More info. on Homer and businesses

CR Markham and family, res. of Homer & Eckford many years, left for Coffee? Co, Kansas, to live.

Rev. H Worthington, of ME Ch. will move to Traverse City. Rev. H. Hunsberger of Tekonsha will replace him.

M- the 22nd by Rev. Worthington, Edward E Nims, of Clyde, Ohio, to Mrs. Cordelia Snider, of Homer.

Bankrupt auction sale - stock of IK Henshaw.

D- at Fisk's Mill, Sonoma Co., Cal. Sept 19, Clara May, youngest dau. of Jackson & Nora Kesler, age 6m,12d.

M- Oct 1 at res. of Geo. A Fuller, Esq., Homer, by Rev. Fancher, John H. Wood, of Johnstown, Mich., to Miss Francis Ann Matthias, of Hamlin, Mich.

Sophia St is destined to be the business street - bring money if you come down Sophia.

M- at Presby. parsonage Oct 14 by Rev. Gerrish, Amos Sanders & Miss Susan Stockton, both of Albion.

D- in Homer, Oct. 20, Huldy, wife of Eseck Hopkins, in 82^nd yr. Funeral at Presby Ch.

New paper started - Litchfield Gazette.

D- fatal accident- Edward Waldron, brakeman on MCRR & former res of Homer, Sat. last, run over by cars, funeral at res. of his father-in-law, Wm. Peppet. Age about 30.

MW Hatch to erect new bldg. on Main St, between his drug store and E Roberts bldg., occupied by JW Babcock.

OW Mumbrue is going to COD - or Cash system of business and will reduce prices.

Mrs. MJ Linton has her new bldg., adjacent to Henderson & Sons Drug Store, nearly complete.

D- Mrs. Huldah Hopkins, who died Oct 20 at res of her son, HL Hopkins, in this village, was born in Sullivan Co, Delaware, Feb. 24th, 1793, being in her 82nd yr. She was dau. of John Snider, the earliest settler of Snider Hill, in Cortland Co., NY. She married Eseck Hopkins Oct. 15, 1813. He was a few years older than she. They passed over 60 yrs together, he surviving her, and being in his 85th yr. In 1824 she united with Presby. Ch. of Marathon, NY and after coming here, connected herself in 1865 with the Presby. Ch. of this village. When in the bewilderment of her mind she could not find the way to a neighbor's house, yet she would find her way to church.

M - in Homer, Oct 18 at res. of Wm Raby, Jr., by TS Dorsey, Esq., Charles Brown & Henriettee Fishell, both of Concord.

M- at res. of C Wilbur, Esq., in Homer, Nov. 4 by Rev Gerrish, Paul K Perine & Miss Hattie Lewis, both of Pulaski.

About 25 new house & 5 businesses were built this season.

Dr. LT VanHorn is leaving for Niles.

The building for the new bank is enclosed.

M- today at res. of David Janes, Esq., by Rev. Gerrish, Frank Parsons, of Whitings, Ind & Miss Callie J Church of Homer.

Osborn House changed hands again - WH Powers retiring and HH Dorsey taking over.

M- today by Rev. Fancher at his res. in village, Peter Turner & Miss Mary Yinger, all of Homer.

D - Dr Elijah H Drake of Detroit - last Monday, run over by cars at Ypsilanti. He resided here in 1853 or 54 and is brother of Mrs. GR Murray & uncle to the Drake Bros. of Homer.

D- Mrs. Blashfield, wife of Martin Blashfield, of Tekonsha and formerly of Homer, died suddenly last Monday.

M- Nov 17 at ME parsonage, by Rev. A Hunsberger, John E Clark & Miss Mary L Rhinaker, all of Clarendon.

M- at ME parsonage by Rev. A Hunsberger, Andrew J Thompson & Ettie H Earl, of Eckford, Nov. 17.

M- Nov. 18 at res. of bride by Rev. A Hunsberger, Martin L Eslow of Homer & Mrs. Betsey Snyder of Albion.

M - Nov. 11, at ME parsonage by Rev. A. Hunsberger, Henry N. Wilder of Tekonsha to Mrs. Rhoda Kingston of Girard.

M- Nov 19 at res of bride's father, by Rev. Hunsberger, Wm W Hubbard to Nettie N Cotton, all of Homer.

Cowan & Adams at Calhoun Mills have a power corn sheller - the best on the market.

M- at res. of bride's father, Nov. 26 by Rev. T Lyon, of Quincy, John Snider of Homer & Miss Mary E Ball, of Albion.

M- in Albion, Nov. 11 at res. of Rev. AM Fitch, who officiated, JR Maynard, Jr. & Susie P Young, both of Homer.

Allen Bros. are turning out fine cutters.

Anniversary - Mr & Mrs. JW Babcock of Homer, 20 years.

It is the season of weddings, one clergyman married 12 couples in the past few weeks.

M- Dec. 2 at ME parsonage by Rev. Hunsberger, Lucious R Mills & Miss Juliett Shook, both of Butler.

Mrs. E Woodbury is closing out her millinery stock.

M- at Osborn House, Dec. 6, by Rev. Hunsberger, Theodore L Powers of Tekonsha to Emma Jane Wilson of Clarendon.

M- Dec. 6 by Rev. Hunsberger at ME parsonage, Arthur Cook to Eveline G Gordon, both of Albion.

12-16-1874

M- in Concord, Dec. 15, at res. of bride's father, ___ Randall, Esq., by Rev. Waxman, GA McCartney of Homer & Miss Elvira Randall, of Concord.

M- in Concord, Dec. 15, at same time & place by same, Harvey Potter of Homer & Miss Estella Dixon of Butler.

This issue missing

M- at res of bride's father, Dec. 24, by Prof. JS Copp, J Owen & Miss LA Dunton, both of Eckford.

M- Dec. 24 at bride's sister's res., Mrs. EM Henshaw, Homer, by Prof. JS Copp, Hugh A Humphrey of Eckford & Miss Evangeline L Putnam of Batavia, NY.

M- at res. of bride's father in Clarendon, Dec. 28, by LJ Andrus, Esq., Mr ____on Brown, of Jordan to Miss Lydia S Budd(?) of Clarendon.

D- after long illness, at res. 1 mi. NE of village, Dec. 27, Michael Hundy, a long time res., age 58y.