Death of Frayer Halladay
President of the Michigan Exchange Private Bank

Frayer Halladay, president of the Michigan Exchange Private Bank, died at Butterworth Hospital Sunday afternoon as the result of a critical abdominal operation earlier in the week.

Funeral services were held at the residence, 43 Pleasant Street, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. John T. Thomas, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church. The remains were taken to Ashton this morning, accompanied by Rev. John T. Thomas, where another funeral was held this forenoon in the Methodist church in which the deceased worshipped for many years. Interment was made beside his wife in the cemetery at Ashton.

Frayer Halladay was born on a farm near Leeds, Ontario, Canada, 15 October 1845, being the oldest of a family of nine children. His father came from Scotch and English antecedents and his mother was pure Scotch. He attended the district school near his father’s farm and remained with his father at home until 21 years of age, when he went to New York and worked as a farm hand for two years. He then came to Michigan and located a homestead in Sherman Township, Osceola county. Finding this life too tame for him, he formed a co-partnership with his father and engaged in general trade at Ashton in 1872 under the style of George Halladay & Son. The goods were shipped by rail to Paris, which was as far north as the G. R. & I. Was completed at that time. The remainder of the distance was made by wagon. Mr. Halladay made the trip himself and slept under the wagon at night. This co-partnership continued fifteen years, when Frayer succeeded his father, continuing the business eleven years longer in hi own name. He operated a sawmill for fifteen years, during which time he was the medium through which thousands of acres of hardwood lands were cleared and the timber converted into money. Twenty-one years ago Mr. Halladay formed a co-partnership with W. J. Breen to engage in the fuel business in Grand Rapids. This co-partnership was still in existence at the time of Mr. Halladay’s death, Mr. Breen having long been the active partner in the business.

Mr. Halladay owned several hundred acres of farm lands in Osceola county and a large tract of hardwood timber in the Upper Peninsula. He also had large real estate holdings in this city. While he resided at Ashton he was Supervisor and Treasurer of his township for several years, a representative of the Legislature and postmaster at Ashton for many years.

Mr. Halladay was married 29 December 1875 to Elizabeth McIlmurray, a native of Canada, who was teaching school at Ashton at that time. She died 10 April 1885, leaving three children, Grace, Eva and Roy. The former is the widow of the late Clarence Harrison. Eva was married about six weeks ago to Mr. Breen. The boy died some years ago at the age of 19.

Mr. Halladay was at one time quite prominent in the Odd Fellows fraternity, but has not been very active of late years. He was also a devoted member of the Methodist church and retained his belief in the universal plan of salvation to the end. He frequently remarked he had but two hobbies – chewing tobacco and hard work.

Frayer Halladay was not only a good man but he was a good citizen.

(Article in the Grandville Ave. Record, April 19, 1912, page 2.)