Orlo J. Yeiter Pages 569-570 - Orlo J. Yeiter, funeral director and dealer in furniture, Lowell, Michigan, is a native son of Kent county and is a worthy representative of one of the old established and honored families of Lowell township. He was born on the old homestead farm of his parents, in Lowell township, May 9, 1890, a son of Samuel S. Yeiter and Caroline (Reuter) Yeiter, who were both natives of Michigan and were numbered among the highly esteemed citizens of their community. Samuel S. Yeiter was a farmer by occupation and for many years prior to his death was the owner of a fine land estate in Lowell township were he carried on general farming and stock raising. He was one of the progressive and public spirited men of that community who contributed much to the advancement and prestige of Kent county, and though many years have passed since he was called from the scene of earthly activities, he is remembered as a man of high ideals and his work remains as a force for good in the community. In business life he as alert, sagacious and reliable; as a citizen he was honorable, prompt and true to every engagement and his death, which occurred January 24, 1916 removed from Kent county, one of its most valued citizens. To him and his wife were born five children: Clair D., Orlo J., Claud S., Lena L., and where she is surrounded by a host of friends and greatly admired for her sterling qualities and beauty of character. Orlo J. Yeiter obtained his education in the public schools of Lowell township and the high Harold G.  His mother still survives and maintains her home in Lowell school at Freeport. His boyhood days, and until he attained the age of nineteen, were spent upon his father’s farm, where he was taught the habits of industry and economy, and the discipline proved a valued one during the formative period of his life. As a youth he manifested unusual business talent, and in 1909, when nineteen years of age, he went to Portland, Oregon, where he became identified with the retail grocery trade and also the hotel business, but in 1914 he returned to Lowell, where he formed a partnership with Joseph B Yeiter, a cousin of his father, in the operation of his present business under the title of Yeiter and Company. This alliance continued until April, 1921, when Mr. Yeiter purchased his partner’s interest and has since conducted the business alone. He is also local agent for the distributor of the Hudson and Essex automobiles, in which field of activity he has also been successful. Besides his business connection, Mr. Yeiter is loyal and public spirited in his civic attitude and gives close consideration to the social, educational and municipal problems of this city, in which he has done not a little to further its prestige as one the leading commercial centers and place of residence in the county. He has served six years as a member of the village council and the year 1925 find him giving an effective and popular administration as president of the village board of trustees. He has also been president of the Lowell Board of Education since 1921, and no citizen has a finer sense of civic stewardship or a greater measure of public sprit. He is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Yeiter was married in June 1909, to Miss Rosella Curtiss also a native of Lowell township and a daughter of Earl and Mary Curtiss, and to this union three children have been born. They are Evelyn L., Gerald S., and Robert D.

Transcriber:  Marcia Shears
Created: 8 November 2002