Orren Gregg Maxfield and his wife, Elzora A. Rudd
Coopersville Observer January 25, 1929
Gregg Maxfield Civil War Vet, Dies Saturday
Was in Hotel Business 35 Years; Owned the "Maxfield House"
Another of Coopersville’s few remaining Civil War veterans has answered the final call: Orren Gregg Maxfield, responding to death’s summons last Saturday morning, after an illness of about four weeks.
About four weeks ago, Mr. Maxfield suffered injuries in a fall, and shortly afterward was taken with the flu. He was apparently on the road to recovery, when complications set in which caused his death.
His passing recalls to the mind of many of the older residents, happy memories of events which took place at the "Maxfield House," which for years was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield, and now stands where the residence of Joe Noble now stands on the corner of Eastmanville and Danforth Streets.
Mr. Maxfield was born in Clinton County, New York, June 3, 1843, and came to Michigan with his parents when a lad. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, 5th Michigan Cavalry and served until the end of the war. June 11, 1870, he married Miss Elzora Rudd of Eastmanville. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield were in the hotel business for more than thirty years, entering that field in Grand Rapids, then at Eastmanville, and finally at Coopersville. The also made their home in Lamont for several years.
One of the events of recent years which Mr. Maxfield often commented on was the G. A. R. reunion held in Grand Rapids and at which time he and his wife were guests at a reunion of his old comrades of Company B. At the banquet tendered the local veterans by the Daughters of Veterans last Flag Day, Mr. Maxfield surprised every one, even his wife, by reciting a lengthy poem depicting the hardships and sacrifices of the boys in blue, and those who heard him said he spoke with as much enthusiasm as a young man.
The deceased is survived by the widow; two daughters, Mrs. Gertie Comstock, of Coopersville, and Mrs. Hattie Brown, of Los Angeles; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held at ten o’clock Monday morning at his late home, with Rev. L. B. Whittemore, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, of Grand Rapids, in charge. Burial was in the Lamont cemetery.