DROWNED, Our readers will remember Wilson J. TEEN, youngest son of Mrs. Wm. J. PALMER of this place. He was a sailor and occasionally made this his stopping place during the winter season. Most of his sailing has been on the great lakes but we understand he had been on salt water some. From a recent issue of the Buffalo Express we copy the following account of his sad death:  We regret to record today the death of one of Black Rock's well know and highly respected young men Wilson J. TREEN. He was mate on the Holland, and while off Port Huron lost his life in the storm of the 10th. This storm was the severest boatmen have experienced in years. It struck the boats at about 6 a.m. and in a very short time every where was widespread disaster. TREEN and Capt JOHNSON were up on deck at the time changing the sails, and the latter saw TREEN go overboard with the pile of lumber. He hollered to him to hang on and then hurried to port to send out the life boat.  Help was soon at hand but in the blinding snow storm no trace of the poor unfortunate could be found. The wind was blowing at the rate of 60 miles and hour, and with a sea of 50ft. It didn't require much time to swallow up all signs of his whereabouts. He was picked up 12 miles from the scene of the accident, after having been in the water 14 hours. It is quite probable his body would never have been found had he not tied himself to a board and in this manner was washed ashore. When picked up he was covered with sand and unrecognizable. He had not been dead very long as he was just cold. Had he lived to tell his experience no doubt many a tear would be shed. Mr. TEEN was born in Montecello, Ind. Feb 21st 1866. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife Anna, at 42 ontario Street; also a mother, sister and two brothers in Michigan.  The remains were brought to Buffalo and buried at Holy Cross Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. The funeral was attended by a vast circle of sympathizing friends, among them the American O. of  F. No 146. Sympathy is extend to the bereaved widow, mother, sister and brothers.

Submitted by Marlene Petty Polster mars @mail.icongrp.com

Faye Rouse Quodon@aol.com

Submitted By Marlene Petty Polster - mars@mail.icongrp.com

Mrs. Nettie Wade Bloomingdale, Feb. 28 - 1958 Mrs. Nettie Wade, 75, died Friday noon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Roberta Myers, of Bloomingdale. She was born Sept. 4,1883, in Green Castle, Ind., and had been a resident of Bloomingdale for the past 35 years. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Myers, survivors include two sons, Arthur of Bristol, Conn. and Leonard, of Indianapolis, Ind.; 10 grandchildren and a brother, Oscar McIntire, of Terre Haute, Ind. Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in the Robbins funeral home in Bloomingdale, with the Rev. Carl Koloseik, officiating. Burial will be in Spring Grove cemetery in Bloomingdale.

Submitted by Alice Wade  Alwu2@aol.com

Faye Rouse Quodon@aol.com

Faye Rouse Quodon@aol.com

submitted by - gregoryhull@earthlink.net

The Bangor Reflector - March 16, 1883
submitted by Joan Jaco - joanjaco@cybersol.com

Lawton Leader - Issue Date, 17 March, 1899.......

Josiah Wilson was born in Preble Co. Ohio, September 19 1825 and died at the home of his son [Garret L. Wilson] in Glenwood, Mich. March 10 1899, aged 74 years, 5 months, and 19 days. He came to Lawton in 1870 where he resided until about six years ago.  After coming to Lawton, he worked in the furnace until it was closed, and later was a section foreman on the M. C. R. R. [Michigan Central Railroad] for several years.  He leaves a widow [Adeline Fuller-Wilson,] three children, and three grandchildren.

The children are G. L. [Garret Levi] Wilson of Glenwood, Mrs. W. W. McLain [Myra E. Wilson-McLain] of Lawton, and Mrs. Willis Clark [Ella Wilson-Clark] of Kalamazoo. The funeral was held at Glenwood last Saturday, and the body was brought to this place for burial.

[ Note that Josiah L. Wilson, and his wife, Adeline Fuller-Wilson, are intered in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lawton.]

Submitted by Gary A. Beam, gg-grandson of the deceased.

Hartford Man Had Been Dead Four Days Before He Was Missed From  Isolated Cabin Home On Bank of River.

----------------------------------------------
As  the sequel to attempt to "ferry" across the thin ice of Paw Paw River to reach the isolated shack where he had lived alone for 11 years, the body of Richard (Dick) Wilson.  Hartford's mystery recluse, was fished from the river Friday afternoon.

Dragging of the river was begun by sheriff's officers Friday morning, after the discovery late Thursday that the recluse had been missing from his accustomed haunts since Sunday afternoon when he left the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Courtney, just east of town on US-12 where he had been a dinner guest.

The recluse told the Courtney's that he had crossed the river in the morning by standing on a sled and propelling it with two sharp sticks.  Four hours later during which the ice was weakened by thawing temperature, he is believed to have attempted the return trip by the same method.

 Sled Found First

Deputy Sheriffs W.C. Leonard of Lawton and Charles Palmer of Hartford directed the river search.  Matt Thar, owner of the farm across the river just northeast of this village where the recluse was a shack dweller, discovered the first clue, when he pulled the sled to the surface of the stream.

Three hours later Durwood Smith, son of Fire Chief Wm. N. Smith, recovered the body from about eight feet of water.  The young man "hooked it" with a rake to which a 12-foot handle had been attached.

The body was found near the bank and only 20 feet from the point where he is believed to have started the perilous trip, indicating that the ice had gone out of the stream when he was found to be missing.

Coroner Frank Thompson, of Paw Paw, was called to the scene but decided that no inquest was necessary.

Was Unusual Character.

The last chapter in a strange life was written Saturday afternoon when funeral rites for the recluse were held at Zuver & Calvin
chapel.  Rev E. A. Murphy of the Federated Church officiated.  Six friends served as casket bearers and a single spray of flowers covered the casket.  Burial was at Maple Hill.

Wilson had been a resident of Hartford for thirteen years coming here from "somewhere" as an itinerant berry picker.  Eleven years ago he built the shack in a secluded spot at the Thar farm, on the river bank, where he fished in the summer and trapped furs in the winter.  When not employed on nearby farms or at odd jobs about town he chose the seclusion of his river rendezvous.

During the 13 years "Dick," as everyone knew him, established a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness, always paid his debts, and was absorbed in his own secluded life.  Farmers and others who employed him say he was a most reliable and capable worker.

On occasional departures from the path of sobriety he invariably remained at his shack  The one clue to the age of the recluse was afforded by the trapping license issued to him this fall by Harold Walker.  It gave his age as 78.  Friends guessed him to be in his early sixties.

Kept Life a Secret.

Wilson was well read, intelligent man and a fluent conversationist with his cronies.  But efforts to learn the history of his invariably met with rebuffs of silence. No family ties were ever revealed by him.  Another shack dweller at the river, known as "Jack," told officers that Wilson had a sister in Pennsylvania, but efforts to locate her failed.

Another friend says that Wilson once revealed he had quarreled with relatives over property rights and "walked away."  No other information was divulged.  Several acquaintances believed that the name "Wilson" was an alias he had assumed.  Whatever the story of his life, he carried it to his death in the river beside which he led his lonely existence with five sleek, fat cats as his only companions.  Searchers found the cats locked in the shack upon investigating the report that the recluse had not been seen from Sunday, when he left the Courtney place, to Thursday afternoon.

During his 13 years residence here Wilson is  said to never been involved in trouble save on a wintry (unreadable line) Indian was shot during an alleged drinking party at the river shack.  The recluse was questioned but not prosecuted in that affair.  The victim of the shooting recovered.

Only afew friends attended the simple funeral rites Saturday, but there was evidence that they regretted the passing of a man whose strange qualities commanded their regard  It is stated that they not only mourned their friend, but contributed him a Christian burial.

The friends who saw to it that "Old Dick," as they called him, had a Christian burial in his home town were J.L. Calvin, Levi Yeider, Matt Thar,Jr., Fred Welcher, Jay Parker, Will Shepard, Ed Beatty, W.H. Shaul, Charles Palmer, Harold Walker, Ed Stickney, Ray McCotter, George Markille, Gleaner Store, Oliver Salnave, L. Dade, Frank Drullinger, Harry Meachum,
W.L. Root, Howard Curry, W.N. Smith, Dale Wolcott, Harry Allen, Jay Williams and Wm. Muelleder.

Bangor Advance, January, 1934
Submitted by Kim Kester - Kims715@aol.com

Harold Woods age 14 years and a son of John B Woods of this village, was shot and killed by his playmate, Beryl Adams, also age 14 years, at the Woods farm in Hamilton twp. last Thursday shortly after noon.
The boys had accompanied John B Woods to the farm and had assisted him in doing some farm work during the forenoon. They ate their dinner in the old house upon the farm. After dinner John B Woods went out of the house, but before going out told the boys not to touch a shotgun that was standing in the corner, as it was loaded. The boys then began talking
about the gun and each asserted that he was not afraid of it. The Adams boy reached a- round from a milkcan he was sitting
to show Harold he was not afraid of it, hit it. Harold punched it with a old buggy spoke when he moved his hands. The gun exploded, the charge striking Harold in the left cheek,passing upward and lodged in his brain at the top of the head.
John B Woods hearing the explosion, looked in the door just in time to see his son fall. The Adams boy cannot tell whether the gun slipped from his hands and he caused the explosion or whether Harold caused by  striking it with the buggy spoke.
No blame is attached to the Adams boy, except that of his disobedience to the order of John B Woods not to touch the gun and of extreme carelessness, and the same blame would attach to the to the dead boy.
Harold Woods lived with his father in Decatur Village. Buryl Adams is a son of Charles Adams of Dowagiac, but has been in the charge of his guardian S,P. Ball of Wayne twp. for sometime past, his mother having died some three years ago. Mr Ball had secured him a home in the family of E.F. Baxter of Hamilton twp., where he resided at the time of the accident.
The day before the accident young Adams came to visit Harold with Mr. and Mrs. Baxter.  When they were ready to go home they could not find him and returned without him. He stayed all night with the Woods boy and the next day went to the farm with Harold and his father.
No coronor's inquest was held; It was not deemed necessary.
The funeral services of the dead boy were held at the Methodist Church in Decatur Sunday at 2:30 o"clock. His burial was in Hamilton Cemetery.

Harold G Woods was born Jan.31,1895, in Hamilton twp. He died June 17,1909. Aged 14 years, 4 months and
7 days. When he was two years old his darling mother died. He then went to live with his Mrs. Pound until he was six years old. In 1899 his father was again married, making a home for his children, and Harold came home to live, where he has been for the
greater part of the intervening time. Harold was a happy bright faced boy, with a smile for everybody. His neighbors all loved him for his sweet disposition.
On Wed. night a companion stayed with Harold at his home and in company with the father and brother they went to the farm on Thursday. At noon playing in the yard with his friend, Harold  was accidentally shot through the head and fell  at his companions feet dead.
He leaves to mourn his father, one sister and  two brothers, and a host of friends in the neighborhood of his Aunt where he spent six years of his life. His funeral was held in the Methodist Church on Sunday at 2:30. Rev. J.W. Davids officiating. We laid his body away in Hamilton Cemetery.

CARDS OF THANKS

We desire to express our sincere thanks
to our many friends who assisted in our
sad bereavement and showed us so much
kindness.
John B Woods and Family.

From Sharon Woods Cornell -sc2000@myexcel.com

Helen M Vanderhoof, daughter of William and Lodema Vanderhoof, was born in the town of Keene, Ionia County, Michigan, March 25,1859, and died May 27,1897.  At the age of 5 she moved to Hamilton with her parents. In the year of 1877 she united with the Methodist Church in Decatur. In 1878 she was married to John B. Woods. She was the mother of
eight children, six sons and two daughters, two sons proceeded her to the other world. In 1880 she moved to
Madison, Dakota. After living there eight years, they moved to Dowagiac, then returning to Hamilton, where she
lived until her death.
Mrs Woods was a quiet, lovable women. a kind wife and an affectionate mother. Durning her long illness she was ever
cheerful, hopeful and patient, bearing her suffering with great fortitude. Besides her parent and family, she leaves
a large circle of friends and neighbors to mourn her loss.
The funeral took place at Hamilton hall Sunday, May 30th, at 11 o'clock a.m., conducted by Elder-J.H. Hammond of
Decatur. The respect and sympathy of friends and neighbors was manifested by the large attendance and floral offerings
that decorated the casket. Notwithstanding the cold disagreeable day, fifty teams formed the long procession that followed the loved form to the beautiful Hamilton Cemetery, where her sleeping dust was laid to wait the resurrection morn.

"Brief death and darkness endless life and light,
Brief divining, endless abining in yon sphere
Where all is incorruptible and pure,
The joy without the pain, the smile without the tear."

From Sharon Woods Cornell - sc2000@myexcel.com

James Woods Seriously Injured This Afternoon

James Woods fell from the new barn under erection at the David Welsh farm in Silver Creek this noon and was seriously injured. Only meagre details were obtainable up to this hour. Mr. Woods, who is proprietor of the Marguerite
Flouring Mills, was assisting on the barn when the accident happened. The fall occurred about 1 o'clock, and a messenger was sent at once to this city for medical assistance.
At the late hour this afternoon the information was received that Mr. Wood was knocked from  the building by being struck with a falling timber. He fell twelve feet.  Dr. W.W. Easton was called and found two ribs broken. He is also suffering with concussion of the brain and may be hurt internally. It is too early to determine if his injuries will prove fatal.

THE DOWAGIAC TIMES

FALL RESULTS IN HIS DEATH

James Woods of Silver Creek expired Sunday May 27,1906.

PARTIALLY PARALYZED

He suffered internal injuries from his fall from the Welsh barn.

James Woods, the Silver Creek Miller,  died Sunday morning at 11 o'clock of his injuries received Friday while at work on
the new barn at the David Welsh farm.  Internal injured caused death. Mr. Woods head cleared up and he was conscious up
to 10 minutes before death.  The accident happened at 1 o'clock Friday. Mr Woods was assisting in raising a plate
into position from a scaffolding when the  timber got away from them and fell, one end  of it striking Mr Woods a glancing blow on the collar bone, breaking two ribs as it fell. The blow knocked him to the ground several feet below. It was the internal injuries received in the fall that caused death. The barn where the accident happened is only a short distance from Marguerite Mills, of which Mr Woods was proprietor.
The deceased was nearly 48 years of age and he leaves a wife and two children.

From Sharon Woods Cornell - sc2000@myexcel.com

1856-1930

John Woods was born on the 24th of March, 1856, in Silver Creek township, county of Cass, and died September 17,1930, at the home of his son in Kalamazoo.  He was the son of Burel and Artie Hinchman Woods. In 1878 he was united
 in marriage to Helen Van-derhoof of Hamilton township. To  this union were born eight children of whom three survive. They are Clarence B Woods of Kalamazoo, John W Woods of Lansing, and Carrie Baldwin of Battle Creek.
Ten grandchildren also survive, besides other relatives, and many friends.
Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church, Decatur, last Sunday. Rev. E.C. Finkbeiner officiating. Burial followed in Hamilton Cemetery.
John Woods was a resident of Decatur for many years. He was a quiet man, always pleasant, industrious and a good citizen. He met the problems of life to the best of his ability, and seldom if ever complained.

From Sharon Woods Cornell - sc2000@myexcel.com

1887-1936

John W. Woods, 48 of 818 Johnson Avenue, Lansing, died at a local hospital Tuesday  evening, January 28, following a lingering illness. He had been a resident of Lansing for the past ten years, having gone there from Decatur. He is survived by the widow, Eva; two daughters, Mrs Ica Fowler, of Gleason, Tenn., Mrs Madeline Pittman of Lansing, one son, George Woods of Lansing; one brother,  Clarence Woods of Kalamazoo, and one sister Mrs Carrie Baldwin of Battle Creek.
The body lay in state at the Goraline-Runcimen funeral home until Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, and funeral services
were held from the M.E. church at Decatur at 1:30 o'clock. Interment was in the Harrison cemetery at Decatur.
Older residents of Decatur will remember the Woods family and also the George Coulson family of which Mrs. Woods was a member. They were known here as good substantial Christian people.
Among the relatives who accompanied the body of John Woods to Decatur and attended the funeral services were the widow, Mrs Eva Coulson Woods, and three children, Mrs George Coulson, Jay Coulson and family, Mrs Ernest  Spratt and family, Mrs May Longley and daughter, Mrs. Carrie Hall and son Lewis Hall of Waverly,  Mrs. Flossie Smith of Portland, and Mrs. Lilia Moore of Benton Harbor.
John Woods was born in Madison, S. Dak., April 16,1887, and died in Lansing January 28,1936.

From Sharon Woods Cornell - sc2000@myexcel.com

CLARENCE GUY WOODWARD was born at Walton Junction, Michigan, May 4, 1886, and departed this life at Hartford, Michigan, September 18, 1918, after a lingering illness at the early age of 32 years. The greater part of his early life was spent in Benton Harbor, Michigan where he was married to Carrie Smith, September 16, 1905.  Two sons, Walter and Earl were born to this union, who survive him. In June, 1616, he enlisted in Co. C, 3rd Illinois Volunteers and was stationed at San Antonio, Texas.  Doing well in the service he was promoted to corporal but his soldier life was cut short by ill health and he was finally mustered out February, 1917.  His illness continued but he lived through it with a cherished hope that some day he would be strong enough to rejoin his comrades in arms and be with them in the mighty struggle for world peace and contentment.  This hope was doomed to be blasted for the Great Angel of Death came and spoke peace to his soul.  His friends in loving memory speak of him as a splendid workman, a good companion with a kind and sympathetic nature, a dutiful boy, kind and loving to his aging mother and father. He leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, two sons, a father, a mother, one  brother, H. E. Woodward of Joliet, Ill., three sisters, Mrs. C. I. Peapples and Mrs. D. L. Northrup of Dowagiac, and Miss Lena Woodward at home.

--Card of Thanks-- We wish to thank ouf friends and neighbors for their sympathy and kindness, also, for the beautifl floral offerings extended to us during the sickness and death of our son and brother. W. M. Woodward and Family

 Note: Mrs. C. I. Peapples was Mrs. Clarence Irving (Ida May Woodward) Peapples, my paternal grandmother.

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com

George F. Woodward, age 77, died last night after a long illness at his home, 93 Woodland avenue.  He was a native of Salisbury.  He is survived by the widow and four children, George A. of Newport, R. I., Arthur M. of Andover, Annie M. Wellington of Franklin, and Albert L. Woodward of this city, also 16 grand children and five great grand children, besides one brother, Walter, who resides in Michigan. Funeral services will be held at the home Wednesday at two o-clock.

Note:  The brother Walter Woodward was born May 23, 1853, died May 1, 1933 and was a longtime Hartford/Lawrence area resident (see following obituary).

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com No Paper, No Date

WOODWARD -- Mertie Francis, daughter of Walter M. and Nellie N. Woodward died at the home of her parents on Friday, Jan. 7, 1887.  Aged 6 years, 3 months and 2 days. Mertie Francis Woodward was born Oct. 3, 1880 in Blackford Co, Ind., and moved with her parents Oct. 28, 1883 to Grand Traverse Co, Mich, where they lived until Aug. 20, 1886 and then moved to their present location in Lawrence township, Van Buren Co, Mich. She was taken ill Sept. 20, 1886, with scarlet fever but had so far recovered as to be around to play, when she was seized with an attact [sic] of inflamatory rheumatism from which she suffered, oh, so much and so long! When she began to get better from this the dropsy set in, and, being weak from her previous illness she did not rally from this but gradually failed until she passed away to that Land from whence no traveler returns.  Not a murmur passed her lips and the little one bore her suffering so patiently that all who saw her could not help loving her. Altho' the family have no relatives in this state, yet they found warm hearts and willing hands to assist them in their dark hour of bereavement.  The funeral was held at the Barnes schoolhouse on Sunday last and the remains buried in the new cemetery.

Card of Thanks We acknowledge with great appreciation the favors shown us by kind friends and neighbors during the illness and death of our daughter. Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Woodward

Note:  Various obituaries refer to Mrs. W. M. Woodward as Nellie, Ellen and Hattie.

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com

W. M. WOODWARD, 80, DIES AT LAWRENCE HARTFORD, May 1--Walter M. Woodward, 80, died at 1 o'clock this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Irving Peapples, after an illness of 10 days. The deceased was born in Franklin, New Hampshire, May 23, 1853.  He came to Michigan 48 years ago.  He is survived by two daughters and one son.  The daughters are Mrs. Peapples, matron of the Van Buren county infirmary, and Mrs. Daniel Northrup of Cassopolis.  The son is H. E. Woodward, of Bloomington, Ill.  There are 11 grandsons. The late Mr. and Mrs. Woodward lived in Benton Harbor for 12 years. Mrs. Woodward died last March, a few days before their golden wedding anniversary. Funeral services will be held at the family home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o,clock.  The Rev. John H. Balfour will officiate, and interment will take place in Lawrence Hill cemetery.  The casket bearers will include Donald Bardon of Watervliet and five grandsons of the deceased -- Walter Woodward, Clarence Peapples and Floyd Parks, Hartford; Earl Woodward, Benton Harbor and Harold Peapples, St. Joseph.

Note: Mrs. Irving Peapples is Mrs. Clarence Irving (Ida May Woodward) Peapples; Clarence and Harold are their sons.  Don Bardon is the widower of Halo Woodward and Earl is, I believe, their son.

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com No paper, no date

Submitted by Dixie Dahlke - dixiedahlke@grcsings.com

Bangor, Nov 21-- Death Monday claimed two pioneerresidents of this community, Mrs. Nettie May (Watkins) Yeider.  71, who succmed following a brief illness at the farm home west of town, and Marshall R. Reams, 83, whose death occurred at the home of his son Fred W. Reams of this village.

Mrs. Yeider was born in Bangor township and spent her entire life here, having moved to her late residence shortly after her marriage to John Yeider Dec. 25, 1882.

Survivors include the husband John Yeider, and as son Levi Yeider, both of Bangor; two daughters, Mrs. Laura Mitchell of Kalamazoo and Mrs. Gladys Nash of Grand Rapids; two brothers and a sister, Frank and Henry Watkins and Mrs.
Clara Hastings, all of Bangor, and six grandchildren.

Mr. Reams, a native of Chilicothe, Ohio, had resided in Bangor since 1900.  He conducted a grocery store and meat business here for a number of years, later identifying himself as a fruit broker.

Surviving Mr. Reams are the son Fred W. Reams of Bangor; a daughter, Mrs Grace Daudert of South Haven; five Grandchildren, and two Great-Grandchildren.  Funeral rites will be conducted at Sherrods chapel at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Services for Mrs. Yeider will be held at the  chapel at the same hour on Thursday.

Burial in both instances will be at Arlington Hill.

Bangor Advance, 1933
Submitted by Kim Kester - Kims715@aol.com

Nettie May Yeider was born on the Watkins farm, west of Bangor, September 22, 1862 and passed away Monday, November 20th, passing her entire life a resident of Bangor Township.  On Decber 24, 1882, she united in marriage to
John Yeider, and they set up their new home on the farm where they have since resided continuously.  Last year, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and one of the incidents of that affair was the statement that
Throught half the half-century of wedded life. Mr. and Mrs. Yeider had never been separated for one whole day.

Mrs. Yeider is survived by her husband, a son, Levi of Bangor; two daughters, Mrs. Laura Mitchell of Kalamazoo, and Mrs Gladys Nash of Grand Rapids; two brothers, Henry and Frank Watkins, of Bangor, and a sister, Mrs. Clara Hastings of Hartford.

The funeral service will be held this Thursday afternoon in Sherrod Chappel, at 2 o'clock, Rev. Andrew Lemke Officiating.  Burial will be made in Arlington Hill cemetery.

Bangor Advance, 1933
Submitted by Kim Kester - Kims715@aol.com