Iosco County, Michigan

ABBOTT obituary for Eben F. Abbott on Monday, April 1, 1929

Iosco County Gazette

E.F. Abbott, Pioneer - Was Resident of Iosco County for more than Sixty Years

Eben F. Abbott, a resident of Iosco County since the sixties, departed this life at this home in Wilber Township last Friday morning, aged 84 years. Of the deceased, it may be said that the clock of life had run down. Up to a month ago he moved in the even tenor of his way, and when illness came upon him, he realized, as did his family and friends, that the visit from the Angel of Death could not be averted.

Born in Pierpont, New York October 13, 1844, Eben Farnsworth Abbott was a son of Mr. And Mrs. Anson Abbott, who came here in the sixties to make their home in that section of Iosco County that time has so effectively erased form the map - "the vanishing farming community of the plains region." Several months ago Mr. Abbott related to the Gazette reporter some incidents of his early life - how the family went to Canada for residence in the forties, and some twenty years later decided to try their fortunes in the west, to be exact, around Midland, Michigan. These were stirring political times, and John C. Fremont came to the lumbering town of Saginaw to discuss issues. The event brought people from miles around to hear the national orator, and at that time Mr. Abbott met the late Samuel W. Chilson, who told him of Iosco, and of the wonderful opportunities to secure a home in the plains region. The tragedy to be enacted in years later could not be foreseen, and so the Abbott family came to Iosco.

We clothe with romance the story of the log-cabin days. Brave souls were those log-cabin people, and they hoped to carve a home out of the wilderness; yet year after year fate buffeted them. They saw their possessions grow less and less as farm crops failed, and prospects for better times grew fainter. Then one by one they left the plains region, most of them to seek homes elsewhere in the county - to become solid substantial citizens in communities where growth seemed more certain. Last to leave the plains region was Eben Abbott, and in 1876 he took up residence in Wilber - then a part of AuSable Township. Mr. Abbott was largely instrumental in securing the organization of the township of Wilber; in fact, he circulated the petition that asked for such erection from the Board of Supervisors in 1878. He held offices of public trust in Wilber on many occasions. In no spectacular way did he contribute to the life of the community, but he was always dependable and honest - a citizen of whom any community might be proud, and when the annals of Iosco are written, at least one chapter will be preserved for posterity because Mr. Abbott made it possible.

Mr. Abbott was married to Alice J. Falls of Wilber May 19, 1886. They have lived in Wilber since. Nine children were born to the union - Walter Abbott, living in Northwest Canada; Mrs. Elizabeth Simmons and Eugene Abbott of Wilber; Mrs. Edna Boomer of Tawas City; Hollis Abbott and Mrs. Amy Buck of Flint; Harvey and Alton Abbott of Wilber and Mrs. Jennie Harris of East Tawas. The surviving relatives are the wife, and children and six grandchildren; also a sister and brother - Mrs. Amy Earl of Grand Rapids and Erwin Abbott of Midland. Of the children, all were present at the funeral except the son in Canada, and Mrs. Boomer, who is ill in a Bay City hospital.

Funeral services were held Sunday in the Wilber Church, with Rev. J. W. LeVan officiating. Burial was made in the Wilber cemetery with his four sons and two sons-in-law acting as pallbearers.

Relatives from out of town who came to pay their last tribute of respect were Even and Ray Abbott, nephews; Mr. And Mrs. Duncan Boomer, Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. George Norton and children, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Buck, and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis McCormick, all of Flint; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Renwick and Mrs. Rosan Wiltsie of Saginaw; Mrs. Tirzah Corners, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Corner and Charles Corner of Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Oren Misener, and Roger and Joy Misener of Alpena; Mrs. May Westervelt and son Cecil of Rose City; and Mrs. Claude Crego and baby of Reno. Thus, "generations in their course decay; So perish these, when those have passed away".

Submitted by: Diane Adams

GRAEBNER obituary for Vina Curry Graebner on Tuesday, March 10, 1931

The Saginaw Daily News - Page 10

Mrs. John Grarbner Claimed By Death

Mrs. Vina Curry Graebner, wife of John A. Graebner, and a well known resident of Saginaw, died Monday at her home, 705 Congress avenue. She was 50 years old.

Mrs. Graebner whose maiden name was Vina Curry was born January 25, 1881, in Tawas City, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Curry. She attended the schools there and on Dec. 2, 1922, was married to John Graebner in Saginaw. She was a member of the Episcopal church at East Tawas.

Surviving are her husband, her mother, Mrs. Catherine Curry, three brothers and two sisters, Charles, Thomas and Waldo Curry, Mrs. M.H. Barnes and Mrs. A.F. Staudacher, Tawas City.

Funeral services will take place at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning at the home and will be private and at 2 o'clock central time Thursday afternoon at East Tawas. Friends may see Mrs. Graebner from 7:30 until 9 o'clock Tuesday evening at her home, 705 Congress avenue.

Submitted by: Karen Hollenbeck

DAVISON obituary for David Davison on Friday, July 28, 1939

The Tawas Herald - Page 1

Had Been Probate Judge For More Than 26 Years

David Davison, probate judge of Iosco county, died at 6:30 Thursday morning at his residence in this city. The deceased had been in poor health for several months and during the past few weeks had been confined to his home.

Judge Davison was elected to the office of probate judge in 1912 and had with distinction served the county in that capacity for the past 26 years. He was prominent in the political circles of the county and his fellow citizens placed great confidence in his judgement, ability and integrity.

The deceased was born March 16, 1859, in Bruce county, Ontario. As a young man he graduated from the Toronto Veterinary college. He and his family came to Michigan in 1891, going to Prescott where for a number of years he managed the Richland farms for C. H. Prescott & Sons. Later he purchased a farm in Tawas township which he operated and where he practiced his profession. Previous to being probate judge he had served his township a number of years as supervisor and had been a member of the school board.

He is survived by three sons, James H. Davison and Orville A. Davison, of Flint, and William A. Davison , of Tawas City, and Mrs. Percy Kinnish, of Flint; two brothers, James Davison, of Flint, and Samuel Davison, of Chesley, Ontario; and a sister, Mrs. Jane Daniels, of Owen Sound, Ontario.

The funeral services will be held at two o’clock Saturday afternoon at the home and 2:30 from the Methodist church, Rev. S. A. Carey will officiate.

[Note: In this same issue of the Tawas Herald, on page 8, there is a probate notice David Davison had published in the paper. Very well could have been his last one.]

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There is also a brief bio of David Davison in a Souvenir Booklet from Paisley, Ontario. It reads:

"David Davison, of Tawas City, Michigan, Judge of Probate Court for Iosco County, was a resident of con. 20, Greenock Tp., for over twenty years. In April, 1893, he went to Michigan, and was foreman at the cattle ranch of C. H. Prescott & Sons for two years. Then he went farming for himself in Tawas Tp., Iosco Co. In 1906 and 1907 he represented that township on the county board. In 1912 he was first elected Judge of Probate, with 33 more votes than his three opponents combined. In November last was again returned three to one for another term in office."

Souvenir of Paisley Bridge Opening, October 29th, 1935;
Local Historical and Pictorial Review (Paisley, Ontario: Paisley Advocate Job Print, 1935), p. 46.

Submitted by: Philip J. Tobias

TRUDELL obituary for Olive Trudell on Thursday, September 22, 1949

East Tawas News

Mrs. Olive Trudell Buried Saturday

East Tawas Woman, 71, Died Wednesday

EAST TAWAS - Funeral services for Mrs. Olive Trudell, 71, were held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock from the Moffatt funeral home. The Rev. Warner L. Forsyth officiated and burial was made in Greenwood Cemetary.

Born September 30, 1877 in Canada, the daughter of Margaret and Nathaniel Burch, Mrs. Trudell had been a resident here for many years until her illness necessitated her being hospitalized. She died September 14. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Ladies Aid of the church.

Survivors include the husband Delbert; a daughter, Rosamond of Detroit; three brothers; Charles of Duluth, and Mack and Cameron of East Tawas; and five sisters; Mrs. Minnie Clinger of Detroit; Mrs. Charles Silverthorn of Bay City; Mrs. Mary Fling of Marengo, Ohio; Mrs. Thad Smith of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Mrs. Clare Grant of East Tawas.

Submitted by: David Smith

ECKER obituary for Levi M. Ecker on Monday, January 1, 1990

Tawas Newspaper

Levi M. Ecker service Monday

Whittemore-- Services were held in Twining Monday for Levi M. Ecker of Whittemore who died Friday at the Iosco Medical Care Facility in Tawas City. He was 76.

Mr. Ecker was born in 1914 in Prescott to Raphia and Ellen Ecker. He worked as a machine operator for General Motors for many years, retiring in 1963. He also farmed. After retirement he joined the Orginal Michigan Fiddlers Association in 1980, played the violin and hamonica, sang country and gospel music and called square dances.

Mr. Ecker is survived by his wife Edelene, sons Levi E. Ecker of West Branch, Raphia Ecker of Whittemore, Joseph and Wendy Ecker of West Branch, and Timothy and Linda Ecker of Whittemore, daughters Gladys and Keith Faust of Whittemore, Saphoronia and Jack Stelter of Saginaw, Ila and William O'Brian of Bentley, Verna and Jim Klish of Tawas City, Myrtle and George Yanna of Whittemore, Debra and Craig Strickland of Waterford, and Sandra Morrhouse of Prescott, sister Sarah L Shuart of Twining, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Elder Leonard Barr officiated the funeral service Monday at Forshee Funeral Home in Twining. Interment was at Saints Cemetery in Whittemore.

[Note: No date for the obituary was given when it was submitted to this site, but as Mr. Ecker was 76 when he died and was born in 1914, his obituary probably ran sometime in 1990.]

WRATHELL obituary for Helen Wrathell on Friday, January 1, 1993

Tawas Herald

Helen Wrathell funeral today

Tawas City--- Helen M. Wrathell, 76, Tawas City, died Saturday at Tawas St. Joseph Hospital. Funeral services are today, Wednesday.

Born March 9, 1917 in Chicago,Ill., she married Robert R. Wrathell Aug 28, 1949 in Detroit. He survives her. She was also a member of the Church of Christ Restored in East Tawas.

Other survivors include son James and wife Carol Tvardos of Flushing, daughters Barbara Vliet and husband Larry of St. Cloud, Fla, Judy Murphy and husband Herbert of Lincoln, Shirley Pelton and husband Charles and JoAnn Wright, both of St. Cloud, Fla., 15 grandchilddren, 10 great-grandchildren and sister-in-law Cora Coates of Tawas City. She was preceded in death by grandson Herbert Murphy Jr.

Elder Roy Langdon is to officiate the 1pm. funeral at Jacques and Kobs East Chapel in East Tawas. Interment will be at Pioneer Cemetery in Grant Township. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Chuch of Christ Restored in East Tawas.

[Note: No date for the obituary was given when it was submitted to this site, but as Mrs. Wrathell was 76 when she died and was born in 1917, her obituary probably ran sometime in 1993.]

Submitted by Doris Demet

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