later Mr. Hewitt married Miss Olivia Griswold of Marshall, who died about four years subsequent to her marriage. He then remained single about fifteen years, when he married Mrs. Mary Grilley of Lansing, who, with his daughter, survives him. Mr. Hewitt was for many years a prominent and enthusiastic Odd Fellow. He was admitted to Capital lodge, No. 45, in this city, Aug. 22, 1867, elected its treasurer July 1, 1868, and continued to act in that capacity until Jan. 1, 1881. He received the encampment degrees in Ingham encampment No. 22, at Leslie, July, 1868, and was a charter member of Friendship encampment, No. 33, of Lansing, which was instituted Sept. 21, 1868. For several continuous terms he represented his lodge and encampment in the grand bodies, and continued his membership with the order until his death. Towards the original project of an Odd Fellows' institute, located at Lansing, Mr. Hewitt was a generous contributor, and paid $600 towards the purchase of the property-thus attesting his faith in that grand undertaking of the fraternity. In this connection, the following tribute from the pen of an eminent Odd Fellow, who knew him for many years and was his intimate friend to the last, will be read with pleasure: "He was a man of few words, but had a sound, discriminating judgment. Firm in disposition, clear and logical in his arguments on all occasions, his remarks were always received with the greatest respect. A man of the strictest business integrity, ever generous, and a faithful worker for the best interests of his lodge, he was truly beloved by every member. With words of encouragement to young members to assume the duties and responsibilities of the management of lodge business, he was always present to restrain their impetuosity, and as a balance wheel protect against the overreaching energy of the inexperienced. "But he is gone. His place is vacant. We shall see his face no more "Like the mist on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, DEATH OF WILLIAM HARRISON HORTON OF VEVAY From the Ingham County Democrat, June 14, 1883 Although not unexpected, it was with sadness the news of the death of William Harrison Horton of Vevay, which occurred on the 12th inst., at one o'clock, was received by his many friends in this city, and especially by his brother and sister pioneers of the county, assembled at the Rayner opera-house at the time his death was announced. Last fall Mr. Horton's health began to fail, and while no apparent disease was manifest, he gradually wasted away, physically and mentally. For several weeks prior to his death he seemed to realize its near approach, and said to the writer that he only awaited the appointed hour. William H. Horton was in the 70th year of his age. He was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1814. In 1837 he came to Michigan and settled on the northeast quarter of section five in Vevay, Ingham county, May 30, 1837. Thus for over 46 years Mr. Horton had been a resident of Ingham county, and an honored, trusted, and respected citizen. He afterwards sold his farm in the northeast part of the town, and in 1854 purchased the place where he resided up to the time of his death, four miles south of this city, now a beautiful and productive farm. He has held many offices of trust and has always filled them with fidelity and honor. In 1854 he was elected register of deeds of Ingham county and served in that capacity six years. He was thrice elected supervisor of Vevay-in 1856, 1860, and 1878. Mr. Horton was well versed in the early history of Ingham county, and we might also add, nearly all other subjects, as he was quite a student and possessed a remarkably retentive memory. His wife and an only son, Willis H. Horton, survive him. There were but few men like William H. Horton and he will be sadly missed by many. In religious faith he was an old school Baptist, in which belief he was born and reared. Funeral services were held at his late residence yesterday afternoon, Rev. Doust officiating, and the remains interred in the Rolfe burying ground. A large crowd of sympathizing friends and neighbors followed his remains to their last resting place. Mr. Horton was a member of the State Pioneer Society. DEATH OF ORRIN S. CASE From the Lansing Republican On Saturday, April 23, 1881, at about 5 o'clock P. M., Orrin S. Case died at his residence, corner of Washtenaw and Sycamore streets, from rheumatism of the heart, after an illness of about three weeks, aged 64 years, 11 months, and 7 days. Of the early history of Mr. Case but little is known here. He was born in New York and must have come to Michigan at an early age, as the Kalamazoo Gazette, referring to his illness, states that he was a resident of that village from 1836 to 1848, and one of the original publishers of the Gazette. He was a brother of Mrs. Henry Gilbert of Kalamazoo. At the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted in the First Michigan volunteers, Col. Stockton commanding, with the late Gen. A. S. Williams of Detroit as lieutenant colonel, F. W. Curtenius of Kalamazoo being captain of Mr. Case's company. He served through the war, and came out of the service broken in health and having contracted the disease which has finally terminated his life. Soon after his return to Michigan he resumed his trade, and in the fall of 1848 he came to Lansing and took a position in the office of the Michigan State Journal, working on State work during the first session of the legislature held in this city. Mr. Case and C. V. DeLand printed on hand presses the Journal and bills of that session. He worked the first power press set up in the office, and was head pressman during nearly the entire period between 1848 and 1868, when he took a position in the book-room, which he has held almost continuously until the day of his death, having been, since the death of Mr. Mead in 1870, the oldest employé in the Republican office. Upon the organization of Berdan's sharpshooters, in the early days of the rebellion, Mr. Case enlisted in a company from this section, and went to Washington, but was rejected upon examination on account of the rheu matism heretofore referred to, and returned home, receiving no remuneration for his expenses. It is also true that, although a constant victim to the disease contracted while in service in Mexico, Mr. Case has never received a pension from the general government, having firmly declined to apply for any assistance, although urged to do so, and assured by competent judges that he was clearly entitled to it. Mr. Case was married in this city, November 18, 1853, to Miss Mary Teeter, daughter of Elson Teeter, and sister of Mrs. George R. Murrey. Five children have been born to them, viz.: Belle, born Oct. 1, 1854; Frank E., May 23, 1856; Ida M., Feb. 26, 1862; Oscar S., Dec. 10, 1864, and Walter, March 9, 1869, all of whom with their mother, are living. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was largely attended. About thirty employés of the Republican office marched to his late residence, and six of the eldest acted as pall-bearers. The services were held at the Universalist church, which was beautifully decorated with flowers, and a most impressive and eloquent address was delivered by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Dobson. A large concourse of friends accompanied the remains to Mount Hope cemetery. Though naturally reticent, Mr. Case was unusually intelligent, a keen observer, and accurate in his conclusions. He had an extensive fund of information, gathered from reading and experience, which, added to a tenacious memory and excellent conversational powers, made him an interesting and agreeable companion. Positive in his likes and dislikes, he was plain-spoken to a fault, but his kindness of heart and sympathetic nature gained him many friends among his neighbors and acquaintances. His familiar face will be sadly missed from its accustomed place, where he has labored for more than thirty years, and it will be long, indeed, ere his memory will grow dim in the hearts of those who best knew and most respected him. IN MEMORIAM BY REV. GEORGE TAYLOR, for twenty-seven years an intimate acquaintance and esteemed friend of Mrs. Abigail R. Pratt, who entered into rest, Sept. 20, 1882, aged 77 years and 22 days. At Pilgrim's rest in Beulah land, Exclaims, "For me they stand ajar." Mrs. Abigail Rogers Pratt, daughter of Noah Rogers, was born in Cornwall, Conn., August 29, 1805, and was educated at Litchfield. From genealogies extant she had reason to believe herself a descendant of Rev. John Rogers, who, on the day after the triumphal entry of Queen Mary into London, preached a sermon exhorting the people to adhere to the doctrine taught in the days of King Edward, resisting the forms of catholicism, and for which he suffered martyrdom; which relationship she prized, not vainly, but with commendable solicitude to render her whole life worthy of so noble an ancestry. On September 16th, 1829, she was married to Eliakim M. Pratt, and soon after removed to Livingston county, N. Y., where they resided until 1842, when, moving west, they settled in Flint, Mich., where her husband died Jan. 1, 1852. Mrs. Pratt was the mother of five children, two of whom, daughters, died in infancy. One son, Adjutant Noah Miner Pratt, of the 8th Regiment Michigan Infantry, while gallantly leading his men in an engagement at Wilmington Island, S. C., April 16, 1862, was shot, and died upon the field, Another daughter, Miss Frank D. Pratt, departed this life April 3d, 1882, greatly mourned in Flint and Lansing. The following extract of her obituary is copied from the Lansing Republican: "April 3d, at 3 o'clock P. M., while earth was radiant with spring sunshine and bursting bud, there came a heavenly messenger and gently called from earth the loving daughter, sister, and friend, Frances D. Pratt." Hubert R. Pratt, her only surviving child, resides at Lansing, Mich., at whose home the subject of this memoir peacefully ended her days, Sept. 20, 1882. Of the commencement of her religious life no data are found; but her ever having been known as an active christian woman, it is presumable that she had been devoted to God from early youth. As a member of the Presbyterian church, in every department of christian duty, she was excelled by none. She was one of the founders of the Ladies' Library Association, of the city of Flint, and an early member of the Lansing Women's Literary Club; in which, by her superior culture, literary taste, and large experience, she made herself eminently useful. When through the war of the rebellion, a field was opened for woman's usefulness, she became a leader in the work of the sanitary and christian commissions; and after the bloody strife was ended, in company with those eminent, patriotic ladies, Mrs. Jane W. Brent, Mrs. Jane E. Palmer, Mrs. Elmina Brainard, and Mrs. E. Willard, she appeared before the State Constitutional Convention assembled at Lansing, successfully pleading for contributions to aid in completing the soldiers and sailors' monument, erected in Detroit to the memory of the braves that fell, and of all who fought in that sanguinary conflict. A still richer item, and one on which grateful memory will ever delight to dwell, is that of her ardent love for the sanctuary of God, and the lowly duties of piety; for the fuller enjoyment of which, being through failing strength unable to reach the Presbyterian house of worship, in January last she transferred her membership to the Congregational Church, whose pastor, Rev. T. P. Prudden, officiated at her funeral solemnities. But it was when the exercise of literary taste and accomplishments, and patriotic and benevolent sympathies were no longer in requisition, that the graces of her piety shone most brightly; continuing to increase in brilliancy, until the evening of her life appeared as a gorgeous sunset, radiant with more than rainbow halos; while she would converse so freely and cheerfully of her heavenly prospects. On one occasion, less than a week before her departure, while conversing with a friend on the comforting words of the Saviour, "In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you; I will come again and take you to myself," etc.; her eyes beaming forth the pleasure inspired by the thought, she exclaimed, "Yes, and I shall soon occupy my portion of that heavenly home; for I seem to realize that the gates already stand ajar for my admittance." Surely her surviving son, grandchildren, relatives, and numerous friends will count such a record a more precious legacy than millions of the. gold that perisheth. THE LATE MRS. A. R. PRATT Lansing Republican. September 28, 1882 The Flint Citizen contains the following sketch of the late Mrs. A. R. Pratt, who died on the 2d inst. at the home of her son, Hubert R. Pratt, in Lansing: "The deceased was born at Cornwall, Litchfield county, Conn., where she spent her early days. Soon after her marriage she removed with her husband to Livingston county, N. Y. In 1842 they came to Flint, Mr. Pratt being one of the firm of Higgins & Pratt, the pioneer hardware merchants of this county. Mr. Pratt died nine years after coming to this city, but his widow continued to be an honored member of Flint society until 1858, when she removed to Lansing, and has lived there with her son ever since, up to the time of her death. During her residence here she was a member of the Presbyterian church, and took an active part in the ladies' work connected with the erection of the present church edifice. She was one of the original members of the Ladies' Library Association, and was always active in benevolent work. She was a true christian lady, beloved by the community." Mrs. Pratt was a member of the State Pioneer Society. IONIA COUNTY CHRISTMAS IN IONIA FIFTY YEARS AGO BY P. H. TAYLOR Meeting Hon. S. A. Yeomans one day last week, I asked him to tell me about their first Christmas. He laughted heartily at my request, then said: "You know the interior of my father's house, and are able to give a wordy picture. You may tell how we ground our corn, and, I think, some friendly Indian gave us a saddle of venison, which was prepared for our dinner that day." First about the corn. This colony arrived at the end of their journey May 28, 1833. The corn which had been planted by the Indians was purchased by the new comers. When fully ripe the corn was taken care of. Now comes the necessity to grind it. Each family having corn had a tree felled near the house. The stump was hollowed out on the top by the use of the ax and fire so as to make something like a mortar. Into this cavity the corn was placed and then broken by means of a pestle. When broken the corn was taken to the house of Samuel Dexter, where it was ground in a large coffee mill. This was done after the day's work was finished. Mr. Yeomans says he would go with his father to help grind the corn; one turn, then the other, for half or two-thirds of a pailful every night. Now for the Christmas. Fifty years ago there were no stores or shops where presents could be bought, so something must be gotten up out of material in the house. This house of Erastus Yeomans was a very commodious log house, standing a few rods west of the frame house, doors on each side (the latch string was always out), a large stoop on the south side. In the west end of this house was an old-fashioned open fire-place; the stick chimney was large enough for Santa Claus to drive his reindeers and sleigh into. These pioneers coming from the east brought some of their eastern notions with them, and one was to keep Christmas. In order to have something for each little stocking, Aunt Phebe must sit up after the children had gone to bed, and sometimes they would be urged to retire earlier than they desired to. When fairly out of sight the Christmas work was brought out, and by late bedtime Christmas eve something was placed in each stocking. I will only guess what it was: For the youngest, a pair of red mittens specked with white with a braided string of red and white. Now for the dinner: The fireplace was large enough |