The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-11-05
IN .ME.uORE.g.n
Death OF two old Pioneers--Mrs. Miranda
Herronsand Mallory II. Myers.

nouncement OF tho death OF Mrs. Miranda
Heron, which occurred on the evening OF the
9th OF October, in Boomingdale township.
The funeral was appointed for Friday. bat
telegram on Thursday morning announced the
death OF Mallory II. Myers, a half brother OF
Mrs. Heron, at his son'e, near Doyue Falls
Chlrlevoix county, aud her funeral was post
poned to awaitHthe arrival OF hls body. Both
funerals were attended at Coolies, on Sundaysr
the sermon being preached by the Rev. Jas. H..
Darling. 1t WAS .one OF the largestIrunerals
ever held in the county. Hundreds were unable
10 gain admittanco TO the church. There was
an unusually large number OF the'old seitlers
in attendance.
The following sketch of the lives OF The de-
ceased prepared by a. II. Heron, WAS read
at the conclusion Of the services.
Z" One by one the OLD land marks OF he past
are disappearng-the connecting links be-
tween this and tho generations that have come
and gone are being ruthessy broken.
| Prior to December 1887 tins section OF coun-
| try now occupied by as, embracing territory
OF nearly or about 20 miles IN diameter, was
"a unbroken wilderness. No human habta-
ton, save the rude wgwam Of the Indian had
ever been erected here. We tesch our child
ren to honor the soldier who in his love for
his country has dared to face even ithe cannon's
mouth, and we sing songs OF rejoicing tt his
safe return and rear costly monuments 10 his
memory where he has laid dogn his life as
willing sacrifice upon his country's altar, bat
exhibitions OF heroic courage are moi alone
| found on fieldsiOf carnage and death amid
shot and she', There are exhibitions OF moral
courage often seen beside which physical courage
seems Insignificant. There are thousands who
could leave the dangers OF the battle field but
would shrink at the thought Of enduring the
privations and hardshps, incident TO the life Of
the early pioneer.
No ordinary occurrence has called Us to-
gether to-day. Death itself is frequent
visitor among US, and we fare not sur rsed at
his coming, but the unusual coincidence that
an aged sister and brother, and two who were
members and heads OF the first two families
settling in this large section OF country, should
have been called away at so nearly one and the
same time, is more than an ordinary event.
The family OF which the deceased were msn-
bers consisted Of 13 children, by first ard 8
By second wife. OK these Miranda Heron.
(malden name Myers), was the second OF he
older and Mallory IL. Myers the oldest O; tie
younger families. Prior to the death Of Mrs.
4. w. Bishop on the 29th OF last December at
nearly 80 years OF age, there had been only
three deaths in this large family OF -. Dur
ing The last ten months. however, -four more
have passed over the river: Mrs. Bishop, Ms.
N. A. Relyea ana those whose deaths have
called us together to-day.
Mallory IL. Myers was bora in Vienna Oneida
county, New York, January Il, 1914, bang at
The time OF his death, on the morning %
October 2stb, G5 years, months and Il days
Old. Being the oldest of the last family Of
children he became. while yet quite voung,
virtually the head OF the family consisting OF
his widowed mother, three brothers and tyo
sisters all Of whom are still living excspt the
mother and the second one, the Rev. w. II. II.
Myers. In December 1887, cutting their way
through trackless forest distance o. seven
or eight miles from the nearest ha1itaton
they landed in this .(BioomngdaIe) township,
and, clearing away the snow, canped upon the
frozen earth until rude cabin was ready to
receive them. lie was the first supervisor or
the township and during bis long residence
here held various Offices ~ trust and raspon-
sbity. Until a feg years past he had been a
continuous resident on the farm where he set
tied in mid winter nearly - years ago. In
1911 he was married 10 Lucinda Thayer, who
survives him and with her five children, sew
eral grand children and large circle CT 9th er
friends will mourn his loss.
Miranda Heron was born in Cobleskili. Al
bany county, New York, March Is, 1892 and
was consequently at the time OF her death 78
years, months aud II days old. Much OF
her early lie was spent amid the hardships
and prlvations incident to the frontierlduring
and following the war Of 1912. She was with
in hearing Of the battle resulting in the cap
ture of Oswego by the British and subsequent
ly resided in the only house that escaped
destruction. In the year 1923 she was married
to Ashbel Heron who died in Jannary 1875
With the vast tide OF emigration westward in
! 1886, came the family of which the deceased
was the wife and mother, arriving IN Michigan
while it was yet territory. After stopping
temporarily at White Pigeon until March 1888,
they moved upon the farm in the towl ship
where the deceased has ever since resided.
She was the mother of the first child born in
the township snd in all Of her relations AZ wife
and mother proved herself fit companion of
the pioneer husband, and the names Of Uncle
Ashbel aud "Aunt Miraoda' have been familiar
household words IN thia section Of the cocniy
for well on toward half century. Many
motherless child, some of whom may be here
to-day, Will remember with lasting gratitude
the self sacrificing lsbors OF the deceased in
their behalf. She leaves 70 mourn her ioss
five children, large number OF grand-cbild
rem and several great grandchildren and
host of other relatives and friends. We are
to-day reaping the fruits and enjoying the
benefits that have come from the labors of the
pioneers, and whether related to tho deceased
by the ties OF knship or not, it becomes us AL
to drop q tear to their memory.
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