The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-10-02
Obituary..

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| Died, at his residence in the township of
Rush. Monday, Sept. Z, John Shelton, and
was buried the 10th inst, In the Goss GENE
terry, Rev. K. w. Hunt, of the Episcopal
church, Owosso, officiating, who preached a
very beautiful and instructive sermon. The
immediate cause of death was inflammation
of the bowels.
Mr.. Shelton leaves behind him loving
and devoted partner, the wife of his young
manhood, and two children, Ann j., the
wife of William S. Lewis, of this township
and William j., an attorney at law, of
Wichita, Kansas; also, one brother, A. NJ.
Shelton, whose farm adjoins that of his de-
ceased relative.
A very large concourse of neghbors gath
cred at the family residence on the day of
the funeral to assist in the last sad rites of
the dead, and to pay their regards to one
whom they had learned to love and honor,
and who had lived among them so long.
Many and very beautiful were the tokens of
love placed upon his casket.
Mr.. Shelton was born on the 7th day of
November, 1885, in Monaghan county, Ire.
land, being at the date of his death, SO years
and 10 months of age.
In early life Mr.. Shelton followed the
business of contracting and building, being
carpenter and joiner by trade. At the
age of 81 he emigrated to Canada, being
pmnlOVa1 vii
British government. AT the end of two
years he resigned his position, coming to
Detroit AZ years ago, working at his trade
there for two years, at the expiration of
which time he married, Immediately NOV
ing to Saginaw, building the first house
erected ON the East Side. Here, also, he
worked at his trade for several years, or
until 1862, when he exchanged his modest
home, on the banks of the Saginaw River
with John Gallagher for 200 acres of wild
land in this township on section %, very
large part of which was originally known as
the ''old Indian cranberry marsh," and was
in an early day supposed to be nearly worth
less, but through the exercise of his will
and indomitable energy it has been made
to bloom and blossom as the rose, and to-
day that which was once considered as of
little value is very productive farm and in
very high state of cultivation.
III the year 1864 Mr.. Shelton enlisted in
the service of his adopted country that he
had long loved and helped to build up,
joining the 10th Michigan Infantry, serving
with great credit to himself and honor to
those appointed over him, in fact he ever
breathed the spirit of loyalty and true love
or country. 1t was from this service that
his health became greatly shattered, and
magnanimOus government awarded him a
pension In consideration thereof. After the
war he returned to his home. Now COM
menced the struggle, that of improving his
farm broken in health, yet he labored on,
and on, determined to lay by competence
for those dependent upon him and for him
self, that his last days might be passed in
that peace, quiet aud independence to which
a busy life is so justly entitled.
Mr.. Shelton was one of the real pioneers |
of this township, coming in an early day, |
his land covered with water and very heavy |
timber, with nothing but his hands and an |
uncomfortable energy, he commenced to
hew himself out a home that was destined |
10 be one of the fairest and best in the town.
ship. For many years he suffered every
privation and hardship known to the early
settler, and surely his efforts were sucless-
full in marked degree.
He was also fine business man and |
possessed of much ability, which was recog-
nlzed by his townsmen. They elected him
TO various important positions of trust from
time to time, filling each one with marked
ability and fidelity. Although he never
sought an Office, yet he felt 1t hisduty to
accept when elected; his advice and counsel
very many times being sought after by his
brother officers, and when asked for was
freely given, and the wisdom of his judg-
ment was always vindicated when results
were obtained, in fact he was just the man
needed in the community in which he lived
the greater portion of his mature years, and
he will be sadly missed by all his old asso-
ciates, and by the entire community. He
was also very positive man and possessed
of great sense of justice when he had
made up his mind, and always, after
thorough investigation, he was as immova-
BILE as the everlasting hills" to be right,
to do right and to perform faithfully every
NO 4 yrom Us.Jowna, q xsdicsss