Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-10
GRATTAN.

Mrs. G.. III. Stevens, who is visiting
her father, brought her five year old
son. He was taken with measles last
week.
The marriage banns of Miss Mary
Welsh and Mike O'Brien were publish
ed in the Grattan Catholic church,
Sunday.
Mrs. Fay Dillon of Petoskey, called
to Bedding by the death of her grand
mother, Mrs. &. Close, visited relatives
here Sunday and Monday.
A tramp took possession OF j. l.
Weekes' back kitchen unknown TO the
family, Saturday night. He was ar
rested and taken to Grand Rapids.
Jonas Skutts OF Harvard has sold a
good many washing machines here
for after trial all want them. They
tighten Mondays heavy work very
much.
A sneak thief at j. |. Weekes' camp,
now in Oakfield, cut the rings from
three sets of harness when j. p.
Weekes called halt at the point of a
revolver when the rings were dropped
and the thief escaped in the darkness.
If tracks are an Indication, two men
put in some bold work between one
and two o'clock last Friday morning.
Will Halls house was entered where
pan of milk was drank and "a basket of
eggs taken, also some shoes but these
were left outside for some reason.
John Ashley's house close by was the
next and here $50 was secured from a
bureau drawer in the room where Mr..
and Mrs. Ashley were sleeping. Mrs.
Ashley heard slight noise and sprang
up which apparently scared the thieves
so they overlooked "A gold watch in the
same drawer. Following the same road
west they entered Joe Cranmer's house
and took his pants from the room
where he was sleeping, finding between
SIS and 80 in the pockets; kindly leav-
ing the pants in the door yard. BY
early daylight their tracks could plain
ly be traced to and from each of these
places, then towards Harvard, but
they did not take the train there
Deputy Sheriff E. l.. Brooks was put
on their trail but we have learned no
further particulars.
In the death of Mrs Close, Grattan
mourns with those near and dear to
her, the loss of one of our earliest pio-
neers whose life work has endeared her
to all. Mary B. Potter was born Sep
TENDER 2, 1927, in Oakland, Michigan,
which was her home until the early
spring of 1914 when she came to Graf
tan to her sisters, whose husband, l..
b. Cook, had built the first house
north of Seeley creek, although several
young men had located farms In the
then wilderness, among them Converse
Close, with whom Miss Potter was
united in marriage July 2S, 1874
Their romantic wedding under the
trees, witnessed by "A few faithful
friends, is recorded in the history of
our town. Kindled by the fervor of
youth, their desire to improve and
beautify their farm, caused them to
labor arduously and these labors, with
the natural beauty of its elevation,
made it in time a lovely spot, from
which now can be seen the spires of no
less than seven churches. Here six
children were born, all having passed
on before except Mrs. G.. Eddy of Bel
ding. For % years before the death
of Mr.. Close in 1893, he was an invalid,
SO that the life work OF this devoted
wife and mother has been TO ever min
lister unto others and never was this
noble mission more faithfully carried
out than by her, whose cheerful, hope
full way made glad not only her house
hold but her many friends. How
clearly this trait was shown in her last
long sickness preceding death, June 3.
During all this she never murmurcd,
and how tenderly Ter daughter and
family have cared for her so endeared
to them by precious memories. Burial
services were held at Ashley church,
June 5, Rev. DR.. Morris officiating, he
having been her physician also.
James, 4th chapter and from the 18th
TO the 18th verse, was chosen as the
basis OF his excellent sermon, more es-
pecialiy these words: "For what is
your hfe?' paying a fitting tribute to
the life work of the deceased, after
which the remains were committed to
Ashley cemetery where her loved ones
sleep. The near surviving relatives
are her daughter, Mrs. Eddy, her sis
ter, Mrs l.. b. Cook, now nearly 81
years old, II grandchildren, and two
great-grandc children.
OTISCO.
Children's Day will be observed here
Sunday evening June 20.