Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-09-08
GRATTAN.

d. ID. Han icCOiO III ooLnCbihC oOOo
not improve much.
The Union school commenced Sept.
9th, with Mrs. Frank Randel teacher
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Gleason have
returned to their home at Cadillac,
Miss Bessie Pond going with them.
Mrs. J. /. Weeks and family have
moved from Seymour, Ind, to their
farm here.
Mrs. Celia Brooks who has been at
Edmore sometime is now visiting her
grandson Elmer Brooks and family.
Many old friends and former resi-
dents here came back to Grattan last
week to attend the Silver Grey meet
ing and the birthday party held for
N. Smith. among them being Maj. E.
C. Watkins, A. w. Slayton, Mes
danes Olive Cook, Mac Collier, Julia
Pasco and daughter Ethel of Grand
Rapids; Mr.. and Mrs. ]. N. Jeans,
Mr.. and Mrs. Cotton, Mrs. ]. r.
Trask, Rockford; Messrs. VIM. At
kins and G. Stone, Lowell; Miss Bon
ME Reed Ionia, Mrs. Lottie Owens
Bay City; Mrs. Frank Thompson,
Cascade; Miss Ruth Lessiter Pontiac,
Mr.. and Mrs. II. ]. Leonard, Mrs.
Sarah Lessiter Mr.. and Mrs. f. r.
Spencer, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Eddy
and daughter Eva of Belding; Chas.
Henry and wife and A. j. Ecker and
wife were among the goodly number
from Greenville, while Otisco and
other towns were well represented.
j. G.. Cowan was called to Easton
by the serious illness of his brother
Will Cowan, who passed away Sept.
g. The immediate cause of death be-
ing hemorrhage of the stomach. Flu
neral services were held at his late
home Monday. He was a former
resident here with many friends who
sympathize with the bereaved family.
| The annual meeting of the Grattan
lSilver Greys was helo Win Mr% ano
Mrs. Clark Wakeman, Aug. 81, with
$50 in attendance, many not having
met since one year ago. The weather
was right for setting tables under
the fine trees in the yard which were
soon loaded with the best of eatables
and after dinner was disposed of the
choir, made up of Grattan, Ashley
and White Swan churches rendered
several hymns and old time pieces,
among these was The Grattan Cen
tire Railroad by John Nicholson oil
pioneer days. Speeches by Maj. E.
G. Watkins, A. W. Slayton and S.
Ramsdell and o. /. Watkins. The
old officers were all re elected, Presi.
dent ]. G. Cowan, vice. Pres, o. l.
Watkins, Secretary and Treasurer,
@. M. Slayton. Mrs. o. l. Watkins
read appropriate obituaries in mem.
DRY of those passed away since the
last annual meeting. The winter
meeting will be held at the Grange
Hall the second Wednesday in Febru
airy 1905. Mr.. and Mrs. o. Purdy o.
Orleans, Mrs. N. Wallace Belding
Mrs. Eta Gray wife of Rev. Gray o.
: Coldwater, Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Taplin
of Chicago, visiting o. Beach anG
family were among the guest not
mentioned.
The great event of the season took
place Sept. 2, when 300 relatives and
friends gathered at the home of Neh-
emiah Smith in honor of the ami
versary of his ninetieth birthday
Mr.. Smith passed among his many
guests with the health and strength
of far younger man, greatly enjoy.
ing the day as did all present. Tables
were set in the yard for the fine ban
auet that did justice to the occasion,
and these were reset till all were
satisfied, when o. l. Watkins called
to order, welcoming all present in be-
half OF Mr., Smith who had reached
the advanced age of ninety years,
and none, or very few present. had
before attended q ninetieth birthday
party. The choir sang "Blest be the
Tie that Binds" and Rev. Platt offer.
ed prayer. Maj. E. G. Watkins was
called for q speech responding ia 9
happy vein. Poems written by Mrs
. z, McCauley and Mrs. M. A. Lessi
ter for the occasion by request, were
read, and the choir was called on fo,
j. Nicboson's railroad song, also an
other old time piece. Mrs. Stocking
gave fine recitation and the pro
gram ended by singing Nearer my
God to Thee" Mr.. Smith received
several individual gifts and many
times were the wishes expressed tina