The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-11-29
Sudden Death Of S. j. Harding.
From the Press. American.

From the Press American.
Owosso lost another of it's old pio-
neers Tuesday night, when Stillman
j. Harding passed away at his home
on Harding avenue at $50, his de-
mise being due to blood clot in one
| of the arteries of the brain. Funer-
al services. .%il be held at the house
Saturday afternoon at 1870, Rev d.
w. Wise, of the Episcopal cchurch, of
which deceased was a member, Off
ciating.
Mr.. Harding's death comes as a
shock to his many friends, as they
thought his health was improving
considerably, to what it generally is
each fall. Last winter he was in a
critical condition for some time and
his life was despaired of. But since
last spring he has been in good health
for him, being out picking apples in
his orchard only few weeks ago.
Tuesday morning, Mrs. Harding
arose and went to the kitchen to
build fire and while there heard Mr..
Harding making a peculiar noise and
Fastening back, found him uncon-
scious. He was revived, but from
that time until his death he sank
rapidly.
Stillman j. Harding was born in
Stockbridge, Mass, November g.,
1921. At the age of eleven years, he
began working on farm in the sum-
mer for his board and clothing and
in the winter attended the district
school. At the age OF 10 he began
peddling dry goods from farm house
to farm house and two years later
began attending a select school at
Southbridge, living with the princi-
pal. He then attended high school at
West Springfield, after which he pas
sed teachers examination, teaching
school until 1916, when he commenc-
ed work in a dry goods store. In
1S4S he took Greeley's advice and
went west to grow up with the coun-
try"
He came to Muscatine, Iowa and
then began working for a general
stoorkeeper. 1t was this year that
he cast his first vote for president, his
selection being General Taylor. In
1S49, the following year, he returned
to his home in Springfield, Mass,
where in August 1850, he was mar
ried to Miss Ann Taylor. She died
in 1893.
In 1852 he became a partner in a
dry goods firm in Clarence, Erie coun-
ty, New York, conducting a store
for two years. In 1856 he came to
Owosso, where he bought a stock of
dry goods but disposed of them at
once. He later conducted the Union
hotel, now the National, it being
first barber shop ever in Owosso. AS
there was no butcher shop in the city
Mr.. Harding had to do his own butch
ering.
But Mr.. Harding soon tired of the
hotel business and lraded his belong
ings for house and two lots. He
later opened up a livery stable and
brought the first hack and hearse to
the city. The year before this he
traded the house and lots for "a acres
of land then situated outside the linn
it's, but now all inside. He improved
the land, house and barn and has
the land, built house and barn and
has lived there ever since. Since
that time, nearly all of the land has
been sold off in city lots.
In 1867, Mr.. Harding was elected
a member of the school board and
was secretary Of the same for IL
years. He also served as county SUI
perintendent of schools for one and
one half years. In 1858 he was
elected alderman from the fourth
ward, this being at the time the city
received it's charter. He has been
city clerk for two terms and also SUI
pervisor for one term.
In July, 1895, he was married to
Miss Mary e. Omich. Mr.. Harding
had one child by his first wife, Alice
NJ, who died in April, 1877. Deceas-
ed has no children by his present
wife.
Mr.. Harding was the first of seven
children, one of whom is still living
her home being in Massachusetts.
The deceased has two diaries,
which are greatly priced, one being
printed the same year he was born
and one in 1878. He came here one
year before any railroad was through
here. the Detroit, Grand Haven &c
Milwaukee being put through here
one year after his arrival