The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-05-28
BROUGHT MUSIC
COMPOSERS BODY
HERE FOR BURIAL
STARTED MUSICAL CAREER IN
THIS CITY AND BECAME
FAMOUS IN SHORT TIME

The remains Of Peter j. Jersey, a
former resident of Belding, now of
Cleveland, Ohio, was brought here
Wednesday morning for burial in the
Belding Cemetery, having passed
away Sunday, the 25th at his resi-
dence at 3421 135th ST., Cleveland,
Ohio. Age 81 years.
Mr.. Jersey was well known in mu-
sical circles of Cleveland and was
an accomplished musician and COM
poser. 1t was not until three years
ago that he gave up active work in
music In an endeavor to regain his
health. Many of the earlier residents
of Belding will be surprised to hear
of his untimely death and can well
remember Mr.. Jersey when he first
established fame as a cornetist.
He leaves a wife, Mrs. p. j. Jersey.
one son, Lucian, of Grand Rapids. by
his first wife and one son, Vernon, of
Cleveland, to mourn their loss. besides
three brothers, Henry A., of Lansing.
Edgar w. of Belding and Neil j.. Of
Saginaw. His father and mother hav-
ing died several years ago, also two
brothers, Albert A. Jersey and Frank
+. Jersey, one sister, Alice M. Mitch
ell, who has proceeded him across the
great unknown.
Mr.. Peter Jersey was born in Romeo
Michigan July IS, 1858 moving with
his father and mother, Peter HI. and
Margaret A. when small boy and
living on the old homestead upon the
bank of the river just east of Smy--
ma. Attending school in the winter
and working on the farm during the
summer. Several years later the fam
lily moved tc Belding and Mr.. Jersey
worked at the old saw mill and study
ing music after the days toll.
At the age of nineteen his friends
urged him to enter the musicians
contest at Flint as a contestant. He
aceeding their wishes after much
urging and returned home with first
prize, playing the Carnival De Venice
as one number The town people well
coined him royalty Mr.. Jersey then
went to Ionia from there to Saginaw
where he met his first wife, Lucy
Johnson, and married in 1888. Twin
boys were born to the couple, but the
happy union was soon broken as three
years later his wife and one baby
died. Mr.. Jersey then went to Detroit
and then to Cleveland, where he lived
for more than thirty years, excepting
three years when he moved to Buff
falo, N Y. He was married to his
second wife, Florence Simonds, of
Grand Rapids. an accomplished mu-
sician, in 1892 and their home was
ideal. Two children were born to them
Alfred and Vernon, Alfred dying
when only A years old Mr.. Jerseys
life was one of devotion to music and
his family. He lived in the dreams
of musical visions and the beautiful.
He was generous to a fault. kind
hearted and calm. He loved the flowers
, the birds. the trees and all that was
, pure and noble. He cared not for
display or show, honor or fame but
to cherish art for arts sake. Several
months before his death he published
his Liberty Awakening patriots
hymn. Among his latest numbers
will be found "The Passing of the
| Clouds, "The Glimpse of the Ori-
, ent" for piano and orchestra, also
, Easy steps for Cornetists' a musical
, study for beginners.
} No man or woman will ever know
the possibilities of the man. Those
l that knew him knew only goodness and
: bigheartedness and in the twinkline
of an eye he is snatched away into
) the dreamland that dispels all WORRY
and care. His niece, Mrs. George w
D Kalmback, ofGrand Rapids, besides
l.. the family were at his bedside wher
> he passed away.
E Funeral services were held in the
/ Miller & Harris undertaking rooms
4 Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock
e Rev. w. j. Rookie officiating and bur.
: ial was in Belding cemteery.