Obituary--Lucy Utley (Mrs William)

This obituary has a much more formal tone than that of the previous Mrs. Utley.  While the previous one could almost have been written my old favorite Mrs Robertson, this is much more to the point.  Lots of details and official information is to be found here.  
But I still wonder how they were related--not siblings, perhaps cousins who married siblings or cousins.  There is that cryptic little note about Mrs L. H. Utley of Newaygo, but our previous Lucy has already been dead for several months at the time of this death, and besides, that one lived closer to Hesperia. 
Ah, the mysteries of old obituaries.  (Sandy just told me that every generation there were a couple of Lucy Utleys.  Just to make life confusing, no doubt.)


From Newaygo Republican, dated 14 Jan 1915:

A PIONEER PASSES
Mrs. W. S. Utley Is Gone, After a Short Illness
The Death of Mrs. William S. Utley at five o'clodk the afternoon of January 6 came as a shock to her long time county friends. A week before the old lady had a stroke of paralysis, but rallied sufficiently to ally the immediate fears of her relatives.  Mrs. Utley would have been eighty years old had she but lived till April 27.
Perhaps no woman in the county enjoyed a more general acquaintance than did this pioneer.  Strangers who hear of her passing may be among those who stopped at the Utley homestead in big  Prairie, were entertained and then went on, without charge, often without question, for no house was ever more hospitable than this one.  Under the same roof Mrs. Utley lived fifty-five years, and only a year or so ago did she make her abiding -place wherever she chose among her ten living children--she lost two children several years ago.
Although Mrs. Utley, whose maiden was Lucy Gooch, was born in Northville, she was brought up in Grand Rapids by Webber Gooch, an elder brother, and there she went to school.  Her membership in the Universalist church was never transferred.  she was married to W. S. Utley in Dewitt, Clinton county, May 14, 1854, and her wedded life endured even past the silver anniversary, each succeding celebration bringing loads of friends from different parts of the country.
Amember of the W.C.T.U., it is recalled that Mrs. Utley invariable wore the white ribbon.  As a matter of habit she never used either tea or coffee.
Funeral services were held early Saturday afternoon from the Big Prairie church, the Rev. Daniel Truman officiating.  The interment was in Big Prairie cemetery, where the late husband of the departed and his first wife, own sister to Mrs. Utley are buried.
Ten children survive their mother, and these are: Mrs. Bert Douglass, at whose home the old lady died, and Mesdames Ralph Evans and John Dayton of Newaygo and V. F. Payne of Ramona; also Messrs. C. W., Irving S., Will and Glen W. Utley of White Cloud neighborhood, John Utley of Grand Rapids and Postmaster Chas. Utley of Stanton.  One brother, Luther Gooch is living.  Twenty grandchildren and one great-grandchild must be included.  Mesdames W. H. Eastman and C.W. Galer of Grand Rapids are nieces and Mrs. L. H. Utley of Newaygo is a cousin by marriage and connected also on her mother's side.
Genuine regret is felt generally for the loss of the kind and capable pioneer mother and neighbor, companionable and clear in mind and memory almost to the last.


I only have one comment.  What kind of paper today would get away calling the deceased, not once, but twice an old lady in the obituary?

Obituary--Lucy Ellen Gooch Utley (Mrs Ephriam Utley)

Today's obituary and the next one to be posted took some studying.  Both are for Lucy Utley, both Lucy's had a maiden name of Gooch.   Not the same person obviously, the second is listed as coming to the funeral of today's Lucy and died about half year later. 
Such was the peril of reusing popular names among family members.  Do you think the size of families contributed to it?  Favorite names were shared by cousins, and even siblings, after the first child with a particular name dies. (We will ignore the example of George Foreman and his children.)  Anyway, here we go with the first of the Tale of Two Lucys


From the 30 July 1914 Fremont TimesIndicator:

LUCY ELLEN UTLEY
Lucy Ellen Utley, daughter of Mary and Stephen Gooch, was born at Farmington, West Virginia, May 8th, 1848.  At the tender age of six years she was left motherless.
She came to Clinton county, Mich., in 1854, making the trip on horseback with an uncle with whom she made her home.
She was married in Newaygo county on August 26th, 1866, to Ephriam Utley, who departed this life on October 4th, 1913.
The greater part of their married life was spent on their farm in Dayton.
They came to Fremont in 1898, which has been her home until her death, which occurred July 23, 1914.
Three sons, Ralph, Clarence, and Otto, one granddaughter, Mable Utley, one sister and one brother, Mrs. Wm. Leonard, of Fremont, and Raymer Gooch of Texas, with scores of friends she leaves to mourn their loss.
The funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at her home on Elm street.  Rev. R. A. Thibos, pastor of the Church of christ, conducted the services.  Interment took place in Maple Grove  cemetery.
The following from out of town attended the funeral: Mrs. Henry Barton, of Big Rapids; Mrs Lucy Utley and Mr Abe Hemiley, of Newaygo; Mr. and Mrs Walter Winters, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Utley, Mr. and Mrs. James Caldwell, Mrs. Addie Scott and son, Walter; Mrs. G. Eldridge and Mrs. Nellie Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mills, all of Hesperia.

Not too flowery, with lots details.  I love obituaries with lots of names too.  Now if only it would have said how this other Lucy Utley is related. 

Tombestone Tuesday--White Cloud Cemetery (AKA Prospect Hill Cemetery)

 I must admit that the first time I saw the name Prospect Hill Cemetery, my mind flashed back to to Old West and images of Boot Hill.  But if you look closely at the name over the door of the utility building, the alternate name for White Cloud Cemetery is indeed Prospect Hill Cemetery 

 White Cloud Cemetery is a large and well maintained cemetery on the western end of White Cloud, the county seat of Newaygo county.  It is near the high school and on the main road through and out of town if you area heading west.  Since it is a fairly large cemetery, (and since I only have one cemetery left in Newaygo County after this) I will do as I did with Maple Grove and split it into a couple weeks.  This week I will give more of an overview, with a look at specific stones next week.

White Cloud Cemetery is wide open, with a lovely rail fence and towering trees.  Oak mostly,

 The stones are also varied, both old and new, in neat rows: tall and short, massive and small.

 Some of the stones are very similar, as with these two above.  Nearly identical except for the names, both have a finger pointing to heaven.  They each have the same etching draped around the top of the symbol, but you can see the the longer name is in a curved section and the shorter one is in a small straight section.

You can see above the drive that separates the older section on the left with the large shady trees, from the newer section on the right.  Surprisingly though, there are still quite a few trees in the newer section.  And as you can see, not all the graves on the newer side are that new.  There is a fine obelisk shaped monument in the foreground, as well as some farther back.

Here is one more overview of the cemetery.  In the background by the sign and past the road, is St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery that extends up the hill.
Next week, I promise we will look at individual stones, and then after that, our last stop in the list of Newaygo County Cemeteries.

Obituary--John Rynberg

These residents who were born in the Netherlands are just way too easy to find in our older books.  As may be surmised by the number of survivors, there are still many in this area who have that name. 


From the 9 November 1916 Fremont TimesIndicator:

JOHN RYNBERG
John Rynberg was born in Berta, in the Province of Gronigien, Netherlands, on June 21 1842.
He was a member of a family of 13 children.  He remained in Holland until he was 19 years of age, when he came to America and was located at Drenthe, Michigan.  Here he was engaged in farming and carpenter work.  In 1868 he was married to Clara Mast.  To them were born 10 children, all of whom are living.
In 1892 he moved to the present farm home, four miles north of Holton.  Here he died on October 29, 1916, at the age of 74 years, four months and eight days.  He leaves a widow, six sons and four daughters who are: John Rynberg, of Grand Rapids, Bert Rynberg, of Reeman, Mrs Thayer Hill of Hesperia, and Jacob Rynberg, Joseph Rynberg, Peter Rynberg, Matthew Rynberg, Mrs Claude Markley, Mrs Will Nichols and Grace Rynberg, all of whom live near Holton, Mich.
The funeral services were held from the Holton Baptist church Thursday, Rev. Wm. Kuipers, of the Second Christian Reformed church, Fremont, officiating.

And from a gossip column in the same issue is this issue is this listing of some of the friends and  next of kin, who attended the funeral.

John Rynberg and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wynhoff, Mrs. G. Toppe and daughter, Kate, of Grand Rapids, were here last week to attend the funeral of John Rynberg, Sr.  Others here were, Mrs. Fred Heistje , of Holland; Mrs Herbert, of Dublin; Henry Dorncot, of Detroit; Peter Kok and wife, of Zeeland; Mrs Hilbert Kok, Garret and Albert Kok and K Mast, of Drenth, and Bert Hazekamp of Muskegon.

You gotta love those old community gossip columns in the old papers.  Where else can you get such information as this?  Sometimes they report who came to dinner, and other times, they talk about weddings and births and such that are not mentioned elsewhere.  A great source of information. 

Obituary--Cornelius VanZomeren

Another of our area pioneers who, born in the Netherlands, settled eventually in the Fremont area.  So typical of those early pioneers, who were active in the Christian Reformed church, and in their farming community.

From the 27 January 1916, Fremont TimesIndicator:

CORNELIUS VANZOMEREN
Cornelius VanZomeren was born in the Netherlands December 7, 1847 and cam to America when a young man, settling in Kalamazoo, Mich.  In 1873 he was united in marriage to Betsy Vandewalker.  In the spring of 1883 he moved his family to Fremont, settling on a farm in Dayton township, one mile east and three miles north of this village.  He passed through all the hardships attendant on the clearing up of a large farm and the making of a home, but he was possessed of unfailing courage and indomitable will power and in time became one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers of Dayton.  In 1903 the farm was sold and a smaller one purchased in Sheridan, one mile south of the city.  This was sold in 1906 and he moved back to Kalamazoo, where he died January 21, 1916, at the age of 68 years, one month and 14 days. 
Mr. VanZomeren was the father of 11 children, eight of whom, with the widow, survive him, namely, Nellie, Dick, Abraham, Grace and Mrs. G Broekema, of Kalamazoo;  William of Detroit, and Mrs Steven Schreur and Lee of Fremont.  He also leaves six grandchildren, two brothers Leonard, of Kalamazoo, and Dirk, until recently residing in Fremont, now of Walker.
Mr. VanZomeren was a member of the Christian Reformed church and was always willing to give both time and money to the furtherance of the cause of the church.
Funeral services were held at the home, 136 Johnson St., Kalamazoo, on Monday Jan. 24, conducted by Rev. S. Eldersveld, paster of the First Christian REformed church.
On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the remains were brought to Fremont and services were held at the First Christian Reformed church at 1:30 p.m., conducted by Rev. H. Keegstra.  Interment was made in Maple Grove cemetery.
Besides the members of the family from out of town who attended the funeral were Dirk VanZomeren and Mrs. Jennie Zuidyk of Walker and Rev. John VanZomeren, of Grand Rapids.

I like the bit this obituary tells about the early farming life and "the hardships attendant on the clearing up" of a large farm.  Nowadays with the open fields, and very large farms, with only smaller wood lots and marshes, it is easy to forget that when many of these settlers came, this area was a both tree covered and often marshy.  Without the heavy equipment used today, much work was needed to make the land suitable for farming.

Tombstone Tuesday--Whipple Cemetery

 Whipple Cemetery is located in northern Newaygo County, in the northernmost tier of townships, and on the border of the two townships west of  of the county's center line, on a local gravel road.

 In spite of the rather remote location, it appears to be a very well maintained cemetery, and while there are many older stones, there are also many newer looking stones.

 And I like this picture.  Water is available, but not without some work.

Here you can see what must be a newer portion of the cemetery.  Most of the stones you can easily see are more modern granite.  Notice that there are many plots with borders.  Even that single grave in the foreground is bordered.

 The Moote family have five family members in their plot, although in this picture only one newer stone is visible.  You can clearly see the border that surrounds the plot in the front of the stone.  The Moote family graves date back to 1881, and are as recent as 1947.  And do you see the purplish haze above the stone, near the branch?  Perhaps one of the family members popped up to see what was going on.

I don't notice any signs of vandalism in any of our pictures.  Many of the pictures we have show stones in good repair.  This stone still has the fragile finial in the shape of an urn on the top.

Here is another group shot of graves. A substantial border for the back group, and a very large rectangular urn, still with geraniums blooming.  The main problem many of these graves face appear to be lichens.  Many are not readable, and in many cases, lichens and discolorations seem to be the problem.

This stone simply reads Clarence J. with the dates 1853 - 1909.  Who was this man?  What was his story?  Was he a logger with no family?  A stranger who came by, and passed away?  Or did his family stop, but not stay.  Apparently someone has maintaining this grave, as the died back plants and the little picket fence area attest to.
RIP Clarence, and all who rest here.

Obituary--Kornelius Mulder

And one more of our "born in the Netherlands" series.  Mr Mulder came earlier than the others seem to have, and instead of being a farmer, as were our previous people, he was a lumber man, working in mills and later owning his own business.
From the 18 March 1915 Fremont TimesIndicator:


K. MULDER DIED IN COOPERSVILLE


Former Business Man of Fremont Passed Away at Home of His Niece Last Thursday. 
The death of Kornelius Mulder, a former resident of Fremont, occurred at the home of his niece in Coopersville last Thursday morning.  The body was brought here Saturday and interment took place in Maple Grove cemetery Monday morning.
Mr. Mulder was born in the Netherlands July 30, 1926 and came to America at the age of 21 years in company with an elder brother.  They went immediately to Grand Haven Mich., and spent the first winter at Perrysburg. (Editor's note, probably Ferrysburg--village across river from Grand Haven.)  For several years he lived at Mill Point, now known as Spring Lake where he was employed in a saw mill.
In 1856 he went to Muskegon and helped to build L. G. Mason's first saw mill.  He remained in Muskegon until 1873 and was engaged in the mercantile business there from 1862 until 1872.
In 1873 he moved his family to Fremont where he had prviously erected a saw mill.  This he operated until 1881 when the mill was destroyed by fire.  He at once rebuilt the mill and resumed operations.  He was also engaged in the grocery business here. 
Mr. Mulder was first married in Muskegon to Fannie C. Langley who died in 1871.  To them one child was born.  This child died in infancy, a few days after the death of hits mother.  In 1873 Mr. Mulder was married to Jane SImpson, a native of Indiana, who died about 5 1/2 years ago.
Since the death of his wife Mr. Mulder has made his home with relatives in Coopersville.
Those attending the funeral here Monday were Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mulder, of Muskegon, Luther Mulder of Coopersville; Mrs. Otto Powers of Traverse City and Wm. Hardy and daughter Mrs. Bochs, of Holland.

Again, the Holland connection among the mourners.  I searched out business index for his name, but apparently his business was thriving before we have papers available on microfilm.  I did find a Jake Mulder, possibly a nephew, who about five years after this, was opening a new general store.