OBITUARIES

OBITUARY OF JOSEPH T. BLANK

Joseph T. Blank, 73, a former resident of the St. Johns community passed away at 11:50 Monday night at a Toledo Hospital where he had been a patient for several weeks, suffering from complications. He had resided with his niece, Mrs. Louis Long, in Toledo, since the death of his wife three years ago.

Mr. Blank was born in St. Johns, the son of Joseph and Anna Lusk Blank. He lived there all of his life and was engaged in the carpenter trade there. On August 27, 1895, he was united in marriage with Nellie Mckercher, who passed away on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. One daughter, Goldie Cleta, died in infancy.

Surviving him are one brother, Charles Blank of Piqua, one sister, Mrs. Mina Cremain, Joliet, Georgia, and his niece, Mrs. Long, Toledo.

OBITUARY OF NELLIE MAY MCKERCHER BLANK

Mrs. Nellie May Blank, 63, resident of the St. Johns vicinity most of her life, died at 9 p.m. Sunday after an illness of three years. She had been bedfast for the last seven weeks.

Born May 28, 1875, she was the daughter of Dan and Delilah Copeland McKercher of Clay Township. On August 27, 1895, she was married to Joseph T. Blank who survives, with a niece, Mrs. Louis Long of Toledo and brothers, Fred Mckercher, of St. Johns, P.C. McKercher of Milan, Michigan, R.D. McKercher of San Diego, California; sisters, Mrs. Charles Spahr of Geyer, Mrs. A. W. Farlin of Lima, Mrs. D. R. Crumrine of Cridersville and Mrs. Glen Scoder of Columbus Grove.

She was a member of the Rebekah lodge, C.C.C. Club and Methodist Ladies Aid Society. A brother M.J. McKercher, who died in Florida, a few days ago, is being buried today in Columbus Grove.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Wednesday at the M. E. church in St. Johns with the Rev. J. B. Shellhass of Bellefontaine and Rev. O. B. Smith officiating. Burial will be made in Fairmount Cemetery. (Auglaize Democrat, Auglaize County, Ohio, April 10, 1939)

Nellie McKercher, daughter of Daniel and Delilah McKercher, was born in Clay Township, Auglaize County, Ohio, on May 28, 1875. She was married to Joseph Blank, August 27, 1895.

To this union was born one child, a daughter, Goldie Cleta, who was taken in death when about two years of age. In an effort as far as possible to replace this great loss, these bereaved parents took unto themselves, then a little baby girl, a niece, Miss Vonda McKercher, now Mrs. Louis Long of Toledo, who had been bereft of a mother; but who nobly and faithfully filled the place of a loving and affectionate daughter. And as they cared for her when she was bereft and alone, so in this their affliction no sacrifice was too great for Vonda.

Mrs. Blank was converted and joined the M. E. church under the pastorate of the Rev. D. N. Kelley in 1908, and through all these years has unwaveringly kept the faith. She was for a number of years president of the Ladies Aid, many times holding the meetings in her own home. During her administration the work never lagged; though sometimes the helpers were few.So long as her health would permit, she was faithful and regular in her attendance at church and Sunday School.

For several months she had been afflicted, much of the time with intense suffering which she bore with Christian patience and fortitude. On Sunday evening, April 9, she quietly crossed the river of death to join that white robed, but innumerable company, where suffering and death shall never come.

"For they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

And we who remain should offer a prayer of thanksgiving for her life of unselfish service and also a petition that her mantle may all on the shoulders of some other yet living.

OBITUARY OF ADA G. BROOKINGS

OBITUARY OF ARTHUR WALTON BROOKINGS

Arthur W. Brookings, 85, of 13505 SE River Road, Milwaukie, retired manager of the U.S. Bank in Oregon City, died Thursday at his home.

He was born in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1903 Mr. Brookings joined the staff of the Ladd-Tilton Bank in Portland, which merged with U.S. Bank in 1925. He became manager of the Oregon City branch and held that post until he retired in 1946.

Mr. Brookings was a charter member of the Oregon City rotary and a member of the Multnomah Masonic Lodge. He was on the Salvation Army Board and several school boards.

Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Mrs. Marian B. Vehrs of Phoenix, Ariz., and two granddaughters.

OBITUARY OF ELIZABETH DAVIES BROOKINGS

Mrs. Elizabeth D. Brookings, 81, of 13505 SE River Road, died Wednesday at Rose Villa Retirement Home.She was born in Emporia, Kansas, and had been a Portland area resident for 80 years.

Mrs. Brookings was a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Oak Grove Garden Club.

Survivors include a daughter, Marian B. Vehrs of Phoenix; a brother, Walter J.J. Davies of Portland; two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

OBITUARY OF ROY THEODORE BROOKINGS

Roy T. Brookings, 46 years old and a member of the sales force of the Honeyman Hardware Company, died suddenly Thursday following an attack of neuralgia of the heart. The funeral will be at 3:30 today at the Finley Chapel and interment will be in the Riverview Cemetery.

OBITUARY OF SUSAN A. MCKERCHER BROOKINGS

Brookings - July 17, Susan A. of Silver Springs Station, mother of Arthur W. Brookings.

OBITUARY OF WALTER S. BROOKINS

Brookins - Died on Tuesday, June 28, 1892 at 10:55 A. M. Walter S. Brookings aged 47 years.

OBITUARY OF MATTHEW W. BUSH

Matthew W, Bush, 76, for nearly 43 years judge of probate in Shiawassee county, and the oldest jurist in Michigan in point of years served, died at his home in Corunna at 5 o'clock this morning of heart trouble. He had been ill for the past month, although two weeks ago he was able to be at his office for a short time.

The funeral will be held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. Rex O. Holman, pastor or the First Congregational Church, officiating. Burial will take place at Pine Tree Cemetery, Corunna.

The passing of Judge Bush removes from the county a man who had become an institution, and who was one of the most highly respected men ever to hold public office in the county. The fact that he went on for so many years being re-elected to this most important office, without opposition in his own party, was evidence of the high regard in which he was held and to the fairness with which he conducted the affairs of the office.

Judge Bush was born in Ulster County, N. Y. on December 5, 1855, and grew up there. He had to earn his own way from the time he was 16 years of age, and while working days he studied nights. After several years, he succeeded in passing the examination and was admitted to the bar in Saratoga, N.Y.

It was soon after this that the main line of the Grand Trunk was put through from Chicago to Port Huron, and the company wanted to go through Vernon. They demanded a bonus of $5,000. however. The villagers thought this was too much money, and declined to pay it, believing that the road would go through anyway. But it didn't it was routed through Durand.

In 1888, Judge Bush was elected probate judge and moved to Corunna, where he had lived since. The duties of a probate judge also have to do with juveniles, and in his handling of the young delinquents Judge Bush had made a record for kindness and understanding, as well as firmness when necessary.

"When it comes to handling a case involving a child," Judge Bush once said, "I try to recall my own boyhood, and ask myself what I would have done had I been this boy under similar circumstances. Quite often I decide that I probably would have done the same thing that this boy had done, and would have gotten into trouble. I endeavor, in dealing with the young folks, to determine whether their offense has been committed out of mischief or viciousness, and deal with them accordingly."

Judge Bush was a strong advocate of the mothers' pension law, which is administered through the probate court. He always held, however, that unless it was properly administered it would be too expensive for the counties. Judge Bush had planned to run for office again this fall.

Discussing his family a number of years ago, Judge Bush said that he decided early that example was better than precept in rearing a family and that he began to collect a library early."It is natural for children to imitate their parents," Judge Bush said, "and the children took to studying a great deal. Between my work at the office and my duties at home I had no time to loaf around town. I stayed at home every night, reading, and the children did likewise."

The judge took a keen interest in the Job's Daughters and was affectionately known as the "dad" of the Owosso Bethel.

OBITUARY OF WALTER MCKERCHER BUSH

Walter M. Bush, 53 years old, of the law firm of Pulver and Bush, and one of the best known attorneys in this part of the state died at his home in Corunna Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock, after an illness that had its beginning about one month ago. He had been confined to his bed, however, since last Saturday.

Mr. Bush was first taken with influenza, but recovered from this and was able to go to his office and also was in Circuit Court two weeks ago. However, he never regained his strength due to heart condition, and last Saturday was forced to take to his bed.

He had been in poor health, however for several years and five years ago was compelled to take a year's vacation. Two years ago he underwent a very serious operation.

Mr. Bush was born in Vernon on March 19, 1882, the son of Judge and Mrs. Matthew Bush. He came to Corunna with his parents at the age of seven years and attended the Corunna schools, graduating with the class of 1901.

On August 15, 1900, or slightly less than a year before he graduated, he was married to Miss Lena Parker with whom he had attended school since childhood. During the same year, Mr. and Mrs. Bush went to Detroit, where Mr. Bush obtained a position as pressman in a job printing shop, he having learned the trade during his school days in Corunna.

Mr. Bush had held a number of public offices. He served Corunna as city attorney for many years and was also city treasurer. He was prosecuting attorney of Shiawassee County for a time, after Mr. Pulver resigned to enter the Army during the World War. He was also a member of the Bar Association. The monthly dinner meeting of the association which was scheduled for tomorrow night has been cancelled because of his death.

Mr. Bush is survived by his widow and one son Cecil Bush, of Corunna. He also leaves his stepmother, Mrs. Matthew Bush, of Corunna, and six brothers and one sister. The brothers are Dr. Lowell Bush, James, Russell and Wendell Bush of Detroit, and Justice Homer Bush of Corunna. The sister is Mrs. Florence Jacobs of Detroit.

Mr. Bush was a member of the Corunna Blue Lodge and the Owosso Lodge of Elks. He was also past president of the Corunna Alumni Association and was one of the most active workers in the association.

OBITUARY OF EZEKIEL W. DEWEY

An accident occurred last week to Mr. E. W. Dewey of Richland in this County, which resulted fatally.

He and his son, a lad of 5 years were returning home from Allegan with two sleigh loads of lumber, when near Silver Creek, Mr. Dewey attempted to drive over an uneven place in the road when the sleigh suddenly turned over, burying him beneath the lumber.

His little son was unable to render him any assistance. He remained in this position until some people living near came and extricated him. When taken from under the load, life was found to be extinct.

OBITUARY OF JEANETTE WALKER DEWEY

Akron, Ohio - September 30. - Freight train No. 85 on the Erie railroad collided with section of passenger train No. 2 near Kent, Wednesday morning. Three persons were killed, including an engineer and the fireman of the passenger train, and thirty persons injured. The train was occupied almost wholly by members of the Olin family going to their reunion at Bennington, Vt.

The fireman who was killed is Clayton Glass. Another of the killed is Traveling engineer Matwell of the second division. A third is an old lady name not given.

[The old lady above referred to, according to private dispatches is Mrs. Jennette Dewey of Richland](Kalamazoo Gazette, page 4 - October 1, 1891)