Jesse Townsend's Obituary, Hastings, Barry County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Debra Eddy. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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SUDDEN DEATH MONDAY OF JESSE TOWNSEND
Expired While Alone in His Office Monday Afternoon--Apoplexy the Cause

Monday afternoon about 3:30 Jesse Townsend, of this city, was found dead
in his office in his store building on North Michigan Ave.  A little
girl, whose home was up stairs over the store, had returned from school
and looking in the store window saw Mr. Townsend lying on the floor. 
She notified her folks.  Soon after a doctor was sent for, but it was
found that he had already expired.  The doctor said that he had been
dead for at least two hours when found.  His death was due to apoplexy.

Mr. Townsend's habit was, during the winter time, to bring a lunch with
him to his down town office.  He did this as usual on Monday.  The lunch
was untouched when the body was found.  About two weeks ago he suffered
what probably was a light stroke while at Dell Newton's oil station and
came near expiring then.  A doctor was summoned at that time, but Mr.
Townsend declined to take any medicine.  He said that he will be all
right and good for 40 years yet.  It will be remembered that, nearly
three years ago, he and Mrs. Townsend celebrated their sixtieth wedding
anniversary by taking a trip, an account of which he wrote for the
BANNER at that time.

He lived on and worked his farm until he came to Hastings about 45 years
ago.  He still owned the farm, a fine one in Woodland township.  He also
built a fine home int he first ward and owned some store property on
North Michigan Avenue.  For many years he was engaged in the implement
business, but retired about five years ago from active work, but had
continued to carry on business in a small way.  Up to the time of his
illness at the oil station he had enjoyed the best of health and had
never had a doctor nor taken a dose of medicine.

Mr. Townsend was a man of clean life, excellent habits and character,
keen witted, wonderfully active for his years and a very determined type
of man.  He never held a grudge.  If he had a difference with anybody
else, when it was over he forgot it himself and wanted the other fellow
tot reat it as a forgotten matter.  Mr. Townsend would have been 80
years of age had he lived until May.

The funeral will be held from his late home this Wednesday afternoon at
two o'clock.  Services will be conducted by Rev. Feighner, pastor of the
Free Methodis church.  He is survived by his aged wife and by an adopted
son Harold. 

[Obituary from Bull Scrapbook #19 [?], pg 153, Hastings Public Library,
Hastings, MI]



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