*****Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. This message must appear on all copied files. Commercial copying must have permission. ***** Submitted by Michael Brown michael@cswnet.com http://www.cswnet.com/~michael Obituaries: Died of Paralysis December 23, 1912 OWOSSO: Well Know Retired Farmer, Was Stricken While in His Yard Eugene Brown, a prosperous retired farmer, died early Sunday morning at his home on River Street, as the result of a stroke of paralysis sustained a week ago. Mr. Brown was stricken while splitting wood in his back yard, and fell to the ground just as a neighbor, who was passing through the yard, spoke to him. Strangely enough, one of Mr. Brown's closest friends for years, Frank Mason, of Owosso township, died last Sunday, after stricken with paralysis. Mr. Brown was born in New York 62 years ago and came west with his parents when a small boy. They settled near Elsie, and there he grew up and lived until 14 years ago, and resided there until last fall, when he moved into this city, and had just begun to enjoy the fruits of his many years of hard work, when death called him. Although the deceased never became united with any church, he has been a frequent attendant at church services for several years past, and one of the reasons he move to Owosso, was that he might attend religious services more frequently. He was a man of sterling qualities, and utmost integrity, and was scrupulously honest in all his dealings. He was known as one of the most practical farmers in the county. Surviving Mr. Brown are his widow and aged mother, Mrs. Rosetta Brown, who made her home with him, two daughters, and an adopted son. The daughters are Mrs. A. T. Wright and Mrs. Edgar Bartholomew of this city, while the son, Bert Brown, is in the United States army and is stationed at Fort Terry, New York, where he is instructor in the gunners' school. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 10:30 at the home of the deceased, Rev Young of Perry officiating. Burial will take place at Dewey Cemetery.2 Pioneer of State Expires Wednesday Mrs. Rosetta Brown, Aged 84, Succumbs After Short Illness in Owosso Lansing State Journal, PG 2, Jan 25, 1917 Special to the State Journal OWOSSO, Jan 25.--Mrs. Rosetta Brown, aged 84, died Wednesday afternoon at 5 o'clock after a short illness and from a general breakdown at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Eugene Brown, 609 North Shiawassee St. Mrs. Brown was born in New York state November 7, 1833 and has lived in the state of Michigan since 1864, having come to this state with her husband, traveling overland in a wagon through Canada along the Indian Trails. She is the last member of her family. Both of her sons and husband died some years earlier. Mrs. Brown was married to Sanford Brown July 29, 1849, and the husband died in 19122, one month after moving from their farm in Owosso township to their city property in Owosso. Upon coming to Michigan the couple settled on a farm near Elsie where they resided until 1900, when they removed to Owosso township. The first son, Charles, died in 1864 and the second son, Eugene, died in 1912. Mrs Brown was active until the last few weeks of her life. The deceased is survived by two grandchildren, Mrs. Edgar Bartholomew, 224 South Cedare St., Owosso, and Mrs. A. T. Wright, 601 North Shiawassee st., Owosso; and by four great grandchildren. The funeral will take place at the home of the daughter-in-law Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. E. J. Warren will officiate. Interment will be in the Dewey cemetery by the side8 of the husband3. Aged Owosso Lady is Taken By Death Mrs. Rosetta Brown Traveled By Wagon From New York Many Years Ago. Argus-Press, 25 Jan 1917 pg 3 col 1 Mrs. Rosetta (Davis) Brown, 84 years old and a pioneer resident of Elsie, died at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. C. O. Brown, 609 North Shiawassee street, early last evening. She had been gradually falling and had been confined to her bed for the past week. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at Mrs. Brown's home. Rev. E. J. Warren officiating. The remains will be placed in the vault at Oak Hill cemetery and later will be taken to Dewey cemetery for burial. Mrs. Brown was born in New York on November 7, 1833, and was married on July 29, 1849, to Sanford Brown. They came to Michigan soon afterward and settled at Elsie. They made the trip by wagon, following Indian trails. It required weeks to make the journey, and although it was in the dead of winter, the sturdy pioneers were forced to camp out along the road at night. Mr. Brown died many years ago, and Mrs. Brown remained in Elsie until 1900, when she moved with her son, Eugene, to Owosso township. They resided there until four years ago, when they came to Owosso. The son died only a short time afterward. The deceased was the last of a large family and her nearest surviving relative is her daughter-in-law at whose home she died. Mrs. A. T. Wright, wife of the city treasurer, and Mrs Edgar Bartholomew, Cedar street, were granddaughters3. Mrs. Clarissa Brown Dies at her home here Tuesday A. M. Mother-in-law of Mayor A. T. Wright Had Been in Poor Health for Months OWOSSO: Mrs. Clarissa Brown, mother-in-law of Mayor A. T. Wright, died at her home on North Shiawassee street Tuesday after an illness of several months. Her condition had been critical for several days. Complication of diseases caused her death. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock at the home, Rev Dunning Idle officiating, Burial will take place at Oak Grove cemetery west of the city. Mrs. Brown, nee Clarissa Love, was born in Norwalk, Ohio in 1854 and grew up there. She was educated at Oberlin college, and when a young woman moved with her parents to Maple Rapids. There she was married to Eugene Brown in 1873 and they moved at once to Elsie where they resided for 26 years. In 1907 they purchased a farm five miles west of here where they resided until 1912. Shortly after their removal to Owosso in that year, Mr. Brown died. Mrs. Brown had lived there since. The deceased was a faithful member of the First M. E. church and a Christian woman of high ideals., greatly loved and respected by all who knew her. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Edgar Bartholomew and Mrs. A. T. Wright and one foster son, Bert Brown, all of this city. She also leaves two brothers, O. E. Love of Shepardsville and Addison A. Love of St. Johns. Owosso Argus Press, 23 April 1937, page 1 A.T. Wright, Sr. Former Mayor, Taken by Death Pneumonia Fatal to Man Who Served as Mayor for 12 Years Ill ONLY SIX DAYS Served City During Some of Her Most Trying Days Asa T. Wright, Sr., who served Owosso as mayor more years than any other man in her history, is dead. The former mayor expired shortly before noon today at his home, Shiawassee and Lee streets, after illness of only six days. Pneumonia was the cause of death. Mr. Wright was taken ill last Sunday, after having attended the funeral on Saturday afternoon of Mrs. G. L. Nutson, mother-in-law of his sister, Mrs. Claude Nutson. It is believed that he contracted a cold while at work at the foundry of the Central Castings Co. that morning and that it may have been aggravated by exposure while attending the funeral. he first complained of not feeling well, soon after rising Sunday morning, and became seriously ill within a short time. Hope for his recovery had been held out, however, until this morning, when it became apparent that he could not recover. Few of the former mayor's friends realized that he was so seriously ill, and many of them were of the opinion that he was recovering, when news of his passing came. Arrangements for the funeral services had not been made at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Served For 12 Years Mr. Wright served Owosso as mayor for 12 years or four complete terms of three years each, spread over a period of 18 years. He was first elected inn 1917, the second mayor under the commission form of government, after having served as city treasurer, then an elective office, for four years. Mr. Wright continued as mayor for nine years, or until 1926, when he was defeated by O. L. Sprague. Six years later, he stage a political come-back, when he defeated W. A. Seegmiller, and served until 1935, when he lost to Mayor John N. Axford. Mr. Wright served as mayor during some of the most trying periods of the city's history, including the war days, a long railroad strike here, and the worst of the depression years. The years that he was in office also saw some of the city's finest improvements made, including the building of the new city hall, installation of boulevard lights, the construction of the interceptor sewer, the improvement of Bentley Park, the opening of Harman-Patridge Park north of the city, and the motorization of the fire department. Born in Ontario Mr. Wright was born in Kingston, Ont., on August 4, 1872, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wright. The family came to Michigan in 1876 and settled on a farm north of Owosso. A year later, they moved to the Mason neighborhood near Burton and there he grew to manhood. He was married while living there to Miss Alta Brown, on March 25, 1903, and soon afterward they came to Owosso. Mr. Wright became circulation manager for the then Evening Argus, now the Argus Press, and was employed by that concern for a number of years. Later Mr. Wright entered the real estate business as a member of the firm of Phillips & Wright. He continued in this work until he was elected city treasurer, in 1914, and went from that office to the office of mayor. Was Friend of All The many years of public life put in by Mr. Wright were marked by one outstanding characteristic, his unquestionable integrity, and his devotion to duty. He was also a public official who was close to the people, and the poorest worker in the street was just as much to him as the wealthy business man or manufacturer. He knew virtually everyone in Owosso at one time, either by their name or by sight, and he always greeted them all with a hearty smile and a wave of his hand as he walked or drove down the street. Probably one of the kindest men who ever sat in the mayor's chair here, it hurt him to see people suffer for want of the necessities of life during the worst depression years, and no one will ever know how much he gave out of his own pocket to help them. Those in trouble always knew that they would find a friend and benefactor in Asa Wright. Officials at the city hall were shocked when they learned of the former mayor's passing. Mayor John N. Axford immediately ordered the flag lowered to half staff, and said that all city offices would be closed during the funeral. Since going out of office two years ago, Mr. Wright had devoted his time to the foundry, which be started a number of years ago and to the growing of peppermint south of Bancroft. Active Church Member Mr. Wright was a member of the First Methodist Church and had been active in it for years. He had a deep, rich bass voice, and loved to sing the hymns of years ago. Surviving Mr. Wright are his widow, and three children: Asa Jr, Mrs. Filbert Hartshorn, and Max Wright, all of Owosso. He also leaves two brothers and one sister. They were George U. and Grant E. Wright, and Mrs. Claude Nutson, all of this city. Another brother, Howard Wright, died 10 years ago. His son, Asa, was desperately ill with pneumonia during the winter and for a time, he was not expected to recover, but he eventually did, after a hard battle for life. Owosso Argus Press, 17 August 1965, page 5 Death Takes Widow of Former Owosso Mayor Mrs Asa T Wright, 87, formerly of 601 N Shiawassee St. died yesterday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs Filbert Hartshorn of Rose City. She had been in poor health for the last 13 years. Funeral services will be held at the Jenning-Lyons Chapel Thursday at 1pm with the Rev Don A. Morris officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. She was the widow of a former Owosso mayor. Mrs. Wright was born in Duplain Township Sept. 25, 1877 to Eugene adn Clarissa Brown and was a graduate of Ferris Institute. She came ot Owosso soon after her marriage to Asa Wright in Burton March 25, 1903. She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Owosso, the Friendly Nine Birthday Club, a life member of the Owosso Woman's Club and a former member of the Owosso YWCA board. She was a teacher and a houswife. She started teaching at the age of 15. Survivors include her daughter, Mrs Hartshorn of Rose City; two sons, Asa T. Wright Jr. of Owosso and Max Wright of Durand; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs Bertha Bartholomew of Chelsea. Owosso Argus Press, 29 Febrauary 1968 Asa T. Wright Succumbs Asa T. Wright Jr., 64, of 616 Lee St. died Wednesday night at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw of head injuries suffered in an automobile accident near there Feb. 9. Funeral services are to be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Scarletts Funeral Home with the Rev. H. B. Oliver officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Mr. Wright was born in Owosso Feb. 14, 1904, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Asa Wright Sr. A graduate of Owosso High School and Olivet College, he also attended Detroit Law School. Mr. Wright was married to Katherine McCall at Elkhart, Ind., July 3, 1935. Manager of the Michigan Liquor store in Owosso for the past 29 years, Mr. Wright was also a member of the First Congregational Church, the Elks and te Adelphi Fraternity. Survivors include his widow, Katherine; one son, Asa Wright III of Marquette; five grandchildren; one sister, Thelma Hartshorn of West Palm Beach, Fla. and one brother, Max Wright of Durand. Owosso Argus Press, 20 April 1985 C. V. "Bart" Bartholomew Age 81, of 1124 Ada St. died Friday at his residence. Mr. Bartholomew was a tool and die maker for Universal and Redmonds. Private services were held Saturday at 1 pm with Robert P. Tissot officiating and burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Shiawassee. Mr Bartholomew was born in Owosso on March 23, 1904, the son of Edgar and Bertha May (Brown) Bartholomew. He had resided most of his life in Owosso. On April 22, 1944, he and Lillian M. Schlaack Bennett were married Survivors include his wife; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Royal (Carolyn Jane) Hazel of Davision; six stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren. Owosso Argus Press, 03 September 1985 Katherine G. Wright Age 77, of 4301 Arbor St., Okemos formerly of 616 Lee St., Owosso, passed away early Sunday morning at Ingham County Medical Care Facility. Mrs. Wright was a teacher at the Owosso Public Schools. A graveside service was to be held at Oak Grove Cemetery today, Sept. 3 at 11 am with the Dr. H. B. Oliver, officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Wright was born in Ithaca on Nov. 4 1907, the daughter of Ray and Gladys (Helms) McCall. She graduated from Ypsilanti Normal and resided most of her life here. She and Asa Wright were married. He died in 1968. Survivors include a son, Asa Wright of Okemos; six grandchildren, Terry (and Beth) of Vermont, Mrs. John (Debra) Knudson of Ann Arbor, Tim of Tempe, Ariz., Kevin of Haslett, Michael and Sheryl at home; two sisters, Mrs. Walter (Isabelle) Ross of Owosso and Mrs. William (Helen) Wood of Ludington. She was predeceasced by a brother. Owosso Argus Press, 12 October 1985 Maxwell E. Wright Died Friday evening at Owosso Memorial Hospital at the age of 73, after a long illness. Services for Mr. Wright, who lived at 409 Marquette, Durand, will be held at Jennings-Lyons Chapel Monday at 1 pm with Pastor Cal Emerson officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm today and Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the DVA. Mr. Wright was born in Owosso Aug. 3, 1912, the son of the former Owosso Mayor Asa T. and Mary Alta (Brown) Wright. He attended Owosso schools and graduated from Owosso High School. He resided in this area most of his life, and was married to Virginia Madill in Angola, Ind., Aug. 15, 1938. Mr. Wright worked for J. A. Byerly Co. for 22 years before opening this own IGA store in Durand in 1953. He then worked for Simplicity before retiring due to his health. Survivors include his wife; a son, Max W. of Montrose; and a sister, Mrs. Thelma Hartshorn of West Palm Beach, Fla. Mr Wright was predeceased by one brother, Asa. Owosso Argus Press, 22 May 1987 Thelma Hartshorn Age 77, of West Palm Beach, Fla., died Wednesday, May 20, 1987 in West Palm Beach. Mrs. Hartshorn worked for H & R Block for several years. Services will held Tuesday, 1 pm at Oak Hill Cemetery with burial following. The Rev. Dr. H. B. Oliver will officiate. Arrangements were made by Jennings-Lyons Chapel. Mrs Hartshorn was born in Owosso on Jan. 15, 1910, the daughter of A. T. and Alta (Brown) Wright. She resided most of her life in Owosso and graduated from Owosso High School. She and Filbert E. Hartshorn were married in Owosso on Nov. 12, 1930. He preceded her in death in 1968. Mrs. Hartshorn was a member of the Audubon Society. She was also an artist. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. William (JoAnne) Prendergast of Boca Raton, Fla. and Mrs. James (Lynne) Buck of West Palm Beach, Fla.; four grandchildren: Cynthia Rhine, William, Gary and Mark Prendergast. Mrs. Hartshorn was predeceased by two brothers: Maxwell Wright and Asa T. Wright Jr. -- Michael Greene County, Arkansas Coordinator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Homepage: http://www.cswnet.com/~michael Arkansas Connections! http://www.cswnet.com/~michael/connect.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------