Clinton County MI Archives Obituaries.....Dutton, William Fowler 1907
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LaVonne I. Bennett lib@dogsbark.com April 18, 2010, 2:43 am

Grand Ledge Independent
DUTTON, WILLIAM FOWLER:

   Per PORTLAND OBSERVER, Portland, Michigan, January 23, 1907:  "Frank Caswell
went to Boughton Corners Saturday to attend the funeral of his uncle, Wm.
Dutton, who died at home of his grandson, Edwin Rice, near Grand Ledge one day
last week.  He was one of the old pioneers of the state, having been 94 years
old at the time of his death.  He was a brother of Mr. Caswell's mother, who
died last summer."

   Per GRAND LEDGE INDEPENDENT, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1907, front page:
 "ALMOST A CENTENARAN - Another Pioneer Passes Away, in the Person of William
Dutton.  William F. Dutton, one of Michigan's many sturdy pioneers, was born in
Chenango Co., New York, June 23, 1812.  A man of iron constitution, he had lived
nearly 95 years knowing but little sickness and disease, except the dread ague
of early years.
   On January 10, he suffered a very slight stroke of paralysis, after which he
failed steadily, the end coming peacefully Wednesday January 16, 1907.
   His life of hard work began at the age of fifteen when he became a driver on
the Erie Canal, where he worked summers, advancing to the post of Captain.  His
winter months were spent in the lumber camps felling ship timber.
   In the fall of 1836 he married Miss Mary Young and together they started for
Michigan, where after three years of hard toil on rented land they purchased
their first home in Westphalia township, 160 acres of wild land on which in ten
days Mr. Dutton had erected their first house of logs, without doors or windows,
the fire built against the logs in one corner.  After clearing 40 acres and
building a frame barn, he traded for another wild land farm in Cass Co.  Here he
again cleared 40 acres, planted an orchard and built a house and barn when he
was driven by the ague to the wilderness of Riley township where he cleared and
built up one of the finest 160 acre farms in Clinton Co.
   In 1874 he located in Watertown.  He has since lived at Petoskey and
Thompsonville.  Five years ago he came to live with his grandson, E. A. Rice of
Watertown, where his last days have been happily and contentedly passed.
   He loved to tell stories of the early days and his pedestrian trips over
western Michigan.   He walked from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, 65 miles in one
day, Grand Rapids being then about the size of Wacousta.
   He told with pride of voting at every presidential election for 73 years, and
always for a Whig or Republican.
   He was the father of six children and only one, Mrs. Harriett of Detroit, is
still living.  His only son, William Abner, was killed at the battle of Cold
Harbor, June, 1865.  Seven grandchildren, several greatgrandchildren and one
great greatgrandchild mourn their loss.
   While we, who are today enjoying the fruits of the toil and privations of
these old pioneers, feel called to sorrow as one by one they pass to their reward."

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