Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bessey, Jacob February 6, 1913
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Ionia Weekly Standard - Friday, Feb. 7, 1913

                          A VETERAN'S FINAL MUSTER OUT
                  JACOB BESSEY GIVES UP THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE

           With an Enemy that Cannot be Beaten - A Soldier, Three Years 
                    Resident of County Forty-Four Years. 

Jacob Bessey was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 29, 1840. He was married to 
Catharine A. Blocher at Tiffin, Ohio, March 1, 1868. The same year they moved 
to Orange township, this county, where two years later he bought the farm on 
the Bellevue road, four miles south of this city, where they lived until seven 
years ago, when on account of ill health he gave up farming and moved to this 
city, where his home has since been. He retained ownership of the farm which 
has been managed by his son, although the latter has been a resident of the 
city for past year.

Mr. Bessey's wife died about two years ago. Four children were born to them, of 
whom two survive; Hattie May, wife of Hugh Galloway, of Orange, and Clarence, 
Ionia.

Mr. Bessey served three years in the 101st Ohio and was severely wounded at 
Stone River. The doctors were set on cutting off his leg, but Mr. Bessey 
resisted so strongly, declaring that if he was to die he would die with the leg 
on, that they gave way, and he pulled through with the leg that was afterwards 
of good service to him.

A year and a half or more ago, a cancer appeared on his face. He fought this 
determinedly, but on the whole it gained headway, until the whole side of his 
face was eaten away. Under the pain and encroachment of this most awful of 
human ailments he maintained a patience, courage and hopefulness that was rally 
wonderful. Complication with grip at last brought the end somewhat suddenly; 
and this was really a blessing, as the end was sure, and longer life would only 
have counted  more days of intense suffering.

Funeral Sunday afternoon at 2, at the home on Hackett St., service by Rev. D. 
H. Shelly and Borden Post G. A. R. Interment, Balcom cemetery. 



Additional Comments:
Age: 83
Funeral: Sunday, 9 February, 1913
Balcom cemetery 

Ionia Weekly Standard - Friday, Feb. 7, 1913

The funeral for Jacob Bessey at the home on Hackett St., Sunday afternoon was 
largely attended by friends including a number from the old home neighborhood 
in Orange.

The service was by Rev. D. H. Shelly, and was followed by the G.A.R. ritual, 
Wm. H. Borden post attending in a body. The singing was by Mrs. G. M. Phelps 
and Mrs. Thane Benedict.

Mr. Shelly read a biographical notice, most of which was included in the notice 
already published in the STANDARD.

Mr. Bessey was one of a family of nine children. One sister lives at Lake 
Odessa, two sisters and one brother in Ohio; he leaves a host of friends in 
this city and vicinity to mourn his loss; but their loss is his gain. Two 
children and two grand-children also survive.

Burial was in Balcom cemetery, the bearers, comrades of the Post of which he 
was adjutant several years, where; W. E. Normington, M. M. Currier, J. H. 
Laden, Niles Bennet, George Corey and Levi Heth, with E. S. Shattuck as officer-
of-the-day. 

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