Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bignell, George Olin 1933
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Belding Banner-News, 23 Mar 1933

Death Claims Pioneer Resident Sunday

Active in Foundry and Apple Drying Business at Smyrna Years Ago

George Olin Bignell, a well-known local man, passed away at his home, 406 E.
Washington street, early Sunday evening.  Death was attributed to heart trouble.
 Mr. Bignell had been a remarkable man for his years and has been very active
until this winter, having been confined to his bed only since the last of February.

Mr. Bignell was born in Hastings January 18, 1853, the son of Rev. George
Bignell, the first presiding elder of the Methodist church in Ionia county. 
When a lad of 5 he lost his father.  The family was living in Ionia at that
time.  In 1872 Mr. Bignell and his brother, Frank, settled at Smyrna where they
owned foundries in this section of the country.  Their industry furnished the
community with iron articles for a number of years.  The old foundry building is
still standing on the west bank of Flat River, just east of the village of
Smyrna.  Mr. Bignell was also engaged in the apple drying business at the time
that industry was at its height in this section of the state and operated one of
the first.  Prior to that time Mr. Bignell had studied surveying and had done
considerable of the same in northern Michigan.  We understand that he did some
surveying at the time part of our city was platted.  From his youth he was a
lover of nature and enjoyed nothing better than hunting and fishing.  Local
fishermen have gleaned many points on the sport from spending a short time with
Mr. Bignell discussing the subject which he understood so well.

On November 11, 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Bignell were married in Smyrna and resided
there until 1909 when they moved to the city.  Last fall they celebrated a very
enjoyable anniversary of 55 years of married life at the home of their daughter,
Mrs. Nettie VanHouten, in Detroit.

Surviving besides the widow are five daughters and one son: Mrs. Nettie
VanHouten, Detroit; Mrs. Ella Skellenger, of McBrides; Miss Rose Bignell and
Andrew, of Detroit; Mrs. Maude Robertson, of Detroit, and Miss Mary Bignell,
teacher in Detroit; also several nephews and grandchildren.  Mr. Bignell is the
last of his immediate family, a brother, Frank Bignell, was a former foreman of
the Belding News and passed from this life 17 years ago.

Funeral services were held from the late home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
 Rev. C.W. Biastock, assisted by Rev. H. S. Ellis will officiate in burial will
be in the family lot in Smyrna cemetery.

The sympathy of the community is extended to Mrs. Bignell and the sorrowing
family.  Mr. Bignell will be greatly missed in this place, his quiet unassuming
personality was appreciated by all who knew him.  He was well known among the
younger people of this city as he was janitor at the Central school for many
years and also engineer in mill No. 3.


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