Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Fellows, Peter J. December 12, 1905 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 27, 2010, 7:37 pm The Lake Odessa Wave, Thursday, December 14, 1905 The village people were greatly and sadly surprised last Tuesday afternoon at the news of the sudden death of one of Lake Odessa’s oldest residents, in the person of Peter J. Fellows. Mr. Fellows had been ill for a few days but on this particular afternoon had stepped out of the house to look around the buildings, as was his custom. He did not return and after a few minutes Mrs. Fellows became alarmed and Mr. Senter, who was calling there, went out to search for him. He went through the barn and other buildings and finally went to the chicken-house where he found him lying on the floor all signs of life extinct, heart disease having taken him instantly. Neighbors were summoned and the remains were tenderly removed to the home where the sorrowing widow and children are awaiting the day for burial. Twice within a year have they been called upon and a dear one taken from the home and transported to the other shore, the son and brother, Fred, having departed from this life on April 24th. Peter J. Fellows was born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 22, 1840. He was bereft of a father’s care when he was but three years of age and when he was six years old went with his mother to Sandusky County where the latter remarried. When he was about nine years old he began his career with no capital except a limited education gained in district schools, and a determination to succeed. He worked on a farm until the war broke out when he entered the Union ranks as private in Co. F., 65th N.Y. Inf. on July 15, 1961, and served four years and four days. During his service as a soldier he participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and other of the greatest battles of history. He was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was among those who aided in carrying the works at Petersburg. He was honorably discharged in July 1865. He then returned to Ohio but in less than a week came to Michigan and bought 80 acres of land in Newaygo county. He sold this about three years afterward and came to Ionia county, first renting a farm near Ionia and two years later buying the farm upon which he resided until his death. Only ten acres of the 71 were cleared, the rest being in a state of primitive wilderness and to Mr. Fellows belongs the credit of being one of those who cleared the forest from the land upon which Lake Odessa now stands. He has lived and watched the village expand from nothing to a pretty home of more than 1300 souls. His first farm house on the farm along Jourdan lake stood where now stands the residence of S.H. Mallery, the present residence having been built years afterward. Mr. Fellows was married to Mary C. Hassingor, October 3, 1865, and four children have come to bless the happy couple, Fred and Josie, deceased, and Jay and James M., who together with the heartbroken wife remain. Deceased was one of a class of seven who are charter member of the M. E. church, which at that time, 1876, was located at Bonanza, there being no such town as Lake Odessa. He was also a member of the local post G.A.R. and of the F.A.A.M., and a man in good standing among his fellowmen. Much sympathy is extended to the bereaved family in this their last affliction. A short service will be held from the home at 10 o’clock tomorrow forenoon (Friday). The public service will follow at the M.E. church, Rev. J. C. Cook officiating. Interment will be made in Lakeside cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/f/fellows4786nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb