Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Green, Fred W. (Governor) November 30, 1936
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com July 7, 2016, 6:58 pm

Belding Banner-News - Thursday, Dec. 3, 1936

                   DEATH CAME TO FORMER GOVERNOR IN NORTH-
        STRICKEN SHORTLY AFTER HE HAD KILLED DEER ON ANNUAL HUNTING TRIP

Death called to Fred W. Green, former governor of the state and former 13 times 
mayor of his home city of Ionia - and one of the best loved men in the entire 
state - at a hospital in Munising, shortly after midnight Monday morning, where 
he had been taken following his being stricken with a heart ailment within a 
short time after he had killed a deer while on his annual hunting trip at his 
camp in the northern peninsula. With him at the time he was stricken was his 
close business associate, Fred Chapman, also of Ionia and at present warden of 
the Michigan reformatory at Ionia.

Almost universal sorrow spread over the entire state with the news of the 
passing of the former governor. Possessed of a ready wit and one of the most 
pleasing of pleasant personalities, he made friends wherever he went and in 
every walk of life, to such an extent that he was recognized by political 
friend and foe alike, as "the best liked man in Michigan".

From 1913 to 1926 he was mayor of the city of Ionia, being re-elected many ties 
without opposition. In 1926 he was chosen as the Republican candidate for 
governor and was elected that year and again in 1928. He refused to be a 
candidate for the third term in the office. Although he retired from public 
life to a certain extent after leaving the governor's office he was still one 
of the recognized leaders of the Republican party in the state and few, if any, 
steps were taken in campaign moves without his being first consulted.

A few days after he had gone into the north wood on his annual hunting trip and 
within a few hours after he had succeeded in shooting his deer, Mr. green was 
stricken with what was supposed to be an attack of acute indigestion. Fred 
Chapman, who was with him, hurried him to the hospital at Munising, where he 
was given every attention and care which medical science could give him. Mrs. 
Green and the stricken man's secretary were notified and they hurried to the 
hospital and were with him at his bedside when he died. Although his condition 
had been regarded as serious from the first, Mr. Green was not considered in 
danger of death and he had given excellent evidences of being on the gain until 
a very short time before his death. 

Mr. Green was born in Manistee, October 20, 1872. He obtained his teaching 
degree at Michigan State Normal school and then studied and received his degree 
in law at the University of Michigan.

He practiced law briefly at Ypsilanti and then became a partner and finally 
sole owner of the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Co. He moved the plant to Ionia and 
built it into one of the largest industries of its kind in the country. As his 
business success grew, Mr. Green held several directorships and offices in 
banks and other industries. He was credited with doing much toward the 
expansion of the Ionia Free fair.


Mr. Green served with Company G Michigan volunteer infantry in the Spanish-
American war and attained the rank of first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. 
He was elected national commander of the United Spanish War Veterans in 1929.

In 1900 he married Miss Helen A. Kelly of Cadillac. The widow and their one 
child, Mrs. Peggy Bradley of Detroit, survive.

When Ionians received word of the death of their townsman, flags were placed at 
half mast at the city hall and in other places where flown that day and all 
Ionia began to make plans to honor, in death, the memory of one whose life and 
activities meant so much to them. 

Funeral services were held at the former governor's late home in Ionia, on 
Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and they were largely attended by people from 
every walk in life, with many of the prominent men of the state present in 
person. Hundreds of messages of sympathy and consolation were pouring in to 
Mrs. Green and her daughter each day.

Rev. Joseph H. Green, a former pastor of the Presbyterian church, at Ionia, but 
for several years pastor of a church at Duluth, officiated at the services and 
the remains of Ionia's most prominent and most universally loved citizen were 
placed, temporarily in the mausoleum in Highland Park cemetery. 

Additional Comments:
Age: 64
Funeral: Wednesday 2 December 1936
Highland Park cemetery #C-05

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