Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hitchcock, Henry 1909 ************************************************ 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: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net May 21, 2011, 4:41 pm Lyons Herald, 2 Sep 1909 In the sudden death of Henry Hitchcock Lyons loses its most unique and interesting citizen. For over fifty years he has been a familiar character in this community, his quick wit and wonderful fund of information making him a companion much sought after and greatly admired. One of his greatest characteristics was his independence of thought and a willingness to express himself whenever the occasion demanded. Deceased was unusually well up to a few hours of his death, which occurred during the early morning hours of Sunday, August 29th. He went to bed at about 11 o’clock Saturday night, after spending a pleasant evening with his friends and family. Not arising at his usual time, an investigation followed and he was found in bed, lying as though asleep, life being extinct. Dr. W. A. Grant was hastily called and pronounced the cause of death as heart failure, death having occurred in his opinion at about seven o’clock. Henry Hitchcock was born in Conesus, Livingston county, New York, September 9, 1834, and came to Lyons in 1857 and at once identified himself with the business interests of the village. For several years he engaged in farming, after which he conducted an elevator business at Muir, buying grain for shipment. He was interested in other business enterprises, but during the past few years he has taken life easy, as he used to put it, traveling quite extensively through the East and paying many visits to old-time scenes. Deceased was a strong partisan, being a firm believer in the principles of old- dime democracy, and he was a power in the councils of his party and his advice was eagerly sought. For many years he was supervisor of his township, his repeated re-elections testifying to his popularity among the voters. He was always interested in the public affairs of his village and took an active interest in promoting its welfare. On May 15, 1859, deceased was married to Mrs. Cordelia Isham Hall, three children being born to them, two of whom died in infancy, George E. Hitchcock being the sole survivor. Mrs. Hitchcock died November 19, 1904, leaving two children by a former marriage, Charles B. Hall and Carrie Hall Crane, who with deceased and George composed the family circle. Deceased served in the Civil war with honor and distinction. He was a member of Lyons Chapter R.A.M.? and Lyons Lodge F.&A.M. and was an honorary member of the Ladies Library Association and was ever on the lookout to cast a ray of sunshine across the path of others. He was especially fond of children and was continually planning for their happiness. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at the beautiful home he loved so well, overlooking Grand River and the fine valley beyond, and in which deceased had lived fifty years. The attendance was very large, friends coming from miles around, many of whom had known deceased for half a century. Lyons Lodge F.&A.M. of which deceased had been a member since 1862, attended in a body and the beautiful Masonic burial service was used at the grave. The services at the house were conducted by Rev. H. E. Wylie, assisted by Rev. Wm. Judd. The music was furnished by Messrs. Strong and Hale and Mesdames Ruel and Steadman with Mrs. Cora Henderson as accompanist. Many beautiful floral pieces and other flowers covered and surrounded the casket. The pall-bearers were Messrs. H. A. Ranger, J. H. Ruel, W. R. Grant, L. H. Hale, E B. Hale and W. C. Hawley. Interment in Lyons cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/h/hitchcoc12130nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb