Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Kidd, James Monell 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 July 2, 2011, 10:07 pm

Ionia Daily Sentinel, 4 May 1909

The death of Hon. James M. Kidd occurred at one o’clock today at the home of 
his grandson, H.E. Spencer, Lafayette street.  he has been ill with a severe 
cold for several days but not until yesterday did his condition become 
serious.  He was improved this morning and it was thought that the improvement 
was permanent.  His death was not looked for until shortly before it occurred.  
Congestion of the lungs had developed.

Mr. Kidd was 95 years of age last November and has been a resident of Ionia 
since 1836.  He spent several years in Chicago with his son, H.E. Kidd, and 
came to Ionia two years ago this month.  Since that time he has made his home 
at the home of his grandson.

For many years he was identified with the hardy, energetic life of the pioneers 
and was one of those who joined the Ionia colony in the first years of its 
existence.  He was well known throughout the Grand river valley.

Mr. Kidd is survived by four children, Mrs. Sarah K. Spencer, of Washington, 
D.C., Mrs. Frances Thompson, of South Dakota, H.E. Kidd of Portland, Oregon, 
and J.H. Kidd of this city.  Two sisters, Mrs. Elsie Jennings and Mrs. Margaret 
Stevenson, also survive.

James Monell Kidd was born in Orange county, New York, November 13, 1813.  In 
1833 he removed with his parents to Michigan settling in Oakland county near 
Pontiac.  In 1836 he came to Ionia and soon after engaged in manufacturing 
fanning mills which business he followed for many years.

In 1845 he purchased a saw mill and tract of pine land on Flat river where 
Kiddville is and for twenty years carried on the work.

In 1835 he was commissioned by Governor Stevens T. Mason captain in the Fourth 
regiment of Michigan troops and was called out during the famous dispute known 
as the Toledo war, a boundary dispute which was settled without bloodshed.

Mr. Kidd has resided in Ionia since 1836 with the exception of the few years 
which he spent in Chicago.  He has been a life long democrat and cast his first 
vote for president for Martin Van Buren in 1836.  He has served Ionia as mayor 
four terms, being elected in 1876, 1877, 1878, and again in 1881.  He was the 
democratic nominee for member of the legislature in both of its branches.

In 1839 Mr. Kidd was married to Miss Jane Stevenson, of Ionia, whose death 
occurred about thirty years ago.  He became a member of the Methodist church in 
1871.  


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/k/kidd14149nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 2.9 Kb