Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Little, Frank 1915
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 26, 2010, 5:31 pm

The Portland Observer, Thursday, March 18, 1915


A well known local character for upwards of 35 years, was removed early Sunday 
morning, in the death of Frank Little, city bill poster, in his apartments 
above the Maynard-Allen State bank.  Death was due to a shrinking of the 
arteries.  Mr. Little arose from his cot to assist his wife in carrying a 
kerosene lamp into an adjoining room, but the effort merely hastened the end.  
When the man returned, he was gasping for breath and a half hour later he was 
dead.

Mr. Little had been a familiar figure on Portland’s streets for about 35 years 
and had a wide acquaintance.  Had he lived until the second of next month he 
would have been 65 years of age, having been born at Elmira, N.Y., April 2, 
1850.  He came to Lansing with his mother at the age of eight years, and it 
was here that the married Sarah Drumm in August, 1866.  The widow and two 
children, Mrs. George M. Marple of Eaton Rapids, and Frank Little, Jr., of 
Grand Rapids, survive.

Upon coming to Portland Mr. Little entered the employ of Eli Welch, landlord 
of the Welch House, as clerk, in which capacity he served until he took the 
job of superintending the municipal gasoline lighting system, which has long 
since passed into remote stages of village history.  He later took the active 
management of the opera house and as a sideline engaged in the bill posting 
business which he had followed on a smaller scale since.  Portland was known 
as a good show town when Mr. Little had charge of the opera house and the 
enterprise paid big returns, but of late years the patronage has been on the 
downward trend.

Twelve years ago Mr. Little entered the employ of the Maynard-Allen bank as 
janitor, at which time he moved with his wife to the apartments above.  It was 
here that death took place at an early hour Sunday morning following an 
illness of a little more than a month’s duration.  Mr. Little was taken to his 
bed with heart and stomach trouble early in February and the following week 
was stricken with paralysis, which took effect in the right side.  Since that 
time he had had but little use of the affected arm or leg.  During his illness 
he had many times expressed the wish that death might end his suffering.

Although not a member of any church, Mr. Little was a conscientious believer 
in the infinite and respected all denominations.  He was an ardent admirer of 
the Rev. John H. Stewart of the Baptist church and in carrying out what were 
believed to be his wishes relatives of the dead man enlisted the services of 
Rev. Stewart at the funeral, which was attended from the late home Tuesday 
afternoon.  Interment took place in Portland cemetery.

Mr. Little was a member of the local Mystic Worker lodge and carried a policy 
of $1,000 in that order. Mr. Little will continue her late husband’s bill 
posting business, with Edward Sowles in charge of the work.


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