Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ravell, Watkins 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 June 17, 2010, 12:16 pm Belding Banner, 12 Aug 1909 Old Pioneer Passed Away Watkins Ravell of Orleans Died Saturday at His Home An Honest Man Gone Settled There Thirty-three Years Ago – Built up a Good Business. The death of Watkins Ravell occurred at his home in Orleans, Saturday, August 7, aged 82 years, 1 month and 13 days. He was born in Anthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, June 25, 1827, and came to Michigan in the year 1866. Soon after arriving here he settled in Greenville, from there he moved to Pierson and later to Oakfield Center. On April 4, 1853, he was married to Mary Ann Thorpe, and to them were born ten children, all of whom have passed away except two, George Ravell, who resides at the old home, and Mrs. H. G. Sessions, of Carson City. Mrs. Ravell, now 79 years old, also survives him. In 1876 Mr. Ravell purchased his late home of Jude Spencer together with the old saw and grist mill and it has ever since been known as “Ravell’s Mills,” he having improved the property and been an important business factor in this vicinity, ever ready to extend sympathy and encouragement to those in need, and could always be counted on as an honest man. He was seldom away from home and there are many people here who never saw him. He was a democrat in politics and had taken the Detroit Free Press for 33 years. The funeral was held Tuesday from his late home, attended by many old neighbors. Dr. I. S. Morris, assisted by Rev. G. W. Maxwell, officiated, and Mrs. Geo. A. Stanton and Mrs. E. E. Hudson sang. The bearers were L. C. Fales, F. L. Spencer, Wm. Brown and Martin Post, and his remains were placed in the family lot in the Orleans cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Sessions, of Carson City, Dell Howe, of Ionia, and Frank and G. Prismall, of Greenville were in attendance at the funeral. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/r/ravell5813nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.3 Kb