Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Roof, Albert K. 1917 ************************************************ 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 16, 2011, 8:58 pm Lyons Herald, 17 May 1917 Albert K. Roof, perhaps the oldest resident in Lyons in years of continuous residence, died at his home in the village, May 11, 1917, at the age of 76 years. Mr. Roof had been in failing health for some time, but was confined to the house but a few days, death being due to auto toxemia. His father, Judge Adam L. Roof, was one of the first pioneers of this section, and the first lawyer in Ionia county, coming from the state of New York, and settling at Lyons in 1836, when there was only an Indian village here. During his lifetime, the father was prominent in public affairs, holding many township and county offices and representing this section in the Legislature from 1845 to 1852. Albert K. Roof was born at Lyons, April 6, 1841, one of the first white children born in the village. Here he grew to manhood, and his life to a remarkable degree paralleled that of his father. He early displayed a preference for the law, and his father encouraged him by sending him to Ann Arbor where he graduated from the law department of the State University in 1865. He returned to his home town and practiced law until his retirement several years ago, since which time he has devoted himself to business interests connected with his property. In 1889, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Lou Rudgers, who died two years later, leaving no children. He was elected successively to all the village and township offices, he served as Register of Deeds for Ionia county, and in 1878 and again in 1886 was chairman of the county Board of Supervisors. During the sessions of the Legislature of 1871-2 he represented this district in the House of Representatives; and in 1887-8 he occupied a seat in the Senate. He was a member of the House when the appropriation was made for the erection of the present state capitol. He was one of the earliest members of Lyons Lodge F.&A.M. and of the Royal Arch Chapter. He is remembered as a good neighbor, in his active life taking an interest and contributing to public enterprises, and ever kind and charitable in his dealings with those in less fortunate circumstances. Deceased had a wide acquaintance throughout the county, gained by years of law and political work. He was a politician of no mean ability and for years this work had been his chief interest and pleasure. He was democratic in principles and it is to his credit that the democratic party lived through many dark years in this township and county. He leaves four sisters, Mrs. Nellie Hale and Miss Lulu Roof of Lyons, Mrs. Clara Thomas of Ann Arbor and Mrs. Addie Hutchinson of Ionia. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the old family residence conducted by Rev. Geo. A. Brown and interment made in the Lyons cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic order. The pall bearers were E.S. Fuller, V.F. Upton, J.H. Ruel, W.C. Hawley, W.A. Grant and H.R. Curtis. The large assemblage and the wealth of beautiful floral offerings bore testimony to the honor and esteem in which deceased was held. Those from out of town attending the funeral were Mrs. Addie Hutchinson, Herbert Hutchinson, Judge and Mrs. A.B. Morse, Dr. and Mrs. Yates, Van Morse, A.R. Locke, James Vosper, C.B. Wardle, John Nichol, Hon. Chas. L. Wilson, P.T. Williams, W.H. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Hale and Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Hale, Ionia; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Thomas, Ann Arbor; Stanley Thomas, Detroit; Albert K. Hutchinson, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Knox and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Knox, Portland. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/r/roof14862nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb