Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Snell, Watson C. 1915
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Unidentified Publication, 1915

Watson C. Snell Dead.

Lifelong Resident of Ionia County and City Succumbs to Fatal Appendicitis.

Watson C. Snell died on Friday afternoon at six o’clock, after an illness of
less than a week, of appendicitis.  On Sunday afternoon last, he was up and
about as usual, visiting in the reading room at the Elks’ Temple, which was a
custom with him, and though in his usual jolly mood and with his customary
rollicking laughter, he did several times complain of pain.  After supper of
that day he was stricken severely ill, and took to the bed from which he did not
again arise.  His first symptoms were those of renal colic, but a fuller
examination determined the ailment to be appendicitis, and Dr. F.M. Marsh, who
had the case, called Dr. Richard R. Smith of Grand Rapids, to his aid for a
surgical operation, which was performed on Tuesday.  The appendix was found to
be very much enlarged, and the doctors determined then that there was but slight
hope, if any, for the recovery of the patient.  He never regained complete
consciousness after the anaesthetic was administered.

Watson C. Snell was born on a farm in the township of Easton, Ionia county, on
June 3, 1858.  His meager schooling was that received in the district school of
that township.  As a young man his years were spent in farming on the old
homestead.

In 1885 Mr. Snell was seized with the Dakota fever, with the hundreds of other
Michigan men, and moved to the land of wheat fields, where he engaged in farming
some three years, but like many others, he concluded that Michigan was a better
state and he returned to the home of his boyhood, later going to Albion, where
he engaged in the grocery business one year, returning again to Ionia.

Mr. Snell’s business career in Ionia has been varied.  Dealing in real estate
seemed to be more to his liking, but he had engaged in the harness store
business, grocery, and laundry.

While not a politician, in the self-seeking sense, he had served this city in
the capacity of alderman several terms, and was three years a member of the
board of public works, in which capacity he displayed much interest.

Mr. Shell was married on Nov. 15, 1887, to Mrs. Kitrenah Bliss, who survives
him, and the children born to them are, Clifford B. Snell and Mrs. Earl Wright,
both residents of Ionia, with their families, and Claude Snell of South Ionia, a
son by a former marriage, also survives.

Mr. Snell had been affiliated with a number of the local fraternities, but the
later years confined his activities principally with the Masons and the Elks.

Funeral service at the home on West Main street, at 2:30 o’clock on Sunday
afternoon, under the auspices of the Knights Templar, who will also conduct the
ritual service at the grave.  Rev. E.E. Branch will deliver the discourse at the
home.  Interment in the family lot in Highland Park.

Friends wishing to view the remains will be privileged to do so between the
hours of 12:00 and 2:30 on Sunday.

------------

Funeral of W.C. Snell

Last Sad Rites for Esteemed Citizen and Prominent Fraternity Man Very Largely
Attended.

The funeral of Watson C. Snell, which was attended at the late home on West Main
street, on Sunday afternoon, was one of the large funerals of recent years in
the city, and attested the friendly esteem in which he was generally held in Ionia.

The service was in charge of the Knights Templar, and was in the full ritual
form, both at the home and at the grave.  The Masonic guard of honor at the home
during the hours the remains were being viewed by friends, was comprised of Sir
Knights Wm. F. Soule, L. Ney Olmsted and G. Morris Phelps.

The discourse was by Rev. E.E. Branch of the First Baptist church, and the
singing was by Mrs. G.M. Phelps and Miss Lucy Cull.  There were fifty-one swords
in line of the Knights Templar.  Many Elks and members of other
fraternal-beneficiary organizations attended, though the Knights Templar was the
only organization to attend in a body, also furnished the carriers, as follows:
 Wm. F. Soule, Walter T. Smith, Walter Callow, L. Ney Olmsted, Frank C. Miller,
Fred Williams.

There were present at the funeral from out of the city:  Mr. and Mrs. Chester
Kellogg and children of Mt. Pleasant; Mr. and Mrs. W.A. MacMahon of Grand
Rapids; Dr. and Mrs. Charles Burbridge and Mrs. Clifford Walker of Grand Rapids;
Mrs. Lynus Leatch and Mes. Nealy Powlison and Clifford Powlison of Durand; Mr.
and Mrs. Clarence Powlison of Fenton; Mr. and Mrs. U.B. Williams of Lowell.


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