Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Stannard, Abial S. & Hannah E. (Fletcher) 1906
************************************************
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 November 7, 2009, 7:46 pm

Lowell Ledger, 22 Feb 1906

The funeral services of Mr. and Mrs. Abial S. Stannard were conducted at their 
late home in this village by Rev. Mr. Flint of Clarksville; after which a long 
procession of mourning friends followed the two hearses to South Boston, where 
a double grave had been prepared to receive the bodies of the old couple, who 
after 52 years of married life, were laid away together in their last peaceful 
rest.  The attendance at the services was very large the capacity of the large 
residence being tested to its full capacity, many old neighbors and friends 
from Boston township and other places being present in addition to a host of 
Lowell friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Stannard were taken ill with pneumonia Friday, Feb. 2.  Mrs. 
Stannard died Feb. 13 and he followed her Feb. 17.

Mr. Stannard was born at Newport, New Hampshire, Dec. 28th., 1823.  When he was 
three months old his parents moved to Hardwick, Vermont.  They lived there 
until 1837, when they came to Michigan, Boston township.  Mrs. Stannard, Hannah 
E. Fletcher, was born Feb. 9, 1935 in Rochester, N.Y.  She came to Otisco, 
Ionia county, in 1845, lived there about a year and then moved to Boston 
township.  They were married Dec. 18, 1853, in Boston.  They settled on the 
Stannard homestead and lived there for many years, making many friends.  Three 
years ago this month they bought of G.H. Force his house and lot in this 
village, and it has since been their pleasant home.  And there, Dec. 18, 1903, 
they celebrated their golden wedding.  One year ago Mr. Stannard was elected 
president of the Old Residents’ association; and on his last trip “down town,” 
called at The Ledger office and talked about the approaching annual meeting 
soon to be held.  His history is inseparably connected with the pioneer story 
of Boston township, where for sixty-six years as boy and man he contributed to 
its development and for many years held position of trust; and was honored by 
election to two terms in the Legislature, where he served his constituents 
conscientiously and well.  He was of a broad and liberal mind, and a wide 
reader of good literature.

We are reminded of a rather singular circumstance connected with the deaths of 
Mr. and Mrs. Stannard.  They attended the meeting of the Hooker Pioneer society 
at the home of Mrs. Matthew Hunter last June and there invited the society to 
meet with them this coming Summer “If we are both alive.”  As both were in 
their usual health at that time, the proviso was rather remarkable.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Stannard were very fond of children and made many friends 
among the village little folks, to whom they paid many kind attentions, and 
both were lovers of flowers.  They were kind, generous people, highly esteemed 
by all who knew them.

They leave two sons, Gates L. Stannard of South Boston, and J.D. Stannard of 
Denver, Col.  During their illness, they were faithfully cared for by their 
granddaughter, Ethel Stannard, who had been with them a great deal.

Mr. Stannard was the oldest of his family and his brothers and sisters are 
dead.  Mrs. Stannard leaves one sister, Mrs. Tucker of Indiana, and two 
brothers, Jerome and Levi Fletcher, of Boston.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/s/stannard1251nob.txt

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

File size: 3.8 Kb