Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Stebbins, Seymour Miles 1918
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net March 28, 2011, 11:25 am

Ionia Daily Sentinel, 31 Jan 1918

The passing of another of Ionia’s pioneer residents, one of the men who have 
lived here since the city was a mere settlement, occurred in the death of 
Seymour Mills Stebbins this morning at 3 o’clock at his home on West Main 
street after being in failing health for some time.

Mr. Stebbins was born in Massachusetts July 4, 1831, and came to Michigan with 
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Stebbins, in 1836, only three years after 
the first hardy band of settlers had traveled to the present site of Ionia in 
ox wagons, and hewn a home from the wilderness.  After building a log house and 
barn in the then wilderness, they located in Clinton county, later coming to 
Ionia to the farm where now the Michigan Reformatory is.  He spent his boyhood 
and manhood here, and in July, 1852, was married to Ruth Ann Gibson.  They 
lived several years on the farm in Easton now owned by his son in law, J. R. 
Densmore, later moving to Ionia, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

He was prominently associated through his life with the activities of the 
community, from the time it was a tiny village to within a few years ago.  When 
he first came to Ionia the locality was thickly populated with Indians, and 
Indian children were his playmates, while the dense forests at that time were 
filled with deer, bears, and other game.  He was elected to the office of 
supervisor, justice of the peace, clerk, and other offices during his lifetime, 
the duties of which he performed well and efficiently.

Out of the family of nine children of which he was a member, there is only one 
now living, Chester Stebbins of Grand Rapids.  Besides his wife, he leaves four 
children Mrs. E. L. Mathews of Cleveland, Elmer Stebbins of Stanton, Miss Elva 
Stebbins of Detroit, and Mrs. J. R. Densmore of Easton township.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at one o’clock at the residence, and 
burial will be in Easton cemetery.


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