Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sweitzer, Michael June 12, 1925
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com April 5, 2014, 6:21 pm

Lake O Wave - Fri. June 19, 1925

AGED COUPLE 70 YRS. TOGETHER, SEPARATED

Five score minus five is the years of Mr. Michael Sweitzer who passed away last 
Thursday morning, and for more than seventy years he and his wife have endured 
life’s joys and struggles together. 

Mr. Sweitzer was 95 years old May 15th and came to Michigan from Ohio 68 years 
ago and settled near Woodbury.

At this time Michigan was practically a wilderness. The farthest point north 
touched by a railroad was Jackson, and from there it was necessary to drive by 
horse and buggy to other points. Sweitzer purchased 160 acres of timberland 
north of Woodbury for $800. Ten acres of the amount was “windrowed” the timber 
being felled in such a manner as to fall in windrows where it was allowed to 
dry before being burned. 

Amusing stories are told of how the couple settled (SEVERAL LINES OF OBITUARY 
ARE ILLEGIBLE)
Planks in the floor were so wide that Mrs. Sweitzer froze her feet three times 
in one winter. She was forced to sit with her feet in the range oven most of 
the time. 

After locating on his land Sweitzer walked 60 miles to Jackson, thru what is 
now the town of Charlotte, to get the furniture he had shipped from Ohio. He 
hired a team to haul the load but the rough going and the utter lack of roads 
wore out two teams. Sweitzer then walked from just north of Charlotte to his 
farm and returned with a yoke of oxen with which he completed the trip. 

The Sweitzers still own the old homestead, which is now occupied by a son, H. 
V. Sweitzer.

On coming to Lake Odessa in 1900 Mr. Sweitzer purchased several acres of land 
on the lake front at Lake Odessa, then it was called a swamp, but he realized 
there was value in such a land and a little later had it plotted into lots and 
these were sold. Cottages sprung up and we now have our beautiful resort along 
Jordan Lake. A history of Lake Odessa could not be written without mentioning 
Mr. Michael Sweitzer. 

The parents have been lovingly cared for by their faithful daughter, Mrs. 
Lucinda Ludwig and nothing that could add to their comfort of their old age has 
been left undone.

OBITUARY

Michael Sweitzer was born in Wortenburg, Germany, May 15, 1830 and departed 
this life June 12, 1925 at the age of ninety-five years and twenty-seven days.

He was married to Rosana Bessy, January 19, 1854 and to this union were born 
two children. He came to America with his parents and spent the larger part of 
his life in Michigan. He was converted in early life and united with the United 
Brethren church and lived a faithful Christian life until his death.

He leaves to mourn their loss a wife, one daughter, Lucinda Ludwig of Lake 
Odessa and one son, Harlan Sweitzer of Woodbury, Michigan, besides five 
grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and a large circle of friends and 
neighbors. Services were held from the Calvary U.B. Church conducted by Rev. M. 
H. Dawson. Rev; John Sturk of Ionia and Rev. Willard Sturk of Owosso sang. 





Additional Comments:
Burial in Lake Side cemetery.

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