Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Taylor, Palmer Hurd 1911
************************************************
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 August 20, 2011, 5:10 pm

Unidentified Publication, 1911

Laid to Rest in Oak Hill Cemetery, With Full Masonic Honors.

The passing of the venerable Palmer H. Taylor removes the oldest Ionian, and in
his lifetime, beyond question the most conversant figure connected with the
history of this city and vicinity, real and legendary.  While at no time during
the long period of his 73 years of residence in this immediate vicinity a figure
of business prominence, he nevertheless always had a wide acquaintance, and was
in many respects a unique citizen.  Mentally he was a veritable encyclopedia of
events, and also because of his voluminous personal diary of local happenings,
he was always the accepted authority.

By reason of that rare virtue so unconsciously acquired by the early pioneers,
he became possessed of those peculiar qualities which enabled him to be a true
friend.  He was kindly, he was genial, and withal he was gifted with a humor
which was rich and inimitable, or was intensely in earnest as the occasion
demanded.  It was because of these qualities of heart and mind so freely given,
that the eyes of many were tear-dimmed as they looked for the last time on
Sunday upon his peaceful face as he lay in his casket surrounded by a profusion
of beautiful flowers, gifts of remembrance from friends and former associates. 
We shall miss his always friendly greeting, yet some time, some where in the
morning land “we’ll see those angel faces smile, which we have loved long since
and lost awhile.”  It is a peculiar coincidence, that he died on the 73d
anniversary to a day of the date of his arrival in Ionia from the York state
home of his birth - Jan. 31, 1838 and Jan. 31, 1911.

The funeral ceremonies consisted of a prayer service at the home on Lafayette
street by Rev. W.K. Spencer, and the public service at the Presbyterian church,
of which church society deceased was the last member of the original charter
list to cross the great divide. 

The two Masonic bodies, the Knights Templar and the Blue lodge, were out in
goodly numbers to pay their parting respects and to conduct the ritualistic
rites over the remains.

The singing at the church was by the church quartette; Mrs. G.M. Phelps, Mrs.
Thane Benedict, Mr. Benedict, and G. Lee Yates, and concluding quartette by
Messrs. Dr. L.W. and G. Lee Yates, Thane Benedict and Dr. Clarence G. Winchell,
all of which numbers were significantly appropriate and splendidly sung.

Interment was in Oak Hill cemetery, where the Masonic burial service was also
carried out.  The bearers were brothers from the Blue lodge: Messrs. W.F.
Marquette, Elvert M. Davis, Charles Graff, Arthur Ashdown, Albert Russell and
Frank Laurie.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/t/taylor16607nob.txt

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

File size: 3.2 Kb