Kent County MI Archives Obituaries.....House, Calista A. (Shaw) March 16, 1925
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Laura Groom Littlekug@aol.com October 4, 2005, 9:13 am

Rockford Register 26 Mar 1925
Rockford Register 26 Mar 1925:  EDGERTON LOSES AGED RESIDENT.  Mrs. House's 
father built our first Frame House. 
	Mrs. Calista House passed away at her home in Edgerton Monday 
afternoon, March 16, 1925.  She was born in Yates County, New York June 30th, 
1837, and was the daughter of Nicholas and Sophia Shaw.  When 16 years of age 
she moved with her parents to Michigan.  They came by train from Canandaigua, 
NY, as far as Battle Creek.  From there they took the stage to Grand Rapids 
and from Grand Rapids to Rockford (then known as Laphamville) they came in a 
lumber wagon.  Her father took up a tract of land from the government on what 
is now known as Perry's Corners and built the first frame house in this 
locality, all other dwellings being built of pine logs.  Mr. Shaw painted his 
house white, and sitting as it did in a dense forest of giant oaks and pine 
trees made a pretty picture which was much admired by their neighbors.  The 
wild deer and bear roamed around their home and the Indians decorated in paint 
and feathers, filled their forest home on their way to Grand Rapids to receive 
their allowance from the government.  All this was strange to these early 
pioneers from New York.
	Mrs. House grew to womanhood and was united in marriage on June 30, 
1857, to James House and to this union were born 3 children.  They lived on a 
farm southwest of Edgerton until they moved to Edgerton where Mr. House passed 
to the Great Beyond in 1914.
	Mrs. House was one of a family of seven children who were as follows:  
Mrs. Diana Rector, Nicholas Shaw, Benjamin Shaw, Mrs. Artimissa Rector, George 
Shaw, Mrs. Mary Perry, Mrs. Spring, Mrs. Acelia Briggs and Mrs. Lottie Miller.
	She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Swift of Grand Rapids 
and one son, Andrew House of Edgerton.  A daughter, Mrs. Sarah Tompsett having 
passed to her rest June 11, 1915.  Also three grandchildren, Mrs. Alta Siegel 
of Chicago, Mrs. Maude Peterson and Roy Morningstar of Rockford; five great 
grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Amelia Spring of Rockford and Mrs. Lottie 
Miller of Saratoga, NY. 
	Mrs. House was stricken with apoplexy 5 years ago and since that time 
has been a partial invalid until the last 2 years when she has been helpless.
	All during the life of this pioneer mother, wonderful traits of 
character were manifested.  A happy and contented disposition, always a smile 
on her face and though very deaf for many years, she never complained.
	This dear mother gave her heart to her Heavenly Father when she was a 
young girl and united with the Methodist Church, so when she closed her eyes 
in the sleep of death it was only for her to awaken again in the .. eternal.  

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