Copyright © 2004 Submitted by: Jan Cortez This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ WAS ONE OF EARLY SETTLERS HERE John Darling Once Conducted Hotel on Nisbett Block Corner From Saturday's Daily Pioneer - 8-20-1908 John Darling, father of A.E. & E.J. Darling of this city, died this morning at 7 o'clock, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herbert Friant, at Shelby. He was 81 years old, and old age was the chief cause of his death. For seven or eight years up to about a year ago, he lived in Denver, with his daughter, Jennie Solomon. His health then began to break down and he came back to Michigan to die. Mr. Darling was a resident of Big Rapids for eight or ten years in its earliest days. He came here about 1863, and was proprietor for many years of the only hotel here at the time, known as the Darling house, located on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street, where the Nisbett block now stands. He also had the distinction of driving the first stage coach from here to Hersey, being engaged in that business in the early days, before he bought the hotel. He made trips to Hersey twice a week. Besides the two daughters mentioned he is survived by two sons, both of this city, E.J. and A.E. Darling. Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Darling left this afternoon for Shelby to attend the funeral, which will be held Monday forenoon. The burial will be held at Plainfield, to which place he moved.