He leaves a wife and three children, John W. and Miss Ida McCrea, of Battle Creek, and Harry McCrea, of Denver, Col.

H. G. MONROE.-H. G. Monroe died April 8, 1893, at the home of his son in LeRoy, aged 83 years.

Mr. Monroe came from New York to Detroit 56 years before; from Detroit he went to Prairieville on horseback, and settled at South Haven, being the first white settler at that place.

MRS. ORLIN PUTNAM.-Mrs. Orlin Putnam died at her home in Eckford, March, 1893, aged 78 years.

She was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., June 6, 1815, her maiden name being Brown. In 1837 she came with her parents to Michigan, locating in Clarendon, and in the year following was united in marriage to Mr. Putnam.

Mr. and Mrs. Putnam resided in Clarendon until 1856, when they removed to the farm in Eckford where she lived to the time of her death.

She was the mother of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom, with her husband, survive her. The children are Charles, Frank, George, Henry, John, Edwin, Louana, now Mrs. Griggs, Fanny, now Mrs. Van Buren, Eliza, now Mrs. Pandy.

MRS. FIDELIA REED. Mrs. Fidelia Reed, widow of the late Asa W. Reed, died at her home in Albion, on February 15, 1893, in her sixty-fifth year. Mrs. Reed came to reside in the township of Sheridan as early as 1836. She was married to Asa W. Reed nearly fifty years ago. They lived together in Sheridan until last August, when he died. She then moved into Albion. She leaves a sister, two brothers, seven sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Prof. M. O. Reed, is teaching at Deer Lodge, Mont.

WM. T. SHAFER. Wm. T. Shafer, one of the pioneers of Battle Creek, died at his home, March 9, 1893, of heart trouble. He had been sick only three weeks and his death was entirely unexpected by his friends. He was born in the state of New York, September 19, 1822, consequently was in the seventy-first year of his age. He worked for Nichols & Shepard when that firm was located in Marshall and removed with them to Battle Creek in 1848, and has since been a resident of that city. He assisted in the building of the Nichols & Shepard shops on West Canal street now occupied by V. C. Wattles and worked for that firm for many years. For a number of years past he has been engaged in doing city teaming. He leaves a wife, one

daughter, Mrs. Ida A. Damoth, and one son, W. R. Shafer, both of Battle Creek.

JULIUS A. SQUIER.-Julius A. Squier died at his home in Battle Creek, June 2, 1893.

He was born in New York state and was 65 years of age.

He was

a private in Co. I, eleventh Michigan Infantry and was an active member of Farragut Post No. 32, G. A. R.

For many years he was engaged in the ice business in Battle Creek, and was well known and highly esteemed. He leaves a wife and one son, Arthur.

WALLACE W. STILLSON.-Wallace W. Stillson died at his home in Battle Creek, March 6, 1893, aged 52 years.

Deceased was born in Keating, Pa., April 28, 1841, and moved with his parents at an early age to Michigan. February 18, 1862, he was married to Miss Amelia Nichols, and soon afterward enlisted in Co. C, 21st Michigan Infantry, and served three years honorably and meritoriously. He was in the employ of Nichols & Shepard Co. for twentyfive years, twenty years of which time he was foreman of the engine. paint shop. He served in the old volunteer fire department of Battle Creek, being a member of Union hose company No. 1, and a member of the running team. He was a member of Farragut Post No. 32, G. A. R., Security Lodge No. 44, A. O. U. W., Battle Creek Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Vibrator Workingmen's Society. Deceased leaves a wife and three children, Fred C., Helen, and Wallie W.

MRS. HENRIETTA C. THOMPSON.-Mrs. Henrietta C. Thompson was born in Lyons county, N. Y., April 29, 1817 and entered into rest at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Odekirk, Homer, Sunday evening, January 22, 1893.

Her maiden name was Thorp. In 1837 she was united in marriage to James Thompson and removed with him to Port Gibson, New York. Six children blessed their union, three of whom survive. In 1866 they came to Homer where she has since resided. She was converted in 1836 and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she continued a true and faithful member until transferred to the church triumphant. Fifty-seven years a christian, her faith grew stronger and brighter through all life's added years.

Her life work is done, but her influence still lives and the memory

of her consecrated life is embalmed in the hearts of her loved ones and friends.

REV. IRA R. A. WIGHTMAN.-Rev. Ira A. Wightman, for the past six years presiding elder of the Albion district of the Michigan Conference, died at his home in Albion, December 10, 1892. The immediate cause of his death was heart failure.

Ira R. A. Wightman was born at Trenton, N. J., March 30, 1836. He was a well educated and self-made man, as shown by the fact that his school life was limited to six terms. He was converted and joined the M. E. church at Frankfort, N. Y., in September, 1854. He came to Michigan in April, 1855, and was licensed as an exhortor the next year. He obtained a license as a local preacher at Holly, June 15, 1856, and was ordained a deacon at Battle Creek by Bishop E. R. Ames October 6, 1861. He was ordained an elder at Hillsdale, September 9, 1863, by Bishop M. Simpson. He was married to Harriet A. Barnard, November 30, 1862. Three sons and one daughter resulted from this marriage, all of whom, with the mother, survive him. The deceased had made Albion his home for the past six years, coming from Niles, where he held a three years' appointment.

EDWIN WILLIAMS.-Edwin Williams, an old resident of Homer, died December 29, 1892, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Albert Laker. Mr. Williams was born at Great Barrington, Mass., November 25, 1814. When seven years of age he came with his parents to New York state, where he lived until he came to Michigan 43 years ago.

Two sons and a daughter survive him, Erastus, who resides at Allegan; Willard, whose home is in Butler, and Mrs. Albert Laker, of Homer.

A. J. VAN DUSEN.-A. J. Van Dusen, a son of Jacob Van Dusen, was born at Canajoharie, Montgomery county, N. Y., July 12, 1813. Death came February 25, 1893, at the age of 79 years, 7 months and 13 days.

In the spring when but 19 years old, Mr. Van Dusen came to Michigan, settling then at, Augusta, Kalamazoo county, where he remained until he moved to Marshall 55 years ago. When but twenty

years old he was married to Miss Hannah Austin, of Galesburgh, Mich. To this union was born their only son, Jerry Van Dusen, whose death. less than a year ago was a great shock to his father. The death of his first wife occurred thirteen years ago.

He has owned, bought, and sold twenty-seven houses in the city of

Marshall. He was united in marriage to his second wife, Miss Cicely C. Perkins, of Beloit, Wis., September 17, 1882, who now is the widow; also of those to mourn, there are three grandsons, with their mother, the widow of the late Jerry Van Dusen. Two brothers of the deceased are yet living, residing, so far as is known, in New York state. Joseph Van Dusen is in the old home in Charleston, N. Y., where his father resided until death.

JOHN P. VANHORN.-John P. VanHorn, engineer on the Michigan Central railroad, who died at his home in Marshall August 16, 1892, was born in Marshall, Calhoun county, Mich., August 18, 1842, and was the son of John A. and Mary Ann (Clemments) Van Horn; father a native of Germany and a pioneer of Calhoun county; mother a native of Vermont. Mr. Van Horn was raised on a farm, working summers and attending school winters. When 17 years of age he went to Niles where he worked driving dray, and in 1863 commenced on railroad as fireman; in 1867 was promoted to engineer, which position. he filled up to the time of his death. Since he took charge of an engine he never injured a passenger or pinched a brakeman's fingers. He married Miss Sarah Davis, daughter of William Davis, of Niles, Mich. There were two children, Charles, born November 21, 1868, and John R., born July 19, 1872. Mrs. Van Horn's parents were also early settlers of Michigan. Mr. Van Horn was a member of Jackson lodge No. 17.

MRS. CATHARINE W. VANTUYLE. The subject of this article, Mrs. C. W. VanTuyle, finished her earthly career at her late home near Crowville, La., September 27, 1892, in her forty-eighth year. She was born December 18, 1844, in Scipio, Hillsdale county, Mich., and at seven years of age came with her father's (Wm. Minor) family to Battle Creek township, in the neighborhood now known as "North Le Roy," where she remained a citizen over forty years until in November, 1890, when they went south. Twenty-nine years ago she was married to James W. VanTuyle, who with four sons and two daughters remain to realize their loss. Her sons, James C., George C. and Wayne D.. are in Battle Creek township and city. Mrs. Ruby Cole, Willie, and Irene VanTuyle are still in Louisiana. Her brother, E. H. Minor, of North Le Roy, now owns the old homestead where her childhood and school days were passed, and from which she went a bride, into a new home across the way. Her oldest child, Freddie, while in infancy, preceded her to the heavenly home. In early life

she embraced christianity, and was ever active in every good work. She was the founder of the North Le Roy Missionary society and a prominent member of the Farmers' Alliance and of the Methodist church.

CASS COUNTY.

BY GEORGE T. SHAFFER.

DR. LEVI ALDRICH.-Dr. Levi Aldrich died at Edwardsburgh, December 16, 1892, aged 73 years. He several times represented Cass county in the State legislature and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1867.

MRS. RACHEL BYRON.-Mrs. Rachel Byron died in Detroit March 16, 1893, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Julia Gates, in the 86th year of her age.

Mrs. Byron was the mother of our friend and townsman, John Tietsort (of whom a sketch is also found in this report).

She was first married to Abram Tietsort, Jr., in 1826. By this. marriage she had six children, five of whom are now living, viz., John, Julia, Perry, Ira, and Wesley; and, so far as is known, Julia was the second white female child born in Cass county.

Mrs. Byron's second marriage, to the Rev. Joseph Byron, of the M. E. church, occurred in 1841. The offspring of this marriage was four children, viz., Melissa, Linnie, Elizabeth, and Joseph Edgar.

Few, if any of the pioneers of this county now living, can recount so many stirring events in the history of southwestern Michigan as could Mrs. Byron in her life time.

In 1831 she settled with her then husband, Abram Tietsort, Jr., on the east bank of Stone lake, but a few rods north of where the bowl factory now stands. Then the country was in possession of wild beasts and savages, who roamed at will through its forests, and over its plains, lakes, and rivers, claiming title direct from the Great Spirit. Then dense forests nearly surrounded Cassopolis and covered the site of this capitol of Cass county. Then the howl of the wolf, and the barking of the fox furnished music to the early settlers, as each day's