Grattan Township - Neighbor News
1876 - 1884
The following are mainly vital records with some events of local interest.
The information comes from the scrapbooks of Margaret Ann (Weeks) Lessiter which
are on film at the Grand Rapids City Library under Grattan Township.
Margaret Ann Weeks was born 5 May 1840 in Sylvan Township Washtenaw County, Michigan to John Parish Weeks and Phebe Young Beakes. When she was four years old, the family moved to Grattan Township, Kent County, Michigan.
On 27 Oct 1860, Margaret married the widower Henry Lessiter, and they had five children. Henry died 4 Sep 1892 and Margaret died 25 Feb 1911 in Grattan. They are both buried in Ashley Cemetery.
Margaret wrote the neighborhoods news for many newspapers including the Rockford Register as "Arbutus", the Cedar Springs Clipper as "Maud" and the Belding Telegram and Belding Home News as "Ethelind".
|
NAME-TITLE |
EVENT |
DATE |
PAGE |
|
Abbey, Jenny |
Marriage |
April, 1879 |
39 |
|
Ackert, Caroline (Mrs. O.) |
Death |
19 Jul 1881 |
80 |
|
Ackert, Oliver C. |
Death |
25 May 1884 |
130 |
|
Adams, Mrs. |
Death of father |
23 Apr 1882 |
94 |
|
Aldrich, Moses V. |
Death |
2 Dec 1879 |
51 |
|
Alger, Fred |
Marriage |
25 Dec 1881 |
88 |
|
Alger, L. K. |
Wedding of daughter |
25 Dec 1881 |
88 |
|
Alger, nina |
Marriage |
25 Dec 1881 |
67 |
|
Anderson, Christian |
House burns |
226 Feb 1884 |
130-1, 133 |
|
Andrews, Hettie |
Marriage |
16 Feb 1884 |
125 |
|
Anscomb, Mrs. Edward |
Elopement |
31 Nov 1878 |
35-6 |
|
Ashley, Abner |
Burial |
30 Mar 1883 |
112 |
|
Ashley, Belle |
Marriage |
14 Jan 1881 |
64 |
|
Ashley, Charles |
Wedding of daughter |
14 Jan 1881 |
64 |
|
Ashley, Charles |
Death of father |
23 Apr 1882 |
94 |
|
Ashley, Charles |
Son's birth |
Mar, 1878 |
16 |
|
Ashley, Fannie J. |
Death |
13 May 1884 |
127, 134 |
|
Ashley, George |
Death of father |
23 Apr 1882 |
94 |
|
Ashley, John |
Death of father |
23 Apr 1882 |
94 |
|
Ashley, Mr. & Mrs. Charles |
Birth of daughter |
5 Oct 1880 |
55, 59 |
|
Ashley, Mr. & Mrs. George |
Death of daughter |
13 May 1884 |
127, 134 |
|
Ashley, Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon |
50th Anniversary |
45-6 |
|
|
Ashley, Nellie |
Marriage |
8 Oct 1879 |
45 |
|
Ashley, Noah |
Daughter's marriage |
8 Oct 1879 |
45 |
|
Ashley, Shelden |
Burial |
23 Apr 1882 |
94, 98, 108 |
|
Ashley, Shelden |
Robbery victim |
28 Apr 1876 |
2 |
|
Atwood, Homer |
Marriage |
29 Dec 1880 |
63 |
|
Austin, L. C. |
Death |
12 Oct 1879 |
45 |
|
Bailey, Chester |
Marriage |
2 Dec 1879 |
51 |
|
Bailey, Martha |
Marriage |
Apr, 1879 |
39 |
|
Baldwin, Harry |
Marriage |
24 Jan 1880 |
51 |
|
Balloon Ascension |
57 |
||
|
Barnard, Mrs. E. P. |
Murder charge |
1 Feb 1881 |
69 |
|
Barnes, Hugh |
Disappearance |
13 Dec 1880 |
63, 67 |
|
Barrett, Effie |
Marriage |
Mar, 1881 |
62 |
|
Barrett, Irving |
Birth of daughter |
Apr, 1878 |
19 |
|
Barrett, Mr. & Mrs. Irving |
Birth of son |
4 May 1881 |
63, 72 |
|
Barto, Mrs. Barlo |
Death |
10 Apr 1882 |
92 |
|
Beard, James |
Marriage |
25 Nov 1878 |
35 |
|
Becker, Phillip |
Funeral |
30 Jan 1881 |
64, 67 |
|
Belding Cornet Band |
At Grattan |
101 |
|
|
Belding, Frank |
Death |
7 Mar 1879 |
39 |
|
Benton, Alice |
Marriage |
4 Oct 1883 |
115, 119 |
|
Bergen, Chris. |
Marriage |
10 Jan 1882 |
90, 102-3 |
|
Bergen, Son |
Death |
1 Jun 1880 |
54 |
|
Bigler, William |
Death |
27 Feb 1882 |
92 |
|
Blood, Son |
Death |
14 Apr 1880 |
52 |
|
Borden, Rev. J. S. |
At Ashley |
19 Mar 1882 |
89 |
|
Bowman, Albert B. |
Death of father |
20 Oct 1883 |
127 |
|
Bowman, Frank |
Marriage |
6 Mar 1876 |
2 |
|
Bowman, Gabriel W. |
Death |
18 Oct 1883 |
122, 127 |
|
Bowman, Mrs. Frank |
Birth of daughter |
Sep, 1878 |
28 |
|
Braden, James |
Funeral |
10 Feb 1881 |
64, 66 |
|
Braden, John |
Death of son |
7 Feb 1881 |
64 |
|
Brennanstuhl, Mrs. George |
Death |
May, 1883 |
103 |
|
Brigham, Mrs. |
Buried |
Oct, 1881 |
84-5 |
|
Brighton, Mrs. J. |
Death |
Oct, 1881 |
83 |
|
Bronson, W. |
Con artist |
Mar, 1882 |
89, 94, 97, 99 |
|
Brooks, Mr. & Mrs. Hollis |
Birth of daughter |
23 Jun 1882 |
89, 101 |
|
Brophy, Mary |
Death |
12 May 1879 |
40 |
|
Brown, Abner |
Marriage |
29 Oct 1878 |
34 |
|
Brown, Addie |
Marriage |
24 Jan 1880 |
51 |
|
Brown, Dora |
Marriage |
29 Oct 1878 |
34 |
|
Brown, Eva |
Death |
14 Sep 1883 |
119 |
|
Brown, Mrs. R. |
Buried |
3 Feb 1882 |
89, 90 |
|
Brown, Reuben |
Death of son |
22 Jun 1879 |
41, 43 |
|
Brown, Walter |
Death |
22 Jun 1879 |
41, 43 |
|
Buell, Rev. William |
Pastor - Ashley Baptist Church, 1876 - May, 1878 |
4 |
|
|
Burgess, Bishop |
Dedication of St. Patrick's Catholic Church |
25 Mar 1879 |
39 |
|
Bush, Mr. & Mrs. Isaac |
Funeral |
15 Nov 1880 |
69 |
|
Button, J. O. |
Saw mill |
31 Oct 1883 |
116, 118, 120 |
|
Button, O. |
Saw mill |
11 Feb 1884 |
87, 124 |
|
Byrne, Arthur |
Marriage |
24 Jul 1882 |
94, 97 |
|
Byrne, George |
Marriage |
12 Oct 1880 |
59, 60 |
|
Byrne, John |
Windmill |
11 Aug 1881 |
74 |
|
Byrne, Mike |
Death of son |
23 Apr 1881 |
70 |
|
Byrne, Mr. & Mrs. John |
Birth of son |
1 Apr 1884 |
86 |
|
Byrne, Mr. & Mrs. John |
Birth of son |
Jun, 1882 |
91, 98 |
|
Byrne, Mr. & Mrs. William |
Birth of daughter |
4 Dec 1883 |
125, 128 |
|
Byrne, Mr. & Mrs. William |
Birth of daughter |
Jan, 1882 |
94, 96 |
|
Byrne, Thomas |
Death |
26 Jan 1882 |
91, 96 |
|
Byrne, Thomas |
Will |
21 Feb 1882 |
89-90, 93, 103 |
|
Byrne, Tommy |
Death |
15 Feb 1882 |
63, 66 |
|
Byrne, William |
Death |
22 Nov 1882 |
99 |
|
Byrnes, John |
Birth of son |
Mar, 1878 |
15 |
|
Byrnes, Michael |
Birth of son |
Jun, 1879 |
42 |
|
Byrnes, Mr. & Mrs. John |
Birth of son |
28 Dec 1880 |
55, 57 |
|
Calkin, Mr. |
Marriage |
25 Dec 1878 |
36, 37 |
|
Calkins, Miss Lucy |
Opens store |
Apr, 1879 |
40 |
|
Calkins, Miss Lucy |
Hat store |
Nov 1878 |
31 |
|
Cameron, A. |
Death |
22 Jun 1882 |
89, 101 |
|
Carris, George |
Death |
24 Apr 1882 |
98 |
|
Carten, Mary |
87 yrs. old |
30 Jun 1884 |
131, 133 |
|
Casner, Maggie |
Marriage |
22 Feb 1881 |
65, 66 |
|
Chaffee, Dr. |
Death |
Jun, 1881 |
82 |
|
Church, Cynthia |
Teacher |
19 Apr 1880 |
53 |
|
Church, Manselle |
Marriage |
31 Dec 1881 |
85, 88 |
|
Clark, E. L. |
Marriage |
1 Jan 1882 |
94, 96 |
|
Close, Converse |
Death of daughter |
16 May 1881 |
69, 71-2 |
|
Close, Mary |
Death |
16 May 1881 |
69, 71-2 |
|
Cobb, J. |
Baptism |
10 Oct 1880 |
60 |
|
Coleman, James |
Death |
Jul, 1882 |
92, 102 |
|
Conrad, Florence |
Marriage |
223 Jul 1882 |
97, 101 |
|
Cook, Irving |
Death |
8 Oct 1879 |
45 |
|
Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Luther |
50th Anniversary |
59, 93 |
|
|
Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Luther B. |
50th Anniversary |
18 Dec 1882 |
91/3/5 |
|
Cook, Mr. & Mrs. R. R. |
Birth of son |
May, 1883 |
111 |
|
Cooley, George |
Death |
29 Nov 1883 |
132 |
|
Cooley, Jay |
Marriage |
22 Jan 1883 |
109, 112 |
|
Cooley, Mrs. Jay |
Funeral |
1 Jul 1880 |
57, 84 |
|
Corley, Mrs. James |
Death |
9 May 1879 |
41-2 |
|
Cornell, Charles |
Marriage |
Apr, 1879 |
39 |
|
Cornell, Frank |
Marriage |
23 Oct 1878 |
33 |
|
Cornell, May |
Teacher |
24 Jan 1884 |
129, 134 |
|
Cornell, May |
Teacher |
5 Dec 1883 |
125, 128 |
|
Cowan, "Gramma" |
Death |
8 May 1882 |
99 |
|
Cowan, Peter |
Death |
Jul, 1878 |
25 |
|
Cranmore, Theresa |
Teacher |
12 Jul 1881 |
75 |
|
Crites, Jenny |
Marriage |
25 Dec 1880 |
63-4 |
|
Crites, Will |
Stabbing |
2 Jul 1881 |
75-6, 79, 83 |
|
Curtis, Mrs. E. S. |
Murdered |
1 Feb 1881 |
69 |
|
Cusack, Martin |
Marriage |
29 Apr 1879 |
41 |
|
Cusack, Mrs. Martin |
Birth of daughter |
20 Jul 1880 |
59, 61 |
|
Cusser, Alice |
Marriage |
Nov, 1878 |
34 |
|
Cusser, Isaac |
Marriage |
Nov, 1880 |
62 |
|
Dally, Will |
Marriage |
21 May 1881 |
68 |
|
Daniels, Eva |
Marriage |
Sep 1878 |
30 |
|
Davis, C. |
Death of daughter |
Apr, 1878 |
16 |
|
Davis, L. |
Marriage |
16 Feb 1884 |
125 |
|
Davis, W. |
Death of mother |
May, 1883 |
103 |
|
Davison, Alonzo |
Death |
3 Jul 1879 |
42 |
|
Day, Dr. C. F. |
Dentist |
23 Jun 1884 |
124, 127 |
|
Denton, B. |
Architect |
Jun, 1879 |
41 |
|
Devine, James |
Death |
20 Dec 1882 |
93, 95, 97 |
|
Dimick, Alvin |
Marriage |
Dec, 1878 |
36 |
|
Dimick, Anna |
Marriage |
24 Sep 1878 |
29, 30 |
|
Diptheria |
Diptheria in Grattan |
55, 57-8, 61-3 |
|
|
Diptheria |
Diptheria in Grattan |
68, 70, 72 |
|
|
Divine, Mrs. |
Death |
10 Nov 1879 |
48 |
|
Divine, T. |
Death of son |
7 Sep 1881 |
75, 78 |
|
Donovan, Anna |
Marriage |
31 Jan 1884 |
124 |
|
Donovan, Ben |
Stabbed |
2 Jul 1881 |
74, 83 |
|
Donovan, Fred |
Marriage |
25 Dec 1880 |
63-4 |
|
Donovan, Mr. & Mrs. Fred |
Birth of daughter |
Oct, 1881 |
76 |
|
Donovan, Mrs. |
Robbery |
8 Jan 1881 |
64 |
|
Donovan, Priscilla |
Death |
14 Apr 1883 |
108, 113 |
|
Donovan, William |
Marriage |
27 Nov 1878 |
34, 35 |
|
Donovan, William J. |
Death |
14 May 1881 |
74, 75 |
|
Dorman, Fred |
Marriage |
13 Aug 1882 |
95 |
|
Doty, J. T. |
Death |
23 Dec 1882 |
93, 95 |
|
Doyle, Baby |
Death |
20 Sep 1880 |
57 |
|
Doyle, Edward |
Death |
12 Jul 1883 |
109, 116 |
|
Doyle, Maggie |
Death |
20 Jul 1880 |
59 |
|
Doyle, Mr. |
Feud |
30 May 1881 |
68, 73 |
|
Doyle, Mr. T. |
Death of son |
29 Nov 1881 |
83 |
|
Doyle, Sarah |
Death |
Jun, 1879 |
41 |
|
Doyle, Thomas |
Death of daughter |
Jun, 1879 |
41 |
|
Doyle, Thomas |
Death of son |
12 Jul 1883 |
109, 116 |
|
Dramatic Club |
At Grattan |
101 |
|
|
Driscoll, Jane |
Death |
26 Jul 1883 |
116, 121 |
|
Duga, Will |
Marriage |
31 Jan 1884 |
124 |
|
Eddy, Charles |
Sells store |
5 Dec 1881 |
83 |
|
Eddy, Charles |
Saw mill |
31 Oct 1883 |
95, 102 |
|
Eddy, Charles |
Sells store |
1 Feb 1881 |
69 |
|
Eddy, Charles |
Buys store |
Mar, 1878 |
15 |
|
Eddy, Mr. & Mrs. Charles |
Birth of daughter |
12 May 1881 |
72, 75 |
|
Eddy, Mr. & Mrs. Charles |
Birth of daughter |
Jul, 1878 |
25 |
|
Elections |
In Grattan, 1878 |
16 |
|
|
Elsbey, George |
Marriage |
13 Mar 1884 |
129, 133 |
|
Emmons, Mr. & Mrs. H. |
Death of daughter |
3 Jul 1880 |
57 |
|
Emmons, Ray |
Marriage |
18 Dec 1878 |
36, 37 |
|
Farr, Mrs. William |
Death |
11 Jul 1883 |
109, 116 |
|
Farrell, Ellen |
Marriage |
12 Apr 1880 |
52 |
|
Fish, Lagee |
Death of son |
3 Jan 1882 |
94, 96 |
|
Fish, Mary |
Marriage |
15 Apr 1883 |
108, 113 |
|
Fisher, Lyman |
Death |
29 Mar 1881 |
62, 71 |
|
Flannagan, Mrs. M. |
Death |
21 Jun 1884 |
131, 133 |
|
Flannery, Father |
St. Patrick's Catholic, Feb, 1881 - Nov, 1883 |
64 |
|
|
Flynn, Mrs. Edward |
Death |
2 Sep 1883 |
118-120 |
|
Force, Mr. |
Teacher |
17 Apr 1880 |
53 |
|
Ford, "Uncle" Abel |
Death |
16 Jul 1880 |
59, 81 |
|
Ford, A. |
Sold store |
15 Dec 1880 |
63 |
|
Ford, Mr. & Mrs. Warren |
25th Anniversary |
23 Feb 1883 |
118, 120 |
|
Francisco, Charles |
Marriage |
5 Aug 1883 |
115, 120 |
|
Francisco, Mr. & Mrs. Charles |
20th Anniversary |
31 Jan 1884 |
87 |
|
Fuller, B. |
Manufacture |
1 Jan 1881 |
66, 80 |
|
Fuller, Edith |
Marriage |
29 Dec 1878 |
37 |
|
Fuller, Mr. & Mrs. Frank |
Death of son |
5 Oct 1883 |
115, 119 |
|
Fuller, Mr. & Mrs. Frank |
Birth of son |
7 May 1882 |
91, 99 |
|
Fuller, Mr. & Mrs. Frank |
Birth of son |
15 Jul 1883 |
110, 113 |
|
Fuller, Mrs. Scott |
Death |
23 Feb 1881 |
62,65-6, 84 |
|
Galusha, Mrs. |
Death |
Aug, 1879 |
42 |
|
Garfield, President |
Asassination |
2 Jul 1881 |
74-5, 80 |
|
Gehan, Thomas |
Death |
17 Apr 1879 |
40 |
|
Gilfroy, Mrs. |
Funeral |
20 Aug 1881 |
73 |
|
Goss, Rev. Mr. |
Death |
30 Apr 1880 |
51 |
|
Gott, Mary E. |
Marriage |
27 Nov 1878 |
3r-6 |
|
Gould, Flora |
Marriage |
16 Feb 1880 |
48-9, 55 |
|
Gould, Frank |
House burns |
10 Apr 1880 |
52 |
|
Grange Hall |
New Hall |
Mar 1876 |
1 |
|
Grattan |
Census Report 1880 |
1880 |
57 |
|
Grattan |
Grattan Township vote |
86 |
|
|
Grattan |
Short sketches of pioneer life in Grattan |
104-107 |
|
|
Grattan |
Census Report 1884 |
1884 |
129, 131, 133 |
|
Grattan School |
Grattan School house burns |
13 Mar 1882 |
95, 102 |
|
Green, Gertie C. |
Marriage |
28 Nov 1883 |
123, 132 |
|
Green, Henry |
Fire |
16 Jul 1882 |
90, 97 |
|
Green, Henry |
Veterinary |
3 Dec 1883 |
132 |
|
Green, Mr. & Mrs. H. W. |
Birth of son |
1 Dec 1882 |
95, 101-2 |
|
Green, Mrs. E. |
Lightning |
14 Jun 1882 |
89, 96 |
|
Green, Mrs. Sarah |
Marriage |
8 Jan 1884 |
87, 125 |
|
Green, Rev. O. P. |
Marriage |
8 Jan 1884 |
87, 125 |
|
Greene, Ada |
Marriage |
6 Mar 1876 |
2 |
|
Griffin, J. |
Death of son |
27 uag 1881 |
76-8, 80 |
|
Griffin, Mrs. |
Death of father |
29 Jul 1879 |
44 |
|
Griffin, Royal |
Death |
27 Aug 1881 |
76-8, 81 |
|
Hall, Caroline |
Death |
4 Jul 1881 |
74, 78 |
|
Hall, Clark |
Death |
31 Jul 1883 |
120 |
|
Hall, Clark |
Death |
1 Aug 1880 |
54 |
|
Hall, Jay |
Baptism |
4 Oct 1879 |
46 |
|
Hall, L. B. |
Teacher |
23 Mar 1883 |
190-110 |
|
Hall, Lagee |
Marriage |
26 May 1880 |
53-4 |
|
Hall, Lewis |
Teacher |
31 May 1884 |
86, 130 |
|
Hall, Lewis |
Teacher |
1 Sep 1883 |
118 |
|
Hall, Lewis |
Teacher |
1 Sep 1882 |
99 |
|
Hall, Louis |
Teacher |
13 Mar 1882 |
95, 102 |
|
Hall, Mary |
Marriage |
29 Nov 1883 |
123, 132 |
|
Hall, Mrs. J. B. |
Death |
10 Apr 1880 |
52, 57 |
|
Hall, Mrs. Jay |
Death |
6 May 1884 |
134 |
|
Hall, O. |
Marriage of daughter |
29 Nov 1883 |
123, 132 |
|
Hall, O. |
Death of son |
31 Jul 1883 |
120 |
|
Harmon, Anthony |
Death |
Jan, 1879 |
37 |
|
Harmon, Emmet |
Funeral |
20 Aug 1881 |
73 |
|
Harris, G. W. |
Opens store |
20 Oct 1882 |
91-2 |
|
Hart, C. |
Death of son |
Apr, 1878 |
16 |
|
Heffron, Child |
Death |
8 Apr 1881 |
62 |
|
Heffron, Mr. & Mrs. William |
Birth of daughter |
24 Apr 1884 |
86 |
|
Heffron, William |
Death of son |
1 Apr 1881 |
70, 79 |
|
Helmer, Mrs. |
Physician |
14 Mar 1881 |
70, 77 |
|
Hemenway, M. |
Saw mill |
31 Oct 1883 |
116, 118, 120 |
|
Henry, Frank |
Marriage |
Apr, 1879 |
39 |
|
Henry, Mr. & Mrs. Frank |
Birth of daughter |
1 Mar 1880 |
49 |
|
Henry, Mrs. |
Death of mother |
8 May 1882 |
99 |
|
Henry, Willis |
Death |
13 Mar 1881 |
67-8, 70 |
|
Hine, M. B. |
Funeral |
4 Sep 1881 |
78, 81 |
|
Hoag, B. |
Teacher |
5 Sep 1881 |
78, 81-2, 84 |
|
Hoag, Mrs. Joan |
Burial |
Nov, 1878 |
35 |
|
Holmes, Lucy (Mrs. Holmes) |
Death |
21 Aug 1882 |
94, 99-100 |
|
Holmes, Nelson |
Marriage |
27 Mar 1884 |
131 |
|
Holmes, Nelson |
Lightning |
28 Jul 1883 |
116, 121 |
|
Hontoon, S. J. |
Death |
Nov, 1878 |
34 |
|
Howard, A. W. |
Death of son |
20 May 1881 |
69, 71-2 |
|
Howard, Eleanor |
Marriage |
10 Nov 1881 |
82, 84 |
|
Howard, Mr. & Mrs. A. |
Birth of son |
abt. Sep, 1880 |
57 |
|
Howard, Mr. & Mrs. R. |
Death of daughter |
23 Jun 1884 |
131, 133 |
|
Howard, Mrs. |
Death of father |
1 Sep 1878 |
27 |
|
Howard, Mrs. William |
84 yrs. old |
1 Mar 1884 |
130, 133 |
|
Howard, Mrs. Willie |
Birth of son |
Sep, 1879 |
43 |
|
Howard, R. |
Marriage of daughter |
10 Nov 1881 |
82 |
|
Howard, William |
80 years old |
18 Dec 1880 |
70 |
|
Howard, William "Uncle Bill" |
Death |
18 Sep 1882 |
92, 101 |
|
Howe, Mrs. C. S. |