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.