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Obituaries in 1918
Hartford Michigan

 

        Click here to return to the to Obituary Index

Please email the webmaster if you have obituaries of people who have lived in Hartford Michigan, or was active in the Hartford community, at some time during their lives. To find a specific obituary, use the  Search Our Site  feature, also located on the left menu of every page.  The Obituary section was started January 30, 2008 and current obituaries will be posted as they become available.  Obituaries are from the local newspapers, unless otherwise noted.  If you have an obituary notice (or learn of the passing away of someone who lived in Hartford at one time) of a former Hartford resident from a newspaper away from the Hartford area, please send it. Past obituaries will be added as time permits.  Death notices are also posted in the HHS graduate database.
Note:  if you have a good or different photo to insert with present or past obituaries for the History of Hartford website and email newsletters, please click here to email them unedited directly to the webmaster.  If you don’t have a scanner, send photo by US Mail to Emma Thornburg Sefcik, 59320 62nd St., Hartford MI  49057.

Many requests are made for obituary notices and this is a good genealogical resource, as well as providing obits to extended family members who may not have an original.  Searching previous year obituaries (mainly prior to 2003) requires a good deal of time.  If you found this to be a valuable resource and would like to be a sponsor toward keeping the obituaries page updated, send donations to History of Hartford Obituaries, Emma Sefcik, 59320 62nd St, Hartford MI  49057.  Since the History of Hartford website is a voluntary effort, your contribution is much appreciated.

Email the webmaster with any correction of obvious errors that may have occurred in the original newspaper obit.

Click here for local library resources.
 

Mrs. Mary Shaw – wife of Alexander P. Shaw, died at the family home on Bernard street last Saturday [September 21, 1918] after a long illness, at the age of 69 years.
     Mrs. Shaw, whose maiden name was Mary Jane Manley, was born in Hartford on January 23, 1849, and had spent her entire life here with the exception of a residence of 18 years in North Dakota.
     In 1872 she was united in marriage with Alexander Shaw.  To them were born four children, one daughter dying about 23 years ago.  She is survived by the husband and three sons, Ernest LeRoy of Caldwell, Idaho, and Frank E. and Wanzo M. of Sheldon, North Dakota.  She also leaves one brother, Oscar Manley of Hartford.
     Mrs. Shaw was the oldest member of the Hartford Methodist church, with possibly a single exception, and was one of its faithful members.  She was also a leading member of the Woman’s Relief Corps and was for several terms its presiding officer, and also an active member of the Rebekahs.  In all of these capacities she was ever doing what she could to hasten the betterment of society.
     For a number of years she has been in  poor health, suffering excruciatingly from an incurable disease.  She leaves with her sorrowing family a wide circle of friends, but they with the entire community are left an inestimable legacy in the memory and influence of genuine Christian character.
     Funeral services for her were attended at the home at 10:30 Monday morning.  Rev. N. P. Tedrick officiating, and interment took place at Maple Hill.

Published in the Hartford Day Spring on Wednesday, September 25, 1918.
 

George Harley – After a lingering illness George Harley, one of Hartford’s oldest residents, died at the family home on east Main Street last Friday [September 20, 1918] morning at the age of 88 years.
     Mr. Harley was born at Stonehaven, Scotland, October 5, 1830.  When three years of age he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, coming to New York and later moving to Ohio where he received his public school education, later graduating from an academy there.
     At 16 years of age he came to Hartford and had resided here up to his death.  In 1877 he was married to Mary Fitzpatrick of Hartford, and to this union were born three sons, Irva of Chicago and Lee and Edison of Hartford.  Besides the wife and sons he is survived by one brother Will Harley of Grand Rapids, and a sister, Mrs. Jennie Bruzzell of Detroit.
     During his long residence in Hartford Mr. Harley became well known and was universally spoken of as a devoted husband and father and a king and generous man who was ever ready to lend his aid to anyone in need.
     Funeral services for him were held at the family Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. Craig Mathews officiating and interment was made at Maple Hill.

Published in the Hartford Day Spring, Wednesday, September 25, 1918.
 
Clarence Guy Woodward – was born at Walton Junction, Michigan, May 4, 1886, and departed this life at Hartford, Michigan, September 18, 1918, after a lingering illness at the early age of 32 years.
     The greater part of his early life was spent in Benton Harbor, Michigan where he was married to Carrie Smith, September 16, 1905.  Two sons, Walter and Earl were born to this union, who survive him.
     In June, 1616, he enlisted in Co. C, 3rd Illinois Volunteers and was stationed at San Antonio, Texas.  Doing well in the service he was promoted to corporal but his soldier life was cut short by ill health and he was finally mustered out February, 1917.  His illness continued but he lived through it with a cherished hope that some day he would be strong enough to rejoin his comrades in arms and be with them in the mighty struggle for world peace and contentment.  This hope was doomed to be blasted for the Great Angel of Death came and spoke peace to his soul. 
     His friends in loving memory speak of him as a splendid workman, a good companion with a kind and sympathetic nature, a dutiful boy, kind and loving to his aging mother and father.
     He leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, two sons, a father, a mother, one  brother, H. E. Woodward of Joliet, Ill., three sisters, Mrs. C. I. Peapples and Mrs. D. L. Northrup of Dowagiac, and Miss Lena Woodward at home.

Published in the Hartford Day Spring, Wednesday, September 25, 1918.
 

Jonathan Lewis Hewitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hewitt, was born in Hartford, Van Buren county, Michigan, on the eleventh day of April, 1900.  The greater part of his life was spent in Hartford where he entered the high school in 1916.  Upon moving to Dowagiac, his school work was resumed in the Dowagiac high school, but was obligated to leave because of failing health, in January, 1918.
     Since August 5, he had been at the home of his grandfather, George Hewitt, of Coloma, Mich., where his death occurred Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, 1918 after a brief illness of four weeks.
     He was an obedient son, a kind and loving brother, and bore his suffering patiently until the end which no one dreamed was so near.  To mourn his loss he leaves his parents, one sister, Mrs. Bernice Hewitt, and four brothers, Thomas, Clayton, Lawrence and Kenneth Hewitt.  His mission in this life was fulfilled in 18 years, 5 months and 6 days.  The profusion of beautiful floral offerings bespoke of the esteem in which he was held by the best of friends.  Funeral services were held from the home of his grandparents, Sept. 19, conducted by Rev. W. H. Fuller, pastor of the Congregational church.

Published in the Hartford Day Spring, Wednesday, September 25, 1918.

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Information for this web site was gathered from personal interviews, newspaper articles, scrapbooks, personal photo albums, and other documented materials - many available to the public at the Hartford Public Library or Van Buren County Historical Museum.  Please report any typographical errors, updated information, or incorrectly stated information to the webmaster for correction.  Reprinting for personal and instructional purposes is permitted, however, unauthorized commercial reprinting of this information or unauthorized linking to photos-pictures on this site is strictly prohibited without written permission from the webmaster. 



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Pearls In Our Past - Hartford Michigan
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A Pictorial History of Hartford Michigan
Emma Thornburg Sefcik
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History of Hartford Michigan
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Revised: March 23, 2009