In 1958 my mother got married and moved across the country. These are the letters written to her, mainly by her mother, between 1958 and 1960, as well as other artifacts from my family’s past. Others in the series are in my del.icio.us file.
The following is the obituary of my great-grandfather that someone gracious copied and handed out at the last family reunion so that we could all have copy of it. I was so grateful to have it and to be able to put it on the internet so that it can be saved and seen by more generations. I also love how this piece of history can be shared with my own children, and how they can see just a little glimpse of the generations that came before them.
I love some of the phrases in this obituary and the way they expressed relationships and love. I’m highlighting some of my favorite parts.
Obituary of Daniel Webster Leckrone Age 61 Died December 2, 1938.
Daniel W. Leckrone Longtime Dickson Citizen Passed Away Friday
Brethren – Daniel W. Leckrone, aged 61, and a resident of Dickson township for the past 36 years passed away early Friday morning, December 2nd. He had been in failing health for about three years and had just shortly returned from treatment at the university hospital at Ann Arbor.
Daniel Webster Leckrone was the eldest son of a family of nine children born to the late Lemuel and Mary Ann Leckrone, bur in Perry county Ohio, April 25, 1877. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Kosciosko county, Indiana, where he lived and grew to manhood.
On October 12, 1899 he was happily married to Miss Lowerta Fisher, with whom he shared the various experiences of life for 39 years.
To this union were born ten children, all of whom are living, so the father’s death is the first break in the family circle.
In the year 1902 the family moved to Dickson township in Manistee county, Michigan, among the early pioneers of that new region. A year later Brother and Sister Leckrone united with the Church of the Brethren, being among the charter members of the Lakeview Congregation. They became elected to the offices of Deacon and Deaconess in 1914, and for a number of years prior to this he served faithfully as superintendent of the Sunday school. he was also interested in the educational welfare of his family and others and to this end worked untiringly for the consolidation of schools in Dickson township and ardently supported the school that was organized.
For the past three years he has been in failing health and on May 31, of this y ear at his request he was anointed by the Brethren J.E. Ulery and Max Hartsaugh hoping for restoration to health, but was resigned to God’s will for his life, whatever that might mean.
The ten children, Ivan of Hammond, Indiana; Calvin of Flint; Mrs. Mary Mills of Battle Creek; Elmer of Grass Lake; Ernest of Flint; Opal of Woodland; Samuel of Copemish; and Clifton, Grace and Dorothy of the home, together with the sorrowing companions and 11 grandchildren are left to mourn the peaceful departure of their loved one.
He is also survived by two sisters and two brothers, Mrs Emma Reed of Elkart, Indiana, Mrs. Florence Keck of Hammond, Indiana; and George and William of Brethren.
Funeral services were held from the home at 1:30 and his pastor, Rev. Max Hartsaugh, officiating and from the Church of the Brethren with Rev. Hartsaugh giving the Scripture and prayer and Rev. Claud C. Culp the sermon. Mrs. and Mrs. Charles Stroup, Mrs. Christy Brown and Mr. Reuben Colclessor sang. The body was laid to rest in Brethren Cemetery with the six sons bearing the casket to the grave.
Please browse my eBay items! Visit my new Amazon Store!