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Ezra A. TOBIAS. Born 20 Jan. 1801 in ? Bath, NY. Died 22 Oct. 1899 in
Baltimore Twp., Barry Co., MI. Buried 24 Oct. 1899 in Dowling Cemetery,
Dowling, MI. Occupation Farmer. 

Daughter Emeline Tobey's obituary said that the Ezra Tobias family came
to Dowling in 1854, but daughter Betsy Jane Mainard's obituary said it
was 1846.  If we trace the family's migration pattern according to
birth, marriage and death information of the children, as well as census
records, we find Ezra and Amelia somewhere in New York from 1827-1835;
in 1837 in Lucas County, Ohio; 1838, in Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio;
the 1840 census index shows them in the Ripley Twp., Holmes, County, OH;
Amelia was supposed to have died in Napoleon. Henry Co, OH, following
Ezra, Jr's birth in 1846.  We find Ezra and Philura in Franklin, Ohio in
1848, when Philura Amelia was born; the 1850 census shows them living in
the town of Dover, Dover Twp., , Lenawee Co., OH.  We don't know where
Marilla was born in 185l; Emeline Jane was born in Hudson, Summit
County, OH in 1853; Fanny was born somewhere in Michigan in 1855; the
remainder of the children were all born in Baltimore Twp., Barry Co., MI
___________________________
"Looking Back, Area Pioneer's Life Retraced" by Amy South (published in
Battle Creek Enquirer & News, date unknown)

"Michigan pioneers had to be tough.  Ezra Tobias was one of them.  He
learned early in life how to deal with hardships.

"Born in New York State he and his nine brothers were orphans by the
time Ezra was eight.  There was no money for shoes so Ezra went to
school barefooted.  In the winter he carried with him a long slab
shingle.  When his feet got too cold running through the snow he would
stop and stand on the shingle to warm his numb toes.

"Ezra's father was born in Scotland but came to America and fought
against the British in the Revolutionary War.  Ezra was born in 1801, in
Seneca Co., New York.  His mother died when he was three, his father
five years later.

"As a teen-ager Ezra was a pathmaster on the Erie Canal.  He led the
horses that pulled the boats through the canal.  When he was 21 he
married Amelia Davis.  In 1830 the Tobias family which by then included
eight children moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio.  Three of their eight
children died, then on Feb. 5th, 1846 Mrs. Tobias died.

"A year later Ezra Tobias married Miss Lura Edson and started another
family.  In 1851 along with six children, they came into Michigan in a
covered wagon pulled by a yoke of oxen.  In 1853 they worked their way
into the wilderness of Barry County. in the township of Baltimore, they
purchased 90 acres of heavy timberland, clearing one acre and built
themselves a log house and a stable for their animals.

"The forest around their home was filled with deer, pheasant and
squirrel, a tasty meal if they could be shot or trapped.  But the forest
also held bear, wolves and wildcats which made hunting or just traveling
dangerous.  Their closest neighbors were the Greens two miles north and
the Bristol family two miles to the south.

"When the Tobias's first settled in Barry County they had to travel to
Detroit or Toledo for any supplies they could not make or grow from the
resources around them.  But as Battle Creek grew and became more
industrious they no longer had to travel s far for merchandise.  They
could purchase their flour at the Verona Mill near Battle Creek,
although the only route available to them was one through Yankee
Springs.

"Ezra Tobias spent the rest of his life in the little log house he had
built in the wilderness.  Only 10 of his 14 children survived him.  He
died in 1899 and was nearly 99 years old.  The last 18 years of his life
he was nearly blind, but he liked to have friends come by and chat or he
would sit by his door and whittle old-fashioned "pudding sticks" the
kind that were once used to stir cornmeal mush.

"For many years after his death the family would get together on his
birthday anniversary at his old homesite for a reunion.  About 1931
there were 75 descendants.

"The history of Barry County written about 1900 does not list Ezra
Tobias as a early settler.  Of course everyone can not be mentioned when
history is written but it does refer to the Dowlings who came to Barry
County in 1851 and the Kelly's who came in 1853 the same year the
Tobias's came to Baltimore Township.

"The old Tobias homestead is gone now, it was near what is called
Dowling on Route 37.  The descendants of Ezra Tobias are almost all gone
too.  Mrs. Fred Haubensak of 144 W. Rittenhouse, a granddaughter of Ezra
Tobias, whose husband worked for 47 years as a pressman for the Enquirer
and News, believes she is the last descendant of Ezra Tobias, a hardy
pioneer."
__________________________
[This article sent to me by Philip Tobias of Okemos, MI, 9 Jun. 1995,
probably originally appeared in a Barry County newspaper, but not found
on microfilm yet]

ALMOST A CENTURY
Perhaps the oldest person living in Barry County is Ezra Tobias of
Baltimore, he was born in Seneca County, N.Y. in 1802.  Afterward moved
to Steuben county, where he was married to Amelia Davis in 1822.

There were eight children born to them, of which five are still living. 
In 1830 he moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio.  He afterward moved to Lucas
county where he remained until 1851.  His wife died Feb. 5th, 1846, and
he was again married April 17th, 1847 to Lura Edson.  To them were born
six children, of which five are still living.

In 1851 he moved to Michigan and in 1853 to the home in Barry county
where he now resides.  He is almost totally blind which renders him
rather helpless, but he gets around the house and in summer with help
goes around the yard or sits in the door.  He is very fond of company
and likes nothing better than to have the neighbors call in for a chat,
and passes many hours whittling out old fashioned "pudding sticks" such
as were used in early times for stirring corn meal mush.

Among the pleasant spots in his life are the anniversaries of his birth
when the children with their families gather at the old home.

The old couple live quite alone, the wife who is the younger, being her
husband's constant companion and care taker.  Their son J.E. Tobias
lives a few rods away and cares for the old people.
______________________________
Hastings Banner, Thursday, October 26, 1899--"Ezra Tobias of Baltimore
died at his home 1/2 mile north of Dowling, Sunday afternoon at the ripe
old age of 99 years.  Deceased was the oldest inhabitant in the township
and settled 47 years ago on the farm where he died, being among the
first settlers of the town.  He is the grandfather of alderman Elry
Tobias, of the first ward and leaves a large circle of friends and
relatives to mourn his loss.  The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon
from his late home."
---------------------
Hastings Banner, November 2, 1899--"Ezra Tobias was born near Bath, New
York, on January 20, 180l.  He was married at the age of 21 to Miss
Millie Davis, after which they moved to Ashtabula [sic] County, Ohio. 
Nine children were born to them, of which five are living.  The wife
died February 5, 1846.  On April 17, 1848 he was again married to Miss
Lena [Lura] Edson, of Ashtabula County, Ohio, where they lived until May
1, 1853.  Then they moved to Baltimore, where at that time it was
nothing but a wilderness, purchasing 90 acres of land, where they have
since lived, and son J. E. cares for them.  Six children were born to
them, of which five are living to mourn with her, she being 72 years
old, and a true and devoted wife.

He was almost a constant sufferer with pain but endured it with true
Christian fortitude due yet to his misfortune about 20 years ago he was
stricken with blindness.

Deceased was the father of fifteen children, grandfather of 52,
great-grandfather of 38, and great-great-grandfather of 2, making a
total of 107.

He died October 22 with congestion of the brain, at the age of 98 years,
nine months and two days.  The funeral sermon was preached by Rev.
Leamon, of Banfield, Tuesday the 24th, at the church, and he was laid to
rest in the cemetery near the church, followed by a large concourse of
friends and neighbors.



[Barry County, MI 1985, pg. 106)
HENRY TOBIAS FAMILY
The family lived in Section 27 Baltimore Township, I believe, the son of
H. Tobias with brothers John, William, George and two sisters, Jenny and
Addie, half brother Wilbur Nichols and Asa Nichols whose father
homesteaded the farm in Baltimore Township in 1837 or 1838 and as I
remember in Barry County history says "Mr. Nichols settled this land in
1838 and died soon thereafter and not to see the fulfillment of his
dreams and is buried with his wife (my great-grandmother) in the
southeast corner of Cedar Creek Cemetery."  Tobias, my
great-grandfather, is buried in Dowling Cemetery.  Henry Tobias was
married to Arminda Powell, they had four children, Ira Tobias, my
father, Archie Tobias Charles Tobias and Nellie (Mrs. Lester Fisher). 
They are all deceased.  Henry Tobias was a butcher at his home and sold
fresh meat on the road and farmed on the place his mother and stepfather
settled in Section 27 Baltimore Township.  A man lived with them and
farmed the land.  His name was Glenn Wise, a hard worker with no pay for
many years, but received his clothing, lodging and food which ran to
lots of meat and his chewing tobacco, except when my grandfather had him
grow his own which Glenn didn't care for.  They all have been gone for
many years.  As have my father, Ira, Charles, Nellie and Archie.  All
lived into their eighty or ninety years except Archie who lived to be
about 48 years.
--------------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Sept. 19, 1912, pg. 10, col. 6]
OBITUARY
Tobias, Henry L., Sr., was born on August 19, 1832, in the state of New
York.  When a small boy he moved with his parents to Ohio, from there to
Lenawee County.  

At 20 years of age he moved with his parents to Barry County near
Dowling.  On April 15, 1864, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A.
Nichols, of Barry County, and to them eight children were born:  Henry
L., of Pritchardville; Alonzo, of Battle Creek; George, of Alba, Antrim
Co.; Mrs. Charles Will, of Hastings; John, of Summit City; Will, of
Pritchardville; Mrs. Addie Winslow, of Hastings; and Mrs. Edith Babcock
of Caledonia.  He departed this life, Sept. 2, 1912, in Kalamazoo.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wright, of Banfield, at the
Baltimore church, interment in the Baltimore cemetery.  His last words
were to his daughter, that he wished to go and be at rest.


Obituary from Hastings Banner, 11 May 1916
Death of Mrs. Ann Tobias
Mary Ann Nichols was born March 13, 1836, in the township of York,
Livingston county, New York, and moved with her parents to Michigan in
October, 1849, to Barry township, Barry Co., Michigan, having come all
the way overland by teams.  She experienced religion at the age of
fourteen years; was married to Lucas Nichols March 7, 1852.  To this
union five children were born, Asa E. of Petoskey, Wilbur A. of Alba. 
Mrs. Mary Kilpatrick of Sheboygan and Hattie, when but seven months was
taken from them.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols moved into Baltimore township where they followed
an Indian trail to their new home, which was in the midst of a dense
wilderness which has long since given place to comfortable and
commodious homes and to fields of golden grain.  Their nearest neighbor
west was Thomas Robinson, two and one half miles.  Solon Doud was next
nearest neighbor, three miles south and west, nearest neighbor north was
Richard Stilson, four and one half miles, and nearest neighbor south was
Mrs. Slayton and son, five miles away.

Mrs. Nichols was again married April 15, 1864, to Henry L. Tobias of
Baltimore township and to this union were born Henry L. Jr., residing on
the old homestead; Alonzo, San Diego Cal., George W. of Alba, Jonathan
of Summit City, Will of Baltimore township, Mrs. Edith Babcock of
Caledonia, Mrs. J. C. Smith of Rutland and Mrs. Charles Will of this
city of whom all survive.

The father departed this life October, 1913.  For nearly twelve years
Mrs. Tobias has been a patient sufferer, waiting for the call that would
take her home to rest.  May 8, 1916, the call came and she passed
peacefully to the Great Beyond.

There will be prayer at 8.45 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles
Will on May 1l.  Funeral services will be held at 10.30 at Cedar Creek
church, interment at Woodlawn, Cedar Creek.  She was a kind neighbor, a
faithful wife and mother, and dearly loved by all who knew her.  Our
loss is her great gain.


Sue Preston of Hastings, MI, found this interesting item in a cemetery
record book at the Hastings Public Library.  It is apparently a notice
from the Hastings Banner----TOBIAS, Joseph Carman, has left for parts
unknown, this is to forbid all persons trusting or harbouring him on my
account, as I shall pay no debts of his, contracting after this date. 
July 15, 1856.  Ezra Tobias, Baltimore.  (R. B. July 24, 1856)

Obituary of Carman Tobias, Hastings Banner, March 30, 1916
ANOTHER OLD PIONEER GONE
Carman Tobias was born in Lucas Co., Ohio on June 7, 1836, and departed
this life March 22, 1916, at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 15 days. 
At the age of ten years he moved with his parents to Baltimore,
Michigan, and became one of the pioneers of the state.  In 1856 he was
united in marriage to Miss Clementine Hull, who preceded him to the
world beyond in 1892.  To this union were born ten children, seven of
whom remain to mourn his departure, Charley at Hinds Corners, Mrs.
Thaddius Craig of Hastings; Mrs. Albert Mills of Maple Grove; Mrs. Frank
Cramer and his son Frank of Castleton and Mrs. Giles Hayward and Mrs.
Marshall Allen of Turlach (sic), California.

Besides his children he leaves one brother, 27 grand children and 18
great grand children.  Since the death of his wife he made his home with
his children and died at the home of his son, Frank, in Castleton, where
the funeral was held March 24, and the remains were laid to rest beside
those of his wife in the Sanborn cemetery, near Dowling.

"The Hastings Banner," March 30, 1916, Dowling Section--The remains of
Carman Tobias of Maple Grove were brought to the Dowling cemetery and
laid to rest Friday afternoon.


OBITUARY
MAINARD--Mrs. Betsy Jane Tobias was born in Napoleon, Ohio in 1839 and
moved with her parents to Baltimore, Mich. in 1846.  She was married to
George Duncan in 1855.  Five children were born to them, two dying in
infancy.  The youngest daughter died three years ago.  Mr. Duncan died
in 190l.  In 1905, she was married to William Mainard who, with two
daughters, Mrs. William Collins and Mrs. William Palmer, six grand
children and four great grand children, survive her.

Services were held Tuesday at the home conducted by Rev. J. W. Sheehan. 
The remains were laid to rest in Riverside cemetery.


[Obituary of Ezra A. Tobias from The Hastings Banner, Wednesday, March
13, 1929]
Ezra A. Tobias, son of Ezra A. and Amelia Davis Tobias, was born near
Napoleon, Ohio, 5 February 1846.  At the age of 2 years he came with his
parents to Michigan, where they settled on a farm near Dowling.  He grew
to manhood in this vicinity, and in January 1867, at the age of 21, he
married Viola Ferris.  To this union five children were born, two boys,
Morton and Seth dying in infancy, and the older daughter Prudence, dying
in early womanhood.  In February 1927 a second daughter, Mrs. Sylvia Joy
passed away.  In January 1875 his wife died.  In May 1878 he married
Clementina Barber.  He died March 6, 1929 at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Menville Hilton of Mason, Michigan, where he had loving care during
his last days.  He leaves to mourn his loss two daughters, Cora A. of
Hastings and Mrs. Hilda Hilton of Mason, and two sons, Roy A. and Ray E.
of Lansing; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, one sister,
Mrs. Lily Cole of Battle Creek and two brothers, Jason E. of Battle
Creek and William O. of Baltimore.  Funeral at Dowling Methodist Church,
Saturday afternoon, Rev. E. F. Vane, the pastor, officiating.

[Same paper]--Dowling section
The funeral of Ezra Tobias, a former resident of this place, age 83
years, was held at the church Saturday with Rev. Vane officiating. 
Burial in Dowling cemetery.



[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., July 29, 1897, pg. 8, col. 3]
DOWLING--Again death entered in our midst and carried home the beloved
wife and mother, Mrs. Ezra Tobias, last Friday evening.  Deceased had
been as well as usual and was very suddenly taken with a spasm from
which she rallied enough to speak a few words, but ruptured a blood
vessel from which she instantly died.  The deceased leaves a husband,
two sons and one daughter and a large circle of friends to mourn her
loss.  Funeral was held last Sunday at the church, Rev. Haist
officiating.  The remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Baltimore
cemetery.  Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved ones.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Dec. 4, 1947, pg. 8, col. 2]
MRS. OLIVE C. TOBIAS

Mrs. Olive C. Tobias, age 75, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 27, at the
home of her son, Lyman Tompkins, near Lacey, where she had lived for 15
years.  She was born April 6, 1872 in Assyria Twp., on the farm where
she died.  Her parents were David & Elizabeth Miller.  Her first
marriage was to Orval Tompkins on September 12, 1894, his death
occurring in 1918.  In 1919, she married Ezra Tobias, who died in 1928.

Besides her son, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. James Moon,
Charlotte, and Mrs. Eldon Tuttle, Battle Creek, six grandchildren, three
great grandchildren.

Funeral services were on Monday afternoon, December 1, at the Wilcox
church in Maple Grove Township.  Interment in Wilcox cemetery.


[Barry County, MI 1985, pg. 106)
HENRY TOBIAS FAMILY

The family lived in Section 27 Baltimore Township, I believe, the son of
H. Tobias with brothers John, William, George and two sisters, Jenny and
Addie, half brother Wilbur Nichols and Asa Nichols whose father
homesteaded the farm in Baltimore Township in 1837 or 1838 and as I
remember in Barry County history says "Mr. Nichols settled this land in
1838 and died soon thereafter and not to see the fulfillment of his
dreams and is buried with his wife (my great-grandmother) in the
southeast corner of Cedar Creek Cemetery."  Tobias, my
great-grandfather, is buried in Dowling Cemetery.  Henry Tobias was
married to Arminda Powell, they had four children, Ira Tobias, my
father, Archie Tobias Charles Tobias and Nellie (Mrs. Lester Fisher). 
They are all deceased.  Henry Tobias was a butcher at his home and sold
fresh meat on the road and farmed on the place his mother and stepfather
settled in Section 27 Baltimore Township.  A man lived with them and
farmed the land.  His name was Glenn Wise, a hard worker with no pay for
many years, but received his clothing, lodging and food which ran to
lots of meat and his chewing tobacco, except when my grandfather had him
grow his own which Glenn didn't care for.  They all have been gone for
many years.  As have my father, Ira, Charles, Nellie and Archie.  All
lived into their eighty or ninety years except Archie who lived to be
about 48 years.
------------------------------
Hastings Banner, May 11, 1916
MR. AND MRS. HENRY TOBIAS

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tobias of Baltimore township celebrated their
fiftieth wedding anniversary on Friday, May 22, at their home on the 200
acre farm on which he was born.  Mr. Tobias is 71 years of age and Mrs.
Tobias is 66.

Thirty relatives gathered to help them make their golden wedding
anniversary a memorable day.  At noon a picnic dinner was enjoyed.  Four
children came to bless the Tobias home, Ira Tobias, Mrs. Lester Fisher
and Charlie Tobias, all of Baltimore Twp., and Archie Tobias of
Hastings.

Thirty-nine years ago Mr. Tobias purchased the farm where he lives and
then most of the land was forest.  With ox teams, grubbing and working
hard he cleared the place which today is one of the best farms in Barry
county.  For thirty years he was a livestock buyer and butcher as well
as a successful farmer.  He is one of the few stock buyers now living in
this county.

A wide circle of friends unite in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Tobias many more
happy years together. [newspaper clipping from Sue Preston, obtained
from a Hastings Banner, date unknown]
------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Feb. 18, 1954, pg. 8, col. 2]

In Memorium
In memory of Henry L. Tobias, whom the Lord called for February 12,
1954, and was buried February 15, 1954.  Gone but not forgotten.  Some
day we will meet again.  Never was a better father, and now he is
preparing a place for us.  Left behind his daughter, Mrs. Andy Re, and
her husband.  He also left behind two sons, Ira Tobias and wife, and
Chas. Tobias and wife, and many grandsons and great grandsons.  We shall
pray for him daily, that his soul will be with our Heavenly Father very
soon.  From his son-in-law Andy Re
-------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., February 18, 1954, pg. 2, col. 8]
RETIRED BARRY FARMER SUCCUMBS; RITES MONDAY

Funeral services for Henry L. Tobias, 89, 123 W. Nelson, retired
Baltimore farmer and livestock buyer, were held at 2:30 PM Monday at the
Leonard Funeral Home.

The Rev. Leason Sharpe officiated and burial was in the Dowling
cemetery.

Mr. Tobias died at 4:30 PM at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Andy
(Nellie) Re, 1502 S. Jefferson.

He was born in Baltimore Twp. on Jan. 20, 1865, the son of Henry L. and
Mary Ann (Nichols) Tobias.

His wife, the former Arminda Powell, whom he married May 26, 1887,
passed away in 1937.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Tobias is survived by two sons, Charles
and Ira, of Baltimore Twp.; 3 brothers, Will and John of Baltimore, and
George of Mancelona; a sister, Mrs.. Ben (Edith) Babcock, 212 W. Mill
St.; 11 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren, and two
great-great-grandchildren.


[The Hastings Banner, Apr. 3, 1937, pg. 2, col. 4]
OBITUARY

Arminda Powell was born August 22, 1870 in Rutland Twp. and passed to
her reward March 30, 1937, aged 66 years, 7 months and 8 days.  On May
22, 1886, she married Henry Tobias at Pritchardville, Baltimore Twp.

To this union were born 3 sons, Archie of Hastings and Ida and Charles,
also a daughter, Mrs. Nellie Fisher, all of Baltimore.  Surviving are
the husband, three sons, one daughter, a sister, Mrs. Carrie Replogle,
two brothers, Calvin Powell of Hastings and Burn Powell of Isabella Co.,
12 grandchildren and a wide circle of other relatives and friends.  She
was a devoted wife and mother.


[The Hastings Banner, Nov. 26, 1918, pg. 6, col. 1]
DEATH OF ALONZO TOBIAS

Alonzo Tobias was born in Baltimore, Mich., Oct. 14, 1866, and passed
away at San Diego, Cal., Nov. 16, 1918 at the age of 52 years, 1 month
and two days.

Alonzo Tobias was married to Minnie E. Newton Oct. 20, 1885.  To this
union one child was born that died in infancy.

Besides a loving wife, Minnie E. Tobias, he leaves to mourn his absence
3 sisters, Mrs. Chas. Will of Battle Creek, Mrs. John Smith of Hastings,
and Mrs. Ben Babcock of Dowling, and four brothers, Henry L., Jonathan
and Will of Baltimore, and George W. of Alba, Mich., one half sister,
Mrs. W. Kilpatrick, and three half brothers, Asa Nichols of Elv. (?), C.
H. Nichols of Battle Creek, and Wilbert of Alba.


The Hastings Banner, Thursday, July 17, 1952
MRS. M. WALKER DIES FOLLOWING LONG ILLNESS

Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie E. Walker, 85, who died at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday at Pennock hospital after a long illness, were held at 2 p.m.
Wednesday at the Leonard Funeral Home.

The Rev. Isaac Osgood was to officiate and burial was in the Dowling
cemetery.

Mrs. Walker, the widow of the late William Walker who died in Texas in
1934, had been a resident of Hastings for the past five years, residing
at the DeWitt Nursing home.

She had been in the hospital two weeks prior to her death.

She was born Jan. 10, 1867, in New York state, the daughter of Albert
and Celinda (Spink) Newton.

She had lived in Barry county many years, living at Nashville until
moving to the nursing home here.

She was a member of the Nashville Evangelical church.

She is survived by two nieces.


Obituary from Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public Library, Hastings, MI
JENNIE WILL
Jennie A. Tobias was born in Baltimore Township, Barry County, June 23,
1871, daughter of Henry and Mary A. Tobias, early pioneers of this
region, and died Saturday, Oct. 26.  She attended Hastings High School
in 1892, married Charles W. Will.  To this union were born three
children, Grace Burton of Lapeer, Leona Kelley of this city, and Hubert
Will of Jackson.  Charles, her husband, preceded her in death in 1926. 
She leaves one sister, Edith Babcock of this city and four brothers,
Henry Tobias, Will Tobias, and John Tobias of Barry county; also George
Tobias of Mancelona, Michigan (Antrim county).  She also leaves two
granddaughters and seven grandsons as well as a host of friends.  She
was a member of the Methodist church for thirty-five years and was
always faithful in attending church.  She was a kind and thoughtful
mother, and will be greatly missed by her children and friends. 
Interment will be in Riverside cemetery.


[The Hastings Banner, 27 March 1913]
While Charles Will, janitor of the city schools, was going down cellar
with a can of gasoline in one  hand and a lighted lantern in the other,
Saturday evening, the can dropped, gasoline ignited, and Mr. Wills'
clothing set on fire.

Mrs. Will and Miss Letta Garn, who was visiting there, seized a rug and
put out the fire in Mr. Wills' clothing, although he was burned about
the limbs, neck and hands.

Quick work with pails put out the fire in the house.  B.N. Edgell is
doing Mr. Wills' work in the schools.
-------------------------
Charles W. Will was born April 6, 1861, in Richland Co., Ohio; and with
the family moved to Freeport in 1882.  March 1, 1884 he was united in
marriage to Ida Seger, who died May 28, 1889.  To this union one
daughter was born, Mrs. Ernest Kenyon, now of Woodland.  April 20, 1892
he was again married to Jennie A. Tobias of Hastings.  To this union
five children were born, twins who died in infancy, Mrs. Clare Burton of
Monroe, Mrs. Burr Sage of Battle Creek and Hubert at home.  Mr. Will
departed this life July 1, 1926 at the age of 65 years, 2 months and 25
days.  He was converted to the Christian faith 33 years ago and was a
loyal member of the M. E. church of this place and always attended
services as long as his health permitted.  He has served on the official
board of the church, was a member of the board of education two terms,
also janitor of our city schools 14 years where he won many friends
among both scholars and faculty.  He was of a kindly, loving
disposition, loved his friends, his neighbors, his family and home.  He
always looked for the good in everything.  When he couldn't speak kindly
of anyone he seldom said any thing.  During all his long illness of
sometimes such terrible suffering of over a year and a half he never
murmured nor complained but had a kindly smile for all who  came to
visit him and seldom spoke of his suffering.  He leaves to mourn his
loss his wife, 4 children, 12 grand children, 3 brothers and one sister
besides many other relatives and friends.  He will be sadly missed by
all who knew him.

[Obituary from Bull Scrapbook #19 (?), pg. 137, Hastings Public Library,
Hastings, MI]


Obituary of Jonathan Tobias, found in Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public
Library, Hastings, MI
Jonathan Tobias
HASTINGS--Jonathan Tobias, 83, of Route 4, Hastings, died at l:45 p.m.
Sunday at Pennock Hospital where he had been four days.  He had been in
ill health the past two years.  Mr. Tobias, a retired farmer, was born
in Baltimore Township on Aug. 15, 1873, the son of Henry and Mary Ann
Tobias.  He lived in Barry County until he was 22 years old when he
moved to Alba, Mich., where he owned and operated a farm.  He later
moved to Summit City where he operated another farm.  He married Vida
Nelson on Dec. 10, 1904 at Summit City.  She died on Aug. 4, 1923. 
Following her death, Mr. Tobias returned to Barry County.  He was a
member of the Free Methodist Church.  Surviving are two daughters, Mrs.
Fred (Cecile) Hoyt of Summit City and Mrs. Melva Dunkelberger of Route
4, Hastings, with whom he had lived for the past two years; five
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


Will Tobias
HASTINGS--Will Tobias, 79 of Route 4, Hastings died Thursday at 8.30
p.m. at Pennock Hospital where he had been a patient for one week.  He
was a lifelong resident of Baltimore Township and in addition to farming
was a prominent wool buyer and former threshing machine operator.  Mr.
Tobias was born in Baltimore Township on April 11, 1876, the son of
Henry L. and Mary Ann Nichols Tobias.  He attended the Hendershot School
south of Hastings and on Jan. 5, 1901 married Miss Mabel DuBois in
Hastings.  In May, 1921 they bought their present farm and have lived
there since.  He is survived by his wife, five sons, Merton of Bellevue,
Arthur of Battle Creek, Wilbur and Mason, both of Route 4, Hastings, and
Gaylord of Route 5, Hastings; five daughters, Mrs. Doyle (Nina) Marshall
of Route 3, Marshall, Mrs. Jack (Addie) Carpenter of Battle Creek, Mrs.
Marion (Thelma) Schlyer of Route 3, Bellevue, and Mrs. Clayton (Ellen)
Jarrard and Mrs. Anson (Alice) Dodge, both of Route 4, Hastings; two
brothers, George of Mancelona and John of Route 4, Hastings; a sister,
Mrs. Ben Babcock of Hastings, 39 grandchildren and 20
great-grandchildren.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Nov. 30, 1961, pg. 4, col. 1]
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. TOBIAS TO BE HELD TODAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Mabel M. Tobias, 78, R4 Hastings, who died at
11:20 PM Monday at Pennock Hospital, will be held at 2 PM this Thursday
at the Leonard Funeral Home.

The Rev. Paul Deal is to officiate and burial will be in the Dowling
Cemetery.

Mrs. Tobias had been hospitalized five days prior to her death, but had
been in ill health for a long time.

She was born in Barry Twp. in the Hickory Corners area on July 10, 1883,
the daughter of Charles and Mary (Ranny) DuBois.  She married William
Tobias on January 1, 1901, in Hastings.

They moved to the Hendershot community where they resided until moving
to their present home in 1922.

Mr. Tobias died on November 17, 1955.

Mrs. Tobias is survived by five sons, Merton, R3, Bellevue; Wilbur and
Mason, R4, Hastings; Arthur, Battle Creek; Mrs. Clifton (sic) (Ellen)
Jarrard, Hastings; Mrs. Doyle (Nina) Marshall of Marshall; Mrs. Jack
(Addie) Carpenter, Battle Creek; Mrs. Marion (Thelma) Schyler, R3,
Bellevue; and Mrs. Anson (Alice) Dodge, R4 Hastings, 39 grandchildren,
34 great grandchildren, two brothers, Carl DuBois, Battle Creek, and
Nelson DuBois, Delton, and a sister, Mrs. Jennie Jewell, Hastings


[The Hastings Banner, Wed., June 27, 1928, pg. 2, col. 2]
SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. JOHN SMITH

Mrs. John Smith, aged 49, died on Monday at the home of Mrs. Charles
Wills (sic) on So. Mich. Ave., following a day's illness.  Funeral will
be held at the Methodist Church on Friday afternoon at 2:00, conducted
by Rev. L. L. Dewey.  Interment in Riverside Cemetery.  She is survived
by her husband, four sons and two daughters.



[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., June 7, 1956, pg. 8, col. 3]
RETIRED FRUIT GROWER DIES AT DELTON WEDNESDAY
Services for James H. Winslow, 85, who died at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in
the home of his son, Leon, Route 3, Delton, will be held at 2 p.m.
Saturday at the Henton-Smith Funeral Home at Delton.

The Rev. Victor Jones is to officiate and burial will be in Riverside
cemetery here.

Mr. Winslow, a retired fruit grower, spent most of his life in Barry
County.

He was born September 20, 1870, in Allegan county, the son of George and
Julia (Pullen) Winslow.

In addition to Leon, he is survived by another son, Lloyd of Route 1,
Adah (sic); two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Edna) Scheideler of Denver,
Colo, and Mrs. Maynard (Evelyn) Race, of Union City; 12 grandchildren
and 14 great grandchildren.


[The Hastings Banner, Sept. 4, 1934, pg. 2, col. 5]
PASSING OF ELROY TOBIAS

Elroy Tobias, who had lived his entire life of 72 years in this city,
died at his home in the first ward on Saturday night after a lingering
illness, coming home last week from Ann Arbor where he recently
underwent an operation.

For 12 years, Mr. Tobias served as city engineer and has also served he
city as an alderman for six years, being a very capable engineer and
city servant.  He has also been chief engineer at the Grand Rapids
Bookcase Company plant for a number of years.

Fraternally, Mr. Tobias was a member of Barry Lodge No. 13, Knights of
Pythias, and was the oldest Past Member.

Surviving is the widow, whose health is failing, and other more distant
relatives.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. John W. Kitching at the
Presbyterian Church on Monday at 10:30 AM.  Interment was in Riverside
Cemetery.


Eliza J. TOBIAS. Born 28 Aug. 1859 in Probably Baltimore Twp., Barry
Co., MI. Died 20 Apr. 1914 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI. Buried 23 Apr.
1914 in Greenwood Cem. 

The following article was written by Debra Eddy on 7 Oct. 1991 for an
on-going column called, "My Ancestors Were Worse Than Your Ancestors,"
which was published in the Winter 1991 issue of Mid-Michigan
Genealogical Society's newsletter.

"Genealogists usually discover that their ancestors were good,
law-abiding citizens whose names appeared in the local newspaper only
when they got married and when they died.  My great great-grandmother's
name appeared in the 'Battle Creek Daily Moon' because of an incident
considered so disgraceful that she was disowned by her family.  My
paternal grandmother only knew that her grandmother had "ran off with
another man."  While true, this turned out to be only part of the story.

Eliza J. Tobias was fifteen years old when she married Adelbert C.
Newton, a neighbor man seven years older than she, on 17 May 1874 in
Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan.  For twelve years they lived
close to their families, in a rural farming community between Hastings
and Battle Creek.  In 1886 they moved to Battle Creek.

Apparently all was not harmonious in the Newton household, because Eliza
left her husband in May 1888.  A. C. Newton and his mother, who had
lived with them since being widowed in 1879, took care of the three
children as best they could.  He resumed his life, working as a
machinist at the Nichols Shepard Company in Battle Creek, and tinkering
with machinery in his spare time.

Four months after Eliza walked out, on September 8, 1888, Battle Creek
policeman William Forward and his deputy went to Abbey's barn, a livery
business in the city, with an arrest warrant for a man.  Between 2 and 3
AM, they were surprised to find him with a woman, as well as with
another couple--one of them being Mrs. Eliza Newton.  Both couples were
discovered fast asleep in the hay mow, lying within six feet of each
other, in various stages of undress.

The police arrested all four people, and they were taken to the city
jail.  The next morning they appeared before a judge, upon complaint of
A. C. Newton, Eliza's husband, who accused them of adultery.  Eliza
pleaded not guilty, was required to post $300 bond, and a trial was
scheduled.

Records of the proceedings declared Eliza unfit to have custody of the
children.  A divorce was granted to A. C. Newton in March, 1889 by the
Calhoun County Probate Judge.  Eliza completely disappeared after that.

Her father's obituary from 1916 listed his children, including an
unexplained person, a Mrs. Marshall Allen of Turlock, California.  An
elderly Tobias lady, whose husband was Carman Tobias's grandson, knew a
lot about Carman and his descendants. She had never heard of Mrs.
Marshall Allen, and was not aware of any daughter named Eliza, yet she
knew my grandmother was related to the family somehow.

Between 1860 and 1870 the Tobias family had moved out of Barry County,
and I couldn't locate them until the 1870 census index for Michigan was
published.  Once found, Eliza's existence could not be disputed.

The California death index included an Eliza Allen from a county that
bordered Turlock, California, so I requested her death certificate.  The
age matched, but no parents were given, and the birthplace was listed as
Virginia.  There was not enough evidence to prove that she was my Eliza,
and I was completely out of ideas.

One day recently, while thumbing through my copy of "Barry County,
Michigan, 1985," I spotted a sketch of a Mr. Hull from Baltimore
Township--same place and same last name as Eliza's mother, Clementine. 
It told a very unflattering story of a man who had abandoned his wife
and seven children, to travel west to California with his sister,
Clementine.  For many years he infrequently corresponded with his
family, until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, then he was never heard
from again.

I had obtained Clementine's death certificate, and her death was prior
to this, so I believe the story was only partially correct.  It wasn't
Clementine, but Clementine's daughter, my wayward Eliza, who ran off to
California with her uncle!
------------------------------------
PUZZLE PIECES: HOW TRACING BESSIE LED ME TO ELIZA
By Debra Stadel Eddy

In Dowling, Michigan, in May of 1874, fifteen year old Eliza Tobias
married Adelbert C. Newton, a man seven years her senior. They
established their household in the same rural farming community between
Hastings and Battle Creek, in which they were raised, and lived there
for twelve years. In 1886, they moved with their three young children
and A.C.'s widowed mother to Battle Creek. In addition to working at the
Nichols Shepard factory in Battle Creek, which built steam engines,
among other things, A.C. was a tinkerer and inventor. I have a
photograph of a motorized buggy that he built, which was stolen before
it could be patented. He was probably too engrossed in his work to
notice that his wife was growing increasingly discontented.  In May of
1888, two years after the Newtons moved to Battle Creek, Eliza walked
out on her family, never to return.

On the eighth of September, 1888, a Battle Creek policeman and his
deputy, who went to a livery business in the city with an arrest warrant
for a man, found that man and a woman--who was later identified as Mrs.
Eliza Newton--along with another couple, fast asleep in the hay mow. All
were lying within six feet of each other, in various stages of undress.
They were arrested and taken to the city jail. The next morning they
appeared before a judge on complaint of Eliza's husband, who accused
them of adultery. Eliza pleaded guilty, was required to post $300 bond,
and a trial was scheduled.  She was declared an unfit mother and a
divorce was granted by the Calhoun County Probate Judge.

Following the scandal and divorce, Eliza was disowned by her family and
seemed to disappear.  I tried to locate the 1891 obituary of Eliza's
mother, Clementine (Hull) Tobias, hoping it would list her surviving
children, including Eliza, but no obituary was printed in the Hastings
Banner.  Eliza was not mentioned in the 1916 obituary of her father,
Carman Tobias, or the obits of her siblings.  I was unable to locate her
in any census or vital records in Barry and Calhoun County, and didn't
know where else to check. Every lead I followed had come up empty until
I found the biographical sketch of Eliza's uncle, Horatio Hull, in a
Barry County history book which told that he abandoned his family to
travel west to California with his sister, Clementine. After contacting
the author of the sketch, it was determined that Horatio Hull had
probably not traveled to California with his sister, but instead with
his niece, Eliza.

I checked California censuses, death indexes and followed numerous
leads, without result, and eventually put this research on hold and went
on to research other, more productive lines. 

Several years went by and every now and then something about the Newtons
or Tobiases would catch my attention and draw me back to Eliza. One
intriguing puzzle was found in the 1937 obituary of Eliza's son, Melburn
Newton. Mel's next of kin included a half-sister, Mrs. Bessie Eurich of
Grand Rapids. Certain that A.C. Newton had no other children than the
three with Eliza, I decided to trace Bessie, hoping that she would
eventually lead me to Eliza.

Another puzzle was found in the 1922 obituary of Eliza's sister, Diana
Cramer, which listed relatives and out-of-town guests who attended the
funeral, including Mrs. Bessie Manion of Grand Rapids and son George.
Here, again, was the name Bessie--could she be the same person as Bessie
Eurich? I followed every lead for the last name of Manion, but
repeatedly came up empty-handed.

In 1995, I located Mel Newton's granddaughter, Pat Britton of Battle
Creek, through her father's obituary. To my delight, Pat was very
interested in genealogy and equally thrilled to find a long-lost cousin.
During a visit to her home, while comparing information and looking at
photos, she showed me one of an elderly woman, Bessie Tibbetts, whom she
said was her grandfather's sister. Pat said the last time she saw
Bessie, in the late 1950s or early 1960s, she was living in Grand
Rapids. This helped confirm my belief that Bessie Eurich, Bessie Manion
and Bessie Tibbetts were same person.

A search of Grand Rapids city directories for the names Eurich and
Tibbetts, revealed that Bessie was listed as both Bessie and Betty
Eurich. In 1941, she was the widow of Frank L. Eurich, who lived at 442
1/2 Leonard, NW.  I couldn't find her under the Eurich surname in any
directory after 1941, and concluded that she had either moved out of the
area or remarried. The same city directories showed a Cassius Tibbetts,
with a wife named Betty A., who lived at 703 Graceland, NE. This looked
promising, but I couldn't be sure that Betty A. was the same person as
Bessie.

A breakthrough came last year when our family went "on-line." One of the
first things I did was place queries throughout the Michigan Gen-Web on 
the various families I am researching. I was contacted this past summer
by Laura Wood, a Grand Rapids researcher who wondered if I had any
information on one of her lines. She was having a great time researching
genealogy and offered to check some records in Grand Rapids if I needed
any help. We agreed to exchange research--I would check some information
for her at the Library of Michigan in exchange for her checking marriage
and death records at the Kent County Clerk's office.

Laura found the death record of Bessie Tibbetts, which showed that
Bessie died 4 Aug. 1958 in Grand Rapids. The record listed her parents
as George B. Withey and Elizabeth J. Tobias. I had never seen Eliza's
name written as Elizabeth, but I knew beyond a doubt she was my Eliza.

I looked up Bessie Tibbetts' obituary in the Grand Rapids Press  and
learned that she was survived by her husband, Cassius Tibbetts; son,
George H. Marrion (this explained why I was unable to find anything--I
should have been searching for Marrion instead of Manion); and two
grandchildren. Interestingly, there was no mention of half brothers or
sisters, even though Clara and Lottie, Eliza's daughters by her first
marriage were both still alive.

At the Library of Michigan, I found the 1910 return of marriage in Kent
County, Michigan, of Harry Marrion, of Grand Rapids, a 23-year old
machinist, and Bessie Withey, 18, of Grand Rapids. Interestingly,
although Bessie was only 18 years old, she had been previously married.
Her birthplace was listed as "Kazoo," and her parents were Geo. Withey
and Elizabeth Tobias.  I hadn't thought to check for Eliza in Kalamazoo,
where she apparently went after her divorce.

I never learned who Bessie's first husband was, and there was no death
record in Kent County for her second husband, Harry Marrion. I knew that
she had a son, George, who was mentioned in Diana Cramer's obituary.  A
check of George Marrion's death record and obituary showed that he died
16 November 1967 in Cadillac. He was survived by his wife, Kathryn, one
son, Richard E. Marrion of Grand Rapids, one daughter, Mrs. Bruce
(Loraine) Barber of Portland, MI, four grandchildren, and his
stepfather, Cassius Tibbetts.

Bessie had apparently divorced her third husband, Frank Eurich, before
his death on 4 June 1942 in Spencer Twp., Kent Co., MI. She was not
mentioned in his obituary, which listed his only siblings as survivors. 
Husband number four, Cassius Tibbetts, outlived Bessie. He died 8
December 1972 at the Veterans Facility in Grand Rapids and survivors
included his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Clifford (Kathryn) Reed of Hardy Dam
(apparently after George's death, Kathryn married Clifford Reed) and two
grandchildren.

I had been unable to locate a marriage record in either Calhoun or Barry
County for Eliza Tobias Newton and George Withey, but eventually
discovered that they were married 8 July 1889 in Kalamazoo.  The 1900
census found them living in the city of Battle Creek.  George, 29, was
born in December 1870, and had been married 11 years. He was employed as
a motorman for the railroad in Battle Creek. His 40-year old wife,
Elizabeth J., was born in August 1859. Her parents' birthplace was Ohio,
and she had given birth to four children, all living. (Every bit of
census information on Elizabeth corresponded exactly with the data I had
on Eliza). They resided in a rental home with their 8-year old daughter,
Bessie A., who was born in May 1892.  Pieces of the puzzle were coming
together at last!

The 1910 census found them living on Turner Street in Grand Rapids.
George, who was employed as a foreman in a machine shop, was now 39, and
had been married once for 20 years. Elizabeth was now 50, married twice,
for 20 years. She had given birth to six children, four still living.
Their daughter, Bessie, and her husband, Harry Marrion, a machinist in a
machine shop, were living in her parents' house.

Kent County death book 9, page 100 showed that Elizabeth Withey died 20
April 1914 in Grand Rapids at 54 years, 7 months, 22 days, and her
parents were listed as Carmon (sic) Tobias and Clementon (sic) Hull.  At
last I had the long-sought information on my great-great-grandmother! A
brief obituary in the Grand Rapids Press  told that she died in her home
on Monday at 417 Broadway, NW, and was survived by her husband, George
B. Withey, one son, Melborn (sic) Withey (sic) of Hastings, and one
daughter, Mrs. Henry Marion (sic) of this city. Funeral services were
held at the residence Thursday afternoon and interment was in Greenwood
cemetery.

My grandma knew very little about her maternal grandmother. She had been
told only that she "ran off with another man." After Eliza abandoned her
first family, her daughters--one of whom was my great-grandmother,
Clara--had no further contact with their mother. They were raised
alternately by their father and Eliza's childless sister, Mary and her
husband, Albert Mills of Nashville, Michigan. Clara and Lottie's
brother, Melburn, however, kept in touch with his mother and
half-sister. Although they were all alive at the time of Eliza's death,
Mel was the only child mentioned in their mother's obituary, his last
name incorrectly written as Withey. Hoping to find a more complete
obituary somewhere, I checked the Hastings Banner , but there was no
mention of her death, not even in the local gossip columns.

There is much I would like to know about Eliza, and her obituary is
frustratingly incomplete. She must have been strong willed and had a
self-sufficient, adventurous spirit to leave her family in 1886, when
women of that day didn't have the means to support themselves. One day I
hope to locate her grandchildren, Loraine Barber and Richard Marrion,
and their descendants. I wonder what they could tell me about the woman
known to them as Grandma. Do they have any pictures of Elizabeth or own
any of her personal belongings?  Relatives have said she had red hair, a
trait carried through four generations of her descendants.  I wish I
knew what she looked like and if I resemble her at all. The newspaper
scandal story told that she was a pleasant-looking woman who keenly felt
her shame.  Did Loraine and Richard know about her first marriage and
divorce? Do they have any idea that we even exist?  Do they know that
she was disowned by her family?  I'd like to know what kind of a person
she was, her likes and dislikes, and if the choices she made were worth
the price she had to pay. While I am delighted to have pieced together a
good share of this puzzle, it is my goal to one day find the rest of the
missing pieces.


Adelbert Camp "A.C."  Newton (12 June 1851, Bridgewater, Oneida Co., NY
- 7 June 1917, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN) moved from Oneida Co., NY
with his parents to Baltimore Twp., Barry Co., MI when a boy; lived in
Barry County and Calhoun County, MI.  After his divorce from Eliza J.
(Tobias)  in 1889 [decreed in Calhoun Co., MI], went West to Montana and
Wyoming.  He is known to have lived in Cody, WY and Red Lodge, MT.
Daughter Lottie Bell's obituary says He moved to Laramie, WY, and lived
there until ca 1898,  then moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he died.

He was an inventive person, being a machinist by trade, and tinkering
with machinery as a hobby.  My grandma, Maude Sirrine allowed us to
photograph a picture of A. C. Newton with a machine he built, a
gasoline-powered buggy.  The buggy was stolen just a short time after
the picture was taken, and Nichols-Shepard, the company he worked for,
came out with a gasoline-powered auto.  The family always believed that
his invention was stolen by the company, but nothing was ever proven.


[The following article was sent to me by Phil Tobias of Okemos, MI, 9
Jun. 1995.  He wrote," This next one is my favorite clipping.  It gives
us an example of what life was like in the late 19th century as well as
some insight into the personalities of Ezra, sons Jason and Will, and
grandson Charley..."  This article is probably from the Hastings Banner
or the Battle Creek News and Enquirer, following July 27, 1929]

CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY JULY 27 (1929)
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. N. Tobias, who reside south of Hastings, celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday, July twenty-seventh.  The
celebration took place at their farm home where they have lived
continuously for the past thirty years.  A very fine dinner was served
for the immediate family at noon by Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mrs. Nina
Matteson.  The table was decorated with a large bouquet of golden
gladioli and each place was marked with a place-card bearing a gold
rose.  After the dinner C. O. Tobias presented them with fifty dollars
in gold as the gift of their children.

The guests began to arrive soon after dinner and about one hundred were
present to hear the wedding ceremony and the following address by J. E.
Tobias of Battle Creek.

"When I was asked to say a few words today, I did not know as I could be
here, therefore I wrote a few words to be sen[t] in to be read, but I am
glad to be here to help celebrate one of the greatest events that comes
to a married couple.

"Not many couples live to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary,
and when they do they surely ought to be congratulated.

"First, I want to say a few words about Charley's life, as I can
remember him back as far as I can any of my own folks, as brother Will,
he and I were together when but very small boys and grew up together
just like brothers.

"Long evenings in the winter we used to like to hear Father tell ghost
and murder stories, till it made us so afraid that we dare not go out of
doors alone after dark, and I will mention a couple of our boyhood
tricks, which I presume Charley and brother Will will remember.

"On one first day of April, it being April fool day, we went to a pond
on the back part of the farm, stripped off our clothing and went in
swimming when ice was still in the water.

"Another event which I never will forget, was after the hay had been cut
and stacked in the meadow lot, we boys found a large bumblebee's nest in
one of the fence corners of the meadow, and we never found a nest we
couldn't rob, but this was a very large one and they were real fighters,
stinging each one of us, but we were not to be beaten by them, so we
pulled up a lot of dry grass, touched a match to it and threw it over
the nest of swarming bees.  Next thing we saw was Father coming on the
run with clubs in his hands to pound out the fire which was running
rapidly toward the hay-stacks.  As soon as we boys discovered what we
had done, we pitched in and helped pound out the fire, but it was all
over with Will and me, as we received a good flogging with a blue-beech
from Dad, and I was glad then that Charley was not our brother, as Will
and I got enough for all three of us.

"As we grew older we were great baseball fans, would walk three or four
miles to some sand lot to play a game of ball with some other farmer
boys.

"Then I commenced to notice one thing in particular, and that was that
Charley was becoming more and more attracted by pretty girls, and there
was one that seemed to suit him better than all the rest, although she
was spindling just about like a match.  He thought he could not live
without her, and she, Miss Electa Newton, must of thought the same
thing, for on July 27, 1879, they joined hands in holy matrimony for
better or for worse.

"And my friends, this couple have had the bitter with the sweet.  When
their first boy was small and they were on a farm ten miles southeast of
Dowling doing w[e]ll, typhoid fever invaded their home, each one having
it, Charley being the last, and after three months of serious illness
with the dread disease, he weighed less than one hundred pounds and I
could pick him up and carry him just like a child, and when the bills
were all paid their savings of a number of years were gone.

"But their grit and determination were not gone, for as soon as he
became strong enough, he rented a farm east of Dowling, and after a
number of years of hard work, saving and good management, they had saved
enough so as to come over and buy this home where they are so nicely
situated.

"But one of the greatest accomplishments of all during these many years
of hard struggling together, is something worth far more than money, and
that is their two boys and two girls, who have grown to manhood and
womanhood, and who will be a comfort in their declining years.  And I
believe it is the prayer of all these friends and relatives that are
here today, that this couple may live to enjoy many, many more years
together, and that their future lives may be filled with blessings and
happiness."

At four-thirty a very delicious lunch, which had been prepared by Mrs.
Johnson and Mrs. Matteson was served, Mrs. Tobias presiding over the
cake.  The two wedding cakes were trimmed in white and each surmounted
by a tiny bride and groom in conventional dress.  One of the cakes were
presented to the couple by Mr. Tobias' niece, Mrs. Roy Stadel of
Hastings.  Mr. and Mrs. Tobias were presented with a great many
beautiful gifts, including a total of one hundred dollars in gold.

Guests from a distance who attended were Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Tobias,
Robert Tobias and Howells Walker, Miss Pearl Barrett, Mrs. Leah Barrett
and C. H. Brown of Detroit; Harry Gates and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Gates of
Jackson; Henry Dean Thompson of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. B. Withey of
Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Grames and Reuben Grames, Mr. and Mrs.
J. E. Tobias, Mrs. Lillie Cole, of Battle Creek; Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Lawrence and daughter Carrie of Hickory Corners; Mr. and Mrs. Dan
Dickerson of Augusta; Mr. and Mrs. Will Herrington, Mr. and Mrs. Chas.
Herrington, Mr. and Mrs. Hoadley Prey, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kelsey and
Mrs. Clyde Seggins of Kalamazoo and Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Hendershott and
sons of West Lake.

Mr. and Mrs. Tobias appear younger than most couples who have passed
their fifty years of married life and although they have both
experienced a great deal of sickness are now in good health and are
looking forward to many more pleasant years together.
-------------------------
The Hastings Banner, Wed., June 17, 1925, Pg 10, Hinds Corners
column--Mr. and Mrs. Chas. N. Tobias and granddaughter Leah Barrett,
visited their son, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Tobias, in Battle Creek Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Tobias visited their daughter, Mrs. Mell Hendershott
in Kalamazoo Tuesday.  Mrs. Tobias attended the commencement at
Nazareth.  They brought their granddaughter, Miss Leah Barrett, home
with them also Mrs. Hendershott and two sons and their other daughter,
Mrs. Pearl Barrett of Detroit.  Wednesday they all attended the funeral
of Mr. Tobias' sister, Mrs. Thaddeus Craig, in Hastings.

[They are recorded as having had two sons named Floyd, born exactly a
year apart, one 28 Jul. 1903, Hope Twp., and the other 28 Jul. 1904.  It
has not been determined if there were two sons, or if this was a
clerical error]
---------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Aug. 12, 1937, pg. 1, col. 1]
MEETS SUDDEN DEATH

C. N. Tobias, aged 74, a well known and longtime resident of Barry
County, died on Wednesday about 11 o'clock at his home south of the
Hinds school house in Hope Twp.

Sheriff Jay Blakney reports that Mr. Tobias was drawing oats and in some
manner the whiffletree flew up and hit him just above the heart, and the
accident happened about 9 in the forenoon.  He is survived by a wife,
two sons and two daughters.  No funeral arrangements have been made as
yet.

[The Hastings Banner, Aug. 19, 1937, pg. 6, col. 5]
OBITUARY
Charles Noble Tobias, son of J. Carmen and Clementine Tobias, was born
Oct. 24, 1861 in Baltimore township and departed this life August 11,
1937 at the age of 75 years, 9 months and 18 days at his farm home in
Hope township, where he had lived for 37 years.  He leaves to mourn, his
wife Electa, two sons, Orville of Detroit and Floyd of Kalamazoo and two
daughters, Mrs. R.M. Hendershot of Kalamazoo and Mrs. C.H. Brown of
Alpena, also five grandchildren and one brother Frank of Nashville and
many other relatives and friends.  He was a kind and loving husband and
father and will be greatly missed by his many relatives and friends. 
Rev. Lloyd Mead of East Lansing conducted the services.  He was laid to
rest in the family lot at the Cedar Creek cemetery.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Jan. 8, 1953, Sec 3, Pg. 1, Col. 3[
FORMER RESIDENT DIES IN KALAMAZOO, FUNERAL TUESDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Electa Alice Tobias, 88, former Barry County
resident who died in Kalamazoo Saturday afternoon, were held Tuesday at
1 PM at the Truesdale Chapel in Kalamazoo.  Burial was in Battle Creek
cemetery.

Mrs. Tobias was born March 3, 1864, in Barry County, the daughter of
Daniel F and Mary Newton.

She was long a resident of the Hinds Corners community in Hope Twp.  For
many years Mrs. Tobias was a faithful correspondent for the Banner, her
letters from Hinds Corners appearing regularly, and she was deeply
interested in every community project.

Her husband, Charles N. Tobias, died 15 years ago and at that time she
moved to Kalamazoo to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Gladys E.
Hendershot.

She died at the residence, 521 Clinton Avenue.

In addition to Mrs. Hendershot, she is survived by another daughter,
Mrs. Pearl D. Brown, Dearborn; two sons, Floyd N. of Kalamazoo, and
Charles O., of Cambridge, Mass; a sister, Mrs. Mary Newton, of Grand
Rapids; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.


[The Hastings Banner, Wednesday, June 17, 1925, pg. 12]
Ida A. Tobias was born in Calhoun County, Michigan, October 20th, 1863
and departed this life at Pennock Hospital on June 8, aged 61 years, 7
months and 19 days.  She was married to Thadeus W. Craig on February 8,
1880.  This union was blessed with 9 children, 6 sons and 3 daughters,
all of whom are living.  They are Leon and Clair of Detroit, Mark,
Albert, Virgil, Carl of Hastings, Grace of Nashville, Addie of Detroit,
Madaline of Rockford.  Besides her children she is survived by a
husband, three sisters and two brothers.

The funeral services were held last Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the
Presbyterian church, Rev. H. E. Kilmer officiating.  Mrs. Leland Holly
sang a solo.

The attendance was unusually large.  Sympathy was also expressed in the
many beautiful flowers.  Interment took place at Riverside cemetery.


Obituary of Mary from "The Nashville News," Thursday, April 25,
1935--Mrs. C. Morgenthaler Passed Away April 17, Had Been Confined To
Her Home Since Thanksgiving Day.  Funeral On Good Friday

Mrs. Carl Morgenthaler, who had been confined to her home since
Thanksgiving Day, seriously ill and suffering greatly almost to the end,
passed away at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 17, at her home on Washington
street.

Five years ago last June Mrs. Morgenthaler suffered a stroke, which
invalided her fully or partially, and then later for a period of about
two years she was able to get about and out some, usually with help.

On Thanksgiving Day Mr. & Mrs. Morgenthaler were invited to the farm
home of her niece, Mrs. Joseph Bell, for the day.  This was her last
visit from home, and her indisposition that day was the beginning of her
last illness.

Mary E., daughter of Carmon [sic] and Clementina [sic] Tobias, was born
in Gratiot Co., Michigan, Nov. 27, 1869.  When a small child she moved
with her parents to Baltimore township, Barry county, where she grew to
womanhood.

May 8, 1885, she was united in marriage to Albert E. Mills, and they
came to Nashville to make their home.  Mr. Mills departed this life in
1920, and on Sept. 5, 1922, she was married to Carl Morgenthaler.

She had no children but was a mother to two nieces, who made their home
with her from early childhood.

Mrs. Morgenthaler has lived in Nashville and vicinity nearly all her
life and leaves many friends to mourn their loss.  She was affiliated
with the Evangelical church, and was a member of the Cheerful Charity
class.  

She leaves to mourn their loss, her husband, her two foster daughters,
Mrs. Clara Thompson of Chicago and Mrs. Lottie Bell of Maple Grove, two
step-sons, Harley of Battle Creek and Ray of Maple Grove, one
step-daughter, Mrs. Roger Warner of Potterville, two brothers, Charley
Tobias of Shultz and Frank Tobias of Nashville, one sister, Mrs. Charley
Erway of California, and many nieces and nephews, and a host of other
relatives and friends.

Mrs. Bell has been in constant attendance upon her aunt and Mrs.
Thompson was with her for four weeks and later returned to remain until
the end.

Funeral services were conducted on Good Friday afternoon with
arrangements by Hess, with a prayer service at the home and then at 3
p.m. from the Evangelical church, where members of the Cheerful Charity
class formed an aisle as the remains were bourne in and out of the
church, and Rev. A. L. Bingaman of Ionia, former pastor, conducted the
services.  Mr. Bingaman preaching the sermon, and Mrs. Pauline Lykins
sang.  The remains were placed in the mausoleum at Lakeview cemetery. 
The bearers were nephews, Lee, Paul and Albert Bell, Henry & Dean
Thompson, and her step-sons, Ray and Harley Morgenthaler."


[The Hastings Banner, May 13, 1920, pg. 15]
Albert E. Mills was born February 12, 1864 at Penfield, Calhoun Co., MI,
and departed this life after a long illness, April 30th, 1920.  He was
the elder son of James B. and Louisa M. Mills, both of whom predeceased
him.

He was married to Mary E. Tobias May 8th, 1886, who survives him.

In the spring of 1894 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church in
Nashville and was a conscientious worker.  He exemplified by his life,
what it  means to die a Christian.  He bore his affliction and intense
suffering with a Christian's fortitude.

He was a loving husband and brother and a loyal friend to his
associates.

He never had children of his own, but his two nieces, Clara and Lottie
Newton, who lived in his home from childhood, were as dear to him as
though they had been his own.

His passing leaves a vacant place not only in the hearts of his bereaved
ones, but also in the community in which  he lived, for it can be said
of him that he lived a clean, honorable, upright life and was a friend
in the time of need, and no greater tribute can be paid any man.

He leaves surviving him, the widow, Mary E. Mills, his two nieces, now
Mrs. Clara Thompson and Mrs. Lottie Bell, one brother, John L. Mills of
Tacoma, Washington, and three sisters, Mrs. Helen Durham of Battle
Creek, Mrs. Jennie Warren, of Sunfield, and Mrs.. Ella Eggleston of
Hastings, besides several nieces and nephews and many friends.

We have laid his body to rest but his spirit and example are still with
us.

Obituary of Albert E. Mills from The Hastings Banner, May 13, 1920, pg.
15



[The Nashville News, Thurs., July 20, 1922, pg. 2, col. 4]
OBITUARY

Nora Diana Cramer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carman Tobias, was born Dec.
27, 1872, in Barry county, Michigan, and was united in marriage to Geo.
Franklin Cramer, Nov. 16, 1889, and passed away at her home July 13,
1922.

She is survived by her husband and two sons, Ben Cramer of this village
and J. Cramer of Grand Rapids, and one daughter, Mrs. Will Miller, who
has been her companion all her life and has faithfully cared for her
during her long illness.  One son, Edwin, died in infancy.  Two brothers
and four sisters also survive her.  She was a faithful companion and
loving mother.
-----------
[The Nashville News, Thurs., July 20, 1922, Local News Section]
Those from out of town who attended the funeral of Mrs. G. F. Cramer
Saturday were Mrs. Clara Thompson of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Cramer,
Mr. and Mrs. George Martin, Mrs. Bessie Manion and son George of Grand
Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Tobias and son Floyd of Cloverdale, Mr. and
Mrs. Thad Craig , Mr. and Mrs. Mark Craig and son, Judge Ella Eggleston,
John Hawkins and Mr. and Mrs. Melbourne Newton of Hastings and Mr. and
Mrs. Lohr Paddock of Assyria.


Mrs. Earl Tobias sent me the following newspaper article, from "The
Maple Valley News," date unknown [cut off at top of paper]

EVERYONE LIKED "BANTY"
"Banty Cramer was a small man--he stood only 5 feet 1 inch tall--but his
diminutive size had nothing to do with the dimensions of his soul.

Banty Cramer was a big-hearted man.  His great sense of humor and
immense compassion for his fellow man made him a giant among men.

'Everybody liked him,' remembers Banty's daughter, Mrs. Rena Hoisington
of Nashville.  'He was a great joker, and he enjoyed doing for other
people.'

Most folks remember Banty as playing the part of a clown during
Nashville's annual Harvest Festivals.  Fewer people know of his role as
a Good Samaritan during the terrible influenza epidemic of 1918-19, a
global outbreak which occurred just after World War I and claimed 20
million lives--more than were lost in the conflict.  'The flu lasted all
winter," recalls Rena.  'A lot of people died here at that time.'

Banty, often accompanied by Rena, made daily rounds to call on afflicted
families in Nashville, disregarding the personal hazard.

'We wore masks,' recalls Rena.  'I never caught the flu, but I think Dad
had a touch of it at the end (of the epidemic), though he may have just
been more tired and worn out than sick.'

Banty and his daughter ministered to the needs of Nashville's flu
victims--doing whatever needed to be done, from nursing to housework and
home repairs.  With them, they brought baskets of food that had been
prepared by Mrs. Cramer.

'Mother was never in very good health, so she couldn't go with us,'
recalls Rena, 'but she cooked all the food we delivered.'  

When Banty found folks down and out, he wasted no time in setting things
right.  Rena remembers one family that lived near the Methodist Church. 
They had been stricken with the flu.  When Banty called, he discovered
that not only were they without food but they also had no heat in their
home.

'He went right after the village folks,' recollects Rena.  'He was good
at getting donations to help people out.'

Part of Banty's effectiveness may have been his winning personality.  He
often was described as a natural born comedian.  Early accounts tell of
Banty traveling with a circus or working in northern Michigan logging
camps in his younger days, but Rena cannot recall details of those
times.

Banty was born George Frank Cramer on June 15, 1863 at Bedford,
Michigan, the son of Alexander and Francis Cramer.  He had a brother
Charles, a sister Ada, and two younger sisters who died in infancy.  In
time, the Cramer family moved to Missouri (Rena never met her paternal
grandparents).  It is inclear [sic] whether Banty later returned to
Michigan alone, or never left.

When he was about 26 years old, Banty married Nora Tobias, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Carmen Tobias of Dowling.

Banty pursued a number of occupations after his marriage, from being a
streetcar conductor in Battle Creek to running a delivery wagon for
Wright Bros. grocery in Hastings.  He also worked at the old Wool Boot
company there before moving his family to Grand Rapids about 1908 to
accept another factory job.

In 1914, Banty brought his family to Nashville and remained here the
rest of his life.  The Cramers lived on Reed Street (in the present-day
Edna Edwards home), where Banty raised hogs on the bank of the
Thornapple River behind his house.

He also ran what was popularly called a "scavenger wagon," an outhouse
cleaning service of that era.

At one time, Banty also managed the local pickle station, owned by the
Domans of Hastings and located on Sherman Street just east of the new
Lentz Table Factory.  (Both business places have since been razed, the
pickle plant burning in the 1950s.)

'That place put out a lot of dill pickles,' remembers Vern Staup of
Nashville, who worked there the summer he was 15.  'The company would
rent out ground around this area and plant cucumbers.  They would hire
local people--a lot of kids--to hoe and keep the patches clean, to help
pick the crop, and process the pickles.'

Processing was done in huge vats and the shipping was done by rail, with
the pickles stored in cleaned whiskey barrels.  Vern recalls that many
of the incoming empty barrels still held small traces of whiskey which
Banty carefully drained and saved.

Banty's wonderful sense of humor is also remembered by Vern.  Once at
one of the annual corned beef and cabbage suppers staged by the local
Knights of Pythias, Banty and Vern did a Maggie and Jiggs routine. 
'Banty played Jiggs,' recalls Vern, 'and I took the part of Maggie.'

The traditional clown portrayal by Banty at the annual Harvest Festivals
also stands out in Vern's memory.  And he recalls that Banty usually
entered the Harvest Festival parade with a horse-drawn wagon bearing an
outhouse to advertise his business.

'Banty was quite a character,' comments Vern.

Cramer was dubbed with the nickname of Banty about 1902, according to
his daughter Rena. 

'When he worked for Wright Bros. in Hastings, they asked him to ride a
horse they had entered in the county fair race,' she recalls.  'They
gave him the name of Banty for the event, since he was very short and my
mother was very tall.'

The Wrights told Banty that they would buy his wife a new hat if he won
the race.  He did, they did, and the name Banty stuck.  The Cramers had
four children; daughter Rena and sons, Benjamin, Jay, and Edwin, who
died at 8 months.

Nora passed away in 1922 at age 50, and Banty married twice later.  He
died in March 1949 at age 85, at the Thornapple Valley Home where he'd
been a patient five years.  George Frank Cramer's sense of humor lasted
a lifetime.

'Even in his declining years and failing health, Banty was always ready
with a joke and a laugh,' noted his obituary in the Nashville News." 
-------------------------------
Joyce Weinbrecht of Hastings sent me the following two articles, which
appeared in a Hastings area newspaper on Aug. 27, 1942, and Sept. 3,
1942.

BANTY CRAMER'S SHOW EXPERIENCES, JOINED RINGLING BROS. SHOWS, CAME TO
KNOW THE ELEPHANTS
Not long ago the Banner published some amusing experiences of George F.
Cramer, (you may know him as Banty Cramer).  That article concerned his
school boy days at Quimby, when Bernie Messer, brother of Chester and
Richard Messer, was his teacher. We happened to know that there were
other events in his early life that would make interesting reading, so
we asked him to give an account of them, which he promised to do later
on.  We have just received the first installment, which we feel certain
our readers will enjoy.  He writes in substance the following:

'When I was young I liked excitement and fun, so I joined up with
Ringling Bros. circus for three years.  The first year I cared for six
horses, four of which were trick horses.  I had to keep that four well
groomed and rehearse them in their tricks between shows.  I drove them
in the parade, part of that first year.  'The second year I looked after
seven elephants.  One was an old socker, weighing nearly three tons.  I
called him "Mike."  From that size they ran down to one very much
smaller.  Take it from me that I had my troubles for a time; but
fortunately they knew me from the fact that I was with the show the year
before.  An elephant has a mighty good memory I can tell you.  So my
troubles with them were less on that account.

'When we struck a place where the elephants could bathe I had to hold
Mike on shore, while the rest were in the water.  I can tell you that he
didn't like that too much.  But I had his good will and we got along,
I'll say just fair.  When we had our free show outside the tent I would
say, "Mike, do you want your back scratched?"  If he did he would stick
out his trunk.  I would sit astride it and he would toss me up onto his
back, and I would take a broom and a pail of water and give his back a
good scrubbing, which he enjoyed.  When I had finished I would say, 
"All right, Mike."  Then I would sit on his head and slide down and he
would catch me with his trunk and let me down easily to the ground.

'One day over in Milwaukee we got into quicksand with the heavy band
wagon.  We were in, too, and I don't mean "Maybe."  We hooked on eight
horses, but they couldn't budget [sic] it.  So I got old Mike with a
heavy harness on, but the band wagon, with the band in it, wouldn't
budge.  So I hooked up another elephant.  Same old story; the big wagon
was still in the quicksand.  By this time Banty's Irish was thoroughly
roiled.  I got into Mike's harness myself, told the band boys to "look
out for your hats."  When I gave the second pull the wagon came out so
quick that it unjointed four of the necks of the players and smashed
most of their instruments.  So ended that day, and I felt that I had
done a fair day's work; and we got to the next place on time, feeling
none the worse for wear.  I could tell more about that second year, but
guess this will answer.

'My third year with Ringling shows was the easiest of my life as I acted
perfectly natural--no exertion at all.  I wore one of those funny suits,
with a little, white peaked hat, and with my face painted.  I chased the
greased pig and did lots of funny stunts.  Acting the darned fool was
easy for me--it came so natural.  I could tell a lot of things; but I
guess your readers have seen fool-makers.  I was one of that type.  When
the lady who performed with the big snakes in one of the sideshows was
sick for two weeks, I took her place in that show.  I wore her clothes,
and the snakes didn't know the difference, so we got along all right.  I
did enjoy myself, for I just love snakes twined about my neck.  But not
in my boots--not for me.  I never had 'em but I've seen, and helped care
for fellows that did have 'em.

'Well, I guess this is enough nonsense for this time.  You may hear from
me again, if you can stand for this one.  We'll see how it works out.

'Now a word to all my readers!  Take it or leave it; believe it or not. 
Don't believe too much of it.  I have some bigger ones.

Yours truly
George F. Cramer, or Banty, or Both
_____________________________________________________

MY GRANDFATHER'S STORY HAD MORAL, George F. Cramer Recalls A Story His
Grandsire Told

George F. Cramer, who is giving our readers some of the experiences he
has had, is the grandson of B. C. Cramer, a pioneer resident of this
county.  This week he speaks of his grandfather in the following story. 
He writes,
'I gave a yarn to your paper last week, and I have been asked for
another story this week.  I hope every father and mother will see that
their children read it, for it is a true one, with a moral.  It goes as
follows--

'My grandfather came from Germany when a young man.  He worked seven
years to learn the blacksmith and wagon trade.  I do not think a nicer
man ever lived--very honest and truthful in all his dealings with his
fellow men.  He told me this story when I was a small boy, and I have
never forgotten it.

'He and grandma landed in Philadelphia, Penn., in an early day, and got
a job.  In those days what we call hotels were called taverns.  Then
stock-buyers traveled on horseback, and carried quite an amount of money
with them.

'One night one of these stockbuyers put up at a Philadelphia tavern. 
The next morning he started out to buy stock.  He was gone but a short
time when the horse came back minus his rider.  The people formed a
posse, and started the search on a long crossing.  They found where the
horse had turned around and started back for town.  The dogs barked up a
hollow tree.  Members of the posse took a long stick, reached up into
the hollow with it, and pulled down a shirt with a bullet hole in the
back of it and in front.  The dogs kept at work and found the body of
the stockbuyer behind a big log--it was lacking a coat and shirt.  An
investigation found that the coat the dead man had worn was being worn
by one of the men in the posse. There were bullet holes through the coat
corresponding exactly with the holes found in the hollow tree, and in
the body of the murdered man.  The man wearing the coat was arrested,
charged with the crime and confessed it.  So they took him back to town.

The posse felt that such a criminal did not deserve, and should not
have, a trial for the crime he had confessed.  So they fixed a rude
scaffold, tied a rope around his neck and asked him if he had anything
to say for himself.  He said--and here is the moral--he said;  'To all
concerned, old or young, large or small, black or white.  When I was a
boy and went to school I stole pins, pencils and many other things, and
as I grew up I became a thief.  My father said that stealing little
things led to stealing big things, and now it has led me to murder a man
for his money.'

'Fathers and mothers cannot begin too early with their children to teach
them to be strickly honest.  Children, you should never steal even a pin
or anything else.  If you are honest and true, you need not fear that
some one will put a rope around your neck for a serious crime, the
training for which was stealing little things.  Crime grows, so we
should never start on that road.

'Will close for this time.  You may hear from me again.'

George F. Cramer or Banty Cramer.  Take your choice.
-----------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., March 17, 1949, pg 5]
FORMER NASHVILLE RESIDENT DIES

George Frank Cramer, 85, formerly of Nashville, passed away Saturday
morning at the Thornapple Valley Home where he had lived the past six
years.

Mr. Cramer was born in Bedford, Calhoun Co. on June 15, 1863.  He had
lived in Nashville for more than 40 years.

Funeral services were conducted from the Hess Funeral Home Monday
afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. Lorne Lee officiating.  Burial was
made in the Lakeview Cemetery.

Surviving are two sons, Benjamin and Jay, of Nashville, and a daughter,
Mrs. Rena Hoisington, all of Nashville.

Research: The Maple Valley News, Nashville, MI, Tuesday, February 10,
1961, "Memories of the Past...Everyone Liked "Banty," by Susan Hinckley

Story by George Frank Cramer from The Hastings Banner, 3 Sep 1942

Story by George Frank Cramer from The Hastings Banner, 27 Aug. 1942


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Aug. 26, 1954, pg. 2, col. 2]
SERVICES HELD WEDNESDAY FOR FRANK TOBIAS, 77

Frank A. Tobias, 77, farmer who had resided in Barry County all of his
life, died at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at his residence on R1, 2 miles west of
Nashville.

Mr. Tobias was born in Rutland Township on June 21, 1877, the son of
Carman and Clementine (Hull) Tobias.

He was married on August 31, 1899 to Winnie Gertrude Wood at his
sister's home in Hope Twp.  Mrs. Tobias died in 1932.

Surviving are two sons, Earl and Robert, both of R1, Nashville and five
grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Otto
Funeral Home with burial in the mausoleum in Lakeview Cemetery,
Nashville.


[The Hastings Banner, Wed., April 5, 1932, pg. 5, col. 4]
OBITUARY

Winnie Gertrude Wood, eldest daughter of Wallace and Elizabeth Wood, was
born in Rutland township, Barry county, November 14, 1875, and departed
this life March 27, 1932, at the age of 56 years, 4 months and 13 days.

She spent her girlhood in Rutland and Caledonia.  She was united in
marriage to Frank A. Tobias of Rutland township August 31, 1899, at the
home of his sister in Hope township by Rev. George Brown.  To this union
were born 3 children, Earl and Robert residing at home and one baby
dying in infancy.  The first part of their married life they resided in
Rutland, later moving to the Fowler farm in Castleton township, then to
their present home.

She leaves to mourn her death a devoted husband, two sons, one
daughter-in-law, mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, one sister, Mrs. Lena
DePriester of Hastings, 4 brothers, Floyd and John Wood of Hastings,
Ernest Wood of Lansing and James Wood of Seneca Falls, NY, also aunt and
uncles, cousins and several nieces and nephews and many friends.  The
funeral was held at the home on Wednesday at 2:30 in Castleton township
conducted by Waldorff of Hastings and Rev. J. J. Willetts.  Burial in
the Nashville mausoleum.


DEATH OF GEORGE HAYWOOD [obituary from The Hastings Banner, 26 March
1914, pg. 7]

George Haywood, one of the well-known residents of the southwestern part
of the county, died at his home on Section 25, Orangeville, March 21st
of Bright's disease.  Funeral services were held from his late home on
Monday afternoon, Rev. Mr. McLeod officiating.  Burial took place in
Prairieville cemetery.

Mr. Haywood was born in Gloucestershire, England, on February 12, 184l. 
When he was nine years old his parents moved to Quebec.  Four years
later they moved to Kalamazoo.  In 1855, they settled in Hope township. 
When Mr. Haywood was 23 years old, he was united in marriage with Miss
Phoebe Replogle.  To them were born five children.  The following
surviving--Alva, of Therman, Cal; William B. of Hope; Mrs. Daisy Hall,
Winchester, Idaho; Giles R., of Turlock, Cal.

Mr. Haywood at the time of his death was aged 73 years, one month, nine
days old.  He died on the farm which he cleared nearly half a century
ago.  His wife died nine years ago.  It was Mr. Haywood's desire to die
"in the harness," and he never gave up the industrious life on the
farm.  He had been ailing for two years preceding his death, which
followed an illness of 10 days.  A sad incident was the fact that Giles
Haywood, in an effort to see his father hurried home from California,
arriving about 10 hours after the aged man had passed away.

Mr. Haywood had a large circle of acquaintances, and a large con-course
of friends and neighbors attended the funeral and followed his remains
to their last resting place.



Cora A. TOBIAS. Born 16 Jan. 1870 in MI. Died 12 Nov. 1954 in Hastings,
Barry Co., MI. Buried in Riverside Cem., Hastings, Barry Co., MI. 

Daughter of Ezra Tobias, Jr., adopted by Judge Mack of Hastings.  She
was never married.

CORA A. MACK DIES THURSDAY AT MEDICAL FACILITY
Death came Thursday to Miss Cora A. Mack, 89, at the Barry County
Medical Facility where she had been a resident for more than a year.  

Born Jan. 16, 1870 to Charles M. and Ella (Aldrich) Mack of Hastings,
she was a life-long resident of this community and a member of the
Presbyterian church.  Her father was Barry County Judge of Probate from
1902 to 1912 and was a well-known personage in this section of the
state.

Prior to her death, Miss Mack had been in failing health for several
years.

Services were held at the Leonard Funeral home Saturday at 10.30 a.m.
with the Rev. Don Gury officiating.  Interment was in Riverside
cemetery.

 Obituary of Cora A. Mack found in Bull scrapbook, Hastings Public
Library, Hastings, MI



The Hastings Banner, Wed. March 9, 1927, pg. 19, Assyria--Ezra Tobias
received the sad news on Thursday of the death of his daughter, Mrs.
Sylvia Slawson Joy, in her home in Florida where they had moved.


Newspaper announcement of 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. & Mrs. Ira
Tobias, from Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public Library, Hastings, MI

OPEN HOUSE TO MARK 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Tobias will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary
on Sunday, June 24.

Open house will be held by their children at the home of their daughter
and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hostetler, 671 Cloverdale road, from 2
to 5 p.m.

Friends and relatives are invited to call.

Ira Tobias and Louise Bryans were united in marriage on June 22, 1912,
by the Rev. J. B. Pinckard at the Methodist parsonage in Hastings.  

Both were born and raised in Baltimore township and have spent all of
their married life here.

They have three children, Basil of Route 2, Delton, Merle of Route 4,
Hastings, and Mrs. Howard (Elsie) Hostetler, who lives nearby.  They
also have --?-n grandchildren.

The Tobias's request no gifts be given them.  [Copy obtained from Bull
scrapbook at Hastings Public Library, Hastings, MI]
-----------------
[The Hastings Banner, March 21, 1972, pg. 10, col. 3]
IRA L. TOBIAS

Services for Ira L. Tobias, 84, R4 Hastings, Baltimore Twp., who died at
8:45 PM Monday, March 12, at the Barry Medical Facility, were held at
3:30 Thursday at the Leonard-Osgood Funeral Home.

Rev. Dewayne Hamilton of Avon, Ill., officiated and burial was in the
Dowling Cemetery.

Mr. Tobias had been in the facility since February 20.  He had been in
ill health for a long time.

He was born in Baltimore Twp. on Dec. 23, 1888, son of Henry and Arminda
(Powell) Tobias.  He attended the Hendershot school and married Louise
Bryans of Baltimore Twp. on June 22, 1912.  They were life-long farmers
in Baltimore Twp.  She died on Oct. 20, 1972.

Mr. Tobias is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Howard (Elsie) Hostetler of
R4 Hastings; two sons, Basil of R2 Delton and Merle, R4 Hastings; 10
grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; a brother Charles of R4 Hastings
and a sister, Mrs. Nellie Re of Hastings.


[The Hastings Banner, Oct. 25, 1972, pg. 6, col. 3]
MRS. LOUISE M. TOBIAS

Services for Mrs. Louise M. Tobias, 82, R4 Hastings, who died at 12:05
PM Friday, Oct. 20 at Pennock Hospital, after a lengthy illness, were
held at 1:30 PM Monday, at the Leonard Osgood Funeral Home.

Rev. Dewayne Hamilton officiated and burial was in the Dowling Cemetery.

Mrs. Tobias was born Sept. 23, 1890, in Baltimore Twp., the daughter of
James and Emma (Tyrell) Bryans.  She attended Hendershot school and
married Ira L. Tobias on June 22, 1912.  They were life long farmers in
Baltimore Township.  She was an ardent fisherman all of her married
life.

In addition to her husband she is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Howard
(Elsie) Hostetler of R4 Hastings, two sons, Basil of R2 Delton and Merle
of R4 Hastings, 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., July 8, 1982, pg. 4, col. 6]
NELLIE M. RE
HASTINGS--Mrs. Nellie M. Re, 92, 1502 S. Jefferson St., died Monday,
July 5 at the Barry County Medical Care Facility.  She was born in
Baltimore Township, Barry County, on May 2, 1892 [sic], the daughter of
Henry and Amanda [sic] (Powell) Tobias.  She attended Hendershot School.

She married Lester Fisher in 1909.  They were longtime farmers in
Baltimore Township.  Mr. Fisher died in August 1950.  She married Andy
Re in 1954 and they moved to Hastings in 1956.  Mr. Re preceded her in
death in 1966 [sic].  

Mrs. Re is survived by one son, Fay Fisher of Nashville; three
grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven
great-great-grandchildren; four step children; several step
grandchildren and great step grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Fisher and by three
brothers.

Graveside services were held at 2 PM Wednesday, July 7 at Cedar Creek
Cemetery.  Rev. D. Myron K. Williams officiated.  Mrs. Re reposed at the
Leonard-Osgood and Wren Funeral Home.


Obituary of Archie Tobias--found in Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public
Library, Hastings, MI (undated, undocumented)

OBITUARY
Archie Tobias, lifelong resident of Barry County, died Wednesday morning
at one o'clock at University hospital, Ann Arbor, at the age of 51 years
and 15 days, after an illness of nine months.

He has been a fur dealer for the past thirty years.

He was united in marriage to Miss Ada Thomas on January 21, 1925.  He
leaves to mourn his death his wife, Ada, and two sons, Raymond H. of
Hastings and Lawrence L. of Delton, his father Henry L. Tobias of
Baltimore; one sister, Mrs. Lester Fisher of Hastings; two brothers,
four grandchildren, Roger, Barbara, Bernard, and Larry.

He was a kind and loving husband and father, always ready to help his
friends in time of need.  Loving and kind in all his ways
Upright and just to the end of his days
Sincere and true in heart and mind
And beautiful memories he left behind.


HASTINGS--Mrs. Ada L. Tobias, 87, of 121 West Apple Street, Hastings,
passed away Wednesday February 19, 1992 at Thornapple Manor.

Mrs. Tobias was born on June 18, 1904 in Baltimore Township, Barry
County, the daughter of Charles and Mabel (Hunt) Thomas.  She was raised
in Baltimore Township and attended Hendershot and Pratt schools.  

She was married to Archie Tobias on January 21, 1925.  He preceded her
in death on March 31, 1943.  She had resided at her present address
since 1928.

Mrs. Tobias was employed at Pennock Hospital for 15 years, eight years
at the former Barry County Medical Care Facility, and two years in
private home care.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist
Women's, 1944.

Mrs. Tobias is survived by two sons, Raymond Tobias of Hastings,
Lawrence Tobias of Delton; four grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren,
10 great-great grandchildren; brother, Francis (James) Thomas of
Hastings; many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by granddaughter, Barbara Tobias; five
sisters, Lula Shafe, Freda Moore, Jeanette Essner, Crystal Sapp, Dora
Tobias; three infant sisters; two brothers, Ferdinand Thomas, Russell
Thomas.

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 22 at First United
Methodist Church with Reverend Philip L. Brown officiating.  Burial was
at Dowling Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pennock Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements were made by the Wren Funeral Home in Hastings.
[The Hastings Banner, 5 March 1992]


[Enquirer and News, Battle Creek, Mich., Tues., April 6 (year unknown),
for the column JERRY'S JOURNAL, by Jerry Morton]
TOBIAS NOT THRILLED WITH GOOD OLD DAYS

He's the Only Guy You'll Meet Who was Run Over By a Stagecoach--The
scene could have come straight from the old West.

A stagecoach, with four riders inside and a driver on top, heading down
a country road, then taking the wide and dusty turn through the streets
of a small town on the way to Whisky Run.

"They always was on the move.  Nope, you'd never see those horses
walking," said Charles Tobias, making clear that the vehicles he
described were the western Barry County, not the 'Western movie,
variety.

Tobias, in fact, is one of the few men still alive who found distinction
in that dust, pointing out.

"I'm probably the only guy you'll ever meet who was run over by a
stagecoach."

The event occurred so long ago that Tobias remembers the date as being
"about the time McKinley was shot."

That was a day when America was at the turn of the century, Tobias (at
7) was in his boyhood, and Pritchardville was more than a ghost town.

"I scooted across the road when I seen the stage coming, then I tried to
jump on back," he said.  "The wagon caught me on my right foot.  But
we'd had some snow and mud so I had good padding."

So the stage halted in Pritchardville that afternoon before moving on to
Whiskey Run, north of Dowling, where riders and horses would rest for a
while.

And Charles Tobias walked home, about a mile from where he and his wife,
Celia have resided for the past seven years.

"Pritchardville?" he said.  "It was a live place with live people, not
just a made-up story."

"But it drew its time out and run its course like everything else; tore
down, burnt down, blowed down."

The Tobias family, though, does not usually dwell in places that no
longer exist.

"I hear people say how the good old days were supposed to be something
special," he said.

"Why, I pulled a crosscut saw eight hours a day, carried a cold dinner
into the woods, and came out with less than a dollar after a day's
work."

"If they call that good, I don't know where the bad ones we--?--don't
want to see any more of 'em."

"Don't talk to me about antiques, either," Mrs. Tobias added.  "That's
all we had when we were married in 1916."

The Tobiases have lived their lives in or near Pritchardville which,
like so many other communities of its day, had a store, a mill, a
foundry and a blacksmith shop. 

And there was always something for Tobias to do there, either as a
butcher, the leader of a threshing crew or a lumberman.

"One thing I can say," he said.  "The daylight's never been too long for
me any of the time."

But he can make at least one additional statement with certainty, too.

"See that refrigerator over there?" he said, pointing across his
kitchen.

"There's never been a bottle of beer in it.  Oh, I've never denied a
meal to any honest man who's come to the door.  But I could be tough if
a fella wanted to drink."

That -----------?-----------from a trip on a nearby rail many years
after the stage line had disappeared.

"I went out once, just once, to Grand Rapids," he said.  "And that
lesson gave me all the teaching I needed."

Sixteen young farmhands rode the train that night, all singing their own
version of a World War I song.

"The diddy started out like this," Tobias said, rising from is chair as
if moved to give a command performance.

"It's a long way to Caledonia since Hastings went dry."

After offering the complete version, Tobias finished his story.

"When we stopped at Irving on the way home," he said, "I could see the
conductor calling ahead, maybe to warn people at the Hastings station
that we were comin' through.

"So by the time we got to the fairgrounds, the boys started hopping off
that train like frogs jumping off a hog...bottles flyin' out of every
pocket."

Having completed the yarn, Tobias walked to the sink for a glass of
water and a look out the window at the early spring day.

Tobias would offer more stories that afternoon, some humorous, others
bittersweet, the kind a man who has outlived five of his seven children
and the town where he was born could be expected to tell.

But for the moment Charles Tobias was quiet, engrossed in watching a
woodchuck that had curled up in the dirt road in front of the house,
unaware that it was being watched by a man who had once stopped a
stagecoach as it rounded a corner not far away.
---------------------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., June 7, 1956, sec 2, pg. 5, col. 8]
BARN ON TOBIAS FARM DESTROYED

A barn on the Charles Tobias farm in Hope Township near Cedar Creek was
damaged by fire May 24.

Al Higgins, who occupies the farm, called the Delton Fire Department.

Fire Chief Merle Baake estimated damage to the building at $4,000 and
$1,500 damage to farm equipment, hay and grain.

The fire was believed to be caused by defective wiring.
---------------------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Mon., Oct. 29, 1979, pg. 2, col. 1]
CHARLES TOBIAS

Charles E. Tobias, 86, 1107 Pritchardville Road, died Tuesday, Oct. 23,
at Pennock Hospital.  He was a patient there for one month.

Services were held at 1:30 PM on Saturday at the Leonard-Osgood and Wren
Funeral Home.  Rev. Paul Deal officiated, and burial was in the Dowling
Cemetery.

He was born in Baltimore Township on July 11, 1893, the son of Henry and
Armenda (sic) (Powell) Tobias.  He attended Hendershott school.  He
married the former Celia Cline on March 1, 1916.  He was a life long
Barry County farmer. 

Mrs. Tobias died on October 13, 1977.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Donna Ruby of Hastings and Mrs.
Carroll (Edith) Newton of Charlotte; 18 grandchildren; 23 great
grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Nellie Re, Hastings.

He was preceded in death by four sons, Dewey, Ivan, Dale and Kenneth,
one daughter, Evelyn, and two grandchildren, Bonnie Higgins and Johnny
Ruby.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pennock Hospital.


[The Hastings Banner, Mon., Oct. 17, 1977, pg. 2, col. 1]
MRS. CELIA A. TOBIAS, 78, of 1107 Pritchardville Road, died at 5:55 AM
Thursday, Oct. 13, at Pennock Hospital, where she had been a patient for
two days.

Services were held at 3:00 PM Saturday, October 15, at the
Leonard-Osgood Funeral Home, Rev. Paul Deal officiated and burial was in
the Dowling cemetery.

She was born in Allegan County on Sept. 15, 1899, the daughter of Ernest
and Jenny (Elliston) Cline.  She moved to the Hendershott district in
Barry County as a child and attended the Hendershot school.

She married Charles Tobias on March 1, 1916.  They farmed all their
married life on the Pritchard Road.  They celebrated their 61st wedding
anniversary last March.

She was a member of the Hendershott Ladies Aide Society.

Surviving are her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Donna Ruby of Hastings
and Mrs. Carroll (Edith) Newton of Charlotte; 18 grandchildren;2 1 great
grandchildren; 4 sisters, Mrs. Edna Greeley and Mrs. Freeland (Mary)
Merchant, both of Cadillac,  Mrs. Cash (Virgie) Kruzel of Hopkins and
Mrs. Dorothy Wellman of Hastings, and 4 brothers, Harvey Cline of
Hastings, Elmer Cline of Shelbyville, Roger Cline of Hopkins and Cleo
Cline of Gun Lake.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund or with
Barry County Cancer Society.


Hubert Ray WILL. Born 31 Mar 1905 in Hastings Twp, Barry Co., MI.
Occupation Pharmacist. Education 1923 Hastings HS Grad/1927 Ferris State
Grad. 

Phil Tobias of Okemos, MI, on 12 June 1995 wrote:  "Hubert Will has
turned out to be a fascinating guy.  He had his 90th birthday May 31st. 
One of his sons, Hollis, is a security guard at the Library of
Michigan.  Hubert shook hands with Teddy Roosevelt when he came through
Hastings, saw Truman, attended the dinner for Alfred B. Sloan when the
City of Pontiac gave him the painting of Chief Pontiac which still hangs
in the lobby of the Pontiac Administration building, and smuggled a
bottle of whiskey up to Babe Ruth when he was in Detroit.  He discovered
after his father's death that as a child of 10, his father accidentally
shot his Aunt Maggie to death.  Hubert has visited her gravesite in Ohio
and has had relatives verify the story."
------------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Wed., Oct. 17, 1928, pg. 7, col. 3]
MARRIAGE OF HUBERT WILL ANNOUNCED
A very quiet wedding took place in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, September
19, when Hubert R. Will, son of Mrs. Jennie Will of this city, was
united in marriage to Miss Jane Kasten.  Rev. Quant, pastor of St.
Paul's Methodist church performed the ceremony.  Mr. and Mrs. Will are
now at home to their friends at 617 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, where the
groom has a good position with one of the Muir drug stores.  Hubert is a
former Hastings boy, having graduated from the local high school with
the class of '23, also graduating from Ferris Institute in May 1927.

On November 15, 1927, he passed the state board examinations and is now
a registered pharmacist.  The bride was a Grand Rapids resident and is
highly esteemed.  Congratulations.


[The Reminder, Hastings, Tues., Sept. 17, 1996]
ERNEST N. DUNKELBERGER
HASTINGS--Mr. Ernest N. Dunkelberger, age 78, of Hastings, passed away
Tuesday, September 10, 1996 at Tendercare of Hastings.

Mr. Dunkelberger was born on November 5, 1917 at Maple Grove Township,
Barry County, the son of Daniel & Rosetta (Henry) Dunkelberger.

He was raised in the Lacey area of Barry County and attended the Dunham
School.

He served in the Army Air Corps during World War 2.

He was married to Melva Tobias, the marriage ended in divorce.  He then
married Marlene P. Porter on March 1, 1957.

Mr. Dunkelberger owned and operated the former "Dunk's" Photography and
Music Store in Nashville for several years, he engaged in farming and
retired from the Marywood Country Club in Battle Creek where he worked
as a caretaker for many years.

Mr. Dunkelberger was a well known area musician, playing several musical
instruments for various occasions over the years.

He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene; three sons, Kenneth Dunkelberger of
Dowling, Melvin Dunkelberger of Middleville, Marlin Dunkelberger of
Hastings; two daughters, Sheryl Tobias of Nashville, Jean Dunkelberger
of Hastings; several grandchildren; three great grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Friday, September 13, 1996 at the Union
Cemetery near Lacey with Reverend Edna Miller officiating.

Burial was in the Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association.

Arrangements were made by Wren Funeral Home.


[Enquirer & News, Battle Creek, MI, Wed., Aug. 3, 1977, pg. A-8, col. 2]
MERTON SETH TOBIAS

BELLEVUE - Merton Seth Tobias, 76, of R3, died Monday night in Lakeview
General Hospital in Battle Creek where he had been a patient one week.

He was born in Dowling and was engaged in farming until his retirement. 
He was a member of the Nashville Baptist Church.

He is survived by his widow the former Vera Wood; sons, Merton S. Tobias
Jr. of Nashville, Gale of Battle Creek and Merle Wayne of Morton, Ill; a
daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Leah) Tabiadon of Battle Creek; brothers Wilbur
and Gaylord Tobias, both of Hastings, Mason of Dowling and Arthur of
Battle Creek; sisters, Mrs. Clayton (Ellen) Jarrard and Mrs. Andy
(Alice) Dodge, both of Hastings, Mrs. Nina Marshall of Marshall, Mrs.
Jack (Adeline) Carpenter of Battle Creek and Mrs. Marion (Thelma)
Schlyer of Bellevue; 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 PM Thursday in the Nashville Baptist Church. 
Arrangements are by Vogt Funeral Home, Nashville.  Memorial donations
may be made to any area volunteer rescue squad.


[Enquirer & News, Battle Creek, MI, Sunday, Aug. 7, 1977, pg. A-6, col.
1]
MRS. MERTON TOBIAS

BELLEVUE  - Mrs. Vera G. (Wood) Tobias, 75, of Route 3 died Friday at
Lakeview General Hospital, Battle Creek, where she had been a patient
for one week.

She was a life long Barry County resident, and a member of the Nashville
Baptist Church and the Women's Society of Christian Service of the
Briggs United Methodist Church.  She was the widow of Merton Tobias, who
died August 1.

Surviving are sons, Merton Tobias Jr. of Nashville, Gale of Battle Creek
and Merle of Morton, Ill.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Leah) Tabiadon of
Battle Creek; 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; sisters, Mrs.
Sarah Raymond of Gahanna, Ohio, and Mrs. Burdett (Mable) Kendall of
Kalamazoo, and a brother, Leon Wood of Battle Creek.

Services will be held at 2 PM Monday at the Nashville Baptist Church.

Arrangements are by Vogt Funeral Home in Nashville.  Memorial
contributions may be made to any volunteer rescue squad.


[The Hastings Banner, Monday, May 22, 1978, pg. 2, col. 3]
CLAYTON L. JARRARD

Clayton Lester Jarrard, 76, of 425 S. Dibble Street, died at 10:45 p.m.
Friday, May 19, at the Provincial House.

Services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, May 22, at the Leonard Osgood
Funeral Home.  Rev. Thomas Elyea officiated and burial was in the
Dowling cemetery.

He was born April 15, 1903, in Maple Grove township, the son of Lowell
and Ethel (Hecker) Jarrard.  He married Ellen Tobias of Dowling on March
22, 1923.  They farmed in Maple Grove, Bristol Corners and Dowling area
until 1955, when they sold their farm west of Dowling and moved to their
present address.

He worked at carpentry at the Barry County Road Commission, Kaechele's
Heating and Hastings Grain and Bean before going to work for the City of
Hastings in the Street Department in 1959.  He retired from the city in
1965.

Surviving are his wife, Ellen; two daughters, Mrs. Melvin (Twyla) Oaks
of Hastings and Mrs. Paul (Marieta) Deal of Gull Lake; five
grandchildren; two great grandchildren; seven sisters, Mrs. Clarence
(Thelma) Cunningham of Brooksville, FL; Mrs. Arthur (Therma) Eddy of
Grass Lake; Mrs. Ard (Iza) Decker of Nashville; Mrs. Ila Gray, Mrs. Ena
Johnson, Mrs. Robert (LT) Week, all of Hastings; Mrs. Gaylord (Jessie)
Burkett of Eaton Rapids and one brother, Lawrence Jarrard of Nashville.


[The Hastings Banner, Monday, January 23,1976, pg. 2, col. 2]
WILBUR TOBIAS

Wilbur Tobias, 72, of 2400 Mixer Road, died Sunday, January 22, at
Pennock Hospital where he had been a patient 24 days.

Services are to be at 1:30 PM Tuesday, January 24 at the Leonard Osgood
Funeral Home.  Rev. W. L. McGinnis is to officiate with burial in
Dowling Cemetery.

He was born in Baltimore township on September 17, 1905, the son of Will
and Mabel (DeBois) (sic) Tobias.  He attended the Weeks school.  He
married Mary Cheney on February 28, 1925.  They celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary in 1975.

They farmed in Baltimore township until 1947 when he went to work for
the City of Hastings in the Street Department.  He retired as a heavy
equipment operator in April 1967, due to ill health.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; 4 sons, Harold, Bernard, James and
Richard, all of Hastings; two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Nancy) Adgate of
Middleville; 12 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 3 brothers, Mason
of Dowling, Arthur of Battle Creek and Gaylord of Hastings; 5 sisters,
Mrs. Clayton (Ellen) Jarrard and Mrs. Andy (Alice) Dodge both of
Hastings; Mrs. Nina Marshall of Marshall; Mrs. Jack (Addie) Carpenter of
Battle Creek and Mrs. Marion (Thelma) Schyler of Bellevue.


[The Reminder, Hastings, MI, Tues., July 22, 1997]--
TOBIAS TO OBSERVE 90TH

Mary (Cheney) Tobias, who has lived in Baltimore Township most of her
life, will turn 90 years old on Aug. 16, 1997.

To celebrate this occasion the family is hosting an open house on
Sunday, July 27th from 1 until 4 p.m. at 2400 Mixer Road, Hastings, MI.

No gifts please.


AUDREY TOBIAS
DOWLING--Audrey Tobias, 79, of Dowling, passed away Saturday, July 25,
1992 at her home.

Mrs. Tobias was born on August 30, 1912 in Assyria Township, Barry
County, the daughter of Aubrey and Inez (Ford) Swift.  She grew up in
the Lacey area and attended the Dunham School.

She worked at Orchard Industries and the Viking Corporation in Hastings,
retiring in 1976.

She enjoyed flower gardening, her horse, Velvet, making needlecraft
gifts for her family, and long telephone visits with her dear friend,
Loretta Cuyler.

She was married to Mason Tobias.  He preceded her in death on March 10,
1986.  They lived their entire married life in the Dowling area.

Mrs. Tobias is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Forest and Kay
Joy Tobias of East Leroy; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jo Ann and
Charles M. Davis of East Leroy, and Judy and John Decker of
Prairieville; nine grandchildren, Traci, Tammi and Tom Tobias, Cam and
Debbie Davis, Ralph Decker, Cathy Sears, Beverly Dussia, Marcia Wilson;
five great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are three brothers, Garwood
Swift of Battle Creek, Ralph and Darwin Swift of Lacey; two sisters,
Irene Myers of Manistique and Juanita Yarger of Hastings.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Glen and Orson
Swift; and sister, Lois Williams.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 28 at Williams Funeral Home,
Delton with Reverend Elmer Faust officiating.  Burial was in Dowling
Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart Fund or Faith United
Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Obituary from pg. 6, The Hastings Banner, Thursday, July 30, 1992


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., April 13, 1989]\
NINA MARSHALL

MARSHALL--Nina Marshall, 78, of 22500 O. Drive North, died Tuesday,
April 4, 1989, at the Provincial House after a three month illness.

Mrs. Marshall was born on July 23, 1910 in Hastings, the daughter of
Will and Mabel (DuBois) Tobias. She moved to the Marshall area in 1932.

She was married to Doyle Marshall in Barry County. She was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Lee Center Methodist Church and also attended
the Rice Creek Community Church.

Mrs. Marshall is survived by one son, Garth Marshall of Marshall; two
daughters, Eunice Coday of Marshall and Dawne Cooley of Bend, Oregon;
two brothers, Arthur Tobias of Battle Creek and Gaylord Tobias of
Hastings; four sisters, Ellen Gerard and Alice Dodge, both of Hastings,
Thelma Schlyer of Bellevue and Addie Carpenter of Battle Creek; nine
grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Doyle in 1974 and one daughter,
Barbara in 1982.

Funeral services were held Friday, April 7, 1989 at the Craig K. Kempf
Funeral Home, Marshall with Rev. Ralph Blackburn of the Rice Creek
Community Church officiating. Burial was at the Rice Creek Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.


[The Marshall Evening Chronicle, Friday, February 15, 1974, pg. 2]
MARSHALL SERVICES SET FOR SUNDAY

Doyle B. Marshall, 66, 22500 O. Drive North, died unexpectedly at his
home Thursday morning.

He was born February 23, 1908 at Nashville to Glenn and Hattie (Shoup)
Marshall. At Hastings he married Nina Tobias August 19, 1931. She
survives him.

Other survivors are a son, Garth D., of Vicksburg, three daughters, Mrs.
Jack (Dawne) Cooley, La Habra, Calif., Mrs. Robert (Barbara) Fishbaugh,
N. Hollywood, Calif., and Mrs. Jerry (Eunice) Coday, Albion, and nine
grandchildren.

He is also survived by four sisters, Mrs. Edward (Lowave) Bailey,
Augusta, Mrs. Sophie Parks, Kalamazoo, Mrs. Jack (Rachel) Bottomly,
Battle Creek, and Mrs. Delbert (Marvel) Hartwell, Vermontville, and
nieces and nephews.

In 1933 he moved here from Hastings. He was employed by Eaton Corp. for
33 years, before retirement in 1968.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Court Funeral Home.  Dr.
Clyde H. Wilcox will officiate and burial will follow at Dowling
cemetery.


[The Reminder, Hastings, MI, Tues., March 18, 1997]
ARTHUR E. TOBIAS
BATTLE CREEK - Arthur E. Tobias, age 73, of Battle Creek, passed away
Thursday, March 13, 197 at Battle Creek Health System after a brief
illness.

He was born in Hastings, the son of Will and Mabel (DuBois) Tobias.

Mr. Tobias served in the United States Army during WWII in Europe. 
After that he returned to Battle Creek and was employed by Eaton
Manufacturing for 43 years.

He enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He also enjoyed
gardening, ice fishing and hunting.

Mr. Tobias married the former Helen G. Babic on August 9, 1942.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Merton, Wilbur and Mason
Tobias; one sister, Nina Marshall and a great grandson, Michael Tobias.

Mr. Tobias is survived by his wife, Helen; three sons, Michael A., Terry
D. and David L. Tobias all of Battle Creek; two daughters, Denise M.
Cipcic of Lansing and Cherrie L. arl of Battle Creek; twelve
grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; four sisters, Alice Dodge of
Hastings, Ellen Gerad (sic) of Hastings, Thelma Schlyer of Bellevue and
Addie Carpenter of Battle Creek and one brother, Gaylord Tobias of
Hastings.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 17, 1997 at Royal Funeral Home,
Rev. William M. Drew officiated.

Interment took place at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to AMVETS.


[Obituary from Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public Library, Hastings, MI]

OBITUARY
Mellburn J. Newton was born April 10, 1875 in Baltimore township and
died at his home in Hastings on July 23, 1937, aged 62 years, 3 months
and 13 days, death being due to asthma.  In December, 1899 he married
Lois Fry of Baltimore.  Four children were born to them, Sterling,
Clair, Dorr and Beulah Lehman, all of Battle Creek.  He was married to
Ola Covey of Grand Rapids in June 1911 and one daughter, Jessie Brown,
now of Battle Creek was born.  Mrs. Newton died in May, 1933, and on
September 14, 1936 he married Dora Arnold of Hastings.  He was a kind
and loving husband and father, always thinking of others.  Surviving
besides the widow, five children and six stepchildren are four
grandchildren, two sisters, Clara Thompson of Chicago and Lottie Bell of
Nashville; a half sister, Bessie Eurich* of Grand Rapids and many other
relatives and friends.  The funeral was held at the Leonard funeral home
on Sunday at 2:30 o'clock the Rev. L. L. Dewey of Grand Rapids
officiating.  Interment in Valley Home cemetery.

*Per Pat Britton of Battle Creek, Bessie was remarried to a Tibbetts
after Mr. Eurich died.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Dec. 4, 1947, pg. 8, col. 2]
MRS. LOIS A. ALTMAN

Funeral services for Mrs. Lois A. Altman, 66, were held at the Leonard
Chapel on Monday at 1:30 PM, the Rev. Howard Fuller officiating.  Mrs.
Altman, a life long resident of Baltimore township, died at her home
near Dowling on Friday.  Her parents were the late George and Josephine
Fry, early residents of Baltimore.  For many years Mrs. Altman was an
active member of the Dowling Methodist church and was interested in
every community project.  Surviving are her husband, Otis, three sons,
Sterling and Clare Newton, Battle Creek, and Dorr Newton, Climax, and a
daughter, Mrs. Beulah Cunningham, Chicago; five grandchildren; three
great grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Frank Cox, Downer's Grove,
Ill.  Interment was in the Dowling cemetery.


[The Hastings Banner, Wed., May 10, 1933, pg. 3, col. 7]
OBITUARY

Ola Hart was born to Rodman and Laura Hart March 1, 1876 in Chicago,
Ill, and passed away May 4, 1933, at her home in Hastings at the age of
57 years, 2 months and 4 days.

In 1902 she was united in marriage to Claude Covey.  To this union two
children were born, a daughter who passed away in infancy and one son,
Richard.  Mr. Covey passed away October 10, 1910.

In the year of 1912 she was united in marriage to Mr. Melburn J.
Newton.  One daughter was born to them.  She is survived by the husband,
one daughter, Jessie, at home, and the son Richard.  Also two sisters,
Mrs. Mary Jackson of Grand Rapids and Mrs. Della Stauffer of Cal, and 4
stepchildren, Mr. Sterling Newton, Clare Newton, Dorr Newton, and Mrs.
Beulah Leamon (sic), all of Battle Creek, and a host of friends who will
mourn her departure.


Clara Ada NEWTON. Born 13 Jul. 1877 in Dowling, Barry Co., MI. Died 20
Nov. 1958 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Buried 22 Nov. 1958 in Woodlawn
Cemetery, Forrest Park, IL. Religion Methodist. 

[The following are excerpts from a letter written 15 August 1991 by Ruth
Ann Toxopeus]

"As I'm sure you know, Michael, Steven (otherwise known as Mike & Steve,
my brothers) & I spent most of our summers with Grandma & Grandpa.  My
dad was sick & unable to work when we were in grade school.  I was [in]
3rd grade or so & the bakery Dad worked at offered Mom a job.  She
continued to work after Dad was well & we needed a place to be in the
summer.  Anyway, I have lots of memories.  The swing in the maple tree. 
The lilacs up at Aunt Ruth's.  The lily-of-the-valley under the shrub by
Grandma's front door.  The profusion of sweet peas Grandma grew in an
old tractor tire out front.  Hollyhocks & rhubarb growing by the barn. 
Picking big, fat red raspberries with Rosie early in the morning while
the grass was still wet with dew. Helping Aunt Ruth freeze corn & having
it every night for supper.  Listening to the adults play canasta at
night after we kids had been sent to bed.  Remembering how mad Grandma
Tom got when Mike beat her at Canasta.  He was 9.  She was furious. I
think Grandma (Stadel) was secretly tickled that her grandson was so
bright.

"Eventually I learned to play canasta too, but not with Grandma Tom. 
She would come out in the summer & help cook & can, etc.  I don't
remember seeing her smile or laugh.  You can't tell from the black &
white picture you have, but she had strawberry blonde hair.  Nearly
white when I knew her, but light red until she was quite old.  Grandma
always thought that's where Steve Barry got his red hair.  That's about
all I remember except her constantly yelling at us to not bang the door
& quit letting flies in.  Of course, we were kids & didn't remember much
or mind too well.
----------------------------------------------------
FORMER RESIDENT DIES IN CHICAGO

Mrs. Clara Newton Thompson, 81, a former resident of Barry county and
the mother of Mrs. Roy Stadel of R3 Hastings, died Nov. 20 at the
Methodist Old People's home at 1415 Foster avenue, Chicago, 40, Ill.

Funeral services were held at the chapel at the home on Nov. 22 at 11
a.m.  Burial was in Woodlawn cemetery in Chicago.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Thompson is survived by two sons,
Albert of Eddison Park, Ill., and Henry Thompson of Villa Park, Ill.;
nine grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Lottie
Bell, of Nashville.

Since the death of her husband in 1942, whom she married on Feb. 28,
1905, she has spent the summers with her daughter and the winters in the
Methodist home.  Mrs. Stadel spent four weeks in Chicago helping to take
care of her mother at the home.

Mrs. Thompson was born at Nashville on July 13, 1877, the daughter of A.
C. and Eliza Newton.


Obituary of Lottie Newton From The Hastings Banner, 2 June 1960
(OBITUARY) - FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. BELL TO BE HELD TODAY, JUNE 2,
1960, "THE HASTINGS BANNER

Mrs. Lottie Bell, 78, died Tuesday morning at the Rest Haven
Convalescent Home in Nashville, where she had made her home for about 9
months.

Born May 23, 1882, in Dowling, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Adelbert C. Newton.  She lived in Maple Grove until she was 7 years of
age [1889], then moved to Laramie, Wyoming, returning to Maple Grove at
the age of 16 [1898].

On September 22, 1909, she married Joseph Bell in Maple Grove Township,
where the couple lived on a farm until 14 years ago, when they retired
and moved to Nashville.  Mr. Bell died several years ago.

Mrs. Bell was a past president of the Woman's Literary Club, a member of
the Nashville Garden Club, the Methodist Church, and the Esther Circle.

Surviving are three sons, Lee of Lansing and Paul and Albert of
Nashville; 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. this Thursday from the Vogt Funeral
Home, with the Rev. Keith Pohl officiating.

Burial will be in the Wilcox Cemetery, Maple Grove Township.


[The Nashville News, 3 Dec. 1953, pg. 1, col. 5]
SERVICES HELD MONDAY FOR JOSEPH A. BELL

Joseph A. Bell, 73, of 312 Washington St., died Saturday afternoon in
Pennock Hospital, where he had been a patient for six days.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Otto Funeral Home,
with the Rev. E. F. Rhoades of Gladwin officiating.  Burial was in
Wilcox Cem., Maple Grove Township.

A retired farmer, Mr. Bell had spent most of his life in this
community.  He was born Dec. 1, 1879, at Bunker Hill, NY, the son of
Robert and Isabelle (Cook) Bell.  On Sept. 22, 1909 he married Miss
Lottie Newton.  They farmed in Maple Grove Twp. until 1928, when they
moved to Battle Creek.  In 1946 they bought a home here and moved to
Nashville.

Surviving besides his wife, Lottie, are three sons, Lee of East Lansing,
Paul and Albert of Nashville, a brother, Howard, of Bakersfield, Calif;
a sister, Mrs.. Fred (Mary) Clement of Los Angeles, Calif; a half
sister, Katherine Holmes, also of Los Angeles; and 11 grandchildren.


[The Kalamazoo Gazette, Tues., April 15, 1980, D5, col. 7]
HENDERSHOT, MRS. GLADYS E., 521 Clinton, passed away April 13, 1980 at
Bronson Hospital.  Mrs. Hendershot was born June 28, 1888, daughter of
Charles N. and Electa Tobias and had been a resident of Kalamazoo since
1917.  She was a rural school teacher and a member of the First United
Methodist Church.  

Surviving are a son, Bruce T. of Seguin, TX; 6 grandchildren; 1 brother,
Floyd N. Tobias of Kalamazoo; a sister, Mrs. C.N. Brown of Ft.
Lauderdale, FL.  A son, Burrell M., passed away in 1972 and a daughter,
Doris in 1917.  Friends may call at the Truesdale Williamsburg Chapel,
445 W. Michigan, where services will be held 10 AM Wednesday, Rev.
MacKelly officiating.  Interment in Cedar Creek cemetery.



[The Hastings Banner, Wed., Aug. 31, 1910, pg. 1]
CRAIG-YOUNG

A very pretty wedding was solemnized by the Rev. C.M. Duryea Wednesday
evening, August 24, at 607 E. Bond street when Miss Nellie Young,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Young, was united in marriage to Mr. Mark
Craig.

The bride and groom's home was furnished ready for the event also to
continue housekeeping.  The beautiful presents received by the bride and
groom were evident of the high esteem in which they are held by their
many friends.  Only near relatives were present.


Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public Library, Hastings, MI
Obituary of Albert Craig, Hastings--Albert Craig, 69 of 604 E. Thorn
Street died Tuesday afternoon.  He suffered a heart attack while raking
leaves at home and was found to be dead when taking to Pennock
Hospital.  He had suffered a heart ailment for several years.  Mr. Craig
had been a pattern maker for Viking Corp. here for 39 years when he
retired in 1957.  He was a veteran of World War I, and a past commander
of the Laurence J. Bauer Post No. 45, American Legion.  Mr. Craig was
born in Barry County, son of Thaddeus and Ida (Tobias) Craig and was a
lifelong resident of the county.  He was married April 29, 1919, to
Gertrude Ieins, who survives, as does a daughter, Mrs. Donald (Doris)
Chase of Grand Rapids, and three brothers, Clair, Virgil and Carl Craig,
all of Detroit


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., April 23, 1970, pg. 1, col. 4]
BEN CRAMER DIES
Services for Benjamin F. Cramer, 77, Nashville, who died Sunday, April
19, at Pennock Hospital, were to be held at 1:30 p.m. this Wednesday at
Vogt Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife Elpha, and a sister, Mrs.
Rena Hoisington of Nashville.

Card of Thanks signed by Mrs. Ben Cramer, Rena Hoisington, & Mrs. Ethel
Allen


[The Hastings Banner, Dec. 22, 1904, pg. 11, col. 3]
NORTH MAPLE GROVE

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tobias and Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Mills attended the
funeral of their nephew, little Edwin Cramer, of Hastings, Monday.


[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., Aug. 11, 1960, pg. 5, col. 3[
MRS. EARL TOBIAS OF R1 NASHVILLE WAS CROWNED BARRY COUNTY CHAMPION
CANNER

Mrs. Tobias won 18 Blue Ribbons, including the top awards for her
huckleberries, plums, red raspberries, yellow string beans, whole beets,
sliced beets, greens, peas, raspberry jam, bean pickles, whole beet
pickles, quartered beet pickles, bread and butter pickles, cucumber
pickles and "any other" kind.
-------------------------------------
[The Reminder, Hastings, Tues., July 23, 1996]
CLARIE M. TOBIAS

NASHVILLE--Clarie M. Tobias, age 89, of Nashville, passed away Friday,
July 19, 1996.

She was born February 14, 1907 in Helena, Ohio, the daughter of Lloyd &
Ludie (Naylor) Fisher.

She attended Hastings Center Country School and graduated from Hastings
High School.  She graduated from Barry County Normal in 1927 and taught
school at Quimby & Hendershott Schools from 1927-1930.

She married Earl Tobias on June 8, 1929 at Nashville and he preceded her
in death December 26, 1971. 

She worked at Charlton Park for 21 years as Registrar and Clerical
Assistant, retiring April 30, 1996.

She was a member of the Peace United Methodist Church, the Home
Extension Group, the Nashville Garden Club, Womens Christian Temperance
Union, was a church school teacher, 4-H leader for 20 years, and
treasurer for the United Methodist Womens Group at Peace.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, growing flowers, and raised sheep.

She was also preceded in death by son, Carl Tobias; granddaughter, Jane
Ann Tobias; sister, Gladys Farrell.

Mrs. Tobias is survived by daughter, Gertrude Tobias of Nashville;
daughter-in-law, Geraldine Tobias of Nashville; grandchildren, Laurie
Tobias, Carl Tobias, Jr., Brice Tobias, and Carmen; great grandchildren,
David Tobias & Mellissa Lynn Tobias; sisters, Ida (George) James of
Hastings & Ethel (Frank) Kilmer of Hastings; sister-in-law, Hilda
(Robert) Tobias of Nashville; several nieces, nephews & cousins.

Memorial service was held Monday, July 22, 1996 at the Peace United
Methodist Church in Nashville with Reverend Steven Reid officiating.

Burial was in Barryville Cemetery in Nashville.

Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity/Barry County,
Love Inc., or charity of one's choice.

Arrangements were made by Maple Valley Chapter-Genther Funeral Home of
Nashville.


ANNOUNCE MARRIAGE--Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. Moore announce the marriage of
their daughter, Miss Fern Helen Moore to Basil Ira Tobias, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Ira Tobias, the single ring service being read on Wednesday,
June 18 at 10 o'clock in Hastings by the Rev. A. A. Butterfield. 
Attending the bridal couple were Miss Wilhelmina Pranshka and Merle
Tobias.  Mr. and Mrs. Tobias are at home on his father's home near
Dowling.  [Found in Bull Scrapbook at Hastings Public Library, Hastings,
MI]
________________
[The Hastings Banner, 11 July 1991]
TOBIASES TO CELEBRATE 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Basil and Fern Tobias of 6200 Cedar Creek Road, Delton, will celebrate
their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 14, at the Hope Township Hall, 5463 S. Wall Lake Road
(M-43), Hastings.

Hosting the open house will be their children and grandchildren, Wilma
and Duane Hamilton, Dan and Dawn, Wausau, Wis.; Eugene and Linda Tobias,
Brian and April, of Hastings; Kendall and JoAnne Tobias, Marvin,
Heather, Sarah and Amy, Hastings; Sherry and Patrick Cusack, Jennifer,
Randy, and Katie of Freeport.

Basil Tobias and the former Fern Moore were married June 18, 1941, at
the Methodist Parsonage in Hastings by the Rev. Albert A. Butterfield.

The presence of relatives, friends and neighbors is the only gift
desired.


TOBIAS-PRANSHKA--Miss Wilhelmina Pranshka, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Pranshka of Hastings, route 5 and Merle Tobias, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira
Tobias of Dowling were united in marriage at Hastings on Saturday, May
2.  Rev. Albert Butterfield of the Methodist circuit officiated and the
young couple were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Basil Tobias.

Mr. and Mrs. Tobias are residing at the home of the groom's parents near
Dowling.  They have the best wishes of their many friends as they start
their life together.  [found in Bull Scrapbook, Hastings Public Library,
Hastings, MI]
_____________________________________________________
TOBIASES CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Merle and Wilhemina Tobias celebrated their golden wedding anniversary,
with a family dinner, given by their children, at the Stage Coach Inn.

They were married in Hastings, on May 2, 1942.  They have four
daughters, Mrs. Larry (Linda) Brovont of Lawton; Mrs. Bert (Darlene)
Keizer of Hastings; Mrs. Terry (Marilyn) Dale of Marshall; and Mrs.
Stephen (Jody) Felder of West Virginia.

50th Wedding Anniversary Announcement in The Hastings Banner, 14 May
1992


[The Reminder, Hastings, Tues., June 25, 1996]
TOBIASES CELEBRATE 35 YEARS
Toby and Louise Tobias will be celebrating their 35th wedding
anniversary on  July 7th.  They have six grandchildren (sic), 5
grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.  Their children will be
hosting a pig roast in their honor and also Louise's birthday on July
7th at 1 p.m. at Barry Township Hall in Delton.  Your presence should be
the only gift.


MRS. LAWRENCE TOBIAS
PRAIRIEVILLE--Mrs. June Tobias, 38, wife of Lawrence Tobias of
Prairieville, died at a Plainwell hospital at 4.05 a.m. today where she
had been a patient since Wednesday afternoon.  She had been in poor
health for several months.  She was born June 5, 1920 in Baltimore
Township, the daughter of Frank H. and Pearl (Biddleman) Roush and had
resided in Prairieville for 16 years.  She was married to Mr. Tobias on
March 25, 1938 in Hastings.  She was a member of the Prairieville
Methodist Church, the Ladies Aid Society of the church, the Rebekah
lodge and the Lent Sunshine club.  Surviving besides her husband are
three sons, Bernard of Prairieville, Larry Lee and Archie Earl, both at
home; one grandchild; her parents, living in Doster; a brother, Frank
Jr. of Route 1, Hickory Corners; two stepsisters, Mrs. Charles Jacobs
and Mrs. Wilbur Fye, both of Grand Rapids.
----------------------------------
[The Hastings Banner, Thurs., March 12, 1959, pg. 3, col. 7]
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR JUNE TOBIAS HELD ON SUNDAY

Services for Mrs. Marjorie June Tobias, 38, of Prairieville, who died in
the hospital at Plainwell at 4:05 PM Thursday, were held at 2 PM Sunday
at the Prairieville Methodist Church, with Rev. Laurence Waterhouse
officiating.

Burial was in the Cressy Cem.  The body ... in the Henton-Smith Funeral
Home at Delton until time for services.

Mrs. Tobias had been hospitalized only one day but had been in failing
health for several months.

She was born June 5, 1920, in Baltimore Twp., the daughter of Frank and
Pearl (Bidleman) Roush.  She married Lawrence Tobias on March 25, 1938
in Hastings.

For the past 16 years they had lived in Prairieville.  She attended the
Prairieville