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Bornyasz Family Tree |
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Bornyasz Unknown Pictures Bronson Brown Riesinger |
This is a reprint of the obituary - reprint found in family archives,
original paper and date unknown but obviously shortly after Sept 4, 1910.
Pioneer Resident Dies on Sunday Eli A. Coleman Passes Away Following Stroke of Paralysis Two Weeks Ago Eli A. Coleman, one of the most respected citizens of Portland and Orange Townships and one of the early pioneers in this section of the state, died Sunday morning at eight o'clock at his home in this village after an illness of a few weeks, dating from the time he was stricken with paralysis on August 19. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon and will be conducted by the Rev. Arthur Trott of the Methodist church. The hour has not yet been set but will be announced later. Burial will be in the Portland. Mr. Coleman was apparently in good health for a man of his years and was around town the day before he was stricken. He showed wonderful vitality to the end but the physicians knew from the first that his death was only a matter of days. Mr. Coleman was born in Jefferson county, N.Y. in Sept. 20, 1827, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Beckett Coleman. They later moved to Ohio, where the son received his early education, but in 1844 came to Michigan and settled in Orange township, then almost a wilderness. The elder Coleman took up eighty acres of timberland from the government and hewed a home out of the forest. A few years after his parents came here, Mr. Coleman went to the north woods and spent three years in the lumber camps. Returning to Orange he bought forty acres of wild land and cleared it up, building himself a home under the most adverse circumstances. In 1855 he was married to Hannah Jane Smith, the daughter of two of the county's early settlers. Two children were born to them -- Ella S. and Ida A., both of whom are now dead. The former was Edward Harwood's first wife. Mr. Coleman was married in 1886 to Macy Lyda and from this union four charming daughters survive. They are Mrs. Will Curry of Portland, Mrs. Roger Smith of Caro, and the Misses Kitty and Esther, who live at home. He served with the First Michigan Engineers during the Civil war, participating in Sherman's march to the sea and other important campaigns. He is a member of John Magarah post. Two years ago Mr. Coleman gave up farm life in Orange and bought a fine home in the village. He came here to spend his declining days in comfort but the call of the farm was strong and he spent much time there, driving back and forth. Mr. Coleman was an interesting conversationalist and often surprised friends with his knowledge not only of current events, but of history as well. He was a genial man to meet and his name will long be remembered as being associated with the upbuilding of this section of Ionia county.
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