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Another Old Settler Called

Another Old Settler Called image
Parent Issue
Day
7
Month
November
Year
1889
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Oü Monday morning, Hod. Jo n GeddeF, one the very oldest pioneer settlers of Ann Arbor and of Washtenaw c )unty, passed from his long labors on this earth to eDJoy a well-earned rest "beyoad the river." Mr. Geddes had nearlv reached the npe oíd age of four score and ten, and enjoyed remarkable health uutil about year ago, at which time he came from his farm to thi city, to the residence of C C. Church on W. Ssventh-st., where be died. "UrfCftTJohn" Geddes, as he was familiarly,known, was born in Londonderry tuwnship, Lubanon county, Pa., in March 1801. Hiá education was obtained m a common school in his native township, and was not very extensive, as he was obliged to leave school when 14 years old. He beoame possesed with the desire to settle in the broad west and assist in opening up this undeveloped county. In the suuimer ot 1824 he landed at Detroit, having made a tedious passage across Lake Ene on a steamer, and landed at what is now the city ot Arm Arbor on July 14, 1824. The country luited hiin and he purchased a quarier-section of land near by and soonater returned to his native state. Iq the following spring he returned tb Ann Arbor in oompany with his irother Robert, and both purohasod land in Ann Arbor township. The land that John purchased and settled on then, was the same farm that he lived on unlil a short time ago. His brother built a san - Ánill and he worked for him lor a time, afterwards runhïrg the mili himself. It is related that during the 39 years that he ran this mili, no man' bat ïum-elt cut a board theru. Ha wanted to hold the mili anothe'r j'ear and make a clean record of 40 years, but the Michigan Central wanted his property and he finally sold itto them. Mr. Geddes wás married in 1837 to Mits P'nnny Sivage, three children beint; born to them, two girls and a son, the latter being now dead. After the death of his wife in 1855, Mr. Geddes married her sister, Juliette Savage, in 1856. In politics Mr. Geddes was a strong republican, and served his party as a memoer of the legislature, supervisor and justice of the peace. "Uncle John" was a remarkable man in many ways, and will be missed grealy. His physical and mental faculties were wonderlul, and his honesty and uprightness were proverbial. TJutil a short time before hie last illness it was no uncommon thing for him, although past 80 years of age, to walk from his farm to this city and back again, a distant of seven or eight miles. He was peculiar in his business transactioDS and would never take a penny not bis due. Ile was honest hiniself anü believed that everybody else was the saaie, aa instance ol his faith in human nature beitig shown by the fact that he used his hal for a bank and always carried large eums of money under the band. Mr. Greddes retained full control oL his mental faculties until the last. He selected as the pall-bearers for his funeral, his old friends and neiebbors whoserved - H. K. White, I. N. S. Foster, Adam Schlee, H. Hicks, George Kash and D. L. Godfrey. Tne luneral services were heli at the Preèbyterian church yeslerday afternoon at two o'clock, the remaius being placed in Geddes cemetery to which place they were tollowed by a large number of riendt.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register