McClinlic, Michelle {I21} (b. )

Reference: 21

Birth: 31 MAR 1981

Reference: 22

Birth: 23 DEC 1982

Reference: 23

Note: Special Education teacher at Creston High School

Birth: 13 MAR 1955

Reference: 24

Birth: 15 OCT 1990

Reference: 25

Note: Birth Record states he was born in Grant Twp. Marriage Record
states he was born in Victory Twp.

Note: 6:00pm. Died from Heart Attack. No death record on file at
the Mason County Courthouse.

Note: Orton Smith was born in the area known as the plains in Victory
Township. His father died when he was young. Orton and his
brother Charlie Smith (later to become Aunt Esther's husband -
brothers married sisters) built the house that we all remember
and lived there with their brothers, sisters and mother. When
she moved in, Great-Grandma Smith (Mary Etta Reynolds) said
'It's so good to have a place of my own.'
Milton Cornelius Smith's TWIN.
Was a farmer. People would come from all around to have him
cure their sick animals.
Chewed tobacco. Sucked lemon drops.
Smiled alot. Laughed and joked alot.
Belonged to Victory Baptist Church.

Note: Was a lumberjack for years.

Note: Orton would play the harmonica and call square dancing. Teckla
thought it was a sin.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Marriage Returns
Abbreviation: Marriage Returns

Source: (Death)
Title: Death Record
Abbreviation: Death Record

Source: (Burial)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Source: (Burial)
Title: Person
Abbreviation: Person
Author: (?) (UNKNOWN)

Source: (Individual)
Title: 1910 Michigan Census, Mason Co
Abbreviation: 1910 Michigan Census, Mason Co

Birth: 10 JAN 1880 Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan

Event: Type: Land Owner
Note: Bought 40 acres just east of his mom's farm. Farmed with his
twin, Milton, for awhile before Milton moved to Grand Rapids,
Michigan.

Event: Date: 1913
Place: Bordulac, North Dakota
Note: Type: Lived in

Event: Type: Obituary
Date: AFT 20 NOV 1954
Place: Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Funeral Services were held at Victory Baptist Sunday School
with Rev. Robert Luby officiating.

SMITH FUNERAL HELD TUESDAY
Services in memory of Orton A. Smith were held from Victory
Baptist Sundy school Tuesday afternoon with the REv. Mr. Robert
Luby, pastor, officiating.

Mrs. Erving Johnson and Erving Johnson Jr. accompanied by Miss
Jean Swanson, sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Good Night and
Good Morning" during the service.

Pallbearers were Harry Balcom, Dole Thompson, Roy Brown, Arthur
Swanson, Ed Johnson and Willis Cogle. Burial was in North
Victory Cemetery.

The family met at Butler funeral chapel in the morning for a
private service.

Those who came from out of town to attend the funeral were A/2C
Charles Smith of Neubiberg, Germany; Mr. and Mrs. Neal Smith
and family and Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Figgins and family of Mt.
Morris; Mr. and Mrs Giles Smith and family and Mr. and Mrs
Francis Smith and family of Battle Creek; Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Smith and family of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Strader and
John Strader of College Corners, O.; Mrs. Hilda Schmitter of
Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Smith, Bernard Smith, Mrs.
Marion Geigle and Mrs. Neva Brugh of Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Hodeman of Charlotte, Mrs. Emma Johnson, Mrs. Evert
Anderson, Mrs. Helen Drury, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Gwinn, Miss
Minnie Benson, Mrs. Dorothy Greger and Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur
Campbell, all of Manistee; Mr. and Mrs. Orel Campbell of
Fountain and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Miller of Freesoil.

Event: Type: Death RTN
Date: 23 NOV 1954
Note: Was in the hospital from Nov 18 - Nov 20. Received copy of
death certificate from Paul Goodwin Smith.

Event: Type: Directory
Date: 1910
Note: County Directory: 1910-1911
Place: Mason County
Note: Smith, Orton, Section 3, 40 acres, value $400, Victory
Twp, Ludington RFD4.

Event: Type: Directory
Date: 1919
Note: County Directory: €1919-1920
Place: Mason County
Note: €Smith, Orton, Section 3, 40 acres, value $1600, Victory
Twp, Ludington (4).

Occupation: Farmer
Date: 1910
Place: Victory Twp, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Death: 20 NOV 1954 Ludington Memorial Hospital, Ludington, Mason Co, Michigan

Burial: 23 NOV 1954 North Victory Cemetery, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Reference: 26

Census: Date: 19 APR 1910
Place: Victory Twp, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Note: Tombstone says she was born in 1895.

Note: Teckla Larson was born in a log cabin on Town Line Road (what
we now refer to as Uncle Otto's house) across from the
cemetery.
Wouldn't drink milk. 'When Mother weaned me, she weaned me
good.'

Source: (Name)
Title: Marriage Returns
Abbreviation: Marriage Returns

Page: Orton A. Smith and Teckla Larson

Source: (Birth)
Title: Marriage Returns
Abbreviation: Marriage Returns

Page: Says Victory Twp

Source: (Birth)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Says Grant Twp

Source: (Death)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Source: (Burial)
Title: Person
Abbreviation: Person
Author: (?) (UNKNOWN)

Birth: 04 DEC 1894 Victory or Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Event: Type: Moved to
Date: 1968
Place: Clio, Michigan, USA

Event: Type: Obituary
Date: AFT 23 SEP 1974
Place: Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: The first funeral services were held at the Maes-Martin Funeral
Home in Mount Morris. A second funeral service will be held at
Dorrell Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas Cavanaugh
officiating.

MRS. ORTON SMITH
Mrs. Orton Smith, 79, of 10414 Lewis Road, Clio, died Monday at
the Beechwood Medical Center in Flint.

Teckla J. Larson was born Dedc 4, 1894, in Grant Township and
lived in the Ludington area most of her life.

She was married Oct 16, 1912, in Ludington to Orton Smith, who
preceded her in death in 1954.

She moved to Clio in 1968.

She was a member of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church of
Ludington.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Eugene (Iva) Figgins of Mount
Morris; six sons, Otis of Clio, Giles of Battle Creek, Harold
of Hammond, Ind., Francis of Colon, Paul of Ludington and
Charles of Flint; one brother, Otto Larson of Ludington; three
sisters, Mrs. Hilda Schmitter of Milwaukee, Mrs. Esther Miller
and Mrs. Alma Loxen, both of Ludington; 27 grandchildren; 22
great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be hold at 10a.m. Thursday at the
Maes-Martin Funeral Home in Mount Morris.

The body will be brought to the Dorrell Funeral Home where
friends may call beginning at 5p.m. Thursday.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 9p.m. A
second service will be held at 1p.m. Friday at the Dorrell
Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas Cavanaugh officiating.

Burial will be in the North Victory Cemetery.

Religion: Was a member of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church of
Ludington. Was very religious.
Date: BEF 1968

Death: 23 SEP 1974 Beechwood Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA

Burial: AFT 23 SEP 1974 North Victory Cemetery, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Reference: 27

Note: 2:20am. His nurse was Minnie Smith. He had the following
visitors: Emil Larson, Mr. E. Erickson, Mrs. Harrison, Daisy
Young, Mrs. Erickson and Mrs. Mackleroy.

Note: Zip Code 48420

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Source: (Birth)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Source: (Death)
Title: Social Security Death Index
Abbreviation: Social Security Death Index

Birth: 05 SEP 1913 On Erick Erickson's farm, Bordulac, Foster Co, North Dakota, USA

Event: Type: Obituary
Date: 24 OCT 1997
Note: Otis C. Smith, age 84, died Wednesday at his home.

Otis C. Smith was born Sept 5, 1913 in Burdulas, N.D., the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Orton and Tekla (Larson) Smith. He was united
in marriage June 15, 1938, in Free Soil, to Dorothy Lucker and
she survives. He was an active member of the First Baptist
Church of Mt. Morris. He was employed at Ternstedt for many
years, retiring in 1978. He was a member of Union Local 326,
the Half Century Club of Clio and the Home Builders Group.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children,
Carole and husband Gordon Richardson of Clio, Neil and wife Sue
Smith of Clio, David and wife Joyce Smith of Holidaysburg,
Penn., Mark and wife Debra Smith of Northville, Shirley Smith
of Lansing; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; many
nieces, nephews and cousins; five brothers and one sister.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Ruth Smith in
1954, great grandson, Andrew Dodge in 1981, and sister Marie in
1939.

Services for Mr. Smith will be conducted at 1pm Monday at the
Dorrell Funeral Home chapel with Pastor Richard P. Cook
officiating. Interment will be in North Victory Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3 to
6pm Sunday, and on Monday one hour prior to the service.

Occupation: Worked at Ternstedt for many years, retiring in 1978. He was a
member of Union Local 326.
Date: 1978

Religion: Was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Mt. Morris
Place: Mt. Morris, Michigan, USA

Death: 22 OCT 1997 Clio, Michigan

Burial: AFT 22 OCT 1997 North Victory Cemetery, Mason Co, Michigan, USA

Reference: 28

Note: Syphillis

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Otis C. Smith

Birth: 29 APR 1916

Event: Type: Obituary
Date: AFT 04 MAR 1939
Note: Another death ascribed to influenza is that of Mrs. Marie
Strader, 22 formerly of Ludington, who succumbed Sunday in St.
Mary's Hospital. She was admitted to the hospital Saturday
attendants said.

Mrs. Strader resided at 1906 Palace ave sw. Her husband is
employed by the J.C. Miller Co. She also leaves a 10 month old
son. The body was taken to Ludington for services and burial.

Death: 04 MAR 1939

Burial: AFT 04 MAR 1939 North Victory Cemetery, Mason Co, Michigan

Reference: 29

Note: My full name is Giles Orton Smith. I suppose I was named after
Dad. Giles was the name of Dad's cousin, Giles Campbell. As a
child, my nickname was "Red" because I had really red hair. As
an adult I've been called "Red" and "Smitty". I was born on
March 29, 1918 in Victory Township, Mason County, Michigan. I
only had one grandmother who was living, my Grandma Larson. I
loved her as a child. My Grandma Larson was the oldest person
I can remember. She used to speak Swedish with my mom and her
other kids.

I don't think there was a chore that I really hated doing as a
child. We always had enough to eat as we lived on a farm. As
a child we didn't have alot of toys so we played make-believe
or make-shift. I also loved playing softball. I used to walk
to school. My favorite subjects were reading and history.
Reading was always the easiest for me. After school we used to
play in our yard or one of the other kids' yards. I went to
Diamond School in Victory Township, it only went to the eighth
grade, so after I graduated from there I was all through with
school. That was 1932 and I was fourteen years old. I'd
always gotten good grades and I liked going to school because
there were other kids to play with. When I was a child, I
wanted to be a singer.

The summer after I graduated, I worked for some people named
Vivian on a fruit farm just south of Ludington, (many years
later that farm was bought by cousin Phyllis and her husband
Dave.) I worked for the Vivians two summers. They had a tent
set up outside the house for me. I probably smelled bad. Had
a nice two holler at that time.

One or two summers, I can't remember what I did, I probably
stayed at home. In 1935 I lied about my age to get into the
Civil Conservation Corps. They paid very little, but half of
what they did pay went to your parents. We built roads,
planted trees, and built parks. Ludington State Park was
mostly the work of the C.C.C.s. I was in the upper penninsula
for part of the winter. One time a bunch of us from Ludington
were going home, we took the boat across to Mackinac City, no
bridge in those days, we couldn't find a place to stay so we
went to the jail. They put us in a cell and locked us in until
the morning. I don't remember them giving us anything to eat,
but at least we were warm. So I can't say I never spent a
night in jail. Later that winter we were sent to Green Bay
Peninsula Sturgeon Bay Camp. It was very cold. I froze my
toes.

Sometime in those years I spent a few months in Marshall
stocking shelves in the A&P store. How or why I got there is a
mystery to me.

I spent another year in the C.C.C.s at Walhalla and learned
alot about landscaping. If you go by the ranger station in
Baldwin you can see some of my work. I was there when my
sister died. Those years I worked summers on a fruit farm for
people named Meisenheimer. I fell in love with their daughter
Marian. I still try to see Bud Meisenheimer when we come to
Ludington.

After that there were some major changes. Harold was
instrumental in getting me a job as deckhand on the Morton Salt
boat Covalt. This was much different than anything I had ever
done. Suddenly I was a sailor. Then I worked on the Pere
Marquette carferries as a coal passer.

Another big change, in April 1941. Greetings! My first
posting in the U.S. Army was to Fort Custer in Battle Creek. I
was there, fully expecting to get out in about three months,
when Pearl Harbor was attacked, so that was me stuck in the
army until October 1945, in the 5th Infantry. I went to
Iceland for nearly a year. My outfit went to England in the
spring of "43". On a weekend pass to London I met this skinny
blonde kid, we had a few dates, and darn it, I was sent to
Ireland. I managed to get back to London a few more times
before the war got back into high gear. Molly was lovely, cute
and smart. Our first date was in a pub in London. I went in
there to wait while my buddy went to meet his girlfriends
mother. Molly and I got engaged in the upstairs balcony of the
Hammersmith Palace in London when I said, "Honey, let's get
engaged." In June "44" I landed in France. For the next year
I had the grand tour of Europe, France, Germany, Austria,
Italy, etc. After the war in Europe ended I got a leave and
went to London where Molly and I were married July 29, 1945 in
St. Andrew's Church. We had dated for two years. I had to go
back to France, but not for long, and in October came back to
the United States and Uncle Sam let me come home.

A civilian again, I started working for Allen Calculators in
Grand Rapids for a short time. I moved to Battle Creek and
stayed with my brother Frank for awhile until I got settled
working for Oliver Corporation.

Molly arrived in Battle Creek in March of "46" and Jimmy was
born in December. I didn't waste any time! I entered into a
partnership, sewing machine and vacuum cleaner repair. In "49"
we moved back to Ludington and opened a sewing machine
business, couldn't make a living at that, I then went to work
at the foundry. Alan was born in April 1950. That summer we
rented Uncle Emil's old place just south of the home place.

January "51" we came back to the Battle Creek area, once again
staying with Frank until we got an apartment and I went to work
for Grand Trunk Railroad. Later I went to work for Eaton
Corporation, where I stayed until I retired in 1980.

Jimmy died in Tennessee on September 18th 1974 as a result of a
morotcycle accident. He was buried September 23rd and that
night we got the call that mom had died. A bad time for all of
us.

The longest trip I've ever been on on was to Texas in 1980 and
to England and Spain in 1986. My favorite vacation was each
time we went to Florida for three or more months (1981 - 1995).
The one thing I've always wanted to do is to live to be old.
My favorite season is spring and my favorite color is blue. I
am 79 years old. The second son of Orton and Teckla and darn
proud of it... I'm 5'11" tall, I used to have red hair but now
it's white, and I have blue eyes. I have good general health,
although I have a balance problem and can't walk very well. I
also have weak legs and stomach ulcers. I don't attend church,
although I believe in God and the hereafter. I play the
harmonica and I love my garden. I belong to the VFW and the
Masons. I would describe myself as a darn good Democrat, but
I'm conservative as well. The wise advice I would give to a
grandchild is to have lots of kids so that they will take care
of you when you get old.

Most of these times, dates, and places are accurate as I
remember them, but if I made mistakes --- I'll take the fifth
amendment.

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Source: (Individual)
Title: Person
Abbreviation: Person
Author: (?) (UNKNOWN)

Birth: 29 MAR 1918

Reference: 30

Note: What happened in my life since I left the farm. When I was 15
years old, Dad helped me get a job at the Louie Hansen farm on
Highway 31 (about a mile north of Scottville). It was a dairy
farm. So there was a lot to do with cattle. I was serious
about every girl I went with, and there was a girl named
Lorraine Gulumo living right near Sugar Grove which was about 2
1/2 to 3 miles further north on 31. Almost every night when I
got through helping with the milking it was 7:30 to 8:30pm. I
would walk, run or trot down to Sugar Grove to see Lorraine and
would jog back to my job at Hansen's about 11:00 at night, get
a few hours sleep and get up at 4:30am to start the morning
chores. I guess I got to go home to Mom and Dad's farm every
other Sunday. I walked all the way to the farm. I quit the
next spring.

I went to work at the Evergreen Dairy, which was about 2 miles
west. It was owned by Louie Hansen's brother, Charlie. I was
making $3.00 a week for room and board at Louie Hansen's now I
moved up to $36.00 a month for room and board at Charlie
Hansen's. Same type of work, but a lot more cows to milk (of
course, we had milking machines, and now I had a beautiful
spotted thoroughbred Arabian stallion I could ride. His name
was Snort. He was beautifully trained you could ride him
without even using the reins - just whoa, get up, gee and haw.
One incident I remember was that I was chased by a bull. I was
cleaning up the stall, and he was running free in the barnyard.
When I would throw a pitchfork of manure out of the door, he
would act a little surprised. Then when I threw some more
manure, he stampeded the door I was standing in. Fortunately,
I was able to run and climb very fast through the manger
opening where we put his hay into the manger from the hay mow.
He busted the manger when he hit it. I quit shortly after
that.

Giles got me a job on a fruit farm down in Summit Township.
The folks name I believe was Broders. Well, it wasn't too long
after I went to work for them, I was dragging a young peach
orchard with a spike tooth quack gradd drag, and it was filling
up with quack grass. It has 3 sections, and instead of
stopping the horses each time it clogged, I would life it while
it was moving. When I went in for supper at the end of that
day and sat down to eat supper, my hips hurt me. After I had
supper and started to stand up, I couldn't bend my hips. I
called Giles and he took me to a chiropractor the next day. My
spine was 2 1/2 inches out of line. I never went back to the
Broders.

After a few weeks or so, brother Neil was working in Muskegan,
and he had rented an apartment. I joined him and got a job in
a foundry. I think it was called Campbell Wyan Cannon Foundry.
My job was to run a vibrating machine to vibrate cores for the
V-8 engine blocks. I then had to put them on a shelf that took
them down into a heated furnace to treat them. Need I say more
abou the heat I had to work in. I quit and went back to the
farm.

Our dear sister Marie lived in Grand Rapids then, and Jack had
a friend that owned a used car lot at 100 South Division Street
in Grand Rapids. They needed a flunky, so I moved in with
Marie and Jack and took the job. It paid $10.00 per week and a
percentage if I had anything to do with the sale of a car.
They even gave me a car to drive - a 1932 convertible. I loved
it. After a few months, the owner said he couldn't afford to
keep me any longer, so it's back to the farm again. I think I
was 17 at that time.

Neil and Giles both had spent time in the Civilian Conservation
Corps so I joined, too. I spend only 1 hitch (6 months) in the
CCCs. For about half of the time I was just outside of
Escanaba, Michigan, and the last 3 months north of Newberry,
right near Lake Superior. I was promoted to second cook
shortly after I joined. I always liked to cook. Then the 6
month period was up. I got an honorable discharge, and it's
back to the farm again.

I took one day jobs with several farmers in the area. Now I'm
18 years old, and to back track a little, I had a wonderful pal
named Walter Thompson. We were inseperable friends all through
grammar school, and after awhile, we joined the Merchant
Marines. I remember saying if it's good enough for Walter,
it's good enough for me. After he had been a sailor for about
6 months or so, he told me to get my seaman's papers. He
worked on a ship (an ocean-going freighter called Covalt owned
by the Morton Salt Company in Manistee, Michigan). He had been
promoted twice, from a coal passer to a fireman, and was an
oiler when I shipped out on the Covalt. I became a fireman in
due time. Brother Giles shipped out on the Covalt, too. He
got a job in the deck department as a deck hand, and believe it
or not brother Frank spent a small time working on the ship,
too. He worked in the galley. Well, here we go again I met a
girl. Her name was Virginia Valencia. She came from a large
family of 4 girls and 3 boys. She lived just about a block
from the Morton Salt warehouse in Chicago. I met her in a bar
and started to date her immediately. It was only a friendship,
because I was going steady with a girl in Manistee. I thought
of her as my steady. Her name was Margaret Picardie. I even
left my car at her place when the ship was away from it's home
port. These relationships continued for 3 seasons. Margaret
Picardie while I was in our home port and when the ship was
laid up for the winter, and Virginia Valencia when we were in
Chicago for 3 years.

Then I got my greetings from Uncle Sam. WE WANT YOU for a year
of training in August of 1941. I was 21 and drafted into Uncle
Sam's army. I went from Camp Custer (where I was inducted) to
Camp Wallace, Texas (where I got my basic training). I
actually enjoyed the training. It was about 3 months. While I
was there, the army had us assemble all our gear and everyone
that had everything was shipped to the Phillippines. Most of
the men were killed in the Batan Beath March. I was missing my
field jacket so I was not allowed to go. God was watching over
me. I was very lucky, because Laurence and Gladys Smith lived
in Houston, Texas, which was about 35 to 40 miles from the
camp. I'd get weekend passes and stay with them. They were
gracious hosts. The last weekend that I stayed there, we were
sitting and listening to the radio, and this is what came over
it. "All service personnel report back to your military base
immediately, the Japanese have just bombed Pearl Harbor in the
Hawaiian Islands." Little did I know that I would find myself
on that island - Oahu. Within the next 9 months, after basic
training, we were shipped to Camp David, North Carolina. I was
there approximately a month to form an outfit. My outfit
became a balloon barrage company. The barrage balloons were
strategically placed so that no planes flying a straight course
could keep from hitting one. The balloons held 45,000 cubic
feet of hydrogen gas. They were sent up on 1/4 inch cable all
the way into the clouds so they couldn't be seen. The cable
would shear the wings off the enemy planes. Then we were
shipped to Vale, California, Mare Island a military base. I
was promoted to Corporal. Then in July of 1942, I left
California for the Hawaiian Islands. I was stationed on the
island of Oahu as a battery gas man testing the purity of the
gas they used in experimental balloons on a experimental site.
The balloon barrage was disbanded after a couple of years
because it had become too much of a hazard to our own planes.

Then the company was armed with .40 caliber guns and .51
caliber machine guns which shot 4 gusn mounted together
simultaneously. Then one day they loaded us onto a military
ship and moved us to Guam for 14 months. Then day came in the
middle of the night, they woke us up and made us stand in
formation, and the captain stated very enthusiastically, "THIS
G.D. WAR IS OVER." It was then I knew I'd make it home again.
As for getting discharged, according to a point system you
needed 85 points, I had 83 points. By the time they got
replacements down there for us, I had enough. THen 16 days on
a troop ship to California, a ride on a train from California
to Fort Sheridan (north of Chicago), a visit with Virginia
Valencia, a train to Milwaukee, and a car ferry across Lake
Michigan. I located a man who was going to Manistee, and he
said he'd take Stiles Road past the farm for me. I know my
wonderful dad was not psychic, but when that car showed up to
drop me off in front of the driveway, my dad was running out
yelling, "MY BOY, MY BOY, MY BOY." When I think of it, I still
get tears in my eyes. I got the same from Mom, and then I felt
really at home again.

Now I've got to make a life for myself all over again. Frank
was living in Battle Creek, he said why don't Giles and I come
down there and get a job. So Giles and I went to Battle Creek.
Giles rented an apartment, and I got a job with the Kellogg's
Company doing the same thing I did on the boats, a fireman. I
started going to Chicago on weekends to see Virginia. Finally
she convinved me that I should move to Chicago so we could be
together more. She even rented a room for me in the Division
Street YMCA. After I moved there, I was working for the
Commercial Furniture Company, I was a sander operator. Also,
two of my friends and I started our own business, Future
Plastics, Inc. I was working all my waking hours - my day job
and my job making things out of plastic. In the meantime, I
switched to a bigger paying job as a shop maintenance carpenter
for the R.R. Donnelly Company, the world's greatest printer.
The only time I saw Virg was on Sundays. She was constantly
angry with me. I found out she was dating another guy. I knew
where they were one time and I went there and walked up behind
the guy and knocked him out and put him in the hospital with
one punch. The only good thing that happened was that I found
out that Virg was not the girl for me, also she was Catholic
and I was not. In my spare time I was going to the Black Hawks
hockey games at the Chicago Stadium. There was a cute little
blond working where I worked and I was eating lunch with her.
So I asked her to go with me to a hockey game. Of course she
didn't know anything about hockey but she went with me anyway.
That started a companionship that has lasted over 50 years. I
went with Joyce for 18 months before we were married, and we
have been married for 50 years come this November 29, 1997. We
now have 4 children - 2 boys and 2 girls; 11 grandchildren - 7
boys and 4 girls - 4 great grandchildren - all girls.

My livelihood has been made, for the most part, in sales. The
products I've sold are vacuum cleaners, stamps, china,
encyclopedias, etc. I've been in management most of that time.
I am now retired but I have a small shop where I repair
vacuums. Besides living in Michigan in my earlier years, I've
lived in 6 different places - Chicago, Illinois; Miller Beach,
Indiana; Independence, Missouri; and 3 places in Hammond,
Indiana. Our present address is 7209 Delaware, Hammond,
Indiana. We have lived there for about 25 years.

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Source: (Individual)
Title: Person
Abbreviation: Person
Author: (?) (UNKNOWN)

Birth: 11 MAR 1920 Ludington, Michigan

Event: Type: Obituary
Date: AFT 30 JUL 2000
Note: Have.

Death: 30 JUL 2000 Hammond, Indiana

Burial: AFT 30 JUL 2000 Chapel Lawn Cemetary, Crown Point, Indiana

Reference: 31

Note: I left Ludington in July of 1940 with Arnold Peterson to go to
Marshall, Michigan. I worked on a farm south of Marshall until
October of 1940. Then I joined a crew and sold magazines. I
travelled with this magazine crew through the states of
Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Massachusetts,
and New Jersey. This was the years of 1940 and 1941. I left
the magazine crew in Ohio around March.

I got a job working on a Dairy Farm in Ohio. I worked a month
to get enough money to return to Ludington. After I returned
to Ludington, I got a job working on a ship called Covalt owned
by a salt company from Manistee. I worked on the Covalt one
trip to Chicago and other ports. I didn't like the work, so I
quit and went to work for the Pere Marquette Car Ferrys. I
worked on the car ferrys until July of 1941.

In July fo 1941, Bernard Norton and I went to Detroit. Bernard
got a job in Detroit, but I didn't. I had my car, a 1935 green
and white Ford. I left Detroit and travelled back to Marshall.
I had friends in Marshall (Ted Ragina and Arnold Peterson).
Ted worked at Eaton Manufacturing in Marshall. He got me a job
at Eaton's. The date, at that time, was the last of July 1941.

I have lived in this area since then, so that's how I came to
settle in this area.

Note: Francis Alvin Smith was named after his Uncle Frank Clark (his
dad's brother-in-law). He was called Frankie as a child by his
brothers, but he has always gone by Frank as an adult.

Frank was born June 20, 1922 in Mason County, Michigan. The
only grandparent he remembers is his Grandma Larson. He
remembers her as a very loving person who could only speak
Swedish.

As a child, Frank hated cleaning the barn. He doesn't ever
remember a time when he was hungry as a child because his
parents raised their food. His favorite childhood toys were a
hammer and nails and he enjoyed playing softball.

Frank attended kindergarden through 8th grade at the Diamond
Country School. He walked there. His favorite subject was
history because he loved hearing all of the different stories.
Reading always came easy for him. Math was his least favorite
subject. He played softball in school as well.

His friends used to hang out at the Victory Town Hall dancing
and playing pionicle. His father, Orton, used to play the
harmonica and call square dances. His mother, Teckla, thought
that dancing was a sin.

Frank received his GED when he was in the CC Camp. He received
all A's during school and he enjoyed attending school. He
liked playing softball the most but he didn't like cleaning
the barn after school. Frank usually wore a shirt and overalls
when he went to school.

Frank started dating when he was 16 years old. His first date
was with a girl named Lila Gulumbo. He took her to the show in
Scottville. He met the first woman he would later marry, Helen
Elmer, at a dance at Bonnie Belmont in Walhalla. Their first
date was at the Pine in Manistee. They dated for a year before
they got married.

Frank and Helen were married at the Battle Creek Methodist
Church on March 6, 1942. They were married 15 years and were
then divorced. Frank then married Marilyn Joyce Center on July
26, 1958 at the Hanover Methodist Church.

As a child, Frank wanted to be a carpenter. His first job was
working on a ranch south of Custer for Ross Girswold, who was
his last teacher. Other jobs he has had were at Colon
Manufacturing, making aircraft valves. He was a building
contractor from 1960 through 1993. Frank retired when he was
72. He considers himself to be semi-retired, though, as he
still helps out his son with the business.

Politically, Frank would describe himself as being an
Independent. He does feel he is liberal, though, because he
likes to help people who are in need.

Frank never fought in any wars. He is 5'10" tall, had red,
curly hair until it turned grey, and has blue eyes. His
general health is good and he doesn't have any health problems
that would be considered hereditary in nature. His favorite
season is Fall and his favorite holiday is Christmas because it
is Jesus's birthday. His favorite color is green.

He left the family farm when he was 14 years old, living in
Battle Creek for a time and then on a farm halfway between
Colon and Sherwood. He is living where he is today because he
and Marilyn enjoy living in small towns. They don't wish they
lived anywhere else.

Frank and Marilyn attend the Bronson Methodist Church and they
believe in Christ Jesus.

Frank never played any musical instruments, but he enjoys
ballroom dancing and he and Marilyn are DJs on the weekend.

The longest trip Frank has been on was when they travelled to
Iowa to get his daughter, Jackie, when she separated from her
husband. His favorite vacation is going to Ludington to the
Smith Family Reunion every year on the first Saturday of
August.

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Birth: 20 JUN 1922 On the Old Homestead on Stiles Rd, Ludington, Victory Twp, Mason Co, Michigan

Education: 8th Grade Graduation
Date: ABT 1935
Place: Diamond School, Victory Twp, Mason Co, Michigan

Occupation: Got his GED there. Studied carpentry and learned to become a
builder.
Date: JAN 1939- DEC 1939
Place: CC Camp

Reference: 32

Note: My husband and I left Ludington in September of 1952. We moved
to the Flint area, where my husband Gene obtained employment at
the Buick Motor Division. Our two children at that time were
Douglas, who was two years old, and Kristine, who was one year
old.

In June of 1954, we moved to our present address in Mt. Morris.
In 1958 Deborah Kay was born, and later on in 1964, Stephen R.
came bouncing into this world. Our little family of two boys
and two girls was now complete.

I decided to start working and obtained employment at the Flint
Osteopathic Hospital in 1969. I retired in 1990. Gene and I
started spending our winters in Florida and enjoyed it very
much. This past year circumstances were such, because of
Gene's illness, we had to give up on it.

During the years of our marriage, God has been so good to us,
even though we had our hard times to go through. He has been
with us in the bad times as well as the good times. He attend
Hilltop Church of God in Flint, where Gene preaches on
occasion, and where I taught Sunday School for quite a few
years. I enjoy our grandchildren and like to babysit with the
little ones. We have had a good life, and thank God for the
many wonderful things He has done for us.

Respectfully submitted,

Iva

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Birth: 09 APR 1928 Victory Twp, Mason Co, Michigan

Reference: 33

Note: My full name is Charles Leroy Smith. I was named after my
dad's brother. My nickname as a child was Charlie and my
nickname as an adult was Chuck, although my family still calls
me Charlie. I was born in on October 9, 1932 on the farm on
Stiles Road, Ludington, Michigan. I don't remember my
grandparents because they were all dead by the time I was born,
except for my Grandma Larson. The thing I remember most about
her is that she used to always give me oranges when I would see
her.

The chore I hated the most when I was a kid was cleaning out
the barn. My favorite toys as a child were home-built
tractors. I also enjoyed playing hide-and-seek. I attended
1st through 8th grades in a one room schoolhouse while 9th
through 12th grades I attended Ludington High School. During
1st through 6th grades I walked to school, but I rode the bus
after that. My favorite subject in school was math and it was
also the easiest for me. My least favorite subject was
English. I participated in choir. I couldn't participate in
any sports because we didn't have a car so I had to catch the
bus home. I mostly got C's in school. I liked school alright.
I usually wore jeans and shirts to school.

As a child, I wanted to be a policeman. My first job, though,
was on a car ferry in Ludington.

The reason why I left the Mason County Smith farm was because
in February 1952 I entered the United States Air Force,
stationed in Munich, Germany, in which I served for four years.
When I was discharged in 1956, mother Teckla and I decided to
visit my brothers and sister before I went to work. In
February, 1956 mother and I came to visit Otis and Dorothy in
Mt. Morris. I went to a youth banquet at the Mt. Morris First
Baptist Church where I met Margaret Faye Donaldson. We went to
a drive-in movie on our first date. We got lost...

In May, 1956 I moved to Grand Blanc from Ludington and was
married August, 1956 at the Mt. Morris First Baptist Church.
We had dated for 6 months before we got married. I admire
everything about her. The wise advice I would give my
grandchildren would be to love your spouse, work together, be
in love with them and be their best friend.

We have two children, both are adopted: Jonathan C, born
October 29, 1960 in Detroit, and Margaret A., born January 1,
1965 in Flint.

In January, 1963, I moved to my current Flint area home near
Genessee.

I went to work for General Motors and worked for them thirty
years and retired in 1993. In my life, I've been a military
policeman in the U.S. Airforce, a farmer, a GM worker, an
ambulance attendant, a gas station mechanic, and grist mill
operator, and a first aid instructor. I usually worked between
4 and 12 hours per day. I would describe myself as a democrat.
I'm 6' 1" tall, my hair was blonde as a child but now it's
white, and I have blue eyes. I have good general health
although I do have ulcers. We regularly attend the First
Baptist Church in Mt. Morris. I never learned to play any
musical instruments. My hobbies are hunting and bowling. I've
been the President of the Citizens of Cross Road Village and
the President of the Volunteer Ambulance Company. I have won
an award for excellance at General Motors and an award for the
Genesee County Parks. My favorite season is fall and my
favorite color is red.

Respectfully submitted,

Chuck

Source: (Name)
Title: Obituary
Abbreviation: Obituary

Page: Teckla Johanna (Larson) Smith

Birth: 09 OCT 1932

Reference: 34

Source: (Name)
Title: Tombstone
Abbreviation: Tombstone

Birth: 14 NOV 1919

Reference: 35

Birth: 29 AUG 1911

Nickname: Jack//

Death: 12 JUN 1995

Reference: 36

Note: Tradition has it that if one is born within the sound of Bow
Bells one is a real Cockney. So in addition to being a
full-blooded Scot, Molly is also an authentic London cockney.

Birth: 10 DEC 1926 Plaistow District, London, England

Nickname: /Molly/

Reference: 37

Birth: 11 SEP 1927 Chicago, Illinois

Reference: 38

Birth: UNKNOWN

Reference: 39

Birth: 16 SEP 1932

Reference: 40