Monday, May 23, 2011

1899 W.W. Starkey's Death

The sad news of the death of W.W. Starkey of Saginaw, was received by J.C. Ellsworth on Thursday morning and was a shock to this entire community in which he lived for many years and was so well known. He died on Wednesday night.

The above article was published in The Fowlerville Review a week earlier, then the following obituary, taken from the Saginaw Evening News, with additional commentary at the end by G.L. Adams of the Review, was found in the paper:

Wm.W. Starkey Dead~~W.W. Starkey died last evening at his home, 1005 Genesee Avenue.

Probably no announcement will come as a greater surprise to the community at large than this one. It was not generally known that Mr. Starkey was in ill health and no one had an intimation that he was dangerously sick. The illness, which had such a sudden termination last evening was contracted about a year ago when Mr. Starkey suffered an attack of the grip. It was not an unusually severe one at the time but he was unable to shake off the effects. He recovered sufficiently to be about and for some time has been traveling quite extensively in the hope that he would soon recover his old-time vigor. In this he failed to find the relief sought and gradually heart trouble came on and complicated matters. His sudden demise was the result of an attack of heart failure. A leader in the city's business circles, his death comes as a sad blow to the community and in private life there are hosts who feel his loss keenly.

Deceased was 60 years of age. He was born in Swanzey, N.H., at which place he spent his early youth, coming to Michigan at the age of 22 years and settling first in Vernon. Afterwards, he lived in St. Louis and Fowlerville. He came to Saginaw seven years ago, and as he himself often said he found the place and the people so pleasant that he decided to make his permanent home here. He engaged in business in Saginaw, and has remained here since that time, a prominent figure in the business and social circles of the city. He was president of the Palmerton Woodenware company and his was the guiding hand which brought success to this large industry. He was also a member of the police board, at one time.

As a business man and a citizen, he was known for his uprightness and integrity, and for his sterling principles. He was the kind of man who does good to everyone with whom he comes in contact and to the community in which he lived.

He leaves his wife, two daughters, Mrs. F.G. Palmerton and Mrs. A.W. Norris, and a sister, Mrs. Lucy Tafft, all of Saginaw.~~Saginaw Evening News, Dec. 21.

He came to this place in 1872 and began the manufacture of shook, employing in the shop andn woods at times as high as 75 men and was thus identified with the early interests and prosperity of this village and much to do with its early growth, also the country around about, as he furnished a market for the fine timber which covered many acres and which he worked up into heading and shook.

This community will sympathize with the bereaved family in their affliction and sorrow.

The funeral services were held at the house on Saturday last at 1:30 pm and the remains were interred at Saginaw.

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