After the death of his first wife, John B. re-married, 21 Oct., 1873, to Mara Anna Ellsworth, who having had no children of her own, has faithfully supplied the place of mother to Frank and his family. Mrs. L. resides at Farowe and to her we are indebted for
the following :
J. B. Lobdell was born in the state of New York in 1836 and was one of a family of eleven children, seven of whom are still among the living. My husband's parents came to Michigan when he was a year old and settled in Ingham county, and town of Dexter, if I remember right, having been a resident of Jenison for a number of years, and lastly removed to his farm in Georgetown, where he has since resided. He was a man of very quiet demeanor and gentle manners, but underneath that great self-possession lay a warm heart that wakened to the touch of friendship and love, and those who knew him will long remember him as a valued friend.
His health has not been good for some years, and a short illness this summer was followed by a convalescence which his friends hoped would terminate in a recovery. He assisted his son Frank one day in haying, and at eventide took his milk pails and went to the barn to milk. His wife becoming alarmed at his long absence went to see the cause, and found him lying where he had fallen, nearly or quite dead. Thus had the messenger come, silently and without a moment's warning, and wafted his soul to the realms above. The physician pronounced his death due to dropsy of the heart.
Mr. Lobdell was united in marriage to his present wife. Miss Mary Ellsworth, in Greenville, Montcalm county, Mich., October 21, 1873. His death occurred July 6, at the age of 61 years. He leaves a wife, a son, Frank, by his first wife, his son's wife, and
two grandchildren to mourn his departure, with the sympathy of friends on every hand and the promise of a meeting beyond earth's tears and sorrow.
