William H. Michael (1847-1929)

William H. Michael was a life long resident of Lake County, Ind. being born March 23, 1847 on his father John J. Michael's farm in West Creel Township seven miles west of the town of Lowell, on what is known as the Voltmer farm. It was on this place that four of his five children were born, two dying in infancy. Clifford John age three and Mildred Alice, aged five. He was married in 1872 to Mary S. Morey and continued renting and living there till seven years after his marriage, when bought and came to live on his well known Lake Prairie farm. Becoming tired of farm life he rented his farm and bought and came to live at the present home on Washington St., in the town of Lowell.

Dreading the cold and confinement of the northern winter he decided to recuperate in the sunshine and warmth of the southern climate of St. Petersburg Florida, leaving home with his wife and daughter Jessie at Christmas time for this place. On the afternoon of March 5 he left home in apparently good health for his daily enjoyable pastime at the Mirror Lake city playground, where he had a paralytic stoke and was brought home in so serious a condition that the next day he was taken to the City Shell Mound hospital, where he remained in a semi-conscious condition till his death on March 21, at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 21 days. The following Saturday, March 23 would have been his 82nd birthday.

He was taken to the beautiful Endicott funeral home where in its beautiful parlor a brief service was held in the presence of a few sympathizing relatives and friends. This service was conducted by his former Presbyterian pastor, Rev. J. Simpson, of Crown Point. His remains were sent to his home in Lowell to be taken in charge by Undertakers Sheets and Son and the second funeral service was held in the M.E. church at Lowell. The sermon was preached and service conducted by Rev. Adkins, Presbyterian pastor from Crown Point, assisted by the regular attendant. The music was given by Mrs. Adkins, three solos, "Jesus Lover of My Soul," "Nearer My God To Thee," and "Is It Well With My Soul," the accompaniment played by Mrs. George Foster.

Some forty years ago Mr. Michael joined the Lake Prairie Presbyterian church, where since then his name has remained enrolled with that of his wife who joined in her girlhood.

Interment was made in the Lake Prairie cemetery beside other loved ones gone before. His sudden departure from earthly pleasures to the mysteries of death impressed upon us the admonition and truth of the Scripture passage, "Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."

The immediate relatives left to mourn his loss are a wife, two sons Loren P. and Herbert M., and daughter, Jessie Michael, two grand sons, William C. and Robert E. Michael and grand daughter Mrs. Charlotte Robbins, great granddaughter Rose Mary Robbins, a nephew Earl J. Michael, of Idaho, two nieces, Mrs. Julia Kobelin, of Crown Point and Mrs. Edna Heminger, of Wooster, Ohio, besides other relatives and numerous friends and acquaintances.