Thomas
Draper, Once a Blacksmith here, Died in Michigan
The
Calidonia News, a paper printed in Calidonia, Mich., publishes in last
week's issue an account of the death of Thomas Draper, a former
resident of Simcoe.
He
was very well known here in fraternal circles, being a prominent
Oddfellow and later a Mason. Before leaving here he conducted a little
blacksmith shop in the North Ward.
He
was a brother of Fred Draper, a carpenter, who recently moved from
here to Niagara Falls. The deceased's wife was a sister of Frank Smith, North Ward.
The News
prints the following:
"Thomas
George Draper was born in Simcoe, Ont., on February 11, 1854, and died
October 21, 1915., in his 62nd year. He was the oldest son of the late
George and Priscilla Draper, and was married to Sarah E. Smith on
December 20, 1876 in Simcoe, Canada, coming to Michigan in 1879. He
leaves besides the widow, three daughters, Mrs. E. Stebbins of Martin,
and Misses Mayme and Gladys Draper of the city; one brother and other
relatives to mourn his loss. Funeral services were held at his late
home, 507 Cass avenue, Grand Rapids, Saturday afternoon, under the
auspices of Hathaway Lodge, Rev. J. T. Husted officiating. Mr. Draper
was a Mason and Oddfellow for forty years, and a Modern Woodman twenty
years. A hot of friends regret his untimely demise."
