Margaret French was the daughter of George French and Sally Freeman/French/Moore. She was born on a farm in the St. Lawrence Co. Ny where the land is very rocky and not a lot of dirt, minimal farming was done there. Margaret and her family came to Plainfield in 1847, then to Cannon and the Algoma areas later. When her father George died, her brother Zerah took the family to Grand Rapids, stayed the winter and then moved on to Big Rapids where they were the first settlers of that area. Not long, probably a year or so people started to settle in around them and then a mill went up. Margaret was one of the women who carried mail from Big Rapids to Grand Rapids. Joseph and Margaret had only one child born to them Henry Bird Abdell who is also buried in this same cemetery. Not long after Margaret died Joseph married her younger sister Emily French-Peterson. They were together until Joseph died, then Emily was with Henry until she died.
This is her obituary:
Death of Maggie French Abdell
The news of the death of Mrs. Maggie Abdell brings grief to many hearts today; and especially does the news bring grief to the publishers of this paper, who have become so well acquainted with her during the years of her connection with the PIONEER as the Morley correspondent. Indeed, she had grown to be one of us, and the news of her death is received with deep sadness. The older residents of Big Rapids will remember Mrs. Abdell as Maggie French, whose people were among the early settlers of this city; and many readers of the PIONEER will recall the articles on "Big Rapids Thirty Years Ago," written by Mrs. Abdell in '84. Many are the hearts that will be saddened today on hearing of the death of this truly Christian woman, whose life was one of usefulness.
The following brief sketch has been furnished the PIONEER by a friend of the family:
Maggie French was born in the State of New York on the 14th of Dec., 1844, and at the age of 21 years was married to Joseph S. Abdell, with whom she lived a little more than 21 years. The greater portion of her married life was spent in this state. Every one who knew her had the fullest confidence in her Christian purity and integrity of character. She possessed many superior qualities and always had a kind word and a cheerful smile for all.
Her death occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 7, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Berry, at the M.E. Church in Morley. She was followed to the grave by her mourning husband, little son and two sisters - Mrs. Dr. Cook, and Mrs. Peterson - besides a goodly number of sympathizing neighbors and dear friends who keenly mourn her loss. But we feel that our loss is her gain. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and it is a blessed comfort that her friends will meet her again, where she is safe from disease and decline, and where there shall be no more death. May the blessed Jesus comfort her mourning friends.
This is her obituary:
Death of Maggie French Abdell
The news of the death of Mrs. Maggie Abdell brings grief to many hearts today; and especially does the news bring grief to the publishers of this paper, who have become so well acquainted with her during the years of her connection with the PIONEER as the Morley correspondent. Indeed, she had grown to be one of us, and the news of her death is received with deep sadness. The older residents of Big Rapids will remember Mrs. Abdell as Maggie French, whose people were among the early settlers of this city; and many readers of the PIONEER will recall the articles on "Big Rapids Thirty Years Ago," written by Mrs. Abdell in '84. Many are the hearts that will be saddened today on hearing of the death of this truly Christian woman, whose life was one of usefulness.
The following brief sketch has been furnished the PIONEER by a friend of the family:
Maggie French was born in the State of New York on the 14th of Dec., 1844, and at the age of 21 years was married to Joseph S. Abdell, with whom she lived a little more than 21 years. The greater portion of her married life was spent in this state. Every one who knew her had the fullest confidence in her Christian purity and integrity of character. She possessed many superior qualities and always had a kind word and a cheerful smile for all.
Her death occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 7, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Berry, at the M.E. Church in Morley. She was followed to the grave by her mourning husband, little son and two sisters - Mrs. Dr. Cook, and Mrs. Peterson - besides a goodly number of sympathizing neighbors and dear friends who keenly mourn her loss. But we feel that our loss is her gain. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and it is a blessed comfort that her friends will meet her again, where she is safe from disease and decline, and where there shall be no more death. May the blessed Jesus comfort her mourning friends.
Margaret French was the daughter of George French and Sally Freeman/French/Moore. She was born on a farm in the St. Lawrence Co. Ny where the land is very rocky and not a lot of dirt, minimal farming was done there. Margaret and her family came to Plainfield in 1847, then to Cannon and the Algoma areas later. When her father George died, her brother Zerah took the family to Grand Rapids, stayed the winter and then moved on to Big Rapids where they were the first settlers of that area. Not long, probably a year or so people started to settle in around them and then a mill went up. Margaret was one of the women who carried mail from Big Rapids to Grand Rapids. Joseph and Margaret had only one child born to them Henry Bird Abdell who is also buried in this same cemetery. Not long after Margaret died Joseph married her younger sister Emily French-Peterson. They were together until Joseph died, then Emily was with Henry until she died.
This is her obituary:
Death of Maggie French Abdell
The news of the death of Mrs. Maggie Abdell brings grief to many hearts today; and especially does the news bring grief to the publishers of this paper, who have become so well acquainted with her during the years of her connection with the PIONEER as the Morley correspondent. Indeed, she had grown to be one of us, and the news of her death is received with deep sadness. The older residents of Big Rapids will remember Mrs. Abdell as Maggie French, whose people were among the early settlers of this city; and many readers of the PIONEER will recall the articles on "Big Rapids Thirty Years Ago," written by Mrs. Abdell in '84. Many are the hearts that will be saddened today on hearing of the death of this truly Christian woman, whose life was one of usefulness.
The following brief sketch has been furnished the PIONEER by a friend of the family:
Maggie French was born in the State of New York on the 14th of Dec., 1844, and at the age of 21 years was married to Joseph S. Abdell, with whom she lived a little more than 21 years. The greater portion of her married life was spent in this state. Every one who knew her had the fullest confidence in her Christian purity and integrity of character. She possessed many superior qualities and always had a kind word and a cheerful smile for all.
Her death occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 7, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Berry, at the M.E. Church in Morley. She was followed to the grave by her mourning husband, little son and two sisters - Mrs. Dr. Cook, and Mrs. Peterson - besides a goodly number of sympathizing neighbors and dear friends who keenly mourn her loss. But we feel that our loss is her gain. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and it is a blessed comfort that her friends will meet her again, where she is safe from disease and decline, and where there shall be no more death. May the blessed Jesus comfort her mourning friends.
This is her obituary:
Death of Maggie French Abdell
The news of the death of Mrs. Maggie Abdell brings grief to many hearts today; and especially does the news bring grief to the publishers of this paper, who have become so well acquainted with her during the years of her connection with the PIONEER as the Morley correspondent. Indeed, she had grown to be one of us, and the news of her death is received with deep sadness. The older residents of Big Rapids will remember Mrs. Abdell as Maggie French, whose people were among the early settlers of this city; and many readers of the PIONEER will recall the articles on "Big Rapids Thirty Years Ago," written by Mrs. Abdell in '84. Many are the hearts that will be saddened today on hearing of the death of this truly Christian woman, whose life was one of usefulness.
The following brief sketch has been furnished the PIONEER by a friend of the family:
Maggie French was born in the State of New York on the 14th of Dec., 1844, and at the age of 21 years was married to Joseph S. Abdell, with whom she lived a little more than 21 years. The greater portion of her married life was spent in this state. Every one who knew her had the fullest confidence in her Christian purity and integrity of character. She possessed many superior qualities and always had a kind word and a cheerful smile for all.
Her death occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 7, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Berry, at the M.E. Church in Morley. She was followed to the grave by her mourning husband, little son and two sisters - Mrs. Dr. Cook, and Mrs. Peterson - besides a goodly number of sympathizing neighbors and dear friends who keenly mourn her loss. But we feel that our loss is her gain. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and it is a blessed comfort that her friends will meet her again, where she is safe from disease and decline, and where there shall be no more death. May the blessed Jesus comfort her mourning friends.
Family Members
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