OBITUARY-PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY ADVANCE

Death claimed one of the cities oldest pioneers when Ernest Adrian quietly passed away Wednesday morning. At the time of his death, Mr Adrian was 72 years of age having spent 68* years in Presque Isle county. He was the father of 8 children, all surviving him. The deceased was ill seven months prior to death.

Ernest Adrian belonged to that sturdy stock of German farmers through whose sufferings and hardships made possible the development of Presque Isle County and also the city. Having come to this county at the age of 4* years, Mr Adrian has watched the county emerge from a wilderness to the present state of prosperous farms and booming cities. His death strikes a chord in the heart of every resident who realizes the successfulness with which the old pioneers met the great task which they encountered.

The children were all present at the time of death. They are Mrs Chris Bredow, Mrs August Seelbinder, Mrs Henry Koehler of Anchorville, Mrs William Peetz and William, Edward, Irving and August Adrian of Moltke. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs H Luderman and Mrs John Bruning. Mrs Fred Pruce of Fraser was also here at the time of the death. She is a niece.

Interment will be made at the Rogers cemetery from the Lutheran church of which the deceased was a member. Rev Ross will officiate.

[*Additional notes: There seems to be a discrepancy as to the age at which Ernest came to Presque Isle County. It was probably at the age of 4 that the family emigrated from Germany to the United States, specifically New York State. Ernest would have been about 11 years old when his father, Christopher, entered military service in the Civil War. It probably wasn't for another 10 years or so before his father brought the family from New York to Michigan; first to Macomb County and then on to Presque Isle county when Ernest was in his early 20's.]
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CENSUS: (1880, 1910, 1920)
The 1880 Krackow Township [Presque Isle County], Michigan federal census shows:
ADREN, Ernest, head, age 30, farmer
Augusta, wife, age 28, keeping house
Rachel, daughter, age 7
Lucy, daughter, age 5
William, son, age 3
August, son, age 1

The 1910 Michigan, Presque Isle County, Village of Rogers City Federal Census [E.D. 178 - pages 1A & 1B] enumerated 15 April 1910 by Max C. Kuhlmann shows:
Living on 5th Street
ADRIAN, Ernst, head, 59, maried 37 years, born Germany, to America 1884, Laborer at Saw Mill
ADRIAN, Augusta, wife, 58, married 37 years, 8 children born with 8 children living, born Germany, to America 1886
ADRIAN, William, son, 33, single, born Michigan, parents born Germany, Laborer at Saw Mill
ADRIAN, Eduard, son, 25, single, born Michigan, parents born Germany, Laborer at Saw Mill
ADRIAN, Ervin, son, 17, single, born Michigan, parents born Germany, Laborer at Saw Mill
ADRIAN, Kurth, grandson, 11, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

In 1920 Ernest is living with his daughter, Louise.
The 1920 Michigan, Presque Isle County, Rogers City village federal census [E.D.331 - page 12B] enumerated 15 January by Otto A. Stephan shows:
Living on Fifth Street
SEELBINDER, August, head, 52, born Michigan, parents born Germany, laborer at stone quarry
SEELBINDER, Louise, wife, 44, born Michigan
SCHULWITZ, Erhardt, stepson, 22, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, office time keeper
ADRIAN, Ernst, father-in-law, 69, widowed, born Germany, no occupation
ADRIAN, William, brother-in-law, 43, born Michigan, laborer, roadwork
ADRIAN, Cordy, brother-in-law, 21, single, born Michigan, laborer at stone quarry

CHURCH CONSTITUTION:
Ernst Adrian was the Secretary who wrote in beautiful German script of the constitution of St. John Lutheran Church - Belknap Township. He was one of the founding members of St. John. Other families that show on the original Constutution are: Johann Florip, August Bredow Jr., Johan Bredow, Sr., August Krecklow,