Fred R. Sayles1

b. 4 October 1867, d. 19 February 1954
Pedigree
FatherOrrin Sayles1
MotherSarah Olmstead1

Copyright Notice

Facts like names, dates, and places cannot be copyrighted, and you are free to use them however you wish. But a narrative is a creative work product and therefore subject to copyright. Unless written permission has been obtained from the copyright holder, all other usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0. You may copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial purposes only, under the following conditions: (1) you must credit the compiler; (2) you must provide a link to the license; and (3) you must indicate if any changes were made.

     Fred R. Sayles was born on 4 October 1867 in Coldwater, Branch Co., Michigan.2,1 He was married by Theron Hudson, Justice of the Peace, to Laura E. Farnsworth, daughter of Henry D. Farnsworth and Julia A. Leary, on 9 September 1897 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.1 He died on 19 February 1954 at age 86, when fire swept through the Shimer Convalescent Home in Watervliet, Berrien Co., Michigan, killing seven elderly residents. The fire occurred around 10:45 PM, apparently started by a portable electric heater near a bed.2,3 He was buried on 21 February 1954 at Watervliet Cemetery in Watervliet, Berrien Co., Michigan.2,4
     He and his wife Laura are listed in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, in the 1900 census.5 Although Fred's obituary says he lived in the area of Glenn, Allegan Co., Michigan, most of his life, he and Laura are listed in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, in the censuses from 1910 to 1930.6,7,8,9 They have not been found in the 1940 census, but at some point they did move to a farm near Glenn.6 About 1951 he moved into the Shimer Convalescent Home in Watervliet, Berrien Co., Michigan, while Laura remained at the farm near Glenn.6,3
     He worked as a machinist in the furniture business much of his life, and later turned to farming.5,7,8,9,2,6

Citations

  1. [S3295] Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940. Record for Fred R. Sayles and Laura Farnsworth, FHL Film 1017877, Image 243, p. 227, Rec. No. 3352.
  2. [S4587] Michigan, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995. Record for Fred R. Sayles, FHL Film 1954930.
  3. [S5385] "Seven Aged Die In Fire, Three Patients, 2 Attendants Escape", The News-Palladium, 20 February 1954, pp. 1,15.
  4. [S1871] Find A Grave. Memorial for Fred Sayles (Mem. No. 128081375), Watervliet Cemetery, Watervliet, Berrien Co., Michigan. Created by Mookie, 16 April 2014.
  5. [S5379] 1900 U.S. Census, Frank R. Sayles household, Allegan Co., Michigan.
  6. [S5384] Obituary, Fred Sayles, The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 20 February 1954, p. 15, col. 6.
  7. [S5380] 1910 U.S. Census, Frederic R. Sayles household, Kent Co., Michigan.
  8. [S5381] 1920 U.S. Census, Fred R. Sayles household, Kent Co., Michigan.
  9. [S5382] 1930 U.S. Census, Fred R. Sayles household, Kent Co., Michigan.