Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
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Rev. Isaac C. Smallwood
IN 86th YEAR PASSES TO OTHER SHORE
WELL KNOWN OLD TIME RESIDENT
BELOVED BY ALL HAS LONG AND BUSY LIFE
At the ripe age of 85 years, Rev. Isaac C.
Smallwood passed away Tuesday at his home in Billings,
the immediate cause of his death being an attack of
bronchitis. During the last years of his life he had
retained full possession of his mental faculities, and
to a remarkable degree his bodily vigor. Mr. Smallwood
was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, where he
was born Aug 13, 1826. When 10 years old his parents
attracted by the reparts of the western Eldorado
removed with him to the Hocking valley in Ohio. Here
he grew to manhood. The pioneers of that locality
found themselves unable to provide educational
facilities for their children, and his schooling was
limited to 30 days, received after he was 21 years of
age. In 1850 he married Nancy Edgel, with whom he
lived for more than 50 years. She died in November,
1902.
In 1860 he enlisted in the war of rebellion at
Newark, Lincoln county, Ohio. He was a resident of
Nelsonville situated in a secession sympathizing
district. He induced 30 others ot enlist with him. He
held the rank of color sergeant, participated in 22
battles, and was with Sherman 33 days in his famous
march to the sea, as a member of the second brigade,
Kilpatricks cavalry. During the taking of Fort
McAllister he was 4 1/2 days without rations.
At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, where
he was ordained to preach the gospel by the Free Will
Baptists. He came to Gladwin county in 1875, where he
purchased 10 acres of land, which upon investigation
he found to be state land. He then settled at Bear
Creek in Tobacco township, which was at that time a
part of Billings township.
He was elected treasurer of the township, and on
account of the difficulty in keeping clear of trouble
with the famous Billings bond issued at that time he
resigned. For eight years he lived on a homestead on
section 18, in Buckeye township. In 1883 he moved to
Sacarappa in T. 19 1 W., form there to Sage township
and again a resident of Buckeye township, then to
Billings. For 24 years he held the office of justice
of the peace in the various townships in which he has
lived.
Few men are better known in the county than Elder
Smallwood. He has held religous services in nearly
every schoolhouse in the county. The pioneers of the
county remember him as the one on whom they called in
the early days to assist them in burying the dead. It
was he whom performed the marriage ceremony of their
children. It is not given to any to get closer than
the pioneer minister ot the people among whom he
lives.
"Man's life's a book of history; The leaves thereof
are days; The letters, mercies closely joined; The
title is God's praise."
As a pioneer preacher, Mr. Smallwood conducted the
first religious services in the city of Gladwin, then
known as the village of Cedar, on March 31, 1878. The
services were held in the Record printing office,
which had just been built on a site west of the
abstract office. The building burned a few years ago.
Baptismal services followed the meeting in the Cedar
river, just north of the bridge on West Cedar avenue.
To the first marriage eleven children were born, of
whom five sons and four daughters are living, as
follows: George of Saginaw, Ells and John of Hay
township, Matt of Sage, Perrel of Hay, Elizabeth, wife
of J. T. Robinson of Sage, Jane, wife of Archie Boals
of Tobacco, Mary, now Mrs. Hardy of Ohio, and Lucy,
wife of B. F. Dumont of Billings. To a second marriage
one son was born, who survives with the widow. Funeral
services will be held Friday at the Presbyterian
church in this city. Interment at Highland cemetery.
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| Personal Information
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Death Date
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Burial/Final Location
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Service
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4/??/1912
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Highland Cemetery
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SGT. OH CAV CO B 2nd BRIG KILPATRICKS
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| Publication Information
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Pub. Date
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Publication
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Pub. Page
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4/18/1912
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Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
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P:1 C:4
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| Transcription Information
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Date
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Transcribed by
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Source Media
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Summer 2005
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Tom Ladner
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Microfilm
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