Obituary provided by the Monroe County [Michigan] Historical Museum, newpaper name not recorded, dated July 30, 1915. ************************************************************************* FRANCIS FAY, who has been sick for several months from the infirmities of old age, passed away peacefully on Friday morning at 8 o'clock, July 30. 1915, removing from our midst one of the oldest settlers in this part of Monroe County. Mr Fay was born in Huron township, Wayne county, September 9, 1828, and died at the advanced age of 87 years 10 months and 21 days, being the last one of his father's family. When a young man he shouldered his ax and made his way on foot to the Northern pine woods, and after several months of hard labor he managed to save out of his earnings $250. Proposing to make his own way in the world he returned on foot to this part of the state, and with his fund of $250 he purchased the 80 acres in Section 1 of Exeter township, now owned by his son Dan. That part of the county at that time was a dense wilderness and the farm that Mr fay selected had not been touched by ax of settler in any way. Mr Fay's first team was an ox team, horses being too scarce, and in those days, on account of bad roads or no roads, it was common when visiting neighbors , for the men to walk and the women to ride in the oxcart. Deceased often spoke of his fishing trips with the Indians. He settled on the farm in 1847, and many others took up the farms in that section who have passed to the great beyond these 20 or 30 years, leaving Mr Fay the unique distinction of being the original and honored pioneer of this section. He was married in Huron township to Charlotte D Brown at the home of Enoch Chamberlain March 19, 1854. This union was blessed with ten children, six sons and four daughters. Two daughters died in infancy and two sons, William E Fay and Perry C Fay died in manhood. The surviving children left with the bereaved wife are: Dr O J Fay, Carleton, Mrs John Pryor, Belleville, Charles F Fay, Isle of Pines, Cuba, Mrs Dr. J D Hamilton, Detroit, Dan Fay, Exeter, Robert Fay, Detroit; he also leaves 20 grand children, and 7 great grand children, and Mrs Fay retired from the farm August 28th 1896, and since that time have made their home in this village. He was a man of sterling qualities and devoted to his home. He has often remarked that his long life and good health these many years were due to his clean habits for he neither chewed or smoked tobacco or indulged in intoxicating liquor of any kind. The funeral which was held in the M E Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 was largely attended. The service was conducted by Rev C D Finch, pastor of the church. Burial at Carlton Cemetary. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com