The Clinton Independent, St. Johns, MI  Feb. 4, 1897

ISAAC F. CRESSMAN DEAD.

Another Old Pioneer Has Abandoned the Things of This Life 
and Responded to the Summons From the Master.

After months of gradual wasting away of this earthly form of man, at about
10 o'clock on Monday morning last, February 1, 1897, death, through the 
influences of a combination of troubles, prominent among which was stomach
and kidney troubles, closed the earthly career of Isaac F. Cressman, for many
years a resident of this (Bingham) township.  Some time ago he left his 
extensive farm in the south part of this township and came to St. Johns 
for the purpose of giving the younger members of his family better school 
advantages.  He purchased a home in the Edward Brown addition, in the south 
part of the village, where he died.  Had he lived until the 23rd of March next, 
he would have been 58 years of age.  Ten children survive him, two of whom 
are married.

The deceased was an intelligent man, but owing to his continued poor health,
was not as successful in the affairs of this life as he otherwise would have 
been.  He was the oldest son and child of Abram J. Cressman, a native of
Northampton county, Pa., in which state his early ancestors settled as early
as 1642, coming from Bremen, Germany.  The grandfather of the subject of our
sketch - John Cressman - served in the war of 1812 and was son of a Revolutionary
hero.  Isaac was well connected, his brothers, five in number, all being highly 
educated and useful men in the world - one a Lutheran minister in Pennsylvania,
two Congregational ministers in Nebraska, one a Lutheran minister in Erie county, Pa.
Melinda, now Mrs. Knoll, of Bethleham, Pa., is the only surviving sister.

Isaac was reared on a farm, and when 14 years old entered a boarding school
at Easton, Pa.  After graduating there he entered the Seminary at Allentown, Pa.
He prepared to enter the class of the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg,
but owing to the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, his plans were 
changed.  He offered his Services in the Union army in 1861, but was rejected 
on account of his poor health.  In the fall of 1861 he came west and located at 
Pontiac, this state, and taught school at Auburn for two years.  In 1863 he came
to St. Johns and purchased land in this (Bingham) township, which he sold 
two years later and then purchased the farm of 360 acres, which he owned 
at the time of his death and which is situated in the southwest part of this 
township, and on which not a stick of timber was cut at the time of purchase,
but which is now nearly all cleared and improved.

In 1864, Mr. Cressman was united in marriage with Mary E. Colby. a resident 
of Pontiac, who died in 1872, leaving three children, Isaac, Nellie and Frank.  
His second marriage took place in 1873 with Teressa Lance, who was a native of
Wayne county, Ohio.  By this union seven children were born to them, being 
John, Edward, Edmund, Melinda, Ralph, Ethel and Clyde.

Mr. Cressman was a Republican, and during his residence here held a number 
of the township offices, among which was School Inspector, Member of Board 
of Review, and Drain Commissioner.  He also did more or less surveying. 
He was a member of several secret organizations - Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, Masons, and was a Knight Templar.  He was at one time president 
of the Patrons of Industry of the subordinate association, also president 
of the county association.  He was also a representative from the old Sixth 
Congressional District of Michigan of the Patrons of Industry for North America.
He had been connected with the Lutheran church for many years.  He represented
the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston, from 1867 to 1873, having his
office at Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio.  He always manifested a live and
active interest as a member and officer of the Clinton County Agricultural
Society, and the last time he was out he attended the annual meeting of this 
society at the court house in the early part of January last, at which time he
was in a very feeble condition.  He always manifested a great deal of interest
in the workings and doings of our state and county Pioneer Societies.  
His continued poor health prevented him from making a more complete success 
of the business affairs of this life. 

His funeral will take place from the M. E. Church at 1:30 today, and will be
conducted by the Masonic Order, and all that belongs to earth of this well known
citizen will be laid to rest in the South Bingham cemetery, near the poor farm.