Mrs. Helen Barks, one of the pioneer residents of this community, passed away at her home, 404 South Division Avenue. Monday afternoon after a long period of ill health. She was 81 years of age.
Mrs. Barks was born January 18, 1857, in Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, and was one of the nine children of Smith and Mary Ellsworth MacDonald. The family came to Michigan in 1866 and Mrs. Barks received her education in the Hesperia school after which she taught for two years in several of the schools of the county. She was married November 5, 1878, to John Barks, a prominent farmer of Dayton township, who had served in the Civil War under General Sherman in his march to the sea. Mr. Barks died in 1910.
After her marriage the Barks family lived in the Tindall district for many years. They then moved to a farm just north of the Fremont City limits. From there Mrs. Barks moved to the city. Most of her life was lived in Newaygo county but she spent one year with a son on the Pacific coast.
She was the mother of four children, a son, Ralph having passed away several years ago. Those surviving are Gus Barks of Portland, Oregon, Mrs. Hugh Wiltsie of Muskegon, and Miss June Barks of Fremont. She was also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Clara Beck of Springfield, Ont., and Mrs. Emily Sidmore of Otterville, Ont., four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mrs. Barks had been an active member of the Fremont Grange for many years and was a Silver Star member of the order.
The funeral services was held in the afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Crandell & Ensing funeral Home and was in charge of Rev. Stanley Thayer, pastor of the Methodist Church. Interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery.