Michigan Obituaries  BERNICE MAY (SEGARD0 SMITH
81, of 611 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon, died Aug. 17, 1994 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. Dale Nelson, associate pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A memoral has been established to Sauk Valley Hospice and St. Paul Lutheran Church.Mrs. Smith was born Jan. 20, 1913 in Grand Rapids, Mich., the daughter of Harry and Katherine (Haaksma) Segard. She married Norman Smith June 30, 1934. He died Feb. 27, 1978. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dixon.Survivors include three sons, Monte (Donna) Smith of St. Paul, Minn., Raymond (Sue) Smith and Jon Smith, both of Dixon; three daughters, Mrs. Joseph (Janet) Hassler and Kristie Smith, both of Dixon, Mrs. Tim (Kathy) Coakley of Estes Park, Colo.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchilden; one brother, Harry Segard, Jr. of Grand Rapids, Mich., and one sister, Jane Dubridge of Grand Rapids, Mich.
LEONARD SWEERIS
Leonard Sweeris, aged 45, passed away Wednesday afternoon November 10, 1937 at the residence, 22 Frank Street N.W. He is survived by the widow, Nellie; one daughter, Lucille; four sons, Alfred, Devere, Arthur and Howard; four sisters and six brothers. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon, private at the residence and later from the First Pilgrim Tabernacle Church. Burial was in Garfield Park Cemetery.
LEONARD SWEERIS
Leonard L. Sweeris was a very avid farmer and was on the business of buying and selling land in Missaukee County. He purchased his farm which was located west of McBain. Here he grew produce to sell to the people in McBain and Lucas. Leonard had a well in front of his house. It was one of the first wells in the area. His son, Nicholas, recalls that the Indians would journey south in the fall of each year passing near the Sweeris farm. They would camp across the road from the house and would get their water from this well. In exchange, the Indians taught the Sweeris about the use of herbs for cooking and medicine. Nicholas sold the farm around 1990, and moved to Grand Rapids and later passed away. Leonard L. Sweeris purchased 60 acres for $300.00 from Gillis McBain on April 22, 1879. The land is located in Section 19. Leonard always felt that oil would be found in the swamp land near the school. He asked the children to keep this land in the family. Oil was found on the land and an oil well is producing oil today. On July 5, 1884, he established the L. L. Sweeris Addition to McBain, formerly known as Owens, Michigan until September 17, 1889. This Addition consisted of 41 lots on Grace and Roland Streets north of Maple Street and next to the school. Leonard sold the lots to the people in the area. He bought other land for the taxes owed and then sold the land later. He also bought land from the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company which then became a part of his farm. Oil was discovered on some of his land so he received additional money to help support his large family. Leonard died on August 14, 1929 at the age of 73 years, 11 months.
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