Post by Pat (Friend) Thompson on Jun 10, 2006 18:34:47 GMT -5
Josiah Grant Friend, aged 68, of Swanton, a member of one of the pioneer families of Garrett County, died in Memorial hospital, Cumberland, on Tuesday morning, March 4, following an illness of about nine months. He had been a patient in the hospital since Monday. Born in Swanton, March 11, 1872, a son of Andrew Grant Friend and Mahela Ringer Friend, he had spent most of his life in that community as a farmer. He married Mary Jane Sweitzer, of that community, and had he lived until next Christmas the couple would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Fourteen children were born to this union, twelve of whom survive: Mrs. E. W. Shaw and Leslie C. Friend of Keyser; Arthur Friend, of Mt. Lake Park; Mrs. Geo. G. Beckman, James William Friend, Grant Friend, Lemuel Friend, Mrs. Hayward Custer, Sherman Bruce Friend, Harland B. Friend, all of Swanton; Mildred and Chester, at home. Also surviving are 36 grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Jerry Sweitzer and Miss Mollie E. Friend, Swanton. Mr. Friend was a member of the U. B. church at Swanton; and also was a member of the Garrett County Sportsman's Association and White Pine Camp No. 10, Woodmen of the World, Swanton. Funeral services are to be conducted from the Methodist church in Swanton on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Rev. G. W. Fraker, of McHenry, officiating, assisted by Rev. W. B. Orndorff, of Loch Lynn. Interment will be in the George cemetery near Swanton. ___Obit hand dated 1941