Susan Walls Clikeman was the daughter of Williams Walls and Grace Dowat Walls, who sailed from Scotland in 1843. They came to a wilderness which was still inhabited by indians and were among the first white settlers in what is now West Bloomfield.
They took up land on Straits Lake, cleared and tilled it and built a home near the one she occupied at the time of her death. She was born there on Feb 9, 1844. she was the eleventh of thirteen children, only one of whom, Mrs. Jean Durfee, of Cleveland, is still living.
Susan Walls lived with her parents until her marriage to J. Allen Clikeman in 1865, when her parents went to Pontiac. Mr. Clikeman died in 1907. Of this union were born two sons, both of who are living.
Her parents in the meantime, sold some of their land, but a large part of it remained in the Walls family. The orgininal farm was recently sold and subdivided, part of it constituting what is now Sandy Beach. The home of Mr. James Walls on Straights Lake and the house in which Mrs. Clikeman died are the only parts of the old farm still in the family.
In 1870 she went back to Straights Lake to a house her parents had built for their declining years and she lived continuously in this house until her death, Jan 13, 1926.
She was noted for her hospitality and her many little kindnesses. She had a host of friends who will miss her cordial welcome and kindly interest. The little cottage, with its pleasant porches, and big oak trees at the roadside are landmarks which will keep her memory green as long as they last.

Miss Ada M. Jewell.