John C. Belles, the esteemed citizen and for thirty-five years one of the principal merchants of our village, passed away at his home in this village last Monday morning.
Mr. Belles had been ill from a complication of heart and liver troubles for the past two years and for almost the entire winter has been confined to his home.
The funeral was held at the late residence at one o'clock Wednesday afternoon, the services being under the auspices of Orion Lodge No. 46 F. & A. M., of which the deceased was a member. Rev. Stedman, who was also a fraternal brother officiated, preaching from the text:
"But it is written, Eye hath not seem, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."I Cor. 2.9
Handsome floral pieces from the Orion business men, the various societies and a profusion of flowers from the friends denoted the esteem in which the deaprted was held here in Orion where his business and social life had been spent. The various business places were closed from noon until three o;clocl.
At the cemetery the beautiful and impressive ritual work of the Masonic order was exemplified and the remains laid to rest in the snow-clad "Evergreen" of which Mr. Belles was one of trustees at the time of his death. Funeral director E. P. Schiele had charge, while the bearers were the following Maccabee brothers: J. C. Nelson, Durr Taylor, George W. Bradford, J. J. Thurston, George Close, Guy Lyon, H. S. Beemer and Arthur Lambertson.
The deceased was born at Romeo, Sept. 24, 1854, (his parents being Samuel W. and Eliza Benjamin Belles), and was one of a family of five boys and one girl, William H. and Nellie Belles Kline, now living, and Andrew J., Alson and George L., deceased.
At the ag eof 12 years he removed with his father's family to the Belles homestead located on sections 4 and 5 of Oakland Township his education was acquired in the home district school and at the Orion school after which he successfully taught district schools in Orion and Brandon townships.
On Sep. 1, 1878, he was married to Mary Porritt, of this place, who survives him. He is also survived by one daughter, Mrs. george Joyce of Detroit, and two sons, J. L. and Linton A., both being business associates, two children lost in infancy.
In the spring of 1875 the deceased formed a partnerhip with his brother, the late Andrew J. Belles, under the firm name of Belles Brothers, and started a grocery business in the Groover building on Market street on the site of the present store of William Shoemaker. Soon after they added a stock of clothing and dry goods. In 1878 the firm purchased David Conn's stock of hardware, which line they added to their business, moving the hardware stock from the old Conn stand, where the Ostrom building now stands, to the "Boss store," so called, now owned by Michael Cribbins, on Flint Street.
In 1881 the brothers began the work of construction of the large brick block where the present business is located, at the corner of Flint and Market streets, during the construction of which they occupied the building now known as the Grange Hall.The new store was completed so that the firm moved to their commodious quarters in the fall of 1881.
his brother, Andrew J., died in March 1908, and nearly a year ago the two sons, J. L. and Linton, were taken into the store business under the firm name of J. C. Belles and Sons.
Mr. Belles had held almost every office of trust in the village, having been repeatedly elected to the office of president, treasurer, clerk and councilman. He had at various times been a member of the board of education and one of the trustees of Evergreen Cemetery, being treasurer of the board at the time of his decease.
In the fraternal orders his membership was with the Masons, Eastern Stars, Maccabees. Loyal Guards and Ben-Hurs. In the Supreme Order of the maccabees he carried a $2,000 certficate and he was beneficiary in the Michigan Branch for the same amount. While in the Loyal Guard, his insurance was $1,000 and in the Ben-Hurs, $1,200.
A trusty and upright citizen, a sterling friend, a kindly husband and affectionate father has gone, and the community join with the family in their sorrow.