John Calvin Corkins

Notes:

The son of Calvin Corkins (b. 1831 in Van Buren Twp, Wayne County, MI) and Melissa/Malissa Leonard (b. 1839 in Van Buren Twp, Wayne County, MI, d. 1901).

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, November 14, 1952
Vol. 47, Number 29.

Community Mourns Loss of Respected Pioneer Attorney

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon for John C. Corkins, prominent civic leader and Cass City attorney.

Mr. Corkins died at the Pleasant Home Hospital Friday afternoon, Nov. 7, where he had been a patient for three weeks.

He had been a member of the Cass City community for 49 years, coming to Cass City in 1903 as a partner in the Brooker and Corkins law firm.

During his many years here, Mr. Corkins became a respected leader in the community. He served as village president, justice of the peace, postmaster and president of the fair association.

He was one of the original stockholders of the first phone company of Cass City. Mr. Corkins was a member of the Tuscola Count Bar Association and the oldest practicing attorney in the county.

He was born in Ypsilanti May 4, 1873, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Corkins.

He married Miss Minnie Fell October 14, 1908 in Brookville, Penn., and the couple lived in Caro for a short time. Three children, Helen, Ivan and Lucille, were born before Mrs. Corkins died Feb. 5, 1911.

After the death of his first wife, Mr. Corkins married Miss Lena E. Muck March 20, 1912. Five children were born to the couple: Maxine, Jack, Gene, Hazel and Shirley. Mrs. Corkins died Nov. 22, 1931.

He attended Ypsilanti State Normal College and later graduated from Detroit College of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1900. He practiced for two years in Butte, Montana, before returning to Michigan.

Mr. Corkins married the former Gertrude Murphy Oct. 10, 1933.

Surviving, besides his wife, are: five daughters, Mrs. Douglas (Helen) GREIG of Detroit, Mrs. Clare (Lucille) HEWENS of Bad Axe, Mrs. Isaac (Maxine) ALBRANDT and Mrs. Edw. (Shirley) WATTERS, both of Cass City, and Mrs. Ben D. (Hazel) JONES of Shabbona; three sons, Ivan of Sault Ste. Marie, Jack of Detroit and Gene of Cass City; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and one brother, Wilmer of Ypsilanti. One brother and one sister preceded him in death.

Mr. Corkins was at Little's Funeral Home until 2 p.m. Monday, the time of the service.

The Rev. Melvin R. Vender officiated and the final resting place was in Elkland Cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, February 2008)

(Research):Census Listings:

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 18 April 1910
SD 8 ED 113 Sheet 2B and 3A, Stamped 134
52-52
Corkins, John Hd M W 36 M1 6 3/3 Mich Mich Mich Lawyer Atty at Law
Corkins, Minnie C Wf F W 30 M1 6 3/3 Mich England Ohio
Corkins, Helen M Dtr F W 5 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Ivan W Son M W 5 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Lucy T Dtr F W 4 S Mich Mich Mich

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 20 and 21 January 1920
SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 5B
113-116
Corkins, John C Hd M W 46 M Mich Mich Mich Farmer General Farm
Corkins, Lena Wf F W 36 M Mich NY NY
Corkins, Helen Dtr F W 15 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Ivan Son M W 12 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Louciel Dtr F W 14 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Maxine Dtr F W 5 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Lee Son M W 3 11/12 S Mich Mich Mich

1930 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
ED 79-12 SD 11 Sheet 5B
113-113
Corkins, John C Hd M W 56 M30 Mich Mich Mich Mail Carrier RR
Corkins, Lena M Wf F W 46 M28 Mich NY NY
Corkins, Maxine E Dtr F W 15 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Lee C. Son M W 13 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Jean L Son M W 9 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Hazel M Dtr F W 7 S Mich Mich Mich
Corkins, Shirley L Dtr F W 6 S Mich Mich Mich

John married Minnie C. Fell on 14 Oct 1908 in Pennsylvania. Minnie was born on 19 Aug 1879 in Rawsonville, Wayne County, Michigan; died on 5 Feb 1911 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Magdalena "Lena" Elizabeth Muck on 20 Mar 1912 in Tuscola County, Michigan. Magdalena (daughter of Adam H. Muck and Magdalena "Lena" Striffler) was born on 9 Jul 1883 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 22 Nov 1931 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was a graduate of the Class of 1923 of Cass City High School, as noted in an article about the Fiftieth reunion of this class that was published in the Cass City Chronicle, Thursday, September 20, 1972, page 12. At the time she was a resident of Sun City, Florida.

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "Mrs. Douglas (Helen) GREIG of Detroit..."

This may be Helen's husband, Douglas, as listed on the SSDI:

Although Helen Greig's listing on the SSDI showed her last residence as Bradenton, Florida, her granddaughter emailed in October 2010 that Helen had actually been living in Rochester, Michigan for some time prior to her death. In the 1986 obituary of her sister, Lucile Hewens, she is referenced as Helen Smith, of Bradenton. She is also shown as Helen Smith in the 2001 obituary of sister, Hazel Clark.

Family/Spouse: Douglas Grieg. Douglas was born on 28 Mar 1889 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died on 23 Jan 1979 in Sun City, Hillsborough County, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "....Ivan of Sault Ste. Marie..."

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "...Mrs. Clare (Lucille) HEWENS of Bad Axe..."

Obituary
Cass City Chronicle, Wednesday, December 24, 1986, Page Four

Lucile Hewens
Lucile F. Hewens, 80, of Bradenton, Fla., succumbed Dec. 12 at Blake Memorial Hospital.

She was born in Cass City, the daughter of John C. Corkins and Minnie (Fell) Corkins. It was there she spent her early years.

She came to Bradenton 17 year ago. She was the widow of Clare J. Hewens who was publisher of the Huron Daily Tribune at Bad Axe unitl his death. Aug. 8, 1965.

Their two sons, John C. and Clare J. Hewens, her grandson David, together with their wives, died in a plane crash July 3, 1980.

She is survived by three grandchildren, Bonnie Mervak of Plantation, Fl; Alan Hewens o f Alta Monte, Fl; and Rebecca Fisher of Birminghamd, MI. There are also four sisters, Helen Smith, Hazel Clark, and Shirley Watters, all of Brandenton, and Maxine Stephen of Long Lake, MI.

There will be no services. The National Cremation Society, Sarasota Chapter was in charge of arrangements. Interment was in Colfax Cemetery, Bad Axe.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2013).

Family/Spouse: Clare J. Hewens, Sr.. Clare was born on 13 Jan 1904 in Michigan; died on 8 Aug 1965; was buried in Colfax Cemetery, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by ".. Mrs. Isaac (Maxine) ALBRANDT and Mrs. Edw. (Shirley) WATTERS, both of Cass City..."

The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST-1964 reported that Miss Patricia Albrant, granddaughter of Lena Muck Corkins, was going to teach near London, England in the fall. Her sister, Mrs. Ann Priestley, lived in Akron, Michigan and had one son 18 months old.

Volume 28 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 2, 1968, reported that Karren Sue was born in Mr. and Mrs. Lowll Priestley of Akron, Mich on Oct. 29, 1967. Grandmother: Maxine Corkins Albrant.

Judith Muck writes that she was married twice more, but had no children by these subsequent marriages, on 12 May 1972 to Oscar MANZ (3 July 1922-25 Sept 1988 Fort Worth, TX) and on 8 July 1977 to Peter STEPHANSON

Maxine married Isaac Herbert Albrant on 27 Mar 1933 in Ellington Township, Tuscola County, Michigan. Isaac was born on 5 Sep 1913 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan; died on 22 Mar 1993 in Evart, Osceola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "...Jack of Detroit..."

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, June 3, 1965
Volume 59, Number 7, Page 1

Sunday Crash Kills Lee "Jack" Corkins

Lee (Jack) Corkins, 48, Belleville, died Tuesday from injuries suffered Sunday when the hood (at right) of this car flew up and the vehicle slammed into three other cars, injuring several persons. Police have been unable to determine who was driving the car because Corkins has his brother, Gene, of Cass City, were both thrown from the car?.

Registered to Corkins Auto Sales in Cass City, the car crossed the centerline about five miles east of Caro Sunday afternoon when its hood flew up. The care tore into the three cars coming from the opposite direction, injuring five persons, three of them seriously.

Listed in critical condition Wednesday at Hills and Dales was Gene Corkins of Cass City, Jack's brother. In fair condition was Mrs. Fern A. Popp, 46, Caro. Dr. Herbert L. Nigg, M.D., Caro, also injured in the crash was listed as "showing improvement," Wednesday morning?

The autopsy was requested because both men were thrown from the car and deputies have not been able to question the survivor?.Popp and Drull both told sherrif's deputies that they saw the Corkins car coming at them at a high rate of speed with the hood up. All three cars hit by the Corkins car attempted to pull to the side of the road but the Corkins auto was too far into the other lane?.Corkins' auto was completely demolished in the front, but ironically, the hood which caused the accident suffered slight damage.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, March 2008)

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "... Gene of Cass City..."

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, June 17, 1965
Volume 59, Number 9, Page 1

Corkins Succumbs To Crash Injuries

A Cass City man lost a futile two-week fight with death Tuesday morning and became the second victim of an accident that claimed the life of his brother earlier and injured several other people.

Gene Corkins, 44, died early Tuesday morning of pneumonia at Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City. An autopsy performed Tuesday evening revealed that he had also suffered a ruptured bladder, bowel obstructions and a lacerated kidney.

Corkins and his brother, Jack, were in a car that slammed into three other cars on Sunday, May 30, east of Caro, when the hood of their car flew up.

Jack died two days later of multiple fractures to the chest and internal bleeding?..

Funeral services for Gene Corkins will be held today (Thursday) at Little's Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Melvin R. Vender, Pastor Emeritus of the Cass City First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Born September 17, 1920, in Cass City, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John C. Corkins. He served in World War II in the Coast Guard.

Surviving are: a son, John, and two daughters, Susan and Kathleen, all of Flint. Also surviving are five sisters, Mrs. Hazel JONES of Decker, Mrs. Clare HEWENS of Bad Axe, Mrs. Maxine ALBRANDT of Caro, Mrs. Douglas GREG of Detroit and Mrs. Ted WATTERS of Warren, and a brother, Ivan of Sault Ste. Marie.

Interment will be in Elkland Cemetery with full military rites accorded by the American Legion Tri-county Post No. 507 of Cass City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, March 2008)

Gene married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by "...Mrs. Ben D. (Hazel) JONES of Shabbona..."

The September 7, 1963 issue of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST (Vol. 23) reported that Mary Lou Jones, daughter of Hazel Corkins Jones, granduated from Cass City High School and enrolled at the University of Michigan.

The September 5, 1966 issue of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST reported that she had two new grandchildren, Michael Scott, born to Mr. and Mrs. Glen King (Mary Lou Jones) and Paula Jeanne, born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rockwell (Donna Jeanne Jones). . the 1967 issue of the same periodical noted that Mrs. Glen King was teaching at the Willis Campbell Elementary School in Cass City.

Obituary
Cass City Chronicle
Wednesday, February 21, 2001, Page Five

Hazel Clark

Hazel Mae Clark, 78, of Brandenton, Fla., died Feb. 4, 2001, at Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Born in Cass City, she moved to Manatee County from Peck in 1984. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She attended Oneco United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Shabbona.

She is survived by her husband, William R.; five daughters, Mary Lou AGOSTINI of Sanford, Dona Jean ROCKWELL of Snover, Sheila Rae TOVCIMAK of Pittsburgh, Penn,, Rosalie Ann CORK of Indonesia and Carolyn Sue McFAWN of West Bloomfield; three sisters, Helen SMITH of Rochester, Maxine STEPHEN of Long Lake and Shirley WATTERS of Bradenton, Fla; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Benjamin Delos JONES; infant son, Williams JONES; two infant grandsons (children of Paul and Donna Jean ROCKWELL); brothers, Ivan, Jack and Jean CORKINS, and sister, Lucile HEWENS.

A memorial service will be held in Michigan at a later date.

National Cremation Society, Sarasota Chapter, was in charge of cremation arrangements.

Hazel married Benjamin Delos Jones on 2 Dec 1942 in Evergreen, Sanilac County, Michigan. Benjamin was born on 22 Feb 1914 in Evergreen, Sanilac County, Michigan; died on 1 Jun 1960 in Decker, Sanilac County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the November, 1952 obituary of John Corkins, it is noted he was survived by ".. Mrs. Isaac (Maxine) ALBRANDT and Mrs. Edw. (Shirley) WATTERS, both of Cass City..."

Volume 28 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 2, 1968, reported that Andrew Thomas was born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Riley of Warren, Michigan, Grandmother Shirley Corkins Watters.

Her grandson, Danny Riley, emailed Melinda Strong that in March, 2008 that she was currently living in Bradenton, Florida. Her oldest child was Ellen Kay Watters Riley, born May 5, 1945 in Detroit, and a current resident of Casco Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. Ellen was the mother of five children, her youngest Danny Thomas Riley, Jr. being born Nov. 13, 1978, and a resident of Troy, Michigan.

Judith Muck lists her children of Ellen (born May 1945), Nancy, Marsha and Rebecca.

Shirley married Edward W. Watters on 4 Aug 1943 in Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado. Edward was born on 30 Jun 1923 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; died on 7 Nov 1983 in Warren, Macomb County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Likely married to Gail Hewens, who is shown on the SSDI as born 9 Jan 1941 and died Jul 1980. Her social security account was established in Florida, and her last benefit was paid in Saint Petersburg. She is not listed as buried in Colfax Cemetery, however.

Notes:

A 1980 article in the Cass City Chronicle, dated 17 July 1980, page two, indicated that "Mrs. Walter Jezewski and Mrs. Maurice Joos were in Bad Axe July 8 to attend the memorial service in the Methodist church there for Mr. and Mrs. Clare Hewens Jr. and their son and Mr. and Mrs. John Hewens, all of whom were killed in a plane crash. Mrs. Clare Hewens Sr. is a cousin of Mrs. Jezewski. She was the former Lucille Corkins of Cass City.

Family/Spouse: Nancy A. ???. Nancy was born on 7 Jul 1933; died on 3 Jul 1980; was buried in Colfax Cemetery, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]