John Freeman Whitmyer, son of Freeman Forney (1885-1955) and Bessie Belle (Layer) (1886-1964) Whitmyer, was born 9 August 1910, Lowell, Kent County, Michigan. John graduated in 1928 from Okemos High School and married 19 March 1932, Ingham County, Michigan, Naomi E. Wilkins. Naomi was also a graduate of Okemos High School.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 30 March 1932
ANNOUNCE MARRIAGE
Mr. and Mrs. I. A. Wilkins announce the marriage of their daughter, Naomi, to John F. Whitmyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Whitmyer of Okemos. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride's parents, March 19.
John owned and operated Okemos Elevator , located on Okemos Road next to the railroad track, for over two decades. During the World War II he was also very active in civilian defense work in Ingham County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 17 October 1947
OKEMOS ELEVATOR GRANTED $18,000
DAMAGES ASSESSED AGAINST CONSUMERS POWER
A circuit court jury Thursday afternoon assessed $18,000 damages against the Consumers Power company, in favor of the Okemos Elevator company, whose building was destroyed by fire last March because of a defective high voltage wire of the power firm.
Less than two hours of deliberation was taken by the jury before returning the verdict in favor of the elevator company.
The firm had charged Consumers Power with negligence in failing to repair a broken power line carrying 4,400 volts of electricity, that fell on two primary wires leading to the elevator causing the fire.
Consumers were accused of failing to send a repair crew to the elevator after having been informed of the break in the power line. The power firm conceded from the outset of the trial that the broken wire had caused the fire but denied negligence for the break.
The elevator located south of Okemos near the New York Central railroad tracks, was completely demolished by fire on the afternoon of March 25. The building and equipment as valued at $21,000 and its inventory comprising seed and feed which was also lost in the fire, was valued at $12,000. John Whitmyer is manager of the firm.
Fred C. Newman, Lansing attorney, represented the firm in the suit, while Clayton F. Jennings, another local attorney, was counsel for Consumers Power company.
John, a staunch Republican, was heavily involved in local politics during his lifetime. He was elected as a Meridian Township Clerk, Meridian Township Treasurer, Meridian Highway Commissioner, Okemos School Board member and served as Okemos School Board Treasurer. John was known for his integrity and willingness to go above and beyond.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 6 July 1970
The deadline for voter registration in the up-coming August primary has passed and I can't resist sending out congratulations to county, city and township clerks in our area who made special efforts to register senior citizens in nursing homes.
With all the emphasis on youth these days in our country, there is a tendency to forget the rights and needs of some old, wise and sensitive people who find getting to the polls difficult.
Services provided last week by John Whitmyer, Meridian Township clerk, were typical. He went to the Ingham County Medical Care Facility in Okemos and registered 16 persons and he went to the Capitol Grange Senior Citizens Housing Project in Haslett and registered 30 persons. Persons unable to get to the polls will be allowed to vote by absentee ballot.
I may sound a bit overstated, but our democracy wouldn't work too well without persons like Jon Whitmyer.
John and Naomi raised 4 children. John was self-employed in farm feeds, grains and fertilizers most of his working career. He retired from D. R. Briggs & Associates in 1974. John and Naomi celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 1998. John died March 17, 1999. He was interred Leek Cemetery, Okemos. Naomi, born 22 December 1910, Alaiedon Township, Ingham County, died 23 August 2004. She was interred next to John.
1978 Okemos Tomahawk Vol. 50
John and Naomi (Wilkins) Historical Consultants for the 50th anniversary of the Tomahawk (With Grandson, Joseph '78)
1954 Okemos School Board
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 18 March 1999
WHITMYER, JOHN FREEMAN
WILLIAMSTON
Age 88, died March 17, 1999. Born August 9, 1910, Lowell. Mr. Whitmyer owned and operated the Okemos Elevator for 25 years and after closing his elevator, he worked at several different locations including Producers Elevator of Williamston. He was Meridian Township treasurer from 1947-1951 and Treasurer of the Okemos School Board from 1951-1956. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Frederick and Ralph, and grandson, Jeffrey. Surviving are his wife, Naomi, with whom he would have celebrated his 67th Wedding Anniversary on March 19, 1999; 1 daughter, Nancy Carolyn Bengston of Grand Haven; 3 sons, John "Jack" I. of Muskegon, Donald K. of Southfield and Kenneth G. (Karen) of Haslett; 10 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; 1 brother, Richard P. (Rita) of Laingsburg; 1 sister, Esther B. Belbeck of Lansing; 2 sisters-in-law, Juanita Whitmyer of Indiana and Mary Whitmyer of Texas. Memorial services ill be held Saturday, March 20, 11 a.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Williamston Chapel, 205 E. Middle Street, Williamston, with the Rev. Robert Roth, Pastor of Williamston United Methodist Church, officiating.