Nellie Best Losee Summers Death Certificate

Nellie Best was the daughter of John Landon and Dorothy Emeline (Silverthorn) Best. She was born on February 3, 1860 in near Elgin, Ontario, Canada. In the 1871 Canadian Census she is listed as Ellen Best and is eleven years old. Her parents came to Michigan in 1872 from Ontario Canada. Nellie married Newton Losee when she was 17 years old on August 26, 1877. On the marriage records it lists Forest, Michigan as her home.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Newton, Nellie and Stephen D are listed and they are living in Thetford Township, Genesee County, Michigan. Stephen D is George Stephen. By the 1900 Federal Census, they had ten children; George S (1880). Edmond E.(1881), Mert(1882), Sarah Ann(1886), Frank(1889), Harry T(1890), Grover C(1893), Emeline(1895), Gladys M (1898), Verna B (9 months). Nellie became a naturalized Citizen in 1900.

In the 1910 Federal Census, Newton is not listed in the census but Nellie still states that she is married. She lives in Flint’s Ward 1 on North Sycamore Street and runs a boarding house. She states that she has nine living children of 12 children which she has bore. In a 1916 Flint Directory, Nellie is now listed as the widow of Newton Losee. She is at 510 ½ Mill Street and is still running a boarding house. In the 1920 Federal Census, Nellie is living on 12th Street in Ward 5, of Flint where she is running a boarding house. Frank Losee is the last of her children who still live at home.

I can not be certain when this photo was taken but she looks like a woman who runs a boarding house to me. Nellie was my 2 X Great Grandmother.

On April 23, 1923, Nellie married Charles Fred Summers in Harrison, Clare County, Michigan. They lived in Farwell, Garfield Township, Clare County, Michigan. Nellie died on July 25, 1930 of Chronic Nephritis / Brights Disease/ Kidney Failure. She is buried in Garfield Township Cemetery.

Rest in Peace, Nellie!

Love Jan