Birch - John Hays
JOHN HAYS BIRCH
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 13 Sept 1955 p 1
John Hays Birch, 86, retired Crawfordsville businessman, who for more than half a century was identified prominently with the business life of this community, died Monday at 11 p.m. at jhis home, 408 E. Main St. He had been seriously ill two months. Born Sept 28, 1868, at Lexington, Ky, Mr. Birch was the son of William H. and Elizabeth Hays Birch. e was twice married first to Myrtle Mae Huffman Oct 8, 1891. The second marriage was to Esther Mills Aug 12, 1944. Two years after his first marriage, Mr. Birth, together with a cousin, John Birch, founded the Birch & Birch Machine Shop, 1001 E. College St, with which he was associated 49 years. The building in which the shop was housed is now a part of the Plastene Corp. paint. From 1942 until 1950 Mr. Birch was associated with RR Donnelley & Sons of this city. Mr. Birch was a member of the First Methodist Church and Crawfordsville Elks Lodge. Surviving are the widow; a son, Dwight Birch of Trenton, NJ; two stepchildren, Mrs. Christina Blacker of this city and Jimmy Mills of Keystone, Va; a brother, Charles Birch of Pacific Palisades, Calif; a sister, Mrs. Clementine Justus of Tucumcari, NM; and two grandchildren, Thomas H. Birch of Trenton, NJ and Sharon Hays Goodwin of San Francisco, Calif Funeral services will be held at 2 pm. Thursday at Hunt & Son Funeral Home, followed by burial at Oak Hill Cemetery, Rev. Donald McMahon of the First Methodist Church will be the officiating minister. Friends may call at the funeral home - kbz