YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY A TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY MICHIGAN JUDGE ORVILLE W. COOLIDGE AUTHOR AND EDITOR ILLUSTRATED 1906 THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK YALE PREFACE HE author of the historical sketch, which forms the introductory part of this volume, commenced his task in August, 1905. The historical sketch has been prepared under some difficulties, as the author has been necessarily engaged most of the time in judicial labors. The sources of information have been various. In 1871 a partial history and directory of the county was published by E. B. Cowles. In some respects the work was a very valuable one. The narratives of the earliest settlements of Niles and St. Joseph were in the main evidently full and reliable. In 1881 a combined history of Berrien and Van Buren counties was issued, edited by A. Ellis. This work contained a valuable sketch of the earliest settlements of each township, the material of which was largely derived from interviews with early pioneers. This work has been largely consulted in the preparation of certain portions of the present sketch. The work, however, contained many errors, some of which arose from the fact that the editor had never resided in Berrien county. The author is also indebted for information to the following works : The historical and biographical collections of the State Pioneer Association, consisting of 31 volumes, Journal of Charlevoix, The Jesuit Relations, Histories of Michigan by Lanman and Cooley, Sketch of St. Joseph by D. A. Winslow, History of Trinity Church, Niles. by Rev. Dr. McMurdy, History of St. Mary's, files of Niles newspapers from 1835, reports of the Secretary of the Berrien County Old Settlers' Association, and biographies of Berrien and Cass County personages, published in 1894. For the first time a complete list of the supervisors of each city and township is pre sented. To secure this considerable time and labor were necessary, as large portions of the records of many townships had been lost or destroyed. The author is under obliga tion to the supervisors of the respective townships, to S. B. Miners, our county clerk,- to C. J. Schultz, our county treasurer, and to the clerks of the cities for valuable assist ance in the preparation of these lists. An attempt has been made to portray the growth and development of the county in its industrial features. A brief sketch of its principal manufactories and statistical tables of agricultural and horticultural production are given. The author is especially indebted to Hon. Henry Chamberlain, of Three Oaks, for interesting memoranda and information relating to the early settlement of the southwest ern portion of the county. The author is also indebted for information to the following pioneers, who became iv PREFACE residents of this vicinity before 1835: Isaac Lybrook of Berrien, Wilson Sparks of Ben ton Harbor, Capt. Amos Bartlett of Dayton, Alexander J. Collins of St. Joseph, Mrs. Thos. Huston of Niles, Jas. Kirk of Pipestone, Ezekiel Denniston and John Hatfield of Niles, Nathaniel Hamilton of Buchanan, A. J. Cleland and Mrs. Robert Gephart of Niles, Mrs. Thos. Stevens of Oronoko, Samuel Marrs of Lincoln, Andrew Marrs of Ber rien Springs, and Jas. Claypool of Berrien. In the chapter on "Aborigines and the French Occupation," the author has not relied on previous histories of the county, but resorted to more original and reliable sources of information. More space has naturally been given to the early history of Niles and St. Joseph than" to other portions of the county, for the reason that the commercial and business interests of the county for many years after its first settlement were centered at these two points.. ORVILLE W. COOLIDGE.. TABLE OE CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Nature and Topography , 1 CHAPTER II. Aborigines and Early French Occupation. , 6 CHAPTER III: Early Settlement of Berrien 'County 19 CHAPTER IV. Organization — General Interests and Institutions 24 CHAPTER V. Fruit Culture 55 CHAPTER VI. Berrien County in' the Civil War s 62 CHAPTER VII. ' Niles City 141 CHAPTER VIII. Niles Township 166 CHAPTER IX. St. Joseph Township and City of St. Joseph 171 CHAPTER X. Berrien Township , 192 CHAPTER XI. Oronoko Township : 198 CHAPTER XII. Bertrand 206 CHAPTER XIII. Buchanan Township 213 CHAPTER XIV.^ New Buffalo Township 221 CHAPTER XV. Watervliet Township 228 CHAPTER XVI. Benton and Benton Harbor 232 CHAPTER XVII. Bainbridge 244 CHAPTER XVIII. Pipestone 249 CHAPTER XIX. Weesaw 252 CHAPTER XX. Lake Township 255 CHAPTER XXI. The Early History of Royalton and Lincoln 259 CHAPTER XXII. Sodus 264 CHAPTER XXIII. Three Oaks Township 26 CHAPTER XXIV. Chikaming Township 274 CHAPTER XXV. Galien Township 280 CHAPTER XXVI. Hagar , 284 INDEX Adams, Horace J., 581 Adams, William T., 815 Ager, Charles, 640 Alden, Hial, 545 Alexander, Mitchel, 288 Allen, J. Sherlock, 317 Allen, Israel M., 967 Allen, R. Clarke, 608 Allmendinger, John M., 614 Archer, Davis, 976 Arford, Albert R., 384 Arnt, Daniel C, 904 Atkinson, Robert C., 723 Aumack, Jacob, 982 , Austin, Eugene W., 894 Austin, Stephen M., 418 Babcock, W. Irving, 655 Backus, Edwin I., 649 Bacon, Nathaniel H., 653 Badger, Chester, 846 Bainton, William F., 759 Baitenger, George M., 730 Bakeman, Frederick, 979 Baker, J. J., 693 Baldwin, Omar A. D., 99s Baldwin, Warner M., 326 Ball, James M., 847 Ballard, Otis W., 356 Bardelmeier, Philip J., 853 Barkhouse, William P., 913 Barmore, Salma, 642 Barnes, John E., 957 Bartram, Burr, 690 Batten, Levi, 872 Beall, James M., 587 Beaver, Theodore G., 647 Becht, William, 295 Beckwith, J. T., 752 Bedford, John W., 910 Bedinger, M. S., 864 Beeson, Dix H., 457 Behel, Wilbur F., 465 Beistle, John W., 426 Belknap, Fred R., 365 Belknap, Simeon, 711 Bell, George M., 302 Bell, John, 297 Benson Brothers, 314 Berry, Fanny, 628 Beyrer, Lucas, 291 Birdsey, Abijah, 306 Birkholm, Clarence D., 534 Birkholz, August W., 491 Bishop, John L., 927 Bither, Anson F., 549 Black, George H., 341 Blake, William, 574 Bliesmer, August F., 441 Bliss, Milton J., 567 Boardman, D. L., 509 Bonine, Isaac A., .700 Bort, Harry, 472 Bostick, John C, 371 Boughter, Samuel, 372 Bowe, Prosper O., 501 Bowman, Henry J., 976 Boyer, Dwight, 892 Bracelin, Frank, 635 Brammall, Edward, 388 Brant, Barney H., 676 Brant, Edward, 323 Brant, Ezra, 662 Brant, Nathaniel M., 671 Brant, Porter E., 691 Bremer, William D., 824 Brenner, Jacob, 1006 Brewer, Frank, 774 Bridgeford, George, 363 Briggs, Fred G., 463 Brodrick, Edward, 667 Brooks, John J., 495 B rower, Jacob, ygj Bruce, William L., 418 Bullard, William F., 319' Bullard, William H., 741 Burdick, Stephen V., 398 Burg, John, 827 Burke, John, 736 Burkhart, John, 558 Burton, Edwin, 956 Burton, Henry, 621 Bury, Clellen B., 624 Bury, John D., 438 Butts, Elmer, 572 Butzbach, Benjamin F., 361 Butzbach, Jacob, 888 Butzbach, Philip H., 889 Cady, Alvah P., 381 « Caldwell, Elliott H., 863 : Camfield, William, 663 ' Campbell, Harvey J., 455 Carey, Milton T., 366 Cart, John A., 355 Case, William H., 401 Cassiday, William H., 944 Chamberlain, Henry, 523 Chamberlain, William, 644 Chapin, Claudis B., 377 Chauncey, Albert E., 878 Childs, Theron D., 751 Church, William B., 603 Clark, Aaron, 345 Clark, Charles A., 778 Clark, John, 579 Clark, Roy, 947 Clarke, Ernest P., 718 Clawson, S. M., 890 Claypool, John J., 922 Close, Charles, 505 Collins, 'Eben D., 650 Collins, Fred B., 239 Collins, M. O., 955 Collins, William, 978 Collis, John H., 662 Commercial National Bank, 847 Conger, Frank D., 397 Cook, Fred W., 604 Cook, William, 871 Cook, William H., 970 Coolidge, Orville W., 286 Copeland, Abial C, 738 Corell, George E., 656 Crall, David, 925 Crall, Jacob B., 931 Crandall, Burton A., 984 Cranson, George P., 321 ¦ Crawford, Andrew, 336 • Cribbs, Jacob, 749 ! Cryan, Edward B., 383 ; Cupp, Frank P., 972 '. Curtis, Orville, 346 ! Cutler, Solon, 760 Daigneau, Samuel E., 395 , Dalenberg, Cornelius, 837 ! Damon, Oscar, 419 Dana, Charles E., 937 1 Dana, Eugene C, 680 Daniels, Francis A., 296 ' Deidrich, Fred, 887 I DeMott, John E., 287 Dempsey, John T., 762 Dester, William, 311 Deuel, Abram, 444 Deuel, Joseph J., 458 Dick, John C, 428 Dickerman, Nicholas, 568 Dix, Orrin E., 66r Dix, Rosco D., 719 , Dixon, James W., 351 Doane, Hannah R., 952 Doane, William H. H., 951 Dockter, William C, 705 Dodd, E. S., 339 Dodge, Balaam, 914 Donner, Garey, 883 Dukescherer, Fred, 813 Dukesherer, August, 908 Dukesherer, Peter D., 597 Dunbar, Julius E., 394 Duncan, John F., 733 Dye, Frank Z., 412 Vlll INDEX Eaman, Benjamin J., 697 Eaman, James M., 698 Earl, Benjamin F., 702 East, William W., 424 Edgcumbe, George J., 368 Edinborough, Olive A., 622 Edinger, Jacob L., 746 Edwards, Hiram A., 467 Eidson, Edward D., 841 Eidson, Gilbert A., 862 Ells, Joshua, 592 Ellsworth, Frank H., 701 Ellsworth, Selin B., 389 Emerson, Aden M., 649 Emerson, Moses, 743 Emery, Alexander, 350 Emlong, Henry, 296 Enders, Adam, 876 Enders, Jacob E., 575 Enders, William F., 873 Ericsson, B. O., 496 Esper, Michael G., 621 Farmer, Charles K., 393 Farnum, C. H., 406 Fay, John W., 800 Feather, Daniel T., 794 Feather, Henry A., 808 Feather, Joshua, 848 Feather, Milton H., 810 Feather, William A., Sr., 881 Feather, William J., 984 Felton, Fred, 972 Ferry, Emery F., 791 File, William E., 569 Flewelling, David B., 916 Flood, James, 667 Flood, James H., 460 Flood, Thomas P., 462 Flower, George E., 641 Foeltzer, Helmath A., 380 Forler, George A., 720 Foster, George, 577 Foster, John J., 584 Franklin, Marshall D., 831 Franz, Frederick C, 290 Franz, George L., 946 Freestone, Wilbert D., 688 Freestone, William, 687 French, Alfred O., 471 French, Charles H., 758 French, James E., 487 French, Joseph W., 636 Fulkerson, Frank L., 507 Gard, John F., 597 Gardner, James H., 950 Garland, Edgar F., 342 Garland, Horace W., 705 Garland, J. A., 357 Garr, Abel, 823 Garwood, John, 347 Gaugler, Daniel G. W., 312 Geisler, Fred, 474 Gersonde, H. L., 518 Geyer, Benjamin C., 566 Gibson, John S!, 493 Giddings, Burton D., 535 Gillam, George E., 843 Gillette, Raymond B., 436 Glavin, Maurice, 764 Glavin, Thomas F., 765 Gleeson, John, 553 Glidden, Emory J., 489 Goodenough, Alonzo, 773 Goodwin, Richard M., 480 Gordon, Peter, 494 Gowdy, Frank M., 990 Gowdy, Franklin, 934 Graffort, Phay A., 425 Graham, Edmon A., 658 Graham, George, 714 Graham, Harry K., 866 Graham, William H., 320 Granger, Thomas, 685 Green, Daniel, 375 Green, George S., 334 Green, William W., 408 Green & Company, 375 Greenfield, John, 427 Griffin, Edwin C., 713 Griffin, George, 689 Griffith, Joseph, 565 Groat, Cyrus B., 912 Guy, Juan M., 756 Hall, Alfred R., 486 Hall, Byron L., 382 Halliday, Alexander, 459 Hamann, Henry H., 416 Hamilton, Edward L., 313 Hamilton, Louis S., 634 Handy, Gerald, 924 Hanley, George, 289 Hansen, Joseph B., 852 Hansen, Peter, 851 Hansler, Arthur, 335 Harder, James E., 639 Harger, M. E., 570 Harner, Abraham A., 787 Harner, Eldon C, 396 Harner, Michael F., 783 Harris, Lewis D., 675 Harris, Uriah, 328 Hastings, John J., 361 Hatch, Edward N., 939 Hatch, Henry C, 841 Hauser, Joseph W., 859 Hawks, Andrew M., 704 Heckman, Erasmus S., 886 Heise, Louis, 563 Helkie, William L., 504 Helmick, Burns, 940 Helmick, Hiram S., 816 Hemenway, Joseph R., 679 Henkel, George, 722 Herring, J. H., 903 Herring,. Nathaniel A., 377 Hess, Homer E., 974 Hess, Juan, 993 Hess, William A., 915 Hewitt, William C, 770 Higbee, James F., 447 Higman, John, 598 Hill, John D., 694 Hill, William H., 699 Hinchman, Burwell, 988 Hoadley, Rodney P., 788 Hoadley, W. E., 349 Hoag, Isaac J., 631 Hobbs, Frederick A., 665 Hodges, Cyrus C, 986 Hogue, Emerson, 968 Hogue, John F., 961 Holden, Jonas H., 294 Holland, William L., ' 747 Hollett, Retta, 607 Hollinrake, Thomas, 632 Hoopenganer, John C., 309 Hoppin, George S., 338 Horn, George, 402 House, Amos C, 755 Houseworth, David, 786 Houswerth, Thomas F., 360 Hoven, Cornelius, 765 Howard, Franklin, 411 Howe, Alonzo F., 431 Howe, Charles F.,' 483 Howe, Frederick W., 780 Hunt, Daniel, 379 Hutchinson, Gilbert, 590 Ingles, Henfy D., 770 Ingles, John S., 769 Ingraham, Elisha, 385 Isbell, James W., 652 Ives, Timothy H., 842 Jakway, James, 611 Jennings, Milo A., 946 Jerue, Jphn B., 551 Jewett, Edson B., 515 Johnson, Frank A., 979 Johnson, Jether L., 606 Johnson, John, 767 Jones, Thomas W., 933 Kaiser, Barney, 761 Keith, William A., 836 Kelley, Sam H., 414 Kelly, L., 550 Kephart, Henry, 310 Kimball, Sylvester B., 416 Kimbel, William C, 432 King, Charles M., 781 King, Henry L., 591 King, Louis A., 544 King, William P., 821 Kingsley, Edward H., 715 Kless, Fritz L., 450 Kluth, Charles, 828 Knapp, William W., 891 Kniebes, Frank, 856 Kniebes, Jacob, 905 Knight, David, 837 Knisely, Abraham J., 599 Knox, E. Clifford, 844 Kompass, Rudolph F., 655 Kramer, Andrew, 615 Kramer, John, 486 Krieger, Eugene L., 374 Krieger, Frederick, 906 Krieger, Jacob C, 799 Krieger, J. D., 898 Lamore, George S., 975 Lardner, Henry, 659 INDEX ix Lavanway, Clark, 955 Lavanway, William, 949 Lawrence, John C, 517 Lee, Ray E., 855 Lemon, Charles L., 938 Light, Isaac, 967 Littleson, Theodore, 631 Lockinaw, Henry, 782 Lovell, Nathan V., 806 Lucas, James W., 381 Lusso, Christian, 884 Lybrook, Isaac, 761 Lyon, Thomas, 488 . Lyon, William R., 601 Madison, Hans, 745 Mangold," George, 881 Mars, B. Frank, 784 Mars, Guy C, 3°9 Mars, Thomas, 725 Martin, Thomas H., 453 Martindale, John, 686 Matrau, Morgan W., 681 McCartney, J. H., 969 McCollum, Edward C, 576 McCombs, Hezekiah, 925 McDonald, James, 553 McGowan, Charles, 971 McGuigan, Samuel, 860 McKee, Fred, 677 McKie, James L., 802 McKindley, Frank A., 921 McLin, Luther I., 735 McOmber, Fred, 1000 Mell, William, 852 Mess, Peter F., 443 Metras, M. G., 369 Metzger, Richard B., 763 Metzger, Theodore, 357 Meyer, Christian, 477 Milbourne, Louis W., 384 Miller, Charles, 801 Miller, Christian, 463 Miller, James J., 378 Miller, William H., 771 Mills, George A., 634 Mitchell, Charles H., 589 Montague, Charles M., 643 Montross, Richard W., 768 Moore, Frank B., 373 Morgan, John, 684 Morley, Alvin, 775 Morley, Ebenezer P., 435 Morley, Francis H., 561 Morley, William S., 422 Morlock, George, 812 Morris, Richard H., 784 Morrow, Munroe H., 37S Morton, Henry C, 291 Morton, J. Stanley, 293 Moser, Charles, 911 Moulton, L. G., 55* Moyer, Henry J., 786 Mulcahy, Dennis O.. 609 Mulholland, Joseph, 454 Mulliken, G. F., 630 Murphy, Erastus, 926 Murphy, Harvey R., 928 Murphy, John J., 920 Murphy, J. M., 924 Murphy, M. T., 936 Musil, Karel, 991 Mutchler, Charles F., 805 Mutchler, W. E., 507 Myers, Calvin, 879 Nichols, Charles D., 943 Nixon, John B., 303 Newman, Wingate W., 731 Newton, Albert, 327 Noble, George W., 359 Nold, Henry K., 880 Nothdurft, John J., 825 Nott, Carrie, 811 Nowlen, Albert R., 707 Olmstead, Melbourne H., 1004 Olsen, George, 594 Ormsbee Charles W., 602 Otwell, George N., 315 Palmer, W. A., 430 Parker, Bascom, 854 Parker, Reuben D., 652 , Parren, George A., 556 Parrish, William M., 432 Parsons, George, 929 Patterson, Charles L., 871 Paul, Jacob M., 916 Pearl, Irving R., 776 Pearl, Warren S., 410 Pears, Charles F., 352 Peck, L. E., 571 Pennell, Byron, 845 Pennell, Edgar S., 820 Pennell, R. Smith, 971 Peo, John, 817 Perry, Theodore N., 670 Peters, Henry, 707 Phelps, Chester P., 585 Phillips, John V., 440 Piatt, Edwin F., 405 Piatt, Frank H., 364 Piatt, James D., 785 Piatt, Leslie W., 646 Piatt, Lester G., 646 Plummer, Zachariah, 573 Pratt, Wilmer M., 677 Preston, Milton, 980 Preston,,. Wallace A., 948 Price, Moses A., 736 , Price, Thomas W., 813 Pullen, Frank, 533 Pullen, George P., 780 Pullen, Robert, 532 Quade, Samuel J., 536 Quimby, Charles S., 728 Randall, Allen M., 668 Ranft, Ernest L., 340 Ransom, Theron T., 717 Rau, John P., 498 Reams, S. C, 973 Rector, Charles H., 958 Rector, D. Sidney, Jr., 960 Rector, Samuel J., 885 Redden, Samuel W, 490 Reese, Chauncey B., 870 Reese, Reuben W., 857 Rhoades, Frank, 320 Richards, J. L., 564 Richards, Joseph, 537 Richter, Frederick W., 989 Rickert, Louis, 869 Ricketts, Albert S., 1006 Ridenour, Eli, 932 Rinkenberger, A. C, 942 Rist, Mathias, 793 Robinson, O. A., 954 Rodgers, John H., 838 Roe, Ellis S., 508 Rohde, John H., 446 Rose, W. A. D., 464 Rouch, John M., 349 Rough, George W., 482 Rouse, Elmer E., 362 Rush, Henry J., 478 Rynearson, Isaiah, 484 Ryno, Wakeman, 421 Ryther, Hale E., 839 Sabin, Charles E., 477 Sattler, George P., 867 Sattler, Lewis, 867 Savage, Daniel S., 844 Sawin, Judson, 559 Schairer, John, 387 Schaus, Charles G., 899 Schaus, Jacob L., 907 Schell, Albert, 959 Scherer, David, 347 Schiller, John D., 414 Schmitt, Joseph, 992 Schopbach, Henry, 832 Schultz, Carl J., 897 Schultz, Claus H., 514 Schwenk, Jacob M, 500 Schwenk, John C, 451 Scofield, A. J., 627 Scott, Alexander H., Jr., 476 Scott, Stephen, 796 Seegmiller, Abbie, 964 Seitz, William H., 613 Sells, Bernard T., 629 Shafer, John, 303 Shafer, William. 506 Sharai, Alfred J., 963 Sharai, Edwin, 962 Sharai, John W., 964 Sharp, George, 983 Shearer, William, 583 Shedd, Sylvester, 882 Sheffield, William E, 716 Sherwood, Alva, 996 Sherwood, Alonzo, 939 Sherwood, Robert H., 895 Shippy, Charles D., 826 Sisson, Edward C, 556 Skalla, John, 737 Skalla, Joseph, 737 Skinner; James F., 337 Smith, Carmi R., 742 Smith, Chauncey, 793 Smith, George E., 673 Smith, Isaac M., 753 Smith, James, 754 INDEX Smith, Warren A., 307 Smith, Washington A., 510 Smith, Washington B., 944 Snavely, Solomon L., 918 Snuff, Edgar L., 584 Snyder, Oscar D., 544 Snyder, Sherwood, 605 Sonner; George F., 610 Sorrell, E., 956 Sovereign, Frederick F., 503 Sowers, Charles N., 367 Spading, Theodore, 446 Sparks, John H., 314 Sparks, Spencer F., 569 Sparks, William D., 577 Spaulding, Elmore C, 798 Spencer, Benajah H., 434 Spencer, Charles A., 542 Spink, Andrew M., 400 Stafford, Theo N., 779 Starkweather, Frank, 316 Starr, John V., 616 Stemm, Ira R., 804 Stevens, George L., 499 Stevens, J. E., 520 Stewart, George F., 789 Stewart, Murray, 861 Stall, Matthew, 696 Storms, Edmund B., 745 Stouffer, John B., 547 Stover, John H., 470 Strickland, Edward F., 710 Strong, George, 329 Stryker, Frank A., 479 Stuart, Charles D., 409 Stuck, John, 452 Sumrill, John J., 352 Sutherland, Darwin B., 325 Sutherland, John R., 977 Sutherland, Lewis, 618 Sutherland, Lott F., 529 Sutherland, Sterling L., 530 Taber, Roland B., 865 Taber, Roland F., 619 Tabor, Carleton E., 966 Tabor, Ernest, 961 Taube, Charles H., 322 Taylor, Thomas, 874 Teetzel, Charles W, 953 Tennant, Joseph, 461 Thayer, Robert G, 561 Thomas, Victor H., 766 Thompson, Frank, 771 Thomson, James B., 344 Thurston, Henry E., 334 Tibbs, Jacob, 981 Tichenor, Fred A., 775 Timm, Christian, 445 Trowbridge, Udorus E., 884 Tutton, Henry V., 442 Ullrey, Arthur O., 748 Ullrey, David H., 987 Umphrey, Lewis, 902 Vail, Helen, 305 Valentine, George M., 721 Valentine, Lewis, 682 Vanderveer, Ernest, 539 Vanderveer, John T., 803 Vanderveer, William N., 540 Van Horn, Spencer B., 389 Van Namee, William P., 538 Van Vranken, Urias, 901 Versaw, James P., 965 Vetterly, August, 731 Vetterley, Edward, 588 Vincent, Alonzo, 834 Vinton, Charles A., 773 Vite, Jacob E., 759 Vollmann, Charles, 887 Walker, Joseph, 819 Wallace, Dudley B., 332 Wallace, John R., 330 Walton, Richard, 877 Walton, Robert A., 582 Walton, William, 877 Waltz, Samuel Z., 917 Wangerin, William F., 840 Ward, Lyman M. 511 Ward, W. A., 849 Warren, Dwight, 402 Warren, Edward K, 1001 Warren, Frank J., 724 Warren, George L., 724 Warren & Company, 724 Watson, Alec, 833 Watson, Berton G., 386 Watson, William H., 834 Weber, William H., 740 Wees, William, 703 Weir, James J., 552 Wellington, Oliver F., 872 Wells, Abel W., 318 West, Thomas J., 709 Wetzer, Rudolph, 868 Wells, William H., 595 Whalen, Henry E., 850 Whalen, James, 580 Whetstone, Carl F., 727 Whipple, Frank H., 861 Whitcomb, Charles H., 602 White, Charles E., 729 Whitehead, W. K, 456 Whitney, Harris S., 555 Whitten, Charles E., 497 Wilkinson, Thomas L., 557 Willard, Levi, 832 Willming, Joseph, 902 Wilson, Hiram, 468 Wilson, John F., 712 Wilson, William L., 734 Winchester, Ama-ndus O., 1000 Winn, John J., Jr., 333 Wise, Horace M., 912 Wissing, William M., 750 Witbeck, F. M., 626 Witt, Edward J., 617 Wolf, David, 354 Womer, Peter, 829 Womer, William A., 830 Wood. Bradford H., 919 Woodworth, O. P., 522 Worthington, Albert A., 429 Wright, Elmer H., 308 Wright, George, 512 Wyant, John F., 918 Wyant, Oscar, 1005 Wyant, William, 819 Wynn, Thomas B., 932 Yates, Abram, 893 Yerington, George W., 358 Yerington, Polly, 358 Yetter, George T., 951 Young, A. D., 343 Young, Edwin W., 391 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER I NATURE AND TOPOGRAPHY. "Like orchards of forgotten times, Like pleasure parks of Eastern climes, The 'openings' of the West appear, The paradise of fallow deer." Berrien county is the extreme south west county of the State, being bounded on the north by Van Buren county, on the east by Van Buren and Cass counties, on the south by the State of Indiana and on the west by Lake Michigan. The area of the county is approximately 600 square miles or about 385,000 acres. The surface is diversified. The larger portion of the soil was originally covered with forests of val uable growing timber, consisting mainly of white and red oak, hickory, whitewood, maple, beech, black walnut, elm, ash, and basswood. The land adjoining Lake Mich igan is generally sandy, but has been culti vated for fruit and made highly remuner ative. Many of the townships were originally almost covered with immense forests of tall, thick timber. The most profitable, probably on account of its abundance and adaptation for all kinds of building purposes, was the whitewood. The tree grew to a large size, often three to four feet in diameter, and was remarkably free from knots or defects be low the branches. Its diameter from the ground to the first branch varied slightly. Single trees often produced 6,oqo to 8,000 feet of lumber, which to-day would be very valuable in the lumber market. It is now known commercially as the white poplar. This, however, is a gross misnomer, as it does not belong to the poplar family. It is sometimes called the tulip tree, from the large, handsome golden blossoms which come out in the spring, resembling the tulip, and Belongs to the magnolia family. The black walnut tree became the most valuable individually on account of its hand some grain and color, and its use for choice furniture. Tlie trees were much scarcer, however, than the whitewood. They often grew to an enormous size, trees being fre quently found which measured fifteen feet in circumference. The early settlers in their eagerness to . clear the land, burned up enormous quanti ties of valuable timber. Subsequently the.- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY saw-mill industries rapidly denuded the country of the remainder, and very little of choice timbered tracts are now in existence. The policy of extinction of this class of trees was a wasteful and injurious one, and their wholesale destruction is greatly to be regretted. Less prairie land exists in Berrien county than in the southern counties of the State lying immediately east of us. There are however, two prairies which lie wholly or in part within the limits of this county. Wolf's prairie upon which the village of Berrien Springs is located, has an area of about 1,060 acres. It is an elevated plateau, delightfully situated, adjoining the high bluffs of the St. Joseph river. Portage prairie is located in Bertrand township. A portion of it lies in this state and a portion in the state of Indiana. That portion which lies in this state has an area of about 3,000 acres. A narrow streak of timber land runs into the prairie, and the smaller portion is sometimes called "Little Portage." The soil of these prairies is exceedingly rich and consists of a black, vegetable mould, intermixed with small quantities of clay, sand or gravel. Adjoining these prairies in the southern part of the county are the burr oak lands. The trees are small and scraggy. The soil is composed of a mixture of the earth of the prairies and of the white oak openings. On account of the intermixture of lime, which makes up a considerable pro portion of the soil, the burr oak lands are ex tremely productive, and are regarded by many farmers as superior to all other classes of soil. The so-called "Barrens" which occupy a small portion of many townships, consists of sandy soil, covered with stunted trees and vegetation. The soil is poor, although by the use of fertilizers, and careful husbandry, much of it has been made capable of raising crops fairly remunerative. It has been found that these lands are capable of raising- certain kinds of fruit, and in this way much of the poorest land lying near Lake Michi gan has been made highly profitable. The most picturesque feature of the land scape, as it was presented to the eye of the first settler, was our "Oak Openings." Dotted over the county were extensive for ests *of large, handsome white oak trees, looking like stately parks. The trees were separated at some distance from each other, no underbrush grew between them, and a vehicle could pass through these forests in almost every direction with perfect ease. The trees were generally large, symmetrical and branching, and might fitly be called the "Kings of the Forest." They presented a scene of exquisite beauty and grandeur ; and the lover of nature, gazing at these majestic creations of God's handiwork, might fitly exclaim with the poet Bryant : "The groves were God's first temples." :£ % zfc % s{e % ^t "Father, thy hand Hath reared these venerable columns; thou didst weave This verdant roof. Grandeur, strength and grace, Are here to speak of thee. Thou mighty Oak, not a prince In all that proud old world beyond the deep E'er wore his crown as loftily as he Wears the green coronal of leaves with which Thy hand has decked him." The county is well watered by streams and lakes. The principal streams are the St. Joseph and Paw Paw rivers, and the follow ing creeks : The Dowagiac, the Galien, the Hickory and the Pipestone. The St. Joseph is the second largest river in the state, being one hundred and seventy-five miles long. Its width varies for 100 miles from its mouth, from 300 to 400 feet. It rises in a small lake called Baw Beese, in Hillsdale county, runs in a northwesterly direction into Calhoun county, thence southwesterly through St. Joseph county to South Bend, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Indiana, where it bends to the northward and continues in a northwesterly direction to its mouth at St. Joseph. The length of the river from the point where it crosses the state line to its mouth is 55 miles. Throughout its whole extent it runs through a rich and fer tile country. The current is generally rapid. Its high and picturesque bluffs often crowned with lofty trees, its numerous isl ands, its graceful curves and meanderings and its rapid current moving unceasingly to mingle its waters with those of the great lake combine to render the St. Joseph a most romantic and beautiful stream, always pre senting a charming landscape to the eye of the artist. The valley of the St. Joseph was once visited by the great novelist, Fenimore Cooper, and in his story of the "Oak Open ings" founded upon aboriginal life in south western Michigan, he refers to this valley as "a region that almost merits the lofty ap pellation of the garden of America." In the early days the St. Joseph river played an important part in the business and commerce of southwestern Michigan and northwestern Indiana. Boats of different kinds were constantly plying on its waters. Merchandise from the east was brought through the Erie canal and the great lakes, via the St. Joseph river to Niles, South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart and even as far east as White Pigeon and Constantine. The subject of the early navigation of the river will be considered hereafter. Two dams have been constructed across the river, one at Niles and one at Buchanan. Another, at Berrien Springs, is contem plated. The river is crossed by thirteen bridges, viz. : one at Bertrand, five at Niles, one at Buchanan, two at Berrien Springs, one between Royalton and Sodus townships, one between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, and two in the city and township of St. Joseph. Of these, two at Niles, one at St. Joseph and one at Berrien Springs are used ¦exclusively for railroad purposes. The long est and most massive structure is the one recently constructed by the Interurban Com pany at Berrien Springs, which will be described later. I quote the following verses upon St. Joseph river from a volume of poems writ ten by Ben. F. King, Jr., a gifted musician and writer, who was born and grew to man hood at St. Joseph, Michigan, and died in 1894. "When the bumble bee sips, and the clover is red, And the zephyrs come laden with peach blow per fumes, When the thistle down pauses in search of the rose, And the myrtle and woodbine and wild ivy grows, When the cat-bird pipes up and it seems most divine, Off there in the branches of some lonely pine, Oh, give me the spot that I once used to know By the side of the placid old river St. Joe." "When the tall grasses nod at the close of the day, And the sycamore's shadow is stealing away — • When the whip-poor-will chants from a far distant limb, Just as if the whole business was all made for him, Oh! it's now that my thoughts, flying back on the wings Of the rail and the die-away song that he sings Brings the tears to my eyes that drip off into rhyme And I live once again, in the old summer time, For my soul, it seems caught in old time's under-tow And I am floating away down the river St. Joe." The Paw Paw river rises in Van Buren county and flows southwesterly till it empties into the St. Joseph river about three-quarters of a mile above the mouth of the latter. It has furnished an excellent watef power for many mills. The largest lumber mill in the county during the timber period, was located upon this stream at the village of Watervliet. Keel boats were used upon the Paw Paw in the early days and ran as far as Paw Paw village. The Dowagiac is an important stream. It rises in Cass county, runs through the city of Dowagiac and empties into the St. Joseph, at the northern boundary of the city of Niles. It has furnished water power for numerous mills and factories. Its width at HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY its mouth is about 75 feet. It is noted for its meandering channel, its rapid current, high bluffs and great natural beauty. The following charming verses on Dowa giac creek, written by Mrs. Lena Lardner of Niles, are taken from her volume of poems and tales entitled "This Spray of Western Pine." "Tortuous and clear thou flowest on, fair streamlet, Unheeded by the city's busy throng; Yet art thou beautiful as storied river And should inspire a worthier poet's song. "Thou flowest swiftly through the farm and wood land, And all along thy banks, sweet nooks are found, Where lured by Nature, weary man may ponder Over thy wondrous gifts to sight and sound. "Thy murmuring ripples in our tongue translated Might tell of dusky maidens' bliss and woe, Of savage rivals striving in these waters, Which closed above them many years ago. "The red man named thee and the red man loved thee, In light canoe he skimmed thy surface free; But driven Westward, toward the reddening sunset, Left thee to man less picturesque than he." Pipestone creek enters the St. Joseph about seven miles from its mouth on its left bank. In the early settlement, its width at this point was 100 feet. The Galien river is formed by several streams which unite their waters in the southern part of Berrien county, emptying into Lake Michigan at New Buffalo. This stream with its various branches, flows through a region originally covered with im mense forests of valuable timber. Formerly numerous lumber mills doing an extensive business were located on this stream. To these creeks may be added the Hick ory, which empties into the St. Joseph about two miles southeast of the city of St. Joseph, and McCoy's creek which empties into the St. Joseph at Buchanan. Several factories are located on the latter stream. When the early settlers arrived, the streams and lakes swarmed with fish; prairie chickens were abundant on the prairies, cluck in the marshes, and partridge, quail, wild turkey and other wild game in the forests. Pigeons came in immense flocks, and deer were plentiful. Nature, with the indulgence of a kind mother, fur nished the pioneer, poorly equipped and plunging generally into an unbroken wilder ness, with abundance of health-giving food. Other animals furnished both pastime and profit to the hunter and trapper. The wolf, bear, fox, panther, and also fur bearing- animals such as the wolverine, muskrat, raccoon, beaver, otter, mink and marten were common. Our state has been called the "Wolverine State" from the fact that wol verines were abundant in the pioneer period throughout the whole territory. It was one of the largest fur-bearing animals and was really an uncommonly large, clumsy and shaggy marten. Its fur was very valuable. It was bear-like in form, and of a deep, blackish-brown color. It had great strength, and extraordinary cunning, being regarded by the Indians and trappers as a notorious and successful thief. The most remarkable of all the animals named was the beaver. The fur of this ani mal is extremely valuable and was formerly the staple of the fur trade in the northwest. In the year 1829 no less than 100,000 beaver skins were exported to Europe from the ter ritory of Michigan. When the early settler came to Michigan, picturesque beaver huts and dams constructed upon ponds and streams in wooded districts were numerous. The average length of the beaver was two feet and its weight about 35 pounds. Their houses were constructed of earth, stones and sticks. The walls of these houses were about about two feet thick, and surmounted by a dome generally rising about four feet above them. The entrance was always at least three feet below the surface of the water. Their homes were often permanent. Their food consisted of the bark and tender branches of trees. In the summer they pro vided for their winter subsistence by piling HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY a large heap of the bark and branches of trees under the water, adjacent to their habi tation. In order to give them sufficient depth of water to give clear ingress to their homes and to afford room for the winter storage of provisions, they constructed dams across the stream upon whose bank they had located. For this purpose they gnawed down trees sometimes two or three feet in diam eter, dragged or floated them to the spot and laid them lengthwise across the current. To these they added stones, roots, sod and mud to keep them in place. By constant repairs they often succeeded in forming a solid bank capable of resisting a great force of water and ice. They also constructed canals into the woods from the streams, by means of which they could float down the trees and other material to the dam and bark and branches to their habitation. Inland lakes of clear water were com mon throughout the county. The largest of these lakes is Paw Paw lake, which is about four miles long. This lake has become a leading resort in the summer time. It is es timated that during the summer of 1905, there were about 5,000 people residing in cottages and boarding at the hotels during most of the season, and 30,000 resorters in all. CHAPTER II THE ABORIGINES AND EARLY FRENCH OCCUPATION. Not grand or famous, but with pride It makes our senses quiver; Dearer than any stream beside Is our St. Joseph River. It bore the red man's light canoe Which brought the Fathers saintly; They preached the cross with courage true Not fearfully, nor faintly. A mound beside it markes the place Where Father Alouez lieth. God to his servants granted grace, As the church testifieth. Their dark-browed converts journeyed on To where the sun is setting; The pale-face these fair scenes had won, Useless was all regretting. And sturdy men with foresight keen Prepared their humble dwelling; Their brave wives toiled with brow serene No tale of hardship telling. Now glides the stream by pleasant homes, And thro' the tangled wildwood; As by its banks we stand there comes Fond memory of childhood. The pioneers have "crossed the bar" And now their sons and daughters, Neath morning sun and evening star, Row on its rippling waters. It seems to murmur "On I flow Tho' human ties must sever; "For men may come and men may go But I go on forever." Lena B. Lardner. The lower peninsula of Michigan, when the French missionaries first entered the ter ritory, was occupied by Ottawas, Ojibways, or Chippewas, Miamis, Pottawatomies and Hurons or Wyandots. The St. Joseph val ley was then mainly inhabited by the Mi amis, whose possession however was short. According to tradition the Pottawatomies formerly occupied a large portion of the lower peninsula, but toward the latter part of the seventeenth century, were driven by other tribes north and westerly to the region of Green Bay. About the year 1705 they were permitted to return south under the protection of the French. A portion of them migrated to the region of Chicago but the larger portion returned to southern Michi gan and northern Indiana. The St. Joseph valley became the favorite habitation of this portion of the tribe and the villages of the Pottawatomies along or near the bank of St. Joseph river were numerous when the pioneers first settled Berrien county. The early settlers regarded the Potta watomies as peaceable, compared with other Indian tribes. This may, however, have been attributable to previous contact for many years with French missionaries and traders, and especially to the fact that many of them had been converted, through the la- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY bors of French Catholic priests, to Chris tianity. They inherited- and preserved, however, in the main, the general physical and mental traits of the Algonquin family to which they belonged. A hard and stern physiognomy characterized all their movements, being stoical in their nature and trained to exhibit no emotion of joy or grief. They were naturally brave, and proud, and a savage love of individual liberty and hatred of all re straint were prominent in their character. Their powers of perception and observation, within the range of their experience, were re markably acute, while their reasoning pow ers were "correspondingly weak. The squaws generally did the work, planting the corn, cultivating and harvest ing it, dressing the skins, getting the wood, doing the camp work and gathering rushes to weave into mats. Most of the Indians had ponies and dogs. The ponies were ob tained from the spoils of Braddock's defeat in 1755- The following description of the wearing apparel and general outfit of the Pottawa tomies is taken from an article by A. B. Copley in the Michigan Pioneer and Histor ical Collections. "The squaws were usually dressed in blue broadcloth leggins with fringes per haps one and a half inches wide on the out side of either limb ; a blue figured domestic calico short gown, over which was worn a blanket. On their feet they wore mocca sins of dressed deer skin. The blanket was supported by a belt at times, especially if there was a papppose a year or two old, who rode on the back of the mother inside the blanket. If the child was young, it was strapped to a board and hung on the back by a belt over the mother's forehead. The hair was wound up on a chip about two inches square and fastened just back of the head; another style was braided and hang ing down the back. If the weather was in clement, the blanket was brought up over the head, otherwise there was no head cov ering. The carrying strap was an indispen sable article of female use ; it consisted of a leather 4 to 6 feet in length, 2 inches broad in the centre where it crossed the forehead, the rest being about an inch in width — for convenience in tying up the pack of goods or utensils to be moved. "The Indian men wore leggins, mocca sins, a calico shirt generally of a lighter color; the blankets were generally light colored, the fringes consisting of the colored border seen on Mackinac blankets. A blanket was belted at the waist and worn loose over the shoulders. In the belt was carried a knife, (protected by a leather sheath) and a small axe or tomahawk, while depending from the right shoulder hung on the left side, the powder horn and charger and bullet pouch containing bullets, bullet molds,, bullet starter, patch cloth and extra flints, for flint locks were in common use, and any other needed extras for the chase, also not forgetting the pipe and tobacco. On the head was almost invariably worn a large colored cotton handkerchief wrapped around in somewhat of a turban style. This dress, with a rifle across the shoulder, the lock of which was protected from dampness by a fox squirrel skin, completed the costume. Sometimes a feather or two was added, es pecially if the party was high in rank." The Pottawatomies, Chippewas and Ottawas, were evidently at one time one peo ple. • Mr. Schoolcraft, whose intimate knowledge of the Indian tribes of Michigan entitles his opinion to great weight, states that this is indicated "from their general re semblance in person, manners, customs and dress, but above all, by their having one council fire and speaking one language." At the treaty of Chicago in 1821, an Ot tawa chief said "The Chippewas, the Pot tawatomies and the Ottawas were originally one nation. We separated from each other near Mackinac." A chief of the Chippewas following said : 8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "My brethren, you have heard the man who has just spoken. We are all descended from the same stock. The Pottawatomies' and the Chippewas, we consider ourselves as one." These three tribes were not only closely related in blood, language and customs but were bound by a compact to support each other in peace and war. The Pottawatomies were divided into two bands at the begin ning of the 1 8th century, one being known as the "Pottawatomies of the Woods" (those of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin) and the other as the "Pottawatomies of the Prairies" (those of Illinois). Unlike other Indian races, the Potta watomies were not divided into separate tribes, but their different bands moved sep arate or united according to the abundance or scarcity of game or the emergencies of war. The name Pottawatomie signifies "We are making a fire." The first mention which is made of the Pottawatomies, is to be found in the "Jesuit Relations." This is a work of 73 volumes edited by the learned antiquarian, Reuben G. Thwaites of Madison, Wisconsin, and consists mainly of correspondence and jour nals of the French priests in North America during the seventeenth and eighteenth cen turies. In the journal of Father Allouez, pre served in the Jesuit Relations, and written in 1666, he says that "the Pottawatomies are a people whose country is about the lake Ill-'i-mouch ( Michigan) . "They are a warlike people, hunters and fishers. Their country is good for Indian corn of which they plant fields, and to which they repair to avoid the famines 'that are too frequent in these quarters. They are in the highest degree idolaters, attached to ridicu lous fables, and devoted to polygamy. "Of all the people that I have associated with in these countries they are the most do- ¦cile and affectionate toward the French." The Pottawatomies at this time did not reside' in the St. Joseph valley, but in the region of Green Bay and on the northwest ern coast of Lake Michigan. It appears from a letter written by Pere Daublon, a French missionary from the mission at Green Bay, in 1670, that the Pottawatomies had formerly occupied a good portion of the southern peninsula of Michigan, but that about the middle of the seventeenth century they had been forced to fly northward on account of the frequent incursions of the Iroquois. The Iroquois, originally consisting of the "five nations," the Mohawk, the Senecas, the Oneidas, the Cayugas and the Onon dagas, was the most intellectual and power ful of all the Indian races in America and had their headquarters in the state of New York. Owing to a blunder of Champlain who allied himself with the Hurons, a bitter enemy of the Iroquois, early in the seventeenth cen tury, the Iroquois, became the deadly enemy of the French and the constant friend of the English. This fact had a most important bearing on the whole history of North America. It is the opinion of leading histo rians that the powerful aid of the Iroquois to the English during the whole colonial period, decided the downfall of French dom ination in North America, or at least mate rially hastened it. The western tribes belonging to the Al gonquin family, on the contrary, were gen erally allied to the French, but they were weaker than the Iroquois, who kept them in constant fear and partial subjugation. Among these western tribes, none were more devoted to the French than the Pottawato mies. Their religion, before conversion to Christianity, was dreamy and obscure. Like all of the Indian races, they endowed all Nature with divine attributes. Every stream and lake was the embodiment of a supernatural power. The sun was a god and the moon a goddess. Hence their religious' belief was essentially pantheistic. They ap- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY pear to have had a species of belief in the ex istence of a good spirit who was lord of all, although any conception of the nature and attributes of this spirit was extremely ob-' scure. The same obscure belief existed as to a bad spirit. It was a tradition among them that the souls of the departed are obliged on their way to the great prairie, to cross a large stream over which- a log is placed but that this is in such constant agi tation that none but the spirits of good men can pass over in safety, while those of the bad slip from the log into the water and are never after heard of. Major Long in his report of his expedi tion among the Indians in 1823, states that the Pottawatomies then numbered about 3,000 and that their musical instruments •consisted solely of a drum, a rattle and a kind of flageolet. He further says that they were for the most part well proportioned, about five feet eight inches high, possessed of much muscular strength in the arm, but rather weak in the back, with a strong neck, endowed with considerable agility. Until late in the seventeenth century these Indians were the sole occupants of the St. Joseph valley. The first white men to pen etrate the wilderness were undoubtedly the runners for French traders of Quebec and Montreal, engaged in the fur trade. They were called "coureurs des bois" or "run ners of the woods," and came in advance ¦of the missionaries or soldiers. That innate courtesy, tact and power of adaptation which have characterized the French race beyond all other races, were inherent in these French runners, and at once attracted the friendship •of the western Indians. A natural alliance grew up between the Frenchmen and the western Indians which was strengthened by intermarriage between French men and In dian women, and which was never broken. But the advent of the French race into the wilds of the West was destined to be suc ceeded by a French occupation much more important than the visits of the French "coureurs des bois." The Court of Ver sailles, having gained possession of Canada, was now engaged in a dream of conquest, embracing a vast continent. While the Eng lish colonists "remained contented with the possessions of a narrow belt of territory along the Atlantic coast, Hhe French were now determined to occupy that vast territory which lay between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi and between the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. This plan of conquest was rapidly developed, and by the close of the seventeenth century, nearly all this region had been formally taken possession of by the French with little opposition from the Indians, and dotted, over with frequent military posts. In this occu pation, explorers, missionaries and sol diers joined. The desire to make this ter ritory a New France and to convert the In dian to Christianity went hand in hand. Every missionary became an explorer, and every fort was at once followed by a mission. In this crusade, the same tact, and power of adaptation which attracted the Indian to the "coureurs des bois" secured his friend ship for the explorer, the missionary and the soldier. .No cruelties, such as marked the conquests of the Spaniard in both North and South America, attended the peaceful mis sion of the French. Everywhere they treated the Indian with kindness and for bearance. In their labors for the good of the I«dian race, the Catholic priests en dured all manner of privation and suffering and displayed a fortitude and- heroism which have never been surpassed. The main idea which possessed the minds of the* French priests appears to have been to Christianize and civilize the Indian races and leave them in the possession of the lands which they oc cupied. They did not favor any considerable cession of lands by the Indians to the white man, nor any extensive schemes of coloniza tion. Their scheme contemplated the build ing up of the Indian tribes into civilized IO HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY communities owing allegiance to the French government, but preserving their lands and property rights. In this, they were destined to be disappointed by the British conquest and the subsequent policy of the American government, which was essentially hostile to the Indian races east of the Mississippi. Michigan was the first territory entered under the banner of New France and the Cross. In 1668 Father Marquette, a man of extraordinary ability and of scientific at tainments, established the first permanent mission at Sault Ste. Marie. Here in 1671 formal possession was taken of the upper lake region in the name of Louis XIV, by St. Lusson, a military leader, in the pres ence of an immense concourse of the chiefs of the Pottawatomies, Sauks, Miamis, Winnebagoes, Menomonies, and nine other tribes. Father Allouez, another leader in missionary work, addressed the Indians at some length, describing the greatness of France and of its monarch whom he de scribed as the chief of the greatest chiefs. The savages, moved by his. eloquence, yelled out their approval and the alliance was com plete. In the same year, 1671, Father Mar quette established a settlement and flourish ing mission on Mackinac Island. A strong fortress was at once erected by the French, and for one hundred and fifty years it was the chief center of the fur trade of the Northwest. In 1673, Louis Joliet and Father Marquette commenced their memor able exploration of the River Mississippi, which they descended as far as the mouth of the Arkansas. It seems to be regarded as highly probable that Father Marquette on his final return from missions which he and Joliet had established in the country of the Illinois, came back by way of the Kankakee river, crossed over the portage between the Kankakee and St. Joseph, and then de scended the St. Joseph to Lake Michigan. But this fact is rather to be inferred than established, and the first authentic and de tailed account of the visit of white men to Berrien county is the narrative of La Salle's explorations on his way to the Mississippi. Leaving Montreal in the month of Octo ber, 1679, this intrepid explorer, with a band of soldiers and artisans and four priests, ar rived at the mouth of the St. Joseph river on November 1, 1679. This river he desig nated the river of the Miamis, the name of the Indian tribe which then occupied this part of the St. Joseph valley. While waiting at the mouth of the river for the arrival of a large vessel, which he had ordered to meet him at this point, he constructed a fort at or near the mouth of the river. This fort was called Fort Miami and was located on the bluff of the river near the intersections of what are now known as Front and Broad streets, St. Joseph, Michigan. The river then emptied into Lake Michigan about 700 feet farther south than now, the channel having been changed by the U. S. Government. The spot where La Salle landed and established his fort is marked by a monument of large, glacial boulders, erected a few years since by the ladies of the St. Joseph Chapter of the "Daughters of the American Revolution." The subsequent history of the fort is merged in obscurity. How long this fort existed, or what was its subsequent fate, does not appear in any authentic account or record. After waiting several weeks in vain for the Griffin, from which he heard no tidings, La Salle determined to press forward. On the 3rd day of December, 1679, he and his party consisting of 33 persons, embarked upon the St. Joseph river in eight canoes. Through the aid of some friendly Indians, La Salle learned that near the present site of South Bend, there was a portage of about five miles from the St. Joseph river to the Kankakee, the head waters of the Illinois. Disembarking at this point tbe party carried their canoes to the Kankakee, and descended to the Illi nois. Owing to difficulties which La Salle HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ii encountered in Illinois among the Indians and his own men, he did not succeed on his first expedition in exploring the Mississippi. Returning to Montreal, he organized a new expedition, and in 1681 he succeeded in his great design and opened up the Mississippi valley to the military occupation of the French government. While making his var ious expeditions and returning to Montreal, he frequently spent considerable time at Fort Miami in recruiting the strength of his company and in enlarging the fort. A fort known as Fort St. Joseph was subsequently built by the French at another point on the river. Writers upon the history of Berrien county have been confused or mistaken as to the location of "Fort St. Joseph," They have generally either entirely ignored the question of location or placed it at the mouth of the St. Joseph river. This arose from the fact that these writers did not have access to the journals and correspondence of the early French missionaries and travelers. It is abundantly established by these journals and correspondence that this fort was located within or near the present limits of the city of Niles. In 1 72 1, the celebrated French traveler, Charlevoix, a man of great learning and scientific attainments, made an extensive trip through North America, occupying two years. Among his travels was his visit to the Fort St. Joseph and the mission adjoining. In 1744, he published a work in Paris entitled "Histoire de la Nouvelle France," and also a journal written while in America and addressed to the Duchesse de Lesrli- quien. I translate from a letter addressed to the Duchesse de Lesdiquien and headed "Letter from the river St. Joseph, this 16th Aug ust, 1 72 1." It reads as follows : "Eight days ago I arrived at this post where we fiave a mission and where is a commandant with a little garrison. The house of the commandant which is a. small affair, is called the fort, because it is sur rounded by a palisade which is a crude af fair. There are, however, some small can- non^or gun swivels, sufficient to prevent a surprise and hold the savages in check. In order to reach the fort, one ascends it (the river St. Joseph) 20 leagues (French league at this time was about 2.40 miles). We have here two villages of. Indians, one of the Miamis and the other of the Potta watomies. Both are for the greater part Christians, but they have been a long time without pastors, and the missionary which has been sent to them lately, will have some thing to do to restore to them the exercise of their religion. "The river St. Joseph is navigable for 80 leagues and in the 20 leagues that I as cended in order, to reach the fort, I saw only a beautiful country crowned with trees of great height. "The Pottawatomies have occupied here successively many posts and occupy them yet. Their village is on the same side as the forts and upon a very beautiful plateau ; that of the Miamis is on the other side of the river." In the history of New France by Charle voix is a map, entitled "Map of the lakes of Canada," of the date 1744. On this map the St. Joseph river is designated correctly and Fort St. Joseph is named and located at about the site of the present city of Niles. The village of the Miamis is located on the east side of the river and that of the Potta watomies together with the Fort on the west side of the river. The Kankakee river is designated as "Teakiki," and the portage between the latter river and St. Joseph is placed a few mile south of the Fort. The location of the Fort called St. Joseph near Niles is further established by the line marked out by the English military authori ties of a road from Detroit to the Illinois river in 1772, fifty years later than the date of Charlevoix's visit. After designating the eastern part of the road to the Kalamazoo 12 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY. river, the road from thence proceeds as fol lows : To Prairie Ronde 30 miles To Fort St. Joseph 75 miles To Portage 12 miles From carrying place to Kankakee. 4 miles To juncture of Kankakee with Illi nois 150 miles A fort or stockade was built at some time on the east side of the. river, but at what date cannot be ascertained. The earth works of this fortification were clearly in evidence when the first settlers came and for some time after. Among the old residents of Niles who have a distinct remembrance of seeing the remains of the fort are Ezekiel Denniston, John Hatfield, A. J. Cleland and George S. Hoppin. The fort was built on the brow of the first bluff on the river south of the dam and •on the west side of the South Bend road. The exact date of the establishment of Fort St. Joseph cannot be ascertained. It was probably established at about the same time as the French mission. About the year 1690 the French authorities made a grant of two acres of land to the Jesuit fathers, who at once established a mission among the Mi amis. A few years later the Pottawatomies, by the aid of the French, also settled on the St. Joseph river, and the mission embraced both the Miamis and the Pottawatomies, un til the former moved away. The mission appears to have been a flourishing one and the greater part of the Indians were con verted to Christianity. It appears that Father Allouez, one of the ablest of the French missionaries, la bored at this mission in the latter part of the seventeenth century and subsequently Father Aveneau. According to tradition Father Allouez died at this mission, in 1690, but there is no authentic record of this fact. Another tra dition is that Father Aveneau died here but this tradition is not supported by any proof. One of the French missionaries appears to have died here, and a wooden cross near the site of the Miami village, for a long time marked the spot of his burial, but what his name was is unknown. The French mission at Niles was con tinued until about 1759, when it was prac tically abondoned. No church was again es tablished until about 1830, when, in answer to an appeal made by Pokagon, a leading chief of the Pottawatomies and a man highly respected by the early settlers, whose village was one mile west of Bertrand village, Father Badin was sent to the Pottawatomies and built a church edifice of logs near Ber trand. The church established by Father Badin embraced among its attendants both whites and Indians. The petition of Pokagon to the Catholic bishop is thus given. "My father, I come again to implore you to send us a Black Robe to instruct us in the Word of God. If you- have no care for us old men, at least have pity on our poor children, who are growing up as we have lived, in ignorance and vice. We still preserve the manner of prayer as taught to our ancestors by the Black Robe who formerly resided at St. Joseph. Morning and evening, with my wife and children we pray together before the crucifix. On Fridays we fast according to the traditions handed down by our fathers and mothers, for we ourselves have never seen a Black Robe at St. Joseph. Listen to the prayers which he taught them, and see if I have not learned them correctly." It is related that Pokagon, after his peti tion had been presented, fell upon his knees, made the sign of the Cross and recited in his own language, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed and the Ten Com mandments. The early French missions among the Indians appear to have been successful and productive of great good. A large portion of the Pottawatomies was HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ii converted to Christianity and became to a considerable degree civilized and accus tomed to industrial pursuits. Between the abandonment of these missions and the ap peal of Pokagon referred to, a decline in the condition of the Pottawatomies commenced. In the early part of the nineteenth cen tury white men began to sell liquors to the Indians in large quantities. A passion foi strong drink seems to have been inherent in the race, and when once indulged in, the appetite became insatiable. During the French occupation, the sale of liquors to the Indians by the whites was carried on, but to a less extent than subsequently. The French priests, true to the instincts of their race which despised habits of in toxication, and to the precepts of their re ligion, were remarkably temperate them selves and at all times strenuously en deavored to prevent the use of liquors by the Indians. It appears from the "Jesuit Relations" that at the beginning of the eighteenth cen tury, Father Chardon came with the Potta watomies from the region of Green Bay to the valley of the St. Joseph, and was their first pastor in this region. Whether they first settled at the mouth of the river or farther up does not appear. A mission, however, was established at an early date at the mouth of the river. This mission embraced not only Indians but Canadian French, who appear to have had a colony at this point for many years, with considerable numbers. Father Allouez in one of his letters, states that the Pottawatomies procured their liquors from Englishmen to the east, with whom they bartered in furs, and complains that the liquors of the Englishmen were much stronger and more baneful in then- effects than those of the French. It would appear that the French preferred light wines, while the English preferred whiskey. With the early advent of the American trader, the sale of liquors to the Indians be came a source of immense profit. The Pottawatomies fell an easy prey to their appetite for liquors, and passed days at a time in a state of gross intoxication, when they were unable to do anything. The rapid deterioration of the Pottawatomie race, be fore their < final removal to their western reservation beyond the Mississippi, may be said to have been mainly caused by the rum traffic carried on by white then who were nominally Christians. Returning to the subject of the French occupation, it may be said that the fort. upon the St. Joseph river, remained in the possession of the French till shortly after the year 1759. In that year occurred one of the greatest events of modern history. Quebec, the great stronghold of the French in America, and one of the greatest natural fortresses in the world, capitulated to the British forces. It was the final act in the: great drama of warfare which had waged relentlessly for four years between Great Britain and France and which decided what race should govern the destinies of the North American continent. The English. race prevailed. The French flag was hauled down from every fort along the line of the great lakes and rivers of the west. Among the names of the forts which are recorded as having surrendered to the British, is the fort of St. Joseph on the river St. Joseph. The fort was destined to change hands- often. In 1763, the conspiracy of the great Indian 'chief, Pontiac, whose home was on the Michigan side of the Detroit river, was at its height. The chieftain had visited the Pottawatomies and inflamed their pas sions against the English colonist. They enthusiastically joined the great conspiracy, now embracing nearly all the leading tribes- of the west. The year 1763 was a dis astrous one for the English, and the English colonist. Fort after fort surrendered to the Indians. Among them was Fort St. Joseph. A band of Pottawatomies sur prised the English commander, Lieut.. 14 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY. Schlosser, captured the fort and massacred nearly all the soldiers. The fort was held by the Pottawatomies for about two years. Upon the failure of the conspiracy and the submission of Pontiac, the fort passed back to the British. The Pottawatomies were always hostile to the English colonist. They sided with the French against the British in the colonial wars. They joined with Pontiac in his great conspiracy of 1763, and were engaged in many massacres of the colonists. Their animosity was peculiarly aroused against the latter. In the war of the Revolution, they aided the British. In 181 1, at the bat tle of Tippecanoe when Gen. Harrison de feated the Indians, 300 Pottawatomies were engaged, and fought with great courage and ferocity. In the war of 18 12, under the command of the celebrated Tecumseh, they were engaged at the Battle of the Raisin, and also in the battle on the Thames, where Tecumseh was killed. The terrible massacre of whites at Fort Dearborn (Chicago) in August, 1812, was committed by Potta watomies. According to the statement of E. G. Mason, in an essay read, before the His torical Society of Chicago, professing to be based on authentic records found in the archives of the Spanish government at Mad rid, a singular movement was made in 1781 by the Spaniards who then claimed title to Louisiana, Florida and all of the United States west of the Mississippi. In that year, a Spanish force from St. Louis, a military outpost of Spain, marched to the St. Joseph river, captured Fort St. Joseph, hauled down the British flag and raised the Spanish flag. The Spanish troops remained but a few days, but destroyed the magazines and store houses, gave the provisions and stores to the Indians, and returned to St. Louis. This happened during the revolution and while France and Great Britain were engaged in war. The design of Spain at that time was to conquer the Northwest Territory and sub sequently exchange it with Great Britain for Gibraltar. The scheme was not success ful but a secret alliance was soon entered into between France and Spain, the object of which was to secure for France the pos session of the Northwest Territory, and for Spain absolute control of the navigation of the Lower Mississippi, as a reward or pay ment for their aid to the colonists in their struggle for Independence. This object was frustrated by the masterly sagacity and de termination of three great men, our am bassadors to Europe, Franklin, Adams and Jay, who, in violation of the instructions of Congress providing that they should first obtain the consent of our ally, the French government, before making a treaty with Great Britain, entered into a secret treaty with the British government, by which that government ceded to the United States all its possessions east of the Mississippi and south of Canada, and made the Mississippi river the western boundary of the United States. The French officials were extremely angry when the terms of this treaty were made known, but opposition was useless, and Congress, although mildly censuring our ambassadors, ratified their action and insisted on the Mississippi river as the western boundary. Thus Michigan was probably preserved by the action of Frank lin, Adams and Jay from French domination. These men were fully justified in making the secret treaty with Great Britain. The scheme of France to annex the whole terri tory west of the Alleghanies and east of the Mississippi was extortionate, and attended with conduct of the greatest duplicity on the part of the French ministry. Undoubtedly, a true and gallant sym pathy with the cause of the colonies actuated the minds of La Fayette and thousands of freedom loving Frenchmen, but the main motive of the rulers of France in lending aid to the colonies was not a philanthropic one, but a desire not only to cripple Great HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 15 Britain, but to restore their old dominion and acquire supremacy in North America. Upon the arrival of the early settlers, Topinabee was the hereditary and ranking chief of the whole Pottawatomie nation and seems to have maintained this position for a period of over forty years, commencing in the latter part of the eighteenth century. His village at the time' of the first pioneer settlement was located on the Gitchell farm and the farm now occupied by Chester Bad ger, situated about three miles southwest of Niles. The village adjoined a lake named after the chief, which was originally quite a sheet of water, but which was subsequently crossed by the Michigan Central railroad track and has been drained. Quantities of Indian relics have been found on the Gitchell and Badger farms, consisting of tomahawks, arrow heads, Indian calumets, and skinning stones for dressing animals. The farm of Mr. Badger has been named after the Indian chief and is called "Topinabee Farm." Topinabee in his prime, was regarded as a man of ability and a brave and cunning warrior. In the latter part of his life he became addicted to the excessive use of liquors and died from the effect of a fall received while in a state of gross intoxica tion. At the treaty of Chicago in 1821, he was advised by General Cass to keep sober so as .to secure a good bargain for himself and his people. His reply was "Father, wa do not care for the lands, nor the money, nor the goods. What we want is whiskey. Give us whiskey." Pokagon was the second in rank. His village was located in the southern part of Bertrand township, about one mile west of the village of Bertrand, on the old Chicago road. He was a man of talent, strictly honest and true to his word. He became a convert to the Catholic faith early in life through the efforts of Catholic missionaries and was a devout and consistent member of the Church. He was highly respected by the early settlers and a total abstainer from all intoxicating drinks. When the great body of the Indians went west of the Mis sissippi in 1834, he preferred to remain in Michigan. He removed to Silver Creek township in Cass county, where he located upon land purchased of the United States government. He died in 1841 and his body rests in a vault in the Catholic Church in Silver Creek. Weesaw, another chief, had his village on the south side of the St. Joseph river, about two miles northwest of the central part of Niles, on the farm now owned by Mrs. W. B. Gray and her daughter Kate. He was regarded as the war chief of the tribe, and dressed ostentatiously. He was tall, dignified and of commanding presence. His leggings were bordered with little bells, his head adorned by a brilliant turban. and his waist bound with a gorgeous sash. Upon his breast he wore a huge silver amulet kept very bright and from his ears and nose hung heavy, rings of silver. He had three wives, of whom the favorite was a daughter of Topinabee, designated the Princess. Whenever Weesaw visited the whites with his wives, she walked next to him in the rear and the others followed be hind her. Weesaw was killed at his village in a drunken row with his son. Moccasin, another chief, had his village on the west bank of- the St. Joseph river at a place still known as "Moccasin Bluff," and located about a mile north of Buchanan. TREATIES WITH THE POTTAWATOMIES. Three distinct treaties affecting the terri tory now included within the limits of Ber rien county, were made between the Indians and the United States government. The first treaty was made by the govern ment August 29, 1 82 1, and to this treaty, the Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies were parties. By this treaty all that part of southwestern Michigan (including territory which is now embraced with the limits of i6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY. several counties) except that portion of Ber rien county which lies between the St. Jo seph river and Lake Michigan, was ceded to the government. The second treaty was made between the Pottawatomies and the government Septem ber 28, 1828, at the Carey mission house. located about a mile west of the city of Niles. By this treaty the Pottawatomies ceded to the government all that part of Berrien county lying west of the St. Joseph river, excqDt a tract of land lying between the river and a direct line running from the state line in the southwest corner of Bertrand township to the river in section 12 of Buchanan township. This tract con tained nearly fifty sections and included all but four sections of the present township of Bertrand and several sections in Buchanan and Niles townships. This tract was. subse quently known as the "reservation" and con tained the choicest lands in southern Michi gan. The treaty was signed at the Carey mis sion on the part of the United States gov ernment, by Lewis Cass, governor of Michi gan Territory and Pierre Menard, and on the part of the Indians by Topinabee, Poka gon, Weesaw and other leading men of the tribe. The third treaty was made at Chicago, September 26, 1833. By this treaty the Pottawatomies ceded the reservation in Ber rien county to the government, receiving in lieu thereof certain lands lying west of the Mississippi. Pokagon and his band refused to sign the treaty unless they were allowed to remain in Michigan. This request was granted. In the treaty of 1821 certain individual reservations and grants were made which were not disturbed by the subsequent treaties. To John Burnett of St. Joseph, a white trader from New Jersey who had had married an Indian wife, was reserved two sections of land. To the children of John Burnett and Kawkemee, his wife, a sister of Topinabee, was awarded each a section. To Madeleine Bertrand, a Pattawatomie woman and wife of Joseph Bertrand, a French trader of Bertrand, one section of land on the present site of the village of Bertrand, and also one-half section at the portage of the Kankakee to the children of Bertrand and wife. An annuity of twenty-five hundred dol lars was provided for the Pottawatomies. With the advent of the early American traders, the Indians began to deteriorate. The cause has been stated heretofore. Sev eral years before their removal west, most of them had reached a sad condition of poverty and destitution. Their food consisted out side of the wild game, almost wholly of corn and dried beans. Their immigration westward commenced in 1836, but considerable numbers remained later. In 1840 under the management of Alexis Coquillard of South Bend 2,000 of them were removed. In 1843 the re mainder, except Pokagon's band, left their Michigan home for their new home beyond the Mississippi. The descendants of Pokagon and his band are still living in Silver Creek, Cass county, and in portions of Van Buren and Allegan counties. The Pottawatomies who removed west, were first located near Council Bluffs in Iowa. Some changes were made subse quently and finally in 1847 a permanent reservation on the Kansas river in Kansas, consisting of a large tract of land in the vicinity of Topeka, was made for them. The Catholics established a mission for them at St. Mary's, in Jackson county, while the Baptists had a mission in an adjoining coun ty. In 1 86 1 the United States government made a treaty with the Pottawatomies by which lands were to be allotted in severalty to those who had adopted the customs of the whites and desired a separate allotment. A portion of the reserve was to be assigned in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY n a body to those who did not desire the allot ment. The Michigan Pottawatomies were generally allotted lands in severalty. Chiefs were assigned one section of land, head men one-half section, heads of families one- quarter section, and other members of the tribe, men, women and children each eighty acres. Lands were also conveyed to the St. Mary's Catholic mission for school and church purposes,, and also to the Baptist mission. A large portion of the Michigan Potta watomies have dropped all tribal relations and have become full citizens of the United States. In 1870, a portion of these Indians re moved to the Indian Territory, the payment of annuities to the Pottawatomies by the government having ceased that year. The condition of the Pottawatomies after their removal was improved. They are con sidered as among the most intelligent of the Indian tribes. A large number of them have French blood, owing to the intermarriage of Indian squaws with French traders and hunters, and many of the tribe have very little Indian blood. Nearly" all are Chris tians, a majority belonging to the Catholic Church. Upon the removal of the Potta watomies to Kansas in 1847, the head chief was Kah-he-ga-wa-ti-an-gah. He was born in Indiana in 181 1, and converted in Michi gan to Christianity under the labors of Rev. Isaac McCoy, the head of the Carey mission, to be hereafter described. This chief, when he became a Christian, discarded his Indian name, and was baptized under the name of Abram B. Burdette. He was known as the big fat man, weighing at the time of his death, 350 pounds. He died in 1870. This chapter would be incomplete with out mention of the famous Carey mission. among the Pottawatomies of the St. Joseph valley. In 1820, Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Bap tist clergyman, established a school and mis sion at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school became a flourishing one, and was attended largely by Indians and French. In June, 1 82 1, in company with a pupil of his, Abra ham Burnett, a half-breed and son of Will iam Burnett, an American trader of St. Jo seph, who acted as interpreter, McCoy set out from Fort Wayne to meet some of the Pottawatomies for the purpose of conferring with them on the subject of establishing a school among them. A conference was held with the Indians along the St. Joseph river. The Pottawatomie chiefs were favorable t» the scheme. The aid of General Cass was; obtained and by a treaty between the government and the Indians in 1822, a tract of land a mile square, located a mile west of the present Broadway bridge in; Niles, was set out for school purposes and in July, 1822, McCoy received from Gen. Cass an appointment to take charge of the mission. The appointment was accompanied with instructions in detail, and McCoy's salary was. fixed at $600 a year. Mr. McCoy removed to this site in 1823. He brought with him a number of capable teachers and assistants and at once estab lished his school and mission. A French Catholic mission had existed at Niles, but it appears to have been aban doned before McCoy arrived. There were no roads, and he was obliged to hew his way through the forests. The mission was a flourishing one for several years, and conducted with ability. In 1825 Mr. McCoy built a grist mill, the first grist mill erected in Michigan, west of Ann Arbor and Tecumseh. The condition of the mission in 1826 is stated by John L. Lieb, a government agent whose duty it was to visit the Indian schools in the territory of Michigan. In that year he made a visit to the Carey mis sion and in his report to Gen. Cass, appears the following: "There are at present sev enty scholars in various stages of improve ment. Two hundred and eight acres are enclosed in fence of which fifteen are in wheat, fifty in corn, eight in potatoes and tS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY other vegetables. They have a most ex cellent grist mill worked by horses. The usefulness of this mill can scarcely be ap preciated as there is no other within one hundred miles at least." In a letter written by Gen. Cass to Mr. McCoy in 1823, the General says: "Your "report and that of Mr. Noble (a govern ment inspector) are entirely satisfactory. The affairs of the agency appear to be in the best condition and if the experiment is •ever successful, I am satisfied you will make it so." The object of the mission was not simply to preach the Gospel to the Indians, but to teach them methods of cultivating the soil, and industrial trades and to instill into' their minds habits of industry and economy. These objects were partially accomplished and many Indians were induced to lead sober and industrious lives. With the ad vent, however, of white settlers, the attend- ing sale of liquors to the Indians, and the making of the treaties which evidently con templated a future removal of the Potta watomies, the mission began to' decline al though it lingered till about 1832, when Mr. McCoy left to engage in missions farther west. An interesting history of the Carey mis sion was furnished by Judge Nathaniel Bacon in an address before the Old Settlers' Association of Berrien county, in 1869. This address is given nearly in full in Cowles' directory of Berrien county, pub lished in 1871. The author of this directory, Edward Cowles, now living in Omaha, Nebraska, is himself of Indian blood. His book is a very valuable one, containing much historical re search, gathered by him with great care and labor -nd partially prepared by Mr. ! owles while in the office of the father of this his torical sketch. The father of Edward Cowles was prominent in securing for the members of Pokagon's band and their de scendants, at different times, a liberal pro vision from the Federal government in money, distributed to each man, woman and child equally. To secure these appropria tions, Mr. Cowles made frequent visits to Washington and was in frequent 'consulta tion with Gen. Cass and leading men in the government. His father was an Ottawa and his mother a Chippewa, but he himself was adopted by the Pottawatomies. Early in life he became a protege of Rev. Mr. Ferry, a Presbyterian missionary at Mack inac and the father of the late Senator Ferry. Through Mr. Ferry's efforts, Cowles was educated at Oberlin College and was a gen tleman of high intelligence and courteous manners. He died near Niles about thirty- five years since. The remnant of Pottawatomies of Poka gon's band now remaining in southwestern Michigan number about two hundred and thirty. Of these twenty-seven live in Ber rien county, thirty-nine in Cass county, sev enty-eight in Van Buren county arid eighty- six in Allegan county. The Carey mission played an important part in the original settlement of Berrien county, and the western part of Cass county. The first settlers who came to this region stopped at the mission, and made it their headquarters, while they were prospecting for a permanent location. Several of them were engaged as teachers in the mission and others assisted in various capacities. Among those so engaged, were the fol lowing prominent settlers to whom more special reference will hereafter be made. Calvin Britain, Baldwin Jenkins, John John son, Geo. H. Claypool, Maj. Timothy Smith, John Pike, and Jas. Gillespie. SQUIRE THOMPSON THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER OF BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER III EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BERRIEN COUNTY. "I hear the tread of pioneers, Of nations yet to be, The first low wash of waves where soon Shall wave a human sea. The rudiments of empire here Are plastic yet and warm, The chaos of a mighty world, Is rounding into form.'' About the year 1780, William Burnett, an American from New Jersey, established a' trading post at the mouth of the river St. Joseph. He selected a home near the pres ent site of Napier's bridge, built a house and set out an orchard of apple trees. These trees proved to be of remarkable vitality. In 1876 apples produced from these trees were exhibited at the Michigan State Fair by A. O. Winchester of St. Joseph, who then remarked that they were gathered from trees over a century old. Burnett succeeded in establishing a large and lucrative busi ness with the Indians, exchanging blankets, utensils, cheap jewelry, hatchets, scalping knives and ardent spirits for furs. Raccoon skins appear to have been the leading com modity in furs. A portion of Mr. Burnett's books covering the period from 1792 to 1 801 have been preserved. Items gathered from these books of account in 1801 may be interesting as showing the character of the trade. The first item dated May 26, 1801, consists of casks and boxes of maple sugar shipped on board the General Hunter, a sloop which made frequent trips to St. Joseph. These casks arid boxes contained 1,695 pounds of sugar. The second item reads as .follows : June 3, 1801. Invoice of fifteen packs consigned to David Mitchell at Mackinac by the sloop Hunter, Capt. Rough, master. Skins. 400 196 2 1 Pack containing (musk) Rats Minks Covering Raccoons 60 Otters 38 Fishers 6 Martens 9 Cubs 5 Covering 2 10 packs Deer skins containing each 50 3 packs Raccoons containing each 120 On the same date occur the following: 20 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY i pack of Otter containing ioo & 2 skins. 1 pack Beaver containing.. 91 & 2 skins. 3 packs ( musk) rats contain' g 500 skins. covering 6 skins. (wild) cats contain'g 64 skins. Foxes contain'g 60* skins. covering 2 skins. 8 packs Bucks containing . . 30 each 7 packs Does containing ... 50 each 29 packs Raccoons containing 120 skins covering 58 skins 2 packs (musk) rats 500 each covering 4 skins Burnett married Kawkemee, sister of Topinabee, principal chief of the Potta watomie nation, and appears to have had five children by her. The government of the United States by the treaty of Chicago in 1821, gave to John Burnett, a son of Wm. Burnett, and Kawkemee, two sections of land and to the other children each one sec tion of. land. It appears from the reports made by. Burnett in 1801 that quite a num ber of French Canadians then lived at St. Joseph, but these had disappeared before any permanent settlement had been made by American settlers and no relics of these peo ple remained. They cannot be regarded as pioneers or colonists, as they led a roving life, made no attempt to clear the wilder ness or make any permanent settlement. Nor can Burnett be regarded as a pioneer. He was simply a fur trader with no thought of encouraging any settlement of the coun try. At about the same time with that of Bur netts location at St. Joseph, Joseph Bertrand and one Le Clare, Frenchmen from Canada, located at Bertrand on the St. Joseph river and engaged in the fur trade with the Indians. These men appear to have been employed by Burnett. The place occupied by them was called "pare aux vaches." The name originated from the fact that the Indians claimed that it was formerly a favorite roaming ground of buffalo herds, although literally the words mean a cow- pen or pasture. Bertrand conducted a large trading business for over fifty years and after his death it was carried on by his son, Joseph. Bertrand married- Madeline, daughter of the Indian, chief Topinabee, by which marriage five children were born. By the treaty of Chicago, a section of land where the vilage of Bertrand is situated,; was given to Madeline, and a half section. to each of the children on the portage of the Kankakee, in Indiana, a few miles south of Bertrand. The residence of these Indian traders does not really form a part of the early set tlement and colonization of the country. The real pioneer work was done by a different class of men.. The earliest immigration of settlers into Berrien county, came from the south and the majority were of southern origin, either by birth or by descent. They belonged; to that hardy and venturesome race of genuine- pioneers whose prototype was Daniel Boone. They came into a wilderness, where there were no roads, where savages and wild beasts were numerous, and where none of the comforts and conveniences of civilized. life existed. No road to the St. Joseph river existed except a dangerous track from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Niles, crossed by numerous rivers and streams which the traveler was obliged to ford. The only resi dences between Fort 'Wayne and Niles were the houses of the French traders at South Bend and Bertrand. It was not till about. 1834, after the Erie Canal had been com pleted and the Chicago road constructed,. that immigration set in from the Empire state, to which reference will be made here after. The character and manner of life of these southern pioneers may be briefly sum marized, before entering into detailed his tory. I have gleaned the following facts from articles published by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society. They were a cheerful, contented people HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 21 whose wants were few and easily supplied. They were honest and hospitable. Their food consisted generally of corn bread, pork fattened in the woods, fish, venison and wild game which was abundant. The fruits con sisted of cranberries, crab apples, wild plum, strawberries, whortleberries, and blackber ries. The wild strawberry was delicious and was much superior to the domestic straw berry in flavor and sweetness. The farmer's outfit consisted of an axe, iron wedge, a hull plow which was a shire and landside combined with wooden stock and moldboard, a harrow which was often a tree top or crotch with wooden teeth, and a sickle. Un til 1830 nearly all the small grain was cut Avith a sickle. Threshing machines did not begin to appear till about 1842, and at that time they had no separator. The dresses of women were generally of linsey cloth. The shoes were made from leather dressed at the tanneries on shares, and made up by local or traveling shoe makers. The cotton cloth worn by the ladies was colored with oak bark into a variegatea brown, the waist and skirt made up in onei piece and gathered at the waist by a cord run in a shirr. Men were clad -in jeans, blue or butter nut, home made. Pantaloons were often made of buck-skin. The upper garment was something like a blouse, called a wamus, Teaching nearly to the hips. Coon or fox skin caps were common. The first residences of these pioneers were cabins constructed of logs. Having given this general description of the equipment and outfits of these set tlers, as furnished us by contemporaries, I now proceed to a brief account of the set tlers themselves. They settled on or near the St. Joseph river, and their settlements were confined for several years almost wholly to the townships of Niles.Berrien and St. Joseph, a territory embracing a part of Bertrand and Oronoko townships. The Carey mission, already described, was a temporary headquarters for these settlers at first. It should be observed at the outset that the early settlers of the county were largely men and women of great natural strength and force of character. We are sometimes prone to exaggerate the virtues of the past, but there is no illusion in stating this propo sition. It is the naked truth. The men and women who came from the older regions of the country and cleaned up the forests and who were the advance guard of civilization were no ordinary people. They were largely ambitious young men and women of more than ordinary intelli gence, who saw in the natural resources of a new and fertile country the prospects of bettering their condition and of developing a civilization better than that of the crowded thoroughfares of the east. This remark applies not only to the farmers, but to the merchants and business men who were the early leaders in trade and transportation and in mechanical, mer cantile, banking and professional life. They belonged to a superior class and were gen erally reading and thinking men, often well educated. They were the cream of the older civilization, and calculated to command re spect by their sturdy characteristics of mind and body. It would be difficult to find any where a class of men superior in those quali ties which command respect and personal influence, to those broad minded, energetic, well developed and impressive characters who led the early business life of Berrien county. In 1835 a work was published at New York City entitled "A Winter in the West." It consists of letters written in 1833 c^e" scriptive of travels in several states, and among them was Michigan. The writer traveled on horseback and stopped at Niles. In his work he remarked that the popula tion of Michigan generally was much su perior to the ordinary settlers of a new 22 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY country. The writer also says "to no scenery of our country that I have yet seen is the term 'Arcadia' more applicable than to the rich and fairy landscape on the west side of the peninsula, watered by the Kala mazoo and the St. Joseph. * * * We were ferried over the St. Joseph at Niles. A low-sided scow was the means of con veyance. At length, ascending the bank, a beautiful plain with a clump of trees here and there upon its surface, opened to our view. The establishment of the Carey mis sion, a long, low, white building, could be distinguished afar off faintly in the moon light, while several winter lodges of the Pottawatomies which inhabit this fine dis trict, were plainly perceptible over the plain." The pioneer colonist and farmer of Ber rien county was Squire Thompson, who came from Ohio to Niles in 1823 and lo cated on a piece of land on the flat south of the present dam across the St. Joseph river. He planted a field of corn that spring and returned to Ohio for his family, which he brought with him in the fall of the same year. He at once built a log house in which he and his wife, whose maiden name was Charity Florey, and two children, resided. Mr. Thompson was born in Virginia in 1784 and emigrated in early life to Ohio, where he lived for a time before coming to Michigan. In 1826 he moved to the town ship of Pokagon, Cass county, where he lived till 1849, when he removed to Sacra mento, California, where he died the next year. Mr. Thompson was a strong man phy sically and mentally. He was a lawyer, mer chant, farmer, trapper, politician, interpreter and guide. He made frequent trips to De troit on horseback, taking with him furs and skins. He often tried cases before justices. He was an ardent admirer of "Harry Clay" and frequently delivered Whig speeches. His ordinary costume at all seasons was a pair of pantaloons faced with buckskin and a red flannel shirt open at the throat. His personality was positive, virile and unique. He was appointed a county judge when Michigan was a terri tory. While he was living at Niles, the Indians held a council at which it was re solved to drive him out. As the Indians, however, had ceded the land on which he lived to the United States government, he paid no attention to their hostility and was never molested. He was nominated as a candidate for the state Legislature, but as the Democracy was in the ascendancy, and he was a Whig, he was defeated. His son, Isaac, who was born to his par ents on their way from Ohio to Niles in 1823, is now living at Santa Clara in the state of California. It is highly gratifying and interesting to note that this earliest of pioneers who lived with his parents on the banks of the St. Joseph river eighty-three years ago, before any white family except his own had made any actual settlement in the St. Joseph valley, is now rounding out an old age in perfect physical health and in the full possession of his mental faculties. He removed to California from Michigan in 1849. Before his removal, he married a daughter of Isaac Smith, one of the earliest settlers of Berrien township. The first white child bom in the St. Joseph valley was the daughter of Squire Thompson, Rachel, who was born at Carey (Niles) in 1825. She married Wm. Weed, a farmer of Berrien township, who died many years ago. After the death of her husband she removed to Cameron, Missouri, where she died two years ago. The second settler in the county was William Kirk who came in the spring of 1824 from Virginia. He lived for a while in a log house near Thompson, but after wards built a house near the site of the old Michigan Central passenger depot. He re sided in Niles but a short time, removing farther west. Baldwin Jenkins next came from Ohio MRS. RACHAEL WEED THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN BERRIEN COUNTY ISAAC THOMPSON THE SON OF SQUIRE THOMPSON, WHO CAME WITH HIS FATHER TO BERRIEN COUNTY IN 1823 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 23 in the summer of 1824. He remained at Niles a few months examining carefully the surrounding country. He located a home on Pokagon. prairie in Cass county. After selecting his farm, he returned to Ohio and brought back with him Benjamin Potter and Nathan Young. Jenkins appears to have remained in Niles a short time, and in the fall of 1825, he returned again to Ohio and brought back with him his family, when he located on his prairie farm. He has left a description of the log houses which were used for a residence by the earliest settlers. They were built of small logs, one upon the other, grooved at the ends so as to fit all round closely, the chinks being closed with strips of mud and wood, with small oblong apertures for windows on the side, and an other and larger one in front for a door way, and still another in the roof for a chimney made of sticks and clay, but often a hole was left in the roof through which the smoke, after lingering with the family and the household goods till all was blue, would wander out at its own sweet will. The roof, flat but sloping, was composed of poles covered with boughs or straw. When the weather was inclement, blankets would be put up at the windows. Mr. Jenkins became a resident of Cass county as stated, but was prominently con nected with the life of the early settlers of Berrien county, and is entitled to mention in this sketch of our early history. He owned large tracts of land in Berrien county, as well as Cass county. He was one of the first county judges appointed under the old territorial law, for territory then embracing both counties. He was a man of unusual sagacity and ability and was highly respected bv all who knew him. He died in 1847 at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Isaac Murphy, at Berrien Center in this county. During the year 1826, Mr. Jenkins kept a dairy and his family made large quantities of butter and cheese which were marketed at Fort Wayne. He was a prominent mem ber of the Baptist Church subsequently or ganized at Niles, and one of its founders although then living in Pokagon, a fewf miles away. In the fall of 1824, John Lybrook came from Richmond, Indiana, via Fort Wayne, and worked for Squire Thompson and the Carey mission. In the spring of 1825, he returned to Richmond and brought back with him Joel G. Yard, John Johnson and his brother. They walked the entire dis tance each carrying provisions, clothing, an axe and a gun. At this time no dwelling; house existed between Fort Wayne and Niles except the trading houses at South Bend and Bertrand. In the fall of 1825 John Johnson brought his family from Rich mond and settled in Berrien township in Section 29, where he lived till his death. His son, John Johnson, a former sheriff of this county, now lives on the farm which was settled by his father in 1825, the. farm never having gone out of the possession of the family. John Lybrook settled on a farm a short distance north of Niles, shortly after he re turned to Ohio and brought back with him> his father, Henry Lybrook, a soldier in the American Revolution. The Lybrooks soon moved to La Grange Prairie, Cass county. A son Joseph now lives on the farm entered by his father, John Lybrook, in Cass- county. In 1828 Eli Bonnell and A. Tietsort came from Ohio. Bonnell built a log house on the site of present Main street in which he and his family lived. It was the first house built in the place. Bonnell and Tiet sort shortly after moved to Cass county. The subject of the earliest settlements will be resumed in subsequent chapters, em bracing first Niles, Berrien township, St. Joseph, Oronoka and Bertrand. CHAPTER IV ORGANIZATION— GENERAL INTERESTS AND INSTITUTIONS "What constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement or laboured mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; No : — men, high minded men, Men, who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare main tain." Sir William Jones. The famous ordinance of 1787 created the "North West Territory" out of which were subsequently organized the five great *ister states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, ¦Illinois and Wisconsin. By the congres sional act of 1800 that part of the North west Territory now included in Ohio was set off under a distinct territorial govern ment and the remainder was organized as the territory of Indiana. In 1805, Michigan was erected into a separate territory. For many years the territory now included in the county of Berrien was part of the county of Wayne. In 1827 the township of St. Jo seph was organized as a part of that county and included all lands acquired from the Indians by the treaty of 1821. September "22, 1829, all lands acquired by the Carey mission treaty were attached to Lenawee county. October 29, 1829, the county of Berrien was organized with its present limits, but on November 5, 1829, it was erected into the township of Niles and at tached to Cass county. In 1831, Berrien county was detached from Cass county and made a separate county. In 1832, the coun ty was divided into three townships, viz. : Berrien, Niles and St. Joseph. The town of Berrien then embraced the territory now included in the townships of Berrien, Oronoko and Lake, with a two mile strip immediately north of that territory. The town of St. Joseph embraced all of Berrien county, north of Berrien township, and the town of Niles embraced all south of Ber rien township. Subsequently new townships were or ganized and portions of territory detached from the three original townships of Ber rien, St. Joseph and Niles. The dates of the organization of these townships, in their chronological order appear in the following table : HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 2; Royalton, 1835, embracing also the pres ent territory of Pipestone and Lincoln. New Buffalo, 1836, embracing also pres ent territory of Three Oaks and Chikaming. Bertrand, 1836, embracing also present territory of Galien. Bainbridge, 1837. Buchanan, 1837. Benton, 1837. Oronko, 1837, embracing also present territory of Lake, Weesaw, 1837. Pipestone, 1842, embracing also present territory of Sodus. Galien, 1844. Hagar, 1846. Watervliet, 1846. Lake, 1846. Three Oaks, 1856. Chikaming, 1856. Sodus, i860. Lincoln, 1867. Bertrand township as originally organ ized, extended to the west line of Cass coun ty, and was twelve miles long, but subse quently that portion of the township east of the St. Joseph river was detached and annexed to the township of Niles. The township of Buchanan, as originally constituted, embraced no lands north and east of the St. Joseph river. Several years since, however, all that territory in Niles township lying west of the range line No. 18, was detached and annexed to Buchanan township, consisting of nearly four sections of land. Some small changes have been made with regard to other townships, but not of sufficient importance to mention. The city of Niles was incorporated in 1859, The village of Niles was incor porated in 1838. The city of St. Joseph was incorporated in 1 89 1. The village was incorporated in i834- The city of Benton Harbor was incor porated in 1 89 1. The village in 1869. The following table shows the popula tion of Berrien county at different dates : 1837 1840 1845 1850 1854 1860 1864 4863 5011 7365 11417 13595 22578 25704 1870 1874 1880 1884 1890 1900 1904 35104 35029 36785 37776 41285 49165 49390 The following table shows the popula tion of the different, townships and cities at different dates : 1840 1845 1854 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1904 251 1298 543 264 i23 1420 335246 '489 142 613 237 1305 566 630 'iii 416 1935 664277284 628 155 574 641 i084 999 1202 404 269 227 '873 3174 '874 875 452 '763 '404 938 1028isio1253,1728 310 528438 557 834 272227881252 1052 964 674 1358 '539 545753 13373116152214052973 993856834 10061181 13891910 4648 1617 1379 2190 906 29941328 13281243 137821391308 1392 2898 996946 1247 1408 11911663 4197 18121495 960 355013931897 1369 151923773692 1093 15842849 964 1238 953 1518 211211921364 4197 181514461164 953574 3733 1754 20161178 18033234 6562 932 1490 2575 920 12391105269418771240 1131 4287 19511386114711651070 5155 184430091349 1759 3043 6702 933 1530 2672 893 1205 1127 27331783 12451059 4641 1997 1366 1144 1182 1008 5322 1800 2915 1331 e6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY It will be seen from the foregoing table that in the early history of the county the bulk of the population for a considerable period occupied the southeastern portion of the county. At the close of the Civil war, however, immigration set in rapidly toward other portions of the county. The most rapid increase of population during its whole history was between the years 1864 and 1870. During a period of only six years the population increased by 9,400, or about 35 per cent. During this period the build ing of the C. & W. Mi. railroad along the shore of Lake Michigan, and the attractions of the fruit industry just beginning to de velop, led to the resurrection of St. Joseph from its decline and to the birth of a new metropolis on the eastern shore of the St. Joseph river, hitherto undreamed of, but destined to take the lead in Berrien county, in commercial industry, enterprise and popu lation. Berrien county was named after John M. Berrien, attorney general in the first cabinet of President Jackson. The population of the incorporated vil lages according to the State census of 1904 was as follows : Berrien Springs . . 780, incorporated 1867 Buchanan 1832, 1863 Eau Claire 318, " 1891 Galien 414, 1879 Coloma 558, " 1893 New Buffalo 640, " 1836 Three Oaks 1000, 1867 Stevensville 237 1893 Watervliet 816, " 1891 The population of the county is not homogeneous, but composed of several ele ments. The earliest settlers came from Virginia, Ohio and Indiana, by the way of the Fort Wayne highway. A large portion of them were of southern or Virginia origin, by birth or descent, although a considerable element originated in Pennsylvania. It is worthy of note that a majority of those of southern origin were strongly anti-slavery in their convictions. About the year 1834, however, the most important stream of immigration into the state of Michigan commenced. It. came from the state of New York, also embrac ing New England. Whole townships and counties were populated with immigrants from New York. The county of Berrien was not so exclusively settled by eastern people as other counties east of us, but it is probable that the number of settlers of Berrien county who came from New York between the years 1834 and 1855, exceeded that from all the other states put together. These people from New York were almost wholly descendants of pioneers who had emigrated from New England and cleared up the forests of the Empire State in the eighteenth century. A considerable number of our pioneers came from Pennsylvania to this county, es pecially to the townships of Bertrand, Oronoko and Berrien. An important element of the Pennsyl vania immigration was the "Pennsylvania Dutch." A description of this thrifty peo ple is given in another chapter. Their set tlements in Bertrand and Oronoko were quite extensive. A considerable portion of the Pennsyl vania and Virginia settlers belonged to the so-called "Scotch-Irish" race. They were the descendants of Scotchmen whfx had set tled in the northern part of Ireland in the seventeenth century. Being exasperated by an excessive tariff of the English govern ment on their linen industries, they com menced coming to America about the year 1720 and poured over in vast numbers. At least one-third of the population of Pennsyl vania and of Virginia at the close of the Revolution consisted of this element. Their descendants now number many millions and the race has formed one of the most powerful factors in national development. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 27 The foreign population or those who were born abroad numbers about 7,000. The townships of Lincoln, New Buffalo, Lake, and the city of St. Joseph are the only lo calities where the percentage of foreign population seems to be comparatively large. Lincoln township has a foreign population of over 700. St. Joseph about 1,200 and New Buffalo about 300. 'The prevailing element of foreign population is German. The native population, where one or both of the parents were born abroad, num bers about 4,400. Bainbridge at an early day was settled largely by Germans, but foreign immigration into the township ceased many years since and the number of people now living there, who were born abroad, is small. The German immigra tion into Bainbridge was at a very early day and much in advance of the general stream of German emigration to this country. The townships of Lake and Lincoln, within a few years, have been settled largely by people of various foreign birth or de scent, the German element, however, pre dominating. The township of Three Oaks has a large population of German origin, but the great majority were born in this country. BLACK HAWK WAR. 1 In 1832 the famous Black Hawk war occurred. Black Hawk, a savage of un common ability, was a Pottawatomie by birth, but became identified with the Sacs and Fox of Wisconsin and the chief, eventu ally, of both tribes. He opposed the re moval of the Indians west of the Mississippi in 1 83 1, and headed an organized conspiracy against the whites which was attended with several frightful massacres. A report came in the spring of 1832 that Black Hawk was marching upon Chicago with a large force and that all the western settlements were in danger. The presence of several thou sand Pottawatomies on the Reserve who had not yet removed to the west tended to in crease the anxiety. A regiment consisting of four or five companies of Michigan volun teers made their rendezvous at the hotel of Thos. K. Green afterwards known as the "Old Diggins," in April. This was increased subsequently to a brigade under the com mand of General Williams and in May the brigade departed as was supposed for the seat of war. When the brigade arrived at LaPorte, Indiana, news was received that Black Hawk had been defeated, that his forces had been obliged to retreat west of the Mississippi and that the troops would not be needed. Among the old settlers who joined the brigade were A. M. Huston, David Wilson, Dr. E. Winslow, Wm. B. Beeson, Geo. Hoff man, Jacob K. Brown, A. L. Burke, G. H. Claypool, Daniel Johnson, Wm. Kinzie, Henry Drew and Samuel Rogers. Mr. Hus ton was first chosen colonel, Hoffman as major, Dr. E. Winslow as surgeon and Wm. B. Beeson as assistant surgeon. Some of the volunteers went as far as Chicago and a few as far as the Mississippi. None of them, however, saw active service, as Black Hawk was not only defeated but his forces practically annihilated and he himself taken prisoner within thirty days after he crossed the Mississippi. It is to be noted that the Pottawatomies during all the excitement of this war, re mained faithful to the whites, actuated no .doubfr to a considerable extent by their hatred toward their old-time enemies, the . Sacs. For a year at least, immigration was re tarded by the alarm created by Black Hawk's invasion of the western settlements. "WILD CAT BANKS." An event occurred in 1838 and 1839 which seriously retarded immigration and operated disastrously to the growth of the state for several years. It especially affected 28 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Berrien county which bid fair as early as 1836 to develop rapidly into a thickly set tled and prosperous locality. The un fortunate event referred to was the organiza tion and collapse of the so-called "Wild Cat Banks." In March, 1837, the state legisla ture enacted a general law, under which any ten or more freeholders of any county might organize themselves into a bank, on furnish ing certain securities in bonds and mort gages, approved by the county treasurer and clerk. A mania for establishing banks rapidly developed, which spread through the whole state. The banks established in Ber rien county, were the Commercial Bank at St. Joseph, and the Bank of Niles and the Berrien County Bank at Niles. Wild specu lation, especially in lands, followed the crea tion of these banks. Money soon com manded exhorbitant rates of interest, com manding from two per cent, to four per cent, per month. The securities furnished by the banks generally consisted of mort gages on real estate appraised at speculative prices. Wild lands which had been recently purchased of the government at $1,25 per acre, were now rated as high as $25 per acre, and lots in villages which only existed as yet on paper brought enormous prices. Banks in this condition of things were often established at inaccessible places. Bank paper wras issued to the amount of $4,000,- 000, an amount out of all proportion to the real needs of the people. A financial col lapse soon came. By the close of 1839 forty- two of the banks of the state were in the hands of receivers, and only two of the chartered banks and four of those organized under the general banking law were able to do business. Most of the currency of the state had become utterly worthless, and the loss to the people was immense. The banks of Berrien county collapsed with the rest, and an issue of about $300,000, a large amount for one county at that time, became for the most part worthless. These bank bills were handsomely embossed and for some time after the collapse, were often used to decorate walls. A period of extreme de pression and distress ensued, values of all kinds of property declined and lands be came unsalable. For several years immigra tion and progress were practically sus pended. "MICHIGAN AGUE." Another peculiar cause retarded some what the rapid growth of the new territory. This was the "Michigan Ague." Other new countries in the west were subject to. it, but nowhere was it more prevalent than in Michigan, and reports of the prevalence of this peculiar disease, often exaggerated, deterred people of the east from emigration to the new territory. This "Ague" was an intemittent and malarial fever, which assumed three stages. The first was a cold sensation causing the patient to shiver, his teeth to chatter and his knees to knock together. It was a chill of diabolical severity. This was succeeded by a high fever, and a headache, the tempera ture ranging from 103 degrees to 105 de grees Fahrenheit. The third stage was a return of the pulse .to its normal condition, and a copious sweat from every pore of the body followed by a sleepy condition. These paroxysms of the disease occurred at regular intervals, sometimes each day, and sometimes intermittently every other day. The disease was seldom fatal, although attended with distressing symptoms. It oc curred most frequently in the autumn. Nearly everybody had it in the early days and the physicians in certain seasons of the year reaped an abundant harvest in the treatment of ague patients. The method of treatment adopted by most of the early phy sicians was of doubtful efficiency. It con sisted of big doses of calomel with other in gredients. The patient often emerged from the disease salivated, and in a skeleton con dition with his teeth rapidly disappearing. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 29 The fact that nearly all of 'the old settlers recovered from the effects of both disease and treatment can only be ascribed to the Darwin doctrine of "the survival' of the fittest." The early settler of Michigan must have been "the salt of the earth." The origin of this disease is naturally ascribed to malaria arising from abundant richness of vegetation, causing immense vegetable decomposition, and the existence of a large area of marshy soil undrained. About 1845 a new school of physicians be gan administering quinine and other tonics and discarding large doses of calomel and were successful. The original form of Michigan ague long since disappeared ow ing mainly to the draining of the marshes and the cultivation and drying of the soil. The equalized valuation of the various townships and cities of Berrien county for the designated years, made by the board of supervisors, was as follows : 1901, the state board of equalization equal ized the valuation at $30,000,000. It is to be observed that this board meets once in every five years, and that both in 1901 and 1906, it disregarded the work of the state board of tax commissioners. The com missioners in 1906 fixed the valuation of Berrien county at over $36,000,000. The state board diminished this amount by over $4,000,000. As surveyed and organized, a township in Michigan generally was six miles square, consisting of thirty-six sections of land, On account of the meandering course of the St. Joseph river, the bend of the shore of Lake Michigan, and the state line on the southern boundary of Berrien county, the townships are of unequal size and generally contain many fractional sections. Only the townships of Watervliet, Bainbridge, Pipe stone, and Buchanan are exactly six miles square. The sections on the State line be- Bainbridge .... Bertrand Berrien Benton Benton Harbor Buchanan Chikaming . . . Galien Hagar Lake Lincoln New Buffalo. . Niles Niles City Oronoko Pipestone Royalton St. Joseph St. Joseph City . Sodus Three Oaks Watervliet Weesaw 1870 1880 1889 1900 1905 208,750 480,153 478,815 518,640 724,610 615,190 1,002,246 1,014,560 926.404 957,190 379,^00 770,338 856,110 933,248 978,100 492,845 910,418 1,208,410 1,186,780 2,373,163 1,922,265 4 530 580 605,615 1,082,501 1,098,040 1,291,382 1,365,110 126,114 236,458 210,220 244,089 322,463 144,948 314,241 317,263 411,094 490,140 83,200 188,883 203,180 265,310 374,400 155,404 346,343 355,280 524,249 746,680 161,475 333,244 318,760 371,784 553,115 134,730 267,557 230,911 323,418 413,365 541,010 1,092,927 1,015,522 980,254 1,064,427 918,981 1,747,308 1,688,132 1,657,308 1,954,205 406,990 911,221 . 887,295 1,133,904 1,374,760 238,530 514,530 574,220 621,686 818,100 156,535 334,159 345,940 -118,277 619,160 426,051 803,781 833,335 377,400 1,870,937 582,900 2,993,075 574,940 129,607 301,798 294,790 420,743 187,274 437,600 429,430 639,366 779.500 181,274 560, 6C0 520,340 792,195 1,053,725 195,895 455,565 448,528 13,228.981 522,605 640,410 6,569,918 13,061.871 18,810,236 26,733,020 The valuation given above is that fixed by out board of supervisors. The state board of equalization which met in September last, equalized the valua tion of Berrien county at $32,000,000. In tween Michigan and Indiana are fractional, containing only about three-fifth of a sec tion. The plan of local government adopted by the Michigan pioneers was that of New 3° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY England and New York, in preference to that in vogue in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In the south the county was the political unit. In New England and New York the township was the political unit. In the lat ter, power was conferred upon the people of the township, at their annual town meet ing, to enact such laws as they deemed best for their local needs, and not upon a county board. This is the theory of local govern ment reduced to its simplest and most demo cratic form. County legislation was car ried on by a general meeting of the super visors of the respective townships at cer tain stated times each year. The adoption of this system of local government, arose from the fact that before the admission of Michigan into the Union, an immense immigration had set in from the Empire State, which exceeded that from all the other states put together, and made Michigan in her laws, institutions, customs and traditions the child of New York. While Michigan belonged to the terri tory of Indiana, Wayne county embraced the whole of the lower peninsula lying north of Ohio and Indiana. At this time the southern boundary of Wayne county was understood to be a line running due east from the southernmost point of Lake Mich igan to Lake Erie. This embraced the pres ent site of the cities of South Bend, Misha- waka, Elkhart and Toledo. The north western portion of Indiana was not settled till about 1829, but Toledo and the sur rounding country were settled as early as 1800. The enabling act of Congress pro viding for the admission of Ohio as a state, described the northern boundary as the pro longation of a line running due east from the southernmost point of Lake Michigan. The people of Ohio were not then aware that this line would exclude Toledo. Upon as certaining that it did, they demanded a new line to be drawn, and a new survey was made under the direction of the Ohio State government by which the southern boundary of Michigan ran from the southernmost point of Lake Michigan to the northernmost cape of Maumee Bay. This line placed Toledo south of the boundary line, but left the present site of South Bend, Elkhart, and Mishawaka within the boundaries of Mich igan. In 1816 the enabling act of Congress, providing for the admission of Indiana, fixed the northern boundary of Indiana on a line drawn due east and west ten miles north of the southern extreme of Lake Mich igan. No particular attention was paid by the people of Michigan to this change sub tracting a strip of territory ten miles wide, as northern Indiana had not then been set tled and was regarded of little account. The controversy, however, between the people of Ohio and Michigan over the boundary line continued with great bitterness for several years, and almost led to a civil war. Con gress finally granted the claims of Ohio, and recompensed the state of Michigan by annexing to it the territory covered by the Upper Peninsula. Michigan lost a valuable strip of terri tory on our southwestern borders to which she was undoubtedely entitled, whatever may have been the merits of the controversy between Ohio and Michigan. If the people of Michigan in 1816 could have anticipated the value and future importance of this ten mile strip, the southern boundary of Berrien county would probably without serious con troversy, have been located ten miles farther south than at present, and would have em braced within its limits nearly 300 sections, largely of the choicest prairie and timbered lands, and the flourishing city of South Bend. The survey of Berrien county by the United States government was not com pleted till 1829 and until that year no con veyances were made by the government. The first white man who owned land in Berrien county was Davis McKinstry of Detroit. By the treaty of Chicago in 182 1, there was reserved to certain Indians and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3i Indian traders who had married into Indian families, ten sections of land on the east bank of the St. Joseph river, commencing within the present limits of the city of Ben ton Harbor and running southerly into Sodus township. Jean B. Chandonai re ceived two of these sections. In 1822 Chandonai made a deed of one section to McKinstry. The treaty having provided that no lands could be sold without the con sent of the President, the deed was invalid, but a petition was presented to the President asking his approval which was granted by President Monroe. In 1829, McKinstry lo cated the S. Y? of Sec. 3. and the E. Yi of Sec. 4, in Sodus township. The deed was not recorded till 1834. The first entries of land were made June 20, 1829, by the following named persons. In Berrien township, Squire Thompson, Isaac Smith, Eli Ford, Shadrick Ford, George Claypole, William Garwood, John, Samuel and Daniel Johnson, and Jesse Toney. In Niles township by William Justice, Elijah Lacey, Ephraim Lacey, Stephen and Samuel Salee, Joseph Stephens, John Rit ter, Alex. Rogers, Jacob Miller, Joseph Bertrand, Jr., and Leon Bourasas. In 1830, Hugh Marrs, Baldwin Jenkins, Andrew L. Burke, William Lemon, John Snyder and John Lybrook entered land in Berrien township; Calvin Britain, A. B. Newell and William Huff at St. Joseph; George Kimmel and John Pike at Berrien Springs, and Edward Smith at Royalton. The first deed actually recorded in Ber rien county after its organization was dated November 29, 183 1, and executed by Eber Griswold and Marinda, his wife, to Wm. Listen. It conveyed lot No. 23, Wm. Jus tice's plat of Niles, and was recorded the day of date by Obed P. Lacey, register of deeds. The first election for county officers was held at Niles, April 2, 1832. Augustus Newell was elected sheriff, Titus B. Willard, county clerk, Obed P. Lacey, register of deeds, and Jacob Beeson, county treasurer. Cogswell K. Green was appointed judge of probate. The county seat remained at Niles till October, 1832, when it was removed to the village of Newburyport (now St. Joseph). The first court established in the county was the probate court. The first term of that court was held at Niles by Judge C. K. Green, December 27, 1831. The first will probated was that of Ephraim Lacey, which occurred September 24, 1832, and Elijah Lacey and Obed P. Lacey were appointed executors. The first term of the county court was held at Niles July 3, 1832, Daniel Olds pre siding. The first case called was a slander suit of Daniel Wilson, Jr. vs. Garrett Shuert and Elizabeth Shuert, which appears afterwards to have been dismissed. The county court was abolished in 1833. It was re-established in 1847 and again abolished in 1853. The first term of the circuit court for Berrien county was held at Newburyport (St. Joseph) in October, 1833. Wm. A. Fletcher, a very able and learned lawyer of Detroit, was president judge, Tolman Wheeler and Amos S. Amsden, associate judges. The associate judges at this time were not generally lawyers and were called "side judges." Their services were usually perfunctory as they generally nodded a silent acquiescence to every decision of the circuit judge. The first case was that of Calvin Bartlett vs. Benj. Chandler, parties living at St. Joseph. The first chancery case was that of Job Brookfield vs. Bacon Wheeler, prominent residents of Niles. The first meeting of the board of super visors, so far as appears of record was on October 2, 1832, when they met at the council house in Niles. The county then consisted of three townships, Niles, Bar-, 32 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY rien and St. Joseph. Jacob Beeson repre sented Niles, Pitt Brown, Berrien and Amos S. Amsden, St. Joseph. In 1838 the state adopted a plan of vest ing the powers of the board of supervisors in a board of county commissioners. Eras mus Winslow of Niles, John F. Porter of St. Joseph and Jos. G. Ames of Bertrand were appointed commissioners. This office was abolished in 1842 and the old New England and New York plan resumed. In 1837 the county seat was removed to Berrien (Berrien Springs). While it re mained at St. Joseph no- court house was erected and courts were held first in a log school house and subsequently in what was known as the "old White school house," still standing in St. Joseph. In 1834 Fow ler Preston was appointed county agent to construct a jail. Mr. Preston constructed one of logs for the sum of $191.56 in that year. A court house was built at Berrien in 1839, which still remain standing. Brick buildings for offices were erected in 1873. In 1893, at an election called for the pur pose of considering the question of removal of the county seat to St. Joseph, the measure was carried by a majority of 240. The actual removal was made in December, 1894. Courts were held and county offices carried on till 1896 in Martin's Academy of Music. The new court house was first occupied in February, 1896. The primary school system of Michi gan by which each township is divided into' school districts supported by public taxation and the primary school fund, was inaugu rated by the ordinance of 1787 creating the Northwest Territory, by which one section of land in each township was reserved for public school purposes. These lands have been sold by the state and a fund thus created for the support of schools. A law was enacted by the Legis lature in 1838 providing for the organiza tion of school districts. The most sweep ing and comprehensive law, however, was enacted in 1855 by which education in the primary schools was made free to all pupils resident in the district. There was consider able opposition to this species of legislation at the time, as being highly socialistic, but public sentiment supported it and our sys tem of primary schools has become the pride of the state. In the administration of this system throughout our county and state, character and intelligence have been recog nized as essential qualifications of official position, and it has been removed to a large extent from the domain of partisan politics. This atmosphere of freedom from contact with practical politics has allowed unob structed passage- for pure air and sunlight, to this beneficent branch of our govern mental institutions. In 1847 by resolution of the board of supervisors a site for a county poor farm and buildings was purchased. The farm was located in sections 16 and 17 of Berrien township and a house 18 feet by 26 feet was built the same year. The farm consisted of 160 acres. To this 32 acres have since been added. In 1867 the building was burned dowu and in 1869 a large brick building was erected. Considerable addi tions and improvements have been made. The poor farm is under the supervision of a board of superintendents. The present board consists of C. N. Moulton, J. L. Bishop, Chester Badger. The manager is Charles Miller. At present there are 47 in mates. List of County Officers. The following tables contain a list of the names of persons who have filled the principal county offices since Berrien was organized as a county in 1831 : Judges of Probate. Cogswell K. Green. Francis B. Murdocl- 1831-18^3 1833- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 33 Thos. Conger 1834-1836 N. H. Bacon 1837- 1839 Geo. W. Hoffman 1841-1845 Jas. Brown 1845-1853 Thos. Fitsgerald 1853-1855 E. Mcllvaine ¦. 1855-1857 B. F. Fish 1857-1861 Chas. Jewett 1861-1865 W. S. Merrill 1865-1869 Dan'l Chapman 1869-1877 Alex. B. Leeds 1877-1885 D. E. Hinman 1885-1893 J. J. Van Riper 1893-1901 Frank H. Ellsworth 1901- ( Present Incumbent) Sheriffs. Augustus Newell s 1831-1835 Fowler Preston 1835-1837 E. S. Chapman 1837-1839 A. B. Munger 1839-1843 J. B. Wittenmeyer 1843-1847 O. B. Willard 1847-1851 Thos. Conger 1851-1855 Nathan pitch 1855-1859 Jas. Graham 1859-1863 Chas. Nichols 1863-1865 J. M. Seward 1865-1869 L. F. Warner 1869-1873 J. W. Weimer 1873-1877 R. A. De Mont 1877-1881 J. R. Clark 1881-1885 Wallace Peck 1885-1887 B. R. Stearns 1 887-1 891 John Johnson 1891-1893 Chas. Whitcomb 1893-1895 E. H. Ferguson 1897-1901 Fred B. Collins 1901-1905 Jos. Tennant i9°5" ( Present Incumbent). County Clerks. C. K. Green 1831-1833 B. C. Hoyt 1833-1835 Jas. Randies 1835-1837 Edw. Richardson 1837-1839 Alonzo R. Bennett 1839-1843 Thos. Love 1843-1847 E. Mcllvaine 1847-1853 3 W. S. Merrill 1853-1859 Geo. H. Murdock 1859-1861 Dan'l. Terriere 1861-1865. Geo. H. Murdock 1863-1869 Chas. E. Howe 1869-1873 D. E. Hinman 1873-1877 E. D. Cook 1 877- 1 88 1 W. I. Himes. 1881--1885 Thos. O'Hara 1883-1887 H. L. Potter 1887-189E John Carmody. ., 1891-1893 F. A. Woodruff 1893-1897 Jno. W. Needham 1 897-1 901 A. L. Church 1901-1905 S. B. Miners T9°5_ ( Present Incumbent). Prosecuting Attorneys. W. H. Welch 1832-1836 Chas. Jewett 1836-1839 J. S. Chipman 1839-1842 Jas. Brown 1842-1844 J. N. Chipman 1846-1848 J. B. Fitzgerald 1849- J. A. Thompson 1850- Levi Taft 1851- Jas. Brown 1853-1855 David Bacon 1855-1857 E. M. Plimpton 1857-1859 F. O. Rogers 1859-1863 H. H. Coolidge 1863-186$ Geo. S. Qapp 1865-1871 O. W. Coolidge 1871-1873 N. A. Hamilton 1873-1875 W. H. Breese 1875-1877 J. J. Van Riper 1877-1881 J. A. Kellogg 1881-1885- A. C..Roe : 1885-1887 G. W. Bridgman 1887-1893 N. A. Hamilton 1893-1897 G. M. Valentine 1897-1901 Ira W. Riford 1901-1905 Chas. E. White !905- ( Present Incumbent). t Registers of Deeds. Obed P. Lacey. 1831- S. E. Mason 1833-1837 A. J. F. Phelan 1837-1839 Ed. Richardson 1839-1843, 34 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Thos. Conger F. D. Johnson Chas. F. Howe Warren Chapman A. B. Leeds R. D. Dix Frank N. Dix R. D. Dix W. H. Marston Ed. R. Haven ¦*. . . . A. B. Bisbee W. P. Harmon -. W. H. Sylvester Joel H. Gillette A. O. French H. A. Rackliffe I. L. H. Dodd... (Present Incumbent). County Treasurers. Jacob Beeson B. C. Hoyt R. C. Paine Wm. Lemon Thos. Love R. W. Landon Calvin Britain C. D. Nichols T. F. Glenn B. F. Pennell Sam'l. Hess Jno. Tate Geo. W. Rough S. L. Van Camp E. B. Storms J. E. Babcock F. A. Treat John Clark John F. Gard (Died in office). W. W. McCracken Alva Sherwood (Died in office). C. H. Schultz ( Present Incumbent) . County Surveyors. J. Wittenmeyer Jehiel Enos A. B. Staples i 843- i 845 1 845- 1 847 1847-18531853-18591859-18651865-1871 1871-1873 1873-1877 1877-1881 1881-1885 1885-1887 1 887- 1 89 1 1891-18931 893- 1 897 1 897- 1 90 1 1901-19051905- 1833-1835 1835-18371837-18391 839- 1 84 1 1841-1843 1843-185 1 1851-18531855-18591859-1861 1861-1869 1 869- 1 875 1875-1879 1 879- 1 883 1883-1887 1 887- 1 89 1 1891-18931 893- 1 897 1897-1901 1901- 1902- 1 905 I9°5 ' 1905 1837-1841 1841-1845 1 845- 1 849 F. R. Pinnell 1849-1851 J. L.' Parent 1851-1855 Amos Gray 1855-1857 J. L. Parent 1857-1859 Robt. Eaton 1861-1865 O. D. Parsons 1865-1867 J. F. Miller 1867-1871 A. J. Nowleri 1871-1875 Thos. Love 1875-1877 J. M. Glavin 1877-1881 It has been practically impossible to ob tain the dates of service of these surveyors who succeeded Mr. Glavin. Their names, however, are as follows: Luther Heming way, A. L. Drew, W. W. Graves, Ernest Bacon, C. B. Pratt, and W. J. Cleary, who is the present incumbent.County Judges. This office lasted but two years during the territorial period and five years after Michigan became a State. Dan'l. Olds 1831-1833 Chas. Jewett 1847-1851 Thos. Fitzgerald 1851 Senators of the State Legislature. Calvin Britain, St. Joseph.... 1835-1837 Vincent L. Bradford, Niles 1838-1839 Elijah Lacey, Niles 1840 J. N. Chapman, Niles 1845 J. B. Fitzgerald, St. Joseph 1847 R. T. Twombly, Niles 1853 R. C. Paine, Niles 1855 A. H. Morrison, St. Joseph. . . . 1857 F. L. Muzzy, Niles 1859 R. W. Landon, Niles 1863 Warren Chapman, St. Joseph.. 1865-1867 E. J. Bonine, Niles 1869 L. P. Alexander, Buchanan. . . . 1871-1873 Levi Sparks, Buchanan 1873 F. H. Berrick, Buchanan 1875 Wm. Chamberlain, Three Oaks 1877- 1879 Thos. Marrs, Berrien Center. . 1881 L. A. Duncan, Niles 1883 H. M. Sherwood, Watervliet.. 1885 W. I. Babcock, Niles. 1887-1889 J. S. Beers, Stevensville 1891 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 35 E. A. Blakeslee, Galien 1897- 1899 Fred T. Sovereign, Three Oaks 1901-1903 The Seventh Senatorial District of the .state now embraces the counties of Berrien and of Cass. J. G. Hayden of Cassopolis is the present Senator. In the above list I have given only those who were residents of Berrien County. Representatives in the State Legislature. Cogswell 'K. Green, Niles.... 1835-1836 Robt. E. Ward 1837 Elijah Lacey, Niles 1838 Thos. Fitzgerald, St. Joseph... 1839 J. B. La Rue, St. Joseph 1 840-1 841 Alonzo Bennett, New Buffalo. . 1842 J. G. Ames, New Buffalo 1844 John Groves, Buchanan 1845 Calvin Britain, St. Joseph 1847-1850 R. P. Barker, Niles 1857 Jehiel Enos, Benton 1848 Andrew Murray, Benton 1848 A. L. Burke, Berrien Springs.. 1849 Henry Chamberlain, Three Oaks 1849 Calvin Britain, St. Joseph 185 1 Sam'l. Street, Niles 1851 J. W. Buterfield, Niles 1851 H. W. Griswold, Niks 1853 Michael Hand, Berrien Springs 1853 J. B. Sutherland 1855 J. D. Ross, Buchanan 1855 Jehiel Enos, Benton 1857 Nate E. Crosby, New Buffalo. . 1857 Wm. B. Beeson, Niles 1859 Morgan Enos, Pipestone 1859 A. H. Morrison, St. Joseph... 1861 L. P. Alexander, Buchanan 1861 Nathan Fitch, Berrien Springs 1863 Henry C. Morton, Benton Har bor lg63 John C. Miller, Union Pier 1863 E. J. Bonine, Niles 1865-1867 Newton E. Woodruff 1865 Jas. Graham, Berrien Springs.. 1865 Chas. R. Brown, St. Joseph. . . . 1867 J. M. Glavin, New Buffalo 1867 E. M. Plimpton, Buchanan 1869 A. B. Riford, Benton Harbor.. 1869-1871 J.' M. Seward, Niles 1869 W. J. Edwards, Niles 1871 W. H. Chamberlain 1871-1873 T. J. West, Bainbridge 1873- 1875 E. J. Bonine, Niles 1873 E. A. Brown, Berrien Springs 1874 C. B. Potter, St. Joseph 1875 N. A. Hamilton, St. Joseph 1877 Geo. F. Edwards, Niles 1877 Silas Ireland, Berrien Tp ^77 B. R. Stearns, Galien 1879 L. M. Ward, Benton Harbor.. 1879-1881 Alonzo Sherwood, Troy 1879 W. S. Millard, Niles 1881 L. C. Fyfe, St. Joseph 1881-1883 W. A. Keith, Chikaming .... 1883 A. N. Woodruff, Watervliet.. 1885 A. J. L. McKee, Three Oaks.. 1885- 1887 W. A. Baker, Coloma 1887-1889 O. E. Aleshire, Buchanan, T889 H. C. Rockwell, Benton Harbor 1891 G. A. Lambert, Niles 1891 J. B. Thompson, Niles 1893 E. L. Kingsland, Hagar Tp. . . 1893-1895 E. D. Williams, Niles 1895-1897 S. L. Van Camp, Benton Harbor 1897-1899 C. R. Smith, Niles 1899 Joel Gillette, Niles 1901-1903 N. V. Lovell, Eau Claire 1903-1905 S. H. Kelly, Benton Harbor 1905 John Lane, St. Joseph 1901-1903 From 1863 to 1883 Berrien county was divided into three legislative Districts for the lower house. In 1883 the representa tion was reduced to two members. County Superintendents and Commissioners of Schools. • The records of these offices have been lost, and the dates of the incumbency of most of these officers cannot be given. The first office created was county superin tendent. Subsequently a board of three ex aminers was chosen, of which the secre tary was the chief officer. Finally an office was created called the commissioner of schools. The duties of these various of ficers were practically the same. The names of the officers are as follows : Henry A. Ford, Niles, served 1868 to 1872; E. L. Kingsland, Hagar, served 1872 to 1876; C. 36 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY B. Groat, Berrien Tp. ; Miss Rachael Tate, Berrien Tp. ; John C. Lawrence, Benton ; E. P. Clarke, St. Joseph; C. D. Jennings, Pipestone, present incumbent. County Agents of the State Board of Cor rections and Charities. No early record is preserved of this im portant office. The names of the officers are given. The duties of the office have been greatly extended during recent years. Thos. Marrs, Berrien, served 9 years; Wm. Jones; Levi Sparks; Geo. A. Correll, Niles; Chas. W. Whitehead, Benton Har bor, from 1892 to present time, except an interregnum of five months. The following tables contain a list of important state officials who were residents of Berrien county and of the judges of the second judicial circuit of the State and cir cuit court stenographer. Calvin Brittain, Member of Leg. Council of Mich. Territory. . 1835 Calvin Brittain, Lieut. Gov- . ernor 1852-1853 Wm. Graves, Sec'y. of State. . 1853-1855 R. D. Dix, Auditor General... 1 897-1 901 J. J. Van Riper, Attorney Gen eral 1881-1885 R. D. Dix, Commissioner of Land Office 1 887-1 891 J. J. Van Riper, Regent of Uni versity 1880-1886 Wm. Chamberlain, Warden of State Penitentiary 1893 Alonzo Vincent, Warden of State Penitentiary Judges of Second Judicial Circuit of Michigan. Wm. A. Fletcher, Detroit .... 1833-1836 Epaphroditus Ransom, Kala mazoo 1836-1848 Chas. W. Whipple, Niles 1848-1855 Nathaniel Bacon, Niles 1856-1864 Perrin M. Smith, Centreville, St. Joseph Co, 1864-1866 Nathaniel Bacon, Niles 1866- 1869 Daniel Blackman, Cassopolis, removed to Niles, 1869-1872 Henry H. Coolidge, Niles 1872-1878, Andrew J. Smith, Cassopolis.. 1 878-1 888 Thomas O'Hara, Berrien Springs 1888-1894 Orville W. Coolidge-, Niles 1894 and since. The Second Judicial Circuit of the state originally embraced a large number of counties. For a number of years it em braced Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties. About 1868 it was reduced to Berrien and Cass counties. In 1899 Ber rien county was erected into a separate circuit, the number of the circuit not being changed. Circuit court stenographers: E. Day,. 1869; E. L. Knapp, 1881; James J. Atkin son, 1902, present incumbent. The following named residents of Ber rien county have held important federal posi tions as designated : Thos. Fitzgerald, of St. Joseph, U. S. Senator 1848-1849 John S. Chipman of Niles, Rep resentative to Congress 1845 -1847 Edward La Rue Hamilton, Niles, Representative to Con gress 1897- (Re-elected for '99, '01, '03, '05 and '07) The Foutrh Congressional District, rep resented by Mr. Hamilton, embraces the counties of Barrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Van- Buren, Allegan and Barry. Only three residents of Barrien county- have been members of Congress. These were Col. Thos. Fitzgerald, John S. Chip- man and Edward L. Hamilton, as appears in the foregoing list of federal officers. Col. Fitzgerald was appointed United State Senator in 1848 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Gen. Cass,. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 37 then a candidate for the presidency. He held the position till 1850, when Gen. Cass was re-elected. At the time of his appoint ment, Col. Fitzgerald was a resident of St. Joseph, where he settled in 1832. He is referred to elsewhere in the chapter on "St. Joseph." John S. Chipman was elected a member of the lower house of Congress in 1844. He was then a resident of Niles, where he had settled in 1838. He was a brilliant and able lawyer, ranking among the best in the state. He removed to California in 1851, where he died many years since. Edward L. Hamilton, a native of Niles township and now a resident of the city of Niles, was first elected to Congress in 1896, after an exciting nominating convention which lasted three days, and has been re nominated five successive times without the least opposition, haying made a record in ' his Congressional career which has been a ¦source of pride to his constituency. He is now chairman of one of the most important •committees in the House of Representatives, the committee on territories, and is recog nized as a forceful and brilliant orator, a "hard student and one of the foremost leaders •of the house. His constituency recognizing the importance of having the continued ser vices of an able and experienced leader to represent them in Congress, will undoubted- 1 ~ly keep him in his present position, so long as he may consent, unless he should be the future recipient of higher honors, which now appears probable. Roads and Railroads. The earliest road which led into Berrien •county was the road from Fort Wayne via the trading stations at South Bend and Bert rand to the Carey mission. The road was nowever, rough and almost dangerous. It -followed an Indian trail. This was the route used by the earliest settlers of Ber rien county. The principal Indian trail in Michigan, however, was the continuation of a trail which started from Green Bay, ran south ward through the present site of Chicago, passed around the head of Lake Michigan, reached the Pottawatomie villages near the present site of Bertrand, crossed the river at Bertrand and went eastward through the present site of Edwardsburg, White Pigeon, Jonesville, Tecumseh and Ypsilanti to the Detroit river. In 1825, by authority of an act of Con gress, the old Chicago road was commenced. This was the first throughfare laid out which traversed the territory of Michigan. It followed, nearly the whole distance from Detroit to Chicago, the old Indian trail used for over a century by the Pottawatomies and other Indian tribes. For the survey the government appropriated $10,000.00. The survey in Berrien county was not fin ished till 1833 ^nd the road was not com pleted to Chicago till 1836. The survey at the western end was made by Daniel G. Garnsey, one of the proprietors who laid out the once famous village of Bertrand. The territorial legislature in 1832 es tablished two territorial roads which ran to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, one run ning from Coldwater via Niles and the other from Jackson. The commissioners of the former road were Squire Thompson, Alex ander H. Redfield and Cogswell K. Green. Squire Thompson was the first settler in Berrien county and the first settler of western, Michigan. Redfield was a wealthy land owner in Cass county, and Green the first attorney who settled in Niles. A mania for establishing territorial roads seems to have raged in the legislature and council between the years 1833 and 1838. An enormous emigration to Michigan had set in from the Empire state, and new set tlements rapidly developing, demanded the building of roads. Nearly thirty roads lead ing into Berrien county were ordered and surveyed. Some of them were never built and others were not built until many years 38 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY afterwards. The "Wild Cat Bank" col lapse of 1838 and 1839 seriously crippled the finances of the young state and retarded the development of intended improvements. Commissioners were generally appointed consisting of prominent men living in the locality of the projected road to establish and lay out these roads. Among these commissioners appointed by the territorial government were the fol lowing prominent early . settlers of Berrien county : Jehiel Enos, Fowler Preston, John Wittenmyer, Lemuel L. Johnson, Elijah Lacey, Erasmus Winslow, Jacob Beeson, Benj. Redding, Jno. F. Porter, Wessel Whittaker, R. E. Ward, H. W. Griswold, R. S. Griffin, J. P. Davis, Eleazer Morton, Pitt Brown, Wm. Huff, E. P. Deacon, Jos. Bertrand (son of the old Indian trader), Dr. John K. Finley, Wm. F. St. John. In 1836 the so-called territorial road was surveyed and opened the next year. It came into Berrien county in Bainbridge town ship, ran through Millburg and the pres ent site of Benton Harbor into St. • Joseph. The stage lines connected at St. Joseph with lake boats for Chicago. The business done by these stage coaches for many years was immense. Often as many as fifteen Con cord coaches drawn by four horses came into St. Joseph daily, loaded with passeng ers for Chicago and points in northern and central Illinois. These two roads, the Chicago- road pass ing through Niles and the Territorial road, were the pricipal highways between the east and west in the early settlemen. In 1831 a road was built from Saranac (St. Joseph) through Wolf's Prairie (Barrien Springs) to Niles. In 1 83 1, the first stage line into the county was conducted by Col. Amanson Huston, who lived at Niles and kept a tavern known by the name of the Council House. The road ran from Detroit through Ypsil anti, Jonesville, White Pigeon and Edwards Prairie, to Niles, following the old Indian trail, to a short distance east of Niles. In 1833, the stage line was carried to Chicago. In 1835 daily stages were placed on the route, the road was divided into sec tions and that part of the road west of Jones ville was placed under the_charge of Maj- Wm. Graves. The company conducting the stage line was known as the "Western Stage Line." This road, for several years was the only stage route through the state from east to west. The stage line diverged from the old Chicago road four or five miles east oif Niles, and re-entered it about the same dis tance west of Niles. As business increased, several stages; were put on daily. They consisted of large handsome Concord coaches drawn by four horses. The arrival of a stage was an nounced by the blowing of a horn by the driver, who was perched on top of the coach- In 1828 the mail was carried by David Hunter, a soldier in the regular army, from Detroit to Chicago on horseback. Hunter became a leading general in the Civil war- In 1830 Thomas Huston, a boy, carried! the mail between Niles and Saranac ( St- Joseph). Railroads. The first railroad which was built in the county was the Michigan Central. The work of constructing railroads was first undertaken by the state itself and originated even before the admission of the state into the Union. In 1832 the territorial legislature in corporated the Detroit and St. Joseph R. R. Co. Twenty commissioners were appointed among whom were Calvin Britain and Tal- man Wheeler of St. Joseph. The line was shortly after surveyed by Lieut. Berrien of the regular army. In 1837, the legislature passsd an act HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 39 authorizing the construction of three rail roads, the Northern, Central and Southern railroads, all starting from Detroit. The western terminus of the C?ntral was to be at St. Joseph. The construction of the Southern and Central proceeded first, and for this purpose a loan of $5,000,000 was made by the state. The Central road was finished as far as Kalamazoo in February, 1846. The state in the meantime had be come , exhausted financially and found the railroad business conducted by politicians, often incompetent and wasteful, unprofit able. The legislature concluded to sell out its railroad properties. In March, 1846, a corporation was or ganized under the name of the Michigan Central Railroad composed mainly of wealthy Boston capitalists, and the State sold the Central railroad to this corporation for $2,000,000. In the contract between the state and the corporation, the latter was not obliged to make its western terminus at St. Joseph. The only condition was that the road should go- to some point on Lake Michigan accessible to steamboats and thence to some point on the southern bound ary of Lake Michigan. The company then changed the route from Kalamazoo and directed it via Niles to New Buffalo-. The road was finished to Niles October 7, 1848, to New Buffalo in 1849, to Michi gan City in 185 1 and to Chicago in 1852. The terminus for nearly three years was at New Buffalo and during this time this town was a place of great activity. Pas sengers were conveyed to Chicago from this point by lake steamers. Various railroads were projected in the meantime and subsequently which were never built, among which were the "Con- stantine & Nile Canal or R. R. Co.," the "St. Joseph R. R. Co.," the "Elkhart & Lake Michigan Railroad." The next railroad built was the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad. A company was incorporated in May, 1869, under that name. A. H. Morrison, Warren Chapman, B. C. Hoyt, Curtis Boughton, Geo. Bridg man, David Ballentine and R. A. Connolly were the first directors. Morrison was chosen president. The road was completed from New Buf falo to St. Joseph in February, 1870. It was subsequently continued northward as far as Pentwater, which was its northern terminus for some years. It was finally extended to Petoskey. The road was pur chased some years since by the Pere Mar quette, which built its line into Chicago. The president and some of the officers of the C. & W. M. R. R Co., endeavored to have the road about a mile away from the center of Benton Harbor, practically leav ing that town "out in the cold." The active citizens of Benton Harbor headed off the movement by getting the ear of Jas. F. Joy, a leading railroad magnate, who was in terested in the railroad in some way and controlled the situation. He was a sensible, level headed man and carried out the wishes of the Benton Harbor people. The road was built largely by heavy donations from the lake shore townships, which issued bonds. The debts were somewhat burden some. The Supreme court of this State about the time of the construction of this road decided that all donations or stock subscriptions by townships or municipalities for railroad purposes were absolutely void. A number of the townships refused to pay their %o-nds. The railroad company evaded the Supreme court decision by selling the bonds to non-residents of the state. These non-residents commenced proceedings in the Federal courts and recovered judgments against the resisting townships. In 1870 a railroad was built into- Niles from Jackson called the "Air Line," and continued to South Bend. The people along the line subscribed for the road understand ing that it was to be a road competing with the Michigan Central line. Niles issued bonds for the aid of the road and stock -40 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "Subscriptions to the amount of nearly $100,- ooo were made by citizens of Niles and the vicinity. On the completion of the road it was turned over to the Michigan Central R. R. Co., by lease at first, and eventually became a part of the road. The Niles peo ple resisted payment of bonds and subscrip tions. The bonds, by mandamus proceed ings, were reached before they were de livered by the state treasurer. The Supreme court declared them void, they were sur rendered to the city authorities and a grand bonfire was had. Practically the same fate attended the sueing of the supscription paper. In 1 88 1, a narrow guage road was built from Bechanan to- Berrien Springs by donations and private subscriptions. The road proved to be an unprofitable invest ment, ran for a few years and then ceased to run altogether. Subsequently the road bed was purchased by a syndicate and a standard road built to Benton Harbor. The road was known for many years as the St. Joseph Valley Road, and after it's construc tion to Benton Harbor as the Benton Har bor Terminal. It is now controlled by the Pere Marquette Railroad Co. In 1881, a railroad was built from Elk hart to Niles and shortly after continued to Benton Harbor. The road is now known as the "Big Four." The name of the cor poration is the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chi cago and St. Louis Railway. It runs on the east side of the St. Joseph river. In 1889 a road was biult from South Bend through Galien, Glendora and Baroda to St. Joseph. Within the past two years it was continued to Benton Harbor. It was first called the Vandalia road and after wards the Three I road, its corporate name being the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Rail road. It has become a branch of the Michi gan Central Railroad and trains now run directly from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph via Galien to Chicago. In August, 1903, the Michigan South ern Railway, an interurban road, was com pleted from South Bend to Niles. In December, 1905, it was continued to Ber rien Springs. In May, 1906, it was fin ished to St. Joseph. The route of the road is a charming one, with delightful views of the river, and passes through extensive fruit orchards south of St. Joseph. The cars are commodious and comfortable and run every hour. The road has had an immense pat ronage during the past year, and its con struction constitutes the most important in ternal improvement made in the county for many years. During the summer of 1906, and electric interurban road running south from Ben ton Harbor has been completed as far as Taber's Resort, about eleven miles south of Benton Harbor, on the banks of the St. Joseph river. The route is a charming one, having stations at King's landing and other points on the river. Berrien county has more railroad facili ties than most rural counties. Only one township is not traversed by a railroad. The length of these various railroads in the county is about 210 miles. Politics. The political complexion of Berrien county has practically remained the same for fifty years. During the existence of the Whig party the county was Democratic. After the or ganization of the Republican party, it be came Republican. The passage of the Kan sas-Nebraska bill in May, 1854, by Con gress, in the interest of slavery, resulted in the down-fall of Democratic supremacy in Berrien county. It has given a plurality for every Republican candidate for the presi dency except for Mr. Blaine in 1884. In that year a fusion between the Cleveland and Butler forces in this state upon certain electors, succeeded in obtaining a plurality of 13 for the fusion electors in the county. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 4i The Republican electors, however, obtained a plurality of 415 over the straight Demo cratic electors. Shortly after the organization of the Republican party, a number of prominent Whigs like Franklin Muzzy, R. C. Paine and D. O. Woodruff, became identified with the Democracy. The accession from. the Whigs in this direction, however, was small while a large number of anti-slavery Democrats abandoned their party. The Republican party in this county as well as elsewhere, was materially strength ened in i860 by a considerable vote from naturalized Germans, who were almost uni versally strong in their anti-slavery convic tions. This fact played an important part in the election of Mr. Lincoln. Gov. Alt- geld in an article in the "Forum" some years •since, demonstrated that the German voters in i860 held in their hands the balance of power, and by their heavy and almost unani mous support of the Republican party, se cured the election of President Lincoln. After the war, other issues arising in the meantime, the German-Americans be came divided, in some localities largely sup porting one party and in other localities, the opposite party. In 1896, however, the German vote in this county and especially in the northern portion was strongly against the Democ racy on the. issue of "free silver." In the bitter and exciting campaign of that year, the cause of "free silver," which spread like wild-fire through the great agri cultural counties of south central Michigan, and captured the banner Republican strong holds of the state, had no appreciable sup port from the Republican voters in this county, while a land .slide from the ranks of the Democratic party combined to bring about the largest Republican majority ever reached so far in the history of the county. In the campaign of 1872, many promi- ment leaders in the Republican party in the . county supported Greeley for president among whom were A. H. Morrison, Benj. Frankenberg, and Geo. H. Murdock. The defection of leaders, however, did not affect the rank and file of the Republican party, and Grant's plurality was large. In 1874 the Republican party suffered a defeat in the county, the Democrats elect ing a State senator, two members of the Legislature and a portion of the county ticket. This was the result of the credit mobilier and salary grab measures in Con gress. Formerly it was the custom of each •party to have a large mass meeting at both Niles and St. Joseph during each presidential election. The meetings were generally ad dressed by speakers of national reputation and elaborate preparations for the occasion were made in advance by the respective county committees. Immense crowds from every part of the county and from adjoin ing counties came to' these gatherings. Uni formed marching companies, girls in red, white and blue, men and ladies on horse back in gorgeous costumes, long processions with banners and devices often caricaturing the opposite party and its candidates, un mercifully; brass bands, drum corps, glee clubs, wild hurrahs and bubbling enthusi asm, life and music everywhere abounding, all combined to make the occasion a gala- day, entertaining to the masses and inter esting even to the cynical. As an instance of the interest taken in these gatherings by people living far distant, it may be recited that in the Fremont campaign of 1856, a single procession of loaded vehicles and horseman from Cass county on its arrival at Niles was more than two miles in length. There were similar processions from other directions. Among the noted men who ad dressed these gatherings were Gen. Cass, Stephen A. Douglas, John Wentworth, Schuyler Colfax, John Van Buren (Prince John), Ben. Wade, Parson Brownlow and Will Cumback. Of all these men, John Van Buren, the son of President Van Buren, 42 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY nicknamed "Prince John," was by far the most brilliant and fascinating orator, and peculiarly adapted to charm and excite the masses. This system of large mass meetings was abandoned in this county more than thirty years ago, and no attempt has been made to revive it. The tableaux of these picturesque gatherings, however, can never fade away from the "mind's eye" of those who once witnessed them. Many of the leading men of the nation, however, have made addresses at smaller or local gatherings^ notably, Webster, Blaine, Bryan, McKinley, Roosevelt and President Johnson. The year 1837 especially was made memorable in Berrien county by the visit to Niles of our greatest orator and states man, Daniel Webster, who was then on a trip through the western states. He was accompanied by a young lawyer of Port land, Maine, William Pitt Fessenden, whom Mr. Webster selected as a traveling com panion on account of his eminent ability. By his congressional compeers, Mr. Fessen den was generally regarded as the ablest statesman of the Civil war period, although neither attaining nor seeking that national notoriety acquired by many men of much weaker mental caliber. Upon this visit to Niles, Mr. Webster and Mr. Fessenden made brief speeches. In 1866, President Johnson in his memorable speech-making circuit through the country, stopped at Niles. attended by a remarkable galaxy of great men, among whom were Wm. H. Seward, Gen. Grant and Admiral Farragut. President Johnson did all the speech-making. A platform for the president and his suite had been hastily erected and while the president was address ing the assemblage the platform collapsed, precipitating a number of distinguished visitors to the ground. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The writer of this sketch, having been permitted to shake hands with the "Old Admiral," formed the impression that, he was one of the noblest specimens of manhood which he had ever seen. I cannot forbear from quoting the words of one of his biographers, which are un questionably accurate. "Admiral Farragut had a strongly religious nature, believing in the constant guidance of Divine Provi dence. He is one of the few great heroes of the world, whose character has never been clouded by the slightest suspicion of a want of honesty or personal purity." The speech of the president on this oc casion was intensely bitter and dramatic, although not so vituperative and discon nected as his famous speeches at St. Louis and Cleveland. The failure of the impeach ment proceeding caused intense excitement among a large class of Republicans in this county and everywhere in the north. This is an instance where intelligent and excel lent people have gone astray in time of in tense political excitement. There was not the slightest legal or constitutional ground for impeachment. The votes of a few able and courageous Republican senators and great constitutional lawyers against im peachment, saved the nation from future anarchy and revolution. Their action pre vented the impeachment proceedings from being turned into a device for removing high officials from office for mere errors of judg ment, bad manners, or distasteful political notions, and resulted in confining the de liberations of the court of impeachment to the constitutional grounds of "high crimes and misdemeanors." The most picturesque political campaign in the county was that of 1856. A new party, full of enthusiasm and almost fanatic, was commencing its career. Party ties were badly broken, old conservative Whigs frightened by anti-slavery radicalism joined the Democracy, while greater numbers of anti-slavery Democrats eagerly espoused the cause of the- new party. It was impossible to stem the advancing current of popular HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 43 indignation against the passage of the Nebraska bill, and the control of the politics of the county passed from that of the Demo cratic party into that of a new organization hitherto unknown. It resulted in the con signment of able and excellent men to political oblivion, a result sometimes to be deplored. The most important recent political event in the history of the county occurred during the past year. The Republican elec tors at a primary election, voted in favor of the primary caucus reform system by forms, and opportunity for careful delibera tion. The movement had an adequate cause. It originated in a desire for more inde pendence in political action and of freedom from the control of a few self-constituted leaders. Under a law wisely framed, the new movement would undoubtedly be at tended with beneficent results. The vote of each township and city for secretary of state, in 1904, in the November election is given below. The vote for sec retary of state is given as the best index of The Popular Vote of Berrien County for President has Been as Follows: 1840 Harrison Whig 548 1844 Clay " 713 1848 Taylor " 953 1852 Scott " 1017 1856 Fremont Repub. 1926 1860 Lincoln " 2620 1864 Lincoln " 2554 1868 Grant " 3993 1872 Grant " 3902 1876 Hayes " 4188 1880 Garfield " 4535 1884 Blaine " 4445 1888 Harrison " 5128 1892 Harrison " 4979 1896 McKinley Van Buren Dem. 553 Polk Cass Pierce . . . Buchanan . Douglas . . . McClellan. Seymour . . Greeley . . . Tilden Hancock . . Cleveland . Cleveland . Cleveland . 1900 McKinley . 6672 Bryan 6595 Bryan 828 11461234 1540233723073268227436793536 4458 46894716 4792 4960 1904 Roosevelt , 7309 Parker " 3319 .Van Buren Free Soil 108 Hale " 41 O' Conner Dem. (Ind.) 113 Cooper Green 304 Weaver " 540- St. John Pro. 345 Fisk " 468 Bidweil " 426 Weaver Peo. 135 Palmer Gold Dem. 272 Levering Pro. 115 Bentley Nat. 137 Wooley Pro. 187 Debs, Soe. Dem 104 Scat 43 Swallow Pro. 206* Debs Soe 218 Scat 52: which candidates for county offices must be nominated directly by Republican voters and not by delegates chosen by a caucus. The law creating this method of nomi nating candidates is crude, and complicated and needs amendment. It is extremely doubtful whether the absolute abolition of state and county conventions is practicable or desirable, although the principle at the bottom of the movement be sound. Parties need and should have principles and plat- the strength of each party this year, because a large number of Democrats voted for Roosevelt, as against Parker, for president, and a large number of . Republicans voted . for Ferris as against Warner for governor. The plurality for Roosevelt in the county was 3490, that for Warner was 1546. Neither plurality was representative of the political complexion of the county. Table of election of 1904, for secretary of State. 44 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Prescott Balch Repub. Dem. Bainbridge 240 143 Benton 471 141 Berrien 222 140 Bertrand 120 112 Buchanan 382 212 Chikaming 130 77 Galien 204 92 Hagar 164 88 Lake 257 240 Lincoln 193 156 New Buffalo 126 124 Niles 128 127 Oronoko 217 202 Pipestone 257 103 Royalton 165 116 Sodus 169 66 St. Joseph 152 58 Three Oaks 287 124 Watervliet 453 222 Weesaw 136 140 Benton Harbor (city). . .1195 441 Niles (city) 685 543 St. Joseph (city) 689 499 Total Republican plurality Repub. Plur. Dem. Plur. 97 330 82 8 170 53 112 76 17 37 21 15 154 49 103 94 163 231754 142 190 2876 The election of 1904 cannot be regarded as a fair index of the normal strength of the two parties, as the popularity of the Republican candidates for president and the unpopularity of the Democratic candidate seriously diminished the Democratic vote on all candidates. In a general way, it may be said that the following named townships and citites are regarded as reliably Republican in fall elec tions, viz. ; Bainbridge, Benton, Berrien, Buchanan, Galien, Hagar, Pipestone, Sodus, Three Oaks, Waterviliet, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph township and St. Joseph city. The city of St. Joseph has generally given handsome majorities for Republican candidates for national and state offices. For local candidates for office it is regarded as uncertain, and there is a large floating vote in this place. Chikaming township has of late years been Republican with small majorities. The township of New Buffalo sometimes goes Republican and sometimes Demo cratic, leaning • to the Democracy of late years. The following townships may be regarded as reliably Democratic : Bertrand, Lake, Lincoln, Oronoko, Royalton, Niles township and Weesaw. Niles city has Democratic proclivities, but at the last three presidental elections has gone Republican. It is not safe to place this city reliably in the column of either party. It was formerly a Democratic stronghold but it has ceased to be so in general elections and local elections are largely governed by local issues and per sonal choice in candidates. The following vote on secretary of state in the state election of 1902 best gives the relative strength of the parties in recent years. There was not a full vote, but the table gives the best index of party strength that we have lately: Rep. Maj. Dem. Maj. Bainbridge 64 Benton 248 Berrien 32 Bertrand ... 13 Buchanan 120 Chikaming 20 Galien 84 Hagar . 43 Lake ... 64 Lincoln 36 New Buffalo 14 Niles 26 Oronoko 44 Pipestone 87 Royalton 36 Sodus .83 St. Joseph 66 Watervliet .111 Weesaw 53 Benton Harbor 566 Niles city 24 St. Joseph city .... 132 The Press. The first newspaper published in Niles was the Niles Gazetteer and Advertiser, pub lished by G. H. Barnes. The first issue was September 5, 1835. The files of this paper for the years 1835 and 1836 with the excep tion of the first number which is missing, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 45 are in the office of the city clerk of Niles. The number of the paper dated Septem ber 12, 1835, contains a notice of an elec tion for state officers to be held in Berrien county on October 5, and 6, 1835, for submission of the constitution of the pro posed state of Michigan to the electors, signed by Fowler Preston, sheriff of Berrien county. This was perhaps the first and certainly the second newspaper published in the county, the St. Joseph Herald, a short lived journal having been published as is claimed in 1833, by A. E. Draper. The early newspapers were barren of personal or local news and were devoted almost wholly to matters of public import ance. It is probable that they represented one undesirable extreme and the present daily newspaper the opposite. In the news paper of the olden day, the great speeches of our ablest statesmen in Congress and in the Legislature were published in full and eagerly read by the patrons. Some of the speeches made in the Legislature in those formative days, notably those of Vincent L. Bradford, a senator from this county, were very able and instructive. The Niles Gazetteer and Advertiser, was followed by the Niles Gazette and the Niles Intelligencer. In 1839, a Whig paper called the Nile Republican was started. In 1842 Darius B. Cook, a native of Connecticut, and H. B. Miller became the owners and converted it into a Democratic journal. In 1844 Mr. Cook became the sole owner and conducted the paper till 1862 when he sold it to A. J. Shakespeare. Mr. Shakespeare changed the name to the Niles Democrat. This was published successively by Mr. Shakespeare, Dr. O. P. Horn, Messrs. Guiheen & Hern and L. H. Landon. D. B. Cook, shortly aftdr his sale to Shakes peare, published a newspaper called the Niles Globe. In 1876 he established the Niles Weekly Mirror which he continued to publish till his death in 1902. His son, Fred W. Cook continued to publish it for about a year after his father's death. At the time of his death, Mr. Cook was the veteran journalist of Michigan. He was connected with the Detroit Free Press in 1838 and subsequently with a Kalamazoo paper. He died in 1902 in his 87th year. He was an ardent Democrat, but in later years independent in local matters, some times supporting Republican candidates in his paper for local offices. He once inserted in his paper the history of a gun which he owned. This was a flint lock gun used by his grandfather Daniel Cook at the battle of Lexington in 1775. This he willed to his grandson Harry W. Cook. It is still in a good state of preservation. Various papers were published which had a short existence. Among them were the Niles Courier, the Berrien County Free man, and Niles Enquirer. The latter paper was for some time published by George M. Dewey, a vigorous writer and speaker, but somewhat erratic. In 1866 the Niles Times, a Republican paper, was established by Maj. L. A. Dun can and Eugene Dana. Mr. Dana wrote breezy and brilliant articles, both editorial and local, but retired in 1868, when Major Duncan changed the name to the Niles Republican and continued to edit it for nearly thirty years. Maj. Duncan was a very careful and conservative manager al lowing no personal billingsgate or objec tionable matter in the columns of his paper. He was state senator in 1883 and postmaster from 1889 to 1893. The Niles Weekly Re publican has continued to the present day. Since 1901 it has been published and edited by Geo. E. Gillam. It is the only weekly paper published in Niles. The first daily newspaper published in Niles was the Niles Daily Star, publishe'd by Fred W. Cook, a son of Darius B. Cook. The first issue was in 1886 and the paper has been published ever since. The Daily Sun was established in 1893 46 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY by L. A. Duncan. It afterwards passed into the hands of a syndicate, but in 1901 George E. Gillam became the proprietor and editor and so still continues. Both of the dailies are ably conducted and have a large circu lation. St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Herald, the first news paper published in St. Joseph, was first is sued August 1, 1836, A. E. Draper being the publisher. In 1837 the name of the paper was changed to St. Joseph Democrat. The first number of this paper contained a speech in the State Legislature of Vincent L, Bradford and a report of a debate in the St. Joseph Lyceum. This paper existed only about a year. It was followed by the Western Post, the St. Joseph Commericial Bulletin and the St. Joseph Traveler. Judge Chas. R. Brown, a prominent attorney of St. Joseph at that time, was the publisher in 1862 of the Traveler. In 1866, Albert H. Potter, an attorney of St. Joseph, established the St. Joseph Herald. It was intensely Democratic and the editorials were decidedly breezy and sen sational. No hesitation was shown in ex posing any supposed short-coming on the part of Republican leaders, and this was done with considerable ability and pungency. In 1874 the Herald and the Traveler were consolidated under the name of the Traveler and Herald, by Horace W. Guernsey and Charles Stewart. Shortly afterwards Stew art sold his interest in the paper to L. J. Mer chant and in 1877, Mr. Merchant purchased the interest of Mr. Guernsey and soon changed the name of the paper to St. Joseph Herald. Mr. Merchant has con tinued to publish the paper ever since. Mr. Merchant is now the oldest journalist in the county, having been connected with newspaper business about forty years. The paper has a daily issue and Mr. Marchant's son, L. E., is manager. In 1863, the St. Joseph Pioneer, a Democratic campaign paper, was published, D. A. Winslow, a prominent attorney of St. Joseph, being the editor. The paper termi nated its career upon the election of Lin coln and in his valedictory, Mr. Winslow expressed his submission to the will of the people with a possible suggestion that the cause of the Union might better be sub served by Mr. Lincoln's re-election. The St. Joseph Republican was estab lished by Wm. Ricoby and Capt. Thos. H. Botham as a Republican paper. Wm. Rico by and Robert Ricoby afterwards became the sole proprietors and in 1876 made it a Democratic journal. Robert Ricoby is still living in St. Joseph and for years was en gaged in the drug business. A paper called the St. Joseph News was issued by K. and W. Ricoby in 1879. The life of the two last named papers was short. The St. Joseph Press was established in 1888. In 1894 it was incorporated under the name of the Press Publishing and Stere otyping Co. It is now published by Willard Brewer, who owns a controlling interest in the paper. A daily is issued by the com pany called the St. Joseph Daily Press. The paper has recently been largely improved. Two monthly periodicals, The Thresher- men's Review and The National Fruit Grower, are also published in St. Joseph. Benton Harbor. The Benton Harbor Palladium was first issued by L. G. Merchant, now editor of the St. Joseph Herald, in October, 1868, as a weekly newspaper. In 1869 it was sold to J. P. Thresher who conducted it for three years. It then passed through various hands till the late Frank Gilson became the pro prietor and conducted it for several years till his death. He established the Daily Palladium in 1886. The paper was ably managed from the outset. Mr. Thresher was a prioneer in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 47 Benton Harbor, having come there in 1863. He has been actively identified with many business enterprises calculated to build up the town, and made various donations in land and money for that purpose. He was postmaster under President Grant, and manager of the Benton Harbor Improve ment Association for some years. He is now living at Benton Harbor in his 76th year. Mr. Merchant removed from Benton Harbor to St. Joseph and in 1877 estab lished the St. Joseph Herald, for many years the only permanent newspaper published in the place. He was postmaster of St. Joseph from 1880 to 1887 and *s now trie oldest journalist in the county. Mr. Gilson purchased the Palladium in 1885, and published it till his death. He was a vigorous writer, and a pleasing speaker. A son, Roy R., is a well known and popular magazine writer and author. ' In the meantime, an independent daily paper called the Evening Nezvs was estab lished in 1895. In February, 1904, this paper and the Palladium were consolidated under the name of the News-Palladium. It is ably edited and has both a daily and semi-weekly edition. It consists of eight pages well loaded with news and edi torials. It has the largest circulation of any paper in the county. The circulation of the daily is 2,800 and that of the semi-weekly edition 1,300. It is Republican in politics and is owned by a stock company with the following officers : Pres. J. Stanley Morton, Vice-Pres. H. S. Gray, Sec. Treas. and General Manager J. N. Klock. The latter named gentleman has the editorial supervision of the paper and is well equipped by previous experience and editorial ability for his important posi tion. The Banner Register, a weekly paper, was established some years since and has been published and edited by Jos. N. Reed. It is an excellent paper and well conducted. Other papers besides the News, the Pal ladium, the News-Palladium and the Ban ner Register have been published but they were comparatively short-lived. Among them were the Benton Harbor Times and the Lake Shore Daily News. The Times was edited for a time by Romain Jarvis, who' was the Democratic candidate for Con gress from this district in 1896, 1898 and 1900. Berrien Springs. In 1874, Dr. Fred McOmber estab lished the Berrien County Journal with L. E. Barnard. In 1876, Geo. H. Murdock became the proprietor and conducted it for a number of years. In 1876 Dr. McOmber established the Berrien Springs Era and this paper has con tinued till the present. It is now published by the Benson Brothers. A. E. Perkins, an experienced newspaper writer, conducted the editorial department for many years, and often wrote spicy articles and vigorous editorials. Buchanan. The first newspaper issued in Buchanan was the Buchanan Vindicator, published in 1858 by J. M. Potter. In 1862 it was merged in the Buchanan Weekly Union. Daniel Wagner purchased the paper in 1867 and changed the name to that of the Bu chanan County Record. It was published for many years by John G. Holmes, who went west a few years since, and sold out his interest in the paper. It is a Republi can journal published by M. C. Chamberlain and edited by O. P. Woodworth. The Buclmnan Argus was established some years ago and is published by Fay Graffort. Several papers which were short lived have been published at different times, among which were the Buchanan Indepen dent, published by Alonzo Bennett, and the 48 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Buchanan Reporter, published by Dr. F. N. Berrick. For a few years Buchanan was the headquarters in the west of the sect known as Adventists and in 1864 Joshua Himes, a leader of that denomination, published the Vmce of the West, which had a circu lation of about 6,000. In 1871 Mr. Himes removed to Chicago. The papers now published in the county, not already named, are the Galien Advocate, Three Oaks Acorn, Watervliet Record, and Eau Claire Enterprise. The Galien Advocate is published and edited by ; the Watervliet Rec ord by Eugene Case; the Eau Claire Enter prise by , and the Three Oaks Acorn by the Three Oaks Publishing Com pany. County Organization. A brief sketch of the leading county organizations is herewith given. Pioneer Association of Berrien county — This association was organized in Sep tember, 1875. The following officers were elected : President, Levi Sparks ; secretary, George H. Murdock; and treasurer, Lyman A. Barnard. The meetings of the associa tion have generally been held in Barnard's grove, at Berrien Springs. The use of the grove was given to the association by Dr. Barnard. The following is a list of the pioneer members in 1880, who came to the county or were born of pioneer parents before 1845, with date of settlement in Michigan. The names of many of the pioneers do not ap pear from the fact that many had died or removed away and others did not take the trouble to join. The list, however, fur nishes a general idea of the names of most of the prominent early settlers who were liv ing in 1880 and of the children of pioneers who came with their parents to the county at an early age, or were born here at an early day. 1827 Matilda Ireland 1828 Thos. K. Clyborne " Edwin F. Dickson " Levi Sparks " R. Griffin, N. Y. " L. A. Barnard " R. Babcock 1829 C. D. Nichols " D. T. Wilson " Lucy A. Brownell 1830 Andrew L. Burke, Va. " Michael Hand, O. " Geo. H. Murdock, Pa. " Thos. Marrs, Va. " John G. Shuarts " Wm. Dougherty, Md. " John Tate " C. P. Wray " A. W. Marrs, Va. " Rebecca Reynolds " Jacob E. Miller " Hugh Marrs, Va. " Isaac Smith, O. " Sarah A. Byers 1 83 1 Samuel Marrs, Mich. " Eliza Brown " Robert Cassiday " Francis Wells " Amanda Weaver " Orlando Hart " Harriet Marrs 1832 Maria Sparks " A. G. Abbe " C. A. Hall " Daniel J. Claypool " Jos. Feather Anna Feather " Susan Irwin " Mary Pennell " M. D. Burk, Sr. Mary Worthington Samuel Simmons Varna Simmons May Riggin Malvina Smith Jas. Smith " Jos. Mansfield Elizabeth Michael Nicholas Michael Jacob Weaver " Abel Garr HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 49 1833 Alonzo Sherwood " Kingsley Olds " Wallace Tabor " James W. Robinson " Susan Kephart, Pa. " Fred M. Phillips " Samuel Van VI ear " Henderson Ballenger 1834 Francis Johnson " Thomas Love Hiram Brown, N. Y. " Asa W. Sherwood " Henry C. Morton, N. Y. " Reuben A. Kibler " Elizabeth Pennell " Benjamin Keigley " Samuel Spry " John Gillespie, O. " Richard McOmber " Nathan Hamilton 1835- E. D. Chilson " W. H. Rector " Jas. A. Kirk " Nelson Harper " Minerva Robinson " Adam Small 1835 John Redden " Rachel Shaffer " Lucinda Groat " Jacob Messenger " Chas. F. Howe " Chas H. Walker " John C. Miller " Balance A. Miller " M. C. Barnes 1836 Joshua Feather " Nathan Fitch " J. H. Nixon " R. T. Twombly " D. C. Higbee " Emily Van Vranken " Rosanna Alexander " J. Mertzler " Julia Tabor " I. F. Soull " Minerva Soull " Nathaniel Brant " John Byers " C. C. Sutton " Jacob Helmick " Julia A. Hamilton 1836 William Burns tt May A. Burns tt Geo. Ewalt tt Margaret Ewalt tt Caroline Hildreth tt Martha M. Brant tt Harriet Garr tt J. H. Nixon 1837 Jas- F. Higbee ?j Newton R. Woodruff jj William Hazlitt tt G. Van Vranken ft Susie L. Dickson j? Mary Higbee tt Henry Worthington tt Geo. H. Scott tt Helen Saunders tt Willie Foster jj Joel Layman 1838 D. A. Winslow tt Nellie S. Drew jj J. S. Weaver tt P. W. Guernsey tt H. W. Guernsey tt Jas. Groat tt Chas. Evans 91 Orrin D. Snow tt Fanny Snow 1839 Silas Ireland, 0. j? J. Cribbs *> B. W. Sutherland 1840 Tamont M. Winslow >> J. H. Jakeway ¦ j) Pitt J. Pierce j» Julia A. Hess »j Benjamin D. Townsend j» F. F. Clark V Celinda Clark jj C. C. Kent jj George Smith jj L. P. Alexander 1841 J. B. Sutherland >j Philip Kephart >> Augustus Kephart tt John D. Miller it Mrs. C. R. Barnard »> Eva Miller j? Thos. Ford jj Richard A. DeMont 1842 Olivia C. Spaulding jj 0. W. Rose 3° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1842 George Graham " Darius J. Barker " Mahala Mansfield " John De Field " John Irwin 1843 Curtis S. Bough ton " J. M. Piatt " Jas. Badger " Isabella Piatt " Henry Chamberlain, N, H. " Wm. Chamberlain, N. H. 1844 W. B. Gilson " M. A. Sylvester " J. L Haskins " Nancy Fisher " Jos. Fisher Daniel Neidlinger " Jerry Painter " Samuel Messenger " A. Van Patten " B. F. Pennell " Sydney Spencer Berrien County Grange. — This grange "was organized in 1875, Wm. Smythe Farner was chosen Master. In 1876 Thomas Marrs was elected Master and held it for many years. Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Associa tion. — This association was organized in 1859 and effected insurance in both Ber rien and Cass counties. The following named persons wer the original incorpora tors : D. P. Gerberich, J. D. Hart, Michael Swobe, Jas. Badger, Abraham Correll, 'Sam'l Messenger, Sam'l Thompson, Francis Wells, Michael Herkimer, A. P. Knox, Harvey Moore, Geo. S. Hoppin, M. B. Gil lette, Reuben Groat and A. C. Mead. The 'only survivors are Samuel Messinger and Geo. S. Hoppin. It is still in existence, has done an immense: business, and has been re markably successful and well managed. Berrien County Agricultural Society. — This society was organized in 1850 and the following officers chosen : President, B. C. Hoyt; recording secretary, W. S. Farmer; treasurer, Thomas Love; corresponding secretary, J. L. Glenn ; executive committee, Joshua Feather, Peter Ruggles, Henry Lardner, Jehiel Enos and J. G. Ames. The first fair was held at Berrien Springs in 1851. After that year, the fair "was held at Niles with the exception of one year. The society first purchased a tract of five acres immediately west of the Niles cemetery. The ground, however, was found too small and in 1867 twenty-five acres be longing to the Staples estate were purchased, buildings erected, and a race track con structed. Fairs were held here annually for about eighteen years. For many years the fairs were well patronized, fine exhibitions of stock and agricultural productions were given and these exhibitions were generally attended by immense crowds. The society however, became badly indebted, the at tendance grew less, the property passed out of the hands of the society through the fore closure of a mortgage, and the holding of county fairs was abandoned many years ago. Northern Berrien county and Michigan Lake Shore Agricultural Society. — This society was formed in March, 1878. The officers elected were: President, J. F. Higbee; vice-presidents, S. L. Van Camp, B. L. Rounds, and A. F. McKee; sec retary, O. S. Willey; treasurer, Dr. Dr. John Bell; trustees, A. B. Chivis, S. G. Antisdale, G. N. Lord, Marcus Osgood, J. Caldwell, Juan Gray and Josephus Fisher; chief marshal, S. G. An tisdale. About twenty acres of land were leased and buildings erected in the following year. This society was succeeded by another organization, which is practically, however, a continuation of the original company. Its fairs of recent years have been successful and attended by enormous crowds. Young People's Picnic Association. — This association was organized in 1877, Geo. M. Valentine was chosen president, G. M. Dudley, secretary, and C. A. Johnson, treasurer. The following young gentle- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Si men were chosen vice-presidents : E. C. Griffin, Frank Plimpton, H. F. Heath, W. B. Plumb, H. N. Chamberlain, J. A. Crosby and M. D. Osgood. The meetings have been held annually at Barnard's Grove, Berrien Springs and have been attended with sports and amuse ments. Large crowds have generally been in attendance. Anti-Horse Thief Associations. — The obj ect of these associations was the detection and apprehension of horse thieves. In the early history of the county, the stealing of horses by gangs of horse thieves was com mon. A favorite resort of these thieves was at Hawpatch, near Goshen, Indiana, a dense swamp and wilderness, from which they emerged frequently on their tour of depre dation. The worst of the gangs were broken up many years ago. The Niles association was formed in 1853. The first officers were Dan iel Fisher, president, Daniel McClung, secre tary, L. Harter, treasurer, and Joseph Mc Clung, foreman of riders. The "Reserve Horse Thief Detectives" was organized in 1865. Jas. Badger was chosen president, Samuel Messenger, treas urer, Ebenezer Mcllvarie, secretary. The Lakeside Anti-Horse Thief Asso ciation was organized in 1876. The first officers were J. C. Miller, president, A. K. Clark, vice-president, C. H. Bostwick, secre tary, and R. M. Goodwin, treasurer. The association is still in existence. Berrien County Humane Society. — This society was organized March 2, 1900, and was established for the purpose of prevent ing cruelty to animals and for other humane purposes. The present officers, are president, Mrs. W. W. Dresden, Niles; secretary, Belle Cross, Niles; treasurer, Carl J. Schultz, St. Joseph; vice-presidents, Mrs. Dr. Garrett and Robert Sherwood of Watervliet, Dr. J. A. Garland and Mrs. J. D. Richards, of Buchanan, John J. Ster ling of Benton Harbor, Dr. F. N. Bonine and Mrs. Mary E. Bacon of Niles, Chas. Hinchman, of Sawyer; superintendent, Captain Robert Jones; generarl manager, Captain Lloyd Clark. In 1906 it received an appropriation from the board of supervisors and has done efficient work in aiding and supplementing to some extent the labors of the State Char ity Agent for Berrien county, Mr. White head, who is prominently connected with the society. Religious Organizations. The early organization of churches is generally given in connection with local his tory. The following list of the number of churches of each sect is given from the last census. Free Methodists 5 Methodist Episcopal 29 African Methodist 3 Baptists (Regular) 8 African Baptists 1 German Baptists or Dunkards 2 Free Will Baptists 1 United Brethren 11 Christians 9 Congregationalists 6 Presbyterians 4 Protestant Episcopal 3 Christian Adventists 1 Catholic 8 Evangelical Association 6 Lutheran 1 1! Seventh Day Adventists 1 Church of God 1 Latter Day . Saints 2 Universalists 1 Jewish 1 Christian Science 3 The first religious structure built in the county except by the mission churches, was Catholic, built of logs and located near the present site of the village of Bertrand. It was built in 1831 and attended by both K2 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY whites and Indians. Father Badin was pastor. The next church edifice, so far as can now be ascertained, was built by the Presby terians at Niles in 1835. It was a small frame building with a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty persons. Mission preaching among the settlers by ministers from abroad commenced about 1829. The Methodist Church especially commenced early to send ministers to preach in the new settlements at Niles, St. Joseph and Berrien Springs. In 1829 Rev. H. Coston established a Methodist mission at Niles. Preaching was held at the house of Wm. Justus once in four weeks. The first church organized in the county by fhe early settlers was a Meth odist class formed at Niles in 1832, by Rev. Richard Robinson. The first members were Mrs. Elizabeth Comley, Mrs. Eber Griswold, Mrs. Sarah Deniston, Mrs. Mor gan Wilson, Mrs, Elias Hickman, James Kirk and wife and Henry Slater and wife. Henry Slater was appointed leader. The first Presbyterian Church was organ ized at Niles in March, 1834. The members during the first year were Nathaniel Bacon and wife, Bacon Wheeler and wife, Orrin D'erby and wife, E. F. Crocker and wife, T. K. Green, Dr. J. K. Finley, Uriel Enos, Mrs. L. A. Widour, W. B. Copeland and Samuel Hunter. A Methodist Church was organized at St. Joseph in 1836, but no edifice was erected till 1846. The Methodist Church at Berrien Springs was organized in 1835, by Rev. Richard Meek, but no edifice was built till 1845. The first Episcopal Church in the county was organized at Niles in 1834 by Rev. Jas. Selking, a missionary. Mr. and Mrs. Philo Sanford, Mrs. Anna Dickson and two others were the first members. The first Baptist Church in the county was organized at Niles in 1841. The orig inal members were John Reese, S. S. Lewis, Joshua Howell and wife, Lucy Thompson,. Wm. Cotton, Susanna Carberry, Baldwin Jenkins, J. P. Martin, John Johnson, Sally Bailey, Clarissa Nicholson, Sally Burnette, Louise Fellows, Lucy Fellows and Wm. Mead, Jr. The first Methodist Church in Berrien township was organized in 1843, called the Morris Chapel. A strong church was organized by the United Brethren at Berrien Springs, in 1841,. containing some fifty members. The first Lutheran Church appears to have been organized in Bainbridge in 1851. The original members were Fred Weber„ Daniel Krieger and David Scherer. The first Evangelical Church was organ ized in Bertrand township in 185 1. David Rough and wife, Peter Rhodes, J. Steiner and two others were the first members. It subsequently became a flourishing church. The first Congregational Church was or ganized at Niles in 1844. It was feeble, however, and ceased to exist over forty years ago. A strong church was organized at St. Joseph in 1854. J. B. Sutherland and wife, D. B. Crane and wife, Samuel May nard, Mrs. J. King, Anne Olmstead, Fannie Stowe, Isabel Maken and Jane Vanverbeck were the first members, and to these large additions were made shortly afterwards. Many other sects have established churches in the county, but were organized at later dates. The object of this brief sketch is to give only a reference to the pio neer churches. Benevolent and Fraternal Societies. Owing to the large number of these so cieties which exist in Berrien county, it will be beyond the scope of this work to attempt any history or account of the formation of these societies, even in connection with local history. The fraternal and beneficiary societies especially have increased enormously within HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 53 a few years and their nufnber is legion. A brief reference, however, to those so cieties which were organized by the early settlers should not be omitted. The first Masonic lodge in Berrien coun ty was "The St. Joseph Valley lodge No. 93, F. & A. M.," which was organized in 1843. The charter was received from the grand lodge of New York and R. E. Ward was named as master, John F. Porter, senior warden, and W. H. McOmber, junior warden. The Grand Lodge of Michigan was shortly after organized and a new lodge or ganized called St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F. & A. M., in 1844. Jacob Beeson was master, W. H. McOmber, senior warden, and C. I. Ingersoll, junior warden. In 1857 a dispensation was issued to the following named persons ; Henry A. Chapin, Erastus Spaulding, Diavid Bacon, W. D. Sterling, J. H. Richardson, W. J. Edwards, W. B. Beeson, W. B. Gray and A. E. Tut- tle, to organize Niles Lodge No. 97, F. & A. M. Erastus Spaulding was master, David Bacon, senior warden, and H. A. Chapin, junior warden. The first Odd Fellows lodge in the county was organized in 1844 called Ber rien County Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F. The charter members were J. F. Porter, C. K. Green, A. J. Clark, J. C. Larimore, T. M. Freeland, J. B. Goodman, Chas. Jewett, G. Hoadley, Geo. Goodman, and J. M. Stewart. Additional lodges were afterwards or ganized in Niles. The second lodge of Masons in the coun ty was organized at Berrien Springs in 1850 and called the Western Star Lodge, No. 39. The original officers were R. W. Landon, master ; William Dougherty, senior warden, and Michael Hand, junior warden. • In 1879 an Odd Fellows lodge was or ganized at Berrien Springs, known as Ber rien Springs Lodge No. 323. The officers were E. D. Cook, noble grand ; G. W. Caru- thers, vice-grand; D. G. W. Gangler, recod- ing secretary; R. A. Demont, permanent secretary, and George W. Rough, treasurer. The first lodge of Masons at St. Joseph was organized in 1852, as Occidental Lodge No. 56. The officers were L. Church, mas ter ; J. Enos, senior warden ; A. P. Stinson, junior warden, A. B. Leeds, secretary, and Phineas Pearl, treasurer. The first lodge of Odd Fellows at St. Joseph was organized in 1868 as Burnett Lodge No. 119. The charter members were A. H. Morrison, A. E. Perkins, C. H. Chamberlain, O. W. Oviatt, and W. R. Graham. The first lodge of Masons in Buchanan was organized in 1854 known as Buchanan Lodge No. 68. C. J. Ingersoll was worthy master, S. M. Griswold, senior warden, and Nathaniel Hamilton, junior warden. The first lodge of Odd Fellows at Buch anan was organized in 1855 known as Buchanan Lodge No. 75. The first lodge of Masons at Benton Harbor was organized in 1872 known as Lake Shore Lodge No. 298. A. B. Leeds was master. The first lodge of Odd Fellows at this place was known as Benton Lodge No. 132, and F. G. Rice was noble grand. The first lodge of Masons at Three Oaks was organized in 1868, Henry Chamberlain was master, Owen Churchill, senior war den, and James S. Bird, junior warden, The first lodge of Masons in Watervliet township was organized in 1865, known as Coloma Lodge No. 162, J. L. Marvin was master, W. W. McKee, senior warden, and Milo Bratten, junior warden. The first lodge of Odd Fellows in Water vliet was organized in 1871 known as Co loma Lodge No. 140. The charter mem bers were I. B. Winch, J. O. Keith, Jesse Woodward, Geo. Strong and E. Brant. The next order of fraternal organizations which was organized to any considerable 54 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY extent was the Ancient Order of United Workmen, which was established in all the leading towns some thirty years ago. Manufacturing Industries. A table is presented showing the num ber of factories in the different cities and villages in 1905, the number of persons em ployed and wages paid, according to the report of state inspectors. It should be observed from the returns made to this writer from the leading fac tories in the three cities that the number of persons employed in the factories is much larger at the present time in all these towns. The exact figures cannot be given, but the total number of employes should be increased by at least twenty per cent. Evidently, all the factories were not inspected. UI03 •a ho k. £ 0 sa * CO ag aa 9a 111 g 3. a ga Z Z S3 734 37°>535 Van Buren ... 1,201,166 177,411 Kent 861,405 127,473 It will be seen from this table that Ber rien county had the most trees, and this fact had its effect upon future production. In Berrien county, the township of Ben ton took the lead in the production of peaches. The peach producing townships in 1903 consisted of the following: Benton, St. Joseph, Pipestone, Hagar, Lincoln, Bainbridge, Watervliet, and Sodus. The following table shows the acreage, number of trees and production for the year 1903. The city of Benton Harbor is included with Benton township and the city of St. Joseph with St. Joseph township. The production in the cities was, however, small. Acreage. Benton 2,692 St. Joseph 990 Pipestone 1,027 Hagar 1,511 Lincoln 939 Sodus 558 Bainbridge .... 2,387 Watervliet 971 Some reference to the largest peach or chard in the county may be of interest. Ro land Morrill has one hundred and twenty- five acres of peach orchards of which eighty- five acres are in bearing. These orchards are located in Benton township. In 1905, Mr. MOrrill obtained twenty thousand bush els of peaches from about 50 acres. The first orchards of Mr. Morrill came into bear ing about fifteen years ago and since that time he has not had a failure although there have been three light crops. In 1899, when the peach crop west of the Rocky Mountains was an universal failure, he received thirty- five thousand dollars for the product of forty acres. From four acres of Elbertas that year he received six thousand four hundred dollars. Mr. Morrill ascribes his success to the great care exercised in preserving the vitality of his trees through proper fertili zation and cultivation, together with keep ing the crop down to reasonable limits. He Trees. Bushels. 270,223 114,408 118,399 64,771 94,061 44,704 I55,58i 35,937 126,862 34,66o 54,463 22,646 208,817 14,366 89,751 7,572 58 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY is now general manager of the Morrill Or- Each of the townships of Berrien, chard Company of Morrill, Texas, in which Hagar, Royalton, Weesaw and Buchanan company he is a heavy stockholder. The produced about 50,000 bushels. In several company owns twelve thousand five hundred of the townships the production of choice acres, devoted to the raising of fruits and varieties of apples for shipment has become vegetables, twelve hundred acres of which a specialty, and the value of the apple crop are planted with peach trees. in 1903 was nearly equal to that of the The W!est Michigan Nurseries, whose peach crop. office is at Benton Harbor, in addition to The largest apple orchard in the county their nurseries, have extensive fruit or- is that of Robert H. Sherwood, consisting chards upon their farm of eight hundred of about 300 acres, situate in Waterviet and seventy-three acres, situated in Pipe- township on the bank of Paw Paw lake. stone township, half a mile from Eau Claire. Peach, pear and plum trees were planted in This company has planted about 30,000 the same orchards with the young apple peach trees on this farm for bearing pur- trees, to fill up the time before the latter poses, also about 10,000 plum trees, 8,000 commenced bearing. These orchards are pear trees, 5,000' cherry trees and 5,000 ap- known as the Lake View orchards. About pie trees. The total planting of orchards 2000 apple trees were set out about thirty amount to about five hundred acres. The years ago, by Hon. Harvey C. Sherwood, company has one hundred acres upon the since deceased, who was the father of Robert Pipestone farm devoted to nursery, stock H. Sherwood, and until the last year when purposes, and also one hundred acres near the apple crop failed in Michigan, these Berrien Springs. Through the summer trees produced on an average annually 2000 months the company employs about one barrels for the last fifteen years. Most of hundred and twenty men in working in the £he trees were set out eight years ago. orchards and nurseries. A 1 Pears. Apples. . , . . . In the production of pears, Berrien Apples are raised m nearly every county f r , , . . , ^ 0i , ^, L. j- a „ county stood first, producing nearly one of the State, but the counties ot Allegan, ,,.,,-„ , , . 7 , r~, t, ^ , -„ , T, . . third of all pears produced m the state. 1 he Berrien, V an Buren and Kent produced . , . * „ . „ ,. r ,1 <- 11 .1 1 -i production of Berrien county was 108,4=50 more than one-fourth of all the apples raised , , , ,-, T , , ¦ 1 ¦, . tl r, bushels. St. oseph township and city pro- m the State, 111 1903. , , , „ J , L u , -A ;0 * „ ' y ° duced 49,739 bushels. Hagar, 15,073 Allegan produced 1,208,949 bushels bushels, and Benton 10,001 bushels. Berrien produced 1,157,653 " Kent produced 773,319 " Strawberries. Van Buren produced.... 814,190 " t> • • 1 c . • r y Berrien county, in 1903, stood first in In Berrien county the townships lead- the production of strawberries, producing ing in yield of apples, produced as follows: in bushels, 155,868; Allegan, 45,626; Van Bainbridge 196,646 bushels ?uren' 49.874, and Kent, 32,272. These Benton 12c; 01 s " four counties produced more than one-halt Sodus 106015 " of the strawberry crop of the State. Watervliet 104,728 " Lake township has made a specialty of Oronoko 88,175 " raising strawberries and is the banner straw- Pipestone 86,101 " berry township of Berrien county. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 59 The following named townships pro duced as follows : Lake 31,582 bushels Lincoln 20,212 " Sodus 15,617 " Biadnbridge i6,6b6 " Benton 16,061 " Hagar 11,418 " Royalton 10,254 " Raspberries. Berrien county in 1903 produced 71,245 bushels of raspberries, or more than one-third of the raspberry crop of the State. Kent county came next with 13,665 bushels. The following named townships of Ber rien county produced as follows : Lake 1 1,501 bushels Lincoln 10,523 " Royalton 9,399 " Benton 7,*43 " Sodus 6,120 " St. Joseph 6,002 " Hagar 5,830 " Blackberries. Berrien county produced more than one half of the blackberry crop of the state in 1903, amounting to 91,115 bushels. The production of the other counties was insig nificant, comparatively. Lincoln township produced. 27,945 bushels St. Joseph and City 14,847 Lake 12,771 Benton 11,562 Royalton 6,851 " Grapes. The counties of Berrien and Van Buren produced three-fourths of the entire grape crop of the State in 1903. Berrien county produced 13,949,552 pounds, and Van Buren 13,461,546 pounds. The amount produced in any other county was trifling comparatively. The townships of St. Joseph, Benton, Royalton and Oronoko produced most of the grapes in this county. St. Joseph Tp. and City pro duced 6.031,550 lbs. Benton 1,536,890 " Royalton 1,245,378 " Oronoko 755, 670 " The most extensive grapery in the State, of Michigan has recently been established in the township of Chikaming, by the Lake Side Vineyard Co., which has its office at St. Joseph. The following are the officers : Jos. H. Burkhard, president; M. J. Beckett, secretary; F. J. Burkhard, treasurer. These gentlemen and Wm. Habel and Benj. Ryan constitute the board of directors. This cor poration owns 642 acres devoted to fruit raising, of which 525 acres are set out to grapes. The enterprise was started in 1902 and nearly all of the vines have been recently planted. 200,000 Concord vines have been set out. About 18,000 baskets of grapes were raised last year. The proprietors esti mate from present apperances that the yield this year will be over 300,000 baskets. . The Burkhards, who planned this im portant enterprise, are well known and en terprising grocers and fruit dealers of St. Joseph. In addition to these fruits, Berrien county in 1903 produced also considerable quantities of plums, cherries, gooseberries and other small fruits. The value of all these fruit products of Berrien ocounty in 1903 was estimated at about $1,250,000. The value of the fruit products of Allegan county which stood next, was nearly $900,000. For the year 1904 and 1905 nothing but estimates of the fruit crop have been made. The peach crop in Berrien county in 1905 however, was enormous, and it appears from estimates that Berrien county largely ex ceeded any other county in that year in the production of this fruit. Some idea of the magnitude of this in dustry may be formed from a statement of 6o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the shipment of peaches made by boat and at certain railroad stations. With this statement will also be included items as to other fruits. In 1905 the boats shipped the following : Baskets of peaches 1,125,728 Bushel baskets of peaches 381,469 Crates of berries 679,680 Baskets of grapes 1,160,425 Half-bushel baskets of fruit. . . . 82,847 Barrels of pears and other fruit. . 48,249 Bushel crates of muskmelons . . . . 130,142 There were shipped by car at the Pere Marquette station in St. Joseph in 1905 as follows : Car-loads of peaches 305 Car-loads of grapes 334 An average fruit car contains 400 bushels of peaches and 3000 one-fifth bushel baskets of grapes. There were shipped at the Pere Mar quette Railroad station at Benton Harbor in 1905 approximately as follows: Caf-loads of peaches 350 Car-loads of grapes, 150 Car-loads of berries 15 There were shipped at the Benton Har bor station of the C. C. C. & St. L. Railway Co. (Big Four) during the season of 1905, 666 carloads of peaches. Other shipments were made at other railroad points. It may be inferred from these reports that over one million bushels of peaches were shipped abroad from Berrien county during the sea son of 1905. The shipments by rail equalled those by boat, large amounts being sent to eastern and central States. Agriculture. "Honor waits o'er all the Earth, Through endless generations, The art that calls her harvests forth, And feeds the expectant nations." Bryant. In the production of corn and wheat, Berrien county is exceeded by many of the counties of the State. In 1903 it was ex ceeded in the production of corn by ten counties, in that of wheat, by fifteen coun ties. The four leading counties in the pro duction of corn were Lenawee, Hillsdale,. Calhoun and Monroe, which produced enor mous crops. The agricultural product of Berrien county, however, is much diversified, so that the aggregate production of all agricultural products places the county in the front rank. Different classes of vegetables have been raised in large quantities for the Chi cago market, certain townships making a specialty of raising some particular class. In the production of wheat Bertrand township took the lead in the county pro ducing 54,597 bushels. For many years this township produced more wheat than any other township in the State. In 1878 the yield of wheat was more than 125,000 bushels. The highest yield of wheat for any township in 1903 was that of Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo county, which produced 76,270 bushels. Of late years, however, the farmers of Bertrand have turned their at tention to other crops. The following townships came next to Bertrand, viz. : Niles, with an almost equal production, 54,318 bushels; Berrien, 40,635 bushels, and the townships of Buchanan and Oronoko with about 30,000 bushels each. The total production of the county was 439,569 bushels. In the production of corn, Bertrand took the lead in 1903, producing 145,000 bushels. Niles produced 137,000 bushels, Berrien 112,000 bushels, Oronoko 111,000 bushels, Pipestone 103,000 bushels, Buchanan 97,- 000 bushels, and Weesaw 96,000 bushels. The total production was 1,459,378 bushels. The total production of oats was 470,515 bushels. The townships of Pipestone, Wee saw, Buchanan, Three Oaks and Ber trand each raised from 35,000 to 40,000 bushels. The county produced 16,868 tons of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 61 clover hay valued at $125,264 and 34,281 tons of timothy valued at $289,277. The production of potatoes was 405,761 bushels, valued at $217,758. It is worthy of note that two townships have made a specialty of raising cabbage, Three Oaks and Bertrand. Three Oaks pro duced 349,000 heads and Bertrand 157,000. Oronoko produced one-quarter of the to matoes raised, amounting to 6,025 bushels. Lake, New Buffalo and Weesaw each raised over 10,000 bushels of cucumbers. Niles and Three Oaks raised about 3,000 bushels of onions, each. The melon industry has become exten sive in four townships, viz. : Benton rais ing 315,000 melons, Bainbridge 171,220, Watervliet 61,380, and Hagar 51,360. The value of the melon crop in 1903 was about $21,000. The shipments made of these vegetables have been large and added materially to the wealth of the county. The estimated val uation of these vegetables in 1903 was over $425,000 and a large portion of them was shipped abroad, or sent to canning establish ments, the product of which finds a ready sale in the markets of the country. CHAPTER VI BERRIEN COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR. "When treason first began the strife That crimsoned sea and shore, The Nation found her hoarded life, On Freedom's threshing floor; From field and prairie, East and West, From Coast and hill and plain, The sheaves of ripening manhood pressed, Thick as the bearded grain." — Holmes. It is fitting that the gallant part which the soldiers of Berrien county played in the great drama of the Civil war should be duly commemorated in any historical sketch of the county. For this purpose, a list is given of all the officers and soldiers in the Civil war who resided in this county at the time of enlistment so far as can be ascertained from authentic records. It is impossible to give the record of any individual com pany execpt as identified with the regiment to which it belonged. A short sketch there fore, of the career of those State regiments to which any considerable number of soldiers from Berrien county belonged, is given, fur nishing a general view of the movements of the regiments and mention is made of the •principal actions in which they were en gaged. The historical facts stated are mainly derived from "Michigan in the War," a volume published by the State and edited by John Robertson, adjutant general. For de tailed information with regard to the history of each Michigan regiment the reader is re ferred to that work. In making out 'the lists of soldiers in Michigan regiments from Ber rien county, the History of Berrien and Van Buren, published in 1880 and edited by F. Ellis, has been mainly used, on account of the convenient and compact form in which the lists are made up. Considerable addi tions, however, have been made to these lists, derived from the series of volumes re cently published by the State, entitled "Rec ord of Service of Michigan Volunteers," and edited by General George H. Brown, adju tant general. It is probable, however, that many omissions have been made on account of the fact that large numbers of soldiers from Berrien county, whose record cannot be ascertained, enlisted in the regiments of other States. An attempt has been made to give the names of soldiers who enlisted abroad, so far as State and other available records have disclosed them. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 63 Second Infantry. "When weary, watching traitor foes The welcome night brings sweet repose, The soldier weary from the fight, Sleeps sound, nor fears the rebel's might, For Michigan's on guard tonight." On April 14, 1861, the next day after the surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confed erates, President Lincoln issued a procla mation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months. At this first call for troops, a company of infantry was raised at Niles, composed of persons residing there and in the vicin ity. This was the first company organized in the county, for service in the Civil war. The first officers of the company were Robert Brethschneider, captain; Benjamin Brownell, first lieutenant, and Jerome Beales, second lieutenant. The ladies of Niles presented a handsome flag to the com pany, which afterward became the flag of the Second Michigan Infantry, to which it was afterward assigned. The company left the city of Niles for the cantonment at De troit on April 26, 1861, when it was as signed as Company "E" of the regiment re ferred to. Before the Second regiment could be mustered into service, the government re fused to accept any more three months soldiers, whereupon nearly all the regiment, and practicaly all of Company "E," volun teered for three years. The regiment left for Washington on June 5, 1861, and was the first three years regiment from this State. The first battle in which this regiment was engaged was the disastrous one of Bull Run, fought July 18, 1 86 1. At this battle it belonged to Richardson's brigade, which covered the retreat, and came to camp in perfect order and discipline. At the important battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1 86 1, it took an important part. In a communication relating to this battle, Gen eral Philip Kearney says, "General Beny's regiment fought most desperately. It was one of them, Colonel Poe's Second Michi gan, more directly under my control,- which maintained the key point of our position. Two of its companies led off with the first success of the day, while covering the ar tillery. I especially notice him (Colonel Poe) for advancement. His loss in killed, wounded and missing is sixty." General Poe, a very able officer and ac complished gentleman, was very proud of his regiment. After his promotion to higher rank, removing him from the command of the regiment, he wrote a letter to a friend, in which he said : "There is something sub limely grand in the steady, quite courage of those men bf our 'Second,' They never yet have failed in time of need and they never will. I would ask no higher honor than to. ride at their head through the streets of De troit." No regiment probably in the service of the government, surpassed the Second Mich igan Infantry in heroic service and excellent discipline. It was engaged in many of the most important battles of the war and its losses from death, wounds and disease was enormous. Company "E" never returned from the war as a company. A few individuals re turned but the great majority had been re moved by death, or broken down by wounds, disease and hardships innumerable. Only one member of this company is now living in our midst, Pope McClary, of Niles, who received no less than seven wounds. The regiment remained with the Army of the Potomac till March, 1863, when it was sent to Kentucky, and in June, 1863, to re-enforce the Army of General Grant in Mississippi. In August, 1863, it joined the. Army of the Potomac and participated in the capture of Petersburg, April 3, .1865. It was disbanded at Detroit, August 1, 1865. This regiment belonged for a time to a brigade commanded by the distinguished general, Phil Kearney, one o'f the "bravest 64 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of the brave." As showing his high opinion of the character and efficiency of the Michi gan regiments under his commamnd, I quote the following from "Michigan in the War." "On one occasion, when the darkness had brought the day's battle to a close, wearied with excessive service, and desiring quiet for the night, he (General Kearney) ordered, 'Put a Michigan regiment on guard, so that I can sleep tonight.' "An interesting episode in the history of this regiment, is the fact that a young woman said to' have been good looking, en listed at Flint and served for some time, without her sex being known. She enlisted under the name of 'Frank Thompson.' She served in various campaigns and battles of the regiment as a soldier, was often employed as a spy, going into the enemy's lines and furnished valuable information. She was with the regiment till April, 1863, when she deserted for fear that her sex had become known. Her future history is unknown." Michigan in the War, page 47. The regiment was in the following en gagements : 1 86 1 Blackburns Ford, Bull Run. 1862 Siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Faid Oaks, near Richmond, June 18. 1862, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Bull Run 2nd, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, all in Virginia. 1863 Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Jackson, Blue Spring, Tenn., London, Lenoir Station, Siege of Knoxville, Knox- ville, Fort Saunders, Thirley's Ford, all in Tennessee. 1864 Strawberry Plains, near Knoxville, Wilderness, Va., Ny River, Spottsyl- vania, Oxford, North Anna, Tolo- potomy, Bethseda Church, Cold Har bor, Petersburg, The Crater, Weldon R. R., Reams' Station, Poplar Spring Church, Pegram Farm, Boydon Road, Hatcher's Run, all in Virginia. 1865 Fort Steadman, Capture of Peters burg, Siege of Petersburg. Members of the Second Infantry from Ber rien County. Field and Staff. Surgeon, Evan J. Bonine, Niles; com missioned September 23, 1861 ; resigned August 31, 1864. Non-Commissioned Staff. Quartermaster sergeant, William H. Seward, Niles; enlisted April 19, 1861; promoted to second lieutenant, Company I, December 4, 1861. Company E. Captain Robert Brethschneider, Niles; commissioned May 25, 1861 ; resigned De cember 14, 1 86 1 ; captain 12th infantry. Captain Benjamin Brownell, Niles; com missioned December 14, 1861 ; first lieuten ant April 25, 1861 ; resigned August 30, 1862. Captain John S. Moore, Niles; commis sioned July 30, 1863; first lieutenant, Feb ruary 24, 1863; second lieutenant, August 9, 1862; mustered out at end of service, September 30, 1864. Captain Sylvester Keyser, Niles; com missioned September 30, 1864; brevetted major United State volunteers for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg; mustered out July 29, 1865. Second Lieutenant Jerome Beals, Niles; commissioned April 25, 1861 ; resigned Aug ust 7, 1 861. Sergeant Henry Kellogg, enlisted May 25, 1 86 1 ; discharged December 1, 1861, for disability. Sergeant Plowden Huggins, enlisted May 25, 1861 ; mustered out at end of ser vice, July 21, 1864. Sergeant John N. Shanahan, enlisted May 25, 1 86 1 ; killed in action at Williams burg, Virginia, May 5, 1862. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Corporal William H. Delano, enlisted May 25, 1 86 1 ; mustered out at end of ser vice, July 21, 1864. Corporal Charles H. Houghland, enlisted May 25, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, December 6, 1861. Corporal William Thayer, enlisted May 25, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, July 21, 1864. Corporal John Moore, enlisted May 25, 1 86 1 ; color sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant. Corporal Sylvester Keyser, enlisted May 25, 1 861 ; re-enlisted as veteran, December 31, 1863; promoted to first lieutenant, Com pany F, July 7, 1864. Wagoner John B. Richardson, enlisted May 25, 1861 ; absent, sick; not mustered out with company. Privates. Uriah Arnold, discharged at end of ser vice, July 21, 1864. Theodore F. Brown, discharged at end of service, September 10, 1864. Hartley Boswell, discharged for disabil ity, May 21, 1862. James W. Brown, veteran; enlisted De cember 31, 1863; mustered out May 25, 1865. George Covert, discharged to enlist in regular army, June 11, 1863. William Covert, discharged to enlist in regular army, June 11, 1863. James H. Delano, discharged for disa bility, October 7, 1862. Franklin Farnsworth, veteran; enlisted December 31, 1863; discharged for disa bility, July 20, 1865. George H. Genung, discharged for wounds, September 12, 1862. Philo H. Gallup, killed in action at Wil liamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862. Edward Hartman, died of disease at Georgetown, D. C. Marvin Hillicker, discharged for disa bility. Benjamin Hess, discharged to enlist ire regular army. Charles Hulin, discharged to enlist in regular army, December 4, 1862. Samuel P. Hulin, veteran; enlisted De cember 31, 1863; sergeant; promoted to sec ond lieutenant; mustered out as sergant, July 25, 1865. William H. F. Holston, veteran; en listed December 31, 1863; sergeant; pro moted to first lieutenant, Company G; cap tain, Company K. William H. Harrison, veteran, enlisted December 31, 1863; sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant ; mustered out as sergeant, July 25, 1865: William Jay, discharged for disability, July 4, 1862. William Jones, discharged for disability. William Jackson, veteran; enlisted De cember 31, 1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. John McKown, killed in battle at Wil liamsburg, Virgina, May 5, 1862. Benjamin F. Loop, died August 4, 1862, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. James Leech, discharged for disability. John T. Lamon, discharged at end of ser vice, September 3, 1863. William Lambert, discharged at end of service, July 21, 1864. John Noel, discharged for disability, September 29, 1862. Jaraes H. Philips, discharged for disa bility, May 21, 1862. G. Prossard, discharged to enlist in reg ular army. William Park, discharged at end of ser vice, May 25, 1865. Gilbert Parish, veteran; enlisted Decem ber 31, 1863; discharged for disability, De cember 25, 1865. William Redick, discharged for disabil ity. Charles Richardson, discharged for dis ability, July 4, 1862. €6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY William Roach, discharged for disabil ity, August 13, 1862. Joshua B. Richardson, died of disease -at Washington, February 17, 1863. Watson Ready, discharged at end of ser- vise, May 25, 1864. John Rutledge, veteran ; enlisted Decem ber 31, 1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. William B. Randall, veteran; enlisted December 31, 1863; mustered out July 28, J865. Anthony Rolle, mustered out July 28, 1865. William Rucker, discharged for wounds, October, 1862. Elias Schockley, died of wounds, No vember 2.y, 1863. Martin Stafford, veteran; enlisted De cember 3, 1863; died of wounds, June 19, 1864. B. Steinbach, discharged at end of ser vice, May 25, 1864. William W. Smith, veteran; enlisted December 3, 1863; mustered out July 11, 1865. William Thayer, discharged at end of :service, July 21, 1864. Edwin Trumburn, discharged at end of service, July 21, 1864. George W. Vandervent, discharged at «end of service, July 21, 1864. Alfred A. Van Vliet, discharged at end aof service, June 6, 1864. John M. Wilson, discharged at end of service, September 8, 1863. John Ward, discharged at end of service, July 21, 1864. Company F. First Lieutenant Sylvester Keyser, "Niles; commissioned July 7, 1863 ; promoted to captain, Company E, September 30, 1864. Company G. First Lieutenant William H. F. Hols- ton, Niles; commissioned November 24, 1864; promoted captain, Company K, April 25, 1865. Company H. Captain Charles H. Rogers, mustered out July 28, 1865. First Lieutenant John S. Moore, pro moted captain, Company E, July 30, 1863. i Company I. Second Lieutenant William H. Seward, resigned August 30, 1862. Stephen G. Colvin, veteran; enlisted De cember 31, 1863; died of wounds in Wilder ness, Virginia, May 6, 1864. Ossian L. Moody, discharged at end of service, July 21, 1864. Stephen G. "Colvin, veteran ; enlisted De cember 31, 1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. Company K. Captain William H. F. Holston, com missioned April 25, 1865 ; mustered out July 25, 1865. Corporal Roscoe D. Dix, enlisted May 25, 1 861 ; discharged at end of service, July 2, 1864. Stevens Dickinson, discharged at end of service, May 26, 1864. Theodore W. Snell, died of disease at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, December 20, 1864. Capt. Edmunds' Company. This company was raised in May, 1861, consisting of one hundred and five members who were enlisted mainly from the town ships of St. Joseph, Benton, Sodus and Royalton. It was the second company raised in the county. W. W. Edmunds was elected captain. The company was unable to procure an assignment in a Michigan regiment, the reg iments having already been filled. Captain Edmunds on his return from Lansing, where HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 67 he went to see Governor Blair, fell from a steamboat into the St. Joseph river and was drowned. Upon the death of Captain Edmunds, Jay J. Drake, of St. Joseph was elected cap tain, but the members being unable to enlist in a Michigan regiment mostly went to Chicago, and enlisted in the 7th Missouri Infantry, the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry and the Douglass Brigade of Chicago. Mr. Drake was made a first lieutenant in the Seventh Missouri Regiment, and a majority of the company enlisted in this regiment, of which Mr. Drake subsequently became a captain. Mr. Drake is now living at St. Joseph. H. C. Matrau and the members of Cap tain Edmunds' original company, enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry and became a captain in that company at the age of nineteen. Sixth Infantry. This regiment was raised in the sum mer of 1 861. Company A was raised main ly from the southeastern part of the county at Niles; Company B from the northwest ern portion at St. Joseph; Company G was raised from Van Buren and Berrien coun ties and Company K from Berrien and Cass counties at Niles. The regiment rendez voused at Kalamazoo and left for the east in August, 1 86 1, where it was detained at Baltimore for garrison duty for about six months. The regiment became very popu lar with the people of Baltimore on account of its excellent discipline and the high de gree of intelligence, good manners and sobriety manifested by both officers and men. In 1862 it embarked at Newport News with General Butler's expedition to the Gulf of Mexico. Although a few companies had entered the city of New Orleans before, in the night time, the Sixth Michigan was the first regiment to enter in the day time, where it took possession of the government mint. This regiment remained in service in the Gulf States till the close of the war, be ing mustered out at Greenville, Louisiana, August 20, 1865. The regiment was in the following en gagements : 1862 Sewell's Point, Va., Fort Jackson, Louisiana, Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, Amite River, all in Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 1863 Bayou Teche, Ticksaw River, Pouche- toula; Siege of Port Hudson, Tunica Bayou. 1864 Ashton, Arkansas, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, Fort Huger, all in Alabama. 1865 Fort Tracy, Alabama, and Siege of Mobile. This regiment was actively engaged in the defense of Baton Rouge on August 5, 1862, against an assault of a heavy force under General Breckenridge. In this en gagement Captain David Bacon of Niles, was severely wounded. On August 8, fol lowing, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In a general order relat ing to this engagament, General Butler says : "The Sixth Michigan fought rather by detachments than as a regiment, but de serves the fullest commendation for the gal lant behavior of its officers and men." In this important battle in which General Breckenridge's force was repulsed with heavy loss, General Williams of Detroit, " who commanded the Union forces, was killed. At the siege of Port Hudson, it took a prominent part and received the thanks of General Banks for gallant and efficient ser vice during the siege. On July 10, 1863, it was converted into a regiment of heavy artillery, and on account of faithful and valuable services, was allowed to retain its infantry number and have the pay, clothing and equipment prescribed for troops of the artillery army. 68 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY After the battle of Port Hudson, hear ing that the regiment was to be transferred farther north, the members -of the regiment, through Colonel Clark, requested General Butler that it might be placed under his com mand. General Butler sent the application to the secretary of war with the following endorsement : • "Respectfully forwarded to the Hon. Sec retary of War with the request that if the Sixth Michigan Volunteers is to be relieved, it may be assigned to my command, as I have the highest respect for officers and men, who have displayed distinguished gal lantry and efficiency." Officers and Enlisted Men of the Sixth In fantry from Berrien County. i Field and Staff. Colonel Edward Bacon, Niles; commis sioned major, August 20, 1861 ; promoted to lieutenant-colonel, June 21, 1862; must ered out October 16, 1864. Chaplain Elizur Andrews, Niles; com missioned August 20, 1 86 1 ; mustered out August 20, 1865. Non-Commissioned Staff. Sergeant-Major William J. Edwards, Niles; enlisted August 20, 1861 ; appointed second lieutenant, Company K, September 1, 1862. Quartermaster-Sergeant Andrew C. Mer rill, Niles, enlisted August 20, 1861, must ered out at end of service August 19, 1864. Commissary Sergeant Richard D. Kennedy, Niles; enlisted August 20, 1861 ; mustered out at end of service, August 19, 1864. Company A. Captain Eli A. Griffin, Niles; commis sioned August 19, 1 861; resigned July 17, 1863; commissioned major, Nineteenth In fantry, October 22, 1863. Captain Selden F. Craig, Niles; com missioned July 17, 1863; commissioned second lieutenant, August 19, 1861 ; pro moted to first lieutenant, April 1, 1862; mustered out August 20, 1865. First Lieutenant William W. Thayer, Niles; commissioned August 19, 1861; re signed March 28, 1862. Second Lieutenant James Russey, Niles; commissioned April 1, 1862; enlisted as sergeant August 20, 1861 ; resigned Decem ber 18, 1862. Sergeant Stephen S. Smith, Oronoko; veteran; enlisted March 2, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant, November 25, 1864; mustered out as sergeant, August 20, 1865. Sergeant Hiram McMichael, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; died on Mississippi river steamer, May 20, 1862. Sergeant Henry P. Glenn, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 86 1 ; died of wounds at New Or leans, September 4, 1862. Sergeant James M. Smith, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 86 1 ; died on Mississippi river steamer, May 22, 1862. Sergeant George M. Fenton, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; promoted to first lieu tenant Company G, July 21, 1864. Corporal Lawrence Horrigan, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1, discharged for promotion, September 18, 1863. Corporal Arthur Dailey, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 861 ; discharged for promotion to- second lieutenant, September 1, 1863. Corporal George B. Ta(tman, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; sergeant; discharged June • 20, 1864. Corporal James W. Penrose, enlisted' August 20, 1861 ; discharged to enter regu lar army. Corporal James W. Chesterman, enlisted August 20, 1 861; veteran, February 1, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant Com pany D, March 12, 1865. Corporal William W. Smith, enlisted HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 69 August 20, 1861 ; discharged October 5, 1863. Jason Bunker, enlisted August 20, 1861 ; discharged for disability, October 11, 1862. Musician Walter G. Cutting, enlisted August 20, 1 861 ; promoted to principal musician; mustered out August 20, 1865. Musician Bethuel S. Lingrel, enlisted August 20, 1 861; died of disease at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 26, 1862. Wagoner Enos F. Curtis, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1861 ; mustered out August 23, 1864. Fridolin Abley, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Robert Atwood, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. George B. Ashcroft, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. Abram O. Bennett, discharged by order June 20, 1864. Joseph J. Breck, mustered out August 20, 1865. William H. Curtis, veteran; enlisted February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. John R. Cowles, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Julius Cook, veteran ;' enlisted February i, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Mills Crippen, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Daniel L. Closson, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. William J. Closson; mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. James M. S. Coder, discharged for dis ability, October 27, 1862. Joseph Cherry, discharged by order, May 3, 1865. Milton W. Doty, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. . Charles Evans, discharged for disability, December 7, 1861. Freeman Evans, died of wounds October 14, 1862. Albert Edwards, mustered out August 20, 1865. Uriah Greers, discharged for disability, December 31, 1862. Samuel Hallock, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Christopher Hahn, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Edward Harrington, discharged by order, March 23, 1862. Dwight Hunt, discharged to enter regu lar army, November 10, 1862. Nathan H. Heath, died of disease at Baton Rouge, June 17, 1862. John Hall, died of disease in regiment hospital, November 25, 1862. Lewis Horan, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Andrew J. Hawkins, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. Henry H. Jackson, discharged for dis ability, October 21, 1862. George L. Kimmel, discharged for dis ability, October 15, 1862. Wilson D. Kinsey, discharged to enter regular army, November 14, 1862. James H. Kill, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Joseph F. Kirk, mustered out August 20, 1865. Henry Lazelle, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Clarence McCoy, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. J. N. Mendenhall, discharged for disa bility, October 27, 1862. Alex. McManamy, discharged for dis ability, December 21, 1862. Charles Mizner, discharged for disabil ity, August 2, 1865. Schuyler C. Morris, died of disease at Port Hudson, Louisiana, December 30, 1863. 70 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY James P. Norris, died of disease at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 29, 1863. Wilson Potter, died of disease at Vicks burg, October 5, 1864. Aaron Potter, mustered out August 20, 1865. Joseph Partridge, mustered out August 20, 1865. John S. Perkins, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Frank Rood, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Monroe Redding, veteran; enlisted Feb ruary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Henry Redding, died of disease at regi mental hospital, November 9, 1862. Daniel Rittenhouse, discharged for dis ability, June, 1863. David Salisbury, discharged for disabil ity, October 8, 1861. Harvey Skinner, discharged by order, December 5, 1862. Frank B. Swift, discharged by order, August 13, 1863. James H. Smith, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. John J. Stone, discharged for disability, March 23, 1864. John H. Southwell, died of disease at Port Hudson, January 4, 1864. Duncan Smith, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; died of disease at New Orleans, October 6, 1864. Eaton D. Slayton, veteran; enlisted March 2, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Jeremiah Thompson, veteran; enlisted February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Alfred Turner, discharged at end of ser vice, August 23, 1864. Hiel Truefit, discharged at end of ser vice, August 23, 1864. Jeremiah Van Horn, discharged for dis ability, December 31, 1862. Clark Walters, discharged for disability, October 14, 1862. Henry Walters, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Charles Wells, discharged at end of ser vice, August 23, 1864. James A. Wilson, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Porter Whitney, died of wounds, Oc tober 14, 1862. Mark Williams, died of disease, October 22, 1862. Wm. W. Williams, veteran; enlisted February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20„ 1865. Company B. Captain Wm. W. Wheeler, Niles; com missioned August 19, 1 86 1 ; promoted to major, Twenty-third infantry, April 6, 1863. Captain Charles Moulton, St. Joseph; commissioned November 25, 1864; first lieutenant, August 23, 1864; second lieu tenant, October 1, 1863; mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. First Lieutenant Augustus W. Chap^ man, St. Joseph; commissioned August 20, 1 86 1 ; captain Company K, December 1, 1862. First Lieutenant Patrick H. Lawler, St. Joseph; commissioned December 1, 1862; second lieutenant, August 19, 1861 ; cap tain Company E, August 12, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. First Lieutenant William H. Conley, Berrien Springs; commissioned November 25, 1864; second lieutenant, August 23, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Second Lieutenant Le Grand E. Perce,. St. Joseph; commissioned quartermaster, August 19, 1 86 1 ; captain Company D; June 21, 1862; appointed assistant quartermaster United States volunteers, March 10, 1863; mustered out August 20, 1865. Sergeant Patrick H. Lawler, enlisted August 20, 186' ' promoted to second lieu tenant. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 71 Sergeant Orin K. Pomeroy, enlisted August 20, 1 861 ; killed in action at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. Sergeant Wm. S. Witherell, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; discharged August 31, 1862. Sergeant Edwin F. Kimmel, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; promoted into Twenty- fifth infantry. Sergeant George W. Keeler, enlisted August 20, 1 861 ; promoted into United States C. T. Corporal Gilbert Ackley, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 86 1 ; first sergeant; died of disease, November 21, 1862. Corporal Charles Moulton, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 861 ; first sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant. Corporal Greenleaf Odell, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 86 1 ; sergeant; discharged at end of service, August 19, 1864. Corporal Samuel Jamison, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability. Corporal George W. Hemingway, en listed August 20, 1 861 ; died of disease at New Orleans, October 9, 1862. Corporal Joseph Boughton, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability. October 20, 1862. Corporal Daniel H. Reese, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 861 ; discharged for promotion in U. S. C. T.r Third regiment. Corporal Lorenzo H. Teetzel, enlisted August 20, 1 86 1 ; discharged at end of ser vice, August 22, 1864. Musician Wm. H. Conley, veteran; en listed March 20, 1861; sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant, August 23, 1864. Musician John Burke, enlisted August 20, 1 861 ; transferred to band. Wagoner James Whitney, enlisted Aug ust 20, 1 861 ; discharged at end of service, August 23, 1863. Mathew Anderson, discharged by order, March 21, 1864. John Anderson, veteran ; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. John Ayliffe, veteran; enlisted Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Elijah Ayliffe, killed in action at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. Sylvester Ayliffe, discharged by order, January 6, 1865. Lafayette Brant, died of disease at Ship Island, April 3, 1862. Levi P. Brown, died of disease at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. James Boughton, discharged for promo tion, September 26, 1862. Henry L. Beach, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1862. George Brown, discharged at end of ser vice, August 23, 1864.- Samuel J. Bernard, discharged for dis ability, July 23, 1865. Elias Bailey, mustered out August 20,. 1865. Enoch Campbell, died of disease at New Orleans, June 12, 1862. George W. Closson, discharged for dis ability, October 15, 1862. James Campbell, discharged for disabil ity, October 15, 1862. W. A. Cleveland, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Robert L. Dehay, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Charles A. Dilts, discharged for dis ability, September 18, 1863. Charles Davidge, died of disease in Lou- isana, November 12, 1862. Peter Destler, veteran; mustered in February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20,. 1865. George Forbes, discharged at end of ?er- vice, August 23, 1864. Edward Francis, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Nelson Gardner, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Martin Gubbit, discharged by order, March 21, 1864. Merritt Geary, discharged for disability, October 30, 1863. 72 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Vintry Green, discharged at end of ser vice, March 7, 1865. William E. Garrison, veteran; mustered February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Joseph Gubbit, died of disease at Port Hudson, August 19, 1863. Sylvanus Gano, died of disease at Jeffer son City, March 4, 1863. Henry Hoadley, died of disease at Jef ferson City, November 13, 1862. Cornelius W. Hutchinson, died of dis ease at Jefferson City, October 31, 1862. John E. Hall, discharged for disability, May 5, 1864. Jacob Helmick, discharged at end of ser- -vice, August 23, 1864. Charles W. Haskins, discharged by order, July 22, 1865. Albert Haskins, veteran; mustered Feb ruary 10, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Elias W. Jay, veteran; mustered Febru ary 10, 1864; mustered out August 20, .1865. Daniel L. James, discharged for disabil ity, October 15, 1862. Prentiss Jewell, discharged for disabil ity, January 8, 1863. John Johnson, discharged at end of ser vice, August 23, 1864. Abram Lafayette, discharged to enter regular army,- November 14, 1862. Arnold Latham, discharged for disabil ity, September 1, 1863. Barzillia W. Loucks, died of disease at regimental hospital, October 22, 1862. John Lane, mustered out August 20, 1865. James Lamonion, veteran; mustered February 10, 1864; mustered out August '20, 1865. Anson Mathews, veteran ; mustered Feb ruary 10, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Chauncey Miller, veteran; mustered February 10, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. George W. McFee, mustered out August 20, 1865. Orrin Miller, died of disease at Baton Rouge, July 8, 1862. Charles Morey, died of disease at New Orleans, August 11, 1862. Edward Mason, died of disease at regi mental hospital, October 8, 1862. George Metcalf, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. George W. Palmer, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Myron Pangborn, died of disease at New Orleans, February 3, 1863. Waite Risley, died of disease at Ship Island, March 26, 1862. Eli Robinson, discharged for disability, October 15, 1862. Charles Tubbs, discharged for disability, January 29, 1863. Lewis B. Tryon, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Byron B. Taylor, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. George F. Taylor, mustered out August 20, 1865. William H. H. Wheaton, veteran ; must ered February 1, 1864; mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. Franklin S. Walters, died of disease at New Orleans, July 7, 1864. Alexander L. Waterman, died of disease at Baton Rouge, June 18, 1862. Samuel L. Walton, died of disease in Louisiana, September 19, 1862. Francis Wood, discharged for disability, October 30, 1863. Rodman M- Warden, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Joseph F. Yaw, died in action at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. Franklin Yaw, veteran; mustered Feb ruary 10, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 73 Company D. Sergeant John G. Allison, promoted to second lieutenant ; mustered out as sergeant, August 20, 1865. Company E. Isaac Hamilton, discharged by order, June 2o, 1865. Edward Hands, discharged by order, June 20, 1865. Mark Herman, discharged by order, June 20, 1865. Riley Higginbotham, discharged by order, June 20, 1865. Company K. Captain David Bacon, Niles; commis sioned August 20, 1 86 1 ; promoted to lieu tenant-colonel Ninteenth Infantry, August 8, 1862. Captain Horace W. Cummings, Niles; commissioned first lieutenant, August 19, _i86i; promoted to captain, September 1, 1862 ; died of disease in Louisiana, Novem ber 13, 1862. Captain Augustus W. Chapman, St. Joseph; commissioned December 1, 1862; died in action at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 27, 1864. Captain William J. Edwards, Niles; commissioned second lieutenant, September 1, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant, Oc tober 1, 1863; to captain July 21, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Second Lieutenant Charles W. Wood, Niles; promoted to corporal (veteran), March 29, 1864; to second lieutenant, March 10, 1865; mustered out August 20, 1865. Sergeant Robert Farrell, enlisted Aug- ust 20, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, October 26, 1862. Musician James A. Grimes, enlisted August 20, 1 861; re-enlisted; as veteran, February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Charles H. Adams, discharged for dis ability, October 26, 1862. George Atkinson, died in action at Port Hudson, Louisiana, May 27, 1863. Lewis Borst, died in action at Port Hud son, Louisiana, May 27, 1863. Charles W. Bennett, discharged for dis ability, October 26, 1862. Smith Benjamin, discharged for dis ability, October 28, 1862. Nicholas P. Bratt, discharged for dis ability, January 5, 1863. F. E. Bohmankamp, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Andrew J. Bratt, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Nathaniel Bratt, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Henry C. Buckles, veteran, February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Simon P.. Boyce, veteran, February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Frederick Barkway, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. John P. Bloom, mustered out August 20, 1865. John Chatterton, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Elisha Chilson, discharged December 18, 1862. George N. Cottrell, discharged by order, November 4, 1864. James* W. Cutshaw, discharged at end of service, August 24, 1863. John Carl, killed in action, October 11, 1863. Wyman A. French, discharged for dis ability, October 26, 1862. David E. French, died of disease at Baton Rouge, November 10, 1862. Martin S. Green, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1864. Tobias Hensler, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. 74 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Henry R. Howard, discharged to enter regular army, December i, 1862. Arthur J. Hamilton, discharged by order, September 8, 1865. Milton Hutshaw, died in action at Port Hudson, May 23, 1862. Levi A. Logan, veteran; February 1, 1864; discharged for disability, July 4, 1864. Henry Miller, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1864. William E. Milton, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1864. Thomas B. McClure, died of disease at New Orleans, May 5, 1862. Charles Meyers, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Henson Molden, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Ansel J. Noble, discharged for disability, January 20, 1862. Hiram Prouty, discharged for disability, January 20, 1862. Uzziel F. Putnam, discharged by order, January 26, 1864. Thomas W. Rutledge, veteran; Febru ary 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Abram W. Reese, mustered out August 20, 1865. Patrick Rourke, mustered out August 20, 1865. Harrison Shead, mustered out August 20, 1865. Gilbert Shead, mustered out August 20, 1865. David H. Serviss, veteran; February 1, 1864; mustered out August 20, 1865. Elisha Sullivan, discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. Godfrey Schneidle^ discharged at end of service, August 23, 1864. James H. Smith, discharged for dis ability, June 30, 1862. Henry Stratton, discharged December 11, 1862. Theodore C. Sachse, discharged by order, November 4, 1863. David M. Williams, died of disease at New Orleans, January 29, 1863. Edward Williams, discharged for dis ability, April 14, 1862. Wallace Wood, discharged for disabil ity, October 19, 1861. John H. Wisner, discharged by order, September 18, 1863. Marion Wade, discharged by order, March 1, 1864. Caleb S. Williams, mustered out Aug ust 20, 1865. John Worley, mustered out August 20, 1865. Ninth Regiment. About one hundred men from Berrien county belonged to this regiment. About one-half of Company "B" were from this county. The regiment was organized at Detroit and left for Kentucky in October, 1861, Colonel W. W. Duffield commanding. It was connected with the Army of the Cum berland during the greater portion of its ser vice and during the summer and autumn of 1863, participated in all the important move ments of that army. This regiment during a large portion of its service was the trusted body guard of General Thomas and provost guard of the Army of the Cumberland, receiving his en tire confidence for courage and fidelity in the discharge of duty. It played an important part in the en gagements of Murfreesboro and Stone River and received the special commendation of General Thomas for its courage and ef forts in checking a stampede at the latter battle. Company "B" was mainly raised at Niles, Oliver C. Rounds being captain, Moses A. Powell, first lieutenant, and Leon ard J. Wright, second lieutenant. This com pany was highly complimented by both Gen erals Duffield and Parkhurst for heroic HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 75 action at the battle of Murfreesboro in the report of these two officers. The banner of the regiment was presented by the Rev. Dr. George Duffield, father of the colonel, and had inscribed on it this motto : "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee that it may be displayed because of the truth. In the name of God will we set up our ban ners." This regiment was in the following en gagements : 1 86 1 Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 1862 Lavergne, Stone River, Tennessee. 1863 Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ten nessee. 1864 Rocky Face, Resaca, Dallas, Kene- saw, Chattahoochee River, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, all in Georgia. NINTH INFANTRY. Non-Commissioned Staff. Quartermaster-Sergeant James W. Hig gins, Niles; enlisted May 1, 1864; pro moted to second lieutenant, Company K, August 1, 1864. Quartermaster Sergeant Gilbert A. Wat kins, Niles; enlisted October 28, 1864; pro moted to second lieutenant, Company E, October 15, 1864. Principal Musician George H. Newell, Niles; enlisted August 21, 1861 ; veteran; November 23, 1863 ; mustered out Septem ber 15, 1865. Company A. Captain James G. Huntley, Niles; com missioned November 23, 1864; first lieuten ant, August 5, 1863 ; second lieutenant, Com pany E, December 19, 1862; mustered out September 15, 1865. William Millard, mustered out Septem ber 15, 1865. Company B. Captain Oliver C. Rounds, Niles; com missioned August 12, 1861 ; resigned Aug ust 7, 1863. First Lieutenant Moses A. Powell, Niles ; commissioned August 12, 1861 ; resigned February 2, 1862. First Lieutenant Leonard J. Wright, Niles; commissioned December 13, 1861 ; second lieutenant August 12, 1861 ; captain, Company D, February 27, 1863. Sergeant Thomas H. Gaffney, enlisted August 12, 1861 ; promoted to second lieu tenant, Company C, March 25, 1862. Sergeant James G Huntley, enlisted August 12, 1 86 1 ; promoted to second lieu tenant Company E. December 19, 1862. Sergeant Ebenezer A. Burnett, enlisted August 12, 1861 ; discharged at end of ser vice, October 4, 1864. Sergeant James W. Higgins, enlisted August 12, 1 861 ; veteran, December 7, 1863; appointed quartermaster sergeant May 1, 1864. Sergeant John L. Allen, enlisted August 12, 1861. Corporal William H. Loshbaugh, enlisted August 12, 1861 ; veteran, December 7, 1863; discharged by order, September 28, 1864. Corporal Joseph Reynolds, enlisted Aug ust 12, 1 86 1 ; died of disease at Buchanan, June, 1863. Corporal James H. Sharp, enlisted Aug ust 12, 1861 ; discharged February 3, 1862. Cornoral Gilbert A. Watkins, enlisted August 12, 1 86 1 ; veteran, December 7, 1863; promoted to quartermaster sergeant, October 28, 1864. Corporal James Gallaghan, enlisted August 12, 1 86 1 ; veteran, December 7, 1863; mustered out September 15, 1865. Corporal Le Grand A. Swift, enlisted August 12, 1861 ; died of disease at Nash ville, February 9, 1865. Corporal Silas York, enlisted August 12, 1 86 1 ; veteran, December 7, 1863; mustered out September 15, 1865. Musician George H. Newell, enlisted 7^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY August 12, 1 86 1 ; veteran, December 7, Company C. 1863; promoted to principal musician, March c , T. , . ™, „ r „ ,. ^ Tg64. Second Lieutenant Thomas H. Gaffnet, Wagoner David Bell, enlisted August c™issio^d March 2S> iS62> resi^d 12, 1861 ; absent, sick at muster out. Ap. ,9' I°63^. , Elliott Burton, mustered out June 20, J°hn C Dlck' mUStered °Ut June 2°' 1865. l865- William A. Boswell, mustered out Sep- Elisha Everett' mUStered °Ut June 20' tember 15, 1865. l865- Hezekiah Buck, mustered out Septem- Q/ebedee Ewrett> mustered out June 2°> ber 15, 1865. l865- Mortimer M. Cutshaw, mustered out Charles Everling, mustered out June 20, September 15, 1865. l8°5- James Clark, mustered out September 0 Am0S Fesher' mustered out June 20> 15, 1865. l865- George W. Curtis, mustered out Septem- Frederick J. Forsyth, mustered out July ber 15, 1865. 5, 1865. Patrick Carl, mustered out September Company D. J5, I865. Captain Leonard J. Wright, Niles; corn- Hiram Carpenter, mustered out Septem- missioned February 27, 1863; mustered out ber 15, 1865. at end of service, November 23, 1864. John A. Cox, mustered out June 20, I865. Company E. Jacob Eastman, mustered out Septem ber 1 c 186=;. Second Lieutenant James G. Huntley, Ambrose Gephart, died of disease in Niles; commissi°ned December 19, 1862; Tennessee, March 24, 1865. promoted to first lieutenant, Company A. Jacob Piatt, discharged by order, Sep- Second Lieutenant Gilbert A- Watkins, tember 28 1865 Niles; commissioned October 15, 1864; pro- Edwin Pressly, mustered out Septem- m°ted t0 fost lieutenant> Company I, Janu- ber 15, 1865. ary 8> l86S- Lewis Piatt, discharged by order, Aug- Company G. ust 10, 1865. wu- t>u , , ^ Fritz Klais, mustered out Tune 20, 1865. William Redder, mustered out Septem- r .-• . v t i _ T 1 ber 186 c Gottlieb Kramer, mustered out June 20, au ¦£' , l865. Abner Reams, mustered out September Geovge w. Lak£) mustered out July 5> 1 ^'-n- l865- John Richardson, mustered out Septem- Frederick J. Forsyth, mustered out Sep- ber T5> l86S- ' tember 15, 1865. Alexander Sweeny, mustered out Sep tember 15, 1865. Company H. Sylvester Sherman, mustered out Sep tember 15, 1865. - Corporal Joel Kerr, Niles; enlisted Aug- George W. Wells, mustered out Septem- ust 16, 1861 ; died of disease in Kentucky, ber 15, 1865. November 18, 1861. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 77 Zacheus Meade, died of disease at Nash ville, May 19, 1865. George Markley, mustered out June 20, 1865. Edward McVeigh, mustered out June 20, 1865. John Murray, mustered out June 20, 1865. Walter F. McCracken, mustered out June 20, 1865. Richard Pressley, died of disease at West Point, Kentucky. Andrew J. Richardson, mustered out August io, 1865. Alonzo Rice, veteran, December 7, 1863 ; mustered out September 15, 1865. Samuel Sommers, discharged for disa bility. Daniel R. Shalier, discharged at end of service, October 14, 1864. Richard H. Wirts, discharged August 7, 1862. Miles Woods, died of disease at West Point, Kentucky. Company I. First Lieutenant Gilbert A. Watkins, commissioned January 8, 1865 ; mustered out September 15, 1865. Charles Stanwell, died of disease at Nash ville, June 21, 1865. Charles H. Smith, mustered out June 20, 1865. Joel Starr, mustered out June 20, 1865. Almon G. Stoddard, mustered out June 20, 1865. Company K. First Lieutenant James W. Higgins, Niles; commissioned November 23, 1864; resigned July 15, 1865. Henry Russell, mustered out Septem ber 15, 1865. Twelfth Infantry. This regiment was inaugurated in Ber rien county and had its rendezvous at Niles. Nearly one-half of the members of this regi ment were residents of Berrien county. Company B was raised at St. Joseph and vicinity, and Company C at Buchanan and vicinity, Company E and parts of Compan ies F and K at Niles, and Company I at Ber rien Springs and vicinity. Other companies also had members who had enlisted from this county. The regiment was organized October, 1 86 1, and remained at its rendezvous at Niles in camp of instruction till March 18, 1862, when it left for St. Louis with a full regimental enrollment of one thousand of ficers and men. From St. Louis this raw regiment within twenty days after it had en tered upon service was rushed forward to the terrible battle field of Pittsburg Landing. In this battle which occurred on April 6 and April 7, 1862, the Twelfth regiment did heroic service and suffered severely, having about forty men killed and eighty wounded. This battle, known as the battle of Shiloh, was the first gigantic battle of the war. In the loss of life all previous battles had been trifling. The Union troops and Confeder ates, each lost more than twelve thousand in killed, wounded and missing. In the final charge of the Union troops which drove the Confederates from the field in the afternoon of the second day of the battle, the Twelfth regiment took a prominent part. An erroneous impression prevailed for a long time, and probably still prevails in the minds oft many, as to the real nature and re sults of this important battle. It was claimed that it was a drawn battle. This was a grave error. It is true that mistakes and mis fortunes occurred on the part of the Union army on the first day of the battle, but these were fully retrieved on the second day, and at the close of the second days battle, a com plete and decisive victory remained with the Union troops, and the Confederates, who had made the assault, retreated with great loss. At a critical point in the war, the ef fect of this battle was far reaching, and it 78 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY may be regarded as one of the decisive bat tles of the war. John Fiske, in his work on "Mississippi Valley in the War" says: "Con sidering the rawness of most of the troops engaged, the battle of Shiloh was peculiarly significant. It tested American mettle * * * It took this tremendous battle to de termine whether the results of the capture of Fort Donelson were to be permanently secured. As to this point, Shiloh was de cisive. The Federals were not thrown back upon Kentucky, but advanced into Miss issippi." In a general, order of General Grant, dated at Holly Springs, January 8, 1863, a very complimentary reference is made to the regiment itself, and also thanks conveyed to a detachment of the regiment for heoric services at the battle of Millburg against a large force of Van Dorn's cavalry. This de tachment embraced among other companies, Company E (Henry Gephart, captain) and Company K. Company E was made up wholly and Company K largely, of Berrien county troops. The order of General Grant with refer ence to this engagement reads as follows : "The Nintieth Illinois at Coldwater, the detachment of the veteran Twenty-fifth Indi ana and two companies of the Fifth Ohio cavalry at Davis Mills and the detachment of the gallant Twelfth Michigan at Middle- burg, are deserving of the thanks of the army. * * * These regiments are en titled to enscribe upon their banners respec tively, Coldwater, Davis' Mills and Middle- burg, with the names of other battle fields made victorious by their valor and dici- pline. "It is gratifying to know that at every point where our troops made a stand during the late raid of the enemy's cavalry, success followed, and the enemy was made to suf fer a loss in killed and wounded, greater than the entire garrisons of the places at tacked ; especially was this the case at Davis' Mills and Middleburg." General Grant was not given to flattery and a compliment of this kind, at his hands, meant much. The Twelfth regiment continued in active service in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas till it was mustered out at Cam den, Arkansas, February 15, 1866. The loss of this regiment by disease and battle, was very large, amounting to 432 deaths. This was the largest death record of any Michigan regiment, except that of the Sixth Michigan Infantry. This regiment was in the following en gagements : In 1862 Pittsburg Landing, Iuka, Miss., Middleburg, Tenn. In 1863 Mechanicsville, Miss., Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Siege of Little Rock, Ark. In 1864 Clarendon, Ark., Gregory's Land ing. TWELFTH INFANTRY. s Field and Staff. Colonel Francis Quinn, Niles; commis sioned October 5, 1861 ; resigned August 31, 1862. Major George Kimmel, Niles; commis sioned October 5, 1861 ; resigned April 22, 1862. Major Lewis W. Pearl, Benton; com missioned June 10, 1865; mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Adjutant John Graham, Oronoko; com missioned October 5, 1861 ; resigned June 9, 1864. Adjutant William E. Stewart, Niles; commissioned March 19, 1864; promoted to captain, Company D, June 14, 1865. Quartermaster George S. Bristol, Niles;- commissioned February 10, 1862; resigned June 14, 1862. Quartermaster William B. Perrott, Bu chanan; commissioned Augnst 4, 1862; died March 14, 1864, at Buchanan, Michigan. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 79 Surgeon James R. Rundall,- Niles ; com missioned October 8, 1862; assistant sur geon, April 25, 1862; mustered out October 12, 1865. Chaplain, Rev. Andrew J, Eldred, Niles ; commissioned October 5, 1861, resigned September 10, 1863. Non-Commissioned Staff. i Sergeant Major William E. Stewart, Niles; enlisted October 9, 1861 ; veteran, February 27, 1864; promoted to first lieu tenant and adjutant. Sergeant Major Richard H. Burke, Ber rien; veteran, December 26, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, Company G, June 10, 1865. Sergeant Major Stephen J. Weaver, Niles; veteran, January 21, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant, Company C, January 7, 1865. Quartermaster Sergt. Hiram L. Brown, St. Joseph; enlisted August 20, 1864; pri vate, December 28, 1863; promoted to sec ond lieutenant, Company I, June 7, 1865. Commissary Sergeant Charles A. Hoag- land, Niles; promoted to first lieutenant, Company E, March 19, 1864. Hospital Steward Harvey R. Backus, Niles; veteran, January 2, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Principal Musician Willard Bostwick, veteran; enlisted December 24, 1863; pro moted to captain, Company E, July 1, 1863. Principal Musician Charles W. Hol- -come, Oronoko; transferred to Company C. Principal Musician Silas Soules, mus tered out February 15, 1866. Company A. Captain Charles E. Howe, Berrien Springs; commissioned September 14, 1862; breveted major United States volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war; appointed acting adjutant-general United States volunteers, April 10, 1865. Captain John C. Welch, commissioned April 15, 1865; promoted to first lieutenant, January 7, 1865; mustered out February 15, 1866. First Lieutenant William M'. T. Bar tholomew, Oronoko; commissioned July 3, 1864; promoted captain, Company I, De cember 20, 1864. First Lieutenant Samuel L. Hull, Ben ton; commissioned April 15, 1865 ; mustered out February 15, 1866. Second Lieutenant George L. Antisdale, Niles; commissioned April 14, 1865; dis charged for disability, August 25, 1865. Sergeant John N. Wooley, discharged for disability, August 31, 1863. John Adams, missing at battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. William Beans, died of disease at Jack son, Tennessee, July 10, 1862. Oliver Brockway, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Wilson Clybourn, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. John H. Clark, discharged at end of ser vice, September 9, 1865. Charles E. Davis, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Lewis P. Graham, died of disease at Du- vall's Bluff, July 29, 1864. Bonaparte Hyland, died of disease at Little Roqk, May 18, 1864. John Higgins, mustered out February 15, 1866. Elon M. Ireland, mustered out February 15, 1866. George G. Jenkins, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Ezra M. Keyser, mustered out February 15, 1866. Richard Landon, mustered out February 15, 1866. Andrew Mershon, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, January 15, 1865. 8o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Sylvester P. Smith, died of disease at Macon, Georgia, August n, 1862. Jonathan W. Stephens, died at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, May 16, 1862, of wounds. Silas Soules, veteran; enlisted Decem ber 25, 1863; promoted to principal musi cian, and transferred to F. and S. Sandford Wentworth, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Company B. Captain Thomas Wallace, St. Joseph; commissioned October 10, 1861 ; resigned May 7, 1862. Captain Lewis W. Pearl, Benton; com missioned September 1, 1862; first lieuten ant, September 20, 1862 ; promoted to major, June 10, 1865. Captain William A. Deuel, New Buffalo ; commissioned June 10, 1865; second lieu tenant, October 10, 1861; resigned April 14, 1865. Second Lieutenant Thomas A. Walker, St. Joseph; commissioned March 19, 1864; sergeant,, corporal; resigned October 11, 1864. Sergeant Leonard K. Jilson, Benton ; en listed September 3, 1861 ; veteran, December 28, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, Company H, January 20, 1865. Sergeant Leonard K. Jillson, Benton ; en listed September 3, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 28, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, Company H, January 20, 1865. Sergeant Charles M. Van Horn, Benton ; enlisted September 10, 1861 ; died of disease at Quincy, Illinois, June 25, 1862. Sergeant William H. Long, Benton; en listed September 10, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Corporal Dustin Woodin, Benton; en listed October 19, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Corporal Lyman A. Burke, Hagar; en listed October 20, 1861 ; died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Corporal Joshua L. McKean, Coloma; enlisted September 6, 1861 ; discharged for disability, September 28, 1863. Corporal William H. Brown, Benton; enlisted September 3, 1861 ; died of wounds received at Shiloh. Corporal Hiram L. Brown, St. Joseph; enlisted November 1, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 28, 1863; promoted to quartermaster sergeant, August 20, 1864. George F. Allen, discharged for disa bility, November 14, 1862. Edwin Arndt, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, August 5, 1864. George Adams, discharged at end of ser vice, September 9, 1865. James Benton, died of disease at Atlanta, Georgia, July 12, 1862. Albert A. Benton, discharged for disa-. bility, November 11, 1863. Augustus Beyea, discharged for disa bility, December 9, 1863. Charles Barnes, died of wounds at Pitts burgh, Pennsylvania, received at Shiloh. Thomas J. Bassford, died of disease at Benton, Michigan. James R. Bundy, discharged for disabil ity, August 30, 1862. David W. Brownell, discharged by order, June 17, 1865. George W. Brown, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Alonzo Betts, discharged at end of ser vice, September 9, 1865. • Benjamin Bishop, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. William Becker, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Lewis Bessey, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Richard H. Bell, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Hiram L. Brown, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 81 George R. Bury, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Melvin Collace, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, April 19, 1864. George W. Closson, discharged by order, September 9, 1865. William M. Curtis, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Michael Casey, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Thomas Denims, veteran; December 30, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. John Donahue, veteran, December 30, 1863 ; discharged by order, October 12, 1865. Martin Donahue, died of wounds re ceived in battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Lorenzo J. Defield, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, July 24, 1864. Henry Defield, mustered out February 15, 1866. Amber A. Doan, discharged by order, March 6, 1866. Norman B. Emerson, discharged by or der, November 25, 1862. Oscar Epley, discharged by order, No vember 9, 1862. Christian Eisele, discharged by order, July 2, 1862. Ananias Ellis, discharged for disability, September 3, 1862. Amos P. Evans, discharged by order, May 18, 1865. William H. Epley, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Lawrence Earl, mustered out October 15, 1866. Henry Farnham, discharged for disabil ity, July 22, 1866. Lyman H. Frisbie, discharged for dis ability, June 27, 1865. Peter Flynn, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Dewitt C. Guy, veteran; January 1, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Seth S. Gregory, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William Garrett, veteran; December 28",. 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Leonard J. Goulet, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866, Leonard K. Jilson, veteran; December 28, 1863; promoted to sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant. John Garrett, mustered out February 15, 1866. George F. Granville, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Henry C. Harris, died of disease at At lanta, Georgia, June, 1862. Andrew Hicks, died of disease at At lanta, Georgia, June 8, 1862. Philetus Hazard, died of disease at Lit tle Rock, Arkansas, April 19, 1864. James C. Hull, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, June 26, 1864. John L. Handy, died of disease at Du vall's Bluff, Arkansas, September 10, 1864. John Harris, died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, May 16, 1862. Myron Higbee, veteran; December 28, 1863; discharged for disability, 1864. William D. Huyck, veteran; December 28, 1863 ; discharged for disability, 1865. Samuel L. Hull, veteran; December 28, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, Com pany H. Norman Ivory, died of wounds at St. Louis, Missouri, May 9, 1862 (Shiloh). Guardian: Jacques, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Nathan Kelley, discharged for disability, July 1, 1862. James G. Krine, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. John Krause, discharged at end of ser vice, January 7, 1865. John King, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Florence B. Ketchum, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Morris Lyons, mustered out February 15, 1866. 82 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Carlton Lloyd, mustered out February 15, 1866. Morris LaMott, discharged for disabil ity, January 5, 1866. Joseph LaMott, discharged for dis ability, January 31, 1862. Michael Larkin, discharged from Vet. Res. Corps, April 15, 1865. George W. Lee, discharged by order, June 9, 1865. John C, Lorimer, died of disease at Memphis, Tennessee, January 26, 1864. John W. Murphy, died" of disease at Helena, Arkansas, August 16, 1863. Stephen Mussulman, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, August 13, 1864. James Mills, died in rebel prison at Macon, Georgia, July 10, 1862. William Miller, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William Mull, mustered out February 15, 1866. Zerah Moore, mustered out February 15, 1866. James W. Morrow, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Patrick McLaughlin, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Edwin A. McClave, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. William C. Norris, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, August 1, 1864. John D. Nason, veteran; December 28, 1863; discharged for disability, March 14, 1865. Ora O. Nutting, discharged at end of service, Seotember 9, 1865. Elon P Osgood, veteran; December 28, 1863 : discharged for disability, January 22, t866. Henrv C„ Plumb, discharged for dis ability, v— ust 18, 1862. Jaspp'" ^'tcher, discharged for disability, Novemb-- "0 1862. Wili: - H. Pierce, discharged for dis ability " briber 26, 1864. George C. Post, killed in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. William Parkerton, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. W. S. Quackenbush, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Morton Quackenbush, discharged by order, July 19, 1865. Solomon Quint, discharged at end of .ser vice, January 7, 1865. Chauncey Reese, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. John Rogers, discharged May 10, 1863. Gilbert Rogers, discharged for disability, July 18, 1862. Joseph Rokely, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. George Riley, discharged for disability, July 1, 1862. Robert Robertson, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. John D. Rose, died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri. Edward Sutton, died of disease at Cam den, Arkansas, September 7, 1862. Huey M. Sweet, died in rebel prison at Richmond, Virginia, October 19, 1862. Alvah Smith, died ' of wounds received at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Francis E. Shiver, discharged for dis ability, June, 1862. George Stanley, discharged for disabil ity, July 23, 1862. Levi Sherman, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Lorenzo D. Schofield, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Charles G. Sheets, discharged by order, May 22, 1865. Elijah Spink, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Minert Shippey, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. James Sharrard, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Harmon Schmul, veteran ; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. HISTORY OF BERRIEN. COUNTY 83 Charles Soules, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Amos Stout, mustered oqt February 15, 1866. Nathan Stanley, mustered out February 15, 1866. Kellogg Stanley, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Charles H. Schmul, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. William H. Shiver, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. William Turner, veteran; December 24, 1863; mustered out; February 15, 1866. Henry Teachbut, veteran ; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Oliver C. Timmins, veteran ; December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. James Troy, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Albert Teachout, discharged December 5, 1862. Ezra Teaehout, discharged August 10, 1863. William H. Thatcher, discharged by order, October 12, 1865. William Turner, veteran; December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Alfred A. Teachout, died of disease in Michigan. Gates Upson, died of disease at St. ¦Joseph, Michigan. Charles M. Van Horn, died of disease at Quincy, Illinois. ' Julius Valentine, discharged for dis ability, September 18, 1862. John W. Van Hazen, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Jared H. Vincent, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Nelson Wheeler, veteran ; December 28* 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. John Webber, veteran; December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Theodore Waddel, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Sylvanus E. Whitehead, mustered out February 15,- 1866. Otis A. Winslow, died of disease at Montgomery, Georgia,, June, 1862. Forrest F. Woodward, died of disease at Memphis, Tennessee, September 11, 1863. Lafayette Wood, discharged for disabil ity, November 14, 1864. Orlando H. Wright, discharged for dis ability, September 24, 1862. George Williams, discharged November 15, 1862. William Wheaton, discharged by order, July 19, 1865. Charles Warner, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. Company C. Captain John M. Albert, Buchanan; commissioned October 10, 1861 ; resigned April 27, 1862. Captain Benjamin E. Binns, Buchanan; commissioned October 1, 1862; resigned February 15, 1865. First Lieutenant William F. Molsberry, Buchanan; commissioned October 14, 1861; resigned October 15, 1862. First Lieutenant Richard A. Demont, Bertrand; commissoned March 19, 1864; promoted to captain, Company H, June 9, 1864. First Lieutenant John Perrott, Buchan an; commissioned June 9, 1864; resigned January 20, 1865. Second Lieutenant David J. Whitten, Nile*; commissioned June 6, 1864; pro moted to first lieutenant, Company F, Janu ary 7, 1865. Second Lieutenant Stephen J. Weaver, Niles; commissioned January 20, 1865; re signed June 12, 1865. Second Lieutenant Dion B. Keltner, Niles; commissioned June 12, 1865; must ered out February 15, 1866. Sergeant Richard A. Demont, Buchan an; enlisted October 14, 1861; promoted to second lieutenant. 84 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Sergeant Charles E. Brong, Buchanan; enlisted October 23, 1861 ; discharged June 21, 1863. Sergeant John Perrott, Buchanan; en listed October 15, 1861; promoted to .first lieutenant. Sergeant Herbert M. Reynolds, Bu chanan; enlisted October 15, 1861 ; wounded at Shiloh; discharged June 6, 1862. Corporal James K. Woods, Buchanan; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; discharged Aug ust 30, 1862. Corporal Van R. Cahowe, Buchanan; enlisted November 11, 1861; died of dis ease at Pittsburg Landing, April 3, 1862. Corporal Francis Conroy, Weesaw; en listed October 18, 1861 ; discharged August 20, 1863. Corporal James S. McCoy, Galien; en listed October 20, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Corporal Charles Smith, Buchanan; en listed October 14, 1861 ; absent, sick; not mustered out with company. Corporal Zimri Moon, Buchanan; en listed October 30, 1861 ; discharged Oc tober 18, 1862. Corporal George Merrill, Buchanan; en listed October 14, 1861 ; mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Musician James Boswell, Weesaw; en listed November 19, 1861 ; discharged for disability, August 30, 1862. Simon P. Aldrich, discharged February 15, 1862. Asa C. Alexander, discharged for dis ability, June 8, 1865. David Allen, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, November 24, 1864. Amos P. Atwood, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Edgar Atwood, mustered out February 15, 1866. Emory Atwood, mustered out February 15, 1866. William H. Bachelor, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. John Y. Birge, mustered out February 15, 1866. Benjamin Brown, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Frederick Brown, died May 22, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. William T. Brown, died of disease at Niles, Michigan, March 14, 1862. Daniel Brown, discharged March 1, 1862. James Boswell, discharged July 10, 1862. Harvey Backus, Niles; transferred , to non-commissioned staff, hospital steward. Hezekiah Branch, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Daniel P. Beattie, died of disease at Mobile, Alabama. Charles Baldwin, discharged September 26, 1862. Joel Blackman, veteran; December 29, 1863; discharged for disability, January 4, 1865. William H. Beach, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Thomas Bristley, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Isaac Batten, discharged at end of ser vice, January 7, 1865. George W. Brewer, discharged by order, May 22, 1865. John E. Barrymore, discharged by- order, July 29, 1865. James R. Burns, veteran; February 25,. 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Wesley A. Burrows, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, September 3, 1864. Benjamin Chandler, died of disease at Buchanan, October 7, 1864. Perry W. Cottrell, died of wounds at Shiloh. John S. Curtis, veteran; December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Sylvester Considine, veteran; February 25, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 85 Jerome Chamberlain, mustered out Feb- Victor H. Helms, veteran; December ruary 15, 1866. 24, 1863; discharged by order, June 17, Usher B. Collins, mustered out Febru- 1865. ary !5> 1866. James Hemingway, veteran; February Amos Cook, mustered out February 15, 25, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. I866. Lewis Hahn, mustered out February 15, Jeremiah Courtney, mustered out Febru- 1866. ary 15, 1866. Wallace E. P. Hunt, mustered out Feb- Jackson Dalrymple, mustered out Feb- ruary 15, 1866. ruary 15, 1866. Samuel K. Plazen, mustered out Febru- Alonzo Drinkle, mustered out February ary 15, 1866. 15, 1866. Henry Hudson, died in battle at Shiloh, Austin A. Durand, mustered out Febru- April 6, 1862. ary 15, 1866. Charles T. Harris, died of disease at George G. Dwoal, discharged for dis- Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, December 4, 1864. ability, August 16, 1862. John S. Ingersoll, discharged for dis- James S. Davis, discharged for disabil- ability, February 2, 1865. ity, December 4, 1862. Christopher Ihler, mustered out Febru- John Dilts, discharged at end of ser- ary 15, 1866. vice, March 10, 1865. William Johnson, mustered out Febru- Joseph Elwell, discharged at end of ser- ary 15, 1866. vice, October 20, 1863. V. Kirkendall, mustered out February Francis W. Elliott, discharged for dis- 15, 1866. ability, May 28, 1862. Frank B. Kelly, mustered out February John H. Egbert, discharged for disabil- 15, 1866. Ity, August 2, 1864. William Kinney, discharged. Ralph Fuller, discharged by order, Janu- Charles H. Knight, died of disease at ary 15, 1865. Cairo, Illinois, August 9, 1864. William H. Fisher, discharged by order, Erwin Knight, died of disease at Little November 3, 1865. Rock, Arkansas, May 4, 1864. Wilbur W. Fuller, veteran; December William Lemon, discharged for disabil- 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. ity, September 2, 1862. Otis J. Fenton, veteran; February 18, Nicholas W. Miller, veteran, December 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. 29, 1863; discharged for disability, Decem- Samuel J. Griffith, veteran; December ber 21* 1865. 4, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Thomas A. Morley, discharged May 15, John A. Graham, mustered out Febru- 1862. ary 15, 1866. Warren Martin, discharged May 25, John Groves, mustered out February 15, 1862. 1866. Alfred Murray, discharged June 30, Elisha H. Goldman, mustered out Feb- 1862. ruary 15, 1866. James H. Martin, died of disease at John Gathergood, discharged at end of St. Louis, Missouri, May 25, 1862. service, January 7, 1865. R. Maxwell, died of disease at Niles, Andrew Graham, discharged for dis- Michigan, March 13, 1862. ability, August 12, 1865. Elisha Marshall, died of disease at Niles, Charles Helms, discharged July 8, 1862. Michigan, March 13, 1862. 86 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY James S. McCoy, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Charles McCracken, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. John F. Miller, veteran, February 25, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. George W. Merrill, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. D. Motinger, mustered out February 15, 1866. E. Motinger, veteran, December 24, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. M. N. Mansfield, mustered out February 15, 1866. William H. Martin, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Samuel Miller, mustered out February 15, 1866. James Mudge, mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry Piatt, veteran; December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Samuel Potter, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. James Painter, discharged for disabil ity, September 5, 1862. Armenius Penwell, died of disease at Little Rock, May 31, 1864. Oscar Reed, died of disease at Niles, Michigan, May 28, 1862. Herbert M. Reynolds, discharged for wounds, June 6, 1862. Francis C. Roe, mustered out February 15, 1866. John M. Roe, mustered out February 15, 1866. John C. Shelman, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Horace Salsbury, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. John Salsbury, veteran, February 25, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Howard F. Smith, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. James O. Smith, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry Sanders, mustered out February 15, 1866. Nathaniel R. Seely, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Edgar Sanford, mustered out February 15, 1866. Howell Strong, mustered out February 15, 1866. Charles Snyder, mustered out February 15, 1866. Christopher Sawden, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Moses Shamp, died of disease in Ohio, May 19, 1862. George Smith, died of disease at Macon, Georgia. Eri O. Smith, discharged January 1, 1863. Samuel Smith, discharged November 8, 1862. James Smith, discharged for disability, July 15, 1862. John Scott, discharged for disability,. August 6, 1862. Leonard Simmons, discharged for dis ability, August 16, 1862. Lewis Sanford, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. John Shamp, discharged at end of serv ice, September 9, 1865. Frederick Taylor, discharged for dis ability, November 5, 1865. Joseph . Taylor, discharged by order, June 17, 1865. James Tallman, mustered out February 15, 1866. Morgan Wynn, veteran, mustered out February 15, 1866. Thomas R. Wynn, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Simon L. Wilbur, veteran, January 2, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Alexander Wilbur, veteran, January 2, 1864; died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, November 20, 1864. Nelson Wilbur, died of disease at Niles,. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 87 March 19, 1862. jjames K. Woods, discharged August 30, 1862. Francis Watson, discharged February 15, 1862. David A. White, discharged January 19, 1863. Wilson E. Wells, discharged for dis ability, June 7, 1862. Orlando Wilson, discharged for disabil ity, June 12, 1865. Delos D. Wilson, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Henry H. Wybert^ mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Company D. Captain William E. Stewart, Niles; commissioned June 14, 1865; mustered out February 15, 1866. First Lieutenant Charles H. Dye, Niles; commissioned December 31, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Second Lieutenant Samuel L. Hull, Ben ton; commissioned October 19, 1864; pro moted to Second Lieutenant Company A. Second Lieutenant Otis J. Fenton, Buchanan; commissioned April 15, 1865; promoted to First Lieutenant Company H. Daniel W. Allen, died May 7, 1862, at Louisville, Kentucky, of wounds received at Shiloh. Cassius Chipman, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Isaac J. Frame, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, July 1, 1864. John Green, mustered out February 15, 1867. Rinaldo Reed, discharged for disability, July 15, 1862. Frederick Reim, discharged for disabil ity, July 15, 1862. Calvin Smith, discharged April 21, 1862. Miles W. Stubbs, accidentally killed at Duvall's Bluff, October 28, 1864. George Stilwell, mustered out February 15, 1866. Company E. Captain Henry Gephart, Niles, com missioned October 9, 1861 ; resigned De cember 19, 1862. Captain Willard S. Bostwick, Niles; commissioned July 1, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. First Lieutenant Thomas Bradley,, Three Oaks; commissioned October 9, 1 86 1 ; wounded at Shiloh; resigned Octo ber 15, 1862. First Lieutenant Charles O. Hoagland, Niles; commissioned March 19, 1864; re signed June 18, 1864. First Lieutenant William A. Deuel, New Buffalo; commissioned February 15, 1865; promoted to captaincy, Company B, June 10, 1865. First Lieutenant Benton Stearns,- Galien; commissioned June 10, 1865; mus tered out February 15, 1866. Second Lieutenant John Crofoot, Niles; commissioned September 14, 1862 ; dis charged for disability, April 28, 1864. Second Lieutenant James Adams, Niles ; commissioned April 28, 1864; promoted to First Lieutenant, Company H, November 15, 1864. Sergeant Charles W. Barrett, Niles; en listed October 9, 1861 ; discharged July, 1862. Sergeant Frank M. Johnson, Niles; en listed October 9, 1861; discharged at end- of service, December 9, 1864. Sergeant Erasmus N. Shead, Three Oaks; enlisted November 26, 1861 ; dis charged April 9, 1863. Sergeant Simon Nierbauer, Niles; en listed October 9, 1861 ; discharged at end, of service, January 7, 1865. Corporal Thomas Swobe, Niles; enlisted, October 16, 1861 ; veteran, May 1, 1864; sergeant; promoted to Second Lieutenant, Company K. ^88 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "Corporal Charles Naumett, Three Oaks; "enlisted November 25, 1861. Corporal James Adams, Niles; enlisted October 24, 1861 ; veteran, December 24, 1863 ; promoted to Second Lieutenant, Com pany E. Corporal John N. Harder, Niles; en listed October 9, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Corporal Abram Parmenter, Niles; en listed November 2, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Corporal William E. Stewart, Niles; en listed October 9, 1861 ; veteran, January 1, 1864; appointed sergeant major, Novem ber 1, 1863. Corporal Ebenezer Harris, Galien; en listed October 22, 1861 ; discharged for dis ability, April 21, 1862. Misician John A. Slater, Niles; enlisted October 19, 1861 ; discharged for disability, April 21, 1862. Henry D. Austin, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry Alspaugh, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Orlando Aline, discharged November 8, 1862. John Brihl, discharged for disability, July 22, 1862. Lyman Barnes, discharged for disabil ity, February 27, 1865. Charles W. Baird, discharged by order, February 17, 1865. Joseph Bramhall, discharged for disabil ity, June 2, 1865. Thomas Broom, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Richard Buck, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Emil Bachman, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Robert Bloom, missing in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Henry Corcoran, killed at Louisville, Kentucky, by the cars, November 12, 1862. Albert Crossman, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Joshua R. Crosby, veteran, December 28, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Newton W. Cottrell, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William Dingman, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Harvey A. Daken, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William A. Deuel, veteran, January 21, 1864; promoted to Second Lieutenant, Com pany D. Edgar H. Durand, missing at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Morris Dulin, discharged for disability, July 24, 1862. John Dulin, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Patrick Dulin, discharged at end of serv ice, January 7, 1865. Allen Dolph, discharged by order, Sep tember 14, 1865. Martin Dallom, mustered out February 15, 1866. Joseph Deuel, mustered out February 15, "1866. Francis Darling, mustered out February 15, 1866. William Dean, mustered out February 15, 1866. Lewis French, mustered out February 15, 1866. Augustus Fetterly, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. George S. Foster, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Benjamin Franklin, veteran, December 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Andrew Finch, died of disease in Arkan sas, May 24, 1865. Alex D. Finch, discharged by order, May 6, 1865. Tohn Greiner, discharged by order, Sep tember 15, 1865. William Gray, died of wounds at Bertrand, Michigan, May 28, 1862. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 89 Logan Gardner, died of disease at Samuel Johnson, discharged at end of Louisville, Kentucky, June 12, 1862. service, January 7, 1865. Edward George, mustered out February Joseph Johnson, died of disease at Niles, IS, 1866. June 29, 1862. George M. Gunn, mustered out February Cornelius Kirkstead, died at Louisville, 15, 1866. of wounds, May 28, 1862. Henry Gleason, mustered out February William H. Kelly, died of disease at 15, 1866. Duvall's Bluff, October 18, 1862. John Hess, mustered out February 15, George W. Knowlton, veteran, Decem- 1866. ber 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, Ebenezer Harris, veteran, December 24, 1866. 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry Kirchener, mustered out Febru- James F. Hunt, veteran, January 21, ary 15, 1866. 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry Larch, mustered out February Clark Hough, veteran, December 24, 15, 1866. 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Edward Lewis, mustered out February Francis W. Hurd, missing in action at 15, 1866. Shiloh, April 2, 1862. William McDonald, mustered out Febru- John Hoyt, discharged for disablilfity, ary 15, 1866. July 17, 1862. William L. Moody, mustered out Feb- John N. Harder, died at end of service, ruary 15, 1866. January 7, 1865. Joseph Mossbroogler, mustered out Peter Henkel, discharged by order, Oc- February 15, 1866. tober 13, 1865. Jorin McNally, veteran, December 24, Edward M. Hawley, discharged by 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. order, January 24, 1866. Philip May, veteran, December 24, Samuel D. Hammond, veteran, Decem- 1863 ; mustered out February 15, 1866. ber 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, Andrew Miller, veteran, December 24, 1866. 1863; died of disease, October 11, 1864. Charles A. Hoagland, veteran, Decern- V. H. Matchett, died of disease in Ten- ber 31, 1863; died at Duvall's Bluff, Arkan- nessee, June 27, 1862. sas, May 3, 1865. Abram Morris, missing in battle at George Ives, discharged for disability, Shiloh, April 6, 1862. May 7, 1865. John McDonald, discharged May 9, David O. Inglewright, discharged May 1863. « 8, 1863. John McDermott, discharged at end of Magnus Imboden, discharged by order, service, January 7, 1865. June 13, 1865. William Maudlin, discharged for disabil- John C. Ingling, discharged at end of ity, September 26, 1862. service, September 9, 1865. Charles Naumett, discharged May 9, Monroe Ingersoll, mustered out Febru- 1863. ary 15, 1866. John W. Perkins, discharged for dis- William S. Inman, mustered out Febru- ability, July 8, 1862. ary 15, 1866. Simon Potter, died of disease at Little Frank M. Johnson, discharged from Rock, Arkansas, October 3, 1863. Veteran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864. Charles M. Powell, veteran, December 9° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 24, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Collins Phelps, veteran, January 21, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Frederick Powell, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. William F. Page, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Lowell M. Page, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Abram Parmenter, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Calvin Penderbaugh, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. William D. Reprogle, died of disease at Detroit, December 16, 1864. Wilder M. Robbins, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. John P. Rati, discharged by order, June 20, 1865. Luther Sage, discharged by order, Sep tember 14, 1865. Loren Shead, discharged by order, Sep tember 15, 1866. Ferdinand Swartz, discharged by order, August 22, 1865. John A. Sence, discharged by order, Sep tember 15, 1865. Joseph Swartz, discharged July 12, 1863. Harvey Simons, discharged for disabil ity, February 12, 1863. Michael Sullivan, discharged from Vet eran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864. William H. H. Skinner, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Lewis Smith, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Albert Steinbeck, missing in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Valentine Shaffe, died of disease at Memphis, August 29, 1863. John G Schurz, died of disease at Niles, Michigan. Daniel Shodder, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, May 24, 1865. John J. Sutter, mustered out February 15, ^ Stephen Scott, mustered out February 15, 1866. John W. Smith, mustered out February 15, 1866. Alphonzo Straul, mustered out February 15, 1866. Perry Sumner, mustered out February 15, 1866. Benanil Swartz, mustered out February 15, 1866. David Terwilliger, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Charles Toffelmyer, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, May 3, 1865. Peter Tansey, mustered out September 14, 1865. Jacob Ugea, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. William Van Campen, mustered out February 15, 1866. William C. Williams, veteran, January 4, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Elijah Warren, died of disease at Macon- Georgia, August 1, 1862. James E. Walling, died of disease at Little Rock, December 16, 1864. Menzies Webster, died of disease. Frederick P. Warner, discharged by or der, May 27, 1865. Joseph Yaw, died of disease at Galfen, May 30, 1863. William Yawkey, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Company F. Captain Russel M. Weston, Niles; com missioned October 10, 1861 ; resigned May 7, 1862. Captain James Adams, Niles; commis sioned August 25, 1865; mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. First Lieutenant David I. Whitten, Niles; commissioned January 7, 1865; re signed November 18, 1865. Second Lieutenant Charles H. Dye, Niles; commissioned March 19, 1864; pro moted to First Lieutenant, Company D: HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 9i Second Lieutenant William Horton, Jr. ; Pipestone; resigned June 12, 1865. Sergeant Newell Cleveland, Berrien; enlisted November 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Pittsburg Landing; May 8, 1862. Sergeant John B. Cochran, Niles; en listed November 18, 1861 ; discharged July 15, 1862. Sergeant Henry M. Bryant, Niles; en listed September 1, 1861 ; discharged for disability, June 17, 1862. Corporal Herbert L. Putnam, Niles; en listed November 10, 1861 ; discharged for disability, May 26, 1862. Corporal James Manny, Niles; enlisted September 21, 1861; discharged for disabil ity, May 28, 1862. Corporal William Dillon, Niles; enlisted December 4, 1861 ; discharged for disabil ity, March 16, 1862. Corporal Edwin F. Crandall, Niles; en listed November 9, 1861 ; discharged July 18, 1862. Corporal John B. Martin, Royalton; en listed October 21, 1861 ; died in rebel prison in Alabama, June 25, 1862. Stephen M. Bonnell, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Henry E. Brown, died at St. Louis, Mis souri, October 27, 1862. Martin C. Burt, mustered out February 15, 1866. Armstead Claspie, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, June 17, 1862. Benjamin F. Cahow, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, November 24, 1864. William E. Davis, died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, June 15, 1862. Charles H. Dye, veteran, March 8, 1864; promoted to Second Lieutenant, March 19, 1864. William C. Evick, discharged by order, May 22, 1865. Milton Hazard, died in rebel prison at Montgomery, Alabama, June 20, 1862. Reuben Hart, mustered out February 1 5, 1866. Daniel B. Martin, veteran, December 30, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Abner Marckle, discharged by order, May 22, 1865.- Isaac Marckle, discharged by order, June 9, 1866. William E. Patterson, discharged by order, June 27, 1865. Charles H. Parketon, discharged June 2,^, 1862. Nathan S. Page, discharged for disabil ity, September 13, 1864. Mahlon Pearson, mustered out February 15, 1866. Myron Parshall, mustered out February 15, 1866. Preston Parmeter, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Jesse Painter, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Lewis Purdy, mustered out February 15, 1866. John Shockley, died of disease, June 25, 1862. James D. Taggart, died in rebel prison at Macon, Georgia, August 12, 1862. Stephen J. Weaver, veteran, January 21, 1864; promoted to Second Lieutenant, Company C, January 7, 1865. Company G. Second Lieutenant Alex. G. Davis, Niles; commissioned October 23, 1861 ; died of wounds received at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Second Lieutenant Benton Stearns, Galien; commissioned March 21, 1865; pro moted -to first lieutenant, Company E. Second Lieutenant Richard H. Burke, Coloma; commissioned June 10, 1865; mus tered out, February 15, 1866. Calvin H. Crowley, discharged by order, August 22, 1865. Jasper Finch, died of disease at Little Rock, July 22,, 1864. 92 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Erwin J. Fancher, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. George King, mustered out February 15, 1866. Henry L. King, mustered out February 15, 1866. Company H. Captain John Graham, Oronoko; com missioned October 8, 1862; resigned June 9, 1864, as first lieutenant. Captain Richard A. Demont, Buchanan; commissioned June 9, 1864; resigned No vember 15, 1864. First Lieutenant Henry' T. Kimmel, Niles; commissioned March 15, 1864; com missioned second lieutenant, May 5, 1862; promoted to captain in 30th infantry. First Lieutenant James Adams, Niles; commissioned November 15, 1864; pro moted to captain, Company F. First Lieutenant Otis J. Fenton, Niles; commissioned August 26, 1865 ; mustered out as second lieutenant, February 15, 1866. Second Lieutenant Leonard K. Jilson, Benton; commissioned January 20, 1865; mustered out February 15, 1866. James Anstice, veteran, March 8, 1864. Charles Burrows, discharged by order, September 30, 1865. Wesley Buckmaster, discharged by or der, September 30, 1865. Joshua Rogers, discharged at end of ser vice, March 1, 1865. George R. Rogers, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Hiram F. Strong, discharged by order, September 20, 1865. James F. Vallean, discharged at end of service, February 25, 1865. I Company I. S Captain Darius Brown, Niles; commis sioned October 5, 1861 : mustered out at end of service, January 7, 1865. Captain William M. T. Bartholomew, Oronoko; commissioned December 20, 1864; commissioned second lieutenant, March 29, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. First Lieutenant John Graham, Oro noko; commissioned October 5, 1861; pro moted to captain, Company H, March 19, 1864. First Lieutenant William IT. Miller, Ber rien; commissioned March 19, 1864; re signed May 3, 1865. Second Lieutenant Charles E. Howe, commissioned October 8, 1861 ; promoted to captain, Company A. Second Lieutenant Hiram B. Hipp, Ber rien; commissioned September 14, 1862; discharged for disability, March 29, 1864. Second Lieutenant John C. Welch, com missioned July 3, 1864; promoted to first lieutenant, Company A. Second Lieutenant Josiah C. Murphy, Buchanan; commissioned January 7, 1864; resigned June 7, 1865. Second Lieutenant Hiram L. Brown, St. Joseph; commissioned June 7, 1865; mus tered out February 15, 1866. Sergeant William H. Hall, Niles; en listed September 1, 1861 ; discharged, July 25, 1862. Sergeant Pliram B. Hipp, Berrien; 01- listed October 5, 1861 ; promoted to second lieutenant. Sergeant William H. Miller, Berrien; enlisted October 11, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 25, 1863 ; promoted to first lieutenant. Sergeant Charles H. Parketon, Oronoko; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; discharged for disability, June 27, 1862. Sergeant Henry L. Johnson, Berrien ; en listed October 11, 1861 ; killed in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Corporal John E. Eidson, Oronoko; en listed October 7, 1861 ; discharged Novem ber 12, 1862. Corporal William M. T. Bartholomew, Oronoko; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; ser geant; veteran, December 25, 1863; pro moted to second lieutenant. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 93 Corporal David K. Hubbard, Oronoko; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 25, 1863; discharged for disability, June 8, 1865. Corporal Daniel C. W. Gangler, Oro noko; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; veteran, December 25, 1863; discharged November 13, 1865. Corporal Henry R. Smith, Pipestone; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; died of wounds received at Shiloh, May 4, 1862. Corporal William W. Leader, Oro noko; enlisted October 14, 1861; veteran, December 25, 1863; killed in battle, Septem ber 4, 1864. Corporal Israel M. Allen, Pipestone; en listed November 6, 1861 ; dicharged by sub stitute. Corporal Charles S. Reese, Pipestone; enlisted October 9, 1861 ; died in rebel prison in Alabama, May 11, 1862. Musician James R. Ackerman, Oronoco ; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. John A. Aumick, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, June 12, 1864. William Brayman, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, May 8, 1864. Francis Bartholomew, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, August 6, 1865. Elisha M. Blakeman, died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, June 18, 1862. Lemuel S. Barlow, Jr., discharged Feb ruary 1, 1862. George Brown, discharged at end of ser vice, January 7, 1865. George W. Babcock, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. James C. Bedinger, discharged at end of service, March 28, 1865. Ephraim Black, discharged by order, February 11, 1865. John Barber, discharged by order, Sep tember 30, 1865. William V. Baker, veteran, December 25, 1863, mustered out February 15, 1866. Raymond Brosius, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Alonzo Brayman, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Joel Benson, mustered out February 15, 1866. Charles Brownell, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Isaac Crawford, mustered out February 15, 1866. George B. Crandall, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Albert D. Crandall, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Edward J. Curtis, veteran, December 25, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. James D. Curtis, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. John E. Curtis, discharged November 11, 1862. Andrew Covert, discharged for disabil ity, August 8, 1862. Van B. Clendennin, discharged by order, August 16, 1865. James Conkwrite, died of disease at Lit tle Rock, Arkansas, June 16, 1864. Orlando A. Cook, died of disease at Pittsburg Landing, May 20, 1862. Jacob Cool, died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, May 24, 1864. Hiram Clawson, died of disease at Du vall's Bluff, Arkansas, August 5, 1864. Ezra N. Cleveland, died of disease in Tennessee* September 16, 1862. Levi Chase, died of disease at Chika ming, October 31, 1863. William Calhoun, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. James C. Donnell, died of disease at Pittsburg Landing, May 20, 1862. Calvin H. Davidson, died of disease at Macon, Georgia, September 5, 1862. Samuel L. Davis, died of disease at Raleigh, North Carolina, October 12, 1862. Lyman I. Davidson, veteran, December 94 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 25, 1863; discharged at end of service, ber 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, March 28, 1865. 1866. Silas Davidson, veteran, December 25, Nathan Harrington, veteran, December 1863; discharged at end of service, March 25, 1863; discharged by order, January 6, 28, 1865. 1866. Wayne B. Delong, veteran, December William M. Plouse, discharged by order, 25, 1863; discharged by order, July 29, August 30, 1865. 1865. William H. Hall, discharged July 26, Jesse P. Delong, mustered out February 1862. 15, 1866. Lewis J. Hunneston, discharged by or- James W. Delong, mustered out February der, June 21, 1863. 15, 1866. . George W. Hatfield, discharged by or- Henry Delong, mustered out February der, September 30, 1865. 15, 1866. Perry G. Hatfield, discharged at end of Charles D. Donnelly, mustered out Feb- service, September 9, 1865. ruary 15, 1866. John W. Haverna, discharged at end of Thomas T. Elliott, discharged at end of service, September 9, 1865. service, January 7, 1865. Levi Horner, transferred to Veteran Noble Fisher, discharged by order, No- Reserve Corps. vember 28, 1862. Aaron Hiser, veteran, December 25, John Fisher, Jr., mustered out February 1863; died of disease at Little Rock, Arkan- 15, 1866. sas, July 20, 1864. Ephraim Fairbanks, mustered out Febru- Elias Hartline, died of disease at Du- ary 15, 1866. vall's Bluff, Arkansas, November 16, 1864. William H. Faulkner, mustered out Samuel Jasper, died of disease at Du- February 15, 1866. vall's Bluff, Arkansas, November 25, 1864. David Foster, died of wounds at Pitts- Jacob Johnson, mustered out February burg, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1862. 15, 1866. Amos Goff, died of disease at Jaclcso;', Royal Jacobs, mustered out February 1 5, Tennessee, July 7; 1862. 1866. John Gilbert, died of disease at Little James Jones, mustered out February 15, Rock, Arkansas, July ^o, .1864. 1866. Japhet Godfrey, discharged at St. Louis. Jacob Lauer, veteran, December 25, Ira Gorham, discharged for disability, 1863 ; mustered out February 15, 1866. July 25, 1864. Thomas Lightfoot, mustered out Febru- Luther Graham, discharged for disabil- ary 15, 1866. ity, December 19, 1864. A. Lightfoot, discharged for disabil- Frederick Goodrich, veteran, December ity, August 22, 1866. 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Albert Lumbard, discharged for disabil- Franklin Grande, mustered out Febru- ity, October 29, 1862. ary 15, 1866. Alexander Lowrey, discharged July 14, Armingo Gifford, mustered out Febru- 1862. ary 15, 1866. George W. Lake, transferred to veteran Isaac Horton, mustered out February 15, reserve corps, December 12, 1863. 1866. Hugh McClelland, died of disease at William Horton, Jr., veteran, Decem- Niles, January 11, 1862. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 95 George F. Murphy, died of disease in 1864; died of disease at Berrien, Michigan, Tennessee, September 8, 1862. George W. Murphy, died of disease at January 1, 1865. Sebastian Shafer, veteran, December 25, Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, December 16, 1863; discharged by order, December 16, 1864. John Marsh, died of disease in Arkan sas, July 2, 1864. Jasper N. Murphy, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. William Murphy, discharged November 28, 1862. Nicholas Michael, discharged July 12, 1862. Elijah Michael, veteran, December 25, 1863 ; mustered out February 15, 1866. Albert McMichael, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Adam Michael, mustered out February 15, 1866. Daniel Miller, mustered out February 15, 1866. William W. Morris, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. James O'Conner, mustered out February 15, 1866. John B. Odell, died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, June 9, 1862. Aaron Renbarger, died of disease in Ar kansas, January 30, 1866. Patrick Reagan, discharged for disabil ity, September 2, 1864. William Ryan, mustered out February 15, 1866. William Robinson, mustered out Febru- commissioned October 10, 1861 ; resigned .ary 15, 1866. October»3, 1862. William Reagan, mustered out February Captain Byron R. Rockwell, Niles, com- 15, 1866. . missioned September 3, 1862; resigned Daniel Redpath, mustered out February April 12, 1865. 15, 1866. First Lieutenant Andrew P. Collins, Ensley Rakestraw, mustered out Febru- Niles; commissioned September 30, 1861 ;ary 15, 1866. mustered out January 7, 1865. Henry R. Smith, died of wounds at St. First Lieutenant Thomas Swobe, Niles Louis, Missouri, 1862. commissioned April 12, 1865 ; commissioned Alonzo Sircho, died of disease at Pitts- second lieutenant, December 20, 1864 "Jburg Landing, May 18, 1862. mustered out February 15, 1866. Thomas Streets, veteran, December 25, Second Lieutenant William E. Stewart, 1865. Luther St. John, veteran, December 25, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William Stringer, discharged for disa bility, November 16, 1865. John Templar, discharged at end of ser vice, September 9, 1865. Clark Toland, discharged by order, Sep tember 30, 1865. John Treadwell, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Royal J! Tuttle, died of disease at Du vall's Bluff, Arkansas, August 12, 1864. Julius Teich, mustered out February 15, 1866. John Vanseau, discharged at Detroit, 1862. Maitland Wilson, discharged July 18, 1862.. William E. Willis, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Jasper F. Willis, died of disease in Ala bama, May 24, 1862. Charles H. Willard, died of disease at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, January 6, 1865. 1 Company K. ! Captain Robert Brethschneider, Niles; 96 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Niles, promoted to first lieutenant and adju tant. Sergeant James A. Parish, Niles; en listed November 21, 1861 ; missing in action at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Sergeant Dion B. Keltner, Niles; enlisted October 7, 1861; veteran, January 1, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant, Company C. Sergeant Ezekiel Spaulding, Buchanan; enlisted October 16, 1861 ; veteran, Decem ber 29, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, Company A. Corporal Granville M. Willis, Berrien; enlisted October 8, 1861 ; died of disease at Pittsburg Landing, May 7, 1862. Corporal Almon Richardson, Niles; en listed September 17, 1861 ; died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, May 13, 1862. Corporal John E. Curtis, Niles; enlisted November 11, 1861 ; discharged November 11, 1862. Corporal Albert V. B. Lumbard, Pipe stone; enlisted October 10, 1861 ; discharged October 29, 1862. Corporal Lorenzo Drake, Niles; enlisted September 17, 1861 ; veteran, December 29, 1863; discharged by order, August 10, 1865. Musician Thomas M;. Stewart, Pipe stone; enlisted October 10, 1861; discharged for disability, July 29, 1863. Wagoner David Hofstetter, Niles; en listed October 25, 1861 ; died of disease at St. Louis, June 21, 1862. David Anglemeyer, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. Thomas Brown, mustered out. George Bowers, mustered out. Hosea Clemens, mustered out. William R. Campbell, mustered out. Robert Charlton, discharged by order, June 20, 1865. Charles Denend, mustered out February 15, 1866. John N. Denend, mustered out February 15, 1866. Almon A. Doane, discharged for disabil ity. George Dragoo, died of disease at Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 20, 1864. James Finnell, died of disease at Helena, Arkansas, August 17, 1863. Patrick Finn, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Alvin A. Godfrey, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Harvey Green, died of disease. John Green, died of disease at Corinth, Mississippi, September, 1862. William Higgins, died of disease in Ala bama, May 26, 1862. Orlando Hoadley, died of disease. Aaron H. Hoadley, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Rodney Holstein, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Robert Kawkins, mustered out February 15, 1866. William Haumer, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Abram J. Hudson, discharged by order, November 16, 1862. Elias B. Kendy, mustered out February 15, 1866. Abram O. Kendy, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Luke Lavanway, mustered out February 15, 1866. William Lavanway, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. William H. Lavanway, mustered out February 15, 1866. Anson Lewis, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Ansel Lewis, veteran, January 1, 1864; mustered out February 15, 1866. Dorus M. Lewis, died of disease in Ar kansas, December 15, 1865. Charles C. Luce, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. John Large, discharged for disability, July 16, 1862. John Lynn, drowned at St. Louis, Mis souri. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 97 Addison McCoy, veteran,* December 29, 1863. Daniel McGree, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. James McGurk, mustered out February 15, 1866. John PL Morrison, discharged for dis^ abilty. Noel Matchett,- discharged at Detroit, July 9, 1862. Sylvester B. Nolan, discharged by order, June 17, 1865. James Norris, discharged for disability, December 28, 1864. Jeremiah Puterbaugh, discharged No vember 25, 1862. Lewis M. Pope, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Daniel Price, veteran, December 29, 1863 ; mustered out February 15, 1866. James D. Parish, missing in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. William Parish, missing in battle at Shi loh, April 6, 1862. Ferdinand P. Row, died in battle at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Almon Richardson, died of disease. James R. Riggin, died of disease at Niles, September 9, 1864. Oscar Rood, discharged by order, July, 1862. Jerome Roseman, discharged by order, September 30, 1865. Samuel' H. Smith, discharged by order, September 30, 1865. Alfred Sherwood, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1862. Bernard Scanlon, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Christopher Stephens, mustered out Feb ruary 15, 1866. John H. Srackengast, veteran, Decem ber 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Nelson Sinkler, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. Chauncey E. Sinkler, died of disease. Adelbert R. Tabor, died of disease. Henry Teesdale, died of disease at Ma con, Georgia, July 13, 1862. Charles D. H. Trowbridge, discharged at Detroit, July 9, 1862. Oliver D. Trowbridge, mustered out February 15, 1866. Jacob Tibbs, veteran, December 29, 1863; mustered out February 15, 1866. William Tilroe, veteran, December 29, 1863; discharged by order, September 27, 1865. James E. Vandemark, discharged for dis ability, July 19, 1862. Benjamin Van Patten, discharged for disability, August 25, 1862. Granville M. Willis, died of disease. Nicholas W. Webber, discharged at end of service, January 7, 1865. Isaac Wilson, mustered out February 1 5', 1866. George Williams, mustered out Febru ary 15, 1866. Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. "When lo! the dread brigade called Iron, flashed In armour bright as on the foe they dashed; And when they met, a bloody slaughter spread, The verdant plain, like autumn leaves with dead." This regiment was raised almost wholly in the county of Wayne with its rendezvous at Detroit, by the late General Henry A. Morrow, who was selected as Colonel. There were no members of this regiment from Berrien county till the summer of 1864, when about seventy recruits were here obtained, mainly through the efforts of Edgar A. Kimmel, who was made first lieutenant of Company K. The regiment attained a brilliant fame soon after it entered service. It became a part of the famous "Iron brigade" composed of Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana troops, and did heroic service on the great battle field of Gettysburg. It arrived near Gettys burg on July 1, and immediately went into 98 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY action under Colonel Morrow. On the first day of the battle the loss of the Twenty- fourth regiment was 316 in killed, wounded and missing. At this battle Colonel Mor row was wounded and taken prisoner, but shortly afterward exchanged. General Meredith, who commanded the Iron brigade in this action, in a dispatch to Colonel Mor row shortly after the battle said: "No troops ever fought with more bravery than did those of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, on that occasion." The regiment continued in service in the army of the Potomac till near the close of the war. Before returning home it was placed on garrison duty at Springfield, Illi nois, where it had the honor of being selected as escort at the funeral of President Lincoln. It was mustered out of service at Detroit, June 30, 1865. This regiment was in the following en gagements. 1862 Fredericksburg. 1863 Port Royal, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Westmorland, all in Va. ; Gettysburg, Pa. ; Mine Run. 1864 Raccoon Ford, Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Bethseda Church, Peters burg, Weldon R. R., Hicksford, Hatcher's Run. 1865 Dabney's Mills, Siege of Petersburg. It is appropriate to make some mention of the brilliant officer who was the first col onel of this famous regiment. General Mor row, as he was called, from his appoint ment as brigadier general and afterwards major general during the war, was living at Detroit at the time the regiment was organ ized by him, but after the close of the war made his home at Niles, although as Colonel in the regular army he was unable to be at Niles but little of the time. He died in the service of the government and was buried at Niles. Before the war he had married Miss Belle Graves, daughter of Major William Graves, a prominent pioneer of Berrien county, of whom mention will be made hereafter. Mrs. Morrow is now living at San Francisco with one of her children. General Morrow was an able officer, a genial and courteous gentleman, admired by all who knew him and a brilliant conversa- toinalist. The following brief record from the rolls of the adjutant general's office tells its own story. Henry A. Morrow, commissioned Aug ust 15, 1863; wounded in action at Gettys burg, July 1, 1863; wounded at the battle in the Wilderness, May 5, 1864; brevetted brigadier general United States volunteers, August 1, 1864, for gallant and distin guished services during the campaign be fore Richmond; wounded in action at Petersburg, Virginia, February 6, 1865. Brevetted major general United States volunteers for distinguished and conspicu ous galantry and for good conduct before Petersburg. Lieutenant colonel, Thirty-sixth United States infantry, July 28, 1866. Brevetted colonel, March 2, 1867, for gallant service at battle of Hatcher's Run. Colonel Twenty-first United States in fantry, April 27, 1879. Twenty-fourth Infantry. t Non-Commissioned Staff. Hospital Steward Owen Churchill, Niles; enlisted August 24, 1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. Company A. Richard Burr, mustered out June 30, 1865. Selah House, mustered out June 30, 1865. Alex. P. Manamy, mustered out June 30, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 99 George F. Niles, mustered out June 30, Andrew E. Mitchell, died of disease in I8&5. Illinois, April 22, 1865. James M. Noel, mustered out June 30, Company B. 1865. James St. John, mustered out June 30, Calvin W. Aiken, mustered out June 30, 1865. I865. Oscar St. John, mustered out June 30, Charles Brunke, mustered out June 30, 1865. J865. James L. Sharp, mustered out June 30, William H. Emmons, mustered out June 1865. 30, 1865. Theodore Swain, mustered out June 30, Burkhardt Freund, mustered out June 1865. 30, 1865. James S. Stafford, mustered out June Luther Hemingway; mustered out June 30, 1865. 30, 1865. Gideon B. Stiles, died of disease at William Sullivan, mustered out June 30, Niles, November 5, 1864. 1865. Amos A. Thompson, mustered out June Lorenzo Smith, mustered out June 30, 30, 1865. 1865. * Frank Verbaum, mustered out June 30, , 1865. Company C. Company D. James Bourdon, mustered out June 30, 1865. Charles A. Champion, mustered out James Breen, mustered out June 30, June 30. 1865. 1865. Henry Varsop, mustered out June 30, William Burlingame, mustered out June 1865. 30, 1865. Arra Cook, mustered out June 30, 1865. Company E. Patrick English, mustered out June 30, 1865. John R. Field, mustered out June 30, Henry Aldridge, died of wounds at 1865. Baltimore, February 22, 1865. Thomas Genderson, mustered out June Henry Bradley, mustered out June 30, 30, 1865. 1865. • Jerome Head, mustered out June 30, Frederick H. Eisenhardt, mustered out 1865. June 30, 1865. John Hutchinson, mustered out June 30, Dayton Fuller, mustered out June 30, 1865. 1865. John J. Hart, mustered out June 30, James S. Gender, mustered out June 30, 1865. 1865. Davis L. Hurlburt, mustered out June John H. Hawkins, mustered out June 30, 1865. 30, 1865. Alexander Lamond, mustered out June Ephriam P. Stratton, mustered out June 30, 1865. 30, 1865. Walter S. Mizner, mustered out June John Talbot, mustered out June 30, 30, 1865. 1865. too HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Company F. Henry Griffith, mustered out June 30, 1865. Thomas W. Rutledge, Galien; mustered Henry L. Morse, mustered out June 30, out June 30, 1865. 1865. Anson Miller, mustered out June 30, Company G. l8g5_ Charles Pike, mustered out June 30, Second Lieutenant Andrew J. Bucklin, 1865. Niles, commissioned September 27, 1864; H Smith mustered out June 30, resigned May 3, 1865. lg6 William B. Flanigan, mustered out William W. Serviss, mustered out June • June 30, 1865. Ig6 Harvey B. Hall, mustered out June 30, ' Si]as j Tomlinsori) died of disease at. l865- Alexandria, December 5, 1864. Company H. Seventeenth Infantry. Frank Higbee, mustered out June 30, 1865. This regiment had its rendezvous at Frederick W. Holmes, mustered out Detroit. About twenty-seven members of June 30, 1865. this regiment were from Berrien county. The regiment became famous for its fight- Company I. ing qualities and was known as the "Stone wall regiment" throughout the war. It re- Thomas Evans, mustered out June 30, ceived its name from the gallant charge it 1865. made at the battle of "South Mountain" on James H. Nostrand, mustered out June the stone walls, behind which the enemy 30, 1865. with its batteries was strongly posted. John O'Conner, mustered out June 30, The battle of South Mountain was- 1865. fought on September 14, 1862, only about Jackson Robertson, mustered out June twenty days after the regiment had 'left* its. 30, 1865. rendezvous. Three days after it was en gaged in the great battle of Antietam. Company K. It fully preserved throughout the war, the reputation which it gained at South. First Lieutenant Edgar A. Kimmel, mountain. Niles; commissoned September 27, 1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. Company B. William H. Ames, mustered out June 30, 1865. First Lieutenant John Cunningham, William Breen, mustered out June 30, Niles; commissioned June 2, 1862. 1865. Sergeant William H. Marston, Niles r David Boyd, mustered out June 30, enlisted June 2, 1862; lost a leg at Peters- 1865. burg, Virginia, June 18, 1864; discharged" William L. Condit, mustered out June for wounds, May 5, 1865. 30, 1865. Corporal Samuel H. Case, Buchanan ;- Franklin Calbretzer, died of disease in mustered out June 3, 1865. Illinois, April 23, 1865. Corporal Allen B. Myers, Sodus; en- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY IOI listed August 6, 1862; killed in battle at Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. Alonzo G. Bigelow, discharged for dis ability, September 13, 1862. Albert Bixby, mustered out June 3, .1865. John Beauwain, mustered out June 3, 1865. George W. Chase, discharged for dis ability, February 9, 1863. Jonathan Day, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, February 15, 1864. Rock Edwards, mustered out June 3, 1865. Jesse Foster, discharged for disability, March 3, 1863. Daniel A. Gates, discharged for dis ability, February 26, 1863. John Hazlett, . discharged for wounds, September 14, 1862. Henry Hinman, died of disease in Ten nessee, January 21, 1863. Nutter M. Halsted, mustered out June 3, 1865. John R. Haynes, mustered out June 3, 1865. George Isham, died in action at Camp bell's station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863. Lewis Jones, accidentally killed at Anti etam, Maryland, September 17, 1862. Henry Jackson, died in action at Camp bell's station, November 16, 1863. Sylvanus McManus, discharged for dis ability, December 3, 1862. Ferdinand Metzger, discharged for dis ability, October 3, 1864. Stephen Mead, mustered out June 3, 1865. Benjamin Norris, mustered out June 3, 1865. Columbus Paddock, discharged for dis ability, February 6, 1863. Edward F. Rice, mustered out June 3, 1865. Chester J. Walser, mustered out June 3, I865. !;,!,' .i'J Lorenzo D. White, discharged for dis ability, September 17, 1863. It was in the following important en gagements : 1862 South Mountain, Antietam, Freder icksburg. 1863 Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Loudon, Siege of Knoxville. % 1864 Wilderness (Va.), Spottsylvania, North Ana, Petersburg, Hatcher's Run. 1865 Fort Steadman, Capture of Peters burg. Its loss in killed, wounded and death from disease were 283. Nineteenth Michigan Infantry. This regiment was raised in the sum mer of 1862 in southwestern Michigan, and the rendezvous for recruiting and or ganization was at Dowagiac, Michigan. Company "I" of this regiment was organ ized at St. Joseph and was first known as the Morrison guards after its promoter, Honorable A. H. Morrison, of St. Joseph. About twenty-five from this county be longed to other companies. The regiment left their rendezvous for service in Kentucky in September, 1862. It was shortly afterwards transferred to the Army of the Cumberland as a part of the reserve corps, in January, 1863. From this time onward it was often in many severe engagements. Within a month it lost two of its commanding officers. In the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864, Colonel Henry C. Gilbert was mortally wounded, while the regiment was making a success ful charge against a rebel battery. On June 15, 1864, Colonel Eli A. Griffin, command ing the regiment while defending his posi tion against an assault of the enemy at Gol gotha, Georgia, was mortally wounded, dy ing the next day. On the 15th of Novem ber, the regiment having joined the army of 102 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Sherman, at Atlanta, set forth with its bri gade on the great march to the sea. It participated in the siege of Savannah until the first of January, i860, when it moved northward through South Carolina to North Carolina, meeting the enemy at Averysboro, where a severe engagement en sued in which the brigade to which the regi ment belonged, made an assault upon* the works of the enemy capturing them with many prisoners. The regiment was compli mented by its commanding officer for its gallantry in this action. Proceeding northward, it arrived at Alexandria on May 18, and the 24th day of May participated in the grand review of General Sherman's army in Washington. The losses of the regiment were 237 in killed, wounded and death from disease. 1 Nineteenth Infantry. Field and Staff. Lieutenant-Colonel David Bacon, Niles; commissioned August 8, 1862; wounded in action at Baton Rouge; resigned April 3, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Eli A. Griffin, Niles ; commissioned April 20, 1864; major, Oc tober 22, 1863; captain, Sixth infantry, August 19, 1 86 1 ; died in action at Golgotha, Georgia, June 15, 1864. Adjutant Henry M. Brown, St. Joseph; commissioned May 1, 1863; commissioned first lieutenant, Company I; resigned Oc tober 4, 1864. Quartermaster Warren Chapman, St. Joseph; commissioned August 2, 1862; re signed November 17, 1862. Non-Commissioned Staff. Quartermaster-Sergeant Lysander J. Brown, St. Joseph; enlisted August 12, 1862; died May 20, 1863. Principal Musician Charges E. Bort, Royalton; transferred to Company I. Company A. First Lieutenant Herbert M. Reynolds, Niles; enlisted May 25, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant, July 27, 1863; commis sioned sergeant; discharged for disability, July 20, 1864; second lieutenant. Lyman Carney, died in action at Thomp son's Station, Tennessee, March 5, 1863. Lee Chapman, discharged for disability, August 27, 1863. Edward C. Dix, mustered out June 10, 1865. M. D. L. Peters, mustered out June 10, 1865. Milford Tice, died in action at Thomp son's Station, March 4, 1863. Company B. George M. Kirk died in action at Fred erick, Maryland. Company C. Albert Newton, transferred to Tenth in fantry; mustered out July 19, 1865. Emanuel Rinehard, transferred to Tenth infantry; mustered out July 19,. 1865. Company D. Jeremiah Van Horn, mustered out Sep tember 8, 1865. Company G. William L. Black, transferred to Tenth infantry; mustered out July 19, 1865. Francis Cooper, mustered out June 10, 1865. William H. Cook, mustered out June 10, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 103 Orange Hutchins, mustered out June 10, 1865. William Moore, mustered out June 10, 1865. Arron Messenger, died March 5, 1863, in Columbia, Tennessee, of wounds. Isaac A. Williams, died in rebel prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, January 27, 1865. Winfield Wilson, mustered out June 4, 1865. Franklin E. Wilson, mustered out June 4, 1865. Albert H. Wheeler, mustered out June 4, 1865. Eli Wittfery, mustered out June 4, 1865. Company I. Captain Richard Lysaght, St. Joseph; commissioned July 25, 1862; resigned June 6, 1863. Captain Charles H. Calmer, St. Joseph; commissioned May 1, 1863; promoted to second lieutenant, July 26, 1862; died in action at Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864. First Lieutenant Henry M. Brown, St. Joseph; commissioned August 11, 1862; appointed adjutant, May 1, 1863. Sergeant Aaron F. Brewer, St. Joseph; enlisted August 11, 1862; promoted to sec- ont lieutenant. Sergeant Marvin Beaman, Royalton; enlisted August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865. Sergeant George W. Livingston, St. Joseph; enlisted August 21, 1862; died July 1, 1864, of wounds received at Gol gotha, Georgia, June 15, 1864. Sergeant Charles A. Cronkhite, St. Joseph; enlisted August 11, 1862; dis charged for disability, March 11, 1865. Sergeant George Brown, St. Joseph; en listed August 12, 1862; discharged for dis ability, April 23, 1863. Corporal D. H. Stevenson, St. Joseph; enlisted August 11, 1862; discharged March 6, 1863. Corporal George W. Riley, St. Joseph; enlisted August 11, 1862; mustered out June 8, 1865. Corporal Asher Lane, St. Joseph; en listed August 11, 1862; discharged for dis ability, June 17, 1863. Corporal Frederick Clay, Royalton; en listed August 13, 1862; died in action at Golgotha, Georgia, June 15, 1864. Corporal Thomas Riley, St. Joseph; en listed August 11, 1862; mustered out June 10, 1865. Corporal George F. Stewart, St. Joseph ; enlisted August 22, 1862 ; promoted to ser geant; first lieutenant, Company F, March 29, 1865. Musician Charles E. Bort, Royalton ; en listed August 12, 1862; mustered out June 10, 1865. Wagoner John Wilson, St. Joseph; en listed August 12, 1862; mustered out June 15, 1865. Silas W. Allen, died of disease at Nash ville, Tennessee, April 11, 1863. William Bundy, died of disease at Dan ville, Kentucky, January 13, 1863. James M. Boswell, discharged for dis ability, April 21, 1863. Henry L. Beaman, mustered out June 10, 1865. John Bradley, musjtered out June 10, 1865. Charles Chanbeck, died of disease at Danville, Kentucky, January 8, 1863. Edward Cronan, discharged for dis ability, June 11, 1865. Daniel Calmer, mustered out June 10, 1865. Joseph Clamfoot, mustered out May 30, 1865. , Daniel T. Dopp, mustered out June 10, 1865. Peter T. Dopp, mustered out June 10, 1865. Oscar Dee, mustered out June 10, 1865. William A. Depue, mustered out June 10, 1865. 104 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY William G. Ensley, mustered out July 13, 1865. John H. Fikes, mustered out June 10, 1865. Benjamin Fikes, mustered out June 10, 1865. Benjamin Green, discharged for dis ability, May 13, 1863. Milo Hyde, mustered out May 26, 1865. Alexander Hunter, died of disease at Annapolis, Maryland, June 2, 1863. George Koof, died of disease in Indiana, February 14, 1865. William Kelsey, died in action at Thompson's Station, .March 5, 1863. Charles McCain, died in rebel prison, Richmond, Virginia, March 22, 1863. William Morelock, died of wounds at Big Shanty, Georgia, June 24, 1864. Theodore Morelock, transferred to Tenth Infantry, mustered out July 19, 1865. Peter Mooth, transferred to Tenth In fantry; mustered out July 19, 1865. Horace M. Pitcher, died while a prisoner, March 20, 1863. Joseph Penland, died while at work on fortifications, August 11, 1864. Charles J: Peterson, died of disease at Murfreesboro, September 17, 1863. Jerry Robicho, discharged for disability, June 1, 1863. Martin V. Sherman, discharged for dis ability, June 17, 1863. Timothy H. Spelman, died of disease at Annapolis, Maryland, April 11, 1863. James Snyder, died at Knoxville, Ten nessee, April 20, 1864. George Thompson, discharged for dis ability, April 23, 1863. William Wiese, discharged for dis ability, April 11, 1863. Thomas Waterman, discharged for dis- , ability, July 18, 1863. William W. Webster, died of disease at Murfreesboro-, September 17, 1863. The regiment was in the following en gagements. 1863 Thompson's Station, Nashville and Chattanooga R. R. in Tennessee. 1864 Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Golgotha, Culp's Farm, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah. 1865 Averysboro, N. C, Bentonville, N. C. Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry. This regiment was organized in the sum mer of 1862 and rendezvoused at Kalama zoo. On September 29th, 1862, it left for the scene of war. Three of its companies came from Berrien county, viz. : Company C from Berrien Springs and vicinity, Com pany F from Niles and vicinity and Com pany K from Buchanan and vicinity. The regiment achie\ er ! considerable fame early in the war by repelling a spirited as sault made by the famous cavalry com mander, General Morgan. This engagement took place at Tibbs Bend, July 4th, 1863. Prior to his assault, the colonel of the regi ment, Colonel Moore, received the following communication from General Morgan : "To the Commander of the U. S. Forces at Tibbs Bend. I, John H. Morgan, Major General in the Army of the Confederate States, hereby demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the troops and post under your orders. John H. Morgan, Maj. Gen., C. S. A" Colonel Moore, upon receiving the com munication told the bearer of the dispatch to present his best compliments to General Morgan and say to him that it was the Fourth of July; that on any other day he might possibly demand some consideration, but as it was the Fourth of July, he would please tell General Morgan, with his com pliments, that he would see him damned first. General Morgan at once made his attack, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 105 and was severely repulsed with a loss of about two hundred and fifty men in killed and wounded. Companies E and K were in this engagement. Morgan was evidently im pressed with the skill and heroism of the regiments employed against superior num bers and wittily sent to Colonel Moore a dis patch brevetting him a brigadier general in the United States Army. This battle was known as the Green River engagement and after the battle the regiment was generally known as the "Green River" boys. The legislature of Kentucky passed a resolution thanking Colonel Moore and his regiment for their heroic defense. Of this engage ment the Louisville Journal said, "Moore's repulse of a force equal to twenty or twenty- five times his own was one of the most chivalrous affairs on record. Although it is unquestioned history, it reads like the wildest romance." This regiment also acquired fame in the great battle at Franklin, November 30, 1864, and at Nashville, aided General Thomas in winning the most decisive victory achieved by either side during the whole war, when the immense army- of General Hood was practically annihilated by defeat and prompt pursuit. This battle was executed and car ried out exactly as planned on the eve of the engagement, by General Thomas, whose de sign was not simply to win a battle, "but to make it a Waterloo, which would wipe the defeated army out of existence." The story of this battle reads like that of one of Alex ander's victories, complete, decisive and easy to be understood. The regiment remained in active service in Georgia and Tennessee, until the latter part of the war when it was transported to North Carolina. It was mustered out at Salisbury, North Carolina, June 24th, 1865. It was in the following engagements: In 1865 Munfordville, Ky., Tibbs Bend, Ky., Kingston, Tenn., Mossy Creek, Tenn. In 1864 Tunnell Hill, Rocky Face, Resaca, Cassville, ' Etowah River, Kings ton, Atoona, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Culp's Farm, Kenesaw, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoocha River, Decator, Atlanta, East Point, Jonesboro, Rome, all in Georgia. In 1865 Cedar Bluffs, Ala., Pine Creek, Tenn., Franklin, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn. Its total loss in killed, wounded and death by disease was one hundred sixty-six. Twenty-fifth Infantry. Field and Staff. Adjutant Charles Woodruff, Niles ; com missioned April 7, 1864; sergeant major, January 14, 1864; second lieutenant, Com pany K; mustered out June 24, 1865. Company C. Captain Charles E. McCollister, Oro noko; commissioned August 10, 1862; re signed May 11, 1863. Captain Jacob Ewalt, Oronoco; com missioned March 13, 1863; first lieutenant, August 10, 1862; discharged for disability, October 10, 1864. Captain Clarence H. Howe, Oronoko; commissioned November 1, 1864; second lieutenant, March 13, 1864; sergeant, Aug ust 12, 1862; mustered out June 24, 1865. First Lieutenant Edwin F. Kimmel, Oro noko; commissioned March 13, 1863; sec ond lieutenant, August 1, 1862; resigned September 23, 1864. Sergeant Ezra E. Dunn, Buchanan; enlisted August 9, 1862; died of disease at Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 20, 1863. Sergeant Marion W. Jennings, Pipe stone; enlisted August 13, 1862; mustered out June 24, 1865. Sergeant Benjamin F. Feather, Oronoko; 106 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY enlisted August n, 1862; transferred to Reuben Culbretzer, mustered out June Invalid corps, July, 1863; mustered out 24, 1865. July 8, 1865. Eli N. Crabbe, mustered out June 24, Sergeant Reuben H. Richardson, Oro- 1865. noko; corporal, August 1, 1862; mustered Milton Cowley, mustered out July 4, out June 24, 1865. 1865. Corporal James WO Granger, Oronoko; Dorman Curtis, mustered out June 24, enlisted August 11, 1862; mustered out 1865. June 24, 1865. Ralph Denn, mustered out June 24, 1865. Corporal Sylvester P. Mason, Buchanan ; Alanson Dickerson, mustered out June enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged for 24, 1865. disability, February 24, 1863. Ambrose Dickerson, mustered out June Corporal Francis M. Dougherty, Oro- 24, 1865. noko; enlisted August 11, 1862; discharged Thomas Daker, mustered out June 24, for disability, September 21, 1863. 1865. Corporal Abram Long, Oronoko; en- William Desler, transferred to Veteran listed August 13, 1862; transferred to In- Reserve corps. valid corps, December 15, 1863. Jesse Fisher, mustered out June 24, 1865. Corporal Alfred O. French, Royalton; R. P. Ferris, mustered out June 24, enlisted August 9, 1862; discharged by or- 1865. der, May 29, 1865. Bethuel H. Friley, mustered out June 24, Corporal Eli Helmick, Oronoko; en- 1865. listed August 15, 1862; mustered out June Stephen E. Gilbert, died of accidental 25, 1865. wounds, March 31, 1863. Musician William H. Dennison, Oro- Abel Goddard, discharged for disability, noko; enlisted August 14, 1862; died of June 16, 1863. disease at Bowling Green, January 16, Edwin W. Hadlock, mustered out June 1863. 24, 1865. Wagoner Elliot Chamberlain, Oronoko; William B. Hartman, mustered out June enlisted August 18, 1862; died of disease at 24, 1865. Louisville, July 27, 1863. William Hunter, mustered out June 24, James B. Alden, mustered out June 24, 1865. 1865. Peter Humphrey, died of disease at Orange L. Blake, mustered out June 24, Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 9, 1863. 1865. Frank Jern, mustered out June 24, 1865. John A. Burke, mustered out June 24, William H. Jones, transferred to twenty- 1865. eighth; mustered out June 5, 1866. Samuel C. Burke, mustered out June 24, George H. Kim.mel. mustered out May 1865. 31, 1865. Lavinius Bratt, mustered out June 24, Samuel Kimmel, mustered out June 29, 1865. 1865. Josephus Brownell, mustered out June John A. Kebler, mustered otic July i, 24, 1865. 1865, from Veteran Reserve corps. Porter H. Buckley, mustered out June Albert Kugles, mustered out June 24, 24, 1865. 1865. Peter Bovee, discharged by order, July Ludovic Leeds, mustered out June 24, 18, 1865. 1865. J-U_UJ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 107 Isaac Long, mustered out June 24, 1865. Jonathan Ressler, mustered out June 24, Stephen Lappan, mustered out June 24, 1865. 1865. Richard Lawrence, discharged for dis ability, January 9, 1863. Nott. Lockman, discharged for disabil ity, June 16, 1863. Jonathan Mosier, discharged for disa bility, May 9, 1863. George D. Nather, died in action at Res aca, Georgia, May 14, 1864. Myron H. Roberts, mustered out June 24, 1865. Reuben H. Richardson, mustered out June 24, 1865. Frederick Simons, mustered out June 24, 1865. Samuel Stuller, mustered out June 24, 1865. Nathan Smith, mustered out October 28, George W. Myers, mustered out June 24, 1865. 1865. William H. Shankwiler, mustered out Simeon McOmber, mustered out June June 24, 1865. 24, 1865. J. Shankwiler, died of disease at Knox- Henry P. Movier, mustered out June 24, ville, Tennessee, April 21, 1864. 1865. Stephen Simons, died of disease at Isaac Maddox, mustered out June 24, Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 29, 1863. 1865. Noah St. John, discharged for disabil- Charles S. Mead, mustered out June 5, ity, June 16, 1863. 1866. John A. Sperinar, discharged for disa- Gebrge Mallison, mustered out June 5, bility, June 16, 1863. 1866. Henry Near, died of disease at Louis ville, Kentucky, February 6, 1865. Merritt Nichols, mustered out from Vet eran Reserve Corps, June 12, 1865. Andrew J. Tebbs, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, January 15, 1864. James M. Taylor, mustered out June 24, 1865. Charles E. Terriere, mustered out June Patrick E. O'Brien, mustered out from 25, 1865. Veteran Reserve corps, July 7, 1865. William F. Olds, mustered out July a, 1865. Peter Van Husan, mustered out June 25, 1865. Michael Van Husan, discharged for dis- Joel Pangburn, mustered out June 24, ability, March 10, 1863. 1865. Solomon Wirrick, discharged for disa- Benjamin F. Potter, mustered out June bility, December 21, 1863. 24, 1865. Benjamin Wirrick, discharged for disa- Aaron Puntivers, mustered out June 24, bility, May 22, 1865. 1865. John Williams, discharged by order, William R. Place, transferred to twenty- July, 1863. eighth infantry; mustered out June 5, 1866. William E. Patterson, discharged for dis ability, May 8, 1863. Delos Reed; discharged by order, July 18, 1863. John P. Rooney, died of disease at Bowl ing Green, Kentucky, February 16, 1863. Galen R. Rogers, died of disease at Bowl ing Green, Kentucky, February 17, 1863. David H. Whipple, transferred to twenty-eighth infantry; mustered out June 5, 1866. Company F. I Captain Spencer L. Lansing, Niles ; com missioned August 10, 1862; discharged for disability, October 28, 1864. io8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Captain Irving Paddock, Three Oaks; commissioned May 8, 1865; first lieutenant, November 1, 1864; sergeant, August 14, 1862; mustered out June 24, 1865. First Lieutenant Gideon Frisbie, Avery; commissioned August 10, 1862; discharged for disability September 24, 1864. First Lieutenant Henry Bond, Niles; commissioned M'ay 8, 1865 ; second lieuten ant, November 2, 1864; sergeant, August 11, 1862; mustered out June 24, 1865. Second Lieutenant Arthur Twombly, Niles; commissioned August 10, 1862; re signed September 18, 1864. Sergeant Charles Woodruff, Niles; en listed August 14, 1862; promoted to ser geant-major, January 14, 1862. Sergeant Henry B. Adams, Niles; en listed August 7, 1862; died of disease at Knoxville, Tennessee, February 20, 1864. Sergeant Julius C. Webb, Niles; cor poral, August 14, 1862; mustered out June 24, 1865. Corporal Don A. Clark, Niles; enlisted August 13, 1862; died December 25, 1864, of wounds received August 6, 1864. Corporal Peter G. Cuddeback, Berrien; enlisted August 13, 1862; died July 4, 1863, of wounds received at- Tibbs' Bend. Corporal Henry T. Kimmel, Niles; en listed August 14, 1862; discharged by order, February 27, 1863. « Corporal Joel F. Warner, New Buffalo; enlisted August 14, 1862 ; mustered out June 24, 1865. Corporal Byron W. Earl, Niles; enlisted August 7, 1862; transferred to Invalid Corps, February 15, 1864. Corporal Thomas Quigley, Niles; en listed August 13, 1862; discharged for disa bility January 26, 1865. Musican Isaac McDaniel, Niles; enlisted August 9, 1862 ; died of disease at Murfrees boro, January 16, 1863. David C. Bachelor, transferred to Vet eran Reserve Corps, May 1, 1864. Henry Bowman, mustered out June 24, 1865. Thomas D. Bines, mustered out June 24, 1865. John Bourke, mustered out June 24, 1865. Charles H. Burbank, mustered out June 24, 1865. Kellison Collins, discharged for disa bility, February 24, 1865. Frederick W. Doane, discharged for dis ability, April 23, 1863. Jerry Doolan, transferred to Veteran Re serve Corps, April 10, 1864. John Davis, mustered out June 24, 1865. James Edgin, from Veteran Reserve Corps; mustered out July 5, 1865. James Fallon, discharged for disability, February 18, 1863. Morris Frisbee, mustered out June 24, 1865. William Gray, mustered out June 24, 1865. John J. Garrison, mustered out June 24, 1865. Francis W. Gano, mustered out June 10, 1865. Nathan Gilbert, mustered out June 24, 1865. Thomas J. Gilbert, mustered out June 24, 1865. Justus H. Hastings, mustered out June 24, 1865. Levi Hoover, discharged for disability, April 4, 1863. George C. Inman, transferred to Vet eran Reserve corps, February 15, 1864. Edwin G. Loucks, mustered out June 24, 1865. Leroy Lamunion, mustered out June 24, 1865. William Lahey, mustered out June 24, 1865. John W. McKee, mustered out June 24, 1865. John McClarey, discharged by order, July 20, 1863. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 109 James McGurk, discharged for disa bility, August 28, 1863. Arbuth M. Nott, discharged for disabil ity, September 4, 1863. Philo Norton, mustered out June 24, 1865. Thomas O'Callaghan, mustered out June 24, 1865. William M. Otwell, mustered out June 24, 1865. Emory Otwell, discharged by order, July 20, 1863. Andrew J. Painter, mustered out June 24, 1865. Horatio H. Richardson, mustered out June 24, 1865. Lewis Quick, died of disease at Louis- - ville, February 8, 1863. Jesse Sheridan, died of disease at Bowl ing Green, February 18, 1863. William Slater, died of disease at Bowl ing Green, March 16, 1863. Rowland Soper, died at Chattanooga, June 29, 1864. Isaac Smith, transferred to Veteran Re serve corps, February 15, 1863. Thomas E. Sheridan, discharged for dis ability, November 21, 1863. Charles T. Serviss, mustered out June 24, 1865. Thomas P. Starr, mustered out June 24, 1865. John P. Titsworth, mustered out June 24, 1865. Frederick L. Thaldorf, mustered out June 24, 1865. Marcus Tuttle, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864. . Thomas Wood, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, December 15, 1863. Michael Wood, discharged for insanity, October 28, 1863. Nathan Williams, discharged by order, March 20, 1863. Ephraim Wellwood, discharged by order, July 20, 1863. John Wright, died at Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864. Orson S. Warner, mustered out June 24, 1865. John Wing, mustered out June 24, 1865. Company K. Captain M. V. McKinney, Buchanan; commissioned July 23, 1862; resigned July 26, 1863. Captain John Tennant, Buchanan; com missioned July 26, 1863; first lieutenant, August 4, 1862; discharged for disability, June 14, 1864. First Lieutenant Frank D. Weaver, Bu chanan; commissioned July 26, 1863; sec ond lieutenant, August 15, 1862; died of disease, April 12, 1864. Second Lieutenant Charles Woodruff, Niles; commissioned, April 2, 1864; pro moted to first lieutenant, and adjutant, April 7, 1864. Second Lieutenant Norris H. Merrill, Buchanan; commissioned June 1, 1864; ser geant, July 22, 1862; discharged for wounds, November 4, 1864. Sergeant Rodney Knight, Buchanan; enlisted August 13, 1862; died of disease at Knoxville, January 4, 1865. Sergeant Abram Welles, Weesaw; en listed August 11, 1862; discharged for dis ability, September 1, 1863. Sergeant Joseph C. Harris, Buchanan; enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged for disability, January 3, 1863. Sergeant John A. Sperry, Royalton; enlisted July 12, 1862; discharged for disa bility, January 15, 1863. Corporal James L. Slater, Weesaw; en listed August 12, 1862; died in action at Tibbs' Bend, Kentucky, July 4, 1863. Corporal Emmet S. Totlen, Buchanan; enlisted August 15, 1862; mustered out May 31, 1865. Corporal Solomon Ulery, Buchanan ; en listed August 12, 1862; absent, sick. no HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Simon P. Aldrich, mustered out June J. S. Gordon, discharged by order, July 24, 1865. 21, 1863. John Boyce, mustered out July 7, 1865. F. G. M. Holmes, discharged for disa- Henry Beacham, discharged for disabil- bility, September 10, 1862. ity, March 3, 1863. William J. Henderson, discharged for Charles Cochran, discharged for disabil- disability, September n, 1863. ity, September 10, 1862. William H. Hanover, discharged for dis- Oliver J. Chin, died of disease at Bowl- ability, March 3, 1863. ing Green, March 31, 1863. Warren J. Harris, mustered out June 24, Charles Carr, missing in action in Tenn- 1865. essee, January 22, 1864. Martin V. Hulmes, mustered out June George W. Colvin, mustered out June 24, 1865. 15, 1865. Henry Homer, mustered out June 24, James A. Cook, mustered out June 24, 1865. 1865. David Hill, mustered out June 24, 1865. William Conradt, mustered out June 24, Marvin H. Haskins, mustered out June 1865. 24, 1865. William W. Compton, mustered out June William Inglewright, Sr., discharged by 24, 1865. order. Nathan Dodds, mustered out June 24, William Inglewright, Jr., transferred to 1865. Veteran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864. Ambrose Dickerson, discharged for dis- Harvey C. Judson, transferred to Vet- ability, January 6, 1863. eran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864. Hiram Dunham, transferred to Veteran Andrew Judy, died of disease at Louis- Reserve corps, April 20, 1864. ville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. A. Ewarts, discharged for disability, James S. Lee, discharged for disability, July 21, 1863. January 15, 1863. Joseph Fuller, discharged for disability, James Meeker, mustered out June 24, Franklin B. Fancher, discharged for dis- 1865. ability, January 15, 1863. Robert Norris, mustered out June 24, Emory F. Ferry, discharged for disabil- 1865. ity, February, 1864. James Pen well, died of disease at Bowl- Lewis B. Force, transferred to Veteran ing Green, Kentucky, March n, 1863. Reserve Corps; mustered out June 30, George Pierce, died of disease at Knox- 1865. ville, Tennessee, May 25, 1864. Charles W. Fancher, transferred to Vet- Nathan Pratt, discharged" by order, July eran Reserve Corps, July 26, 1863. 29, 1863. George Furay, mustered out May 7, A. Randall, transferred to Veteran Re- 1865. serve Corps, February 15, 1864. William R. Gonder, mustered out June Henry Rundell, mustered out June 24, 24, 1865. 1865. J. L. Gorham, transferred to Veteran Benjamin N. Redding, mustered out June Reserve Corps, April 10, 1864. 24, 1865. Jacob Garlinger, transferred to Veteran James M. Rose, mustered out May 30, Reserve corps, January 15, 1864. 1865. Andrew Graham, discharged by order, John Z. Swanger, mustered out June 24, July 21, 1863. 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in Charles W. Strong, mustered out June 24, 1865. James H. Snodgrass. John C. Spinetta, died of disease at Louisville, Kentucky, October 7, 1862. Jacob Shruler, discharged for disability, September 10, 1862. Zenith Strong, discharged for disability, September 10, 1862. John Taylor, mustered out June 24, 1865. Volney O. Van Denburgh, died of disease at Bowling Green, Kentucky, February n, 1863. Frank Watson, died of disease at Knox ville, Tennessee, May n, 1864. John Weaver, died of wounds at Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864. Evert Wirt, died in action at Rocky Face, Georgia, May 9, 1864. Alvertus Wray, died in Indiana, March 10, 1865. Philip Walworth, discharged for disa bility, September 10, 1862. H. Wells, discharged for disability, Sep tember 1, 1863. Oscar Woodworth, discharged for disa bility, January 15, 1863. Emery Wray, discharged by order to Veteran Reserve Corps, July 21, 1863. Samuel Washburn, discharged by order to Veteran Reserve Corps, July 21, 1863. Hiram Walcott, discharged for disabil ity, February 10, 1863. W. P. Wood, discharged for disability, February 6, 1863. J. J. Wade, mustered out June 24, 1865. David Washburn, mustered out June 24, 1865. John Washburn, mustered out June 24, 1865. William H. Walworth, mustered out June 24, 1865. Noah Weaver, mustered out June 23, 1865. Noah M. Wilter, mustered out May 18, 1865. George H. Watson, mustered out" May 26, 1865. Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry. There were about sixty members of this regiment from Berrien county, being in Company G, with Asa G. Dailey of Dayton, captain. This regiment was raised in the fall of 1862 and rendezvoused at Jackson. Its service was principally in the Army of the Potomac. It took a leading part in the successful attack made by the Second Corps at Spott sylvania, May 12, 1863, on the enemy's works, which were carried after a fierce hand to hand fight with the bayonet. The Twenty-sixth was the first regiment to plant its colors on the rebel works. Its loss in this action was severe, amounting to one hundred and thirty-four killed and wounded. For gallant services at the battle of Deep Bottom, July 27, and July 28, 1864, the regiment was especially complimented by General Hancock, in his general orders. It was in the advance in the final pursuit of Lee's retreating army in April, 1865, and through its lines, General Grant operated with his flag of truce, in arranging the terms of surrender at Appomattox Court House. Its losses in the war were two hundred and fifty-nine out of a membership of about one thousand. It was in numerous engage ments; only the most important can be mentioned. 1864 Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Petersburg, Deep Bot tom. 1865 Peebles Farm, Hatcher's Run, Amelia Springs, Sailor's Creek, Appomattox Court House. It was engaged in the siege of Peters burg, from June 17, 1864, to April 3rd, 1865. 112 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Twenty-sixth Infantry. Company C. Corporal Reuben H. Rice, Galien; en listed August 15, 1862; mustered out June 10, 1865. Corporal Alvah H. Spalding, Galien; Second Lieutenant Sylvester R. Wilson, ^^ A t 22> l862; mustered out Galien; commissioned January 2, 1865; pro moted to. first lieutenant; mustered out as second lieutenant, June 4, 1865. Company G. Captain Asa G. Dailey, Dayton; com missioned August 4, 1862; resigned April 27, 1865. First Lieutenant William M. Cady, Day ton; commissioned August n, 1864; re signed April 9, 1864. Sergeant James M. Price, Weesaw; en listed August 15, 1862; discharged for dis ability, August 28, 1863. Sergeant Sylvester R. Wilson, Galien; enlisted August 7, 1862; promoted to sec ond lieutenant, Company C. Sergeant William Hulmes, Dayton; en listed August 6, 1862; died in rebel prison, Salisbury, North Carolina, January 12, 1865. Sergeant John Landor, Dayton ; enlisted August 6, 1862; mustered out June 3, 1865. Sergeant Albert O. Ewen, New Buffalo; saw, Michigan, May 8, 1864. enlisted August 8, 1862; mustered out June Ti J. Green, died of disease, December' 3, 1865. 21, 1863. Corporal Henry Howland, Dayton, en- Joseph F. Grooms, mustered out June listed August 6, 1862; mustered out June 4, 1865. 3, 1865. Joseph V. Grooms, discharged for dis- Corporal David Bryant, Niles; enlisted ability, February 17, 1865. August 6, 1862; mustered out June 19, John Haggerty, discharged for dis- 1865. ability. Corporal Winfield Wilson, Galien ; en- Joseph Happe, died in battle at Spottsyl- listed August 12, 1862; mustered out June vania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. 4, 1865. Daniel Harris, died in Salisbury prison, Corporal William De Armand, Bert- January 12, 1865. June 4, 1865. Corporal Albert H. Wheeler, Dayton; enlisted August 6, 1862; mustered out June 4, 1865. Chauncey E. Ashcroft, mustered out June 29, 1865. Charles E. Bradley, mustered out June 29, 1865. Selah Baxter, mustered out June 29, 1865. ¦F. A. Burras, mustered out June 29, 1865. Milford L. Brightford, discharged for disability, April 20, 1865. William L. Bennett, died in Anderson- ville prison, November 26, 1864. Uri M. Barber, died in Andersonville prison, September 23, 1864. John Bowen, missing in battle, May 12, 1864. John A. Davidson, mustered out June 4, 1865. John F. Espy, died of disease at Wee- rand; enlisted August 15, 1862; died of wounds received at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. Corporal George Day, St. Joseph, en listed August 12, 1862; died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia, February 15, 1863. Samuel Hills, mustered out June 4, i865._ Gilbert F. Kinney, discharged for dis ability, May 2, 1863. Nelson Kinney, discharged for dis ability, November 17, 1863. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "3 Robert Landon, mustered out June 4, 1865. James Lavelle, mustered out June 4, 1865. Obed Look, died of disease, November 7, 1862. Elkanah A. Parish, died of disease at Dayton, Michigan, February 20, 1864. Edgar Potter, died of disease at Alex andria, April 9, 1863. Aaron Perks, died in battle at Spottsyl vania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. James R. Ross, died of disease at Day ton, Michigan, February 20, 1864. Joseph Rouse, mustered out .June 4, 1865. David Stoner, mustered out June 4, 1865. Alvin C. Spalding, mustered out June 4, 1865. Abner P. Paulding, mustered out June 4, 1865. George W. Spengelburch, died in rebel prison at Salisbury, December 9, 1865. George W. Stoner, discharged for dis ability, June 17, 1863. Nicholas Snoop, died of disease at Alex andria, Virginia, January 21, 1864. Hiram A. Sackett, died in battle at Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. William Seward, died in battle at Spott sylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. Benjamin F. Yaw, discharged for dis ability, December 16, 1863. Jonathan Yaw, discharged for disabil ity, December 16, 1863. Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry. There were about 90 men from Berrien county distributed in different companies. It was raised in the summer of 1864, rendezvoused at Kalamazoo and left for the seat of war October 26, 1864, Colonel Wil liam W. Wheeler, of St. Joseph, became colonel on December 9, 1864. Although a raw regiment, it partici pated in the great battle of Nashville in December, 1864, where it fully established a reputation as a gallant fighting regiment. It was afterward assigned to General Cox's army in North Carolina, which was intended to co-operate with General Sher man's army in its approach to' the coast.. Here it was engaged in duty, guarding the lines of the Atlanta & North Carolina rail road. It remained on duty in North Caro lina till it was mustered out at Newbern, North Carolina, June 5, 1866. : -J; Its loss was 128 in killed, wounded/ and death by disease. ' -i ...], It was in the following engagements : Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 12 to. 16, 1864. Wise's Fork, N. C, March 8 to 10, 1865. Field and Staff. Colonel William W. Wheeler, Niles; commissioned August 15, 1864; lieutenant- colonel and major Twenty-third infantry; mustered out July 12, 1866. Company B. S. F. West, died of disease at Nash ville, January 9, 1865. Company C. Andrtw Baer, mustered out June 12, 1865. Wilson J. Norton, mustered out June 12, 1866. Willis S. Norton, discharged by order, July 26, 1865. . Charles E. Perry, discharged by order, May 26, 1865. Paul Pasch, mustered out June 5, 1866. Abram Packard, died of disease at Alex andria, Virginia, February 13, 1865. James E. Sprang, mustered out June 5, 1866. n4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY James A. Shelden, mustered out Septem- Company H. ber 12, 1865. J Sergeant Orrin W. Crossman, Benton; Company E. enlisted September 3, 1864; died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia, February 16, 1865. John Brott, mustered out June 5, 1866. Sergeant Orange C. Burbank, Benton; Charles L. Cummings, mustered out enlisted October 1, 1864; died of disease in June 5, 1866. North Carolina, August 16, 1865. Lawson T. Humphrey, mustered out Corporal Anthony Jerrue, Benton; en- June 5, 1866. listed September 16, 1864; discharged by George Hamilton, mustered out Oc- order, September 6, 1865. tober 6, 1865. Corporal Delmont J. Coboneau, Ber William W. Jordan, mustered out June rien; enlisted September 10, 1864; sergeant ;S, 1866. mustered out June 5, 1866. Zephaniah Linsey, discharged by order, Corporal Francis H. Taylor, St. Joseph; August 26, 1865. enlisted September 13, 1864; discharged for Frank Matron, mustered out August disability, September 23, 1865. 33, 1865. Corporal James Hanna, St. Joseph; en- Michael Rohrer, mustered out June 5, listed September 1, 1864; mustered out 1866. June 5, 1865. Archibald Schoonover, discharged by Corporal Uriah Gress, Benton; enlisted order, September 5, 1865. September 19, 1864; discharged by order, Luman Wireman, mustered out June May 19, 1865. J4, 1865. Perry J. Ashley, died at Kalamazoo, (shot), December 6, 1864. Company G. David Abbey, discharged by order, May 17, 1866. William Allen, mustered out June 5, William Annable, mustered out June 5, n"866. 1866. John A. Hunt, mustered out May 22, W. S. Aikens, discharged at end ofser- 11865. vice, March 3, 1866. Henry D. Kirtland, discharged for dis- Frederick Barney, discharged by order, ability. May 26, 1865. Ira Olds died of disease at Detroit, Richard W. Brown, mustered out July March 4, 1865. 7, 1865. Daniel Quinn, mustered out June 5, Smith B. Barker, mustered out June 5, &866. 1866. Charles H. Stevens, mustered out Sep- William W. Fenno, mustered out June ¦tember 13, 1865. 5, 1866. James P. Tilton, mustered out June 5, George G. Gouchy, mustered out July ti866. 1, 1865. William S. Williams, mustered out June Lewis Herbert, mustered out September 3, 1866. 13, 1865. Cornelius Williams, mustered out Janu- William E. Jakeway, mustered out De nary 3, 1866. cember 4, 1865. William Wittier, mustered out May 25, Richard S. Lawrence, died of disease at ^865. Louisville, November 21, 1864. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "5 Charles E. Mowry, mustered out June John B. Woodward, died of disease at 32, 1865. New York City, June 30, 1865. George W. Odell, died of disease in Indiana, November 23, 1864. Company K. Gain O. Robinson, died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia, February 10, 1865. Corporal Warren Beckwith, Water- Humphrey Starks, mustered out May 29, vliet; enlisted October 11, 1864; died of 1865. Harvey Smith, mustered out June 5, 1866. Pardon D. Taylor, died of disease at Nashville, January 10, 1865. Edmund Tappen, mustered out June 5, 1866. Hiram Tubbs, mustered out September 13, 1865. Merrick Voncent, died of disease in North Carolina, June 5, 1865. Henry Weber, discharged by order, May 19, 1865. Calvin S. Warren, discharged for dis ability, October 19, 1865. Arthur Worden, mustered out June 5, 1866. i Company I. disease in North Carolina, June 8, 1865. Daniel Aspinwali, mustered out May 11, 1865. Perry Converse, mustered out May 16, 1865. Silas J. Chapman, died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia, February 16, 1865. Alexander Fisher, mustered out June 5, 1865. David W. Felson, mustered out June 5, 1866. Albert E. Heaton, mustered out May 1 5, 1865. Richard A. Lawrence, mustered out May 20, 1865. Edward Measure, mustered out May 26, 1865. John H. Measure, mustered out June 5, 1865. William H. Morey, mustered out June 5, 1866. James P. Versau, mustered out June 5, 1866. Samuel Versau, mustered out June 5, 1866. Washington S. Blowers, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, January 10, 1865. Fred N. Bachman, mustered out June 5, 1866. John Buchanan, mustered out June 5, 1866. John J. Baxter, mustered out June 5, One Hundred and Second U. S. Colored 1866. ¦ • Troops. George A. Cook, mustered out June 5, 1866. This regiment was raised in the winter of Frederick M. Cook, mustered out July 1863-64 and rendezvoused at Detroit, leav- 14, 1865. mS f°r tne seat of war March 28th, 1864. William C. Conklin, discharged by It was raised wholly in Michigan and order, May 27, 1865. was first know as the First Regiment Michi- Amos L. Herrick, discharged for dis- gan Colored Infantry. Fifty-one members ability, December 21, 1865. of this regiment were from Berrien county. Daniel D. Havens, mustered out June Four of them, viz. : William Powers, Harri- c 1866. son Johnson, Edward Finley and Eli Smith, Stephen R. Thayer, mustered out Sep- became sergeants in their companies. tember 13 1865. The regiment was sent to South Caro- n6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY lina in April, 1864. It was engaged with the enemy in December at Honey Hill and two other engagements and in the three conflicts lost 65 in killed and wounded out of .300 engaged. In February, 1865, it was engaged in the operations against Charleston. It fought with great gallantry in a skirmish with the enemy at Singleton, South Carolina, on April 2 1 st, 1865, virtually the last engage ment of the war. This regiment appears to have conducted itself manfully and when engaged, showed the highest -degree of brav ery. It was mustered out September 30th, 1865, at Charleston. Its loss was 140. It was engaged in the following engagements : ,1 1864 Honey .Hill, Tullifirny, D. Vaux Neck, S. C. 1865 Cuckwold's Creek, Sampterville, Spring Hill, Swift Creek, Boykins, Singleton, S. C. One Hundred and Second U. S. Colored Troops. Company A. Stephen Busbee, mustered out September 30, 1865. Joshua Emmons, died of disease in South Carolina, July 4, 1864. Anthony Nash, mustered out September 30, 1865. Robert Ogden, died of disease in South Carolina, February 5, 1865. Company B. John Battles, mustered out September 30, 1865. James T. Battles, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. George Brown, mustered out September 30, 1865. Ezekiel Harris, mustered out September 30, 1865. William Linsey, discharged for disabil ity, August 11, 1864. Levi Mitchell, discharged by order, May 24, 1864. V. Company C. William Adams, discharged for disabil ity, June 16, 1865. Company D. Henry Harris, mustered out September 30, 1865. Abner A. Mitchell, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Company E. Sergeant Eli Smith, Niles; enlisted No vember 30, 1863 ; absent, sick, at muster out. Nathan Hall, mustered out September 30, 1865. William P. Minnis, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Company F. George Vincent, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Company G. Sergeant William Powers, Niles, en listed October 28, 1863; mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Sergeant Harrison Johnson, Niles, en listed December 26, 1863; mustered out September 30, 1865. Corporal John Lett, Sodus, enlisted January 2, 1864; died of disease in South ern Carolina, June 24, 1865. Corporal Benjamin F. Coleman, Sodus, enlisted January 24, 1864; died of disease in New York, January 6, 1865. Corporal Miner Rivers, Niles, enlisted HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 117 January 24, 1864; mustered out September 30, 1865. William Buchanan, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Benjamin J. Cozzens, mustered out September 30, 1865. Joseph Dickinson, mustered out Septem- May 26, 1865. Andrew Farmer, discharged for wounds May, 26, 1865. Lewis Gibney, mustered out September 30, 1865. Washington Gibney, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Ashberry Hackley, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Marcellus Hackley, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. Edward Hicks, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Needham Miller, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Samuel McLean, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. George W. Patterson, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. John Stephens, mustered out September 30, 1865. Company H. Corporal George Jackson, Chikaming; enlisted December 31, 1863; mustered out September 30, 1865. Thomas Buck, mustered out September 30, 1865. Stephen A. Douglass, mustered out Sep tember 30, 1865. George H. Hicks, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Willis Littleton, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Jacob Steele, mustered out September 30, 1865. Benjamin A. Woodruff, mustered out September 30, 1865. Company I. Sergeant Edward Finley, Niles; enlisted January 21, 1864; mustered out Septembet 30, 1865. „ Corporal John Wright, Niles, enlisted January 13, 1864; mustered out September 30, 1865. Edwin Crowder, mustered out Septem ber 30, 1865. Abram Love, died of disease at Detroit, February 13, 1864. William Norman, died' of disease in South Carolina, February 4, 1865. Company K. William Bailey, absent, sick at muster out. Isaac Horden, .mustered out September 30, 1865. John Metchum,. mustered out September 30, 1865. First Sharp Shooters. This regiment- was organized in July, 1863. Two of the companies were raised in Berrien county. ¦ Company "G," Thomas H. Gaffrey, of Niles, captain, and Company "I," George H. Murdock, of Berrien Springs, captain. For some time it was on duty guard ing a camp of rebel prisoners at Camp Douglass. In February, 1864, it went into active service in the field with the Army of the Potomac. On May sixth or seventh it was engaged in the great battle of the Wild erness, and on May ninth and tenth and twelfth at Spottsylvania in which its losses were killed and wounded one hundred and fifty-one. "For gallant services at this bat tle as well as during the campaign before Richmond," Captain George H. Murdock, of Berrien Springs, was brevetted Major United States volunteers. At the terrible engagement before Petersburg on June sev enteenth and eighteenth, 1864, the regiment especially distinguished itself in charging n8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and taking the enemy's work, repelling the army in two successive charges and tak ing eighty-six prisoners. The loss of the regiment in these two days were seventy- seven killed and wounded and eighty-four missing. Captain Gaffney, of Niles, was killed. Ira L. Evans, of Niles, first lieutenant of Company E, was brevetted Major of United States volunteers for "gallant and meritori ous services" in this assault. Upon the final capture of Petersburg on April 3, 1865, the First Michigan Sharp Shooters were in the advance and the first regiment to enter the city, under the com mand of Major Ira L. Evans, of Niles, orig inally first lieutenant of Company E. This regiment was one of the best in the service. Its losses in killed and wound ed and death by disease were two hundred and sixty-three. It was in numerous en gagements of which the following were the most important : 1864 Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Ox Ford, North Anna, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run. 1865 Fort Stedman, Fort McGilvery, Cap ture of Petersburg. First Sharp Shooters. Company A. Captain Ira L. Evans, Niles; commis sioned June 19, 1864; brevetted major United States Volunteers, December 2, 1864, "for gallant and meritorious services in the assault before Petersburg." First Lieutenant Daniel C. Gore, Niles; commissioned December 9, 1864; mustered out July 28, 1865. Company E. First Lieutenant Ira L. Evans, Niles; commissioned April 16, 1863; promoted to captain Company A. Corporal Jacob Barnhardt, Berrien; en listed January 3, 1863; discharged for disa bility, October, 14, 1864. Corporal Daniel C. Gore, Berrien; en listed January 30, 1863; promoted to first lieutenant Company A. Musician John Jones, Berrien; enlisted December 29, 1863; promoted to principal musician December 1, 1864. Wagoner Edward Terwilliger, Berrien; enlisted January 12, 1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. Luke D. Hatch, mustered out of Veteran Reserve corps, August 11, 1865. Joseph Nichols, died of wounds at Ports mouth, September 8, 1864. Isaac Odell, mustered out July 28, 1865. Wilson Ryan, died in Andersonville prison-pen, September 1, 1864. Oscar E. Thompson, discharged for dis ability, March 22, 1864. Charles M. Wheeler, transferred to Ninth Indiana Volunteers, January, 1864. Company G. Captain Thomas H. Gaffney, Niles, commissioned August 8, 1863 ; died of wounds received at Petersburg, June 17, 1864. Sergeant Robert Farrell, Berrien Springs; enlisted June 20, 1863; promoted to first lieutenant, Company H, December 27, 1864. Sergeant Juhn Unrah, Galien; enlisted July 2, 1863 ; mustered out May 25, 1865. Corporal Horace B. Seeley, Niles; en listed June 27, 1863; mustered out May 25, 1865. Corporal Stephen Teeter, Galien; en listed July 15, 1863; died of disease, Sep tember 10, 1864. Corporal James Jones; Niles; enlisted June 6, 1863; died in battle at Wilderness, May 6, 1864. Corporal George J. Davis, Weesaw; en listed August 1, 1863; mustered out Veter an's Reserve Corps, November 20, 1865. Musician P. B. Bostwick, Niles ; enlisted June 1, 1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. Wagoner Charles A. Knoll, Weesaw, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY H9> enlisted June 25, 1863; mustered out July Albert Shedd, died in battle at Spotts- 28, 1865. sylvania May 12, 1864. Sylvester Berry, discharged for disabil- Alvah Thayer, mustered out July 28^ ity, September 27, 1864. 1865. Nelson E. Brayman, mustered out July John Wallace, discharged May 12, 1865. 28, 1865. William Wiseman, died of disease, April Dennis Broderick, mustered out July 28, 10, 1864. ^65 . Joseph Wilson, died in action near John H. Countryman, mustered out of Petersburg, June 17, 1864. Veteran's Reserve Corps, July 28, 1865. „ Edward Corey, mustered out July 28, o p ny . 1865. Captain George H. Murdock, Berrien Noah Cain, died of disease August 17, Springs; commissioned October 1, 1863- 1864. wounded in action before Petersburg, June • Simon E. Davis, died of disease August 17, 1864; promoted to brevet major 17, 1864. United States Volunteers, December 2-, Jairus Davidson, mustered out July 28, 1864, for gallant services in the battle of 1865. Spottsylvania and during the campaign be- Israel R. Dalrymple, discharged March fore Richmond; resigned December 6, 1864.. 9, 1865. William B. Andrews, mustered out July- John Harvey, died of disease at Chicago, 28, 1865. December 3, 1863. Louis P. Boulford, mustered out July John Hanover, discharged for disability 28, 1865. December 10, 1864. William Cassell, mustered out July 28, Charles Huntstable, mustered out July 1865. 28, 1865. Andrew J. Davis, mustered out July 28, John Knoll, mustered out July 28, 1865. 1865. Samuel McArthur, died of disease at Myron Fox, mustered out July 28, 1865. Chicago, November 26, 1863. Austin Harmon, died of disease at Chi- John McCann, mustered out July 28, cago, December 22, 1863. 1865. Benjamin Long, mustered out July 28,. Lewis Mathews, mustered out Veteran's 1865. Reserve Corps, March 18, 1865. Henry Miller, discharged for promotion, George W. Morris, mustered out in United States C. T., June 12, 1865. August 18, 1865. Jamgs M. Walton, mustered out July Abram Norris, discharged April 17,1864. 28, 1865. Munford A. Potter, mustered out July ^ MlcmGAN Cavalry_ 28, 1865. Jerome Paddock, died of disease, July 6, "With foam and with dust the black charger was 1864. gray; „ . -^ t-. , 1-1 j r j- By the flash of his eye, and his nostril's play, Robert B. Ready, discharged for disa- ^ seemed tQ ^ ^ great amy to say> bility, December 29, 1865. T have brought you Sheridan all the way, William A. Roby, mustered out July From Winchester down, to save the day." 28, 1865. - -T- B. Read. M. F. Reed, mustered out July 28, 1865. Rossiter Sanford, mustered out July 28, About forty men from Berrien county 1865. belonged to this regiment, which was raised ^120 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "in the summer of 1861, and rendezvoused 'at Detroit. It left for the seat of war Sep tember 29, 1 86 1, under the command of Colonel T. F. Broadhead. It was soon engaged in active service in Virginia and was engaged in the second bat tle of Bull Run, August 30th, when Colonel Broa'dhead was mortally wounded. In the latter part of June, 1864, it became a part of the famous Iron Brigade composed of Michigan regiments under the command of General Custer. A short account of the services of this brigade is contained in the chapter on the Seventh Michigan Cavalry. At the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, this regiment met and charged Wade Hampton's legion, defeating it, with a heavy loss however of ninety-one men killed and wounded out of three hundred who went into action. In March, 1864, the brigade became a part of General Sheridan's Cavalry Corps and was engaged in the great battle of the Wilderness, which lasted two days, and in the battle of Winchester, where Sheridan arriving on the scene of battle, as the troops were) retreating, re-formed the battalions and won a memorable victory. The gal lantry of the regiment in this action was conspicuous. The subsequent history of the regiment is that of the Iron Brigade. It was mus tered out March 10, 1866, in' Utah, where it did garrison duty against the Indians, after the close of the war. It was in the following important en gagements, besides many lesser ones. 1862 Winchester, Middletown, Strasburg, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run. 1863 Gettysburg. 1864 Yellow Tavern, near Richmond, Win chester, Trevilian Station, Cedar Creek. 1865 Five Forks, Sailor's Creek. First Michigan Cavalry. > Company B. Isaac R. Johnson, mustered out Decem ber 5, 1865. Company C. John Carrier, mustered out December 5, 1865. Albert H. Waters, mustered out March 10, 1866. Company D. ( Anthony Trombly, mustered out March 10, 1866. Company E. Samuel Nolan, mustered out December 5, 1865. Theodore Parmelee, mustered out August 8, 1865. P. K. Sampson, mustered out March 10, 1866. Company F. Mark A. Aiken, mustered out March 25, 1866. John Abbott, mustered out July 15, 1865. Charles Hagerman, mustered out May 11, 1865. Charles Pennell, mustered out March 25, 1866. Company H. Shadrach Cole, mustered out December S, 1865. Company K. i 1 Robert Diamond, died of disease. John W. Hatfield, mustered out Novem ber 30, 1865. James H. Leland, discharged by order, June 5, 1865. _ Charles Wilson, discharged by order, June 7, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 121 Company M. Second Michigan Cavalry. Second Lieutenant Richard H. Van Atta, Watervliet; commissioned November 12, 1862; sergeant; corporal, August 20, 1 86 1 ; resigned March 24, 1865. Alonzo Bullock, died of disease at Stras- burg, Virginia, April 2, 1862. Harrison Branch, discharged for disabil ity, February 2, 1862. Theodore A. Barnum, discharged at end of service, August 22, 1864. Francis Barclay, discharged at end of service, August 22, 1864. Solomon Brummer, discharged by order, May 17, 1865. Peter Baldwin, veteran, enlisted Decem ber 21, 1863; mustered out August 7, 1865. Henry Beachman, mustered out Decem ber 5, 1865. Harrison H. Cole, discharged at end of service, August 22, 1864. Alfred Cook, discharged at end of serv ice, September 24, 1864. John C. Cleland, missing in action at Buck's Mills, October 19, 1863. Oscar W. Elliott, veteran, enlisted De cember 21, 1863; mustered out November 24, 1865. Joseph H. Fisher, mustered out Novem ber 24, 1865. Micah W. Grimes, died of wounds, Sep tember 2, 1864. W. R. Hopkins, mustered out July 10, 1865. Wilbur Moore, mustered out December 5, 1865. George W. Miles, discharged by order, May 15, 1865. Edward O'Donnell, mustered out De cember 5, 1865. Simon Shrickengast, mustered out De cember 5, 1865. George W. Walcott, discharged at end of service, September 6, 1864. This famous regiment was organized in the fall of 1 861, with its rendezvous at Grand Rapids. Company L was raised at" Niles. Its first colonel was Gordon Granger, afterward a distinguished major general in the Union services. It left its rendezvous at Kalamazoo, November 14, 1861, for ffie seat of war. The history of this second regiment is especially interesting from the fact that the command of this regiment was the starting point in the brilliant career of the greatest cavalry officer of the war, General Philip Sheridan, who was never defeated in all the numerous battles in which he was in command of the Union forces. On May 25, 1862, he was appointed colonel of the regiment. Until this time, although in the service of the government in various capacities, he had not been in the field. It was then determined that his true place was in active engagement on the field of battle. He assumed command at once, and in a few days he was with his regiment and at once went into active engagements with the enemy. The regiment was organ ized, as General Sheridan's regiments gen erally were, so as to fight as cavalry or in fantry, as might be needed. It was armed with sabres, Colts' revolving rifles and pis tols, and was practically a regiment of cavalry and sharp shooters. On Jwly 1, 1862, the rebel general, Chal mers, with a force of seven thou sand mounted men, was signally de feated by the Second Michigan Cav alry and the Second Iowa under the command of Colonel Sheridan. This was one of the brightest minor victories of the war and Colonel Sheridan was promoted at once to the rank of brigadier general. The regiment, however, continued in his brigade till General Sheridan was promoted to a division commander in October, 1862 122 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY In resigning his command to accept the appointment as general, Sheridan highly complimented the regiment. The regiment for a long time, belonged to the First Brigade, First Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. It took part in the great battles of Chickamauga, Franklin and Nash ville. In an official communication to Colonel Campbell, in April, 1864, W. L. Elliott, chief of the cavalry forces in the Army of the Cumberland, in giving some directions as to further equipment, adds — "Having known the regiment since its or ganization and having had it under my com mand, I can testify to its gallantry and en durance. The state may well be proud of the regiment." It was almost constantly in active serv ice and some engagement during the year 1864 and 1865, operating mainly in Tennes see, Georgia and Alabama. It was mustered out at Macon, Georgia, August 17, 1865. Its losses in killed, wounded and death by disease was three hundred and thirty-eight. This regiment was in about seventy dif ferent engagements with the enemy. It is impracticable to name only the most im portant. In 1862, New Madrid, Island No. 10, Missouri, Siege of Corinth, Boonville, Mississippi, Perryville, Kentucky, Milton, Columbia Pike, Duck River, Shelbyville, Chickamaugua, Dandridge, Mossy Creek, Pigeon River, Franklin, Nashville, Richland Creek, Rorinth, .Capture of Tuscaloosa. Second Cavalry. Company L. Captain Bazaleel P. Wells, Niles; com missioned August 24, 1 86 1 ; mustered out October 22, 1864. Captain Richard F. Williams, Niles; commissioned October 22, 1864; Second Lieutenant, March 1, 1864; sergeant; mus tered out August 17, 1865. First Lieutenant Andrew J. Foster, Niles; commissioned August 24, 1861; re signed August 31, 1862. First Lieutenant John Hutton, Niles; commissioned September 9, 1862; Second Lieutenant, September 2, 1861 ; resigned April 9, 1864. Second Lieutenant Joseph N. Stevens, Niles; commissioned April 15, 1863; First Sergeant; August 24, 1861 ; mustered out October 22, 1864. Sergeant Robert S. Longreel, Niles; en listed September 7, 1861 ; promoted to Sec ond Lieutenant; mustered out August 17, 1865. Sergeant William H. Wynne, Niles ; en listed September 14, 1861 ; veteran, January 5, 1864; promoted to Second Lieutenant; mustered out August 17, 1865. Mark A. P. Chipman, Niles; enlisted September 7, 1861 ; discharged April 12, 1863. William H. Barnhouse, Niles; enlisted September 14, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, October 22, 1864. John Lamoure, Niles; enlisted Septem ber 7, 1 86 1 ; veteran, January 4, 1864; mus tered out August 17, 1865. Corporal Frank H. Cross, Niles ; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, October 22, 1864. Orville D. Carlisle, Niles; enlisted Sep tember 17, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, November 4, 1862. Ira Hagerty, Niles; enlisted September 6, 1 86 1 ; discharged at end of service, Oc tober 22, 1864. James Schram, Niles; enlisted Septem ber 14, 1 86 1 ; sergeant; discharged at end of service, October 22, 1864. Farrier Freeman Hitchcock, Niles; en listed September 11, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, October 22, 1864. John Armsburgh, mustered out August 17, 1865. John Bee, died July 1, 1862, of wounds received at Farmington, Mississippi. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 123 Harrison L. Baxter, mustered out Feb ruary 16, 1866. Henry D. Benson, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Ransom Bifdsall, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Ashley Carlisle, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. David E. Cook, mustered out December 5, 1865. Nelson W. Corwin, died of disease at Farmington, Mississippi, July 22, 1862. Getson Clark, died of disease at Rienzi, Mississippi, August 6, 1862. John B. Cisney, discharged for disabil ity, October 3, 1862. Nelson W. Crippen, discharged for dis ability, December 22, 1862. Herman Chapman, mustered out May 24, 1865. Augustus Conrad, mustered out August 17, 1865. James Dewitt, discharged for disability, July 14, 1862. James Dunn, discharged at end of serv ice, October 28, 1864. William H. Dodge, discharged for dis ability, December 4, 1863. Delos Ellis, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Charles W. Granger, discharged for dis ability, July 16, 1862. Hamilton McKean, mustered out De cember 5, 1865. Orrin Wray, died in battle at Gettys burg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863. Edward Holister, discharged for disabil ity, November 27, 1862. Jacob Hand, veteran, enlisted January 8, 1864; drowned in Sopsie river, Alabama, April 16, 1865. Albert W. Hayward, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1865. Charles Hudson, veteran, enlisted Jan uary 8, 1864; mustered out August 17, 1865. Charles Kennicott, discharged for dis ability, September 15, 1862. William Kelley, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Joseph M. Lester, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Civilian S. Lee, mustered out August 17, 1865. Frank Maxwell, mustered out June 19, 1865. Chester Niles, discharged for disability, July 15, 1862. Benjamin F. Rugg, discharged for dis ability, July 16, 1862. Franklin B. Rice, veteran, enlisted Jan uary 5, 1864; discharged by order, July 4, 1865. Loren A. Rice, mustered out August 17, 1865. Edgar Sanford, discharged for disabil ity, October 20, 1862. Marvin E. Scott, discharged for disabil ity, May 14, 1862. John W. Stone, discharged for disability, May 14, 1862. Franklin Stevens, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. George S. Schram, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1864. Frank J. Stevens, died of wounds at Thompson's Station, March 4, 1863. Colonel I. Stephens, died of disease at Nashville, December 29, 1864. George Smith, veteran, enlisted January 5, 1864; mustered out August 17, 1865. George Shear, veteran, enlisted January 5, 1864; mustered out August 17, 1865. Aylmer Taggart, discharged for disabil ity, October 10, 1862. Anthony Turner, discharged at end of service, October 28, 1865. Charles Valleau, veteran, enlisted Janu ary 5, 1864; mustered out August 17, 1865. Cornelius Young, discharged for disabil ity, August 9, 1862. Third Michigan Cavalry. Company L of this regiment was raised by Captain Thomas H. Botham, in the sum- 124 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY mer of 1861, at St. Joseph. Captain Kellogg was the first colonel of the regiment. It rendezvoused at Grand Rapids, and left for the field November 28, 1861, joining the army of General Pope, near New Madrid, Missouri. It participated in the captuure of that place, and of Island No. 10. It then took an active part in the advance of the General Halleck's army on Corinth. It shortly after entered upon the campaign of General Grant in Mississippi and served under General Rosecrans. For heroic serv ices at Iuka, Mississippi, the regiment re ceived the special thanks of General Rose crans. In his report of the battle, in re ferring to this regiment, he says: "For courage, efficiency and successful combats, I do not believe they have any superiors. In our advance on Iuka, and during the action, they ably performed their duty." For gallant services at Clifton, Missis sippi, the regiment received the special thanks of the chief of cavalry. At Wyatt's Ford, the second brigade of cavalry in a severe engagement defeated General Forrest with a force of three thousand. In March, 1863, the regiment was reor ganized, and was sent to points west of the Mississippi when General Sherman assumed command of the military division of the southwest. It joined the expedition to Texas, marching from Baton Rouge, Louis- ianna, to San Antonio, Texas. It was mus tered out of service February 15, 1866, at San Antonio-. The regiment during its service captured over two thousand prisoners and marched ten thousand eight hundred miles. Its loss in killed, wounded and death by disease was four hundred and fourteen. It was in many engagements, only the most important of which can be named. In 1862 New Madrid, Island No. 10, Farm ington, Siege of Corinth, Iuka, Hatchie, Hudsonville, Holly Springs, Oxford, Coffeeville. In 1863 Brownsville, Jackson, Grenada, Wyatt's Ford, Byhalia. Third Cavalry. Non-Commissioned Staff. Sergeant Major William B. Philips, Niles; promoted to second lieutenant; died of disease in Missouri, March 25, 1862. Quartermaster Sergeant Aaron Rowe, St. Joseph; enlisted September 20, 1861; discharged for disability, April 2^ t 1862. 1 Company L. Captain Thomas H. Botham, St. Joseph ; commissioned September 18, 1861; resigned June 18, 1862. First Lieutenant Monroe G. Carlton, St. Joseph; commissioned September 18, 1861; promoted to captain ; resigned June 18, 1862. Second Lieutenant Harvey L. Drew, Niles; commissioned August 13, 1862; pro moted to first lieutenant, Company M, De cember 20, 1862; resigned November 14, 1864. Second Lieutenant Samuel W. Boyle, St. Joseph; commissioned November 4, 1864; transferred to Company D, promoted to first lieutenant, October 17, 1865; mus tered out February 12, 1866. Sergeant Cornelius Williams, St. Jo seph; enlisted September 21, 1861 ; dis charged for disability, December 16, 1862. Sergeant Theoph. Hardenbrook, Oron oko; enlisted September 21, 1861 ; veteran, January 19, 1864; discharged by order, Sep tember 12, 1865. Sergeant William I. Barber, Berrien ; en listed September 20, 1861 ; veteran, January 19, 1864; discharged for disability, January 19, 1865. Sergeant Thomas Mackay, Hagar; en listed September 22, 1861 ; discharged by order, January 15, 1863. Corporal Mike Galvin, Niles; enlisted September 20, 1861; discharged at end. of service, October 24, 1864. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 125 Corporal Patrick Daly, St. Joseph; en listed September 23, 1861; discharged for disability, April 19, 1864. Corporal Nelson Patterson, Sodus; en listed September 20, 1861 ; veteran, January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Corporal Lewis Seymoir, St. Joseph ; en listed September 18, 1 861 ; discharged for disability, April 7, 1863. Corporal Edward R. Foster, St. Joseph ; enlisted September 22, 186 1 ; died of disease at Macon, Georgia, August 14, 1862. Corporal Jesse Jones, St. Joseph; enlisted September 22, 1861 ; discharged for disabil ity, January 14, 1863. Musician Andrew J. Acker, Buchanan; enlisted September 39, 1861 ; discharged at end of service, October 24, 1864. Musician Leander McDougal, Sodus ; en listed September 20, 1861 ; discharged for disability, June 15, 1862. Farrier Robert Badgely, St. Joseph; en listed September 18, 1861 ; died of disease in Missouri, March 26, 1862. Alonzo Avery, died of disease at Cincin nati, Ohio, June 18, 1862. Joseph Boudin, died of disease in Ten nessee, May 31, 1862. Stephen Bailey, veteran, enlisted Febru ary 2, 1864; died of disease in Aarkansas, November 4, 1864. Orrin F. Boyle, discharged for disability, October, 1862. Lacey Brant, discharged for disability, September 25, 1863. Andrew Bassford, veteran, enlisted Jan uary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. George M. Brant, veteran, enlisted Jan uary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. ' S. W. Bayless, veteran, enlisted January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Andrew D. Barnum, veteran, enlisted February 2, 1864; mustered out February 12. 1866. William Blakesley, mustered out Febru ary 12, 1866. Nicholas Bartling, mustered out February 12, 1866. Charles D. Case, veteran, 'enlisted Janu ary 19, 1864; mustered out November 4, 1865. Ezra Dowell, discharged for disability, October 15, 1862. George J. Davis, discharged for disabil ity, October 17, 1862. James Drake, discharged for disability, April 8, 1863. Louis Eckhardt, mustered out February 12, 1866. William Freund, mustered out February 12, 1866. Philetus Farr, veteran, enlisted January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Antoine Geraw, mustered out September 1, 1865. Orlando S. Gans, discharged for disabil ity, April 12, 1862. Louis Grabfetter, discharged for disabil ity, November 21, 1865. John Graw, died of disease at Sodus, Michigan, August 16, 1864. Jesse Hodges, died of disease at St. Louis, Mo., March 26, 1862. Francis M. Hardenbrook, discharged for disability, August 1, 1862. John Heath, discharged for disability, January 30, 1863. Henry Hanmer, veteran, enlisted Febru ary 2, «i864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Henry Hoffman, veteran, enlisted Feb ruary 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Henry Hedrick, veteran, enlisted Feb ruary 2,' 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Asahel I. Howard, mustered out Febru ary 12, 1865. F. B. Hardenbrook, veteran, enlisted February 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 126 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Lewis W. Jones, veteran, enlisted Janu- ary 20, 1864; mustered out February 12, ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 1866. Perry W. Roome, veteran, enlisted Janu- Lewis Lamb, veteran, enlisted February ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 1866. George W. McCormick, veteran, enlisted William Ritchie, veteran, enlisted Feb- January 19, 1864; mustered out February ruary 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, 12, 1866. 1866. John McLellan, veteran, enlisted Janu- ' Elmer L. Ritchie, mustered out Febru ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, ary 12, 1866. 1866. Orrin Roath, discharged at end of serv- John E. Madison, mustered out Febru- ice, October 24, 1864. ary 12, 1866. Charles D. Stoddard, discharged for dis- Henry Mellen, died of disease at New ability, February 16, 1862. Madrid, Missouri, April 9, 1862. William B. Smith, discharged at end of Charles W. Morse, died of disease at service, October 24, 1864. St. Joseph, Michigan, June 16, 1862. Josiah Simons, died of disease at Patrick Mahan, died of disease at Cin- Duvall's Bluff, August 21, 1864. cinnati, Ohio, June 13, 1862. Jacob Spielman, died of disease in Texas, Albert Nichols, mustered out" February August 11, 1865. 12, 1866. John Sfouffer, veteran, enlisted January John Proper, veteran, enlisted January 20, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. Gottfried Siefert, veteran, enlisted Feb- Joseph Prickett, veteran, enlisted Janu- ruary 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 1866. Solomon Safford, veteran, enlisted Janu- Henry C. Plumb, mustered out February ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 12, 1866. 1866. Michael Pollock, mustered out February Adoniram Strickland, veteran, enlisted 12, 1866. January 20, 1864; mustered out February Franklin Ryther, died of wounds in 12, 1866. Alabama, July 21, 1862. Winson Simson, mustered out Febru- Maurice T. Root, discharged for dis- ary 12, 1866. ability, October 24, 1862. John Stearns, mustered out February 12, Charles D. Roome, discharged for dis- 1866. ability, January 15, 1863. John G. Stingee, mustered out Febru- Abram Rosey, veteran, enlisted January ary 12, 1866. 19, 1864; mustered out April 26, 1866. Francis Versaw, veteran, enlisted Janu- Joseph Rosey, veteran, enlisted January ary 19, 1864; mustered out November 4, 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 1865. Jacob Rehl, veteran, enlisted February Delos Vinton, veteran, enlisted January 2, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. David O. Ramsey, veteran; enlisted Jan- James Vanderbeck, mustered out Febru- uary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, ary 12, 1866. 1866. Philander E. Webbs, mustered out Feb- Lewis B. Ruble, veteran, enlisted Janu- ruary 12, 1866. f HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 127 John P. Wood, mustered out February 12, 1866. Christopher Williams, mustered out Feb ruary 12, 1866. Alfred D. Williams, missing in action at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, June 22, 1864. Fourth Michigan Cavalry. r "A new Thermopylae we found. On Chickamauga's bloody ground; And in that rugged mountain pass, He stood our true Leonidas, The Rock of Chickamauga." ( This regiment became famous for the capture of Jefferson Davis, together with several confederate officers at Irwinsville, Georgia, May 10, 1865, by a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Pritchard. It was organized in July, 1862, at Detroit. About fifty men were from Berrien county, main ly in Company M, Robert Minty, of Detroit, was colonel. Emory M. Plimpton was first captain of Company M. The regiment was first engaged in service in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was soon- assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. It took a promi nent part in the great battle of Chickamau ga, especially distinguishing itself at that famous battle in support of General Thomas, "the Rock of Chickamauga." At the battle of Stone River, Minty's brigade alone captured one hundred and ninty-two prisoners. It also took a prominent part in the great battle of Chattanooga. The Fourth Regiment composed a part of General Kilpatrick's force while on his celebrated raid around the rebel army then ¦defending Atlanta. At Shelbyville, Minty's brigade which was composed of the Fourth United States, Seventh Pennsylvania, and Fourth Michigan Cavalry captured six hun dred prisoners. On May 20, 1865, the sec ond division to which Minty's brigade be longed captured the force of General How ell Cobb, consisting of about two thousand four hundred men and officers. Early in May, 1865, Colonel Pritchard left Macon with four hundred and fifty men of his regiment to capture Jefferson Davis for which a reward of one hundred thousand dollars was offered. Davis was discovered about daybreak while attempting to escape from a tent, disguised in a wo man's waterproof with a shawl on his head and a pail in one hand. The first persons to detect this movement and arrest the party were James F. Bullard, of Paw Paw, and General Munger, although they did not know who the person was at the time. The regiment was mustered out at Nashville, July 1, 1865. The total loss was three hundred and seventy-five. A full and complete history of this regi ment is contained in "Michigan in the War." This regiment was in over one hundred engagements. Only a few of the more im portant ones can be mentioned : 1862 Franklin, Lavergne, Stone River. 1863 Middleton, Shelbyville, Chickamauga. 1864 Kingston, Lattimer's Mill, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Stone Mountain, Jones- boro. Fourth Michigan Cavalry Non-Commissioned Staff. Sergeant Major Virgil M. Jones, Niles; commissioned February 23, 1863 ; promoted- to second lieutenant, Company E, March 31, 1863; discharged for disability, August 27, 1864. Company A. George W. Call, mustered out August 15, 1865. Albert Killing, mustered out August 15, 1865. John Peterbaugh, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, April 8, 1864. Otis Shaw, mustered out August 15, 1865. 128 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Company B. Enoch Woodbridge, mustered out Aug ust 15, 1865. Company C. Daniel V. Brown, discharged by order, May 4, 1865. Company M. m Second Lieutenant Aaron Rowe, Niles; commissioned August 13, 1862; resigned September 20, 1864. First Sergeant Virgil M. Jones, Niles; enlisted August 4, 1862; promoted to ser-' geant major. Sergeant Andrey S. Pennell, Niles; en listed August 6, 1862; discharged for dis ability, January 1, 1863. Sergeant George W. Collins, Benton; enlisted August 6, 1862; mustered out July 1, 1865. Sergeant John H. Phinney, Benton, en listed August 9, 1862; discharged by order, May 26, 1865. Sergeant Daniel C. Bickford, Niles, en listed August 4, 1862; discharged for disa bility, March 26, 1863. Sergeant Edwin McOmber, Niles, en listed August 5, 1862; discharged for disa bility, January 17, 1863. Edward B. Griffith, Niles, enlisted August 6, 1862; mustered out July 1, 1865. Sergeant Reuben A. Ray, Niles, enlisted August 6, 1862; discharged for disability, July 1, 1865. Homer E. Atkins, died" of disease at Nashville, February 24, 1865. Charles C. Branch, died of disease at Murfreesboro, May 11, 1863. Seymour Boyer, discharged for disabil ity, May 5, 1863. Albert Brooks, mustered out July 1, 1865. Barton J. Curtis, discharged for disa bility, January 14, 1863. Isaac Curry, discharged for disability, April 22, 1863. Charles E. Durham, discharged for dis ability, April 22, 1863. Thomas Douglas, died of disease at Coloma, Michigan, April, 1864. James Edmonds, discharged for disa bility, June 24, 1863. J. M. Edwards, discharged for disabil ity July 28, 1864. B. V. Fasha, discharged for disability, September 21, 1864. Jared N. Gray, discharged by order, May 10, 1865. Watson Gray, mustered out July 1, 1865. William B. Greene, died of wounds, December 17, 1862, at Nashville, Tennes see. Henry E. Gibney, transferred to Veter an's Reserve Corps, April 30, 1864. Nelson J. Gobney, transferred to Veter an's Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864. Jaffrey Godfrey, mustered out July 1, 1865. Bartlett Huntover, mustered out July 1, 1865. Samuel Harris, mustered out July 1, 1865. Henry Hammond, transferred to Veter an's Reserve Corps, April 30, 1864. S. C. Irwin, discharged for disability, January 15, 1863. Charles S. Lincoln, discharged for disa bility, December, 6, 1862. Peter S. Ludwig, transferred to Veter an's Reserve Corps, April 15, 1864. Orville McKean, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, December 8, 1862. C. McComber, discharged for disability, February, 22, 1863. W. W. Mattice, discharged for disabil ity, May 11, 1863. George N. Marshall, missing in action in Georgia, August 19, 1864. Elisha Martindale, mustered out July 1, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY , 129 Andrew B. Norris, died of disease at Nashville, May, 1864. Roland Osgood, mustered out July 1, 1865. Austin L. Smith, mustered out July 1, 1865. Walker Smith, mustered out July 1, 1865. John Silver, died of disease at Chatta nooga, December 18, 1862. Seventh Michigan Cavalry. About ninety members of this regiment came from Berrien county, mainly in Com panies A and B. Two battalions, including these two companies left Grand Rapids, the rendezvous, for the seat of war, in Virginia, on February 20, 1863. The Third Bat talion joined them in May. The regiment was at once assigned to the famous Michigan cavalry brigade com manded first by General Kilpatrick and sub sequently by General Custer, who became its commander June 30, 1863. The great military reputation which General Custer subsequently attained, was acquired mainly while he was in command of the Michigan cavalry brigade. This brigade was com posed of the following Michigan cavalry regiments; First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh. ' The history of the brigade, is practically -the history of the Seventh regiment. All of these regiments took an active part. in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. On the nineteenth of September, 1864, when Sheridan made his famous ride from Winchester, "twenty miles away," and re trieved the fortunes of the day, all these, regiments joined in the final charge, and this brigade alone captured over seven hundred prisoners and seven battle flags. General Custer in his official report, says : "Among those in advance, my per sonal attention was attracted to Colonel "Stagg commanding First Michigan, Colonel Brewer, commanding Seventh Michigan, also Captain Warner of the same regiment, (Captain Linus F. Warner was from Royal ton in this county and was promoted to a major in October following. He was after the war, sheriff of this county for two terms). Colonel Kidd, commanding Sixth Michigan and Colonel Hastings command ing Fifth Michigan. Each of these officers led his regiment with most commendable valor." The loss*of the seventh regiment in this battle was eighty-one. In the latter part of 1864 it became a part of General Sheridan's force on his cele brated march to the James river. From this time it was actively engaged with the enemy, till the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, having participated in the capture of General .Ewell's corps with six thousand prisoners at Sailor's Creek, April 6. After the close bf the war, the regiment was ordered to ¦ cross the plains and operate against the hos tile Indians. Most of the regiment was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Novem ber 1, 1866. Being engaged with Custer as com mander, first of the regiment and then of the brigade, and in General Sheridan's army in its triumphal march toward the close of the war, it was necessarily engaged in numerous engagements, and received the repeated compliments of commanding offi cers. It is only necessary to name a few of the mojt important, engagements: 1863 Hanover, Va., Gettysburg, Pa., Brandy Station, James City. 1864 Near Richmond, Winchester, Ope- quan, Winchester 2df 1865 Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, Va., Wil low Creek, Dakotah. Seventh Michigan Cavalry. Field and Staff. Ma-jor Alexander Walker, Niles ; com manding captain, October 15, 1862; pro- ' 130 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY moted to major, February 24, 1864; dis charged for disability, November 28, 1864. Major Linus F. Warner, Royalton; com missioned captain, October 15, 1862; pro moted to major, October 12, 1864; must ered out, first cavalry, March 27, 1866; Adjutant Charles O. Pratt, Niles; com missioned March 28, 1864; promoted to captain, December 12, 1865 ; mustered out as adjutant, December 15, 1865. Non-Commissioned Staff. Quartermaster Sergeant Charles O. Pratt, Niles; enlisted September 8, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant. Quartermaster Sergeant William W. Brown, Saint Joseph, enlisted November 1, 1864; mustered out December 11, 1865. Company A. Sergeant Edwin D. Cook, Pipestone, en listed September 15, 1862; promoted to sec ond lieutenant, May 24, 1865; mustered out as sergeant, December 15, 1865. Sergeant Edward R. Havens, Buchanan, enlisted September 12, 1862; promoted to second lieutenant, May 24, 1865; mustered out as second lieutenant, December 15, 1865. Sergeant William H. O'Brien, Berrien; enlisted September 5, 1862; died in Ander- sonville prison, September 13, 1864. Sergeant Edward S. Lang, Niles; enlist ed September 22, 1862; died in rebel prison, Richmond, Virginia, February 1, 1864. • Corporal Harvey S. Reynolds, Berrien, enlisted September 8, 1 862 ; taken prisoner ; discharged by order, July 5, 1865. Corporal William S. Graham, Niles ; en listed September 8, 1862; mustered out De- ember 15, 1865. John Alexander, transferred to first cav alry; mustered out March 27, 1866. Eli J. Briney, mustered out December 15, 1865. Edward J. Brickell died of disease at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1863. George Bridleman, died of disease at Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 19, 1862. Madison Cox, mustered out of veteran's reserve corps, October 13, 1865. Calvin Chester, mustered out December 15, 1865. David Fulton, died of disease at Saint Louis, June 15, 1865. C. Hollis, discharged for disability, Octo ber 17, 1863. Alexander Lowrey, died of disease in Ohio, February 14, 1863. E. S. Lenney, died of disease at Annap olis, Maryland, June, 1864. Oliver Marcott, died of disease. N. Matchitt, died in action at Trevillian, Virginia, May 11, 1864. George B. Matchitt, mustered out Dec ember 15, 1865. Charles Malcolm, mustered out June 7, 1865. Allen C. Parks, missing in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia, August 2, 1863. A. L. Reims, discharged for disability, October 17, 1863. Michael Shrowder, died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia, August 2, 1863. John H. Stead, mustered out December 15, 1865. Spencer N. Sparks, from Veteran's Re serve Corps, mustered out October 13, 1865, Cornelius Sparks, transferred to first cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. James Trumbull, died of disease at con valescent camp. George W. Vosburg, mustered out Dec ember 15, 1865. Company B. Captain Linus F. Warner, Royalton; commissioned October 15, 1862; promoted to major, October 12, 1864. Second Lieutenant James C. Boughton, St. Joseph; commissioned October 15, 1862; resigned June 26, 1865. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY i3» First Sergeant Riley A. Gregg, Royal ton; enlisted August 30, 1862; promoted to second lieutenant, Company M, October 23, 1864. Sergeant Ira Enos, Benton; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged by order, Aug ust 18, 1863. Sergeant Kellogg B. Martindale, St. Joseph; enlisted September 29, 1862; must ered out December 15, 1865. James Barney, from Veteran's Reserve Corps, mustered out June 29, 1865. James Burnett, mustered out December 15, 1865. John J. Burrows, mustered out June 20, 1865. John Boughton, mustered out June 3, 1865. Norman H. Badger, mustered out De cember 15, 1865. George Birdsay, missing in action at Trevillian, Virginia, June 11, 1864. Jacob Chant, missing in action and •gained no other record. James Conley, mustered out December 15, 1865. John Drake, discharged for disability. William H. Erick, transferred to first cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. John S. Hagan, died of disease, Dec ember 8, 1862. George Hartsell, died in Andersonville prison pen, April 2, 1864. James Haskins, died of wounds in field hospital, April 7, 1865. Isaac Hess, mustered out May 23, 1865. William Hawthorne, mustered out Dec ember 15, 1865. Caleb L. Hatch, transferred to First Cav alry; mustered out March 10, 1866. Hamilton Hicks, missing in action at Richmond, Virginia, March 1, 1864. Ebenezer Jakeway, died in Andersonville prison, July 18, 1864. Henry H. Keller, died in hospital of wounds, June 25, 1864. Joseph H. Miller, mustered out June 27, 1865. Lewis P. McBride, mustered out Decem ber 15, 1865. Arthur N. Napier, mustered out August 22, 1865. Edwin J. Philips, missing in action near Richmond, Virginia, March 1, 1864. Josiah Safford, died of disease at Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 15, 1863. Mickle Smith, transferred to veteran's reserve corps, April 10, 1864. Charles Stevenson, mustered out Dec ember 15, 1865. William H. Stevens, transferred to first cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. Frederick Scott, transferred to First Cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. Francis H. VanPelt, died of disease in Virginia, April 24, 1863. Joseph F. Whitaker, died in Anderson ville prison pen, April 2, 1864. Samuel Whitmore, mustered out Dec ember 15, 1865. Company C. George B. Griffith, mustered out Decem ber 15, 1865. Henry Parmenter, mustered out Decem ber 15, 1865. Adam Sinn, mustered out December 15, 1865. Company D. Charles Grisler, died of disease at Wash- ington, D. C. Wesley Griffith, mustered out December 15, 1865. Company E. Joseph C. Cassidy, mustered out Dec ember, 15, 1865. Company H. William Covert, mustered out July 17, 1865. ( 132 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Company I. Second Lieutenant Edward R. Havens, Buchanan; commissioned June 25, 1865; mustered out December 15, 1865. Thomas McIntyre, mustered " out June 7, 1865. Company L. George W. Riley, mustered out Decem ber 8, 1865. Jasper Abbe, mustered out December 8, 1865. Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. There were about sixty members of this regiment from Berrien county. This regi ment left for the seat of war in December, 1863. In the summer of 1864, it came, in collision with General Morgan's forces twice and defeated them each time. In January, 1865, it marched with Gen eral Stoneman on his famous raid in Vir ginia. In March, 1865, it joined the army of General Stoneman on his expedition to North Carolina. This force at Salisbury, North Carolina, captured eighteen hundred prisoners and twenty-two pieces of artil lery. It was mustered out at Nashville, September 22, 1865. The regiment received the highest praise of General Stoneman for their heroic serv ices at various points, especially at Sandy Mountain, October 3 and 4, 1864, and at Marion, Virginia, December 18, 1864. The regiment on its various expeditions, destroyed immense amounts of Confederate property and captured thousands of prison ers. Its losses amounted to one hundred and forty-two. It was in many engagements, the prin cipal of which were : 1864 Hazel Green, Lexington, Cynthiana, Mt. Sterling, Point Burnside, Big Sandy Mountain, Marion, Arlington, Saltville. 1865 Salisbury, Ashville. Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. Field and Staff. Adjutant Manley S. Rowley, Niles; en listed September 1, 1863; mustered out August 10, 1865. Company A. Edward Frazer, mustered out June 16, 1865. Charles H. Fanow, mustered out Sep tember 22, 1865. Company I. Sergeant Joel Turner, Watervliet, dis charged for disability, April 13, 1863. Joseph O'Keefe, mustered out July 17, 1865. Company K. Captain George M. Wells, Niles; com missioned August 1, 1863; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Second Lieutenant Charles H. Palmer, Niles; commissioned June 1, 1864; sergeant October 20, 1863; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865.. Quartermaster Sergeant F. M. Cottrell, Buchanan; enlisted September 25, 1863;. discharged for disability, January 26, 1865. Commissary Sergeant James E. Good man, Niles; enlisted October 15, 1863; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; promoted to second lieutenant; mustered out first ser geant, September 22, 1865. Sergeant James H. Delano, Niles; en listed September 21, 1863; transferred to- Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Sergeant Burwell Hickman. Three- Oaks; enlisted September 2, 1863; mustered out May 29, 1865. Sergeant Benjamin F. Ralph, Niles; en- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 133 listed October 23, 1863; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; promoted to captain in- United States C. T. Corporal William Martin, North Buf falo; enlisted September- 28, 1863; sergeant; transferred to Eighth Cavalry ; mustered out September 22, 1865. Corporal C. D. H. Trowbridge, Pipe stone; enlisted September 10, 1863; trans ferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Corporal William H. Drew, Niles ; . en listed November 2, 1863 ; transferred to In valid Corps; mustered out May 18, 1865. Corporal Thomas S. Stewart, Pipestone, enlisted September 24, 1863; sergeant; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Corporal James McOmber, Niles; en listed September 17, 1863; mustered out June 16, 1865. Corporal Henry C. Redding, Niles; en listed September 8, 1863; sergeant; trans ferred to Eighth Cavalry ; mustered out Sep tember 22, 1865. Musican William C. Winch, Buchanan; enlisted October 15, 1863; died in action at Saltville, Virginia, October 2, 1864. Farrier Henry L. Beecroft, Niles; en listed October 23, 1863; transferred ' to Eighth Cavalry; promoted into United States C. T. . ' John G. Alien, discharged by order July 31, 1865. Charles Boyce, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out June 16, 1865. Moses Binniman, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. James H. Bayes, mustered out June 16, 1865. Charles E. Cronkite, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. John B. Culstraw; transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Sullivan Clawson, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Charles Dunlap, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Quincy S. Drew, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. James A. Donnelly, discharged May 20, 1865. H. B. Emerson, discharged by order, July 25, 1865. Gilbert Green, mustered out July 17, 1865. William Henry, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out. Albert Knappen, missing in action at Saltville, Virginia, October 2, 1864. George Munjoy, mustered out June 16, 1865. -John McLogan, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. F. Parmeter, transferred to veteran's re serve corps. Frank J. Pennell, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Oliver T. Philips, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. William H. Summers, transferred to Eighth Cavalry ; mustered out September 22, 1865. ' Harvey Stratton, transferred to Eighth Cavalry, mustered out September 22, 1865. Z. E. Strong, mustered out July 17, 1865. Isaac Timmons, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Alofsius Tucker, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out September 22, 1865. Charles Taggart, died of disease at De troit, Michigan, March 9, 1864. Aylmer Taggart, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out Sqrtember 22, 1865. William C. Webb, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out October 10, 1865. James W. Webber, transferred to Eighth Cavalry; mustered out Sqatember 22, 1865. Berrien county was represented in other \ 134 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Michigan regiments, although in smaller numbers. A list of these soldiers is given below, First Infantry. Assistant Surgeon Andrew Hobart, Jr., Niles; commissioned August 17, 1861; pro moted to surgeon, December 10, 1862; mus tered out at end of service, October 7, 1864. George Brown, Company G; discharged. by order, June 10, 1865. George W. Brown, Company H; dis charged by order, September 14, 1865. William T. Davis, Company K; mus tered out July 30, 1865. Tenth Infantry. Charles Quigley, Company G; dis- Henry Merikee, Company D; discharged charged for disability, December 6, 1862. February 7, 1862. James P. Clary, Company E; died of wounds, September 12, 1862. William H. Cash, Company E; died in. action at Jackson, Mississippi, July 11, 1863. Otho Cann, Company E; mustered out April 27, 1865. Frank Morehouse, Company E; dis charged for disability. Ferdinand Marchefke, Company E; veteran, December 31, 1863; mustered out July 25, 1865. Thirteenth Infantry. Company B. Lawrence Hand, mustered out July 25, 1865. Peter Higgins, mustered out July 25, 1865. Company C. Third Infantry. Thomas W. Brown,, discharged for dis ability, May 26, 1862. Edward A. Johnson, discharged for dis ability, May 26, 1862. Sergeant James W. Rich, Company E; enlisted September 24, 1864; absent, sick, at time of muster out. Randon Keyes, Company E; discharged at end of service, March 2, 1866. , -, Melvin A. Wells, Company E; mustered eran' ^t^ l8' l86£ Sergeant; ax^and; c^™w „ to*. resigned January, 1865. Company E. Second Lieutenant Levi Brown, Poka gon; commissioned March 19, 1864; vet- out September 2, 1865 Seventh Infantry First Lieutenant Stephen Patterson, Company I; commissioned April 20, 1864; died March 29, 1865, of wounds received at Spottsylvania, May 14, 1864. William Morris, mustered out June 8, 1865. Leander Tallman, mustered out June '8, 1865. William S. Tallman, mustered out July Eighth Infantry. Colonel Frank Graves, Niles; commis sioned May 1, 1863; lieutenant-colonel August 19, 1 86 1 ; killed in battle at Wilder ness, Virginia, May 11, 1864. Company K. William W. Dean, mustered out July 25, 1865. Fourteenth Infantry. Assistant Surgeon Alfred Wyker, Niles; commissioned November, 1862; re signed June 1, 1863. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 135 Sixteenth Infantry. Edward Barnard, First Independent Company ; mustered out by order, January 18, 1865. Horace Garrison, Company H ; mustered out July 8, 1865. John W. Redding, Company H; dis charged by order, May 12, 1865. Joseph White, Company H; mustered out July 8, 1865. M. E. Laughlin, Company I ; discharged for disability. Alfred I. Conklin, Company K; mus tered out July 8, 1865. William H. Doane, Company K; mus tered out July 8, 1865. Dygert' s Sharpshooters (Attached to 16th Inf.) Hoel C. Wright, discharged for disabil ity, October 9, 1862. Twenty-seventh Infantry. William W. Chaddore, Company D; mustered out July 26, 1865. Cephas Earl, Company D; died of disease at Annapolis, Maryland, April 7, 1865. David Ostrander, Company D; trans ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864. Elias H. Tood, Company D ; died in action before Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864. Twenty-ninth Infantry. Jesse Olmstead, Company H; mustered out September 6, 1865. Charles Smith, Company H; mustered out September 6, 1865. Thirtieth Infantry. First Lieutenant and Adjutant Stephen H. Babcock, Niles; commissioned April 17, 1865 ; second lieutenant, Company A, March 16, 1865; sergeant major, November 23, 1864; mustered out June 16, 1865. Captain Henry T. Kimmel, Niles; com missioned November 28, 1864; first lieuten ant, Company H, Twelfth Infantry; mus tered out June 30, 1865. John Campbell, Company B; mustered out June 30, 1865. Matthias Hunner, Company B; died of disease at Detroit, January 4, 1865. John H. Wilson, Company B; mustered out June 30, 1865. Company H. George O. Bates, Christopher Deltman, Bernard V. Forshee, Theodore Metzger, Roland Tripp, Isaac Welsh, Louis C. Wolfe, mustered out June 30, 1865. Fifth Cavalry. Corporal Allen P. Huggins, Niles; en listed August 14, .1862; discharged for pro motion, DecemberT5, 1862. Sixth Cavalry. George Cornelia, Company A';, trans ferred to First Cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. Theophile Gebeau, Company A; mus tered out December 8, 1865. Scofield Ferrier, Company B; trans ferred to First Cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. James Mott, Company G; mustered out June 17, 1865. George W. Collins, Company H; trans ferred to First Cavalry ; mustered out March 10, 1866. Albert H. Waters, Company L; trans ferred to First Cavalry ; mustered out March 10, 1866. • Eighth Cavalry. Sergeant Major Horace E. Woodbridge, Buchanan; enlisted July 20, 1865 ; promoted to second lieutenant; mustered out as ser geant, Company M, June 10, 1865. 336 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Commissary Sergeant Allen P. Huggins, Albert Weaver, mustered out July 28, jNiles ; promoted to first lieutenant, Company 1865. C, May 15, 1864; transferred as first lieu- Battery C. tenant to Company D, July 20, 1865; mus tered out September 22, 1865. Abram Evans, discharged for disability, Second Lieutenant Joseph T. Goodwin, February 26, 1863. Niles; commissioned July 20, 1865; mus tered out September 22, 1865. Battery D. John C. Horn, Company F; mustered out September 22, 1865. ' Andrew E. Ruttan, mustered out Au- John Philips, Company F; mustered out gust 3, 1865. September 22, 1865. Battery E. Richard Powers, Company H; mustered out September 22, 1865. Albert S. Bliss, mustered out August Joseph Pulaski, Company H; mustered 30, 1865. out September 22, 1865. L. W. Dragon, mustered out August 30, Gottlieb Schroeder, Company H; mus- 1865. tered out September 22, 1865. John Shook, mustered out August 30, James Price, Company I; mustered out 1865. September 22, 1865. Samuel Simpson, mustered out August Joseph C. Garrison, Company K; died 30, 1865. of disease in Tennessee, June 29, 1865. Battery L. Tenth Cavalry. Archelaus Goddard, mustered out Au- Theodore F. Brown, Company B; mus- g -rV '¦ -. T j- 1 z a- *. ir , ni- David Lyon, died of disease at Knox- tered out November 9, 1865. ... ^ / 0/C . , „ y' J t, , ville, December 20, 1863. Alonzo Burnett, Company B; mustered TT „., 2^ j i. a ,. ~ , nr Hairy Rmker, mustered out August 30, out November 9, 1865. 86 ? Charles C. Burnett, Company B; mus- ".0 tt- 1 j * a 4. , nr Abram Voorhees, mustered out August tered out November 9, 1865. „, Battery M. John Kelly, Company B; mustered out November 9, 1865. Lawrence Larkins, Company B ; mus- Orson O. Bronson, mustered out August tered out November 9, 1865. 1, 1865. David McKain, Company B; mustered Edwin D. Batchelor, mustered out May out August 28, 1865. 6, 1865. Daniel Redmond, Company B ; mustered William F. Hurlburt, mustered out May out August 28, 1865. 6,1865. Addison E. Storrs, Company B; mus tered ojut November 20, 1865. Fourteenth Michigan Battery. First Michigan Light Artillery. First Lieutenant James B. Finley, Niles ; commissioned July 1, 1864; mustered out Battery A July Ij l865" y ' Sergeant David S. Lyon, Buchanan; en- Burton Prettyman, mustered out July listed March 20, 1863; died of disease at 28, 1865. Knoxville, December 30, 1863. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 137 Nathan Morlan, died of disease at Wash ington, April 28, 1864. Henry *F. Summers, died of disease at Washington, March 31, 1864. First Engineers and Mechanics. Company D. George Scott, discharged by order, June 6,1865. Company F. Addison M. Gustin, mustered out Sep tember 22, 1865. Reuben F. Gustin, mustered out Septem ber 22, 1865. Berrien county was quite largely repre sented in the regiments of other states. A list of such soldiers is given below, so far as can be obtained from records accessible. Forty-second Illinois Infantry. Company E. Captain William R. Townsend, Niles; commissioned September 2, 1863; first lieu tenant, July 22, 1 86 1 ; mustered out Janu ary 23, 1865. First Lieutenant Edward Hurson, Ber rien Springs; commissioned September 2, 1863; second lieutenant May 2, 1862; ser geant, July 2, 1 86 1 ; died May 17, 1864. First Lieutenant Charles Munger, Ber rien Springs; commissioned April 11, 1865; corporal July 26, 1861 ; mustered out De cember 16, 1865. Second Lieutenant Byron J. Dart, Ber rien Springs; commissioned December 16, 1865; veteran January 1, 1864; sergeant; mustered out December 16, 1865. Corporal Christopher Harmon, Berrien Springs; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; veteran, January 1, 1864; sergeant; mustered out December 16, 1865. Alanson Dickerson, Berrien Springs ; en listed July 26, 1861 ; discharged for disabil ity. Comfort P. Estes, Berrien Springs; en listed July 26, 1 861 ; died in action at Kene- saw mountain, June 18, 1864, Uriah Elliott, Berrien Springs; enlisted September ft), 1861 ; mustered out Decem ber 16, 1865. Florimond Evans* Berrien Springs; en listed September 19,-1861; discharged for wounds, July 28, 1864. John Leaf, St. Joseph; enlisted August 7, 1861,; died in Mississippi, July 15, 1862. Robert Morony, Berrien Springs; en listed July 26, 1861 ; mustered out Septem ber 16, 1864. Company F. Sergeant Charles Stone, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; died at Iuka, Mis sissippi, September 9, 1862. Sergeant Ogden H. Paton, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; discharged for dis ability, July 9, 1862. Sergeant David Ledyard, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; veteran, January 1, 1864; mustered out December 16, 1865. Corporal Samuel H. Davis, New Buf falo; enlisted July 29, 1861 ; discharged for disability, December 18, 1862. Corporal Charles Duel, New Buffalo; enlisted July 29, 1861 ; discharged for dis ability, May 28, 1862. Corpofal Henry A. Merriman, New Buf falo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; discharged for disability, September 22, 1862. Corporal John Harmon, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; veteran, January 1, 1864; mustered out December 16, 1865. Corporal William H. Bowen, New Buf falo; enlisted August 4, 1861 ; veteran, Jan uary 1, 1864; mustered out December 16, 1865. Reuben Birdsall, New Buffalo; enlisted August 4, 1861 ; discharged for disability, August 9, 1862. '38 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Marion Birdsall, New Buffalo; enlisted August 4, 1861 ; died at Big Springs, Mis sissippi, July 15, 1862. George Courser, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1 86 1 ; veteran, January 1, 1864; absent, sick, at muster out. Jacob Dingman, New Buffalo; enlisted July 30, 1 86 1 ; died in battle at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. Charles Lohman, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1 861; veteran, January 1, 1864; mustered out December 16, 1865. John Lieman, New Buffalo, enlisted July 26, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, Febru ary 11, 1862. Charles Ledyard, New Buffalo; enlisted September 3, 1861 ; mustered out Septem ber 16, 1864. Joseph Newman, Buchanan; enlisted August 10, 1 86 1 ; discharged to enlist in Fourth United States Cavalry, December 3, 1862. Owen Pritchard, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; died at Chicago, Illinois, Sep tember 14, 1862. Stephen E. Randall, New Buffalo; en listed July 26, 1861 ; died at Tipton, Mis souri, December 18, 1861. William D. Russell, New Buffalo; en listed July 29, 1 86 1 ; mustered out Septem ber 19, 1865. James Scroufe, New Buffalo; enlisted July 30, 1 86 1 ; died at Camp Baker, Mis souri, November 2, 1861. Volney Satteriee, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1 86 1 ; died at St. Louis, Missouri, February 17, 1862. William A. J. Topping, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1861 ; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 31, 1863. Caleb Topping, New Buffalo; enlisted July 26, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, February 3, 1862. Company G. Sergeant Edward Aiker, Pipestone; en listed July 29, 1861 ; wounded; mustered out September 16, 1864. Peter Narrow, St. Joseph ; enlisted July 29, 1 861; veteran, January 1, 1864; mus tered out December 16, 1865. Carlton L. Bunker, St. Joseph; enlisted July 29, 1861 ; mustered out September 16, 1864. N. B. Collins, Pipestone; enlisted July 29, 1 86 1 ; mustered out September 16, 1864. Hiram A. Chapman, Pipestone; enlisted August 4, 1 86 1 ; discharged for disability, February 7, 1863. Daniel A. Warrell, Watervliet; enlisted August 28, 1 86 1 ; mustered out September 16, 1864. Sixth Wisconsin Infantry. Smith Young, enlisted June, 1861 ; killed at Antietam, September, 1862. Ascher Lane, enlisted June, 1861 ; pro moted sergeant; discharged for disability, December, 1861. John Lane, St. Joseph, enlisted June, 1 86 1 ; promoted corporal, wounded in action at Antietam; discharged for disability, Jan uary, 1863. Burton Miller, veteran, enlisted June, 1861 ; mustered out June, 1865. H. S. Purfield, enlisted June, 1861 ; died of disease, Cairo, December, 1862. Hiram Whittaker, Berrien county, en listed June, 1 86 1 ; killed at Antietam, Sep tember, 1862. Eighty-eighth Illinois. J. C. Anderson, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862; mustered out June, 1865. James Boyle, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862; mustered out June, 1865. Abram Kelder, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862; mustered out June, 1865. Seymore Palter, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862. Charles E. Rowe, St. Joseph, enlisted August, 1862. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Thirteenth Indiana Battery (Artillery.) Charles A. Galloway, New Buffalo, en 139 listed" October, 1864; mustered out July, 1865. Seventy-second Illinois Infantry. Jacob Heck, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, October 1, 1864. George Morris, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862; mustered out August, 1865. Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry. Eben Knight, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; died July, 1863. Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry. W. W. Spencer, Bainbridge, enlisted August, 1 861; promoted sergeant; died of wound at Philadelphia, July, 1864. Band Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps. Henry Badger, Berrien county, enlisted May 1, 1863 ; mustered out December 28, 1870. Alfred Bowles, enlisted May, 1863; dis charged July, 1865. Byron Chapman, enlisted May, 1863; dis charged May, 1865. George Claar, Niles, enlisted May, 1863 ; discharged May, 1865. George Fairfield, Niles, enlisted May, 1863; discharged May, 1865. - J. W. Griffith, Niles, enlisted May, 1863. Thomas M. Hill, Niles, enlisted May, 1863. Charles Richardson, Niles, enlisted May, 1863; died of disease, Nicholsville, Ken tucky, August, 1863. Charles Williams, Niles, enlisted May, 1863 ; discharged May, 1865. Twenty-first Indiana Battery. (Artillery.) C. R. Benton, Niles, enlisted January, 1864; mustered out June, 1865. W. H. Benton, Niles, enlisted January, 1864; mustered out June, 1865. F. M. Lushbaugh, Bertrand, enlisted September, 1861; discharged May, 1863. Philander Pope, Bertrand, enlisted Sep tember, 1862 ; died at Nashville, Tennessee, February, 1863. Fifty-seventh Illinois. Ed. J, Brickell, Niles, enlisted January, 1862. Seventy-third Indiana Infantry. Stanton Wright, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862. Orin Bentley, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; mustered out June, 1865. Elihu Bishop, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; mustered out July 1, 1865. Henry Harrington, New Buffalo, en listed August, 1862; mustered out July 1, 1865. William McGowan, Buchanan, enlisted August, 1862; discharged for disability, March, 1863. John O'Connor, New Buffalo; enlisted August, 1862; discharged for disability Au gust, 1864. T. L. Paddock, New Buffalo, enlisted Augus^ 1862; discharged April, 1863. Jerome Tuttle, New Buffalo', enlisted August, 1862; died at Nashville, November, 1862. Allen Vader, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; mustered out July, 1865. Daniel Vader, New Buffalo, enlisted Au gust, 1862; mustered out July, 1865. Stanton Wright, New Buffalo, enlisted August, 1862. Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. Samuel Trumbly, St. Joseph, enlisted 140 HISTORY OF BERRIEN -COUNTY February, 1865; mustered out December, 1865. Twenty-third Illinois Infantry. Isaiah Copper, Buchanan, enlisted April, 1862; mustered out May, 1865. Isaiah Copper, Buchanan, enlisted, vet eran, April, 1862. Joseph Drawbridge, Buchanan, enlisted April, 1862; discharged for disability. J. W. Drawbridge, Buchanan, veteran, enlisted April, 1862. J. C. Fletcher, Niles; enlisted April, 1862; promoted second lieutenant February, 1863; promoted captain September, 1864; resigned February, 1865. J. E. Fletcher, Niles, second lieutenant; captain, September, 1864; resigned Febru ary, 1865. Joseph Fox, Niles, enlisted April, 1862; discharged to join First United States Cavalry. Gideon Rouse, Buchanan, enlisted April, 1862. One Hundred and Thirty-second Illi nois Infantry. David Brown, St. Joseph, enlisted May, 1864; mustered out October, 1864. Pierre Druedale, St. Joseph, enlisted May, 1864; mustered out October, -1864. Ed. A. McClure, St. Joseph, enlisted May, 1864; mustered out October, 1864. Fourth Illinois Cavalry. Simeon Buys, St. Joseph, enlisted Sep tember, 1 86 1 ; mustered out November, 1864. One PIundred and Forty-seventh Illi nois Infantry. James C. Cartwright, Niles, enlisted February, 1865 ; mustered out January, 1865. John Highland, Niles, enlisted February, 1865 ; mustered out January, 1865. One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry. John Egan, New Buffalo, enlisted Janu ary, 1864; mustered out April, 1866. Charles Myers, New Buffalo, enlisted December, 1863; mustered out July, 1865. John Perkins, New' Buffalo, enlisted De cember, 1863; mustered out June, 1865. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana. Charles Fessenhauer, Bertrand, enlisted January, 1864; mustered out August, 1865. Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry. George G. Patterson, Company B, en listed September 3, 1861 ; discharged for disability, March 31, 1863. Forty-seventh Ohio Infantry. Captain William R. Townsend, Niles, commissioned September 2, 1861 ; mustered out August 11, 1865. Fifth United States Colored Cavalry. Second Lieutenant Henry L. Beecraft, Niles, commissioned August 9, 1864. Thirteenth United States Artillery, (Colored Troops.) Calvin Hackley, Pipestone, enlisted March 18, 1865. George M. Works, Pipestone, enlisted March 18, 1865. Twelfth United States Infantry (Col ored Troops.) Quartermaster Sergeant Theodore C. Sachse, Niles. One Hundred Sixteenth United States (Colored Troops.) Lieutenant Colonel George H. Laird, St. Joseph, commissioned July 15, 1864. CHAPTER VII NILES CITY. Although the pioneers already men tioned first settled within the present lim its of the city of Niles, the plat of the vil lage was not laid out till 1829. The village was located most charmingly on the banks of the St. Joseph river which now divides the city into two portions, the larger por tion lying on the east side and the smaller portion on the west side of the river. It would be difficult to select a site more picturesque than that here established eighty years ago by the pioneers of Niles. In 1828, Ephraim Lacey, Elijah Lacey, Samuel Walling, Isaac Gray, William Jus tus and A. Thornberry came from Rich mond, Indiana, on a tour of inspection through St. Joseph valley, and decided to locate at Niles. In October of that year, Obed P. Lacey, a son of Ephraim, Walling, and Justus brought their families and made a permanent location, bringing with them a stock of goods. A mercantile firm was es tablished under the firm name of Walling & Lacey. The customers whose names ap pear on their books during the year 1828 are Isaac Shuerts, Samuel Shuerts, Garrett Shuerts, Thomas Thomas, William Justus, Elias Holloway, Lawrence Cavenaugh, Wil liam Emmons, William Kirk, Joseph Cruissman, Abram Tietsort, William Huff, John Lybrook, Jacob R. Clawson, Francis Barker, William Wright and Joseph Sim- merwell, the last named being in charge of the Carey mission. The books are headed, "St. Joseph." This was the first store estab lished in the St. Joseph valley. Obed P. Lacey acted as postmaster until the regular appointment of Isaac Gray in 1830. Isaac Gray came from Richmond, Indi ana, in 1828, and built a double house, two stories high, of hewn logs, where he kept a store. In 1830 he died. His widow, how ever, conducted the store after his death with great success. The son, William B. Gray, who came with his parents in 1828, afterwards served in the Mexican war as second lieutenant in the First .Michigan Infantry. He was the first recorder of the city of Niles, supervisor for several terms, and a justice of the peace for many years before his death, which oc curred in 1880. His widow, a daughter of David Gephart, who came to Niles in 1836, is now living in Niles with her daughter Kate. Ephraim Lacey and his sons Elijah and David and a daughter Asenath, arrived in Niles on April 29th, 1829. They built a log house a short distance north of the mouth of Dowagiac Creek. Mr. Walling in 1829 pur chased one hundred and ninety acres of land, which- included a considerable tract now in side the city limits of Niles. At the same time . he purchased for Mr. Justus the land 142 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY upon which the business portion of the city now stands. Justus conveyed all his lands lying south of Main street to Elijah Lacey. The village was laid out by Justus, Walling and the Laceys in 1829 and the plat was re corded the same year. The village was des ignated by Obed Lacey as Niles after the name of the editor of the Niles Register, a Whig newspaper published at Baltimore, which was a favorite journal of Mr. Lacey. The Laceys soon after their arrival be gan the erection of a saw mill which com menced operation in January, 1830. A flour mill was built the same year. Ephraim Lacey was a native of Virgina and his wife a Quakeress. They lived but a few years after their settlement in Niles. Obed P. Lacey became prominent in the early settlement of the county. He was the first register of deeds of the county, in 1 83 1, supervisor of the township and town clerk, and in 1843 a member of the Legis lature. He became the owner of large tracts of land, now within the corporate limits of the city, but was subjected to severe losses as a result of the failure of the wild cat banks and losing ventures in the purchase and sale of flour. He was a man of strong intellect, a great reader and public spirited. He died in 1844 in his thirty-fourth year. The Niles Republi can, in announcing his death, said: "By his spirit and enterprise in a great measure, Niles has been built up into a flourish ing village." His wife survived him and subsequently married Hon. Thomas Fitz gerald. She was a French lady whose maiden name was Lucy Pelletier, and a descendant of an old French family who settled in Detroit about the year 1700. Two- children of Obed Lacey and wife now live in Niles. Harriet who married Captain Thomas G. Wickham, and Miss Fanny Lacey. Mrs. Wickham was born in Niles in 1834, and is now the oldest native born res ident of the place. Elijah Lacey became a prominent figure in the history of the county. He was a dele gate to the first constitutional convention in 1835, a member of the State Senate in the years 1840, 1841 and 1861, president of the village of Niles from 1856 to 1858 and the first mayor of the city in 1859. He was universally respected and honored for his sterling qualities. He died in 1862, leaving a widow and four children, Solon and Gran ville, who were engaged for many years in the coopering business, a daughter Hannah and William K. The three first named chil dren are dead. William K. is now living in the state of Washington, where he removed from Niles about four years ago. He was for many years in the flouring mill business at Niles. Granville and his uncle, David Lacey, were both members of the common council for some time. Solon for many years was chairman of the Republican city committee. Morgan Wilson came in the summer of 1829 and erected a tannery. Hiram Chilson came in December and the next year erected a house on the present site of the hardware store of William Piatt. This house after wards became the "council house." In 1829 the Laceys erected a sawmill and during the next year a grist mill. The building of this mill was an important event in western Michigan, as it was a large struc ture for those days and men came to assist in raising from all the settlements within thirty miles distant. Amanson Huston came to this county in 1828 as an Indian trader and peddler. In May, 1829, he erected the first hotel building in Niles, originally a log house, but shortly afterwards enlarged by a frame addition where the first term of the old county court was held in July, 1832, David Olds presiding. Mr. Huston became a colonel in the Black Hawk war and shortly after removed to the southern states. For a time he had charge of a stage line running to Detroit. In 1830, his father, Thomas Huston, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 143 then 62 years old, came from the state of New York with his wife and fourteen chil dren. His son Thomas, while still in his teens, and often on foot, carried the mail between Niles and St. Joseph before any passable road was built. Thomas for some time had charge of the ferry at Niles. He lived in Niles till his death in 1896. His widow is now living- at Niles in her eighty- seventh year, remarkably well preserved both physically and mentally, still active and acute, her memory and hearing practically unimpaired. She came with her father, Ira R. Perkins to Niles from the state of New York in 1834 and was married to Thomas Huston sixty-five years ago. The sister of Thomas Huston, Melvina, taught school in Nnes in 1832. She married David Wilson and with her husband re moved to St. Joseph shortly after. Another sister, Clarissa, married Jeremiah Ballard, a prominent citizen and supervisor or Niles township, who died some years ago, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. The only members of the Huston family besides Mrs. Thomas Huston, now living in the county, are Mrs. Ralph Ballard of Niles, and Mrs. Harter of Berrien Centre, grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Huston. • In 1830 the following named persons settled in Niles : Eber Griswold and Row land Clark from New York, David and Daniel Wilson from Ohio, Thomas Dennis ton from Preble county, Ohio, and Titus B. Willard and Captain Thomas K. Green from New Hampshire. The first bakery was started by Mr. Griswold. The Wilsons established a tan nery a short distance off the river. Daniel Wilson soon moved to St. Joseph and be came captain of the "Matilda Barney," the first steamboat to navigate the river as far as Niles. Captain Green in 1830 erected a large. house on the site now occupied by the "Mich igan Inn." It was shortly afterwards con verted into a tavern which became famous and was known as the "Old Diggins." This was the second hotel in the village, the first hotel erected being the "Council House," established by Colonel Olds. Captain Green also built a store the same year. Captain Green's son, Gogswell K. Green, was a law yer, a prominent man in the early history of the county and a member of the State Leg islature in 1836, but returned in a few years to New Hampshire, his native state. Thomas Denniston bought a lot and built a house on the southeast corner of the in tersection of Front and Sycamore streets, where he resided from 1830 to the time of his death. He was a cabinet maker by trade and immediately established his business in a log shop on Front street. One of his chil dren, Ezekiel, is now living in Niles. Ezekiel was born in 1827 and was engaged in the planing business for many years, but retired from active business some years since. A daughter, Mrs. Clara Brown, died last October in her seventy-seventh year at Niles. Mr. Ezekiel Denniston is now the oldest resident of the city of Niles, having lived here seventy-six years. In 1 83 1 and 1832 the following promi nent pioneers came to Niles : Jacob Beeson, William B. Beeson, Dr. E. Winslow, George W. Hoffman, John B. Reddick, Jacob K. Brown and Tolman Wheeler. Jacob Beeson was a native of Pennsyl- vanit and emigrated in 1829 to St. Joseph where he was engaged in mercantile busi ness. In 1832 he moved to Niles and started a store in a portion of Colonel Huston's tavern. He afterwards formed a partner ship in the mercantile business with his brother William and was also engaged in an extensive forwarding and commission business. In 1857 he was appointed custom house collector at Detroit by President Bu chanan and removed to that city. In 1865 he purchased one hundred and thirteen acres south of the dam at Niles and built a fine residence. In 1867 he sold this farm to the 144 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Water Power Company, and again re moved to Detroit. In 1884 he returned to Niles where he died in the following year. He was a man of native strength and ability, and a prominent leader of 'the Democratic party. William B. Beeson, a brother of Jacob, same to Niles in 1831, and went into part nership with Dr. E. Winslow. in the prac tice of medicine. He shortly afterward formed a partnership with his brother Jacob in the mercantile business, which continued till 1849 when William went to California. He returned in 1853 and purchased the stock of Bacon Wheeler and continued in mercan tile business till his death in 1872. During this latter period he constructed a fine build ing at the northeast corner of Front and Main streets,' where he conducted an ex tensive business. He was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1859 and president of the village in 1841. He was a man of sterling qualities and highly es teemed by the community. His store for years was the favorite resort of old settlers. Lewis H. Beeson, late mayor of the city of Niles, is a son of William B. Beeson. The widow of William, whose maiden name was Sarah Hess, is living at Grand Rapids. John B. Reddick came from Germany direct to Niles in 1831, where he engaged in the clothing business. In 1833 he was mar ried to Miss Nancy Emmons, who came from Kentucky in 1832. Mr. Reddick died in 1868 at Lawrence, Kansas, and his wife in 1886. They had three children, Louise, John L. and William A., who are all now living. Louise, in 1858, married Mahlon A. Smith, of Coldwater, where she has since lived. She was born at Niles in 1834 and is the mother of Carmi R. Smith, the pres ent postmaster of Niles, "and former mem ber of the legislature. John L. Reddick. was born in 1836 and was engaged for many years in the. sale of lumber, wood, lime, etc., at Niles, doing an extensive and profitable business. William A. Reddick was born in 1843 and has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of hardware specialties. Joshua Comley came in 1832 and was employed as a miller. He subsequently purchased a large tract of land in the north east part of the city upon a portion of which the Garden City Fan Company factory is located. Portions have been sold from time to time, but a considerable tract still remains unsold and is owned by Guy M. La Pierre, a jeweler of Niles, whose father was a grand son of Joshua Comley. Titus B. Willard was the first school teacher in Niles, a justice of the peace and member of the Constitutional convention in 1836. He taught school in 1830. Job Brookfield with a brother Mahlon, came in 1830 from Canada, although na tives of New York. Job was a surveyor and was interested in the ferry and at one time owned the "Pavilion," a very impos ing structure used as a hotel. This building was situated on the southeast corner of Front and Main streets and was not com pleted until 1834, although commenced in 1831. In 1832, although only partly con structed, it was used as a barracks by the troops at their rendezvous in Niles during the "Black Hawk" war. The first person , to run the hotel was Colonel Daniel Olds. For many years it did an immense business. In 1864 it was torn down by the owner, Benjamin Frankenburg, and stores were built on the site. Three brothers of Job Brookfield came a few years after his settlement, viz : Ed ward, Noah and James. Noah became a prominent surveyor and was postmaster in 1849. Benjamin, Moses and Charles Finch came from the east in 1830. A saw mill was built at the mouth of the Bertrand creek by Moses the same year. The ferry was operated by Benjamin and Moses in 183 1 and the "Pavilion" was commenced by Charles. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 145 In 1 83 1, George W. Hoffman brought a stock of goods from New York to St. Joseph. He remained there till July, 1832, when he and. Jacob Beeson came to Niles on foot. He soon removed his stock of goods from St. Joseph to Niles where he located a store. His brother Henry B. Hoff man, then engaged in mercantile business in Mackinac, during the same year removed to Niles and went into partnership with George. Henry B. removed to Davenport, Iowa, in 1853, and George to Detroit in 1857, where he died a few years since. The Hoffman family was a military one connected with the regular army. The father, Major William Hoffman made his home at Niles after 1839. He was a major in the United States army during the Flor ida war. He died at .Corpus Christi during service in the Mexican war. His son Satter iee was also in the Mexican war, and was killed at the battle of Cherubusco. In 1832 Harry Hall and wife came to Niles with a nephew, John Hatfield, then a child of six years. Mr. Hall was a mason by trade, but removed away a few years after his settlement here. Hatfield remained, adopting the trade of his uncle and has lived in Niles frofn 1832 to the present time. He is now eighty years of age and has been able to work at his trade at times during the past' year. Jacob K. Brown came to Niles in 1832 and was a contractor and builder. Many of the best buildings in Niles at an early day were built by him. He was one of the trustees of the village chosen at the first vil lage election in 1838. He died in 189 1. Four children are now living in Niles, viz.: William A., Mrs. Thomas Dougan, Mrs. C. E. Fletcher, Mrs. Emma Mahoney. Strother M. Beeson, a brother of Jacob and William Beeson, was a lawyer. He came to Niles in 1832 but for some years practiced his profession at South Bend, and was not admitted to the bar in Berrien county till 1850. After his removal to Niles, he engaged in other pursuits and accumulated a considerable fortune, consisting mainly of real estate in Iowa and the city of Chicago. He died in 1878. He left no children sur viving,., but a granddaughter, Mrs. Ann Purdy,' the only child of his son, William, is now living in the east. . Richard P. Barker came about the same time, engaging first in mercantile business and afterward locating about a mile south of the city of Niles, where he built a fine and commodious residence on the bank of the river.. He was a member of the legif- Jature in 1847. He was for years a leader. in the Democratic party. William .Dougan, a builder and con tractor, came to Niles in 1832. He _subse- quently married Ann Gray, the daughter of Isaac Gray, a merchant, who came in 1830. Mr. Dougan and J. K. Brown constructed most of the best buildings erected in Niles at an early day. Mr. Dougan died in 1849 and his widow in 1898. A son, Dr. William T. Dougan, a prominent physician and a former mayor of Niles, is now living in Niles. Dr. Tolman Wheeler came to Niles about 1832, but removed to St. Joseph in 1835, and is referred to in the chapter on that town. Dr. Erasmus Winslow engaged in the mercantile business at first but subsequently practiced his profession. He was the first president of the village and a member of the state constitutional convention of 1835. He moved to Peru, Illinois, in 1843. Among those who came about the same time were Jasper Mason, Harrison W. Gris wold, Ezekiel Redding, J. F. Porter and Henry Heath. Mason, a native of New York, was a merchant and president of the village in 1846; He -died in 1848.* Griswold was a native, of Vermont, and. was engaged in the grocery and bakery business. He removed to Iowa. Redding was a native of Virginia and was engaged in the furniture business. 1 0 n 14-6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Porter moved to St. Joseph shortly after his settlement at Niles, and was a partner of Tolman Wheeler in a forwarding and com mission business. A brother of Tolman Wheeler, Bacon Wheeler, was one of the earliest settlers of Niles, coming in 1831. He became one of the most prominent merchants in the place and was a man of fine address and native . strength of character. He removed to Chi cago in 1853. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church in Niles. In 1833, Nathaniel Bacon, a graduate of Union College, came to Niles from Roches ter, New York. He purchased four hundred acres of land lying a mile east of the present city of Niles, intending to turn his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1834 he con cluded to open a law office and soon se cured an extensive practice. He was an able and learned lawyer, although he lived on his farm till his death in 1869. He was pro bate judge in 1837. In 1855 he was elected circuit judge of the second judicial circuit of the state, then comprising four counties. In 1857 ne was again elected and served for six years. In 1866 he was again elected and served till his. death. He was a model judge of great natural dignity. He was the father of Joseph Bacon, an attorney and real estate agent of Niles, who died in 1882, and of Colonel Edward Bacon, elsewhere re ferred to. The following children of Judge Bacon are now living: Fred N. Bacon, an attorney of St. Louis, Missouri, and the author of a leading work on the "Law of Benefit Societies" ; Mrs. Hannah Field, of San Francisco, California; Mrs. Lizzie Dobbin, of Faribault, Minnesota; Nathan iel Bacon, Jr., of Chicago, and Emily Hoppin, of Yolo, California. Nathaniel H. Bacon, who is practicing law at Niles, is the son of Joseph Bacon. Judge Bacon was in politics a Republican and religiously an active member and elder of the Presby terian church. In 1834 and 1835 the following named persons who became prominent business men came to Niles. J. C. Larimore, Dr. J. K. Finley, R. W. Landon, Alfred Johnson, Martin Cleland, Benjamin G. Collins, Alex ander Collins, Moses Davis, Dr. James Lewis, James L. Glenn, Vincent L, Brad ford, John G. Bond, Major William Graves, Joseph Mansfield, Captain Henry Coolidge and Harmon D. Gallup. Mr. Larimore came to Niles from Steubenville, Ohio', in 1834. He was en gaged in the dry goods business till 1838, when he opened up a drug store at the south west corner of the intersection of Main and Second streets. He was a man of great strength of character, of liberal education and took a lead in all the activities of the place, business, religious and political. For many years he was president of the Citizens' National Bank and an officer in nearly all the leading corporate industries of Niles. He was postmaster under the -administration of President Harrison from 1841 to 1845. Mr. Larimore had several children, one of whom, Emma, married Francis M. Gray, former mayor of Niles, and is living at Niles. In politics, Mr. Larimore was first a Whig and then a Republican. He was elder of the Presbyterian church almost from its forma tion. Dr. J. K. Finley, in 1835, came from Chilicothe, Ohio, where he had practiced his profession. He was a professor of chemistry and natural history in Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, for five years. He was a man of learning and scientific attain ments, and soon obtained an extensive practice. He was president of the village in 1855. He removed to Pittsburg in 1855, but returned to Niles in 1864, where he lived till his death in 1885. He was universally esteemed for his sterling qualities. He left surviving him three children, Samuel M., Margaret 'and Theodore. The two former are dead. Theodore is editing a paper in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 147 Greenville, Texas. In politics, Dr. Finley was a Republican, in religion an active mem ber of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Landon came from Connecticut, and was first employed as a clerk in the ware house of Wheeler & Porter. He became one of the most prominent men in the county. He was postmaster in 1838. In 1842 he was elected county treasurer and held the office ten years. He was a member of the state senate in 1863, and mayor of the city four terms. He was an extensive •dealer in real estate, and at one time the largest land owner in Berrien county, being the owner of several thousands of acres of land in Lake township alone. His first wife was Margaret Gray, the daughter o'f Isaac Gray. After her death, he married for his second wife, Miss Linda Vought, who sur vived her husband and has been for several years the librarian of the State Agricultural College at Lansing. A son, Lucius H. Lan don, who for several years was extensively engaged in the manufacture of tin plate, u but who has retired from business, is now - living in Niles. Another son, Worth, was recorder of the city for several years. He made a model recorder in every respect. It was his custom to keep a blackboard hung up in the council rooms, with a detailed state ment written out, for every session of the •council, showing exactly what amount of money was on hand in every fund, what had been appropriated and what expended. The aldermen, in this way, had no excuse for ignorance of the financial condition of the city, and of the amount which they could legally appropriate for any given purpose. In 1834 Martin Cleland, a native of New York, came to Niles, where he resided two years. He then removed to a farm in Bert rand township where he lived till 1858 when he returned to Niles. He then engaged with his sons in the manufacture of fanning mills and safes. His son, Andrew J. Cleland, who came with his father to Niles in 1834, is now residing in Niles in his eighty-fourth year, well preserved in mind and body. In 1862, Andrew purchased the fanning mill business and for many years conducted an extensive manufactory of fanning mills, safes and other agricultural implements. He was for several years a member of the com mon council and prominently connected with the political and business life of the city. He is one of the oldest settlers of the county now living. Harmon D. Gallup, in 1834, came to Niles with his mother, Eunice Gallup, from Ohio. They remained here but a short time and located on a farm in Howard township, Cass county. In 1863, Mr. Gallup moved to Niles and went into the grocery business. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church. He died several years ago. Edgar H. Gallup, the proprietor of the music store in Niles, is a son. George Dougan, a native of Ireland and a. carpenter by trade, came to Niles in 1835. The late George W. Dougan, a prominent merchant and at one time mayor of the city, was a son. Another son, Thomas, a con tractor and builder, is now living in Niles. James W. Griffin came from New York in 1834 and settled in Niles, but shortly after moved west. Two nephews, Samuel and Robert, located in Cass county at an early date and subsequently moved to Niles, Robert locating upon a farm about one mile southwest of Niles, and Samuel going into the dry goods business in the city. Colortel T. Griffin, who was a gallant officer in the Nineteenth regiment during the Civil war and killed at the battle of Gol gotha, was a son of Samuel and the father of E. C. Griffin, a prominent druggist in Niles. A daughter of Samuel, Mrs. Lucy Finley, and a daughter of Robert, Mrs. Laura Wilbur, now reside in Niles. Vincent L. Bradford, a native of Phila delphia and a graduate of Princeton, came to Niles in 1835. He was a very able lawyer and an accomplished gentleman. He was a member of the state senate in 1838-39, 148 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY where he won distinction. In 1843 he re turned to Philadelphia and for a long' time stood at the head of the bar in that city. He died several years since at an advanced age. The Collins brothers, Benjamin, John, William and Alexander J., came with their mother from Delaware in 1834. Of this family, Alexander J. is now living at St. Joseph, in his eighty-seventh year, with his son, Eden D. Collins, a boot and shoe mer chant. Until the past year he has been quite well and active, having served on juries in the circuit court within the past two years. He resided at Niles till 1843, then removed to St. Joseph. He went to California in 1849, returned to Niles in 1852 and in 1867 went again to St. Joseph, where he has since lived. He is a man of intelligence and his memory is still acute. Most of his active life was spent in the boot and shoe business, which he learned at Lynn, Massachusetts, where he was an apprentice for two years. He is now one of the very few pioneers re siding in the county who came here at so early a date. An older brother, Benjamin, shortly after his arrival at Niles, opened a boot and shoe store, employing at one time twelve shoe-makers. In 185 1, he commenced the manufacture of brick. He died several years since, leaving a son, William B., who is now living at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Another brother, John, purchased a farm near Niles and made farming his occupa tion. He died some years ago. A sister, Mrs. George N. Bond, is now living in her eighty-ninth year, with a daughter in Chicago. During this year, William Graves was placed in charge of the western half of the "Western Stage Company," and removed to Niles from Detroit, to assume his new duties. Major Graves was a native of New Hamp shire. He was elected secretary of the state of Michigan in 1852, was mayor of the city of Niles for two terms and treasurer for four terms. His son Frank, was a colonel of the Eighth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, in 1864, while leading a charge against the enemy. Major Graves himself died in 1880. He was a man of great nat ural dignity and commanding presence. Major Graves' daughter Belle was married' to Henry A. Morrow, a distinguished Union general during the war, to whom reference has been made in the chapter on "Berrien County in the Civil War." Mrs. Morrow is living with one of her children at San Fran cisco, California. Moses Davis came from Lafayette, In- . diana, on foot and alone in 1834. He en gaged in the business of manufacturing pumps which he continued for about forty years. He laid out an addition in west Niles in 1865. He died about twenty years ago. In 1834, Alfred Johnson, a native of Vermont and a contractor and builder came 'to Niles on foot from his native state. In 1836, he built a house in which he lived till his death, fifty-five years later. This house is still standing and is probably the oldest building in Niles. At the first village elec tion, he was chosen one of the trustees. In 1837 he married Desire Howe, daughter of Frederic Howe. Of their eight children the following are now living : John F., Richards M., 'Frank M., Estelle, Mrs. Kimmel, Helen. I., who married Captain John A. Montague; Mrs. Orson McKay and Charles A. Alfred Johnson died in 1889 and his widow in 1894. Mrs. Montague and Mrs. Kimmel are now- residing in Niles. Dr. James Lewis came from New- York in 1835 and purchased of Hiram Chil- son a lot on the northwest corner of the in tersection of Main and Second streets for eight hundred dollars. In 1839 the Arcade building was erected of brick. This build ing is now owned and occupied by the South ern Michigan Railway Company (interur ban), and is one of the oldest brick struc- HENRY CHAPIN. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 149 tures in Niles. Dr. Lewis, by his will, devised this property to the American Mis- , sionary Association, which conveyed it to the Interurban Company. Dr. Lewis dur ing his active life was mostly engaged in the drug business. He died many years ago. Colonel James L. Glenn came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Niles in 1835. He removed to Beardsley Prairie, Cass county, shortly after, where he resided twelve years. He was sheriff of Cass county and member of the legislature. He was a civil engineer by profession and in 1847 sur- veyed and laid, out the capital city at Lans ing, and was assistant superintendent of the Sault Ste. Marie canal. He died in 1875 at Niles. He was a man of ability and old fashioned courtesy. In 1834, John G. Bond came from Lock- port, New York. He was a native of New Hampshire, but removed to western New York in 181 5 and became one of the founders of Lockport. He was one of the- county judges of Niagara county, New York, and was always known in Niles as "Judge Bond." He was a genial and polite gentleman of the old school, and an entertaining conversationalist. The distinguished Swedish novelist, Frederica Bremer, in her volume on travels in this country, in 1844, speaks of meeting Judge Bond and makes reference to his polite manners and conversational powers. His two sons, George N. Bond and Henry Bond, who came with him, bought property in Niles and laid out the addition known as Bond's Addition. George N. Bond was for several years a supervisor. A daughter of Henry Bond, Caroline, lives in Niles and for some years has been a teacher in the public schools. The two brothers, George N. and Henry, died many years ago. Joseph Mansfield came from Ticonde roga, New York, in April, 1835. He was a dentist, skilled and learned in his trade, and established a large practice. In 1866 he re moved to a farm in Benton township where he died in 1880. His son Henry, who is a teacher by profession, and a daughter, Mrs. Asa Hamilton, both reside in Niles. Captain Henry .Coolidge, a native of Massachusetts, came to Niles in 1835. For many years he was a sailor. Shortly after his arrival at Niles he purchased the Carey mission farm from the government, and tore down twenty-seven buildings, consist ing mainly of log cabins, which had once been occupied by the teachers and employes of the mission. Captain Coolidge in the thirties pur chased the steamboat "Matilda Barney" of the owners, William Beeson. and Erasmus Winslow, and ran it for some time on the river. At one time he owned all the flouring mills in the county. He died many years ago. A daughter, Sally, who married Robert Gephart, is now living at Niles, and is still active and vigorous in her seventy-ninth year. Her recollection of the early life of Niles is still vivid. Robert Gephart was a son of Daniel Gep hart, who came to Niles in 1836, and for a time kept a hotel. Robert was engaged for many years in mercantile business. Another son, Henry Gephart, was a captain in the Twelfth Regiment during the Civil war, and prominent in local affairs. For many years before his death he lived on a farm about a mile northeast of Niles. The following named persons came to Niles in 1836: Benjamin F. Fish, William G. Fersan, Henry A. Chapin, George S. Babcock, Royal T. Twombly, Jacob Gelt- macher and Rodney C. Paine, Dr. Stillman Richardson, Charles Tewett and William Hurd. Rodney C. Paine was born in Connec ticut in 1806. In 1837 he removed to St. Joseph where, he had charge of a branch of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank. In 1842, he returned to Niles where he soon estab lished a private bank which did an immense business, and which he conducted until his 15° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY death in 1873. He was elected county treas urer in 1836, was state senator in 1855, pres ident of the village from 1848 to 1854 and mayor of the city in 1873, the year of his death. He was prominently connected with educational work and was director of the Union school district continuously for nearly twenty years. He was a man of culture and intellectual ability, and of sterl ing integrity. Although somewhat aristo cratic in his bearing, he was kind and accom modating to poor as well as rich and was universally esteemed by the people of Niles. He may be regarded as the principal factor in placing the schools of Niles in the front rank. He was a prominent and consistent member of the Episcopal church. He was originally a Whig but upon the dissolution of that party, became a Democrat. He was never, however, a bitter partisan and was somewhat independent in his choice of can didates for local office. He had ten children, only one of whom is now living, Frederic William, engaged in the banking business at Duluth, Minnesota. Dr. Stillman Richardson, a native of New York, came to Niles in 1836. Here he practiced his profession till his death in 1875. He was a skillful physician and had an immense practice. He had a rough ex terior and extremely brusque manners, but was kind hearted. He made no attempt to collect from his patients and the result was that he died poor. His friends, after his death, erected a monument to his memory in Silver Brook cemetery. His wife was a leading spirit in church, temperance and] charitable work. William G. Ferson, a native of Mass achusetts, located in Niles in 1836, and at first purchased goods in New York City which he sold to merchants in Niles. In 1838 he went into partnership in the mer cantile business with Bacon Wheeler. He shortly after carried on a store at Berrien Springs for a few years. Returning to Niles, he opened up a dry goods store which he carried on for many years. He died several years ago at an advanced age. He was a man of iron constitution, although small of stature, and was actively engaged in busi ness till a short time before his death. His widow Caroline (Coan) is now living in Niles. Three children of Mr. Ferson are now living, Margaret, who married Theo dore Finley, now of Greenville, Texas ; Jen nie, who married Professor S. E. Miller, of Michigan City, Indiana, and Nettie Beiger, of Mishawaka, Indiana. Mr. Ferson was an active member and elder of the Presbyterian church and prominent in the social and busi ness interests of the place for sixty years. Charles Jewett, a native of Vermont, a lawyer and a graduate of Middlebury Col lege, became a resident of Niles in 1836. He was appointed district attorney the same year and served till 1845. He was county judge from 1848 to 1852 and probate judge from i860 to 1864. Two children survive, Irwin of Kansas City, Missouri, a prominent railroad official, and Ada, who married Will iam E. Jones, of St. Louis, also a prominent railroad official. Royal T. Twombly, a native of Maine, who had been a sailor on the ocean, came to Niles the same year (1836) and became a prominent dry goods merchant. He was state senator in 1853, and mayor of the city in 1877. He was a jovial man and fond of practical jokes. In 1878 he moved to Texas, where he died some years since. Henry A. Chapin and his wife Ruby, came from Ohio to Niles in 1836, but re moved almost immediately to Edwardsburg, Cass county, where Mr. Chapin engaged in the mercantile business. He returned to Niles in 1846 and carried on a heavy dry goods business for about twenty years. He afterwards went into the insurance business- with his son Charles. About the year 1878, mineral lands in the upper peninsula, which he had owned many years, were found to contain large HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY iSi veins of valuable iron ore, and these were leased to a company, which at once began to mine and ship the ore. The mine proved to be a very valuable one. Mr. Chapin and fiis son became the owners of manufacturing industries and other valuable properties, re ferred to elsewhere in connection with local history. In politics, he was a Republican. In early life he was a Methodist but nearly forty years before his death became a Pres byterian and an elder in that church during most of that time. He was one of the orig inal trustees of the board of education and held the position for several years. He was a man of fine presence, although of simple habits, and of much natural strength of char acter. He died in 1898 in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Mrs. Chapin died in 1902. His son, Charles A. Chapin, in 1898 moved to Chicago, where he now resides. Jacob Geltmacher was a native of Vir ginia. Shortly after he came to Niles, he went into the flouring mill business which he conducted till the time of his death. Ha was proprietor of the Dacotah mills for many years, and for a time was associated with one of the Laceys in the business. He was mayor of the city in 1867. He died many years since. Benjamin F. Fish came to Niles in 1836. He went to Chicago at a very early day and became a member of the Old Set tlers' Association of Cook county, Illinois. He resided also in St. Joseph for some years, and was township clerk of St. Joseph in 1842. He moved subsequently to Niles and was judge of probate from 1856 to i860. He was engaged in the real estate and insur ance business for many years before his death, which occurred in 1906. He was in his eighty-seventh year when he died. His widow is now living at Niles. George S. Babcock came from Genesee county, New York, in 1837. He was re corder of the village in 1847. In l8S8 he removed to a fine farm in the northeast part of the city, where he died a few years since, at the advanced age of ninety-one. He was a typical representative of the pioneer ele ment, streng physically and mentally. Four children are now living. Miss Phebe W. Babcock, Mrs. Mary B. Fisher, James M., of Niles, and Stephen H., of Denver, Colo rado. James M. is the present supervisor of the first ward of Niles city and has held the po sition for seventeen terms, nine of which have been continuously. George W. Piatt was a native of Mass achusetts and in 1837 settled in Niles, where . he conducted a tin shop. He subsequently went into the hardware and agricultural im plement business, in which his sons, Henry and William E., subsequently became inter ested. He was a member of the common council for several years and mayor of the city. He was public spirited and connected with many of the manufacturing interests of the city, and a director of the Citizens' National Bank. He died in 1887. Four children are now living, William E., and Alonzo of Niles, Mollie Hall of Chicago, and George, of Benton Harbor. The oldest business carried on at the same site is that of the drug business estab lished by Joseph C. Larimore in 1838, on the corner at the southwest intersection of Main and Second streets. In 1848 Henry M. Dean from New Jer sey, became a clerk in this store and in i860 a partner with Mr. Larimore. Mr. Dean subsequently became the sole owner of the business and about twenty years ago his son, Fred C, became a partner with his father. Henry M. Dean died in 1902. He was a man of liberal education and culture, of wide acquaintance and influence and a leader in all the religious, political and business activ ities of the city. His judgment was sound and his counsel widely sought after. He was mayor of the city in 1864 and a member of the board of education for many years. He was an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian church. 452 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah Coan, is now living in Niles. Two sons, Fred C. and Henry M., carry on the drug store, established sixty-eight years ago by Mr. Larimore. The grocery- business at the northwest corner of the intersection of Main and Fourth streets has been carried on for nearly sixty years. In 1849, Otto Moore came from St. Joseph, and established a grocery at this point. In 1852 he sold out his interest in the business and removed to Chicago, where he carried on an extensive wholesale grocery for twenty years. His stock of goods and residence were burned in the great fire of 1873 and the next year he returned to Michigan and purchased a farm about two miles south of the city where he resided till the time of his death. He was a man of genial temperament and of sterling char acter. His widow and a daughter, Belle, now reside in the city. Mr. Moore was a native of Vermont and came in 1843 to St. Joseph, where he engaged in a mercantile business. Mrs. Moore was a daughter of N. S. Compton, a merchant, who was one of the earliest settlers of Cass county and who removed to St. Joseph about 1843. In 1853, John and Edgar Woodruff, natives of New York, established a grocery business at this site. This business was con ducted by them in partnership until the death of Edgar and after his death by John till 1897, when the grocery stock was pur chased by George B. Winter. In 1868, the Woodruffs erected a fine three-story building which is still owned by the heirs of John Woodruff. John was a member of the common council for many years and a man universally esteemed for his sterling qualities. He died in 1906, leaving two children surviving, Mrs. Louise Jerome and Miss Helen, who both reside in Niles. William Hurd was a native of New York, who came to Niles in 1836. Soon after his arrival he purchased a large tract of heavily timbered land in section sixteen of Niles township where he built a saw mill and was engaged in the lumbering business for many years. In 1857 he moved to these lands, where he lived till his death in 1876. He was a man of superior intellect and thoroughly independent, forming and ex pressing his opinions with little regard to the opinions of others. He was prominently connected with early educational work in Niles and was one of the first trustees of the Union school. He pertinaciously in sisted on the purchase of large school grounds, and although he was opposed at first by the majority of the board, finally converted them to his opinion. To his per- severence we owe the selection of ample and beautiful grounds, containing the only nat ural park which exists in the city. A daugh ter, Clara, is now living at Luray, Virginia. The two residents of Niles who have been actively engaged in business the long est are Joseph S. Tuttle and Elijah Murray. Mr. Tuttle, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Niles in 1848 and worked at his trade as a currier till 1850, when he en gaged in the leather and hide business for himself. He has been engaged in this busi ness ever since, but has added to it the fur business. He is in his eighty-first year, but is still active and vigorous and able to carry on an important business, requiring a num ber of hands. He was for many years a member of the) school board and also a member of the common council. Elijah Murray came to Niles in 1850 and in 1852 engaged in the business of wagon making. At one time he employed forty-five men, and turned out over one hundred thousand dollars worth of work annually. He had the reputation of doing excellent work and his vehicles were never cheaply or poorly constructed. Lately he has been engaged in the business of repairing wagons and carriages. He is over eighty HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 153 years old, but still actively engaged at his occupation. He was a member of the com mon council for two terms. The oldest in years of those who have been merchants in Niles and who are still living, is Stephen Moore, who is in his ninety-first year. He emigrated from New York to Kalamazoo in 1834, and came to Niles where he engaged in the mercantile business. For many years he carried a heavy .stock of dry goods and did a large business. In 1866, he retired from mercantile busi ness and laid out an addition in the eastern part of the city, upon a portion of which he now resides with his wife. The oldest physician in the city is Dr. John H. Richardson, although he has not practiced his profession for many years. He was a Virginian by birth and came in 1856 to the city of Niles, where he has ever since resided. He has held various offices. He was a member of the common council for several years, recorder for six terms, and also a justice of the peace. His intelli gence and courtesy of manners, combined to make him a model official. He is now in his eightieth year. He has been during his res idence in Niles an active member of the Episcopal church, often reading the church service. Some reference to the prominent de ceased attorneys and physicians not already mentioned is fitting. , Joseph N. Chipman, a native of Ver mont and a graduate of Middlebury College, came to Niles in 1836 and resided in Niles till his death in 1870. He was a member of the state senate in 1844, prosecuting attor ney in 1846 and 1848, and a circuit court commissioner and a justice of the peace for many years, both of which offices he held at the time of his death. He had a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of the common law and made an able justice. He died in 1870. A daughter, Laura, is residing at Niles and has been a teacher in the public schools for several years. Franklin Muzzy was 'a native of Maine and a brilliant lawyer. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College, studied law in the office of Hannibal Hamlin and in 1843 came to Niles, where he took a front rank as an at torney. He was extremely eccentric, and remained a bachelor ' until his- death. He was state senator in ,1858 and mayor of the city for four years. He received the latter position as a reward by the people for an ag gressive fight against the Michigan Central Railroad Company. He had remarkable legal acumen and sagacity, was a powerful cross-examiner and had for many years an immense practice. His powers of sarcasm and ridicule were unlimited and these he em ployed relentlessly and unmercifully. With all these rich endowments which might have brought him high honors in the state and nation, he was too aggressive and vindictive, making bitter enemies in his own party and preventing him from securing those posi tions which would have gratified his am bition and fulfilled the bright promise of his earlier days. From some cause originating perhaps in early life, he was inclined to be misanthropic. He was originally a Whig, but became a Democrat after the organiza tion of the Republican party. He died in 1878. Mr. Muzzy had many excellent traits of character. He had no love of money, was kind hearted toward the poor, and pub lic-spirited. Edward Bacon was a son of Judge Nathaniel Bacon, and was born in Rochester in 1830. He graduated at Michigan Univer sity in 1850 and studied law in his father's office. He enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war and became a lieutenant colonel in the service. His men tal make-up was eccentric and unique and in some of its phases was indicative of orig inal genius of a high order. His intellect was not logical and he was not a graceful speaker, but any defects in these respects were made up by intuitive perception, great learning, remarkable memory and tireless 154 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY industry. He was especially skilled in real estate law and practice and was largely em ployed in important cases. His brain was fertile and suggested all the points that could arise in a case, both material and im material. He was an ¦ accomplished lin guist, being able to converse fluently in French, German and Spanish. Outside of his profession, he was fond of philosophic speculation, and his monologues upon this branch of his studies were interesting. He was remarkably amiable in temperament and disposition and universally loved and es teemed by the last generation of lawyers who employed him largely as counsel. He died in 1901. Originally he was a Demo crat, but after the war belonged to no party, with Republican proclivities, however, most of the time. Religiously, he was a Presby terian. He was city attorney for many years under both Republican and Democratic ad ministrations. His widow, Mrs. Mary Bacon, is now living in Niles. Hiram F. Mather was a native of New York, where he had been a member of the State Senate before coming to Niles. He resided in Niles from 1844 to 1853, when he removed to Chicago. He was an able law yer, a graceful speaker, a courteous gentle man and highly esteemed. Levi B. Taft came to Niles in 1849 and was elected prosecuting attorney the same year. He was a partner of Mr. Mather and a lawyer of ability. He removed from Niles in 1853 and afterwards became a circuit judge in Oakland county. Cyrus Dana was born in Owego, New York, and came to Niles in 1838. He was a man of learning and ability and acquired an extensive practice. He was highly esteemed for his sterling qualities and courteous man ners. In politics he was a Whig, in religion a Presbyterian. He died at Niles in 1847. Plis son, Eugene Dana, is living at Niles. James Brown was a native of New York and a graduate of Union College. He settled in Niles in 1838, was judge of probate from 1844 to 1852 and prosecuting attorney from 1845 to 185 — . In his prime he was an enter taining speaker, having a fine voice, a good delivery and an excellent command of lan guage. These qualities enabled him to at tain quite a practice as a jury lawyer for a time. At the time of his death he had been a justice of the peace for several years. James Sullivan, a native of New Hamp shire, in 1838 came to Niles, where he re mained three years and then removed to Cass county. He possessed a legal and logi cal mind of high order and for a time, he ranked as one of the ablest attorneys of southwestern Michigan. His arguments before the court were models of clear cut logic expressed in the choicest legal diction. In later life he was troubled with deafness which seriously interfered with his success as a trial-lawyer. Henry H. Coolidge was a native of Massachusetts and educated by the avails of his own labor, at Amherst College. He spent three years at Montreal teaching music and came to Niles in 1836, where he clerked in the dry goods store of George W. Hoff man. He removed in 1837 to Edwardsburg, Cass county, where he studied law with James Sullivan, after having been engaged in teaching and mercantile life. He was prosecuting attorney of Cass county in 1852. He removed to Niles in 1859. In 1867 he was elected a member of the state consti tutional convention, in 1862 prosecuting at torney and in 1872 circuit judge of the sec ond judicial circuit, a position which he held six years. He had an immense practice be fore his election to the bench, and was a man of great natural sagacity and force of character. He excelled in the careful prepa ration of his cases before trial and in the ex amination of witnesses. He and his wife both died in 1884, he being seventy-nine years of age and having been actively en gaged in practice till two months before his death. Politically, he was a Republican. Religiously, he was an active member of the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 155 Presbyterian church, always attending and frequently addressing its devotional meet ings when at home. He was a teacher in the Sunday school over forty years and a con stant student of the Bible. He was fond of all kinds of sports and innocent amusements. He was a natural musician and for many years taught singing schools in the winter evenings. In his earlier days he conversed fluently in the French language, which he learned while teaching among French families at Montreal and he imbibed some of their man ners and gestures which he preserved throughout life. Two children are now liv ing, the writer of this sketch and Emily, the wife of Charles A. Chapin of Chicago. A daughter, Helen, died in 1903. George H. Jerome, a native of New York, and a graduate of Hamilton College, came to Niles in 1847, where he practiced his profession till 185 1, when he moved to Chicago. In 1856, he removed to Iowa City, where he became the proprietor and editor of the Iowa City Republican, the lead ing Republican journal of the state. He was peculiarly adapted for this position and wrote powerful and sparkling editorials. After a few years, he returned to Niles and in 1873 was appointed commissioner of state fisheries. This position he held for many years. He was a brilliant writer and speaker and bubbled over with sparkling wit and repartee, always arousing enthusiasm at his frequent addresses before large gatherings. His first report as fish commissioner at tracted general attention, not only for its literary finish and originality, but for its valuable and timely suggestions. He died many years since. David Bacon graduated at Jefferson Col lege, Pennsylvania, in 1852, came to Niles the same year and was admitted to the bar in 1854. In 1856, he was elected prosecuting attorney. He was a captain in the Sixth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war, was seriously wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge and promoted to lieutenant- colonel for meritorious services. On his re turn from the war he engaged in real estate business and was a justice of the peace for eleven years before his death. He was a man of rare intelligence, excellent judgment and a gentleman of culture and fine address. William J. Gilbert, a native of Vermont and a graduate of Middlebury College, was admitted to the bar in Berrien county in 1870 and lived at Niles from that date till his death in 1901. He was recorder two terms, mayor in 1898 and 1899 and circuit court commissioner for many years. For several years he was a partner of Mr. Muzzy. He was a lawyer of ability, although in clined to pursue the more quiet departments of the profession. He had an extensive of fice business, due to his sagacity, good judg ment and fidelity as a counsellor. A daugh ter, Julia, now resides in Niles. Theodore G. Beaver was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Niles in 1858 and was admitted to the bar in 1868. For some years he was a partner with Mr. Muzzy. He was city recorder in 1864, and twice mayor of the city. He died in Septem ber last in his seventy-second year. He was a justice of the peace for several years be fore his death. He was bright and active and for some years had a considerable prac tice. He excelled in the careful preparation of pleadings which he studied while in the office oi Mr. Muzzy. He was also noted for his attention to dress, always wearing a silk hat and always being neatly and tastily at tired. Worth Landon has already been alluded to as a model recorder. He was a son of R. W. Landon, and a graduate of Racine Col lege. He had a fine intellect, and an excel lent knowledge of legal principles, but was modest and diffident, and preferred the more quiet departments of the profession. He was recorder for many years and also a justice of the peace. He discharged the duties of 156 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY these offices with great ability, fidelity and conscientiousness. Among the prominent physicians who have practiced in Niles and are now deceased were E. Winslow, Andrew J. Murray, Sam uel Niles, E. J. Bonine, Jabez Barron, J. W. Egbert, A. J. Mead, O. P. Horn, Dr. E. M. Reading. Dr. Winslow was the first physician in Niles, settling there in 183 1. He formed a partnership the next year with Dr. Wil liam P. Beeson, but the latter shortly after wards abandoned the profession and went into mercantile life. Dr. Winslow removed to Peoria in 1840. Dr. A. J. Murray is referred to in con nection with Berrien Springs. Dr. Samuel Niles was an eclectic who came from Laporte, Indiana, in 1846. He was prominently engaged in educational affairs and in securing the adoption of the common school system in Michigan. He died in 1861. Dr. Joel Loomis was also an eclectic and came in 1848. He died in 1876. Dr. Jabez Barron, an Englishman, came to Niles in 1839, where he practiced about twenty years. A brother, Clement Barron, was a justice of the peace for almost thirty years continuously and was a skillful hunter and taxidermist and for some time maintained a very valuable museum of stuffed birds and animals. A sister, Miriam, is living at Niles. John W. Egbert, the son of one of the oldest settlers of northwestern Indiana, prac ticed medicine for many years at Niles and had a considerable practice. He died in 1892. He devoted himself strictly to his profession. Doctor A. J. Mead first practiced in Chi cago and came to Niles in 1862. He had a large practice and was a faithful and devoted physician, beloved by his patients. He was retiring in his manners and devoted him self strictly to his profession. He died in 1883. Dr. O. P. Horn was a Virginian who served in the Confederate army during the Civil war and who came to Niles shortly after the close of the war. Here he engaged in the practice of his profession and mar ried a daughter of Jacob Geltmacher. He was an associate editor of a Democratic journal in Niles for awhile and city treas urer and city physician for a number of years. He died in 1894. Dr. Evan J. Bonine was an early set tler of Cass county, moving to Cassopolis in 1844, where he secured a large practice. His parents were Quakers. In 1849, he went to California. Returning in 185 1, he settled at Vandalia, Cass county. Here he was postmaster and also a member of the legis lature. In 1858 he removed to Niles, where he became a prominent figure in political leadership. In 1862 he became surgeon of the Second Michigan Infantry, and for a time he was division surgeon of the Third Division of the Ninth Army Corps. Return ing home from the war, he resumed his practice, which became extensive. He was a member of the lower house of the legis lature from 1865 to 1869 and in 1875 again a member of the lower house. He was mayor of the city for three terms and post master from 1873 to 1885. He was a natural surgeon, a kind and attentive physician, charitable to the poor and extremely popular with all classes. He died in 1892. His son, Fred N., is a promi nent physician and surgeon now practicing at Niles. For many years Dr. E. J. Bonine was in partnership with Dr. Simeon Belk nap, a prominent physician still living at Niles. Dr. E. M. Reading first settled in Edwardsburg, Cass county, and removed to Chicago in 1856. Four years later he re moved to Niles, where he continued in prac tice till 1872, when he returned to Chicago. He was a natural physician, remarkably in tuitive and skillful in diagnosis and in the detection of symptoms and had a large prac- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTS 157 tice. In 1869, he built the Reading House, the largest and most imposing business build ing in the city, at an expense of nearly one hundred thousand dollars. The hotel part is now called the Michigan Inn. He died in 1893, leaving two sons, Edgar and Arthur, who are practicing physicians in Chicago. In 1848 the Michigan Central Railroad was completed to Niles and was the occasion of grand banquets at each of the principal hotels, at one of which Judge Whipple pre sided and at the other Judge Bond. A large delegation of the most prominent citizens o'f Detroit came on to attend the occasion, and Rev. Dr. Duffield, Superintendent Brooks, Judges Whipple and Bond and others made speeches. Niles was the terminus of the railroad for about a year. The period from 1865 to 1872 was one of unexampled prosperity. The population nearly doubled in seven years. The year 1868 especially was one of great activity. The building of the dam was begun, the gas works established, the iron bridge con structed, the Reading House, a structure which cost nearly one hundred thousand dol lars, erected, a new opera house commenced and several factories started, and a score of three story brick stores were erected of large dimensions. G. A. Colby, a banker, built the imposing residence on the west side, known as "Castle Rest," now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Dresden. J. S. Tuttle and G. W. Piatt also built handsome edifices. A system of water works was finished in 1879. It was built by a private company and the water was brought from Barren lake, by mains, a distance of about five miles. The ownership of these works was subse quently acquired by Benjamin Schneewind and Benjamin Frankenburg, who still own them, under the management of , Captain Daniel Sheehan. The city established a public system of water works in 1894. The water is fur nished by artesian wells. In 1 89 1, electric lighting was introduced into the city and over sixty arc lights were established for lighting the streets. The lights were furnished by a private company for a few years. In 1894 the city pur chased- the electric plant and has since owned and operated it in connection with the water plant. Both the electric and water systems are under the control of the- board of public works. The history of these plants does not probably throw much light on the ques tion of municipal ownership. The present board have instituted some needed reforms and curtailed expenses. The history of Niles from 1873 to 1900 was one of stationary life or decline. With in the past few years, however, it has as sumed new life, the population has increased, new and important factories have been es tablished, trade has been augmented, and every one has found the opportunity of steady employment. This improvement is mainly owing to the efforts of the Business Men's Association, organized in 1901. A fine feature of the place is the elegant station ground of the Michigan Central Rail road. It consists of several acres of ground, containing a handsome park, a conservatory and extensive flower gardens. These were commenced in 1891 and the grounds are now the finest of any railroad station grounds in the state. churches. ( The first church edifice in the village was erected by the Presbyterians in 1835 on the site of the present church building. It was a small frame building with a seating capac ity of two hundred and fifty persons. The church had been organized in March, 1834, Rev. Luther Humphrey from Edwards- burg, officiating. The first pastor was Rev. Alexander P. Brown of Pittsburg, a minister of ability and ripe scholarship. The present church edifice was built in 1850. In 1871, it was thoroughly repaired and some i58 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY additions made at an expense of eight thou sand dollars. Rev. C. E. Marvin is the present pastor. A Methodist mission station was estab lished in Niles as early as 1829. Rev. Erastus Felton first had charge of this mis sion and preached once in four weeks at the house of William Justus. In 1832, a class was formed at the house of Joshua Comley. This class subsequently had its meetings in the school house till the erection of a church building in 1839. The first regular pastor appears to have been Rev. W. H. Sampson. In 1863 the church house and lot which were situated at the corner of Sycamore and Fourth streets, were sold to Thomas G. Wickham, and in 1864 the present edifice was erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. The pres ent pastor is Rev. R. H. Bready. The resi dence of the presiding elder of the district, Dr. D. F. Barnes, is at Niles. Until 1847, tne Catholics of Niles at tended church at Bertrand, where a log church had been built in 1831, supplanted by a brick edifice in 1837. In 1847, a m^-s' sion church was established at Niles, and a frame church built by Father Quointel near the site of the present church edifice. This mission was under the charge of several priests for short periods until Rev. John Cappon, a priest from Belgium, assumed charge in 1859. Father Cappon was pastor of the church till his death in 1*892. The corner stone of the present building was laid in 1866 and the building finished in 1870. The church is generally known by the name of St. Marys. The present pastor is Rev. Eugene M. Cullinane. The Episcopal church was organized in 1834 by Rev. James Selking. A frame building- was erected in 1836 on the site of the present edifice. The latter was built in 1858 during the rectorate of Rev. Joseph F Phillips and was enlarged in 1873. Mr. Selking was the first pastor. The Rev. C. J. DeCoux is the present pastor. The Baptist church was organized in 1 84 1. A church building was erected in 1843. The first pastor was Rev. Charles G. Hatch. The present building was erected in 1879, at a cost of about eight thousand dollars and has a seating capacity of six hundred. The present pastor is Rev. Charles Braithwaite. The Second Baptist church (African) was organized in 1851. Rev. J. W. Hack- ley was the first pastor. The German United Evangelical church was organized in i860. The first regular pastor was Rev. Philip Werheim. A church edifice was erected on the corner of Sixth and Sycamore in 1862. In 1899 the present brick building was erected at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. The present pastor is Rev. Frederic W. Rahn. The Evangelical Association church was formed two years ago. It has just com pleted a church building on the west side at the corner of Lincoln avenue and Grant street. The pastor is Rev. J. Wales. The Second Methodist church (African) was organized in 1888. The present pastor is Rev. S. Byrd. The pastors of the various churches gen erally remained but a few years and then removed to other points. Among the very few who made permanent homes and died here, may be mentioned Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, Rev. John Cappon and Rev. Alfred D. Eddy. Father Cappon was born in Belgium of French extraction, and came to Niles in 1857 as an assistant at the Catholic mission, as it was then called. In 1859 he assumed sole charge of the mission which embraced other stations than Niles. He became the pastor of the church and so remained till his death in 1893, having been actively en gaged in his work at Niles for thirty-six years. Pie was recognized as a devout and kind-hearted priest, faithful and attentive to the sick and was beloved by his people. Having inherited some property from rela- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 159 tives in Belgium, he devoted * it all to the. construction of new buildings intended for school purposes and for other church work. In 1872, Rev. Alfred Eddy, then pas tor of the Ninth Presbyterian church of Chicago, accepted a call from the Presby terian church of Niles. He was a graduate of Brockton College, New York. He was a preacher of fine oratorical powers, of dra matic ability and of commanding presence. He was a man of great native strength and original force of character, happy in anec dote and repartee and impressive in the pul pit. He thoroughly identified himself with the community, intending when he came to make Niles his home while he lived, a wish which his parishioners were ready to gratify. He died in 1883. A daughter, Cora, is the wife of our Congressman, E. L Hamilton. Mr. Phillips became pastor of Trinity Episcopal church in 1858. He was a native of Maine and a graduate of Brown Univer sity. He was a fine scholar and a man of great native strength. His sermons were carefully prepared and impressive in thought and delivery. He paid special at tention to educational matters and visited the schools frequently. He was thoroughly patriotic during the war and exercised a strong influence in the community by his vigorous support of the cause of the Union. At one time, by a few pertinent questions, he confounded a rash speaker, who in a large out-door assemblage, was proposing an armistice with the Confederates. The speaker attempted to evade for a time, but found it advisable at length to materially modify his ill-timed expressions, and practi cally collapsed. Mr. Phillips died in 1866. His daughter, Lena B., who married Henry Lardner of Niles, is an author and has pub lished a small volume of poems entitled ""This Spray of Western Pine" and also a volume of tales and poetry entitled "Sparks from the Yule Log." These productions are of true poetic spirit and artistic merit and selections have been made for this work, which are charm ingly appropriate. A son of Mr. Phillips, William, enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war and died in the service. schools. The first school in Niles was taught by Titus B. Willard in 1830. He was a man of ability and a member of the first constitu tional convention in 1835. He taught in a log house on Main street, about the site of E. C. Griffin's drug store. In 1836, an academy was opened in which various higher branches were taught. Dr. J. K. Fin ley, who had been a professor of chemistry and natural sciences in Dickinson College, Philadelphia, was one of the teachers or lecturers. The institution was short lived. Two popular schools for young ladies were subsequently carried on, one by Miss Britain, sister of Calvin Britain, and another by Miss Kennedy, who afterwards married Elijah Lacey. Both were very competent and suc cessful teachers. In 1838, the state established branches of the university at the following places : Mon roe, Tecumseh, Niles, White Pigeon, Pon tiac, Romeo and Detroit, under the support of the state. The one at Niles opened in September, 1838, and Professor Joseph Whiting, an accomplished scholar and sub sequently a professor in the State Univer sity, was the principal. In 1846, the branch system of university schools was abandoned. The Union school district under the free school system, was established in 1854. The Union school building was completed and opened in September, 1856. The first prin cipal was E. W. Spaulding. Subsequently ward school houses were built. The original trustees chosen in 1854 were strong, repre sentative men consisting of R. C. Paine, H. A. Chapin, G. W. Hoffman, William Hurd, Samuel Niles and N. H. Bacon. Mr. Paine was chosen director and continued in this i6o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY position for nearly twenty years. The pres- end superintendent of schools in the city, J. D. Schiller, entered upon his duties in Sep tember, 1887, nineteen years ago. During the past year the total enrollment of pupils was one thousand and forty-two and the en rollment in the high school was one hundred and forty-two. The schools under the man agement of Professor Schiller have attained a high degree of efficiency and the number of scholars who have been admitted into the State University from our high school has been large. The present trustees are Dr. William I. Tyler, Dr. William T. Dougan, W. W. Newman, J. E. French and Dr. J. D. Greena- myer. Dr. Tyler is president; Dr. Greena- myer director and secretary, and Dr. Dou gan treasurer. I NILES PUBLIC LIBRARY. This library was organized in 1903, mainly through the efforts of ladies of Niles. Mr. Andrew Carnegie appropriated fifteen thousand dollars for the building and citizens made donations to the amount of about thirty-five hundred dollars for a site. The common council has made an appropriation of fifteen hundred a year for the support of the library. The library was opened for public use in November, 1904. The Ladies Library Association which had been organized some twenty-five years before, donated a large collection of books to the public library and a large portion of the previous public school library was also contributed. Liberal donations of books were made by citizens. The present library board consists of Prof. J. D. Schiller, president; Fred M. Dean, vice-president; Mrs. Louise Jerome, treasurer; Mrs. W. I. Tyler, secretary; Rev. E. M. Cullinane, Eu gene C. Dana, Miss Alice Quimby, Judge J. J. Van Riper and Dr. Z. L. Baldwin. Miss Orrill P. Coolidge is librarian and has occupied the position since the organiza tion of the library. The number of volumes is fifty-two hundred and three. The number of separate individuals who have taken books is nineteen hundred and sixteen. The total circulation for the year 'ending May 1, 1906, was twenty thousand, four hun dred and eighty-three volumes. Thirty- eight magazines are taken and several news papers. A very valuable addition to the li brary was made by the presentation of files of Niles newspapers, most of them bound, running almost unbroken from 1835 to the present time. Messrs. Fred Cook of the Star 'and George E. Gillam of the Sun made the most extensive donations in this department. The number of patrons for so small a town is unusually large and shows the popu lar interest taken in the library by the masses. BANKS. The first bank was the "Bank of Niles" and was organized in 1836. Jacob Beeson was president, and George W. Hoffman, cashier. The Berrien County Bank was organized afterwards but the same year. Both of these banks belonged to the "Wild Cat" order and failed in about three years. A reference to the Wild Cat Banks is made elsewhere. In 1 84 1 Rodney C. Paine established at Niles an agency of the Farmers' and Me chanics' Bank. This he carried on till 1848, when he established a private bank of his own, which he conducted till his death in 1873- The Citizens' National Bank was estab lished in 1 86 1. J. C. Larimore was chosen president and O. S. Abbott, cashier. Beside these two gentlemen, the directors were G. W. Piatt, J. S. Tuttle, F. M. Gray, M. D. Matteson and E. P. Hill. The capital was fifty thousand dollars. The bank failed in 1899 and went into the hands of a receiver. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 161 None of the original officers were then con nected with the bank. The First National Bank was organized in 1870 with the following directors: T. L. Stevens, David Rough, R. C. Paine, R. W. Landon and George Kimmel. Mr. Landon was chosen president and Mr. Stevens cash ier. The capital was $100,000. In March, 1 90 1, the bank failed and went into the hands of a receiver. At the time of the fail ure, none of the original officers were con nected with the bank. Upon the failure of the latter bank the city was without any bank for a few days. On March 23, 1901, a new bank was estab lished on the site of the Citizens' Bank by Snell & Company. This is a private bank owned by Richard Snell and W. W. New man. Mr. Newman is president, Mr. Snell vice-president, and Charles Wood, cashier. Another bank was established on the site of the First National Bank, March, 1901. This is a state bank and the officers are: Charles F. Pears, president ; George L. Fau- rote, vice-president, and Dickson S. Scof- fern, cashier. manufacturing industries. The first saw mill was erected in 1829 by Ephraim and Elijah Lacey. The first grist mill was erected by them in 1830. In 1847 Samuel B. Finley built the Volant Flour Mill. In 1850 the Depot and Dacotah flour mills were built by Elijah and David Lacey. In 1855 Jacob Geltmacher became pro prietor of the Dacotah flour mill. In 1868 Gilbert A. Colby built the brick flour mill about one mile north of the center of the city. This mill was called the "Lin den Mill." In 1 88 1, the various mills were consoli dated under the name of the Niles Milling Company. E. S. Badger was president, W. K. Lacey, vice-president, and C. A. Barnard, secretary and treasurer. This milling com- 11 pany has been owned and operated for sev eral years by E. S. Badger. In 1842 a dam was partially built across the St. Joseph river at the foot of Main street by a company called the Niles Hy draulic Company and Niles Manufacturing Company. A lock was placed at the west end'to allow the passage of boats. In 1843 before the final completion of the dam it was partially carried away by a flood and the work was abandoned. A dam was built about 1857 across the Dowagiac creek, a short distance above its outlet into the St. Joseph river. A race one hundred rods long conducted the water from the pond to furnish power for the flour mills of the Laceys and Geltmacher. An other race north was built to furnish water for the Linden mills. In 1867 a company called the Niles Man ufacturing Company was organized and commenced building the dam at its present site. The dam was finished in 1871. In 1872 the company sold their interest in, the water power on the west side of the river to J. W. French and J. B. Millard. In 1872 the Niles Paper Mills purchased a considerable portion of the interest of the Manufacturing Company in the water power on the east side. The interests of the Niles Manufacturing Company were purchased in 1877 by the Niles Water Power Company, which assumed the debts of the former con cern. Messrs. French and Millard in 1872 organized the Michigan Wood Pulp Com pany on the west side of the river, wjiich has been in operation ever since. Mr. Millard sold out his interest many years since to Mr. French and sons. Later the company was incorporated under the name of the French Paper Company, the largest factory in the city. It employs two hundred men .and twenty-five women, has a business amount ing to about seven hundred and fifty thous-, and dollars per year and a pay roll of one hundred and ten thousand dollars per year. The company manufactures ground wood 1 62 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY pulp, pulp box boards, pulp pie plates and book and lithograph paper. The officers are J. W. French, President ; W. J. Willits, vice- president; J. E. French, secretary and F. F. French, treasurer. In 1872, the Niles Paper Mill was organ ized and started business on the east side. A. A. Jacks was president and B. F. Fish, treasurer. A controlling interest was sub sequently acquired by Henry A. Chapin and his son, Charles A. Chapin. The Ohio Paper Company was organ ized by B. C. Faurote and others of Lima, Ohio, about 1881. The Niles Paper Mill Company and the Ohio Paper Company sub sequently became merged under one man agement, and in 1899 a new company in place of the two former was incorporated,, called the Niles Board & Paper Company. This company and the French Paper Com pany own the entire water power. The Niles Board and Paper Company employ about ninety men with a pay roll of thirty-six thousand dollars per year. The company has been engaged in the manufac ture of combination wood pulp and straw boards. It has also one mill for the manu facture of roofing felt. The officers are: Charles A. Chapin, president; H. C. Chapin, secretary, and A. F. Bither, manager. The Garden City Fan Company was es tablished in Chicago in 1879 and removed its manufacturing plant to Niles about four years ago. It manufactures fans, blowers, heating and ventilating apparatus by fan system and lower dry kiln apparatus and ac cessories. It employs about one hundred employees. The president is W. W. Green and the secretary and treasurer, E. D. Green. In 1863 a furniture business was started by Joseph Skalla, Sr., a skillful cabinet maker. In 1876 the present Joseph Skalla Furniture Company was organized by Joseph Skalla, Sr. and his sons Joseph, Jr., John, Albert and Frank. Since the death of Joseph Skalla, Sr., and John, the business has been carried on by the survivors. The' business in late years has been extensive and the pro duct is sold in many adjoining states. The Kompass & Stoll Furniture Com pany was incorporated in 1897 and em ploys forty-five men. They manufacture exclusively kitchen furniture. The officers- are, R. F. Kompass, president, and Matthew , Stoll, secretary and treasurer. Messrs. Kompass and Stoll first established the fur niture business at Buchanan, but moved to Niles in 1895. Their business is now large and steadily increasing. The Earl-Storms Company was incor porated in 1 89 1 by a number of Niles citi zens, the principal shareholders being. B. F. Earl and E. B. Storms. In 1893 Mr- Earl became the sole owner. The company man ufactures sewing tables, card tables, com modes and other furniture specialties. The goods are almost all marketed in New York city, being shipped direct in car loads. The company employs from fifteen to twenty- five men. The Reddick Hardware Specialties is owned by W. A. Reddick. The business was established in 1880. The goods princi pally manufactured are wire potato scoops, flesh forks and wire doll beds. . The number of hands employed is thirty-five, wages range from five to twelve dollars per week. A considerable export trade is done with Eng land and Australia. The National Printing & Engraving Company was organized in Chicago in 1876. In 1 901 the manufacturing plant was re moved to Niles and large building's were erected. This company makes a specialty of theatrical printing, including lithoghaph- ing, wood work and type work. It is the only concern in the United States which does all the work necessary to fit out a theatrical company complete in this line. The company employs from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five hands, some of whom are artists and receive handsome wages. The officers are, E. H. Macoy, president; HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 163 J. D. Barton, vice president; E. H. Macoy, Jr., secretary and treasurer; Frank R. Sleyer, superintendent. The home of the latter is in Niles. The Niles Steel Tank Company, a suc cessor of the Freeland Manufacturing Com- " pany, was organized in 1906. The company manufactures steel tanks and is now increas ing its business. The officers are, L. E. Wood, president; E. E. Wood, vice-presi dent, and J. W. Wood, secretary and man ager. The National Rawhide and Belting Com pany' was organized several years ago and manufacturers surface tan belts, oak tan belts and various other articles. Recently it passed into the hands of Chicago parties, who propose to materially increase the busi ness. The officers are, T. J. Shant, presi dent; L. C. Ehler, secretary and treasurer. A foundry was established at an early day by W. J. Welling, with whom was sub sequently associated his son, Allison. They were engaged for a short time in the manu facture of plows. Since the death of W. J. Welling, his son, Allison, has carried on the business on Front street and has recently erected a large brick building. Another important industry lately intro duced is the National Wire Cloth Company, which manufactures wire cloth. building and loan associations. One of the most important industrial fea tures in the life of the city has been the or ganization .and development of Building and Loan Associations. The first company, the Niles Building and Loan Association, was organized in 1891. Since then six ad ditional companies have been organized and all of them so far have been remarkably suc cessful and managed with great economy and ability. Four of these companies have matured, realizing an interest income of from nine to ten per cent. As a result of the organization of these companies about three hundred and fifty buildings, mostly res idences, have been put up within the last fifteen years. The average duration of these companies has been eleven years. The losses incurred have been trifling and no other city in the state has been more successful in the management and development of this class of companies. The presidents and clerks of the village of Niles were as follows : Presidents. Erasmus Winslow T839 Jacob Beeson 1840 Wm. B. Beeson 1841 Geo. Goodman 1842 John K. Finley 1843 C. K. Green 1844 Wm. Graves 1845 Jasper Mason 1846 A. J. Clark 1847 R. C. Paine 1848-1854 J. K. Finley 1855 Elijah Lacey 1856-1858 Mayors of the City. Elijah Lacey 1859 R. W. Landon 1860-1862 H. M. Dean 1863 A. S. Howard 1864 R. W. Landon 1865 E. J. Bonine 1866 J. Geltmacher 1867 E. J. Bonine 1868 F. L. Muzzy 1869-1872 R. C. Paine 1873 S. G. Krick 1874 Wm. Graves 1875-1876 R. T. Twombly 1877 G. W. Piatt 1878 S. G. Krick 1879 F. M. Gray 1880-1881 Benj. Frankenberg 1882 Cholwell .Knox 1883 T. G Beaver 1884 W. I. Babcock 1885-1886 G. W. Dougan 1887 E. J. Bonine 1888 1 64 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY T. G. Beaver . . : 1889 O. W. Coolidge 1890-1891 W. T. Dougan 1892 J. E. French 1893 E. C. Woodcock 1894-1895 F. W. Richter 1896-1897 W. J. Gilbert..., 1898-1899 F. N. Bonine 1900 Z. L. Baldwin 1901-1902 C. R. Smith 1903 (Resigned before expiration of term). L. E. Wood . . 1903 (Acting Mayor). L. H. Beeson 1904 Matt. Stoll 1905-1906 Clerks. G. W. Hoffman 1839-1842 Jas. Brown 1843-1844 Theo. Fowler 1845 David Aitken 1846 G. S. Babcock '. . . . 1847 G. W. Hoffman 1848 L B. Taft 1849 W. H. Jones 1850 Thos. Fitzgerald 1852-1853 Theo. Fowler 1854 T. T. Glenn 1855 R. W. Landon 1856-1858 Recorders. W. B. Gray 1859 W. C. Fish 1 8601862 Theo. Fowler 1863 T. G. Beaver 1864 J. B. Fitzgerald 1865-1868 J. H. Fairchild 1869-1870 J. H. Richardson 1871-1772 E. G. Houghland 1873-1874 W. J. Gilbert 1875-1876 J. H. Richardson 1877- 1880 Worth Landon 1881-1886 Geo. Lambert 1887-1888 Worth Landon 1889-1892 Z. L Cooper 1893-1897 Clerks. L. J. Morgan 1897-1905 Carl Whetstone 1905-1906 The following is a list of the supervisors of the city of Niles, since it was incorpor ated:R. W. Landon 1859 C. I. Kellogg i860 M. V. B. Charles 1861-1864 W. B. Gray 1865 Joel Loomis 1866 D. O. Woodruff 1867-1869 Geo. N. Bond 1867-1869 W. J. Edwards 1870-1874 R. K. Charles 1870-1871 S. H. Griffin 1872 R. K. Charles 1873 J. P. Howlett 1874-1876 W. A. Reddick 1875-1876 J. A. Lambert 1877 M. A. Davison 1877 W. A. Reddick 1878 Frank Brownell 1878 J. C. Brown 1879-1882 M. A. Davison 1879 J. P. Howlett 1880 C. L. Barron 1881 G A. Lambert 1882-1886 Wm. Stone 1883 J. M. Babcock 1884-1890 J. A. Peck 1887-1899 S. S. Beall 1891-1906 H. S. Forler 1897 J. E. Harder 1897 * J. M. Babcock 1898-190& W. S. Smith 1899-1906- Dan'l. Sheehan 1900-1902 J. A. Peck 1 903-1906 The following, named persons have served as postmasters, commencing at the dates mentioned : Obed P. Lacey, acting postmaster.. 1828- Isaac Gray, commissioned 1830- Obed P. Lacey 1831 Titus B. Willard 1833. Cogswell K. Green 1835 Zebulon P. Mason 1836- Edwin N. Bridges 1837 Rufus W. Landon 1838. Jos. C. Larimore 184L HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 165 S. W. B. Chester 1845 Noah Brookfield 1849 Geo. Goodman 185 1 W. H. McOmber 1853 Francis Quinn 1861 Harvey Palmer 1863 Wm. J. Edwards 1867 Edwin S. Jewett 1869 Evan J. Bonine 1873 Wm. J. Edwards 1885 Lawson A. Duncan 1889 Jas. M. Babcock 1893 Edwin S. Williams (died in office) . . 1897 Carmi R. Smith, present incumbent. . 1903 CHAPTER VIII NILES TOWNSHIP. In the meantime, while Niles was begin ning to- merge into a small hamlet, the lands in the vicinity were being cleared. The soil of the township is mostly fertile, productive and well adapted for cereals. A large por tion was originally covered with heavy tim bered lands, black-walnut grew in abund ance upon some lands in the northwestern part and some farmers, who kept their black- walnut trees till prices became high, rea lized handsome sums from the sale of them. The St. Joseph river, which runs in a meand ering course through the township for a dis tance of nearly fifteen miles, is hemmed in for considerable of the way by high and pic turesque bluffs, still covered with trees. The first entries of land in Berrien county were made in 1829, as the survey of the county was not made till that year, and no land sold prior to that time by the United States government. The first entries in Niles township were made by the following- named persons. Wil liam Justus, Elijah Lacey, Ephraim Lacey, Stephen and Samuel Salee, Joseph Stephens, John Ritter, Alexander Rogers, Jacob Mil ler, Joseph Bertrand, Jr., and Leon Bou- rasas. Some of these entries were made for village purposes. It is also to be observed that the entries often do not show the date of actual occupancy. Lands were some times occupied long before the entry was made, and often not till some time after-. wards. Among the earliest of the settlers was Stephen Salee, who located in 1828 -on the banks of the St. Joseph river about a mile northwest of Niles. Mr. Salee was a Polander who fought against Napoleon dur ing his disastrous Russian campaign of 181 2, and came to this country shortly after. He came to Niles from Preble county, Ohio, where he had been engaged in mercantile business. His journey was made with a wife and two children in a covered wagon, loaded with three barrels of whiskey, a sack of coffee and other necessaries of those days. He built a large log cabin, in which he re sided and also carried on a store. The first wedding in the township occurred here, one William Barlow being the bridegroom and Pitt Brown, a justice of the peace of Ber rien township, the officiating magistrate. Eli Ford, who had emigrated from Indi ana to Pokagon Prairie in 1826 or 1827, constructed a flour mill on Dowagiac creek, in 1828, on the site of what was afterwards- known as the "Yellow Mill." It was the first grist mill run by water power, which was built in Berrien county. The first bolter con sisted of a bridal muslin dress which Mrs. Ford furnished. This grist mill for some time had a large patronage of farmers from Pokagon, Beardsley's and other prairies in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 167 Cass county. A saw mill was soon after built by Mr. Ford, at about the same site. In the same year Cornelius Sparks and his wife, whose maiden name was Susanna Stevens, located in section 15 in the bend of the river, near Salee. Mr. Sparks was a native of North Carolina, but emigrated to Indiana in 18 14, where he lived till he moved to Berrien county. Mr. Sparks died in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks were the parents of eleven children, three of whom were born in Michigan. Some mention of this remark able family should be made. The ages of seven of these children have ranged from seventy-five to' ninety-one and the descen dants of Cornelius Sparks and wife now number several hundreds. Wilson Sparks, a son, enjoys the dis tinction of being the second oldest native born resident of Berrien county now living. He was born in Niles township April 19, 1830, is now living at Benton Harbor, and is still well preserved for a* man of his age. He has resided in Benton Harbor for twenty years. He has a vivid recollection of the Indians who came to his parents' house to trade berries for something to eat. Their papooses were tied to- a flat stick. He states that the lot now occupied by the Dean drug store was once offered to his father for fif teen dollars. Among other children of Cornelius Sparks and wife, may be mentioned : Joseph, who was born in North Carolina in 18 14 and died at Buchanan the past year in his ninety-first year. He was a prominent citi zen and held various local offices. Mary (Parks) who died in 1904 in her eighty-fifth year. Ira, who died in 1905 aged seventy-eight years, at Buchanan. His widow whose maiden name was Elisabeth M. Ford, is still living. Ira Sparks was, like his brother Joseph, a prominent citizen and held various local offices. Levi, who was for many years a promi nent citizen of the county and senator in the state legislature in 1873, died in 1900 in his seventy-seventh year. He was a leader in the Republican party for many years, but drifted into the Greenback party and finally became a Democrat. He was a forci ble speaker and a strong man in a political convention. Elizabeth, who married Burton Jarvis and died in 1896 in her seventy-fifth year. Cynthia, born in 1834 and died in 1900. Spencer, David and Anna all died many years ago. John Kinzie, from Ohio, came to Niles in 1828 and in 1829 built a dam and saw mill on Kinzie creek, about four miles north east of the present city of Niles. This was shortly after sold to Henry Lardner. In 1829 Joseph Stevens, a native of North Carolina, located one hundred and sixty acres in section seven. This was the first purchase from the government, in the township. Mr. Stevens subsequently pur chased two hundred and forty acres. In 1 83 1, John Hunter located in section twenty-four. He died many years since. A daughter, Mrs. Samuel Weaver, is living at Buchanan. In 1 83 1 and 1832 Benjamin Churchill, John Stone and William T. Noel settled in the township. The latter was from Vir ginia and a daughter of his married Jacob Geltmacher, of Niles. In 1832, Hezekiah Bradbury and his wife, Lucy, natives of Ohio, located in sec tion two, south of Niles, with a family of seven children. The farm passed to Simeon, the son of Hezekiah. Simeon lived on the farm with a maiden sister, Sarah, until his death in 1882. Sarah is now living at Springfield, Ohio, in her ninety-fifth year. Another brother, Diodorus, who came with his father, died in 1901. Two chil dren are now living in this vicinity, Mrs. Amos Foote and Mrs. P. S. Kemper. In 1830, Isaac Griffin moved from New York and located one mile east of Niles. With him came Henry Starkweather, then a boy thirteen years of age. Mr. Stark- a68 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY weather subsequently became a prominent iarmer and large land owner in Niles town ship. His death occurred in 1892. His widow, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Long, came to Niles in 1832 and is still living here. A son, Frank Starkweather, has been a prominent auctioneer, a member of the common council of Niles, and was the Republican nominee for sheriff for the pres ent year. In 1832, Thomas R. Martin settled on section five in the northern part and lived there till he died. Pie was supervisor from 1867 to 1871. In 1835, Jacob Lambert, with his wife and children, came from Virginia and located on a farm belonging to William T. Noel, north of Niles. Mr. Lambert died in 1856. His son, James A. Lambert, is now living in the city of Niles and is in his eighty- seventh year, still active and able to work upon his farm on the outskirts of that town. James moved into the village in 1850 and for a time was in the cooper and lumbering business. In 1871 in partnership with John Rice and A. J. Griffith, he went into the man ufacture of wagons, putting up a large brick building on Front street which cost twenty-five thousand dollars. The business proved a failure in a few years. He has been a member of the common council and active in local affairs. Mr. Lambert is a spiritual ist in religious belief. His son, George A. Lambert, is a prominent attorney of Niles. In 1832 Hardy Langston, a native of North Carolina, located on section twenty- four, purchasing eighty acres of the govern ment and eighty acres of a private party. He was one of the very earliest settlers of the St. Joseph valley, having settled on La Grange prairie, on the banks of the Dowa giac creek, in 1828. Here he built the first sawmill erected in Cass county. He died many years since. Five children are now living in and near Niles, Hiram, Frank, Mary E. Bell, Melvina Bell and Mrs. Duffy. The Langston children still own the land purchased by their father seventy-four years ago. In 1838, Henry Lardner, a native of Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the Uni versity of Pennsylvania, came to Niles and purchased of Colonel James Glenn the lands and water power at the intersection of Dowagiac and Kinzie creeks in the north eastern part of the township. Here in com pany with two cousins, William and Lyn- ford, he erected a woolen mill which they carried on for some years. In addition to this business they operated a saw mill which had been previously established at this site. Henry Lardner was a man of great natural force and strength of character. He was a supervisor of his township several terms. He died in 1852. He was an active member and founder of the Episcopal church at Niles. His son, Henry Lardner, now living in the city of Niles, was born in 1839 and was for some years director of the Union school district of Niles and has been identified at different times with manufacturing interests. In 1861 he married Lena B. Phillips, an author, who has been referred to elsewhere. , In 1830, Joseph Bertrand, son of the old Indian trader, built a flour mill on Bertrand creek, now known as the "Brandywine." This was afterwards converted into a dis tillery by William McOmber. This was burned down and a new one was re-built and the business carried on for several years by David Gitchell. In 1836, John J. Hamilton, with his wife and infant son, Edward L., came from the state of New York and located on section fifteen. He died some years since and his son Edward in 1876. Our distinguished congressman, E. L. Hamilton, now serving his fifth term in congress, and re-nominated for the sixth term, was a son of Edward. One son of John J. Hamilton, John, is now living near Berrien Springs. Another son, Asa, died some years ago. Uriah Stebbins came to Niles in 1839. Many years since he purchased a farm known HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 169 as the Knox farm about a mile east of the city. This he still owns, although living now with his children. He was for many years the foreman in the brick mill of Lacey & Badger. He is still active and vigorous although in his seventy-seventh year. George S. Hoppin, one of the oldest set tlers now living in the township, has lived in this township for 62 years with the ex ception of a few years spent in South Dakota where he has a large farm. His father, Thaddeus Hoppin, a native of Massachu setts, emigrated to Michigan in 1844 and during the next year located upon the farm upon which George S. now lives, adjoining the present limits of the city of Niles on the south. Five of the children of Thaddeus went to California over fifty years ago, viz. : Nathan, Thaddeus, Clarissa Evarts, John and Charles. Mrs. Evarts is still living in California. George S. Hoppin was supervisor of the township in 1859 andi872. In 1846 he cul tivated a piece of land about a half mile west of his home upon which an old fort and mis sion had been located. The earthworks of the fort had not then been ploughed up and old apple trees, still bearing, were growing on the land. The trunk of one of these apple trees, which he measured, was three feet in diameter, evidencing that the tree had been planted long before the first white settlers came here. Lewis Storms, a native of New York, came to Niles in 1844 and shortly after lo cated on a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres in Niles township where he lived till his death. His son, Edmund, was supervisor of Mies township for several years, county treasurer from 1887 to 1889, and is now assistant postmaster in the city of Niles. In 1844, Samuel Thompson, who had been a grocer in the city of Glasgow, Scot land, emigrated from his native land and set tled in section thirty-three, where he lived till his death in 1882 in his eighty-fifth year. He was a typical Scotchman of great native good sense and sagacity. He was one of the founders of the Farmers' Fire Insurance Company of Berrien and Cass counties, and the president of it for many years. He held various local offices in the township. His wife, who survived him, lived to be ninety-five years old. A son, Samuel C, also a native of Glasgow, has been a supervisor of Howard, Cass county, for many years. Another son, James B., has been supervisor of Niles township for ten different terms, and was a representative to the state legislature in 1893. All of the Thompsons have been Democrats in politics and Presbyterians in religion. Among the early settlers of Niles town ship should be mentioned Abner Kelsey, a native of Kentucky, and his wife, Margaret. Although they did not move into Niles till 1846, they had settled in Cass county at an early day and were pioneers of that county. They settled two and a half miles north of Niles on their removal to Berrien county. The first election for township officers after the organization of the county was held April 2, 1832. The township then embraced the whole county. Jacob Beeson was elected supervisor, Cogswell K. Green, clerk, Thomas K. Green and Alamanson Huston justices of the peace, and Eben Griswold constable. A few days later, Griswold re signing, Joseph Bertrand, a half-breed and son of the old Indian trader at "Pare aux Vaches* was elected constable and collector. Bertrand appears to have been somewhat prominent in the early history of the town ship, but removed west to join the Potta watomies in 1858. The following named persons have been supervisors of the township of Niles : Jacob Beeson 1832-1833 Elijah Lacey 1834 Jasper Mason , 1835 Wm. F. Noel 1836-1838 J. N. Brown 1839 O. P. Lacey 1840 170 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Geo. Goodman 1841 O. P. Lacey 1842 Henry Lardner 1843 H. B. Hoffman 1844 G. N. Bond 1845 Jas. Aldrich 1846-1848 J. W. Butterfield 1849-1850 Wm. Graves _ 185 1 R. C. Paine ,. . . 1852-1854 D. O. Woodruff 1855 Thos. Comins 1856 R. W. Landon 1857-1858 G. S. Hoppin !859 B. C. Sanford i860 Jeremiah Ballard 1861-1865 G. E. Tichenor 1866 T. R. Martin . 1 867-1 871 G. S. Hoppin 1872 W. B. Davis 1873-1875 A. J. Star 1876-1877 W. B. Davis 1878 Purnell Johnson 1879 Wm. B. Davis 1880 H. A. Edwards 1881-1883 E. B. Storms 1884-1886 E. P. Ely 1887 J. B. Thomson. . 1888-1892 F. A. Tichenor 1893-1894 Milton Hatfield 1895 F. A. Tichenor 1896-1898 J. B. Thomson 1899-1904 F. C. Franz 1905-1906 CHAPTER IX ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF ST. JOSEPH. The township of St. Joseph is triangular in shape and is bounded on the east by Ben ton township, on the south by Royalton and Lincoln townships and on the west by Lake Michigan. It is the smallest township in the county, containing but a trifle over seven sections. The city of St. Joseph is delightfully lo cated on the shore of Lake Michigan, while the river surrounds it on the north and east. The main portion of the city is situated on an elevated plateau, rising to a considerable altitude above the lake and river. The breezes from the west wafted over the lake in summer time materially modify the tem perature of the atmosphere and render the place almost always comfortable in warm weather. The great lake, stretching far be yond the horizon of vision, under the shifting play of light and shade, sun and cloud, with its gorgeous sunsets, furnishes a panorama of enchanting views to the lover of natural beauty. The settlement was first called Saranac. In 1 83 1 it was changed to Newburyport and in 1833 received its designation "St. Joseph," after the name of the river. The river was called the river of the Miamis by LaSalle, but the French missionaries shortly afterwards named it St. Joseph, after the patron saint of the Catholics of Canada. It was not named as many have supposed, after any person of that name, as no priest or per son so named ever lived on the St. Joseph river. The present site of St. Joseph is where the feet of white men first trod the soil of Berrien county. The landing of LaSalle and his company in 1679 ^as already been described. As has already been related a fort was built in 1690 by La Salle, called Fort Miami. How long this fort existed it is impossible to tell from any authentic records. The fort known as "Fort St. Joseph," during the French occupation, was located near the present site of the city of Niles. A mission was established at the mouth of the river among the Miamis, shortly after La Salle's arrival and continued to exist among the Pottawatomies after the removal of the Miamis, a few years later. The mis sion was an important one. When La Salle left the mouth of the river for the Mississippi he appears to have left, a garrison. A colony of Canadian French settled here at an early day and were here during the early part of Burnett's set tlement. Why and when they removed away does not appear. When the American settlers arrived they had disappeared. They consisted mainly of French hunters and trap pers and assistants of the mission. A trading post appears to have existed 172 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY at St. Joseph as early as 1763 and probably much earlier, conducted by Frenchmen. This, however, was abandoned and not resumed till the advent of William Burnett, a native of New Jersey about the year 1780. Reference has been made to Burnett's settle ment in a previous chapter. William Burnett died about 181 1, leav ing seven children by his wife Kawkema, the sister of Topinabee, the hereditary chieftain of all the Pottawatomies. These children were all educated at a Catholic institution at Detroit. By the Chicago treaty six sec tions of land lying in the towns of Benton St. Joseph and Sodus were reserved to these children. One of them, John, continued as an Indian trader after his fathers' death, and carried on a large business. He died about the year 1823 heavily in debt. Another son, James, acquired title to what is called the "Burnett Orchards." This was purchased in 1865 by Captain Langley and now be longs to the Langley heirs. A portion of the Burnett reserve was sold to Judge Benjamin F. Fish by children of Nancy Burnett, these children having in herited their mothers' share. A daughter of Rebecca Burnett, Martha, married Francis Palms, lawyer in Detroit. Palms acquired a large fortune which upon his death passed to the son of this marriage, Frederic F. Palms, a millionaire bank presi dent and president of the National Loan and Investment Company, located at Detroit. When the American settlers arrived, the Burnetts had disappeared. The Burnett set tlement was in no way permanent and left no considerable marks of civilization. A permanent American settlement did not commence till 1829. In 1828 the Carey Mission treaty was made by which the Potta watomies ceded to the United States govern ment all their lands except about fifty sec tions west of the St. Joseph river and situ ated within the present limits of Bertrand Niles and Buchanan townships. Calvin Britain, a son of Gen. Calvin Britain, of Jef ferson county, New York, who had em igrated from New York to Carey (Niles) in 1827, was at this time engaged in teaching at the Carey Mission. Foreseeing the future importance of the point at the mouth of the St. Joseph river, he hastened to pre-empt land at this point. In this he was joined by Augustus Newell and in 1829 the two - pre-empted lands upon which the business portion of St. Joseph is now built. Newell at once built a log house on the bank of the river, into which he and his family moved. Britain was a single man and made his home with Newell. This house was also used for a time as a tavern. In 1831 Newell built a pioneer hotel building, near the pres ent site of the Whitcomb House. This was the first hotel erected in St. Joseph and was called the "Mansion House." Newell died in 1832. In 1 83 1 Britain laid out a village on the south side of the river and called it Newbury port. In 1834 the name was changed to that of St. Joseph, the name given to the early mission and to the river by the French priests. In the records of this mission it is designated as far back as 171 2 as "the mis sion of St. Joseph of Lake Michigan." This name was given by the French priests in honor of the memory of St. Joseph, the pa tron saint of the Catholics of Canada. Major Britain, shortly after he settled an New buryport, built a warehouse and also en gaged in the purchase and sale of real es tate. The village lots were sold rapidly and a flourishing settlement soon grew up. Major Britain resided at St. Joseph till his death in 1862, and held many important of ficial positions in the state and county. He was a member of the legislative council of Michigan territory in 1835, lieutenant gov ernor of the state in 1852, the first senator to the State Legislature from this county in 1835, a member of the lower house in 1851 and county treasurer for one term. He never married. In 1837, his father, General Calvin Britain, from New York, came to St. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 173 Joseph, and resided there till his death. Major Britain's sister was a prominent teacher at an early day, and for several years had charge of a select school for young ladies at Niles, which was largely attended by pupils, and was deservedly popular. In May, 1829, Daniel T. Wilson, who had been engaged in the tannery business at Niles, came to St. Joseph and engaged in boating on the river: He was for several years captain of the "Matilda Barney," a steamboat which was built in 1833 and plied between St. Joseph and Niles and occasion ally went as far as South Bend. The father of Mr. Wilson also came the same year with his family, which included a young lady by the name of Pamelia Ives. In 1829 this lady was married to Calvin Bartlett, who had also moved to St. Joseph in 1829. This was the first marriage in St. Joseph and was performed by Major Tim othy S. Smith, a justice of the peace at the Mansion House. On the 2 1 st day of January, 1830, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett named Amos Carroll. Captain Amos Carroll is now living near Dayton and enjoys the dis tinction of being the first white child born in Berrien county who is now living. Amos ran away from home in 1840 and became a sailor on the lakes. He continued boating till 1882, when he removed to a farm one mile from Dayton in this county, where he new resides. In 1853 he became captain of the "Magic," a sailing vessel owned by the Ferrys of Grand Haven. Subbsequently he became the captain of steamboats running on Lake Michigan. Captain Bartlett has been a freeholder of the county since 1852. Major Timothy S. Smith was promi nently connected with the early development of St. Joseph. He came from Ohio to Carey (Niles) about 1825 and became a teacher in the Carey Mission. In 1827 he moved to Royalton township, built a home and moved into it with his family. William Huff also settled near Major Smith in 1828, and these two men were the earliest pioneers in the northern part of Berrien county. They both removed subsequently to the village of St. Joseph. Major Smith removed to New Buffalo in a few years and was light house keeper there in 1839. In 1849 ne removed to California. Mr. Huff engaged in mer cantile business at St. Joseph, built the Per kins house in 1840 and was the first super visor of the township, a position which he held several terms. He died in 1853 at St. Joseph and his family shortly after removed to California. A son, Lucius, is now living in California. He was born at or near St. Joseph in 1830 or 183 1, and is one of the very oldest persons now living who were born in this county. In 1829, Fowler Preston, a contractor and builder from Massachusetts settled in St. Joseph. He was sheriff of the county in 1835, supervisor in 1840-41 and 42 and mar- shall of the village of St. Joseph for several terms. He resided at St. Joseph till his death in 1843. His son, Wallace A. Preston, was born at St. Joseph in 1842, and is still living there. He was president of the village in 1850 and mayor of the city in 1893-. He has been engaged for many years in the lumber and planing business. Mr. Wallace Preston has preserved two ancient documents transmitted by his father, which are worthy of mention. One is a com mission signed by Lewis Cass, governor of the Territory of Michigan, dated the 23rd day of June, 1831, appointing Fowler Pres ton captain in the militia of said territory. The official oath taken by Captain Preston appears on the back of the commission, signed by him and administered by T. S. Smith, justice of the peace. The other document is the original mus ter roll of Captain Preston's company, which is transcribed in full. Fowler Preston, Captain; Benj. C. Hoyt, Lieut.; Edward Smith, Ensign; Na- 174 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY thaniel B. Starkweather, ist Sergeant; Plorace Godfrey, 2nd Sergeant; John Mc Call, 3rd Sergeant; Jehiel Enos, 4th Ser geant; Calvin Bartlett, ist Corporal; Jacob Shoemaker, 2nd Corporal; M. P. Bennett, 3rd Corporal ; Joseph Feather, 4th Corporal. Privates enrolled or enlisted — Asaph S. Preston, Jeremiah Wilson, Amos] Farley, Samuel Farley, Joseph Smith, Marcellus Finch, Sylvenus Loukers, John Charles, John Smith, Dan'l Dingley, Jas. Galasby, Martin Huffmann, Martin West, Sam'l Sales, Wm. Arrison, Jacob Miller, John Lowden, John La Valley, Clark Jackson, Jos. Brittain, Wm. Wilson. I hereby certify this list to be correct and the men not discharged by me. Niles, M. T., June 20, 1832. Capt. F. Preston. It is worthy of note that besides the cap tain, several of this company became prom inent subsequently in the history of the county. Among them were Jehiel Enos, Benjamin C. Hoyt, Edward Smith, Horace Godfrey, Calvin Bartlett, Joseph Feather and Amos Farley. It appears from an account published in a California paper some twelve years ago, that the first settler in St. Joseph township. was Captain Edward Smith, and that he lo cated on the "Burnett Orchard" now owned by the heirs of Captain S. G. Langley. Captain Smith, according to this account, came from Ohio to Carey (Niles) in 1825 and worked for a time for William Kirk. In 1826 he went to the fur trading station of the Lorillard's at South Bend and had charge of the business for two years when he went down the river and located "or squat ted" on the Burnett Orchard. He was an ensign in Captain Fowler Preston's company of militia and served in the Black Hawk war. He was a captain of some of the river steamboats, among which was the "Algoma." He went to California in 1853 and died there in 1894 in his nine tieth year. If the above account of Captain Smith's settlement be true, he was the pioneer set tler in St. Joseph township instead of Major Britain. It is very probable however, that he came after Britain, but possibly the same year. Benjamin C. Hoyt came from New Hampshire to St. Joseph in 1829 and en gaged first as an Indian trader in a log house and subsequently in the mercantile business. He afterwards established a bank, which was the leading bank in the northern part of the county for many years. He was an active and energetic man, engaged in nearly all of the important enterprises of the place in its early history. He was president of the vil lage during six terms and supervisor of the township in 1843 and I844- He removed to Mississippi in 1872 where he remained sev eral years. He returned in 1892 to St. Joseph where he died in 1903 at the ad vanced age of ninety-six. At one time he was quite wealthy and was one of the lead ing citizens of the place for many years. His daughter, Sophrona, who married F. A. Potter, the present supervisor of the sec ond ward of St. Joseph, and for many years a prominent merchant, was born at St. Joseph in 1836 and is now living with her husband at that place. In 1830, L. L. Johnson settled on the lake shore a mile north of the village. He subsequently removed to Wisconsin. About the same time came John Wittenmyer, who became a prominent merchant of St. Joseph. He enlisted in the American army during the Mexican war and became a colonel. He died shortly after his return from the war. Dr. Amos S. Amsden, a native of New York, appears to have been the first physician in the village. He located here in 1832 and died in 1849. He was the first justice of the peace in the village. The first attorney in St. Joseph was Thomas Fitzgerald. He was a native of Herkimer county, New York, served in the war of 1812 and was wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane. He was appointed light- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 175 house keeper at St. Joseph in 1832, when he removed to St. Joseph. He resided at St. Joseph till about 1847 when he removed to Niles where he died in 1855. He occupied many prominent official positions in the state and county. He was a member of the legis lature in 1838, a bank commissioner about the same time, first president of the village in 1834, subsequently supervisor of the town ship, judge of probate of the county, and in 1 85 1 was appointed United States senator to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of General Cass. He was a man of great na tive strength of character, and of sterling qualities of mind and heart. His son, Jerome B. Fitzgerald, was a prominent attorney and died at Niles in 1878. He was a senator in the legislature in 1847 while living at St. Joseph, prosecut ing attorney in 1849 anc^ recorder of the city of Niles for several terms. He was an able lawyer but preferred the more quiet de partments of the profession. In 1832, Edward P. Deacon from Penn sylvania and William McKaleb from Mary land, came to St. Joseph and together built a saw mill that year. In 1833 these men built a steamboat called the "Matilda Bar ney." This was the first steamboat which successfully plied the river between St. Joseph and Niles. The engine was built by Philip P. An drews, Leverett Plumb acted as engineer and Daniel T. Wilson was captain. The boat ran on the river for about ten years, and did an immense business. A boat called the Newburyport had been built in 1832, but ran aground on her first trip at Ber rien Springs and was badly damaged. Deacon shortly after removed to Boston, Massachusetts, and became a millionaire. McKaleb in a few years returned to his native state. Mr. Andrews afterwards lo cated in Chikaming township. Curtis Boughton came from Ohio in 1832 and settled about a mile south of the village of St. Joseph on the Niles road. For several years he was the owner and captain of vessels which ran on the lake between Chicago and St. Joseph. The first boat which he ran was the "Drift" in 1833. This was followed by the "Bancroft" and "Henry W. King." He was half owner in the Hic- cocampus which sunk in mid-lake in Sep tember, 1868. He was a pioneer in the business of peach growing, being second to Mr. Parmelee as has already been stated. In 1849 Captain Boughton set out one hundred and thirty trees of choice budded fruit. In 1852 he set out sevevacres, purchasing his trees at Cleve land. In 1855 he commenced the business of shipping peaches and for several years, carried on a successful business in this line. In 1835, he received as high as eight dollars per basket containing about three pecks. Captain Boughton died in 1896. He was supervisor in 1870. His son, James C, the only surviving child, is the present janitor of the Berrien county court house. In 1832, the Kingsley brothers, George W., Edward and Benjamin, who were masons by trade, came from Utica and set tled in St. Joseph. George died in 1876. His widow is still living with her daughter in Benton Harbor. Three children are now living, Edward H. and Charles E. of St. Joseph and Mrs. L. T. Burridge of Benton Harbor. Edward H. was a supervisor of the city of St. Joseph for some years and is en gaged in the furniture business. A daugh ter of Begjamin married James A. Canavan. Edward was a bachelor. Thomas Conger who settled in St. Joseph in 1834 was the second attorney who came there. He is said to have been a lawyer of ability. He was probate judge from 1834 . to 1836, district attorney in 1836-57 and register of deeds in 1842. He married a daughter of Eleazer Morton and in 1849 removed to Sacramento, California, where he became a judge. Joseph W. Brewer came to St. Joseph in 1834 and engaged in boating. He was the 176 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY first pilot of the steamboat "Davy Crockett" and afterward captain. He was also captain of the steamboats Niles, Indiana and Porter, was regarded as a very safe and skillful boatman, and often ran up the river as far as Three Rivers in high water. For a time he lived on a farm but in 1840 settled in St. Joseph. He was a justice of the peace continu ously from 1853 till his death in 1889 or a period of thirty-six years. He did an im mense business and was recognized as able and impartial in the administration of his office. A daughter is now living at St. Joseph and is the wife of Captain J. J. Drake, a prominent citizen of that place, who has been referred to elsewhere. Hiram Brown came from Rochester, New York, in 1834, as a representative of the firm of Griffith & Company, merchants at Rochester who built a warehouse at St. Joseph about this time and also the steam boat known as the "Davy Crockett" hereto fore referred to, which was constructed at Erie in 1834. Mr. Brown engaged in the forwarding business and in 1834 made the first shipment of wheat ever made to Chi cago from St. Joseph. He continued in the business till 1848 when he removed to Chi cago, where he lived till 1862 when he re turned to St. Joseph. He was clerk of the village for several years and collector of the port for about twenty years. He died in 1883. Four children are now living, viz : Mrs. Thomas Northcote of Luray, Virginia ; Wil liam Brown of Chicago; Mrs. M. B. Rice of St. Joseph, and H. L. Brown of St. Joseph. Mr. Brown was a man of liberal educa tion and culture and frequently contributed articles to the newspapers on various sub jects. He wrote out a manuscript of con siderable length entitled "Incidents of the Life of Hiram A. Brown" which contains a description of St. Joseph as he found it when he first arrived there in 1834. His son, H. L. Brown, has kindly allowed me the use of this manuscript and I herewith quote from it. He says, "I arrived in St. Joseph on the fourth day of July, 1834, and found the place quite as new as I expected. There was a small population, and less com fort. There were twenty or twenty-five fam ilies in all, besides a number of young men without families. The buildings consisted of two warehouses on the bank of the river, one of which I accepted, and another oc cupied by' Britain and Hatch, about twenty buildings occupied as residences, none of which I think were finished, one public house on the bluff kept by a man by the name of Gould, another log building under the bluff kept by Jeremiah Wilson; four small stores and one steam saw-mill. There were two small steamboats running on the St. Joseph river, the Matilda Barney and David Crockett, and the old steamer Pioneer had just been brought round to run between St. Joseph and Chicago, but it was wrecked and went to pieces about ten days after I reached the place. "The road leading out of the place was next thing to impassable by teams and the principal means of ingress and egress was by water, if by land on foot or on horseback. "There were also some three or four keel boats capable of carrying about twenty-five or thirty tons each, that were pushed up the river with poles, manned by six to twelve men each. These boats used to ascend as far as South Bend and occasionally farther up to Mishawaka, Elkhart, Mottville and Constantine, although not often. "The bar at the mouth of the river did not permit vessels to come into the harbor ex cept a few of very light draft. They came to anchor off the mouth of the river and re- reived and discharged car-goes with lighters. Between St. Joseph and Berrien there were only five or six families, viz: T. S. Smith at Royalton, John Pike, Jehiel Enos, Williarii Williams and a man by the name HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 177- of Purdy. Pitt Brown kept a public house at Berrien and I think Edward Ballinger had a small store there. The elder Kimmel occupied a farm now occupied by the Shakers. "During the years 1842 to 1847 inclusive, a large amount of flour was shipped down the river and a better class of steamboats than formerly were engaged in the traffic, and additional keel boats or barges con structed. A large quantity of flour was also floated down the river on arks. These were cheap and rudely constructed crafts, built solely to float their cargoes down the river, when they were broken up and sold for re fuse timber. They were usually built of white oak planks from one and one half to two inches thick, sixteen feet wide and forty feet " long, with sides that . allowed them to draw about twenty inches or two feet of water and capable of carrying about two hundred and fifty barrels of flour each. Two of these were coupled together, one behind the other, and with long sweeps at each end were guided down the current of the river ana generally reached their distination safely. "In 1836 the work of putting down piers of oak filled in with stone commenced at the mouth of the river and during that season the entrance to the river became not only safe, but easy, admitting the larger class of vessels then navigating on the lakes." After depicting the depression which followed the financial panic of 1837 and the collapse of the "Wild Cat" banks, Mr. Brown says: "The entire river commerce which had been the chief element of prosperity was completely destroyed, and for a period of more than ten years "was totally abandoned. Nearly the entire population left, and that portion of the county near the town ceased to attract any" attention." In this manuscript Mr. Brown recites an incident which illustrates the religipus condi tion of the people of St. Joseph during the early settlement.. In 1838 'or 1839 Rev. Hi- J2 ram Kellogg was appointed president of Knox college at Galesburg, Illinois, and while on his way to assume his duties, stopped at. St. Joseph over Sunday, arriving by stage at the Mansion House kept by Judge Daniel Olds. He ascertained that there was no* church in the place, and moreover found the people pitching quoits and engaged in other pastimes which indicated a total disregard of the Sabbath day. He then inquired of the landlord if there was any person in the place who feared the Lord. The landlord replied in his bluff, off-hand way, "Well, I guess, not," but after a moment's hesitation said;, "I don't know, but I think Hiram Brown fears him a little." Judge Olds then directed Mr. Kellogg to Mr. Brown's residence where Mr. Kellogg narrated the above incident- Mr. Kellogg made his home with Mr. Brown during the remainder of his stay in St, Joseph, and Sunday afternoon preached in. the white school house to an audience most of whom had not heard a sermon for years. In 1834, Hiram Barnes came to St. Joseph with his wife and son, afterward Captain M. C. Barnes. For some years M. C. Barnes was engaged in steamboating. He retired from this business in 1883, and be came engaged first in the drug business with E. S. Curran and subsequently in the jewelry business. In 1887 he and Warren Ballin ger built the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor Street Railway. Captain Barnes was presi dent and general manager until the railway was sold* to a Chicago party. Captain Barnes died during the past year at the age of seventy-five years. In 1835 Dr. Tolman Wheeler, who had settled in Niles in 1831, came to St. Joseph. About the same time John K. Porter also settled in St. Joseph. These two gentle men went into partnership in the forwarding and commission business and in lake and river transportation. They owned a line of boats and for several years did an immense business. Dr. Wheeler was president of the village three terms and a supervisor. He HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY removed to Chicago about 1850 and died at that city some years ago at an advanced age. Mr. Porter was a native of New York. As an illustration of the extent of business done by Porter & Wheeler, it may be stated that on April 29, 1841, this firm had -twenty-five thousand barrels of flour and -pork at the mouth of the St. Joseph river. About 1850 Mr. Porter went to California Twhere he remained three years and then re- -turned to his native state where he died in --1866. He was postmaster of St. Joseph in •3838, president of the village from 1837 to •1841, commissioner of internal improve- *ment in 1846 and a regent of the university. He was a man of great executive and ^business ability. He was known as the '^'Boatman's friend," and was a man who was -universally esteemed for his honesty, gen erosity, and public spirit. Among the early settlers were Edwin -Hichardson, J. F. Lord, Robert Hollywood, Daniel Murphy, R. B. Duncan, S. R. Rus sell, Asaph Preston, Sol. Smith, A. M. brownell, William Axtell, Isaac Pangborn, ^and also the Olds, Martin, Stewart, and Johnson families, and Captain S. G. Lang ley. Mr. Richardson was one of the earliest school teachers of the place, and in 1834 taught in the first school house erected there. This was a log house. Mr. Richardson was subsequently county register of deeds. Captain S. G. Langley was a native of Massachusetts and a sailor on the ocean till '1832 when he came to St. Joseph. The first ¦vessel which he sailed after his arrival was 3the brig "Napoleon." He shortly after -sailed the first propellor on the lakes, called -the "C. B. Bachus." He afterwards built "and partly owned several steam brigs which ¦sailed on the lake. He purchased of some •of the Burnett heirs the lands upon which John Burnett settled in 1780 and which is tc>w owned by the Langley heirs. Captain Langley died suddenly on board of one of Ihis vessels, "The Favorite," in 1870. He was a brave and efficient seaman and received at different times medals as a token of ap preciation of heroic service in saving and rescuing the crews and passengers of other boats which had been disabled by storm or fire. His widow died during the last year. Daniel Olds, a militia colonel, came from Ohio to Niles in 1829 and commenced keep ing tavern at the "Council House" in 1830. He was the first chief justice of the county court, a short lived court of the pioneer days, and held the first session of that court at Niles in July, 1832. He settled in St. Joseph about this time and kept the Mansion House. After October, 1832, the county court was held at Newburyport (St. Joseph). The list of grand jurors for the December term, 1832, shows the names of the following prominent old settlers of the county : A. S. Amsden, N. B. Starkweather, John Witten- myer, William Huff, T. C. Abbe, B. Webb, Calvin Bartlett, Jehiel Enos, Timothy S. Smith, Benjamin C. Hoyt, Amos Farley, O. P. Lacey, S. Ford, L. Cavenaugh, Henry Lemon, Garrett Sherrat, Pitt Brown, Martin Hoffman. Nearly all of these men were leading, representative men of the day. This county court was abolished in 1833, re-established in 1847 and finally abolished in 1853. In this connection some reference may be made to the circuit court. The first term of this court was held at St. Joseph in Octo ber, 1833. Courts were first held in the log school house. Subsequently they were held in what was generally known as the "Old White School House," still standing. The first judges were William A. Fletcher, presi dent judge; Talman Wheeler and Amos S. Amsden, associate judges. These associ ate judges were generally known as side judges, and this system lasted but a few years. Judge Fletcher resided in Detroit and was a very able jurist. He was suc ceeded in 1837 by Epaphroditus Ransom, of Kalamazoo, who held his first term in St. Joseph in April of that year. He was sub- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY '79 sequently chief justice of the, supreme court of the state, and in 1848 became governor. He was a Democrat, but strongly anti-slav ery in his convictions, which he did not dis guise. A son, Major Ransom, now resides in St. Joseph and has been a member of the common council. No court house was built at St. Jo seph, but a jail was built in 1834 by the sheriff of the county, Fowler Preston. This was built of hewed logs, "and was eighteen by twenty feet in size. The actual cost was $191.56. R. B. Duncan and Jehn Martin became prominent merchants in the village. The following is a list of voters of the village in 1835 : Amsden, Axtell, Brown (Hiram), Brownell, Bartlett, Britain, Boughton, Conger, Chauncey, Duncan, Deacon, Emerson, Fitzgerald (Thomas), Harris, Hoyt, Hough, Hollywood, Johnson (Benjamin), Howe, Kingsley (George), Lord, Captain Martin, R. B. Martin, Fowler Preston, A. S. Preston, Pike, Rogers, Rich ardson, Russell, Wheeler, Wittenmyer, Wil son (Daniel), Pangborn, Weaver, Wells, Solomon Smith. Among the principal merchants who came a few years later, may be mentioned James E. Stevens, J. E. and J. B. Suther land, B. F. King, F. A. Potter, C. C. Sweet, W. B. O. Sweet, George and Ed. F. Piatt, Charles Stewart, J. Jacobson, James Forber, T. T. Ransom, Z. Rice and son, George E. Smith, H. M. Zekind, E. C. Pal mer, E. D. Crane, M. and A. Shephard. John Forbes is the present mayor of the city. For many years ferry boats ran between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. Then fol lowed a horse railroad. A few years aft erward the railway passed into the control of Colonel Worth Bean, a native of Ken tucky, who had been previously connected with the management of street railroads. In 1892, Colonel Bean introduced electric ity as the propelling power, and also furn ished light and power to both cities. The new corporation was called the St. Jo seph and Benton Harbor Electric Railway and Light Company. The railway system was gradually extended in the cities of Ben ton Harbor and St. Joseph until it now embraces about ten miles of track. The company still furnishes light to the citizens of Benton Harbor. For some years the en terprise met with considerable difficulties and at one time an application was made for a receiver by some of the stock holders on the ground of its insolvency, but the credi tors opposed the application and the appli cation was denied. The company survived its troubles and has been successful, the business having been immense, especially in the summer time. Colonel Bean recently disposed of his interest in the concern to Chicago parties. Henry Mason, however, superintendent under Colonel Bean, retained the management under the new proprie tors. Captain Nelson W. Napier came to St. Joseph about 1836 while quite young. He was a sailor during all his active life and at the age of twenty-one was captain of a steamboat on the great lakes. On Octo ber 15, 1880, the steamer "Alpena," which plied between St. Joseph and Chicago and which he commanded, went down near Hol land with a crew of about thirty persons and about thirty passengers in a terrific gale. Not a single person was saved. The following verses taken from a poem written by Captain Whiting upon the oc casion of the loss of the Alpena commemor ate the virtues of Captain Napier: "A braver seaman never trod Supreme upon the 'peopled deck;' True to his wife, his friends and God, He perished in the Alpena's wreck." "Of stalwart frame and giant mold, Yet still of aspect calm and mild, Confronting danger he was bold, Yet gentle as a loving child." i8o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY The following children of Captain Nel son W. Napier are now living : Nelson W. Napier of St. Joseph, Edward Napier of San Francisco, Frank and Arthur of St. Joseph. A daughter, who died some years ago, was the former wife of Dr. McLin, a prominent physician of St. Joseph. The family is a sea faring one, nearly all of whom have been captains or important officials of steamboats on the great lakes. Frank has been deputy sheriff and clerk of St. Joseph. In 1837 Daniel Murphy, a native of Ire land, settled in St. Joseph township and en gaged in farming. His ' son John is now living on a farm on the lake shore drive, a short distance south of the city, and has been engaged for many years in fruit cult ure. He is now one of the oldest residents of the township, having come with his father there sixty-nine years ago. A little later came Warren and Daniel Chapman, natives of New Hampshire. Warren Chapman was engaged for some years in the forwarding and commission business. He became a prominent figure in the political history of the county and was a senator to the state legislature from 1865 to 1867, two terms. He was also supervisor of the township for several years and presi dent of the village. He was a man of abil ity and sterling qualities. Daniel Chapman was supervisor of the township for seven years and judge of pro bate for two terms. He was a man of strict integrity and natural sagacity. The commercial importance of St. Jo seph began about 1836. The harbor was improved by the government that year. Numerous boats of different kinds began to ply on the river. The speculative spirit be gan to develop and in 1836 a firm of east ern capitalists, G. S. Hubbard & Company, purchased a large tract of land lying be tween the Paw Paw river and the lake, which they platted into- lots and called North St. Joseph. A large amount of money was expended in levelling down the sand hills, building docks and making other improve ments. A town of large proportions was; contemplated and places for an academy, a court house and other public buildings were designated. A warehouse and other build ings were built, but the location was bad, hard times soon came on and the project be came a failure. On the south side of the river, lots at this time were held at fabulous- prices and the growth of the village was seri ously retarded by a narrow policy of high prices which drove away prospective buyers. to other points. The era of wild cat banks began at this. period and their collapse stopped the growth of the town as well as that of others. The "Commercial Bank," one of these wild cat banks, was established in 1837, of which Talman Wheeler was president. The bank. went to pieces in a short time and its bills. were never redeemed. While the growth of the . town was re tarded, the commerce on the lake and river seems to have increased year by year tilL the completion of the Michigan Central rail road to Niles in 1848. In 1846 shipments. from St. Joseph were as follows : \ Barrels flour T29>333 Bushels wheat 263,1 16- Casks whiskey 2,721 Lumber (feet) 1,500,000' Until 1843 more wheat and flour were- shipped from St. Joseph than from Chicago. The original western terminus of the Michigan Central railroad as designated by the state legislature was St. Joseph. But iir 1846 the state sold the railroad to a firm: of Boston capitalists, who in 1847, changed' the route and located it through Niles and New Buffalo, to Chicago-. The people of St. Joseph were seriously disappointed and a still further decline took place. In 1854 the population was only 703. About 1865, however, a radical change occurred. Set- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 181 tiers began to come into the village and sur rounding country in large numbers. The population from i860 to 1870 increased from 1358 to 2994. In the meantime the fruit industry had developed and became profitable. In 1869 the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Company was organized. Seven directors were elected, Hon. A. H. Morrison, Warren Chapman, B. C. Hoyt, Curtis Boughton, George Bridgman, David Ballentine and Robert A. Conolly. Mr. Morrison was made president and was the leading genius in the enterprise, having secured the aid of James F. Joy, of Detroit, a prominent railroad magnate. A large amount was donated by St. Joseph and other townships and in January, 1870, the road was completed from St. Joseph to New Buffalo. In the next year it was extended north and soon became a part of the Chi cago & West Michigan Railroad. Mr. Morrison had charge of the railroad for six years. He was for many years prominent in political and industrial life and was a man of great energy. In 1856 he was a member of the State Senate and a member of the House in i860. He was also collector and assessor of internal rev enue for the second district of Michigan. His later business projects proved unprofit able and he removed to Chicago some years before his death. For several years he was a prominent leader of the Republican party in the county. A brief reference to prominent profes sional men, who are deceased, is fitting. Damon A. Winslow came to St. Joseph in 1844. He devoted himself mainly to chancery practice and also to editorial pur suits. In 1869 he published a pamphlet con taining a short sketch of St. Joseph history and advertising the fruit interests. He sub sequently removed to Allegan county where he died. Charles W. Ormsby, a native of New York, came to St. Joseph in 1861. He did a heavy collection and foreclosure busi ness. He died at Salt Lake City in 1872. George S. Clapp was a native of Ohio, a graduate of Berea College and came to St. Joseph in 1862, where he soon acquired an extensive practice in his profession. He was a strong lawyer and became noted as a successful trial advocate. He was an all around lawyer, intimately acquainted with all branches of the law, and by tireless in dustry and ability rose to the front rank of his profession. He was prosecuting attorney of the coun ty from 1875 to 1 88 1 and was twice a candi date for circuit judge for which position he was eminently qualified. Through the freaks of politics, however, which sometimes are inscrutable, he was defeated. In 1882, he removed to Niles where he lived till his death in 1895. He was at times city attorney of St. Joseph and of Niles. Politically he was a Rqxiblican. He was originally a Methodist but several years be fore his death united with the Presbyterian church at Niles. He was fond of music and was for many years chorister of church choirs in Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Calvin B. Potter, a native of New York, came to St. Joseph, after serving in the Civil war, in 1866. He was a man of original force and genius, and especially excelled in his command of legal diction, being clear, terse and happy in the use of choice Anglo- Saxon words. He was an able attorney, al though sometimes prone to be too theoretical. He was a representative in the state legisla ture in 1874 and city attorney of St. Jo seph for a time. His powers of sarcasm were strong and he occasionally used them with telling effect. He died about three years ago in Salt Lake City. Politically he was a Democrat, but decidedly independent and courageous, sometimes openly support ing Republican condidates for important positions. Theodore J. De Puy, a native of Pennsylvania, came to St. Joseph in 1869. 1 82 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY He was a fluent speaker and quite entertain ing and amusing in his speeches before a jury. He removed to Los Angeles, Cali fornia, where he died several years ago. The first physician who appears to have located at St. Joseph was Dr. B. Y. Boyd of Kentucky, who came in 1834, but re mained but a few years. Dr. Talman Wheeler and Dr. Amos G. Amsden were physicians by education but did not practice their profession after locating in St. Joseph. Both of these men engaged in other pursuits and were prominently connected with the early history of St. Joseph. Dr. L. S. Lillibridge came in 1836. He was a skillful physician and a supervisor of the township in 1845. He removed to Cali fornia in 1849. Dr. David B. Crane came to St. Joseph in 1852. He was a fine scholar, an accomplished linguist and was called a "Walking Encyclopedia." Dr. Corydon Parker from New York ¦ came in 1849, Dut died after two years prac tice. His brother Dr. Reuben D. Parker came in 1857, but retired from active prac tice in 1 87 1. He accumulated considerable property in real estate. He died about two years ago'. Dr. Lyman Collins, a native of New York, came in i860. He practiced about ten years and then devoted himself mainly to fruit culture. The oldest physician in continuous prac tice now residing in the city is Dr. A. H. Scott. In 1867 he commenced the practice of his profession at St. Joseph, where he soon acquired a large practice and reputa tion as one of the most skillful physicians and surgeons in southwestern Michigan. He was president of the village for three terms. The oldest practicing attorney is N. A. Hamilton, who commenced practice in St. Joseph in 1870. He has served four terms as prosecuting attorney and two terms in the legislature. L. C. Fyfe was admitted four years later. He was a member of the legislature for two terms, and has held various local offices. Both of these gentle men have deservedly stood at the front of their profession in the county. Early Commerce at St. Joseph and on~ the River. Most of the main facts here presented with regard to early navigation centering at St. Joseph and on the St. Joseph river, are gleaned from an article written by A. Ellis, in 1880. Before the building of the Michigan Central Railroad through the southern part of the county, the St. Joseph river was the medium of transportation for merchandise and agricultural products between the east and southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. In the early history of the white settlements, merchandise came from New York City by the Hudson river to Albany, thence by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and from Buffalo by sailing vessels to St. Joseph, where the merchandise was loaded into keel boats, fiat boats, arks and other craft, pro pelled by oars and poles, which ascended the river for nearly one hundred and fifty miles. In turn flour, wheat and other products were conveyed east by the same route. The arks were especially used for the transportation of grain and flour. It appears that sailing vessels came to the mouth of the river as far back as Burnett's settlement as Mr. Burnett, in his account books, speaks of a number of vessels from which he received merchandise and to which he delivered cargoes of furs, hides and maple sugar. It appears also that the Carey mis sion received its supplies from sailing vessels at the mouth of the river. The amount of business done by these early boats was im mense. By 1840 as many as sixty keel boats were traversing the river. The for warding business conducted at St. Joseph during these days was the most important and profitable business carried on at that HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 183 point. Merchandise was received for inland points as far distant as Kalamazoo. The harbor at St. Joseph was originally difficult of access. The St. Joseph river entered into the lake considerably south of its present mouth and near the light house on the bluff. A sand bar, making out into the lake from the mouth of the river, often pre vented loaded vessels from getting into har bor and lighters were frequently used to unload the cargoes and convey to land or to the river boats. The harbor piers were not commenced till 1836. Steam navigation commenced about the year 1832. The first steamboat was the "Pioneer" which arrived by lake at the mouth of the river in 183 1. In 1834 she grounded on the bar at the mouth of the river and being caught in a sudden gale, while in this condition broke to pieces. The same year Captain Curtis Boughton employed the material from the wreck of the "Pioneer" and built the schooner "Drift" which he ran between Chicago and St. Jo seph for several years. Captain Boughton was afterwards the owner and commander of several lake ves sels among which were the "Bancroft" and "Henry W. King." A side-wheel steamer called the "Chicago" was built in 1835, and made regu lar trips between Chicago and St. Joseph for several years. Then followed the steamers "G. W. Dale," the "Huron" and the "Cham pion." The latter boat was commanded by Captain Edward B. Ward, who made a fortune in the lake transportation business, owning a large number of boats. Passengers came from the east by stage and took the boat for Chicago and western points at St. Joseph. Frequently a dozen stages would come into St. Joseph in one day loaded with passengers. Upon the completion of the Michigan Central Railroad to Chicago in 1849, the business of these lake boats seriously de clined and the commerce of St. Joseph for several years was comparatively trivial. The development of the fruit industry subset quently created a demand for lake trans portation again both for freight and pas sengers. The business has increased enor mously during the past twenty years. A reference to this business is made in con nection with the chapter on Benton Harbor. During the prosperous period of lake navigation, various boats beside those named plied the lake between St. Joseph and Chi cago, and prominent among the captains who* commanded the boats were Captain Nelson W. Napier, Captain S. G. Langley, and Captain Amos Bartlett. Many disasters occurred in the days of early lake navigation. In September, 1868,. the "Hiccocampus," commanded by Captain Henry Brown, went down in mid-lake. It was overloaded with a heavy cargo of peaches, against which the captain is said' to have strenuously, but fruitlessly, protested to the owners. Some thirty passengers were drowned and boat and cargo destroyed. In October, 1880, the steamer "Alpena" went down near Holland, as has already been related, in a terrific gale. Not a single. person was saved. In January, 1896, the steamboat "Chf— cora," a fine boat belonging to the Granatin and Morton Transportation Company, went down in a terrific gale near the eastern shore as is supposed. It was commanded by Captain H. M. Napier. There were only •four passengers, among whom were Jamesr Clark, farmer United States marshal of the western district of Michigan, sheriff and un der sheriff for many years and also J. F.. Pearl, a prominent druggist of St. Joseph.: -Nothing further was heard of the boat, pas sengers or crew. It appears that ship-building was com menced at St. Joseph in 1832 by Deacon- & McKaleb and subsequently by Griffithr & Company. Dr. L. A. Barnard in 1832 built a fifteen-ton sloop at LaGrange, Cass county, hauled it by oxen to Niles and there launched it and went down the river. It 1 84 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Nwas called the "Dart" and ran between St. Joseph and Chicago. The navigation of the river by steam boats continued about twenty-five years. The first steamboat to navigate the river was the "Newburyport," which ran up as far as Berrien Springs. This was her only trip. The next boat was the "Matilda Barney" a stern-wheeler built by Deacon & McKaleb at St. Joseph in 1833. This boat ran for several years and did a prosperous business. Captain Daniel T. Wilson commanded and Ebenezer Farley was pilot. The "Davy Crockett" commenced run ning on the river in 1834 and was owned by Griffith & Company. Pitt Brown was cap tain and Joseph Smith pilot. In 1835, after doing a prosperous business, she ran upon a rock near Berrien Springs, broke in two and sunk. The "Pocahontas" a larger boat than the preceding, was built by Wheeler & Porter, forwarding merchants at St. Joseph. Eben ezer Farley commanded. The "Indiana," built by Captain John McMillan in 1843, was tne largest and swiftest boat which had yet run on the river. Under Captain Brewer she often made the run from St. Joseph to Niles and back again to St. Joseph, a distance of one hundred miles, between sunrise and sunset. The "Algona" was built by Wheeler & Porter and made her first trip on the river in 1845 under Captain Edward Smith. She was more costly than any preceding boat, Ibut inferior in power and speed to the '•'Indiana." The "Algona" and the "Indiana" gen erally towed the keel boats up the river to their loading places, from whence upon re ceiving their cargoes, they floated back to St. Joseph. The "Mishawaka" was built soon after the "Algona" and was commanded by Cap tain Hamilton Smith. She had on each side two wheels about five feet in diameter, and placed about sixteen feet apart and over these ran an endless chain on which were fastened the buckets or paddles. The boat was an unusually fast one, but the propelling apparatus was continually getting out of order and broken and it was found necessary on account of this fact, to discard the end less chain system and substitute the ordinary paddle wheel. About the same time the "Niles," a side wheeler, was built by William B. Beeson, of Niles, under command at first of Captain Darius Jennings. Captain Jen nings was an admirable captain and a man of unusual intelligence and information. This boat ran several years and was one of the most successful on the river. Cap tain J. W. Brewer, another intelligent and popular captain, succeeded Captain Jennings. The "Michigan" was built shortly after the "Niles" and she plied mainly between Mottville and St. Joseph. For some time she was under the command of Linus F. Warner, subsequently a major in the Civil war and sheriff of Berrien county. In 1849 tne "Niles" was purchased by the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and this boat together with the keel boats for two or three years brought freight from Constantine and lower points to Niles, where the freight was elevated by steam power into the company's warehouse, a structure one hundred feet high, which had been built on the river bank at the Niles bridge. From this building the freight was transferred to the railroad. A new boat was built about 1849 for the upper river trade and named the "John F. Porter," after the forwarding merchant at St. Joseph, who was called by the river men "The Boatman's Friend." This steamer was one hundred and eight feet keel, sixteen feet beam, four feet hold and eighteen inches draft of water, with two engines of forty horse power. Under command of Captain Brewer, this boat plied between Con- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 185 stantine and Niles till 185 1, when the Michi gan Southern Railway was completed to South Bend and the upper river commerce was practically at an end. The boats then engaged in the transportation business on the river were mostly sold and transferred to other rivers. The "Schuyler Colfax," commanded by Captain Ezekiel Reynolds, ran between South Bend and Niles some time after. Be side these boats, the steamers "St. Joseph," commanded by Captain Charles F. Howe and the "Pilot," commanded by Capt. John Mc Millan, ran for some time on the river. It is to be noted that during the period of river navigation, referred to, the water in the river was much higher than at pres ent. Owing to the draining of the mar-shes and the cutting down of the forests, sources of supply of water have been cut off and any surplus water has been carried off rap idly instead of gradually. The harbor and pier at St. Joseph have recently been greatly improved and extended as a result of liberal appropriations by Con gress obtained by the energy of a live con gressman, E. L. Hamilton. The south pier is now two thousand six hundred feet long and the north pier two thousand nine hundred feet long. The last extensions finished within the past year, were one thousand feet on the north and one thousand eight hundred on the south pier. The site of the Lighthouse Depot was es tablished in 1899. This structure was built in 1 90 1 and 1902. Captain Lloyd Clark, a brother of the famous commander of the "Oregon," Rear Admiral C. E. Clark, had charge of the work of construction and on its completion was appointed custodian, a position which he still holds. The harbor is three hundred and fifteen feet wide at the entrance and two hundred and sixty feet at the inner end of the piers. The Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, through some bad management, was allowed to cross the river almost at its mouth. The draw bridges are each about one hundred feet long. The river at its mouth spreads into a basin over eight hundred feet wide. The light house was established on the bluff near the former mouth of the river in 1 83 1. The present edifice was erected in 1859. Captain Daniel R. Piatt has been the keeper of this light house for several years. The United States life saving station was established about 1875 as a volunteer sta tion. It was made a full station by the gov ernment in 1879. Captain W. L. Stevens has been in charge of- the station since No vember, 1879. At present there are seven surftaen in the crew, who. are engaged at service in drill and patrol every day in the week, except Sunday. One man is stationed in the lookout on the government pier night and day. The buildings consist of one large boat house, one dwelling house, one mess room for the crew, one summer kitchen and one small boat house. The station is equipped with one thirty-four foot life boat, one twenty-eight foot surf boat, two breach apparatus complete. All of the signals, in ternational code and the Morse wigwag signaler are had by all the crew. Churches. The first church at St. Joseph was Meth odist Episcopal and was organized in about 1836 by Father McCool, a prominent Meth- dist Divine who lived in Cass county. A church edifice was not erected till 1859. The present brick building was built in 1869 at a cost of twenty-three thousand dollars. The present pastor is Rev. D. N. Stafford. The Catholic Church was organized in 1849. Services were first held in the school house on Ship street now used as a marble shop. The present brick edifice was built in 1 87 1. The first resident priest was Rev. Joseph Waterschoot, who commenced his pastorate in 1869. The present pastor is Rev. Fr. M. G. Esper. i86 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY The Congregational Church was estab lished in 1854. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Mr. Osbirne, who be came pastor in 1858. The present structure was built in 1870. The present pastor is Rev. H. S. Roblee. The German Baptist Church was or ganized in i860 with Rev. William Gisman as pastor. A frame edifice was built the same year. The present pastor is Rev. C. L. Marquardt. The Evangelical Association Church was organized in i860. In 1868 a brick edifice which had been built by a Baptist society was purchased. The present pastor is Rev. E. G. Frye. The Lutheran Church was organized in 1867 with Rev. John Freitag as pastor. It was called Trinity Evangelical Lutheran. Rev. C. Zlomke is pastor. An Universalist Church was formed about 1865. The trustees were Warren Chapman, James E. Stevens, Samuel G. Langley and Simeon Wilson. The church in a few years declined and was finally aban doned. The Episcopal Church was organized about 1 87 1, with Rev. V. Spaulding as rec tor. There is no rector at present. An African Methodist Church was or ganized in 1 87 1. A Swedish Lutheran Church was organ ized some years ago. Rev. J. L. Kling is pastor. Court House. We have seen that Niles was the first county seat. In 1832, however, it was trans ferred to St. Joseph and St. Joseph remained the county seat till 1837, when it was re moved to Berrien Springs. About 1891 the prominent citizens of St. Joseph began to agitate the question of again removing it to St. Joseph. An able committee of promi nent citizens and leading St. Joseph poli ticians, was appointed to agitate the matter. The movement was conducted with most consummate generalship. Serious difficul ties confronted the committee. The people of Benton Harbor were at first considerably adverse to the movement, and without their aid the project was hopeless. Difficulty was found among the supervisors. It required a vote of two-thirds of the supervisors to submit the question of removal to the vote of the electors. The constituencies of more than one-half of the supervisors were strongly opposed to removal or to any con sideration of the question. The supervisors at first were strongly opposed to the sub mission. But providential changes and sud den conversions occurred. It so happened that at this juncture some supervisors re signed their positions, and most fortunately for the St. Joseph people, were replaced by the appointment of men who were favorable to submission. In other cases, supervisors chose to vote according to their individual convictions without consulting their consti tuents. The result was that the board of supervisors voted to submit the question of removal to the electors at the April election of 1893. A heated and bitter campaign ensued and the vote was very close. A majority of the townships voted against removal, but it was carried by a small majority of the popular vote. The vote for removal was five thousand six hundred and ten and against five thousand three hundred and sixty-eight. Proceedings were instituted in court to prevent the removal and the circuit court held it illegal and invalid, but the su preme court reversed the action of the cir cuit court. In December, 1894, the county seat was removed to St. Joseph and the court room and county offices were located in Mar tin's Academy of Music while the court house and jail were being constructed. These were finished and ready for occupancy in February, 1896. The cost of the court house, jail and fixtures was about seventy thousand dollars. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 187 Library. The Carnegie Public Library of St. Jo seph was first opened November 11, 1894. The building including the furniture, fur nished by Mr. Carnegie, cost thirteen thou sand five hundred dollars and the annual appropriation of the common council for the support of the library is thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. The library has about three thousand three hundred volumes and the circulation for the year ending June, 1906, was eighteen thousand three hundred and forty-four volumes. The present officers and directors are Lawrence C. Fyfe, president, Benjamin F. McConnell, secretary, Mrs. George E. Smith, Mrs. Charles Moulton, Miss Ellen Conant, Frank Pixley, E. P. Clarke, James Stone and Orville Jordan. Librarian, Miss Isabella Fyfe. Miss Fyfe has been librarian from the organization of the library. Although the interior is some what small, it is admirably arranged for the purposes of a small library, with the best and latest equipments for such service, and the furniture is substantial and made to stand long and hard service. Michigan Children's Home Society. One of the most important charitable institutions of the state is located at St. Joseph. This is the Michigan Children's Home Society which was incorporated in 1893. The first officers were Willis Cooper, president, and Dr. Amos Barlow, superin tendent, who has had the charge and man agement of the institution since its organi zation. It has been maintained solely by private donations. A few years since, a hospital and new office building were erected. Among the large donations which have been made may be mentioned those by Mrs. Henry A. Chapin of Niles, who donated two thousand five hundred dollars for the building of the hospital ; by Burton Jarvis of Buchanan, who donated two thousand dol lars by will and by Judge Benjamin F. Fish of Niles, who donated one thousand dollars by will. The institution has done an immense amount of good, having received over seven hundred children, mainly orphans and chil dren .of unfortunate mothers or destitute parents, and placed them after a time in com fortable homes. Nearly all of the children so provided have turned out well, illustrat ing the fact, although against old tradition, that environment is a much .more powerful factor in the development and moulding of character in infancy, than heredity. Hotels. Augustus B. Newell erected a log tav ern in 1829 at .the foot of the hill. In 1831 he erected the Mansion House. This was followed by the Michigan House and the Perkins House. In 1867, B. C. Hoyt erect ed a large brick hotel called the Hoyt House. Subsequently it was purchased by Captain Thomas A. Walker and his son William and the name of the hotel changed to that of Lake View. Captain Walker and his son have conducted the hotel for many years. Captain Walker has served as supervisor of the first ward for ten successive terms and is the present incumbent. He was chairman of the board of supervisors for several terms. He has been a prominent leader in the Democratic party and was an officer in ithd twelfth Michigan regiment during the Civil war. In 1868 Charles Krueger erected a four story brick hotel called the St. Charles. For a number of years before 1896, a syndicate owned the property and for a considerable time it was closed to business. In 1896, Alonzo Vincent, who had been the manager of the Benton House at Benton Harbor, leased the property and subsequently be- 1 88 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY came the owner. It is conducted by him self and son-in-law, C. E. Blake, and known as the Whitcomb Hotel. During the past year an elegant mineral bath house has been annexed to the hotel, with all modern appli ances and has already been largely patron ized. Mr. Vincent was for some years warden of the State Penitentiary at Jackson and has been a prominent leader in the Republican party in the county and a member of State Republican Committee for many years. Banks. In 1833, a branch of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, a leading bank located at Detroit, was established under the manage ment of Thomas Fitzgerald. R; C. Paine succeeded Mr. Fitzgerald in 1837, and in 1 841 removed the agency to Niles. In 1836, the Commercial Bank was or ganized with Tolman Wheeler as president. This was a "wild cat" bank of Michigan, lasted only two or three years and failed with scarcely any available assets and with its bills worthless. In 1856, B. C. Hoyt established a bank in which his son, Edward C, soon became associated with him. This bank did an im mense business for nearly twenty years, but the Hoyts failed as a result of the finan cial panic of 1873. The First National Bank was incorpor ated in 1 87 1. W. F. Higman was the first president and Francis Jordan, cashier. This was followed by the organization of a new bank called the Union Banking Company, in 1882, with Francis Jordan, president, and Orville, his son, cashier. Mr. Jordan contin ued as president for eleven years. The bank is still doing business with A. W. Wells as president, James Forbes, vice president, Orville O. Jordan, cashier, C. B. Winslow, assistant cashier. Orville Jordan has been the cashier of the bank since its organization. The Commercial National Bank was or ganized in 1893. Its present officers are: James M. Ball, president; M. W. Stock, vice-president; A. N. Reece, cashier, and F. S. Clarke, assistant cashier. Manufacturing Industries. The first, sawmill, as has been stated, was built in 1832 by Deacon & McKaleb. Several manufacturing establishments sprung up at different times, which were subsequently abandoned or proved unre- munerative. Among them was an extensive plant called Wooden Ware Works estab lished by A. N. Morrison in 1878, for the manufacture of tubs, pails, broom handles and other wooden ware. It did a large busi ness for a few years, but in the end proved unprofitable and was abandoned. The largest knitting mill in the state is the Cooper-Wells factory at St. Joseph. It was established in 1878 by S. F. Cooper & Sons. The Coopers sold out their interest many years ago. The concern was incor porated in 1889 and Abel W. Wells is presi dent. The company employs four hundred and forty-seven people and has an annual pay roll of $190,000. The largest factory for building small boats and launches in the state is the Trus cott Boat Company located at St. Joseph. It was incorporated in 1892. The boats are sent to all parts of the world. During the year 1905 six hundred boats were manu factured at an estimated value of $500,000. The average number of employees is about two hundred. The officers are: E. E. Truscott, president, H. D. Truscott, vice president, and James M. Truscott, treas urer and general manager. The Wells-Higman Company manufact ures fruit baskets, packages and boxes. It was established in 1869 mainly by A. W. Wells. In 1889 it was incorporated under the name of the Wells-Higman Company. A. W. Wells is the president, and John Hig man, secretary and treasurer. O0\ OU=3in W w oo u HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 189 The Compound Door Factory was in corporated in 1899. The present officers are: John McConnell, president, Frank Kelble, vice president, Anthony Canavan, secretary, and B. F. McConnell, treasurer. The company manufactures high grade ve neered doors and also interior finish for large buildings of the higher grades. ' It has just finished an eighteen story office build ing at Chicago and employs in its factory at St. Joseph one hundred and twenty-five hands. With the exception of the president all its officers live at St. Joseph. The A. B. Morse Company was incor porated in 1894, with Arthur B. Morse president, and M. J. Beckett, secretary and treasurer. It does a large business in the printing of blank books, pamphlets, books and periodicals. The Mullen Brothers Paper Company was incorporated in 1895 I0r tne purpose of manufacturing paper. It now employs forty-one people. The principal lines of products are wax lined paper butter dishes and wax lined paper fruit packages, and red rosin sized sheathing. John W. Mullen is president and W. Mullen, secretary. Public Utilities. In 1900, a lighting plant was established by the city. Previous to this time for a number of years, the city lighting had been furnished by the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Electric Railway and Lighting Com pany. The motive power of the city lighting is furnished by a gas producing plant. The cost of the plant, including the building was $19,000. The number of city lights now running with all night service is one hun dred and twenty-five. It appears that the system gives general satisfaction and that the annual cost per lamp with all night serv ice is about $36.00, or a total of $4,500.00. A water plant was established by the city some years ago, furnishing water from Lake Michigan. It seems to have been in the main successful, although considerable losses were incurred for a time through a faulty system of bookkeeping. City Officials. The presidents of the village of St. Jo seph have been as follows: Thos. Fitzgerald 1834 Calvin Britain 1835 Thos. Conger 1836 J. F. Porter , 1837-1841 Thos. Fitzgerald 1842 Calvin Britain 1843-1844 Talman Wheeler 1845 Thos." Fitzgerald 1846-1847 Talman Wheeler 1848- 1849" W. M. Liston 1850 B. C. Hoyt 1851-1853 J. W. Brewer 1854-1855 B. C. Hoyt 1856-1857 F. I. Parks 1858 B. C. Hoyt 1859 Oliver Stevens 1860-1861 B. M. Springstein 1862 Oliver Stevens 1863 Warren Chapman 1864-1865 Ed. Kingsley 1866 O. W. Oviatt 1867 R. B. Duncan 1868 J. H. Donaldson 1869 O. W. Oviatt 1870 J. J. Pearl 1871 A. E. Perkins 1872 Ed. Pulver 1873 A. E. Perkins 1874 A. H. Morrison , 1875 A. E. Perkins 1876 A. K. Webster 1877 Geo. E. Smith 1878 A. K. Webster 1879 W. A. Preston 1880 H. A. Truax 1881 A. H. Scott 1882 J. A. Canavan 1883-1884 A. H. Scott 1885 L. I. McLin ' 1886 H. M. Zekind ....:. 1887 L. I. McLin 1888-1890 A. H. Scott 1891 r90 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mayors of the City. L. I. McLin 1892-1893 W. A. Preston 1893-1895 H. B. Rosenberg 1895-1897 John V. Starr 1 896-1 899 A. L. Church 1899-1900 N. C. Rica 1900-1903 J. V. Starr 1903-1904 N. C. Rice 1904-1905 F. L. Pixley 1905-1906 Jas. Forbes 1906 (Present Incumbent). The supervisors of St. Joseph township have been as follows : Wm. Huff 1834-1836 J. F. Porter 1838 J. F. Lord 1839 Fowler Preston 1840- 1842 B. C. Hoyt 1843-1844 L. S. Lillibridge 1845 Andrew Murray 1846 Thos. Fitzgerald 1847 A. M. Church 1848 Talman Wheeler 1849 W. M. Lister 1850 A. M. Church 1851 A. H. Morrison 1852 L. F. Warner 1853 A. H. Morrison 1854 D. A. Urmiston 1855 Jos. Gard 1856 F. J. Parks 1857 Theo. Pew 1858 F. J. Parks 1859-1860 A. D. Brown 1861 Warren Chapman 1862 Dan'l Chapman 1863-1868 Warren Chapman 1869 Curtis Boughton 1870 Warren Chapman 1871-1874 A. H. Morrison 1875 E. M. Edwards 1876 A. E. Perkins 1877 E. M. Edwards 1878-1879 Jos. J. Pearl 1880 E. M. Edwards 1881 Dan'l Chapman 1882 A. W. Wells 1883 G. F. Comings 1884-1887 Chas. Miller 1888-1891 J. F. Gard 1892 G. F. Comings 1893 J. F. Gard 1894-1898 W. H. Brunke 1899 J. M. Miller 1900-1906 St. Joseph City. The supervisors of the city of St. Joseph have been as follows : Geo. F. Comings 1893-1894 Max W. Stock 1893-1894 J. A. Freitag 1895 E. H. Kingsley 1895-1899 J. A. Powells 1896 T. A. Walker 1897-1906 F. E. Minnes 1900-1903 Alf. Baldry 1900 F. A. Potter 1901-1906 J. J. Drake 1901-1903 E. S. Kelley 1904-1905 Wm. Kissinger 1904 Robt. Jones 1905-1906 Geo. Happ 1906 Postmasters. The office which is now St. Joseph, was established March 10, 1829, under the name of Saranac. The name was changed to St. Joseph, July 24, 1833. The list of post masters for Saranac and St. Joseph from March 10, 1829, to date, with dates of ap pointment, is as follows : Calvin Britain (Saranac) . . . 1829 Calvin Britain (St. Joseph) 1833 Thos. Fitzgerald 1834 John F. Porter 1838 Thomas Fitzgerald 1840 Calvin Britain 1840 Reuben Scott 1841 Thos. Fitzgerald 1843 Geo. K. Smith 1845 Chas. C. Sutton 1846 Benj. C. Hoyt 1849 Horace W. Guernsey 1853 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 191 Jas. N. Witherell *. . 1861 Benj. F. King 1876 Fitz H. Stephens 1866 Leonard J. Merchant 1880 Henry W. Gustin . 1867 Jas. A. Canavan 1887 Jay J. Drake 1869 Jas. Brooks 1890 Thos. L. Reynolds 1871 . Jas. A. Canavan 1893 Chas. Stewart 1872 Fred A. Woodruff 1897 to date. CHAPTER X BERRIEN TOWNSHIP. The first township in the county of Ber rien to be settled .by farmers and cleared to any considerable extent was that of Berrien. It is naturally one of the richest and most productive portions of the county. The greater portion of the land was origin ally covered by thick timber, the remaining portion mostly consisting of "oak open ings." The township is dotted over with numerous small lakes, the largest of which is Smith's lake. These features seem to have been attractive to the earliest settlers, and to have led the early and rapid devel opment of the township as an agricultural center. It was surveyed by Noah Brookfield in 1826. The township is irregular in shape, being bounded on the west by the St. Jo seph river, which runs in a tortuous and meandering course along the line of this boundary for nearly twelve miles. The river is dotted with islands and hemmed in by high and picturesque bluffs, covered with trees for a considerable distance. The first settlement, as we have already seen, in Berrien township was made by John Johnson in section twenty-nine. He came to Niles in 1824 and was first engaged in clearing land near Niles for John Lybrook, whose sister Johnson married. Johnson was a shoemaker by trade and for a time worked at his trade at the Carey mission. He built a log house upon his land in 1827, and he and his wife moved into it the same year. He lived upon this farm till his death in 1884. The son of John Johnson, John Johnson, Jr., is now living upon the farm which his father occupied. John Johnson, Jr., was sheriff of the county in 1891-92 and has been supervisor of his township. His sister Sarah Dunbar, of Sodus, was born in March, 1831. The other children of John Johnson, Sr., now living, are Mrs. Lydia Shearer, of Niles township, Mrs. Eva Miller of Berrien township, and Mrs. Mary Murphy of Berrien township, the wife of Erastus Murphy. Late in the fall of 1827 George H. Clay- pool, who had been living in Niles, having gone there in 1827, and who had married a sister of Johnson, located eighty acres in section twenty-seven, adjoining lands of Johnson, and moved onto it with his wife. It appears that for nearly two years the Johnson and Claypool families were the only white dwellers in the township. Mr. Claypool died in 1873. Three children of George H. Claypool are now living: John J., who resides about a mile south of Ber rien Springs, Samuel J., of Berrien town ship, and Mrs. Margaret Dean of Pipestone. In 1830, John Smith and his brother, Isaac Smith, whose parents were pioneer settlers in Kentucky, came from Preble county, Ohio, and settled in Berrien town ship. John located ninety-six acres in sec- MRS. ANNA JOHNSON JOHN JOHNSON THE FIRST SETTLER OF BERRIEN TOWNSHIP AND THE SECOND PERMANENT SET- • TLER OF THE COUNTY ¦i, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 193 tion thirteen, and Isaac two hundred and forty acres in section twenty-four. Both of these brothers lived upon their farms till their death at an extreme old age. The son of John, Isaac Smith, is now liv ing upon the land located by his father. A large body of very valuable timber re mained growing intact upon this land till a few years since, a relic of the forest grandeur of olden days now seldom seen. The only son of Isaac Smith, James Smith, died in 1899, at the old homestead of his father, leaving a widow, Mrs. Malvina Smith, a sister of Hon. W. I. Babcock of Niles, and three children, Martha, Dr. Ethan H. and Charles R. The widow is still living on the old homestead with her son Charles and daughter Martha. Dr. Ethan H. Smith is a physician of San Fran cisco, California. Isaac Lybrook is the oldest settler in the St. Joseph valley now living in Berrien county. His mother, a widow, emigrated with her father, John Burke, and her chil dren, from Preble county, Ohio, in 1828 and located in Pokagon township, Cass county, adjoining the Berrien county line. In 1840 his mother settled upon section thirty, Ber rien township. Mr. Lybrook is still living upon this land and has added one hundred and twenty acres to the original home stead. He is now eighty-two years of age, with his mental faculties still vigorous, and in good health physically for a man of his age. His recollection of the Indian vil lages and chiefs is vivid. The Pottawato mies were in the habit of seeking shelter at night with their white friends and often came to his mother's residence, and staid over night, sleeping on the floor with their feet next to the fire place. They were re markably peaceable, however, and were not feared by the settlers. Mr. Lybrook knew the Chief Pokagon well and speaks in terms of praise of his character and integrity. In 1829 Hugh Marrs of Virginia, with his family, started for Pokagon Prairie. After spending the winter in Ohio he aiv- rived at Pokagon Prairie in April, 1830;. with only $10 in his pocket. He located^ shortly after eighty acres on the flat on the-- St. Joseph river, opposite the Shaker farm- He was driven from his house in 1832 by a flood and forced to remove to the bluff. After having owned various tracts of landl in the township he finally purchased in 1856O the old Ford farm, near Berrien Springs,. where he died in 1874. Several of his chil dren are now living and are among the very oldest settlers of Berrien county. An drew M. and Thomas came with their par ents to Michigan in 1830. Andrew M. Marrs, the oldest, now in his seventy-eighth year, is living at Berrien Springs, and is still vigorous and well preserved. He was, postmaster of Berrien Springs from 1897 to> 1904, county superintendent of the poor for three years and justice of the peace for some time. By trade he is a cabinet maker. Although a native of Virginia, he has been an active Republican since the organi zation of the party. Thomas Marrs, a prominent man in both state and county affairs, was born in Vir ginia in 1829. In 1857 he removed from Michigan to Missouri, engaging in the saw mill business, but after remaining four years was compelled to leave the district in which he was living on account of his anti-slav ery opinions and returned to Berrien county. He was a member of the State Senate from 1 88 1 \o 1883, county agent of charities for nine years and deputy oil inspector for four years. He was prominent -in organizing the State Grange, was a member of the execu tive committee of that organization for twenty-seven years, and master of the State? Grange from 1895 to 1901, in which ca pacity he lectured in every part of the state. His home for many years has been upon a fine farm, adjoining the village of Berrien Center. He was one of the most influen tial and effective workers in building up the Republican party in Berrien county, and IS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY lias discharged the various duties of official and public life imposed upon him, with sig nal ability and honesty. Samuel Marrs was born in Berrien township in 1831, and is the third oldest person now living in the county who' was born here. In his school boy days he at tended a writing school taught by Mr. 'Cowles, an Indian, who was an expert pen- anan. In early life, Mr. Marrs was by trade a carpenter, but many years ago pur chased a farm in section two, Lake town ship, and has devoted himself largely to Jruit raising. He has reared a large family and now has thirty-seven grandchildren living. He has held various offices in his -township. The other children of Hugh Marrs now living in this county are : Mrs. Melinda Snow, Elizabeth Magill and B. Franklin Marrs. William Marrs, born in 1832, is living in California. In 183 1, Michael Hand and his nephew, Thomas Hand, came from Ohio, and each located a tract near the St. Joseph river on section thirty. Thomas Hand died in 1844. Michael Hand was a member of the state legislature in 1853. He lived upon his farm ¦till his death in 1877. A son of Mr. Hand, Joseph, now lives 3upon a portion of the farm entered by his .father in 1831, in section thirty. The portion in which Michael Hand set tled in 183 1 was a dense wilderness of thick timber. He used to relate that shortly after lie settled upon the place, he went out into the woods a few rods away to shoot a squir- xel and shot a deer. While endeavoring to drag the deer home, in a blinding snow .storm, he became completely bewildered, and moved about hopelessly in a circle for about an hour. The shouts of his wife, ^it length reached his ears, and he then was enabled to reach his home. In the fall of 1830 Adam Michael came -with Isaac Murphy, then a youth of nine teen years of age, to Pokagon Prairie, Cass county, They removed to Berrien township in 1 83 1 and established a blacksmith shop. Michael died in 1838. One of his daughters married Silas Ireland. Another daughter married Daniel Lyle, a banker of Dowag iac and is living at that place. Religious services were often held at Michael's house by the Rev. Thomas P. McCoole, a prominent Methodist minister of Cass county. In' 1834 Murphy married Eliza Jenkins, the daughter of Baldwin Jenkins, already mentioned in the chapter on the early settlement of the county. Murphy was a Virginian by birth. He and his wife both died in January 1893. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom four are now living; John J., Erastus and Isaac, Jr., all of Berrien Center, Mrs. Rufus Will iams and Mrs. Jacob Becker of Pokagon, Cass county. Erastus is the secretary of the Berrien County Pioneers' Association and has been supervisor of his township for several terms. Andrew L. Burke settled in Berrien township in 1832. His father, John Burke, of Virginia, had moved with his family to Pokagon township, Cass county, in 1828, and Andrew resided with his father till his removal to Berrien township. He first set tled on the east bank of the St. Joseph river about five miles southwest of Berrien Springs, and acquired nearly nine hundred acres practically in one tract. He was a member of the state" legislature in 1849, an^ supervisor for several terms. He died many years since. The following children of Mr. Burke are now living : Eliza Burke, Rebecca, wife of Thomas DeMott, Martha, wife of Robert Foster, Lilias, wife of Thomas Gillespie, John Burke who now resides in the city of Niles, Alexander, of Niles township, An drew L. and Dr. Samuel T. Burke, who both reside in Chicago. In 1826 Eli Ford came from Pennsyl vania to Pokagon Prairie. In 1828 he put HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY *95 tip a grist mill in Niles township on the Dowagiac river. This was the first grist mill run by water power erected in Berrien county. In 1832 he moved into Berrien town ship ard constructed a saw mill a mile north east of Berrien Springs. In 1833 he built a grain warehouse near the east end of the present bridge at Berrien Springs. He was engaged quite extensively in lumbering. He died in 1839. A son, Christopher Ford,, is now living at Berrien Springs. He was born in 1831. Shadrach Ford, from Ohio, located on Po kagon Prairie in 1827 and was first engaged in trading with the Indians. He settled in Berrien township in 1832 and died in 1874. William Lemon, a Virginia, settled in the township in 1831 with a family of eleven children. Shortly after he removed to Oron oko township. He erected the first saw-mill In Berrien township in 1832. He was super visor of the township for several terms. Luke Webster, a Virginian, located on section thirty-two in 1833. He died in 1841. James Jenkins, a Virginian, settled in the township in 1832, where he lived till his death in 1875. Julius Brown came from Ohio to Niles in 1830 and in 1832 removed to the town ship. He was afterwards supervisor. James Gillespie moved from Ohio to Niles about 1829, when he was engaged in work at the Carey mission. In 1832 he located a farm in Berrien township, and spent two years in boating on the St. Jo seph river. In 1834 he went to Ohio and assisted his father and family in moving to Michigan. James died in 185 1. John, a brother, in 1834 located on sec tion thirty-one, where he lived till his death in 1884. He owned three hundred and sev enty-three acres in one tract of valuable land. The following named children are now liv ing in Berrien county : Robert, Thomas and James. In 1836, John Gillespie went to Ohio and assisted his brother-in-law, Nathan Fitch and family, in moving to Berrien township. Mr. Fitch located two hundred and forty acres in section thirty-one. This he owned till his death in 1893 and it is now owned by his daughter and grandchildren. During the latter part of his life he lived at Niles. He was sheriff of the county from 1855 to 1859, and a member of the legisla ture in 1863. Two children are now living, Evan L., and Sarah, who married John Burke, of Niles. In 1835, Francis R. Pinnell, a native of Virginia, came to Berrien township in Sep tember, with a wife and eight children. His brother, Jesse Pinnell, and wife had set out for Michigan in company with Francis, but Jesse died on the way, leaving a family of nine children. Seventeen children were thus left on Francis' hands. The family was first divided up, some staying with Hugh Marrs and some with Mr. Riggin, until a log house was built in October following. Mr. Pinnell was a graduate of Stauton College, Virginia, and for many years was engaged in teaching. He was a man of iron constitu tion and was able to carry on his farm and do manual labor till he was over ninety years old. He died in 1881 in his ninety-sixth year, in Berrien township. He was originally a Methodist, licensed to exhort, but for the last twenty-five years of his life a United Brethren preacher. A son, Thomas C, enlisted in the Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry and died in the service in 1863.* A son of his, Joseph F., is now liv ing in Lincoln township near St. Joseph. A daughter of Francis R. Pinnell, Mrs. Lucinda Groat, is one of the oldest residents of Berrien county now living. She came with her father Francis Pinnell to Berrien township in 1835. In :84i she was mar ried to James Groat, a native of Canada, who came to Pokagon, Cass county, in 1838, and settled in Berrien township a few years later. Mr. -Groat died in 1901 in his eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Groat still resides in Berrien 196 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY township in her eighty-eighth year retaining her memory remarkably well and relating many of the hardships of pioneer life. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Groat, Cyrus B. Groat, was for several years the head of the county executive board of school examiners, corresponding to the present office of county commissioner of schools, and was supervisor of his township for ten terms, seven of which were in succession. He is now the owner of a fine farm in the southeast corner of the township, called the "Shady Nook Farm." Nathan McCoy a famous deer hunter, migrated from Virginia in 1833, and the next year located a farm in Berrien town ship. By the year 1836, the township had been largely settled up, being the most populous, next to Niles and Bertrand, the latter town ship then including Bertrand village, which was at that time a flourishing settlement. Among early settlers not already men tioned, some of whom came earlier than 1836, and some shortly after, were T. K. Clybourne, Hiram Hinchman, Daniel Lay man, Joel Layman, Richard McOmber, Henry Rush, Thomas Easton, E. B. Walker, Silas Inland, James Jenkins, Andrew Tate, Julius Brown, Luke Webster, B. D. Rown- send, John Powers, Ralph Dunn. Mr. Ireland was a prominent figure in Berrien county for fifty years. He came to Berrien township in 1839 from Ohio with only seven dollars in his pocket. By pro fession he was a surveyor. He, however, went into farming and became the owner of about seven hundred acres of valuable land. He was supervisor for five years, a member of the legislature in 1877, county superintendent of the poor for twelve years and held various other offices. He married Matilda Michael, daughter of Adam Michael, one of the oldest settlers of the township, and twelve children were born to them. Julius Brown settled in the township ¦ in 1832. He was one of the early super visors and died in i860. Ralph Dunn came in 1836 and was also a supervisor, but removed west in a few years. Andrew Tate came with his family in 1834. His son John, who came with hia father, was county treasurer from 1875 to 1879 and supervisor of his township eight years. He died in 1879. Until 1832 the territory of the present town of Berrien was part of the township of Niles. In that year the township of Ber rien was organized, embracing the territory now covered by Berrien, Oronoko and Lake townships. In 1837, the territory now em braced in Oronoko and Lake was detached and organized into the separate township of Oronoko. The first election in Berrien township was held in April, 1833, at the tavern of Pitt Brown in what is now known as Berrien Springs.' Pitt Brown was elected supervisor and Francis B. Murdock clerk. The first birth in the township was that of Isaac Johnson, son of John Johnson, born in 1828. Considerable business was transacted at an early date on the east side of the St. Jo seph river opposite Berrien Springs. Thomas L. Stevens kept a store for a time and John DeField a tavern, and a warehouse was built by Eli Ford in 1833. Mercantile operations, however, were soon transferred to Berrien Springs. The first roads laid out in the township were those leading from Berrien Springs to Niles and to Pokagon. Both were laid out in 1832. The first school was taught by A. M. Wells in a log school house located on land now owned by Mrs. John Burke and chil dren. The first church in the township was a Methodist Episcopal organized in 1843. In 1846 a church edifice was erected called Mor ris Chapel. In 1856 a Union Church was established and a church edifice erected on the Niles road near Long Lake for the use of all re- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 197 ligious denominations alike. Michael Hand, George H. Claypool and Andrew L. Burke were appointed trustees. The denomina tions which made most use of the church building were the Lutherans, United Breth ren and Baptists. The Farmers' Grange has been especially strong in this township, and in 1876 a large Grange Hall was erected at Berrien Center costing fifteen hundred dollars. The only incorporated village in the township is that of Eau Claire which lies partly in Berrien and partly in Pipestone townships. The village of Berrien Center is located nearly in the center of the town ship. Eau Claire had a population of three hundred and twenty- four in 1904, and Ber rien Center about one-hundred. The County Poor Farm was located in this township in 1847 on section seventeen, about one mile west of Berrien Center. A huilding was erected the same year. The farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres. The first building erected was destroyed by fire in 1867, and a large and commodious brick building was built in 1869. It will be seen from the brief account of the earliest settlers of Berrien township that a large proportion of them were either na tives of Virginia or of Virginian descent. It is worthy of note that most of these settlers were strongly anti-slavery in their convictions, notwithstanding their Southern origin. This is partially attributable to the fact that public sentiment in Virginia in its palmiest days was largely anti-slavery. Nearly all of its long line of illustrious states men were strongly and openly opposed to the institution, including Washington, Jef ferson and Madison. It was largely through the efforts of Thomas Jefferson, aided by the entire Virginia delegation in the Con federate Congress, that the clause forever prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Terri tory was inserted in the famous ordinance of 1787. Although Jefferson was not then a member of Congress, he had been the in stigator of the anti-slavery provisions. It is probable also that a desire to emi grate to a land where free labor would not be obliged to compete with slave labor had its effect on the early emigrants from Vir ginia to Michigan. The following is a list of the supervisors of the township of Berrien. Pitt Brown 1833-1840 Alonzo Bennett 1841 Julius Brown 1842-1843 A. L. Burke 1844 Geo. Murphy 1845 A. L. Burke 1846-1848 Geo. Murphy 1849 Silas Ireland 1850-1852 J. F. Haskins 1853 Silas Ireland 1854 Ralph Denn 1855 Silas Ireland 1856 P. G. Cuddeback 1857 W. S. Maynard 1858 E. A. Brown 1859 ' P. G. Cuddeback 1860-1862 John Tate 1863-1865 H. R. Murphy 1866 John Tate 1867-1869 J. F. Peck 1870 Joel Layman 1871 John Tate . 1872 J. M. Savage 1873 John Tate 1874 I. P. rjutton 1875-1876 D. H. Ullery 1877-1880 John Johnson 1881 C. B. Groat 1882-1888 H. S. Robinson 1889 C. B. Groat 1890-1892 A. J. Easton 1893 J. L. Bishop 1894-1899 Erastus Murphy 1900 John Johnson 1901 Erastus Murphy 1902-1905 Henry Whalen 1906 CHAPTER XI ORONOKO TOWNSHIP. This township is bounded on the north by Royalton and Sodus, being separated from Sodus by the St. Joseph river, on the east by the St. Joseph river separating it from Berrien township, on the south by Buchanan, and on the west by Lake. The river is meandering on the eastern boundary and is crowned for much of the way by high bluffs. The surface of the country is generally rolling. There is very little waste land, nearly all being capable of cultivation. The soil is generally very fertile and productive. The township was originally covered with extensive forests of valuable timber. The township remained a part of Berrien township till 1837, when it was set off as a separate township, embracing the township of Lake till 1846. The first township meet ing was held at the house of William St. John, April 3, 1837. At this meeting Ed ward Ballingee was elected supervisor, Will iam F. St. John clerk and Alexander Turner treasurer. The present village of Berrien Springs is the site of the earliest settlements made in the township. It was known among the first settlers as Wolf's Prairie, after the name of the Prairie upon which the village is situate. This prairie consists of about one thousand acres of choice land, and is delightfully situated near the bank of the St. Joseph river. It is the only prairie in the county outside of the township of Bertrand. John Pike was the first settler. He was a native of North Carolina and came to the Carey mission at Niles in 1829 with a wife and eight children. Here he sojourned ?, few weeks, when he conveyed his family and household goods to Wolfe's Prairie. In 1832 Pike removed to Royalton township where he died. A few months after the settlement made by Pike, in 1829, George Kimmel from Pennsylvania visited Wolfe's Prairie and en tered about three hundred acres in the civin- ity. He returned to Pennsylvania, however, and did not locate upon the land till 1831. In 1830 George Kimmel gave to his son- in-law, Francis B. Murdock, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, one hundred and twenty acres of his land situated on Wolfe's Prairie, and during that year Murdock with his wife and one child located upon this land and built a log house. Mr. Murdock was a lawyer, and the first regular practicing lawyer of Ber rien county. He appears as the first attorney upon the journal of the circuit court of this county. In 1833 he was appointed judge of probate. In 1835 he removed to the south, and finally to San Jose, California, where he died in 1882. His son, Major George H. Murdock, was born in Pennsylvania in 1829. He was a captain in the First Regi ment of Michigan Sharpshooters and was HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 199 promoted to brevet major, United States Volunteers for gallant services at the battle of Spottsylvania and in the Richmond Cam paign. He was county clerk for three terms, and for a time editor of the Berrien County Jov.rnal. A daughter of Francis Murdock, Mrs. Clifton Gardner, is now living at Ber rien Springs. George Kimmel, already referred to, re turned to Wolfe's Prairie in 1 831,. with two sons Wellington and John, and commenced clearing the farm now known as the Shaker farm. In 1833 he brought the remainder of his family. In 1832 he built the first saw mill in Oronoko township on Lemon creek. "He acquired about two thousand acres upon and around Wolfe's Prairie and was the most extensive land owner of Berrien county during its early settlement. He gave to each of his daughters, Mrs. Susan Kephart, Mrs. Julia A. Dougherty, Mrs. Hester Stevens and Mary Graham, a valuable farm. Of these daughters, only one is now living, Mrs. Stevens, who now resides upon the farm given to her by her father, with her daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Lewis. Mr. Kimmel died in 1849. His son George Kimmel, moved to Niles, subsequently be came a prominent citizen of that place and was major of the Twelfth Michigan Regi ment during the Civil war. He was a skill ful hunter, but was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun while he was unloading it from a wagon. Lawrence Cavanaugh settled on Wolfe's Prairie in 1830, but soon removed to Ber rien township. Pitt Brown came from Ohio to Wolfe's Prairie, in 1831, with a nephew, Horace Godfrey. Brown opened up a tavern and established a ferry on the river at this point. He was in command for awhile of the "Davy Crockett" a steamboat which commenced running between St. Joseph and Niles in 1834. He was the first postmaster in the settlement, supervisor of the township of Berrien for eight years, ran a distillery, and was also interested in mercantile business with Robert E. Ward. He died in 1842. Godfrey went to farming, but subse quently removed to Lake township where he died. Lyman A. Barnard emigrated from Ohio* to Cass county in 1828 and for three or four years was located on La Grange? Prairie. In 1832 he moved to Berrien and built a fifteen-ton sloop called the "Dart"" and sailed with it between St. Joseph and Chicago for about a year. He soon quit the lake and studied medicine and established a large practice. He was a man of rare in telligence and was a supervisor of thei township. He died in 1882. In 1831 the village of Berrien was platted by the proprietors Pitt Brown, Horace Godfrey and Francis B. Murdock. In 1837 the county seat was removed from St. Joseph to Berrien where it remained till 1894 when it was again removed to St. Jo seph. In 183 1 Thomas Love and Edward Bal- lingee came from Virginia and opened up the mercantile business in a log house, which was located near the site of the old Defield house. They subsequently built a- large frame store building on the river bank at the foot of Main street. Both of these gentlemen became promi nent citizens of the county. Mr. Ballingee was the first supervisor of Oronoko town ship. In 1843 he removed to Buchanan and in 18*44 was supervisor. In 1845 he re moved to Lake township, where he lived tilt 1850 when he removed to New Buffalo. He moved to Buchanan again in 1865 after liv ing awhile in California. For many years before his death he was a justice of the peace at Buchanan. Mr. Love lived in Berrien Springs till 1854. He was engaged in lumbering for awhile. He was county treasurer from 1841 to 1843, county clerk from 1843 to 1847,. and county surveyor for many years. In 1854 he moved to Avery's Station in Three "200 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 'Oaks township, where he built a mill. He became a supervisor of the township of "Three Oaks and was for many years a justice of the peace. He was a man of rare intelli gence and excellent judgment. He died many years ago. Dr. Philip Kephart was one of the most prominent citizens of the town and county. He was a native of Maryland and a physi cian. While practicing in the state of Penn sylvania, he married Susan Kimmel, daugh ter of George Kimmel already referred to. Dr. Kephart and his wife came to Berrien Springs in 1841. Dr. Kephart died in 1880 and his wife during the past year. Dr. Kep- liart was the first president of the village in S863, and occupied that position for eight terms. He was recognized as a skillful phy sician, a public spirited citizen and an up right man. He went into the mercantile business in 1843 an^ continued in it till his death. The following children are now living, Henry, George and Mrs. R. D. Dix of Ber- rrien Springs and Walter of Petoskey, Michigan. Thomas L. Stevens was one of the early settlers of Van Buren county, having set tled in Paw Paw in 1836. In 1839 he moved to Berrien Springs, and went into the mer cantile business. In 1848 he and R. W. Landon carried on a general store in part nership. In 1852 he returned to Paw Paw where he engaged in the milling business and subsequently in the mercantile business and banking. In 1868 he moved to Niles where he became connected with the First National Bank and was its president for many years prior to his death. Under his administra tion the bank became prosperous and suc cessful. He was an able and upright man, courteous and kindly in his manners and universally esteemed. In early life he mar ried Hester Stevens, who survived her hus band and is now living at Berrien Springs. OThe following children are now living. Fred L. of Minneapolis, Mrs. Gertrude Lewis of Berrien Springs, William Wirt of Waterville, Washington, and Edith S. Fitz gerald of Chicago. Charles F. Howe resided at Berrien Springs for nearly fifty years before his death. He was a native of Massachusetts and came to St. Joseph in 1835, where he engaged in sailing on the lakes for some years. In 1847 he was elected county regis ter and served for three terms. He was a very genial and courteous gentleman of the old school, and highly esteemed. He died in 1895 at the age of eighty-five. His son Charles E. was county clerk from 1869 to 1873. In the Civil war he was captain of Company A, Twelfth Michi gan Regiment, was breveted major United States Volunteers March, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war," and appointed acting adjutant general United States Volunteers, April, 1865. He is now living in Chicago. Charles D. Nichols settled in .Berrien Springs in 1843, and lived there till last May, when he removed to Petoskey in this state, where he is now living with one of his children. He came from the state of New York with his parents in 1829 to Rolling Prairie, Indiana. Here he lived till his twenty-first year when he removed to Ber rien Springs. He was county treasurer from 1855 to 1859 and sheriff from 1863 to 1865. He is now in his eighty-fourth year still vigorous in mind and body and enjoying good health. He relates that on the journey of his people and himself to the west in 1829, they passed through Niles and that there were then only three houses in the place. Among the oldest residents of the town ship is George Graham now in his eighty- first year. He came to Berrien Springs in 1840 and lived for a time with his grand father George Kimmel. In 1847 he bought a farm adjoining the village and added to it until in a few years he had five hundred acres of choice land, where he carried on for HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 201 many years one of the most successful farm ing and stock-raising ranches in the county. He married a daughter of George Kimmel, Sr., Mary, who died a few years since. A " brother of George, James Graham, came to Berrien Springs in 1846. He be came a prominent merchant- and Republican politician. He was sheriff of the county for two terms, under-sheriff for many years, a member of the legislature and president of the village. He was a natural political leader, had an immense acquaintance, per sonal influence and great natural sagacity, and was probably the shrewdest manager on the floor of political county conventions, which the county has ever had. He died in 1876. Another brother, Captain John Graham, who came to Berrien Springs in 1846, has been a resident of Buchanan for about forty years, and was for many years a prominent merchant of the place. He has been post master of Buchanan, and assistant revenue collector for the fourth congressional dis trict of Michigan. He is now one of the jury commissioners for Berrien county, ap pointed by the governor. Thomas Lee Wilkinson came to Berrien Springs in 1840. Mr. Wilkinson was a Quaker, but upon coming west, united with the United Brethren Church, of which he was a leading member. He was a cabinet maker by trade and carried on a furniture shop and factory till his death in 1862. His widow, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Ann Hagadorn, is still living in Berrien Springs at the age of eighty-four. The son, Thomas Lee Wilkinson, in con nection with Roscoe D. Dix, established an abstract of title and real estate business in 1876 at Berrien Springs, which has been continued ever since. In 1894, Mr. Wil kinson removing to St. Joseph, the abstract office was removed to the latter place. Mr. Wilkinson's knowledge of some branches of real estate law is superior to that of most lawyers. In 1890, Messrs. Dix & Wilkinson also established the Berrien Exchange Bank at Berrien Springs, of which Mr. Dix has charge. Roscoe D. Dix, the partner of Mr. Wil kinson, has been a prominent citizen of the place for forty years and has held important state offices. He came with his father, Dex ter O. Dix, from New York to Bainbridge in 1852. Roscoe was a soldier in the famous Second Michigan Regiment and was severely wounded at the siege of Knoxville in 1863. In 1864, he was elected county register of deeds, and served three terms. In 1874, he was again elected to the same position and served two terms. In 1886, he was elected commissioner of the state land office and served two terms. In 1897 he was elected auditor general of the state and served two terms. He has also been president of the village of Berrien Springs. He has been an active and influential leader of the Re publican party in the county. Mr. Dix was admitted to the bar about thirty years ago and for most of that time has been the only attorney in the place. George H. Murdock, Jr., a son of the late George H. Murdock, practiced law at Berrien Springs for several years, and was the author of an annual Insurance Digest, but recently removed to St. Louis. Mercantile Business. The first store in the village was carried on by Thomas Love and Edward Ballingee in 1 83 1 in a log house. They subsequently built a frame store at the west end of the bridge. In 1836 or 1837, this firm sold out to Andrew J. Murray and John Wittenmyer. Murray was a physician who came from Pennsylvania in 1836 and practiced his pro fession first at Berrien Springs and next at St. Joseph. He moved to Niles in 1848. He was a man of liberal education, of great native ability and had a large practice. He was a member of the legislature in 1849. 202 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Murray and Wittenmyer were followed by William G. Ferson, subsequently a promi nent merchant of Niles. He sold out to Benjamin D. Townsend, who after a few months sold the business to his clerk, James M. Piatt. Mr. Piatt carried on a general store for over thirty years and did a heavy business. He died in 1878. Dr. Kephart carried on a general store and drug store for many years. William Dougherty brought a stock of goods to Berrien Springs from the city of Washington in 1838, and opened up a gen eral store. This he carried on with some interruption till 1865 when he retired from mercantile life to a farm near the village. Early Hotels. The first hotel was built by Pitt Brown, in 1830 or 1 83 1, on the river bank below the hill. He was a popular landlord and his hotel became famous. The first tavern on the hill was built by John DeField. After Mr. DeField's death, his widow and son, John DeField, carried on the hotel for many years. This hotel became the favorite resort of attorneys for over forty years. John DeField retired from the hotel business many years ago and is now living on a farm in Benton township. The first saw mill was erected by George Kimmel on Lemon creek in 1831. The ferry across the river was- built by Pitt Brown in 183 1. The bridge across the river was not built till 1844. The most important work of internal im provement in the county is now under way at Berrien Springs, where the preliminary steps for constructing a dam and power house capable of developing an immense power, have already been taken. The Berrien Springs Power & Electric Company has been organized to build a dam at Berrien Springs, Michigan, near the head of Pardee Island. The officers of this com pany are Charles A. Chapin, president, Fred A. Bryan, vice-president and general man ager, A. B. Ayers, treasurer, and George Kephart, secretary. They propose to build a dam and power house at Berrien Springs approximately twenty-one feet high which will develop con tinually from two thousand to eight thou sand horse power. This will be operated in conjunction with the dams at Buchanan, Michigan, Twin Branch, Indiana, and Elk hart, Indiana, and a large steam plant at South Bend. This means that with a proper steam relay to take care of low water periods in the river, Berrien county will have about eight thousand electrical horse power de veloped at Buchanan and Berrien Springs. To develop a similar amount of energy in one year by coal would require approxi mately one hundred and seventy-five thou sand tons. In addition to the value of these dams from a commercial standpoint, a lake half a mile wide and several miles long will be formed above Berrien Springs, which will have -many advantages for Berrien Springs from the resort standpoint. The above figures relative to the equiva lent amount of coal which this water power is equal to, are perhaps a little above the average, but they represent the value of the river under a good stage of water. The value of the two dams could be expressed in more practical terms by stating that the power derived from them is equivalent to about fifteen cars of coal per day for each working day in the year. The interior of the township of Oronoko began to be settled two or three years later than "Wolfe's Prairie." In 1 83 1 Hezekiah Plall settled on the bank of the river north of the present vil lage of Berrien Springs. In 1832 Henry Freed and his family, Samuel Summers and Joseph Feather emi grated from Pennsylvania. Freed and a son, Abram, settled in sections twenty-three and twenty-four. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 203 Joseph Feather, who was a carpenter, first emigrated from Pennsylvania to St. Joseph where he worked for Fowler Pres ton at cabinet making. He removed to Berrien in 1833, and located upon a farm south of the village. William Lemon was one of the early settlers of Berrien township, and moved in to Oronoko in 1835, and purchased the saw mill of George Kimmel. He died in 1851. He was one of the most prominent of the old settlers and was supervisor of the town ship for several terms. One of his daugh ters married John Tate, another Comfort Pennell and another George Ewalt. Joshua Feather, of Pennsylvania, was the pioneer of what is called the Feather settlement in the northwest part of the town ship, where many of his descendants still reside. He settled on section seven in 1837. Three of his children are now living, two sons, David T. and Joshua,, and a daughter, Mary Ann. Two of his children, John H. and Lafayette, died some years ago. The names of the children of John H. are Rufus A., Franklin P., Henry A., Wm. J., Mary C, Anna L. French, Adlina A. French, Julia M. Bliss and Harriet. The Feathers, together with other set tlers, organized an Evangelical Lutheran Church in i860, under the charge of Rev. John Boon, and in 1873 built a church edifice in the Feather neighborhood. The Feathers belonged to that class of in teresting people known as "Pennsylvania! Dutch," more particularly described in the chapter on Betrand township. The family name in Pennsylvania was "Vedder," but upon the removal to Michigan the name was corrupted and changed to Feather. Some of the Feathers, on their arrival in Berrien county, could not speak intelligible English. Other families of "Pennsylvania Dutch," besides the Feathers, settled in Oronoko township shortly after. These settlers were generally thrifty farmers and excellent citi zens, and their descendants are now numer ous. The region which these people settled and cleared up was a dense forest of grow ing timber consisting of white wood, black walnut, ash and other valuable timbers. The white woods grew to an immense size. W. A. Feather informed the writer that some years since, he measured a white wood tree in this locality which was fifteen feet in circumference. As the tree grows to a great height with little diminution in diame ter, it can be readily conceived that the lumber that could be produced from such a tree would at this time be worth several hun dred dollars. In 1834 Abel Garr came from Indiana and located in section twenty-one, nearly in the center of the township. Mr. Garr was supervisor in 1843. He died several years ago. His widow and daughter, Martha, now occupy the place, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, and called the "Excelsior Grain and Fruit Farm." There is still growing on this place a noble forest of valuable timber, perhaps the most valua ble of any in the county. The growing timber alone upon this place is estimated to be worth at least fourteen thousand dol lars. Jesse Helmick, known among the early settlers as "Judge Helmick," came from Ohio on horseback in 1835 and located in the southeast part of the township. He was a blacksmith by trade and for some time carried on his calling as well as his farm. He was a*n associate judge of the county court for some time, and supervisor of the town ship in 1847 and 1848. In 1836 Oliver Spaulding came from New Hampshire and settled on section twenty-six. He came by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by steamboat to Detroit, thence by stage to the St. Joseph river. In i860 he removed to Royalton. During the same year, John and Lewis Storick came from Pennsylvania, traveling overland. In 1835, Samuel Winslow, his wife, a 204 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY son Ezra and two daughters came from New Hampshire to Oronoko township. Henry Tudor, who had married one of the daughters, accompanied them, with seven children. Wilson located in the southeastern part of the township. Samuel Tudor, a son of Henry, located shortly after in section twen ty-four. The father died in 1836. Jonathan Knight came from Ohio in 1836. He was a chair maker by trade, but after working a few years at his trade, lo cated upon section eleven. Amos Gray came into Michigan as far back as 1829 and was engaged as a mill wright in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. In 1837 he settled at Berrien Springs, where he was employed as a car penter till 1844, when he removed to a farm, where he lived until he died. He was county surveyor in 1854. Bethuel and Ebenezer Farly came to Oronoko in 1833 with their father. Bethuel and his father settled on a farm, while Eb enezer became a boatman and subsequently captain of the "Mishawaka" and other boats which ran on the river. In 1835 a Party of several emigrated together from Bedford county, Pennsylva nia. It included Jacob Statler and family, Josiah and Tobias Whetstone, Abram Small, J. G. Schultz, Eliza Whetstone and George Schell. A son of Abram Small, Adam, was supervisor in 1847, and settled in section sixteen. Schultz located in sec tion twenty-eight and became the owner of five hundred and fifty acres of valuable lands. His descendants still live on the lands purchased by Mr. Schultz. Josiah Whetstone was supervisor for four terms. Joseph S. Barnard, the father of Lyman A. Barnard, emigrated from Ohio to La Grange Prairie in 1828 and was one of the oldest settlers of that county. In 1833, he came to Oronoko and settled on a farm sev eral miles west of Berrien Springs. In 1832, he was chosen associate judge of the circuit court. He was supervisor of the township from 1840 to 1842. He was a man of rare intelligence and public spirited.. He died in 1852. Among the other old settlers who came in the early thirties were George Brong, a blacksmith, Stephen Wood, a carpenter, Bun Benton, Jacob Akerman, John Arm strong, James M. Watson, who was a skill ful engineer and for many years a justice of the peace. In 1836 George Ewalt and George Es- sick came to the village from Pennsylva nia. Ewalt was a carpenter and worked at his trade for a few years when he moved upon a farm west of the village. Mr. Essick kept a hotel for a time and afterwards became a tinner. Churches. The first church organized in the town ship was Methodist Episcopal and was or ganized in 1835, under the pastorate of Rev. Richard Meek. Worship was carried on in a school house untill 1845 when a church edifice was built in the village. A church of the United Brethern was or ganized in 1844. Thomas L. Wilkinson was the class leader. It was a strong church at the outset and embraced many prominent settlers. As the Pennsylvania German element was large in the township no less than three Evangelical Lutheran churches were in ex istence at one time, one at Berrien Springs, one in the Feather settlement, and one in the southwest part of the township. The Evangelical Association established a church in 1854 in the northwest part of the township. This was also composed largely of persons of German descent. The doctrines and discipline of the church are similar to those of the Methodist Episco pal denomination and the origin of this sect was due to a revolt from Lutheranism in Pennsylvania in 1749 under the lead of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 205 Jacob Albright. The church is now strong in certain parts of the county. Supervisors of Oronoko Township. persons have The following named served as supervisors at nated : the dates desig- Edward Ballingee 1837 Wm. Lemon 1838-1839 Jos. S. Barnard 1840-1842 Abel Gard 1843 William Lemon 1844-1845 G. B. Avery 1846 Jesse Helmick 1847-1848 Wm. Lemon 1849 John Garrow 1850 Josiah Whetstone 1851-1854 L. A. Barnard 1855 Jonathan Knight R. L. Dudley C. F. -Howe C. D. Nichols Jos. W. Howe Adam Small J. P. Vedder J. W. Howe A. Van Patton J. W. Howe C. F. Howe Z. Fisher Harry Stemm Z. Fisher Alfred Bowles W. H. Sylvester M. S. Bedinger Ira R. Stemm (Present Incumbent). 1856 1857-1858 1 859- 1 860 .1861 1862-1866 1867 1 868- 1 869 18701871 1872 1 873- 1 874 1875-1878 1879-18801881-1883 1885 1 886- 1 890 1891-18921 893- 1 906 CHAPTER XII BERTRAND. The "Deserted Village." This village which now has a population of less than fifty was once a prosperous frontier town with a population of nearly -one thousand. It is now situated in the township of Niles, but from the time of the organization of Bertrand township to 1850 it belonged to the latter, and its early history is properly connected with Bertrand township. Its location was on the bank of the St. Joseph river four miles south of the present city of Niles. Prior to the organization of the village it was known by the French name of "Pare aux vaches" or "cow pasture." In 1833, David G. Garnsey, who laid out a portion of the Chicago and Detroit road, conceived the idea of establishing a village at this point. It was on the line of the old Indian trail running between Chicago and Detroit, which was early used by the mail and mili tary service of the government, and subse quently as the main line of the old Chicago road. In 1833 a joint stock association called the Bertrand village association was formed, of which the following named persons were stockholders: John M. Barbour, David G. Garnsey, Dr. Ingalls and Ira Converse of the state of New York ; Joseph H. Williams of Vincennes, Indiana, and Joseph Bertrand, the Indian trader, located at this point. In 1833, Alonzo Bennett, a surveyor and prom inent old settler, made the survey and laid out the village on a grand scale for those days. The plat embraced nearly a mile square, containing about one hundred and forty blocks and one thousand and two hun dred lots. Mrs. Madeline Bertrand, the In dian wife of Joseph Bertrand, held the In dian title, and her conset, as well as that of President Jackson, was obtained for the establishment of the village. The western boundary of the town terminated on the bank of the St. Joseph river. The streets running north and south were named after presidents of the United States and promi nent national characters. A rush of settlers into the new village commenced and in 1836 it contained seven dry goods stores, three hotels, three groceries and a .warehouse. The buildings, however, were nearly all cheap and poorly constructed. The most imposing structure was a large four story hotel, known as the "Steamboat Hotel," erected by Joshua Howell, the grandfather of Marshall Howell, a leading attorney of southwestern Michigan, now residing at Cassopolis. In a few years afterward, this building was taken down and floated on a raft to Berrien Springs, where it was re- erected into a building which was occupied for a long time by Dr. Philip Kephart as a HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 207 drug store and subsequently as 'a hotel called the Oronoko. This structure was burned down a few months since. The village lots were offered for sale in 1836, but instead of selling them to the highest bidder, the association bid them in and held them at exhorbitant prices. This policy on the part of the founders, proved to be the beginning of the downfall of the place. Settlers were drawn to Niles by the more liberal spirit of her people, and the ruin was complete when the Michigan Cen tral Railroad was projected through Niles. John M. Barbour was a man of unusual ability, and the head of the organization. He removed to New York in a few years and became a prominent judge in that state. While here, however, he established an un enviable reputation as a grasping speculator. After the close of navigation one year, he purchased all the salt along the river and held it until he raised the price to $12 a barrel. The place was named after the old In dian trader, Joseph Bertrand, a Frenchman from Canada, who located at this point about the year 1780, and to whom refer ence has been made in a previous chapter. The oldest continuous resident of the vil- lage was probably Darwin C. Higbee, known as "Squire Higbee." He settled in the village of Bertrand in 1833 and lived there till his death in his ninetieth year, in 1902. He was postmaster of that village for over fifty years, and for many years a justice of the peace. His widow now lives at Bertrand. The first church edifice erected in Ber rien county, after the Indian missions had practically disappeared, was built in 1831, in Bertrand township. It was built of logs near the village of the Indian Chief Po kagon. The pastor in charge at this time was Father Badin, a French Catholic priest. In 1837 this church was supplanted by a new brick church edifice erected in the vil lage of Bertrand by the Catholics. This building is still standing, although the build ing has not been used for many years. A Catholic cemetery was established on the same grounds with the church and was used by the Catholics- of the vicinity till about fifteen years, ago, when new cemetery grounds were laid out in Niles. This ancient church and burial grounds are located in a handsome grove of magnifi cent oak trees, upon a bluff commanding a most charming view of the St. Joseph river. The cemetery and interior of the church are both in a dilapidated condition, the walls, however, of the latter being intact. The . oldest inscription in the cemetery which is intelligible is that upon the grave stone of Madeline Bertrand, who died in 1845, and who was the wife of Joseph Bertrand. In 1884, Father Sorin, who had founded the college of Notre Dame in 1843, near South Bend, established a convent at Ber trand for Sisters of the Holy Cross. Their first home was a small frame building, rent ed of Mr, Bertrand. Their first work in cluded the teaching of a few children of the neighborhood, the care of several orphans, and the laundry work of the students of Notre Dame. In 1845 a new building was constructed and in a few years the commun ity developed into a school known as St. Mary's Academy. Mrs. Stineman, now liv ing at Niles, attended this school about 1853. At that time it was flourishing and attended by a large number of pupils from the sur rounding country. This academy continued till 1855, when the buildings occupied by the sisters were removed from St. Mary's at Bertrand, to the new St. Mary's, near the college of Notre Dame, and the sisters, twenty-five in number, were transferred to the latter institution. Thus it will be seen that St. Mary's, now famous as a great edu cational center of female instruction among the Catholics, had its beginning in the hum ble St. Mary's Academy of Bertrand. It was at Bertrand that Mother Angela, who was the Mother Superior of the present St. 200 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mary's for over thirty years, began her suc cessful career in educational work. After a liberal education both in this country and in France, she took charge of St. Mary's Academy at Bertrand early in 1854. Marie Eliza Gillespie, for such was the baptismal name of Mother Angela, was born of Scotch-Irish lineage, in Pennsylvania in 1824, and was an own cousin of James Gillespie Blaine, with whom in early life she had been a school mate. She was a woman of charming personality, of brilliant attainments, and is said to have strongly re sembled her gifted cousin in certain mag netic and mental traits of character. Bertrand village was for many years the "Gretna Green" of Berrien county. It is situated only about a mile from the state line, and parties living in Indiana, desiring to be married without a license which was required in Indiana, hastened in large num bers to a justice of the peace at Bertrand to tie the nuptial knot. One justice of the peace, "Squire Rice," derived no inconsid erable income from this class of business for several years. A license law in Michi gan put an end at length to this profitable industry at Bertrand. The township is bounded on the north by the townships of Buchanan and Niles, on the east by the St. Joseph river, on the south by the state of Indiana, and on the west by Galien. The township originally extended to the Cass county line on the east, but in 1850 that portion which lies east of the St. Joseph river was set off to the township of Niles. A considerable portion of the land con sists of prairie and burr oak openings. The prairie is known as Portage prairie. A narrow belt of timber cuts into one portion of the prairie and the smaller portion has sometimes been called "Little Portage." The prairie lands embrace about three thou sand acres. Both the prairie and burr oak lands are very rich and productive. The land lying on the St. Joseph river, for a short distance is rough and hilly, but the surface of nearly all the township is level or but slightly rolling. The amount of poor land is very small. For many years Bertrand was the banner township in the state in the pro duction of wheat. In 1878, the production was one hundred and twenty-five thousand bushels. The township is about ten miles long from east to west, and three and three- fifth miles wide north and south. It em braces two ranges. It was organized in March, 1836, by act of the legislature, and then embraced Galien township. The first township elec tion was held at Union Hall in the village of Bertrand in April, 1836. At this elec tion, Frederic Howe was elected supervisor, James H. Montgomery, town clerk, Joshua Howell, John De Armond and Alanson Hamilton, justices of the peace. By the Carey mission treaty of 1828, already alluded to, all but about five sec tions of land in Bertrand township were as signed to the Pottawatomies, embracing some of the choicest lands in Michigan. The reservation also embraced all of the pres ent township of Niles, lying south and west of the St. Joseph river, and eight or ten sec tions in Buchanan, in all containing about forty-nine sections. Upon this valuable tract of land were collected all the villages of the Pottawatomies of the St. Joseph valley, when the early settlers arrived, except a few who came prior to 1828. These villages were quite numerous in Bertrand, and some of these have already been described. These lands were not open for sale to settlers till after the treaty of Chicago in 1833. The first settlement in the township ap pears to have been made by Nathan Hat field. Mr. Hatfield came from Wayne coun ty, Indiana, to the Carey mission in 1828 and located upon Portage prairie in section twenty, rang-e seventeen, on the state line. The larger part of his farm was in Indiana but he built his house on the Michigan side, and in 1829 went back to his old home and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 209 brought back his family to his new residence. The Indian village of Pokagon was located near his farm. He died many years ago. Milton Hatfield, a former supervisor and prominent farmer of Niles township, who is now residing in the city of Niles, is a son of Nathan Hatfield. The next settlement made in the town ship was made in 183 1 by Benjamin M. Redding, a native of Virginia, who, how ever, at an early day had settled in Ohio. He located in section seven on the site of the present village of Dayton, outside of the Indian Reservation, and built a log resi dence and saw mill. He moved into his residence with his family in 1832. The saw mill was located on the edge of the "Galien Woods" and for some years did a large business. Other settlers located afterwards at this point, and the place was known as "Redding's Mill" till 1848 when the name was changed to Dayton. In 1837, Mr. Redding moved to Niles and resided there most of the time till his death in 1877. He was eighty-six years old at the time of his death. The first Protestant Church in the town ship was organized at his house in 1833. It was a Methodist society of which he was chosen leader. He had a family of twelve children, only one of whom survived him, James H. Redding, who died several years since. The widow of James, Mrs. Jane Red ding, died recently at her farm near Day ton, at an advanced age. David Vlanderhof and Charles Wells, natives of New York, moved together into the township in 1834. Mr. Vanderhof set tled on section seven, and for two or three years kept a store on his farm. He died in 1875, aged over ninety years, leaving two children living in this county, Thomas, a resident of Bertrand, and Mrs. J. W. Post, of Buchanan. Thomas died many years ago. Mrs. Post died recently at an advanced age. 14 Charles Wells and his family, consisting of a wife and seven children, settled on sec tion seven, range seventeen, and subse quently on section thirteen. The sons of Charles Wells, Francis and Joseph, became prominent land owners in the township- Both of them died several years ago. The widow of Francis is still living. Isaac Wells, another son of Charles Wells, has resided for many years at Dowagiac. One settler was permitted to locate in side the "reservation" before the Indians ceded it to the government. This was Sam uel Street, who was permitted to select a home in section nine, range seventeen, by Pokagon, as compensation for labor per formed for the Indians. He was a member of the state house of representatives in 1851 and a supervisor of the township. He died in 1861. John De Armond, from Ohio, settled near Dayton in 1834. He kept a small store and carried on an extensive trade with the Indians until their removal. His goods were brought from Cincinnati. Ten days were occupied in making the trip and ten days in returning. He died many years since. One child, Mrs. Elizabeth Haines of Walkerton, Indiana, is now living. Mr. De Armond was supervisor in 1841. Frederic Howe, a native of Massachu setts, but a resident of New York, in 1834, started on a tour with a horse and buggy, intending to locate in the state of Illinois. In passing into Bertrand township he became so much pleased with the country that he shortly after located on a farm in section eleven, range eighteen. He brought his family, consisting of a wife and eleven children, and settled on the place in 1835. A rude cabin had been put up by a previous squatter. The fire place of this cabin was made of split logs, the chimney of split stakes plastered on the inside with clay, the roof of split shingles, or "shakes" four feet in length and the floor of split basswood logs. fastened down by wooden pins. 210 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mr. Howe was the first supervisor of the township. He acquired about two hundred and forty acres of land, but in his later years moved into the village of Buchanan, where he died in 1864. His wife died in 1-869. One child is now living, Charles F. Howe, who was supervisor of the township for six terms, and who now resides at Buchanan. In March, 1835, Alanson Hamilton, from New York, located in section seventeen, range eighteen. Later he lived on section six. He was elected a justice of the peace at the first township election and held the office for fourteen years. He died in 1874. His only child living is Nathaniel A. Hamilton, who moved into Buchanan in early life, and is now the oldest continuous resident of that village. He is in his eighty-sixth year, and is still quite active and vigorous. He is re ferred to in connection with the sketch of Buchanan. Samuel Redden settled in Bertrand vil lage in 1835, and moved to the west part of Bertrand township in 1838. Two sons are now living in the county, Samuel W., who has been a prominent mer chant at Buchanan where he resides, and John, a heavy land owner in the western part of Bertrand township. Benjamin Franklin, a native of New York, settled in the township in 1835. A son Freeman has been a supervisor, and is still living in the township. William Batson came to the township in 1836. In 1836, Enos Holmes came from New York and purchased one hundred and thirty- five acres, part of which lay in Bertrand township and part in Buchanan, but the larger part lay in section four, Bertrand township. He shortly after returned to New York, but in 1846 again moved to Michigan and located on the farm which he purchased. He died in 1869. ' A son, Enos Holmes, is living in Ber trand township and is a large land owner. Another son, John G. Holmes, was editor of the Berrien County Record for many years, but removed west a few years since. In 1838 Isaac Faurote located at Day ton and established a blacksmith shop, but shortly afterwards removed to Hamilton, Indiana. A son, George L. Faurote, is -vice-presi dent of the Niles City Bank and actively connected with its business at its office. Isaac Faurote is now living at Niles with his son. Among the exciting events of the early history of the township was the detection of a gang of counterfeiters, who made their headquarters for business in the township, although their homes were generally else where. The favorite resort of this gang was a lonely wooded island in Topinabee lake, afterward called by the old settlers "Bogus Island." An extensive system of counter feiting had been carried on at this point for some time before detection. The leader of the gang, Dr. Harrison, a. prominent phy sician of Buchanan,was finally arrested, tried and convicted for counterfeiting in the fed eral courts, with others, and the business was then broken up. About the year 1844 the emigration into Bertrand of a peculiar and distinct class of settlers commenced. It was that of the so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch," who subse quently made up a considerable portion of the population of the township. Many of this class of settlers when they came to Ber trand were unable to talk intelligible English although their ancestors had settled in Penn sylvania at least a century before. The history of this class of people is pe culiarly interesting. It consisted of various sects of Protestant Germans who emigrated to this country from their native land in the latter part of the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth century, and mainly poured into the Quaker province. The first emigration consisted of Mennonites, who re sembled the Quakers strongly in their re- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 211 ligious belief and customs, and who were known as German Quakers. Then followed the Dunkers, known here as Dunkards or German Baptists. Subsequently a large stream of immigration poured in from the Palatinate, consisting of Lutherans. At the close of the Revolution one-third of the pop ulation of Pennsylvania was German or of German descent. These people mostly went into the valley of the Susquehanna and made settlements of their own, mingled and intermarried with the English race but little- and developed a peculiar dialect which was High German with an odd admixture of English. This peculiar language was not only spoken, but printed and taught in the schools. The ""Pennsylvania Dutch" adhered to their lan guage and. habits with such tenacity that the state was not able to substitute English schools or overthrow the force of old habits till about sixty years ago-. They were generally honest and thrifty farmers and good citizens. Among this class of settlers in Bertrand the Roughs were the most numerous. John R. Rough came first. He was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated in 1844 to Bertrand township where he purchased a farm upon which he lived till his death. At the time of his death he was ninety-five years old. David Rough, a native also of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, emigrated to Bertrand township in 1849 and located in sections twelve and thirteen. He became quite wealthy and at the time of his death in 1876, ¦owned nearly twelve hundred acres. Three children are now living, William R. and Solomon of Buchanan, and Eliza, wife of Amos C. House. William and Solomon were for many years engaged extensively in the manufac ture of wagons at Buchanan. William was at one time president of the village. Jacob Rough, a brother of David, also came from Pennsylvania, and settled in Ber trand township in 1849. His son, George W., was treasurer of the county for two terms, from 1879 to 1883, and has also been supervisor of his township. These families were followed by other members of the Rough families in Pennsylvania, by Amos House, Peter Womer, Isaac Long, Stephen Amy, Daniel Bressler, the Houseworths, the Cauffmanns, A. Leiter, and others. Three brothers, Charles, Cyrus E. and Mahlon Gillette, settled in the township at an early day, the two former locating in section four and the latter in section ten. They became prominent farmers of the com munity. A son of Charles, Joel, was super visor of the township for three terms, county register from 1893 to 1897 and representa tive to the state legislature from 1901 to 1905. He resides at present in the city of Niles. In 1842, four brothers, Stephen, Lewis, Hiram and Charles Baker came to Bertrand and located at what is known as "Baker- town," a mile southwest of Buchanan. Here they built a saw mill and a carding mill which they operated for some time. All of them lived to advanced ages. Charles, the last survivor, died a few months since at South Bend. One of the oldest settlers of Bertrand township now living is Samuel Messenger. He was.a native of Pennsylvania. In 1844, he came with his widowed mother to Berrien county, where they located on Portage Prairie. Here Mr. Messenger acquired a valuable farm of about two hundred acres, and became a prosperous and influential farmer. He is now living in the city of Niles. James Badger, a prominent settler of Bertrand township, came from New York in 1844 and purchased a farm on Portage Prairie, although he did not locate on it till 212 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1845. He was subsequently president of the Farmers' M'utual Fire Insurance As sociation • and the Berrien County Agri cultural Society, and held various local of fices. He died in 1888. Two children now live in the county, Chester Badger, one of the present county superintendents of the poor, and Mrs. Fannie Knox. Among prominent and early settlers who located in the township may be mentioned David A. Best, Daniel Bressler, Patrick Cunan, Archibald Dunbar, John Dye, Oliver Dalrymple, Eli and Enoch Egbert, Michael Herkimer, John Keller, Isaac Long, Amos House, James L. Parent, C. G. Pope, George Potter, Isaiah Rhodes, Moses Shook, G. C. and J. B. Stryker, Michael Swobe, N. Wil son, Peter Womer and William Haslett. Michael Herkimer came with his father, George R. Herkimer, to Bertrand township from New York, at an early day. He was a prominent man in the community. His son, George R. Herkimer, is a prominent physi cian pf Dowagiac and at present the Demo cratic candidate for congress in the fourth congressional district. William Haslett was supervisor of the township for fourteen terms, eleven of which were continuous. The following, named persons have been supervisors of the township of Bertrand dur ing the years designated : Fred A. Howe 1836-1839 John Barbour 1840 John De Armond 1841 Jos. G. Ames 1842 Lewis Bryant 1843 Samuel Street 1844 Abram Ogden 1845 F. A. Howe 1846-1847 Luther R. Palmer 1 848-1849 Enos Holmes 1850-1851 Herman Baker 1852-1853 Daniel Terrierre ... I !854 . William Haslett . . 1855-1-856 Daniel Terrierre l&57 William Haslett 1858- 1868 Jacob Young 1869 William Haslett 1870 Freeman Franklin 1871-1873 C. F. Howe 1874 W. D. Badger 1875-1876 Peter Womer : 1877 J. H. Young 1878 C. F. Howe 1879-1881 J. H. Gillette 1882 Freeman Franklin 1883 C. F. Howe . 1884-1885 Freeman Franklin 1886 J. H. Gillette 1887-1888 Peter Womer 1889-1891 C. H. Wells '. . 1892 G. W. Rough 1893-1894 Peter Womer 1895-1896 A. F. Howe 1897-1902 C. W. Matthews 1903-1906 (present incumbent.) CHAPTER XIII BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP. This township is bounded on the north by Oronoko township, on the east by Niles, on the south by Bertrand and on the west by Weesaw. It contains thirty-six sections of land, of which about four lie east of the St. Joseph river. The surface is generally. rolling and the township contains no large level tracts of land. The soil is generally rich and productive and is well watered by several small lakes and streams. The highest point is Moccasin Bluff, located on the St. , Joseph river, about one . mile north of the yillage of Buchanan. When the first set tlers arrived, the village of one of the leading Pottawatomie chiefs, Moccasin, was located on the flat below the bluff. Another Indian village called Mishaquaka was located just south of the yillage. The first person to settle in the township is said to have been Charles Cowles, who came to Niles in 1832 from Vermont and located on the present site of Buchanan vil lage in 1833, where he erected a cabin. He .shortly afterwards, built a shingle mill on McCoy's creek. In 1834 John Hatfield lo cated near Cowles and built a saw mill on the creek. In 1835 Cowles and Hatfield sold their claims to Dr. C. C. Wallin. Russell McCoy came from- Virginia to Pokagon Prairie -in 1829 and in 1830 to the Carey mission. After working at the Mission a short time he engaged in boating on the St. Joseph river. In 1833 he located a claim and cleared a small tract of land at the mouth of McCoy's creek, which empties into the St. Joseph river at the present site of the village of Buchanan. In 1834 he and Hiram Wray built a log cabin upon the land and in 1835 a saw mill at the mouth of the creek. He shortly after moved to Missouri but returned in 1839. He engaged in farm ing for some years, then kept a store in Bu chanan and also a hotel. About 1856 he with others, bought two hundred acres on the bank of Clear Lake, three miles west of Buchanan, and built a steam saw mill. He died in Buchanan in 1873. Leonard Madden in 1835 located a claim in section twenty-five, and built a log cabin. In 1836 he sold his claim to Andrew C. Day. Mr. Day was a native of Connecticut and came to Buchanan in 1836. He worked on the saw mill at the mouth of the creek some time and in 1839 he and John Hamil ton erected a grist mill with two run of stones on the creek. For a time he was engaged in mercantile business. - In 1875, he, in connection with William R. Rough, and Solomon Rough, established a wagon factory, which for several years carried on a large business and employed a large num ber of workmen. He was a prominent citi zen and for many years one of the village board of trustees. A daughter, Mrs. Mary Matthews, now lives in Denver, Colorado. John Hatfield and one Atkins came to 214 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Buchanan in 1835 and put up a saw mill. In 1834 Seth S. Sherwood, from New York, located one mile north of Moccasin Bluff, where he lived till his death in 1856. He was the first settler in his neighborhood and was the father of Hon. Alonzo Sher wood, who was a member of the State Leg islature in 1879 and who then lived in Wee saw township. Our late county treasurer, Alva M. Sherwood, who died during the past year while holding this position, was a son of Alonzo Sherwood. The latter is now living in the state of Nebraska. John Hamilton, a millwright by trade, came from Virginia, in 1837, to Niles and in 1839 moved to Buchanan and in partner ship with Andrew C. Day built the grist mill, already referred to. Mr. Hamilton laid out the first village plat in 1842. He also built the first grist mill in Bertrand township, southwest of Bertrand village. T. J. Hunter came with his father and family in 1831 and located in Niles town ship, but moved to the west side of the river in 1835, locating on section ten. Among other settlers who came about this time were William Wagner, who built a saw mill in section seven, Levi Sanford and A. Colvin. John Weaver came from Ohio in 1829 and located on the St. Joseph river in Niles township. In 1837 "he located a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-eight. His children, Samuel, Esther, married Russell McCoy, Fanny, who mar ried Charles Clark, Polly, who married John Juday, and David Weaver, all lo cated in or near Buchanan. David Weaver moved to Dayton, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years. One of the oldest settlers of Berrien county and Buchanan township was Russell Babcock, a native of New York, who came to Berrien county in 1828. Plis wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Bulkley, came from Ohio to this county in 1834, and was married to Mr. Babcock in 1836 in Bu chanan. This was the second marriage in Buchanan. They lived for several years after their marriage in section seven. Mr. Babcock was one bf the first to pre-empt land in the township. He subsequently moved to the neighborhood of New Troy where he died three years ago in his ninetieth year. His wife is now living at New Troy in her eighty-ninth year. Two daughters, Mrs. Dr. J. H. Royce and Mrs. Lucinda Cox, are now living at New Troy. In 1836 Peter Critchet moved from La Porte county to Buchanan and resided there till 1849, when he removed to Galien. Jacob Dragoo, from Virginia, located in the township in 1834, but lived but a few years after. His son, Uel Dragoo, came in 1835 from Virginia.. In 1844 he bought a tract of land on. Moccasin Flat. John F. Dragoo in 1840 also located in the same neighborhood. A son of Uel Dragoo, Lib erty, is living in Buchanan township. John Juday, a tanner by trade, settled upon sections seven and eighteen in 1835. He was supervisor in 1842, 1845 and from 1848 to 1 85 1. Two children are now living, Mrs. Harvey Haskins and a son, Harvey. David Sanford settled in 1836 near the village of Buchanan. Godfrey Boyle in 1835, settled on section six. He soon moved to Lake township and is referred to in the chapter on that town ship. Joseph Coveney, a native of Ireland, in 1835, located in the northern part of the township where he subsequently acquired about six hundred acres of choice lands. He- had thirteen children, of whom several are .now living. In his religious belief he was a follower of Thomas Paine. During his lifetime he erected a handsome monument in the cemetery at Buchanan, costing about three thousand dollars, upon which were in scribed some of his atheistic sentiments in his own vigorous language. Some one de faced the monument and Mr. Coveney at tributed the act to the son of a minister. He died in 1894. Two of his sons, John Cov- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 21S eney and Joseph Coveney, now residing upon lands located by their father, have entered into* the cultivation of fruit extensively and have the largest peach orchards in the town ship, each containing about forty acres. Darius Jennings emigrated from New York at an early day to St. Joseph, where he was engaged in boating on the river and was captain of the "Mishawaka." In 1835, he located near Moccasin Bluff. He was lib erally educated and was supervisor in 1838- 39-40-43 and 1855 and held other prominent positions in the township. He removed sub sequently to Illinois. Dr. C. C. Wallin, a physician, moved to Buchanan in 1835. He practiced his pro fession there till 1843 when he removed to Berrien Springs. He went to Chicago in 1849. While he lived in Buchanan he was connected with various industries and es tablished a grist mill at a very early date. He was the first supervisor of the township. In 1836 Watson Roe came from Indiana and first settled in Bertrand township. Shortly after, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-seven in Bu chanan township. A few years later other members of the Roe family from Indiana settled in Buchanan, among whom were Eli Roe, Dr. J. M. Roe, J. H. Roe, E. J. Roe and J. J. Roe. Eli was a brother of Watson Roe. The Roe family was prominent in the history of the village. Dr. J. M. Roe had an extensive medical practice. A. C. Roe, a prominent attorney- of Bu chanan and former prosecuting attorney of the county, is a son of Dr. Roe. Several of the Roe family have been ministers or ex- horters in the Christian Church. The Roes were a musical family and many years since several of them formed a glee club called the "Roe Family," which for several years frequently gave concerts and often sung at popular entertainments and on public occasions, in Michigan and Indiana. This club was deservedly popular. In 1837, Hiram Weese from Indiana lo cated one mile northeast of Buchanan on the east side of the river. In 1 840 he moved across the river and built the first blacksmith shop in this region. He also built a log house in which school was taught in 1841 and 1842 by Angelina Bird, a popular school teacher in the early days. Weese was post master and justice for some time and died at an advanced age several years since. The oldest resident of the village of Bu chanan now living there is Nathaniel A. Hamilton. He came with his father, Alan son Hamilton, from the state of New York and settled in Bertrand township in 1835. About six years after N. A. Hamilton moved into the village of Buchanan where he has ever since lived. For many years he was a prominent and popular auctioneer conduct ing sales in all parts of the county. He has also held various local offices. He is now in his eighty-sixth year. In his boyhood days. he often attended service at the old Catholic Church in Bertrand township and was well- acquainted with the Indian chief, Pokagon. In 1844, Garrett Morris, a native of Ohio, came to Buchanan and built the first hotel in the village, called the "American House." He had previously carried on a grocery at New Carlisle, Indiana, where he located in 1837. He was also appointed postmaster at New Carlisle in 1840 and Schuyler Colfax was deputy under him for three years. Mr. Morris conducted a store also for some time at Buchanan. His son, John Morris, resides at Buchanan and until recently has been engaged in the mercan tile business. One of the oldest residents of Buchanan who settled in Berrien county at a very early date is Homer N. Hathaway. He came with his father, Nadah Hamilton, to Ber rien county in 1842, from the state of New York. His father settled in the southwest corner of Niles township (now Buchanan) and died in 1849. Homer Hathaway moved into Buchanan in 1856 and was engaged for "2 1 6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY -many years in the threshing business. He "was village marshal for many years and held various local offices. Mr. Hathaway's mem ory, although he is seventy-three years of age, is vivid and he has furnished the writer many items as to the early history of Bu chanan. A brother, W. G. Hathaway, is also living at Buchanan. Another old resident is Myron S. Mead, who has lived in the village for over fifty years. He has been engaged in the saw mill business for many years and was a former president of the village. Charles S. Black was extensively en gaged for many years in the manufacture of bedsteads and other furniture. He was president of the village from 1873 to J876. He is now living at Buchanan. The first dry goods store in the village was opened in 1842 by the firm of Stanley, Staple and Twombly. Twombly was then a prominent merchant at Niles and did not remove to Buchanan. A distillery was established about 1840 by Julius Russell, with whom Charles Clark was afterward associated. Mr. Clark be came a prominent merchant and was for sev eral years in partnership in the mercantile business with L. P. Alexander. Mr. Clark was president of the village and also a super visor of the township. The first physician in the place was Dr. William C. Harrison. Dr. Har rison was a man of unusual ability, but was arrested by the federal authorities for coun terfeiting money and tried and convicted for the offense. He was evidently at the head of a gang of counterfeiters who for some time carried on an extensive system of coun terfeiting. The first attorney in the village was John Grove. He was an able lawyer and was a member of the state house of representa tives in 1845 and 1846. His health failed while he was still young, and he died about forty-five years ago. His wife was a daugh ter of David Vanderhof and died recently at an advanced age. The village of Buchanan was platted by John Hamilton in 1842 and contained about forty acres. The original village has been greatly enlarged by subsequent additions. The village was incorporated in 1858 and at the first election James M. Matthews was chosen president. Among the prominent early settlers of the village were Edward Ballingee, L. P. Alexander, and John D. Ross. Mr. Ballingee came from Virginia and located at Berrien Springs in 1833, where he carried on a store with Thomas Love. In 1833 he moved to Buchanan and was elected supervisor and justice of the peace. Subse quently he lived in Lake township and at New Buffalo, and in 1853 went to Califor nia where he resided till 1866, when he re turned to Buchanan where he lived most of the time till his death. He was a justice of the peace for many years. L. P. Alexander came from New York and settled in Buchanan in 1841, first work ing at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. Subsequently he engaged in carrying on a general store in partnership with Charles Clark. He was supervisor of the- township from 1846 to 1852. He again served in that capacity from 1861 to 1866 and from 1871 to 1878. In i860 he was a member of the house of representatives in the state legis lature, in 1867 a member of the state con stitutional convention, and a member of the state senate in 1870. He was also for sev eral years postmaster. He was an active and influential leader of the Republican party. John D. Ross was one of the earliest set tlers of the county. He came to Niles in 1834 where he engaged in blacksmithing. He remained there but a short time and went to Hamilton, St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he engaged in mercantile business till 1847 when he moved to Buchanan and be- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 217 came engaged in the same business with his son Frank, under the firm name of J. D. Ross & Son. In 1852, in partnership with T. M. Fulton, he started a private bank. Afterward, for a short time, it was merged into a National Bank. In 1873, the bank again became a private bank under the name of J. D. Ross & Son. Mr. Ross was a mem ber of the legislature in 1855. His son Frank carried on the bank for several years after his father's death, but removed west some years since. In 1847 James Reynolds and John, his brother, established a store in Buchanan which was managed by James. These broth ers had emigrated with their father to La Porte county, Indiana, in 1833. James Reynolds remained at Buchanan three years and then moved to Dayton, where he en gaged in mercantile business for six years. In 1 86 1, he purchased a large tract of land in St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he re sided till his death which occurred during the past year. He acquired the ownership of several thousands of acres of land located in St. Josq>h and La Porte counties, Indiana, in Berrien county, Michigan, and also had im portant landed interests in Chicago and, South Bend. In 1853 he was married to Nancy Howe, a daughter of Frederic Howe, one of the earliest pioneers of Bertrand township. A daughter, Estelle, was married to Clyde Baker, a prominent merchant of Buchanan. Another daughter, Clara, who died some years since, was married to Dick son S. Scoffern, cashier of the Niles City Bank. f Mr. Reynolds was for many years presi dent of the First National Bank of Bu chanan, and was the first president of the Niles City Bank, in which his estate is a stockholder. Among the prominent men of Buchanan at an early day, may be also mentioned Wil liam S. Merrill, Charles Clark, George A. Demont, William Pears, Charles S. Black, Samuel W. Redden. Mr. Merrill was supervisor of the town ship in 1854, judge of probate from 1864 to 1868 and was a justice of the peace for many years before his death. He was a man of ability. Charles Clark settled in Buchanan in the early '40s and went into mercantile business. He was supervisor of the town ship and president of the village. For sev eral years he was a partner of L. P. Alex ander in the dry goods business. Sanford Smith has lived in Buchanan since 1847. His father was one of the old est residents of the territory, having come into Michigan in 1830. Mr. Smith is now in his ninetieth year of age. Samuel. W. Redden has lived in the vil lage of Buchanan since 1859. He is one of the oldest residents of the county, having come with his father, in 1835, to Bertrand village. In 1838, his father moved to the western part of the township. Mr. Redden was for many years engaged in the grocery business and in the manufacture of furni ture. He is now in his seventy-ninth year. Among other prominent business men who were identified with important indus tries in the village were William M. Bainton, George H. Richards, A. Willard, Charles Black and H. S. Black. Mr. Bainton at an early day built a flour mill known as "Bain- ton's Mills." The business is still carried on by his sons, W. F. and Charles. Mr. Richards came to Buchanan in 1855, and shortly after established, with others, an important factory for the manufacture of zinc collar pads, the first of its kind in this country. After his death in 1888, his son, Joseph L. Richards, carried on the business till his death during the past year. Joseph was president of the village for two terms and supervisor of the township for several terms. One of the prominent justices of the 2l8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY peace of the village in the early days was David Terriere. This position he held for many years. He was also county clerk from 1861 to 1863. In i860 A. Willard, Charles, Black and H. S. Black started a factory for the manu facture of furniture. The business had been originally established in New Buffalo in 1855, but removed to Buchanan in the year stated. In 1865 Willard sold his interest to Charles Black, but subsequently joined the firm again. Charles Black was presi dent of the village from 1873 to 1876. He retired from business some years ago and is now living at Buchanan. William Pears, a native of England, in partnership with Solomon Rough and George H. Rough, about 1868 established a grist mill which did an extensive business. Subsequently Mr. Pears acquired the ex clusive ownership of the mill. He was presi dent of the village and a man of native saga city and ability. Charles F. Pears, the pres ent president of the village and president of the City National Bank of Niles is a son of William Pears. Among prominent professional men who settled in Buchanan at an early day was Hon. J. J. Van Riper, who located in that village in 1872. He was a native of New York and came with his father to La Grange, Cass county, in 1856. He subsequently studied law and practiced at Dowagiac some years before locating at Buchanan. He soon established a reputation as an able lawyer and secured a large practice. He has held many important official positions in county and state, the duties of which he has dis charged with ability and fidelity. He was a member of the state constitu tional convention in 1867, prosecuting at torney from 1877 to 1 88 1, attorney general of the state from 1881 to 1885, regent of the State University for six years and judge of probate from 1893 to 1901. His home has been at Niles for nineteen years and he has been the city attorney for several years. Among the prominent deceased attorneys of Buchanan may be mentioned John Groves, Emery M. Plimpton and David E. Hinman. Mr. Groves was the first attorney in the place and has already been referred to. Mr. Plimpton come from the state of Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1853, and practiced in Buchanan for the greater part of his active life, although he was for a time at Niles and Benton Harbor. He was a fluent and en tertaining speaker and was always in demand in political campaigns. He had considerable legal practice for several years. He was prosecuting attorney in 1856 and a member of the state house of representatives in 1868. In his younger years he was a teacher and also taught music. David E. Hinman was admitted to the bar in 1868, and had a large office business, due to the confidence of the people in his good judgment and integrity. He was county clerk from 1873 to 1877 and judge of probate from 1885 to 1893. churches. The first church organized in the village was the Methodist Episcopal, organized in 1842. In 1853 a brick edifice was erected. The first pastor was Rev. Richard Meek. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847. In 1850 a church edifice was erected. The first pastor was Rev. Porter B. Parry. The church of the Disciples of Christ was organized in 1854. The first edifice was built in 1859. *The first pastor was Rev. William M. Roe. This sect is commonly known as the "Christian" and sometimes called "Campellite" after the name of the founder. The church of the United Brethren was organized in 1846, and the first edifice erected in 1849. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Tenel. The Advent Christian Church was or- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 219 ganized in 1851 by Rev. D. R. Mansfield and his wife. They became pastors of the church in 1856. This society became the largest of that denomination in the west, and a religous journal was started in 1863, by T. V. Himes of Boston, a leader of the sect, called the "Voice of the West," which had a circulation of six thousand. In 1853 a division occurred, a number- seceding and forming a new church called the "Church of God." Buchanan became the headquarters of the Adventists in Michigan for a time but in a few years Mr. Himes removed to Chi cago. manufacturing industries. A most important industrial feature of the place is the electrical power plant lo cated on the St. Joseph river. In 1 89 1 and 1892 a dam across the river at Buchanan was built by English and Holmes, who were the promoters of the pro ject. The dam is a timber one of the gravity type and has approximately ten feet head. The Beckwith estate purchased it in '94 or '95 and have used about one hundred horse power since then in the Lee & Porter Axle Works at Buchanan. In 1900 it was pur chased by Charles A. Chapin, who imme diately had plans drawn with the idea of de veloping and using the power. Construction was started in 1901 and was completed in 1903. The new power house makes possible the development of a maximum of about two thousand horse power, while the minimum amount of power available is considerably less than this in low water times. The elec trical power is sold locally in the village of Buchanan and the surplus is transmitted to South Bend where it is sold to the South Bend Electric Company. It is also trans mitted to St. Joseph, Michigan, where it is sold to the Benton Harbor-St. Joe Electric Railway & Light Company. The plant is now owned by Charles A. Chapin of Chi cago. It is operated in conjunction with what is known as the Twin Branch dam, seven miles above Mishawaka and the Elk hart dam at Elkhart, Indiana, so that it is now possible for the cities of Berrien county to have power transmitted to them from the two dams above mentioned in Indiana in which Mr. Chapin is interested. The largest factory in the place is the Buchanan Cabinet Company.' It was or ganized in 1892 by John E. Barnes, W. S. Wells and Alfred Richards. The company manufactures sideboards, desks, book cases, kitchen and sewing cabinets. It employs from seventy to eighty men. Late improve ments and additions to the factory have been made very recently and the company expects to employ from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five hands. The present officers are, John E. Barnes, president; John M. Rough, vice president, and Alfred Richards, secretary and treasurer. The Zinc Collar Pad Company was formed in 1870 by Dexter Curtis (the pat entee), George H. Richards and Henry Gil- man. In 1878 Mr. Richards became the sole owner. In 1888 Mr. Richards died and his son Joseph L. Richards became the sole owner in 1902. It is the only establishment of the kind in the west and sales are made throughout the country and abroad to the wholesale saddlery trade. Joseph L. Rich ards died in 1906 and the business is carried on by his sons, George H. Richards and Joseph Richards. The George Rich Manufacturing Com pany, whose office is located at Chicago, has its factory at Buchanan and manufac tures machine shop appliances, mainly chucks, drills and drill presses. It employs about forty men. M. L. Hanlin is the man ager, residing at Buchanan. A large nursery, known as the Jaquay Nurseries, is located about three and a half miles north of Buchanan. It consists of two hundred and ninety-two acres which ex- 220 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY tend to the St. Joseph river. It was estab lished in 1895 and incorporated in March, 1906, as the "Irving Jaquay Company." The stockholders are Irving Jaquay, Mrs. I. J. Stosser and Mrs. Margaret Jaquay. The orchards set out for bearing purposes contain about sixty acres, the balance being devoted to the nursery business. The com pany has been so far successful and is doing an extensive business. The Lee and Porter Manufacturing Company was organized by Fred E. Lee and Henry H. Porter of Dowagiac as co-part ners in 1894. The company manufactures carriage and wagon steel axles and wire wheels for light vehicles, and employ on an average fifty-five men. The company has an extensive business in Australia, New Zea land and South Africa. In 1895 a stock company was formed. The present officers are, Fred E. Lee, president and general manager; H. E. Porter, vice president, and J. S. Clary, secretary and treasurer. The following named persons have been supervisors of Buchanan township for the years designated : C. C. Wallin 1837 Darius Jennings 1838- 1840 Henry Vanderhof 1 1841 John Juday 1842 Darius Jennings 1843 Edward Ballengee 1844 John Juday 1845-1846 Geo. A. Demont 1847 John Juday 1848-1851 Wm. S. Merrill 1852 L. P. Alexander 1853 W. S. Merrill 1854 Darius Jennings 1855 John Newton 1856 L. P. Alexander 1857-1858 Chas. Clark 1859-1861 John Newton 1862 G. F. Hemmingway 1863 A. H. Clark 1864-1872 L. P. Alexander 1873 N. B. Collins 1874 L. P. Alexander 1875-1877- L. P. Fox 1878 B. F. Fish 1879 J. W. R. Lister 1880 A. Richards 1881-1885 L. P. Alexander 1886-1889 J. P. Beistle 1890-1891 G. B. Richards 1892-1895 Jos. Beistle 1896-1897 B. D. Harper 1898-1899 Jos. Richards 1900-1903 J. P. Beistle 1904 A. F. Howe 1905 J. E. French 1906 PRESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF BUCHANAN. The following named persons have been presidents of the village of Buchanan at the dates mentioned: J Jas. M. Matthews .1858 J. D. Ross 1859 Daniel Terriere i860 J. D, Ross 1861-1863 N. B. Collins 1864-1865 J. D. Ross 1866 Chas. Clark 1867-1871 Wm. Pears 1872 C. S. Black 1873-1876 Wm. Pears 1877 F. H. Berrick 1878 J. D. Ross , 1879-1882 Wm. Osborn 1883 D. E. Hinman 1884 J. J. Van Riper 1885 J. E. Barnes 1886 Geo. Churchill 1887 B. D. Harper 1888-1889 W. R. Rough 1890-1892 J. L. Richards 1893 John Rough 1894 D. E. Hinman 1895 J. L. Richards 1896 E. W. Sanders 1897 W. H. Keller 1898-1899 M. S. Mead 1900 G. H. Black 1901-1.903 B. R. Desenberg 1904 Chas. Pears 1905-1906 CHAPTER XIV NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP. This township is bounded on the north by Chikaming, on the east by Three Oaks, on the south by the state of Indiana and on the west by Lake Michigan. The soil on the shore line of Lake Michigan is sandy and shifting, frequently forming into dunes, varying in height, often reaching forty or fifty feet. The present village of New Buffalo lies on the lake at the mouth of Galien river. The first person to take note of its commer cial advantages was Captain Wessel Whit taker, of Hamburg, New York, who for many years was a captain on the lakes. I here subjoin a sketch of the early set tlement of New Buffalo, furnished by Hon. Henry Chamberlain of Three Qaks. This sketch was mostly published in the his tory of Berrien and Van Buren counties nearly thirty years ago. "In the fall of 1834, Wessel Whittaker was in command of the schooner "Post- Boy" (partly owned by Barker and Willard, of Buffalo) . During a heavy gale when the vessel was liable to be driven ashore, they ran for the mouth of a stream now known at State Creek. They were beached, how ever. The weather was intensely cold and the captain and crew left the vessel and walked to Michigan City, where they pro cured a conveyance, proceeded to St. Joseph, and notified the underwriters of the loss of the vessel. While passing the mouth of the Galien river, Captain Whittaker, after study ing the surroundings, was impressed with its advantages for a harbor. After trans acting his business at St. Joseph, he visited the land office and entered the land on which the village of New Buffalo now stands, and soon after proceeded to Buffato, New York. He laid opt the land into blocks and lots on paper, and called it New Buffalo. He then exhibited the plan to his friends, expatiated on its advantages, and persuaded Jacob A. Barker and Nelson Willard, who were part ners in business, to engage with him in the new enterprise, and sold to them the un divided one-half interest in the property for fifteen thousand dollars, afterwards reduc ing it to thirteen thousand dollars. Captain Whittaker, Truman A. Clough, William Hammond and Henry Bishop started from Buffalo and Hamburg on the 18th day of March,*i833, overland, and arrived at New Buffalo the first week in April, calling, on their way at Bertrand, on Alonzo Bennett, a surveyor and old acquaintance, and em ploying him to go with them and survey the village. Henry Bishop, afterwards of Kalamazoo, was a clerk in the employ of Barker and Willard, and was sent by them to manage their interests. A log cabin, fif teen feet by twenty-four feet, was first built, at the corner of Whittaker avenue and Mer chant street, north of Seaman's square. Along one side of the cabin, pine brush was 222 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY laid for a bed, and a fireplace was built in one corner. A road was then cut through from the lake to Talbot's mill, a distance of about five miles from whence lumber was procured. Some lime was burned from marl found a short distance from this mill. Whit taker & Company erected a frame building for a store and warehouse, on lot number one, at the foot of Whittaker avenue. In this building was placed a stock of goods. Another building was erected adjoining, with an alley between. In this latter build ing Mr. Whittaker put a tenant, Mr. Cum mings and wife, who opened their house for entertaining travelers. A sign was painted on a rough board by Mark Beaubien, since of Chicago, representing a man holding a horse, and also a decanter and glasses. Soon after this, Russel Goodrich, Truman A. Clough, Dr. Reuben Pierce, Myel Pierce, Simeon Pierce*Moses G. Pratt, and Festus A. Holbrook came by vessel from Buffalo, and soon bought lots. Building commenced rapidly. Russel Goodrich bought block twelve, and erected a hotel on lot two. Whittaker built a house for his family, on block twenty- four, lots seven and eight, near a spring of good water, by the west ravine that runs through the town plat north and south. Moses G. Pratt built on lot two, block eleven. Dr. Reuben Pierce built on the corner of Barker and Merchant streets, on block twenty-three and lots one and two; Simeon Pierce, on block twenty- three, adjoining; Thatcher Abbott, a brother-in-law of Whittaker, adjoining, on the same block and on lot five; F. A. Hol brook and Alonzo Bennett, both on block thirteen. The family of Mr. Whittaker, consisting of his wife and four children, tinder the care of William Ratcliff came from Hamburg, by Lake Erie, to Detroit, where they procured a team, and proceeded thence overland, arriving at New Buffalo in June, i835- "Mr. Ratcliff carried the first mail to Michigan City, and Moses G. Pratt drove the first stage and mail wagon through to that place. At this time there were a num ber of others gathered in the new settle ment, some unmarried. Their occupations were as follows : A. Bennett, surveyor ; Henry Bishop, clerk; T. A. Clough, specu lator; R. Goodrich, hotel keeper; Hender son, F. A. Holbrook, Mundle, Doty, Dun ham, A. and E. McClure, Ezra Stoner and Washburn were carpenters; Haight, plas terer ; R. Pierce, physician ; S. Pierce and J. Hixson, sailors; Pratt, teamster; Whittaker & Willard, proprietors; Ira P. Warner, agent. The lots were valued and sold at from one hundred and fifty dollars to three hundred dollars each, one-third down. In the summer and fall of 1833 important ac cessions were made to the settlement in the persons of James Little and Jacob Gerrish, of Boscawen, New Hampshire; Richard L. Phillips of Erie county, New York, a na tive of England; and in the spring of 1836, of Francis and Joseph G. Ames and Alvin Emery, of Canterbury, New Hampshire; and Ezra Stoner of Frederick county, Mary land. A demand for the improvement of the harbor was soon started. Meetings were held and many speeches made, but the usual delay followed this action. "During the year 1835, Whittaker, Mc- Givens & Company, built a mill on section one, on the south branch of the Galien river. At the time of their preparation for this mill, they were warned by Governor Mason to ap pear at Niles and assist in the retention of the ten-mile strip along the Ohio line. Mr. Whittaker informed the Governor that he should arm his men with handspikes on the day set, which he did. He was also inter ested in a mill at State Creek, owned by the State Creek Mill Company. "In March, 1836, the township was or ganized, and the first election held at Good rich's hotel. In this year also, Isaac O. Adams, a native of Newburyport, Massa chusetts, but last from White Piegon, E. T. Clark, and Timothy Harris built a house on HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 223 lot ten, block five which was known as Bachelor's Hall, and which afterwards be came famous as a convivial headquarters. The building remained until it was re moved to make way for the railroad. "In the fall of 1837, the Virginia Land Company, composed mostly of natives of Virginia, but the majority of whom lived in LaPorte, Indiana, purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, and laid it out into lots, Joshua R. C. Brown coming there to reside as agent. The members of the company were David Robb, Dr. G. A. Rose, Courtlandt Strong, DeWitt Strong, Major John Lemons, Joshua R. C. Brown, Daniel Brown, James Whittam, and Jacob Haas. "The books of Mr. Whittaker for 1837, from which these facts are gleaned, give the prices at that time, which may be of intesest : Potatoes, 75 cents; oats, $1 ; corn, $1.50; butter, 2>7V2 cents; bacon 16 2-3 cents; board $3.50 per week; salt, $7 per barrel; beef, 6 cents per pound, by the quarter; whisky, 41 cents per gallon, by the barrel, and 75 cents at retail; team-work, $4 per day; common labor, $1 per day. Between the dates of May 22 and July 26, in 1837, 95 consecutive entries occur of stage-fare charged varying from $4 to $12. This en try also occurs; Schooner Oregon left New Buffalo with 2358 bushels of oats, 1246 bushels to be delivered in Milwaukee bay; also delivered 23^ bushels of corn. Left New Buffalo in April, and delivered oats at Milwaukee from the ist to the 10th of May, 1837. Hiram and Solomon Gould were charged for use of lighter and labor in June, 1837. They owned a mill at New Troy, rafted their lumber down the river, and shipped to Chicago from the former place. "Not far from this time Lieutenant T. B. W. Stockton, of the regular army, was sent by the war department to examine as to the feasibility of constructing a harbor at New Buffalo, and the report of the navy department was received May 1, 1838. Lieu tenant Berrien and Lieutenant Rose were sent soon after to make a survey, and re ported favorably. A lighthouse was built in 1839. "In June, 1837, Elder Hascall preached in the dining room of Mr. Goodrich's hotel, and, as the bar-room was near, some of the party were often thirsty, and retired for a few moments. "The panic of 1837 had a depressing effect upon New Buffalo, as well as upon the whole country, but the company strug gled along, firm in the faith that the plan was essential to the well being of the uni verse. Prices ruled high, no help came, and in the winter of 1842-43 but two families were residents of the place, Jacob Gerrish and Russell Goodrich. But the spring found a respectable number in the village, and from twenty to thirty votes were cast at the election. About 1840 the effect of specula tion ceased, and money became very scarce. About the only thing that brought money into the country was non-resident taxes. Inhabitants took contracts for building roads at their own prices. The business of the country was carried on by barter and credit. About 1844 the schooner 'Saranac' was built by Joseph Oates and Austin ; in 1845 the sloop 'Buffalo,' by Amos Johnson; and in 1855, the schooner 'Ellen Pike,' by Alonzo Bennett. "About 1844, George W. Allen, of La- Porte, Indiana, purchased the interest of Barker & Willard, and spent a large sum of money in improving a road from New Buf falo to Springville, Indiana. They built a grain warehouse, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet and four stories 'high, on the north fraction of section nine, near the foot of Willard street, hoping to make this an important shipping point for Indiana grain. During the same year Alonzo Bennett, Thomas Comins, and J. R. C. Brown bought several thousand cords of wood, at sixty- two and a half cents per cord, which was lightered out and delivered to vessels for the Chicago market; but even at this low cost 224 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the business did not prove successful. This wood was beech and maple and cut at places two .or three miles away from the docks where it was delivered. Most of it was hauled on wagons by oxen. Such was the condi tion of the roads that a half cord made a good load for one yoke of oxen. Choppers received twenty-five cents a cord for cutting and teamsters thirty-seven and a half cents for hauling. By working long days the latter earned about one dollar a day. Real Estate in New Buffalo in 1836 "Upon the purchase of the land on which New Buffalo is situated by Captain Wessel Whittaker, in 1843, he proceeded to plat it, and induced Jacob A. Barker and Nelson Willard, of Buff alio, New York, to invest with him as before mentioned. "On May 31, 1836, a division and valu ation of the lots was made. "The seventy-nine lots, located in dif ferent parts of the village, belonging to Mr. Willard were valued at twenty-nine thous and five hundred and twenty dollars. The prices of a few of the lots are given : "Lot 2, in block 3, $500; lot 5, in block 13, $275; lot 12 in block 16, $500; lot 7, in block 22, $600; lot 2, in block 28, $800; water-lot 33, $900; lot 8, in block B, $375; lot 7, in block C, $475; lot 7, in block K, $300. Water-lots Nos. 18, 22, 25, 26, 29 and 30, belonging to Mr. Barker, were valued at $1,000 each. "In 1837, Russell Goodrich was offered in cash ten thousand dollars for block twelve. At this time there were on the premises a frame house of two stories about forty-five by twenty-five feet, and a small frame stable. "The lands purchased by the Virginia Land Company in 1837- were as follows :The west half of the northwest quarter of sec tion 11, northeast quarter of section 10, east half of southeast quarter of section 10, south west quarter of section 10, and southeast quarter of section 9. These lands were platted and divided into blocks and were held for many years. When Mr. Barker sold out, in 1844, the lands- of the Virginia Company were mostly in the hands of the original proprietors; the only lands in the village that were sold in the early days by Mr. Willard, with a few exceptions, were the lands that were allotted in the division of 1836 to Mr. Whittaker. Of the eight hundred acres, originally laid out and plat ted, seven-eights in 1844 were in the hands of the original proprietors. "About 1842-43 the prices were from $5 to $25 a lot, and upon the location of the railroad they advanced to from $100 to $500 ; but upon the extension of the railroad to Chicago, a depreciation followed. Upon the incoming of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, prices again advanced. Farming lands in New Buffalo township sold at from $2.50 to $5 per acre; in 1850, about $5 per acre; in 1856, about $15; from 1863-70, from $10 to $40." The township was organized in 1836 and a township election held at Goodrich's tav ern in the spring of that year. Alonzo Bur nett was elected supervisor and Henry Bishop clerk. In 1839, a light house was built but the harbor was not improved to any consider able extent till 1847 when the Michigan Central Railroad Company commenced ex pensive improvements. The appropriations of the government were small, most of the work in improving the harbor being done by the railroad company. In 1849 the Michigan Central Railroad was completed to New Buffalo, which was the western terminus of the road for about a year and a half. During this period New Buffalo was a point of great activity. Steamers plied between Chicago and New Buffalo and con veyed passengers arriving from the east by the railroad, across the lake. Upon the completion of the railroad to Chicago, the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 225 harbor was practically abandoned and has ceased to be of any utility for over fifty years. ,In 1870, the Chicago & Western Michigan Railroad was completed from Pentwater to New Buffalo. This road after wards passed into the hands of the Pere Marquette Company, which continued it to Chicago. The plat of the village was laid out on a grand scale by Nelson Willard, J. A. Barker, Wessel Whittaker and Russell Goodrich in 1835. The village was incor porated in 1836 and embraced about a sec tion and a half of land, fronting on Potta watomie lake on the north. The first president of the village was Alonzo Bennett. In 1840 the village cor poration lapsed, but was again incorporated in 1869 when Sadler Butler was elected president. The men who were prominent in the early settlement of New Buffalo were men of energy and ability, who expected to see a second Buffalo arise upon the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan. Captain Wessel Whittaker was a man of generous nature and great perseverance. He died, however, within six or seven years after the settlement of the town. Alonzo Bennett was one of the most prominent men of the county in the pioneer days. He was a native of Vermont and. moved to Niles in 1833. He was a skillful surveyor and during the same year was em ployed by the Bertrand village association to lay out the village of Bertrand. In 1835, the proprietors of the New Buffalo tract of land employed him to survey the village of New Buffalo. Mr. Bennett then made that place his home and was the first supervisor of the township in 1836. In 1838 he was elected county clerk and served three terms. In 1842, he was elected to the legislature. For the greater portion of the latter part of his life he was in the express and drug business. He was also largely employed in is conveyancing. He was admitted to the bar in 1840, but never devoted himself to active practice. He was a careful and methodical man and of natural sagacity. He died sev eral years since at an advanced age. Jacob Gerrish was a native of ' New Hampshire. In 1835, he emigrated to New Buffalo and built a house and blacksmith shop. With several others, he purchased! large tracts of land at high figures, upom which he suffered severe losses. He was; president of the village in 1838 and held various local offices. He died in 1858. Richard L. Phillips, an Englishman by birth, came to New Buffalo in 1835. He be came a prominent merchant in the place and a supervisor of the township. He died in 1868. Joseph G. Ames, a native of New Hamp shire, in company with his brother, Francis, settled in New Buffalo in 1836. Soon after in connection with Nelson Willard and Ezra Stoner, he purchased a mill at New Troy, which was located in the heart of the best thick timbered land and did an immense busi ness. In 1839 or 1840 he retired from this busiaess and located on a farm in Bertrand township where he lived till 1850 when he returned to New Buffalo. In 1854 he moved to Three Oaks where he became a partner with Henry Chamberlain in the mer cantile business. He was supervisor of Wee saw in 1838, of Bertrand in 1842, county commissioner in 1844 and the first postT master of Three Oaks. He died in 1855. Among other prominent men who helped to found New Buffalo, were Russell Good rich, Henry Bishop, Isaac O. Adams, E. B. Pressey, Simeon Pierce, Richard Peckham, Dwight Plympton. Goodrich, who had been a tavern keeper at Hamburg, New York, went into the same business at New Buffalo. His son, Albert Ei, became the manager and proprietor of the famous Goodrich line of steamers which plied on Lakes Michigan and Superior. Pierce was the owner of a small sloop 226 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY which sailed between Chicago and New Buf falo. Pressey was the first light house keeper and had a small chair factory. Peck- ham was a carpenter and also engaged in making grain cradles. Adams was a native ¦of Massachusetts and an educated and gen ial gentleman who possessed a considerable library. He engaged in farming and set out a large orchard which proved a failure. In 1833, he moved to Chicago. Mr. Plymp- ton was engaged in fishing and was one of the postmasters of the village. Among those who settled early in the township were Festus A. Holbrook, Hale E. Crosby, Thomas Maudlin, Doctor R. Pierce, Thomas Comins, and Joshua Brown. Mr. Holbrook settled on a farm in New Buffalo township. He lived to be nearly ninety-five years of age. Hale E. Crosby was a native of New Hampshire and came to New Buffalo in 1844. He brought with him a stock of merchandise and went into part nership with Jacob Gerrish and Mr. Crosby's father-in-law, Moses Chamberlain. Mr. Chamberlain had located on a farm within the present limits of Three Oaks, in 1843. After his arrival, Mr. Crosby had the man agement of the store. Subsequently he engaged in farming and became a promi nent man in the township. He was elected supervisor in 1853 and served five consecu tive terms. In 1857, he was a member of the legislature. In 1886, he removed to Three Oaks, where he died several years ago. His wife was a sister of Hon. Henry Cham berlain of Three Oaks, whom Mr. Crosby had married in New Hampshire prior to his coming to Michigan. Dr. Reuben Pierce was the first phy sician of New Buffalo, but moved away to Indiana about 1840. A son, R. W. Pierce, became a leading physician at Buchanan. Mr. Maudlin was a farmer and one of the first settlers of the township. He died some years since at a great age. Brown was a Virginian who came to New Buffalo in 1837 and subsequently kept a hotel for many years, in the village. He died in 1862. About the year 1850, a large German im migration to New Buffalo commenced. More than one-half of the residents of the township are Germans by birth or by descent. Among those who were prominent in the German settlement were George Weimer, Fred Gerdes, C. H. Schultz and J. C. Schwenck, all of whom were native Ger mans. Mr. Weimer was an insurance agent and conveyancer and was supervisor of the township for several years. He removed to Illinois about twenty years ago. Mr. Gerdes carried on a dry goods and grocery store for years and was also supervisor of the township. Mr. Schultz has been supervisor for five terms and has also been a justice of the peace and conveyancer for many years. His son, C. J. Schultz, is the present county treasurer and was also supervisor for sev eral terms. Churches. The first church organized in New Buf falo was called the Union Church of which Moses Chamberlain and Jacob Gerrish were the principal promoters. In 1848 this was changed to a Congregational Church which shortly after removed its place of holding services to Three Oaks. The Methodist Episcopal Church was or ganized in 1847 at the school house by Rev. R. Meek of Niles. The German Evangelical Church was or ganized in 1858 by Rev. Charles Haas. The Baptist Church was organized in 1876 by Rev. R. H. Spafford. The Catholic Church was organized in 1858 and a church edifice built. This was a mission church for some years, under the charge of Father Cappon of Niles. Supervisors of New Buffalo Township. The following named persons have been supervisors of this township : HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 227 Alonzo Bennett 1837-1838 Reuben Pierce 1839 Thos. Comins 1840 Echamal Ryther 1841-1842 I. O. Adams 1843 Levi Paddock 1844 Plenry Chamberlain 1845 Valentine Burnett 1846 Henry Chamberlain 1847- 1848 R. L. Phillips 1849 I. O. Adams 1850 Henry Chamberlain 1851 Alonzo Bennett 1852 H. E. Crosby 1853-1857 J. M. Patten 1858 Alonzo Bennett 1859 J. M. Goodrich i860 Philip Edinger 1861 A. I. Phillips 1862 R. S. Phillips 0. 1863 A. I. Phillips 1864 Geo. Weimer 1873-1875 Alonzo Bennett 1876 Geo. Weimer 1877-1878 Fred Gerdes 1879 J. M. Glavin 1880 Fred Gerdes 1881 C. H. Schultz 1882-1883 J. M. Glavin 1884-1887 Franklin Gowdy 1888 J. C. Schwenck 1889-1893 J. J. Deuell 1894 J." M. Glavin 1895-1896 Franklin Gowdy 1897 J. M. Glavin 1898 J. C. Schwenck 1899 C. J. Schultz 1900-1903 C. H. Schultz 1904-1905 J. C. Schwenck 1900 CHAPTER XV WATERVLIET TOWNSHIP. Watervliet is the northeast township and contains thirty-six sections of land. It is bounded on the north by Van Buren coun ty, on the east by Cass county, on the south by Bainbridge. township and on the west by Hagar township. The surface of the coun try is generally level. It was originally cov ered largely with heavy timber. The popu lation of this township has of late increased rapidly and it now ranks second in popula tion, being exceeded only by Benton town ship. Nearly all the early settlers came frorn the state of New York. Paw Paw river runs through it, and the largest inland lake in the county, Paw Paw lake, is also located wholly within its limits. It has two flour ishing villages, Watervliet and Coloma, which are the center of considerable trade. The fruit industry had developed into great magnitude, and large peach and apple or chards are common. Some of these will be described hereafter. The -first settlement in the township was made at a place which came to be known among the pioneers as the "Shingle Dig gings," located on the bank of the Paw Paw river about three-quarters of a mile above the site of the present village of Coloma. The spot was so named because it became the seat of an extensive industry in making shingles. Iii 1832 Job Davis of Cass county located one hundred and fifty acres on sec tion twenty-one, near Coloma, for the pur pose of furnishing lumber and shingles for the St. Joseph market. He began the con struction of a dam and saw mill, but for some reason before finishing, concluded to aban don his enterprise and sold out his claims to Griffith, Hoyt & Hatch, a lumber firm, man aged by B. C. Hoyt, a St. Joseph merchant. This firm, however, in a short time failed, after having projected a scheme of building a new town at this point. In the meantime Levi Ballengee had built a large boarding house near the site of the projected town,ex- pecting to board the men employed by Grif fith, Hoyt & Hatch. Upon the failure of this firm, Ballengee concluded to go into the business of shingle making himself. In 1834, one Gilson from Chautauqua county, New York, traveling through Michigan on his way to Chicago, learned that Ballengee wanted a shingle maker, visited Ballengee and entered into a partnership with him in the shingle making business. In 1835 Gil- son brought his family from New York and went into business for himself, employing quite a force of men. In 1837 he purchased one million three hundred thousand shingles at one time and employed about twenty In dians in running the shingles down the river and landing on the dock. Others followed Ballengee and Gilson, among them Ramsey Christy, Hiram Orms- by, Isaac Youngs, Erastus Baunes, Henry H. Sutter. A flourishing settlement soon HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 229 grew up. In 1837 a school was established and taught by Mary Youngs, a daughter of one of the shingle makers. In 1838 the material for shingles had become exhausted, and the shingle makers left the settlement for other points. The ¦"Shingle Diggings" was abandoned and be came a thing of the past. In 1833 the firm of Sumner & Wheeler put up a saw mill on Mill creek. About this time the firm of Smith & Merrick of Jef ferson county, New York, acquired large tracts of land in Watervliet, Bainbridge and Hagar townships and in 1836, Jesse Smith, a member of the firm, came to Watervliet to secure the clearing of these tracts, bringing with him several laborers. Smith built a saw mill and also bought that previously erected by Sumner & Wheeler. He soon re turned to New York, leaving Israel Kellogg to take charge of the lands of the firm. In the same year, 1836, the firm sent out Isaac Moffatt with thirty-two Frenchmen, to clear their lands. Moffatt at once erected a store, built a dam and grist mill. The mills were rented to one Crocker and the main work engaged in by Moffatt was the clearing of the lands. In 1848 Smith & Merrick sold out their entire mill property to Isaac N. Swain, a native of Jefferson county, New York. Mr. Swain also purchased about one thousand acres in the vicinity. Subse quently Mr. Swain sold the mills, but was obliged to take them back, the purchasers, having been seriously crippled by a serious flood in 1858 which washed away the dam and damaged the mills, and rendered them unable to pay the purchase price. In 1863 the firm of Swain, Olney & Fisher was formed. Fisher sold out his interest to George Parsons and William Baldwin and a new firm was formed under the. name of Swain, Olney & Company. In 1874 Par sons withdrew from the firm. The saw mill for many years did the most extensive lumber business of any in the county. In 1870 it employed about forty men and was capable of sawing thirty thous and feet of lumber in a day. The first store established in Watervliet was opened in 1836 by Isaac Moffatt. This Subsequently passed into the hands of Mr. Swain, who sold it in 1874 to Parsons & Baldwin. Among the persons who accompanied Isaac Moffatt to Watervliet in 1836, was Moses Osgood, who settled in Watervliet township near Coloma and engaged in farm ing. He died in 1876. He appears to have been the first permanent pioneer farmer of the township. Stephen R. Gilson and Gilson Osgood erected a saw mill upon "Tannery Creek," in 1849. Gilson Osgood, a native of Ohio, had emigrated to Watervliet in 1841 and located a farm near that of his brother, Moses Osgood. He was for some time an agent for the firm of Smith & Merrick. His saw mill was on the site of the present vil lage of Coloma, and he soon opened a store, and a settlement soon grew up. There was little money in circulation at that time and store goods were exchanged for farm pro ducts. The new settlement was appropriately called "Dickerville," and this remained the name of the place till 1855, when it was changed to Coloma. In 1858 Mr. Osgood opened up a hotel in Coloma known as the "Osgood House." He was the first super visor of the township. Alonzo and Austin Beaman came from New York to Watervliet and settled on ad joining farms in the northern part of the county, in 1842. Alonzo was supervisor in 1852. Austin died in 1874 and Alonzo re moved in a few years to Iowa. In 1844 and 1845, James I. Redding, Simeon Hawks, Garrett Ingraham, Ives Wallingford, Ira Wilks, Abram Coleman, Crain Valentine, Harvey Kingsbury, Wil liam Duvall and John Merrifield, moved into the township. John Merrifield, a native of New York, settled in the township in 1844. He died in 185 1. His sons, William N. Merrifield 230 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and S. P. Merrifield, still reside in Water vliet and both have been supervisors of the township. S. P. Merrifield in early life was a teacher and afterwards an ordained minis ter of the Universalist Church. The first physician who practiced his profession in the township was Dr. J. H. Crawford, who lived upon a farm near Co loma. He remained but a short time, re turning to his former home in Ohio. The first physician to engage in practice in Watervliet village was Dr. J. H. Wheeler, who located there in 1845. He was super visor in 1847 and from 1858 to i860. He had a large practice. Dr. H. M^ Marvin of Coloma is the old est practicing physician in the county. He came to Coloma in 1855 and has practiced his profession there ever since. James H. Marvin was a resident of Co loma for most of the time for fifty years. For a short time he was station agent of the C. & W. M. Railroad Company at New Buffalo. He was supervisor of the town ship of Watervliet for eight terms, the first term commencing in 1862. He has held various other local offices and has been ex tensively engaged in business as a justice of the peace and notary public. Another physician, Dr. William A. Baker, came to Coloma in 1868 and is now living there. He was supervisor of the town ship in 1885 and a representative in the State Legislature in 1887 and 1889. He was the main promoter and organizer of the railroad which was built from Coloma to Paw Paw Lake. The oldest resident of Watervliet now living is Elias T. Spencer, who is in his ninety-first year. A number of the early settlers of the vil lage of Watervliet and Coloma, who have been active in promoting the industries of their towns, are still living. Among them may be mentioned George Parsons, William A. Baldwin, William H. Ball, Emelius J. Wolcott. Mr. Parsons and Mr. Baldwin both came to Watervliet in 1865, purchas ing one-half interest in the saw mill and grist mill previously owned by Swain, Olney & Company, and also a half interest in the mercantile business of that firm. After their purchase, they were the managers of the important business interests of the firm. In 1876, the firm of Parsons & Baldwin ac quired the ownership of these various in dustries. Since 1892 they have been en gaged in the banking business. For some years the firm of Swain, Olney & Company conducted the largest lumbering businesses. in Berrien county. Mr. Baldwin has been supervisor of the township for five terms. Mr. Parsons has been prominently connected with State Sunday school work. Edward Brant is now a^ resident of Ben ton Harbor, but made his home for over forty years in Watervliet, where he settled in the '60s. He was supervisor of the town ship for three terms. He acquired by his own industry and sagacity, several hundred acres of land in the township, and is now a heavy land owner. A few years since, he moved to Benton Harbor, where built the "Benton House," the largest and most heavily patronized hotel in the county. This he still owns, although managed by his son- in-law, Fred B. Collins, the late popular sheriff of Berrien county. Mr. Brant was mayor of Benton Harbor one term. W. W. Allen came to Bainbridge with his widowed mother in 1848. In 1861 he removed to Watervliet where for several years he carried on a heavy mercantile busi ness, subsequently known as the "CentenniaL Store." The bank in Coloma was established in 1896 by Sawyer Ball and William H. Ball, under the firm name of Ball & Son. Sawyer Ball, a native of Massachusetts, located in Niles in 1861, but shortly after wards removed to Coloma. He was super visor of Watervliet township in 1873. Af ter his death the business, was carried on by his widow and son, William H. Ball. The HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 231 latter was supervisor of the township from 1893 to 1895 inclusive. In 1892, George E. Dudley and W. E. Syms of Mt. Holyoke, Massachusetts, es tablished a paper factory for the manufac ture of choice writing and book paper. It was one of the largest of its kind in the west. Extensive buildings were built and for a number of years the company employed a large force of employees. The mill has of late years been practically suspended. The Methodist Church in Watervliet vil lage was organized in 1846. That in Co loma was organized about the year 1844. The first pastor of both churches was Rev. A. C. Shaw. In 1869 a church edifice was erected at Watervliet and one at Coloma in 1879. The first Congregational Church in Watervliet was organized in 1853. Rev. W. H. Osborn was the first pastor. The Christian Church was organized at Coloma in 1857 and the first pastor was Elder B. I. Curtis. The largest apple orchard in Berrien county is situated in Watervliet township and is owned by Robert H. Sherwood. It is the second largest in the state. The apple or chard covers three hundred acres and con tains over 14.000 trees. Peach, plum and pear trees are interspersed and were planted to fill the time before the apples should begin bearing. There are 17,000 peach trees, 7,200 plum trees and 5,000 pear trees. The apple trees are mostly eight years old. About 2,000 trees were planted in 1871 and 1876, and for the past fifteen years have produced upon an average, about one barrel per tree. The first orchards were set out by the father of Mr. Sherwood, Harvey C. Sherwood, who came to Watervliet township from Onon daga county, New York, in 1864, and pur chased four hundred acres on the shore of Paw Paw Lake. In 1885, he was a senator in the State Legislature and was the Demo cratic candidate for congress in this dis trict at one time. He was a man of liberal education and ability. His son Robert, al ready referred to, was educated at Oberlin College. The farm owned by him is known as "Lake View." Harvey D. Sherwood died several years since. The following is a list of the supervis ors of Watervliet township : Gilson Osgood 1846 J. H. Wheeler 1847-1849 Alonzo Beaman 1850 E. L. Kellogg 1851 Alonzo Beaman 1852 Jas. Paul 1853 C. H. Bostick 1854 Alonzo Beaman 1855 E. L. Kellogg 1856 N. J. Black 1857 J. H. Wheeler 1858-1860 Wm. Brown 1861 Jas. H. Marvin 1862-1863 E. L. Kellogg 1864 Jas. H. Marvin 1865-1870 Wm. N. Merrifield 1871 Jos. W. Weimer 1872 Sawyer Ball X873 S. P. Merrifield 1877-1878 Wm. M. Baldwin • - 1879 S. P. Merrifield 1880 Wm. M. Baldwin 1881-1882 S. D* Walden 1883-1884 W. A. Baker 1885 Edward Brant 1886-1888 W. H. Ball i893"l89S Wm. M. Baldwin 1896-1897 W. A. Baker 1898 C. B. Pratt 1899-1900 A. J. Baker 1901-1906 CHAPTER XVI BENTON AND BENTON HARBOR. The township of Benton is bounded on the north by Hagar township, on the east by Bainbridge, on the south by Sodus and on the west by St. Joseph. The northwest section of the township touches Lake Mich igan. It is now the richest and most popu lous township in the county. It has no in corporated villages, and but one small un incorporated hamlet, Millburg. It was orig inally mostly covered by heavy forests of hard timber, including some pine. It is well watered by Paw Paw river and Blue and Ox creeks. Some low and swampy lands adjoin these streams, but most of them have been drained and put under cultivation. The township is thickly populated, and largely divided into small holdings devoted to fruit culture. It is in the heart of the "peach belt" and a large portion of it is practically a fruit garden. The city of Benton Harbor, located mainly in the original township of Benton, was not laid out until i860 and the village was not incorporated till 1869, but it has be come the wealthiest and most populous city in the county. The settlement of the township was not made till much later than that of many other townships. In 1845 the population was only two hundred and thirty-seven. Its most rapid increase of population was be tween i860 and 1870, during which period its population trebled. The early settlers wera mainly from the state of New York. The first settlement in Benton township was made by Jehiel Enos in 1834. He was a native of Chenango county, New York. In young manhood he was a teacher in his native state, and also became a practical surveyor. In 1825 he came to Ann Arbor, in this state, where he assisted Lucius Lyon, deputy United States surveyor. In 1829 he was engaged with Mr. Lyon in surveying the southern portion of Berrien county. In 1831 he came to St. Joseph, remained one year and then located a farm in Royalton town ship. In 1834 he removed to the village of Millburg. Here he remained two years and in 1836 began clearing and farming on sec tion thirteen of Benton township, where he lived till the time of his death. In 1835 he and Amos Amsden of St. Joseph platted the village of Millburg, a portion of the plat be ing in Bainbridge township. He was super visor of his township for several years and county surveyor from 1841 till 1845. In 1846 he was elected as a member of the State Legislature upon the Democratic ticket. In 1856 he became a Republican upon the organization of the Republican party and in that year was again elected a member of the Legislature. A daughter, Mrs. Helen Wood ruff, resides at Benton Harbor. Mr. Enos was a man of great native strength and in- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 233 fluence and a prominent leader in the Re publican party. In 1836 James H. Enos and his brothers Ira, Roswell and Joseph,- cousins of Jehiel Enos, came from New York and located first in Benton township. James H. settled soon in Bainbridge and became a supervisor of that township. Ira Enos remained in Ben ton township and is now the oldest living resident of that township. He is now in his eighty-seventh year. He was a carpenter by trade, and assisted his brother James in building and running the first saw mill at Millburg in 1836. In 1836, Eleazer Morton located on sec tions eighteen' and twenty. Mr. Morton was born in Massachusetts, but in early life removed to Syracuse, New York, where he engaged in the manufacture of salt. In the fall of 1835 he removed with his family, con sisting of wife and ten children, to St. Joseph, where they passed the winter. While here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in sections eighteen and twenty and in 1836 built a tavern on the territorial road on his farm on. section eighteen, which he made his homestead. He set out an orchard in .1840 and shipped peaches to Chicago in 1845, for which he received one dollar per bushel. His shipment was the second made in the county. He wrote articles frequently upon social and economic questions which were published in the press, and also pub lished a volume entitled "Morton's Guide to True Happiness." He died in 1864. His son, Henry C. Morton, who came with his father to Michigan in 1835, was, born in New York in 181 7 and became one of the original founders of Benton Harbor. In 1863 he was a member of the Legislar ture. He was also a leading promoter in the enterprise of constructing the Benton Har bor canal, which was the foundation of Ben ton Harbor's future commercial supremacy. He was a man of great energy and public spirit and universally esteemed for his sterl ing qualities. He was a Republican politi cally and one of the most prominent and in fluential leaders of the party in the county. A daughter of Eleazer Morton, Caroline, married a lumber merchant of Chicago, S. G. Howard, and is now living in that city in her eightieth year. The son of Mr. Morton, Stanley J. Mor ton, was one of the Original members of the firm of Graham, Morton & Company, and subsequently treasurer and secretary of the Graham & Morton Transportation Com pany. This important position he still holds. He is also prominently connected with sev eral of the leading industries of the city. In 1835, James Dalton, John London and Joseph Caldwell settled in Benton town ship. The two former shortly after moved away. Mr. Caldwell located a site on Paw Paw river as early as 1834 and built upon it in 1835. He subsequently purchased about five hundred acres more in Benton and Hagar townships. His son, Joseph, is the present supervisor of Hagar township. In 1835, Benjamin Johnson, a black smith by trade, with his wife and family, came from Ohio to St. Joseph where they re mained two years. In 1837, Mr. Johnson and his family settled upon section fourteen in Benton township where Mr. Johnson lived till his death. Two daughters, Lucy, who married John Wilkinson of St. Joseph, and Drusilla, who married Captain Thomas A. Walker of the Lake View Hotel at St. Jo seph, are, now living at St. Joseph. In 1837, James Higbee, a native of New York, but then a resident of Ohio, located on section fourteen, where he died many years since. His son, James F. Higbee, came with his father. After farming for many years, James F. moved into the village of Benton Harbor. He constructed the Hig bee hotel in 1877 and still owns it. He was one of the commissioners selected to super intend the construction of the Benton Har bor canal and was the first president of the 234 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Northern Berrien County Agricultural So ciety. He is living at Benton Harbor, and is still active in his eighty-ninth year. Phineas Pearl, a pioneer of Benton town ship, who lived to be ninety-five years old, was a native of Vermont, but moved to Jef ferson county, New York, in early life. In 1840 he moved with his family to Benton township and settled on" section twenty-five. He was supervisor of the township from 1842 to 1846. He was a man of iron con stitution and preserved his physical and men tal faculties intact until shortly before his death. His two sons, Warren H. and Lewis W., located farms near their father. War ren H. Pearl became a prominent farmer in the township, acquiring about three hundred acres, including lands in adjoining town ships. His home farm was in section twenty- six. He died several years ago. Irvin R. Pearl, under sheriff by appointment of Sheriff Tennant, and a very capable officer, who died recently while in office, was a son of Warren. Lewis W. Pearl was born in 181 5 in the state of New York. In 1841 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ben ton township and in 1843 was married to Juliette Enos, a daughter of James Enos, a pioneer. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, as a private. By rapid promotion through var ious grades he became major of the regiment and served until 1866, when he returned to his farm. Mr. Pearl is still living upon the farm upon which he first located, at the ad vanced age of ninety-one years, but with his mental faculties well preserved,- and is still physically active and able to do work on his farm. He is the oldest pioneer of the northern portion of the county now living. For nine years he was supervisor of his township and for a time chairman of the board. About the same period, Ebenezer Jake- way and his sons, Elmer and James H., lo cated on sections twenty-four and twenty- five. Ebenezer acquired nearly four hundred acres and Elmer and James about two hun dred acres each. The present supervisor of Benton township, James J. Jakeway, is a son of James H. Jakeway. Mrs. James H. Jakeway was a daughter of Phineas Pearl. Lot Sutherland of Broome county, New York, settled in section twenty-seven in 1840 and lived there till his death. A son, Lewis, who came with his father from New York, is now living at Benton Harbor in his seventy-sixth year. In 1853 he moved from Bainbridge into Benton township and became the owner of large tracts of valuable land. Lately he has re sided in the city of Benton . Harbor. His sons, Darwin, Lot and Sterling, are large land owners in Benton township and have devoted themselves extensively to fruit cul ture. John D. Bury also located at about the same time a large tract of land in section ten. He died several years since. His chil dren, John and Elsie, are living upon the land entered by their father. The following persons located shortly after : Teddy McCrone, Daniel Olds, Charles Chauncy, Thomas Closson, Elijah Jennings, Dennis and Patrick Murphy, A. B. Leeds, David O. Woodruff, Jacob Van Horn, George W. Hess, Selden Hull and Charles Hull. David O. Woodruff, a native of New York, located in section thirty upon a farm of two hundred and forty acres. In 1849 he went to California. Returning to Michi gan a few years after, he settled in Niles where he continued to live till his death. He was president of the Berrien County Agri cultural Society for several years and .a sup ervisor of both the township and city of Niles. He was a man of extensive informa tion and of genial and courteous manners. His daughter, Jennie, married E. C. Griffin, a prominent druggist of Niles. A. B. Leeds settled upon sections twenty- eight and twenty-nine. He was county reg- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 235 ister from 1859 to 1865 and judge of pro bate from 1877 to 1885. He was very polite in his manners and was universally esteemed. As has already been said, the township is largely devoted. to fruit. It is thickly set tled by an enterprising and intelligent class of citizens and in fhe production of fruit it takes the lead. The largest peach orchard of bearing trees in the county is located in Benton town ship. It is owned by Roland Morrill and is situated in section sixteen. It consists of ninety acres of bearing peach trees. The following named persons have orchards con taining from thirty-five to forty acres of bearing peach trees: Darwin Sutherland, Lot Sutherland, James Jakeway, Juan Hess and A. Culby. Others have orchards nearly as large. The first township election was held at Millburg in 1841 when Ephraim Mann was elected supervisor; James F. Higbee, treas urer; Jehiel Enos, clerk; Phineas Pearl and Jacob Van Horn, justices of the peace. The village of Bronson's Harbor was laid out in i860 by Henry C. Morton, Sterne Bronson, M. G. Lamport, B. C. Lewis, Mar tin Green and Charles Hull. The rapid growth and development of this place illus trates what can be accomplished by a few resolute, unselfish and public-spirited men, who are willing to incur personal risk and sacrifice in energetic work for the public good. The first lot was sold for sixty dollars on six years' time. The second lot was sold for fifty dollars on five years' time. The. village was first called Bronson's Harbor after Sterne Bronson, who with a few others first conceived the plan of building a town on the east side of the river, and of connecting it with Lake Michigan by a canal. He re moved from Elkhart, Indiana, to Benton Harbor in 1857 and purchased two hundred acres upon which the city of Benton Harbor is now located. His sons, Rufus Bronson and Allen Bronson, also located lands here. In i860 at a public meeting of the citizens of Bronson's Harbor, Sterne Bronson, Henry C. Morton and Charles Hull were appointed as an executive committee to raise subscriptions for the dredging of a canal from the lake to the village. These persons each donated large tracts of land for the pur pose. . They encountered serious obstacles, but took charge of the enterprise and were finally successful. The canal was constructed by Martin Green and finished in 1862. It was originally twenty-five feet wide and eight feet deep, but it was enlarged in 1868. The offices of the Lake Transportation Companies were soon transferred from St. Joseph to the Harbor and the Harbor be came the head and center of steamboat nav igation on the lake. The first business building in the Har bor was not erected till i860. This was oc cupied as a grocery by Fred Shallinger. In 1865 the name of the village was changed to Benton Harbor. In 1866 the village was organized under the general law and at the election that year Samuel Mc- Griegan was elected president. In 1869 the village was incorporated un- red a special act of the Legislature, intro duced by A. B. Riford, then a member of the Legislature and resident attorney of Benton Harbor. By this act, about one-half of the corporate limits of the village was in the town of Benton and the other one-half in the town of St. Joseph. In 1871 the village was jnade a port of entry and Mr. Riford was appointed collector of customs. The first steamboat navigation company organized in the village was that of Green, Allen & Company. This company was suc ceeded by that of Graham, Morton & Com pany. The firm of H. W. Williams & Com pany, also 'engaged in the business about the same time. The first attorney in the place was A. B. Riford, a native of Indiana, who settled in Benton Harbor in 1865. He was a repre sentative to the State Legislature from 1871 236 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY to 1875 and postmaster from 1877 to 1884. He was an active and influential citizen and was instrumental with Messrs. Thresher, Morton and others in blocking the attempt of President Morrison to run the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad a mile away from the center of the town. He died while holding the position of postmaster. His widow, Mrs. Hattie B. Riford, now living in Benton Harbor, suc ceeded her husband in the office and held it for five years. Ira W. Riford, a prominent attorney of Benton Harbor and lately prose cuting attorney of the county, is a son of A. B. Riford. The first physician to locate in the place was Dr. John Bell, the "beloved physi cian" of Benton Harbor. Shortly after graduating in the medical department of the University of New York he came to Ben ton Harbor and began the practice of his pro fession in 1862. He was eminently skill ful both as a physician and surgeon and soon secured an immense practice. He was natur ally kind hearted and charitable, thoroughly honest, public-spirited and generous, and won a deep hold in the affections of the peo ple. In 1889 the Benton Harbor Improvement Association, a company organized to develop the business interests of the place and to se cure factories, was established and he was elected president, a position which he held till about the time of his death. This organization as a factor in securing the rapid development of the town, ranks next to the building of the canal. In pro moting the objects of the association, Dr. Bell was subjected to considerable personal sacrifice and loss of property. He was mayor of the city in 1896-97. His widow, Mrs. Annetta (Hopkins) Bell is still living in Benton Harbor. His brother, George M., now a prominent physician of Benton Har bor, was for many years a partner with Dr. John Bell, both in professional prac tice and in the drug store business. Sterne Bronson, already alluded to as one of the founders of the village of Bron son's Harbor, was a man of public spirit and indomitable energy and perseverance, His sons, Allen and Rufus, became leading and influential men in the community. Sterne Bronson died in 1876. Allen died a few years since. Rufus moved to South Haven a few years ago and is now residing there. Among those, who were also prominent in the early industries of the town were Sal mon F. Heath and William E. Higman, who established the first bank in the place. A son of Mr. Heath, Edward W., for several years carried on quite an extensive business of ship and boat building at Benton Harbor and was regarded as an expert craftsman in that line. The development of Benton Harbor did not commence till a very late day as com pared with other cities and villages of Ber rien county, and several who were prominent pioneers in the early life and industries of the place are still living. Among these may be mentioned Captain John Robinson, pres ident of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank. Joseph P. Thresher elsewhere referred to. Albert R. Nowlen, a prominent fruit grower and owner of real estate in the city. R. M, Jones, formerly a prominent dry goods mer chant. Captain James McDonald, a lumber merchant. J. Stanley Morton, elsewhere re ferred to, W. P. Robbins, a lumber mer chant. S. G. Antisdale, United States cus- ton collector. Seeley McCord, an extensive fruit grower. Dr. George M. Bell, the oldest physician in the place, now living. Alonzo W. Plummer, an attorney and exten sive real estate agent. I. W. Conkey, formerly a banker. Myron Hinckley, a man ufacturer of fruit packages. George F. Son- ner, formerly a prominent dry goods mer chant. James F. Higbee and Lewis Suth erland, both of whom have elsewhere been referred to. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 237 Commerce. Crates of berries 679,680 ; Baskets of peaches 1,125,729 Benton Harbor for many years has been Baskets of grapes 1,160,425 the principal center of lake commerce on the Half-bush.-baskets of fruit .... 82,847 eastern shore ef Lake Michigan. Bush;-crates muskmelons 130,142 In 1871, ft was made a port of entry Bush--baskets peaches 381,469 and A. B. Riford appointed collector of eus- Barrels of Pears & other fruits ¦ • 48,249 toms. In 1875, the Graham and Morton Four railroads connect with Benton Har- Transportation Company, a partnership firm bor, viz; The Pere Marquette, the C. C. composed of John H. Graham, J. Stanley c. & St. L. (Big Four), Indiana, Illinois & Morton, Andrew Crawford and James Pax- Towa Railroad and the Milwaukee, Benton ton, was organized. In 1881, this business Harbor & Columbus. was merged into a stock corporation known The Pere Marquette was originally built as the Graham and Morton Transportation as the Chicago and West Michigan and corn- Company. The first president chosen was menced running its trains into Benton Har- Mr. Graham and Mr. Morton was made bor in 1870. secretary and treasurer. These gentlemen The other roads have been built within still retain these positions. the last ten or twelve years. During the present year the company During the past two years, shipments of has run the following passenger boats be- fruit by rail have increased enormously while tween Benton Harbor and Chicago : Str. the boats have had an immense traffic. The City of Benton Harbor, Str. City of Chicago, amount of fruit transported by rail is esti- The "City of Benton Harbor" has a length mated to have been during the past two of two hundred and sixty-six feet and a ton- years much larger than that by boat. age of twelve hundred and eighty-six. The "City of Chicago" has a length of two hun- Library. dred and forty feet and a tonnage of four- The common council of the city of Ben- teen hundred and forty. . . ton Harbor, with a spirit of enterprise and The company . runs, boats on two other sagacity characteristic of the town, estab- divisions, known as the. Holland and Lake lished a public library in 1899, some years Superior divisions. The amount of both before Andrew Carnegie commenced his freight and passenger traffic on these boats system of donations for public libraries. An named has been, immense during the past annual appropriation of one thousand dollars year. was made for the maintainance of the li- The Benton Transit Company was in- brary and, until 1903, rented rooms were corporated in 1899 with Fred A- Hobbs of used. Benton Harbor as secretary and treasurer In 1902 a donation from Mr. Carnegie and R. C. Britain, of Saugatuck as general of twenty thousand dollars was secured, con- manager. The boat running from Benton ditioned upon an annual appropration of Harbor is called the "Frank Woods." Its two thousand dollars from the common traffic consists mainly in the conveyance of council which was promptly voted. The freight. building was completed in 1903 and cost The shipments of fruit made by boats about twenty-one thousand eight hundred from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph have dollars. The first librarian was Miss Louise assumed gigantic proportions. Bailey, who resigned in April last, Mrs. In the year 1905, these shipments were Emma Cole is the present -librarian. The as follows : library contains forty-four hundred and 238 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY eight books. The books in circulation dur ing the last fiscal year numbered thirty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-three. The number of patron's cards issued was thirty-five hundred. The present officers are : President, George F. Sonner ; secre tary, A. P. Cady; librarian, Emma Cole; directors, George F. Sonner, E. A. Hoff mann, W.J. Cady, J. N. Klock, I. W. Riford, A. P. Cady, H. V. Tutton, Fred S. Hopkins, W. E. Sheffield. The president and secre tary have remained unchanged since the or ganization of the library. Benton Harbor Hospital. A further instance of the liberality and enterprise of the people of this city is found in the establishment of the Benton Harbor hospital within the past year. It is now being built at a cost including the site of from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand dollars. The amount necessary to establish the hospital was obtained by private donations. George F. Sonner subscribed five thou sand dollars, Albert M. Nolan one thousand dollars, sixty-one citizens one hundred each, twenty-two citizens fifty dollars each and the balance necessary was obtained by smaller subscriptions and entertainments. A private hospital called "Mercy Hospi tal" was established in 1897 by Dr. Henry V. Tutton, an eminent physician and surgeon of Benton Harbor. Dr. Tut ton subsequently turned over the hospital to a board of trustees for the public benefit, retaining only his operating rooms which have been open to all surgeons. Summer Resorts. The largest and most beautiful summer single resort in the county is Higman Park, located on Lake Michigan in Benton town ship, a mile west of Benton Harbor. It is owned by John Higman and his son Arthur. It was established several years since. The park consists of about two hundred acres. The Paw Paw river has been connected with the park by digging a channel from the river a distance of three thousand feet. Two large launches run to St. Joseph, either by the Paw Paw and St. Joseph rivers or by the lake in calm weather. Automobiles are also used for conveyances. The park is situ ated on high bluffs, handsomely wooded with large native trees. Located upon this park are twenty-six summer homes costing from fifteen hundred to twenty thousand dollars, a hotel, casino, a water and sewer system, electric lighting plant, and fine golf links. Extensive fruit orchards are connected with the park. Another popular summer resort estab lished many years ago is the Eastman Springs, situated in Benton township, ad joining the city. It is located in a romantic natural park and contains a large number of native springs. It contains a hotel, several cottages and a bath house. It is operated by a company known as the Eastman Springs Company, and the lands connected with the enterprise, consists of about one hundred acres. Churches. The earliest church which appears to have been organized in Benton township was a Methodist one at Millburg, which after a time became extinct. Shortly after the Church of Christ or Christians was estab lished and in 1868 a permanent organization was effected. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Hurd. A frame church was built in 1870. The first Baptist Church in Benton Har bor was organized in 1868, although the denomination had previously worshipped first in a building called Brown's Chapel at Heath's corners and then in a brick build ing afterwards sold to the Evangelical As sociation. A brick edifice was erected at Benton Harbor in 1869, the building committee being S. F. Heath, E. St. John and J. P. FRED B. COLLINS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 239 Thresher. The building cost sixteen thous and dollars. The first pastor was Rev. A. E. Simons. After the denomination located at Benton Harbor permanently, Rev. J. G. Portman became the first pastor. The pres ent pastor is Rev. H. D. Osborne. The Congregational Church was organ ized in 1866. A church ' edifice was built in 1868 and this was the first meeting house in the township of Benton. The present pastor is Rev. William J. Cady. The Methodist Church was organized in 1868. A handsome brick church edifice was erected in 1870 at a cost of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars, but this building was struck by lightning in June, 1875, and near ly destroyed. In 1880 a smaller structure was erected and subsequently the present large edifice. Rev. J. I. Hill is now pastor. An Episcopal Church was organized many years ago. It has no regular pastor, but Rev. M. S. Woodruff officiates. once a month. The Universalist Church was organized in 1870. The present pastor is Rev. Louisa Haight. The Presbyterian Church was organized In 1892. The present church edifice was completed in 1894. The present pastor is Rev. Elisha Hoffmann. The Evangelical Association Church was established in . The present pastor is Rev. J. S. Deabler. The St. John's Catholic Church was es tablished in 1890 and its present edifice erected in 1892. A beautiful piece of land called "Calvary" consisting of ten acres just outside of the city limits, and a parochial residence are connected with the church. The present pastor is Rev. Father D. Mulcahy. There are a large number of religious organizations at Benton Harbor which have been established in later years. The denomf- nations are as follows: Christian Science, Benai Israel Synagogue, Church of God, Christian, Rescue Mission, Seventh Day Ad- ventist, Zion Tabernacle, and Christian Catholic. Benton Harbor College. This institution was first organized in 1886 as the normal and collegiate institu- tute. In 1892 it was incorporated as Benton Harbor College. It has special departments in pedagogy, music, art and business and has been noted for the thorough preparation of students for the profession of teaching. Its annual enrollment of students in all de partments ' has lately ranged from three hundred to four hundred. It has no endow ment fund but has been successfully main tained for twenty years, and has prepared a large number of students for admission to the State University with which it enjoys affiliated relations. The executive board at present consists of the following officers: * President, G. J. Edgcumbe; secretary, J. H. Niz; treasurer, F. A. Hobbs, and the fol lowing additional members : CM. Edick, J. S. Caldwell, Dr. G. M. Bell. The faculty consists of sixteen profess ors including the president, Dr. Edgcumbe and Dr. W. B. Parker, vice-president. Hotels. The first hotel in the place was the "American," built by Rufus Bronson in 1 86 1 ana for some time operated by him. The Gartley House was built in 1870 by Samuel McGuigan. The Colfax House was built a few years after. These hotels have been supplanted by the "Benton" and "Higby" House. The "Benton" is the largest hotel in the place and has. been owned for many years by Edward Brant. His son-in-law, Fred Collins, the late popular sheriff of the county, is the present manager. 240 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Banks. The first bank established in the place was a private bank, started in 1875 by W. E. Higman, James Baley and S. F. Heath. A national bank was organized in 1890 called the First National Bank. Several years since the bank failed and went into the hands of a receiver. None of the depositors however lost any money. The Farmers' and Merchants' Bank was organized in 1888 with the following offi cers: John Robinson, president; R. M. Jones, vice-president, and Charles Foster, cashier. These gentlemen have continued in their offices till the present time, and were original organizers of the bank. The Benton Harbor State Bank was or ganized in 1899. The present officers are H. D. Poole, president; G. M. Valentine, vice-president; William Rupp, cashier; B. F. Wells, assistant cashier. Each of the banks has a savings depart ment. The total amount of deposits in the banks at Benton Harbor in September last was over one million five hundred thousand dol lars. Michigan State Naval Brigade. In 1899 the fourth division of this bri gade was organized at Benton Harbor. It consists of forty-four men. The officers are C. K. Farmer, lieutenant commanding; J. H. Pound, lieutenant, junior grade; C. D. Woodin, ensign; J. D. Stewart, ensign and assistant engineer. Manufacturing Industries. The Spencer & Barnes Company was in corporated in 1895 and manufactures bed room furniture of both medium and fine grades, consisting 'of dressing cases, chiffon iers, toilet tables and bedsteads in sets of mahogany, birds-eye maple and quartered oak. They employ one hundred and twenty- five men and turn out two hundred thousand dollars worth of furniture annually. The officers are J. E. Barnes, president; B. H. Spencer, vice-president, and M. L. Spencer, secretary and treasurer. J. E. Barnes and B. H. Spencer commenced their business at Buchanan thirty-one years ago, but removed to Benton Harbor about four teen years ago. The Metal Sectional Furniture Com pany, another important manufacturing com pany, manufactures a high grade of steel filing cabinets. The plant has been recently established and intends to enlarge its work- ing'capacity, but already employs about one hundred men. The company has now fifteen acres of ground. During the past year a Law and Order League has been established at Benton Har bor. Owing to its efforts, the liquor laws with regard to the closing of saloons on the Sabbath and at late hours, have been strictly enforced, and any attempt to make the city an "open town" on Sundays has been effect ually suppressed. The majority of the sa loon keepers have been disposed to accept the situation in good faith. In view of the fact that Benton Harbor is the largest place in the county, it is entitled to great credit for the vigorous enforcement of these most import ant laws, and the fact of enforcement is an emphatic testimonial to the high character and -sagacity of its citizens. Another fact worthy of mention is the spirit of obedience to the requirements of the law with regard to the finances of the city. A complete, lucid and. accurate system of book-keeping has been conducted by the clerks for several years, and in this way the city has been protected from that waste and extravagance which has occurred in other cities and which has led to serious losses and confusion of funds which the authorities were unable to disentangle. A, peculiar colony of people called the House of David under the lead of Benjamin HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 241 and Mary- Purnell was established a few years since in Benton township a short dis tance east of the city of Benton Harbor. The corporate name of the association is as follows: "Benjamin and Mary Purnell, the Israelite House of David, the Church of the New Eve; the Body of Christ." Large tracts of land have been purchased and large and commodious buildings erected. The colony already numbers several hundred, and has been constantly increasing. The people of the colony share everything in common. . It is claimed that it is a religious and communistic association based on the general principle of each member contribut ing all his possessions, labor and earnings to a common stock in which all members share alike. It.is claimed that Benjamin and Mary jointly constitute the seventh angel or mes senger recorded in Revelations as delivering the final message on earth ; that the members of this - association are the elect people and that they will finally number one hundred and forty- four' thousand. These people now own about one thous and* acres of land and they, have devoted their attention largely to the culture of fruit as well as grain, having a dozen' orchards upon their lands. They also have various trades represented in their establishments. They have already erected a cannery and drying house, a carpenter shop, a coach fac tory, a tailor shop, and a .steam laundry. They have sent into the market in one day over one thousand bushels of peaches. They have three brass bands and two orchestras, and have already established a zoological garden containing a large number of birds and animals from Africa and South Amer ica. • The buildings are lighted with electricity furnished by an electric plant owned, and operated by the association. The people have the reputation of being thrifty farmers and keep their grounds at tractive. The future of this ass9ciation may be looked upon with some curiosity and in- 16 terest, as this is the first, purely communistic organization established in Berrien county.- The writer of this sketch regrets that ai this time he is unable to furnish any statement- of the religious tenets taught by this asso ciation. The supervisors of Benton Harbor have been as follows: Wm. Randall 1893 John Seel . 1893 I. W. Dow 1894 B. R. Stearns 1894-1895 O. A. Hipp 1895-1898 Luther Hemingway 1896- 1898 E. L. Rouse 1897 S. M. Austin 1898 C. Rooms 1899 H. D. Poole 1899-1901 Jas. Talmage 1899-1900 W. Deaner 1900 H. B. Volheim 1901 M. V. Buchanan 1901-1902. S. H. Kelly 1902 John Clark 1902 S. M. Austin 1902 C. A. Jerrue 1903 L. Hemingway 1903-1904 W. H. Quilliams 1 903- 1 904 C. K. Farmer 1904 S. M. Austin 1904 Louis Jerrue 1905 S. S. Daigneau 1905-1906 H. D. Poole 1905-1906 E. J. Stevens 1905 O. P. Hipp 1906 J. E. Barnes 1906 The following is a complete list of the names of the supervisors of Benton town ship. No township officers were elected till 1 841. Ephraim P. Mann 1841 Phineas Pearl 1842-1846 Jehiel Enos 1847-1850 Lewis W. Pearl 1851-1853 Jehiel Enos 1854 Lewis W. Pearl 1855-1856 Alex. B. Leeds 1857-1858 ^42 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Lewis W. Pearl 1859-1861 Jehiel Enos 1862 Samuel McGuigan 1863-1864 J. H. Hoag 1865-1868 Samuel Jackson 1869- 1870 W. L. George 1871-1874 JS. L Van Camp 1875-1878 W. L. George 1879-1880 Chas. A. Spencer 1881 John C. Lawrence 1882-1890 Sanders L. Van Camp 1891-1896 Henry A. Rackliffe 1897- 1899 John C. Lawrence 1900-1901 Wm. A. Rose 1902 J. J. Jakway 1903-1906 The presidents and clerks of the village ¦of Benton Harbor have been as follows : Presidents. ¦Samuel McGuigan 1866- 1867 Jos. Riford 1868-1870 J. C. Ingham 1871 I. C. Abbott 1872 Sterne Bronson 1873 John Thomas 1874-1875 J. C. Ingham 1876-1877 J. W. Leslie 1878 OH. L Pitcher 1879 Clerks. IN. Babcock 1866-1867 31. S. Harris 1868-1869 .A. B. Riford 1870 H. H. Kidd 1871 .Alonzo Plummer 1872 E. D. Cooke 1873-1875 51. L. Pitcher 1876-1878 G. M. Valentine 1879 The mayors and city clerks have been as ¦follows : I Mayors. Tred A. Hobbs 1891 B. R. Stearns 1892 Alonzo Plummer 1893 Osgood Fifield 1894-1895 John Bell 1896-1897 Edward Brant 1898 A. H. Rowe 1899 H. A. Foeltzer 1900-1901 I. W. Conkey 1902 R. B. Gillette 1 903-1905 Monroe Morrow 1906 Clerks. S. C. Sharpe 1891 J. A. Crawford 1892-1895 Henry Rowe 1896 R. P. Chaddock 1897-1901 W. J. Banyon 1902-1906 postmasters. The following named persons have been postmasters : Henry C. Morton 1866-1873 J. P. Thresher 1873-1877 A. B. Riford 1877-1884 Hattie B. Riford (wife of A. B.) 1884-1889 L. M. Ward 1889-1893 R. I. Jarvis 1893-1896 Edgar Nichols 1896-1897 H. R. Huntington 1897-1901 John T. Owen 1901 (to present time.) The names of the present physicians of Benton Harbor, are as follows : F. R. Belknap, W. C. Bastar, J. C. Bostwick, F. E. Brady, G. M. Bell, C. B. Chapin, Lelia S. French, N. A. Herring, H. C. Hill, F. M. Kerry, C. M. Ryno, W. R. Ryno, C. N. Sowers, R. B. Tabor, E. R. Taylor, H. V. Tutton, B. G. Watson. The attorneys of Benton Harbor are : Geo. W. Bridgman, City Attorney, William H. Andrews, A. P. Cady, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 243 F. H. Ellsworth, Probate Judge, V. M. Gore, President Board of Educa tion, H. S. Gray, F. L. Hammond, W. P. Harvey, W. C. Hicks, N. G. Kennedy, S. H. Kelley, Alonzo Plummer Harry A. Plummer, I. W. Riford, M. A. Seitz, C. C. Commissioner, H. L. Southworth, J. J. Sterling, G. M. Valentine, A. Weldon, Justice of the Peace, H. S. Whitney, Justice of the Peace. CHAPTER XVII BAINBRIDGE. The township of Bainbridge is bounded on the north by Watervliet, on the east by Cass county, on the south by Pipestone and on the west by Benton. It is six miles square and contains thirty-six sections of land. Two streams of emigration mainly fur nished the early settlement and development of this township. The first were settlers from New York and mainly from two coun ties, Jefferson and Livingston. The second was the German settlement commencing about 1840 and occupying mainly the northern portion of the township. These German settlers who are living, and their descendants, constitute nearly one-half of the present population. This was the earliest German settlement in the county and prob ably the earliest in this state. The first actual settlement, however, was made by Canadian Frenchmen. Bartholomew Sharrai with his wife, five sons, Peter, Luke, Tenos, Louis, and Bar tholomew, Jr., and three daughters, Louisa, Catherine and Mary, came from Canada about 1833 and located in section eight. The men spent a portion of the time in culti vating their lands and a portion of it boat ing on the St. Joseph river. A log shanty was soon afterwards built near the Sharrai place by one Ruleau, another Canadian, who stocked it with whiskey and called it a tavern. A grandson of Bartholomew Sharrai, Sr., John W. Sharrai, is the present owner of the "Ox Bow farm" in Sodus township. J. H. Enos and his two brothers, Ros well and Joseph, came to Bainbridge in 1836 and J. H. bought the Ruleau place and put up a saw mill at Millburg. His brothers worked awhile for him but shortly left the township, Joseph moving into Benton and Roswell into St. Joseph. In 1835 the territorial road from De troit to St. Joseph was constructed through. Bainbridge. Enos kept a tavern on the ter ritorial road, where daily stages between Detroit and St. Joseph halted. Mr. Enos was the first postmaster in the township and held important positions in the township for the next fourteen years. In 1850 he moved to Benton township. In 1835 Martin Tice, in company with a man named Griffin, came from the east by water to Detroit and by foot from Detroit to Berrien county. Tice located in section seventeen in Bainbridge on the line of the territorial road which he was engaged in con structing. About the same time John P. Davis built a tavern opposite Tice's house. The travel carried on by the daily stages at that time was large and furnished considerable business for these pioneer taverns. Davis lived but a short time and the tavern passed successively to Ezra C. King, C. C. Sutton, S. R. Gilson and A. R. Pinney. In 1841 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 245 this tavern was replaced by a large and con venient frame building. It is reported that frequently one hundred people took break fast at this tavern in the height of the busi ness season. Before 1835 the firm of Smith arid Mer rick of' the state of New York, who were extensive land' owners in New York and Michigan,. had purchased' large tracts of land in Bainbridge township. In 1836 a com pany of seventeen men who- were engaged in clearing- tirfltJer land in Niagara county, New York, for that firm, were induced to go to Bainbridge and assist in clearing the lands owned' by Smith and' Merrick. They walked from Detroit to Bainbridge, where Dr. N. B. Moffatt, who had been sent on in advance to look after the interests of the firm, took charge of them and established them in some log houses which he had al ready built for their accommodation. Among these men were Joseph Matrau and George Wilder. A large amount of clearing was done by them in the northen part of the township. About the same time Stillman Wood, Stephen R. Shephard and James Wilder also engaged in clearing for Smith & Merrick. Most of the men, when the clearing had been finished, left for other western points, but Wood, Wilder and Shephard located upon lands they had assisted in clearing. Matrau, after an absence of two or three years, returned in 1839 and settled in section twenty-eight. In 1850 he removed to section fourteen. His son, Edward N., still owns the farm located by his father, although he has recently moved to Watervliet. The latter was supervisor of the township for six years. In 1836, Samuel McKeyes from New York, came to Berrien county, and pur chased sixteen tracts of land each containing eighty acres, or in all twelve hundred and eighty acres. Six of these tracts were in Bainbridge and upon one of these he located. Mr. McKeyes became the second supervisor of the township, in 1838, was a justice of the peace for several years and was generally known as "Squire McKeyes." In 1838, Jabez Knapp from Jefferson county, New York, a ship carpenter by trade, located in the township. For a number of years, how ever, he followed his trade at St. Joseph, leaving his sons- to manage the farm. In 1837 Levi Woodruff' from Broome county, New York, located in section ten. Levi Woodruff was supervisor in 1840, and died in 1862: A son of Levi, Newton Wood ruff, located near his- father at the same time. Newton Woodruff was supervisor of the township" in 1848^185,1-1872, and a member of- the house of representatives in the State Legislature in 1865. He lived upon his farm in Bainbridge till his death in 1880. His son, A. N. Woodruff, was a member of the Legislature in 1865, superintendent of the State Public School at Coldwater, and has- been chairman of the Republican county committee for many years. He is now en gaged in real estate and insurance business at Watervliet. Another son of Levi, Henry Woodruff, first located in Bainbridge but subsequently located in Watervliet and died in 1895. His son, Fred A. Woodruff, was county clerk from 1893 to 1897, and is now holding bis third term as postmaster at St. Joseph. Rev. Simeon Woodruff, a brother of Levi, and a Presbyterian minister, moved to Bainbridge shortly after the settlement of his brother. He organized a Congregational Church, which was,, however, shortly after merged with the Congregational Church of Coloma. The Congregational Church at Bain bridge was. one of the earliest churches es tablished in the northern part of Berrien county. Simeon shortly after returned to the east. Another son of Levi, Asaph, lived on Bainbridge till 1888 when he removed to Benton. Wallace Tabor came from Jefferson 246. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY cpunty, New -York, in 1831. He remained but a short time and went. to Chicago, where he was engaged as a brick mason. . In 1833 he returned to Bainbridge where he located and lived till his death. He married a daugh- ' ter of Samuel McKeyes. His son, Ernest Tabor, is the proprietor of a popular sum mer resort in Sodus township, on the. banks- of the St. Joseph river, which he established in 1891. . It is- the present terminus of the Interurban road leading south from Benton Harbor. Two other sons, Horace and Carle ton, are prominent farmers, in. Sodus and Pipestone. Among prominent settlers whc came somewhat later were Thomas J. West, Dex ter O. Dix, Kayus Haid, W. L. George. Mr. West was supervisor of the township in 1869 and a representative to the State Legislature. He was a good speaker, and a' man. of culture and ability.. Dexter O. Dix came from New York, was supervisor at different times and a jus tice of the peace for many years. Hon. Roscoe D. Dix of Berrien Springs is a son. W. L. George came with his parents to St. Joseph from New York, in 1841. When quite young he engaged in service on the lakes and was finally promoted to the posi tion of captain of the Miami, which plied be tween Chicago, St. Joseph and Muskegon. He went to California in 1849. Returning he settled in Bainbridge and was supervisor in 1852. In 1867 he removed to Benton township and subsequently to Benton Har bor where he engaged in the boot and shoe business. He was a supervisor of the town ship for six years, and deputy oil inspector of this district for several years. He was a man of ability and a leader in the Repub lican party of the county. The southwestern portion of Bainbridge is known as Penn Yann. In 1836, Simeon Brant, a native of Massachusetts, came to Bainbridge with his wife and eleven children. His son, Nathan iel Brant, then -twenty-one years of age, set-, tied in Pipestone township in 1838. He also' had eleven children. The descendants of, Simeon Brant, now living in Bainbridge and" neighboring townships are very numerous/ _..,, Brant ..was followed -by Francis . Johnson, Jpseph, Griffin, and Ethamaf Adams. In 1839 Daniel. Sutherland settled, on sections." thirty-three .and thirty-four. _. In 1,844 a large colony came from Jef ferson county, New York,, including, Joseph.'. and Albert Vincent, and their families,. Henry Vincent, the Boyers, Spencers, Har rises,. Bishops,, and Spinks, and some others, making in all eighteen families, which set tled in the southwestern portions of Bain bridge. , , Numerous descendants of these families are now residing in Bainbridge and other parts of the county, several of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Most of these pioneers had large fami lies, and this colony added materially to the population. Asa Bishop and wife had a family of eleven children. A son, J. K. Bishop, who lived to be seventy-nine years old and was a prominent citizen of the township, died recently. Of the Vincents, Joseph and Albert came in 1844, and two other brothers, Horace and John, came shortly after. Alonzo Vincent, a proprietor of the Whitcomb Hotel at St. Joseph, and warden of the State Penitentiary for several years, is a son of Albert Vincent. It is to be remarked that when the first settlers arrived, a considerable portion of Bainbridge consisted of "oak openings;" the trees grew large, at considerable distance from each other. The settlers at once gir dled the trees, ploughed and cultivated the land and raised a crop of grain the first season. The fruit industry has of late years ma terially increased. Most of the farmers HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 247- have peach orchards, ranging from five acres to twenty acres. Small- fruits and ber ries are raised in abundance. In 1836, David Byers and wife and John Byers, a nephew, from Livingston county, New York, located in Bainbridge township. Mr. Byers purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the northeastern part of the town ship. David Byers is claimed to have in troduced the peach industry into Berrien county. In 1840, he went to New York and brought back with him one hundred peach trees, a portion of which he gave to John. In 1843 the trees yielded their first fruit and the product, amounting to forty bushels, was sold at St. Joseph to the steward of Captain Ward's steamer for one hundred dollars. John Byers was subsequently sup ervisor of the township. In 1 84 1, the German immigration into the township commenced. It was the earliest German settlement in the county and formed the nucleus of a large German colony. It is estimated that one half of the residents of Bainbridge are of German ancestry. Most of them at first settled in the northern part of the township. This German settlement was founded in 1841 by eight Germans and their families who had emigrated from the Fatherland in 1840 and first settled, in Cin cinnati. Their names were Michael Humph rey, Peter Humphrey, Jacob Krieger, Dan iel Krieger, Peter Schmitberger, Christian Heffner, Jacob Kniebes and Peter, his son. They were attracted by the advertisement of Smith & Merrick, the great land owners. They traveled from Cincinnati by teams. The Humphreys located shortly after in Watervliet, but the remainder purchased lands of Smith & Merrick in Bainbridge. In 1847, these settlers were joined by another colony which came direct from Ger many. The names of these colonists were Adam Hofer, Andrew Kaunzman, William Dukesherer, Charles Knoff, Christopher Reichebach and Michael Humphrey. These persons and their families made the trip from Buffalo ¦ to St. Joseph in the steamer' "Phoenix." Within a year, followed David Scherer, Jacob Herman, Adam Pole, Daniel and Lawrence Koob, David Friday, Michael Christ, Nicholas Kebler, Adam Schrumer and others. Shortly after came the Webers, Haids, Aundts, Buhlingers, Denners and others.. During a period of five or six years, the German emigration was. large and it will be impracticable to give all the names of these settlers. Many of these Germans or their de scendants, became prominent in the town ship. Kayus Haid was a large land owner and supervisor in 1867 and 1868. Nearly all of the present residents of German an cestry were born* in the township and are distinctively American, in language and' habits. Churches. The first church organized in the town ship was the Methodist Episcopal, estab lished in 1846. Services were first held at the red school house at Spink's Corners. The Protestant Methodist Church was- organized in 1865 and held services also- at the red school. A Baptist Church was organized in 1869. These three denominations joined in- erecting a Union Church edifice at Spink's- Corners in 1869, each denomination holding services at different times. The Christians formed an organization at an early day but did not erect a building till 1869, when a large and commodious building was built in the western part of the township. The church became prosperous. Four churches were established by the Germans. The Lutherans built a church edifice in 1851, the Catholics in i860, the Evangelical Ecclesiastical in 1856, and the German Baptist in 1871, The first township election was held in "248 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY OApril, 1837, when J. B. Ransoffiirwas elected 'supervisor and J. H. Enos, clerk. Supervisors of the township have, been chosen as follows: J. B. Ransom 1837 Samuel McKeyes 1838-1839 Levi Woodruff 1840 Adam Proutz 1841' Israel Kellogg 1842 Jas. H. Enos 1843 Israel F. Lyman 1844 W. L. George 1845- I. F. Lyman 1846 W. L. George 1847 Newton R. Woodruff 1848 A. F. Stiles 1,849 Samuel McKeyes 1850 ' N. R. Woodruff 1851 W. L. George 1852-1853 D: O. Dix 1854 W. L. George 1855-1856 Chas. Kent 1857 W. L. George 1858-1859 Chas. C. Kent i860 D. O. Dix 1861 W. L. George 1862 Chas. C. Kent 1863 N. B. Harrington 1864-1865 John Byers 1866 Ka-yus Haid 1867-1868 Thos. J. West 1869-1870-1871 N. R. Woodruff 1872: Chas. C. Kent 1873 Juan M. Guy 1874-1875 Chas.- C. Kent 1876- 1877- 1878- 1879 J. M. Guy 1880-1882 A. N. Woodruff 1883-1884 G. F. Stewart 1885-1896 E. N. Matrau 1897-1902 H. E. Olds 1903-1906 CHAPTER XVIII PIPESTONE. This is a full township containing thirty- six sections and is perfectly square in form. It is bounded on the north by Bainbridge, on the east by Cass county, on the south by Berrien and on the west by Sodus. About one-tenth of the township was originally covered with swamps, the eastern portion containing a large one called the "Big Meadow," covering nearly one thou sand acres. These swamps have been mostly drained and the land reclaimed and made productive. The township in its native state was mostly covered with heavy forests of thick timber, the soil being generally a clay loam very rich and productive. It seems to be equally adapted for the production of grain or fruit. The theory that the lake shore alone is adapted for the culture of fruit, seems to be disproved by the history of this township in recent years, as it has lately produced large yields of apples and peaches and is rapidly taking a front rank in the cultivation of these fruits. Large orchards have been set out within the past ten years with remarkable success. The first settler in the township was James Kirk, a native of Virginia. His brother William Kirk was the second settler in the county, having moved to Carey (Niles) from Virginia in 1824. • Actuated by the reports of his brother as to the prospects of the new country, James Kirk emigrated from Virginia to Niles with his family in 1833. Here he settled and lived for four years. In April, 1837, with his family he moved into Pipestone in a lum ber wagon, drawn by oxen. He located in section twenty about one mile northeast of Hartman. The family at this time consisted of a wife and seven children. Their first habitation was a cloth tent, remote from any sign of civilization by many miles. The next structure was a pole shanty, followed subse quently by a comfortable log cabin. A daughter, Mary Ellen, born in 1837, was the first white child born in the town ship. She afterwards married William Pen- land of Royalton. A son of James A. Kirk, James A. Kirk, is now living in Pipestone township and was born at Niles in 1835. He has lived continuously in the township of Pipestone for seventy-one years. The*next settler was Dr. Morgan Enos, who moved from Bainbridge township in the fall of 1837 and settled on sections eighteen and nineteen. This point was long known as "Shanghai Corners" and was so named as is claimed, because Dr. Enos was the first person to import Shanghai chickens into the township in the "Shanghai fever" days. Dr. Enos was the only phy sician in the region of his settlement for many years and acquired an extensive prac tice. He died in 1868. He was supervisor for two terms. 2 SO HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY The third settler was Robert' Ferry, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1835 and located at Niles in 1836. In 1837 he settled in section twenty-seven, where he lived alone, being a bachelor till 1839, when he married Joanna, a daughter of Jacob Ridenour, a pioneer of Cass county. Mr. Ferry accumulated a large property, owning at the time of his death in 1876, ten hundred and forty acres, mostly of valu able lands. The following named children are now living in Pipestone : Robert, William and Thomas. Each of these sons own large and valuable farms in the township. Another son, Joseph, who married Fredericka, a daughter of Hon. N. V. Lovell, died three years since, owning a large farm in section twenty-seven. Another son, John, is living at Charlotte, Michigan. During the latter part of the same year (1837) the following named persons set tled in the township: Nathaniel Brant, Crawford Hazard, Elijah Pratt, William Boughton, Stephen Smith, and Loren Marsh. The first wedding in the township was that of Brant who married Martha Hazard, a daughter of Crawford Hazard, in 1840, the wedding ceremony being performed by David S. Rector, a justice of the peace of Sodus. The first death in the township was that of Loren Marsh, who died shortly after his settlement. In 1838, David Puterbaugh removed from Berrien township to Pipestone. Dur ing the summer for many years, he boated on the St. Joseph river, leaving his farm in charge of his brother Abram. In the same year Joab Enos, a brother of Dr. Enos, moved into the township. Shortly after his settlement, he and William Boughton laid out a village called Pipestone, subsequently known as "Shanghai." Only a few lots were sold, but a postoffice was established in 1846, and later a store was opened by John Garrow. About the same time Dr. Enos put up a sawmill at the vil lage. One of the most prominent and well known early settlers of the township was James F. Haskins. He was a native of New York but re moved to Peoria county, Illinois, in 1843. In 1844 he removed to Pipestone township and cleared a large tract of heavy timbered land. In 1877 he settled at Shanghai Cor ners, where he continued to live till his death in 1894. He was a very positive, original and energetic character, was originally a Democrat, subsequently an active Republi can and for some years before his death a Prohibitionist. He was supervisor of the township for eight terms and was chairman of the board of supervisors for several terms. He was a justice of the peace for over thirty- five years, continuously. He was a popu lar administrator of estates and handled them with sagacity and scrupulous honesty. The following children are now living in Berrien county : Mrs. Eliza Chase of Ben ton Harbor, Mrs. C. D. Jennings of St. Jo seph, C. W. Haskins of Pipestone, and A. W. Haskins of Oronoko. Both boys served in the Civil war, C. H. being wounded at Port Hudson. Another prominent character of the township and county was William Smyth Farmer, a native of New York. He was engaged in a general mercantile, grain and lumber business in his native state, before removing to Michigan. In 1848 he settled near the site of the present village of Eau Claire, which he helped to organize. He settled in the midst of a dense forest and acquired in a few years over sixteen hun dred acres, of which one thousand acres he cleared and put into cultivation. In 1864 he was a supervisor of his township and in 1867 was elected a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He was orig inally a Whig, but became an active Repub lican on the organization of that party. He HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 251 was an active member of the Methodist purposes to different kinds of fruit. The Church and a leading man in establishing company owns nearly one thousand acres, a and improving the Crystal Springs camp portion of which is used for nursery pur- grounds near Sumnerville. poses. The orchard proper contains about The first sawmill in the township appears thirty thousand peach trees, ten thousand to have been built by Joab and Morgan Enos plum trees, eight thousand pear trees, five on Pipestone creek, near Pipestone village, thousand cherry trees and five thousand The first grist mill was erected in 1847 by apple trees. This orchard is elsewhere re- B. A. Pemberton, on lands now occupied --by -, ferred to in- the chapter on fruit culture, and the West Michigan nurseries. is owned by the West Michigan Nurseries. A better one was shortly after erected ' The following named persons have been at Shanghai Corners by two Enos brothers- supervisors of the township of Pipestone at and R. L. Webster. the dates designated. The first school in the township was —~- _ taught by one George Lundy, a teacher who i' ,' -~ Jt~~ J1 ,- f ¦ J , ,T & „ . J' ... j , Joab Enos 1849-1851 had come from New York. The children of. JJosiah Hawes ** James Kirk and Robert Ferry attended this jr Farley 18;^? sch°o1- S, D. Trowbridge '. . '. '. '. '. '. .' .'".' .' .' . 1854 The first church organized in the town- Morgan Enos 1855 ship was Methodist. It originated in re- R. E. Hull 1856 ligious services held at the home of James D. Ely J857 Kirk in 1837, by Rev. T. P. McCoole. Morgan Enos 1858 Services were held there once in about four C. E. Straight I859 weeks, for ten years. A class was not or- "¦• J- Tuttle i860 ganized, however, till 1847, when religious J* Walter isoi services were held- at the Shanghai school ' „ -d*161^'*. o^ house. In 1867 the society built an excel- ^J 0 ^ tRfi/t lent structure near the village. Q / Scrackengast ".'.'.'. '.'.'.'.'. '.'. '. 1865 A public hall, costing twelve hundred q g Boughton 1867 dollars, was built in the southern part of the t -p. Haskins 1868- 1873 township in 1877, which has been used for J. H. Conkling 1874- 1875 religious services "by various denomina- J.H.Matthews 1876-1877 tions. Miles Davis 1878-1879 The village of Eau Claire was incorpor- Philip Dewitt 1880 ated in 1891 and at the last census contained J. H. Haskins 1 881-1882 a population of three hundred and eighteen. Miles Davis 1883-1884 It is situated in two townships, Berrien and Anson Lewis 1885- 1888 Pipestone. The main business street run- Milton Preston 1889- 1890 ning east and west is the boundary line be- £. K. Farmer 1891 tween the two townships. C^W Haskins J&SI&S The largest orchard in the county is lo- R clar£S _mS_ ;;;;;;;;;";; .l89Vi899 cated in this township. It consists of over R_ R Hess _ ; 1900-1906 five hundred acres set out for fruit bearing (present incumbent.) CHAPTER XIX WEESAW. The township of Weesaw is bounded on the north by Lake, on the east by Buchanan, on the south by Galien and on the west by Three Oaks and Chikaming. It was or ganized in 1837. A large portion of the township was originally thickly timbered with heavy growth of beech, maple, ash, basswood, whitewood and black walnut. The whitewood was abundant and of fine qual ity. A large amount of black walnut also grew in some portions of the township. The soil is generally rich and productive. A portion of the township was originally low and marshy but most of this has been re claimed by an extensive system of drainage, and put into cultivation. Some- portions are of sandy loam, but the soil is well adapted for the production of grain or fruit. It is well watered by the Galien river and its va rious branches and tributaries, coursing through nearly every part of the township. Saw mills were established on these streams at an early date and before any considerable settlements were made. No permanent settlements were made till about 1836. The first settlers were Phineas Stratton, Joseph G. Ames, Timothy Atkins, Solomon, Hiram and William Gould, Ezra Stoner, Samuel Garwood, Charles Mc Cracken, Sidney S. Ford and Alanson and John Pidge. Mr. Stratton appears to have been the first person who went to farming. He was a native of New York and located in sec tion seven in 1836. Most of the earliest settlers did not live on farms at first, but worked at the mills lo cated at New Troy and lived near them. About the year 1836, Solomon and Hiram Gould purchased a piece of land and built a saw mill on the present site of the village of New Troy. This was the first mill built in the township. This was known as the North mill. During the same year Nelson Willard, Joseph G. Ames and Ezra Stone purchased an undivided half of the v land and water power owned by the Goulds and built on the other side of the river a mill which was called the "South Mill." • Mr. Ames became a prominent man in the county. He had emigrated from New Hampshire to New Buffalo in 1.836, from whence he moved to New Troy. He was elected a commissioner of roads in 1837, and supervisor of Weesaw in 1839. He retired from the mill business in 1839 or 1840. Further reference is made to him in con nection with the history of New Buffalo. Ezra Stoner was the first township clerk in 1837, but remained in the township but a short time. The village of New Troy was platted in 1837. The lots were divided between the Goulds, Willards, Stoner and Ames, the mill property being owned in common, al though each party retained its own site. The HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 253 mill property was soon abandoned, the own ers shortly after the erection of the mill re moving to other parts. This property after wards came into the possession of Luman Northrup and Francis Finnegan. A long series of litigation ensued over the title to the property, which continued till the final purchase by Ambrose and Thomas Morley, who erected a new mill in 1853 on the site of the Gould mill. Luman Northrup was a prominent and eccentric character of the early days. He came from Hamburg, New York, to New Buffalo in 1836. He was a man of great natural shrewdness and mental ability and successfully practiced law before justices of the peace, although never admitted to the bar, and having little education. He died about 1868. Francis Finnegan was also a well known "pettifogger" a name given to persons who practiced before justices of the peace, and who were not admitted to the bar. At an early date he removed to the northern part of the county. Charles McCracken, already referred to, settled in New Troy about 1836 and was town clerk in 1844. Some years afterward he disappeared from New Troy mysteriously and has never since been heard from. His wife is now living at Galien in this county in her eighty-eighth year. A son, Charles McCracken, now resides in the northern part of Buchanan township, and was born in New Troy. William W. McCracken, late county treasurer, and now deputy clerk of Berrien county, is a son of Charles McCracken. In 1840, Pitt J. Pierce, a native of New York, settled in Weesaw township and com menced clearing a farm upon lands which are the present site of the village of New Troy. This farm appears to have been the first of importance in that portion of the township. Mr. Pierce acquired a valuable farm of 320 acres and also engaged in lum bering. He died a few years since at an advanced age. His son, George Pierce, was a supervisor for many years. Another son, Arnold, was for many years a prominent merchant and for a time in partnership with his brother George, in the mercantile busi ness. A brother of Pitt Pierce, William, lo cated in the township about the same time and became a prominent farmer and also conveyancer and advocate in justices' courts. Alpheus Hill, a native of Connecticut, located first in New Troy in 1840, remov ing in 1846 to Hill's Corners, a hamlet near the present site of Glendora. Mr. Hill made the first clearing at Hill's Corners. His son Edward carried on the first store at New Troy and soon after kept a tavern. A post- office was started in 1854 at Hill's Corners with William S. Pierce as postmaster. This was abandoned many years ago. Among the pioneers who settled near Hill's Corners shortly after 1840 were Will iam Strong, Henry Searles, Samuel Wash burn, Hiram Wells, and George Brong. AH of these were farmers except Brong, who carried on a blacksmith shop. In 1840, Matthew M. Paddock of New York, located two hundred acres in section thirty-four and built a house upon it. Ephriam Murdock also settled in section thirty-four in 1842. Robert Eaton, subse quently a county surveyor, shortly after settled in section thirty-five. The lands in the township were mostly owned by non resident* till about the year 1848. At about that date lands began to be sold largely to actual settlers, and the population began to increase rapidly. Among those who came about this time, were two brothers, Comfort and Union Pen nell, who emigrated from New York and settled in Weesaw in 1849, m the north western part of the township. B. F. Pennell was supervisor of the town ship from 1850 to 1858, with the exception of the year 1853, and treasurer of the county from i860 to 1868. He subsequently pur- 254 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY chased a large farm known as the "Shaker Farm" near Berrien Springs, where he died several years ago. Union Pennell was for many years treas urer of Weesaw township and also a justice of the peace. Ambrose Morley and Thomas Morley, natives of New York, came to New Troy in 1852. They established a new saw mill in 1853 on the site of the old Gould mill. Ambrose also erected other saw mills in the township and in 1868 a grist mill at New Troy. In 1891 the grist mill was remodelled by his son, F. H. Morley, and became a roller mill, which has had an extensive busi ness. Somewhat later, Alonzo Sherwood pur chased two hundred and forty acres in Wee saw and also two hundred and forty acres in Lake township. This farm was called the Oak Grove farm. On this farm he established a saw mill and from this mill a horse rail road was built to Brown's station on the line of the Chicago & West Michigan Rail road, and continued from thence to Brown's Pier on the lake. For several years a large lumbering business was carried on at this point. Mr. Sherwood was a son of Seth Sher wood, who settled in Niles township in 1834, and was one of the earliest pioneers of the county. Alonzo was supervisor of Weesaw township for two terms and a member of the legislature from 1879 to 1881. Several years since, he moved to Ne braska where he is now living. Early Churches. The first church organized in the town ship appears to have been the Baptist. This was organized in 1845. A church edifice was built in 1854. The membership of the original church was made up of a large number of prominent families of the neigh borhood, and from townships adjoining. A Methodist Episcopal class was formed at an early day at New Troy and Rev. Wil liam Morley of Portage Prairie, preached occasionally at that point as .early as 1840. No regular organization was effected, how ever, till some years later and a church edi fice was not built till 1863. The following persons have been super visors of Weesaw township at the dates des ignated : Jos. G. Ames 1839 Jas. Edson 1841 W. H. Gould 1842 Wm. Burns 1843 W. H. Gould 1844-1848 B. M. Lyon 1849 B. F. Pennell 1850-1852 S. M. Washburn 1853 Benj. F. Pennell 1854-1858 T. A. Haskins 1859 Benj. F. Pennell i860 Jas. M. Price 1861 C. L. A. Hawkins 1862 Union Pennell 1863 Jas. M. Price 1864 Levi Logan 1865-1866 E. P. Morley 1867-1868 Alonzo Sherwood 1869- 1870 B. C. Sandford 1871-1872 Geo. Pierce 1873 E. P. Morley 1874-1875 Geo. Pierce 1876-1878 J. F. Beckwith 1879 A. J. Norris 1880-1884 C. J. Smith 1885 Clayton Smith 1886 Peter Smith 1887 J. A. Babcock 1888 L. H. Kempton 1889-1892 C. H. Norris 1893-1894 L. H. Kempton 1895 Clayton Smith 1896-1897 J. A. Babcock 1898-1899 F. A. Norris 1900-1901 J. A. Penwell 1902-1906 (present incumbent.) CHAPTER XX LAKE TOWNSHIP. This township has the most area of any township in the county, with the exception of Niles, which is of about the same size. It contains about forty-two sections of land. It is bounded on the north by Lincoln and a small portion of Royalton, on the east by Oronoko, On the south by Weesaw and Chikaming and on the west by Lake Michi gan. Its southern boundary is over eight miles long. The character of the soil is diversified. Along the lake are high sand dunes and east of these is a plain of sandy lands, and ad joining this a belt of rich and fertile soil. Running through the township from the southwest to northeast was originally an immense swamp called the "Big Meadow," several miles wide in portions. This meadow practically divided the township in to two sections. It has been mostly drained and many of the most productive farms were originally a part of the "Big Meadow." That portion of the township which ad joins Oronoko was always dry and the soil was naturally rich and productive. The township in a state of nature was covered with extensive forests of valuable timber, and for many years buying or selling logs and lumber was the principal business of most of the inhabitants. That portion which lies west of the "Big Meadow" was settled very late, nearly all the early settlements for many years hav ing been made in the eastern portion of the township. As late as 1880 the township contained only five hundred and fifty people. About the year 1890, however, emigration began to pour in. In ten years the population was doubled and the prices of land more than doubled. Portions of the township are densely populated, and being rapidly divid ed up into small fruit farms. The popula tion is now nearly three thousand. The immigration lately has been largely German. Immense amounts of berries are produced, especially strawberries, in 'the culture of which Lake township leads all others. The township was a part of Oronoko till 1846. The first township election was held at the house of Benjamin Lemon in April, 1846, when only eighteen votes were polled. Bradley*M. Pennell was elected supervisor, Comfort Pennell, clerk, and Benjamin Lemon and Daniel Phillips, justices of the peace. The woods between the great meadow and the lake were formerly the favorite roaming grounds of numerous deer. David Smith, a famous hunter of the locality, is said to have killed over sixty deer in these woods during one winter. The township has two villages, neither of which is incorporated, Bridgman and Baroda. The former was laid out by I 256 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY George W. Bridgman in 1871 and the lat ter upon the construction of the "Vandalia" railroad which runs through Baroda. The first permanent settler so far as we can ascertain was John Harner, who set tled in section twenty-five near the Oronoko line about the year 1834. His children now living are Michael, John, Levi and Mrs. Joshua Feather. That portion of the township which lies west of the great meadow was not settled till much later than the portion which lies east. The first settler west of the meadow appears to have been William Daker, but at what date is not known. In 1836 or 1837, Godfrey Boyle located in Lake township. Mr. Boyle was a Ger man who had emigrated to this country in 1 83 1. In 1835 he bought a piece of land one mile north of Niles which he occupied. He shortly after moved to Lake township, where he bought a piece of land from the government. Later he removed to Oronoko township where he acquired a farm of two hundred acres upon which he lived till his death in 1862. Mr. Boyle had served in early life in the German army in the cam paigns against Napoleon. Thomas Phillips settled in the northeast part of the township in 1836 and lived upon this farm till his death in 1846. In 1837, Phillips sold the mill site on Hickory creek on his land to Peter Ruggles and Erastus Munger, who at once erected a saw mill. This was on section two. The mill afterwards passed to Ruggles and was known as the Ruggles' Mill. Peter Ruggles was supervisor in 1843. Henry Lemon, who married a daughter of Ruggles, settled in section three in 1839 on which he lived till his death in 1875. Benjamin Lemon settled in section twen ty-four in 1842. Edward Ballingee was one of the earliest settlers of Lake township and also one of the earliest settlers of Berrien county. He moved into the southeastern part of Lake township in 1845 and lived there till 1850 when he moved to New Buffalo and finally moved to Buchanan. Reference is made to him further in the chapter on Buchanan. Bradley M. Pennell settled on section twenty-four in 1843. He was the first super visor of the township elected in 1846. He subsequently removed to Buchanan. Com fort Pennell settled on section twelve in 1844, subsequently removing to Berrien. He was also a supervisor of Lake township. In 1836, John B. Nixon, a native of South Carolina, came with his son, John H. Nixon, a young man seventeen years old, to Michigan and remained about six months, when he returned home. In 1842 he brought his family with him and his son, John H. Nixon, located in Berrien Springs in 1852 where he resided till 1855, when he- moved to Lake township. He was supervisor in 1882, John B. Nixon, a son of John H., is the present supervisor of the township and has held the position three terms. In 1 84 1, Horace Godfrey, a native of Vermont, and one of the oldest settlers of Berrien county, settled in section twenty- five, near the Oronoko line, and lived there till his death. He had first settled in Niles township in 1829, coming on foot by an Indian trail from Detroit, and for two years ran the old log mill on Dowagiac creek, the site of the so-called "Yellow Mill," erected shortly aft erwards. In 1 83 1, he moved to Berrien Springs, where, in company with his uncle, Pitt Brown, and Frances Murdock, he laid out the original village of Berrien Springs. He died in 1879. Two children are now living, Mrs. Jacob B. Ullery, now residing at Niles, and Japhet Godfrey, of Riverside, California. The lat ter, prior to his removal to California, had lived many years at Buchanan where he car ried on the hardware business. A prominent man in the history of the township was George W. Bridgman, who HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 257 came from Massachusetts, in 1855, and lo cated at the present site of Bridgman in 1856. In the fall of that year he formed a part nership with Warren Howe and Charles F. Howe, called the "Charlotteville Lumber Company," which constructed a large steam saw mill at a cost of twenty thousand dol lars, a short distance'west of the present vil lage of Bridgman. This point was known as Charlotteville, and was distant from Lake Michigan about one mile. A railroad track was built from the mill to the lake, where it connected with a pier five hundred feet long. A railway was also constructed into the forest in different directions, making a track of about seven miles in length. The rolling stock consisted of an engine and thirty-three cars. The mill, improvements and rolling stock cost over sixty thousand dollars and the mill had a capacity of twenty-five thou sand feet per day and seventy men were em ployed in the business connected with the mill. Schooners conveyed the lumber manu factured from the pier to Chicago. An enormous business was done for a few years. In 1863 the mill was destroyed by fire. Two mills were built upon the site but both were burned down, the last in 1870. By 1863 the lumbering business, had declined on ac count of the cutting down of the best timber and mills subsequently built were of much less capacity. Saw mills were put up subse quently but the fire proved destructive, no less than four mills having been destroyed by fire between 1870 and 1878. The village of Charlotteville was the seat of considerable business for several years and was named after Charlotte, wife of one of the proprietors. Mr. Bridgman was active in securing the building of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad along the lake shore in 1869 and 1870 and in the latter year platted out a new village called Bridgman's, located a half mile east of Charlotteville. Mr. Bridgman died in 1895. George W. Bridgman, a prominent attorney of Benton Harbor, is a son of George Bridgman. A daughter, Mrs. Sarah E. Ackerman, now lives on the old homestead at Bridgman. Norman E. Landon was also a prominent man in the township. He was a native of Connecticut and settled in Lake township in 1858. His brother Rufus, of Niles, at that time owned most of the "Big Meadow." Norman was supervisor of his township for nineteen terms. His first term was in 1859 and his last term in 1892. Dr. John H. Royce was a prominent phy sician for many years and had an extensive practice. His widow is now living at New Troy. She was a teacher for many years. The village of Bridgman is the center of the strawberry business. The nurseries of A. L. Baldwin, Charles Whitten and F. L. Ackerman are devoted mainly to the pro duction of strawberry plants, which are shipped to all parts of the country, often a car load of these plants are shipped from this point in a day. The township of Lake produces more strawberries than any other township, and the erea Set out to this fruit has been rapidly increasing for several years. It is claimed by fruit men that the soil is especially adapted for raising choice strawberries. The first church in the township was Methodist and was organized in 1846 at a school house in the southeast part of the township. A church was subsequently es tablished at Bridgman's. In 1850 a United Brethren Church was organized in the eastern part of the township. The following is a list of supervisors of Lake township from the date of its organiza tion in 1846. Bradley M. Pennell 1846 Comfort Pennell 1847- 1848 Peter Ruggles 1849 Comfort Pennell 1850 Abner Sanders 1851-1853 E. P. Morley 1854 Marcus Hand 1855-1856 Bennett Heathman 1857 258 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Marcus Hand 1858 Norman E. Landon 1859-1860 E. P. Morley 1861-1862 B. M. Pennell 1863 E. P. Morley 1864 N. E. Landon 1865-1866 D. S. Evans 1867-1868 Franklin Weston 1869 Isaac Hatheway 1870-1872 N. E. Landon 1873-1874 Wm. Williams 1875-1876 N. E. Landon 1877 M. B. Hauser 1878 N. E. Landon 1879-1881 J. H. Nixon 1882 N. E. Landon 1883-1885 C. H. Whitcomb 1886 N. E. Landon 1887-1892 C. M. Smith 1893-1894 O. P. Miller 1895-1896 C. M. Smith 1896-1900 O. A. E. Baldwin 1901 C. M. Smith 1902 J. B. Nixon 1903 B. S. Bedortha 1904 J. B. Nixon 1905-1906 CHAPTER XXI THE EARLY HISTORY OF ROYALTON AND LINCOLN. The township of Royalton was organ ized in 1835. It then included territory now occupied by Royalton, Lincoln and Sodus. Sodus was annexed to Pipestone in 1842. Lincoln was not organized till 1868, when a portion was detached from Royalton. Royalton, as now constituted, is irregu lar in shape and contains about nineteen sec tions. The St. Joseph river separates it from Sodus, running for the most part. in a northwesterly direction. Royalton being on the left bank. It is bounded on the south by Oronoko and Lake, on the west by Lin coln and St. Joseph, on the north by St. Joseph and the river which separates it from Benton and Sodus. It practically borders on six different townships. Lincoln is bounded on the north by St. Joseph, on the east by Royalton, on the south by Lake and on the west by Lake Michigan. The soil is generally very rich and pro ductive. The Interurban which enters the township at Arden near the southeast corner and runs through the township in a north westerly course for about six miles, passes through fruit orchards and grape vineyards for nearly the whole distance on almost a level. The township is noted especially for its production of grapes, in which it stands next to St. Joseph and about equal to Ben ton. It also raises large quantities of straw berries, raspberries and blackberries. In proportion to its area, it probably raises as large a quantity of berries as any town ship. The first settler of Oronoko was the first settler of Royalton. This was John Pike, who was a native of North Carolina and who settled on Wolf's Prairie (Berrien Springs) in 1829. In 1832 he removed to Royalton where he located with his wife and six chil dren in the northwest corner of the present township. He subsequently acquired about two hundred and forty acres in the town ship, and subsequently removed to Iowa where he died in 1859 m his eighty-eighth year. His son William Pike, who came with his father, located when of age, in section seven, where he lived most of the time till his death. The next settler was Jehiel Enos, then a bachelor, who came to Michigan in 1829, and in ^832 located land adjoining that of John Pike. He removed to Benton town ship in 1834, where he became the first set tler, and one of the most prominent men in the early history of the county. He is re ferred to more specially in connection with the early settlement of Benton township. In 1835 Josephus Gard, a native of New York, who had removed to Ohio, however, in early life, located upon the Enos farm. Mr. Gard, on removing from Ohio, had first settled in Cass county in 1830, and the Gard family became prominent in the history of 260 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY both Berrien and Cass counties. Josephus Gard died many years ago. One son of Josephus, Jonathan, remained in Cass county. Another son, Joseph, moved to Berrien county in 1834 where he located one hundred and sixty acres near St. Jo seph. His first wife died shortly after his settlement and he subsequently married Laura Farley, the daughter of Amos Far ley, one of the first settlers of St. Joseph, he having located there in 1829. Joseph Gard conducted a tannery for a time, but was mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits. He was a man of ability and died in 1873. His wife died in 1878. Their only surviving child, John F. Gard, was supervisor of the township of St. Joseph for several terms and was elected county treasurer in 1900. He died in 1902, while in office. He was an expert book keeper and a man of financial sagacity. In 1 83 1, Theodore C. Abbe and his brother, A. G. Abbe, of Oswego, New York, settled in the township, coming with a widowed mother and one younger brother. They sailed from Oswego to Detroit, where they purchased an ox team and lumber wagon and drove to Niles. From this point A. G. drove the oxen to Royalton village, while the rest of the family sailed down the river in a pirogue or canoe. Theodore died about the year 1836. A. G. then became a boatman on the river and also worked at his trade as a carpenter till 1847, when he located upon a farm in Royalton. He was supervisor of his township two terms and treasurer three terms. Samuel Danforth in 1837, left Genessee county, New York, for Michigan, with two children in a wagon, but found the roads so bad that after proceeding some distance, abandoned the wagon and in company with his children walked to Niles, a distance of about one hundred miles. In 1836 he settled in Royalton and lived there till his death in 1858. In 1833 Clark Pennell built a log house on the St. Joseph and Niles road and car ried on a tavern. It was afterwards sup planted by a frame building and was known as the "Buckhorn Tavern," a famous hos telry of the pioneer days and a favorite rest ing place for travelers. About 1836 it passed into the hands of David M. Dunn, the first supervisor of the township, who was the proprietor for several years. The tavern was called the "Buckhorn" because the front was decorated with a pair of buck horns, placed there by W. H. Tryon, a famous deer hunter. In 1834, Rowland Tryon and his sons William H. and John, natives of Connecti cut, located in section twenty-nine. The father died in 1875 at the advanced age of ninety- four years. William became a promi nent fruit grower, for sometime carried on a general store, and held several township offices. He was noted as a skillful and suc cessful hunter. He once engaged in a hunt for forty days in which he killed thirty-seven deer, sixteen coons, six wild turkeys and col lected nine swarms of bees. In 1834, David Shearer, a native of North Carolina, emigrated from Ohio, where he had lived for some years, with his family consisting of a wife and thirteen chil dren, and located one hundred and sixty acres in section nineteen. His son Eli and A. J. Briney, who had accompanied the fam ily from Ohio, located lands adjoining. There were no settlers nearer than five miles distant. They journeyed from Ohio in four two-horse wagons. They went to mill to Prairie Ronde in Kalamazoo county, thirty- five miles distant. The following children of Eli Shearer are now living. Mrs. A. J. Penland, Mrs. Margaret Arnold, Daniel, and Mrs. Eliza beth Stevens. Two children of Jacob Shearer are now living. William H. Shearer and Mrs. Sarah Peters. William H- is now living on the farm purchased by his father of the govern ment in 1839. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 261 Five children of Andrew Shearer are liv ing, William A., Alexander, Charles, Mrs. Sarah Bradford and Mrs. Mary Newel. In 1834, David Ball settled in the town ship, but in 1839 sold out and removed to a foreign state. In 1835, A. J. Briney, William Milten- berger and William Baumgartner, all from Ohio, settled in the township. In 1839, Robert Hollywood purchased the farm of David Ball in section thirteen. Hollywood was an Irishman by birth and a linen bleacher by trade, but emigrating to this country in 1820, became a sailor. He first sailed on the lakes, and afterwards on the river St. Joseph, being captain for a time on the "Davy Crockett." After purchasing the Ball farm he lived on it till his death in 1 85 1. His son, Robert T., now lives upon a portion of the farm purchased by his father in 1839. Among the prominent settlers who came later may be mentioned James Carleton, John Bort, and George H. Scott. , All of them came to Michigan at an early date. Mr. Carleton was a native of Massachusetts and emigrated to Barry county, in this state, in 1840. In 1854 he located in Royalton township, where he lived till his death in 1872. He was supervisor of the township from i860 to 1864. A son, Albert H. Carle ton, living at • present in St. Joseph, was supervisor of Royalton township from 1877 to 1880. John Bort moved in 1844 from Herkimer county, New York, to Niles township, where he located with his wife. He remained here but a short time and purchased a farm in Lincoln township. This he sold and pur chased a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres in Royalton upon which he lived till his death. He was engaged extensively in raising fruit and was the first person to en gage largely in the culture of strawberries. His farm in Lincoln contained one hundred and forty-four acres. This he bought for twenty-two hundred dollars and sold in 1865 for twenty-two thousand dollars. He died in 1903 in his ninety- fourth year. He be longed to a long-lived family of thirteen children born to his parents, all but three of whom lived to be over ninety years old. Two of his children are now living in this county, Fayette M. and Harry G. both of Royalton. Harry G. is the present super visor of Royalton township. George H. Scott, a native of Vermont, came to St. Joseph in 1837, with a brother, Reuben. They engaged in various enter prises, conducting a hardware store, a grocery and a saw mill and at one time owned and operated two vessels on the lake. About the year i860 he purchased a farm in Royalton township where he lived for about twenty-five years. He died in 1896. A son, George M., lives in Royalton township and a daughter Emma is the wife of N. A. Hamilton, a prominent attorney of St. Jo seph. Mr. Scott was postmaster for some years at Royalton, and held various local offices. A considerable number of Germans set tled in the township at a later date. Among the most prominent of them was Henry Ashoff. He received a good education in that country which takes the lead in educa tional requirements, Prussia, of which he was a native. He came to America in 1853, to St. Joseph in 1854 and married a daugh ter of Joseph Gard in 1855. Mr. Gard gave him eighty acres in section twenty, to which Mr. Ash®ff made additions. He was super visor of his township for nine years and held various local offices. He was an active, honest and intelligent citizen and a promi nent leader in the Evangelical Association Church. He died many years since. An association has been formed in this township for the benefit of fruit growers called the "Scottdale Fruit Association" of which the following are the officers : Presi dent and manager, Fred Geisler; salesman, W. H. Shearer; secretary and treasurer, Arthur Carleton. 262 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY The electors of Royalton in the spring election of 1906, voted to appropriate thirty thousand dollars for the building of roads. Already several miles of macadamized road have been built. The township of Lincoln was a part of Royalton until the year 1867 and its early history is so mingled with that of Royalton that it is difficult to separate the early his tory of one from that of the other. Early settlers of Royalton had lands which were situate within the present limits of Lincoln, and often moved their residence from what is now Royalton to the latter. A brief state ment, however, of some of the earliest settle ments made within the present limits of Lin coln, will be made. The town of Lincoln is fractional, being about two and one-half miles wide on the south. It is bounded on the north by St. Joseph, on the east by Royalton, on the south by Lake and on the west by Lake Michigan. The eastern portion of the township ly ing on the borders of Royalton, is naturally rich and productive. Hickory creek runs across the township in a northerly direction, and the land west of this creek was naturally sterile and poor. Pine forests originally grew near the lake. This land, however, has been made remunerative by fruit culti vation. A considerable portion lying along Hickory creek was swampy but nearly all of it has been drained, reclaiming quite an area of land. The township is densely populated, be ing largely divided up into small holdings, and presenting almost the appearance of a continuous village, with fruit gardens in the rear of the residences. Of late years there has been a large influx of Germans and other foreign races. The land has been largely devoted to fruit raising especially of all kinds of berries for which the soil appears es pecially adapted. Peaches are also raised in abundance. In the western part of the township is a series of ponds or lagoons about a mile and a half long, connected with Lake Michigan, called the "Grand Marias" or great marsh. A remarkably early settlement was made in the extreme northern part of the town ship in 1827 by Major Timothy Smith. Major Smith had been a teacher in the Carey mission and leaving there in 1827 he sought a home in an unbroken wilderness, years be fore the government had opened any lands for sale, and before any survey had been made. He became a justice of the peace, and was supervisor of the township of Royalton from 1837 to 1843. He was verv corpulent and a practical joker. He was appointed light hou§e keeper in 1840 and lived in the county till 1853, when he removed to Cali fornia, where he died many years ago. William Huff settled near Major Smith in 1828, but shortly after moved into the village of Newburyport (St. Joseph), where he engaged in mercantile business and built a hotel. He was the first supervisor of St. Joseph township and held the office for three or four terms. He died in 1845. In 1835 or 1836, Major Smith, Hiram Brown and others laid out a village in the western part of the township, but the project was abandoned before any successful settle ment was made. No settlements were made after those of Major Smith and Mr. Huff for some years, and this part of the township was settled very slowly. The village of Stevensville was platted and laid out by Thomas Stevens, a prominent banker of Niles, who owned a large tract of land in the vicinity. An addi tion was made by A. D. Brown. The vil lage was incorporated in 1893, and has a population of two hundred and fifty. The first store in the village was carried on by William M. Smith. The first physician was Dr. J. N. Percell. The first church was the Methodist, which was established in 1847 by Gould Parish and others. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 263 Supervisors of Lincoln Township. The following named persons have been supervisors of the township at the dates designated. J. A. Parrish '. 1868 L. W. Archer 1869 A. D. Brown 1870-1879 A. O. French 1880 J. S. Beers 1886-1887 Alex. Haliday 1888-1895 W. J. Diemer 1896-1898 Alex. Haliday 1899-1904 Frank P. Cupp 1905-1906 The following is a list of the supervisors of Royalton township. David M. Drum 1835-1836 T. S. Smith 1837-1843 Samuel Fulton 1844-1845 John Witherell 1846-1847 Samuel Fulton 1848 Albert G. Abbe 1849 Samuel Fulton 1850 P. W. Webb 1851 Richard Brown 1852 Samuel Davis 1853 Wm. Stevens 1854 A. G. Abbe 1855 N. W. Thompson 1856-1859 Jas. Carleton 1860-1864 D. N. Brown 1865 O. D. Parsons 1866 Henry Ashoff 1867-1872 J. S. Beers 1873 Henry Ashoff 1874-1876 A. H. Carleton 1877-1880 Henry Ashoff 1881-1883 J. H. Slover 1884-1888 J. M. Miller 1889 E. L. Cromer 1890-1899 S. B. Miners 1900-1904 Harry Bort 1905-1906 CHAPTER XXII SODUS. The township of Sodus is irregular in form and contains only about twenty-one sections of land. It is bounded on the north by Benton, on the east by Pipestone and a small part of Berrien, on the south by the St. Joseph river, and on the west by the river and also for about a mile by Benton. The river separates it from Royalton and Or onoko. The land is generally rich and produc tive, and equally adapted for raising grains or fruit. The surface is generally level. Of late years fruit culture has been an import ant industry and- the production of apples and peaches has been very large. For many years the township was a part of Pipestone and it was not till 1859 that it was erected into a separate township. The first township election was held at the Rector school house in April, i860, at which R. S. Carpenter was elected supervisor, R. E. Hull, clerk, and James Trowbridge, treas urer. The first actual and permanent settlers were the Rectors, although two men by the name of Scott and Palmer had made a small clearing, but after a brief sojourn they moved away. In 1836 James B. Larue of St. Jo seph built a saw mill on Pipestone creek, but did not move into the township till 1841. , In 1835 William H. and David Rector, who resided in the town of Sodus, New York, came to St. Joseph and engaged in the business of boating on the river. They disliked the business, however, and before the end of the year returned to their native state. In the next spring they again came to Michigan, bringing their brother Hiram. Arriving at Buffalo, on their trip to Michi gan, in company with two other men, they took charge of a keel-boat called the "Niles" which was being towed to St. Joseph by a steamer. Shortly after leaving Buffalo a violent storm arose, during which the keel- boat broke loose from the steamer towing her and drifted helplessly for about one hun dred miles. When the storm subsided the the five men rowed the boat with their oars safely into port at Cleveland. Upon their arrival at St. Joseph, they went into boat ing again on the river. David, however, soon left this business and worked for Larue three years at the saw mill of the latter on Pipestone creek. In 1839 he located upon a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in section fourteen, which he had entered in i837- In 1836 the father, David Rector, came from Sodus, New York, with the rest of the family to St. Joseph. The next year he moved into the township and settled upon a tract adjoining that of his son, David. Here he lived till his death in 1862. Hiram lived with his father a few years, when he settled in section twenty-two. David Rector, Jr., married Sarah Tabor HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 265 in 1843. Mr. Rector was called upon to name the township at its organization and gave it the name of his native town in New York, Sodus. William H. Rector lived in St. Joseph till 1842, when he settled upon a farm near that of his father. He lived upon this farm till his death in 1878. His first purchase was a forty-acre tract in section fifteen from Charles Palmer, who traded it to Rector for a gun and an old horse. . Mr. Larue, who, as has been stated, built a sawmill on Pipestone creek as early as 1836, was then a lumber merchant in St. Joseph, to which place he had moved from New Jersey in 1835. He was the first super visor of Pipestone township (then includ ing Sodus), and held the office from 1842 to 1848. In 1850 he emigrated to Califor nia, where he died many years ago. The growth of the township after its first settlement was slow, owing to the fact that the land was nearly all owned -by specu lators who held it for a number of years at figures so high as to keep away many pur chasers. The population of both Pipestone and Sodus numbered only two hundred and seventy-seven in 1845, and it was not till after 1850 that any considerable number of settlers located in the township. In 1840 Joseph W. Brewer, who lived at St. Joseph, and was a steamboat captain on the river, settled in section sixteen. He lived here but a few years when he returned to St. Joseph. At about the same time Ebe nezer Farley settled in section sixteen, but spent most of his time boating on the river. He was a son of Amos Farley, who settled at St. Joseph in 1830 and removed to Oro noko township in 1833. He moved to Cali fornia in 1854. In 1841, James McDougall of New York and Francis Versaw, a French Cana dian, together purchased a farm of one hun dred and thirty acres on the St. Joseph river. McDougall subsequently moved to Ne braska. Versaw at an early date located at Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was an agent of the American Fur Company. In 1835 he moved to St. Joseph and followed the business of boating till his settlement in Sodus. A son of Francis Versaw, James, is now living on the farm located by his father. A brother of Francis, Luke, settled in Sodus in 1845. Among the pioneers who settled the township, between 1840 and 1845, were Peter Shook, S. H. Salpaugh, I. W. Chadwick, Abner Buckman, James F. Has kins, Hiram Ryther, George Keigley, John B. Rush, Wallace Tabor. Among the prominent settlers who came somewhat later were Jesse Hemingway, Luther Hemingway, the Ganos, F. F. King, R. M. Hogue, Josephus Fisher. Luther Hemingway was supervisor of the township in 1871, but subsequently moved to Benton Harbor where he is now living. He was county surveyor for many years. F. F. King was supervisor for ten terms and Josephus Fisher for twelve years. Two popular summer resorts on the river have been located in Sodus, one called the Sebago and the other Tabors. The Se- bago was established on a charming site in 1895 by J. J. Theiss. A commodious hotel was erected and subsequently a con siderable number of cottages were built. About two miles above Sebago is Ta bor's Resort, which is owned and conducted by Ernesf Tabor. This point has been for some weeks the southern terminus of the interurban railroad running south from Benton Harbor. It is now being extended to Eau Claire. Churches. The Christian Church was organized at the Mt. Pleasant church by Elder William Roe, of Buchanan, in 1867, and was a strong and vigorous church at the outset. The first elders were Josephus Fisher and C. T. Hogue. 266 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY The Sodus Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1858. Services were orig inally held at the Tabor school house. The United Brethren Church was organ ized at the Rector school house in 186 1. A church edifice was erected in 1869. Another Methodist church was organ ized in 1877. In 1855 a church was organized in the northern part of the township called the Church of God. This appears to have been the earliest religious organization in the township. In 187 1 it built an edifice, call ing it the Union Church. The following named persons have been supervisors of Sodus township at the dates mentioned : S. B. Carpenter i860 Josephus Fisher 1861-1868 Fred F. King 1869 Josephus Fisher 1870 Luther Hemingway 1871 F. F. King 1872-1875 R. M. Hogue 1876-1877 Orson Ingalsber 1878-1880 Josephus Fisher 1881-1882 F. F. King 1883 Josephus Fisher 1884 F. F. King 1885-1886 C. C. Bell 1893 R. M. Hogue 1892 C. C. Bell 0 .1887-1891 F. F. King 1894-1895 C. M. King 1896-1900 Jos. Miller 1902 L. M. Hogue 1903-1904 Gerald Handy 1905-1906 CHAPTER XXIII THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP. A portion of the items contained in the sketch of this township has been gleaned from memoranda kindly furnished by Hon. Henry Chamberlain of Three Oaks. Mr. Chamberlain has prepared a mass of in teresting manuscript relating to the early settlement of the southwestern portion of Berrien county, only a small portion of which has ever been published. It is to be hoped that the matter prepared by him may yet be published. The township is bounded on the north by Chikaming, on the east by Weesaw and Galien, on the south by the state of Indiana, and on the west by New Buffalo. It was a part of the township of New Buffalo till 1856, when it was set apart into a separate township by. the board of supervisors. The name of the township was derived from that given to the postoffice by Henry Chamber lain in 1854. The name was suggested to Mr. Chamberlain by the fact that three white oak trees stood near the site of the postoffice, and so near together as to give the impression when in full leaf of being one tree. The territory was originally covered by dense forests of valuable timber, consisting of maple, beech, cherry, ash, sycamore, whitewood, oak, elm, hickory, basswood, black walnut and other varieties. There was but little marsh, mainly existing in the northeast part of the township. The soil was generally rich and fertile and well adapted for the production of corn and wheat. Deer were abundant during a por tion of the period of early settlement. The severe winter of 1843 nearly exterminated them, but they again became plentiful in a few years. It is stated that during the years 1854 and 1855 three hundred deer were killed within a radius of about five miles, of which the present village of Three Oaks was the center. R. B. Goit, who lived just over the state line, killed twenty-seven in the fall and winter of 1854-55. The number de creased, till they disappeared shortly after the close of the Civil war. During the per iod of the early settlement black bear were occasionally seen, and large gray wolves were numerous before 1843. Wolves were commonly caught in steel traps or wolf pens. Mink were numerous, otters and wild cats of a large size were occasionally found and muskrats and skunks were abundant; all of these animals were generally captured by traps. Raccoons were sometimes abundant and sometimes scarce. Foxes and porcu pines* were occasionally found. The trees which originally grew in the woods in the southwest portion of the coun ty were generally large. Mr. Chamber lain has made some memoranda of those of the largest which he saw himself, or con cerning which he derived accurate informa tion. 268 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY All of these were perfect in form and adapted for lumber or timber. A white oak in New Buffalo township was fifteen feet in circumference and the first limb about seventy feet from the ground. The Martins cut from an oak growing in Three Oaks, seventy railroad ties, a part of which were switch ties twelve feet long and twelve feet face. A walnut tree in Three Oaks township was twenty-five feet in circumference. A white ash in the same township was about four feet in diameter. Large whitewood trees were common, often being three or four feet in diameter. One in Weesaw was over five feet in diame ter and cut six twelve foot logs. S. D. Hammond cut five hundred cords of wood (bodies and limbs) on three and three-quarters acres in sections eleven, eight and twenty. Silas Sawyer from ten acres in sections io, 7 and 20, cut off and sawed four hundred thousand feet of whitewood. The value of this lumber at this time would be about $24,000.. Four twelve-foot white- wood logs drawn to the mill by Zachariah Kinne of Galien township, and cut from one tree, made four thousand thirty-one feet board measure. From a whitewood tree about four feet at the butt, he cut six twelve- foot and one ten-foot logs. William H. Valentine of Three Oaks, had a hollow black walnut tree growing on his premises, which measured twenty-nine and one-half feet in circumference. He also reported that he had sawed another which was sound, and which was six feet in di ameter at the butt, and that he obtained four twelve-foot logs. The sassafras tree as we generally see it is small and diminutive. Mr. Chamberlain speaks of having seen the stump of one which measured four feet across and from which three twelve-foot logs had been taken. A grove of these trees grew in Chikaming township in which they grew from eighteen to twenty-five inches in diameter. Black ash grew to a diameter of thirty- six inches; red oak, forty-two inches; hick ory, four feet; maple, three and one-half feet; basswood (linden), three and one-half to four feet; sycamore, four feet. Hollow sycamores were occasionally found six to eight feet in diameter. I have given these interesting memor anda for the purpose of illustrating the char acter, enormous production and value of the timber products of the county. Similar products of the forest existed in most of the townships of the county at an early day. The value of the timber today, even if a tenth part could have been preserved, would amount to a sum which would appear fabu lous. But the lands were denuded of the most valuable timber many years ago. It is a singular fact that of the numerous men who engaged in the lumber business in the southwestern part of the county, in the days when timber was plenty, few succeeded in making the business profitable, and most of them failed or became embarrassed. The lumber was sold at prices which seem to us absurdly cheap. Choice whitewood lumber which today brings $60 per thousand, was sold at from $8 to $10 per thousand. But "low prices" was not so much the cause of loss to the lumbering men, as attempts at speculation handling too much timber, finan cial panics and engaging in too many enter prises at once. The first settler in the township was Richard Love a native of Ohio. In 1835 he purchased land in section twenty-four and settled upon it. He died many years ago. Descendants still live upon the lands originally occupied by Mr. Love. In 1836 Sylvester Shedd, a native of Massachusetts, who resided for a few years, however, in New York, emigrated with his wife and children to Michigan and located in section twenty-three of Three Oaks township. -. Mr. Shedd had been a sol dier in the war of 1812. He devoted him self to agricultural pursuits in his new home, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 269 and died in 1866. His wife died in 1875. Two sons, Erasmus N. Shedd and Harry H. Shedd, who emigrated from New York with their parents, became prominent farmers in the township. Erasmus was for several years a justice of the peace. The following named persons settled in the township shortly after the settlement of Mr. Shedd. John Hatfield, a native of Vir ginia, P. G. Magness of North Carolina, Vincent Nash and Enoch Lewis, both of Virginia, Levi Paddock of New York, Jo seph Love and Robert R. Larue of Tennes see, William Hammond, and John Love, a son of Joseph Love. Joseph Love was a man of considerable native ability, but deficient in education. He became involved in some petty litigation and was not satisfied with the decisions of the justices. Desirous of being elected to the office of justice of the peace, he broached the subject to one of his neighbors. His neighbor replied: "You may know law enough, Uncle Joe, but you cannot read or write." "No matter about that," replied Uncle Joe, "Jake (his son) can read and John can write and I can judge them all like the d — 1." The people, how ever, did not relish the idea of Uncle Joe being justice, and he was defeated. Moses Chamberlain, a native of New Hampshire, made a trip to southwestern Michigan, visited New Buffalo and pur chased five quarter sections or about eight hundred acres of land located within the present limits of the townships of New Buf falo, Three Oaks and Chikaming. He did not, however, settle in the community at that time. In 1843, he and his wife Rebecca (Abbott) and three children, Henry, William and Elizabeth, emigrated from New Hampshire to New Buffalo. Here he went into the mercantile business with Jacob Gerrish, a cousin of Mrs. Cham berlain. He continued, however, in the mercantile business but a short time. In 1844 Hale E. Crosby, a son-in-law of Mr. Chamberlain, came from New Hampshire with a stock of merchandise and took charge of the business. Mr. Chamberlain disposed of his interest in the store the same year and moved into section fifteen, Three Oaks township, where he erected the first frame house built in the township. He died in 1866. He was a man of great native strength of character, public spirited, phil- anthrophic, and of sterling qualities of mind and heart. He was strongly anti-slavery in his convictions and in 1844 voted for James G. Birney, the abolition candidate for presi dent. Upon the organization of the Repub lican party he identified himself with that party. He was a Congregationalist, and was prominent in the early organization of a Congregational Church at New Buffalo, subsequently transferred to Three Oaks. His son, Henry Chamberlain, well known throughout the county and state, is now living at Three Oaks. He was nine teen years of age when he came with his parents to New Buffalo in 1843. He re mained in New Buffalo till 1850 and was elected supervisor in 1845, Just as he had attained his majority. He was supervisor of that township for three terms. In 1850, he had an offer to furnish two thousand cords of wood at seven shil lings and six pence per cord to be deliv ered at the cars on the side track where the village of Three Oaks now stands. This offer he accepted. At this time, he owned lands at this point and while furnishing wood urfder the conract, was enabled to clear his land without additional expense. In 1854 he and Joseph G. Ames, erected a store at this point and commenced selling goods. This was the starting point of the village of Three Oaks, and the place was first known as Chamberlain's station. The first plat of the village was made by Mr. Chamberlain in 1857. Mr. Chamberlain has continued to live in the village from 1850 to the present time. He is now in his eighty-third year, vigor ous in mind and body. For many years his 270 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY life was one of great activity. He was en gaged in an extensive mercantile business for nearly twenty-five years and at the same time the owner of large improved farms in the vicinity, the cultivation of which he sup erintended. At one time he was the owner of about three thousand acres and is still the owner of a large and valuable tract of land southeast of the village. He super vised the clearing of over a thousand acres, doing a part of the work himself. Mr. Chamberlain is one of the most prominent and well known men of the state. In early life he became identified with the Demo cratic party, although nearly all of his near relatives were of an opposite political faith. He was supervisor of Three Oaks township for six terms, and in 1849, a member of the legislature. In 1868 and 1870 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Fourth district. In 1874 he was candidate for governor of the state and was defeated at the election by only six thousand votes. He also received in the legislature, the vote of the Democratic members for United States Senator, three different times. He was emi nently qualified to fill any of the positions named with credit and ability. He was for many years a member of the State Board of Agriculture. William Chamberlain, a younger brother of Henry, was nine years old when his par ents came to Three Oaks. Upon arriving of age, he carried on farming at the old homestead till 1864, when he moved into the village of Three Oaks and went into the mercantile business with his brother, Henry. He was elected president of the village at its first election in 1868, and was subsequently supervisor of the town ship. He was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1871 and 1873 and of the State Senate in 1879 and 1881. He was president pro tern of the last body in 1879. In 1893, he was appointed to the im portant position of warden of the State Peni tentiary at Jackson and held this office from 1893 till his death. He was well fitted to dis charge the duties of this office. For many years before his appointment he had been. frequently a member of boards and of legis lative committees which supervised or in vestigated our penal and charitable institu tions and had become intimately conversant with their management and needs. While holding the office he became a prominent figure at the annual meetings of the wardens of the United States, as the reports of these meetings abundantly testify. He was a man whose private life was beyond reproach and was universally esteemed by the community in which he lived for his sterling qualities. While he held some important official posi tions from the time he became of age till his death, and was recognized as a leader in the Republican party, he belonged to no faction and obtained recognition purely by his merits. In 1855, Samuel Hess started the first shoe shop in Three Oaks. He was a native of Switzerland and his father, John Hess, had settled on a piece of land in Three Oaks township in 1852. Samuel carried on a shoe store for many years and also was engaged in carrying on a farm near town. He was a man of great energy and industry and became a prominent man in the township and county. He was supervisor for three terms and was a justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. In 1868, he was elected county treasurer and filled the office for three terms. His nomination for that position by the Republican county convention in 1868 was in a certain sense accidental, as he was not a candidate for the position till after the convention had actually assembled. A refer ence to this occurrence may not be out of place, as an illustration of the fact that nominations have been .made at county con ventions without any preparation whatever. As the writer of this sketch was entering the gate of the court house yard at Berrien Springs in the fall of 1868, to attend the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 271 afternoon session of the Republican county convention which had been formally organ ized in the forenoon, he was met by the dele gates from Three Oaks who requested him to present the name of Samuel Hess as a candidate for nomination for the office of register of deeds. Mr. Coolidge informed them, that this he could not do, as he had pledged himself to support Roscoe Dix for the position. The delegates replied that they did not expect to nominate Mr. Hess, but that they wished to have his name launched before the convention with reference to sub stantial recognition in the future. Mr. Coolidge then suggested that Mr. Hess have his name presented for nomination as county treasurer. Mr. Hess, upon consultation, ac cepted the suggestion. A ticket had been carefully arranged and slips prepared for a strong and popular candidate for treasurer, who appeared certain of nomination. Mr. Coolidge urged the nomination of Mr. Hess upon the ground that he was eminently competent to fill the position and that being competent, his nomination would be a timely recognition of the German element. He was followed by William K. Sawyer of Three Oaks and others, urging especially the lat ter point. This point caught the convention and Mr. Hess was triumphantly nominated to the surprise of himself and his friends. The nomination appeared to the leaders at the time to throw matters into confusion, as well-made plans and geographical considera tions were somewhat upset. However no harm was done Mr. Hess being elected, made an admirable officer, and served three con secutive terms, giving universal satisfaction. James L. McKee was a native of Mis sissippi. In 1854 he came with his parents to Three Oaks, and commenced clerking for Henry Chamberlain, and subsequently be came a partner of the latter in the mercantile business. He has continued in this business ever since, having first been a partner with Mr. Chamberlain, then with E. K. Warren and lastly with E. H. Vincent. Since the death of the latter in 1893, he has carried on the business alone. Mr. McKee has been supervisor of the township for five terms, president of the village and was a member of the State House of Representatives from 1885 to 1889. Politically Mr. McKee is a Democrat, religiously, an active member of the Congregational Church. The recent growth and prosperity of Three Oaks is largely due to the establish ment of the Warren Featherbone factory by E. K. Warren in 1884. Mr. Warren dis covered that the quill of a turkey was pre ferable to whalebone in the construction of a dress-stay and commenced that year to manu facture the article in the village.- The busi ness of this institution has developed into mammoth proportions. Branch factories have been established at different times at Chicago, Porter, Middleville and other places, and distributing offices established in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. The business is also operated in Europe. The official head quarters of the business, however, are at Three Oaks, where Mr. Warren resides. The home factory at that place employes from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty hands. Recently a handsome three story office building has been constructed of brick, stone and marble, richly furnished and finished. It is the most elegant office building in the county. The extent of the business now carried on throughout the world is immense. Mr. Warren, the orig inal inventor of the process used by the factory, in the manufacture of its product, is the son of a Congregational minister, Walter Warren of Vermont, who came to Michigan as a home missionary in 1858. Edward, on coming to Three Oaks, clerked for Henry Chamberlain and subsequently en gaged himself in the mercantile business till his establishment of the Featherbone factory.. He has been a prominent figure in the com munity. He has served as supervisor of the township and as president of the village. 272 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY While prominent in business and official affairs, he is perhaps best known by his con nection with Sunday school work. He has been president of the county Sunday School Society, chairman of the State Executive Committee, chairman of the World's Execu tive Committee and president of the World's Sunday School Convention. In 1905, he con ceived the idea of holding a world's Sunday school convention at Jerusalem. His pro ject was carried out under his supervision, and a convention was held at Jerusalem at tended by fifteen hundred delegates. Since 1899, the village of Three Oaks has had no saloon. In that year Mr. Warren offered to pay into the village treasury an nually, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, the amount of the saloon license money going to- the village, so long as no license for saloons should be given. Since that time, saloons have been prohibited, and Mr. Warren has annually paid two hundred and fifty dollars into, the village treasury. Among the early settlers of Three Oaks township, were Fred Ruhlow, John Abram, Sherwood Martin, Gilbert B. Avery, Thomas Love, William H. Valentine, Sam uel P. Webb and Asa H. Jacobs. The three Martins were brothers and na tives of New Jersey. They settled in Ber rien county about 1847. Isaac W. Martin, son of Sherwood, was supervisor in 1872 and 1873. Gilbert Avery, a native of Connecticut, was for twenty years a master mechanic of the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1854, he and Thomas Love built a steam saw mill in the northeast part of the township on the line of the railroad. The station at this point was for many years called "Avery's Station" and an extensive lumbering business was done here for several years. Mr. Love was one of the foremost men of the county, and one of its earliest settlers. He was a native of Virginia and came in 183 1 to Berrien Springs, where he engaged in mercantile business with Edward Bal lingee. He was county clerk from 1843 to 1847, county treasurer from 1841 to 1843, supervisor of Three Oaks in 1857 and 1858 and county surveyor from 1875 to 1877, and a justice of the peace for many years before his death. He was a man of native ability and extensive information. . Henry H. Pike engaged in mercantile business with J. M. K. Hilton for some years. Mr. Pike subsequently moved to Niles where he built a hotel called the "Pike House," well known as a favorite resort of commercial travelers. This he carried on for several years, but subsequently established a hotel at Topinabee in the northern part of the state, where for many years he carried on a profitable business. Dr. Hiram B. Wilcox, a physician, who had practiced in Indiana for over twenty- five years,, settled in the village of Three Oaks in i860 and had an extensive practice for many years. Levi Paddock settled within the limits of the township before 1840. He was a man of great physical strength and was super visor of New Buffalo township in 1844. He removed subsequently to Indiana, where he died some years since, in his ninetieth year. Among men who settled somewhat later than the foregoing, and who were prominent in the community, were Thomas C. Bradley, Samuel W. Chamberlain, Dr. J. D. Greena- myer, William H. Breece, Dr. O. Churchill, R. B. Goit, Samuel H. Martin and William K. Sawyer. Mr. Bradley was an extensive land owner and at one time a supervisor of the township, Samuel W. Chamberlain, who was a cousin of Henry Chamberlain, engaged ifll mer cantile business for some years, and was a man. of ability. Dr. J. D. Greenamyer, com menced the practice of his profession in Three Oaks, but removed to Niles in 1876, where he has had a large practice ever since. W. W. Breece was the first attorney in the place and practiced there several years. He was prosecuting attorney of the county in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 273 1875-76. He removed to Michigan City, Indiana, many years since. Mr. Goit was a prominent grocer. Dr. Churchill settled in Three Oaks nearly forty years ago and has been a druggist nearly all that time, besides practicing his profession. W. K. Sawyer was a cabinet maker by trade, but was ad mitted to the bar many years ago. For a few years he lived at St. Joseph and was a justice of the peace for many years. Latterly he has lived at Three Oaks. S. N. Martin for many years kept a livery and was also engaged in other pursuits. He was supervisor in 1872 and 1873. Messrs. S. W. Chamberlain, Breece and Dr. Greena- myer were also supervisors. The township has a large population of Germans by birth or descent. They are mostly farmers. It is estimated that- three- fifths of the rural population are of German origin. The first German settlers were Jacob Houser, Joseph Streble, Max Wetzer, Jacob Ruhlow. These men settled at an early day. Churches. A Union Church was organized in New Buffalo in 1844 by Moses Chamberlain and others. In 1848, it was converted into a Congregational Church and was transferred subsequently to Three Oaks. In 1870 a church edifice was erected. The church has always been a strong one with many active and intelligent members. A Methodist Church was organized at Spring creek school house about 1850. In 1867 a church was organized at the village of Three Oaks and a brick edifice put up in 1878. A Baptist Church was organized in 1867 in Chikaming township, but was transferred to Three Oaks subsequently, and a church built at the latter place in 1870. 18 A United German Evangelical Church was organized in 1866 and a church edifice built in 1877. A church of the Disciples was organized in 1868. In the northern part of the township a considerable settlemenf of Hollanders was made some years since, and these people or ganized a Dutch Reformed Church. The following named persons have been supervisors of Three Oaks township for the years designated. Henry Chamberlain 1856 Thos. Love 1857-1858 Henry Chamberlain 1859 J. L, Hicks i860 T. C. Bradley 1861 Henry Chamberlain 1862 J. L. McKie 1863-1864 S. W. Chamberlain 1865 Henry Chamberlain 1866 Samuel Hess 1867-1868 J. L. McKie 1869 J. M. K. Hilton 1870 E. K. Warren 1871 I. W. Martin 1872-1873 J. D. Greenamyer 1874 Peter Strehle 1875-1876 W. H. Breese 1877-1878 J. L. McKie 1879-1880 Wm. H. Chamberlain 1881 C. W. Conner 1882 Samuel Hess 1883 E. H. Vincent 1884 S. H. Martin 1885-1886 E. H. "Vincent 1887-1893 W. C. Hall 1894-1895 D. H. Beeson 1896 E. S. Heckman 1897-1900 Isaiah Rynearson .1901 E. S. Heckman 1902 G. L. Stevens 1903-1905 E. S. Heckman 1906 CHAPTER XXIV CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP. Chikaming township is bounded on the north by Lake, on the east by Weesaw, on the south by Three Oaks and New Buffalo, and on the west by Lake Michigan. This township was a part of New Buffalo till 1856 when it was erected into a separate township. The name "Chikaming" is Indian, and means "lake." A large portion of the township especially the northern por tion, was originally heavy timbered with whitewood, ash, beech, maple and other woods. In the southern part white and black oak grew largely. For several years the lands were owned pricipally by non-residents and mill owners in other townships. Among those who made original entries of government lands to any considerable extent in the township, were George Kimmel, Sherwood & Company, Moses Chamberlain, Calvin Britain and Vin cent L. Bradford. The largest grapery in the state is lo cated in this township. It is owned by the Lakeside Vineyard Company and is located in sections 21 and 28, upon the lands belong ing to this company, five hundred and twen ty-five acres having already been set out to grapes. This enterprise is elsewhere re ferred to in the chapter on fruit culture. Along the lake shore the soil is sandy, but a considerable portion has been devoted to the culture of fruit and made remuner ative. The first person who actually settled in the township was Luman Northrup of Ham burg, New York, who had settled in New Buffalo in 1836 and was collector there in 1839. In 1840, he located in section twenty- three and built a cabin and saw mill. This mill he operated for about twenty years when he sold it to Henry H. Pike. His residence most of the time, however, subsequently was at New Troy. He was a man of great natural strength and sagacity, and practiced law before justices of the peace. He died about the year 1868. The next person to settle in the township was Richard Peckham, who had emigrated from New York and settled in New Buffalo in 1842. During the following year he lo cated in section twenty, in Chikaming town ship. He was supervisor of the township in 1857 and 1870. For four or five years he manufactured grain cradles and rakes, the factory being located at New Buffalo. In 1836, Moses Chamberlain of New Hampshire, made a trip to southern Michi gan and visited New Buffalo. While there he purchased five quarter sections of land located within the present limits of Chika ming and Three Oaks. Three of these were situate in Chikaming in sections fourteen and twenty. No settlement, however, was made on these lands till 1840 when Henry Cham berlain, a son of Moses, now living at Three Oaks, located in section twenty and built a HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 275 cabin. Mr. Chamberlain lived there about one year. Further reference will be made to Moses Chamberlain and his family in con nection with the chapter on Three Oaks, with whose early settlement and history they were most prominently connected. Henry Chamberlain has written a sketch of his first visit to> these lands which he has kindly furnished me. As it gives a clear idea of the condition of the country at the time and of the timber which then grew in the forests of Chikaming, I here subjoin his sketch. "Father was the owner of the northeast quarter of section twenty; the southeast ¦quarter of section fourteen; and the north west quarter of section twenty-three, town ship seven, range twenty. "On the 24th day of September, 1844, my brother-in-law, Hale E. Crosby, David H. Cotrill, who that summer came from Ver mont to New Buffalo, and myself, went land looking. We went with Richard Peckham, who had a small clearing on the northwest corner of section twenty, township seven, range twenty, near the lake shore. A flat bottomed boat, about twenty feet long and five feet beam, towed by a horse which was ridden by a boy, was the means of transporta tion. A tow line one hundred feet or more in length, was the connection between the horse and the boat, the boat being kept the proper distance out from shore by a long steering oar. This boat was owned by Mr. Jacob Gerrish and was used for transporting, when there was need and the lake was smooth, products to and merchandise from Michi gan City and other points a short distance along the shore. We arrived at Peckham's before noon, helped unload the lumber, and took dinner with him in his log cabin. There was a small clearing on the place and an orchard which had been set three years be fore. Peckham was a bachelor, a native of New York State, about forty years of age. He did not live on the place, but was there a part of the cropping season. He had a shop at New Buffalo and his principal busi ness was the manufacture of grain cradles. "After dinner we made a start, Mr. Crosby carrying the knapsack with the food, Mr. Cotrill the axe, and I my rifle for which I found no use. We followed the north line of section twenty to the northeast corner, and thence went down the east line for a half mile. Returning, we went east on the north line of sections twenty-one and twenty-two. This was a difficult line to follow as it had not been reblazed since the government sur vey in 1826, and it required care to find the old blazes. When at the southeast corner of section fifteen, we found the line between sections fourteen and fifteen had been newly blazed by some land looker. We followed it north to the north line. On section fifteen, I think it was the southeast quarter, we for the first time saw a grove of poplar frees. Standing in one place we counted within sight, fifty-two large trees. They were from twenty-four to thirty-six inches in diameter, and would average three to four twelve-foot logs to the tree. Cotrill, who had had some experience as an estimator of timber, thought there was enough timber to make fifty thousand feet of boards on less than a half acre. We retraced our steps to the corner and then went south on the line be tween sections twenty-two and twenty-three, and took a view of the northwest quarter of section twenty-three. The land seemed fair. There was but little saw timber on this line north of the river. Once in a while we saw a good ash, oak, or poplar, and there were some black walnut trees on the river bot toms. When we came to the river, we divested outselves of our clothing and waded through the stream. When we reached the bluff on the south bank, it was nearly dark, and we were preparing to camp for the night. I had heard that there was a house on this section, but did not know its location. While we were discussing the matter I noticed an indistinct trail and suggested that we follow it as far as we could before dark. We did 276 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY so and soon saw the outlines of a clearing ahead of us. Reaching it with some diffi culty, we discovered a log cabin, but no one answered our hail. The latch string was out and we opened the door and entered. We kindled a fire, dug some potatoes, got some pork from the barrel and cooked and ate our supper. There were two good beds and everything was neat and clean. We retired, and in the morning got our breakfast and left for our day's work. Before our de parture, however, we left a shingle on which we wrote of our doings. This was the resi dence of Lumon Northrop, on the southwest corner of section twenty-three, and it was the only house in what is now the township of Chikaming, the Peckham shanty only ex cepted. "We then went east on the south line of sections twenty-three and twenty-four until we struck the New Buffalo and New Troy road. The land looked well, and while there were no groves of saw timber, there were many good trees scattered all along this line. "The Troy road, as we called it, com menced at the village of New Buffalo and followed along south of the river, crossing the south branch near the south end of sec tion six, township eight, range twenty; thence northeasterly and northerly to New Troy; and thence to Berrien Springs, the county seat. It was brushed out all the way and the timber in the center was cut away. The streams were bridged with logs or puncheons, and nearly half the distance was corduroyed. No part of this road west of Troy is now in use with the exception of less than a mile from the center of section eighteen, township seven, range nineteen to New Troy. We then went north along the road to New Troy where we found a few houses, mostly unoccupied, and two saw mills which were out of repair. There were two or three houses on the road near Troy, the only one which I can recall, having been that of Phineas E. Stratton. "At Troy we ate our lunch. We had taken enough from home to last until our return and as we had had two meals at Northrop' s we were well supplied. It had been our intention to have gone to the south east quarter of section fourteen, township seven, range twenty, but as the river was in the way, we abandoned it. "The tracing of the old lines which had not been re-blazed, was slow work ; often we made not more than a mile in an hour. Some one reading this account may not un derstand the method of marking section lines and corners. For their benefit, I will briefly describe it : '.- - "The lines were run by a compass and measured with a chain. At the section cor ners, a tree standing on each section was marked with a marking iron. If it was a smooth tree like the beach, it was done on the bark; if not, the bark was cut away to the wood. The marks were like the follow ing: S. 27, T. 7, S. R. 20 W.; S. 28, T. 7, S. R. 20, W.; S. 34, T. 7, S. R. 20 W.; Sec. 35, T. 7, S. R. 20 W. This indi cated sections 27, 28, 34 and 35, township 7 south, range 20 west. A stake was placed at the true corner and witnessed by a cut at the roots of two trees. The stakes were gen erally decayed at this time. The section lines. were known by the blazes on the trees ; that is, on all trees near the line, a piece of bark was cut out on each side. It most cases these had grown over and scars only were left. If a tree was on the true line, it was called a sight tree and three small notches were cut on each side. The half mile post, indicating quarter sections was found by the mark on a tree near to it, — J4 S. "We started for New Buffalo, following the Troy road. The weather was very fine. It had been a dry fall up to this time, and. these favorable conditions continued until the 17th of the next January, with mild sunny days and no freezing nights. "Walking as fast as we could, in due time we reached the house of William Ham mond on the southwest quarter of section. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 277 thirty-four, township seven, range twenty. He had a comfortable log house and barn and a clearing of forty acres well fenced, all of which had been plowed. Upon reach ing this house we were very thirsty and Hammond sent his boy to a spring for water. It was clear, cold and sparkling. I drank a dipper full before stopping to taste and then •spoiled eggs was what I thought of — it was sulphur water. "On our way home we passed only one house, which was on section one, town ship eight, range twenty-one, until we neared the village of New Buffalo. Although we were tired, it had been a long and a pleasant tramp. "The stream and the timber which we had seen impressed Cotrill, and the next year he purchased the north half of the south west quarter of section twenty-three, town ship seven, range twenty. Soon after he built a saw mill which under different own ers, continued in use until say about 1865. It was once burned down and rebuilt. In later years it was generally known as the Northrop Mill." Alfred Ames, a native of Vermont, came to New Buffalo in 1843. ^n J844 he com menced clearing a piece of land in section thirty, where he built a cabin and commenced to live with his wife the next year. The farm which he cultivated was afterwards known as the "Clay Bank." Mr. Ames was a prominent man and held various local of fices in the township of New Buffalo which then included Chikaming. He died in 1864. The wife of Mr. Ames, whose maiden name was Mary Fisher, was an authoress of some note and for many years contributed articles both in poetry and prose for maga zines and journals of the day. The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Ames at the house of her husband in the year 1847. In 1845, William Miller, a native of Ohio, settled on section thirty. His son, John C. Miller, became a prominent man in the community, was supervisor for five terms and elected a member of the State House of Representatives in 1862. He died a few years since. Other settlers who located in the town ship about the same time were Truman A. Clough, George Garland, Zalmon Desbro, Arnold Pratt, Richmond Horton and Tobias Ray. Mr. Ray built a saw mill on what was known as Ray's creek about 1847. P. B. Andrews, a native of Pennsyl vania, located in Chikaming about 1841. He had settled at St. Joseph at a very early day and was a machinist and engineer. In 1832 he built the engine for the steamboat "Newburyport," the first steamboat which ascended the St. Joseph river. About 1851, Mr. Andrews and J. C. Miller built a steam saw mill on section three. This mill was operated by them till about i860. Between 1847 and 1854 three brothers, John W., James and Joseph N. Wilkinson, all natives of Virginia, came to New Buffalo. James was a physician and practiced his pro fession at that village. Joseph and John set tled in Chikaming and the Wilkinson broth ers went into the lumbering business in 1854 and built a steam saw mill in section nineteen with a pier six hundred feet long running into Lake Michigan. Subsequently, other piers were built known as Greenbush and Pike piers and also a horse railroad running into the woods. An immense business was carried on for several years at this point which was known as Wilkinson's station. The company made purchases of land until it had acquired twenty-five hundred acres of land and for several years employed from fifty to one hundred and fifty hands, most of whom were engaged in the woods. The place was afterwards known as "Lakeside." About the year 1854 Silas Sawyer, of Ohio, built a steam saw mill near the site of the station now known as Sawyer. He was a man of determined energy and for a few years he did an extensive and profitable business but became embarrassed during the 278 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY financial panic of 1857 and suffered heavy losses. In 1873 he moved to Dallas, Texas. He was the first supervisor of Chikaming township. Shortly after John F. Gowdy and Frank Gowdy, natives of New York, settled in the southwest corner of the township. While living in Chikaming, Franklin Gowdy was extensively engaged in getting out wood and lumber and shipping to the Chicago mar ket. The Gowdys in connection with others, built a large pier near the New Buffalo line to facilitate the shipping and handling of wood and lumber, and a mill was built at the same time. This point was called Union Pier. In 186 1 Franklin Gowdy purchased a large tract of land in New Buffalo town ship a short distance south of Union Pier and made that his home. Mr. Gowdy be came prominent in the history of New Buf- calo and was supervisor of the township for several terms, and has held various local offices. He is now residing upon his farm in the northwest part of New Buffalo town ship. Dr. F. M. Gowdy, a prominent phy sician of St. Joseph, is a son. In 1862, Clement Goodwin and his nephew, Richard M. Goodwin, settled in Chikaming and erected a saw mill and brick store at Union Pier. In connection with the pier, a horse railroad was built into the woods. Clement Goodwin died about 1871, and the business was subsequently carried on by Richard M. In addition to his other business, the latter carried on the manufact ure of handles, at Union Pier. Richard Good win became one of the most prominent men of the township and was supervisor in 1893. In 1 861 Oliver R. Brown erected a steam sawmill in section two and for sev eral years carried on an extensive business. This was near the present site of Sawyer. A horse railroad was built by Brown to the Fuller Pier on the lake at the edge of Lake township. About 1856 two brothers, John M. and Edmund Glavin, natives of Ireland, pur chased farms and settled in the township. John had been liberally educated in the sci ence of civil engineering and previous to his settlement in Chikaming, had been em ployed as a civil engineer by various rail road companies. He was supervisor of Chikaming for three terms. In 1865 he moved to the northern part of New Buffalo township where he lived till his death a few years since. He was a man of ability and energy and held various important official positions. He was supervisor of New Buf falo for eight terms, county surveyor for three terms and a representative to the state legislature from 1866 to 1868. His brother Edmund acquired large tracts of land, owning over eight hundred acres at the time of his death, which oc curred about two years since. He was a justice of the peace and also town treasurer for many years. The eastern portion of the township was not settled till much later than the portion which lies near the lake. It remained a wilderness except as it was penetrated by lumbermen, till about i860. During that year Albert Drew purchased four hundred and eighty acres in sections twenty-five and twenty-six. Mr. Drew was born in Cass county of this state in 1834 and was a son of one of the earliest pion eers of that county. He studied law in his early years but was never admitted to the bar. He acquired, however, quite a reputa tion as a practitioner before justices' courts. He lived on his farm till his death a few years since. He was a man of native ability and held various official positions. He was supervisor of the township for eight terms and county surveyor for four years. His brother-in-law, Charles C. Sherill, settled in the township in 1861. He was a prominent man for some years in the com- fnunity but did not live in the township for many years. He was a treasurer of the town ship for seven years. A son, Marcus L., was supervisor in 1883. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 279 Captain W. A. Keith has been a prom inent man in the community. He was first elected supervisor in 1872 and has held the position for eleven different terms. He was elected a representative to the state legis lature in 1882. He is still living upon his farm. In 1864 Patrick Gleason, a native of Canada, located on section twenty-nine, where he lived till his death a few years since, at an advanced age. His son, John Gleason, became a prominent man in the community and has been supervisor for three terms. Among others who were prominent in the early history of the township- were George Montague, Oliver P. Newkirk, D. Van Nordstrand, Truman Clough, B. J. Rogers, G. A. Orris, F. and J. Pulsifer, Horace Wilcox, H. P. Nourse. Some of these parties remained in the township but a short time. Churches. The Union Pier Baptist Church was or ganized in 1869 and consisted of members of the Wilkinson and Gowdy families and some others. An Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized about the same time in the south east corner of the township, and a church edifice built in 1869. The church member ship was composed of German families of the township of Chikaming, Three Oaks and Weesaw. This church is still in exist ence. The township was mostly a dense wild erness till about forty years ago. The most rapid increase of population was between i860 and 1870, during which period the pop ulation trebled. A considerable German ele ment settled in the southeastern portion thirty or forty, years ago. The southwest portion of the township is thickly settled and divided up into small holdings. Consider able attention has been given of late years to fruit culture. The following named persons have been supervisors of Chikaming township at the dates designated. Silas Sawyer 1856 Richard Peckham 1857 J. C. Miller 1858 Geo. Montague 1859-1860 J. C. Miller 1861-1862 J. M. Glavin 1863-1865 J. A. Wilkinson 1866 J. C. Miller 1867-1868 O. P. Newkirk 1869 Richard Peckham 1870 O. P. Newkirk 1871 W. A. Keith 1872 A. L. Drew 1873-1879 D. Van Nordstrand 1880 W. A. Keith 1881 John Gleason 1882 M, L. Sherrill 1883 A. L. Drew 1884 W. A. Keith 1885-1890 John Gleason 1891-1892 R. M. Goodwin 1893 R. P. Hoadley 1894-1895 W. A. Keith 1896-1898 E. J. Wfllard 1899-1902 M. D. Franklin 1903 Clarence Wilkinson I9°4 Daniel Zeiger I9°5 CHAPTER XXV GALIEN TOWNSHIP. The township of Galien is bounded on the north by Weesaw township, on the east by Bertrand, on the south by the state of Indiana and on the west by Three Oaks. The township originally belonged to Ber trand township, but was detached and an nexed to Weesaw in 1837. In 1844 it was erected into a separate township, and at the township election that year, William Burns was chosen supervisor, Daniel Bellinger, clerk, and Samuel Garwood, treasurer. The township is well watered by the Galien river and various branches of that- stream. The surface was originally covered by a magnificent forest of thick timber, con sisting mainly of whitewood, black walnut, ash, beech and maple. The trees grew to a large size and the "Galien Woods" became famous in the early clays' for its timber re sources. This dense forest of valuable tim ber spread into the adjoining townships of Weesaw, Three Oaks, Chikaming and New Buffalo, and constituted the most extensive forest of valuable timber in the county. The lands in the township were largely owned by mill proprietors in other townships before permanent settlement to any consid erable extent was made, and the population developed slowly till after the year 1850. The population in 1845 was only 141. The township has one village, Galien, which lies at the intersection of the Michigan Central Railroad and what has been known as the Vandalia Railroad. The latter road has lately passed into the control of the Van derbilt system and is practically a part of the Michigan Central. The village was incor porated in 1879 and has a population of over four hundred. The first actual settlers in the township appear to have been John P. Johnson, Sam uel Garwood and Jas. H. Wilson. Johnson settled in sections 19 and 20 in 1834 and was a prominent man in the early settlement of the township, but removed to Iowa at an early day. Garwood settled in section 11 sometime prior to 1836. A small lake in the northeast part of that section was named after him "Garwood Lake." He was the first treasurer of the township. He also re moved to Iowa at an early day. James H. Wilson, a native of Virginia, came to Galien and settled in section 1 in 1836. In the following year he built a saw mill on his lands. This was the first sawmill built in the township and for many years this mill did an extensive business. Mr. Wilson died several years since at an ad vanced age. He was the treasurer of the township for seven terms. James Edson settled in section 13 in 1836. The first township election was held at his house in 1844. William Burns lo cated in section 1 1 shortly after and became the first supervisor of the township. Alvin Emery settled in section 22 at a HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 281 very early day and built a sawmill on Sopes creek. He was supervisor in 1845. A brother, Moses Emery, settled in the town ship at about the same time. John Unrugh settled in the township about the same time. Peter Critchett, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Buchanan township in 1836. In 1840 he located in section 4, Galien town ship, where he lived till he removed to Galien village in 1883. William Huston settled in the township in 1840. He lived but a few years after his first settlement. A son Richard is now liv ing. In 1844, only forty-four votes were cast at the presidential election. About this time the township began to be more thickly settled. In 1847, four brothers from Ohio, Asher, Noah, David and Alison Spicer, all settled in the township. A. G. Spicer was at one time the owner of 320 acres in section seven, which E. K. Warren, of Three Oaks, now owns. In 1849 or 1850 William Valentine, with his family, came from New York and set tled in Laporte county, Indiana, near the state line. In the next year he moved to section nineteen, in Galien township, where he built a sawmill. He lived here till his death in 1875. He was supervisor in 1856. His widow, Samantha Valentine, is now re siding with a daughter, Mrs. Brown, at Co loma, and is ninety-five years of age. A son of William Valentine, William H., located in Three Oaks township a few years after his father's settlement and still resides here. Another son, George M., is a prominent attorney of Benton Harbor, and former prosecuting attorney. The other children of William Valentine living in the county are Andrew P., of Berrien Springs; Mrs. Nancy J. Brown, of Coloma, and Mrs. Julia Jeffries, of Three Oaks. In 1849, George Partridge, a native of New Hampshire, settled in section 11. He subsequently removed to the village of Galien and for many years carried on a gen eral store. He was a prominent man in the community and supervisor of the township for several terms. Henry Smith, a native of Ohio, settled in the township in 1845, was supervisor in 1849, and shortly afterwards removed to Oregon. The following named persons settled at an early day : Perry Noggle, "D. D. Hinman and W. K. White. Noggle located in sec tion 1 1 and was supervisor for several years. Dr. Hinman was a physician located in the village, and also a supervisor of the town ship. White was a farmer who located in section 9, and was also supervisor at one time. The village of Galien was laid out by George A. Blakeslee in 1861, and was in corporated in 1879. Mr- Blakeslee, who was the founder of the village, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to the township of Galien in 1853. Here he operated a saw mill on the present site of the village in what was then a dense forest. Shortly after wards he established a store of general mer chandise. He purchased several thousand acres of land in the vicinity. This land was heavily timbered and furnished logs for Mr. Blakeslee's sawmill. For sev eral years he was engaged in the manufact ure of handles, manufacturing over one mil lion five hundred thousand handles per year. He was 'the president of the village, for many years continuously from its organiza tion, and a prominent leader of the Republi can party in the county. He was a man of great native strength of character and en ergy. He died in 1890. Edwin A. Blakes lee, senator in the State Legislature from 1897 to 1 90 1, and now a member of the State Board of Pardons, is" a son of George A. Blakeslee. In 1880 George A. Blakeslee established a banking business conducted by himself and son in connection with the store. This busi- 282 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ness has been carried on in recent years by Edwin A. Blakeslee and Charles A. Clark, who married a daughter of George A. Blakeslee. Mr. Clark is now serving his sixth term as supervisor, and has been chair man of the board of supervisors. Among some of the prominent men who settled early in the township were Capt. S. A. Denison, Andrew Shearer, Timothy Smith, Capt. B. R. Stearns, Albert Clark, Henry Renberger and Cyrus Thurston. Albert Clark was a native of Massachu setts and settled in Galien in 1863. He was a man of ability and supervisor in 1867. He died in 1893. Charles A. Clark, previously referred to, is a son. Captain Denison was an officer in the Union army during the Civil war and lo cated upon a farm in Galien township short ly after the close of the war. Here he lived till his death about two years ago. He was supervisor from 1871 to 1875. B. R. Stearns was an officer in the Twelfth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war and shortly after its close settled in Galien, first locating on a farm. He sub sequently kept a hotel in the village and en gaged in other pursuits. He was supervisor from 1877 to 1887, sheriff of the county from 1887 to 1 89 1, and a representative to the State Legislature in 1879. Andrew Shearer settled in the village of Galien at an early date and engaged in the business of shoe making. He is still living in the village. He was supervisor from 1897 to 1900, and has held various local offices. Cyrus Thurston settled in the township in 1855, and was prominent in the organi zation of the church of the "Latter Day Saints." For many years he taught school, farming in the summer and teaching in the winter. In early life he had attended the State Normal School. He died a few years since at an advanced age. Henry Renberger settled in the town ship, in 1 85 1, living upon a farm till his death in 1876. J. A. Renberger, a former supervisor of the township, is a son. Zachariah Kinne, a native of New York, located in the township in 1865 and became a heavy land owner, acquiring about six hundred acres. He was an ordained min ister of the Free Will Baptist - Church, al though he seldom preached. The first steam sawmill in the township was built by Clapp & Cheney in 185 1. In 1853, this passed into the hands of George A. Blakeslee. The Wolverine Handle Fac tory was first started by the firm of Smith & Montross in the mill of Mr. Blakeslee. In 1868, Richard Montross, a member of that firm, built a factory for the manufact ure of handles. For many years this es tablishment did a heavy business employing over forty hands. Mr. Montross is still liv ing at Galien. 1 CHURCHES. The church of the Latter Day Saints was established at Galien by George A. Blakeslee, shortly after his settlement. They believe in the teachings of Joseph Smith and original Mormanism, but repudiate the doc trines of Brigham Young and do not coun tenance polygamy. They have no affilia tion with the so-called Mormons of Salt Lake City. Mr. Blakeslee for many years prior to his death had the entire charge of the finances of this denomination and occa sionally preached. The Church of the Disciples was organ ized in 1859 by Rev. William Roe. The German Lutheran Church was or ganized in 1866. A class in the Methodist Church was or ganized in the village in 1871. The following persons have been super visors of the township of Galien at the dates designated : Wm. Burns l844 Alvan Emery 1845 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 283 Wm. Burns 1846 Alvan Emery 1847 Henry Smith 1849 J. P. Johnson 1850-1852 Perry Noggle 1853-1855 D. D. Hinman 1856-1858 Perry Noggle 1859-1860 Geo. Partridge 1861 Perry Noggle 1862-1863 Geo. Partridge 1864 W. K. White 1865 Geo. Partridge 1866 Albert Clark 1867 W. K. White 1868 Geo. Partridge 1869-1870 S. A. Denison 1871-1875 Geo. Partridge 1876 B. R. Sterns 1877-1887 Melvin Smith 1888 Hiram Russ 1889 Melvin Smith 1890 J. A. Renberger 1891 Timothy Smith 1892-1894 E. A. Blakeslee 1895-1896 Andrew Shearer 1897-1900 Chas. A. Clark 1901-1906 CHAPTER XXVI HAGAR. This township is situated in the north west part of the county, and is small in area, containing only about twenty sections. It is bounded on the north by Van Buren county, on the east by Watervliet, on the south by Benton and on the west by Lake Michigan. The lake bends in to the east ward about four miles from its southwest to its northwest corner. It was originally a portion of St. Joseph township, but was set off as a separate town ship in 1846. It was the latest township to be settled up and as late as 1854 contained but 269 inhabitants. Its history must nec essarily be brief. Emigration began to pour in between i860 and 1870, and between these two periods, its population was doubled. In late years, it has gone into fruit culture exten sively, and one of the largest orchards in the county is situated in the northern part of the township owned by William Mueller. At the first township election in April, 1846, Alfred Sensebaugh was elected su pervisor; William C. Allen, clerk; William Scott, treasurer, and Rosswell Curtis, jus tice of the peace. The township is noted for having had but two supervisors for the last twenty- seven years, with the exception of one year. E. L. Kingsland served from 1879 to 1893 continuously. J. S. Caldwell has served from 1893 to the present time, with the ex ception of the year 1901. Mr. Kingsland had previously served four years, making in all nineteen terms. The first person who located in the town ship was Henry Hawley, a Canadian, who, in the spring of 1839, entered one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-three and lived on it with his family but a short time. He became dissatisfied and left the county before making any improvements except building a log cabin. The first permanent settler was Charles Lamb, of Vermont, who located on section twenty-three in the summer of 1839. He died in 1846. In the winter of 1839, Ma thias Farnum, who had settled in St. Joseph in 1836, and worked at his trade as a car penter and builder, located in section thir teen. He ran a sawmill for a few years in Van Buren county, where he had purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land. He lived for a few years in Benton Harbor, but returned to his farm some years before his death, which occurred in 1884. Mr. Farnum and Alex. Fitch built a steam sawmill in the forties. This was the first sawmill in the township and for many years the only one. James Bunday, from Ohio, was the third settler who located in section fourteen in 1 83 1. A log school house was built upon his lands shortly after his settlement. This was afterwards supplanted by a good struct- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 285 ure known as the "Bunday School House." This school was the only one in the town ship for several years. Mr. Bunday lived on his farm till his death in 1872. The next settler was William McCrea who settled in 1838 in St. Joseph. In 1841 he located in section fourteen, Hagar town ship. He lived here till 1849 when he was killed by the fall of a tree. The daughter of Mr. McCrea, Mary Jane, who married Thomas Muldoon, was the first white child born in Hagar. She was born in May, 1841. Alfred Sense baugh came shortly after. He was a minis ter and the first supervisor of the township. In 1845, Isaac Finch moved to Hagar with his family among which were his sons, Isaac, Jr., and Alexis, who purchased lands. Isaac Finch died in 1853. About this period, A. S. Bishop, Philip Farney, Benjamin Harris, Uriah Harris, Asabel Hayes, Sylvanus Cook, Stephen Cook, J. T. Wisner, Jeremiah Smith, Ros well Curtis, James Stewart, William Scott, and Robert Merriford settled in the town ship. Mr. Bishop was a native of New York, first settled in Bainbridge township, but re moved to Hagar in 1848. He became a prominent man in the township and was su pervisor for several terms. Stephen Cook acquired a large tract of land and became supervisor of the township. Scott and Hayes were supervisors. 1 CHURCHES. The first church organized in the town ship was the Methodist Episcopal which was established in 1859. The Congregational- ists combined with them for some time, a Methodist minister preaching part of the time and a Congregationalist minister at other times. A Free Will Baptist Church was organ ized in 1863, which after a few years seems to have been dissolved. A Christian Church was organized in 1877 by Rev. Reason Davis. The first school teacher in the township was Matilda Irwin, who taught in 1844 in a log school house, subsequently supplanted by a good structure known as the Bunday school, house. The largest fruit orchard in Hagar ana one of the largest in the county is located in the northwest part of the county and is owned by William Mueller. The whole farm consists of five hundred and sixty-five acres, of which one hundred and sixty are fruit bearing. There are one hundred and twenty acres of peach bearing trees, ten acres in grapes and the remainder in apples, pears, plums and cherry trees. Among the prominent men who came later, but resided in the township, should be mentioned E. L. Kingsland and Josiah Cald well. E. L. Kingsland moved into Hagar in 1865, but began work there by labor for Stephen Cook for $14.00 a month. He sub sequently purchased the farm of Cook and still owns it. Mr. Kingsland was supervi sor of the township from 1867 to 1870 and from 1879 to 1893, or nineteen terms alto gether. For several years he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He was the county superintendent, of schools from 1871 to 1875, serving two terms. He was elected to the State House of Representa tives in 1892 and re-elected in 1894. He was liberally educated and has been a promi nent leader of the Republican party in the county. He is now residing in St. Joseph. Josiah Caldwell, the present supervisor, has also held that position for many terms, from 1893 to 1900 and from 1902 to the present time. His father, Joseph Caldwell, was one of the earliest pioneers of Berrien county, pur chasing a piece of land on the Paw Paw river in Benton township in 1834 and locat ing on it in 1835. He acquired some six hundred acres in Benton and Hagar town- 286 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ships. Josiah Caldwell many years ago moved upon a portion of his father's land in Hagar and has been a representative farmer and fruit grower. The following have been supervisors of Hagar township : A. Sinsebaugh 1847 Wm. Scott 1848 I. K Finch 1849-1852 Geo. Johnson 1853-1855 Asabel Hays 1856 G. S. Andrews 1857 Sprague Bishop 1858-1863 Stephen Cook 1864 Albert Swift 1866 E. L. Kingsland 1867-1870 H. N. Sheldon 1871 G. S. Andrews 1872 H. N. Sheldon 1873 A. S. Bishop 1874 H. N. Sheldon 1875 DeWitt Guy 1876-1878 E. L. Kingsland 1879-1893 J. S. Caldwell 1893-1900 F. M. Eaman 1901 J. S. Caldwell 1902-1906 ORVILLE W. COOLIDGE, the author of the historical sketch in this volume, was born at Edwardsburg, Cass county, Michi gan, October 9, 1839. He graduated in the literary department of Michigan University in 1863 and at the Cambridge Law School in 1865. In the latter year he went into the practice of his profession with his father, Henry H. Coolidge. In 1870 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Berrien county. In 1890 and 1 89 1 mayor of the city of Niles, and in 1893 judge of the second judicial circuit of Michigan. He was subsequently re-elected in 1899 and 1905 and is now serv ing his third term. In 1867 he was married to Katie, daugh ter of Moses Pettengill, a prominent marble dealer in Niles. Three children were born to this union, all of whom are now living, viz. : Claudine, who- has been a teacher ; Clarence, who is an attorney in Chicago; and Orrill, who is the present librarian of the Carnegie library in Niles. The parents of Mr. Coolidge were early pioneers of western Michigan. Henry H. Coolidge, the father, was born in Letoiinster county, Massachusetts, and was educated at Amherst College. From 1833 to 1836 he taught music at Montreal. In the latter year he came to Niles and clerked for a time in the dry goods store of G. W. Hoffmann. During the next year he removed to Ed wardsburg, Cass county, and was married to Sarah A. Mead, the daughter of Henry Mead, who had emigrated from Chautauqua county, New York, to Beardsley's Prairie in 1837. Subsequently Mr. Coolidge studied law and became prosecuting attorney of Cass county in 1852. In 1859 he removed to Niles. In 1867 he was chosen a member of the State constitutional convention, and in 1872 circuit judge of the Second judicial circuit of Michigan. The latter position he held for six years, when he resigned and resumed his practice, which he continued till a few weeks before his death in 1884. His widow died a few months after. Three children survived : Orville W., Helen E., who died in 1903, and Emily M., who married Charles A. Chapin, now of Chicago. Henry H. Coolidge was a man of great native strength and force of character. As a lawyer he excelled in the careful prepara tion of his cases for trial and was never taken by surprise. He had an immense practice before he occupied the bench. As a judge he acquired the respect and esteem of the attorneys by his ability and impartiality, and by his courtesy to' the members of the bar. He was a Republican politically, and was a delegate to the convention under the oaks at Jackson in 1854 when the Repub lican party was first organized. He was an active member of the Pres byterian Church for forty-five years, always attending and frequently addressing- its de votional meetings when at home. He was a teacher in the Sunday-school and for many years before his death had a large Bible class of adults. He was fond of music, having for many years taught music. In his earlier years he conversed fluently in the French language, which he learned while teaching among French families at Montreal. -,-~> (D, "Yr^o^Lx. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 287 JOHN E. DE MOTT. John E. De Mott is a prominent and well known early settler, who has been a witness of the coun ty's developement from a pioneer epoch in its history to the present day of progress and prosperity, and as the years have gone by he has contributed to the sum total of busi ness advancement through his connection with farming interests. He resides on sec tion seven, Niles township, where he has a good farm property. His birth occurred in Orleans county, New York, August 11, 1830. His father, Thomas De Mott, a na tive of Madison county, New York, was born March 4, 1800, and was of French de scent. A farmer by occupation, he devoted his entire life to the tilling of the soil and removed from his native county to Orleans county, New York, where he died on the 30th of December, 1861, when in his sixty- second year. He married Miss Lucy Worth, a native of New York, born March 5, 1798. She lived to be about forty-eight years of age, passing away on the 10th of June, 1846. They were married March 12, 1828, and be came the parents of five children, three of whom reached adult age. John E. De Mott is the only member of the family now living. He was reared in his native state, acquired his education in the district schools and in an academy, and thus having more than the ordinary school privi lege, he afterward engaged in teaching school, entering upon the active work of the profession when about nineteen years of age. In 1849 he came west and taught school in Berrien county, being one of the early edu cators of this part of the state. He after ward returned to his native place and was married on the 6th of April, 1853, to Miss Catherine Herkimer, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Swobe) Herkimer. Mrs. De Mott was born in Montgomery county, New York, and was a distant relative of General Herkimer of Revolutionary fame and one of the distinguished citizens of the Empire state. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. De Mott remained residents of Orleans county, New York, until 1855, when they removed to Berrien county, Michigan, lo cating first on Portage Prairie, where they remaining for a year. They afterward lived upon a rented farm in Niles township and about 1861 Mr. De Mott bought the farm where he now lives. He engaged in teaching school in the winter months for about five years and was thus early associated with the educational development of this part of the state. The summer seasons were devoted to the work of the fields and throughout the intervening years he has continued his agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, his being the banner farm of the township. He has added to his possessions from time to time as his financial resources have increased and be has carried on his farm work in keeping with modern ideas of progress and improvement in agricultural lines. Unto Mr. and Mrs. De Mott have been born eight children : Thomas E., a promi nent farmer of Niles township; Luella J. and Lizzie C, both of whom are deceased; Anna B., the wife af Henry L. Sanford, of Oswego county, New York ; Lucy Mary, de ceased; Mary Alice, the wife of George M. Rowlee, a farmer of Niles township ; Lottie, the wife of Charles E. Fisk, of Chicago ; and Harry J., also of Niles city. All were born in Berrien county with the exception of Thomas, whose birth occurred in Orleans county, New York, before the parents re moved to Michigan. Mr. De Mott has been closely identified with the work of making Berrien county what it is today and has resided within its borders for about a half century. He and his wife are well known as worthy pioneer citi zens here and they have celebrated their fifty-third wedding anniversary. They are members of the Presbyterian Church at Bu chanan, Michigan, in which Mr. De Mott has served as elder and trustee, and in the work of the church he has taken an interested and helpful part, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He votes with the Democracy and served as supervisor by appointment. He has also been school inspector and public affiairs are 288 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY to him a matter of deep interest and concern, he manifesting at all times a public-spirited citizenship that promoted active co-operation in measures for the general good. MITCHEL ALEXANDER, living on section six, Niles township, where he has a good farming property, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May io, 1831. His father, A. M. Alexander, was also a native of that county, born in the year 1799, of Scotch parentage, his grandfather having been a native of Scotland. On leaving the Keystone state he removed to- Vermilion county, Indiana, and afterward became a res ident of Miami county, Ohio, where he lived until coining to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1845. He located in Buchanan township and in the latter part of his life devoted his ener gies to farming but was a wagon-maker by trade and followed that pursuit in his earlier years. He married Sarah Ann Van Pelt, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, born in 1 799, and a daughter of Joshua and Frances Van Pelt. The death of A. M. Alexander oc curred in 1899 when he was in his ninetieth year, and his wife passed away in 1881, when in her eighty-second year. They were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters, of whom two died in infancy. Mitchel Alexander was a youth of about fourteen years when he came with his par ents to Berrien county and his education was continued in the district schools of Niles township. He remained at home until after he had attained his majority and the occupa tion of farming became very familiar to him, as he assisted in the work of field and meadow. On the 15th of October, 1858, he made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Rosina Snyder, who was born at what is now Buchanan township, September 4, 1836. She is a daughter of John and Phebe (Maddren) Snyder, very early settlers of southwestern Michigan. Her father was born in Penn sylvania and her mother in North Carolina and their marriage was celebrated at White Water, Indiana. It was in the year 1828 that Mr. Snyder came to Berrien county and entered land on what is now section two, Buchanan township. This county was then an almost unbroken wilderness, in which there were large tracts of timber land through which no roads had been cut, while the streams were unbridged and the work of civilization and development scarcely begun. Mr. Snyder soon removed his family to the farm, where he built a log house and in true pioneer style began life, sharing in the hard ships, privations, experiences and pleasures incident to a settlement upon the frontier. He continued to give his attention to general ag ricultural pursuits for many, years with the result that he developed a good farm prop erty, upon which he remained up to the time of his death at the age of eighty-three years. His wife was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were ten children, six daughters and four sons, all of whom reached adult age and were mar ried. Mrs. Alexander was the fourth of the ten children. She has been a life-long resident of Berrien county and has been familiar with its history in the different phases of development and growth for many years. At the time of their marriage, the young couple located in a little log house just west of their present home in. what is now Bu chanan township. They remained there for seven years, at the end of which time he traded his farm for the place which is now his home and the only move that he has ever made is when he took up his abode on this farm in 1866. His time and labors have been devoted untiringly to the development and cultivation of his land and as a farmer he is energetic and enterprising, making a good property through his close application and untiring effort. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have no chil dren of their own but have reared a niece. The present farm comprises seventy-seven acres of land, which is rich and productive, having been brought under a high state of cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat where national issues are involved, but at local elections casts an independent ballot. Fifty-five years have come and gone since he located in Berrien county and many changes have been wrought by time and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 289 man. He has borne his full share in the work of agricultural progress and as the re sult of his untiring effort is now a substan tial farmer with good property interests that yield him a comfortable living. GEORGE HANLEY is a prominent and successful farmer living on section 27, Buch anan township. He was born in Tompkins county, New York, December 25, 1843. His father, Peter Hanley, was a native of Ireland, where he remained until about twenty-two years of age. He married then and came to America in 1836, attracted by the broader business opportunities and advantages of the new world. Hoping to benefit his finan cial condition he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for New York. He located in Tompkins county of the Em pire state, where he followed farming until he made his way westward in 1848, at which time he located in Fulton county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days, dying at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Judge, was also a native of Tompkins county, New York, and her last days were passed in Ohio, she being sixty-four years of age at the time of her demise. By her marriage she has be come the mother of ten children, one daugh ter and nine sons, but only five of the num ber reached years of maturity, while four are living at this writing, in the summer of 1906. George Hanley, the fourth child and fourth son in the family, was seven years of age when his parents removed to Fulton county, Ohio, where he resided until seven teen years of age. In that time he acquired a good public school education. When a youth of seventeen he enlisted in behalf of his country in October, 1861, as a member of Company A, Sixty-seventh Ohio Volun- teen Infantry, joining the army as a private. He served until the close of the war and was promoted to sergeant. His military experi ence brought his much arduous service. He took part in the battle of Winchester, Vir ginia, under Generals Shield and Jackson, and on the 13th of April, 1862, was in the engagement at Mount Jackson, Virginia, 19 and the 4th of July of the same year he met the enemy in battle at Harrison's Landing; was at Morrison's Island, South Carolina, July 10, 1863 ; at Fort Wagner, South Caro lina, July 18, 1863; at Chester Station, Vir ginia, May 10, 1864; Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, July 19 and 20, 1864; and in the charge in front of Petersburg in 1865. The same year he took part in the 'engagement at Sailor's Creek and was in many lesser hat- ties. After the surrender of Lee he was mustered out on the 9th of May, 1865. He never sustained a wound although he was in many hotly contested engagements and at the close of the war but seven of his com pany of one hundred and ten men returned. Mr. Hanley served for four years and two months and the only time that he was off active duty was two weeks spent at Craney Island, Virginia. With this exception he was on daily duty during the war and was never neglectful of any task assigned him. An intrepid soldier, brave and fearless, he made a splendid military record. He re-en listed in October, 1863, in the same com pany and regiment and at the close of the war he came to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1865. He bought a farm in Niles town ship at the bend of the river, two miles from Buchanan, where he spent twenty years, de voting his time and energies to general agri cultural pursuits. In 1885 he sold out and bought another farm three miles northwest of Buchanan, on which he lived for about fourteen years. He then purchased his pres ent farm, on which he located. He still owns the farm north of Buchanan, however, and thus has two valuable properties in this county. On the nth of August, 1868, Mr. Han ley was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Broceus, a daughter of Abram and Abigail (Smith) Broceus, and who was born in Buchanan township, Berrien county, July 12, 1850. Her parents were among the pioneer settlers of Berrien county, coming from Ohio, but were natives of Pennsylvania. They had ten children, six daughters and four sons, all of whom reached manhood or womanhood. All lived to be married and the first death in the family occurred in 290 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1903, when Mrs. Rough passed away at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Han ley have two children: Gertrude, now the wife of F. E. Newberry, of St. Louis, Mis souri; and Fred, who married lola Magnus, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Hanley is a member of William Par- rett Post, G. A. R., of Buchanan. His resi dence in Berrien county covers forty-two years and during this period he has largely followed agricultural pursuits, becoming recognized as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of his community. He now was fifty-six acres where he lives and one hundred acres on his farm north of town and his property interests are proof of a life of thrift and enterprise, for he had little cap ital when he started out on his own account. In matters of citizenship he has ever dis played the loyalty that characterized his con duct when as a soldier on southern battle fields he followed the old flag. FREDERICK C. FRANZ, numbered among the prominent farmers . of Niles township, where he is also serving as sup ervisor, -makes his home on section two, where he owns ninety acres of richly ¦cultivated land. This constitutes a val uable property but does not embrace all of his realty holdings, as he is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres in Mason county, Michigan. It was upon the farm where he now lives that his birth occurred, his natal day being January 8, 1871. His father, John G. Franz, was a native of Ger many and came to America in the year 1855, settling in Berrien county in 1865, at which time he took up his abode in Pipestone town ship. There he cleared and cultivated a tract of land which he purchased from a Mr. Lan don. After three years, however, he sold out and spent the succeeding year in Berrien township. On the expiration of that period he located in Niles township, settling on a farm which is now the home of his son, Frederick, and there .he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was about sixty-two years of age. In early manhood he wedded Miss Barbara Smith, also a na tive of Germany. She is still living and of the seven children, four sons and three daughters, born of this marriage, six are yet living. Frederick C. Franz, the sixth child and third son of the family, was reared upon the old farm homestead and acquired a common- school education. He also studied German and for some time attended the select school in Berrien Center. When not busy with his text-books his attention was given to the labors of the fields and he became familiar with all the work of farming from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested in the late autumn. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Franz chose Miss Bertha M. Dean, to whom he was married on the 17th of April, 1895. Her parents were George and Julia (Ward) Dean. Mrs. Franz was also born in this county and pursued a pub lic-school education. Five , children have been born of this marriage, Ruth, Lucile, Dean, Julia and Mildred, . all of whom are yet under the parental roof. The family home stands upon a good tract of land of ninety acres situated on section two, Ber rien township, which was once in possession of Mr. Franz's father and in addition to this property he owns one hundred and eighty acres in Mason county, Michigan. In his farm work he is practical, accomplishing re sults with methods which neither seek nor require disguise. Mr. Franz is a Democrat in his political views and has taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the party, regarding it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to uphold the principles in which he believes and which he deems of the greatest value to the government. He has been called to a number of township offices, being chosen clerk for three years, while in 1905 he was elected township supervisor and re-elected in 1906, so that he is now fill ing the position. He has ben connected with the Farmers' Institute, of which he served as president for two years and as secretary for two years. He has frequently been called to administrate estates, and thus the confidence and trust of the public is indicated. A life long resident of Niles township he is re- fyM^<2^5fc-j^ CITY OF BENTON HARBOR HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 291 garded as one of its leading* citizens and is a. man of genuine worth, valuing his own self-respect and the esteem of his fellow men more than wealth, fame or position. LUCAS BEYRER was for a long period connected with agricultural inter ests in Niles township, and is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has fur nished to the new world. He was born in Wurtemberg, on the 6th of January, 1833. His father, Lucas Beyrer, Sr., was also a native of Germany, and in the year 1856 the family emigrated to America, becoming resi dents of Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, where Lucas Beyrer carried on general farming. Lucas Beyrer spent the period of his minority in the fatherland, acquiring his ed ucation there, and in 185 1, when about eighteen years of age, he crossed the At lantic from Germany to the new world, for he had heard favorable reports concerning America and its prospects and resolved to try his fortune here. He first worked by the month for different farmers and from his wages he saved some money until he had a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm in Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan. This he did and began farming on his own account. Having made arrangements for a home of his own, Mr. Beyrer was married in 1861 to Miss Catherine Schultz, who was born in Bayern, Germany, August'20, 1835, and is a daughter of Frederick and Sophia (Nieb) Schultz, who were also natives of that coun try and came to America in 1871, locating in Bertrand township, Berrien county. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beyrer located in Bertrand township, where he be gan farming and day after day he performed such duties and labors as devolved upon him, until he had transformed his land into a very productive tract, from which he annu ally harvested good crops. He was thus en gaged in farming until about 1875, when he sold out and purchased the place where Mrs. Beyrer now resides. All his life was given to agricultural pursuits and he was practical as well as progressive in his methods, per forming labor that resulted in the acquire ment of a good property. He died in Feb ruary, 1904, leaving his family in comfor table financial circumstances. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beyrer were born six children : Mary, who is now in Kalamazoo ; Katherine, the wife of Charles A. Rogers, a resident of Cass county, Michigan ; Louisa, the wife of Henry Kehrer, whose home is in Van Buren county, Michigan; Minnie and Sarah, both at home; and William G, an electrician living in Wilmette, Illinois. All were born in Berrien county. The family has a farm of eighty acres of cultivable land and ten acres of timber in Berrien township. They are all members of the Congregational Church, at Niles, and are interested in the moral progress and development as well as in the material advancement of the commun ity. Mr. Beyrer was well known in the county and was identified with its early history. He served for six months in the war of the Rebellion but throughout the remainder of his residence in America was identified with farming interests and be came known as an active and substantial agriculturist whose labors resulted in suc cess, so that his family was left in comfort able circumstances. HENRY C. MORTON, was closely con nected with the movements, measures and plans resulting in progress in Benton Har bor and Berrien county and witnessed the development of the city from a tiny hamlet of primitive environments to one of the thriving metropolitan centers of the state, with all the conveniences of modern life. He was instrumental in projecting and building the Benton Harbor ship canal and likewise contributed of his time and means to the development and successful establish ment of many other important enterprises. He thus came to be recognized as one of the valued and prominent residents of Benton Harbor and was so widely and favorably known that his death came as a personal bereavement to the large majority of his fellow townsmen in the city and county of his residence. Born in New York in 181 7, he was a 292 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY son of Eleazer Morton, who in 1842 owned the only house on the east side of the river on the present site of Benton Harbor. This was a log tavern and its proprietor, then in the prime of life, was one of the most prom inent men in the county — a man whose counsel was sought by all his neighbors — a man of commanding presence, strict integ rity and strong will. He was also an author of some note and for years a correspondent of the New York Tribune. He assisted all who came to him in distress, but woe to the man who abused his hospitality. All passenger traffic from as far east as De troit passed his door — for Benton Harbor was the terminus of the Territorial road. It was in the year 1834 that Eleazer Morton removed with his family from Ohio to Michigan, remaining for about a year in Kalamazoo. Henry C. Morton was then seventeen years of age. There was no wagon road at that time to Lake Michigan, but the following year congress appropriated twenty thousand dollars and opened the road from Detroit to St. Joseph. The fam ily remained in St. Joseph that winter and in the spring of 1835 came to Benton Har bor, building a large log house in the woods. At that time there was not an inhabitant in Hagar, Sodus or Pipestone townships and only two families in Benton township. Upon reaching manhood Henry C. Mor ton became interested with his father in the development of Benton Harbor and from that time until his later years he was an im portant factor in its material growth and progress, generously donating large amounts of money for every improvement of im portance and in several instances aiding St. Joseph financially in times of stringency. In 1866 he was appointed postmaster of the village of Benton Harbor and Stanley Morton, then a boy, acted as mail carrier between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The following year Charles Hubbard was appointed postmaster but died before receiv ing his commission and H. C. Morton was reappointed. He continued in the office, with his son Stanley as deputy, until April, 1873, when he resigned. In the meantime he had removed the office to a business block which he had erected. Among the most notable improvements with which he was identified was the building of the ship canal. The idea was suggested at that time by Sterne Bronson, and Charles Hull was also concerned in the project. These three men worked harmoniously and indefatiga- bly, receiving little or no encouragement from their fellow townsmen but by their heroic efforts they made Benton Harbor, one mile inland, a great shipping point. To Mr. Morton, more than to the others, is due the credit for this great work. In the ac complishment of his object he never wav ered but spent his fortune and some of the best years of his life for the work and it is fitting that his son, J. Stanley Morton, of the Graham-Morton Transportation Com pany, should now be reaping the benefit of his father's labors in the utilization of the canal for shipping purposes. Henry C. Morton did not stop his work for the benefit of the city and county when the canal was completed but directed his energies into other lines. He did effective work in securing the extension of the West Michigan (Pere Marquette) Railway to Benton Harbor. He was also one of the largest factors in securing the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, making munificent donations thereto-. He was also instrumental in building the first swing bridge across the St. Joseph river at its mouth. He was also a promoter of jour nalism here. Mr. Morton gave his early political al legiance to the Whig party and on its disso lution joined the ranks of the new Republi can party of which he was an earnest ad vocate. He was elected to the state legis lature in 1862, but declined to again become a candidate. His ambition was not in the line of office holding and he filled no other positions save that of postmaster. He preferred to do his public service as a pri vate citizen and no official has ever labored more effectively and beneficially for the wel fare and substantial progress of the county; In early manhood Mr. Morton was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Stan ley, and unto them were born four children, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 293 but only one is now living, J. Stanley Mor ton, with whom the father spent his last years, the wife and mother having passed away in 1859. The family home was built by Eleazer Morton more than a half cen tury ago and is therefore one of the oldest landmarks of the city. Mr. Morton died in May, 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years,, and many there were who mourned the loss of a trusted, loved and honored friend, while his death marked the passing of one of the county's most valued pioneer residents. He left the indelible impress of his individuality upon the public life and his efforts were followed by tangible results and his influence and his labors were far- reaching and beneficial. J. STANLEY MORTON is the secre tary and treasurer of the Graham-Morton Transportation Company — a name familiar to all residents of the middle west, being al most synonymous with steamboat traffic on the Great Lakes. He has, moreover, been connected with various enterprises of direct and permanent benefit to Benton Harbor and the name of Morton has been associated with the city's substantial development and progress from early days, his grandfather, Eleazer Morton, having been one of Ben ton Harbor's pioneers. J. Stanley Morton spent his boyhood days in Benton Harbor, and was a student in the public schools between the ages of six and fifteen years. He then entered bus iness life, in which he was destined to achieve success, not because of any fortu nate combination of circumstances or ad vantageous environments, but because of close application and the exercise of his na tive talents supplemented by a laudable am- ition. When a youth of fifteen he accepted a clerkship in a general store, where he re mained for four years and at the age of nineteen he engaged in the drug business, opening a store which he conducted suc cessfully until 1873, when he sold out. He soon became interested in the steamboat business, which is one of the important in dustries of Benton Harbor because of its proximity to the lake, affording excellent opportunities for marine traffic. He entered into partnership with John H. Graham under the firm name of Graham, Morton & Company. In 1880 the name of the firm was changed to the Graham & Morton Transportation Company and as such car ried on an extensive business both in pas senger and freight traffic until 1893. In that year Mr. Morton retired from the com pany, in which for several years prior to his withdrawal he had served as secretary and treasurer. Later with others he became in terested in the Excelsior Gas Company, of which he was also secretary and treasurer. For several years he was vice-president of the First National Bank, of Benton Harbor, and has been identified with various enter prises of the city, which have contributed to general commercial prosperity as well as to individual success. He has keen insight into business opportunities and conditions and has used his advantages in the best pos sible way. He was vice-president of the Stevens & Morton Lumber Company, was treasurer of the Alden Canning Company, one of the organizers of the Benton Harbor Improvement Company and financially and officially interested with a number of other business concerns. He later returned to the steamboat business and is now the secre tary and treasurer of the Graham-Morton Transportation Company, which has a num ber of passenger and freight boats upon the lakes and is doing a most extensive and profitable business. On the 2 1 st of June, 1871, Mr. Morton was married to Miss Carrie Heath, of Ben ton Hajbor, a daughter of Salmon F. and Julia Heath. In politics Mr. Morton is a Republican and fraternally is connected with Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M. He is very enterprising and public- spirited, having the welfare of the city, county and state at heart and co-operating in every legitimate enterprise that tends to promote public progress. His money and influence are freely given in this direction and his business interests, too, have been of a nature that have contributed to the up building and substantial development of his native city. He has a very wide and favor- 294 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY able acquaintance in Benton Harbor and Berrien county, the circle of his friends be ing almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance. Noting his descent from one of the earliest pioneer families, we find in the grandfather the frontiersman; in the father, the founder; in the son, the pro moter. A typical representative of present- day progress, he is a figure containing, in potency at least, the stanch qualities of his two rugged forbears — that prompted the grandfather to' leave the east for the frontier and cause the father to institute new methods and establish new projects. His own power to group and co-ordinate has made him a man of affairs and yet he has also found time to. cultivate graces subtler than those of commercialism. JONAS H. HOLDEN, who, as a member of the firm of Beeson & Hol den, is extensively engaged in the cul tivation of peppermint, having about three hundred acres devoted to the raising of that herb, was born in Cornwall, Ontario, on the 6th of February, i860. His father, George R. Holden, was a native of Rutland, Ver mont, and remained in that locality until about twenty-five years of age. He was married at Fort Jackson in St. Lawrence county, New York, and afterward went to Canada, where he resided for a few months, during which time the birth of our subject occurred. He afterward returned to New York and thence went to Manteno, Illinois, in 1863. He moved to Three Oaks, Berrien county, in 1865, where he resided until 1870, going from there to Michigan City, Indiana, and afterward returning to Three Oaks. He owned a half interest in a featherbone factory in connection with E. K. Warren and was thus identified with the productive industries of this part of the county. A jeweler by trade, he followed that business from the time he first left Three Oaks until he returned, having learned the trade in this place under the direction of Mr. Fred War ren, a brother of E. K. Warren. He died at Toronto, Ontario, September 4, 1904, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. Trask, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and now resides in Jacksonville, Flor ida, at the age of sixty-five years. Jonas H. Holden is the eldest of their four children, the others being De Etta, the wife of H. W. Cook, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ninah May, the wife of A. G. Cummer, of Jack sonville, Florida, and John P., of Toronto, Canada. Jonas H. Holden was only about four weeks old when his parents removed from Cornwall, Ontario, to St. Lawrence county, New York, and three years later they arrived in Manteno, Illinois, reaching there in 1863. They spent two years in this city, and after ward went to Three Oaks, Michigan, where Mr. Holden continued to make his home for about seven years. He acquired a high school education and at the age of eighteen years took up the trade of a jeweler, which he followed until twenty-one years of age. He then came to Three Oaks, where he has made his home continuously since. His father became interested in a featherbone fac tory and Mr. Holden of this review accepted a position in the factory and became general superintendent, acting in that capacity con tinuously until about two years ago, when he severed his connection with manufactur ing interests and turned his attention to ag ricultural pursuits, his specialty being the raising of peppermint, in connection with D. H. Beeson, under the firm style of Beeson & Holden. They have about three hundred acres in Galena and Weesaw townships de voted to the cultivation of that plant, which has become an important industry and is bringing to them a very gratifying financial return, for their product finds a ready sale on the market. In 1885 Mr. Holden was married to Miss Matilda Caroline Haring, a native of Mich igan City, Indiana, and a daughter of August Haring. This union has been blessed with four children: Leona H., who is now at tending St. Mary's school at Notre Dame, Indiana; Mary E., a student in the same in stitution; Kenneth H. and Arthur J. H., who are students in the schools at Three Oaks. Mr. Holden has a fine home in the village/ which he erected in 1876, and its hospitality. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 295 is greatly enjoyed by the many friends of the family, who occupy an enviable position in social circles here. Mr. Holden has given his support to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of fran chise. He belongs to the Congregational Church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest, and he is also a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, be longing to the blue lodge in Three Oaks and the commandery at Niles. In his life he ex emplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft, being in thorough sympathy with its teach ings and tenets. He has always been a busy man, giving unfaltering attention to the duties of an active business career, and as the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings, becoming one of the sub stantial residents of the village, in which he has made his home from early manhood. WILLIAM BECHT, who is living in Watervliet township not far from the village of Coloma, was -born at "The Hemlocks," his father's home in Van Biiren county, Michigan, on the 28th day of December, i860. He is a son of Christian and Louise Amelia (Mitchell) Becht, who were natives of Germany and came to the United States fifty-two years ago. Making his way westward, the father worked in a sawmill and was thus early identified with the lumber interests of the state, which con stituted the first important course of living to the settlers in Michigan. His first home "The Hemlocks" was given in payment of a doctor bill, for his wife was ill for twenty- six years. He enlisted in the service of the Union army of the Civil war and remained with the army for three years. He was injured by a horse falling upon him while fording a river. After removing from Van Buren to Berrien county, he settled on a tract of land of thirty acres west of Coloma, building a little board cabin there. He is a shoemaker by trade and has since followed that business, yet making his home upon his farm near Coloma. His wife passed away March 18, 1905, in the seventy-third year of her age, while Mr. Becht has at tained the advanced age of seventy-five years. His wife was an invalid for more than a quarter of a century and required constant attention, her daughter Lucy acting as her nurse. She also had charge of the house from the age of ten years and sacrificed her own pleasure and prospects in life for the care of her mother and the younger chil dren of the family. There were nine chil dren born unto Mr. and Mrs. Becht, all of whom are yet living. William Becht, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until fifteen years of age, after which he was employed by J. D. Emery two summers, and then be gan working for H. W. Williams. He was employed in the lumber woods, rafting logs down the river and also working in a saw mill for six years. His time was thus spent until his marriage which important event in his life occurred on the first of January, 1885, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara Brant, a daughter of Edward and Martha Brant, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Becht was em ployed by Mr. Brant for three years, after which he rented the Brant farm until he purchased the property, comprising one hun dred acres of land. He also operates another farm of two hundred acres from Mr. Brant, who lives in Benton Harbor, having charge of the interests of his father-in-law in this part of the county. In his agricultural pur suits he is enterprising, active and progres sive and is devoting his attention to the rais ing of corn, cattle and hogs. He also has twenty acres planted to peaches, plums and apples,* and in addition there is an old orchard upon the place. He keeps eleven cows, also has high grades of horses as well as cattle. In his business he is meeting with creditable success and his close application and enterprise constitute the basis of his prosperity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Becht has been born a son, Lincoln Edward Becht, who is now twelve years of age. In his political affilia tions Mr. Becht is a Democrat but without aspiration for office. He displays in his life many of the strong and commendable traits of character of his German ancestry and at -296 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the same time has a progressive spirit and ready adaptability which have ever marked the American people. The success he has won is due entirely to his own labor and an analyzation of his history shows that he has placed his dependence upon the safe and sure qualities of determination and industry. He has never trusted to chance or any for tunate combination of circumstances and through earnest labor has won a creditable position as an agriculturist of Berrien county. HENRY EMLONG, living on section four, Lake township, has through the exercise of industry, perseverance and keen business judgment developed a well improved and profitable farm. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, May 3, 1858, and when twelve years of age was brought to Lake township by his parents, Henry and Fannie (Mathews) Emlong, the father a native of Germany, born near Alsace, while the mother was a native of Switzerland. With their respective parents they came to America and were married in Toledo, Ohio, where they resided until about 1870, when they came with their family to Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. Mr. Emlong passed away at the age of sixty-five years and his wife when seventy-two years of age. In their family were ten children, of whom four died in Toledo and six became residents of Ber rien county, namely : Emma and Mary, now deceased; Henry, of this review; Charles, who is living in Lincoln township; John, of Lake township ; and Hartwell. Brought to this county when a lad of twelve years, Henry Emlong was reared on his father's farm and in his youth began working by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed for about ten years, making his home, however, with the family. He now owns a farm of eighty acres. Twenty- three years ago he purchased forty acres and has since added another forty-acre tract just across the road, so that he now has eighty acres situated on sections four and five Lake township. Of this, sixty-five acres is under cultivation. He has given his attention to the raising of fruit and grain and has a well developed farm property. He has erected a good residence and substantial barn and has made many other excellent improvements which acid to the value and attractive appear ance of the place. In all of his farm work he is progressive and enterprising and his efforts have resulted in the acquirement of a gratifying measure of success. Mr. Emlong was married on the twenty- second of December, 1886, to Miss Mary Myer, who was born in Lake township, Aug ust 24, 1867, a daughter of George Henry and Margaret (Bachman) Myer, whc^were natives of Germany. They came to this country in early life and were married in Michigan. The father died at the age of fifty-nine years, but the mother is still liv ing and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Emlong. Unto our subject and his wife has been born four children: Pearl Mae, Clyde Edward, Ralph Raymond and Viola Edythe. In his political views Mr. Emlong is an earnest Republican and for eighteen years has served as school treasurer. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Bridg man and to the Modern Woodmen camp, as sociations which indicate much of the char acter of the man and the principles which permeate his life and shape his conduct, mak ing him a respected and valued resident of Lake township. FRANCIS A. DANIELS. When the tocsin of war sounded and men from all parts of the country and in all walks of life responded to the call of the Uuion, Francis A. Daniels was among the number who of fered his services to the government and fol lowed the stars and stripes on southern bat tlefields. His last days were spent on sec tion six and seven, Wesaw township, where he owned a farm of one hundred and eight acres known as the Maple Grove farm. In his demise the county lost one of its most valued and respected citizens. He was born near Detroit, Michigan, August 14, 1839, and passed away at New Troy, May 3, 1889. He was a son of James and Isabel Daniels and the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children. Reared to farm life near BELL OPERA HOUSE JU^/}t^ fo/f.fo% HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 297 Detroit, he lost his parents when still a young lad of about thirteen years. When fifteen years of age he went to Freeport, Illinois, and lived with a brother for several years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Forestor, Iowa. He had en gaged in clerking in a store with his brother in Illinois and also assisted in the operation of a flour mill and he contiued in the latter business in Iowa until he enlisted for ser vice in the Civil war, joining the Ninth Iowa Infantry as a member of Company A. He was at the front for about one year with the division under. Gen. Curtis and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and in other en gagements. He sustained a bullet wound in the arm and contracted heart disease, by rea son of which physical troubles he was dis charged. He then returned to the north, making his home at Oak Park, Illi nois, now a suburb of Chicago, and he was married at River Forest an other suburb on the west side of the metropolis. Subsequently he was em ployed in his brothers sawmill at Ford River, Michigan, for a year and lived in Chicago for two years, where he conducted a store. Becoming ill he removed to New Troy, Mich igan, where he continued the operation of a sawmill. Turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he purchased a farm of one hundred and eight acres on section six, Wesaw township and continued actively in its operation until his death, the Maple Grove farm becoming one of the valuable proper ties of this part of the county. Mr. Daniels was married in 1863 to Miss Mary A. Steele, who was born in Chicago, her father at that time being sheriff of Cook county. Her natal day was September 8, 1840, and she lived in Chicago and at River Forest until her marriage. Her parents were Ashbel and Harriett (Dawley) Steele, the former a native of Connecticut and the lat ter of England. The father spent his boy hood days in the state of his nativity and afterward removed to Rochester, New York, where he was married. Subsequently he went to Chicago in 1833 anc' spent his re maining days in that city and in the suburban town of River • Forest. His political allegiance in early life was given to the Whig party, and he was a rec ognized leader in its ranks and was serv ing as sheriff of Cook county at the time of the birth of his daughter, Mrs. Dan iels. He also held other public offices, the duties of which were discharged with promptness and fidelity. He found condi tions very primitive in Chicago at the time of his removal there. Hotel accommodations were very poor and there were few good buildings to rent. He erected a number of good homes there, which he afterward sold. He build twelve in one year, which was con sidered an extensive building business for those days. In his family were eight daugh ters and two sons, Mrs. Daniels being the seventh daughter and seventh child. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were born six children : Flora A., now the wife of L. A. Addison, of Chicago; Clara Louise, the wife of Solomon McKeen, of the same city ; Eunice, the wife of Charles Peterson of Chicago; George, who operates the home farm ; John H., who died at the age of seven years; and Emma J., the wife of Peter J. Pierce of California. Mr. Daniels was a resident of Berrien county from 1868 until his demise. The Grand Army post of New Troy was named in his honor, showing the regard in which he was held by his comrades of the war. In politics he was a Republican but not active as an office seeker, although he was deeply interested in the success of the principles of the party. He was an earnest worker, how ever, in the Methodist church and acted as class leader for many years and was trustee at the time of his death. He was a man who stood high in public regard, for he was worthy the confidence of his fellow towns men and lived a life characterized by all that is commendable in man's relations with his fellowmen. His widow still owns the Maple Grove farm and, like her husband, enjoys in New Troy and the surrounding commun ity the warm friendship of many with whom she has become acquainted. JOHN BELL, M. D. When the name of Dr. John Bell was added to the roll of 298 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY honored dead Benton Harbor lost her "best beloved citizen" and Berrien county her most distinguished member of the medical fraternity. Known and honored for many years as a citizen of virtue, integrity and manly strength, such were his leading char acteristics that his friends may well feel "This was a man; take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again." He entered life in Milton, Halton county, Ontario, September 25, 1840. His father, Joseph Bell, was a native of England, whence he crossed the Atlantic to Canada in early life and there followed the occupa tion of farming, so that the son was reared to agricultural pursuits. His education was gained in the grammar school of his native city and, ambitious for further in tellectual advancement and progress, he en tered the Toronto University, wherein he completed a full course in medicine. Think ing to> find better business opportunities across the border, Dr. Bell located for prac tice in St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1861, and from that time until his death, covering a period of forty-one years, he was an able member of the medical fraternity of Ber rien county and moreover a man whose kindly spirit, generous impulses and broad humanitarian principles endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. After prac ticing medicince for two years in St. Jo seph, ambitious to attain a still higher de gree of proficiency, he matriculated in the medical department of the University of New York City, where for two years he con tinued his studies, the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine be ing conferred upon him by that institution. Returning to Michigan, Dr. Bell opened an office in Benton Harbor, where for thirty- eight years he continued in active practice. During his younger days his opportunities for obtaining a theoretical knowledge of medicine were the best obtainable and he availed himself to the utmost of every op portunity. His thorough education together with a comprehensive system of reading, which he kept up to the day when he was stricken with his last illness, made him a successful physician. Unlike many physi cians who cease their scientific reading after they reach middle age, he continued a close, earnest and discriminating student of his profession, constantly broadening his knowl edge and promoting his efficiency, so that the demand for his professional service continu ally increased and he ranked as the fore most member of the medical fraternity in Berrien county. He held membership in the Berrien County Medical Society and the Michigan State Medical Society, before which body he often appeared in the dis cussion of questions of vital interest to the profession. He was also for. a long period a prominent member of the American Med ical Society. Moreover, Dr. Bell was a business man of enterprise and keen foresight and through his close and active identification with various business interests he contributed in substantial measure to the growth and ma terial progress of the city. At the time of his death he was connected with two busi ness enterprises of importance, being a mem ber of the firm of George M. Bell & Com pany, druggists of Benton Harbor, and also the owner of a half interest in the Bell Opera House. At a time when it seemed that the need of the city for an opera house was greater than any other municipal need he undertook the task of meeting this want and associated with George A. Mills erected the Bell Opera House, which stands as a mon ument to his enterprise and his devotion to Benton Harbor. It is said that no citizen among those who followed the pioneers and founders of the town took as deep and helpful an inter est in Benton Harbor's welfare as did Dr. Bell. He was continually suggesting meth ods for its improvement and he had the ability to combine and co-ordinate plans and forces with the result that successful accom plishment was achieved. For a time the city seemed at a standstill, or in fact suk fered a period of retrogression. In the fall of 1890 there were one hundred and twenty empty houses in Benton Harbor, and a pub lic meeting was called for the purpose of instituting a plan that would secure new manufacturing plants for the city and thus HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 299, promote its growth. Twenty men organ ized what was known as the Benton Har bor Improvement Association, each pledging one thousand dollars, which was paid in notes and the notes cashed at the bank. With this twenty thousand dollars factory bonuses were contracted to the amount of eighty thousand dollars. A special election was called and the citizens voted fifty thousand dollars to be used in paying these bonuses contracted, but the will of the people was thwarted by an injunction secured by Charles H. Godfrey on the ground that pub lic enterprises could not be encouraged from the public purse. The improvement asso ciation was thus made bankrupt with a debt of sixty thousand dollars against it. A meeting of the stockholders was called to consider the situation. There was no law which bound the men as individuals to pay the debts of the corporation, but Dr. Bell, J. S. Morton, J. H. Lee, A. R. Nowlen and Peter English declared that the debt must be paid in full, as the credit of the city was. at stake. None of these men were at that time able to put up twelve thousand dol lars without restraining their resources and their credit, but they kept faith with the manufacturers and paid the money. One who knew Dr. Bell well, in speaking of what he did in this connection, said : "The paying out of that twelve thousand dollars made Dr. Bell a poor man and he never recov ered from the financial stress. He lived very economically and never took a vaca1 tion. I often have asked why he did not get away and rest but he would always re ply, T am in debt and must work.' " George A. Mills, long a partner of Dr. Bell, said: "Dr. Bell is a man that few of us really appreciate. You couldn't get to know him well in four or five years. When you come to know him twenty years and have business relations with him, then you learn his true worth. Much has been said since his death concerning his character but the half has not yet been told. It would take a long time to tell of all the good that man has done. Few people know that it was Dr. Bell personally who secured the Milwaukee, Benton Harbor & Columbus Railway for Benton Harbor. No one besides Dr. Bell had much faith in the project. But he stuck by it in his characteristic manner and the road came here. That is only one thing he did in public life. It would take years to tell all the good that he did in his private life. Most of it we will probably never know." Dr. Bell was also closely associated with the political progress of the city. He was a stalwart Republican but never aggressive, and he never suffered from the bitter at tacks of an opposing party, for such was his private life and his devotion to his honest belief. He was not an office seeker and whenever he filled a position of political preferment it was at the earnest request of a great majority of the citizens. In 1877 he was chosen by popular suffrage president of the village, and twenty years later was elected mayor by a handsome majority, fill ing the office so acceptably that he was re elected for the succeeding year, giving the city a practical and business-like adminis tration with due regard to conservatism in public expenditures without neglect for pub lic progress. At the time of his death he was president of the city board of health. He was a man of keen insight and realized the possibilities of the city, foreshadowing these in the address which he delivered to the council upon his retirement from the office of chief executive. He said : "While Benton Harbor is at present of no great magnitude, we have the nucleus of what is destined to be a city of fifty thousand people in a few years. Our position on the lake, our railrc^d facilities and other very im portant advantages lead me to this claim and it is not only my opinion but also the opinion of many others. I cannot but advise the incoming city council to bear this in mind and whatever they may be called upon to do, always hold in view the probabilities of the hereafter. * * * There is one paramount subject that should engross the attention of the incoming council. I refer to the water supply of our city. We are well aware of the insufficient amount of water, and something should be done very soon to remedy it, to make the supply sufficient for 300 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY our present needs and also to prepare for the future. It may require the expenditure of considerable money. It is not probable that a sinking fund could be maintained to liquidate the water bonds when matured and it is my opinion it is not advisable to attempt it. Let future generations pay off that indebtedness, but see to it that we have sufficient and good water for city require ments." He also expressed himself very strongly on the question of city lighting and also concerning the indebtedness of the city. During the campaign much had been said by the rival party concerning the debt which hung over the city. Dr. Bell stated that although the city was bonded to the extent of one hundred and forty thousand dollars at that time, the income from the improve ments causing the bonds to be issued was meeting all expenses of the bonds, paying off a portion of them and would in due time pay the bonds and other expenses and return a revenue to the city. This has been the case in many instances. "The person who would make a statement derogatory to the city finances, through the public press, to go broadcast through the country, is no friend to the city," said he in righteous indignation over the attacks that had been made upon his beloved city, for the good of which he had labored the best part of his life. "When we commenced doing business two years ago there was a floating debt against the city of eight thousand dollars. During the two years you have paid this off together with bonds and other indebtedness coming due, amounting in all to twenty-three thousand five hundred dollars, and this has been done without any increase in taxation. * * * From the day my lot was cast here up to the present moment when I lay down an authority given to me without my desire or solicitation and accepted at my own pe cuniary loss and personal discomfort, I have done what I could for Benton Harbor — days of earnest work and such financial as sistance as I could afford have been at the service of this community. Together with the older citizens, many of whom have passed away, I labored to' start our little town at the end of the ditch and have shared in the pride of our newer inhabitants of the development of that little town into a city. Of the burdens which our continual growth has forced upon us, I have borne my share without complaint." While progressive in citizenship and in business and while holding friendship in violable, his best traits of character were reserved for his own fireside, and in De cember, 1867, when he was united in mar riage to Miss Anetta, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Dickinson) Hopkins, of Trumansburg. New York, he entered upon an ideal married relation. He was a man of most kindly and generous spirit. The poor and needy found in him a friend and he did not hesitate to give his professional service even when he knew that no re muneration would be received. He was valued in fraternal circles. He held mem bership with Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., St. Joseph's Council, R. & S. M., Calvin Brittian Chapter, R. A. M., and Malta Com mandery, K. T. He was also a member of the Benton Harbor lodge of Elks, one of the charter members of Bell Lodge, Knights of Honor, to which organization his name was given, and he became one of the highest ranking Knights of Pythias in the world. He joined that organization soon after its inception and labored untiringly for its ad vancement. In 1898 he received from the major general of the supreme lodge,* uni form rank of the order, the appointment as brigadier general and surgeon general of the supreme body. He was the highest rank ing surgeon in the order in the entire world and a few other officers in the order preceded him in rank. He served several terms as master of the blue lodge and was one of the best informed Masons in Michigan. It is said that he did more in behalf of fraternity than any other man in Berrien county. The death of Dr. Bell came after a brief illness, on the 29th of December, 1901. During his illness the foremost specialists of the west were called in consultation but nothing could be done to prolong his life. He underwent severe suffering without a word of complaint and in his dying hours his thought was more for his family than HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 301 for himself. His remains lay in state fn the opera house, where hundreds of his fellow citizens passed by the casket to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had long known and honored, and the funeral cortege was one of the most impos ing ever seen in Berrien county. The opera house was suitably decorated, the prosce nium arch and boxes being draped in black, while the orchestra pit was covered with a solid bank of flowers. Perhaps no better indication of the character of Dr. Bell could be given than the words of the funeral eulogy as pronounced by the Rev. W. P. French, who said : "There have been many deaths in this city of prominent citizens in the past but never one that has been more deeply deplored than that of the man whose loss we mourn today, and if ever I desired talent of eulogy it is on this occasion, that I might be capable of properly placing be fore you and of paying a fitting tribute to the memory of Benton Harbor's most highly esteemed and best beloved citizen, Dr. John Bell. But I cannot do this. I can only hint at a few of the many com mendable traits of his magnificent charac ter. Now I have little sympathy with that sentimentality that defies either the living or the dead but there are characters which bear the closest scrutiny and the severest tests, which have been tried in the furnace and been proven true, which have been weighed in the balance and have not been found wanting, which have been declared sterling by general consent. These we love and prize, and such was the man whose loss we mourn today. There was a beauty, a charm about his character and life that won the hearts of all. This is why it is there is such a general expression of sorrow at his death. I say general, for it is confined to no class of our citizens, both old and young, rich and poor alike feel that they have sus tained a personal loss. It is as if the sorrow of death had entered every home. Strong men wept when they learned of his death. Many tears have been shed by people who do not ordinarily weep over the death of any outside of their own home circle, but all through these two cities and the county where he was known, persons that perhaps the deceased never suspected cherished such kindly regard and esteem for him, have given expression to their feelings of deepest sorrow. Dr. Bell was indeed a remarkable man, possessing a character complete and symmetrical in all its parts. In the first place he was a truthful man. He had the highest regard for his word. Of him it can truly be said his word was as good as his bond. As one said to me before I became intimately acquainted with the deceased, what Dr. Bell tells you, you can believe, and I have found this statement true. He always spoke the truth in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and his example in this particular is worthy of imitation and is a stern rebuke to the falsehoods and shams practiced by too many. Dr. Bell never lost friends by being two-faced. There were no subterfuges, no double dealings in his con duct, but he gained the confidence of all by always speaking the truth. Again Dr. Bell was an honest man. There is abroad in this materialistic money-getting age a prevalent idea that success in accumulating property is the thing to be attained. Hence, when a man dies the question is asked, what was he worth? By this is meant, what was his financial standing, for how large an amount could he draw his check? The world has too little to do with questions as to the methods by which this success was reached. Dr. Bell did not believe in or act on this principle. He was a man of thor ough honesty, a man in whom the business public and all had confidence. He jealously guarded rfis reputation in this particular by meeting promptly all his obligations, and on one occasion at least he even drew upon his own resources to such an extent as to seriously inconvenience himself financially, to protect the credit of his city. Again Dr. Bell had a kind, tender and loving heart. No one in need who called upon him was ever denied or turned empty handed away, and in the practice of his profession he re sponded any hour of the day or night to the calls of the poor as promptly as to those of the rich and I venture the assertion that on his books today are thousands of dollars 302 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he never attempted to collect because he knew the persons were unable to pay. He believed in and practiced the golden rule, which teaches brotherhood broader than all human dogma, deeper than all isms and lasting as eternity. Dr. Bell was also a man of genuine public spirit. He was always ready to do service in the public behalf with out compensation other than the conscious ness of duty performed. No man in the history of this city ever did more to. build up or took a greater pride in Benton Har bor. Mother never loved her child with fonder affection than he cherished for his beautiful home city. It was a love, too, that did not evaporate in mere sentiment of good wishes for its prosperity while he self ishly hoarded and attended strictly to his own duties, but with time and money worked and gave to' beautify and improve it. Dr. Bell was also very largely what we term a self-made man, and in this his life has a les son for our young men today. The days so often spent by thoughtless and indolent young men in idleness, trashy reading or other forms of dissipation, he with energy and application devoted to study, laying with painstaking earnestness, perseverance, the foundation of that sturdy indomitable char acter which in later , life placed him in the front rank of his profession. And with all he was ever the perfect gentleman, genial and courteous in his conversation and inter course with others, polished in his manner, intelligent, educated, refined and affable. No wonder then the community is in tears for the loss of one whose noble life and char acter endeared him to the hearts of all who knew him." GEORGE M. BELL, M. D., practicing along modern scientific lines in Benton Har bor, was born in Milton, Halton county, in the province of Ontario, Canada, September 9, 1848, his parents being Joseph and Mary (Teetzel) Bell. His childhood days were passed in Canada, where he acquired his elementary education. At the age of fifteen years he came to Berrien county, Michigan, and after completing his more specific ally literary education he began read ing medicine under the direction and in the office of his brother, Dr. John Bell, a practitioner of Benton Har bor. As a further preparation for his chosen calling he matriculated in the medical de partment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1869 and there pursued his studies with perseverance and arder. He was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1870 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and during the following year he pursued a course of lectures in the Chicago Medical College, from which he was also graduated. The winter of 1874-5 he at tended Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, from which institution he was graduated in 1875. He has had every ad vantage which thorough training can give, and is a man of broad and thorough erudi tion in the line of his chosen calling. Dr. Bell entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Benton Harbor, where he has since continued, and although he is a general practitioner he has given spe cial attention to the diseases of children. He has been surgeon for the Big Four Railroad Company for fifteen years and has been a member of the board of pension examiners since 1886. He is also surgeon to the Ben ton Harbor & St. Joseph Electric Railway system. Since the death of his brother, Dr. John Bell, he has conducted alone the drug store which they had carried on together for so many years. He has long been recog nized as holding a foremost position among the physicians and surgeons of southwestern Michigan, where his eminent abilities and broad knowledge are universally recognized and admired. He is one of the most devoted disciples of the science of therapeutics and has not only won from his profession the laurels of success but has also been instru mental in affecting advancement along lines of scientific medical practice. His studies have been extensive and thorough and it has ever been his aim to keep abreast with every advancement made in the profession. In May, 1876, Dr. Bell was married to Miss Anna Nichols, a daughter of Edgar and Anna Nichols, formerly of New York. Mrs. Bell was born in San Antonio, Texas, GEORGE M. BELL HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3°3 and they now have one son, John Bell. So cially Dr. Bell is a Mason, belonging to Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M. ; Cal vin Brittian Chapter, No. 56, R. A. M., at St. Joseph; the Knights of Honor, and the Maccabees. In politics he is independent. It is well that his profession has deep in terest for him, as it leaves him little leisure time for public service or social enjoyments, yet he is a man of genial nature whose friends are many. In his practice he has been very successful and his life record is another proof of the statement of Goethe that "merit and success go linked together." JOHN SHAFER was numbered among the worthy citizens that the fatherland furnished to Berrien county. His birth occurred in Wittenberg, Germany, Janu ary 1, 1844. His parents were John and Jacobina (Boyle) Shafer, natives of Germany. They came to the United States with their two children about 1845 and made their way direct to Lake township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father became one of the extensive property owners of the locality and was worth at one time sixty thousand dollars. He was a leading and influential resident of the community and belonged to that class of representative men who while promoting individual success also advance the general prosperity. In the family were nine children: Anna, deceased; John, of this review; Mrs. Katherine Kramer, of St. Joseph; William, who has passed away and whose life record is given elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Eva Reck, of Lake township; Levi, who is living in Oronoko township; Gottlieb, of Oronoko; Mrs. Mary Feather; and Mrs. Olive Myers, of Lake township. John Shafer was only three years of age when brought by his parents to America, the family home being established in Lake township, where he spent the remainder of his life. The occupation to which he was reared he chose as a life work and was always connected with farming interests. He owned two farms, comprising one hun dred acres in the home place on section twenty-four and eighty acres a half mile dis tant on section twenty-three, Lake township. He personally conducted both places for general farming purposes, carrying on the work with the aid of his sons. He was prac tical in all that he did and was a very in dustrious, hard-working man. He started with only fifty acres of wood land that his father gave him but his diligence and enter prise enabled him to add to his property and as the years went by he gained a place among the substantial residents of this part of the state. During the last nine years of his life, however, he was an invalid and his sons operated the farm. Mr. Shafer was united in marriage, July 11, 1872, to Miss Mary Rymer, and they became the parents of four children : Fred, who cultivates the old home place; Laura, the wife of Melvin Boyle, of Buchanan; Almeda, the wife of George Brady, of Oro noko; and John, of Lake township. After losing his first wife, Mr. Shafer was mar ried in 1889 to Miss Sarah J. Fleisher, a native of Center county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Shafer voted with the Democracy but did not take a very active part in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his ener gies upon his business interests. As stated, he became the owner of two valuable farms and his success was largely attributable to his own labors. He was a kind-hearted man and his good qualities made bim well liked by all. He died May 12, 1906, and for many years to come his memory will be cherished by those who were associated with him and knew him well in the active affairs of this life. • JOHN B. NIXON was born Decem ber 5, 1856, in a log house on the farm on section twenty-seven, Lake town ship, on which he still makes his home. He is a grandson of John B. Nixon. His paternal great-grandfather, John Nixon, Sr., was a native of Scotland and when a young man came to the United States, after which he was married in South Carolina to Chris tina Gregory. He was a carpenter and mill wright, following those pursuits throughout his business life and for many years he made his home in New' Jersey, where his death 3°4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY occurred. His son, John B. Nixon, was born in South Carolina, November 17, 1789, and in his youth went with his parents to New Jersey, where he was married to Nancy Peck. Subsequently he removed to Conners- ville, Indiana, and iii 1836 came to this county, casting in his lot with its pioneer resi dents. He followed the trade of shoe-mak ing during the greater part of his life and died at Berrien Springs, October 31, 1847. His son, John H. Nixon, was born in Con- nersville, Indiana, August 24, 1819, and in 1836, at the age of seventeen years, came to Berrien county with his father, walking the entire distance. He purchased what is known as the old home farm and spent his remaining days thereon, it being his place of residence from 1855 until his death, which occurred on the first of June, 1905. He had here one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting a well developed and a highly improved property. He was a mason by trade and followed that pursuit to' some extent in early days. He assisted in erect ing the first brick building in St. Joseph — the Hoyt Bank — and in his later years his attention was confined to farming operations. He and his sons cleared the home farm and placed it under cultivation. In politics he was a stanch Democrat for many years but his early political support was given to the Whig party. He was always active in polit ics and held a number to township offices, serving as supervisor, treasurer, township clerk and in other positions of public trust. He wedded Mary O. Keef, who was born in Ireland near Dublin, December 13, 1824, and died in this county, February 28, 1903. She came to America at the age of nine years with her parents, settling first in Camden, New Jersey. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were born eight children : Mills H., who is living in Holland, Michigan; Mary L., who died unmarried; Lewis B., a resident of South Bend, Indiana; John B., of this re view; Charles M., Henry, Frank and Dick, all of whom are now deceased, although all lived to years of maturity. John B. Nixon was reared amid pioneer environments, remaining with his parents on the home farm until 1882, when at the age of twenty-six years he left the parental roof and removed to Chikaming township, where he purchased forty acres of land, upon which he resided for about five years. He then went to New Troy, where he engaged in general merchandising for about five years and also acted as postmaster during that time under the administration of President Cleve land. On selling out his store he returned to his present farm, whereon he has since resided, having here seventy acres of the original homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-seven, Lake township. He has a fine brick residence which was erected in 1880, and which was the first brick dwell ing to be built in the township. His place is devoted to general farming purposes, and the raising of fruit and stock are made special features of his business. The orchards and fields are kept in excellent condition and everything about. his place indicates his care ful supervision and his excellent business methods. Mr. Nixon was married in 1879 to Miss Mary English, a native of this county, and unto them was born a daughter, Inez, now the wife of Harry Castleman, a resident of Benton Harbor. For his second wife Mr. Nixon chose Miss Sarah Collier, to whom he was married in 1894. She is a native of this county and a daughter of R. D. Collier. Two children grace this union : Valeria and Grace May. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Nixon has given his sup port to the Democracy. He was appointed supervisor four years ago and at me next regular election was defeated for that office, but has been elected twice since that time, so that he is now serving for the third term and he is giving to his constituents a most capable service. He has also been highway commissioner for one year, was drain com missioner five years and served for one year to fill out a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Ordor of Odd Fellows and in the county where his entire life has been passed he is widely and favorably known. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 305 MRS. HELEN VAIL, who occupies a beautiful home in the southern part of St. Joseph and has a fifty acre farm in Berrien county devoted to the rais ing of pears, has spent her entire life in this portion of the state. She is a daugh ter of Samuel Russell, who became one of the pioneers of this section of Michigan and for many years was closely identified with the work of upbuilding and development. He was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, and was about thirty-two years of age when in 1835 he came to Michigan, hoping to find in the west better business opportunities than he enjoyed in the east. He was a tailor by trade and located at St. Joseph, where he set up a shop. The town then lay all along the flats below the hill along the old channel of the river and was but a small village but was favorably situ ated and he believed that a good future lay before it. Mr. Russell continued to work at the tailor's trade until that line of business was superceded by ready made clothing es tablishments. In the early clays he had an excellent trade drawn from the best class of citizens of this locality and his life was characterized by industry, perseverance and enterprise. Little was known concerning the ances tral history of the family. In 1839, Mr. Russell was married in this county to Miss Rebecca Jennings, a daughter of Elijah and Hester (Henderson) Jennings. From 1837 until 1839 Mr. Russell was the operator of the old ferry which afforded the only means of travel across the St. Joseph river. Afterward he purchased a farm in Benton township, carrying on its cultivation and im provement until his death, which occurred when Mrs. Vail was only ten years of age. Mr. Russell had reached the age of seventy years when called to his final rest. His widow survived him several years, dying about 1873. Mr. Russell was closely con nected with the early business interests of St. Joseph and is yet well remembered by many of the old settlers. He was one among those who laid the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county and he stood as the champion of all the progres- 20 sive movements which contribute to, general development. In this family were four chil dren. Mrs. Helen Vail, now the only member of the family living, in Berrien county, was born in St. Joseph and attended the little old red schoolhouse- between the ages of five and fifteen years, being instructed by Mr. Hawley, who was one of the old noted teachers of this city. The school contained but one room and was a private institu tion. It stood in the rear of the present Methodist Episcopal church and many of the children of an early clay pur sued their education there. In the same school Mrs. Doctor Parker taught for a number of years. Mrs. Vail began teach ing at the age of twenty years in the country schools and for four years was one of the capable and successful educators of the county. At the same time Mrs. Sarah Springstein and Mrs. George Smith were also teachers. On the 29th of November, 1866, Helen Virginia Russell gave her hand in marriage to Elijah S. B. Vail, who was born in New York city, Sq>tember 30, 1821, and was a representative of an old English family. His mother bore the maiden name of Nancy Totten, and in 1855 Mr. Vail removed to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he purchased land and was engaged in the real estate busi ness for a number of years. In 1864 he came to St. Joseph to engage in. fruit raising and the growing of trees, becoming agent for various nurseries of the east. He pur chased land and devoted his attention to horticultural pursuits, having sixty acres on the lake*shore, all of which he planted to fruit, making a specialty of peaches at a time when big prices were received for that crop. The yellows, however, took the or chard about 1 87 1 or 1872. He had planted about one half of his land to pears and after the peaches were destroyed set out the re mainder to pears. His place became a noted pear farm and in fact he was one of the larg est pear growers on the lake shore. His life was devoted to the raising of fruit. He made a close study of pears, continually im proving upon the fruit raised and in ex- 306 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY hibits he easily carried off the honors for variety and choice fruits. He set out ten thousand pear trees of various varieties. He never lacked faith in this section of the country and his own work demonstrated its possibilities in fruit production! He was very sanguine concerning this region as a horticultural center and gave his preference to pears. Pie also again planted peaches after it was demonstrated that they could be raised. His farm was very favorably located along the border of Lake Michigan and pre sented a splendid appearance because of the well kept condition of the orchards and the fine fruits produced. He always found a ready sale on the market for his crops, which were packed with greatest care and were therefore shipped in excellent condition". Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vail were born two sons and a daughter : Alfred T., who is living in St. Joseph ; Grace, who is with her mother ; and Paul R.^also at St. Joseph. Mr. Vail was an enthusiastic Democrat in his political views. He was reared in the faith of the Whig party, but in early manhood joined the ranks of the Democracy and was an earnest and capable political worker. He stood as a high type of the successful horti culturist of Berrien county, proving the value of this section of the state as a fruit producing center and by capable management of his individual interests acquired a gratifying competence. He passed away March 18, 1886, and there by the community lost a progressive busi ness man, his neighbors a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father. Mrs. Vail still retains fifty acres of the old home property extending along the lake shore and continues in the cultiva tion of pears. She has erected a beautiful home in the south part of St. Joseph and is here residing. She represents one of the old pioneers families of the county and her en tire life has here been passd, so that she has a wide acquaintance, while her many good qualities of heart and mind have gained her a large circle of warm friends. ABIJAH BIRDSEY, a resident of St. Joseph township, is one of the vener able citizens of Berrien county, having passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey. He is moreover entitled to special mention in this volume because of an honorable and upright business career and by reason of the fact that he was one of the early fruit growers of this locality. He was born in Seneca county, New York, near Waterloo, on the 7th of May, 181 9, and is descended from Connecticut ancestry, the Birdsey family having removed from the Charter Oak state to New York. When twenty-one years of age Abijah Birdsey was married to Miss Jane Ann Curtis, and four children were born unto them in New York. Mrs. Birdsey lived for twenty-six years after her marriage and died in St. Joseph. It was in the year 1852 that Mr. Bird sey located upon his present farm. His wife's father, Daniel Curtis, had come to Michigan in 1850, settling in Royalton, and his death occurred in 1853, soon after the arrival of our subject and his family. Mr. Birdsey purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid eighteen hundred dollars cash. This tract lay along the Niles road three and a half miles southeast of St. Joseph and near the St. Joseph river. It is now in St. Josephftownship at Royalton Heights. As the years have passed Mr. Birdsey has added to his property until he now has one hundred and ninety acres in the home farm. He has purchased new land at low prices and has placed nearly all of it under cultivation. He has been extensively engaged in horticul tural pursuits and he sold to one man off of an eight-acre tract of land peaches to the value of fourteen hundred dollars. Curtis Boughton of St. Joseph was about the first man to grow peaches successfully in Michi gan and Doctor Collins was also one of the pioneer fruit growers. Their success led others to engage in the same enterprise and the various peach raisers found the business a profitable one until the yellows cleaned out the orchards. When Mr. Birdsey met with this reverse in his business career, he turned his attention to the production of apples. Later he again set out peaches, but the prices have never been as good as they formerly were. He has sold eight hundred barrels of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 307 apples in a single season. In later years he has grown hay and has also engaged in dairying and general farming. He has put up one hundred tons of hay per year and he keeps eighteen cows for dairy purposes. His son operates the farm at the present time. Mr. Birdsey has always confined his atten tion to his farm and be built his present home about twenty-eight years ago. This remains one of the handsome and desirable residences of the county and he has a splendidly de veloped farm property, everything about his place indicating his thrift and enterprise and his careful supervision. As before stated, Mr. Birdsey lost his first wife after they had been married twenty- six years. She left three sons and three daughters: George W., who enlisted for service in the Civil war and died in Libby prison after having been confined there for several months, during which time he suf fered all the privations and horrors of prison life in the south ; Phoebe, the wife of Lucius Vesey, a carpenter and joiner residing in St. Joseph township; Lafayette, who was a livery man of Benton Harbor and died at the age of fifty years, leaving a widow and two children ;- Sarah, the wife of Charles Bort, a painter residing in St. Joseph; Lillie, the wife of William Howland, who is serving on the police force of St. Joseph ; and Adel- bert, who was born and reared on the home farm which he now operates. He married Miss Rose Martin and has three children by that marriage and one son by his first mar riage. Abijah Birdsey of this review chose for his second wife Miss Matilda Whittaker, who passed away about twelve years ago. He has since married Mrs. Sarah Sisson, of Chicago, whom he wedded ten years ago. In his political affiliations Mr. Birdsey is a Republican, giving unfaltering support to the party, but has never had aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his ener gies upon his business pursuits. He has lived in the county for more than a half century and has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development as its forest lands liave been converted into fine fields and orchards and as the work of industrial and commercial development has been carried forward in the towns and cities. He has ever been interested in what has been accom plished and at the same time he has carried forward his private business affairs in a man ner to insure success, being for many years a prosperous fruit grower of the country. He is now living retired, leaving the active work of the farm to his son, while at a vener able age he is enjoying a well-merited rest. WARREN A. SMITH, M. D., en gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Berrien - Springs in accord ance with modern, scientific ideas, is a native of Berrien township, where his life record began on the 28th of October, 1876. His father, W. B. Smith, was born in" Cass county, Michigan, and was a son of George Smith, who came to this state from Delaware at an early day. He was one of three brothers who settled in Milton town ship, becoming a pioneer resident of Cass county. After living there for a number of years, W. B. Smith removed to Berrien county, settling in Berrien township in 1875. He married Miss Maria Walker, who was born in this county and is a representative of one of its old and prominent families, her parents being Joseph and Catherine Walker, who during an early epoch in the develop ment of this portion of the state took up their abode in Berrien county. Her mother lived to the very advanced age of ninety- seven years. Her father, Joseph Walker, was born in England and crossed the Atlantic from that country to Canada, where he was married. He settled in Canada and after ward ramoved to Ohio, whence he later came to Michigan. His wife was born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Smith still survive and reside upon a farm in Berrien township, being worthy farming people of that community. In their family were two sons and a daughter. Dr. Smith, the eldest child, was reared to farm life and at the usual age began ac quiring a knowledge of the common branches of English, learning as a student in the dis trict schools. Later he entered the high school at Berrien Springs, from which he was graduated in 1897, and, determining up on the practice of medicine as a life work, 308 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in 1899, he entered Hahnemann College, of Chicago, from which he was graduated in the class of 1903. The same year he located for practice at Berrien Springs. He had read medicine for a year under Dr. Ull rey, at Niles, before entering college, and his thorough preparation made him well fitted for the arduous and important duties which devolved upon the conscientious phy sician. He has been in practice here for three years and his patronage has steadly grown in volume and importance. Dr. Smith was married in 1905 to Miss Maud Ploopenganer, a native of Indiana and a daughter of J. C. Hoopenganer, of Berrien Springs. The young couple oc cupy an enviable position in social circles and have a wide and favorable acquaintance in this locality. Dr. Smith is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraterni ties. In politics he is a Republican. His practice is making greater and greater de mands upon his time and energies, for his professional service is regarded as of much value throughout the community. ELMER H. WRIGHT, whose farm on section thirty-five, Three Oaks town ship, has been his place of residence since 1867, was born in Volney, Oswego county, New York, March 24, 1834, and is a representative of old families. He descended from English ancestry in both the paternal and maternal lines. His grand father, Smith Wright, was born in New Jer sey, whence he removed to New York state, where he followed farming until his death. Elmer H. Wright's parents were Louis and Ann Maria (Hubbell) Wright, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Con necticut. The mother passed away in Os wego county, New York, at the age of forty- five years, while his father's death occurred in Berrien, Michigan, when he was ninety- three years of age. In their family were six sons : Oscar, deceased ; Elmer H. ; Carl ton, who is living in Colorado; Almond, of Three Oaks; Sylvester, of New York; and Chester, of Colorado. Elmer H. Wright remained a resident of his native county until he was about thirty-one years of age. His father was a cooper by trade and when he became large enough he also learned that pursuit and engaged in the manufacture of barrels of all kinds. He likewise followed farming and his early years were a period of industry and enterprise. When he was twenty-two years of age he was married and began farming on a tract of timber land. He cut and cleared away the trees and continued to engage iii farming and coopering in the east until his removal to Michigan, where he arrived in 1865. He left home on the 26th of December, and arrived at Three Oaks in January, 1866. He has resided in Three Oaks township continuously since. In 1867 he built a home in Three Oaks, which he exchanged for his farm of eighty acres on section thirty-five, Three Oaks township. He afterward sold twenty acres to his son, and now has a well improved farm of sixty acres. This was all covered with timber when it came into his possession, but he cleared away the trees, took out the stumps, plowed the land and in due course of time harvested good crops. He has also engaged in the raising of stock in addition to general farming. Whatever he undertakes he car ries forward to successful completion and his farm is the visible evidence of his life of enterprise and thrift. On the 2d of September, 1856, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eliza Barrett, who was born in Cortland county, New York, September 2, 1835, a daughter of William and Eliza '(Farr) Bar rett, the former a native of Madison county, New York, and the latter of Cortland county, that state. They were farming people and" spent their last days in Oswego county, New York. The children of Elmer H. Wright and wife are Orla, Nellie and Verner, all" now living, and William, who died at the age of three months. Orla, who is now liv ing in Oceana county, Michigan, was mar ried at Three Oaks, Michigan, to Mary In gersoll, now deceased, by whom he had two children, Bert and Hattie. He was again married, to Miss Tillie Jensen, by whom he has the following children, Fay, Nellie, and baby. Nellie, wife of Rodney P. Hoad- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3°9 ly, of Chikaming, Berring county, Michi gan, has three children, Rodney, Fred and Mabel. Verner lives on a farm adjoining his father's farm, comprising twenty acres of the old homestead. He was born upon the old home farm May 30, 1874, and was married at Three Oaks, Michigan, February 14, 1895, to Amelia Wangerin, by whom he has two children, Howard and Earl. Mr. Wright has been a believer in Re publican principles since voting for John C. Fremont, and votes for the candidate of the party. He holds membership in the Con gregational church at Three Oaks. His residence in Three Oaks township covers forty years and he has therefore a wide ac quaintance, being held in warm regard by the friends who know him and who are acquainted with his excellent business methods and social qualities. JOHN C. HOOPENGANER is the genial and popular proprietor of Hotel Berrien and his business enterprise and ability are well known in Berrien Springs and to the traveling public. He was born in Steuben county, Indiana, -amidst the. beautiful lake region, on the 22d of February, 1858. His father, J. J. Hooper- ganer, was a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and became one of the early residents of Steuben county, Indiana. He still sur vives and now makes his home with his son John. His wife bore the maiden name of Ellen Brown. She, too, was a native of Ohio and she passed away at the age of seventy-six years. In their family were three sons, who still survive. John C. Hoopenganer of this review was the second son and was reared in Butler, Indiana, from the age of seven years, acquir ing his education in the schools there. After putting aside his text-books he became con nected with the drug business in Butler, con tinuing therein until 1886, when he came to Berrien Springs and purchased the Hotel Berrien of which he has since been proprie tor, covering a period of two decades. He has made this a hostelry worthy of the public patronage and it has found favor with the traveling public because of the earnest and effective efforts which he puts forth to please his patrons and administer to their comfort. In 1888, Mr. Hoopenganer was married to Miss Mary Hastings, a daughter of James Hastings, and unto them have been born two sons, John and Charles. By a former mar riage Mr. Hoopenganer had two daughters : Maud, now the wife of Dr. Warren A. Smith ; and Millie, wbo is assistant post mistress at Berrien Springs. Politically Mr. Hoopenganer is a Demo crat, active and influential, in the local ranks of his party, and for some time served as one of the village trustees. He has been a mem ber of the Odd Fellows society at Berrien Springs for four years and has taken an ac tive part in its public affairs, relating to its material progress and advancement along those lines of life which lead to good citizen ship or which promote the social interests of the community. GUY C. MARS, postmaster of Ber rien Springs, was born in Berrien town ship, April 30, 1 87 1, and is the young est of six children, three sons and three daughters, born unto Andrew W. and Susan (Kimmel) Mars, who became resi dents of this county in 1831. The son was reared in Berrien Springs and after attend ing the high school spent one year as a stu dent in the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. He was with the Michigan Central Railroad Company as sur veyor for three years, and at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war enlisted in the army as,a member of Company I, Thirty- third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made corporal. . He was in the ser vice for four months, half of which time was spent in active duty in Cuba. Following his return home Mr. Mars was assistant post master of Berrien Springs under his father for six years, and in March, 1905, was ap pointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, being the incumbent of the office at the pres ent time and giving a public-spirited and satisfactory administration. On the 23d of September, 1901, Mr. Mars was married to Miss Edna Kessler, a 3io HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY daughter of Keleon and Flora (Fisher) Kes sler, a pioneer family of Berrien county. Mrs, Mars was born in Berrien township, and they have one son, Guy Allan. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Mars occupy an envi able position, having a wide and favorable acquaintance in the village and throughout the surrounding district. Mr. Mars has al ways been a stanch advocate of Republican principles. The first office he ever held was that of clerk of Oronoko township, while in 1900 he was census enumerator. Fraternally he is conected with the Indepen dent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Springs and with the Modern Woodmen, and ' is popular with the brethren of those organi zations. HENRY KEPHART. The name of Kephart has figured in conection with the commercial interests of Berrien Springs since 1843, when the present drug business of which Henry Kephart is now proprietor was established and all through the passing years the name has been a synonym for com mercial integrity as well as business activity and enterprise. Mr. Kephart, now the senior partner in the store, was born in Berrien Springs, May 26, 1847, and comes of Swiss ancestry. The family was founded in America, however, at an early period in the colonization of the new world, and the paternal grandfather, a resident of Mary land, there followed the miller's trade. His son, Dr. Philip Kephart, was born in Maryland, in which state he spent his boy hood and youth, coming thence to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1842. He studied and practiced medicine and on locating in Ber rien Springs he also established a store for the sale of dry goods and drugs. Soon after his arrival here he gave up the actice practice of medicine to devote his attention to his commercial interests and continued active in the business up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy- third year. He was a prominent and influ ential factor in public life and was the first president of the village of Berrien Springs. He did much to establish the early policy of the state and to promote its substantial growth and improvement, and he may well be named and honored with the founders of the town. He married Miss Susan Kimmel, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of George Kimmel, who was also born in the Keystone state and was of German descent, Mrs. Kimmel was reared in Pennsylvania, and in Michigan gave her hand in marriage to Dr. Kephart, whom she survived for a number of years, passing away March 1, 1906, in her eighty- fourth year. In the family were ten children, all of whom reached adult age. Henry Kephart, the fourth member of the family and the second son, was reared in . Berrien Springs. He has been a life-long resident of this town, and in its public schools acquired his early education, which was supplemented by study in Kalamazoo and in a commercial college in Chicago. Be ing thus well trained for the duties of a mer cantile career he joined his father in busi ness and was admitted to a partnership in 1874. This relation was continued until the death of his father, when his brother Walter became a partner and remained in the firm for about six years, when Henry Kephart bought him out and became sole proprietor. This was in 1886 and Mr. Kephart continued alone in business until 1903, when he ad mitted his son Phillip to a partnership under the present firm style of Henry Kephart & Son. This commercial establishment* has ever maintained a foremost place in mer cantile circles in Berrien Springs. It is the oldest established business of the town, hav ing had a continuous existence from 1843, and Phillip Kephart is of the third genera tion in the ownership and control of , the busi ness. He is a graduate of the pharmacy department of the State University at Ann Arbor, and was also graduated in the Era course in pharmacy in New York city. In 1876, Henry Kephart was married to Miss Ellen R. Northrope, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Smith) Northrope, of Portage county, Ohio. She was born in Portage county, January 1, 1854, and when six years of age was brought to Berrien county, Michigan. Her education was ac quired in a private school in Rochester, New HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3H York, and she is a lady of superior culture and refinement. Two sons were born of this marriage: Philip, who is in partnership with his father; and Lewis E., now studying civil engineering at Purdue University in Indiana. In his political affiliation Mr. Kephart has been a life-long Republican and has served as president of the village council and also of the school board for many years. He is active and influential in public affairs and his influence is ever found on the side of progress, improvement and reform. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in fraternal as well as in busi ness and social circles occupies an enviable position. He is one of the best known men of Berrien Springs and his business integ rity and honor, combined with his personal worth makes him one of its most popular and honored citizens. WILLIAM DESTER, proprietor of a livery stable at Berrien Springs, was born in Paris, Stark county, Ohio, Aug ust 6, 1833. His father, Jacob Dester, was native of Germany, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to Amer ica, locating in Stark county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of shoemaking that he had learned prior to his emigration to the new world. He came to Michigan in 1842, settling in Oronoko township, three miles north of Berrien Springs, upon a farm which was then but slightly improved but which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He carried on general agricultural pursuits for a long period, his labors attended with excellent results, and he died at the venerable age of about eighty-two years. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Kogel, a na tive of Germany, the wedding being cele brated in Stark county, Ohio. She too, lived to a very advanced age, being in her eighty- sixth year at the time of her demise. There were two daughters in the family : Julia, the wife of Jacob Bechtal, of Berrien Springs; and Josephine, now deceased. William Dester, the youngest child and only son, was nine years of age at the time of his parents removal from Ohio to Berrien county. He was reared upon the home farm in Oronoko township and pursued his educa tion in the public schools, his time being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the fields upon the home place. He assisted in the farm work until after the in auguration of the Civil war, when, the fires of patriotism burning brightly in his breast, he enlisted as a member of Company C, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry in 1862. He served as a private until the close of the war in 1865 and participated in a number of important engagements and mil itary movements. He was detailed for spec ial duty at Louisville, Kentucky, and while on the Georgia campaign he became ill and was taken to a hospital at Knoxville, Ten nessee, where he remained until the war was brought to a successful termination. Mr. Dester then returned to his home at Berrien Springs in August, 1865, and for a time was upon his father's farm. Later he established a grocery store in Berrien Springs, which he conducted for eighteen years and he was also in the lumber business for five years. In 1901 he purchased the livery barn of J. C. Wycoff, and has since remained its owner, conducting a large busi ness which by reason of its extent and im portance is also very profitable. On the 15th of December, 1866, Mr. Dester was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Warner, a daughter of Major L. F. and Elizabeth Warner, and a native of St. Joseph, Michigan. Her father was an early settler of Sister Lakes, this state. Mr. and Mrs. DeSter have three children: Linus W. ; Arthur, who married Bertha Ocker, and reside in Laporte, Indiana; and Maud, who is at Saginaw. She is blind and is a graduate of the Lansing school for the blind. At the present time she is teaching in the sewing department of the institution for the blind at Saginaw. Mr. Dester is a Democrat and keeps well informed on the political issues and questions of the day. He was treasurer of his town ship for two terms and was postmaster un der President Cleveland for four years. He has served as a member of the board of trus- 312 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY tees and in other local offices in the village, and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. On the con trary he has proven a competent and faith ful officer, never neglectful of any duty de volving upon him. He belongs to the Ma sonic lodge at Berrien Springs, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to Kil patrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., and has filled all of the chairs in the first named. A resi dence of fifty-four years in Berrien county entitles him to rank with its early settlers, and his identification with many business in terests and progressive public movements have made him a leading resident of Berrien Springs, while his genuine per sonal worth entitles him to the regard which is uniformly extended to him by his fel lowmen. DANIEL G. W. GAUGLER. Each community has its enterprising citizens — men who are recognized as the leaders in commercial life and activity of the town, whose business capacity and enterprise con stitute an important element in the growth and proseprity of the community which they represent. Such a man in Berrien Springs is Daniel G. W. Gaugler, who is conducting an undertaking and furniture business. He was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1836, and was the tenth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all of whom reached adult age, while four sons and one daughter are yet living. The father, Wil liam Gaugler, was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and served as a pri vate in the war of 1812, while his father, George Gaugler, also a native of Montgom ery county, and of Plolland descent, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. William Gaugler was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Eyer, who was likewise a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. She was born July 4, 1801, and was of Holland lineage. The death of William Gaugler oc curred in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, in 1870, when he was seventy-seven years of age, and his wife died on the 9th of July, 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Daniel G. W. Gaugler was reared in his native state, where the public schools af forded him fair educational privileges. He lived in Pennsylvania until after his mar riage, which occurred in 1858, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Ott, a daugh ter of Daniel and Elizabeth Ott. A week later the young couple left the east and came to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where they arrived on the 5th of August, 1858. The father made the first brick for the county buildings at that place. In i860 he pur chased a small tract of land of eighty acres, of which about six acres had been cleared and he then gave his attention to general farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted on the 12th of Octo ber, 1 86 1, as a member of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He joined the army as a private and was pro moted to the rank of corporal and sergeant, being discharged as first sergeant. He served for four years, one month and one day, or until the close of hostilities. Although he was never wounded he sustained a sunstroke, which caused blindness for five months, be ing unable to see at the time that he returned to his home. He was in the battle of Shiloh, the seige of Vicksburg, the battle of Little Rock and many other engagements, which proved the strength of the Union arms and contributed to the final successes which eventually attended the northern forces. He saw four years' service without a wound nor was he ever taken prisoner. He made a most excellent military record for bravery and fidelity and when the war was over was honorably discharged at Detroit. Mr. Gaugler on being mustered out went to Pennsylvania and afterward to Elmira, New York, whence he made his way again to Berrien Springs. Here he was appointed postmaster by Andrew Johnson, the office coming to him unsolicited. In 1870 he es tablished a furniture and undertaking busi ness, in which he has since continued with excellent success. He carries a well selected line of furniture, and his undertaking de- ^/ fl3/yyiZ£fcisiy/ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 313 partment is equally well equipped. His store is tasteful in its arrangement, and his progressive business methods, his keen dis cernment and enterprise, combined with his earnest efforts to please his customers, have secured him a constantly growing and grati fying trade. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gaugler have been born nine children: Frank O., at home; Herman E., who is located at Straw, Mon tana; Gordon, at home; Rena B., the wife of A. O. T. Anstenius, of Chicago; and Adessa, at home ; the other children are de ceased. Mr. Gaugler is. a member of the Masonic fraternity and Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., in which he has filled all of the chairs. He has been a member of the township board of trustees, was town ship clerk for four years and has held other local offices, taking an active and helpful interest in public affairs. He is one of the charter members of the Evangelical church, and has labored earnestly for its growth and the extension of its influence, contributing also generously to its support. He assisted in organizing the Odd Fellows lodge and became one of the original mem bers of the Grand Army of the Republic, thus figuring actively in fraternal circles. What he has done for the county has been done from public-spirited measures and with out desire for personal preferment or honor. His efforts have been effective and far-reach ing and during a residence of forty-eight years in this section of the state he has al ways been recognized as a valued, prominent and representative citizen. - " / HON. EDWARD L HAMILTON was born in Niles township, Berrien county, Michigan, December 9, 1857. He-was edu cated in the public schools, arid read law in the office of Judge Henry H. Coolidge, be ing admitted to the bar in 1884. He con tinued in the active practice of his profession until his election to the fifty-fifth congress in 1896. Since that time he has been re elected to the fifty-sixth, fifty-seventh, fifty- eighth and fifty-ninth congresses. As a member of the insular committee Mr. Hamilton assisted in framing the act for government of the Philippine Islands, also was actively connected with legislation relating to Porto Rico, and as a member of the committee on territories assisted in fram ing the organic actof the territory of Hawaii. Subsequently, as chairman of the, committee on- the territories, he introduceu and had charge of the bill to enable the people of Oklahoma and Indian Territory to become a state to be known as the state of Oklahoma, and the people of Arizona and New Mexico to become a state to be known as the state of Arizona, which bill became a law June 16, 1906. '. . . . In addition to statehood; legislation this committee also has' general jurisdiction of legislation relating to; the territories of Ari zona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Indian Ter ritory, Hawaii and Alaska, and among other important bills reported, a bill to provide a delegate for Alaska which became a law dur ing the first session of the fifty-ninth con gress. During Mr. Hamilton's service in con gress speeches delivered by Jiifn on the tariff, on trusts and on the money question have been printed by the Republican national committee for campaign purposes, one of them to the number oi four million copies. So far as Mr. Hamilton's efforts on behalf of the fourth district of. Michigan are con cerned, he has obtained for its three harbors, St. . Joseph and Benton Harbor, South Haven and Saugatuck, appropriations ag gregating practically a million dollars, being by several • times, more than the total sum appropriated for them in their entire history prior to»i896. Immediately following the- inauguration of the rural free delivery of mail by the gov ernment, in 1897, Mr. Hamilton secured the establishment; of experimental routes in the fourth district, -which was one of the first in the state to secure such service. There is now complete service in the six counties of the district with two hundred and forty-three routes. It has been Mr. Hamilton's unvarying practice throughout his service to give prompt and thorough consideration to cor respondence and to the detais of his work as 314 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY a representative, and he has entirely aban doned the practice of his profession to that end. He has given his best efforts to the needs of an intelligent and progressive constituency. JOHN H. SPARKS, a lumber mer chant, of the firm of J. H. Sparks & Son, carrying on business at Berrien Springs, was born in Buchanan township, on the 5th of May, 1844. His father, Spencer Sparks, was a native of Indiana, born near Richmond, and was a youth of thirteen years when he came to Berrien county with his parents, Cornelius and Susan Sparks, in the year 1828. They were pio neer settlers of this portion of the state. Berrien county had not yet been organized but was a part of Cass county. The timber was uncut, the land uncultivated, the streams unbridged and the work of development and progress scarcely begun. The Sparks fam ily were identified with the early history of the county in reclaiming it for the purpose of civilization and in laying broad and deep the foundation for its later development and im provement. Spencer Sparks was largely reared in this county and was here married to Miss Sarah Hunter, who was born near Columbus, Ohio, and came to Berrien county in the year 1832. Following their marriage the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Bu chanan township, which Mr. Sparks had entered from the government, going on horseback to Kalamazoo to secure his title. He and his bride settled upon this farm and with characteristic energy he began its de velopment and improvement. After culti vating it for some years, however, he sold, the property and bought another farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he improved, making it his home throughout his remaining days, his death occurring when he had reached the age of fifty-six years. His wife long survived him and was about seventy-six years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were five children, three sons and two daugh ters, of whom one daughter died at the age of sixteen years, while only the sons are now living. One of these is Spencer Frank Sparks of this county, who is mentioned on another page of this work, as is William D. Sparks. John H. Sparks, the eldest son and third child of the family, was reared upon the old homestead and remained under the parental roof through his minority, acquiring his education in the district schools and in the public schools of Albion, Michigan. When a young man he bought a tract of land near Benton Harbor and was engaged there in the fruit business for a few years. He then sold out and bought land in Niles township at the bend of the river, making his home there for about six years. In 1882 he came to Berrien Springs, where he has since re sided, and in 1884 he established his lumber business which he has since conducted, being now one of the representative and enterpris ing business men of the village. He carries a large and well selected stock of lumber and building materials and has a liberal patron age, which makes the business which he annually transacts of considerable import ance in bringing a desirable income. He also •engaged in the coal business for some four or five years. In 1873 Mr. Sparks was married to Miss Lurinda Roberts, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Jacob and Hester Roberts. They now have two children: Claude R., who is in business with his father ; and Nina, at home. Mr. Sparks votes with the Republican party and has held a number of local offices to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen. He has been a life long resident of Berrien county, having been identified with its interests for sixty-two years, while the name of Sparks has figured in connection with its development and pro gress for almost eight decades. BENSON BROTHERS, editors and proprietors of the Era published at Ber rien Springs, are well known representa tives of journalism in Berrien county. George R. Benson was born May 23, 1868, in the village in which he still makes his home. The father, Joel Benson, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 315 was a native of Broome county, New York, where he was reared to the age of twenty years, when he left the Empire state and be came a resident of Ohio, removing thence to Michigan about 1850. He located at Ber rien Springs, where he carried on business as a cabinet-maker and later he removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he spent about fifteen years. There he owned and con ducted a lumber mill, and on the expiration of that decade and a half he returned to Ber ring Springs and retired from active busi ness, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. At the time of the Civil war patriotism and loyalty were manifest by his enlistment and active service with the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained as a private for two years. His residence in this county covered more than a half century and he passed away September 4, 1905. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Miss Catharine P. Miller, was a native of New York, where she spent her girlhood days. She died when about sixty-six years of age. In the family were four sons : Thomas C, of Berrien Springs ; Joel I., who died in -infancy ; George R. ; and Dewey M. George R. Benson was reared in Ber rien Springs to the age of nineteen years, and entering the public schools at the usual age, passed through successive grades until he completed the high school course by gradua tion in the class of 1887. He afterward worked in the old Journal office until he ob tained a better position at St. Joseph in the office of the St. Joseph Republican. He was also employed on the St. Joseph Press, act ing as foreman in that office for five years. He ran the first paper through the printing press there and was a factor in the success ful conduct of that then newly established journal. He also worked in Chicago a short time and was employed in various offices in five or six different states. Returning to Benton Harbor he became foreman on the Banner-Register for a year and a half, on the expiration of which period he became a dealer in bicycles in St. Joseph, doing a good business during the popularity of the wheel. Later, spending some time in Galatin, Ten nessee, he engaged in the real estate business and after the outbreak of the Spanish- Amer ican war he went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he enlisted as a member of Company M, First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, with which he became a sergeant. He served in the Philippine Islands and was in the army for two years. On th expiration of that per iod he returned to Berrien Springs, and in April, 1 90 1, in connection with his brother Dewey, purchased the Era from Fred Mc Omber. They have since edited the paper, which has a liberal circulating and adver tising patronage. On the 26th of February, 1891, George R. Benson was married to Miss Bertha A. Elliott, a native of Canada, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary Elliott. Unto them were born five children, G. Royal, Joel Harry, Hazen Miller, Cora Leota and Helen Kath- ryn. Mr. Benson is one of the enterprising men of the county, whose leadership in pub lic affairs is indicated by the fact that his fellow townsmen have frequently selected him for positions of honor and trust. He has been constable for five years and mar shal of the village for one year. He is a member of the Odd Fellows society at Ber rien Springs and is now deputy grand mas ter of the lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees at St. Joseph and he is well known in fraternal, business and political circles. His influence is given on the side of progress and improvement and in his editorial capacity and in private life he stands as the champion of much that is bene ficial to«the county. GEORGE N. OTWELL, superintend ent of the Berrien Springs public schools and recognized in educational circles as a foremost representative of the system of public instruction in southwestern Michigan, was born on the 3d of Aug ust, 1875, on a farm about three and a half miles southwest of Three Oaks. His paternal grandfather, Emory Otwell, was a native of Ohio, and became one of the pio neer settlers of Laporte county, Indiana. He afterward removed to Stark county, In- 316 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY diana, but subsequently again located in La- porte county. His son, James M. Otwell, father of George N. Otwell, was born in In diana, where he remained to the age of thir teen years, when he accompanied his par ents on their removal to Three Oaks town ship, Berrien county, Michigan. Here he was reared upon the farm on which his son George N. was born, and, having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in Berrien county to Miss Mary J. Monroe, a daughter of Robert and Electa (Crouch) Monroe. Mrs. Otwell was born in Yates county, New York, and there spent her girlhood days. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, of whom two died in infancy. while four still survive, namely : Fannie E., the wife of Edwin W. Mayes, of Three Oaks; Byron J., living in New Buffalo, Michigan; George N.; and Nellie G, the wife of William Kramer, of Three Oaks, Michigan. George N. Otwell, the third child and second son of the family, was reared upon the old homestead near Three Oaks and attended the district schools of that township. Sub sequently he entered upon a course of study in the high school at Three Oaks and was there graduated with the class of 1893. Sub sequently he was graduated from the scien tific department of the Northern Indiana Normal College, at Valparaiso, and later was a student in the literary department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Ar bor. He was thus qualified by broad edu cational advantages for a professional career. He taught his first school in Har- bert, Berrien county, where he remained for two years, and for three years he was a teacher in the village schools of Three Oaks. He then became principal of the schools at Stevensville, Michigan, where he remained for five years, and in the fall of 1903 he ac cepted the superintendency of the schools at Berrien Springs. In 1904 he was elected a member of the county board of school examiners and is now acting in that capacity. He is recognized as an able educator, and by the professional public is accorded a prominent position in the profession to which he is devoting his time, energies and talents. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, He is a valued representative of the Odd Fel lows, Lake Lodge, No. 43, the Masonic lodge at Berrien Springs and the Royal Arch chapter at St. Joseph, Michigan. FRANK STARKWEATHER, whose home on section eight, Niles township, stands in the midst of a good farm, is now controlling four hundred and twenty-five acres of rich and productive land, and is also well known throughout the coun ty as an auctioneer. He is one of Michi gan's native sons, although his birth did not occur within the boundary lines of Berrien county. It was on the ist of October, 1858, in Mason township, Cass county, that he first opened his eyes to the light of day, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Long) Starkweather. His father was a native of Cayuga county, New York, and when quite young lost his parents. When he was about fourteen years of age he came to Niles, Mich igan, with Isaac Griffin, with whom he lived until he attained his majority, the occupation of farming claiming his time and energies, and throughout his entire life his labors were given to the task of tilling the soil and car ing for the crops. On the 13th of February, 1844, he married Miss Elizabeth Long, a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, bofn May 28, 1824, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Aiken) Long, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ken tucky. On coming to Michigan they located in Ontwa township, Cass county, in 1844, there remaining for about four years. Sub sequently they took up their abode in Mason township upon a farm of their own. In 1869 they removed to Niles township, Berrien county, where for a long period Mr. Stark weather carried on general agricultural pur suits. At length, however, he removed to Niles city, where he lived for one year prior to his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years of age. In his religious faith he was connected with the Society of Friends. Mrs. Starkweather still survives her husband and is now residing with her son Frank. In the family were four children: HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3U May, who died in childhood; Edwin, who died at an early age; Emma, who passed away when twenty-one years of age; and Frank, of this review. Mr. Starkweather, whose name intro duces this record, is the only one of the chil dren now living. He was reared in Berrien county from the age of ten years, and after acquiring his preliminary education in the country schools he attended the North western University, at Evanston, Illinois. He was a resident of Niles city for eight years, or until 1905, when he removed to his present farm. While in Niles he was en gaged in dealing in agricultural implements. He has also carried on auctioneering since 1898 and continues in business in addition to general farming. Everything about his place is well improved and he is now in control of four hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. On the 17th of January, 1882, Mr. Starkweather was united in marriage to Miss Cora D. Warner, a daughter of Rev. Francis M. and Mary Ann (Cannon) Warner, and a native of New York. There her girlhood days were passed. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, Roy L. and Grace Doris, living, and Clinton J. and Evan Warner, both deceased when young. In his political views Mr. Starkweather has been a life-long Republican, and for fif teen years he has taken an active part in the political affairs of Berrien county, support ing its principles and fighting its battles. At the primary election of September 4, 1906, he was nominated for the office of sheriff of Berrien county over five opponents for the nomination. For two terms he served as treasurer of Niles township and was also alderman of the Second ward. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, serving as highway commissioner and whether in Office or out of it, he is always loyal to the best interests of the community. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the local organizations of those orders in Niles. J. SHERLOCK ALLEN of Berrien Springs, was born in Winchester county, Virginia, June 12, 1873, his parents be ing Luman and Julia (Ellis) Allen, who were likewise natives of the Old Domin ion. The father was a prominent lawyer for the Hamilton & Dayton Railroad and other large corporations. He removed to Chicago and won a notable' position at the bar of that city, having a large and distinct ively representative clientele there. He died at the age of forty-six years. J. Sherlock Allen was educated at Re- nack, France, where he pursued a general course and was graduated in 1893. In that year he came into possession of a large prop erty in Virginia and went to his native state, where he remained for two years. He then located in Chicago and had charge of the large estate of his father in that city. He also became a real estate dealer in associa tion with his other business interests. In 1896 he came to Berrien Springs, purchasing what was formerly the county seat property, which he remodeled, converting the old court house into an assembly hall. He also remodeled the old jail and residence and now has a fine property. He has since been engaged in contracting and is a prominent and representative business man of the com munity, with keen foresight and sound judg ment. In community affairs he has figured prominently and is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Democratic party. He served as president of the village for two terms and has been deputy sheriff for three terms, also filling the office of justice of the peace. His political "service has been most acceptable to the general public, his duties having been performed with promptness and fidelity. In 1903 Mr. Allen was united in mar riage to Miss Maud Fink, a daughter of Captain John Fink, of Wheeling, West Vir ginia. She was also born in the Old Do minion, and like her husband is well known in Berrien Springs, where the hospitality of the best homes is freely and cordially ex tended them. Mr. Allen - has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scotish Rite in Masonry, and he is well known in this county. 3i8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ABEL W. WELLS. A residence of nearly forty years has identified Mr. Wells in a foremost manner with the manufactur ing, business and civic life of St. Joseph. He helped actively to lay the foundation of this city's advancement as a manufacturing cen ter. Since 1879 he has been bending his energies to building up a great knitting in dustry, and in that year the firm of Cooper, Wells & Company began in a modest way a career of very unusual permanence and success. Cooper, Wells & Company's knit goods products are known to the retail trade throughout the country, and the pros perity of the firm is part of the prosperity of St. Joseph, creating employment for rhany persons and bringing in wealth from many sources. Mr. Wells, who has been president of the Cooper, Wells & Company since 1895, was born in Prescott county, Ontario, Sep tember 6, 1840. His parents, A. W. and Hannah (Cass) Wells, were both natives of the Dominion, but later came, to the United States and died in the state of Min nesota. Spending the first twenty-six years of his life in his native country, where he studied in the Canadian schools, Mr. Wells took up his residence in the United States in 1866 and two years later came to St. Joseph. Almost at once he commenced the manufacture of fruit packages. The demand for this class of goods has expanded enor mously since Mr. Wells came here, register ing the growth of the fruit business, and it is noteworthy that Mr. Wells has continued in this line of manufacture from the year of his arrival here. To' the people of St. Jo seph the Wells, Higman & Company's plant is a very familiar and valuable in dustry. The concern is almost national in extent and importance. It keeps about two hundred and fifty operatives on its pay rolls, and its annual business is estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Wells has been at the head of the com pany since 1868. Besides the local plant at St. Joseph he is interested in extensive man ufactories at Memphis and Greenfield, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Fort Valley and Macon, Georgia, Crystal Springs, Alabama, and Tyler, Texas. The establishment of the knitting, and woolen mills at St. Joseph was very largely the result of the enterprise of the St. Joseph Improvement and Benefit Association, an organization of citizens for the advance ment of the business and: industrial affairs of the town, of which Mr. Wells was the first president at the formation of the asso ciation in 1877. On trie burning of the Woolen Mills and Knitting Plant at Niles in the following February those concerned in that business were induced to. locate the plant at St. Joseph. Temporary quarters were installed in the King building and be fore the end of the summer the plant was in operation in a new building. S. T. Cooper and sons at first owned the business, but in the latter part of 1879 Mr. Wells came into the concern, bringing both capital and busi ness ability, and from that time the company has been under its present name. The com pany was incorporated in 1889 by A. W. Wells, Willis W. Cooper, H. C. Ward and George D. Mayo, with capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Wells being elected president and Mr. Cooper secretary and treasurer. In 1894 Mr. Cooper sold his stock to Mr. Wells and Mr. Mayo, and since that change Mr. Wells has been president and general manager. February 25, 1903, fire destroyed the main building and office, causing a loss of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol lars with forty-two thousand dollars insur ance. But the success of the business was so substantial that even before this calamity plans had been formed to enlarge with new buildings, and a new plant was begun with hardly a month's delay and was in operation by August 10th following. The building is three stories, covering ground area two hundred and twenty-seven by sixty-seven feet, and is equipped with the best inven tions for the manufacture of its lines of "Iron Clad" woolen, cotton and merino fab rics, together with lisle thread:, lace and stripe effects. To be at the head of such an industry carries a responsibility and honor which are &f>.9>z44, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 319 well discharged and well merited by such a man as Mr. Wells, who has spent forty years of his life in the persistent and energetic pursuit of business success. The volume of business has grown wonderfully under his control. The plant gives employment to four hundred and seventy-five persons, also twenty-two traveling salesmen. The annual business is worth eight hundred thousand dollars. In 1883 the Union Banking Company of St. Joseph was organized and since 1893 Mr. Wells has been president of this insti tution, one of the well known and strong financial concerns of the county. It seems that with the weighty cares of these business interests Mr. Wells would have little opportunity for anything else. And yet he has been one of the stanchest Republicans of Berrien county for a great many years, has served his county on the board of supervisors, and has helped secure the welfare of education as a member of the city school board. January 28, 1868, the same year of his coming to St. Joseph, Mr. Wells married Miss Melvina B. Gates, also a native of Can ada. They have three children living. The two daughters are Cornelia E. and Clara. J. Ogden, the son, was a member of the Roose velt Rough Riders during the Spanish war, enlisting while in Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1901. Since return ing home he has been an invaluable assist ant of his father and has thoroughly mas tered the details of the business, being vice president and assistant manager of the Cooper, Wells & Company. In view of what Mr. Wells has accom plished in the world of business, it is of in terest to add that he began life without any unusual advantages in the way of inherit ance or family position. Shrewd but honest, capable and exceedingly industrious, he has followed in the path of successful men and gained a position that none could justly envy. WILLIAM F. BULLARD, M. D., was born in Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, May 30, 1848. His paternal grandfather, a native of Massachusetts, was of French descent. The father, Henry Bullard, also born in Massachu setts, removed to the middle west about 1830, settling in Fayette county, Indiana, as one of its pioneer residents. He was the promoter of industrial life in that section of the state, where he engaged in the con duct of a woolen manufactory. He removed from Carthage, Ohio, to Connersville, In diana, and about 1868 became a resident of Quincy, Illinois, where he spent his remain ing days, passing away at the age of fifty- five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Wardwell, was a native of Ohio, born in Oxford. She lived to be seventy-six years of age and was the seventh child in a family of five sons and two daugh ters, of whom the Doctor was the third child and second son. Reared in his native county to the age of eighteen years Dr. Bullard acquired his early education in the district schools and after ward attended the high school at Conners ville. When about twenty years of age he took up the study of medicine in his native place under the direction of Dr. George Chitwood, who assisted him in his reading for about three years. | He pursued his first course of lectures at the Cincinnati Medical College and practiced for one year in Car roll county, Indiana. He then continued his college course and was graduated in 1880 from the Medical College of Indiana, at In dianapolis. He then returned to Cutler, Car roll county, where he resumed practice, re maining there for about two years. On the expiration of that period he went to Pyr- mont in the same county, and in 1885 came to Berrien Springs, where he has since been located, enjoying a large and growing practice. In 1878 Dr. Bullard was married to Miss Lucy A. Geer, a daughter of Harrison C. Geer, of Battle Creek, Michigan, where she was born and reared. There is one daughter of this marriage: Edna B., the wife of Edward Vander Hoof, of Eau Claire, Michigan. Dr. Bullard is now the oldest prac ticing physician in Berrien Springs, his con nection with the profession here covering a period of twenty-one years. He is a member 320 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Patricians, He likewise belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is well known in the county. He has been a life long Republican and has served on the vil lage board for several terms, also on the school board and as health officer for many years. He is well qualified in his profession for he keeps in touch with modern progress through reading and investigation and his experience has made him an able physician, successfully coping with the intricate prob lems which continually confront the medical practitioner. WILLIAM PI. GRAHAM, a prominent farmer of Berrien Springs, was born in the house which is still his home his natal day being June 26, 1853. He is the second son and eldest living child of George and Mary (Garrow) Graham, and was reared on the place where he now resides, the days of his boyhood and youth being unmarked by any event of special im portance. Having mastered the branches taught in the common schools, he afterward attended Albion College and Notre Dame University, and was thus well equipped by liberal educational advantages for the im portant duties of an active business career. Returning to- Berrien county he continued farming on the old homestead and has long been numbered among the representative and prominent agriculturists of this part of the state. In 1 88 1, Mr. Graham was married to Miss Laura Piatt, a daughter of J. M. and Aurelia Piatt. She was born in Berrien Springs, her father having come to this county from Massachusetts at an early day. He was one of its pioneer residents and en gaged in merchandising, conducting a large and important business at Berrien Springs, drawing his trade from many sections of the county. He was closely identified with the early development and progress of this por tion of the state and was a leading and in fluential man, whose business activity and enterprise entitled him to rank with those citizens who were founders of the present prosperity and upbuilding of Berrien county. He died when about fifty years of age. Mrs. Graham is the second in a family of four children, three daughters and one son, and after acquiring her preliminary education in the common schools here, continued her stud ies in Massachusetts. There is one son by this marriage, George, who is now engaged in the grocery business in Berrien Springs. Mr. Graham has been a life-long resident of Berrien county and has always followed agricultural pursuits, in which he has found ample opportunity to exercise his native tal ents and his energy and give scope to his laudable ambition, which is one of his salient characteristics. Pie is a Republican and takes an active interest in affairs relat ing to the public good. ! FRANK RHOADES, a prominent farmer residing on section twenty-four, Bertrand township, employing methods in the cultivation of his place that re sult in large harvests, was born in White county, Indiana, October 1, 1866, and is the eldest child of Solomon and Elizabeth (New ton) Rhoades. The father, a native of Ohio, became one of the early settlers of Indiana and throughout his business career has fol lowed farming but now resides in Kos ciusko county, Indiana, where he is enjoy ing a well earned rest. His wife is a native of Indiana and is of English descent. In the family were ten children, all of whom reached adult age and with one exception all are yet living. Frank Rhoades was reared in Kosciusko county, Indiana, and at the usual age entered the district schools, where he mastered the common branches of English learning. Later he spent some time as a student in the graded schools of Mentone, Indiana, and for four years he engaged in teaching in that state, entering upon the active work of the profession when eighteen years of age and continuing to the age of twenty- two. He then came to Michigan, settling in Bertrand township, Berrien county, where he has since been engaged in farming and the same spirit of understanding and deter mination which characterized his work in the schoolroom has made him a successful agriculturist. On the 13th of February, 1889, Mr. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 32 1 Rhoades secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage to Miss Martha C. Cauffman, a daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Leiter) Cauffman. She was born in Bertrand township, October 31, 1867, and has spent her entire life within its borders. By her marriage she has become the mother of one daughter, Roxy R. who was born July 6, 1890, deceased, and one son, Jay A., who was born November 15, 1 89 1, in Bertrand township. Mr. Rhoades exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy, and as every true Ameri can citizen should do, takes an active interest in the welfare and growth of the party which he believes promotes the best interests of the nation. He was township clerk for two terms and served on the school board for some time. He has also been school in spector for the last six or eight years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He and his wife belongs to the Union Brethren church. In a life of busi ness activity he has been guided by a spirit of consideration for others in harmony with principles of conduct which neither seek nor require disguise. GEORGE P. CRANSON. The agricul tural interests of Niles township find a worthy representative in George P. Cran- son, an active and respected farmer living on section twelve. He is a native son of the Empire state, having been born in Allegany county, New York, May 25, 1857. His father, Sylvester H. Cranson, was likewise a native of New York, and was there reared and educated. The occupation of farming was his life work, and, leaving the east, he came to Michigan at an early day, locating first in Jackson county. However, he after ward returned to the Empire state, where he remained for about six years, when he again came to Michigan, locating once more in Jackson county, in 1858. There he lived for two years, and in 1870 became a resident of Milton township, Cass county, where he died in 1877. His wife bore the maiden name of Jennetta Peck, and was also a native of New York. She passed away prior to the 21 death of her husband, for she died in Milton township, Cass county, in 1875. This worthy couple were the parents of four chil dren, all of whom are yet living: Charles, who resides in Howard township, Cass county ; Flora E., the wife of Elmer Butts, of Niles township, who is mentioned on another page bf this work; Arthur V., who is a resident of South Bend, Indiana; and George P., of this review. The youngest of the family, George P. Cranson, was only nine months old when brought to Michigan and was a youth of fourteen when he removed with his parents from Jackson to Cass county, being reared in Milton township. He pursued his studies in the district schools of that township, where he mastered the branches of learning that well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he took charge of the farm in Milton town ship and since that time has been farming on his own account. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Cranson chose Miss Mary A. Hicks, to whom he was married on the 10th of December, 1884, a daughter of Richard V. and Catherine (Ullery) Hicks. Mrs. Cranson was born in Milton township, Cass county, Michigan, March 29/1863, and was educated in the common schools and Ed- wardsburg and Niles high schools. She is a member of the L. O. T. M. Hive, No. 39, located at Niles, Michigan. The young couple continued to reside in Mil ton township, Cass county, and Mr. Cranson devoted «his time and energies to general farming there until 1894, when he removed to the farm whereon he now resides, situ ated on section twelve, Niles township, Ber rien county. Here he has one hundred and fifteen acres of good land, which is devoted to general farming, and his place presents a neat and thrifty appearance, showing his careful supervision and practical methods. He raises the crops best adapted to soil and climate, has good fruit upon his place and everything indicates that the owner is a man of enterprise and accomplishes what he undertakes. 322 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cranson have been born six children : Hattie, who is a milliner, residing in South Bend, Indiana; Jessie, Jeanette, Leonard, Marie and Ester, all of home. Mr. Cranson has been a resident of Niles township for about twelve years and has been almost a life-long resident of Mich igan. He is well known in both Berrien and Cass counties and substantial qualities and admirable characteristics have won him the friendship and high regard of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. Since age con ferred upon him the right of franchise he has supported the Republican party and he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Niles. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and recognizing op portunities for the promotion of the com munity's good he has withheld his support from no movement which is calculated to prove of general benefit. CHARLES H. TAUBE, successfully engaged in fruit growing in Benton town ship near Benton Harbor, was born in Prussia on the 2d of July, 1856, and came to the United ^States in 1882. Pie was reared in his native land, where his edu cational privileges were somewhat limited. The pupils were taught to read in the Bible, but the curriculum was very abbreviated. After putting aside his textbooks Mr. Taube wished to get into trade, but wages were so small that he soon recognized the fact that it would be almost impossible to get ahead financially. When twenty years of age he was examined for the army, but was not taken for active service for two years there after, when he was accepted, for two years. This did not fill his • entire military term, however, and he was later called forth for six months' service at the formation of a new army. His life at this time was a strenuous one and he saw hard service, but won credits for his conduct and capability. In the fall he left the army, after which he worked in the pine timber, cutting wood. It was about this time that he began to hear considerable of America, its possibilities and prospects. He had an aunt living near Stevensville, Michigan, who wrote him to come to the United States. His father had even agreed that he might come to America before he went into the army, but he was refused a pass by the military officials, so that he after ward took the matter into his own hands and left the country without the military consent. He had saved barely enough to reach the United States and had but forty cents re maining when he joined his aunt in the new world. He was accompanied by his brother William, then sixteen years of age. At that time the latter had never been as far away from home as the next village. The year of their emigration was 1882. After a month spent with his uncle Mr. Taube secured work at clearing land, being thus employed for three months. That fall he went into the lumber camp in northern Michigan and worked again by the month with Professor Cummings on the lake shore drive. He was thus employed at various kinds of labor for four years or until the time of his marriage in the fall of 1886, when he had saved over five hundred dollars. He then determined to establish a home of his own and enter upon an independent business career. It was at that time that Mr. Taube was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Krause, a daughter of Charlie Krause of Royalton, Michigan, who came from West- Prussia to the new world in the spring of 1882. For a year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Taube remained in Benton Harbor, being engaged at mason work in the employ of Will Newlon, who recognized his skill and ingenuity with tools and" desired him to learn the mason's trade, but he found that he pre ferred, farm work and has since given his attention to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. In the spring of 1888, Mr. Taube pur chased his present farm, first buying thirty- eight and three-fourth acres of land, for which he paid fifty-five dollars per acre. Only one acre had been cleared and a crop of beans could not be grown thereon. There was a small house on the place which be came the home of the family and with char acteristic energy Mr. Taube then began the improvement of the property. He paid six < *. HOTEL BENTON EDWARD BRANT HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ,323 hundred dollars down in cash, but most of this was borrowed from his brother. He worked out for two or three years in order to gain necessary money that would enable him to provide for his weekly expenses and in the meantime cleared his own land as he found opportunity. His brother remained with him for five years and they were as sociated in their work. In the third year after purchasing his farm Mr. Taube made payment upon the place from the sale of strawberries, onions and other products. He cleared two hundred and thirty-four dollars from an acre and a quarter which was planted to strawberries and he felt that he had made a good start when in the third year he was thus enabled to discharge much of the indebtedness on his place. Inside of five years he had his farm all paid for by the sale of strawberries and other crops. Be lieving in the value of Michigan as a fruit producing state, he set out one thousand peach trees as soon as he had land cleared, Mr. Morley letting him have his nursery stock without immediate payment. This was paid for, however, the same year by his sale of strawberries. His neighbors termed him the "crazy Dutchman" for going deeper into debt to buy peach trees, but soon they saw that his trees brought him a good in come, for they were in bearing condition and yielded good crops which found a ready sale on the market. Mr. Taube has worked earnestly and per- sitently in order to make a start. He often burned brush at twelve o'clock at night and he led a most strenuous life while clearing and developing his farm. His place is pleasantly situated about a mile and a half from Benton Harbor on the lake shore drive and he erected his present residence in 1895. This is a modern home with steam heat and was all paid for when it was completed. He has since loaned some money and has also invested in Benton Harbor property in the business district, from which he derives a good income. He has been fortunate in his investments and in his business affairs has always conducted his interests along straightforward lines and has met with well deserved and gratifying prosperity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taube have been born six children : Henry, who was a stud ent in Benton Harbor college; Emma, who also attended that school; Ella; Willie; Mabel; and Chester. The children all are making good progress in school, the eldest daughter having already graduated from Benton Harbor College, while his second daughter is a student there. They are pur suing the study of music and are doing well in that art. Mr. Taube is not the only mem ber of his family that came to America, for his brother William, who accompanied him and who lived with him for five years, is now the owner of a fine farm in Lincoln township. Another brother, Bert Taube, also came to the new world and worked with our subject for six years but is now a farmer of Hagar township. In .1904, Charles H. Taube returned to his native land to see his father and mother, making the trip in com pany with his elder brother and he visited many of the scenes of his boyhood and youth, but he has a very decided perference for America as a place of residence and is most loyal to its institutions and business opportunities. He was reared in the Luth eran faith and when a society of that denomi nation was started at Benton Harbor he and his family joined it. He donated fifty dol lars for a church lot and did much for the promotion of the cause, but trouble arose over the salary of the minister, who when he could not collect his salary brought suit again Mr. Taube, who, however, won the case. Since that time Mr. Taube has with drawn from the church. He is well known in this county, where for many years he has been a prominent representative of horticul tural pursuits. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for he has here found good business opportunities and through their utilization has become a prosperous citizen. EDWARD BRANT, to whom has been vouchsafed an honorable retirement from an active business career by reason of the fact that through his former activity and well directed labor he has achieved a handsome competence, has 324 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY .contributed in a substantial measure to the commercial prosperity and business activity in Berrien county. Carrying forward to a successful completion whatever he under takes, his wise counsel and executive force have proven a strong directing influence in various business interests. Mr. Brant is a native of Ohio, where his birth occurred in 1845. He was brought to Michigan by his parents, Mason and Almira (Tobias) Brant, who settled on a tract of govern ment land in Ionia county. In 1849, dur ing the excitement attendant upon the dis covery of gold in California, Mason Brant left his family upon the farm which he had partially cleared, and joined the rush of pioneers across the plains to the Pacific coast, where he died after three years of pioneer adventure in the gold fields. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Edward Brant in the days of his childhood and youth. He worked in the fields through the summer months and pursued his studies at the district school during the winter, vary ing the monotony of a steady pursuit of knowledge with intervals of wood-chopping and excursions into the surrounding forests after deer and other wild game. During this formative period of his young life he was living with his mother, who ably cared for her children after the dea!th of the father. After attaining to man's estate he turned his attention to the lumber businessin Mich igan and for thirty years was successfully engaged in this industry, which is one of the leading sources of the state's wealth. Mr. Brant thoroughly acquainted himself with every branch of the lumber trade, and his excellent judgment of the value of timber, as well as the ready adaptability which he manifested in controlling a business concern, led to his signal success. His operations in this field included a saw-mill at Covert, Michigan, and a tract of land in Watervliet township, Berrien county, from which he cut the timber and cleared the brush until he now owns a farm containing three hun dred acres of the finest land in the fruit belt. Later, settling in Benton Harbor, he has dealt to a considerable extent in real- estate and is now the owner of valuable property here. His operations in real-estate have been characterized by safe and con servative investments and he receives a large income from the buildings which he owns in this city. In 1890 he built the Hotel Benton, which at the time of its con struction was the finest hostelry in south western Michigan. He leased it for a period of five years to Alonzo Vincent, who then removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, and took charge of the Hotel Whitcombe. The Hotel Benton has since remained under the man agement of Mr. Brant and his son-in-law, ex-sheriff Collins, who is elsewhere repre sented in this work. Into other fields of activity Mr. Brant has extended his efforts. He was one of the organizers of the Farm ers & Merchants' Bank of Benton Harbor and has been one of its directors from the beginning. He yet holds stock in this insti tution and his well known ability as a con servative financier has been instrumental in making it a paying concern. He was one of the organizers of the Benton Harbor & St. Joseph Electric Rail way Company, acted as a member of its di rectorate for several years and at one time was a heavy stockholder. In fact, there are few enterprises in this locality that have not felt the stimulus of Mr. Brant's personality, and although he is now practically living, re tired from the active control of businegs in terests, he is yet financially connected with several of importance. He possesses untir ing energy, is quick of perception, forms his. plans readily and is determined in their exe cution. Making good use of his oppor tunities, he has prospered from year to year, conducting all matters of business carefully and successfully, displaying in all his acts- an aptitude for successful management. Mr. Brant was married in Watervliet township to Miss Martha J. Carpenter, a native of Canada, and they have become the parents of four children : Mason ; Carrie, who is the wife of William Becht and has- one child, Lincoln ; Ida M., the wife of Fred B. Collins, by whom she has one child, Hallie Bell; and Myrtle, deceased. Mr. Brant is a member of the Masonic fraternity HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 325 and is an exemplary representative of the craft, being always true to its teachings and in sympathy with its principles. His political support is given to the Democratic party and whenever he has permitted his name to be used on the ballot representing his party's principles and his own convictions, the peo ple, irrespective of political affiliation, have testified their confidence in his judg ment and their esteem of his unique person ality by giving the Democratic ticket their eager support. For several terms he was a supervisor of Watervliet township. He has always been a helpful factor in political work in the city and for one term served as mayor of Benton Harbor. His administra tion was characterized by conservative ex penditure of the city's funds and a liberal enforcement of laws which had produced unnecessary hardship for the business inter ests of the city, through strict enforcement by previous administrations. Any measure for the betterment of the city, either finan cially or otherwise, receives his endorse ment and he opposes strongly any move ment which is inimical to the best interests of the community. His position upon any question is never an equivocal one, for he is firm in support of his honest convictions. He has not permitted the accumulation of a competence to effect in any way his atti tude toward those less successful than he and has always a cheerful word and a pleas ant smile for those with whom he comes in contact. DARWIN B. SUTHERLAND, who is engaged in fruit growing and truck farming in Benton township, . was born in this township, May 16, 1869. His birth place being on the farm on which he now resides on section 36. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county. His paternal grand parents were Lot and Lydia (Bliss) Suther land, the former a farmer by occupation. He spent his earlier life in New York and in 1836 came to Michigan, settling in Kal amazoo, where he lived for four years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Bainbridge township, Berrien county, his home being near Millburg. There he fol lowed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife, however, passed away shortly after their ar rival in Michigan and the father reared the family of eight children, three of whom are yet living. He voted with the Democracy. It is to this family that Lewis Suther land, father of our subject and a resident of Benton Harbor, belonged. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, Febru ary 28, 1 83 1, and he arrived in Michigan in 1836 and in Berrien county in 1842, thus casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He attended the first school in Bainbridge township, the building being erected of logs, He also aided in the difficult task of develop ing a new farm and throughout his active business career carried on general agricul tural pursuits and fruit raising. He gave much attention to horticulture, finding this to be a profitable enterprise and for many years was known as one of the most success ful farmers and fruit-growers in the com munity. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1901, when he removed to Ben ton Harbor and purchased his present fine horne on Superior street. He owned four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has divided among his sons. He, too, votes with the Democracy, and he is a member of the Universalist church. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Order of the Eastern Star and in 1902 he built the Masonic Tem ple at Benton Harbor. He is also one of the directors#of the State Bank at Benton Har bor and these interests bring him a good in come. He was married in i860 to Miss Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland had a family of six children: Sterling, a successful fruit grower of Benton township, who owns eighty acres of land; Darwin B., of this re view; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township ; Addie, the wife of Rod ney C. Pearl; and two children who died in early life. Darwin B. Sutherland was educated in 326 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the district schools, in the Benton Harbor high school and in Benton Harbor College and was thus well qualified by liberal intel lectual training for life's practical duties. He taught school three years in the home district but gave up the profession of teach ing to follow the life of a farmer and fruit grower and is now successfully and actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and in rais ing vegetables for the city markets. He has made a specialty of melons and has about fifty acres set Out to peaches, of which thirty- seven acres are in bearing. He also has seventeen acres planted to apples, of which eight acres are in the old orchard and nine acres in an orchard four years old. He pur chases excellent nursery stock and annually harvests good crops, his products finding a ready sale on the market because of superior ity in size, quality and flavor. Mr. Sutherland was married on the 22d day of December, 1897, to Miss Lulu Lewis, who was born in Keeler township, Van Buren county, Michigan, and is a daughter of Lawrence and Mary Lewis. Mr. Suther land holds liberal religious views and in politics has always been a Democrat, un faltering in his advocacy of the party. He is now serving as township treasurer of Ben ton township and at all times he is loyal to the duties of citizenship, taking an active interest in whatever tends to promote the welfare and progress of his native county. WARNER M. BALDWIN, of the firm of Parsons & Baldwin at Water vliet, has for years figured most promi nently in business circles in this county and his name is a synonym not only for extensive operations but also for business in tegrity and honor that call forth the admira tion and respect of all with whom he has been associated. He was born in Monroe county, New York, near Rochester, in De cember, 1840, and acquired his education in a local academy. From the age of fifteen years he has been dependent upon his own resources and whatever .success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his labors and perseverance. In 1855 he made his way from New York to Detroit, Michigan, and secured a clerkship in the wholesale grocery house of Parsons & Johnson, where he re mained for seven years. His fidelity and ability won him recognition from the mem bers of the firm and about 1864 he came to Watervliet in company with his former em ployer, George Parsons, with whom he en tered the lumber business. They purchased a half interest in an extensive business al ready established, and until 1874 Mr. Bald win attended to the outside business for the firm, buying logs and supervising the manu facture of lumber. The extent of the opera tions carried on by the firm made his service of great importance and he became one of the well known representatives of the lumber interests in this section of Michigan. In 1874 the firm was dissolved and Mr. Parsons and Mr. Baldwin secured the outside prop erty, comprising over one thousand acres of land. Mr. Baldwin then directed his atten tion to the improvement of this property and its development into good farms. The land lies in Van Buren and Berrien counties and he has a home farm close to the village of Watervliet, where stock growing and breeding are its principal features. He breeds thoroughbred stock, including horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, and makes frequent exhibits of his stock at state fairs, where he has won many premiums. The Hillside Farm, by which name the property has be come prominent, is now breeding horses, making a specialty of heavy draft horses and roadsters. The firm of Parsons & Bald win also became owners of a store when the lumber company was dissolved. This store had been conducted by the company and fell to the present firm as a part of their share of the business. They were associated with its management for thirty years, conducting it successfully until 1893, when it was de stroyed by fire, in which year the private banking institution of Parsons & Baldwin was established at Watervliet, Mr. Parsons having charge of the bank, while Mr. Bald win gives his supervision to the farming and stock raising interests. He has also en gaged in the sale of carriage horses and has continued to manage the farming and stock business since the establishment of the bank. In his business career he has wrought along modern lines, has broadened the field of his HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 327 activity as opportunity has offered, has care fully utilized the advantages that have come to him and through keen discernment, sound judgment and unfaltering diligence has gained a position of prominence in the county that makes him one of the representative business men of this section of the state. Moreover Mr. Baldwin has been prom inent and influential in public affairs. He has held all of the township offices and has been postmaster and supervisor, filling the latter position for two terms, and has at two different times declined the nomination for state representative. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he has frequently been a delegate to its conventions. He is also an untiring worker in church and Sunday school. He has visited various sec tions of the United States and Canada and .is a well informed man, not so abnormally developed in any line as to become a genius but with the sound judgment, broad outlook and enterprise of the well balanced business man, who is thoroughly in touch with the spirit of the times, whose progress is in har mony with the world's advancement and who in the midst of active, extensive and onerous business cares, has not been neglectful _ of the higher, holier duties of life which bring consideration for one's fellowmen and de velop character. ALBERT NEWTON. When the tocsin ef war sounded and men from all walks of life, from the farms, the shops, the offices and the counting rooms, flocked to the stand ard of the nation, Albert Newton was among those who donned the blue uniform and aided in defense of the Federal government. To such men the country owes a debt of grat itude which can never be repaid. The soldier, too, given equal advantages and conditions with others may always be counted upon as a most faithful citizen in times of peace, for he has known what it is to defend his coun try and the flower of patriotism has grown so strong within him that it cannot be sup pressed. Mr. Newton was but a young man when he served his country upon southern battlefields and since that time has largely engaged in farming in Berrien county, now making his home in Watervliet township. A native of Lake county, Ohio, he was -born on the 4th of October, 1845. _ His per- ents were Richard T. and Deborah (Martly) Newton. The mother died when _ her son Albert was only four or five years old and the father afterward married . Rebecca Huntoon, a sister of Giles Bartlett Huntoon, late of Watervliet, who had come to Michi gan in company with Thomas Lamb and Richard Newton, driving from Ohio to Watervliet about 1850. The same year Richard Newton secured land on section seventeen, Watervliet township, a half mile west of Paw Paw lake and a mile north of where Coloma now stands. The present Christian church is built on that eighty acre tract. At the time it came into his pos session there was a small clearing and he paid eight hundred dollars for the farm. He then began to clear the place, cut the timber from about thirty acres and converted it into lum ber. Here he made his home until his death, carrying on general agricultural pursuits un til August, 1864, when he passed away at the age of forty-five years. His widow after ward became the wife of Thomas Brittle and died about six years ago when seventy-three years of age. Unto Richard Newton and his second wife was born a daughter, ' who is now living. He had four children of his first marriage and all yet survive, namely: Sarah Ann, who is the widow of Charles Lamb and lives in Watervliet; Edward O. Newton, residing in Idaho ; Fannie, the wife of Silas Kettell, of Coloma; and Albert, of this review. The father was many times called to serve in public office by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and ability. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party. Albert Newton in early life acquired a public school education and afterward learned the mason's trade, which he followed for a few years. He was, however, only eighteen years of age when on the 31st of December, 1863, he responded to the coun try's call for troops and joined the Union army as a member of Company C, Nine teenth Michigan Infantry. His brother, Edward O. Newton, had enlisted at the or ganization of the regiment and served until the close of the war. Albert Newton joined 328 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the regiment at McMinnville, Tennessee, *and was with the Twentieth Army Corps. He continued with his command until the close of hostilities. After the last battle of General Sherman's forces they marched to Washington and participated in the Grand Review. Mr. Newton was soon afterward transferred to the Tenth Michigan Veteran Volunteers and sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out in July, 1865, receiving an honorable discharge at Jack son, Michigan, on the 5th of August fol lowing. The first battle in which he par ticipated was at Resaca and he had his can teen shot away. When the country no longer needed his services Mr. Newton returned to his home and in the meantime his father had died, in August, 1864. He began working in a sawmill, where he was employed until his marriage on the 31st of December, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Rosella Spar ling, who was born July 23, 1847, and is a daughter of Eli and Teresa (Cilly) Spar ling, who came from Pennsylvania to the west. The father was of Welsh descent and on removing to Michigan settled on a farm at the west end of Paw Paw lake. Mr. and Mrs. Newton were schoolmates in their childhood days. Soon after their marriage he took charge of the Sparling farm and his father-in-law died three or four years -later, while the mother passed away several years afterward. All of the children of that fam ily are now deceased. Mrs. Newton fell heir to the place, which had been school land and Mr. Newton continued to make the pay ments on the property to the state. At tbe time of their marriage only eight or nine acres had been cleared and he now has forty-five acres under cultivation. This is a valuable and productive tract situated on Paw Paw lake and is devoted to general farming. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Newton kept summer boarders, but her death occurred from cancer March 5, 1897, when she was in her fiftieth year, she being the last surviving member of the Sparling family. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Newton were born a son and daughter : Clarence La fayette Newton, who resides near his fath er's home, conducts the farm and also- keeps summer boarders. He is likewise superin tendent of the Union Ice & Coal Company, which puts up large quantities of ice each season, cutting it from Paw Paw lake. The plant now has a storage capacity of more than seventeen thousand tons. He married Mattie S. Beard of Chicago and they have two children: Harold B. and Edna May. Caroline Millicent Newton is acting as her father's housekeeper, having had full charge of the home since twelve years of age. Mr. Newton is a member of Garfield Post, No. 30, G. A. R., and has attended the national encampments at Denver and Chicago. He is now a past commander of his post and is a member of the Christian church. In politics he is a Republican, but has refused all offices, preferring to concen trate his attention and energies upon his business affairs and as the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings until he is now the owner of a valuable farming property. URIAH HARRIS, deceased, who was one of the early settlers of Berrien county and made his home at Coloma, was bora in Providence, Rhode Island, and from early childhood was reared in Cayuga county, New York. When twenty-two years of age he was married to Polly Leon ard and with his wife and one child removed to Ohio, settling in Morgan county. They traveled life's journey together for about twenty years, at the end of which time Mrs. Harris was called to her final rest. Mr. Har ris was later married in Ohio to Miss Phebe Wilkes, who was born in New York and at the age of sixteen years was taken to Ohio by her parents, in which state she was mar ried when twenty-six years of age. In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Harris came to Michigan, where they had relatives living, an uncle being Nathan Wilkes, who resided near Watervliet. Mr. Harris purchased one hundred and eighteen acres of land, a part of which is now included within the village limits of Coloma. It had been entered from the government by Israel Kellogg and was a new place with only a few acres cleared and developed. Deer were plentiful, being often seen in the forest. The farm which HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 329 Mr. Harris secured has been continuously in possession of the family and remained his place of residence until his death. He brought about eighty acres of the land under cultivation, clearing away the trees and plac ing the fields under the plow, after which he gathered good harvests. His old home stood about a half mile west of the present resi dence and in what is now the city limits of Coloma. There was no village here at the time, though a sawmill had been built. When the new town was started it was called Dickerville and the name of Coloma was suggested by S. R. Gilson after his return from California, where he had spent some time in a nice little place of the name of Co loma. Mr. Harris confined his attention largely to his farm work, although he could engaged in blacksmithing and at carpenter ing. He also made children's shoes and was very handy in many ways. In fact he could do almost any mechanical work and what ever he did was accomplished in a capable manner, for he believed that what was worth doing at all was worth doing well. It was this trait of character which largely led to his success in the business world. Mr. Harris was the father of eighteen children. Five sons were born of his first marriage and came to Michigan — Benjamin, Abraham, Uriah, Isaac, and Samuel, also two daughters, Sarah and Anna. In the second family there were six who reached mature years and four are now living. The youngest son of the first marriage, Samuel Harris, is also living, making his home in Hagar township. Of the second family Polly is the wife of John J. Brooks, of Watervliet township. Phebe is the widow of B. F. Osgood, of Coloma'. Hannah is the wife of C. J. Mason and Levinia is the wife of A. H. Sutton, who is residing on the old Harris homestead. Squire Harris died in 1866 at the age of twenty-six years. Har riet married Harrison Branch and died at the age of fifty-six years. The death of Uriah Harris occurred in September, 1865, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years, his birth having occurred March 10, 1782. His widow sur vived him until 1881, passing away at the age of seventy-six years. Throughout his entire life in Michigan he resided upon the old homestead. He was a stanch Republi can and was a member of the United Breth ren church. All who knew him respected him for his sterling worth and he well de serves mention among the prominent pioneer settlers who aided in developing the county. Of his children Levinia was married September 1, 1868, to A. H. Sutton and they occupy part of the old home farm. Mr. Sutton was born in Lawrence, Van Buren county, Michigan, December 3, 1846, and came to Berrien county two years before their marriage. He was a harness maker and worked at that trade for eleven years but finally turned his attention to agricul tural pursuits and was engaged in general farming, fruit raising and dairying. He has twelve acres planted to fruit, mostly peaches. Mrs. Sutton conducted a good business as a carpet weaver for several years, weaving about one thousand yards of carpet annually and doing the entire business in this line for the community. Mr. Sutton was the second mayor of Coloma and for six years remained in that office, giving capable service as chief official of the town. In politics he is a Re publican and for six years served continu ously as constable. He is one of the valued and active workers in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has represented his local lodge in the grand lodge. He is also active in the Modern Woodmen camp and in the Patrician order. GEORGE STRONG, proprietor of Strong's Summer Home on Paw Paw lake, is Conducting a resort well worthy of the liberal patronage which is ac corded him. It is pleasantly located two and a half miles northeast of Coloma and is equipped with the modern conveniences and accessories which contribute to the com fort and pleasure of a sojourn in the coun try through the hot summer months, and in its management Mr. Strong displays ex cellent business ability. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, near Laharpe, October 17, 1843. His father was a native of Massachusetts and was a follower of Jo seph Smith, the Mormon leader, whom he joined in Hancock county, Illinois. When 330 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the. Mormons went west he remained in Illi nois, settling in Knox county, that state, when his son George was eight years of age. He still retains connection with the Reor ganized Church of the Latter Day Saints. He married Miss Laura Woodward, the wedding being celebrated in Vermont. In 1875 they were brought to Michigan by their son George and both died of paralytic strokes within thirty minutes of each otber. They were laid to rest side by side in the cemetery at Coloma. George Strong remained at home in Knox county, Illinois, until nineteen years. of age, and in August, 1863, came to Michi gan, making his way to Coloma, where he had relatives living, Jesse Woodward be ing his uncle. Mr. Strong worked at haul ing lumber and logs in the woods for two- years, receiving seventeen dollars per month for the first year and twenty dollars per month for the second year. Later he worked on the Paw Paw river, rafting logs and lum ber. He would secure logs at the village of Paw Paw, twenty miles to the east and prob ably eighty miles by way of the river. He worked by the day or by contract. The lum ber would be rafted at Watervliet and taken to St. Joseph, where it would be pulled out of the river. Thirteen seasons were thus spent by Mr. Strong, who is a typical repre sentative of the lumber men of the early day, whose labors were instrumental in clearing the land, leading to its ultimate cultivation and development. Industry and economy enabled Mr. Strong to secure the capital wherewith ha purchased, on Paw Paw lake, in 1868, eighty-five acres of land, for which he paid twelve hundred dollars. It was covered with whitewood and ash. He would cut this off at odd times, while otherwise engaged with business interests, and since 1869 he has made his home upon this place witb the exception of four years spent in California. He has now almost the entire amount under cultivation, and the place is well improved. About nine or ten years ago he began to accommodate summer boarders, and about one-half of his lake front is laid out out in cottage property, extending for a half mile along the water, and the place is known as Strong's Summer Home. The land is devoted to general farming and good crops of grain and fruit are raised. It was in 1876 that he went to California, returning in 1880. On the 2d of July, 1865, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to Miss Pleuma Wood ward, a daughter of Jesse Woodward, and they have a family of four children who have reached mature years. Of this num ber Cora is the wife of Blazy Silhenek, of Coloma; Adelia became the wife of Elmer Bean and died in 1899, at the age of thirty- three years; Grace was the wife of Fred Welch and died at the age of twenty-five years, after having taught school for a few years prior to her marriage. Harvey is at home. Mrs. Adelia Bean left two children, the younger son, George, being an infant. He has since lived with his grandparents as does the older son, Willie, who is now sixteen years of age. In his' political views Mr. Strong is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in support of the men and measures of the party. For forty years he has been a stanch and faith ful advocate of the Masonic fraternity, true to its tenets and its teachings and he also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees Tent and to the Christian church, finding in these connections the incentive and stimulus for the development of those traits which. produce character worthy of respect and prompt actions that are honorable. JOHN R. WALLACE, none of the capable business men of southwestern Michi gan whose energy and genius have left an impress upon the rapid growth and develop ment of this part of the state are deserving of more honorable mention than is John R. Wallace, whose business advancement was based upon thorough understanding of the work which he undertook, upon close appli cation and merit which deserved recognition and gained it. Keen and clear headed, al ways busy, always careful and conservative in financial matters, moving slowly but surely ^c HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 331 in every transaction, he had 'few superiors in the steady progress which invariably reaches the objective point. Mr. Wallace was a native of Scotland, born in Dundee on the 7th of March, 1835. . His parents, John and Mary (Reid) Wal lace, were aiso natives of that country, where they continued to reside until about 1841, when, thinking to enjoy better opportunities and advantages in the new world, they per fected arrangements to leave their native Land and came to America. Accordingly they crossed the Atlantic and made their way into the interior of the country, settling in Wayne county, Michigan. Previously John Wallace had learned the engineer's trade and he continued to follow that pur suit in Michigan, living the life of an honest, industrious mechanic, who could be counted upon for straightforward dealing and for unremitting diligence. John R. Wallace was a youth of six years at the time of the arrival of the iam- ily in Michigan and he entered the common schools of Wayne county, where he received instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and geography. His educational privileges, however, were very limited, yet in. the school of experience he learned valu able lessons that made him as the years passed a well informed man of sound judg ment and practical knowledge. He read broadly, thought deeply and had the ability to assimilate the knowledge that he acquired. At the age of sixteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade and after completing his term of indenture he followed that pursuit for several years. Each step in his business career -was an on ward one and was carefully and thought fully made. When he ceased to be a general machinist he secured a position as engineer on the lakes on a vessel that made periodical trips between St. Joseph, Michigan, and Chi cago and also between Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. Later he was an engineer on the propeller Montezuma. He also placed the machinery on the Lady Franklin, the Otta wa, the Favorite and other lake vessels and acted at different times as chief engineer on each of these. With increased responsi bility came also greater remuneration, and the careful husbanding of his financial re sources made it possible for Mr. Wallace to join with Mr. Edwards in building the John T. Edwards, a tug, on which he acted as chief engineer. He likewise filled the position of engineer at the Lee & Wells grist mill for a time. Enlarging the field of his labors from time to time as he found op portunity, in 1886 Mr. Wallace joined Cap tain M. C. Barnes in the conduct of a tug and . towing business, which they operated very successfully, owning the tugs John T. Edwards, Daisy Lee and Miranda. The last named, however, was renamed the Louis D. Wallace in honor of his eldest son. Mr. Wallace was also interested in the schooner, Lizzie Doak, his partners in this being Cap tain Robert Jones and Captain Barnes. As lumber was and is one of the chief products of Michigan and the boats were necessarily connected with the transportation of this commodity Captain Wallace gradually gained a comprehensive knowledge of the lumber industry and subsequent to the formation of his partnership connection with Captain Barnes they more and more largely concentrated their energies upon this line of trade, becoming well known as lumber merchants of southwestern Michigan. They were associated in business until the 28th of January, 1882, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Wallace continuing in charge of the lumber business, while Captain Barnes took the tugs. The former started out upon an independent venture on a small scale, dealing in lumber, coal and wood, but he enlarged the field of his operations as he found it possible, and by perseverance, close application and careful management of all details he succeeded in building up a trade which was hardly second to any in his line in southwestern Michigan. He became widely known in this connection and his suc cess made him one of the prosperous resi dents of the state. Mr. Wallace became a resident of St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1863, and as a com panion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Alice McMahon, to whom he was married in Chicago in March of 1862. 332 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was a daughter of James McMahon, a native of Ireland. This marriage was blessed with thirteen children. In order of birth those living are: Louis D.,.William, Maud, James, Alexis J„ Edith A., Roy F., Dudley B., John and Alice V. Three of the brothers, Dudley, William .and Roy F., are partners in a successful mercantile enterprise of Ben ton Harbor and are mentioned on another page of this work. While developing extensive and im portant trade relations in the field of lum ber operations Mr. Wallace also extended his efforts to other lines and became the owner of considerable real estate, making judicious investments in property, which won him a gratifying financial return. He was also one of the organizers of the Union Banking Company of St. Joseph, served as its vice president and was one of its directors for a number of years. He was likewise treasurer of the St. Joseph Building and Loan Asso ciation for several years and various interests felt the stimulus of his enterprise and keen discernment. In public affairs he was not without influence and his aid often proved a valuable factor in advancing the welfare of his home community. He served as treas urer of St. Joseph township in 1875-6, was one of the trustees of the village of St. Jo seph and at all times gave unfaltering sup port to the Republican party. His life, too', exemplified the teachings of the Masonic fra ternity, his membership being in Occidental Lodge, No: 56, A. F. & A. M., in which he was an active worker. He always kept well informed upon matters of general in terest and his opinions were frequently sought because of their value, owing to his keen insight into any situation and his fair judgment, which was particularly free from personal bias. His success may well be as- scribed to close application and untiring in dustry, for all that he gained was the result of his own labors. His pleasant genial man ner won him friends wherever he went, haughtiness and ostentation finding no part in his composition. His career forcibly il lustrates what may be accomplished by de termination and energy in a land where all avenues are open and exertion is untram melled. His death occurred on the 17th of February, 1905. DUDLEY B. WALLACE, by the con sensus of public opinion, is classed with the leading men and merchants of Benton Har bor. He is an extremely busy and success ful merchant, who has made good use of his opportunities and has prospered from year to year, conducting all business matters care fully and successfully, and in all his acts dis playing an aptitude for successful manage ment. He is moreover a young man and one of Michigan's native sons. His years, however, have seemed no bar to his progress, and his position in the commercial world is such as many a man of twice his years might well envy. Spending his boyhood days in his parents' home in St. Joseph, Michigan, he began his education in the public schools there at the usual, age. After his school life was ended he joined his brothers, William G. and Roy F. Wallace, in the organization of the firm of Wallace Brothers and opened a general store in Benton Harbor for the sale of notions, hardware, etc. Their advertise ments state that they carry "almost every thing," and one can well accept the state ment when seeing their large double store on Pipestone street with its extensive stock of goods. It is well located in the center of the business district, and from the beginning the brothers have met with a large measure of success. They are progressive men, keep ing in touch with the modern trend of progress in the commercial world, and in their work they prove that they fully under stand and appreciate the two old and time tried maxims, "Honesty is the best- policy" and "There is no excellence without labor." On the 8th of May, 1904, in Benton Harbor, Dudley B. Wallace was united in marriage to Miss Irene Beddo, who was born in Austin, Illinois, but has spent the greater part of her life in Benton Harbor. William G. Wallace married Miss Bertha Scott, of St. Joseph, and has one child. They reside in that city, but Dudley B. and Roy F. Wal lace are residents of Benton Harbor. The latter married lola Hummiston, of St. Jo seph, and has one child, Victoria. When age conferred the right of fran- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 333 chise upon Dudley B, Wallace he supported the men and pledged to uphold Republican principles, for he believes firmly in the plat form and the policy of that party. He was a charter member of St. Josepb lodge, A. F. & A. M., of St. Joseph, but was demitted to Lake Shore lodge of Benton Harbor. While he has never sought to figure prom inently in public affairs as an office holder, there is no man who takes a more genuine interest in the welfare of. Benton Harbor and its upbuilding than does Mr. Wallace. Mentally he has grown to be very strong without becoming a great student of books. He is quick of apprehension, and intricate business affairs he comprehends in a mo ment. He is recognized as an able business man of southwestern Michigan, his indom itable energy and unbounded perseverance winning him prosperity among Benton Har bor's substantial citizens, and while he has advanced his individual interests he has also done much toward promoting the gen eral welfare. JOHN J. WINN, JR., filling the position of township clerk, is an ener getic and enterprising farmer living on section eight, Niles township. His entire life has been passed in this county, his birth having occurred in Berrien township, Feb- uary 17, 1870. His father, John Winn, is a native of Germany and came to America when sixteen years of age, while his resi dence in Michigan covers a period of about forty years. He now makes his home in Niles township, and is one of the well known citizens of his part of the county. He mar ried Miss Fannie Foster, a native of Niles township, whose parents were early settlers of this county, casting in their lot with the pioneer residents when much of the land was still unimproved and the work of develop ment had scarcely been begun. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Winn have been born two sons, fhe elder being George F. Winn. John J. Winn was reared under the par ental roof and acquired his education in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Val paraiso, where he pursued a business course and won a diploma. He was thus well quali fied to undertake the practical and re sponsible duties which come to . one in the course of an active and successful business career. He has been a life-long farmer and is the owner of eighty acres of land on sec tion eight, Niles township, devoted to gen eral agricultural pursuits. The fields are well tilled and everything about the place is kept in good condition and the owner is therefore meeting with good success in his undertakings. On the 1 8th of October, 1899, Mr. Winn was united in marriage to Miss Mary Pauline Graham, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Graham, who removed from Canada to Indiana and thence to Niles, Michigari. Mrs. Winn was born in Toronto, Canada, September 6, 1875, and she had three brothers and two sisters, all of whom were born in that country. She was four teen years of age at the time of her parents' removal to the Hoosier state, and was nine teen years of age when she came to Niles. Her early education was acquired in the schools of Laporte, Indiana, and after pur suing a teacher's course in Benton Harbor she engaged in teaching school for seven years in Indiana and Michigan, spending four years as a teacher in the St. Joseph Val ley school, in Niles township, one year in district No. 11, Niles township, and two years in Laporte county, Indiana. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Winn has been blessed with one daughter, Frances Lucile. Mr. Winn has taken an active interest in political matters and by his ballot en dorses the principles of Democracy. He was elected township clerk, serving for two terms a»d was afterward elected township treasurer, in which he also served for two terms. Again in 1905 he was chosen clerk and was re-elected in 1906, so that for a number of years he has been in the office and at all times has proven a capable and trust worthy official. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, fraternity in Niles and is well known in the county because of the fact of his long residence here and by reason of his activity in business and his prominence in local political circles. Over the record of his official career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. 334 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY DR. GEORGE S. GREEN, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Berrien Springs, was born in Burlington, Calhoun county, on the 2d of March, 1876. His father, Dr. George H. Green, formerly a resident of Marshall, Michigan, was born in New York, and was graduated from the State University at Ann Arbor. He was descended from General Green of Revolu tionary fame and the family comes of Eng lish lineage. Throughout bis active profes sional career he engaged in the practice of medicine and his life's labors were ended in death at the age of sixty-two. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Emma E. Spaulding, is still a resident of Marshall. In the family were three children, of whom Dr. Green of this review is the eldest. The others are : Grove, who is a druggist in Mar shall, Michigan; and Wade, a practicing at torney of New York city. Dr. Green of this review supplemented his elementary education by study in Albion College, and later attended the Detroit Col lege of Medicine, from which he was grad uated in 1897. Having carefully prepared for the profession he located for practice the same year in Niles, where he remained for two years, and in 1899 he came to Berrien Springs, where he has since remained. Here a liberal practice has been accorded him, for he soon demonstrated his ability to success fully cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health and prolong life. His practice both in extent and importance is scarcely surpassed by that of any physi cian of the county. He makes a specialty of gynecology and surgery and is particu larly proficient in these lines. He holds membership in the Berrien County Medical Society, and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias. HENRY E. THURSTON, the oldest freight conductor on the Pere Marquette Railroad, making his home in New Buffalo, is a native of St. Joseph county, Michigan, born on the 25th of February, 1859. His parents were Washington and Harriet (Plimpton) Thurston, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. They came to- New Buffalo in early life and were married here, subsequent to which time they became residents of St. Joseph county, but both spent their last years in this coun ty, the mother departing this life when only forty-one years of age, while Mr. Thurston reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. The Plimptons were of a pioneer family of this state and the Thurstons also came at an early day. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade and in fol lowing that pursuit was closely connected with the building operations and material improvement of this section of Michigan. In his family were six children : Charles, now a resident of New Buffalo; Henry E., of this review; Mary, the wife of Alonzo Chubb, who is living in LaCrosse, Wiscon sin : Clara, the wife of George Meadimber, of South Bend, Indiana ; William, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and Clar ence, who died in infancy. Henry E. Thurston spent the first eight years of his life on the old homestead farm and then accompanied his father on his re moval to New Buffalo in 1867. Here he has resided continuously since. He was in school until thirteen years of age, when he started out to earn his own living, being first employed in a stave and furniture fac tory. He occupied a position there until he went upon the railroad when about twenty years of age, being first employed as engine wiper. Later he was given a position as a machinist and subsequently was made fore man of the round house. Owing to his health, however, he gave up the mechanical part of railroading and accepted a position as brakeman, in which capacity he served for a time and was then promoted to con ductor. He is now the oldest freight con ductor on the Pere Marquette Railroad and has also run some passenger trains. He has for twenty-six years been in the employ of this railroad and no higher testimonial could be given of able and faithful service than the fact that he has so long been re tained in the employ of a corporation which permits of no' inefficiency on the part of its representatives, demanding capable and prompt service from all. On the 23d of December, 1878, Mr. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 335 Thurston was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Lexo, a native of New Buffalo, Michigan, in which place she has always re sided. Her parents, Henry and Sophia (Gertz) Lexo, were of German birth and parentage and were married in the father land. Four children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Thurston : Harriett, who is at home; Frederick, who died in infancy; Minnie, at home; and Olive, who was burned to death when only six years of age. Mr. Thurston owns a good residence prop erty on Barton street, where he and his fam ily are comfortably located. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth, have frequently called him to local office. He has served on the village council for six years and was a member of the board of education for nine years. He was also town ship clerk for one term and deputy sheriff for one term under Ben Sterns. In his fra ternal relations he is a Mason, having be come a member of the blue lodge at Three Oaks. He is also connected with the Mac cabees Tent, No. 239, at New Buffalo, and with the Order of Railway Conductors. Mr. Thurston is well known in New Buffalo and along the line of the Pere Marquette road, over which he has made so many trips. He is indeed trustworthy, never faltering in the performance of the duties which de volve upon him in this connection and he has the entire confidence of the corporation which he represents and the good will of the general public, with which he has been brought in contact through his business re lations. ARTHUR HANSLER, engaged in general farming on section 21, Niles town ship, owns and occupies a tract of land of sixty acres constituting a well improved property. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Niles city, on the nth of April, 1867. His father, John G. Hansler, was a native of Germany, and when about fourteen- years of age came to America. He located in Berrien county and when he had arrived at years of maturity he was married to Miss Dorothea Ranft; likewise a native of Ger many, whence she came to the United States with her parents in her early girl hood days. John G. Hansler departed this life in 1883, when about forty-nine years of age, and the mother died in 1896. There were eight children born of their marriage, of whom one died in infancy, while the others reached adult age. All were born in Niles, where the family home was main tained for a considerable period, Mr. Hans ler being engaged in business as a hardware merchant in that city for several years. Arthur Hansler was the fifth child and fourth son in the family, and was reared in Niles, entering the public schools at the usual age and passing through successive grades until, at the age of sixteen years he put aside his text-books and entered his father's store. There he learned the tin ner's trade and after his father's death he and his brother John carried on the business for about three years. In 1887 Arthur Hansler went to California, locating at Pomona, where he worked at his trade for about a year. He then engaged in the hard ware, tinning and plumbing business on his own account in partnership with his two brothers, John and Frank H. and H. P. Wilkinson, the firm still being Hansler Brothers & Company. This relation was maintained for twelve years and a success ful business was conducted. On the expira tion of that period Arthur Hansler sold his interest in the business and returned to Niles. For a year he was not actively con nected with business interests but in 1899 he bought a farm on section 14, Niles town ship, on which he located. He erected a new house and for three and a half years devoted his energies to the improvement and culti vation of the land, carrying on general fanning. He then sold out and returned to California, where he again engaged in the hardware business at Riverside in partner ship with his brother John. This continued for a year, when he sold out to his brother and came again to Berrien county, locating in Niles, where he resided until 1906, when he purcbased the farm upon which he now resides. He has made five different trips to California and is thoroughly familiar 336 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY with the western country and its prospects. His farm comprises sixty acres of land which has been brought under a high state of cultivation and is well improved with good farm machinery, substantial buildings and modern equipments. In addition to this property he also owns a business block in Niles known as the Van Gorder Block. It was October io, 1897, that the mar riage of Arthur Hansler and Miss Ida Pfeil was celebrated. She was born in Niles township October 6, 1876, and is a daugh ter of William and Eva (Nieb) Pfeil, one of the old settlers of Berrien county. One son graces this marriage, Lester Arthur. The parents occupy an enviable position in social circles and the hospitality of the best homes of this part of the county is freely and graciously accorded them. In politics Mr. Hansler is a stalwart Democrat, al though somewhat independent in his politi cal views where local issues are involved, casting his ballot for candidates rather than party. He possesses the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west and through a life of well directed activity has become one of the substantial residents of his native county. ANDREW CRAWFORD, deceased, made a notable record as one who advanced from a humble financial position to rank among the millionaire residents of Chicago and Berrien county. Beginning at the very lowest round of the financial ladder he steadily climbed upward. Honored and respected be all, he occupied an en viable position in legal and business circles and the admiration which was uniformly accorded him came in recognition not only of his success but also of the straightforward business methods which he ever followed. Possessed of strong mental ity, developing his latent powers through en terprise, perseverance and the utilization of opportunity, he at length gained a place among the foremost lawyers of the Chicago- bar, and in later years when wealth had crowned his efforts he became connected with the interests of Berrien county through the establishment of a beautiful summer home on the lake shore drive near St. Joseph. His life record began on the ist of Decem ber, 1 83 1, near Kilmarnock, Ayreshire, Scotland, and was ended on the 21st of No vember, 1900, his death being occasioned by heart failure while he was sitting in his Chi cago office. He was the third son of An drew and Janet (Hay) Crawford. His father was for many years manager of the Duke-Portland coal mines, and his mother was a member of the well known Hay family. Andrew Crawford was reared under strict Scotch Presbyterian influences, and at fifteen years of age secured a position in the mines. He had begun the study of Latin and French, prior to this time and he took up the study of civil engineering and sur veying. His efficiency is indicated by the fact that at the end of the first year he won promotion. He afterward went to London, England, and in November, 1852, he sailed for America. The vessel on which he took passage headed for the Azores, where it laid up for repairs, and boarding another steamer Mr. Crawford continued on his way to the American metropolis, where he arrived Feb ruary 25, 1853. He had not one cent in his pocket on landing and he sold his Scotch overcoat in order to have some ready cash. He afterward went to Philadelphia and New Jersey and was employed as assistant man ager for a railroad construction gang at a salary of a dollar and a quarter per day. He eagerly availed himself of every opportunity for advancement and his business ability, en terprise and willingness soon won recogni tion and led to his promotion from time to time. He was fpr a period in New Orleans and he arrived in Chicago when it contained less than, sixty-six thousand. Mr. Crawford was married in Geneseo, Illinois, in 1857, to Miss Sarah Louise Bax ter of that place, whose father was an old Cape Cod sea captain. In Chicago Mr. Crawford entered upon the study of law and after preliminary reading was admitted to the bar at Geneseo in i860. The same year he became a naturalized American citi zen. In entering upon the active practice MunacLL Pub Cc HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 337 of his profession in Geneseo he became recog nized as an able member of the bar there and also became a leader in political circles. In 1868 he was elected on the Republican ticket to represent Henry county in the state senate, where he served for four years. He was a student of the signs of the times, kept thoroughly informed concerning the great political issues and questions of the day and left the impress of his individuality upon the political history of Illinois. He was ap pointed by the government a trustee to in vestigate the state institutes and in 1872 was chosen a delegate to the Republican national convention which met at Philadel phia. He was well fitted for political leader ship having excellent executive ability, keen foresight and that ready understanding of conditions which enabled him to capably direct working forces. In 1873 Mr. Crawford removed to Chi cago, and in 1877 became one of the incor porators, and later the vice president of the Western Indiana Railroad. At the bar he made rapid advancement, his clientage stead ily increasing in volume and importance, and in 1886 he became attorney for Charles T. 'Yerkes and the street railway interests, of which that gentleman had control. His legal services were confined to large corporations and he was recognized as one of the promi nent corporation lawyers of the city. About thirty-five years prior to his death he made real-estate investments in Michigan and be came associated with Mr. Graham in vessel and dock ownership, the business being con ducted under the name of the Graham & Morton Transportation Company, Mr. Crawford being the financial head of the concern. About seventeen years ago he de cided to establish a summer home in Michi gan and purchased at Royalton Heights a tract of land, on which he erected a palatial country residence, three and half miles from St. Joseph. From that time forward he spent the summers in his Michigan home, although he continued active in the practice of law in Chicago up to the time of his death, and as the result of his distinguished ability in his profession and his judicious invest ments he was at the time of his demise one 22 of the millionaire residents of the metropolis. After coming to America he made but one visit to his old home in Scotland, greatly preferring the United States as a place of residence. In his religious faith Mr. Crawford was a Unitarian. He passed away November 21, 1900, and his remains were interred at Geneseo, Illinois, where he had continued his support of many movements for the general good. He was a liberal contributor to the support of the church there and retained his membership there. He was also very gen erous in his contributions to various schools and charitable institutions and was a man of liberal spirit, whose benefactions were many. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were born the following named : Richard C. ; Jessie C, the wife of Burdette C. Barnes, of Chicago ; Daisy C, the wife of T. G. Milsted, of New York city; Lucy C, the wife of Frank P. Graves, formerly of Benton Harbor, a prac ticing attorney with offices now in St. Jo seph and Chicago; and Andrew H.. Mr. Crawford was devoted to the welfare of his family and found his greatest delight in pro viding comforts and luxuries for his wife and children. He deserves classification with the men of marked business ability, who may well be termed captains of finance. In his entire business career there was not one esoteric phase, for his interests were man aged with due regard to the rights of others and his brilliant success was achieved through the exercise of his native talents as manifest in the able practice of law and in the juflicious placing of his investments. Mrs. Crawford now resides during the sum mers at her beautiful home on the lake shore drive two miles and a half south of St. Jo seph. JAMES F. SKINNER, a retired farmer living in Berrien Springs, was in former years an active and successful rep resentative of agricultural interests in this county. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, near Jimtown, December 14, 1848. His father, Aaron Skinner, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he remained through 338 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the period of his boyhood and youth, while in early manhood he made his way to In diana, locating in Elkhart county, where he was married. He wedded Miss Eliza Potter, who was born in Ohio, and there began their domestic life upon a farm, Mr. Skinner not only carrying on the work of the fields but also operating a sawmill in that locality. In 1850 be removed near South Bend, in St. Joseph county, and in 1862 took up his abode in the city, retiring from active busi ness life. He was sixty-nine years of age at the time of his demise, wbile his wife passed away at the age of fifty-nine. They were the parents of five children, three daughters and two sons, all of whom reached adult age. These are Lucinda, Mattie, Elizabeth, James F. and William. James F. Skinner was reared in and near South Bend, having been but two years of age at the time of his parents' removal to St. Joseph county. He was educated in the village schools and at Notre Dame Univer sity. At the age of sixteen years, however, he put aside all personal considerations in order to respond to his country's call and enlisted as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for six months, or until the close of the war. On the 2d of April, 1867, Mr. Skinner was united in marriage to Miss Adah Slon- ecker, who was born in Indiana, and in her early girlhood was taken to Berrien Springs by ber parents. Her education was acquired at St. Joseph, Michigan. The young couple began their domestic life near St. Joseph, but after a short period removed to South Bend, where they remained for two years. They then took up their abode upon a farm in Bainbridge township and afterward in Oronoko township, where Mr. Skinner car ried on general agricultural pursuits until 1894. He afterward engaged in the shoe business for about two years in Berrien Springs, and selling out he retired from ac tive business life, since which time he has enjoyed a well earned rest. He is still the owner of eighty acres of good land two miles from Berrien Springs and this brings him a desirable income. Throughout his business career he has been active and ener getic, manifesting keen discernment and en terprise in the control of his agricultural and commercial interests. These qualities are essential factors to success and have brought him a gratifying measure of prosperity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have been born four daughters and three sons; Olus, a shoe man of Berrien Springs ; Loy, who is living on the old homestead ; Zella, the wife of Alvin Stover, a resident farmer of Oro noko township; Arda, the wife of Claude Sparks, a lumber dealer at Berrien Springs; Nola, the wife of Charles Collins, of New castle, Indiana; Nie, a carpenter by trade; and Orfa, who is assistant cashier in the bank at Berrien Springs. Mr. Skinner in his study of the political issues and questions of the day has been led to give a stalwart support to the principles of the Republican party, which he believes are most conducive to good government. He takes an active interest in the work of the party, doing all he can to promote its growth and insure its success. He has served as village trustee and as highway commissioner, and matters relating to the public welfare are always of interest to him. and elicit his commendation and support. GEORGE S. HOPPIN, an old settler residing on section two, Niles township, was born in New York, June 24, 1825. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Hoppin, was a native of Massachusetts, and was of Eng lish descent. He married but died in early manhood. His son, Thaddeus Hoppin, also a native of Massachusetts, became a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. He removed from New England to New York about 1820, and in 1844 came to Michigan, set tling in Berrien county. Here the residue of his days were passed and he departed this life at the age of seventy years. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party and he held some local offices while residing in New York. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part. He mar- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 339 ried Miss Tamer Daniels, a native of Hing- ham, Massachusetts, and a daughter of John Daniels, who was a native of Boston. John Hancock and John Adams were among his patrons and their names appear on his books. The mother of Mr. Hoppin lived to be about ninety years of age, and in Ber rien county Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Hoppin were highly esteemed people. In their fam ily were nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom reached mature years but only two are now living, the sister being Mrs. Clarissa Everts, the widow of A. M. Everts, of Woodland, California. George S. Hoppin, the seventh child and fourth son, is the only representative of the family in Berrien county. He came with his parents to this county in 1844, being at that time eighteen years of age. He took charge of the farm whereon he now resides, cleared away the timber and brush, placed the fields under the plow and has improved the farm, transforming it into an excellent property. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Dora King, whom he wedded in 1875. She is a daugh ter of Dorcas King and) was born in Lyons, New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hoppin have been born four children: Clair, now the wife of Charles E. White, of Niles; George S., who is employed in a bank at Detroit; John E., who is living in Ann Ar bor; and Rose, at home. In 1883 Mr. Hop pin went to South Dakota and purchased a farm in Brown county, which he improved, remaining thereon for eight years, during which period he placed under cultivation a section of land and added many buildings. He still owns this place and has made many trips to his Dakota property, probably cov ering the distance between his ranch in the nortbwest and his home in Michigan thirty times. ' In this county he owns one hundred and thirty acres of good land, a part of which was once comprised in the old farm homestead. He has erected all of the build ings here and the well improved appearance of his place is indicative of the care and labor bestowed upon it. In politics Mr. Hoppin has been a life long Republican, taking an active interest in the party, its growth and its success. He served as supervisor of Niles township for several terms and has also- been school offi cer. He has belonged to the Presbyterian church for a half century or more and has filled a number of its offices, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He is one of the oldest settlers in the county now living, having for sixty- two years made his home within its borders. Since his arrival he has been identified with the agricultural interests of Berrien county and has done much for its promotion along these lines. DR. E. S. DODD, a pioneer physician of Buchanan and now the oldest practitioner of the city in years of continuous connection therewith, claims Virginia as the state of his nativity, having been born in Franklin county, on the 4th of January, 181 9. His father, Isaac Dodd, also a native of the Old Dominion, was of English and Scotch de scent. He was a farmer by occupation and also learned and followed the blacksmith's trade. Leaving the south in 1836, he re moved to Laporte county, Indiana, locating in its northern district, where he became well known as one of the pioneer black smiths and agriculturists. In 1873 ne re~ moved to Kansas, where he died in his eighty-fourth year. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Agnes Clark, was born near Raleigh, North Carolina, and lived to be about sixty-six years of age. In their family were eight children, all of whom reached manhood and womanhood. Drr Dodd, the second in order of birth, is the only one now living. He was about eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Virginia to Laporte county, Indiana. It was in the fall of 1835 that he arrived in Goshen, driving a four horse team across the coun try for a distance of seven hundred miles. He had attended the public schools of his native place and afterward became a student in the schools of Michigan City. Putting aside his text-books he engaged in the cabinet-making business in Laporte county until about 1847, when he took up 340 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the study of medicine and attended lectures in Laporte in 1847-48. In the fall of the latter year he resumed his studies in Cin cinnati, Ohio, and was graduated in 1849 from the Eclectic Medical College. The same year he located for practice in Wabash, Indiana, where he was actively connected with his profession until the fall of 1850, when he removed to Terracoupee, St. Jo seph county, Indiana, continuing in practice there until the spring of 1859. In Febru ary of that year he located in Buchanan, wbere he has remained continuously since, covering a period of forty-seven years. In 1873 he embarked in the drug business in partnership with his son, I. L. H. Dodd, and the enterprise is still conducted under the firm style of Dodd & Son. As a practi tioner of medicine and surgery Dr. Dodd has enjoyed a large measure of success and as the years have passed has kept in touch with the progress of the profession, readily adopting new and improved methods, while at the same time he has been slow to dis card the old and time-tried processes whose value and worth have been proven through actual experience. In 1850 Dr. Dodd was united in mar riage to Miss Sophronia McKinney, who died in 1875. Tbey were the parents of four children: I. Leroy H., the present county register of deeds, of Berrien county and a member of the drug firm of Dodd & Son; Roselda J., who died at the age of eleven years; Clara A., of Kalamazoo; and Charles S. M., who died when thirty-two years of age. In 1891 Dr. Dodd was mar ried to Mrs. Jennie Champ. In the year 1840 Dr. Dodd cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harri son and has voted at each presidential elec tion since that time. He remained a Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, supporting each candidate at the head of its ticket to the present. He has been examiner for many insurance companies but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. For many years a faithful and devoted member of tbe Methodist Epis copal church, he is also a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, his membership being with the lodge at Buchanan. A resi dent of the city for forty-seven years and one of its pioneer physicians, he is well known in the town and surrounding coun try as a man of genuine personal worth in all life's relations. A man of unswerving integrity and honor, one who has a perfect appreciation of the higher ethics of life, he has gained and retained the confidence and respect of his fellowmen and is distinctively one of the leading citizens of the thriving town of Buchanan, with whose interests he has so long been identified. His memory compasses the most wonderful history of the world's development, for he has passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's jour ney. He has witnessed the advent of the railroad, the telegraph and the telephone, and in early days he made the long trip from Virginia with wagon across the country, traveling after the primitive manner of the times. He has watched with interest the advantages and improvements that time and men have wrought and has rejoiced in what has been accomplished. ERNEST L. RANFT, a native of Ger many, who landed in New York with only a shilling in his pocket, and began life in Berrien county in a little log cabin, is now one of the substantial farmers of Niles town ship, living on section 22, where he owns a valuable and well improved farm. He may truly be called a self-made man, for all that he now possesses has been acquired through his own efforts, and his life history illustrates the fact that in this country, where effort is unhampered by caste or class, labor finds its sure and just reward. Ernest L. Ranft first opened his eyes to- the light of day in Saxony, Germany, Feb ruary 28, 1834, and was reared in his na tive country to the age of nineteen years. For eight years he was a pupil in the schools, of that country, after which he was vari ously employed until he came to America. The favorable reports which he heard con cerning business conditions and opportuni ties in the new world led him to seek a home in America and he came alone to the United: HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 34i States in 1854, stopping first in New York, where he remained for two years. He came to this county in 1856 and took up his abode in Niles, and with the passing of years he has made a creditable position for himself in business circles as a representative of the agricultural interests of the county. Before leaving New York Mr. Ranft was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mar garet Miller, also a native of Saxony, Ger many. She came to America on the same ship on which her future husband crossed the Atlantic. The year after their arrival in Michigan Mr. Ranft worked by the day or job and the following year he bought the land whereon he now resides. There were no improvements on the place at that time and he built a little log cabin, fourteen by twenty-four feet. He then began clearing the place and as the timber was cut down he plowed the fields which ultimately brought forth rich harvests. He has erected all the buildings upon the place, including a sub stantial residence, good barns and sheds, has built fences, has set out an orchard and has added all modern equipments." Everything about the place is indicative of a progressive as well as practical management and for fifty years Mr. Ranft has here made his home, the farm being proof of a life of thrift and enterprise. As the years have gone by the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ranft has been blessed with six children : George A., Doretta, Matilda, Louise, Annie and Harry, all of whom were born upon the home farm. Mr. Ranft has been a life-long agricult urist and a successful one, and he now owns one hundred and fifty acres of rich land, forty of which lies within the corpo ration limits of the city of Niles, and upon this stands a good bank barn. He certainly - deserves much credit for what he has ac complished as his success is due entirely to his own labors and the assistance of his es timable wife, who has indeed been a worthy helpmate to him. Almost penniless when he arrived in the new world, he has stead ily progressed along the road of useful and persistent endeavor and his labors have been crowned with a most satisfactory reward. In politics a Democrat since he became a naturalized American citizen, he has figured in local political circles as a leader and worker and for eight years he served as con stable of his township, while for two years he was drain commissioner and for twenty- four years justice of the peace. He filled the office of highway commissioner for three years and for many years has been almost . continuously in office, discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity which leaves no room for question concerning his public- spirited and loyal citizenship. He is now peach tree inspector for the city of Niles. He has taken a most active and helpful in terest in public affairs and the county has profited by his labors on behalf of the gen eral public. He belongs to the United Workmen Lodge at Niles and to the Ger man church. He was instrumental in se curing the services of the first minister for this church and his son was the first to be baptized into this church. He rejoices in civic development and is now accounted one of the honored and prominent residents of the county. GEORGE H. BLACK. This is an age of invention, and America is the exponent of the spirit of the age. No country has made such rapid progress as the United States in the line of utilitarian invention and the products of the sons of the new world have largely revolutionized business condi tions and labor. George H. Black of Buch anan is well known as an inventor and man ufacturer of various useful devices, which have brought him a wide acquaintance in business circles, not only in Michigan but in other parts of the country as well. His life record began in Ashburnham, Massachu setts, March 25, 1853. His father, Horace Black, was a native of Putney, Vermont, and was a furniture maker by occupation. In the year 1859 he came westward to Ber rien county, Michigan, settling in New Buf falo, where he engaged in the furniture busi ness for some time, producing the first round cornered bedstead. made in the state. These bedsteads were manufactured from black walnut. Mr. Black remained at New Buf- 342 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY falo for two years and then came to Buch anan, where be continued in the manufact ure of furniture, being closely associated with the productive industries of the town. He died -at the very venerable age of eighty- six years, while his wife, who bore the maiden narrie of Harriet Petts, and was a native of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, lived to be ninety-two years of age. In the family were eight children, five daughters and three sons, one of whom died in child hood, while the others are still living. George H. Black is the seventh child and third son, and was in his fourth year when he came with his parents to this state. When a youth of six years he became a resident of Buchanan and his youth was here passed, his education being acquired in the public schools. He became connected with the fur niture manufacturing business when ten years of age as an assistant to his father, and learned the business from the founda tion upward, becoming familiar with the trade in all its departments and gaining much proficiency as the years passed by until he was known as an expert workman. He was associated with his brother for some time, or until 1884, when he began the man ufacture of the "Queen of the Garden" hand cultivator, which he is still manufacturing. He is the patentee and proprietor, as well as manufacturer of this useful -device. In ad dition he is also manufacturing typewriter desks, stands, racks for magazines, news papers and music, and tables of various kinds. He now employs eight men, and the factory has a capacity of from twenty- five to thirty men. As the output of the factory is now being shipped to various parts of the country the business is having a substantial and well merited growth. Mr. Black has resided continuously in Buchanan since i860, or for a period of forty-six years, and has taken an active and helpful interest in the place . and its devel opment. He is a stanch Republican and that he is a leading and influential citizen is indicated by the fact that he was elected and served for three years as mayor. He was also a member of the council for four years and has been zealous in his devotion to the public good and his faithful, effective and far-reaching effort to promote civic virtue and pride and to uphold the legal and moral status of the community. Socially he is con nected with the Knigbts of the Maccabees and is well known throughout the county as a prominent, reliable and honorable business man, whose interests are of direct benefit to the city as well as a source of individual income. EDGAR F. GARLAND, president of the village board of Berrien Springs, and well fitted for leadership by rea son of his devotion to the general good and his natural business capacity and enterprise, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, August- 21, 1857. His father, Horace Gar land, was a native of New Hampshire and became one of the early settlers of Cedar county, Iowa, where he took up his abode in 1855. He removed from tbat state to Michigan in 1863, locating at Benton Har bor. There he engaged in general farming and fruit raising for a number of years but died in Kansas at the age of sixty-three years. He had in the meantime removed from Michigan to California, and later had taken up. his abode in the Sunflower state. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catharine Webster, was a native of New Hampshire and died about i860. There were two sons in the family, Horace being a resident of Bainbridge township, Berrien county. Edgar F. Garland, the younger son, was about six years of age when he came to Ber rien county, Michigan, with his parents. He was reared near Bentor Harbor and attended the district schools, while later he became a student in the high school at Benton Harbor. He then started out in life on his own ac count and the success that he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors. For ten years he operated a farm for the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this land being lo cated in Benton township. He afterward for five years operated a farm for William Hamilton near Benton Harbor, and about 1890 he came to Berrien Springs, where he <&.«A 47&A^***^£ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 343 purchased a part of what is know as the Col lege farm. Selling this place he located on a farm where he now resides and for some time he has owned this property. He has a fine fruit farm of ten acres inside the cor porate limits of Berrien Springs and eight and a quarter acres adjoining, but just out side the corporation. He has made most of the improvements upon the place and it is a valuable property, from which he annually gathers a large fruit crop. He secures only the ' best nursery stock and his orchards are now in excellent bearing condition. In 1886 Mr. Garland was united in mar riage to Miss Anna King, a daughter of John and Anna King, of Benton township. Mrs. Garland was born in Chicago, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Walter and Allen, both at home. In his political views Mr. Garland is an earn est Republican, stanchly advocating the prin ciples of the party and keeping well in formed on the questions of the day. He is recognized as a leader in its local ranks, and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen is indicated by the fact that he is now serving as president of the village board, to which office he was chosen by popular suffrage. He has been identified with the interests of Berrien county for forty-three years and is well known in the neighborhood as a man fully worthy the respect which is uniformly accorded him. A. D. YOUNG. The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of Berrien county without learning that the Young family was established here at a very early epoch in the development of the county, seventy years having come and gone since Cornelius and Hannah (Hamil ton) Young, grandparents of A. D. Young, came from the state of New York and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Niles township, Berrien county. Cornelius Young purchased land which he converted into a good farm, and the family, in the early clays shared in all the hardships and privations incident to the establishment of a home on the frontier, far removed from the com forts and advantages of the older civiliza tion of the east. There for many years lived Mr. and Mrs. Young, as representative farming people of the community, and they aided in laying the foundation for later-day improvement and progress in this county. Their son, John H. Young, born in New York, came to Berrien county with his par ents in 1836, long before the state was ad mitted to the Union, and was reared amid pioneer environment upon the home farm in Niles township. Educational facilities were limited but he had ample opportunity to become familiar with farm work and the arduous task of developing new land. He was married in Niles township to Miss Delia Snow, a native of Vermont, who was brought to this county wheri a maiden of eight summers by her parents, Orrin and Emily (Brigham) Snow, who also' located in Niles township, where their daughter was reared. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John H. Young located on a farm in Niles township, where for many years he carried on general agricultural pursuits, be coming one of the prosperous farmers of the locality. Both he and his wife are now living in the city of Niles, the former at the age- of seventy-nine years, the latter at the age of seventy-five. They were the par ents of seven children, of whom two died in infancy, while five are still living in 1906. A. D. Young, the second child and the eldest now living, was born on the old fam ily homestead in Niles township, September 25, 1854, and was there reared. At the usual age he began his education in the pub lic schools of the- neighborhood and contin ued his studies in the schools of Niles, while his practical training at farm labor was re ceived under the direction of his father as. he assisted in the work of the fields. He was married March 13, 1879, to Miss Mat- tie Storms, a daughter of Lewis and Lydia (Baker) Storms. She is the youngest of three children and the only daughter. She was born in the house in which she now lives, August 19, 1857, and was reared upon this farm, her father baving come from New -•344 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY York, while her mother was reared in this bounty from the age of one year. Her birth •occurred in Indiana. At the time of their marriage Mr. Young and his bride located on a farm in Niles township, a mile and a half north of the town and after a year and a half 'they removed to their present place west of Niles. Here they have one hundred and eighty acres of land, constituting a valuable and well developed tract of land. Mr. Young carries on general farming and is also en gaged in the dairy business, and both branches are proving profitable, showing him to be a man of diligence, enterprise and sound business judgment. Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of five children : Arthur, John, Harry, Homer and Lyle, and all are still at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Young is a Republican, in thorough sym pathy with the principles of the party, and in its work he has taken an active interest, contributing to the forward movement which results in political victories. He has served as deputy oil inspector for Berrien and Cass counties, under appointment of Governor Pingree, but has not sought office as a reward for party fealty. He is a char ter member of Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 900, and a worthy representative of tbe order. Both he and bis wife are descended from prominent old pioneer families of the county and in this part of the state where their entire lives have been passed they en joy the warm regard of many friends. HON. JAMES B. THOMSON, who in public office has made an excellent record as a citizen of unquestioned loyalty to the gen eral good and of progressive methods for the betterment of his town and county, re sides on section 32, Niles township, and is numbered among the prominent old settlers of this part of the state, for he has lived in Niles township for more than a half cen tury. He was born August 19, 1853, on the farm where he now resides, and is of Scotch lineage. Plis father, Samuel Thomson, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and was born in 1798. He remained in the land of hills and heather until after his marriage, Miss Lillian Atkins becoming his wife. She was also born in Glasgow. Mr. Thomson was a weaver by trade" and became a land surveyor and merchant, conducting a store about five miles out of Glasgow. He also acted as magistrate and was thus connected with various interests in his native country. The favorable reports which he heard con cerning America and its opportunities led him to the new world in 1844. He located on the farm where his son James now re sides. At that time there was a log cabin on the place and a small portion of the land had been brought under cultivation. With characteristic energy he began its further improvement and development and as the years went by he shared in the usual hard ships and privations of pioneer life and later enjoyed the benefits of his own labor as manifest in a highly improved farm that re turned him a good income. He continued to devote his time and energies to farming until his death, which occurred on Christ-. mas day of 1882. He was a life-long mem ber of the Presbyterian church and his Christian faith permeated his entire career and made him straightforward and honor able in all of his relations of life. He voted with the Democracy and served as justice of the peace and in other local offices, the duties of which were promptly and faith fully performed. His wife survived him for a long period and died on the 13th of March, 1900, at the very advanced age of ninety-eight years. There were eight chil dren in the family, all of whom reached manhood or womanhood but only three of the number are now living, the brother of our subject being Samuel C. Thomson, who resides in Howard township, Cass county, where he follows farming. Agnes B. Thom son makes her home in Niles city. James B. Thomson was the youngest of the eight children. No event of special im portance occurred to vary for him the rou tine of farm life in his boyhood days. He was reared upon the old homestead farm where he now resides and here he has spent his life, his attention being given to gen eral agricultural pursuits. As the years HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 345 went by he more and more largely aided in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops were har vested in the late autumn. He was edu cated in district school No. 6, in Niles town ship, and after attaining his majority he cared for his parents, thus repaying them by filial devotion for tbe care and love which tbey bestowed upon him in his youth. In December, 1893, he was married to Miss Julia Herkimer, a daughter of Michael and Jane Herkimer. She was born in Bertrand township, Berrien county, her people being early settlers of this part of the state, cast ing in their lot with its pioneer residents. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson has been born a son, Thomas H., whose birth occurred June 24, 1895. The family home is a com fortable and attractive residence situated on section 32, Niles township, and here Mr. Thomson owns one hundred and eighty acres of land, which is devoted: to general farming. His fields are well tilled and re spond readily to the care and improvement which are bestowed upon them, thus making his property a valuable and productive farm. Mr. Tbomson is, moreover, recognized as a leader in political circles, being a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. He does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. The first public office that he ever filled was that of school inspector, and in 1887 he was elected supervisor, serving for five years. On the expiration of that period he was re elected and he has been chosen to the office for five years. He was elected the the State Legislature in 1892, representing the second district of Berrien county. At that time he was filling the office of supervisor but he resigned. He was once more elected super visor, in 1898, and served until 1904, mak ing an incumbency in that office of eleven years in Niles township. No higher testi monial of capable service could be given than the fact that he has been again and again elected by popular suffrage, and when a member of tbe general assembly he made a creditable record as one who places the general good before personal aggrandize ment and desires rather the welfare of the state at large than the advancement of in terests which benefit but few. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presby terian church at Niles. He has a very wide acquaintance in Berrien county, having been a life-long resident here, and the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance, for his career has been characterized by a loyal citizenship, by honesty in business and by fidelity to duty in evefy relation of life. AARON CLARK, a representative of a pioneer family of Berrien county and now engaged in farming on section 29, Niles township, was born in Mont gomery co'unty, Obio, August 23, 1855. His father, David Clark, was a native of Maryland and was there reared, after which he removed to Ohio, where he maintained his residence until he came to Michigan in 1868. At that time he settled in Buchanan township, Berrien county, and was engaged in farming up to the time of his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wise, was also a native of Maryland and she, too, has passed away. There were thirteen children in the family, only seven of whom are now living. Aaron Clark was the twelfth in order of birth and is the youngest surviving member of the family. He was a youth of thirteen years when he came with his parents to Michigan and upon the homestead farm in Buchanan township he was reared, assist ing in its early development and improve ment. He also worked in a sawmill in Bu chanan for about six years and was early trained to habits of industry, economy and perseverance — qualities which have been essential factors in his later success. In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Aaron Clark -and Miss Harriet Pears, a daughter of John W. Pears. She was born in London, England, where she remained to the age of fourteen years, when, with her parents, she came to the United States, the family home being established in Buchanan township, Berrien county, Michigan. Fol- 346 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY lowing their marriage Mr. Clark and his bride took up their abode in Buchanan, where they remained for six years and then removed to the Judson farm in Niles town ship. There for a time Mr. Clark carried on general agricultural pursuits and later he rented the Pears farm for eight years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm in Niles township on section six, and when he sold that property he bought the place on which he now resides, known as the Blake farm and comprising fifty-one acres of land. In addition to this property he cultivates seventy acres, which he rents. He carries on general farming and his fields are well developed, while the utmost care and precision are manifest in the manage ment of his property interests. He is prac tical in all that he does and as the years have gone by his persistency of purpose and in domitable energy have been tbe means of bringing him a gratifying competence. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been blessed with two sons : Elmer E., who was born in Buchanan township, July io, 1886; and Frederick, born July 12, 1888. Both are still under the parental roof and as sist their father in his farm labor. Mr. Clark has been a resident of Berrien county for thirty-six years and has always been the champion of progressive public movements. In politics he is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the growth of the party and its successes, and wherever known he is held in high esteem because of his loyalty, his hon est convictions and his reliability in business transactions. ORVILLE CURTIS, M. D. who after careful and thorough preparation is engaged in the successful conduct of a large practice in medicine and surgery in Buchanan, was born in Ballston, Sara toga county, New York, April 18, 1867. His father, Albert S. Curtis, was a na tive of the same county and a farmer by occupation. He is now residing at Round Lake, New York, but his wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna M. Betts and was born in Saratoga county in 1833, passed away May 3, 1906. In their family were four children, two daughters and two sons : Nettie, deceased ; Dr. P. C. Curtis, living at Round Lake, New York; Harriet M., the wife of Dr. Baldwin, of Niles, Michigan; and Dr. Orville Curtis. The youngest of the four children, Dr. Curtis of this review, was reared in his na tive county and began his education in a private scbool at Burnt Hills, New York. He afterward attended the Troy Confer ence Academy at Poultney, Vermont, and the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. His specific preparation for his profession was made in Albany Medical College, New York, from which be was graduated in the class of 1893, and thereafter he practiced for sixteen months in Albany Hospital and for eight months in St. Mary's Hospital in New York, during which time he ' added broad practical training and experience to his theoretical knowledge. He likewise con tinued in private practice to some extent in the metropolis of the east, and in 1896 came to Buchanan, where for the past decade he has been in active practice as one of the more successful representatives of the profession. His learning is wide, his judgment sound and his effort as a practitioner was attended with gratifying results when viewed from both a professional and financial standpoint. In 1904 Dr. Curtis was married to Miss Susan Butler, a daughter of Charles A. and Anna (Dick) Butler, and a native of Bu chanan, Micbigan. Highly esteemed, they occupy an enviable position in social circles, enjoying the hospitality of many of the best homes of Berrien county and the sur rounding country. Dr. Curtis is identi fied with many of the social organizations of Buchanan, including the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree as a member of the commandery at Niles. He is a Republican and a member of the school board at Buchanan, while for four years he served on the city council and took an active part in public affairs as a sup porter of progressive measures of reform and development. In the line of his profes sion he is connected with the Berrien County Medical Society and the American Medical DAVID SCHERER AND FAMILY AND FRONT VIEW OF RESIDENCE HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 347 Association and he is examiner for most of the lodges at Buchanan. Laudable ambi tion, which' is the spur of all endeavor, has been manifest throughout his professional career, and broad reading and continued re search have promoted his efficiency until the consensus of public opinion is altogether favorable regarding his ability and accom plishments. JOHN GARWOOD, one. of the farm ers of Niles township, who is alert and enterprising in his business interests, re sides on section n. He was born in the neighboring state of Indiana, the place, of his nativity being St. Joseph county and the date of his birth April 23, 1840. The great-grandfather of our subject was a native of England. The family was founded in America by, three brothers who came to the United States, while one re mained in England and never married. His paternal grandfather was Stacy Garwood, who was born in Ohio and was a farmer by occupation. He married and spent his en tire life in Ohio, devoting his energies to the tilling of the soil. Abner Garwood, father of our subject, was born in the Buckeye state and became one of the early settlers of St. Joseph county, Indiana! He had, however, in the meantime, taken up his abode in Pokagon township, Cass county, whence he removed to the Hoosier state. He was a pioneer in this section of the country and aided in the work of transform ing the wilderness into a richly cultivated district supplied with all the evidences of a modern civilization. He carried on farm ing as a life work and died in the eighty- fifth year of his age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of- Sarah Cruse, was a na tive of Delaware and was of Irish and Scotch lineage. They were married in -Ohio and Mrs. Garwood lived to the age pf sev enty-three years. In the family were ten children, of whom John was the sixth jn the order of birth and-the third son. Reared ; in the county of his nativity, John. Garwood spent the days of his boy hood and youth in the usual manner of farmer lads, his time occupied with such duties and pleasures as were consistent- with his years.. At the age of twenty-nine he went to Kansas, locating in Cloud county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, improving the same by breaking prairie, cultivating the fields, planting hedge fences and adding other equipinents. He re mained there for eighteen years engaged in general farming, feeding his corn to hogs. During this time his land greatly appreciated in value and on his removal from the state he sold his farm of one hundred and sixty acres for forty-five hundred dollars, while the sale of that property netted him sixteen hundred dollars. Returning .from the west he again located in St. Joseph county, In diana, . but soon afterward came to Niles township; Berrien county, and purchased 'the farm whereon he now resides. He has one hundred and twenty acres but rents his larid to his son-in-law, while he is practically living retired from active business cares. On the 13th of November, 1865,, Mr. Garwood was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Rupe, and they have one daughter, Sarah E., who is now the wife of Joseph Webber, and has three children, . Jessie; Marie and Arthur. Mr. Garwood has now been a resident of Berrien county for twenty years, . during which period be has gained a wide acquaint ance and enjoys the favorable regard of many friends. In politics he is a Republican where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, supporting. the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for the discharge . of the business of city and county. He holds membership in the- Meth odist Episcopal church at Niles, and has been one of its officers for nineteen years, acting as trustee and in other official posi tions. He has also been steward and .his connection with church work covers a per iod of thirty years. He has been untiring in his labors to promote its- growth, and ex tend its influence and. his life has been- in constant harmony with his professions;- DAVID -SCHERER is one of- the native sons of Berrien county whose, life record proves the attractiveness of this 348 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY district as a place of residence, for he has always remained within its borders, enjoying its opportunities and profiting by the business conditions here afforded. He was born March 8, 1849, on the farm where he now lives, his parents being David and Magdalena (Arent) Scherer, who were na tives of Prussia. They came to America in 1846, accompanied by Karl Scherer, grand father of our subject, who died in 1849. Seven children had been born to them in the old country. One sister, Mrs. Mary Heff- ner, the wife of Christian Heffner, had been in this country for six years. Later a brother, David Scherer, came to the United States and went to Indiana. After reaching Ber rien county David Scherer, Sr., purchased the present homestead farm, comprising one hundred and ten acres of land lying on the north township line and unimproved, being covered with a native growth of timber. In the midst of the forest Mr. Scherer built a log cabin, in which he lived and died, pass ing away in i860, at the age of sixty years. The widow and her younger children re mained on the farm and carried on the work there. She erected a frame residence there in 1863 and made it her home until called to her final rest on the 7th of September, T873, when she had reached the age of sixty-seven years and three months. The members of her family were as follows: Peter, a farmer of Bainbridge township, who died at the age of sixty-six years; Jacob, ;who spent his life on the old homestead farm and died at the age of seventy-three years; Louisa, who became the wife of Charles Russell and passed away at the age of twenty-nine; Charley; Carrie, who mar ried Stephen Boyle and died in Benton Har bor March 31, 1906, in her seventieth year; Henrietta, the wife of Charles Krieger, of Chicago; Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Hadlow, now residing at Benton Harbor; David, of this review ; and John, a farmer of Watervliet township. David Scherer, whose name introduces this record, remained at home during his mother's life arid was her main assistant on the farm after his father's death, which occurred when he was but eleven years of age. In early youth he became familiar with hard toil and his unremitting labor was a valuable element in the successful im provement of the fields. He was married February 20, 1873, to Miss Louisa Arent, a daughter of Frank Arent, of Lake town ship, Berrien county. Prior to his mother's death he had purcbased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property and he has since added an adjoining tract of forty acres and a valuable piece of timber land. In 1878 he built a large bank barn, and in 1888 erected the residence which was built at a cost of five thousand dollars. It is a large twelve-room brick house finished throughout in hard wood and is altogether one of the best and most attractive homes in Bainbridge township. It occupies a fine location, commanding an excellent view pf the surrounding country. The farm is largely devoted to horticultural pursuits, there being sixteen hundred peach trees upon the place and three acres of apple trees. In addition to the care of his or chards Mr. Scherer is engaged in general farming and is also a breeder of Poland China hogs. He likewise holds property in Benton Harbor and in Watervliet and has thus made judicious investments until he is today one of the substantial citizens of the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scherer have been born eight children : Frank D., who is mar ried and is a merchant at Springport, Michi gan; Rosa, the wife of Frank Heffner, of Watervliet; Minnie, who is engaged in clerking in Watervliet; Carrie, the wife of John Klipp, of Watervliet ; George W., who is engaged in general merchandising at Francisco-, Michigan; Arthur J., who is clerking in a drug store in Benton Harbor; Harry G. and Clyde C, both at home. ln his political views Mr. Scherer is a Democrat with independent tendencies, vot ing for the man wbom he regards as best qualified for office at local elections but cast ing a party ballot for national candidates. Fraternally he is connected with Coloma tent of the Knights of the Maccabees. From an early age he has been dependent upon his own resources, leading a busy, useful HISTORY, OF BERRIEN COUNTY 349 and honorable life, and his diligence and perseverance have constituted him one of the prosperous farmers of Bainbridge township. W. E. HOADLEY is one of the native sons of Niles township, Berrien county, his birth occurring on section twenty-eight, January 29, 1864. His father, Jared Hoadley, was a native of Vermont, and after residing for some time in Indiana removed from that state to Berrien coun ty. His first visit to this county was made in 1837, and he became one of its earliest settlers. He taught school for a short time and then went to Elkhart, Indi ana, where he engaged in merchandising for about four years. He afterward returned to Berrien county and became the proprietor of a warehouse at Niles, which he conducted for some years before the railroad was built to the town. Later he purchased a farm on section twenty-eight, Niles township, and devoted his remaining days to general ag ricultural pursuits. He was born in 18 17 and reached the advanced age of seventy- eight years, passing away in 1895. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Houghland, by whom he had three chil dren, two daughters and a son : Rodney, who is living in the county ; Anna, deceased ; and Kate, the wife of Cbarles Brandess, of Wisconsin. After Mr. Hoadley lost his first wife he married Miss Susan Ashcraft, a na tive of New York, who came to Michigan with her parents when about twelve years of age. By the second marriage there is a son and two daughters, the sisters of our subject being Mary, who is a teacher in the schools of Logansport, Indiana; and Louise, the wife of William Gillett, who is residing on the old homestead in Niles township. W. E. Hoadley is the eldest of the three children of the fathers' second marriage and was reared in his native township, obtain ing his education in the public schools of Niles. In 1896 he was married to Miss Effie Dickey, a daughter of B. F. and Ella (Stowe) Dickey. Mrs. Hoadley was born in Ohio and was brought to Berrien county by her parents when about seven years of age. Her preliminary education, acquired in the public schools of Niles, was supple mented by study in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Indiana, and later she engaged in teaching for a number of years in the public schools of Niles. In 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Hoadley removed to Echo, Oregon, where he was engaged in merchandising. He also served as post master of that town and conducted a ware house. He remained on the Pacific coast for about three years and then returned to Berrien county, after which he took up his abode on the farm where he now makes his home. He has ninety-three acres of land, which is devoted to the production of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate. He again visited the Pacific coast in 1905, spending six months in Los Angeles, Cali fornia. Mr. Hoadley gives his political alle giance to the Democracy and served as town ship clerk of Niles, also as township treas urer for two years and in other local posi tions. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias at Niles.. JOHN M. ROUCH, engaged in the lumber business in Buchanan, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1840, and has found in the business conditions of the west opportunities which he sought and which through their utili zation have led to substantial results. He comes of an old family of the east. His ancestry can be traced back to Germany in 1642, and from the fatherland at a very early period in the colonization of the new world representatives of the name came to America and took up their abode in Penn sylvania. It was in that state that Henry Rouch, father of our subject, was born and reared. He was married there to Miss Eliza Zering, also a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was of German descent, while her mother was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Rouch made their home in Penn sylvania and became the parents of five sons and two daughters, but the daughters died in early life and one son when about six years of age, while the other four reached manhood. 35° HISTORY OF BERRIEN- COUNTY John M. Rouch is the third child and third son. He was reared in Pennsylvania, his native place, and came to Berrien county in 1866. Pie first worked at anything that he could get to do, being employed to some extent at the carpenter's trade but all the time watching for broader opportunities and better advantages and showing himself worthy of such by his continued industry and close application. In 1869 he chose a companion and help mate for life's journey, being married in that year to Miss Susan Bressler, a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Hock) Bressler, who was born in Perry county, Pennsyl vania, and was reared in Micbigan. She came with her parents to Berrien county, lo cating in Bertrand township, and at the time of the marriage of the young couple they settled upon a farm in Bertrand township, Mr. Rouch following general agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In 1883 he engaged in the timber and lumber business, and in 1890 removed to Buchanan, where he has since made his home, his time being de voted to the same line of trade. He also has an interest in the Buchanan Cabinet Company, manufacturing cabinets and is its vice president. His lumber yard is large and well stocked and his thoroughly reliable bus iness methods and earnest desire to please those who give him their trade have secured for him a liberal and constantly growing patronage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rouch have been born two daughters : Lulu, now the wife of John Fydell, of Buchanan; and Ada, at home. The family are well and favorably known in Buchanan and this part of the county. Mr. Rouch is a Republican, whose allegiance has been given to the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran chise. For two years he has served as treas urer of Bertrand township and has also been a member of the council of Buchanan. The fact that Bertrand township usually gives a Democratic majority and that Mr. Rouch was elected township treasurer by a majority of thirty-seven upon the Republican ticket, is strong evidence of his personal popularity as well as of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He has been a res ident of Berrien county for forty years and is a successful and reliable business man and a progressive, faithful citizen who is well known in the township. ALEXANDER EMERY, an attorney at law, also engaged in horticultural pursuits, makes his home on section 24, Bertrand township. A native of Canada, he was born on the 9th of October, 1 84 1, and came to the United States at the age of five years with his mother, the fam ily home being established in Boone county, Illinois, where he first attended school. He there remained until eighteen years of age, when, in i860, he took up his abode in Ga lien, Berrien county, Michigan, entering the employ of G. A. Blakesley as bookeeper and lumber inspector. He was first em ployed for about three years, after which he went to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he spent two years as a student in the State Normal School. He had realized the value of edu cation as a preparation for a successful busi ness career and to this end he continued his studies in the Normal with the result that he returned to Galien well qualified for many responsible duties. He again entered the employ of G. A. Blakesley in the office and store, being connected with him for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he went to Flint, Michigan, where he was ad mitted to the bar and entered upon the prac tice of law, having previously prepared for the examination by a comprehensive course of reading. From 1879 until 1881 he was engaged in practice at Flint, and in 1884 removed to Buchanan, where he continued in active practice for nineteen years. He still retains his office there but in 1903 lo cated on the farm on which he now resides on section twenty-four, Bertrand township. He still gives considerable attention to his law practice and has a good clientage but is now devoting his time to his fine fruit farm, having a splendid place, with good buildings, including a commodious resi dence and substantial barns. The place is called Emerycroft and is improved with all modern equipments. As a horticulturist HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 35i Mr. Emery is demonstrating his business versatility, and one looking upon his fine place with its splendid orchards would im agine that his time and thought throughout his entire business career had been given to fruit raising. March 30, 1864, occurred the marriage of Alexander Emery and Miss Eliza Blakes ley, a daughter of G. A. and Lydia (Alcott) Blakesley and a native of Illinois, born in Kane county November 10, 1848. Four children have graced this marriage : Georgia, who is superintendent of the woman's de partment of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Detroit, Michigan ; Alda, the wife of W. A. Magoon, of Sandusky, Ohio; and Daisy, the wife of F. F. Rough, a prominent farmer of Bertrand township. The eldest child, Adelbert, died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Emery is unfaltering in his alle giance to the Republican party and has been a close and earnest student of the questions and issues of the day. His life has been crowned with success and is another illus tration of the fact that energy and determi nation will bring to a successful solution dif ficult business problems. JAMES W. DIXON, to whom has been vouchsafed a rest from further la bor in recognition of his activity and en terprise in former years, was at one time closely associated with agricultural in terests and still lives upon his farm on sec tion thirty-two, Niles township. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, Septem ber 1, 1823. His father, Thomas Dixon,- a native of Washington county, New York, was there reared and afterward removed to Cayuga county about 18 10, spending his re maining days there. He was of Irish de scent and he passed away in his eighty- eighth year. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Wheedon, was a native of Vermont and lived to be about seventy-five years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, who reached adult age, but only two are now living, the brother of our subject being David W. Dixon, who resides in Battle Creek, Michi gan. James W. Dixon, the sixth member of the family was reared in his native county to the age of twenty-one years and attended the common schools, also spending three months as a student in Auburn Academy, New York. He came to Michigan in 1845, first locating in Cass county, where he re sided for two years, during which period he engaged in teaching school. He then came to Berrien county and was engaged in teaching in Buchanan. Later, however, he returned to New York, where he remained for two and a half years, when he again came to Berrien county and once more was identified with the educational interests of this part of the state, being one of the cap able early teachers of the county. In 1852 he went to California by way of New York city, landing at San Francisco. He spent two and a half years on the Pacific coast, largely engaged in mining and then returned by way of the Panama route and New York city to Niles township, Berrien county. He then purchased the farm whereon he now resides and has here made his home con tinuously since, covering a period of more than a half century. About the time he purchased this farm Mr. Dixon secured a companion and help mate for life's journey by bis marriage Feb ruary 22, 1855, to Miss Louisa Young, a daughter of Cornelius Young, and a native of Cayuga county, New York. They trav eled life's journey happily together for al most foiiy years, when Mrs. Dixon was called to ber final rest in 1894. She was the mother of five children : Clarence, who is now living in Berrien township; Wallace, who makes his home in Canada; Charles, who is in the employ of the United States government and is now located at Amherst burg, Canada; Dr. Oscar C. Dixon, who is a prominent physician at Kaysville, Utah ; and Hattie, the wife of Charles E. Post, re siding upon the old homestead farm. Mr. Dixon has been a resident of Ber rien county for fifty-two years and has been closely identified with its development and 352 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY progress, standing for improvement along all lines which lead to local advancement. He has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and at one time owned one hundred and sixty acres. For many years he was closely associated with the active work of the fields but has now retired from business cares, the income from his property being sufficient to enable him to enjoy tbe com forts of life in well earned rest. He has been a stalwart Republican since the organ ization of the party and has held local of fices, including that of justice of the peace. He also belongs to the Presbyterian church at Niles and his life has been permeated by religious principles, which promote consider ation for one's fellowmen and justice, truth and right in all life's relations. CHARLES F. PEARS. The business interests of Buchanan find an active and worthy representative in Charles F. Pears, the cashier of the First National Bank, and he is also president of the Niles City Bank, at Niles. He is thus closely associated with financial interests in Berrien county and his name figures prominently in moneyed cir cles, his course making bim valued. and re spected by all. He was born November 5, 1868, in the city where he still resides. His father, William Pears, was a native of Eng land, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. He came to America when about thirty-five years of age, making his way to Buchanan, where he engaged in the general milling business for a number of years. He was one of the organizers of the old First National Bank at Buchanan and was its president for a number of years. He died in his sixty-seventh year and the community thereby lost one of its valued and representative citizens, his activity hav ing contributed to the industrial and finan cial prposperity of the town. His opinions were also an influencing factor in public life and he served as president of the village. His wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Emma Whitehead, is still living. In the family were two children, Charles F. and Ida, the latter the wife of T. F. H. Spreng. Charles F. Pears was the younger of the children and the only son. The common schools afforded him his educational privi leges and his boyhood and youth passed without event of special importance, bis at tention being given to the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the school room. During the greater part of his life he has been interested in the banking busi ness and has also been connected with the grain trade as a buyer and shipper. He is now cashier of the First National Bank at Buchanan and president of the Niles City Bank. Thoroughly conversant with the banking business in all of its departments he is continually 'enlarging the scope of his activity in this direction and his name is an honored one upon commercial paper. Mr. Pears is also prominent and influen tial in public life and gives unfaltering sup port to the Republican party, being in thorough sympatby with tbe policy of this great political organization. He has served as a member of the village board for a num ber of years and is now president of the board. As an executive officer he is con stantly studying out new methods for the improvement of the village and stands for reforms and progress in municipal affairs as well as for civic development. Mr. Pears married Miss Lura Roe, a daughter of E. J. and Susan (Witter) Roe. Three children have been born unto them, Donald, Richard and Gale. Mr. Pears is a member of the Elks lodge of Dowagiac, and he and his wife are prominent socially and a large circle of friends attests their personal worth and the regard in which they are uni formly held. Mr. Pears is a business man of marked energy and determination and dis criminating judgment. He carries for ward to completion whatever he undertakes and rarely if ever fails to attain a high meas ure of success. Moreover he is thoroughly reliable and trustworthy in his dealings and his life record proves that prosperity and an honored name may be gained sim ultaneously. JOHN J. SUMRILL, extensively en gaged in the cultivation of fruit in Bain bridge township and a member of one of the old pioneer families of the county, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 353 the name of Sumrill having been closely associated with its history through a long period, was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, August 26, 1854. His parents John and Martha (Huffman ) Sumrill, were both natives of Ohio, born in Stark county, where they were reared and married. Im mediately afterward they removed to Indi ana, where Mr. Sumrill bad previously lived with his first wife. He was a hunter and went to that State on account of the oppor tunities for securing game amid its forests and upon its wild prairies. He largely lived among the Indians, who were then more numerous in Indiana than the white settlers and his name became associated with various early events which left an impress upon the history of that State. He assisted in building the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Rail road and made his home about a mile from Etna Green and west of Warsaw, Indiana. In 1862 he came to Michigan, where lived his brother-in-law, Lewis Burg, father of John Burg, whose sketch is given else where in this work. Mr. Sumrill paid two thousand dollars for a farm one mile east of Bainbridge Center and about 1864 or 1865 he purchased the; farm upon which his son, John J. Sumrill, now resides, compris ing eighty acres of land. At that time only a few acres had been cleared. He drove from Indiana to Michigan in a prairie schooner, crossing Dowagiac swamp. Some of the logs that covered the swamp consti tuting the corduroy road were found float ing and men had to go in advance to see that the wagon could cover the route. Upon reaching Keeler, however, they struck the old territorial road, upon which their own farm bordered. There lay in this district a very bad road between Mr. Sumrill's home and that of his brother-in-law, Mr. Burg. Mr. Sumrill devoted his entire life to his farm, although many difficulties and obstacles impeded his progress. During the second year after his arrival rheumatism disabled him and for over a year he was unable to do any manual work. His wife was ill for three years because of the ex posure and hardships of pioneer life. Later Mr. Sumrill was obliged to walk on crutches and spent one year in bed with a broken leg. 23 All this necessitated the incurring of much indebtedness for doctor bills and there were many -discouragements to confront the pio neer family. On account of the father's in valid condition the wife and boys did most of the clearing but notwithstanding their earnest efforts made slow progress. In the course of time, however, the eighty acres of land was cleared and placed under cultiva tion. At a meeting in the old Byers school- house both Mr. and Mrs.. Sumrill were con verted and joined the Free Methodist church, continuing in active connection therewith until called to their final rest. The father died July 3, 1896, in his seventy- sixth year, while his wife passed away May 7, 1896, at the age of sixty-six years. In their family were five children, two of whom died in Indiana. The others are : John J., of Bainbridge township; Alice, the wife of Herbert Decker, at Sister Lakes, Van Buren county, and William, who lives at Keeler. John J. Sumrill, now fhe only living representative of the family in Berrien county, continued at home to the age of nineteen years and aided in the arduous task of clearing and developing new land. He was then married on the 14th of December, 1873, to Miss Eliza Peters, daughter of John and Laura Peters, of Bainbridge township. Mrs. Sumrill was born in this township, where her mother still lives in her eighty- ninth year. The daughter was but eight een years of age at the time of her mar riage. Iri the succeeding autumn Mr. Sum rill worked for Martin Byers and thence at farm labor and took jobs from Balaam Dodge ift cutting timber, rails, ties, etc. At the time of bis marriage his possessions consisted of a gun, a violin and five dollars in money. The next spring he worked for Samuel Sykes at twenty dollars per month, boarding himself. He continued in that employ for six months, having his house rent, a cow and garden free. In the fall he bought sixteen acres of land in Keeler town ship for 'five hundred dollars. He had but twenty-five dollars to pay down and his father signed a note for the balance. It was a tract of timber in the midst of which stood a log cabin. He sold the wood at sev enty-five cents per cord on the ground and 354 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he worked out in order to gain the money to provide a living for himself and family. Clearing the land after much arduous la bor, he set out the place to apples, pears and other fruit and grew berries amongthe trees. In those days in a season he would sell fruit and berries to the value of about four hun dred dollars and honey at from twenty-five to one hundred dollars, keeping between fifty and one hundred colonies of bees. Dur ing the years which he conducted his apiary he placed on sale nine thousand seven hun dred and twenty-two pounds of honey, sell ing nearly one thousand pounds in a single year. He also made and sold bee hives, ax- handles and other things that enabled him to use his timber. In the early days he purchased a team and harness from Morgan Matrau. This was before he began to grow berries although he had already set out apple orchards. His first crate of strawberries sold on the Chicago market for five dollars. As the years passed by he cultivated his or chards and small fruit and thus made prog ress on the little tract of land pf sixteen acres. He also built a house at the cost of eight hundred dollars, collecting his material at various places and building the stone wall for the cellar himself although he had never clone work of this kind before. He also did his own plastering and practically built the house. The same year he sold berries off the little place to the amount of four hun dred dollars. In about twenty years he found that he had made a good living and had become the possessor of a comfortable com petence. From his apple orchards his sales in one season amounted to nine hundred and fifty dollars. Pie remained upon that farm until the fall of 1900, when he pur chased the interest of the other heirs in his father's old homestead in Bainbridge town ship. This he has largely planted to fruit, including apples, pears and peaches and about nine acres to small fruit. It produced over one thousand dollars worth of fruit in 1905. The land is well adapted to general fruit raising and the farm is proving a profitable one. Mr. Sumrill became connected with a class of fourteen in the Free Methodist meetings, which were held at the Byers schoolhouse but were merged later into the Keeler Society, four miles distant. He soon manifested deep interest and ability in preaching the gospel and for sixteen years he has occupied a place in the ministry. He refused a regular pastorate until about two years ago> when he took the Bainbridge and Pipestone circuit with two churches, one in Bainbridge and another with about a dozen families elsewhere. Mr. Sumrill is a Prohibitionist, active in the advancement of the party, and he stands for all that tends for the betterment of his fellowmen and pro motes moral progress. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sumrill have been born eight children: Anthony Floyd, who was a mechanic and architect at Kalamazoo, Michigan, died December 14, 1905, at the age of thirty-one years, leaving a wife and two sons, Anthony Floyd and Donald Paul Sumrill. Nora Ann is the wife of Oliver Adams, of Keeler, Van Buren county, and they have two cbildren, Wesley and Isa belle. Vesta Belle is the wife of Vivian F. Zeller, of Keeler township, and they have two children, Ivan V. and Gerald S. Floy Eliza is the wife of Bert Hiler, of Bain bridge township, and they have one child, Frances M. Nina Elmira, R. V., John Ed ward and Oliver Amos are all at borne. Mr. and Mrs. Sumrill are most worthy people and in a review of his life record there is much to be found that is commendable. He is a man of honorable purpose, giving un faltering allegiance to whatever he believes to be right and is at all times true to his honest convictions. DAVID WOLF, following farming on section 1, Niles township, is also engaged in gardening, having fifteen acres devoted to the raising of vegetables for the market. A native of Germany, he was born on the 29th of July, 1854, and spent the days of his boy hood and youth in that country, there re maining until twenty-seven years of age. He attended the public schools and in addi tion to the common branches of learning studied Latin and French. He was an apt scholar, readily mastering the tasks assigned him. During his minority he remained with his parents and in fact continued with them HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY O r- r- 3oo until twenty-four years of age, when he learned the business of gardening in hot houses at Wurtemberg. Attracted by the broader opportunities of the new world he came to America in 1881 and made his way direct to Niles. Here he was on a farm dur ing the first year, and also worked as an em ploye in a paper mill for five years. In 1888 he purchased the place where he now lives, known as the old H. Coan farm. At once he began its further development and improve ment and is still engaged in gardening, which he has followed for about eighteen years with reasonable success. He has fifteen acres of land well cultivated and his products are early placed upon the markets. His vegetables are always first class and he there fore finds a ready sale for what he produces. In 1882 Mr. Wolf was united in mar riage to Miss Sophia Mangold, a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of eight children: Marie, now the wife of John Shand, of North Adams, Massa chusetts ; Sophia, the wife of Fred Lobaugh, of South Bend; Clara, Elsa, Bertha, Ernest, Helen and Frank, all at home. Mr. Wolf votes with the Democracy and is active in the local ranks of his party, la boring untiringly for its success and the adoption of its principles. He has served as school director in the district in which he lives and he takes an active interest in pub lic affairs. For twenty-five years he has been a resident of the county, where he is widely and favorably known. He will soon make the long trip to Wurtemberg, his na tive land, the first time he has visited the ¦"Fatherland" since he came to America. JOHN A. CART, living on section 1, INiles township, is classed with the repre sentative agriculturists of his community, and a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres has been brought under a high state •of cultivation through his labors. His birth occurred in Elkhart county, Indiana, Decem ber 15, 1859. His father, Christopher Cart, was a native of Virginia, and became one of the early settlers of Elkhart county. His name was closely associated with many of the events of early importance in that lo cality. He was the first man to bring a barrel of coal oil into the little town of New Paris. By occupation he was a farmer and his entire life was devoted to the tilling of the soil. He lived to the age of forty-seven years. The Cart family comes of English lineage. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Maggie McDowell, was a native of Greenbrier county, Virginia, and went to Elkhart county, Indiana, witb her parents in her girlhood days. Her people were early settlers there and on the 22d of March, 1841, she gave her hand in marriage to Christopher Cart. Their orily child, John A. Cart, was 1 eared and educated in Elkhart county, and lived in New Paris, Indiana, until twenty- one years of age. He started out in life on his own account when a youth of fifteen and began working on what is now the Big Four Railroad. On attaining his majority he went to Kansas, making his home in Marion county, where he worked on a stock farm, remaining there for five years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Elkhart county, Indiana, and was em ployed by the day and month for a time. As the years passed his diligence and persis tency of purpose were manifest in that his financial resources were increased, gaining him a start in the business world. At the time of his marriage he located on the farm where he now resides, at first purchasing fifty acres of land, to which he has added until he now has one hundred and thirty-five acres of well improved land, on which are good buildings. He has displayed a laud- ' able ambition to attain to the best in all that relates to farm work and is regarded as a successful agriculturist who has made steady and substantial advancement since coming to Berrien county. In 1887, Mr. Cart was united in mar riage to Miss Mattie Blanchard, of Howard township, Cass county. They have resided in Berrien county for eighteen years arid Mr. Cart has been deeply interested in all that pertains to its upbuilding and progress. In politics he has been a life-long Republican. Wherever known he is held in high esteem because he is loyal to the principles which 356 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY govern upright manhood, which mark for success in the business world and which pro mote good citizenship. OTIS W. BALLARD, an old settler whose active participation in the work of general, progress and in events which pro mote public improvement makes him well entitled to representation in this volume, now resides on section 34, Niles township. He is a native. of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Lebanon, Madison county, on the 2 1 st of December, 1833. His father, Jere miah Ballard, was also a native of Madison county, New York, where he was reared. By occupation he was a farmer and in the year 1852 he came to Berrien county, Michi gan, locating on a farm where his son Otis now resides. He died in his ninetieth year. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to William Ballard, who came from England to America in 1650. He was the father of Jeremiah Ballard and the grand father of Jeremiah Ballard, Jr., who was born in Salem, Massachusetts. The last named was the father of Dane Ballard, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts and was a farmer by occupation. His son, Samuel Ballard, became the father of our subject and in early manhood he wedded Clarissa Huston, who was also a native of Madison county, New York, while her father, Thomas Huston, was born in England. Like her husband, Mrs. Ballard spent her remaining days in Berrien county, where she died in her seventy- fourth year. There were four 'children in her family, three sons and a daughter, all of whom reached adult age. Thomas S. Ballard, the eldest, was born in Madison county, New York, and after re siding for a time in Berrien county went to Texas but subsequently returned to Ber rien county. Later he was a resident of New Buffalo, Michigan, for some time, but eventually again took up his abode in Niles city, where his death occurred in 1861. Milton M. Ballard, the second son, was born in Madison county, New York, and came with the family to- Michigan in 1852. He married Miss Ellen J. Chapman, a daughter of Arvin Chapman and located on the old homestead, where he carried on gen eral farming. He was associated with his brother Otis in his farming operations until his death, which occurred on the 21st of December, 1871. His widow is still living and there were four children of the family, as follows: Edward M., who died in 1890; Fred, a contractor and builder in Berwyn, Illinois; Harry, who wedded May Thomas, of Decatur, Michigan, and resides upon a part of the old homestead property of Otis Ballard; and Ralph, who was born in Niles township, Berrien county, July 5, 1870, and was married in 1898 to Mary Huston, a daughter of Oliver Huston, of Andover, South Dakota. Otis W. Ballard, the youngest, spent the first nineteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1852. He had acquired his education in the common and select schools and since coming to this state he has re sided continuously upon the same farm, de voting his time and energies to general agri cultural pursuits and the dairy business. He is now quite successfully engaged in the dairy business in connection with his neph ews and for this purpose they keep twenty- five cows. Mr. Ballard's farm comprises one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining Niles city and it is a rich and fertile tract, the fields producing good crops, while ex cellent pasture is afforded for the stock. Mr. Ballard is well known in this part of the state, having been a resident of Niles township for fifty-four years, during which period be has been closely identified with its growth and development. Mr. Ballard and his nephews, Harry and Ralph, are oper ating in partnership the farm of one bun- dred and fifty acres and in addition are conducting a dairy business which is now a large and profitable industry. His life has been characterized by activity and useful ness and his careful control of business in terests has made him one of the propserous residents of Niles township. Moreover he deserves mention in this volume as one who from pioneer times has been a witness of the growth and development of this part of the state, having for fifty-four years resided upon the farm which is yet his home. He HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 357 has seen the forests cut down and the land converted into rich fields whereon are an nually gathered abundant harvests. He has seen roads opened up, bridges built, the telegraph and telephone introduced , while enterprises of all kinds have been established in the towns and cities and thus the work of progress and improvement has been car ried steadily forward until the county today with its splendid advancement bears little resemblance to the locality in which Mr. Ballard arrived more than a half century ago. J. A. GARLAND, M. D., who in the successful practice of his profession has demonstrated his broad knowledge of medical principles and approved methods of the healing art, was born in Peoria, Illinois, June 15, 1871, and is the only child of Asa and Marietta (McClelland) Garland. The father, a native of Glas gow, Scotland, spent his boyhood and youth in that country and came to Amer ica when about thirty years of age. He was married in Peoria, Illinois, in 1869, to Miss Marietta McClelland, who was born in this country but was of Scotch lineage. His death occurred March 1, 1871, and his . widow, still surviving him, resides with Dr. Garland. In the public and high schools of Chicago Dr. Garland continued his studies and sup plemented his preliminary education by pro fessional training in the Northwestern Uni versity, being graduated from the medical department in 1895. He afterward pursued post graduate work in Chicago for a year and in June, 1896, came to Buchanan, since which time he has continued in active prac tice with a patronage that is constant grow ing in volume and importance. The public opinion concerning his ability is generally favorable and his skill has been demonstrated in his successful care of many intricate cases and his solution of many difficult medical problems. On the 27th of November, 1901, Dr. Garland wedded Miss Gertrude Friesleven, who was born in Chicago, and is a daughter of Justus Friesleven, a native of Germany. Dr. Garland has been a Mason for ten years, belonging to the blue lodge, and is also con nected with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen. His political allegiances is given to the Republican party and for many years he has served as town ship health officer. In the line of his pro fession his membership relations are with the .Berrien County Medical Society, the Missis sippi Valley Medical Association, the Amer ican Medical Association and the Red Cross Society, and he is neglectful of no profes sional duty but maintains a high standard of ethics as a representative of the medical fraternity. . THEODORE METZGER carries on general farming on section 29, Niles town ship, where he owns and operates one hundred and three acres of good land. He dates his residence in this county since 1858, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm which is now his home. He was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, December 18, 1847, ano" comes of German lineage, in both the pa ternal and maternal lines. His father, Ferd inand Metzger, was a native of Germany and came to America when about twenty- four years of age, locating in St. Joseph county, Indiana. After his arrival in the new world he followed the business of re pairing clocks but later located on a farm in St. Joseph county, where he carried on gen eral agricultural pursuits for some time. His last days, however, were passed in Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, where he died when about forty-eight years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of*Barbara Santley, was also born in Germany and lived to be about forty-five years of age. Their marriage was blessed with four children. Theodore Metzger, the youngest child, was only about one year old at the time of the father's death and was left an orphan at the early age of three years. He was then reared by his uncle, John Metzger, in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and is indebted to tbe public schools of that locality for the educational privileges he received. In 1863, at about seventeen years of age, when the country was in the throes of rebellion, he offered his services to the government, en- 358 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY listing in Company H, Seventeenth Michi gan Volunteers, and bis regiment was as signed to the Army of the Potomac. He was in the old Seventeenth Regiment for about six months. He then enlisted in Com pany H, of the Thirtieth Michigan Regi ment and was in service till the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge June 23, 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. Metzger remained . with his uncle until twenty-one years of age, when he began rail roading as brakeman on the Michigan Cen tral Railroad. He was afterward employed by the Lake Shore Railroad, acting as fire man for a time, while later he won promo tion to the position of engineer. For three years he was thus connected with the Lake Shore and Northwestern Railroads and he spent altogether about eight years, in the railroad service but was obliged to aban don that occupation on account of impaired eyesight. Accordingly he sought other business interests and turned his attention to farming in St. Joseph county, where he rented land for a time. In 1888 he removed to the farm on section twenty-nine, Niles township, where he now resides and in the interim he has successfully carried on gen eral agricultural pursuits. He has been en gaged in threshing for about twenty-three years and has one of the best outfits for this purpose in the county or state. The farm comprises one hundred and three acres and is devoted to the production of general crops, such as are best adapted to soil and climate. In 1884 Mr. Metzger was united in mar riage to Miss Addie Metzger, and they have six living children, while they lost their eldest son, Clarence. The others are Gene vieve. Florence, Theodore, Lawrence, Marie and Edith, all of whom are still tinder the parental roof. Mr. Metzger votes with the Democracy and is an ardent champion of party principles and policy. He has served as highway commissioner of Niles town ship but otherwise has held no public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs, which claim from him close application and energy and which in return yield him a gratifying annual in come. MRS. POLLY YERINGTON re sides in Bainbridge township, and is the widow of George W. Yerington, who was classed with the leading citizens of this part of the state for many years. He was born September 29, 1842, and died September 24, 1905, his loss being deeply regretted throughout the community where he was so widely and favorably known. His parents were John and Laura (Vester) Yerington, both natives of New York, whence they removed to Ohio. Their son George was born near Findlay, Ohio, whence he came to Michigan, but after three years here passed he removed to Iowa. In about 1858, however, the mother with her four children returned to Michigan, where her brother-in-law, Edwin Yerington, was living, making his home in Benton town ship, where his family still resides. Mrs. Laura Yerington having lost her husband, afterward became the wife of James Brewster, who lived in Bainbridge township. She survived to the age of sixty years. Her four children were George W. ; Lydia Ann, who became the wife of Balaam Dodge; Emma, the wife of Ed. Disbrow, of Ban gor, Michigan; and Angeline, the wife of Joseph Marion, of Battle Creek, this state: George Yerington, reared tinder the pa rental roof, went to Michigan and afterward to Iowa with his parents, and with his mother returned to Berrien county. At the outbreak of the Civil war, feeling that his first duty was to his country, he enlisted in Company D, of the Western Sharpshooters, and served throughout the period of hos tilities, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He always kept in touch with his regiment by attending its various reunions. This was a noted military organization, of which Alonzo Vincent, later warden of the State penitentiary, and others were members. Fourteen of his old comrades of the company to which he be longed attended his funeral and acted as his pallbearers. When at the front he was a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering- in the performance of any military duty as signed him, and he thus nobly aided in de fense of the stars and stripes. Returning to the north, Mr. Yerington GEORGE W. YERINGTON AND FAMILY HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 359 was married March 4, 1866, fo Miss Polly Wise, a sister of H. M. and Samuel Wise, and a half sister of Balaam Dodge. She was born in Bainbridge township and was married just before reaching the age of twenty-one years. Her parents were George and Mary (Yund) Wise. The latter was a daughter of Solomon and Polly (Shafer) Yund, and was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1818. When seven years of age she accompanied her parents on their removal to Livingston county, New York, and on Christmas day of 1836 she gave her hand in marriage to George Wise. In 1843, with their four chil dren, they took passage on a canal boat for Rochester and for Buffalo, New York, and while enroute their eldest daughter, Katie, then five years of age, was killed by a low bridge. They proceeded to Erie, Pennsyl vania, where they were joined by Mr. Wise's parents, Leonard and Barbara Wise, and two sisters, Lucetta and Sallie, also John Lewis, a brother-in-law, and his family. They started for Detroit, going by way of Mackinac and Chicago and crossed the lake on the steamer Champion, Captain Eben B. Ward commanding, to St. Joseph, Michi gan, and thence proceeded to Keeler town ship, Van Buren county, where they re mained for a summer. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Wise took up their abode in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, where his death Occurred October 1, 1895, while Mrs. Wise passed away July 3, 1906, at the very ad vanced age of eighty-eight years, five months and sixteen days. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yerington lived for forty years upon the farm where the widow now resides. When they took up their abode there it was all cov ered with timber save that a small clearing had been made and a little cabin had been built, in which they resided until the pres ent residence was erected two or three years later. Mr. Yerington placed seventy acres of his land under cultivation, and in order to clear the fields he burned much valuable tim ber. He personally did the hard work in cident to preparing the fields for the plow and placing them under cultivation and al ways led a very active life. For thirty-five years he was the principal thresher in this vicinity, using at first an old horse power engine, later a portable engine and subse quently a traction engine. In this work he covered a wide area, doing much threshing in Silver Creek township, Van Buren county, as well as in various parts of Berrien county. Pie threshed for different farmers for nearly thirty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yerington were born two sons and a daughter, George, now in Keeler, and Horace, in Bainbridge, while Ada Ann is the wife of C. J. Pitcher, of Sisters Lakes. Mr. Yerington belonged to the Odd Fellows Society of Keeler and his funeral services were conducted under the auspices of that order, Rev. Silkwood of Keeler officiating. His remains were in terred in Bainbridge cemetery. He trav eled life's journey for almost sixty-three years and was very active and enterprising, moreover he was straightforward and relia ble in all his dealings. His life entitled him to the respect which was uniformly given him and he left to his family an untarnished name. His widow yet remains upon the old homestead, renting her fields. Her residence is on the old territorial road ten miles east of Benton Harbor, situated in a picturesque district, well adapted to the raising of fruit and grain, so that the countryside presents a most attractive picture of fertility. GEORGE W. NOBLE is a man of action rather than of theory, and his spirit of enterprise and determination are constantly manifest in the conduct of his business, interests in Buchanan, where he is well known as a merchant, carrying a stock of clothing, boots and shoes and men's furnishing, goods. Born in Albion, New York, on the 9th of October, 1842, he is a son of William Noble, also a native of Albion and a grandson of James Noble. The paternal great-grandfather, was Joseph Noble, who came to this country witb Gen eral John Burgoyne. William Noble was a farmer and mecbanic and in the year 1871 came to Michigan, settling in Ann Arbor, where he engaged in contracting and build ing, erecting some of the university build ings in that city. His death occurred there 36o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY when he was sixty-three years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Polly D. Bragg, was born in Monroe county, New York, and was reared in Orleans county, that state. She is now eighty-five years of age and still makes her home at Ann Arbor. In the family were three chil dren, two sons and a daughter, of whom the last named died at the age of three years. The brother, A. L. Noble, became a promi nent business man of Ann Arbor and died in 1894. George W. Noble, who was the eldest of the family, was reared in the place of his nativity and acquired his preliminary edu cation in the common schools, after which he attended the Genesee College. He came to Michigan in 1863, locating first in Van Buren county, where he engaged in teach ing school for three years, when, abandon ing the profession, he directed his energies to the field of commercial pursuits, and in 1865 purchased an interest in a shoe busi ness in Paw Paw. Selling out there in 1868 he removed to Buchanan and established his present store, which he has conducted successfully for the past thirty-eight years, being the oldest business man in the town. He now carries a large and well selected line of clothing, men's furnishing goods, boots and shoes, and is one of the leading representatives of business interests here, his enterprising spirit and determination combined with close application, enabling him to carry forward to successful com pletion whatever he undertakes. He also has a store in Niles. In November, 1864, Mr. Noble was united in marriage to Miss Ophelia A. Ross, a daughter of Samuel G. and Phebe Ross, who were natives of Orleans county, New York. They have two sons and two daugh ters: Walter A., who is conducting his father's branch store at Niles; Lillian E., the wife of H. E. Starrett, of Oak Park, Illinois; George W., who is engaged in the lumber business at Evanston, Illinois, and. who married Clara, daughter of Albert G. Lane of that place; and Winifred M., the wife of Fred Setchell, of Chicago. Mr. Noble is accorded a position of prominence in the public life of Buchanan, and for eight years served as postmaster under appoint ment of Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. During his connection with commercial in terests here, covering a period of nearly forty years, he has gained and maintained a high reputation for business integrity. His views upon questions of public policy are pronounced and his influence may always be counted upon in behalf of good government and the advancement of the interests of the home people. THOMAS F. HOUSWERTH, who devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and makes his home on section eighteen, Bertrand township, is one of the worthy citizens that Indiana has furnished to her neighboring state of Michi gan. He was born in Bristol, April 24, 1872, and is one of the two sons of William and Sarah (Meiser) Houswerth, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Re moving to the middle west tbe father set tled in Elkhart county, Indiana, about 1866, and in 1875 came to Berrien county, Michi gan. He is now, however, residing in Bris tol, Indiana, but his wife passed away in 1893. They had two sons, and Albert is now a resident of South Bend. Thomas F. Houswerth was but three years old when brought by his parents from Indiana to Berrien county, and upon the home farm in Bertrand township was reared. He attended the common scbools of the neighborhood, and when not busy with his text-books, his time was largely occupied in farm labor, so that he early became famil iar with the duties that devolve upon the agriculturist in his care of the fields and of the stock. He has made farming his life work and has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he cultivates various cereals and also makes a specialty of rais ing potatoes, the soil being especially adapted for the production of this tuber. * On the 25th of February, 1896, Mr. Houswerth was married to Miss Zelma Dempsey, a daughter of Wesley and Libbie (Dakin) Dempsey. She was born in Bert rand township, Berrien county, where her parents located at an early day. In the fam ily are two children, Ernest and Fern. Both HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 361 Mr. and Mrs. Houswerth have many warm friends in the community and a wide ac quaintance. They are members of the Evan gelical church and his political allegiance is given to the Democracy. His life has not been marked by events of exciting interest but has been characterized by a devotion to duty in all relations which makes him worth the confidence and good will which are uniformly extended to him. JOHN J. HASTINGS, deceased, was one of the old settlers of Niles township, and the history of the early days demands that he be given representation, for he took an active part in the pioneer development and progress. A native of Ireland, he came to America when a young man and was about twenty years of age when he arrived in Berrien county. He was married to Miss Margaret McCue, and they began their domestic life upon a farm in Niles township, where they lived for many years, rearing a family of eight children. Throughout the period of his residence here Mr. Hastings carried on general agricultural pursuits and he aided in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. He shared in all the hardships and privations incident to pio neer life and the progress in keeping with the spirit of advancement, which has wrought great changes in Michigan. He was about sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, while his wife passed away when about fifty years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hastings were born the following named children : Nellie, Mary, Bessie, Thomas, Lawrence, Lloyd, Paul and Margaret. Thomas Hastings/the eldest son of the family, was born on the old homestead farm in Niles township, on the 29th of April, 1885. He was reared and educated in his native place, obtaining his education in the country schools. About one hundred and twenty acres of land was inherited by him and tbe other members of the family, and Thom J. Hastings has charge of the farm, while his sisters engage in teaching. He car ries on general agricultural pursuits, raising both grain and stock and the home is on section 24, Niles township, where all his brothers and sisters were born. The family are communicants of the Catholic church in Niles and are highly esteemed in the community where so many years have been spent by them. The family has figured in connection with the development and pro gress of this part of the state since pioneer times, and Thomas Hastings, as well as his father, -bears an excellent reputation as an enterprising agriculturist. BENJAMIN F. BUTZBACH; of the Battlement Drug Company of Benton Har bor, was born in Bainbridge township, Ber rien county in 1871. He is classed with the wide-awake and enterprising young business men of the city and has attained to a position of prestige in commercial cir cles through his own unaided efforts. As the name indicates, he is of German lineage. His father, Philip H. Butzbach, was born in Germany in 1828 and came to America when twenty years of age. He was a son of Henry Butzbach, who crossed the At lantic after the emigration of bis son Philip, and spent his last days in Bainbridge town ship, Berrien county, upon the old homestead farm, where he died wben more than seventy years of age. Philip H. Butzbach settled in Bainbridge township, where he took up a tract of government land, comprising one hundred and eight acres, which was entirely wild and unimproved. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of the county and like his neighbors he performed the arduous task of clearing and cultivating new land. He placed most of that property under the plow and he now has a fine fruit orchard of twenty acres, raising all kinds of fruit including apples and peaches, which he ships in large quantities. He planted the orchard himself and it is now in excellent bearing condition. His fields, too, are pro ductive, yielding good crops and he is still accounted one of the successful farmers of this county, in which he has made his home for almost six decades. Great changes have occurred during this period by reason of the building of the railroads, the introduction of the telegraph and telephone and also of improved machinery which facilitates the work in various departments of business 362 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY life. He married Miss Blondine Harmon, a native of Germany, who came from the fatherland and settled in Bainbridge town ship, Berrien county, in pioneer times. Mrs. Butzbach is still living and has for many years traveled life's journey with her hus band. They have reared a family of thirteen children, of whom two have passed away. Those who yet survive are- Jacob; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Friday; Henry; Louise, the wife of Charles Christian; George; Lydia, the wife of Peter Christian, and a brother of her sister's husband ; Philip H. ; Anna, the wife of E. L. Miller; Mary, the wife of George Morlock ; Benjamin F. ; and Albert. Benjamin F. Butzbach is the tenth in order of birth of the surviving members of the father's family. He was reared upon the old homestead and one can picture him as a . farmer boy attending the district schools, interested in his lessons and equally interested in the games of the playground. In the summer months as he grew in strength and age his time was demanded for the ser vice of the fields. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in Benton Harbor College, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1891. His taste was for a commercial rather than an agri cultural career and following the completion of his college course he accepted a clerkship in the drug store of George M. Bell & Com pany. No higher testimonial of his active service and faithfulness to duty could be given than the statement of the fact that he remained in the employ of that firm for eleven years, leaving it to engage in busi ness on his own account, when, in 1902 he' purchased an interest in the Battlement Drug Company of Benton Harbor and be came manager of the store, which he has since successfully conducted. He has made his place of business an attractive one to the general public by reason of the neat and tasteful appearance of the store, his straight forward business dealings, his earnest de sire to please and his uniform courtesy to his patrons. In 1902, in Benton Harbor, occurred the marriage of Mr. Butzbach and Miss Ada Whitely, of Muskegon, Michigan. They are well known in the social circles of the city and the number of their friends is con stantly increasing as the number of their acquaintances grow. In his political views Mr. Butzbach is a Republican but without aspiration for office. Matters of local pro gress, however, are of deep interest to' him and he is never remiss in the faithful per formance of the duties of citizenship. ELMER E. ROUSE. From humble clerkship have come some of the most promi nent merchants of the country and it is not an unusual thing in an American common wealth for a man to rise from a humble position to rank with the leaders in com mercial pursuits, political circles or in those walks of life wherein, are developed the in tellectual forces of a community. Elmer E. Rouse belongs to that class of men who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of discourage ments and opposition. He is a native of Minnesota, his birth having occurred in Eden Prairie in 1862. He represents one of the old families of the. state, his father Philander H. Rouse, having been born in Saline township, Washtenaw county, Michi gan, where in early life he followed the occupation of farming, but afterward lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin, arid subse quently carried on general agricultural pur suits in Benton township, Berrien county, He married Miss Flora Bell, a native of Al bany, New York. His death occurred in Ben ton Harbor in 1900, when he was sixty-nine years of age, but his widow still survives and now makes her home in Wisconsin. In their family were. ten children, seven of whom are living: Belden, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Elmer E., of this review ; Howard M. ; Winthrop B., who re sides in Benton Harbor, Michigan; Myrtle, the wife of F. J. Hendershot, of Marblehead, Missouri, who is principal of a school there, while his wife is the musical instructor in the same school ; Charlotte, who married Herman Stopple and resides in Walworth, Wisconsin ; and Roscoe R., also making his home in Walworth. Elmer E. Rouse was reared in Minne sota to the age of two years, and then in ^jz.^i£^e /$st4j^<*jU^i HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 363 Wisconsin till ten years of age, and then came to Michigan, completing his education in the schools of Wasbtenaw county. He clerked in a drug store in Saline township, Washtenaw county, spending six years in that way, after whicb he came to Benton Harbor in 1888, being employed as a clerk in 'a drug store in this city for two years. In 1 89 1 he engaged in the drug business on his own account as a member of the firm of Lowe & Rouse, having a store at the corner of Main and Pipestone streets, where the Red Cross drug store is now located. He continued in this business for seven or eight years and in the summer of 1898 he embarked in the manufacture of ice cream for the trade on a small scale. In this busi ness he has since continued and has ex tended the field of his activity by including the manufacture of soft drinks. He like wise deals in all kinds of soda fountain sup plies and from a small beginning has de veloped a well equipped plant for the suc cessful conduct of a business that is now the largest of its kind in southwestern Michi gan. He noted the demands of his trade and set to work to meet these and has car ried forward his business undertakings along lines that have been . entirely satis factory to his patrons and have brought him gratifying prosperity. Mr. Rouse has been married twice. In 1889, in Benton Harbor, he wedded Miss Florine Winans, a daughter of the late Dr. Richard Winans. She died on the 5th of December, 1900, at the age of forty years, leaving two children, Carrie Belle and Mon- tello E., both of whom were born in Benton Harbor. In May, 1902, in this city, Mr. Rouse was again married, his second union geing with Ida M. Brooks, a daughter of Dr. William E. Brooks, D. D., of Benton Harbor. Mr. Rouse belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Maccabees Tent . He. is a Republican in politics and was supervisor for two years, wbile for one year he served as treasurer of Benton town ship. In his business life there have been no especially helpful conditions, and in fact he has had to formulate his own plans and carry them forward without any assistance. His life, however, proves what intelligence, dili gence and probity may accomplish in the way of success in life. GEORGE BRIDGEFORD is a vet eran of the Union Army who, when the tocsin of war was sounded, offered his services to the government and ably de fended the stars and stripes, making a most creditable military record. He re sides in Bainbridge township, where he is now engaged in general farming and fruit- raising. His birth occurred in West Sparta, Livingston county, New York, September 10, 1839, and in the fall of 1857, when a youth of eighteen years he came with the family to Michigan, their destination being Bainbridge township, while the following year they located upon the farm which is still his home. His parents were George and Catherine (Wise) Bridgeford, the latter a sister of George Wise, a well known pioneer resident of Bainbridge township. The father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 25, Bainbridge town ship, and began the development of a farm, which he continued to cultivate suc cessfully until his later years. He died in 1876, in his eighty-second year, and thus passed away one of the early settlers and re spected citizens of his locality. His son, George Bridgeford, Jr., and his brother William, who had' but one arm, bought the home place, which was all covered with tim ber wben it came into their possession. They paid for this tract three dollars and a half per acre. Their mother had died when our subject Was a young lad and there was an other son in the family, Henry Bridgeford, who was reared by his grandparents after his mother's death. He, too, became a sol dier of the Civil war, serving in the same company and regiment as Mr. Bridgeford of this review, and he died in the hospital at Rome, Georgia, when but twenty-four years of age. George Bridgeford and his brother reso lutely undertook the task of clearing, de veloping and cultivating their land, and at the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war they had thirty acres under culti vation. On the 23d of September, 1861, at 364 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY President Lincoln's first call for troops to serve for three years, he offered his serv ices to. the government, believing that his first duty was to his country. He therefore put aside all business and personal consid erations and joined Company B, of the Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharpshooters, being constantly on duty with his company until the expiration of its term of service. On the 9th of May, 1864, he was wounded on the skirmish line before the battle of Resaca, a musket ball piercing his right side. He was sent to tbe hospital and finally was transferred to the hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he remained for three months. As soon as he had sufficiently re covered his health he rejoined his regiment at Atlanta and was witb that command on the march to the sea. He also participated in the Carolina campaign and went to' Wash ington, where he took part in the grand re view, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. His first term of enlistment having expired he had veteranized with the same company and he remained a faithful, loyal and valorous advocate of the Union cause until the war was ended and the country no longer needed his service. Mr. Bridgeford then returned to the home farm and lived with his brothers and sisters upon this place. His brother Will iam died December 20, 1900, in his seventy- fifth year. There were ten children in tbe father's family, but only two ever married. Those who remained upon the home farm were William, George, Susan and Amanda, and the last named died upon the old home stead at the age of forty-five years. The sister Susan is now living with her brother George, acting as his housekeeper. The farm comprises one hundred and thirty- seven acres of land, all of which is now owned by George Bridgeford of this review, who has purchased the interest of the other heirs. He has about one hundred acres under cultivation and thirty-seven acres in a second growth of timber. The farm was all originally covered with heavy timber, which he sold to the amount of four thou- . sand dollars, although he lost twelve hun dred dollars of this. He now rents his fields, while he devotes himself to building fences. He has rebuilt over three miles of fence since his brother's death. Before his broth er's death all their business interests were in partnership, but Mr. Bridgeford of this review is now sole owner of the farm, which is a valuable and productive property. In his political views he is a pronounced Republican, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has never been called on to serve on the jury, has never had a lawsuit, nor has he ever been sued nor sued any man. His life has been devoted to the farm and yet in all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country as wben he followed the old flag upon the battlefields of the south. FRANK H. PLATT, one of the native sons of Berrien county, is a practical and successful business man, connected with in surance interests in Benton Harbor. His birth occurred in Niles, February 19, 1861. His father, George W. Piatt, Jr., is also a native of Niles and now makes his home in Benton Harbor. The mother bore the maiden name of Jane E. Crandall and was born in New York. In the family were three children, of whom two are living, the sister of our subject being Mrs. Eva Huntington. For a number of years the father was en gaged in the hardware business at* St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, but is now living a retired life in Benton Harbor, where he and his wife occupy a pleasant home in the enjoyment of the fruit of his former labor. The paternal grandfather, George W. Piatt, was one of the early settlers of Michi gan. He was born in Pittsfield, Massa chusetts, and his ancestors for many genera tions were natives of the old Bay state. In the public schools of St. Joseph, Mich igan, Frank H. Piatt acquired his prelimi nary education, which was supplemented by study in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Cbicago, Illinois, from which in stitution he was graduated in 1878. He then engaged as city buyer with a wholesale carriage and hardware house in Chicago, which he thus represented for two years, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 365 and upon his return to Benton Harbor he assisted his father in the hardware business from 1882 until 1889. He afterward en gaged in other business pursuits for some time, and in 1890 he became a member of the Benton Harbor Milling Company, of which he was afterward made secretary and treasurer. He was one of the incorporators of the company which was organized in 1887 with George B. Tatman as president and Norman Sage as vice president. In 1896 Mr. Piatt organized, with others, the Patri cians, an insurance and fraternal order, which was incorporated with the following officers : W. C. Hicks, president ; R. J. Jarvis, vice president; Frank H. Piatt, sec retary and A. N. Woodruff, treasurer. These gentlemen still occupy their respective positions and the business of the company has continually grown and has been securely established upon a safe and paying basis. Mr. Piatt has been married twice. On the 17th of July, 1885, in Benton Harbor, he wedded Miss Jennie Kingsly, who was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and died July 17, 1887, leaving one son, George Fern- leigh. Her father was George W. Kingsly, of St. Joseph. On the 25th of October, 1890, Mr. Piatt was married to Wilhelmina Meech, a daughter of George and Mary J. Meech and a native of New York. Tbere were two children born of this union, but one has passed away, the living daughter being Helen Marie, whose birth occurred in Benton Harbor. In his political views Mr. Piatt is a stalwart Republican and fraternally is prom inent, being a valued member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges in Benton Harbor, the Court of Honor, the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees. Early realiz ing that truth as set forth centuries ago by the old Greek philosopher, "Earn thy re ward; the gods give naught to sloth," Mr. Piatt has worked persistently and energetic ally and in his business career has made a creditable name as well as gained a desirable competence. Moreover he has developed a character which is worthy of the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, which are uniformly given him throughout Benton Harbor and wherever he is known. FRED R. BELKNAP, M. D., practic ing along modern scientific lines, has gained more than local reputation by reason of his active and effective service in connection with investigation of sanitary conditions and the articles which he has written upon these subjects. He has been a member of the Michigan state board of health and in all his public work has been actuated by a spirit of definite and immediate service- ableness. Dr. Belknap was born in Rochester, Ver mont, on the 27th of November, 1862. His father, Dr. Simeon Belknap, was a native of the village of Barnard, Windsor county, Vermont, born October 16, 1837. His an cestors on the paternal side emigrated from England to America at an early period in the colonization of the new world and made settlement in the Green Mountain state, where Seymour Belknap, grandfather of Dr. Belknap of this review, and Simeon Belk nap, the great-grandfather, opened their eyes to the light of day. Thus for several gen erations the family was represented in Ver mont. Seymour Belknap married Miss Lydia Campbell, a daughter of Sylvanus Campbell, who was a native of Vermont but came of Scotch lineage. Dr. Fred Rice Belknap, whose name in troduces this review, spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity, and in 1873 accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, the family home be ing established in Niles. He was afforded liberal educational privileges, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the Nor wich University at Northfield, Vermont, and his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city. Following his graduation from that institution he spent one year abroad, taking special work in the line of his pro fession at the Hygenic Institute and Uni versity at Berlin, Germany, and at the Lon don School of Gynecology. He also visited clinics and colleges in other European cities, where he had the advantage of- study under the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world. At a meeting of the board of trustees at the Norwich University in July, 1898, the degree of Master of Science 366 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY was conferred upon Dr. Belknap. In his profession he has won notable distinction not only by reason of his success in practice but also by reason of his research and in vestigation, the outcome of which has been given to the world in valuable scientific papers. He is practical in all that he does in the sickroom and moreover he possesses the tastes and habits of a scholar. The great questions of social, economic and polit ical interest have awakened his deepest at tention. He has been a member of the Mich igan Political Science Association and of the Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine, is a member of the American Medical Associa tion and has been president of several local, political and other organizations. He now bolds a commission as first lieutenant is sued by the governor of Vermont. Dr. Belknap was appointed by Governor Pin gree, of Michigan, on the 28th of April, 1897, serving as a member of the board of health for six years, since which time he has taken an active part in the board of edu cational work, especially along the line of sanitary conventions held in various parts of the state, under the auspices of the board. He has written several papers upon the question of public health, the most recent of which is one entitled Healthy Homes, which was read at the sanitary convention of Tawas City, Michigan, in January, 1898, in which he deals with the sanitary location, construction and care of the home. His time as a member on the state board of health expired on the ist of February, 1903. In April of the preceding year Dr. Belk nap removed from Niles to Benton Harbor, where he has practiced continuously since, becoming the successor of the late Dr. John Bell, who was one of the oldest among the leading physicians of the city. Dr. Belknap has been accorded a liberal practice, his repu tation having preceded him, while his ability has been demonstrated in his methods of handling important cases entrusted to him. On the 26th of December, 1888, occurred the marriage of Dr. Belknap and Miss Mabel Brown, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Halsey Brown, who is a promi nent citizen of the Green Mountain state. The wedding was celebrated in Northfield, Vermont, and has been blessed with one son, Robert B. Belknap, who was born in Niles. The doctor and his wife are ac corded a prominent social position in Ben ton Harbor. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally is connected with the Ma sons, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees and Woodmen. Possessed of a studious nature and laudable ambition he has made constant progress in the line of his profession and his life has been one of eminent service crowned with professional honors and success. MILTON THOMPSON CAREY, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Benton Harbor, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1867. His father, Dr. Milton Thompson Carey, Sr., was born in Shelby county, Ohio, and prepared for his profession as a student in the Medical Col lege of Ohio, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1851. Through out his entire professional career he re mained in Ohio and his splendid qualifica tions and devotion to his chosen calling made him one of the most successful members of the medical fraternity in his part of his state. His patronage was extensive and he was thus enabled to leave his family a large estate when in 1901, at the age of seventy years, he was called to his final rest. At the time of the Civil war he had espoused the cause of the Union and went to the front. At the battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Land ing, he was captured and was confined in prison for some time. He served as surgeon of the Forty-second Ohio Infantry with the rank of major and rendered valuable aid to the ill and wounded soldiers of that com mand. When the war was over he returned to his native state, locating at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, where he successfully practiced for many years. He was also ac tive and influential in community affairs and served as coroner of the county both before and after the war. He married Miss Cornelia Burnet, who was born in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and died at the age of sixty-four years. In the family were four children, one of whom has now passed away. Those still living are: Mrs. D. T. Wil liams, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 367 Lydia K. Davis, who makes* her home in Boston, Massachusetts; and Milton T., of this review. In his boyhood days Dr. Carey of Ben ton Harbor was a public school student in Cincinnati, Ohio, and prepared for a life of service in behalf of his fellow men by a thorough course of study in the Medical Col lege of Ohio, of which he is an alumnus of 1888. His father had graduated from the same school thirty-seven years before. Dr. Carey located for practice in his native city, where he remained until 1902, when on ac count of the health of his wife he removed to Michigan, settling in Benton Harbor. He has a well equipped office here for scientific practice and he is thoroughly in touch with modern thought concerning the principles and practices of medicine and surgery. His judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault in his diagnosis of a case or in foretelling the out come of disease. With a conscientious sense of the obligation that devolves upon the physician he has performed his profes sional labors and his efforts when viewed from both a scientific and financial stand point have been gratifying. Dr. Carey finds pleasure and recreation in the management of his excellent fruit farm, which he purchased in 1896. It com prises thirty acres of land at wbat is called Twelve Corners in Hagar township, and here he has fine orchards which almost each year yield bountiful crops. He also has a fine poultry house, which is fitted up in modern style and he raises some of the best breeds of poultry. He is also a great lover of dogs and has at his home forty-five or more valuable thoroughbred dogs. He also breeds them and obtains high prices for them. His kennels contain greyhounds, Pomeranine, fox terriers, Chihuahua (a Mexican breed) and French and Russian poodles, all of fine pedigree. In September, 1902, Dr. Carey was mar ried at Fishkill Landing, New York, to Miss Dolly Watson, who, however, was a native of the west. They occupy a prominent social position and the social functions of their own home are greatly enjoyed by many friends. In politics Dr. Carey is a Repub lican and was recognized as a leader in party ranks in Cincinnati, where he held various offices of trust, but since his removal to Michigan has largely left political service to others, however, keeping well informed on all the questions and issues of the day. He was a member of the Knights f Pythias fraternity at Cincinnati and in the line of his profession he is connected with Ohio Medi cal Society, the Alumni Association of the Ohio Medical College, and is a member of the American Medical Association. His is a well rounded nature, not so abnormally developed in any direction as to become a genius and yet showing that strength of character and firm purpose which assures success in any undertaking and proves a valuable factor in public as well as private life. CHARLES NEWTON SOWERS, physician and surgeon of Benton Harbor, was born in Corsica, Pennsylvania, Novem ber 10, 1859, his parents being Franklin H. and Susan (McDonald) Sowers. The father, a native of Armstrong county, Pennsyl vania, died in Oceana county, Michigan, in October, 1901, in his seventy-fifth year. He possessed natural mechanical ingenuity and became a carpenter and contractor. In 1864 he removed from the Keystone state to Michigan, and on arriving in this state he purchased a farm in Van Buren county, af ter which he carried on general agricultural pursuits in connection with his business as a contractor. He resided upon that farm until 1882, when he retired, spending his remain ing days upon a farm at Hart, Oceana coun ty, Michigan. He was very active in town ship affairs, served as a member of the school . board, was also supervisor, school inspector and township health officer. In his political views he was a stalwart Republican, and his activity in behalf of public progress was a tangible element in general development and improvement. His wife, who was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, is still living, making her home with a daughter in Cass county, Michigan, and also spending a part of her time with her other children. In the family were five children, of whom four are yet living: Mrs. Alice Wheaton, who resides in Cass county, Michigan; Mrs. 368 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Elizabeth Yund, whose home is at Three Rivers, Michigan; Charles Newton; and Samuel E., a farmer of Oceana county. Dr. Sowers of this review was only five years of age when he came to Michigan with his parents. He was reared to manhood in Hamilton, Van Buren county, where he at tended the district schools, and was also a public school student in Decatur, Michigan. He afterward engaged in teaching in Van Buren county and followed the same profes sion in Oceana county, subsequent to the re moval of the family to that district. He likewise served as county school commis sioner for three succeeding terms, on the expiration of which period he resigned in order to become a student in the University of Michigan. He then entered the literary department, having pursued this course as a preparation for his more advanced profes sional training. Matriculating in the medi cal department, he pursued the regular course and was graduated in June, 1893, from the medical department of the Univer sity of Michigan. On leaving college Dr. Sowers was ap pointed assistant surgeon in the iron mines at Lamore, Virginia, where he remained for several months, after which he returned to Michigan and entered into partnership with Dr. G. O. Switzer. They located at Pentwater, Michigan, where they remained for a year, and in tbe spring of 1895, Dr. Sowers came to Benton Harbor, where he opened his office. He has met with much success in his practice, which has constantly grown in volume and importance, as he has become recognized as a most able member of the profession. He belongs to the Ber rien County Medical Association, of which . he formerly served as president, and he is likewise a member of the Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Sowers was married in 1897, in Pentwater, Michigan, to Miss Homaria A. Bouton. She was born in Pentwater. They are prominent socially here and Dr. Sowers is a Knight Templar Mason. He also has membership relations with the Woodmen of America and in politics he is a Republican. His entire life has been devoted to profes sional labor, wherein merit and ability ob tain advancement, progress being gained through no other methods. He has ever been a deep and earnest student of the prin ciples and practices of medicines since de termining upon this calling as a life work and his close adherence to a high standard of professional ethics has won him the un qualified regard of his brethren of the medi cal fraternity. GEORGE J. EDGCUMBE, A. M, Ph. D., principal of the Benton Harbor College and Normal and widely known as one of the capable educators of southwestern Michigan, was born near Plymouth, England, on the 17th of November, 1844, a son of William and Eliza (Jayne) Edgcumbe. His early youth was passed in the place of his nativity, where he enjoyed exceptional educational advantages, his studies being carried on with some of the most noted teachers of Eng land as his preceptors. He was an apt, earnest and thorough student and availed himself to the utmost of his opportunities, thus acquiring through diligence and study in his youth a broad knowledge, not only of the text-books that were placed in his hands, but also of historical subjects and general topics of interest. He was graduated from Toronto University in 1875, and later from the Wesleyan University in Illinois, which conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D. At the age of six years he had been brought by his parents to America, the fam ily home being established in Toronto, Canada. in 1876 Professor Edgcumbe came to Michigan, locating at Deerfield, Lenawee county, where he engaged in teaching school for five years. Later, in 1883, he came to Benton Harbor and accepted the superin- tendency of the city schools, in which capa city he continued to serve for three years. While occupying that position he effected many improvements in the character of the branches taught, as well as in the methods of instruction, and succeeded in placing the schools upon a substantial and most grati fying basis. Realizing the need of instruc- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 369 tion along other lines than those taught in the public schools, that the young people might be trained through special prepara tion for the different walks of life in which they might gain a livelihood, he founded, in 1886, the Benton Harbor Normal and Col legiate Institute, which he conducted with a constantly ' increasing attendance until 1892, when the school was incorporated under the name of the Benton Harbor College and Normal. The incorporators . were G. J. Edgcumbe, Seeley McCord/ George M. Val entine, Rev. S. H. Edgcumbe, Rev. E. B. Patterson, S. A. Bailey and James Baley. These gentlemen also became, the directors of the institution. Mr. McCord had been connected with Mr. Edgeumcbe in the con duct of the Benton Harbor Normal and Collegiate Institute from 1886 until the in corporation, and was active in the establish ment and management of the latter institu tion. Mr. Edgcumbe was chosen president and Mr. McCord secretary and- treasurer. At the present writing, in 1906, the officers are : George J. Edgcumbe, president ; J. H. Niz, secretary; and Fred A. Hobbs, treas urer'. These gentlemen, together with J. C. Caldwell, C. M. Edick and Dr. George M. Bell, constitute the' board of directors. The school is most thoroughly organized and has made rapid strides in tbe lines of advance ment and improvement from the beginning. There are now normal, kindergarten, col legiate, business, elocution, music, fine- arts, stenographic and preparatory departments, in all of which there are a large number of students enrolled. The character of the school may be understood at once from the fact that it is one of the regularly accredited preparatory schools to the state university in all courses. Its building is a fine, large structure, pleasantly located, and is well prepared to meet the de mands for education along special lines, fit ting the student for further collegiate work or for the duties of a practical business career. From the beginning the school has been popular and has made consecutive pro gress, its enrollment being continually en larged, its facilities extended and its meth ods of instruction improved. Its students 24 have been admitted without examination to all courses of the Michigan University, Wellesley College, Northwestern University and other famous institutions of learning. Beginning with the academic year of 1892-3 the institution has been conducted under its collegiate charter. The institution is de pendent entirely upon its merits for exis tence and without endowment save that of energy and integrity its continued support depends upon nothing but skillful manage ment and superior facilities. Its large en rollment therefore is ample evidence of its efficiency. There is an excellent corps of teachers employed, each thorough in his par ticular department and the work done is most satisfactorily. In 1876 Professor Edgcumbe was mar ried to Miss Victoria C. Bolster, a native of Canada, who has charge of the kindergar ten department of the college, having pre viously prepared herself for this special line of work. She is a very capable woman, of good intellectual endowments and literary culture, and her great personal interest in the little ones who come under her instruc tion make her a most successful teacher. In his political views Professor Edg cumbe is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and are deeply interested in the moral development and aesthetic and social culture of the com munity as well as its intellectual develop ment. They have seven times crossed the ocean and while visiting many points of historic, modern and scenic interest have also attended lectures and visited schools and colleges abroad, keeping in thorough touch with ¦ the various lines of intellectual work. Professor Edgcumbe has given to Benton Harbor an institution of learning of which the city has every reason to be proud, and his labor has been of direct benefit to many hundreds of students who have come under his instruction. M. G METRAS is a well known resident of Bainbridge township. He has usually been known by the name of Mer ritt G. Metras but because of the con fusion occasioned by the fact that his uncle 37° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY bears the same name he has again taken the name by which he was christened, MaGloire Metras. He was born at St. Remi, near Montreal, Canada, September i, 1835. His father, Peter Metras, was born, lived and died in Canada and represented one of the early French families there. Three of his brothers, Joseph, Paul and Mitchell, set tled in Berrien county. There were eight brothers altogether in the family and they were patriots, active in the Revolution of 1837-8, because of which some of the num ber emigrated from Canada to. the United States. Joseph Metras came in 1836, set tling in Berrien county, where he spent his remaining days. Mitchell Metras arrived in 1838, locating in the same locality, and later Paul Metras came and settled as a neighbor to his brother Joseph. Subse quently he removed to Watervliet, where he passed away. The last survivor of the three brothers was Paul Metras, who died when about seventy-three years of age, Mitchell having passed away first, while Joseph died at the age of seventy-seven years. Of the eight brothers in the family the youngest at the time of death was sixty years of age, while the eldest reached the age of eighty- four years. M. G. Metras, whose name introduces this record, remained a resident of Canada to the age of nineteen years. He attended school at St. Edwards, where he pursued a classical course and studied Latin and Eng lish. He began teaching at the age of sev enteen, having charge of a primary school in his parish. His last year in college was devoted to the mastery of the English lan guage, whereby he prepared himself for American citizenship. He came to Michigan in 1854, settling in Berrien county. His of fice, however, in the United States was as bookkeeper for a railroad company in Indi ana. The college at Notre Dame offered to allow him to pursue a course of study in that institution if he would teach classes in French but he wished to become an active factor in business circles and he declined the offer. He acted as bookkeeper for a railroad contractor for two years, or until the contract was completed for the building of the line between Plymouth and Laporte, Indiana. He received forty dollars per month and his board for his services and was favored by the contractor, who was a French-Canadian, and he becoming dis abled gave the supervision of the work there to Mr. Metras for a period, of six months. He thus had fifty Irishmen under his charge when but twenty-one years of age. He saved his money, invested it in property in South Bend, Indiana, and lived tbere for two years. In 1858 he returned to Berrien county and purchased the land upon which he now resides. The contractor by whom he was employed wished him to come to the west in connection with railroad building, but not desiring to do this he decided to lo cate upon his farm, comprising eighty acres of land on section 28, Bainbridge township, for which he had paid ten dollars per acre. Of this tract twenty acres had been cleared but no buildings had been erected. In March, 1858, he took up his abode thereon, built a plank house and has since lived upon the farm. His home was destroyed by fire in 1859, together with all its contents, save the clothing which the family wore. With characteristic energy, however, he erected a new residence and resolutely undertook the task of developing and improving a good farm. In 1857 his father visited him and induced him later to return to Canada, which he did in the fall of 1 864, but returned to Michigan about May 1, 1865, and again took up his abode upon his farm. The home property in Canada amounted to about- six thousand dollars, which he would have inherited had he re mained, but even with that prospect he pre ferred to leave his native country and come again to his farm in Michigan. He soon began to raise fruit here, planting sixteen or seventeen acres to peaches, which had just begun to bear when the yellows de stroyed the trees. He had also set out ap ples, however, so that he had an income from his fruit and subsequently he planted more peach orchards. As his financial re sources increased he also began to buy more land, adding to his original purchase of one hundred and twenty acres, one hundred and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 371 thirty-five acres, in Pipestone township, while the home farm comprises one hun dred and twenty acres in Bainbridge town ship. He has improved all of his land, hav ing placed one hundred and fifty acres alto gether under cultivation. On his home place he has about fifty-five acres in fruit, includ ing peaches, apples, pears and grapes. In 1905, when the apple crop was a partial failure, his sales amounted to seventeen hun dred and seventy-six dollars and his entire sales of fruit were over forty-three hundred dollars. His farm lies nine miles east and south of Benton Harbor and is an excellent property. In bis political affiliation Mr. Metras has been classed as a Democrat but is not strictly partisan. Imbued with a love of his adopted country he has great admiration for Lincoln, Garfield, Sumner and other promi nent leaders in public life. He became a follower of Greeley in 1872 and he now gives his support to either Republican or Democratic candidates as he sees fit, being independent in politics as well as in religion. He has reared his family, however, within the church, being a liberal Catholic. Mr. Metras has served as justice of the peace for eight years, and for six years was town ship clerk, in both positions discharging his duties so as to win the commendation of all concerned. Mr. Metras was married at South Bend, Indiana, in 1856, to Miss Mary J. Lacase, a niece of the contractor witb whom he worked on first coming to the United States. She was born at Rochester, New York, of Canadian parents, and by their marriage they have had a family of three sons and four daughters : Louise Josephine; Euphons- ine; L. H., who has engaged in teaching for six years, being five years superintend ent of the schools at Hartford, Michigan, while at the present writing he is following his profession in the State of Washington; Ellen, at home ; Elmer, who is living on his father's farm in Pipestone township; and Alphonse and Emma, also at home. All were born upon the home farm in Bain bridge townsbip. Mr. Metras is a worthy representative of that class of American citi zens who, though born across the border, have been attracted by business opportunities to the United States with its livelier compe tition and advancement more quickly se cured. Here he has found ample scope for his industry, ambition and energy, his dominant qualities, and as the years have gone by he has made an excellent record as a business man and citizen. JOHN C. BOSTICK, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Ben ton Harbor, was born in Indiana in 1858. His father, Dr. Charles H. Bostick, for many years a practicing physician, was born in Batavia, New York, in 1826, and died in Manton, Michigan, in 1891. He was a grad- - uate of the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin cinnati, Ohio, of the class of 1856, and lo cated for practice in Indiana, where he re mained for some time, when on account of ill health he came to Michigan, settling upon a farm near New Troy. The outdoor life proved beneficial, and when he had recup erated he resumed the practice of his pro fession at New Troy, where he continued his work until retiring from business life he removed to Manton, where his remaining days were passed. He married Miss Sarah A. Merrifield, who was born in New York and came with her parents to Michigan in 1845, the family settling at what is now called Coloma, Berrien county. In the fam ily of Dr. Charles H. and Sarah A. Bos tick were ten children, but six of the num ber have been called from this life. Those who still survive are : Mrs. F. R. Atwood, a resident of Montrose, South Dakota ; John C, of this review ; Charles H., who is living in Manton, Michigan; and Lillian, the wife of H. G. Hutzler, of the same city. Dr. Bostick was reared to manhood at New Troy, Michigan, where he acquired his early education, passing through successive grades until he had become a high school student and graduated there. When it be came necessary that he make choice of a life work he determined to engage in the prac tice of medicine and followed his preliminary reading by study in Bennett Medical Col lege at Chicago, Illinois, from which he was 372 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY graduated with the class of 1881. He then opened an office in Manton, where he prac ticed with much success until 1892, when seeking a still broader field of labor he came to Benton Harbor and opened an office. Those who know him — and he has a wide acquaintance — recognize his high standing in professional circles. He is well informed concerning the principles of the medical science and he engages in general practice, but makes a specialty of the use of electricity in his work. Dr. Bostick was married in 1884, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Miss Clara L. Saunders, who was born in that city. They now have two sons : J. Glenn and Harold G., both of whom are natives of Manton. Dr. Bostick is a Republican but without po litical aspiration. He holds membership in Lake Shore Lodge, F. & A. M., and Malta Commandery, K. T., both of Benton Har bor, and also in the chapter of St. Joseph, Michigan. He likewise affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen. During the years of his practice he has closely studied, keeping in touch with the progress of the medical fraternity, whose rapid advancement has been unsurpassed in any line of professional activity and investigation. CAPTAIN SAMUEL BOUGHTER, who won his title by valiant service in the Civil war, is now a conductor for the Big Four Railroad Company and one of the trusted representatives of that corporation. His birth occurred in Carlisle, Pennsyl vania, in 1835, his parents being Samuel and Mary Jane (Byers) Boughter, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state and died there during the early youth of their son Samuel. In his boyhood -days Captain Boughter pursued his education in one of the old-time log school houses at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and when eighteen years of age he went to Indiana, where he learned the carpenter's trade, following that pursuit until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He had watched with interest the pro gress of events in the south, had noted the threatening attitude of the slave holding states and his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt to overthrow the Union. Ac cordingly in 1861 he joined Company F of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry as a private for one year's service. On the expiration of that period he re-enlisted in the same reg iment, which was then re-organized, once more entering the ranks, but in May, 1862, he was promoted on the field to first lieu tenant in recognition of meritorious service in battle. In June, 1862, he was appointed captain of his company and in May, 1865, he was brevetted major. His second term of enlistment was for three years, and he continued at the front until June, 1865, when the war having ended he was mustered out at Indianapolis at the close of hostilities. He made a creditable record as a soldier, do ing his full duty at all times and under all circumstances and his own bravery and loyalty often inspired the members of his company to deeds of valor and heroism. When the war was over Captain Bough ter went to Warsaw, Indiana, and worked as a shoveler on the grade of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad, now a part of the Big Four system, which was then be ing built. He continued in construction work for four years, when he received an appointment to the position of freight con ductor, running between Anderson and Goshen, Indiana. He remained in that ca pacity' until January, 1880, when in an ac cident he was crippled. On the 23rd of August, 1880, he was appointed passenger- conductor, which position he still fills, hav ing remained continuously with the com pany, and since 1884 he has made his home in Benton Harbor. He is one of the oldest employes in years of continued service for the Big Four Railroad Company and has the entire confidence and trust of those whom? he represents. In his service he is ever courteous and obliging to the patrons of the road and has won many friends among those who regularly travel over his route. In 1866 Captain Boughter was married, in Goshen, Indiana, to Miss Mary H. Er- vin, a native of that state. They have two children: William E., who was born in Warsaw, Indiana, and married Mrs. Jessie. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 373 (Kelly) Ormich, of Benton Harbor; and Elizabeth C, wbo was also born in War saw. Captain Boughter has never seen rea son to transfer his allegiance from the Re publican party since he gave to it his first presidential vote when age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 73, at Warsaw, Indiana, also the Grand Army Post at that place and the Elks lodge, No. 544, of Ben ton Harbor. His record has been a credit able one and his military service is a chapter in his life history of which he has every rea son to be proud. In business affairs, too, he has been notably prompt and reliable and is a man who has displayed many excellent traits of character, making him worthy of the esteem and confidence of all who have regard for sterling worth. FRANK B. MOORE, a dry goods mer chant of Benton Harbor, whose business career has been one of continuous advance ment, was born in Michigan in 1867. His paternal grandfather was William Moore, a native of Scotland, who, on crossing the Atlantic took up his abode in Canada, His son, William J. Moore, was born m Scot land and was a young lad at the time of the emigration of tbe family to America. The voyage was made upon a sailing vessel and he was reared to manhood in Canada, where "he remained until after the close of the Civil war, when he came to Michigan, settling in Huron county. A carpenter by trade, he afterward became a contractor and builder and followed that pursuit in the eastern part of Michigan. He married Miss Elsie Smith, who died when forty-seven years of age, and the death of Mr. Moore occurred when he was seventy years of age. In their fam ily were six children, of whom five are liv ing : Mrs. Elizabeth McKinney, who resides in Spokane, Washington; Mrs. Agnes Hol- setin, a resident of Port Hope, Michigan; Mrs. Elsie Bisbee, who is also living in Port Hope; Frank B., of Benton Harbor; and Hira C, a resident of Columbiaville, Mich igan. Frank B. Moore pursued his education in the schools of Port Hope and in Berrien University School, and when he had put aside his text-books to enter upon an active business career he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the employ of W. R. Staf ford, of Port Hope. He also had charge of the docks of that firm, with which he con tinued for five years. At the age of twenty- one years he served as town clerk of his township and was recognized as one of the representative young men of his commun ity. He afterward became buyer and man ager of the William Peters large general store at Columbus, Michigan, where he con tinued for five years, after which he was with L. F. Burdick at Sturgis, Michigan, having charge of the dry goods department for three years. Later he went to Flint, Michigan, where he was with E. Trump and in 1898 he came to Benton Harbor as buyer for Enders & Company. He had charge of the dry goods department of that house for three years, and in 1901 he became a partner in the firm of Moore & Rowe, which rela tion was maintained for a year, when the firm became Enders, Moore & Company. They also own a branch store in St. Joseph, Micbigan, and carry on a general dry goods business, theirs being one of the most reli able houses in the twin cities. Mr. Moore has had more than twenty years experience in the business life and displays keen discrimi nation and unfaltering enterprise. He read ily recognizes the possibilities of a situation and carefully directs his efforts along lines which prove resultant factors in the control of important and successful business ven tures. He has made an enviable reputation for upright dealing and occupies today a prominent place in social circles in the twin cities. In 1892 in Flint, Michigan, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Ida Finley, a native of Flint, of this state. Unto them have been born two children : Estella A., whose birth occurred in Columbiaville, Michigan, in 1893, and Beatrice A., born in Benton Harbor in 1903. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Moore is a member of the Masonic bodies and also has membership re lations with the Maccabees and the Modern 374 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Woodmen. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He is a man of broad capabilities as his business history in dicates. At all times he is approachable and patiently listens to whatever a caller may have to say, is ever courteous and is at all times a gentleman in the truest and best sense of the term. He cares not for noto riety nor is there about him the least shadow of mock modesty. Of fine address and thorough culture he occupies an enviable po sition in social as well as commercial circles and he has the happy faculty of winning and retaining friends. EUGENE L. KRIEGER, D. V. S., who, well qualified for the practice of vet erinary surgery, is meeting with success in his chosen field of endeavor, was born in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, in 1876. He comes of German lineage. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Krieger, was born on the Rhine in Germany and was there married to Katherine Heffner, a daughter of Christian Heffner, who died in Bain bridge, Michigan, at the very venerable age of ninety-four years. Subsequent to his marriage Jacob Krieger crossed the Atlantic and made his way to this state, settling in Bainbridge townsbip, Berrien county, where he cast in his lot with the pioneers and cleared a tract of wild land, which he trans formed into a very productive farm and which still remains in possession of the fam ily. The year of his arrival in Michigan was 1843, an when, in 1 86 1, he enlisted for service in Company D, Twelfth Michigan Infantry, under cor- mand of General Logan. At the end of eleven months he was honorably discharged but ever afterward suffered from ill health in consequence of the exposure and hard ships incident to his service. After his return home Mr. Farnum was married in 1864 to Miss Eliza P. Dickin son, a daughter of Robert Dickinson. He provided for his family through agricul tural and horticultural labor and became the owner of a forty-acre form- in Hagar township, four miles north of Benton Har bor and within a mile of the lake shore. He hewed out this farm in the midst of the forest, clearing awav the trees and bringing the land into cultivable condition. Here he engaged in raising fruit and planted good orchards, giving his attention only to the cul tivation of the best varieties of fruits. His efforts therefore were attended with success and he gained a very comfortable com petence. Mr. and Mrs. Farnum never had any children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Margaret Belle Opfel, who was an orphan when at the age of nine years she came to live with them, making her home with them until her marriage to' M. F. Easterbrook, a farmer and stockman of Carroll county, Illinois. She has four chil dren, Farnum, Monterville, Eugene, Mar garet Mary, and a baby girl. Mrs. Easter brook was provided with excellent edu cational advantages and is a graduate of Benton Harbor College. After com pleting her course there she taught music for two years, and is a lady of culture and refinement, owing to the excellent ad vantages which were given her by her fos ter parents. After the war Mr. Farnum, being . in poor health and wishing something else to do beside carrying on his farm, leased a boat and began running between Benton Harbor and Chicago. This was the second line plying between the two ports, and it was subsequently purchased: from Mr. Far num. However, the possibility for the sec ond line of boats had been established and this was the forerunner of what is now known as the Benton Transit Company. His farm work was conducted through tbe as sistance of hired help. He did much for the development of the fruit industry of this lo cality. When he brought his bride to his farm they came into the woods and took up their abode upon property upon which not a stick of timber had been cut. Mr. Far num cleared the land and placed "almost the entire tract under cultivation, devoting it to fruit. His ambition and resolution was great but he was afflicted with rheumatism of the heart and so was restricted: in his labors. The first house which he erected is still standing as a landmark of the early days. After he had carried on business suc cessfully in this county for a number of years Mr. Farnum removed to California, where he spent a year and on his return he erected his present handsome residence. He did much of the work himself, having work ed with his father at the carpenter's trade in early life and possessing much mechanical ability. In his social relations Mr. Farnum -4°8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY was an Odd Fellow and also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, while politically he was a Republican. He served for some years as master of the Grange. At length he passed away, August 5, 1901, and his death was the occasion of deep regret to those who had been associated with him in business, or in citizenship, or in social re lations, for he displayed many good quali ties that endeared him to those who knew him. Mrs. Farnum was born in Berrien county May 2, 1838, and with the exception of the year passed in California, had spent her entire life in Berrien county. She was born on the old Dickinson homestead on Paw Paw river, where her brother, Arthur Dickinson, now resides, and she has a very wide circle of friends in the county. WILLIAM W. GREEN. This name at once suggests a power in manufacturing cir cles in Berrien county, for Mr. Green is at the head of the Garden City Fan Company, controlling the largest enterprise of this char acter in the country. The day of small un dertakings seems to have passed, and in the control of large concerns are men of master minds, of limitless ability, of. sound judg ment and keen discrimination. Their pro- gressiveness must not only reach the bounds that others have gained but must even pass beyond into new and broader untried fields of operation but an unerring foresight and sagacity must make no mistake by venturing on uncertain ground, thus continually guard ing the business until it takes leadership in a certain line and the men who are at its head are deservedly eminent in the world of industrial enterprise. William W. Green, president of the Garden City Fan Company, was born in Massachusetts in 1839, a son of William W. and Lucina (Lewellyn) Green. The pater nal grandfatber, Henry Green, was a native of Massachusetts and a Revolutionary soldier, who valiantly fought for indepen dence of the nation when the yoke of British tyranny had become too heavy to be borne longer. He was descended from one of the passengers on the Mayflower, so that the family has figured in the history of New England from the days of its earliest set tlement. William W. Green when only a year old was taken by his parents, to Genesee county, New York, where he was reared upon a farm, early becoming familiar witb the duties and labors incident to the work of the fields. He attended the district schools in the neighborhood and after acquiring his education in that manner began learning the carpenter's trade in Genesee county. He was subsequently employed as a journeyman in New York until he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, where he followed carpen tering for a time when he removed to Janesville, Wisconsin. He there for five years engaged in contracting and build ing, erecting a number of houses and other structures. On the expiration of that period he removed to Chicago, just after the great fire swept over the city in 1871. There he continued success fully in contracting and building for eight years. The city rose Phoenix-like from the ashes and there was great demand for ser vice along building lines. Throughout his entire life Mr. Green had displayed consider able inventive as well as mechanical ingenu ity and in 1879 he established in Chicago on a small scale a business conducted under the name of the Garden City Fan Company for the manufacture of exhausts, fans and blow ers. These were of his own invention. He soon found that there was a good demand for the output and the business constantly grew. It was incorporated under the present name in 1881 with W. W. Green as presi dent and his son and only child, E. D. Green, as secretary and treasurer. Mr. Green is the inventor and patentee of all the devices manufactured by the firm. The business grew rapidly and in 1902 the company looked around for a site for a manufacturing plant and eventually purchased five acres of land near the Michigan Central Railroad tracks in Niles. The same year they erected here an extensive plant, tbe largest of its kind in the west. It was planned by W. W. Green in all of its details and comprises five build ings joined together in wings, one of which is one hundred and forty by forty feet, a second one hundred and fifty by forty feet, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTS 409 a third one hundred and ten by forty feet, with a shipping wing fifty by fifty feet and a boiler room and heating room thirty by forty feet. With the exception of the foundry the entire building is a two-story structure. The company owns the building and utilizes all except a very small portion of it. In addition to the space above men tioned there is a pattern room thirty by thirty feet. About one hundred workmen are employed, mostly skilled labor. The works and foundry are situated at Nrles, while the main office is at No. 42 Soutb Clinton street, Chicago, E. D. Green, having charge in that city, while W. W. Green at tends personally to the manufacturing plant. After purchasing the ground at Niles they discovered they had good molding sand on the property which has proven to be very valuable and has made a large saving for them. The company has agencies in New York, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, St. Louis, London, England and Christiana, Norway. They maufacture ventilating fans, exhaust fans and blowers, hot blasts for heating and dry kilns and positive blowers and the output of the factory is extensive, shipments being made to all parts of the country and to foreign lands as well. Mr. Green exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He belongs to the Ma sonic lodge at Janesville, Wisconsin, and has many social acquaintances who entertain for him high regard. Mr. Green is at all times genial and approachable, never hedging himself about with a reserve such as many men do who work their way upward from an humble position to one of affluence. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and this truth is abundantly verified in the life pf Mr. Green, steadily pursuing his way, undeterred by obstacles and difficulties in his path he has achieved a prosperity of which he has every reason to be proud. Steady application, care ful study of business methods and plans to be followed, close attention to details com bined with an untiring energy directed by a discriminating judgment — these are the traits of character which have brought him success and made him a foremost representa tive in industrial interests in southwestern Michigan. CHARLES D. STUART, of Hagar township, Berrien county, is a native of Madison county, New York, having been born in De Ruyter, on the 30tb of December, 1849. In his childhood days his parents re moved with their family to Chautauqua county, New York. The father, A. B. Stuart, was a chair maker by trade and on removing to the west settled in Gratiot county, Michigan. He afterward engaged in teaching in Wisconsin and other states. His wife died when her son Charles was but three years of age. In 1858 his father be came foreman of the Industrial School, at .Lansing, Michigan, and was thus en gaged until the outbreak of the Civil war, at which time he offered his services to the government, becoming a captain of Com pany B, Berdan's United States Sharp shooters. He was with the army for four teen months, when on account of disabil ity he was honorably discharged. He then began the manufacturue of chairs in Lan sing, Michigan, where he carried on his en terprise from 1863 until 1869, removing in the latter year to Otsego, Allegan county. Charles D. Stuart acquired a public school education and in his boyhood days spent much of his time in his father's shop, where he thoroughly acquainted himself with the business in principle and detail, and at twenty-one years of age he became a part ner witb his father in the conduct of the factory.. At the end of two years time they sold out to Grand Rapids parties, in whose employ he was until 1873, when the firm of Stuart, Hale & Company was organized and began business at Otsego, Michigan. After five years Mr. Stuart and his father became proprietors of the business, which was conducted under the name of A. B. & C. D. Stuart for several years, or until the son purchased the father's interest, A. B. Stuart making his home in Otsego until his death, which occurred in 1894, when he was seventy-two years of age. Mr. Stuart of this review was closely as sociated with the industrial interests of Ot- 410 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY sego until 1891. Although he suffered losses by fires, his business grew steadily and rap idly and was developed along modern busi ness lines. At length having opportunity to dispose of his interests advantageously Mr. Stuart in 1891 sold his business in Otsego, the power being purchased by the Bardeen Paper Company, which built its No. 2 and No. 3 mills on the site of Mr. Stuart's old chair factories on the Kalamazoo river. About that time Spencer & Barnes were planning to locate at Benton Harbor and Mr. Stuart became a partner with them and was associated with the firm, for five years under the style of Spencer, Barnes & Stuart, they building the present furniture factory of The Spencer & Barnes Company. When five years had passed he sold out, but dur ing that period he had purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres covered with timber, which he cleared off, converting it into lumber. In 1896 he went to Grand Rapids, where he remained for four years. In the meantime he had transformed his land into a farm and since 1901 he has made this place his summer home. It comprises a quarter section, one half mile from Lake Michigan, in Hagar township, and two miles north of Riverside. It is upland and he is making it largely a fruit farm. He has placed all of the improvements here since 1 89 1, when the tract was covered solidly with timber. Now about one hundred acres are under cultivation, including about fifty acres of fruit, while about sixty acres of timber land remains. He has met with fair success in his agricultural and horticultural pursuits, owning now a valuable property, which will increase year by year in value as his orchards come into bearing. In April, 1876, Mr. Stuart was united in marriage, at Otsego, Michigan, to Miss Orpha A. Eaton, of Otsego. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio. In his political views Mr. Stuart holds himself independent of party ties. He belongs to the Masonic fra ternity and is a Knight Templar and also a Scottish Rite Mason. Mr. Stuart finds favorite recreation in hunting and fishing. He has led a busy life, in which in former years there was little leisure but now he finds opportunity for pleasurable interests, having disposed of the productive industries which claimed so much of his time and en ergies in former years. WARREN S. PEARL, who is engaged in general farming and fruit-raising in Ben ton township, is a representative of one of the old and most prominent families of Ber rien county, the name of Pearl being in separably associated with its history. He was born in Essex county, New York, near Fort Ticonderoga, April 14, 1850, his par ents being Simon and Marion (Wright) Pearl, who were likewise natives of Essex county. The father was a son of a brother of Pbineas Pearl, noted as the pioneer set tler of Berrien county. When Warren S. Pearl was but six years of age his parents removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1865 came to Berrien county. Phineas Pearl and his family had separated in New York. In Wisconsin Simon Pearl met a lady from Berrien county who told him of the family of Phineas Pearl here and he came to Micbigan to determine whether or not these people were his rela tives. Here he not only found the family relations which he sought but also was so well pleased with the country and its pros pects that he decided to remove from Wis consin to Michigan. In the spring of 1865 therefore he came to this state and pur chased the present home of Warren S. Pearl from his uncle, Phineas Pearl. It was then new land of eighty acres, of which only a small clearing had been made. It lies along the Bainbridge township line but is in Ben ton township on Britain avenue, about six miles east of Benton Harbor. Ten acres of the land had been cleared when it came into possession of Simon Pearl, who resolutely undertook the task of developing and culti vating the farm. Later he sold that prop erty and purchased land from George Pearl, a son of Phineas Pearl. This was at Pearl Grange and there he spent his last years, living a neighbor to his uncle Phineas, who resided at the present residence of Arthur Pearl. Simon Pearl was for many years an enterprising agriculturist, who labored earnestly to till the soil and cultivate his crops and as the years passed his labors were HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 411 rewarded by the transformation of his land into a very valuable and productive farm. He died thereon at the age of seventy-eight years, while his wife passed away on the old homestead several years before. In their family were four sons and three daugh ters, four of whom are living : Curtis, who is sexton of the Crystal Springs cemetery at Benton Harbor; Frances, the wife of William Maynard, of Bainbridge township; Mary, the wife of Loren Snyder, who owns her father's old place at Pearl Grange; and Warren S., of this review. In his early life Simon Pearl had learned and followed the carpenter's trade and to some extent did work along that line for many years, but his life was chiefly given to agricultural pur suits. In politics he was a stalwart Repub lican and was ever a man of honest convic tions, faithfully upholding the principles in whicb he believed so that he commanded the respect, confidence and good will of all with whom he came in contact. Warren S. Pearl was fifteen years of age on the day that President Lincoln was as sassinated. He is indebted to the public school system of the county for the educa tional privileges that he enjoyed in his youth and he received ample training at farm labor upon his father's place, where he remained until twenty-five years of age, when he made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Flora Kent, a sister of C. C. Kent, of Spink's Corners. She was born in Bainbridge township and has al ways lived in this county. By this marriage there is one daughter, Effie, now the wife of Harvey Krieger, of Bainbridge, by whom she has three children. Mr. and Mrs. Warren S. Pearl started out in life together with only twenty acres of land, which he still continues to own and farm. He has, however, added to his pos sessions until now he owns ninety acres in Bainbridge township. He carries on gen eral farming and fruit-raising, dividing his time about equally to the two branches of his business. The greater part of his life has been spent in this county, where the name of Pearl is synonymous with good citizen ship, with business activity and reliability, and with all those qualities which go to make up an honorable manhood. FRANKLIN HOWARD, the owner of Fair View farm in Benton township, Ber rien county, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, September 11, 1869, his parents being Laconius M. and Harriet (Converse) Howard. The father was a brotber of Far ley, Sterling, John and Harley Howard, all pioneer settlers of Benton township and Farley Howard was the father of Mrs. Franklin Howard. The subject of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his na tive county, being reared and educated in Minnesota. He was married on the 6th of June, 1889, to Miss Addie Howard, who was a double cousin, her mother being Mrs. Diantha (Converse) Howard, a sister of Harriet Converse. Irt early childhood they were acquainted and later were separated, but Mr. Howard of this review came to Michigan the winter before their marriage. Mrs. Howard was born on the present farm, spending her girlhood days here. Her father, Farley Howard, died August 1, 1886, and the mother afterward remained upon the farm. Two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Howard returned to the old homestead and purchased the property from the other heirs, thus coming into pos- session of the place in 1891. Six years ago Mr. Howard built his present residence and has a well improved farm, equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences for the raising of fruit. He has thirty-three out of forty acres planted to fruit and the orchard set out fifty years ago is still in bearing. He has now about one thousand apple trees and he also has pears, peaches and plums. The sales from fifty-six old apple trees amounted in one season to six hundred and fourteen dollars. He is strictly a commercial grower. He plants only fruit of the best varieties and bis business is proving a profitable one, for he thoroughly understands the best methods of caring for the orchard and also for the crop as it ripens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howard has been born a daughter, Irma, who at the age of 412 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY sixten years is a student in Benton Harbor College. Mr. Howard is a Republican and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. His time and attention, however, are largely demanded by his horticultural interests and the control of his farm, which is pleasantly and conveniently located about six and a fourth miles southeast of Benton Harbor. It will be interesting in this connection to note something more of the history of Farley Howard, father of Mrs. Franklin Howard. He was generally called Fulton Howard. His birth occurred June 6, 1830, in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, his parents being Joseph and Purley (Frank lin) Howard. His boyhood and youth was passed in the state of his nativity and his education was acquired there in the public schools. Having arrived at years of matur ity he was married in Maysville, New York, on the 3rd of November, 1850, to Miss Diantha Converse, whose sister Harriet later married Laconius Howard, a brother of Farley Howard. Another brother, Ster ling Howard, had already come to Berrien county and John Howard, still another brother, came at the same time as Farley Howard and his wife. At one time there were five brothers and a sister of this fam ily living in the county, namely: Sterling, Squire, John, Harley, Farley and Mrs. Susanne Snyder, the wife of Warren Sny der. After ten or fifteen years, however, all the family removed to other localities except the sister and John and Farley How ard. Sterling Howard went to Idaho, Har ley to Kansas and Squire to California. Mrs. Warren Snyder, however, lived and died here, passing away at the age of fifty-six years. John Howard was the father of Mrs. Frank McKindley, of Benton township and died here in middle life. On coming to Michigan, Farley How ard, after looking over the country to some extent, made purchase of a tract of land for which he paid three dollars per acre. It was in the midst of the green woods and was covered with a dense growth of timber. His first house was a log structure, which he con tinued to occupy until the present residence was erected. He at once began to clear and cultivate his land and in the course of time plowed fields were returning good crops. His brother, Sterling, paid the expenses of his journey, so that he was in debt when he began life here and he bought his land on time. In early years he worked out for others, but as the months passed by he was enabled to discharge his financial obligations and give his attention to the improvement of his own farm, which in course of years be came a valuable property. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howard were born eight children, of whom one died at the age of twelve years. Four of the number are now living, namely: Foster, a resident of Benton township; J. D., of Benton Harbor; Nettie, the wife of W. F. Howard, a brother of Franklin Howard, living in Pipe stone township and Mrs. Franklin Howard of Benton township. One daughter, Edith, died at the age of twelve years. Alice, the eldest of the family, became the wife of Charles Moore, of Pipestone and died at the age of forty-four years. Mary became the wife of John Anthony, of Benton township, and died at the age of forty-two years. Farley Howard and his wife were mem bers of the United Brethren church. His death occurred on the ist of August, 1886. In later years Mrs. Howard has been an adherent of the faith as understood by the Christian or Disciples church. She is well read, especially in the Bible and she is a constant reader of one of the church papers, the Christian Standard. She has lived upon one farm for fifty-five years and is now seventy-four years of age, a most estimable lady, loved and esteemed by all who know her. FRANK Z. DYE, a retired farmer re siding in Niles, was born at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1850. The father, John G. Dye, was born in New York in 181 3, and died in Niles in 1895, when about eighty- two years of age. He removed from tbe Empire state to Michigan in 1856 with his wife and children, settling in Bertrand town ship, Berrien county, where he purchased a farm, but soon afterward sold that prop erty and invested in a much better farm on the Chicago road in the same township. That property was located two miles soutb- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 413 west of Niles, and there Mr. Dye carried on general agricultural pursuits up to the time that his life's labors were ended in death. His work produced good results. He annu ally harvested rich crops and the sale of his farm products brought him gratifying suc cess. He was married to Miss Sarah Ann Brooks, a native of New York, in which state the wedding was celebrated. She died upon the old farm homestead in Berrien county in 1872, at the age of fifty-five years. Of their five children all were born in New York and four are now living. Charles H., the eldest of the family, who died February 12, 1903, at the age of sixty years, was a prominent and influential business man. At the time of the Civil war, responding fo the country's call for" aid, he enlisted in 186 1 as a private of Company F, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the period of hostilities, being mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant. He made a splen did record as a soldier, displaying valor and loyalty upon all occasions. Following the close of hostilities he went to Kansas, where he was engaged with his brother Otis M., in the hotel business as proprietor of the Eagle Hotel in Humboldt, Allen county. They successfully conducted this enterprise for some time, when they sold out and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery trade, under the name of Dye Brothers, having branch stores also at Wellington and Inde pendence. In this line the brothers con tinued for some time, when they sold out and went to the Indian Territory, where they engaged in the cattle business as members of the firm of Dye Brothers. They con tinued in that enterprise for only a short time, however, when on account of the ill ness of the wife of Charles H. Dye. he sold his interests in this place and returned to Buchanan, Michigan, where his wife died. Subsequently he went to Syracuse, Kansas, and was engaged alone in the hardware busi ness there. His first wife bore the maiden name of Alice Terriere and was born in Bu chanan, Michigan. They had three chil dren, all born in Kansas, namely: Belle, now the wife of S. P. Sadler, of Texas, by whom she had two daughters, Irene and Gladys ; Jennie T. ; . and Clarence E., who makes his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is an express messenger for the Adams Express Company on the Louisville & Nash ville Railroad. While living in Syracuse, Kansas, Charles H. Dye was married to Miss Malvina Cooke, of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Later he disposed of his hard ware business in Kansas and went to north western Texas, locating in the Panhandle district, where in connection with his brother Otis he was engaged in the grocery business for two years. He then sold out and re moved to Gallatin, Tennessee, where his death occurred. His widow is still living there, There were no children by his sec ond marriage. Otis M. Dye, the second member of the family of John G. Dye, came with his par ents to Michigan in 1856 and during the period of the Civil war was in the quarter master's department at Duvall's Bluff, Ar kansas. After the war he went to Kansas with his brother Charles and as stated above they conducted the Eagle hotel at Hum boldt, Allen county, which proved a success ful venture for several years. Later they conducted a wholesale and retail grocery business and following their venture in the grocery business in Texas, Otis M. Dye be came western manager for the Showwalter Mortgage Company of Boston, Massachu setts, with . headquarters at Omaha, Ne braska. He represented that firm for ten years, after which he assisted in organizing the First National Bank at Arlington, Ne braska, and was its cashier for several years. Subsequently he went to Texas, where he engaged in the grocery business in connec tion with his brother Charles. Later he re turned to Nebraska, where he is now living retired. He married Alida M. Mead, of Niles, Michigan. John C. Dye, the third member of the fatber's family, came with his parents to Michigan and is now living on a farm in Bertrand township, Berrien county. He wedded Ella Sinclair, of Niles, and of their three children two are living — Luther S. and Bessie G. Alma J. Dye, the youngest of the family,, is the wife of A. F. Bither, who is represented elsewhere in this work. 414 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Frank Z. Dye, who was the fourth mem ber of the family, was a little lad of only about six years when brought by his parents to Michigan. He was reared upon the home farm in Berrien county and attended school in Niles. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and throughout his entire life has carried on general farming pursuits. In connection with his brother, John C. Dye, he purchased a farm in Bertrand township, which they conducted together for several years, when Mr. Dye of this review sold out to his brother, who is still living upon the property. Frank Z. Dye then pur chased the old homestead upon which he fol lowed farming until 1904, when he sold that property and bought ten acres of land in the city of Niles, bordering the St. Joseph river, This was a part of the old Bond home stead and is one of the earliest plats of land to be settled in Niles. He and all of his four brothers have been stanch Republicans and are public-spirited men. He has been quite successful in his business operations and is much esteemed for his genuine, personal worth. He represents one of the old and prominent families of the county and his interest in community affairs is tbat of a public-spirited citizen who gives active co-operation to many movements for the general good. PROFESSOR JOHN DOWLING SCHILLER, superintendent of schools in Niles, is one of the prominent educators of this section of Michigan and has done much to advance the cause of public instruction in this state. He acquired his early education in the district schools of Alexander, New York, and later entered the Genesee and Wyoming Academy, where in the pursuance •of an academic course he was fitted for col lege. He remained in that institution for a year following the completion of the regular course in order to take the first year's work in Rochester University, where he com pleted his collegiate course. In 1869 he came to Michigan, settling at Albion, where he organized the Union school. In the fol lowing year the board of education of Jack son appointed him principal of one of the schools of that city, which position he filled continuously, capably and successfully for nineteen years, when, in 1887, he again re signed to accept the superintendency of the schools of Niles. Here he has since re mained and under his guidance the system of public instruction has been greatly im proved. In June, 1887, Hillsdale College bestowed upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He is thoroughly interested in his work and has a faculty of inspiring pupils and teachers with mucb of his own zeal and interest. He is frequently called upon to lecture before teachers' institutes and asso ciations. He has given much attention to the study of pedagogy, psychology and child study and fully realizes the fact that the work of an educator is not merely the in struction of classes in certain principles of knowledge but his adaptation to the needs of the individual pupil and the preparation of the student for life's practical and re sponsible duties. The schools of Niles un der his direction give evidence of scientific management and marked progressiveness. Professor Schiller has one son, Guy B., who is a graduate of the University of Mich igan of the class of 1900, and is now in the employ of the government as superintendent of schools in the Philippine Islands. The father belongs to Niles Commandery, K. T., and also to the Knights of Pythias lodge, and has held high offices in both. He is a Baptist in his religious faith and is deeply in terested in every line of work tending to a liberal education, broad knowledge and an adoption of high moral principles. HON. SAM H. KELLEY, a member of the bar of Benton Harbor and a represen tative of his district in the state legislature has left and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the legal records, the business development and political history of the state. He was born in Marion, Grant county, Indiana, on the 27th of March, 1861, and in both the paternal and maternal lines he is descended from ancestry represented in prominent political positions. His father, Henry S. Kelley, of St. Joseph, Missouri, is a distinguished lawyer, who for sixteen years was judge of the twenty-ninth £^ Michigan with his parents when twelve years old. He died February 11, 1889, the father of six children, namely : Alice L., wife of John F. Painter, of Wesaw town ship; Nellie M., wife of Stephen A. Norris, of Michigan City, Indiana; Alma B., wife of Edwin A. Brodbeck, of Wesaw township ; Warren A., on the Hagley farm in Wesaw township; Elda E., wife of Clarence Reu- barger, of Niles; and Festus G, who died. at the age of nine months. Mrs. Hagley married, March 16, 1892, William J. Jones, who died near Berrien Springs June 30, 1896. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, March 12, 1839, and was a school teacher and farmer, having the unusual record of having taught forty-three terms of schools. His four sons by a pre vious marriage all live in Chicago. There was no issue by the second marriage. RAYMOND B. GILLETTE, mayor of Benton Harbor and one of the prominent representatives of business interests here, has made a record that is in many respects notable. A man of good natural ability, his success in business has been uniform. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and has gained the most satisfactory reward. A native of Little York, Cortland county, New York, his birth occurred on the 25th of May, 1865, his parents being Sylvanus N. and Martha (Beebee) Gillette, who were also natives of the Empire state. The father was an inventor, possessing a mechanical turn of mind and was greatly interested in machinery. He had but limited educational privileges, yet he became a well informed man, being throughout his entire life a great reader and student. His atten tion was entirely taken up with new ideas concerning inventions, many of which he patented, but he did not possess the practical business discernment and power for capable management which leads to the acquirements of capital. Because of his inventive genius and the concentration of his energies upon the working out of new ideas along mechani cal lines it became necessary that Mrs. Gil lette provide for her family, and when her son, Raymond B., was a small boy she went to Missouri, locating on a farm tbere. Mr. Gillette passed away at the age of eighty- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 437 one, but his widow is still living, at the ad vanced age of eighty-one, and now makes her home in Benton Harbor. In the family were eight children, of whom six are living. One son, Willie, entered the Union army from New York at the age of seventeen years, and was captured and taken as a prisoner to Andersonville, where he died. Those living are as follows : Mrs. Helen J. Dayton is the wife of George W. Dayton, a Civil war vet eran, and she is closely connected with the auxiliary work of the Grand Army of the Republic; Charles is living in Kansas City, Missouri; Herbert resides in Grand Rapids and is vice-president of the Gillette Roller Bearing Company; Walter and Wallace, twins, the former living in Los Angeles, California, and the latter in Albion, Mich igan. Raymond B. Gillette accompanied his mother on her removal to Missouri, but later went to Auburn, New York, where he at tended the public schools, subsequently con tinuing his studies in the normal school, and was for a time a student in Little York, his native city. He gave his attention to his studies through the winter months and in the summer season worked on a farm, thus providing for his own support. At the age of fifteen years, with two of his brothers and his mother, he came to Michigan, settling in Manistee, which was then the center of the great pine industry of the state, from there he entered the Valparaiso (Indiana) busi ness college, and after completing a course in bookkeeping entered the employ of R. G. Peters, who was one of the leading lumber men of that time. His close application, earnest purpose and unremitting diligence won him quick recognition, and he was placed in the general offices, at first as pay master, which was a position of importance since the company employed about fifteen hundred men. Subsequently he became con fidential cashier and had charge of the sales department of the Peters Salt and Lumber Company. When the pine became scarce and the company began cutting other lumber they decided to' establish a distributing yard at Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Mr. Gil lette was placed in that city, where, on the 53rd of February, 1897, he incorporated what is known as the Peters Lumber and Shingle Company, with R. G. Peters as president, H. W. Carey vice president, and R. B. Gillette, as secretary and man ager. The business has since been car ried on successfully at this point. From a most humble position in the employ of Mr. Peters, Mr. Gillette has gradually worked his way upward until he is today one of the most prominent moving factors in the con trol of an extensive business. His labor, keen discernment and business capacity have constituted a strong, directing force and have been an essential element in the success which has attended the firm. Mr. Gillette is a man of resourceful business ability and has not confined his efforts to one line but on the contrary has extended his labors to other fields of activity. He is financially in terested in and is secretary of the Gillette Roller Bearing Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and also vice president and treas urer of the Cheboygan Railroad Company, of which he was one of the promoters upon its organization about two years ago. This company is now building a line in the north ern part of Michigan, extending for sixty miles from Cheboygan to Petoskey. He is also interested in the Grand Rapids Acci dent and Health Insurance Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is secretary and treasurer of the Lakewood Lumber Company of Lakewood, Michigan. In busi ness affairs he is energetic, prompt and nota bly reliable. Tireless energy, keen percep tion, honesty of purpose and a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time are perhaps his chief character istics. * In his political views Mr. Gillette is a stalwart Republican, and has been deeply interested in the success and growth of his party. He served as a member of the County Central Committee while living in Manistee and since coming to Benton Harbor has taken an active part in politics here. Shortly after his arrival here he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term occasioned by the death of an alderman from the first ward, and at the following regular election he was chosen to that position. On the expiration of his term in that office he received the 438 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY nomination for mayor of Benton Harbor, and was elected by the largest majority ever given any candidate for the office. He is now serving for the third term and was nominated by acclamation before the last election. He has always received very large majorities, indicative of his personal popu larity and the unqualified confidence re posed in him by his fellow townsmen. He wished to retire from office on the expiration of his second term, but his friends protested so vigorously against it that he was obliged to again accept the nomination. His ad ministration has stood the test of time. He is not given to making large promises which he cannot keep, but he is watchful of every opportunity for improving the city's wel fare and his understanding of possibilities and needs is penetrative and practical. He has introduced measures for reform and progress and has brought to bear in the dis charge of his public duties the same single ness of purpose and concentration of energy that mark his private business interests. Fraternally he is a prominent Mason, active in the order, in wbich he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a charter member of the Elks lodge at Benton Harbor. Mr. Gillette has one daughter, Gladys J. by a former marriage, and in 1898 was mar ried to Janet J. Stows, of Indianapolis, Indi ana, wbo has one son, Dwight George. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette occupy a prominent social position and the cordial and generous hospi tality of their own home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Gillette is al- was courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally have for him warm regard. His business career has been marked by steady advancement. As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the require ments which are sought in the schools and in books he must essentially formulate, de termine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Gillette has done. Through his unfaltering diligence his care ful study of business situation and his practi cal methods in shaping conditions to his own ends he has gained a gratifying measure of prosperity. Moreover his life is exemplary in all respects, and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanitv, while his own bight moral worth is deserving of the highest com mendation. JOHN D. BURY. No history of Ber rien county would be complete witbou't men tion of Jobn D. Bury, for years a prominent and honored resident here. He came in pioneer times, one of the fearless strivers for the ever receding west, fascinating for its untried dangers as for its possibilities. He was one of the sturdy, brave men. who fought and toiled and hoped and realized in varying measure, leading a life whose story has never nor will be adequately told be cause words cannot reproduce the expe riences which were common to the lot of all pioneers who faced the hardships and dan gers of the frontier. The Bury family is of English lineage His father, John Colebrook Bury, was born in Cheapside, London, on the 6th of March, 1765, and was educated in Dublin, Ireland. In his native country he wedded Dorothea Sherwood, who died in England, and they became the parents of three children. John Colebrook Bury afterward came to the new world, settling in Canada, where for a time he engaged in the practice of medicine. Later, however, he turned his attention to the work of a stone mason, carpenter and millwright. In Pennsylvania he was again married, his second union being with Eliza beth Traver, and it was after this that he sent for the three children of his first mar riage to come to the United States. It was while his parents were living in Pennsylvania that the subject of this review was born on the i8tb of August, 1804, and was given the name of John Darling in honor of one of his father's old classmates. When he was a small boy his parents removed to Kent county, Canada, settling in Ontario, where John C. Bury built the Malcolm Mills, which became the scene of a local war in 1 8 12. He was for many years a prominent representative of industrial life in his sec tion of Canada, and there died at the vener able age of eighty-five years. 'tr£x OS fl$C/, <*y HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 439 The educational privileges * which John Darling Bury received were very limited. He attended school for only six months and possessed only a spelling book, yet he picked up a fair common school education through experience, observation and reading. He was always interested in questions relating to the welfare of his community and the country at large, and he increased in knowl edge as well as in wealth as the years went by. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of fourteen children, all born within twenty-three years. He remained a resident of Canada from his early boyhood days un til 1835, and he started out in life on his own account with a capital of but fifty cents and an axe helve. With the fifty cents he bought an axe blade, and thus equipped started out to hew his fortune. In early manhood he married Miss Martha Freeman Green, also a representative of an old English family. She was born on the 24th of August, 18 10, and they were the parents of three children when they came to Michigan. The year of his arrival was 1835, at which time be took up work in St. Joseph, which was then a little village situated on the flats, the town having not yet been extended to the high bluff. During the first season Mr. Bury was employed at work on the government docks, earning a dollar and a quarter per day and his board, so that in the fall he was enabled to secure a deed to one hundred and twenty acres of government land, his patent being signed by Martin Van Buren, then president of the United States. That land became his homestead in 1837, and he held it under the original patent until his death. It is still in possession of the fam ily. In 1836 he was again in the govern ment employ, and in 1837 he brought his family, consisting of his wife, a daughter and two sons to his new home in Berrien county, Michigan. Unto John and Martha (Green) Bury were born eleven children, but only three of the number reached years of maturity, and the wife and mother passed away on the 27th of August, 1858, at the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Bury's second marriage was with Miss Fanny Byers, and was celebrated in Bainbridge township, this county, on the 1 8th of August, i860. She was born Sep tember 12, 1825, in Livingston county, New York, and was a daughter of Jacob and rien county would be complete without men- to Berrien county two years prior to her marriage to visit her father's brothers' Tobias and Henry Byers, both of Van Buren county, and David Byers of Berrien county. The old Bury homestead is situated three and a half miles east of Benton Harbor on Pear avenue. Mr. Bury added to his orig inal purchase, extending the boundaries of his farm until it embraced two hundred and sixty-four acres of land, of which he placed one hundred and sixty acres under cultiva tion. He planted his first orchard in 1840, and some of the old trees are still in bear ing. He had good improvements upon his farm, including a substantial house and three barns. As his financial resources increased he invested largely in Berrien county prop erty, becoming the owner of eleven hundred and twenty-one acres of land, most of which lay in Benton township. He bought this at an early period in the development of the county, tbe highest price whicb he paid for it being ten dollars per acre. He made the purchase between the years of 1837 and 1858, this being about the last tract of gov ernment land to be had in the county. The only land bought of the government by J. H. Bury was the homestead in 1837. Four hundred acres of the fifteen hundred acres stated was Canadian land. In the work of early development and improvement he took an active and helpful part, aiding in sub duing the«wilderness and settling the fron tier. He was a man of quiet tastes, had no expensive habits, and he was thus enabled to accumulate a handsome fortune as the years passed by. Moreover his labors were of direct and permanent good to the county. He helped erect some of the first buildings in St. Joseph. He was thoroughly reliable in his friendships and honorable in his busi ness relations. He became thoroughly American in spirit and loyally devoted to American customs and institutions. He was prominent and influential in public life in various ways, serving as township treasurer 440 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY for three terms, as supervisor and in other local offices. In his political affiliations he was always a loyal Democrat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party, but was not a politician in the usual sense of office seek ing. He was reared a Presbyterian, and although he did not become a member of the church he lived an upright moral life, and his influence was a valuable factor for good and for progress along various lines leading to substantial improvement in the county. He exemplified in his life many of the sterling principles of Christianity, was considerate of his friends, reliable in business and straightforward at all times, and in his family circle was a devoted hus band and father. The three children of the first marriage who reached mature years were Elizabeth, Freeman and George. The eldest became the second wife of Joseph Caldwell, who in early life came from England to America, and in pioneer times in this county pur chased land north of Benton Harbor on the Paw Paw river. Mrs. Caldwell died at the age of thirty-three years. Freeman Bury, born in 1832, makes his home in Benton township, where he has lived since 1837. George, born in 1834, served throughout the Civil war and afterward removed to Minnesota, where he remained for some time, while later report of his death was re ceived. The children of the second mar riage were: Clellen B., John D. and Elsie I. Clellen Byers Bury was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, and is now a representative farmer of Benton township, making a specialty of the cultivation of melons. The daughter, Elsie, owns a farm on the Territorial road, where she has erected a handsome modern residence. Mr. Bury continued in close connection with business and public interests in the county for about forty-seven years. He was not only one of the pioneer settlers but also belonged to that type of the builder and organizer who followed the trail blazed by the early pioneer. He passed away November 15, 1882, when seventy-eight years of age. Mrs. Fannie Byers Bury, after the death of her husband, removed to Benton Harbor, where she made her home until her death on the 6th of April, 1904. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, whose many good deeds proved her life was nobly lived. JOHN V. PHILLIPS, the only at torney at New Buffalo, or in New Buffalo township, was born in Ontario county, New York, his birthplace being in the township of Bethel, while his natal date is February 17, 1824. He has therefore passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey and his has been an active and honorable career, in which he has merited and enjoyed the good will and trust of his fellowmen. His father, Jerome Phillips, was born in Saratoga, New York, and spent his last years in the home of his son, John V. Phillips, at New Buffalo, where he passed away at the age of eighty-seven. He had followed farming as a life work and was an energetic, enterprising man. He had lost his mother when in his infancy and was left an orphan by the father's death when eight years of age. That he became a suc cessful and prosperous man was due entirely to his own labors and as the years passed by he displayed unremitting diligence and per severance. He married Anna Vanarsdall, who was born in New Jersey and died in Berrien county at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. In their family were eight children, of whom John V. is the sec ond and the only one now living. The others are : Isaac M., who resided at Ridge- way, Niagara county, New York ; Margaret, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Abram I., who spent his last days in Three Oaks, Michigan; Mrs. Mary J. Dean, who died leaving a family; Jerome, who died at the age of five years ; William ; and Lyman T. The last named served in the Civil war, enlisting at President Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand volunteers. He served with the One Hundred and Fifty- first New York Infantry and was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness. He had first enlisted at Laporte, Indiana, for three months' service and on the expiration of that period he went to his old home in New York and enlisted from there, continuing at the front until he gave his life as a sacrifice to his country. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 441 John V. Phillips was a little lad of only three summers wben his parents removed to Monroe county, New York, settling three miles west of Rochester. After three years they went to Shelby, Orleans county, New York, where they resided until 185 1, and Mr. Phillips was thus reared upon a farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He completed his education in the Middle- port Academy in Niagara county, New York, after wbich he successfully engaged in teaching school for fourteen years, devoting thirteen years to that profession in New York and one year in Michigan. In 1856 he came to New Buffalo with his wife and one child and has resided here continuously since. He was married in 1850 to Miss Louisa M. Salisbury, who was born October 27, 1827, in New York, and died October 28, 1905. She was a daughter of Gardner and Polly Salisbury, and the children born of this marriage are as follows : Mary E., who was a successful teacher for twelve or fourteen years and died in the fall of 1905, leaving a husband and two children; Emma A., who was drowned in the river at New Buffalo when eighteen years of age; Edward J., who is a graduate of the Uni versity of Michigan and is a practicing at torney of Chicago; and Inez M., the wife of Walter C. Weed, of New Buffalo. All of the children were provided with excellent educational privileges. A few years after his marriage Mr. Phillips had the misfortune to lose one of his lower limbs and this necessitated his abandonment of farming. He then began the manufacture of furniture at New Buffalo, in which he continued until after the break ing out of the Civil war. Subsequently he took up the study and practice of law, which he continued by himself and also under the direction of a lawyer at Niles, Michigan. He has remained in practice here continu ously since and is the only attorney of New Buffalo township. He has also bought and sold considerable real estate, and at one time was the owner of large and valuable prop erty interests, but has disposed of much of his property to his children. In his political views he is an earnest Republican, having supported the party since casting his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont, since which time he has supported each can didate at the head of the ticket. He was justice of the peace for eighteen consecutive years and he bas attended all of the county and district conventions of his party, doing all in his power to- promote the growth and secure the adoption of Republican principles. He was reared in the faith of the Quaker church or Society of Friends but is not a member. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at New Buffalo and his wife was a member of the Episcopal church here. Dur ing a long residence in Berrien county Mr. Phillips has commanded the respect and con fidence of his fellowmen by reason of an honorable business and professional career, and whatever success he has achieved is attributed entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life without financial as sistance, placing his dependence in the safe and substantial qualities of energy, determi nation and honest effort. AUGUST F. BLIESMER. The Teu tonic race has been an important element in the civilizing influence of the world. The sons of the fatherland have gone to every section of the globe, carrying with them the spirit of enterprise and determination which have ever been manifest in their native country and which have done much for progress and improvement elsewhere. Mr. Bliesmer is among the representatives of the German-American citizenship of the United States. His birth occurred in Holstefti, Germany, November 13, 1837, his parents being Peter and Wilhelmina (Westfall) Bliesmer, who were likewise natives of that country. The father served in the German army and died in early manhood. The mother came to the new world after the arrival of her son Aug ust, and died in Laporte, Indiana, about a year ago. In their family were four chil dren : Markus H., who was engaged in the shoe business in Laporte, Indiana, but died about a year ago ; Frederick, who also passed away in Laporte; August F., of this review; and Anna, the wife of Christ Brandt, of Laporte. 442 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Augnst F. Bliesmer spent the first twenty-two years of his life in his native country and was a student in school until fifteen years of age. He afterward learned the shoemaker's trade and in accordance with the laws of his native country he served for three years in the German army. In 1 88 1, when a young man of twenty-four years, he crossed the Atlantic, making the voyage in the fall. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast, however, but proceeded at once into the interior of the country, set tling in Laporte, Indiana, where his grand father resided. He worked on the railroad for a year and a half, after which he removed to New Buffalo, Berrien county, Michigan, and established a shoe store, manufacturing shoes for the local trade and also carrying ready made goods. He has continued as a shoe merchant of this place since with the exception of two years spent in Laporte, Indiana, where he was connected with his brother in the conduct of a shoe store.. He now handles a well, selected line of shoes, men's furnishing goods and jewelry. He has a large stock and the tasteful arrange ment of his stock combined with reasonable prices and straightforward business dealings have secured to him a gratifying patronage and made him one of the prosperous mer chants of the village. Mr. Bliesmer is independent in politics. He was, however, elected township treas urer and is now serving for the third term in that ' position. At the first election he was the nominee of the Republican party and at the last two elections has been nomi nated by the Democracy. Both parties recognize his ability for office and his promptness and efficiency in the discharge of his duties. He has held various village offices and has been a member of the board of education for the past nine years, the public schools finding in him a warm friend. In New Buffalo, on the 24th of April, 1884, Mr. Bliesmer was married to Miss Caroline Mess, a native of New Buffalo and a daughter of Peter Mess. Three chil dren grace this union : Lawrence, Olga and August. The parents are members of the German Evangelical church and Mr. Blies mer belongs to Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., and to Lodge No. 231, K. O. T. M. The hope that led him to seek a home in the new world has been more than realized, for in this country he found the advantages which he sought and by their utilization has steadily worked his way upward until he is now in control of a gratifying business and is ranked among the enterprising mer chants and progressive citizens of the village in which he resides. DR. HENRY V. TUTTON, physi cian and surgeon, founder of Mercy Hospital and also figuring prominently in local political circles and in pub lic affairs in Benton Harbor, has come to be recognized as one of the representa tive men of the city, his activity touching many lines of general interest and improve ment. He was born in Tunkhannock, Penn sylvania, in 1858, a son of George S. and Sarah (Henry) Tutton. The father, who was born in England, became a prominent lawyer of Pennsylvania and a distinguished citizen of that state, representing his dis trict in the general assembly and otherwise molding public thought and action. He possessed also more than ordinary musical talent. His death occurred in Pennsylvania in 1866, .when he was forty-eight years of age, while his wife, who was born in 1827, survived him until 1895. In their family were four children : Mrs. Bertha Keller, who is living in Denver, Colorado; Charles H., a civil engineer, residing at Buffalo, New York; Arthur W., a contractor of Buffalo; and Henry V. In the state of his nativity Dr. Tutton spent a portion of his youth and then re moved to Blairstown, New Jersey, where he supplemented his early education by a course in the collegiate institute of that city. He had previously been a student in the in stitute at Easton, Pennsylvania, pursuing his academic work as a preparation for a collegiate course, but in the financial panic that swept over the country culminating in what has since been known in history as Black Friday, his family met with financial reverses, and Dr. Tutton was thereby unable to pursue a college course as he had antici pated. In 1877 he started westward, mak- HENRY V. TUTTON HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 443 ing his way to Michigan and for a time was engaged in farming in Pipestone town ship. He possessed a studious nature, how ever, and was ambitious to acquire an educa tion and to progress along lines of intel lectual development. He therefore utilized all of his leisure hours for study and read ing until he had prepared himself for col legiate work. Determining upon the prac tice of medicine as a profession, he entered the Chicago Medical College, which was founded by Dr. N. S. Davis at Chicago, Illinois, and from that institution was grad uated in 1882. Dr. Tutton at once located for practice at South Bend, Indiana, where he remained for two years, and in 1886 he came to Ben ton Harbor, where he established himself in practice. He has met with much success and is now making a specialty of surgery, devoting much of his time to that branch of the profession. He is highly esteemed by his brethren of the medical fraternity as well as by the general public, the concensus of opinion being very favorable concerning his skill and capability. He is the author of all of the laws pertaining to health in the laws and rules of the board of health, having drawn and drafted most of the measures pertaining to that body. His patronage has steadily grown in volume and importance and in connection with his large practice he founded, in 1899, the Mercy Hospital at Benton Harbor, which for five years he con ducted successfully on his own account. He then turned it over to the board of trustees. This is one of the creditable institutions of the city. In his private practice he directs his efforts along modern scientific lines, keeping in touch with the most advanced thought of the profession, his experience and reading constantly broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency. Dr. Tutton is also regarded as a repre sentative citizen of Benton Harbor because of his activity along lines relating directly to the city's management and its public in terests. He acted as alderman for the Third ward for two years and was the first health officer of the city at the time when the position was instituted when the village was incorporated under city government. For three years he filled that position. He is also one of the directors of the city library. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he is chairman of the Republican city committee at this time. He does everything in his power to insure the success and promote the growth of his party and at the same time is too broad- minded to sacrifice general interests to par tisan measures. He is affiliated with the Masonic bodies, also the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Dr. Tutton is a man of strong native mentality and broad intellectual acquirements and in his consideration of public affairs is penetrative and practical. His labors, both profession ally and of a public nature, have been crowned with success and Benton Harbor claims him as one of its representative and honored men. j " PETER FREDERICK MESS, to whom has been vouchsafed a well-earned retirement from active labor, is now living in New Buffalo in the enjoyment of rest from arduous business cares. For many years he led a very active life and his dili gence and perseverance were crowned with a very desirable measure of prosperity. He was born in the city of Oldenburg in Hol- stein, Germany, September 9, 1838, and there resided for twenty-eight years. His parents were Jacob and Louisa (Vicker- man) Mess, who spent their entire lives in Denmark, or in that section which at one time belonged to the Danish king but after ward became a part of Germany. They died when their son Peter was only fourteen years of age. In their family were six chil dren, four sons and two daughters, of whom Peter is the eldest. Two brothers, William and Dielloff, came to the United States and the latter died in New Buffalo but the former is now living in South Dakota. Peter F. Mess acquired his education in schools of his native country to the age of sixteen, years. He afterward sailed the ocean for fifteen years on a merchantman and visited many ports on the eastern hemis phere and also sailed to various United States harbors. In 1864 he enlisted in Den- 444 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY mark's marine service for war against Ger many. It was in that war that Denmark lost the part of the country in which our subject was born. He was a man of thirty years when he determined to try his for tune in the United States, sailing for New York in 1868. He at once made his way westward, bound for St. Louis, Missouri, but his funds gave out before reaching that destination and necessity compelled him to locate at Laporte, Indiana. He remained there for some time and was first employed at farm labor for three months. He after ward came to New Buffalo, Berrien county, and was employed on the harbor. He after ward aided in building the Chicago & Lake Shore and West Michigan Railroad, now the Pere Marquette Railroad, and when this task was completed secured a position as brakesman on the road. Not long after ward, however, he was married and took up his abode in New Buffalo, where he has resided continuously since. He continued in the railroad service as boiler maker and car repairer for twenty years, becoming the head man or foreman of the work. He was thus actively associated with industrial" in terests of tbe community for a long period and in this way gained a start in life. In 1876 he purchased a saloon, but employed otbers to conduct the business, which he carried on for twenty-six years. For some time now he has been retired from active business cares and is enjoying a well-earned rest in a pleasant home in New Buffalo. As the years have gone by he has made judicious investments in real estate and now owns three good business blocks on Main street, which he erected and which stand as a monument to his enterprise and labor. Mr. Mess was married in 1870 in New Buffalo to Mrs. Lizzie Timm, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1846, and came to the United States with her par ents in childhood. She was a widow at the time of her marriage to Mr. Mess and she died in New Buffalo in 1896. Mr. Mess belongs to tbe German Luth eran church and gives his political sup port to the Republican party, baving advo cated its principles since becoming an Amer ican citizen. He has held many of the minor township and village offices and has always been found faithful to every trust reposed in him. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society in New Buffalo and is also a member of the German Working Society. He found in the new world good business opportunities and in this country where labor is un hampered by caste or class he has steadily worked his way upward and is now in pos session of a comfortable competence and property interests which return to him a very gratifying income. ABRAM DEUEL, who is engaged in general farming on section 20, New Buffalo township, was born in Niagara county, New York, October 6, 1852, and is a representa tive of one of the old families of tbat state. His paternal grandfather, Abram Deuel, spent his entire life in New York and the father, Abner H. Deuel, was a native of Dutchess county, New York, born March 2, 181 1. He continued to reside in the Em pire State until his removal to Michigan, when he took up his abode upon a farm in New Buffalo township, Berrien county, giv ing his attention to general agricultural pursuits here up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, when he was about eighty-three years of age. In his political faith he was a Republican and in religious belief was a Friend or Quaker. He died upon the old homestead in a community where he had long resided and where all who knew him respected him for his genuine worth. In early manhood he wedded Jane Duncan, a daughter of David Duncan. She was born, in Canada, August 21, 1816, and died April 30, 1906. The marriage of the parents was celebrated in Canada and they became the parents of six children : Charles, who is living in northern Michigan ; Joseph, of New Buffalo township; William Austin, who is living in Denver, Colorado; Hannah, the wife of Lyman Barnes, of Virginia; David Titus, whose home is in Shelby, Michigan; and Abram. In taking up the personal history of Abram Deuel we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in New Buffalo township and Berrien county, for he has resided here continuously since HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 445 the spring of i860, having come with his parents from New York to Michigan when but eight years of age. He has through the passing years made his home on a farm of eighty acres on section 20, New Buffalo township, where he is now carrying on gen eral agricultural pursuits, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and keeping his farm in excellent condition by reason of the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. In 1905 Mr. Deuel was united in mar riage to Miss Jennie Isham, who was born in Laporte county, Indiana, and is a daugh ter of James and Nervina (Benson) Isham, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Indiana. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deuel have been born two children, Ralph Howard and Marian. Mr. Deuel exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, with which he has affili ated since age conferred upon him the voting privilege. He has served as a school officer for a number of years, and the cause of education finds in bim a warm and stalwart friend, whose efforts in its behalf are practi cal and resultant. He belongs to New Buf falo lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., and is a faithful follower of the teachings of that organization. CHRISTIAN TIMM. The farming interests of Berrien county find a worthy representative in Christian Timm, whose home is on section 21, New Buffalo town ship, where he is devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits, working persistently and energetically to provide a comfortable living for himself and family. He was born in the township where he still resides on the 12th of October, 1861, and has spent his entire life here. His father was Christian Timm, a native of Mecklen burg, Germany, who died in Berrien county on the 1 2th of August, 1902, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. In early man hood he wedded Miss Sophia Singnets, also a native of Mecklenburg, and in the year 185 1 he came to the United States with his wife and two children. They did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but came at once to Berrien county, settling in New Buffalo, where the fatber spent his remaining days. He had followed teaming in Germany, but in the new world turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and continued to till the soil for many years or until his life's labors were ended in death. He had served in the German army for two years. In America he was a loyal citizen, interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his adopted country and local progress and im provement. His wife died on the 12th of April, 1899, at the age of seventy-one years. In their family were three children, but Elizabeth and Charles are now deceased, leaving Christian Timm the only surviving member of the family. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Christian Timm in the days of his boyhood and youth. At the usual age he entered the public schools and continued his studies until about six teen years of age, after which he worked at farm labor. He was also employed on the railroad for a year or two. He was engaged in farming continuously with the exception of the two years spent on the railroad and has seventy-seven acres on section 16 and 21, New Buffalo township, his home being on the latter section. He makes a specialty of the production of fruit and has fine or chards, from which he annually harvests good crops. He also carries on general farming and everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, showing his careful supervision and enterprise. He is practical in his judgment of business con ditions and his energy has been a strong factor in his success. On the 8th of December, 1878, was cele brated the marriage of Christian Timm and Miss Carrie Batzell, who was born in New Buffalo, March 29, 1862, and is a daughter of Augustus and Carrie (Bliss) Batzell, the former a native of Hesse, Germany, and the latter of France. Mr. and Mrs. Timm have become the parents of a son and daugh ter: William, who married February 3, 1906, Myrtle Howard and lives at Grand Rapids, a fireman on the Pere Marquette Railroad; and Lena, the wife of John B. Sterns, of Springville township, Laporte 446 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY county, Indiana. They have one child, Wil liam Sterns. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Timm has given his politi cal allegiance to the Democracy, but has never been an aspirant for office. He be longs to the Knights of the Maccabees and to the Lutheran Church and his life is thus characterized by principles which every where command respect and admiration. He is well known in this community, where his entire life has been passed and where he so directed his efforts as to win the good will and confidence of his fellowmen and at the same time gain a gratifying measure of success in his business. JOHN H. ROHDE is the owner of a well improved and valuable farm on section 21, New Buffalo township. He is a native of Holstein, Germany, born on the 16th of August, 1844, and his parents, Lex and Marie (Renn) Rohde; spent their entire lives in that country. Unto them were born seven children : Annie, who is now living in Chicago ; Margaret, a resident of Chicago ; Mary, whose home is in Seattle, Washing ton; Emma and Wilhelm, also of Chicago; and Heinrich, who is yet living at the old family home in Holstein. There were also several children in the family who died in early life. John H. Rohde, the eldest child and the immediate subject of this review, was reared to farm labor and at the usual age of six years entered the public schools, wherein he continued his studies until sixteen years of age. He came to the United States in 1866, when a young man of twenty-two years, making the journey alone. From the Atlantic coast he made his way direct to Chicago, Illinois, and during the first two years of his residence in this country worked as a general laborer, principally being em ployed in the lumber yards. He' then began teaming, which he followed for five years in the employ of others, after which he be gan teaming on his own account and found this a profitable business, having seven or eight teams. He is still engaged in the business, although his son now has charge of it. Ten years ago Mr. Rohde purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and forty-seven acres of rich and. produc tive land. He employed others to operate it until about five years ago, when he located thereon and has since carried on farming on his own account. He has a well improved place with good buildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He has spent over two thousand dollars in improving the property and now has an excellent farm. His attention is given to the cultivation of the fields and he raises good crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. His whole time is now given to general agricul tural pursuits. In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rohde and Miss Rosa Verch, a native of Prussia. They had two children, Henry of Chicago, and Josephine. For his second wife Mr. Rohde chose Anna Donath, a na tive of Prussia, who came to America with her parents in 1873. Five children grace this marriage: John, of Chicago; Anna; Walter, at home; Emma; and Arthur. Since becoming a naturalized American citi zen Mr. Rohde has given his political sup port to the Republican party, and is inter ested in local progress and national advance ment, displaying the sterling traits of char acter which lead to business success and also gain the recognition of those who have re gard for uprightness and integrity in busi ness affairs. He has prospered as the years have gone by and is now in possession of a good property, from which he derives an excellent annual income. THEODORE SPADING. In New Buffalo township there is a large percentage of citizens of German birth or of German parentage and they have founded here a community of substantial, enterprising peo ple, who, planting the seeds of civilization as developed by the Teutonic race, have made this one of the progressive sections of Berrien county and western Michigan. Mr. Spading of this review was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 6th of August, 1833, and was the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children, whose parents were Charles and Caroline (Behling) Spading, who spent their entire lives in the father- JAMES F. HIGBEE HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 447 land. Of the children of the family Fred is now deceased ; Fredericka is the second in order of birth; Marie, Sophia and Caroline are all residents of Germany; Theodore is the next younger; and Carl is living in St. Joseph, Michigan. There were also four other children who died in early life. In the schools of his native country Mr. .Spading of this review acquired his educa tion, pursuing his studies until fifteen years of age, when he learned the miller's trade. He followed that pursuit for fifteen years, employed in different places as a millwright and flour maker. He traveled for seven or eight years, working as a journeyman and then, .hoping to enjoy better business oppor tunities in the new world, made arrange-. ments to leave the fatherland and came to America. In 1861 he crossed the Atlantic to Canada, after which he removed to Wayne county, Michigan, settling near Dearborn. In the fall of the same year, however, he came to Berrien county and purchased his present farm in New Buffalo township, be coming the owner at that time of forty acres on section 15. Later he added forty .acres and again another tract of eighty acres, -so that he now has one hundred and sixty acres in New Buffalo township and in addi tion forty acres just across the boundary line in Indiana. It was woodland when he made the purchase, but he has placed most of it under cultivation and he occupies a good brick residence which he built. He •is giving his attention to general farming, placing his fields under a high state of culti vation and harvesting therefrom good crops. He is practical and progressive in bis methods and his work is carried on in ac cordance with modern ideas of progressive farming. Mr. Spading was married in Canada in 1 86 1 to Miss Fredericka Zorn, a native of Prussia, Germany, and they became the parents of fourteen children, of whom six are now deceased, although nine reached years of maturity, Charles having died at the age of nineteen years. The other mera- Ders of the family are Ida, the wife of Rudolph Timm, a resident of Michigan Gity ; Robert, who is living in Iowa ; Frank, of Minnesota; Rosa, the wife of Albert Barth, who makes his home near Chicago; Albert and Ernest, both of Iowa; Caroline, the wife of Dowerick Ludwig, of Michi gan City; and Herman, who is engaged in railroading in the west. Mr. Spading votes with the Democracy where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot, regarding only the capability of the candi date and his fitness for office. He belongs to the German Lutheran church and throughout an active business life has dis played sterling qualities, his integrity and , trustworthiness proving important elements in his business success in addition to his untiring effort and perseverance. He has now resided in Berrien county for forty years, witnessing many changes here as the county has been reclaimed for the purpose of civilization and transformed from a com paratively wild and unimproved district into one of rich fertility, in which' the work of agricultural and horticultural development is carried steadily forward, while the towns and cities are alive with all of the commercial and industrial interests which have been the factors in the upbuilding of the older east. JAMES F. HIGBEE.' No state can boast of a more heroic barid' of pioneers than Michigan. In their intelligence, capability and genius they are far above the pioneers of the eastern states, and in their daring and heroism they were equal to' fhe Missouri arid Arkansas argpnauts. Their persever ance, hardships and (earnest labors have re sulted in establishing " one of the foremost of any of the republics" in America, the pos sibilities of which are as great as those pos sessed by any of her sister states. The band of pioneers is fast passing away and yet here and there remains one who has been an active factor in the early develop ment and progress of Michigan and who lives a revered patriarch of his community, his memory forming a connecting link be tween the primitive past and the progressive present. Such a man is James F. Higbee, a retired farmer, now residing in Benton Harbor. He came to southwestern Michigan 448 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY during the early epoch in its development and has since been a witness of the many changes that have occurred. A native of Benton township, Ontario county, New York, Mr. Higbee was born on the 7th of May, 181 8, and is descended from the Englisb nobility, tracing his an cestry back in direct line to the Prince of Orange. His grandfather, James Higbee, was a native of New York, in which state James Higbee, Jr., father of our subject, was born and reared. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Miss Mary Finton and on coming west to Michigan es tablished his home in Berrien county, where he resided until called to the home beyond. James F. Higbee was a youth of eight een years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state. He acquired a practical education in the common schools and for six months was a student in the high school at Niles. In the spring of 1839 he went to Louisa county, Iowa, and there assisted in the early pioneer develop ment, spending the summer months in break ing prairie land for three dollars per acre. During the winter seasons for two years he engaged in teaching school and was thus connected with the material advancement and intellectual progress of the community. In the fall of 1841, however, he returned to Michigan and secured an unimproved farm in this county, where he made his home con tinuously for about forty-four years or until March, 1885, when he took up his abode in Benton Harbor. He has since dealt in real- estate here, and in 1887 he erected the Hig bee Hotel. His name is closely interwoven with the annals of this section of the state, for he has not only witnessed its develop ment but has been an active participant in many of the events which have molded its course and shaped its policy. He was one of the commissioners appointed to superin tend the construction of the Benton Harbor canal and rendered efficient service in car rying forward to successful completion this plan. On the 30th of September, 1841, oc curred the marriage of James F. Higbee and Miss Mary Lewin, who was born in Ohio, and at the age of eleven years went to Louisa county, Iowa, with her parents, John A. and Salome Lewin. They traveled life's journey together for more tban a half cen tury and were then separated by the death of the wife in 1895. Unto them have been born nine children, of whom six are living: Amanda M., the wife of William Hill; Mary A., who married W. H. Pike and is deceased; John Calvin; Nancy J., the wife of John D. Thompson; Emily H., the wife of James M. Cunningham; Ida J., who mar ried Henry C. Lain; Eliza, deceased; Cap- itula L., and Perry, deceased. In November, 1841, Mr. Higbee took his bride to his farm in the midst of the forest in Benton township and they began their domestic life in a little log cabin." He had not a single dollar and they had to go in debt in order to secure provisions enough to carry them through the coming year. Flour and pork were very high and all dry goods and other merchandise brought what now seems exorbitant prices. The young couple, however, possessed stout hearts and willing hands and although their capital was extremely limited they were determined to make a good home and Mr. Higbee began clearing the fields. It was an arduous task, so that his life was a strenuous one in those early days, but labor eventually finds its true reward, and such has been the case with Mr. Higbpe. He found that the soil produced bountifully when carefully culti vated. His first crop constituted four hun dred bushels of potatoes raised from a single acre and which he sold the next spring at one dollar per bushel. From four acres planted to corn he gathered about two hun dred bushels, which he sold for seventy-five cents per bushel. He also raised about fifteen bushels of spring wheat. The first year by rigid economy Mr. Higbpe was able to have a balance of two hundred and fifty dollars. Thus he struggled on, his capital increasing year by year until the hardships and privations of pioneer life have given way before the comforts of an advancing civilization. In those early days there were wild bears and wolves, which were very troublesome, committing many depredations in the farmyards. On one occasion Mr. Hig bee succeeded in capturing in a trap the king HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 449 leader of the wolves and the others fled from the district. He found great pleasure in hunting and had ample opportunity to indulge his love of the sport. He frequently tells of his first experience in shooting a deer. He raised his gun, fired and the deer fell. He then jumped on the prostrate ani mal with the intention of cutting its throat, but before he had done so the deer had brought up his hind feet and had caught them in the side of his clothing, tearing his garments to shreds. While the experience was a little painful, yet to him the suffering was of far less moment than the important question of how to reach home minus cloth ing. The difficulty, however, was solved by finding some tborns which he used for pins to fasten together the remaining shreds of his garments. That was not his last deer hunt, however, for in the early days it was no unusual thing to find a dish of venison upon the pioneer table. Indians were numerous in those sections of Michi gan and were often very troublesome, com mitting thefts and constantly menacing the property and lives of the white men. The years went by and pioneer conditions passed away, as the country became thickly settled and this region was reclaimed for the uses of the white race. Mr. Higbee continued his labors at farming with untiring energy and persistence and as the years went by he added to his capital and possessions until he had a valuable and well improved tract of land, while at the present time his pos sessions are sufficient to enable him to enjoy a well earned rest in Benton Harbor. Politically a stalwart Republican he gives his influence to the party and is deeply interested in its success. He served as the first treasurer of his township, hold ing the office for several terms. He was also justice of the peace for several terms and often was the incumbent in three or four offices at the same time, the duties of which he discharged with the same fidelity and loy alty that he manifested in the care of his pri vate business interests. He was for many years notary public and whether in office or out of it he always gave hearty co-operation to every movement for the welfare of Berrien county. It was Mr. Higbee who purchased 29 the ground and erected the buildings where in was held the first agricultural fair of Ber rien county, and for four successive terms he was president of its board of directors. The splendid success of the fair was due to his efforts more than to the labors of any other man. He has always stood as the champion of progress and improvement, and Berrien county acknowledges its indebt edness to him for his far-reaching labors in its behalf. During the period of the Civil war he was commissioned captain of a com pany, which was formed in St. Ives, Michi gan, in 1864, but on account of serious ill ness in his family he was unable to take the command and the war closed before he found it possible to leave home, owing to the conditions that existed in his own house hold. For his second wife Mr. Higbee chose Sarah E. Glover, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Dozier) Glover, to whom he was married September 15, 1896. His second wife was born in St. Cliarles, Missouri. Her father was a farmer by occupation and spent much of his life in Wisconsin. He was born, however, in Maryland and at the age of twenty-eight years went to Missouri, where he had a large farm of two hundred acres. His wife was a native of Lexington, Ken tucky, and her father was a prominent phy sician of that state. Mr. Glover served as a soldier in the war of 18 12 under command of Commodore Perry. In his fraternal relations Mr. Higbee is a Mason, belonging to Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M. He holds member ship injne Christian church as did his first wife, and is interested in the promotion of moral development in the county. He has now passed the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey and is one of the most vener able and bonorable citizens of Berrien county. Looking back over the past and noting the conditions which were to be met here in the early days, the county certainly owes a debt of gratitude to those who braved the hardships and privations of pio neer life and promoted the moral, intel lectual and material advancement of this portion of the state. The work of the hardy pioneers is nearly complete. They have 45<> HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY helped to build an empire which is an ex cellent monument to their labors, but though they are one by one passing away their memory will forever remain green among the friends who have loved them and ap preciated their efforts. In the life record of James F. Higbee we find a rare combination of man's best qualities. He possesses in a high degree practical business sagacity, charity for the shortcomings of others, gen erosity to those less favorjed than himself and is withal the soul of honor and hon esty. He has known but one method in business or politics — straightforwardness and open dealing and a genial, courteous manner has readily won and retained the confidence and friendship of those with whom he has been associated through the long years of his residence in Berrien county. FRITZ L. KLESS, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits on section 14, New Buffalo township, was born in the village of New Buffalo, Berrien county, on the 9th of April, 1857, and has spent his entire time in this township, his attention throughout the period of his busi ness career being given to general farming. He is a son of Fritz Kless, Sr., who, as the name indicates, was of German birth, hav ing first opened his eyes to the light of day in Mecklenburg on tbe 19th day of April, 1827. He spent his youth in his native country and in 1855 came to the new world, being then a young man of twenty-eight years. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the in terior of the country and took up his abode in Berrien county. He spent his remaining days here upon a farm and died in 1897 when in the seventieth year of his age. He was drafted for service with the Union army near the close of the Civil war and was a member of Company G, Ninth Michi gan Regiment. His political views were in accord with the principles of the Republican party and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. He was married in Ger many to Miss Sophia Roder, also a native of Mecklenburg, born March 13, 1820. She survived her husband for about eight years, passing away September 9, 1905. Fritz L. Kless of this review is their only child. He has, however, a half sister, Mary Kruger, of New Buffalo, who was born of the mother's first marriage. The days of his boyhood and youth were quietly passed by Mr. Kless, who has al ways lived in New Buffalo township, spend ing the greater part of his life upon the farm which is now his home. It was taken as timber land and had to be cleared before it could be cultivated. Most of it, however, is now under cultivation. There is a good house upon the place and substantial out buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Mr. Kless was associated with his father in business in the development of the fields and in stock raising and in his business in terests has been attended with gratifying success. He now has one hundred and twenty acres Of land situated on sections 13 and 14, his home being on the latter sec tion. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and substantial in character and he is a reliable and ener getic business man, ambitious for success and thus working untiringly toward that end. On the 20th of December, 1904, Mr. Kless married Miss Alma Guener, who was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents a short time before her marriage. One child has been born of this union, Fritz, whose birth occurred on the 24th of February, 1906. Mr. Kless votes with the Republican party, and, as every true American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to cast an intelligent ballot and give a reason for the political faith that is in him. He be longs to the Lutheran church at New Buf falo and his name is on the membership rolls of New Buffalo Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F. Having always resided in the town ship which is now his home, he is well known here and has gained many friends who esteem him for the possession of those qualities which work for upright manhood and for good citizenship. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 45i JOHN C. SCHWENK, residing in New Buffalo township on section 19, where he owns a well improved and valuable farm property, his total acreage amounting to three hundred acres, is one of the native sons of New York, his birth having oc curred in Erie county about six miles from the city of Buffalo, on the 19th of August, 1849. The old bome place, however, is now included within the corporate limits of that city. His parents, John and Eliza beth (Reuss) Schwenk, were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and were there reared and married, after which they sailed for the United States. They landed at New Orleans in 1848, at the time of a cholera epidemic there, and Mr. Schwenk be came ill with the disease, but recovered. He afterward proceeded northward to Chicago by boat and found the site of the present metropolis nothing but a mud hole, which to him seemed so unattractive and distaste ful that he would not remain there and went instead to Buffalo, New York. He had learned in early life the trades of a cooper and brewer and soon after reaching Buffalo he turned his attention to farming, remain ing there for five years. On the expiration of that period he went to Grand Island, New York, and in 1857 he came to Michi gan, settling in Berrien county. He com menced life here in the timber with sixty- four acres of land, and for some time con ducted a boarding house and saloon. He also handled much timber and his varied business interests brought him a good liv ing. He continued to make his home in Berrien county until his death, which oc curred September 22, 1869, when he was forty-nine years of age, his birth having occurred April 16, 1820. In his family were ten children : John C, of this review ; Philipena, the wife of Jacob L. Edinger, of New Buffalo township; Henry C, who con trols extensive business interests and trav els quite largely, being now on the Pacific coast, although his home is in Berrien county; Mary, who died in 1864; Elizabeth; Louisa ; Robert ; George ; Jacob, who is con ducting a saloon in New Buffalo; and Emma, who married and died, leaving three children, her eldest son now living with John C. Schwenk of this review. The mother of our subject, who was born June 28, 1828, still resides in this county. John C. Schwenk came to New Buffalo witb his parents in 1857, the family reach ing their destination on the 20th of June. He has resided continuously since in New Buffalo township, his parents settling on a farm four miles southeast of the town, their place being in the midst of the forest, not even a road having been laid at that time. Being the eldest of ten- children it was necessary that he assist in the support of the family and in providing for his own wants, and when only ten years of age he began driving oxen. He aided in the ar duous task of clearing his father's land and developing a new farm, upon which he re mained until the fall of 1864, when his father took up his abode in the town, while Mr. Schwenk of this review continued to operate the farm. Four children of the family had died of scarlet fever on the farm and one died in New Buffalo, all passing away within a year. Following the removal of the family to New Buffalo, John C. Schwenk remained alone on the farm, keep ing bachelor's hall until the winter, when he, too, took up his abode in the town. He handled timber for his father, who was making shipments to Chicago. The fathei died in the year 1869. His mother and un cle had just returned from a visit to Europe at the time of the father's death and John C. Schwenk then took his mother onto the farm, comprising one hundred and ten acres of land. He continued to cultivate and im prove that property until his marriage. His mother still survives and is yet living in New Buffalo. Mr. Schwenk had eighty acres of timber land which his father had given him and which he cleared and improved. He bought an additional one hundred and ten acres, where he now resides on section 19, New Buffalo township. He also has one hun dred and ten acres on section 24 of the old homestead and eighty acres in Indiana, where his eldest son now resides, so that his total holdings comprise three hundred 452 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY acres, all of which is under cultivation with the exception of a small tract of ten acres. Mr. Schwenk has cleared the entire amount and has a well improved and valuable place, giving his attention to general farming and the raising of stock. He also has three acres of apples upon his place and his or chard is a productive one, returning him good crops. Mr. Schwenk was married in 1872 to Miss Barbara Gropp, who was born in San dusky, Ohio, June 5, 1848, a daughter of Frederick and Barbara Gropp, who were na tives of Baden, Germany, and on coming to the United States settled in Ohio, whence they afterward removed to Indiana and later to Michigan, spending their last days in Berrien county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schwenk were born two sons : Charles F., who is residing on his father's farm in In diana ; and John R., at home. In his political views Mr. Schwenk has been a lifelong Democrat and is now serv ing his ninth term as supervisor of the township. He had filled the office for five terms, after which he resigned and took a trip to Louisiana, where he spent the winter. Following his return he was again chosen to the office and is now at this time serving for the fourth consecutive term. He was township treasurer for three terms and commissioner for five years. For thirty- five consecutive years he has been school director of district No. 4. He has served as delegate to the various county conven tions and has done all in his power to pro mote the growth and insure the success of his party. He is a charter member of the Maccabees Tent, No. 231, at New Buffalo, and he was reared in the Lutheran faith and helped to build the church in New Buf falo, but is not a member. He has been honorable and straightforward in all his business dealings and has labored diligently and energetically to win success that he might provide his family with a comforta ble living. He has prospered in his under takings and as the years have gone by he has also enjoyed to the full extent the re spect and trust of his fellowmen, as has been manifest by the many times in which he has been elected to public office. JOHN STUCK. The attractiveness of Berrien county as a place of residence is indicated by tbe fact that many of her native sons have remained here and have become successful business men. Among this number is John Stuck, who was born February 27, 1859, on the farm on which he now resides on section 12, New Buffalo township. Here he has made his home throughout his entire life, giving his atten tion to general agricultural pursuits, and his carefully directed business labors are resulting in the acquirement of very desira ble prosperity. He is the son of Hans Stuck, who was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1833, and came when a young man alone to America, being at that time about twenty- one years of age. He made his way direct to New Buffalo and spent his remaining days upon a farm in Berrien county, passing away here when sixty-eight years of age. He owned sixty acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, becoming one of the active and energetic agricultur ists of the communtiy. His political allegi ance was given to the Democracy, and he belonged to the Lutheran church. He was married in this county to Miss Lena Friece, who was born in Holstein in 1843 and came to the United States in early womanhood, spending her remaining days here, her death occurring when she was forty years of age. In the family were eight children : Henry, now a resident of Peoria, Illinois; John, of this review; Anna and Charles, both deceased; Mary, the wife of Henry Forsome, of Chicago; Ellen, the wife of Frank Swartz, of Soutb Bend, Indi ana; Rosa, of Virden, Illinois; and Louisa, deceased. Mr. Stuck, whose name introduces this record, was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, giving his attention to the work of the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he acquired his education in the public schools. After leav ing school he gave his entire attention to the work of the home farm and eventually bought forty acres of the old homestead on section 12, New Buffalo township. In ad dition to this he owns eighty acres on sec tion 7, and thirty acres on section 18 of the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 453 same township, so that his landed possessions aggregate one hundred and fifty acres. He carries on general farming, raising various cereals, and he has upon his place good buildings and modern equipments, using the latest improved machinery in the care of the fields and the harvesting of the crops. He has altogether one hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation and his farm is very productive. In 1888 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stuck and Miss Dora Schultz, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and came to the United States with her parents when eighteen years of age. Her father is Frederick Scbultz, of Indiana. Three children grace this mar riage: Fred, Irving and Edna, all yet with their parents. Mr. Stuck has always supported the Democracy, but has not been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He served for four years as a school officer but other wise has held no public or political positions, preferring to concentrate his energies up on business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He belongs to New Buffalo Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., and holds membership in tbe Lutheran church, and the tenets of the society and the teach ings of the church are permeating influences in his life, making him a man of upright character and genuine worth. THOMAS H. MARTIN, who for twenty-eight years was proprietor of the Martin House at Three Oaks, is now living retired, for his activity in former years se cured to him a goodly bank account, so that his income is sufficient to enable him to enjoy a well-earned rest. He was born near Brantville, Ontario, Canada, on the 10th of February, 1844, and was only four years of age at the time of his father's death. With his widowed mother he then removed to St. Lawrence county, New York, the family home being established near Ogdensburg. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. His brother, James, became a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, and died at Memphis, Tennessee, while in the service of his country. Between the ages of four and ten years Thomas H. Martin resided with his wid owed mother in St. Lawrence county, New York, near Ogdensburg, and then went to Batavia, Illinois, where he resided for seven years or until after the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. He then removed to Furnaceville, Indiana, with his mother and was principally employed as a teamster un til he enlisted in the Union army in August, 1862, becoming a member of Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Vol unteer Infantry, under command of Col. George B. Hoag. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, in the 'engagement at Little Rock, Arkansas, and in a fight south of Memphis, Tennessee, beside many others of minor importance. He served altogether for two years and ten months and was taken prisoner at Eastport, Tennessee, after which he remained for six months in the rebel military prison at Cahaba, Alabama. He continued with his command until hon orably discharged on the 6th of June, 1865. when with a most creditable military rec ord he returned to his home in Indiana. When the war was over and the coun try no longer needed his aid Mr. Martin en gaged in farming in the Hoosier state, hav ing purchased a tract of land while in the army. There he carried on general agri cultural pursuits until 1872, when he came to Three Oaks. He afterward engaged in teaming for two years for the firm of Ben nett Brothers in connection with the mill and wflen that period had passed he estab lished a boarding house and conducted a boarding house and a hotel for twenty- eight years, but about two years ago sold the Martin House, of which he had so long been proprietor and retired from active busi ness life to enjoy a well-earned rest. He owns a good home on Main street and also has two buildings which he rents and which return to him a good income. On the 7th of September, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Thomas H. Mar tin and Miss Rosa Siberts, who was born in Ohio, December 4, 1842. They have no children of their own, but have reared two. 454 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mr. Martin votes with the Republican party, having given to it his allegiance since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a public spirited citizen, interested in local progress as well as national advance ment, and his co-operation has been given to many measures that have had direct bear ing upon the welfare and upbuilding of this locality. He has become very widely known in his business career and was a popular landlord, whose efforts to add to the com fort of his guests made his hostelry a fav ored one with the traveling public. In citizenship he has been as loyal to his coun try as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields and in all life's relations he has gained warm friendships that have made him one of the respected residents of this part of the county. JOSEPH MULHOLLAND, who since 1896 has resided on his present farm on section 10, New Buffalo township, was born in county Tyrone, near Dublin,, Ireland, December 24, 1842, his parents being John C. and Isabelle (Miller) Mulholland, who left their native country and crossed the Atlantic to Toronto, Canada, when their son Joseph was about a year old. Both died when he was five years of age, passing away within six weeks of each other. They had five children; Robert, now residing in Ohio; John C. and Rachel, both deceased; Jo seph, of this review; and James, who was a soldier in the same regiment to which his brother Joseph belonged. He served for three years and was then discharged but the hardships and rigors of war had under mined his health and he died soon after ward. At their death the parents left five young children and two years later all went to live with an uncle, John Dunlap, of Ken ton, Ohio. Mr. Mulholland of this review was therefore reared upon a farm in the Buckeye state, where he remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused he responded to the country's call for aid and joined the boys in blue of Company A, Eigbty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Robinson. He took part in thir ty-three important engagements during the four years of his service, including the bat tles of Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Chancel- lorsville, the second battle of Bull Run and in the march -under General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He afterward proceeded northward through the Carolinas and Vir ginia and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C, where thousands of Union soldiers with victory perched on their banners marched past the stand on which the president and other distinguished states- , men were standing to cheer the return of the army. At Gettysburg he was knocked down but was not seriously wounded, but he permanently injured his back in tearing up a railroad in South Carolina and has suffered therefrom continuously since. Af ter serving for three years he veteranized with most of the company and regiment and participated in every engagement ex cept one of the thirty-four in which the regiment took part and was prevented from doing so on that occasion by an attack of typhoid fever. He was always a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the perform ance of any duty that was assigned him whether it called him to the lonely picket line or stationed him in the midst of danger on the firing line. After the war Mr. Mulholland returned to his old home in Ohio and two years later was married. He went to Kansas in 1871, settling in Mitchell county, where he home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres before the county was organized. In fact he as sisted in organizing the county and the township of Solomon Rapids wbere he re sided. He was one of a committee of nine that acted as a vigilance committee that ran down the famous outlaw Bender. Mr. Mul holland continued to live in Kansas until after the grasshopper scourge of 1874, when all crops were completely destroyed and he then returned to Ohio. He engaged in farming in the latter state until 1881, when he removed to northern Michigan, settling in Osceola county. There he lived for sev enteen years and in 1896 came, to Berrien county, taking up his abode upon the farm which has since been his place of residence. He has here eighty acres of section 10 ad- H -i* fr^S A -'-'"St V tp%LW 1 ¦ W^f T^^^^M ^L^^^ "ti^f^ftto' r * 9 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 455 joining the corporation limits of New Buf falo. He has erected and improved the buildings upon the place, has cleared the land and transformed it into productive fields from which he annually harvests good crops. He now has a well improved and attractive property, which in its thrifty ap pearance indicates his careful supervision and enterprise. On the 28th of September, 1867, Mr. Mulholland was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Eastman, who was born in Lima, Ohio, March 7, 1847, a daughter of Jona than O., and Rachel Ann (Huston) Mul holland, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They were of American birth and their respective families had lived in the United States for five generations, the fore fathers on both sides arriving in colonial days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland have been born six children : Mrs. Anna Isa belle Warner, who is living in Niles ; Carrie Amelia, of San Antonio, Texas; Rachel Ida, the wife of Rev. B. F. Fowler, a preacher of the United Brethren church, now at Waterloo, Michigan ; John C, a trav eling man representing a Chicago house; Ada J., a school teacher of Berrien county; and Mary Frances, who is also engaged in teaching school. Mr. Mulholland votes with the Repub lican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lin coln in 1864 and has since supported each nominee at the head of the ticket. He served for one term as justice of the peace, was highway commissioner two terms in New Buffalo township and also held the same office while living in Northern Michigan, where he served for three terms. He be longs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the Odd Fellows society at New Buffalo, also the Rebekah lodge, and Post No. 315, G. A. R., thereby main taining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His life has been one of activi ty, directed by sound judgment and stim ulated by a laudable ambition for success and as the years have gone by he has made a creditable place in business circles and is now in possession of a good farm. HARVEY J. CAMPBELL. The in dustrial life of Benton Harbor finds a worthy representative in Harvey J. Camp bell, who is now connected witb its manu facturing interests as a member of the Campbell & Naylor Garment Company, manufacturers of overalls and men's fur nishing goods. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1854, a son of Charles W. and Sarah (Jones) Campbell. The father died at the age of seventy-five years, but the mother is still living. The former was a prominent wholesale dry goods merchant of St. Joseph, Missouri, for many years, carrying on an extensive business, but eventually he retired from trade some years prior to bis death and spent his last days in Florida. In the family were seven children, of whom five are yet living. Harvey J. Campbell, the eldest son and the only one now living in Berrien county, pursued his education in the schools of his native city and on attaining his majority he entered business life as an employe in a wholesale dry goods establishment there. He. had pursued his education in the public schools, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. Following his entrance into busi ness life he became connected with John S. Lemon under the firm name of John S. Lemon & Company, which relation was maintained for some time, after which Mr. Lemon withdrew in order to engage in the hanking *business in St. Josepb. In 1896 Mr. Campbell left that city and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for two years, also engaged in the wholesale dry goods business. Removing to Chi cago, he became indentified with the whole sale dry goods house of J. V. Farwell & Company, who were also large manufactur ers of overalls. This company established a factory in Benton Harbor, of which Mr. Campbell was made manager and so con tinued until the spring of 1904, when the business was closed out. At that time Mr. Campbell joined William D. Naylor, who 456 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY was formerly superintendent of the factory of J. V. Farwell & Company in Benton Harbor, in the establishment of the present Campbell & Naylor Garment Company, manufacturers of overalls and men's fur nishings in Benton Harbor. They are con ducting business in the old Farwell factory and that their trade has reached extensive proportions is indicated by the fact that they now furnish employment to from sixty to seventy operatives. Their trade is con stantly growing and has already become an important industry of Benton Plarbor. In 1880, in Winchester, Virginia, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Mary Denny, a native of the Old Dominion. Tliey have resided in Benton Harbor since 1900 and have won for themselves an enviable posi tion in social circles. Mr. Campbell is a Democrat in his political views but has neither time nor inclination for office, pre ferring to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs. A man of strong in dividuality and indubitable probity, he has attained a due measure of success in the affairs of life and is today a leading repre sentative of the productive industries of Ber rien county. He possesses, moreover, a genial and social nature and is most appre ciative of the amenities which go to make up the sum of human happiness. W. K. WHITEHEAD, a retired farm er living in Three Oaks, was born in Mor ris county, New Jersey, on the 12th of Oc tober, 1829, and there made his home for about thirty years. His parents were David and Mary (King) Whitehead. The father, a native of Manchester, England, came to the United States when eighteen years of age with one brother. He spent the re mainder of his life in New Jersey and was a gardener, dependent upon that business for the income wherewith he met his daily expenses. He died at the venerable age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away in New Jersey at the age of forty years. She was born in that state and had always resided there. Her mother was a sister of General Grant's father, so that she and the general were own cousins. W. K. White head was the eldest of a family of seven children, the other six being : Caroline, the deceased wife of William Jones; Elma, the widow of Charles Overton and a resident of Albany, New York; David, who is living in New Jersey; Mrs. Harriet Roberts, a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut; Mar garet, who married George Raymond, of Norwalk, Connecticut; one who died in in fancy. William K. Whitehead began his educa tion at the usual age and continued his stud ies to the age of fifteen years, when he be gan providing for his own living as an em ploye in the Dover Iron Works, Dover, New Jersey. He acted in various capacities in connection with that industry and contin ued his residence in New Jersey until 1850, when he went to California by way of the isthmus route. He spent about four years mining on the Pacific coast and then re turned on a visit to New Jersey. He crossed the isthmus at the time the railroad was being built, it having been constructed a part of the way on the return trip. Again taking up his abode in New Jersey he was once more employed in the iron works un til he came to Michigan in 1876. Settling in Three Oaks, he has since made his home here. He purchased a general store, which he conducted with a partner for a time but later he purchased his partner's interests and carried on business alone for about eighteen years. He was one of the wide awake and enterprising merchants of the town, having a good establishment, in which he carried a well selected line of goods and thereby gained a liberal support. At length he sold out and bought seventy acres of land about one mile from town. Locating thereon, he gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits for some time, but in March, 1906, sold his farm and returned to the town, where he is now living a retired life, having justly earned the rest which he is now en joying. In i860 Mr. Whitehead was married to Miss Mary Alice Searing, who was born in New Jersey February 1, 1837, and is a daughter of Jacob and Phoebe (Martin) Searing, who were likewise natives of New Jersey. Unto them were born two children : Margaret Elma, the wife of Rev. I.T.Weldon HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 457 of Elsie, Michigan, who is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they have two children, Alice M. and William W. ; and William S., living in Boise City, Idaho, where he is engaged in the drug and fruit business, also dealing in live stock. He has two children, Donald S. and Alice R. Mr. Whitehead belongs to the Metho dist church and is deeply interested in its work and progress. His political support is given to the Republican party. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey and and well merits the rest which has been vouchsafed to him. In the management of his property interests and business affairs he has displayed excellent ability and enterprise and has gained there by a comfortable competence, being now a substantial citizen of Three Oaks. He has lived here continuously for thirty years, which has given ample opportunity to the public to judge of his worth and qualifica tions and the consensus of opinion is very favorable. DIX H. BEESON, proprietor of a drug store at Three Oaks, was born one mile west of Cassopolis, in Cass county, Michi gan, May I, 1863, his parents being Ben jamin F. and Jennie E. (Banks) Beeson, the father a native of Richmond, Indiana, and the mother of Chenango county, New York. Benjamin F. Beeson was taken to Cass county in his infancy and for many years was a farmer there, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits un til his demise, which occurred in 1896, when he was sixty-four years of age. His widow still survives him and now makes her home in Goshen, Indiana, at the age of sixty-nine years. In their family were three children : Mrs. Grace Ashley, living in Goshen; Dix H, of this review; and Otis J., also living in Goshen, where he is engaged in the drug business. Dix H. Beeson was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools and thus acquired a good practical education. He was for a time a student in Hillsdale College, and when a young man of twenty-two years he removed from his native county to Berrien county, where he arrived in tbe fall of 1885. Locating at Three Oaks, he was engaged in the cream ery business for three years as an employe, and on the expiration of that period invest ed the capital which he had saved from his earnings in the drug store, which he is still conducting. He was first located three doors south of his present place of business but later purchased the building in which he is now conducting his store and to which he removed four years ago. If is a two- story frame structure, ninety by twenty-four feet. Until the last year Mr. Beeson has devoted considerable time to farming, and is the owner of five hundred acres of valua ble land in connection with Jonas H. Hol den. This is devoted to the cultivation of peppermint, and the experiment is proving a very profitable one. Mr. Beeson also owns a branch store at New Buffalo, and is meeting with success in his mercantile ventures, having a liberal patronage in both places. In 1885 was celebrated the marriage of Dix H. Beeson, and Miss Ella J. James, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and a daughter of Edward K. and Katharine (McFarren) James. They have three children, Paul, Lois and Helen. Mr. Beeson votes with tbe Republican party, and has served as supervisor of his township for one term. He has also been township treasurer for several terms and a member of the village council. He was also a member of the board of# education, and the public schools have found in him a warm and stalwart friend, who has put forth effective effort in their behalf. He regards a public office as a public trust and has been most loyal to the confidence reposed in him througb his offi cial service. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also to the Ma sonic lodge, and his brethren of these fra ternities regard him as a man worthy their entire confidence and respect. In business life he has placed his dependence not upon speculation or upon any fortunate combina tion of circumstances, but has relied upon energy and close application to bring to bim the success which he is now enjoyiiig and 458 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY which has made him one of the substantial and representative residents of this part of the county. JOSEPH J. DEUEL. There are in Jo- sepb J. Deuel many characteristics tbat render him a representative citizen of Ber rien county and one well worthy of mention among the leading agriculturists of this part of the state. His life record began in Nor- wichville, Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, on the 25th of September, 1839. His father. Abner H. Deuel, was a native of Dutchess county, New York, and was mar ried to Jane Duncan, whose birth occurred in the same county. The Wedding cere mony, however, was celebrated in Ontario, Canada, and about three years after their marriage they returned to the Empire state. In the spring of i860 they came to New Buffalo, ¦ where their remaining days were passed, both departing this life here. The father died in 1893 at the advanced age of eighty-three years and the mother passed away in 1906 at the extreme old age of ninety years. In their family were six chil dren. Charles, who served in the Forty- second Illinois Infantry in the Civil war, is now living in Elmira, Michigan. Joseph J. is the second in order of birth. William A., who was also a defender of the Union cause in the Civil war, is now living in Den ver, Colorado-, and is general superintend ent of the Moffet Railroad System. He has been continuously with the railroad service since he left the army, beginning on the Union Pacific in 1867. He was first brakes man, afterward promoted to conductor and later became division superintendent of the same line. He was afterward general sup erintendent of the Rio Grande Railroad and later returned to the Union Pacific Railroad but is now connected with the Moffet Sys tem as general superintendent. The only interruption to his railroad service was four years spent in the position of sheriff of Hall county, Nebraska. Hannah M. is the wife of Lyman Barnes, of Virginia. David is a resident of Shelby, Michigan. Abraham Deuel is represented on another page of this work. Joseph J. Deuel, whose name introduces this review was only about a year old when his parents removed to Niagara county, New York, where he remained to the age of ten years, when he returned to the old home in Ontario, there living with an aunt until twenty years of age. On the 21st of April, i860, his father came to New Buf falo and Mr. Deuel joined his parents here, residing in New Buffalo township on the old homestead, two miles from the village of New Buffalo. He carried the first mail bag from New Buffalo to St. Joseph, going on foot, this being about 1862, and he carried on foot for a time, then on horseback and later by stage. He gave his attention to farm work until the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south when his patriotic spirit was aroused and he enlisted in Berrien county on the 7th of March, 1864, as a member of Company E, Twelfth Michi gan Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Bos- tic of Niles. The command was sent to Lit tle Rock, Arkansas, and operated on the White and Red rivers. Mr. Deuel partici pated in the engagements at Clarendon and took part in long marches and many minor military movements. He became quarter master's clerk and was honorably discharged at Camden, Arkansas, in Marcb 1866. He then hired out to the United States govern ment at one hundred and fifty dollars per month as quartermaster, commissary clerk, and chief clerk, continuing in the govern ment employ until the 4th of July, 1866, when he returned to his old home in Michigan. Mr. Deuel had a little farm which he had purchased at the time of his marriage and be took up the work of improving and cultivating it. The place comprised fifty- three acres of rich land and in addition to its improvement Mr. Deuel also worked at carpentering and contracting, being thus identified with building operations during the greater part of his life. Selling his farm, he removed to New Buffalo and became connected with the New Buffalo Land Improvement Company. He has about six bundred acres of land on the lake shore, which is owned by Floyd R. Per kins, of Chicago. Mr. Deuel taking charge and operating it for Mr. Perkins. He HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 459 has laid out a park of four acres here, which is a fine place bordering Lake Beaver and the river. There are natural springs and in the park are a number of deer. Mr. Deuel has also started extensive fish ponds here and has about forty-five thousand fish, including trout and some gold fish. Mr. Deuel also looks after various real estate in terests. The company has a sixty acre lease of land on which they are making the ex periment of developing a paint factory, brickyard and pottery, fine brick being made from the soil. On the 2nd of February, 1862, Mr. Deuel was married to Miss Mary A. Hunt, who was born in New Buffalo township, August 19, 1844, and is a daughter of David M. and Hannah (Holbrook) Hunt. The father was born near Lafayette, Indiana, and the mother near Buffalo, New York, and both spent their last days in Boyne City, Charlevoix county, Michigan, Mrs. Hunt passing away wben only twenty- six years of age, wbile Mr. Hunt departed this life in 1895 at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deuel have been born four children : Agnes M., the wife of Jared K. Quantrell, of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; David Abner, who died at the age of four and a half years; Marietta, who died at the age of two and a half years; and Jacob Morris, of Boyne Falls, Michigan. Mr. Deuel was a Repub lican, and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, but during the past twelve years has given his political allegiJ ance to the Democracy. He was super visor of his township for one year, and treasurer for two years and for a number of terms has been justice of the peace, ren dering fair and impartial decisions in the dis charge of his duties. He has filled nearly all of the township offices and has been an able official. He was a member of Minor Pratt Post, G. A. R. until it was discontin ued, and in times of peace he is as loyal in citizenship as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. A man of good business ability and enterprise, he is now carefully directing the real estate interests in his care and is developing a most attract ive resort in New Buffalo township. ALEXANDER HALLIDAY, residing in Lincoln township, is a native of Scot land, his birth having occurred in Berwick shire, near the English border, on the 24th of June, 1 842-. His parents were Andrew and Helen (Redpath) Halliday, and his paternal grandfatber was Alexander Halli day, Sr., who had two sons in the ministry of the Episcopal church, laboring in be half of the cause of Christianity in England and Scotland. The year 1844 witnessed the arrival of Andrew Halliday and his father in Norfolk county, Ontario, where he se cured large tracts of land. His attention was then given to agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife long survived him and died at the old homestead in Canada, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Halliday has no brothers or sisters in the United States, but has three brothers and two sisters living in Canada. His brother Robert died in Cali fornia five years ago. Alexander Halliday of this review spent his youth in his parents' home, was educat ed in the public schools of Canada and in early life learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for a few years. When twenty-two years of age he went to Kan kakee, Illinois, where he worked as a mill wright and carpenter. He began a contract ing business there, in which he continued for eight years, or until 1870, when he came to Berrien county with the intention of engaging in the production of peaches, which were bringing high prices at that time. He«bought raw land near Lake Michi gan about two miles from Stevensville, for which he paid one hundred and ten dollars per acre. It was destitute of improvements. Prices had become greatly inflated with the discovery of Michigan's fruit raising pos sibilities and improved land sold for five hundred dollars. Mr. Halliday invested his money in property, secured his land and set out peach orchards but when the trees were coming into bearing the yellows destroyed them and all of Berrien county and south ern Michigan were left without peach or chards. He then began growing berries until it was possible to once more engage in 460 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the cultivation of peaches, when for a second time he set out his orchard. He now has forty acres planted to fruit and his place is an indication that he is one of the leading horticulturists of the county. He has erected a handsome home, commanding a fine view of the lake for miles southward to the Indiana bluffs. In the rear a fine view of the country may be obtained, with its outlying farms and orchards, even across the St. Joseph river. In fact his home is splendidly located and constitutes one of the attractive farm properties of Berrien county. Mr. Halliday exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have fre quently called him to public office. He has served for two years as tax collector, also as township treasurer, and for fourteen years was township supervisor, during which time the county seat was removed from Berrien Springs to St. Joseph. He was also a member of the building commit tee at the time of the erection of the new court house. In all these relations he has proved a capable official and one whose de votion to the general good has resulted most beneficially to the county. Lincoln has al ways been a Republican township, and the fact that Mr. Halliday has so long been con tinued in office is incontrovertible proof of his ability in the discharge of his duties and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He has frequently attended the state conventions of his party as a delegate and he stands firm in support of its principles, yet he has not been a poli tician in the sense of office seeking. The honors which he has had in this direction have come to him largely unsolicited and he was at one time named as the candidate of his party for the office of sheriff. In 1869 Mr. Halliday was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Doyle, a native of Pennsylvania, who for some years en gaged in teaching in the Keystone state and in Illinois, spending a part of that time in the College of St. Anne. Mr. and Mrs. Halliday have no children of their own but reared an adopted son, Charles, who be came a member of their household at the age of five years and remained with them until his death, at the age of twenty-six years. Mr. Halliday is a very prominent Mason, who has taken the degrees of the York and Scottish rites and of the Mystic Shrine, and in his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He has also displayed many of the sterling traits of his Scottish ances try, possessing the determination and per sistency of purpose which have made the Scotch a thrifty and prosperous race. Al though he has met some reverses and obsta cles in his business career in Berrien county he has through his persistency of purpose and laudable ambition gained a place among the substantial horticulturists and respect ed citizens of the township. JAMES H. FLOOD, of Hagar town ship, was born on the farm where he now lives in March, 1854. His father was Wil liam Flood, a pioneer of this township, who was born in County Cavan, Ireland, where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. In 1847 he came to America, resolved to test the truth of the reports which he heard concerning the business opportunities and advantages of the new world. He hoped that he might more readily acquire a com petence than in his native country and crossed the Atlantic with the intention of coming to Wisconsin, but meeting an old countryman in St. Joseph he decided to re main in Berrien county. This was in the year 1847. The traveler of today cannot realize tbe conditions which he faced at that time, for much of the land was still covered with its native growth of timber and there were few cultivated tracts. The streams, too, were unbridged and the work of reclaiming the district for the uses of the white race had scarcely been begun. Mr. Flood secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hagar township, which was cov ered with fine timber, mucb of it being cut for the best timbers used in building the harbor of St. Joseph. He sold considerable timber and ties and carried on the work of improving and cultivating his property un til he had placed about one hundred acres under cultivation. As he prospered in his undertakings he bought several other tracts HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 461 which he gave to his children while he still lived. Soon after the war he erected the preaent residence which still stands upon the old homestead. He was married at the age of twenty-two years to Miss Rose Lynch, also a native of Ireland. In his political views he was a Democrat,- giving his support to the party from the time that he became a naturalized American citizen. His death occurred in August, 1876. His widow afterward acted as administratrix of his estate. She survived her husband until January 8, 1900, when she, too, was called to her final rest. She had continued to op erate the farm for some years after his death, giving personal supervision to the property and its development. Their son Patrick was a farmer, who carried on agri cultural pursuits in this district and died at the age of sixty years. John, another son of the family, was a sailor . for thirty- five years. . James and Thomas remained upon the old homestead farm for some time and Thomas now lives in Chicago, but his business interests are still in Berrien county. James H. Flood, whose name introduces this record, has passed his entire life on the shore of Lake Michigan,, was reared to farm labor, spending the days of his boyhood and youth under the, parental roof. . The public schools afforded him his educational' priv ileges and after he had entered upon, his business life he and his brother Thomas operated a sawmill at Riverside for a time. They also improved land in different lo calities and after about twenty years he- pur chased his brother's interest and has since carried on general farming. He now con tinues to live upon the old homestead. He has one of the best farms in the county, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, which is very valuable and a richly product ive tract. Upon it are good buildings and all modern equipments, and in fact none of the accessories of a model farm are here lacking. In his political views Mr. Flood is a Democrat of the old type, believing in sound principles and honest dealing in politics as well as in business life. He is a man firm in the honest convictions, true to the light as he sees it under all circumstances and is one of the substantial citizens, his fellowmen re cognizing his many genuine and admirable qualities in giving him therefore their high respect. JOSEPH TENNANT, sheriff of Berrien courity, has been connected with this office for" a number of years through . his incumbency in his present position or as deputy, and is an officer in whom his fellow townsmen repose trust and confidence, recognizing that he will defend to the best of his ability the rights and liberties of all. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 22, 1846, and was but five years of age when brought to America by his parents, William and Rachel (Mc- Faddyen) Terinant, both of who are now deceased. The father died when his son Joseph was but sixteen years of age. Pie bad settled in this county in what is now the village of Eau' Claire, in Berrien township, when it bad but a small population and much of . the land was at that time un claimed and uncultivated. His labor provied an important factor in the development of 'that part of the county, where he made his home up to the time of his death. In the fariiily were /eleven children, but only six of .the number came to America, and three of these are still living, namely : W. James, a resident of Oceana county, Michigan; Mrs. Mary Evans,' who is living in the same courity ; and Joseph, of this . review. Upon his father's farm in Berrien town ship Joseph Tennant spent his childhood days and pursued his education in what was known a* Farmer's Schoolhouse in Berrien township, mastering the branches of learn ing usually taught in such institutions. He worked upon the farm from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn and throughout the re mainder of the year pursued his studies. He continued in farm labor until the establish ment of the village of Eau Claire, when, in the new town, he began buying grain for the Niles Milling Company, which he repre sented for six years. He had charge of the grain elevator for that firm and also bought wheat there. In the meantime he was called to public Service by his fellow townsmen, 462 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY who recognized his worth and ability and his devotion to the public good. He was justice of the peace in Berrien county for twenty-four years, and no higher testimonial of his capability could be given than the fact that he was so long retained in office, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial so that he "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." At the same time he was agent for agricultural implements and con ducted business as a grain buyer. Once more he was called to public office how ever, when appointed deputy sheriff, serving first under James Clark and afterward under Sheriff B. R. Stearns for four years. He was likewise deputy under Sheriff E. H. Ferguson for four years and for a similar period under Fred B. Collins, and then in 1904 was elected to the office of sheriff, which position he is now filling, so that his connection with the position will cover on the expiration of his present term about twenty years. He has discharged his duties fearlessly and his nature awakens a feeling of safety among law-abiding citizens and is a menace to all who do not hold themselves amenable to law and order. He is prominent in politics and his personal popularity and the confidence -reposed in him by his fellow citizens are indicated by the fact that he was elected on the Democratic ticket by seven hundred and fifty majority, while the nor mal majority of the county is about sixteen hundred Republican. Mr. Tennant was married to Miss Eleanor Miller, a daughter of Humphrey Miller, of Ohio, and they have three chil dren, Mollie, Hale and Nettie. The elder daughter, now Mrs. Winter, has one child, Eleanor. The younger daughter, Mrs. Net tie Fryetag, is now liivng in Napoleon, Ohio, and has two children, Catherine and Louisa. The son Hale is a graduate of Ben ton Harbor College, also of the University of Michigan in 1905, as B. S., and is now truant officer of Berrien county. Mr. Tennant belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also an ex emplary representative of the Masonic fra ternity, the Maccabees tent and the Benevo lent and Protective Order of Elks. He is much esteemed throughout the county as a man of good principles and exemplifies in his life the strong and sterling character istics of his Scottish ancestry, representing a race of people long noted for their in tegrity, fidelity to duty and their tenacity in pursuing a course which they believe to be right. THOMAS P. FLOOD, living in Hagar township, owns valuable property interests and has a beautiful summer home here, while his winter residence is at No. 173 North Paulina street, Chicago. He was born on the old farm homestead near Riverside, Ber rien county, on the 26th of August, 1858, and was connected with his brother^ James and his mother in the ownership and the con duct of valuable farming interests until about three years ago. He is a son of William Flood, who is mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the history of James H. Flood. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood and youth. He attended the public schools and aided in the conduct and management of the property left by the father. On the 29th of October, 1903, he was married in Cbicago, to Miss Margaret E. Weldon, of that city, who was born in New Jersey, but was reared and educated in Chicago. In her girlhood she pursued a business course in Bryant & Stratton's Busi ness College of that city. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children, Rosemary and Ellen. During the past three years Mr. Flood has made his home in Chi cago in the winter months, while in the sum mer seasons he comes to Berrien county and spends the hot period of the year at a beauti ful summer home on the lake shore. - This is situated in Hagar township, where he owns fifteen acres, constituting one of the delight ful summer homes of this part of the state. He owns three farms in Hagar township, together with residence property in Benton Harbor and his invested interests here return him an excellent income. In his political views he is a Democrat, advocating principles expounded by Grover Cleveland. He repre- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 463 sents one of the old and profninent families of the county and is widely known here, hav ing an extensive circle of warm friends. CHRISTIAN MILLER. Among the worthy residents of Berrien county of foreign birth is numbered Christian Miller, a native of the province of Saxony, Germany, born September 12, 1836. Reared and edu cated in his native country he was married in 1857, to Miss Anna Sophia Weber, who was likewise a native of Saxony, born Feb ruary 9, 1839. It was in war times — in the year 1861 — that Christopher Miller became a resident of Chicago. He had been a coal miner in Germany, and afterward worked for three months on a farm. Subsequently he learned the cooper's trade, which he fol lowed in Chicago for three years during the period of the Civil war. He had been in this country for a year when he was joined by his wife. In 1866 they removed to Michi gan, and Mr. Miller purchased twenty acres of land in the midst of the forest. So dense was the timber that he had to cut a road to his new possession. He built a house of rough boards and it was necessary to clear a space on which to erect a little structure. For forty years Mr. Miller has remained upon his place, carrying forward the work of cultivation and improvement as the years have gone by and as he cleared away the timber and prepared the land for the plow he determined to give part of his attention to horticultural pursuits and planted peach orchards. For his first twenty acres of land he paid five hundred and twenty-five dollars, which he had saved from his earnings as a cooper in Chicago. He worked by the piece there and earned good wages. After coming to Michigan in 1866 he returned to. Chicago on one or two occasions in order to make money at his trade that he might thereby be enabled to continue his farm work. He cleared his first five acres in four weeks and paid for the plowing with a double barrelled gun. After returning from Chicago he cleared six acres of land for a home, taking out the grubs, his wife assisting him in this work. He paid one hundred dollars for a wagon and twenty-nine dollars interest thereon. Times were hard and money scarce in early days but he persevered in his under takings and in the course of years his labors were crowned with success. In early days he raised very fine peaches, which brought a high price on the market. As his financial resources permitted he bought more land from time to time until he became the owner of eighty acres, which he still retains. He has cleared it all and has about forty acres planted to fruit, peaches being his principal crop although he has made considerable money from pears. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born six children : Augusta A., the wife of William Dunn, a merchant at Derby, Michi gan ; Eba, the wife of Rev. Frederick Ewald, a minister of the Evangelical church, at Elkhart, Indiana; Minnie, the wife of Fred Schroeder, of Royalton; Martha, the wife of Charles Johnson, of Stevensville; Anna, the wife of William Schneider, a section boss at New Buffalo on the Michigan Central Railroad ; and Frank, who is assisting in the operation of the home farm. Mr. Miller is a Mason, belonging to the lodge and chapter and is also connected with the Grange. He and his wife hold member ship in the Evangelical Association and are most prominent and worthy people of Lin coln township. A self-made man Mr. Miller owes his success entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed been a helpmate to him. She aided him in his cooper work, in the arduous task of clearing a farm and hauled ties to St. Joseph, Michigan, where they were sold. In former years theirs was a strenuous exist ence but»now they have a good farm prop erty which has been brought under a high state of cultivation and which yields to them a good financial return because of the well kept orchards and the fine variety of fruit raised. They have never had occasion to regret their determination to seek. a home in America, for in this country where effort is unhampered by caste or class they have made steady advancement to a place among the substantial residents of Berrien county. FRED G. BRIGGS, living on section 19, Wesaw township, where he is devoting his time and energies to general agricultural 464 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY pursuits, is numbered among the worthy citi zens that Ohio has furnished to Berrien county, his birth having occurred in York township, Medina county, January 5, 1865. His father, Giles Briggs, was born in Schenectady county, New York, on the 15th of December, 1824, and was a son of Giles and Katharine (Putnam) Briggs, the former a native of New York and the latter of Penn sylvania. In their family were twelve chil dren, including Giles Briggs, Jr., who when a small boy of about twelve years accom panied his parents on their removal from the Empire state to Ohio. He was a resident of Medina county for a long period and in the spring of 1865 came to Michigan, where he resided continuously until his death, which occurred on the -*gtb of December, 1885. He prospered in his business undertakings and left a farm of seventy acres. His politi cal allegiance was given to the Democracy and his religious faith was that of the Meth odist church, in which he held membership. He wedded Miss Mary Louisa Broadbeck, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, April 19, 1835, a daughter of Frederick and Cbristina Magdalena (Annamas) Broadbeck, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and whose family numbered twelve children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Giles Briggs were born four children : Orra Deen, the wife of Al bert Hinchman, a resident farmer of We saw township; Mary Christina, who died at the age of twelve years; Fred G, of this re view; and William Benjamin, who is also living in Wesaw township. Fred G. Briggs was only about three months old when brought by his parents to Michigan, the family homestead being es tablish in Wesaw township near the farm upon which the subject of this review now resides. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with general agricultural pursuits, having been reared to the occupa tion of farming, for in his youth he assisted in the labors of the fields when not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom. He is today the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of rich land in section 19, Wesaw township, where he has made his home for twelve years. He has erected all of the build ings upon the place and has a well improved property, which returns to him good harvests because of the care and labor .he bestows upon the fields. Everything is done in a practical and progressive manner and the work is followed by excellent financial re sults. On the 2nd of December, 1891, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage to Miss Orpha Carpenter, who was born in Buchanan township, July 9, 1865, a daugh ter of Marcus and Martha A. (Lape) Car penter, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have become the parents of six chil dren : Terry Arthur, Glenn A., Ruth Mary, Raymond C, Marie and Lee Kenneth; In his political affiliation Mr. Briggs is a Democrat but without aspiration for office. He holds membership in the Christian church at Three Oaks and is well known in the community where he resides as a man of genuine personal worth, while in his busi ness career he has displayed those traits which are worthy of emulation, his industry and enterprise being the salient features of his prosperity. W. A. D. ROSE, living in Benton town ship, was born in Rosshire in the highlands of Scotland, August 14, 1843, and was reared in his native village to the age of nineteen years. In early boyhood he at tended scbool and when about twelve and a half years of age he went into a lawyer's office, where he acted as clerk for about seven years. Two years more were devoted to the study of law and with another two years' study 'he would have been admitted to the bar in Edinburgh. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world in 1862, he made his way to Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, where he spent five years. On the expiration of that period he went to California, where he remained for five years, mainly devoting his attention to the dairy business in that state. He then returned to Canada, and for two years was engaged in selling goods at Seaforth. Mr. Rose came to Michigan to engage in the lumber trade at Big Rapids and spent two years in the manufacture of shingles. He was then superintendent of a lumber business at Hungerford for twelve years and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 465 for seven years at Deer Lake, having also charge of the lumber woods. He became thoroughly acquainted with the lumber trade in all of its departments and he had a con tract for staking the mill, having from sev enty-five to one hundred men in his employ with from two hundred and fifty to three hundred men over whom he had supervision. In this business he continued for seven years until the logging was completed, when he came to Benton Harbor to establish a lum ber trade as a wholesale dealer. He began business on the site now occupied by the present Peters Lumber Company, and he was thus engaged until the financial panic of 1893 which swept over the country, when his busi ness became involved, as did that of thou sands of others. He then purchased his present farm of forty-eight acres on the lake shore road two and a half miles north of Benton Harbor. This is an old landmark, being the Parmelee farm. The present house was lighted up for the first time on the night after General Lee's surrender in April, 1865. It is one of the old fruit farms of the county, the entire place being devoted to fruit, including peaches, pears and apples. He has sold fruit to the value of four tbou- sand dollars in one season and is a com mercial grower. The business is proving very satisfactory and he annually harvests good crops from his orchards. His resi dence stands in plain view of Lake Michigan, less than a quarter of a mile from the shore upon a natural building site and thus com manding a broad outlook over the water and the surrounding country. Mr. Rose was married to Miss Isabella Monroe, who was born of Scotch parentage in Canada. They now have a family of two sons and a daughter: James M., wbo is as sistant cashier in the Merchant's Bank of Benton Harbor; George W., a mechanical, mining and electrical engineer, who pursued a course in fhe Agricultural College at Lansing; and Daisy Gordon, at home. Mr. Rose is a Republican, stanch in his advocacy of the party, which he has sup ported since he became a naturalized Ameri can citizen. He has served as supervisor and has always been an advocate of good roads and has done much to improve the pub- 30 lie highways. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church but is not identi fied with any denomination. Fraternally, however, he is a Mason and has attained tbe Knight Templar degree. He is now the owner of a good farm which is proving valu able owing to the care and labor which he bestows upon it, his horticultural pursuits bringing to him a gratifying income. WILBUR FISK BEHEL is now occu pying a beautiful home, "LaVinia Lodge" at Fair Plain, Berrien county, but for many years has been a well known contractor and builder, his business being largely in Chi cago and other leading cities of the coun try. His operations have been extensive and moreover he has become widely known and gained the approval of many through his strong and stalwart opposition to the domination of the trades unions, believing- that the American citizen has the right to employ the men whom he desires and not be dictated to by those who are in his serv ice. Mr. Behel was born in Mifflin, Penn sylvania, June 11, 1842, and in 1857, when a youth of fifteen years, removed to Earl- ville, Illinois, in company with his father, Jacob Behel, who was a mechanic and was also well known as an inventor of agricul tural implements. His knotter was placed in use by Manna and adopted by McCor mick and other companies engaged in the manufacture of reapers and farm imple ments. This devise is still in use today. As early as 1846 he invented a patent wind mill whicji he sold through Ohio, Pennsyl vania and as far west as St. Joseph, Mis souri. He kept an account of his travels, the little volume being still in possession of his son, Wilbur F. Behel of this review Although the trip did not prove a financial success Mr. Behel continually visited church services and prayer meetings and thus gave his support to the moral progress of the communities in which he tarried. As early as i860 he worked out a machine whereby electricity was used for power. Many of his inventions contain splendid ideas, some: of which have been used in later years, but he did not make a fortune out of his inven tions. In Illinois he became a contractor 466 P1IST0RY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and architect. At an early day he built bridges and later gave his attention to the work of a patent solicitor, devoting the last fifteen years of his life to such work and being recognized in Washington as an ex pert in this line. He died at the age of seventy-two years. Wilbur Fisk Behel pursued his educa tion in the common schools and on the nth of June, 1 86 1, the nineteenth anniversary of his birth, he enlisted for service as a member of Company D, Twenty-third Illi nois Infantry. This company was formed at Earlville and formed a part Colonel Mul ligan's Irish brigade, the entire regiment being Irish with the exception of Company D. Mr. Behel enlisted without his parents' consent and with his command went to Jef ferson City, Missouri, whence he started on the march across the country to Lexing ton. There the regiment was captured after a nine days' siege by General Price. This was one of the memorable sieges of the war and with the exception of the engagement at Wilson's Creek was the fiercest battle of the war up to that time. The Union troops were paroled the next morning, whence they marched on foot to Hannibal, Missouri, and were thence sent to Chicago, where they were exchanged. After a month spent in the latter city Mr. Behel re- enlisted in the same regiment and was sent to Wheeling, West Virginia. He took part in the West Virginian campaign and re mained in that state during much of the per iod of the war. He received promotion, be coming first sergeant major. On the expir ation of his second term of enlistment he was mustered out and returned to Chicago, where he assisted in raising a regiment to aid Canada, but the purpose was abandoned and Mr. Behel turned bis attention to car pentering. In 1865 he was connected with the sash, door and blind manufactory on the west side as superintendent and remained with that company and its successor, the Goss & Phillips Manufacturing Company, for six teen years, being manager for the latter un til 1886, when he purchased the business. He continued thus a factor in productive industries of Chicago for ten years, or until 1896, employing one hundred and fifty men and doing a business of two- hundred and fifty thousand dollars per year. They made a specialty of interior finishing work and took contracts for interior finishings in many homes, including some of the palatial residences of Chicago, among the number being that of Potter Palmer. In 1896 Mr. Behel closed out the factory but continued as a contractor and builder and as a general builder and still represents this line of busi ness activity. For thirty years he has been interested in the great questions concerning the unions and trade relations and has been actively concerned in various strikes that have been inaugurated by the carpenters. In the great building strike of 1900 he was chairman of the executive committee and vice president of the building contractors' council, which was organized to oppose the attempted domination of the building trades council. When the Grand Army Encamp ment was held in Chicago in 1900 he was the lowest bidder on a certain piece of work for the erection of seats from which to view the parade. The contract was awarded to him, but the managers of the encampment refused to' sign the contract as he refused to agree to use only union labor. The city council set aside ten thousand dollars to build seats for the spectators. When he re fused to employ only union labor other par ties refused to sign the contract, whereon he demanded that the contract be signed by twelve o'clock, else he would secure an injunction restraining them from using the money. This brought them to terms and the contracts were signed by five o'clock. Mr. Behel had five days to build seats on Michigan avenue for twenty thousand peo ple. He built these in four days with non union workmen, using twenty-five car loads of lumber or two hundred and fifty thousand feet. Even then the labor was hampered by union crowds, who did everything possible to impede the progress of the work. After the Encampment he secured the contract for the wreckage of seats which stood in the street and hindered the parade of the labor unions. They offered inducements, even to removing the seats without cost if he would allow the removal in time for the parade, /tj?*^-£MsL engaged in stock raising and in dairying. He has erected a hand some modern residence on a point of land commanding the finest view of the lake and surrounding country. It is modern in all respects and is one of the most desirable and beautiful homes in the county. The farm produces splendid crops of wbeat and other grains, and fine fruit is also raised here, so that in his business affairs Mr. Bowe is meeting with very desirable pros perity. On the 7th of February, 1864, while home on a furlough granted him after his re-enlistment for service in the Civil war, Mr. Bowe was united in marriage to Miss Jane Boyer, a daughter of Austin and Adelia (Wetmore) Boyer, also of Clayton, New York. Her people were old friends of the Bowe family in the east. In 1844 her father came to Michigan and was prominent and influential in public affairs for many years. He served as justice of the peace and held other offices. In 1852 he went to California, where he remained for four years. He was a very active man, and in Michigan carried on ship carpentering. For some time he lived in Kansas and in 1879 again went to California, where he engaged in mining and in the conduct of a lumber business. His last years were passed in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bowe, where he died November 6, 1893, while his wife survived until July 21, 1899. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bowe have been born the following named : Anna E. is the wife of Frank Hunt, a merchant at Water- vliet. Harriet is the wife of W. C. Spreen, postmaster and merchant at Watervliet; Mary M., the wife of Byron Pierce, a mem ber of the firm of Pierce & Son, hardware HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 5°3 merchants of Watervliet. Lizzie, who was a student in the normal school at Ypsilanti, was the wife of C. L. Weaver, a teacher at Eau Claire, Michigan. He was a teacher in the Alva Normal School at Alva, Oklahoma, and his wife taught for eight years in Wat ervliet, having charge of the first primary. For two years she was a teacher in tbe country schools. She died at Alva, Okla homa, November 1, 1904, leaving a son, Malcolm B., who since his mother's death has been with his grandparents. Myrtle is the wife of W. E. Johnson, who operates the Bowe farm. Nellie and Julia are at home. Lucy is the wife of Louis Kime, a carpenter and architect at Hartford, Michi gan. Nellie taught school for seven years in Watervliet and spent some time in Okla homa, being there at the time of her sister's death. All the family possess natural musi cal talent and taste. Mr. Bowe is a mem ber of Garfield Post, No. 30, G A. R., at Coloma, of which he is a past commander, and he has attended the national reunions at Detroit, Washington and Milwaukee. His has been a most creditable military rec ord. His citizenship has been characterized by the same loyalty and fidelity which marked his course when on southern battle fields he defended the Union cause. In business he has been reliable and energetic and is today one of the prosperous represen tatives of agricultural and horticultural in terests, with a fine property which is the vis ible evidence of his life of thrift and in dustry. DR. FREDERICK F. SOVEREIGN is one of the prominent and distinguished rep resentatives of Berrien county, living at Three Oaks. He is recognized as an able representative of the profession and more over is a leader in political circles, having served his district in the state senate, where his devotion to the interests of his constit uents and of the commonwealth at large stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. A native of Indiana, he was born in Bristol, Elkhart county, on the 27th of August, 1846. His fatber, Lewis H. Sovereign, was born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 18 12, and be came a resident of Bristol, Indiana, in 1842, when that part of the state was largely an unimproved region. He was married there to Miss Flora Cathcart, whose birth occurred in Indiana, July 4, 1820. Both have now passed away, the father having departed this life in Michigan City in 1886, while his wife died in Chicago in 1895. He had resided at Bristol for twenty years and at Valparaiso, Indiana, for nine years, and spent his re maining days in Michigan City. He was a graduate of Queens College, Ontario, and afterward of the Pennsylvania University, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for many years was recognized as an able physician of Indiana, keeping abreast with the progress of the profession and rendering valuable aid to his fellowmen in the restoration of health through the application of effective remedial agencies. In his family were three children, of whom Dr. Sovereign of this review is the eldest. The second son, Allen J., is now as sistant superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Staples, Minnesota. The daughter, Jessie, is the wife of J. H. Snyder, assistant superintendent of the Michigan Central Railroad at Detroit. Dr. Sovereign of this review remained in Bristol, Indiana, until his sixteenth year and acquired his early education in the vil lage schools. In 1862 he removed to Val paraiso with his parents and was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School from 1862 until January, 1864. At a later date he enlisted for active service in the Civil war and became a member of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana In fantry, under command of Captain Goodwin and Colonel Sweet. His regiment was at tached to the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Cumberland, and on the ex piration of his term of service he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Infantry. In September, 1865, he was mustered out, the war having ended. He had rendered valuable aid to his country and with a credit able military record returned to his home. He then re-entered college and was gradu ated in June, 1866, after which he began preparation for his chosen profession, ma triculating in Rush Medical College, at Chi- -5°4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ¦cago, in October of that year. He pursued the regular three years' course there and was graduated in February, 1869. He began practice in Michigan City with his father, remaining there until July, 1874, when he re moved to Three Oaks, where he has prac ticed continuously since, having therefore during almost a third of a century been a member of the medical fraternity here, en joying a large practice, his business con stantly growing in volume and importance as the years have gone by. He has always kept abreast with the progress of the medical fraternity in its efforts to solve the intricate problems connected with the position and is interested in all that promises to bring to man a solution of the complex mystery which we call life. On the 28th of October, 1869, Dr. Sovereign was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Rhinhart, a native of Cass county, Michigan, born in 1846. She is a daughter of Samuel Rhinhart, a pioneer resident of Cass county. They had one daughter, Alice J., now a resident of Lansing, Michigan. The wife and mother passed away April 26, 1902, and on the 27th of September, 1905, Dr. Sovereign was again married, his sec ond union being with Miss Ella Horn, of New Buffalo township. The family home is a fine brick residence on Main street, which was erected by Dr. Sovereign in 1890. He has also built two other buildings here which he rents and which return to him a good income. In his political views Dr. Sovereign has always been a stalwart Republican and cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1868. He has been township clerk and school inspector, and since 1883 has served as a member of the board of education. He has long been recognized as a leader of his party and further political honors awaited him, for in the fall of 1900 he was elected to the state senate, where he rendered such signal and able service that he was re-elected in 1902. He gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and stood as an able defender of the best interests of the commonwealth, making a creditable record as a legislator, his devotion to the interests of his constituents standing as an unquestioned fact in his political record. He is also active in local politics and is a man of influence in his community. Socially Dr. Sovereign is a Mason, having attained high rank in the order. He belongs to the blue lodge at Three Oaks .and to the chapter and commandery at Niles, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Con sistory at Grand Rapids, where he is also connected with the Mystic Shrine. He like wise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees, and is a popular and valued representative of these various organizations. Few men have a wider acquaintance in this part of the county and none are more favorably known than Dr. Sovereign, whose prominence in political, professional and social circles is the direct result of his capability and genuine worth. DR. WILLIAM L. HELKIE, engaged in the general practice of medicine and sur gery, and also interested in various manu facturing enterprises, possesses good busi ness ability as well as professional skill. He was born in Essex, Ontario, July 9, 1870, and was reared to farm life, his parents be ing Charles and Mary Ann (Vodden) Hel- kie, who were likewise natives of Ontario. The father was of German lineage, how ever, while the mother was of English de scent, and they are still residents of Essex.- In their family were nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom the Doctor was the fifth in order of birth and eight of the number are now living, all being resi dents of Ontario with the exception of Dr. Helkie of this review and Mrs. A. B. Cooper of Detroit, Michigan. In taking up the personal history of Dr. Helkie we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known here by reason of his professional ability and his many admirable personal traits. He was reared to farm life, making the old homestead his home until about 1892, during which time he attended the high school of his native city. He was engaged in teaching for three consecutive years in the country schools and in 1892 went to HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY. 505 Detroit, taking out naturalization papers. In the same year he entered the Detroit Col lege of Medicine, and completed his course in 1895. During his senior year he was appointed house physician of St. Mary's Hospital, and acted in that capacity until he came to Three Oaks in May, 1895. Here he entered upon general practice and is a member of the Kalamazoo Academy of Med icine and of the Berrien County and State Medical Societies. He keeps in touch with the progress of the profession through con stant reading and research, and his labors have been of direct benefit to his fellowmen as the years have gone by, a liberal patron age being accorded him. He is likewise in terested in various manufacturing enter prises, some of which are located in Philadel phia, Pennsylvania, and others in Kala mazoo, Michigan. Dr. Helkie was married in Three Oaks, in 1896, to Miss Par la Belle Sheldon, a na tive of Kansas, and a daughter of Rev. James Blakeslee Sheldon, a minister of the Presbyterian church, who died in Kansas, after which his widow came to Michigan with her three children. Dr. and Mrs. Hel kie have no children of their own but have an adopted son, Donald Lawrence. The family occupy a pleasant residence, which is owned by Dr. Helkie, who also has some good business property in town. His politi cal support is given to the Republican party, and as every true American citizen should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has the same loyalty for the stars and stripes which is manifest by those who were born under the folds of the American banner, and his in terest in community affairs is deep and sin cere, leading to active co-operation in many measures for the general good. He is identi fied with a number of local fraternal orders and is also a consistent member of the Con gregational church. CHARLES CLOSE is numbered among the pioneers of Three Oaks and Berrien county, having arrived in the county in the fall of 1855. In the years that have come and gone through judicious investment, profitable sales and through untiring indus try and enterprise he became one of the most substantial farmers in all the county and is now living retired, enjoying at his pleasant home in Three Oaks tbe fruits of his former toil. He was born in Baden, Germany, De cember 20, 1834, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Hecker) Close, who spent their entire lives upon a farm in Baden. In their family were four children: Christian, Charles, Emma and Caroline, but Charles is the only one who ever came to America. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world and possessing perhaps a more ad venturous spirit than tbe other members of the family, he sailed for the United States in 1854 when a young man of nineteen. He was anxious to enjoy the opportunities which he had heard might be secured in the new world and he settled in Sandusky City, Ohio, where he engaged in general labor for six months. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also spent six months and later took up his abode in Laporte, Indiana, whence he afterward came to Berrien coun ty, in the fall of 1855. Here he worked at farm labor in the employ of others for a time, but when his diligence and frugality had brought him sufficient capital he made purchase of a farm of his own, which he afterward traded for town property. He has recently sold three hundred and twenty acres. He has now a farm of two hundred acres in Three Oaks township and at one time he had about six hundred acres of valu able land. All that he has possessed has been acquired through his own efforts and he is certainly one of the successful self-made men. He owns his own home and four other dwellings in Three Oaks and for six years has resided in the town, in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. For a long period he was actively engaged in general agricul tural pursuits, placing his land under a high state of cultivation and adding to his prop erty as his financial resources increased. Tbe income derived therefrom now enables him to live retired, surrounded by the comforts and many of the luxuries which go to make life worth living. Mr. Close was married in 1863 to Miss Caroline Cablin, who was born in Baden, Germany, on the 15th of December, 1846, 5°6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and came to the United States with her par ents when nine years of age. She is a daugh ter of George and Minnie Cablin, and by ber marriage has become the mother of five chil dren : Charles A., who is a teacher in De troit Agricultural College; Fred, who is liv ing near Bay City, Michigan; Emma, the wife of Ernest Hamann, of Three Oaks; Elizabeth, the wife of Howard Shelley, liv ing in Michigan City; and John, who owns and operates a fine barber shop, the best in Three Oaks. Mr. Close is a Democrat in his political views and has served on the village council and also as a member of the school board. He belongs to the A. U. V., a German so ciety. His life has been one of untiring activity, crowned with success, and his record proves what may be accomplished by determination and earnest purpose in a land where labor is not hampered by caste or class. WILLIAM SHAFER, who spent his entire life in Lake township., was born on the nth of October, 1848, and throughout the intervening years was connected with agricultural interests. His parents were John and Jacobina (Boyle) Sbafer, natives of Germany. They came to the United States with their two children about 1845 and made their way direct to. Lake township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father became one of the extensive property owners of the locality and was worth at one time sixty thousand dollars. He was a leading and in fluential resident of the community and be longed to that class of representative men who while promoting individual success also advance the general prosperity. In the fam ily were nine children : Anna, deceased ; John, who has passed away and whose life record is given elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Katharine Kramer, of St. Joseph; William, of this review ; Mrs. Ena Reck, of Lake township; Levi, who is living in Oronoko township; Gottlieb, of Oronoko township; Mrs. Mary Feather; and Mrs. Olive Myers, of Lake township. William Shafer spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, no event of special importance occurring up to the time of his marriage, which was cele brated in 1873, Miss Emma Hyatt becoming his wife. She was born in Lake township, October 17, 1850, and has always resided here. Her parents were Clayton and Nancy (Heathman) Hyatt, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. They were married in the latter state and drove from Ohio to Michigan with ox teams in 1843, spending their remaining days in this part of the coun try. They had a family of nine children : James R., living in Montana; Morris, who died in Kansas; Emma, now Mrs. Shafer; Mrs. Alice Lemon of this township; Mrs. Bertha Bellingham of Cass county; Mrs. Ida Boswell of Royalton, Michigan; Benjamin, who is living in Lake township; William of Kalamazoo; and Mrs. Olive Kennicott of Williamsburg, Michigan. At the time of his marriage William Shafer removed to the farm upon which his widow now resides, having sixty acres of land on section 13, Lake township. He also owned two other farms, one of forty acres on section 22 and a third of eighty acres on section 25, Lake township. His real estate also included two dwellings in Baroda and a business block in that town, together with four dwellings in St. Joseph-. At the time of his marriage, however, he started with only forty acres, which was in the midst of the woods. Scarcely a furrow had been turned or an improvement had been made upon the place, but with characteristic energy he began its further development and as the years passed brought the farm under a high state of cultivation. As his financial re sources increased he invested more and more largely in land and three years prior to his death he built the present fine residence which stands upon the farm. He owed his success entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife. He followed general farming, carefully controlling his business affairs, and his watchful manage ment and. enterprise proved the basis upon which he builded his success. He was very quiet and retiring in disposition, devoted to his family and to his friends, whose com panionship he greatly enjoyed. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shafer were born HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 5°7 three children, two sons and a daughter : Al bert J., who is living in Lake township; Ida L., the wife of Augustus Nelson of this township ; and William B., who resides upon the home farm with his mother. He is mar ried and now has charge of the home place. In his political views William Shafer was a stalwart Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him. Pie held membership with the Inde pendent Order of ..Odd .Fellows at Baroda. He was recognized as a good neighbor and a devoted husband and father. He held high ideals and was a man. of moral standing in the community. He lived a very active and useful life and his diligence continued almost up to the hour of his death. He had been busy through the morning and came into dinner. About an hour later he passed away, on the 22d of December, 1902. His death was the occasion of deep and wide spread regret, for all who- knew him re spected him, while those who came within the closer circle of his acquaintance gave to him warm and enduring friendship. W. E. MUTCHLER, conducting a market in Buchanan, was born in Buchanan township, this county, ori the 26th of Octo ber, 1876, his parents being Charles and Sarah (Behner) Mutchler, in whose family of eight children he was the fifth in order of birth. His father, a native of Ohio, gave his attention to' farming" upon his removal from the Buckeye state to Michigan, his home being in Buchanan township, where he secured and operated a good tract of land. W. E. Mutchler "was reared upon the old homestead farm, no event of special im portance occurring to vary the routine of such a life for him in his boyhood days. His attention was given to the labors of the fields, his early education was acquired in the district schools and he continued his studies in the high school at Buchanan. When not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields and followed farming until twenty-one years of age, when he came to the city, living with Dr. Henderson for some time. He was employed in the axle works for about five years, being a con tractor in making a part of the' machinery. In 1902 he turned his attention to the butch ering business and is now conducting a first class market, wherein he has secured a lib eral trade. He carries a good line of meats and puts forth earnest effort to please his patrons. On the 1 Ith of June, 1898, Mr. Mutch ler was married to Miss Mary Allison, a daughter of Miss Elizabeth Allison, of Buchanan. Unto them has been born one child, Cecil Marguerite. . Mr. Mutchler is a Democrat in his political views but is without aspiration for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to business affairs, which are being capably conducted and are bring ing him a desirable and merited measure of success. , He has always lived in Berrien county and is a typical son of Michigan. FRANK L. FULKERSON, residing on section 14, Niles township, filling the position, of township treasurer, is a na tive of St. Joseph county, Indiana. He was born October 26, 1859, his parents beirig Lewis and Mary A. (Stringer) Fulkerson. The father, a native of New York, became one of the early settlers of St. Joseph county, Indiana, and fol lowed tbe occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. He died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, a native of Ohio, was a young girl at the time of her parents' removal to Indiana. She lived to the age of sixty-five years and be came the mother of nine children, four daughters and five sons, one of whom died in infancy, while the others reached adult age. Frank L. Fulkerson was the fifth child and third son of the family and was reared . and educated in St. Joseph county, his boy hood days being passed in Clay township, where he attended the district schools. Sub sequently he became a student in Notre Dame College. Following the completion of his education he worked in a factory un til about thirteen years ago, when he turned his attention to general agricultural pur suits and has since carried on farming. He now owns seventy-eight acres of land on section 14, Niles township, having taken up 508 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY his abode here in 1893. Everything about his place is well improved and he is largely engaged in the growing of fruit, having thoroughly acquainted himself with the best methods of producing fruit in this locality, so that his labors are attended with excel lent results. On the 1 6th of June, 1881, Mr. Fulker son was united in marriage to Miss Ida A. Weaver, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Rockhill) Weaver, both of whom were na tives of Ohio-. They settled in Indiana in 1859, becoming residents of St. Joseph county. Mrs. Fulkerson was born in Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, August 31, 1859, and was only six weeks old at the time of the parents' removal to Indiana. She was reared in South Bend and acquired her education in the public schools. Follow ing their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson resided in South Bend for about fourteen years and then came to Berrien county in 1893, since which time they have remained at their present home. They have reared one son, Oren A. Since coming to Berrien county Mr. Fulkerson has taken an active interest in affairs relating to the welfare and upbuild ing of the community. He is identified with the Democracy and has held a number of local offices. He has served as school direc tor and in 1905 and again in 1906 was elected township treasurer, so that he is the present incumbent in the position. He is well known in the county, taking an active and helpful interest in those things which promote good citizenship and uphold the legal and political status of the community. Diligence is one of his salient characteristics and has been the basic element to his success. ELLIS S. ROE, president of a hard ware mercantile firm, of Buchanan, is a na tive son of this city, born February 3, 1864, and his life is another illustration of the fact that success depends upon a thorough un derstanding and mastery of a certain line of business and close application and that quality which in modern parlance is known as commercial sense. He has made a cred itable record in the business of the com munity and belongs to that class upon whom general progress depends. Eli Roe, the grandfather of Ellis S. Roe, was a native of Ohio, whence he removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where occurred the birth of Eli J. Roe, whose native place was about five miles north of South Bend. The latter became a successful, all around business man and manufacturer, who owned and operated at one time seven sawmills. He cut all of the trees and timber used in the construction of the first ten miles of the St. Joseph Valley Railroad. A pioneer of Mich igan, he came to what is now Buchanan in 1854 and located sawmills in the midst of the forest and became one of the first repre sentatives of the lumber trade in this part of the country. He was one of the prominent promoters and upbuilders of Berrien county and continued in active life to the benefit of his personal interests and the general community as well, up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1894, when he was sixty-two years of age. He married Miss Susan Witter, a native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, and now a resident of Buchanan. The wedding was celebrated in 1855, and they became the parents of three daughters and five sons, all of whom are living at this writing, the eldest being fifty years of age and the youngest twenty-five years, Ellis S., however, being the fourth child and third son. In, the city of his nativity Ellis S. Roe was reared and began his education, which was supplemented by study in Northern Indi ana Normal School, at Valparaiso, being graduated from the business department in the class of 1883. In the same year he be came connected with his father in the lum ber trade and so continued for a year at Buchanan. In fact he was associated with lumbering interests from early youth, hav ing begun work in the mill when only twelve years of age and he ran an engine wben only ten years old. He also worked on a farm in Buchanan township in early life and his youth was largely a period of untiring activ ity and industry. The hardware company, of which he is now the president, was es tablished in 1884, and in 1885 he was given an interest in the business. He had charge HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 5°9 of the undertaking from the beginning, which for a time was conducted under the name of Roe Brothers until 1891. In that year there was a partnership formed by Mr. Roe and H. F. Kingery, wbich relation was terminated in 1893, Mr. Roe purchasing his partner's interest. Since that time he has been sole proprietor and in the interim the business has been doubled in both the amount of stock carried and in sales. He has to some extent changed the line of his opera tions, having ceased to deal in farm imple ments and added a stock of horse goods and plumbing. He has enjoyed for many years a large and growing trade and the enterprise is one of the leading business concerns of the county. On the 2d of November, 1887, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Miss May Tich enor, a daughter of George and Anna (Blake) Tichenor. Two children grace this union, Fred T. and Mildred. Mr. Roe is a stanch Republican, thor oughly conversant with the issues and ques tions of the day and with the policy and purposes of the party. He is a Mason, who has attained the Knight Templar degree and he is connected with the Eastern Star, the Woodmen, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Macca bees. He is a prominent factor in all enter prises and interests with which he is asso ciated. His is a natural discrimination as to business affairs and interests relating to the general development, and, well fitted for leadership, he has left and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the public good. D. L. BOARDMAN. The growth and upbuilding of any community depends upon its industrial and commercial interests and thus they who are the real founders and upbuilders of a city are the leading and ener getic business men. To this class in Buch anan Mr. Boardman is assigned by the con sensus of public opinion. He is engaged in dealing in dry goods and carpets and is en joying a profitable trade. A native of Cattaraugus county, New York, he was born March 15, 1864. His father, Lorin Boardman, was a native of Vermont, a son of Timothy Boardman, who was born in England, The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Olive Bur bank, and was also a native of the Green Mountain state. In the family were five children, three of whom reached years of maturity. D. L. Boardman, the youngest of the family, was reared in the place of his nativity and supplemented his early educational priv ileges, afforded by the common schools, by study in Chamberlain Institute, at Ran dolph, New York. He taught school for four years and then entered upon his busi ness career in the capacity of a clerk in a large store at Three Oaks, Michigan. This was in 1889, and he served there for about two years, when, in 1891, he opened his present business at Buchanan in partnership with Louis Wehrle as a dealer in dry goods and carpets. This relation was maintained for five years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Buchanan bought out his part ner's interest and afterward conducted the business alone. In 1902, however, he sold his commercial interests in Buchanan and went to the west, locating in Wyoming, whg re he engaged in dealing in hardware and mining supplies. He remained only a year, however, after which he returned to Buch anan, although he still has an interest in the Wyoming business. Upon his return to this city he purchased the store of which he had formerly been proprietor and which he is now successfully conducting, having a large trade. He carries an extensive and well selected line of goods for a town of this size and nis reliable business methods and earnest desire to please his customers have secured him a large and growing patronage. In 1 89 1 Mr. Boardman was united in marriage to Miss Kate Sherrill, a daughter of C. C. Sherrill, of Brandon, Florida. Mr. Boardman has been a resident of Buchanan for fifteen years and is the oldest dry goods merchant in town. In politics he is a Demo crat and has taken an active interest. in the work of the party. He served as township treasurer and has been a member of the town council. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen Camp and to the Presbyterian church — associations 5io HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY which indicate much of the character of the man and the upright principles which permeate his life and establish his conduct. WASHINGTON A. SMITH, who was a resident of Benton township and a notable figure here, possessing marked traits of char acter, was for a considerable period one of the successful fruit growers of the county. He read broadly, thought deeply and formed an individual opinion of all that he studied.. He was a disciple of nature, enjoying its every phase and with great appreciation of its beauty. Having read the Bible extensively he was not sectarian but accepted the golden rule as a guide for life. Mr. Smith was born in Bedford, Penn sylvania, February 8, 1824, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Putnam) Smith, who were natives of Maryland. When their son was nine years of age they removed from Pennsylvania to Columbiana county, Ohio, and Mr. Smith acquired his education in Oberlin, Ohio. Taking up the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in the old Indian Council House at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and entered upon active practice, remaining a member of the bar at Bryan, Ohio, for thirteen years. In the meantime he had heard so much of Michigan that he de termined to live in this state and his health finally decided him to remove to this state in order to' secure a change of climate and he purchased a farm, which at that time had but ten acres. He built his house a year before removing his wife to this county and located on Lake Michigan. It was the house which he occupied up to the time of his death but he added to it and improved it until it became one of the best farm residences in the county, commanding a fine view of Lake Michigan. Mr. Smith was married on the ist of July, 1859, in Amberg, Michigan, to Miss Theresa Mary Holzer, who was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, on the 9th of March, 1842. Tbey removed from Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, to Michigan, in 1862, and set tled on a farm about three miles north of Benton Harbor. Here Mr. Smith engaged in business as a commercial grower of fruit and became well known as a leading horti culturist and a worker in various horticul tural societies. On his arrival he set out peach trees and other fruits. Fifty acres of his farm bordered the lake and his orchards were thus rendered free from frost. He delighted in his farm, finding great pleasure in its cultivation and improvement and became a close student of fruit and its possibilities in this portion of the country. He was one of the best educated men of Berrien county. He possessed keen in tellectuality and an analytical mind, was well versed in law and became equally en thusiastic as a student of horticultural sub jects. He delighted in nature in its various phases and his life after coming to Michigan was amid his flowers, his plants and his orchards. From the budding springtime un til the late autumn he took the greatest de light in everything that grew and there was in his' nature the kindly element and ap preciation that are ever cultivated in those who live near to nature's heart. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children : Edwin A., who is now living in South Dakota; Mary, the wife of Frank Burdick, of Sodus township; Fanny B., at home; and Karl A., who married Lucy El mer, of Vermont, and conducts the home farm. In his political views Mr. Smith was a stalwart Republican until 1872, when he became a Democrat. He was an enthusiastic anti-slavery man prior to and during the period of the Civil war. He frequently at tended the conventions of his party and was a candidate for the legislature at the time of Cleveland's election but suffered defeat. He was very active as a stump speaker up to that time and was strong and forceful in argument and logical in his deductions. He always held the attention of his hearers and many times brought conviction to their minds. He was active as a member of the Grange and the County Agricultural Society. He held membership with no church nor fra ternity but was a close student of the Bible. In later life he announced the golden rule as his faith. He enjoyed an argument on religion or politics and was always able to present his side of the question with clear ness and force. He liked, too, a game of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 511 chess, checkers, or cards but particularly the first mentioned, delighting in the skill which it called forth. His reading was largely historical, scientific and solid nature. He read the New York Tribune for many years, or until after Horace Greeley's campaign and death, and subsequently he became a sub scriber to the Chicago Times. He gauged men according to what they read. He was himself a constant reader, his reading cover ing a wide range and he was particularly familiar with the plays of Shakespeare. His wife, too, had enjoyed good educational ad vantages in her girlhood days but was mar ried in early life, being but seventeen at the time she gave her hand to Mr. Smith. For four years prior to his death Mr. Smith was an invalid but retained his mental faculties to tlie last, passing away February 10, 1903. He was buried in Crystal Springs, wbere a simple but handsome block of marble marks his last resting place. He never believed in show, his life being entirely free from ostentation and his many good qualities won him the respect and esteem of all with whom he was associated. GENERAL LYMAN M. WARD, liv ing on a small farm near Benton Harbor, is numbered among the honored residents of Berrien county. His life record began in Cattaraugus county, New York, October 5, 1836. His father, Rev. Abel C. Ward, was a son of John Ward and both were natives of Connecticut. Rev. Abel C. Ward was a Congregational minister and died in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1869. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Esther Dibble, was born in Massachusetts and die at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1893. In their family were six children. General Ward, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Genesee county, New York, until fifteen years of age and later attended the high school and the academy at Fond du Lac. He read law but put aside his law books in order to respond to the coun try's need, enlisting at Lincoln's first call for three months' troops and becoming a member of Company I, First Wisconsin In fantry. On the expiration of that term he re-enlisted as a member of Company A, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, which regi ment was sent to the Army of the Ten nessee. In 1862 he was made a major of his regiment and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and eventually was commissioned colonel of the Fourteenth Wisconsin. He commanded a brigade for two years and was brevetted brigadier general. Throughout the entire period of his. active service he was with the Army of the Tennessee and his pro motions are indications of his splendid mili tary qualities and his unfaltering loyalty to the cause which he espoused. The history of the Fourteenth Wisconsin is the history of his army service and included participa tion in many important battles and move ments. The year 1866 witnessed the arrival of General Ward in Benton Harbor and he has been a prominent and influential factor in public life here. In 1879 and 1880 he repre sented his district in the state legislature, having been elected on the Republican ticket. He gave careful consideration to each ques tion which came up for settlement and was connected with much important legislation that was enacted ^during that period. He was appointed by President Harrison to the posi tion of postmaster of Benton Harbor and his continuation in the office extended over five years. Five years ago he located on his present farm just north of Benton Har bor, which he had previously purchased. He had occupied it before and he now makes his home thereon, devoting his time and energies to fruit growing. His place com prises seventeen acres and he raises excellent crops of peaches and other fruits. Six years ago the place netted him thirty-two hundred dollars. The winter previous the fruit in other parts of the county were killed by the severe weather, but General Ward's trees escaped and he was able to sell his fruit at high prices, that being the banner year in his net profits. He is also a breeder of ducks and Ancona chickens, Mrs. Ward being a fancier of fine chickens. On the 13th of June, 1880, was cele brated the marriage of General Ward and Miss Nellie T. Child, of Benton Harbor, who was a native of New York. She is very enthusiastic over the raising of chickens and 512 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY has done excellent work in this direction. General Ward is now living retired from former activities, occupying his attractive little farm a mile north of the city. His life has been one of enterprise and industry and of prominence and influence. He has been the leading factor in many movements relating to the general welfare and has dis played the same loyal and public-spirited citizenship which he manifested when on southern battle fields he defended the old flag. He is still a man of soldierly bearing and yet keeps well informed on the ques tions of public moment, standing for progress and improvement in matters of local interest as well as those pertaining to the national welfare. GEORGE WRIGHT, now deceased, was a worthy pioneer settler of Berrien coun ty, who for a long period was a representa tive of its horticultural interests, a leading source of income here. He was born in Clay ton, Jefferson county, New York, August io, 1832, his parents being Daniel and Mary Ann (Wilder) Wright, both of whom were also natives of Jefferson county. The son remained in Clayton until* seventeen years of age, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he went to the Pacific coast in company with others, making his way to the mines, and for three years he was engaged in prospecting with fair suc cess. The Australian gold excitement drew him to that country, where he spent three years. He camped out, doing his own cook ing and in his search for the precious metal he met with a fair measure of success. He then returned to his old home in New York. His mother had died when he was but six years of age and he had been reared by a step-mother. He could get a letter but once a year, owing to the few vessels which made . the trip between the United States and the Australian ports. His father, supposing him dead, not having heard from him in such a long time, sold his property in New York and came to Michigan. The Wilder family was already in Michigan, Mr. Wright's grandfather, Simpson Wilder, having lo cated in Millburg, Berrien county, among the first pioneers of this section of the state, so when Daniel Wright, father of our sub ject, sold his property in the east he also came to Michigan. A daughter, Caroline, had also come and lived with her grand father. She was engaged in teaching here in pioneer times and she later married Nel son Newlan, late of Benton Harbor. Her son is William Newlan, the well known real estate dealer of Benton Harbor. When George Wright was on his way to Michigan after visiting his old home in New York he read in the Niles paper of his father's death, reaching Millburg a few days after his father had been laid to rest. After looking about the country to some extent Mr. Wright purchased tbe farm which is still in possession of his family. After ar riving here, however, he devoted some time to teaching. He had devoted his leisure and evening hours to study in his little cabin while engaged in mining and had thus ac quired a good knowledge which qualified him for educational work. He taught school in the Pearl district and also at Spinks Cor ners, and his sister Caroline, who were the only two surviving members of the family, lived upon his farm and both were early school teachers of the county, aiding in the intellectual development of this section of the state in pioneer times. During the Pike's Peak excitement in 1859, Mr. Wright joined a company going from Berrien county to Colorado. They made their way to St. Joseph, Missouri, and were there preparing to start across tbe plains, but some of the company became ill and others discouraged and they turned back, all except Mr. Wright, who secured a school in Missouri. The next year he went on foot across the plains with a pack on his back to Pike's Peak. Even tually he reached Denver and thence pro ceeded, southward to the gold digging, but he failed to find a prospect that suited him, so he worked by the day in the mines at Central City, Colorado. He was absent from Michigan for about six years, during which time he received good returns for his labor in the west. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Wright re turned to Berrien county. In the meantime his sister, Caroline, had married and on the 27th of November, 1864, Mr. Wright was HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 513 married in Millburg to Miss Eliza J. Hess of that place and a daughter of George W. Hess, who is mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Juan Hess. The young people had been acquainted before Mr. Wright went to Colorado and they became engaged through correspondence during his absence. Mr. Wright had by this time twenty acres of land cleared and planted to fruit and had already built a plank house upon his place. He en gaged in teaching scbool at Pearl, through the next winter living upon his own farm after which he devoted his undivided at tention to clearing, cultivating and improv ing his eighty acres of land. Finally he placed it all under cultivation and he kept setting out fruit trees until he had thirty acres devoted to peaches and apples. Later he replaced his apple orchards with peaches, having thirty acres in peaches, for which he obtained high prices on the market and thus made considerable money. He was thus en gaged extensively and successfully in the cultivation of that fruit until 1872-3, when his orchards were destroyed by the yellows. Several years passed and as soon as he saw that peaches could be again grown profit ably be set out forty acres to that fruit and continued raising peaches until they became his staple crop. His returns -were good and for years he was also an extensive melon grower, in which branch of his business satisfactory results were obtained. His life was devoted to his farm and the improve ment of his place and he became well known as one of the leading horticulturists of his part of the county. His residence is situated four miles from the postoffice in Benton Har bor on Brittain avenue and five miles from Lake Michigan. The elevation is such that a fine view is gained of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and the interesting country which surrounds them. They can also see the lake vessels coming and going and the place has been appropriately named Grand View, for it commands a splendid view of the sur rounding country with its orchards, vine yards and cultivated fields. In 1887 he erected the present large residence that stands upon the farm. It is a brick dwelling, containing fourteen rooms and is one of the best country homes in the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born four daughters. Georgiana, who was form erly a teacher, is now the wife of Charles Canfield, who lives upon a farm adjoining the old homestead and they have two chil dren, Harold and Alice. Mary L. and Alta- vine are at home. Winefred is principal of the Lincoln school in St. Joseph. Mrs. Wright and her daughters still reside upon the farm and are making a success of tbe business. Mrs. Wright began teaching at the age of seventeen years and followed that profession each year until her marriage, making in all fifteen terms in Berrien coun ty, having charge of schools in- Benton and Bainbridge townships. Her parents had twelve children, of whom ten were teachers, all in Berrien county. Her mother was also a teacher before her marriage, so that the family have done an important work in pro moting the educational interests of this part of the state. Mr. Wright died March 15, 1905, after an illness of four years, though all through that period he superintended his business in terests. His remains were interred in Mill burg cemetery. He was identified with no church nor fraternity, but was a good Bible student and contributed to the support of and attended the services of various churches. He had been reared in the strict Baptist faith but was liberal in his views. His early political allegiance was given to the Democracy, but during the winter which he spent in Missouri he became a champion of the Republican party and continued one of its supporters until his death. He took an active interest in educational questions, served as school inspector and did all in his power to advance tbe cause of education in the county. He was familiar with the his tory of Berrien county from pioneer times and did much to promote its improvement at an early day. As the years passed by he kept in touch with the progress made in fruit culture and was long acknowledged one of the leading horticulturists of his community, who not only thoroughly understood the best methods of raising fruit but at the same time 33 5i4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY managed the financial part of his business so as to gain a comfortable competence and leave to his family an excellent property. CLAUS H. SCHULTZ, has been a leader in the German settlement at New Buffalo, Berrien county, and his influence has been felt as a moving factor in business life and political inter ests, his entire career being characterized by an allegiance to those principles which everywhere command respect and confidence. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 29th of September, 1842, a son of Claus Henry and Mary (White) Schultz, also natives of Germany. The mother died when her son Claus was only four years of age and the father married again before coming to the United States. There were two sons and three daughters of the first marriage but no children were born to the sec ond union. The members of the family were : Detlof, who served in the Ninth In diana Infantry for the first three months of the war and was disabled, his death oc curring later in Indiana; Johanna, who re sides at Rolling Prairie, Indiana; Sophia, the wife of Christopher Freeze also of Rolling Prairie, who was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in the same company with the subject of this review; Claus H. ; and Lena, tbe wife of John Rickert, who makes his home in Laporte, Indiana. Claus H. Schultz spent the first seven years of his life in his native country and then came to the United States with his father in 1849 on the sailing vessel Anna Mary, which was nine weeks and four days in making the voyage from Hamburg to New York. The family located at Buffalo, New York, where they remained for three years and thence came to New Buffalo, Berrien county, Michigan, about 1852. Here Mr. Schultz of this review has re sided since, with the exception of a few years. Pie acquired his education in the common schools, after which he turned his attention to farming, following that pur suit in the midst of a district covered with stumps, for this had been a timber tract and the trees had been cut clown in order that the farmer might plant his grain and cultivate his crops. When eighteen years of age Mr. Schultz learned the trade of blacksmithing at Laporte, Indiana, and fol lowed it continuously until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Union army, en rolling his name at Laporte on the 4th of August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served under Colonel Hathaway and Captain G. C. Gladwin. He was engaged in the battles at Lexington, Kentucky, Pen- ville, Kentucky, Cumberland Gap, Stone River, Murfreesboro, and was wounded by grape shot, resulting in the fracture of three ribs on the left side. On account of his injuries he was in the hospital at Nash ville for seven months, after which he re turned to his regiment, but he was not able to carry his equipment. He had the closest calls not in battle but in skirmishes, at Lar- kinsville, Alabama, on the 14th of April, 1865, and in a big skirmish on the 24th of the same month when seven Union men were attacked by eighty rebels and it was with difficulty that Mr. Schultz and his com panions managed to extricate themselves from the dangerous position in which they had been placed. He served for three years as a loyal and able defender of the Union cause and was then honorably dis charged at Nashville and mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana, in July, 1865. Mr. Schultz returned home with a most creditable military record and for a year thereafter engaged in farming. He then went to Laporte, Indiana, where he was em ployed as a clerk in a confectionery store. Subsequently he bought a grocery store, which he conducted for three or four years and about that time he was married and returned to Michigan, where he began farm ing, giving his attention to agricultural pur suits for four years. He was then obliged to abandon that business on account of the difficulty which he experienced on account of the wounds that be had sustained in battle. Taking up his abode in New Buffalo, Mr. Schultz here began the manufacture of or namental rustic work for floral purposes. He also grew and raised wild grasses and imported flowers and grasses. He continued HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 515 in the business for twenty-four years on an extensive scale, his products being sold in all of the states of the Union. He sold to the wholesale trade and in job lots, having a good patronage in Chicago and other large cities. He employed from ten to fif teen men and carried on a profitable busi ness, being a leading representative of the industrial arid commercial interests of his town. Since retiring from the trade Mr. Schultz has filled a number of local posi tions of honor and trust. His political sup port has always been given to the Repub lican party, and he has filled nearly all of the townsbip offices. He was justice of the peace for twenty-eight consecutive years and his decisions were strictly fair and im partial, winning him high commendation. He served as supervisor of his township in 1883 and 1884 and again in 1904 and 1905. He has been township clerk and treasurer for a number qf terms and the confidence reposed in him has been well placed, as is. proven by the capable, prompt and reliable manner in whicb he bas discharged his duties. In April, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Claus H. Schultz and Miss Anna M. Hoick, who was born in Holstein, Germany, October 8, 1843, and in 1865 came to the United States with her parents, John and Anna Hoick. .The children of this marriage are: Carl J. Schultz, who is now filling the position of county treasurer and makes his home in St. Joseph; Mary, the wife of W. W. Dickinson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is purchasing agent for the Michigan Central and New York Cen tral railroad lines; Henry D., who is en gaged in the insurance business at Los An geles, California, and is a graduate of Kala mazoo College, having thus prepared for the Baptist ministry ; Emma C, who is a gradu ate of music and is now teaching piano iri Oak Park, Illinois. All of the sons have had college educations and have thus been well equipped for life's practical and re sponsible duties. Mr. Schultz was at one time owner of ninety acres of land and also had several farms, but sold them. He now has about thirteen acres planted largely to peaches, and in addition he' owns village property, including residences and public buildings. His interest in community affairs is deep_ and sincere and has been manifest by active co-operation in many movements for the general good. He served as president oi the village for a number of years until he declined to longer accept the office and dur ing his incumbency he gave a public-spir ited administration, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare. He belongs to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, and has been both president and secretary of the congregation, filling the former posi tion since 1873. He was at one time a member of Minor Pratt Post, G. A. R., and was its first commander. The post has ceased to exist owing to the few members in this part of the county. Since 1867 he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, No. 231, at New Buffalo). His name is closely associated with the material progress and political ad vancement of the community and an investi gation into his life History shows many elements that are worthy of emulation. He has ever had due regard for high and honor able principles and he awakens the confi dence and esteem of his fellowmen by his allegiance thereto. He is a man of influence among the German-American citizens and belongs to that class of the sons of the fatherland who have proven a valued acqui sition to the citizenship of the new world. EDSON BUSHNELL JEWETT is one Of the leaning fruit farmers of Benton coun ty, living near Benton Harbor. He owns the "Grand View" farm comprising forty- nine acres and bordering the Paw Paw river and also has another farm of thirteen acres on the lake shore devoted to fruit, making a specialty of apples, peaches and plums. In bis horticultural pursuits he has met with gratifying measure of success and his in dividual labors have resulted in making him a substantial citizen of his adopted county. Mr. Jewett is a native of New England, his birth having occurred in Weybridge, Vermont, June 11, 1837. He was there reared upon a farm near the ancestral home 5i6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of the family, for he is descended from some of the first settlers of Weybridge. His pa ternal grandfather, Colonel Thomas Jewett, lived in the Green Mountain state in colonial days and accepted the sword of Colonel Baum at the surrender of the British at the battle of Bennington. The family has been prominent in public life for many years. One of the number, Judge Charles Jewett, was late judge of the circuit court over which Judge Coolidge now presides and was an uncle of E. B. Jewett of this review. An other member of the family is John G. Saxe, the poet, a son of the only sister of Philo Jewett, the father of our subject. Philo Jewett became one of the extensive and prosperous farmers of Weybridge, as was his father, Colonel Thomas Jewett, and uncles of our subject were also closely, actively and successfully connected with agricultural pur suits there. Solomon Jewett, one of the uncles, was an importer of fine sheep, while Samuel Jewett, a brother of our subject, was an extensive breeder of high grade sheep at Independence, Missouri. Edson Bushnell Jewett was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties of cultivating the soil and caring for the stock. He acquired a public school edu cation and at the age of twenty-three years was married to Miss Mary Gillette, of Bridgeport, Vermont, a daughter of Reuben Gillette, a farmer and sheep breeder, who was not only well known as a successful business man but also as a public officer in Bridgeport. He was the son of Reuben Gillette, who captured a sword in the Revo lutionary war which is now in possession of Mrs. Jewett. He was one of the founders of the church in Bridgeport, locating there on its first settlement. He went to Vermont from Massachusetts, while his wife was from Connecticut and was a daughter of Lord Talbot of England. Mrs. Jewett is the only survivor of her father's family. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom reached mature years but all have now passed away. Mrs. Jewett engaged in teach ing school for a time prior to her marriage. Following the wedding Mr. Jewett began farming on the old Gillette homestead, for his father-in-law died a short time prior to the marriage and his mother-in-law soon afterward. He continued to conduct the old Gillette farm of two hundred acres at Bridge port, Vermont, for several years, but in 1876 came to Michigan and took up his abode on a farm near Benton Harbor. He as well as his father had loaned money on farms in Michigan and had thus come into possession of the property. Mr. Jewett's uncle, Judge Jewett, induced them to come- to the west and live upon one of the farms. which they had secured under the mortgage. This first farm was situated along the lake shore and Mr. Jewett retained his residence thereon until the spring of 1894, after which he lived for three years in Benton Harbor, when he secured his present farm, just north of the city and adjoining the corporation, limits. It comprises forty-nine acres of land and is known by the name of Grand View- It borders the Paw Paw river and is im proved with a large and substantial resi dence, good barns and other modern equip ments. It is the old Dr. Winans property- and is one of the valuable tracts of land in the vicinity of Benton Harbor. In addition to this Mr. Jewett owns a tract of thirteen acres on the lake shore. His farm is de voted to horticultural pursuits, his specialty being apples, peaches and plums and from an orchard of four and a half acres in 1905 he sold nearly nine hundred bushels of peaches and has in other years produced as much. The fruit industry has proven quite satisfactory as a source of income and in. addition to his horticultural interests Mr. Jewett is engaged in keeping cows and other stock. He sets out trees from time to time- so as to keep his orchards in excellent con dition and his time and energies are devoted' to the farm, for he finds this a congenial- pursuit as well as a good source of income. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jewett have been- born two daughters. Eliza Sophronia is the- wife of Charles Wing, of Bridgeport, Ver mont, who now owns the old Gillette farm and is there engaged in the dairy business. They have two sons and a daughter. Lucy H. is the wife of George H. Burwell, a cement manufacturer of Lansing, Michigan. His father, Henry C. Burwell, deceased, was from Bridgeport, Vermont, and was a notedt HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 5i7 and extensive importer of 'French and Austrian Merino sheep. He was widely known all over the United States in this connection and won more prizes and honors as a breeder of fine sheep than any other importer in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Bur well have three daughters. Mrs. Jewett is a granddaughter of a Revolutionary officer who served for five years in the struggle for independence and the daughter of a soldier of the war of 1812, her father having participated in the battle of Plattsburg. Both received pensions from the government. Mrs. Jewett is therefore entitled to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution but has not con nected herself with the organization. In his political views Mr. Jewett is a Republican, stanch and earnest in support of the party since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, but he has never sought or desired political preferment as a reward for party fealty. Throughout his en tire life he has been connected with agri cultural and horticultural interests and mani fests excellent business capacity in the man agement of his farms. JOHN C. LAWRENCE, living in Ben ton township, Berrien county, his home be ing on the Territorial road about two miles east of Benton Harbor, was born in War ren county, Ohio, August 24, 1843. In 1857 he was brought to this county by his parents, Daniel and Jane (Crawford) Lawrence. The father was born in Canada and was of English parentage. Crossing the border into the United States, he be came a resident of Cincinnati and was mar ried in Ohio to Miss Jane Crawford, whose birth occurred in Warren county, that state, her people having lived in Ohio from an early day. Her father was of English line age, while her mother was from Ireland. Daniel Lawrence was a blacksmith by trade and later learned and followed the shoemak er's trade. Subsequently he turned his at tention to farming and iri 1857, on coming ing to Michigan, he purchased the present home of John C. Lawrence on the Territorial road near Benton Harbor. The land was only partially cleared and upon the place was a frame house but few other improve ments. He paid sixteen hundred dollars for eighty acres. With characteristic energy he began the further development and culti vation of the farm and lived in the original home until his death, which occurred on the 6th of August, 1887, when he had reached the age of eighty-two years, eleven months and sixteen days. His wife had passed away March 17, 1886, at the age of seventy- five years, one month and seventeen days. In his political views Mr. Lawrence was a Democrat and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. In the family were four sons and four daughters, seven of whom reached years of maturity, while two sons and two daughters are yet living, but only two of the number are now residents of Berrien county, namely: John C, of this review; and his sister, Juditha the wife of John Osborn, of Sodus town ship. Of the others Samuel died in North Dakota; Margaret became the wife of James Silver and died in Benton Harbor; William, whose whole life was spent upon the home farm in Benton township, there died April 8, 1905, at the age of sixty- nine years ; Robert is a practicing physician at Hartford, Michigan, and for some years was a teacher. Hadassah is the wife of John G. Withey, a fruit grower of Santa Clara county, California. John C. Lawrence came to Michigan when a youth of fourteen years. When a boy he was shot in the rigbt hand, causing him the loss of the member. His early edu cation was acquired in the public schools and he attended the district schools ot St. Joseph, later continued his studies in South Bend, Indiana, and also studied in the Northern Indiana College, pursuing a normal course. When nineteen years of age he began teaching, receiving a first grade certificate. He first had charge of the school in his home district. He taught altogether for twenty-four consecutive years and with the exception of three terms spent the en tire time in Benton township, while all of his teaching was done in Berrien county. He taught in Benton Harbor in 1868 at a time when there were but two teachers in the schools there, the assistant being Miss 5i8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Alma Bowman. At length Mr. Lawrence was elected commissioner of schools and in that capacity had to visit each school in the county twice a year to settle school diffi culties when the township inspectors failed to do so. He received a salary as commis sioner of twelve hundred dollars per year and that service closed his connection with the schools. While acting in that capacity he held teachers' institutes each summer. He retired from office in 1900 and in 1901 was elected township supervisor after previ ous service in the office, making his incumb ency on the board of supervisors cover a period of eleven years. He has also served for two years as township treasurer and thus has been long connected with the official service. In 1891 the law was changed, whereby the county school commissioner was appointed by tbe board of supervisors and Mr. Lawrence received the appoint ment. He acted as a member of the board of of supervisors nine years in Benton town ship, when he resigned and for two years filled the position of commisioner. In that capacity he had two assistant examiners and conducted all the examinations whereby the teachers were licensed to enter the profes sion. Through all these years Mr. Law rence resided at the old home where he still resides. He served as a member of the county board of school examiners from 1882 until 1 89 1, at which time there were three members of the board, his associates being C. B. Groat and Henry C. Crosby, the former of Berrien township and the latter of New Buffalo. These gentlemen were members of the board as long as it existed and all licenses to teach were issued by the board. In his political views Mr. Lawrence is a stalwart Republican, attends the conven tions of his party and takes an active inter est in its work. He has been carrying on the work of the home farm, he and his brother William being the owners of the property and at the latter's death he became his heir. They were partners all their life and with the exception of three months al ways lived together. Mr. Lawrence is now engaged in fruit growing, having fourteen acres planted to fruit. His cousin, Jeanette Greeley, has acted as his housekeeper for ten years. Mr. Lawrence belongs to Ben ton Lodge, No. 132, I. O. O. F., of which he has served as secretary, and he is also con nected with the Rebekah degree of that order. His interest in the scbools and his labors in their behalf have been effective and far reaching and he has long been rec ognized as a stalwart champion of the cause of education. In his fruit raising interests he is well known and is meeting with very gratifying success in this work. H. L. GERSONDE resides at his home on Jakway avenue in Fair Plain, which is one of the most attractive residences in that part of the county. He has been the owner of his present fine farm since 1882 and is here engaged extensively in raising fruit, devoting his attention to grapes, pears, ap ples, cherries and berries. His orchards are in excellent condition and everything about his place indicates his careful supervision and his thorough understanding of the business. Mr. Gersonde is a native of Prussia, where his birth occurred on the 6th of April, 1845. A iact of which due recognition is not usually accorded in connection with the agricultural and horticultural history of the state is that its development in this direction is in so large a measure due to those who have had their nativity in or trace their lineage to the great empire of Germany. Among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption is Mr. Gersonde. After spending the first twenty-five years of his life in his native country he came to the United States in the spring of 1870. He had acquired his educa tion in the schools of Germany and had served an apprenticeship to the wagonmak- er's trade in early life. He served for three years, or from 1865 until 1868, as a soldier in the regular army during the Austro- Prussian war and participated in the most important engagement of that — the battle of Koennig-Graetz. It was this engagement which decided the result of the war. Dur ing his service Mr. Gersonde was connected HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 519 with the infantry and after retiring from military life he worked at his trade of wagon making for about two years. In the mean time he had friends who had come to Amer ica and were living in St. Joseph, Michigan, so that when he determined to seek a home and fortune in the new world he made his way direct from the Atlantic seaboard to the western shore of this state and has since been connected with Berrien county. Twelve years later his sister came to the county and her last days were spent here. She was the wife of Martin Kasischke. A brother, Henry, came to the United States in 1892, but after eight years returned to Germany. Herman L. Gersonde, after reaching America, was employed for two years at farm labor near St. Joseph, after which he began work at the wagon making trade, which he followed in St. Joseph, in Niles and in Benton Harbor from 1871 until 1879 and during two years of that time he was en gaged in business on his own account. In the latter year he disposed of his business connections in Berrien county and went to Kansas. He purchased land in Ellsworth county, upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. Soon, however, he began to break the prairie sod and built thereon a house, but he lost his crops through the chinch bugs. This oc curred for two years, so that he naturally be came discouraged and, believing that he might enjoy better opportunities at his old home in Michigan, he again came to Ber rien county. Resuming work at his trade, Mr. Ger sonde followed wagon making from 1880 until 1882, when with the money he had saved from his labors he purchased his pres ent farm in Fair Plain. A part of this had been owned by Mr. Heath and the remainder was purchased from Elmer Jakway. He has bere twenty-seven acres of land, on which he has erected a good home and barn. He has twenty-four acres in fruit, ten acres being planted to peaches and five acres to grapes. He raises a variety of pears, apples, cherries and berries and has been very suc cessful as a horticulturist. In 1905 he sold seventeen hundred bushels of peaches and six thousand baskets of grapes from his place. He has been quite successful in his- undertakings, all of which has resulted from untiring labor and enterprise. He had to clear some of his land, which lies along the bluff of the St. Joseph river. The house stands on Jakway avenue in Fair Plain and his home is one of the finest in the vicinity. In the winter of 1901 his house was de stroyed by fire. It had just been rebuilt and remodeled and everything was in fine shape. The loss amounted to twelve hundred dol lars above all insurance. With characteristic energy he rebuilt and the present house cost three thousand dollars. His son was liv ing in the house at the time and did not save even a pair of shoes. The farm is one of the best developed fruit farms in the locality and he grows entirely for the market. His orchards are in excellent condition, being clean and neat in appearance and tbe fruit produced upon the farm commands excel lent prices because of its size and quality. Mr. Gersonde makes it his aim to purchase only the finest nursery stock and produce fine qualities of fruit and has made a close study of the needs of the trees as to soil, climate and nourishment. In 1873, m Benton Harbor, was cele brated the marriage of H. L. Gersonde and Miss Albertina Bauschke, a daughter of Carl Bauschke, a representative farmer of Benton township, who came to the United States at the age of fifteen years. Mrs. Gersonde rep resents the Bauschke family and is a cousin of the Bauschke Brothers, Albert and Lewis, of Benton Harbor. Her parents were also from Prussia and her father was a black smith by *rade, but after coming to Berrien county purchased a farm in Benton town ship lying on Pipestone street about two miles south of Benton Harbor. His atten tion was there afterward given to agricul tural pursuits and the family has long been prominent in the county and the name well known here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gersonde have been born three children who are yet living and they lost one in infancy. Their daughter Nellie is now the wife of Frank Gttstafson, a contractor and builder of St. Joseph. Benjamin is a musician who is now studying music in Boston. He was formerly a member of the Fair Plain band and is a -520 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Ifine clarinet player. Bertha, the youngest of the family, is a stenograpber employed in Benton Harbor. Mr. Gersonde is a Republican in his political views but without aspiration for of fice, preferring to give his time and energies to his business interests. He is a member of the German Baptist church at St. Joseph and served for twenty-one consecutive years as church secretary and for fifteen or six teen years as trustee. He takes an active interest in church work and does all in his power to promote its growth and advance its welfare. He has met with some hardships and difficulties since coming to- America, but altogether has had a successful career and although he was in limited financial circum stances when he crossed the Atlantic he is today one of the substantial fruit growers of tbe county with a business that provides him with many of the comforts and luxuries of life. J. E. STEVENS is a retired merchant, vessel owner and lumberman of Berrien county. For many years he conducted the most extensive business of any man in Ber rien county and his realty possessions were greater. .Through his individual efforts he contributed in large and substantial measure to the progress and prosperity of the county. Following the advent of the early pioneers who blazed the way of civilization there came a type of the builder and organizer, the man of genius who, finding the magic realm opened, forthwith became its exploiter to its vast renown and his own large profit, coin ing its wealth of minerals, lumber, cattle and grain. It is to this class that Mr. Stevens belongs, as for many years he was ranked with its most prominent business men. He is now living retired upon a good farm on the Paw Paw river three miles from Benton Harbor. A native of New York, he was born in Brownsville, Jefferson county, on the 26th of July, 1823. His father, Oliver Stevens, was born in Canada and died when his son James was only six years of age. He was living in Canada at the time of the war of 1812 and was warned to appear armed and equipped ready for duty against the United States. Instead he and a companion cut logs, made an outfit and reached the Amer ican shore just ahead of their pursuers. They went to Brownsville, New York, where Mr. Stevens entered the employ of General Cal vin Brittain, who with the rank of general was serving in the American army in the second war with England, being stationed at Sacketts Harbor. Mr. Stevens began work ing as a farm hand for General Brittain and later married the general's daughter, Miss Sarah Brittain. The Brittain family afterward became prominent and influential in Berrien county and Brittain avenue in Benton Harbor was so named in honor of Major Calvin Brittain, who was one of the principal owners of the town of St. Joseph, which as a surveyor he platted. He had come to Michigan about 1835 and taken up his abode in St. Joseph, from which point he operated extensively in business affairs. He located much land in the county and be came a wealthy man. Moreover he was very active and influential in public life, exerting strong influence in public thought and opinion. He was called to represent his dis trict in the legislature and was also sent to congress, taking an active part in the deliber ations which occurred in the council cham bers of the nation during his term of serv ice. Esteemed by all, he honored the state which honored bim and he accomplished much good in behalf of his community and the commonwealth at large. For many years he remained a resident of Berrien county, his death occurring at his home in Benton Harbor at the end of Brittain avenue. For many years he was engaged in buying and shipping wood to Chicago and was for a long period the most prominent representa tive of this line of business. He had lost much of his property, however, at the time of his death owing to a kindly spirit which had prompted him to accommodate others in a financial way through the signing of papers. He was about sixty-two or sixty- three years of age at the time of his demise and his remains were interred in St. Jo seph. His father, General Brittain, also died in this county, passing away wben about eighty years of age. Up to the last he re tained a military aspect, showing his early HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 52i connection with the army and at all times he commanded the esteem and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. Oliver Stevens, father of our subject, re mained upon the home farm near Browns ville, New York, for some time and there developed a good property, working earnestly and persistently iri the effort to transform his land into productive fields. In fact his untiring energy at length under mined his health. He reared a family of six children, but J. E. Stevens of this re view was the only one who reached mature years and is now living. Two of his broth ers, Oliver and Calvin Stevens, also spent a few years in Berrien county at an early day. In 1852, however, Mr. Stevens of this review sent his brother Calvin to California, where he was later killed by a runaway team. Oliver Stevens engaged in clerking for his brother, J. E. Stevens, in St. Joseph until his death, which occurred in 1864. J. E. Stevens remained upon the old home farm in New York until 1842, when he came to the west and began working for Major Calvin Brittain in a warehouse on the river, dealing in grain which came from points as far away as Kalamazoo, Cassopolis and other towns in that section of the state. At that time Wheeler and Porter also had a warehouse. Mr. Stevens would ship grain to the Buffalo market and became quite an extensive dealer in that commodity. He con tinued in the warehouse from July until Sep tember, receiving grain, salt and other products. On the 2d of September, 1842, while loading the brig Indiana with flour from the third story he would fasten hooks onto the barrels and thus swing them onto the boat, but an accident occurred whereby he fell to the deck of the vessel and broke his right knee. For seven weeks he lay in bed unable to move. He spent the succeed ing winter at Niles with an aunt, Clarissa Brittain, the major's sister, who was con ducting the Niles Female Seminary. He afterward returned to St. Joseph in April, 1843, making this trip on a sleigh. During the winter he clerked for Major Brittain and then became ill with fever, which ended his work for several months. During the suc ceeding winter he worked for his board in a drug store and in the spring of 1844 he purchased a stock of goods on one year's time without paying a cent down. He was entirely unfamiliar with merchandising but his determined spirit and resolute will en abled him to engage in this line of business. As opportunity offered he increased his stock. He had no credit and at that time there were no wholesale stores in Chicago. He went to Chicago to buy goods. He had no money, but after questioning one of the partners he was allowed to have goods to the value of two or three hundred dollars, an agreement being made as to when he should pay for the same. Finally he went to New York without even a recommenda tion, He wanted groceries and the first wholesale house which he entered sold him the bill of goods that he desired on credit and its proprietor took him to a boot and shoe house, introduced him to the owner and vouched for him. He got what he wanted there and afterward went to a dry goods house. He found no difficulty in securing all the goods he desired, for he was a man who inspired confidence and never betrayed it. Soon he had secured a first class stock and he met the payments on time. He kept in creasing his stock and soon New York mer chants offered him six months credit, while Boston merchants offered him eight months credit or a year. Eastern men in going to Chicago would make the journey by way of St. Joseph and visit him at this point. He was induced by a Boston merchant to buy in that city and he continued in the general mercantile business for several years with excellenf*success. In 1846, however, he sold out his old stock and purchased a large stock of whiskey at twenty cents per gallon which was delivered at St. Joseph. He then char tered a vessel, loaded it with whiskey, beans, crackers and other commodities and made his way to Sault Ste. Marie, where he ex pected to get one dollar per gallon for the whiskey, but' found that he could not sell it at all. Later he sold it by taking county orders but this venture proved unprofitable. Mr. Stevens afterward engaged in clerk ing for John E. Sullivan in St. Joseph, and later George Scott & Company, having just bought a stock of dry goods, sold him the 522 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY entire stock at cost. Thus he once more became connected with merchandising in Berrien county. Various dealers in wood gave orders on him and success attended the new venture, so that in the first season he paid for his stock. His trade increased rapidly and he sold goods there until 1870. In that year he began to build vessels and establish lumber yards in Milwaukee and Chicago. He also sent vessels loaded with lumber to Racine and Kenosha, where he traded his cargo for wagons. He handled all of the lumber from ten or twelve saw mills and would furnish money to operate these in the winter, taking the output of the mills in the summer. The business proved very successful and he made money rapidly. He became one of the most prominent lum ber dealers of western Michigan, his opera tions being very extensive in this line. In 1862, in company with others, he built the propeller Favorite at a cost of fifty-six thou sand dollars. This he ran for two years, carrying fruit between St. Joseph and Chi cago. This also proved a profitable busi ness and in two years he distributed twenty- four thousand dollars to stockholders. Mr. Stevens was the treasurer of the company, with John T. Edwards as its president and later Mr. Edwards sold his interest for forty thousand dollars. Mr. Stevens purchased the Lady Franklin for twenty-five thousand dollaars and another boat for twelve thou sand dollars to supply the Chicago trade. Another company built three vessels in Buf falo, which they ran to Chicago in opposition to Mr. Stevens, who was finally induced to join the other company, placing his two ves sels in the combined business. It was repre sented that all of the vessels were free of mortgage. During the first year Mr. Stevens made sixty thousand dollars clear but later he learned that the vessels put into the com pany . by his partners were mortgaged for forty-two thousand dollars. This and sim ilar experiences with men in whom he had trusted compelled him to go into bankruptcy. He gave Marshall Field of Chicago a deed for five thousand acres of timber land in Wisconsin worth sixty thousand dollars to secure Field (who was an old time friend) for twelve thousand dollars, Field having as sumed to pay others with himself. The en tire amount of Mr. Stevens indebtedness was twelve thousand dollars and it was agreed that Mr. Field would keep the land until he could sell to advantage, when the surplus would be paid to Mr. Stevens. After about ten years the latter learned that the land had been sold. He called upon Field, who re ferred him to his partner, Leiter, who dis claimed any knowledge of the business but referred him to Higinbotham, who offered him ten thousand dollars. Knowing some thing of the value of the land Mr. Stevens refused to settle for this amount, but two years later settled for seven thousand dol lars. Afterward he learned the timber alone had been sold for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars and they were selling the land at ten dollars per acre. In consequence of such a transaction Mr. Stevens does not have a very high regard for the "merchant prince" of Chicago and his business in tegrity. Now at the age of eighty-three years Mr. Stevens is living retired from business upon a good farm on the Paw Paw river, a short distance from Benton Harbor. It is a well known fact that the real upbuilders of a town or community are those who promote its business activity and enterprise, who estab lish commercial or industrial interests and who engage in large trade transactions. All this Mr. Stevens has done and he may well be classed among the founders and pro moters of Berrien county. O. P. WOODWORTH. The value of local newspapers in the upbuilding of the best interests of the community is univer sally conceded. The rule is that good papers are found in good towns, inferior papers in towns of stunted growth and uncertain fu ture. It is not so much a matter of size as of excellence and of adaptability to the needs of its locality. These conditions given, in an appreciative and progressive community, the size of the paper will take care of itself in a way usually satisfactory to the publishers and patrons, and this as sertion has been verified in the history of the Buchanan Record, of which O. P. Wood- worth is editor. He is meeting with sue- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 523 cess in the publication of this journal and the community is being benefited also thereby. Mr. Woodworth was born in Buchanan, July 4, 1869. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Woodworth, was a native of New York, while his son Oscar A. Woodworth, father of our subject was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1822. The latter came to Buchanan some time in the '30s and was captain on keel boats on the St. Joseph river for a considerable period. By trade he was an iron molder, but turned his attention to other pursuits. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union and served as a soldier in defense of the govern ment. His death occurred when he was in his sixty-second year. In early manhood he married Lenora J. Fox, a native of Ohio, whose people came from Vermont. She was born in 1833, in Mentor, Ohio, and lived to be about sixty-two years of age. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, a daughter and three sons, all of whom are now living: Fannie L., now the wife of V. M. Baker, of Baker- town, Berrien county, Michigan ; A. A., who is living in St. Joseph, Michigan; W. J.; and O. P., of this review. The youngest of the four children, O. P. Woodworth, was reared in Buchanan and educated in the public schools. When about sixteen years of age he put aside his text books and took up the printing trade, start ing in as "devil" at a time when hand print ing presses were in use. He was employed in various offices until 1896, when he established a job office in Buchanan and thus began an independent business venture. In 1899 he commenced the. publication of the Buchanan Argus in partnership with T. F. Cox, and in 1900 be purchased his partner's interest and carried on the paper alone for about a year. He then sold out to the present owner, P. A. Graffort. Mr. Woodworth later spent about a year upon the road, and in 1903 he became associated with the Buchanan Record, being made edi tor the following year. The Record is the oldest paper in the county, having been es tablished in 1866. It is a semi-weekly and has a good circulation throughout the county. In 1 891 Mr. Woodworth was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Clark, a daugh ter of Samuel T. Clark, of Howard town ship, Cass county, Michigan. Three '. chil dren grace this marriage, Nada, Marshall and Max. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Woodworth has been a stalwart Republican, and has served as township clerk of Buchanan township for four years. He has also been a member of the village school board two years and its treasurer for one year, and he has served as a member of the Republican county central committee for about eight years, his opin ions often being a decisive factor in its party councils. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen and is its presiding officer at this writing, in 1906. His entire life has been passed in Buchanan with the exception of about a year passed in Niles, and that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boy hood to the present time is an indication of a life well lived. Since the above was compiled Mr. Wood- worth has contemplated retiring from the editorship of the Record and will take a position on the road for the J. W. Butler Paper Company of Chicago. This is^on ac count of his health. HON. HENRY CHAMBERLAIN, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the history of Berrien county, whose life has been actuated by hon orable principles and guided by manly conduct, whose name has become synony mous with honor and to whom has been vouchsafed eighty-one years of usefulness and activity — such is the man whose record claims the attention of the historian, and yet is is with hesitancy that one essays the task of preparing his history. It is not a difficult undertaking to set forth the salient facts but a mere statement or outline would be considered inadequate in marked degree by all of those men who have been associated with Mr. Chamberlain and have come under the influence of his upright life and high 524 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ideals. We therefore turn to the ancestry to find from what stock he sprang and • learn that he comes of a family that was established in Massachusetts in early colonial days. The name of Samuel Cham berlain appears upon the early records of the Massachusetts Bay colony. Representa tives of the name lived in Massachusetts, while the parents, grandparents and great- grandparents made their homes in the vicinity of Concord, New Hampshire. Jacob Chamberlain, born in 1691, probably at Maiden, Massachusetts, was a son of John Chamberlain, and a grandson of Ed mund Chamberlain, of Chelford, Massa chusetts. Edmund came from England, and was therefore the progenitor of the family in the new world. Samuel Cham berlain, great-grandfather of our subject, was a resident of New Hampshire. His son, Samuel Chamberlain, served as a lieu tenant in the war for independence. Sam uel Chamberlain and his son Moses both were in service as substitutes for a short period during the Revolutionary war. Sev enteen of Mr. Chamberlain's ancestors served in the colonial wars. Jacob Cham berlain, previously mentioned, born in 1691, died in 1734. He married Abigail Hasey, who was born in 1695, and died in 1793. Samuel Chamberlain, son of Jacob and Abi gail (Hasey) Chamberlain, was born in 1724, and died in 1802. He married Mar tha Mellen, who was born in 1730, and died in 1820. Her ancestry can be traced back to Simon Mellen, a son of Richard Mellen. Simon Mellen was born in 1640, and died in 1694. Moses Chamberlain, a son of Samuel and Martha (Mellen) Chamberlain, was born in 1757, and died in 181 1. He was the grandfather of Henry Chamberlain of this review. He married Rebecca Abbot, who was born in 1760, and died in 1846. She had two half brothers and two own brothers, all of whom served in the Revolu tionary war, and three of them died in service. Moses Chamberlain, son of Moses and Rebecca (Abbot) Chamberlain, of Loudon, New Hampshire, was born in 1792, and de parted this life in 1866. Pie married Mary Foster, who was born in 1797, and passed away in 1870. She was a daughter of Abiel and Susanah (Moore) Foster. Her father was born in 1773, and died in 1846, while his wife was born at Canterbury, New Hampshire, April 9, 1775, and died June 22, 1853. Her grandfatber, Rev. Abiel Foster, was a resident of Canterbury, New Hampshire, and for eighteen years was a member of congress under the confedera tion and constitution. In the maternal line the ancestry can be traced back to Rev. Na thaniel Rogers, who went to Ipswich, Mas sachusetts, in 1836, and was the first min ister there. His son, John Rogers, was also a minister here and was the second presi dent of Harvard University. His son, John Rogers II, also engaged in preaching the gospel at Ipswich, Massachusetts, and was the father of Samuel Rogers, who was like wise a public officer and a man of affairs. It was bis daughter Mary who became the wife of Rev. Abiel Foster, mentioned above. Thomas Dudley, another ancestor, was eighth governor or deputy governor of the colony of Massachusetts Bay from 1630 un til 165 1. He was connected with Revolu tionary fame. The marriage of Moses Chamberlain and Mary Foster was celebrated June 18, 181 7, at which time Mr. Chamberlain was a "trader" at Pembroke, New Hampshire, where he had lived for a year or more. The old familly residence there, which was built by the father in 1820, is still standing in an excellent state of preservation. The chil dren born unto Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain were: Mary Foster, born November 3, 1818, married Hale E. Crosby at Concord, New Hampshire, November 1, 1838. Mellen was born June 4, 1821. He was a gradu ate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School; commenced the practice of law in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1848; was chief justice of the municipal court of that city for some years ; was librarian of the Boston city library from 1876 to 1890, when he re signed; member of the Massachusetts house and senate; gave the Boston city library a large and valuable collection of autographs and manuscripts; wrote many valuable his torical works. Henry was born March 17, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 525 1824. Elizabeth, born October 18, 1826, was married October 18, 1849. William, born February 7, 1834, on coming to Michi gan lived on tbe farm with his father until 1864, when he came to the village of Three Oaks, where he became a partner with his brother Henry, still owning the homestead farm, which he continued to manage until his death in 1902. He was a member of the Michigan house of representative in 1871 and 1873 and the senate in 1879 and 1881, and held many public positions. He was warden of the Michigan State prison at Jackson from 1893 until his deatb. Henry Chamberlain, born at the old homestead in Pembroke, New Hampshire, March 17, 1824, was educated in the district schools near by, but his opportunities were limited, owing to the methods of instruction and the text-books — the Peter Parley books — which were then in use. When he was but a babe his mother, in 1825, took him to Concord, a distance of six miles, to see Gen eral Lafayette, who was then making a tour of the United States, and in after years she related to him that the General took the baby hand in his and said : "He is a fine boy." The General stopped at the tavern over night in the vicinity of Chamberlain's home. In 1820 his father built a new store, and that he took an advance step is shown by the fact that he determined to cease his traffic in spiritous liquors, which at that time every trader dealt in. Mr. Chamberlain re members as one of the "important" events of his life his visit to a menagerie in 1831. In 1833 he obtained his father's reluctant consent to go to Concord to see General Jackson, Van Buren and a part of his cab inet. The father had been a federalist and was a Whig and therefore had no sympathy with the Democratic party, and Mr. Cham berlain says that he was disappointed in General Jackson, having heard him so often denounced, that he had formed an opinion that he was somewhat like the lion or the tiger that he had seen in the menagerie. In 1834 the family were visited by Stephen S. Foster, who afterward became famous as an anti-slavery man and who was a second cousin of Mrs. Moses Chamberlain. He dis cussed the question of anti-slavery with Mr. Chamberlain, and the next day the latter announced bimself as a supporter of the anti-slavery cause. Such was the feeling in the north at that time that the minister took Mr. Chamberlain to task, saying that he was consorting with infidels in denouncing an institution which was permitted by the constitution and the Bible, though Moses Chamberlain stood firm in his support of the principle which he believed to be right. Some of his neighbors then shunned him and he lost prestige in the community where he had long been regarded as a most prominent and influential citizen. In 1835 he had an offer to dispose of his store and homestead, and in the fall of that year contracted a part nership with a townsman who owned a store in Seneca county, Ohio. He therefore re moved to that place and as the accommo dations for the family were somewhat lim ited Henry Chamberlain of this review went to the home of his maternal grandfather, where in the outdoor life of the farm he developed a sturdiness and robust constitu tion at variance with his former condition of health. In the spring of 1836 Moses Chamber lain made a trip through southern Michi gan to New Buffalo, where some of his wife's cousins had settled in the fall of 1835. There he purchased five quarter sections of government land in New Buffalo township but now in the townships of Three Oaks and Chikaming. In the summer he re turned to New Hampshire, and in August commenced business at Concord as a trader, Henry Qhamberlain and his elder brother acting as clerks, and when the elder brother started for college Henry Chamberlain, at the age of thirteen, became senior clerk. He acted in that capacity until sixteen years of age, when, in 1840, be went to Ashby, Mas sachusetts, and took charge of a country store for his brother-in-law. He made a success of the business, which he conducted until the spring of 1841, when he returned home and spent two terms as a student at Pembroke. He was afterward in his father's store until August, 1843, when he determined to go to Michigan. It required five days' travel to reach Cleveland, Ohio, -526 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and after visiting there with relatives for a brief period he took a steamboat for Chicago, where he arrived seven days later, and after two days' travel by wagon reached New Buffalo on the 7th of October, 1843. The winter brought many hardships and trials to the family wbo were thus located on a frontier, and on the 16th of January, 1844, Mr. Chamberlain, his father and a carpenter went to section fifteen, township eight, south of range twenty west, New Buffalo town ship, where they put up a shed, which they occupied until they cleared a place for a house sixteen by twenty-four feet, when they erected a pioneer dwelling. In the meantime the father had established a store at New Buffalo. Henry Chamberlain re mained at home working at chopping wood and clearing the land until October, and later aiding in clearing other tracts. In February, 1845, he went to New Buffalo, where he worked at making grain cradles and also at loading vessels with wood and timber. At the April election that year he was chosen supervisor and served for that and three succeeding years, being elected the first term by a majority of one vote and at last term by a unanimous vote. From the fall of 1845 until the spring of 1848 he as sisted in the usual labor incident to clearing and developing a new farm and at a later date took charge of a stock of merchandise in the village of New Buffalo for the firm of Stewart & Adams, who were contractors for grading on the Michigan Central Rail road. He not only led an active business life but was also a factor in community af fairs, and in November of that year was chosen to represent Berrien county in the state legislature, attending the second ses sion of the general assembly after the re moval of the capital to Lansing. Mr. Chamberlain is now the only survivor of the state officers or members of the legisla ture of that year and also the only survivor of the members who formed the Michigan State Agricultural Society, at which meet ing he acted as secretary. Returning from Lansing Mr. Chamber lain was engaged in work on the home farm . until January, 1850, when it was decided that he had better go to section two, then New Buffalo township, and make a clearing. This was the present site of the village of Three Oaks. He took a contract to put on the cars four thousand cords of steamboat wood. The cars had been run on the rail road from April, 1849, but there was only one house on the line of the railroad between Dayton and New Buffalo, a distance of six teen miles. Mr. Chamberlain, with four men, on the 10th of January, 1850, took pos session of a little log shanty, which had been built upon section two and then began the task of erecting a substantial log house which work was completed in the course of a few weeks. For fifty-five years Mr. Chamber lain has here made his home. He began the arduous task of clearing the land and within four years, sixty acres of timber had been cut and most of the tract was cleared. An important event in his life occurred in January, 1851, when he married Sarah Jane Nasb, and in the following November their first child, Henry Nash Chamberlain, was born, being the first child born in the present limits of the village of Three Oaks. The wife and mother died in June, 1852, and in November, 1856, Mr. Chamberlain wedded Rebecca Van De Vanter Ames, who died in 1896. They had three children: Mary, now the wife of E. K. Warren; Re becca B., the wife of Lee Chamberlain, of Los Angeles, California; and Paul Mellen, who is professor of mechanical engineering in Lewis Institute, in Chicago. Mr. Chamberlain continued active in business and in public life as well. In 1851 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1852 was chosen supervisor of New Buffalo township. In the following year he was appointed mail agent on the route from De troit to Chicago, which position he resigned in August, 1855. In 1854 he had turned his attention to merchandising, having in company with Joseph G. Ames built the house and store on lot eight (now the Wood land House) and the eastern portion of the warehouse, now the Michigan Central freight office. In the fall of that year they opened up a stock of merchandise and fol lowing the death of Mr. Ames in August, 1855, Mr. Chamberlain became sole owner of the buildings and stock. For a quarter HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 527 of a century thereafter he was a leading mer chant of Three Oaks. He admitted his cousin, Samuel W. Chamberlain, to a part nership, the store being conducted under the firm style of Chamberlain & Company until 1 86 1, and in the meantime the business was removed from this first location to a new store in 1858, where it was first continued as Chamberlain & Company, and afterward under the name of Henry Chamberlain until March, 1864, at which time the firm of Chamberlain, McKie & Company was or ganized, with J. L. McKie and William Chamberlain as partners of Henry Chamber lain. This partnership continued until March, 1868. The various succeeding firms had been Chamberlain & Company, Henry Chamberlain, McKie & Warren, Chamber lain & Churchill and Chamberlain, Warren ¦& Hatfield until 1880, when Mr. Chamber lain sold his interest and retired. In the meantime he had given more attention to clearing land and farming and to the dis charge of his. official duties than to merchan dising. Few men of the community have done more to reclaim the wild and unim proved districts and convert them into cul tivable tracts of land than has Mr. Chamber lain. In 1885 he sold his homestead farm of six hundred acres to Edward K. War ren, and in 1887-8 erected his present resi dence at the corner of Ash and Oak streets. In 1882 he began clearing the farm, which he now owns on sections 12 and 13. He has cleared and put under cultivation more than a thousand acres of land in the present township of Three Oaks, doing the actual work himself in the early days, while in later years the task was carried on under his personal supervision. Shortly after the Michigan Central Railroad was built through his portion of the state a side track was put in at Three Oaks and trains stopped here. There was no town, however, and the place was designated as Chamberlain's side tracks. In 1854 Mr. Chamberlain applied for the establishment of a postoffice here and asked that it be known by the name of Three Oaks, because of three famous great oak trees that stood on his place. The town ship of Three Oaks was detached from New Buffalo in 1856 and upon his request was given its present name. Mr. Chamberlain was chosen the first supervisor and one of the justices of the peace, acting in the lat ter capacity for three or more terms, and also serving as supervisor for a number of years after 1856. In 1864 he was a candi date for the state senate on the Democratic ticket, and in 1868 and 1870 he was a can didate for governor, and in 1874 and in 1876 again for congress. As history re cords, the Democratic party is in the minority in Michigan and yet at all times Mr. Cham berlain has received a large and flattering vote in excess of that usually given to the candidates of the Democracy. He has three times received the votes of his party for the United States senate, and though he has filled various local offices and been his party's nominee for positions of state and national political preferment he has never but once sought a nomination for any office. He has held the commission as notary pub lic since 1846 and was a member of the state board of agriculture from 1883 until 1889 and again from 1891 until 1897. He has attended almost all of the local and state conventions of his party for over a half century, has three times been a delegate of the national Democratic convention and has attended two others. Mr. Chamberlain has. seen and shaken hands with every gov ernor of Michigan except Steven T. Mason, who died before Mr. Chamberlain came to the state, and has had a personal acquaint ance with most of them. He has known every congressman, senator and representa tive since the organization of the state in 1846, wh% the exception of one, who died before he came. This fact would perhaps be true of no other resident now living in Michigan. He was grand master of Masons in Michigan in 1872, and this he counts the greatest honor, that has been conferred upon him. It would be difficult to find any one in all the commonwealth who has a wider, more intimate or more accurate knowledge of Michigan, its development and progress along material and political lines than has Mr. Chamberlain. He has written a portion of the history of the village, township and adjoining country. He has addressed three thousand letters at one sitting from memory 528 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY without reference to a list and made no mis take in the name of the person or the post- office. He has a most remarkable memory and has been spoken of as a "walking ency clopedia of information on Michigan's his tory." While a stanch Democrat he has been invited by Republican legislatures to address them and has delivered many public speeches at state fairs. The occasion of the eightieth anniversary was fittingly cele brated by his friends of many years and many have spoken of him in words that well voice the public opinion. "When you have known a man for nearly fifty years and during much of that time have had close relations with him, both in time of prosperity and adversity; have become thoroughly acquainted with his busi ness methods ; have seen in what manner he has met and dealt with the vicissitudes of a lifetime, you feel that you may speak of him with full assurance that you know whereof you speak. My acquaintance with Mr. Chamberlain began on the 17th day of April, 1855, in the village of Tbree Oaks, or, what has since become the village of Three Oaks ; it was then only a sidetrack on the Michigan Central Railroad, with an al most unbroken forest closely surrounding it on all sides. A few pioneers were then located here and in this vicinity — most pf them are long since gone. Mr. Chamber lain was then looked upon — as he is today — as a man possessed of all the knowledge necessary for any of the emergencies of life. Tnose of tbe early settlers who yet remain will recall that his advice was sought and freely given at all times. Many a knotty problem incident to the acquisition of a home in a new country by the man from Bavaria or Mecklenberg bave been pre sented to him for solution and his solution has stood the test of years. Many a pio neer of his descendants holds his farm today by a deed written by Mr. Chamberlain or by his dictation, and rests in the assurance that it is written right and that his title is good. Further than that and, yet more important, is the fact that while like all strong and positive men, there have been at times those who have entertained opinions differing from his, yet he has through all these years retained tbe esteem, respect and confidence of his neighbors, religiously, morally and financially. He has set a business example and instituted business methods which have been of material advantage to all his suc cessors. In spite of his unfavorable location geographically and in spite of the fact that the political party to which he belongs has been the minority party in the state for more than a generation, he enjoys a wider political distinction and his ability is more generally recognized than that of many men who have held the best offices within the gift of the people of the state. So he comes to his eightietb birthday which we celebrate today, and sees the erstwhile wilderness filled with a prosperous and happy people, the descendants of those who in the earlier years he so materially assisted in securing homes ; and they are all his friends. He has lived, too, to see the full realization of the oft- repeated prayer of his good old Puritan father in the days of old, that this wilderness might some time blossom as the rose. Three Oaks, March 17, 1904. J. L. McKie." Other words bearing testimony of his position in public regard and the esteem in which he is held by those long associated with him were penned on the occasion of the eightieth anni versary of his birth and from the pen of Ada Simpson Sherwood came the following: "Hail to the pioneer! To the many who leads the way, Who opens an untried road, And heralds a better day; Who, from the marshes wild And the forest grim and old, Rears the village, and plants the farm With fields of waving gold. All honor to the man Whose efforts bless the race, Who in the hearts of men Wins an exalted place; Who in the foremost ranks Of progress takes a stand, And to the cause that's just E'er lends a helping hand. All praise to the man of deeds, To the man of achievement rare, Who in life's field of toil Faithfully bears his share; Who through the mists of years, And the glow of the setting sun, Can view a purpose grand And a noble work well done. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 529 Honor and love and praise To the crown of eighty years. Wrought with toil and pain, Studded with griefs and tears, Brightened with hope and joy, Love and friendship true. O crown of eighty years, Shining with golden hue! Honor and love and praise To the legacy of years. The good their labors wrought Other hearts now cheers. With greetings loving and warm Kind friends would tribute pay To the crown of eighty years Which circles his brow today." March 17, 1904. LOTT F. SUTHERLAND. The name of Sutherland has been closely associated with Berrien county and its prominence from pioneer times. His father was among the pioneers who set out for the ever reced ing west and aided in subduing the land and extending the frontier. He was_one of the sturdy, grave men who fought and toiled and hoped and who realized in varying measure the hope that led them to this sec tion of the country. He aided in making the country known for its vast possibilities and for many years was closely associated with its development but is now living re tired. He dates his residence in Michigan from 1838 and in Berrien county from 1842. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, on the 28th of February, 183 1, and was a son of Lott and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire state, when in 1836 he came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo. After four years he came to Berrien county, lo cating in Bainbridge township near Mill burg, where he followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared their family of eight chil dren, three of whom are now living. He voted with the Democracy but was never active in politics. Lewis Sutherland, father of our sub ject, was reared and educated upon the fron tier, pursuing his studies in a log school- house. He assisted in the farm work, aid ing in the arduous task of developing new fields and caring for the crops and through- 34 out his active business career he carried on- general agricultural pursuits and fruit rais-- ing. Becoming convinced of the adaptabik ity of the county for horticultural pursuits, he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable business. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1 901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Su perior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Ben ton township, which he has now divided among his sons. A few of the old time set tlers can remember the conditions which ex isted in this part of the state at the time of Mr. Sutherland's arrival here. Only at rare intervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. Wild ani mals roamed through the forest and herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game were seen. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since those early days, for the trav eler today sees little or none of the native forest but finds instead well cultivated or chards, bearing their fruits in season and the change is due to the enterprise and la bors of such men as Lewis Sutherland. In i860 he married Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children; Sterling, who is represented on another page of this work; Darwin B., largely engaged in the cultivation of peaches in this county;, Lott F., of this review ; Mrs. Addie EO Pearl; and two children who died in youth. Lewis* Sutherland, while practically re tired from business cares, is a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Har bor and has been an active representative of Masonry since 1852. He belongs to the Uni/ersalist church and has been a cham pion of many progressive measures. His ballot supports the Democracy and he has served as highway commissioner and as school director. He is numbered today among the honored and prominent pioneer settlers of the county. Lott F. Sutherland was born on the old family homestead at Pearl Grange in Ben- 53° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ton township, May 16, 1871. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth, for he worked in the fields through the peri ods of vacation and during the school year pursued his studies, thus becoming equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained upon the old homestead farm until twenty-six years of age and when twenty-two years of age he was married tp Miss Lena V. Conklin, a daughter of Josiah Conklin, of Hartford, Van Buren county, Michigan. She was born in Hart ford but was largely reared in Benton Har bor, where she completed her education by a high school course. At the time of his marriage Lott F. Sutherland located upon the old homestead which he operated in connection with his father for several years, after which he re moved to his own farm, purchasing one hun dred and forty-two acres of rich and pro ductive land in Benton township. He had previously become owner of the greater part of this property and it was partially im proved. All is under cultivation and about seventy acres is planted to fruit, for he en gages quite extensively in the raising of peaches, apples and pears, his orchards be ing mostly young trees. He sold over six teen hundred barrels of apples in one sea son and thirty-two of thirty-three hundred bushels of peaches in a season. The soil is well adapted for the purpose for which it is used and Mr. Sutherland is among those who have made this section of the state a splendid fruit producing center, for fruit raising is now one of the chief sources of income in Berrien county. He has made a close study of the needs of the trees as to soil, climate and nourishment and has se cured the nursery stock best adapted to this district, so that he has now good orchards in fine bearing condition. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born three children, Iva, Hazel and Leah. Mr. Sutherland is a Mason and be longs to Pearl Grange. Plis political al legiance is given to the Democracy, but he has never been an aspirant for office, pre ferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs. He is a worthy represen tative of the well known and prominent pioneer family and as such and by reason of his genuine personal worth deserves men tion in this volume. STERLING L. SUTHERLAND, who is well known as one of the leading fruit growers of Berrien county, his home being in Benton township, where he has eighty acres of land, was born in this county on the 23d of February, 1861, and is the eldest of the six children whose parents were Lewis and Ma tilda A. Sutherland. The father is now liv ing retired in Benton Harbor after giving many years to general agricultural and hor ticultural pursuits. He dates his residence in Michigan from 1836 and in Berrien county from 1840. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, on the 28th of February, 1831, and was a son of Lott and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The grand father was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire state, when in 1836 he came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo. After four years he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living. He voted with the Democracy but was never active in politics. Lewis Sutherland, father of our subject, was reared and educated upon the frontier, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse. He assisted in the farm work, aiding in the arduous task of developing new fields and caring for the crops and throughout his active business career he carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. Be coming convinced of the adaptability of the county for horticultural pursuits, he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable business. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 53^ his sons. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at the time of Mr. Sutherland's arrival here. Only at rare in tervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. Wild ani mals roamed through the forest and herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game were seen. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since those early days, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forest but finds instead well culti vated orchards, bearing their fruits in sea son and the change is due to the enterprise and labors of such men as Lewis Suther land. In i860 he married Matilda A. How ard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children: Sterling, of this review; Darwin B., largely engaged in the cultivation of peaches in this county; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township ; Mrs. Addie Pearl; and two children wbo died in youth. Lewis Sutherland, while practically re tired from business cares, is a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor and has been an active representative of Masonry since 1852. He belongs to the Uni versalist church and has been a champion of many progressive measures. His ballot supports the Democracy, and he has served as bighway commissioner and as school di rector. He is numbered today among the honored and prominent pioneer settlers of the county. Sterling L. Sutherland remained at home until he had attained his majority. He pursued the greater part of his education in the common district schools but was also for two winters a student in the high school in Benton Harbor. He early became famil iar with farm labor in its various depart ments gaining that practical knowledge which has been the source of his success in later years. After reaching man's estate Mr. Suth erland was married on the 28th of Decem ber, 1 88 1, to Miss Elma D. Pearl, a daugh ter of Major Pearl. He settled on a farm at Pearl Grange upon land belonging to his father and he also worked his father's farm for three years, the two places adjoining. His father then gave him forty acres of land which was comprised in the old Ripley farm on Brittain avenue, where he at once began the task of clearing and developing his place, ditching and draining it and erect ing thereon good buildings. He lived there for seven years, at the end of which time he purchased his present farm comprising eighty acres located on the township line and situated about six miles from Benton Harbor. It adjoins the old homestead and is known as the old Jonathan Rose farm, Mr. Rose having converted it from a tract of wild land into a good farm property. Mr. Sutherland has cleared thirty acres of this land and now all is under cultivation. He rebuilt the barn in 1891 and erected a new house in 1.905. It is a modern struct ure, thoroughly up-to-date in every partic ular and constitutes one of the fine coun try residences. It contains ten rooms, is heated with a furnace and supplied with many modern equipments and in fact is one of tbe best homes of the county. Mr. Suth erland is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation of fruit, although he raises hay and grain to some extent. He makes a specialty, however, of peaches, plums and apples, all of which he has set out himself. He has fifteen acres planted to young apple trees, one thousand peach trees, seventeen hundred pear trees and one hundred plum trees. From a peach orchard of six. acres he sold in 1905 fruit to the value of fifteen hundred dollars. He is now planting six acres to grapes, so that he will soon have one half of this land in fruit. The land is especially suited for the production of pears, plums and grapes and in 1905 he gathered five hundred bask ets of grapes from forty-eight plants. Dur ing the summer season his fruit farm is cer tainly a most attractive place with its splendid crops of .fine fruit. He plants only tbe best varieties and his fruit tberefore in size, quality and flavor is unsurpassed and finds a ready sale on the market, command ing high prices. 532 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mr. Sutherland in 1892 was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the nth of January of that year, leav ing two sons, one of whom died the same year. The other, Era L., is still living at the age of fourteen. On the 21st of Sep tember, 1892, Mr. Sutherland was again married, his second union being with Miss Sarah Archer, a daughter of Dovis Archer, township treasurer of Pipestone township. It was in that township that Mrs. Suther land was born and her entire life has been passed in this county. In his political affiliations Mr. Suther land is a Democrat, unfaltering in his ad vocacy of the principles of the party and has frequently been sent as a delegate to county conventions and takes an active in terest in local elections. He is a Mason, be longing to Lake Shore lodge, six residents of his neighborhood taking the degrees of the lodge in the winter of 1905-6. He is also an Odd Fellow, having been identified with the order since he attained his major ity, and he has passed all of the chairs in Benton Lodge, No. 132. He is likewise con nected with the Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Sutherland has always lived in Benton township and is well known to its citizens, by whom he is held in high regard, enjoy ing the friendship of many with whom busi ness and social relations have brought him in contact. Work, persistent, earnest, in defatigable work, has been the key that has unlocked for him the portals of success, making him one of the substantial fruit raisers of Benton township. January 24, 1898, Mr. Sutherland left Michigan for Alaska, where he remained several months returning home March 29, 1899. ROBERT PULLEN. In a history of the men of the past and present who have contributed to the development and upbuild ing of Berrien county mention should be made of Robert Pullen, who for many years was connected with the development of the fruit industry of this section of the state. He was born in Kent, England, May 1, 1829, and when he passed away on the I ith of December, 1904, at the age of seventy-five years his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. He was reared to man hood in his native country, learning the shoemaker's trade in early life. He came to America at the age of twenty-eight years, landing at New York, after which he worked': at his trade in Syracuse, New York, for a time. Subsequently he took up his abode near Rochester and about a year later was. married there to Miss Lizzie Tyler, also- a native of England. They had been friends in that country and had become engaged prior to their emigration to the new world.. Mrs. Pullen crossed the Atlantic with her parents and soon after she gave her hand in marriage to Robert Pullen, they came to the middle west, settling first in Racine, Wis consin, where Mr. Pullen worked at the shoe maker's trade. After a happy married life of five years the wife passed away, leaving- a daughter, Lizzie, then four years of age.. She was reared by her grandparents in Wis consin but often visited in Berrien county- and since her father's death has made her home at Fair Plain. Mr. Pullen afterward returned to Syra cuse, New York, and at Brighton, near Rochester, where he had first married, he was again married, on the 9th of February, 1864, his second union being with Mary- Bounds, a native of Northamptonshire, Eng land, who came to the United States with- her parents, William and Ann (Powell) Bounds, who settled in Brighton when she was seven years of age. Both her father and' mother died at Poplar Grove, Illinois, the- former passing away in February, 1904, and the latter only six days later. Mr. Bounds- was eighty-eight years of age at the time of" his demise, while his wife had reached the age of eighty-six years. They had removed' to Illinois soon after their daughter's mar riage and for a long period were residents of that state. The year 1904 was fraughr with much sadness for Mrs. Pullen, for not only did her parents pass away in February but a brother at Appleton, Wisconsin, died about the middle of the year and her hus band in the latter part of the year. From- the age of seven years until her first mar riage Mrs. Pullen lived in Brighton. She married George Pullen, a younger brother- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 533 of Robert Pullen, and within two years he enlisted for service in the Civil war . and was wounded at the battle of the Wilder ness, the injuries causing his death four years later. He served in the army for nearly two years. He left his wife and one son George E. Pullen, six months old, at his father's home when he went to the front. After their marriage in 1864 Mr. and Mrs. 'George Pullen removed to Poplar Grove, Illinois, and engaged in the cultivation of a grain farm there in connection with his brother, Frank. In 1867, however, the property there was sold and Frank Pullen came to Michigan to secure a fruit farm. The same year Robert Pullen came and pur chased a farm devoted to the cultivation of peaches. This property lay in Fair Plain and later was exchanged for the present home of his widow in the vicinity of the original farm. Here Mrs. Pullen still re sides and she has ten acres of land on Col fax avenue, Fair Plain. Robert Pullen also Invested in other land and devoted his at tention to fruit growing. For many years he engaged in the raising of peaches, but later tbe crop was taken by the yellows and he grew berries. Subsequently, however, he gave considerable attention to grapes and again set out peaches, his fruit growing in terests proving a success from a financial standpoint. He looked after his business in terests up to the time of his death, employ ing hired help, however, to do the active work in the orchards. He found the climate conditions and society satisfactory at his new home and was always interested in the wel fare of the county. He greatly enjoyed his work, bringing to it a zeal and energy which were salient features in his success. In his political views Mr. Pullen was a Republican but had no inclination to seek public office, his time and attention being devoted to his home and to other duties. He became a member of the Baptist church in early life, but later was identified with the Second Adventist Society, although there was no organization of that denomination in Benton Harbor. His connection with the church, however, continued for twenty years and he left one thousand dollars to that so ciety to be used in the Advent Christian Bap tist Publication at Mendota, Illinois, to ad vance Christian work. Unto Robert Pullen and his second wife were born no children, but Mrs. Pullen has a son, Rev. George E. Pullen, who is now a minister of the Second Adventist Christian Church and resides at Fair Plain. He is secretary of the Western Advent Christian Publication Association and is a regular weekly contributor to the paper, Our Hope. He married Ella Harris, of Berrien county, and they have two chil dren, Ray and Hazel. Mrs. Pullen- has taken part in various church activities and for many years she and her husband devoted one tenth of their income to the church work. She has a pleasant home and is a popular lady, esteemed for her many excellent traits of beart and mind. In all his life Mr. Pullen was straightforward in his dealings and hon orable in his relations with his fellowmen, while in his family he was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his household. To his friends he was considerate and kindly and while carefully and successfully con ducting his business interests he at the same time developed a character which made him a man of worth, respected by all with whom he came in contact. FRANK PULLEN. The Gables, the at tractive home of Frank Pullen, is one of the best residences of Fair Plain and is indicative of the spirit of enterprise and progress which are dominant factors in the life and work of the owner, who has valuable fruit farming interests in Benton township. He was born at Tenterdon, County Kent, England, about fifty mileS south of London, on the 2d of December, 1834. In his boyhood he served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade, working at the start for a few shillings per week. When he had completed his ap prenticeship he was employed as a journey man in various towns in England, but am bitious to enjoy the best possible advantages he determined to seek a home in America, thinking that he might have superior busi ness opportunities in this country. In his native land he received from three to five dollars per week, from which he had to pay all of his expenses and it took him two or three years to save the funds to meet the ex- 534 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY penses of his passage to' America on a sail ing vessel, which was thirty-two days in making the voyage in the spring of 1854. He landed at New York city with but meagre capital and after reaching his destina tion — Brighton, New York, — he had but one shilling left. He worked for six months as a journeyman at the shoemaker's trade and also was employed in a nursery. In the fall of the same year he made his way west ward to Racine, Wisconsin, by way of the lakes and secured employment as a shoe maker, but the following spring removed to a farm. He remained for sometime in Wis consin and also visited Illinois, working as he could find opportunity until 1864. In that year he re-visited New York and in 1865 he came to Michigan and purchased five acres of land which was covered with stumps. He had a brother-in-law who had visited this state and it was his report that led Frank Pullen to come to Berrien county. He paid one hundred and forty dollars for his land. It was then thougbt that fruit growing could not be profitably followed to any great extent here. Mr. Pullen made a small payment on his farm, but had to incur an indebtedness to secure the property. He erected a little dwelling and planted his land to small fruits. Finally he set it out to peaches, but the yellows destroyed his orchard. He lived upon that place on the St. Joseph side of the river for three or four years, after which he secured his pres ent land at Fair Plain, it being set out to fruit at that time. He continued to own the former place about- two miles distant and finally planted it to fruit, after which he sold it for less than he had paid for it. Subse quently he bought ten acres of land border ing the river at six hundred dollars, which he afterward sold for three thousand dol lars. This farm he planted to berries and grapes and both yielded big crops which brought good prices and thus he gained a position of affluence. During the same time be invested in twenty acres of land on Napier avenue, for which he paid two thousand dol lars and which he still owns. This has re peatedly paid him in large crops of black berries, peaches and grapes. His different tracts of land have brought good returns and altogether he has prospered as the years have gone- by. After operating the river place for twenty years he sold it for three thousand dollars. His home place is set out to peaches and grapes and he has grown for commercial purposes. When the peaches were destroyed by the yellows people were very despondent, but it was soon found that berries could be profitably raised and many of the horticulturists gave their attention to the small fruits until peaches again became a profitable crop. Mr. Pullen operates his own farm, giving to it his personal attention. He has also invested to some extent in real estate and has loaned money. He has erected his present home, a fine residence known as The Gables, which is one of the best in Fair Plain. Mr. Pullen was married in Wisconsin to Miss Mary Tyler, with whom he traveled life's journey happily together for thirty years, when she died in Fair Plain. They had no children who reached adult age. His second wife, who bore the maiden name of Helen Scribner Ricks, was a native of Hampshire, England, and Mr. Pullen re turned to that country for her. He was formerly a member of the Baptist church and his wife was reared in the Episcopal church, but neither are now sectarians. In his political views Mr. Pullen is a Repub lican, but does not seek or desire office, pre ferring to give his attention to his business. affairs, which are now bringing to him a very desirable income. CLARENCE D. BIRKHOLM, of Fair Plain, was born on the farm where he now lives on the St. Joseph river about two and a half miles south of Benton Harbor, his natal day being July 7, 1876. His father was Captain Emil Birkholm and his mother Mrs. J. Birkholm. The father was a native of .Denmark and when twelve years of age became a sailor. He followed the sea for twelve years, during which time he visited almost every country on the face of the globe and seven times rounded the Cape of Good Hope. He was in several shipwrecks and had many narrow escapes on various occa sions. After becoming a resident of Amer ica he was connected with the fishing trade HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 535 and was also a sailor on the lakes. It was in the latter capacity that he came to Benton Harbor and here he formed a partnership with. James Stevens in the lake coast traffic and became owner and captain of a boat run ning up the St. Joseph river. In the mean time he purchased land but continued sail ing for a considerable period. Finally, how ever, he gave his attention to clearing and developing his property and built a pleasant little home in which he resided for thirty years or more, although he was. absent much of the time on other business duties. At in tervals he would sail again upon the lakes and was thus engaged until within a short time prior to his death. The year before he died he was captain of the Starlight, a three masted yacht. He died at Benton Har bor at the age of seventy-two years and his widow is still living in Fair Plain. He was one of the well known characters of this part of the state, his connection with lake and river traffic bringing him wide acquaintance. Unto him and his wife were born ten chil dren, who were reared at the family home at Fair Plain. Clarence D. Birkholm was next to the youngest in this family. He remained with his mother until he was married. She had a fruit farm arid he assisted her in gathering the fruit and in caring for the place. At the early age of eighteen he began to buy fruit on the streets and would buy orchards from time to time. He continued in the business up to the present time for himself. Nine years ago- he purchased his present farm, which was his father's old home, and has since devoted the land to horticultural pur suits. He has it all reset and it is devoted to peaches, pears and grapes. The farm has given very satisfactory returns, especially in grapes, and he has bought in some seasons large quantities of fruit, valued at more than forty thousand dollars. Mr. Birkholm was married on the 4th of October, 1899, to Miss Helen Gross, a daughter of James and Mary (Pender) Gross. Mrs. Birkholm was born in Ten nessee, where her father died of yellow fever. In her girlhood days she was brought to Benton Harbor, where her mother spent her last days and here the daughter was reared becoming a seamstress, which pursuit she followed until her marriage. There are three children of this union : George J., John F. and Marian. Mr. Birkholm is a Republican in his political views and is active in party conven tions, wherein his opinions carry weight. He has always kept well informed on questions and issues of the day and has held some local- offices in St. Joseph township, serving al most continuously in positions of public trust since attaining bis majority. In 1905 he was township treasurer. He is a member of the Baptist church of Benton Harbor and holds membership with the Gleaners. He has recently erected a. nice residence on his farm and his land extends back to the bluff, commanding a beautiful view of the sur rounding country. ; l 1 DR. BURTON D. GIDDINGS, en gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Niles, where at the present writing he is serving as city physician and city health of ficer, was born in Edinburg, Portage county, in tbe northeastern part of Ohio, which is known as the Western Reserve, in 1873, and although a young man he has already at tained a creditable position in the pro fessional ranks in this part of Michigan. His father, John R. Giddings, is also a native of Ohio, who has followed the occupation of farming for many years and has been identi fied with various interests in his native state. He married. Julia E. Gano, also a native of Ohio, where they are still living. In their family were three children, two sons and a daugbter, of whom Burton D. and Lyle Clinton are still living. Dr. Giddings of this review supple mented his early education by study in Hiram College in Ohio, in which institution James A. Garfield was once a student and later president of the college. Dr. Giddings then followed school teaching for a period and in the World's Fair year went to Idaho. He afterward attended the University of Idaho for a year and then taught school near Spokane Falls, Washington. In 1895 he returned to Ohio and became inspector for an extensive bicycle establishment in Cleve land, occupying that position for two years. 536 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY He then spent one summer sailing on the Great Lakes, following this pursuit largely on account of his health, which had become somewhat impaired. In the meantime he had devoted his leisure hours largely to the study of medicine, and after his retirement from the lakes he went to Chicago, where he carried on his studies in a practical way. There, however, he became ill with typhoid, while a student at the Bennett Medical Col lege, and was somewhat delayed in his prep aration for the profession. He attended the Bennett Medical College for a period of three years and then entered the Hahnemann Medical College mainly because of superior clinical facilities, from which he won the degree of M. D. on the 16th of January, 1903. Dr. Giddings located for practice in Hinchman, Michigan, where he remained for only a brief period, coming in the same year to Niles, where he entered into part nership with Dr. Z. L. Baldwin, under the firm name of Baldwin & Giddings, this re« lation being continued until August, 1905, when the partnership was dissolved. Dr. Giddings has since practiced alone with ex cellent succes's, being the regular family physician in many households. He is also city physician and city health officer of Niles, having been appointed to the latter position in April, 1905, and he is examining physi cian for the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Maccabees, holding membership in the local organiza tions of these orders in Niles. He likewise belongs to Berrien County Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., at Niles. His political support is given to the Republican party, and he keeps well informed on all questions and issues of the day but has no- aspiration for office aside from the line of his profession. Dr. Giddings was married in 1900 in Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Lavinia S. Har per, who was born in Ontario, Canada, and at the time of their marriage was a trained nurse, having graduated from the Bennett Hospital training class of Chicago'. Dr. and Mrs. Giddings have won many friends during their residence in Niles and receive the esteem which is uniformly accorded in recognition of intelligence and genuine worth. With a sense of conscientious obli gation regarding his profession he has in his chosen field of labor faithfully performed each duty, maintaining a high standard of professional ethics and has made a credit able name as a representative of the medical fraternity. SAMUEL J. QUADE is the owner of one of the most desirable properties along the St. Joseph river. Lying in the great Bend, it has a long water frontage and is a sightly place, splendidly situated for a resort or country residence. Here Mr. Quade is devoting his attention to horticultural pur suits with excellent results. He was born in the city of Buffalo, New York, on the 30th of December, 1856, and was reared in the city. He learned the trade of a finisher, varnisher and gilder, serving a regular ap prenticeship and thoroughly mastering tbe business. He worked in Buffalo as a journeyman until 1881, when he came to the middle west, settling in Chicago, where he was employed until 1899. He acted at dif ferent times as foreman in several finishing departments in which a number of men were employed under his supervision. In 1889 he came to Benton Harbor and did finishing work on the Graham block, and in the spring of 1890 he purchased his farm in Fair Plain. Each spring, however, from 1891 until 1900, he had charge of the boat finishing work on the Graham and Morton line of vessels. His farm is part of the old Elmer J. Jakway tract of land in the bend of the St. Joseph river two miles south of Benton Harbor and about one half of his forty-two acre tract is planted to fruit. He makes a specialty of peaches and grapes and has sold as high as two thousand bushels of peaches in a single season. No fruit was upon the place when he purchased the land and all has been set! out by him. His orchards and vineyards are now in excellent condition, for he has pur chased good nursery stock and has carried on his work along progressive lines in keep ing with the most advanced ideas of horti culture. On the 20th of May, 1878, Mr. Quade was married to Miss Elizabetb M. Ermeling, who was born in Chicago. They now have HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 537 seven children : Bertha, who is a saleslady in Marshall Field's dry goods house in Chi cago ; Martha, the wife of Benjamin F. Ber tram, of Franklin, Texas; Ella, at home; Samuel J., in Texas; Minnie, Herbert and Edward, also with their parents. Mr. Quade is active and prominent in Masonic circles and is an exemplary repre sentative of Lake Shore lodge of Benton Harbor. He was made a master Mason on the 2d of October, 1900, and he passed all of the chairs and was elected worshipful master in 1905, so that he is at present "in the east." He has taken the degrees of the York Rite, belonging to the chapter, council and commandery, and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, has served as justice of the peace and school inspector, and is frequently a delegate to the Republican conventions. His life has been one of un tiring business activity crowned with a de sirable measure of success and with an early realization of the value of labor and persever ance he has worked on steadily year after year until he is now owner of a good prop erty, which annually returns to him a gratify ing income. JOSEPH RICHARDS, living at. Fair Plain, where he is successfully engaged in horticultural pursuits, was born in County Cornwall, England, November 6, 1848, and his youth was spent as a farm lad upon the old homestead belonging to his father, who was extensively engaged in farming. The son remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, but had little op portunity for acquiring an education after he reached the age of ten years. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic to America, making his way to Ontario, Canada, where he worked out until the spring of 1871, when he came to Benton Harbor, where his brother, W. H. Richards, was engaged in contracting and building. He was one of the early contractors of this part of the coun try and for a time was connected with build ing operations in Chicago, after which he came to Benton Harbor, where he still re sides. Following his removal to Michigan, Jo seph Richards engaged in cultivating land now within the city limits and thereon raised fruit and vegetables. He afterward became a solicitor for a Chicago buyer, purchasing fruit on the streets of Benton Harbor for fifteen years. For one year he was engaged in the grocery trade in partnership with John Herr and then became an independent fruit buyer with experiences similar to that of the average man in this line of business. Gradually his financial resources were in creased and in 1891 he came to his present farm in Fair Plain at the corner pf Napier and Fair Plain avenue. He owns ten acres of land which was a part of the old Napier farm and has devoted it to fruit raising, making a specialty of peaches. He also keeps summer boarders, having from twenty-five to thirty boarders during the summer season. The place is known as the Richards resort and has become popular, be ing now well patronized through the sum mer months. Mr. Richards is a commercial grower of fruit and his products find a ready sale on the market. In Benton Harbor occurred the marriage of Joseph Richards and Miss Helen Noe, a daughter of Elzever and Mary (Crittenden) Noe, who came to Michigan when their daughter was eleven years of age from Sum mit county, Ohio, where her birth occurred. Locating at Fair Plain, the father cleared and developed the farm now owned by R. C. Thayer. After residing thereon for -twenty years he removed to Benton Harbor. He had conducted a wagon shop on his farm and later continued in the same line of busi ness in Benton Harbor, being well remem bered there as a representative of industrial interests. He died in 1893 at the age of seventy-two years and his widow passed away three years later at the age of sixty- seven years. The mernbers of their family were : Helen, now Mrs. Richards ; Anna, the wife of John Herr; Leverett, who had been engaged in the wagon making business with his father in Benton Harbor and died at the age of thirty years ; and Clara, the wife of Frank Wilkinson, of St. Joseph. Mrs. Richards was educated at Fair Plain and taught school for a short time. By her marriage she has become the mother 538 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of six children: Clara Jane, who attended the high school and also the state normal, has for seven years been engaged in teach ing in the schools of St. Joseph. James Arthur, a graduate of the high school, is an electrician and also a farmer living at home. May was married April 14, 1906, to Harry Mess of Fair Plain, and is now resident of Chicago. Lucy P., a graduate of the high school and a student at Kinder garten Institute, Chicago', is also engaged in teaching. Elizabeth, a high school grad uate, is at home. Charles is still attending school. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics Mr. Richards is independent with Prohi bition tendencies. He has no use for the saloon but at elections votes for the party whereby he thinks the best results can be secured. His success is attributable to his wife's efforts, for he started out in life empty handed and whatever prosperity he has achieved is attributable entirely to her well- directed labors. WILLIAM P. VAN NAMEE, for many years an enterprising and successful farmer of Benton township, was born near Watertown in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 9, 1842, and died on the 6th of July, 1903. The years of his boy hood and youth were spent in his native lo cality and his educational privileges were those afforded by the public schools. He remained at home until after the inaugura tion of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused he responded to the country's call for aid and became a member of Com pany C, Twentieth New York Cavalry, be ing one of six brothers who served in the army. He continued with his command for nearly four years and was then honorably discharged. On one occasion his horse fell through a bridge and in the fall Mr. Van Namee was so injured that his health was ever afterward affected. He was sergeant of his company and his service was largely in Virginia, his regiment being a part of Buell's army. He had a wide experience and underwent the usual hardships of war when the soldier, putting aside all the com forts of home, meets difficulties and dangers upon the battlefield, and in camp life is denied those things which are commonly re garded as essential to comfort and welfare. The injury which he sustained through the giving way of the bridge caused him to be honorably discharged, and in March, 1865, he returned to his home. On the 1 2th of October, 1866, Mr. Van Namee was married to Miss Fannie L. Pearl, a daughter of Warren and Minerva E. (Randall) Pearl, of Benton township, who resided near Pearl Grange. They were among the early pioneer settlers of the lo cality. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Van Namee had cut a farm out of the heavy timber, near the present site of Pearl Grange. Warren Pearl was born at Little Falls, New York, and was a son of Phineas Pearl, who became the first settler in his part of the country when he removed from the east to Michigan. The journey west ward was made in a coach which he had built himself when a young man. Warren Pearl was a young man at the time of the removal to the west. He was married in 1847, in St. Joseph, Michigan, to Miss Randall, who was then living with an uncle, James Ran dall, a ship carpenter at that place. Later her mother came on from Canada and lived in Millburg until her death. About the time of his marriage Warren Pearl took up a tract of wild land near his father's place and after working for a time at ship carpen tering in St. Joseph he began the work of developing and improving a. farm. .He hewed out his fields in the midst of a dense forest and met all the difficulties and ob stacles of pioneer life, but persevered in his labors and in due course of time gathered rich harvests, where formerly were seen the tall forest trees. With several others he made the trip overland to California, the party numbering- several people from this locality, including Keyes Hade, Sterling Howard and Simeon Wilson, of St. Joseph. He spent four years in California and upon his return built a sawmill on his farm, it standing near the southern edge of his prop erty. His was the principal mill of the vicin ity and he sawed much of the timber cut in this part of the state. He disposed of his cut largely to carriage-making firms. The HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 539 country was covered with oak, hickory and whitewood timber and for many years the lumber industry was a very important one here. As the land was cleared Mr. Pearl cultivated his fields and in course of time de veloped one of the best farms in Benton township. In the early days he grew peaches before the yellows largely destroyed crops, but finally the disease carried off bis orchards. On the same ground is now to be found one of Roland Morrill's celebrated orchards. The present Pearl cemetery is where his first peach orchard stood. This cemetery was set off by Mr. Pearl on the occasion of the first death in his own fam ily. Others desired a burial place in the same tract of land and he finally platted the cemetery, which now bears his name. For many years he was an active and enterpris ing resident of this part of the state, his labors being a factor in its early develop ment and improvement. He aided in tbe reclamation of the wild land and in the ex tension of the frontier and his work proved of direct and permanent good. He died June io, 1883, at the age of sixty-four years and one month, while his wife, who was born in Prescott, Canada, September 24, 1826, died April 21, 1882, at the age of fifty-five years and six months. In his fam ily were six who reached maturity, namely : Fannie L, now Mrs. Van Namee ; Ellen L., who became the wife of Roland Morrill and died when about forty years of age ; Gilbert, who owned and operated a large farm in Kansas, where he died when about thirty years of age, leaving one child, May Pearl, who is now the wife of Aubrey Sutherland, of Benton Harbor; James Warren, who is a civil engineer residing in Benton Harbor; Irving Randall, who was tbe owner of a part of the old homestead and died in No vember, 1905; and Nancy B., the wife of Harry Ely, of Benton Harbor. After his marriage Mr. Van Namee worked for ten years for his father-in-law in connection with the operation of the saw mill and the placing of the product on the market. He hauled lumber to St. Joseph when the road to that city lay across the bottoms and was little more tban a cause way, the water in the case of storms often beating up over the road and even as high as the wagon bed. Indeed Mrs. Van Namee remembers crossing the road when the water came into the wagon bed. After ten years spent upon the farm Mr. Van Namee purchased a part of the present farm, to which he afterward added. With deter mined purpose he set to work to clear his land, making it a very desirable property, which he transformed into a fine home. Considerable fruit has been set out here and the land is also well adapted to general farming. A part of the old homestead is now leased to Roland Morrill, a brother-in- law of Mrs. Van Namee. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Namee were born three children : Claude W., born May 16, 1869; Jessie M., who was born June 20, 1872, and is the wife of J. Rogers, of Seneca county, Ohio, who is now living in Benton Harbor; and Pearlie, who was born August 24, 1877, and is now the wife of William Gilbert, who operates the Van Namee farm. By this marriage there have been born four children : Carl William, James B., Fannie E. and Jessie A. Gilbert. Mr. Van Namee worked persistently and energetically year after year, making the most of his opportunities and putting forth his efforts along well directed lines of labor until a gratifying measure of suc cess was accorded. He was thus enabled to leave his family in comfortable circum stances and Mrs. Van Namee is the owner of an attractive and valuable farm, which was once the old Pearl homestead. She is a representative of one of the oldest fam ilies of •the county and the circle of her friends is an extensive one, for she has a very wide acquaintance here. ERNEST VANDERVEER, one of the energetic and successful farmers of Berrien county, owns an excellent property consti tuting a very fine farm. It is improved with good buildings and in its midst stands an attractive country residence. _ The prin cipal industry of this county is fruit raising and to this business Mr. Vanderveer gives his attention. He was born on the old family homestead in Benton township, May 24, 1865, his parents being James and 54Q HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Nancy C. (Young) Vanderveer, who were married in Battle Creek, Michigan, about 1850. He is a representative of one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York, his ancestors having come from Hol land to America in colonial days. James Vanderveer, the father, was born in Mont gomery county, New York, and about 1848 made his way westward to Battle Creek, Michigan, being then a lad with no capital but possessing strong purpose and an earn est determination to win success. In the course of a few years he found it possible to engage in business on his own account and for five years he was connected with the hardware trade in Battle Creek, carrying a large and carefully selected stock valued at forty thousand dollars. On one occasion he went to New York city to buy goods and while there his store was destroyed by fire and because of a flaw in the policy tbe in surance company refused to pay him his insurance and the loss therefore was very heavy. Being forced to begin life anew, Mr. Vanderveer than came to Berrien county and purchased a small farm of one hundred and twenty acres, formerly the Sterling Howard property. He at once be gan to clear and cultivate the fields and in the course of time was gathering good har vests. After raising grain for some time he began raising peaches and later turned his attention to the cultivation of apples, carry ing on that business on an extensive scale, Although he was in debt when he came to this county he regained more than he had lost in Battle Creek and not only discharged all indebtedness but became tbe owner of very valuable property interests. In addi tion to his home place he owned three or four other farms, which were operated un der his immediate supervision. He voted with the Republican party, but the extent and importance of his business interests left him little time for political work, although he served in several minor offices. His death occurred May 5, 1901, and his widow is now living with her son, William N. Of their eight children only four are living: John ; William N., who is represented else where in this work; Ernest, of this review; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Downing. Ernest Vanderveer was reared upon the old family homestead in Benton township and early gained practical experience con cerning the work of the fields and of the or chards. His early educational privileges, afforded by the common schools, were sup plemented by one year's study in the North ern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and he afterward engaged in teaching for four years in Bainbridge and Benton town ships, spending two years of that time in the home district. On the ist of January, 1889, Mr. Van derveer was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Barrett, of Benton township, a daughter of G. W. Barrett, now of Benton Harbor. For a year after his marriage Mr. Vanderveer continued teaching and then lived upon his father's farm, and later gave supervision to his present, farm and one at Grange Hall. He removed to his present place of residence in 1895, this being just across the road from the farm owned and occupied by his brother, W. N. Vanderveer. He has put all of the improvements upon the property and has cleared about one half of tbe sixty acres. He grows fruit, having twenty acres planted to orchards, twelve acres being in peaches and in 1905 he sold twenty-five hundred bushels from his place. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vanderveer has been born one son, James G. Mr. Vanderveer belongs to Pearl Grange, in which he has passed all of the chairs and is the present secretary. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. His life is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and strong determination and his painstaking and pro gressive methods are manifest in the excel lent appearance of his farm. Each year after the season's crops are upon the market he with several others goes to the northern peninsula on a hunting expedition and thus he finds rest and recreation after the labors of the year. WILLIAM N. VANDERVEER, who won a medal at the Louisiana Purchase Ex position at St. Louis for an exhibit of apples, is recognized as one of the foremost fruit raisers of Benton township and Ber rien county, carrying on his business along HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 54i modern scientific lines and through practical means and measures. His father, James Vanderveer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, and was descended from Holland ancestors, who were among the old Knickerbocker families of the Empire state. About 1848, he came alone to Michigan, although but a boy, and made his way to Battle Creek, where later he was connected with the hardware trade for five years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Nancy C. Young, also a native of the Empire state, the wed ding being celebrated about 1850. He was very prosperous for some time in the con duct of bis mercantile interests in Battle Creek and carried a stock valued at forty thousand dollars, but when in New York city buying goods for his store it was de stroyed by fire and the insurance company refused to pay him a cent of insurance he- cause of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien county, and purchaser a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing property. This is an old landmark on the county and in the early days was known as the Sterling Howard farm. James Vanderveer at once began the cultivation and improvement of the property, devoting his attention in the earlier years to the raising of grain and later to the production of apples. He also owned other farms, operating three or four farms himself, having land near Coloma as well as in Benton township. He was indeed an earnest and indefatigable worker and good business man and in his farming operations he prospered, becoming quite successful and accumulating an estate greater than that which he lost in Battle Creek. During his last years he lived retired. He continued a resident of Berrien county for about forty years and was respected for what he accom plished and by reason of his genuine per sonal worth. He was a man of marked in dividuality and force of character and though the fire and its consequent loss was enough to discourage a man of much reso lution of spirit he nevertheless in determined manner set to work to retrieve his loss and built up a good estate for his family. He died May 5, T901, respected and hon ored by all who knew him and his widow still survives, now making her home with her son, William N. In their family were eight children, four of whom reached ma ture years, namely: John, William N., Ernest and Elizabeth, tbe last named being the wife of John Downing. The father was a Republican and held minor offices. He took a deep interest in the success and growth of bis party and delighted in the progress made by tbe county along all lines of substantial and permanent improvement. He was very practical in all of his methods and far sighted and sagacious in his busi ness affairs. He made excellent improve ments upon the home property and after de voting his attention to the production of grain for a number of years he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, raising first peaches but afterward engaging in the production of apples on an extensive scale. William N. Vanderveer was born upon the old family homestead, April 19, 1861, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, attending the Benton Harbor high school and also the Valparaiso Normal College, where he pur sued a commercial course and bookkeeping. He worked with his father and made the present improvements on eighty acres of land. This is his present home place, on which is a fine orchard. He has about twenty acres in fruit, fifteen acres being planted to peaches and in his horticultural pursuits he has met with satisfactory re sults. He sold one thousand barrels of ap- pels in one year and in the year 1905 sold sixteen hundred bushels of peaches. He also grows melons, and the products of his place find a ready sale on the market because of size, quality and flavor. He has erected upon his farm fine buildings including a very commodious and comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain, fruit and stock. No higher testimonial of his fine fruit could be given than the fact that he won a bronze medal of award for a display of apples at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. On the 6th of June, 1888, Mr. Vander veer was married to Miss Fannie M. Baker, 542 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY a daughter of Jabez Baker, formerly of Coloma and a native of Adrian, Michigan. Unto them were born three daughters and one son, but Florence died at the age af fifteen years. The others are Ruth, Edith and Jobn. Mr. Vanderveer votes with the Democracy and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but takes no active interest in political work, concen trating his energies upon his business af- airs, which are bringing him a gratifying measure of success. He has always lived in this county and is widely known. In his dealings he is found thoroughly reliable and his perservance and energy constitute ele ments in his life record well worthy of emulation. CHARLES A. SPENCER is a promi nent representative of horticultural inter ests in Berrien county. His thorough under standing of the business combined with his close application and indefatigable energy have made him a prosperous fruit grower. He resides in Benton township on section 25, his farm bordering Napier avenue and also the boundary line of Bainbridge town ship. A native of New York, he was born in Clayton township, Jefferson county, on the nth of May, 1830, his parents being Sidney and Asenath (Davis) Spencer. The father was a -native of Washington county, New York, and a son of John Spencer, a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Asenath Spencer was born in Oneida county, New York. They were married in the Empire state, where they continued to reside until 1844, when they came to Michigan. Jason Spencer, a brother of Sidney Spencer, was then living in Bainbridge township, where he had made his home for two years, and it was through the reports that he gave con cerning this part of the country that the lat ter was induced to come to Michigan. He settled on section 19, Bainbridge township, paying six hundred and fifty dollars for one hundred and twenty acres of land. Upon this tract was a log house and twenty acres had been broken. Sidney Spencer lived in that house for a number of years in true pio neer style, sharing in the hardships and trials incident to life on the frontier. He had to go in debt for about one half of his place and Charles, his eldest son, worked out as a farm hand in order to help pay for the old homestead. With characteristic energy- Sidney Spencer began the task. of cultivat ing and improving his land, clearing alto gether about eighty acres and making this one of. the best homes in the township. He continued to reside thereon until his last years and his death occurred in the home of bis son, Charles A. Spencer, on the 8th of April, 1890, when he was in the eighty- eightb year of his age. He had survived his wife for about seven years. His early po litical allegiance was given to the Dem ocracy and upon its organization he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, with which he continued to affiliate until his de mise. He was a justice of the peace in Bain bridge township for many years, acting in that capacity when the office was an import ant one. At all times he was loyal to the public ¦ welfare and his co-operation could be counted upon to further many move ments for the general good. His views on the question of religion were those set forth by Swedenborg and he became one of the followers of that religious leader when there were only three or four of the faith in the township. He was a great reader and was always ready to discuss the truths of the Bible and of religious doctrines. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her father was a minister of that denomination. In their family were five children, of whom three are living; Charles A., whose name introduces this re view; Romelia, the widow of Samuel Hen- drickson; and Mary S., the wife of Milton Johnston, of Portage, Wisconsin. The eld est daugbter, Melissa, was the wife of Dr. John Terry and died in 1899 at the age of seventy-two years. The otber son of the family, Wallace Spencer, was graduated from the State University of Michigan in the class of 1 861 and during the Civil war he enlisted as a member of Company G, Thirty- ninth Illinois Infantry. He became ser geant, was wounded in battle and died of gangrene a few weeks before the expiration of his three years' term of service when twenty-seven years of age. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 543 Charles A. Spencer spent the first four teen years of his life in the state of his na tivity and then accompanied his parents on their removal from New York to Michigan. He continued to reside with his parents un til he had attained his majority, assisting at times in the work of the home farm and at other times working as a farm laborer in order to assist his father in making the payments upon the land which he had pur chased. When he was twenty-one years of age his father still owed two hundred dol lars upon the place and later Mr. Spencer -of this review paid it for him. In the fall of 1 85 1, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he bade adieu to home and friends and started for the Pacific coast, joining a company of eleven men from Bainbridge township, who made the journey by way of Lake Nicaragua. On reaching his destination he went into the mines at Auburn, California, on the American river, and prospected and mined with moderate success^ He remained for four years in that far western country and then returned home with enough to pay for one hundred acres of land. During the last year of his residence in California he had been engaged in lumbering. Of the ten companions who went with him from Bainbridge township all returned sooner or later. So far as is known but one other is now living. Most of those who returned purchased land and became agriculturists of the community. Charles A. Spencer, having sent his money back home, his father invested it for him in a farm in Bainbridge township. In August, 1855, he arrived in Berrien county after a four years' residence on the Pacific coast and in 1856 he was married and began farming on his own account. He lived in Bainbridge township until 1866, when he purchased the present farm in Ben ton township, two miles distant. It was but a small tract of land to which he afterward added sixty acres of im proved land, and he likewise bought forty acres near the old home place. He now owns forty-six acres in his bome place and seventeen acres in another tract. The land has risen greatly in value and he now owns a very desirable farm. He has nearly fifty acres of this land under cultivation and has given his attention to general agricult ural pursuits and to the raising of berries, which he followed more largely when his children were at home. He also planted a peach orchard, but after one crop the trees had to be taken up. Recently, however, he has set out another peach orchard and he now has an apple orchard of ten acres which has given him a liberal income almost each year. The farm is well improved with modern equipments and in its excellent ap pearance indicates the careful supervision of the owner, who is a very progressive man, having always made the most of his opportunities. In April, 1856, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth E. Dix, who died in March, 1885, leaving five children. Minnie, the eldest, is the wife of John T. Vanderveer, who resides near Coloma, this county. Edmond Dix is residing in Minne apolis, Minnesota, where he is conducting a marble business. Arminta is the wife of John Kelley, of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, a professor in the state normal, who form erly engaged in teaching in Berrien county, while his wife was also a teacher in this county for a few years. Nettie is the wife of PI. A. Wells, a linotype operator in Ben ton Harbor, and Wallace is living in Mo ravia, Iowa. On the ist of March, 1888, Mr. Spencer was again married, his second union being with Miss Ellen Martin, of Bainbridge township, who was born in New York and for nearly fifteen years engaged in teaching in Ohio and Michigan, being in Fremont, *Ohio, at the time of the Civil war. In 1880 she came to Berrien county from Illinois, although she had previously lived in Berrien county. She taught in Bain bridge township and also in Clare county, Michigan, her experience as a teacher cov ering about fifteen years, during much of the time being connected with the district schools. She attended teachers' institutes in Ohio and Michigan and after teaching for several years became a student in the North ern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. The Spencer home is one of the desira ble ones of the county and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by many friends. Mr. 544 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Spencer is a supervisor of Benton township which position be has filled for several years. In politics he is a Republican, and at all times he has been interested in the welfare of the county and its substantial improve ment. For more than sixty years be has lived in this part of the state, save for the brief period spent in California, and he has therefore witnessed almost its entire growth and development, having seen its changes from pioneer conditions to its present state of advancement and improvement. LOUIS A. KING, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine in Baroda and Lake township, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, September 21, 1869, the only child of Ben jamin and Elizabeth L. (Wynose) King. His parents died of yellow fever in the year 1878, and Dr. King was reared in Nash ville, Tennessee, by strangers. He remained a resident of that city until seventeen years of age and in the meantime he learned the printer's trade, which he followed in several places for a period of seven or eight years. He afterward went to St. Louis, Missouri, and ambitious to acquire a better education than he had previously enjoyed he entered the high school, from which he was grad uated. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he then entered the Michigan College of Medicine and Sur gery at Saginaw and completed the course witb the class of 1903. He has since engaged in practice and has also done post-graduate college work. He added to his theoretical training broad practical experience by serv ice in the hospital at Saginaw while pursuing his studies there. He spent between two and three years in college and was after ward for eighteen months in the Klondike, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession and in prospecting. He then re turned to Saginaw and soon afterward lo cated in Baroda, where he took up his abode in 1903. Here he has a good general prac tice which he draws from the surrounding county as well as the town, and his pro fessional skill and ability are recognized by reason of the excellent results that have fol lowed his professional labors. On the 15th of May, 1899, Dr- King was married to Miss Victoria Bell Glide- well, a native of Marion county, Indiana, and a daughter of Leander and Nancy H. (Hightshire) Glidewell, who was like wise born in Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. King now have one child, Robert Warner, born May 28, 1905. In his political affiliation Dr. King is a Democrat, but without aspiration for office,. although he has served as a member of the board of education and as health officer of Lake township. Fraternally he is connected with Baroda Lodge, No. 435, I. O. O. F., and in the line of his profession he is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations. He is a very amiable man, who makes friends of all with whom he comes in contact. He speaks German as well as English and this is of much as- ' sistance to him in his work. He has an un usually large practice for a town' of this size and in fact his professional duties make con stant demand upon his time and energies,. leaving him little leisure. OSCAR D. SNYDER is a representa tive of one of the prominent and honored pioneer families of Berrien county and his life record is in harmony with tbat of his father, Sherwood Snyder, who was one of the valued and representative citizens of this- part of the state. A sketch of the father is. given elsewhere on another page of this work. Oscar D. Snyder was born on the- old family homestead in Benton township oh the ist of September, 1868, and the pub lic schools afforded him his educational priv ileges. He was married on the 22d of August, 1893, to Miss Viola Sinn, a daugh ter of Adam and Sophia (Miller) Sinn,. both of whom died during the early girl hood of their daughter. They were natives of Germany, having come from the Rhine- country to the new world and their mar riage was celebrated in Chicago. They ar rived in the United States early in the '50s and were married in 1854. In 1858 they settled in Royalton, Micbigan, where their son, Adam Sinn, now resides. Their daughter, Viola, ' was born December 9^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 54S 1873, and was reared by her sister, Mrs. Sophia Butzbach, who was then living in Benton township. Oscar Snyder is a stalwart Republican, interested in the success of his party and in flexible in his adherence to its principles, though he has never sought or desired pub lic office, preferring to concentrate his ener gies upon his business affairs. He has grown stock and fruit and he now has fif teen acres planted to peaches and a vineyard of eight acres. From a six acre patch of grapes — three year old Concords — he sold in 1905 eleven thousand five hundred and seventeen baskets of grapes at an average price of about twelve cents per basket. • In all of his work he is very practical and is a leading representative of horticultural in terests in the county. The old residence of the Snyder family built in 1871 by his father was at that time one of the best country homes in the county. The lum ber, all of which is white wood, was cut off of the place and planed out by hand. The house was erected in a substantial manner and is today one of the first class homes of this section of the county. It is today the residence of Oscar D. Snyder and it is not only an attractive dwelling but is also justly celebrated for its warm hearted hospitality. The farm is known as Cherry Lawn. i HIAL ALDEN, residing in Benton township, where he is engaged in general farming and fruit raising, is a representa tive of one of the oldest and most promi nent families of New England, tracing his ancestry in direct line back to John Alden, who came to America on the Mayflower, landing at Plymouth Rock. Jason Alden, father of our subject, was born at Plymouth Rock, Massachusets, and when fifteen years of age accompanied his parents on their re moval to the state of New York, settling in Jefferson county. There he met and mar ried Miss Charlotte Barrett, who was a teacher, and among her pupils was Major Lewis Pearl, one of the honored pioneer residents of Benton township. Hial Alden was born in the town of Theresa Falls, Jefferson county, New York, 35 on the 28th of November, 1829, and there acquired his early education, spending his boyhood days on his father's farm. In the fall of 1843 he came to Michigan with his parents. They left New York bound for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and were passeng ers on a sail boat for three weeks between. the ports of Buffalo and Detroit. They" landed at the latter place and drove ' withi teams across the state to Berrien county.. They knew that the Pearl family lived in this county and were induced thereby to make their way to this portion of the state. When in the vicinity of Millburg, which was the old stage house, they learned of the whereabouts of the Pearl family and also of an uncle of Mr. Alden who resided in the same neighborhood. Mr. Alden rented a house of a Mr. Hess in Millburg. That same winter his father purchased one hun dred and sixty acres of land a mile north of Millburg, where the family home was- maintained for five years. A log cabin had. been built upon the place and about seven or eight acres had been cleared, but other wise the entire tract was wild and unim proved. After five years Mr. Alden de cided to go on to Wisconsin, which had been his destination when he left New York, but events had changed the course of his travel and brought him to Michigan. He did not like the prairie country of Wiscon sin, however, so he returned to this state and secured land, upon which his son Hial now resides. All was dense forest and there was not a track through the woods for a mile or more. Warren Pearl had started a clearing, but there was no settler to the south or west or north to the Territorial road. To reach St. Joseph the Alden family had to go around through Mill burg and down the Territorial road, which was on the old stage road. There was no road leading to the west until Pipe stone road was reached, a distance of two> miles, and it was two years before a road had been opened to the St. Joseph river. The family home was situated about three and one-half miles from the Stimpson mill, and thus it will be seen that the pioneer family had to depend largely upon their 546 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY .own exertions for all that they might enjoy in their frontier home. The comforts which come to others as a matter of course and are easily obtained by purchase had to be developed by them through the utiliza tion of the various instruments and facili ties with which nature had surrounded them. Theirs was indeed a typical pioneer home of Michigan, the little cabin being built in the midst of a dense forest. There was an intense and solemn quiet in the woods and only a short distance from the home one could imagine that they were miles and miles from any habitation of sign of civili zation. Mr. Alden purchased his land at three dollars per acre, making the purchase, however, on the installment plan. This farm has since remained the old family home stead. Hial Alden purchased a part of the farm in connection with his father and in the early years of his residence here he not only assisted in the development of the home property but also worked on the Reynolds farm, which was opened by three boys. In the early days he also engaged in boat build ing, his first work being on the construction of four boats for the Illinois canal. He also aided in the building of thirteen boats to be used on the Illinois canal by William Brown, of St. Joseph. The Reynolds boat yard was on the north side of the river and the Brown shipyard was at the present site of the depot of the Pere Marquette Railroad in St. Joseph. Mr. Alden continued to work for two years in the shipyards and after wards was employed on the pier at St. Jo seph, Major Lewis Pearl acting as foreman of the job. This was government work and was an arduous and difficult task. All this time Hial Alden used every opportun ity to assist in clearing the farm and as he could accumulate ten or fifteen dollars he would deposit it as part payment for the land. In this way he and his father pur chased sixty-two acres of land. They were associated in agricultural interests up to the time of the father's death, which occurred in 1888, when he was eighty-eight years of age. He was a well preserved man, enjoy ing good health up to his last clays. He had for three years survived his wife, who died at the age of eighty-four years. For eleven years prior to her demise she was blind. In their family were two sons and two daugh ters, the brother of our subject being James Alden, who served for three years in the Civil war and died a few years afterward at the age of thirty as the result of his army experience. Of the two sisters Angeline married Lathrop Smith and died when about sixty-five years of age, while Caroline became the wife of Sherwood Snyder and died at the age of thirty years. Hial Alden, the only survivor of the family, was married May 4, 1856, in Niles to Miss Lydia Wynes, a daughter of Barney and Caroline (Loveland) Wynes. She was born in Vernon, Oneida county, New York, and was married at the age of twenty years. After retaining their business interests in connection for some time Hial Alden and his father divided their land, so that each had a farm and the former afterward pur chased his sisters' interests and thus became owner of the old homestead, though later he sold part of this to his son. He and his wife tenderly cared for his parents during their last years, thus repaying them by filial devotion for the attention and care which they bestowed upon him in his youth. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hial Alden have been born four sons and three daughters who are yet living and they also lost two chil dren in infancy. Those who yet survive are : William, who owns a part of the Thorn farm; Fred, who is connected with the life saving station at St. Joseph; Arthur, a farmer of Pipestone; Ola, a farmer and fruit grower and buyer of Sodus township; Carrie, the widow of Lon Peters, of Benton Harbor; Annie, the widow of George Jordan, a son of Francis Jordan, an early banker of St. Joseph, her home being now in Chicago; and Emma, the wife of Clarence Landis. They reside upon the old homestead with her parents. The Alden farm is a valuable property, pleasantly situated about- five miles south east of Benton and borders Napier avenue. For many years Mr. Alden has devoted his attention to general farming and fruit grow^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 547 ing and he now has about eleven hundred peach trees upon his place. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, but still gives supervision to his agricultural and horticultural interests. As one of the pioneer residents of the county he certainly deserves mention in this vol ume, having witnessed the great changes which have occurred as this section of Mich igan has emerged from pioneer conditions and taken on all the improvements and evi dences of an advanced civilization. His mind forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and he is classed with the honored pioneer residents of this part of the state. JOHN B. STOUFFER is an honored veteran of the Civil war, who proved his loyalty to his country upon many a south ern battlefield. The soldiers of that long and sanguinary struggle are fast passing away and only a few are left now to tell the tale of arduous service in defense of the Union, but while memory remains to the American people these brave boys in blue will have the gratitude of a grateful and enlightened people for the service which they did for their country in the darkest hour of her history. Mr. Stouffer is now living in Benton township, Berrien county, where he is extensively and successfully en gaged in fruit raising, being a recognized leader in the ranks of the men who are suc cessfully following this business in the county: A native of Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Mr. Stouffer was born on the 27th of June, 1842, his parents being Daniel and Rebecca (Harman) Stouffer. The father was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1808. The mother was a native of Ohio. She gave her hand in marriage to Daniel Stouffer in 1839. Daniel Stouffer was a shoemaker and farmer, and continued a resi dent of the Buckeye state until 1851, when, after a three years' residence in Zanesville, Indiana, he came to Berrien county, Michi gan. His wife's brother, Jacob Harman, had settled in this county in 1853, having come here with the Stump family. He pur chased one hundred and sixty acres of land from a Mr. Marshall, a large land owner, for six dollars and a quarter per acre. It was a tract of wilderness, not a stick of timber having been cut nor an improvement made. The first house was built of planks in the style called at that time an ark and used on the St. Joseph river for floating grain down from Constatine and Three Riv ers. The land lay south of Benton Harbor and the old road ran through the farm, but at quite a distance west of the present line. The present Pipestone road was laid out by road commissioners about forty-five years ago, but the old Pipestone road had been made many years ago. Daniel Stouffer be-; gan the improvement and development ¦ of this farm and continued the work of culti vation for a number of years, but eventually the original tract of the quarter section was cut up into very small tracts, about thirty: acres of the place being now in possession of J. B. Stouffer of this review. Daniel Stouffer cleared and improved about thirty acres of his original purchase and he did all the work of cutting the timber and pre paring the lumber himself. His life was one of untiring activity and his labor proved a valuable element in the early development and progress of this part of the county. Both he. and his wife were among the origi nal members of the Church of God and were active in its work until called to their final rest. Mr. Stouffer passed away on the 16th of August, 1889, and was survived for about eight years by his wife, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1820, and died May 19, "1897. They had been married in 1839, and had thus traveled life's journey. together for a half century. In their fam-| ily were six children, of whom four reached years of maturity: Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Thomas and resides in Sodus township, this county; John B., of this review ; George, who went to California in early life arid is supposed to be living in that state; and Lydia Ann, who became the wife of Burwell P. Carmichael, of Sodus township, and died in Florida about a year and a balf ago. -'; John B. Stouffer has resided in Berrien 548 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY township from the age of twelve years, hav ing come with his parents to this part of the state in 1854. He continued to reside upon the old homestead until 1861 and the first school which he attended had a session of two months, the teacher boarding round among the pupils. Among his first teach ers were a Mr. Adams, J. M. Guy and Fundy Shoddy, the two latter still living. Mr. Stouffer well remembers attending a meeting to arrange for a local school. Those early institutions of public instruc tion were primitive, as were the conditions of life in all departments here, but they proved an excellent foundation upon which to rear the present superstructure of pub lic education. Mr. Stouffer continued to aid in the work of the fields through the summer months until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when in April, 1861, roused by a spirit of patriotism at the at tempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he enlisted for service under command of Captain Webb Edmunds, who, however, was drowned in the St. Joseph river two months later and who had been a military graduate from West Point. The company therefore was not mustered in, and on the 23rd of September, 1861, Mr. Stouffer again enlisted, this time becoming a mem- of Company L, Third Michigan Cavalry, which rendezvoused at Grand Rapids and was attached to the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On the 5th of December, 1864, he was promoted from the rank of corporal to that of quarter master sergeant, and on the nth of April, 1865, became first sergeant. He did active duty at New Madrid, Island No. 10. Cor inth, Bay Spring, Iuka, Corville, Hatch- ie's Run, the three engagements at Holly Springs, the battle of Tallahoochie river, Lumkin's Mill, Oxford, Coffeeville, Brown- ford, the Ripley raid, Orizaba, Ellistown, Lacona river, two engagements at- Lamar, Purdy, Jack's Creek, Tullahoma, Jacinto, Rienzi, Water Valley, Brownsville, Bolivar and many other skirmishes. He was alto gether in forty engagements. On the 3rd of July, 1863, his horse was shot from under him at Lamar, Mississippi, and he lay within the enemy's lines all day, but at night suc ceeded in making his escape. His regiment according to official reports captured more than twenty-one hundred men in excess of the capture of any other Michigan regiment and they traveled over twenty thousand. miles. On the 19th of January, 1864, Mr. Stouffer was honorably discharged on the expiration of his three years' term, but he veteranized at LaGrange, Tennessee, and rejoined his old command. He was then granted a thirty days' furlough, which he- spent at home, and he was honorably dis charged at Jackson, Michigan, on the 16th of March, 1866, having been mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, on the 12th of Feb ruary, 1866, his regiment having been sent to the Lone Star state in August, 1865. His grandfather had been a soldier in the- war of 1 812 and his great-grandfather in the Revolutionary war, and with the blood" of- military ancestors in his veins, his own spirit aroused by intensely patriotic feelings,. he at once became an advocate of the Union cause at the outbreak of the Civil war and remained a loyal defender of the- government and all it represented until after the close of hostilities. Of the origi nal sixty-one men who enlisted in the com pany in 1 86 1, only sixteen of the number re turned with the company in 1866 and. but one other is still living in this section of Benton county. Mr. Stouffer was never- wounded nor disabled, although he was often in battles where the bullets fell thick as hail stones. He still has his last muster ing out report to the government, for it was- not sent owing to an ink blot. As sergeant he had to keep the muster roll and make up the reports. Since the close of the war Mr. Stouffer has attended several re-unions, in cluding four national encampments of the- Grand Army of the Republic and thus he has kept in touch with his old army com rades, taking great delight in meeting with those who wore the blue uniform upon the battlefields of the south. In 1866 Mr. Stouffer, having returned from the war, purchased land and has since- given his attention to farming and fruit HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 549 raising. He now has thirty acres, consti tuting a fine fruit farm on Pipestone road, also a seventeen acre farm near by and thirty acres in Bainbridge township devoted to fruit with over one thousand peach trees upon the home farm. He also has an apple orchard, pears and other fruits and he origi nated the Stouffer Favorite strawberry, which for years was considered the finest berry grown and on the market. He has continually striven to improve his fruit in size, quality and flavor and his efforts have heen attended with excellent results, his be ing one of the finest fruit farms of this part of the county. On the nth of October, 1868, Mr. Stouffer was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Doxsee, a daughter of Nelson Doxsee, of Benton township, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio. In their family were five children, but three of the number died of diphtheria in early life. The two yet living are : Ada, now the wife of William Rush, of Bainbridge township; and William Stouffer, who married Inez Peters and oper ates the home farm. In days of peace as well as in days of war Mr. Stouffer has. been a valued and representative citizen, standing as a high type" of American manhood. He made a splendid military record during the Civil war and at all times he has been loyal to his country and her welfare. His interest in public affairs of the community has been deep and sincere and his co-operation can be counted upon as a factor in general im provement. ANSON F. BITHER, manager for the Niles Board and Paper Company, at Niles, Michigan, has advanced from an humble po sition to a place of prominence in industrial circles. Nothing is impossible to him who wills to win and allows no thought of de feat to find lodgment in his mind, and this statement finds abundant verification in the life records of such men as Mr. Bither. A native of New York, he was born in Albany, February 12, 1846, a son of John and Frances (Spath) Bither. The father, born in Germany, learned the weaver's trade in his native land and in 1830 came to America, settling in Albany, New York, where he was engaged in the manufacture of paper for a quarter of a century. Later in life he removed to a farm in Columbia county, New York, and retired from active connection with industrial interests. His wife died in 1870. Anson F. Bither, the eldest of a family of eight children, spent his boyhood days in Albany and Chatham, New York, where he attended school for a short time, but at the early age of eleven years he became an employe in a paper mill in the Empire state, where he remained until twenty years of age, gradually working his way upward as he thoroughly mastered the different duties entrusted to bim. In 1866 he went to Wis consin, settling in Beloit, where he built the Beloit Strawboard Company's works, after which he remained for two years in the em ploy of the Rock River Paper Company of Beloit which was connected with the Beloit Strawboard Company. Later he worked for the same company in Marshall, Michi gan, and for six years conducted an exten sive and profitable business in the manu facture and sale of roofing, carpet lining and building paper, the output of the house be ing quite large. For two years Mr. Bither was located at Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he was employed by the Michigan Paper Company, engaged in the manufacture of manila paper. In 1878 he came to Niles to accept the superintendency of the Niles Pa per Mill Company, whicb position he filled until its consolidation with the Ohio Paper Company, since which time he has been manager, and it is now known as the Niles Board and Paper Company. Through his carefully directed labors the business of the house has been largely increased, better facil ities for conducting the business have been secured, improved machinery- has been in troduced and the entire business systematized and managed with the idea of producing maximum results with minimum expendit ure of time and money — which is the basis of all success. Mr. Bither's thorough understanding of the business in all of its departments has enabled him to accomplish 550 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY this result and he regards no detail of the business as too unimportant to receive his personal attention, if it is needed. While his business duties require his al most undivided attention Mr. Bither main tains an intelligent interest in public af fairs and gives his support to all enter prises originated on behalf of the com munity in general. He has served as presi dent of the Building and Loan Association and he personally owns much valuable real estate in Niles, beside other desirable prop erty, and through well directed business in terests has accumulated a competency. Mr. Bither was married, in 1869, to Miss Rachel Mangold, of Chicago, a daugh ter of George H. Mangold, and they have two children : Fred H. and Bernice M, the former being superintendent of the Allegan Paper Mills. Mr. Bither is a member of Berrien County Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., also. Encampment No. 3, at Niles, and is likewise connected with the Select Knights. In politics he is an earnest and unfaltering Republican, and has been elected to various offices of trust and responsibility on that ticket. He served for four years as alder man from the third ward and manifests a spirit of patriotism in his devotion to the general good. Starting out in life on his own account at the early age of eleven years, his course has been one of steady pro gress and he has now reached the plane of affluence. L. KELLY is the owner of a valuable fruit farm of eighty-nine acres, on which he raises fruit of all kinds. The . place is situated in Benton township not far from Benton Harbor and is a well developed property. Investigations into his methods show that he' is thoroughly familiar with the science of horticulture and his labors have resulted in the harvesting of splendid fruit crops annually. He was born in Har- wichport, Massachusetts, on the 12th of October, 1855, and. is a son of Moses C. and Adelia A. (Nickerson) Kelly. The father, a native of Massachusets, was a sailor who lived and died in the east. The maternal grandfather, Elhanah Nickerson, came to Michigan with the subject of this review and settled first in St. Joseph, where he lived for a short time, after- wbich he purchased the farm upon which Mr. Kelly now resides.' He and Dr. Reuben Parker took up one thousand acres of land, which they gradu ally sold as the country became more and more thickly settled. At the time they lo cated here, however, the farm was in the midst of the forest and there was only one store at Benton Harbor, showing that the work of improvement and development had been scarcely begun. Mr. Kelly has resided upon his present farm since 1862. He was educated in the- common schools, being but seven years of age when brought by his grandfather to Michigan. He completed his educational course in the high school at St. Joseph, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875, since which time he has car ried on fruit farming, raising all kinds of fruit. His trees are in excellent bearing condition and he utilizes the most advanced methods to keep his soil productive and thus secure the best of crops. By reason of the improvements that he has placed upon the property the land has greatly appreciated in value until it is now worth about five hundred dollars per acre. In 1880 Mr. Kelly was united in mar riage to Miss Jennie Rosevelt, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (White) Rosevelt. Two children were born of that union. Car roll L, now at home; and Lila, deceased. After losing his first wife Mr. Kelly was again married, his second union being with Miss Ada Baker, to whom he was married on the 9th of January, 1901. Her parents were Dr. P. A. and Belinda Baker. The family have a pleasant and attractive home which stands in the midst of a valuable fruit farm of eighty-nine acres. His or chards are in excellent condition and the high grades of fruit which he produces- bring to him a very satisfactory financial re turn annually. Mr. Kelly votes independently, nor is he an. office seeker. In bis religious faith he is a spiritualist and fraternally he is con nected with the Modern Woodmen of 0 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 55i' America. He has; witnessed many changes during his residence in the county as the fruit industry has developed, supplanting the old lumber industry which in the early days was successfully prosecuted in this part Of the state. He stands as a typical representative of horticultural interests and his labors have been attended with a grati fying measure of prosperity. JOHN B. JERUE, proprietor of Wal nut Grove farm on section 8 of Galien town ship, and one of the wealthy men of Berrien county, was born at St. Michel, thirty miles south of Montreal, Canada, June 4, 1849. In 1855 his parents left Canada, and- by way of St. Lawrence river and the Erie Canal, train to Niles, and wagon to: King's - Landing, arrived at their destination in this county. The family lived on rented farms in Sodus township a number of years, until the father made a purchase of a small farm of fifteen acres in that township. Mr. Jerue lived with his father until his marriage, April 13, 1876, and- two or three years later came to Galien township. Mr. Jerue has been very successful in his ¦ farming enterprises and is one of the ex tensive land owners of the county. A num ber of years ago he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Galien township for •• fifteen hundred dollars, and the same tract with its. first-class improvements . is now ; worth several times that amount. His Ber rien county lands now comprise two hun dred and sixty-seven acres, in Galien and : Three Oaks townships, besides two village lots in Galien. He has made mint culture one. of the profitable features of his farm, having one hundred and twenty acres de- ; voted to peppermint growing and from it ¦ distils a valuable quantity of mint oil. In 1897 of 1898 he shipped thirty-three car-' loads of cabbage to New Orleans, and he has visited the city three times. His cattle and : sheep, his substantial farm buildings -and all - the improvements show his ability as a busi ness farmer. < In politics Mr. Jerue is a Dem ocrat, and his church affiliation- is with the- Catholic church at Three Oaks. Mr. Jerue's parents were Francis and Mary (Foftchy) Jerue, both' of them - na- ¦> fives of the District of Montreal. Thei mother died in 1891, at the age of seventy,! while the father is still living in Sodus town- ; ship, aged eighty-six years. - Their seven children are: Frank, of Galien township;; Mary Fonger, of Benton Harbor; Bosilla,'; who died at the age of thirty ; John B. ; •. Adolphus, of Benton Harbor; Sovereign, of. Sodus; and one that died in infancy. By his first wife, whose maiden name- was Flora France, a native of Galien town- - ship, Mr. Jerue had six children, namely : , May, deceased ; Lucretia, deceased ; Francis, ; Clara^ Milton and Henry. In November, i 1 90 1, Mr. Jerue married Emma Keefer, also< a native of Galien township, and their two'; children are John and Mary. L. G. MOULTON.. Among the promi- ' nent residents of Benton Harbor well de-, serving of mention among the representa tive citizens of Berrien county is numbered L. G. Moulton, who was formerly identified , with mercantile interests in this city and is ; today the owner of a valuable fruit farm , adjoining Benton Harbor. He came to, Michigan when the site of this city was en- ( tirely covered by a fruit , orchard. His . birth occurred ¦ in Genesee county, New York, on the 30th of May, 1835, his parents, being Daniel and Pauline ,( Riddle) Moul- . ton. The father was a farmer by occupa- ;. tion and removed from New York to Illi nois at an early period in the development , of the latter state. There he not only en-, gaged in general agricultural- pursuits butj also operated a sawmill. He reared a fam- . ily of ten children, nine sons and one ; daughter, L. G. Moulton being the only one . now living. , When a young- lad Mr. Moulton of this review accompanied his parents on their | emigration westward and spent his youth. largely in Illinois. He was educated in the , common schools and in 1859 he came tof Michigan, settling first in St. Joseph, where, he remained for a few years, when, he re-- moved to his present place of residence in Benton township near the town of Benton. Harbor. On locating in St. Joseph he pur-' £52 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ¦chased a hardware store, which he con ducted for about three years, but in 1862 a disastrous fire destroyed this store, causing him a loss of about three thousand dollars worth of property. Removing to the farm he has since carried on the cultivation of fruit in the center of the fruit belt of Michi gan. No state in the Union produces finer fruit than can be raised in this locality and Mr. Moulton has always been a leader in the work, never following in the beaten paths that others have traveled, but seeking out new methods and embracing every op portunity for advancing his business inter ests. He has always raised fruit of the fin est quality and size and the products of his farm have found a ready sale on the market. He now owns twenty acres of land worth over four hundred dollars per acre and ad joining Benton Harbor on the south. He cleared and improved the place and trans formed his farm into a splendid orchard. When he came to Berrien county the entire site of Benton Harbor was an orchard and he has witnessed many changes that have occurred here as the city has grown and developed and as it has progressed along modern lines, making this one of the rich sections of the state. Mr. Moulton has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Lavena Plumb and unto them was born a son, Chester O., who is now a telegraph operator in Chicago. In 1853 Mr. Moulton was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Day, a daughter of Henry Day, a native of Eng land, who with his family removed to Illi nois, settling upon a farm there. There have been four children born of the second marriage : Emily, Ella, Caroline and Ad- die, all yet living. Mr. Moulton now has a fine home on his fruit farm, it being one of the attractive residences of Benton township and his splendidly improved property is an indica tion of an active and well-spent life. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor and since the organization of the Re publican party has been one of its stanch and inflexible advocates. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and was instrumental in establishing the Union League in St. Jo seph, this being the first organization of the kind in this part of the state. For two years he served as its president. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey and, looking back over the past in a review of his career, one notes many salient elements that are commenda ble. He has worked earnestly and persist ently and his business affairs at all times have been characterized by integrity and straightforward dealing. JAMES J. WEIR, M. D., a most suc cessful practicing physician and surgeon now living in Millburg, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, November 25, 1838, the place of his birth being near Minerva. His par ents, William and Elizabeth (Irwin) Weir, were both natives of Ireland and leaving that country they sailed for the United States in 1825, making their way from the Atlantic coast to Carroll county, Ohio, where they took up their abode. The father followed farming and died at the venerable age of eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away at a comparatively early age, her death occurring when she was but thir ty-five. Mr. Weir was a successful agri culturist, carefully directing his business interests, so that as the years passed he won a gratifying measure of prosperity. James J. Weir was educated in the com mon schools of Carroll county, Ohio, and afterward attended the Warren Collegiate Institute at Warren, Illinois, also the Ec lectic Medical College of Cincinnati. De termining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he carefully prepared for his chosen calling and following bis graduation in 1878 he opened an office for practice at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he re-' mained for one year. He afterward pract iced at Edmore, Montcalm county, Michi gan, for three years and then removed to Kalamazoo. Subsequently he took up his abode in Dowagiac, where he continued in practice for two years and later he located in Millburg, where he has since resided. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 553 He has a very fine practice, being the only physician in Benton township outside of Benton Harbor. Dr. Weir has been married twice. In 1864 he wedded Margaret Davis and unto them were born six children: James H., who is engaged in business in Grand Rap ids; B. Vern, a painter by trade; Cora P., who is now in Detroit; and three deceased, one who died in childhood, one died aged nine years, and another aged six months. In 1900 Dr. Weir was again married, his sec ond union being with Mrs. Alta Enos. They have a pleasant home in Millburg, Benton township, and their residence stands in the midst of a fine lawn of four lots, which is well kept, making theirs one of the attract ive places in the town. Dr. Weir has built up a very fine practice, his professional du ties making constant demand upon his time and attention until he has almost more than he can do. He has served as health officer for four years and he has kept in constant touch witb the progress made by the medical fraternity as investigation, research and ex periment have broadened the knowledge of its representatives and promoted their effi ciency. His labors are attended with ex cellent results, for he is very careful in the diagnosis of his case and correct in his application of his knowledge to the needs of his patients. In his political views he is a stalwart and earnest Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows, the Woodmen of the World, the Be nevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has gained the favorable regard of his brethren of the profession and the consensus of pub lic opinion concerning him both socially and professionally is entirely favorable. JOHN GLEESON. The subject of this review is a well known farmer of Chik aming township, Berrien county, whose skill and ability in his chosen calling are plainly manifest in the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place. He was born in the city of Hamilton, Canada, on the 9th of April, 1850, a son of Patrick Gleeson, a native son of Ireland. He was married in his native country to Johanna Dwyer, a native of the same place as her husband, and about 1848 they emigrated to Canada, where the wife and mother died in 1856, at the age of thirty-nine years. The father afterward came to Berrien county, arid here the remainder of his life was passed, his death occurring in Chika ming township at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a blacksmith and machinist by trade, following those occupations in his early life, but after coming to Michigan he engaged in farming. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gleson — John, whose name introduces this review; Maggie, the deceased wife of John Sweeney ; and Wil liam J., a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1862 Mr. Gleeson accompanied his father on his removal to Berrien county, Michigan, and for thirty-five years he has resided on his present home farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile and well tilled land on sections 28 and 29. This land was purchased of Jacob Beeson, of Niles, and at that time was cov ered with a dense growth of timber, but with the assistance of his father Mr. Gleeson has cleared the entire place and has placed the same under a high state of cultivation. He is a defender of the principles of the Democratic party. For four years he dis charged the duties of the office of township supervisor, for four years was highway com missioner, two years township treasurer, and ten years a school officer, facts which attest hi$.great popularity and the confidence of the people in his capability and trust worthiness. He is a member of the A. H. T. A., of which he served as secretary for thirteen years. He is a member of the Cath olic church at Three Oaks. CAPTAIN JAMES McDONALD was born in Canada on "the 30th of June, 1845, and is a son of James and Isabella (Leacb) McDonald. Tbe father was a native of Scotland and possessed all of the sterling characteristics of that race. For many 554 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY years he conducted a hotel, but about 1843 brought his family to America, settling at Port Colborne, Canada, where occurred the birth of his son James. He purchased a hotel there and continued its active manage:- ment up to the time of his death in 1844. His widow subsequently removed with her .family to Buffalo, New York, and in 1852 came to Berrien county, Michigan, settling on a farm in Benton township. A year later she went to St. Joseph, Michigan, with her children and afterward, took up her abode in Sodus township, where her remaining days were passed, ber death there occurring when she had reached the very advanced age of eighty-six years. Captain McDonald spent his youth in St. Joseph, Michigan,, where he secured his education, but his school privileges were somewhat limited and in the school of ex perience he has learned many valuable les sons. At the age of twelve years he be came a sailor and spent some time on Lakes Michigan, -Erie and Huron, continuing on the water altogether for twenty-three years. He worked his way steadily upward and for fifteen years was master of a vessel. He began upon the lakes as steward and served in successive positions until he became master of a vessel. He continued to run a schooner between Benton Harbor and Chi cago and was noted for making quick trips. In fact he. has the record of making the fastest time, upon the lakes by a boat of that character. In. 1872 he ran the schooner Cynthia Gordon and made thirty round trips .in sixty days in succession, carrying lumber and other freight. He continued in business until 1880, when he sold the schooner and retired from the . lakes. He then turned his attention to the lumber busi ness and was the first to ship a carload of lumber into any yard in St. Joseph or Ben ton Harbor, the cargo being white pine , from the north, which he sold to the firm of Wal lace & Barnes. He also shipped the first carload of lumber from the north to. Captain . N. Robbins. By. this time he was buying. and selling lumber by the cargo but shortly afterward, in 1880, be established a lumber yard, in Benton Harbor, forming a partner ship with A. S. and W.. O. Packard, under the firm name of McDonald, Packard & Company. They conducted a wholesale and retail lumber business in this city and Cap tain McDonald was connected with the trade for seven years, when he sold out and em barked in business as an independent dealer. Later he admitted P. W. Van Deuser to a partnership under the firm style of McDon ald & Van Deuser, this relation being main tained for two years, at the end- of which time Captain McDonald bought his part ner's interest and continued alone until 1898. ' He later formed a partnership with Samuel McGuigan under the firm name of Mc Guigan & McDonald, and they not only con- ' tinued in the lumber trade but also built the McGuigan & McDonald Block in the center of the city. This is a three-story brick ; structure seventy-five by eighty feet with stores on the ground floor and offices above.' Captain McDonald is a man of resource ful business ability, who has been quick to recognize and improve business opportuni ties in. the line of real estate building and dealing. He is now the owner of much val- " uable realty in Benton Harbor, including a number .of dwellings. He continued in the' luntber trade, the firm of McGuigan & Mc Donald carrying on business where the Pen- ' insular Lumber. Company now conducts' their yard.. In 1901 Captain McDonald bought his partner's interest and in 1903 re moved his lumberyard to a point on South Pipestone street, where he continues to carry ^ on a large . business, having been veiy suc cessful. His patronage in this line is very extensive, . the trade haying long since reached large and profitable proportions. He bas also built or been' interested in the erection of over one hundred and fifty dwell ings in Benton Harbor which have contrib uted in. large measure. to the development and improvement of the city. His opera tions as a speculative builder have been of direct . and permanent good to Benton Har- ; bpr as well as a source .of individual profit- and he is widely recognized as one of the' most enterprising and capable business men ; here. On the 29th of November, 1870, oc- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 555 curred the marriage of Captain McDonald and Miss Ann E. Rector, a daughter of William H. Rector, a native of Berrien county. They now have three children: Flora Isabelle, who was born in St. Jo seph; William R., who was born in Benton Harbor and is principal of a school at Sari Francisco, California; and Ora M., who was born in Sodus township, Berrien county, and is the wife of Dr. L. Frank Ray, of St. Joseph. Captain McDonald and his family attend the Methodist church and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood men, and Elks lodges. He votes with the Republican party and in 1896 served as alderman from tbe second ward but he pre fers to do his public service as a private citizen, .finding many opportunities tp put forth aid in behalf of general progress and improvement. HARRIS S. WHITNEY, practicing at the bar of Berrien county, has gained recog nition as an able attorney of broad legal learning, who in the trial of his case shows correct application of his knowledge to trie points in litigation. He was born in Canada In 1870 and is a son of Edward R. and Mary J. (Harris) Whitney. The father was a farmer and lumberman. He partici pated in the Fenian Raids in Canada and served as captain of a company. He was. always interested, in military affairs and ever kept well in formed on questions. con cerning such, matters. : He was a son of Ebenezer and Charlotte (Parker) Whit ney. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Peter and Frances (Mitchell); Harris. '. Harris S. Whitney came to Michigan in 1890, settling, in Benton Harbor, where his education was acquired, his preliminary studies being supplemented by a course in the Benton Harbor College,, from which he was graduated in the class of 1898. He thus gained a broad literary knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning andj having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, he became a student in the- office and under the direction of W. C. Hicks, of Benton Harboi . He afterward took the examination before the state board of examiners, whereby he secured his ad mission to the bar in 1900. Locating for practice in Benton Harbor, he has met with a fair measure of success for a man of his years, having a good clientage connecting him with considerable important litigation. His devotion to his clients' interests is prov erbial and he prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care. It is the work done in the courtroom — the public addresses to: court and jury and the cross examination which impresses the general public, but the real work of the lawyer is done in his office in the preparation of his case, in the mar shalling of his facts and in ascertaining the law applicable thereto. In this task Mr.: Whitney shows unfaltering diligence and his comprehensive research is evidenced' by the results which he wins in the court room. Interested in political questions, Mr. Whitney keeps well informed on the issues' •of the day and gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He is a member of the Republican city committee and also the county central committee, acting in the lat ter capacity for two years. He was also a member of the Young Men's Republican Club during the two campaigns in which'- William McKinley was presidential nomi nee. He is secretary of the Berrien County Bar Association, and has just been selected- justice of the peace, commission to take effect July 4, 1906. Mr. H. S. Whitney1 was admitted to the bar April 15, 1906/ Fraternally he is connected with Lake Shore? Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Benton- Harbor.' In 1902 Mr. Whitney was married in this city to Miss Dora B. Rackliff, a daugh-. ter of H. A. Rackliff, who was formerly register of deeds of Berrien county. They have one child, Robert A., born in this city, Earnest effort,' close application and the exercise of his native talents have, won Mr. Whitney considerable prestige as a lawyer, and bis legal learning, his analytical mind and the readiness with which he grasps. the points in an argument combine to make him a capable representative of the bar. 556 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY GEORGE A. PARREN. One of the honored residents of Berrien county, George A. Parren, is a native of Chikaming town ship, his birth occurring on the 4th of No vember, 1869, and in this portion of the State his. entire life has been passed. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Tatro) Parren, natives respectively of Quebec and Illinois. The mother's death occurred in this town ship when she had reached the age of about thirty-eight years, but the father is still liv ing, making his home on a farm in this township. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Joseph, who makes his home in Wesaw township; George A., whose name introduces this review ; Charles, a resident of the state of Washington; Al bert, of Chikaming township; Henry, whose home is in. Benton Harbor; Agnes, at home; and William. The old farm in Chikaming township continued as the home of George A. Parren until he was eighteen years of age, and the educational training wbich he received in its schools was supplemented by an attendance . at Notre Dame, South Bend, .for one year. He entered on his business career as a clerk in a store at Sawyer, where he remained for one year, going thence to St. Joseph, where a similar period of time was spent, and for the following three years he was a resident of Three Oaks. He subsequently became the proprietor of a general store in Dayton, but after one year there he removed to Three Oaks, where for about seven years he was numbered among the leading general merchants. After spending one season on a farm he took up his abode in St. Joseph, and there for a time was engaged in the fuel business, while during the succeeding year he was the proprietor of a general store in Sawyer. On the expiration of that period Mr. Parren located on his present farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres on sec tion 11, Chikaming township. Most of the improvements now seen upon this place are the work of Mr. Parren, including all the buildings and most of the clearing. In addition to his general farming operations he is also extensively engaged in stock rais ing, buying and shipping cattle by the car load lots. He is now erecting a residence in Three Oaks, where he will spend the winter months, while the summers will be passed at his farm. Mr. Parren was married May 10; 1892^ to Miss Mary Sheler, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a daughter of Hiram and Mary Sheler. Their union has been blessed with three children — Vera, Opal and George. Mr. Parren gives his political sup port to the Democratic party, and for five consecutive years he served as the clerk of Three Oaks township, while for one year he held the same office in Chikaming town ship. He is a gentleman of excellent educa tion, is broad-minded and patriotic, and merits the genuine regard which everyone accords him. EDWARD CLARK SISSON, assist ant secretary and assistant general manager of the Peter' Lumber Company of Benton Harbor, was born in Spring Lake, Ottawa county, Michigan, on the 12th of September 1872. His father, George D. Sisson, was a native of Ohio and coming to Michigan, became connected with the lumber industry in the northern part of the state. He lived for about one year in Benton Harbor, where he was also connected with the lumber busi ness. His death occurred in 1898, when he had reached the age of fifty-eight years, and he is still survived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret E. Clark. She was born in Elgin, Scotland, and is now living with her son, Edward C, at the age of sixty-six years. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, of whom five are yet living: Wil liam H., who was born in Milwaukee, Wis consin, and is now residing in Indiana, where he is connected with the lumber trade ; Edward C. ; George D., who was born at Spring Lake, Michigan, and is now living in Indianapolis, where he, too, is connected with the lumber business; Georgia S., the widow of James Campbell; and Jessie, the wife of Major R. B. Gillette, who is repre sented on another page of this volume. All HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 557 three of the sons have followed in their father's footsteps in business life, becoming connected with the lumber trade. At the usual age Edward Clark Sisson entered the public schools in his native city, where he rhastered the elementary branches of learning. Later he became a student in the schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passing through successive grades until he had com pleted the high school course. He after ward attended a business college in that city and on putting aside his text books he entered upon his business career as an em ploye in the wholesale department of the dry goods house of Spring & Company at Grand Rapids, acting in that capacity for two years. Later he began working for the Chicago & Western Michigan Railroad in the auditing department, his connection with the corporation continuing for seven years, after which he went to Indianapolis, Indi ana, and joined his father in the lumber business there. They were thus associated until 1898, the year of the father's death, after which Mr. Sisson entered into the business relations with the Peter Lumber Company, of Benton Harbor, of which he was assistant secretary and assistant gen eral manager. The Peter Lumber Com pany sold out their business May 15, 1906, and Mr. Sisson and W. C. Hovey organized the Hovey & Sisson Lumber Company, wholesale dealers in lumber. He has put forth strenuous and effective effort for the development and growth of the business, and his labors are an important factor in its success. From his boyhood days to the present time he has been largely connected with the lumber trade, having gained con siderable knowledge of the business in his youth through association with his father. In. his political views Mr. Sisson is an earnest Republican, very active in the work of the party, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its suc cess. It was be who nominated Judge Coolitz at the last election for judge of the circuit court. In 1905 Mr. Sisson was ap pointed to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. Cole, deceased, in the office of alderman, and in the spring of 1906 he was elected alderman from the . first ward. His inter est in public affairs has been manifest in the tangible effort for the general good and, in all of his public work as in his business inter ests he is intensely practical and far-sighted. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine . at Grand Rapids. He be longs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, ' the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights' of the Maccabees and the Benevolent and Pro tective Order of Elks, and in the last named has served for the past two years as exalted ruler. He is a favorite with his brethren of these organizations and his interest in their work is of a helpful and beneficial nature. THOMAS LEE WILKINSON, who is engaged in the abstract business in St. Joseph, was bom in Berrien Springs, this county, on the 7th of November, 1855. His father, Thomas Lee Wilkinson was born near Germantown, Pennsylvania, and is descended from Quaker ancestry. He removed from his native state to Michigan in the year 1840. He was married there to Miss Elizabeth Ann Hagadorn, a native of Allegany county, New York, who is still living, having for many years survived her husband, who died in 1862 at the age of forty-seven years. Mr. Wilkinson was a cabinet-maker by trade and in the early days manufactured furniture. He had a large shop employing several men, and made most of tjje furniture used in central Berrien county from 1840 to i860. Walnut and cherry were used exclusively in making good furniture in those days, and the for ests around Berrien Springs furnished an abundance of these woods. In their family were eight children. Thomas Lee Wilkinson was only about eight years of age at the time of his father's demise. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in 1876 be came a partner in the abstract business under the firm name Of Dix & Wilkinson, opening what was known as the Berrien 558 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY County Abstract Office. This office was removed to St. Joseph in 1894 and Mr. Wil kinson is still connected with this line of business. In 1890 in Berrien Springs, in connection with Roscoe D. Dix, he estab lished a private bank called the Berrien Exchange Bank, which is still con ducted, at the same time carrying on the abstract office in St. Joseph. Mr. Dix re sides in the former place looking after the banking interests there, while Mr. Wilkin son has control of the business in St. Jo seph. Both branches are proving a source of profit and are factors in business circles in the two cities. On the ist of November, 1893, in Ber rien Springs, Mr. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Miss Adeline Graham, a daugh ter of George Graham of that place. Unto them were born three children: Phyllis, who was born in Berrien Springs and is eleven years of age; Frances, who was born in Berrien Springs and is seven years of age; and Mary Elizabeth, who was born in St. Joseph and is three years of age. Mr. Wilkinson votes with the Republi can party, but is without aspiration for of fice, although, as every true American citi zen should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He be longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows at Berrien Springs, also to the Wood men camp, and the Maccabees tent at that place, while in St. Joseph he has member ship relations with the Benevolent and Pro tective Order of Elks. His entire life has been passed in this county, and while there have been no exciting cbapters in his life history he belongs to that class who uphold the local and political status of the commu nity and whose aid and co-operation can be counted upon to further progressive pub lic measures, while in business circles he is thoroughly reliable and just. JOHN BURKHART, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Three Oaks and also serving as justice of the peace and notary public, has been a valued factor in community affairs, standing as a repre sentative of progress and improvement along all substantial lines. He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the nth of August, 1 841, and is a son of John and Christina (Hahn) Burkhart, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, in which country they were reared and married. The year following their marriage they came to the United States and established their home in Pennsylvania, where they spent their re maining days, both passing away in Schuyl kill, when seventy-nine years of age. Mr. Burkhart was five years her husband's ju nior and survived him fpr that length of time. In their family were six sons: Christian, now deceased; John, of this re view; Charles, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run, while serving in the Union army; Fred, who for four years was a sol dier of the Civil war; Mathias, of Pennsyl vania; and Adam, who is also living in Pennsylvania. John Burkhart was reared on the old home farm in Pennsylvania to the age of twelve years and his parents removed to Schuylkill Haven, that state, settling in Pine Grove, where he remained until seventeen years of age. Thinking to have better busi ness opportunities in the west, and ambi tious to attain success, he made his way to South Bend, Indiana, where he began work as a farm hand. He was thus employed fpr about two years prior to his marriage, and for one year after his marriage. Mr. Burkhart was married at South Bend, April 28, 1861, to Mrs. Susanna Goodwin Hatfield, who was born in Mary land, about fifteen miles south of Baltimore, in 1829, the widow of James H. Hatfield and a daughter of George and Susan (Pap- let) Goodwin. She had five children by her first marriage, four of whom lived to maturity, while three are now living. The record of the family is as follows : Emeline, who died at the age of nine years; Carrie, the wife of William H. Holden, of Bellview, Michigan; Abram A., deceased; John, liv ing in Three Oaks township; and James IL, who is president and general manager for the Kalamazoo Corset Company, at Kala mazoo, Michigan. Unto Mr. and. Mrs. Burkhart have been born two children but HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 559 Olive died in 1883, at the age of nineteen years, and the living daughter, Anna B., is now the wife of Charles O. Hess, of Three Oaks. Following his marriage Mr. Burkhart worked for two years in a meat market in South. Bend, and afterward located on a farm on Portage. Prairie, four miles north of South Bend, where he rented land until 1869, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits. In that year he removed to Walk- erton, Indiana, where he resided for. a year on a farm. On the expiration of that period he removed to a farm four miles north of Laporte, and on the 19th of January, 1871, he took up his abode at Three Oaks, Michi gan, where he has since resided. For one and a half years he engaged in farming and then . purchased a half interest in a meat market in connection with William H. White, conducting the business under the firm name of Burkhart &. White for two years. He then purchased his partner's in terest and continued in business alone until 1885, when he admitted his son-in-law to a partnership under the firm style of Burkhart & Hess. They were associated until March, 1905, when Mr. Burkhart sold out and has since conducted his present real estate and insurance business, writing considerable in surance each year and also negotiating many realty transfers. He is likewise just ice of the peace and notary public. He has been honored with a number of local of fices, serving as constable for twelve years. He has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty years, and in April, 1906, was elected for the succeeding four- years. He discharges the duties of the office with strict regard for the law and equity and his service has won him the commendation of all interested in justice and good government.. He has likewise served on the village council for two years and every trust reposed in him has been faithfully executed. Mr. Burkhart is a prominent Mason and belongs to the Elks lodge in Michigan City, holding a life membership with that organi zation. He also belongs to the A. U. V., a German association, of which he has been treasurer for fifteen years, and for the past four years he has been president of the Anti- Horse Thief ..Association of this county. Mr. Burkhart owns two business places and six dwellings in the heart of the village and has made every dollar that he possesses. His life has been indeed an industrious one and f roni the age of. seventeen years he has de pended entirely upon, his own resources, working, persistently and earnestly, knowing that diligence and perseverence are a safe basis upon which to build success. What ever he undertakes he carries forward to completion and his life record contains •many elements worthy of emulation, show ing what may be accomplished through de termination and force of character. JUDSON SAWIN, deceased, was for a long period a respected and valued resi dent of Three Oaks township. . He was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, New York, December 4, 1816, his parents being Rev. Benjamin, and Sabra. (Holman) Sawim The father, a native of Connecticut, was the .first Baptist clergyman in Laporte, Indiana, and devoted over fifty years to preaching the gospel, his life of zeal and consecra tion making him a prominent representative of the Baptist clergy, and one whdse labors were of far-reaching .benefit, to his fellow men. His wife was a native of Massachu setts and both died at Laporte, Indiana. In their family were nine children. Judson Sawin remained upon the home farm with his parents until sixteen years of age, when he left Otsego county, New York, •and remover! to Aurora, that state, not far from. Buffalo. There he continued until twenty-one years of age, when he went with his parents to Laporte, Indiana, where he re sided for twenty-five years. For a. number of years he was connected with his brother- in-law, Levi Jones, in the operation of a planing mill under the firm style of Sawin & Jones. Prior to this time, however, he and his brother were engaged in the wagon and buggy business quite extensively, in Laporte and later ' devoted their attention to the building of freight cars for the Michi gan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad, 560 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY as the line was then called. While in Buf falo, New York, he had studied law with his brother and was connected at different times with a number of legal cases. As the years passed and he successfully carried on his business affairs in Laporte he made ju dicious investment there and owns consid erable property in Laporte county but lost heavily by going security for friends. It was this that caused him to close out his business in Indiana and remove to the farm on section 15, Three Oaks township, taking up his abode there in 1863. Berrien county thereby gained a valued citizen, and for forty years he carried on general agricult ural pursuits. He had eighty acres in the home place, also owned one hundred and fifty-five acres on section 17, and likewise had eighty acres near the village of Three Oaks. At one time he owned nearly four hundred acres of land in this locality. All this indicates the success which attended his efforts and the excellent business quali ties which he displayed in the conduct of his business affairs. -He was watchful of opportunity and as indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature he worked resolutely and persistently to achieve suc cess and retrieve the losses that he had ex perienced while in Indiana. He became one of the representative agriculturists of his community and his business integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. Mr. Sawin was married in Laporte, In diana, in 1 861, to Miss Barbara Carrier, who was born near Strasburg, France, August 4, 1844. She came to the United States wben nine years of age with her par ents, David and Barbara Carrier, the fam ily home being established at Crown Point, Indiana, whence they afterward removed to Laporte. Her father and mother were both natives of France and spent their last years in Three Oaks, Michigan. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sawin was blessed with seven children: John, who died at the age of eleven years; George, who died when twenty-two years of age; Benjamin, of Three Oaks township; Julia, who is the wife of Henry Hoffer, a resident of Chicago; Louisa, the wife of Irving Annable, of La porte county, Indiana; Bessie, the wife of Rov Foster, their home being upon the farm with her mother ; and Frank, who is in Chi cago in the government employ, being in the appraiser's office in the customs house. Mr. Sawin was deeply interested in pol itics and in the great questions which af fect the welfare of State and nation. He studied closely the condition of needs in the south relating to slavery and long prior to the Civil war was a pronounced advocate of abolition and took great interest in the feet the welfare of state and nation. He stood for justice, for truth and right, and desired honesty and progress in public as well as in private affairs. His early polit ical allegiance was given to the Whig party, while later he supported the Republican party, afterward the Democratic party and eventually the People's party. He never feared to announce his honest convictions and support the principles in which he be lieved and was a man whose integrity of purpose was never questioned. He was a strong believer in Christianity although not a church member. He did not base his views upon dogma or creed but he believed in the eternal principles of truth, justice and mercy and of the right of any individual to interpret Bible teaching for himself. He was always a student, reading broadly and thinking deeply, and was moreover a fine linguist. He came of an intellectual family, having one sister who was a poetess and a brother who also possessed great literary merit and wrote considerably. He had two uncles who were ministers of the gospel, while his brother Albert was a leading lawyer of Buffalo, New York, who served as prosecuting attorney of the city, and died at the age of forty-nine years from over work. Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distin guished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. In person, in talents and in character Judson Sawin was a worthy scion of his race, having the strong intellectual force and discernment characteristic of his people. He was a man whom to know was to respect and honor, and his death, which occurred April 3, 1903, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 561 removed from Berrien county one of its val ued and representative citizens. His widow, a most estimable lady,' still resides upon the old horhestead and has many friends in this part of the state. ROBERT CUSHING THAYER, of Fair Plain, Benton township, is a fair repre sentative of the fruit growing interests of Berrien county — the most important in dustry of this portion of the state. He was born in Turner, Oxford county, Maine, on the 25th of September, 1833, and for forty years lived in the Pine Tree state. The Thayer family was established in the Mass achusetts colony in 1630 and in the paternal line Mr. Thayer is a direct descendant of John Alden of the "Mayflower." His mother was a member of the Cushing fam ily that was founded in America in 1638 and therefore claims equal antiquity as well as prominence with the Thayer family. The Cushing family was established in Maine in 1802 and about the same time the Thayers went to that portion of New England. Robert Cushing Thayer was reared upon a farm, obtaining the usual- country- school education and later he engaged in teaching for a short time. His father went to California about 1857 and. died there in 1858. He left Robert C. Thayer, his only. son, in charge of the. farm. Later the farm was sold because of the poor health of our subject, who then entered a hardware store. In response to the country's call for troops he enlisted in 1861 as a member of Com pany F, First Maine Volunteer Infantry, en listing in April at the first call for troops. He was a member of the first company raised in Maine, and the command was sent to Meridian. Hill at Washington, where it remained until the expiration of its term of service of three months. He then again enlisted in December, 1861, as a member of Company B, United States Engineers, and did active service in Virginia iri the Mc Clellan peninsular campaign. On the 22d of October, 1862, he was discharged for disability. He afterward returned to Maine but continued in the government employ two years as receiver of materials at Fort 36 Gorges in Portland Harbor. For seven years he was in the government service, and then sought a home in the middle west. It was on the last day of 1873 that Mr. Thayer arrived in this state. He had no relatives nor acquaintances in Michigan and knew the state only as a fruit country. Wishing to devote his attention to horti cultural pursuits he purchased where he now lives in July previous to his arrival, choos ing Fair Plain as the most desirable region for the purpose to which he wished to put his farm. He invested in thirty-eight and a half acres and has since carried on fruit raising, growing grapes, peaches, pears, ap ples and cherries. Upon his farm he has erected an excellent modern residence and his is one of the fine country homes of the locality. On the 26th of March, 1865, Mr. Thayer was united in marriage to Miss De borah L. Whitman, who died May 13, 1869. He was married again on the 12th of May, 1871, in Maine, to Miss Zilpha M. Prince, who died June 9, 1893. His third wife bore the maiden name of Celia Barker, whom he wedded on the 3rd of October, 1894. There was one son born of the sec ond marriage, who reached maturity, Paul, whose birth occurred October 16, 1875, an(i who now resides near the father's home. He married Miss Dora Robinson. - Mr. Thayer cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont and has stood firm in his support of the Republican party since that time but at local elections where no issue is involved he votes independently. . He was «raised in the Masonic lodge forty- five years ago and now belongs to Lake Shore lodge, and he and his wife are mem bers of the Eastern Star. He also be longs to George H. Thomas Post, No. 14, G. A. R., and his wife is connected witb the Ladies of the G. A. R. In matters of citizenship he has, by loyalty, morality and temperance won the respect and esteem uni formly extended to him. FRANCIS HENRY MORLEY, who for the past twenty-five years has been en gaged in the operation of a flouring mill 562 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY at New Troy, is a well known representa tive of the industrial life of this community and has made a creditable business record. He was born in New Troy, Wesaw town ship, June 28, 1853, a son of Ambrose A. Morley, whose birth occurred in New York, November 7, 1825. He was a son of Will iam Morley, also a native of New York, who came to Michigan as a pioneer resident and died in Berrien county at an advanced age. In his family were four sons : John C, deceased; William S., of Wesaw town ship; Ambrose A.; and Dr. Lewis W. Mor ley, who is located in Iowa. Coming here with his parents, Ambrose A. Morley located on the prairie near Bu chanan, and about 1852 or 1853 located at New Troy, where he established the mill ing business which is still carried on under the family name. He built the mill now owned and operated by his son, Francis H., to whom he sold the property about thirty years ago. He previously went to the west, where he remained for three years, after which he returned and retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. He was closely associated with the lumber in terests of the state for many years and won success in that undertaking, having extensive interests along that line. He was also con nected with agricultural pursuits in the county, and through his well-directed efforts accumulated a competence that enabled him in his later years to. rest from further toil. In politics he was a stanch Democrat but he never sought nor cared for office. He passed away in 1900, having spent the last years of his life in the home of his son. In early manhood Ambrose A. Morley was married to Miss Cordelia Carroll, who was born in New York, near Nunda, and died in this county in 1875, at the age of thirty-nine years. There were five children of that marriage, namely : Francis H., of this re view; Thomas, who is living in Wesaw township; Aliston A., of Oregon; Frank. D., living in Galien township; and Lodell Jane Dunham, deceased. Francis Henry Morley was reared under the parental roof and has always resided in New Troy. Throug'hout his entire life he has been connected with milling interests in the operation of a saw and flouring mill. He has been identified with the manufacture of flour for the past quarter of a century and the mill has a daily capacity of fifty barrels. The plant is equipped with good machinery and the product is of excellent quality, so that the output finds a ready sale on the mar ket. Mr. Morley's broad experience in the business and his thorough understanding of the trade well qualify him to carry on a profitable enterprise and he is accounted one of the foremost business men of New Troy. In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Morley and Miss Emily Smith, who was born in Indiana in 1854, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Smith. Her father, Peter Smith, was born in Salem county, New Jersey, June 9, 1830, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Smith, who were also natives of New Jersey. The latter died when her son was only about three years old, while Samuel Smith died in 1869 at the advanced age of seventy-three years. In 1 85 1 Peter Smith wedded Elizabeth Ann Huffer, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 14, 1834, a daughter of John and Katharine (Shafer) Huffer, na tives of Ohio. Mrs. Smith was only four years of age at the time of her father's death, and was left an orphan at the age of sixteen. When only five years of age Peter Smith accompanied his parents on their removal from New Jersey to Warren county, Ohio, where they lived for twelve years, when the family went to Fountain county, Indiana, and there he was married. He came to Berrien county on the 23d of January, 1865, and locating in Wesaw township has resided continuously upon his farm here with the exception of a period of sixteen months. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 2 and 11. When he came there were about fifteen acres cleared on section 2 and eighty acres of the home farm on sec tion 1 1 . Now the entire place is under cul tivation except about ten acres and- he has added good buildings and developed a well improved property. His life has been one HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 563 of hard work and the success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and for two terms served as supervisor of his township and was treasurer for two years. Unto him and his wife have been born six chil dren : Sarah; the wife of John Hatfield, of Three Oaks township; Emily, the wife of F. H. Morley, of New Troy ; Tamsen, the wife of Horace Morley, of Wesaw township; Laura ,the wife of F. O. Hall, of Muskegon ; Clayton, of Wesaw township; and Charles, who is engaged in merchandising in Glen dora. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morley has been blessed with four children : Lin- wood, Floyd H., Hazel D. and Dean. In his political views Mr. Morley is a stalwart Democrat, which party he has sup ported throughout his entire life. He is at present township clerk and has filled the office at intervals for twenty-five years. He has also been a member of the school board for a quarter of a century and the cause of education has found in him a warm and stalwart friend. There is a fine school in Troy, and Mr. Morley does everything in his power to advance its interests. Fra ternally he is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Three Oaks, and he also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glendora. His entire life has been passed in this locality and his friends are almost as numerous as his acquaintances, showing that he has so lived as to merit the esteem and good will of all with whom he has come in contact. LOUIS HEISE. Almost all nations of the world have sent their representatives to the United States but none are more loyal to this republic than those furnished by Switzerland, for the liberty loving people of the Alps believe in the republican princi ples which permeate this government and are very loyal to the welfare and best in terests of their adopted country. To this class belongs Louis Heise, who was born in Canton Schlutheim, Switzerland, on the 15th of May, 1849, and when five years of age was brought to the United States by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Heise. The father, who was born December 31, 1 819, died in Berrien county on the 29th of July, 1905, at the age of eighty-six years and seven months. He came to the United States in 1852. In his native country he followed the trade of basket making and also carried on farming and after coming to the new world he directed his energies to general agricultural pursuits. Although he was a poor man at the time of his arrival he was in ¦ comfortable circumstances at the time of his demise, having become the owner of an excellent farm property, which is now the home of Louis Heise. His wife Mrs. Elizabeth Heise, died in this county at the age of seventy-two years. In their family were four children: Lana, the wife of William Freiberg, of Chicago; Elizabeth Vetterly; Louis of this review; and Annie, who died at the age of four years. When the family crossed the Atlantic to the new world they made their way direct to Chicago, where they remained for a short time and thence came to Berrien county in 1854. Louis Heise accompanied his parents and has since lived upon the farm which is now his home. Here he has ninety acres of land on section 9, Three Oaks township, which was taken up by his father as wood land before the road bad been cut through. In his youth he assisted in the arduous task of clearing away the trees and developing the fields and as the years have gone by he has continued in the work of improving his property until his entire place is now well cultivated and he has successfully engaged in generakfarming. Dairying is also a feat ure of his business and for this purpose he keeps a number of high grade cows. His farm work is carefully managed and he is practical in all his undertakings, accomplish ing results which indicate his dilligence and perseverance. In 1873 Mr. Heise was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lusso, who was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, on the 10th of June, 1850, and was brought to the United States by her parents when a maiden of sixteen summers, the family home being established in Three Oaks. She is a daughter of Charles and Dora (Pet- schow) Lusso, natives of Mecklenberg. 564 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Their last days, however, were spent in Ber rien county, Michigan, the father reaching the advanced age of seventy-six years, while his wife passed away when about seventy- three years of age. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Heise the youngest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heise have been born nine children : Annie, who who died when three months old; Lana, who died when twenty-nine years of age; Elizabeth, a twin sister of Lana, who is at home; Edith, also at home; John and Sam uel, twins, the former now employed in Kal amazoo, while the latter died seven years ago at the age of nineteen years; Will, also at home; Alice, at home; and Edward, who completes the family. Mr. Heise possesses the traits of his na tive country, industry being his dominant characteristic, while sound judgment in business affairs have contributed to the de sirable results which have crowned his ef forts. He has lived upon this farm for fifty-two years and the place indicates his careful supervision and practical manage ment. Moreover he has not only contributed to the agricultural development of the coun ty but has witnessed its growth and improve ment from an early decade in its develop ment and as the years have gone by has seen many remarkable changes as the district has been converted from a wilderness into homes of a prosperous, contented people. He votes with the Democracy and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Ger man Lutheran church. J. L. RICHARDS, who was prominent among the far-seeing, energetic and success ful business men -of Buchanan, and whose labors formed a large and important ele ment in the promotion of the city's progress along industrial and commercial lines, was well known as proprietor of a business con ducted under the name of the Zinc Collar Pad Company. Mr. Richards was a native of Marietta, Ohio, bom March 2, 1848, and was only six years old when brought by his parents to Buchanan, Michigan. Here he was reared, while his education was acquired in the public schools. The business which he owned and controlled was established in 1870 by his father, George H. Richards and Dexter Curtis. The enterprise was con ducted only a short time, when the present. name was assumed but the original firm. name was Curtis, Gilman & Richards. Soon after the organization Mr. Gilman sold his interest to Mr. Curtis, and after the death of George H. Richards the business was. carried on as the property of Mr. Curtis and the George H. Richards estate. In 1894, however, J. L. Richards, of this review, pur chased Mr. Curtis' interest, and in 1902 he bought the interest of the other heirs in the business, thus becoming sole proprietor. He is engaged extensively in the manufacture of zinc collar pads and the output of the factory is sent all over the United States and to various parts of the old world, hav ing recently made a shipment to Sweden and Germany. This enterprise advertises Bu chanan more than any other business in the town and is a leading productive industry of Berrien county, which is constantly being de veloped along progressive lines and in har mony with modern ideas of business pro gress. Mr. Richards was also one of the or ganizers of the Buchanan Wagon Company, which was formed about 1872, and acted as manager for some time, his connection with. the firm continuing for five years. Mr. Richards was always more or less- active and influential in public life, figuring prominently in political circles. He was- postmaster of Buchanan under President. Cleveland's first administration but at lengths resigning the office he went to Kansas City to take charge of the Kansas City territory for the Minneapolis Harvesting Company. He had remained there for only a brief period, however, when he was called home on account of his father's illness and fol lowing the death of the father, Mr. Richards took charge of the business with which he was connected continuously until his death. Other public offices were conferred upon him, and he served as township treasurer and as supervisor for three different terms. He was also a member of the town council and for several terms was president of the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 565 village. His interest in public affairs never abated in the slightest degree and on the con trary as he recognized opportunities for ad vancement he gave more and more earnest co-operation to the movements which prove •of direct benefit to the community. On the 25th of June, 1873, Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Myra Smith, a daughter of George W. and Myra Smith. She was born in New York city, and after residing for a time in Chicago, came to Niles. Her father was the builder of the Colby House at Niles and was a prominent and influential factor in business circles for a considerable period. Mrs. Richards passed away February 12, 1905, leaving three chil dren : Daisy, now the wife of E. P. Bene dict, a resident of Milwaukee; George and Joseph, who are associated with their father in business. Mr. Richards had long been a member of the Masonic fraternity. His residence in Buchanan covered fifty- two years, during which time he was closely identified with the interests of the town. He .stood as one of the most prominent business men of this section of the county and through the ability to quickly discern and improve an opportunity as tbe years passed by his name became synonymous with industrial activity, honor and success, for he ever con ducted his affairs in harmony with a high ¦standard of commercial ethics. At the time of his death the following memorial notice appeared in one of the local papers : "The people of Buchanan and vicinity are deeply mourning the death of one of their most esteemed and most popular citi zens, which occurred very suddenly Mon day evening at 5 :30 o'clock, when tbe spirit of Joseph Richards took its flight. "Mr. Richards had been to the ceme tery in the afternoon in his automobile and experienced a little trouble pumping up the tire, over exerted himself. Upon his home coming, having placed his machine in the shelter, he went to the house and complained of being ill. The housekeeper asked if she should summon the physician, whereupon Mr. Richards remarked that he would be all right in a short time and went to lie down. The housekeeper, nevertheless, noted a sudden change and immediately sum moned the family physician, Dr. Garland, and also the two sons, George and Joe from the Pad factory. The doctor hastened to the home and found his patient suffering in tensely with neuralgia of the heart and about five minutes after the sons arrived Mr. Rich ards passed away. "The doctor informs us that he had not been well for some time but had not regarded him as in serious danger, but by over exer tion had brought on the attack which so sud denly caused his death. "Perhaps no other citizen in the village has held more offices of public trust than our fellow townsman. In 1893, he held the of fice of village president; during the admin istration of President Cleveland he was ap pointed postmaster and has held other prom inent places as village clerk, trustee, super visor, member of the board of review and has always worked earnestly, desirous of seeing the village rise and prosper. "We are unable to tell with how great ¦ sadness the news was spread and with how great regret we mourn his untimely death." JOSEPH GRIFFITH, deceased, was for many years a respected citizen of Ber rien county. He was born in Kent county, Delaware, October 16, 1828. His father, Levi Griffith, was also a native of Delaware and came to Michigan in 1833, locating in what is now Milton township, Cass county. At that time the state was still under Ter ritorial government and Cass county was a frontier district, in which the work of sub jugating the wilderness had scarcely been begun. * Joseph Griffith was but four years of age at the time of his parents' removal to the west and amid the usual environments and hardships of pioneer life he was reared, remaining at home until about fifteen years of age. During that period he assisted in the work of clearing and developing the land, as his years and strength permitted, and on leaving home he went to Niles, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to the mason's trade under the direction of William Collins. He followed the business 566 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY for a number of years, or until 1853, when he turned his attention to merchandising in Greenville, Michigan, where he carried on the business for thirty years, having a well appointed store and enjoying a good trade. On the expiration of that period he became a traveling salesman and was upon the road for eleven years as representative for Cooper, Wells & Company. He was one of the most trusted salesmen of the house and did a good business. In 1885, retiring from commercial pursuits, he located upon a farm, where Mrs. Griffith now makes her home on section 17, Niles township. There he en gaged in general agricultural pursuits until his death, giving personal supervision to the cultivation and improvement of his land. Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, possessing sound judgment and keen discrimination and labored untiringly for the best interests of the community. On August 4, 1853, Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Esther Truitt, a daugh ter of Peter and Isabella (McNett) Truitt, . both of whom were natives of Delaware, in which state they were reared and mar ried. They came to Michigan in 1831, lo cating in the territory many years before the admission of Michigan as a State into the Union. Their home was in what is now Milton township, Cass county, and there in a pioneer log cabin — such a home as was common at that time — Mrs. Griffith was born on the 9th of December, 1832. She was the second daughter of the second mar riage of Peter Truitt, who was married four times and was the father of twelve children. Mrs. Griffith was reared in Milton township, Cass county, and attended the Fay school, one of the early schools of that locality. Her father, Peter Truitt, built a schoolhouse about a half mile from his home for the benefit of the district, and later a brick schoolhouse was erected about a mile north of his home. There Mrs. Griffith was grad uated on completion of the course. She was married in Niles, on the 4th of August, 1853, by the Rev. Bryant, a Presbyterian minister, to Joseph Griffith, who had recently established himself in business in Greenville, They took up their abode in that town, where they remained for a long period, and in 1882 they removed to Buchanan, this county, while in 1890 they became residents of Niles, and in 1895. located on the farm where Mrs. Griffith now resides. They be came the parents of two daughters: Effie M., now a teacher in Escanaba, Michigan; and Edna J., the wife of J. B. Quick, a resi dent of Seattle, Washington. The death of Mr. Griffith occurred on the 28th of December, 1905, when he was in his seventy-seventh year. He had long been a stanch Democrat in politics and he took an active interest in public affairs, holding var ious local offices in Greenville. In 1853 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and for many years was identified with the order, thoroughly acquainting himself with the teachings and principles of the craft, with which he was in hearty sympathy. He attained the Knight Templar degree and was a worthy exemplar of the commandery. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held office and his life was ever upright, his actions manly and sin cere, and his entire record was worthy of emulation. He left to his family a comfor table property and also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. Mrs. Griffith, still occupying the home farm, has one hun dred and seventy-six acres of land, which she rents. She, too, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Niles, and has been identified with this denomination for over forty years. BENJAMIN C. GEYER, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits on section 18, Niles township, is a reliable business man and an able farmer, who owes his success largely to his own well-directed efforts. He has a tract of land of ninety acres that is splendidly improved. His birth occurred in St. Joseph county, In diana, May 25, 1862. His father, J. M. Geyer, was a native of Germany and when about twelve years of age came to America, locating in Indiana. He made the voyage in company with his parents, who established their home in St. Joseph county, and having HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 56? arrived at years of maturity, J. M. Geyer was married in that county to Miss Phoebe Cole, a native of Ohio. In 1867 he removed to Niles township, Berrien county, where he died at the age of forty-nine years. His widow, surviving him for some time, passed away at the age of fifty-nine years. There were eleven children in their family, ten of whom reached adult age. Benjamin C. Geyer is the sixth child and was in his sixth year at the time of the re moval of the family to this county. He is now the only living representative of the family in Berrien county or in Michigan and he was reared upon tbe old family home stead where he yet resides. No events of special importance occurred to vary the rou tine of farm life for him in his boyhood days, his attention being given to the labors of the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools. In early manhood he wedded Rhoda C. Calvin, who became the mother of two sons, Floyd and Ebern, the former now deceased, while the latter attended school at Buchanan and is now a student at Notre Dame. The wife and mother passed away and Mr. Geyer afterward wedded Miss Mary McNally a daughter of Thomas Mc- Nally and a native of Niles, Michigan. Following his first marriage Mr. Geyer lived upon the Calvin farm in Niles town ship, where he now resides. He has always carried on general agricultural pursuits and is an industrious farmer, whose ninety acres of well-improved land indicate the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner in their appearance. In politics he is a stanch Republican and is active in the interests of the party. He belongs to the Woodmen camp and is a member of the Presbyterian church of Buchanan — asso ciations which indicate much of the char acter of the man and the motives which prompt his actions. MILTON J. BLISS, interested in gen eral farming on section 18, Niles township, was born three miles southwest of Buchanan in Buchanan township, Berrien county, his natal day being January 28, 1870. His father, DeBert Bliss, was a native of New York and was reared in the Empire state until 1864, when he came to Michigan with his parents, Hiram and Anna (Ross) Bliss, who located on the farm where the birth of Milton J. Bliss occurred. The grandpar ents were not long permitted to enjoy their new home, for they passed away soon after their arrival. DeBert Bliss was married in Buchanan township in 1865 to Miss Nancy Smith, a native of New York and a daugh ter of James Smith. For some time Mr. Bliss engaged in farming in Buchanan township and afterward removed to Bu chanan, where he lived for a year. He then purchased the farm upon which Benjamin Geyer now resides, while later he sold that property and bought the place upon which Milton J. Bliss now makes his home. There he continued to reside up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1887, when he was fifty-one years of age, for be was born in 1836. In politics he was a life-long Re publican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party, and did all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. A man of deep public spirit, he took an active interest in affairs relating to the general upbuilding and improvement of the county and was known as a valued citizen. Mrs. Bliss is still living and resides in New Mexico-. The children of that marriage were Anna and Milton J., the former the wife of Joseph Geyer, of New Mexico. Milton J. Bliss, the only son and the only one of the family still living in Michi gan, was reared in Niles township, being but two years old when his parents removed to this township. He spent his youth upon the farm which is yet his home, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the dis trict school. He began working in the fields when but eleven years of age, putting in twenty-two acres of wheat unassisted. He has been a life-long farmer and the early practical experience which he obtained has been of immense value to him as he has continued the business on his own account. His farm comprises ninety-six acres of land, which is rich and productive, and he carries 568 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY on general farming, his labors being at tended with very desirable success. On the 9th of June, 1891, Mr. Bliss was united in marriage to Miss Julia Feather, a daughter of John H. Feather, who was born in Oronoko township, Berrien county, Michigan, October 15, 1869, and was there reared. Her people were early settlers of the county, having arrived in 1836. They were the first white . people living within six miles of Berrien Springs, but there were many Indians in the locality and wild ani mals were numerous — conditions which in dicated that the district was a pioneer set tlement and that little had yet been done to subdue the wilderness and extend the frontier. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss have become the parents of one son, Lloyd F., who is at tending school and who was born July 4, 1895. Mr. Bliss has always voted with the Republican party and when twenty-four years of age he joined the Modern Wood men camp at Buchanan, with which he has since been identified. He has always lived in this county and its interests are dear to his heart. He manifests a public-spirited citizenship in regard to all matters pertaining to local progress and to national advance ment as well, and in citizenship, in business affairs and in private life he has made a creditable record. NICHOLAS DICKERMAN is the owner of a fine farm just outside the corpora tion limits of Three Oaks, and there is en gaged in the raising of vegetables for the market, his products being sold principally in the village. He was born in Calumet, now a suburb of Chicago, September 15, i860, and has been a resident of Three Oaks since 1867, when he came to Berrien county with his parents, William and Dena (Slotama) Dickerman, both of whom were natives of Holland. The father was mar ried twice in his native country, and in the year 1852, coming to the United States, he made his way westward to Chicago. For a time he resided at Grand Haven, Michigan, but returned to Calumet, south ot Chicago, where both he and his wife passed away, the death of Mr. Dickerman occurring when he was ninety years of age, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-four years. In their family were three children, but their son Nicholas was the only one who reached adult age. Nicholas Dickerman came with his par ents to Berrien county in 1868, and has since resided on his present farm in Three Oaks township, comprising sixty-nine and a half acres of land, which lies on sections 2, 34 and 35. This is known as "the vegetable farm" and is an excellent and productive tract of land lying just outside the corporation limits of Three. Oaks and devoted to the produc tion of vegetables of all kinds, for which he finds a ready sale, owing to- the superior size and quality of the products which he raises and because of the fact that they are early placed upon the market. ¦: On the 19th of May, .1885, occurred the marriage of Nicholas Dickerman and Miss Minnie Bekema, who was born in Holland. She came with her parents to Chicago when fifteen years of age, and it was there that Mr. Dickerman made her acquaintance. Her father, Walter .Bekema, was born in Gron- ingen, Holland, September 15, 1838, and came to the United States in 1881, making his way to Chicago, accompanied by his wife and two children. He resided for three years in that city but is now living in Kala mazoo, Michigan. He married Lovina Lewis, also a native of Groningen, Holland, and her death occurred in Kalamazoo in 1893, when she was sixty- four years of age. In tbe family were two children: Minnie, now Mrs. Dickerman, who was born in Hol land, December 27, 1867; and Walter, who died in 1897, at the age of twenty-nine years. Ten cbildren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman, three of whom died in in fancy, and those living are Lovina, in the millinery business at Three Oaks, Dena, William, Elizabeth, Walter, Frederick and Henry. Mr. Dickerman has an exception ally fine farm home. About four years rgo his dwelling was destroyed by fire, and all of the buildings have been replaced since that time, rhaking this a splendidly im proved property equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. His political MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS DICKERMAN HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 569 allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he and his family are members of the Congregational church. They are well known in this community and occupy an enviable position in social circles, while the hospitality of their own home is greatly en joyed by all who know them. WILLIAM E. FILE, a prominent farmer residing on section 10, Niles town ship, is numbered among the native sons of the county, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Berrien township on the 3d of September, i860. His father, Peter File, came to Berrien county from Ohio, and settled in Berrien township, being then about twenty-five years of age. He married in that township Miss Adeline Webster, a native of Virginia, who in her early girl hood days came to Michigan with her par ents and was reared in this county. Her people were pioneer settlers here and the father died in Berrien township when fifty- six years of age, while the mother also passed away when about the same age. In their family were thirteen children, of whom Wil liam E. is the eighth in order of birth and the second son. Reared in his native township, W. E. File acquired his education in the common schools and remained at home until he at tained his majority, assisting in the work of the home farm. Thus he acquired a knowledge that proved practical and bene ficial to him when he started out in life on his own account. March 1, 1883, Mr. File was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cox, a daughter of Church and Elizabeth (Dean) Cox, the father born in Ohio and the mother in New York. Mrs. File was born May 10, 1864, and was reared upon the farm where she and her husband now reside. Following their marriage they lived for about a year and a half on the old File homestead in Ber rien township and then located upon the place where they have since remained, Mr. File devoting his attention to the tilling of the soil. In plowing, planting and harvest ing the years pass and his labors have re sulted in the careful improvement and de velopment of one hundred and sixty acres of rich land on section 10, Niles township. He is persevering and energetic and as tbe years go by they bring him a fair measure of success as the just return for his labor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. File have been born six children, of whom four are now living: Georgia and Leslie, the second and third in order of birth respectively, being both now deceased. Those still living are Alva R., Russell, Joe and Tina. Mr. File has been a life-long Republi can, giving loyal support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran chise, and in its work he is deeply and help fully interested. Both Mr. ' and Mrs. File are members of the South Berrien Center Union church in Berrien township; both are connected with the Knights of the Macca bees at Niles and have long been residents of this county, where they have many friends. Mr. File has taken an active part in public affairs and an analyzation of his record displays many good traits of char acter whereby he is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is uniformly held. SPENCER F. SPARKS has for more than a half century been a resident of Ber rien county, and in fact is numbered among its native sons. He now resides on section 17, Niles township, and was born in Bu chanan township, June 30, 1850. His father, Spencer Sparks, was a native of Wayne county, Indiana, where he remained to the age of thirteen years, when, in the fall of 1828, he came to Berrien county with his parent^ Cornelius and Susanna (Ste phens) Sparks, who were early settlers in Berrien county. They located in Niles town ship, where they remained three years and then removed to what is now Buchanan township, the grandfather purchasing land from the government at one dollar and a quarter per acre. He undertook the arduous task of developing and improving a new farm and resided thereon up to about 1856, and then lived in Buchanan to the time of bis death, which occurred on the old homestead when he was seventy-six years of age. His son, Spencer Sparks, was reared in Bu- 570 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY chanan township from the age of thirteen years and shared with the family in the hard ships and privations incident to pioneer life amid the environments of the frontier. He was married in 1839 to Miss Sarah Hunter, a daughter of John and Martha Hunter, who came to tbis county in 1832. Mrs, Sparks was born near Columbus, Ohio, and her grandfather was one of the founders of that city, assisting in laying it out. Mrs. Spencer Sparks came to Berrien county with her parents when about sixteen years of age, and after her marriage she went - with her husband to a farm in what is now Buchanan township, where they remained for ten years. They afterward located in what was Niles township but which became Buchanan township a short time ago. There as farming people they spent their remain ing days, the father passing away at the age of fifty-six years, while the mother died when about seventy-eight years of age. They were among the pioneer residents of that locality and were actively identified with the early history of the county. Mr. Sparks took a helpful part in promoting general progress and improvement. He labored earnestly and persistently for the public wel fare and was highly regarded by all who knew him. In the family were six children, four of whom reached adult age. Spencer F. Sparks, the fifth in order of birth and the youngest son, was reared in Niles township and acquired his education in the district schools of the same locality. He remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, assisting in the work of the farm when not occupied with the labors of the schoolroom. He was married in 1879 to Miss Clare Burke, a daughter of Andrew L. Burke, of Berrien township, where Mrs. Sparks was born and reared. Her people came to Michigan in 1828, locating in Cass county, and there lived amid pioneer en vironments for about eight years, when, in 1836, the father removed with his family to Berrien county. For about nineteen years, Mr. and Mrs. Sparks traveled life's journey happily together and were then separated by the death of the wife in 1898. Two daughters had beeri born of this marriage, Lilias and Ruth J., both at home. Mr. Sparks has a farm of one hundred acres. He has been a life-long agricultur ist, becoming acquainted with the work of the fields in early boyhood and continuing his labors along that line to the present time. Where national issues are involved he votes with the Republican party but at local elec tions casts an independent ballot. He is well known in this county, where he has lived for about fifty-five years, remaining a resident here from his infancy to the present time. Berrien county is therefore endeared to him from the associations of his boyhood and youth as well as those of later manhood, and he has found in its business conditions the opportunity for advancement and has labored persistently to make for himself a place among the substantial residents of his county. M. E. H ARGER is a successful farmer whose life is another proof of the fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well directed effort, guided by sound busi ness judgment. He is living on section 23, Niles township, and is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, born September 29, 1853. His father, William Harger, was a native of Massachusetts and was there reared. When a young man he went to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's trade. He was mar ried in Lorain county to Miss Charlotte French, a native of Virginia, who was reared, however, in Ohio. Her father was Henry French, who was descended from New England ancestry, although several generations of the family had lived in the south. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harger located on a farm in the town of Columbia, and in 1854 came to Michigan, locating near Pokagon, in Cass county. They lived there for several years, when they removed to Pipestone township, Berrien county, where they spent their re maining days, the mother passing away at the age of fifty-seven years. The father af terward departed this life in his eighty- eighth year, in the home of his son, M. E. Harger. In their family were six children, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 57* four daughters and two sons, and by a former marriage the father had two chil dren, a son and a daughter, the former hav ing died while in the service of his country during the Civil war. Laura became the wife of Jonathan Hartsell and resides at Glendora, in Berrien county, Michigan. The children of the second marriage are: Clara, the wife of John Burbank, of Bu chanan, this county, where he is serving as drain commissioner; Eliza, deceased; M. E., of this review; Adelbert, who has passed away; Flora, the wife of Wilfred Young, of Berrien township; and Sarah, the wife of Clyde Young, of Eau Claire, Mich igan. M. E. Harger, the third child and eldest son of the family, was only about eight months old when bis parents brought him to Michigan. Most of his life has been spent in this county. He was educated in the dis trict schools and remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, assist ing in the labors of the home farm until he had attained his majority. Resolving to engaged in general agricultural pursuits on his own account he then rented a farm in Niles township belonging to Frank Mc- Clung. He also rented a farm from Mrs. Orton in the same township. On the 30th of March, 1881, Mr. Har ger was united in marriage to Miss Inez D. Young, a daughter of John H. and Delia (Snow) Young, She was born in Niles township, her parents being among the early settlers of Berrien county. At the time of his marriage Mr. Harger located on a farm where he now lives, and in 1 88 1 he bought fifty-three acres of land in partnership with his brother-in-law, Wal ter D. Young. In 1883 he purchased Mr. Young's interest in the fifty-three, acres and has been adding to his farm from time to time until he now has one hundred and eighty acres of finely improved land, where on he is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and dairying, his fields being highly tilled. He keeps from fifteen to thirty cows and he has been very successful as a farmer and dairyman, the products of the dairy finding a ready sale on the market because of the excellence of quality, while his field products are also easily disposed of. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harger have been born five children :• Blanch Delia is the wife of O. C. Waltsgott, of South Bend, Indiana, who is engaged in the insurance business there. Claud Walter married Lulu L. Starr of Niles township, Michigan, a daugh ter of John V. Starr, and they have a little son, Marvin Lee, the only grandchild in the Harger home. Carroll Y. is attending school at the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, taking a course in civil engineering. Flor ence, who is living in South Bend, Indiana, is a bookkeeper and stenographer. Reginald is a student in Niles city high school. Mr. Harger has spent most of his life in Berrien county. He is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for about eight years, while in public life he has taken active interest in those things relating to the gen eral progress and improvement. He has a well improved farm and all of the buildings, which bave been erected by him, stand as monuments to his life of thrift and enter prise. All that he possesses has been ac quired through his own labors and as the years have gone by he has become one of the substantial and valued farmers. DR. L. E. PECK, physician and sur geon of Buchanan, was born in Berrien Cen ter, Berrien county, October 16, 1870, and is one of the eleven children born unto John F. and Angeline (Stober) Peck. The father was born in Dauphin county, Penn sylvania, and became a resident of Michigan in i866.% He had previously served as chaplain in the One Hundred and Seventy- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for about two years and on removing to the west he settled in Berrien township, where he purchased a farm which for some years he cultivated and improved. He is now liv ing retired in Buchanan in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife is a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. By their marriage they became tbe parents of eleven children who reached adult age. One of the num ber died at the age of thirty-seven years, 572 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY while the remainder, five sons and five daughters, are still living. Dr. Peck, the tenth child and youngest son of the family, was reared in his native township to the age of about fifteen years, when his parents removed to Buchanan and he continued his education in the public schools, while later he had the benefit of in struction in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso. The profession of medicine attracting him with its opportuni ties, he entered upon preparation for the practice, and, matriculating in the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, he was there graduated from the medical depart ment in 1894. He then located at New Buf falo in Berrien county in 1895, and con tinued in active practice there until his re moval to Buchanan in 1896. Here he has practiced continuously since with a con stantly growing patronage that is indicative of his skill and ability as acknowledged by the public and as proven in his professional labors. Happy in his home relations Dr. Peck was married in 1895 to Miss Maud Mow- rey, a daughter of Hiram and Ann Mowrey. She was born in Buchanan and they have two daughters and two sons, Alene, Doris, Edwin and Hubert. Dr. and Mrs. Peck have many warm friends in Buchanan and other parts of the county, and their own pleasant home is noted for its generous and warm hearted hospitality. The Doctor is examiner for many of the fraternal societies and is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. He is well known as a stanch Re publican and is now serving as health offi cer of Buchanan township. ELMER BUTTS, living on section 17,' Niles township, gives his time and energies to general farming and has a valuable tract of land of two hundred and twenty-eight acres. • He was born in Lawton, Michigan, September 17, 1852. His father, Jacob Butts, was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his parents to Michigan when a young man. He was reared in Van Buren county, this state, and afterward removed to Cass county, settling in Milton township, where he was engaged in farming. He wedded Miss Mary Jane Truitt, who was born in Delaware and came to Cass county with her father, Peter Truitt, in 1831, be ing at that time an infant. She was tbere- fore reared in Cass county and she lived to be sixty-seven years of age, while Jacob Butts was fifty-four years of age at the time of his death. In their family were seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom five reached adult age and are yet liv ing. Elmer Butts of this review is the eldest child and was reared in Milton township, Cass county, acquiring his education in the public schools. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age and during -that period gained intimate knowledge of the best methods of carrying on the farm, for he as sisted in the work of the fields and in all de partments of farm labor. On the 30th of March, 1876, Mr. Butts was united in marriage to Miss Flora Cranston, a daughter of Sylvester H. and Jenette (Peck) Cranston. Her parents were born in New York and came to Michigan about 1847, locating in Jackson county. Mrs. Butts was a granddaughter of Dennis Cranston, one of the pioneer residents of Jackson county, while the grandfather of our subject was a pioneer of Cass county and thus both represent old families of this part of the state. Her parents removed to Cass county in 1871, settling in Milton township. The father was a teacher as well as farmer, giving his life to the dual occupa tion. There were four children in his fam ily, all of whom are yet living. Mrs. Butts, who is the second child, was bom in Jack son county, Michigan, May 18, 185 1, and there spent her girlhood days, while the" common schools provided her with her early educational privileges and later she attended the Grass Lake high school and a select school. For one year she engaged in teach ing prior to her marriage. Elmer Butts located on the farm where he now lives April 17, 1876, and has made many substantial improvements on the place. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and has kept his ZACHARIAH PLUMMER HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 573 buildings in good repair.' He rented the farm at first and was two hundred and fifty dollars in debt when he took up his abode here, but his frugality, industry and perse verance enabled him to conquer all difficul ties, and overcome all obstacles in his path and steadily he has worked his way upward, adding to his possessions as the years have gone by. At one time he was the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land and he now owns a farm of two hun dred and twenty-eight acres. He is carry ing on general farming and the fields are well tilled yielding rich harvests, which bring to him a substantial income. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Butts were born two sons? A. Lloyd, who is now in San Fran cisco, California ; and Dr. E. Rolla, a dentist who is practicing in Three Oaks, Michigan. He married Grace French, a daughter of Willard French, of Portage Prairie, Michi gan. Mr. Butts has been a resident of this county for thirty-years and is therefore largely familiar with its history, being an in terested witness of its development during this period. He is an active Republican, thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of the party, and is now serving as highway commissioner in Niles township. For many years he has been a member of the school board and the' cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He has been a member of the Royal Arcanum for many years and is well known in the county as one whose interest in public affairs has • been manifest by tangible, active and- help ful co-operation for the general good. ZACHARIAH PLUMMER' was an honored veteran of the Civil war and for many years was connected with agricultural interests in Berrien county, following that pursuit up to the time of his demise. His birth occurred in Jay county, Indiana, Octo ber 30, 1848, his parents being Charles F. and Ann (Hardy) Plummer, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Jay county, Indiana. The father is still living, making his home at Plymouth, Indiana, but the mother died at Niles, Michigan, in 1879. In their family were but two sons, Zacha riah and William, the latter now a resident of Plymouth, Indiana. Mr. Plummer of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, and when not quite fifteen years of age he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union cause, enlisting on the 19th of September, 1863, as a member of Company B, Eleventh In diana Cavalry, with which he served continu-, ously until mustered out on the 24th of No vember, 1865. He re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Indiana Cavalry and served for some time after the close of the war. He lost two horses, one being shot from under him, while one was drowned. He went through the usual hard ships and experiences of military life and for three days at one time was without food, while for seven days he subsisted on corn alone, being separated from his regiment at that time. When his military life was ended he returned to his old home in Indiana, and in 1870 came with his parents to Berrien countv, Michigan; settling on a farm near Niles. " He was married in 1876, at Niles, and with his bride 'located on a farm in that locality, in which he lived until 1881, when he purchased property in Wesaw township. He then took up his abode upon that place and resided on it until about three years prior to his death, . when he retired to New Troy. He died here March 2, 1906, when in tbe fifty-eighth year of his age. His en tire life had been devoted to general agri cultural pursuits, and for 'fourteen years he had' operated the Alva Sherwood farm, com prising three hundred acres of rich land in Wesaw township. In his business affairs he was always thoroughly reliable and enter prising, and he accomplished much through his capable management and unfaltering diligence. Mr. Plummer was married in 1876 to Miss Eva Ingleright, who was born in Buchanan township, January 17, 1859, and has always resided in this county. She is a daughter of William and Sylva (Fuller) Ingleright, who came to Berrien county from North Adams, Massachusetts. Mrs. 574 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Plummer came to Michigan at the age of twenty-six years with her mother and two brothers. Her father was born in 1826 in Buchanan township, Michigan, and died September 13, 1904. He was a son of John and Maria Ingleright, natives of Pennsyl vania, who came as children with their par ents to this county and were among its first settlers. William Ingleright was married to Miss Sylva Fuller, who was born April 12, 1830, and died in this county, July 8, 1900. In their family were four children: Henry, who is now living in Benzie county, Michigan; Mrs. Plummer; Arthur, who re sides in Buchanan township ; and Mrs. Maria Gonder, of Benzie county. In his political views Mr. Plummer was a stalwart Republican, but never sought or desired public office. He held membership in Frank A. Daniels Post, No. 437, G. A. R., at Troy, with which he became identified in 188 1. As a soldier he was faithful arid loyal, and the same qualities were manifest throughout his entire business career and in all the relations of life. Those who knew him respected and honored him, and he was true to all the duties of citizenship and to home ties as well. His death therefore was the occasion of deep and wide-spread re gret among those who had come to know and esteem him. WILLIAM BLAKE, one of the early settlers of the county, bas through many years watched the changes that have oc curred here, as homes have been established, farms improved, towns founded and busi ness interests developed. He resides on sec tion 17, Niles township, and through a long period has been connected with agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, November 14, 1840. His grandfather, William Blake, Sr., was a resident of Greenbrier, Virginia, and was of English descent. His father, John Blake, was a native of Virginia and there spent the clays of his boyhood and youth, becoming, however, one of the early settlers of Indiana. In the year 1846 he arrived in Berrien county and located two and a half miles south of the village of Buchanan, where he was engaged in farm ing. There he resided until he sold out in 1865. He then removed to Niles town ship, where he remained for a short time, after which he returned to the village of Buchanan, where his wife died. He after ward made his home with his children until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-seven years of age. He was associ ated with the early history of Berrien county and his efforts and interests were of a char acter that contributed to the sum total of progress and improvement which have made the county what it is today. In 1850, he made the trip to California during the gold fever, making his way by oxteam across the plains, and returned home via the Isthmus of Panama. He made about five thousand dollars in gold and be sides sent home money for the purchase of a farm. The trip across the plains took about six months. His wife bore the maiden name of Ara- minda Hague, and was a native of Ohio. She died in Buchanan, when about sixty years of age. In their family were six chil dren, three sons and three daughters, five of whom reached adult years. Mr. Blake is the fourth child and third son and was six years of age when he came to Berrien county, locating south of Buchanan about two and a half miles. He lived upon his father's farm until he had attained his. majority and assisted in the development and cultivation of the land, bringing it under a high state of improvement. On attaining his majority he removed to Niles township, where . he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 7 and 8. Taking up his abode thereon he continued its further cultivation for a time and when he sold that property he bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 18 of the same township. There he lived until he disposed of tbe farm and turned his attention to the milling business in Buchanan but in that venture he lost his money and his farm, for which he had been offered twelve thousand dol lars. He afterward worked for one year for the Lacey Milling Company, when be again began farming and logging, following the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 575 latter pursuit in the winter. He bought timber, which enabled him to engage in the lumber business and when he had somewhat retrieved his lost possessions he purchased, in 1877, the farm upon which he now lives. It is one of the finest farms of the county, splendidly improved and devoted largely to the raising of fruit. He has about three thousand peach trees, all of which he set out himself. He makes a specialty of the production of peaches, although for some time — for six or eight years — he was en gaged in the raising of strawberries, rasp berries and blackberries. He is now plant ing and setting out forty acres of later peach trees. His farm comprises two hun dred acres of very valuable land, more than twenty acres of which is in fruit, being de voted to peaches, apples and plums. Mr. Blake is an enterprising agriculturist and is thoroughly familiar with the business, hav ing made a close study of the best methods of raising fruit, so that his opinions are largely regarded as authority on such mat ters. In 1864 Mr. Blake was united in mar riage to Miss Diantha L. Mead, a daughter of Robert and Emily (Jones) Mead. She died in 1901, leaving four children : Robert J., a resident of Buchanan, who is a show man, handling dogs and ponies; Hittie, the wife of W. H. Stout, residing with her father upon the home farm ; Arlie May, the wife of Charles Ropper, of South Bend, Indiana; and Frederick, who with his brother is engaged in the show business. Mr. Blake has been a resident of the county tor sixty years and is well known within its borders. He votes with the Re publican party, which he has supported since its organization, and he is a member of the Adventist church. Interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral progress of his community, he has withheld his co-operation from no move ments calculated to advance the general welfare but on the contrary is widely known as a helpful and progressive pioneer citizen. JACOB E. ENDERS. The business -interests of St. Joseph find an enterprising and worthy representative in Jacob E. Enders, who is engaged in the drygoods trade in this city. He is a native son of Michigan and a typical representative of her interests, possessing the alert and enterpris ing spirit which has been the strong element in the development and substantial progress of this section of the country. His birth occurred in Watervliet, Berrien county, in 1864, and he comes of German ancestry. His father, Adam Enders, was born in Ger many in 1826 and after spending his boy hood and youth in his native country and acquiring his education in the schools there he came to America about 1852, when a young man of twenty-six years. Making bis way to Michigan he settled in Bain bridge township, Berrien county about one mile from Millburg, while later he removed to a farm within a mile and a half of the village of Coloma, in Watervliet township. There he purchased eighty acres of land, which was wild and uncultivated, but he at once began to clear away the timber and place the fields under the plow. There he lived up to the time of his death, his atten tion being given to general agricultural pur suits, and the well improved appearance of the farm indicate his careful and earnest labor. He died in 1892 at the age of sixty- four years, five months and eleven days. His farm is still in possession of the family and he left to them not only a good property but also an untarnished name, for in all his business dealings he was just and honorable. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Terrecia Solomon, was born in Germany. They were»acquainted in the fatherland and were married three years after coming to the new world. Mrs. Enders still survives her husband and at the age of eighty-three years enjoys good health, rhaking her home in this country, where she has now lived for more than half a century. In their family were ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and eight of the number are yet living. Those who have passed away are: Henry who died at the age of six years; and Katherine, who died when forty-two years of age. Those still living are : Caro line, the wife of George S. LaMore, of Eau 576 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Claire, Berrien county; John Adam, who resides on a farm near the village of Coloma ; William Frederick, who. is living on a farm within a mile of the old home stead ; Jacob E., whose name introduces this record; Daniel, who resides upori the old homestead farm, which his father purchased fifty- four years ago; Joseph I., who is living in Benton Harbor and is sole owner of the clothing house conducted under the firm name of Hipp, Enders & Arey; Mary M., twin sister of Joseph, who is the wife of George Kenney, a resident of Baroda, Michigan; and Samuel, who is living in St. Joseph, where he is engaged in the clothing business. Upon the old homestead farm in Water vliet township Jacob E. Enders was born and reared. At the usual age he entered the dis trict schools and there he mastered the ele mentary branches of learning, while later he continued his studies in Valparaiso, In diana. In his boyhood days he did such work upon the home farm as his age and strength permitted and upon leaving school he worked for William Edwards in Benton Harbor, spending one year as a grocery clerk. On the expiration of that period he returned to the farm, where he remained for some time and was then offered a posi tion by the firm of Jones & Sonner, of Ben ton Harbor, where he acted as a clerk for two years or until the firm went, out of busi ness. He next entered the employ of O. B. Hipp, a clothing merchant, witb whom he continued for a year, and in 1891 he en gaged in business on his own account in Benton Harbor, opening a store in the Hotel Benton block as a member of the firm of Enders & Fifield. They engaged in the clothing business exclusively and subse quently removed their store to the Jones and Sonner Block. Here they extended the field of their operations by adding to their clothing stock various other lines of goods, thus opening a department store. At this time a change in the ownership occurred, the firm becoming Enders & Young, which relation was maintained for eight years, at the end of which time Mr. Enders sold out to his partner. He then came to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he formed a partnership with E. W. Moore, under the firm style of Enders & Moore. They engaged in the dry goods business, in which they have con tinued to the present time, having a well appointed store, which has become a favor ite with the purchasing public. Mr. Enders is also one of the largest stockholders in the firm of Enders, Moore & Company, of Benton Harbor, dealers in dry goods and kindred lines. He is also interested exten sively in the Boston Store in Watervliet, conducted under the name of Enders & Giesler. It will thus be seen that he is one of the leading merchants in the county, be ing an important representative of the com mercial interests. In 1888, in Benton Harbor, Mr. Enders was united in marriage to Miss Ada Belle Blake, who was born in Coloma, Michigan, and is a daughter of George Blake. They attend the Methodist church and are promi nent in the social circles of the city, while Mr. Enders is a valued representative of various fraternal organizations, being now a Mason, Elk, Woodman, Maccabee and Patrician. His political views accord with the Republican principles, but he is without aspiration for office, his business affairs making full claim upon his time and atten tion. It may seem trite to those familiar with his history to say that he has risen un aided from a humble position to one of prominence and influence in commercial cir cles, but in a history that will descend to future generations it is but just to record that he has made a record that any business man might be proud to possess, winning the admiration and respect of his contem poraries. He never makes engagements that he does not meet, nor incur any obli gation that he does not promptly discharge, and while his success is gratifying, it is also creditable, because of the straightforward business methods he has ever pursued. EDWARD C. McCOLLUM, engaged in the livery business in Buchanan, was born in the township of the same name in Berrien county, July 14, 1877. His father, Everett McColltim, is still living, making HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 577 his home with his son Edward, who in his boyhood days attended the public schools of Buchanan, passing through successive grades until he was graduated from the high school in the class of 1897. The same year he engaged in the livery business in connection with his father and in 1903 be came sole proprietor and has since con ducted the barn. He now has a well equipped stable, having a number of good horses and vehicles of different kinds and his earnest efforts to please his patrons com bined with a straighforward dealing has secured him a good patronage. In 1899 Mr. McColltim was married to Miss Estella M. Mitchell, a daughter of Eli and Mary (Conrad) Mitchell, a native of Buchanan township. They now have one son, Clayton E. Mr. McCollum is a constable and is connected with the Republi can party. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, of Buchanan, and is in terested in all matters of local importance to the extent of giving hearty and helpful co-operation to many movements for the general .good. GEORGE FOSTER, who is engaged in farming on section 5, Niles township, was born on the farm which is still his home, his natal day being May 3, i860. He is the fifth in a family of six children, of whom four reached mature years, their parents being George arid Margaret (John son) Foster. The father was born in County Down, Ireland, and at the age of twelve years came to America. He settled first in Richmond, Indiana, whence he re moved to Niles township, Berrien county. In this township he married Miss Margaret Johnson, a daughter of John Johnson, one of the pioneer farmers of Berrien county. They located on section 9, Niles township, this being the present homestead place of their son, George Foster. For a long period the father devoted his energies to agricul tural pursuits upon this farm but his last days were spent in the city of Niles, where he passed away at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife departed this life at the age of sixty-five years. 37 George Foster, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the old home stead, acquiring his education in the dis trict schools, while in the summer months he aided in the labors of the fields. He also had the further advantage of instruction in the St. Joseph Valley schools and during the periods of vacation he worked in the fields, assisting in the labors of the home farm, his efforts being a valuable element in the care and cultivation of the property, which is now well improved and valuable. December 18, 1889, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Clark, a daughter of Sidney and Alice (Vander- burg) Clark. Mrs. Foster was also born in Niles township and was reared and edu cated there, attending the district schools and also tbe schools of Niles City. Mr. Foster brought his bride to the old home stead, where he has spent his entire life and where they have resided continuously since 1889, here rearing their family of two chil dren, Eliza and Georgie. Mr. Foster is, recognized as one of the leading farmers of the township and has a valuable, farm of two hundred acres well cultivated and capably managed. He carefully controls his busi ness affairs and his industry and energy are bringing him a measure of success that is very gratifying. He is also agent for the Dodd & Struthers Lightning Rod Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, having the general agency for this locality. Mr. Foster is a prominent Mason at Niles, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Knights of the Mac cabees aad to the Masonic lodge, all of Niles. In his political views he is a Democrat, and for two years served as treasurer of Niles township. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He is loyal to the precepts which develop honorable manhood and patriotic citizen ship and is well known in the county where he has spent his entire life and where he has so lived as to gain the uniform confi dence of his fellowmen. WILLIAM D. SPARKS is one of the leading old settlers of the county, his home 578 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY being on section i, Buchanan township. His birth occurred in this township, Novem ber 17, 1845, and as he has remained con tinuously in the county his residence here covers a period of sixty-one years. He rep resents one of the prominent old families that was established here when Berrien county was largely a frontier district. The name Sparks is of English origin and the family was founded in America be fore the Revolutionary war. The early progeniters of Mr. Sparks were from North Carolina. Mr. Sparks was a Whig politic ally, and both he and his wife were members of the Adventist church. Both died in Buchanan township. The paternal grand father, Cornelius Sparks, possessing a reso lute, courageous spirit that enabled one to. cope with the difficulties of the frontier, made his way to Berrien county with his family in 1828 and cast in his lot with the earliest settlers of Niles township. Soon afterward he settled on what is now sec tion 12, Buchanan township, where he pur chased land. The family included Spencer Sparks, father of our subject, who- was born near Richmond, Indiana, in 181 5, and who was reared upon the old farm homestead on section 12, Buchanan township, sharing with the family in the hardships and privations incident to frontier life and enjoying many pleasures such as are common only on the frontier. The forests were uncut and roads had not yet been cut through the timber and many places where are now found good highways were unknown. Indians were still in the neighborhood and there was ample opportunity to indulge a love of hunting and fishing, as there was con siderable wild game in the forests and the streams abounded with .many speci mens of the finny tribe. Having ar rived at years of maturity, Spencer Sparks was married in Buchanan township, to Miss Sarah Hunter, who was born near Colum bus, Ohio, in 181 5, and came to this county in 1833, settling in Buchanan township. Mr. Sparks died in 1872, the fifty-fifth year of his age and his widow, long surviving him, passed away in 1894, her seventy- eighth year. Her grandfather had a land warrant of the site of Columbus, Ohio, which was given to him by the government.. The Indians were plentiful in Michigan when Mrs. Sparks first came to this state. They were the parents of five children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, while three are now living: John H, of Berrien Springs; S. F., of Niles township; and William D., of this review. Mr. Sparks wose name introduces this record was the fourth child and was reared in Buchanan township upon the place where he now lives. This was a part of Niles township until some time in the '90s. His education was acquired in the district schools and he was early trained to farm labor, working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. January 5, 1894, he was married to Miss Martha Arm strong, who was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, January 12, 1850, the eighth in a family of nine children born to John and Lydia (Small) Armstrong. Only three of the children are now living. Mr. Armstrong was a native of Delaware, born in 1813. He went to the Pacific slope during the gold fever and never returned. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1818, and died June 10, 1888. She was reared in her native state. She was a kind and loving mother, and her deeds of kindness will not be forgotten. She was a member of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Sparks was reared in her native county and educated there. She has been a worthy and helpful wife to her husband in the establishment of their nice home. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sparks located upon the old homestead. He now has one hundred and twenty acres of good land in Buchanan township and forty acres in Niles township. His place is well improved with modern accessories and conveniences and the fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation. He is practical in his methods and progres sive in his ideas and has never been slow to adopt new methods which promise to- bfe of benefit to the agriculturist in his efforts to improve the fields. He has been a life-long MR. AND MRS. JOHN CLARK HISTORY OF. BERRIEN COUNTY 579 resident of Berrien county and' has not only labored for his individual success as a farmer but has also put forth effective effort for general improvement. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party. The Sparks family is one of the oldest in the county and has been represented here through four successive generations, the name standing ever for good citizenship and for business honesty. JOHN CLARK is well known in Ber rien county, where for more than a half cen tury he has been connected with agricultural and horticultural pursuits, while in public affairs he has figured prominently, wielding a wide and beneficial influence in lines of public thought and action resulting in gen eral progress and improvement. While still owning a valuable farm in the county, from which he derives a good income, he now makes his home in Benton Harbor. Mr. Clark was born in Loraine county, Ohio, October 14, 1838. His father, Orange Clark, was a native of Massachu setts, born in Berkshire county, and was about thirteen years of age when his par ents removed to the state of New York. He. was married there to Miss Charlotte Wash burn, a native of that state, and they resided in New York until about 1831, when they removed to Lorain county, Ohio, where they continued to make their home until 1S54. That year witnessed their arrival in Pipestone township, now Sodus township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of sixty-eight years and the mother when sixty-nine years of age. In their family were five sons and five daughters, all of whom reached adult age. Five were born in New York and five in Ohio. Of this family John Clark is the ninth child and fourtb son. He was fifteen years of age at the time of the removal of his parents from Ohio to Michigan, previous to which time he had attended the district schools of his native county. As their home was only eight miles from Oberlin, Ohio, many of the teachers were students from Oberlin College, and the advantages enjoyed by the children of the district were thereby of a superior order to those usually afforded in a country school. For two winters Mr. Clark was a student in the district schools of this county and spent two years as a student in Niles, after wbich he engaged' in teaching for five terms in Berrien county. His first school was two miles from Niles, in the Thomson district, and his third term was at Pipestone, while for one term he was teacher in the home dis trict. He taught his first term in the winter of 1859-60, and in August, 1861, he re sponded to the country's call for aid, en listing as a member of Company A> Elev enth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, as a pri vate. He served for three years in the same company and participated in many hard- fought battles, including the sanguinary con flicts at Stone River and Chickamauga. In the latter he was wounded and, being left on the field, was taken prisoner. The tenth day after the battle he was paroled and taken to the hospital at Chattanooga. He was wounded in September and the last of Octo ber he was granted a thirty days' furlough and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until the following February. He was then sent to his regiment, but after two weeks was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where he arrived on the 16th of March, 1864. On . the 20th of May the government ordered an exchange of prisoners, after which Mr. Clark joined his regiment at Kenesaw Moun tain, remaining with his command from that time until the expiration of his term of serv ice. He^was honorably discharged Septem ber 30, 1864, after serving for three years, one month and six days, and suffering all the hardships and rigors of war. Mr. Clark had three brothers in the service, Don A., who was wounded before August, 1864, and died of wounds December 25, 1864, Theo dore and L. N. When mustered out Mr. Clark returned to Berrien county and, settling in Pipestone township, rented land for a year. He then located on his farm on section 8 of that township, and improved the place. He now owns one hundred and sixty-seven and a. 58o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY half acres of valuable land, from which he derives a good income, but since 1896 he has made his home in Benton Harbor. In that year he was elected county treasurer and filled the office for four years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con stituents. He has also- been township clerk, township superintendent of schools, town ship school inspector, highway commissioner and justice of the peace, and has made a most commendable record as a public official, standing for opposition, to misrule in public office and discharging his duties with the utmost fidelity, precision and accuracy. On the 23d of March, 1865, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Helen Webster, a daughter of Robert L. and Aurelia Web ster. Mrs. Clark is a native of Hillsdale county, Michigan, and for ten years prior to her marriage taught school in this county. Her parents were both born in Maine, and came to Michigan about 1837 and to Berrien county in 1848. Both died in Pipestone township, the father at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother when a little more than eighty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of two sons : Lowell, of Denver, is in the employ of the government, in the quarantine department of the bureau of ani mal industry, in which capacity he has juris diction over the three states of Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, making his head quarters at Denver; Glenn is farming the old homestead. Mr. Clark has been identified with the agricultural and horticultural interests of tbis county for fifty-two years and has taken an active interest in its material progress as well as in the advancement of his individual interests. He followed the admonition of the Greek philosopher who, centuries ago,' said : "Earn thy reward; the gods give ' naught to sloth." He has labored persistently and diligently and his present rest from active. business cares is therefore well merited. His interest in the matters of public moment has been manifest by tangible support of every - movement instituted for the general good. He belongs to Benton Harbor Post, G. A. R., of which he ,has been commander, and be is one of the charter members of the Ber rien County Grange, which he assisted in or ganizing. He believes in united effort for the common good, as is manifest in the Grange and other movements and individ ually and in co-Operation with others he has put forth effective effort for the welfare ot the county in which he has made his home from boyhood days. JAMES' WHALEN, representing the farming interests of Niles township, his home -being on section 4, is a native of Ire land, the date of his birth being September 14, 1850. His father, William Whalen, also a native of the Green Isle of Erin, came to America in 1850, at which time he took' up his abode on Ed Hamilton's farm on section 12, Niles township. He bought the place whereori his son James now resides in 1857 and continued to devote his time and energies to it until the time of his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-five years of age. He married Cather ine Hunt, also a native of Ireland, who died in Niles city, when about twenty-five years of age. After losing his first wife Mr. Whalen was married again, his second union being with Mary Burns, unto whom was born a son, William, wbo is now residing upon a part of the old farm homestead with his mother. James Whalen of this review is the eldest of the two sons of the father's mar riage, his brother John being now a resident of Colorado. The days of his boyhood an.d youth were passed in the usual manner of farm lads on the old homestead, and as his. age and years increased -he aided more and more largely in the work of the home place. He was less than a year old when his par ents brought him, to Berrien county, and. at the usual age he became a pupil in the district schools of Niles township, pursuing his studies for about three months in the year, the remainder of the time being given to farm labor. He remained at home until of age, assisting in the farm work and at different times he has followed various em ployments, including brick making. He also learned distilling, which he followed for some time. The greater part of his life^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 58i however, has been given to' farm labor and he is an enterprising agriculturist, thorough ly practical in his methods and accomplish ing whatever he undertakes. He now has an excellent property of one hundred and twenty acres and the land has been brought under a high state of cultivation. He has carried on general farming and his business methods have always been straightforward and reliable, so that his fellow townsmen have marked trust in his business integrity as well as enterprise. On the 14th of December, 1882', Mr. Whalen was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of Michael O'Brien, who was born in Piketon, Ohio, but was reared in Kentucky. Seven chil dren have graced this marriage, Catherine, Max, Eva, Forest, Gordon,. Gertrude and Grace, all of whom were born upon the farm and in the house where Mr. Whalen now resides. There has been no death in the family for twenty-five years. Mr. Whalen has been a life-long resi dent of Niles township and has been closely identified with its upbuilding and progress, taking great interest in what has been ac complished and feeling manifest pleasure in its substantial improvement. In politics he is a Democrat in his endorsement of the principles of the party but at local elections votes an independent ballot, supporting the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for office regardless of political views and affili ation. He has been school director for about twenty years and has taken an active inter est in public affairs, the cause of education finding in him an -especially warm friend. He has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a quarter of a century and is now a member of Berrien Lodge No. 6. He is likewise a Master Mason, holding membership in St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., at Niles. Thoroughly in sympathy with the principles and purposes of these organiza tions be exemplifies in his life the beneficent •spirit which bas its root in a desire for mutual and helpful and brotherly kind ness. HORACE J. ADAMS. The farming interests of Niles township find a worthy "representative in Horace Adams, who is living on section 10. A native of New York, he was born in Genesee county oh the 29th of March, 1834, and was of Eng lish descent in the paternal line. His father, Horace Adams, Sr., was a native of Oswego county, New York, and was a farmer by occupation. He devoted his entire life t6 tilling the soil and for a considerable period was a resident of Genesee county, New York, where he passed away, when about sixty-five years of age. The' mother of our subject, Betsy Coy, born in Genesee county, New York, also died when sixty-five years of age. Both the father and mother were twice married, and from the first marriage of the father there were four children, while the mother by her first marriage had one child. By the second marriage there were seven children, and with one exception all reached manhood or womanhood. , Horace Adams of this review was the second child born unto Horace and Betsy (Coy) Adams, and was reared in the place of his nativity, acquiring his education in the common schools. He remained at home, assisting in the farm work and in 1865 he went to Ohio, where he entered the services of the Fort Wayne Railroad, with which he was connected for about a year. In 1865 he bought the farm whereon he now resides and about 1866 he came to Berrien county. Here he has resided continuously since and has followed general farming, having now one hundred and twenty-eight acres of good land. All of the improvements thereon he has made and the farm is now a valuable property. Mr. Adams was married in this county about 1868 to Miss Lottie Ford, a daughter of John Ford, and they have two children : Emma, now the wife of Edwin Bair, of Niles township and Charles, who is living with his father. Mr. Adams has been a resi dent of Niles township for about forty- three years and has been closely associated with its history, for his interest in matters relating to the general welfare has been 582 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY manifest in tangible effort for the public good. He has held various local offices in his township and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. ROBERT A. WALTON, a prominent farmer residing on section 9, Niles town ship, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, on the nth of November, 1832, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza Ann (Houston) Walton, who were also- natives of Sussex county. In their family were seven chil dren, of whom Robert A. Walton was the third son and fifth child. In the year 1836 the father brought his family to Michigan, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, for the work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun when he located here. He took up his abode in Howard township, where he purchased a tract of land, but be was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he was killed by the falling of a tree in 1838., being at that time about thirty-three years of age. His widow lived to. .be eighty-three years of age and passed away in 1886. After losing her first husband she became the wife of O. Albert and had one child by that mar riage, Henry C, who was killed in the Civil war while defending the Union cause. .There were three sons and four daughters of the first marriage, six of whom reached adult age. Robert A. Walton was only about four years old when brought by his parents to Michigan. He was reared in Howard town ship about two miles from Niles city, just over the line in Cass county. He worked by the month at farm labor, attending the district schools in the winter, while the sum mer seasons were devoted to the tilling of the soil and other farm work. After tbe outbreak of the Civil war, his patriotic spirit being aroused, he offered his services to. the government, enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company F, Twelfth Michigan Volun teer Infantry. He joined the army as a pri vate but was promoted to the rank of ser geant and for one year served as corporal. He was with his command for two years and then re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, serving until the close of the Avar. He participated in the battles of Pitts burg Landing, Little Rock and other im portant engagements and was wounded by a shell in- the right shoulder. He was con tinuously on active duty with the exception of about six months spent in the hospital and he received an honorable discharge in February, 1866, having made a most credit able military record. When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Walton returned to Berrien county and was married in 1866 to Miss Melvina Ribble, a daughter of Christopher and Mary (Sparks) Ribble. She was born in Ber rien county, Michigan. Her people were old settlers of the county. Mr. Walton located first in Wesaw township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. The following spring he sold out, locating on the place where he now lives. He re moved into a log house and in true pioneer style began life in this section of the state. He is now the owner of a farm of one hun dred and seventy-nine acres, one of the valu able farm properties of the county, equipped with all modern accessories and conveni ences. There are good barns upon the place, a substantial residence and all mod ern equipments. About 1892 Mr. Walton purchased another tract of land of eighty acres and has now in all about two hundred and fifty-nine acres. He is one of the repre sentative agriculturists of the community, having since the close of the Civil war given his entire time and attention to general farming with the result that he has pros pered as the years have gone by. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been born six sons. Byron A. is now a promi nent lawyer of Webster, South Dakota. Jay E. is engaged in the jewelry business in Niles. Herbert F. is operating the old home farm. Roy H. is a rural mail carrier and news dealer of Niles. Dwight M. is with the Studebaker Wagon Company at South Bend, and Arthur is associated with his brother Roy. None of the sons have ever used tobacco in any form or strong drink of any kind and the parents have reared a family indeed creditable to their name. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 583 Mr. Walton is a member of Frank Graves Post, No. 64, G. A.., R„ at Niles, and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee for many years and for a long period as steward. He has taken a very active and helpful part in church work and his life has been honorable and upright. In politics he is a strong Republican and holds equally pronounced views on the temperance ques tion, believing in the prohibition of the liquor traffic. He is well known in the county where he has lived for so many years and is highly regarded as a citizen of worth and intelligence, who stands as a champion of justice, truth and right. WILLIAM SHEARER, is one of the old settlers of, Berrien county and is widely known as a prominent citizen, enjoying in full measure the confidence and good will to which he is entitled by a well spent life. His home is on section 16, Niles township, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, January 12, 1832. His father, John H. Shearer, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio. and afterward to Indiana, locating in St. Joseph county. In 1853 he became a resi dent of Berrien township, Berrien county, and locating on a farm he there lived to the age of seventy-four years. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and was of Ger man descent. John H. Shearer was united in marriage to Margaret Baker, who was likewise born in the Keystone state and was of German lineage. She lived to be about seventy-six years of age. By her marriage she became the mother of six sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult years, but only four are now living. William Shearer, the fourth child and fourth son, was reared in Ohio until about fifteen years of age, when he went to Indi ana, settling in St. Joseph county. He was about twenty-one years of age when he came to Berrien county, and in the country schools he had acquired his education, gain ing a good knowledge of the common branches of learning which fit one for life's daily duties. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age and then estab lished a home of his own by his marriage.. It was October 22, 1857, that Mr. Shearer was joined in wedlock to Miss Lydia Johnson, a native of tins county and a daughter of John Johnson, who was one of the pioneer settlers here, having located in Berrien county when there was nothing but a fort on the present site of Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer began their domestic life in Niles township, where he purchased a farm. He has cleared thirty acres of this land, the place comprising one hundred and twenty acres, which he has transformed in to a valuable property. The fields are pro ductive and he annually harvests good crops. Everything about the place is indicative of his careful supervision and his labors have been of the most practical and progressive character. He has been engaged in thresh ing for many years, beginning the business before he was twenty-one and following it continuously to' the present. There is no man in the county who has done as much threshing as Mr. Shearer, and he operated the first engine in this section of the county. He has thus become well known in agricul tural circles and has numbered among his patrons for many years a number of the leading farmers in this portion of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs, Shearer have been born six children : Minnie, now the wife of J. I. Skinner, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Emma and Ettie, both deceased; Belle, the wife of Guy Irwin, of the Indian Territory ; Nellie, who is the widow of William House, and is a stenographer in the employ of the Studebaker Company, of South Bend; and Gertrude, a music teacher, residing at home. Mr. Shearer has been identified with the interests of Berrien county during the long years of his residence here. His early polit ical allegiance was given to the Whig party, and when the Republican party was formed he joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart advocates. He has been a member of the Free Baptist church for about forty years and for a long period has been one of its deacons and has taken a most active and helpful part in its work. .384 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY His life has been honorable, his actions manly, and in all his relations he has been sincere and trustworthy. The years have brought him a goodly measure of success, which he owes entirely to his own diligence and earnest effort. EDGAR L. SNUFF is a prominent farmer residing on section 10, Niles town ship, "and the years have brought him a good return for his labor in the fields. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 1, 1851. His father, George Snuff, a native of the same county, arrived in Berrien county in 1864. He was a son of Isaac Snuff, who was supposed to have been a native of Penn sylvania, while the great-grandfather of our subject was born in Germany, and was the founder of the family in the new world. George Snuff upon his arrival in Berrien county took up his abode on section 18, Niles township, where he remained for a year, and in 1865 he located on section 3 of the same township, where he died in his seventy-fifth year. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy. In early man hood he wedded Catharine Cook, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Anthony Cook, who was born in England, and on coming to America settled in New Jersey, where he resided for a time. Later he re moved to Warren county, Ohio-, where his daughter, Mrs. Snuff, was reared. She is still living and resides upon the old home stead on section 3, Niles township. By her marriage she became the mother of six chil dren, four sons and two daughters, but only three are now living, namely : Nana J., the wife of Wilber F. Long, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Edgar L. ; and John W., who is residing on section 3, Niles township. Edgar L. is the second child and eldest son in his father's family and was about thirteen years of age when his parents left the Buckeye state and came to Berrien county, Michigan. The remainder of his youth was therefore passed upon the old homestead place on section 3, Niles town ship. His early education was acquired in the district schools and he afterward at tended ,a select school in Niles. He re mained at home until he attained his major ity, assisting in the work of the fields and then sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being married February 18, 1875, to Miss Sarah Foster, a daughter of George and Margaret (Johnson) Foster. Mr. Foster was born in County Down, Ire land, December 27, 181 7, and died Novem ber 1, 1 89 1. Mrs. Foster was born in Vir ginia, August 5, 1823, and died June 26, 1888. Both are interred in Niles cemetery. Mrs. Snuff was born in Niles township, February 4, 1855, where she spent her girl hood days. Mr. Snuff operated his father's farm for some time and eventually bought the farm where he now lives. Here he . owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty acres is situated on section 10, and forty acres on section 11, Niles township. He carries on general farming and his wife also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres ad joining his place. In his work he is practi cal and his efforts are attended with a meas ure of success that makes him one of the * substantial residents of his community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snuff have been born two children who are yet living, and they also lost one child. The son, Clyde J., one of the successful teachers ;in North Da kota, was educated in South Bend, and at the Valparaiso Normal. Edith M. is the wife of David Walker, who resides upon her mother's farm. Mr. Snuff votes with the Democracy on questions relating to the weal or woe of the nation but casts an indepen dent ballot at local elections. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Niles and he and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge. He is well known in the county where for forty-two years he has made his home. JOHN J. FOSTER, a prominent farmer and , old settler living on section 3 Niles township, was born in this township July 13, 1852. His father, George Foster was a native of Ireland and came to Amer ica when twelve years of age with his par ents, Robert and Margaret Foster, who took up their abode in Niles township at a MR. AND MRS. CHESTER P. PHELPS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 585 very early epoch in the history of Berrien county. Upon the old homestead farm there amid pioneer environments and surround ings George Foster was reared, and when he had arrived at years of maturity he was married in Niles township to Miss Mar garet Johnson, who was born in Virginia, and was a daughter of John Johnson, one of the early settlers of Berrien county, close-' ly identified with the pioneer history of this section of the state. Following their mar riage Mr. and Mrs. George Foster located in Niles township, where the father engaged in farming. His entire life was devoted to that occupation and he became known as one of the enterprising agriculturists of his community. He died in the seventy-fifth year of his age, while his wife passed away when about sixty-seven years of age. They were the parents of nine children. John J. Foster is the fourth child and second son of the family and was reared and educated in Niles township. He ac quired a common-school education and re mained at home, assisting in the work of the farm, until twenty-six years of age. One summer he engaged in butchering.' He afterward bought a tract of land of One hundred and forty acres on section 10, Niles township, and locating thereon made it his home for about twelve years, during which time he carried on general agricultural pur suits. He then traded that property for the farm upon which he now resides and he has added to it until he now has in the home place two hundred and sixty-three acres of rich and productive land. He also bought another farm in Berrien township which he traded for a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Niles township, so that he now owns altogether four hundred and twenty acres of well improved land. He rents some of his land and he makes a specialty of raising stock as well as tilling the fields. He has been very successful and all that he possesses has been acquired through his unfaltering labor. He has in deed been a hard working man and his life demonstrates that energy will unlock the portals of success. Mr. Foster was married November 9, 1880, to Miss Barbara B. Livengood, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, and was a school teacher. Tbey have three* children, Fred L., Zoe and George Ray. Mr. Foster is one of the prominent resi dents of Berrien county connected with agricultural interests. He has aided in mak ing the county what it is today. He has seen many of its most thriving towns and cities developed from - cross roads villages and has watched the growth of the county as the wild land has been converted into rich farms, while here and there churches and schools have been built and industrial, manufacturing and commercial interests have been introduced into the towns. Iri politics he is a Democrat, keeping well in formed on the issues of the day and inter ested in the work of the party, yet without aspiration for office. His time and labor has been devoted entirely to his farming interests and he has justly won the some what hackneyed but ever expressive title of a "self-made man," and his life has been an exemplification of "the fact that success comes as the legitimate result- of persever ance, energy and industry. CHESTER P. PHELPS, living in St. Joseph township, is the owner of a good farm devoted to the raising of fruit. He makes a specialty of peaches and in this connec- tiori has become well known, being classed with the leading horticulturists of the county. He came to Michigan from the east, his birth having occurred in Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, on the 16th of December, 1832. He^was reared to manhood upon the home farm of his parents, Chester and Sally (Powell) Phelps, both of whom were na tives of Connecticut. In early life they re moved from New England to the Empire state, where the father engaged in business as a tanner. Chester P. Phelps entered the fields at an early age and performed such service as his years and strength permitted; He thus became familiar with the task of plowing, planting and harvesting and he was at home until twenty-four years of age. His early education was acquired in the common schools and his diffidence kept him from at- 586 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY tending high schools. He was rather in clined to the study and practice of medicine, being always interested in anything pertain ing to the science, his proclivity in this di rection causing his playmates to style him Doctor in his boyhood days. The practice of surgery, however, was obnoxious to him and it was undoubtedly this that caused him to give up the idea of becoming a physician. When twenty-four years of age Mr. Phelps was married to Miss Alice Brown, who was a neighbor girl and schoolmate. He began operating the farm belonging to his wile's father, David N. Brown, who was a manufacturer of mittens and gloves in the east, and he also- owned the tract of land of which Mr. Phelps now took charge. While on a trip selling the products of his factory Mr. Brown visited Michigan and, seeing a tract of land with which he was well pleased, he purchased this and it constitutes a part of what is now known as the Phehps farm. It contained one hundred acres and extended from the road to the shore of Lake Michigan. It was originally covered with timber and lies about four miles south of St. Joseph, bordering on the lake. Mr. Brown came to this county, as did his brother, Oren Brown. Others of the party were Mr. Phelps, Lorenzo Nickerson and Zemira Nickerson, both of whom were rel atives of Mr. Brown. The one hundred-acre farm was then divided into five tracts. Mr. Brown devoted his attention to the cultiva tion and improvement of his land and lived thereon for twenty years or more, his last days being spent in Berrien county. He was prominent in public life, serving as super visor of Royalton township for a time and taking an active part in matters relating to the general welfare and improvement of the community. Oren Brown developed a farm, which he afterward sold and then removed to California. Later he returned to Ne braska and finally again came to Michigan, settling in Oceana county, where he died. Lorenzo Nickerson sold his property and removed to Wisconsin, where his last days were spent. Zemira Nickerson also devel oped a good farm and is now living in Louisiana. Chester P. Phelps paid 'fifteen dollars per acre for his land. In 1861 he built his present residence, which he has occupied since June, 1862. He has given his entire- attention to his horticultural interests, de veloping his property into a fruit farm. It was about the time that he settled thereon that Michigan was becoming recognized as a good fruit producing state and he deter mined to follow that pursuit. He planted his farm to peaches and the crop proved very successful for a time, but at length his trees were destroyed by tbe yellows in 1870 and 1 87 1. He bad no peaches then for a num ber of years, but finally replanted his land to peaches, which are now his main fruit. He has, however, grown other kinds of fruit and has shipped from his place horticultural products of the finest kind. For years Michigan peaches surpassed his expectations, but in later years the returns were not so good. He has sold berries for almost .noth ing and again at big prices. In fact, be has run the entire scale of failure and success in his fruit crops, but in the majority of cases has been able to gain a good living from his orchards and believes, taking everything into consideration, that Michigan is the best country in which he has lived and he re gards his proximity to the lake as a most desirable feature of residence here. For a long time Mr. Phelps took no active part in public affairs and would accept no public office. He was in those days a resi dent of Lincoln township. Finally he was persuaded to accept the candidacy for town ship, treasurer, but was defeated for the office, the township being strongly Demo cratic, while he is a stanch Republican. How ever, he was elected to that office two years afterward, when St. Joseph township was organized. He has served on the township committee of the Republican party since the township was organized and in this way has contributed to local successes. He, how ever, prefers not to engage actively in political work and has refused to become a candidate upon an independent ticket. His allegiance has been given to the Republican party since 1856 and he has voted at each presidential election, nor has he ever been ashamed of the record made by any candi- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 587 date whom he has helped to elect. He knows that mistakes have at times been made and will continue to be made as long as all men are fallible, but he knows, too, that history has proven that the Republican party is the party of reform and progress and that tinder its guidance the country has made rapid strides in many ways. Mr. Phelps was a member of the Grange- for a number of years and served as its secretary for a consider able period. He believes firmly in the value of the order and has greatly appreciated what has been accomplished thereby. The Grange had been allowed to run down, but he and others took hold of the movement and made it a success and the agricultural community has profited by the work done through this organization. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have been born two sons. David R., now an enterpris ing farmer and fruit buyer, is living upon the old homestead farm. He married Miss Cora A. Smith, and they have three chil dren: Orla L, Alice L. and Chester L. Arthur H. Phelps also' resides upon the old homestead farm and has a fine farm near by which he owns and operates in connec tion with his brother David R. His wife was Emma Bauman. David R. Phelps was engaged in teaching music for a number of years. The wife and mother, Mrs. Phelps, died August 14, 1888. This worthy couple had traveled life's journey together for about thirty years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and pros perity, and theirs had been a congenial rela tion. Mr. Phelps has remained true to her memory, having never married again. Like his wife, he has devoted his time to- his fam ily and has regarded his farming interests as a means to an end that has enabled him to provide a comfortable living for those de pendent upon him. He has always carried on farming interests and since coming to Michigan his attention has been given in greater degree to the cultivation of fruit than to grain. He is among those who have won for Berrien county its splendid reputation as a fruit center and thus advanced its source of income. He has worked earnestly and persistently and his labors have made him one of the county's substantial residents. JAMES M. BEALL, who is engaged in general farming on section 24, Niles town ship, is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of carrying on his life work, and his labors have resulted in the acquirement of a comfortable competence. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 25, 1828, and his father, Nathaniel Beall, was a na tive of Bourbon . county, Kentucky, where he remained until twenty-one years of age. There he married Miss Sarah Talbot, a na tive of Virginia, who had gone to Wayne county with her parents in her early girl hood days. She was born in Grayson coun ty, West Virginia, and was reared in In diana. Nathaniel Beall continued a resident of Wayne county until his death, which oc curred January 11, 1845. His widow after ward removed to Niles and made her home with Dr. Bonine, her son-in-law, with whom she continued up to the time of her demise, which occurred in her eighty-second year. She was the mother of nine children, all of whom reached adult age and five of the fam ily are still living. James M. Beall is the eldest son now sur viving. He was reared in Wayne county to the occupation of farming and in the dis trict schools acquired his education. There he was married in 1854 to Miss Eliza N. Dalloff, a native of Preble county, Ohio, where she was reared. She was a daughter of Thomas and Sophronia (Haggot) Dall off. The young couple began their domestic life in Wayne county, Indiana, where they lived for two years and then removed to Car roll countjj, Missouri, locating on the farm which Mr. Beall and his brother purchased in partnership. It embraced four hundred and eighty acres of land. In i860 he was called to Ohio to settle up the estate on ac count of the death of his wife's father and remained a resident of Ohio until 1864. That year witnessed his arrival in Berrien county, Michigan, and he purchased the place where he now resides. Here he has lived continuously since and has transformed his land into productive fields, from which he harvests good crops. Pie 'now has one hundred and three acres of land well im proved and is still carrying on the farm. In his business he is energetic, carrying for- 588 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and his labors are bringing him well merited success. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beall have been born six children, five of whom are yet living: Forest, who was born July 4, 1855, is now station agent of the Great Nortbern Rail road, at Deer River, Itasca county, Minne sota. Willard is deceased. Frank P., born in 1859, is living in Niles. Bertha D. is at home. Minnie M. is the wife of John Pale- thorpe, of Kokomo, Indiana. James M. is an engineer of Michigan City. In his political views Mr. Beall is a Democrat, who has supported the party since attaining his majority and is recognized as one of its stalwart and active advocates. He was at one time justice of the peace and has held local offices in the township. He has taken an active part in public affairs and is well known in the county where he has lived for over forty-two years. He has been closely identified with its interests and with held his co-operation from no movement for the general good. EDWARD VETTERLEY. Among those who were once active in business life in Berrien county but have now been called to their final rest was numbered Edward Vetterley, a man respected for his genuine personal worth, his industry and reliability in business affairs and his exemplification of public-spirited citizenship. He was bom in Wagenhausen, a village in Switzerland, on the 15th of September, 1833, and in the year 1849 his parents sailed with their family for America, there being three sons and a" daughter. After a few years passed in New York they came westward to Michigan, settling in Three Oaks, and at a later date the parents resided with their son, Edward Vetterley. The farm was taken up as wood land by Edward Vetterley and bis brother John. In the meantime he had acquired his education in the public schools and shared with the family in all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. After securing the claim Edward Vetterley and his brother John cleared the land and placed it under cultivation with the aid of their father. The farm has good buildings and is today a well •improved property. During the life-time of Edward Vetterley it was largely devoted to stock-raising and large numbers of fine stock were shipped from this farm to the markets. At tbe present time, however, the land is devoted to the growing of grain. In his earlier manhood Mr. Vetterley was for twelve years a section boss on the Michigan Central Railroad but with this exception always devoted his time and energies to ag ricultural pursuits and stock-raising, in which he continued up to the time of his de mise. He was the owner of one hundred and forty acres of the present farm, Mrs. Vetterley having added forty acres since his death, so that the place is comprised of one hundred and eighty acres of very rich and productive land all in one body. On the 13th of June, 1869, Edward Vet terley was united in marriage to Miss Eliza beth Heusi, who was born in Schlutheim, in the canton of Schaffausen,- Switzerland, September 7, 1847, and came to the United States in 1854 witb her parents who settled in Three Oaks. She is a daughter of Sam uel and Elizabeth (Bacchtel) Heusi, who were also natives of the locality in Switzer land in which their daughter was born. Coming to the United States, when their daughter was only seven years of age, they established their borne in Three Oaks town ship, where they remained until they passed from this life. The father always devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits,, thus providing for his family. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy- three years. They were the parents of three daughters 'and a son: Mrs. Lana Freiberg, who died leaving four children, her youngest son being reared by Mrs. Vetterley; Eliza beth, who is now Mrs. Vetterley; Louis, of Three Oaks township; and Anna, who died at the age of four years. The marriage of our subject arid his wife was blessed with four children : Edward J., who died in 1899 in his twenty-ninth year, leaving one son. Clarence; Mary, tbe wife 'of William Schraeder, of Three Oaks; Albert, who is operating the home farm for his mother; and Emma, who is in Kalamazoo. Mr. Vetterley acquainted himself with HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 589 the questions and issues of the day, gave his political support to the Democracy, but had no aspiration for office. He was a member of the German Evangelical church from 1849 until his death and lived a life in con sistent harmony with his professions. He was widely known and esteemed for good qualities which everywhere commanded re spect and confidence, and in his business re lations he was never known to take advant age of the necessities of his fellowmen, but placed his dependence upon the sure, and substantial qualities of persistent labor, guided by sound judgment and established by strict business integrity. i CHARLES HENRY MITCHELL, living in Benton township, is one of the na tive sons of Berrien county, his birth having ¦ ¦ occured in St. Joseph on the 4th of Novem ber, 1852. His parents were Michael J. and Catherine (Gough) Mitchell. The father was born on the island of Heligoland in the North sea and the mother's birth occurred at Mentor, Ohio. In his boyhood days Michael J. Mitchell became a sailor and was upon the high seas for a number of years but afterward became a sailor on the Great Lakes. He took up his abode in St. Joseph about 1848 and was at different times mas ter of various vessels which sailed from that port. In the year 1856 he was sailing as a captain of the schooner Kansas owned by the firm' of Springstein & Brewer, of St. Joseph and the boat went down off Grand Haven on the 22d of November of that year, at which time Captain Mitchell was about forty-five years of age. He left his widow in very comfortable circumstances, so that she did not find it very difficult to rear her four children. She remained for some years with her family in St. Joseph and afterward married Wendlyn Pfaff. She is again a widow and is now living in. Benton Harbor at the advanced age of eighty-three years. The four children of the first marriage are : John, who died when eleven years of age. after his father's death; Carrie, the wife of George Smith, of Chicago; Charles H., of this review; and Emma, who is the widow of Thomas Butler of Benton Harbor and lives with her. mother. When Charles H. Mitchell was twenty- two years of age the family traded property for the present farm at Twelve Comers. This was in 1874 and it remained the moth er's home for eighteen years, since which time she has lived in Benton Harbor. In early life Mr. Mitchell of this review became a wood-worker by trade and was employed in a sash, door and blind factory until 1874, since which time he has lived upon his pres ent farm, comprising thirty-six acres of land. He has since purchased sixty acres, so that his holdings now comprise ninety-six acres in two tracts. There is a tract of twenty acres next to his homeplace and forty acres a half mile distant. Fruit has been his prin cipal source of income and he makes a spe cialty of the raising of apples and peaches, having about fifty-five acres planted to fruit. He has sold as high as sixteen hundred bar rels of apples and four thousand bushels of peaches in a single season. He is well known as a horticulturist and his opinions regarding fruit-raising are largely received as authority in this locality. For thirty-two years he has devoted himself to the farm and its splendid condition has resulted from his careful efforts, untiring application and unfaltering diligence. In 1900 he erected a handsome residence, which is one of the most attractive homes between Benton Har bor and Coloma. It is built in modern style of architecture, is commodious and supplied with all modern equipments. He has water works upon the place and the water is piped to the house. He uses the latest improved facilities for carrying on the work of the farm and*s well known as a fruit-raiser and shipper. He bought out the interest of the other heirs in the home property and has confined his attention to tbe farm, planting well selected varieties of fruit, so that he now raises some of the best apples and peaches produced in the county. He is a member of the Berrien County Horticultural Society and is interested in all that pertains to fruit-growing. On the 7th of November, 1894, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Theodore Kipfer, who was bom in Menard county, Illinois,, where they were married. She is of French lineage, being descended in 59° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the paternal line from an old Alsace-Lor raine family. Her father was for many years a merchant of Petersburg, Illinois, and died when his daughter was sixteen years of age. Her mother is still living, now making her home in Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have become the parents of two sons, Ray and Wallace. In politics Mr. Mitchell is a stanch Democrat and has been nominee for various offices but the township is strongly Repub lican. He is a master of Twelve Corners Grange, No. 700, becoming a charter mem ber of this organization sixteen years ago. He believes this to be an important educa tional factor and does all in his power to promote its growth. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Coloma. His entire life has been passed in this county and as a representative of industrial and horticultural interests he has made an excellent business record. GILBERT HUTCHINSON, living in St. Joseph, has done much to advance agri cultural and horticultural interests in this part of the state. In fact he has been a pio neer in inaugurating new methods and the community at large has benefited by his ef forts, for it has been seen that his plans were practical and that good results have followed his labors. He was born in Orange, Orange county, Vermont, February 22, 1849, and was but eleven years of age when he was left an orphan by the death of his parents. When a youth of sixteen he began learning the brick mason's trade, serv ing a three years' apprenticeship, receiving one hundred dollars for his first year's serv ice, one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the second year and one hundred and fifty dollars for the third year in addition to his board and at the end of the term he was given a hundred dollar bill. He served his apprenticeship in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county, Vermont, and worked for the same man eight years at carpentering and brick work. His brother-in-law, a Mr. Chubb, and his brother were engaged in this line of business and employed from twenty to fifty men. In 1875 Mr. Hutchinson disposed of his interests in the east and came to Michigan, making the change on account of his health. Mr. Hutchinson had been in Michigan and his family were already here, so he made his way to, the middle west and purchased a tract of land in the south part of the town, comprising fifteen acres which was all run down. There were old peach trees upon the place which he had to pull out. He largely reset the orchard to pears, which have been his main crop since that time. The whole tract is devoted to fruit culture and he has continued to carry on the farm since his ar rival in Berrien county, although for eight years he has lived in the village on the lake shore. In addition to his fifteen acres he has a tract of ten acres set out to Bartlett pears. He has made a close study of the pear tree, its needs and possibilities for development and cultivation. He was the first man in Michigan to cut back or "head" back the pear trees, an idea that was ridiculed by nurserymen and fruit-growers, but which has since been adopted by prominent mem bers of the horticultural society and has also been advocated by state lecturers. Mr. Hutchinson adopted this plan as a result of experiment and observation and it has proven very successful. He was also the first man to fit up a wheel cart to spray the trees with. At first his barrel was set on a steamboat. He also fitted up a power pump before every seeing such a device in use. Owing to his active, progressive and practical methods his crop has exceeded his expectation and he has realized better prices than other fruit-growers, as he produces better, finer and larger fruit. Mr. Hutchinson was married in 1870, in Vermont, to Miss Ella V. Currier, and they have a son and daughter : Arthur Cur rier, who married Florence Griffin and is as sisting in operating the old home farm ; and Chattie Fidelia, the wife of F. D. Yoder, of St. Joseph. Mr. Hutchinson is a Mason, interested in the work of the order and is a worthy follower of the teachings and tenets of the craft. He is now king of Royal Arch chap ter and he is also a member of the Knight Templar commandery and of the Mystic Shrine. He does not believe in following HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 59* old methods when there is an, opportunity for improvement, either in social or business life — a fact which has been demonstrated in his business career — and he is a leading representative of the fruit raising interests which have gained fame for Berrien county throughout the United States. HENRY L. KING, who owns valuable farms devoted to horticultural pursuits in Benton township, represents one of the old pioneer families of this section of the state. His father, George D. King, was born in Jefferson county, New York and came to Michigan in the fall of 1843 with his wife and two children, Eunice and Henry L.,, the latter being then but three years of age, his birth having occurred on the 27th of January, 1841, in New London, Ohio. It was there that George D. King was married to Miss Susan Williams, a native of New York. Her parents had removed to Michi gan and this it was that decided Mr. King to come to this state. He traded his Ohio land for eighty acres of land in the woods a mile and a half from the Territorial road and about the same distance south of the Watervliet road. Pie cut a road across from one highway to the other in order to get from the Stanley neighborhood to the mill at Millburg. He was the first man to settle in the locality where he established his home. There was no one to the east or west of him and no one south nearer than Millburg or north nearer than Stanley, a distance of a mile and a half. He settled on his land in the spring of 1844, taking up his residence in a log house and bravely meeting the hard ships, privations and dangers incident to pioneer life. From that time on he gave his attention to clearing his farm, cutting out the timber, making staves, etc., and as the years passed by he transformed the land into productive fields. His father, Henry King, of Ohio, assisted him to some extent. George D. King made farming his business for many years but spent the last twenty years of his life in St. Joseph, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. As time had passed he had extended the boun daries of his property until his aggregate in terests amounted to four hundred and forty acres in different parts of the county, this land being comprised in four farms. He made improvements Upon the different places and owing to his efforts about two hundred acres were cultivated and a marked transi tion from the wild forests to improved fields was carried on. He had one hundred and fifty acres in his home farm 'and the attrac tive appearance of his place indicated his careful supervision and practical and pro gressive methods. He built a plank house as soon as he could and it is still in use after fifty years, being one of the old landmarks of the county which has stood as a mute witness of many changes that have occurred and many evaits which have shaped the history and molded the policy of this part of the state. Mr. King also owned valuable timber land in the county which he sold to Mr. McGuigan to cut into lumber. He made money by buying cheap land which he would hold until he could get a considerable advance in price. He lived economically, saving his money and thus in the course of years he became a well-to-do citizen and was enabled in his last years to enjoy rest from further business cares. Henry L. King had but very limited educational privileges, for he was busy from an early age. When but a boy he hauled staves to St. Joseph, where they were used in the manufacture of bar rels. "George D. King, not only made a liv ing but also considerable surplus money out of the timber which was convertetd into spokes, staves and ties and also some lumber was manufactured. Plis life was devoted to the farm until he retired from active busi ness. He lost several thousand dollars through trusting to the honesty of other men. He had business transactions with one man to the amount of six thousand dol lars without even taking a note from him. He would purchase timber land from people who made certain claims for it, believing them to be honest. Notwithstanding his losses in "this direction he was worth fully twenty thousand dollars at his death. His wife passed away at the age of eighty-one years. In their family were six children and with one exception all are now living, a sis ter, Eunice, who became the wife of Merzy 592 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Gustine, having died at the age of fifty years. Those who still survive are: Henry L., of this review ; George D., a farmer residing at Mauston, Wisconsin; De Loss, who is liv ing in Benzie county, Michigan; De Golier, who resides upon the old homestead ; and De Witt, who is also living in Benzie county, Michigan. The father was a Whig in his political affiliation in early life and upon the dissolution of that party joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He was very active in politics, never missing an oppor tunity to vote and though he did not seek or desire political preferment for himself his activity was that of a public-spirited and loyal citizen. Two of his sons, George and Henry L., were soldiers of the Union army in the Civil war. Henry L. King, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until twenty- one years of age, after which he returned to Ohio. Following the. outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at New London, Ohio, in the Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry for three months' service. He was captured at Har per's Ferry but was immediately exchanged and returned to Ohio. There he re-enlisted in 1863 as a member of Company G, Twelfth Ohio Infantry under Captain Graves, at which time be joined his regi ment. His brother George enlisted at the same time. In the spring of 1864 he was sent to join the command of General Steele at Little Rock, Arkansas, and was dis charged with his regiment in 1865. When the war was over Henry L. King returned to- his home and was married the following year, 1866, to Miss Esther Law rence, a cousin of John Lawrence and a daugbter of Richard and Elizabeth (Sim- onds) Lawrence, who had come from Can ada before the war and lived in this vicinity. Her father died while serving in the United States army and her mother, who long sur vived, passed away . at the very advanced age of ninety years. She had lived with her daughter, Mrs. King. It was in the spring of 1866 that Mr. King began to clear his tract of land of forty acres, which had been given to him by his father. He has since lived upon this place and has transformed it into a very valuable farm. He also worked up the tim ber and this gave to him a living while he cleared the land. He also has a tract of forty acres near by, but has made his home upon the original forty acres for four de cades, his attention being given to general agricultural ¦ pursuits. In all' that he does he is practical and he works persistently and with determination to make the most of his farm and gather therefrom good crops. Unto Mr. and Mrs. King have been bom six children. Herman, who died at the age of twenty-eight years, was a veterinary sur geon of Grank Rapids, having graduated from the Detroit Veterinary College, after which he was getting a good start in prac tice when he died. Nellie is the wife of Dr. Leonard C.'Conkey, a veterinary surgeon of Grand Rapids. Cuba is at home. Elmo is a veterinary surgeon at Lake View, Michi gan. Myrtle is. the wife of Harry Wyman, of Benton Harbor. Bert is also at horiie. Mr. King's study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give unfaltering support to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and yet he has never sought or desided office for himself, preferring to con centrate his time and energies upon his bus iness affairs. Formerly he was identified with George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor and he -manifests the same loyalty in citizenship in times of peace that he displayed when in times of war he fol lowed the old flag upon the battle-fields of the south. JOSHUA ELLS, of Benton Harbor, was born in Harpersfield, Delaware county, New York, September 10, 1826, and has therefore reached the age of eighty years. When a young child he was taken by his parents to Ulysses, Tompkins county, New York, where he remained until fourteen years of age, and during the nine years of that time his father7 Elihu Ells, was keeper of the poor farm. At the age of fourteen Joshua Ells accompanied his parents on their removal to' Huron county, Ohio, the family settling in Fairfield township in the village of Fairfield, which was then called Steamburg. They located- on a new farm MR. AND MRS. JOSHUA ELLS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 593" on which a small clearing had been made, and there the parents lived and died, the father passing away in 1861 at the age of seventy-nine years, while his widow re mained there until she reached the age of eighty-four years. Joshua Ells remained at home until twenty-six years of age. He was the young est son in a family of five sons and seven daughters and was the ninth in order of birth. He is now the only one living. One of his sisters died in 1903 and another a few days later. His eldest brother, Benjamin, was for a long time a resident of Niles, Michigan, and died at Albion. When twenty-six years of age Joshua Ells started out in life on his own account. He had but a yoke of cattle. For two and a half years he was engaged in grading on a railroad in Ohio and at the end of that time secured a position as brakeman on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, his run being from White Pigeon to Chicago. He started in the railroad service in a humble capacity, but gradually worked his way up ward and afterward was made conductor, about 1853 or 1854, thus serving for a year and a half. He then returned to Chillicothe, Ohio, and was there given charge of a freight train as conductor on the Cincinnati & Marietta road, which he had helped to grade some years before. After several months he was made passenger conductor and his connection with this road covered a period- of three years. In March, 1858, Mr. Ells removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, making the trip by way of the Missouri river. He expected to buy a farm but was not pleased with the country and returned to Michigan, arriving at St. Joseph, this state, in December, 1858. He had heard of the great fruit possibilities here from an old schoolmate and friend, G. W. Hopkins, who had given him accounts of the splendid fruit crops here produced. In company with Mr. Hopkins Mr. Ells pur chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres bordering the Paw Paw river on the south and extending to within one hundred rods of the shore of Lake Michigan. It was both bottom land and upland and the place .is pleasantly located within a half mile of Ben- 38 ton Harbor and a mile and a half of St. Jo seph. It was covered with grubs and a thick growth of underbrush, there being but a small clearing on the place. There was, however, a fair house. Later the property was divided between Mr. Ells and the Hop kins brothers, giving each about forty acres. In the winter of his arrival here Mr. Ells took up his abode upon the farm and has resided here continuously since, covering a period of forty-eight years. He has placed his land under cultivation, transforming it into a very valuable and productive place. In i860, in connection with Mr. Hopkins, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where the Israelites now live near the Brittain sawmill. He cut off the timber and operated the mill for four or five years. He still continued to clear his farm and as the timber and brush was cleared away he set out fruit trees, mainly apples and peaches. He was meeting with splendid success as a horticulturist at the time when the yellows first appeared, sweeping off everything from his orchards as well as throughout this sec tion of the country. He had prospered up to this time, a third of a busbel basket of fine peaches bringing three dollars. After his peach trees were destroyed he raised ber ries for several years, but later began to set out peaches again until he now has a fine peacb orchard of about ten acres. He also has many fine varieties of plums, pears and cherries and he has cleared from his fruit several hundred dollars above expenses in a season. He has carried on his work as a commercial grower, devoting himself to his farm and1 his prosperity is attributed en tirely to his own well-directed efforts and persistency of purpose coupled with sound judgment and a thorough understanding of the business of raising fruit. His home stands on a fine hill overlooking the Paw Paw and St. Joseph valleys and the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. It also commands a view of the harbor. of Lake Michigan with its outgoing and incoming vessels and indeed occupies a most at tractive location. This residence was built in 1867 and has since been occupied by Mr. Ells. On the 1 2th of May, 1870, was cele- 594 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY brated the marriage of Joshua Ells and Miss Catherine Welch, of Utica, New York, who had lived with a sister in Benton Har bor. Unto them a son was born March 25, 1876, to whom they gave the name of Howard Raymond Ells. He is now a farmer and also clerk in a factory and lives at home. In his fraternal relations Mr. Ells is an Odd Fellow, having been identified with the lodge since its organization at Benton Har bor. In politics he is a Republican and is interested in the party but is without aspira tion for office. He is, however, to be de pended upon to aid any movement for the benefit of the community or to promote pub lic progress. He assisted largely in work and money in securing a highway across the bottoms of the Paw Paw to Benton Har bor, a distance of a half mile, and the build ing of the bridge in connection therewith. Martin Green, who dredged the ship canal to Benton Harbor from the St. Joseph river, was to build a sawmill. To get logs from the Paw Paw river it was necessary to cut a channel from the head of the canal, for the river emptied a long distance below. Mr. Ells and others interested themselves in the movement of building the highway and raised six hundred dollars by subscrip tion and also thirteen hundred dollars to build a bridge. In this manner the dirt from the channel was thrown onto the road way, making a fine road, which is now one of Benton Harbor's favorite driveways, lead ing as it does to Higman Park, which bor ders Mr. Ells' land. This work certainly showed a most public-spirited devotion to the general good and Mr. Ells deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in this connection. His house commands the finest view near Benton Harbor and his farm is most attractive in its appearance, showing well kept orchards, good buildings and modern equipments. He has worked earnestly and persistently and though there have been some hardships and difficulties he has overcome these by determined pur pose and resolute will and is now one of the substantial and respected fruit growers of the community. GEORGE OLSEN, now residing in St. Joseph, was born in Norway, February 26, 1840. His parents died witbin two years of each other, leaving five children who then became scattered. George Olsen was but twelve years of age when he came to this country with his parents who settled in Mil waukee, Wisconsin, and at an early age was thrown upon his own resources, he has since depended upon his labors and enterprise and whatever success he has achieved is attribu table entirely to his capable management and business talent. He worked for two years as a clerk in a store and at the age of sixteen years went to Manitowoc, where he learned to shave shingles by hand. He spent two years there, after which he went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1862, shaving shingles by the thous and. Later at Stevens Point, and still later with the capital which he had managed to save from his earnings he with others es tablished a lumber and shingle mill at Green Bay, where he continued for nineteen years. His business grew rapidly until he became one of the leading manufacturers of shingles in the state of Wisconsin. He had at first only about a thousand dollars to invest and in order to secure more capital he took in partners so as to establish tbree mills on the Little Suamico river, sixteen miles north of Green Bay. These mills were known as the John Peters & Company, George Olsen & Company and Olsen, Winans & Company. The output of these mills, according to the Fort Howard Monitor, was as high as seventy-two million shingles in one year. This was in 1876. Thus the business grew from one Small shingle mill until it ex ceeded any other enterprise of similar char acter in the state. The three mills employed an aggregate of three hundred men and the annual business amounted to more than one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Olsen con tinued in the trade for nineteen years. In 1870 the third mill was purchased and put in operation and the constantly developing trade reached mammoth proportions, the output of the three mills being greater than that of any other firm or enterprise in this line of business in Wisconsin. Mr. Olsen HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 595 had charge of each of the thf ee mills in the order in which they were erected and the annual output was from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand shingles per day. For many years the business was suc cessfully conducted but through trusting too implicitly in the honesty of others Mr. Olsen sustained very heavy losses. In 1885 tberefore he turned his attention to other fields of labor and came to St. Joseph. His brother, Ole Olsen, was al ready a resident of this place and liking the country, George decided to remain. He soon bought a thirty-three acre tract of land on Lake Michigan, two miles from St. Joseph. The land was largely run down and he had to drain, tile it and set out new trees. His brother's experience proved of benefit to him, for he showed Mr. Olsen what to do, told him what varieties of fruit to plant and he began the cultivation of blackberries, to which he gave his attention for six or eight years. He afterward set out peaches but later set out grapes and pears and his farm was practically devoted to these two fruits. He has sold thirty-three thous-. and baskets of grapes from about twenty acres and has sold twenty-two hundred cases of blackberries in a single season. He knew nothing of fruit culture or even farming when he took up the work but his brother had had wide experience. He paid six thous and dollars for his thirty-three acre tract of land, which has since greatly appreciated in value and he recently sold the farm at a high figure. He had added to the house, built barns and other necessary buildings and had store room for forty thousand baskets. The city water was in his home and everything about his place was most conveniently ar ranged for carrying on the business. For several years he has handled the grapes of The Lake Shore Grape Association, about one hundred carloads from the Hilltop sta tion, which is near his home. Mr. Olsen was married on the 21st of December, 1862, at Little Suamico, Wiscon sin, to Miss Julia E. Peters, who was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga county, New York, December 21, 1844, and was taken to Wis consin when a child of six years. There she was married on her eighteenth birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have no children of their own but adopted an eight-year-old girl, Margaret, who is now the wife of Herman Loefler and has two children, Charles and Adeline, aged five and four years respec tively. In his political affiliation Mr. Olsen is a stalwart Republican and his religious views is a Methodist. He is serving as trustee of the church in St. Joseph and he takes an active interest in many progressive measures relating to the city's welfare. In 1906 he built a handsome residence in St. Joseph and though in former years he met with heavy reverses he is again in comforta ble financial circumstances. He possesses the strong and salient characteristics of the Norwegian people, including the ready adaptability and unfaltering industry which has always marked the people of Norway. In the face of discouragement which would have utterly disheartened many a man of less resolute spirit he set to work to retrieve his losses and has made a creditable place and an honorable name in business circles. WILLIAM HENRY WELLS, de ceased, who is spoken of by the many friends with Whom he was associated in his life time as the "soul of honor and business in tegrity," left his family not only a comfort able property but also an untarnished name and his life record contains many lessons which are well worth of emulation. He was born at Utica, New York, on the 14th of July, 1848. In the paternal line the an cestry of the family is traced back to the crusadeijs, authentic records giving the family history back to 794, when repre sentatives of the name lived in England. They were people of high rank in Normandy and in England, being closely connected with William the Conqueror. At an early period in the colonization of the new world representatives of the name came to Amer ica, where their descendants have lived since the first settlement of New England. Gov ernor Thomas Wells, of Weathersfield, Connecticut, was among the number. Alfred Lee Wells, father of our subject, was proprietor of the Utica cotton mills at Utica, New York and was also a prosperous 596 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY dry goods merchant. He married Sarah Griswold Sill, of Lyme, Connecticut, a daughter of Thomas Sill, who served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war and the short sword which he carried from Lyme to the war is now in possession of Mrs. Wells. Her husband was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, belong ing to the Chicago chapter by virtue of tbe ancestral history of his maternal grand father. The Sills were of equally remote ancestry, having been among the original ancestors of Lyme, Connecticut, and the old Sill homestead, which has stood for two hundred years is still in possession of the family. William H. Wells was a youth of four teen years when he came to the middle west, making his way to Rockford, Illinois. When still a boy he went to Chicago, where he learned the business, of manufacturing stained glass and making steady progress along that line he at length established the old firm of Wells Brothers, manufacturers of stained glass. They employed various artists and skilled workmen and met with gratifying success for a time but suffered various reverses, including heavy losses, which came to them through fire. How ever, with characteristic energy they rebuilt the plant and within a week were again doing business. William H. Wells, how ever, applied himself so closely to the work that nervous prostration followed and he was compelled to retire from that field of activity. In the meantime he had secured land near St. Joseph, taking it in payment for a stock of goods. He purchased the present Wells home, in which he installed his parents, who occupied it for twelve years. In 1884 Mr. Wells sold his business interests in Chicago and retired to this home. Later he bought additional land and gave his attention to the management of the farm, the outdoor life proving greatly beneficial, so that he regained his health. Desiring to again enter commercial circles in Chicago, about 1889 or 1890 he opened an office in that city and embarked in the real estate business, being located in the Tacoma Building. He had owned property in the city which he now improved and he continued in active connection with real- estate interests there until his death, which occurred on the ist of June, 1900. His last real estate deal was the sale of an eight hundred acre tract of land on the northwest side of the city. He operated quite exten sively in property and transferred some un sightly vacant tracts into good property dis tricts. For seven years he was afflicted with nervous trouble and he died at what is stilt known as the Wells home in St. Joseph township. He owned the place for thirty years and at the time of his demise he was. laid to rest in a lot iri the cemetery at St. Joseph, which he had selected on the last. drive which he made with his wife. Mr. Wells was married in Chicago, Sep tember 5, 1876, to Miss Lizzie Powers, who- was born in Waterford, Ireland, and in her infancy was brought to the United States. She traces her ancestry back to the Irish, kings and her father was descended from, the native Norman invaders, the French name being de la Poer (Power). Her mother was Anna Fitzgerald, a descendant of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Her father was a merchant, who died in St. Louis, Mis souri. The daughter was educated in the Visitation convent in that city. Her par ents both died when she was very young and she afterward made her home with W. J. Quan, a wholesale grocer of Chicago,. whose wife was her mother's sister. Mr. Wells was devoted to his business interests and sought no position of political" or public perferment. He was a warm- friend of Judge Grinnell, of Chicago, who* spoke of Mr. Wells as the soul of honor. He was devoted to his wife, the relation be tween them being a most congenial one and his most pleasant hours were passed in his own home. They spent the winter months traveling in Old Mexico and south ern countries. Mrs. Wells, since her hus band's death spends her winters with her sister, Mrs. Hanley, at Aiken, South: Carolina. Mr. Wells was reared in- the Presbyterian faith but never united" with the church, while his wife was reared in the Catholic faith. He pos sessed untiring activity and energy and" his industry and ambition undoubtedly- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 597 hastened his death because of the close at tention which he gave to his business af fairs. Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion and he was never known to take advantage of the necessities of another in any trade transac tion. His character was developed along lines that ever command trust and good will and by all with whom he came in contact through business or social relations he was held in high esteem. PETER D. DUKESHERER is con ducting Maplehurst, a fruit farm on Pipe stone street in Benton township. He more over has extensive fruit raising interests in Texas and is a business man of marked en terprise and ability, who eagerly embraces every opportunity for advancement and through laudable ambition, and energy has worked his way steadily upward to a posi tion of affluence. His birth occurred in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, on the 5th of November, 1871, his parents be ing John and Katherine (Arnt) Dukesherer. The father is still living and makes his home with his son Peter, who spent his early boyhood days under the parental roof and acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of fourteen years, how ever, he started out in life on his own ac count and began clerking for G. W. Piatt, a hardware merchant, in whose employ he remained for three years. He spent the succeeding three years in the employ of C. and J. Shearer, clothing merchants, and was afterward for twelve years with the Enders & Young Company, of which he became a stockholder on its organization and at that time was placed in charge of a depart ment. His business enterprise, executive force and capable management contributed in substantial measure to the success 9f this business and he continued with the firm un til about four years ago, when he dis posed of his interest. He then came to his present farm and assumed its active man agement. This is the old Sorder place and is now known as Maplehurst. It borders Pipestone street at Sorder's Corners and is one mile south of the city limits of Benton Harbor. It contains one hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land which re sponds readily to the care and cultivation bestowed upon it. For many years it was owned by Samuel McGuigan and was by him given to his cousin's daughter. On the 1 6th of November, 1897, Mr. Dukesherer was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Fern Stewart, a daughter of Samuel Stewart, who was a cousin of Samuel Mc Guigan, one of the prominent, old-time set tlers of the county. This farm was for a long time the home of Mr. Stewart and Mr. McGuigan and the latter deeded the prop erty to Mr. Stewart's daughter, whose at tention as a girl was almost entirely given to caring for the comfort of her father and Mr. McGuigan. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dukesherer has been blessed with two children, Helen and Robert. About a year ago Mr. Dukesherer pur chased a stock and fruit ranch in Robert son county, Texas, where he spent two win ters. This place is in the famous peach belt in that state and he is setting out a large orchard. It has been successfully proven that the district is an excellent peach pro ducing center and most of his farm will be devoted to fruit. His place in this county is under a high state of cultivation and here he has a fine orchard and well cultivated fields. He is al.sO' raising draft horses and roadsters, and the various branches of his business are proving profitable, being care fully conducted. In his political allegiance Mr. Dukesherer is a stalwart Republican and has often been a delegate to the conven tions of his party but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with well merited success. He has made an enviable record both as a merchant and farmer and he has a very wide acquaint ance in the county where his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his efforts in social and business circles as to win the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. JOHN F. GARD, an active citizen of Berrien county throughout his entire life, was connected with business, social and fra ternal interests here. Plis birth occurred in 598 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY St. Joseph township, Berrien county, Feb ruary 2, 1845, and his life record was ended in death on the 5th of February, 1962. His father, Joseph Gard, came from Ohio, to Michigan and engaged in farming in this county. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Laura Fairley, came of Puritan stock, the ancestry of the family being traced back to the year 1624. John F. Gard as a farmer boy attended the country schools and pursued a commer cial course in Bryant & Stratton Commer cial College, of Chicago, Illinois. Thus well equipped for the responsibilities of a business life he accepted a position as clerk in the office of A. H. Morrison, collector of internal revenue at St. Joseph, with whom he remained until June, 1866. He then re sumed farming but afterward secured' the position of bookkeeper with the firm of Dickinson, Leach & Company, of Chicago. He followed farming for several years and subsequently was in the employ of the Chi cago, Michigan & Lake Shore Railroad, now Pere Marquette. He had charge of the Morrison dock until 1880, when he took charge of the steamer John A. Dix and so continued throughout the remainder of his business career. In all the relations of his business life Mr. Gard was found thoroughly trustworthy and reliable as well as indus trious and enterprising. On the 6th of June, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of John F. Gard and Miss Josephine Taff, of St. Joseph, who was born in Ohio. They became the parents of four children, Minerva, Mable and John J. and one who> died in infancy. Mr. Gard was always deeply interested in the cause of education, served as a member of the school board for twelve years and for two years as school inspector. He was also1 highway commissioner for twelve years and super visor for two. years, and in these various official capacities discharged his duties in prompt and capable manner. He gave un faltering allegiance to the Republican party, putting forth every effort in his power for its growth and success and acts as secre tary of the Republican County Central Committee. Pie was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, identified with Pomona Lodge, No, 28, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for ten years, and also served as its secretary. He likewise held membership in Calvin Brittain Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., of which he was high priest. He exemplified in his daily life the bene- ficient spirit of the craft, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kind ness, and in all life's relations he was true to- high ideals, commanding respect and con fidence of his fellowmen by reason of his genuine personal worth. In his death the community lost a valued citizen, his asso ciates a faithful friend and his family a de voted husband and father. JOHN HIGMAN is well known in southwestern Michigan and in other busi ness districts of the country as secretary and treasurer of the Wells, Higman Com pany. It would seem trite to those familiar witb his history to say that he is a man who has risen from comparative obscurity to rank among the prosperous residents of Berrien county but it is just to say that his is a record which any man might be proud to possess, for by the improvement of the opportunities with which he has been sur rounded he has gained a place in connec tion with productive industries that has won for him the admiration and respect of his contemporaries. He has never made en gagements that he has not met nor incurred obligations that he has not promptly dis charged and through strict conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics he has made an unassailabe reputation in business, at the same time winning the gratifying. prosperity which ¦ is the merited reward of earnest, persistent and honorable effort. Mr. Higman was born in Caton, Steuben county, New York, March 1, 1853, his par ents being John and Clarissa (Brown) Hig man. The father was a farmer and an en terprising man. The son spent his youth in his native state and when a young man of twenty years came to St. Joseph, Michi gan, accepting a position as clerk in the First National Bank, of which his brother was then president. Desirous to engage in business on his own account he eagerly availed himself of every opportunity for en- MRS. ABRAHAM J. KNISELY ABRAHAM J. KNISELY ¦-.¦*<<;•-•. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 599 gaging in his present line of trade by form ing a partnership with A. W. Wells, H. C. Ward and W. W. Cooper for the manufac ture of fruit baskets and boxes, an industry which is a very important one because of the prominence of Berrien county as a fruit producing center. Mr. Higman took charge of the sales department and was upon the road, representing the house for some time. In 1883 he purchased Mr. Cooper's interest and soon the management of the business, which was continued under the original style until 1899, when it was organized as a stock company, known as the Wells-Higman Com pany, of which Mr. Higman was chosen secretary and treasurer. This company now owns and operates four basket plants, one in Memphis, a second in Greenfield, " Ten nessee, and a third in Traverse City, Michi gan, in addition to the one at St. Joseph. A new branch has recently been established in the south. The Traverse City plant is an important one, furnishing employment to two hundred men and altogether the busi ness of the company has reached mammoth proportions, the output being very extensive. Mr. Higman takes great interest in the work, has thoroughly acquainted himself with the business in principle and detail, and in his active management shows keen discernment and marked executive force, combined with a thorough understanding of trade condi tions. He also owns dock property on the St. Joseph river, is the owner of Higman Park and has large real estate interests in Sioux City, Iowa, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His business affairs thus cover a wide scope and the extent and importance of his various interests indicate his superior ability and bring him a large and gratifying measure of prosperity. In 1877 Mr. Higman was married to Miss Metta B. Barlow, and they have a fam ily of six daughters and two sons. Mr. Hig man has done effective work for the public good and the cause of education has been principally promoted through his earnest ef forts in its behalf. Many of his business interests have had direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of this part of the county. He was at one time secretary and treasurer of Plank's Tavern, which was afterward sold and is today known as Hotel St. Joe. He gave much time to secure the building of the Vandalia road from St. Jo seph, and for two years was president of the Board of Trade of this city. For ten years: he has been a member of the school board. He has also been chairman of the board of trustees of the Baptist church at Benton Harbor, and superintendent of the Sunday school, and while he has conducted extensive business interests he has never been neglect ful of his duties of citizenship nor of those higher interests which form man's relations to his fellowmen. He has always been ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself and to alleviate and ameliorate the hard conditions of life. By force of his native ability and steady perseverance he has raised himself to a position of worth and value. His life history illustrates in a marked degree what may be accomplished by well directed efforts and a strict adherence to correct business principles. , ABRAHAM JACKSON KNISELY, living at Fair Plain in St. Joseph township, Berrien county, was born in Meadville, Penn sylvania, January 17, 1833. His father, Christian Knisely, was a native of the Key stone state and of Swiss ancestry. He learned and followed the cabinet-maker's trade, thus providing for his family. He married the widow Derickson, whose maiden name was Ann Patch, a relative of Samuel Patch, famous for his prowess at jumping. When five years of age Abraham J. Knisely accompanied his parents on their re moval to Dayton, Ohio, where bis father conducted a cabinet shop. Dayton remained their home for a number of years, and the son attended the common schools there and also a private school taught by the firm of Stevens & Edwards. One of his early teach ers was Edwin H. Hood, who afterward with D. W. Noble established a book store in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Mr. Knisely be came a clerk in that store, remaining there for two or three years. He was an extensive reader, embracing every opportunity for gathering information in this way, and he also attended Allegheny College at Mead ville, Pennsylvania. That was his native *6oo HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ¦town, and he had relatives living there during the period of his college course. The school 'is conducted under the auspices of the Meth odist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Knisely spent two years there studying mathematics, Latin and other branches, but because of his limited financial resources he had to abandon his collegiate course. He pursued a course in bookkeeping in Dayton, Ohio, and then ac cepted a position as bookkeeper in a dry goods store there. He afterward went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also kept books, and in addition he had to keep account of the men's time and pay them their wages. These were the men employed by the county com missioners to build the insane asylum at Carthage. Mr. Knisely continued in the posi tion for two years, living in Cincinnati with one of the commissioners. In 1856 he went to Chicago to take part in the organization of the Chicago South Branch Dock Company. In this enterprise were interested men from Cincinnati, Rhode Island, Virginia and Chicago, and Mr. Knisely became one of the incorporators of the business. They purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land on the south branch of the Chicago river, near the present head of the drainage canal. The land was oc cupied by the last state fair of Illinois. Slips for vessels were dug one hundred feet wide and with fifteen feet of water, and the material excavated proved excellent brick- making material, so that yards were estab lished for the purpose of manufacturing brick. Mr. Knisely was secretary of the com pany from the beginning, and also acted as agent of the company for a time. While im provements were being made he began the manufacture of brick, and retained his con nection with the company for ten years. He leased land from the company, and at the same time made excavations for them. Later, in connection with the foreman, he patented a brick-making machine, and then installed what is known as the Monitor machine, turn ing out eighty thousand brick per clay with four machines, and employing eighty men. Meanwhile he also began to manufacture on the Dtipont slip between Halsted and Union streets. He built the docks for the Dtipont Slip Company, and used the excavated ma terial for brick manufacturing. He remained there until the Dupont slip was worked through, and this time in connection with that spent with the other company, cov ered about fifteen years. It was while working on the Dupont slip that the great Chicago fire occurred and brought a great demand for brick, so that he sold three million bricks to the board of public works at thirteen dollars per thousand. This was the greatest season he ever had. In the meantime he invested in land in Austin, where he commenced the erection of a brick yard, but the financial panic of 1873 which swept over the country stopped his opera tions. His land has since been platted into town property. In 1877 Mr. Knisely decided to come to Michigan. While engaged in brick manu facturing he purchased land ten miles north of St. Joseph on the lake shore. The greater part of his wood was cut and shipped to his Chicago yards. He still owns the place, com prising one hundred and ninety acres. It is in a favorable location, with over a mile of lake shore frontage. He located on his pres ent farm on Napier avenue, Fair Plain, in 1877, and has since resided here, the home being about two miles south of Benton Har bor. When he settled here the land was cov ered with stumps, but he at once began to clear and develop the farm and has remodeled and enlarged bis house, the place being known as White Pines, for pines have been set out about the residence, and this is now one of the most attractive places in the lo cality, possessing many features of beauty. Mr. Knisely has here nineteen acres all in fruit, mostly raising grapes. However, he has raised other kinds of fruit, and now has a variety of choice trees on his place. His plan in selling has been to grade his fruit carefully and place his name upon his pack ages, so that one might be sure of the quality of fruit purchased. On the 29th of January, 1857, Mr. Knisely was married in Cincinnati to Miss Rebecca Hasting Sampson, whom he had met in Cincinnati and who was a native of that city. Her father was one of the stockholders of the Chicago South Branch Dock Company, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 60 1 but remained in Cincinnati, Mr. Knisely rep resenting his interests in Cbicago. Unto our subject and his wife were born ten children, of whom two sons and a daughter are liv ing, namely: William S. Knisely, a steam engineer and electrician at Chicago Heights ; Abraham Lincoln Knisely, professor of chemistry in the University of Oregon at Corvallis, Oregon, and also state chemist; and Nellie, who was educated in Fair Plain and in a college at Benton Harbor, and is now at home. The second son attended the Fair Plain school, is a graduate of the Ben ton Harbor College, of the University of Michigan and of Cornell University. He spent four years in the Geneva experiment station at Geneva, New York, has been pro fessor of chemistry in Oregon for six years and lectures extensively all over Oregon on soils and fertilizers. Mr. and Mrs. Knisely have also lost two daughters : May, who mar ried Frank M. Kelley, of Fair Plain, and died in 1905, leaving a son, Lafayette K. ; and Annie, who was graduated from Benton Harbor and was a teacher. She died in early womanhood. The other children died in early youth. Mr. Knisely cast his first presidential bal lot for John C. Fremont, and has voted for each standard bearer of tbe Republican party since that time, but at local elections casts his vote free from party ties. He believes in selecting the best man for the local office without regard to party affiliation. He also believes in holding primary elections and that the candidate should be the people's choice, not the choice of a party machine. He has attended at different times the Presbyterian, Universalist, Unitarian and Swedenborgian churches, and is now a believer in the Spir itualist faith, having two grown daughters on the other side from whom he receives communications. He believes in the upbuild ing and the growth of character and that the gauge of a man is the credit to be placed to his account for his deeds and not for his beliefs. He is much interested in mechanical progress, and is a reader of the Scientific American. He well remembers the first ex hibit of the telegraph in Dayton, where a man claimed he could send messages by wire. Many of the audience were skeptical even after this was done, however. Mr. Knisely has taken deep interest in the progress that has been made along the lines of mechanical invention, and has ever kept informed con cerning tbe work done in this direction. WILLIAM RICHARDS LYON, a lawyer of the St. Joseph bar, was born in the town of Genoa, Cayuga county New York, May 6, 1834. His father, Moses Lyon, was a native of Greenwich, Connecti cut, born April 2, 1790, and was a son of Deacon Caleb Lyon, a gunsmith, who made and repaired guns for the American soldiers in the Revolutionary war. In 1798, when a youth of eight years, Moses Lyon accom panied his father's family on their removal to Genoa, New York, where, during the greater part of his life, he followed the oc cupation of farming. He married Miss Laura Riggs, who was born at Ballston, near Saratoga, New York, January 1, 1798. a daughter of Miles and Suse (Taylor) Riggs. Miles Riggs was the son of Margaret Ressequie, who was a descendant of the Hugenots and Puritans. She lived to be one hundred and two years of age. Early in the nineteenth century Miles Riggs removed with his family to Groton, Tompkins county, New York, where his daughter Laura on the 3d of October, 1826, gave her hand in mar riage to Moses Lyon. William Richards Lyon acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and prepared for college at Cortland Acad emy, in the village of Homer, New York, subsequent to which time he entered Will iams College in September, 1854, and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1858. For four years or more after leaving col lege he engaged in teaching at various in tervals in Ithaca Academy in New York and at Jackson and St. Joseph, Michigan. Other periods were devoted to the study of law and in the winter of i860 he attended law lectures in the University of Michigan. He was admitted to practice by the circuit court of Berrien county in 1863, and soon afterward opened an office in St. Joseph where he continued as a member of the Ber rien county bar until 188 1, when he removed to Chicago, where he practiced for six years. 602 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY In 1887, however, he returned to St. Joseph, where he has since remained. He has a com prehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and displays intimate knowl edge of the precedent as well. He is logical in his deductions, forceful in his arguments and strong in his oratory, and moreover, he prepares his cases witb great thorough ness and care. In 1872 he was elected cir cuit court commissioner for a period of two years. He has had no political aspirations outside of the strict path of his profession but has always affiliated with the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in i860. On the 3d of November, 1864, Mr. Lyon was married to Miss Frances E. Jones, of St. Joseph, a daughter of Hiram Jones, one of the early settlers of this city, and Char lotte Ann (Elliss) Jones, who was born at Nottingham, England. In 1855 Mr- Lyon joined the college church of William Col lege, in Massachusetts, and subsequently placed his membership in the Congregational church at St. Joseph with which he is still identified. He is interested in matters per taining to the material, intellectual and, moral progress of his adopted city and his efforts have been an eventful factor in advance ment along those lines. CHARLES H. WHITCOMB, who since 1873 has been a resident of Berrien county, identified with its farming and lum bering interests, claims New England as the place of his nativity, having been born in Ashby, Massachusetts, August 4, 1844. His parents were Paul H. and Hannah M. (Bent) Whitcomb, the former a farmer by occupation. The son acquired his educa tion in the district schools of Massachusetts, and when he had completed his course of studies worked at farm labor until, ambitious for greater success than he could achieve in the fields, he went to- Boston in 1869, where he was connected with a grocery and provi sion house. Thinking that he might have still better opportunities in the middle west he came to Berrien county in 1873, anc' has since remained within its borders, his time and energies being devoted, to farming and lumbering. His business interests have been carefully directed, for he is a man of keen discernment and clear insight and moreover has displayed marked enterprise in carrying forward his business affairs. Community interests awaken his atten tion and many movements for the public good have received his earnest endorsement. In politics he is a Republican and has served in various offices to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen. He has been both supervisor and treasurer of Lake township, and for four years served as deputy sheriff, while in 1892 he was elected to the office of sheriff, in which capacity he was an excellent custodian of tbe public peace and a menace to lawbreakers by rea son of the assiduous attention which he gave to the discharge of the duties that devolved upon him in that connection. In 1883 Mr. Whitcomb was united in marriage to Miss Ella Wallace, of Bridg man, Michigan. They have a pleasant home in St. Joseph and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Whit comb started out in life on his own account as a farm hand, and has steadily worked his way upward, climbing the ladder of success. CHARLES W. ORMSBEE, deceased, was a member of the Berrien county bar, practicing in St. Joseph. His birth occurred in Paris, Oneida county, New York, on the 24th of August, 1 83 1, his parents being James and Harriett (Simmons) Ormsbee. The father was a mechanic and farmer. A daughter of the family, Philena, a sister of Charles Ormsbee, is living at the age of eighty-nine years and is enjoying splendid health, and her mental faculties are still bright and alert. Charles W. Ormsbee acquired his ad vanced education in Hamilton College, at New York, being graduated from the law department in the class of 1854. He prac ticed law in Clinton, Oneida county, and af terward in Belmont, New York, and the year 1861 witnessed his arrival in the mid dle west, at which time he located in South Bend, Indiana. He afterward removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he opened a law office and continued in active practice with excellent success. His mind was ana- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 603 lytical, logical and inductive and he was re garded as a strong and able reasoner, who presented his cause with great clearness and force. He was connected with much nota ble litigation tried in the courts of his dis trict and he served as circuit court commis sioner. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, of whose principles he was a stanch and stalwart champion and he always kept well informed on the ques tions and issues which divide the two great political organizations. On the 4th of October, 1854, in Bridge- water, Oneida county, New York, Mr. Ormsbee was married to Miss Mary L. Luce, and they became the parents of two daughters, Flora E. and Mabel H. Orms bee, born in 1859 and 1870 respectively. In his fraternal relations Mr. Ormsbee was a Mason and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. He died in Salt Lake City, in 1 87 1. In every community where he had resided his death was the occasion of deep regret, for wherever he was known he won warm friends who esteemed him not only for his legal talents and powers but also for the possession of those traits of char acter which in every land and clime com mand respect and good will. He held to high ideals and used practical means in working to better ends and wherever he was known he gained the friendship of those with whom he came in contact. WILLIAM BARNES CHURCH, is the oldest dry goods merchant in St. Joseph in years of continuous connection with this line of trade. There is no esoteric phase in his life history. On the contrary his busi ness record is one which will bear the clos est investigation and scrutiny, as it has been through close application and determined purpose that he has made advancement, en larging the scope of his activities as oppor tunity has offered and making good use of his advantages at all times. He is one of the native sons of the city in which he now resides, his birth having here occurred on the 14th of August, 1861. His parents were William and Cynthia (Barnes) Church, and the father, a veteran of the Civil war, served as a captain in the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery in defense of the Union. Coming to the west he settled in St. Joseph, Michigan, and in this city his son, William B. Church, was reared and educated, mastering the branches of learn ing taught in the common schools. Owing to his father's death, however, he left school before the time of graduation and began providing for his own support. He entered the business world as a salesman in a drug store and subsequently occupied a clerkship in a dry goods store. Following this he was employed in a hardware store, and as the years passed he carefully hoarded his earn ings and as the result of his frugality and industry acquired capital sufficient to enable him to engage in business on his own ac count. He then purchased a dry goods store in St. Joseph and has now been in this line of business longer than any other dry goods merchant of the city. He has a care fully selected stock, carrying a good line, and his trade has grown proportionately with the growth of the city. He now has a very liberal share of the public patronage and his place is among the foremost mer chants of Berrien county, the consensus of public opinion being favorable regarding his business ability and worth. Interested in community affairs Mr. Church withholds his support from no plan or movement for the public good and has given tangible aid to many interests which have worked for practical reform and pro gress. Regarding it the duty as well as the privilege for every American citizen to cast his ballat where he deems most conducive to good government, he is a stanch cham pion of the Republican party, and upon that ticket was elected to the office of township treasurer. On the 8th of September, 1886, in St. Joseph, Michigan, Mr. Church wedded Miss Grace Blakeslee Ward, whose mother came to this country from England when eight years of age, while the Ward family was established in Berrien county in 1865. Two children grace this marriage, Henry Ward and Bernice Claire, born in 1887 and 1889 respectively. The parents hold member ship in the Methodist church and are deeply interested in its various activities, contrib- 604 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ating generously to its support and doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. In all life's relations Mr. Church has made a creditable record and from among the ranks of quiet, per severing, yet prominent citizens — prominent on account of what he has done in commer cial circles — there is no man more deserv ing of mention in a volume of this char acter than William B. Church. FRED W. COOK, well known as editor of the Niles Daily Star, was born in the city of Niles, March 22, 1859. His father, Darius B. Cook, was born in Litchfield, Con necticut, and passed away at Niles at the age of eighty-six and a half years. He became a journeyman printer in New York city in early life and on removing to the west set tled at Detroit, Michigan, where he was em ployed as a compositor in the office of the Detroit Free Press until 1838. He then started to Chicago with an ox-team and an old Washington hand press on his wagon, but he did not carry out his determination to become identified with the printing busi ness in Chicago, for on arriving at Kalama zoo, Michigan, he determined to remain there and followed his trade, doing his print ing on the hand press. He was thus en gaged until the spring of 1842, when he came to Niles and established a weekly paper called the Niles Republican, and of which he was editor and proprietor for twenty-four years. It was one of the early journals of this part of the state and in connection with its pub lication Mr. Cook engaged in job printing. His son, Fred W. Cook, now has a file of all the papers published by his father. He also printed many campaign documents. Later the Niles Republican was merged into the Niles Democrat, and after selling out Mr. Cook established another weekly paper called the Niles Mirror. He also did job work until his death and for many years was a most prominent representative of the printing interests of Berrien county. He was conservative in his political belief but was an earnest champion of all measures and movements which he believed would promote public welfare and progress. Throughout the community where he made his home he was greatly esteemed. He married Miss Jane Wadhams, who was born in Connecti cut and died in 1889 at the age of seventy- one years. In their family were three chil dren, two sons and a daughter — Frank D., who is now living in New York city ; Emma, the wife of Perry Griffin, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Fred W. Reared in the city of. his nativity Fred W. Cook attended the public schools eight years. When only five years old he could set type, for he always availed himself of every opportunity to go to his father's print ing office and was deeply interested in the work. At a very early age he began learn ing the trade under the direction of his father and when a young man of only seven teen years he became the publisher of the Niles Mirror and after his father's death the owner, continuing the publication of the paper for some time, when he sold out. On the 24th of March, 1886, he issued the first copy of the Niles Daily Star, the first daily to be published in Berrien county. He has never missed an issue up to the present time, covering a period of twenty-two years. He has been very successful in conducting this publication and owns the building and all its contents, having a well equipped news paper plant. The character of the paper is indicated by the liberal patronage accorded it. It has a good circulation and advertis ing patronage and from the beginning the enterprise has proven a profitable venture. On the 25th of September, 1878, Mr. Cook was married to Miss Mary Flaherty, who was born in Niles, Michigan. They have two sons, Fred D., who is conducting a job printing office, having a plant in con nection with his father's newspaper estab lishment, and who married Martha Heiser of South Bend, and is living in Niles. Harry W., living in New York city, is engaged in the wholesale tea and coffee business. Both were born in Niles. Mr. Cook is independent in politics but has no aspiration for public office. He be longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the order of Patricians and the Owls. He has always made his home in Niles and throughout his entire life has been connected HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 605 with the newspaper business, in which con nection as well as a private citizen, he has been the champion of progressive public measures. SHERWOOD SNYDER, deceased, was a worthy pioneer resident of Berrien county, who resided in Benton township. He was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, on the ist of July, 1822, and died at his home in this county on the 8th of March, 1905, when in his seventy-third year. His parents were Richard and Ruth1 (Sherwood) Snyder, both of whom spent their last years with their son and passed away in Benton township. Mr. Snyder of this review was reared on his father's farm and from an early age depended upon his own labor for a living. When about thirteen or fourteen years of age he drove a horse on the Erie canal be tween Troy and Buffalo, New York, spend ing the summer months for five or six years in this way, while in the .winter seasons he worked out in the employ of different men. He had no educational privileges in his youth, but after attaining his majority he attended school for two winter seasons and in the school of experience he learned many valuable lessons, making him a practical busi ness man. In early manhood he began sail ing upon the lakes and acted as second mate for a season or two, making all the different points on the chain of Great Lakes. Dur^ ing that period he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Illinois, which he held for three years. Later he came to Berrien county to look over the country, having heard favorable reports concerning this lo cality. This was in 1850 and Phineas Pearl, a land agent, sought to induce him to make investments here. He decided to do so and secured one hundred and twenty acres where his son Loren now resides adjoining the Phineas Pearl homestead, for which he paid three dollars per acre. His cash capital at that time consisted of only ten dollars, but he made arrangements to make payments at regular intervals until the indebtedness should be discharged. For one season more he continued as a sailor and then settled upon his land, his first house being a log structure. It was a typical pioneer home and there he installed his family, while he turned his attention to the development and cultiva tion of the fields. After about twenty years on this place he built a home on an adjoin ing farm, where his son Oscar now lives and he added to his original tract one hun dred and twenty acres, thus making a valu able farm of two hundred and eighty acres. It was covered with timber, which he cleared away and in course of time the sunlight fell upon plowed fields and brought forth rich harvests as the result of the spring planting. He cleared altogether and placed in cultiva tion about two hundred and forty acres. His timber was cut at the Warren Pearl sawmill and was shipped to market by way of St. Joseph. He also sold logs and railroad ties and for sometime that was his entire busi ness. Later he gave his attention chiefly to raising stock, breeding short-horn cattle and the crops which he raised were principally fed to his stock. In his political views Mr. Snyder was a stalwart Republican: He always attended elections and supported the men pledged to uphold the principles of the party, yet he was never a politician in the sense of office seeking. On one occasion he was elected supervisor but failed to qualify, not wishing to enter public office. His life was devoted to the improvement of his farm, which was pleasantly located about six miles from the city. He was, however, never remiss in the duties of citizenship and did much for the material prosperity and improvement of his part of the county. He helped to lay out and build nearly all of the roads in his vicinity and his labors were attended with good re sults, both in behalf of the public welfare and as regarded his private business interests. Mr. Snyder was married in Benton town ship to Miss Caroline Alden, a native of that township and a sister of Hial Alden, who is mentioned on another page of this work. Their wedding was celebrated on the 15 th of May, 1855, and they traveled life's journey together for about fifteen years, when on the 10th of January, 1871, Mrs. Snyder was called to her final rest. For his second wife Mr. Snyder chose Mrs. Martha Clark, a widow, who yet survives him. His 6o6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY family numbered eight children : Marvin, who is living upon the old homestead ; Deette, the wife of Curtis Pearl, of Benton Harbor; Menzo, a farmer residing in Benton town ship ; Eliza, who became the wife of Wallace Rector and died at the age of thirty-five years ; Charlie, who died at the age of twen ty-two years ; Florence, who died at the age of two years ; Oscar, who is living upon the old homestead farm; and Loren. The last named was born October 26, 1869, and ob tained his education in the public schools. He remained under the parental roof up to the time of his marriage, which was cele brated on the 13th of September, 1889, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Pearl, a daughter of Simon Pearl and a sister of Curtis Pearl, who married a sister of Loren Snyder. Simon Pearl was a nephew of Phineas Pearl and a son of James Pearl and was born at Ticonderoga, New York. He was married in the Empire State and with his wife and four children came to- Berrien county, Michigan, in 1865. He settled a mile and a half south of Millburg in Benton township, and his son, Warren Pearl, still lives upon a part of the old family home stead farm there. His wife died when their daughter Mary was only six years of age. Simon Pearl afterward purchased a farm on Napier avenue near Pearl cemetery and there he lived until called to his final rest, his death occurring March 23, 1902, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His second wife, Mrs. Olive Wright Orcutt, was a sister ¦of his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Marion Wright. His second wife is still living, making her home in Wabash, Indiana, with a daughter, Mrs. O. D. Moore. Mrs. Snyder after acquiring her education ob tained a teacher's certificate but never fol lowed the profession owing to her early mar riage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Loren Snyder have been born seven children : Clarence, Charlie, Garrett, Ernest, Warren, Lucy and Sherwood. The family circle yet remains unbroken and all are still under the parental roof. Loren Snyder has followed in his father's political footsteps and is a stalwart Repub lican. He owns eighty acres of the home stead farm, which is one-half of the original tract of one hundred and sixty acres. Mrs. Snyder also owns her father's homestead, the corners of the two places adjoining. Mr. Snyder devotes his attention largely to the cultivation of fruit, having fifty acres thus utilized, forty acres being planted to peaches. The crop was very large in the season of 1905, his sales amounting to four thousand bushels of peaches. He is practical in all of his work, methodical in his business in terests and in the careful conduct of the busi ness he is meeting with well-merited success. JETHER L. JOHNSON, deceased, was for many years connected with agricultural interests in Berrien county and in this direc tion contributed in substantial measure to its development and material progress. He aided in making it what it is today — one of the rich agricultural and horticultural dis tricts of the state and his business methods and principles were based upon strict and unswerving integrity and unfaltering dili gence. The birth of Mr. Johnson occurred in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1823, and he came to Berrien county with his parents, Benjamin and Margaret (Murphy) John son, at an early age. Both his father and mother were natives of Maryland and be came pioneer residents of Berrien county, settling in St. Joseph, where they resided for two years. They then removed to a farm, upon which they spent their remaining ¦ days and were people of the highest re spectability. Mr. Johnson was the eldest of six chil dren and was reared to manhood in this county, acquiring a practical education in the common schools. He was trained, to farm work from early boyhood, and followed in the footsteps of his father, giving his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career. He married Miss Margaret J. Smith, a daughter of Joseph Smith, who was born in Ohio and was one of the first settlers of Berrien county, Michigan. He could speak the Indian language, which was a valuable ac complishment at that time, for there were large numbers of Pottawatomie Indians in the county in those early days. He did much trading with the Indians and his HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 607 knowledge of their tongue therefore proved very useful. He was but a small boy when he settled in Royalton township with his father, Major Timothy Smith, who was a veteran of the war of 18 12. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had no children of their own, but they reared and educated two boys, Eugene Barrows and Joseph F. Pearl, the latter a nephew of Mr. Johnson. He was on board the ill-fated steamer Chicora, which was lost on Lake Michigan in 1895. He was cross ing the lake as a passenger when in a terrible storm the steamer sank with all on board. They also raised a girl to womanhood who is married and living in Europe at the pres ent time. Subsequent to his marriage Mr. John son located on a farm of eighty acres which he had previously purchased. It was a tract of dense forest land, which he cleared after years of hard work. He also cleared an other tract of forty acres and in his business displayed unremitting diligence, push and perseverance. His methods were always practical as well as progressive and he trans formed his land into a very productive place, which annually yielded to him good crops and thus provided him with a comfortable living. In his political views Mr. Johnson was a Republican. He took a deep interest in the success of his party and in movements for the general good as well. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity of St. Joseph and also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He took an active interest in educational matters and did effective service for the cause of education while a member of the school board of his district. He was not connected in membership relations with any church, but was a liberal supporter of the Episcopal church, to which his wife be longs. He enjoyed the unqualified esteem of the entire community and though he lived a quiet and uneventful life his record was characterized by many sterling qualities that might well serve as a source of inspiration and emulation to others. He died in 1899 respected by all who knew him and many felt a sense of personal loss when he was called to his final rest. MISS RETTA HOLLETT is conduct ing one of the leading mercantile establish ments of Three Oaks. There is much written about "self-made men" and much credit is due them for what they accom plished, alone and unaided, but before them does not lie the obstacles and difficulties which a woman encounters in the business world, and the record of a successful busi ness woman is certainly worthy of the ad miration and respect of all. In the village of Three Oaks Miss Hollett has made for herself a most creditable position and achieved a measure of prosperity of which she has every reason to be proud. Her life record began on a farm north of Buchanan, in Berrien county, February 20, 1854. She is the eldest child of Amos and Mary C. (Cooper) Hollett. Her paternal grandparents removed from New York to Ohio at an early period in the development of the latter state, and Amos Hollett was there born. Coming to Michigan at a pioneer epoch in the history of Berrien coun ty, he resided here until his death, which occurred in 1875, when he was forty-nine years of age. His wife was born in Buch anan township-, and has spent her entire life in Berrien county, now making her home with her daughter Retta, at the age of sixty- nine years. Her people were among the first settlers of the county and aided in the early development and cultivation of this part of the state. In the family of Amos and Mary C. Hollett were seven children, three daugh ters and four sons, as follows: Retta; Michael, who was a farmer in this county and is nowMeceased ; Asa, a resident farmer of Three Oaks township; William, who has been employed by his sister Retta for the past fourteen years; Mary, deceased; Jay, who is engaged in farming in Chickaming township; and Anna, who died in infancy. Miss Hollett spent the first eight years of her life on the old family homestead, and then removed with her parents to a farm six miles northeast of Three Oaks, where her girlhood days were passed and her educa tion acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood. She came to the village of Three Oaks twenty-eight years ago and 6o8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY learned the milliner's trade, after which she engaged in clerking for E. K. Warren for about six years. She then resolved to en gage in business on her own account and opened a millinery and dry goods store on a small scale in Galien, which she con ducted for about fifteen months, when she sold out. She then returned to Three Oaks and was employed as a clerk by Chamber lain, Warren & Hatfield for four or five years, when she purchased an interest in the business, becoming a partner in the firm of Chamberlain, Hollett & Bradley, which con nection was continued for a year. For a short time the firm was afterward Hollett & Bradley, after which Miss Hollett pur chased her partner's interest, took the stock and conducted the business under her own name. She has been sole proprietor for the past fourteen years — years marked by continual growth and prosperity in business. When she took the old stock she went into debt for about ten thousand dollars. She had a single store room, but now she oc cupies two large double stores, two- stories in height, and employs five clerks through out the year. The stores are adjoining and have connecting doorways. One store is devoted to furniture, carpets, millinery, etc., and the other to dry goods, boots and shoes. She carries a large stock, carefully selected and many a town of larger size would re gard this as a most creditable mercantile en terprise. Miss Hollett seems to possess natural ability as a merchant. When a child her chief amusement was to "play store," and from early womanhood she has been connected with trade interests, con stantly enlarging the field of her activities until today one of the leading mercantile en terprises of Three Oaks stands as a monu ment to her enterprise, business ability and force of character. She carefully studies trade conditions and notes the signs of the times in the business world, keeps a thor oughly modern stock, and through her earnest effort to please her customers and her straightforward business methods and reasonable prices she has gained a volume of business which makes her establishment a leading commercial enterprise of the town. She is a member of the Congregational church and is most widely known in this part of the county, where she has many warm friends. She is in fact very popular, her social qualities as well as her business characteristics winning her very favorable regard. ¦R. CLARKE ALLEN, M. D., is one of the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in St. Joseph but his years do not seem a bar to his progress nor success for he has already attained a position in the ranks of the medical fraternity that many an older practitioner might well envy and it does not require the gift of prophecy to enable one to predict a successful future for him. He was born in Breckinridge, Mis souri, in 1878, and is a son of the Rev. James Allen, who was born in England and came to America at an early age, acquiring his education in the schools of the east. De termining to devote his life to the active work of the ministry he became a Methodist clergyman and has always followed his holy calling, being now pastor of the church in Centerville, Michigan, where he has labored zealously for the belief which he entertains. He married Miss Minnie Clarke, a native of Canada, who died on the 14th of February, 1894, in northern Michigan, when forty- five years of age. By their marriage had been born four children, of whom Dr. Allen is the youngest. One has now passed away and the other surviving members of the family are: Mrs. S. W. Rose, who is liv ing in St. Joseph; Rittenhouse and Mrs. Charles Rittenhouse, whose home is in De troit, Michigan. In his early boyhood days Dr. Allen ac companied his parents on their removal from Missouri to Michigan and acquired his pre liminary education in the schools of Traverse City. His father in accordance with the cus tom of the Methodist church was stationed at different points in pastoral work and thus Dr. Allen's education was not pursued con secutively in one place. He attended school for a time in Detroit and then having the determination to enter upon the practice of medicine as a life work he began prepara tion for this calling as a student in the De troit Medical College, from which he was HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 609 graduated in the class of 1904. 'Immediately afterward he went to Harbor Springs, Mich igan, but in the fall of that year came to St. Joseph. It seems that he has made no mis take in his choice of a location, for he has succeeded to the practice of Dr. D. N. Bar rett here aud has met with most flattering success during the short period of his resi dence in Berrien county. He engages in gen eral practice, and is thoroughly conversant with modern methods employed by the mem bers of the medical fraternity. He is now serving as health officer and city physician of St. Joseph and he is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and the Na tional Medical Association. At the present writing he is serving as vice president and general secretary of the Berrien County Medical Society. He has won the favorable regard of his brethren of the fraternity and his ability in his chosen calling has been put to the test in many difficult cases, in which he has rendered a correct diagnosis and fol lowed methods that led to the result which the physician is always striving to attain — the restoration of health. Dr. Allen belongs to the F. & A. M., Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a popular young man, whose unfailing courtesy, genialty and deference for the opinions of others have gained him favorable regard and his circle of friends is constantly increasing. REV. DENNIS OWEN MULCAHY, priest of St. John's Catholic Church at Ben ton Harbor, was born in Kingston, New York, March 4, 1856, a son of James and Margaret (Manning) Mulcahy, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former born at White Church, County Cork, and the latter at Skibbereen, in the same county. James Mulcahy came to America in 1849 m company with a brother of the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She crossed the Atlantic in 1852 and though they had been born and reared almost neighbors they had never met until they became acquainted in the new world, their marriage being cele brated in Kingston, New York. After reaching this country James Mulcahy and his companion worked in the stone quarries 39 at Kingston and the former became an ex pert workman, commanding large wages. He saved his money and afterward came west with his brother Thomas, settling at Hazelton, Shiawassee county, Michigan, where both purchased farms. James Mul cahy then turned his attention to the im provement of his land, which he continued to cultivate and develop up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1885 when he was fifty-eight years of age. His wife died in 1890 at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were ten children, who reached adult age. Rev. Mulcahy, the only member of the family now living in Berrien county, was reared to manhood in Shiawassee county, Michigan, and pursued his early education in the district schools, while later he- at tended the high school at Flint, this state, being graduated therefrom in the class of 1879. He afterward entered the Sandwich Assumption College at Ontario, Canada, where he remained for six years or until his graduation in 1885. He then continued his studies in St. Mary's Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland, and afterward completed his course at Mount St. Mary's at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he finished his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on the 9th of March, 1900, at St. Alberta's Church at Detroit, Michigan, by the Right Rev. John S. Foley, now bishop of that dio cese. Rev. Mulcahy, following his ordination, went as assistant to the Very Rev. Dean O. Brian of St. Augustus Church at Kalama zoo, Michj^an, and later was appointed to take charge of St. Agatha's Church at Gage- town, Huron county, Michigan, in June, 1 89 1. After remaining at that place for thirteen months the bishop promoted him to the charge of St. Mary's Church at Paw Paw, Michigan, and he remained there from 1892 until October 1, 1895, when on account of his successful efforts and ability he was transferred to Benton Harbor, Michigan, to take charge of St. John's Catholic Church in this place. The church was heavily in debt and otherwise hampered in its work, but the earnest and untiring labors of Father Mulcahy have cleared the church of all in- 6io HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY debtedness and it is now in splendid finan cial condition. It's different societies are in good working order and St. John's Catholic Church is now a potent influence in the moral development of the community. Father Mulcahy is highly esteemed by his parishioners, who have aided him willingly and cheerfully in his struggle to put the church where it is today and he is esteemed as well by all the citizens of Benton Harbor of other denominations with whom he has come in contact. Through his efforts the church has acquired ten acres of land, which has been converted into what is now known as Calvary cemetery. His zeal and conse cration in his work and his untiring efforts have been productive of much good and he is one of the strong representatives of the Catholic church in southwestern Michigan. GEORGE F. SONNER was born in Ohio in 1837, his parents being William and Annie (Caley) Sonner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter, of Ohio. The father removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio at an early date in its development and improvement and in the schools of that state his son, George F. Sonner, acquired his preliminary education, which was supple mented by further study at the South Salem (Ohio), Academy. Subsequent to the war he continued his education in Washington- Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, but in the meantime all personal considerations had been put aside that he might aid his, country in her dark hour of peril. He enlisted: in 1 86 1 in the Sixtieth Ohio Infantry as the first sergeant of Company A, joining the army for a year, and on the expiration of that period he re-enlisted in the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, in which he was made second lieutenant. Thirty days later he was promoted to the rank of captain and so continued until the close of the war. Dur ing the first year of his connection with the Union army he was in the Shenandoah val ley of Virginia and drove the rebel General Jackson and his army nearly to Richmond, Virginia, but he escaped at the battle of Cross Keys, and by way of Richmond joined Lee's army at Antietam and took prisoners later the troops at Harper's Ferry, to which place they returned before battle at An tietam. He was mustered out of the Sixtieth at Columbus, Ohio, following the cessation of hostilities. At the time of the assassina tion of President Lincoln he was stationed at Fort Saunders at Knoxville, . Tennessee, where he fired the national salute as a mili tary token of respect and honor to the martyred president. On his return from the war, Captain Sonner located in Highland county, Ohio, where he secured the position of station agent at Linden, also having charge of the express business there. He was likewise postmaster of the town and remained there for some time, after which he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was en gaged in business as a wholesale and retail grocery merchant until April, 1875. In that year he came to Benton Harbor and ac cepted a position of bookkeeper for the Ing ham & Leslie Company (later was and is the Colby-Hinkley Company), with whom he continued for a year. On the expiration of that period he purchased the store of Eugene Hipp and entered into partnership as a member of the firm of Pitcher, Jones & Sonner. While continuing his interests in that store he became an Indian trader and went west to the Black Hills district, where he continued in business for four years, meet ing with many trials and unusual experi ences during his residence in the northwest* On his return to Benton Harbor he, in com pany with Mr. Jones bought the interest of Mr. Pitcher. The firm then became Jones & Sonner. The firm had been very successful and Captain Sonner had also prospered in his undertakings in the Black Hills district. Later he bought what is now the Jones and Sonner block at the corner of Main and Pipestone streets. He also owns much other real estate, having made judicious invest ment in realty and is one of the prosperous and influential citizens of Benton Harbor. Mr. Sonner is deeply interested in church affairs and is a liberal supporter of charita ble and benevolent movements. He belongs to the Congregational church, in which he is serving as a trustee and has been superin- J?>& fajLtly HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 611 tendent of the Sunday school for many years. He is president of the public library board and vice-president of the new hospital to which he gave $5,000 in 1901, mak ing the hospital a success in construction, and the people give Captain Sonner credit ibr making it (the new hospital) possible, as the old board tried hard for years to get it, the old hospital being much too small. In politics he is a Republican. JAMES JAKWAY, who is filling the office of supervisor of Benton township and is well known as a fruit grower of Berrien county, makes his home about six miles southeast of the city of Benton Harbor, where he has valuable and well improved property. He was born in the house where he now lives, his natal day being May 20, 1863. His parents were James H. and Mary (Pearl) Jakway, the latter a sister of Major Lewis and Warren Pearl. The paternal grandfather, Stephen Jakway, was a native of Onondaga county, New York, the old home of the family being at the head of Skaneateles lake. On leaving the Empire State he came direct to Michigan, arriving in Berrien county about the same time the Pearl family was established here. His son James H. Jakway was at that time a youth of about sixteen years. The family home was established in the village of Millburg on the territorial road and comprised the prop erty now owned by Mrs. Hoag. At one time the farm was owned by Elmer Jakway, an older brother of James H. Jakway. The grandfather, Stephen Jakway, invested quite largely in lands, making judicious purchases from time to time, his possessions including the present home farm of our subject. He was closely associated with the early develop ment and progress of the county and con tributed to the substantial improvement, which has constituted a safe foundation upon which to build the present progress and pros perity of this part of the state. In addi tion to his son previously mentioned there were others in the family. William, one of the number, is now living at New Carlisle, Indiana. Stephen and Thomas both went to California during the excitement over the dis covery of gold there. Elmer was noted as a money-maker. He had various interests, in cluding mills and lands and it seemed that everything he touched or became interested in prospered. In addition to his agricultural and industrial interests in Berrien county he also owned sailing vessels with yards in Chicago. His enterprise, activity and busi ness discernment proved an important factor in the material prosperity of the county as well as his individual success. During his later years he lived in Benton Harbor and in his old age he was blind. None of his sons are now living in Berrien county. James H. Jakway, father of our subject, spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Empire State and then came with his par ents to Michigan. In early manhood he wedded Miss Mary Pearl, a daughter of Phineas Pearl, who was the first settler of the southeastern part of Benton township and the head of the Pearl family in the county. He, too, was prominent and influential in community affairs and he acted as agent for lands of non-resident citizens. James H. Jakway received a tract of land from his father. In early life he had been engaged in the sawmill business, operating for others and later he had a mill of his own on Blue creek. He likewise operated the mill belong ing to Warren Pearl in the same vicinity and be cut the timber from his own farm, including some of the best white wood lum ber ever grown. For many years he was thus associated in the lumber industry of Michi gan and in the meantime he cleared and im proved his own farm. The present house erected in 1861 was built by timber cut by himself*on his own place and the old barn was constructed of similar lumber. The old Pearl schoolhouse built of white wood planks is still in use, being a tenement house upon the Jakway farm. It was in this house that James Jakway of this review attended school. This is made of hewed white wood logs with a solid frame and is one of the pioneer structures that still remains as a mute wit ness of the great changes which have oc curred from the era of development down to the present time. The farm of James H. Jakway comprised one hundred acres which 6l2 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he placed under a good state of cultivation, carrying on his agricultural interests in addi tion to his milling business. He was likewise prominent and influential in community af fairs and took an active and helpful part in promoting the welfare and development of his township. His early political allegiance was given to the Republican party, while later he joined the ranks of the Greenback party and he frequently attended county con ventions. He was one of the early members of the Grange and he likewise held mem bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Spinks Corners. He was twice married, his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Pearl, dying when her son James, their youngest child, was but four years of age. There were several children by that mar riage. For his second wife James H. Jakway chose Mrs. Olive Crossman nee Taylor, who was a war widow, her first husband having given his life for the Union cause in the Civil war. There was one child born of the sec ond marriage. James Jakway was reared upon the old homestead farm and supplemented his early educational privileges by study in the State Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan. He obtained his father's consent to enter that institution and therefore worked out by the month as a farm hand in the summer, spending the winter season in the lumber woods so that in the succeeding spring he might be enabled to pursue his collegiate course. He devoted three years to study at Lansing and during that time spent a short time each year in teaching. He paid his own way in college and the elemental strength of his character was shown in this way. After three years he went to California, where he remained, however, for less than a year. He then returned home to aid his father and resumed the profession of teach ing in Berrien county, which he followed for about twelve years, spending about eight months each year in this way. His educa tional work was done principally in Berrien and in Van Buren counties and for a time he was connected with the graded schools at Kendall, Michigan, where his wife was his assistant. Mr. Jackway wedded Miss Nettie Clos son, who was educated in Benton Harbor and is a daughter of George W. Closson, a real-estate dealer of that city. She taught both before and after her marriage and was a capable educator. After following the teacher's profession for twelve years Mr. Jakway returned to the farm. While teach ing he had spent some time in a commissioa house and had also spent two years upon. the road buying fruit. He purchased the old' homestead property of his father, later set tling with the heirs, and he now owns one- hundred and four acres of rich and pro ductive land in the home place and ninety acres on Paw Paw river, which he has im proved. This is a hay and grain farm, while the home property is devoted to horticul tural pursuits. While he raises all kinds. of fruit he makes a specialty of peaches and berries, having fifty acres planted to peaches- and twelve acres to berries. His pear orchard also covers twenty acres and the fruit shipped' from his farm is of fine size and quality.. His land slopes well to the south, with ample elevation and a few acres are retained as a sugar bush. The gross sales of his fruit- amount from six to seven thousands dollars- annually and the actual expense of produc tion and shipment are about one-half of that sum, so that he is now conducting a pros perous business. He is thoroughly con versant with the best methods of produch%- fine fruit and his is one of the farms which contribute to the splendid reputation which Berrien county bears as the center of the- f ruit belt of Michigan. On the 9th of July, 1888, Mr. Jakway was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Clos son, and unto them have been born two daughters, Clara and Beatrice. The home is_- pleasantly located about six miles southeast of Benton Harbor and theirs is one of the- desirable country residences of the county. In his social affiliation Mr. Jakway is a Mason and is also connected with the Odd" Fellows and with the Grange. In his politi cal views he is a Democrat, and is now serv ing for the fourth year as township super visor in a strong Republican township- There are about seven hundred Republican? HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 613 -voters in the township and about one hun dred and fifty Democrat voters, but the per sonal regard entertained for Mr. Jakway and the trust reposed in his loyalty and fidel ity in citizenship have been the source of his retention in an office which he is most cap ably filling. His plan has been to scale the -valuation on a fair percentage. He is the first Democratic supervisor of his township since the war. The board is evenly divided, there being sixteen Democrats and sixteen Republicans. His policy has resulted in a reduction of percentage of taxation, making a saving of fourten hundred dollars in state and county taxation for one year in Benton township. He brings to his public duties the same keen discrimination and business sagacity which are manifest in the control of his private interests, and that the value of his public service is recognized is shown by that fact that he is now serving for the fourth year in the office of supervisor. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his efforts as to win signal success in business and the uniform regard of his fellowmen. WILLIAM HENRY SEITZ, a pro duce commission merchant of Benton Har bor, is a native son of the middle west whose life-record is typical of the pro gress and rapid development which has ever characterized this section of the country. He was born in Dupage county, Illinois, on the 19th of September, 1854, and is a son of John William Seitz. As the name indicates, the family is of German lineage and the father was born in Baden, Germany, in 181 9. Ambitious to improve his condition and enjoy better op portunities than were afforded in the old world, Mr. Seitz came to America alone when a youth of seventeen years, settling first in Pennsylvania, where for a time he worked at anything that he could find to do. Realizing the value of skilled labor he afterward learned the carpenter's trade in Pennsylvania and followed that pursuit as a journeyman in the Keystone state until his marriage, which occurred in 1845. He then made his way westward to Illinois, lo cating in Dupage county, where he carried on carpentering until his labor had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to pur chase a farm. He accordingly invested in land in- Dupage county and continued its improvement until 1855, when he returned to Pennsylvania, spending the succeeding thirteen years in that state. He afterward went again to Illinois, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he had reached the advanced age of eighty- six years. He married Miss Caroline Schuster, who was born in Alsace province, in France, now a part of Germany and with her parents came to America when fifteen years of age, the family settling in Penn sylvania and after her marriage her parents came with Mr. and Mrs. Seitz to the mid dle west. Mrs. Seitz died at the venerable age of seventy-nine years, about one year prior to her husband's demise. In their family were three children, one of whom has now passed away. The living are: Charles, a resident of Dupage county, Illi nois; and William H., of this review. Upon the home farm in his native county William Henry Seitz spent much of his boyhood and youth. He attended school for a short time in Pennsylvania and after returning to Illinois with his parents in 1868 he again became a public school student. The periods of vacation were de voted to farm labor and he was thus en gaged until twenty years of age, when he began learning the trade of cheese-making in Illinois. He was thus employed for two years, at tfee end of which time he accepted a position as manager for a cheese and but ter factory at Barber's Corner, in Will county, Illinois, while later he was at Lock- port, Illinois, where he continued for three years. About that time Mr. Seitz was married, in 1879, to Miss Mary A. Smoke, who was born in Royalton township, Berrien county, Michigan, a daughter of Isaac W. Smoke, one of the early settlers of this locality, coming from eastern Ohio to the Wolver ine state. Following his marriage Mr. Seitz made his home in Illinois until the 6r4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY fall of 1 88 1, when he removed to Michigan and purchased the old homestead of his father-in-law at Royalton. In the follow ing spring he built a cheese factory, which he operated for two years. He then re moved to Pipestone township, where he es tablished a creamery and conducted both the cheese factory at Royalton and the creamery in Pipestone township for a year. On the expiration of that period he sold the former and the following year disposed of his creamery. He then removed to Benton Harbor, where he became a wholesale dealer in butter and cheese, securing the products which he handled from the creamery and cheese factory, of which he had formerly been proprietor. A year later, because of the failure of the party to whom he had sold, to successfully conduct the creamery he returned to Pipestone town ship and again took charge of the plant there. While thus engaged he went to Stockton, Minnesota, where he erected a creamery, which he operated for two years, when he disposed of the business to his brother-in-law. Later he gave up the cheese factory and concentrated his energies upon the cultivation of peaches upon his farm at Royalton. In 1897 he once more came to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in the produce commission business under the firm name of Brown & Seitz, which connec tion was continued for a year, when Mr. Seitz purchased Mr. Brown's interest and later sold a half interest to Eugene Roninger, the firm becoming Seitz & Roninger, which continued for three years. They then consolidated with the firm of Butzbach & Schaus, who were engaged in the same busi ness. Later Mr. Schaus became a member of the firm and the produce commission business has since been controlled by the firm Seitz, Schaus & Roninger. This is the leading commission house of the kind and the business is now extensive and profitable. Mr. Seitz is not only progressive and energetic in business affairs but also, in his connection with community interests as well. He has represented the second ward on the board of city aldermen for two terms. He was master of the Berrien County Grange for two terms and a member of the Farm ers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he served as director for three years. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party. He is very prominent in fraternal circles, being a val ued representative of various organizations. He belongs to- Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Ladies Court of the Eastern Star at Benton Harbor. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble grand, is pre late of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is also connected with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Elks. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seitz have been born four children; Millard A. and Maurice W., both born in Illinois; Elsie C, whose birth occurred in Royalton township, Berrien county; and Mabel N., also born upon the farm. The sons are both graduates of the University of Michigan and now practic ing law. Mrs. Seitz died in Benton Harbor May 21, 1903, and June 30, 1905, Mr. Seitz was united in marriage to Mrs. B. O. Johnson, of Benton Harbor. The family have a pleasant home and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in so cial circles. That he has achieved success in a comparatively short space of time is due to unremitting diligence and close ap plication. He has been neglectful of no de tail of his business but has used his talents and energies to the best of his ability and as the years have gone by has made steady progress until he is today at the head of the leading produce commission business of Benton Harbor. JOHN M. ALLMENDINGER. A record of unremitting business activity and reliability entitles John M. Allmendinger to the confidence which is uniformly accorded him by the public in business matters and his unfaltering diligence has been the source of well-merited success. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, June 3, 1845, a son of John M. and Mary M. (Frank) Allmendinger, both of whom were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 6i5 which country they were reared and mar ried. They crossed the Atlantic about 1845, settling in Montgomery county, New York and later removed to Little Falls, Herkimer county. The father was a contractor and also had a stone quarry. John M. Allmendinger was reared at Little Falls, receiving his education in the public schools there and Little Falls Acad emy. When quite young he started out to earn his own living and in 1867, when twenty-two years of age, he came to Berrien county, Michigan, where he taught school for one winter. Later he began contract ing in pile driving and built the foundation for the life saving station at St. Joseph and warehouse and docks for E. A. Graham. He has built all the docks at St. Joseph and Benton Harbor since 1867 with the single exception of a portion of the Big Four dock. He also took a contract for dredging for the Vandalia Railroad. He has done most of the pile driving on the docks of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and also drove the piles for the foundation for the old iron bridge at Niles for the city of Niles and for the bridge between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, and for the Napier bridge. He went to Texas to work on the construction of a railroad there, but on account of ill health remained for only two months in the south, after which he returned and re sumed his former business here. He has built many bridges for the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, now part of the Pere Marquette system and has continued in the business successfully up to the present time. In connection with Martin Green, under whose direction he learned the business of pile driving, he built the schooner Cora, which he sailed for a short time. Later they built the J. M. Allmendinger, a steam lumber barge, which they used in carrying freight on the lakes, finding this a success ful business. Throughout his active career Mr. Allmendinger has made steady ad vancement and is held in high esteem for his reliability, his promptness in the execu tion of all contracts and his fidelity to the spirit as well as to the letter of the law in all of his business transactions. In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Allmendinger and Miss Rosanna Farnum, of Benton Harbor, who died in 1874. Ten years later, on the 9th of January, 1884, he wedded Georgiana Hamlin, a daughter of Almanza and Laura (Brunson) Hamlin. They have two children, John M. and Vere H., aged respectively twenty and eighteen years and both natives of Benton Harbor. In his political views Mr. Allmendinger is a Republican, active in support of the party and well informed concerning the questions and issues which divide the two great political organizations of the country. He was trustee of Benton Harbor for six years, also harbor master for two years and alderman of the third ward for one year, serving as a member of the first board of aldermen at the time of the incorporation , of the city. He is a public-spirited man in the fullest sense of that term, willing to assist in any enterprise for the betterment of Benton Harbor and its interests. He belongs to Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M., Calvin Brittain Chapter, No. 72, R. A. M., of St. Joseph and Malta Commandery, No. 44, K. T. of Benton Harbor. He has thus attained high rank in Masonry and is a worthy exemplar of ' the craft. He attends the Congregational church of which his wife is a member. His record is that of a man who by his unaided efforts has worked his way upward to a position of affluence. His life has been one of industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed have won him the respect and confidence of many. Without the aid of influence or wealth he has risen to a position among the prominent resi- , dents of this part of the state and his native genius and acquired ability are the stepping- stones on which he mounted. ANDREW KRAMER, who is engaged in merchandising in St. Joseph and the junior member of the firm of Kramer & Kramer, dealers in hardware and also con ducting a sheet metal and roofing business, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1873. , His father, J. H. Anthony Kramer, is r6io HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY among the men of foreign birth who have sought in the broader opportunities of the new world the advantages denied them in their own countries and have found here opportunity for advancement in recognition of ability and enterprise. He was born in Prussia, Germany, January 12, 1850, and when but three years of age lost his father, after which he came with his mother to the new world. They settled first in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his boyhood days were passed and he attained his majority. He learned in early manhood the trade of a tinner which he followed at different places as a journeyman in working in Indiana and Michigan until he came to St. Joseph in 1899. Here he was again employed at journeyman labor until February, 1903, when he was joined by his son, Andrew Kramer, in the formation of the present partnership of the firm of Kramer & Kramer and today this is one of the strong business houses of this city. He married Miss Katherine Ehram, who was born in Ohio and they now have four children, Andrew, Otto, Eleanore and Clara. Andrew Kramer spent the first six years of his life in his native city and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Reading, Michigan, remaining at home there for six or seven years. He next went to Coldwater, Branch county, Michigan, where he acquired much of his. education. He has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and he early came to a realization of the fact that labor is the basis of all desirable and honorable success. He first began earning his livelihood by working as a clerk in a hardware store in Coldwater, where he was employed until 1892, when he began clerking for E. F. Piatt at St. Joseph, Michigan. Thus he was again connected with the hardware business and he occupied that position until 1903, when, as before stated, he joined his father in the establishment of a business, which has since been attended with a grati fying measure of success. Both are able workmen, thoroughly familiar with the trade and now in addition to handling a large and well selected line of shelf and heavy hardware they do sheet metal work of all kinds, gravel roofing and cornices. They have secured a good business in the three years of their connection with indus trial and commercial interests in St. Joseph and are recognized as enterprising mer chants, thoroughly trustworthy in their dealings and conducting their store along lines of modern progress. In 1896 occurred the marriage of An drew Kramer and Miss Mary L. Freund, a daughter of William and Barbara Freund, of St. Joseph, in which city the wedding was celebrated. They now have three children, Elsie, Mildred and Andrew. Mr. Kramer votes with the Republican party and he is connected with Eagles, the Elks and the woodmen. The family attend the German Lutheran church of St. Joseph and have won many friends during their residence here. The prominent characteristics of Mr. Kramer were manifest in the energetic man ner in which he entered business life. De termination, self-reliance and undaunted per severance are found to be salient elements in his career in an analyzation of his work. He is popular and his friends and acquaint ances honor him for his virtues and genu ine worth. JOHN VINCENT STARR, an archi tect of St. Joseph, whose skill and talent in the line of his profession have contributed in substantial measure to the improvement and beauty of the city, is also well known in connection with public affairs here and in office has given proof of loyal and public- spirited citizenship. He was born in Green- castle, Indiana, in 1857, and is a son of Isaiah Starr, who was born in Union county, Indiana, and died in 1903 at the age of seventy-two- years. His life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he care fully conducted business affairs, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding modern improvements to his proper ty. He married Elizabeth Crabb, who was born in Indiana and died in 1904 at the age of seventy-one years. In their family were seven sons and five of the number are now living. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 617 John Vincent Starr, the eldest surviving member, is the only one who resides in Ber rien county, his brothers being residents of Missouri. He was reared upon the old home farm in his native state and at the usual age became a student in the district schools, wherein he mastered the common branches of English learning. He after ward attended the Danville Normal School and the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, being thus well equipped by thorough training for life's practical and re sponsible duties. At the age of twenty-one years he started out in life on his own ac count and went to the west, where he fol lowed carpentering, at the same time devot ing his leisure hours to the study of archi tecture. He worked in many western cities at his trade and as time passed became more proficient in the profession to which he now gives much of his attention. In 1891 he came to St. Joseph, where he carried on business as an architect and builder until 1895, when he retired altogether from active building operations and has since given his entire attention to the profession of archi tecture. He prepared plans for the present Masonic Temple in St. Joseph and also in Benton Harbor and for many other public buildings and private residences throughout the county. He has also done work in Texas and other states and has been very successful, being recognized as an able rep resentative of his calling. He is thoroughly conversant with the great scientific princi ples which underlie his work and at the same time possesses an artistic nature which enables him to- produce attractive results combined with utility — which is the secret of every home noted for its beauty and com fort. The public buildings which he has planned are often regarded as an adornment to the localities in which they are situated and various evidences of the skill of Mr. Starr are now found in 'Berrien county. In his political views Mr. Starr is an earnest Democrat. He has made a close study of the questions and issues of the day and is in hearty sympathy with the princi ples of the party which he supports by his ballot. He has also been recognized as a leader in its' local ranks and his prominence in the public life of St. Joseph is indicated by the fact that he has four times been chosen as chief executive of the city, to which he has given a public-spirited and progressive administration, manifesting in the discharge of his official duties the same keen discrimination and close application which have characterized his private busi ness affairs. He was first chosen mayor in 1896, was re-elected in 1897, again in 1898 and then after an interval of several terms was once more chosen for the office in 1903. He has been identified with many of the improvements of St. Joseph, both in an official and business way. Socially he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Starr was married in 1883 in Greencastle, Indiana, to Cordelia Reeves of that city and they had two children, Lulu and Edgar L., both of whom were born in Nebraska, where Mr. Starr was making his home at the time of their birth. The daugh ter is the wife of C. W. Harger, of Niles, Michigan. In 1899, in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Starr wedded Nettie M. Fosdick, a native of Michigan and they have a wide and favorable acquaintance in St. Joseph, the hospitality of many of the best homes being cordially extended to them. Mr. Starr is a man of strong and earnest pur pose, stalwart in the support of his honest opinions and in his official life as well as his business career has made a creditable record, havfng the full confidence of his fel low townsmen who have active appreciation for his earnest and beneficial efforts in be half of the city. EDWARD J. WITT, M. D., physician and surgeon of St. Joseph, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the nth of August, 1870, and acquired his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and of his native city. He spent his boy hood days in Milwaukee and followed the acquirement of his literary education by preparation for the practice of medicine and 6i8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY surgery, becoming a student in the Rush Medical College of Chicago*, while for a time he was also- with Dr. Frank Allport of that city, who was his preceptor before he entered upon his collegiate work. He began the active practice of his chosen calling in Chicago, but remained there for only a short time, after which he removed to Mich igan, locating at Baroda, where he spent one year. In 1898 he came to St. Joseph and has practiced here with much success for the last eight years, having enjoyed a large patronage. He is well qualified in both branches of the profession, being suc cessful as a surgeon as well as a physician and in his work he has demonstrated his power to successfully cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the practitioner. He is a member of the Ber rien County Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society and American Medi cal Association, and thus he keeps in touch with the trend of thought and investigation of the medical fraternity. In Chicago, in 1897, Dr. Witt was united in marriage to Miss Christina H. MacKenzie, who was born in Tuscola, Illi nois. They now have two> children, Ed ward Donald and Doris, both of whom were born in St. Joseph. Dr. and Mrs. Witt are members of the Congregational church and he is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons at St. Joseph and also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Woodmen of America. He is independent in his political views but in community interests takes an active and helpful part and at the present time is serving as a member of the school board of St. Joseph. Matters pertaining to the public welfare elicit his deep and earnest attention and, his aid can be counted upon as a co-operant factor for the public good. His excellent preparation for his profession makes him thoroughly reliable in the most difficult cases and under the most trying circumstances. He is very careful in diag nosis and in his practice gives evidence, rea lizing fully the obligations that devolve up on him in connection with his chosen field of labor. It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the family history of Dr. Witt, who comes of German lineage. His father, Charles Witt, a native of Ger many, is still living and now makes his home in Chicago. He crossed the Atlantic to America about 1865 and settled in the western metropolis. Being a carpenter by trade, he became connected with building operations in Chicago and afterward in Mil waukee, engaged in both places as a con tractor. Later he settled in Chicago and for many years was connected with the con structional work of the public schools of the city and in various institutions of that char acter are now seen evidences of his skill. In more recent years - he has retired from active business and is now enjoying well earned rest. He married Miss Anna Selau, also- a native of Germany and now living with her husband in Chicago. She came to America one year after his arrival and their marriage was celebrated in this country, al though their troth was plighted before he left the fatherland. In their family were six children; Edward J.; Elizabeth, the wife of E. S. Hurst, a resident of Chicago ; Anna, the wife of John J. Shayer, also of Chicago; Emma, the wife of George Mackey, likewise of that city; and Charles and Alfred, both of Chicago. LEWIS SUTHERLAND, of Benton Harbor, a retired farmer and horticulturist, dates his residence in Michigan from 1836 and in Berrien county from 1840. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at that time. Only at rare intervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. The forests were uncut and in their midst roamed various kinds of wild animals. There were also herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game. The rivers were unbridged and only here and there had a road been cut through the forest. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since that time, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forests, but finds in its place well cultivated orchards Olla&clcL- Cc ^u^j^ic^^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 619 bearing their fruit in season and proving a vast source of revenue to the county. Mr. Sutherland, who is now retired after many years of active connection with busi ness interests, was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, on the 28th of February, 1 83 1, his parents being Lot and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire State. He came to Mich igan in 1836, settling at Kalamazoo, where he lived for four years, after which he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed the occupation of farming up to the time of bis death, which occurred in 1873. His wife, however, had passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father had reared his family of eight children, three of whom are now living. His political support was given to the Democracy, but he was never active in politics. Lewis Sutherland is familiar with all of the pioneer experiences of Berrien county, living here when this district was a frontier region. He attended the first school of Bain bridge township, the "little temple of learn ing" being a log building. He can remember seeing a drove of twenty-five deer pass by the schoolhouse. The methods of instruc tion were as primitive as was the school building and its furnishings, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he assisted in the arduous task of developing the new fields and caring for the crops. Throughout his active business career he has carried on gen eral agricultural pursuits and fruit-raising. Early coming to a realization of the special adaptability of the county to horticulture he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable source of in come. He has performed the difficult task of clearing land, has turned the first furrows on many a field and as the years went by he reaped a good financial return for his labors, owing to the productiveness of the soil and his capable business methods. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1901 when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among his sons. In i860 he was married to Miss Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children : Sterling, a successful fruit grower of Benton township, who owns eighty acres of land; Darwin B., who is also engaged in horticultural pursuits, largely devoting his attention to the cultivation of peaches ; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township; Addie, who married Rodney C. Pearl, and two children who died in youth. While Mr. Sutherland is not actively con nected with any business enterprise at the present time he is yet a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 190-2 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor, be ing deeply interested in Masonry, having become a member of the craft in 1852. He has been most loyal to its teachings and tenets and both he and his wife are mem bers of the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs to the Universalist Church and has been a champion of many progressive pub lic movements. He has always been a warm friend of the cause of education and was instrumental in establishing some of the earlier schools of the county, while for many years he served as a school director and for three years was highway commissioner. His political allegiance has long been given to the Democracy. In the midst of an active life he has ever found opportunity to assist in any movement for the general welfare and his labors have been effective and far reach ing. ROLAND F. TABER, who is now practically living a retired life in Benton Harbor, was formerly closely identified with agricultural and horticultural interests. He is a native son of Berrien county, having been born in Bainbridge township in 1847. He represents an old family of New York. His grandfather, Jonathan Taber, was for many years a resident of the Empire state. 620 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY He there married Rebecca Thomas and in the latter part of the '30s came to Michigan, settling in Berrien county. Both he and his wife died in Sodus township, the former at the age of eighty-four years, the latter when eighty years of age. He was numbered among the defenders of the United States in the second war with England and was granted a pension in recognition of his ser vices, for which he also received a land war rant that he exchanged for a farm, but it is not known where the land was located. John T. Taber, son of Jonathan Taber and father of Roland F. Taber, was born in New York in 1812 and when a young man of twenty years made his way west ward to Chicago, Illinois, where he located in 1832. There he learned and followed the blacksmith's trade, but after about four or five years spent in that city came to Michigan, settling in Bainbridge township, Berrien county. There he purchased a farm and in connection with its cultivation he conducted a blacksmith shop for many years, erecting the first smithy in his town ship. He lived a life of industry and enter prise and was a respected resident of his community. In Chicago he had married Miss Ellen Foley, a relative of Bishop Foley, of Detroit, Michigan. Her death occurred in this county in 1848 when she was but thirty-two years of age, while Mr. Taber, long surviving her, reached the ad vanced age of eighty-four years, passing away in Sodus township. In their family were four children, -of whom Roland F. Taber is the youngest. His sister, Mrs. Mary E. Bowman, is the widow of Dr. John D. Bowman and resides in Benton Harbor. His two brothers, Foley J. and Adelbert R., were soldiers of the Civil war, the former enlisting as a private of Company K, Sec ond Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served throughout the period of hostilities. Adelbert R. Taber was a mem ber of Company K, Twelfth Michigan In fantry, but died at Niles, Michigan, while the regiment encamped before orders had been given to proceed to the front. Fol lowing the death of his first wife the father married Amanda Bragg and they had sev eral children, of whom two are living : Ella, now Mrs. Nathanson, a resident of San Francisco, California; and A. Rolla, now living in Texas. The mother of these chil dren died in Michigan at the age of sixty- five years. Roland F. Taber when but five years of age, his mother having died in the mean time, went to live in Benton township with an uncle, Jonas Inman, who was an early settler of that township. He was reared upon the uncle's farm and acquired his education in the district schools. Early in life he began farming on his own account and as his labor and careful management brought him capital he kept adding to the same until he had sufficient to purchase the old homestead. To this he added from time to time as his financial resources increased and in the earlier years of his residence there he carried on general farming, culti vating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, but later he directed his labors more largely to horticultural pursuits, plant ing peach and pear trees and all kinds of fruit. The soil and climate seemed especi ally adapted for this work and Mr. Taber was very prosperous. He also raised vege tables for the city markets. At the present time he owns forty acres of land, the greater part of which is planted to orchards. It lies in Benton township and is a very productive tract. About twelve years ago he removed to Benton Harbor in order to provide his children with better educational privileges, but he still gives personal supervision to the operation and improvement of his fruit farm in the summer months. Mr. Taber has held many offices of pub lic trust, his fellow townsmen recognizing his worth and ability and therefore calling him to such positions. He has been a mem ber of the school board for twenty-one years and has done effective service in advancing the interests of the cause of education. For eighteen years he has acted as school direc tor, for six years has been justice of the peace and for three terms commissioner of highways. In 1871, Mr. Taber was united in mar riage in Galesburg, Illinois, to Miss Melissa HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 621 E. Burridge, who was a native of Indiana and who died in February, 1905, at the age of fifty-three years when they had traveled life's journey together for more than a third of a century. They had two children: Roland B., now a successful practicing phy sician of Benton Harbor; and Lizzie M., the wife of James P. Kakebeeke, of Benton Harbor. Mr. Taber is a member of the Independ ent Order of Odd Fellows. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his labors as to win signal success through his undertakings. In all life's rela tions he has been found reliable and trust worthy and he commands the respect and good will of all who know him. REV. FATHER MICHAEL GEORGE ESPER, pastor of St. Joseph's Church at St. Joseph, Michigan, was born in Greenfield, Wayne county, this state, on the 19th of February, 1865, a son of Jacob and Katherine (Horger) Esper, the former a native of Germany, born in 1831, while the latter was a native of Detroit, Michigan, born in 1835. The father followed the oc cupation of farming as a means of liveli hood throughout his entire business career and died in Detroit on the 14th of May, 1905, while his wife passed away in that city September 21, 1882, at the age of forty- seven years. In their family were fourteen children, of whom seven are yet living: John, who makes his home in Detroit; Mary, the wife of Peter Theison, of that city; Michael George, and Peter, twins, the latter a priest of the church at Brown City, Michigan; Elizabeth, who is known as Sis ter Mary Michael and is located at Adrain, Michigan, belonging to the Dominican order ; Anthony, who is living in St. Joseph, where he is janitor of the church and who married Ella May Henn, of Brown City, Michigan; and George, who is a student at Sandwich, Canada, preparing for holy orders. Father Esper of this review was reared in his native city to the age of eighteen years and then supplemented his early edu cation by study in the St. Francis College at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He afterward went to Baltimore, Maryland, where he at tended St. Mary's Seminary and he com pleted his studies in Cincinnati, Ohio, at St. Mary's College, from which he was gradu ated with the class of 1894. In the same year he was ordained to the priesthood and after taking holy orders was stationed at Detroit, Michigan, as assistant priest at the Sacred Heart Church, where he remained for three years. He was afterward trans ferred to Croswell as pastor of St. Patrick's Church, where he labored earnestly for five years and in 1902 he came to St. Joseph, Michigan, taking charge of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at this place. When he located here the church was heavily in debt, having incurred financial obligations to the extent of five thousand dollars, but through his able financing, his consecrated efforts and his unfaltering de votion to the work which he undertook he has now discharged the indebtedness and has also made improvements to the church property to the value of nine thousand dol lars. The church has been organized in its different offices and societies and is doing an excellent work in the community, Father Esper taking a helpful part in advancing the temporal as well as spiritual interests of his parishioners. He is a broad-minded and public-spirited citizen as well and is con stantly alert for the best interests of his people and for the community at large. HENRY BURTON, a representative of agricultural* interests in Pipestone township but making his home in Benton Harbor, was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, in the year 1847. His father, James Bur ton, was a native of England and remained in that land until twenty-one years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. He followed farming in that portion of the country until about 1835, when he came to Terrecopee, Indiana, where he located upon a farm for a few years, thence to Michigan, establishing his home upon a farm bordering the St, Joseph river 622 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in Pipestone township. He purchased a tract of land in the midst of the green woods, near Hartman Station, becoming one of the early settlers of the locality. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place and he at once began to clear away the timber and prepare the fields for the plow. The arduous labor made his life a strenuous one, but he continued in his work until he had cleared and cultivated eighty acres of land, which is still in possession of the family. He bore all the. hardships and trials usually incident to life on the frontier. There were no roads through the forests at that time and wild animals were frequently seen, while various kinds of game could be had in abundance. There were pleasures too that are unknown at the present time and these proved a welcome alternative to the hard labor of the farm, which came as new land was transformed from its primitive condition into richly cultivated fields. He wedded Miss Mary Patterson, who was born in the same neighborhood in England in which her husband's birth occurred. Both have now passed away, Mr. Burton's death having occurred on the old homestead in Pipestone township in 1857 when he was fifty-seven years of age, while his wife died in the same township in 1877 at the age of sixty-three years, having survived him for two decades. They were the parents of nine children, but only four are now living: William, a resident of Benton Harbor; Henry and Jane, twins, the latter the wife of T. W. Jones, a resident of Eau Claire, Ber rien county; and Edwin, who is living on the old homestead. One son, the Rev. Rob ert Patterson Burton, attended the North eastern Normal School at Valparaiso, In diana, and afterward the United Brethren Seminary at Dayton, Ohio, where he pre pared for the active work of the ministry, to which he devoted his life for thirty years, preaching the gospel according to the teach ings of the United Brethren church. He spent much of his time in Indiana and was very active and earnest in his holy calling, his influence being a potent element in the moral development of every community in which he resided. He died November 23, 1903, at the age of fifty-two years and his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and who gave him their respect and love because of his up right life and helpful work. He married Sarah Thomas, who still survives him and they had three children : Lenore, Mabel and Blanche. Henry Burton, whose name introduces this record, was reared upon the old fam ily homestead in Pipestone township and attended the district schools. Early in life, he, too, entered the ministry and for eight years was pastor of the Christian church in Plattsville, Wisconsin. He also engaged in preaching the gospel at Georgetown, Wis consin, and at Benton Harbor. At length retiring from the ministry, he is now giving his attention to the supervision of a farm in Pipestone township, at Hartman, his early experience at farm labor well acquainting him with the work and thoroughly equipping him for the practical and successful man agement of his agricultural interests. In 1875, in Ohio, Mr. Burton was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. McHenry, a native of the Buckeye state. They have no children of their own, but have adopted a son, Willie A. Mr. Burton formerly gave his political adherence to the Republican party, but believing the temperance question with all its attendant considerations to be the most important issue before the people he now gives his ballot to the Prohibition party. He stands for all that is just, true and right between man and his fellowmen and his entire life has been actuated by high principles and worthy motives. MRS. OLIVE A. EDINBOROUGH who resides in Hagar township, is the widow of Thomas Edinborough, who was born in England in 1830, and came to the United States when but two years old, hav ing been brought to this country by his par ents. His father died soon afterward in Ohio, and the mother with her two sons and a daughter came to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph about 1835, making the trip with the family of Joseph Caldwell. In Berrien county she secured a small tract of land and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 623 here she afterward married Robert Dickin son, ahd became the mother of a family that included Arthur Dickinson, who is now living on the old Dickin son homestead in Benton township. Mrs. Dickinson continued to reside in this county until her demise, which occurred when she was sixty years of age. The three children of her first marriage were William, Mary and Thomas Edinborough. Of this number, William owned a farm adjoining his brother Thomas' property and developed it into a productive tract of land, which he continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred on that place when he was forty years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ruth Clawson, survived him for ten or fifteen years. He left three children ; Frank Edinborough, who is in Valparaiso, Indi ana; Millie, the wife of Richard McDowell; and Jessie, the wife of De Forest McDowell, a half brother of Richard, and a resident of Osceola county, Michigan. Mary Edin borough became the wife of David McKen zie, a sailor, who died a few years later. Thomas Edinborough, like his brother and sister, remained with the mother on the Dickinson farm after her second marriage and was trained to farm labor. In 1854, when twenty-four years of age, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Olive A. Yerring- ton, of Benton Harbor, a daughter of Ed win and Olive (Thomas) Yerrington, who were born, reared and married in Jefferson county, New York, and came to Michigan when their daughter Olive was a little maiden of nine summers, arriving in the year 1843. In their family at that time were four children. Mr. Yerrington secured land on what is now Highland avenue, three and a half miles east of Benton Harbor. There he hewed out a farm, which at the time of his purchase was covered with heavy tim ber. There was a plank house upon the place, but hardly a tree had been cut or an improvement made, and he continued the work of clearing and developing until ha had a fine farm of forty acres. Upon that place both he and his wife spent their re maining days, his death occurring when he was seventy years of age, while his wife survived him for some time, lacking but a few months of being eighty-seven years of age at the time of her demise. She had lived upon her farm for sixty years and was one of the last surviving members of the orig inal band of early 'pioneer settlers, who did so much to plant the seeds of civilization in the west and develop good farms here. In the Yerrington farmily were thirteen chil dren, ten of whom reached mature years, while nine are still living. Of this number there are seven daughters and two sons : Charles, a resident of Bainbridge; James O., who resides on the old homestead; Theresa, the wife of William Stover, who is living in Canada; Roxy, who is the widow of George Schoonover and makes her home in Canada ; Mrs. Celestine Watson, a widow living in Canada; Elizabeth, the wife of William Burdick, of Sodus township; Belle, the wife of James Watson, of Sodus town ship; and Viola, who married William Phillips and is living in Watervliet. The other member of the family is Olive, now Mrs. Edinborough. At the time of his mar riage Mr. Edinborough had a log house to which to take his bride and about ten or twelve acres of his land had been cleared. She has since lived upon the farm, making her home here from 1854, or for fifty-two years. Mr. Edinborough continued the work of cultivating and improving the prop erty until failing health caused him to seek a change of climate, and he went to Cali fornia, where he spent several months but the change did not prove beneficial and he passed away there in 1875. His remains were brought home and his grave was made in the JHfegar cemetery. Throughout his business career he devoted his energies to agricultural and horticultural pursuits, hav ing half of his land under cultivation, de voted to the raising of fruit and grain. He had been a sufferer from asthma for twenty years and because of this was rejected when he offered his aid to the government at the time of the Civil war. His political alle giance was given to the Democracy and he always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he was able to support his position by intelligent argu ment. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ben- 624 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ton Harbor, and his life was at all times upright and honorable. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edinborough were born two sons and three daughters : Emma, the wife of Fred McKee, who is living in Benton township; Warren, who spent his life on a farm save for a short time when he was engaged in the grocery business in Benton Harbor, and he passed away at the age of twenty-six years; Dora, who is the widow of George Caldwell; Charles, who operates the home farm ; and Daisy, the wife of E. C. Allen, of Hagar township. Of this family Charles has spent his life with his mother and from the age of seventeen years has been engaged in carrying on the farm work. His elder brother, Warren, died when about twenty-six years of age, and the father also having passed away, upon Charles devolved the task of cultivating and improving the property. He resolutely un dertook the work which he has since carried forward to successful completion. He is a fruit-grower, having about half of his farm devoted to peaches, pears and grapes. On the 17th of June, 1888, Mr. Edin borough was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Miller, the daughter of William Mil ler, of Benton township, and they have be come the parents of three children, Arthur, Minnie and Thomas. Charles Edinborough devotes his entire time to the farm and his undivided attention has resulted in the ac quirement of good success, so that he is now in possession of a comfortable competence and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the community. CLELLEN B. BURY, a representative farmer of Benton township, who makes a specialty of the cultivation of melons and is successfully conducting his business in terests, was born on the old family home stead in this township, June 17, 1862. His father, John D. Bury, at one time a repre sentative agriculturist of the township, was born August 18, 1804, and died at the old homestead, November 15, 1882, when sev enty-eight years of age. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania and his parents were John Colebrook and Elizabeth (Travers) Bury. The father was born at No. 52 West Cheap- side, London, March 6, 1764, and in his native country he was married to Dorothea Sherwood, who died in England. He then. came to the United States, where he was for a time engaged in the practice of medicine. Later, however, he turned his attention to the millwright's trade. He was married in Pennsylvania to Elizabeth Travers, and in that state their son, John D., was born. When he was a small boy they removed to Kent county, Canada, settling in Ontario, where John C. Bury built the Malcolm Mills[ which became the scene of a local war in 1812. John Colebrook Bury was for many years a prominent representative of indus trial life in his section of Canada, and there died at the venerable age of eighty-six years. John D. Bury was the sixth in order of birth in a family of fourteen children, all born within twenty-two years. He remained a resident of Canada from his early boy hood days until 1835, when he came to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph. During the first season he was employed at work on the government docks, earning a dollar and a quarter per day and board, so that in the fall he was enabled to secure a deed to one hundred and twenty acres of govern ment land, his patent being signed by Presi dent Van Buren. That land became his homestead in 1837 and he held it under the original patent until his death. It is still in possession of the family. In 1836 he was again in the government employ and in 1837 he brought his family, consisting of his wife, daughter and two sons, to his new home in Berrien county. He had been married in Canada to Miss Martha Green, who was born on the 24th of August, 1 8 10, and died on the 27th of August, 1858b at the age of forty-eight years. She was the mother of eleven chil dren, of whom only three reached years of maturity. His second marriage, to Miss Fannie Byers, was celebrated in Bainbridge township, August 18, i860. She was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shanks) Byers and was born September 12, 1825, in Livingston county, New York. She had come to Berrien county two years prior to her marriage to visit her father's brothers, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 625- Tobias Byers, of Van Buren county, Henry Byers, also of that county, and David Byers, of Berrien county. Mrs. Fannie (Byers) Bury, following the death of her husband, removed to Benton Harbor, and died later at the home of her'son Clellen on the 6th of April, 1904. There were three children of that marriage: Clellen B., John D., and Elsie I. The three children oi the first mar riage who reached mature years were Eliza beth, Freeman and George. Elizabeth be came the second wife of Joseph Caldwell, who in early life came from England to America and in pioneer times in this county purchased land north of Benton Harbor on the Paw Paw river. Mrs. Caldwell died at the age of thirty-three years. Freeman Bury, born in 1832, makes his home in Ben ton township, where he has lived since 1837. George, born in 1834, served throughout the Civil war and afterward removed to Minnesota, where he remained some time, while later report of his death was received The old Bury homestead is situated three and a half miles east of Benton Harbor on the Territorial road. Mr. Bury owned there two hundred and sixty-four acres of land, of which he placed one hundred and sixty acres in cultivation. He planted his first orchard in 1837 and some of the old trees are still bearing. He had good improvements upon his farm, including a substantial house and three barns. As his financial resources increased he invested largely in Berrien county property, becom ing the owner of fifteen hundred acres of land, most of which lay in Benton township. He bought this at an early period in the development of the county, the highest price which he paid for it being ten dollars. He made the purchase prior to 1853 save for one hundred and twenty acres bought in that year, this being about the last tract of gov ernment land to be had in the county. In the work of early development and improve ment he took an active and helpful part, aiding in subduing the wilderness and settling the frontier. He was also prom inent and influential in public life in many other ways, serving as township treasurer for three terms, as supervisor and 40 in other local offices. In his political affilia tion he was a Democrat, but was not a poli tician in the usual sense of office seeking. He was reared a Presbyterian and although he did not become a member of the church he lived an upright moral life and his in fluence was a valued factor for good and for progress along various lines leading to substantial improvement in the county. His second wife was a member of the Baptist Church. She was a noble woman, devoted to her family and she left her impress for good upon the community in which she lived. Clellen Byers Bury, whose name intro duces this review, was reared in the usual manner of farm lads of the period. He worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools. He continued at home until twenty-three years of age, when he was married. The father divided the old home stead with his children and later Mr. Bury of this review secured his present farm, which is pleasantly located about four and a half miles southeast of Benton Harbor and about three miles from the old home property. The tract had been secured by his father in 1850. the purchase price being six hundred and fifty dollars for one hundred and twenty acres. Clellen B. Bury has made good im provements here. He erected his present brick residence in 1886, has built good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and has placed his fields under a high state of cultivation. He is well known as an extensive raiser of melons, having from fhre to eight acres planted to this crop and selling from one thousand to twenty-five hundred cases annually. In fact he is one of the largest Osage melon raisers in the township, having devoted his attention to this product for many years. On the 28th of November, 1885, Mr. Bury was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Walker, a daughter of Charles and Han nah Walker. She was born in Berrien town ship and her death occurred August 15, 1903, one son, Byron, being left to mourn the loss of the mother. On the 12th of April, 1905, Mr. Bury was again married, 626 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY his second union being with Caroline Sherer, a daughter of Daniel C. and Louisa Sherer, of Benton township. In his political views Mr. Bury is an earnest Democrat, taking an active interest in the party and attending the conventions. He does not seek office, however, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs. His labors are well conducted and in all of his business methods he is practical and energetic, winning success by reason of his ¦close application and untiring enterprise rather than through any fortunate combina tion of circumstances. F. M. WITBECK. In the face of dif ficulties and unadvantageous surroundings that would utterly have discouraged many a man of less resolute spirit F. M. Witbeck has built up a business which is now large and profitable, being at the head of the Wit beck Hardware Company, of Millburg. His business career is alike creditable and hon orable and may well serve as a source of in spiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to do. A native of New York, he was born in Vienna, Oneida coun ty, on the 4th of September, 1859, and was only eight years of age when he became a resident of Jackson, Michigan, the family removing to the middle west. His father died in that locality. The son spent his boy hood days on the farm but not wishing to follow the plow as a life work he soon be came connected with the implement trade, being employed in that line of business at Mason, Michigan. Later he sold hardware specialties on the road, carrying a grip for twelve years. He traveled to some extent after coming to Millburg and establishing the business here. It was in the spring of 1899 that he opened his present store, hav ing but a small stock of hardware, which he purchased on credit. He added agricul tural implements until he was soon carrying a large and well selected line of hardware, agricultural implements and other mercan tile features of a similar nature. He has en larged his stock from time to time until he now owns an extensive and well equipped store. The first year he did business in his barn and in the open air. The next year he built a small place on a back street and remained there for six years. He then re moved the entire business to Benton Har bor, where he remained for a time, when he sold out and went to Coloma. He then purchased an- interest in a hardware store there, taking a former clerk into partner ship but after a brief period he bought out his partner and also started a plant on his present location. He built the first fall in Millburg and continued to manage both stores until 1897, when he brought the Co loma stock to Millburg, built an addition to the store here and combined the two busi nesses. His efforts were appreciated by the people and his patronage soon increased. However, his stock of goods was destroyed the same night as the Chicago theatre fire with a loss of several thousand dollars, the amount being five thousand over all insur ance. However, with characteristic -energy he immediately rebuilt and his present stock of goods occupies every inch of the building. The building is fifty-four by eighty feet and is divided into three stores. He now carries a stock valued at ten thousand dol lars and his annual sales reach twenty-five thousand dollars. The first year his sales, however, did not exceed five hundred dol lars. Mr. Witbeck has worked his way up ward from small beginnings. He started out on his own account without a dollar to clerk in a hardware store in early life and when he began business on his own account he traded his gold watch for a silver watch and with the cash difference and a horse and buggy he began business. Grass grew in the streets of the town and in fact there was no inducement in Millburg but his energy and push, his judicious advertising and his recognition of possibilities have pro duced results. He has given close, personal attention to the business and he now carries a very extensive and well selected stock of hardware, farm implements, wagons, bug gies and wire fencing. He employs five HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 627 men by the year, one hauling goods from Benton Harbor, while one salesman is on the road selling goods. In addition to this property Mr. Wit beck has a thirty-acre farm at the village and he is a stockholder in the creamery. For two years he advocated the establish ment of such an enterprise but could not get encouragement from the farmers, but he took up the work, creating an interest and invited seventy-five men to attend a meet ing. He had an expert to speak upon the business and show what might be done, af ter which he sold stock and has helped to make the enterprise a very successful one. Millburg is a village about five miles from Benton Harbor and off the railroad. At the time he moved here there seemed to be little inducement for anybody to wish to locate here and especially establish a busi ness. Mr. Witbeck had the necessary force and determination and time has proven the wisdom of his choice. At Millburg, on the 14th of May, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. Witbeck and Miss Minnie R. Gifford, a daughter of one of the leading residents of the county, Henry L. Gifford, who was a pioneer farmer of Millburg and died here when. his. daughter, Mrs. Witbeck, was a young girl. Her mother, Mrs. R. C. Gifford, still survives and is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Witbeck, who was only seventeen years of age at the time of her marriage. They have become the parents of two children: Ray, aged fifteen years; and Erma, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Witbeck is a Republican but is not active in party work. He belongs to Puritan Lodge, No. 17, K. P., of Benton Harbor, to the Woodmen of the World, of Millburg, to the Knights of the Maccabees at Bain bridge, and to the Michigan Knights of the Grip. He is president of the Working Men's Mutual Protective Association of Benton Harbor and is its executive officer. He is also one of the state board of Agricultural Implement Dealers' Association. In busi ness affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable. His chief characteristics are tireless energy, his keen perception, his honest purpose and his genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time. While he has achieved success he also belongs to that class of representative Amer ican citizens who promote the general pros perity while advancing individual interests. A. J. SCOFIELD. Among the enter prising and wide-awake business men of Berrien county now conducting a general mercantile establishment in Millburg, where he has a well equipped store and is enjoying a constantly increasing trade is numbered A. J. Scofield, who is a native of New York and the years of his boyhood and youth were passed without event of special importance. In early life, however, he became connected with railroad interests, securing a position in his boyhood on the New York Central. For twenty-eight years he was on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. He began in the humble capacity of a brake- man but worked his way upward and for fourteen years ran a passenger train between Chicago and Elkhart. Leaving the road, Mr. Scofield turned his attention to mercantile interests and in March, 1896, established his present busi ness in Millburg. The trade has increased each year and he has met with gratifying success. He started with a stock valued at only five hundred dollars but the sales the first year amounted to twenty-five hundred dollars. He now has a store twenty by seventy feet, which he erected and with this enlarged capacity his store is now crowded, while his sales amounted to fifteen thousand dollars in* 1905. He carries a large and well selected line of general merchandise and his brother, Frank Scofield, has been associated with him since he began the business. His success has been most gratifying, for on coming to Millburg he had no expectations of obtaining so soon so large an increase in business. His trade extends into Ben'ton Harbor, for he receives many orders from that city over the phone and he keeps a de livery wagon constantly on the road. Close and unremitting attention is given to the trade by Mr. Scofield, whose business abil ity and executive force are widely acknowl- 628 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY edged. He is watchful of every opportunity pointing to success and has so utilized his op portunities that he is now a prosperous mer chant. He believes in doing a straight busi ness and is thoroughly reliable at all times, his integrity standing as an unquestioned fact in his career. Mr. Scofield's removal to the middle west was not a premeditated affair. In fact he came to Berrien county on a visit but was so well pleased with the district that he de cided to remain. In the year 1863 he and his wife made their way from New York to Elkhart, Indiana, but in a few months re turned to Syracuse, New York. It was not long, however, before both were desirous of going back to the west and their removal followed and was attended with a feeling of entire satisfaction. Mr. Scofield lost his wife about thirteen years ago. He is a Knight Templar Mason and has also at tained the thirty-second degree of the Scot tish rite. His life has been one of activity and industry, resulting in very desirable suc cess and his business interests are now prof itable and are continually growing. MRS. FANNY BERRY, living in Ben ton township, has a wide and favorable ac quaintance in Berrien county. She was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, March 31, 1848. Her father, Christian de la Porte, was a descendant of a prominent French family and a native of Germany. His father was a French refugee, who fled from France at the time of the revocation of the edict of Nantes, who belonged to the nobility, and the name signifies before the door. The family was wealthy prior to the troubles which led them to leave their na tive country. Christian de la Porte married Augusta D'odzauer and in 1845 or 1846 crossed the Atlantic to New York, where he remained for six weeks, after which he re moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a highly educated man of superior mentality and energy and served as pastor of the Re formed Lutheran church and as a teacher in the Reformed Lutheran school in Mil waukee. He also secured a position as a teacher in the parochial schools but after devoting some time to educational work re moved to a claim in Sheboygan county for the benefit of his health. It was upon that farm that his daughter, Mrs. Berry, was born and when she was six years of age the father removed with his family to the city of Sheboygan. There he lived on a small farm but resumed teaching and preaching as such demands were made upon his time and ener gies along those lines. When his daughter, Mrs. Berry, was sixteen years of age the family removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where her father again took up the work of teaching which he followed in public and. private schools. He also taught music for five years, at the end of which time he re turned to Plymouth, Wisconsin, where he lived retired until his death. His last years were passed among his flowers, in which he took great delight. He lived with his chil dren and departed this life at the venerable age of seventy-eight years, leaving his fam ily the priceless heritage of an untarnished. name and the memory of many noble deeds and good works. Mrs. Berry acquired her education in the schools taught by her father. She was mar ried at the age of twenty-one years to Nich olas Berry, who was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county New York. He was a. farmer by occupation and after their mar riage engaged in farming for three years, when he removed to Berlin, Wisconsin. Subsequently he went to Manistee, Michi gan, where he worked in sawmills and in December, 1891, removed to Benton Har bor. Mrs. Berry had read of this county being a great fruit section and urged by her mother, who lived with her and her daugh ter Augusta, who was at that time a student. in Benton Harbor College, having been di rected to the college by a friend, Alice Reed, formerly of Benton Harbor, but then of Manistee, Mrs. Berry decided to remove to Berrien county. At that time she was doing- janitor work in the Congregational church and also the Baptist church, to which Mrs. Reed belonged and while Mrs. Berry's daughter Augusta was a member of the choir of the latter church. After reaching Benton Harbor the fam- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 629 ily secured some rooms, in which they be gan keeping house, Mr. Berry working for Mr. Rose in laying the tramway to Peter's lumberyard. They soon began to do gard ening on a small scale, raising cucumbers and strawberries and after a short time they secured a home, rented a larger tract of land and Mrs. Berry began keeping summer boarders. They rented the Bronson farm on Colfax avenue and while the work of general farming was carried on Mrs. Berry continued to keep boarders there for two years. About that time her son Ottmar became ill of typhoid fever and required her •constant attention for seven weeks. Her mother also died while they lived on the Bronson place. The first land which they had was five acres of bottom land on the Lake Shore drive across the Paw Paw river. Mrs. Berry superintended the farming of this place for several years, engaged in garden ing, also conducted a dairy business and kept summer boarders. In the meantime she built the present house and barn. Here she made money through the production of veg etables, which she sold in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. Two years ago she rented the Henry Minor farm of one hundred acres two miles south of St. Joseph. There she kept from seven to sixteen cows and in ad dition to carrying on the dairy business she also continued to engage in gardening on a more extensive scale than ever before. Af ter living upon the Minor farm for two years in the spring of 1906, she rented the Mur ray Stewart farm three miles southeast of Benton Harbor and comprising one hundred and fifty-eight acres of land, which she leased for five years. She keeps about thirty cows for dairy purposes and is operating fifteen acres of land or more in gardening, while the remainder is devoted to general farming and to fruit-raising. The family numbers two children: Au gusta, who has remained with her mother and is acting as housekeeper; and Ottmar, now a man of twenty-eight years, who is his mother's main dependence, managing the active work of the fields and orchards. While it was the fruit-raising interests that induced the family to come to this county and all have enjoyed the seasons of blossom ing and of harvest and are pleased with the climate here, the fruit-growing has not pre dominated in their business, for their atten tion has been given more largely to garden ing and dairying. Mrs. Berry sends to the St. Joseph creamery route the products of her dairy and also the Twin City creamery. She and her daughter are members of the Congregational church. The latter, Miss Augusta, keeps up her music and has taught music to some extent. She was also a school teacher in Mason county for two years, act ing as a governess in Manistee. For five weeks recently Mrs. Berry lay in the hospi tal, having a tumor removed and it was this operation that encouraged the building of a new hospital. She agitated the subject and her influence carried considerable weight in securing the new institution. She is a lady of excellent business qualifications, of keen discernment and unfaltering enterprise, and certainly deserves much credit for what she has accomplished in a business way. BERNARD THEODORE SELLS. Berrien county is one of the chief fruit pro ducing centers of the great Mississippi val ley and gives 'excellent opportunity to those who desire to engage in horticultural pur suits. Mr. Sells is the owner of some of the fine orchards of this part of the state, hav ing about eighteen acres in peaches, eight acres in grapes, pears and cherries and five acres in apples. He also raises berries and his methods have been so practical and pro gressive that he is regarded as one of the leading horticulturists of Berrien county, his home tieing in Benton township. He was born in Hanover, Germany, May n, 1842, and in the year 1858 came to the United States just before he was old enough to enter the army or be liable for military ser vice. He remained in Washington, D. C, from i860 until 1865 and was in the govern ment service. He afterward went with Cap tain J. M. Moore and Miss Clara Barton, of the Red Cross Society to act as cook for the company that was engaged in preparing a government cemetery. He afterward spent two years near Chambersburg, Pennsyl vania, and later went to Chicago, Illinois, where he met Captaifi Nelson Napier. He 630 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY there, left the boat on which he was em ployed in order to work on the captain's fruit farm and later he poined the survey ing party on the West Michigan Railroad, now the Pere Marquette, in the survey of the line between St. Joseph and New Buf falo. He also helped lay the rails between Sv. Joseph and Nunica. Subsequently he gave his attention to the conduct of a saloon and he remained in St. Joseph until he es tablished a dairy business, with only two cows. He began to deliver the milk in St. Joseph and there built up a good business and continually added to his herd until he owned thirty cows. He at first delivered milk by hand for two and a half years. He paid twenty-five dollars for his first horse and eleven dollars for his first wagon. He gave undivided attention to. his business affairs and thereby made steady progress. He fin ally traded his dairy for thirty acres of land two and a half miles east of Benton Harbor and devoted the succeeding years to fruit- raising. On the expiration of that period Mr. Sells sold his property and bought his pres ent place in Benton township, comprising sixty-seven and a half acres on Territorial road, three miles east of Benton Harbor, for which he paid fifty-five hundred dollars. Thus it will be seen that within sixteen years after he embarked in the dairy business with only two cows he had so prospered that he was enabled to pay fifty-five hundred dol lars for a farm. He then started in the dairy business here with fifteen cows. The farm had been rented and was much run down and he resumed the dairy business mainly in order to give time to build up the land and prepare it for cultivation. He con ducted the dairy for nine years, selling its products in Benton Harbor and he also increased the number of cows to thirty. During this period he transformed his land into a very fertile tract, which he set out to peaches and that he has prospered in his un dertakings as a horticulturist is shown by the fact that in 1905 his crop amounted to three thousand bushels of peaches. He has about eighteen acres planted to peaches and eight acres to grapes, pears and cherries. He also has an apple orchard of five acres and raises all kinds of berries. . His sales for 1905 amounted to twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Sells was married in St. Joseph to Miss Amelia Johnson, a Swedish girl, who- has indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. They have become the parents of seven children:. Sarah, who is the wife of Jesse Martindale, a resident of Breckenridge, Michigan; Belle, the wife of Frank Peters, who is liv ing at Fruitport, Michigan; Jessie, who is. in the silk mill at Belding, this state;. Arthur, at home; May, also in the silk mill at Belding; and Harry and Clarence, at home, assisting their father in the work of the farm. In his political affiliation Mr. Sells is a Democrat and as every true American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but he does. not seek office, preferring to give his un divided attention to his business affairs and his life record proves what can be accom plished by strong determination and unfal tering industry. He certainly deserves. much credit, -for he has worked his way steadily upward to a prominent position among the horticulturists of the county. G. F. MULLIKEN, was born in Belvi dere, Illinois, January 13, 1867, a son of John B. and Emma A. (Batcheldor) Mulli- ken. The father was born in New York in 1837 and died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1892. The mother, a native of Vermont, was also- born in 1837 and now makes her "home in Detroit. G. F. Mulliken began his education in the public schools of Detroit and in 1886 entered the Michigan Military Academy, j§ where he spent two years, becoming a stu dent in the University of Michigan in 1888. He was graduated therefrom in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and in Jan uary, 1893, came to St. Joseph, where he en tered the employ of Cooper, Wells & Com pany. He is one of the stockholders and since October, 1894, has been treasurer.. This is the leading industrial concern of Ber rien county and a prominent factor in the manufacturing interests of southwestern Michigan. The extent and importance of // HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 631 the enterprise is too well known to need further comment here and the fact of its success indicates that its officers are men of superior business ability, keen insight and executive force. In December, 1893, Mr. Mulliken was married to Miss Lyda B. Procter, of St. Joseph, and unto them. have been born two children. Harold P. and Lilian. In his political views Mr. Mulliken is a Republican, interested in the growth and success of the party and from 1903 until 1905 was a mem ber of the city council. of St. Joseph, while at the present writing he is a member of the board of public works. He stands as a high type of the American citizen, alert and en terprising, with ready recognition of busi ness conditions and opportunities and with a capacity for successful management that enables him to use and improve the advant ages which are open to all in the commercial world. ISAAC J. HOAG, now deceased, was at one time an enterprising farmer of Berrien county. He was born in the state of New York in 1824 and died in 1874, at the age of fifty years. He lost his father when he was very young and largely depended upon his own resources from that time. He be came a well read man, working his own way through school. While attending high school he served as janitor and he continued his course therein until he had completed the high school work by graduation. He came to Michigan in an early day and settled in the vicinity of Millburg, where he became a pioneer business man and also taught school •for a time. He conducted a nursery, hand ling all kinds of trees, but making a specialty of peach trees, for the climate and soil of Michigan is peculiarly adapted to the culti vation of that fruit. He had previously lived in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a few years and then came to Berrien county. Through out the period of his residence here he was engaged in the nursery business and his labors resulted in the acquirement of a com fortable competence. In 1858 Mr. Hoag was united in mar riage to Miss Elizabeth Meech, whose peo ple were of Puritan descent. Her mother in the paternal line came from ancestors who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1 620. Mrs. Hoag's great-great-grandfather came over on the Mayflower. Her parents were Braddock and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Meech. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hoag were born three children : Samuel, who died at the age of forty-four years ; Alice, the wife of Adolph Reickle, who is employed by the Graham & Morton steamship line; and Lillian S., de ceased. In connection with his other business in terests Mr. Hoag dealt in real estate, mak ing some very judicious purchases and profitable sales. In politics he was a Re publican, recognized as a stalwart supporter of the party, and for a number of years he served as supervisor. He also acted as school officer and was earnest in his ad vocacy of all measures for the general good. In 1874 he was called to his final rest, his death being deeply regretted by many friends as well as his immediate family. His widow still survives him and is now the owner of one hundred acres of land near Millburg, constituting a finely improved property, upon which are good buildings and all the accessories of a model farm. THEODORE LITTLESON, residing in Benton township-, where he is engaged in fruit-growing, was born in Sweden on the 24th of November, 1861. His father, Richard Littleson, was ah Englishman by birth and spent some time in. Australia. He was married in Melbourne to Miss Kath erine Swgnson, a Swedish girl. There was a cholera epidemic in that country and he started back with his young wife but after leaving Australia became ill of cholera and died. Mrs. Littleson continued on her way to Sweden and a few weeks after reaching her home her son Theodore was born. When he was about ten years of age his mother and her second husband crossed the Atlantic to America and became residents of Chi cago, where she still resides, being about seventy-five years of age. Theodore' Littleson remained in Chicago through the period of his boyhood and '632 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY youth and entered upon his business career as an errand boy in a grocery store. He afterward became a salesman and gradually he worked his way upward until as the re sult of his industry and economy he was en abled in 1883 to engage in business on his own account. He opened a grocery store in Chicago and continued in that line for seventeen years, meeting with very desirable success. He started out in life with limited capital but his energy, close application and -laudable ambition enabled him to steadily work his way upward. In 1893 in company with a partner, John C. Rice, of Chicago, he purchased forty acres of land about two and a half miles east of Benton Harbor and in 1900 he decided to make this place his home. He then bought his present farm on Blue Creek, two and three-quarter miles east of Benton Harbor on the Watervliet road. This is the old Calkins farm and con tains thirty-two acres. It is all devoted to fruit-raising, including peaches, pears, plums and apples and most of the trees were set out by Mr. Littleson. He secures well selected nursery stock and is growing some fine fruit. He has erected on his farm a very commodious and pleasant residence and made other improvements. His is one of the neatest homes along the entire road and he is now devoting his attention largely to his farm. His labors have resulted in making the land very productive, although it was in a run down condition when it came into his possession. He finds that the coun ty comes up to his expectation as a fruit pro ducing center and he is fully identified with its horticultural interests. In fact he has in duced others to come from Chicago, through his efforts, several men who are now prom inent as horticulturists having been led to establish homes here. Among these is Vic tor Faulkenau, formerly a Chicago con tractor, who is his nearest neighbor and was an old customer of Mr. Littleson's in Chi cago. In 1887 Mr. Littleson was united in mar riage to Miss Lena Hanson, of Chicago. In his political views Mr. Littleson is a Repub lican and never fails to cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the party but does not seek office for himself. He and his wife are members of the Luth eran church and he belongs to the National Union, is also a Mason in Chicago and an Elk in Benton Harbor. For years he gave un remitting attention to his business, laboring assiduously to develop his commercial in terests but now he is taking life more easy and he greatly enjoys his work as a fruit grower. In his undertakings he has pros pered owing to his intense and well directed activity and has now valuable property in terests in this county.- THOMAS HOLLINRAKE, a farmer of Bainbridge township, well known in Masonic and political circles, having ex erted wide and beneficial influence in both, was born in Haywood, Lancashire, Eng land, August 14, 1837. He was a son of a foreman of a cotton mill, and at the age of fourteen began to operate a loom in the mill of which his father had charge. He worked at the loom as long as he remained in Eng land but believing that he might have better business opportunities elsewhere he made arrangements to leave his native land and came to the United States in October, 1858, induced to take this step by a widowed aunt, then living in Michigan. He had intended to go to Australia, but instead came to America to operate a farm belonging to his aunt, who was the widow of John Walton, a pioneer settler of Berrien county. She had lived in the United States for seven teen years and her farm was near the place upon which Mr. Hollinrake now resides. He cultivated and improved the land for her for four years, or until the time of his ¦ marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 28th of August, 1864, Miss Arzelia Vincent becoming his wife. She was a cousin of Alonzo Vincent, late warden of the state prison, and a daughter of Joseph Vincent, of Bainbridge. She was born in Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, in 1840, and was brought to this county in 1844. About a year after his marriage Mr. Hollinrake began working in a sawmill for Warren Pearl, and in 1866 he purchased HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 633 forty acres of wild land whereon he now re sides. It was then all covered with heavy timber and he began to clear away the trees and prepared the land for the plow. He sold the timber, which gave him capital with which to continue his farm work. He not only cultivated his fields but also worked at clearing land and cutting out ties and at different times was employed in saw mills, being thus employed for ten years. His time was thus occupied but when a dec ade was passed he concentrated his ener gies upon his farming interests and has since devoted his attention entirely to his agri cultural pursuits. He has owned other lands outside of his home property and he now has sixty acres. He has cleared altogether about eighty acres from the wild timber and has thus contributed in substantial manner to the development and progress of the county. His own land is devoted to general farming. It is a level tract requiring drain age and he has laid two or three miles of tiling upon it, so that it has been made very productive and yields excellent crops. Mr. Hollinrake is also a noted sheep shearer and for forty years has carried on that business, his neighbors always depending upon his services at the shearing season. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hollinrake have been born seven children : Cecelia Hollin rake, the eldest, died at the age of one year. Hartley is a wheat grower of Cass county, North Dakota. Joseph is operating the home farm. His wife was Irene McKyes, who died five years ago, after a happy mar ried life of seven years, leaving two sons, Vineus and Eldon. Joseph Hollinrake has always given his attention to farm work. Seth P. Hollinrake, the fourth member of the family, is a railroad station agent at Caryville, Florida. When seventeen years of age he went to Florida, where he joined his uncle, Hartley Hollinrake, the only brother of his father in the United States. He was a railroad man in Florida and it was through him that Seth P. Hollinrake gained an acquaintance of the business which he is now following. Lillian Hollinrake, at home, was for twelve years a teacher in the schools of Berrien county. She was former ly a student in Benton Harbor College and in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, Michigan, and she taught for eleven consecutive years, being for one year principal of the high school at Shanghai, Michigan. Lutie May is the wife of Harland Hoadley, at Frank lin, Texas. William E. Hollinrake is sup erintendent of the prison school and assis tant hall master in the state penitentiary at Jackson, Michigan. He was also a teacher for a number of years in Berrien county and was called to his present position by the late warden, Alonzo Vincent. Mrs. Hollin rake, the mother .of these children, died January 27, 1906, after traveling life's journey for nearly forty-two years with her husband. Her life was devoted to her home and her family and she was a most able helpmate to Mr. Hollinrake. Her kindly disposition and generous spirit made her popular with her many friends and by filial love and devotion she gave to her parents a home for several years, both dying while members of her household, her father, Joseph Vincent, being more than ninety-two years of age at the time of his death. He was a life-long farmer and was one of the last survivors of the early settlers of Ber rien county. Mr. Hollinrake is a Republican in his political views and has served as highway commissioned for ten years. He has been a delegate to the Republican county conven tions for twenty years and for a long period has been a member of the Republican county committee. He has often been made chair man by the township delegation and is recognized«as one of the strong and influen tial men of the party in his locality. He has frequently served as delegate to the state conventions but though he wielded a wide influence in political circles he has never sought or desired office for himself. He is, however, deeply interested in the questions of the day and always keeps well informed on the issues which divide the two great parties, so that he is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument and is al ways found well equipped to parry a politi cal attack. He belongs to Bainbridge Lodge, No. 63, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past 634 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY noble grand, and forty years ago he became a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Watervliet. In these organizations he is a valued representative, being true and loyal to the basic elements upon which they are founded. He finds great pleasure in fishing and it is to him a source of delightful rest and recreation. Mr. Hollinrake is a man whose honesty of purpose is never called in to question and his political opponents en tertain for him the warmest respect, owing to his fidelity to- his honest convictions. In business affairs he is reliable as well as energetic and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he has found and improved good business opportunities lead ing to prosperity. LOUIS S. HAMILTON, who is en gaged in the plumbing and steam-heating business in Niles, where he has worked up a good trade until his business has now reached gratifying proportions, bringing to him a desirable financial return, is a native son of Niles and a representative of one of the old families of the county. His paternal grandparents came to Michigan in the early '40s, settling in Berrien county, where Asa D. Hamilton was born in 1844. He was reared to the occupation of farm ing, which he followed as a life work. He wedded Mary E. Fowler, a native of Min nesota, and they became the parents of two sons, the younger being Asa Frank Hamilton, who was born in Niles in 1878. The mother is still living, but the father died in 1898, at the age of fifty- four years. The brother of our subject married Mary Lauterbach and resides in Niles, Michigan. Louis S. Hamilton, born in 1869, en tered the public schools at the usual age and was promoted to consecutive grades until he had become a high school student. He also attended the commercial college at Angola, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1884, when about fifteen years of age. He then fol lowed farming for about five years, when at the age of twenty, thinking to find other business pursuits more congenial, he began learning the plumbing- trade in Niles and followed it as a journeyman until 1903, when he entered into partnership with James Hatch, under the firm style of Hatch & Hamilton, which relationship continued until 1905, when Mr. Hamilton purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone, continuing with the business with marked success. He is an expert workman in his line, having thoroughly mastered the business both in principle and detail, and the excellent service which he has rendered his patrons has secured him a continuance of trade from those who have once given him their business support. In 1892, in Niles, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Shee- han, a daughter of Daniel Sheehan. Six children grace this union, all born in Niles, namely : Asa D., Lawrence, Margaret G., Frances, Mary Gertrude and Ruth. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. The family home is a hos pitable one, a cordial welcome being ex tended to their many friends. The family attend the Catholic church and Mr. Hamil ton gives his political support to the Repub lican party. Like all true American citi zens should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but he is without political aspiration, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the upbuild ing of a business which will enable him to acquire a competence and provide liberally for his family. He belongs to the Indepen dent Order of Odd Fellows and the Wood men of America and is in hearty sympathy with the purposes and plans of those orders. GEORGE A. MILLS, a general con tractor of Benton Harbor, was born in Rochester, New York, on the 12th of De cember, 1859. His father, John C. Mills, was born in Scotland in 1807 and inherited habits of industry from a long line of an cestry. In 1832 he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Kingston, Can ada, in 1832. Subsequently he removed to Rochester, New York, where he engaged in buying fruit, which he shipped to By- town, now Ottawa, at a day prior to the erection of the Parliament buildings there. In fact he was the first to ship fruit to the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 635 Ottawa market. He continued in business for a long time and died when on a visit to Canada in 1889, when eighty-two years of age. In his native country he had learned and followed the weaver's trade but during his residence in the new world was con nected with the production and sale of fruit. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Labar, was of French descent, born in Vermont and her death occurred in Rochester, New York, when she was sixty- four years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were four children, of whom three are now living; Frank H., deceased; Robert W. ; George A. ; and Sarah, the wife of Charles Worvey. George A. Mills acquired his education in the place of his nativity and at the age of eighteen years went to sea, shipping be fore the mast. He made a trip covering two years upon a merchant vessel which sailed on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He went on voyages to foreign lands as a sailor, visiting the East and West Indies, Australia, China, and other coun tries. On his return home to Rochester, New York, he engaged in mason work until his removal from the Empire state to the middle west. He first went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was employed at mason work for two years. In 1884 he came to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in general contracting. As the years dem onstrated his capability his patronage in creased both in volume and importance and he has erected many of the good business blocks and residences of this city. He was also the builder of the Catholic church and other public edifices and was successfully- engaged in contracting about twenty-two years. In 1900 he built the Bell Opera House in Benton Harbor. He also erected the Mills Block on Pipestone street in Ben ton Harbor. In 1903 he admitted his son, Arthur H. Mills, to a partnership and the business is now carried on under the name of Mills & Son. Mr. Mills has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Fannie E. Haines, who was born in Rochester, New York, and was a daughter of Edward and Charlotte Haines. There were two children born of this union : Arthur H., who married Dessa Kimball, of Michigan City, by whom he has two children, Donald and Evyline; and Robert G. For his second wife Mr. Mills chose Edith Tillotson, of Eaton county, Michigan, by whom he has three children: Jim and Jack, twins, who were born upon the farm in Hagar township which was at that time owned by Mr. Mills, and Mildred who was born at 120 Cherry street. He has since sold that farm but is now the owner of a fruit farm in Benton township south of the city. In his political views Mr. Mills has al ways been a stalwart Demecrat and is now serving as a member of the board of build ing inspectors in this city. He is a very prominent Mason, belonging to Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M.„ Calvin Brittain Chap ter, R. A. M., St. Joseph Council, No. 44, R. & S. M., and Malta Commandery, K. T. He has likewise taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is a mem ber of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. He also affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. His eldest son, Arthur, is very prominent and active in Masonry and is the youngest man in this part of Michigan to have taken the consistory degrees, and is a member of all the Masonic bodies up to the thirty-third degree. FRANK BRACELIN, a member of the Berrien county bar, practicing in St. Joseph, where he is also filling the office of justice of the peace, was born in Watson township, Allegan fpunty, Michigan, on the 28th of July, 1846. He comes of Irish ancestry, his father, Daniel Bracelin, having been born in county Donegal, Ireland, whence at the age of twenty years he came to America, attracted by the broader business oppor tunities of the new world. In his native land he had learned and followed the weaver's trade but in the new world became identified with agricultural interests, set tling in Essex county, New York, where he engaged in general farming until his removal to Michigan in 1835. He took up his abode in Kalamazoo- county, and after- 636 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ward removed to Allegan county, where he followed farming throughout his remaining days, passing away in 1865, when about sixty years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Nancy McLaughlin, who was also a native of Ireland, where her girlhood days were passed. They were mar ried in that country and on the following day started for the United States, crossing the Atlantic as passengers on a sailing ves sel which was nine weeks in making the voyage, dropping anchor in the harbor of •Quebec, Canada, whence they crossed the boundary line into the United States and established their home in New York. As the years passed by ten children were added to the household, of- whom Frank Bracelin was the youngest and the only one now liv ing in Berrien county. Upon the home farm Frank Bracelin re mained until fifteen years of age, and dur ing that period acquired his preliminary education in the public schools, while subse quently he attended the Pine Grove Semi nary, at Allegan, Michigan. He remained for three years as a student there, qualify ing for the • profession of teaching, after which he followed that calling for two terms. Matriculating in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, he was a student in the law department from the fall of 1866 until the spring of 1868, when he was grad uated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and soon afterward was admitted to the Michigan bar in Allegan county. In 1868 he located for practice in Muskegon, Mich igan, where he continued as an active repre sentative of the profession until 1878. He then located at White Lake, in Montague Village, Muskegon county, where he en gaged in the publication of a newspaper called the Montague Lumberman. This he conducted while carrying on his law prac tice, winning success both as a journalist and attorney. He was recognized as one of the prominent business men and also as one of the important factors in public life in his community, and his devotion to the gen eral good found recognition in his election to the presidency of the village board for a term of two years. He also served for three years on the board of school examiners of Muskegon county and retained his resi dence there until 1890, when he removed to Menominee, in the upper peninsula. Mr. Bracelin continued in the practice of law at Menominee until he came to Ber rien county in the fall of 1897. He located first in Benton Harbor but after a short time removed to St. Joseph in the fall of that year, and has practiced here continu ously since, with the exception of a brief period of three years spent as a traveling salesman. On the expiration of that period he returned to his profession, which he is now following with success. In 1904 he was elected justice of the peace. On the 20th of December, 1871, in Monterey, Michigan, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bracelin and Miss Eliza Helena Van Middlesworth: They have five children. Gertrude E., is the wife of John O. Davis, a member of the Miller- Davis Printing Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they have one child, Dor othy. Grace Evelynne is the wife of Robert M. Ankeny, of the firm of Wyman, Part ridge & Company, of Minneapolis, and they have one child, Robert B. Genevieve Eliza beth and Vera Helena are at home. Frank, who married Bessie Hilderbrand, of Niles, Michigan, is now manager of the telephone company at Anoka, Minnesota. Mr. Bracelin votes with the Democracy and is in hearty sympathy with the princi ples of that great party organization. In the Masonic fraternity he has taken the de grees of the lodge, chapter and command ery and he holds membership relations with the Maccabees, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. His social qualities — a genial nature and kindly disposition — com bined with his ability in the line of his pro fession have made him a representative and respected citizen of St. Joseph. JOSEPH W. FRENCH. Perhaps no citizen has done more for Three Rivers in the line of material development and pros- ¦ perity than has Joseph W. French, who for many years was numbered among its most prominent and progressive residents, and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 637 now makes his home in Niles. He may well be termed one of the founders of the city, for he has been the promoter of a number of its leading enterprises and the growth and development of a city always depends upon its commercial and industrial activity. His connection with any undertaking in sures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to suc cessful completion whatever he is associated with. He has won for himself a reputation as a careful man of business and in his deal ings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen. Now he has practically retired from busi ness and since 1905 has been a resident of Niles. A native of Connecticut, Joseph W. French was born in Oxford township, New Haven county, June 8, 1833, a son of David and Elizabeth (Wooster) French, who were likewise natives of the Charter Oak State. The mother died at Three Rivers, Michi gan, at the age of seventy-five years, having long survived her husband, who passed away in Connecticut at the age of fifty years. In their family were five children, of whom four are living. Joseph W. French, the third member of the family and the only one now residing in Berrien county, was reared in Connecti cut and at the age of seventeen years started out in life on his own account, since which time he has depended entirely upon his own resources, and the splendid business record which he has made is therefore very credit able. He taught school for one winter in his native town and afterward went to live with an uncle at Deep River, Connecticut, where he remained for five years, complet ing his education there at the high school. He afterward learned the trade of making paper boxes and also became a polisher of ivory combs. In 1854 he came to Michigan, settling at Three Rivers, where he pur chased an interest in the manufacturing business, devoted to the manufacture of spokes and carriage material, also ax han dles. Two years later he began the manu facture of wagons, carriages, omnibuses and hearses, and in this enterprise was asso ciated with Julius D. Shailer, of Boston, Massachusetts. The firm was J. W. French & Company and they carried on a very ex tensive manufacturing enterprise, which brought a gratifying measure of success. Mr. French was thus connected with trade interests until 1857, when he closed out the business and turned his attention to the manufacture of paper. In 1854 Julius D. Shailer, in connection with his associates, had erected a paper mill at Three Rivers, having purchased the water power there and a large amount of real estate. Mr. Shailer appointed Mr. French, with power of at torney, manager of all his (Shailer's) busi ness interests. Previous to this Mr. Shailer sold a half interest to Bradner, Smith & Com pany, of Chicago. In 1861 Bradner, Smith & Company purchased a half interest in the business of J. W. French & Company, man ufacturers of wagons, carriages, etc. In 1865 Mr. French bought the entire interests of Mr. Shailer at Three Rivers and organ ized the J. W. French Manufacturing Com pany, manufacturers of paper. He owned one-half of all the capital stock and the other half was owned by Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago. In 1872 Bradner, Smith & Company, in connection with Mr. French, purchased a third interest in the water power at Niles, having previously manufactured the first wood pulp at Three Rivers. This was the first wood pulp made west of New York. It was after that time that the paper mill was built at Niles. In 1885 Mr. French bought out Bradner, Smith & Company, and organized a new company known as the Three Rivers Paper Company. Mr. French retained the greater part of all the stock and was elected president of the company, with Willard W. French as gen eral superintendent, F. J. French as treas urer and J. E. Scott and Mrs. J. W. French as directors. On retiring from the wagon and carriage making business Mr. French began the manufacture of printing paper, erecting a plant and carrying on a very ex tensive business for twenty years. Prior to that time Mr. French had become inter ested in flour mills in Three Rivers, continu- 638 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ing his connection therewith until the de struction of the plant by fire. He was also a contractor and builder of the Michigan Air Line from Jackson to South Bend by way of Niles, and as long as he was a resi dent of Three Rivers he was a director of the Michigan Central system. As before stated, in 1872, in connection with the firm of Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago, while they were together as the J. W. French Manufacturing Company, they organized the Michigan Wood Pulp> Company and pur chased a third of the water power at Niles. They erected here a plant for the manufac ture of ground wood pulp and Mr. French also became president of this company. In 1880 the paper mills were erected and were continuously operated until 1905, when the charter having expired a new company was formed under the style of the French Paper Company, the stockholders being Mr. French of this review and his sons. Mr. French became president, W. J. Willits, vice- president, F. J. French, treasurer and J. E. French, secretary. Theirs is one of the largest industries of Berrien county, em ploying two hundred and fifty skilled work men, and the plant is operated night and day. Mr. French was also one of the or ganizers of the Marinette Paper Company, of Wisconsin, of which he became a large stockholder. He also organized the com pany which established a paper mill at Tip pecanoe, Indiana, and became general man ager of that business. Mr. French is a man of resourceful busi ness ability, displaying ready recognition of Opportunities and utilizing advantages to the best purpose. He organized the Manu facturers' National Bank at Three Rivers, of which he became the vice-president, while J. B. Willard was president. On sell ing his interest in that enterprise he organ ized the Three Rivers National Bank, of which he became president, and on dispos ing of his stock therein he organized the First State Bank of Three Rivers, of which he became vice-president, while his nephew, W. J. Willits was president. This bank is still being conducted and is in a flourishing condition. Mr. French has retired from the institution and disposed of his stock. His connection with various banking interests has made him well known as a financier and he stands today among those who have wielded a wide influence in commercial, in dustrial and financial circles. It has been said that a man who each week pays out of liis coffers hundreds of employes does much more for the country than he who leads army forces into battle. This Mr. French has done and has contributed in substantial measure to the business development and prosperity of the state as well as to indi vidual success. He has always been just in his treatment of his employes and while de- man-ding faithful and efficient service he has in return given a good wage and has pro moted those in his employ as opportunity has offered, thus recognizing able and loyal work. For almost a half century he was connected with every enterprise that had bearing upon the business development, the welfare, progress and prosperity of Three Rivers and in addition to his various cor porate interests he also owns extensive coal lands in Virginia, having twenty-two hun dred acres and operates coal mines and man ufactures coke in the town. He made his home in Three Rivers until 1904 and in the latter part of that year went to Cali fornia. Upon his return to Michigan he settled in Niles, where he now resides." He has recently erected a comfortable and pal atial residence in which to spend his remain ing days. It is built in a most attractive style of architecture and its furnishings in dicate a refined and cultured taste combined with the evidences of wealth' and comfort. Mr. French was happily married in 1856 at Deep River, Connecticut, to Miss Emily J. Wright, a native of that city. They have three sons : Willard W., living at Three Rivers, Michigan, married Alice Blakesley, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and they have four children, Joseph' W., Edward B., Ed win V. and Alice Mabel. Frank J., living at Niles and interested in the French Paper Mills, was married to Miss Minnie Craw ford, of Boston, Massachusetts. They have HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 639 two children, Aline and Natilie. Joseph E., the youngest son, is living in Niles and is represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. French is a Republican, and for three years was president of the city council at Three Rivers, Michigan. His attention, however, has been largely given to his busi ness interests without aspiration for office and he may well be classed among the "cap tains of industry" in Michigan, his labors being an important factor in making this state a great productive center. He has been closely associated with its important material industries and his efforts have been discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that always reach the object ive point. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, of broad mentality and most mature judgment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world. While not active in the management of any enter prise which he aided to establish and con duct, he yet gives supervision to his invested interests and for years he was a capable factor in the development of the natural resources of the state, contributing in large measure to its material prosperity as well as to his individual success. His business methods, too, have made him an honorable record and he stands foremost in that class of men whose careers excite the admiration and win the respect of their contemporaries. JAMES E. HARDER, a veteran of the Civil war living in Niles, was born in New York in 1844. His paternal grandfather, William N. Harder, married a Miss Smith and had a large family of sons, including William N. Harder, Jr., who was born in the state of New York in 1797. For many years he remained there, coming to Michi gan in 1858, at which time he settled upon a farm of two* hundred acres about three miles from Niles. This he cleared and im proved, transforming what was once a wild tract into a place of rich fertility and pro ductiveness. He followed general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1865, when he was about sixty-eight years of age. In New York he had mar ried Miss Jane Eliza Horton, who was born in that state in 1801, and died in 1885, at the age of eighty-four years. In the family were nine children, seven sons and two daughters. James E. Harder, the youngest of the family and the only one now living in Ber rien county, spent the first fourteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents to Michigan. His education, began in the schools of New York, was continued in Michigan, and he completed his course in Kalamazoo College, where he pursued a commercial course, thus being qualified for life's practical and re sponsible duties. He taught school for a number of years and under the old system of public instruction acted as superinten dent of schools in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan. Later he came to Niles and retiring from educational work engaged in the conduct of a mercantile enterprise, handling agricultural implements, coal, wood and other commodities under the firm name of Harder & Haynes. He conducted the business for six or seven years and later went upon the road as a traveling sales man, representing a carriage and buggy house. To that work he gave his attention for a number of years. He is now engaged in dealing in milk and has a large route in Niles, having secured many patrons from among the best class of citizens. He does not keep cows himself but buys the milk which he retails throughout the city. At the time of. the Civil war Mr. Harder responded to the country's call for aid in 1864, enlisting as a private of Company C, Fifteenth Michigan Infantry, with which he served until mustered out after the cessation of hostilities at Little Rock, Arkansas, in August, 1865. The regiment was attached to Sherman's army but entering the services during the latter part of the war, did not see much duty on the active field of battle. Mr. Harder also had two brothers who were soldiers of the Civil war, but both are now deceased. Tunis S. Harder was a mem ber of the Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, while John N. joined Company E of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, which company was formed at Niles. On one occasion he 640 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY was taken prisoner but later was exchanged. Afterward he was appointed a United States detective for the army and was located at Memphis, Tennessee. Following his return home from the war Mr. Harder was married in 1867 to Miss Euphrina Abbe, who was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, and died in 1871, leaving a son, William N. Harder, who was born in Niles and married Margaret Gow. William Harder was for fifteen years at Washington, D. C, as an employe in the pension department and for some years was a pension examiner, located at Marion, Ohio. While in Washington he studied law and was. graduated from the National Washington Law School. He went to Mar ion, Ohio, however, as pension examiner, but when his term of office had expired he entered upon the active practice of law at that place and is still located there as an able member of the bar. In 1876 James E. Harder was again married, his second union being with Florence Cleland, who was born in Niles and is a daughter of Andrew J. Cleland, who is still living at the age of eighty-four years, making his home with Mr. Harder. He came from New York state of Michigan as one of the first settlers in this part of the state and has for years been a witness of the development and pro gress that have wrought a wonderful trans formation here. Three children have been born of Mr. Harder's second marriage: Worth C, who was born in Niles and is a newspaper reporter connected with the Min neapolis Tribune; J. Harrold, who was born in Niles and is a newspaper reporter on the Niles Star; and Florence, who was born in Niles and is yet with her parents. The family attend the Presbyterian church, take an active interest in its work and are accounted helpful members. Mr. Harder has served as elder since 1877 and has done all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the church. He like wise belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Grand Army of the Republic and to the Royal Arcanum. His political allegiance is given to- the Republican party. He was supervisor of the third ward at Niles and at the present writing is alderman for that ward, so that he is now serving on the city council. He exercises his official preroga tives in support of all measures that he deems of public benefit and is a thoroughly reliable business man whether in citizenship or in business life. REV. CHARLES AGER, for many years a minister of the Baptist denomination but now living retired from the more active pastoral duties, although his zeal and in terest in the work has never abated, is a na tive of Albany, New York, and a son of C. C. and Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Ager, the former a native of Windsor, Vermont, and the latter of the Empire State. Rev. Ager spent his early boyhood days upon his father's farm and thus became fa miliar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist through prac tical experience in the work of the fields. He was a student in the schools of Albany and also of the academy at Schoharie Court House. Subsequently he entered Colgate University, from which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1856. His entire life has been devoted to educa tional work either from the schoolroom or from the pulpit, and in every community in which he has lived he has contributed to the intellectual and moral progress of his fellow. citizens. Following his graduation he ac cepted the position of teacher in the Union schools of Cassopolis, Michigan, where he remained during 1858 and 1859, acting as principal of the high school there. In {die latter year he went to Goshen, Indiana, where he entered upon the active ministerial work as pastor of the Goshen Baptist Church. In i860 he was ordained as a min ister of the gospel, his first pastorate being at Goshen, Indiana, where he remained for three and a half years. He then went to South Bend, Indiana, where he continued for three years and on the expiration of that period he removed to Aurora, Indiana, to accept a call from the Baptist Church of that place, where he continued for thirteen years, doing much in the work of the cause and winning the entire love and trust of his peo- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 641 pie and of many other denominations as well. He then resigned to accept the pas torate of the church in Goshen, Indiana, where he had begun his ministerial work and the second period of his residence there cov ered three years. In 1881 he came to Niles, where he has since resided, and from 1883 until February, 1889, he supplied the pulpit of the Baptist Church at Cassopolis, but continued to make his home in this city. It was an exceptionally pleasant task for him to minister to those who had in years before been his pupils in the high school at Cass opolis. He has now retired from active ministerial duties although he occasionally preaches and he yet displays in his dis courses the fervor and zeal of his younger days. The spirit of piety and earnestness in the cause of religion has ever been among his prominent characteristics and has been an important factor in his success as a pastor. Rev. Ager was married on the 25th of November, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Sherrill, who was born in New York but at the time of her marriage was living in Niles. She is a daughter of Marcus and Amanda M. Sher rill. Unto Rev. and Mrs. Ager has been born a daughter, Katharyne, who is the wife of Dr. A. O. Ullrey, a prominent physician in Niles. On the 28th of July, 1901, Mrs. Ager departed this life after a long ill ness, lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. On the 29th of October, 1903, Mr. Ager married Mrs. Eloise F. Hutton, a daughter of Jonathan and Jane Mendenhall, of Pokagon township. Ber rien county, Michigan, a family noted among the pioneers of Berrien county. Their home is the center of a cultured society circle, in which intelligence and true worth are given their due prominence. While Mr. Ager has never been very active in political work yet he has formed his own opinions from reading and investigation and recognizes that it is the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to sup port the measures which he deems will prove of greatest benefit to the country. He there fore gives his influence and ballot to the Re publican party. He is highly esteemed 41 throughout Berrien county and wherever known. He is a man of broad scholarly at tainments and humanitarian principles and has ever manifested a spirit of deep human sympathy and helpfulness that has won him the regard and esteem of his fellowmen and has been a potent element in his efforts to uplift his fellow men. GEORGE E. FLOWER is proprietor of a department store which he established in 1897 at Niles. It would be a credit to a city of much larger size and is an indication of the enterprising spirit, business capacity and broad outlook of the owner. Mr. Flower is yet a young man and has attained a nota ble success for one of his years. He was born in London, England, in 1870 and when but four years of age was brought to Amer ica by his parents who settled in Toronto, Canada, where the son pursued his education in the public schools. In 1890, when a young man of twenty years, he crossed the border into "the states" and made his way to Springfield, Ohio, becoming manager there of the cloak department in a large re tail dry goods house. He had previously had some experience in merchandising, hav ing been employed in a dry goods store in Canada, before removing to Ohio. He had acted for three years as manager of a branch store in Toronto, Canada. He remained in Springfield, Ohio, for a year and then went to Cleveland, where he became manager of the cloak department of the firm of Bailey & Company. He next made his way west of the Mississippi, settling at Keokuk, Iowa, where he» accepted the position of man ager of the cloak department of a large house here. He was afterward made manager of the dry goods store by the same firm, continuing at Keokuk for three years, at the end of which time he went to Mon mouth, Illinois and became manager of the dry goods business of John C. Allen, con tinuing at the head of the establishment for a year. Every change had been one in ad vance and year by year he added to his capi tal through his industry and economy until he had acquired a sum sufficient to justify his embarkation in business on his own ac- 642 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY count. In the fall of 1897 he came to Niles, Michigan, and opened a department store. This is a large establishment for a city of this size. He carries a large line of goods, each department being well equipped and has successfully conducted his enterprise to the present time, his trade steadily growing until it has reached extensive and profitable proportions. He is widely and justly recog nized as one of the progressive and enter prising merchants of Niles. He has a large and varied business training, is well ac quainted with the demands of the trade, and while keeping in touch with modern business methods he is found to be thor oughly trustworthy in all his dealings. The position which he has won in commercial circles here is shown by the fact that he was honored with election to the position of sec retary of the Business Men's Association. He is taking a very active and helpful part in its work and also contributes to the wel fare of the city along other lines, his co-oper ation being given to many movements for the general good and for public progress. He is now vice president of the Prosperity Building & Loan Association and president of the Security Loan & Building Association, which have been essential features in the development and improvement of Niles. He votes with the Republican party and could undoubtedly win various offices had he as piration in that direction. He was offered the nomination of mayor but refused, pre ferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his business affairs and the perform ance of public service in the capacity of a private citizen. Mr. Flower was married October 10, 1903, in Keokuk, Iowa, to Miss Emma Weess, who was born in Keokuk, and their attractive home is justly celebrated for its ¦gracious hospitality. Mr. Flower is a genial, courteous gentleman, a pleasant, entertain ing companion and has made stanch and ad miring friends among all classes. As an energetic, upright and conscientious mer chant and a gentleman of attractive social qualities he stands high in the estimation of the entire community. SALMA BARMORE, who is con ducting a drug business which he estab lished in 1904 and who has been connected with commercial interests in Niles since 1898, was born in Laporte county, Indiana, his natal year being 1849. When a little lad of three summers he was brought to Michigan by his parents who settled in Bu chanan. He is a son of Nathaniel and Mary (Tate) Barmore, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. Nathaniel Barmore learned and followed the black smith's trade, giving his attention to that pursuit to some years after his removal to Buchanan, but later he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits which continued to occupy his time and attention until he re tired from active business life. He died at the age of seventy-eight years and his wife passed away in 1850. Salma Barmore acquired his education in Buchanan in the district schools near his father's farm. Not desiring, however, to engage in agricultural pursuits as a life work he sought to secure a position in the store of William Osborn, a druggist of Buchanan, entering his employ at the age of seventeen years and remaining with him continuously for eight or nine years, a fact which indi cates his trustworthiness and capable service. On the expiration of that period he went upon the road as a traveling salesman, rep resenting a Chicago drug house for two years. He then returned to Buchanan and engaged in the conduct of a drug store on his own account, being thus associated with its trade interests for twelve years.' In 1898 he came to Niles and for five years was in the employ of F. W. Richter, proprietor of a drug store, at the end of which time, in 1904, he established his present drug busi ness, which he is now conducting. He car ries a full and complete line of drug and sundry goods and the neat and tasteful ar rangement of the store combined with his reliable methods are bringing him a large and gratifying patronage. In Buchanan, Michigan, in 1876, Mr. Barmore was married to Miss Martha E. Richards, a daughter of George H. Rich- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 643 ards, of Buchanan. They have an adopted daughter, Thursa. Mr. Barmore and his family attend the Presbyterian church. He is prominent in the Masonic order in which he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chap ter, council and commandery, thus gaining the highest rank in Masony. He is also connected with the Knights of the Macca bees. His interest in the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give earnest and unfaltering support to the Re publican party, and while in Buchanan he served as township clerk for two years, as township treasurer for one term and as a member of the city council for two terms of two years each. He has resided continu ously in Michigan since 1852, covering a period of more than half a century, and he has therefore witnessed many changes which have occurred in this extended period as pioneer conditions have given way before advancing civilization. He is alert and en terprising in his business affairs and equally progressive in public interests and is ac counted a valued addition to commercial circles in Niles. CHARLES M. MONTAGUE, now -successfully conducting a hardware store, has by the careful and judicious use of the advantages which have come to him won a place among the leading merchants of Niles. "Opportunity is hard to find and easy to lose," so runs the old Japanese maxim, and with a realization of this Mr. Montague has used his chances to work his way upward. He was born in Niles in 1876, the only child of John A. and, Helen I. (Johnson) Montague. The mother, who is still living, was born in this city and is a daughter of Alfred W. Johnson of Niles. The father, who was born in . Conneautville, Pennsyl vania, in 1841, died in Niles in 1903. He was reared in Crawford county, of the Key stone state, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the country's first call for aid, enlisting in 1861 as captain of Com pany B, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostili ties. He was in many hotly contested bat tles and engagements, the most important of which was the battle of Antietam. After the war he had charge for some years, as superintendent, of the mail delivery in Washington, D- C. In 1867 he came to Michigan, settling in Niles, where he was engaged in the hardware business, first as a member of the firm of Krick & Montague and shortly afterward alone, having pur chased his partner's interest. He then con ducted his store for some time, but after ward sold out his stock of hardware and engaged in the sale of buggies, carriages and agricultural implements for several years. Later he again entered mercantile circles as proprietor of a hardware store, which he conducted carefully and success fully until his death, which occurred when he was about sixty-two years of age. In his political views he was a Republican and while he always avoided public office he was interested in the welfare of Niles and the county and as a private citizen labored for the public good. Charles M. Montague mastered the studies taught in the primary and grammar grades of the public schools, also attended the high school and later became a student in Notre Dame University in Indiana. After leaving school he engaged in clerking for three years in his father's hardware store and then became teller in the First National Bank of Niles, where he remained for four years or until the failure of the. bank. He afterward became assistant to the receiver and continued to act in that capacity until 1903, when on account of the death of«his father he resigned to take charge of the hardware business and other affairs of the estate. He has since con ducted the store and watchful of opportu nities pointing to success has managed the business so as to make it one of the profit able and thriving commercial concerns of Niles. He now carries a good line of shelf and heavy hardware and is doing a nice business, and is also a retail coal dealer. This does not altogether represent the ex tent of his business interests, however, for he is a director of the National Rawhide & Belting Company of Niles and is secretary 644 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and director of the Security Loan & Build ing Association of Niles, this being the old est institution of this character in the city. Mr. Montague has been married twice. He first wedded Helen M. Quimby, a sister of Charles S. Quimby, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. His present wife, Jessie A. Worth, is a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Montague attend the Episcopal church and he is a prominent Mason belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery at Niles and to the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids, Michigan. In politics he is a stal wart Republican where national issues are involved, but at local elections votes an in dependent ticket, considering only the capa bility and trustworthiness of the candidate and supporting all measures which he deems will prove of public benefit. He is a young man well known in Niles, his native city, and has made for himself a creditable place and reputation in business circles, while his friends are almost as numerous as his ac quaintances. WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN, whose name is on the roll of Berrien county's hon ored dead, having in his life won distinction as one of the most prominent arid represent ative citizens of this part of the state, not only controlled important business interests but was also a factor in political life and' a promoter of varied and iriiportant move ments that had direct bearing upon the ma terial, intellectual, social and moral progress of his section of the state. He was born in Pembroke, New Hampshire, on the 7th of February, 1834, and is descended from one of the old colonial families of Massa chusetts. The name of Samuel Chamber lain appears upon the early records of the Massachusetts Bay colony. Representa tives of the name lived in Ipswich and Bos ton, Massachusetts, while the parents, grand parents and great-grandparents made their homes in the vicinity of Concord, New Hampshire. Jacob Chamberlain, born in 1 69 1, probably at Maiden, Massachusetts, was a son of John Chamberlain, and a grandson of Edward Chamberlain, of Chel- ford, Massachusetts. Edward came from England, and was therefore the progenitor of the family in the new world. Samuel Chamberlain, great-grandfather of our sub ject, was a resident of New Hampshire. His son, Samuel Chamberlain, served as a lieu tenant in the war for independence. Sam uel Chamberlain and his son Moses were both in service as substitutes for a short period during the Revolutionary war. Sev enteen of Mr. Chamberlain's ancestors. served in the colonial wars. Jacob Cham berlain, previously mentioned, born in 1691, died in 1734. He married Abigail Hasey, who was born in 1695, and died m I793- Samuel Chamberlain, son of Jacob and Abi gail (Hasey) Chamberlain, was born in 1724, and died in 1802. He married Mar tha Mellen, who was born in 1730, and died. in 1820. Her ancestry can be traced back to Simon Mellen, a son of Richard Mellen. Simon Mellen was born in 1640, and died! in 1694. Moses Chamberlain, a son of Samuel and Martha (Mellen) Chamberlain, was born in 1757, and died in 181 1. He was the grandfather of William Chamberlain of this- review. He married Rebecca Abbot, who- was born in 1760, arid died in 1846. She had two half brothers and two own brothers, all of whom served in the RevolutiOnary war and three of them died in service. Moses Chamberlain, son of Moses and Rebecca (Abbot) Chamberlain, of Loudon,. New Hampshire, was born in 1792, and de parted this life in 1866. He married Mary Foster, who was born in 1797, and passed. away in 1870. She was a daughter of Abiel and Susanah (Moore) Foster. Her father was born in 1773, and died in 1846, while his- wife was born at Canterbury, New Hamp shire, April 9, 1775. Rev. Foster was- a resident of Canterbury, New Hampshire, and for eighteen years was a member of congress under the confederation and con stitution. In the maternal line the ancestry can be traced back to the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, who went to Ipswich, Massa chusetts, in 1636, and was the first minister there. His son, John Rogers, was also a minister here and was the second president: // » (Qwxa*iwut is never remiss in the du ties of citizenship and his aid and co operation can be counted upon to further any measure for the general good. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree and in terested in the growth and progress of hi9 city and yet is broad minded enough to recognize and appreciate what is being ac complished in other sections of the country. Through travel he has gained broad cul- ure and experience and wide general in formation and he is justly classed with the prominent and popular residents of St. Joseph. 652 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY REUBEN D. PARKER, M. D., de ceased, who through many years of an active professional career was engaged in the practice of medicine, but in 1880 retired from that calling, his supervision being thereafter given to his invested interests, maintained his residence in St. Joseph from an early day. He passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, having been born in Lima township, Livingston county, New York, on the 31st of August, 1821, and was descended from English ancestry, his paternal grandfather being Joseph Parker. He served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, as did the maternal grandfather of Dr. Parker. His parents were Elisha B. and Alice (Davis) Parker, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of New York. In his youth the father learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner and for some years was identified with building operations. In 1829 he came with his wife and family to Michigan, settling in Washtenaw county, about twelve miles from Ann Arbor, where as a pioneer he aided in the early develop ment and improvement of that portion of the state. He was widely recognized as an influential citizen there and one whose labors proved a factor in shaping the his tory of the county during its formative period. His death occurred in 1839, after which his widow removed to Niles. In a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, Dr. Parker was the sec ond in order of birth. He was reared to farm life and attended a district and after ward a select school. His literary course completed he took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Markham, and subsequently continued his reading with Dr. Olds as his preceptor. Having gained com prehensive knowledge of the principles of medical science at that day, he then opened an office for practice in Washtenaw. His collegiate course was pursued in the West ern Medical University at Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1845. On forming a partnership with Dr. Mathews . he conducted a- general practice in the vil lage of Redford, Michigan, from 1846 until 1852. From Redford, Wayne county, Mich igan, he removed to St. Joseph in January, 1852, and as a physician and surgeon be came well known here, being accorded a liberal practice, which increased year by year as he demonstrated his worth in his profession. He always kept abreast with the advancement made in the science of medicine and was an able and learned prac titioner until 1880, when he retired from active connection with the profession and afterward devoted his time to the super vision of his extensive invested interests. As the years passed he judiciously placed his surplus capital in real-estate and busi ness enterprises and he became the owner of considerable valuable property, which re turned him an income that supplied him with all life's comforts and many of its luxuries. Dr. Parker was married on the 23d of December, 1869, to Miss Clarinda Searles, who was born in Wales, Erie county, New York, August 10, 1833, a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Cobb) Searles, and they have an adopted daughter, Effie May. In his political affiliation Dr. Parker was long a stalwart advocate of Republican prin ciples. He served for two years as trustee of St. Joseph and was chosen to fill import ant official positions, and whether in office or out of it he stood for all that was pro gressive in citizenship. He belonged to that class of men who wield a power which is all the more potent from the fact that it is moral rather than political and is exerted for the public weal rather than for personal ends. A resident of Michigan throughout al most his entire life, or for a period of seventy-seven years, few men within its borders were more familiar with its history and the events which shaped its course and find record upon its annals. At the time of his death he was one of the most venerable and honored resi dents of Berrien county and its history would be incomplete without record of his life. He passed away at his home in St. Joseph, April 13, 1900. JAMES W. ISBELL, proprietor of the Twin City Boiler Works at St. Joseph, was 'i/vry Bainbridge township, cutting the road through the forests for miles. Simeon Brant secured a claim constituting the southeast quarter of section 31, while Daniel's place was the southwest quarter of section 32, and Artaxerses Brant took the east half of the southeast quarter of section 31. Nathaniel Brant obtained the northwest quarter of sec tion 32, and thus altogether they secured the four corners. Nearly all of this land is still in possession of members of the Brant fam ily, although Nathaniel Brant is the only one of the original owners now living. Simeon Brant, the father, died at the old homestead at a very advanced age, while Artaxerses- Brant died at the age of seventy-five- years, and Daniel passed away at the old home when sixty-six years of age. Artaxerses Brant had one son in Ma son county and three grandchildren. The children of Jerome Brant are still on the old homestead. Nathaniel Brant resides. upon his old home place, which has now been in his possession for many years. Daniel Brant, father of our subject, placed about one hundred and twenty acres. of his homestead under cultivation. He like- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 663 wise secured and improved two other tracts of land of eighty and eighty-five acres re spectively, and he also had two houses in Benton Harbor at the time of his death. He likewise owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Pipestone township, which he improved, and he gave a farm to each of his children, amounting to over one hundred and sixty acres of land. He placed more than two hundred acres of land under culti vation and thus contributed in large meas ure to the substantial development and re clamation of this part of the state. His wife was a fine business woman and he largely attributed to her influence and assistance the success which he has achieved. She died about fifteen years prior to the death of her husband, being about fifty years of age when she passed away. They had traveled life's journey together, however, for many years, for she was but seventeen years of age at the time of their marriage. Her life was devoted to her family and although never very strong or robust she was am bitious and energetic and her capable man agement of the household affairs and the assistance and encouragement which she rendered her husband were valued factors in their prosperity. They became the par ents of seven children, as follows : Lafay ette died on Ship Island, New Mexico, while in the United States service, having left high school in St. Joseph in order to enlist. He was a member of the Sixth Michigan In fantry and passed away when twenty-two years of age. Francis is living in Pipestone township. Marion resides in Bainbridge township on land given him by his father. Henry- is a resident of Fountain, Mason county, Michigan. Lucretia married John Harmon, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Rosella married William Burnett, of Bain bridge, and resides at Spokane, Washington. Having lost his first wife Daniel Brant was married to Miss Nancy Kennedy, who sur vives him and is yet living in Benton Har bor. Their children are: Sherman; Ezra, the subject of this review; Lillie, the wife of William Denneke, of Benton Harbor; and Roy. Ezra Brant, after spending his entire life upon the home farm with the exception of one year, now owns the old homestead property which was for many years in pos session of his father, Daniel Brant and which was settled in 1836. It comprises one hun dred and sixty acres and is a very valuable tract. He has about sixty-seven acres in fruit, forty acres in peaches, six acres in grapes and nine acres in apples, of which five acres have been in bearing for fifty-six years. He also has three acres in raspber ries and an acre and a half in strawberries, and five acres in pears. All of his fruit is profitable, for he gathers annually good crops. In 1905 he raised eighteen hundred bushels of peaches and forty-eight barrels of apples. His business is continually grow ing and in connection with fruit-raising he has engaged in general farming. He pur chased his place with five separate purchases and has now an extensive and valuable tract of land under a high state of cultivation and well adapted for the purposes for which it is used. On the 22d of July, 1896, Mr. Brant was married to Miss Floy G. Moore, a daughter of William Moore of Sodus town ship, and now living in Benzie county, Mich igan. Mrs. Brant was born in Sodus town ship, and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons and a daughter, Ellis Ezra and Russel Jaleb and Violet Orene. Mr. Brant is recognized as one of the most enterprising young business men of the town ship, alert and energetic, brooking no ob stacles that can be overcome by determined, persistent and honorable labor. WILLIAM CAMFIELD was the pio neer in the spraying of fruit trees in Ber rien county. He began this work twenty years ago and demonstrated that it was fol lowed by such excellent results that the custom soon came into general use. He has long been known as one of the prominent and successful fruit-growers of this portion of the state and now lives in Hagar town ship, where he has valuable property. He was born in County Norfolk, Ontario, Can ada, October 9, 1832, and was reared to manhood in that country, He remained at home until his marriage, which, however, was celebrated before he was twenty years HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of age. The lady of his choice was Miss Sarah M. Ferguson, and they removed from Norfolk county to Walsingham, on Long Point Bay, an arm of Lake Erie, where Mr. Camfield improved two farms. He there resided until the spring of 1866, when he came to Berrien county, Michigan. He had a brother, Leavitt Camfield, who had been a resident of St. Joseph for two years at that time and was engaged in blacksmith ing. William Camfield had a contract to put in wood which he was piling^on the bank of Lake Erie, when a freshet swept it into the lake and he thus lost three thousand cords. This left him without financial re sources and in this condition he came to Michigan. Here he cleared a part of a farm for his brother, the tract lying just north, of Benton Harbor, and upon that place Leavitt Camfield made his home until his death, which was occasioned by the kick of a horse. He erected the octagonal brick house a mile and a quarter north of Benton Harbor, which is one of the landmarks in this sec tion of the county. In 1867 William Camfield located on his present farm, first purchasing seven acres where he lives on the border of Hagar and Benton townships, three and a half miles north of the city of Benton Harbor. He erected here a log house and for thirty- eight years has resided continuously upon this place. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his farm until it now comprises twenty-nine and a half acres. He started in debt for the seven acres, for which he paid seven hundred dol lars, and in addition he owed two hundred dollars. His seven acres was all covered with timber and he had to cut a road to get to it, making the road along the town line. Two years later he paid one thousand dollars for five acres adjoining. This was planted to berries. He worked energetic ally, persistently and capably in the devel opment and care of his property and the year 1873 found him free from debt. He then arranged to purchase sixty acres of land for nine thousand dollars in company with his son-in-law. This he had also pur chased on time. It was planted to peaches but the yellows took his trees and in two years he let the property revert to the origi nal owner, losing two thousand dollars on the deal. He then engaged in lumbering, in which he continued for seven years. He got out the lumber and timber for The Lora, the first steamboat that was built in this lo cality, selecting the timber in the woods. It was cut and hewed by him, after which it was sawed. He would take contracts for lumbering and at times kept several teams, having as high as seventy one winter. He employed a number of choppers and some times boarded his men. One winter he cleared one hundred and fourteen acres of heavy timber at Sister Lakes fifteen miles from Benton Harbor. Half of this was sent to Benton Harbor and the remaining half to Dowagiac. In his lumbering operations he prospered and in the meantime he oper ated his little farm of twelve acres, and also turned his attention to dealing in fruit. He would purchase fruit on the trees and in one season paid four thousand dollars for peaches on the trees. He bought fruit in this way from fifteen to twenty years and generally met with success in this under taking. He added more land from time to time, buying in small tracts and for one tract of five acres paid seven hundred and fifty dollars. It is eighteen years since he bought a ten-acre tract in Benton township opposite his present farm for eight hundred dollars, and eighteen years ago he married his pres ent wife. He deeded to his son by his first wife fifteen acres of land, but three years later he paid him twenty-three hundred dol lars for this same tract. This gives him now twenty-nine and a half acres near Lake Michigan. It is all high-grade fruit land, unsurpassed by any in the county and de voted to the raising of fruit, including ap ples, pears, peaches, cherries and grapes. He has sold his apple crop for fifteen hun dred dollars in a single season. In 1905 he had over thirteen hundred dollars clear income above all expenses of operation. In 1903 he took in three thousand dollars, in 1904 fourteen hundred dollars and in 1905 two thousand dollars, clearing one thousand dollars above all expenses. He makes a ^fee^ /4e<*m £?, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 665 specialty of Dutchess apples, the trees be ing worth one hundred dollars apiece and if his entire farm were covered with trees as good as his one hundred trees of this va riety, it would pay an interest on a basis of one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Cam- field has great faith in a brilliant future for this section of the country as a fruit belt and has often expressed himself that "this coun try is the best place for a live man but the poorest for a dead one to be in." He is growing for commercial purposes and his orchards are in excellent condition, being cared for along modern progressive meth ods. Formerly Mr. Camfield engaged quite extensively in raising berries, having seven hundred dollars worth of berries picked in a single day in 1874, and for a time he was known as the berry king of the county. He was the pioneer in the process of spraying trees, beginning this twenty years ago in or der to exterminate the codling moth on ap ple trees. The result surprised all arid the second year he sprayed for several other fruit-growers of the community. Leading men said after the crop was harvested that he had added six hundred dollars to their profits. One man said an hour's work of this kind in his orchard paid him one hun dred dollars. One. man refused to pay for spraying, saying that it had hurt several trees. Mr. Camfield therefore bought the man's crop for five hundred dollars less the spraying bill and a few weeks after the spraying was done he sold the orchard for fifteen hundred dollars, thus clearing one thousand dollars. His efforts in this direc tion being so successful he was then sought to write articles for papers as to the benefit of spraying and is considered an authority upon the subject. In July, 1887, Mr. Camfield lost his first wife after they had lived together for thirty- four years. On the 31st of December, 1888, he married Miss Exilea C. Gordon, who was reared in Brooklyn, New York, but was visiting her sister in Berrien county. Her family are of French lineage. Her father owned an island in Lake Champlain, on which she was born and by 'reason of that fact she was named Exilea. She was reared, however, in Brooklyn. Her father was part owner of a vessel on Lake Champlain. Coming to the west to visit she met Mr. Camfield while in Berrien county and gave him her hand in marriage. Two children have been born unto them: John Nellis, nine years of age; and Victor Newton, three years of age. By his first marriage Mr. Camfield had seven children. Two sons, Charles E. and Fred Lorenzo, are fruit-growers of this vicinity. George Al len is a farmef of Mason county. Alexa is the wife of John McKenzie, of Hagar town ship. The others are deceased. Mr. Camfield gives his entire time and attention to the supervision of his fruit- raising interests and in operating the place employs two or three men. In his political views he is a Republican arid rather inde pendent. His efforts have been a practical demonstration of the value of this district as a fruit producing center and his success has been the direct result of his untiring labors. FREDERICK A. HOBBS. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and leading citi zen whose name initiates this review, for he has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the thriving city in which he makes his home. He is not a witness of the trend of events, but is making history through the establishment and control of business interests on which rest the progress and upbuildirig of any community. His birth occurred iri Terre Haute, Indiana, No vember 26, 1859. His paternal grand- grandfather was Robinson Hobbs, of Eng lish descent. The father, Thomas F. Hobbs, was a native of Maine and a farmer by occupation. In connection with the tilling of the soil, however, he carried on business as a contractor and builder, in which he continued up to the time of his demise in 1901, when he was seventy years of age. Having removed from the east he became a resident of Indiana, and at a later date took up his abode in Benton Harbor. His wife bore the maiden name of Hulda Creal and was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, while at the present writing she makes her home in Chicago, Illinois. By her marriage she be came the mother of four children : Mrs. Rob- 666 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ert A. Smythe; Mrs. F. R. Gilson; Mrs. Willard S. Bracken, who is living in Chi cago and is a vocalist of well known ability ; and Frederick A. The maternal grand father, Anthony Creal, was a native of the Empire State, but became one of the pio neer residents of Indiana, where he settled in 1820. Frederick A. Hobbs, although a native of Indiana, was reared in Dewitt, Clinton county, Iowa, and his early education, ac quired in the public schools there, was sup plemented by further study in Davenport, Iowa. Returning to his home in Dewitt he was engaged in clerking in the postoffice of that city and in a general merchandise store for several years, and in 1885 he came to Benton Harbor, where he has since made his home. Closely associated with interests and interprises, he has had direct and per manent effect upon the development and prosperity of the community. Soon after his arrival here he purchased a half interest in the Palladium, a newspaper, in the owner ship of which he was connected with the late F. R. Gilso-n for three and a half years, at the expiration of which period he sold out to his partner. The paper had been origin ally published only as a weekly, but the firm of Hobbs & Gilson established also a daily issue, which proved a successful venture and is still published by an incorporated com pany which purchased the paper following the recent death of Mr. Gilson. After his retirement from the newspaper field Mr. Hobbs engaged in the retail coal business and later continued in the same trade save on a wholesale scale. . He first became the successor of the firm of Stearns & Mott, coal merchants, and conducted the business alone for four or five years, after which it was incorporated under the name of the Benton Har bor Fuel Company in 1893, with Mr. Hobbs as president and treasurer, Thomas T. Hobbs as vice-president, and Clar ence Warner as secretary. William H. Poundstone has succeeded Mr. Warner as secretary, but the vice-presidency has re mained vacant since the death of its first incumbent in 1901. The business has grown to six or seven times its original proportions and is one of the paying commercial- enter prises of the city. Mr. Hobbs, however, has not concentrated his energies entirely upon this one line. In fact he has been a close ob server of business indications and possibili ties and to various fields has extended his efforts with good results. In 1891 he became interested in the Michigan Salt Association, which handles salt in car load lots. This company owns salt warehouses in St. Jo seph and Benton Harbor and has spurs on the Big Four and Michigan Central Rail roads, thus furnishing excellent transporta tion facilities. They ship one hundred thou sand barrels of salt per year. In 1895 Mr. Hobbs embarked in the wholseale flour busi ness, in which he is still interested in addition to the above mentioned concerns. Besides owning considerable stock in the salt company he is its active agent. In 1889 he organized the Benton Transit Company, connected therein with Captain R. C. Brit ton. The business was incorporated the same year with William G. Newland as president, Captain R. C. Britton vice-presi dent and general manager, and Frederick A. Hobbs as secretary and treasurer. Cap tain Britton died in October, 1904, and Mr. Newland withdrew from the firm, leaving Mr. Hobbs as active manager of the com pany, which makes a specialty of carrying fruit in season to Chicago. The enterpriser has proved a remunerative one, the business having reached extensive and profitable pro portions. In connection with others Mr. Hobbs organized the Michigan Lake Sand Company, which was incorporated in 1905, with Frederick A. Hobbs as president, John J. Eager, of St. Joseph, Michigan, as sec retary, and William H. Poundstone as treasurer. On the 7th of June, 1906, he was elected president of the Michigan and Indiana Retail Coal Association, which now has eleven hundred members. On the 24th of May, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hobbs and Miss Nettie Stephenson, of Dewitt, Iowa, where the wedding was celebrated. She was born in Virginia, is a daughter of George Stephen son and is of English descent. Three chil- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 667 dren grace this union : Laura and Edith, who were born in Iowa ; and Fred S., whose birth occured in Benton Harbor. In his political views Mr. Hobbs is a Republican and for six years served as chair man of the Republican city central commit tee. When the city was incorporated he be came its first mayor, in 1891, serving for one term. He had been town clerk under the village administration and he is now treasurer of the Republican county central committee . His labors in behalf of the party are recognized as of value because he brings to this work the same keen discernment and spirit of enterprise which characterize his private business affairs. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in both of which he has been honored with of fice, representing both in the grand lodge and serving as the first presiding officer in the Elks lodge. He is one of the trustees in the Universalist Church and is active in its work. In manner he is never ostenta tious, but he possesses that true worth which cannot be hid and which is always recog nized by people of superiority. He indeed deserves mention among the most promi nent of Benton Harbor's business men and representative citizens and should find a place in the history of the leading residents of Berrien county, whose force of character, sterling integrity, control of circumstances and whose marked success in establishing important industries have contributed in such an eminent degree to the solidity and progress of the city in which he makes his home. His life has been manly, his actions sincere and he has left the impress of his individuality upon the annals of Berrien county. JAMES FLOOD, deceased, was one of the enterprising agriculturists of Berrien county, who long devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil in this part of the state and resided in Hagar township, having come to America in 1848. He made his way to this county with his brother William, and being unmarried remained with his brother until 1852, when he bought land on section 34 of the same township, becoming the owner of sixty-five acres, which was entirely wild and unimproved. It lay along the Paw Paw river and he began the arduous task of clearing and cultivating it. Two years later his sister Mary also came to the United States from Ireland, her native land, and made her way to Michigan, where she acted as housekeeper for her brother James until her death, which occurred in 1872. James Flood never married, and his housekeeper for many years was his niece, Jane Frances Flood, a daughter of William and Rose Flood. When only three years of age she went to live with her uncle and aunt, James and Mary Flood. Later she returned to her mother's home but after two years again took up her abode with her aunt and uncle, and continued to live with Mr. . Flood until his demise. She was eighteen years of age at the time of her aunt's death, and she then took charge of the house and gave her attention to her uncle's interests and the management of his home. James Flood cleared about twenty-five acres of the original sixty-five acres and also another tract of forty acres and he added to his first purchase until at the time of his. death he owned about two hundred acres of good land. He willed the homestead to his niece, Jane, while the remainder of his prop erty went to other relatives. He was ener getic and enterprising and carried forward to successful completion whatever he under took. In his political views he was a Demo crat. He was called to various local posi tions of honor and trust, serving as justice of the peace and highway commissioner. In the latter office he laid out many of the township roads and he continued in public life for many years, doing effective and help ful service for the general welfare. He was an active member of the Catholic church at St. Joseph, and died in that faith February 8, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. He had lived a life of uprightness and honor and had enjoyed to the full extent the re spect and good will of his fellowmen. EDWARD BRODRICK, one of the progressive and energetic farmers of Hagar 668 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY township, was born in Wayne county, New York, on the 16th of February, 185 1, and when six years of age was taken by his par ents to Keeler township, Van Buren county, Michigan. In the fall of i860 the family re moved to Bainbridge township, Berrien county, where his parents, James and Brid get (Costello) Brodrick, spent their remain ing days. They were both natives of Coun ty Galway, Ireland, and after coming to Berrien county the father owned a good farm and made his home thereon for many years, carefully cultivating and improving the property up to the time of the death of his wife. His last years were spent at the home of his son, Edward Brodrick, and he departed this life on the 8th of September, 1880, when more than seventy-five years of age, having survived his wife for six years, as her death occurred on the ist of Decem ber, 1874. Edward Brodrick was reared under the parental roof, spending much of his boy hood and youth in Michigan amid the sur roundings and environments of pioneer life. On attaining his majority he was married on the 28th of February, 1876, to Miss Jane Frances Flood, a daughter of William and Rose Flood. She was only three years of age when she went to live with her uncle and aunt, James and Mary Flood, but though she afterward returned to her mother for two years, she again took up her abode upon her uncle's farm and after her aunt's death she took charge of the household, be ing then a young lady of eighteen years. Following their marriage Edward Brod rick and his wife went to his father's farm in Bainbridge township-, where they lived for two years, leaving her sister Ellen as housekeeper for her uncle, James Flood, but at the end of that time they returned to Mr. Flood's farm, Mr. Brodrick working with him until the death of Mr. Flood. In the meantime, however, in 1880, he had pur chased forty acres of land from Mrs. E. Hoag, and he now has one hundred and five acres in the home place and eighty acres a half mile distant. The latter tract had been the homestead of Patrick Flood, and Mr. Brodrick purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property, his wife having in herited a part of it. The present home of the Brodricks was erected in war times by Mr. Flood but it has* been rebuilt and mod ernized by Mr. Brodrick, and is now one of the desirable and attractive residences of Hagar township. He has about forty acres in the home place and thirty-five acres in his other farm planted to fruit, making seventy-five acres in all thus utilized. Of this twenty-five acres is set out to peaches and the sale of his fruit has in some years amounted to five thousand dollars. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brodrick have been born nine children, seven of whom are yet living : Mary Jane, a twin (the other died in infancy), the wife of James F. Hickey, of Hagar township; William H., at home; Rose Belle, the wife of D. J. Laviolette, of Hagar township; Peter, deceased; Edward Charles, Frances Agnes and James Leo, all at home; and Helen Julia, who corhpletes the family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brodrick were reared in St. John's Catholic Church, in Benton Harbor. He gives his political allegiance to the Democracy and is an active, energetic business man, carefully conducting important farming and fruit-raising inter ests with the result that excellent success is attending his labors. ALLEN M. RANDALL. The produc tion of peaches, apples and berries claims the time and attention of Allen M. Randall, one of the successful horticulturists of Bain bridge township. He was born May 1, 1842, in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, and was only six years of age when he came to the United States with his uncle, James I. Randall, who brought him to St. Joseph. His uncle was a ship carpenter at St. Joseph. When eight years of age, in the spring of 1850, Allen M. Randall went to live with H. C. Morton, with whom he remained for three years. He then entered the employ of William B. Sutherland, while his brother, William Randall, lived with Warren Pearl. For five years Mr. Randall continued in the employ of Mr. Sutherland and found a good home there. He had also found a good home with Mr. Morton. Mrs. Sutherland HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 669 was a most competent woman and her care ful guidance and assistance proved of the utmost value to him as well as the business training which he received under the direc tion of Mr. Sutherland. When sixteen years of age he began working by the month as a farm hand, and devoted the winter seasons to the acquirement of an education in the public schools, which he attended until nine teen years of age. During this period he regarded the Sutherland home as his. After the country became involved in the Civil war Mr. Raridall enlisted in 1862, in response to President Lincoln's call, becom ing a recruit of Company D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Western Sharpshooters. He reached the regiment at Corinth, Mississippi, and participated in the battles of Iuka arid of Corinth. He continued with that command until 1863, when he was detailed to the quartermaster's department and was given charge of a train of the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps under General John A. Logan. He had about two hundred teamsters, twenty wagonmasters, six black smiths and others under his command, the entire force numbering about three hundred. He was often in the closest quarters but by quick action went through without the loss of arms or the loss of men. He was re tained in that position from the beginning of the Atlanta campaign until after the army reached Washington and participated in the grand review in the capital city. Mr. Ran dall arrived in Michigan in July, 1865. Mr. Randall, and his brother William sold goods in Millburg for a period of fif teen years, beginning in 1865. They also operated a sawmill and grist mill and other industries a part of the time. All of his children were born during their residence in Millburg. In 1 891, Mr. Randall returned to the Sutherland farm and was afterward for three years engaged in the conduct of a dairy near Benton Harbor. He later again turned to the Sutherland farm, where he is now living, the place comprising one hun dred and forty-five acres of rich and pro ductive land. He also has eighty acres in Benton township, and he has given eighty acres to his children. Upon the home place he has forty acres devoted to the raising of peaches and apples and twenty acres to ber ries. He is continually setting out other fruit. He is now well known as a leading horticulturist of the county and his fruit sales have amounted to three thousand dol lars in a single season. He also has upon his place from five to ten acres of melons. Much of his fruit is young and all of it has been set out within twelve years. In his business affairs Mr. Randall is very practi cal and at the same time progressive and has met with excellent success, working his way steadily upward. He well deserves that oft misused term "a self-made man," for his prosperity has resulted entirely from his own earnest and honorable labors. On the 13th of January, 1870, Mr. Ran dall was united in marriage to Miss Ade laide M. Sutherland, a daughter of William Sutherland. She was born on the farm where she now lives on the 29th of Novem ber, 1846, and with the exception of a few" years has always resided upon this place. She represents one of the old prominent and honored families of Berrien county. The representatives of the name in this sec tion of the state were Lott and David Suth erland,- and a third brother, Justus Suther land, who resided in Allegan county. David Sutherland came with his sons from New York and spent three years near Kalamazoo. He located the sons upon property in this portion of the state and died soon after ward. His sons were William, Bushrod, John and George, of whom Bushrod resided in this vicinity, while John made his home in Pipesftne township, and George settled near Kalamazoo. All are now deceased. William Sutherland, the other member of the family, married Jerusha Barnard. She was born in New York, belonged to one of the old families of New Hampshire, and died on the farm in Bainbridge township. William Sutherland spent the greater part of his life upon the farm which is now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Randall, and was a well known and enterprising agri culturist of the community. He had added to the old place from time to time and had invested in other land as opportunity offered until he owned about five hundred acres and 670 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY had placed nearly the entire amount under cultivation. He carried on general farming and his life was devoted to his private busi ness affairs. He was a very hospitable man, always ready to extend the courtesies of his home to those who visited him, and he was helpful and generous to the needy. Although he did not belong to any church he displayed the sterling characteristics of Christianity in an upright and honorable life. The farm road near the house is lined with sugar maple trees which have stood there for fifty- four years. When he was preparing to build those trees were set out and are now among the finest in the township. The farm borders Pipestone township and is pleasantly lo cated eleven miles southeast of Benton Har bor and seven miles north of Eau Claire. Mr. Sutherland was a man of much natural mechanical ingenuity and skill, being very handy with the use of tools, so that he was ?ble to do almost all of the work of that na ture on his farm. He made ox yokes and ax handles and his efficiency in this direction proved an important element in the success ful management of his property. Both Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland have passed away and their remains were interred in Pen Yan cemetery. He died in. April, 1883, at the age of sixty-four years, having for four years survived his • wife, who passed away at the age of fifty-nine. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Randall have been born eight children : Allen W., who is on the homestead ; Myra F., who died in child hood; Dan T., also on a part of the old homestead; Ella E., who married Ernest Cribbs, who is a veterinary surgeon and liv eryman at Watervliet; Ida B., the wife of Willard Cribbs, who- is living on the old Cribbs homestead; James I., at home; Jes sie V., a teacher in the high school at Water vliet; and Albert M., at home. Mr. Randall gives his political support to the Republican party and was a candidate for the nomination for county sheriff in 1900 and 1902, but was defeated. His life has beeri well spent and his activity and en terprise have been crowned with a measure of success that makes him a leading citizen of Berrien county. The special pride of Mr. and Mrs. Randall is the one that neither of their sons nor two sons-in-law use strong drink nor tobacco in any form. THEODORE N. PERRY, living on section 14, Hagar township, has kept pace with the uniform progress made by horti culturists of this great fruit belt of Michigan and is today the owner of a valuable and productive fruit farm, his specialty being peaches and pears. He is one of the worthy citizens that the Empire state has furnished to Michigan, his birth having occurred in Athens, Green county, New York, June 11, 1844. He is a son of Peter Perry and a rep resentative of one of the old families of New York. His ancestors received a land grant, thus becoming owners of several thousand acres and they were among the early Knick erbockers who resided in the eastern sec tion of the Empire state. The family in its successive generations has stood for pro gress and development along business lines and in citizenship and its record for loyalty is also commendable. The paternal great grandfather was killed in the Revolutionary war and the grandfather, Nicholas Perry, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Hav ing arrived at years of maturity Peter Perry married Hannah Brandow, also of Athens, New York, and a representative of one of the old families. His death occurred in Athens from cholera in 1849. He left a widow with six children dependent upon her for support. She reared her family near Athens and Catskill and to the best of her ability provided for her children. After he was ten years of age Theodore N. Perry lived with various families and did many tasks which were assigned to him in order to thus pay for his board and clothing. He was a young man of but seventeen years when he responded to the country's call for troops. His patriotic spirit was aroused and true to the military spirit of his ances tors he offered his services to the government, joining Company I, Forty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry on the 14th of September, 1861. He served under Colonel, afterward Gen eral, J. C. Rice, who was subsequently killed HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY. 67.1 in an engagement. The regiment was at tached to the Army of the Potomac and the first engagement in which Mr. Perry par ticipated was the siege of Yorktown. His first battle was at Hanover Court House and he participated altogether in seventeen battles. He continued with the Army of the Potomac and on the expiration of his term of service veteranized in the same com mand. He was several times hit with spent balls and was wounded at Spottsylvania Courthouse on the 13th of May, 1864, by a musket ball, which incapacitated him for further duty for a time, so that he was in the hospital and at home for six weeks. On a certain charge his command was driven back and captured but in three hours was re-captured by General Stoneman's guard. During the latter part of the war he guarded rebel prisoners at City Point and in the vi cinity of Washington until honorably dis charged on the 4th of September, 1865, after about four years' active service. He had be come sergeant and much of the time acted as first sergeant. He was a faithful soldier, never faltering in the performance of any duty and his valor and loyalty were unques tioned. When hostilities had ceased and his aid was no longer needed Mr. Perry came at once to the middle west, arriving in Chicago, Illinois, in 1865. The next fall he removed' to Berrien county, Michigan, and entered the employ of A. J.' Knisely, for whom he worked for a year, cutting cord wood for use in Mr. Knisely's brickyard in Chicago. When his labors, economy and enterprise had brought him some capital, Mr. Perry in 1869 purchased his present farm, which was then all covered with heavy timber. It is situated one mile from Lake Michigan and he sold the best saw timber from his place. His idea was to get at the soil and transform the land into productive fields. He has lived at his present location continuously since 1869 and built his home in 1872. Later he added another tract of land, which he has also cleared, thus bringing sixty acres under cultivation. He has also cleared land for others and found it a profitable source of in come. For a long period he has engaged in fruit farming, making a specialty of peaches and pears arid his is an ideal location for raising fruit. He has kept up with the times, making a study of fruit culture and his opinions are largely regarded as authority upon questions connected with the cultiva tion and improvement of peaches and pears. He now has about one thousand pear trees upon his place. His farm has required his constant time and attention and his labors have been rewarded with good crops. On the 10th of February, 1870, Mr. Perry was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Bacon, a native of New York, who was married, however, in Hagar township, Ber rien county. They have two children: Amy A., the wife of Harry F. Anderson, of Chicago; and William, who married Julia Damon, a daughter of Oscar Damon, who is represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. Perry exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and always attends the conventions of his party. He is always sent as a delegate, being thus honored for thirty years. Though his party is in minority in this township he has been continuously the incumbent in the office of justice of the peace for a quarter of a century, being elected at each successive election, although the town ship has -'.a normal Republican majority of about sixty, his elections indicating his per sonal popularity, his capability in office and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow men. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Coloma and was a charter member of George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R. He is active in Riverside Grange, in which he toas served as master and has also been a delegate to the State Grange. At all times and under all circumstances he is as loyal to his country and her welfare as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south. ? NATHANIEL M. BRANT is one of the venerable citizens of Berrien county, his home being in Bainbridge township. He is still a hearty man although he has passed the ninety-first milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Macedon, Gene see county, New York, on the 12th of March, 18 1 5. His parents were Simeon and Sarah 672 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY (Hern don) Brant. The father was born near Rhode Island, and was married in Genesee county, New York, whither he had gone as a boy with his parents. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe Loetz, was a native of England, and his father was probably born in that country. Simeon Brant served for one year as a soldier of the war of 1812, and after his discharge re-enlisted for further military service. Later in life he received two land warrants in recogni tion of the aid which he had rendered to the government during the dark period of hos tility with England. The year 1836 witnessed the arrival of the Brant family in Michigan. The west ward trip was made across the country with two .yoke of oxen, and the father was ac companied by three sons and a daughter, namely: Nathaniel, John Daniel, Augustus and Malvina. Two other sons, Artaxerses and Van Rensselaer, came later, and the Brant family has figured for many years in the public life of this part of Michigan, especially in subjugating the wilderness and extending the frontier. The father, Simeon Brant, settled on the east half of the south east quarter of section 31, Bainbridge town ship, while his son, Nathaniel, secured as a claim the west half of the northwest half of section 32 ; Daniel, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 32; while Au gustus settled in Pipestone township. Three years later Artaxerses Brant, who had first taken up his abode at Three Rivers, came to Bainbridge township and secured the east half of the northeast quarter of section 31. The daughter, Malvina, married Oliver Sur- rell, and they settled in Hagar township, but later removed to Pipestone township, where they lived and died. The members of the family, however, lived in one locality and did an important part in the work of development and improvement there. Simeon Brant had come to the west ex pecting to enter land near Benton Harbor but on reaching Kalamazoo, Michigan, he became ill and while there he purchased the eighty acres on which he settled, without aaving seen the property. Nathaniel Brant had joined the family at that place, having proceeded that far by boat, after which they drove across the state to their destination. Some days there would be twenty-five or thirty families in the caravan as they traveled along but each going to their destination they would perhaps by night all be scattered. The. Brants followed the Chicago turnpike that extended through Nile's as far as Edin- burg, after which they started for Pokagon prairie and the Indian Lake. From Indian Lake they had to cut their way through the north eight miles' and to the Territorial road, then proceeded west on that road to within a mile of Millburg, not far from the Davis Junction. From that point they proceeded two and a half miles south to the land which Mr. Brant had purchased. There he located section corners and in that way located the land they sought. They probably reached their destination in November, with snow on the ground, and immediately afterward a log cabin was built. There were no settlers north of them to Millburg, a distance of five miles. Mr. LeRue had a mill on Pipestone creek, three or four miles to the southwest, while to the south stretched an unbroken wilderness and also to the east. It was about three years, then settlers began to come read ily of this section of the state. Artemus Stickney was about the first to locate as a near neighbor of the Brant family. Lott Sutherland and his brother, the father of Lewis Sutherland, were the first to settle east of the Brant family. In the midst of the forest Simeon Brant hewed out a farm, clearing and cultivating his land, and transforming the place into rich -, fields. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his wife's death, after which he went to Illinois with his son Nathaniel, and passed away at the age of eighty-four years. Daniel Brant lived and died on his home place, and his son Ezra is now on the old homestead. Artaxerses Brant spent his life on the homestead which he commenced to develop about the time his father secured property here, together with his brothers, Daniel and Nathaniel. He was the eldest of the family. Nathaniel M. Brant, whose name intro duces this review, secured his land in 1844, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ^73 and has since lived thereon. ' He was mar ried on the 29th of April, 1840, in Pipestone township, to Miss Martha Hazzard, a daugh ter of Crawford Hazzard, who had also come to Berrien county in 1836 from Sack- etts Harbor, New York, settling first at Watervliet and later in Pipestone township. For four years after their marriage Nathan iel M. Brant and his wife lived in Pipestone township, and in 1844, removed to his pres ent farm whereon he has now resided for- sixty-two years. His life has been passed in Michigan from the age of twenty-one years. He started in business on his own account with eighty acres but through his well directed energy and business capacity he became the owner of two hundred acres in the old homestead, also two hundred- acres in Pipestone township, forty acres in Hagar township and forty acres in Watervliet town ship. He has practically given allthis away, however, but has kept a life -lease on his home place of eighty acres. He has -assisted each of his children to gain a farm and has been most generous with his sons, and daugh ters. In his business career he has prospered, because he was diligent and energetic, and he now well merits the rest that is vouch safed to him. His wife died- in May, 190 1, after they had traveled life's journey -hap pily together for sixty years. She had bten indeed a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. In their family were eight sons and three daughters. The daughters were Laura, Phoebe and Ann, but none are now living. The sons, how ever, still survive. These are Wesley C. ; Warren ; Dudley, who resides upon a part of the farm originally owned by his grandfather, Simeon Brant; Philander, who lives upon a farm adjoining his father's place; Newton, living near Spinks Corners; Orval, who makes his home on a part of the old farm property; Oscar, who had forty acres of the old homestead, and died when a young man of thirty-two or thirty-three years ; Barney, who resides on the homestead and with him his father lives. Mr. Brant is one of the most venerable citizens of the entire county, and few, if any, have more intimate knowledge of the early 43 history of this section of the state and of conditions which here existed at the time of the arrival of the Brant family in 1836.. The forests were uncut, the streams un- bridged and roads were not yet laid out. The Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers, and Nathaniel Brant en gaged in trading with ' them, buying furs, etc. He also hunted deer and other wild'. game and did some trapping, and he helped cut out all the roads which were made in those early days. During his first year in Pipestone township, he worked for Dr.. Enbns and took forty acres of land for his: pay. .His wife lived within a half mile of .the place and thus they become acquainted. Mr. Brant also bought and shipped shingles. to Chicago, arid bought cattle, sheep, horses and other live stock. He worked energetic ally and persistently year after year and was* well known as a successful business man and a typical representative of the early- days. Iri politics he has given his support to the Republican party and he is yet a hale and hearty man although he is now ninety- one years of age. GEORGE E. SMITH, residing in St. Joseph, is a veteran of the Civil war, a public officer whose efficient service has been free from unfavorable criticism, and a busi ness man whose activity and honesty stand as unquestioned facts in his career. He is now extensively interested in dairy farming" in Berrien county and was formerly con nected with its fruit-raising industry. Mr. Smith is a native of Connecticut, his birth having occurred in Stamford on the 24th of March, 1838, and he represents one of the old and prominent families of New Eng land. His ancestors located in Connecti cut in colonial days and his grandfather, Lieutenant Josiah Smith, who was born in that state, did valiant service in behalf of the colonists during the period of the Revo lutionary war, proving a loyal patriot. He lived to enjoy for many years the liberty tor which he had fought, and both he and his wife lived to the advanced age of eighty- seven. Josiah Smith, Jr., father of our subject, 6/4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY was born in Connecticut, and throughout his entire life followed the occupation of farm ing in his native state. Although he never sought to figure prominently in public af fairs he developed an upright character that won him the unqualified regard of his fellow citizens. He married Betsey Lock- wood, who was born in Connecticut and was a daughter of Daniel Lockwood. Mr. Smith departed this life in January, 1883, at the age of seventy-five years, having long sur vived his wife, who died at the age of forty- six years. In their family were six children : Charles, who is living in Denver, Colorado ; George E., of this review ; William M., also of St. Joseph; Frank H., who makes his home in Connecticut; Sarah, who is living at White Plains, New York; and Jennie, who makes her home in Stamford, Connecti cut. George E. Smith spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and during the summer months was trained to the work of the fields. He gave much time to his studies, possessing scholarly tastes and habits, and after at tending the common schools he continued as a student in a private boarding school for some time. Upon putting aside his text books he aided his father for ten years but it was his desire to travel and gain the broad culture and information which cannot be obtained in any other way save through contact with different peoples in their native countries. As soon therefore as he was able to do so he left home and traveled exten sively throughout the United States and Canada and also visited Cuba. In August, 1 86 1, he came to St. Joseph, Michigan, and here engaged in business as a dealer in gro ceries and hardware, carrying on his store profitably for twelve months, when, in 1862, he gave up his business, putting aside all business and personal considerations that he might aid his country. The blood of Revolutionary ancestors flowed in his veins and the spirit of patriot ism was strong within him. He enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, in which he served as quartermaster sergeant for about two years, during which time he participated in many of the hard-fought engagements of the Civil war. Among the most san guinary conflicts in which he took part were those at Gettysburg, Hagerstown, Cold Har bor, the Wilderness, Cedar Creek and numerous other engagements of minor im portance. At the battle of Cedar Creek he was wounded and again in the battle of the Wilderness, but his injuries did not prove very serious and as soon as possible he re turned to his place in the ranks. In June, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and was assigned to duty with Company A of the same regiment. On the expiration of his term of enlistment and following the close of the war he was mus tered out at Jackson, Michigan, in 1865, re turning home with a most honorable and creditable military record. He had never faltered in his loyalty to the Union cause but had valiantly defended the stars and stripes where the leaden hail fell thickest. Returning to St. Joseph George E. Smith engaged in merchandising in this city for a number of years and was also a factor in other departments of business activity, oper ating a sawmill and dealing in lumber. He likewise became interested in the manufac ture of fruit baskets, an enterprise which he conducted successfully, until 1894, when he sold out. He has been watchful of business opportunities and through the utilization of these has won a place among the substantial residents of the county. He now owns a dairy farm in St. Joseph township, upon which he has quite a herd of Holstein cat tle. He is carrying on the business exten sively but makes his residence in St. Joseph. At one time he was largely engaged in fruit growing. In addition to his dairy farm he has various interests, having made judicious investment in different business concerns and he .is widely recognized as one of the leading men of St. Joseph. Resourceful in his methods he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, realiz ing that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. While carefully controlling commercial, industrial and agricultural interests Mr. Smith has at the same time been a co-operant HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 675 factor in the public life of St. Joseph and his well known devotion to the general good has led to his selection for several positions of public trust. He was president of the vil lage board before the incorporation of the city and was identified for more than six teen years with the school board, acting as its secretary during much of that time. He was a member of the city council and was on the board of public works for a number of years. His official prerogatives have ever been exercised for general improvement and in all that he does in office he manifests the same practical spirit and keen insight that have characterized his business undertakings. He votes with the Democracy, and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but he ever placed the general good before partisanship and the advancement of community interests before personal ag-> grandizement. In 1868, in St. Joseph, Mr. Smith, was married to Miss Belle Chapman, who was born in Newmarket, Rockingham county, New Hampshire. They have two children, Olive C. and Warren C. The latter is a railroad engineer and the former is the wife of William D. Stover, of St. Louis, Mis souri, and has one child, Carolyn C, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Smith is a member of St. Joseph lodge of Masons and he attends the Universalist Church. He has prospered, accumulating a competence and at the same time winning a most enviable reputation for honesty and fair dealing. To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than to examine into the life of ' a self-made man and analyze the principles which he has followed, the methods he has pursued, to know what means he has employed for ad vancement and to study the plans which have given him prominence, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who have had a more advantageous start. In the history of Mr. Smith there is deep truths of thought and if one desires he may profit by the ob vious lessons herein contained. LEWIS D. HARRIS, living in Hagar township, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 14, 1834, his parents being Ben jamin and Ruth (Wilkes) Harris, who were natives of New York. They were married, however, in Ohio, having removed to that state with their parents, subsequent to the war of 1812. The Harris family were pio neer settlers of Morgan county, Ohio, liv ing forty miles from Marietta, which was the oldest settlement in Ohio and where the Moundbuilders lived in pre-historic days, evidences of their workmanship being found in many of the mounds which exist in that part of the state. When the family made their way from New York to Ohio they rafted lumber down the Allegheny river to the Ohio and their household goods and families were also on board the raft, their families making the trip together. Some of them proceeded on down the river and set tled in Missouri and the Harris family lost track of them until after the Civil war, when they were found through advertising. Ben jamin Harris aided in clearing up new land in Ohio and was actively associated with the early pioneer developmen of that part of the state. In 1850 he removed to Michigan, wishing to secure government land or prop erty that was to be had at a cheap figure. His wife had relatives in Berrien county and it was this which induced him to come to this part of the state. He entered a claim on section 12, Hagar township, where his son Lewis now resides, securing one hundred and thirty-two acres, which he transformed from a wild tract into one highly cultivated and improved. During the last two or three years of his life he lived retired, enjoying a well earned rest. His death occurred March 16, 1901, when he was eighty-nine years of age. His entire life had been de voted to agricultural pursuits, which he fol lowed according to pioneer methods and in keeping with the more advanced ideas of farming that came in later years. In his family were six sons and two daughters but only three are now living: Lewis D., of this review; Joseph B. W., who is living in Hagar township; and George, whose home is in Watervliet township. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Lewis D. Harris in his boyhood days. He shared with the family in the experiences and trials 676 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of a frontier existence and aided in the ardu ous task of developing a new farm, follow ing the removal of the family to Michigan. lie remained at home until twenty-six years of age, when he was married and then set tled in the woods on an eighty-acre tract of land. He cut the first stick of the heavy timber on that farm, which was also in Hagar township and he placed between fifty and sixty acres of the land under cultivation. He sold white wood logs on the bank of the river, receiving four dollars for one thous and feet of ash and two and one-half dollars for white wood. His winters were devoted to clearing the land and placing his lumber on the market and the summer seasons were given to the task of cultivating crops. About twenty-eight years ago he returned to the old homestead. He sold his original farm and later bought out the interest of the other heirs in the home property, which comprises one hundred and thirty-two acres of land. His father was alone, needing care and he gave to him a good home during his remain ing days. He has since carried on general farming and to some extent has engaged in raising fruit. His place is located a mile and a half from Lake Michigan, which, however, is in sight of his home and he leads a busy, useful and active life in the care and improvement of his property, having placed many of the buildings upon his farm. In i860 at the age of twenty-six years Mr. Harris was married to Miss Margaret Shriver, of Watervliet township, who was born in Canada and came to Berrien county in early womanhood. Her death occurred in 1896 after they had traveled life's journey together as man and wife for thirty-six years. They had three children : Minnie, now liv ing in Chicago; Charles Benjamin, who re sides in North Dakota; and Gerildia, who is the wife of George E. Martin. They live on the home farm with her father, Mrs. Martin acting as his housekeeper. Mr. Mar tin is engaged in the cultivation of the fields. They have three children, Irving, Lena and Ruth. Many years ago Mr. Harris was made a member of the board of control and was afterward elected justice of the peace, in which office he has continued to the present time, being re-elected at each successive election. He is alive to the interests of the party, attends its conventions and his opin ions carry weight in its councils. He is- respected as a man of sterling purpose, of genuine worth and honorable life and well. deserves mention in this volume. BARNEY HAZZARD BRANT. No student of history can carry his investiga tions far into the annals of Berrien county without becoming aware of the fact that the Brants were among its first settlers, and. that from pioneer times down to the present they have been factors in the development which has been carried on along agricultural and horticultural lines. Barney Hazzard Brant is a worthy representative of the name, which has now been known here through four generations, he being connected with the third generation. He was born on the place where he now lives, September 1, 1868, and was the youngest member of the family of Nathaniel M. Brant, who is mentioned else where in this work. His whole life has been spent on the old homestead. His father divided the property when Barney H. Brant was twenty years of age, and he took charge of sixty-five acres, which he has since culti vated, save that he has sold off twenty acres. He still retains the forty-five acres, of which about twenty acres is set out to fruit. He also grows melons, tomatoes and other vege tables, which he sells on the market. He has sold six hundred bushels of peaches in a season, and the trees are largely new, hav ing been set out by himself. Industry and enterprise are numbered among his strong and salient characteristics, and he carries- forward to successful completion whatever- he undertakes, being a man of strong and- determined purpose and of good business- qualifications. On the 4th of April, 1889, Mr. Brant was united in marriage to Miss Anna Es- tella Garrison, of Pipestone, a daughter of Elihu and Helen Garrison. She was only sixteen years of age at the time of her mar- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 677 riage. They lost their eldest child, Roscoe, in infancy, but had a daughter, Hazel Helen, now eleven years of age. Mr. Brant is a Republican, usually vot ing for the party but advocates strong pro hibition principles. He is school inspector. He is well known in the community where he resides, having spent his entire life here and is recognized as an enterprising and prosperous business man. FRED McKEE, living in Benton town ship, was born at Sacketts Harbor, in Jef ferson county, New York, on the 27th of October,' 1853. In 1869, when a youth of sixteen years, he arrived in Michigan, mak ing his way to Cass county. He came with his father, Martin V. McKee, and his step mother, and the family home was established near Dowagiac, where they died. Mr. Mc Kee mother died when he was 2 months' old. Fred McKee remained at home for two years after the arrival of the family in Michi gan, and has since been in Berrien county.. He was dependent upon his own resources from the age of eighteen years and what ever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors, his perseverance and his determination. As a companion and help mate for life's journey he chose Miss Emma E. Edinborough, a daughter of Mrs. Olive Edinborough, who is represented on another page of this work. The marriage was cele brated on the 28th of March, 1875, and after his marriage Mr. McKee spent one year in California in company with his wife's father. After two years spent on the old home farm in Cass county he removed on his present farm on Highland avenue, .Ber rien county, about four miles east of Benton Harbor. He had here twenty acres of land, half of which was cleared and he has added to the original tract until he now has fifty- five acres all in one body. He has cleared fifteen acres of the land, the remainder hav ing already been cleared, and his attention is given to the growing of corn and fruit, having about twenty acres in orchards. He raises a variety of tree fruit, including peaches, pears and cherries, and the annual sale of his fruit amounts to about one thous and dollars. Since locating upon this place he has devoted his attention to his farm, cultivating fields, from which he has gathered good harvests and caring for his orchards in practical manner that has resulted in harvest ing large crops. He has erected first class buildings upon his place, including a large and substantial barn and his home is pleas antly and conveniently located near Benton Harbor, so that the advantages of the city are easily obtainable, while those of rural life may be enjoyed at all times. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKee have been born two daughters : Beulah, now the wife of Harry B. Blandford, who resides upon a farm adjoining the McKee place; and Mary, the wife of A. J. Wetmore, who is living on the farm with her father. In his political views Mr. McKee is a Republican but does not consider himself bound by party ties and occasionally votes for the candidates of the Democracy. He holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Work men and in a review of his life record it will be found that his has been a busy and useful life, in which he has not feared that labor ious attention to details so necessary to suc cess in any undertaking. He has never al lowed any thought of failure to enter his mind but has made steady progress and as the years have come and gone has achieved creditable success, having now a well im proved farm property. WILMER M. PRATT, whose activity in political circles and business enterprise makes him one of the representative resi dents of Benton township, is living in Hagar township not far from Benton Harbor. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1858, his parents being William and Elizabeth (King) Pratt. The father was born among the Green Mountains in the state of Vermont, while the mother's birth occurred in Philadelphia, in which city they were married. He had removed to Phila delphia when nineteen years of age and there he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a time, eventually, becoming a contractor. Failing health, however, forced him to seek a change and in i860 he went to Omaha but returned to this section of the country in order to have the benefit of the 678 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY bracing climate occasioned by the proximity of Lake Michigan. Making his way to Ben ton township, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land but in order to be still closer to the lake he purchased twenty acres on the bluff and his summers were mostly spent on the lake shore. He continued to engage in contracting and building for some time, meeting with an accident which pre vented him from engaging in farming. He, however, developed a farm of eighty acres and made a first class home, where he lived until his death, which occurred on the 21st of January, 1904, when he was eighty-two years of age. The doctors of Philadelphia said that he could not live if he remained in that city and he came to the middle west and was greatly benefited by the change of climate and lived to a ripe and useful old age. He was active in public affairs and the cause of education found in him a warm friend, who did effective service for the general public as a school official. He served as a member of the school board in his dis trict for forty years, or until about eighty years of age. During the last five years of his life he was totally blind. He survived his wife for only three years, her death oc curring when she was about seventy-four years of age. They had traveled life's journey together as man and wife for a half century and in their family were five sons : Horace B., who is living near Riverside in Hagar township ; William M., of this review ; Arthur M. and Orson B., twins, the former residing in Riverside and the latter near Twelve Corners ; and Adelbert G., whose home is near Hinchman, in Berrien county. Wilmer M. Pratt was a young lad at the time of the removal of the family to the west and he remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age. His education was acquired in the public schools and by watching and assisting his father he gained a practical knowledge of the carpen ter's trade. When twenty-two years of age he began to manufacture apple barrels, learn ing coopering of his brother who had prev iously manufactured suet barrels. They were partners in this enterprise for ten years and supplied all the barrels used in Hagar township, making twelve thousand barrels in a singe year. This proved a profitable business and with the capital thereby ac quired Wilmer M. Pratt made his first pur chase of land, becoming owner of twenty acres near Riverside. It was new land cov ered with timber. He built thereon and in eight years placed the tract under cultivation and improved it with good buildings. He then sold and bought his present farm, which is the old homestead of Joseph Dickerson. He has made excellent improvements here and has eighty acres a half mile from Lake Michigan, lying to the north and west in Hagar township. He has continued to clear the land until it is now all under cultivation and he has here a valuable fruit farm of over seventy acres already set to fruit. He has planted peach orchards to the extent of thirty acres, while eight acres are devoted to the raising of grapes, twelve acres to pears, three acres to cherries and the re mainder to apples. He has planted all but ten acres of the farm and is still setting out new trees. In one year he sold four thousand bushels of peaches and his sales amount to about five thousand dollars an nually. He employs four men to aid him in the care of his orchards and his crops and he has one of the best fruit farms in this part of the state. He keeps in touch with the State Agricultural College as to what is done in the line of horticultural develop ment. He is also one of the officers of the State Horticultural Society and is active in all that works for advancement and improve ment in fruit culture. His results have ex ceeded his expectations arid he is regarded as one of the most prominent fruit-growers in Berrien county and has firm faith in the future of this district as a fruit-producing center. He realizes that the work in becom ing more and more a profession, while study and investigation have acquainted its farmers with the great scientific principles that under lie the work, while broad experiment and labor are adding more and more largely to the practical knowledge. He makes it his plan to sell everything that he produces under his own name. He harvests his own crop, the packing being done under his per- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 679 sonal supervision and direction and his fruit arrives upon the city markets in excellent condition and finds a ready sale for it is produced from excellent varieties of nursery stock. Mr. Pratt was married on his present farm in the house which he now occupies, in 1 88 1, to Miss Nellie Bartram, who was a sister of Mr. Dickerson, who formerly owned the farm. She died in 1894 leaving five children : Charles A., who is a gradu ate of the State Agricultural College and is now associated with his father in business ; Burr B., a student in the State Agricultural College; Joseph M., who is a student in Pro fessor Edgecombe's College; Helen C. and Genevieve, who are with their father. In 1900 Mr. Pratt was again married, his sec ond union being with Miss Abbie Bartram, the younger sister of his first wife and they have two children, Henry B. and Isadore. Mr. Pratt is an active working Repub lican but does not aspire to office. He re gards it the duty as well as the privilege, however, to exercise his right of franchise in support of the men and measures in which he believes and he co-operates in many pro gressive movements that have resulted bene ficially to the county. Otherwise his undi vided attention is given to his business af fairs, which are bringing him success and which have already gained for him a promi nent name in horticultural circles. JOSEPH R. HEMENWAY, living in. Benton township, owns and cultivates a fruit farm which is pleasantly situated three miles east of Benton Harbor on Highland avenue. He was born in Greenville, Ontario, on the 22d of July, 1843. His father, Harris Hemenway, was a native of Vermont, and married Miss Hannah Wood, of New York. They removed from the east to Michigan. Joseph R. Hemenway had spent a portion of his youth in Vermont among his relatives and after returning to Canada came at once to Michigan. His father settled in Ogemaw county, and there devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Hemenway of this review remained in Detroit, where he worked at the millwright's trade. After spending ten years in that city he returned to Ottawa, Ontario-, where he built a mill and placed it in operation, continuing as foreman thereof for eight years. This was one of the large mills of that place, the out put being seventy-five million feet of lumber annually. His position was therefore an important and responsible one but he was well qualified for the work which he under took and gave excellent satisfaction as fore man. Eventually he returned to Detroit, and in 1895 came to- Berrien county in order to give his daughters the benefit of educa tional privileges here. In 1896 he purchased his present farm of ten acres situated three miles east of Benton Harbor on Highland avenue. It is devoted to fruit growing. He raises various varieties of fruit which he has found profitable and agreeable, enjoy ing his business now as well as anything he has ever done. He began with no experi ence in this line but his 'ready adaptability and enterprise have enabled him to thorough ly understand the work and conduct it along practical lines resulting in success. He transformed an old house into a comfortable residence and now has a well improved prop erty. Mr. Hemenway was married in Ontario, at the age of twenty-six years to Miss Agnes McCulley, who was also born in Ontario. In their family were three daughters : Eva: A., who is the wife of Fred Washburn and resides upon a farm near her father's place; Belle, the wife of Frank Washburn, who is also a farmer in this county ; and Lillie, the wife of Arthur Phillips, a resident farmer of Benton township. Mr. Hemenway and his wife are now again alone as they were when they started out together but their daughters reside near by. In politics he is a Republican, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day but he has no desire for office, preferring to devote his energies to his business affairs, his farm claiming the greater part of his time and at tention, and in its management he has met with good success, having valuable orchards upon his place. -68o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY EUGENE C. DANA, who for a quar ter of a century was telegraph operator at Niles, during which time he won an ex tensive circle of friends, is now devoting his life to literary and professional labors. He is a native son of Niles, having been born in this city in 1844. His father, Cyrus Dana, was a native of New York, in which state he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education while still in the east. Coming to Michigan in 1836, when this state was still under territorial rule, he settled in Niles, where he entered upon the practice of the profession of law, forming a partnership under the firm style of Green & Dana, and they continued in practice at Niles for many years, Mr. Dana being recognized as one of the' brilliant mem bers of the bar of this part of the state. In those early times he would ride to court in a carriage. The country was then sparsely settled and there were no railroads. Cases were argued with much -fervor and there were many brilliant displays of ora tory in the courts of that period. Mr. Dana was recognized as an able and learned lawyer and secured a good clientage. He married Elizabeth Stockwell, who was born in Troy, New York, and died six months prior to the death of her husband in 1847. In their family were five children but only two are living, the daughter being Susan E., now the wife of E. L Tuttle, of Santa Barbara, California. Eugene C. Dana attended school in vari ous places, although his education in' the schoolroom was limited to about five years' attendance. He has, however, always been an earnest and discriminating student and has become a well informed man, of schol arly attainments largely in advance of many college bred men. He has read extensively, pondered earnestly and thought deeply, keeping in touch with the advance of mod ern thought. While still in his teens he entered the United States revenue service during the period of the Civil war and while thus engaged saved quite a little sum of money from his earnings, so that at the age of twenty years he was enabled to purchase an interest in a newspaper, the Niles Repub lican, becoming associated in this enterprise with Major Duncan. On account of his health, however, he afterward gave up the work and took up the study of telegraphy, becoming an operator on the Michigan Cen tral Railroad. He was located at various points on the line, acting first as night oper ator and afterward as day operator. Finally the order came for him to take charge of the Western Union telgraph office at Niles, the business of which had become greatly disordered through mismanagement by his predecessors. Mr. Dana continued as chief operator at Niles in the Western Union of fice for twenty-five years and soon brought order out of chaos in the affairs entrusted to him and successfully managed the interests of the position for a quarter of a century. He had hoped to' become a writer and indeed has written for the press many letters of his travels in New Mexico and on the Pacific coast but his close application to the key board and the demands thus made upon his mental forces rendered it impossible for him to devote "more attention to mental work. However, he now has in his possession many manuscripts which he has written and at the present time since his retirement from the telegraph office he, has given his atten tion to literary and professional work. While acting as operator he made many friends and acquaintances all over the world and was in continuous correspondence with eighty or more people, including many celebrities in different parts of the world.He is today a man of brilliant education, well versed on many subjects, and his repartee of ready wit and clear and logical thought have made him a favorite toastmaster, his services in this direction being sought for many banquets. He has on various oc casions acted in that capacity for the order of the Knights' of Pythias, of which he is a member, and he has served as keeper of the records and seal, acting in that capacity for fourteen years. "He is likewise a mem ber of the Elks lodge at South Bend, In diana. For almost thirty years he has con ducted a campaign glee club, himself pos sessing a fine voice and considerable rhetor ical power so that on many occasions he /QujpSV^> /^4;4^Lt4/ ~30GL CLAA^GL . HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 681 has acted in theatricals. As a reader he has been in demand and has done good work at banquets here and elsewhere, his specialty being dialect recitations, as he is rather an adept in five or six dialects. In his political views Mr. Dana is an earnest Republican, always voting to up hold the principles of that party, and from the age of sixteen years he has been a de voted member of the Presbyterian Church. He has a very wide acquaintance in Niles and throughout the county, and the circle of his friends is an extensive one, the rich resources of his mind awakening the ad miration and interests of his fellowmen and rendering him a most companionable gen tleman. MORGAN W. MATRAU still resides in Bainbridge township, where he was born April 29, 1847. His parents were Joseph and Amanda (Woodruff) Matrau, the latter a daughter of Deacon Levi Woodruff, a dis tinguished and pioneer settler of this section of the state. Joseph Ma'trau was also one of the early residents of this part of Michi gan and was married here to Amanda Wood ruff. He had come to Berrien county from the district of Montreal, Canada, and he went to Chicago when it was a little hamlet, crossing thence to Michigan in order to get a home. He first had gone near the village of Pen Yan in Bainbridge township, and it was there that his son Morgan was born. When the boy was five or six years of age his parents removed to another farm in the northern part of the same township, where the father cleared and developed a tract of land of eighty acres. His life was devoted to farming and thus he provided a comfort able living for his family. Mr. Matrau be came a Methodist but his wife became a member of the Congregational church, in which she had been reared and of which her father, Deacon Levi Woodruff was a promi nent representative in this part of the state. Mr. Matrau passed away when about seven ty-two years of age and his wife had de parted this life in her seventy-third year. In their family were five children: Henry M., of Norfolk, Nebraska ; Rev. Frank Mat rau, an Episcopal minister of Saginaw, Michigan; Morgan W., of this review; Ed ward, who is living in Watervliet ; and Lucy, the wife of William Cook, of Bainbridge township. Captain Matrau enlisted for three months' service in the Civil war and on the expiration of that period re-enlisted and con tinued at the front until the close of hostili ties. His brother Frank was also a soldier during the latter part of the war. Morgan W. Matrau, spending his boy hood days upon the home farm, became deeply interested when a lad in his teens in the progress of events in the south when hos tilities were being carried on in that section of the country. He had two brothers at the front and when but seventeen years of age he, too, enlisted, becoming a member of Company B, Twelfth Michigan Infantry in 1864. He largely served in the west, be ing under command of General Steele in Arkansas, and he was ever loyal and faith ful to the duties that devolved upon him in this connection. On the 2d of November, 1870, was cele brated the marriage of Mr. Matrau and Miss Amelia Byers, a daughter of David and Eliza Ann (Miller) Byers, who were pio neer residents of Michigan, having in 1840 removed from Cayuga county, New York, to this state. Mr. Byers helped organize Bainbridge township. He was a justice of the peace and married the first couple to be married in the township, who were Henry Selter and Mary Youngs. The mother was a native of that county, while the father was born in Pennsylvania. His sister Mattie al so accompanied them to Michigan and re mained here until her life was ended in death. David Byers settled on a farm on the Territorial road, bordering the county line about twelve miles east of Benton Harbor. He kept open house for the entertainment of travelers, his being one of the landmarks of pioneer times. His place was situated in the midst of the forest and there he erected a residence, which is still standing, and is one of the oldest houses of that section of the country. It is a landmark there and has been a mute witness of the changes that have occurred and the methods which have 682 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY been engaged in carrying forward the work of improvement and progress. His family were all reared in that house and there he died March 24, 1874, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife survived until February 29, 1904, and retained her faculties to the last although she reached the very advanced age of eighty-seven years, ten months and twelve days. She was a very active and de voted member of a church association known as the Mennonites. In the family were two daughters : Melissa, the wife of I. N. Selter, of Benton Harbor; and Amelia, the wife of Morgan W. Matrau. She was born upon the old homestead farm where she still lives. This marriage has been blessed with six daughters and one son, namely : Edith, the wife of William Docktor, of Bainbridge; Alta, the wife of John Fernham, of Bain bridge; Katie, the wife of Elbert Kaiser, of Bainbridge ; Olive, the wife of A. H. Peters, of the same township; Lida, the wife of Fred Seel, of Bainbridge township; A. B.,. who married Blanch Palmer and operates the home farm ; and Eva, who is still with her parents. Mr. Matrau has today the compass his father carried for his guide through the wilderness when only footpaths were used and in many places not those. St. Joseph was their market place. His father would carry a small pail of butter twelve miles to get a pence a pound. Deer, wolves and wild turkeys were plenty and his father being a fine marksman the family never was with out wild meat of some kind to eat. He also has the tin reflector his mother set before the fireplace and baked her bread in. For years she did all her cooking by the fire place. Later they built a clay oven and he heard his mother tell what fine bread the old clay oven baked. She would fill up the oven with wood ; when burned up, wash out the ashes, then fill with bread, cake, pie, pud ding and bake at the same time. His father many times made the remark that bread had a much better flavor then than nowadays baked in the steel range. The large spin ning wheel and small flax wheel his mother used are also in his opssession. She taught his sisters and himself to spin wool on the large wheel and saved a rack of tow with the intentions of teaching them to spin tow on the small wheel, but did not as that seemed more difficult. His mother's younger days were spent in industry for of a family of ten, she the only daughter and nine brothers. She and her mother spun and made both wool and linen apparel, such as aprons, dresses, underwear, table linens, toweling, bedticks, sheets, pil low slips, men's wear, shirts, pants, vests, coats, etc. She united with the Mennonite church at an early age and lived a consist ent Christian life. Her mother died here February 23, 1883, nearly ninety-two years of age. Morgan saw a herd of twenty-two deer pass by his father's door in his re member ance. Mr. Matrau was one of the first in Michi gan to breed Shropshire sheep. He adver tised and exhibited his flock and raises a large number of fine sheep, being one of the promoters of this industry in Michigan, be coming widely known in this connection. At one time he owned about three hundred acres of land but much of this has been given to his children, to whom he has been a most generous father. He has lived a life of marked business activity and enterprise and his success has come to him as the mer ited reward of his labor. In politics he has been a stanch and stalwart Republican, un faltering in his allegiance to the party* and its principles. For twenty years he has been a devoted member of the Christian church and devotes much of his time to reading the Bible, of which he has been a constant stud ent for thirty-six years. His life is per meated with its teachings and is in harmony with its principles and the men who know him respect him because of his fidelity to his honest convictions and his straightforward dealings in all his business relations. LEWIS VALENTINE has developed a very desirable farm with excellent im provements in Benton township, where he has a commodious residence amid attractive surroundings. The farm in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful sup ervision and progressive methods and his HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 683 work has ever been of a practical nature, producing excellent results. A native of the neighboring state of Indiana, he was born in Eel River township, Allen county, on the 19th day of October, 1840. In 1856 the family removed to Iowa. His parents were John and Susanna (Peters) Valentine. The father was born in Ohio, and was married in that state. Removing to Indiana he became the third settler of Eel River township, Al len county, and in fact when he took up his abode there he did not know of but one other settler in the entire township. He continued his residence there, aiding in the pioneer de velopment and settlement of the district until 1856, when he removed to Knoxville, Iowa, where he resided for three years. The same year, however, the government took the land out of the market and in 1859 Mr- Valentine returned to his old farm in Indi ana, where he spent his remaining days, passing away there when not quite seventy years of age. His eldest sister is eighty- six years of age, and his brother, Jackson Valentine, eighty-two years of age, still re sides in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lewis Valentine returned to the state of his nativity with his parents. He was six teen years of age when they went to Iowa, and while in that state he began to learn the brick mason's trade, which he afterward followed in Indiana, working for some time at that occupation in Fort Wayne and in Kendallville. He was thus employed until his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 3d of July, 1864. He had served for one year as a soldier of the Civil war, having enlisted in response to the first call for troops to aid in crushing out the rebellion in its incipiency. He was not accepted at that time, however, and after ward enlisted for one year's service in • re sponse to President Lincoln's second call for volunteers. He joined Company F, of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and was soon afterward mustered into the United States service doing active military duty in Mary land and Virginia. He was largely em ployed in the Shenandoah valley, the regi ment being mainly engaged in holding the front and keeping the rebels from making an advance on Washington" and other points to the north. On the expiration of his term of service he returned to his home. He had suffered much from the exposure, hardships and rigors of war and his health being im paired he did not re-enlist. On the 3d of July, 1864, Mr. Valentine was married in Bryan, Ohio, to Miss Cyn thia Ellen Loveridge, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, near Mount Vernon. He continued to- work at his trade at Ken dallville for a time, and afterward engaged in contracting as a brick mason at Bryan. He continued there and at Kendallville until 1877, when he went to Berrien county, Michigan. At that time there was not a building on the place on which he now makes his home. He exchanged property in Indiana for land in this county and there by became the owner of thirty-three acres, which was partially cleared, but all around him were large timber tracts. His farm now borders Highland avenue and is pleasantly pleasantly and conveniently located about three miles from Benton Harbor. It is de voted to fruit growing, although formerly he engaged in the cultivation of berries and later in the raising of peaches. He has worked to some extent at his trade and spent one year as a contractor in Wichita, Kansas, after first coming to Michigan, but his at tention is now largely given to his farming and fruit-raising interests and he has de veloped a very desirable property, on which are excellent improvements. His home is a large and pleasant residence situated in the midst of fine land and everything about the place is «ieat and attractive in appearance. He built the house, laying every brick him self. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Valentine have been born the following named: Edgar Meade, who was employed in the paper mill at Watervliet, and was drowned there when thirty-two years of age. Maude G. died at the age of fifteen years. M. Winnie died at the age of seventeen years. Coze L. is a mechanic, machinist and farmer. Zulu May, at home, was graduated on the completion of the business course in Benton Harbor College and is now a student of -music. 684 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mr. Valentine exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas ures of the Republican party. He voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has cast a ballot at each presidential election since that time, always supporting the men and meas ures of the Republican party. Socially he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has worked persist ently and energetically year after year and in any analyzation of his life record it will be seen that his perseverance has enabled him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in his path and eventually win the success which is now crowning his labors. JOHN MORGAN, deceased, who for many years was a resident of Bainbridge township, where he engaged in general ag ricultural pursuits, was born in Rochester, New York, on the 26th of September, 1819. His father was Michael Morgan, also a na tive of New York, where he wooed and won Miss Margaret Reaves. She, too, was born in the Empire state, and their last days were spent in Michigan, their home being in Fen- tonville, at the time of their demise. John Morgan at the age of fourteen years became a sailor on the lakes under his uncle, Captain Morgan, and so continued for four years. He then engaged in driving a stage in New York and gradually worked his way westward, going to St. Joseph as a stage driver. There he met Miss Emma Sutherland in the hotel where she worked. Mr. Morgan continued to drive a stage from St. Joseph to Kalamazoo for a time and af terward worked for Hiram Wheeler in a warehouse for about nine and a half years. He was then married on the 28th of February, 1847, to Miss Suth erland, whose acquaintance he had previ ously formed, the wedding ceremony being performed by Tobias Byers, justice of the peace. Mr. Morgan continued to work for several years for Mr. Wheeler, and with the money which he saved from his earnings he purchased a tract of land, whereon he made some improvements and there built a log house. In the spring of 1849, he and other Berrien county men to the number of eight, organized a company and started for California, outfitting with ox teams and a yoke of cows. They started from St. Joseph on the nth of March, made the long journey across the prairies of the Mississippi valley, the hot sandy plains of the west and through the mountain passes, reaching San Francisco on the 22d of Sep tember. They lost one of their company by name Enos, but the others of the party reached their destination in safety. Mr. Morgan was the last survivor of that com pany, his death occurring on the 26th of April, 1900. He remained in California for three and a half years. Upon his return in 1852 he brought back with him one thous and dollars and the following spring he in vested in eighty acres of land additional. His wife had remained upon the home place with her one daughter during the absence of her husband in California, and upon his re turn he devoted himself to clearing the farm and placing the soil under cultivation. There was at that time no market for timber but later he sold the timber for ties, cutting valuable timber and using it in that way. Out of a tract of two hundred and forty acres he cleared one hundred and seventy acres and placed it under cultivation. He erected three different houses upon his place, the third and last one having been built in 1868. The second one had been destroyed by fire but stood on the same foundation as the home that is now. found upon the farm. In 1893 Mr. Morgan was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 10th of February of that year. She had been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey and had carefully reared her family of seven children, namely: Helen, who is the wife of Henry Bradley, a photographer, at Buchanan, Michigan; Charles, living in Sodus township; George, whose home is in Pipestone township ; Mer ritt, deceased; Clara, who died in 1888, at the age of twenty-six years; Edwin and Chloa, both of whom are on the farm. One son, Merritt, was lost on the Chicora. His life was passed mainly on the farm but in 1893 he became steward on the Bradshaw and thus served for two years, after which HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 685 he became steward on the Chicof a and served all of that season. The vessel was lost January 21, 1895, with all on board. John Morgan was a stanch Democrat in his political views. His life was largely eventful in its experiences, embracing a resi dence in Michigan during pioneer times, as well as in California during the early days of mining excitement there. Following his return to this state he performed the ardu ous task of developing a farm property in the midst of the forest, hewing out the fields in heavy timbered regions, and as the years went by he achieved the success which made him one of the substantial agriculturists of the community. His long residence here made him widely known and he reached an advanced age, being about eighty years and six months of age at the time of his demise. THOMAS GRANGER. It is the boast of Great Britain that the sun never sets upon her possessions, she who may claim with equal pride that her children are numbered among the valued citizens of almost every section of the globe, where they have been effective factors in planting the seeds of civ ilization or in carrying forward the work of general progress. Thomas Granger, one of the sons of England, was born in the town ship of Cottingham, in Cambridgeshire, March 26, 1838. There he grew to man hood, no event of special importance occur ring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days, when his time was de voted to play, work and the duties of the schoolroom. When twenty-four years of age, however, he was married to Elizabeth V. Whiting. He had been reared to farm life, although he had two older brothers who took up trades. Mr. Granger, however, pre ferred outdoor life and for thirteen years he was in the employ of one man, engaged at general farm labor and caring for fruit. He was thirty- four years of age, when, in 1872, he determined to try his fortune in the new world and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his way from the seaport into the interior of the country. He located first at Chicago. It was his wish to get land and engage in farming on his own account, but he had only money enough to bring him to Illinois. . There he worked for about a year, and in 1873 he came to Berrien county. He had met John T. Wisner, of Hagar town ship, who was looking for a man to care for his place. For a year Mr. Granger was employed on Mr. Wisner's farm and then rented it for two years. During that time he prospered in his labors and at the end of that period purchased fifteen acres of land, where he now resides. It had been "deviled" with but little cleared. It was covered with stumps and there was a log shanty upon the place. He had incurred an indebtedness of three hundred and fifty dollars in order to secure the property and he had no teams with which to do the farm. work. In fact, he possessed nothing but a pair of willing hands and a strong determination. As soon as a little house could be built he moved on to the farm and he worked out for two or three years in . the summer months in order to gain money with which to meet the expense necessary to pro vide for his family and carry on his own farm work. He cleared his own land as much as possible in the winter sea son and he planted strawberries which were soon in bearing condition and gave him an income. Living frugally and economically he paid for his land and then began to buy more land in five different pieces, thus add ing to his holdings until he now has sixty acres. Much of this land was in a swamp and he had to make ditches to drain it and get rid of the water on account of the flat, level condition. He has carried forward the work of improvement and cultivation until the entire place is now in fine condition and is regarded as a valuable farm prop erty. He has depended upon berries as his chief crop and has sold over seventeen hundred crates in a single season. His entire life has been de voted to the farm and he has gained the suc cess which comes as a direct and sure re ward of persistent, earnest labor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Granger have been born two sons. Francis W., the elder, is a farmer on the Lake Shore drive in Hagar township, where he has fifty acres of land 686 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY bordering on Lake Michigan. He married Attila Vergusen. Arthur Edward Granger, now operating the home farm, wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Woodly, the widow of Frank Woodly, and by her first marriage she had three children, Roy, Guy, and William. Mr. Granger is a Republican, always supporting the party since becoming a nat uralized American citizen. He has the sub stantial qualities of the English race, includ ing the ready adaptability, the quick insight into business conditions and the perseverance which enables him to continue in the line of work marked out until he has attained suc cess therein. JOHN MARTINDALE, whose home stands on the brow of a bluff thirty-three feet high, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, his place being about three and a quarter miles from Benton Har bor and near the Paw Paw river, is now suc cessfully engaged in horticultural pursuits. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 5th of April, 1839, and the following year his parents remove to Buffalo, New York, whence in 1849 they came to Berrien coun ty, Michigan. The father, William Mar tindale, located upon the farm which is now occupied by his son John in Benton town ship. Here he lived until his death and had one hundred and twenty acres of land, con stituting one of the good farms of the lo cality. He was in poor health, however, for thirty years, so that the actual work of de veloping and improving the place had to be left to others. He passed away at the age •of seventy-six years. His wife bore the. maiden name of Alice Lake and was born and reared in New York. She survived her husband for about eight years. In their family were five children, who reached adult age : Lydia, who married Corneal Ding- man and died at the age of fifty years; Phoebe Ann, the wife of Cash Williams, a farmer residing in Watervliet township ; John, of this review; William, who is also living in Benton township; and Thomas, who is with his brother John. When a youth of seventeen years John Martindale arrived in this county and upon him largely devolved the arduous task of developing a new farm. He assumed the . indebtedness which was upon the place and purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home property, which he at once began to further develop and improve. When a young man of twenty-four years he was married to Miss Laura Jane Jakeway, a daughter of Solomon Jakeway, of New York, and one of the early settlers of Benton township, whose old farm laid south of Mill burg, the family home being established there in 1847, when Mrs. Martindale was a small child. Following his marriage John Martindale began to clear and culti vate a forty acre tract of land which was situated in the midst of the forest and ad joined his father's place. He had twelve acres of this cleared when his father died and he took the old homestead, his mother living with him as long as she lived. He has since placed his entire eighty acres under cultivation and has a well developed prop erty, which is neat and thrifty in appear ance and indicates his careful supervision. His groves contain about three thousand peach trees and he has four acres planted to grapes, pears, cherries and plums, making in all about twenty-five acres in fruit. This work has given entire satisfaction, because he has harvested good crops, for which he has found a ready sale on the market. The place is watered by a spring and is well adapted for dairying purposes. For twelve years Mr. Martindale kept forty cows for dairy purposes but this confined him so closely to his business that he abandoned it, and turned his attention to the cultivation of fruit. The increase in the price of feed also led him to retire from dairying, for he found that he could make no money thereby. He has erected his present home, thus re placing one that was burned. His house stands on the brow of a thirty-three foot bluff, overlooking a fine bottom pasturage of over thirty acres, and the house is con veniently situated about three and a quarter miles from Benton Harbor. After a happy married life of twenty- eight years Mr. Martindale was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leav- WILLIAM FREESTONE HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 687 ing three children : Jesse Eugene, now a farmer of Michigan ; Alma, who is the wife of Willard Ware, of Berrien county; and Claude, a mechanic, living in St. Joseph. For his second wife Mr. Martindale chose Ida Anderson, who had first married John Peterson and who was killed in the Well's basket factory at St. Joseph. She came to this county in 1871 and on the 6th of March, 1882, gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Martindale. They have one daughter, Laura, who is now the wife of John Benson and her husband operates her father's farm. There is one child by this marriage, Edith May, now two years of age. Mrs. Martin dale had two sons by her first marriage, Al bert and Benny Peterson, both in Benton Harbor. They were reared by Mr. Martin dale as his own children and the two families have lived together, in the utmost harmony. Mr. Martindale is a Republican, but though he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he has never sought office, preferring to concentrate his time and ener gies upon his business affairs. WILLIAM FREESTONE, president and general manager of the Freestone Pickle Company at Benton Harbor, is a self-made man who, without any extraordinary family or pecuniary advantages at the commence ment of life has battled earnestly and ener getically and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. By sheer force of will and untir ing effort he has worked his way upward and is numbered among the leading men of southwestern Michigan. A native of Rochester, New York, he was born in the year 1840, and in his in fancy was taken by his parents, Thomas and Grace Freestone, to Chicago, now the metropolis of the west, then a small city which only three years before had been in corporated. His father was a native of Northamptonshire, England, and following his marriage emigrated with his wife to the new world, settling in Rochester, New York, where he continued to reside until his removal west. William Freestone passed his boyhood days amid the environments which have developed a great city on the western prairie and he became imbued with much of the spirit of enterprise and progress that have led to the upbuilding of Chicago. He attended the public schools and then learned the plasterer's trade. He mastered and followed the business until the outbreak of the Civil war, when, his patriotic nature being aroused in response to the country's call for aid, he enlisted as a private of Com pany G, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and was under the command of General John C. Black, participating in some notable en gagements, including the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove and the siege of Vicksburg. Every military duty imposed upon him was faithfully performed and his loyalty to the cause was above question. Following the close of hostilities Mr. Freestone returned to Chicago, where he engaged upon a new field of business activ ity by becoming an employe of the Squire Dingee Company, pickle manufacturers, with whom he continued until 1885, during which time he gained a close arid intimate knowledge of the business both in principle and detail. When the' business was incor porated in 1885 he became financially inter ested therein, and' has since been identified with similar enterprises. In 1893 he became a resident of Benton Harbor as resident partner and manager of the plant of the Squire Dingee Company at this place. The plant had been established in 1891, and Mr. Freestone was connected therewith until the Freestone Pickle Company was established and incorporated in 1903 with William Freestone as president and general man ager; Wilbert D. Freestone, vice-president and treasurer; and G. W. Larkworthy, sec retary. This company was organized under the laws of Michigan with a paid up capital of fifty thousand dollars and, having pur chased the business of the Squire Dingee Company, is now engaged extensively in the manufacture of vinegar and as growers and packers of pickles. In Benton Harbor they have an extensive plant, comprising five buildings, covering three acres of ground, and their output is over seventy-five thou- 688 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY sand bushels of pickles annually. An ex tensive force of workmen are employed dur ing the season and about seventeen people throughout the remainder of the year, ren dering the enterprise one of particular value to the community by affording employment to a large number and thus placing in cir culation a large aggregate wage. Branch houses have also been established at Bangor, Sawyer, Pullman, Baroda, Bridgman and Pearl, and all are being operated extensively and successfully. The output is sent through out the United States and Canada, and the industry is one of material benefit to Benton Harbor and Berrien county. William Freestone has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Adelaide Dingee, who died in Chicago in 1883. Of the three children of that union two are living: Wilbert D., who is associated with his father in business and is represented elsewhere in this work; and Adelaide, now the wife of Leonard H. Smith, of Benton Harbor, by whom she has four children, Adelaide, Percy, Ethel and Wilbert, all born in this city. In 1885 William Freestone was again married, his second union being with Miss Matilda Anderson, of Chicago, and to them have been born five children, who are yet living, Florence, Wallace, Walter, Carl and Theodore. William Freestone is a member of George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., of Ben ton Harbor, and is affiliated with all of the Masonic bodies of this city. In his political views he is a Republican, and as every broad minded citizen should do, keeps in touch with the political problems and issues of the day but is without aspiration for office. He is broad gauged and liberal in all of his views and has been a man of action rather than theory. He has worked and demon strated rather than argued and debated and his labors with their attendant results have demonstrated the possibilities for success ful accomplishment without the assistance of capital as a moving force at the outset of ones career. As the years have gone by he has won prosperity, owing to his earnest and unremitting diligence, and today he is in possession of a comfortable income re sulting from well invested capital. WILBERT D. FREESTONE. In the business world today, with its constantly changing conditions and rapid development, opportunity is continually presented to him who has the ability to recognize his chance and improve it. Among the more recently developed enterprises of Berrien county is that of the Freestone Pickle Company, at Benton Harbor, of which Wilbert D. Free stone is vice president and treasurer. He is thus prominently connected with one of the' leading industrial enterprises of southwest ern Michigan and his labors have contributed in no small degree to the success of the undertaking. He has wrought along modern business lines and has employed the "merit system" in relation to business affairs, the company winning its extensive and grow ing patronage because of the excellence of its product and its unassailable reputation for reliability in all trade transactions. Mr. Freestone is a native of Chicago, Illinois, where he was bom in November, 1868. He is of English lineage, his pa ternal grandparents, Thomas and Grace Freestone, of Northamptonshire, England, having become the founders of this family in America on their removal to Rochester, New York. Their son, William Freestone, born in that city in June, 1840, was in his infancy, taken by his parents to Chi cago and after acquiring a public school education and learning and following the plasterer's trade for some time he served for three years in the Civil war, returning to his home to- become connected with a line of business in which he is still interested and in which he has gained a large and gratifying success. He entered the employ of the Squire Dingee Pickle Company, be coming a stockholder therein in 1885, and the resident partner and manager of the business in Benton Harbor in 1893. Ten years later the business was purchased by the present company. William Freestone was married to Ade laide Dingee, and Wilbert D. Freestone is WILBERT D. FREESTONE HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 68or the elder of their two living children. At the usual age he became a student in the public schools of Chicago and when still quite a young lad he entered the employ of the Squire Dingee Company, manufacturers of vinegar and pickles, with headquarters in Chicago, but with plants in different parts of the middle west. This company had been organized in Chicago in 1858, and in 1 89 1 established a branch house in Benton Harbor. On entering the employ of the company Wilbert D. Freestone was assigned to duty in the pickle factory at Woodstock, Illinois, where he thoroughly acquainted himself with the business in every depart ment. In 1 89 1 he became one of the repre sentatives of the company in Benton Har bor, the plant having been established here .in 1 89 1. The business 'was incorporated and thus conducted until 1903, when it was sold to- the Freestone Pickle Company, which in that year was established and incorpo rated, with William Freestone as president and general manager; Wilbert D. Freestone, vice president and treasurer; and G. W. Larkworthy, secretary. This company was organized under the laws of Michigan with a paid up capital of fifty thousand dollars. They purchased the business of the Squire Dingee Company and are now engaged ex tensively in the manufacture of vinegar and also growers and packers of pickles. In Benton Harbor they have an extensive plant, comprising five buildings, covering three acres of ground, with well known appliances for carrying on a factory of this kind. The output is over seventy-five thousand bushels of pickles annually and they employ an ex tensive force during the season and about seventeen people throughout the remainder of the year. Not only does the company manufacture vinegar and pickles but also grows cucumbers on an extensive scale and buys large quantities in advance of the sea son. In addition to the plant at Benton Harbor there are branch plants at Bangor, Sawyer, Pullman, Baroda, Bridgman and Pearl, and the first mentioned is nearly as large as the Benton Harbor plant, while all the others are but little smaller. They send their product throughout the United States 44 and Canada and the business has become one of the leading productive enterprises of Ber rien county. It has now assumed extensive proportions and is not only a source of profit to the individual stockholders but also contributes to the general prosperity through the employment given to many and through furnishing a market to producers. In 1893 Wilbert D. Freestone was mar ried in Elgin, Illinois, to Miss Stella Gup- till, and unto them have been born three children, Ruth, Harold and Virgene, all born in Benton Harbor. Mr. Freestone is a member of Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias and the Macca bees, all of Benton Harbor, and in his political views is a stalwart Republican. Recognized as one of the leading business men of southwestern Michigan he is alert an enterprising, his capability enabling him to successfully solve intricate business prob lems and to promote to successful comple- ton whatever he undertakes. GEORGE GRIFFIN. Many modern improvements are found upon the valuable farming property of George Griffin in Bain bridge township, showing that he is a man of enterprise and progressive spirit. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, near Mid dletown, April 25, 1854, and in 1865, when a youth of about eleven years, came to Ber rien county with his parents, William and Martha (Burgess) Griffin. The father was born in Pennsylvania, and the mother in Virginia, and they were married in Ohio. The father was the owner of eighty acres of land, which he secured from the govern ment in 1854. It lay in Pipestone township and was covered with heavy timber when it came into his possession but he began at once to cut down the trees and clear away the brush and stumps and in the course of time plowed and planted the fields and other wise improved the property. He lived for six years upon that place but had cleared off several acres at the time of his demise. He left a widow with seven children, the eldest of whom were William H. and George Grif fin, aged respectively seventeen and fifteen years. They took up the task which was laid 690 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY down by the father and continued to culti vate and improve the property, the mother rearing her family there. She still survives and now makes her home with her eldest son, William H. Griffin, in Pipestone town ship. George Griffin continued to aid his mother until eighteen years of age, when he left home and began working as a farm hand, being thus employed for two years. He was married, however, at the age of nineteen years, on the 27th of November, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Glass, who was about the same age. They were neighbors, having known each other for many years. Their first purchase of land comprised but five acres, which Mr. Griffin afterward sold, and in 1876 he bought his present farm in Bainbridge township originally owned by Mr. Burnette. It was covered with grubs and with the original timber and he paid twenty-five dollars for the property. No clearing had been made and the place com prised thirteen acres, to which he has since added twenty acres, so that he now has a good property of thirty-three acres. All this has been converted into a cultivable tract, al though at least twelve acres was swamp land when it came into his possession. He drained this, spending about three hundred dollars in tiling and drainage and it is now very valuable. This is a fruit farm of about twenty-five acres, having all been set out to fruit, including grapes, peaches, apples and cherries. He sold five thousand baskets of grapes in one season. He finds that fruit can be grown very satisfactorily and has de voted thirty years to his farm, making it a valuable property for the production of fruit. He has good building on a natural elevation or building site, and the farm is well equipped for the care of his fruit. He also owns eighty acres of land in the fruit belt in Mason county, and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life empty-handed, depending entirely upon his own resources, his success resulting from his frugality, enterprise and diligence and the assistance of his estimable wife. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have been born nine children, Dora, Christina, Mary, John, Alma, Emma, Pearl, Willie and Ina, but only the two youngest are now at home. Mr. Griffin votes with the Democracy and fraternally is connected with Bainbridge Lodge, No. 363, I. O. O. F., at Bainbridge Center. He was brought to this county dur ing his infancy, and has always lived here. Thrust upon his own resources at an early age, he assisted his mother in his youth and established a home of his own when a com paratively young man. As the years have gone by he has labored diligently and his business career has been crowned with a suc cess which is gratifying and commendable, showing what may be accomplished by ear nest, persistent labor. BURR BARTRAM lives on section 6,. Benton township. His home is one of the best located farms of the county, being three miles north of Benton Harbor and less than a mile from Lake Michigan. It is a splen didly improved property, indicating his careful supervision and practical methods and in its care he is leading a life of industry and frugality, being now well known as a representative fruit-grower of the commun ity. He was born in Erie county, New York, September 6, 1853, his parents being Henry and Ketura S. (Hogeland) Bartram. The mother was of German birth, and died when her son Burr was only three years of age. The father was of English lineage and after losing his first wife married Mrs. Free- love (Mclntyre) Davis. He met death in 1864, being killed while at work on a bridge which he was building under contract. In 1867 his widow removed to Berrien county, Michigan, with her five young children. A daughter of her former marriage was Han nah Davis, who had already come to Ber rien county to teach school. After follow ing that profession for a time here she mar ried Joseph Dickinson, who was a son of Robert Dickinson, and a brother of Arthur Dickinson. She had lived in Hagar town ship at the time of the arrival of her mother in the county. Some six months later Burr Bartram, then a boy, followed his step mother to this state. She purchased a small HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 691 place and thereon reared her family. She is still living in Hagar township, spending much of her time with her children. Burr Bartram attended the public schools and was also a student in Hillsdale College. When nineteen years of age he began teach ing, with' the expectation of later pursuing a college course, and after teaching for a time in Hagar township he attended the Val paraiso Normal School under Professor Brown, and continued to teach for seven years, mainly in Hagar township and all the time in Berrien county. He was either in school as a student or teacher for a number of years through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he worked at farm labor. On the 28th of April, 1880, Mr. Bartram was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. Eaman, a daughter of James M. and Eliza beth (Cook) Eaman. Her father, who set tled in this county in 1868, is still a resident of Hagar township. Mrs. Bartram was born in Dexter, Washtenaw county, Michi gan, and was a neighbor of Mr. Bartram in her girlhood days. They began their do mestic life upon a farm. His first purchase made him owner of eight acres, for which he went in debt. His house was a frame struc ture, which he occupied until 1896, when he erected his present commodious residence. In a short space of time he had cleared his farm of all indebtedness and has added to the property in later years until he has thirty- three acres in one body, all devoted to fruit- raising. His sales run nearly two thous and dollars annually and sometimes reach twenty-five hundred dollars. He grows purely for commercial purposes, and since 1880 has devoted his attention in undivided manner to his farm. His home is one of the best located, being three miles north of Ben ton Harbor and less than one mile from Lake Michigan. In his orchards are found fine varieties of trees and usually good crops are gathered each vear. Mr. Bartram is a Republican but has never aspired to public office or public hon ors. He belongs to Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Benton Harbor, and to Cal vin Brittain Chapter, at St. Joseph. PORTER E. BRANT, living in Bain bridge township, was born in Hagar town ship, Berrien county, on a farm north of the Paw Paw river, March 3, 1843, his par ents being Daniel and Marietta (Hazzard) Brant. The father was a native of Roch ester, New York, and the mother of Ellis- burg, that state, but they were married in Benton township, Berrien county, about 1840. The mother had been one of the early teachers of the county, following the pro fession up to the time of her marriage. Her home was in Pipestone township, and she was a daughter of Crawford Hazzard, a pioneer resident of that township. Daniel Brant when eighteen years of age had driven a yoke of oxen from Rochester to Pokagon township, where his father, Simeon Brant, had already settled. Edward Brant's father, who died enroute from California, was a cousin of Daniel Brant and further men tion of the family is made on another page of this work. The family is in fact a promi nent one in Berrien county, having numerous representatives who have been active and in fluential in business circles and in public af fairs. Daniel Brant remained a resident of Pokagon township until all of the members of the family removed to Bainbridge town ship, cutting the road through the forests for miles. Simeon Brant secured a claim constituting the southeast quarter of section 31, while Daniel's place was the southwest quarter of section 32, and Artaxerses Brant took the east half of the southeast quarter of section 31. Nathaniel Brant obtained the northwest quarter of section 32 and thus altogether they secured the four corners. Nearly all this land is still in possession of members of the Brant family, although Nathaniel Brant is the only one of the origi nal owners now living. Simeon Brant, the father, died at the old homestead at a very advanced age, while Artaxerses Brant died at the age of seventy-five years, and Daniel passed away at the old home when sixty-six years of age. Artaxerses Brant had one son in Mason county and three grandchildren. The children of Jerome Brant are still on the old homestead. Nathaniel Brant resides 692 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY upon his old home place, which has now been in his possession for many years. Daniel Brant, father of our subject, placed about one hundred and twenty acres of his homestead under cultivation. He like wise secured and improved two other tracts of land of eighty and fifty-one acres respec tively, and he also had two houses in Ben ton Harbor at the time of his death. He likewise owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Pipestone township, which he improved, and he gave a farm to each of his children, amounting to over one hun dred and sixty acres of land. He placed more than two hundred acres of land under cultivation and thus contributed in large measure to the substantial development and reclamation of this part of the state. His wife was a fine business woman and he largely attributed to her influence and assis tance the success which he has achieved. She died about fifteen years prior -to- the death of her husband, being about fifty years of age when she passed away. They had traveled life's journey together, however, for many years, for she was but seventeen years of age at the time of their marriage. Her life was devoted to her family and although never very strong or robust she was ambi tious and energetic and her capable manage ment of the household affairs and the assis tance and encouragement which she rendered her husband were valued factors in their prosperity. They became the parents of seven children, of whom Porter E. is the second in order of birth. The others are as follows : Lafayette died on Ship Island, Gulf of Mexico, while in the United States service, having left high school in St. Joseph in order to enlist. He was a member of the Sixth Michigan Infantry and passed away when twenty-two years of age. Francis is living in Pipestone township. Marion re sides in Bainbridge township on land given him by his father. Henry is a resident of Fountain, Mason county, Michigan. Lu cretia married John Harmon, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Rosella married Wil liam Burnett, of Bainbridge, and resides at Spokane, Washington. Having lost his first wife Daniel Brant was married to Miss Nancy Kennedy, who survives him and is yet living in Benton Harbor. Their chil dren are: Sherman; Ezra, who resides on the old homestead in Bainbridge township; Lillie, the wife of William Denneke, of Ben ton Harbor; arid Roy. Porter E. Brant was born in Hagar township, while his father was residing there temporarily, engaged in the manufacture of shingles in order to earn a living for his family. He followed that pursuit through a number of seasons, as it provided him with ready money. He secured three hundred acres of land in Hagar township known as Dansdiggins and located on the shore of Lake Michigan. From his place he here- hauled shingles to Niles, where they could be marketed. Under the parental roof Porter E. Brant spent the days of his boy hood and youth, and when eighteen years of age he began providing for his own support, working six years by the month, receiving thirteen dollars per month for two years, fourteen dollars per month for a year, and afterward twenty-two and thirty and twenty- two dollars per month for the ensuing years. He never saved less than fifty dollars from his wages for a single season and with the capital he acquired through his own labor and frugality he was enabled to purchase- when twenty-three years of age the forty- acre farm whereon he now resides, his father having previously secured it. At that time Porter E. Brant was mar ried to Miss Harriet I. Moore, the wedding- ceremony being performed on the 30th of October, 1866. Her parents were George and Mary (Beagle) Moore, and she was living in the home of Daniel Brant when she gave her hand in marriage to Porter E. Brant. They have since lived upon the- same farm, covering a period of forty years.. When this place came into his possession- Mr. Brant had to cut a road a half mile in order to reach his farm. It was covered' with the original growth of timber, not a stick having been cut nor an improvement made but though he realized that an arduous task lay before him, he resolutely set to work- clearing, cultivating and improving the land. He cut poles in order to make a shanty HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 693 twelve by twenty-four feet and in this he lived for about ••five years, or until he was able to build a part of his present home. He has since made two additions to the original building and now has a comfortable resi dence, which stands in the midst of a well developed farm property. He now owns one hundred and nine acres of rich and pro ductive land all in the home farm and he has likewise given away seventy acres of land to his children, who live near him. He has placed more than eighty acres of land under cultivation and now has one of the best farms in the township, lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm property. As soon as he got his land ready he set out apples and has now apple orchards covering eighteen acres. He lost eight acres of peaches which were destroyed by the yellows but as soon as it showed that they could be grown again he once more set out peach trees. He has kept about eighteen acres in fruit of all kinds and each kind that he has raised has paid him. His apples have brought him over one thousand dollars in a single season, selling over one thousand barrels of apples in one year, while his sales of peaches have amounted to between six hundred and one thousand dollars annually. He has placed his dependence largely upon his fruit crops but in addition he has also raised tomatoes for canning for twenty-two years, selling them to the canning factory and between four and six acres planted to that vegetable have yielded him from fifty to sixty dollars per acre. In all his farm work he has followed practical methods, which have resulted beneficially, as he has now a very valuable farm. Unto Mr. and- Mrs. Brant have been born four children: Jesse C, who resides upon an adjoining farm; Ella M., the wife of Everett Brant, also living on a farm near by; Clara B., the wife of Frank Gilbert, of Pipestone township; and Maud E., at home. There is seven years difference between the birth of each child and the succeeding one. The married son and daughters have re ceived farms from their father and are com fortably located. Porter E. Brant is a Democrat, and has served in several local offices although living in a Republican township, a fact which indi cates his personal popularity and the confi dence reposed in him by his fellowmen. He belongs to the Union United Brethren church in Pipestone township, and is a prominent representative of a worthy pio neer family, his entire life having been passed in Berrien county, covering a period of more than sixty-three years. He is also a mem ber of the Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs in his lodge. He was the eighth member to join his lodge which now num bers nearly one hundred. The name of Brant is inseparably associated with the his tory of agricultural and horticultural de velopment here and as the years have gone by the younger generation have continued the work that was begun by their fathers and grandfather and bear an excellent repu tation for business activity and reliability. CAPTAIN J. J. BAKER, a traveling representative of the Cleveland Stone Com pany, devoting about four months each year to that business, gives the remainder of his time to the supervision of his property in terests in Benton Harbor and Berrien county, where since 1891 he has invested extensively and profitably. He was born on Grand Island, below Buffalo, on the 17th of August, 1844. This island belonged to New York state. His parents, however, removed to Canada, his father becoming superintendent of the shipyards at Black Rock. Captain Baker of this review was at that time about ten years of age. He at tended school for eight or ten years, and when buf a boy went upon the lakes as a sailor, being thus engaged for some time. He afterward turned his attention to the manufacture of fanning mills and when he disposed of the business sold out to good advantage. He acted as superintendent of his own manufacturing plant and when he disposed of it he returned to the lakes as a mate and later became captain. He sailed as captain of seven different vessels and was part owner of some of them. During this period he made his home either in Detroit, Michigan, or Otsego, New York. He sailed 694 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY as master for eighteen years and made money in this way, receiving a high percen tage for the cargoes carried. He became well known to lake men and was a popular representative of the marine service. He was very careful at all times and never lost a vessel. In 1870 Captain Baker left the lakes and became agent of the Lake Huron Stone Company, at Chicago, establishing grind stone yards there. The business was started on a large scale and supplied all the ship ping trade of the west. He opened in the same line of trade in Chicago for himself and continued for five or six years, when he sold out. On the expiration of that period he became connected with the Cleveland Stone Company as superintendent for a time and as salesman of grindstones. He is still connected with the company,' which has eleven quarries in Ohio besides others else where. He spends about four months of the year on the road in Wisconsin and Min nesota, also visiting the leading towns in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. He like wise makes business trips to Canada and New York, visiting the jobbers and placing the products of the Cleveland Stone Com pany upon the market. He is well known to the trade and controls a good patronage. In 1 891 Mr. Baker began to be inter ested in Benton Harbor property and to in vest in farm lands in this locality. He has since made his home at his present place of residence two and a half miles north pf Benton Harbor. He has invested in three or four farms in this vicinity and when not upon the road he spends his time upon the home place. He is now building in the city of Benton Harbor, where he has considerable property and in his real estate interests he has made judicious investments and good sales. Captain Baker was married in Chicago, at the age of thirty-six years, to Catherine Cavanaugh, who died on the 29th of Oc tober, 1904, at their home in Benton Harbor. She was a lady of strong domestic tastes, devoted to her home and her family and the circle of her friends was an extensive one. She had one child : Catherine, by this mar riage. Captain Baker is widely known in Ber rien county and at many points along the lakes and in various ports to which he sailed when in command of different vessels. His life has been altogether a very active one and viewed from any standpoint he is a strong man, strong in his honor and good name and in what he has accomplished. Fearless and outspoken he does not follow any given course because it is from policy but because he believes it to be the right thing to do. JOHN DEMPSTER HILL, a veteran of the Civil war, and one of the early resi dents of Berrien county, now makes his home in Bainbridge township. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, June 19, 1839, and is a son of Amos and Ursula (Wheeler) Hill, both of whom were natives of Jefferson county, where the family settled about Revo lutionary times. In 1854 they came to Michigan. Mr. Hill had followed farming in the east, and on reaching Berrien county he located on section 29, Bainbridge town ship, three-quarters of a mile from Spink's Corners. He bought eighty acres of land covered with stumps and timber. The best timber was cut and for it he received six hundred dollars. Clearing the land, he placed the entire farm under cultivation and built good buildings upon the place. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for some time but eventually sold that prop erty and bought another farm of eighty acres, of which he cleared forty acres. In his later years he retired to a small house, in which he spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of richly merited rest, passing away June 16, 1892, at the advanced age. of eighty-six years. He had survived his wife for about nine years. They traveled life's journey together for fifty-five years, shar ing with each other its joys and sorrows, and the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all. In their family were' nine children, eight of whom reached mature years; Alonzo, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 695 who died in childhood; Edward, who died at the age of thirty-five years; Allen, who died when twenty-one years of age, this be- £ng the year of the arrival of the family in Michigan; John D., of this review; William H., of Bainbridge township; Frederick, who served with the Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharp shooters and was killed in the second battle of Corinth, his grave being made' on the bat tleground in the government cemetery; Mary-, the wife of George Herrington, of Bainbridge ; Adeline, who died at the age of twelve years; and Caroline, twin sister of Adeline, and the wife of Henry Thompson, Of Millburg. The family was well repre sented in the Civil war, for the subject of this review was also a member of the regi ment to which his brother Frederick be longed. John Dempster Hill when but four years of age accompanied his parents on their re moval to Ontario, Canada, the family home being established near Kingston, where they lived for eight years, when they returned to Wayne county, New York. In 1854 they came to Berrien county, Michigan, John D. Hill driving a team through for his father from Wayne county. He left home at the age of sixteen years, starting out in life on his own account. He secured his present farm in i860 and at once began its cultiva tion and improvement. It was covered with the original timber. It had ten acres cleared and ready for wheat, however, when Mr. Hill in the fall of 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharp shooters. His brother Frederick later joined the regiment on the field and was killed at Corinth, Mississippi, on the 4th of October, 1862. He was laid to rest in the government cemetery made on the battlefield there, and his brother John has re-visited the place. He was killed on the advance made by the opening of the battle on the second day, and was but nineteen years of age at the time of his demise. It was the second battle in which he had participated, for he had been under fire at Iuka. John D. Hill of this review went to the front with his regiment and the records of that command also con stitute the record of his military service, for he was in all of the battles with the Sixty- sixth Illinois Sharpshooters save one. He was never captured nor wounded and practic ally saw all of the service of the regiment which included many marches and cam paigns, in addition to the skirmishes and battles. When the war was ended he was discharged with his regiment in Washing ton and participated in the grand review, on which occasion there was displayed in the streets of the capital an immense banner bearing the significant words "The only debt which the nation cannot pay is the national debt which she owes to her victorious Union soldiers." Many times since then Mr. Hill has met with his regiment in reunions, two being held at Paw Paw Lake, and one at Leadersburg, Indiana. These have been very enjoyable, occasions, as he has renewed acquaintances with those with whom he marched and messed and with whom he faced the enemy's fires. He is now a mem ber of George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., Benton Harbor. On his return from the war Mr. Hill came again to his farm, and now has the entire sixty acres under cultivation. The place lies in Bainbridge township and is well located for the raising of fruits, with good exposure to the sun. He has twenty acres planted to fruit, mainly peaches, pears and apples and has sold thirty-five hundred. bushels of fruit in a year, averaging about eighty-five cents per bushel. The land lies- high and he has never lost but one crop on account of frosts late in the spring. He carries on general farming in addition to the cultivation of fruit. His present home was erected in* 1868, and he has since added to it and improved it. It stands on an eminence or natural building site, commanding a fine view. St. Joseph can be seen in the distance, lying about nine miles away, while Benton Harbor can be seen seven miles away. Mr. Hill has purchased a lot of other land and now owns a fine farm in addition to his home place. On the 1 6th of March, 1867, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Josephine S. Lewis, a daughter of John and Louisa (Bishop) Lewis, both of whom were natives of Erie county, New York. Mrs. Lewis was •096 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY *eight years of age when brought by her par ents to this county, while Mr. Lewis was twenty-two years of age at the time of his arrival. They were married in 1848, and Mrs. Hill is their eldest child, having been born in 1849. They settled a half mile north of Millburg, and for many years were resi dents of Bainbridge township, but have now passed away, Mrs. Lewis dying in 1881, while Mr. Lewis departed this life on the 1 6th of February, 1906, at the age of eighty- three years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hill has been born a daughter, Loa, the wife of Frank j. Lewis, who is her second cousin, and is a farmer and peach grower, residing in this locality. Mrs. Hill's maternal grandfather well remembered the war of 1812, seeing soldiers in New York who were engaged in that struggle and his mother made mush for them. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis came to his locality in 1865, and continued to reside here until called to their final rest and Mrs. Hill now owns part of their homestead. Our sub ject and his wife are both representatives of old and prominent pioneer families of this county and enjoys the warm esteem of all who know them. MATTHEW STOLL. In an analyza- tion of the life record of Matthew Stoll it will be seen that he has depended upon no outside aid or influence for advancement in the business world but has placed reliance upon safe and sure qualities of close appli cation and indefatigable energy, winning success as honorable as it is creditable. He is now a partner of the Kompass & Stoll •Company of Niles, manufacturers of kitchen cabinets, and the business has become a lead ing enterprise of the city. He is one of Michigan's native sons, having been born in Ann Arbor in 1861. His father, David Stoll, was a native of Ham burg, Germany, and came to America in 1847, settling in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, continuing in that serv ice for thirty-three years, during which period he never lost a day's time. He was for many years boss of a section gang and wns a hard-working, conscientious man, ever faithful to his duty to the corporation by which he was employed as is well indi cated by his long continued service. He reached the advanced age of seventy-seven years, passing away in 1902. His wife bore the maiden name of Flora Weidman, and was born in Hamburg, Germany, where they were married ere their emigration to the new world. They had a family of nine chil dren, of whom eight are yet living. The mother passed away in 1892, when fifty-six years of age. Matthew Stoll was the second son and is the only one now living in Berrien coun ty. He pursued his education in the public schools of Ann Arbor and at an early age began to earn his own living by working in a furniture factory in that city, where he learned the trade of a furniture finisher. When seventeen years of age he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he followed his trade in different furniture factories, spending eight years in that city. There he gradually worked his way upward, promotion coming to him in recognition of his faithful service and ca pable workmanship, and during the latter part of that time he was manager of a fac tory. He afterward went to Buchanan, Michigan, where he entered the service of the Buchanan Furniture Company, having charge of the finishing room for two years. He afterward went to Rochester, New York, where he was employed in the same capacity in a furniture factory for about two years, at the end of which time he returned to Buchanan, Michigan, and there entered into partnership with Rudolph F. Kompass and George Stone, under the firm style of Kom pass, Stone & Stoll. They began the manu facture of furniture, in which they continued for two years, and on the expiration of that period Mr. Stoll and Mr. Kompass pur chased Mr. Stone's interest, continuing in the manufacture of furniture under the firm name of Kompass & Stoll. They- remained at Buchanan until 1895, when they pur chased land at Niles, built their present fac tory and equipped it with all modern im provements and appliances for successfully carryirig on the business. It is an excellent crZ- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 697 plant and they here continued in the general manufacture of furniture until 1900, since which time they have made a specialty of manufacturing kitchen cabinets. In this they have been very successful and their product is shipped to all parts of the United States. They employ forty skilled work men in their factory besides various men on the road, who are selling the output of the house to the trade. They manufacture eight een different styles of kitchen cabinets after their own patterns and these articles of fur niture are models of convenience and dis play the excellent workmanship which has always been characteristic of the products of the firm. The firm has always maintained the policy of straightforward dealing and for the excellence of its products that have gained for it a most enviable reputation in trade circles, and the business has constantly grown until it has reached extensive propor tions. Mr. Stoll was married in 1888, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Miss Hattie Leitelt, and unto them have been born two . chil dren, Charles D. and Arthur F., both born in Buchanan. Mr. Stoll gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, and he is more over an active factor in public life here. He was alderman of the Fourth ward of Niles and in 1905 was elected mayor of the city and re-elected in 1906, which position he is now filling. He has given to Niles a busi ness-like, practical and yet progressive ad ministration, having studied closely the pub lic needs and possibilities. He exercises his official prerogatives in support of every measure which he deems will prove of prac tical public benefit and his course has been highly commended by his many supporters. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fra ternity, to the Modern Woodmen of Amer ica and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a self-made man who has been the archi tect of his own fortunes and has builded wisely and well. One secret of his success is undoubtedly due to the fact that he has continued in the line of business in which he embarked as a young tradesman, continually progressing in efficiency and skill in that di rection until he is thorough master of the trade and capably directing the labors of others. He has ever displayed great energy and adaptability in his work, and in his life record has manifested rnany of the sterling traits of his German ancestry. BENJAMIN J. EAMAN recognized as an authority on grape culture in Berrien county, has for nine years carried on farm ing in Hagar township, on which he now resides. He is the youngest of the living children of James M. Eaman, and was born October 29, 1864, at Pinckney, Michigan. In his youth he remained at home, attending the public schools and college at Benton Harbor, and was early trained to habits of industry, enterprise and honesty, which qual ities in later years have borne good fruit. On the 22d of October, 1898, Mr. Ea man was married to Miss Lydia M. Deleau, a native of Belgium, born in the town of Charleroi. In her girlhood days she was brought to Watervliet, Michigan, and had resided in Hagar township for eleven years before her marriage. Her parents were John B. and Isabelle (Le Page) Deleau, both of whom are still residents of this coun ty. , Mrs. Eaman was married at the age of twenty-one years and has become the mother of two daughters, Susie B. and Marie L. Since his marriage Mr. Eaman has en gaged in fruit-raising and has thirty acres devoted wholly to horticultural pursuits. He raises grapes, peaches, apples and pears and his gross income is about three thousand dollars annually. He keeps abreast of the times and works up trade in select fruits. He has alabel of Fairview fruits for all that he ships and this label is a synonym for the quality of the fruit which he handles, en abling him to command the best market prices in Chicago. He is experimenting in select lines and has been particularly success ful in the production of grapes, raising Con cord, Worden, Moore's Early and others. He hag studied so closely the subject of grape culture and has been so successful in his undertakings that his opinions are regarded as authority upon this subject. For nine 698 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY years he has carried on the farm which is now his home and has brought it under a high state of cultivation. JAMES M. EAMAN, living in Hagar township, has made his home in Berrien county since 1870. He was born at Port Byron, Cayuga county, New York, Decem ber 14, 1818. His father, Phillip Eaman, was also a native of the Empire state, and was of German parentage, the ancestors of the family having located in Greene coun ty, New York, at an early day. In the spring of 1836 Phillip Eaman with his fam ily of three sons and three daughters re moved westward to Michigan, settling at Putnam, Livingston county, where he re sided until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife was Rachel Snyder, who survived him for five or six years. James M. Eaman was in his eighteenth year at the time of the removal of the family to this state. He had engaged in teaching school in New York and had attended an academy there. He taught through the win ter seasons for six or eight terms in Michi gan and attended the academy at Ann Ar bor, while in the summer months he worked at farm labor. In 1843 he established a store at Pinckney, Livingston county, Mich igan, and later engaged in business at Dex ter, Washtenaw county. During a portion of the time he was operating a flouring mill at Pinckney, Michigan, and in 1870 he came from Dexter to Berrien county. He was a brother-in-law of Daniel Cook, of St. Joseph, a fruit-grower who had followed the business for several years, and who had married Mr. Eaman's sister. Daniel Cook's nephew, Stephen Cook, had already settled in Hagar township and it was through his representations and influence that in 1870 James Eaman bought land on the lake shore not far from the Cook farm. There he be gan to grow fruit and to this undertaking devoted his time and attention for twenty- six years, since which time he has lived re tired with his son, B. J. Eaman. In the year 1843 James M. Eaman was married to Elizabeth C. Cook, a daughter of Henry Cook, of Homer, Michigan, who was one of the pioneer settlers of what became known as Cook's Prairie, in Calhoun coun ty, this state. Mrs. Eaman died at Pinck- : ney, Michigan, and for his second wife Mr. Eaman chose Susan Emeline Young, of Pinckney, who was a teacher in a select school at that place, and a graduate of the State Normal School, at Ypsilanti, having been one of its first students. She came to Berrien county with her husband and died upon the old homestead farm March 23, 1896. They were married July 14, 1863, and had therefore traveled life's journey to gether for almost a third of a century. The children of Mr. Eaman's first marriage were as follows : Ellen M., who is living in Henry township; Harriet L., who is living with her sister, Mrs. Bartram; Frank M., who owns the old homestead; Julia A., the wife of Dr. I. R. Dunning, of Benton Har bor; John C, who died at the age of twenty- five years; Clara E., the wife of Burr Bart ram, of Benton township; and Lizzie C, the wife of R. B. Owens, of Redlands, Cali fornia. By the second marriage there is one son, Benjamin J., whose sketch is given above. For more than thirty years Mr. Eaman has lived at his present place, which was formerly the home of Asahel Hays, who built the house and made the first improve- • ments upon the property. This is one of the superior fruit farms of the region, and be ing close to the lake is free from frost. Mr. Eaman made his place an excellent property owing to the improvements which he placed upon it and he remained active in its de velopment and improvement for many years. In politics he was first a Whig and after ward a Freesoiler, and cast a ballot for James G. Birney, the abolition candidate. When the Republican party was formed early in 1854 to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and has since been a stanch supported thereof. He at tended the "prohibition" convention at Jackson and helped nominate Kingsley Bingham for governor. Soon after another convention was held "under the oaks" at Jackson, which used the word Republican HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 699 as its name and they also nominated Bing ham, who was elected. Mr. Eaman has since been a stalwart advocate of the Republican party and though not an office seeker he has served for several years in school offices. He is a strong temperance man, upholding temperance principles through precept and example and has been a member of the Sons of Temperance and other organizations of like character. In his boyhood days at home he pledged himself to support temperance principles and practices and has always done so. He is a well read gentleman of pleasant manner, who though now eighty-eight years of age keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and in spirit and inter ests seems yet in his prime. His life has been active, his motives honorable,. his actions manly and sincere and these standard traits of character made his life one well worthy of emulation. WILLIAM H. HILL, living at Spink's Corners, in Bainbridge township, is a rep resentative of one of the old colonial fami lies of New York. He was born in Jefferson county, that state, June 3, 1840, his parents being Amos and Ursula (Wheeler) Hill, both of whom were native of Jefferson coun ty, where the family settled about Revolu tionary times. In 1858 they came to Michi gan. Mr. Hill had followed farming in the east and on reaching Berrien county he lo cated on section 29, Bainbridge township, three-quarters of a mile from Spink's Cor ners. He bought eighty acres of land cov ered with stumps and timber. The best tim ber was cut and for it he received six hun dred dollars. Clearing the land, he placed the entire farm under cultivation and built good buildings upon the place. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for some time but eventually sold that property and bought another farm of eighty acres, of which he cleared forty acres. In his later years he retired to a small house, in which he spent his remaining days in the enjoy ment of richly merited rest, passing away June 16, 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He had survived his wife for about nine years. They traveled life's journey together for fifty-five years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows and the adversity and prosperity that checker the careers of all. In their family were nine children, eight of whom reached mature years : Alonzo, who died in childhood; Edward, who died at the age of thirty-five years; Allen, who died when twenty-one years of age, this be ing the year of the arrival of the family in Michigan; John Dempster, who is living in Bainbridge township; William H., of this review ; Frederick, who served with the Six ty-sixth Illinois Sharpshooters and was killed in the first battle of Corinth, his grave being made on the battleground in the government cemetery; Mary, the wife of George Her- rington, of Bainbridge ; Adeline, who died at the age of twelve years; and Caroline, twin sister of Adeline, and the wife of Henry Thompson, of Millburg. The family was well represented in the Civil war, for John D. was also a member of the regiment to which his brother Frederick belonged. William H. Hill spent the first eighteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with the family to Michigan. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and in fact boarded at home un til two years thereafter. He then began to improve his present farm, which was also covered with "grubs." He paid one thousand dollars for eighty acres of land and con tinued the cultivation and improvement of the place until he has the entire farm under cultivation with twenty-five acres planted to fruit, of which twenty acres is devoted to peaches. The land is well located for this purpose. *He has also grown melons and has sold from seven hundred to one thous and crates per year, while the peach crop has been from one thousand to three thous and bushels per year for ten years. He has prospered in his undertakings for the products of his farm have been of superior quality and have commanded high market prices. His financial resources thus increas ing, he has aided each of his sons in securing farms and has helped each to build thereon. He erected his own residence in 1875. It is a handsome brick structure, containing 700 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ten rooms, and is one of the best homes in Bainbridge township, pleasantly located a half miles east of Spink's Corners. On the 22d of February, 1865, William H. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Higbee, a daughter of J. F. Higbee, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. She. was born in Benton township-, and was twenty-three years of age at the time of her marriage. This union has been blessed with the following named: Lennie B., who was a teacher in Berrien county for seven years, and died at the age of twenty- five; Willie J.; Mary U. ; Charlie Ames; James F. ; Ida I. ; Carrie I., who died in in fancy; George D., who has been a teacher in this county; Tola L. ; Clinton B. ; and Marguerite. All of the living children are now at home or are located near by. Mr. Hill has provided his children with good educational privileges and assisted them to the extent of his ability, helping those who have left the parental roof to secure good farms and homes. In politics he is a Bryan Democrat but has warm admiration for President Roosevelt. Coming to this county a young man, ambitious, enterpris ing and determined, he has worked his way steadily upward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by earnest, persistent ef fort. As the years have gone by he has gained a gratifying measure of prosperity and is now one of the substantial citizens of his part of the county, with valuable property interests which indicate a well spent life. ISAAC A. BONINE, who after long and successful connection with horticultural interests in Berrien county is now practic ally living retired in Niles, although he gives some attention to the supervision of estates, was born in Cass county, Michigan, in 1853. He represents one of the pioneer families of the s'tate. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Bonine, was a native of Tennessee, in which state he married Miss 'Sarah Tal- bert, who was also born in Tennessee. They emigrated to Wayne county, Indiana, soon after their marriage and were among the first settlers of that locality; Mr. Bonine was a farmer by occupation and also owned and operated a grist, saw and oil mill, being thus closely associated with industrial as well as agricultural interests' of Wayne county. About 1843 he went with his fam ily to Cass county, Michigan, finding at that time an almost unbroken wilderness, in which the work of improvement had scarcely been begun. There he spent his last days, passing away at the advanced age of eighty- four years, and his wife died in the same county. They were members of the Society of Friends and took an active and helpful interest in the work of the church. James E. Bonine, their son, and the father of our subject, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and became a resident of Cass county during the early period of its pioneer development. He lived a life of great activity, energy and usefulness and became the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land, a portion of which was prairie, while eight hundred acres of this he cleared. The property is still in possession of his family. He was the leading banker of Cass county for many years, and his interests are still carried on by the estate. He married Miss Sarah Bogue, a native of Ohio, who still survives him at the age of eighty years and makes her home in Niles. His last days were spent in Niles, where he died in 1898 at the age of eighty-two years. He was widely recognized as a man of excel lent business ability and enterprise, being pre-eminently a man of affairs and one who wielded a wide influence. Upon his land he established what is known as Bonine Park, consisting of a tract of sixty acres, which he stocked with buffaloes and elk. This tract is still kept up and although there are now no buffaloes there are still quite a large number of elk. He followed farming on a very extensive scale and possessed busi ness discernment and judgment that were rarely if ever at fault. He was very active in township and county affairs and his in fluence was ever on the side of progress, reform and improvement. In 1866 he re moved from his farm to Niles, but later re turned to Cass county. His last days, how ever, were passed in Niles. In the family HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 701 were three children : Mary, the wife of Dr. W. T. Dougan of Niles; Isaac A., of this review; and Elvia B., the wife of N. B. Hammond, of Sheldon, North Dakota. Isaac A. Bonine was reared to manhood on the old homestead in Cass county, where he attended school. He also pursued his studies in Niles during the period of the family residence in this city between 1866 and 1872. He attended the high school in Niles and at one time was a student in the schools of Adrian, Michigan. Returning to the old homestead he followed farming, being closely identified with agricultural in terest until about fourteen years ago. He had a large orchard of thirty-five acres which was set out by himself and father. He also planted two hundred chestnut trees, which have been in bearing during the last fifteen years and are a very profitable source of income. In all his agricutural work he was progressive, keeping in touch with modern advancement. About fourteen years ago, however, he retired from farming and took up his abode in Niles, where he now makes his home. He gives some attention to the supervision of estates but practically lives retired, possessing a comfortable com petence. He is president of the Buchanan Power Company. In 1872 Mr. Bonine was married in Niles to Miss Alice Wilkinson, who was born in Pennsylvania but has spent the greater part of her life in this city, her par ents being Lewis F. and Ruth (Clark) Wilkinson. Mr. and Mrs. Bonine have one child, James G, who was born in Niles and is a graduate of the Physicians and Sur geons College of Chicago, also of the Chi cago University and of Hahnemann Med ical College of Chicago. He is now prac ticing, his profession in that city. He mar ried Margaret Gage, a native of Niles and a daughter of Eli Gage. They have two children, James E. and Margaret, both born in Chicago. Mr. Bonine exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party but has never had aspiration for office. He is, however, in terested in the welfare of his city and county and his co-operation can be counted upon as a factor in the work of general develop ment and improvement. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county, pos sessing those traits of character which com mand respect and confidence and win warm and endearing friendships. FRANK H. ELLSWORTH, serving for the second term as judge of probate of Berrien county resides in Benton Harbor. He was born in Lexington, Michigan, Sep tember 1, 1867, a son of Edward W. and Lucetta (Beardsley) Ellsworth. The father was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1837, while the family were temporarily residing in the Dominion, and the mother is a native of New Jersey, whence she came to Michigan with her parents in her early girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Ellsworth have for many years been residents of Marlette, Michigan. Judge Ellsworth obtained a common school education and also attended Olivet and Alma College. He began the study of law on the ist of October, 1888, at Marlette in the office of D. S. McClure, at that time judge of probate of Sanilac county. After the admission of Judge Ellsworth to the bai rn 1 891 he removed to Detroit, and pursued a course in the Detroit- College of Law, from which be was graduated in the class of 1893. Locating in Benton Harbor in the spring of that year he was actively en gaged in the practice of his profession until the fall of»i900, when he was elected to the office of judge of probate of Berrien county by a majority of twelve hundred and twen ty-five, and after four years' capable and satisfactory service he was re-elected in 1904 by an increased majority of twenty- eight hundred and sixty-four. Politically he is a stalwart Republican, but the men of both parties give him their earnest endorse ment by reason of the capable manner in which he has discharged his official duties. On the 30th of December, 1903, Judge Ellsworth was married to Miss Minnie Grace King, of Ligonier, Indiana. 702 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY BENJAMIN F. EARL, occupying a po sition of prominence in business circles in Niles as owner of one of the large productive industries and commercial interests of the city, conducting business as a manufacturer of furniture specialties, and dealer in lumber under the firm style of the Earl-Storm Man ufacturing Company, is a self-made man, who, without special family or pecuniary advantages at the outset of his career has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position to one of affluence. A na tive son of Michigan, he was born in Cass county in 1853. His paternal grandfather, Rufus Earl, removed from New York to Michigan in 1835 and took up land from the government east of Berrien Lake, which he cleared and improved, there following farm ing until his death. His son, Averil Earl, fa ther of our subject, was born in New York, near Buffalo, and came with his parents to Michigan in 1835. He was for many years identified with general agricultural pursuits in Cass county and was there married to Elva L. Mosher, native of Erie county, New York, who came to Michigan with her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. Zebediah Mosher, who also settled in Cass county, establishing their home in Wayne township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Averil Earl were born three sons and three daughters, and those still living are: Alice, the wife of Robert T. Atwood; Albert E. ; and Benjamin F. The father died at the age of seventy-six years. Benjamin F. Earl pursued his educa tion in the public schools of Cass county and there learned the wood-turning trade. He was also employed in the woolen mills as a carder and in 1880 he came from Cass coun ty to Niles, where he entered the employ of Solomon G. Krick, a wagon manufacturer, in whose service he remained for five years. With the capital he had acquired through his own labors and economy he then embarked in business on his own account in 1886 as a manufacturer of furniture specialties, while later he extended the scope of his labors by dealing in lumber. In 1890 the business was incorporated under the firm name of the Earl-Storm Manufacturing Company, with Benjamin F. Earl as general manager and E. B. Storm, secretary and treasurer. The company built the present plant in that year and the business was thus conducted until 1892, when Mr. Earl purchased the interest of his partners and has since been alone in the conduct of the enterprise, which, however, is carried on under the same name. From the beginning the success of this con cern has been uniform and rapid and Mr. Earl has now built up a very large and lucrative business through his own energy, careful management and practical methods. He is also identified as a stockholder and di rector with three building and loan asso ciations of Niles, organized by residents of the city. A number of skilled workmen are employed in his establishment and the busi ness has reached extensive and profitable proportions. It is a monument to the labor and enterprise of the owner whose business career is such as any man might be proud to possess. Mr. Earl was married in 1875 in Dow- agiac, Cass county, Michigan, to Miss Ma tilda. A. Philips, who was born in Illinois but spent her early life in Michigan. This union has been blessed with eleven children, ten of whom are yet living, namely: Elva, the wife of E. Daniel Williams ; George W. ; Bruce F., who married Eleanor Smith, of Buchanan, Michigan; Mary, Bessie, Russell, John, Dorothy, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, all at home. Mr. Earl and his family attend the Methodist Church. His political allegiance is given to the Re publican party, and he stands fearlessly in support of his honest convictions. He was a member of the city council from the Third ward for four years and was the chairman of the board which built the water works in Niles, also chairman of the commit tee on waterworks in the city council at that time. He was, for ten years, under sheriff of Berrien county. His interests in public affairs is deep and sincere and his course in public office has been characterized by an unfaltering devotion to the general good and a spirit of loyalty and patriotism. He is in deed one of the foremost residents of Niles, ^OW / ' / HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 703 progressive and enterprising, and his life history, judged by his political, business or private record, is indeed commendable. WILLIAM WEES, who was a farmer and honored pioneer settler of Berrien county but is now deceased, was born in the province or Quebec, Canada, December 7, 1829, and died at his home in Benton Harbor on the 10th of July, 1905. His par ents were Peter and Joyce (Brown) Wees. The mother came from England to America with her parents when twelve years of age. Peter Wees was a farmer by occupation and died at the age of forty-two years. In the family were five sons, four of whom came from Canada to the United States, while Thomas is still living in the dominion. John, Robert and Wesley Wees all settled in Cali fornia and John is still living, making his home at San Bernardino. William Wees was reared to manhood upon a farm in his native country and ac quired a good common-school education. In the summer months he was carefully trained to the work of the fields, so that when he started out in life on his own account he had good practical experience to aid him. On the 26th of February, 1850, William Wees was united in marriage at Dresden, Ontario, to Miss Isabelle Randall, who was born in Quebec, Canada, November 1, 1830. In 1853 she came to Berrien county, visit ing her mother, who was then living in Mill burg, where she had resided for a year. A sister, Minerva Randall, became the wife of Warren H. Pearl, a brother of Major Pearl, who had settled near Pearl Grange. Isa belle Randall also had an uncle, Joseph Ran dall, living in St. Joseph, where he owned and conducted a shipyard, being a ship builder by trade. He was a pioneer settler of the county, coming here when St. Joseph was a small village standing on the bottom land. The year of his arrival was not later than 1840 and he took an active part in the early development, of this portion of the state. Soon after the discovery of gold in California, however, he removed to the Pacific coast, where he is yet remembered by the old vessel men. William Wees in early life learned the carpenter's trade and followed that pursuit in Berrien county, helping to build the War ren Pearl mill, also the Samuel McWiggins mill and the Randall mill. He likewise aided in the erection of some of the early houses of the county and a number of the old buildings are still standing as monu ments to his skill and handiwork. When his capital permitted, however, he bought land, becoming owner of a tract about four miles southeast of Benton Harbor. Upon the place was a log cabin, in which he lived for two years, when he replaced the pioneer home by a small frame building, living therein until the erection of the present house about twenty years ago. He at first had fifty-eight acres of land, to which he added as his financial resources increased until he owned seventy-eight acres, constitut ing a good farm, for the land was placed under a high state of cultivation. In 1880 he invested in Kansas land, which he later sold to good advantage. In 1864 he went to California, where he devoted two years to placer mining with satisfactory results. Re turning then to Berrien county, Michigan, he gave undivided attention to his farm and afterward set out a valuable orchard, plant ing thirty acres to peaches, but he lost his trees through the yellows and therefore set out apple trees. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wees were born the following children : Elva, now the wife of A. A. Morrill, living in Wallin, Michi gan; James Ldwell, who resides at Silver City, Idah®, where for twenty years he has been engaged in placer mining with good success; William Bruce, of Benton Harbor, who for fifteen years traveled in the interests of a fruit buying firm, traveling from Florida to Maine, but is now operating in Washington and Oregon; Cynthia, the wife of William McKindley, a resident farmer of Benton township; Henry, a fruit buyer of Benton Harbor, also dealing in gasoline en gines; Mina Belle, who is living at home with her mother in Benton Harbor and is a graduate of the normal college. She has been a successful teacher, having taught in 7°4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the graded schools in St. Clair and in St. Joseph, Michigan. In his political affiliation Mr. Wees was a Democrat. He was a charter member of Pearl Grange and was interested in all mat ters of local progress and improvement. At his death his remains were interred in the Pearl cemetery, which stands on the original farm of Warren Pearl. He was a fine rifle shot and annually in company with Major Pearl and others took trips to northern Michigan for the purpose of hunting. He found great enjoyment in this sport and it proved an excellent source of recreation. Mr. Wees well deserves representation in this volume as one of the honored pioneer set tlers of the county and one whose success in life is attributable to his earnest labor and careful management. ANDREW M. HAWKS, a representa tive of the farming interests of Watervliet township, was born on a part of the farm on which he now lives and near his present resi dence, his natal day being September 13, 1 85 1. His parents were Agur and Martha (Baldwin) Hawks, both of whom were na tives of New York. The father came to Michigan with his parents, Simeon and Patty (Beeman) Hawks, who located a mile and a half east of Watervliet and the farm upon which they' took up their abode remained the old homestead. Both died after a resi dence here of more than twenty years. One of their sons, Timothy Hawks, is still liv ing, as well as a daughter, Mrs. Martha Bridges, of Van Buren county, Michigan. Following his marriage Agur Hawks se cured government land, upon which he turned the first furrows, developing a good farm, pleasantly situated about three miles north of Watervliet. As the years passed his business affairs increased in extent and importance and he became one of the largest farmers of Watervliet township, making his home upon his farm until his death, which occurred about six years ago, when he had reached the venerable age of seventy-seven years. He was a man of good business ability and of marked enterprise and his careful management of his interests brought him success. His widow, who was three years his junior, survived him for only eight months, his death occurring June 3, 1901, while his wife passed away February 20, 1902. In their family were the following children : Andrew M. ; Amelia, the wife of Jacob Hogaboom, of Van Buren county; and Viola, the wife of Frank Burbank Hart ford, living on the old homestead. Andrew M. Hawks was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He mastered the branches taught iri the public schools and remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twen ty-five years of age, while his wife was but sixteen years of age. She bore the maiden name of Nettie McConnell, and was a resi dent of Van Buren county, Michigan. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home. 'A few patches had been cleared but the most of it was still uncultivated. Mr. Hawks now has one hundred and ten acres of rich and productive land in the extreme northeast corner of Berrien county on section 1, Watervleit township, four miles north of the city of Watervliet. He now has eighty acres of the land under cultivation. For some years he helped his father on the home place and now his energies are concentrated upon the further development and improvement of his own home farm. He has many modern equipments here, including the latest im proved machinery and he is successfully en gaged in general farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hawks have been born seven children : Ervie, who is engaged in farming in Bangor township, Van Buren county ; Fern,, the wife of Merrill Hunt, of Covert, Van Buren county; Horace, who is living in Hartford, Michigan; Mattie, the wife of Morris Hunt, of Van Buren coun ty; Stella, Ernest and Carrie, all at home. Mr. Hawks exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy but has never been an of fice seeker, preferring t.o devote his time HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 7°5 and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He is a member of the Adventist Society. WILLIAM C. DOCKTER, living in Bainbridge township, where the principal part of his homestead is devoted to the culti vation of a variety of fruits, is an able horti culturist, thoroughly conversant with the business, which he carries on in accordance with modern scientific ideas. He was born in Bainbridge township, April 18, 1865, his parents being , Christian and Mary E. (Weber) Dockter, the former a native of Alsace, France, and the latter of Germany. They were married, however, in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, Michigan, Mrs. Dockter having come to Michigan at the age of eight years with her father, Charles Weber, who was a pioneer resident of Bain bridge township. Her brothers, Charles and Jacob Weber, still reside in the same town ship. Having attained womanhood, Mary E. Weber gave her hand in marriage to Christian Dockter, and when their son Will iam was three years old the father bought. the farm upon which William Dockter now resides. It was then a tract of timber land but no clearing had been made and there fore in the midst of the forest he hewed out his farm, placing his land under cultivation until where once stood the dense trees of the forest were seen waving fields of grain. He placed about fifty acres under the plow and erected a good residence and barn, which is still standing. His life was one of activity and enterprise, crowned by successful ac complishment and he continued to super intend his farming operations up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 18th of October, 1905, when in his seventy-sixth year. His wife died in 1888, at the age of forty-four years. In the family were eight children, of whom two died in early life, while Carrie became the wife of Adam Elgos and passed away at the age of twenty-three years. The others of the family were: Al fred, who owns a part of the old homestead in Bainbridge township; Ella E.,' who died at the age of eighteen years; Amanda, the wife of Joseph Kiser, of Bainbridge; 45 Charles, who is living near the old home stead ; Emma, who died at the age of eight years; and Lucy, who passed away when three years of age. Reared under the parental roof William C. Dockter assisted in the arduous task of clearing and developing new land and gave his father the benefit of his services until he reached the age of twenty years, when he began to work by the month, thus provid- ' ing for his own support for eight seasons. He was married on the 27th of November to Miss Edith May Matrau, a daughter of Morgan W. Matrau, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. Before his marriage Mr. Dockter had charge of the old homestead. His father settled his business affairs before his death, dividing the old home between William and Alfred, and the former has added a forty-acre tract to his inheritance, so that he now has a valuable property of eighty acres. The principal part of his home place is in fruit. He raises, ap ples, pears, plums and other fruit and is a well known horticulturist, whose labors are crowned with merited and gratifying suc cess. He has made extensive improvements upon his place and it is one of the attractive, modern homes of the township. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dockter was blessed with a son and daughter, Roy W. and Ruth Amelia, aged respectively nine and three years. Mr. Dockter is a member of the Odd Fellows society at Bainbridge, in which he has passed all of the chairs, and he has likewise been a' representative to the grand lodge, while both he and his wife are connected^ with the order of Rebekahs. In the community where he has always lived his acquaintance is wide and he is held in very favorable regard, for investigation into his history shows that the course he has fol lowed has ever been an honorable and straightforward one and that his business life has been characterized by a close ad herence to a high standard of commercial ethics. HORACE W. GARLAND, starting out in life for himself at the age of twenty-two years, is now numbered among the sub- 706 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY stantial farmers of Bainbridge township, having a good property well equipped with modern conveniences and accessories. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 5, 1855, his parents being Horace and Cath erine Garland, the former a native of New Hampshire. The family was founded in America by five brothers, who came from England and settled at Rye, New Hamp shire. Horace Garland, Sr., was a fruit- raiser, and on leaving New England re moved to. Iowa in 1855. After eight years he came to Berrien county in 1863 and set tled one mile south and a mile east of Ben ton Harbor. There he engaged in farming until he removed to California, where for three years he remained at Petaluma. On the expiration of that period he went to- Kansas, where he spent his remaining days. He secured about forty acres of land near Benton Harbor and was one of the pioneer residents of this section of the state. His wife died in Iowa, leaving two children : Horace; and Edgar Garland, of Berrien Springs, who is president of that vil lage. He sold his farm near Berrien Springs, where the Adventist College now stands, for ten thousand dollars. He is now comfortably situated in life and is living retired in Berrien Springs, having a compe tence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and luxuries of life without re course to further labor. He owns several buildings in Berrien Springs and these return to him a good rental. A half sister of the family is still living. Horace W. Garland, spending the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, was educated in the common schools and. gained practical experience in farm labor through the assistance which he rendered in the care and cultivation of the fields. When twenty-two years of age he was mar ried to Miss Flora Kirkpatrick, a daughter of P. C. Kirkpatrick, a well known farmer of this county, who had come from Iowa to Michigan. Mr. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Gar land removed from this state to Texas, and after a year spent in that state and in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mr. Garland went to Kansas, settling in Harper county in 1879. He proved up a claim of government land and continued his residence in Kansas for fifteen years. He also went to Oklahoma, where he opened up a farm and during the fifteen years mentioned he made considerable progress in business life, his financial resources increasing as the result of his careful management and discrimina tion in business affairs. While living in Kansas his wife died and in 1894 he re turned to Michigan, while two years later he located on his present farm near Spink's Corners in Bainbridge township, securing eighty acres of land about half of which is set out to fruit, there being thirty acres planted to peaches, grapes and berries. Mr. Garland sold goods in the town of Harper, Kansas, for nine years. He went to that state when it was largely a new and un developed region and he lived in a sod house without doors or windows. His attention in later years has been devoted to fruit-raising and he is a horticulturist with good orchards, to the care of which he gives his supervision. He secures the best nursery stock and the fruit which is shipped from his place is noted for its excellent size, quality and flavor. Mr. and Mrs. Garland were the parents of four daughters and one son : Carrie, now the wife of Charles Bishop, of Benton town ship; Lillian, the wife of Harry Crossman, of Bainbridge ; Florence, who wedded Ruben Sutherland of Pipestone township; Ollie, the wife of Ed. Chivis, of Bainbridge town ship; and Fred, at home. Mr. Garland has been again married, his second union being with Mary Line, of Ohio. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. His life has been somewhat eventful in its experiences in the west and the southwest and he is familiar with all that goes to make up a frontier existence, for in pioneer days in Kansas he contributed to the early development and progress of the locality in which he lived. He is now concentrating his energies upon horticultural pursuits in the care and man agement of his farm here, and although his residence in Berrien county has not been con- jfflykutsawi/ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 707 tinuous he was first brought to the county in 1863 and with the passing years has been an interested witness of its growth and de velopment and the changes which, have here occurred. HENRY PETERS, a resident farmer of Bainbridge township, was born in Water vliet this county, on the nth of February, 1852. His parents were John and Laura (Burroughs) Peters. The father, who was born on Deer Island, Canada, died in 1864 from wounds sustained in the battle of New Hope Church while defending the Union cause, thus giving his life to his country. The mother was left with ten chil dren. She kept the family together, provid ing for her sons and daughters as best she could and doing a mother's full part by them. One of her sons, Marcus de Lafayette, was a soldier in the same company and regiment as his father. Six of the number are yet living, four being still in Berrien county, and the mother now resides in Bainbridge, in the eighty-ninth year of her age, her home being upon the old farm upon which she settled in 1856. For a half century she has lived upon this farm and has been an inter ested witness of the changes that have oc curred in the county. She is a well preserved woman and can read without difficulty, her eyesight being still very keen. Henry Peters remained at home until he attained his majority, although he was employed at farm labor from the age of twelve years. His education was acquired in the common schools but his privileges hi that direction were somewhat limited as it was necessary for him to enter business life. He spent two years in Kansas, going to that state in 1872, where for a time he hunted buffalo. He then returned to Michigan and in 1876 he went to Texas, where he re mained for a year and a half, spending that time hunting on the buffalo range. He was also employed as a cowboy there for a time. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Jane Casner, who was born in Ohio, and was reared in Indiana, and in her childhood days she came to Michigan. They spent one year at Covert, afterward lived upon his mother's farm and in 1882 came to their present farm. It was wild land, on which only a few acres had been cleared. Much of it was low land, well adapted to the raising of corn, of which he annually harvested large crops. He now has fifty-five acres and has cleared about twenty-five acres. There is a creek which runs through the place arid drains the low land which is not only well suited for the production of grain but for celery as well. This- creek is fed by hundreds of springs and the farm borders a beautiful inland lake. About three years ago Mr. Peters erected a large residence and has since entertained summer boarders, his place being con veniently and pleasantly located twelve miles east of Benton Harbor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peters have been born five children : Edna, the wife of W. L. Hall, of Hamilton township, Van Buren county ; Walter, a carpenter at Sister Lakes ; Charley; Earl; and Irvin. In his political views Mr. Peters is a Republican. Three generations of the fam ily have settled in this county and the name has always been synonymous with good citi zenship as well as with activity and success ful accomplishment in agricultural circles. The work which his father instituted in pioneer times he has carried forward, and although he started out in life empty-handed dependent entirely upon his own resources he is now in possession of a good farm prop erty, while the annual sales of his products bring him a desirable income. ALBERT RUSSELL NOWLEN, who has beeri the promoter of much of the im- proverhent which has been carried on in Benton Harbor, was born in Durham, Scho harie county, New York, October 19, 1831, his parents being Ira and Sophia (Toles) Nowlen. His paternal grandfather, Joshua Nowlen, was a resident of Connecticut, and Ira Nowlen removed to New York, settled upon a farm in Schoharie county, where he remained for some time, or until he removed to Otsego county. His last years were passed in Benton Harbor, where he died at the age of seventy. On coming to- Michi- 708 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY gan he secured land where Albert R. Nowlen now resides and was engaged in the raising of fruit. His wife died here at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were five children : Addison J., who engaged in the practice of law in Benton Harbor and in Chicago but is now living retired; Almira F., the wife of Archibald Shaw, of New York; Albert Russell, of this review; Vic toria S., the wife of John McCoy, a stock grower living in Kansas; and Louisa, who died when about thirty-five years of age. Albert R. Nowlen of this review was reared under the parental roof, acquiring a common school education, and when twenty- two years of age was married to Miss Sarah Jane Pratt, a native of New Jersey. His father at the time of his marriage gave him the old home farm, which he cultivated for three years. He then removed to Oneonta, New York, where his father lived for two years and in 1859 made his way westward to Boone county, Illinois, to sell nursery stock for a cousin, who was a grower of such stock in that state. Mr. Nowlen thus spent two years. In the meantime he purchased land in Iowa but never located thereon. His attention being attracted to Michi gan on account of his fruit growing inter ests, he secured land on Empire avenue out side of the village where William Hamilton now resides. He at first had forty acres, of which twenty-five acres had been cleared. One acre was planted to peach trees, which were then thirteen years old. He had but one thousand dollars and had to go in debt to the amount of two thousand dollars in order to secure the place. He at once be gan planting fruit, set out peach trees and also small fruit, having six acres each of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Finally he set out the entire farm to fruit. and continued its cultivation for a consider able period or until he sold it for six thou sand dollars to William Hamilton. In the meantime the yellows had begun to destroy the orchards. He built the house which is now standing, it being at that time the best one south of the village. In company with Dr. John Bell, Mr. Morton and Captain Lee, Mr. Nowlen pur chased considerable land and organized the Benton Harbor Improvement Association, his associates in this enterprise being Dr. John Bell, Captain J. H. Lee, J. Stanley Morton and Peter English. The last named, however, retired after a short time but the others continued in the company. This asso ciation purchased several tracts of land which it sold, inducing several manufactur ers to locate here and establish business en terprises. The company would donate lo cations and give bonuses. Some of these enterprises proved failures. In one instance they donated the location and sixteen thou sand dollars. The association bought land which they platted and sold, Mr. Nowlen devoting his entire time to the interests of the company until its affairs were wound up. Since the dissolution of the association he and Captain Lee have purchased the Mc Allister addition and built a number of houses thereon. The old homestead, too, has been divided into lots and many good houses have been erected there, Mr. Nowlen supplying the funds to H. M. Smith, a con tractor, who builds and sells the dwellings. This is a very desirable residence section of the town. Mr. Nowlen is also a stock holder in the State Bank, and through his land and property operations has contributed in very substantial measure to the improve ment and upbuilding of Benton Harbor. After his father's death he secured the* old homestead and erected his present residence at No. 245 Broadway. Mr. Nowlen was married at the age of twenty-two years in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Miss Sarah Jane Pratt, a native of New York, and they lived together until her death in March, 1897. In the family were three children : Russell, who died at the age- of twenty-two years; Ida N., who is the widow of Royce Allen, and she and her family of six children are living with her father, two of the children being now stu dents in Oberlin College of Ohio; and Bert, who is engaged in the lumber business at Benton Harbor, his yard being located on the old site of the firm of Morton & Stevens, one of the pioneer lumber firms of this part of the state. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 709 Mr. Nowlen was one of the organizers of the Congregational church and served as one of its trustees until recent years, and has been a deacon since its organization. He donated an organ valued at thirty-five hun dred dollars to the church. He has done much for the upbuilding of the church and its work here, being one of its prominent and influential members. In 1906 he gave one thousand dollars to the new hospital of Benton Harbor. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and has refused all local of fices, though frequently solicited to serve in such positions. He has preferred to do his public service as a private citizen and his efforts in behalf of Benton Harbor have been far reaching and beneficial. The founders of a state or the builders of a city are not merely the men who handle the reins of government and control the public policy but are those who carry civilization into hitherto wild regions, who develop the natural resources of the state and who be come builders and organizers of business interests. Such a man is Mr. Nowlen. HON. THOMAS JEFFERSON WEST, deceased, who was one of the dis tinguished and prominent citizens of Ber rien county, successfully conducting agricul tural interests and wielding a wide influence in public affairs, represented his district in the state legislature, while his opinions were a decisive factor in many questions of pub lic moment. He died October 21, 1896, and the county thereby lost one of its men of sterling worth. He was born in Wayne county, New York, May 22, 1831, and when four years of age was brought to Mich igan by his parents who settled in Kalamazoo county. His father, John West, became a farmer of Charleston township, where he successfully cultivated his land, but his last years were spent in the home of his son, Thomas J. Upon the home farm Mr. West of this review was reared and his early attention was supplemented by study in Kalamazoo College. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching, which profession he fol lowed for eleven years in the winter months in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. When he sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Martha M. Williamson, and, successful in his wooing, they were married in Charleston township April 17, 1852. She was a daughter of Daniel and Katherine Williamson, and was born in Tioga county, New York, whence at the age of three years she was brought to Michigan, the family home being established at Port Huron and later in Charleston town ship, Kalamazoo, county, where they were neighbors of the West family. An early friendship ripened into love and she was married at the age of eighteen years. The young couple resided for a time in Calhoun county, after which they returned to the old West farm in Kalamazoo county, in 1865 they arrived in Berrien county and Mr. West purchased the farm in Bainbridge township, upon which his widow now resides, it being located eight miles east of Benton Harbor on Territorial road, which highway also led past their Kalamazoo county home, sixty- five miles further east. The tract which Mr. West secured in Berrien county was partially improved and he soon devoted it to the rais ing of a variety of fruit. His attention was largely given to peaches first until the yel lows destroyed his trees. From 1875 until 1878 he was engaged in the conduct of a general store at Coloma, after which he re turned to his farm, and in 1893 erected the present residence. A few years later, after successfully conducting his farm, he turned the care of his place over to his son Fred and retired from active business life. The place is now demoted to the raising of fruit with seventy acres thus utilized, forty-five acres being devoted to peaches, while the re mainder is given to apples and grapes. In his business affairs Mr. West was active, energetic and far-sighted and his laudable ambition and close application were the strong elements in his success. A man of influence well fitted for leader • ship by reason of his devotion to the gen eral good and his intimate and accurate knowledge of political issues, questions and possibilities, he became a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party, and 710 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in 1872 was elected upon that ticket to repre sent his district in the state legislature. He served capably and creditably, and in 1874 was re-elected. He was much interested in certain legislative acts, especially the one con cerning the division line between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, and he left the impress of his individuality upon the legislative his tory of the commonwealth. He also served for several years as township supervisor and was interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of his township and county. He was an enthusiastic mem ber of the Grange and was a faithful mem ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spink's Corners. His life was useful and honorable. It was never a negative quantity but was always an influencing force for good, as he stood as a stalwart defender of justice, truth, right and progress. Unto Mr. and Mrs. West were born three children : Pratt W., who died at the age of nineteen years; Franklin H., who died at the age of sixteen years; and Fred L. The last named pursued a commercial course in Valparaiso- Normal School and since attaining his majority has conducted the home farm, which at one time contained two hundred and eighty acres but his father sold a portion of it and it now comprises one hun dred and twenty acres. He is engaged in raising grass, grain and hay, as well as fruit, and he is a prominent member of the Berrien County Horticultural Society, in which he is now serving on the executive committee. He married Miss Anna E. Mor ton, by whom he had two children, Martha Winifred and Hermie L. His present wife was Dorothy O. Wilder, of Berrien county, who is a graduate nurse. Mrs. Thomas J. West also survives and the family is a prom inent one in the community, occupying an enviable position in social circles. REV. EDWARD FREDERICK STRICKLAND, a man of broad scholarly attainments and keen intellectuality, devoted a third of a century to the work of the min istry as a representative of the Baptist de nomination. Dr. Strickland is a native of England, was born in London,- in the year 1820, and acquired his early education in the schools of Scotland. He is also a graduate of the Metaphysical College in Boston, Massachu setts, graduating in November, 1868. The late Rev. George C. Laurimore, D. D., of New York, and Dr. Strickland were baptized at the same time in 1856, by Dr. Everts at Walnut Street Church in Louisville, Ken tucky. His last charge was at Des Moines, Iowa, where, in 1890, he retired from the active work of the ministry. He had preached with much success, laboring zeal ously and effectively for the benefit of his fellowmen, so that his efforts were of no restricted order, his influence proving a potent element for good in every community in which he lived and labored. An earnest, fluent and forceful speaker he impressed his hearers with the deep truths which he uttered and which he presented to them in clear, logical form, appealing strongly to both the intellectual and spiritual nature of his audi tors. In 1890 he came to Benton Harbor and purchased property on the bluff over looking Colfax avenue. Here he has since lived. On the 17th of June, 1852, Rev. Strick land was united in the holy bonds of matri mony to his present wife, who was born in Nottingham, England, and is a most faithful helpmate to her husband in his church work, while their congeniality of tastes has made their married life most companionable. Their union has been blessed with six chil dren : Edwin, born in London, England. Fannie Eva, born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the wife of Major Conlin, of the United States army and now lives at Detroit, Michi gan. Agnes, born in Bedford, New York, became the wife of Frederick H. Denman, of Battle Creek, Michigan. Nellie R. Strick land, born in Dayton, Ohio, is the wife of Robert Conners, of New York. Mabel Dacon, born in Northville, Michigan, is the wife of George Mack, of Boston, Massachu setts. Ethel Ann, born February 21, 1875, at Chelsea, Massachusetts, is the wife of Mr. John Edwards, of England. Dr. Strickland has always been a deep student not only of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 711 theology but of social and economic ques tions affecting the welfare of the race, and is a man of broad, scholarly attainments. He has now passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey and the years of his active and earnest labor in the ministry are crowned with well earned ease. Rev. Dr. Strickland was prelate of Malta commandry, Benton Harber, from its foundation, as a mark of the Sir Knights' appreciation of his work .they unanimously elected him associate prelate with remittance of dues and fees during the remainder of his life. Dr. Strickland is the oldest Knight Templar holding the honorable office of as sociate prelate in the state. SIMEON BELKNAP, M. D., one of the capable members of the medical fra ternity of Michigan, now practicing in Niles, was born in Barnard, Windsor county, Ver mont, October 16, 1837, and comes of Eng lish and Scotch ancestry, the early repre sentatives of the name in America having crossed the Atlantic during the colonization period of the new world. They made set tlement in Connecticut, where Simeon Belknap, grandfather of Dr. Belknap of this review was born, and when about twenty- one years of age moved to Randolph, Ver mont, where Seymour Belknap, his father, first opened his eyes to the light of day. Thus for several generations the family was represented in Vermont. Seymour Belknap married Miss Lydia Campbell, a daughter of Sylvanus Campbell, and was a native of Vermont and of Scotch lineage. Dr. Simeon Belknap spent his early boy hood days in the state of his nativity and prepared for college as a student in the school at Newburg, Vermont. Upon the comple tion of his literary course he entered upon the study of medicine which he carried on under the preceptorship of Dr. Huntington of Rochester, Vermont, until he matriculated in the medical department of the State Uni versity of Vermont. He therein pursued the regular course and was graduated in the class of i860, subsequent to which time he spent one year in a hospital at Boston, Massachusetts, thus supplementing his theoretical training by broad and varied ex perience. He then located for practice in Rochester, Vermont, entering into partner ship with his former preceptor, Dr. M. W. Huntington. They conducted a large prac tice there but, attracted by the west with its broader possibilities, Dr. Belknap came to Michigan in 1873, settling in Niles, where he built up an extensive and lucrative prac tice. For eleven years he was a partner of the late Dr. E. J. Bonine under the firm name of Bonine & Belknap and on the disso lution of that partnership he entered into business relations with his son, Fred R. Belknap. To his professiori he brings a well trained mind, great physical endurance and abilities of an unusually high order. His talents, both native and acquired, entitle him to prominence in the ranks of the medical fraternity and his labors have been an im portant element for good in the localities in. which he has resided. Dr.- Simeon Belknap was married in 1861 at Rochester, Vermont, to Miss Addie. M. Rice, who was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, although the state of her nativity is Ver mont. She was born in 1840. Her father, Uriah Rice, was a prominent citizen of Cin cinnati, Ohio, and for many years filled the position of superintendent of schools there. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Belknap were born two sons, Dr. F. R. Belknap of Benton Harbor and Simeon Belknap, Jr., who lives in Niles, Michigan. In the line of his profession he is connected with the American Medical As sociation to which he has belonged since • 1855 and since 1880 he has been a member of the Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine. He was also a member of the Pan American Medical Congress and was United States Pension examiner and surgeon appointed in 1876, but during President Cleveland's ad ministration he * was removed for political reasons and was out of office for four years. When the Republicans again came into power he was re-appointed and has filled the position to the present time, acting all of the time as secretary of the board of Niles. He is a member of the National As sociation of Railway Surgeons, is also a member of the Big Four Railway 712 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "Surgeons Association and is physician and surgeon for the Big Four Railroad, the In terurban Railroad and surgeon for the Mich igan Central Railroad. He still makes his home in Niles but in 1898 was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 22d of June of that year. Dr. Belknap still practices his profession and through out the years of his active connection with the medical fraternity has kept abreast with the advancement that has been continuously made as investigation and research have broadened the knowledge and promoted the efficiency of the members of the medical fra ternity. JOHN F. WILSON. Among the younger business men of St. Joseph is num bered John F. Wilson, who is conducting a bakery here. He is one of the native sons of this city, his birth having occurred on the 2d of January, 1874. His father, John W. Wilson, was born in New York on the 16th of November, 1832, and was one of a large family. During his boyhood days his parents removed to Michigan, settling in Warren, Macomb county, where he was reared to manhood. In 1855, in company with Thomas Rimes of St. Joseph, he came to this city in a fishing smack, which left port at a point on Lake St. Clair. For sev eral years he folowed the business of fish ing. In 1865 he turned his attention to the bakery business on Ship street, where the Zordell harness shop is now located. Subse quently he removed to the Preston building and there purchased from John Wilkinson a bakery and restaurant business conducted in the Wilkinson Hall, a frame building on State street, where now stands the Martin Block. When this building was torn down Mr. Wilson removed to a building located on the site of the John Kibler Block and afterward to a building just across the street, which was destroyed by fire in September, 1 90 1. A few years ago, however, the stock was removed to the Economy Block and Mr. Wilson retired from active business at that time, being succeeded by his son, John F. Wilson. He was for many years a promi nent and enterprising business man of the city and his name is closely associated with the early commercial development here. John W. Wilson was married in St. Joseph on the 2 1 st of August, i860, to Miss Susan Maria Olds, and unto them were born five sons and a daughter. In communitv- affairs Mr. Wilson was actively intereste"3, rejoicing in the advancement made by his adopted city and assisting in as far as possible in the work of public improvement and upbuilding. He creditably served as a member of the board of city aldermen from the first ward for two years, beginning in April, 1899. He led a life of well directed activity and actuated by a spirit of service in behalf of his family and his community. He died January 25, 1903, respected: by all who knew him. The members of the family are : Hurlbut O., a resident of St. Joseph; W. L. ; Mrs, John Eklund, who is living in this city; John F. ; Charles E., who resides in White Cloud, Michigan, and Harry Lee, whose home is in Grand Rapids, Michigan. John F. Wilson was reared in St. Joseph, where he has spent his entire life. His edu cation was largely acquired in the public schools here although he also pursued a com mercial course in Benton Harbor College. At an early age he entered the employ of his father and learned the bakery business, which he mastered both in principle and de tail. He continued with his father until the latter's retirement from business life, when he became his successor and is now proprie tor of a good bakery. His business has con stantly grown and he has now a gratifying trade. He is respected by all not alone be cause of the success he has achieved but also by reason of the straightforward, hon orable methods that he has ever followed. In 1898 in the city of his nativity Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Dora A. Foltz, who was born in Bremen, Indiana. They have one child, John Charles, whose birth occurred in St. Joseph, October 26, 1905. Mr. Wilson is independent in his political views. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has taken the various degrees up to and including those of the council. He is like wise connected with the Eastern Star and his name is one of the membership rolls of the ELI A. GRIFFIN HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY m Elks lodge and the Maccabees tent. He has many warm friends in Berrien county and is best liked where best known. EDWIN C. GRIFFIN. Various busi ness interests have claimed the attention and co-operation of Edwin C. Griffin, who be longs to that class of representative Ameri can men, who while advancing individual success also contribute to the public pros perity. He is now proprietor of a drug store which has been conducted continuously in Niles since 1883 and who has varied busi ness investments, while at the same time he finds opportunity to support progressive public movements. Mr. Griffin was born in Niles in 1857 and is the only child of Eli A. and Harriet M. (Nichols) Griffin. The father was born at Poplar Ridge, New York, in 1833, and was a son of Samuel H. and Maria B. (Culver) Griffin, both natives of the Em pire state, the former born in Dutchess county. In their family were five children, of whom two died in infancy in New York, while only one is yet living, namely, Mrs. Lucy G. Finley, who was married in 1862 to Thomas J. Finley. They had two chil dren: Ruhamah, the wife of William P. Lardner ; and Belle, who married Frank Landon, but both are now deceased. They left a son Worth F. Landon, who lives in Chicago. Eli A. Griffin was the eldest of the five children in his father's family. He was en gaged in the dry goods business in Niles, Michigan, at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war and in 1861 he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Com pany A, Sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He became captain of his company May 19, 1869, served in the Atlanta campaign, and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea ; was wounded in action May 27, 1863; resigned on account of wounds July 17, 1863; was made major Nineteenth Michigan Infantry October 22, 1863, lieu tenant colonel April 20, 1864; died June 16, 1864, of wounds received in action at Golgotha Church, Georgia, June 15, 1864, while commanding the regiment, being at that time about thirty-three years of age. He had married Harriet M. Nichols, who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and long survived him, passing away in 1889, at the age of sixty-two years. Edwin C. Griffin was reared in Niles and began his education in the public schools here but afterward attended the high school at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in the class of 1875. He then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, be came a student in the College of Pharmacy and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1879. In the meantime, in 1878, he passed the examination before the New Jersey board of pharmacy and while still in school he acted as manager of a drug store at Camden, New Jersey, owned by Mr. Lee, who was the secretary of the secretary of the State Board of Pharmacy, of New Jersey. Mr. Griffin continued as manager for two years. He now holds diplomas from Illi nois and Michigan, having passed the ex amination before the board of pharmacy of those states as well as New Jersey. Fol lowing his graduation he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he had charge of the Hyde Park Pharmacy for a year. Subsequetnly he went to Colorado, where he remained for two years, conducting a large drug store at Durango. He owned several stores while in Colorado, going to Del Norte and later to Durango,- while subsequently he pur chased a stock of goods and went by team to New Mexico. He sold the first bill of goods in Durango and as there was no build ing in the town to be had he opened his store in a tent. He continued in business on the line of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad to the termination of its track and then proceeded by team for a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, selling his goods from place to place. He eventually reached New Mexico and disposed of his stock at Trespiedras or Three Rocks. In 1883 after a varied career as a pioneer mer chant of the west he returned to Niles and in that year opened a drug store, which ha has since conducted with gratifying success. He carries a large line of goods and has a well appointed store, neat and attractive in its appearance by reason of his careful man agement. He is always reliable and straight- 7M HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY forward in his dealings and has a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the drug business and of the use of the different rem edial agencies by reason of his study and be cause of a varied experience. He is also interested and actively associated with the Building and Loan Association of Niles, of which he is financial secretary and treasurer. He is also a director of three other building and loan associations all of this city. Mr. Griffin was married in Niles in 1884 to Miss Jennie W. Woodruff, a daughter of D. O. Woodruff, an early settler of Berrien county, Michigan. They have two children, Harriet C. and Jeanne, both born in Niles. The family attend the Episcopal church and are prominent in social circles. Mr. Griffin has always taken an active part in city af fairs and at present time is serving on the board of public works. In politics he is a Republican and his efforts in behalf of pub lic progress have never been limited to party allegiance, for he has given his co-operatiori to various measures and movements for the public good. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the lodge, council, chapter and commandery, in all of which he has held various offices. He is now and has been for the past fifteen years secretary of the chapter. He is recognized as one of the progressive citizens of Niles, is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. He has found in the every-day duties of this work-a-day world incentive for his best effort and he has not only profited by the control of pri vate business interests, for other enterprises have felt the stimulus of his wise counsel and energy. The city of Niles has been greatly improved through the building and loan association with which Mr. Griffin is connected and his patriotic devotion to the general good is an acknowledged fact in his life record. GEORGE GRAHAM is a retired old settler living at Berrien Springs with an income derived from five hundred acres of valuable farming property. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1826. His father, John Graham, a na tive of Pennsylvania, spent his entire life in that state. He was a merchant and also owned a stage line between Philadelphia and Pittsburg in early days before railroad travel. He died in his native state in his forty-fourth year. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Kimmel, and was also a native of Pennsylvania, was acci dentally killed in Berrien county, when she had reached the age of seventy-six years. There were seven children in the family, of whom Goerge Graham is the eldest. His residence in this county dates from 1843, arriving here when a young man of seven teen years. He remained for three years and being pleased with the county, its productive ness and its business opportunities he then returned to Pennsylvania and brought to his new home his mother, two brothers and two sisters, making the journey with teams across the country. They located on a farm in Oronoko township and a part of the land which they owned is now comprised within the corporation limits of Berrien Springs. Mr. Graham cleared and cultivated the fields and was engaged in general farm ing until 1879, when he erected his present residence in Berrien Springs, where he has since made his home. As the years passed by he carefully directed his farming opera tions and his business capacity and enter prise were indicated by the excellent suc cess which attended his efforts. He owns now about five hundred acres of land, a large portion of which is in Berrien Springs and all adjoining the village. From this he derives an excellent income so that he is en abled to enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He has been a resident of the same township for sixty-three years and was closely identified with the early history of the county, aiding in the advancement of those measures and movements which have for their object the welfare and up building of this part of the state. Mr. Graham was married in December, 1849, to Miss Mary B. Garrow, a daugh ter of John and Mary Garrow, who came from Auburn, New York, the place of her nativity, to Michigan and spent her- remain ing days in Berrien county, her death oc- GEORGE GRAHAM MRS. GEORGE GRAHAM HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 715 curring May 3, 1902. The deepest regret was felt throughout the community at her loss, for she was a lady of many excellent traits of heart and mind. By this marriage seven children have been born : William H. ; Harry K. ; Julia, the deceased wife of Sam uel H. Kelly, of Benton Harbor; Addie, the wife of T. L. Wilkinson of St. Joseph and Berrien Springs, being a member of the firm of Dix & Wilkinson; and three, who died in childhood. Since his retirement from the farm Mr. Graham has engaged in loaning money and this also adds materially to his income. He started out in life a poor boy and began working by the month as a farm hand. The first year he received only his board in com pensation for his services and the second year he was paid six dollars per month in addition to his board. He has accumulated all that he possesses through his own in dustry and thrift and is today a prosperous citizen. In early manhood he voted for General Zachary Taylor and for John C. Fremont. He was a Whig prior to the or ganization of the Republican party, since which time he has been one of its stalwart supporters. He cast two ballots for Abra ham Lincoln, and voted for each presidential nominee of the party since that time, and in 1904 he met with the Fre mont voters in Jackson at the semi centennial anniversary of the organi zation of the Republican party there. He has held local offices, including that of presi dent of the village. He is well known in the county where he has lived so long and in public affairs he has taken an active and helpful part. He has now reached the age of four score years and is a venerable citi zen, respected and honored by all who know him by reason of what he has accomplished and the honorable methods he has followed. His life record should serve as a source of inspiration and help to others, being a prac tical proof of what may be done in the busi ness world through industry, guided by sound judgment and supplemented by in tegrity. EDWARD H. KINGSLEY, engaged in the furniture trade in St. Joseph, dates his residence in Michigan from 1851. In fact this was the year of his birth, his natal place being Niles. He is a son of George W. Kingsley, who was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and who in early manhood sought a home in the great and growing west, ambitious to profit by its broader op portunities. Coming to Michigan in 1833 he settled in St. Joseph. He had learned the mason's trade and became a contractor in that line, working for the Michigan Cen tral Railroad Company at the time its line was extended to St. Joseph, in the mean time having removed his family to Niles. In 1 85 1 he again took up his abode in St. Joseph, where he continued his business as a mason contractor up to the time of his de mise. He was thus closely associated with building operations in his adopted city and his excellent workmanship may still be seen in many of the substantial structures here. He held various offices of trust, including the position of township trustee and at all times he was loyal in citizenship, his labor, co-operation and influence being a resultant factor in various movements for the public good. He wedded Miss Marian Conkhrite, who was born in Lockport, New York, and they became the parents of eight children, but five have passed away. Those still liv ing are: Edward H. ; Mary L., the wife of L. T. Burridge, of Benton Harbor; and Charles E., who is living in St. Joseph. The father's death occurred in St. Joseph in 1876 at the age of sixty-one years, and the mother is still living, now making her home in Ben ton arbor. Edward H. Kingsley, although born in Niles, was reared in St. Joseph, where he at tended school and on attaining manhood he worked with his father at the mason's trade for a number of years. This association was maintained until the father's death, when he succeeded to the business, continuing his operations in that line until 1887, when he engaged in the lumber business in Georgia, remaining in the south for five years. On the expiration of that period he returned to 716 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY St. Joseph, where he again resumed mason contracting and was a factor in building operations here until 1898, when he became connected with other industrial interests of the city. He purchased an interest in a box and basket manufacturing business at Bangor, Michigan, the product of the fact ory being used by the fruit packers of the state, and while thus engaged he still re tained his residence in St. Joseph. He re mained in this business for two years and then again resumed mason contracting here but shortly ' afterward went to the state of Washington, where he organized the Michi gan Box Company, of which he was man ager for one year. On the expiration of that period he sold out and returned to St. Joseph, where he again followed contract ing until August, 1905, when he purchased an interest in a furniture store, which for a short time had been conducted under the name of Baitenger & Church, and afterward became The Baitenger & Kingsley Com pany. A more detailed account of the busi ness is given in connection with the sketch of G. M. Baitenger on another page of this work. They carried, however, a large and well selected line of furniture of various grades and kinds in order to meet the varied tastes of the general public and they also do a picture frame and undertaking business. Mr. Kingsley has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this city and matters of local progress are ever dear to his heart. Every movement for the gen eral good receives his endorsement and in al of his efforts for the public welfare he is intensely practical. Before St. Joseph was incorporated as a city he served on the village board of trustees and after the city had received its charter he was elected as supervisor of the first ward for a term of two years and when the wards were redis- tricted he was chosen supervisor for the third ward, filling the office for four years. He was also appointed to the board of public works for a term of two years and later was reappointed for a five years' term. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party and his devotion to the public welfare stands as an unquestioned fact in his history. In June, 1876, Mr. Kingsley was united in marriage in St. Joseph to Miss Cynthia J. Cowles, a daughter of Charles C. Cowles, of Mobile, Alabama. Mrs. Kingsley is a member of the Episcopal church and they occupy an enviable position in social circles, where true worth and intelligence are re ceived as the passports into good society. Mr. Kingsley is a member of the St. Jo seph Lodge of Masons, No. 437, and in 1900 was high priest of Calvin Brittain Chapter, R. A. M. He also belongs to St. Joseph Council, No. 44, R. & S. M., and to Malta Commandery, K. T., of Benton Harbor. He has thus attained high rank in Masonry and is in hearty sympathy with the teach ings and purposes of the craft. He has found in his native county the business op portunities he sought, which, by way, are al ways open to the ambitious, energetic man, and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward. He possesses res olution, perseverance and reliability and in whatever relation of life we find him, whether in political associations, in business or in social circles, he is always an honora^ ble and honored gentleman, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uni formly given him. WILLIAM E. SHEFFIELD, classed with the merchants of Benton Harbor, where since 1887 he has been engaged in the drug business, was born in Kokomo, In diana, in 1863. His education was ac quired in Richland county, Wisconsin, and he afterward went to Montcalm county, Michigan, where he learned the drug busi ness with his father, James A. Sheffield. In 1887 he came to Benton Harbor and established a drug store under the firm style of J. A. Sheffield & Son. From the begin ning the new enterprise prospered and they built up a fine business, carrying a large and well selected line of drugs and also deal ing in stationery and books, of which they have a large stock. This business has been largely built up through the efforts of Wil- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 717 Ham E. Sheffield and since the death of his father in 1899 he has carried on the busi ness under his own name in a very success ful manner. His commercial methods are such as will bear close investigation and scrutiny and while keeping in touch with the trend of modern progress in trade cir cles he is at the same time maintaining a reputation for straightforward dealing that is most commendable. In 1884, in Ohio, Mr. Sheffield was united in marriage to Miss Ella G. Sheffield and they are accorded an enviable social position in Benton Harbor. Mr. Sheffield is a prominent Mason, having attained the 32d degree of the Scottish Rite. He has also taken the degrees of the York Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. In poli tics he is a Democrat and is a member of the library board of Benton Harbor. His in terest in public affairs has led to active sup port of many plans and movements for the general good. In political thought and ac tion he has always been independent, carry ing out his honest views without fear or favor. In business he has achieved success through honorable effort, untiring industry and capable management and in private life has gained that warm personal regard which arises from true nobility of character, def erence for the opinions of others and geniality. THERON T. RANSOM, now deceased, was well known in business, social and politi cal circles in St. Joseph. He conducted a grocery store there for many years and as a builder of a business block and other sub stantial structures contributed in large meas ure to the improvement of the city. More over he displayed in his early life the qual ities of upright manhood and devotion to duty which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard. He won the warm friendship of many with whom he came in contact, so that his death came as a personal loss to the entire community. Mr. Ransom was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Oberlin in 1840. His parents were William Brooks and Cynthia (Turner) Ransom. The father lived for many years in Fond du Lac, Wis consin, where he was engaged in horticul tural pursuits, owning and controlling a large fruit farm. Subsequently he removed to Berrien county, Michigan, where he also bought a farm devoted to the cultivation of fruit and to the raising of stock. He con ducted that farm for a number of years but spent his last days in retirement from further labor in St. Joseph, and his rest was well merited because the competence which he possessed had been acquired entirely through his own well directed and honorable labor. Theron T. Ransom was reared to man hood in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and after completing his education and entering busi ness life he was connected with various en terprises, including mining. He was thus engaged until 1867, when he came to Michi gan and entered business circles in St. Jo seph as a grocer. From the beginning his success was uniform and rapid and he soon had a large and gratifying trade, which was accorded him up to the time of his death, many of his patrons giving him their sup port throughout the entire period of his con nection with business interests of his city. As his trade grew and his financial resources were correspondingly enlarged he placed his money in the safest of all investments — real estate — and erected a substantial business block, whereby he contributed in large and beneficial measure to the upbuilding and im provement of the city. He also owned va rious other properties here. In connection with his other interests he was one of the organizers of the Union Bank of St. Joseph and acted oji its board of directors for many years. In 1868 in St. Joseph Mr. Ransom was married to Miss Mary Adams, a daughter of Charles and Ann A. (Hoyt) Adams, the former a native of Limerick, Maine. Her mother was a daughter of Eliphal'et Hoyt, also of Maine, who married Sallie Hoyt of New Hampshire. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ran som were born two children but only one is now living, Ralph, who is an artist and teacher in the Albion College at Albion, Michigan. He married Nannie Keith, a daughter of W. W. Bean, of St. Joseph. 7i8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mrs. Ransom of this review is a great lover of antiquities and has a large collection of ancient relics, including many pewter articles. She has a pewter platter which was brought from England in early colonial days and is now more than one hundred and fifty years old. She also has many other in teresting antiquities and art relics, including a large, beautiful and interesting collection of china. Mr. Ransom's study of questions and is sues led him to give his support to the Re publican party and he was well known both politically and socially in St. Joseph and was recognized at the same time as an important factor in the business life of the community. He would never hold political office although such honors would have been conferred upon him had he consented to accept. In a quiet way, however, he labored earnestly for the welfare of the community and his influence was ever given on the side of progress and improvement. He held membership in the Masonic lodge and when called to his final rest in 1886 was laid to rest with Masonic honors. He was a man of genuine personal worth, whose many good qualities won him recognition from those who have true ap preciation for the nobler characteristics of life but while he held friendship inviolable and was ever considerate of the thoughts and feelings of others his best traits of char acter were reserved for his own family and fireside. PROFESSOR ERNEST P. CLARKE, superintendent of the schools of St. Joseph, has devoted almost his entire life to educa tional work. He was born in Berrien town ship, this county, in 1862, a son of Daniel Edward Clarke, a native of Ohio. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, en listing at Niles, Michigan, as a private of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer In fantry, with which he continued up to the time of his death, which occurred in Jeffer son Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, of typhoid fever. He married Martha Zuver, also a native of Ohio. She yet survives her hus band and makes her home with her son. Professor Clarke began his education in the public schools of Indiana but on account of his father's early death he had to put aside his text-books and earn his own living at the age of fourteen years. He became an employe of William Edwards of Benton Harbor, with whom he remained for two years. After completing a three years' course in the Benton Harbor high school, he entered the Michigan Agricultural College, largely working his own way through this institution. He thus displayed the elementary strength of his character and developed the latent energies which have proven a strong and forceful element in his subsequent suc cess. On leaving college he became a teacher in Hillsdale county, Michigan, and afterward went to Kansas, where he remained for three years as principal of the schools of White City. He then returned to Berrien county, Michigan, and in 1893 was elected county commissioner of schools which position he filled so acceptably that he was three times re-elected and was serving for the fourth term in that office when he resigned to ac cept the position of superintendent of the city schools of St. Joseph, to which position he was called in 1899. He has since acted in that capacity and has done much for the improvement of the schools, maintaining a high standard of public education and in spiring the teachers and pupils under him with much of his own zeal and interest in the work, so that the school system has be come an efficient one and his labors have given uniform satisfaction. On the 24th of May, 1893, Professor Clarke was married in Kendall, Michigan, to Miss Elnora Wheeler, a daughter of David and Mary (Chamberlain) Wheeler. They have two children, Edward E. and Mary P., both born in St. Joseph. Professor Clarke is a member of the Masonic fra ternity and is a Republican in politics and in social circles he and his wife now enjoy an eriviable position, especially where true worth and intelligence are received as passports into good society. His life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a "prophet is not without honor s?ve in his own country," for in the county of his nativity he has attained to a position of dis- (/\tfSc^M:r &7CJUi(. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 719 tinction as one who is closely connected with the public welfare and whose labors have been of direct and immediate benefit. HON. ROSCO D. DIX. Prominent in political circles in Michigan, an able at torney of Berrien Springs and the president of the Berrien Springs Exchange Bank, also a recognized leader in the development of the Grand Army of the Republic in this state, no history of Berrien county wOuld be complete without mention of Hon. Rosco D. Dix, whose life record is interwoven with the annals of the commonwealth. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, June 11, 1839. His paternal grandfather, Leon ard Dix, was of Holland Dutch extraction. A native of Vermont, he lived to be ninety- four years of age and died in. Berrien coun ty. -His son, Dexter O. Dix, who: was : like wise born in the Green Mountain State, re moved from New England to .New York, where he followed' the occupation of farm11 ing- for a number of years.- - Coming, to Michigan in 1852 he located iri Bainbridge' township, Berrien county,- where he owned land and also carried on fnerchandising. He was an active and enterprising. business mair during the middle portion of the nirieteerith century and he also left the impress of his individuality upon public thought arid action, exerting widely felt influence in matters of general moment: He served as supervisor of his township and was always the champion of any movement f Or the pub lic good. He married Miss' Mary' E. Rudd,: a native of Connecticut and: a daughter of Nathaniel Rudd of Revolutionary stock.'. Dextor O. Dix passed away at the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife survived to the age of eighty-seven years. In their family were three sons and a daughter. Rosco D. Dix, the eldest son and second child of the family, was about twelve years of age when his parents removed from Jef ferson county, New York, to Rochester, that state, and was a youth of fifteen when he came to Berrien county, Michigan. His early education, acquired in the district schools of the Empire State, was supple mented by study in Albion College, at Al bion, Michigan. He was a student there, when, in response to his country's call for aid, he enlisted in the spring of 1861 as a private of the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south, had noted the threatening attitude of the slave-holding states and had resolved that he .would strike a blow for the Union if an attempt was made to Overthrow. Accordingly the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns had scarcely cleared away. when, he offered his services. He was prorhoted to the rank of first sergeant and . was seriously wounded at Knoxville, Tennessee, November 24, 1863, and taken prisoner. Being in- Capacitated for. further military service he was honorably - discharged, and in 1864 he -returned to Berrien county, having served for nearly three years as a faithful and loyal soldier who. never faltered in the per formance of any - military task assigned him. . Following his return from the war Mr. Dix was elected register of deeds in 1864, which he filled for eight years, being elected four different times. In the meantime he had purchased. a- set of abstract books and had for some years been engaged in the con duct of -an abstract 'office. In 1870 he was admitted to" the" bar and entered upon prac tice, : since continuing as a representative of the legal fraternity of Berrien county. His connection with the abstract office did not comprise the extent of his political service, however, for' he was elected commissioner of the state land office and acted in that capacity for- four years, while in 1896 he was. elected auditor general of Michigan, which position he also held for four years. He has likewise been called to numerous local offices, the duties of which he has dis charged with promptness and fidelity, and over the official record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. In 1867 Mr. Dix was married to Miss Virginia M. Kephart, a daughter of Dr. Philip and Susan (Kimmel) Kephart. They are now the parents of one living son and one living daughter, Winfred and Catherine, 720 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the latter the wife of William H. Humphrey, of Chicago. Mr. Dix is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter, com mandery and shrine. He is also a member of Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., and has held various offices in the department of Michigan. In 1898 he was a member of the national executive committee. He is one of the leading representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic in Michigan and likewise of the Republican party, and has taken an active and helpful interest in both. He has been chairman of the Repub lican county committee and a member of the congressional committee, and his opinion is often a decisive factor in the councils of his party. In connection with the practice of law he is in partnership with T. L. Wilkin in the real-estate, insurance and banking business as the owner of the Berrien Springs Exchange Bank. For forty-one years he has made his home in Berrien Springs and local advancement and national progress are causes dear to his heart. He activelv inter ests himself in public affairs and participates earnestly in every effort to propagate a spirit of patriotism and loyalty to American institutions. He is opposed to misrule in municipal and public affairs and wherever there is a public-spirited attempt to drive cor ruption or other unworthiness out of office he is to be found working with the leaders of the movement. His success in business and the position of honor and trust which have been conferred upon him leave no room for question of his ability and he deserves and is given classification with the promi nent men not only of Berrien county but of the state. GEORGE A. FORLER is one of the na tive sons of Niles, born April 17, 1862. He is a son of George K. Forler, a native of Canada and a grandson of John Forler, who was born in Germany near Strasburg. The grandfather on coming to America settled first in Buffalo, New York. This was in the year 1828, at which time the city of Buf falo was but a small village. There he owned land which is now in the heart of the city. After two years spent in Buffalo he removed to Canada in 1830 and there both he and his wife resided until called to their final rest. He had married Katherine Grieger, who was born in Germany, and before their emigration to the new world they had become the parents of two chil dren, Katherine and Margaret, both of whom are now deceased. Six other children were added to the family in America, of whom three are now living : George K. ; Jacob K., who resides in Canada; and Chris tian, also living in that country. The par ents in 1904 celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversity in Niles, on which happy occa sion all of their children were present and many friends joined with them in good wishes and hearty congratulations. The grandfather was a weaver by trade and fol lowed that pursuit in Germany but after lo cating in Buffalo, New York, he carried on farming and subsequent to his removal to Canada he purchased a tract of land, which he cleared and cultivated, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred in 1 86 1, when he was sixty years of age. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1888, when ninety-four years of age. Their son, George K. Forler, now living in Niles, came from Canada to Michigan in i860 and took up his abode in the city which is yet his place of residence. He had learned the carpenter's trade in Canada and he here followed that pursuit until 1862, when with the capital he had saved from his own earn ings he embarked in merchandising in Niles. For a third of a century he was closely identi fied with commercial interests here, occupy ing a prominent position as a merchant and continuing in the trade until 1895, when he retired. In 1864 he erected a substantial two-story brick hotel, called the Forler Hotel, located at the corner of Fifth and High streets. On the street floor was the office of the hotel and also his grocery and provision store. The building was burned in April, 1889, and in November, 1889, busi ness was commenced in the new building. In his undertakings George K. Forler was very successful, his capable management of his interests bringing him a very gratifying HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 721 degree of prosperity. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Katherine Schmidt, who was born in Ger many and is also living. They became the parents of nine children : Magdalene, now the widow of Charles Whetstone; William S., who wedded Mary Keochly, and is now en gaged in the hotel business in Portland, Indi ana ; George A. ; Mary, the wife of Alfred Massnick, of Bay City, Michigan ; Kate, the wife of Rev. Joseph Reinicke, of Marion, Ohio; John H., who wedded Olive East wood, of South Bend, Indiana, and now lives in Niles ; Margaret, the wife of J. G. Kaiser, of Erie, Pennsylvania; Annie, the wife of Oscar Massnick, of Detroit, Michigan; and H. C. L. Forler, who married Isabelle Nes- bitt, and is a practicing attorney of Detroit. George A. Forler, whose name intro duces this record, entered the schools of Niles at the usual age, passing through suc cessive grades until he had become a high school student. He afterward attended a business college in Detroit and on returning to Niles entered his father's store, acting as manager until 1893. He then went to Chicago, where he engaged in the grocery business on his own account for two years, or until 1895, when he returned to Niles and purchased his father's grocery and pro vision business. He has since continued in this line of trade with much success, hav ing a good patronage which is constantly growing. He is recognized as an enterpris ing merchant and one who realizes that close application and indefatigable energy con stitute a safe and sure foundation upon which to build the superstructure of pros perity. In 1894 in Chicago Mr. Forler was married to Miss Dora Spansail, who was born in Genoa, Illinois. They have three children : Dorothy, born in Chicago ; and Gladys and Katherine, born in Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Forler are well known socially, while his business record and position is in accord with the honored name made by his father through long years of association with mercantile interests in Niles. In his political affiliation Mr. Forler is an earnest Democrat and has served as 46 alderman from the first ward and was for two terms a member of the school board. GEORGE MILTON VALENTINE, a representative citizen and distinguished lawyer of Benton Harbor, was born in Pulaski, Oswego county, New York, Janu ary 11, 1849. His father, William Valen tine, was born at Hoosic, Rensselear county, New York, January 19, 1803, and was a farmer by occupation, following that pur suit throughout his entire business career. In the Empire state he was married to Miss Samantha Taylor, whose birth occurred in Richland township, Oswego county, New York, October 7, 1811. In the year 1851 they removed with their family from New York to Michigan, settling in Galien town ship, Berrien county, where William Valen tine made his home until his death, which occurred in May, 1875. Although farm ing was his principal occupation he also en gaged in lumbering to some extent. His early political allegiance was given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party. His widow still survives him and now makes her home with her daughter at Coloma, in Berrien county. In their family were nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely : Helen M. ; John A., who resides in South Bend, Indiana; Stephen A., living in Granger, Indiana; William H., of Three Oaks, Michigan; Mrs. Nancy J. Brown, of Coloma; Mrs. Julia S. Jeffries, also living in Three Oaks, Michigan; George M., of Benton Harbor ; Charles N., of Fargo, North Dakota; and Andrew P., who is living in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The eldest member of the family, Helen M. Russ, is now deceased. George M. Valentine, brought to Ber rien county when but two years of age, ac- . quired his preliminary education in the pub lic schools and supplemented the knowledge there gained by study in New Carlisle (Indi ana) Collegiate Institute and in the high school at Niles. In early manhood his time was devoted to general farming and school teaching," but regarding the profession of 722 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY teaching merely as an initial step to other professional labor, he took up the study of law in 1873 and in 1875 was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan. In July of the same year he en gaged in partnership with W. H. Breece, of Three Oaks, under the firm style of Breece & Valentine, which relation was maintained until February, 1877, when he removed to Benton Harbor, and on St. Valentine's day of that year opened an office. From 1897 until 1901 he was a member of the law firrii of Valentine & Ellsworth, general practi tioners. With the exception of this period he has been alone in practice and has long maintained a foremost place in the front ranks of the representatives of the legal fra ternity in Berrien county. He served as attorney for the village of Benton Harbor and as city attorney after its incorporation as a city. He is a close and discriminating student, with wide knowledge of the prin ciples of jurisprudence and is correct in their application. Courts and juries listen to him with attention because of the clear, concise manner in which he presents his cause and his ability in applying legal principles thereto. He is very careful and thorough in the preparation of a case, never neglecting in the least the work that is done in the office and which is the foundation for the successes of the court room. Mr. Valentine is also recognized as a local leader in political cir cles, widely known as a stalwart champion of Republican principles. In 1880 he was elected circuit court commissioner and re elected in 1882. In 1896 he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of prosecuting attorney, and in 1898 was re-elected. In 1900 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention at Philadelphia, repre senting the fourth congressional district of Michigan. His opinions are often a forceful element in party councils and are always listened to with attention because he has made a close study of political issues and questions and thus cites intelligently and forcefully concerning those interests affect ing local and national welfare. On the 15th of January, 1878, Mr. Valen tine was married to Miss Sophia W. Gilson, of New Carlisle, Indiana, a daughter of Abel S. and Elizabeth C. Gilson.- Mr. and Mrs. Valentine have two children : Edson B., who was born June 27, 1879, and is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan of the class of 1906; and George Lawrence, who was born May 5, 1886, and is a bookkeeper in the Benton Harbor State Bank. Mr. Valentine holds membership re lations with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees, and has taken the degree of chivalric Masonry in Malta Com mandery, No. 44, K. T. He actively in terests himself in public affairs and partici pates earnestly in any effort to propagate a spirit of patriotism and of loyalty to Amer ican institutions, and wherever there is a public-spirited attempt to drive corruption or other unworthiness out of public office he is to be found working with the leaders of the movement. Possessing a high degree of good fellowship he is an active member in social organizations with which he is con nected. A vigorous physique and intellect enable him to attend adequately to the social side of life without neglecting the cultiva tion of the mind, and he is a constant reader of those volumes which bring broad general culture. GEORGE HENKEL is one of the young business men in Niles, now repre senting its mercantile interests. He is a native son of the city, born February 27, 1872. The family is of German lineage, the father, John Henkel, having been born in Darmstadt, Germany, October 3, 1838. He was the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children, three sons and two daugh ters, and he acquired a common^school edu cation in his native land, where he remained until early manhood, when, thinking that he might have superior business opportun ities in the new world, he crossed the At lantic and settled in Canada. There he en gaged in clerking for a short time. Prior to this he had also acted as a clerk in Darm stadt. Having spent four years in Canada he crossed the border into the United States in 1862 and from New York city made his way direct to Michigan, settling in Niles. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 723 For twelve years he was in the employ of William B. Beeson and after the death of that gentleman he was retained in the same establishment by Mr. Beeson's successors, the firm of Carter & Walker, with whom he continued for three years. Later he went to Mishawaka, Indiana, where he occupied a clerical position for three years and then with the capital which he had managed to save from his earnings he embarked in busi ness on his own account, forming a partner ship with his eldest son, Henry Henkel, under the firm name of John Henkel & Son. They opened a dry goods establishment at Niles in 1883 and from that time the enter prise has enjoyed a large trade, a good busi ness being developed along safe, conserva tive, yet progressive lines. On the death of the father the firm of Henkel Brothers was formed by Henry and George Henkel and the store continues to be one of the most important features in trade circles in this city. John Henkel was united in marriage in i860 to Miss Christiana Leanhart, of Can ada, and unto them were born five children, two sons and three daughters. Henry, the eldest, born in Canada, July 18, 1861, came with his parents to Niles when very young, acquired his education in the schools of this city and afterward entered business with his father as above stated. He married Miss Carrie Bither, a sister of A. F. Bither of Niles, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and they now have two daughters, Carrie Maud and Frances Christiana, both of whom were born in this city. Maggie Henkel, born in Three Oaks, Michigan, is now the wife of Sanford Soule and has two children, John and Wava, both born in Niles. Catherine, born in Niles, is the wife of Fred Stevens, a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, by whom she has two children, Desdelora and Maxine, both natives of Indiana. George is the fourth of the family. Anna S., born in Nile?, makes her home in this city. The father, John Henkel, was a Re publican in his political views but would never accept any political office, as he pre ferred to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs. He was, however, in terested in the welfare of Niles to the extent of giving hearty co-operation to measures for the public good, as a private citizen. He held membership in St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and was much es teemed in that order and by the general public as well. George Henkel, whose name introduces this review, has spent nearly all of his life in Niles, and at the usual age entered the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1890. After leav ing school he clerked in his father's store until the latter's death, when the firm of Henkel Brothers was formed by Henry and George Henkel. They are conducting the business with excellent success and now have a well appointed establishment, the neat ar rangement and attractive display of their goods adding not a little to their success. They carry a large and well selected line and their business methods are thoroughly reliable, so that the reputation of the house is unassailable. The brothers are supporters of the Re publican party, believing firmly in its prin ciples and keeping well informed on the ques tions and issues of the day. They are both • members of the Royal Arcanum and the Modern Woodmen camp and George Henkel has attained the Knight Templar degree of the Masonic fraternity, while Henry Henkel is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. They are progressive business men, recognized as leaders in their line and in the enlargement and conduct of the business which was established by their father they have shown keen discrimination and discern ment, showing that success is not a matter of genius but results from clear judgment, experiment and close application. ROBERT C. ATKINSON, a repre sentative of mercantile interests in Niles, where he has resided since 1903, is a native of Cass county, Michigan. His father, Thomas Atkinson, was born in England and in 1847 came to America, settling first in New York, where he resided for about nine 724 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY years. He arrived in Cass county in 1856 and there purchased land which was covered with timber. He at once began to clear the fields and as the years went by he followed farming, raising good crops of corn and also set out an orchard, for the splendid possibili ties of Michigan as a fruit producing center had been demonstrated. Upon the farm which he improved and developed he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1865, when he was forty- four years of age. Before he sailed for the new world he was married in England to Miss Jane Engledow, who was also born in that country. She long survived her husband, passing away in 1900 in Elkhart, Indiana, her remains, however, being interred in the family lot in Cass coun ty. She was at that time seventy-eight years of age. In the family were nine children, one of whom died in England, while seven of the number are now living. Robert C. Atkinson, the second youngest of this family and the only one residing in Berrien county, began his education at the usual age in the district schools of Cass county. Later, however, he attended Hills dale College, a Baptist institution at Hills dale, Michigan, subsequent to which time he engaged in teaching school for seven years. Later he was with his brother John Atkin son at Cassopolis, Cass county, Michigan, where they engaged in the agricultural im plement business, being together for about eleven years. They built up an excellent trade, owing to their honorable methods and responsible prices, conducting their store under the firm style of Atkinson Brothers. It will thus be seen that Mr. Atkinson had broad experience in this line, when, in 1903, he came to Niles and established his present business. Here he is dealing in agricul tural implements of all kinds and also handles buggies, harness, wood, coal, hay, straw and grain. He is quite an extensive shipper of hay and grain and has built up a large busi ness. His enterprise furnishes an excellent market for the producers in this section of the state, while the sales which he makes are extensive and return to him a fair profit. In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Robert C. Atkinson and Miss Linnie M. Lee, the wedding ceremony being performed in Edwardsburg, Michigan. The lady was a daughter of Moses H. Lee, of Cass coun ty, and died at Manistee, Michigan, in 1889, at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving a daughter and son, Winifred, who was born. in Manistee, Michigan, and is now a. teacher in the public school of Niles, and. Lew H., who was also born in Manistee and now has charge of his father's branch store at Berrien Springs, Michigan. In 1892 at Clare, Michigan, Mr. Atkinson was again married, his second union being with Violet Robinson, who was born in Clare and is a daughter of Thomas Robinson. They also- have two children, Marjorie and Seth, both born in Cassopolis, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson have gained many warm friends during their residence in Niles and the num ber therein is continually growing as the circle of their acquaintance is extended.. While living in Manistee Mr. Atkinson held various township offices. He is a Republi can in politics and is a member of the Ma sonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree in the commandery at Niles. He is a typical citizen of the middle west, recognizing the fact that "there is no ex cellence without labor" and that close appli cation and energy constitute the basis of alt real business success. WARREN & COMPANY is the name of a well known firm, hardware merchants at Niles, composed of Frank J. and George L. Warren, brothers. They not only carry a large line of shelf and heavy hardware- but are also dealers in cOal and wood and have made for themselves a creditable po sition in commercial circles. They are sons of Robert S. Warren, who was born in. Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1824, and died. in 1877 at the age of fifty-three years. The father was a millwright by trade and with his parents removed from Massachusetts to- the state of New York at an early day. There he followed milling, conducting both. flour and sawmills. He was closely asso ciated with the industrial interests of his locality and also dealt extensively in lum ber. He remained a resident of New York: THOMAS MARS. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 725 ¦up to the time of his death and won a place among the reliable and prosperous business men. He married Rachel Chaffee, who was born in Wyoming county, New York. Her death occurred in Colorado in 1902, when •she was seventy-eight years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were three children. Frank J. Warren, who was born in New • York in 1848, spent his days of his boyhood and youth in that state and acquired his education by attending the public schools. He afterwards learned the milling business under the direction of his father, becoming familiar with the trade in all of -its details. Later, in 1884, he went to Colorado, where he followed farming until 1898. In that year he came to Niles, Michigan, and joined his brother in handling manufactured goods, including physicians' supplies, splints, etc. He was thus engaged for a short time, after which he sold out and turned his attention to the coal and wood business in Niles. Later his brother George W. was admitted to a partnership, the firm style being Warren & Company. At that time they added a stock of hardware, stoves and ranges and now carry a well selected line of both shelf and heavy hardware. They also continue to deal in coal and wood and their patron age in both branches of their business is ex tensive and profitable. Frank J. Warren has been married twice. He first wedded Flora Hopkins, who was a native of New York and died in Colorado in 1896. For his second wife he chose Margaret Champion, of _ Niles. By his first marriage Mr. Warren had one son, Robert H. By his second marriage he has a daugh ter, Martha E., born in New York, and is the wife of John W. Leonard, residents of Los Angeles, California, and they have one daughter. George L. Warren, junior partner of the ¦firm of Warren & Company, was born in New York, April 25, i860. He, too, is in debted to the public school system for the educational privileges which he received. He was reared to manhood in the Empire state and later engaged in merchandising as a clerk and subsequently . represented a house On the road, selling boots and shoes for six years. Later he traveled for a paint and oil house for three years and in 1897 he came to Niles, Michigan, where he engaged in the splint business with his brother, Frank J. Warren. After selling out in that line he traveled on the road for a short time and then joined his brother in the organization of the present firm of Warren & Company, dealers in hardware and also in coal and wood. The firm sustains an unassailable reputation in commercial circles for relia bility, for the favorable reputation of their goods and for unfaltering diligence. George L. Warren was married to Miss Kate Lincoln, who died in November, 1894. He has since been married in Niles to Mrs. Bessie Bevier of this city. They have one child, Leroy D., who was born in Niles. Both brothers are Republicans in politics and are progressive and energetic- business men, who have built up a fine trade, having one of the leading hardware establishments of the city. They well merit the patronage which is given them and although among the more recent acquisitions to business cir cles in Niles they have already gained a fav orable name and place of prominence. HON. THOMAS MARS, now living retired, has led a life of industry crowned with successful accomplishment and has figured prominently in the public life of the state, at one time representing his district in the senate. He was born in Giles county, Virginia, May. 4, 1829. His paternal grandfather, Archibald Mars, was a farmer and is supposed to have been born in Dela ware. He followed farming throughout much of his life and died in Virginia. Hugh Mars, father of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion, became a blacksmith by trade and engaged in business in his native state until 1830, when he came to Michigan, arriving on the 6th of April of that year. He located in what is now Berrien township in the midst of a wild and unimproved dis trict, and where the work of development had been scarcely begun. He took up land 726 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY from the government and the deed was signed by President Jackson. The forest stood in its primeval strength, the streams were unbridged and the land uncultivated. Mr. Mars first built a bark shanty, in which he lived for one year, when he erected a log cabin. He entered from the government eighty acres of land on the St. Joseph river about three miles north of Berrien Springs. Two years later he sold that property and entered another eighty-acre tract in the same township, to which he afterward added a similar amount so that his farm comprised a quarter section of land. He cleared one hundred acres of this farm of one hundred and sixty acres and he lived thereon for about fifty-seven years, when he sold out, taking up his abode at that time on what is known as Mars Hill. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he had reached the advanced age of eighty- one years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Riggin, was born and reared in Virginia, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Dunn) Riggin, of Irish descent. Mrs. Mars died when thirty-seven years of age, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters, all of whom reached adult age and are still living in Michigan with the exception of one daughter, Eliza, now de ceased. She was the fifth in order of birth. The others are Andrew W., Thomas, Sam uel, William and Malinda. There was also a half brother and sister, Benjamin F. Mars and Mrs. Elizabeth Magill. The father was married four times but had children by only two marriages. Thomas Mars was but eleven months old when brought to Michigan by his parents. Berrieri county at that time formed a part of Cass county but was soon afterward cut off and organized under the present name. The family shared in the hardships, trials and privations of pioneer life and amid the environments of a frontier existence Thomas Mars was reared upon the old homestead farm in Berrien township. The first school which he attended was located on Dowagiac creek, and he continued his studies in a school which stood about three miles south east of Berrien Springs. It was a log school- house with primitive furnishings, such as the old-time fire place and slab seats. For three years he was a student in that school, after which the Union schoolhouse was built near what was the Union Church in Ber rien township and it was in that school that Mr. Mars completed his education save that experience, reading and observation have added largely to his knowledge in the passing years, and he is today a well informed man of broad ideas and wide outlook. In the summer months during the period of his youth he worked upon the farm, assisting in the arduous task of developing new land and improving the property. In his twentieth year he went to Niles and served as an ap prentice to the carpenter's trade, receiving seventy-five dollars for the year's work. He afterward began contracting and building on his own account, which he followed for eight years, erecting many dwellings and barns and in fact doing all kinds of work pertaining to the trade. Most of his work was done in Berrien township but he also executed contracts in other townships. He built a bridge over the St. Joseph river at Berrien Springs and many of the school- houses which he erected are still in use. In 1857 ne went to the west, locating at Law rence, Kansas, where he followed his trade as a carpenter and builder. He afterward went to Andrew county, Missouri, locating at Fillmore, where he purchased an interest in a sawmill, which he operated for two years, or until the war broke out. Because of his political views he was ordered to leave within fifteen days. In the year i860 Mr. Mars married Miss Margaret A. Wood, a daughter of Chris topher Wood, and a native of New York, where she was reared. It was in the same year that Mr. Mars was ordered to leave Missouri because of his political affiliation- and sacrifice to his party interests. He then returned to Berrien county, where he ar rived on the 4th of June, i860. Here he rented an old sawmill and in the fall of the same year he purchased the property where he now resides, making it his home con tinuously since. He was engaged in the mill ing business on this place until 1896. His HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 727 farm is called the model farm of the county, comprising one hundred and twenty acres pleasantly and conveniently located three miles east of Berrien Springs in Berrien township. For the last seven years years he have lived retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly de serves, for his business life has been charac terized by untiring activity and perseverance qualities which are always crowned by suc cessful accomplishment. In 1903 Mr. Mars was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 27th of September, of that year, her death being deeply regretted by many friends throughout the county. There had been five children in the family but all have passed away and four of the number died in child hood. One daughter, Imogene, became the wife of Dr. Lacrone. They had two chil dren, Thomas Mars and Frank W., both of whom are now in the naval service, Thomas Mars being on the Iowa and Frank W. on the ship Hancock. Mr. Mars gave his early political alle giance to the Whig party and upon the or ganization of the new Republican party he joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart supporters. He has assisted in electing every Republican president who has occupied the executive mansion at Washing ton and he was elected a delegate to the first state Republican convention which was held at Jackson, Michigan. He also attended the fiftieth anniversary of that event and was elected vice president of the Fremont Asso ciation, which holds its annual meetings at Jackson. He has also been an earnest and influential worker in the interests of the Re publican party, a recognized leader in its ranks, and in the fall of 1881 he was elected to the state senate of Michigan, representing Berrien county. He was the last senator to represent Berrien county alone, for the dis trict is now composed of Berrien and Cass counties. He was also representative in the lower house of the legislature for one term and in the general assembly was an able working member who did not seek to figure prominently as an orator but was active in promoting constructive legislation. For four years he served as deputy oil inspector for Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties and was county agent for the special board of charities for nine years and a member of the state board of charities for the state public school at Coldwater and chairman of the board for two years. For a long period he was master of the State Grange of Michigan and for twenty-seven years a member of its executive committee, while for ten years he was its chairman. He is inter ested in all that pertains to the agricultural development and progress of the state, and in connection with the Grange put forth effective and far-reaching service in this direction. Over the record of his public career and private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, his record as a man and citizen being above reproach. He has now passed the seventy-seventh mile stone on life's journey and is honored as one of the venerable and early residents of Ber rien county. CARL FORLER WHETSTONE, who is filling the office of city clerk, is recog nized as one of the progressive young men of the city, his genuine worth and business activity having gained for him favorable regard wherever he is known. He was born in Niles in 1882 and is a son of Charles P. Whetstone, . a native of Germany, born in 1852. The father was brought to America when only a few years old by his parents, Eberhardt and Christiana (Hirz) Whet stone. The grandfather was a foreman in the mines of Germany and on coming to America settled in the northern peninsula of Michigan. There he turned his atten tion to general agricultural pursuits, which he followed for a number of years. Sub sequently he removed with his family to Niles, where his last days were passed, his death occurring in 1876, when he was sev enty-nine years of age. His widow sur vived him until 1892 and died in Niles at the age of eighty-one years. Charles P. Whetstone was reared in Niles and attended the public schools. He 728 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY afterward learned the cooper's trade which he followed for some time and subsequently entered the grocery business, succeeding to the ownership of a store which had been established by his mother. While conduct ing this store he was also the organizer of the Whetstone Orchestra and acted as its leader for many years. Subsequently he be came manager of the Forler Hotel, which was owned and conducted by his father-in- law. Mr. Whetstone continued to act as manager for nine or ten years and in 1897 he became proprietor, and so continued up the time of his death, after which his widow and her son Carl F. conducted the hotel un til May 1, 1906. In early manhood Charles P. Whetstone was married to Miss Magda lene Forler, who- was born in Niles and is a daughter of George K. Forler and a sister of George A. Forler, who is mentioned on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Whetstone became the parents of six chil dren, three sons and three daughters, as follows : William G., Helena B., Frankie M., Carl F., George A. and Magdalene. The eldest son married Nellie Berkin, a daughter of the first white child born in Montana and they have one child, Nina O. The death of Charles P. Whetstone oc curred in Niles in 1905, when he was about fifty-three years of age. He had for many years resided in this city and his life of activity and enterprise won him a fair measure of success and also made him one of the respected and valued residents here. There is an old Japanese maxim which reads "Opportunity is hard to find and easy to lose." Mr. Whetstone seemed to realize this and knew that the present and not the future held his chances for success. He therefore worked earnestly and indefatig- ably as the years went by, using his ad vantages to the best of his ability and at his death he left his family a comfortable property. Carl Forler Whetstone whose name in troduces this review, was a student in the public schools of Niles and afterward at tended the high school of this city and a business college in South Bend, Indiana. He has for some years been connected to a greater or less extent with the conduct and management of the Forler Hotel. Mr. Whetstone has since 1905 filled the office of city clerk in Niles, to which posi tion he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He is a young man of progressive views, looking at life from a broad standpoint, and he is a valued representative of the Knights of Pythias and Masonic lodges in Niles. CHARLES S. QUIMBY is one of the younger business men of Niles and is now successfully engaged in the dry goods trade. He was born in Port Davis, Texas, in 1874, and is a son of Captain Horace Dexter and Jennie (Smith) Quimby. The father was born in New Hampshire and enlisted for service in the late Civil war as a member of the Sixty-ninth Regiment of New Hamp shire Volunteers. He served until the close of hostilities and then when the preserva tion of the Union was an assured fact hei enlisted in the regular army, joining the Twenty-fifth Infantry. He was thereafter identified with the military service of his country and was captain of his company until his death, which occurred at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in 1884. His wife, who was born at Richmond, Indiana, sur vived him for about eleven years, passing away in 1895. In the family were four children, Charles S. being the only son. He has one living sister, Alice, who. now resides in Niles. ¦ Charles S. Quimby came to this city when ten years of age and acquired his pre liminary education here, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. Subsequently he was a student in Notre Dame University in Indi ana, where he pursued a commercial course. On his return to Niles he entered upon his business career in the capacity of a clerk in the dry goods house of Dougan & Company, remaining with that firm continuously until 1889 and mastering every department of the business. In the year mentioned he pur chased the store and has since enjoyed a good trade. He is now conducting a well HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 729 equipped establishment, having a large line of dry goods, and his earnest desire to please his patrons has been an important factor in his success. Mr. Quimby has always been an earnest and stalwart Republican and while never a politician in the sense of office seeking he has served as alderman from the second ward for one term. He is a prominent and valued representative of the Masonic fratern ity, belonging to" the lodge, chapter and com mandery, in all of which he has been hon ored with various offices. He is now a past master of the lodge and at the present writ ing is high priest of the chapter and emi nent commander of the commandery. He also belongs to the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. Making his home in Niles from his early boyhood he is well known as one of the enterprising and prosperous young business men of the city, justly meriting the confidence and business - support which are given him. CHARLES E. WHITE, active in pro fessional and political circles in Niles and prosecuting attorney for Berrien county, to which position he was elected in 1904, was born in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, in 1873. He is a son of Ephraim White, who was born in Ohio and came from that state to Michigan in 1861, locat ing in Cass county, where he has since fol lowed farming. The tract of land upon which he located forty-five years ago has continuously been his home and he has transformed it into a valuable and well im proved property. He has never sought to figure prominently in public life, preferring to give his attention to his agricultural in terests and in the community where he makes his home he is classed with the representative agriculturists. He mar ried Margaret Coulter, who was born in Cass county upon the old home stead, where they now reside and which was settled by her father, James Coulter, who went from Ohio to Cass county in 1836, set tling in a district which was then an almost unbroken wilderness. There were few roads through the forests and the traveler largely followed the old Indian trails. Only here and there had a cabin been built to show that the seeds of civilization has been planted. Mr. Coulter secured his grant from the government and at once began to clear his land and develop the farm, carry ing on general farming pursuits until his death. His daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim White, still reside upon the old homestead, which is now their prop erty. Unto them were born five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand, of death. There are three daughters and two sons : Florence ; Eunice, the wife of Robert Torsley, of Cass county ; William O., a resident farmer of Cass county ; Charles E. ; and Belle. Charles E. White was reared upon the old homestead farm, which had been entered from the government by his maternal grand father. He completed his literary educa tion by graduation from the high school at Niles as a member of the class of 1894. He then studied law for one year with Hon. Edward L. Hamilton, who was practicing in Niles at that time and is now a member of congress from this district. Later Mr. White attended the University of Michi gan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the law department with the class of 1897. The same year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the prosecution of his chosen calling in Niles, where he has been quite successful, a liberal clientage now be ing accorded him. He is attorney for the Building and Loan Association, of which he is also a director, and he has a large pri vate practice, in addition to which he is dis charging fhe duties of the office of prose cuting attorney for Berrien county, to which he was elected in 1904. In this position he is giving uniform satisfaction to the citi zens of the county, performing his public service without fear or favor. In his political allegiance Mr. White is a Republican and was elected and served for four years as justice of the peace, be fore called to his present, position. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fratern ity, belongs to the Masonic order and is now serving as high priest of the chapter and captain general of the commandery. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian church. 73° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY In October, 1899, in Niles, he married Claire Hoppin, a daughter of George S. Hoppin, of this city. The favorable judg ment which the public passed upon him in his early connection with the bar has never been set aside nor in any degree modified but on the contrary has been emphasized by his careful conduct of 'important litigation, his candor and fairness in the presentation of cases and his zeal and earnestness as an advocate. GEORGE M. BAITENGER, who is en gaged in the furniture and undertaking busi ness in St. Joseph, was born in Woodland, Barry county, Michigan, in 1866, and early in his life he seemed to have come to a realization of the truth that the admonition of the old Greek philosopher "Earn thy re ward, the gods give naught to sloth," there fore he has worked persistently as the years have gone by and his present position in commercial circles is the result of his close application and unremitting diligence, which have indeed won his success. His father, Melchoir Baitenger, was a native of Ger many, where he spent the first seventeen years of his life. Attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its business privileges and opportunities he bade adieu to his native land and sailed for the United States. Reaching the eastern coast he then made his way to Barry coun ty, Michigan, where he followed the trade of blacksmithing, which he had learned in his native country. He was married to Miss Mary Reiser, also a native of Germany, and they became the parents of five children, who are yet living, George M. being the only son and the only one now residing in Berrien county. The father continued his residence for many years in Woodland, where he died in 1882 at the age of fifty- four years. He is still survived by his widow who makes her home in Woodland. It was in that village that George M. Baitenger spent his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools, thus preparing for life's practical and responsible duties, and on reaching manhood he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he entered the em ploy of the Michigan Central Railroad Com pany. After some time there passed he re turned to Woodland and with the money which he had saved from his own account as a furniture dealer and undertaker con ducted his store for one and a half years. He then removed to Van Buren county, Michigan, and continued in the same line of business at Hartford for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he came to Ber rien county,- going first to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in the undertaking busi ness for a year and a half and in 1901 he arrived in St. Joseph, Michigan, where in addition to his undertaking establishment he also conducted a novelty bazaar. He en tered into partnership with Edward H. Kingsley July 1, 1905, under the firm name of The Baitenger & Kingsley Company and during the past year they have dealt in all kinds of furniture, carefully selecting their stock so as to meet the varied tastes of the public. They also have a picture frame de partment and are conducting an undertak ing business. In 1 89 1 Mr. Baitenger was married in Woodland, Michigan, to Miss Lydia D. Mil ler, a daughter of the Rev. John Miller, an Evangelical minister. They now have two sons, Herbert M. and Harris G., both of whom were born in Hartford, Van Buren county, Michigan. Mr. Baitenger is inde pendent in politics, preferring to cast his ballot without being bound to party ties. He is very prominent in fraternal circles and is classed with the valued representatives of different orders, including the Masons, the Eastern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. Through the whole course of his career the prime moving spirit that has prompted all his actions seems to have been improvement and advancement. The idea and intent of leaving whatever he has touched better than he has found it has been dominant with him. He has been pos sessed of a laudable ambition to achieve suc cess and at the same time he has followed methods which neither seek nor require dis guise but will bear close investigation and scrutiny and today he is numbered among MR. AND MRS. AUGUST VETTERLY HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 73i those to whom St. Joseph owes her business activity and prosperity. He is broad gauged in all his views, political, religious and social and he accords to others the right which he reserves to himself of forming his own opinions upon all matters of vital interest. WINGATE W. NEWMAN, president of a private bank conducted by the firm of Snell & Company at Niles, was born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1852, a son of George S. and Elizabeth P. (Gear) New man. The following year his parents, who were also natives of Ohio, removed to Gales- ,burg, Knox county, Illinois, and later be came residents of De Witt county, Illinois. In the spring of 1881 the father was called to his final rest, at the age of fifty-five years, having up to that time devoted his energies to agricultural interests. His widow still survives him and yet makes her home in Clinton.. De Witt county, Illinois. Wingate W. Newman is the eldest child in a family of four and the only one living in Berrien county. He continued a resident of Galesburg, Illinois, until 1867, when, at the age of fifteen years, he accompanied his parents to De Witt county, where he con tinued his education which had been begun in the schools of Galesburg. Following his graduation from the high school of Clinton, Illinois, as a member of the class of 1872, he turned his attention to farming, with which he had become familiar in the periods of vacation while assisting his father in the labors of the'home farm. His attention was given to agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he took up his abode in Clinton, Illi nois, where he was engaged in merchandis ing until 1900. He was quite successful in that work, but ill health obliged him to sell out, and in the spring of 1901 he removed to Niles, Michigan, hoping to be benefited by the change. Here with others he or ganized the Snell & Company Bank, a private institution, of which he became president with Richard Snell as vice president. Mr. Snell is a prominent financier of Clinton, Illinois, where he is president of the De Witt County National Bank. He became inter ested with Mr. Newman in the establishment of the bank at Niles which bears his name. Charles E. Wood is cashier of the institu tion, while Thomas E. Cain, a nephew of Mr. Newman, is assistant cashier and book keeper. On the 23d of March, 1901, the doors were opened to the public and a gen eral banking business has since been carried on, the institution being attended with suc cess from the beginning. Mr. Newman is the executive head of the bank, and his force of character, business methods and sound judgment have been the controlling factors in the institution, which has made for itself a very creditable place in financial circles in Berrien county. He is also a director in various building and loan associations in Niles and a director in the Niles Creamery. In 1879 in De Witt county, Illinois, Mr. Newman was married to Miss Rachel C. Cain, a native of that county and a daughter of Michael and Rachel (Harron) Cain, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Newman are members of the Methodist church and in politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Niles, having trans ferred his membership from Clinton lodge, Illinois. The lessons of industry, economy and integrity which were early instilled into his mind have borne fruit in an honorable and successful business career, and although one of the more recent arrivals in Niles he has become recognized as one of its most substantial and reliable citizens whose co operation can be counted upon to further beneficial public measures, while at the same time he avails himself of every opportunity for advancement in his private business career. * AUGUST VETTERLY, living near the village of New Buffalo, owns valuable farm ing properties in Berrien county, and his holdings are also extensive, embracing about three hundred acres. He was born in Can ton Thurgan, Switzerland, in the little vil lage of Wagenhausen, on the 22d of Febru ary, 1838, and is the youngest of a family of eight children and the only one now liv ing. The father, Rudolph Vetterly, was also born in the village of Wagenhausen and came here about 1849 with two sons. His 73* HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY wife, accompanied by her son August and one daughter, followed about two years later. Rudolph Vetterly resided in New York un til the removal of the family to Three Oaks, Michigan, where his remaining days were spent. He was born March 13, 1802, and died February 3, 1889, at the advanced age of almost eighty-seven years. He was a wagon maker by trade, but after coming to Michigan turned his attention to farming, which he followed for a long period. He owned a good farm of one hundred and forty acres at Three Oaks, Michigan, and placed it Under a high state of cultivation. He held membership in the German Reformed Church and was a man of upright life and marked fidelity to principle. He wedded Miss Mary Meyer, who was born at Frauen feld, the capital of the Canton of Thurgan, Switzerland, in 1797, and died in Three Oaks, Michigan, on the 4th of March, 1869. Eight children were born of this marriage, but only four reached years of maturity and came to the United States, as follows : John, who died at Three Oaks ; Susan, who became the wife of Robert Lane, a farmer of New Buffalo township, where both passed away; Edward, who died at Three Oaks; and August. The only surviving member of the fam ily is August Vetterly, who in accordance with the laws of his native country attended school until about fifteen years of age. In 1 85 1 he came to the United States with his mother and sister, the father and two other sons having already crossed the Atlantic. They joined them in New York, locating near Schenectady, that state, but after a year passed there the family continued on their westward way to Three Oaks, Berrien coun ty, Michigan, where Mr. Vetterly of this re view resided until about sixteen years ago. He early became familiar with farm labor and assisted largely in cultivating and de veloping the home place, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. Thinking to find other occupations more congenial, however, he worked on the Michigan Central Railroad as section foreman a part of this time, giving about fifteen years to railroad work. Saving his money, as the result of his diligence and economy, he was at length en abled to purchase a jewelry store, which he conducted for about ten years. In the mean time he had purchased a farm of eighty acres and while living on the farm he also con ducted the store in town. At length, how ever, he disposed of his store and traded his original farm property for his present farm, comprising one hundred and seventy-eight acres. He had previously purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres here and he now has about three hundred acres in the home place. He has bought and sold a num ber of farming properties in this county and at one time was the owner of four hun dred acres of rich and valuable land. He now owns three hundred acres in one body on sections 18 and 19, New Buffalo town ship, his home being between the Indiana state line and. Lake Michigan in the south west corner of the township, the county and the state. Nearly all was woodland and swamp when he came. There was wild marsh and underbrush and the district was in its primeval condition, the work of im provement and progress having not yet been begun. Mr. Vetterly has placed one-half of his land under cultivation and has made this a productive farm which yields to him ex cellent crops. He has a large and beautiful home and other modern equipments upon his farm and everything about the place is at tractive in appearance, indicating his care ful supervision and progressive methods. He is now giving his undivided attention to farm labor and was the first to live upon the farm which he is now improving.- In February, 1864, Mr. Vetterly, re sponding to the call of his adopted country, enlisted for active military service as a mem ber of Company E, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He participated in no engagements, but took part in two skirmishes and was on duty in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee, being mustered out with his regi ment following the close of the war and after about thirteen months' service. He became a member of the Grand Army post at Three Oaks, but has not identified him self with the organization at New Buffalo. He is also a member of the Masonic fra ternity at Three Oaks, and The Workmen's Aid & Benevolent Society there. He was HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 733 one of the organizers of the German Evan gelical Lutheran Church at Three Oaks arid has been identified with various organiza tions which have for their object the up lifting of mankind and the promulgation of principles of mutual helpfulness and kind liness. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he served as justice of the peace for four years in New Buffalo and as drain commissioner for two years. On the 2 ist of March, 1859, Mr. Vet terly was joined in wedlock to Miss Chris tina Brodhagen, who was born October 30, 1842, at Buchhorn in Wittenberg, Germany. She came to the United States with her widowed mother and two sisters in 1857, the family home being established at La porte, Indiana, but soon afterward they re moved to New Buffalo. Her father was Frederick Brodhagen. In the family were five children, two of whom came to the United States prior to the arrival of Mrs. Vetterly, these being Christina, Minnie, Elizabeth, Regina and Mrs. Vetterly. Unto our subject and his wife have been born the following named. Henry, who is section foreman and a farmer of Furnace- ville, Indiana, has three children : Lena, Lil lian and Leland. August R. is married and lives at Kalamazoo, Michigan, being em ployed as a passenger conductor on the Mich igan Central Railroad. Annie is the wife of Charles Knott of Niles, Michigan, and has a son, Clarence. Alex is living in Omaha, Nebraska. John is a conductor for the Mich igan Central and makes his home at Michi gan City with his wife and four children, Clarence, Nina, Arthur and Earl. Jennie is the wife of William Precious, an engineer on the Michigan Central, living at Michigan City, by whom she has two children, Ralph and Eleanor. Minnie is the wife of Ernest A. Stick, a brakesman at Michigan City, by whom she has one child, Wallace. , William is married and lives at Michigan City and is employed as a brakesman on the Michigan Central. May Elizabeth is at home. Mr. Vetterly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and his life should serve as a source of inspiration and encour agement to others, showing what may be done when one has determination and enter prise. He has depended entirely upon his own resources and the years have brought him success as a reward for his labor and- enterprise supplemented by sound judgment. JOHN F. DUNCAN, who is classed with the leading business men of St. Joseph, where he is now engaged in the hardware trade, was born in this city in 1853. His father, Robert B. Duncan, was a native of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and died in 1870, at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Rosa Kelley, was born in Canada and is still liv ing. The father came to Michigan in 1834 in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company as a fur buyer and settled in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he afterward engaged in merchandising. He also established a store in Sodus township but later returned to St. Joseph, where he engaged in the grocery business and also dealt in general mer chandising, continuing a factor in com mercial life in this city up to the time of his death. He was active and influential in com munity affairs, served as a member of the council and was also president of the vil lage. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and by appointment of Presi dent Buchanan he filled the office of col lector. The father was twice married, first to Alice Fitzgerald, of Niles, by whom he had three children, one of whom, Mrs. D. C. Oswald, of Denver, Colorado, is living. By his second marriage there were seven children, six of whom are living, John F. being the eldest. The others are : Mrs. Will iam Belyea, living in Grand Rapids; Mrs. Edward J. Head, of Denver, Colorado ; Mrs. D. E. Brown, living in St. Joseph; Frank R., of the same city; and Robert B., who re sides in Kalamazoo, Michigan. John F. Duncan was educated in the pub lic schools of his native town and at the age of twelve years entered his father's store as a clerk and for two years after his death he continued the business. He then engaged in railroading in the employ of the Chicago & Lake Shore Railroad Company, now the Pere Marquette system, as baggageman on a mail train for one year. He afterward 734 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY clerked for E. C. Hoyt in St. Joseph and subsequently was with T. T. Ransom, in whose employ he remained as a salesman for eight years, gaining thorough familiarity with the methods in vogue in commercial life. He later entered into partnership with James Forbes under the firm name of Forbes &¦ Duncan, conducting a grocery store for eight years, when Mr. Forbes sold out and the firm became Duncan & Spring steen. This relation was maintained for about two years, when they disposed of their store to Frank C. Burke and Mr. Duncan then engaged in the real estate and building business in St. Joseph, which he continued for two years, at the end of which time he purchased the King & Cooper grocery store, which he conducted in connection with their other business interests until 1892. In that year the grocery store was sold to the firm of Ankli & Duncan and in 1893 Mr. Duncan of this review purchased the hardware busi ness of M. B. Rice, at the location which he now occupies. This business was established by C. C. Sweet some ten years before. Mr. Duncan has since conducted the store and is now one of the leading merchants of the city. In politics he is independent, while fra ternally he is connected with Masonic order and the Knights of the Maccabees. In 1883 in" St. Joseph he was married to Miss Emma Gurnsey, who was born in this city and is a daughter of Hiram G. Gurnsey, who came from New York to Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Congregational church and are much es teemed people here. He entered busi ness life in an humble capacity but has gradually and steadily worked his way up ward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determined and steady purpose. WILLIAM LYNN WILSON, M. D., physician and surgeon of St. Joseph, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1867, and is a son of Dr. John Wilson, whose birth oc curred in Canada and who is now living in Detroit, Michigan. He is a graduate of McGill University at Montreal, Canada, and he completed his medical education in the Royal Physicians and Surgeons College in England. Thus well equipped for his profession he returned to America and for the past twenty years has been engaged in practice in Detroit, Michigan, where he is now well known as a successful and able gen eral practitioner. He has been an earnest and discriminating student in the line of pro fessional knowledge and is quick to adopt the new and improved methods, which supple ment rather than supplant the old and time- tried methods of practice. He married Miss Margaret M. Hunter, also a native of Can ada, and they have become the parents of six children. Dr. William Lynn Wilson, the second member of the family and the only one re siding in Berrien county, is indebted to the schools of Toronto for his early educational advantages and he also attended the univer sity there. Subsequently he became a stu dent in Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1890, and he entered upon the practice of his profession in connection with J. H. Carstens, M. D., at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he accepted the position of physician and sur geon at the Champion Iron Works Company Hospital at Champion, Michigan, in the up per peninsula, where he remained for a year. He afterward located at Midland, Michi gan, where he entered into partnership with Dr. C. E. McCalum, this relation being maintained for two years, at the end of which time Dr. Wilson decided to come to St. Joseph, and since 1895 has practiced contin uously in this city. His professional ser vice has won him the respect and confidence of the general public and he is now accorded rank with the prominent physicians of Ber rien county. He was pension examiner of Midland, Michigan, and twice has been health officer of St. Joseph. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society and the Ber rien County Medical Society. Of the last named he served as vice president and sub sequently filled the presidency for one term. Dr. Wilson is a Republican in his polit ical views and as every true American citi zen should do keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but is with out aspiration for the honors or emoluments HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 735 of public office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and also holds membership relations with the Maccabees and the Foresters. LUTHER I. McLIN, M. D., has de voted his attention to a profession in which advancement depends entirely upon indi vidual merit. In the practice of medicine one must commence at the very beginning, master all of the rudiments of the science and mark progress through close applica tion, thorough mastery of the science and an untiring devotion to the work which prompts the faithful performance of each day's duty. Lacking in none of the requirements of the capable physician Dr. McLin has won a place among the leading representatives of the medical fraternity in St. Joseph. He was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1847, an(i *s a son °f Jacob McLin, a na tive of Ohio, who is still living at the ad vanced age of eighty-eight years, his home being in Huntington, Indiana, and is a grandson of Thomas and Mary (Jackson) McLin. The father devoted his life to gen eral agricultural pursuits. In the year 1830 he came to the west, locating in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, with his parents, who cleared a farm there. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married to Miss Adelia Gage, who was born in New York and is a daughter of Isaac Gage, who settled in Kalamazoo county about 1835, thus cast ing in his lot with its pioneer residents. He, too, was a farmer by occupation. The birth of Mrs. AdeHa McLin occurred in 1822, so that she has therefore passed the eighty- third milestone on life's journey at the pres ent time. In the family were two sons and a daughter: George H., who is now living in Huntington, Indiana; Mary H., the wife of Richard H. Gibbs, a resident of Arkan sas; and Luther I. Dr. McLin of this review acquired his early education in the public schools of Kal amazoo county and afterward attended the Kalamazoo College, while later he matricu lated in the University of Michigan for the .study of medicine. His professional train ing was continued in the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1873. Immediately afterward he came to St. Joseph, where he has prac ticed continuously since, covering a period of almost a third of a century. In his work he has been faithful and reliable, has ever been careful and painstaking in the diagno sis of a case and seldom at error in direct ing the outcome of disease. He has a thorough and intimate knowledge of the component parts of the human system and in his practice has shown that he is well qual ified to solve the intricate problems which continually confront the physician. Moreover Dr. McLin has been active and influential in community interests and has been identified with many of the improve ments of St. Joseph. His co-operation can ever be counted upon for the public wel fare and his service has been of a practical beneficial nature. In politics he is an ear nest and stalwart Republican and has held various offices, the duties of which have been- discharged with promptness and fidel ity. He was mayor of St. Joseph for four terms, giving to the city a business-like, pro gressive and public-spirited administration, characterized by reform, progress and im provement in various departments. He has been a member of the board of public works from its organization until the present time, and served as a member of the board of education for thirteen years. The cause of education found in him a warm and help ful friend and in all his public services he has been intensely practical, accomplishing results by methods which would ever bear investigation and scrutiny. Dr. McLin has been twice married. In St. Joseph in 1874 he wedded Miss Ada Napier, a daughter of Nelson W. Napier. She died in 1882 at the age of thirty-six years, leaving one son, Nelson N., who was born in St. Joseph and married Carrie Schairer, of Benton Harbor, a daughter of John Schairer. On the ist of January, 1885, Dr. McLin was again married, his second union being with Jennie B. Whitton, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and there is one son by this marriage, J. Whitton, also born in St. Joseph. Dr. McLin .belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Knights of the Mac cabees. Few men are more widely known in 736 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY this city and the surrounding district by reason of his professional services, his efforts in behalf of the public good and his strong personal traits of character. With a nature in which optimism rather than pessimism is the dominant quality he looks upon the bright side of life and his cheering presence is an element for good in the sickroom. He wins friends by a genial manner, deference for the opinions of others and kindly con sideration and moreover he possesses strong and forceful purpose as has been evidenced by his capable work in his profession and his resultant efforts in behalf of public pro gress. MOSES A. PRICE, a cigar manufac turer of Benton Harbor, was born in St. Thomas, Canada, in 1865, and when a year old was brought by his parents to Ovid, Michigan. His father, Lewis N. Price, was born in Canada and died at Cedar Springs, Michigan, in 1871, when thirty-four years of age. He was at that time engaged in hotel keeping as proprietor of the Central Hotel. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Ostrander, died in 1900 at the age of forty-nine years. Moses A. Price, their only surviving child, was reared in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended the district schools there and in Tuscola county, whither his mother removed after the father's death. In early life he be gan work on the railroad and was employed on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad as brakeman. Later he became freight con ductor, so continuing for seven years, when he determined to abandon the road and came to Benton Harbor. Here he engaged in the hotel business, leasing the Higbee Hotel, which he conducted for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his at tention to the manufacture of cigars, which he has followed with fair success since. He manufactures a brand called Chansonette, which he makes in six sizes and shapes. He has been engaged in the cigar business for the past twelve years in Benton Harbor, hav ing both Havana and domestic-made cigars and he is meeting with the desired result that always follows close application and unremitting energy. Mr. Price was married in 1894 in Ben ton Harbor to Miss Mae Sowers, a daughter of William H. Sowers of this city. He be longs to the Masonic fraternity and is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the craft. His membership is now with the Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M.,- at Benton Harbor, Calvin Brittain Chapter, R. A. M., at St. Joseph and Malta Commandery, No. 44, K. T. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity of this city, to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His interest in political questions has led him to give his support to the Republican party, for he believes that its platform contains the best elements of good government. While his life has in a measure been quietly and uneventfully passes he yet belongs to that class of citizens who uphold the political and intellectual status of the community and promote its material pros perity in advancing his individual interests. JOHN BURKE is now living retired in Niles but in former years was identified with agricultural pursuits and with mer cantile interests. He has a deep and strong attachment for Michigan, the state of his birth. He was born on the St. Joseph river about five miles above Berrien Springs in Berrien township in 1845. His father, An drew L. Burke, was a native of Virginia, born in 18 10, and when twelve years of age he went with his parents from the Old Do minion to Ohio and in 1828 came to Michi gan, settling in Cass county, where the grandfather purchased land. Andrew L. Burke was at that time eighteen years of age. Soon afterward he purchased a tract of land from the government and in Oronoko township about 1831 or 1832. It was a raw tract, entirely wild and unimproved, but he at once began to clear it of timber and in the course of time the sunshine fell upon plowed fields and ripened the grain, so that golden harvests were gathered. He continued to follow farming until his death, his life's la bors being ended when he was seventy-seven years of age. He had become prominent in local political circles and served as super visor of his township and in many ways con tributed to the welfare and upbuilding of JOSEPH SKALLA JOHN SKALLA HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 737 the township and county. Various offices of trust, and responsibility were conferred upon him and he represented his district in the state Legislature in the session of 1844-45. His political views were in accord with Dem ocratic principles. In early manhood he had married Margaret Rogers, who was born in Virginia and was a daughter of Alexan der Rogers, one of the first settlers of Cass county, Michigan, She died upon the home farm in that county in 1856, when thirty- six years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, of whom five are living : Eliza, who resides upon the old homestead; John, of this review; Alex ander R., who is living with his sister upon the old home farm; Rebecca, a resident of Niles township, the wife of Thomas E. De Mott; and Martha, the wife of Robert Fos ter, a resident farmer of Niles township. After- losing his first wife, the father was married to Margaret Thompson, a daughter of Samuel Thompson, who came from Scot land and settled in Niles in what was known as the Indian reservation. There were four children of this marriage: Lillie, the wife of Thomas Gillespie, a resident of Berrien township; Andrew L., of Illinois; Samuel T., of Chicago ; and Rachel, who is also liv ing in Illinois. John Burke acquired his education in the district schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He then started out in life for himself and in i860 was married to- Miss Sarah A. Fitch, who was born in Berrien township and is a daughter of Nathan Fitch. This union was blessed with-' seven children: Clara, now the wife of Dr. E. M. Redding, of Chicago, Illinois, by whom she has one son, Edgar B. ; Ruth, who is a teacher in a kindergarten school in Chicago; Lewis Nathan, who married Ada Stevens, a daugh ter of James Stevens, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and has one child, Virginia; Ed gar, who married Olive Gregg and has a son, John G. ; Frank M. is living in Iowa; Al mira G., the wife of William A. Stevens, of Benton Harbor; and Martha G., who com pletes the family. Following his marriage Mr. Burke fol- 47 lowed farming in Berrien township-, where he purchased eighty acres of land, devoting his attention to the tilling of the soil from 1867 until 1880. He then removed to Niles, where he engaged in the agricultural imple ment business and later engaged in deep well construction, continuing in the latter business for several years or until his health failed, when he retired from active business life. He is active in politics and socially is connected with the Masonic lodge of Berrien Springs. His entire life has been passed in this county and his many friends include a large number of those who have known him from his boyhood days to the present. JOSEPH SKALLA. Among the busi ness enterprises which have made Niles an industrial center of Michigan is the large manufacturing establishment, of which Mr. Skalla is one of the proprietors, the business being conducted under the name of the Skalla Furniture Company. Throughout the entire period of his manhood he has been connected with this concern. He is a na tive son of Niles, born in 1856. His father, Joseph Skalla, was born in Prague, Austria, .March 19, 1816, and died February 14, .1899, when almost eighty-three years of age. He was reared and educated in his native land and became an expert cabinet-maker there. Soon after his marriage he made ar rangements to come to America and after crossing the Atlantic continued his journey into the interior of the country, choosing •Niles as his first place of location. After a brief period, however, he removed to Wis consin, where he followed his trade for a ..short time. He then returned to Niles, -where he began working as a cabinet-maker in the employ of others but he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and embraced eagerly every opportunity that led to this result. He had resided in Niles for only a short time when he began the manufacture of furniture on a very small scale. In fact he would make a piece of furniture and then take it out and sell it. By his thrift and progressive spirit he grad ually extended the scope of his labors until he had a good furniture manufacturing es tablishment. As the years went by he pros- 73§ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY pered and he was widely known as a most industrious man and upright and honorable citizen. He was thoroughly reliable and straightforward in all his dealings, con scientious in all his work and his labor was characterized by capability in the line of his chosen trade. From a humble beginning he worked his way upward and eventually conducted a cabinet-making business in a room which is part of the old homestead. There he engaged in the manufacture of bed room sets and gradually built up his trade until it became an important manufacturing concern of the city conducted under the name of the Skalla Furniture Company. He knew no such word as fail and possessed a spirit of determination and enterprise that enabled him to overcome all difficulties and surmount all obstacles in his path. At his death he left his business to his sons, who are now conducting it upon the same reliable plan, conservative basis and enterprising methods that were instituted by their father. Joseph Skalla, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in Niles, attending the public schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in his furniture manufacturing enter prise. Upon the father's death he and his brothers John, Albert and Frank succeeded to the business which they have since con ducted and they have enlarged the scope of their undertaking by adding a sawmill. They are now extensively engaged in the manufacture of furniture the business hav ing been established forty years ago and it has since been continually increasing. Their plant is well equipped with modern machinery and facilities for carrying on the work and furnishes employment to a number of people. Because of the excellent quality and reasonable prices the output of the house finds a ready sale on the market and the business has constantly grown in volume, importance and profit. John Skalla died June 14, 1900, at forty years of age. Joseph Skalla was married in Niles in 1888 to Miss Hattie Moore, who was born in this city. This union has been blessed with two sons and two daughters, Frank, Jennie, Walter and Josephine, all born in Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Skalla have many friends in this city where they have spent their entire lives and the hospitality of many of its best homes is cordially extended them. Mr. Skalla is independent in his political views but duties of citizenship are matters faithfully performed by ¦ him and he is in terested in the growth and progress of Niles and of Berrien county to the extent of giv ing active co-operation to many measures for the general good. His attention, how ever, is most closely concentrated upon his business affairs and it will be readily noticed that he is a man of push and progress. ABIAL C. COPELAND, living in Three Oaks, dates his residence in Michigan from 1865 and in this town from 1868, save that for a brief period he was in the west. He has valuable property interests in and near the village and gives his personal sup ervision to his farms. A native of New York, Mr. Copeland was born in Jefferson county on the 7th of May, 1838, and repre sents one of the old New England families. His paternal grandfather, Abial Copeland, was a native of New England, and became a pioneer settler of New York, riding from his old home to the Empire state on horse back. He participated in the war of 1812, taking part in the engagement at Sacketts Harbor. He was a shoemaker by trade and for many years followed that pursuit, but spent the last years of his life in the home of his son, Alonzo, in Jefferson county, New York. Alonzo Copeland was the father of our subject and was born in Jefferson coun ty, where he resided for a long period. He wedded Chloa E. Martin, also a native of that county and in the year 1865 they bade adieu to their old home in the east and came to Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father, who was born in 181 2, died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, while the mother died in 1889 at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were six children : Lovira, who became the wife of Alonzo Wright and died in Three Oaks about a year ago; Abial C, of this review; Sylvester M., of Three Oaks, who enlisted on the 22d of August, 1862, for service in Company E of the One Hun dred and Tenth New York Volunteer In- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 739 fantry, but was discharged in 1863 on ac count of physical disability; William, who is living in Providence, Rhode Island ; Ben jamin, who died in childhood; and Letha. Abial C. Copeland was a very young child when his parents removed from Jeffer son county to Oswego county, New York, and there he was reared upon a farm which lies about five miles from Fulton. His edu cation was acquired in the public schools and he early became familiar with farm labor. Throughout the greater part of his life his attention has been given to general agricul tural pursuits. In 1859 he sought a com panion and helpmate for life's journey and was married to Miss Lucretia Barrett, who was born in Cortland county, New York. The wedding was celebrated in Oswego county, New York, at the home of her parents, William and Elizabeth Barrett. The young couple began their domestic life in the Empire state and there con tinued to reside until 1865, when they made their way westward to Hillsdale coun ty, Michigan, accompanied by the two chil dren who had been born unto them in the east. Three years were passed in that county and in 1868 they came to Three Oaks, lo cating on a farm a mile east of the village. The tract comprises seventy-six acres of land and to its development and improvement Mr. Copeland devoted his energies until 1877, when he went to Nebraska, where he spent five years upon a homestead claim there. He was induced to return here by his brother and parents and has since resided in the village, his home being upon a farm of sixty acres which adjoins the corporation limits of the town. He also owns a farm of thirty-five acres on the lake side of Chik- aming township. His land is rich and pro ductive and returns to him good crops which, finding ready sale on the market, bring him a gratifying financial return. Mr. Copeland was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife about 1872. There were four children born of that marriage: Ad die A., the wife of Jared Lee, of Illinois; Warren Burton, who is living in Providence, Rhode Island ; Edith Montella, the wife of Willard Hudson ; and Nettie, deceased. On the 1 6th of December, 1890, Mr. Copeland was united in marriage to Mrs. Emeline Warner, the widow of Condan War ner and a daughter of Kingsley Olds, who was one of the pioneer settlers of this part of Michigan. Mrs. Copeland was born in Niles, Michigan, April 17, 1841, and most of her life has been spent in Berrien county. She had four children by her first marriage : Ella, now living in "Chicago ; Lola ; Mrs. Frances Mills, of Minnesota; and Bertha, who died at the age of three years. Abial C. Copeland is a Republican in his political views but without aspiration for office. He served, however, as highway commissioner for three years and is inter ested in all that pertains to public progress and improvement. Fraternally he is a Ma son and he belongs to the Blue Lodge at Three Oaks. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own persis tency of purpose and capable management. He has resided continuously in this county since 1868 with the exception of the brief period spent in Nebraska and is classed with the respected and intelligent farmers of his community. It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the family history of Mrs. Copeland. Her father, Kingsley Olds, was born in Berkshire coun ty, Massachusetts, January 21, 1794, and was the fifth son of Daniel Olds. He lived in the place of his nativity until eighteen years of age, when he made his way to the western country, settling first in Geauga county, Ohio, where he resided until after the outbreak of the war of 1812. He was then drafted for service and was mustered into the army, but only remained for about twenty days, after which he returned to his old home in Massachusetts. Soon his father gave him eighty acres of land, which was then an unbroken wilderness, the tract being situated in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. With characteristic energy he began to clear and improve it and had placed ten or twelve acres under cultivation when he traded this land to an older brother for an interest in a mill property situated on Grand river, Ohio. His attention was given to the operation of the mill for about six years, when through some mismanagement in business the brothers had to give up the property to the 740 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY former owners. Mr. Olds then secured em ployment in a distillery in Trumbull county, Ohio, and while living there was elected jus tice of the peace for a term of four years. He was afterward re-elected to fill a vacancy and served for two years more. About this time he married Miss Phebe Ross, of Trum bull county, Ohio, and after working in the distillery and acting as justice of the peace for six years he removed to his father-in- law's farm, which he operated on shares for three years. Soon after the expiration of that period his wife died and he broke up housekeeping, returning again to his father's farm, where he remained for about a year or two, doing such work as he could find. Later, however, he determined to make his way to Michigan and journeyed toward that state, ultimately reaching the present site of the city of Niles. There he began the manu facture of brick — the first in the place. There was not even a brick chimney in the town at the time. In the manufacture of brick he met with success and accumulated consider able property, judiciously placing his capital in real estate. While there Mr. Olds married a second time and after a few years, becoming tired of the business of manufacturing brick, he removed to the township of Benton when the whole district was almost an unbroken wilderness. He located on a piece of land on section 27, where he erected a log house and then began to clear away the heavy timber with which the land was well covered. After several years' of hard labor, having got his land in a measure cleared up, he built him a new and comfortable frame house, in which he and his family resided for about eight years. He then had the misfortune of hav ing his house and furniture nearly all de stroyed by fire, but with renewed energy and strength he set to work to retrive his lost possessions and built another house on al most the site of the first structure. He con tinued to occupy it for several years, or until the infirmities of age came upon him and he turned over the care of the farm to his son, with whom he resided for several years, or until the time of his death, which occurred on the 2d of October, 1882, when he had reached the age of eighty-seven years, three months and seven days. WILLIAM- H. WEBER, of Benton Harbor, is a native son of the county, his birth occurring in Bainbridge township in 1865, but his father, Jacob Weber, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to America after his marriage, settling in South Bend, Indiana, about 1858 or 1859. Sub sequently he came to this county, establish ing his home in Bainbridge township, where he purchased and improved a farm, resid ing continuously thereon up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1885, when he was sixty-four years of age. His wife died in 1869 or 1870, when about forty-one years of age. In their family were seven children, of whom William H. is the youngest. Only one other is now living, Carrie, who resides in Chicago. The eldest brother, Jacob Weber, now deceased, was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting from South Bend, In diana, in the Thirty-eighth Indiana Regi ment. William H. Weber was reared upon a farm in his native township and acquired a. district-school education. When seventeen-. or eighteen years of age he went to Chicago,. Illinois, where he was employed for two- years and then returned to Benton Harbor, where he accepted a clerkship in a grocery store, remaining there until he entered mer cantile life^ on his own account in 1900. He established a retail grocery store and in ad dition to a large stock of staple and fancy- groceries he also carries a line of crockery. His store is located on East Main street and' he has been very successful since starting- out on his own account, having at the pres ent time a fine trade. In 1898 in Benton Harbor occurred the- marriage of Mr. Weber and Miss Anna E. Kinney, a daughter of Patrick M. Kinney, one of the old pioneer settlers of this city. They now have one child, Helen L, who was- born in Benton Harbor and is five years of age. Politically an earnest Republican, Mr. Weber was elected on the party ticket to the office of city treasurer. He filled the officer HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 741 for two terms and is now serving as alder man. Every measure which comes up for settlement receives his earnest consideration and he is a strong champion of each move ment which tends to promote the substantial welfare, improvement and progress of the •city. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Maccabees. Having always lived in this county save for the brief period of two years spent in Chicago he has a wide acquaintance and the fact that he has led an upright life is indicated when we note that many of his stanchest friends are those with whom he has been acquainted from his boyhood days to the present time. WILLIAM H. BULLARD was born in Auburn, Cayuga county, New York, April 23, 1842. His parents, Ambrose M. and Elizabeth (Ebare) Bullard, were both na tives of Paris, France, and in 1825 the father emigrated to America, locating in Auburn, New York, where he remained for a number of years. In 1856 he removed westward with his family to Paw Paw, Michigan, where he continued to make his home until the death o,f his wife, which occurred in 1858, when she was forty-seven years of age. The following year he returned to Auburn, New York, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1864, when he was fifty-three years of age.- While in France he formed the acquaintance of Eliza beth Ebare, and their friendship ripened into love but their families objected to their mar riage, so they were married at sea while on their way to the new- world, the wedding ceremony being performed by a Presbyterian minister. Mr. Bullard was a sculptor and made many beautiful marble statues. In the family were twelve children, five daugh ters and seven sons, of whom William H. was the seventh in order of birth. Five of the number are now living, namely : Eliza, Stephen, William H., James and Sarah. William H. Bullard spent the days of his early youth in Auburn, New York, and at tended school there until 1856, when at the age of fifteen he came to Michigan. The family home was established at Paw Paw, Van Buren county. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the at tempt of the south to overthrow the Union. Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when he offered his ser vices to the government, enlisting on the 23d of April, 1861, as a member of Com pany C, Seventieth New York Infantry, ¦ which was assigned to the Army of the Poto mac under the command of Colonel Sickles. Mr. Bullard was in many hard fought bat tles, including the engagements of the Wild erness, which extended over seven days. He was also in the terrible conflict of Gettys burg, one of the most hotly contested bat tles of the entire war, in which both armies lost heavily. Mr. Bullard served for three years, three months and ten days and was then honorably discharged in July,. 1864. There were five brothers of the family in the Civil war, Stephen serving in the Third Michigan Cavalry, Peter as a member of Company C, Twelfth Michigan Regiment of Volunteers, and James in Company C of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. It was he and a Mr. Monger who captured Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy. The family record is one of which there is every reason to be proud, for the brothers were brave and loyal soldiers, displaying valor upon many southern battlefields. Following his discharge from the army Mr. Bullard of this review, located in Misha waka, Indiana, and in October, 1864, came to Niles, Michigan, where he has since lived. He was a wood-turner by trade and followed that pursuit until he was called to the posi tion of cterk in the postoffice at Niles. He there served faithfully until his health failed, when he resigned. He afterward became a postal clerk between Cleveland and Chicago in the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad and was thus engaged until he turned his attention to the grocery business, establish ing a store in Niles, which he conducted suc cessfully for sixteen years at the corner of Main and South Third streets. While con ducting his grocery store he secured a pat ronage which constantly grew as the years passed, so that he was able annually to add to his income. Now in possession of a com fortable competence for his declining years, 742 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he is living a retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. On the 28th of June, 1868, Mr. Bullard was united in marriage to Miss Carrie G. Fisher, a daughter of Iliff Fisher, of Ber rien Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Bullard have been prominent in social life of Niles and their pleasant and attractive home is the center of a cultured society circle. Both are esteemed and valued members of the Presby terian church. Mr. Bullard has been a Knight of Pythias for nineteen years. He is chairman of the soldiers' relief commit tee of Berrien county, in which capacity he has served continuously from the beginning. He was director of the poor farm for some years and the poor and needy have found in him a friend, his benevolent nature respond ing readily to any call for assistance. In politics he is an earnest Republican and has held various offices of trust and responsibil ity. He is a member of the Berrien county Republican central committee, and for many years has been active in the affairs of that party. He is deeply interested in the wel fare of Niles to the extent of giving hearty and helpful co-operation to all measures for the public good. He has resided continu ously in this city since 1864, covering a per iod of almost forty-four years, and during this time his life has ever been upright and honorable, winning him the regard and con fidence of his fellowmen. CARMI REDDICK SMITH is closely associated with the business enterprises and activity of Niles which have lead to its sub stantial upbuilding. A native son of Michi gan, he was born in Girard, Branch county, on the 19th of May,- 1862. His father, Mahlon A. Smith, was born in New York and became an early settler of Branch county. His mother was a daughter of John B. Reddick, who came to Michigan in 1832. Mahlon A. Smith, following his removal to Branch county, became owner of three hun dred acres of land and there carried on gen eral agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death. He cleared most of his land, placing it under a high state of cultivation. In his early life he had followed merchan dising, but after purchasing the farm gave his undivided attention to agricultural pur suits until his life's labors were ended in 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow still survives and makes her home in Coldwater, Branch county, Michigan. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom five are living,' namely : Carmi R. ; Mark H., a resident of Coldwater; Mabel L., the wife of Rev. John Biery, a Methodist minister; Katherine L, the wife of Rev. R. J. McLandress, a clergy man of the Presbyterian church of Oconto, Wisconsin; and Benjamin H., who lives in Niles, where he is foreman of the W. A. Reddick Wire and Shovel Factory. Carmi R. Smith was graduated from the high school of Coldwater, in the class of 1882. He afterward attended Albion Col lege, from which he was graduated in 1886 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Subsequently he went to Fort Wayne, where he studied law for a short time and then came to Niles, here accepting the position of book keeper with John L. Reddick, who was at that time engaged in the wood, coal and lumber business. Mr. Smith remained with Mr. Reddick for two years, after which he entered the employ of the Ohio Paper Com pany as purchasing agent of straw, pulp, etc., thus representing the house for two years. In 1 89 1 he purchased of J. L. Reddick the contract for supplying straw and pulp to the different mills. The contract involved an immense amount of business in securing these materials and Mr. Smith continued in that line of activity until 1903, when he sold his contracts. In 1889 he had pur chased the J. L. Reddick lumber business and has since continued as a dealer in that commodity, also owning and operating a planing mill. In addition to dealing in all kinds of lumber he carries a full line of sash, doors, glass, mouldings, porch stock and paint. In fact he deals in all kinds of build ing materials. He is now conducting a large and prosperous business, his sales reaching an extensive figure annually. In the mean time he had purchased a large tract of tim ber land in northern Michigan, which he cleared in 1902, having received many thous and feet of lumber therefrom. In this way he has added to the value of property in that HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 743 locality, placing the land in a condition bet ter fitted for cultivation. Mr. Smith has made his home in Niles since 1886 and has always been very active in public affairs of the city. At the present time he is identified as a director with three building and loan associations in Niles and is president of one of them. He is also president of the Niles Creamery Company and is president of the Business Men's As sociation of the city. He is a student of the signs of the times, readily recognizing op portunities and bends every energy to im prove these, advancing general prosperity as well as individual success. Mr. Smith is a recognized factor in politi cal circles, wielding a wide influence. In 1896 he was very active in support of the party and its principles during the McKinley administration. In 1897-98 he became a member of the state legislature, filling out the unexpired term of E. S. Williams who resigned to accept the appointment of post master of Niles. In 1903 Mr. Smith was elected mayor of Niles and in October of that year he resigned to accept the unexpired term of postmaster caused by the death of E. S. Williams, whom he had succeeded in the state legislature. Three days after Mr. Wil liams' death Mr. Smith was appointed to succeed him. He is a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party. He keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day and stands as an advocate of a high type of political honor and reli ability. In October, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mary E. Stafford, of Port Hope, Michigan. She is the daugh ter of W. R. Stafford, who was a large man ufacturer of lumber in northern Michigan, and now owner of extensive lands in Huron county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons, W. R. Stafford Smith and Carmi Reginald Smith, both born in Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, while in the Masonic order he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter, council and commandery at Niles, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is quick of appre hension and comprehends readily intricate business and political problems. He has done much toward promoting the general welfare, and his career, both public and pri vate, has been marked by the strictest integ rity and faithfulness to every trust reposed in him. He is known as an honorable man, a pleasant, social companion, and a devoted husband and father. CAPTAIN MOSES EMERSON, now deceased, who won his title by sailing on the lakes and the high seas, was for some years a resident of Benton Harbor and had a wide acquaintance in Berrien county, so that his history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred at Madison, Lake county, on the 7th of August, 1831, and he passed away July 4, 1902, when in his seventy-first year. His father was Joseph Emerson, a son of Joseph EmersOn, Sr., who- with his two brothers were soldiers of the Revolu tionary war and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. Joseph Emerson, Jr., emigrat ing westward with ox teams, at length reached Lake county, Ohio, where he made a settlement, being one of the early residents of the western reserve. This was about 1805, only two or three years after the ad mission of Ohio into the Union. The family lived iri true pioneer style. Mr. Emerson was numbered among the fearless strivers toward the ever receding west, fascinating for its untried dangers as for its fabled wealth. He was one of those sturdy, grave men, who fought and toiled and hoped and realized in varying measures, leading in sober truth a life fraught with privations, hardships and pleasures such as the colors of no artist have ever been able faithfully to portray nor have the word pictures ever fully reproduced these pioneer experiences. Moses Emerson was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity and in early life learned the trade of a ship carpenter, after which he became a sailor on the lakes. He was married in Ohio to Miss Helen Palmer, who was born in Concord, Lake county, and was eight years his junior. She was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. Her grandfather was Dr. Isaac 744 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Palmer, of Connecticut, who in pioneer times removed to the western reserve to practice his profession and Mrs. Emerson now has in her possession a letter which was written to him and which reads as follows : Canandaigua, New York, August 14, 1799. Isaac Palmer, Esq., Dear Sir: — I have this moment received a letter from Colonel Sheldon containing your wishes to become a settler in New Connecticut pro vided some encouragement could be given you. In answer I can only say that I con ceive that the directors will consider the set tlement of a physician in that country as ad vantageous and would not hestitate at giving you the encouragement proposed by Colonel Sheldon. As one of the directors I shall have no objection to giving you one hundred acres and selling you four or five more. I will write Colonel Sheldon on the subject, with whom you may confer. In the utmost haste, I am Yours, etc., Oliver Phelps. The doctor made the anticipated move and settled at Concord, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days, and his son, Erastus Palmer, father of Mrs. Emerson, also lived and died on the same farm. His youngest son, Charity Palmer, now lives upon the old homestead there. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Emer son removed to Ohio and he engaged in sail ing on the lakes. In 1866 he came to Ben ton Harbor, induced to make the move through an old friend, Martin G. Lamport, who was residing here. Wishing to be near Chicago, Mr. Emerson located at Benton Harbor, purchasing the farm which has since been in possession of the family. He bought seven acres in Pipestone township, where he lived for many years. The place was covered with stumps and apple trees had been set out two years before among the stumps. They have since borne fruit and several of them are still good trees. The first house was a small frame dwelling. Captain Emerson continued to sail on the lakes for several years and became a captain of different vessels. He was a fine naviga tor, but, not caring for responsibility, pre ferred to sail as mate and occupied that posi tion for many years. Later he turned his attention to farming, having a tract of land near the Morell farm on Empire avenue, which he operated though living in the city. His widow still owns this fifty-acre farm, which is devoted to fruit, including a large apple orchard. Unto Captain and Mrs. Emerson was born one son, Joseph Henry Emerson, who married Laura Durkee, and for ten years has been in the postoffice in Benton Harbor as an employee. In disposition Captain Emerson was rather retiring and preferred his home to public life. He enjoyed quite good health until a short time prior to his demise and he lived a Christian life, exemplifying in his daily conduct his religious faith and prin ciple. He was reared in the old school Pres byterian church, but in this county attended the Congregational church. His nature was entirely unobtrusive even to timidity and this caused him to desire no position in public life, but all who knew him respected him for his genuine personal worth and his ability was recognized by those with whom he came in contact. His honesty was ever above question and he held friendship inviolable. For forty years Mrs. Emerson has lived at her present home, which is located in the leading residence district of the city. She has long been active in the Congregational church and its societies and is held in the highest esteem by all who know her. Many have benefited by her good deeds in connec- - tion with the church and by her private charities. In 1902 she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband, who passed away on the 4th of July of that year. There are in every community quiet, retiring men who never seek to figure in public life and yet who nevertheless exert a strong and beneficial influence in the community through example rather than precept, and such a one was Captain Moses Emerson. SHMft HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 745 HANS MADISON, who was among the worthy and respected residents of Royalton township, was born in Denniark, August 16, 1834, and died in Berrien county, May 22, 1903. He became a resident of this county in 1859 and improved a small farm near Tryon's Corners. After six years he pur chased the present home farm, which was then a new and undeveloped tract of land, bordering the St. Joseph . river, five miles above the city of St. Joseph. He also had a pasture bordering the river. He had to develop the entire farm, for the work of im provement and cultivation had scarcely been begun there. He set out pears and apples, which are still in bearing, and the place is now a fine farm. Following his marriage both he and his wife worked out for others but by their untiring toil and combined ef forts they at length achieved success and became the owners of a fine home. Mr. Madison erected a part of the present resi dence upon taking up his abode upon the farm but afterward added. to both the dwell ing and the barn, transforming them into commodious and substantial structures. It was on the 14th of November, 1869, that Mr. Madison was united in marriage to Miss Mary Johnson, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States in early womanhood with a brother. On reaching Chicago they separated. Neither had any money, and in Chicago Mary Johnson met a Mr. Leonard and hired to him to go to St. Joseph. She afterward went to live with Mr. Tryon, with whom she remained until her marriage in the fall of 1869. Mr. Madi son was at the same time in the employ of Mr. Tryon. He was eleven years his wife's senior and at the time of their marriage he had paid for his eighteen acres of land, upon which was a good house. He had a pleasant home there but as his family increased he traded it for more land. Since his death his widow has continued to improve the farm and now has about fifteen acres of land planted to fruit. She has also increased the acreage devoted to berries and the place is a splendid fruit farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Madison were born five children: Lewis Alfred, a railroad em ploye, living in Kankakee; Illinois ; Andrew, a contractor and builder at- Carl, Michigan ; Minnie Lv the wife of William H. Brunke, a merchant, teacher, farmer and postmaster at Vinelarid; Anna May, the wife of Otto Buckholts, proprietor of a grocery and market in Chicago; and Hattie L., the wife of William Everett Gates, a professiorial chef now living on the home farm with her mother. Mr. Madison and his wife were anxious to give their children the best advantages possible and the sons and daughters eagerly availed thernselves of the opportunities af forded. Both parents were reared in the Lutheran Church and were earnest Chris tian people. Mr. Madison was a stanch Re publican. His last illness continued for only a few weeks and he then passed away in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He. was a well respected man and citizen of genuine worth, and in business circles occupied an enviable position because of his trustworthy ness and his enterprise. EDMUND B. STORMS, who in former years was identified with industrial and commercial interests in Niles and since 1902. has filled the position of assistant post master, is a native son of Berrien county, his birth having occurred in Niles township on the 24th of January, 1853. His father, Lewis V. Storms, was a native of New York and came to Michigan in 1838, when it was still under territorial rule and when the work of progress and development lay largely in the future.^ He resided in Berrien county and in the midst of a wild region began the develdprrient of a farm. Throughout . the remainder of his active business career he carried on general agricultural pursuits, finding that the land was rich and produc tive, responding readily to the care, arid labor which he bestowed upon the fields. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. She bore the maiden name of Lydia Baker and was born in Rich mond, Indiana, a daughter of Nathan Baker, Of Pennsylvania. In the family were three children, of whom two are living : Edmund 746 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY B., of this review; and Martha C, who is the wife of A. D. Young, a resident farmer of Niles township. Edmund B. Storms was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of such a life for him in his early boyhood. He began his education in the district schools of his native township and afterward attended a select school in Niles, while subsequently he continued his studies in the business college at Kalamazoo, where he was qualified for the practical and he- sponsible duties of a business career. At an early age he became deeply interested in political questions and issues and advocated the principles of the Republican party with enthusiasm and vigor. He has never had any reason to change his views on political questions but has remained a stalwart ad vocate of the party, which he espoused in early manhood and has been an earnest and loyal worker in its behalf. His fidelity in citizenship and his ability have led to his selection for various positions of honor and trust. In 1886 he was elected treasurer of Berrien county and filled the office for four years, when the county seat was at Berrien Springs. He also served as supervisor and was township treasurer for a number of years. Shortly after retiring from that of fice he became interested in a manufacturing business under the firm style of the Earl- Storms Manufacturing Company, of which B. F. Earl was general manager and Mr. Storms secretary and treasurer. They en gaged in the manufacture of furniture spe^- cialties and the business was conducted suc cessfully for a number of years, after which Mr. Storms sold his interest to his partner. He was also at one time engaged in the coal and wood business as' a member of the firm of Williams & Storms and later by a change in partnership the name of Storms & O'Bier was assumed. Mr. Storms gave his attention to that business for six years. He has made his home continuously in Niles since 1891 and has become a recognized leader in Republican ranks in this city. He was alderman for two years from the second ward and gave to each question which came up for deliberation in the council his earn est and thoughtful consideration. He is now a member of the board of public works of Niles and in 1902 was appointed assis tant postmaster, which position he is still filling. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. Mr. Storms was married November 15, 1888, to Miss Myra Stanley, of Niles, a daughter of Monroe and Emily (Young) Stanley, of this city. They have two daugh ters and a son, Esther, Lewis S. and Emily Lucile, all of whom were born in Niles and are still under the parental roof. Mr. Storms and his family ' attend the Presby terian church and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. He looks upon the world from no false position and has no untried standards. He is a man of strong conviction, quick to discern the right and unfaltering in his efforts to maintain it. He has a love of society and of his friends and in his grasp and greeting there is always welcome. His life has been characterized by capable public service and over the record of his official career as well as his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. JACOB L. EDINGER, carrying on gen eral agricultural pursuits, has led a life of untiring industry and this quality has been the prominent factor in his success. He now lives on section 2, New Buffalo town ship. His birth occurred in Laporte, Indi ana, in a little log cabin on the 13th of Sep tember, 1844. At that date there were only seven houses in that tov n. His father, Philip Edinger, was born on the river Rhine in Bavaria, Germany, May 18, 18 10, and when twenty-four years of age came to the United States, arriving in 1834. On the same vessel came Miss Anna Elizabeth Schaaf, who was born in Bavaria in 1808. They were married in New York immediate ly after their arrival. Mr. Edinger was a teamster in Germany, but gave his attention to general farming in the new world. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Berrien county, his home be ing on section 1, New Buffalo township, not HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 747 far from the present residence of Jacob L. Edinger. His last days, however, were spent in the home of his son Jacob, and he passed away at the age of eighty-two years. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. His wife passed away March n, 1887. They were people of the highest respectability, esteemed by all who knew them and many with whom they came in contact gave to them warm friend ship and regard. In their family were seven children, of whom one died in infancy and George is also deceased. Mrs. Louise Miller has passed away. Charles is deceased. Jacob L. is the fifth in order of birth. Philip is living in Indiana, and Sarah is the de ceased wife of Rev. Kern. Jacob L. Edinger, during his early child hood, was taken by his parents to a farm four and a half miles south of Laporte, In diana, on Dore prairie, where they lived for four years. They afterward resided on a farm north of Laporte for seven years and on the 9th of April, 1855, came to New Buf falo township,, where Mr. Edinger of this review has since made his home, residing upon his present farm for thirty-one years. He has eighty-five acres on the river and about forty acres of meadow land which borders Galien river and also Pottawatomie lake. It was all woodland when it came into his possession and he has placed the entire tract of eighty-five acres under a high state of cultivation. He has erected here a fine brick residence and good outbuildings and has led a life of unfaltering industry and enterprise. He at first lived in a little cabin or hut and he borrowed the money to make purchase of the land, but as the years went by he worked energetically and persistently and, saving his earnings, was at length en abled to clear his farm of all indebtedness. In 1872 he purchased the Lake Shore hotel at New Buffalo, which he conducted for seven years and then sold to John Peo. . He also owned his farm at that time. His at tention is now given in undivided manner to general agricultural pursuits and his farm in its splendid appearance and with its many modern equipments is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. In 1868, Mr. Edinger was united in mar riage to Miss Phenia Schwenk, who was born near New York city on the 28th of March, 1855, and was brought to Berrien county at the age of seven years by her par ents, John and Elizabeth (Reuss) Schwenk, who were natives of Frankfort-on-the-Main. The father died here September 26, 1869, at fifty-six years of age and the mother is living in New Buffalo at the age of seventy- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Edinger have be come the parents of fourteen children : Ella, who died in infancy; John, of Union Pier; Adam, of New Buffalo township; Eliza beth, who is living in Chicago; Clara, the wife of William Harmann, of New Buffalo township ; Ernest, who is employed by the firm of Montgomery Ward & Company, of Chicago; Henry, who is with the firm of Sears, Roebuck '& Company, of Chicago; Jacob, who is operating the home farm ; Her man, who is also with Montgomery Ward & Company, of Chicago ; Paul, at home ; Dol ly and Lorenzo, both at home; Mary, who died at the age of eleven years; and Carl, who died at the age of two years. The last two died of diphtheria, the whole fajnily suffering from that disease at the time. Mr. Edinger exercise his right "of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy. He has served as highway commissioner for one term but has never been* a politician in the sense of office seek ing. He is a member of the German Luth eran church and has led an upright, honor able life actuated by manly principles. All who know him entertain for him warm re gard and respect by reason of what he has accomplished. He is indeed a self-made man, who owes his success entirely to his earnest efforts and perseverance. He has overcome difficulties and obstacles in his path and worked his way steadily upward to success, using industry, ambition and de termination as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of prosperity. WILLIAM L. HOLLAND. The busi ness interests of St. Joseph find an enterpris- 748 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ing, alert and wide-awake representative in William L. Holland, who is engaged in the drug trade here. Moreover he has been active in community affairs, his labors prov ing a tangible factor in public progress. He was born in Hollowell, Maine, in 1855, and is a son of James L. and Eliza A. (Peasley) Holland, who were also natives of the Pine Tree state. In their family were five chil dren, William L. being the second in order of birth and the only one residing in Ber rien county. At the usual age he entered the public schools, passing through succes- . sive grades until he became a high school student. He entered upon his business career in the capacity of a drug clerk in his native city and soon afterward went to Portland, Maine, where he secured a situation in the drug store of George C. Frye, learning the business thoroughly. He. remained there for several years, becoming acquainted with the drug trade both in principle and detail and with the actual work of compounding pre scriptions as well as making sales. When he came to the west he was located for a time in Kansas and afterward made his way to the Pacific coast, remaining in California until he returned to Michigan. It was in the fell of 1889 that he settled in St. Joseph, where he has since made his home and throughout the intervening years he has been connected with the commercial interests of this city. He purchased the drug store of Dr. A. H. Scott and has managed the busi ness with gratifying success. His store is well appointed and he has a large and care fully selected line of drugs and sundry goods, which are neat and tastefully ar ranged. His reasonable prices, earnest de sire to please his customers and his unfailing courtesy are strong elements in his pros perity. In 1894 in Albion, Michigan, Mr. Hol land was united in marriage to Miss Marie McKinney, who was born in that place and is a daughter of John McKinney. This marriage has been blessed with one child, Laura H., who was born in St. Joseph. Mr. Holland is a prominent Mason, having at tained the thirty-second degree of the Scot tish Rite. He belongs to Saladin Temple and has crossed the sands of the desert with the nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. He was eminent commander of the commandery at St. Joseph for two years and is in hearty sympathy with the teach ings and tenets of the craft, which recognizes in him one of its prominent representatives in southwestern Michigan. He also holds membership relations with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Woodmen of the World. Moreover he dis plays considerable activity in political cir cles and is a stanch Republican, having given his allegiance to the party since age con ferred upon him the right of franchise. His opinions carry weight in the local councils of the party organization and he has been called to several public offices. He was alderman for the third ward for two years and for two terms was city treasurer. He has frequently been mentioned for the posi tion of postmaster of St. Joseph. His place in the public regard is an enviable one and has been gained through his strict adherence to honorable, manly principles, by his un faltering support of his honest convictions and by a social, genial nature which wins warm friendships. ARTHUR O. ULLREY, M. D., en gaged in the practice of medicine in Niles since 1889, his labors being directed along modern scientific lines, is one of Berrien county's native sons, his birth having oc curred in Pipestone township on the 24th of July, 1862. His paternal grandfather, John Ullrey, was a native of Ohio and on coming to Berrien county, Michigan, pur chased land, devoting his time to clearing and improving the property, which, through his well directed efforts was converted into one of the finest farms of the county. The task was an arduous one in the early days but his perseverance and energy enabled him to overcome the difficulties which nature had placed in his way and in the course of years his fields became very productive. He spent his last days in Niles, living in retirement from further business cares and enjoying the fruit of former toil. Here he passed away in 1892 at the age of seventy eight years. David H. Ullrey, father of Dr. Ullrey, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 749 was also a pioneer resident of Michigan, having been brought from Ohio, his native state, to Berrien county by his parents when a youth of thirteen years. In his youth he became familiar with farm labor and devoted his attention to general agricultural pur suits both before and after his marriage. He wedded Miss Angeline Schnorf and fol lowing that important event in his life his tory he secured a farm in Berrien county, upon which he lived for some time but later returned to the old homestead in Berrien township. He has carried on farming throughout his entire life and he and his wife are now living upon a good farm prop erty in Niles township. Unto them have been born three sons: Arthur O. ; Austin I., a resident farmer of Niles township; and Schuyler J., who makes his home in South Bend, Indiana. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Dr. Ull rey in his boyhood days. He attended the public schools and at the age of nineteen years began teaching. After following the profession for a short time, however, he con tinued his own education in the schools of Niles, devoting his energies to this work for a year. Later he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he com pleted his literary course and thus with a good foundation upon which to build the superstructure of his professional knowledge he went to Chicago, where he matriculated in Hahnemann Medical College. There he remained as a student until he was gradu ated on the cempletion of a full course on the 25th of February, 1886. Dr. Ullrey located for practice in Three Oaks, Michigan, where he remained for two and a half years, after which he went to South Bend, Indiana, where he spent nine months. In 1889 he came to Niles, where he has since been located, enjoying a successful practice when judged from both a profes sional and financial standpoint. He is a member of the American Medical Institute of Homeopathy and keeps in touch with the onward march of progress of the profession, adopting all new and improved methods which tend to promote the efficient service of the physician. He likewise belongs to the Northern Indiana and Southern Michi gan Homeopathic Medical Society. Dr. Ullrey was married in 1888 to Miss Ada Wilcox, who at that time resided in Three Oaks, Michigan. She died February 4, 1890, and on the 26th of September, 1893, he wedded Katherine Ager, of Niles. They attend the Baptist church and are prominent socially, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them. Dr. Ullrey is a Republican in his political views and is a member of the Ancient Order .of United Workmen and the Knights of the Macca bees. Since determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work he has given his attention to the calling with unfaltering fidelity, allowing nothing to deflect him from his purpose and advancing continually in his knowledge of the science and his adoption of its principles to the needs of suffering humanity. He possesses, however, a social nature and genial disposition nor is he neg lectful of the duties of political and social life. JACOB CRIBBS, deceased, was born in Canton, Ohio, and died in Berrien county, in December, 1893, at the age of seventy- five years. He became one of the early resi dents of this section of Michigan, and as an active and representative business man whose labors have contributetd to the public pro gress as well as to individual success, he de serves mention in this volume. His paternal and maternal grandparents were of German lineage. His father, George Cribbs, was in his day the greatest stage proprietor in the United Spates, it requiring six hundred horses to run his stages. He operated from Ohio westward to Washington, having head quarters at Canton, Ohio, and his business was most extensive, making him a foremost representative of that line of activity in this entire country. In early life Jacob Cribbs of this review learned and followed the trade of a carpen ter and joiner. He had previously driven a stage when but a young lad, but his father became bankrupt in the financial panic of 1837, which swept over the country, leaving many hitherto successful business men ruined. Jacob Cribbs worked at the carpen- 750 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ¦ter's trade in Pittsburg and afterward came to western Michigan as a stage driver, ar riving in this section of the state about 1839. He believed that a successful future awaited this section of the country, foreseeing its rapid and substantial development, and he secured eighty acres just north of Bainbridge Center. Mr. Cribbs was married in Bainbridge to Miss Jeanette McKeyes, a daughter of Sam uel McKeyes, residing northeast of Bain bridge and south of Watervliet. Mrs. Cribbs was at that time but nineteen years of age. Ambitious to make a good start in life Mr. Cribbs soon secured a farm in the German settlement but afterwards went to Wisconsin, where for six years he followed farming. In 1852 he went to California, hoping to enjoy better business opportuni ties in the mining regions of the far west. The same year he removed his family back to Michigan, where they remained during the time he spent in a search for the precious metal on the Pacific coast. He was gone three years and met with fair success. About 1855 he returned to Michigan and purchased a farm, upon which he lived up to the time of his death. Only twenty acres of the land had been improved, but he began its further development and cultivation, and in the course of years made a good farm. He en gaged quite successfully as a fruit grower in early times and he owned several tracts of land, carefully managing his business in terests so that success resulted. He made judicious investments in property and his at tention was concentrated upon his private in terests, for he did not seek or desire public notoriety of any kind and never sought to figure in public office. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cribbs were born four children : Herbert, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Clin ton G., who is conducting a boarding house at Benton Harbor; Jennie B., who died at the age of two years; and Eugene W., who is living at Bainbridge Center. Jacob Cribbs, the father, died in 1893, and his widow is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years, while she has a sister living two years older than herself. Mr. Cribbs was long known as one of the representative farmers and citizens of this part of the state, for the work of develop ment had scarcely begun, when, in 1839, he arrived in Michigan. Great forests stood in their primeval strength and the land was unclaimed. Only here and there had a lit tle settlement been made, and the work of prigress was scarcely begun. He bore his full share in the work of reclaiming this re gion for the purpose of cultivation, in sub duing the wilderness and extending the fron tier, and as such deserves mention in this volume. WILLIAM M. WISSING is a citizen who stands for all that is progressive in relation to the public welfare, and the part which he has done for good roads in St. Joseph township well entitles him to repre sentation in this volume as one of the lead ing residents of his community. He was born in Denmark in 1849, acquired his edu cation in the schools of his native country, and when a young man of twenty-one years came to the United States in 1870, attracted by the business opportunities of the new world. He spent three years in New York, and for one and a half years was a resident of Chicago. Since 1874 he has made his home in Berrien county, where he has fol lowed farming and fruit growing in St. Joseph township. He had not a dollar upon his arrival in this country but he possessed a strong heart and willing hands, was not afraid to work and has labored earnestly, persistently and energetically as the years have gone by until he is now in comfortable circumstances. He has a farm of twenty- eight acres of valuable land on the lake shore three and a half miles south of St. Joseph in one of the most desirable sections of the country surrounding that city, and his care and supervision have made this a well im proved property, equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. In his political views Mr. Wissing is a stalwart Republican, one of the workers of the party and a recognized leader in its local ranks. Elected to the office of highway com missioner, he has taken a most active and helpful part in good roads movement in St. Joseph township. At the April election in 1906 this township was bonded for twenty- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 75i nine thousand dollars to be spent on the im provement of the public highways. Macad amized roads were made, covering a dis tance of five and a half miles. All this was accomplished in the season of 1906 and all was 'built under contract made by Mr. Wis- sing as superintendent for the township. The State also donates one thousand dollars per mile. Some of these roads are fourteen feet wide and others are twelve feet — those hav ing less traffic. All were built according to specifications supplied by the State. Crushed stone was sent from Chicago and laid on the railroad siding at a dollar and forty-five cents per cubic yard. The twelve foot road has six inches of stone, and the fourteen foot road has eight inches of this after being rolled. After the crushed stone has been laid a fine or powered stone is laid upon it and all rolled with heavy steam rollers, the entire expense running from forty-two hun dred to fifty-four hundred dollars per mile. This start has been made and will cover nearly two-thirds of all the roads in St. Jos- seph township, and every foot of the work is under the direct supervision of Mr. Wissing, who was elected highway commissioner in 1906. This is the fifth year of his service in that capacity during the last eight years, a fact which indicates that in the discharge of his duties he has given more general satis faction than any other incumbent in the of fice, his former experience proving his worth. He meets with almost universal commenda tion in what he has done in public office and in the years to come the value of his labor will be still greater appreciated as the benefits from good roads accrue and are recognized by the general public. THERON D. CHILDS, postmaster of Three Oaks, was born in Sherburnville, Illi nois, December 11, 1872, and is the son of Francis E. and Amanda (Dyer) Childs, the former a native of Knox county, Ohio, and the latter of Kankakee county, Illinois. Both are still living and reside upon a farm two miles west of this village. They removed to Berrien county in 1893 and after spending some eight years in Three Oaks, took up their abode upon the farm where they now live. While Mr. Childs' ancestors were people more or less prominent in the affairs of their times, yet his parents, by force of circum stances, have occupied the humble position of the rural class. His father was the son of Henry A. Childs, who was born and grew to manhood near LeRoy, New York. After graduating from the medical department of the University of Vermont, he married Mary A. Brown of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and located in Knox county, Ohio, where he en joyed an extensive practice until his death in 1852. The mother of Theron D. Childs was the third daughter of Edward Dyer, who was born in Vermont, grew to manhood in west ern New York and removed to western Indi ana about 1835. He traced his lineage directy to the Mayflower pilgrims and was descended from that sturdy New England stock which has left its imprint on nearly every community of the central states. Having been left an orphan in childhood, he was the moulder of his own character and a splendid example of a self-made man. He settled at Sherburnville, Illinois, in the early forties and opened a blacksmith shop in the new set tlement. His industry and integrity, for which he was widely known, coupled with his natural mechanical ability, developed a thriving business and Mr. Dyer soon became one of the leading men of that section. Such is the stock from which the subject of this sketch has sprung and Mr. Childs has proven himself not unworthy of such an ancestry. « The early years of Mr. Childs' life were spent near the village of his birth, amid surroundings which to say the least were quite limited. When about six years of age he removed with his parents to Kansas, the trip being made, as was the custom at that time, overland in a canvas covered wagon. After a year and a half in the Sunflower state the family returned to Illinois where they remained until the fall of 1889. Mr. Childs was never robust and when about eleven years of age his physical con- 752 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY diton became such that for nearly four years even schooling was out of the question. However, his limited advantages had been so improved that in November, 1889, he was able to enter the Normal School at Marion, Indiana, and take up the regular work in the teacher's course. During the winter, however, his work was interrupted by sick ness and with a desire to better his health he went to Ridgeville, Indiana, in the spring of 1890. The change proved of little benefit for in the early summer his studies were again brought to a sudden stop by a long illness which kept him from school until late in November, when he resumed his work and continued until he graduated from the teachers' course of Ridgeville College in the summer of 1891. In March, 1893, Mr. Childs came to Three Oaks and although an entire stranger and without means, he has so conducted himself that in the few years of his residence here he has won a high place in the respect and esteem of his fellow-citi zens. Soon after coming to Three Oaks he en tered the employ of the Warren Featherbone Company, where he remained until the fol lowing September, when he took up the duties of teacher in the Basswood district of Three Oaks township. For five consecutive years he taught in the rural schools of this vicinity, three of which were in district No. 5, where he had as a pupil the young lady who afterwards became his wife. Having contracted for a school for the year 1898-9 and feeling the need of a little brightening up, he went to Benton Harbor to take a short review in the summer school at Benton Harbor College. But the morn ing after his arrival he was called to the tele phone and tendered the position of assistant postmaster in the Three Oaks postoffice. This offer came entirely unsolicited and without warning but as it seemed to offer better advantages than teaching, he accepted and remained in the position until his ap pointment as postmaster August 19, 1904. During the six years that Mr. Childs was as sistant postmaster he discharged his duties in such a pleasing and careful manner that he won the good will of the entire public. His familiarity with the duties of the office eminently qualify him for the position he now fills with such promptness and fidelity, giv ing a public-spirited and business-like ad ministration. Mr. Childs has always been a Republi can, but has never sought office of a political nature, not even making a personal solicita tion for the position he now occupies. On the 26th of September, 1900, Mr. Childs was married to Miss Wilhelmina E. Schelley of Tree Oaks township. Unto them has been born a daughter, Thelma. Mr. Childs belongs to the Masonic fra ternity, holding membership in Three Oaks Lodge, No. 239, of which he is a past mas ter. He and his wife are also members of Three Oaks Chapter No. 209, Order of the Eastern Star, and he is now serving his fourth year as worthy patron. He is well and favorably known throughout the coun ty as a typical educator, and as an official has made a most creditable record. J. T. BECKWITH, who has for many years been actively connected with fruit farming interests in Berrien county and has also figured prominently in public affairs, was at one time the owner of three hundred acres of land in this locality and yet owns thirty-eight acres, constituting a valuable property, in Benton township. His life rec ord began on the 26th of May, 1841, in Chautauqua county, New York, his parents being Josiah R. and Lavinda H. (Fisk) Beckwith. The father was born in Con necticut in August, 1805, and remained a resident of that state until 1826, when he re moved from New England to New York. He came of English lineage and the maternal ancestors of our subject were also of Eng lish descent, being among the colonists who settled in Jamestown, Virginia, in the early part of the seventeenth century, making the first permanent settlement in North Amer ica at that point. Throughout his active business life Josiah R. Beckwith followed farming save that for a brief period of a few years in his early manhood he was a tailor. His political views accorded with Whig principles, but he never aspired to office. He was a member of the Christian church, to which his wife also belonged, and she took HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 753 a very active part in church work. In their family were seven children, three of whom are yet living. J. T. Beckwith was educated in the com mon schools and in a high school which he attended for a few terms and after complet ing his own education he engaged in teach ing school, devoting seventeen years to the profession in this county. He was a capa ble educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired and his labors were a valued factor in pro moting the work of public instruction and in raising the standard of the schools in this part of Michigan. As his financial resources increased he invested more and more largely in land, until he became the owner of three hundred acres of land, all in this county. From time to time, however, he has sold parts of this, but he still owns thirty-eight acres which adjoin Benton Harbor on the southeast and is valued at sixteen thousand dollars. He raises fruit of superior quality and his shipments bring to him a good finan cial return. He has been a director of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company for twenty years. Mr. Beckwith has been married twice. In 1866 he wedded Miss Mary A. Young and unto them were born two children : Alta, now the wife of Ed Harner; and Minnie, the wife of Frank Kool. For his second wife Mr. Beckwith chose Mrs. Henrietta (Weaver) Boyle, a daughter of Jacob and Orpha (Crumb) Weaver. The father was a native of Ohio, became a farmer by occu pation and on leaving the Buckeye state re moved to Michigan in the '30's, heing among the oldest settlers here. Few improvements had been made in this part of the state, the forests standing in their primeval strength, casting long shadows across the streams which in due course of time were to carry the lumber down where it could be used as a marketable commodity. Few farms had been cultivated and only here and there had the work of civilization been started. The fam ily is of German lineage, having been estab lished in Pennsylvania at an early period in the colonization of the new world. Unto Mr. Beckwith by the second marriage four 48 children have been born : Clayton, who is a bookkeeper in Benton Harbor; Earl, who is now engaged in the creamery business in Wisconsin; Glenn, who is also engaged in keeping books in Benton Harbor ; and Vere, who is attending school. Prior to becoming the wife of Mr. Beckwith, Henrietta Weaver had married Fred Boyle and by that union there was one son, Charles Boyle. Mr.. Beckwith exercises his right of fran chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and has been called to various local offices, the duties of which have been discharged in a spirit of direct and im mediate servioeableness. He was superin tendent of the poor for nine years, was sup ervisor for four years, 1879-80, 1882-84, and has held other public positions. He be longs to the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a self-made man, who started out in life empty handed and the property that he has acquired is the vis ible evidence of a life of well-directed thrift and enterprise. His indefatigable energy and perseverance have brought him to a knowledge of the truth that success is am bition's answer. ISAAC M. SMITH, a prominent farmer residing on section 13, Berrien township, Isaac M. Smith has from an early period in the development of the county resided with in its borders. His birth occurred on the farm where he now lives, March 17, 1847, a son of John Smith, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, where he remained until he had reacljed his twenty-first year. In com pany with his brother Isaac he in 1829 came to Berrien county, Michigan, and located the land now owned by his son Isaac M. In the following year, 1830, the brother Isaac moved with his family to Berrien county, and in 1831 was followed by John Smith, who toop up his abode on the farm which he had secured two years before. This con tinued as his home until his life's labors were ended in death, passing away in 1892, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Burk, was a native of Giles county, 754 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Virginia, where she remained until ten years of age, emigrating thence to Berrien county, Michigan, this being about the year 1830. She died at the age of seventy-eight years, after becoming the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity and two sons and a daughter are now living. Isaac M. Smith, the youngest of the fam ily has spent his entire life on the old Smith homestead, receiving his education in the dis trict schools of the locality, and from an early age he has assisted in the work of the fields. In 1 87 1 he was married to Emma Murphy, who was born in Ohio but came to Berrien county, Michigan, when very young. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have no children of their own, but have reared an adopted daughter, Edna, who is at home. In addition to his general agricultural pursuits Mr. Smith makes a specialty of dealing in timber and lumber, buying and shipping extensively, and for twenty-five years he has followed this business, his efforts throughout this long period being attended with a well merited degree of success. He is the owner of three hundred and thirty-one acres of the finest land to be found in all Berrien county, the work of which is carried on by hired assis tants. The Democratic party receives Mr. Smith's hearty support and co-operation, and as its representative he served at one time as highway commissioner. Mr. Smith has two of the old deeds, executed January 4, 1831, and October 10, 1833, both signed by President Andrew Jackson and these are valuable documents in Mr. Smith's home. JAMES SMITH. Death often claims from our midst those whom we can ill afford to lose, and when it claimed James Smith the community mourned the loss of a repre sentative citizen, widely and favorably known in agricultural circles. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, November 2, 1827, a son of Isaac Smith, who came with his family to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1830, the son James being then a little lad of three years. To the schools of Berrien township he was indebted for the early educational training which he received, this being further supplemented by attendance at the schools of Niles, but in early life he put aside his text books and began work in the fields, ag riculture proving his life occupation. In 1852 Mr. Smith was married to Mal vina Babcock, who was born in Rensselaer county, New York, east of the Hudson, No vember 16, 1829. Her father, John Bab cock, a native of the same county, was a prominent attorney at law, following his pro fession at Troy, New York, for many years, and his death occurred in that city at the age of forty-six years. He was a son of John Babcock, who was a native of Massa chusetts, a farmer by occupation, and a prominent man in the early affairs of his community, having served as a justice of the peace and in many other ways assisting in the upbuilding of the commonwealth. The family was of English and Scotch descent. John Babcock married Sarah Kendall, who also claimed Rensselaer county, New York, as the place of her nativity, being the daugh ter of Joshua Kendall, a native of Rhode Island. and of English descent. Mrs. Bab cock lived to be eighty-one years of age, dying in Van Buren county, Michigan. In their family were eleven children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity and four are now living, — Mrs. Smith; W. I., of Niles, Michigan; H. B., a resident of Rose- dale, Kansas; and J. N., a resident of Ben ton township. Mrs. Smith located in Van Buren coun ty, Michigan, in 1844, accompanying her sis ter and the latter's husband, William Mills- paugh. She began teaching school when but fifteen years of age, following that occu pation for eight years or until her marriage to James Smith on the 24th of October, 1852. For two years thereafter the young couple lived in Cass county, Michigan, af ter which they returned to Berrien county and located on the old homestead which has since been the home of Mrs. Smith. They became the parents of four children, namely : Martha, at home; Mary, who became the wife of H. G. Correll, and died at the age of twenty-three years; Prof. Ethan H., a resi dent of San Francisco, California, and a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital of New York city; and Charles R., at home with his mother. Mrs. Smith owns one hundred, and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 755 eighty acres of rich and well cultivated land, over which she has had supervision since her husband's death. He was ever loyal to his duties of citizenship and used his franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, while his fraternal rela tions were with the Masonic order. He was deeply concerned in the welfare of his com munity, influential in his own neighborhood and for a number of years served as a school officer. He passed away February 19, 1899, but in the hearts of his many friends are en shrined many pleasant memories of him, and his influence for good remains with those who knew him. Prof. Ethan H. Smith now holds the chair of orthopoedic surgery in the College of San Francisco, California. AMOS C. HOUSE, a prominent retired farmer living in Buchanan, was for many years closely associated with agricultural interests, and his careful and systematic management of business affairs brought him the confidence that now enables him to live in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He dates his residence in the county from 1866, and is numbered among the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania, has fur nished to Michigan, his birth having oc curred in Juniata county, of the former state, May 24, 1843. His father, Ephraim House, was a native of New Jersey, whence he removed to Pennsylvania and was there married to Miss Mary Scott, a native of England, who had come to the United States when sixteen years of age, making the voy age with her father, who, upon a return to his native country, was lost at sea. Ephraim House continued his residence in the Key stone state until his death, and the mother afterward came to Berrien county, Michi gan, where her last days were passed. This worthy couple were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom reached adult age and are still living: John, now a resident of Bertrand township; Sarah, the wife of Joseph Barner, of Parkstone, South Dakota ; Cyrus L., who is living in North Dakota; and James, also of North Dakota. Amos C. House, the third in the family of five children, was reared in Pennsylvania to the age of twenty-four years and acquired a good common-school education. On leav ing his native state he went to Missouri, afterward to Indiana, and in 1866 became a resident of Berrien county, Michigan. Dur ing the first summer after his arrival he worked by the month as a farm hand, after which he rented land for four years and the capital which he saved from his earnings during that period enabled him then to pur chase a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bertrand township. Ambitious to succeed as an agriculturist he carefully husbanded his resources and made the most of his op portunities, adding to his place until now his landed possessions aggregate twelve hun dred acres. He is thus one of the extensive land holders of the county and his valuable property interests return him a very grati fying income, enabling him to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He continued active in the management of his farming and landed interests, aided by his wife, until 1894, when he removed to Buchanan, where he is now living retired. On the 23d of August, 1868, Amos C. House was married to Miss Eliza Rough, a daughter of David and Anna (Rhodes) Hough, both of whom were born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. They came to Ber rien county in 1849, leaving their old home in the east on the ist day of May of that year. They traveled by wagon, there being seven wagons and four families in the party. At length they arrived in Bertrand town ship on the 28th of May. Mrs. House was then only a little maiden of six years of age, her birth having occurred on the 16th of May, 184*3. She was therefore reared in Bertrand township, spending her girlhood days in her parents' home, while in the dis trict schools of the neighborhood she ac quainted herself with the common branches of English learning. There were in the fam ily five children, five of whom reached adult age, namely : William R., who now resides in Buchanan; Solomon, of the same city; George H. and Mrs. Sarah Womer, both now deceased ; and Mrs. House, who is the youngest. Unto our subject and his wife has been born a son, William D., whose birth occurred in Bertrand township, August 20, 1871. It was in 1893 that Mr. House built his 756 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY modern brick residence in Buchanan. On his farms he has seven houses, all good sub stantial buildings kept in an excellent state of repair. His property altogether is very valuable, and in addition to the farms al ready mentioned he has a half interest in a farm of one hundred and ninety-seven acres, his partner being Peter Womer, of Bertrand township. He likewise has property in the city of Buchanan in addition to his home and his moneyed and extensive interests are in controvertible proof of a life of activity and enterprise, while the favorable regard in which he is held argues well for his business integrity and 'honor. He has been a life long Democrat and he and his good wife are members of the Evangelical church, in the work of which they have taken an active and helpful part. Mr. House has served as stew ard for many years, as a trustee of the church and also of the camp ground in Niles township. He has been identified with the making of Bertrand township and Berrien county, and while leading a busy and active life resulting. in the attainment of a position of prominence in financial circles, he has at the same time found opportunity to co operate in movements for the general good, contributing to the intellectual, moral and political progress as well as the material ad vancement of the community. JUAN M. GUY, now living retired in Benton Harbor, has had a somewhat event ful career, embracing the experiences of western mining as well as the occurrences of a military life in connection with the Civil war. For many years he followed farming in Bainbridge township but is now enjoying a well earned rest in Benton Harbor. His birth occurred in Washington county, New York, October 18, 1835, and he came to Michigan in 1856, when a young man of twenty-one years, after spending his boyhood days upon a farm in Orleans county, New York, near Lake Ontario, where he assisted in the arduous task of clearing as well as cultivating land. His father, Timothy Guy, passed his last days in Michigan. Juan M. Guy had an older brother, Mort Guy, who had been in this State two years before the arrival of our subject and had become the owner of a farm in Hagar township in Berrien county, where he cultivated and im proved a good tract of land, making his home thereon for a long period. About twenty years ago, however, he came to Ben ton Harbor, where he is now living retired.. By trade he is a carpenter and builder. An other brother, De Witt Guy, arrived two years after Juan Guy, and settled in Hagar township, improving a farm on Watervliet road. He is now living in Coloma. An other brother, Harvey Hobart Guy, owned a farm in Watervliet township but died within a year after his arrival in this county, which was subsequent to the Civil war. There were also two sisters in the family.- Emma,the wife of Richard Stanley, one of the first settlers of "Benton township, where she is still living; and Helen, the widow of James Barry, also a pioneer resident of Ben ton township, where he secured a farm but afterward made a permanent location in Hagar township, where Mrs. Barry is still' living. Both sisters have survived their hus bands many years and are now nearly ninety years of age. As previously stated, Juan M. Guy re mained upon the home farm in New York until he had attained his majority and came to Michigan in 1856. He worked out by the month at farm labor and in the winter seasons engaged in teaching. He had ac quired a liberal education through attendance at Yates Center Academy, a leading insti tution of New York, conducted under the auspices of the Baptist Church. Through five winter seasons. he was engaged in teach ing in Berrien county, having at one time charge of the school at Sorder's Corners, for two terms where he met the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She bore the maiden name of Fanny M. Lander, and was a sister of Mrs, J. M. Sorder, then residing upon the present Dukescherer farm in Ben ton township. Mrs. Guy was born in Orange township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. and had come to Michigan in her girlhood days in company with her sister, Mrs. Sorder, who purchased the farm in Benton township. Mr. and Mrs. Guy were mar- MR. AND MRS. JUAN M. GUY HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 757 Tied on the 9th of March, i860, just after he closed a term of school in the locality in which she lived. Previously Mr. Guy had gone to Kansas in 1857 and had secured land in Anderson county. He returned to his claim two or three times and in 1859 he went to Pike's Peak but this proved a losing trip. He again made the return trip from Denver by way of the Platte river to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, passing over the falls in Colorado where Freemont lost his outfit. Many boats had been wrecked there. The party with which Mr. Guy traveled had a boat made and started down the river, coming into the rapids before they knew it, but they managed to make their way through the troubled wat ers in safety. In that locality they picked up many articles of clothing, satchels, surgical instruments, etc. — the wreckage of former sufferers. They had met thousands of peo ple returning but they pushed on to Pike's Peak to satisfy themselves by a search for gold in that mining district. The Kansas land which Mr. Guy had previously secured he traded for land in Bainbridge township, upon which was a small clearing and an old log house. He took his bride to this place. The house was a poor one in a dilapidated condition but it was a home for the young couple and with resolute spirit they started -out on their domestic life there and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war had made a good start. Feeling that he owed a duty to his coun try, Mr. Guy enlisted as a member of Com pany M, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, which regiment captured Jefferson Davis. After the battle of PerryviUe he was detailed for hospital duty and ward master. He served in Kentucky as orderly, a short time and then was assigned to the position of clerk of court, and as such had charge of the bringing on and arranging for all cases. This was a general1' court martial, which was presided over by several judge advocates, but all through the changes that occurred upOn the bench Mr. Guy re mained as clerk and probably saw more men tried by court martial than any other soldier of the army, holding that position until mus tered out. He was the first man in Ken tucky to muster out men in that department. While connected with the court he often volunteered to secure witnesses for important cases and did his duty fearlessly, enjoying the activity and danger consequent therein. He had many exciting and interesting ex periences also during his sojourn in the west, and while on the Pike's Peak trip he saw one Indian scalp another who belonged to a tribe at enmity with the one which the first Indian represented. Following his return from the war Mr. Guy devoted his time and energies to farm ing with excellent success and carried on the business continuously until 1893, when he came to Benton Harbor, building his present home. He still owns two farms, comprising two hundred and thirteen acres in Bain bridge township, of which he placed seventy- five acres under cultivation. On the first farm thirty-five acres had been cleared of timber when it came into his possession. His second farm comprised eighty acres and lies in Watervliet township but is in close prox imity to his other farm. This he also im proved and he has fifty acres in peaches, while upon the old homestead he grows ap ples. Both his farms are operated by his son, and the property returns Mr. Guy a very desirable income. In the management of his farming interests he displayed ex cellent ability and a thorough understanding of the best methods of carrying on horticul tural and agricultural pursuits, and as the years passed by he accumulated a handsome competence as the reward of his labors. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Guy were born two children. * Emma A. became the wife of George Arney, and died at the age of thirty years, leaving two children, Irving and Wal ter. Allen Percy Guy married Rhoby Wilder, and has one daughter, Florine. He lives at the old homestead arid successfully carries on the work of the two farms. He has more than a local reputation as a sports man, being a fine shot and makes frequent trips into the north in search of game. In his political views Mr. Guy was a stalwart Republican until out of harmony with the attitude of the temperance question he joined the ranks of the Prohibition party, but fre quently casts an independent ballot. He was 758 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY elected justice of the peace in Bainbridge township but did not qualify. He served for ten years as township supervisor, and for one year was chairman of the board, acting in that capacity at the time of the railroad dis cussions. From his boyhood days he has been a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. Guy has been a member therein since her mar riage. They are most earnest Christian peo ple, interested in all that pertains to- the growth of the church and the extension of its influence, and their labors have been in harmony with their professions. CHARLES H. FRENCH. Among the old settlers of the county who are interested in farming is Charles H. French, who re sides on section i, Bertrand township. While many exceed him in years there are not a great number of citizens who have longer resided in this portion of th,e state, for he was brought to this county when less than two years of age. His birth occurred in Onondaga county, New York, October n, 185 1. His father, Samuel French, was a native of Hague, New York, and followed the occupation of farming as a life work. He removed from Onondaga county, New York, to Michigan in the year 1853, locating on the farm where his son Charles now re sides. There he carried on general agricul tural pursuits and his labors resulted in re claiming wild land and converting it into very productive fields. He was born in the year 1818 and died in 1892, after a life of usefulness, activity and honor that made him respected by all with whom he was associ ated. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, active in its work and influential in its councils. He served as elder and trustee and his co-operation was given to the vari ous plans and movements for the growth and advancement of the church work and the extension of its influence. His politi cal allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he stood for progress and im provement in citizenship and for truth, right and justice under all circumstances. He came of a family of English descent. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Bliss, was a native of Courtland, New York, and died in Bertrand township, when about forty-eight years of age. There were five children in the family who reached manhood and womanhood, while two died in infancy, Charles H. being the sixth child and the youngest living. When in his second year Mr. French of this review was brought by his parents to Michigan, the family home being established in Bertrand township. Under the parental roof he was reared, being early trained to habits of industry, thrift and economy, which have borne good fruit in later years. He was educated in the common schools and in the high school at Buchanan, and when not busy with his text-books gave his father the benefit of his services, remaining at home to the time of his marriage. It was in -1876 that Mr. French was joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah Geyer, a daughter of John and Phebe Geyer. She was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and died in 1890, leaving three children: Car son G., who married Anna Hedges, of Terre Haute, Indiana; Stella, of New York; Charlie F., at home. On the 31st of March, 1892, Mr. French was joined in wedlock to Miss Lucy A. Feather, a daughter of Henry Feather, and they have one son, Henry F. Mr. French owns a farm of two hundred and fifty-eight acres and in addition to the cultivation -of -the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in the dairy business, keeping eighteen cows for this pur pose. He is now president of the Buchanan creamery, an enterprise which is proving profitable to the stockholders, for its pro ducts find a ready sale on the market and command the highest prices by reason of ex cellence. The farm of Mr. French is well appointed in its various equipments and ac cessories, such as facilitate farm work, and the fields are well tilled, giving promise of large harvests. Mr. French is a member of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he takes a very active and helpful in terest, and he is serving as an elder and trus tee. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and for more than a half century he has stood for all that is upright and just in matters of relations to his fellow men, for all that is progressive and practical HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY •759 in citizenship, and for all that is commend able in home and social relations. JACOB E. VITE. The farming popu lation of Bertrand township is worthily rep resented by Jacob E. Vite, who lives on sec tion 14, and who is classed with the enter prising agriculturists who have acquainted themselves with the methods that produce the best results in the tilling of the fields. He was born in the township where he still resides, his natal day being February 28, 1859. His father, Henry Vite, was a native of Pennsylvania and was a young man when he went to South Bend, Indiana, with his stepfather and his mother. Soon afterward they located in Bertrand township. Henry Vite was married in that township to Miss Catherine Rough, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Rough, in 1856. She was born in Pennsylvania and was thirteen years of age when brought by her parents to Berrien county. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Vite traveled life's journey happily together, be ing separated by the death of the husband when sixty-three years of age, while the wife lived to the age of seventy years. There were three children : Mary E., now the wife of N. Frye, a resident of Huron county, Michigan; Jacob E., of this review; and John C, who is living in St. Joseph county, Indiana. Jacob E. Vite was reared in his native township and acquired his early education in the common schools, while later he at tended school in Buchanan. He engaged in teaching for two terms in Bertrand township. Afterwards he turned his attention to the timber and wood business, shipping lumber and selling timber in the stump. As the years have passed and his financial resources have increased he has made judicious invest ments in property and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, about ten acres 'of which is devoted to the growing of fruit. The farm is well improved with modern equipments and accessories and there are many evidences of careful and practical supervision on the part of the owner. In April, 1892, Mr. Vite was married to Miss Anna L Brown, a daughter of George Brown, of Wesaw township, Ber rien county. They became the parents of four children, Alma, Merritt, Glenn and Ruth. By a former marriage to Alice Siders Mr. Vite had one daughter, Effie, who is now attending school in Buchanan. In political affiliation Mr. Vite is a stal wart Republican, doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party in his home locality. His co operation is withheld from no movement or measure calculated to benefit the community, and during his life-long residence in Bert rand township he has won the respect and confidence of many friends, who have known him from his boyhood days and are familiar with a life that has been characterized by straightforwardness and activity in busi ness. WILLIAM F. BAINTON, a member of the firm of Bainton Brothers, millers and merchants of Buchanan, in which city he was born May 4, 1862, comes of English descent. His father, William H. Bainton, was a native of England. When a young man he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Oswego, New York, whence he came to Berrien county, Michigan, at an early day, casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers. He built a mill, which was one of the first in the township, and he also owned a mill at Berrien Springs, which he after ward traded for a farm. He was married in this county to Miss Amanda M. Swift, who was born in Ohio and came to Berrien county with her father, John Swift, who took up his Aode in Bertrand township, settling there when the number of its inhabitants was small and when the work of improvement had scarcely been begun. Mrs. Bainton is still living. The father died in 1866. He was a prominent man, closely and helpfully identified with the development of the county. He was engaged extensively and successfully in business as a merchant and miller and he also owned several large farms. He possessed in a considerable degree that quality which is termed commercial sense and through his keen sagacity and indefatig able energy, together with, judicious invest ments he steadily advanced from a humble 76° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY financial position to one of affluence. In the family were six children, of whom two sons and two daughters are yet living : Em ma J., a resident of Buchanan; Nettie J., the wife of Dr. J. C. Snyder, of Toledo, Ohio; Charles L, of Buchanan; and W. F. Bainton. The last named was the eldest of the sons and the third child of the family. He was reared in Buchanan and acquired his pre liminary education in the public schools. In connection with his brother, Charles L. Bain ton, he returned his attention to the milling business in 1886, having built the mill in 1885. He had spent the year 1883 in the milling business in Dayton, Michigan, and thus gained practical knowledge of the trade. He afterward returned to Buchanan and was engaged in farming until 1885, when, as stated, he and his brother built the mill which the following year they placed in optration. They also engaged in merchan dising until 1903, conducting a grocery and feed store. The capacity of the mill is one hundred barrels and the trade is large, for the output is of such a quality that a ready market is secured. The brothers are also engaged in fruit farming, Charles L. con ducting the fruit farm, while William F. Bainton has charge of the milling business and the store. He has been very successful in his business ventures and his well directed efforts have been a source of benefit to the city as well as to himself. He is a director of the Niles Building & Loan Association and president of the Buchanan Loan Asso ciation. In politics a life-long Republican, he has manifested deep interest in the party and its growth but has never been a politi cian in the sense of office seeking. He has always spent his life in Buchanan and in all matters of citizenship is progressive and helpful, withholding his support from no movement or measure that he deems will prove of general good. SOLON CUTLER, a resident of Ben ton Harbor, where he is largely living a re tired life save for the supervision which he gives to his property and invested interests, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, January 1, 1845, a son °f Jesse and Temperance (Crawford) Cutler. The father was born in Vermont, October 4, 1799, and died in Watervliet township, Berrien county, Michi gan, April 15, 1872, having removed to this county in 1855. He was a farmer by occu pation and became one of the early residents of this section of the state, who aided in its reclamation for the uses of the white race and in the promotion of its agricultural de velopment. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy. His wife was also a native of the Green Mountain state and her death occurred in Watervliet township, May 21, 1858. Of the ten children born to Tem perance and Jesse Cutler eight reached years of maturity, while four are still living, namely : Edwin, who resides in Mason county, Michigan; Myron, of Benton Har bor; Solon, also living in Benton Harbor; and Clarissa, the wife of Benjamin Green of the same city. Solon Cutler, having spent the first ten years of his life in Lorain county, Ohio, ac companied his parents on their removal to Berrien county in 1855, and became a stud ent in the country schools. He was reared to manhood upon the home farm, and in 1870 started out in life on his own account. He was thereafter identified with general agri cultural pursuits for twenty years, or until 1890, subsequent to which time he lived at Pottawattomie Park, seven miles north of St. Joseph, until 1904. This part consists of thirty acres and is a well known summer resort. Mr. Cutler owns the tract but has now leased it, although for many years he was successful and active in its management. In 1904 he removed: to Benton Harbor, where he occupies a pleasant home on Mor ton Hill. He formerly owned several farms but has sold them and and is living a more quiet and retired life. In 1870 Mr. Cutler was married to Miss Hattie A. Gunsolus, a native of Ontario, Canada, and they have one daughter, Beat rice Isabell Cutler. In his political relations Mr. Cutler exercises his right of franchise in favor of the principles and policy of the Republican party. He is a member of Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is one of the well known men of Berrien county, who has made his own way in life and has ^¦^ClAC MRS. ISAAC LYBROOK HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 761 achieved a gratifying measure of success. He is now a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank, in addition to which he has valuable property interests which return him a very desirable income. His record of more than a half century in Berrien county is well known and his life is an honorable one. BARNEY KAISER. An energetic and progressive farmer and honored citizen of Chikaming township is Barney Kaiser, who has spent many years of his life in Berrien county. His birth, however, occurred in Saxony, Germany, June 12, 1865, his par ents being George and Barbara (Smith) Kaiser, also natives of Saxony. The father died on the old homestead in Wesaw town ship, Berrien county, Michigan, in 1888, at the age of sixty years, but the mother is still living, having reached the age of sixty-two years. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser: Barney, the sub ject of this sketch; William, of Montmor ency county, Michigan; Katie, who died when about twenty-eight years of age ; Mary, who died at the age of two years; John; Annie, the wife of George Hanover, of Bu chanan, Michigan; Frank, who resides with his mother in Wesaw township; and Rosa, the wife of Louis Mulch, of Lake township. When eight years of age Barney Kaiser accompanied his parents in their emigration to the United States, the year being 1873, and after remaining in New York city for one year they came to Niles, Michigan, where one year and a half was spent. Their next location was at New Buffalo, but two years later removed to and purchased a farm of forty acres in Wesaw township, where Mr. Kaiser continued to make his home until his marriage. In that year, 1893, he pur chased a part of his mother's farm, which yet constitutes a part of his present place. He is now the owner of eighty acres of well im proved land on section 24, Chikaming town ship, and in addition is the owner of eighty acres in Montmorency county, Michigan. He farms one hundred and sixty acres ad joining his place for A. G. Childs, which he has conducted for the past twelve years, and he is engaged in both grain and stock farming. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and he is at present serving as a justice of the peace, while for a number of years he was a school officer. His religious affiliations are with the Con gregational church at Three Oaks. In 1893 Mr. Kaiser was united in mar riage to Katie Smith, a cousin, and she was also born in Saxony, Germany, February 1, 1870. When but two years of age she came to the United States with her parents, she being a daughter of William Smith. Five children have been born of this union — May, Lucy, Elmer, Henry and Margaret, but the last named died in infancy. ISAAC LYBROOK is one of the vener able citizens of Berrien county and an old settler who has been an interested witness of the growth and development of this part of the State through many years. He now resides on section 30, where he owns a good farm. His birth occurred in Preble county, Ohio, April 30, 1825. His father, Isaac Lybrook, Sr., was born in Giles county, Vir ginia, and was there reared. He became a farmer and teacher and, removing from Ohio, ¦ spent his last days in Preble county, where he died at the comparatively early age of thirty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Burk, was also a native of Giles county, Virginia, and she died in Berrien township, Berrien county, Michigan, in her seventy-fifth year. There were but two children in the family, of whom Baltzer, the elder, died in Cass coun ty, Michigan, when about sixty years of age. Isaac Lybrook is therefore the only liv ing representative of the family. The father died about four months before the birth of his son, who was reared by the mother and was brought to Michigan in 1828. They lived for twelve years in Pokagon town ship, Cass county, and in 1840 located upon the - farm which is now the home of Mr. Lybrook. He and his own brother Baltzer cleared and cultivated the farm, the family home being a log cabin in the midst of the forest. Isaac Lybrook was but fifteen years of age when he located upon this place and he has resided here continuously since, cov- 762 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ering a period of more than two-thirds of a century. On the 2d of January, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eliza Os born, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, September 8, 1831, at a little town called Winchester, and came with her mother to Berrien county at an early age. Her father died when she was three or four years of age and her mother then came to Berrien township with her three small children: Serepta, Mary E. and Delos. In 1840 the mother died and the children were taken care of by their uncle, the late Michael Hand, until they grew up and were mar ried. Mrs. Lybrook died Sunday, March 2, 1902, at the home which had always been hers since her marriage. She was buried from that home Wednesday, at 1 p. m, Revs. Charles Ager, of Niles, and John Boone, of Berrien Springs, conducting the services. Hers is the story of so many noble Christian women who have known the hard ships of pioneer life, and stood side by side with the husbands who have moulded our glorious county of today from an unbroken wilderness. Reared in the day when need was the claim for assistance, the cry of want or sorrow was never passed by her unheeded, and her death leaves saddened hearts in many besides the family circle. This worthy couple traveled life's jour ney together for fifty-one years and were then separated by the death of the wife. They had become the parents of nine chil dren, Nancy, John B., Martha, Annie, Hen ley C, William D., Serepta, Flora and Isaac. All were born upon the old home stead farm on section 30, Berrien township, and with the exception of Martha and Serepta, all are yet living. Mr. Lybrook has always given his political allegiance to the Democracy. For many years he has served as school assessor and through a long period has been identified with Western Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M., at Berrien Springs. Few residents of the county have longer resided in this part of the State than Mr. Lybrook, who came to Michigan seven ty-eight years ago-, being at that time but three years of age. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey and his record is most creditable, for he has lived a useful, upright and honorable life. In the early days he experienced the hardships and trials incident to frontier life and his memory goes back to the times when this section of the State was an almost unbroken wilderness, inhabited by the red men, also wild animals and wild game. Only here and there had a little clearing been made in the forest to show that the white man was venturing into the interior of the country to reclaim it for the purposes of civilization. As the years went by Mr. Lybrook bore his full share in the work of agricultural de velopment and kept pace with the universal progress which wrought many changes in the mode of living and in the methods of carrying on farm work. He has known what it was to use the scythe in the field; to tie the bundles of grain by hand and to follow the plow afoot, to light the house with candles and to heat it with the fire place. All this has since changed, how ever, and modern progress has brought many comforts and conveniences which were unknown in former years. Mr. Lybrook has in his possession three of the old parchment deeds executed by President Andrew Jackson dated April 1, 1 83 1, November 5, 1833, and November 4, 1834. These are valuable documents. There are also some of the old souvenirs of the pioneer period, two forks, two-tined, that his mother had — almost a century old. Also a counterpane, for which the cotton was carded, spun and wove, which is a rare curiosity, and it is close to a century old, and he has one of the old hand sickles, and also a cradle of the four-fingered kind. JOHN T. DEMPSEY. Mr. Dempsey has lived in Berrien county all his life, in fact has lived within six miles of his birth place in Bertrand township, where he came into the world January 8, 1854. A farmer throughout his active career, he has been successful beyond the ordinary, and is one of the substantial men of southern Berrien county. His present homestead of one hun- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 7^3 dred and sixty acres is the southeast quarter of section 26 in Wesaw township, where he carries on the regular departments of farm ing, giving rather special attention to horses, of which he owns two splendid specimens of the registered full blooded Percherons. Mr. Dempsey has been a Democrat all his life, and has served in public office, five years as highway commissioner and two years on the board of review. He affiliates with the I. O. O. R, M. W. A., the Patricians and Rehekahs. His father, James E. Dempsey, was born in New York April 23, 183 1, and having come with his parents to this county when only three years rold is rightly considered one of the oldest living pioneers, over sev enty years having elapsed since his child eyes beheld the wilderness that then covered this region. He has been a farmer by occu pation, and also operated a threshing ma chine for twenty-eight years in Berrien coun ty. He now 'makes his home with his son John. Mr. Dempsey's mother was Martha E. Lambert, a native of Virginia who came with her parents in a onehorse wagon from that state. She was one of ten children, and a brother now living in Niles is nearly ninety years old and very alert and active for his age. She died at -the old home about 1880, aged forty-eight years. ,Mr. John Dempsey had one sister, Ella Benton, who is now deceased, leaving a daughter, Mrs. A. Burbank. Mr. Dempsey married in 1878 Emma J. Tremmel, who was born in Niles in Octo ber, 1853, a daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Wood) Tremmel. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother was one of the first white children bornin Berrien coun ty. Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey have one child, Mae, at home. RICHARD BENJAMIN METZGER. The late R. B. Metzger, successful farmer and influential business man and citizen, was born near Granger, St. Joseph county, Indi ana, May 11, 1853, and died on his farm in section 25 of Wesaw township, March 23, :go6. Though he was permitted to com plete little more than a half century of life, his career was replete with the work and character which lend dignity and value to human 'existence, and his death removed one whom the community will not soon cease to commemorate. He had spent most of his life in this county, having been taken by his parents to a farm near Niles when he was six years old, and ten years later, on the burning of the home, the family moved to another place two miles away, where he lived until his marriage. One year of his boyhood was spent in school at Notre Dame, but his active life was devoted to the business of farm ing. Several years after his marriage he bought his permanent homestead of one hundred and ten acres on Rugg lake, and also owned a place of eighty acres three miles west. Mr. Metzger was a director in the Berrien County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and its treasurer two terms. Al though always concerned in the management of his farming interests, he did little of the actual farm work. For twenty years he sold agricultural implements. A Republi can, he took an active part in political af fairs, as delegate to conventions and incum bent of -some offices. He affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Buchanan and the I. O. O. F. at Galien. Mt. Metzger was a son of a prominent German-American citizen of this county. John Metzger came to this country when about twenty years old, and spent most of his life in the vicinity of Niles. His wife -Elizabeth was a native of Kentucky. At one time he owned about a thousand acres of land »ear Niles, but several years before his death he sold most of it and removed to Texas, where he passed away. His wife -died near Niles. There were thirteen chil dren in their family, and five are still living. Mr. Metzger married, November 14, 1877, Miss Emma Cochran. She was born •near Niles, September 13, 1858, and has spent her life in this county. Her parents were William and Betsy (Robards) Coch ran, who were reared and married in New York State and came to this county about 1856, passing the rest of their lives near Niles. Of their three children Mary died 764 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY at the age of eight years, Mrs. Metzger is second, and William lives on the home place near Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger's children are as follows : Charles Leo, who runs the home farm; Arthur Clayton, a R. F. D. carrier from Galien ; Victor A. ; Julia Blanche ; Ray C. ; Gertrude Lillian; Richard Benjamin; Florence R. and Esther C. MAURICE GLAVIN. The family name of this gentleman is one which is in- effaceably traced on the history of Berrien county and which figures on the pages whose records perpetuate the principal events from the early days down to the present time. Edmond Glavin, the father, was born in county Limerick, near Mitchell, Ireland, in 1835, and came to the United States at the age of fourteen years. After spending some time in the east, near New Haven, Connecti cut, he joined his relatives in Chicago, Illi nois. In 1855 ne settled within the borders of Chikaming township, Berrien county, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in death on the nth of April, 1904. There were few who could more justly claim the proud American title of a self-made man than Edmond Glavin, for at the time of his arrival in this county his worldly possessions consisted of but an axe, but he was industrious, determined, am bitious and resolute, however, and these qual ities stood him instead of fortune, enabling him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily up ward. Mr. Glavin' s first location was in the woods, and in the early days he was ex tensively engaged in the wood and lumber business, first shipping by water and then by rail. He assisted in the construction of the Pere Marquette Railroad, and donated to the company the land used for this pur pose on his farm. His first purchase here consisted of forty acres and at the time of his death he owned over nine hundred acres, the visible evidence of his life of industry and toil. After clearing the land of the tim ber he began general farming and fruit rais ing. His political support was given to- the Democratic party, and he served as the first postmaster of Chikaming township, the of fice then being known as Chikaming, and he was retained in that office from the time of its establishment until it was superseded by Herbert post office. For four terms he also filled the office of justice of the peace, and for eight years was a school officer. Re ligiously he was a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Glavin was one of a family of ten children, and two of his brothers and one sister remained in Ireland. His father died when he was young, and the estate went to the oldest brother, who remained in Ireland. Mr. Glavin was married in Chicago, in 1858, to Honorah A. Cummings, who was born in Nova Scotia, and after residing for a time in Boston she removed to Chicago, going there to join a sister. She was born in August, 1837, the daughter of Patrick and Mary Cummings, and her death occurred on the 25th of June, 1877. The following chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Glavin: Ella, who died at the age of nineteen years ; Margaret, at home; Joseph Edmond, who was born in 1862 and died on the 26th of April, 1892; Thomas C. was the next in order of birth ; Mary Elizabeth, who taught school for several years, is now the wife of T. H. McCorten; Anna F., who was born March 6, 1868, and died on the 10th of July, 1899, and she also taught schools,: hav ing previously attended Benton Harbor Academy and also the Harvey Medical Col lege, and her death occurred just after her graduation; Emma A., who attended school in Marion and Valparaiso, Indiana, Benton Harbor and a business college in Chicago; William P., a clerk for the firm of Peck & Company, of Benton Harbor; John M., who was born August 14, 1872, and died September 14, 1899, having been injured in a railroad wreck; Horace Pike, who died at the age of two and a half years; Gene vieve, who has been teaching in the Chicago schools for the past six years ; and Maurice, who attended Benton Harbor College, and is now conducting the home farm. Mr. Glavin was a second time married, having m Indiana, in 1879, wedded Mrs. Harriet Watts, of Niles, and her death occurred in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 76"5 October, 1903, at the age of eighty-four years. Maurice Glavin was born on the old home farm on the 19th of March, 1876, and here he has ever since made his home. He attended the common schools of this lo cality, and later was a student in the Benton Harbor Business College. He now owns two hundred acres of the old homestead, and is giving his time and attention to its cultivation. He is a Democrat in his politi cal views, and is highly esteemed in the community for his honorable upright prin ciples. THOMAS F. GLAVIN. The Glavin family is one that has long been identified with the development of this section of the state, and the subject of this review is a worthy representative of the time-honored occupation of agriculture. He was born on the old family homestead in this township June 7, 1865. His father, Edmund Glavin, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and came to the United States when sixteen years of age, spending some time in the east, but in the latter '40s came to Michigan. He helped construct the Territorial road from New Buffalo to St. Joe. At his death he left an estate of one thousand acres, eight acres of which were located within the cor porate limits of Niles. In an early day he dealt extensively in all kinds of native lum ber and wood, but the latter part of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. He was a Democrat in his political views, active in the work of the party, and for three terms he served as township treasurer, and was also a member of the township board. His death occurred on his farm on the nth of April, 1904, when he had reached the age of seventy years. Mr. Glavin was first married in Chicago, Honorah Cummings becoming his wife, She was born in Boston, and her death occurred at the comparatively early age of thirty years. Unto this union were born twelve children : Ellen, deceased; Maggie; Edward J., de ceased; Thomas R, whose name introduces this review; Mary McCarter, of Chikaming township, Berrien county; Annie, deceased, who was a graduate of the Chicago Medical College, her death occurring July n, 1900, just following her graduation; Emma, a teacher in Chicago, was formerly a United States employe in the Indian schools; Will iam, shipping clerk with the firm of Young & Peck, of Benton Harbor; John, who was injured while employed on the railroad, and died in 1900; Horace, who died at the age of two and a half years ; Jennie, who has been engaged in teaching school in Chicago dur ing the past six years ; and Maurice, at home. After the death of the wife and mother Mr. Glavin married Mrs. Harriet Watts, who died in October, 1903. Throughout his entire -life Thomas F. Glavin has resided within the borders of Berrien county. The first twelve years of his business career were devoted to rail roading, first with the Big Four Railroad and then with the Milwaukee, Benton Har bor and Columbus, having assisted in the construction of the latter road from Benton Harbor to Buchanan. During three years of that time he was employed as a freight conductor, while for five years he had charge of a train on the Big Four. During the past five years his entire time and attention has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he is meeting with a well deserved success, and he is the owner of one hundred and forty-five acres of land in section 10, in this township. On his farm he has a number of Norman horses, and he is also giving a portion of his time to fruit culture. On the 10th of September, 1896, Mr. Glavin was united in marriage to Mary Leach, a native of Hartford, Van Buren county, Mtchigan, and they have one child, Marjorie. Mr. Glavin gives his political support to the Democratic party, and he is now serving his second term as township treasurer, while for seven years he was a school officer. He is a member of the Catho lic church at Three Oaks, Michigan. CORNELIUS HOVEN. In the death of Cornelius Hoven Berrien county lost one of her prominent and useful citizens. His life was strictly honorable, upright and just, being in accord with the highest principles of human conduct. Kindly and obliging in disposition, he always strove to do good to 766 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY those with whom he had dealings, and many a poor and needy one whom he assisted in his quiet, unostentatious way still remembers him with affection which time does not dim. He was born in the Netherlands, Holland, March i, 1864, a son of John and Tracy (Meyer) Hoven, also a native of the Nether lands. The father now resides in Chicago, but the mother is deceased. They were the parents of six children, but only three reached years of maturity, namely : James, who is now living retired in Chicago-; Cor nelius, whose name introduces this review; and John, who is engaged in the coal busi ness in Chicago, and is also the Owner of one of the finest farms in Three Oaks town ship, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. When three years of age Cornelius Hoven was brought by his parents to the United States, the family home being estab lished in Chicago, Illinois, where the son continued to reside until his removal to Ber rien county, Michigan, in 1904. He had been reared to the occupation of farming, but for a time during his residence in Chi cago he was engaged in the coal business. His beautiful, well improved farm in Chika ming township consisted of two hundred and thirty-five acres, and here is located one of the finest homes in the township. This place was formerly known as the old Drew homestead, and is located in section 26. Mr. Hoven devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, and his efforts were attended with a high degree of success. He was a very religious man, and was a life-long mem ber of the Reformed church, passing away in that faith on the 21st of March, 1905. In 1888 Mr. Hoven was united in mar riage to Barbara Baar, who was born in Chicago June 6, 1870, a daughter of Simon and Anna (Kooi) Baar, natives of the Netherlands. Three children were born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hoven — Anna, John William and Tracy. During his lifetime Mr. Hoven had endeared himself to many friends, and his memory is yet cher ished by those who knew him. VICTOR H. THOMAS. For many years Victor H. Thomas has been promi nently identified with the agricultural inter ests of Berrien county, and in this time has become recognized as one of its most valued citizens. He was- born in Berkshire coun ty, Massachusetts, January 30, 1837, a son of Dr. Philander H. Thomas, who was a native of the Empire state, his birth oc curring in Rensselaer county on the 5th of May, 1802. The family have long been identified with the medical profession, for the grandfather of Victor H., Dr. Jeffrey Thomas, was also a physician, practicing in New York, of which state he was also a native son. His son, Dr. Philander H. Thomas, practiced medicine all his life, and his death occurred on the- 30th of December, 1863. He married Laura Hull, who was born in Berlin, New York, February 22, 1806, and died at the home of her daughter in Cass county, Michigan, August 2, 1880. Unto this worthy pioneer couple were born six children, — John H., Sarah E., Flora A., Granville S., Victor H. and Collin C. Victor H. Thomas, the only one of his parents' large family now living; was but five years of age when the family re moved from Massachusetts to Stephentown, Rensselaer county, New York, there remain ing for seven years, when the home was es tablished at West Sand Lake, near Albany, New York. That place remained the home of Victor H. Thomas until he had reached his twentieth year, and from the time of leav ing the school room, when sixteen years old, he has followed agricultural pursuits. In 1857 ne made the journey alone to Michi gan, first taking up his abode near Cassop olis, in Cass county. In the following spring, however, he joined the tide of gold seekers to California, driving an ox team from the Missouri river to Salt Lake City, while the remainder of the distance was covered on foot. Five years were spent in the Golden state, engaged in mining and selling vege tables, and the following five years were spent in prospecting in the silver mines in Nevada. Returning thence to Cass county, he was there engaged in agricultural pur suits until April, 1873, when he chose Ber rien county as his future home. His first pur chase of land consisted of a tract of eighty acres on section 14, the farm, at that time be- fauot waviM J x857- His father, Jonathan Morris, was also a native of that county and having arrived at years of maturity was married to Miss Sarah J. Snuff, who was also born in Warren county, and was a daughter of Isaac Snuff, a native of New York. Following their marriage they lived for some years in the county of their nativity, and about 1 86 1 removed to Laporte county, Indiana, settling at New Carlisle, where the father followed the occupation of farming. The year 1865 witnessed his arrival in Berrien county, at which time he took up his abode on a farm in Niles township. He was there engaged in general farming for many years HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 7** with good success and he now lives at Hart, Michigan. His wife, however, has passed away, her death having occurred in October, 1885. Of their seven children six are living at this writing, in the summer of 1906. Richard H. Morris, the second child and second son of the family, was but eight years of age when the parents left Indiana and came to Berrien county, so that he was prac tically reared in Niles township and in its district schools obtained his education, mas tering the branches of study which usually constitute a country school curriculum. He remained at home, assisting in the farm work until twenty-one years of age, and then started out in life for himself. He had no capital save determination, energy and laud able ambition and these have constituted the secret and measure of his success. He began working by the month as a farm hand in Niles and Berrien townships and was thus employed for five years, in which way he gained his start. Ambitious to carry on farming on his own account he then rented land in Niles township and for ten years operated a leased farm. In 1895, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities on the Pacific coast he went to Kittitas county, Washington, where he was engaged in the dairy business until 1899. Returning then to Berrien county he resided in Berrien Springs for a year, and in 1900 purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Here he has carried on general farming continu ously since and he has ninety acres of well improved land, which responds readily to the care and labor he bestows upon the fields, so that he now annually harvests good crops. February 13, 1884, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Ida L. Knapp, a daughter of Kingsley and Sarah (Comp ton) Knapp, who was born in Cass county, Michigan, June 13, 1859, and they are now the parents of two children, Aimer H. and Max R. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Berrien Springs in which Mr. Morris is serving as a trustee and politically he is a Republican. These associations indicate much of the char acter of the man and as his life is in har mony with his profession he enjoys in large measure the confidence and esteem of his 5° fellow citizens and is classed with the repre sentative residents of Oronoko township. JAMES D. PLATT, who is engaged in in general farming on section 14, Oronoko township, was born in Berrien Springs, September 2, 1859, and was the- only son of James M. and Arelia (Wood)} Piatt. The father was born and reared ini Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and at an early age became a resident of Niles, Michigan, while subsequently he worked in a store as clerk at Berrien Springs. Soon after ward, however, he bought out the business arid later he erected a store building. In 1866 he built a brick block now occupied by A. W. Calvin and owned by E. F. Gar land. He carried on business until about 1872 and thus for many years figured prom inently in commercial circles in the village, having a liberal patronage, which was indi cative of his honorable and straightforward business methods. In 1872 he sold out and retired and when fifty-six years of age he was called to his final rest. He took an ac tive part in public affairs, being known as a champion of all public movements, whose aid could ever be counted upon when the welfare and progress of the community were at stake. In politics he was stalwart Republican, served as president of the vil lage board and in many other offices. His wife came to this county in 1833 and was at that time the widow of a Mr. Munger. James D. Piatt, whose name introduces this record, was reared and educated in Ber rien Springs, and making choice of a life work he tanned to the occupation of farm ing, which has always claimed his attention. His farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres in the home place and his wife owns seventy acres in Berrien township. His property has been brought under a high state of cultivation, the fields yielding rich crops,. while all of the equipments and accessories of a model farm are found thereon. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Piatt chose Miss Fannie Kes- sler, to whom he was married in 1882. She was a daughter of John L. Kessler, who was born in Berrien township. By this marriage there is one son, Murray, who is now in. 786 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the state of Washington. Mr. Piatt has given unfaltering support to the men and measures of the Republican party since at taining his majority. He has always lived within the borders of Berrien county, con tent with its opportunities and its advant ages and as the years have gone by he has •done his full share in maintaining the politi cal and legal status of the community and in advancing its material and moral inter ests. HENRY J. MOYER, whose residence in Berrien county dates from an early period in its development, now resides on section 9, Oronoko township. He was born in Cen ter county, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1 84 1. His father, Daniel Moyer, also a native of that state, came to Berrien county in 1852 and located on the farm where his son Henry now resides. Only fourteen acres of the land had been cleared at that time. He began its further development and improvement and continued actively in farm work up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 15th of January, 1859, when he was about forty-four years of age. He married Miss Lydia Besthel, also a na tive of Pennsylvania. She long survived her husband, reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. In their family were four sons and four daughters, of whom two died in infancy. Henry J. Moyer, the third child and eld est son of the family, was twelve years of age when he came to Berrien county, Michi gan. He was reared upon the farm where he ftow resides, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, for he was put to work in the fields and assisted in their im provement from the time of early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the late autumn. In 1862 he abandoned the plow, however, that he might strike a blow in defense of the Union, enlisting as a mem ber of Company C, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private. He served almost three years and was in many of the important battles of the war, including the engagements at Missionary Ridge, Knox ville, Kingston and others. The last battle in which he participated was at Nashville and he was honorably discharged at Jack son, Michigan, returning to his home with an honorable military record made with faithful and valorous service on the field of battle. When his military life was ended Mr. Moyer resumed farming upon the old home stead and with the exception of one year spent in Berrien Springs has continuously lived upon this farm, which comprises one hundred and eighty acres of good land. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and has a well developed property, equipped with good buildings and modern accessories, including the latest improved machinery. In 1872 Mr. Moyer was married to Miss Sarah M. Stemm, a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Reiber) Stemm. This marriage has been blessed with eight children, of whom Mary A., the second in order of birth, is now deceased. The others are still living, namely: Clementine, John C, Charles C, Verna, Lester, Edna and Ralph. Mr. Moyer is a member of Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., of Berrien Springs, and has filled most of its chairs, while in its work he has taken an active and helpful interest. His political allegiance is given to the Democ racy and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is well known in the county, having for fifty-four years been a resident of Oronoko township and as one of its pio neer settlers is largely familiar with the history of the county as it has emerged from frontier conditions and taken on all the evi dences of an advanced civilization in its material, industrial and commercial circles. DAVID HOUSEWORTH, living on section 4, Oronoko township, was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1850, and in the place of his nativity was reared and educated, being indebted to the system of public instruction for the school opportunities he enjoyed. He first came to Berrien county in 1885 and located near Niles, where he engaged in farming for four years. He then invested in land, be coming owner of about forty-five acres in Oronoko township, to which he has since added forty acres. He also bought the s? m? ',^e^ ^Zw fL£OlVUA- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 787 Sylvester place in Oronoko township of one hundred and forty acres, and in March, 1905, purchased the old Isaac Long farm in Bertrand township, so that his landed possessions now aggregate three hundred and ten acres. He started out in life on his own account empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward, his progressive spirit and enterprise being the leading fac tors in his prosperity. He has engaged in raising fruit and grain and his business in terests are capably conducted. Mr. Houseworth was married in Penn sylvania in 1876 to Miss Alice Miller, a native of Richfield, that state. This union has been blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters : John ; S. Ellen, the wife of Frank Borst, of Bertrand town ship; George; Henry; and Anna Mabel. Mr. Houseworth exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas ures of the Republican party where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. No fortunate circumstances or influential friends have aided him in his business career, his success being attributable entirely to his own work. He has laid his plans carefully, has been determined in their execution and as. the years have gone by his strong purpose and indefatigable energy have made him a pros perous man. ABRAHAM A. HARNER, whose resi dence, known as "The Maples," in Berrien county dates from February 3, 1853 — his natal day— his birth having occurred on the farm on which he now lives, on section 28, Oronoko township, is the son of Michael Harner. The father was born in Pennsyl vania and became a resident of Berrien county, Michigan, in 1837, when he cast in his lot with the early settlers who were subduing the wilderness and extending the frontier. He was closely associated with the early history of the county in its devel opment and upbuilding and as the years passed by he prospered in his business un dertakings, becoming the owner of three hundred and ninety-nine acres of land. He was well known in the county and his word was as good as his bond. He enjoyed the respect and trust of his fellowmen from the time of his arrival here up to the day of his death, which occurred when he was eighty- four years of age. He married Miss Sophia Plank, a native of Pennsylvania, and theirs was one of the largest families of the county, their children being sixteen in number. Abraham A. Harner is the youngest of this family and upon the old homestead property he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. No event of special importance occured to vary the routine of farm life for him during that period, his time being divided between the duties of the school room, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After leaving school he assisted in cultivating his father's land and he has made farming his life work, hav ing now one hundred and eighty-two acres, constituting a well improved property. The place is devoted to the raising of fruit, grain and stock and he gives personal supervision to his business and also takes an active part in the actual work of the fields. March 23, 1876 Mr. Harner was mar ried to Miss Lottie Van Patten, a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Borst) Van Pat ten, and a native of Oronoko township, born May 1, 1853, where her girlhood days were passed. Mr. Harner took his bride to the old homestead, and their union has been blessed with two children : Edna V., now the wife of Carl S. Pennell, of Berrien Springs ; and Elden C, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Benton Harbor. Mrs. Harner's parents are both deceased. Her fathe*, Aaron Van Patton, was a native of New York, born February 5, 1817, and died December 25, 1901. By trade he was a blacksmith, but later in life when a resi dent of Berrien county, Michigan, became a very successful farmer. He was reared, educated and was married in New York, and when he and his family came to Michi gan the trip was made in a wagon. There were born seven children to Aaron and Elizabeth (Borst) Van Patten — three sons and four daughters, and only four are living, the eldest being Martha, widow of John Ingleright, and she is a resident of Berrien Springs. She was born in New York; 788 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mary, wife of Stephen Harner, resident of Oronoko township, and he is a farmer, also in insurance business; Rufus, resident of Oronoko township, farmer, and he wedded Miss Sadie Shearer; Mrs. A. A. Harner is the youngest living. She was educated in common schools, and in a religious sense is a devout Christian lady. Her father be came owner of two hundred and seventy- six acres of land in Berrien county and was a man in whom the people reposed the ut most confidence. He was a successful man in business, since he accumulated his proper ty all by himself. He traced his lineage to the Mohawk Dutch. He held the office of supervisor, township treasurer, and superin tendent of the poor, and fraternally he was a Mason. Mrs. Elizabeth (Borst) Van Patten was a native of New York and was born in November, 1818, and died . December 18, 1882. She was a faithful advocate of the principles of baptism. The children of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Harner are as follows : The eldest, Edna V., received her education in the high school of Berrien Springs, where she graduated. She is an artist in oil paint ing and her handiwork adorns the home of her mother and also her own home. She is the wife of Carl S. Pennell and they have two children, Letha H. and Lynn Odell. Elden C. was graduated at the age of six teen at Berrien Springs and the Ypsilanti Normal at twenty, and held the chair of science at Benton Harbor and at present is one of the school examiners of Berrien county. He wedded Miss Mollie Comstock, of Ypsilanti, and she is also a graduate of the same college. They reside in Benton Harbor, where Elden is engaged in the real estate business. Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Harner have three of the old parchment deeds exe cuted September 10, 1838, by President Martin Van Buren, which now makes seven deeds of the kind found to date in the county. They have one.of the old spinning wheels as a relic of ye olden days, which is close to a century old. Mr. Harner has been identified with the making of the county in which his entire life has been passed, and his co-operation may always be counted upon in matters re lating to the general welfare. He votes with the Democracy and has acted: as township treasurer. He has also been called upon to settle many estates and his business integrity and trustworthiness stand as unquestioned facts in his career. Fraternally he is con nected with the Modern Woodmen camp at Berrien Springs. RODNEY P. HOADLEY is a well known dairy farmer, shipping his products to Michigan City, and his place is known as the Blue Grass Dairy. It is pleasantly situ ated on section 25, Chikaming township, and is now a well improved, well equipped farm property. Mr. Hoadley is a native of Berrien county, having been born in Niles, on the 25th of January, 1857. His parents were Jared and Anna Debby (Hoagland) Hoadley, both natives of New York. The father was born in Onondaga county, New York, whence he removed to Ohio, and in 1837 became a resident of Niles, where he was engaged in merchandising for many years, becoming a representative, influential and prominent business man there. He also became connected with the first bank there and likewise conducted a warehouse. He had engaged in business as a dealer in dry goods and hardware at Goshen and at Elk hart, Indiana, and established one of the first general stores in Niles. In early life he had engaged in teaching school and in every com munity where he lived he was recognized as a man of marked enterprise and excellent business capacity. He was active in both politics and religion yet was a man firm in. support of his honest convictions. He died in Niles, January 7, 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years, having for more than a third of a century survived his wife, who died in i860, at the early age of twenty- five years, after which Mr. Hoadley married again. There were three children by the first marriage : Rodney P. ; Mrs. Anna Cooper, deceased; and Mrs. Kate Brandes, of Wisconsin. There were also three chil dren born of the second marriage : Willard. E., a resident of Niles; Mary H. ; and Clara L., also of Niles. Rodney P. Hoadley, born and reared in Niles, resided there until twenty-four years HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 789 of age. Much of his youth was devoted to the acquirement of an education, and after completing a high school course he engaged in teaching for three years. In 1881 he came to his present farm and has since resided upon this place, comprising two hundred and twenty acres of land on section 25, Chik aming township. It was covered with brush but the timber had been cut when it came into his possession. Mr. Hoadley has "brought it under a high state of cultivation and has erected good buildings thereon. However, he lost his barn by fire in 1905, his loss amounting to three thousand dollars. He continues his place as a dairy farm, keep ing forty cows for this purpose and making shipments to Michigan City. The products of the Blue Grass Dairy Farm find a ready sale on the market and the business is now large and profitable. In 1884 Mr. Hoadley was married to Miss Nellie M. Wright, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 17, 1864, and came to Michigan with her par ents, Elmer H. and Mary Eliza (Barrett) Wright. Three children have been born of this union : Rodney W., born July 22, 1888; Fred F., September 19, 1892; and Mabel, July 25, 1896. Mr. Hoadley does not consider himself bound by party ties when giving his support to any political measure. He has served as supervisor of his township for two years, as collector for three years, as justice of the peace for eight years and as treasurer for a. number of years and as a member of the board of review, thus serving in all the town ship offices save that of constable, the duties of the various positions having been dis charged with promptness and fidelity. He holds membership with the Modern Wood men camp at Three Oaks and is a man who in all life's relations commands and receives the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated, for he is worthy of public trust whether in the trans action of business or in social life. GEORGE F. STEWART, a veteran of the Civil war who in days of peace has been equally loyal to his country and her wel fare, and who is now. devoting his time and energies to agricultural and horticultural pursuits in Bainbridge township, was born at Paw Paw, Michigan, April 27, 1843, nis parents being Archibald and Eliza Ann (Tanner) Stewart. The father was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, the mother in Leroy, New York. They were married in the Empire State, October 20, 1836, and in 1838 came to Michigan, in which year the territory was admitted to the Union. They settled at Paw Paw, Van Buren coun ty, where Mr. Stewart worked at the black smith's trade and did work in that line on the grist mills at the time of their building. He continued his residence in Paw Paw until 1859, carrying on the smithy, and in com pany with a brother-in-law, Mr. Mason, he built a foundry and engaged in the manu facture of plows, which he sold all over southwestern Michigan in Van Buren and Berrien counties. He was thus associated with the early industrial development of this part of the state. In 1859 in company with others he went to Watervliet to assist in rebuilding the flouring mills of that place, doing the blacksmith and iron work in the plant. He afterward conducted a black smith shop for about two years at Water vliet, and in the fall of 1861 or 1862 re moved to Coloma, where he conducted a smithy until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1888. He was a worthy representa tive of industrial life of the community and was a respected citizen whose integrity and honor in all life's relations made him worthy the warm regard which was uniformly ten dered him. Mrs. Stewart died July 28, 1894, at Colorna, in the seventy-ninth year of her age. Of their family of eight children only three are now living: Eliza, the wife of E. R. Havens, of Lansing, Michigan ; Lucia D., the wife of Charles Merrifield, of Bloom- ingdale, Michigan; and George F., of this review. One son, William E. Stewart, was editor of the South Haven (Michigan) Sen tinel for many years, or until the time of his death. He was employed for several years in Berrien county as a typo in Niles and St. Joseph, and in the former place he enlisted at the call of his country, becoming a mem ber of Company E, Twelfth Michigan In fantry, as a private but was promoted to 79° HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY first lieutenant and afterward adjutant of the regiment. He was also captain in Com pany D and as such was mustered out of service. He was married at Niles to Miss Emma Clark, and soon afterward became editor of the Sentinel at South Haven, con tinuing in charge of that paper until his death. He passed away suddenly, while sit ting at the supper table on the evening of July i, 1899. He was a Republican in poli tics and wielded a wide influence in the local ranks of his party both through personal effort and through the columns of his paper. He was also prominent in the Odd Fellows and Masonic societies and he left the impress of his individuality upon the different inter ests with which he was connected. Archi bald Stewart, another brother of the family, was also a printer and for a long time was associated with Major Duncan at Niles. He afterward became connected with the Chi cago Tribune and was proofreader for sev eral years for the Henneberry Publishing house. His death occurred in Colomo, Mich igan, November 19, 1904. George F. Stewart, whose name intro duces this review, spent the days of his boy hood and youth in his parents' home and in the public schools obtained his education. He was a young man of about nineteen years, when, in 1862, he offered his services to the government and followed the stars and stripes to the south. As a member of Com pany I, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, which he joined at St. Joseph, he was mustered in as corporal in Captain Lysaght's Company and was promoted to sergeant, first sergeant and first lieutenant successively. He took command of Company F, which was formed of Kalamazoo men during the latter part of the service and had command of his old com pany as sergeant. He had taken command of this company at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and was the commanding officer in Washing ton in the grand review. He was largely en gaged in active duty with the Army of the Cumberland under General Rosecrans and he was with his old command in all of the actions of the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. In March, 1863, he was taken prisoner at Springhill, Tennessee, where the entire brigade under Colonel Coburn of Indiana was captured but was paroled on the field although they were sent to Libby prison and afterward to City Point, . being held for twenty-six days. Lieutenant Stewart was really entitled to a captain's commission but was mustered out as lieu tenant in charge of the company. He was constantly in active service for nearly three years during the hardest part of the war and was always with his command in the thickest of the fight. He never ordered his men where he would not lead them and in fact he inspired them to deeds of valor by his own courage and bravery. Lieutenant Stewart prior to the war had gone to Watervliet with his parents and afterward had made his way to Bainbridge to work for Hon. Newton R. Woodruff. It was while there that he enlisted for the army and when the war ended he returned to his uncle's place in Bainbridge township. On the 10th of April, 1866, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Henriett L. Byers, of Bainbridge township, and they now live upon the old Byers farm, where they have resided continuously since their marriage, Mr. Stewart being one of the en terprising agriculturists of this part of the county. Since the war his attention has been largely given to the cultivation and improve ment of the land and in its control he dis plays excellent business ability. Mrs. Stewart is a daughter of one of the old families of Berrien county. Her father, Martin Byers, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was married near Buffalo, New York, to Phebe Hauser. In 1849 they came to Michigan, taking up their abode on the 1 6th of June of that year on the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Stewart now reside. The present house was then standing and is one of the old landmarks of Bainbridge township. Mr. Byers already had two brothers in Michigan, David Byers, who re sided in Bainbridge township, and Tobias, of Keeler township, Van Buren county. They had come about five years before- Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Amelia Matrau, how ever, are now the only living representatives of the family in Berrien county. Martin Byers and his wife spent their lives on the old homestead farm, where his death oc- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 791 curred December 8, 1895, when he was nine ty-three years of age, while his wife passed away November 4, 1896, at the age of eighty- one years. They had but one child although there were other children by Mr. Byers' former marriage. His life was devoted to the development of his farming interests and he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty acres was in the homestead property. When it came into his possession there were no im provements upon it save a dilapidated house. Mrs. Stewart was in her fifth year at the time of her parents' removal to this farm, so that her life has practically been passed thereon. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born five children : Stella, now the widow of Fred Weber, of Bainbridge township; A. M. Stewart, who resides upon an adjoining farm; Grace, the wife of Albert Weber, of Bainbridge township; Marvin, who is con nected with the stave mill at Dowagiac ; and Charles E., living at Riverside, California. Mr. Stewart was township clerk for two terms and in 1885 was elected supervisor. He was then re-elected at twelve consecutive elections and filled the office until 1898. He served at different times as chairman of the board and was acting in that capacity at the time of the removal of the county seat from Berrien Springs to St. Joseph. He has also been active and influential in party conven tions and has been a .member of the county committee. He was also postmaster at Bain bridge, and in his official work has put forth effective effort for the party and its success. In his fraternal relations he is an Odd Fel low, who has passed through all of the chairs of the local lodge and been representative to the grand lodge, representing at different times the Keeler, Cobert and Bainbridge lodges. He was a charter member of the last two and his wife is a member of the Rebekahs and the Lady Maccabees. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stewart represent old families of southwestern Michigan and are prominent in the community where they reside, being numbered among those whose genuine worth of character entitle them to mention with the leading citizens of Berrien county. Mr. Stewart is a member of the G. A. F-, Gar field post at Coloma, also a member of the Grange of which he has served as master. EMERY FRANKLIN FERRY, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now living on section 15, Wesaw township, is num bered among the prominent and representa tive citizens of this part of the state. He was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1833. His grandfather, Ebenezer Ferry, was a native of Vermont and died in Pennsylvania when about eighty-seven years of age. He served through the war of 1812 and sustained injuries from which he suf fered throughout his entire life. His son, Charles Ferry, was a native of Vermont and when twelve years of age removed to Penn sylvania with his parents. He came to Michigan about two- years prior to the ar rival of his son Emery and spent the re mainder of his days in Oronoko and Wesaw townships. He purchased land in the latter in 1866 and his death occurred at the home of his son Emery in this township when he was eighty-four years of age. His entire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Phoebe Slate, a native of Cortland county, New York, who died in Michigan at the age of sixty-three years. Her father was Thomas Slate, also a soldier of the war of 18 12 and a resident of Penn sylvania, where his death occurred. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ferry were six children : Emery F., of this review ; Mrs. Amanda Madison and Mrs. Maria Cochran, both deceased; Chester, of Oceana county, Michigan ; Chauncey, who is living in New Troy, this county; and Mrs. Jane Sid- ley, of Oceana county. Emery Franklin Ferry, spending his boy hood days in the state of his nativity, ac quired his education in the public schools •and remained a resident of Pennsylvania until the fall of 1856, when he came to Berrien county, settling in Oro noko township. He had resided with his parents upon the home farm in the Keystone State until twenty-one years of age, when he was married. He brought his wife with him to Michigan and rented land in Oronoko township, whereon he lived for three years, his time being given to the 792 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY improvement of the farm. On account of his wife's illness he then returned to Penn sylvania, where she died after six months. After an absence of a year Mr. Ferry again came to Berrien county and took up his abode upon a rented farm in Oronoko town ship, where he lived for three years. He then purchased land which he operated until he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company K, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1863. The company was commanded by Captain McKinney and the first engagement in which Mr. Ferry participated was at Tibbs Bend, Kentucky, where a thousand Union troops were attacked by five thousand rebels. It was the hardest fight in which he partici pated throughout the entire war. He fol lowed Morgan through Indiana and after ward returned to Lebanon, Kentucky, where for a time he was in camp. The divisions there organized and went south to Knox ville, Tennessee, participating in an engage ment on Mossy Creek. Subsequently they proceeded to Chattanooga and later partici pated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign and went with Sherman on the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. With his command Mr. Ferry returned to Nashville, Tennessee, and almost the last engagement in which he participated was with Hood at Nashville. At Chattanooga he became ill with measles, which effected his eyes and his left lung. He was sent to the field hospital and did duty for four months afterward, but his eyesight kept failing and he was dis charged at Madison, Indiana, in December, 1864. He returned home and about ten years later became totally blind. He was never able to do much work after his return, his eyes paining him very much as the sight was being gradually destroyed. He con sulted many physicians and took treatment until he had to sell his farm in order to pay his physicians' bills. He came to Wesaw township in 1866 and has resided continu ously since upon his present farm, which comprises one hundred acres on section 15. For years this tract of land has been oper ated for general farming purposes and Mr. Ferry had the entire place cleared and put under cultivation and the farm work has been carried on under his supervision with the result that it has brought him a good financial return, so that he has been enabled to enjoy the comforts of life. For a long time the government granted him a pension of only six dollars per month but he is now drawing a pension of one hundred dollars per month and this is certainly well deserved because of the fact that he made so great a sacrifice for his country. Mr. Ferry was first married in 1855 to Miss Samantha Longwell, a native of Penn sylvania, who died after a short but happy married life of four years. Their only child passed away in infancy. Mr. Ferry was again married in Pennsylvania to Miss Clara Jack son and they had one son, Eugene, who died, leaving a widow and two children. For his third wife Mr. Ferry chose Martha Hazen and they had four children: Clara and Ida, both deceased; and two who died in infancy. For his fourth wife Mr. Ferry chose Martha Thaxton, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, who came to this county in early life. There were several children born of the last marriage, seven of whom are now living: John, a resident of Oronoko town ship ; May, the wife of William Flowers, of Carlisle Hill, Indiana ; Alfred, of this town ship; Mrs. Maud Philippi, who died leaving a son, Ralph, who is living with his grand father; Charles, who died of typhoid fever at the age of sixteen years ; George, who remains, at home and operates the farm; Nora, the wife of Charles Courteville, who rents a farm of her father in Wesaw town ship; Mina, who died of typhoid fever at the same time her brother Charles passed away ; Peter, Olive and Clyde, all at home ; Clara, deceased; Etta; and Gertrude, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Ferry has been a life long Repub lican and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has never sought or desired office, preferring to give undivided attention to the supervision of his business affairs. He is a member of the Saints Church at Galien and belongs to the Grand Army Post there, of which he is a charter member. He is a man of fine physique, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 793 standing six feet and one inch, 'and his many good qualities have gained him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he is as sociated. MATHIAS RIST, whose home is on section 6, Three Oaks township, where he owns and operates a valuable tract of land, dates his residence in this county from 1853 and is therefore numbered among its pioneer settlers. He was born in Bavaria, Ger many, November 6, 1833, and is a son of John Baptist and Josephine (Lutter) Rist, who always remained residents of Bavaria, their native country. They had a family of three sons : Joseph, who came to the United States in 1865, is now living in Galien town ship; Mathias, of this review, and Edward, who is living at the old home in Bavaria. Between the ages of six and fourteen years Mathias Rist attended school and then herded cattle in the mountains until he came to the United States. He made his way alone to this country, attracted by its greater business oportunities and advantages and on the 6th of August, 1852, landed at New York from the sailing ship, Herman, which had weighed anchor at Bremen seven weeks before. He then proceeded westward to Detroit and went to work on the construc tion of the railroad, which was being built out of Windsor. He worked on the railroad and chopped wood for a time, and in 1853 he came to Three Oaks, where he has since re sided. His first purchase of land made him owner of thirty acres of his present farm, which now comprises two- hundred and two and a half acres on section 3, Three Oaks township. He also has ninety acres on sec tion 5 and one hundred and twelve and a half acres on section 5. He has cleared the most of this and has put all the buildings upon the property, making modern improve ments in keeping with the present ideas of agricultural progress and development. The home farm lies just outside the corporation limits of Three Oaks. He first lived here in a log cabin in the woods and there was no town upon the present site of the now pros perous village. He has devoted fifty-three years to the development of the home place and the farm in its splendid appearance- in dicates his careful supervision, his practical methods and his unfaltering diligence. Mr. Rist was married in 1859, to Miss Theresa Friedel, who was born in Bavaria, February 19, 1843, and came to Berrien county in 1853 with her mother to join the father, who had previously arrived. She is a daughter of Joseph and Cunigunda (Fur- tembech) Friedel, both of whom passed away in this county. Ten children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Rist, of whom two died in infancy. The others are: John, a resi dent of Michigan City; Joseph, of Three Oaks ; Josephine, the wife of William Hed rick, of Michigan City; Mary, at home; Frank, who operates the home farm ; Henry, who is a member of the firm of Rist Brothers, of Three Oaks ; Mathias, a partner of Henry ; and Edward, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rist have also reared a niece, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Orin C. Keilson, of Niles. Mr. Rist in 1905 made a trip back to his old home to visit his youngest brother and spent many happy hours in renewing the ac quaintance of his youth and visiting the scenes amid which his childhood days were passed. In politics he is a Democrat and he belongs to the Catholic Church. No na tive-born son of America is more loyal to the interests of this country than Mr. Rist, who has ever manifested strong allegiance to the stars and stripes, for under the banner of this country he has prospered and is now in possession of an excellent farm, whereon he has made his home for fifty-three years. CHAUNCEY SMITH, who is located on section 19, Wesaw township, has de voted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and although he has now passed the age of four score years he still gives personal supervision to his place. He was born in Oswego county, New York, March 21, 1824, his parents being David and Martha (Cable) Smith, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. In their family were seven children, of whom Chauncey Smith was the youngest and the only one now liv ing. His boyhood and youth were unevent fully passed and when about twenty years of age he went to Steuben county, New York, settling near Dansville. He lived in 794 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY that vicinity until 1855, when he came direct to this township, settling upon his present farm in 1859. In 1892, however, he sold the place and removed to Allegany county, New York, but after nine years he returned to Berrien county, Michigan, and again pur chased the old homestead. His entire life has been devoted to general farming and he now has forty acres of .well improved land on section 19, Wesaw township. He has led a busy, useful and active life and what ever he has undertaken he has accomplished owing to his perseverance and industry. At all times, too, he has been thoroughly reli able in his business, affairs, so that he has commanded the trust of his fellowmen. In 1848 Mr. Smith was united in mar riage to Miss Abigail Carroll, who was born in Allegany county, New York, October 17, 1830, a daughter of Richard and Dorcas (Hoskins) Carroll, natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. This marriage has been blessed with the following named: Jay Willet, who is living in Hornell, New York, and travels for a publishing house. Ambrose Everett, a physician, . who is prac ticing in Olean, New York, where he is mak ing a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat ; J. Hoskins of Chicago, who for eighteen years has been a teacher in the Eugene Fields school of that city; Amy, the wife of John A. Thursby, a travel ing man residing in Madison, Wisconsin; and Wilbur R. C, of Atlanta, Georgia, who is at the head of the Trades Journal, in which all of the brothers are. interested. All of the members of this family have been teachers and were reared here upon the home farm. The Doctor, J. H. and W. R. C. Smith, were all students in the State Agri cultural College, the first two being gradu ates of that institution, while the last men tioned spent two years as a student there. Dr. Smith is also a graduate of Rush Medi cal College and spent two years in special work in the line of his profession in New York city. The mother, was also a success ful school teacher in early life and was de termined that her children should be pro vided with excellent educational privileges. This plan was carried out and by liberal men tal training they were well prepared for life's practical and responsible duties. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Troy, New York, and has shaped his life in accordance with his religious belief and the teachings of the church. In his political views he is a pro hibitionist, supporting the party which em bodies his ideas upon the temperance ques tion. He has lived a temperate, honorable and upright life, endorsing those principles and rules of conduct which work for upright manhood and for the development of char acter and his life may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. DANIEL T. FEATHER. Active in the affairs of life as an agriculturist for many years, Daniel T. Feather is now living re tired, having won a measure of success that now enables him to put aside the more ar duous duties of the farm and live in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He makes his home on section 7, Oronoko township, and is numbered among Pennsyl vania's native sons now living in Berrien county. His birth occurred in Northum berland county of the Keystone state, Feb ruary 15, 1830, and in a family of five sons and one daughter he was the second in or-. der of birth. . Mention is made of his par ents, Joshua and Mary A. (Smith) Feather, elsewhere in this volume in connection with the history of their sop, Joshua Feather. A review of the past shows Daniel T. Feather when, a little lad: of six summers, he arrived in Berrien county with his par ents, the family casting their lot with the pioneer residents of Oronoko township. They shared in the usual experiences and hardships. of pioneer life and when a boy he attended the primitive schools, the "little tempel" of learning being a log building seated with slab benches. There was a long window on each side of the building made by removing a log and putting glass in the aperture. At one end was a huge fire place and the smoke made its egress through a mud and stick chimney. It was possible to place, a log four feet in length upon the fire. At the other end of the room sat DANIEL T. FEATHER'S FAMILY GROUP HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 795 the teacher and a rod usually hung over his desk to remind the delinquent pupils that his shortcomings would meet a. proper fate. It was in the winter seasons that Mr. Feather attended such schools, while in the summer months from an early age he worked on the farm, aiding in clearing and cultivating the land. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had reached the age of twenty-one years, when he started out in life for himself, beginning farm work in the southwestern part of section 7, Oronoko township. He remained there for six years and then removed to the northeastern part of the same section on the old homestead. He has lived in this portion of the county for three score years and ten — the age usually allotted to man, and he has been a witness of the growth and development of the county for a longer period than the great majority of its citizens. In 1852 Mr. Feather was united in mar riage to Miss Caroline Bechtel, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Booscius) Bechtel, who in 1847 came to Berrien county, Michi gan. Mrs. Feather was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, arid died May 15, 1905. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, five of whom still survive, while three died in infancy. Those still living are: Mary M., the wife of Ira R. Stemm, whose life record is given on another page of this volume; Rev. Daniel J. Feather, who is a minister of the Evan gelical Church, now located at Mount Pleas ant, Michigan; David A., who occupies the old home farm; Rev. Franklin J, Feather, a minister of the Congregational Church, now preaching near Roekford, in Kent county, Michigan ; and Jacob C, a farmer and fruit- raiser of Hinchman. Mr. Feather of this review has thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom were born in Berrien county and most of them in Oronoko township. As the years passed by Daniel T. Feather has done much surveying in Berrien county and has settled many estates, a fact which indicates the trust reposed in him and proves his thorough reliability. His early political allegiance was given to the Democracy but in later years he has become a Prohibitionist, as that party embodies his ideas upon the temperance question. He has been closely associated with Berrien county and its in terests for seventy years and has stood for progress and advancement in all those lines of life which work for the betterment of mankind. For forty-seven years he has been a member of the Evangelical Church, active and zealous in its work and was the first Sunday-school superintendent in the Second district of Oronoko- township. He is also a licensed local preacher but has never acted in that capacity. He has labored, however, for the growth and upbuilding of the church and his influence is ever on the side of right, justice and truth. He has acted as notary public for twenty years and was at one time highway commissioner. In his business affairs he has been successful and the rest that he is enjoying is therefore well merited. In the. early days he greatly enjoyed hunting and found ample oppor tunity to indulge his love of the sport be cause deer were frequently seen in the coun ty, while smaller game was also very plenti ful. His memory covers a period of early pioneer progress and improvement as well as of later day advancement and prosperity. He can remember a time when there were few roads cut through the forests, the trees stood in their primeval strength and gave shelter not only to wild game and wild beasts but also to the Indians who occasion ally visited the district. He has lived through the era of pioneer homes with their primitive furnishings — the fire place, the tallow candles, etc., and as the years have gone by he has delighted in the changes which haVe been made for the better and has kept pace with the universal prog ress. Mr. Feather has one of the parchment deeds executed February 10, 1852 and signed by President Millard Fillmore, which is a souvenir of the household, and another by the same president dated November 1, 1852, and the oldest, executed April 1, 1831, and signed by President Andrew Jackson, and another dated May 1, 1839, and signed by President Martin Van Buren. He has in his possession four deeds of the old parch ments. 796 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY STEPHEN SCOTT was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, eight miles north west of South Bend, on Portage Prairie, September 13, 1844. His parents were George Scott and Elizabeth Leer Scott. George Scott was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia, and when about four years of age moved with his parents, William and Susan (Nash) Scott, to Logansport, Indi ana, with one horse and a yoke of oxen. He remained there a short time then removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, near the state line, the inhabitants being mostly Indians. and died at the age of seventy-four years at Buchanan, Michigan. Elizabeth Scott was a native of Ohio and came to St. Joseph county, Indiana, in an early day and died at the age of fifty-five years. Stephen Scott was one of the family of seven children : Mary J. Evans of Buchanan; Susan Page of Elkhart, Indiana ; Stephen Scott, a farmer of South Berrien county, Michigan; Wil liam Scott, died at five years of age ; Harriet Scott, deceased; George R. Scott, a farmer on Portage Prairie; James H. Scott, a mill wright of South Bend, Indiana. Stephen Scott remained on the farm with his parents attending school during the winter terms and obtained a common district school education. On March 8, 1864, he enlisted in the United States service in Company E, Twelfth Regi ment, Michigan Veteran Volunteer Infantry, to serve three years or during the war of the rebellion, and on March 2 1 left home and friends for the front to participate in the hardships and privations of warfare. He was picket guard in front of Columbus, Ken tucky, near the banks of the old Mississippi river. May 17 started on Springfield cam paign; May 28 was sunstruck and taken to Little Rock, Arkansas; June 26 and 27, in the fight at Clarendon; September 4, in fight at Gregory's Landing and afterward engaged in other minor engagements. November 5, commissioned corporal; February 15, 1866, mustered out of service at Camden, Arkan sas; March 6, paid off and discharged at Jackson, Michigan. The first year he trav eled over three thousand miles. He remained at home on the farm until October 3, 1867. He was married to Sylvie N. Yaw, her par ents were Theodore C. Yaw and Nancy Waterhouse Yaw. Theodore Yaw was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, and came to Berrien county in 1852 and located near Galien, Michigan. Nancy Yaw was born in Rut land, Vermont, and came to Berrien county in 1852, and is now living at Hunter, Arkan sas, at the age of seventy-nine years. Sylvie N. Yaw Scott is one of a family of three children and came to Berrien county with her parents. The others are: Henry E. Yaw, a mechanic of Hunter, Arkansas, and Abbie Lowman of Los Angeles, Cali fornia. Stephen and Sylvie Scott located and bought a farm of eighty acres four miles south of Buchanan for sixty-five dollars per acre and a few years later bought an ad joining forty acres for ninety dollars per acre. Besides owning other property in Bu chanan he has improved it and made this a model home. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott two children were born. James E. Scott, born November 25, 1868, and is now rural mail carrier on route 3, from Buchanan; Francis M. Scott, born April 25, 1874, and died March 20, 1876. Mr. Scott had visited the centennial exposi tions at Philadelphia in 1876, the world's fair at Chicago in 1893, and G. A. R. en campments at Minneapolis, Detroit and Chi cago. Mr. and Mrs. Scott and their son took a pleasure trip, going by way of Chicago to Dallas, Texas, and here visited relatives and from thence to Galveston, Texas, and from thence by boat to New Orleans, and by boat up the Mississippi river eight days to St. Louis, and then visited relatives in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were members of Cot tage Hill Grange. After filling most of the minor offices, Mr. Scott was elected master of that body for two years in 1878. He be came a member of William Perrott Post No. 22, G. A. R., and was elected post commander for one year in 1879 ; was made a member of Buchanan lodge, No. 68, F. & A. M., and after holding some of the minor offices for eleven years in succession, in 1890 was elected master of the lodge for two years in succes sion, and in 1899 and 1890 was again elected HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 797 their master for two years more, making four years as a presiding officer over that august body and attending grand lodges at Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and De troit. He also was a member of St. Joseph Valley Chapter, R. A. M., and Niles Com mandery, No. 12, K. T., and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, having held the office" of wqrthy patron for two years. Mr. Scott has been appointed to many im portant positions, such as appraising proper ties, appraising railroad damages and has been drawn on the regular panel of jurors for the circuit court of Berrien county for five terms and two specials. He is a Repub lican in politics and has been an active worker in that line. Mrs. Scott has also been very active in promoting the welfare of her many friends. She was an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps for many years, holding the highest office for a number of years, and a member of the S. F. A. Association, holding the office of president for several years, and in 1890 after much controversy succeeded in organizing a chapter of the order of the Eastern Star in Buchanan, which was named for her (Sylvie Chapter). It was organized with thirty-five charter members and in a short time the membership was increased to over one hundred. She was elected worthy matron and was its presiding officer for two years. Stephen Scott has traveled over a part of twenty-four different states and Canada. JACOB BROWER. There is no open road to success without its hindrances and its obstacles, but prosperity may always be won by determined, persistent effort, guided by sound judgment and accompanied by a utili zation of opportunities which are common to all, and a recognition of this fact has led to the success how enjoyed by Jacob Brower, who is engaged in the lumber trade in Three Oaks. He was born in Vriesland, Holland, December 31, 1864. His parents were Nich olas and Clara (Plantinga) Brower. The father died when his son Jacob was only nine years of age and the mother is still liv ing in Holland. She was left in very limited financial circumstances with eight children to support, the oldest being then but four teen years of age. Her brother, a contractor, who lived some distance away, however, helped her considerably in the support of her family. He took Jacob Brower and kept him until he came to the United States and when a youth of fifteen years Jacob Brower was making a dollar and a half per day, but he came to America to avoid military service. He had been drawn for ten years' service in the army and was to be placed on a gun boat. His mother and uncle objected so seriously, however, to his entering the navy that he came to the United States. He was in school until fourteen years of age, after which he learned the carpenter's trade and attended the evening school until seventeen years of age. He then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, reaching Chicago on the 28th of May, 1884. He remained in that city un til December and was ill for six weeks of the time. He secured employment with a contractor, who paid him a dollar and a half per day during the four weeks that he was in his service. In Europe the trade was somewhat different and Mr. Brower had not only learned the carpenter's trade but also the mason's trade, being thoroughly familiar with the builder's art in every department. Within four week's time, through close ap plication and attention Mr. Bower had gained a considerable knowledge of the English tongue and his services were therefore ren dered more effective. His wages were raised to a dollar and seventy-five cents per day, later to two dollars and subsequently to two dollars and a quarter. In the fall he began contracting on his own account, his first in dependent work being the erection of a house at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. In December he came to Three Oaks, where he began cutting wood for Godfrey Schelley for forty cents per cord, being thus employed until the succeeding spring, when he began farming, spending one season at agricultural labor. He then entered the em ploy of E. K. Warren in his charcoal camp as timekeeper and overseer of the erection of the buildings, serving under Dwight War ren for one year, when Dwight Warren left and Mr. Brower became foreman of forty wood choppers and teamsters. For one year 798 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he was foreman in control of the entire camp. On leaving Mr. Warren's employ he began working at his trade of contracting and building in Three Oaks. He employed from two to five men and was thus engaged for three or four years. Gradually he began supplying himself with building materials and developed his present business — that of dealer in lumber and building materials. When four years had passed he concentrated his energies entirely upon this line of busi ness and has since conducted a well equipped lumber yard. About six years ago he took a contract for building several dwellings for E. K. Warren, but regards this contracting and building operation as secondary to the lumber business. He has. for the past six years conducted a lumberyard at Galien as well as at Three Oaks and has a profitable business, enjoying large sales which return to him a very gratifying income. On the 26th of September, 1888, Mr. Brower married Miss Jennie Agema, who was born in Vriesland, Flolland, in the year 1866 and came to America in 1870 with her parents, Garrett and Winnie (Haekstra) Agema. Uhto Mr. and Mrs. Brower were born eight children : Sophia, Claud, Win nie, Garry, Ernest, Henry, Tinnie and a baby unnamed. Mr. Brower is a Republican in his politi cal views, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He belongs to the Holland Church and is an enterprising, energetic business man, whose life record is creditable alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption. He is a typical business man, wide awake and alert, watchful of opportunities and quick to improve every advantage which comes to him and thus he has gained a well merited and gratifying success, working his way up ward -from the position of a humble trades man to that of a prosperous merchant. ELMORE C. SPAULDING. Occupied with farming interests that are a gratifying source of income, Elmore C. Spaulding lives on section 23, Oronoko township, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he owns and operates. The farm is devoted to diversified crops and the methods of cultivation there employed indicate an enterprising spirit in touch with ideas of modern progress in farm life. Mr. Spauld ing was born in Somerset county, Maine, May 6, 1852, and in a family of six children, three sons and three daughters,, he was the third child and second son. His father, Timothy C. Spaulding, a native of New Hampshire, and a farmer by occupation, re moved to Maine when a young. man and was married in the Pine Tree State to Miss Helena Wells, a native of Somerset county, Maine. The year 1863 witnessed their ar rival in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and soon afterward the father purchased the farm up on which his son Elmore now resides. He gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits for a considerable period, and died at the advanced age of about eighty years. He had been a life long Democrat' and held various local offices, proving his worth as a a citizen in his township and wherever he was known. His widow still survives him at the age of eighty-one years and is esteemed by young and old, rich and poor. Elmore C. Spaulding was a youth of eleven years when he accompanied his par ents on their removal to Berrien county, Michigan and his education, which was be gun in the public schools of his native place, was continued in the graded schools of Ber rien Springs. He remained at home through the period of his minority, assisting in the farm work and on starting out in life for himself he was married November 16, 1876, to Miss Harriet L. Shearer, and thus estab lished a home of his own. Mrs. Elmore C. Spaulding was born in Berrien township February 25, 1855, and is the second in a family of five children — one son and four daughters — born to- Jeremiah and Sarah (Shearer) Shearer. There are three living and two of the family are residents of Ber rien county and the sister, Mrs. Lora Rich mond, is a resident of Beaver Falls, Penn sylvania. The father was born in Carroll county, Ohio, June 15, 1828, and died March 27, 1897. He was an agriculturist, was well educated and in his early years was a teacher. Politically he was a Repub lican. He and his wife were members of the Free Will Baptist Church. He owned HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 799 land in Oronoko township upon which his wife now resides. Mother Shearer was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 24, 1831, and is yet living, over a three-fourths of a century old. Mrs. Spaulding was reared and educated in her native county. The following are the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding : Clyde E., grad uated from the Berrien Springs high school in the class of 1898. He married Miss Ruth Boyd, and resides in Berrien Springs. He is mail carrier. Arthur also graduated in the same school in the class of 19O0, and he married Miss Evelyn - Minnemire. He car ries on the farming of his father's farm. Lester A., who almost finished the free course of high school at the Springs. He wedded Miss Lisa Lawrence and one little son, Lawrence, was born to them. Mrs. Elmore Spaulding is a member of the United Brethren Church of Berrien Springs. Her people were pioneer settlers of the county, her father, Jeremiah Shearer, coming from Ohio to Michigan when this was a frontier district and assisting in its early development. Mr. Spaulding votes with the Democracy and has served as township treasurer for two terms. He is also justice of the peace and his decisions are. strictly fair and impartial. His residence in Berrien county covers forty-two years, during which time he has taken an active interest in public affairs to the better ment of the county and the advancement of Its welfare along material, intellectual, politi cal and moral lines. JACOB C. KRIEGER was born on the farm where he now lives in Bainbridge town ship, August 4, 1858, a fact which indicates that in the early period of progress and de velopment here his parents had become resi dents of Berrien county. He is a son of Christian and Caroline (Shearer) Krieger. Christian Krieger arrived in this county a year or two before his wife came and they were married here. She had a brother, Christian Shearer; living in Bainbridge township and with whom she resided until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Krieger. They began their domestic life in a log cabin and later he erected a more commodious residence to replace this pioneer home, which, however, is still standing. He had forty-nine acres of land in the home place and forty acres a half mile south, to gether with forty acres on Territorial road about two miles south. Mr. Krieger secured about thirty acres of the home place and set out apple and peach trees. His death, how ever, occurred when he was but forty-four years of age, so that he did not live to see his orchards come into bearing. He left a widow with seven sons, the eldest being but fourteen years of age. She remained upon the old homestead and to the best of her ability cared for her children. One of the sons, Ferdinand, died at the age of eighteen years, and the mother passed away when about fifty years of age. The sons of the family were John, now living in St. Joseph, where he is engaged in the real estate busi ness; Peter, who died at the age of twenty- one years ; Jacob ; Charlie, a barber of Chi cago, who died in Bainbridge township at the age of thirty-five ; Albert, living in Bain bridge township; William, of Benton Har bor; and Ferdinand, who, as stated, died at the age of eighteen. Jacob C. Krieger remained at home until his mother's death, which occurred when he was about twenty years of age. He after ward worked in Benton Harbor at packing apples, etc., and worked the home place two years before marrying. At the age of twenty-three he wedded Miss Sarah Lind- seymeier, also of Bainbridge township, then a young lady of eighteen years, since which time he has devoted his at tention to the cultivation and improve ment of the old homestead which he purchased. It is a fruit farm with thirty- five acres utilized for horticultural interests. He has fifteen acres of peaches, also many pear and apple trees and much small fruit and his sale of fruit for the year 1905 brought him two thousand dollars. He is enlarging his business in this direction, an nually setting out more trees and he has recently erected a new residence. He has also rebuilt the barn, which is thirty-six by fifty-four feet and upon the place is a well and windmill with water piped to the barn. In fact all of the modern accessories found 8oo HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY upon a fruit farm are here seen and his place is altogether a model property. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have been born six children : Wallace, Ida, Maud, Car rie, Esther and Earl, all at home. Mrs. Krieger is a member of the Methodist Epis copal Church, while Mr. Krieger's member ship relations are with the Woodmen of the World. She is identified with the Maccabees and the Grange. In his political views Mr. Krieger is a Democrat but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he is not an aspirant for office and on the contrary prefers to give his un divided attention to his business affairs which are now bringing him well merited success. JOHN W. FAY, living in Watervliet township, devotes his time and energies to the dairy business and horticultural pursuits. He was born in Malone, Franklin county, New York, the town in which Vice President Wheeler was a banker and in which he lived when elected to the second highest office within the gift of the people of the United States. Isaac Fay, father of our subject, was a contractor and builder and erected the Wheeler home at Malone. He was also a machinist and he was killed at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, while serving in the army, at the age of thirty-seven years. His wife bore the maiden name of Julia Baldwin, and was a daughter of John Baldwin of Burk, New York. At her husband's death she was left a widow with three children, and in 1864 she came to Michigan, being led to this state by the fact that she had a brother and sister living here. Her brother, Moses Baldwin,, is a resident of Van Buren coun ty. Her sisters are Miss Polly Baldwin and Mrs. Martha Hawks, both deceased. These members of the family have been resi dents of Michigan for several years. On arriving in this state Mrs. Fay secured a place one-half mile east of the Stickney schoolhouse in Watervliet township. She had forty acres of land, and after paying for her home had but little money remain ing. Her eldest child was only ten years of age. In the management of her property and the care of her family she displayed ex cellent ability, marked business capacity and executive force. She possessed great energy and was an untiring worker and she lived upon the original homestead until about three years ago, since which time she has resided with her son, Fred O., at Paw Paw Lake. She reached the age of seventy-seven years on the 4th of July, 1906, and is a well • preserved lady, independent in spirit and possessed of many excellent traits of char acter which throughout her life have won her the esteem, confidence and good will of all with whom she has come in con tact. She has a brother still living at the old home at Burk, New York, who is six years older than herself. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: John W., who was born November 13, 1854; Fred O., who is proprietor of the Bay View Hotel, at Paw Paw Lake ; and Eva, the wife of Adelbert Easton, who is conducting a boarding house at Paw Paw Lake. John W. Fay was only about fen years of age when his mother removed from New York to Michigan. He remained at home and assisted her in the farm work until twenty-four years of age, clearing the land and placing it under cultivation, so that when he left his mother she had a good home with forty acres of rich and productive land that had greatly increased in value. At twenty-four years of age he made prepara tion for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Viola E. Peacock, then of Watervliet. She was born in Van Buren county, Michigan. Mr. Fay already owned a part of his present place, which was partially cleared although but few improve ments had been made thereon. He. started out in life empty-handed, and in addition to the tract of land which he owned he rented forty acres, which he afterward purchased. He went in debt for all of his land but as the years passed he cleared it of all financial obligation and he now has about sixty-five acres of rich and productive land under culti vation. His farm has been made by him and his attention for a number of years was largely devoted to- grain growing. He then set out much fruit and has since added a dairy business, his attention being now given to horticultural pursuits and to dairying. His farm is only about one hundred rods ^^J^€^^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 80 r east of Paw Paw Lake, and for years his place has been a resort for summer boarders, which has been an important feature of his business. He has erected a handsome resi dence here on a delightful location within view of Paw Paw Lake and within two and a half miles of Watervliet. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fay have been born five children : Emma E., who is a milliner by trade; Isaac Walter on the home farm; Fred A., who spends his time largely in Chicago; Julia J.; and Miles E. Mr. Fay is a Republican and has taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the party, frequently attending its con ventions, yet never seeking office as a re ward for party fealty. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for twenty-six years has been connected with the Knights of Honor. He has passed all of the chairs of Watervliet lodge, No. 2145, in the latter arid is now guide in the grand lodge of the state, in which capacity he has served for six years. He is a man who in fraternal, social and business relations commands the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact and his life record is commendable in that he has achieved success without as sistance from others, overcoming all diffi culties in his path, working his way upward with a realization of the fact that prosperity may be gained through determined and un faltering labor. He has worked persistently and energetically, and while winning a handsome competence he has also gained a good name. CHARLES MILLER, superintendent of the Berrien County Infirmary, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, December 1, 1845. His father, Joseph Miller, was a na tive of Germany, in which country he was reared and married. He wedded Miss Cath arine Manning, likewise born in Germany, and on coming to America they settled at New Orleans but after a short period came north to Indiana. A brief period was passed in that state and Mr. Miller then returned to New Orleans but later became a resident Si of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he died at the age of sixty-seven years. In the mean time, however, he had made a trip to Ger many, and while in that country his wife passed away. In their family were five chil dren. Charles Miller, the youngest, was but a lad when his parents went to the fatherland. Much of his youth was spent in Indiana and he was in Indianapolis when Oliver Morton was governor of that state and did many chores for him. He resided for a time in Wisconsin and about 1865 located in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he was engaged in the milling business. He was also connected with a surveying party that surveyed the West Michigan Railroad, now the Pere Marquette. Later he returned to the mill, having charge of the interests of the St. Joseph Milling Company as head miller for about twelve years. On the expiration of that period he engaged in merchandising in his own building in St. Joseph and to the business devoted the succeeding decade, meeting with good success in the conduct of his store. After selling out he became city treasurer of St. Joseph, which office he held for two terms and he also served as supervisor for six consecutive years. He was likewise a member of the city council and was closely and actively identified with the interests of St. Joseph and the county. He was also one of the prime movers in the organization of the St. Joseph Improvement Association and through this means as well as in public office he contributed to the prog ress and substantial upbuilding of the city. Three times he was appointed superintend ent of the poor, occupying that position until appointed superintendent of the in firmary in 1906, in which capacity he is now serving. On the 20th of May, 1875, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary Berg, who was born in Berrien county, a daughter of Simon Berg, one of the pioneers of this part of the state. This marriage has been blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: Simon C, who married Miss Pearl Stanley and resides in St. Louis, Missouri; Joseph J., who mar- 802 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ried Miss Helen Stoltz, and lives in Chi cago; George, Charles, Catherine, Ellen and Mary, all at home. For over thirty years Mr. Miller has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and he also holds membership relations with the Knights of the Maccabees. His residence in the county covers a period of forty years and he is well known here. His business relations and public service have brought him a wide acquaintance, and investigation into his his tory shows much that is commendable and worthy of emulation. HON. JAMES L McKIE is a factor in business life and political circles in Ber rien county and well deserves prominent mention in its history. He is now proprietor of the largest general store in Three Oaks and is also president of the creamery com pany, and his diligence and keen discrimina tion have contributed in substantial riieasure to the advancement, general prosperity and improvement. He has likewise found time and opportunity to inform himself thor oughly concerning the great questions which work for the weal or woe of the nation, and has twice represented his district in the state legislature. Mr. McKie was born in Neshoba coun ty, Mississippi, February 10, 1837, a son of Thomas and Anna L. (Lewis) McKie, na tives of Scotland and England respectively. They came to America in early life and were married in this country. The father devoted his time and energies throughout his business career to general agricultural pursuits, and both he and his wife died at Three Oaks, Mr. McKie passing away at the age of sixty-four years, while his wife reached the age of seventy-five years. In their family were five children : James L. ; Mrs. Mary E. Bommerscheim, a widow re siding in Three Oaks; Mrs. Annie S. Vin cent, a widow living in Oklahoma; Edward H., a resident of Three Oaks township; and Thomas J., also living in the same locality. When James L. McKie was about six years of age his parents removed from Mis sissippi to Bond county, Illinois. He spent about ten years on the farm, and after at tending the district schools was for two terms a student in the village academy. He came to this county in November, 1854, and on the 23d of May, 1855, took up his abode in Three Oaks, where he entered the em ploy of Henry Chamberlain as a clerk in his general store, remaining there for about four years. In 1859 he removed to Niles, where he remained until the 24th of April, 1 86 1. He spent six years in the grocery store of Henry H. Pike for one year and was in Perkins Morris' dry goods store. In April, 1 86 1, however, he returned to Three Oaks, where he has resided continuously since, and for three years he was a member of the firm of Chamberlain, McKie & Com pany. In 1864 the firm of McKie & Warren was formed, his partner being E. K. War ren, and this relation was maintained until 1877. Mr. McKie was then alone in busi ness until 1885, when the firm of McKie & Vincent was formed, having a continuous existence until 1893, since which time Mr. McKie has been without a partner. He has been located for nineteen years in his pres ent store and for nineteen years was next door. In 1887 he built a fine brick building twenty-five by one hundred feet and here he carries a large line of gry goods, cloth ing and shoes, having the largest store of the kind in the town. His business is ex tensive and his stock is large and well suited to the varied tastes of the general public. His methods, too, are such as need no dis guise but will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and as the years have gone by he has made a most creditable record as a merchant and business man. For the past ten years he has been treasurer of the Three Oaks Creamery Company. In 1862 Mr. McKie was married to Hattie M. Black, a native of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, a daughter of Horace and Harriet Black. They have become the par ents of three daughters : Jennie, now the wife of Dr. T. A. Davis, of Chicago; Addie, at home; and Helen, the wife of Fred E. Ludke, of Three Oaks. Mr. McKie is a stalwart advocate of the Democracy, having continuously voted for the man and measures of the party since HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 803 casting his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas in i860. He has been supervisor of the township for five terms and a member of the legislature for two terms, having been elected in 1884 and again in 1886, while in 1888 he was a candi date for the state senate. Since his retire ment from the legislature he has been active in politics but has confined his attention to his business affairs and to the promotion of community interests as a private citizen. He has been township clerk and treasurer and has also held some school offices, acting on the board of education for ten years. He has also beeri president of the village for a number of terms and his public service has been characterized by the utmost devotion to the general good. He is a public-spirited man and his labors have been effective in advancing the general. welfare. He belongs to the Congregational Church and is very active in its work. He is a gentleman of de termined purpose and earnest manner, carry ing On his business interests persistently and energetically and the success which has come to him together with his straight forward methods has caused him to be highly regarded by all who have had the opportunity of meeting him, and no citizen stands higher in the esteem and honor of his fellow townsmen than does James L. McKie. JOHN T. VANDERVEER, living on section 5, Watervliet township, owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land which borders the Van Buren county line and is pleasantly situated four and a half miles north of Coloma and two miles from Lake Michigan. Here he has lived since the spring of 1878, having, however, purchased the farm the previous year. He carries on general farming and is also engaged in fruit raising and in mak ing butter and is leading a busy, useful life, his efforts being crowned with a fair measure of success. Mr. Vanderveer was born in Battle Creek, Calhoun county, Michigan, on the 3d of December, 1851. His father, James Van derveer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, and was descended from Hol land ancestors, who were among the old Knickerbocker families of the Empire State. About 1848 he came alone to Michigan, al though but a boy, and made his way to Battle Creek, where later he was connected with the hardware trade for five years. Dur ing his residence there he was married to Miss Nancy C. Young, also a native of the Emoire State, the wedding being celebrated about .1850. He was very prosperous for some time in the conduct of his mercantile interests in Battle Creek and carried a stock valued at forty thousand dollars, but when in New York city buying goods for his store it was destroyed by fire and the insurance company refused to pay him a cent of in surance because of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien coun ty, and purchased a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing prop erty. This is an old landmark of the county and in the early days was known as the Star ling Howard farm. James Vanderveer at once began tlie cultivation and improvement of the property, devoting his attention in the earlier years to the raising of grain and later to the production of apples. He also bought and owned other farms, operating three or four farms himself, having land near Coloma as well as in Benton township. He was indeed an earnest and indefatigable worker and good business man and in his farming operations he prospered, becoming quite successful and accumulating an estate greater than that which he lost in Battle Creek. During his last years he lived re tired. He continued a resident of Berrien county for about forty years and was re spected for what he accomplished and by reason of his genuine personal worth. He was a man of marked individuality and force of character and though the fire and its con sequent loss was enough to discourage a man of much resolution of spirit he never theless in determined manner set to work to retrieve his loss and build up a good es tate for his family. He died May 5, iqoi, respected and honored by all who knew him and his widow still survives, now making her home with her son, William N. In 804 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY their family were eight children, four of whom reached mature years, namely : John ; William N., Ernest and Elizabeth, the last named being the wife of John Downing. The father was a Republican and held minor offices. He took a deep interest in the suc cess and growth of his party and delighted in the progress made by the county along all lines of substantial and permanent im provement. He was very practical in all of his methods and far sighted and sagacious in his business affairs. He made excellent improvements upon the home property and after devoting his attention to the produc tion of grain for a number of years, he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, raising first peaches, but afterward engag ing in the production of apples on an ex tensive scale. John T. Vanderveer spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, acquired a public school education and re mained at home until twenty-six years of age. In February, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Spencer, a daugh ter of Charles A. Spencer, now of Benton township. She was born in Bainbridge township and by her marriage has become the mother of five children. Roy married Myrtle Lee and operates the home farm for his father. Percy, the second son, died at the age of seventeen years. Bertha, Bessie and Nancy are at home. Bertha and Nancy have both engaged successfully in teaching school. Bertha taught in the home district and for years was a capable teacher in Van Buren county. Nancy is now teaching in the Pearl Grange school in Benton town ship and both are graduates of the state normal school. Bessie is now pursuing a business course. Throughout his entire life Mr. Vander veer has been connected with agricultural pursuits and his farm is a valuable prop erty on the north line of Berrien county. His son carries on the active work of the farm and Mr. Vanderveer handles agricul tural implements and fertilizers. As stated, he purchased the property in 1877, paying for it thirty-two hundred dollars. The saw timber had been cut off and he began to clear and cultivate the place, all of which is now under cultivation with the exception of about eighteen acres. He gives his at tention to general farming and fruit rais ing, having about twenty acres in fruit, one- half of which is planted to peaches. The soil is rich and productive and he has wheat fields and meadow lands. He also keeps twelve cows and makes butter, selling to the stores on yearly contracts. He likewise has five or six horses. His attention has been given to his farm and business interests,. in which he has met with excellent success.. Mr. Vanderveer is independent in his. political views. He has served as treasurer of his township, was also supervisor for four consecutive years, has been assessor and in all of the different positions has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He does not consider himself bound by party ties at local elections, but where national issues are involved usually votes with the Democracy. He finds his chief source of pleasure and recreation in hunting and with his brothers, William N. and Ernest Van derveer, and other residents of the county, known as the Vanderveer crowd, goes each year on a hunting expedition to the northern peninsula of Michigan to hunt deer. He now has very fine trophies of the chase and has one fine deer head mounted and on ex hibition. He is an excellent shot and he greatly enjoys the outdoor life as well as the hunting. IRA R. STEMM, a leading farmer and old settler of Berrien county, who is- now filling the office of supervisor in Oro noko township, and resides on section 3,. was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1846. His father, Adam K. Stemm, was also a native of Center county and was a farmer by occupation. He fol lowed that pursuit in the east until 1868,. when he came to Berrien county, Michigan, locating in Oronoko township. Here he followed farming, and his fellow townsmen recognizing his worth and ability called him to a number of local offices. He became an influential and leading resident of the com munity and his death here occurred in 1897,. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 805 when he had reached the age of seventy- four years. His wife was in her maiden hood Miss* Elizabeth Reiber, also a native of Pennsylvania. She was born in Bucks county, that state, and died in Berrien coun ty, Michigan, in 1903, at the age of seventy- seven years. In the family were five chil dren, three daughters and two sons, all of whom are yet living. Ira R. Stemm, who was reared and edu cated in his native town, pursued his educa tion in the common schools and at Pine Grove. He left .home at the age of eighteen years to make his own way in the world and -secured a clerkship in a store at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. A year later he began work ing on the old homestead farm and con tinued his residence in the Keystone State nntil 1868, when, at the age of twenty-two years, he came to Berrien county, Michigan, with his parents. Here he also engaged in farm labor upon the land which his father purchased and likewise followed carpenter ing for some time. In the year of his mar riage, 1873, he located on the farm which has since been his home. There were few improvements upon the place at that time but he at once began its further cultivation and development and soon wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. He has forty acres of land in this place and he has also purchased the old homestead -property of his father, comprising eighty acres. It is now occupied by his son. In 1873 Mr. Stemm was united in mar riage to Miss Mary M. Feather, a daughter of Daniel and Caroline Feather, and a na tive of Oronoko township. Her parents were among the pioneer residents of Berrien county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stemm have been born a son and daughter: Albert M., who married Zina Bowerman ; and Dora, the wife of C. H. Smith, a resident farmer of Oronoko township. Mr. Stemm has always been a Democrat In his political affiliation and has taken an active interest in the work and growth of his party. The first office he ever filled was that of highway commissioner, in which capacity he served continuously for three years. He was also a member of the board of review for one year and was again elected highway commissioner, serving for two years. He was likewise township treasurer one year, and in 1893 was elected township supervisor. He has been re-elected each year for that office since that time and one year had no opponent in the field. His of ficial duties have ever been discharged with promptness, capability and fidelity, and over the record of his public service there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He is a member of the Order of Patricians and one of its directors at Benton Harbor. He has settled many estates, having now at this writing five different estates in charge. This fact is indicative of the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, a trust which is well merited, for it has never been betrayed in the slightest degree. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs arid while carefully performing the duties devolving upon him in this connec tion he has never been neglectful in the slightest degree of his business interests, and is successfully controlling his fruit farm-, which is a well improved property that an nually yields good crops. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Stemm have in their possession three of the old parchment deeds, all bearing date May 1, 1839, by the hand of President Martin Van Buren, which are va'uable documents in their home, and Mrs. Stemm has an old pitcher which is close to a century old. CHARLES FREDERICK MUTCH- LER, a representative farmer living on sec tion 8, B*ichanan township, whose success has resulted from close application and un remitting diligence, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Center Brunswick, Medina county, May 11, 1847. His father, John Mutchler, was a native of Wurtem berg, Germany, and of his family of five sons, all were born in that country save the subject of this review. The mother bore the maiden name of Christina Straley, and was also a native of Germany. It was about the year 1846 that the father bade adieu to friends and native land and with his wife and children sailed for America. They made 8o6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY their way into the interior of the country and for ten years lived in Medina county, Ohio, after which they removed to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1856, taking, up their abode in Chikaming township, after which they removed to Buchanan township. The father, who was born in the year 1805, died in 1890, when about eighty-five years of age, and the mother was about seventy-seven years of age at the time of her demise. Charles Mutchler was the youngest of the five sons and the only one born in the United States. He was about nine years of age when the family came to Berrien county and here his youth was passed. He worked in the fields from an early age and acquired such education as the district schools of the neighborhood afforded. He was about fifteen years of age when he started out in life for himself. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for a time in South Bend and also at Niles and other places but the old age of his parents- prompted him to return home and he cared for them in their declining days, thus re paying them in part by his filial devotion for the attention and love which they be stowed upon him in his boyhood and youth. November 17, 1865, Mr. Mutchler was united in marriage to. Miss Sarah Behner, of Medina county, Ohio, and they took up their abode on the old homestead farm which is now the property of Mr. Mutchler, who has added thereto sixty cares, making an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and is also a horticulturist, having an orchard of three thousand trees, includ ing peaches, apples and pears. Other apple trees on the place make the total number of trees about thirty-five hundred. He has made a close study of the best methods of caring for the tree in order to produce good crops, and as a fruit grower is well known. In fact he has one of the nicest farms and best improved properties in the county and his house stands near Madron Lake, his land extending about half way around the lake and commanding an excellent view of a most attractive piece of scenery. He also owns a firie residence property in Buchanan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mutchler have been born eighteen children, and they lost three daughters : Myrtle E., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Ella, who died at the age of ten years; and Bertha C. died at the age of twelve years. The living children are : Rev. Frank W. Mutchler, a minister of the Christian Church, Baird, Iowa; Lillie, the wife of Frank Bartmess, of South Bend; Walter E., who is conducting a meat market in Buchanan; Charlie at home; and Grace, who is a successful _ teacher. Charlie the youngest of the children was educated in the common schools and in Buchanan, Michigan. He was offered good places, but he preferred to remain at home with his parents. Grace is now the teacher in the seventh grade in the Buchanan high school, this being her. fifth year. Mr. Mutchler is well known in Berrien- county, having lived here for forty years. He votes with the Democracy and his posi tion on any question of general importance is never, an equivocal one, for he is fearless in defense of his honest convictions. Life with him has passed quietly in a way and yet there is in his record much that is com mendable for he has displayed qualities of good citizenship and reliability in business that make him worthy of the regard of those with whom he has come in contact. HON. NATHAN V. LOVELL, one of the upbuilders and promoters of the town of Eau Claire and a member of the state legis lature, is justly accounted one of the dis tinguished and leading residents of Berrien county. His birth occurred in Livingston county, New York, in 1844, and he is a representative of an old New England fam ily. His grandfather, Nathan Lovell, was born in Connecticut and served as a soldier in the war of 1812, subsequent to which time he removed to the state of New York. There occurred the birth of Barney Lovell, father of our subject, who remained a resi dent of the east until 185 1, when he came with his family to Cass county, Michigan. In the meantime he had married Miss Eliza beth Spicer, also a native of Livingston county, New York, and a daughter of Asa HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 807 Spicer, who was born in Albany, New York, and defended the cause of his country in the second war with England. On coming to Michigan Barney Lovell took up his abode in Cass county, where he cleared a tract of land and improved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, being one of its early settlers. The work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun at that time. There were practically no roads and the traveler had to follow the old Indian trails or else those which were marked out by blazing trees by the early settlers. The Indians were numerous in this part of the state and somewhat resented the encroach ment of the white men upon their hunting grounds. It required considerable courage and fortitude to leave the east and estab lish homes upon the frontier in the midst of such conditions, but Mr. Lovell possessed the spirit necessary to the pioneer and reso lutely undertook the task of making a home for his family in this part of the country. He lived upon his first purchase until 1865, when he went to Wisconsin, where he bought a tract of land which had been some what improved. His remaining days were spent upon that property and his attention was given to general agricultural pursuits as he brought his fields under cultivation and carried on the other work of improvement and progress. His death occurred upon the Wisconsin farm in 1905 when he was about eighty-five years of age, for he was born in 1820. His wife died in 1893 at the age of sixty-seven years. In their family were six children, of whom three are yet living, namely : Nathan V. ; John T., who resides in Wisconsin; and Mary E., also living in Wisconsin. Hon. Nathan V. Lovell was only about seven years of age when he bade adieu to his old home in the east and came with the family to Cass county, where he shared in the hardships and trials incident to frontier life, aiding in the arduous task of develop ing a new farm. He continued at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when in response to his country's call for aid he offered his services to the govern ment although only about seventeen years of age, enlisting on the 12th of June, 1861, as a private of Company B, Ninth Michi gan Infantry. He continued with that regi ment until August, 1862, when he was transferred to Company B of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry as sergeant, continuing with that command until August 25, 1865, when he was mustered out. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Germanna Ford, Stevensburg, Aldie, the Wilderness, Rappahannock Sta tion, Haymarket, Hanover Court House, Campaign of the Shenandoah under Sheri dan, Saylor's Creek, Stoney Ford, Din- widdie Court House, Appomattox Court House and at the surrender of Lee's army, April 9, 1865. He was also at the battle of Trevilian's Station, where he saved the life of Col. Russell A. Alger, now United States senator, the horse being shot from under him and Mr. Lovell catching him as he fell. Colonel Alger was later made brigadier general. Mr. Lovell was mustered out as sergeant but continued with the army until the close of hostilities and made a creditable . record as a brave and fearless soldier. When the war was over he went to the northwest, prospecting for four years, after which he returned to Michigan in 1871, set tling in Van Buren county, where he re mained for a year and a half. In the latter part of 1872 he came to Benton Harbor and followed the machinist's trade, which he had previously learned. Subsequently he pur chased a farm in Benton township and in 1879 removed to Berrien Springs, where he engaged in the mill and lumber business, operating a saw mill there. In 1882 he took up his abode at Eau Claire in Pipestone township, where he has resided continuously since. He is one of the foremost citizens of this place, where he has a fine farm of two hundred acres of valuable land on which he is raising stock and grain. He is also largely financially interested and also actively engaged in the management of the Michigan and Alabama Fruit Package Com pany, manufacturing packages for packing fruit for shipment. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. So8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY -He forms his plans readily and has a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time. In matters of business judgment he is rarely if ever at fault and he has the ability to readily recognize an opportunity and to determine its practical value as a factor in business life. He erected the first building in Eau Claire and has since contributed in substantial and helpful meas ure to its further progress and improvement. Mr. Lovell is also recognized as a lead ing Republican and his political record has been an honor to the county which has hon ored him. He takes an active and helpful part in all efforts for the benefit of his town ship, city, county and state and his views regarding public measures are both pene trative and practical, resulting in the accom plishment of results, the value of which are widely acknowledged. He was elected to the state legislature in 1902 and re-elected in 1904. During the first session he served on the committee on general taxation, insurance and the home for the blind. In 1904 he was made a member of the committees on federa tion, military affairs and insurance and was chairman of federal relations. During the latter session he was father of the bill to regulate the tax commission known as the Lovell bill and succeeded in securing its adoption. It was this measure that largely won him his strong support at the last elect- tion, having a majority over his Democratic opponent of one thousand votes in a district which is regarded as a Democratic strong hold and which embraces one-half of Ber rien county. He is frequently spoken of as a possible candidate for the state senator- ship. Mr. Lovell was married to Miss Ella J. Farr, in 1895, who was born in Kankakee, Illinois. There are three children: Fred ericka, and U. S. Grant, the children of a former wife, Delia S. Keeler, who died in 1893, and Marjory E. The elder daughter is now the wife of Jesse Colvin and has one child, Fritz J. Mr. Lovell is a representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which barred his path to success and reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him a director of public thought and action. HENRY A. FEATHER. Among the representatives of farming interests in Oronoko township, who are successfully conducting their business interests, is num bered Henry A. Feather, who now resides on section 7. It was upon this place, known as "Fair View Farm," that ne was born April 26, 1854, his parents being John H. and Lucy Ann (Bachtel) Feather. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and when eight years of age came to Berrien county, Michigan, with his parents, Joshua and Mary (Smith) Feather, who in pioneer times cast in their lot with the early set tlers of Oronoko township, taking up their abode upon a farm which adjoins the place that is now the home of our subject. There John H. Feather was reared and was trained to' habits of industry and economy whereby he gained a good knowledge of farm life and was qualified for practical duties along those lines in later years. He was married in Oronoko township to Miss Lucy Ann Bachtel, also a native of Pennsylvania, whence she was brought to Berrien county by her parents when fifteen years of age. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where our subject now lives and there the father carried on general farm ing and also engaged in the agricultural implement business in his later days. He sold all kinds of farm machinery and buggies and was very successful in his mercantile venture. His life was a busy, useful and active one and he lived to the age of sixty- nine years, being widely and favorably known in the county in which the greater part of his youth and manhood were passed, and with the early history of which he was closely and helpfully associated. His wife lived to be only about forty-five or forty-six years of age. In their family were eight children, five of whom are now living. After losing his first wife the father married again and by the second union there were three children, of whom two survive. At the time CAt/i^ tfi -frj?&-t2i£30. His father, Jesse Helmick, was a native of Vir ginia, and in his boyhood days was left an orphan. He afterward went to Kentucky and subsequently to Ohio, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Simington, a na tive of Warren county, that state. They took up their abode in Warren county, where they resided until the fall of 1836, when they came to Berrien county, Michigan, settling in Oronoko township, where Mr. Helmick purchased a half section of land. Not a fur row had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. He built a log house and also a blacksmith shop, this being the first smithy in the township. He carried on the dual occupation of blacksmithing and farming throughout his remaining days and was an active factor in the early progress of the county, being recognized not only as an enterprising business man but also as one whose devotion to the public good was above question. He served as associate judge of Berrien county and was supervisor of his township, and justice of the peace many years. He was well known throughout the county as one of its worthy and valued pio neer settlers, and his labors proved an im portant element in its early development. He held membership in the Methodist Epis copal Church and through his active co operation in its work contributed in substan tial measure to the moral development of the community. He acted as recording steward of the church for many years and died in that faith in his seventy- fourth year. The county thereby lost one of its valued and representative citizens. He was particularly prominent in the early days and held as many as three offices at one time. He was a member of the first township board and he aided in molding public thought and opinion and in shaping the early policy of the coun ty during its formative period. Hiram S. Helmick was the fourth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, nine of whom reached adult age. He is the eldest now living and was in his seventh year when he arrived in Berrien county, Michi gan. He was reared in Oronoko township and pursued his education in one of the old- time log school houses, which stood upon his father's farm. It was furnished in the primitive manner of the times and the curri culum was not very extensive. Later he con tinued his studies in the Burk schoolhouse in Oronoko township, and his education completed he assisted in the work of the home farm and in the shop. He was trained to habits of industry and economy and as the years have gone by these traits have borne rich fruit in a successful business ca reer. Mr. Helmick has been married twice. XJ.tL^l HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 817 In April, 1852 he wedded Miss Lydia A. Scott, who died leaving five children, two sons and three daughters : Ambrose, who resides upon the farm with his father ; Jesse, deceased; Alice, the wife of James Fulton, of Royalton township; Mary, deceased; and Winnie, the wife of George Baily, of Oro noko township. At the time of the death of Mrs. Ambrose Helmick, the following lines appeared in one of the local papers : "Mrs. Orpha Canfield Helmick was born in Ontario, Canada, December 15, 1852, and died at her home near Hinchman, in Oro noko, Mich., Sept. 25, 1906. "She was twice married. She leaves a married daughter by her first husband. She was married to Ambrose M. Hemlick Janu ary 19, 1872. A son was born to them twenty-three years ago. His untimely death together with his bride of less than four months by a terrible accident August 7, and which was recorded in the 'Advocate,' was a shock the mother never overcame. For days she was in terrible agony and unable to shed a tear. It brought on an affection of the bowels and heart with a fatal termin ation, her death occurring just seven weeks from that of her son. She was a good woman. Those who knew her best loved her most. She was free from deceit, cant and hypocrisy. She was an affectionate wife and a true mother. Her joy last winter when many young people, including her only son, gave their hearts to God was in tense. Few were more gifted in prayer and testimony than she. Her ambition was far in excess of her strength. She worked often when she needed absolute rest. Brother Helmick has the sympathy of the church in his triple bereavement. Two months ago there was a happy home of four members. Now our brother is alone. And yet he is not alone, for his faith in his Heavenly Father is unshaken. The funeral services were held in the church at Berrien Springs conducted by her pastor, September 27, and her remains deposited in Rose Hill ceme tery." In 1903 Hiram S. Hemlick was again married, his second union being with Sarah Jane Dillman. 52 The present home of Mr. Helmick is a farm of two hundred and sixty-three acres, which is riow operated by his son Ambrose. In 1864, he went across the plains to Idaho, Montana and the Black Hills and took the first quartz mill to Idaho. There he engaged in mining and prospecting, spending about two and one half years in the northwest. They came down the Missouri river, a dis tance of twenty-two hundred miles, landing at Yankton, South Dakota, and thence pro ceeded by stage to New Jefferson, where they boarded a railroad train that conveyed them to Chicago. From that city Mr. Hel mick returned to Berrien county, and later was actively associated with the business interests of Berrien Springs as proprietor of a grocery and restaurant. In 1870 he pur chased his present farm, where he has re sided continuously since. He has lived in Berrien county for about seventy years and has been identified with its making. In poli tics he is a Democrat and has filled the office of justice of the peace. He is one of the active members and. faithful workers in the Methodist Episcopal church at Hinchman, serving as one of its trustees, and as a mem ber of the building committee. He arrived in this county in pioneer times, finding here a largely unimproved district. There were many traces of Indian habitation yet to be found and in the forests were many kinds of wild game, deer being yet occasionally killed. The timber was uncut, the land un cultivated and the rivers unbridged, while only a comparatively few of the roads had been laid out. The county largely awaited the awakening touch of civilization but the enterprise and energy of the early settlers soon wrought a marked transformation and in the work of improvement Mr. Helmick has always borne his full share. JOHN PEO has resided continuously in New Buffalo since 1866 and is therefore largely familiar with its history and with the development of this part of the county. He was born in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, on the 30th of August, 1839, a son of William and Dora (Schutt) Peo, also natives of Mecklenburg. His paternal grandfather, 8i8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY William Peo, was a Frenchman and served in the Napoleonic wars. At length he was taken prisoner and at Hanover was given his liberty, but afterward remained a resi dent of Germany. It was in the year 1862 that William Peo, father of our subject, came to the United States. His wife ac companied him on the start but died while on the ocean. The family were fifteen weeks and three days in crossing the Atlantic and after reaching the shores of the new world Mr. Peo came to Berrien county, Michigan, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1874. He was a millwright by trade. In the family were eight children, all of whom came to the United States, namely: Ernest, who is now living in New Buffalo; William, of Laporte, Indiana, now deceased; Mrs. Mary Walters, also residing in New Buffalo; Charles, who makes his home in Laporte; Mrs. Lena Brinkman, liv ing in Michigan City; Chriss, a real estate dealer of Chicago; and Ludwig, who died in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of seventeen years. John Peo, who is the fifth in order of birth in this family, continued a resident of his native country until twenty-six years of age and in accordance with the laws of his native land attended the public schools until fourteen years of age. He then began learn ing the blacksmith's trade, at which he served a four years' apprenticeship and re ceived a diploma. He then traveled for three years, working at his trade, and he also served for two years in the German army as a member of the engineers corps. He worked at blacksmithing in Schwerin for a year and a half and owing to his good behavior in the army during two years he secured a position on the government rail road to learn locomotive work. In the mean time his parents had come to America and the father persuaded Mr. Peo to join him here. Accordingly in the year 1866 the son crossed the Atlantic and made his way to New Buffalo, where he has resided con tinuously since. He worked for six weeks here as a blacksmith and then established a shop of his own, doing blacksmithing and wagon making and repairing. He conducted the business for thirty-seven years and was thus long closely associated with the in dustrial interests of the town, but has now rented his shop and is living retired. In 1873 he bought the Lake Shore House, a hotel at this place, which he conducted for twenty-eight years, but recently traded it for Chicago property, whereby he became the owner of a store at No. 720 Erie street at the corner of Leavitt street. He also owns three dwellings in New Buffalo together with his blacksmith shop and a number of vacant lots and his property is the visible evidence of a life of industry and enterprise. In 1866 Mr. Peo was married to Miss Sophia Schultz, a native of Mecklenburg. She came to America at the same time Mr. Peo crossed the Atlantic and their marriage was celebrated here after landing. They traveled life's journey happily together for about eighteen years and were then separated by the death of the wife in 1884. Their children are : Dora, who is the widow of Fred Sompo and resides in Chicago; Frank, also of that city; John H, of New Buffalo ; George, who is a real estate dealer of Chicago and is a graduate of the Metro politan College of that city, whereby he was well qualified for life's practical and respon sible business duties. After losing his first wife Mr. Peo was again married in 1884, his second union being with Miss Minnie Miller, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and came to Berrien county, Michigan, with her parents when a year and a half old. Two children have been born of this union : Fred A., who is with his father in business; and Alexander, now deceased. Mr. Peo is a member of the German Lutheran Church, in which he has held va rious offices, doing all in his power to pro mote the growth and extend the influence of his denomination. In politics he was form erly a Democrat but his study of questions and issues led him to transfer his political allegiance and he is now a Republican. He was for twelve years a member of the board of education of New Buffalo, was alderman for seven or eight years and has also been highway and street commissioner. He has likewise filled the office of tax equalizer and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 819 has been active in support of his party arid faithful in office, doing everything in his power to promote the general improvement and progress of the county. Mr. Peo be longs to St. Johann's Turnverein at Michi gan City, with which he has been identified sirice 1868 and he has belonged to the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows at New Buffalo since 1884. Four times he has rep resented his lodge in the grand lodge and he is one of the valued members of the order here. He is the oldest business man in the village in years of continuous con nection with commercial and industrial in terests here and throughout the entire period has maintained an unassailable repu tation for business integrity, activity and straightforward dealing. JOSEPH WALKER. Among the lead ing and successful farmers of Berrien town ship is Joseph Walker, who resides on sec tion 35, where he now owns two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, constitut ing one of the largest farms in the county. Here he carries on general agricultural and horticultural pursuits and his labors are so carefully directed that they have brought to him a good financial return. Mr. Walker was born in Niles town ship, Berrien county, October 14, 1843. His father, Joseph Walker, was a native of Leicestershire, England, where hewas reared. and when twenty-one years of age he crossed the Atlantic to Canada, while in 1842 he arrived in Berrien county, Michigan, set tling in Niles township. There he carried on general farming for a long period and spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. He married Catharine Newgent, a native of the north of Ireland, born near Abbey Castle. She went to Canada with her father when about ten years of age and she lived to the very advanced age of ninety- seven years. There were twelve children in the family, and with one exception all reached manhood or womanhood. Joseph Walker was reared in Niles town ship and was educated in the district and select schools, being thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. His training at farm labor was not meager, for he was early assigned tasks in connection with the cultivation of the fields and he re mained upon the old homestead as assistant to his father up to the time of his marriage. He then began farming on his own account, locating at the place which is yet his home and to the original tract he has added from time to time as his financial resources in creased and opportunity offered until he is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of as good farming land as can be found in the county. He is an enterpris ing farmer and fruit-raiser, annually pro ducing good crops of grain and fruit. He has about twenty acres planted to apples, six acres in pears, peaches, grapes, etc. He now makes a specialty of gardening and finds this a profitable source of income, for his vegetables are always of excellent size, quality and flavor, thus bringing the highest market prices. Mr. Walker was married in 1868 to Miss Alice Grice, a daughter of Eli Grice, a na tive of Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, where she was reared. Three sons have been born of this union, Joseph, Willie and Gordie, all of whom are at home and are assisting their father in the farm work. Mr. Walker has been a life long resident of this county and is deeply interested in its growth and progress. As a factor in its agricultural and horticultural interests he has contributed to its general prosperity and in matters of citizenship he is always loyal to thej^est interests of the community at large. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as township treasurer and as school inspector. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Pokagon, Michigan. He has a wide ac quaintance in Berrien county and is recog nized as one whose genial manner and good traits have made him popular with his fel low townsmen. WILLIAM WYANT, one of the well known agriculturists of Berrien township, Berrien connty, Michigan, is a native son 820 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of the Keystone State, his birth occurring in Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1832. His father, James L. Wyant, claimed New York as the state of his nativity, dating his birth in Orange county, and there he was reared to years of maturity. From his na tive state he removed to Pennsylvania, where he remained for a short time, remov ing thence to Wayne county, Ohio, and dur ing this time was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1867 he came to Michigan, lo cating on the farm which is now the home of his son William, and there he spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 25th of February, 1875, when he had reached the seventy-seventh milestone on the journey of life. Mr. Wyant was married in Ohio to Phebe Rhude, a native of Hamil ton county, that state, where she was also reared. She was called to the home beyond when seventy-eight years of age. Unto this worthy pioneer couple were born twelve children, six sons and six daughters, two of whom died when young. William Wyant, the second son and fifth child in order of birth, spent the early years of his life in Wayne county, Ohio. In 1854 he came to Michigan, first establishing his home in Ionia county, where he purchased a farm and for a short time thereafter was en gaged in agricultural pursuits. He then went to Rock Island, Illinois, where he resided until 1858, and in that year came again to Michigan, this time locating in Pipestone township, Berrien county, but a short time afterward purchased a farm on sections 22 and 23, Berrien township, consisting of one hundred and eleven acres, where he was ex tensively engaged in the tilling of the soil for the long period of thirty-nine years, dur ing which time he met with the success he so richly deserved. On the expiration of that period Mr. Wyant removed to the farm stead which is now his home, which he had purchased in 1903, but it was two years later, in 1905, when he took up his abode thereon. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and well cultivated land, and the well tilled fields annually re turn to him rich rewards for the care' and labor he bestows upon them. In Akron, Summit county, Ohio, in 1853, Mr. Wyant was united in marriage to Alvira Tuttle, whose birth occurred in Portage county, that state, she being a daughter of Lafayette Tuttle, of Portage county. Four children have been born of this union — Mary Frances, at home; John F., a resident of Berrien township, Berrien county; Oscar M., who makes his home in Niles township, Berrien county; and Clista. M., the wife of Leroy Morley, and they re side with her parents. Mr. Wyant gives his political support to the Democratic party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been the choice of his party for a number of official positions, among which may be mentioned those of road commissioner and school di rector. He is a member of the Baptist Church at South Berrien Center. For fifty years Mr. Wyant has maintained his home in Berrien county, and during all these years his honorable and upright life and Chris tian character have endeared him to a host of friends. EDGAR S. PENNELL, proprietor of the Pennellwood summer resort in Berrien township, was born in Cayuga county, New York, August 22, 1843, and was the third child of Abram C. and Elizabeth B. (Smith) Pennell, the former also a native of the Em pire State. He became a resident of Ber rien county in 1848, at which time he located. in Lake township and purchased a farm, upon which he remained for five years. He then located in Oronoko township, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of un improved land. Scarcely a furrow has been turned upon the place and with character istic energy he began to clear and cultivate it. He built fences, plowed the fields and continued the work of improvement until a. later day, when he traded this farm for land in Berrien township. He spent his last days in Berrien Springs and was more than eighty years of age at the time of his demise. He- had held local offices in Lake township and was well and favorably known as a citizen of genuine worth, fearless in defense of his honest convictions and a stanch champion of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 821 whatever he believed to be right. In politics he was a stalwart Republican and active in the interests of the party. He married Eliza beth Smith, who was reared in New York, her father, Richard Smith, removing to the Empire State during her early life. She lived to be more than eighty-six years of age. In their family were five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom now survive and are married. Edgar S. Pennell was but five years of age when he came to Berrien county and was reared in Lake and Oronoko townships, while the educational privileges he enjoyed were afforded by the country schools. His attention was largely given to work upon the old home farm until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary A. Walton, a daughter of James and Mary A. Walton, who came to 'Oronoko township when their daughter, Mrs. Pennell, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was about six years of age. At the time of his marriage, Edgar S. Pennell located upon a part of the old home farm in Oronoko township, having forty acres, to which he afterward added two acres. He remained there, carefully culti vating the place until 1879, when he located on his present farm. About 1895 he began entertaining summer boarders, and in 1896 he began building and improving summer cottages. No state of the middle west of fers more attractions as a summer resort than does Michigan, with its wooded hills, its beautiful lakes and its delightful climate, and Mr. Pennell, taking advantage of these conditions, has developed an excellent bus iness of this character. He now accommo dates about one hundred in the heighth of the season and has on an average of about sixty people to spend the summer months at Pennellwood, which is pleasantly located on the St. Joseph river about a mile and a half •south of Berrien Springs and a mile from an electric line. Mr. Pennell meets his guests at the train when they are expected and puts forth every effort in his power for their con venience and entertainment. He has in the farm one hundred and twenty acres and in addition to this property he has a home at New Smyrna, Florida, his sons, Clyde W. and James F., owning a winter resort there. Mr. Pennell has been a resident of the coun ty for almost six decades and in many ways has been identified with its development and progress. In politics he has been a life-long Republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party. His business interests are care fully conducted and he has made the Pen nellwood a favorite and attractive resort. WILLIAM P. KING. No history of Berrien county would be complete without containing mention of William P. King, for his life work was closely interwoven with the early development and later progress of this part of the state and detailed account of his life would present an accurate picture of conditions which existed here when Berrien county was a frontier district. He was born December 4, 1808, at Brainard's Bridge in Rensselaer county, New York, his parents being William and Lydia King, representa tives of an early family of Massachusetts. The son at the age of sixteen years became an apprentice to an uncle at Monroe, Michi gan, who built mills in this state. In 1885 Mr. King arrived in St. Joseph to enter the employ of the government, engaging in building the harbor. That was the first work on which is the present channel. He sank cribs and did other such work, spending several seasons in that way. He was in the employ of a government contractor, James Mann. During this time he entered land from the government, becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which is now the present King homestead. He began to improve the property, building thereon a log barn and log house. It was a square tim ber house all mortised and it is now in use as a barn on an adjoining farm. It was one of the old block houses built in "off seasons" when five or six expert men could give as sistance in its construction and in getting out timbers. All shingles were rived and shaved. This stood near the present house and was occupied by Mr. King until he built the residence which now stands upon the place in 1869. His activity in business and deep interests made him very widely known 822 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and for one or two years he ran flatboats and steamboats on the St. Joseph river, bringing grain down the river and taking merchandise up the stream to Three Rivers, Constantine and other places. In those days the Wheeler Boat Line and the Sutherland were the principal ones operating and it was in connection therewith that Mr. King made his trips up and clown the river, becoming known to all the older settlers as Captain King. In the meantime he was also clearing, cultivating and developing his farm and in the course of years he had two hundred acres under cultivation, having added eighty acres to the original tract. His land lay on either side of the Pipestone road but there was no passage through his farm at the time when he located thereon. As the country became more thickly settled and there was demand for more public highways, however, the Pipestone road was laid out through his farm. In all of his work he was practical and progressive and his claims soon showed evidence of his careful cultivation and spirit of enterprise and thrift. He also invested in other lands and at one time owned all of the land now in the city of Benton Harbor between Brittain and Empire avenues along Pipestone, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, which is now a very valuable property. St. Joseph at that time was the principal business center of the county and it was believed that Benton Harbor would never be a place of any commercial import ance. In fact, neither city had become very large or prominent at the time of his death and the family sent to Niles, a distance of twenty-five miles, for a hearse in which to take the body of Mr. King to the place of interment. In his political views Captain King was a stalwart Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He was quite active in political affairs, attending the party conven tions and did all in his power to secure the adoption of the principles in which he be lieved. At the time of the Mexican war he enlisted for service in the American army and later he received in recognition of his aid a land warrant for one hundred and -sixty acres. However, he afterward sold the war rant. In community affairs he took a help ful interest and was always present at vari ous town meetings and served in nearly all of the township offices save that of super visor. He was recognized as a real leader in. township affairs, his views being respected by all because of his well known fidelity to the general good and his public spirit. He enjoyed the unqualified regard of the early settlers of the county and his upright life fully merited the trust that was reposed in him. He was reared in the faith of the close communion Baptist Church, with which he always retained his connection. His house was ever open for the reception of ministers of the denomination and for all other people as well, its hospitality being unbounded. Mr. King was married in St. Joseph to Miss Jane Kelley, a daughter of James Kel ley, a Scotch Irishman. Her father was a strong, powerful man, of fine physique and was a pioneer settler of the county, typicaL of the life of the frontier. He settled upon a farm bordering the St. Joseph river and his house was a hotel at which boat passen gers stopped. It was at Arden and on the Niles road was erected another hotel, the Buckhorn, but his place was always the more important. Sometimes twenty steamboats and other river craft would be tied up to the wharf here and it is supposed that it was at this place where he formed the acquaintance of Miss Kelley, who afterward became his. wife. She survived him for twenty-five years or until July 16, 1894, when she passed away at the age of seventy-two years. The death of Mr. King had occurred on the 10th of May, 1869, when he was sixty-one years of age. In their family were eight chil dren : George H., of whom further mention is made; Nathan G, deceased; William P., who died at the age of fifty-nine years ; Alex ander C, of Benton Harbor; Mary E., the wife of W. A. Preston, of St. Joseph ; Nel lie C, who was a teacher and is now living at home; Laura B., also at home; and Jen nie A., the wife of P. W. Hall, of Benton Harbor. Of this family Nathan served in the army of the Potomac throughout the MRS. ABEL GARR ABEL GARR HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 823 Civil war. He afterward conducted a groc ery store in St. Joseph and later he went to Chicago, where all trace of him was lost. It was impossible to gain further informa tion concerning him after diligent inquiry and it is therefore supposed that he is dead. William P. also served throughout the war and was in the government employ for four teen years in the Black Hills country, largely engaged in carrying supplies. Finally he settled at Blackfoot, Idaho, where he died in June, 1904, and his remains were re turned to Benton Harbor for interment. George H. King, the eldest of the family, was born in the old block house described above and remained upon the home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth. After his father's death he rented the farm until his mother's demise, when the estate was settled. He had also owned other land and he carries on general farming, in cluding the cultivation of the fields and the raising of good grades of cattle and hogs, to which he feeds his crops. He likewise grows peaches, pears and apples. His lead ing apple orchard is the one that was set out by his father in stumps almost seventy years ago and the trees have been in bearing for more than sixty-five years. Captain King would set trees as soon as the space was cleared, all of the trees being grafted in the body about two feet above the ground. This is doubtless the oldest bearing orchard in Berrien county and it has borne every year, thus being a continuous source of profit. In his political views Mr. King is a Republican. He attends the conventions and elections, never failing to embrace an opportunity of casting his ballot in support of the men and measures in which he be lieves. The family is prominent in the coun ty, having been connected with progress and development here from pioneer times and it is with pleasure we present to our readers the record of their lives. ABEL GARR, deceased, resided on sec tion 21, Oronoko township, and when called to his final rest the community mourned the loss of a representative citizen. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, December 31, 1807. His father, Abraham Garr, was a native of Virginia, born February 28, 1769, and removing westward, he settled in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1807. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Andreas Garr, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1685, and came to America in 1732, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which was eigh teen weeks in completing that voyage. He located in Culpeper county, Virginia, and became the progenitor of the family in the new world. Abel Garr was the sixth in a family of eight children and the youngest son, there being four sons and four daughters. He was reared upon the farm in Wayne county, Indiana, which his father had entered from the government and the district schools of a pioneer settlement afforded him his educa tional privileges. He was denied many of the privileges which are now known, owing to his residence upon the frontier but there were also pleasures and opportunities which are unknown now. Through the period of his youth he remained at his father's home- and afterwards learned the trade of cabinet- making, which he followed in Richmond, Indiana, until 1832, when, attracted by the new settlements of southwestern Michigan, he came to Berrien county and took up his abode in Niles. It was then a small town but the county was already giving indica tions of the enterprise and spirit of progress, which were soon adhered to and made it one of the leading counties of this great com monwealth. Mr. Garr worked at his trade in Niles, being in the employ of James Hall until he had saved from his earnings a sufficient sum of money to enable him to buy land. He received a wage of but fifty cents per day at cabinet-making and from this sum he bought the land on section 21, Oro noko township, now constituting the old homestead, upon which his widow and daughter reside. His first home was built of hewed logs and there he kept bachelor's hall for several years, in the meantime clear ing up the farm and as the timber was cut down he plowed his fields and planted his crops. On the 4th of December, 1847, Mr. Garr was married to Miss Harriet Storick, who was born at Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania, '824 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY December 19, 1819, a daughter of Lewis Storick, whose birth occurred on Chestnut street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which city he was reared. He became pro prietor of what was then called a tavern, and some years later he removed to the present town of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Michigan in 1836, establishing his home in Oronoko township on the place where Mrs. Garr now lives. After three years, however, he removed to the northern part of the township, where he purchased a farm. His last days, however, were spent on the old homestead where Mrs. Garr now resides. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Sellers, was also a native of Pennsylvania. His grave was among the first made in what is called Oak Grove ceme tery, the land having been given by Abel Garr for the purpose. Mrs. Garr was the youngest of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and is the only one now living. She was a maiden of but fifteen years when she became a resident of Berrien county and is now eighty-six years of age, so that her residence in Oronoko township covers the long period of seventy-one years. She is today the oldest living resident of the town ship and she receives the respect and ven eration which is certainly clue her. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Garr located on a farm which is still her home and. there they spent their entire married life. His attention was given to the cultivation of the fields and he was success ful in his business owning at one time four hundred acres of rich and arable land, which returned him a gratifying income for the care and labor he bestowed upon the fields. He also took an active part in public affairs and left the impress of his individu ality upon the public thought and action, es pecially in an earlier clay. He served as a captain of the home militia, was supervi sor of his township for some years and acted as school director for many years. He continued to reside upon the old home place until his demise, which occured Decem ber 20, 1889. Thus passed away one of the honored and worthy pioneer settlers, but he is yet remembered by many who knew him and who were associated with him in years of an active and useful career. He left a good property to his family, his wife and daughter now owning three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. There were six children in the family but two of the number died in infacy, and Maria, Lewis and Rosa are also deceased. The only sur viving member of this family is Martha, who gives personal supervision to the inter ests of the farm and is caring for her mother. The name of Garr has long been an hon ored one in Oronoko township and no his tory of this county would be complete with out mention of Abel Garr, who was a promi nent factor in public affairs during his life time, and of his wife, who is still an es teemed resident of Oronoko township. WILLIAM D. BREMER, who for a period of nine years has conducted an im portant lumber business in Three Oaks, and is also the owner of a valuable farm property of one hundred and thirty-two acres, largely devoted to fruit, in Chikaming township, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born on the 23d of February, 1856. He is a son of Frederick and Katharine (Frees) Bremer, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. The father died when his son William was a little lad of only six years and the mother passed away in Wisconsin, when more than seventy-six years of age. In the family were thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. William D. Bremer spent the first seven years of his life in the fatherland, after which he came with his widowed mother to the United States, the family home being es tablished in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He there resided until twelve years of age, when he made his way to the northern part of the state and although but a boy began earning his own living, working in the saw and shingle mills of the locality until he reached the age of fourteen years. He then began learning the butcher's trade at Green Bay, Wisconsin, following that pursuit until nine years ago. He went from Wisconsin to Chi cago, Illinois, where he secured employment in a meat market and about twenty-seven years ago he removed to Three Oaks. In the period of his residence here he conducted HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 825 three different meat markets, built up a good trade in each and also conducted a prosper ous live stock business. He operated quite extensively in those lines and enjoyed a good patronage in the different stores of which he was the proprietor. He also made judicious purchases and profitable sales as a live stock dealer and nine years ago he established his present extensive lumber yards, which he is now conducting, having in this line secured a business that is very desirable. He like wise owns a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres planted mostly to fruit, and his crops add materially to his annual income. In all of his business affairs he has shown adaptability, determination and un flagging perseverance, and these qualities constitute a safe and sure basis upon which to build the superstructure of success. In 1877, while in Chicago, Mr. Bremer was married to Miss Bertha Wischmann, who was born in Stattene, Germany, a lit tle village near the city of Berlin, Gerriiany, in the year 1855, and came to America with her parents when only about two years of age. She is a daughter of William and Bertha Wischmann. Four children have graced this marriage: Clara, now the wife of George Schobach, a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan; Otto, who is in partnership with his father ; Minnie and Bertha, both at home. Mr. Bremer has been a Democrat since Cleveland's second term, and has served as a member of the village council. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church, to the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen camp, and is recognized as a citizen whose co-operation can always be counted upon to further progressive public movements relating to the material, political, social or moral progress of the com munity. He has been dependent upon his own resources from an early age. He started out with no special family or pecuniary ad vantages to assist him and may well be called a self-made man, for his advancement is at tributable entirely to his own labors and de termination. He stands as one whose life record is creditable by reason of what he has accomplished and also by reason of the methods that he has followed,, and he belongs to that class of citizens who, while advanc ing individual success also contribute to the general welfare. JOHN J. NOTHDURFT, of Bain bridge township, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, on the 24th of March, 1867, and spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native country, after which he came to the United States with an uncle and located in Niles, Michigan. The journey was made from Bremen to Glasgow on a small steamer and at the latter port they became passengers on the Anconia for New York. For ten years after his arrival in Berrien county Mr. Nothdurft was employed at farm labor, two years being spent in the service of Tobias Byers, of Keeler township, Van Buren county. He worked much of the time by the year, receiving two hundred dollars per year. He saved his earnings and thus in ten years had gained a nice start. Mr. Nothdurft further completed his ar rangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on the ist of February, 1893, to Miss Henrietta Hildenbrant, a daughter of John and Mary Hildenbrant, of Niles township, her father being a prominent farmer of that locality. She was born and reared in that township about three miles southwest of the city of Niles. In June, 1893, Mr. Nothdurft purchased his present farm, which is the old Adam- Miller place of eighty acres. It was to be sold at the ad ministrator's sale and he made the purchase for twenty-one hundred dollars. This place is situated in Bainbridge township on the county line twelve miles east of Benton Har bor and «iear the territorial road. It was patented by Martin Van Buren, then presi dent of the United States, to Adam Miller, in 1839, and remained in the Miller family. until purchased by its present owner, who now has in his possession the old patent signed by Martin Van Buren. It was one of the earliest developed farms of Berrien county and its original owner was one of the leading, influential men of this part of the state. Of his family one daughter, Delia, survives and lives in Benton Harbor. The buildings were erected by Mr. Miller but have been improved and remodeled by Mr. Nothdurft. He has also brought the land 826 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY under a high state of cultivation and now has fifteen acres in fruit, about half of which is planted to berries. He has increased his acreage in this regard for he has found the growing of berries to be a profitable indus try. He is a practical farmer, having been familiar with the business from early boy hood and his broad knowledge and unfal tering energy are strong concomitants in his present success. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nothdurft have been born five children, Lucile, Ellen, George, John and Raymond. In politics Mr. Noth durft is independent, voting for the candi date rather than for party. He is never neglectful of his duties of citizenship, how ever, and gives active support to many meas ures for the public good. The place upon which he lives is one of the old landmarks of the county and in its further development and improvement Mr. Nothdurft is display ing the qualities of an enterprising agricul turist. Mr. Nothdurft has taken a lively interest in good roads and has on his place a fine gravel pit and has himself personally made a good gravel road of over a mile on the ter ritorial road. CHARLES D. SHIPPY belongs to one of the old and well known pioneer families of Berrien county and now follows farming in Bainbridge township. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, April 8, 1835. His father, William Shippy, died in the Em pire State during the boyhood days of his son Charles, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Ingraham, after los ing her first husband, was married to George Collis. By the former marriage she had eight children, and by the second union there were born three sons and two daughters. She always kept with her the children of her first marriage until they were old enough to care for themselves, and of this number six are yet living but only two are now resi dents of Michigan, Charles and his sister, Mary Ann, who is the wife of John Suther land, deceased, of Pipestone township, and the mother of Aubrey Sutherland, who was drowned in Lake Michigan, July 4, 1906. All of the surviving members of the Collis marriage have left this state. On coming to Berrien county George Collis and his wife located at Spink's Corners, where Os car Westcott now resides, and there Mr. Collis cleared up and improved the farm whereon he lived until the death of his wife in 1875, when she was sixty-three years of age. Mr. Collis subsequently went to Cali fornia, where he died at the advanced age of more than eighty years. Charles D. Shippy was a youth of only eight years when he came to Berrien county with his mother, remaining with her until he reached the age of eighteen. He was there fore reared among pioneer environments and shared with the family in the hardships and trials incident to life on the frontier. Leav ing home he worked by the month as a farm hand until his marriage. It was on the ist of March, 1861, that he wedded Miss Lucy Barnes, a daughter of Charles and Amanda (Sutherland) Barnes, the latter a sister of John Sutherland. They were married in Broome county, New York, and came to Michigan in 1836, although two years be fore Mr. Barnes had come to this state and built a sawmill at Breedsville, where he re mained in the operation of the mill for one year: On again coming to Michigan he was employed at Kalamazoo, and afterward went to Cottage Hill, Illinois, where he re mained for three years, while in 1882 he se cured the tract of land in Bainbridge town ship, Berrien county, which became his home, and which is now the home farm of Charles Shippy. He resided upon his farm but devoted his time to preaching the gospel, being a Methodist circuit rider, his duties in this connection taking him away from home to a large extent. He preached in Berrien and adjoining counties and did much for the early moral development of this part of the state. He made trips on horseback from one circuit to another and organized many classes and held many tent meetings. He preached the gospel in many localities and sowed the seeds of truth and virtue, which in the course of years have borne good fruit. At the out break of the Civil war he enlisted as chap lain in the Twelfth Michigan Regiment and was shot during the first day's battle at Shiloh, dying from the effects of his wounds. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 827 His remains were brought home in a metallic coffin and interred in Pen Yan cemetery. He was at that time fifty-one years of age. His widow was left with five daughters, for whom she made a good home, carefully rear ing her children and doing for them to the extent of her ability and means. In early life she was engaged in teaching for two terms, holding one term of school in her own home in Illinois. She carefully trained her children in the lines of housework, in in tellectual and in moral development and she was entertained in highest regard by her neighbors. She died August 27, 1875, at the age of sixty-three years. Her children were as follows : Mary, the wife of Charles Bishop, living in Pipestone township; Mrs. Lucy Shippy, who engaged in teaching for four years in Berrien and Van Buren coun ties ; Lazetta, the wife of John Collis, a half brother of George Collis, who with another brother, Melvin, and two half-brothers, George and Mino-t Shippy, were all engaged in active service in the Civil war; Lazetta is now the wife of Elbridge Dix, of Spink's Corners ; Rachel, the wife of George Shippy, a brother of Charles Shippy, living in Cali fornia; and Jeanetta, who became the wife of John Bradt and after his death married Clark Van Etten. She died at the age of twenty-five years. Following his marriage Mr. Shippy be gan to purchase parts of the old Barnes farm and he and his wife now own the en tire tract. The present house was built when Mrs. Shippy was a child and with the exception of ten years she has always lived ift this home. Mr. Shippy has added to the property until the farm now comprises one hundred and twenty acres, which is devoted to the raising of grain, fruit and stock and in all branches of his business he displays careful management and keen sagacity, re sulting in prosperity. For seven years Mr. and Mrs. Shippy were in California engaged in the dairy business and he has made three trips to that .state. With the exception of this period, however, his business connections have always been in Berrien county, where he is now well known as a representative agriculturist. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shippy have been born six children: Ada, the wife of Oscar Westcott, who is living on the Collis farm near Spink's Corners; William B., of Bain bridge township ; Nettie, the wife of Nathan iel Hicks, of Santa Cruz, California; Maude, the wife of Edwin Mocker, of San Fran cisco ; Ross, who is operating the home farm ; and Goldie, the wife of Frank Slankey, of Bainbridge township. There are now nine grandchildren. Mr. Shippy as a pioneer resident of the county well deserves mention in that his tory. In early days he spent considerable time in hunting deer, which were still num erous in the forests. There were many other evidences of frontier life to be found in the homes, and Mr. Shippy's memory forms a connecting link between the primi tive past and the progressive present. JOHN BURG of Bainbridge township, •whose place of eighty acres is devoted to general farming, was born in Stark county, Ohio, near Canton, on the 24th of Novem ber, 1840. He is a son of Lewis and Re becca Ann (Sumrill) Burg. The father, a native of Germany, was brought to Ohio by his parents in his boyhood days and in that state was married, his wife, however, being a native of Virginia, whence she, too, had gone to Ohio with her parents. During the infancy of their son John they removed to Spencer county, Indiana, where they lived for ten years and then became residents of Kosciusko county, that state. For another decade their home bordered the Tippecanoe river at the village of Etna Green. In his boyhood*days John Burg drove a team on the grading of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad. In 1862 his father came to Miclv igan, settling in Bainbridge township, Ber rien county, where his sons, Henry and Wil liam, are now living. There he and his wife spent their remaining days. His birth had occurred July 5, 1812, and he passed away in 1874, at the age of sixty-two, years, Mrs. Burg surviving him for about two years. All through the period of his minority John Burg remained at home, and at the age of twenty-one years came to Michigan, hav ing first lived here. To provide for his own support he worked by the month as a farm 828 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY hand and as soon as possible he purchased forty acres of hemlock land, for which he paid four hundred and fifty dollars, making the payments by peeling hemlock bark. With characteristic energy he began to clear, cul tivate and improve his original tract, and in. 1868 he removed to his present farm. He is now the owner of eighty acres, the greater part of which he has cleared of the timber. He has about three acres of apples and three acres of peaches and has grown strawberries in former years but his attention is now given largely to general farming and bee culture, having now seventy-three stands. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and has devoted his attention to farm work during the greater part of his business career although he is a cooper by trade and has fol lowed that pursuit to some extent. He erected his present residence about twenty- two years ago and it is situated about twelve miles southeast of Benton Harbor. His land is well located and borders Pipestone lake. The farm altogether is a valuable property, indicating in its neat and thrifty appearance the careful supervision of a progressive owner. Mr. Burg was married near South Ha ven, in Allegan county, Michigan, on the 1 2th of March, 1865, to Miss Juliette Had ley, who was born in New Hampshire and came to this state in her girlhood clays. The family lived for a time in Iowa but her father, Seth Hadley, spent his last days in Berrien county with his daughter, Mrs. Burg. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children. Alice became the wife of Horace Wise and died a few years ago but her husband is still living in Bain bridge township. William E. Burg, the only son, follows farming near his father's place, and also operates a sawmill. In his political views John Burg is a Democrat and has been active in township affairs. His wife is a member of the Free Methodist Church. He enjoys hunting and fishing and always keeps a good rifle. The country was full of deer when he settled here and he thus bad ample opportunity to in dulge his love of outdoor sports. He has seen hard times but has persevered in his work and made the most of his opportunities so that as the years have gone by he has eventually prospered and is now the owner of one of the good farms of his community. i CHARLES KLUTH, whose excellent farm is situated on section 10, Three Oaks township, was bdrn in Mechlenberg, Ger many, December 25, 1841, a son of Peter and Lana (Long) Kluth. The mother died in her native country and the father after ward coming to America spent his last days in the home of his son Charles. In their family were six children, four of whom came to the United States : Fred, a resident of Three Oaks township; Charles, of this re view; Sophia, who is living in Chicago; and Peter, who makes his home in Three Oaks township. Charles Kluth acquired his education in the public schools of his native country, which he attended until fourteen years of age and then began working as a laborer on a farm, this pursuit claiming his attention until he was twenty-six years of age. He came to the United States with his wife and one child in 1867, making the voyage on a sailing vessel, which was seven weeks and four days in crossing the Atlantic. At length anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York and Mr. Kluth made his way direct to Three Oaks, Michigan. Here he has re sided continuously since. He began chop ping wood for other people and spent two years in that way, after which he operated rented land for nine years. After three years spent upon a rented farm he bought forty acres of land, subsequently adding a tract of twenty acres and eventually pur chasing forty acres more, so that he now has one hundred acres, of which sixty acres is situated on section 10, Three Oaks town ship, while forty acres is on section 15 of the same township. He has placed seventy acres under the plow himself and the fields present an excellent appearance, giving promise of golden harvests in the autumn. He has erected all of the buildings and made all of the improvements upon the property and everything about the place is in excellent con dition, showing his careful supervision and practical, progressive methods. He has never been dilatory or negligent in his busi- JaAa4i bO^n^uJz HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 829 ness career and he owes his success entirely to his own labors, having justly won the honored American title of a "self-made man." Mr. Kluth was married in 1865, to Miss Wilhelmina Witt, who was born in Mechlen- berg, Germany, on the 25th of November, 1843. Eight children grace this marriage: Lena, now the wife of Theodore Dryer, of Three Oaks; Mary, the wife of John P. Rist, of Michigan City; Fred, Robert, Charles, John, William and Henry, all of whom are married and are living in Three Oaks. Mr. Kluth votes with the Republican party, having given his support to its men and measures since he became a naturalized American citizen. He is ever loyal to the stars and stripes and unfaltering in his alle giance to America and her free institutions. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church and is a man of upright principles, who in the years of his residence in Three Oaks township, covering a period of more than a third of a century, has won the highest esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of fourteen years, he has progressed in the face of obstacles and difficulties which he has overcome by determination. PETER WOMER. Many years have passed since Peter Womer became a resi dent of Berrien county, so that he is today numbered among the old settlers, and his memory compasses a period of rapid growth and development here, for in the early days of its settlement there was much wild and uncultivated land with comparatively few improvements along agricultural lines, while the work of improvement in the towns and cities had scarcely been begun. His home is on section 7, Bertrand township, where he superintends excellent farming interests, his place comprising one hundred and nine ty-seven acres of rich land. His life record began in what is now Union county but was then Snyder county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of February, 1838, his parents being Michael and Eliza beth Womer, who were natives of Penn sylvania, and in their family were nine chil dren, the circle remaining unbroken by the hand of death until all had reached adult age. Peter Womer of this review is the eldest of the family and was reared and educated in his native place, supplementing his pub lic school advantages by study in Freeburg Academy. The hours of his youth when not spent in the schoolroom were largely occu pied by farm labor and he remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when, think ing to find other pursuits more congenial than farming he took up the carpenter's trade. Having learned this business he worked in Ohio and in Pennsylvania, and in 1866 he came to Michigan. During a part of the first year after his arrival in this part of the country he followed his trade in Elkhart, Indiana, and then coming to Bertrand township he resumed the occupa tion to which he had been reared, purchas ing a farm in this county. He has since carried on general agricultural pursuits, his energy and enterprise bringing him a good return. Mr. Womer was married first to Miss Sarah Rough, a daughter of David and Anna Rough, who were prominent and representative citizens of Buchanan. They traveled life's journey happily together for a number of years, and Mrs. Womer was then called to her final rest in 1893, leaving one son, William Allen, who is living with his father. The following account of her life and death was published in the Daily Star. "Mrs. Sarah Womer, wife of Peter Womer, who died at her home on Portage Prairie on Wednesday last (November 29, 1893), was born in Buffalo township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1841, and emigrated with her parents, David and Anna Rough, to Bertrand township, Ber rien county, Michigan, in 1849. She was married to her now sorrowing husband, Peter Womer, on March 10, 1867. Her age was fifty-two years, one month and three days. Mrs. Womer has been a great sufferer for a number of years from a complication of diseases, but the principle cause of her death was diabetes and lung fever. She was bed-fast for five weeks. Mrs. Womer was a consistent member of the Evangelical 83o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Church for thirty-five years. She leaves a husband, one son, one sister (Mrs. A. C. House), and two brothers, William R. and Solomon Rough. A large number of re latives and friends attended the funeral serv ices, which were conducted from the Zion Evangelical Church on Portage Prairie, on Saturday, December 2, by her. pastor, Rev. W. H. Wagner, assisted by Revs. Frye, Presiding Elder Johnson, from Buchanan, and Rev. Stull, evangelist, from Philadel phia." It was in the year 1883 that Mr. Womer purchased the old David Vanderhoof farm, and in 1885 he began to improve the place, building thereon a house and barn as fine as any to be found in the township. In fact his is a palatial residence, his dwelling hav ing been erected at a cost of about eight thousand dollars and Mr. Womer did most of the supervising of the carpenter work himself. His barn cost about twelve hun dred dollars. He has where he lives four hundred and twenty-five acres of land and also one hundred and sixty acres in the old Adams farm in Bertrand township. He also has two hundred and twenty acres in St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the line of Ber trand township, and in connection with A. C. House he owns the old Canada farm of one hundred and ninety-seven acres in Bertrand township and property in Buchan an, also one hundred and sixty-one acres on sections 17 and 18 in Bertrand township. He has made judicious and extensive invest ments in real-estate until he now has large holdings, his property returning him an ex cellent income. Mr. Womer has always been deeply in terested in public affairs, political and other wise, and his aid and co-operation can be counted upon to further movements for the general good. He votes with the Democracy and keeps- well informed on questions and issues of the day. He was supervisor in 1877, and in 1884 was elected township treasurer, while in 1890 he was again chosen supervisor, holding the office for about five years in all. He thoroughly ac quainted himself with the duties of these of fices and discharged each one conscientiously and faithfully.. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, active in its work and as one of its supervisors he has contributed to its growth and upbuilding. His life is in harmony with his professions, having been actuated by honorable principles and characterized by manly, straightforward conduct, and in the line of legitimate busi ness he has won success, making, him a pros perous farmer of his adopted county. WILLIAM A. WOMER. Upon the shoulders of the young men falls the robe of. responsibility — since the parents are retir ing from active life. The gentleman whose name heads this review is one of the sterling young men of Bertrand township, who re sides with his father on the beautiful old homestead known as "The Sunny Side Farms" of Bertrand township. W. A. Womer was born in Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, June 13, 1869, the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Womer, and he was reared as a farmer and stockman. He was educated in the common schools and took a select and business course of instruction in the North Western College at Naperville, Illinois, of twenty-four months. He wedded Miss Ida K. Ehninger, a most worthy young lady, April 14, 1897, and one little daughter was born of this union, Sarah Irene. The wife and mother died March 6, 1905, which death was mourned by many of her friends. She had received a good education in the common schools, and was a devoted member of the Evangelical Church in Bertrand township, known as "The Zion Church of Portage Prairie." Her death was a peculiarly sad one in the light of all the circumstances. After a week or more of social gaiety Mrs. Womer's brothers and sisters were met to gether at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ehninger, for a family din ner in honor of the golden wedding anni versary of the latter. The only absent one was Mrs. Womer, who lay upon a bed of sickness and pain in her own home. From their scene of joy and happiness, the par ents and her sisters and brothers were sum moned to the bedside of the dying daughter and sister. It was a terrible shock to them all, as they had no realization that her ill- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 831 ness was of so critical a nature. She was one of a family of nine children, two of whom have preceded her in death, Mrs. John Goldfuss and John Ehninger. The' surviv ing sisters and brothers are Mrs. Jessie Kizer, of German township, Indiana; Mrs. Henry Schoettger, of Arlington, Nebraska; Henry and William Ehninger, of Nebraska ; Frank, of Michigan City; and Charles, who lives near the old homestead. Mr. Womer in his political views is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Cleveland. He has been selected by the people as delegate to the state and county conventions at various times, and officially he is now acting as township clerk for the third term. Fraternally he is a valued member of the K. of P. lodge, No. 50, at Niles. He has passed all the chairs in the lodge and has been delegate to the Grand lodge of the Pythians. We are pleased to give him a review in the Twen tieth Century History of Berrien county. MARSHALL D. FRANKLIN is the owner of a good farm of eighty acres on sec tion 20 in Chikaming township, and through out his entire life has followed farming. In addition to the raising of cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is now en gaged quite extensively and successfully in agricultural pursuits and has an excellent fruit farm. He was born in Belfast, Alle gany county, New York, November 15, 1850, a son of Freeman W. and Lucinda (Daniels) Franklin, natives of New York and descendants of New England parent age. The father died at the home of his son, Marshall D., in Berrien county, December 31, 1903, in the eightieth year of his age, and his wife passed away at Decatur, Michi gan, when sixty years of age. In the fam ily were four children, as follows : Marshall D. ; Mrs. Mary D. Monroe, of Chicago, the widow of W. S. Monroe, at one time a resi dent of Berrien county; John B., a farmer of Decatur, Michigan ; and Charles, who died at the age of four years. Marshall D. Franklin came to Michi gan with his parents when thirteen years of age, the family home being established in Decatur. There amid pioneer surroundings he was reared, and the public schools af forded him his educational privileges. He received ample training at farm labor and the practical experience and knowledge which he gained in his youth proved of the utmost value to him in his later business career. He was married in 1877, and in 1881 came to his present farm, comprising eighty acres of land on section 20, Chikaming township. He had always followed fanning and he took his land when it was covered with the second growth of timber. This he cleared away and has placed the fields under a high state of cultivation, while upon the farm he has erected good modern buildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He now devotes his time and ener gies to tilling the soil and to cultivating fruit, and his horticultural interests have proven an important feature of his business. He has had as many as five acres planted to strawberries and there are eight hundred peach trees upon his place. September 5, 1877, occurred the mar riage of Mr. Franklin and Miss Viola Glid den, who was born in Porter township, Van Buren county, March 5, 1856, 'a daughter of Stephen M. and Mary (Peabody) Glidden. Her father now resides at Lakeside but her mother is deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have been born two daughters : Nora A., now the wife of Oscar Duddleson, of Three Oaks; and Clara B., at home. Although reared in the faith of the Re publican party, to which he gave his sup port until 1896, Mr. Franklin is now a stalwart Democrat. He has held every office in his township except that of school inspec tor, having been elected to minor positions on the Republican ticket. Later he was chosen to more important positions on the peoples ticket. He served as supervisor for one term, has been treasurer two terms, clerk for one term and is now serving for the sec ond term as justice of the peace. He was likewise highway commissioner for one term. - He has never missed voting at an election since he was twenty-one years of age and in the discharge of his official duties is always found to be prompt and faithful, his labors characterized by unfaltering loyalty to the public good. He is a member of the Meth- 832 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY odist Episcopal Church at Lakeside and has filled all of the offices therein, and he is a charter member of Three Oaks Lodge, Knights of the Maccabees. The greater part of his life has been spent in Michigan, and for a quarter of a century he has lived upon his present farm, which in its splen didly improved condition indicates the care and labor which he bestows upon it, making it an excellent property. LEVI WILLARD, largely engaged in the growing of fruit on section 20, Chika ming township, was born in Grafton town ship, Windom county, Vermont, July 31, 1838, and since 1865 has made his home in Berrien county. His father, Joseph Willard, spent his entire life in Vermont, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Betsy French, a native of Range, New Hampshire, who died in the Green Mountain State. Levi Willard, the youngest member of the family and the only one living of seven children, save for one exception, remained a resident of Windom county, Vermont, un til 1865. He is the only one of the family who came to the west and he arrived in Ber rien county on the 14th of April, 1865 — the day on which President Lincoln was as sassinated. He had been reared to the oc cupation of farming and throughout his en tire life has been connected with his work or its kindred branches. He made his way at once to the farm upon which he now re sides, purchasing at first thirty acres of land. He sold that two years ago and still has forty acres in the homestead place on section 20, Chikaming township. When it came into his possession it was covered with brush and there was a log house upon it. He started in life here after the primitive manner of the times, cleared the fields and placed the farm under cultivation, doing much of the work with his own hands. The raising of cucumber seeds was one of the special features of his work and he made that industry a source of income and of business success for thirty years, providing seeds to various companies engaged in the business as seed dealers. His place is now largely de voted to fruit and he is numbered among the leading horticulturists of. his community, having an excellent knowledge of the best methods of producing fruit. Mr. Willard was married in Malone New York, April 27, 1858, to Miss Elmira Hutchins, whose birth occurred in Westville, Franklin county, New York, March 12, 1842, her parents being Jedediah and Elvira (Hutchins) Hutchins, who were natives of Westfield, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Wil lard became the parents of two sons : Ed gar J., born September 27, i860, resides in Michigan City and is the owner of the farm on which his father originally located. He served as clerk of the township for four years and was also supervisor of Chikaming township for four years. He is married and has three children, DeForest, Harold, and Lillie, who died at the age of fourteen years. The younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Wil lard bore the name of Arthur, and died at the age of seven years. Mr. Willard has never had occasion to regret his determina tion to seek a home in the middle west, for here he has prospered and as the years have gone by he has demonstrated his right to be classed with the self-made men who place their dependence upon the substantial qual ities of energy and determination, and there by win success. HENRY SCHOPBACH, who was one of the substantial citizens of Berrien county that Germany has furnished to this state, was born near the Rhine, in Hesse-Darm stadt, January 22, 1828, his parents being Philip and Elenora Schopbach, who spent their entire lives in Germany. He was the eighth in order of birth in their family of nine children, and two of his brothers came to the United States. Mr. Schopbach of this review was in his twentieth year when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He had been reared in the city of Alsfeld, where his father was a man of considerable influence and prominence, holding a position at the head of the infirmary there during the greater part of his life. Mr. Schopbach came to this country accompanied by his sis ter, Susanah, and in his younger years trav eled to a considerable extent. He finally located in South Bend, where he conducted a hardware store for many years, and while HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 835 living there he met the lady whom he made his wife. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal consider ations and enlisted for three years' service, joining-a Pennsylvania regiment, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. While at the front he became ill and spent some time in the hospital. On receiving an hon orable discharge he returned to his home and business interests in South Bend, and on ac count of poor health he removed from that city to Chikaming township, Berrien county, where he carried on farming until his death in the fall of 1892. He conducted only a srnall farm of sixty acres but his widow has since purchased four farms. She had two two hundred and sixty acres of land .in the homestead and has given farms' to two of her sons, so that she still retains one hun dred acres in the home place. While in South Bend Mr. Schopbach conducted an extensive mercantile enterprise and met with success in his undertakings along that line. On the 27th of October, 1870, was cele brated the marriage of Henry Schopbach and Miss Rosina B. Keller, who lived on a farm on Portage Prairie, northwest of South Bend. She was born, however, in Lorain county, Ohio, March 10, 1850, a daughter of Jacob F. and Rosina (Byer) Keller, who came from Wurtemberg, Germany. They met and married in New York city and Mr. Keller, who was a butcher by trade and in Ohio a live stock dealer, was identified with packing operations during the greater part of his life. He lived in Michigan, near Niles, on the old Chicago-Detroit road. His death occurred in California, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years. He made three trips to Europe, and died on his second trip to California, passing away in Los Angeles, where he had gone to look after his prop erty. His wife passed away in South Bend, Indiana, at the age of sixty^five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schopbach were born five sons : William, who died at the age of two years; Henry William, who passed away when twenty-one years of age; Oscar, who operates the home farm for his mother; George, who owns and operates a creamery at Dowagiac, Michigan; and Fred Jacob, who served four years in the United States 53 navy, being a seaman on the Bennington at Frisco at the time that it was blown up in 1905. He has many souvenirs procured from many parts of the world and from the Bennington. The family are well known in this part of the county, and Mrs. Schopbach has many warm friends in this portion of the state. In his political views Mr. Shopbach was a stalwart Republican and he was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Chuch. A well educated man, he was continually broaden ing his mind- through reading and observa tion. He possessed strongly domestic tastes and found his greatest happiness with his wife and children and in an active, honorable career he won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. ALEC WATSON, well known in Three Oaks as a successful business man, is conr- ducting a good meat market there and is also , the owner of a valuable farming property, comprising three hundred acres in Three Oaks and Galien townships. Moreover he is entitled to distinction as one who owes his success entirely to his own labors. He has worked persistently and energetically in his efforts to reach the goal of prosperity and as the years have gone by his persistency and labor have accomplished the results that he desired. He was born in Pevensey, Sussex, England, on the 9th of August, 1850. His father was Henry Watson, also a native of .Sussex, who married Hannah Ford, like wise born in that county, where' they spent their entire lives. The mother died when her son Alec was only three years of age. In the family were four children: Fred erick, who* is engaged in the commission bus iness in Chicago; Harriet, who died in the east ; Alec, of this review ; and Herbert, who is conducting his father's old meat busi ness, which was established in 1850 in the town of Pevensey. Alec Watson spent his youth in' the his toric old section of England amid many famous castles' and districts which were the scene of many memorable events that have left their impress upon the annals of Eng land. With his father he learned the butch er's trade, remaining with him until about fourteen years of age, when he went to Lon- 834 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY don, where he was employed at his trade in various shops. He went to Chicago in 1869 direct from England, making the journey alone to the new world when a young man of about nineteen years. He there worked at his trade and after two or three years he embarked in business on his own account, remaining in. Chicago until the fall of 1887, when he came to Three Oaks and established his present meat market. He has continued here at the same location for more than eighteen years and has a very liberal patron age, his trade having steadily increased with the growth of the town, his business meth ods and enterprise being such as gained for him a very liberal and gratifying patronage. Mr. Watson owns his own business place and a dw-elling in Three Oaks in addition to property in Chicago, and his realty inter ests are the visible evidence of a life of thrift • and enterprise. Mr. Watson was married in Chicago, in September, 1872, to Miss Mary Weaver, a native of Holland, who came to the United States with her parents three or four years before Mr. Watson arrived. She was a daughter of Bernard and Lena Elizabeth Weaver. Their children are : Nellie, de ceased; Ida, deceased; William H., a part ner of his father; Frederick, deceased; Net tie, deceased ; Clara May, who- is engaged in teaching in the schools of Three Oaks ; Ethel Maude, also a teacher; and Alice, who has departed this life. In his political views Mr. Watson is a stalwart Republican and is interested in poli tics to the extent of keeping well informed on questions of the day and giving his sup port to the men and measures that he en dorses, but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He belongs to the Congregational Church and is active in its work and in the Sunday school as well. He holds membership with the Odd Fellows society and in his life has displayed many sterling characteristics which have gained for him the confidence and respect of those with whom he is associated. He has pros pered in the years of his residence in Three Oaks and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in Amer ica. On the contrary he has found condi tions favorable to men who are energetic and determined and through his strong purpose and indefatigable diligence has worked his way upward to a position of affluence. WILLIAM H. WATSON is too well known in Three Oaks to need special intro duction to the readers of this volume, for during the greater part of his life he has lived in this town and through the years of his manhood has been connected with its business interests, being now a member of the firm of A. Watson & Son, proprietors of the leading meat market here. A native of Chicago, he was born on the 28th of August, 1877, and is a son of Alec and Mary (Weaver). Watson, whose life record is given above. He spent his first ten years in the city of his nativity and began his edu cation in the public schools there. In 1887 he came with his parents to Three Oaks, where he continued his studies until he put aside his text-books and entered upon his business career. He has for eight years been associated with his father under the present firm style of A. Watson & Son and they have a large and growing patronage with a business that is continually advancing in ex tent and importance. On the 3d of September, 1903, William H. Watson was married to Miss Florence L. Mead, and they have one son, Bernard Alec. The young couple are well known in social circles in Three Oaks and the hospitality of the best homes of the town is freely and cor dially extended them. ALONZO VINCENT, who is devoting his attention to the management of the Hotel Whitcomb at St. Joseph in connection with which he has also erected a bathhouse, is widely known, throughout the state as warden of the Michigan state prison, in which position he served for many years. In all life's relations, whether in public of fice, on battlefields — for he was a soldier of the Civil war — or in business dealings, he has been found thoroughly reliable and trustworthy, doing to- the best of his ability, and that ability is of a high order, every task which devolved upon him. Mr. Vincent was born in Jefferson ALONZO VINCENT HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 835 county, New York, January 16, 1844. His father, Albert Vincent, removed from the Empire State to Michigan and made a set tlement in Marshall, Calhoun county, whence he afterward removed to Berrien county. Here he purchased a tract of land and began its development and improve ment, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. He continued to- reside upon his farm until he was called to his final rest as did his wife, whose demise occurred when she had reached an advanced age. To the work of the farm Alonzo Vin cent gave his attention in his boyhood and youth when not occupied by the duties of' the schoolroom. He is indebted to the pub lic school system of Michigan for the ad vantages which he enjoyed and which quali fied him for life's practical and responsible duties.. The "war talk" which preceded the opening of hostilities in 1861 awakened his deepest interest and attention and when only seventeen years of age Mr. Vincent offered his services to the government, be coming a private of Company D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry in September, 1 86 1. This command gained a high repu tation under the title of the' Western Sharp Shooters. It was formed of companies from many of the western states and Company D was under command of Captain Piper, it having been recruited in Michigan. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and its service was principally in the line of sharpshooting, participating in many notable battles, including the engage ments of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, the second battle of Corinth, the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea under Sherman. Mr. Vincent was also in the Carolina campaign and proceeded down to Washington, where with his com mand he took part in the grand review where the victorious Union troops marched through the streets of the city, celebrating the victory which had crowned the Union armies. At Danville, Mississippi, Mr. Vin cent was captured by guerrillas, and from December until March was a prisoner, first in Alabama and later at Jackson, Missis sippi, where he was at length paroled and finally exchanged. For fifteen months he was in the division quartermaster's depart ment, having charge of issuing rations. When the. war ended Mr. Vincent re turned to Berrien county and in 1870 be came a representative of hotel interests of the state, with which he has since been as sociated, attaining marked success in this line of business. He first conducted a hotel at Coloma, after which he removed to Ben ton Harbor and for eighteen years was con nected with its hotel business. For eleven years he has been in charge of Hotel Whit comb in St. Joseph, this being one of tht most popular commercial and summer resort hotels in the state. Its patronage is ex tensive and it is still conducted by Mr. Vin cent, who has continued its popularity by reason of the fact that he makes a close study of the needs and wishes of the public and puts forth every effort in his power to meet these. He has also opened a bath house in connection therewith and is now carrying on a profitable business. He has a very wide acquaintance in hotel circles and among traveling men in the state and has gained many warm friends among his patrons by reason of the excellent manner in which he conducts his business and his personal traits of character. In January, 1861, Mr. Vincent was united in marriage to- Miss Elmira Enos, of Berrien county, Michigan, and they have two daughters : Maud E., the wife of Clar ence E. Blake; and Marie G., at home. Since age conferred upon him the right of fran chise Mr. Vincent has been a stalwart advo cate of tne Republican party, thus laboring earnestly for its success and growth. He . has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, but in December, 1901, re ceived appointment from the board of con trol of the state prison to the position of warden as the successor of Mr. Chamber lain, deceased. A contemporary biographer said of him while he was in office : "Among those who have been incumbent of the responsible and peculiarly exacting office of warden of the Michigan state prison from the time of its establishment to the present there is none who has shown more distinctive fitness for 836 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY the position than the present warden, Mr. Vincent, whose handling of the affairs of this great penitentiary has been marked with discrimination, firmness, kindliness and effective discipline, so that he has gained the highest endorsement." Mr. Vincent cer tainly deserves much credit for the able manner in which he handled the duties of his position and which he continued until March, 1906, and yet such a course was what all who knew him expected of him, knowing the strong and salient traits of his character. Fraternally he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and in citizenship always manifests the same loy alty that marked his course when on south ern battlefields he defended the stars and stripes. CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. KEITH is the owner of valuable farming property in Berrien county, and in his business career he has labored earnestly and persistently for the achievement of success. He was born west of Madison, in Jefferson county, Indi ana, February 26, 1842. Captain Keith was about fourteen years of age when his parents removed to Coles county, Illinois, establish ing their home near Charleston. There Captain Keith was reared, and in the public schools he completed his education, watching with interest the progress of events which preceded the Civil war, and noting the threatening attitude of the south, he resolved that if a blow was struck at the Union -he would stand loyally in its defense. He there fore enlisted on the 23d of September, 1861, as a member of Company H, Tenth Illinois Cavalry (as a private), under command of Captain John Craf ton. The regiment ren dezvoused at Camp Butler and spent the winter at Quincy, Illinois, after which they were sent to St. Louis, Missouri. Later they proceded in a southwesterly direction and arrived at Springfield, Missouri, just after the battle of Pea Ridge and here Mr. Keith was actively engaged in fighting the bushwhackers in southwestern Missouri. He participated, however, in the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, and the winter was passed in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Early in 1863 he returned to Raleigh, afterward took part in the engagement at Pilot Knob and subsequently joined Davidson's Cavalry- Division, marching against Little Rock, which they captured on the 10th of Septem ber, 1863. They remained in that vicinity until February, 1865, when they went to New Orleans and from there to Mobile, Ala bama, and was present with Canby at Dick Taylor's surrender, after which they marched to Baton Rouge. Here they embarked for New Orleans, going from New Orleans to Shreveport and on to S.an Antonio, Texas, under General Merritt, for whom he acted. in the capacity of acting assistant quarter master. He was in San Antonio until No vember, 1865, acting with the army on the border. In the fall of that year he received the commission of captain .and returned to Springfield, Illinois, where he was mustered out on the 6th of January, 1866. Captain Keith then returned to Westfield, Illinois, and a few days later came to Niles, Michi gan. It was in 1866 that the subject pfthis review purchased his present farm, com prising eighty acres of woodland. In 1868 he went to Salt Lake City, where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Company for one year. On the expiration of that period he returned and has since lived in thjs coun ty. He has a good home property and three other farms and his entire time and ener gies are given to his agricultural pursuits. He is a man of good business ability, who has made judicious use of his opportunities and has worked his way steadily upward to success. In his political views Captain Keith is a Democrat, and in 1,872 he voted for Horace Greeley. He was supervisor of his town ship and help that office for about fifteen terms. In fact he has filled all of the town ship positions except that of treasurer and in 1882 he was elected to represent his dis trict in the lower house of the legislation, where he remained for one term. He served as under sheriff of the county under Sheriff Peck, and later under Sheriff Johnson, and was deputy United State marshal under President Cleveland's first administration. He was also captain of the Anti-Horse Thief Association for about ten years, and in 1864. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 837 he was made a Mason at Westfield, Illinois. He is now a member of Three Oaks Lodge, also a member of the G. A. R. at Three Oaks, and in his political and social rela tions has manifested those qualities which awaken respect and admiration. In days of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields, and when in war he was known as a faithful soldier whose first interest was that of his country. DAVID KNIGHT, a representative of horticultural and commercial interests in Chikaming township and the present post master of Sawyer, having filled the office from July, 1892, to 1896, and again from 1 90 1 to the present time, was born in Corn wall county, England, May 31, 1850, and during the years of his residence in this lo cality has so directed his labors that success "has resulted and he is now one of the sub stantial business men of Berrien county. He is a son of Samuel and Jane (Wallace) "Knight, who spent their entire lives in Corn wall. Their family numbered three children : John, of Kansas City, Missouri; Albert, still living in Cornwall ; and David, of this review. Mr. Knight, whose name introduces this record, was reared in the land of his birth and acquired his education in its public schools. He remained in England until 1872, when, thinking to enjoy better busi ness opportunities in the new world, he came to the United States. He had been reared to farm life. On reaching this country he made his way to Chicago, and spent the summer of 1872 at Oak Park. In the spring of 1873 ne made his way to Stephensville, in this county, where he purchased a farm, residing thereon for three years.' Coming to Sawyer, he has since been a factor in business interests in this section of the coun ty. He established a mercantile- business, which he conducted for a time and then withdrew from that line of trade, after which he devoted six years to farming and fruit-raising. In fact he has been identified with horticultural pursuits throughout the- period of his residence in Michigan and is well known as a grower, buyer and shipper. He has an excellent nursery of small fruit plants covering thirty-five acres, and this business is carried on under the firm style of David Knight & Son. The firm issue a catalogue which is well gotten up and sets forth the merits of the different kinds of nursery stock. Plants shipped from their nursery are a guarantee of excellence and fruit raised therefrom, if cared for after proper methods, produce berries of large size and of superior quality and flavor. Mr. Knight in his mercantile interests is a mem ber of the firm of W. C. Baker & Company, Mr. . Baker being his son-in-law. January 13, 1875, occurred the marriage of David Knight and Miss Alma Redding, who was born June 13, 1854, and is a daughter of Charles and Cornelia Redding. They have two children: Edith, now the wife of William C. Baker, who is her father's partner in the conduct of a store at Sawyer; and Arthur, who is in partnership with his father in the nursery business un der the firm style of David Knight & Son. He now conducts a commission office in Chicago. David Knight was only three years of age at the time of his father's demise but the family were kept together until he had attained his majority. He brought with him to America a capital of eight hundred dollars but lost it and then had to start out in life empty-handed. All he possesses he has acquired through his own labors and has been the architect and builder of his own fortunes. In politics he is a Repub lican, giving his support to the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He served as justice of the peace for eight years and as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he is well known. At one time he held membership in the G-range. CORNELIUS DALENBERG. The spirit of self-help is the source of all gen uine worth in the individual. It enables a man to accomplish much in the face of dif ficulties and obstacles and promotes de termination and persistency of purpose that ultimately lead to tangible and desirable re sults. It has been this spirit in Mr. Dalen- 838 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY berg that has won for him a place among the respected and substantial residents of Three Oaks township, where he is now en gaged in general farming, his home being in section 35. He was born in Roseland, Cook county, Illinois, September "29, 1851, and is a son of Peter and Lyntie (Vander Syde) Dalenberg, both of whom were na- tfves of Holland, whence they came to the United States in 1849. They crossed the Atlantic on the same vessel although they were not married at that time. They both went to Chicago, and afterward were mar ried, continuing their residence at Rose- land in Cook county until called to their final rest. The father died in his sixty- ninth year, and the mother passed away in her seventy-first year. In her family were fifteen children, of whom six reached years of maturity : Cornelius, of this review ; Leonard, who died in Chikaming town ship, Berrien county; Nicholas, who is liv ing in Dodge county, Minnesota; Mrs. Katie Gouwens, of South Holland, Illinois; and George and Peter, who are living in Roseland, Illinois. In the place of his nativity Cornelius Dalenberg spent the first twenty-three years of his life. He was reared to farm work and acquired his education in the district schools, gaining a knowledge of those branches of learning which equip one for life's practical and responsible duties. At the age of twenty-three years he left home and for a time was- engaged in draying. He did much teaming for George M. Pullman, and he engaged in hunting prairie chickens where the town of Pullman now. stands. Before bringing his family to Berrien coun ty he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, becoming owner of eighty acres in Three Oaks township. His place is now improved with good buildings and he has set out a large orchard, having ten acres planted to apples, pears and peaches. He follows the methods of a practical, pro gressive agriculturist and has good fruit crops, while his fields yield him large har vests of golden grain. He works diligently and persistently to cultivate and improve his property and as the years have gone by he has converted it into a valuable farm. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Dalenberg chose Miss Johanna Kemp, to whom he was married in 1872.. She was born in Holland, December 4, 1854, and came to the United States in 1869, the family home being established in South Holland, Illinois. After one year they removed to Chicago. Her parents were- Henry N. and Nellie A. (Ridder) Kemp, both of whom now reside in Roseland, Illi nois. In their family were five children, of whom Mrs. Dalenberg is the eldest, the others being: Cornelius P., of Berrien - county; Peter, who is living in Muskegon, Michigan ; John James, a resident of Misha waka, Indiana; and Mrs. Margaret Bos- winkel, whose home is in Thayer, Indiana. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dalenberg has been blessed with eight children: Nel lie; Peter, who is/attending college in Kala mazoo; Lina; Bertha; Kate and Henry, twins; George; and Margaret. Mr. Dalenberg is a member of the Con gregational Church and his political support is given to the Republican party. He has_ been a member of the board of education at Three Oaks for the past five years and the cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend. He was an elder in- the Holland Church for a number of years- and has served on the prudential committee of the church, to which he now belongs, for several years past. His endorsement and co-operation are given to every movement for intellectual or moral progress and his life has always been consistent with ad vancement in these directions. He has pro vided his children with good educational privileges, his eldest son being a graduate of the Normal School, while Henry is a student in the high school. His life has been useful, his actions manly and sincere, and in the business world he has made a good name, his life being an exemplification of business possibilities in America, which are open to young men of determination, energy and business reliability. JOHN H. RODGERS is proprietor of the Walnut Grove farm, a valuable prop erty on section 13, Three Oaks township. He was born September 25, 1856, in Ohio, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 839 and when he was only a few months old his parents, Benjamin P. and Katherine (Heck- erthorn) Rodgers, removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana. The father was of Ger man and Irish lineage, and both he and his wife were natives of Pennsylvania. They spent their early married life in the Buckeye State, whence they removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and when their son John was about twelve years of age they took up their abode upon a farm in Galien township, Berrien county, Michigan. There they spent their remaining days, the father de voting his- time and energies to general ag ricultural pursuits. He passed away at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife died at the age of sixty-four. Their chil dren were ten in number : Joseph, who died while serving his country in the Civil war; Mrs. Rachel Goodenough, of Buchanan, Berrien county; Mrs. Mary Stimbach, of Barry county, Michigan ; William, who died at Three Oaks; John H., of this review; Daniel, a resident farmer of Galien town ship; Mrs. Maria Murdoch, of Galien town ship; Christiana, who died in Troy, Michi gan; Mrs. Maggie Sawyer, of Three Oaks; and Mrs. Carrie Cauffman, of Galien town ship, who died in August, 1906. John H. Rodgers, whose name intro duces this record, accompanied his parents to Michigan when a youth of twelve years and lived upon the old home farm in Galien township until twenty-two years of age, as sisting his father in its care and cultivation. He was thus occupied through the sum mer months, and in the winter seasons ac quired his education by attending the public schools. On leaving home he purchased a small farm in Galien township, on which he lived for five years, when he sold that prop erty and bought his present farm of ninety- three acres on section 13, Three Oaks town ship. It was unimproved land, which he cleared and cultivated, erecting thereon the present buildings, which are exceptionally good, being among the best in the township. They stand upon the township line, border ing the highway between Galien and Three Oaks township and the residence is sur rounded by a fine walnut grove from which the farm takes its name. The soil is a rich black loam, well adapted to the raising of cabbage, which Mr. Rodgers makes a spe cial feature of the place. He also raises grain and annually harvests good crops. The farm with its splendid improvements and highly cultivated fields is the evidence of his life of thrift and industry. He has cleared it of all indebtedness and now has a well improved and valuable place. In 1878 was celebrated the marriage of John H. Rodgers and Miss Mary Cheverie, who was born in Galien township, and is a daughter of Joseph and Amelia Cheverie. They now have the following children: Jo seph ; Mrs. Amelia Norris, of North Dakota, who has five children, Kenneth, John, Ruth, Mary and Roy; Mrs. Nina Dreibelbis, who is living with her father and has one son, Lee ; Maryett and John, both at home. Mr. Rodgers manifests only a citizen's interest in politics without seeking for office, giv ing his support to the Democracy. He is a man of business activity, energy and in tegrity and to his own labors his success is attributable. HALE E, RYTHER is living on sec tion 36, Three Oaks township, where he owns a good farm of forty acres. This tract has been in his possession for about three years and he has devoted himself Y assiduously to its care and cultivation. He was born in the village of Three Oaks, August 4, i860, his father being Cyrus C. Ryther. His paternal grandfather, El kanah Ryther, was a native of New York and became a pioneer resident of this coun ty but died in Cass county, Michigan, when more than eighty years of age. His son, Cyrus C. Ryther, was born in the State of New York, and when about ten years of age accompanied his parents on their re moval to Michigan, the year of their ar rival being 1840. They had previously re sided in Canada for a short time and then came to Three Oaks. For a considerable period Cyrus C. Ryther remained a resi dent of this locality but is now living in Dowagiac, Cass county, at the age of sev enty-six years. His entire life has been 3$40 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY devoted to general farming and his labors have been attended with a measure of suc cess that has placed him in comfortable financial circumstances. He married Miss Elizabeth Emery Chamberlain, a native of New Hampshire, who died in Dowagiac, Cass county, October 16, 1905, when sev enty-nine years of age, she being an own cousin of Hon. Henry Chamberlain, the sage of Three Oaks. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ryther were nine children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Mary E. Church, now deceased; Mrs. Kate C. Phelps, of Chicago; Hale E., of this review; Mrs. Rebecca C. McGowan, of Covert, Michigan; William C, who is liv ing in Cass county; Thad V., a resident of South Bend, Indiana; and Mrs. Anna C. Jessup, of Three Oaks. Hale E. Ryther has spent his entire life in Three Oaks township and has always fol lowed farming since completing his educa tion in the public schools. He was a very young lad when his parents removed from the village to the farm. He has owned the place where he lives for about three years and is devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits, having brought his land under a very high state of cultivation. He gives his political allegiance to the Democracy and he belongs to the Citizens Institute, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Knights of the Maccabees and to the Anti-Horse Thief As sociation — relations which indicate much of the character of the man. In 1886 Mr. Ryther was united in mar riage to Miss Josie S. Bramhall, who was born in Galien township, Berrien county, November 16, 1863, and is a daughter of Joseph and Melinda (Shedd) Bramhall, the former a native of Camptown, Pennsyl vania, and the latter of New York. They were pioneer residents of Michigan, cast ing in their lot with the early settlers of Berrien county. Mr. and Mrs. Ryther have a daughter, Florence L, who is at home. The family are well known in this portion of the county where they have long resided and good qualities have gained for them generous and warm hearted esteem. WILLIAM FREDERICH WAN GERIN, deceased, was born in the province of Brundenburg, Prussia> Germany, June 14, 1836, his parents being Charles and Wil helmina (Baldow) Wangerin. Leaving their native country the parents came to America and took up their abode in Ohio, where the death of the father occurred. The mother afterward became a resident of Ber rien county and passed away here. In their family were six children, three of whom be came residents of Berrien county, namely: Herman, of this township; William Fred- erich, of this review; and Mrs. Paulina Schwandt, of Three Oaks township. William Frederich Wangerin, spending the days of his hoyhood and youth in the fatherland, acquired his education in the public schools there and afterward became a farmer. He owned a small tract. of land which he worked until he emigrated, to the United States in 1866. Making his way to Ohio he settled eighteen miles east of Toledo in Elliston, that state. He there had a farm of one hundred and forty acres, upon which he lived for sixteen years, placing his land under a' high state of cultivation. At length he sold out and in 1882 came to Three Oaks. The same year he purchased the farm on section 36, Three Oaks town ship, where his widow now resides, becom ing owner of one hundred acres of land which he cultivated until his death. He cleared most of the farm, remodeled the buildings and greatly improved the place, making, it a model farm property, equipped with all modern accessories and con veniences. His life was one of untiring activity, resulting in success and he left his family in comfortable circumstances. In 1868 Mr. Wangerin was united in marriage to Miss Marie Schroeder, who was born in Brundenburg, Prussia, on the 27th of February, 1851. She was a little maiden of eleven summers, when, in 1862, she be came a resident of Ohio, having, come to America with her parents, Charles and Charlotte (Wagner) Schroeder, who were also natives of Prussia and they remained residents of Ohio until called to their final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Wangerin became the )MaA< JtQaJGju $;u/^&<^ ^^C^^WT-Z/ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 841 parents of four children: Mrs. Matilda Habel, who died in Three Oaks in Novem ber, 1905, at the age of thirty-six years, who had five children; Clarence William, who was born June 19, 1888, and died March 31, 1906; Fred; Alva; Arthur; and Lydia. Emma Augusta, the second daugh ter of the family, is the wife of Albert J. Gelow, who resides upon and operates her father's farm. They have one child, Ells worth. Amelia, the third daughter, is the wife of Verner Wright, of Three Oaks township, and has two children, Howard and Earl. William is living in Three Oaks, is married and has one daughter, Ethel Marie. Mr. Wangerin was a Democrat in his political views and served as road officer in Ohio and also in Michigan, being always interested in the subject of good roads: He was a member of the German Lutheran Church, at Three Oaks and served as its trustee for one year. He took an active in terest in everything pertaining to the ma terial, intellectual, political and moral progress of his community and was ac counted a valued citizen, whose many good traits of character won him the friendship and esteem of those with whom he was brought in contact, either through business relations or socially, and caused his death, which occurred March 9, 1905, to be deeply deplored by many friends as well as his im mediate family. Mrs. Wangerin, an es timable lady, is still living upon the farm, on which she and her husband located al most a quarter of a century ago. EDWARD D. EIDSON, a farmer of Oronoko township, living on section 2, is a native of Berrien Springs, tlie date of his birth being January 20, 1861. He was the fifth in a family, of eight children, born unto William B. and Harriet A. (Weaver) Eidson, and the family history is given in connection with the sketch of Gilbert A. Eidson on another page of this work. When about five years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to the farm on which he now resides and here he was reared, the place being endeared to him therefore through the associations of his boyhood as well as later manhood. At the usual age he entered the district schools and therein mastered the common branches of English learning. In the periods of va cation his time was largely occupied with the farm work, with which he became fa miliar in all its branches. On the 30th of August, 1887, Mr. Eid son was married to Miss Hattie A. Brown, a daughter of Richard and Eliza (Michael) Brown. Her birth occurred in Royalton township, Berrien county, and at the time of her marriage she returned with her hus band to the old Eidson homestead farm, which he purchased. His place comprises two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, of which one hundred and sixty acres is situated on section 2, Oronoko town ship. Here he carries on general agricul tural pursuits, raising fruit, grain and stock. He has good orchards and well tilled fields, while in his pastures are found good grades of horses and cattle. In all of his business dealings he is practical and progressive and his present desirable position as one of the reliable farmers of the county is due to his own labors. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Eidson has been blessed with two children, Hazel D. and Wade. On election days he casts his ballot for the men and measures of the Re publican party and is interested in those questions which divide the two great par ties and have direct bearing upon the wel fare of state and nation. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees at Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Eidson belongs to the L. O. T. M* He is well known in his part of the county, having for forty years lived upon the farm which is now his home, while his entire life has been spent in this locality. HENRY C. HATCH, the junior mem ber of the firm of Granger & Hatch, who began merchandising at Glendora in March, 1903, was born in Hartford township, Van Buren county, Michigan, on the 14th of April, 1875. His parents were Charles and Dotha (Pitcher) Hatch, both of whom were natives of Orleans county, New York, where 842 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY they were reared and married. Removing to the west, they settled in Van Buren coun ty, Michigan, where the father made his home until called to his final rest. The mother still survives and is now living with her son Henry. Charles • Hatch left a farm of eighty acres of land and for many years was classed among the enterprising agricul turists of his community. In the family were but two children, the daughter being Estella H., the wife of Harry Granger, who was her brother's partner and who died in March, 1905. Henry C. Hatch spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and acquired a common-school education. After putting aside his text-books he worked at the carpenter's trade until he began busi ness on his own account. He joined Harry Granger in the organization of the firm of Granger & Hatch, dealers in general mer chandise at Glendora. They not only owned the stock of goods but also the store build ing and conducted the enterprise together with marked success until the death of the senior partner, since which time Mr. Hatch has been alone in the control of the business, although his sister is still interested finan cially. He is an enterprising young man of keen business discernment and perseverance and his labors have made him a prosperous merchant of the village. In his political allegiance he is a Republican, while socially he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glendora. He is popular socially, having a large circle of warm friends who esteem him because of his per sonal characteristics and what he has ac complished in the business world. TIMOTHY H. IVES, deceased, was born in Brookfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of March, 1840, his parents being Ambrose and Katharine (White) Ives, in whose family were five children, the subject of this review being the eldest. He was reared upon the home farm in the Keystone State, early becom ing familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His education was obtained in the public schools and he assisted in the improvement of the home farm until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when in response to the coun try's call for troops he enlisted in February, 1864, as a private in Compariy L, in a Penn sylvania cavalry regiment. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, being shot through the mouth, the end of his tongue being cut off, while the ball came out through the cheek. After being in the hospi tal for a time his father brought him back home and when he had sufficiently recovered he returned to the south and rejoined his company and regiment, with which he re mained until the close of the war. When the country no longer needed his military aid he returned to his father's family in Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Galien, Michigan, on a visit. He was then married and again went to ¦ Pennsylvania, where he continued to live for seventeen years upon a farm. When that time had elapsed he once more came to Michigan and settled in Galien, where he resided until his death, which oc curred on the 9th of January, 1891. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming as a source of liveli hood and capably managed his agricultural interests, bringing his land under a high state of cultivation and adding to it many modern equipments and improvements. In 1 87 1 Mr. Ives was united in mar riage to Miss Elizabeth Penwell, who was born in Green township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, near South Bend, July 27, 1846. She was one of a family of ten children and came with her parents to this county about 1850 when only four years of age. She is a daughter of David and Susanna (Rupe) Penwell, who were formerly residents of Wayne county, Indiana. In his political views Mr. Ives was a stanch Republican and took an active inter est in politics, delighting .in the success of his party and the adoption of its principles. He held a number of minor offices and at all times was true to the trust reposed in him. Fraternally he was connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Grand Army of the Republic and to both HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 843 organizations he was loyal, exemplifying in his life the beneficent and fraternal spirit upon which those societies are founded. He was a man who stood high in the estimation of the entire community and those who came within the more intimate circle of his ac quaintanceship recognized in him a loyal friend and a devoted husband. GEORGE EDWIN GILLAM. The subject of this sketch was born at Coldwater, Michigan, December 20, 1863. His father was at the front at the time serving his country in the great war of the Rebellion as captain of Company K, Ninth Michigan Cavalry. The early years of the life of the boy were spent in acquiring an education in the public schools of Hillsdale, Michigan, where he graduated in 1881. His first en trance into the activities of life was made in the same year when he went to Montague, Michigan, which at that time was one of the busiest lumber manufacturing towns of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Following the vocation here of a lumber inspector for the next three years, the young man finally found that his natural inclination was in an other direction, and in the winter of 1885-6 he entered the law office of Frank Bracelin at Montague. Mr. Bracelin was also the publisher of the village paper, the Lumber^ man, and it was not long before Mr. Gillam concluded- that newspaper work and not the study of the law occupied first place in his preferences for a life's work. After a few months of work in this office he went to Detroit where he found employment on the Detroit Tribune and later on the Journal, where he had opporunity to broaden out as a newspaper worker. The death of his father occurred at Detroit in 1886. In De cember of that year he purchased the Alcona County Review, published at Harrisville, Michigan, and thus at the age of twenty- three he entered upon an independent busi ness career. He published this paper con tinuously until April, 1889, when he sold to his foreman to enable him to take a half interest in the Hillsdale Standard,, one of the oldest and strongest of the southern Michigan weekly publications. During his residence at Harrisville he was married in 1889 to Miss Rena B. Tillotson, of Oneida, New York. To them four children were born, of whom but one son, Donald, aged six, survives. Mr. Gillam while at Harris ville, was a member of the village council, member of the school board, president of the village, and secretary of various organiza tions of a public nature and identified him self with every movement to develop this new country. In 1897 he became the Re publican nominee for member of the legis lature for the Iosco district, comprising" the counties of Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw and Roscommon, and was elected by a large ma jority, serving two terms throughout the two administrations of the famous Gov ernor Hazen S. Pingree. He removed to Hillsdale, Michigan, before the completion of his second term in the legislature. He sold his interest in the Standard in 1901, and in August of the same year bought the plant of the Niles Daily Sun, published at Niles, Michigan, which he has since con tinued to publish, making a success of what had previously been a doubtful enterprise. He has built a home for his family and has . bought a place also for his newspaper plant, and expects to make Niles his permanent home, and to give the same loyalty to its institutions that has characterized him wher ever he has lived. Mr. Gillam's parentage was American on both sides. His father was a native of New York State, while his mother was born at Jonesville, Michigan, of English par entage, her father being a successful lawyer of the ante-bellum period, as- well as a pioneer newspaper publisher, having pub lished the first paper published in Hillsdale county, the forerunner of the Standard, in later years acquired by his grandson. The most enduring service rendered the commonwealth by Mr. Gillam as a legislator was the passage of the homestead law, un der which lands delinquent for taxes for a period of five years were deeded to the state, and then became subject to home stead entry by actual settlers on easy terms. This act had a marked effect in Settling up the so-called stripped timber lands of the 844 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY lumber sections, which belonged to non-resi dent owners in the main, who too often avoided payment of taxes for long pe riods through mere technicalities. This act forced payment of the taxes or forfeiture of title. DANIEL S. SAVAGE. At an early period in the development of the new world the family of which Daniel S. Savage is a representative was founded in America by three brothers of the name who came from England to the new world and settled in Connecticut, and since that time representatives of the name have been progressive in citizenship and have been loyal to the country in days of peace and days of war. William Savage, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a na tive of Connecticut and was a sea captain. His son, Joel Savage, born in Connecticut, .was one of the heroes of the Revolution. He fought valiently for the cause of inde pendence and was captured by Indians at Fort Stanwick. He died in Oswego, New York, at the age of seventy-three years and Mr. Savage of this review has a remem brance of seeing him in his later years.- Gib son Savage, father of our subject, was born near Utica, New York, was a veteran of the war of 1 812, and a farmer by occupation. He died, however, at the comparatively early age of thirty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Esther Goit, was a na tive of Vermont and died in Oswego, New York, when forty-seven years of age. Her grandfather came from Ireland to America. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Savage were four children: Abigail, who died in New York; Laura; William, who died in Oregon; and Daniel S. Upon a farm in his native county Daniel S. Savage spent his boyhood and youth and acquired his education in the public schools. He re mained a resident of Oswego county until 1854, when, thinking to enjoy better oppor tunities in the middle west, he came to Mich igan, making his way direct to Berrien coun ty. He then purchased eighty acres of land where he now resides on sections 13 and 24, Three Oaks township. It was woodland, be ing covered with a native growth of timber but he cleared away the trees and brush, placed the fields under cultivation and erected good buildings. Year by year the work of the farm has been carried steadily forward and today this is a well developed farm property lacking in none of the modern equipments and conveniences. Mr. Savage is engaged in raising stock and grain, keep ing twenty-five or thirty head of cattk in earlier days which he fed on marsh hay for many years. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Savage chose Miss Angeline Palmer, who was born in Oswego county, New York, August 27, 1831. They were married in 1854, and' after traveling life's journey together for about forty-seven years were separated by the death of the wife on the 5th of May, 1901. Her loss was deeply regretted not only by her immediate fam ily but by many friends. She was the daugh ter of Squire and Fair Palmer and by her marriage became the mother of two chil dren: Seth Warren, of Minnesota; and Whitman, deceased. In his fraterrial relations Mr. Savage was formerly a Mason and in his religious faith he is a Methodist, while in his political allegiance he is a Republicari. These asso ciations indicate much of the character of the man and the views which he takes of life. He has long since passed the Psalmisf s span of three score years and ten and his has been a useful career crowned with a goodly measure of success and the esteem of his fellowmen. His residence in the county covers more than a half century and he has thus been closely associated with its agri cultural interests from almost the beginning of the progress made towards subduing the wilderness and converting the lands into uses for civilization. E. CLIFFORD KNOX, who for many years was a respected and worthy resident of Berrien county but is now deceased, was born in Niles, Michigan, March 7, 1867. His father, Cholwell Knox, is now living in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a prominent and able attorney and at one time mayor of ¦f:fi UdyT^TT' (/*n^*^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 845 Niles. His birth occurred in Rhinebeck, New York, and following his removal to the middle west he settled in Niles about 1856. There he engaged in the practice of law and secured a good clientage. He re moved to St. Paul "in 1884 and has since made his home in that city. E. Clifford Knox was reared in Niles to the age of sixteen years, when he accom panied his parents on their removal to St. Paul. He had acquired his education in the public schools of Michigan and follow ing the removal to the northwest he entered upon his business career as an employ of G. Summers & Co., wholesale dealers in notions. For twenty years he was connected with that house, after which he returned to. Niles and purchased the Dye farm, upon which Mrs. Knox now resides. His remaining days were given to general agricultural pur suits and he carefully managed his prop erty, comprising ninety acres. He added to it many modern equipments and improve- ments and made it a valuable farm. July 10, 1889, Mr. Knox was united in marriage to Miss Fannie M. Badger, who was born in Bertrand township, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Herki mer) Badger. She was reared in her native township, attended the district schools and was afterward graduated from the high school at Niles with the class of 1885. On the 10th of July, 1889, she gaye her hand in marriage to Mr. Knox, and by this union there were born two children, James and Edith, both at home ' with their mother. They reside upon the farm. but Mrs. Knox rents the land. The youth and last days , of Mr. Knox were spent in Berrien county and those who were acquainted with him knew him to be a man of firm purpose, straightforward in his dealings and reliable in all life's relations. His death was the occasion of deep regret not only to his immediate family but to many friends and he is yet kindly remembered by all who knew him during the period of his residence in this county. Mrs. Knox is highly esteemed here and the hospitality of the best homes of Bertrand township and of other sections of the county is freely accorded her. BYRON PENNELL. Numbered among the old settlers whose memory com passes the period of early pioneer develop ment as well as later progress, now resides on section 22, Oronoko township. He was born in the town of Locke, Cayuga county, New York, December 29, 1840. His father, Abram Case Pennell, likewise a native of the Empire State, became a resident of Berrien county in 1848, at which time he lo cated in Lake township and purchased a farm, upon which he remained for five years. He then located in Oronoko town ship, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of unimproved land. Not a' furrow had been turned upon the place and with characteristic energy he began to clear and cultivate it. He built fences, plowed the fields and continued the work of im provement until a later day, when he traded this farm for land in Berrien township. He spent his last days in Berrien Springs and was more than eighty years of age at the time of his demise. He had held local of fices in Lake township and was well and favorably known as a citizen of genuine worth, fearless in defense of his honest con victions and a stanch charnpion of whatever he believed to be right. In politics he was a stalwart Republican and active in the in terests of the party. He married Elizabeth Smith, who was reared in New York, her father, Richard Smith, removing to the Em pire State during her early life. She lived to be more*than eighty-six years of age. In their family were five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom now sur vive and are married. Mr. Pennell is the second child and eld est son and was in his eighth year when he came to Berrien county with his parents. Here he was reared amid pioneer environ ments and the conditions of frontier life, pursuing his education in one of the old- time log schoolhouses with its slab seats and other crude furnishings. The sessions Of school continued only through the winter 846 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY months and during the remainder of the year his attention was given to work upon the home farm as he aided in the task of plowing, planting, and harvesting, picking roots and grubbing. He continued an active factor in the development of the old home stead until the age of twenty-three years, when he married. He then located in the midst of the forest in Oronoko township, where he hewed out a farm. He lived for four years with Mr. Schultz, his father-in- law, whom he assisted at farm labor and at the end of that time took up his abode upon a farm which is now his place of residence, clearing the land ere he could place it under the plow. His first house was a board shanty but as the years passed by the fields were well developed and thex sale of crops brought him financial resources that enabled him to place modern and substantial im provements upon his farm. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land which is now carefully tilled and constitutes a val uable property. In 1864 Mr. Pennell was united in mar riage to Miss Sarah Schultz, a daughter of John and Betsey (Storick) Schultz, who were pioneer residents of Berrien county, coming to Michigan from Pennsylvania. Her father, however, was born in Delaware or Maryland, and the birth of Mrs. Pennell occurred in Oronoko township, Berrien county. Mr. and Mrs. Pennell had no chil dren of their own but have reared a boy and girl. He is a member of the Baptist Church at Berrien Springs and his wife of of the Brethren Church, and have been act ive and helpful in church work. Mr. Pen nell has held various church offices, serving as deacon, trustee and in other positions, and has been a generous contributor to the sup port of the gospel. He votes for the candi date whom he regards as best qualified for office in local elections where no issues are involved and at national elections gives an unfaltering support to the Republican party. A resident of Berrien county for fifty-eight years he has not only been an eye-witness of the many wonderful changes which have occurred but has assisted in its development and is classed among its upbuilders. CHESTER BADGER, superintendent of the county infirmary of Berrien county, living on section 5, Bertrand township, is one of the native residents of this township, the date of his birth -being September 7, 1847. Lis father, James Badger, was a na tive of Michigan, born north of Detroit. Losing his parents in early life, he was taken to Albany, New York, where he was reared by an aunt until ten or twelve years of age. He was then bound out to a man by the name of David Hoag, with whom he re mained until he attained his majority. De sirous, however, to live again in the state of his nativity he came back to Berrien coun ty, locating in Bertrand township. After a year he went again to New York and was there married, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Herkimer, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Herkimer, who were of Revolutionary stock. Removing with his bride to Michigan Mr. Badger located on section 17, Bertrand township, where he first purchased eighty acres of land. He added' to that until at one time he owned three hundred and twenty acres in one body, all in the same township. He became one of the prominent and prosperous farmers of the county, so conducting his business interests that success resulted. He placed his fields under a high state of cultivation and kept everything about his farfn in good repair. Rich crops were annually harvested and his efforts resulted in prosperity. He was a public-spirited man, interested in all questions relating to the general welfare, political and otherwise. He was active in support of the Democratic party and the work which he did constituted no unim portant chapter in the history of Berrien county. He lived to be seventy years of age, passing away in March, 1888, while his wife reached the age of seventy-two years, and was called to her final rest in 1896. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six reached manhood or womanhod and are still living, namely : William D., who resides in Arlington, Washington county, Ne braska; Chester, of this review; Mrs. Mary Loomis, who is living in Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. Cecelia C. Messenger, of Laporte, Iiadi- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 847 ana ; Jacob H., who resides in Chicago ; and Mrs. Fannie B. Knox, who is a widow and resides in Bertrand township, Berrien county. Chester Badger, the second child and second son of the family, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity and acquired his early education in the district schools and at Niles. He also spent one year as a student at Ann Arbor and was thus qualified by liberal educa tional privileges for life's practical and re sponsible duties, his mind being well trained for alert, energetic action, such as is neces sary in the business world where there is much competition. Mr. Badger remained at home until twenty-seven years of age, as sisting in the farm work, which he operated for some years on shares. On the 28th of January, 1875, was cele brated the marriage of Chester Badger and Miss Mary J. Briggs, a daughter of John W. and Mary (Howland) Briggs, and a na tive of Montgomery county, New York, born March 26, 1856, but reared in Fulton county, New York. Mrs. Badger began her educational career in the common schools of New York and then entered Fort Edward Institute at Fort Edward, New York, to prepare for a collegiate course. She entered the well known Cornell University by a State scholarship, but after the first semester she had to discontinue on account of severe illness. She had taken up the teacher's pro fession two terms before she entered Cornell University. She is a member of the Pres byterian Church at Niles, and a member, in a fraternal sense, of the Ladies' Maccabee Hive, No. 498, and also a member of the Eastern Star, No. 332, at Niles. She is a lady of more than the ordinary culture and is well qualified to grace her home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Badger have been born four children as follows: Nellie M., professional stenographer, is employed in the prosecuting attorney's office at Niles. She received her education in the common schools and then graduated from the Niles high school in 1894. She had taken a private Course in stenography at St. Paul, Minnesota. Clar ence W., educated in Niles high school, died aged twenty-two. Leroy H., received the common school training and then graduated from the Niles high school in the class of 1902, and stood high in his class work. He also took a correspondence course in the Boston schools in electricity and received his diploma. He did not favor electricity and then entered Armour Insti tute at Chicago for a full course in civil en gineering and will graduate in the class of 1907. Orville C. is the youngest in the family and is now in the second year's work of the Niles high school. Following his marriage Mr. Badger lo cated on eighty acres that he purchased east of the homestead, where he lived until 1882, when he removed to his present farm. He has carried on general farming and has also operated a threshing machine. Since 1901 he has rented his farm which comprises one hundred and twenty-two acres of land, for in 1899 he was appointed superintendent of the poor for the county, which position he still fills, having been re-appointed in 1905 for a succeeding term of three years. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and stands for virtue and progress in citizenship as well as in busi ness and private life. He was justice of the peace for sixteen years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning him the approval and respect of all who had knowledge of his official service. He was also township treasurer for one year and as stated, was appointed to his present office in 1899, in which capacity he has since served, while his incumbency will continue to the year 1908. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy and he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Knights of the Maccabees at Niles. His residence in the county dates back to the pioneer epoch in its history, and while he has never sought to figure prominently as a leader in public life he has nevertheless displayed traits of character which make him valued as a citi zen and which have gained for him a credit able position in agricultural circles. JAMES M. BALL, who for many years was connected with the Chicago' Board of 848 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Trade, and is now president of the Commer cial National Bank, of St. Joseph, was born in Sheffield, England, November 20, 1844. When five years of age he was brought by his parents to the United States, and after a brief residence in New York city the family removed to Illinois, locating at Dixon, that state, in 1853. Mr. Ball of this review at tended the common schools, and in 1862, when but eighteen years of age, he re sponded to the country's call for aid, enlist ing as a member of Battery F, First Illinois Artillery. He served until mustered out with the rank of captain and brevet-major in 1866. Following his military experience he located in Chicago, where he resided for many years. and was until 1905 a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. For a long period he acted on its board of directors and was a member of the arbitration and appeal com mittees. In 1893, however, he took up his abode in St. Joseph township, Berrien coun ty, making his home two and a half miles south of the city of St. Joseph. He is now president of the Commercial National Bank and has been an important factor in the business interests of this locality as well as in the western metropolis. In politics Mr. Ball is a stalwart Repub lican and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is likewise a member of the Union League and the Kenwood Clubs of Chicago. JOSHUA FEATHER is a retired farmer living on section 7, Oronoko town ship. A review of the past indicates that for a long period he was one of the most active and enterprising representatives of agricultural interests in his part of the coun ty and as a result of his labors he acquired a competence that is sufficient to enable him now to enjoy a well earned rest. He was at one time the owner of six hundred and thirty ty-three acres of valuable land but he has since shared his holdings with his sons. His life record began in Northumber land county, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1832. His father, Joshua Feather, also a native of the Keystone State, was a son of John Henry Feather, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania. The family is of German descent and was established in America at an early period in the colonization of the new world, Joshua Feather being of the fourth generation in this country. John H. Feather followed the occupation of fanning during the greater part of his life, although he was a shoe-maker by trade and did good work along that line. His son, Joshua Feather, also became a shoe-maker and farm er. He remained a resident of Pennsylvania until after his marriage to Miss Mary Smith, a native of that state, and a daughter of Michael Smith. In the year 1836 they brought their family to Michigan, settling in Oronoko township, Berrien county, where the father entered one hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve ment made upon the place but with charac teristic energy he began its development and with the assistance of his three sons trans formed the wild land into productive fields. He also figured prominently in public life, serving as highway commissioner and doing much for general progress. In politics he was a Democrat, active in the work of the party and he did much to mold public thought and action in an early day. He was prominent in Masonry, in which he attained- the Knight Templar degree, at Niles, Michigan. He held the highest of fice within the gift of the chapter at St. Jos eph and which he helped organize. He was also one of the most helpful and zealous members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and he died in that faith at the age of sev enty-three years. His wife, an earnest Christian woman, passed away in her eighty- second year. There were four sons and one daughter in the family, all of whom reached adult life. Joshua Feather, the third child and third son of the family, was but four years of age when brought to Berrien county, Michigan, and now for three score years and ten he has been a resident of Oronoko township. He has, however, traveled all over the country, thus gaining an intimate knowledge of his native land. He spent one winter, or three months, in the west and three months upon the gulf in the south. When a boy he HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 849 was a student in a log schoolhouse which was furnished with slab seats and an im mense fire place. The methods of instruc tion were primitive as compared with those of the present day but he made good use of his opportunities and reading, experience, observation and travel have since added largely to his knowledge. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he began earning his living by working in the woods and thus he gained his start in life. When he was married he took his bride to a hewed log house on the farm where he now lives and there he has resided continuously since, covering a period of more than a half century. He has been very successful in a business way and an analyzation of his life record shows that this result has been at tained through close and unremitting dili gence, supplemented by sound business judg ment and unfaltering enterprise. As the years passed and his financial resources per mitted he added to his land until his hold ings embraced six hundred and thirty-three acres but he has since given two good farms to his sons, William A., of Lake township, and Stephen A., of Oronoko township. In the year 1856 Mr. Feather was united' in marriage to Miss Susan Harner, a daughter of John Harner, who was one of the early settlers of Lake township. Her father was a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio, where Mrs. Feather was born. She was a little maiden of only six summers when her parents came to Berrien county, Michigan, and here she has lived continuously since. Mr. Feather has never been an office seeker although he is not neglectful of the duties of citizenship devolving upon him. He has preferred, however, to perform his public service as a private citizen rather than as an incumbent in office. For a long period he voted with the Democracy but a change in his political views led him to give his support to the Republican party, of which he has now been an advocate for many years. He is an active and helpful member of the Lutheran church and has contributed freely and gen erously to its support. He has also been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1858 and belongs to Western Star Lodge, No. 39, 54 A. F. & A. M. He continued for man/ years in active farm work but now leaves the more arduous duties of the fields to his sons, with whom he has been most generous, di viding with them his extensive landed pos sessions. His name has long been a syno nym for activity and integrity in business affairs and not through speculation or any particularly forunate circumstances but through his own intense and well directed activity has he gained the place which he now occupies as a substantial and represent ative citizen of Berrien county. 1 ? W. A. WARD. The business interests of Berrien county place W. A. Ward among the leaders in industrial circles, and he has so directed his efforts that his interests have grown apace with the progress which dominates the central west. As the proprie tor of a drug store in Eau Claire he is well known in the county. Of Irish descent, the founder of the Ward family in America was Thomas Ward, the great-grandfather of him whose name introduces this review, who came from the north of Ireland. His son, John Ward, spent the greater part of his life in Hardin county, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. His son and the father of our subject, James T. G. Ward, was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 181 7, and in 1843 located in Elkhart, Indiana, where he followed his occupation of carpen tering, and was well known among the early builders of that city. During the last seven years of his life he made his home with his son W. A., where his death occurred in 1900, vahen he was eighty-three years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Downing, and she was a native daugh ter of Michigan, her birth occurring at Mon roe, but when four years of age she was taken by her father, Colonel Stephen Down ing, to Elkhart, Indiana, where the father was proprietor of the first hotel in the city, located on the corner where the old Hotel Bucklen now stands. He was one of the prominent men of the city in those early days, and took an active and helpful part in its development and upbuilding. ' Mrs. Ward reached the age of seventy-six years ere she was called to her final rest. 8;o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY W. A. Ward, the only child born unto this worthy pioneer couple, was born in Elk hart, Indiana, February 2, 1850, and there he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, receiving his education in its public schools and being identified with its interests until twenty-two years of age. When only eighteen years of age, in 1868, he entered upon his career as a druggist, and four years later he accepted the position as drug clerk cov ering the territory of Milwaukee, Allegan and Goshen, and various places in Indiana. In 1883 he came to Eau Claire and pur chased the store of Dr. W. Ryno, now of Benton Harbor, and he is now in his twen ty-fourth year in the drug business, during which time he has become recognized as one of the most valued and useful citizens of his city. Mr. Ward was married December 8, 1874, to Miss Rowena P. Warren, and one son and one daughter were born to them, namely : W. C, a resident of Nebraska, and Maude S., the wife of Rev. P. A. Sharpe, a minister of a Congregational Church in Chicago. The wife and mother died on the 22d of September, 1904, and Mr. Ward married Mrs. Julia A. (Haynes) Bugbee, formerly of Edwardsburg, in December, 1905. In his political affiliations Mr. Ward has been a life-long Republican, and fra ternally is a member of the Modern Wood men at Eau Claire. The cause of education has ever found in him a firm friend, and for five years he served as school director. HENRY E. WHALEN. The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of Berrien county with out learning of the Whalen family, for in an early day in the development of this sec tion of the state the family home was es tablished here, and its representatives have been substantial citizens, taking an active and helpful part in the progress and wel fare of the community. We are thus led in reviewing the salient points which mark the career of him whose name appears above. In Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, about three miles from Niles, on the 19th of December, 1859, Henry E. Whalen was born to Phillip W. and Sarah (Thurston) Whalen. The father, who was a native of the county of Waterford, Ire land, emigrated to America and took up his abode within the borders of Berrien county as early as 1842, being a resident of Niles for sometime thereafter. He was a dis tiller by occupation, but for many years dur ing his residence in this country he was also engaged in the grocery business. In his po litical adherency he was stanchly arrayed in support of the Democratic party and its prin ciples, and it was in but natural sequence that he should become an active worker in the cause and one of the leaders in political work in his community. For several terms he served as alderman of the Fourth ward of Niles, and he ever regarded the pursuits of both public and private life as being worthy of his best efforts. He was a prom inent member of the Masonic order, and held many of the offices therein. After coming to this country Mr. Whalen was married to Sarah Thurston, a native of New York, where she was reared and educated. Her father, Rev. Hubbard Thurston, was a prominent minister of the United Brethren Church, and he, too, was numbered among the early pioneers of Berrien county, for it was in the '40s that he cast in his lot with its few and early settlers. The mother is still living, making her home with her son Henry E., but the father has passed away, his death occurring when he had reached the sixty-eighth milestone on the journey of life. In their family were five children, four sons and one daughter, but the only daugh ter died in her youth, and the sons are — Henry E., whose name introduces this re view; W. E., a resident of Niles; Edgar P., who is engaged in railroad service as an engineer and resides in Pennsylvania; and Guy F., who makes his home in Niles. When ten years of age Henry E. Whalen accompanied his father on his re moval to Detroit, Michigan, where he re mained for about ten years. During his residence in Niles he served as assistant postmaster under Captain Edwards. He then entered the railroad service as mail clerk, thus continuing from 1887 to 1905, his services being with the Big Four Rail road Company and six months with the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 851 Michigan Central Company. In 1896 Mr. Whalen purchased and took up his abode on a farm in Berrien township, which con tinued as his home until 1905, when he sold his place and embarked in merchandising at Eau Claire, Berrien county. Politically he follows in the footsteps of his father and gives his support to the Democracy, being recognized as one of the political leaders in this section of the county. He has served as chairman of the Democratic Committee, of Berrien township and as a member of the County Dernocratic Commitee. In 1906 he was elected supervisor of Berrien township, and is now serving in that official position. During the past ten years he has served as school director, the cause of education ever finding in hirn a warm and helpful friend. In 1890 Mr. Whalen was united in mar riage to Lucy E. Taylor, and their union has been blessed with two daughters, Millie E. and Beulah M. In his fraternal relations Mr. Whalen is a member of the Masonic order, his connection being with St. Joe Val ley Lodge, No. 4, of Niles. PETER HANSEN, whose name is in terwoven with the commercial history of Ben ton Harbor, where for many years he was actively engaged in the conduct of a tailor ing establishment, was born in Luxemberg, Germany, on the 17th of February, 1834. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Hertges) Hansen, the former a farmer of Germany, in which country he reared his family. The education of Peter Hansen was somewhat limited, for at the age of twelve years he was obliged to leave school and provide for his own support by giving his attention to farming, and in return for his labors he received his board and a little spending money. At the age of eighteen years he began learning the tailor's trade, which he believed would prove more con genial than the labors of the fields, and entered upon an apprenticeship of three years, after which he worked in . different cities in Germany and France. In November, 1856, he sailed for America, landing at Boston, Massachusetts, on the 5th of January; 1857. He afterward made his way westward to Buffalo, New York, where , he worked at the tailor's trade for a year, when, wishing to see more of the country, he traveled through different parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Canada. He re sided for a time in Lankford and afterward in Dunkirk, New York, subsequent to which time he went to Warren county, Pennsylvania. He worked also in James town, New York, in Toronto and other places in Canada, including London. He likewise followed the tailor's trade in Buf falo, New York, and in Titusville, Pennsyl vania, while the year 1869 witnessed his ar rival in Benton Harbor, where he estab lished himself in business as a merchant PETER HANSEN tailor, conducting a fine trade here for many years. He prospered in his business and the large trade which he secured enabled him to save capital which he invested in real es tate that increased in value and made pos sible to him the building of one of the finest business blocks in the city. For many years his name was on the roll of representative merchants of Benton Harbor and his life has been in exemplification of what may be accomplished by persistency in pursuit of a good purpose. Coming to America empty- handed, landing in a country whose language and customs were unknown to him 852 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY but with a ready adaptability of his race, he familiarized himself with business conditions and methods in the new world and each step in his career was a forward one, carefully and thoughtfully made. His political views are in accord with Democratic principles. In 1866 Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Catherine O'Neill, of Toronto, Can ada, and a daughter of Edward O'Neill. Nine children were born to them, namely : John; Joseph B. ; Elizabeth A., who is the wife of Michael J. O'Sullivan, of Chicago, and has three children, Katherine Marie, Jo seph B. and Elizabeth A. ; Mary E. ; Jose phine, wife of Clyde Gillis, of Sherman, Texas ; Katherine ; Rose ; and Theresa. All the members of the family are communicants of St. John's Catholic Church. Upon his retirement Peter Hansen turned over his business to his son, Joseph B. Hansen, who is now a merchant tailor of Benton Harbor, and who was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1868. In 1869 Mr. Hansen came to Benton Harbor with his parents, being then only about a year old. His boyhood days were passed in the usual manner of lads of the period, attending the common ' schools and performing various tasks assigned to him by his father, under whose direction he learned the tailor's trade. As he grew more and more proficient in the business greater responsibility devolved upon him. The association with his father was continued until about ten years ago, when, in 1896, he succeeded to the business which had been established by Peter Hansen many years before. He is now continuing the trade and the name of Hansen has ever stood as a synonym for expert workman ship, advance styles and high grade goods and for reliability in all trade transactions. Joseph B. Hansen is himself a practical tailor, so that he is enabled to carefully direct the labors of those whom he employs. He is energetic, progressive and enterpris ing and following in the footsteps of his father is conducting a first class tailoring es tablishment. WILLIAM MELL, one of the pros perous farmers and stock-raisers of Three Oaks township, owns a fine body of land of one hundred and eighty-seven acres on sections 12 and 13, and also extending to section 7, Galien township. This tract is very productive, responding readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it and he is equally successful as a breeder of fine Percheron horses. Mr. Mell was born on a farm in Galien township, December 22, i860, his parents being John and Cornelia (Cowell) Mell, both of whom were natives of Mahoning county, Ohio, where they were reared. The mother came to this county with her parents and here gave her hand in marriage to John Mell. He was a carpenter by trade and thus provided for his family up to the time of his death, which occurred in Galien town ship, July 17, 1888, when he was fifty-six years of age. His widow still resides in Galien township. Nine children were born unto them, three of whom reached maturity, namely : William, of this review ; John, now deceased ; and Howard, a resident of Avery, Berrien county. Soon after the birth of their son William the parents removed to the village of Galien, where they remained for six years and then took up their abode upon the farm which is now the property of our subject. He pur sued his education in the public schools until eighteen years of age, but when eleven years of age began working during the vacation, months in the Montrose factory, at Galien.. He was employed altogether in that factory for twenty-five years and during much of this time had charge of some department, being in charge of the measuring and saw work for a long period, while for the last nine years of his connection with the enter prise he was its foreman. In 1890 he pur chased forty acres of his present farm, to which he afterward added from time to time until he now owns one hundred and eighty-seven acres all in one body, lying on sections 12 and 13, Three Oaks township, and on section 7, Galien township. He has- not only broke and placed under cultiva tion his own farm but has also transformed' over one thousand acres of wild land into improved property in this vicinity. He has built two large barns and a fine dwelling. The farm is largely muck land especially HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 853 adapted to the raising of cabbages and onions. He produced the first cabbages, onions and onion-sets for shipment in car load lots. He had over three hundred and fifty acres planted to cabbages in one year and this indicates something of the enor mous crop of that vegetable which he gath ered. He purchased over six hundred acres of land for the Barnett Produce Company and was instrumental in securing the com pany to operate in this locality. Mr. Mell also raises cereals of all kinds and his fields return him excellent crops. He likewise devotes considerable attention to the breed ing and raising of standard bred Percheron horses. He is a member of a company that owns a fine stallion, Sophocle, No. 43,656, imported from France in 1900 by Mc Laughlin Brothers, of Columbus, Ohio, and registered in the Percheron Stud Book of America under the record number 24,483. Mr. Mell also has two standard bred Per cheron mares and he raises very fine stock scarcely surpassed by any in this part of the State. On the 6th of March, 1881, Mr. Mell ¦was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Red ding, a native of this county, and a daugh ter of Zachariah Redding. Mr. Mell is a Democrat and for one term served as treas urer of Three Oaks township. Socially he Is connected with the Knights of the Macca bees. During a long residence in the county he was closely associated with its industrial and agricultural interests and his unre mitting diligence and unfaltering persever ance have been salient features in winning for him the substantial position which he occupies in business circles today. PHILIP J. BARDELMEIER, who is Identified with farming interests in New Buffalo township, resides on section 1, where he has eighty acres, which he owns and operates. The farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful super vision and he is well known as an enterpris ing and successful agriculturist. It was in this township that he was born December 15, 1 86 1. His father, Ernest Bardelmeier, was a native of Prussia, Germany, born January 9, 183 1, and in 1853 came alone to the United States, being at that time a young man of twenty-two years. He had heard favorable reports concerning business oppor tunities and advantages and resolved to try his fortune here. He located in Laporte, Indiana, where he lived for three or four years, after which he spent his remaining days in Berrien county. Throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits and thus provided a comfortable living for his family, owning the eighty acre farm upon which Philip J. Bardelmeier now resides. He was married in Laporte, Indi ana, to Miss Katharine Swealenburger, who was born in Byne, Germany, March 4, 1832, and went to Laporte, Indiana, with her mother. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bardelmeier passed away in this county in 1898, the former on the 18th of March and the lat ter in May. Mr. Bardelmeier was a Demo crat in his political affiliation but was with out desire or aspiration for public office. Unto him and his wife were born seven chil dren : Antony, who died at the age of twen ty-two years; George, who died when only a year old; Ernest, who is engaged in mer chandising in New Buffalo ; Philip J., of this review; Sarah, the wife of Clem Ritzier, a resident of New Buffalo; Annie, who died at the age of two years ; and Edward, who died when four years of age. Philip J. Bardelmeier has always resided in New Buffalo township. He attended the German schools here and was also instructed in English and when not busy with his text books his time was largely devoted to farm labor upon the old homestead which he now owns. When this property came into pos session of the family it was woodland and in the midst of the forest the father built a log house, after which he placed the land under cultivation. Mr. Bardelmeier of this review has carried forward the work of progress and improvement and as the years have gone by has developed the property un til, it is now under a high state of cultiva tion. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Louise Meyer, to whom he was married on the 1.9th of March, 1887. She was a native of Three Oaks township and died after a year of happy 854 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY married life. In 1891 Mr. Bardelmeier was agaui married, his second union being with Minnie Wilier, a native of Holstein, Ger many, -who came to the United States with her parents, Peter and Annie Wilier, and made their way to Berrien county, Michi gan, where Mrs. Bardelmeier was reared. She, too, has now passed away, having died on the 1 8th of July, 1900, when thirty-six years of age. She left two sons and a daugh ter, George, William and Clara, who are still on the home farm with their father. Mr. Bardelmeier votes with the Democ racy and keeps well informed on the ques tions and issues of the day, but has never sought or desired office. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church and he has been master of the Knights of the Maccabees tent at New Buffalo. Having always re sided in New Buffalo township, he is well known to its citizens and the fact that he has displayed many excellent and commend able traits of character accounts for his many friends and the high regard in which he is uniformly held. BASCOM PARKER has since 1901 been a resident of Niles. He organized the company that established the plant and turned on the first electric light in this city and he was until recently proprietor of a gas plant in Niles and in various other places as well. He was born in North Carolina in i860 and is a son of the Rev. Carson Parker, a Unitarian minister, who was like wise born in the Old North State. He was a graduate of the Virginia University and of a theological school of Connecticut. He determined to devote his life to preaching the gospel and spent many years in the active work of the ministry, preaching in Vermont and in a number of the western states. For a quarter of a century he filled various pul pits and then on account of losing his voice in 1878 was obliged to retire from this line of Christian activity, after which he took up literary work and settled in Pueblo-, Colorado. He was at one time editor of the Pueblo City Press. His death occurred very suddenly as the result of heart disease when he was fifty-six years of age. He married Miss Anna E>. Fisher, who was born in Cambridge, New York, and she died in Cin cinnati, Ohio, at the age of sixty years. In their family were five children, of whom four are yet living. Bascom Parker, the only son, and also the only member of the family residing in Berrien county, pursued his education in the schools of Valparaiso, Indiana, and in early life engaged in the gas business. He has always been connected with the work of furnishing illumination for towns and private interests, and in early manhood was superintendent of the construction of the Valparaiso Gas Plant Company. After it was in working order he remained with the company as superintendent for the plant for some time. He has also been superintend ent of other plants in various cities which were built by the same company. He be came a resident of Niles in 1901 and the same year he organized the plant. The first electric light was turned on in Niles August 12, 1901. He continued as manager until 1904, when the city pur chased the plant and Mr. Parker then bought the old gas plant in Niles, which had been established in 1868. He built up the busi ness and conducted it until in September, 1905, when he sold his interest. He has for a number of years made a specialty of buy ing old gas plants in different parts of the country, improving them and afterward sell ing them and this speculation has brought to him a good financial return. He has bought plants at Valparaiso, Warsaw and Huntington, Indiana, Holland, Michigan, and South Haven, Michigan, all of which he has built up and then sold. In addition to the above he has purchased the old gas plants at Washington and Lamone, Indiana, and at Manistee, Michigan, all of which he still owns and is now conducting. He has led a very active and energetic business life, crowned with gratifying success. He thor oughly understands the business in every de partment both concerning the construction of a plant and its operation, and his efforts in this direction have brought him a fair measure of prosperity. In 1902 he estab lished a stock farm just east of Niles ; forty acres of the one hundred and thirty-six acres are within the city limits. His stock of HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 855 forty horses are of the best strains of blood that money can buy. Mr. Parker was married in 1886 in Huntington, Indiana, to Miss Annie E. Young, who was born in that city and is a daughter of Philip Young. Two children have graced this marriage : Carson, who was born in Huntington and is now seventeen years of age; and Bascom, who was born in Niles and is twelve years of age. In his political views Mr. Parker is an inciependent Democrat. He does not consider himself bound to party ties but reserves the right — which he also freely accords to others — that of forming his own opinions and sup porting the public measures which he sees fit. Realizing the potency of expert knowl edge and workmanship in any line of busi ness which one would make the basis of suc cess he has thoroughly qualified for his chosen work and has gained the desired re sult which always accompanies earnest and capable effort. RAY E. LEE, secretary and manager of the Linden Cereal Company at Benton Harbor and thus closely associated with one of the leading productive industries of the city which constitutes an important element in business activity here, was born in Dowagiac, Cass county, Michigan, in 1876. He is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the southern part of this State. His paternal grand father, Mason Lee, was a native of Taun ton, Massachusetts, but in early life removed to New York, where he established a home. Later, however, he determined to know something of the advantages of the west, of which he was constantly hearing favor able reports, and made his way to- Michi gan, settling in Jefferson, Cass county, in 1833. He made a prospecting trip at that time when about forty-two years of age and it was five years later before he brought his family to the west, after which he estab lished his home in Cass county. Chauncey T. Lee, father of our subject, was born in New York in 1836 and was a young lad when he was brought by his par ents to Michigan, so that his preliminary education was acquired in Jefferson. He afterward attended school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and subsequently entered the Baptist Theological College, in which he pur sued a four years' course of study. He en tered upon his business career as a clerk in the first hardware store established at Dowa giac and through earnest and persistent ef fort developed a talent for working his way upward. In 1854 he engaged in business on his own account in Dowagiac, but later decided to enter professional 'life and took up the study of law under the direction of James Sullivan, who acted as his preceptor and afterward admitted him to a partner ship. He continued in the practice of his profession until 1875, after which he con centrated his energies upon the conduct of a banking business, organizing the banking firm of Lee Brothers & Company at Dowa giac. The institution which they established is still in successful operation. In 1885, Mr. Lee purchased a magnificent farm prop erty called the Dowagiac Stock Farm and has sheltered there many well bred horses, having commodious buildings and a fine half mile track. In fact this is one of the show places of Cass county. The Lees have been very prominent in Cass county, where they have splendid farms and attractive homes. They have also done much for the upbuilding, substantial improvement and permanent progress of the county where. they still reside. Chauncey Lee has ever. been a public-spirited citizen, possessing great energy and determination, qualities which enable him to carry forward to suc cessful completion whatever he undertakes. His efforts and his influence have been a strong directing force in various business enterprises and matters of public concern, and he is today classed with the valued resi dents of his part of the State. He married Miss Sarah H. Lockwood, a daughter of the late Dr. Henry Lockwood, who was a native of New York and settled in Cass county, Michigan, in 1837. For many years he was a prominent physician of that county, where he practiced until his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Lee have been born five children, all natives of Dowa giac. Henry, who is associated with his father in the banking business at Dowagiac, 856 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY married Miss Cora Bridges, of Green Cas tle, Indiana, who died leaving one daugh ter, Helen. Fred E., who is general man ager of the Round Oak Stove Company of Dowagiac, one of the largest concerns of the kind in America, married Kate Beck with of that city, who died leaving a daugh ter, Mary, and since the death of his first wife he had wedded Mary Gray, of New York. Elma, married Lake Cahill, who died leaving two children, Lee and Mari- ette, and since the death of her first husband she has married Ralph H. Emery. Mabel C. is the wife of Dr. John H. Jones, a prac tising physician of Dowagiac. The fifth member of the family is Ray E. Lee, who was reared in his native city and acquired his elementary education in the public schools there. He afterward at tended the Notre Dame University in Indi ana and was graduated from the literary department in the class of 1896. Thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties, he entered the banking house of Lee Brothers & Company at Dowagiac as cashier, continuing in that position for some time. In 1900 he came to Benton Harbor and was one of the organizers of the Citi zens State Bank, which was later merged into the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Benton Harbor. He acted as one of the assistant cashiers and also as one of the di rectors of the first named bank. In 1903 he purchased the business of the Linden Cereal Company, manufacturers of a coffee cereal, and in 1904 the company was incorporated with C. T. Lee as president, H. Rowe of Buchanan, Michigan, as vice president and Ray E. Lee as secretary and manager. In 1898 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lee and Miss Mayme Vuylestake, a daughter of Adolphus Vuylestake, of Ben ton Harbor. In politics a Republican, he is interested in the party but without politi cal aspiration. A young man, he is thor oughly alive to business conditions and pos sibilities and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the commercial and in dustrial life of Benton Harbor. Moreover, he is public-spirited to an eminent degree and is deeply interested in all plans which have their basis in a desire for general im provement. Watchful of the signs of the times, he is keeping in touch with modern progress and has already made in business circles a reputation and gained success which many a man of twice his years might well envy. FRANK KNIEBES is the owner of eighty acres of land in Bainbridge town ship devoted to general farming and fruit raising. His life record began on the 15th of August, 1854, his parents being Peter and Margaret (Smithberger) Kniebes, both of whom had come as young people from Germany to America about 1845 or 1846. The father was a barber by trade and worked at that occupation for two years at St. Joseph. In this county he married Miss Smithberger, the wredding ceremony being performed near Coloma by a justice of the peace. He had one hundred and forty-two acres of land in the midst of a densely wooded tract in the northern part of Bain bridge township. There the young couple lived in pioneer style. He drove thirty miles with oxen in order to obtain mill products. Many difficulties and hardships were exper ienced in the early days when this was still a frontier region but Mr. Kniebes aided in subduing the wilderness and extending the frontier, working persistently and energetic ally in his efforts to clear a farm and de velop a good home for his family. He placed about one hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation and his life was devoted to the improvement of that farm and other lands in this county, including the present home of Peter Kniebes. His youngest son, Jacob Kniebes, is now living on the old home property. The members of his family are as follows : Peter G., who is now living in Benton Harbor; Frederick, who has a farm in Watervliet township ad joining the old homestead; Frank, of this review ; Jacob, who resides on the old home place; Henrietta, who became the wife of Henry Arndt and died when past fifty years of age leaving a large family; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Krieger of Bainbridge township ; Sophia, the wife of Peter Krieger of the same township; Caroline, the wife of John Umphrey, of Coloma; Margaret, %(AA- U^^M>uLc 6\ XL^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 857 who married Phillip Fernham and died at the age of thirty-three years; and Anna, the wife of Louis Umphrey, of Bainbridge. The father of this family died about twelve years ago and had at that time survived his wife for five years. The remains of both were interred in the Kniebes cemetery on 5 part of the old home property. They were worthy Christian people who held member ship in the Evangelical association, and Mr. Kniebes was a Republican in his political views. He started out in life on his own account empty-handed but made steady pro gress toward the goal of prosperity and lived retired for a number of years prior to his death, having accumulated a competence that provided him with the necessities and some of the luxuries of life. Frank Kniebes spent his boyhood days on the farm to the age of twenty-one years. His father assisted him in securing land, for which he made him a deed a few years later. He was married at the age of twenty- two years to Miss Louisa Kehrer, a daugh ter of John Kehrer, of Kessler township, Van Buren county. He built a little cabin in the woods, having there eighty acres of land, of which fifty-five acres has been cleared while twenty-five acres is still covered with timber. Here he carries on general farm ing with three acres devoted to small fruit, while his peach orchards contain two thous and trees. His residence and other build ings stand on an eminence, commanding a fine view of the valley and the farm is now splendidly improved, being equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. It is the visible evidence of the life of thrift and industry which Mr. Kniebes has led. For twenty-seven years he and his wife traveled life's journey happily together and were then separated by death. There were five children of that marriage : Lydia, who became the wife of Alfred Docktor, and died at the age of twenty-six years; Mary, at home; Henry, a farmer living in Bainbridge township ; Sophia, who died in infancy ; and Christina, at home. On the 22d of April, 1905, Mr. Kniebes was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Katie Sum- rill, a daughter of Christian Koerber, of Bainbridge township and the widow of Allie Sumrill. She had one child by her former marriage, Allie Sumrill. Mr. Kniebes is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Bainbridge. He is ac tive in the work of his political party and has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, while for six years he served as township trueasurer, being three times elected to that office. No public trust ever reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his loyalty in office is as marked a characteristic in his life as his enterprise and activity in his business career. REUBEN W. REESE. The specific history of the middle west was made by the pioneers, these hardy settlers who builded their rude domiciles, grappled with the giants of the forest, and from the wilds evolved the fertile and productive fields which have these many years been furrowed and refurrowed by the plowshare. The Reese family was among the first to locate in Berrien county, and Reuben W. Reese, but a babe at the time of their arrival, is therefore numbered among the honored pio neers who have not only witnessed the re markable growth and transformation of the region but have been important factors in its progress and advancement. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, Febru ary 18, 1849, his parents being Martin and Hannah (Rulifson) Reese, both also natives of that county. In 1849 tnev established their home on the then frontier of Berrien county, Michigan, where the father secured a farm in Pipestone township, paying a dol lar and a quarter per acre for his land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, and at the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-seven years old, he was the owner of one of the most fertile and well improved farms in the township. His wife reached the remarkable age of ninety years and six months ere she was called to the home beyond. In their family were fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to years of maturity and seven, three sons and four daughters, are now living. 858 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Reuben W. Reese, the youngest son of the family, as before stated was but a babe when brought by his parents to Berrien county, and in Pipestone township he was reared to years of maturity, receiving his early educational training in its log school- house so common in those early days. He was thus reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and early began to perform his share in the arduous task of clearing and developing a new farm. During sixteen years of his early life he followed the pro fession of teaching, entering upon that oc cupation when but eighteen years of age, and in 1874 he went to Irving, Kansas, and there continued the profession for twelve years, when he returned to Berrien county and located a half mile west of Eau Claire. Here he resides and has a well improved farm of one hundred and forty acres known as "The Lamore Estate," the rich and pro ductive fields annually returning to him bounteous harvests in return for the care and labor he has bestowed upon them. The name Lamore is of French origin. The original spelling of the name in France was "De Lamarre," then changed in Canada to "Lamarre," and more recently to "La more," by which it is known at present. Mrs. R. W. Reese was reared till wo manhood in Berrien county, and here edu cated. She was one of Berrien county's suc cessful teachers in the years gone by. She married Eugene M. Hipp December 12, 1867, and they were schoolmates. To this marriage was born one daughter, Clara G., wife of William C. Hicks, a prominent at torney of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and two children have been born, William C. and Robert Lamore. Mrs. Hicks was formerly married to Orrin W. Ludlow, and two children graced this union: Vera B., who will graduate in the class of 1907 in the Benton Harbor high school, and Eugene C.,a member of the class of 1909. Mrs.Hicks is a lady of rare accomplishments, especially in literature and music. She was a ready and apt pupil and was ably assisted by her mother. Her first husband, Mr. Hipp, was a banker and dry goods merchant of Benton Harbor and a gentleman highly esteemed for his manly attributes of character. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was interred under the auspices of that society. He died November 21, 1875. Mr. Reese has been married twice, the first marriage being with Miss Eva S. Bick- ford, and one son was born to this union, Orville W., a resident of South Bend, In diana, where he is well known in musical circles, being a leader in the Reese Band. Mrs. Reese died in 1881, and for his second wife Mr. Reese wedded Mrs. Josephine E. (Lamore) Hipp, June 30, 1899. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 18, 1847, and is the eldest of six children, three sons and three daughters born to Lewis and Sarah (Losey) Lamore. Five of the chil dren are yet living, four in Berrien county, and her youngest brother, Gilbert N. La more, is a resident of Idaho. Lewis Lamore was born in Canada, just across the line from Vermont, in 1822, and died in Berrien county January 24, 1899. He was one of the best ship carpenters in the west, and was one of the head carpenters who helped erect the first bridge across the St. Joseph river for the Michigan Central Railroad at Niles, Michigan. He was truly a self-edu cated and self-made man, a gentleman of strong convictions, and was ever fearless in advocating measures of right. He was a pronounced student and original thinker. Politically he was an ardent Republican. Fraternally he was a member of the I. O. O. F., and took high ground on the subject of temperance. He died on his old home stead and was interred under the auspices of the I. O. O. F. The following brief re view of his wife was published in one of the local papers at the time of her death: "Sarah Losey was born in the State of New York, January 19, 1823, and when fourteen years of age removed with her parents to Michigan, locating about two miles from Detroit. In her journey from "New York her father's family made the trip by wagon, the subject of this sketch walk ing much of the distance and for a portion of the way along the Erie Canal, where she HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 859 saw the workmen excavating* for the great waterway which has made New York State famous. "On May 17, 1846, she was married to Louis Lamore, and located in Detroit, where she resided until 1850. At this latter date she removed with her husband to Ber rien county locating in Pipestone township near what was then known as Shanghai. "In 1 85 1 the family removed to their farm west of Eau Claire, about one-half mile west, and with the exception of about one and one-half years in which the family resided at what is known as the Haskins grist mill, have lived continuously on the old farm, and where this subject passed to her reward Saturday, October 6, 1906, at 10 :2o p. m., aged eighty-three years, eight months and seventeen days. "Mrs. Lamore is survived by one brother, Sylvester Losey, of Dearborn, and one sister, Mrs. E. L Willard, of Detroit, Michigan; two daughters, Mrs. R. W. Reese, of Eau Claire, -and Mrs. S. M. Ro- dell, of Maple Grove; three sons, Charles L., of Hartman, George S., of Eau Claire, and Gilbert N., of Clearwater, Idaho; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. "Sarah Lamore was a woman of re markable qualities. Absolutely honest, un- deviating in her purpose, shrewd in her cal culations, and with a keen intellect and memory was a synonym for a thorough business woman. "Although an invalid for the past four years she was at all times alert to her busi ness interests which she managed with sin gular and unerring success, and relin quished command only when death inter vened. "She was patient in sickness, and brave in the hour of death, and a remembrance of her womanly virtues should be an inspir ation to those who survive her." From the time of reaching his majority Mr. Reese has been an active supporter of Republican principles, and his fraternal re lations connect him with the Masonic order, the Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has served as president of the Old Set tlers' Association, also of the Berrien Coun ty Farmers' Institute, and for eight years has served as a notary public. He has spent almost his entire life in this county, has watched the transformation of wild land into beautiful homes and farms, and in the work of growth and upbuilding he has ever borne his part. JOSEPH W. HAUSER, deceased, was at one time a resident of St. Joseph town ship. As his name indicates, he was of German lineage, his birth having occurred in Hesse-Nassau, May 11, 1843, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth Hauser. The father was an alderman of the town of Stein- bach and held other public offices, being prominent and influential in the community. Joseph W. Hauser acquired his educa tion in the schools of his native country and there learned the wagon-maker's trade, pay ing seventy-two dollars for his instruction and training during two and a half years' apprenticeship. He afterward spent three years working at his trade in the southern part of Germany and in accordance with the laws of his native land he served in a German army. In 1867, when twenty-four years of age, he came to the United States, thinking to enjoy beter business opportuni ties in the new world, for he had heard favorable reports concerning the conditions which here existed. For three years he re mained in New York and then went to Chi cago, whence he came to Benton Harbor and opened a wagon-making shop. On the 7th of January, 1869, Mr. Hauser was united in marriage to Miss Frances JPaczkoroaka, a native of Poland. They had twelve children, of whom eight are now living. For three years Mr. Hauser engaged in wagon-making in St. Joseph and while living there served as alderman of the city for two years. Closing out his wagon- making business he retired to his farm south of the city and gave his attention to the cul tivation of fruit. Throughout his remaining days his life was devoted to general horti cultural pursuits and his orchards produced excellent crops. As the years went by he prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of a valuable fruit farm, which, 86o HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in its excellent appearance, indicated his care and supervision. In his business affairs he was always thoroughly reliable as well as energetic and was never known to take ad vantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction. In his death the community lost one of its valued citizens. He had never attempted to figure promi nently in public affairs but had always dis played sterling traits of character that work for good citizenship as well as for honor in private life. SAMUEL McGUIGAN, deceased, was at onetime the wealthiest citizen in Benton Harbor. He was associated with various and important business enterprises of Ber rien county and his labors were of direct and immediate serviceableness in public af fairs as well, promoting the general pros perity and material upbuilding of the county. No history of this section of the state would be complete without mention of his life. He was born in Donegal, Ii eland, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that country. When about twenty-one years of age he came to America, crossing the Atlan tic in 1849. He was the first of the family to reach this country and he landed at Cas tle Garden with one dollar in his pocket. By trade he was a millwright and he fol lowed that pursuit in the Empire State for some time, during which period he lived frugally and economically, so that he had a small capital when he came to Michigan. Here he purchased raw land, constituting the farm upon which Murray Stewart now resides. It is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres known as the old mill farm. He built a sawmill, being associated with his cousin, William Stewart, and also his brother. Samuel McGuigan, however, was the first of the three to reach Michigan. His mill was operated successfully for many years or until the timber was all cleared up in this part of the State. One unfamiliar with the details of the lumber business can scarcely realize the volume of arduous labor de manded in making roads and completing ar rangements for the cutting and shipment of the logs and timber. Especially was this a difficult task in the days when there were few railroads. In company with Samuel Grayer of Chicago, Mr. McGuigan estab lished a retail lumberyard on Canal street in that city at the time of the rebuilding of Chicago after the great fire. In order to quickly transport his lumber to the city market he purchased a sailing vessel, the Cynthia Gordon, commanded by Captain McDonald, and sailed that across the lake, loaded with cargoes of lumber. After a time the sawmill was transferred to what is known as the Patchore farm, which he cleared by cutting away the timber. His cousin, Samuel Stewart, acted as his fore man and was continued in connection with the brother for a long time. James Down ing, who died in Little Rock, Arkansas, while serving as a soldier in the Civil war, left an estate and farm, and his widow, Mrs. Downing, conducted the boarding house for the mill men. Samuel McGuigan of this review boarded with her on his old farm. In the fall of 1876 he purchased the old Lorder place two miles south of Ben ton Harbor on the Pipestone road, now known as the Dukeshire farm, and that place afterward became Mr. McGuigan's home, Mrs. Downing continuing to act as his housekeeper as she had previously done on the mill farm and on the Patchore farm. After the work was discontinued at the mill on the Patchore farm his causin and old foreman, Samuel Stewart, removed to Ben ton Harbor, building what is now known as the Phoenix hotel. In the meantime Mr. McGuigan had cleared up the Murray Stewart farm, which he continued to operate and improve. He was a fnan of resourceful business ability, capably superintending varied interests and he extended his efforts to a number of busi ness affairs which were profitably conducted by him. About 1890, in connection with Ed Brant, he erected Hotel Benton in Ben ton Harbor and at various times he pur chased property in that city and also in the county. He invested considerable money in the building of the Eastman Springs Street Railroad and he was a partner of Captain HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 861 McDonald in the lumber trade in Benton Harbor. His keen business discernment was manifest in the readiness with which he solved difficult business problems and in the capable manner in which he carried forward to successful completion whatever he under took. Samuel Stewart, his cousin, married Miss Mary Downing, the daughter of Mrs. Margaret Downing, who acted as Mr. Mc- Guigan's housekeeper. This marriage was celebrated soon after the arrival of Mr. Stewart in the county and when he ceased to act as foreman for Mr. McGuigan. He removed to Benton Harbor, where he con ducted a grocery business. He- afterward took possession of a farm and Mr. Mc Guigan lived with him. The latter spent his last two years in Benton Harbor with a niece, dying in that city on the 5th of June, 1901. His life had indeed been one of intense and well directed activity and he became the wealthiest resident of Benton Harbor, having extensive business and prop erty interests, including several farms. In his political views Mr. McGuigan was a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party, and he was an influential factor in public life and opinion. He was the first president of Benton Har bor after its incorporation as a village, and his efforts in behalf of public progress were always of an effective and beneficial nature. He had been reared in the faith of the Epis copal Church and although he never held membership in any denomination he as sisted in building and supporting different churches. His remains were interred at Crystal Springs, near his former home, and thus a life of much usefulness was ended but the extent of its influence is immeasureable. Three yenrs before his death he settled his two farms upon his cousins, the children of Samuel Stewart, Murray Stewart receiving the old Mill farm on Napier avenue, while Fannie Stewart, now the wife of P. Duke- shire, is living on the Lorder farm at Lorder Corners. It is with her that Samuel Stew art, the veteran lumberman and pioneer set tler, now makes his home. When Murray Stewart was a child of two years he was sent to live with his grandmother, for his father, who was then conducting a hotel in Benton Harbor, was fearful that he would fall in the creek near by. His grandmother was Mrs Downing, with whom Mr. Mc Guigan lived, and from that time on Mur ray Stewart made his home with Samuel McGuigan, whom in his boyhood prattle he called "Gogin" and the name was ever after ward retained between them. Mr. Mc Guigan took a deep interest in the child and also his sister Fannie and did everything in his power for their comfort, happiness and welfare. After this it seemed that his ideal centered upon the thought of giving them good farms. Upon the Mill farm he erected the present fine residence and barns for Mur ray Stewart, making daily visits to the place and finding much pleasure in preparing the home for his young cousin. Murray Stewart was born on the site of Hotel Benton, where his father then con ducted a grocery store. He was married on the 24th of December, 1897, to Miss Bertha Bertram, who left two children, Fan nie and Larue. The wife and mother died March 17, 1903, and Mr. Stewart was mar ried July 24, 1904, to Miss Queenie Young, of Fair Plains, Michigan, who was born in Illinois and was brought to Benton Harbor in her childhood days by her father, Albert Young, who removed his family to this county. Mr. Stewart is carefully conduct ing his farming interests. He has one thous and peach trees upon his place, and while he is quite extensively engaged in the culti vation and sale of fruit he has made dairy ing the leading feature of his business in connection with his general farming. For some months he engaged in railroad work on the Santa Fe and is familiar with all mechanical devices and engines. He oper ates a threshing machine and corn sheller upon his farm and has a splendidly improved property. His political views are in accord with Republican principles. FRANK H. WHIPPLE, serving as postmaster at Bridgman in Lake township, is the owner of a farm of sixty-six acres two and a half miles south of the village and also the owner of a half interest in a large general store. He is thus an important fac- 862 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY tor in the business life of the town and his enterprise and activity are a valued element in commercial progress here. He was born near Bridgman September 20, 1868, a son of Henry H. and Carrie V. (Watson) Whip ple, natives of New York and of Indiana re spectively. The father died when his son Frank was only six years of age and the mother still resides in Berrien county. In the family were but two sons and the young er, Fred, was killed when only six years of age. Frank H. Whipple was reared upon the home farm by his parents to the age of six teen years, when thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial than the work of the fields he began railroading on the Chicago and West Michigan railroad, spend ing about six years in that way, acting as telegraph and station agent at various points. He was afterward with the Antrim Iron Company at Mancelona, Michigan, for about four years in the capacity of bookkeeper and on the expiration of that period he came to Bridgman and established a general mer cantile business in connection with his step father, S. Mandlin, under the firm name of S. Mandlin & Company. He started in busi ness in 1893 and the partnership was con tinued until the death of the senior partner on the 5th of August, 1906. Mr. Whipple still carries on the store, which is a large and well appointed establishment for a vil lage of this size. The trade is drawn from a large surrounding territory and owing to the earnest desire of the owner to please his customers combined with his fair and rea sonable prices he is now enjoying a very liberal and well merited patronage. He likewise owns sixty-six acres of land pleas antly situated two and a half miles south of Bridgman and the farm returns to him a good income. In June, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Whipple and Miss Minnie E. Plummer, a native of Mancelona, Michigan, and a daughter of John W. and Martha Plummer. Four children have been born of this mar riage : Lynn M., Martha jane, Olive Vir ginia and Frank Plummer. In April, 1891, Mr. Whipple was ap pointed postmaster of Bridgman and has filled the office continuously since. He has been a life-long Republican, active in the work of the party and recognized as one of its local leaders. He has served as county committeeman for the past eight years and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. He has likewise been a member of the Congrega tional Church in Bridgman and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of this place, with the Knights of Pythias at Benton Harbor, the Modern Woodmen of Bridgman and the Masonic fraternity at St. Joseph, in all of which he is accounted a valued representative because of his unfaltering allegiance to the basic ele ments of these organizations. GILBERT A. EIDSON. The land of Oronoko township is cultivated by a class of citizens whose industry and enterprise have converted it into a rich agricultural and horticultural district, yielding excellent returns for the care and labor bestowed upon it, and among the wide-awake, progressive farmers within its borders is numbered Gil bert A. Eidson, who lies on section 10. He was born in this township, March 22, 185 1, and is the eldest of a family of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Of the num ber two died in infancy, while eight are still living. The parents were William B. and Hattie (Weaver) Eidson, the former a na tive of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Eidson spent his boyhood days in the Buckeye State and came to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1835, when twenty-one years of age, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this county, for southwestern Michigan was then in the initial stages of its development, the work of reclamation having scarcely been begun; for the Indians still visited the neighborhood and indicated the proximity of the county to the primitive condition when the white man was unknown within its borders. Mr. Eidson began work ing by the month and later carried on farm ing on his own account. He lived for some time upon a farm in Oronoko township, and afterward engaged in the livery business in Berrien Springs for a number of years. In the winter seasons he was engaged in the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 863 manufacture of brooms and thus led a life of industry, which constituted the source of his success. He died in Berrien Springs in his eighty-third year, and his wife departed this life when more than seventy-six years of age. Their deaths occurred within twenty-four hours of each other, and thus the worthy couple who had long traveled life's journey together were separated for but a brief period by the grim reaper. The surviving members of the family are Hattie, Frances, John L., Edward D., William, George, Herbert and Gilbert A. Of this family John L. is a resident farmer of Oronoko township. Gilbert A. Eidson was reared in Oro noko township near Berrien Springs and attended the public schools of the village. His youth was passed upon his father's farm and he assisted in its improvement un til he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. He was mar ried August 12, 1877, to Miss Emeline Morrow, a daughter of W. T. and Mariette (Carey) Morrow. The father was a native of New Jersey, born March 10, 1807, and died June 19, 1880. He was a merchant and late in life an agriculturist. He was a well educated man and was a Democrat in his political views. He and his wife were de vout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was a native of New Jersey, born February 3, 1819,. and died October 13, 1887. They were both reared in New Jersey. Mrs. Eidson was born in New Jersey, June 19, 1853, and was brought to Berrien county when about eight years of age. She was educated in the com mon schools of her township, and also at tended the Ladies' Seminary in Madison, New Jersey, and the High School at Fair- plains, near Benton Harbor. She engaged In teaching school between the ages of six teen and twenty-four years and was recog nized as one of the capable educators of this part of the State. She followed that occupation for eight years, three years at Berrien Springs, and during all that long period only taught in five different places. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eidson have been born three children: Gilberta May was educated In the common schools and was also a stud ent in the Berrien Springs high school and the Niles high school. Her husband, Wil liam Judd, is a mechanic of Elkhart, Indiana. Walter H. received a diploma at Berrien Springs in 1898, at the age of sixteen years. He then entered Benton Harbor high school and afterward spent two years in Albion College. Arthur is now a student in the Berrien high school, a member of the class of 1907. He will then enter college. Mr. and Mrs. Eidson have given their children the benefit of good educations. It was in the year 1899 that they erected their beauti ful country residence, which is modern in style of architecture and neatly and cosily furnished, which makes one of the model homes of the township. The pretty country seat is known as Maple Villa. They have two of the old fashioned coverlets which are close to a century old. The farm comprises eighty acres devoted general farming and fruit raising. There are four hundred pear trees upon the place and other good fruit, and in the cultivation of his orchards as well as his fields Mr. Eid son has displayed excellent business ability and competent understanding. In his early years he gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, but is now a stanch Pro hibitionist. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is iden tified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Berrien Springs. In all life's relations he has shown himself to be an honorable and straighforward man, worthy of the trust of his fellow citizens, and his years of labor have been crowned with a measure of prosperity that now makes him a substantial resident" of his native town ship. ELLIOTT H. CALDWELL, post master and general merchant at Hinchman, and also well known as a raiser of Shetland ponies, was born in Niles township near the city of Niles, November 20, 1870. His paternal grandfather, Hugh Caldwell, on Coming to Michigan located with his family near Breedsville, in Van Buren county. His son, James C. Caldwell, was born in Ohio and came to Michigan with his parents. In this State, however, he left home and was 864 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY reared at Niles by Isaac Snorff. At the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations, and en listed as a member of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry. He joined the army as a private and went to the south but was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and on account of dis ability occasioned thereby he was honorably discharged. When no longer able to aid his country in a military capacity he returned to the north and located near Niles, where he was engaged in general farming until 1870. He then removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he conducted a livery busi ness for a number of years, selling out in 1899 prior to his removal to Chicago. In the latter city he engaged in business as a dealer in buggies and carriages and is still continuing in that line of trade. He mar ried Miss Elizabeth Snorff, a native of Ohio, born near Dayton, and she, too, survives at the time of this writing, in 1906. They were the parents of two children, the daugh ter being Imogene, the wife of H. E. Pin- nell, of Erie, Pennsylvania. Elliott H. Caldwell, the younger child and only son, was reared and educated at St. Joseph, Michigan, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. For five years he was employed in a clerical capacity in the St. Joseph post- office and in 1897 he came to Hinchman, since which time he has carried on general merchandising and stock-raising. His busi ness interests are carefully managed and he now has a well equipped general store, car rying a large and select line of goods, for which he finds a ready sale among the vil lage people and the citizens of the outlying districts. He makes a specialty of the rais ing of Shetland ponies and has upon his place twenty-eight thoroughbreds. His business interests in both branches are care fully conducted and have resulted in grati fying success. Mr. Caldwell is also acting as postmaster at Hinchman, to which office he was appointed by President McKinley in 1900 and re-appointed by President Roose velt in 1904. On the 17th of August, 1900, Mr. Cald well was married to Miss Jessie June Harner, a daughter of W. H. and Mary Ann (Feather) Harner. She was born in Oronoko township, where she was also reared and educated and has spent most of her life. Two children grace this union, James William and Vernon Edward. In politics Mr. Caldwell is a stanch Re publican, active in the interests of the party since age gave him the right of franchise. He does all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the party and is thoroughly informed concerning the questions and issues of the day. He co operates in many movements for the gen eral good and in his business life manifests a spirit of enterprise and activity which has been the strong element in his success. M. S. BEDINGER is a prominent farmer residing at Hinchman in Oronoko township. He was born in Darke county, Ohio, January 4, 1848, and his father, Adam Bedinger, a native of Pennsylvania, became one of the early settlers of the Buckeye state. He was also a pioneer resident of Berrien county, Michigan, where he arrived on the 6th of September, 1851, making his way to Berrien Springs. Soon afterward he rented a farm, which he operated for three years and he then purchased a farm four miles west of Berrien Springs, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until after the breaking out of the Civil war. Watching the progress of events and noting that the war was to be no holiday affair but was to be a long and bitter struggle, he felt that his first duty was to his country, and in 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Af ter six months he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to hi* home. He came of a family of German de scent, and in his life manifested many of the sterling traits of his German ancestry. His death occurred when he was in his seventy- fourth year, while his wife passed away in her eighty-second year. She bore the maiden name of Rachel Christopher, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, where she was reared and married, and she was likewise of German descent. In the Bedinger family HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 865 were eleven children, three Sons and eight daughters, all of whom reached manhood or womanhood, the subject of this review being the seventh child^and second son. M. S. Bedinger was in his fourth year when he came to Berrien county, Michigan, and upon the home farm in Oronoko town ship he was reared, acquiring his education in the district schools, which he attended through the winter months, while in the sum mer seasons he worked in the fields. He re mained at home to the age of twenty-three years, assisting in the farm work and was then married on the nth of January, 1871, Miss Alice Murphy becoming his wife. She was born in Lake township, Berrien county, a daughter of George and Mary (Mattox) Murphy. For three years following his mar riage Mr. Bedinger lived in Jefferson coun ty, Missouri, where he was engaged in bridge building for the Iron Mountain Railroad. He then returned to Oronoko township, where he engaged in carpenter work and building operations, his time being thus oc cupied for five years. He then began farm ing on the old homestead and continued actively in the work of the fields until 1891, when he sold out and removed to Manistee county, Michigan, where he spent one year. He then returned to Oronoko township and bought a farm-, upon which he now re sides, a valuable property which is well im proved and which indicates in its neat and thrifty appearance the careful supervision of the owner. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bedinger have been born four children : Maggie, now the wife of Frank Harner, of Oronoko township; Paul, of the same township; Claar and Frank, both at home. In his political views Mr. Bedinger is a Democrat and has served as supervisor of Oronoko township for two years and as treasurer for four years. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and political questions and is well known in the county as a leader in public thought and action,_ be ing recognized as a most influential citizen of Oronoko township. He holds member ship with the Masonic fraternity at Berrien Springs and is identified with the Lutheran Church at Hinchman. ROLAND B. TABER, M. D., physician and surgeon of Benton Harbor, was born in Benton township, Berrien county, in 1872. His father, Roland T. Taber, is also a native of this county, born in 1847, and the family was established in Michigan at an early period in its improvement and development. The greatgrandfather, Jonathan Taber, with his wife, Rebecca Thomas, came from New York to Michigan at the time that Roland T. Taber arrived here and continued a resident of Berrien county up to the time of his ROLAND B. TABER. demise. Both he and his wife died in Sodus township, the former at the age of eighty- four years, the latter when eighty years of age. Jonathan Taber had been a soldier of the war of 18 12 and was granted a pension in recognition of his services. He also re ceived a land warrant, which he exchanged for a farm, but it is not known where the land was located. His son, John T. Taber, grandfather of Dr. Taber, was born in New York and, removing westward in 1832, be came a resident of Chicago, Illinois, where 55 866 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he learned the blacksmith's trade. Four or five years later he became a resident of Bain bridge township, Berrien county, Michigan, where he purchased a farm and also erected the first blacksmith shop in the township, conducting business in the line of his trade for many years and also superintending his agricultural interests. He was married in Chicago to Miss Ellen Foley, a relative of Bishop Foley, of Detroit, Michigan. She died in 1848 at the age of thirty-two years. Among the children of this worthy couple was Roland T. Taber, whose birth occurred on the family homestead in Bainbridge town ship in 1847. When five years of age he went to live with his uncle, Jonas Inman, in Benton township, and there remained until ten years of age. In early manhood he ac quired the old homestead which his uncle had owned and added to that property, which he transformed into a good farm. He at first carried on general agricultural pursuits, but afterward engaged in raising fruit and vegetables. About twelve years ago he took up his abode in Benton Harbor, where he is now living retired. He has been prominent and active in influential affairs and is recog nized as an enterprising progressive citizen. In 1871, in Galesburg, Illinois, he married Melissa E. Burridge, a native of Indiana, who died in February, 1905, at the age of fifty-three years. They had a son arid daugh ter, the latter being Mrs. Lizzie M. Kake- beeke the wife of James H. Kakebeeke of Benton Harbor. The son, Dr. Roland B. Taber, was reared upon the old home farm in Benton township and obtained his early education in the country schools, after which he at tended Benton Harbor College, from which he was graduated in the class of 189 1. Later he attended the University of Michigan and was graduated therefrom 1896, completing a course in pharmacy and chemistry. Subse quently he attended the University of Illi nois, where he pursued a course in medicine and surgery, being graduated with the class of 1900. Dr. Taber located for practice in Benton Harbor, where he has since remained, en joying a large and growing practice, his patrons including many of the best families of the city. He was appointed by Governor Bliss to the position of surgeon to the Michi gan state navy and at the present time is city health officer, which position he has filled since 1901. Dr. Taber was married in Benton Harbor in 1903 to Miss Bernice Worth of this city and their pleasant home is justly celebrated for its generous and attractive hospitality. Dr. Taber is a member of the. Masonic fra ternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while in his political views he is a Republican. HARRY K. GRAHAM, who follows farming on section 24, Oronoko township, and is one of its native sons, was born Feb ruary 22, i860, his parents being George and Mary (Garrow) Graham, who are men tioned on another page of this work. The home farm in Oronoko township remained his playground in youth and his training school- for life's practical duties. His mental discipline, however, was obtained in the dis trict schools and at Urbana University, at Urbana, Ohio. Returning to his home on the completion of his education Harry K. Graham became a clerk in a general store in Berrien Springs and he afterward spent eight years in southeastern Kansas, clerking for two years in a store, while during the re mainder of the period he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. Returning at the end of that time to Berrien Springs he once more became connected with agricul tural interests in this county and located upon his present farm in Oronoko township. He has here one hundred and eighty-five acres of land well adapted to the raising of grain, fruit and stock, and his farm is well equipped for these different departments of agricul tural life. He has a peach orchard of fif teen acres and considerable other fruit, in cluding ten acres of apples. His fields are carefully tilled and he has good stock upon his place. In fact the farm is equipped with all modern conveniences, including the latest improved machinery and everything about the place is indicative of the spirit of enter prise which characterizes the owner and has HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 867 led him to accomplish desired results in a tiseful business career. On the 31st of December, 1891, Mr. Gra ham was married to Miss Mary E. Dunn, a daughter of Edward and Mary Dunn. She was born in Berrien county, Michigan, in April, 1862, and by her marriage has be come the mother of one son and two daugh ters, Mary, James and Edith, all at home. Neglectful of none of the duties of citizen ship, Mr. Graham has contributed to the ad vancement of various plans for the gen eral good and he votes with the Republican party, believing its principles most condu cive to good government. -He has taken the Master Mason degree in Berrien Springs lodge and in all life's relations is recognized as a man whose goods traits of character far outnumber those on the reverse side and he is therefore well worthy the esteem and trust of his fellow townsmen. GEORGE P. SATTLER. The consen sus of public opinion accords George P. Satt ler a place among the leading farmers of Oronoko township. He is actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 17, and was only four years of age when brought by his parents to this county. He was born in Buffalo, New York, November 1, 1855, the second son and fourth child of Phillip and Christine (Ernst) Sattler, who in connection with the sketch of Lewis Satt- are mentioned on another page of this work ler. He was reared upon the old homestead farm and acquired his education in the dis trict schools of Oronoko township. He as sisted his father in the farm work until nine teen years' of age, when he began earning his own living by working by the month at farm labor. In the year 1877 he won a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage to Miss Estella Wyers, a daughter of Andrew and Betsy (Boyd) Wyers. She was born in Oronoko town ship, where her parents located at an early period in the developm'ent and progress of the county. Following fheir marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sattler began their domestic life in Oronoko township, where they remained for two years and then removed to Berrien township, where he purchased a farm upon which they lived for ten years. He there carried on gen eral agricultural pursuits until a decade had passed by, when he sold that property and purchased where he now resides on section 13, Oronoko township. He has here eighty acres of land but rents the farm to his son, while he is practically living retired. His in dustry and activity in former years brought him a- comfortable competence so that he does not need to resort 'to the strenuous ef forts of farm life at the present day in order to provide a livelihood. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sattler have been born two children : Cora, now the wife of Charles Soorick, of Oronoko township; and Arthur, who married Isla Tuttle, and resides upon the old home farm. Mr. Sattler votes with the Republican party and is deeply in terested in its success and growth, doing all in his power to promote its influence. He holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America at Hinchman and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church there. He has lived in the county for forty- six years and is therefore largely familiar with its history from the early days down to the present time. LEWIS SATTLER, who deserves classification with the prominent farmers of Oronoko township, owns and operates a tract of land of eighty acres on section 9, constituting the old Sattler homestead. He was born in Buffalo, New York, June 26, 1848. His father, Phillip Sattler, was a na tive of Alsace, Germany, and was but ten years of «ge when he came with his parents to the new world, crossing the Atlantic to New York and thence making his way to Buffalo. He became a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit in Buffalo for a num ber of years, but in i860 left New York and came direct to Berrien county, Michigan, settling in Oronoko township. Three years before he had purchased the farm upon which he now took up his abode, turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits. As the years passed his fields were cleared and cultivated and he was engaged actively 868 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and successfully in general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. He married Miss Christine Ernst, who was born in Ba den, Germany, and was brought to America in her early girlhood days, being reared in Buffalo, New York. She died in Oronoko township when more than seventy-six years of age and her death was regretted by many friends, for she was a lady of many estima ble traits of character. In the family were four sons and three daughters, of whom five still survive, Lewis being the eldest. The others are : Caroline, the wife of D. Moyer, a resident farmer of Royalton township, Berrien county; Christine, the wife of Wil liam Sullivan, of Stevensville, Michigan; George P., a farmer living in Oronoko town ship; and Julia, the wife of Edwin Myers, who lives in Berrien township. Lewis Sattler was a youth of only twelve years when he became a resident of Oronoko township, accompanying his parents on their removal to Michigan. He had begun his education in the public schools of Buffalo, New York, and he continued his studies in the district schools of Oronoko township. During the periods of vacation his attention was largely given to farm labor and he re mained at home until twenty years of age, when be returned to Buffalo and worked at the tanner's trade. Mr. Sattler was first married in that city to Miss Jennie McPherson. Unto them was born a son, George W. Sattler, who is now a merchant and the postmaster at Stemm, Michigan. In 1876 Mr. Sattler was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife and later he married Miss Maria Col lins, by whom he had three daughters : Mag gie, now the wife of Clayton Stover, of Oro noko township; Clara, the wife of Milton Feather, of the same township; and Edna Pearl, at home. Mr. Sattler lived in Huey, Clinton coun ty, Illinois, for about eight years and was engaged in general agricultural pursuits, but eventually he sold his farm there and pur chased the old homestead property in Oro noko township, where he now resides. He has eighty acres of land which is rich and arable and he has carried on the farm work with excellent success, adding many mod ern equipments and accessories to his place and gathering from his fields rich and abundant harvests. He is a stanch Republi can, well informed on the issues and ques tions of the day, but without aspiration for public office. He belongs to the Ancient Or der of United Workmen at Berrien Springs and his residence in the county covers about. forty-six years, during which time his good qualities as manifest in citizenship and in his business and private life have gained for him an enviable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. RUDOLPH WETZER, one of Michi gan's native sons now living in Berrien coun ty, his home being on section 9, Three Oaks township, where he has an excellent tract of land responding readily to the care and cul tivation which he bestows upon it, was born September 24, 1852, near Detroit, Michigan, and the same year his parents removed to Berrien county, since which time Rudolph Wetzer has been a resident of Three Oaks. township, with the exception of a brief per iod of three years spent in Chicago. He is a son of Maximillian Wetzer, who was born in Byrne, Germany, May 24, 1820, and came to the United States in 1852. He crossed. the Atlantic with a party of German emi- gants and remained in Detroit, Michigan, for a few months. He afterward worked at railroad construction in Canada and thence came to Berrien county. Soon after his ar rival here he purchased fifteen acres on what. is now Main street in Three Oaks. Subse quently he sold that property and purchased the present home place, comprising about eighty-seven and a half acres. It was tim ber land and the trees and brush had to be-. be cleared away before the work of cultiva tion could be begun. It is now well im proved with good buildings and the fields. were richly tilled. He spent the most of his- life on this farm- with the exception of three: years passed in Chicago, when his son was- in the meat business there, and his death oc curred July 20, 1904, thus passing away one of the pioneer residents of the county,. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 869 who for long years had been an interested witness of its development and progress. He exercised the right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and he was a member of the Catholic Church. He was married to Miss Dominie Weizner, who was born in the same part of Germany as her husband, and died in Berrien county in her sixtieth year. In their family were four children : Paul, who died in Germany ; Rudolph, who was the first one born in America; Adaline, who is the wife of Jacob Wedder, a resident of Chicago ; and Cynthia Josephine, who is keeping house for her brother Rudolph. Upon the old home farm in this county Rudolph Wetzer was reared, while in the public schools he acquired his education. He has continuously devoted his time and en ergies to general agricultural pursuits with the exception of three years passed in Chi cago, where he was engaged in the conduct of a meat market in partnership with his brother-in-law, Jacob Wedder, under the firm style of Wedder & Wetzer. When three years had passed by he sold out to Mr. Wedder and returned to the farm where he has since remained. He worked in the woods during the early years of his residence here and was thus identified with the task of reclaiming the wilderness. His attention is given to his farm labor and his fields give promise of bounteous harvests as the reward of his labor and energy. His political alle giance is given to the Democracy. LOUIS. RICKERT, operating a good farm on section 5, Three Oaks township, was born near the village of Three Oaks, on the 30th of April, 1863, and has always lived in this township, remaining at home with his parents until about thirty years of age. He is a son of Frederick and Barbara (Behler) Rickert, natives of Wurtemberg, who came here in the spring of 1853 and were married in Niles in the same spring. The remainder of their lives was spent in this county and much of the time they were residents of Three Oaks township, where they took up their abode in the fall of 1853. Both died in this county, the father reaching the ripe old age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away when sixty-seven years of age. In his business affairs Mr. Rickert prospered and had about two hundred acres, becoming one of the extensive agriculturists of his community. In their family were the fol lowing children : Barbara, now the wife of August Witt, of this township; Fred, de ceased; John, of Three Oaks township; Louis; and Henry, deceased. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Louis Rickert in the days of his boyhood, youth and manhood. He acquired his education in the public schools and when not busy with his text-books his attention was largely given to the work of the fields and after his educa tion was completed he continued to assist his father for some time. He also worked on the railroad for about a year, likewise in sawmills and at carpenter work but gave most of his time to general agricultural pur suits. He acquainted himself with the black smith's and shoemaker's trades and in these lines displayed much skill and ingenuity, possessing much natural mechanical ability. Farming, however, has been his real life work. His home is a fine brick residence, on the Fred Lusso farm, belonging to the estate of his father-in-law, Of which Mr. Rickert is the administrator. He also owns two forty-acres tracts on sections 10 and 13, respectively. The former tract adjoins the Sherwood addition to Three Oaks. He is now operating altogether one hundred and seventy-three acres of land and gives his full time and attention to the raising of grain and stock* He has prospered in both depart ments and whatever he undertakes he accom plishes, allowing no thought of failure to enter his mind. He is one of the world's workers, leading a busy, useful life and his labors are meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity. In September, 1887, Mr. Rickert was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Lusso, who was born July 4, 1864, upon the farm which is yet her home, her parents being Frederick and Sophia (Kuppemuss) Lusso, both of whom were natives of Mecklenberg, Germany. Coming to the new world in early life they were married in Canada, where they lived for two years and six months, re- 870 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY moving to Three Oaks, arriving here about 1856. In their family were seven children, of whom six are yet living, namely : Mrs. Sophia Moser, who is living in Bainbridge this county; Mrs. Anna Steck, of Three Oaks ; John, of Colorado ; Mrs. Rickert ; Mrs. Mary Hellenga, of Three Oaks; and Martha, who died at the age of eighteen years. In matters of citizenship Mr. Rickert is public-spirited and withholds his aid from no movement which he deems will promote public progress. He is a Republican in his political views and affiliation and has done effective service in behalf of public instruc tion as a school officer. Fraternally he -is connected with the Order of Patricians. CHAUNCEY B. REESE. Among the old settlers of Berrien county is numbered Chauncey B. Reese, who is living on section 33, Pipestone township. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, August 18, 1844, and is a son of Martin Reese, who Was likewise born in that county, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah Rulifson, who was also bom in Montgomery county. In the year 1849 they came to Berrien county, settling on the farm where their son, C. B. Reese, now resides. Here they built a log house about twenty-four by twenty feet, it being one of the first in the township and amid pioneer surroundings and conditions they began life on the frontier, remaining upon the farm until they were called to their final rest. The father died at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife was more than ninety years of age when called to her final home. In their family were thirteen children but only six now survive. C. B. Reese, the tenth child of the fam ily,, was but four years old at the time of the removal from the Empire state to Berrien county and has since been a resident of Pipe stone township, continuously living on the farm which is yet his home. He attended the district schools of the township but owing to the unsettled condition of the county his educational privileges were some what limited. Pie was a young man of about twenty years, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, and he en listed as a member of Company B, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, when he received an honorable discharge at Camden, Arkansas, and returned to his home. He has always devoted his life to general agri cultural pursuits and has a well improved farm on which none of the equipments and accessories of a model property are lacking. In 1875 Mr. Reese was married to Miss Caroline Schell, a daughter of Daniel and Dorothy Schell, who were pioneer settlers of this county, coming from New York in 1844 and locating in Pipestone township. Mrs. Reese was born in this township, March 14; 1847, and her girlhood days were spent within its borders, while the public school system afforded her her educational privileges. She first gave her hand in mar riage to Levy Slye, whose people were iden tified with the early settlement of Berrien county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Reese took up their abode on the old farm homestead and here two children have been born unto them : Mabel R., now the wife of Rev. L. M. Wilds, a minister of the Christian church in Kansas; and Dr. John A. Reese, a practicing physician of Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Mr. Reese has always been a Republican since age gave to him the" right of franchise and while not active as an office seeker he has always been interested in the growth and development of the county and has co-operated in many movements for the general good. He belongs to Berrien Center Post, No. 36, G. A. R., in which he has filled most of the chairs and he likewise holds mem bership with the Odd Fellows lodge at Ber rien Center and the Modern Woodmen camp at Eau Claire. His farm comprises seventy- nine acres of well improved land and he has resided thereon for fifty-seven years, during which time he has witnessed many remark able changes in the county as the evidences of pioneer life have been replaced by the improvements of modern civilization, and the land has been converted from the forests and the prairie into richly tilled fields, in the midst of which reside a contented and pros perous people, whose homes and farms are mtfi $ $L*ze*-% ^^.^,#/£L«^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 871 indicative of the productiveness of the soil and the success that may be achieved through through its cultivation. WILLIAM COOK, farmer, dairyman and fruit raiser of Bainbridge township, was born at Coldwater, Branch county, this State, October 24, 1854. When he was sev enteen years old the family removed to Clyde, in Allegan county, and his father, George Cook, being a carpenter by trade, he followed that occupation as well as farming during early manhood. He also learned blacksmithing, and in his early years alter nated between these different pursuits. At the age of twenty-nine Mr. Cook married Miss Lucy L. Matrau, a daughter of Joseph Matrau and a sister of Morgan and E. N. Matrau. For the next eight years Mr. Cook rented land of Morgan Matrau and others and then bought the farm, which is a part of the old Joseph Matrau homestead. For this eighty acres he paid thirty-five hun dred dollars, and he. has since rebuilt the house and moved and remodeled the barn and made various improvements. General farming and considerable fruit raising are both secondary to the dairy business with Mr. Cook, who was one of the organizers of the Watervliet creamery and is one of its steady patrons. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children, Mary A., Benjamin F. and Grace A., all at home. Mr. Cook and family are members of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, and his political views are Republican. CHARLES L. PATTERSON, carry ing on general agricultural pursuits on sec tion 21, Berrien township, was born in Darke county, Ohio, on Christmas day of 1859. His father, James O. Patterson, was also a native of that county and came to Michigan about 1 86 1, locating in Berrien county, where he carried on business as a farmer and carpenter. He was identified with building operations for twelve years and is now living retired from the duties of an active business career. He makes his home in Dowagiac, Michigan, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Susan Keltner, a na tive of Ohio, died in 1875. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom four sons and three daughters are yet living. Charles L. Patterson is the fourth in a family of eleven children and was about two years of age when he came to Berrien coun ty with his parents. He was reared in Ber rien township and attended the district schools there, also assisted in the work of the farm throughout the period of his boy hood and youth. He likewise was employed at farm labor to some extent and thus made a start in life. On the ist of January, 1884, he located on the farm where he now lives. He first owned but twenty-three acres but has added to the place through five different purchases, thus extending the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises two hundred and six acres of well improved land. Just prior to taking up his abode- upon this place Mr. Patterson was married, on the 25th of December, 1883, to Miss Gusta Hoover, a daughter of M. W. and Margaret (Smith) Hoover. Mrs. Patterson was born in Indiana but was reared in Cass county, Michigan, and they traveled life's journey happily together for about nine years, when, in 1892, they were separated by the death of the wife. Two children have been born unto them, Charles O. and Margaret A., both of whom are at home. Mrs. Patterson was a lady of many excellent traits of character and her good qualities of heart and mind made her esteemed by all who knew her, so that her death was deeply regretted by many friends. Interred in the affairs of the community bearing upon its development, progress and substantial improvement, Mr. Patterson has given his co-operation to many movements for the public good. He was president of the school board for twelve years and has done effective work in behalf of the cause of education. In politics he is a stalwart Re publican, while socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center. A life-long resident of this county he has so di rected his labors that he has gained a good farm property and comfortable competence, and investigation into the methods that he has followed shows that they have ever been -872 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 3n conformity with a high standard of busi ness ethics. OLIVER F. WELLINGTON, engaged in general farming on section 17, Oronoko, his native township, was born May 11, 1864, and is descended from English ancestry. His father, Socrates L. Wellington, was a native of England and with his parents came to America in his boyhood days, the family home being established in Portage county, Ohio, where S. L. Wellington was reared. He assisted in building the Mahoning canal and afterward operated boats on that waterway. He was married in Ohio to Miss Jane Ernest, a native of Portage county, where her girlhood days were passed. On leaving the Buckeye State Mr. and Mrs. Wellington came to Berrien county, Michi gan, about i860, settling in Oronoko town ship, where he engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred when he was in his sixty-fourth year. His political sup port was given to the Democracy and he was well known in the township as a leader in political ranks and as an active factor in agricultural circles. His widow still sur vives him and now lives on Broadway in Benton Harbor. In the family were three children, of whom one died in infancy, while the daughter, Ellen, is now the wife of Miles Bailey. Oliver F. Wellington, the youngest of the family, was reared in Oronoko township and completed his education in the district schools. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he began work in the fields and aided in the task of plow ing, planting and harvesting, continuing upon the old homestead until a number of years after his marriage. It was May 11, 1884, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Lizzie Wetzel, a daughter of Nathan Wet zel, a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wellington took his bride to the old home farm, where for seven years he remained, and in the spring of 1891 he bought the farm upon which he now re sides from Daniel Moyer. It comprises eighty acres of land, and about the same time he made purchase of the Hastings farm of forty acres. He has since added to his hold ings until his farm property now comprises three hundred and twenty acres of well im proved land and he personally supervises and manages the home farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and fruit-rais ing. His fields are well tilled and his or chards present a thrifty appearance. Every thing about the place is kept in excellent condition and the enterprise and labors of the owner are indicated in the attractive ap pearance of the place. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welling ton has been blessed with one son, Howard E., who is at home and aids in the farm work. Throughout his entire life Mr. Well ington has lived in Oronoko township and' has been closely associated with its develop ment and progress along agricultural lines. He has never been neglectful of any duties of citizenship and at national elections votes for the candidates of the Republican party, while at local elections he casts an independent bal lot, regarding only the capability of the can didate for the discharge of the duties that devolve in connection with the public busi ness. Fraternally he is a Woodman and his wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors. Religiously he is a Lutheran, and these as sociations indicate much of the character of the man, showing him to be in sympathy with those principles of conduct which de velop- upright character, which work for good citizenship and which indicate a kindly, charitable disposition in matters of relations with his fellow man. LEVI BATTEN, the well-known farmer of section 1 , Galien township, is one of those citizens who believes in the poet's words that "to stay at home is best — home-keeping hearts are happiest." Successful in his busi ness as a farmer, alert and enterprising, broad-minded and contented, he has never theless never been off his home estate longer than six days at a time and never further away, than Tecumseh, this State. When the land was still new he helped take out the stumps and clear the soil for cultivation, and his beautiful estate of eighty acres in sec tion 1 of Galien and forty acres in section HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 873 6 of Bertrand, rewards him fully for the toil and attention bestowed upon it. He has ex ceptionally good buildings, a fine barn thirty by ninety-two feet with cement base ment floor, costing twenty-five hundred dol lars, and all other improvements needed for successful grain and stock farming. Re spected in the community, notwithstanding his independence in politics, evidenced by his changing from a long course as a stanch Democrat to an adherent of Roosevelt, he has served as justice of the peace and has several times refused offices. Mr. Batten was born on his present homestead June 8, 1853. His father, John Batten, was born in Butler- county, Ohio, August 21, 1 82 1, and came to this loca tion in Berrien county in 1850, so that he really belonged to the pioneers. He is still living, making his home with his son Levi. He was a successful man, owning two hun dred and eighty acres of land in this vicinity, which he has since divided among his chil dren. His entire career was devoted to farm ing, although when a boy he learned the art of distilling whiskey, and at the age of six teen made regular trips with a four-horse team from Cincinnati to South Bend, carry ing freight. He was of the old type of De mocracy, having voted for the revered An drew Jackson. The Battens are of Virginia ancestry, the grandfather Thomas settling in Butler county, Ohio, from the Old Dominion, and he and his wife, Blanch (Windsor), spend: ing their last days in Berrien county. Mr. Levi Batten's mother was Elizabeth Hardy, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 5, 1820, and died in this county August 21, 1890. Her father, James, was a native of Virginia and an Ohio pio neer, and during the war of 181 2, being in danger of capture by the enemy, he was buried alive for a short time until the foe had passed on. Levi was the fourth of his parents' five children, the others being: Thomas, who died in infancy; James and William, twins, the former of Buchanan and the latter on part of the paternal estate ; Louisa, who died at the age of two and a half years. There is a noteworthy similiarity in the physiques of the three brothers. Each is five feet two and a half inches high, and their weight is constant between 102 and no pounds the year around. All can wear the same clothes and shoes and hats. Mr. Levi Batten married, September 24, 1874, Miss Emma J. Best, who was born in Milton township, Cass county, June 29, 1852. Her parents, David A. and Almira (Lemon) Best, natives of Pennsylvania, were pioneers of Cass county, Mr. Best be ing a blacksmith by trade. There were twelve children in their family. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Batten three are living, namely : Liz zie A., wife of Leroy Bulhand, of South Bend, was born December 28, 1876; Theron N., a barber of Spearfish, South Dakota, was born January 2, 1879; John A., a but- termaker of Morris, Michigan, was born October 15, 1880. All received good ad vantages preparatory to entering life. John has been very successful in buttermaking, and has won two state prizes. Mr. Batten has three grandchildren, one by each child, their names being, Ruby Bulhand, Delos Victor Batten- and John Hillis Batten. It is a matter of considerable personal pride with Mr. Batten that he has never drank intoxicating liquors. As a boy he was very fond of dancing, and his mother per mitted him to indulge in his desire after gaining from him a pledge that he would neved drink, a promise he has faithfully kept. WILLIAM F. ENDERS is living in Watervliet, his native township. He was born Marcn- 29, i860, being the fifth in the family of Adam Enders. He remained upon the old homestead to the time of his mar riage, which occurred on the ist of Decem ber, 1 88 1. when he was twenty-one years of age, Miss Emma R. Arney becoming his wife. She was born in Ohio but was reared in Bainbridge township, her parents being Benedict and Elizabeth Arney. When she was but seven years of age her mother was burned to death, leaving a family of seven children. Her father remarried and Emma then lived with other families to the time of her marriage, which occurred when she was twenty years of age. 874 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mr. and Mrs. Enders began their do mestic life upon a farm, which his father had purchased for him two years before. He first built a small house, which he occupied for a long period and twelve years ago he erected his present handsome residence, which is splendidly located on an eminence, com manding a fine view of the surrounding country. It is on the Watervliet road about a mile southwest of Coloma and is supplied with all modern conveniences and equip ments. He has a water works and a wind mill upon his place, so that the house is sup plied with running water and there are many other modern and model conveniences. The waterworks are so arranged as also to sup ply his melons while starting under glass. He has two tanks, one in the house furnish ing, water in the bathroom and other parts of his residence, while the second tank sup plies his melons. His home place comprises forty-two acres of land and he also has twenty-two acres adjoining, together with forty acres near Coloma. He operates all this and is justly accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive horticulturists of this part of the State. The home place is devoted to fruit and melons, growing from eight to twelve acres of the latter, and he has glass sufficient to start the plants for ten acres of melons. His gross sales from eight acres in 1905 amounted to about fif teen hundred dollars. He has thirty acres set out to fruit, including two thousand peach trees and five thousand apple trees, together with grapes and berries. Mr. Enders has a contract with a wholesale fruit man of Grand Rapids to whom he sends all his melons, which are shipped under guarantee. He buys only to supply the amount that he does not grow and he makes a specialty of the Osage melon. He shipped over two thousand crates in 1905, nearly all of his own raising. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Enders have been born five children, Neely IL, Elmer E., Syl via B., Myrtle Edna and Dorthy Irene, all at home. The sons have attained their ma jority but remain with their father, assisting him in the operation of his farms. In poli tics Mr. Enders is a Prohibitionist, being an earnest advocate of that party, because he is a stanch champion of the temperance cause. Both he and his wife are members of the M'ethodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful inter est and their lives are actuated by high prin ciples, in conformity with their professions. It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of Mrs. En ders' parents. Her father, Benedict Arney, was born in Switzerland, whence he emi grated to the United States. He was mar ried in Ohio to Elizabeth Hoplitzley, and three children were born to them in that' state. They afterward removed to Portage Prairie, in Indiana, and subsequently to Bainbridge Center, Michigan, where they arrived when Mrs. Enders was but three years old. Four years later while, engaged in making soap one day Mrs. Arney's dress caught fire and she was burned to death. Two years later Mr. Arney was again mar ried. He owned a farm at Bainbridge Cen ter until 1905, but now resides at Fair Plain with his daughter. In the family were seven children: Mary, the wife of Henry Seel, of Fair Plain, Michigan ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Mulhagen, now of Kansas ; Em ma, now Mrs. Enders; George, a farmer of Watervliet township; Amanda, the wife of Henry Butzbach, of California; Lucinda, who became the wife of William Seel and died at the age of thirty-two years ; and Wil liam, who died in childhood. THOMAS TAYLOR. Although one of the more recent arrivals in Berrien coun ty, Thomas Taylor has already gained a place among the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state, for he possesses the thrift and energy which is ever characteristic of the Irish race. He was born in County Mead, Ireland, August 28, 1844, where he was reared and educated. He learned the trades of a tanner and cur rier in his native land, which he followed in that country until he had reached the age of twenty-four years, when, believing that he might enjoy better business advantages in the new world and more quickly acquire a competence, he decided to leave the Emerald Atsw 33c* 47-?// '<*-*_ > a c/r H O> H> ro w a ffl i— i fuW 2 '1 ! : : 3* .f; '^:''"'" T^^VTTW ifma p^'.i - *S j Wi *^ 1 1 . ' *0 ' < --li- ***4' • Bra .^^^ ^¦W^v -a ll 2 ^ •; itfp. # ¦B^^E'^-w* |:.V«. "«¦ '' ^£i^f ml HjV - •¦ r Ha - - 4?£b "A ' Ulr 4 /^» KP?" , "¦ 2S'A-V.'- / WM $ : ' * Uy' - :. ¦¦ - - - A * ^>*1i a am jt*J g&ff&ifc '¦ £%' * M-'Mfri d_ mw* 1 -'-Mt-'iF^BB 1*' ¦":'-"| |*##^HP5.-.'',x' | HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 875 Isle and accordingly crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which landed in New York city. He had but fifty cents in money when he arrived in this country but he possessed willing hands and a courageous spirit and being undaunted by conditions which would have disheartened many another of less resolute purpose, he started out to accustom himself to the new manners and customs which confronted him, and at once made his way to Peoria county, Illinois, where he se cured employment on a farm, receiving twenty dollars per month for his services, which was a good wage. He was indus trious and economical, and at the end of three years, having saved a capital sufficient to justify his embarkation in business on his own account he purchased a team of horses, on whch he made a payment, and then rented a farm, which was located fif teen miles north of the city of Peoria, on the banks of the Illinois river. Having familiarized himself with the best methods of carrying on agricultural pursuits he was well prepared for the duties which he now undertook, so that his labors resulted in a gratifying measure of success, and in the course of years he was enabled to assume greater responsibilities. He then purchased a farm of eighty acres, which was situated in the same county and about the same dis tance from the city as the tract which he had formerlv leased. He at once began to im prove his place by the erection of buildings and the cultivation of his fields and each year he annually harvested good crops, so that his financial resources were materially increased. Finding an opportunity to dis pose of his land there, in 1882 he sold his farm and invested in a quarter section of land in Ford county, that state. This was bottom land, for which Mr. Taylor paid thirty-one dollars per acre. He at once set to work to tile and drain his land, sparing no expense in making it a valuable property, and one on which he could raise good crops. This proved a profitable venture for him, and foreseeing the possibilities for farm land in that state, he added eighty acres to his original purchase, and at the end of fifteen years he sold the property for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre, bringing him a total of thirty thous and dollars in cash. In 1903 he removed to Berrien county, Michigan, and invested in his present farm, comprising two hundred and fourteen acres, for which he paid sixty dollars per acre, and which was formerly the property of Horace Tabor. He has also greatly improved this property since taking up his abode thereon, and in September, 1906, he had an offer of one hundred dollars per acre, which he refused to accept. He also purchased a tract of one hundred and fifty acres in Pipestone township, which is situated north of Eau Claire, but of this he has given eighty acres to his brother, and forty acres to his eldest son. On his home place Mr. Taylor is engaged in general agri cultural pursuits and he also has consider able of the place set out to fruit, and a portion of the- land is devoted to pasturage for he is engaged quite extensively in the raising of good grades of stock. He is meeting with excellent success in his busi ness affairs and is ever watchful of oppor tunities that will result beneficially to him. It was during his residence in Peoria county, Illinois, that our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Mooney, a daughter of Thomas Mooney. Her father was prominent and influential in politics and was one of the early settlers of the city of Peoria. He served as city and county clerk and likewise filled the office of police magis trate. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six daughters, all of whom now survive, and five sons, all living with the exception of the youngest, namely : Fran ces, Mary Jane, Lena, Thomas, Abigail, Nettie, Ella, Henry, Emmett, Rosco, and Eddie, deceased. All the daughters are married with the exception of Abigail. Mr. Taylor may well be termed a self- made man, for, coming to a strange country when a young man, without capital or friends to aid him, he has steadily worked his way upward from year to year, and today his excellent farm of two hundred and fourteen acres, which lies on section 35, Sodus township, is an indication of what he has accomplished through industry, economy and perseverance. Almost four decades have come and gone since he left 876 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY his native country and he has never felt regret for having made the change, for here he has found ample opportunity for the ac quirement of success and today he is en abled to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. During his resi dence in Peoria county, Illinois, he took a very active part in public affairs and was honored by his fellow citizens with several public offices, serving his township as col lector, road commissioner, drain commis sioner and he likewise served as school trus tee. In all these positions he was as reliable and straightforward as in carrying on his private business interests, and thus gave to the public general satisfaction. ADAM ENDERS was one of the old settlers of Berrien county and a self-made man, who owed his success entirely to his own efforts. He utilized the means at hand for advancement and through diligence and perseverance worked his way upward. He was born in Limbach, Nassau, Germany, March 20, 1825, and came to the United States in 1848, when a young man of twenty- three years. His sister Dorothy, the wife of Jacob Hiler, had lived in Bainbridge town ship for three or four years and it was this that led Adam Enders to locate in this lo cality. He worked at the shoemaker's trade in Bainbridge, and being an expert work man secured a good patronage in that line. On the 7th of June, 1849, Mr- Enders was married to Miss Theresa Solomon. He secured fifteen acres of land in Bainbridge township but afterward sold that property and bought what is known as the present homestead farm in Watervliet township, two miles south of Coloma. His wife was two months his junior and came to America from Germany with her mother. Philip Enders, a brother of Adam Enders, was also of the party. Philip Enders had lost his wife in Germany and his two children were cared for by Mrs. Solomon and her daughter Theresa. Philip Enders was a tailor by trade and on coming to Michigan settled in Keeler township, Van Buren county, where he lived to an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Enders began their domestic life upon a farm, and in 185 1 he purchased eighty acres on contract. In the early years of his residence the crops were poor and he had hard luck. He lived in a log cabin and worked persistently and ener getically. His life record proves that unfal tering diligence . and strong determination will overcome all obstacles. As the years passed his financial resources were somewhat increased, and in 1864 he was able to build the main part of the present residence which stands upon the old home farm, paying twenty per cent interest on the money. He was drafted for service in the Civil war and it cost him three hundred dollars to send a substitute. This and other handships im peded his progress somewhat but he made the best use of his opportunities and from time to time bought more land. He assisted each one of his sons in securing a farm and as time passed he placed his own farm under a high state of cultivation and added many modern improvements. His attention was given to the cultivation of fruit as well as grain and he paid for the erection of a barn costing seven hundred dollars with the pro ceeds of a peach crop, having received one dollar per peck basket for his peaches. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Enders were born ten children : Kate became the wife of Dorsy Arney, now deceased, and her death oc curred when she was forty-five years of age. Henry died in childhood. Carrie is the wife of G. S. Laymore. John and Will are living near Coloma. Jacob is a merchant at St. Joseph. Daniel resides on the old homer stead. Joseph is conducting a store at Ben ton Harbor. Mary, twin sister of Joseph, is the wife of George Kenney, and Samuel is proprietor of a store at Coloma but makes his home in St. Joseph. In his political views Mr. Enders was a stalwart Republican and active in the work of the party. Both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical association in Bainbridge, took an active part in its work and contributed generously to its support. For twenty years Mr. Enders was class leader in the church and also was active in the work of the Sunday-school. The only original members of this church are Philip Butzbach and his wife and Mrs. Enders. Mr. Enders passed away June 2, 1889. His HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 877 widow, however, still survives, and is living at the old homestead with her son, Daniel. She is a bright, active lady, well preserved, whose life has been devoted to her family, and throughout the neighborhood in which she has lived she is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Enders was widely respected as a man of genuine personal worth, whose life rec ord demonstrated the value of labor, economy and careful management as factors in a suc cessful business career. Coming to this county in pioneer times he shared in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and he knew what it was to be deprived of many other things which are regarded as essential to comfortable living but he possessed a determined purpose and strong will, and as the years went by he made for himself a place among the substantial farm ers of the county and at the same time gained an honored name. Daniel Enders, living on the old home stead, was born January 10, 1864, just after the new house had been completed. He has always resided upon the home farm and has purchased the interest of the other heirs in this property. He has also added twenty acres adjoining, so that he now has eighty- five acres. This is a fruit farm, about fifty acres being devoted to fruit, and his peach crop in 1905 was over three thousand bush els, while his sales for that year amounted to about twenty-five hundred dollars. He is also well known as a melon raiser and his ef forts in this direction have brought him over five hundred dollars in a single season. He likewise raises grain and hay and has a splen didly developed farm, a glance at the place indicating that he is thoroughly familiar with progressive methods of agriculture and of horticulture. In September, 1890, Mr. Enders was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Shiflet, who was born in Eau Claire, Michigan. Their children are Cleo, Harold, Clifford and Jennie. Mr. Enders is a Republican and has attended some of the conventions of his party. He has filled a number of township offices and has served in various school offi ces, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is a worthy representative of a prominent pioneer family, the name of Enders having been closely and honorably associated with substantial pro gress in this part of the State for almost six decades. WILLIAM WALTON, who was one of the leading citizens of Berrien county in earlier years and aided in promoting its sub stantial improvement and business progress, was born in Cumberland county, England, December 8, 1806, and died upon his farm on section 36, Lake township, August 8, i860. He crossed the Atlantic to New York with his brothers, Richard and Thomas, and there remained in England one brother, John, and two sisters, Mary and Jane, al though the last named afterward became a resident of Michigan. While living in the Empire State Wil liam Walton was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Filkins Husted, who was born in New York. She had three children by her former marriage : Mrs. Louisa Hunter, who is now living in Buchanan, Michigan ; Caroline, de ceased; and Mrs. Ann Boyle, a resident of Buchanan township. The year 1844 witnessed the arrival of William Walton in Michigan. He drove all the way across the country from New York and brought with him over a hundred head of sheep. He located about four miles east of Berrien Springs and in 1845 removed to the farm which has since been the family homestead. He began its further develop ment and improvement, continuing active in the work of cultivation there up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 8th of August, i860. He owned two hundred and fifty-four 2cres on section 36 and through out his entire life followed the occupation of farming, making all of the property himself. His success was due entirely to his own la bors and he deserves classification with the representative citizens of Berrien county, whose labors have been of direct and last ing benefit in its substantial improvement. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walton were born six children: Richard, who was born No vember 5, 1843, and resides on the old home- ' stead ; William Henry, who was born Feb-. ruary 17, 1845, and is also living on the old home farm ; Thomas, who was born August 878 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 25, 1846, and died on the 4th of December following; Mrs. Sarah Jane Boyle, of We saw township, who was born January 8, 1848; Mrs. Mary Ann Witt, of Port Alle gany, Pennsylvania, born July 10, 1849; and Thomas Filkins, who was born February 6, 1850, and is living in Lake township. William and Richard Walton own and operate the old home farm and are enter prising agriculturists. The latter was mar ried in 1870 to Miss Lucinda Allen, a native of Schoharie county, New York, who came with her mother to Michigan. She was a daughter of John and Ruth Allen. Following his arrival in this county Wil liam Walton, the father, took up two hun dred and fifty-five acres of timber land, of which about fifteen acres had been cleared, while a cabin had been erected thereon. He cleared the farm and placed it under culti vation with the aid of his sons, the three working harmoniously together in the con duct of their agricultural interests. Three good dwellings have been built upon the farm by William and Richard Walton and other excellent improvements have been made. The brothers are now engaged in the raising of grain, fruit" and stock and are carefully conducting their business affairs. Both are independent in politics as far as regards of fice holding, but in matters of citizenship re lating to substantial improvement and up building they take a deep interest and co operate in many movements for the public good. ALBERT E. CHAUNCEY, of the firm of Chauncey & Baldwin, general mer chants of Bridgman, possesses the enter prising spirit which keeps him in touch with modern progress in the business world, and in the management of his store he is alert and energetic, so that a desirable and grati fying measure of success is attending his efforts. He was born in Lincoln township, this county, November 24, 1868. He pa ternal grandfather, Micajah Chauncey, died when on his way to California. The vessel on which he sailed was shipwrecked and he was buried on an island in the sea. His son, Edmund Chauncey, father of our subject, was born in North Carolina in 1825, and when only three years of age was taken by his parents to Indiana, the journey being made in a wagon after the primitive manner of travel at that time. The family became residents of St. Joseph in 1836. He lived upon the present site of Benton Harbor, where he and his father each had eighty acres of land, for the city had not yet been laid out. This land they cleared and improved and Edmund Chauncey there resided until after he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to California but still retained the ownership of property in this county. He married a Miss Smith and made the journey to the Pacific coast in 1849, spending fifteen years in California, during which time he was connected with various lines of business. He then returned to Benton Harbor, sold a part of his interests there and for a short time lived in St. Joseph, after which he re moved to a farm on the lake shore, whereon he continued to live until 1878. He is now living retired and makes his home in Bridg man with his son. After losing his first wife he married Miss Matilda Brightup, a native of Ohio, who in her childhood days came with her parents to this county, where she has since resided. Edmund Chauncey had five children by his first marriage; and there were four children of the second union : Lulu E., Estella L., Florence May and Al bert. The last named is the eldest and takes care of the family. He was nine years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Lake township, where he has since lived. He was reared to the occupation of farming, to which he devoted his time and energies when not busy with the duties of the school room. He remained upon the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he went to work for H. N. Chapman in the store of which he is now one of the proprietors. He remained with Mr. Chapman for twelve years as a clerk, mastering the business in principal and detail, and he started in busi ness on his own account as a general mer chant in partnership with O. A. E. Baldwin, the father of his present partner, upon whose death the son succeeded him in business. They carry on a general mercantile estab lishment, in which they enjoy a liberal pat- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 879 ronage, and they are also doing a commis sion business. They leased the Chapman store four years ago and have since occupied their present location. The business has long since reached profitable proportions and is constantly growing, owing to the fact that they carry a large and well selected line of goods and are always thoroughly reliable in their business methods. Mr. Chauncey votes with the Republican party but his business duties leave him no time for active participation in political work. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Bridgman and to the Maccabee tent at Stephensville and is a valued frater of those organizations. He stands for all that is pro gressive in citizenship as well as in business and his labors have been effective factors in promoting general progress as well as in dividual success. Wherever known he com mands uniform respect. CALVIN MYERS, deceased, was a res ident of Lake township. His many good qualities won him the respect and love of all who knew him, and his memory is cherished by his friends with whom he was closely associated in the midst of a busy, useful life. He was born near the town of Wolf Lake, Indiana, December 4, 1845, and was the elder of the two children born of the marriage of Robert and Floretta (Gardner) Myers, the brother being Phreortus Myers, who is living in Missouri. The subject of this review resided at the place of his nativity to the age of twenty- one years and acquired his education in the public schools, while under the parental roof he was trained to habits of industry, econ omy and honesty which, in later years proved valued factors in his business life. He came to Lake township, Berrien county, in 1866, arriving in the month of November, and from that time until his death resided on the same farm. He was the owner of two hun dred acres of rich and arable land, of which one hundred and twenty acres were com prised within the home farm on section 20, while eighty acres is situated on section 29, Lake township. He first purchased forty acres, on which stood a small frame house of two rooms, while a garden spot had been cleared. The remainder, however, was as yet unimproved. He came here with his mother and began life in the midst of the forest, resolutely undertaking the arduous task of clearing and improving a new farm, and as the years passed his labors were crowned with prosperity and he left a valu able estate of two hundred acres as the visi ble evidence of his life of thrift and in dustry. He had brought his land under a high state of cultivation and on the home place he erected a fine, large residence with substantial . outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. In addition to this prop erty he owned two dwellings and a drug store, together with a vacant lot in Bridg man. He had one hundred dollars in money when he came to the county and with that meager sum as the nucleus of his fortune, he gathered together a valuable property and de served much credit for his success. He was also a stockholder in the Bridgman Canning Company. Mr. Myers was interested in community affairs and gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. He served as township treas urer for several years and in the discharge of his duties was always prompt and faith ful. Socially he was connected with the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Happy in his home life, Mr. Myers was married, June 16, 1874, to Miss Mary M. Gregory, who was born in Porter county, Indiana, December 5, 1852, a daughter of Hiram and Katharine (Spangle) Gregory, who were natives of New York,, where they were reare^ and married. They had three children when they removed to Indiana. The father died in 1876 and the mother passed away in Berrien county August 19, 1906. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Myers were born three children: Iva F., the wife of Nathan Shuler, by whom she has two children, Mabel and Earl; Charles, of Chickaming township, who is married and has one child, Lucile; and Elton, who is living with his mother and operates the home farm. He is now serving his second term as township treasurer and has also filled the office of dep uty sheriff. He was born upon the home 88q HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY farm May 20, 1881, and was married to Flossie Bunker, of South Bend, Indiana. They have one daughter, Dorothy. The death of Calvin Myers occurred upon the old homestead August 9, 1904. He was a man of benevolent, kindly spirit, who did much good in the world. He helped the needy, gave freely of his means when ma terial assistance was needed and was a public- spirited citizen who delighted in general progress and improvement. He took an active interest in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah degree, also the Knights of the Maccabees, and his sym pathy was with all movements that tended to promote the higher interests and purposes of life. His farm was devoted to the raising of grain and fruit and his well directed labors resulted in the development of a valuable property, in which regard, as in many others, his example is well worthy of emulation. HENRY K. NOLD, owner and man ager of the Baroda flouring mill, in which connection he is conducting a profitable bus iness, was born in Letonia, Columbiana county, Ohio, June 16, 1855, and comes of Swiss lineage. His paternal great-great grandfather, Timothy Nold, was a native of Switzerland and became the founder of the family in America, establishing his home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Several genera tions of the family afterward lived in that State. Jacob Nold, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and ac companied his parents on their removal to Ohio. He was a farmer, miller and distiller and those business interests claimed his time and attention throughout his active life. His son, Jacob Nold, father of our subject, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and afterward lived in Medina county, that State, where he remained until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age. He followed farming through out his entire life but had three brothers who were millers. Jacob Nold was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Kindig, who was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio. By this marriage there were nine children : Henry K. : Lucinda, a resi dent of Ohio ; Isaac, who follows the milling business in that State; Lydia, of Ohio; Eliza beth, of Elkhart, Indiana; Kate, of Ohio; Susanna, deceased; Mary, of Indiana; and Jacob, who is living upon the old home farm in Medina county, Ohio. He was a teacher for eight years and was a university student. When eight years of age Henry K. Nold accompanied his parents on their removal to Medina, Ohio, and remained upon the home farm until nineteen years of age, when he turned his attention to the milling business at Wadsworth, Ohio, following that pursuit for five years. He then came to this county, where he lived for three years, working at Stevensville in the mill. He afterward went down the Ohio river and for one year was employed in a mill at Rockport, Spencer county, Indiana. He afterwards spent two years at Junction City, Kansas, and on the expiration of that period settled in Benton Harbor, where he was in the employ of the Benton Harbor Milling Company until 1899. The company then sold out and Mr. Nold in the same year purchased the Baroda City Mills. The building is a frame structure, three stories and basement, thirty by forty- eight feet, and has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day. It is well equipped with good machinery and the product finds a ready sale on the market because of its excellence and the care which is taken in the manufac ture of the flour. Mr. Nold was married in March, 1884, to Miss Grace Brown, a native of Elyria, Ohio, who came to Berrien county at the age of eight years with her parents, William and Julia (Brown) Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Nold have become the parents of two chil dren, Mabel and Harold, both at home. In his political views Mr. Nold is a Re publican and for one year served on the school board. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees and to the Congregational Church, in which he is serving as a trustee. He has lived an active life, making good use of his opportunities and continually seeking out broader advantages for the development of his business interests. He is now owner of one of the profitable industrial concerns of this part of the county and is well known HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 88 r as a reliable and enterprising "business man in the village of Baroda. WILLIAM A. FEATHER, Sr., liv ing on section 13, Lake township, is the owner of three good farms which are con ducted along thoroughly progressive and modern lines and he is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of the community. He: was born in Oronoko township, this county, January 15, 1858, a son of Joshua and Susie Anna (Harner) Feather, of Oronoko town ship, the father being a wealthy farmer of this county. In the family were six chil dren : William A. ; Stephen A., who resides in Oronoko township ; and four who died in childhood. Upon the home farm William A. Feather, Sr., was reared and in the public schools ac quired his education. He gave his father the benefit of his services in the cultivation and development of the fields until twenty years of age, when he came to this township and took up farm work, turning his atten tion to the improvement of a farm given him by his father. He came to his present farm fourteen years ago and has forty-four acres of rich land in the home place on section 13, Lake township. This is equipped with all modern conveniences, including fine build ings and the latest improved machinery. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Lake township, and property elsewhere, including eighty acres on section 24, Lake township, where his son, William A. Feather, Jr., now resides. He has al together two hundred and eighty acres of land and two lots in Baroda, together with a fine store building and a house and lot in the town. The home place is operated as a fruit farm, a specialty being made of the pro duction of grapes, pears, plums and cherries. Only the best nursery stock is used and good crops are annually gathered. AH his farm ing interests are capably conducted and Mr. Feather ranks with the leading agriculturists and horticulturists of this part of the State. In 1878 Mr. Feather was united in mar riage to Miss Mary Shafer, who was born in Lake township, July 8, 1859, a daughter of John and Katharine (Boyle) Shafer. This marriage has been blessed with two children,. William A., Jr., and Bertha May. The son, a representative farmer of Lake township, is married and has two children, Edward and Joshua Andrew, while the daughter, Bertha May, is now the wife of Henry G. Birkholz and they reside upon the home farm with her father. In his political affiliation Mr. Feather is a Democrat and has held the office of town ship treasurer for two years, while for fif teen years he has been a member of the board of review of the township. He is likewise connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is interested in all that pertains to general improvement and up building, and his co-operation can be counted upon as a support to all plans and move ments for the public good. In his business affairs he displays keen discrimination and enterprise and has today valuable property holdings. GEORGE MANGOLD, engaged in general farming on section 24, Three Oaks township, is a native of Laporte, Indiana, where his life rocord began on the 27th of October, 1872. He is a son of George and Louise (Harrman) Mangold, the former a native of Lockport, New York, and the lat ter of New Buffalo, Michigan, where they now reside. The father was for a number of years actively engaged in farming but is now living retired. In their family were eight children : Mrs. Anna Lehker, whose home is in Laporte county, Indiana ; George of this review; Joseph, also a resident of Laporte county; Jacob, who is located in Eau Claire, Michigan; Frank, whose home is in Michigan City, Indiana; Edward, in Michigan City ; Carrie, at home ; and Henry, who is living with his brother George. Dur ing the infancy of George Mangold his par ents removed from Indiana to Three Oaks township, Berrien county, and he continued with them up to the time of his marriage, when he started out upon an independent business career, purchasing his present farm of sixty acres on section 24, Three Oaks township. This land is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and in tilling the soil 56 €82 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he has been quite successful, gathering good crops as a reward for the care and labor •which he bestows upon the fields. Mr. Mangold was married in 1897, to Miss Lola Ray, who was born on this farm 'October 12, 1875, a daughter of George and Dixie (Blaine) Ray, who died upon the .farm where our subject now resides, when ..fifty-four years of age. His widow still ¦survives him and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Mangold. Two children have Ibeen born of this marriage, Eva Lucile and Mildred Aileen. In his political views Mr. Mangold is an •earnest Republican, and he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen camp, at Three Oaks. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Maple Grove. Both .are highly esteemed residents of this com munity, where they have spent their entire lives and their own hospitable home is a favorite resort with many who know them. SYLVESTER SHEDD is one of the native sons of Berrien county and his life "has been devoted to agricultural interests that contribute to the sum total of general ¦development and progress in this portion of the State. He was born July 22, 185 1, up on the farm which is stil his home, situated on section 23, Three Oaks township. His ;great-grandfather, Samuel Shedd, was a na tive of England, and emigrating to America became a man of position in New England. His paternal grandfather, Sylvester Shedd, Sr., was born May 18, 1786. A native of Massachucetts, on leaving New England he -.emigrated to New York and in the year 1836 came to this county. He found here a large ly wild and unimproved region and from the government he entered forty acres of "land lying on section 23, Three Oaks town ship. With the early development and im provement of the county he was closely asso ciated, reclaiming the wild land for the purpose of cultivation and he continued to reside upon the old homestead prop erty until his death, which occured on the 13th of August, 1866, when he was eighty years of age. He had served his country as a soldier of the war of 181 2 and was equally loyal in the days of peace. In early manhood he wedded Miss Sallie Smith, who was born in Mas sachusetts, SqDtember 24, 1790, and died in Berrien county, Michigan, November 14, 1875, in the eighty-eighth year of her age. Both were members of the Congregational Church and lived lives of uprightness and Christian virtue. They were the parents of a family of eight children: Kellog S., Loammi, Candace S., Erasmus N., Harry H., Cordelia, Malinda and George W. Of this number Harry H. Shedd became the father of our subject. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, January 1, 1822, and when twelve years of age accom panied his parents on their removal to Me dina county, Ohio, where they lived for two years. He then came with the family to Michigan and settled upon a farm ad joining that upon which our subject now resides. He was then a youth of fourteen years and he shared in all the hardships and privations incident to frontier life. The , family had remained with relatives while the log cabin was being built and then in true frontier style established themselves in their new home. There was a puncheon floor and huge fireplace. For a number of years that cabin continued to be their home. The grandfather had fifty acres of land there and Harry H. Shedd assisted in the ardu ous task of transforming the raw land into richly cultivated fields. At length he bought his time from his father, two years and nine months before he attained his majority. By the time that he was twenty-one years of age he had saved enough money from his wages of twelve dollars per month, earned at farm labor, to enable him to buy eighty acres of land. He secured a farm in Indiana but afterward sold that property and bought his present farm, which at that time was all covered with timber. This he cleared and put under cultivation, erecting the present good buildings which are here found. Tlie remainder of his life was devoted to the im provement and development of this farm and as the years passed by he converted the tim ber tract, which came into his possession, into a very valuable property, the fields vielding him golden harvests in bountiful HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 883 measure. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party but he never sought office as a reward for party fealty. He married Miss Mary F. Thompson, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, and was a daughter of Charles T. and Millison (Betts) Thompson, who were likewise na tives of the Empire State. The death of Harry H. Shedd occurred upon the home farm in Three Oaks township, September 17, 1902, while his wife passed away there March 9, 1888, at the age of sixty-two years. In the family were two children, Sylvester and Jennie, the latter now living with her brother. Sylvester Shedd, whose name introduces this record, has always resided in Berrien county upon the farm which is now his home, with the exception of about three months spent in southern Minnesota. He has one hundred and seventy acres of land on section 23, Three Oaks township, and because of the many springs of good run ning water upon the place he has called it the Springhill farm. He has about ninety acres under cultivation and is also engaged quite extensively in the raising of stock, making a specialty of polled Durham cattle. His fields yield rich crops in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon them. Through the rotation of crops and through the judicious use of modern methods he has kept his farm in very productive condition and everything about his place indicates his careful supervision. In politics Mr. Shedd is an independent Republican and socially is connected with Three Oaks lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F. Having spent almost his entire life in this section of the State he is widely known as a man of strong purpose and indefatigable energy who has made good use of his time and opportunities and is now one of the re liable and substantial agriculturists of this portion of the State. GAREY DONNER, who for thirty- seven years has made his home in Berrien county, now living on section 1 1, Three Oaks township, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1842, and was only six years of age at the time of the re moval of his parents to Niagara county, New York. He is a son of Nicholas, and Mary (Sterns) Donner, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Both spent their last days in Niagara county, New York,, the father pass ing away at the age of eighty-two years, while the mother lived to the very advanced age of ninety-four years. They were "farm ing people and were respected for many good traits of character. In the family were thirteen children. Garey Donner was the sixth in order of birth and was one of twins. There were eleven sons and two daughters, and six of the family are still living. He re mained a resident of Niagara county, New York, from the age of six years until his re moval to Michigan in 1869. He was then about twenty-seven years of age, and since that time he has lived continuously in Three Oaks township. He first purchased forty acres of the old home place, which had once been cut over but the land was uncultivated and all the modern equipments have been placed here by the present owner. In the course of years he bought twenty acres ad ditional and then a second twenty acres, so that he now has eighty acres in his home place on section 11, Three Oaks township. He has placed the entire farm under culti vation and has erected the present good buildings. He has also purchased forty acres of land on section 13, Three Oaks township, and now has a total holding of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which has been converted into well tilled fields with the exception of twenty acres. This is mucl% land, part of which is all covered with grass, while the remainder of it is de voted to raising of cabbage. He has a grain and stock farm and finds both branches of his business profitable, annually harvesting good crops and selling much stock. Mr. Donner was married in 1867, to Miss Thankful Snedker, who was born in Erie county, New York, August 11, 1843, a daughter of Washington and Sarah Snedker. They have nine children: Mrs. Annie Marx, who is a widow residing with her father; Jacob, living in Three Oaks; Frank.; Mary, the wife of Grigg Burgess, of Galien township; Josephine, the wife of 884 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Mathias Rist, of Three Oaks; Henry, also of Three Oaks; Margaret the wife of Stephen Baker, of Millville; Michigan; Irena and Emma both at home. The parents are communicants of the Catholic Church. Mr. Donner votes with the Democracy and has served as school officer and as highway commissioner for one term but has not been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He came to Michi gan when a young man, and as the years have gone by he has improved the natural resources of the State for agricultural de velopment and has converted his land into a productive farm, which annually gives him a good income. UDORUS E. TROWBRIDGE, a rep resentative agriculturist living in Three Oaks township, where he owns and operates forty acres of land on section 9, was born in Olive township, St. Joseph county, In diana, June 1, 1848. His parents were John and Julia Ann (Snider) Trowbridge, the former a native of Ohio, born near Dayton. Mrs. Trowbridge went to Marshall county, Indiana, with her parents in 1833 and is now the oldest resident of that county, having for seventy-three years made her home with in its borders. She has reached the age of eighty-one years but her husband died at the age of seventy-three years. In their family were the following children : Josephus, now living in Marshall county, Indiana; Udorus E., of this review; Leroy, who has also passed away; Louis, of Mar shall county, Indiana; Mrs. Alvira Larkin; Adam, who died at the age of three years; and Mrs. Emma Ashley, living in South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Trowbridge, whose name introduces this review, spent the first twenty years of his life upon a farm in his native county, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agricultur ist, while in the public schools he acquired his education. When a young man of twenty years he left home and started out upon an independent business career.' Re moving to Three Oaks he worked in the featherbone factory for sixteen years. He then purchased a farm in connection with his brother-in-law, William Sittig, and thus cultivated a tract of land of ninety-four and a half acres, being engaged in the further development and improvement of that place until the fall of 1905, when he sold out and purchased his present farm in December, 1905. In March, 1906, he lo cated upon this farm, which comprises forty acres on section 9, Three Oaks township, all of which is under cultivation. There is an apple orchard of five acres and the fields are well tilled, while upon the place are good modern improvements. Mr. Trowbridge gives his entire attention to the farm and already it shows the result of his careful supervision, progressive methods and ex cellent improvements. On the 10th of July, 1886, was cele brated the marriage of Udorus E. Trow bridge and Miss Caroline Sittig, who was born in Three Oaks township, April 26, 1868, and is a daughter of George and Bar bara Sittig, in whose family were six chil dren, William, John, Edward, George, Mrs. Caroline Trowbridge and Mrs. Bertha Noller. Mr. Trowbridge votes with the Demo cratic party on national questions but casts an independent ballot where no issues are involved. He manifests the interest of a public-spirited citizen in all matters relating to the general welfare but has no desire for office. He and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Three Oaks. His life has been worthily spent and his time lias been actively employed in earnest, persistent labor since he started out on his own account. CHRISTIAN LUSSO owns and oper ates a farm of forty acres on section 10, Three Oaks township. This constitutes a well improved place and indicates the care ful supervision of the owner in its neat ap pearance and well tilled fields. A native of Germany, he was born in Mecklenberg, on the 25th of June, 1838, and was reared to farm life. His parents were Charles and Dora (Petcho) Lusso, who were likewise natives of Mecklenberg. They came to the United States in 1865, and spent their re- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 885 maining days in Berrien county, the father passing way at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife died at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of six chil dren : Fred, a substantial farmer who died here in 1905; John, living in Minnesota; August, a well-to-do farmer, who died here in 1904; Christian, of this review; Mrs. Christian Schile, of Three Oaks; and Mrs. Mary Heise, the wife of Louis Heise, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Christian Lusso was reared to farm life, and in accordance with the laws of his native country continued his studies in the public schools between the ages of six and fourteen years. He afterward gave his undivided attention to farm labor and remained a resi dent of Mecklenberg until twenty-seven years of age. In 1865 he came to the. United States with his parents, landing at New York on the 31st of January, of that year. Making his way direct to Michigan, he has since lived in Three Oaks township and throughout the entire period has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits. As he was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his arrival he rented land for sixteen years and then hav ing acquired a capital sufficient to enable him to purchase property he bought forty acres on section 10, Three Oaks township, now constituting a well improved place. To its further development and cultivation he has given his energies with the result that he has transformed it into a very productive tract. In 1 86 1 Mr. Lusso was united in mar riage to Miss Mary Witt, who was born in Mecklenberg in 1838, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Michaels) Witt, who always re mained residents of the fatherland. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lusso has been blessed with eight children : Minnie, who was married and died at the age of thirty- two years, leaving two children; Fred, a resident of Minnesota; Mary, the wife of Ernest Sylvester, of Maine; William, who is working with his father on a farm ; Annie, the wife of Edward McCarty, of Indiana; Louis, who is located in North Dakota; Albert, who died at the age of twenty-three years; and Emma, at home. In his political views Mr. Lusso is a Republican and as every true American citi zen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but political office and emoluments have no attraction for him. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and is interested in all that pertains to the intellectual, material and moral pro gress of his community. A self-made man, he has depended entirely upon his own re sources from an early age without looking for outside aid or pecuniary assistance from his family and a resolute will and determi nation have enabled him to make steady pro gress toward the goal of success. SAMUEL J. RECTOR. During the pioneer epoch in the history of Berrien county the Rector family was founded with in its borders by David S. Rector, the father of him whose name introduces this review, and who was a native of Sodus, Wayne county, New York. He took an active and prominent part in the development of this section of the state, aided in transforming its wild lands into rich farms and in other ways promoted the progress and advance ment which made a once wild region the home of a contented, prosperous people. In 1835 he arrived in St. Joseph, Berrien coun ty, Michigan, and assisted in surveying the first roads in the county. For a time he was engaged in boating on the St. Joseph river, but in the fall of 1835 he was taken ill with Michigan fever and ague and was obliged to. return to his home in New York, where he remained until the spring of the following year. Coming again to Berrien county, he established his home in Sodus township, where he secured forty acres of land from the government, and remained thereon for forty years ere he returned to his old home in the Empire state for a visit. He was prominently identified with much of the early history of the county, and it was he who gave to the township the name of Sodus. He held many of the local offices in those early days when Pipestone and Sodus were one township, and his name is deeply engraved on the pages of its early history. He was born on the 14th of July, 1814, and his death occurred September 28, 886 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1889, after a long and useful career, his life haying been an exemplary one and in harm ony with the principles of the Masonic order, of which he was long a member. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Tabor, was a native of New York and came to Berrien county with her parents during the early settlement of the county, they, too, being numbered among its honored pio neers. She was born in 1818, and her death occurred on the 14th of November, 1897. In their family were nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are living at this writing and all were born on the old family homestead where our sub ject now resides. Samuel J. Rector, their eighth child and youngest son, was reared on the old Rector homestead in Sodus township and educated in its district schools. He was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life, and aided in the ardous task of clearing wild land and converting it into rich and productive fields. He has a fine fruit farm of seventy-seven and a half acres, where he raises many varieties of fruit, including peaches, apples, grapes, berries, etc. He gives his political support to the Democracy, and as the repre sentative of his party has held the office of highway commissioner. On the 14th of September, 1899, Mr. Rector married Florence E. Griffith, a na tive of Missouri, and they have no children living. ERASMUS S. HECKMAN, residing on section 16, Three Oaks township, where he devotes his time and energies to general farming, was born in Galena township, La porte county, Indiana, April 19, 1856. His parents were Theodru A. and Rachel (Pad dock) Heckman, the former a native of Franklin county, Virginia, and the latter of Onondaga county, New York. In 1833 the father came with his parents to Michigan, the family home being established near Niles. He was then a youth of fourteen years. In 1836 he went to Laporte county, Indiana, where he spent his remaining days. He was there married and died, passing away in 1902. For many years he carried on farming extensively and was very suc cessful in his operations as an agriculturist. He had a very wide and favorable acquaint ance in Laporte county and contributed in substantial measure to the pioneer develop ment and the later-day progress and im provement of the county. His wife, who was born in 1822, came to Michigan by water about 1840, her destination being New Buffalo. She was married in Laporte county, Indiana, and there died at the age of seventy years. Her people traced their ancestry back to the time of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, and they were of Scotch descent. The Heckmans, however, were of Dutch lineage, and the grandfather of our subject spoke the Ger man language altogether. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Theodru Heckman were eleven children, of whom six are now liv ing, three brothers being still in Laporte county, while one sister is in that county and one in Chicago. Erasmus S. Heckman remained upon his father' s farm in the county of his nativity until 1 88 1, when, at the age of twenty-five years, he came to Berrien county and took up his abode in Three Oaks township, where he purchased one hundred and forty-three acres of valuable land, afterward trading the same for his present farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres on section 16, Three- Oaks township. He has resided for ten years upon the present farm and keeps all' of. the buildings and fences upon his place in good repair, while everything is char acterized by neatness. Careful management and practical methods are noted in the ex cellent appearance of the farm and in the- management of his property Mr. Heckman is meeting with excellent success. He con ducts a dairy as well as carrying on general farming and uses about eighteen hundred" pounds of milk per week, which he supplies to the Three Oaks creamery. This branch of his business is proving profitable and his; fields also return golden harvests as a re ward for the care and labor which he be stows upon them. Mr. Heckman was married in 1884, to Miss Mattie A. Cady, who was born in HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 887 Three Oaks township in 1862, and has al ways resided here. She is a daughter of Harvy Cady, who was a native of New York and became a pioneer settler of Ber rien county. Mr. and Mrs. Heckman have two children, Levi D. and Theo E. The former is a graduate of the high school at Three Oaks and for a time engaged in teach ing but is now occupying a clerical position with the featherbone company. When the question of good government and efficient public service rather than poli tics seemed to be the dominant* thought in the public mind, Mr. Heckman was nomi nated by "good roads caucus" and elected supervisor upon the people's ticket. He has filled the office for four consecutive terms, having first been elected seven years ago and again chosen for the office at three suc ceeding elections. In all matters pertaining to the general welfare he has taken a deep interest, studying closely the needs of the public and putting forth his most earnest effort for advancement along lines of gen eral improvement. He was a Mason in Indiana, and taking a demit, united with the lodge in Three Oaks, acting as secretary for several years. Mr. Heckman is well known in his section of the county as a good busi ness man, thoroughly reliable, as a loyal citizen and as one who has gained warm friendships through the possession of sterl ing traits of character. FRED DEIDRICH, whose home is on section 9, Three Oaks -township, his atten tion being given to the further development and improvement of his farm of sixty-seven acres, was born in Wildberg, Prussia, Ger many, near the village of Trupto, January 4, 1832. He is a son of John and Mary (Paselt) Deidrich, also of Prussia. The year 1853 they became residents of the United States and both died . in Berrien county. They had two children, but the daughter Mary is now deceased. Between the ages of six and fourteen years Fred Deidrich was a student in the public schools of his native land. He then started to earn his own living and worked at farm labor until he came to the United States, with the exception of three years spent in the German army in accordance with the military laws of the land. It was in the year 1863 that he sailed for the United States, taking passage at Hamburg. At length he landed at New York and joined his parents who had preceded him to Ameri ca ten years before. He made his way direct to Three Oaks, where he has resided continuously since. For seven years he worked on a railroad as a section- hand and saving his earnings during that period he purchased twenty-seven acres of land where. he now resides on section 9, Three Oaks township. To this he has added as his, financial resources have increased until he is now the owner of sixty-seven acres. He has cleared the greater part of it, placing; it under cultivation, and has erected good buildings and also set out fruit trees. The farm is splendidly improved and his entire time is devoted to its further development and cultivation. It is the visible evidence of his life of enterprise and energy and his- years have been crowned with a measure of success that shows that he has worked dili gently and persistently. Mr. Deidrich was married, in 1866, tcr Miss Mary Scholl, who was born in Prussia and came ' to the United States with her brother. The children of this marriage are Charles, William and Albert, who are resi dents of Three Oaks township; August at home; and Fred J., who resides at home and is engaged in merchandising in Three Oaks. In his political views Mr. Deidrich is a Democrat and belongs to the German Luth eran Church. He has never sought to figure prominently in public life but has mani fested the sterling traits of a good citizen who is public-spirited and desires the wel fare of the community. CHARLES VOLLMANN is a self- made man, who at the age of fourteen years started out in life on his own account. He knows what earnest, persistent labor is and that unceasing toil is a sure and safe foun dation upon which to build success. He was born in New Miltzow, Prussia, Germany, November 5, 1854, his parents being John and Emma (Stanke) Vollmann, both of whom died in this township, the father pass- 888 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ing away when fifty-four years of age, while his wife's death occurred when she was forty-two years of age. In their family were four children: Charles; August, who went west and has not been heard from, in twenty years; Mrs. Emma Prange, of Toledo, Ohio; and Mrs. Lena Nicholas, living at Central Lake, Michigan. Charles Vollmann, in accordance with die laws of his native country, spent the years between the ages of six and fourteen years in school. He then sailed upon a merchant's ship and continued upon the water until his parents emigrated to the new world in 1872, when he came to Michigan and has since been a resident of Berrien county. The family made their way direct to Three Oaks and Charles Vollmann be gan work on the railroad as a section hand and extra man, being thus employed for six or seven years. He also worked in the mills at Three Oaks for several years but ambi tious to engage in farming on his own ac count he rented his father-in-law's place which he cultivated for eight years. He then purchased the property, becoming the owner of sixty acres of good land on sec tion 3, Three Oaks township. This is a valuable property well improved and he car ries on general farming, carefully cultivat ing the fields, which promise golden harvests for the autumn. His farm is a monument to his life of thrift, industry and diligence. On the 23d of October, '1877, Mr. Voll mann was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wagner, who was born on the farm where they still make their home, May 1, 1856. Her parents were Carl and Mary (Died- rich) Wagner, who were natives of Prussia and were married in that country. Coming to the United States they took up their abode in Laporte, Indiana, in 1853, and after a year and a half spent in that State removed to Michigan. They lived for a long period upon the farm which is now the property of Mr. Vollmann and both died upon the old homestead when about fifty- seven years of age. They were early and respected residents of this locality and they here reared a family of eight children, namely: Mrs. Minnie Schneider, who is living in Michigan City ; Mrs. Bertha Buehr- ing, also living in Michigan City; Charles, of this review ; Mrs. Anna Green, of Michi gan City ; August, a resident of Three Oaks ; Charles, also of Michigan City ; Henry, who is living in Chicago ; and Albert. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vollman have been born three children: Lydia, the wife of Carl Nien- dorf, of Michigan City; John, of Chicago; and Emma, at home. Mr. Vollmann exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas ures of the 'Democracy. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church and also to the German Workmen Society. Whatever suc cess he has achieved or enjoyed is due en tirely to his indefatigable effort, and de pending upon his own resources from an early age he has worked his way steadily upward, overcoming many difficulties and obstacles and at length gaining an excellent farm as the result of his persistency and diligence. JACOB BUTZBACH, of Bainbridge township, was born in an old log house on what has long been known as the home stead farm of the family, his natal day being March 27, 1854. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm and in early life he be gan working for Randall Brothers at Mill burg. He was also employed in the woods in Lake township and in Millburg, having charge for two years of the operations in the forest. Later his business attention was given to the purchase and sale of fruit in Benton Harbor for two seasons. The first land which he ever owned was a tract of forty acres in Benton township a mile south of the Pearl schoolhouse, and taking up his abode thereon he made it his home for nine years, during which time he was engaged in the cultivation of small fruit. He prospered in his undertakings and at length sold his place to advantage. He then invested in his present farm, comprising eighty acres, a half mile north of Bainbridge Center, for which he paid twirty-two hundred and fifty dollars. It was all under cultivation at that time save sixteen acres which he has since' cleared and developed, and as his financial re- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 889 sources have increased he has added to the original place until he now has one hundred and forty acres, constituting a valuable prop erty, which is well improved and which re turns an 'excellent income for the care and labor bestowed upon it. In 1900 Mr. Butz- bach erected his present residence, which is one of the fine homes of the township. His farm is devoted to grain and fruit raising and he has thirty-five acres planted to peaches, six acres in grapes and also a variety of other fruits, although plums, peaches and grapes are his principal products. His sales of fruit have netted him in a single season a profit of twenty-five hundred dollars. When this farm came into his possession it was in a run down condition. It had been rented and was used for the raising of grain. Mr. Butzbach planted it to clover, which he plowed under, and through modern farming methods he has brought his place up to a high state of fertility and productiveness. He keeps six cows and is a stockholder in the Millburg creamery. At the age of twenty-eight years, in Feb ruary, 1884, Mr. Butzbach was married to Miss Sophia Sinn, a daughter of Adam Sinn, of Royalton township. She was born in Chi cago but in her early girlhood days was brought to Berrien county and was twenty four years of age at the time of her marriage, which has been blessed with a family of five children, Alfred, Roy, Alice, Delia and Lu ella. Mr. Butzbach is a member of the Mac- cabee tent, at Bainbridge, and is a stalwart Republican, who frequently attends the con ventions of his party and is recognized as one of the unfaltering advocates of its prin ciples. PHILIP H. BUTZBACH, residing in Bainbridge township, is one of the venerable German citizens of Berrien county, his birth having occurred at Nassau, now a part of Prussia, October 22, 1828. On the 21st of June, 1849, when in his twenty-first year, he landed at New York, having sailed from Havre to the new world. He would have been liable to military service had he re mained in his native country and so decided to come to America. Even as it was his father had to pay four hundred gilders on account of his evading military duty. Reach ing the shores of the new world he made his way direct to Bainbridge, where his aunt, Mrs. Philip Seel, was living, having for five years resided in this county. Mr. Butzbach at once began clearing land, working by the day and month, receiv ing seventy-five cents per day, or ten dollars per month and his board as compensation for his services. He was married October 28, 1 85 1, to Amanda Herman, a daughter of Jacob and Genevieve Herman, of Bainbridge township, who had come from Wittenberg, Germany, when Mrs. Butzbach was but fif teen years of age, and five years later she was married. Mr. Butzbach had previously purchased fifty-four acres of land at three dollars per acres on five years time. He had begun a clearing and had five acres sowed to wheat. There was no house upon it, but he built a log cabin after living for a time with his parents. He made his living off the land,. selling saw logs, wood, etc., and as soon as possible he placed his fields under cultiva tion. In the early clays crops brought very low prices, the times were hard but during the Crimean war wheat sold at a dollar and a half per bushel, although it had to be hauled to Dowagiac, twenty miles distant with ox teams, for that place was the nearest market. Prior to this time Mr. Butzbach had received only five shillings for his wheat and it was the only crop which would sell for cash. His first team was a yoke of steers which he bought for eighteen dollars. Prices of everytiaing raised on the farm were low and it was fifteen years before Mr. Butz bach could afford to purchase and use horses in his farm work. Even threshing was done with oxen. He lived in the little log cabin until 1 86 1, when he erected his present resi dence. He purchased fifty-four acres of land for seven hundred dollars and as the years have gone by has carried on general agricultural pursuits, his success increasing until he has long been numbered among the substantial agriculturists of the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Butzbach were born thirteen children, one of whom died in early 890 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY youth, while twelve of the number reached adult age, and with the exception of the eld est all are still living. Augusta married Charles Schaus, and died about ten years ago, when forty-three years of age. Those who still survive are: Jacob, of Bainbridge township; Henry, a blacksmith, of Shasta county, California; Elizabeth, the widow of Jacob Friday, of Watervliet township; Louisa, the wife of Charles Christianson, of Benton Harbor; George, a commission mer chant of South Bend, Indiana; Lydia, the wife of Peter Christianson, who was killed by the street car in front of his home ; Philip, of Bainbridge township; Anna, the wife of E. L. Miller, of Benton Harbor; Mary, the wife of George Morelock, of Watervliet township; Benjamin, proprietor of the Bat tlement drug store at Benton Harbor; Al bert, a zealous missionary of the Evangelical association ; and Elenora, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Butzbach now has thirty- three grandchildren and four great-grand children. He and his wife are loyal members of the Evangelical association, which they joined four years after their marriage, and with Jacob Enders are the only surviving representatives of the first class of the church. In politics he has been a Republi can but not an active worker in the party. His attention has been given to the raising of grain and fruit and at an early day he engaged in the cultivation of peaches until the yellows destroyed his orchard. Although now well advanced in years, having passed the seventy-eighth mile stone on life's journey, he is still a hale and hearty man and gives personal supervision to his busi ness affairs. S. M. CLAWSON, one of the prosper ous and progressive farmers of Berrien county, resides on section 14, Pipestone township. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, January 6, 1848, a son of Hiram and Esther (Bestwick) Clawson. The father was born in West Virginia and was there reared by his parents. After reaching years of maturity he left the south and went to Pennsylvania, where he was married to Miss Bestwick, who was a native of Eng land, and when twelve years of age was brought to America by her father, James Bestwick, who located in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and afterward gave her hand in marriage to Hiram Clawson. In 1855 they removed to Berrien county, Michigan, and the follow ing autumn came to Pipestone township, settling oil a farm on section 13, where he engaged in farming. In response to the country's call for aid at the time of the Civil war he enlisted for service, joining the Twelfth Michigan Infantry of Company I. He died during his service at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas, at the age of forty-four years. The mother survived for several years and passed away in Pipestone township when sixty-four years of age. They were the par ents of five sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, and with one exception all reside in Pipestone township. S. M. Clawson, the eldest child of his father's family, was a little lad of seven years when he was brought by his parents from the Buckeye state to Berrien county, where he acquired his education and was reared to farm life. At the early age of fifteen years he responded to the country's call for troops in the Civil war, enlisting as a member of Company K, Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. He served exactly two years and was honorably discharged Sep tember 28, 1865, at Jackson, being must ered out at Nashville, Tennessee. After his discharge from the war Mr. Clawson returned to his home in Pipestone township, and assisted his mother in the operation of the home farm and in the care of the younger members of the family until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life on his own account by working as a farm hand for two years. In 1872 he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Aumack, a native of Mont gomery county, New York, and a daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Lewis) Aumack. She accompanied her parents on their re moval from the Empire state to Michigan, when a child, the father taking up his abode in Pipestone township, wdiere the mother C^fey <€>Za^o ¦&6~yv WjJjL^%. (%ulo^ &M-. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 891 passed away in 1896. Of their four chil dren two are deceased, Clowie and Johnnie, while William H. and Clana, the wife of Walter Inman, of Pipestone township, sur vive. Mr. Clawson was again married, his second union being with Ida Hartsell, a daughter of John R. and Mary (Suther land) Hartsell. There is one son of this marriage, Kenneth C, now four years of age. In 1872 Mr. Clawson began work as a. carpenter and joiner, being associated in this business with W. A. Hess, which rela tion was maintained for twenty-five years. They were connected with many building operations in this section of the country, adding to the improvement of Berrien coun ty, and today many buildings stand as monuments to their work. In May, 1900, however, he retired from all active busi ness connections and took the census in Pipestone township and in the village of Eau Claire. He has always given his politi cal support to the Republican party and has been deeply interested in the growth and success of its work. He has been called to a number of position of trust, having served for eight years as justice of the peace. For many years he has been sent as a delegate to the Republican county convention and has also been a delegate to many state con^ ventions, being present at the time Mr. Pin- gee was nominated for governor of the state. He is a member of Lake Shore lodge, No. 298, of Masons at Benton Harbor and also of the Grange in Pipestone township. He has always taken a very active and helpful interest in matters of public concern and has aided in many progressive measures for the advancement of Berrien county. He has always been found reliable in all his busi ness transactions and trustworthy in the dis charge of official duties, and all who know him speak of him in terms of highest praise. WILLIAM W. KNAPP, who started out in life for himself at an early age and has since depended entirely upon his own resources and labors for the success which he has achieved and enjoyed, is now living in Watervliet township, where he is engaged in the growing of fruit, grain and stock, his place being known as the W. W. Knapp Stock Farm. He is one of Michi gan's native sons, his birth having occurred in Hartford township, Van Buren county, May 14, 1853. His parents were John W. and Marlaette (McKee) Knapp, who were married in Watervliet in 1848. The father came to Michigan from Genesee county, New York, when ten years of age, arriving in 1837, at which time he took up his abode in Spring Arbor township, Jackson county, where he was reared to adult age. Coming to Berrien county, he operated a mill at Watervliet. He had previously been em ployed by I. N. Swayne in Jackson county. Mrs. John W. Knapp was a daughter of W. W. McKee, whose wife was a sister of Mr. Swayne, and kept a boarding house for Swayne's mill men in Watervliet. After some years' connection with the milling business in Watervliet Mr. Knapp returned to Jackson county but afterward came again to Berrien county, and in 1879 purchased his present farm, upon which he has lived for twenty-six years, yet occupy ing that place. His wife died about seven or eight years ago. William W. Knapp started out upon his business career at the age of fourteen years, when he began working in a saw mill, his wages going to the support of his father's family. At the age of eighteen years he se cured a position in a store at Burr Oak, in' St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he re mained for two years, and in 1873 he re turned to Watervliet, being employed for four years by W. W. Allen. In 1878, in company with Dr. i Tucker, he engaged in the drug and grocery business, conducting the store for two years, or until he located upon the farm. His father purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, of which W. W. Knapp took sixty acres. About half of the tract had been cleared. There were no buildings, however, upon the place and the work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun, for previous to this- time the land had been rented. Mr. Knapp of this review has since purchased thirty acres of land in another tract about a mile 892 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY distant from his home farm. This he has also cleared and tiled, thirty acres having been muck land, upon which he has placed about six hundred rods of tiling. His home place is mainly high land, well suited to the cultivation of fruit and he has from thirty- five to forty acres planted to fruit, peaches being his main crop. He also raises about seven acres of melons each year. His sales in fruit in 1905 amounted to thirteen hun dred dollars, of which one thousand dollars came from his sale of peaches. His farm is on high land south of Watervliet, between that point and Coloma, being pleasantly and conveniently situated about a mile and a half from the former. He has made many excellent improvements upon • his place, in cluding the erection of a bank barn with a cement foundation and cement floor, with running water throughout. It is thoroughly modern in all its equipments and all of the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century may be found upon his place. On the 7th of May, 1874, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Julia Spencer, a daughter of E. T. Spencer. She was born in Ohio, and was twenty-one years of age at the time of her marriage, previous to which time she had been employed in the Elgin watch factory and was also, engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have no children of their own but have reared two adopted children, Claude and Bertha Olcam- paugh, the elder being six years of age, when, in 1890, he became a member of the Knapp household. Claude has married Miss May Crum and has one child, Lois. When he was twenty-one years of age Mr. Knapp gave him twenty acres of land, and his time and energies are given 'to the operation of the home farm, thus assisting his foster father. In his political views Mr. Knapp was formerly a Prohibitionist but is now inde pendent. He has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, which are capably managed, and he is known as one of the leading fruit, grain and stock farmers of this section, having a well im proved property, while his large sales of fruit indicate that he is one of the foremost representatives of horticultural interests here. DWIGHT BOYER, living in Water vliet township, was born August 1, 1847, in the county which is still his home, his parents being Austin and Adelia (Wetmore) Boyer. Three brothers, Justin, Norman and Austin Boyer, came from Jefferson coun ty, New York, to Michigan, and, like most of the pioneers of the early '40s, all secured land. They remained together and spent the residue of their days in this county, each improving a good farm. They were all ship carpenters and all worked in the yard at St. Joseph, hiring others to develop and improve their lands. The last survivor of the three brothers was Austin Boyer, who died at the age of seventy-six years. He had a number of years before sold his land and removed to Kansas, but returning to Michigan he operated a saw mill at Coloma. Later he went to California but died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. O. Bowe, near Watervliet. Mrs. Bowe and Dwight Boyer are the surviving members of the family of three children, the eldest son, Sey mour, having died while in the service of his country as a member of the Fourth Mich igan Cavalry in the Civil war. He enlisted on the day that he was twenty-one years of age and he died at Nashville, Tennessee, when twenty-three years of age. Dwight Boyer pursued his education in a schoolhouse in Bainbridge township about two and a half miles southwest of Coloma and remained upon the home farm until it was sold when he was twelve years of age. He was afterward in Kansas until about the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, or until the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, and later he was connected with his father in the operation of the mill at Coloma. In the fall of 1879 ne went t0 California and for four years was engaged in hydraulic mining in connection with his father, who had a mine there. The father made his first trip to the Pacific coast in 1852, and in 1879 went for the third time, when he was accompanied by his son HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 893 Dwight. They did not win rapid success in their business interests there although they met with fair results, when Mr. Boyer of this review brought back with him some handsome gold nuggets, which, however, were later stolen from him by some thieves. When twenty-two years of age Mr. Boyer was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Niver, who was born in Will county, Illinois, and came to Berrien county at the age of fifteen years, while at the age of eighteen she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Boyer. For two years he remained in the mill at Coloma and then rented land, which he continued to farm for seven years. On the expiration of that period he came to his present farm three miles north of Watervliet. He had purchased a tract of land lying mainly in the woods on which only a small clearing had been made. This was in 1876. The best timber had been cut, still he realized enough from the timber that still remained to assist him materially in se curing a farm. He now has one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, the greater part of which is under cultivation and his success in business is due entirely to his own efforts, his indefatigable industry and perse verance standing as the salient features in his business career. He has carried on gen eral farming, devoting his entire time and attention to this work, and he also raises apples and peaches. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Boyer has been blessed with two sons: A. D., who follows farming, and he married Lulu Crandall, by whom he has two children, Aline and Doris; and Forest C, whose natural inclination seems to be in the direc tion of mechanics. Earlier generations of the Boyer family were Whigs and afterward Republicans, and in the faith of the latter party Dwight Boyer was reared but he now gives his allegiance to the Prohibition party. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and he holds membership with the Masonic fra ternity. He is a broad minded man, of gen erous spirit and kindly disposition, enterpris ing in his business affairs and careful in the management of his interests. He has worked earnestly and persistently year after year from the days of early youth, and the success which he is now enjoying has come to him as a reward of his own efforts. ABRAM YATES is one of the venerable citizens of Berrien county, having reached the eighty-first mile stone on life's journey and moreover he has been the architect and builder of his own fortunes. That he has won success is due entirely to his unre mitting labor and unfaltering perseverance and now he is in possession of a comfortable competence which supplies him with many of the luxuries as well as the necessities of life. His natal day was the 3d of October, 1825, and the place of his nativity Rensselaer county, New York. He came to Michigan in 1854 when a young man of twenty-nine years and although reared on a farm he early learned the mason's trade, which he fol lowed for several years. He continued at home until fifteen years of age, after which he started out in life on his own account. For some time he found it difficult to earn a living and was unable to save little but as the years passed he prospered in his un dertakings. Mr. Yates was married at the age of twenty-eight years to Miss Eliza M. Wooden,-of Monroe county, New York, then twenty years of age. This marriage was celebrated on the 16th of February, 1854. In the previous autumn Mr. Yates had come to Michigan and purchased land, becoming owner of a tract that is now within the corporation limits of the village of Hart ford. Five years were devoted to clearing and improving that place, after which, in 1859, he removed to his present farm, con veniently and pleasantly situated about three miles north of the village of Watervliet. It comprised seventy acres, nearly all of which had been cleared, and he afterward added three eighty-acre tracts, making in all over three hundred acres, constituting a single farm. All of the land was wild ex cept the first seventy-acre tract which he purchased and a small clearing upon one of the eighty-acre tracts. He sold wood, sawed timber and did other work connected 894 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY with the clearing and improving of land. He placed about two hundred acres under cultivation, making about two hundred and seventy acres which were cleared. He also enlarged his present residence and he has upon the place a good barn and other sub stantial outbuildings. His time and atten tion have been given to general farming and he has made a specialty of raising wheat and other grains. He also has large apple orchards and he has continued the work of improvement along lines of modern progress and development, making his home place one of the fine farms of this part of the county. In more recent years he -has divided his tract into three farms, the home place being now owned by one of his sons, Charles D., while his other son, Edson, has eighty acres adjoining. Mr. Yates retains possession of the remainder and his farm property is valu able. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yates have been born two sons, who are yet living, and they lost their daughter, Edith M., when she was twenty years of age. In his political views Mr. Yates is a Democrat but has had -no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs in which he has met with signal success. He has been identified with the Masonic fra ternity for over forty years, having been made a Mason at Coloma, and throughout the intervening decades he has always been loyal to the teachings of the craft, exem plifying in his life its beneficent spirit. While he has lived the quiet life of the farmer, giving almost his entire attention to its further development and improvement, he has also done his full share toward ad vancing the interests of the county, standing as a supporter of all those measures which are calculated to prove of general benefit. His residence here covers more than a half century and he has therefore witnessed the greater part of the county's growth as modern civilization has wrought many changes. The settlers from the east and south have reclaimed wild and unimproved land and transformed it into productive farms and good village property and in all those interests which work for material de velopment and good citizenship Mr. Yates has borne a part. Edson A. Yates, the elder son, was born on the old homestead farm March 6, 1864, and spent his boyhood days there, early be coming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he assisted his father during the period of his boyhood and youth, and at the age of twenty- five years he was married to Miss Mary Nutt of Mishawaka, Indiana. In their fam ily were five children, Hazel, Helen, Edith, Marion and Earl. His farm of eighty acres adjoins his father's place and has good build ings upon it, which were erected by his father. His attention is given to general agricultural pursuits and his farm presents a neat and attractive appearance, indicating his careful supervision. He, too, is identified with the Masonic fraternity. Charles D. Yates, the younger son, was born February 4, 1872, in the house which he yet occupies and his youth was spent in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, the public schools affording him his educational privileges. He was married at the age of twenty-seven years to Miss Min nie Hoffman, of Newaygo v county, Michi gan, and they reside with his father, who lost his wife April 22, 1902, after they had traveled life's journey happily together for nearly a half century. Charles D. Yates makes dairying and sheep-raising the prin cipal features of his business and is accounted one of the enterprising young business men of his locality. Like his father -and brother he is a representative of the Masonic fra ternity. EUGENE W. AUSTIN. The Walnut Grove farm is one of the attractive farm properties of Berrien county, especially pop ular as a summer resort. It is pleasantly and conveniently situated near Watervliet, and its genial proprietor in the careful con duct of his business interests has found that success is ambition's answer. He was born at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, February 18, 1861, and the following year his parents removed to Watervliet, Michigan, where his father, Thomas Austin, followed the blacksmith's HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 895 trade for a time. He afterward removed to a farm, which he cultivated but continued also to carry on his shop until 1865. He died upon his farm at the age of seventy- three years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jeanette Wilson, passed away seven years previously. They were the parents of eight children, who reached adult age, and all are yet living, three being residents of Berrien county, namely : Eugene W. ; Cora, who is the wife of J. W. Smouse ; and Grace, the wife of Merritt Summerill. Two sons, George and. Albert, are photog raphers, while Amos is a farmer of Van Buren county, and O. ,E- Austin is a resident of Iowa. Eugene W. Austin, whose name intro duces this record, spent his boyhood days on the home farm to the age of eighteen years, after which he worked by the month as a farm hand in Berrien county for five years, or until his marriage. At the age of twenty-three years he was joined in wed lock to Miss Elizabeth Scherer, who was then twenty years of age and she was a daughter of Charles Scherer of Benton Harbor. Mr. Austin purchased forty acres of land at Watervliet, which he improved, setting out a good orchard there. After seven years he sold that property and bought his present farm in 1890. He has lived thereon for sixteen years and now has a valuable prop erty lying east of Paw Paw lake and two miles from Watervliet. It comprises sev enty-one acres, a part of which he has him self cleared. His attention is devoted to general farming, which he successfully car ries on and through all the years he has kept summer boarders, erecting a large frame residence, accommodating thirty or more people. The Walnut Grove farm is always well patronized through the summer seasons and is a popular resort, excellent accommodations being afforded to those who wish to enjoy the quiet of country life and at the same time have the pleasures which may be secured through- residing in close proximity to a beautiful body of water. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Austin have been born two children : Lydia E. and Woodbury E., the former now the wife of Benjamin Rogers, of Watervliet. Mr. Austin has never cared to mingle actively in politics. On the contrary he has concentrated his time and energies upon his business affairs which have been capably controlled and which have made him one of the well-to-do citizens of his part of the county. The Walnut Grove farm is attractive in all of its equipments and indicates the careful and practical super vision of the owner, who is thoroughly up- to-date in all his work as well as in his entertaining of summer guests. ROBERT H. SHERWOOD is the pro prietor of the Lake View farm, situated upon the bank of Paw Paw lake. His place comprises about four hundred and fifty acres of land, constituting one of the largest and best improved fruit farms in the State and the owner may well be classed as one of the leading representatives of horticultural interests in Michigan. He is a man of excellent business ability and marked enter prise as is shown in the splendid appearance of his place which is lacking in none of the modern equipments that go to make up a model farm of the twentieth century. A native of Syracuse, New York, Mr. Sherwood was born January 12, 1864, and is descended from Scotch ancestry, who came to America from the north of Ireland. His parents were H. C. and Elizabeth K. (Al- vord) Sherwood, who arrived in Berrien county in 1875. The father was engaged in the grocery business at Syracuse, New York, and in the west engaged in the lum ber business. In 1865 he took up his abode upon the farm where his son Rob ert now resides, securing four hundred and fifty acres of land, of which he placed three hundred acres under cultivation, developing a splendid farm property. He erected thereon the buildings which are now seen here and made many improvements, indicating a spirit of progress and enter prise which constitute him one of the lead ing farmers of this portion of the State. Moreover in all his business dealings he was very reliable and was seldom at fault in a matter of business judgment. He also 896 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY figured prominently in public life and wielded a wide influence, being recognized as a leader in public thought and action. He served as State senator in 1882 and 1883, having been elected to the office on the Democratic ticket, and in 1884 he was the nominee from his district for congress. He was a candidate for governor at the con vention held at Grand Rapids — a joint convention — but a fusion ticket placed an other man, Hon. George L. Yaple, in the field. Mr. Sherwood was very strong in campaign work and was well fitted for lead ership. He kept thoroughly informed on the questions and issues of the day, having a statesman's grasp of affairs and he used most practical methods in working toward ideals. He was a delegate to the St. Louis convention which nominated Grover Cleve land for the presidency, and his opinions regarding political questions were often de cisive factors in local political circles. At all times his life was actuated by high and honorable principles as manifest in both his public and private career. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at Syra cuse and following his removal to the west acted with both the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational Churches at Watervliet. He stood for all that is helpful and bene ficial in man's relations with his fellowmen and through his business interests he con tributed in substantial measure to the mater ial progress and prosperity of the county. He became recognized as one of the fore most horticulturists of this section of the state and was one of the first to set out apple and peach trees together. He lived to see the trees which he planted come into bearing and a forty-acre apple orchard which he planted was converted into a very valuable property. He was optimistic, yet conservative, and his opinions were sound regarding matters of public moment as well as business considerations. He delighted in the beauty of his home location and found genuine pleasure in adorning his farm with Widences of progressive agriculture and horticulture. Trees and shrubs also added to the attractive appearance of his place and he became a close student of botany in order to be familiar with them. He was a man of broad culture, who, though denied a college education, supplemented this lack by broad and varied reading, bringing him into touch with modern thought and advanced ideas. His life in Michigan was crowned with a gratifying measure of success. He possessed indefatigable energy, had strong and stead fast purpose and allowed no obstacle to brook his path if it could be overcome by earnest and honorable effort. His life was one of great activity and in fact his death was oc casioned by overwork. He placed too great a strain upon his physical and mental pow ers, for while not busy in the supervision of his farming interests his time was given to study, reading and investigation. He was a director in the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank at Benton Harbor from its organiza tion. He accomplished much more than the ordinary man does in a lifetime and he commanded under all conditions the respect, confidence and good will of those with whom he was associated. Of strong and forceful individuality he left the impress of his char acter upon the material development, the in tellectual progress and the political advance ment of Berrien county, and his name is now enrolled among its honored dead. Robert H. Sherwood, reared under the parental roof, was a lad of about eleven years when his parents located upon the farm which is now his home. He attended and was graduated from- Olivet College with the class of 1885, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon him. He afterward went to Grand Rapids, where he was connected with mercantile interests until his father's death brought him back to the farm. His mother still survives and now makes her home in Grand Rapids. Robert H. Sherwood, however, resides upon the old homestead property, and on the 12th of June, 1889, he was married to Miss Mary V. Brown, of Brooklyn, New York, who was formerly a teacher in the schools of that city. On taking charge of the farm Mr. Sherwood brought to his new task the same spirit of enterprise and determination which characterized him in his horticultural career. He has extended its acreage until now three hundred acres instead of forty are planted to fruit. The farm altogether comprises HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 897 four hundred and fifty acres and is one of the largest and finest fruit farms of Michigan, having nearly fifty thousand trees of apples, pears, plums and peaches. The orchards cover three hundred acres, while the re mainder of the farm is devoted to pasturage. Apple trees are planted throughout each or chard, the younger trees having been set out six years ago. They have made a most wonderful growth and have already borne fruit. Two of the older apple orchards set out in 1 87 1 and 1876, respectively, have few equals, there having hardly been a crop fail ure in the last twenty years. Mr. Sherwood has rebuilt and enlarged his home and now has a fine colonial residence overlooking Taw Paw lake and equipped with every mod ern convenience, including hot water heat ing system, a gas plant for cooking and illuminating purposes and other modern ac cessories, making this one of the model farm homes in Berrien county. A glance at his farm indicates that it is in the care of one who has brought a knowledge of horti culture and is most practical as well as pro gressive in his methods. His orchards are in excellent condition, each tree receiving careful attention and in a single years he has shipped seventy carloads of fruit, most of which is sold on the track at Watervliet. He grows for commercial purposes and in connection with his fruit raising interests he breeds Percheron horses, having one hun dred and fifty acres of land devoted to pas turage. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood has been blessed with five children, Marion, Malcolm, Donald, Richard and Dudley, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. Mr. Sherwood is a man of domestic tastes, who finds his home life most attractive and he is always happiest when surrounded by his family at his own fireside. The home contains a well selected library, with the con tents of which he is largely familiar, and he is especially fond of history, his reading along that line being particularly broad. His wife is a member of the Ladies Club, and both Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood hold member ship in the Congregational Church at Water vliet, while fraternally he is connected with 57 the Masons. Unlike his father he has never sought to figure prominently in political cir cles and his allegiance is given to the Re publican party. He is one in whom nature and education have vied to make a cul tured and interesting gentleman, and a so cial, affable manner renders him popular with his fellow men while his genuine per sonal worth is immediately recognized by all with whom he comes in contact. He holds to no false standards of life regarding the individual and his environment at their true worth, and while he has prospered in his business career it is the success that comes from honorable and straightforward effort, well-placed investments and well managed business interests. CARL J. SCHULTZ, filling the office of county treasurer of Berrien county, and a resident of St. Joseph, Michigan, was born in the village of New Buffalo, August 11, 1873. He is a son of C. H. and Anna M. (Holch) Schultz, natives of Germany, who in 1843 came to the United States, locating in the township of New Buffalo, Berrien county. They now reside in the village of that name. For thirty years the father has been engaged in fruit growing and floral culture. Carl J. Schultz, the immediate subject of this review, was reared in New Buffalo, where he attended the public schools, being graduated on the completion of the high school course in 1888. He afterward spent one year in the study of the German lan guage, and later was for two years a student in M'ariqn (Indiana). Normal School and Business College. Returning hime, he was employed for one year in the railway office at New Buffalo, after which he was for some time engaged in business with his father. He came to St. Joseph in 1902, and for about two years thereafter was deputy county clerk of Berrien county. In January, 1905, he was appointed city as sessor of St. Joseph in which capacity he served until the following October, when he was appointed county treasurer of Ber rien county to fill out an unexpired term of Alva Sherwood, deceased. While a resi- 898 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY dent of New Buffalo township Mr. Schultz held a number of township offices and was a representative of that township on the board of county supervisors. Although yet a young man he has for years taken an active part in public affairs in Berrien county, and his political record has been characterized byj the utmost fidelity to the Republican party and the principles in which he be lieves. On the 4th of September, 1906, he received the nomination from the members of his party for the office of treasurer of Berrien county, and was elected November 6, following, with a majority of one thous and seven hundred and fifty-five, leading the entire county as well as the state ticket. In 1896 Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Gussie J. Tanner, and unto them have been born three children, Harold B., Ber- nice M. and Paul H. The parents are mem bers of the Congregational church. Mr. Schultz holds membership with the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arch Masons. He is a prominent and popular man and his official service is a. case in which his fidelity is being re warded. J. D. KRIEGER. The Krieger family In Berrien county is too well known to- need special introduction in this volume, for its representatives have long been prominent and influential here as business men and as champions of all that stands for development and improvement. There were six brothers, Jacob, Peter, Christian, Charlie, John and Adam, who were sons of Christian Krieger. They came from Prussia to America, emi grating to the United States about 1840. They landed at Cincinnati, and some time afterward Jacob Krieger came to St. Joseph, Michigan, having learned of this district through a land company in Cincinnati. Fol lowing his arrival he worked for the firm of Smith & Murray, who were large land owners here. He was employed at clearing and breaking land, building houses and at Other work, and he soon secured land for himself near the present site of the Evan gelical Church. He was here married to Catherine Heffner, after which he continued to work for the land company and took land in payment for his labor. Thus he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is now owned by a Mr. Wilming. Upon that place Jacob Krieger spent his remaining days and eventually passed away there. Abuot 1850 his broth ers came, as did his father, who died soon after, being an old man at the time of his arrival in Michigan. All six of the brothers settled in Bainbridge but only two are now living. Charles Krieger is a well known hotel man, formerly of St. Joseph, but now of Chicago. He built the Whitcomb Hotel in St. Joseph and also built and operated the American House there, but at the present writing he is living in the western metropo lis. Adam Krieger, who also survives, was for many years an active farmer of Bain bridge township and is still living within its borders. His old home farm is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Fred Holler. Of the other members of the family, John Krieger died when a young' man, while Peter Krieger died when about seventy-two years of age. Fred Krieger is mentioned on an other page of this work,, and Christian be came the father of Jacob C. Krieger, in con nection with whose history mention will be found of him. Jacob Krieger went to California about 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, and was engaged in mining there for three years but he did not meet with the success he had anticipated and re turned to Michigan, where he again gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owned a number of small tracts of land including the present farm of J. D. Krieger. His home place was an excellent farm property ahd as the result of his care and labor was so developed that his fields brought good returns and the farm became a very pro ductive one. He continued to make it his home until his death, which occurred May 22, 1881, when he was sixty-five years of age, while his wife survived him for ten years. They were numbered among the original members of the Evangelical Asso ciation of Bainbridge and continued in active connection throughout life. In their family HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY S99 were eight children, namely: Jacob D., whose name introduces this record; Caro line, the wife of Herman Goudy, of Bain bridge; Louisa, who became the wife of Charles Weber and died when about forty- two years of age ; Peter, of Bainbridge town ship; Charlie, a farmer living at Climax, Michigan; John, also of Bainbridge; Frank, of the same place; and Nettie, who became the wife of William Buhlinger and died upon the old Krieger homestead at the age of thirty-seven years. Jacob D. Krieger was born in this county January 27, 1844, and remained at, home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, acquiring his education in the district schools, while during the summer months and periods of vacation he aided in the work of the home farm. He was only eighteen years of age, when, in 1862, he enlisted in . response to the country's call for aid, be coming a member of Company I, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, with which he went to the front. He was captured with his bri gade at Spring Hill, Tennessee, and after being held as a prisoner of war for about thirty-two days was exchanged at City Point and finally was at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. He then rejoined his regiment and took part in the Atlanta campaign, with all its hotly contested battles and its long ardu ous marches. He went into Atlanta in an ambulance, being ill, with typhoid fever. He was captured in South Carolina on the northern march, being at that time on forage detail. He was alone and fell into the hands of rebel scouts who were dressed in Federal overcoats, and instead of succeeding in cap turing supplies from the enemy he lost his own. The same squad of rebel scouts cap tured two more Berrien county men. Mr. Krieger was returned to Libby prison, and after a time was taken to Salisbury. He was removed from that place as a prisoner when Grant made his advance, and was taken by train to some outside town, being turned over to the Federals at City Point. He then went back to Camp Chase in Ohio. He was never wounded although he was often in the thickest of the. fight and displayed his valor and loyalty on many hotly contested battlefields of the south. Following his return home Mr. Krieger was married, in 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Kniebes, a daughter of Peter Kniebes, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Krieger was about seventeen years of age at the time of her. marriage. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home. Mr. Krieger had eight acres of land cleared and there was an old house on the place, which remained their home for a long period but about ten years ago he erected his present residence. He now has the place all under cultivation, mainly planted to fruit. It is conveniently situated about a quarter of a mile south of Bainbridge Center, and there Mr, Krieger raises good fruit, which finds a ready sale on the market, his home being splendidly located in the midst of the fruit belt of Ber rien county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have been born six children : Harvey, of Bainbridge township, who married Eva Pearl, a daugh ter of Warren Pearl and a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent fam ines of the county ; Jacob, also of Bainbridge, who married Lillian Arford ; Ionia, the wife of Ira Harner, of Bainbridge; Lizzie, the wife of Paul Hartung, a bookkeeper in the Fair store in Chicago; and May and Ros coe, both at home. Mrs. Krieger belongs to the church of which her parents were mem bers. In his political views Mr. Krieger is a Republican, having cast his first presiden tial vote at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864, while serving as a defender of the Union. He has filled the office of township treasurer, and on the 4th of July, 1906, his fifth term as jus tice of trie peace expired. He has kept in active touch with the party, frequently serv ing as a delegate to its conventions, and is recognized as a leader in its local ranks. In the discharge of his official duties he has always been prompt and faithful and his long continuance in the office of justice in dicates that his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. CHARLES G. SCHAUS, living in Bainbridge township, is one of the self-made rrtpn of Berrien county. Without special advantages at the outset of his career he; 900 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY has worked laboriously and earnestly to achieve success and overcoming all difficul ties in his path by determination and brook ing no obstacles that can be overthrown by honest effort. He was born in Bainbridge near the present site of the Catholic Church, on the 1 2th of November, 1849, and is the eldest child of Jacob L. and Mary (Duke- sherer) Schaus, the latter a daughter of William Dukeshearer and a sister of Henry Dukesherer. When Charles G. Schaus was but three years of age his parents removed to a new place in Watervliet, where they remained for five years, when the property was sold. This was in 1857, m which year Jacob L. Schaus settled upon what has since been known as! the old homestead farm. There he continued to reside until called to his final rest on the 25th of March, 1884, when he was in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His widow survived him until 1902, passing away at the age of seventy-three years. They were married in Berrien coun ty in 1847, after which Jacob L. Schaus worked, for a Mr. Kline in Benton Harbor. His wife had been employed at St. Joseph and at the time of her marriage was but nine teen years of age. Her death occured on the old Adam Scharm place. In the family were two sons, the younger being Frank. Charles G. Schaus, spending his early youth in his parents' home, started out in life on his own account at the age of fourteen years and was employed at farm labor until twenty-two years of age. When he was eighteen years old, however, his father gave him his time, and when he was twenty- two he had saved from his earnings the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars. With that capital he married and started in life for himself. It was on the 23rd of November, 1870, that his marriage to Miss Augusta Butzbach was celebrated. Mrs. Schaus was at that time only eighteen years of age and was the eldest child of Philip and Plantina Butzbach. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Schaus traveled life's journey happily together and were then sep arated by the death of the wife on the 8th of February, 1896. Unto them had been born four sons and a daughter : Henry, who is now living in Bainbridge township ; Sam uel, who is engaged in the wholesale pro duce and fruit business in Benton Harbor, as a member of the firm of Seitz, Runneker & Schaus; Robert, who is a cook at Grand Rapids ; Charles, who is principal of the high school at Big Rapids, Michigan, having at one time attended the Ferris Institute, at Big Rapids, while later he taught school at Pen Yan and subsequently at the Pearl Grange school house, where he was assisted by his sister; and Anna Louisa, the wife of Charles Steinbarger, now of Sunfield, Eaton county, Michigan. After losing his first wife, Mr. Schaus was again married, on the the 1 6th of September, 1898, his second union being with Miss Sallie Jewell, a neigh bor's daughter. Her parents, Wesley and Anna Jewell, are now living in Stevensville, Michigan, where Mrs. Schaus was born. There is one child of this marriage, Leah Catherine Schaus. Mr. Schaus through his first purchase of land became the owner of forty acres of his present farm, for which he paid nine hundred dollars. It was covered with grubs and he secured a yoke of oxen with which to perform the hard labor inci dent to clearing and cultivating the land. As the years passed by he prepared the fields for the plow and gathered rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon his place For twenty-two years he operated a thresh ing machine, carrying on the business a part of the time on his own account and also a part of the time for Hayden Brothers. He began with an old horsepower machine and afterward with a portable engine, while later he became owner of a traction engine. His work in this direction has extended as far north as South Haven. He confines his own. farm to the raising of grain and now has; eighty acres of rich and productive land a half mile south of Bainbridge Center. The residence stands on an eminence and com mands a fine view of the surrounding coun try, and altogether the farm is a very at tractive place, neat in its environments and giving every evidence of the careful super vision of a practical and progressive owner. In his political views Mr. Schaus is an earnest Republican. He belongs to the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 901 Evangelical Association of Bainbridge, which was also the church of his father and is interested in the moral as well as material development of the community. He finds pleasure and recreation from his business cares in hunting, and he and his sons enjoy various outings of that character. His en tire life has been passed in this county, and as a representative of a pioneer family he well deserves mention in this volume. 1 URIAS VAN VRANKEN is the owner of one of the fine farms of the fruit belt of Berrien county, and his success as a fruit grower stamps him as one thoroughly con versant with the business and as one who has gained for this district the splendid reputa tion it bears as a horticultural center. He lives upon a part of what is the old Van Vranken homestead, and it- was here that he was born on the ist of October, 1844. His parents were Garrett and Emily Van Vran ken. The father was born in New York, and, as the name indicates, was of Holland descent. He lost his mother when he was only three years of age and was reared by an English family. Coming to Michigan in pioneer times he settled in Berrien county and became an enterprising horticulturist of Bainbridge township, living upon a farm which included the tract of land now in possession of his son Urias. For many years he successfully carried on farming here and passed away on the 19th of August, 1877. His widow still survives and is living with her youngest daughter, Mrs. E. N. Matrau, at Watervliet. She is a sister of J. F. Hig bee of Benton Harbor, in whose sketch on another page of this work mention is made of their family history. Urias Van Vranken remained at home iintil he had attained his majority and still resides upon a part of the old home place. He was educated in the public schools and reared to the occupation of farming, and throughout his entire life his time and ener gies have been devoted to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He has eighty acres of land in the home place and twenty acres in Pipestone township. The home place was cleared by his father, having come into his possession in its natural state. About thirty years ago Mr. Van Vranken of this review erected his present residence. He has more than fifty acres planted to fruit, five acres in apples, twelve acres in grapes and other tracts in peaches and pears. His fruit sales amount to about fifteen hundred dollars annually. He is also well known as a melon grower, having about ten acres planted to osage melons, and to the cultivation of melons he has given his attention for twenty years, the average sales from this tract amounting to several hundred dollars annu ally. The farm is a very fine one, splendidly situated in the midst of the fruit belt of Berrien county and Mr. Van Vranken is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of producing all kinds of fruit, having made a close study of everything bearing upon the subject of horticulture. His apples bring the highest prices on the market and every thing that he produces is of fine size and quality, for he uses the best nursery stock and seeds for the growing of fruit and melons. On the 20th of April, 1876, Mr. Van Vranken was united in marriage to Miss Belle Petrie, of Sodus township, and they have a family of three daughters : Eva, now the wife of Noble Welb, of Pipestone township; and Ida and Ina, twins. The former has engaged in teaching for four years in Berrien county, mainly at Fair- plains, and Ina is the wife of Ernest Lewis, of Bainbridge township. In his political views Mr. Van Vranken is a Democrat where national issues are in volved but casts an independent local ballot. He is interested in matters of citizenship re lating to material, intellectual and moral progress and stands for all that is best for the community. His entire life has been passed in this part of the state, and for more than six decades he has been a witness of the changes that time and man have wrought, as business conditions have brought about marked differences in the methods of carrying on agricultural and horticultural, as well as commercial pur suits. . He has kept in touch with the uni form developmient and in fact has been a leader in the line of his chosen occupation. 902 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY LEWIS UMPHREY is a representative farmer of Bainbridge township and belongs to one of its worthy families. Michael Um phrey, one of the pioneers of Bainbridge, came from Germany in company with the first German settlers of this locality, includ ing the Kniebes and the Smithberger fam ilies. He located in Watervliet township, ftnd his old home property is still in posses sion of the family. In the family of Michael Umphrey were three sons, Peter, Lewis and Philip. Peter died at Bowling Green, Ken- 'ucky, during the Civil war, and Philip died in the south after the close of hostilities. Lewis Umphrey remained upon the old home farm assisting in its development and improvement during pioneer days and after arriving at years of maturity he was mar ried to Miss Abbie Denner, at the present home of her son Lewis in Bainbridge town ship. Her father, John Denner, came to Michigan when she was thirteen years of age, and in 1849 or l&5° ne went to Califor nia, after which he returned to Michigan. His life was largely passed in a house which stood on the present site of the old barn, which was the first barn in this vicinity, built sixty years ago by the company that owned the land. He died at the age of seventy- three years and his son, John Denner, now of Benton Harbor, was the owner of the farm until it passed into the possession of Lewis Umphrey in 1886. Lewis Umphrey, Sr., had a family of eight sons, of whom Lewis, Jr., is the third in order of birth. He was born July 17, 1859, in the old log house which was after ward replaced by the brick residence. His father died when he was twenty-one years of age and the mangement of the farm then devolved upon him. He remained upon the place with his mother until his marriage, at the age of twenty-eight years, to Miss Anna Kniebes, the youngest daughter of Peter Kniebes, at which time he removed to a place adjoining his present place of resi dence. In 1886 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. The old house was burned about two years after his marriage and he then erected a comfortable, modern residence. He has forty-eight acres of land, constituting one of the best farms of the township. About ten acres is devoted to apples and peaches and his farm is well im proved in every particular, being character ized by neatness and thrift, which indicates the progressive spirit and practical efforts of the owner. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Umphrey have been born four children, Lewis M., Edna, Florence and Raymond, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. In his political views Mr. Umphrey is a stalwart Republi can, and, as every true American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the ques tions and issues of the day but he has never sought office, preferring to confine his at tention to his farming interests. His recre ation and pleasure came through hunting and fishing but his time is largely given to the development and improvement of the farm and he is accounted one of the ener getic and active business men of his com munity. JOSEPH WILLMING, residing in Bainbridge township, was born near Joliet, Illinois, January 19, 1858. His father, B. Willming, was a native of Alsace, France, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world. In Illinois he was married to Miss Elizabeth Siler, who was also born in Alsace. Mr. Willming had served for fourteen years in the French army, spending seven years of that time in military duty in Africa. In Illinois he turned his atten tion to farming. Three of his sons are liv ing in Bainbridge township, Joseph, Andrew and Serphine. Joseph arrived in 1878 and has therefore been a resident of the county for twenty-seven years, while Serphine has lived here for four years and Andrew for two years. Gregory Willming came to the United States prior to the arrival of his brother, B. Willming, and settled two miles south of Benton Harbor, so that the family, was early established in Berrien county. His wife was Mary Oehlhaffer, who had come from France in company with her brother, Joseph Oehlhaffer, and who gave her hand in mar riage to Gregory Willming in Chicago. Their entire married life, however, was passed at Fair Plain, Michigan, where Greg- t*-n^>J /^^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 903 ory Willming died in 1894, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow remained in the same locality until her death about five years ago and was laid to rest on the day that President McKinley was assassinated. They erected the present brick residence now owned and occupied by their nephew, George Oehlhaffer. When Joseph Willming reached the age of twenty years he came to Berrien county and for two years resided with his uncle, working on a farm. He was then married, January 27, 1880, to Miss Josephine Oehl haffer, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Straul) Oehlhaffer. Her parents came from France in company with the Willmings and were married in Michigan, spending their lives thereafter on the farm now owned by their son, John Oehlhaffer. The father died about two years ago but the mother passed away thrirty years prior to his demise. Mrs. Willming was but nine years of age at the time of her mother's death and her older sister, Mary, then but thirteen years of age, became the housekeeper. She never married but remained at home and died about ten years ago. The other members of the fam ily were : Josephine Oehlhaffer, who was married at twenty years of age ; Josheph and John, who now reside near Fair Plain. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Willming lived upon his uncle's farm and then came to Bainbridge township, settling near where Mrs. Willming's half sister, Mrs. Kolb, lived. After renting land from Mrs. Loesher for twelve years Mr. Willming purchased his present farm which was the Clinton Cribbs farm and comprises fifty acres. It is devoted to horticultural pursuits, about half of it being planted to fruit. He makes a specialty of peaches, but also raises a large amount of pears. He has remodeled the buildings since locating upon this farm, paying twenty-nine hundred dol lars for this tract and today has a well im proved property equipped with modern con veniences. The home of Mr. and Mrs". Willming has been blessed with the following named sons and daughters: Francis, a clerk in Shep pard & Benning's store in St. Joseph ; Mary, who is clerking in Eders & Geisler's store in Watervliet; Ella, at home; John, on the farm; Clara; Josephine; Elizabeth; Walter; Frank; and Mabel. The parents and family are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Watervliet, and Mr. Willming gives his political allegiance to the Democ racy where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, consider ing only the capability of the candidate for the official discharge of the duties connected with the office. J. H. HERRING, M. D. Among those who have attained distinctive prestige in the practice of medicine in Eau Claire and Berrien county, and whose success has come as the logical result of thorough technical information stands Dr. Herring, who is a man of scholarly attainments and who has made deep and careful research into the science to which he is devoting his life. He was born in Elberfeld, Rhenish Prussia, March 30, 1850, but in 1855, when but five years of age was brought to America by his parents, Dr. F. A. and Amelia ( Wolff ) Herring, both also natives of the fatherland. In 1855 Dr. F. A. Herring and his family came to America, and after resting a short time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, continued their journey to Goshen, Indiana, which place has since been their home and where the father has continued in the practice of medicine with eminent success. He belongs to what could properly be" called the Ger manic Botanic School, and as many of the requisite medicinal plants which grow in Europe and other countries cannot be had in this country or cannot be found in regu lar commerce Dr. Herring raises them in his garden, where he propagates such plants as he desires. By this means he is insured of strictly pure herbs, which under his watchful care and skillful compounding produce instant and desirable results. He has made a specialty of treating deseases of many organs, and his success in this re spect has been phenomenal. He is one of the oldest physicians in Indiana, having reached his ninety-fourth year, and for fifty-one years he has been a resident of Goshen. His wife passed away in her sev enty-eighth year, and of their eight children only five are now living. £04 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY "Dr. J. H. Herring, their eldest son and 'third child, was but five years of age when his father located in Goshen, where he was thereafter reared, and the early educational training which he received in its public schools was supplemented by attendance at the Illinois State University, while his pro fessional training was received at the Ben net Medical College of Chicago, where he graduated in 1878. For the following two years he was engaged in the practice of medicine at Pipestone, Michigan, and in 1 88 1 located in Eau Claire, being now one of the oldest representatives of the profes sion in the city. He has demonstrated the fact that he is well informed concerning the principles of the medical science, and has therefore been accorded a liberal patronage. In 1879 Dr. Herring married Mary A. Henkle, the daughter of P. M. Henkle, of Goshen, Indiana, where Mrs. Herring was born and reared, and for several years she was engaged in teaching school in that city and Elkhart, Indiana. Dr. Herring is a member of the Eclectic Medical Society of Michigan. He is deeply interested in the affairs of the city which has so long been his home, has always advocated the meas ures which have advanced its welfare and has labored for its improvement and pro gress. DANIEL C. ARNT, numbered among the resident farmers of Bainbridge town ship, was born in Baline, Prussia, February 25, 1837, and was a youth of fourteen years when, in 1851, he came with the family to the United States. His parents were Chris tian and Philopena Arnt, who died when their son Daniel was six or seven years of age. The father, however, secured during his residence in Michigan the present home of our subject. He was a poor man and had to remain in Buffalo, New York, until his brother, who had already settled in Michi gan, sent him the money to continue the trip. He had two brothers in Berrien county, Frank Arnt, residing in Lake township, and Peter Arnt, whose home was in Bainbridge township. There were also two sisters in Bainbridge township who had been residents here for eleven years before Christian Arnt arrived. One sister was the wife of Peter Smithberger, a brother of Mrs. Peter Kniebes, and the other sister was the wife of Daniel Crieser, a pioneer resident of Ber rien county. Christian Arnt secured forty acres of land on contract. It had some im provements upon it, a few acres having been cleared, while a log cabin had been built. He paid three hundred and twenty-five dollars for the forty acres, and with characteristic energy began the development of the farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve until his death, which occurred in 1875, when he was seventy years of age. His sec ond wife, who bore the maiden name of Katharine Vanner, had died two years be fore. During the last ten years of his life Mr. Arnt was a great sufferer from rheuma tism. His children, all born of his first mar riage, were as follows : Katharine, who be came the wife of Peter Smith and lived in Bainbridge township, died about seven years ago, and -Mr. Smith is also deceased. Dan iel C. is the second of the family. Eliza beth became the wife of John Grough, and after his death married Mr. Franzen. She is now again a widow and is in St. Joseph. Charley is a resident farmer of Watervliet township. Daniel C. Arnt in his early youth worked by the month as a farm hand and his wages — seven or eight dollars per month — went to his father. When twenty-five years of age he was married to Henrietta Kniebes, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Smith berger) Kniebes, who was a neighbor girl and was sixteen years of age at the time of their marriage. Mr. Arnt had first owned fifty acres of land on the township line but after ward sold that property and bought forty- five acres nearer his wife's father. Subse quently he returned to the old farm to care for his father during the last two years of his life, Christian Arnt being helpless for some years prior to his demise. Following his father's death our subject purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home place and continues the operation and im provement of the two farms. He has made many substantial improvements upon his homestead farm, over one half of which has been planted to fruit, peaches being his spe- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 9°5 cialty. At the time the new brick house of worship was erected for the Evangelical association he bought the old church, which had been built about 1854, and it is now used for a barn and fruit house upon his place. The present residence was erected by his father about forty years ago, which has been remodeled and improved by Daniel C. Arnt. The farm is pleasantly located nine miles east of Benton Harbor and three and a half miles southeast of Coloma. In 1900 Mr. Arnt was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 19th of September of that year. They had become the parents of fifteen children, all of whom reached years of maturity: Peter, who resides in Bainbridge township; Frank, of the same township; Daniel, of Benton Harbor; Fred, at home; Charlie, a resident farmer of Bainbridge township; Christian, at home; Carrie, the wife of Myron Nich ols, of Bainbridge; Annie, who is acting as her father's housekeeper ; Jacob, who died at the age of twenty-three years, seven years after the death of his mother; Eddie, of Benton Harbor ; Ben, Maggie, Harry, Lydia, and Hattie, all at home. In i860 Mr. Arnt cast his first presiden tial ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has since been a stalwart champion of the Republican party but has never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. He was reared in the faith of the Evangelical association, with which he is identified through member ship relations and he has lived an upright, honorable life, which exemplifies his Chris tian belief. The years have brought him much arduous labor but as the result of his industry, his unswerving business integrity and his well directed efforts he is now one of the substantial citizens of Bainbridge township. JACOB KNIEBES is living on the old Kniebes homestead farm in Bainbridge township, where he was born August 7, 1 86 1, being the youngest son in the family of Peter and Margaret (Smithberger) Kniebes. His father came from the vicinity of Treves, Prussia, to America in the year 1840 in company with his father, Jacob Kniebes, who was then quite advanced in years. Jacob's family constituted Peter Kniebes and his two sisters, Sophia and Elizabeth. The former died in Cincinnati, while Elizabeth became Mrs. Hooket, by which marriage she had a son, Charlie Hooket. After the death of her first hus band she married Peter Umphrey and lived at New Troy, Berrien county, Michigan. The party that sailed for America also con tained Margaret Smithberger and her brother, Peter Smithberger, who were bound for the same vicinity as the Kniebes fam ily, and about two years later Peter Kniebes and Margaret Smithberger were married. Within one year after their marriage they located upon what has since been known as the old homestead farm. At Cincinnati Mr. Kniebes had selected land from an immigra tion company, who controlled extensive hold ings in Michigan. Jacob Kniebes, the grand father, remained with his son Peter, the family home being a log cabin. Peter Kniebes was a hatter by trade and followed that line of business at Niles twenty-eight miles distant from his home, walking back and forth to his work at the beginning and the end of the week. He was employed for two years as a hatter at Niles and at St. Joseph and then concentrated his energies upon his farm work. When twenty-four years had passed he had about one hundred acres of land here and his fields were placed under a high state of cultivation. He erected all of the principal buildings upon the farm and converted this into a valuable and pro ductive property. In addition to the home property he also became the owner of two tracts of»land of eighty acres each, one ad joining the old homestead, while the other was about three miles distant, one being the property of Fred Kniebes, and the other the home of Frank Kniebes. As long as he lived Peter Kniebes, the father, confined the active management of his business affairs and divided his estate before his demise. His father, Jacob Kniebes, was killed by a bull, at the age of eighty years. Peter Kniebes passed away January 7, 1896, aged seventy-six years, and his wife, Margaret, died February 2, 1890, at the age of seventy years, four months and seventeen days. Both were members of the Evangelical 906 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Church in their neighborhood, and in poli tics Mr. Kniebes was a stalwart Republican, voting the first Republican ticket which was placed in the field in 1854. Jacob Kniebes, whose name introduces this record, was born on the old home farm and assisted his father in its further develop ment, cultivation and improvement until the latter's death. He has since purchased the' interest of the other heirs in the farm and he now has one hundred and forty acres of valuable land, of which one hundred and eighteen acres is under cultivation, being largely devoted to the raising of grain. Mr. Kniebes was married to -Miss Vina Umphrey and their family numbers three- children, John, Nettie and Reuben. The parents are prominent and faithful members of the Evangelical Church, in which Mr. Kniebes is serving as a trustee. The family have always stood for good citizenship and progress in material, intellectual and moral lines, and Jacob Kniebes of this review has fully sustained the reputation always borne by the family. FREDERICK KRIEGER was born June 20, 1864, in the house which is still his home and has passed nearly all his life under its sheltering roof. His parents, Peter and Dorothy (Shank) Krieger, were married in Germany, January 1, 1848. The former was born June 21, 181 6, and the latter April 26, 1826, in the same locality in Prussia. Her death occurred in November, 1869, and on the 25th of November, 1870, Peter Krieger was married to Mrs. Fredericka Carl, a widow, who bore the maiden name of Wack- row. His death occurred August 23, 1891, and his second wife survived until January 15, 1906. She had left the old homestead nine years before and her last days were spent in Millburg. It was in the year 185 1 that Peter Krieger came to the United States and settled in Berrien county, Mich igan, where three years previous John, Adam and Jacob Krieger had already lo cated. All were born in Bainbridge town ship and of these Adam is the only sur vivor. Pie is still living in Bainbridge town ship. Charles Krieger came at the same time as his brother Peter and for some time conducted Hotel St. Charles in St. Joseph but is now living in Chicago. Christian Krieger, another brother, also lived in Bain bridge township, and his son Jacob is still residing upon his old homestead there. Peter Krieger took up his abode upon the farm where his son Frederick now resides, and when it came into his possession it was still a tract of timber land, but in the midst of the forest he hewed out the fields, cut the timber, built a house, making his home there throughout his remaining days. He owned three different farms, one in Benton town ship and one in Bainbridge Center in addi tion to the old homestead. He and his first wife were among the charter members of the German Lutheran Church near Bain bridge, "and of the original membership Mr. Swartz and Adam Krieger are the only ones now living. In Peter Krieger's family were the following named : Christian, who died at the age of fifty-one years ; Karl, who died at the age of twenty-four ; Adam, on the old homestead.; John; Peter; Henrietta, who was burned to death when only a year old; Dorothea; and Frederick. Christian and Adam Krieger never mar ried and remained in charge of the old home stead, devoting their lives to general farm ing: John Krieger was married at the age of twenty-five and lived in Bainbridge Cen ter until about two years ago, when he re moved to a farm near Watervliet. Peter is now engaged in farming in Benton town ship, while Dorothea is the wife of Daniel J. Smith, a resident farmer of Watervliet township. Frederick Krieger, whose name intro duces this record, has spent nearly his en tire life upon the old homestead farm which belonged to his father. At nineteen years of age he began working out as a farm hand and was thus employed for three years, af ter which he went to Chicago, where he spent one year. Subsequently he was en gaged in the liquor business in Benton Har bor for eight years and seven years ago he returned to the old homestead, where he has since devoted his attention to the manage ment and conduct of the farm, which com prises seventy- four acres, of which about thirty acres is in fruit, over half of this amount being in peaches. He also raises small fruit, making a specialty of strawber- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 907 ries and likewise cultivates pears, apples, grapes, etc. His sales of fruit for 1905 amounted to about two thousand dollars and he has extended his fruit industry, which is already a very profitable source of income. His business is prospering and he is now purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the home property. On the 20th of December, 1893, Mr. Krieger was married to Miss Mary Koob,.a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Straw- ley) Koob, of Watervliet township. She was born on the farm near Coloma and was married at the age of twenty years. This union has been blessed with three children, Louis, Mildred and Ray Delbert. In poli tics Mr. Krieger is a Democrat and has fre quently been a delegate to party conven tions. JACOB L. SCHAUS, living in Bain bridge township, is a representative of one of the prominent German families of Ber rien county. His father, Jacob Schaus, came from Nassau, Germany, to the United States in 1847, when twenty-two years of age. His mother died at his birth, and his father when the son was ten years of age. He was reared by an uncle and was the only one of the family who ever came to America. After reaching the shores of the new world he came to Berrien county, where he had friends living, among the number being Mary Dukesherer, a former schoolmate in Germany and a sister of Frederick Duke sherer, who is mentioned in this volume. She was twenty-one years of age at the time she came to the United States in 1846, and the following year she gave her hand in mar riage to Jacob Schaus. The young couple located on land adjoining her father's place "and there lived until Mr. Schaus had cleared ten acres. He next removed to the old Krause place in Watervliet township, where he lived for twelve years, making many im provements upon that farm. In 1859 he pur chased the farm upon which his son, Jacob L-, now resides. It was then new land and only ten acres of the forty acre tract had been cleared. He built a log cabin and placed the entire farm under cultivation. He also extended his landed possessions by the purchase of forty acres west of Coloma arid forty acres in Bainbridge township, which was covered with a dense forest growth. Of this he cleared ten acres and also ten acres of the Coloma farm. In early ¦life he worked in a sawmill in Watervliet and in the work of clearing his land he was assisted by the women and children of his household. He cleared altogether about one hundred acres and he planted the present homestead farm to apples and peaches, de voting his time and energies to its further cultivation and development until his life's labors were ended in death, on the 25th of March, 1883. His wife passed away March .29, 1 901, when nearly seventy-two years of age. She had been a most ambitious, ener getic woman and had been a most able as sistant to her husband. They were charter members of the Evangelical association in Bainbridge and were very active in church and Sunday-school work. They conformed their lives strictly to the teachings of the church and did all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. That Mr. Schaus was a most honorable, upright man, worthy of the trust of his fellow citi zens is indicated by the fact that he was ap pointed on various occasions to act as guar dian for orphan children. In the family of this worthy couple were eleven children, nine of whom reached maturity, while eight are now living, as follows : Charlie, a farmer of Bainbridge township; Harry, who was a hotel proprietor and clothing merchant at Benton Harbor, where he died at the age of fifty-two years; William, a farmer of Bain bridge township; Melia, the wife of Ole Pearson^ who is connected with the McDon ald Lumberyard at Benton Harbor; Jacob L., of this review ; Edward, a farmer ¦ and carpenter of Bainbridge township; Frank, who also carries on agricultural pursuits in Bainbridge township; August, a laborer at Riverside, Michigan; and Louise, the wife of Mark Meach, a carpenter of Benton Har bor. Jacob L. Schaus was born August 6, 1859, in an old log house which stood on the farm that is now his home. At the age o-f twenty-one years . he was married to Miss Ellen Schramm, a daughter of John Schramm, a fruit buyer, who was lost when the famous Hippocampus went clown, his 908 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY daughter Ellen being at that time only two years old. Her mother afterward married again, leaving the children of her first mar riage with their grandparents, Adam and Margaret Schramm of Bainbridge township. John Schramm was but twenty-seven years of age at the time of his demise and his daughter was but seventeen years of age when she gave her hand in marriage to Jacob L. Schaus, who at that time took charge of the Adam Schramm farm, which he purchased. Mrs. Schaus' sister Emma is now the wife of John Scherer, of Bain bridge township, and she and her sister Ellen inherited the old Schramm farm from their grandfather, after which Mr. Schaus purchased the sister's interest. He continued to cultivate and improve that place until about six years ago, when he sold it, having, after his mother's death, purchased the in terest of the other heirs in the old Schaus homestead. For the past five years he has given his attention exclusively to the de velopment of the home farm, which is de voted to horticultural pursuits, with thirty acres planted to fruit. He makes large sales annually and is extending the scope of his activities by enlarging his orchards. He now has a fine assortment of fruit of the best qualities and his place is splendidly located for the purpose for which it is used. Through twenty-seven years Mr. Schaus • worked in the winter seasons in the lumber woods in northern Michigan and became an expert in that line. For several years he was sup ply teamster and for a considerable period be was in the employ of Samuel Minnie, one of the best known lumbermen of northern Michigan. For eighteen seasons he operated a threshing machine in Bainbridge township and carried on the business over a radius of thirty miles. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schaus have been born ten children and with the exception of one who died in infancy all are now living, namely : Oscar, Ella, Anna, Alice, Jacob. Chauncey, Oren, Philo, Eveline and Wal lace. In his political views Mr. Schaus is an earnest Republican, in this respect fol lowing in the footsteps of his father, who was the first German to vote the Republican ticket in Bainbridge township, although his influence brought many others to vote in the same way. Jacob L. Schaus is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and in this county where his entire life has been passed he has a wide and favorable acquaintance. The secret of his success lies in his industry, perseverance and integrity — qualities which are numbered among his salient character istics. AUGUST DUKESHERER, of Bain bridge township, is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer fam ilies of Berrien county, whose name has been closely and honorably associated with the early development and later progress of this section of the state. His birth occurred December 2, 1863, in the town ship which is still his home, his ¦ par ents being Henry W. and Charlotte (Tebbe) Dukesherer. The father was bom in Nassau, Germany, June 2, 1833, and his parents were William and Dorothy (Werth) Dukesherer, who in December, 1845, left their native village for America, taking passage on a westward bound vessel at Ant werp. It was a three mast sailing ship, carrying three hundred and eighty families. Anchor was dropped in New York harbor on the 7th of March, 1846, and by rail the family proceeded to Buffalo, New York, and thence by steamer to St. Joseph, Michi gan. Other families came to St. Joseph, including the Kenty family and the family of Michael Umphrey, who were on board the same ocean steamer. ¦ Mr. Dukesherer met Mr. Umphrey in New York city and from him he learned of the St. Joseph re gion and its possibilities. He therefore de cided to come to this district and settled in Bainbridge township, four miles southeast of Coloma, where he secured eighty acres of land, for which he paid two hundred dol lars. He had to borrow money of a family in Chicago, however, in order to reach St. Joseph, and after locating in this county he worked out by the day at clearing land in order to provide funds necessary to the sup port of the family, clearing his own land as he found opportunity. He had been a coach man in Germany but in America his atten tion was given to agricultural pursuits and he remained upon his farm in Bainbridge township throughout his remaining days, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 909 placing fifty acres of the land under culti vation. He died on the old homestead in 1879, at the age of eighty-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty- six years. A log house stood upon the farm when it came into his possession. There was a stump still in one corner of the build ing. In 1858 he erected a frame building and as opportunity offered he carried for ward the work of improvement upon his farm. He had been reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church but after com ing to the United States he assisted, in the building of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. He was also one of the first mem bers of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in his vicinity and his political allegiance was given to the Democracy. In his family were the following named : Mary, who be came the wife of Jacob Shaus, and died at the age of seventy-two years; Elizabeth, who married first Christian Kneibes, and after his death Henry Ashup, and is a resi dent of Royalton township; Charlie, who died in 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years; Philip, who died at the age of fifteen years; Fred, living in Riverside, Michigan; John, of Benton Harbor; William, of Mus kegon, Michigan; and Louise, the wife of. Charles Heyn, of Stevensville, Michigan. Henry Dukesherer accompanied his par ents to the United States when twelve years of age and remained at home to the age of twenty-seven years, when he was married on the 3d of December, i860, to Miss Char lotte Tebbe, who was born in Prussia, came to America at the age of twenty-two and was married when twenty-five years of age. Henry Dukesherer received from his father sixty acres of land and lived continuously upon that farm until about ten years ago. He later bought the old homestead of his brother John and he also had an eighty acre farm in Watervliet township. He now makes his home in Benton Harbor. Unto him and his wife were born nine children; William, who died at the age of thirty years ; August; John, of Benton Harbor; Edward, who is living on the old homestead; Anna, the wife of R. E. Woodruff, of Benton Har bor ; Louise, the wife of Ed McFall, of South Bend, Indiana; Sophia; Dorothy, the wife of Albert Elen, a resident of South Bend, Indiana; and Minnie, the wife of Ed Fox, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The father of August Dukesherer was a member of the Baptist Church and assisted in building the church in Bainbridge which stood upon land donated by him. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he is one of the representative and prom inent citizens of this county, where for more than six decades he has made his home. August Dukesherer remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age but in the meantime he had worked by the month, his earnings going to his father. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Lydia Orth, a daughter of Rev. John Orth, of the Evangelical association, and was pas tor of the big brick church in Bainbridge, which was built through his efforts. He is now retired from the active work of the min istry and is living at Howell, Michigan. Fol lowing their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Duke sherer lived upon a rented farm for four years and in 1893 he purchased his present farm, which is the old Asof Woodruff homestead and was formerly the property of Deacon Woodruff, the father of all the Woodruffs in Bainbridge township. The place comprises eighty acres, for which Mr. Dukesherer paid four thousand dollars. He has placed fifteen acres under cultivation himself and he now has about eighteen acres in apples, twelve acres in peaches, two and a half acres in grapes, four acres in black berries and two acres in raspberries. His sale of peaches in 1905 amounted to over nine hundred dollars and other crops were proportionately large. He is now erecting a fine new residence in the midst of a beauti ful grove of pine and maple trees and al together has a well improved farm and is ac counted one of the successful agriculturists of this locality. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dukesherer have been born six children : Anna, Ruth, Evan geline, Milan, Henry and Mildred. Mr. Dukesherer is active in township affairs, has served as drain commissioner, was township treasurer and was justice of the peace. He has been a delegate to all the county con ventions of the Republican party for the past 910 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY sixteen years. Mr. Dukesherer belongs to the Evangelical association and his mem bership relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county, is popular with his fellow citizens and is recog nized as a leader in local political circles as well as one of the enterprising young busi ness men of this portion of the State. JOHN W. BEDFORD. Agriculture is the source of all business activity. Without the cultivation of rich crops there is always a depression in the industrial and commer cial markets and therefore much depends upon the enterprising and progressive farmer. Among the representatives of this class in Pipestone township is numbered John W. Bedford, who lives on section 24. He was born in Silver Creek township, Cass county, Michigan, May 24, 1846. His father, George Bedford, was a native of England, and when -twenty-three years of age came to America, settling first near Syracuse, New York, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was married in England to Miss Ann Smith, also a native of that country, and after living in New York for several years they came to Michi gan in 1 841, taking up their abode in Silver Creek township, Cass county, where Mr. Bedford was engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was well known in that county and was closely identified with its early his tory, its improvement and development. His wife was seventy-four years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were eight children, six daughters and two sons, all of whom reached manhood or woman hood, while at this writing there are four daughters living. John W. Bedford, however, is the only living son and was the fourth child of the family. He was born in a log cabin and his early years were passed amid surround ings common to a frontier existence. His education was obtained in the district schools of Dowagiac, and -he afterward benefited by training in Albion College. His education completed, he began farming and remained upon the old homestead for about three years, or up to the time of his mar riage, which was celebrated in October, 1869, the lady of his' choice being Miss Rosilla Walter, a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Dewey) Walter. Mrs. Bedford was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, her people having been among the early settlers of this county. Her grand father, Henry Dewey, was one of the first residents of Cass county, so that the name is closely interwoven with the history of pioneer progress and improvement in this part of the state. Mrs. Bedford was reared in the place of her nativity and supplemented her/- common-school- education by study in Dowagiac. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where he now resides. In 1863, in company with his father and his brother, George E., he be gan the improvement of this place, and most of the equipments and buildings upon the farm are monuments to his skill, labor and enterprise. He is now the owner of over seven hundred acres of valuable land, some of which lies in Silver Creek township, Cass county, while one tract of eighty acres is in Berrien township although the greater part of it is in Pipestone township. He engages in the raising of both fruit and grain and has been very successful as an agriculturist as well as a horticulturist. Both branches of his business are capably conducted and show his thorough under standing of the work and his practical methods. He is also interested in the West Michigan Nursery and in the Michigan and Alabama Package Company, and in addition to his other business interests he loans money and is connected with other enter prises. A man of resourceful business abil ity he carries forward to successful comple tion whatever he undertakes and with strong purpose and unfaltering diligence he is meet ing with splendid success in his business life. Mr. Bedford always takes an active and helpful interest in public affairs and is a Democrat in his political views. He has never been an office seeker and in fact has refused to become a candidate for political honors but his party in 1902 and 1904 r^jOydMou J^jLcJ^irrol HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 911 nominated him as representalave from the seventh district of Berrien county. He is well known in this portion of the state and is a typical son of Michigan, possessing the alert, enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the rapid and substan tial upbuilding of the middle west. CHARLES MOSER, owing his suc cess to his own labor, has advanced from a humble financial position to one of affluence. He resides in Bainbridge township, where he now has a good farm property, which he has developed from a wild and uncultivated place until it is now a very productive tract, on which he raises fruit and melons as well as grain. He has moreover clone consider able work as a mason and his life has been one "of intense and well directed activity. He was born in Prussia, April 7, 1839, and became a resident of the United States in 1868, making his way direct to Bainbridge township, Berrien county. His father was a contractor, and in his youth Charles Moser learned the stone mason's trade, at which he worked until 1868. He was induced to come to America by Frank Arndt, who had crossed the Atlantic in 1867. He was a friend of Mr. Moser in Germany and wrote for the latter to come to the new World, be lieving that he might enjoy better business • -opportunities in this country. Accordingly the journey was made in 1868 and Mr. Moser cast in his lot with the residents of Berrien county, where he has since lived and labored, his efforts being crowned with a measure of success that indicates untiring activity, perseverance and sound judgment. In 1 87 1 was celebrated the marriage of Charles Moser and Miss Marguerite Wag goner, who was born near Friedberg, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany. She came to the United States in 1871, and made her home in Berrien county. In 1872 Mr. Moser pur chased ten acres of his present farm, for which he paid five hundred dollars. It was all in grubs but land brought a high price, •owing to the fact that peaches were being profitably raised, the value of Michigan soil for fruit production having been demon strated. Mr. Moser had but one hundred dollars with which to make a payment on the property but he resolutely set to work to earn the sum that would free him from all indebtedness. He had to cut out the grubs in order to have a place cleared on which to build his two-story frame house. Working at the mason's trade he thus secured ready capital and as opportunity offered he cleared and developed his land, planting his ten acres to fruit. He made some advance in this way but it was about fourteen years before he purchased more land. He then bought ten acres for five' hundred and fifty dollars, the tract having . already been cleared. About thirteen years age he added twelve acres, so that he now has a good property of thirty- two acres, of which about ten or eleven acres is planted to fruit. He grows berries, peaches, grapes, melons, etc., and has cleared one thousand dollars or more per year from the products of his place. He has also done mason work by the job, building many chim neys and executing other such contracts in this part of the county. His home is now one of the best in this vicinity. It borders the old territorial road and is seven and a quarter miles east of Benton Harbor. Neat and thrifty in appearance, it indicates the careful supervision of the owner, who has been most progressive in his business meth ods, and through his careful management has steadily progressed until he is now num bered among the substantial horticulturists of Bainbridge township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moser have been born eight children. Carrie is the wife of Henry Russell, of Benton- Harbor; Otto, who was formerly engaged in packing apples for seven years, is now operating the home farm. Libbie is the widow of Charles Hiler, who died ^f une 24, 1904, in Colorado, since which time his widow has returned to her father's home. Margaret is the wife of Sam uel Krieger, of Bainbridge township. Al vin died July 19, 1904, at the age of twenty- five years, having been employed with a rail road construction company in Chicago. The other children of the family died in early age, and were Alfred and two infant daugh ters. Mr. Moser is a Republican in his political views and keeps well informed on the ques tions and issues of the day but has no aspira tion for the honors and emoluments of pub lic office. Both he and his wife are mem- 912 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Bainbridge and are highly esteemed in the community where they reside. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for in this country he has found good opportunities, which he has embraced and improved, steadily work ing his way upward until he is now enabled to enjoy the comforts of life and some of its luxuries. HORACE M. WISE, owner of the Walnut Hill fruit farm, of which about forty acres is devoted to fruit, eighteen acres being planted to small fruit, while the remainder is utilized for the cultivation of apples, pears and peaches, is well known in Bainbridge township and other sections of the county. He was born October 20, 1855, on the old homestead property belonging to his father. His parents were George and Mary (Yund) Wise. The mother was formerly the wife of a Mr. Dodge, of New York, and the mother of Balaam Dodge, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The old homestead is now owned by Benja min Seel, although Mr. Wise of this review has a part of the place. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land and was improved wholly by his father, George Wise, who always lived on the opposite side of the territorial road. George Wise was the owner of about four hundred acres of good land and improved about three hun dred acres of that tract. Horace M. Wise was reared to the oc cupation of farming and acquired a pub lic-school education. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the old home place of what remained at the time of his father's death, although about eight years previously he had erected thereon good buildings. His place is now known as the Walnut Hill fruit farm and comprises about forty acres of land devoted to fruit. Of this about eighteen acres is given to small fruit and he also raises apples, pears and peaches. Each year he sets out new trees and uses only the best nursery stock. He usually sells from fifteen to twenty hundred crates of small fruit in a single season, while his sales have reached as high as three thous and crates. In 1896 and 1897, however, the crop was grown at a loss, but usually has been satisfactory, bringing a good finan cial return. That part of the farm which is not given over to horticultural pursuits is devoted to general farming and the place lies along the old territorial road about eleven miles and a half east of Benton Har bor. Mr. Wise has spent his entire life upon this farm with the exception of about a year and a half passed in Missouri and Nebraska. In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of Horace M. Wise and Miss Alice Burg, who died in 1892, leaving a daughter, Leona. In 1897 Mr. Wise was again married, his sec ond union being with Mrs. Lizzie Seel, the widow of Ed Seel. They have one son, Bryan. Mr. Wise belongs to the Independ ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all of the chairs, has been represen tative to the grand lodge and for twenty- eight years has been connected with this fraternity as one of its exemplary members. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Bainbridge township and the extent and importance of his business interests indicate his ability, his enterprise and his thrift. CYRUS B. GROAT has been identified with the educational interests of this part of the state for many years, and his labors have been effective in raising the standard of the schools until the educational system is one of which every citizen of the locality has reason to be proud. He was born on section 13 of Berrien township, April 6, 1844, his father being James Groat, who was a native of Canada and came to Ber rien county, Michigan, in 1836, while three years later, in 1839, he took up his abode in the township of Berrien. His death oc curred when he had reached the age of eighty-three years. He chose Lucinda Pin- nell as his wife, she being a native of Vir ginia, but in her maidenhood, in 1836, she came to Berrien county, her parents having been numbered abong the honored early pio neers of the county. She still survives her husband, and has now reached the venerable old age of eighty-eight years. Cyrus B. Groat, the second child and second son of his parents eight children, three of whom are living, spent the early years of his life in Berrien township, and HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 913 the early educational training which he re ceived in the district schools was supple mented by a course in the high schools of his native county. He remained at home is an honor to the district which has so often he began teaching, and for twenty-five years followed the teacher's profession in Berrien county. The first position to which he was elected was that of superintendent of schools of Berrien township in 1870, for four years was county superintendent of schools, and for eight years was a member of the board of school examiners. For a period of six years Mr. Groat maintained his residence in Niles, where he served as a director of the city schools, as a school trus tee and as a member of the board of public works. For twelve years he was supervisor of Berrien township, and is now holding the office of justice of the peace, while he is also a candidate for representative of the second district. In 1867 Mr. Groat was married to Eliza beth Stutsman, and they have one son, Max, a graduate of the Niles public schools and who also took a two years' course in the Michigan Agricultural College. In. his polit ical affiliations Mr. Groat has been a life long Republican, his first presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln, and fraternally he is connected with the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Niles. For years Mr. Groat has been accorded a prominent position in the educational cir cles of southern Michigan, and his career is an honor to the district which has so often honored him with official positions. WILLIAM P. BARKHOUSE, whose home farm on section 30, Wesaw township, is a well developed property which, owing to the cultivation he bestows upon it, yields to him a good return, was born in Nassau, Germany, January 8, 1848. His parents were John and Katharine (Shnatz) Bark- house, who were likewise natives of Nassau, but both died in Berrien county, the father at the age of eighty-four years and the mother when eighty-three years of age. In their family were the following named: William P.; Katharine, the wife of John Miller, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Henry, who is living in Breedsville, Van Buren county, 58 Michigan; Laura, the wife of John Shaber of Toledo; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Specht, of Cleveland, Ohio. When four years of age William P. Barkhouse was brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being estab lished at Green Springs in Seneca county, Ohio, where they lived for about eight years. On the expiration of that period they re moved to Ottawa county, Ohio, and there William P. Barkhouse remained for about fourteen years upon the farm, which he as sisted his father to clear and develop. It was in the black swamp country and re quired much effort to bring the land under cultivation. The year 1879 witnessed his arrival in Wesaw township, Berrien county, to which place he made his way with his family, while his parents followed about a year later. Since that time Mr. Barkhouse has resided upon a farm which is yet his home. He owns two farms of forty acres eaeh on sections 30 and 31, Wesaw town ship. This includes the father's old home stead, which he purchased and he personally operates both farms. He cleared half of his original forty acre tract of land and erected the buildings thereon. In fact all the 'evidences of care and cultivation about the place are indications of his handiwork and progressive spirit and he is justly ac counted one of the leading agriculturists of his community.Mr. Barkhouse was united in mar riage in 1 87 1 to Miss Clarissa Whitinger, who was born in Ottawa county, Ohio, Jan uary 23, 1850, a daughter of John and Sarah Whitinger, who were likewise na tives of*Ohio. The following children have graced this marriage: Henry, owns .his own farm and is married and has one child, Alice; Emma, the wife of William Luther, of Wesaw township, by whom she has five children; Elizabeth, who was born April 15, 1874, and died July 11, 1878; Rosetta, the wife of George Meyers of Chicago; Kath arine, of Three Oaks; and Minnie of Kala mazoo. In his political views Mr. Barkhouse is a Democrat, recognized as one of the active and able workers in the local ranks of the party. _ He was elected as treasurer of his township for one term but resigned, has 914 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY been highway commissioner for two terms, has held other minor offices and has been a member of the school board for four years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and helpful friend. He is likewise connected with the Knights of the Maccabees of New Troy. His residence in this county covers a period of more than a quarter of a cen tury and throughout the entire time he has been actively identified with agricultural interests in successful manner, so that he is now accounted one of the leading agricul turists of his community. BALAAM DODGE, deceased, whose life of activity was crowned with success and the respect of his fellowmen, was born in Monroe county, New York, near Roch ester, June 23, .1836, and died in Berrien county, Michigan, September 14, 1904. He lost his father in early childhood, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Yound, was a second time married, becom ing the wife of George Wise in New York. In 1843 they came to Michigan, making their way direct to Berrien county and set tled in the western part of Bainbridge town ship. The surface of the land is much more broken in this part of the county. It was thought in New York that rolling land was better, and hence Mr. Wise made his choice of land in that locality. The old home stood about a half mile from the late resi dence of Mr. Dodge, who was the only child of his mother's first marriage. He remained with his mother and stepfather through the period of his youth. The latter died a num ber of years ago but Mrs. Wise survived until July 3, 1906, passing away at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years, six months and sixteen days. She was one of the last survivors of the early pioneers of the county and was the last living member of a family of five brothers and sisters, most of whom came to Berrien county. Her brother, Samuel Yound, was an early resident of Bainbridge township. He died four years ago, but his widow is still residing in Lin coln township. Balaam Dodge spent his youth on the Wise farm, remaining at home until he had attained his majority and assisted in the arduous task of clearing the Wise farm as well as his own. He was of a happy dis position, always singing at his work as he cut down the trees and chopped up the branches. At the age of sixteen years he thought of leaving home but Mr. -Wise promised him forty acres of land if he would remain until he reached adult years, which he did, but he never received the forty-acre tract. He had nothing else with which to start in life save laudable ambition and de termination, but he resolutely met life's battles. On the 31st of December, 1859, Mr. Dodge was married to Miss Lydia Ann Yer rington, a daughter of John and Laura (Vester) Yerrington, and a sister of the late George Yerrington. She was born near Findlay, Ohio, came to Michigan in early life and for some years was a neighbor to the Wise family of which Mr. Dodge was a member. The young couple began Hheir domestic life in a little board cabin in the midst of the woods. This was afterward replaced with a log house and the moving from the one room shanty to the log house was a proud event in their lives. The extra room was duly appreciated, more so than when the family moved from the log cabin to the present brick residence. Mr. Dodge became the owner of two hundred and seventy-six acres of land in the home farm and also bought land in Keeler township. He devoted his entire attention to general agricultural pursuits and was also one of the early peach growers, while later he set out a large peach orchard although it did not come into bearing until after his death. Corn was his principal product and he real ized money from his timber as well as from his crops. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dodge were born five children, all of whom passed away in childhood except one daughter, Mary, who was born in the old log house. She re mained at home until fifteen years of age, when she became the wife of Peter J. Smith, who was born in the same locality, a son of Philip Smith, a pioneer resident of Berrien county. The Smith family was located near Sister Lakes in Bainbridge township. Mr. Smith met his death under peculiar cir cumstances. On the nth of July, 1901, he was at work cutting wheat, when he was dm a Kkw HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 915 shot while operating his machine. He died a few hours later, not knowing who his assassin was. It later developed that it was a neighbor who was laboring under insan ity and whose body was found a few days later, he having committed suicide. Mrs. Smith now lives on her father's old home stead and has charge of the operation of the farm, which she is carrying on successfully. She has two daughters : Lida, now the wife of Wooda Cook, who works the home farm, and by whom she has one child, Bernice Eleanor; and Ruth Smith, the other daugh ter, is a young lady at home. In his political views Mr. Dodge was a Republican. He never cared to hold office but kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He belonged to the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows at Keeler and was a man of genuine personal worth, who in an active business career demon strated the value of industry and integrity as factors in winning success. His wife died June n, 1902, and he passed away on the 14th of September, 1904. Thus were called from this life two of the worthy, prominent and valued pioneer residents of Berrien county. Their daughter, Mrs. Smith, still occupies the home farm, which is being operated by her son-in-law. WILLIAM A. HESS, a carpenter, con tractor and farmer residing on section 20, Pipestone township, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, February 18, 1836. His father, Andrew Hess, was a native of West moreland county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Harrison county, Ohio. After attaining his majority he located in Craw ford county, Ohio, and was there united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, a native of Carroll county, Ohio. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Crawford county, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother at the age of eighty-three. In their family were twelve children, of whom ten reached adult age, while two died in infancy. William A. Hess is the second of this family and was reared in his native county, obtaining a common-school education there. At the age of twenty he learned the carpen ter's trade in Crawford county, serving a regular apprenticeship, and later he began business when a young man as a contractor and builder. He did much carpenter work there, erecting many buildings in the county, his skill and efficiency being such as to se cure for hini a liberal patronage that con nected him with leading building operations in that part of the state. While living in Crawford county, Will iam A. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bell, a daughter of Pharo and Cath arine (Couts) Bell, and a native of the county in which the marriage was cele brated. For three years thereafter they re mained in Ohio and then came to Berrien county, Michigan, locating at Berrien Cen ter, where Mr. Hess followed the trade of contractor and builder. In 1875 he re moved to a farm in Berrien township and in 1880 he located in Pipestone township, on the farm which he now makes his home. He has always continued his building opera tions, which have been the more important branch of his business, farming being mere ly a side issue. Many important contracts have been awarded him and in many parts of the county are seen evidences of his skill and handiwork. He now owns one hun dred and twenty acres of land on section 20, Pipestone township, which is well culti vated and adds materially to his income. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess have been born three children : Homer E., a farmer and supervisor of Pipestone township; Cora B., who died in childhood; and Pearl, the wife of Fred*A. Bowman, a resident farmer of Pipestone township. Mr. Hess has been a life-long Republican and active in the inter ests of the party. Upon its ticket he has been elected to various local offices, serv ing as highway commissioner and in other positions. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center, and at one time was a member of the Grange. For over forty years he has been a resident of Ber rien county and has been closely identified with its material improvement and progress. He has erected more buildings in Berrien and Cass counties than any other contractor 916 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of the two counties, a fact which is indi cative of his foremost position as a repre sentative of the builders art, and of the honorable methods which he follows in all his business transactions. JACOB M. PAUL. Occupying an 'en viable position in the business circles of Eau Claire, Jacob M. Paul is honored and re spected by all with whom he has had busi ness dealings. He has so directed his efforts that his business interests have grown with the progress of the locality, and Berrien county now places him among the leaders in industrial circles. Connected with the gen eral mercantile interests he is well known in this and surrounding localities. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Colum bus, March i, 1854, being a son of John Paul, also a native of that state and a farmer by occupation. He was of German descent, and his father was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. John Paul lived to the •age of eighty-three years. He married Emily Watson, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Jacob Watson, of English and Scotch descent. In their family were eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom are living at the present time,- and Jacob M. Paul, of this review, is the third child and third son in order of birth. The last named spent the early years of his life in the place of his nativity, the early educational training which he received in its public schools being supplemented by a course at the Ohio Western University at Delaware, that state. After putting aside his text books he went west and taught school at Carroll City, Iowa, also serving as principal of the schools there for four years. During this time Mr. Paul had taken up the study of law and he was admitted to the bar at Carroll, after which he located at Aberdeen, South Dakota, where for twelve years he was numbered among the leading and prominent law practitioners. In March, 1889, he took up his abode in Eau Claire, taking charge of the stock of goods belonging to P. Stapleton, deceased, while four years later he purchased the busi ness, and is now the leading merchant in the city. He carries a large line of dry goods, clothing, groceries, crockery, etc., and his well directed efforts have been at tended with success. In 1886 Mr. Paul was married to May J. Jillson, a native of Berrien county, Michi gan, and a daughter of Job Jillson. Two children have been born to bless this union, Helen and Marion J. Mr. Paul is a Reputn lican in his political, affiliations, taking an active interest in the work of the party, and while in South Dakota he served as chair man of the state board of regents. Fra ternally he holds membership relations with the Woodmen of the World. DAVID B. FLEWELLING. The life history of David B. Flewelling is closely identified with the history of Berrien coun ty, which has been his home for many years. He was born in* Marion county, Ohio, De cember 13, 1830. His father, John Flewell ing, was a native of New York and was a carpenter by occupation. In 1832 he came to Michigan, establishing his home on a farm in La Grange township, Cass county, where he followed his trade of carpentering while his sons conducted the farm work. In 1846 he sold his land there and pur chased a farm in Berrien township, Berrien county, Michigan, which was his home for many years, but his death occurred in Silver Creek township, Cass county, when he had reached the age of seventy-four years. His wife bore the maiden name of Eleanor Brady, and was born and reared in New Jer sey. Her death occurred in Berrien town ship in her eighty-ninth year. They were tne parents of nine children. David B. Flewelling, the eldest of the children, was but two years of age when the family home was established in La Grange township, Cass county, Michigan, and there he remained until he was sixteen years of age, since which time he has been a resident of Berrien county. For sixty years he made his home on one farm, but he subsequently sold his land and retired from the active duties of. a business life, content to relegate to others the duties which he had so long borne, and he now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Ritter. Mr. Flewelling married Sarah Layman, and they became the parents of three chil dren, but only one is now living, Mrs. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTS 917 Martha A. Ritter. The following is taken from one of the local papers : "William Ritter passed away at his farm home in Berrien township Thursday even ing at 6 o'clock, after an illness of just a week with paralysis. "Mr. Ritter has seen much sickness in the past few years, and only a few months ago his brother, J. J. Ritter, of this city, was appointed his guardian that he might have less care and worry. "The deceased was fifty-six years of age, and he leaves a wife and two children. The children are Ray and Nellie, both grown. He has but one brother, J. J., of this city. "Many of the best years of Mr. Ritter's life have been spent on his farm just across the Berrien county line near Indian lake. Here he prospered until locomotor ataxia came in late years to afflict him. "The funeral was at the house at 10 o'clock Saturday. After the services the party came to Dowagiac for burial at River side cemetery." The wife and mother died about three years ago. Mr. Flewelling is a stanch sup porter of Democratic principles where na tional issues are involved. He is now num bered among the honored pioneers who aided in laying the foundation on which to erect the superstructure of Berrien coun ty's present prosperity and progress. Through the period of early development he was an important factor in the improve ment and advancement of this section, and was also connected with the broader inter ests which had to do with the welfare of the commonwealth. SAMUEL Z. WALTZ. To Samuel Z. Waltz has come the attainment of a distin guished position in connection with the busi ness interests of Berrien county, he having achieved that success which is the result of enterprise;, resolute purpose and straight forward methods. He has been steadily ad vancing forward until he now occupies an enviable position in the business circles of Berrien Center, where he is the proprietor of a grain and elevator business. He was born in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsyl vania, October 23, 1853, being a son of Michael and Sarah (Peck) Waltz, both of whom were natives of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. In 1867 they came to Michi gan, establishing their home one mile north of Berrien Center, where the father followed blacksmithing and farming. In their fam ily were four children, two sons and two daughters, but only the two sons are now living, the brother of our subject being John M. Waltz. Samuel Z. Waltz, whose name intro duces this review, their third child and sec ond son, was about fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, where he con tinued his education in its public schools, and as soon as old enough began to work in the fields, assisting in the work of the old home farm from the time of early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the fall, thus continuing until 1885, most of the time on the homestead. In 1886, however, he embarked in the grain business in Berrien Center, after which he spent one year in Elkhart, and and a half years in Kal amazoo, but for the past twenty years he has been numbered among the leading grain dealers in Berrien Center. He handles flour by the car load lots, and is conducting an extensive business. The marriage of Mr. Waltz was cele brated in 1877, when Mary Jane Cuthbert became his wife, she being a daughter of George and Ann Cuthbert, natives of Eng land and early settlers of Berrien county, their home being now near Eau Claire. Mrs. Waltz was born in Rochester, New York, §nd came with her parents to this county. She became the mother of two chil dren, but both are now deceased, and the wife and mother has also passed away, dy ing in 1895. Two years later, in 1897, Mr. Waltz was again married, Calla Rogers be coming his wife, and she is a native of Ohio. Mr. Waltz has given a life-long support to the Republican party, active in its work, and for one year he served as school inspector, while for a number of years he was con stable. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the Encamp ment and Rebekahs, and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a member and an 9i 8 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY active worker in the Lutheran Church," in which he has long served as an elder and is superintendent of the Sunday-school. JOHN F. WYANT. One of the prom inent old pioneer families of Berrien county is that of the Wyants, well represented in Berrien township for many years. They have ever borne their part in the upbuilding and development of this region, and have invariably been exponents of progress and liberal ideas upon all subjects. A scion of this worthy old pioneer family is John F. Wyant, who has long been numbered among the leading business men of this section of the county. He was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, Michigan, on the 28th of January, 1858, the eldest son and second child of William and Alvira (Tut tle) Wyant, whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. When but six years of age the son, John F., was brought by his parents to Berrien township, and to its schools he is indebted for the early educa tional privileges which he enjoyed. His educational training was, however, quite meager, for at the early age of fifteen years he started out to earn his own living, leav ing the parental roof and working at any occupation which would yield him an honest living. He afterward returned to the home farm and was engaged in its cultivation un til reaching his twenty-first year. On the 22d of February, 1882, he was married to Susie McCoy, the daughter of Nathan and Amanda (Hull) McCoy, the former a na tive of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The father was numbered among the early pio neers of Berrien county, coming here as early as 1837, and he entered land from the government. He was twice married, his first wife having been Hepzibah Vickars. Five children were born to Nathan and Amanda McCoy, of whom Mrs. Wyant was the youngest in order of birth, and she was born on the farm on which she now resides. Two children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wyant, — Beatrice A. and Sylva E. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wyant took up their abode in Berrien Cen ter, where they resided for six months, and for the following seven years they resided on the old McCoy homestead. They then bought a part of their present home farm, being now the owners of sixty acres of rich and well improved land, where Mr. Wyant is engaged in general farming, but gives- the greater part of his time and attention to the butchering business, carrying on a wholesale trade at Niles, Dowagiac and South Bend. He annually buys about ten thousand dol lars worth of stock, all of which is slaugh tered upon his farm, from where it is hauled to market. In the winter months he makes a specialty of slaughtering calves and beef. He is well known in Berrien and the sur rounding counties as a wholesale butcher, and thus for many years he has been an active factor in its industrial interests, con tributing to the general prosperity through the conduct of enterprises which furnish employment to others. In his • political affiliations Mr. Wyant is a Democrat, but votes for the man rather than -party . in all local affairs. He possesses, a social, genial nature, and the circle of his friends is al most co-extensive with the circle of his ac quaintances. SOLOMON L. SNAVELY. The life history of Solomon L. Snavely is closely identified with the history of Berrien county, which has been his home for many years. His business career has been one of untiring activity, but he is now living retired in Ber rien Center, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose en terprise and abilities have brought to the community the prosperity which it now en joys. He is, however, a native of Pennsyl vania, his birth occurring in Dauphin county on the 2d of August, 1837, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Nisley) Snavely, natives also of that commonwealth, and there they both passed to their final reward, the mother dy ing in 1846. The father was twice married, having seven children by the first union and six by the second, and the subject of this re view is the fourth child and third son by the first marriage. Solomon L. Snavely spent the days of his boyhood and youth in- the state of his nativity, receiving his education in its com- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 919 mon schools, and giving his time and atten tion thereafter to the tilling of the soil, hav ing worked in the fields from his early youth. In 1864, in response to his country's call for aid, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-second Pennsyl vania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the struggle in 1865. In the following year he came to Berrien county, Michigan, establishing his home on a farm in Berrien township, but subse quently removed to and purchased land in Pokagon township, Cass county, this state, which he farmed for about four years, thence returning to Berrien township. He made farming his life occupation, but in 1905 he put aside the active cares of a busi ness life to enjoy the fruits of former toil, although he is still the owner of ninety-five acres of rich and productive land. In November, 1868, Mr. Snavely was united in marriage to Almeda Murphey, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Jenkins) Mur phey, whose history will be found in the sketch of Erastus Murphy in this volume. Mrs. Snavely was born in Berrien township March 30, 1848, the ninth in order of birth of the thirteen children born to her parents, and she has therefore been a life-long resi dent of this locality. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snavely, namely: Maggie, the wife of Oren Myers, of Oro noko township, Berrien county; Bell, wife of Zera Webster, of Berrien Center; Al bert M., of Berrien township; Anna, wife of John Stemm, also of Oronoko township; Julia, the wife of John Rutter, a merchant at Berrien Center; and Lester, of Berrien township. In his political affiliations Mr. Snavely is a life-long Republican and is a zealous advocate of the policy and principles of the party. He holds pleasant relations with his old army comrades who wore the blue by his membership in the G. A. R. Post, No. 36, and he is also a member of the Grange.. Few men have more devoted friends than he, and none excells him in un selfish devotion and unswerving fidelity to the recipients of his confidence and friend ship. BRADFORD H. WOOD is an honored veteran of the Civil war whose valor was manifest on many a southern battlefield. He is now devoting his time and energies to general horticultural pursuits, having a fine fruit farm of forty-two acres on section 36, New Buffalo township. He is situated on the lake and on the township line and it has been his place of residence since 1893. He owns a fine home here and is meeting with success as a fruit grower. Mr. Wood is a native of .Erie county, New York, having been born about nineteen miles from Buffalo on the ist of January, 1839, in the village of Collins Center. His parents were Lemuel and Katharine (Se- coy) Wood, both of whom were natives of New York and the father was a colonel in the war of 1812. He and his wife spent their entire lives in the Empire state, Mr. Wood being a cabinet maker by trade, which pursuit he followed in order to provide for his family. He died when his son Bradford H., was about twelve years of age. In the family were six sons and three daughters. The eldest brother, Gabriel, is now a prac ticing lawyer, and the others were carpen ters and farmers. Bradford H. Wood spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Cattaraugus county, New York, to which place he had removed with his parents at an early day. There he resided until -1 861. When a youth of four teen years he began learning the carriage maker's trade, which he followed at inter vals for a quarter of a century. After the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he put aside all* business and personal considerations and joined the military forces which had been organized to defend the Union and crush out the spirit of rebellion in the south. He became a member of Company K, Sixty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, un der Captain William T. Mancher, Army of the Potomac. In 1862, however, he became ill with typhoid fever and was therefore hon orably discharged. When he had recovered his health, however, he re-enlisted in the army, joining Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York Volunteer In fantry, in August, 1862. He was wounded 920 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY at the battle of Chancellorsville, a ball pierc ing the lower part of his body, while another ball struck him in the neck. He was in the field hospital for a time and was then trans ferred to Washington. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered he rejoined his regi ment and was with Sherman's army in the quartermaster's department. Thus engaged he went through Georgia and proceeded northward to Raleigh, North Carolina. Not able to march, however, he took a train to New York and returned to his old home in Cattaragus county. Later he went to James town, Pennsylvania, and afterward to Elks Falls, Kansas. In Pennsylvania he owned three or four oil wells which he eventually sold, after which he removed to Kansas, where he spent nine years. There he was engaged in the stock business for almost- a decade, when he returned to Michigan, set tling in New Buffalo-, where he lived "for five years, devoting his time and energies to the livery business. In 1893 he removed to his present farm, comprising forty-two acres on section 36, New Buffalo town ship and here he has a beautiful country home in the midst of fine orchards, his attention being given to the raising of fruit. Mr. Wood was married to Miss Lena Hobert, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her grandparents. Five children have graced this marriage: Retta, now the wife of I. B. Alder, a banker at Rossville,. Kansas ; Cornelius, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Margaret, the wife of Dr. O. F. Mascot, of Clyde, Kansas; Georgiana, the wife of Dr. Carpenter, a dentist of Kansas; and Cortez, a physician of Eldorado, Kansas. Mr. Wood, since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, has given his sup port to the Republican party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and was formerly identified with the Odd Fel lows and the Masonic lodges. His life has been one of activity, characterized by enter prise in all of his business undertakings and by loyalty in citizenship as well as in mili tary service. His many good traits of char acter have won for him high regard and the circle of his friends in Berrien county is an extensive one. JOHN J. MURPHY. This honored cit izen of Berrien county is one of its sturdy pioneers and native sons, his birth occurring in Berrien township on the 30th of March, 1 841, the fifth of the thirteen children born to Isaac and Eliza (Jenkins) Murphy. The father, a native of Virginia, was taken by his parents to Ohio when only four years old, and when he reached the age of twenty- one years he took up his abode in Cass county, Michigan, but a short time after ward removed to Berrien township, Berrien county. While living in Cass county he was married. He was born in 181 1, and his death occurred in February, 1893, at which time there passed away one of the honored old pioneers of Berrien county. For several years after the organization of the township of Berrien he served as its constable. He was ever found loyal to the cause of right and truth, and his influ ence was used for the good and well being of those in any way associated with him. His wife, who was born in 181 5, also died in 1893. John J. Murphy received his early edu cational training in the old log school houses of Berrien township, and with the exception of ten years spent in Sodus town ship his entire life has been passed within the borders of Berrien. In 1862 he was married to Nettie Snow, and to them were born four sons, — Chester, of Dowagiac, Michigan; Claire, of Berrien Center; Miles I., a resident of Berrien township, Berrien county; and John Merle, also of Dowagiac. The wife and mother passed away in 1876, and the father afterward married her sister, Ellen Snow, but no children were born of that union. Mr. Murphy continued as an agriculturist until 1893, when he embarked in the real estate business, but he still owns one hundred acres of rich and well improved land in Berrien township. He has given a life-long support to the Republican party, and for six years in Sodus township served as highway commissioner, and for four years was drain commissioner in Berrien HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 921 township. For twenty-eight . years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for many years was a member of the Grange. FRANK A. McKINDLEY has been a witness of the growth and development of Berrien county through many years and has been a leading representative of horticul tural interests. He was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, on the 15th of December, 1846. His father died when the son was very young and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ellis, after ward became the wife of Hiram Tubbs. Her grandfather Ellis was a pioneer and in an early day became a resident of that section of New York which is now called Ellis burg township, Jefferson county. In March, 1854, Hiram Tubbs came with the family to Michigan, making his way first to Branch county, where he remained for a year. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming and after his removal from Branch county he spent one year on the Sherwood Snyder place. In those pioneer days Mr. McKindley made his way to schools by means of marked trees called a blazed trail, for the track lay through the dense forest. When his stepfather had re sided for a year in this county he purchased forty acres of land, for which he paid three dollars per acre, Phineas Pearl being the agent for the property. After beginning the work of improvement and development there Mr. Tubbs finally sold and later he owned and then sold two or three more farms. About 1859 or i860 he came to his present place of residence, where he has since re mained and now at the age of eighty-three years he is living with his daughter, Mrs. Chevis. His wife, the mother of Frank A. McKindley of this review, died in 1895. By her first marriage she had two sons, the elder being John E. McKindley, who is now living in Osakis, Minnesota. By her mar riage to Mr. Tubbs she became the mother of four children, all of whom are yet liv ing. Her life was devoted to her family and she did everything in her power to promote the comfort and secure the happiness of her children. Frank A. McKindley was reared by his mother and stepfather and through the win ter months he attended what became known as the Tubbs school. At different times he worked out as a farm hand and he was thus engaged until on the 13th of February, 1864, when he enlisted as a member of Company D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Western Sharp shooters. The company was formed of Michigan men, although it was attached to an Illinois regiment, Mr. McKindley was but sixteen years of age at the time. The members of the regiment were armed with heavy rifles and with the command Mr. Mc Kindley went to the front, serving in the Army of the Tennessee. He took part in the battle of Pulaski, Tennessee, and in other engagements and movements in that part of the country, after which he went on the Sherman campaign to Atlanta and on to the sea, continuing with his company up to the time of the capitulation of the city of Atlanta. He took part in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, where he was wounded on the 22nd of July, 1864, but he did not leave his command and was discharged with the regiment. However, he was granted a furlough and returned home, but at the end of thirty days he found that he was not able to again take up active field work and re mained at home altogether for sixty days, after which he rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina, going by way of New York and Hiltonhead. He was with the regiment in all of its movements from Raleigh«to Washington, D. C, and was in that city at the time of the Grand Review. When the war was over Mr. McKindley returned to his home with a creditable mili tary record, for he had ever been found loyal at his post and never faltered in the per formance of any military task assigned him no matter how difficult it was. He returned to Benton Harbor, where he. has since re mained. He has never voted outside of the township. His first farm comprised twenty- five acres, which is now a part of his pres ent farm. It was sold once but he after ward purchased it. For twenty-five years 922 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY he lived on a forty acre farm. During that time he bought several tracts of land and developed his present property. He now owns one hundred acres of very rich and attractive land in the extreme southeastern part of Benton township, seven miles south east of the city of Benton Harbor. This farm is improved with excellent buildings and indeed is equipped with all modern ac cessories and conveniences. He is quite well known as an extensive and successful fruit raiser and shipper, having now forty acres in fruit, including peaches and apples. This tract brings to him a good financial re turn annually. It lies just right for the pur pose for which it is adapted. His apples are old trees, having been in bearing condition for nearly forty years. The orchard has paid well, the Baldwin apple proving exception ally valuable. For twenty-five years he has successfully engaged in the cultivation of apples' and his crops of this character an nually bring to him a very gratifying re turn. On the ioth of November, 1868, Mr. McKindley was united in marriage to Miss Helen Howard, a daughter of John F. and Sylvesta (Easton) Howard. The mother 'had four children, but never saw any of them, for she was blind for sixty years. She died February 2, 1902, at the age of eighty- six years and six months. John F. Howard and his wife were both natives of New York, being married in Jefferson county, that state and they lived successively in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, coming eventually to the last mentioned state in 1852. A child was born unto them in each of the four states. Mr. Howard was for many years crippled with rheumatism. However, he possessed ability in the line of carpenter work that amounted almost to genius. He could only walk aided by a chair, but he would sit in a chair and cut the largest trees on his forty acres. He cleared much of this land, but he died young, passing away at the age of forty-five years on the 3d of September, 1859. The eldest child, Helen, was then fourteen years of age, the eldest son only ten and the youngest child three years of age. The mother would spin and knit for the neighbors and she did every thing possible for her family, being very handy in many ways despite her blindness. The daughter Helen did the farm work and was also employed in different homes in the neighborhood. After Helen was married the brother, Frank A., purchased the home place, which he has since sold to his son- in-law, Mr. Nutting. Helen had to be the . head of the family and she gave a home to her mother. Her two sisters died in child hood. Her brother, R. S. Howard, is now living in Coloma. In the McKindley family were two child ren: Mary, who is now the wife of Earl Nutting, who resides upon the old Howard homestead, and William Howard McKind ley, who married Miss Cynthia Wees and operates the old home place with his father. There is one child of this marriage, a son, Myrl, while Mrs. Mary -Nutting has two children, Francis McKindley and Ethelyn. The family is one of prominence, having been long been represented in the county, while genuine worth was won for its mem bers a gratifying position in public regard. Mr. McKindley was highway commissioner of his township and is a Republican. He never missed but one election in Benton Harbor. For over a half century he has lived here and has witnessed many changes as the forest has been cut away, the land cleared and the farms developed, transform ing Berrien county into a rich agricultural and horticultural district. JOHN J. CLAYPOOL is numbered among the old settlers, for his birth occurred in Berrien township on the 26th of March, 1835. He is still living in the same town ship, his home being on section. 19, where he has a good farm property. His father, George H. Claypool, was a native of Vir ginia, and in early life was bound out to a man by the name of Jacob Lybrook, by whom he was reared in Ohio. He came to Berrien county in company with John Ly brook about 1823, and they were the first white people to establish homes in this dis trict. Later they returned to Ohio, where HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 923 Mr. Claypool remained for two years, when he again came to Berrien county and settled in what is now Berrien township, about two and a half miles from the village of Berrien Springs. This was in the year 1827. He took up land from the government, cleared the fields, turned the first furrows and im proved the farm, performing all the ardu ous labor incident to the development of a new farm in a forest district. He was mar ried in Berrien township to Miss Fanny Johnson, also an early settler of the county. She, too, was born in Virginia and is num bered among the pioneer residents of south western Michigan. The death of Mr. Clay pool occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-nine. In their fam ily were seven children, of whom six reached adult age, Mr. Claypool of this review be ing the third in order of birth. Reared upon the old homestead farm in Berrien township, John J. Claypool in his boyhood days pursued his studies in a log school house, which was a typical "temple of learning" in those days. In his youth he assisted his father in clearing the farm and cultivating the fields and remained un der the parental roof until he had attained his majority, gaining a full knowledge of scientific farm work through practical ex perience. Upon reaching man's estate he entered upon an independent business career by clearing land under contract, and has prepared for the plow many an acre in Berrien township. His life has indeed been one of earnest toil and the success which he has enjoyed is richly merited. On the 30th of June, 1859, Mr. Clay pool was married to Miss Mary E. Frank, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Simp son) Frank. She was born in Ohio, June 30, 1 841, and was brought to this county when but three months old, the years of her maidenhood being here passed. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Claypool took up their abode upon a farm belong ing to his uncle, Daniel Johnson, where they lived for six years, during which time Mr. Claypool carried on general agricultural pur suits. In 1864 he went to Council Bluffs, and on returning to Berrian township rented a farm from Arthur Miller. • A year later he settled upon a farm belonging to Mrs. Hass, on which he lived for nine years, af ter which he removed to Buchanan town ship, where he bought the first farm that he ever owned. There he lived for six years, when he sold the property and purchased a tract of land in Berrien township. He lived on it for a while but later sold it and bought his present farm on section 19. Here he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and has a well developed property, which yields him a gratifying financial annual income by reason of the care and labor he has bestowed upon the fields. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Claypool have been born seven children : Ida, the wife of David Michell, of Iowa; Ralph, at home; Ora, the wife of George Wright, of Pipestone town ship ; Alma, the wife of Laurel Webster, of Benton township; and Margaret, the wife of Henry Barnhart, of Berrien Springs ; and two who died young. Mrs. Claypool's father was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 18 10 and died in 19O1. He came with his parents to Ohio and there married. He was a blacksmith. He was a Whig in his political views but voted in the later years of his life for the Democratic party. Mother Frank was born in Maryland in 1804 and died in 1896 in Berrien county. She was eighteen years of age when she came to Ohio and was educated in the com mon schools. She was a devoted member of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Clay pool was educated in the common schools and is a member of Long Lake Union Church ia Berrien township. She is an able helpmate to her husband. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Claypool has given his political support to the Democracy and has served as road commissioner. He is a mem ber of the Masonic fraternity at Berrien Springs and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. With the exception of a brief period passed in the west he has lived for seventy-two years in Berrien county, being one of its oldest native sons, and the story of its pioneer experiences and conditions is familiar to him because of active participa tion therein. 924 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY DR. J. M. MURPHY, a veterinary sur geon and one of the prominent early pio neers of Berrien county, was born in Lick ing county, Ohio, September 29, 1828. His father, William Murphy, was a na tive of Maryland, born near" the Virgina border line, and was about fourteen years of age when he removed with his parents to Xenia, Ohio, and thence to Licking county, that state, where he was married to Nancy Rogers, a native of Virginia, her parents coming from Scotland. After their mar riage the young couple took up their abode in Henry county, Indiana, near Muncie, returning thence to Licking county, Ohio-, and in 1850 came to Berrien township, Ber rien county, Michigan, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of eighty years, while the mother passed away when seventy-seven years of age. In their family were seven children, but one daughter died at the age of about six years, while four grew to years of maturity and two are now living, the brother of our subject being Harvey Murphy, who is now in his eighty-fourth year and a resident of Berrien county. He was married in Lick ing county, Ohio-, and accompanied his par ents on their removal to this county. Dr. Murphy, their fourth child in order of birth, remained in his native place until about nineteen years of age, and was the first of the family to come to Berrien county, dating his arrival here in 1847, when he was a boy of nineteen years. He immediately took up his abode in Berrien township and immediately began the task of clearing from its virgin wildness a farm one mile east of where he now lives, there directing his la bors until 1886. In that year he located on his present homestead in Berrien Center. When but a boy Mr. Murphy began prac ticing veterinary surgery, which he after ward continued in connection with his agri cultural pursuits, but during the last seven teen years he has given almost his entire at tention to the profession and is well known in this and surrounding counties as a skill ful veterinary surgeon. The marriage of Dr. Murphy was cele brated in Ohio, in 1851, when Julia Kibler became his wife, she being a native of thei same county as her husband, and they have three children, James Edward, Frank Eu gene and Rosa. The sons are farmers of Berrien township, and the daughter is the wife of John H. Crall, of Indianapolis, In diana. For fifty-eight years Dr. Murphy has made his home within the borders of Berrien county, in that time witnessing much of its growth and development, and he has long been recognized as one of its most valued citizens. He has given his political support to the Democratic party, and as its representative has served as con stable and as school inspector. The Doctor has a remarkable record in that he has never used tobacco in any form, nor has ever taken a drink at the bar, this being a record scarcely equaled by any other man in the county. His homestead farm consists of about seventy-six acres, three of which are located within the corporate limits of Ber rien Center, and he has also given one of his sons a farm of fifty-one acres. GERALD HANDY, proprietor of the Sodus Fruit Farms and a well known resi dent of the town of Sodus, was born in Allegany county, New York, January 22, 1857, a son of Samuel Handy, a native also of the Empire state and a fruit farmer by occupation. He subsequently took up his abode in Dupage county, Illinois, and in 1874 came to Berrien county, Michigan, first establishing his home in Benton township and afterward in Hagar township. There his death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Henrietta Buell, was a native of Connecticut, but was reared in New York, and she still survives her hus band. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living and the subject of this review is the youngest son in order of birth. Gerald Handy was but eight years of age when he moved with his parents to Du page county, Illinois, and on reaching the' age of eighteen years he came to Berrien county. His educational training was re ceived at Downers Grove, Dupage county, Illinois, and this was supplemented by a course in the Northwestern College at Naperville, that state. For three years CkuUu ^Mmcclot ^Q^obf ^^^^^A^^^r HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 925 thereafter he was in the employ of a street car company in Chicago, Illinois, while the following seven months were spent in the south. After taking up his abode in Benton township, Berrien county, he engaged in fruit farming, and in 1891 purchased the place where he now resides, locating thereon three years later, in 1894. He has improved his place to its present high state of cultiva tion, has planted all of his orchards, and now has about ninety-two acres devoted to fruit culture, raising all kinds of fruit adapted to this soil and climate. Mr. Handy is secretary of the Michigan and Alabama Fruit Packing Company, which owns a mill at Eau Claire, Michigan, and one at Troy, Alabama. He is also interested to some extent in the lumbering and saw- milling business in Lake township, Berrien county, and in his many and varied relations he has been eminently successful. The marriage of Mr. Handy was cele brated in Benton township, Berrien county, Michigan, in 1885, when Cynthia M. Can- field became his wife, she being a daughter of Leavitt and Caroline Canfield. Mrs. Handy is a native of Canada, but was only four years old when brought to Berrien county. They have become the parents of four children, — Fred R., Bessie M., Kittie M. and Alice. The Republican party re ceives Mr. Handy's hearty support and co operation, and in 1901 he was elected to the office of supervisor, to which he was re elected in 1905-6. For four years he was a member of the board of commissioners, also served as highway commissioner, and has ever taken an active interest in the work of his party. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding membership in the chapter at St. Joe and- the Commandery and Blue Lodge in Benton Harbor. HEZEKIAH McCOMBS, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Berrien county, was born in McKeesport, Pennsyl vania-, May 11, 1862, a son of Wilson and Mary Ann (Zummerley) McCombs, the father a native of Washington county and the mother of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish and Swiss descent respect ively. Of the eight children born to this couple, five sons and three daughters, Hezekiah McCombs was the fourth child and second son in order of birth. The early yeafs of his life were spent in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, receiving his education in the city schools, and when but a small boy he engaged in the glass business in that city. When about seventeen years of* age he be gan working at the window glass business, moving to Marion, Indiana, where, with other workmen, he organized a company for the manufacture of glass, but three years later, on account of the ill health of his wife, he sold his interest therein and came to Ber rien county, Michigan,' purchasing and lo cating upon a farm of seventy-nine acres at Berrien Center, a part of which is now in cluded in the corporate limits of Berrien Center. He now rents his land, and during a few months in the winter he works at his trade of a glass blower. On the 9th of December, 1884, Mr. Mc Combs was united in marriage to Margaret Lemon, a native of Ireland, born near Bel fast, county Down, and of Scotch-Irish de scent. One child has been born of this union, but is deceased, and they are rear ing and educating a little girl, his niece, Kit- tie. Mr. Mc.Combs is well known in the lo cality where he makes his home, has taken an active interest in its public affairs, and has been a life-long supporter of the Repub lican party. He is a member of the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows fraternity, has been a member of the Knights of Labor for many years, and was connected with the old L. A. 300, one of the well known labor organizations and which was instrumental in the passing of the child labor and the contract laws. There, are few men who can more justly claim the proud American title of a self-made man than Mr. McCombs, who at an early age started out in life for himself, but today he ranks among the lead ing business men of Berrien county, and his creditable life work has won him the respect and commendation of all who are familiar with his history. DAVID CRALL, a retired farmer liv ing in Eau Claire, has been prominent in the public life as well as in the business circles 926 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY of Berrien county, and is, leaving the im press of his individuality for good upon many lines of progress and advancement in the city where he makes his home. A native of Crawford county, Ohio, he. was born on the 23d of February, 1848. His grandfather, Henry Crall, claimed Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, but subsequently re moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer by occupation. His son and the father of him whose name introduces this review, Simon Crall, was also a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and in 1845 he drove from that state to Crawford county, Ohio, being ever afterward identified with the in terests of that locality, and there his death occurred when he had reached the seventy- fifth milestone on life's journey. For his wife he chose Elizabeth Becker, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, a daugh ter of Jacob Becker. She preceded her hus band to the home beyond many years, dying when her son David was but seven years of age. David Crall, the youngest of his parents six children who grew to years of maturity, remained at home assisting in the develop ment and improvement of the home farm during his boyhood and youth, his educa tional privileges being limited to attendance in the district schools of his locality. He also followed farming in Seneca county, Ohio, for four years, after which he re turned to Crawford county to take charge of the old homestead, remaining there until 1885, in which year he took up his abode within the borders of Berrien county, pur chasing and locating upon a farm near Ber rien Center. From that time until 1899 he was there extensively engaged in the tilling of the soil, but on the expiration of that period retired from agricultural pursuits and established his home in Eau Claire, al though he still owns ninety-six acres of land adjoining the city. He had previously sold his farm in Berrien Center, and after locat ing in Eau Claire engaged in the sale of farm implements, and he has also served as treasurer of Berrien township for four years. He gives a stanch and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party, and has long been recognized as one of the most popular and efficient public men in the locality where he makes his home, always in terested in all measures advanced for the good of the people. He is now treasurer of the village board of Eau Claire and was president one year. In Seneca county, Ohio, in 1872, Mr. Crall was married to Euphema E. Snyder, a native of that county and a daughter of William and Mary E. Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of three children, — Nina M., wife are Fleming W. Mussetter, of Fostoria, Ohio; Elizabeth M., the wife of William B. Mosher, of Ber rien Center; and Eltie, who for eight years has followed the teacher's profession at Harvey, Illinois. The wife and mother died on the 1 8th of June, 1892, and July 15, 1896, Mr. Crall married Mrs. Rebecca A. McFallon, a daughter of George and Ann (Spence) Cuthbert. Mr. Crall and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work, and he is now serving as trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday-school. ERASTUS MURPHY, a prominent farmer and old settler, residing on section 16, Berrien township, was born on section 15 of the same township, July 18, 1842. He represents an old family from the south. His father, Isaac Murphy, was a native of Hardin county, Virginia, and was reared in Greene county, Ohio, going there with his mother when a little lad of six years. On coming to Michigan he settled on Pokagon Prairie in Cass county when it was still largely a wild and undeveloped region. He remained there for only a short period, however, when he located in Berrien town ship, Berrien county, establishing his home on section 16, where he entered land from the government. He improved this place and was engaged in farming during his en tire life, transforming the wild and uncul tivated tract into richly improved fields. He married Miss Eliza Jenkins, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Baldwin Jenkins, one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 927 Murphy became the parents of thirteen chil dren, but only seven reached adult age. Erastus Murphy is the second of the liv ing children, and was reared in Berrien township, where he has resided continuously save for a brief period of two years spent in Galien township. He pursued his education in log schoolhouses common at that early day, where he mastered the elementary branches of English learning. The duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the play ground and the work of the fields claimed his attention in his youth, and he remained at home until his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 19th of April, 1866, Miss Mary Johnson becom ing his wife. She was a daughter of John and Anna (Lybrook) Johnson, who were natives of Virginia, and after residing for some time in Ohio became early residents of Berrien county, Michigan. Mrs. Murphy was also born in Berrien township and was the sixth of eight children, five daughters and three sons. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children : Ada, now the wife of W. H. Patterson, of Berrien Springs ; Henry C, a resident of Indianapo lis, Indiana, being secretary and bookkeeper for the E. H. Eldredge Lumber Company; Lena A., the wife of Frank W. Miller, of South Boardman, Michigan ; Myron E., who operates the home farm ; Sylvia M., the wife of V. J. Blanchard, of Berrien Center; and Cordelia, the wife of John A. Walter, of Silver Lake, Indiana. Following his marriage Mr. Murphy continued to reside upon the old homestead until about 1875, when he located on the farm where he now resides. He has made all of the improvements here, building the house and barns and clearing the land. He has now lived here for almost a third of a century and has carried on his farming with good results. He owns eighty acres in the farm upon which he resides and forty acres of the old homestead. He has also fre quently been called upon to settle estates, a fact which indicates the confidence and trust reposed in' his business integrity and capa bility. In politics he is a stanch and unfalt ering Republican, active in the work of his party. He was elected supervisor in 1900 and again in 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905, serving in all for five years. He has been justice of the peace for sixteen years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that he has "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." He has been township clerk for three years and served for four years as township treasurer and the various official duties that have devolved upon him have always been promptly and faith fully performed. He belongs to the Grange and to the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center. For fourteen years he served as school director and has always taken an active part in educational affairs and in pub lic interests relating to the general good. He has been a life-long resident of the coun ty and has been actively, honorably and helpfully associated with its development. JOHN L. BISHOP, superintendent of the poor at Berrien Center, has filled the office of supervisor and has been active and influential in those interests which have di rect bearing upon the public welfare. In former years he was closely associated with agricultural interests and in his business life and public career he has made a credit able record. He was born in Dauphin coun ty, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1847. His father, Peter Bishop, was a native of Lan caster county, Pennsylvania, and died at the place of his nativity. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Millizen, was likewise a native of the Keystone state and spent her entire life within its borders. In their family were seven children, of whom two of the daughters are now deceased. John L. Bishop, the youngest of the fam ily, was reared in the place of his nativity to the age of twenty years, when he started out in life for himself and has since made his own way in the world. He came to Ber rien county in 1867 and remained until the fall of 1868, when he returned to Pennsyl vania. In his native state he was married, in November, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Parthemore, a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1875 the young couple came to Berrien county, settling in Berrien township, where Mr. Bishop still resides. He learned the carpenter's trade in early life and for a num- 928 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ber of years was identified with building home in the then woods of Berrien town- operations. In 1881 he returned to Penn- ship, Berrien county. There the father sylvania, where he again spent four years, passed away in death when he had reached and he once more came to Michigan, settling the age of eighty-one years, his wife having- at Berrien Center, where he was engaged in preceded him to the home beyond dyinl merchandising for about eight years. The when seventy-seven years of age. Of the ' -...->' ¦ 1 ... ' -- 1 1- 1- 1 eight chiidren ]>orn to them> seven song afld one daughter, only two are now living, Har vey R. and his brother Dr. J. M. Murphy. Harvey R. Murphy, whose name intro duces this review, came with his parents to Michigan in 1850, and about three years after his arrival here took up his abode on the farm where he now lives. He was a carpenter by trade, and his first house in this county was a little one-story house in the woods, sixteen by sixteen feet. To estab lish a home amid such surroundings and to cope with the many privations and hardships which were the inevitable concomitants, de manded an invincible courage and fortitude, strong hearts and willing hands. All those were characteristics of the pioneers, whose names and deeds should be held in perpetual reverence by those who enjoy the fruits of their toil. In the work of growth and up building Mr. Murphy has ever borne his part, has been honorable in business, loyal in friendship, faithful in citizenship, and now in his declining years he can look back over own labors and capable management, and he the past with Httle occasion for r t has made a creditable record in business af- In Licking countyj 0hi(>) in ^ Mr business was carefully conducted and he had a well appointed general store. When al most a decade had passed he withdrew from commercial pursuits and has since lived re tired save for his active connection with public affairs. His fellow townsmen recognizing his worth and ability have frequently called him to office. He acted as supervisor for six years and was treasurer of the township for two years. He has been superintendent of the poor for nine years and in these various offices has discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that have made him a most respected and trustworthy official. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Center and to the encampment at that place. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have been born six children, two are yet living: Mar tha, the wife of J. D. Myers, of Wabash, Indiana; and Endie who is at home. The success which Mr. Bishop has achieved and enjoyed in life is attributable entirely to his fairs and in public office. He possesses a genial, jovial manner and all who know him entertain for him warm respect, while the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances. HARVEY R. MURPHY, who is now living a retired life on his pleasant farm in section 14, Berrien township, was born in Licking county, Ohio, February 27, 1822, a son of William Murphy, a native of Hardy county, West Virginia. After the death of his father William Murphy moved the family to Ross county, Ohio, and later to Licking county, that state, where he was married to Nancy Rogers, a native of Penn sylvania. After their marriage they re moved to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1836, but about 1842 returned to Ohio and in 1850 came to Michigan, establishing their Murphy was united in marriage to Laura Buckland, a daughter of William and Anna (Lewis) Buckland, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Murphy, the third daughter and sixth child of their seven children, four sons and three daughters, was born in Licking coun ty, Ohio, August 11, 1828, and was reared and educated in her native place. Three children were born to bless this union: Charles, who was born in Ohio, and died in Berrien township, Berrien county, in No vember, 1905. He married Emma Pem- brook, and they had one son, Alvah L. Emma is the wife of Isaac M. Smith, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this vol ume. William H., born May 24, i860, in Berrien township, was married March 23, 1884, to Agnes E. Ober, a daughter of David and Barbara (Brunner) Ober, and they have one child, Eda R. Mr. Murphy c^rfty?m4-+ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 929 gives his political support to the Democratic party, his first presidential vote having been cast for James K. Polk, and he has been honored by his party with many political pffices, having served as township treasurer for six years, was justice of the peace for four years, and was supervisor of Berrien township one year. He is a member of the Berrien Center Baptist church, of which he was one of the first trustees, holding that position for forty-two years, while for forty years he was secretary of the church, for many years was its treasurer and he is now trustee. GEORGE PARSONS, of Watervliet,' whose business record is such as any man might be proud to possess, stands at the head of the firm of Parsons & Baldwin, bankers. This firm also has large farming interests and has operated extensively in lumber and merchandising in former years. A native of New York, George Parsons was born at Gouverrieur, St. ^Lawrence county, on the 28th of January,. 1830. His family is descended from Joseph Parsons, of England, who in 1636 became a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, and in 1655 removed to Northampton, that state. George Parsons was a lad of nine years at the time of his parents' removal to Genesee county, settling in Genesee valley at Perry. He at tended the common schools and at the age of fifteen years entered upon an academic course. He attended various academies, in cluding Homer Academy, where Willard Fillmore, afterward president of the United States, was a student. When nineteen years of age Mr. Parsons came to Michigan, making his way to Detroit, where for three years he acted as clerk in a store. In 1852 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he became a member of a wholesale grocery firm and acted as bookkeeper and manager of the financial department for a year. In the meantime he had a brother who. established a bank at Keokuk, and following his father's death he joined his brother as a partner in the bank, which institution they successfully conducted until the , financial panic of 1857*, when, like thousands of other business men throughout the country, they were forced to 59 close out the enterprise. Mr. ParsOns then* returned to Detroit, and in i860 became a- partner in the firm of Smith, Root & Par-- sons, wholesale dry goods merchants, who* developed a fine trade. He was connected with that house until his brother-in-law, who was an old merchant at Gouverneur, New York, died, and he was sent for to close up his estate. At one time he had been the richest man in that place. He died insolvent in March, 1861, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. Parsons spent three and a half years in closing up his affairs and suc ceeded in saving the property for his wife. He and his brother purchased the claims of the creditors, sold out the goods, turned the property to advantage and thus secured a gratifying competence for the widow and children. In May, 1864, however, Mr. Parsons returned to Michigan, having, formed a deep attachment for the state of his adoption. Since that year he has been associated with Warner M. Baldwin in extensive business .interests. They became proprietors and operators of the large lumber mill in com pany, with I. N. Swain and B. A. Olney. The business was conducted under the name of Swain, Olney & Company for ten years, the- partner of Mr. Swain being B. A. Ol ney; Mr. Swain continued operating in lumber for a number of years and then sold out to the Chicago company. Mr. Parsons had known Mr. Swain previous to his re turn to Michigan, in 1864. In company with Mr-' Baldwin he secured a half interest in the lumber business. The enterprise was carried on«extensively; handling from two to three million feet of lumber annually. This was rafted upon the Paw Paw river to St. Joseph and thence shipped across the lake to Chicago. At times fifty teams would be utilized in conveying the lumber from the in terior. In 1872 the railroad was built through and thus better shipping facilities were secured. For many years the lumber industry was one of the most important sources of income in this part of the state, and Mr. Parsons was a prominent represen tative of this line of trade. A store was also conducted in connection with the mill and not only was lumber manufactured but 930 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY also a grist and flouring mill was operated. In 1874 the business was divided and the company dissolved. Mr: Parsons arid Mr. Baldwin retired, taking all the outside property, including one thousand acres, also the store and a large farm that had been cleared from the thousand acres, while the milling interests were retained by the other partners. The firm of Parsons & Baldwin continued to carry on the store successfully until about 1891 or 1892, covering a period of thirty years, but at length it was destroyed by fire and at that time they concentrated their energies upon the development of a banking business, having already done con siderable business as private bankers. They have likewise continued their farming in terests to the present and now concentrate their energies upon their financial and agri cultural pursuits, in both of which lines they are operating extensively. In the building of the railroad the old firm of Swain, Olney & Company, contributed ten thousand dol lars. In 1893 the store was destroyed by fire and in the same year a bank was organ ized at Watervliet by Mr. Parsons and Mr. Baldwin. It is the only bank here, and is a private institution, conducting a general banking business. Every dollar owned by the partners is behind the bank, which ren ders it a most safe and reliable financial in stitution. Mr. Parsons was married in Livingston county, New York, to Miss Emily L. Bar num, a relative of P. T. Barnum, the famous showman. Her death oc curred April 1, 1904, after they had trav eled life's journey happily together for forty-eight and a half years. They had two sons : Willis Edward Parsons, D. D., and George F. Parsons. The former is a graduate of Olivet College, and pursued a theological course in Princeton University. For nine years he was pastor of the church at Albion, Michigan, for eleven years at Danville, Illinois, and for two years has been at the head of Parsons' College, at Fairfield, Iowa, as its president. This col lege was founded by Lewis B. Parsons, the father of George Parsons, who was a mer chant in New York for many years, and spent a year or two in Iowa. He was much pleased with the state and its prospects and at his death, in 1856, left property to his three sons to found an institution of learn ing in that state. He was a most zealous member of the Presbyterian church arid in dicated that the management of the. school should be left to trustees who were con nected with that church. Two sbns, Charles Parsons, late of the State National Bank of St. Louis, Missouri, and General Lewis B. Parsons, still living in Illinois, at the age of eighty-nine years, were made trustees, the former serving until his death, while the latter is still connected with the institution in this capacity. At General Parsons' sug gestion Rev. Willis F'. Parsons was made a trustee. After meeting four or five times with the trustees he was unanimously chosen as president of the institution which was founded by his grandfather ahd is now de voting his attention to that college, which, under his able management, is niaking sub stantial advancement and doing splendid work as a factor in the educational life of Iowa. The college has a large eridowment fund and also a Carnegie library. George F. Parsons, now located at Jacksonville, Florida, is state agent for the Fidelity Mu tual Life Insurance; Company. He is also a graduate of Olivet College. For forty years GeOrge Parsons, whose name introduces this review, has served con tinuously as superintendent of the Sunday- school, which was established as a union Sunday-school' and so contiriued until 1885, when the Congregrational Church was or ganized, of which he became a charter mem ber. He has been untiring arid most effi cient in his efforts to advance the cause of Christianity and uplift his fellowmen and is just entering upon his forty-first year as a Sunday-school superintendent. In 1889 he and his wife attended the World's Sunday- school Convention held at London. One of his old co-workers of the Berrien County Sunday-school Association is E. K. Warren, of Three Oaks, Michigan, who in 1904 was instrumental in holding a Sunday-school convention at Jerusalem, and was its presi dent. Mrs. Parsons was also very active in Sunday-school work, and was always an able assistant to her husband in his- efforts HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 93* to advance the growth, of the church and promote its activities in any direction. At her funeral there were four pallbearers and three members of the choir, all people in middle life, who had been pupils in her pri mary class in Sunday-school. She was also very active in women's missionary work in the Congregational church. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which is uniformly accorded to George Parsons. With him success in life has been reached by his sterling qualities of mind . and a heart true to every manly principle. He has never deviated from what his judgment would in dicate to be the right and honorable be tween his fellowmen and himself. He has. never swerved from the path of duty and now after a long and eventful career he can look back over the past with pride and en joy the remaining years of his earthly pil grimage with the consciousness of having gained for himself by his honorable, straightforward career the confidence and respect of the entire community in which he lives. JACOB B. CRALL, who is living re tired on his "Shady Lawn" farm in section 10, Berrien towriship, was born in Dauphin copnty, Pennsylvania, near the capital, De cember 21, 1830. The founder of the Crall family in America came from Switzerland in 1743. and settled in Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm of Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn. The father of our subject, Simon Crall, was a native of Harrisburg, , Pennsylvania, born in 1808, and at the same place his father, Henry Crall, was also born. Simon Crall married Elizabeth Becker, also a native of Harris burg and a daughter of Jacob Becker, who removed from the county of Lancaster to Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. To this couple were born nine children, seven of whom grew to years of maturity and five are now living. The mother died when forty-seven years of age, but was survived many years by her hus band, who reached the ripe old age of seven ty-five years. Jacob B. Crall, the eldest child and also the first grandchild in the Crall family, re mained in the place of his nativity .until fif teen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Crawford coun ty, Ohio, continuing his education in its pub lic schools and then entering Otterbein Uni versity. On the 1 8th of October, 1855, he was married to Delilah Hess, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and they became the parents of four children: Alice E., the widow of S. W. Bishop and a resident of Benton Harbor; M'. Ellen, the wife of Henry Nisley, of Berrien township; John H., a resi dent of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Florence M., the wife of W. O. James, of Chicago, Illinois. The wife and mother died, and on the 22d of October, 1889, Mr. Crall married Juliette Enos, a daughter of Dr.- Morgan and Elizabeth (Clark), Enos, natives of New York. In 1836. they removed from that state to Michigan, taking up their abode in Pipestone township, Berrien county, where the father was numbered among the early pioneer physicians, and here his death oc curred when he was sixty-four years old, while the mother survived until she had reached the age of seventy years. Mrs. Crall, the third of their five children, was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, "Michigan, January 28, 1842, and thus has been a life-long resident of the county and one of its noble pioneer women. For forty- five years Mr. Crall has resided on the farm which is yet his home, which he has trans formed into a valuable and beautiful home stead, and here he and his estimable wife are spending their declining days surrounded by the comforts and luxuries which former la bor have brought to them. Mr. Crall gave his political support to the Republican party until the Prohibition party was formed, since which time he has cast his ballot for its support, and for many years he has served as a member of the school board. Both he and his wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He has taught the Bible class in various Sabbath-schools for thirty years, and Mrs. Crall is also a Sunday-school teacher, now teaching the Young People's class at Berrien Center. 932 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY THOMAS B. WYNN. One of the boys in blue of the Civil war, and at all times a loyal citizen, true to the interests of coun ty, state and nation, Thomas B. Wynn is numbered among the leading citizens of Berrien county, and he is now acceptably filling the position of postmaster of Eau Claire. He is a native son of the county, his birth occurring in Niles township on the 7th of November, 1839. His father, Mor gan Wynn, was born in Ohio, but as early as 1835 he took up his abode within the bor ders of Berrien county, locating at first at what is known as Paw's Mills, where he was engaged in lumbering. He later established his home three miles west of Niles, on the St. Joseph river, where he improved a farm and spent the remainder of his life, passing away in death about 1845. No state of the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than Michigan. Their privations, hardships and earnest labors have resulted in establishing one of the foremost common wealths of the nation, and one which has still greater possibilities before it. . But their work is nearly complete, and every year sees new graves filled by those who helped to build an empire, and soon will the last of these sturdy pioneers be laid away. Mr. Wynn was married to Elizabeth Cottrell, a native of Ohio, but who subsequently re moved to Indiana, and there she gave her hand in marriage to Morgan Wynn. To gether they journeyed to Michigan, and here they lived and labored to establish a home. The wife and mother still survives, having reached the eighty-seventh milestone on the journey of life, and of the seven children which she bore her husband, four sons and three daughters, all grew to years of matur ity and six are now living. Thomas B. Wynn, the second child and second son in the family, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Niles township, receiving his education in its district schools, and in Berrien county he has spent his entire life. In 1 86 1, in response to his country's call for troops, he enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, his military career continuing until 1866. At Little Rock, Arkansas, in December, 1863, he re-enlisted, entering the same company and regiment, and at the battle of Shiloh he was captured and taken as a prisoner to Macon, Georgia. After about seven months. spent in Libby Prison he was paroled and returned to his command, with which ht continued until he was mustered out in 1866. He entered the ranks as a private, but was. discharged as first sergeant of Company C. The military career of Mr. Wynn, which. covered a period of four and a half years,. was one which will ever redound to his. honor as a loyal and devoted son of the re public. When his services were no longer- needed he returned to his home in Berrien county and was thereafter engaged in farm ing and lumbering until his removal to Eau Claire about 1889. In this city he resumed his lumbering operations, in which he was. engaged until about 1893. A few years. thereafter, in October, 1897, he was ap pointed postmaster of Eau Claire, and is the- present incumbent. In 1869 Mr. Wynn was married to Har riet Smith, a daughter of Asa Smith, and they have had four children, — Richard, a. resident of Truman, Arkansas; Bertha, who- died in infancy; Frank, also deceased, pass ing away at the age of twenty-seven years; and Ethel, the wife of J. Jennings, of Pipe stone township, Berrien county. In his po litical affiliations Mr. Wynn has been a life long Republican, active in the work of his- party, and as its representative he has served in a number of official positions, having been constable and assessor of the village of Eau Claire, and at one time was a candidate for sheriff, being second on the list. He is a member of Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., in which he maintains pleasant relations. with his old army comrades, and has filled all the chairs in the order. He has also- membership relations with the Independent. Order of Odd Fellows, having been honored with all the official positions therein, and in the county where he has spent his .entire life he is well known and has hosts of" friends. ELI RIDENOUR. For many years. Eli Ridenour has traveled life's journey,. • Zy, (ys-t^im) HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 933 and now, in the evening of a long, useful and honorable career, he is enjoying a well earned rest, relieved of the burdens and re sponsibilities of business life, for through many decades he was laying by the compe tence which now supplies him with the ne cessities and many of the luxuries of life. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, Sep tember 1 8, 1828, a son of Jacob and Letitia (Brown) Ridenour, the latter a native of Virginia but reared in Indiana. She lived to be eighty-two years of age ere called to her final rest. The father was born in Mary land, his father being Joseph Ridenour, a native of Germany. The former was reared in Preble county, Ohio, and in March, 1832, came to Berrien county, Michigan, first lo cating at Niles and later removed to Cass county. He was a carpenter by trade and erected many of the first houses in Niles, also the old Lacy mill, and thus was promi nently identified with the early history of the locality. Eli Ridenour was but four years old when brought by his parents to Berrien county, Michigan, but their first stop in this state, however, was in Cass county, and he afterward resided in Berrien and Pipestone townships. After his marriage he returned to Silver Creek township, Cass county, where he purchased a farm and was engaged in its cultivation and improvement for the following ten years, when he sold his land and purchased a farm in Van Buren county, this state. Two years afterward he again sold, this time locating in Wayne township, Cass county, where for five years he was numbered among its prominent agricult urists, but on the expiration of that period he sold his land there and moved into Pipe-r stone township, Berrien county, this being about 1856. His land was located on the banks Of Indian Lake, and after selling his property there he bought a store at Cusheons Corners, where he was the proprietor of a general store for about seven years, serving also as postmaster during his residence there. When a boy Mr. Ridenour learned the shoe maker's trade, having made his first pair of shoes when only twelve years of age, and for sixty-three years he has worked at his trade in addition to his other interests, often hav ing as many as seven men in his employ as a shoemaker. About 1883 he sold his store at Cusheons Corners and came to Eau Claire, erecting the first store building in the town and purchasing others, but these he now rents and is retired from the active du ties of life. In 1846 Mr. Ridenour was married to Margaret A. Johnson, a native of Ohio, and they have twelve living children, all of whom are married. They also have twenty-four living grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. In his political affiliations Mr. Ridenour has given a life-long support to the Republican party, and for many years was a justice of the peace,, also highway commissioner. He has always had an abid ing interest in educational and all other mat ters that subserve the public progress and well being of his fellow men, and he has been recognized as a power for good in the community where for so many years his in fluence has been directed. THOMAS W. JONES, one of the lead ing business men of Berrien county, was born in Paris township, Portage county, Ohio, June 10, 1841, a son of David W. and Elizabeth (Savage) Jones, both natives of Wales. After coming to Ohio they located in Portage county, Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming, and there they spent the remainder of their lives, both pass ing away when about sixty-seven years of age. Thornas W., the eldest son and fifth child of their nine children, five daughters - and four sons, spent the days of his boy hood and youth in the county of his nativity, there remaining until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time, in 1 861, he came to Berrien county and secured employment on the farm of William Smith, a farmer, but at the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all personal considerations and offered his services to the Union cause, becoming. a member of Company B, Seventeenth Mich igan Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in June, 1862, for three years. At the battle of Lenoir Station he was badly wounded and 934 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY taken to the hospital at Knoxville, Tennes see, where he spent about seven months. His wound was from a musket ball at close range through the right thigh, and after his recovery he was transferred to the Invalid Corps and stationed at Kalamazoo, Mich igan, remaining there until receiving his honorable discharge at Detroit in 1865, for the war had ended and his country no longer needed his services. Returning thence to Berrien county, Mr. Jones began work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about twenty-five years in Eau Claire, and many of the build ings of that city now stand as monuments to his skill and ability. He also served as postmaster there for four years under Presi dent Harrison's administration, and since that time he has followed many different oc cupations, having been for a time engaged in the livery and horse business, making a specialty of handling well bred animals. In 1900 he opened his present business, being an extensive dealer in grain, fruit, hay, lime, cement, plaster, etc. Since he became a resi dent of this city Mr. Jones has ' materially aided in its improvement and upbuilding, and has ever used his influence in behalf of everything making for good citizenship. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Jennie Burton. In his political adherency Mr. Jones is a stalwart Republican, active in the work of the party, and as its representa tive he is now serving as assessor of the vil lage. He is a member of Neuclas Lodge, No. 348, I. O. O. F., of Berrien Center. He has persevered in the pursuit of a definite purpose and has gained a most satisfactory reward. FRANKLIN GOWDY, who is now de voting his time to the development of sum mer homes and to general farming and fruit raising in Berrien county, is a native of Oneida county, New York, born on the 5th of March, 1831. He is a representative of one of the old New England families that was established in America in colonial days. His paternal grandfather, John Gowdy, was a native of Connecticut and served in the Revolutionary war, afterward becoming a pensioner of the government by reason of the fact that he rendered valuable aid to his country in the struggle for independence. A. large portion of his life was spent in New York, but he died in Illinois at the home of his son, Elam Gowdy, passing away at the very venerable age of ninety-four years. He was of Scotch-Irish descent ' and pos sessed many of the sterling and commend able traits of his ancestry. His son, Elam Gowdy, was born in Connecticut in 1788 and displayed the same spirit of patriotism which prompted his father's allegiance to the colonists in the Revolutionary war. He was a veteran of the war of 18 12 and was always loyal and progressive in his citizen ship. He was married in Vermont but spent much of his life in New York. In his later years, however, he went to Illinois and afterward came to Berrien county, Michi gan, spending his last days in the home of his son, Frankin, where he died in 1870 at the age of eighty-two years. Throughout his active business career he followed the occupation of farming and thus provided a comfortable living for himself and family. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party and he was a stanch advocate of the Baptist church, in which he held mem bership. He married Miss Lucy Stroud, who was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1798, and died in the home of her son Frank lin, in 1875. She was a daughter of John Stroud and her grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The Strouds- were of English lineage and the family be came quite prominent and influential in New England. John Stroud had five sons, two of whom were members of the Vermont leg islature and one of these had a son, Stew art Stroud, who was canal commissioner of New York. A brother of Mrs. Gowdy was a contractor and spent many years on the construction of the Erie canal. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy were born eight children: Phoebe Ann, who became the wife of Maurice Huff and died in 1840 at the age of twenty-four years; John F., who died in Kansas about twelve years ago; Alanson W., who died about fifteen years ago; Nel son E., who is living in the state of New HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 935 York at the age of eighty-three years ; Louisa,; the widow of Dr. Stillman, of Janesville,. Wisconsin; Sally M., the wife of Bert Adams of Allegany county, New York, and they celebrated - their golden wedding five years ago ; Franklin is the next of the family ; William A., the youngest, is a resident of New Buffalo township. . Franklin Gowdy was : about .four years of age when , his parents, removed from Oneida county to -Allegany county, New York,, where he was reared, on a farm to the age of twenty-one years. He then went to Kane county, Illinois, with his parents, brothers and , sisters and became a part owner of a farm whereon he , resided from 1852 until 1856. In the latter year he re turned to New York and was married in Allegany county, that state, on the. 5th of October, to Miss Mary A. Millard, who was born in Allegany county, August 2, 1838, a daughter of William T. and Polly (Ripen- bark) Millard, the former a native of New Jersey and the; latter of New York. Her grandfather, Adam Ripenbark, was a sol dier of the war of; 1812 and her great-; grandfather, Sears, on the maternal side,- was a soldier of the Revolution. Following his marriage Mr. Gowdy re turned with his bride to Kane county, Illi nois, making the journey, by team. They drove the entire distance, being about seven teen days on the way and this was 'their wedding tour. At length Mr. , Gowdy sold his property in Kane county and removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where in 1858 he purchased a farm, giving, his attention to its improvement and cultivation until he came to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1862. For one year he lived in Chikaming township. His brother, John F., and C. H. Goodwin were then doing business under the firm nome of Goodwin & Gowdy and built a pier in the lake in 1864 known as Union Pier. Franklin Gowdy also had an interest in this pier and about the same time he purchased his present farm and other places. He has owned various tracts of land in. this part of the state and has made judicious invest ment in property which has returned to him a good profit. In 1870 he, was one of,the: company of Jj G. Sanborn & Company and built a handle factory at Union Pier, con tinuing in business there for four years, af ter which he sold out to R. M. Goodwin &. Company. Mr. Gowdy purchased a saw mill and Mr. Goodwin operated it at inter vals until about , 1895. He then removed the sawmill from Chikaming to New Buf falo, where he has since made his home., After operating the mill here for two years, it was destroyed by fire. He rebuilt it in 1900, after which he sold out to Walter Phillip, of Three Oaks, Michigan, who, re moved the mill to that place. For five or six years his son, Herbert W, Gowdy, has been actively, in business with him. He has about two hundred acres in the home farm situated on section, 36, New Buffalo township. All was timber land when he took possession of the place but it is now all under cultivation except for. a grove, which is one of the at tractive features of the farm. This farm is situated on Galien river and the lake. There is a pleasant residence surrounded by a beau tiful and wellrkept lawn and the farm is well improved in every particular. He has about three thousand peach trees on his land and the place is largely devoted to fruit. About 1900 he and his son Herbert W. pur chased forty acres of land in Chikaming township near the home place on section 25.' This is on the township line and also on the lake- shore. Mr. Gowdy has platted this land for summer homes and has built and sold here four cottages. He and his son also have sixty-two acres lying on the lake shore between highway and the lake on section 36, New Buffalo township, about. one-half of this improved, and there is a good house upon it which is rented for sum mer purposes. Mr. Gowdy has sold about two hundred acres of land to be used in con nection with the establishment of summer homes. At different times he has bought and sold considerable property, most all of which has been improved by him. He ex pects to have a large summer resort here and indeed , the place is fast becoming popular. and well patronized. He has recently com pleted a fine new cottage to rent and his at tention is now given exclusively to the de velopment, of summer homes and, to hjs, farming and fruit raising interests. 936 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy have been born the following named : Libby, who died at the age of nine years; Cora, who died at the age of two years; Luna E., the widow of John V. Streed, of Cambridge, Illinois; Frank, a prominent physician now practic ing in St. Joseph, Michigan ; Lilly, who died at the age of two years ; Herbert W., who is in partnership with his father and resides at home ; Elnora, at home ; and Bessie, the wife of Lee Thomas of Colorado. Mr. Gowdy is an earnest Republican, who cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856 and has since sup ported every nominee of the Republican party at the head of the ticket. He has been township clerk of Chikaming township and justice of the peace. While living in New Buffalo he has also been highway commis sioner and also- justice of the peace for ten or fifteen years and supervisor for three terms. He has attended all of the county conventions of his party for the past thirty- five years and is one of its influential factors. He is a supporter of the Baptist church but is not a member. Mr. Gowdy as a promoter of interests in Berrien county has done much for its substantial improvement and pro gress and is now one of the successful busi ness men of this part of the state. He read ily comprehends intricate business situa tions and finds the solution for difficult busi ness problems. As the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings and is now in possession of a handsome compet ence which is the merited reward of well- earned labor. M. T. MURPHY, superintendent of the extensive plant of Cooper, Wells & Com pany, the leading productive industry of St. Joseph, is a native of New Hampton, New Hampshire, born December 25, 1852. His parents, Dennis and Mary (Harrington) Murphy, were both natives of the County of Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1847, settling in Boston, Massa chusetts, whence they later removed to New Hampshire. The father died in Andover, that state, when about forty-four years of age, and the mother's death occurred there when she was fifty-one years of age. M. T. Murphy acquired a common- school education in the schools of Lake vil lage, New Hampshire, but has been depend ent upon his own resources for his own liv ing from a very early age. When a lad of only eight summers he began work in the hosiery mills of John Pepper, at Lake vil lage, and subsequently was employed by Thomas Appleton in the same town. He ap plied himself thoroughly to the mastery of the work assigned him, and, having learned the business in these two mills, in 1870, he entered the employ of John C. Moulton, of Laconia, New Hampshire, as superintend ent of the Guilford Hosiery Company. There he remained until 1876, after which he was in the employ of Frank P. Halt of the same town as superintendent from 1876 until 1882, when he went to Canada and built the plant of the St. Hyacinthe-Abel Hosiery Company, at St. Hyacinthe, Canada. Upon the death of Mr. Abel the name was changed to the Granite Mills, and Mr. Murphy was a charter member of the company owning this enterprise. He was also a stockholder and general manager from 1882 until 1896, and from the latter year until 1901 he was connected with several hosiery mills. In 1 90 1 he came to St. Joseph and has since been superintendent for Cooper, Wells & Company. His identification with the man ufacture of underwear and hosiery dates continuously from 1870, and his long and varied experience well qualifies him for the discharge of the onerous duties which in volve upon him in his present connection. In 1870 Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Margaret Cochran, of Newport, Ver mont, who died in 1880, leaving three chil dren. David; Ella, now the wife of A. W. Duber, superintendent of the Inter Colonial Railway, of Canada ; and John M., who died in St. Hyacinthe, Canada, June 5, 1883. On the ist of May, 1883, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Miss Albena La Vigne, of St. Hyacinthe. In his political views a Republican, Mr. Murphy has never sought or desired the emoluments of office as a reward for party fealty. His energies have been concentrated along the lines in which he embarked as a young tradesman and he is one of the lead- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 937 Ing men in this department of manufactur ing activity in the country, recognized as authority on anything connected with the co-operative department of the business. His marked activity and enterprise • have gained for him the prominent position which he has now filled for five years. CHARLES E. DANA, one of the pro gressive and prosperous farmers of Pipe stone township, residing on section 5, is a native of Jefferson county, New York, his natal day being April 17, 1859. His father, Harley Dana, was likewise born in Jeffer son county, of the Empire state, and in 1845 removed to Berrien county, Michigan. Here he was married to Miss Mary Jane Maddox, a native of Ohio. He then re turned to his native state, where he remained a. few years, but in 1861, once more came to Berrien coun ty, settling on a farm on section 7, Pipestone town ship, where he is still en gaged in general agricul tural pursuits. In their family were four children, but only two survive, the brother of our subject be ing William, a resident of SoduS township, while Agnes and Charles have passed away. The wife and mother passed away in 1904. Charles E. Dana, the second child born of his father's family is the elder of the two surviving, and was only two years of age when he was brought from his native state to Berrien county. The family home was established in Pipestone township, where in the district schools the son obtained his edu cational privileges. He was reared to the occupation of farming which has continued to be his business interest to the present time, and as the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings so that he now owns a valuable farming property, on which he is engaged in raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, each autumn gathering good crops as the result of the practical methods which he employs in carrying on his work. He also has good buildings upon his farm, including a fine residence and substantial outbuildings, all of which are kept in a good state of repair. During the summer seasons he also enter tains summer boarders, which he finds a pleasant and profitable business. In addi tion to his other interests he is also acting as general agent in Berrien county for the Davis Acetylene Company, of Elkhart, In diana. December 31, 1879, Mr. Dana was united in marriage to Miss Mary Josephine Craft, a native of Oswego county, New York, born September 8, 1862, a daughter of Eleazer and Perlina (Bronson) Craft, the former born in Jefferson county, New York, FERNDALE while the latter was born in Saratoga coun ty, that state. The father was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted in 1862, and he died in New Orleans, Louis iana. He was a sailor on the lakes. When Mrs. Dana was seven years of age her mother removed from their native state to Michigan, settling in Berrien county. The mother still survives and is now residing in Bainbridge township. Mrs. Dana is the only Child of their marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dana has been born one daugh ter, May, now the wife of Arthur Lytle, of Eau Claire, who is a jeweler by occupation. Mr. Dana has been a life-long Republi- 938 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY can and takes an active and helpful interest in the work of his party. Prominent among his fellow townsmen he has been honored with some local offices, having filled the office of justice of the peace for six years, in which he gave general satisfaction. He is also a member of the Grange. Having been brought to the county in his infancy Charles E. Dana has here spent his entire life, so that he has been a witness of many changes that have here been made and in which he has taken an active part. He has always been an alert and enterprising man so that the years have brought to him prosperity, and he is now in possession of one of the best farms in Pipestone township. He has a very wide acquaintance through out Berrien county and is held in highest es teem by all who know him. CHARLES L. LEMON, interested in general agricultural pursuits on section 24, Lake township, in the vicinity of Baroda, was born March 2, 1846, near his present place of residence. His paternal grand father, William Lemon, was a native of Vir ginia and a very wealthy man and slave holder, but disposing of his interests in the south he removed to Michigan and cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of this county, settling in Berrien Springs in 1831. He built three water mills there and became closely associated with the early industrial development of the county. He also secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in this county for each of his children. He carried on general agricultural pursuits, conducted a store and was connected with the lumber interests of the state and for many years figured as one of the most prominent and successful business men of this portion of Michigan, while the extent and importance of his operations proved a valued element in the substantial upbuilding of this portion of the state. His son, Benjamin Lemon, was bo-m near Richmond, Virginia, July 17, 18 1 7, and was therefore a youth of fourteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county in 1831. He was thereafter a resident of Michigan. The journey from Virginia was made by wagon across the country after the primitive man ner of travel at that time. Benjamin Lemon lived in Berrien Springs until 1842, when he removed to Lake township. He, too, was a prominent representative of the milling interests and built two mills in Lake town ship and one in Lincoln township, which he placed in active operation. A most exten sive land owner, he held over one thousand acres in Lake and Lincoln townships and conducted his large farming interests in con nection with his milling business. He re mained one of the leading and influential residents of the county for many years or until the time of his death, which occurred on the 19th of June, 1885. He was mar ried in early manhood to Miss Rachel Tate, who was born in Virginia and came to this county with her parents in her girlhood days, her death occurring in Berrien Springs in 1854, when she was thirty-six years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lemon were born five children: Mrs. Julia God frey, now deceased; Charles L. ; Andrew, deceased ; Leeds, who died at the age of two and a half years ; and Mary Jane, who died in infancy. Reared upon the old homestead farm, Charles L. Lemon has always devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits since, after acquiring his education, he put aside his text-books and entered business life. He now owns and operates eighty- seven acres of land on section 24, Lake township, which has been converted into a valuable and productive farm, annually re turning to him good crops wheref rom he has a gratifying income. In June, 1872, occurred the marriage of Charles L. Lemon and Miss Alice Hyatt, who was born in Lake township April 1, 1852, a daughter of Clayton and Nancy (Heathman) Hyatt, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. They be came pioneer residents of Lake township, where they arrived in 1843 and here they spent their remaining days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lemon have been born six children: Herbert, Julia Rachel, Mary Virginia, Flor ence May, Benjamin Lee and Aclaline Pearl. In his political views Mr. Lemon is a stalwart Republican and keeps well in formed on the questions and issues of the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 939 day, although he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to give his undivided at tention to his business affairs, in which he has met with excellent success. His relig ious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church in Baroda. He is a representative of one of the most prom inent, honored and prosperous pioneer fam ilies of the county and his record is in har mony therewith. HON. ALONZO SHERWOOD is truly a pioneer of Berrien county, being the oldest living representative of the early days of Buchanan township. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, April 22, 1832, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1833. His father, Seth Shortess Sherwood, was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1800, and died in Buchanan March 3, 1856. He brought his family to this county' from Ohio, driving an ox team through the woods, and was the first settler in Buchanan township. Mr. Sherwood was elected the first treasurer of the township where there were but four teen votes cast at the fall election, and not a white settler within three miles of his home. His efforts were an important fac tor in the early development and progress of his locality. Prior to the war he was interested in the conditions which existed in the south, and became a stanch abolitionist. He married Miss Jemima Ferguson, a native of Ohio, who was born in 1805 and died in Berrien county at the age of seventy-seven years. They had a family of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, but only Alonzo Sherwood, the subject of this sketch, is now living. The Hon. Alonzo Sherwood kept his residence in Buchanan township until 1866, when he purchased the Oak Grove farm in Wesaw township, where he carried on ex tensive farming and lumbering interests for about twenty years. In the spring of 1885 he went to Box Butte county, Nebraska, and has since resided in Hemingford, Ne braska. His political allegiance was for merly given to the Republican party, but, believing the temperance question the most important issue today before the people, he is now a stalwart Prohibitionist. During his residence in this county he was esteemed as one of its prominent, in fluential and valued citizens, and was elected to represent Berrien county in the lower house of the state legislature in 1879. He always stood on the side of progress and im provement, and in his relations with his fel lowmen he has not only manifested justice, but also the higher attributes of mercy. He was supervisor of Wesaw township for two years, was also justice of the peace, and held other public offices during his residence in Berrien county. He has acted on the school board throughout nearly his entire life, both in Michigan and Nebraska, and for many years has been a deacon in the Congrega tional church. ' On the 10th of February, 1856, Alonzo Sherwood was united in marriage with M^s Catharine Clark, who was born in Penn sylvania April 4, 1832, a daughter of Amos Clark, also a pioneer resident of the county. In the family of Mr. arid Mrs. Alonzo Sher wood were eight children: Amos, Alva, Almeda, Nettie, William, Catharine, Al onzo and Lennie. Only three of these reached maturity, Almeda, wife of William Convis, of Los Angeles, California; Nettie, wife of William H. Smith, of Los Angeles, California ; and the late Alva Sherwood, subject of another sketch in this volume. Mrs. Catharine Sherwood died soon af ter the family moved to Nebraska, and on June 10, 1888, Mr. Sherwood married Mrs. Hattie *E. Henley, of Hemingford, Ne braska, who was born in Liberty, Maine, February 14, 1844. Although still retaining his home and business interests in Nebraska, Mr. Sher wood has maintained his acquaintance and friendships in this locality, and is a frequent visitor of Berrien county. EDWARD N. HATCH, who has made steady and consecutive progress in starting out in business life in early age, is now the secretary and treasurer of the St. Joseph Iron Works, in which capacity he figures prominently in connection with industrial 94Q HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY life in the Twin cities. He was born in New- York city, February 8, 1840. His paternal grandfather was Dr. Josiah Hatch, a native of Warwick, Connecticut, who served as a surgeon with the American troops in the Revolutionary war. His father, Junius H. Hatch, was born in Granville, Massachu setts, in 1795, and in 1813 was graduated from Middlebury (Vermont) College. Sub sequently he went to New York city, where he read law with William P. Van Ness and Edward Ogden, and was admitted to the bar. Engaging in practice in the eastern metrop olis he there continued until 1845, when he came to Michigan, settling in Detroit, where, as an able and successful member of the bar, he remained until 1848 when he returned to New York state, residing in Buffalo until his death, April 20, 1869. In the early '30s he invested quite extensively in land in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and became owner of large holdings in Berrien county. He was married in 1835 to Miss Sarah Cath erine Mitchell, a native of Hoboken, New Jersey, who was born in 181 5, and died in Buffalo, New York, in 1853. In their fam ily were four sons and two daughters, name ly : Sarah C, who died in infancy; Junius H., a resident of St. Joseph, who is now em ployed in the auditor general's office at Lan sing; Edward N., of this review; Albert G., of Buffalo, New York; William B., who was killed in a railroad accident in 1866 near Olney, Illinois; and Grace B., who is living in San Diego, California. In the schools of Buffalo, New York, Edward N. Hatch acquired his early educa tion and subsequently attended the Univer sity of Michigan. He came to Berrien coun ty in 1862, and for about a year lived at the home of Joseph Gard, a pioneer of the coun ty. In the spring of 1863 he went to Brun son Harbor, now Benton Harbor, and ac cepted a clerkship in the store of James E. Stevens, where he continued until 1866, when he removed to St. Joseph, and se cured a position in the grocery store or A. E. Perkins. While thus engaged he made a trip to Chicago, September 8, 1868, and was a passenger on the ill-fated steamer, Hippocampus. Of the passengers and crew aboard, twenty-eight men were lost and thirteen were saved, Mr. Hatch being one of the lucky thirteen. From 1873 tintil 1879 he was agent for the Goodrich Line steamers at St. Joseph and since 1883 he has been continuously connected with the St. Joseph Iron Works, being now secretary and treasurer of the company, engaged in the manufacture of veneer cutting, fruit pack age and basket machinery. During the twenty-three years of his identification with the business his efforts and keen insight have been an important element in the growth and success of the institution. In 1882 Mr. Hatch was married to Miss Mary A. Thayer, of St. Joseph, and they have four children, William E., Albert J., Conant H. and Rose Marie. In politics Mr. Hatch has always been an ardent supporter of the Republican party and never fails to give his endorsement to its men and meas ures at the polls. A resident of Berrien county for forty-four years he is recognized as one of its leading men. In the prosecu tion of his business there has been manifest one of the most sterling traits of his charac ter — his desire to carry forward to the high est perfection attainable anything that he un dertakes. This has marked his social and business career and has been one of the most important factors in his gratifying success. Not content with mediocrity in any line of life he has given deep and earnest study to the thought of perfecting the output of the house and bringing the business interests of the firm into such a condition that maximum results may be obtained by minimum effort. He is energetic, prompt and notably reliable and has been watchful of all the opportuni ties of his business and all indications point ing toward prosperity. The plans and meth ods he has followed and the characteristics which he has manifested have been such as to gain for him admiration and regard. BURNS HELMICK is a retired farmer living in Berrien Springs. Quite a large proportion of the population of the village is made up of men who were formerly prom inent in agricultural circles and 'who thereby won the competence that now enables them to live retired. Such has been the life rec ord of Mr. Helmick, whose activity and in- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 941 tegrity in business affairs in former years now enables him to enjoy a wen earned rest. He was born in Oronoko township, July 10, 1845, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county. His pa ternal grandfather, Jacob Helmick, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, May 21, 1773, and was one of four brothers who fought in the Revolutionary war under the command of Marquis De Lafayette. Their father came from Germany to the new world about the year 1730. Jacob Helmick re moved from Virginia to Warren county about 1805, and died in Clinton county, that state, in 181 5. His father, Jesse Helmick, was born in Randolph county, Virginia, October 23, 1798, and when a youth of sev enteen years was bound out to a Mr. Sim onton in Warren county, Ohio, with whom he lived until he attained his majority. Dur ing that time he learned the blacksmith's trade, and when twenty-one years of age he started out in life on his own account, work ing at that trade. In 1832, accompanied by a Mr. Murphy, he came on horseback from Ohio to Berrien county and selected a loca tion here, as did his companion. They then returned to Ohio, and in 1836 brought their families with team and wagon to Michigan, settling in Oronoko township, Berrien coun ty. Mr. Helmick had a capital of four hundred dollars in silver and in addition to this he gave a span of horses for his land. After clearing a small space he built thereon a blacksmith shop and worked at his trade, while his sons carried on the task of clearing the land and transforming it into cultivable fields. His life was one of activity and use fulness and all that he possessed and enjoyed came to him through his own labor. He resided upon the place until his death, which occured in March, 1881, when he was in his eighty-third year. He was closely identified with the early history of the county and assisted in organizing Oronoko town ship. He held five of the seven different township offices and there were but eleven votes cast at the organization of the town ship, a fact which is indicative of the pioneer condition which then existed in the county. Mr. Helmick was supervisor for many years, and for four years was associate judge and throughout the community in which he lived was known as Judge Helmick. The duties which devolved upon him in a public rela tion were always faithfully and promptly performed and he made a most creditable record as an official. For many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and assisted in organizing a con gregation of that denomination at Berrien Springs. He took a very active part in church work and as is indicated by the fore going account was a substantial and valued factor in the upbuilding of the county in its material, political and moral progress. He married Miss Elizabeth Simonton, who was born February 19, 1803, in Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of Theophilus and Mary (Sales) Simonton. Mrs. Helmick died on the old homestead January 6, 1887, in her eighty-fourth year. In the family were May 28, 1827; Hirem S., February 23, 1823 ; Samuel T., March 22, 1825 ; Mary, May 28, 1827; Hiram S., February 23, 1830; Sarah J., March 18, 1832; Jacob, September 30, 1834; Eliza Ann, May 11, 1837; Eli, May 29, 1840; Rachel, February 2, 1843; Burns, July 10, 1845; and Louisa A., May 21, 1848. The parents were mar ried in Warren county, Ohio, May 16, 1822, and therefore traveled life's journey to gether for almost sixty years. Burns Helmick, the tenth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, and the fourth born in Berrien county, was reared upon the old homestead farm and supple mented his early education, acquired in the common schools, by study in Albion Col lege. He was married November 5, 1867, to Miss Martha Jane Essick, a daughter of David and Rachel (Carmack) Essick, who were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1846, settling in Berrien Springs. Mrs. Helmick, the eldest of four children, was born in St. Clairsville, Bed ford county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1845, and was only eleven months old when brought to this county. She was educated in the schools of Berrien Springs and en gaged in teaching for seven terms. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Helmick located on the old homestead in Oronoko township, where he carried on 942 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY farming until 1882. The years were a period of earnest toil, in which, he care fully planned his work and accomplished what he undertook. In the year, men tioned he located in Buchanan and at one time he was general manager of the Narrow Gauge Railroad running from Buchanan to Berrien Springs. In 1890 he removed to Chicago, where he resided until 1894, when he became a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, being connected with the Missouri Pacific Railroad system there for six years. In the spring of 1901 he re turned to Berrien county and is now manu facturing cement blocks, He is a man of marked business enterprise and executive force, and in his business displays the ability to plan and perform and the genius for de vising and executing the right thing at the right time. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Helmick have been born six children : Harry E., now a resident of Oak Park, Illinois; Frederick, of Chi cago; Lena, at home; Rachel, the wife of C. C. Woodruff, of Chicago; David E., of the same city; and lone, at home. Mr. Hel mick is a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of Berrien county, and with the exception of a brief interval has resided here continuously since 1845, or for a period of sixty-one years. He is there fore largely familiar with its history as the work of growth and progress has been car ried forward and at all times he has stood as the champion of those movements which have direct bearing upon its upbuilding and substantial advancement. In his business life he has been straightforward and reliable and in his social relations has gained the warm friendship of many with whom he has come in contact. A. C. RINKENBERGER, M. D. Ber rien county, Michigan, has her full quota of skilled physicians and surgeons, and among this number may be noted Dr. A. C. Rink enberger, who is also connected with many of the leading institutions of the community. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, July 7, 1869, a son of Christian Rinkenberger, a native of Germany, but who came to Amer ica about 1836, establishing his home near Cedar Lake, Indiana. He was there mar ried to a Miss Beckley, to whom were born two daughters, and after her death , Mr. Rinkenberger married her sister, to whom were also born two children, Lottie and Ezra. After removing to Blue Island he married the mother of our subject, Anna Reneborrie, of Chicago and their union was blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living. For twenty- eight years Mr. Rinkenberger was num bered among the leading business men of Blue Island, being well known as a grocery merchant, and his death occurred in 1898, but his wife is still living andis a resident of Berrien township. Dr. A. C. Rinkenberger, the eldest of his parents seven living children, is a grad uate of the Blue Island high school of the class of 1885, after which he began read ing medicine in the office of Dr. H. M. Hobart. He next entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, where he completed his course in the class of 1889, and during the following four years, 1889- 93, was a student in the Iowa College. Af ter one year spent as a traveling salesman for a Chicago house he began the practice of his profession at Blue Island, Illinois, where he remained during 1893 and 1894, and previous to this time he had spent four years at Grinnell, Iowa. His next occupa tion was that of special collector for the Piano Manufacturing Company, being thus engaged from 1894 to 1896, spent the fol lowing few months in Florida, and in 1897 came to Berrien township in company with two brothers, Eugene and Lawrence Rink enberger, they together purchasing a tract of land in the township, on which they erected houses, barns and grain houses for a summer home, the tract consisting of one hundred and six acres. There Dr. Rinken berger practiced medicine and looked after the estate until 1901, when he again went on the road as a traveling salesman for Lord, Owen & Company, a Chicago wholesale drug house, while later he was with Robert Stevenson & Company until 1905, when he opened an office for the practice of medicine in Eau Claire. In partnership with his brother Lawrence he also organized the Ex- CHARLES D. NICHOLS HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 943 change Bank of Eau Claire in 1904, a pri vate banking institution, of which he is the president and his brother the cashier. As a business man he is practical, and progressive, while in professional circles he has also gained enviable prestige as an able and suc cessful medical practitioner. On the 1 2th of June, 1905, Dr. Rink enberger was united in marriage to June, a daughter of Alford and Emma Ely, of Pipe stone township, Berrien county, the birth place of Mrs. Rinkenberger. The Doctor has ever taken an active and helpful interest in the welfare of his adopted city, doing everything in his power to promote its up building and development., He purchased what is known as the Eau Claire Canning plant, and was instrumental in bringing to this city the John Boyle Creamery Company, while in many other ways he has used his means and influence to the further progress of Eau Claire. He and Mr. M. V. Cheese- man bought the old Hoyt's cider mill and have made extensive improvements there, converting it into a modern vinegar plant. He is a supporter of Republican principles and a member of the city council, and he also- has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Foresters, the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. CHARLES D. NICHOLS. No history of Berrien county would be complete with out mention of Charles D. Nichols, a vener able citizen who now lives iri Petoskey,, but who for sixty-three years was an honored resident of Berrien Springs. He was born in Ithaca, New York, January 23, 1822, and is a representative of an old New England family. His paternal grandfather was Ebe nezer Nichols, who was born in Rhode Is land, in 1763, and who died at Laporte, In diana, at the age of seventy-five years. The father, Nathan B. Nichols, was born in Rhode Island in 1800, and married. Thank ful A. Brown, whose birth occurred in Ver mont. He passed away in Berrien Springs in 1888, while his wife died in Iowa, at about the age of sixty-three years. She was a daughter of Levi Brown, who was born in the state of New York. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and spent his last days in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Charles D. Nichols has been a pioneer of Indiana and of Michigan. He was a lad of only seven years when his parents re moved from the : Empire state to Indiana, settling in Laporte county, where he resided until 1843, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to Berrien county, establish ing his home at Berrien Springs. Here he resided until May, 1906, his residence cov ering a period of sixty-three consecutive years in this place. He engaged to a con siderable extent in farming and cleared a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres northwest of the Springs. This he placed under cultivation and made it a valua ble property. He also engaged for a num ber of years in merchandising at Berrien Springs, and was an active factor in the bus iness life of the community. Mr. Nichols was, married in February, 1852, to Miss Nancy B. Dewey, of Owosso, Michigan. They traveled life's journey to gether for almost a half century, being sepa rated through the death of the wife, on the 4th of February, 1899. There are two liv ing sons and a daughter of this marriage : Dr. Charles. A. Nichols,; who resides in Champaign, Illinois; Mrs, Cora A. Kep hart, of Petoskey, Michigan; and John D. Nichols, who resides at North Yakima, Washington. The eldest son of the family was Fremont D., who was born in 1853, and died in 1900. Mr. Nichols was for many years an in fluential factor in political circles in Berrien county. # On attaining his majority he allied his interests with the Whig party and upon the formation of the Republican party . he joined its ranks and has since been one of its earnest supporters. He was the first Republican county treasurer of Berrien county, being elected in 1854 — the year of the party's organization— and for fifteen or twenty years he was deputy clerk of the county. In 1863 and 1864 he acted as sheriff of Berrien county and he held num erous minor offices. No public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest de gree and at all times he placed the general 944 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY good before partisanship and the public wel fare before personal aggrandizement. He has been a Mason since 185 1 and is the sec ond oldest representative of the craft in the state. Mr. Nichols is a man of kindly purpose, a gentleman of the old school, al ways courteous and considerate and com manding the respect and admiration of all by reason of his- high principles and manly conduct. WASHINGTON B. SMITH, whose time and energies are given to general farm ing on section 33, Berrien township, was born in Milton township, Cass county, May 25, 1845. His father, George Smith, was a native of Delaware, his birthplace being near the city of Dover. He was eighteen years of age when he came with his parents, Canon and Lottie Smith, to Michigan, the family home being established in Cass coun ty in 1828. They located near Edwards- burg, where the father purchased one thousand acres of land in Milton town ship. He and his brother John broke land on what is known as Beardsley's prairie, turning the first furrows on many an acre and thus converting the wild tract into cul tivable fields. It was in Cass county that Canon Smith was married. His wife was a native of Delaware and became a resident of Cass county in 1829, locating near Ed- wardsburg. In community affairs Mr. Smith was very prominent and influential and took a deep and helpful interest in the material, intellectual and moral progress of the com munity. Smith Chapel was named in his honor and he donated the land for the church. He was an earnest and sincere Christian and his life was characterized by the kindly pur pose and honorable principles which are ever manifest in the life of a true follower of the church. He died in Milton township of the age of seventy years, while his wife survived to the. age of eighty-four years. In their family were ten children, eight of whom reached adult age, their son, Washington B. Smith, being the fifth child and fourth son of the family. Upon the old homestead farm in Cass county Mr. Smith, of this review, was reared, early becoming familiar with the duties incident to the development and im provement of the fields. He was thus en gaged from the time of early spring plant ing until crops were harvested in the late autumn and through the winter months. he pursued his education in the public schools. He was married on the 24th of March, 1875, to Miss Maria Walker, a daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Neu- gent) Wajker. The father was born in England, while the mother was a. native of Ireland and they were early set tlers of Berrien county. Mrs. Smith was born in Niles township, this county, Septem ber 6, 1849, and is the ninth in order of birth of a family of twelve children, two of whom passed away in infancy. In 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Smith located on a farm which is now their home and here he has resided con tinuously for thirty-two years. Three chil dren have come to bless the union: Dr. Warren A. Smith, who is mentioned on an other page of this work; Lawrence V., at home; and Gertrude, who became the wife of Leo Austin, and died July 27, 1906. Mr. Smith has an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres of rich and pro ductive land and upon the place are seen all of the evidences of a model farm of the twentieth century, including good buildings, high grades of stock and well tilled fields. He has been a life-long Republican but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his ener gies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. WILLIAM H.. CASSIDAY. When southern Michigan was largely an uncut for est district, when its lands were unclaimed and uncultivated, its streams unbridged and its roads not yet laid out, William H. Cassi- day became a resident of the state. His birth occurred in Niles township at what was then called Pain's Mill, January 7, 1836, and he now resides on section 17, Pipestone town ship, having thus lived for three score years and ten in this locality. His father, Robert Cassiday, was a native of Wooster, Ohio, where he remained until eighteen years of age, when he began working at the mill wright's trade in that county. In 1829 he HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 945 made his way to the frontier, settling at White Pigeon, Michigan, where he went to work at his trade. He served his time as a millwright and in 1831 came to Berrien county, settling in Niles township. After a short period he removed to what is now know as the Ballard farm on the Buchanan road, where he resided for five or six years, when he took up his abode about one and a half miles west of Niles, and in 1854 lo cated in Pipestone township, becoming one of its first settlers. He located on section 17 and there continued to reside until his death occurred, when he was in his seventy-fifth year. He filled the office of justice of the peace and he built many mills in the county. After coming to Pipestone township he turned his attention to the lumber business and purchased a sawmill, which he operated until 1 861. He then retired from active busi ness life to enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of his former labor. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active interest in its work and upbuilding. He held various church offices and did every thing in his power to advance the cause of his denomination. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother a native of Penn sylvania. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sabrina Park, and was born in Massachusetts in 1807. From that state she moved to New York and afterward to Lake county, Ohio, where she was reared. Her last days were spent in Pipestone town ship, where she died at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. In the family were seven children but only three reached adult age — William H. and his two sisters, Mary and Eliza. The former became the wife of Orland Boughton, and is now de ceased. Eliza became the wife of John Rec tor, who has also passed away. William H. Cassiday is the only living representative and was the second child and second son. He spent the days of his boy hood and youth in the township and the vil lage of Niles, attending the district schools and also select schools in the village. He re mained with his parents until he had attained his majority and after he became of age his father gave him an interest in the business, and he thus became closely associated with 60 the work of the farm and also of the trade of a millwright. He was thus an active fac tor in the industrial life of the community. Upon the father's death the property was divided, his two sisters sharing in the estate. William H. Cassiday was eighteen years o£ age when he came to Pipestone township and! he has remained here continuously since, cov ering a period of more than half a centtiiyf He was married in 1864 to Miss Almeda N. Gardner, a daughter of Davidson and Eletha Gardner, who were early settlers of Michi gan, locating first in Cass county and after ward removing to Pipestone township in an early day. They were the parents of seven children : Davidson, living in Berrien coun ty; Theodore, whose home is in Pipestone township; Eletha, the wife of William Treat, of Buchanan ; Mary, the wife of Fred Sherer, of Mason county, Michigan; Pearl, who married Bell Buckman, and resides in Sodus township; Carl, who wedded Vern Hess, a daughter or Homer Hess ; and Flor ence, at home. All were born on the old farm homestead. Mr. Cassiday has been a life-long resi dent of Berrien county, having lived within its borders for seventy-one years. Few men have therefore been witnesses of its develop ment and progress and been more actively interested in its history. He has voted with the Democracy and also with the Prohi bition party but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for about forty years and has filled all of its offices, serving as steward, trustee and in other po sitions. «He is the oldest settler of Berrien county now living in Pipestone township, his memory forming a connecting link be tween the primitive past and the present, while his memory bears the impress of the early historic annals of this portion of the state. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days when instead of well tilled fields and good orchards were seen wild land covered with native prairie grasses or else with dense forests. It was still to some extent the hunting ground of the Indians, and various kinds of wild animals were seen, while several kinds of wild game could be had in abundance. The homes were largely 946 HISTORY -OF -BERRIEN • COUNTY log cabins, heated by fireplaces and but rudely furnished when compared with fur nishings of the present time. Mr. Cassiday recalls many interesting incidents of the early days and is largely regarded as author ity on matters relating to the pioneer history of the county. GEORGE L. FRANZ, who is giving his time and energies to general farming and dairying, has a good property on sections 19 and 20, Pipestone township. He was born iri Wayne county, Michigan, February 24, 1862, and is the eldest son of John G. and Barbara '(Smith) Franz. He was only three years of age at the time of his parents' re moval to Pipestone township, and when he was a youth of six years his father re moved to Niles township, where the son was reared. The educational privileges of the district school were first afforded him, and he also attended the Morris Chapel Sunday- school, whereby he added not a little to his knowledge through intellectual as well as moral development. From the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn his attention was largely given to the work of the fields upon the old ftiome place and after attaining his majority lie worked for a few months for his father :£or wages. He then bought the place where- G. A. R., at Benton Harbor, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is a stalwart Re publican, giving active and helpful support to his party, and is interested in all that tends to promote the progress of his home locality. With the exception of about three years, a part of which time was spent on the Pacific coast, our subject has always resided in Berrien county, covering a period of al most six decades and he is well known in social and business circles. Although start ing out at the early age of twelve years, dependent entirely upon his own resources for a living, he has worked his way steadily upward until he is today in possession of a valuable property and is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state. ALFRED J. SHARAI, a prominent fruit farmer residing oil section 26, Sodus township, is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Berrien county. He was born in the township which is still his home, April 8, 1856. His father, Luke Sharai, was a native of Montreal, Canada, but at an early period in the development of this section of the state he came to Ber rien county, locating at St. Joseph, where for about twenty years he was engaged in boating, on the St. Joseph river. He then purchased a farm in Sodus township, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter per acre, and here he lived and labored during the remainder of his life, being called to his final rest when he had reached the age of 964 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY seventy-eight years. He was of French origin. Mr. Sharai married Matilda Beeny, a native of England, but who emigrated with her parents to New Jersey during her girlhood days, and thence came to Michigan. Her life's labors were ended in death when she reached the age of sixty-four years. They became the parents of three children, our subject being the only son and second child. Alfred J. Sharai, whose name introduces this review, grew to manhood on the old home farm in Sodus township, assisting his father in its development and improvement until his marriage, which occurred in April, 1876, Ida Tabor becoming his wife. She too, is a native of Berrien county, and a daughter of Wallace Tabor, who was num bered aming the early pioneers of the county. Two children have been born of this union, Lena, the wife of Burt Rector, of Sodus township, and Farmer, at home. Mr. Sharai owns ninety-five acres of land on section 26, Sodus township, which he has placed under an excellent state of culti vation, and here he is engaged in general farming. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and he is an active worker in its ranks. MRS. ABBIE SEEGMILLER is a lady of excellent business ability, carefully managing her farming interests on section 22, Sodus township, which was once the property of her father, Luke Sharai, who - was born in Canada and came to Sodus township, Berrien county, this state, at an early day. He first located in Bainbridge township, where he made his home for a time, and upon his marriage to Miss Ma tilda Beeny, who was born in Ohio, he located on the farm which is now owned by their daughter, Mrs. Seegmiller, and here the father and mother both passed away, the former having reached the very advanced age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away at the age of fifty-eight. Their family numbered two daughters and one son: Emily, the wife of I. M. Allen, of Sodus township; and Alfred, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Abbie Sharai, the youngest member of her father's family, was born on the farm which she now occupies, November 3, 1858, where she was reared, receiving practical training in the duties of the household, which prepared her to later care for a home of her own. She acquired her education in the district schools near her father's. home, and here in May, 1874, she gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Seegmiller, a native of Canada, who crossed the border into the United States about 1868, taking up his abode in Berrien county. He was a well educated man and after arriving in Sodus township followed the profession of teaching for several years and was also en gaged in farming here. By her marriage Mrs. Seegmiller has. become the mother of three children: Al len, who resides in Minnesota; Clyde, of Iowa; and Ruth, who is at home with her mother. Mrs. Seegmiller has a farm of ninety-five acres, which she rents and from which she derives an income sufficient to supply her with the necessities and many of the comforts of life. She has carefully reared her family and has provided all with. good educational advantages. With the ex ception of three years passed in Canada, Mrs. Seegmiller has spent her entire life in Berrien county, where she is highly re spected by all who know her, for she pos sesses many sterling traits of heart and mind. which have endeared her to all with whom she has been associated. She possesses ex cellent business ability and executive force and manages her business interests in a cap able and creditable manner. JOHN W. SHARAI is numbered among the oldest settlers of Berrien county, where- he owns a farm of thirty-five acres, situated on section 22, Sodus township, and he also. owns forty-two acres of the old homestead property. He was born in St. Joseph, Ber rien county, this state, December 9, 1845, a son of Tanos and Louisa (Wheeler) Sharai, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work in con nection with the sketch of his brother,' Ed win Sharai. John W. Sharai, whose name introduces this record, was the eldest of five children. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 965 born of his father's family,, and was very young when he was brought to this town ship by his parents, the family having prev iously lived in Pipestone township, this county. Here he was reared under the par ental roof, assisting his father in the duties of the farm, being assigned such duties as his age and strength permitted of, and when not occupied at farm work he pursued his studies in the district schools near his father's home, there acquiring the education "which fitted him to later carry on his busi ness affairs, when he started out in life on his own account. He continued as a member of his father's household until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, choosing as his vocation the work to which he had been reared. He purchased thirty-eight acres of land on section 22, Sodus township, and he is also operating an additional forty-two acres, which was a part of the old homestead and which was inherited by him from his father's estate. Here he is engaged in gen eral agricultural pursuits, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and each year he harvests good crops as the result of the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He is practical and progressive in carrying on his work, using the best machinery to facilitate his labors, and he is accounted one of the enterprising citizens ' •of his community, where he has taken a deep and helpful interest in all that pertains to general progress along agricultural lines. Mr. Sharai has been twice married, his first union being in 1869, when he wedded Rebecca Seeley, who died leaving two chil dren : Willie and Lula, the wife of Nels Wikoff. For his second wife Mr. Sharai chose Miss Josephine Thebo, and unto them have been born five children, as follows : Johnie, who wedded Nellie Eckright; Laura, the wife of Amos Thomas ; Clarence, who married Etta Taylor ; and Lenora and Letha, both of whom are with their parents. Our subject is a Democrat in his politi cal views, giving active and helpful sup port to the principles of his party, while in his fraternal relations he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows and the Grange. Mr. Sharai has spent his entire life in Berrien county, which covers a period of fifty-one years and there fore is widely known. He has always been an industrious and hardworking man, ac complishing whatever he has undertaken, for he has allowed no obstacles to deter him in his pursuits, and today his farm is an in dication that his has been a successful career. JAMES P. VERSAW, proprietor of the Farm Home, constituting a valuable tract of fifty acres, on which he carries on horticultural pursuits, the property being situated on section 15, Sodus township, was born in this township, October 17, 1847. The name Versaw is really .Versailles, of French origin, but is now known as Ver saw. His father, Francis Versaw, was born in Canada, in 181 3, and in 1835 crossed the border line into the United States, making his way to Berrien county, this state, where he was married to Miss Rebecca McDougal, who was a native of New York. After their marriage the father followed the river for some time, being employed on various boats and made his home on the banks of the St. Joe river, at the place which now bears the name of King's Landing. He later pur chased land in Sodus township, and in 1852 purchased another farm which was located on section 15, of the same township. There they reared their family which numbered eleven children, and nine of the number reached years of maturity, while eight are still living. Here the parents continued to make their home, the father carrying on general agricultural pursuits there through many years and on this farm both passed away, the father having reached the very advanced age of eighty-eight years, while the mother passed away when she had reached the age of seventy-eight. James P. Versaw, whose name intro duces this record was the third in order of birth in his father's family, and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors of field and meadow, and during the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools of his native township. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of seventeen years, when he responded 966 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY- to his country's call for troops in the Civil war and enlisted in Company K, Twenty- eighth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until June 8, 1866, being honorably discharged at Detroit. During his service he participated in many impor tant battles, including the battles of Nash ville, Tennessee, and Kingston, and gave valiant and loyal service in defense of the Union. After the war he returned to his home in Sodus township and resuined agricultural pursuits for several years, after which feel ing that his earnings justified the purchase of property, he invested in his present farm of fifty acres, which he has made a valuable and well improved property, which is de voted entirely to the raising of fruit. He is thoroughly conversant with the best methods of horticulture so that he annually yields good crops of fruit, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. In 1 87 1, the year following his purchase of land, he further completed his arrange ments for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Emma Proctor, a daugh ter of Ibison and Mary Proctor, both of whom were natives of England. Mrs. Ver saw was likewise born in the fatherland and was only five years of age when her parents crossed the Atlantic to the United States, the family home being established in Ber rien county, where she was reared and edu cated, and by her marriage she has become the mother of nine children, William, Har ry, Earnest, Otis, Pearl, Clarence, Susan, Walter and Chester. Mr. Versaw gives his political support to the Republican party and takes an active and helpful interest in all that tends to ad vance its growth and upbuilding. He served his township as drain commissioner for five years and filled the office of con stable for ten years, and his official duties were ever discharged in a capable and effi cient manner. He likewise served as school officer for several years and the cause of edu cation finds in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is identified with General H. Thomas Post, No. 14, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor, and takes great delight in meeting with his old comrades who gave such valiant support to the Union at the time of the Civil war. He has spent his entire life in Ber rien county and has been an active factor in the development and progress which this. section of the state has enjoyed during the last half century. He has been industrious and persistent in his efforts to acquire suc cess and that he has accomplished his aim. is evidenced by his fine fruit farm which he is today successfully controlling. CARLTON E. TABOR, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, situated on section 22, Sodus . town ship, which is called Bluff Resort, was born in the house in which he now resides, March 8, 1858, a son of Wallace and Julia (Mc- Keis) Tabor, whose history is given on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Ernest Tabor, a brother of our subject. Mr. Tabor was reared . on the farm which is yet his home, assisting his father in its operation, and thus gaining practical knowledge which fitted him in later years to carry on business on his own account. He- was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, working in the fields during the period of plowing, planting and harvesting crops, and during the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools near his. father's home. He always remained with his father, assisting him in the manage ment and care of the property and he is- now in possession of the farm, and is here engaged in carrying on general agricultural pursuits, and in addition entertains summer boarders, having converted much of his land into a summer resort, which is known as- Bluff Resort. He has erected on his farm five neat little cottages, which he rents dur ing the summer months and he has placed many conveniences and equipments which add to the comfort as well as the pleasure of his guests, thus rriaking it a popular resort for those who wish to leave the city during- the heated season and enjoy the quiet and rest of a rural existence. Mr. Tabor was happily married in 1884, to Miss Celia Tyler, a daughter of Calvin and Sarah Tyler. She was born near Elgin, Illinois, where she was reared and spent her HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 967 life until her marriage. UntO our subject and his wife have been born five children : Leon, deceased; Maude, of Elgin; Leonard; Mary ; and Ella. Mr. Tabor giVes his politi cal support to the Republican party, and in his fraternal relations is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the camp at Sodus. Having spent his en tire life on his present farm, which has be come endeared to him through the associa tions of his boyhood and youth as well as those of later manhood, Mr. Tabor is well known in his home locality, and he and his estimable wife enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of this section of the county. ISAAC LIGHT. This well and favor ably known citizen of Eau Claire, Berrien county, is now living retired from the active duties and cares of life, enjoying the fruits of his years of toil in the past. He is of Swiss-German descent, and is descended from two brothers named Light who were banished from their country on account of their religious faith and came to America, becoming the founders of the family in this country. The father of him whose name introduces this review, Henry Light, was born and reared in Dauphin county, Penn sylvania, where he followed farming as a life occupation, and there his death occurred when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Leon Eber- soll, and she too was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. Her death occurred when she had reached her eighty-eighth year. In their fam ily were ten children, but only six of the number grew to years of maturity, and Mr. Isaac Light of this review was the fifth in order of birth. The last named was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1836, re ceiving his education in the common schools of his native place, and he remained at home assisting in the work of the farm until he reached the age of maturity, when he began farming for himself on the old homestead. The date of his arrival in Berrien county, Michigan, was March 23, 1870, at which time he purchased and took up his abode on an eighty acre farm, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, giving his time to its cultivation and improvement for a number of years thereafter. In 1881 he was appointed superintendent of the Ber rien county home for the poor, continuing in that position for twenty-five years to the very day, when he resigned his position and located in Eau Claire. He is, however, the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, the work of which is carried on by his son, who lives on the place. On October 8, 1861, Mr. Light was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lygon, who was also a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where she was born on the 9th of August, 1840, and was there reared and educated. They have three children — Minerva J.,, the wife of Howard Simp-son, of Benton Harbor; Calvin Henry, a resi dent of Sodus township, Berrien county; and Venetta Adell, the wife of William Dean, of Berrien township. Mr. Light is a Republican in his political affiliations, active in the work of the party, but at local elec tions he votes for the man whom he regards as best qualified to discharge the duties com mitted to his care. He is well known throughout the entire county of Berrien, of which he has been a resident for thirty-six years, and during twenty-five years of that time he has been a public officer. His re ligious connections are with the United Brethren church. ISRAEL M. ALLEN, one of the old settlers of Berrien county, where he owns 'and operates a well improved farm of eighty acres, which is devoted to horticultural pur suits, is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Seneca county, March 25, 1834. His father, John Allen, was a native of Connecticut, where he was reared, and he was married in New York, to Miss Anna Greenleaf, a native of that state, and a daughter of Tillie Greenleaf, of English birth, and her ancestiy can be traced back through four centuries. After his marriage John Allen located in New York, where he continued his residence until 1835, in which year he made his way to the west, taking up his abode in Ypsilanti, Mich- 968 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY igan, where he followed the occupation of farming, being numbered among the first set tlers of that portion of the state. After a year, however, he removed with his family to Portage county, Ohio, where the mother of our subject died in 1850, and the father afterward married Sarah Edwards, and in 1854 came to Berrien county, this state, where in the spring of 1855, he located on a farm in Pipestone township, and the father's death there occurred in 1862. In this fam ily were five sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the youngest. Israel M. Allen was but one year of age when brought to this state by his parents, and accompanied them on their removal to Portage county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated to the age of thirteen years, when he started out in life on his own re sponsibility, being first employed as a driver on the canal but owing to his ability he was promoted from time to time until he became pilot, and he followed the canal altogether for eight years. In 1855, a year after his father had returned to Berrien county, Israel M. Allen made his way to this state, making the journey with teams. He located in Pipestone township, where, in the spring of that year he purchased a farm of forty acres, on which stood a log house but was other wise unimproved. Mr. Allen began the work of development and improvement and soon placed his land under a high state of cultivation, erected good buildings and made his farm an excellent property. He continued his general farming pursuits until 1 86 1, when, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining as a pri vate of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Vol unteer Infantry. On account of the illness of his father he hired a substitute and re turned home, where he remained until 1864, when his father having died in the mean time, he again enlisted in the same company and regiment and served until the close of the war, in 1865, when he was honorably discharged. After returning from the war he sold his farm in Pipestone township and invested his money in his present place, which is situated in Sodus township, and comprises eighty acres of valuable land. He has added many modern improvements since his resi dence here, erecting substantial and con venient buildings, and he has also set out a fine orchard containing apples, plums and small fruit, and he makes horticultural pur suits his principal business interest, although he engages to some extent in general farm ing. The fruit which he produces is of the finest quality, and he finds a ready sale on the market for the products of his farm, and his financial resources are thus being materi ally increased year by year. In his work he follows practical and progressive ideas which are always sure to bring the best possible results. Mr. Allen has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Sarah Rector, in May, 1862, and her death occurred two years later while he was in the army. She became the mother of two children, one of whom sur vives — Anson, who is a musician, and re sides in Chicago, while the younger child, Ural S., died at the age of two years. Mr. Allen was married a second time, December 25, 1866, at which time he wedded Miss Emily Sharai, a daughter of Luke Sharai, of Berrien county, and by this marriage there is a son and daughter : Chilli, now the wife of Fred Gleason ; and Luke, who is an engineer on the Graham & Morton line, and resides in Benton Harbor, wedded Helen Thomas. Mr. Allen is a Democrat in his political views and affiliations and takes an active and helpful interest in public affairs. He has resided in Berrien county for fifty-one years and has been identified with much of its development and improvement along many lines that have been of direct benefit to his community. He has displayed ex cellent judgment in the management of his business affairs and is today in possession of a good property and a comfortable com petence which enables him to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life. EMERSON HOGUE, who is exten sively engaged in agricultural pursuits at his pleasantly located farm on section 35, Sodus township, Berrien county, is a native HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 969 son of this locality, his birth occurring in Sodus township- on the 7th of February, 1862. His father, Charles Hogue, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, was reared there un til he was eighteen years of age, when he came with his parents, William and Sarah Hogue, to Berrien county, Michigan, locat ing in Pipestone township. They were num bered among the early settlers of that lo cality, and were identified with much of the early history of the township. Charles Hogue married Hannah Gano, a native of Portage county, Ohio, and she is still liv ing, but her husband died when forty-eight years of age. William Hogue, the grand father of our subject, lived to the good old age of ninety-three years, while his wife also attained a ripe old age ere she was called to the home beyond. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hogue were six chil dren, three sons and three daughters, but one son died at the age of seventeen years and one daughter at about the age of nine teen years. Two sons are living, the brother of our subject being Clayton M., a resident of Eau Claire. Emerson Hogue, the second child and eldest son in his parents' family, has spent nearly his entire life in Sodus township, and he remained at home until he was nineteen years of age. In 1904, he purchased the farm where he now lives. His home place consists of forty acres of rich and well cul tivated land, and he also owns another tract of forty acres in the same township, which is devoted exclusively to fruit culture. Mr. Hogue gives his political support to the Republican party, and for three years was clerk of the township, while for two years he was its treasurer. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Center. In 1886 Mr. Hogue was married to Miss Delia Carmichael, also a native of Sodus township and a daughter of B. P. and Lydia Carmichael. Two sons have been born of this union, Claire, occupying a good posi tion in the stock yards at Chicago, and Burwell, who is at home attending school. J. H. McCARTNEY, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine in Sodus, is a native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, hav ing been born in South Bend, May 31, 1861. His father, John McCartney, was a native of Scotland, and when a young man he came to the United States, where he was mar ried to Miss Elizabeth Stanton, who was born in Buffalo, New York. They became early settlers of St. Joseph county, Indiana, where the father engaged in farming. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters, but only three of the number are now living. Dr. McCartney, the third in order of birth in his father's family, acquired his early education in the public schools of his native place, and, having reached man's es tate and deciding upon the study of medi cine as a life work, he pursued a course of study at Painesville, Ohio, subsequent to which time he entered the Indiana Medical College of Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1895. He then located at Sodus, where he began the practice of his profession, and here he has been en gaged to the present time. He has a gen eral practice, which is constantly growing in volume and importance, and now amounts to about thirty-five hundred dollars per year. He keeps himself thoroughly informed con cerning the most modern ideas of practice, through constant reading and investigation, so that the results which follow his labors are most satisfactory, thereby gaining for him not only the confidence of the general public but of his professional brethren as well. Dr. McCartney is a member of the Ber rien County Medical Society, and is acting as medical examiner for several old line in surance companies, including the Mutual, New York Life, and others. In his fra ternal relations he holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Benton Harbor, and in all these different organizations he is popular with the brethren of the craft. Dr. McCartney was united in marriage in July, 1879, to Miss Fanny P. Smith, a daughter of Henry and Julia (McDonald) Smith, who was bom near Painesville, in Lake county, Ohio, February 28, 1861. Her 970 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY father was a native of New York, while the mother's birth occured in England. Thei family numbers three daughters and one son, of whom Mrs. McCartney is the third in order of birth. Both the Doctor and his wife are popular among their many friends, to whom the hospitality of their own pleasant home is freely extended. While the Doctor is numbered among the younger members of the medical fraternity, he is making substantial progress and the future undoubtedly holds in store for him still greater success. WILLIAM H. COOK is well known to the residents of Sodus township, Berrien county, which has been the family home for many years, and he has won an honored name for the many excellent qualities which he possesses. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Oswego county on the 25th of July, 1844. His father, William J. Cook, was born in Vermont, near Brattleboro, his people being originally from Massachusetts and of English descent. His mother was Lydia Thomas, while his wife bore the maiden name of Catharine Dunbar and was a native of Scotland, but was brought to Canada when young. The parents were there married, and the mother died at the early age of forty-four years, while the father reached the age of eighty-seven years. In an early day they came to Michigan, tak ing up their abode in the woods of Hamil ton township, Van Buren county, where they secured a small farm. There the mother died, and in the fall of 1861 the father removed to Bainbridge township, Berrien county. In their family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Lydia A. Whitten; Melissa J. Pierce; Cynthia M. Olds; William H. ; Dar ius A., who was killed by lightning about 1884; Myron W., manager of the Clover Leaf Freight Department Depot at St. Louis, Missouri; and Alice Babcock, of Mishawaka, Indiana. William H. Cook, whose name intro- . duces this review, was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Hamilton, town ship, Van Buren county, Michigan, which continued as his home until the fall of 1861. In the following year, 1862, enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a mem ber of Company G, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years, doing active service throughout the entire time, being mustered out on June 10, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He was taken prisoner in 1863 and incarcerated in Libby prison until May of the same year. He was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea, and took part in many of the historical battles of the war, among them being Resaca, Newhope Church, Burnt Hickory, Golgotha, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Bentonville and Averysboro. Mr. Cook was but eighteen years of age when he entered the service of his country, and weighed but ninety-five pounds. He served until the close of the war or for three years, and participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D. C. He was detailed at Savannah, Georgia, as forager through North and South Carolina, and was discharged at Washington June 10, 1865. After the close of his military career Mr. Cook returned to Bainbridge township, Berrien county, and engaged in farming. In 1894 he came to Sodus and retired from the active duties of a business life. He has taken an active part in the public affairs of his locality, and is a life-long Republican. In 1876 he was elected to the office of jus tice of the peace, holding that position con tinuously for sixteen years in Bainbridge township, and the following spring after his arrival in Sodus township he was again elected to the office and was its incumbent for twelve years, so that for the long period of twenty-eight years he was a justice of the peace in Berrien county. For nine years he was a school director in Bainbridge township. In 1874 he became a member of the Grange, in which he has served many times as master, and for twenty years has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Cook was first married on the 18th of August, 1866, to Nancy Roberts, and they had one child, Effie, the wife of Milton Park, of Dowagiac, Michigan. The wife and mother died in 1891, and on the 8th HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 971 of October, 1894, Mr. Cook married Laura Kennedy, of Sodus, and a daughter of Will iam H. King. Mr. Cook has been identi fied with the interests of Van Buren and Berrien counties since 1854, and is well and favorably known to their residents. CHARLES McGOWAN has been so closely identified with the interests of Ber rien county that it feels a just pride in claiming him among her native sons. He stands today at the head of one of the lead ing industrial concerns of Sodus township, being the proprietor of a large general mer chandise store in the village of that name and also its postmaster. His birth occured in Pipestone township on the 30th Of Jan uary, 1856, a son of Hamilton and Hannah (Garrison) McGowan, both natives of Ohio. They came to Berrien county, Michigan, about 1854, locating in what was then Pipe stone township, where the father was en gaged in farming. The mother died at the age of sixty-six years, but the father passed away in 1865, when only about thirty-one years of age. He was of Scotch-Irish de scent, his father having been a native of Scotland and his mother of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. McGowan were the parents of four children, three- sons and one daughter, but the last named is deceased. Charles McGowan, the only representa tive of the family in Berrien county, started out to earn his own living at the age of eighteen years, working by the month on a farm in this county until he was twenty-six years of age, and thus he has been distinct ively the architect of his own fortunes. In 1881 he engaged in the mercantile business at Sodus, opening a small general store, but as the years have passed by his interests have grown apace with the progress which has dominated this section of the state, and he now carries a large general line of goods, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, farm implements, paints and drugs. He is the pioneer merchant of the town, and is well and favorably known through the surrounding country. In ad dition to this large business he is also the owner of a fruit farm of twenty acres ad joining the village of Sodus. In 1888 Mr. McGowan was married to Hattie Tidey, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Burwick) Tidey, and they have five children — William Spencer, Anna, Elsie, Ruth and Vinas. In 1883 Mr. McGowan was appointed postmaster of Sodus, to which position he was reappointed in 1892 and again in February, 1894, having thus discharged the duties connected with that office for about nineteen years. He is a stanch Republican in his political affilia tions, active in the work of his party, and in 1888 he was elected treasurer of Sodus township, while for ten years he served as agent of the Big Four. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Patricians at Benton Harbor. He well deserves to be ranked among the lead ing business men of his native township. R. SMITH PENNELL, residing in Berrien Springs, having retired from active farm life, still owns a valuable property of one hundred and ninety acres in Berrien township, which he rents to his eldest son. He was for many years closely associated with agricultural interests in this county and his success is attributable to his own earnest labors and close application. Born in Cay uga county, New York, on the 30th of June, 1848, he was the youngest of the three sons of Abram and Elizabeth (Smith) Pennell. During his infancy his parents brought their family to Berrien county, settling in Lake township. R. Smith Pennell was reared in Lake and Oronoko townships and was edu cated in the public schools. When not busy with his text-books his time was devoted to farm labor and he remained at home, assist ing in the work of the fields up to the time of his marriage. On the 2 ist of December, 1869, Mr. Pennell was joined in wedlock to Miss Ethel E. Tuttle, a daughter of Riley J. and Mel vina C. (Brown) Tuttle. She was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 20, 1852, and came with her parents to Berrien county when about eight years of age. In their family are seven children, Orson D., Oscar J., Carl S., Laura R., Lloyd B., Hattie E. and Lyle A. 972 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY At the time of his marriage Mr. Pennell located on a farm and for many years was actively associated with general agricultural pursuits, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation, adding to the farm many modern equipments and accessories to facili tate the work and promote the success at tendant therewith. He became the owner of one hundred and ninety acres in Berrien township, which is a valuable tract of land and which he now rents to his eldest son so that he derives therefrom a good income. He has been almost a life-long resident of Berrien county, having lived here for more than fifty-seven years and with its interests he has been closely associated, delighting in the progress that has been made as the years have gone by. In his political views he has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential ballot and has labored for the local interests and the growth of the party. He served as justice of the peace in Berrien township and was highway com missioner in Oronoko township. FRED FELTON. Since the old clays of Puritan rule when our New England forefathers attempted to eliminate from life as something frivolous and not to be tolerated all that was joyous and pleasure- able there has come a tendency in the other direction, to recognize the modest enter tainments as a source of pleasure and re creation. It is acknowledged that progress has been made on the stage in the character of plays presented as well as in every other walk of life. Not only must one have an appreciation for the art as manifest in act ing but must also possess keen business ability and discernment to successfully manage theatrical enterprises. In both these directions Fred Felton is well qualified and is now successfully managing the Grand Opera House at Traverse City, Michigan; and the Bell Opera House at Benton Har bor, while at the same time he makes the bookings for a large number of other theatres. He makes his home in Benton Harbor, where he has resided since 1902. Mr. Felton was born in Louisiana, and acquired a common school education. When about twelve years of age he joined the Stowe circus and was later with the Cole circus. He continued in the circus profes sion until about eighteen years of age, and afterward was for a number of years a scenic artist, at the same time occasionally appearing on the stage as an actor. He finally attained considerable distinction on the stage, taking leading parts with differ ent companies with which he was connected. From 1876 until 1893 he was manager for his own companies upon the road, and dur ing these years made several professional visits to Benton Harbor. He was so well pleased with the place that he finally located here as a permanent place of residence. In 1893 he organized the Central City Show Printing Company, at Jackson, Michigan, of which he was president and general man ager. During the time he was thus con nected he was also manager of Jackson theaters. In 1902 he located in Benton' Harbor, since which time he has been iden tified with many of the interests of the city, and has also been the manager for the Bell Opera house, as well as of a circuit in the northern part of Michigan. Mr. Felton was married in 1875 to Miss Margaret Brush, of Louisville, Kentucky, of which city she is a native. They have one child, Helen De Forest, who was educated at Indianapolis, and at Jackson, Michigan, and is now assisting her father in business. In politics Mr. Felton is a gold Demo crat and fraternally he is connected with Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and with the Knights of Pythias. Since starting out in life for himself at the early age of twelve years he has made steady pro gress in the business world :>i the extent and importance of his operations and is now con ducting a large and successful business as theatrical manager. FRANK P. CUPP, supervisor of Lin coln township, in which capacity he has demonstrated his public-spirited citizenship and devotion to the general good, is also well known in business circles in Stevens- ville as a lumber dealer and fruit grower. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, No vember 14, 1859, and his youth was largely passed in Columbus, that state, his education HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 973 being acquired in the high school at Colum bus and the State University, although he did not cemplete a university course. When but a boy he clerked in a store and has largely been dependent upon his own re sources from an early age. He was left fatherless when a lad' of about four years. His father, Colonel Valentine Cupp, lieu tenant colonel of the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, was killed at Chicka- mauga in September, 1863, while leading his troops into battle. Pierced by rebel lead he died a few hours later. Ohio honored his memory by placing a monument on the battle ground, erected by the state to the regiment. He had followed farming in Fairfield county, Ohio, and at the outbreak of the civil war he assisted in organizing the regiment and was elected captain of the company. Later he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and thus served until he lost his life while in command of the First Ohio at the battle of Chickamauga. His widow was left with the care of four children. Frank P. Cupp at the time of his father's death went to live in the home of an uncle, and at the age of fifteen years moved to Columbus, Ohio. At intervals throughout the. period of his youth and early manhood he was connected with mercantile life, and about eight years ago he came to Michigan. He had a desire to engage in fruit growing in this state and started with a tract of land of twenty acres, all planted to fruit, the principal crops being peaches and grapes. His fruit sales were very satisfactory and he has prospered in his undertakings and has placed many modern improvements up on his land. In 1904 he erected a new resi dence supplied with all modern equipments and facilities which add to the conveniences of a home at the present day. His place is located on the Lake Shore drive, adjoining Stevensville on the north, and for six years Mr. Cupp has been engaged in commercial circles in the town, carrying a full assort ment of lumber and building materials. He has a liberal patronage in this connection and his honorable business methods and reasonable prices are the salient, features in his success. Mr. Cupp was married in western Kan sas, in April, 1888, to Miss Eleanor Rawl- ings, a native of Illinois, and they have be come the parents of three children, Eleanor, Frank V., and Kinnaird. The parents hold membership in the Episcopal church at St. Joseph and Mr. Cupp is a valued represen tative of various fraternal organizations, be ing connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Macca bees. In politics he is a Republican and is now serving for the second term as super visor of Lincoln township. He is an earnest champion of the good roads movement which became a factor of the election of 1906 and was carried in his township. As- tive in the work of the party and a staunch advocate of Republican principles he never theless places the general good before par tisanship and the public welfare before per sonal aggrandizement. He has great faith in Michigan as a fruit raising state and feels no regret that he changed his place of resi dence from Ohio to Berrien county. On the contrary he has prospered in his business undertakings here and as a merchant and horticulturist as well as a citizen he holds an enviable position in the public regard. S. C. REAMS, numbered among Mich igan's native sons, is now living on section 17, Pipestone township, which farm has been his home continuously since 1866. He was Corn in Cass county, Michigan, October 4, 1832. His father, Josses Reams, was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and became one of the worthy pioneer residents of Cass county, establishing his home there when almost the entire surface of the county was unbroken prairie or dense forest tracts. He raised one of the first crops raised in Jef ferson township and aided in transforming the county from a wild and unimproved re gion into one of rich fertility. He lived in Cass county until about 1844, when he re moved to Pipestone township,' Berrien coun ty, and purchased a farm. By trade, how ever, he was a carpenter and joiner and he built many of the early houses in the county, being well known for his good workmanship as well as his unassailable honesty in bus iness and his good traits of citizenship. 974 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY About 1854 he went to Washington Terri tory, where he died at the age of forty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hulda Colyar, was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and died at the age of eighty- five years. She was twice married and was twice a widow. In the Ream family were nine children, eight of whom reached ma ture years. S. C. Reams, the eldest of the family, was a youth of about fourteen years when he became a resident of Pipestone township. He was educated in the common schools but being the eldest son his opportunities in that direction were somewhat meager, for he had to look after the farm. He has, however, by reading and study at home and by experi ence and observation added greatly to his knowledge, making himself a well informed man, conversant with the current issues and questions of the day. Mr. Reams was married in 1856 to Miss Samantha M. J. Tapman, who died in 1902, leaving two children, Grace Arabell, now the wife of Clarence Tibbs; and J. T. Reams, At the time of the Civil war Mr. Reams of this review gave tangible evidence of his loyalty to the Union by his enlistment on the 30th of August, 1864, as a member of Company E, Thirteenth Michigan Veteran Volunteers. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea and also at Savannah, Georgia, assisting in the capture of the city. He was wounded at Bentonville, North Carolina, by a gunshot in the right knee and was sent on a hospital steamer to New York city. He was afterward in the hospital at Detroit from April until June and then re turned to his home. In the spring of 1866 he located on a farm, where he" now lives and it has been his home continuously since, covering a period of four decades. He still owns one hundred and twenty acres of land here but has practically retired from active business. The farm, however, returns him a good income and he is thus supplied with the comforts of life. He has been a stalwart Republican since Lincoln's first election and has voted for each presidential nominee of the party through forty-five years. Matters of public moment are of interest to him and he has been faithful in his allegiance to every movement that tends to promote the welfare of the county, manifesting the same loyalty in citizenship in days of peace that he dis played when on southern battle-fields he fol lowed the old flag. HOMER E. HESS, supervisor of Pipe stone township, resides on section 20, where he owns a well improved farm of two hun dred and thirty acres. In its care and culti vation he displays keen discrimination and thorough understanding of the best methods of conducting farm work and his labors are therefore bringing him a gratifying meas ure of success. He was born in Crawford county, Ohio, April 31, 1859, and is. the only son of William A. and Susan (Bell) Hess, who are mentioned on another page of this work. He was but seven years of age when he came to Berrien county, the family home being established in Berrien township, after which he mastered the usual branches of English learning in the district schools and in Berrien Center. He remained with his parents carrying on the home farm, and be came thoroughly familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops. On the 27th of November, 1879, Mr. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Etta B. Mclntyre, a daughter of Patrick and Mar garet Mclntyre, and a native of Crawford county, Ohio. She became a resident of Michigan when a yonng lady of seventeen years, accompanying her parents on their removal to Berrien county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hess located on a farm which has since been their home, here living for twenty-six years. He devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and to stock-raising, and also has considerable fruit upon his place. Every thing about the farm is well kept and it re quires only a glance to indicate to the passer by that the owner is a man of progressive spirit and practical methods. The farm com prises two hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land and constitutes a valu able property of Pipestone township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess has been born a daughter, Vern L., now the wife of Carl Cassidy, a representative of one of the old HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 975 families of Berrien county. In his political views Mr. Hess is a stalwart Republican, in terested in the growth and success of his party and doing all in his power to extend its influence. He has been honored with a number of local offices, having for eleven consecutive years filled the office of town ship clerk. In 1899 he was chosen super visor and has been elected each year since that time, so that he is now serving for the seventh year. No public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his re-election is proof conclu sive of his capability as well as fidelity. He is one of the directors of the Berrien and Cass Counties Mutual Fire Insurance Com pany and has been a member of the school board since he came to Pipestone township. He has -always taken an active part in pub lic affairs and is now serving as a member of the Republican county central committee. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen and a fraternal spirit is always manifested in his relations with others out side of the order. Forty years have come and gone since he came to the county and of its progress he has been an interested wit1 ness, while in many movements of direct benefit to the county he has been an active participant. GEORGE S. LAMORE.- For a num ber of years past George S. Lamore has been prominently identified with the business in terests of Pipestone township as a hardware and farm implement merchant and as an agriculturist, and has thus become recog nized as one of its most valued and useful citizens. He is also a native son of the coun ty, his birth occurring in Pipestone town ship on the 27th of September, 1850. His father, Louis Lamore, a native of Canada, located within the borders of Berrien coun ty in 1856, first establishing his home at Casaday Corners, where he purchased and improved sixty acres -of -land, his first dwell ing being a little log cabin which had been built on the land. He later removed to Ber rien township, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in death at the age of seventy-six years. He was a ship carpen ter by trade and assisted in building the first bridge in Niles for the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and also helped to build for that company all the bridges from De troit to Niles. It was while thus employed • that he purchased his sixty-acre farm in Pipestorte township. Mr. Lamore married Sarah Losey, who was born in Cayuga coun ty, New York, the daughter of Charles and Mary Losey, and they became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Cornelia, who died in 1865; Jose phine, the wife of Reuben W. Reese; May, the wife of Samuel Odell ; Charles, of Pipe stone township, Berrien county; Gilbert, a resident of Idaho. The wife and mother is still living, having reached the age of eighty- three years. In his political affiliations Mr. Lamore was a Republican, and fraternally was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. George S. Lamore, the third in order of birth of his parents' six children, was taken by his parents to Berrien township when a small boy, and he remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, assisting in the work -of the old farm and also a part of the place on which he now lives. He then took up his abode in Sodus township, where he was engaged in the saw-milling business about one year, while for a similar period be was engaged in farming in that township, and he then purchased a small farm in Ber rien township, which he operated in con nection with his father's old homestead. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Lamore returned to Pipestone township, locating on the farm on which he now makes his home. In 1902 he embarked, in the hardware and agricultural implement business, which he has since car ried on in addition to his farm work. He today ranks among the leading business men of Berrien county, and his creditable life work has won him the respect and com mendation of all who are familiar with his history. Mr. Lamore was married in 1876 to- Caroline, a daughter of Adam and Theresa Enders, who were early settlers of Berrien county, Michigan, and natives of Germany, being known as High Dutch. Mrs. Lamore was born in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, and by her marriage has become the 976 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY mother of four children, — Pearl, the wife of Roland Inman, of Mabton, Washington; Alice, the wife of Harry Blish, of Dowagiac, Michigan; and Wilbur and May, at home. Since age gave Mr. Lamore the right of franchise he has upheld the principles of the Republican party, but at local elections he casts his ballot for the men whom he re gards as best qualified to perform the duties entrusted to their care. He is a man of enterprise and liberal views, and is thor oughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the county which has been so long his home. HENRY J. BOWMAN lives on section 29, Pipestone township-, where he owns and operates a good tract of land of one hundred and forty-five acres, devoted to general agri cultural and horticultural pursuits, and also to stock-raising. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Rochester on the 10th of May, 1854, and is a son of Nicholas and Dorothea (Nestman) Bowman, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that country, and, attracted by the broader opportunities of the new world, crossed the Atlantic about 1846, settling near Roches ter, New York. There he resided for al most a decade and in 1826 came to Michi gan,, establishing his home in Washtenaw county. He there followed the occupation of farming until his removal in 1865 to Pipestone township, Berrien county, where he purchased forty acres of timber land, which he cleared and transformed into a good farm. He died in his seventy-seventh year, while his wife passed away when about sixty-six years of age. In their family were eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom reached adult age, Henry J. being the third child. On the day that he was eleven years of age Henry J. Bowman became a resident of Pipestone township and here the re mainder of his youth was passed, while his education was continued in the district schools near his father's home. In early life he began earning his own living by working as a farm hand in the neighborhood, leaw- ing home at the age of twenty-one to make his own way in the world. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Christina Thumm, a daughter of Jacob Thumm, and a native of Michigan. The marriage was celebrated in 1875, and Mr. Bowman afterward purchased forty acres of land upon which they located, there resid ing until 1888. In that year he removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was en gaged in business there, and later at Albert Lea, remaining for about eight years in that state. On the expiration of that period he returned to Pipestone township and bought the farm whereon he now resides, erecting all of the buildings upon the place and mak ing all of the improvements there. He now has one hundred and forty-five acre of rich and productive land, and in the tilling of the soil and the cultivating of his crops he is meeting with good success, annually har vesting gratifying grain and fruit crops. He also raises considerable stock and his busi ness is carefully and successfully conducted. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman has been blessed with three children : Fred A., who married Pearl Hess, and is engaged in farming in Pipestone township; Anna, the wife of Edward Freeman, a resident farmer of Pipestone township; and Henry C, at home. Mr. Bowman is a Democrat where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot and frequently supports the candidates of the Republican party, if he thinks them better qualified for the discharge of local official duties. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen. He is well known in the county and has taken an active part in public affairs. He has long been a witness of the growth and development of the county and through the greater part of his life has re sided in this section of the state where he has a wide and favorable acquaintance. DAVIS ARCHER, now filling the of fice of treasurer of Pipestone township, also owns and operates a farm on section 14. He was born in Onondaga, Michigan, De cember 15, 1853, a son of John and Sarah Archer, both natives of New York, whence they removed to Michigan in a very early HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 977 day. After spending some time here they removed to Fulton county but later came again to Berrien county, locating on the farm on which our subject now makes his home. In their family were seven children, five of whom reached years of maturity. Davis Archer, the youngest member of his father's family was only a year old when the father removed to Ohio, and there he was reared to the age of- twelve years, when the parents returned to Berrien county, where the father engaged in general agri cultural pursuits. The son continued his education, begun in the schools of Ohio, in the district school near his father's home, and when not busy with the duties of the schoolroom was trained to the work of the home farm, thus giving his father the bene fit of his services until he had reached man hood. He then started out in life on his own account and continued to engage in the occupation to which he had been reared, spending three years in Bainbridge town ship and one year in Benton township, and in 1865 he removed to the old homestead farm and has since made this his home. Here he is engaged in general farming, each year harvesting excellent crops as the result of the care and labor he bestows upon his fields, thus adding to his financial resources until he is today in possession .of a comfort able competence. In 1870 Mr. Archer was united in mar riage to Miss Martha Sorell, a daughter of Oliver Sorell, and unto them have been born six children, namely: Mary, now the wife of John Sutherland, of Bainbridge town ship; Sarah, the wife of Sterling Suther land, of Benton township; Frank, en gaged in the laundry business at Ben ton Harbor; Charlie, of Bainbridge town ship; Emma, the wife of John Arnt, of Bainbridge township; and Albert, still under the parental roof. All the chil dren were bom on the old homestead farm. Mr, Archer has been a life-long Repub lican, interested in the best interests of the party, and socially is connected with lodge No. 348, I. O. O. F., at Berrien Center, the Modem Woodmen camp at Neoma, and the Tribe of Ben Hur, in all of which he is a, loyal and valued member. In 1905 he was 62 called by his fellow townsmen to the office of township treasurer to fill out an unex pired term, and in 1906 was elected to the position, being the present incumbent in that office. Having spent forty-one years in Ber rien county he is familiar with the work that has here been carried on, having taken a deep and helpful interest in material prog ress and improvement of his section of the state. Any measure which tends to advance the welfare of the county receives his hearty co-operation and he has been a leader in many movements which have worked for the betterment of his portion of the state. He is known as a reliable and straightfor ward business man and is highly respected among the people with whom he is brought in contact. JOHN R. SUTHERLAND. In the death of John R. Sutherland Berrien county lost one of her most prominent and useful citizens, for he was numbered among the honored pioneers who aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county. He was born in Broome county, New York, September 8, 1832, and was but seven years of age when brought by his parents to Michigan, the family home first being established in Kala mazoo county, near the city of that name. Four years later a removal was made to Berrien county, and when John R. had at-' tained the age of eleven years the family located in Bainbridge township, which was his home for many years. After his mar riage, October 5, 1856, Mr. Sutherland set tled in Pipestone township, his first home being a 4ittle log. house and his first farm consisted of eighty acres, to which he sub sequently added another eighty-acre tract, but afterward sold forty acres of his farm. Wild was the region into which he came, and from that early period he was promi nently identified with the history of south western Michigan, being closely connected with the progress and advancement of this section. He was a Democrat in his politi cal affiliations, and fraternally was a mem ber of the Masonic order. His death oc curred on the 22d Of December, 1904. His was .a long, useful, active and honorable life;. 978 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of Berrien county's history. His re mains were buried in the Penyan cemetery in Bainbridge township. Mrs. Sutherland, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Shippy, was born in Jef ferson county, New York, February 24, 1834, a daughter of William Shippy, also a native of that state, and who died when his daughter was but seven years old. Her mother, nee Lydia Ingraham, also a native of the Empire state, afterward married George Collis, and in 1848 came with her husband to Berrien county, Mrs. Suther land being then fifteen years of age. After her marriage she located in Pipestone town ship, where since her husband's death she has had the supervision of the old home stead farm of one hundred acres. For fifty- eight years she has made her home within the borders of Berrien county, and during fifty years of that time has resided in Pipe stone township, so she has been a witness of almost its entire development and progress. Eight children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, six sons and two daughters, namely: Ida, the wife of S. M. Clawson, whose history appears on other pages in this work ; Edgar G., who died in California at the age of twenty-four years; Lissa, the wife of Theodore Hartsell, of Pipestone township; Nelson B., who married Clara Ely; John H., who married Vena Bake man; Charles W., who married Maggie Rush; Ovid O., who married Katie Rush; and Aubrey D., who was drowned on the 4th of July, 1906, and who had married May Pearl. All of the children were born and reared in Pipestone township. WILLIAM COLLINS, one of the honored early pioneers of Berrien county and a member of the boys in blue during the Civil war, resides on his pleasant and well improved farm in section 3, Pipestone town ship. He was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 16, 1838. His father, Barnabas Col lins, was a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupation. When a young man he re moved to Darke county, Ohio, and was there married to Ann Miller, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Mil ler. Mrs. Collins was also a native of the commonwealth of Virginia, born near Wheeling, but when about thirteen years of age she accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Collins located on a farm in Darke county, that state, but later moved to Preble county, Ohio, where the father passed away in death in 1846, being survived by his widow for a number of years, she having reached the age of eighty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, and all are yet living, namely: George, a resident of Kansas; William, whose name introduces this re view; Lorinda, the wife of Carl Brum baugh, now of Dodge City, Kansas; Mar tha Ann, the wife of Levi Adams, of Garnett, Kansas; and Robert, who makes his home in Washington county, Kansas-. William Collins spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Darke and Preble counties, Ohio, and was but seven years old when his father died, after which he made his home with an uncle, William Miller, in Darke county until he was fourteen years of age. His mother was a second time mar ried, and he then went to live with her, where he made his home until he offered his services to the Union cause during the Civil war, enlisting in 1862 as a member of Company C, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer In fantry, entering the ranks as a private and serving until the war was over. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, and took part in the siege of Atlanta and the battles of PerryviUe and Franklin, Tennessee. At the last named engagement he received a gun-shot wound in the calf of his leg, and for six months was confined in a hospital. He was first captured, however, and held as a prisoner about sixteen days, when he was released and taken to Sedgwick Hos pital at Louisville, Kentucky, there remain ing until he was mustered out of service, being first transferred to Lincoln Hospital at Washington, D. C, where he remained until the Grand Review in that city. He was then sent to Columbus, Ohio, and re ceived his honorable discharge on the 5th of July, 1865. ' With a creditable military record Mr. &K>Ai' ~%4^/j ZCv^L^ HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 979 Collins then returned to his home iri Preble county, Ohio, and in 1868 came to Berrien county, Michigan, purchasing the farm on which he yet resides, on section 3, Pipe stone township. Here he owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of rich and fertile land, where he is engaged in general farm ing and stock-raising, and the many im provements which now adorn this valuable home place are all the work of his hands. On the 8th of November, 1866, Mr. Col lins was united in marriage to Emily, a daughter of Tunis Roberts, of Darke coun ty, Ohio, where the daughter was born and ' reared. To this union have been born five children: Marion O., whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume; Albert H., a resident of Pipestone township, Berrien county; Elnora, the wife of Alva Williams, also of Pipestone township ; Myrtle, wife of John Horstman, of Cass county, Michigan; and Charlie, now attending the Commercial College at Elkhart, Indiana. Since age gave him the right of franchise Mr. Collins has supported the principles of the Repub lican party, and he has served as highway commissioner, as a justice of the peace six years and as a drain commissioner for two years. He is a member of the George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., of Benton Harbor, and for twenty years has been a member of the Grange, in which he has been an active worker and has held a number of offices. Mr. Collins is well known throughout the county of Berrien, which has been his home for thirty-eight years, and during all this time he has taken an active interest in its growth and upbuilding. FRANK A. JOHNSON, whose name is enrolled among the leading agriculturists and stock-raisers of Pipestone township, his pleasant farm being situated on section 11, was born in Sweden, July 10, 1863. He was about sixteen years of age when he crossed the ocean to America, making his way direct to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at any occupation which would bring him an honest living for two years, also spending a part of that time in the northern woods. He came to Berrien coun ty Michigan, about 1884, where he first secured employment with the Big Four Railroad Company, thus continuing for one summer, when he went again to the lumber woods. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Johnson, also a native of Sweden, and she was about eighteen years of age when she came to America. After his marriage Mr. Johnson returned to Ber rien county and located upon the farm which is now his home, and the many improve ments which are now seen thereon are the work of his hands and stand as monuments to his thrift and ability. He cleared the land from its virgin wilderness, erected the many substantial farm buildings, and has placed his fields under a high state of culti vation. His present residence was erected in 1895, while his good substantial barn was built in 1903. The homestead consists of one hundred and seventy acres of rich and productive land, and- in addition to his gen eral farm labors he is also extensively en gaged in the stock and dairy business, hav ing now seventeen cows and much young stock upon the place. Mr. Johnson is well and favorably known in this section of the county, where many years of his active life has been spent, and he gives his political support to the Republican party. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely : Alford, Esther, Elsa, Mary, Mabel, Annie and Clara. FREDERICK BAKEMAN. He whose name introduces this review has been dis tinctively the architect of his own fortunes. From a little German home across the sea he made his way to the new world and en tered upon a career which may be well worthy of emulation and which is the out come of the honest reward of labor, good management, ambition and energy. Mr. Bakeman was born in Prussia, Ger many, January 27, 1837, and in his native land he was reared until 1856, when he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for America. On his arrival in this country his first location was in Cincinnati, Ohio, which continued as his home for two years, following the occupation of gardening, and 980 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY in 1858 he arrived in Pipestone township, Berrien county, Michigan. His first home here was the farm on which he now resides, on which had been built a little log house. As time passed and the land was cleared and developed, improvements were added to the farm, the little cabin home was replaced by a commodious one of more modern con struction and all the accessories and con veniences were added. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of rich and well cultivated land, and all of the improvements thereon stand as monuments to his thrift and ability. When he arrived in this country he was without a dollar, a stranger in a strange land, but by sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward. In 1861 Mr. Bakeman was united in marriage to Minnie Krohue, a native of Germany, and whose death occurred in 1879. In the following year, 1880, Mr. Bakeman married Henrietta Langley, also a native of the fatherland, where she was born on the 30th of December, 1853, and came to America when eleven years old. After residing in Cincinnati for a short time she made her way to Berrien county, being about thirteen years of age at the time of her arrival here. Mr. and Mrs. Bakeman have become the parents of four children — Minnie, Annie, Fred and Wallace. Mr. Bakeman gives a stanch support to the Re publican party. He is a member of the Lutheran church and an earnest Christian man. MILTON PRESTON. One of the prominent agriculturists of Pipestone town ship, where he has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres situated on section 34, and in addition to this tract owns seven-. ty-eight acres situated on section 22, of the same township, was born on the farm where he now makes his home, April 22, 1853. His grandfather, Amasa Preston, came to Michigan in 1848 from Ohio, but was born in Connecticut, having been taken to that state by his father on the emigration from Scotland to America. His father and brothers served in the Revolutionary war, and he served in the war of 1812. His father, Norman C. Preston, was a native of Ohio and in 1848 came to Michigan, locating in Pipestone township, Berrien county, where he secured unimproved land, which he cleared and to which he added many substantial improvements. He was one of the early settlers of this county and was identified with much of the important history of this section of the state. He married Sarah Cook, born in Ohio, and a daughter of Pellum Cook. They became the parents of five children, two of whom are deceased. The mother still survives, having reached the advanced age of seventy-. seven years, but the father passed away in 1862, at the comparatively early age of forty-eight years. Milton Preston, the second child and only living son of his father's family, was born and reared on the old homestead farm and in the district schools acquired his edu cation. When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the operation of the home place and was early trained to habits of in dustry and economy which in later life have proved invaluable to him. He spent the win ter of 1874 in California but with the ex ception of that period has here carried on general agricultural pursuits and the rais ing of fruit, in both of which he has met with gratifying success. In addition to his agricultural and horticultural pursuits he is also engaged in the raising of stock and in this branch of his business he is also meet ing with success, handling only the best grades of animals. As a companion and helpmate on life's. journey Mr. Preston chose Miss Alice Torwbridge, to whom he was married October 29, 1879. She is a daughter of Harry and Lydia (Lewis) Trowbridge, who located in Berrien county in 1852, being numbered among the early settlers of Pipestone . township. Mrs. Preston was here reared and educated and after reach ing womanhood was here married to Mr. - Preston, who took his bride to the old home stead farm where they have continued to re side to the present time. In their family are eight children, namely: Norman T., resid ing in Pipestone township; Mabel L., the wife of A. P. Dean, who will locate at Baton HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTS 981 Rouge, Louisiana; Maud V.; Harry M.; Mildred A.; Marie A.; Donald; and Keith Stanley. All were born on the old home stead farm and with the exception of the eldest son, all are yet with their parents. The first named is now operating a farm of seventy-eight acres on section 22, owned by his father. In his political allegiance Mr. Preston is a Democrat, and has served in a number of public offices, having filled the office of supervisor two years, treasurer of his town ship four years and as a member of the Democratic committee one year. He holds membership relations with the Christian church, and is serving as elder of that de nomination at the present time, while fra ternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has been a resi dent of this county throughout his entire life, covering a period of more than a half century, and thus has been closely identi fied with the material progress that has here been made. He is well known throughout the county as a reliable business man and one who possesses many sterling traits of character so that he is held in high esteem by all who know him. JACOB TIBBS, whose residence in this county dates from an early period in its development, now resides on section 17, Pipestone township. He has traveled far on life's journey and a review of his record shows that throughout his life he has dis played many sterling traits of char acter and good qualities which make him well worthy of the confidence and esteem which are uniformly accorded him. His birth occurred in Hamilton county, Ohio, about four miles from the city of Cin cinnati, on the 27th of June, 1 826, and he was the fifth child and second son in a fam ily of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The parents were James and Sarah (Allen) Tibbs, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New Jersey. James Tibbs was reared in the land of his birth and became a farmer by occupation. Following his emigration to America he set tled. near Cincinnati, Ohio, which, however, was then a small town, while the country side was largely a frontier district. Jacob Tibbs was reared in the place of his nativity but at a very early age was left an orphan, being only four years old at the time of his father's demise and but six years of age when his mother died. He lived with Newton Stites until fourteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, working by the month and doing anything that he could do that would yield him an honest living. For a time he was employed in a brickyard in Memphis, Ten nessee. The year 1855 witnessed his arrival in Michigan, at which time he located four miles north of Niles. It was in the same year that he was first married, the lady of his choice being Miss Maria Ferris, whom he wedded on the 16th of August, 1855. They became the parents of seven children, Henry, Ella, Alonzo, Martha, John, Ed ward, and one who died in infancy. After losing his first wife Mr. Tibbs was married May 11, 1873, to Mrs. Eliza Long, a daugh ter of Daniel Raihborn. There were two children of this marriage, Irvin T. and one who died in infancy. Since coming to this county Mr. Tibbs has continuously followed farming save for the period of his services in the civil war. His patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union he enlisted in 1861, becoming a private of Company K, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He served for four years, five months and twenty days — certainly a most creditable record — and he was in many im portant engagements, including the battles of Shiloh and Little Rock, Arkansas. He was also detailed for hospital service but wherever duty called he was found a loyal advocate of the Union, faithful to its best interests. When the war was over Mr. Tibbs re turned to his family and his farm but in the meantime participated in the grand review- in Washington, the most celebrated mili tary pageant ever seen on the western hem isphere. He has been a resident of Berrien county for fifty-one years and has been iden tified with its best interests. A life-long 982 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Republican, he has given unfaltering sup port to the party since attaining his majority and has held various local offices in the township, the duties of which have been dis charged with promptness and fidelity. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county where for more than a half cen tury he has lived, and while his life has in a way been quietly passed the record yet contains many lessons worthy of emulation, for he has been found persistent, active and honorable in business life and faithful in friendship. JACOB AUMACK is one of the old settlers of Berrien county, and has helped to bring about the improved conditions which exist here at the present time. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, May 11, 1821. His grandfather, Abram Aumack, was a native of Holland, and served in the Revolutionary war. He lived to the extreme old age of one hun dred years. . His father, Andrew Aumack, who was in the war of 1812, was born in New Jersey, while his wife, Hannah Pool, was a native of Montgomery county, New York, and was of German descent. The parents always remained in the east, the father dying at the advanced age of ninety- two years, while the mother passed away when about seventy-five. In their family were eleven children, and with the excep tion of one all reached manhood or woman hood. Jacob Aumack, the fifth child in his father's family was reared and educated in the county of his birth, and was there mar ried in 1844, to Miss Harriet Lewis, like wise a native of Montgomery county. There they began their domestic life and remained for five years, at the end of which time, in 1849, they removed to Berrien, county, Michigan, locating in Pipestone township, where Mr. Aumack engaged in general agricultural pursuits for some years. As the years passed by the improvement of the opportunities here afforded he prospered in his work and thus secured capital suffici ent to purchase a home of his own, when in 1854, he bought and removed to the farm on which he now makes his home, the years of his residence here covering a longer per iod than that of any other resident of the county on one farm. He has added many modern improvements to his place, for when he took possession there were few buildings upon it. However, as the county has ad vanced he has kept abreast with the times and has made his property one of the valu able farming tracts of Pipestone township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Aumack were born three sons and four daughters, namely: John, who died while serving in the Civil war; Mary, deceased; Ruth, the wife of A. J. Wiest; Smith, a resident farmer of Pipe stone township; Emma, the wife of Jacob Runnels, of Eau Claire ; Edwin, who assists in the operation of the home farm and wedded Miss Martha Tibbs; and Elizabeth, now the wife of Henry Tibbs, of Mason county, Michigan. In 1894 the family was called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother; her death occurred on the 12th of November of that year, and thus passed away one of the worthy and highly esteemed women of the county. Mr. Aumack enlisted in the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry in 1864, at Sommerville, and his regiment was in the Trans-Mississippi Department in Arkan sas. He served his country one year and received his honorable discharge and returned home. His son John was a mem ber of the same regiment, which he joined in the winter of 1864, and died iri June, 1864. Mr. Aumack gave his early political allegiance to the Whig party and upon its dissolution joined the ranks of the new Republican party, casting a vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has supported each presidential candidate since that time. He has been called to a number of township offices, the duties of which he has discharged to the satisfaction of the general public as well as reflecting credit upon himself. He has been a member of the Masonic order for many years. Having been a resident of the county for fifty-seven years no other resi dent has done more for the interests of his section of the state, for at the time he took up his abode here there was much arduous work to be done in the way of clearing the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 983 land and preparing it for cultivation. In the years that have passed he has not only worked for his own individual interests but' for the progressx and improvement of the county at large and he has lived to see Ber rien county placed in the foremost rank of agricultural, industrial and commercial de velopment. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance and is held in high esteem by- all who know him not alone for the success which he has achieved, but for his many sterling traits of character for he is known to be strictly reliable in all his trade trans actions and is today classed among the pros perous agriculturists of this portion of the state. GEORGE SHARP, who owns and con ducts a good farm on section 28, Pipestone township, was born in England, September ,3, 1845. His father, James G. Sharp, was likewise a native of that country and was there reared and educated. He was mar ried to Miss Sophia Cox, also a native of England, and in 1847 they crossed the Atlantic to America, establishing their home at Rome, New York. In 1856 Mr. Sharp brought his family to Michigan, settling first at Grand Rapids, where he worked at the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He also conducted a greenhouse for some time at Grand Rapids and was a well known fac tor in business circles in that city for a long period. About 1885, however, he returned to his native country, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His wife had passed away in Grand Rapids when sixty-seven years of age. In the family were six children, all of whom reached adult age and all are yet living with the exception of one, James W., who died in Anderson- ville prison while serving as a member of the Union army in the Civil war. George Sharp, whose name introduces this record, was the third member of the family and the second son, and was only two years old when brought by his parents to America. He spent the first decade in Rome, New York, and was afterward in Grand Rapids, Michigan, until 1862, when he responded to the country's call for aid and enlisted on the 20th of September with the boys in blue of Company B, Sixth Mich igan Cavalry. He joined the army as a private at Grand Rapids and served for three years, his regiment being, attached to the Army of the Potomac, General Custer's famous "brigade, doing active , duty on the plains. Mr. Sharp was also in the Army of the Potomac under General Phil. Sheridan and participated in many of the historic bat tles, including the engagements at Gettys burg, the Wilderness, Brandy Station, Cold Harbor and Cedar Creek. He was in the battle of Five Forks and was also in the engagements at Appomattox, resulting in the surrender of General Lee, and the prac tical close of the war. His record was one of continuous and active service from the time he enlisted until he received his honor able discharge at Jackson, Michigan, after the close of the war. He participated in the grand review at Washington, where thousands of the boys in blue marched down Pennsylvania avenue and past the review ing stand where the president and other dis tinguished men of the nation gave greeting to the loyal soldiers who had followed the old flag on southern battle fields and had been the defense of the Union through four of the darkest years in the history of the nation. Following the close of the war Mr. Sharp returned to Michigan, and in 1868 located in Pipestone township, Berrien county. He had absolutely no capital at the time of his arrival here but he was am bitious and willing to work and that his life has been busy and useful is indicated by the fact thaj he is now the owner of a valuable tract of land of eighty acres. This con stitutes a well improved farm, for he has placed the fields under a high state of cul tivation and has added many modern equip ments and accessories. Mr. Sharp has been married twice. In 1869 he wedded Miss Angeline Beals, who died in 1871, leaving one son, Frank. In 1873 Mr. Sharp wedded Miss Hannah Buz zard. They have two sons, Perry A. and W. G. For nearly four decades Mr. Sharp has been a resident of Berrien county, dur ing which time many marvelous changes have been wrought as the work of improve- 98.4 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ment and upbuilding has been carried for ward by the enterprising, progressive citi zens. He is a member of Berrien Center post, G. A. R., and he also belongs to the United Brethren church as do his wife and sons, while two of them, Frank and Perry, are ministers of the gospel, being prominent preachers, well known in their denomina tion.. Mr. Sharp of this review is one of the trustees of the church and takes a most active and helpful part in its work. His political allegiance is given to the Repub lican party, of which he is a stanch and un faltering advocate and he is now serving as justice of the peace from Pipestone town ship. He has ever taken an active interest in public affairs and his influence is always found on the side of justice, truth and right. His creditable military record would alone entitle him to representation in this volume but throughout the period of his residence here he has always been known as an enter prising citizen and one who deserves much credit for working his way upward from a humble financial position to a place of affluence. BURTON A. CRANDALL, a well-to- do farmer of Berrien county, owning a tract which comprises two hundred and twenty acres, is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Pokagon township, Cass county, this state, August 21, 1878. His father, Able Crandall, was a native of Indiana, whence he accompanied his parents to Cass county, Michigan, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza Harmon, a native of this state, her birth having occurred in Cass county. Following his marriage the father took up his abode in Palmyra township, Cass county, where he was engaged in gen eral agricultural pursuits until, about 1880, when he located in Sodus township, Ber rien county, where he purchased the tract of land which is now owned by our subject, and which was known as the Brubaker farm. He there continued his work along agricultural lines, and was accounted one of the prominent and influential residents of this part of the state. The mother passed away in 1890, and the father in 1887, and the son, Burton A., was left an orphan at about the age of nine years. Following the death of his father, an uncle of our subject, M. R. Crandall, then located on the farm and reared his brother's son, Burton A., who was early trained toithe work of the farm and in the district schools he pursued his studies. He remained with his uncle to the age of nineteen years, at which time he took charge of the farm, which he inherited when he had attained his majority, for he was the only child of his father's family. The farm comprised nine ty-nine acres of rich and productive land, and here our subject carried on general. agricultural pursuits and he has since set out considerable fruit upon the place, and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of income to him. Mr. Crandall added a tract of forty acres, which his father had purchased, located sixty rods north of the tract which he inherited, and later he added a second tract known as the Gano farm, and comprising eighty acres, this being located on section 9, Sodus town ship, thus making in all two hundred and twenty acres. He rents a portion of his land, from which he derives a gratifying in come and he is engaged in general fanning and fruit-raising on a part of his property. He has a well developed and improved farm, being one of the fine country homes of this part of the county. On October 24, 1897, Mr. Crandall was united in marriage to Miss Lillie M. Fisher, a daughter of J. A. and Hattie Fisher, and unto them have been born two interesting children, Victor Guy and Vera Echo. Mr. Crandall is a Republican in his political views and affiliations, keeping well informed on the current events of the day, and he takes a deep and helpful interest in matters pertaining to the public welfare. WILLIAM J. FEATHER. Among those formerly closely associated with agri cultural interests in Berrien' county and now living retired in Berrien Springs, is num bered William J. Feather, who is a native son of Oronoko township. His life record began on the 21st of May, 1 841. His father, Joseph Feather, was born at Selin's HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 985 Grove, Union county, Pennsylvania, where the family had been established at an early day and where the name was originally spelled Fetter. In the place of his nativity Joseph Feather was reared and educated and there he learned the trade of carpenter ing and cabinet-making. Thinking to en joy better business opportunities in a pio neer district he made the journey on foot to Berrien county, Michigan, and took up land in Oronoko township. There he worked at his trade for a number of months and the following year returned to Pennsyl vania. In the succeeding spring he came again to Michigan, bringing with him his sister, a yellow dog, a long gun, a cow, one horse and a wagon, reaching Berrien Springs about June, 1833. There he fol lowed the dual occupation of cabinet-mak ing and carpentering until his health failed, when he located on his land one mile west of Berrien Springs. There in the outdoor life his health improved and he continued the cultivation and development of his farm, lying on section 33, Berrien township, until old age. He was married in Berrien Springs to Miss Anna Freed, on the 3d of December, 1833. She was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abram Freed, who was a prominent merchant of Phila delphia, and was of German descent. Mr. Feather passed, away in his eighty-fourth year, while his wife died in her eighty-second year. They were among the worthy pioneer residents of Berrien county and were closely identified with its early history. They lived here when the Indians still visited the neighborhood and when only here and there had a log cabin been built and a little clear ing made to show that the work of civili zation had been begun. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and the timber had been cut on but few tracts. The family shared in all of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and as the years passed by succeeded in re claiming a tract of land for the uses of civilization by transformirig it from a tim bered region into richly cultivated fields. In the family were seven children, four daugh ters and three sons. The eldest was Benja min F. Feather, who was the first white male child born in Oronoko township, the date of his birth being October 10, 1834. The others of the family are: Mary E., born July 11, 1836; Lydia Ann, August 28, 1839; William Joseph, May 20, 1841 ; Har riet E., April 28, 1843; Reuben Perry, Feb ruary 18, 1846; and Eliza Jane, June 26, 1 85 1. All are yet living but the eldest daughter, Mary, who- died June 22, 1868. William J. Feather was reared amid the usual conditions and environments of pioneer life upori the old homestead farm in Oro noko township and attended school in Ber rien Springs. During the periods of vaca tion his labor was a factor in the develop ment and cultivation of the farm and he worked at home until twenty-seven years of age. He was then married and started out in life on his Own account, settling upon a farm in Oronoko1 township, which he cul tivated and improved. He converted the wild land into productive fields and con tinued in his farm labor until 1892, work ing persistently and energetically year after year. On putting aside the active cares of the farm he removed to Berrien Springs, where he is now living retired, and in 1904 he sold the old home property. On the 24th of December, 1868, Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Smith, a daughter of Charles and Clarinda (Brown) Smith. Her father was born in Marlboro, Ulster county, New York, and the mother in Locke, Cayuga county, New York. She died in the Em pire state in 1856, while the father died in Berrien Springs in 1878. There were five children in their family, a son and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Feather Was the third in order of birth. She was educated in the district schools of her native place and in the Friends Seminary, at Union Springs, New York. She- taught in the Empire state and came to Berrien county in 1864, followirig the profession of teaching here. She devoted ten years altogether to that work, entering the schoolroom as a teacher at the age of sixteen. The mar riage of Mr. arid Mrs, Feather was cele brated in New York and they at once came 986 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY to Berrien county and established their home upon a farm in Oronoko township. Unto them were born the following named : Mer ton K., a real-estate dealer in Elkhart, In diana; and Gordon L., who died in 1877, at the age of two years and four months. They also had an adopted daughter, Fannie, who became the wife of C. H, Ireland, and died in 1904, at the age of twenty-six years. Mr. Feather has been a life-long resi dent of Berrien county and an interested witness of the events which have established its history and formulated its policy. He has voted with the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of fran chise and has been connected officially with the schools of the village. He and his fam ily are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon and trustee, while in all of the various church activities he takes a helpful part. Both he and his wife are members of the National Protective Legion of Waverly, New York, and in this county are widely known, while the esteem of an extensive circle of friends is freely accorded them. In his business affairs Mr. Feather has ever been found prompt and faithful, fully meet ing every obligation that devolves upon him and never making an engagement that he has not filled. He is thus respected as a reliable citizen, one whose word is as good as his bond. CYRUS C. HODGES, who has filled various positions of honor and trust in New Buffalo, where he is now serving as post master, was born in Troy township near the city of Troy in Huron county, Ohio, December 21, 1840. He comes of German ancestry, the family having been established in New York at an early period in the de velopment of the new world. His parents were Luther and Luhena (Parker) Hodges, who were natives of Onondaga county, New York, and the mother was a relative of General Parker of Revolutionary war fame. Both the father and mother were reared in the Empire state and following their mar riage they spent much of their lives in Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Both he and his wife died in Canada at an advanced age, Mrs. Hodges passing away when seventy-six years of age, while he was about five years older. Cyrus C. Hodges was the youngest in the family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and is the only one now living. His brother Perry served as a soldier of the Civil war. Cyrus C. Hodges was only three months old when his parents removed to Ontario, Canada West, and there he resided until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted in September, 1861, as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under com mand of Captain Hawley and Colonel Boss. He was principally engaged in duty in Ten nessee and Kentucky. He took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and during the second day of the battle at' Stone River. He was also in the Atlanta campaign and after the fall of the city returned to Nash ville, Tennessee. Later the regiment to which he belonged was sent to Texas, where he remained until the close of the war. On the expiration of his first term of three years he had veteranized and remained with the army until the cessation of hostilities, being continuously with his regiment except for a brief period when home on a furlough and also for the period spent in a hospital at Louisville. He was wounded and after ward was sent to the hospital.. When the war ended he was mustered out at Indian apolis, Indiana, in October, 1865. Mr. Hodges then returned to his old home in Michigan and has since lived in Berrien county, covering a period of about four decades. For about thirty-seven years he worked in a furniture factory and went with that factory to Missouri, where he continued for six years, after which he re turned to Michigan, residing here continu ously since. He conducted a meat market for a time and has been connected with vari ous other occupations and lines of business. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office and he is now serving as post master, having first been appointed to the position in April, 1893, under General Ben jamin Harrison and again during Cleve land's administration. He was re-appointed HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 987 by President McKinley and by President Roosevelt and thus has long served as post master, proving a capable official. He has been a life-long Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party and its principles and for about twenty-six years has served as justice of the peace. During that time he was appointed supervisor of his town ship and acted in that capacity until chosen for the position of postmaster, when he re signed the office. He has also been presi dent and trustee of the village and has been very active in public affairs, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare, while in the discharge of his duties he has been so prompt and efficient as to win uni form confidence and commendation. Mr. Hodges was married in Berrien county in 1870 to Miss Emma Phillips, who was born in New Buffalo, April 15, 1848, •a daughter of R. F. and Katharine (Brown) Phillips, who were natives of Virginia and became early settlers of Berrien county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have one child, Mary L., who is now filling the posi tion of bookkeeper in South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Hodges owns three dwelling houses in New Buffalo in addition to the postoffice building and some unimproved property. He has made all that he has through his well-directed efforts, his judicious invest ment and his enterprise and is now in pos session of property .which returns to. him a good income. Mr. Hodges is a Mason, belonging to Three Oaks Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is also affiliated with the Maccabees tent, No. 231, and is a member of the Methodist Epis copal church. His life has been character ized by fidelity to honorable principles and he has ever held high ideals of citizenship, being as loyal to his country in days of peace as when he fought its battles upon southern soil and thus maintained the supremacy of the Union. DAVID H. ULLREY has lived the quiet life of a farmer and yet in his life record there are many elements worthy of emulation and of commendation, for he has always upheld the legal, and political status of his community and labored for progress and advancement along those lines which yield the greatest good to the greatest num ber. His home is on section 34, Berrien township, where he is successfully controll ing farming interests. His birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, October 13, 1836. His father, John Ullrey, was a native of Shelby county, Ohio, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Ann Hoover, who was also born in that county. They removed from the Buckeye state to Indiana in 1835, settling in St. Joseph county, locating near South Bend on Portage Prairie. About 1845 he sold his fann there and retired from business life. He was active and influential in public affairs in South Bend for many years and at one time served as mayor of the city. He also held other offices there and his official record and private life were alike above reproach. He was prominent in the Odd Fellows society and built the first hall for that order in South Bend. It is still standing, being one of the old land marks of the city. Mr. Ullrey passed away in South Bend at a ripe old age but the mother was but forty-four years of age at the time of her death, which occurred in Berrien township. They had removed to Cass county, Michigan, in 1844, living there for ten years, and in 1854 became residents of Berrien township, Berrien county. In their family were six children, twO daugh ters and four sons, all of whom reached adult age and are still living. Three of the sons are residents of Berrien county. The family record is as follows: J. B. makes his hom$ in Niles. J. H. is living in Ber rien Center. William W. resides in Ore gon. Elizabeth is the wife of George Cud- deback, of Wisconsin, and Heppy A. is the widow of Perry Curtis. David H. Ullrey, whose name intro duces this record, is the eldest of the family and was only eight years of age when his parents removed to Cass county, while at the age of eighteen years he became a resi dent of Berrien county, settling upon a farm where he now resides. He was educated in the district schools and in the public schools at Niles, and engaged in teaching for three years prior to his marriage, fol- 988 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY lowing that profession through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he was engaged with farm labor. March 29, 1857 Mr. Ullrey was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Schnorf, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Nye) Schnorf. She was born in Warren county, Ohio, De cember 3, 1839, and was but six years old when brought to Berrien county by her par ents, who became early settlers of this coun ty, both the Nyes and the Schnorf s being pioneers in this state, representatives of the names living in Berrien and in Niles town ships. Since his marriage Mr. Ullrey has resided continuously upon the same farm with the exception of a period of seven years, five years of which time was spent in Pipestone township. He has for fifty- two years been a resident of Berrien county, and for sixty-two years of Michigan. In addition to his general farming interests he was engaged in the grain business for about twelve years, buying for different parties. He made purchases of wheat, corn and fruit, becoming a representative of the Goshen Milling Company in 1895, which year he shipped to them two hundred and forty-six carloads of wheat from Fairland Station besides a number of carloads of corn and rye. His attention, however, is now confined to general farming, which he is successfully conducting. He is a member of Anchor Lodge, No. 42, A. O. U. W. at Niles, and belongs to the Free Will Bap tist church at Berrien Center. In politics he has been a life-long Republican, voting for Abraham Lincoln in i860 and again in 1864, and for each nominee at the head of the national ticket since that time. He served as supervisor of Berrien township for four years and as highway commissioner and school inspector. He has always taken an active and helpful part in public affairs and his labors have resulted beneficially to the county, where he is classed with the rep resentative and valued citizens. His life has been well spent and all who know him entertain for him warm regard. BURWELL HINCHMAN, a promi nent representative of the business interests of Berrien county, was born in Logan coun ty, Virginia, November 17, 1842. His father, Milton Hinchman, was a native of Kentucky, born in 1812, but during his youth was taken by his parents to Logan county, Virginia, where he resided until 1847, the year of his arrival in Berrien county, his object in leaving the south hav ing been to avoid slavery, his father being a slave holder. In this township he spent his remaining days. While in Virginia he was married to Elizabeth Carey, a native of Orange county, New York, and her death also' occurred in this township. This honored old pioneer couple were the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, five of the number having been bom in Ber rien county. Burwell Hinchman was but five years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, the family home being established upon a farm north of Niles. When about eighteen years of age he put aside his text books and began his business career as a clerk in a store in Niles, there continuing until the time of his enlist ment in the Civil war, September 3, 1863, becoming a member of Company K, Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant, and among the engagements in which he partici pated were those of Pound Gap, Kentucky ; Mount Sterling, Paint Creek, Louisa, Camp Nelson. On one occasion he was wounded in the hand and was sent to the hospital at Camp Nelson, and while there confined he also did some nursing. On the 29th of May, 1865, he was mustered out of service at Lexington, Kentucky. His military career was one which will ever redound to his honor as a loyal and devoted son of the republic and as one whose courage was that of his convictions. On returning to his home in Chikam ing township Mr. Hinchman purchased a farm of one hundred ahd twenty acres on section 23, which he cleared and improved, also erected a pleasant residence and planted an orchard. There he made his home until 1 877, when he embarked in business at Saw yer, being numbered among the leading merchants there for twenty-four years. During that time he erected the store build- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 989 ing which he yet owns, but which he rents to other parties. He is also a registered pharmacist, and is engaged in the drug bus iness. About twelve years ago Mr. Hinch man embarked in the real-estate business, dealing principally in farm property, and in this line he has met with a marked degree of success. In business circles he sustains a most enviable reputation. His energetic nature, strong determination, sagacity and capable management have brought to him a handsome competence. He carries forward to completion whatever he undertakes, and his business methods have ever been in strict conformity with the ethics of commercial life. On the 23d of December, 1867, Mr. Hinchman was united in marriage to Mary George, a native of Indiana, and they had four children: Frank B., a dentist in this state; Alfa, who died at the age of two years ; Kate, the wife of Otis Jones, a drug gist of Grand Rapids; Inez, the wife of John F. Quinn, of New York; and Alice, also of Grand Rapids. For his second wife Mr. Hinchman chose Mrs. Mary O. Spauld ing. Mr. Hinchman has given all his chil dren excellent educational advantages, all being graduates of some school, and the two oldest were members of the teacher's pro fession. Politically he has been a supporter of Democratic principles, during most of his life, active in the work "of the party, but for a time he supported the Greenback ticket. During both of Cleveland's administrations he served as postmaster, nine years in all, for the past twenty-eight years has been a justice of the peace, has served as notary public, for six years was highway com missioner and for twelve years was health officer. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm and helpful friend, and during most of his life has served as a school officer, and he is proud of the fact that he has worked long and faithfully to secure the present good schools. Mr. Hinchman maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades by his membership in Frank A. Daniel Post, No. 437, of New Troy. He is the owner of a. valuable sou venir in the form, of a newspaper draped in black commemorating the death of George Washington. There are only seven persons in Chikaming township that were here when Mr, Hinchman took up his abode with in its borders, and his name is deeply en graved on the pages of its history. FREDERICK W. RICHTER is well known in social circles and in public life in Niles, where his carefully directed labors have won him business success and that have made him. a leader in public thought and action, especially along those lines which have for their objective point the'wel- fare and progress of the city. A native of Indiana he was born in Rochester, Fulton county, in 1866, and is a son of Frank and Eva (Madison) Richter. The family num bered nine children but Frederick W. is the . only one residing in Berrien county. He is indebted to the public school system of his native state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. After attending the high school he entered upon his business career as an employe in a drug store in Rochester, where he became thoroughly conversant with the trade, acting as a salesman in that estab lishment from 1883 until 1887. He after ward spent one year as a clerk in a drug store in Beloit, Wisconsin, and subsequently went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he en gaged in clerking in a drug store for three years. He then returned to Indiana and for two years had charge of a drug store in Huntington, also carrying a line of station ery, books and similar commodities. He has resided in Niles since 1891, in which year he purchased the drug store of Dr. J. D. Greenamyer known as the City Drug & Book Stofle, which he has since successfully conducted. He carries a large and well selected line of goods and has secured a gratifying patronage because of his reliable business methods and his earnest desire to please those who give him their business support. Mr. Richter was married in Hunting ton, Indiana, in 1890, to Miss Mattie E. Allen, and they had one daughter, Irma. In 1902 in Niles Mr. Richter wedded Miss Mabel E. Baker. They have an attractive home here and one of its most pleasing feat ures is its gracious and warm hearted hospi- • 990 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY tality. In politics Mr. Richter is a Demo crat, who keeps well informed on the ques tions and issues of the day and is unfalter ing in his allegiance to the party. He is recognized as a leader in local political ranks and has been honored with positions of public trust, serving for two terms as mayor of Niles, being first elected to the office in 1895. He is now president of the board of public-works in Niles, filling the position for a term of four years by appoint ment from Dr. Zell L. Baldwin, who at that time was mayor of the city. He be longs to Niles Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and served one term as senior deacon. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias. Opposed to misrule in public affairs he has labored earnestly for the welfare of Niles. A man of strong convictions his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. He is in full sympathy with the great move ments of the world about him and watches the progress of events with the keenest interest. FRANK M!. GOWDY, M. D., who in the practice of medicine and surgery has demonstrated his familiarity with the prin ciples of medical science and his correct ap plication of these principles to the needs of suffering humanity, is one of the native sons of Berrien county, his birth having oc curred in Chikaming township, on the nth of March, 1868. He comes of ancestry that is distinctively American both in its lineal and collateral branches through many gener ations. The family was established in the new world in the coloniel epoch in our country's history. The great-great-grand parents of Dr. Gowdy were residents of Connecticut, and in that state Rev. John. Gowdy, the great-grandfather, was born in the year i860. He followed the acquire ment of his literary education by prepara tion for the ministry, and became a Baptist divine. He also served his country as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, giving valiant aid to the colonists in their struggle for independence. His remaining years were devoted to his holy calling until ad vanced age caused him to put aside the more active work of the ministry. He lived to the very venerable age of ninety-four years, and died at the residence of his son, Elam, in Batavia, Kane county, New York in 1854. Elam Gowdy, grandfather of Dr. Gowdy, was for many years a resident of the Em pire state. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and, discerning the larger opportunities of the growing west, he re moved to Illinois from New York in 1852, settling in Kane county, where he made his home for several years. In 1864 he came to Michigan, being then a man of venerable years, and three years later, in 1870, he passed away at the age of eighty-two. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Lucy Stroud, who was born in Vermont on the 19th of August, 1798, and died in Berrien county, Michigan, in 1875. Her father was a native of New England, born in Connect icut, October 20, 1788. The history of Franklin J. Gowdy, father of our subject, is given on another page of this work. Dr. Gowdy at the usual age began his education in the district schools and sub sequently he continued his studies in Chi cago, and afterward attended the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, for preparation for the medical profession. He is an alum nus of the class of 1891, and he located for practice in' New Buffalo, where he remained for four years, when he sought a broader field of labor and established his office in St. Joseph. Here he has since continued in gen eral practice with good success. He is coun ty surgeon for the Pere Marquette Railroad, which position he has filled for several years, having been appointed to the office while living in New Buffalo. He has also been city physician for several years. In 1895, at New Buffalo, Dr. Gowdy was married to Miss Alma Kann, a daughter of Fritz Kann, and unto them have been born three children: Maunee, whose birth occurred in New Buffalo; and Alma and Fanklin, both born in St. Joseph. Dr. Gowdy is a member of various fraternal organizations, being now affiliated with the Masons, Elks, Maccabees, Woodmen and Foresters. He is in hearty sympathy with the beneficent principles which underlie these organizations. His political support is given HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 991 to. the Republican party. He finds little time, however, for public work, owing to the constant demands made for his professional services. He is devoting his life to a pro fession, in which advancement depends en tirely upon individual merit, and that he is now accorded a prominent position in public regard is due to the fact that he has shown himself capable of solving the complex and intricate problems which continually con front the physician. KAREL MUSIL is the owner of an excellent farm on section 35, New Buffalo township, where he makes his home. His business interests are extensive and of an important nature, for he not only superin tends his farming interests but is also a factor in a building and loan association which has been of direct benefit in the im provement of this part of the state. He is moreover the senior member of the firm of Musil & Mras of Chicago, contractors in mosaic, tile and cement floors and sidewalks and other kinds of cement work, the office of the firm being. at No. 467 West Eight eenth street. The extent and scope of his industry and business activity makes him a prominent citizen of the community and wherever known he is held in high esteem because of what he has accomplished and the methods which he has followed. A native of Bohemia, Mr. Musil was born in Krucemburk, county Caslar, on the 24th of July, 1867. His parents were Karel and Josephine (Zoolanck) Musil, who spent their entire lives in Bohemia. In their fam ily were nine children, six of whom reached adult age, while three are now living in the United States : Katharine, whose home is in Chicago; Karel of this review; and Vaclav (Wenceslav), who is with his elder brother. The eldest son of the family, Jo seph, was accidentally drowned while serv ing in the United States infantry when about nineteen years of age. Another, brother, Antone, died in Chicago about nine years ago and Josephine died in Vienna, Austria. Karel Musil of this review attended the public schools of his native country until fourteen years of age, when he went to the city of Nemecky Brod and learned the trade of cabinet making, which he followed for two years. Crossing the Atlantic alone to the new world, he made his way to Racine • county, Wisconsin, where he was employed on a farm for two and a half years. He then went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade for about fifteen years. During the past eight years he has been secretary of the building and loan association known as the Borivoj & Delnick Krok and in this way has done much for the upbuilding and improvement of various localities, render ing valuable assistance to his fellow coun trymen. On the 4th of February, 1895, he located on his present farm in New Buffalo township, which he had purchased in the fall of 1904. It comprises one hundred and eight acres of land on section 35 near the lake shore and is a valuable property, on which Mr. Musil has erected a fine residence and is making many improvements. While he makes his home upon the farm, his busi ness is in Chicago, where he spends much of his time. He is a member of the firm of Musil & Mras at No-. 467 West Eight eenth street, Chicago, and is conducting an extensive and profitable business as a con tractor in mosaic, tile and cement work. He came to the United States a poor young man and is now one of the substantial citizens of Berrien county, having made all that he has through his earnest and indefatigable ef forts. He had only common-school advan tages, but he acquired a knowledge of book keeping and now keeps the records for twelve hundred members of the building as sociation!. The company has thirteen hun dred and thirty-three acres of farm lands, six hundred acres of which is timber land, in Hanover county, Virginia. On the 4th of October, 1890, Mr. Musil was married to Miss Julia Streichhirsh, who was born in Bohemia, February 15, 1868, and came alone to the United States when fifteen years of age. Two of her brothers also came to America, but one returned to his native country. Edmund Streichhirsh, however, is living at Robins Lake, Michi gan. He has a farm in Berrien county and two properties in Chicago. Two sisters of the family, Christina and Jennie, are also living in Chicago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 992 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY Musil have been born four children: Julia, Karel, Mary and Jerry. Mr. Musil is one of the prominent Bohemian citizens of this section of the country, well known in Berrien county and in Chicago, exerting a widely felt and bene ficial influence among his fellow country men. He is now supreme secretary of the Bohemian Slavonian Knights & Ladies of Chicago-, in which capacity he has acted for the past five years. He was also supreme president of that association for two. years. In his political views he is a Republican where national issues are involved, but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He is a member of three Bohemian fra ternal organizations, one of which is in Chi cago, and also an athletic association. He writes for various Bohemian papers and is a man of broad general information, who- has studied closely the questions bearing upon public welfare and public policy whether of a political nature or otherwise. He looks upon life from a broad and humani tarian standpoint and while conducting im portant and extensive business interests also finds time to aid his fellowmen. Coming to America empty handed, he has made steady progress in the face of difficulties that would have utterly deterred many a man of less resolute spirit and determination. He has worked persistently and energeti cally, however, and the years have brought him success. JOSEPH SCHMITT, a representative of fruit raising interests in Berrien county, his home being at Fair Plain, was bom in Lorraine, France, on the 22d of February, 185 1. He was reared in a town and worked in a rolling mill as a machinist in early man hood. He was thus employed until after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and in September of that year he en listed as a volunteer to fight the Germans. While in the army he saw Napoleon fire the first cannon which was discharged at the German troops. He continued with the French army, his service being in the region of Belfort, the only fortress of the French that was not captured. He took part in six battles, the most hotly contested one be ing the engagement at Newe. He sustained a saber wound at that place, it being inflicted . in the arm while he was making a charge. It was not long after this that he was mus tered out of the army. The fortunes of war were against the French. Of all the volun teer soldiers there were but thirty-five hun dred men who remained in the district as volunteers. Seeing that his country, Lorraine, was to become a German province, Mr. Schmitt determined to emigrate to America, fearing punishment by the Germans because of his active service in the war. In June, 1871, therefore, he left for the United States and came direct to St. Joseph, Michigan, where his brother, Henry Schmitt, was then living. He was a railroad man employed by the Chi cago & West Michigan Railroad Com pany and had come to this state about ten years before. On reaching Michigan, Mr. Schmitt of this review also obtained work as a grader on the railroad, being thus em ployed until the fall, when he secured a position in a butcher shop in Eckert, his em ployer being one of his old friends from the ¦ fatherland. The next season he went to Chicago-, where he remained for seventeen years. There he learned the baker's trade, which he followed throughout that period. In 1888, Mr. Schmitt returned to St. Joseph and with the money which he had saved from his business in Chicago he pur chased his present farm, which is devoted to the raising of fruit. This is the old Rowley farm at Fair Plain and Mr. Schmitt pur chased it from the widow. He has ten acres bordering on Napier avenue. He had the misfortune to have the house destroyed by : fire and about eight years ago he erected his present residence, which is one of the pleasant homes of Fair Plain. He has planted his land to peaches and has carried on his business quite satisfactorily, confining : his attention to his farm and raising an nually good crops of fruit which command a ready sale on the market and bring a high price. Mr. Schmitt was married in Chicago on the 7th of May, 1879, to Miss Lizzie Ney- bert, who was born in Baltifnore, Maryland. They now have a family of seven children : • HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 993 Arthur G., who is employed in the Young store; Theodore J., Lydia, Jofeph, Willard, Viola and Bernice, all of whom are living at home. On coming to the United States Mr. Schmitt became a naturalized citizen as soon as the law would permit. He is independ ent in his political affiliations, nor does he care for office. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to ' Lake Shore lodge, No. 298, of Benton Harbor, but was raised in Chi cago on the 22d of February, 1877. His three sons are members of the Gleaners. Mr. Schmitt has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for he found good business oppor tunities here and a chance for advancement. In this country were labor is unhampered by caste or class he has steadily worked his way upward and his carefully directed busi ness affairs, his honorable dealing and his enterprise constitute the secret of a desirable success. JUAN HESS. At an early day Berrien county found its chief source of income in its lumber interests. Now one of its chief sources of wealth is its fruit farms, which are very productive and which supply to the Chicago markets and other large city mar kets vast amounts of fruit of finest quality. Numbered among the men who are success fully engaged in this business is Mr. Hess, who is living in Benton township. He is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Millburg on the 12th of May, 1850. His parents were George W. and Mary A. (Higbee) Hess, the latter a sister of James Higbee, now residing in Benton Harbor and represented elsewhere in this work. George W. Hess was born in Craw ford county, Pennsylvania, but in early life removed to Ohio and in that state was mar ried to Miss Higbee, who was born in New York. They came to Michigan in 1837, in duced to take this step by her parents, who had previously located here. The journey westward was made by way of Chicago and thence in a covered wagon to St. Joseph. The county was then but sparsely settled and the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun. What is now a rich 63 and productive district between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor was then a marsh and as the family journeyed between the two points one of their horses lay down in the water. Mr. Hess lifted his wife and daugh ter, then a year old, upon the back of the other horse and waded out. He was a car penter and joiner by trade and had served an apprenticeship of four years, so that he was a very capable workman. He secured land west of Millburg and established a little village, which was to be called Saratoga. This was before the town of Millburg had been founded. He afterward lived af Mill burg and worked at his trade, becoming identified with building operations in that section of the county. He also aided in im proving a seventy acre farm a half mile dis tant but lived in the village, spending his remaining days there. He reached the very advanced age of about eighty-eight years,. surviving his wife for twenty-five years but always remaining true to her memory, so that he never married again. His old home in Millburg is the present home of his daugh ter and her husband, Dr. and Mrs. J. J. Wier, who are also mentioned on another page of this work, Dr. Wier being the cap able physician of that place with a large practice indicative of his skill and ability in his profession. In his political views George W. Hess was an old-school Democrat. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years and his decisions were strictly fair and im partial. He could speak German fluently and he did all the legal business for a large German settlement, gave advice as to local troubles^ and his counsel was often sought by his German friends, who followed his counsel rather than resorting to the law. He was elected to office on the Democratic ticket in a Republican township, which showed his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but his family afterward became identified with the Christian church. Mr. Hess was a very temperate man in all respects, not only in the use of intoxicants but in all things and his life was regulated by high principles and manly conduct. He was neat in his appear- 994 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ance and it was said that he could work at logging and not soil his clothes. Clean in his life and in his thoughts, considerate in his opinions of others, charitable and kindly in spirit, just and honorable in his actions, he won the good will and trust of all with whom he was associated and was for many years one of the most respected and worthy residents of his part of the county. His family numbered twelve children, of whom one died in childhood, while eleven of the family are now living. The eldest is Mrs. Mary Babcock, who at the age of sixty-nine years is living upon a part of the old home stead farm. There are four sons and seven daughters, and of this number four daugh ters and one son are yet residents of Ber rien county. The eldest son, William J., is living in California. Those who now reside in this county are Mrs. J. N. Babcock, Mrs. George Wright, Mrs. L, A. Hall, Mrs. G. H. Peters, and Mrs. J. J. Wier. The other member of the family living in Berrien county is Juan Hess of this re view, who resided at home until twenty- four years of age and was reared to farm work. He is indebted to the public school system of the county for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields, aiding in the early spring planting, in the care of the crops and in the gathering of the harvests. He was married at the age of twenty-four on the 29th of October, 1874, to Miss Dora Bishop, a daughter of J. K. Bishop, of Bainbridge, who lived a mile and a half from Millburg, so that the young people had grown up to gether. Her father died at Coloma, Michi gan, in July, 1906, at the age of seventy- nine years. Mrs. Hess was born on the old homestead property in that township and there remained until seventeen years of age, when she gave her hand in marriage to our subject. In the fall of that year the young couple began their domestic life upon their present farm in Benton township. His father had owned the place for some years. It comprised eighty acres of land, about thirty acres being improved at the time that Mr. Hess purchased a fourth interest in the property. Later he bought the interest of his three brothers until he owned the en tire tract of eighty acres. He has it now all under cultivation, about seventy acres be ing planted in trees. His orchards are splendidly improved. He has thirty-five acres planted to peaches, twenty-two to pears and there are also a large number of cherry and apple trees. There is an apple orchard upon the place which has been in bearing for fifty years. The farm was orig inally enclosed with a rail fence and at each corner a peach tree was planted and the fruit from these trees sold at a dollar per peck on the street in Benton Harbor. In 1905, Mr. Hess sold large quantities of fruit, the crops being excellent in that year. He has harvested a strawberry crop from eight acres netting one hundred dollars per acre. The results that have attended his labors as a horticulturist have been entirely satisfactory. He has studied fruit all his life and his opinions upon the subject are largely re garded as authority in this community. He has also grown some grain and stock and his farm is in every respect productive and valuable. He now has residence property in Benton Harbor and this in addition to his farm brings him a very good income. In 1904 Mr. Hess was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 15th of October of that year after a very short illness. They had traveled life's journey together for thirty years. She was devoted to her family and was a most es timable lady, who had indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband on life's journey. Unto them had been born four children, but two of the number died in childhood. Those still living are : Robert D., twenty-three years of age; and George K., now fourteen years of age. The former maried Alice King of Benton Harbor and has one child. They reside upon the home farm with his father. In his political views Mr. Hess is a Democrat and entertains broad and liberal views where local issues are involved, never considering himself bound by party ties. He frequently attends, however, the conventions of his party. He is a member of the Ben ton County Horticultural Society and be longs to the Knights of the Maccabees, while HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 995 his religious faith is indicated by his mem bership in the Millburg Christian church. In 1902 he erected his present home, which is a nice country residence, heated by furnace, well lighted, with good plumbing through out. It is a modern residence in all of its appointments and is conveniently and pleas antly situated about four miles from Benton Harbor. He has been closely identified with horticultural interests in this county for many years and has done much to make this locality a fruit producing center. His con nection with any undertaking insures a pros perous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful com pletion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputa tion as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honor able methods, which have won him the de served and unbounded confidence of his fel lowmen. OMAR A. D. BALDWIN, who is en gaged in the nursery business, with an ex cellent tract of land on section 19, Lake township, devoted solely to that purpose, is meeting with desirable and deserved suc cess in this undertaking. He was born upon this farm July 23, 1883, and has always re sided here, having now one hundred and thirty acres of land on sections 19, 21 and 24. His grandparents were George and Exene Pauline (Hugins) Baldwin, and the former died when his son Ozro A. E. Bald win was only two years of age, after which the mother married William L. Wheelock. Ozro A. E. Baldwin was the only child of that marriage but had a half brother. He was born in Berkshire county, Massachu setts, April 21, 1849, and when sixteen years of age came to this county with his mother and stepfather, spending his remaining days here. He became a prominent, influential and successful citizen. He worked on his stepfather's farm up to the time of his mar riage and then accepted a clerkship in a store at Sawyer, after which he spent a few months in Bridgman. He afterward pur chased twerity acres of what became the home farm of the family and which was then partially improved. He was the first nurseryman of* his part of the county and continued in the business up to the time of his death. The March prior to his demise he also extended the scope of his business activities by becoming interested in a mer cantile enterprise in Bridgman, as a member of the firm of Chauncey & Baldwin, in which his son became his successor. He was not only enterprising and progressive in his busi ness interets, in which he won honorable and notable success, but was also recognized as a leader in molding public thought and opinion and his labors were often of direct benefit to the public: He voted .with the Re publican party and served as drain commis sioner for ten consecutive years previous to the establishment of the county commission. He was also supervisor of his township for one term and was ever faithful to the various positions of trust given to his care. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was treasurer of his lodge at the time of his death, while at other times he filled the various chairs of the organiza tion. He was also finance keeper of the Knights of the Maccabees. For a long time he was connected with the school board and was acting in that capacity when called from this life. He regarded a public office as a public trust and was ever faithful to every obligation of citizenship and of private life as well. He was married in 1872 to Miss Lucy E. Weston, who was born in Niagara county, New York, April 12, 1854, and came to this county with her parents in 1867, a daughter of Franklin and Rosamond M. (Burdick} Weston, also natives of the Em pire state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin were born seven children: Myrtle E., the wife of Andrew M. Clymer, of this town ship; Ozro E., also a resident of Lake town ship; Jessamine, at home; Fern C. B., the wife of Robert L Wilson, of Charlevoix, Michigan; Omar, of this review; Hazel C, at home; and Hollie O., who died at the age of ten months. Reared under the parental roof and edu cated in the public schools Mr. Baldwin, whose name introduces this record, has spent his entire life upon the place which is still his home and which is known as the Bald win Railroad View Fruit Plants Farm, be- 996 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY ing devoted to the raising 'of small fruit plants, a specialty being made of straw berries. A mail order business is conducted and about thirty thousand catalogs are an nually sent out, while about six million strawberry plants are sold yearly. Mr. Baldwin gives practically his whole time to the nursery business and his broad expe rience has made him very proficient in the raising and cultivation of plants for nursery stock. He also owns, however, a half in terest in the large general mercantile store of Chauncey & Baldwin, at Bridgman, com ing into possession of this at the time of his father's death, October 5, 1902. The old homestead is a fine one, being one of the well improved properties of this part of the state, and his care and attention have con tinually added to its value. Mr. Baldwin votes with the Republican party and has served as a member of the county committee from Lake township. He belongs to the Independent Order of Good Templars in which he has filled all the chairs, and is identified with Bridgman Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F., of which he has been treasurer for the past three years. In social, fraternal and business relations his position is among the foremost and he is accounted one of the most valued citizens among the young men of the county, being a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. ALVA SHERWOOD. In 'referring to the life of his friend, Mr. E. K. Warren pointed out two predominating character istics, modesty and faithfulness, adding, "he never sought places of responsibility but al ways filled them faithfully when they were committed to him." But not alone for the finer qualities of his life is Mr. Sherwood remembered, but also . for his ability, of which it was said in an editorial during his life, "Mr. Sherwood is quick in seizing an opportunity, clear in understanding a situa tion, and prompt in applying necessary measures to meet an emergency; possesses great resources of perseverance and courage, yet withal is a modest man." It is then of such a man, kind, gentle, sincere, friendly, able, that this sketch is to deal. Alva Sherwood was essentially a Berrien county man. His grandfather removed from Ohio to Michigan in 1833, and the major part of the life of his father, Alonzo Sher wood, was spent in this county. It was near Buchanan that Alva Sherwood was born, January 15, 1859. In a family of eight children he was the only son to reach matur ity, and but two of his sisters, Mrs. Will iam Convis and Mrs. William H. Smith, both of Los Angeles, California, are living. Reared in Wesaw township Alva Sher wood acquired his early education in the public schools of New Troy, where he com pleted his course in 18.77. This preparatory study was supplemented by a four-year course at the Michigan Agricultural Col lege, from which he was graduated in 1881. Then followed a period of teaching in New Troy and in Three Oaks. He gave up the life of the school room for the life of the farm when he entered the employ of Mr. E. K. Warren, whose farm and stock in terests he supervised in Three Oaks for sev eral years. Feeling the need of a little special work he took a post-graduate course at the Michigan Agricultural College in 1892, and then accepted the management of the Essex Stock farm at Walkerville, On tario. After successful service there, he re signed to complete a course in Veterinary Surgery, in the Detroit Veterinary College, and with his training completed in 1894 he returned to Three Oaks. Soon after he added one hundred and fifty acres to his farm of that size in Wesaw township, which he used in general farming and stock raising until a profitable sale was made of nearly his entire property shortly before his death. In 1904 Mr. Sherwood was chosen as a delegate to the World's Fourth Sunday- School Convention in Jerusalem, Palestine, April 17th to 19th, and he left New York with his fellow delegates on the steamer Grosser Kurfurst, March 8th, for a cruise of over two months, including in the trip visits to the principal places on the shores of the Mediterranean sea and inland ex cursions into Syria, Egypt and Italy. The fellowship on board the convention steamer as well as the privileges of the convention was dear to the heart of Mr. Sherwood, HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 997 and he proved himself companionable and sympathetic to a marked degree. He was always ready to do something for somebody else, and equally ready to take without com plaint the necessary inconveniences attend ant upon an excursion of that character. During his residence in Three Oaks, prior to 1904, Mr. Sherwood had been prom inent in the political and social life of Ber rien county, and had for six years served as deputy sheriff. In this and other capaci ties he became well acquainted with the prominent men throughout the county. During his absence, his name was suggested as a candidate for county treasurer. Upon his return to Michigan he accepted the plans which had been made for him and entered the campaign, which resulted in his election in the fall of 1904. He assumed the office of county treasurer, to which he had been elected by a large majority, the ist of Janu ary, 1905, and occupied it until his death, On the 28th of November, 1888, Alva Sherwood was united in marriage with Ada M. Simpson, who was born in Carlton, Or leans county, New York, January 25, 1861, and came with her parents, Emery H. and Mary A. (Thompson) Simpson, to Hart ford, Michigan, in 1863. The Simpson family was well known in this part of the state, Mr. Simpson having served two terms in the state legislature. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood were born four children — Emery Simpson and Catharine Clark, November 29, 1890; Catharine died February 10, 1897; Mary Thompson, born February 7, 1896, and Leland Alva, born March 26, 1898, and died September 5, 1898. Mrs. Sherwood with her two children, Emery Simpson and Mary Thompson, are making their perma nent home in Three Oaks. Mr. Sherwood's success in stock raising, his fondness for horses and his clear judg ment of their values, led very naturally to his selection as superintendent of the horse department of the West Michigan Fair, at Grand Rapids, and in carrying out the duties of his position he met the accident which terminated fatally. He was mounted on a spirited horse, leading a cavalcade of horses and cattle. The horse was made restless by the prancing and tossing of horns of the animals around him. Seeing a man with whom he wished to speak, Mr. Sherwood leaned forward in his saddle ; at the moment he did so his horse threw back its head, striking Mr. Sherwood in the forehead, and stunning him. In the agony of the blow, Mr. Sherwood involuntarily jerked back on the reins; the horse reared straight into the air and falling backwards crushed his rider beneath him. Mr. Sherwood was im mediately removed to a Grand Rapids hos pital where expert assistance was rendered, but through the presence of internal in juries his recovery was impossible, and sur rounded by his wife and friends he died September 26, 1905. Alva Sherwood was a many-sided man. He knew what the proper proportions of life are, and he gave heed to the correct rela tion between the things of time and the things of Eternity. Developing thus a com plete life, his service to the community in which he lived was and is inestimable. He was, perhaps, for a period of over two- dec ades, the most prominent man in the educa tional life of Three Oaks. He had taught school, and taught it well, and his teaching which supplemented a good and thorough education, admirably fitted him later in life for the efficient supervision of the interests of the public schools, which, as the director of the school board, he exercised term after term. To the things which he knew, theoretically and practically, about educa tion, he added a quick perception of situa tions, a ready sympathy in trying conditions, a fondness for children who always gave him the confidence which a good man in spires in a child. In his business life Mr. Sherwood had learned how to serve himself profitably by serving others acceptably. He was both capable and industrious, a combination hard to defeat, whatever the conditions or cir cumstances of life. During the year or two immediately preceding his departure for the Orient, Mr. Sherwood disposed of most of his property, and left his affairs well regu lated and in order. Many a man otherwise successful is found to be deficient when sub jected to this test. The integrity of his busi ness life can be shown no better than in the 998 •HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY mute testimony which hundreds with whom he had had business relations gave, when they assembled at his funeral to offer that tribute of their regard for him. While Mr. Sherwood was not a poli tician in ¦ the commonly accepted sense of that term, yet he was always interested in political conditions in the county, state and nation, and he was rewarded at the hands of his party, both for his own ability and his stanch and loyal Republicanism. Such poli tics as he followed must first be clean and then as effective as his energy could aid in making them. He placed good citizenship higher than party, and would have preferred defeat on the former platform to victory on the latter, unless they could be merged as they were in his case. These three sides of his life stand out distinctly, and yet not so distinctly as the side of which he gave the greater em phasis, though it was by the silent force of his consistent life, rather than by any noisy demonstration — sincere Christian ity. Mr. Sherwood was a Congregationalist, and a member of the First Congregational church of Three Oaks, in which society he had served in almost every capacity, includ ing that of clerk and trustee. He was a teacher in the Sabbath-school, and for many years an assistant superintendent. . He was always ready to do the thing that was asked of him and to do it to the full extent of his ability. He was interested in every good movement, not only in the church and Sun day-school but in the community, and throughout his life he was a loyal repre sentative on earth of the Master he served. A fair estimate of Mr. Sherwood was made by those who paid their tribute to him when his many friends were gathered in Three Oaks to perform the last offices. William H. Anderson, president of the West Michigan State Fair Association said, "Alva Sherwood was as good a man in every way as one would wish to meet. He was always a gentleman in all that the word implies, and I feel the loss personally. I know that my sentiment will be echoed by all those connected with the West Michigan Fair As sociation." Lester J. Rindge, vice president of the association, added, "Mr. Sherwood was one of nature's noblemen. He was a man all through, and one who was respected by everyone, not only as a business man but as a friend. He was a man whom we, as well as the community in which he lived, exceedingly regret to lose." Mr. Charles W. Garfield spoke feelingly of the loss which he felt personally, and in behalf of his colleagues voiced it in these words: "He was more than a capable and respected man: he was a good man. I do not know what church he belonged to, or if he was identified with any church, but he was a religious man. Religion is the mind of God in the heart of man. Seeking it is finding out about God. Alva Sherwood in this deep and true sense was a religious man. When one undertakes to fulfill his whole duty connected with the affairs of this world, and brings to bear upon public spirited enter prises his whole and dominant physical, mental, and moral ability, he is the strongest factor in God's hands for the accomplish ment of the deeper and nobler purposes of life. In this sense Mr. Sherwood was God's husbandman." Mr. Sherwood's pastor, Rev. George B. Hatch, sums up his estimate of the man, thus, — "First, he was characteristically a Christian man. The reason that he was so generally liked and trusted was that he put the spirit of Christ into all that he did. He was the sort of Christian who translates creed into deed. He exemplified the real beauty that is in real Christianity. That men liked him proves that they would like Christ if they knew Him. Secondly, he was a man to be counted on. Wherever you put him you could be sure of his being faithful to the trust reposed in him. He did not need to be watched. His principal was to do his part, whatever others might or might not do. In recognition of his absolute faith fulness the county wanted him as its servant. He did not seek his office, but took it when it was offered him, and gave to its duties his utmost care. And this was character istic of him in all the activities which en gaged him. Such men are too valuable to be easily spared.- Thirdly, he found the text true which says that Godliness is profitable in the life that now is. Owing to his con- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 999 sistent efforts to do the will of God, his own life broadened out and was enriched. Some men's lives narrow in and become less and less joyous and free. His, on the contrary, became larger and fuller. Things kept com ing his way. He sought the Kingdom of God, and the pleasures and profits of earthly life were added to him. This was noticeable during the last two years. He was on the road to better things right along. And now, since he has gone has he not already found that the second half of the text is true, and that Godliness is profitable also for the life to come? He is the kind of man that God likes, and must we not believe that his 'un timely' death is to be explained on the ground that God wanted to promote him to some position and service in the other world?" Perhaps no one knew Mr. Sherwood better than his lifelong friend, Mr. E. K. Warren, with whose testimony this review closes : "Quite naturally I had expected that Mr. Sherwood, my friend, would be one of those who would perform this service for me, but he was called first. The words that I shall speak are not only for myself but I desire to voice the feelings as far as possible of a large number of Mr. Sherwood's friends. One-half or more of the audience before me have known him twenty years or more, many of them longer; some of them as his early schoolmates. Deep sorrow per vades our whole community at the loss of such a man, and when the news came the thought expressed, was, 'Mr. Sherwood, why he was my personal friend.' He had a wonderful faculty of winning confidence and friendship. He naturally begat confi dence and thus strong friendships were made, and many of us have lost a valued personal friend. "His life was a great success. All about him in these floral emblems I see evidences of our love, appreciation and sympathy for our friend. I am glad to say that they were not withheld from him until his death, but that in some measure at least he was ad vised of our confidence and appreciation of him. Only a few weeks since in our Sun day-school we devoted the greater part of the session in telling Mr. Sherwood what we thought of him. It was his last Sabbath with us. He , had been for many years a faithful member of the church and an of ficer and teacher in the Sunday-school, con stant in his attendance at the prayer meet ing, and in every way showing his loyalty to Christian work. He was seated on the platform, other officers about him, and in a short time several of the officers, teachers and members of the school, closing with the pastor, had the pleasure of telling him what his life had meant to this community, and how sorry we were that he was to go out from us, but that we rejoiced that he went as a Christian man and a representative of the Master's cause. Tears of joy rolled down his cheeks during the time, and he was so affected that he could only offer a few words in response, but it was a great day for Mr. Sherwood and for us. "His two strong characteristics were modesty and faithfulness. He never sought places of responsibility but always filled them faithfully when they were committed to him. His service for twenty years in connection with our public schools has been one of great helpfulness to our entire community. As I see it now his last two years have been somewhat of a preparation for his going. He has spoken several times to me recently in reference to his life among us and that he had done so little, when we felt he had clone so much. During the past two years many privileges have come to him. The Cruise and Jerusalem Convention he en joyed very much. Last summer with his family he made a visit of several weeks to his father in Nebraska, and very recently his sister and family from California made a very enjoyable visit here, and during their stay a reunion was held of all old classmates possible from the New Troy school. During the past summer he made a trip with his wife to Toronto, Ontario, to attend the Inter national Sunday-school convention, which they enjoyed thoroughly. All these things have rounded out and made the last few years and months very precious ones to Mr. Sherwood. His life was successful, not only in the things that I have stated, but 1000 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY as the world counts success; business suc cess, political success, and best of all char acter. There is one title that seems es pecially fitting to him, A Christian Gentle man." AMANDUS O. WINCHESTER, one of the old settlers of St. Joseph, where he died January 29, 1900, held a high place in the community, and was recognized as a man of moral worth, strict integrity in business, and conscientious in performance of duties between him and his fellow men. His ancestors for four generations had been ministers of the gospel, and he had taken their upright lives and tenets of faith as guiding examples in his own career. The Winchester family is descended from Hon. John Winchester, who was the first representative of the town of Brook- line in the general court of Massachusetts. Other well known names in New England are connected with the Winchester geneal ogy, and besides the ministry, the Win chesters have achieved more than ordinary distinction as soldiers in the country's wars, as manufacturers, as business men and in other walks of life. The late A. O. Winchester was born in Madison, Ohio, June 25, 1827, the seventh child of Rev. Jonathan David Winchester and Hannah M. Bunn, daughter of John Bunn and Bethiah Field, which takes the ancestry into other famous families of Amer ica. Hannah M. Bunn, was born in Nor folk, Connecticut, May 11, 1784, and mar ried Rev. Winchester October 6, 181 1. Rev. Winchester, the father of Amandus O. Win chester, was a Presbyterian minister of some celebrity, who died at Madison, Ohio, Au gust 17, 1835. Mr. Winchester married, June 6, 1855, Margaret Patton. Their only child is Stella L. Winchester, who is the only representa tive of the family left in Berrien county. Mr. Winchester was a victim of heart desease, from which he had suffered many years, and his sudden death took him away while apparently enjoying vigor and health. .He was a large and handsome man, adding physical symmetry to many strong and ad mirable qualities of character. FRED McOMBER, M. D., editor and proprietor of the Berrien Springs Era, was born in Orleans county, New York, on the 23d of January, 1846. He traces his lineage to Scotland, and the family of which he is a member was one of the first represented in America. His grandfather on the pa ternal side, Pardon McOmber, was born in Connecticut, as was also his father, Asa. The mother of our subject was Marilla, daughter of John Gray and a native of New York state. One in a family of eight, the subject of this biographical notice was reared to manhood in Orleans county, New York, receiving a com mon-school education. A mere lad when the war broke out, he' was fired with the spirit of patriotism and desire to serve his country, and, accordingly, enlisted as a member of Company C, Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, Col. Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls, commanding." The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, Second Division, Second Brigade, Second Army Corps. Dr. McOmber participated in nearly all the battles of the Wilderness. During the battle of Cold Harbor, on the 4th of June, 1864, a shell struck a tree about eight feet above his head and somewhat shocked Dr. McOmber, who, however, re ceived no serious injury therefrom except a small wound on his arm. He remained with the regiment, taking part in all its engage ments and inarches until he was mustered out of the service at the close of the war. After having been honorably discharged in May, 1865, Dr. McOmber returned to his old home in Orleans county, New York, and a short time afterward went to Canadaigua, New York, where he remained until 1867, learning the trade of a jeweler, and at the same time studying medicine under a Dr. Holmes. In 1868 he made a tour of Iowa for the purpose of selecting a suitable loca tion, but finding nothing satisfactory he went to Chicago, where he was in business and studying medicine for eighteen months. Later he came to Michigan, and remained in Benton Harbor for three months. In January, 1869, he located in Berrien Springs, where he has since resided. For several years he engaged in merchandising. In HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY IOOI 1870 he established the Berrien Springs Dis pensary for the treatment of chronic diseases and for drug, liquor and tobacco habits, and has met with much success in this line. He is also the compounder of some very valuable remedies, in the sale of which he has built up a large trade, and also has sev eral inventions for the treatment of chronic diseases, especially of the lungs, by medi cated vapor, compressed air, etc. In 1873 Dr. McOmber was appointed postmaster of Berrien Springs, and served with efficiency for ten years. His journal istic career commenced in 1873, at which time he established a monthly paper, which had the distinction of being the first paper published in Berrien Springs. This paper was called Gold and Silver. In 1874 it was merged into a weekly and the title changed to the Berrien County Journal, which, after editing and publishing for several months, he sold. In 1876 he established a weekly paper, an eight-column folio, Republican in politics and neat in its typographical appear ance, which he called the Berrien Springs Era, the only paper now established in the place. He still conducts his medical indus try, but sold his newspaper plant to Benson Bros, in April, 1901. The marriage of Dr. McOmber occurred in 1872, and united him with Miss Minnie M., the daughter of the Hon. James Gra ham, an early settler of Berrien county, who served as sheriff and also as a member of the legislature. Dr. and Mrs. McOmber are the parents of one child Graham O. Socially, Dr. McOmber is identified with Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R. ; Western Star Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M., and other fraternal organizations. He was largely interested in the establishment of the St. Joseph Valley Railroad in 1889, and served as its general manager for some time. For many years he owned a half- interest in the"iHofel Oronoko, which was conducted as a sanitarium and for the ac commodation of summer visitors ; this prop erty passed into other hands early in 1900 and was destroyed by fire 1906. Always in terested in educational matters, Dr. Mc Omber has rendered efficient service as a member of the school board, and has done all in his power toward advancing the standard of education in his vicinity, and as a public-spirited citizen he has done a great deal to build up and advance the interests of Berrien Springs. He was elected village president in 1884 and has since served many terms as trustee. He was the prime mover in the promo tion of the Berrien Springs Water Power Co. He was director in the South Haven & Eastern Railroad Company, also director and secretary of St. Joseph Valley Railway and Milwaukee, Benton Harbor & Colum bus Railway. It was largely through his efforts that Berrien Springs acquired the lat ter road. In this and other enterprises he spent a vast amount of time and consider able money, all in the interest of Berrien Springs. He is now conducting the Ber rien Springs Dispensary Co., and also assist ing his son in the business of McOmber & Co., brokers in real estate, etc. EDWARD KIRK WARREN. Berrien county enjoys the distinction of including within its limits a village of a thousand in habitants whose record and reputation are as well known outside of Michigan as in the state. And this in large measure is through the personality of one of her best known men — Edward Kirk Warren. Three Oaks became the home of Mr. Warren in 1858, when at the age of eleven years he came west with the family whose earlier home had been in Ludlow, Vermont. His father, Rev. Waters Warren, a minister of power and a man of determined convic tion, surrendered the pastoral field of New England! for the home missionary oppor tunities of the new west. Privileges there were in such a work at such a time, but hard ships and privations there were, too, and such as no one knows in full degree, who has not experienced them. It was in the midst of these surroundings, in a country where only energy and perseverance made progress possible and where only integrity and econ omy conserved it, that Edward Warren grew to manhood ; and many of the characteristics seen in the man today are directly traceable to the necessary discipline of those early days. But it is not to be inferred that all 1002 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY thooe days of country and character-making were days of gloom and depression, for the new settlements had their measure of activ ity and such as it was it was lived to the largest extent. The schools were not elab orately graded, but the instruction was sound, as far as it went; and was received with relish which is not always found in today's institutions of learning. In the com mon schools of Three Oaks young Warren laid the foundation of his education which has been essentially that derived from men — in social, commercial, political and inter denominational relationships. The first employment which Edward Warren secured as a boy was in a sawmill, where he received the munificent sum of fifty cents for a day's labor. On January 24, 1864, he was employed by Henry Chamber lain, who conducted a general mercantile business. This employment continued for five years, when J. L. McKie and E. K. War ren formed a partnership to conduct a dry goods business. Nine years later Mr. War ren purchased the general merchandising business of Henry Chamberlain and was in terested in it until he entered the manufac turing field in 1883. During the preceding years Mr. Warren, as a dry goods merchant, had sold whalebone, which, because of its tendency to brittleness was never entirely satisfactory as a dress stay, and which owing to an increasing scarcity was steadily ad vancing in price. Recognizing the necessity for an improved substitute, Mr. Warren set about to discover a material from which a durable and elastic dress bone could be con structed. He found it in the quill of a turkey, and, from that day to this, quills have been shipped into Three Oaks by the pound, the sack, the crate and the car load. Coming from every corner of the United States these quills have been received by the company which Mr. Warren organized to manufac ture featherbone, the Warren Featherbone Company, made by innumerable and intri cate processes into the many forms of dress boning material required by the public, and sent back to these same corners of the United States and even to foreign countries as a commercially valuable article — and each package has borne on its label, "Three Oaks, Michigan." During the years in which Featherbone has been manufactured, from half a dozen to half a thousand employees have constantly been occupied in making and marketing the product. At different times branch factories at Chicago ; Porter, Indiana ; and Middleville, Michigan, have supple mented the output of the yearly enlarging factories in Three Oaks. Distributing of fices have been established at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Fran cisco, and a featherbone business operated in Europe. The growth and stability of the featherbone industry is best evidenced by the recent construction in Three Oaks of a magnificent three-story building of brick, stone and marble, richly finished and fitted in the most modern and convenient manner, where for years to come Mr. Warren and his associates may conduct a business which logically claims the world as its market. In addition to his manufacturing inter ests Mr. Warren controls a bank and farms large tracts of marsh land. He owns long stretches of Lake Michigan beach and a ranch in the Panhandle of Texas. While his revenues have largely come from the out side world Mr. Warren has always been in tensely interested in the welfare of the vil lage in which for all these years he has vol untarily made his home. As president of the village board he was instrumental in accom plishing the erection of a village electric light and water plant which are yearly proving their worth in comfort, convenience, econ omy and protection. Three Oaks has fought the liquor traffic and won. Up to 1899 the village was not unlike many another, where town expenses are increased and growing manhood de creased by the existence of a licensed saloon. Those who narrowly considered alone the benefit derived by a town through the pay ment of a saloon license had assisted in main taining the Three Oaks saloon, and there seemed to be no way to effectually meet this apparent though deceptive argument save in one based on dollars and cents. Accordingly Mr. Warren offered, in case the saloon should be prohibited by ordinance in Three Oaks, to pay into the village treasury each year the sum of $250.00 — the amount of the HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1003 saloon license — so long as no saloon should be permitted to open its doors for business in Three Oaks. This offer turned the tide of public sentiment and on March 24, 1899, the saloon was forever ruled out of Three Oaks, by ordinance, and Mr. Warren yearly contributes the sum which equals the saloon license to the village. A long step forward in the development of Three Oaks is being taken in the present agitation for good roads. In order to bring the issue to a successful conclusion Mr. War ren proposed at the town meeting of 1906 to contribute the sum of two thousand dollars to the township treasury if the town board should be instructed to build two miles of stone road in Three Oaks during 1906. This generous proposition was unanimously ac cepted and Three Oaks is to add to its other improvements — its village park, its modern ' depot, its new residences, and the features before mentioned, a modern system of good roads. The national reputation which Three Oaks possesses has come in part from the industry which is its backbone, but also in a manner which in itself is unique. At the close of the Spanish-American war, a com mittee was formed to raise a fund to build a monument to the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives in that conflict. Among the contributions received by the committee was one from the hero of Manila Bay, Admiral Dewey — a cannon captured first by the Filipinos from the Spanish and second by the United States Navy from the Filipinos on Corregidor Island. This cannon was conveyed from the Phillipine Islands by the S. S. McCullough and delivered to the Monument Committee at San Francisco. This committee appreciating the value of the cannon and desiring to convert this value into funds to be used in the erection of the National Monument, decided to give the cannon to the city or village contributing the largest sum, in proportion to its popula tion, to the monument fund. Three Oaks entered the lists. It decided to capture that cannon. And it did. With a population of 885, three hundred and twelve persons sub scribed and paid an aggregate sum of $1,132.80 — an average contribution for each man, woman and child in the village of $1.28. Then Three Oaks reaped the reward of her patriotism. President McKinley and members of his cabinet stopped at Three Oaks October 17, 1899, and dedicated the mound on which the cannon was to set. And Helen Miller Gould and General Rus sell A. Alger formally unveiled the cannon at its final resting place June 30, 1900, in the presence of the entire population of the village and thousands of visitors from Mich igan and adjacent states. The stars and stripes raised over the cannon to float "until time shall be no more" still remind the trav eling public, passing over the Michigan Cen tral lines, that patriotism is not confined to eastern cities and that "Where there's a will there's a way." The "will" rested chiefly .in the subject of this sketch who, as presi dent of the village, overcame tremendous obstacles and brought to Three Oaks the honor in which her citizens so heartily re joice. Since his youth Edward K. Warren has been interested in all forms of religious ac tivity, but particularly in the work of the Sunday-school. As teacher and superintend ent in the Congregational Sunday-school at Three Oaks, where he has been in official relationship to the school for a quarter of a century, he has fitted himself for the respon sibilities of the state, national and world of fices with which his colleagues have honored him. Mr. Warren has passed in succession through the offices of local superintendent, township president, county president, chair man State Executive Committee, vice chair man International Executive Committee, chairman*World's Executive Committee and president of the World's Sunday School Convention. At one time Mr. Warren was actually in simultaneous relation with every branch of Sunday-school organization from the township of Three Oaks, through the county of Berrien, the state of Michigan, the United States, to the highest organization — A World's Convention. To Mr. Warren as chairman of the World's Executive Com mittee is ascribed the credit for carrying through the immense project of holding a World's Sunday School 'Convention in the City of Jerusalem, and of conveying the 1004 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY delegates to the Holy City and providing for their necessities and comforts in travel. An Atlantic liner — the Grosser Kurfurst — was chartered, and eight hundred delegates taken to Jerusalem and given a comprehensive Mediterranean cruise at the same time. The convention was successfully held, attended by fifteen hundred delegates representing nearly every country and religion on the face of the globe. The Jerusalem Convention will live through history and its president is a Berrien county man. The successful man is the many sided man. It would be difficult to determine Mr. Warren's predominating characteristic. But among the qualities which have spelled his success are a perseverance which admits no barrier, an optimism which allows no gloom and a faith in mankind which preserves the sweetness of life. MELBOURNE H. OLMSTEAD, liv ing retired in the village of Three Oaks, is the owner of valuable property interests, comprising the south half of section 8, in Three Oaks township. A life of business activity guided by sound judgment and characterized by perseverance and integrity has made him a prosperous resident of Ber rien county. He was born in Sennett town ship, Cayuga county, New York, October 13, 1837, his parents being Abijah P. and Eliza beth C. (Clark) Olmstead, natives of New York. The father was born January 1, 1800, on the same farm on which the birth of our subject occurred and his entire life was there passed. He purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home place and con tinued the cultivation of the farm until his own death at the age of forty-six. He was a son of Ambrose Olmstead, a native of Con necticut, who made the trip on horseback to New York and cast in his lot with the pio neer residents of Cayuga county. His wife drove a yoke of oxen to their new home, over a distance of two hundred miles. Mrs. Olmstead also died in Cayuga county upon the farm where our subject was born, pass ing away there at the age of eighty-eight years. She was a granddaughter of General Samuel Clark, of Ballston, New York, who served throughout the Revolutionary war. He joined the army as a private and won official rank, and after serving in the war of 1812 was brevetted brigadier general. The Olmstead family is of English descent : Jehiel Clark, the grandfather of our subject, and son of General Samuel Clark, was born December 17, 1764, and died July 20, 1844. He removed from Saratoga county, New York, to Clarksville, which place was named in his honor and is now a part of Auburn, New York. The year of his arrival there was 1797. Unto the parents of Melbourne H. Olmstead were born eleven children, of whom he is the fourth in order of birth. Pulaski, the youngest member of the family, was killed in the battle of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, while serving in the civil war. The eldest brother, Morris M., held the office of county superintendent of the poor for forty-two consecutive years in Cayuga coun ty, New York, and is now residing at Au burn, New York, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The father was super visor of his township and also justice of the peace and held school offices during the greater part of his life. Melbourne H. Olmstead when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal from Sennett to Mentz township in Cayuga county, and resided, there and in an adjoining township until 1871. His life was devoted to farm labor and he also en gaged in the wood and lumber business from the time he attained his majority until 1871. Then because of impaired health he did not engage actively in any business for five or six years. In 1877 Mr. Olmstead removed from New York to Michigan, settling at Three Oaks, where he has since resided. Here he established and conducted a broom handle factory for about fourteen years and also carried on a lumber business and operated a sawmill. He was likewise engaged in the manufacture of rake and hoe handles and in his factory employed from fifteen to fifty workmen, according to the season. In 1872 he purchased half of section 8, Three Oaks township, and still owns the property. It was timber land when it came into his pos session and the fact of his owning the tract was what brought Mr. Olmstead to Michi- HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1005 gan as a resident. That tract furnished about half of the timber which he used in his factory. He has about half of the land under cultivation and since retiring from the field of manufacturing enterprises his at tention has been given to the supervision of his farm. He had about two hundred acres covered with hard wood timber, from which he got in one year about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand broom handles. He also made about twenty-five thousand fork handles one year outside of various other kinds. In 1882 he sold over one hun dred carloads, sawed just from his mill. The factory, located in the village of Three Oaks, continued to be a part of his possessions un til 1904, when he sold out. He had been closely associated with industrial interests in the town and his labors were of direct benefit to the community as well as to in dividual success, for the industry furnished employment to a number of workmen to whom he paid a good living wage. On the 13th of January, 1885, Mr. Olm stead was united in marriage to Miss Helen C. Stevenson, who was born in Mentz, Cay uga county, New York, a daughter of W. F. Stevenson. In his political views Mr. Olmstead had always been a stalwart Re publican until after the Civil war, since which time he has cast an independent bal lot. He has never cared for office but has been faithful in his duties of citizenship and given co-operation to many measures which have had direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of the community. He is now living retired at the age of sixty-eight years and his rest is well merited. He is quiet and retiring in disposition but has displayed in his life the sterling traits of character which everywhere command respect, confidence and good will. OSCAR WYANT, living on section 14, Niles township, devotes his time and ener gies, to general agricultural pursuits, own ing a good tract of land of one hundred and sixty-six acres. In addition to the tilling of the soil he has dealt largely in timber and has bred and raised horses and cattle. In fact he is well known as a leading horse man of the countv. As a business man he is energetic and industrious and excellent results are attending his efforts. Mr. Wyant was born in Pipestone town ship, Berrien county, May 7, 1862, and was the youngest son and fifth child born unto William and Alvira (Tuttle) Wyant. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Berrien county in the '50s and took up his abode in Pipestone township, where he se cured a tract of land and followed the occu pation of farming. He is still a representa tive of the agricultural interests of this por tion of the state, his home at the present writing being in Berrien township. In early manhood he wedded Alvira Tuttle, a native of Ohio, who died when her son Oscar was but four years of age. The father after ward married Mrs. Philora Kirk, by whom he had one daughter. Of the first marriage there were six children as follows : Mary ; Almeda and Phebe, both deceased; John; Oscar, of this review; and Lydia, who has also passed away. Oscar Wyant was only four years of age at the time of his father's removal to Ber rien township and there he was reared, re maining at home until twenty-two years of age, during which time he assisted in the farm work. His education was obtained in the district schools of Berrien township and in Berrien Center, and when not busy with his text-books his time was largely devoted to the tilling of the soil and the care of the crops. On the 24th of January, 1884, Mr. Wyant was married to Miss Anna Rauft, a native of this county, and a daughter of Ernst and Margaret Rauft. The young couple began their domestic life in Berrien township, where Mr. Wyant engaged in farming and in speculating for six years. In 1890 he bought a part of the farm on which he now resides, becoming owner of eighty-three acres and at a more recent date has purchased another eighty-three acres, so that the farm now comprises one hundred and sixty-six acres. He has made a specialty of dealing in timber and is also well known as a breeder and raiser of horses and cattle. He owns three stallions, two of which are imported, one being a Norman, one a home bred stallion, and a fine running ioo6 HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY horse. As a stock dealer he is well known and has met with large success in this busi ness. In addition to the home property he owns a half interest in a. farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which lies in four townships and two counties, ' Berrien and Cass. He also is owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Berrien and Cass counties, situated in Pokagon and Ber rien townships respectively. One hundred and twenty acres of this is timber land. Mr. Wyant has been very successful in his busi ness enterprises, making judicious invest ments and carefully controlling his interests with the result that his labors have been at tended with a gratifying measure of pros perity. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wyant has been blessed with six children, Clarence, Charlie, Almeda, Margaret and William, all at home; and Harry, now deceased. Mr. Wyant is a Democrat but cast his last presi dential ballot for Roosevelt. At local elec tions he votes independently, regarding the capability of the candidate rather than party affiliation. He has been a life-long resi dent of the county and his chief interest centers here, while his public spirit is mani fest by his willingness to co-operate in meas ures for the public good. His activity and enterprise in business constitute the source of a very desirable success and his is justly numbered among the prominent farmers of this portion of the state. ALBERT S. RICKETTS. For many years Albert S. Ricketts has been numbered among the representative citizens and agri culturists of Berrien township, and through out the period of his residence here he has aided materially in the development and progress of this community. He was born in Portage county, Ohio-, February 15, 1850, a son of Hugh T. Ricketts. The last named was a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in Maysville, Kentucky, where he remained until he was twenty-eight years of age. He was a potter by trade, and was successful in his chosen calling. He was married in Portage county, Ohio, to Han nah Dickinson, who was born and reared in that state, and they became the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to years of _ maturity. The father reached his eighty- third year ere he was called to his final rest, and the mother was seventy-five years of age at the time of her death. Albert S. Ricketts was the fourth child and third son in his parents' family, and was reared in the place of his nativity until he was eighteen years of age. When but sixteen years of age he began life on his own responsibility, but he was indus trious, determined and ambitious, and these qualities enabled him to overcome the diffi culties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward. He was eighteen years of age when he came to Michigan, lo cating at once in Berrien county, but after a residence here of two years he went to Montgomery county, Kansas, there secur ing a claim and engaging in agricultural pursuits, and for three years was also en gaged in the grocery business. After a resi dence in that state of twelve years he sold his claim and returned to Berrien county, Michigan, locating on the farm on which he now resides, and this place has been his home for twenty-four years. The home place consists of eighty acres, Which he has taken pride to cultivate to the highest ex tent. On the 1 2th of April, 1882, Mr. Ricketts v was united in marriage to Lydia A. Layman, the daughter of Joel and Ellen (Jenkins) Layman, and the mother's family were num bered among the earliest pioneers of Ber rien county. Mrs. Ricketts was born on the farm on which she now resides. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Hazel, who is eighteen years old. In his political affiliations Mr. Ricketts has been a life-long Republican, his first presidential vote having been cast for General Grant. He is a member of Berrien Center Lodge No. 27, I. O. O. F. He is a man of sterling worth and justly merits the high regard in which he is held. JACOB BRENNER. Today after a useful and beneficent career Jacob Bren ner is quietly living at his pleasant home in Berrien Center, surrounded by the com forts that earnest labor has brought to him. HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY 1007 He was born in Dauphin courrty, Pennsyl vania, April 14, 1836, a son of Peter and Rebecca (Zimmerman) Brenner, also na tives of Dauphin county, where they spent their entire lives and were married. The father was a life-long farmer. The mother died when forty-five years old, and the hus band was again married, there being one daughter born of the second marriage, while of the first there were six children that grew to years of maturity, three sons and three daughters. Jacob Brenner, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in his native county in Pennsylvania, but after his marriage he came to Berrien county, Michi gan, purchasing a farm in Berrien township and devoting his time and energies to its cultivation until 1901, when his wife died and he took up his abode in Eau Claire for two years and then came to Berrien Cen ter. Thus for forty-one years he has main tained his home within the borders of this county, actively identified with its upbuild ing and growth and interested in many of its industries. For a time after his arrival here he operated, a threshing machine in ad- diton to his farm labors. On the 2 ist of February, 1856, Mr. Brenner was united in marriage to Mar garet Wolf, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and they continued to travel life's pathway together until 1901, when the wife and mother was called to the home be yond, leaving four children : David, who is engaged in the butchering business at Dowa giac; Anna, the wife of Burton J. Sparks; William, who carries on the work of the old homestead ; and Ida, the wife of Edwin Sparks, of Fairland, Berrien county. In 1903, Mr. Brenner married Mrs. Hulda Harrington, the widow of Smith Harring ton.^ Mr. Brenner gives his political sup port to the Republican party, and as its rep resentative served as highway commissioner for three years. He is a member of the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the chairs, and was treasurer of the order for about twenty years. He has also served as a member of the school board and was its treasurer for several years. As his children have started out in life for themselves he has provided well for their support, having given to each a farm valued at four thousand dollars. He has perse vered in the pursuit of a definite purpose and has gained a most satisfactory reward. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are cal culated to benefit and uplift humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.