USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Breeding is President of the South Haven Loan and Trust Company and also one of the directors of the First State Bank of South Haven and vice president and secretary of the Monroe Realty Company. He is a Republican in political affiliation and a Baptist in church connection, being chairman of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church. He and his wife have one child, their daughter Jane. The parents are among the most
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esteemed citizens of the city and county of their home, and the regard shown them by the people is based on genuine merit.
CHARLES FUNK .- No citizen of South Haven, Michigan, has been more prominently or beneficially connected with the public life of the city during the last few years than Charles Funk, one of its leading business men and now (1911) its chief executive. He served the people of the city so well and wisely as city councilman one term and part of another that they induced him to become their mayor, although he had to resign his seat in the council to become the nominee on what was known as the Citizens' Ticket, made up without regard to political party considerations.
Mr. Funk was born in Bangor, this county, on November 9, 1875, and has passed the whole of his life to the present time within the borders of the county and in intimate association with its residents. He obtained his education principally in the common schools, attending them in winter and working on his father's farm in summer. His scholastic training was finished at the high school in Bangor. He is a son of Martin and Minnie (Schlaack) Funk, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Germany. Of the five children born of their union but three are living, Charles and his brothers Ernest and Preston.
The father came to Michigan with his parents in the early fifties, when he was a small boy. They located at a place in Van Buren county known later as Funk's Settlement, where the father of Charles grew to manhood and acquired a knowledge of the oc- cupation of farming, in which he has ever since been engaged, and which he began for himself on wild land unbroken as yet, and never before subject to the persuasive hand of the husbandman. He and his wife are still living on the farm he hewed out of the wilderness, but it is now highly improved, well cultivated and richly productive. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and in political affairs, sides with the Democratic party, although he is no longer a very active partisan, but is still always loyal to his political faith.
On December 29, 1897, Mayor Funk, though he probably then never dreamed of becoming mayor, was married to Miss Bertha M. Springett, a native of Geneva township, this county, and a daughter of George and Flora M. Springett, also natives of Van Buren county and the children of English parents. Both are living on the farm the father has cultivated for many years. He is also a justice of the peace, and his political support is given to the Republican party. He and his wife are the parents of two chil- dren, Mrs. Funk and her brother Charles.
For four years after his marriage Mr. Funk cultivated the farm of his grandfather, John Funk. He then moved to South Haven, and was employed in a milling establishment for one year. He was eager, however, to have a business of his own, and at the end of his year in the mill formed a partnership with E. J. Merrifield and started an enterprise in the coal and wood trade under the firm name of Funk & Merrifield, which is still in existence and
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actively engaged in business with ample yards on West Phoenix street, and with an extensive and profitable volume of trade.
In 1907 Mr. Funk was elected alderman from the Second ward of the city, and at the end of his term in 1909 he was re-elected. He showed himself so capable and attentive to his official duties, so vigilant in caring for the interests of the city and the people, and so public-spirited and enterprising in municipal affairs, that before his second term expired he was obliged to resign his seat and become the candidate of the Citizens' party for mayor. Te this office he was elected also, his term beginning in the spring of 1911 and being for one year. In politics generally, especially in national and state affairs, Mr. Funk trains with the Democratic party, but in municipal elections he takes the view of many ex- cellent citizens in believing that partisan considerations should have but little weight, as municipal government is almost wholly a matter of business and should be conducted on business prin- ciples. Fraternally Mr. Funk is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America, and is one of the leading members of the organi- zation in the order in which he is enrolled.
He and his wife are the parents of two children. their son Lloyd and their daughter Velma.
JOHN CLAIR MCALPINE was born in Hamilton township. Van Buren county, Michigan, October 2. 1869. and is the only son of John and Mary Phillips McAlpine, the former a native of Che- mung county, New York, and the latter of Livingston county, New York. Mr. MeAlpine has one sister. Miss Ethel McAlpine, who re- sides with their mother in Hartford.
As the name implies, Mr. MeAlpine's ancestors were Scotch. his great-grandfather having settled in New York during the Revolu- tionary war. His grandfather, George McAlpine, was born in New York, but moved with his family to Cass county, Michigan, in 1858. Mr. MeAlpine's father, John McAlpine, was the eldest of a family of ten children, and. his parents being in poor circumstances financially, he early began to contribute to the support of his father's family.
In 1863, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Company C, Sixty- sixth Illinois Sharpshooters, and with his company served faith- fully to the end of the war of the rebellion, when he was honor- ably discharged. He was a conscientious and law abiding citizen, a good husband and father, and was much loved by a wide circle of friends. He held various township offices, to which he brought un- swerving honesty, fidelity and good judgment. He was a member of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic. His life began at Chemung county, New York, January 28, 1845, and ended in Hartford, Michigan, November 6. 1910.
John Clair McAlpine was educated in the common schools ex- cepting one year in a business college. Having determined early to be a farmer, he has adhered to his first choice of an occupation and is now an enterprising and progressive farmer in Keeler town- ship.
On October 3. 1888, Mr. MeAlpine was united in marriage with Vol. 11-14
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Miss Minnie E. Sheperd, a native of this county, born September 4, 1868, and the daughter of Henry and Adelaide Van Der Voort Sheperd. Mrs. McAlpine, like her husband, secured her education in the public schools, and that and her home training, like his, were directed to practical ends. They have had four children, three of whom are living. Leila was educated in the public schools and also received good instruction in music. Beatrice, the second daughter, received a public school education and is now the wife of William Bullard and has one child, a son, Gerald. They reside on a farm in Keeler township. The third daughter is Shirley, the youngest of the children. The son died at the age of three months.
In his political allegiance Mr. McAlpine is a Republican. but in local affairs, especially, his first consideration is the good of this community and the welfare of its people, and he casts his ballot with this always in view. He is especially interested in the progress and usefulness of the public schools, and has been connected with their management for many years. Mr. McAlpine is a member of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees, holding his membership in Tent No. 623 at Keeler. All the members of the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. All are well and favorably known throughout the county as persons of high character, upright lives, advanced social culture and the genuine publie spirit which leads them to welcome any worthy undertaking for the progress and improvement of the county and township of their home and are pleased with an opportunity to give it earnest and effective sup- port. They are well deserving of the universal esteem which they enjoy for their elevated standards of living, their sincere interest in the welfare of all who dwell around them, and their general high tone and usefulness as citizens.
ALMIRON ROBINSON .- Mr. Robinson's parents were, like so many of the county's best citizens, natives of New York. Both Alfred Robinson and his wife, Esther Baird Robinson, were born in the Empire state and came to Michigan early in life. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and a life-long Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. The mother is still living in Hartford, Michigan. There were five sons and two daughters in the household to which Almiron Robinson be- longed and four of the children are still living. Edward is a resi- dent of Keeler township; Charles lives in Hartford; Alfred is a merchant in Berlamont; and Almiron lives in Keeler township.
The date of Mr. Robinson's birth was March 22, 1875, and this county has been his home all of his life. He was educated in the common schools and not until he was twenty-one did he begin working for himself. When he began his career as a wage earner he did not have a dollar to his name. In 1895 he was married to Miss Frankie V. Jackson and together they began to work for a competence. She is the only child of Andrew and Eliza St. John Jackson, of this county, and was born February 15, 1879.
The first home of the young couple is now a part of their present farm. They were obliged to go in debt to buy it, but thrift and good management, as well as hard work, enabled them in time not
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only to pay for this but to acquire forty acres more. In 1899 they built a tasteful frame house, which has since been enlarged and modified. Three years afterwards they erected a large barn, which was destroyed by fire four years later and all its contents lost. Misfortunes are said never to come singly and the Robinson's ex- perience was no exception, for shortly before their valuable barn went up in flames Mr. Robinson was confined to the hospital for five months. Adversity only develops fortitude in strong souls and these two were of that sort who refuse to be discouraged. They built another barn, whose dimensions are thirty-six by seventy feet and in 1911 were able to look out on their pleasant estate, "Ingleside" with the satisfying consciousness that there was not a dollar of indebtedness on it. This place is situated four and a half miles from Keeler and five and a half miles from Hartford, and is one of the pleasant homes of the county.
There are four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and all are in school. Lloyd is in the eighth grade; Leon D., in the seventh; Glenn, in the fourth; and Laura Belle, in the third grade. It is the intention of the parents to give their children the education which will fit them to carry out their chosen careers to the best advantage. They are deeply interested in the question of education and are especially friendly to the public schools.
Mr. Robinson endorses the political principles for which the Republican party stands and, though he is no politician, he is very much interested in public affairs. Both he and Mrs. Robin- son are always prompt to give support and encouragement to all undertakings which are for the general good. They have built up their fortune from nothing and it has been sometimes very much like making bricks without straw, but their satisfaction is all the keener for the conquered difficulties and their record will be a proud tale for their children to tell and to hear.
SPENCER VAN OSTRAND .- Whatever may be said of native gifts, inherent traits and hereditary characteristics in determining a man's course in life, no thoughtful and observant person can deny the force of circumstances in the same connection. which not in- frequently bend every qualification a man has in accordance with their requirements. His situation and surroundings made S. Van Ostrand, of South Haven, a student of medicine in his youth and early manhood, and circumstances afterward veered him from his contemplated professional career and made him a merchant and promoter.
Mr. Van Ostrand is a New Yorker by nativity, and was born in the town of Rose, Wayne county, in that state, on December 20, 1844. His parents, Dr. and Sarah (Tuller) Van Ostrand, were also natives of New York, the former born at Sennett, Cayuga county, and the latter at Wolcott in Oswego county. The father lived to the age of eighty-four and the mother to that of fifty years. Their son, Spencer Van Ostrand, was the first born of their six children. four of whom are living.
The father was a physician and obtained his professional train- ing at the Geneva (New York) Medical College. being graduated
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from that institution under F. H. Hamilton, of world-wide celebrity. Dr. Van Ostrand served three years in the First Michigan Regi- ment of Engineers and Mechanics during the Civil war, and after his release from that engagement returned to Albion, Calhoun county, this state. There he was busily occupied in a large general practice of his profession for a number of years, but about ten years before his death he was appointed examining surgeon in the regular army of the United States and assigned to duty at Yankton, South Dakota. He then moved to that city and there he passed the remainder of his life in faithful attention to his duties to the end.
Before the Civil war he was a strong Abolitionist and a devoted worker against the curse of human slavery in this country. As such he rendered very efficient service to the cause of freedom for the slaves as a division superintendent of the famous "Under- ground Railroad," through the aid of which a great many South- ern slaves escaped from their involuntary servitude to Canada, where numbers of them became citizens of approved demeanor and some persons of consequence and influence. He joined the Repub- lican party when it was founded and always adhered to it firmly.
Mr. Van Ostrand, the son, lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and, with a view to making a physician of himself, studied medicine under the tuition of his father. But instead of entering on the practice of his profession he became a lumberman in South Haven, and followed that business for about two years. He then clerked in a drug store for five years, after which he opened a general store at Kibbie, this county, where he was also postmaster and agent for the Michigan Central Railroad for a period of ten years. At the end of that time he re- turned to South Haven and began an enterprise in the drug trade which he is still conducting, and has been ever since.
In 1902, in conjunction with Dr. A. C. Runyan, he organized the Light, Fuel and Power Company of the city, which was later re- organized as the South Haven Gas Company, and of this he has ever since been secretary and treasurer. His political faith and support are given to the Democratic party, and he is an energetic and effective worker for its success, although not himself desirous of any of the honors or emoluments it has to bestow, as his various business interests occupy all his time and claim all his energies ex- cept what are required for the ordinary duties of citizenship, and these he never neglects or gives half-hearted attention.
Mr. Van Ostrand was married on August 22, 1867, to Miss Fanny H. Overy. She was born near the historic old city of Hast- ings, England, and is a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Wood) Overy, who were born, reared, educated and married in England, and remained in that country until they reached middle age. They .then came to the United States and located in Calhoun county, near Albion, Michigan, where the father died at the age of fifty-four and the mother is still living, being now ninety-four years old. Mrs. Van Ostrand was the second born of their six children, four of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Van Ostrand have had five chil- dren, three of whom are deceased. Two died in infancy and Rob- ert E .. the fourth born son, was killed by accident in 1896, when he
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was twenty years of age. The two living children are Charles H. and Archie E. Charles H. is with his father in the drug business. Archie E. is in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, engaged in Christian Sci- ence work. All the members of the family enjoy in a marked de- gree the regard and good will of the whole community, and are admired throughout the county for their genuine worth and the elevated character of their citizenship. They are earnest sup- porters of all commendable projects involving the growth and im- provement of their home city, and manifest in the most helpful and practical way their deep interest in the welfare of the county in which they live and all its residents, and the people esteem them accordingly. -
DANIEL COOK VAN ANTWERP .- The name of Van Antwerp has been conspicuous in the history of Michigan for nearly a hundred years. For three generations the family has resided in this com- monwealth, and during the years that have elapsed since the first Van Antwerp came to this part of the country the different mem- bers of the family have been identified with the military, agricul- tural, commercial, political and fiscal life of the community. At all time they have been characterized by their high sense of honor, their valor and efficient performance of any duties with which they were entrusted. Daniel Cook Van Antwerp, whose name in- augurates this biography, and a record of whose career follows, has done honor to the fair name he bears.
The birth of this scion of an old Holland family occurred in Antwerp township, January 15, 1852. His grandfather, Daniel Van Antwerp, was born in Schenectady, New York, November 22, 1795, and was descended from one of three brothers who came from Antwerp, Holland, and settled in the Empire state. He came to Michigan about the year 1837, entered one thousand and eighty acres of land from the government and became a prominent citi- zen. He had the contract for considerable work in the building of the Michigan Central Railroad, but it was in his church affiliations that he was best known and remembered. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and took a very prominent part in all its af- fairs, giving freely of his time and means. At a memorial service held in his honor the elder said "I never went to him for counsel and was turned away empty." He won distinction in the commu- nity and in honor of the family the township of Antwerp was named.
His son Freeman was born in New York state, July 16, 1823, and when a lad accompanied his father to Michigan, where he later engaged in agricultural pursuits. On October 1, 1850, Free- man Van Antwerp married Miss Harriet Cook, who was born March 29, 1827, in Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of Dr. Nathan and Ann (Hamilton) Cook, who were married March 18, 1824. Dr. Nathan Cook was born October 4, 1799, in Richmond, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, a son of Nathan and Sally (Dix) Cook, who were married about 1796. This family is of New England Puritan descent, tracing their an- cestry to the Cooks who came over in the Mayflower. Dr. Nathan
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Cook's wife, Ann Hamilton, was a daughter of William Hamilton, who was born in Scotland and came to New York state when young. Ile bore arms in the defense of his country during the Revolutionary war. He married Hannah Weddaugh, of Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton are buried in York, Sandusky county; Ohio. Dr. Nathan Cook was a graduate of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and practiced his profession in that state before coming west.
In 1823 he started for what was then called the "far west"- western New York-locating in Chenango county, near the present city of Binghampton and making the entire journey on horseback. In 1826 they moved to Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where they lived four and a half years and then removed to Huron, Erie county, Ohio, and in 1833 came to Erie, Munroe county, Mich- igan. where the Doctor was very successful in his profession, but owing to poor health had to discontinue it. In 1836 he came as far as Gravel Lake, where he purchased land and this trip was also made on horseback. On April 15, 1837, he started with his family for what was then called the St. Joseph Country. This journey was made with an ox team and was necessarily slow, ow- ing to one of the team having to be favored. The description of a portion of this journey is best told in the following article, copied from a biographical sketch written by Mrs. Freeman Van Ant- werp when nearly sixty-nine years old, and left as a precious pos- session to her son, Daniel Cook Van Antwerp, and her daughter, Mrs. John Marshall. It is of particular interest, owing to the fact that when this portion of Van Buren county in which they located was renamed it was Harriet Cook (later Mrs. Freeman Van Ant- werp) who named it Porter. In her article she says: "Monday morning, May 6, 1837, we left Mr. Clark's, being then about thir- teen or fourteen miles from our destination. The morning was cold and misty, amounting almost to rain, but towards noon the sun came out and the remainder of the day was very bright, but cool. Moving slowly along, passing only one or two houses on our journey that day, about four o'clock in the afternoon, when just east of where Mr. Rock now lives, that same ox laid down again. My father told us to take the cows and go on, that it was not more than two miles, and when we came to a beautiful, clear lake on our left we would find Uncle Roderick Bell's log cabin back in the bushes on the bank of the lake. Following the road, if road it could be called, for it was just merely a wagon track winding in and out among the trees and logs, we soon saw the lake and soon a woman's voice called to us. It was my aunt, who had been looking for us several days and had seen us through an opening in the bushes. My uncle had settled here in 1836 and he and Mr. Alex- ander were the first white settlers in southwestern Porter. My un- cle went to the assistance of my father and before sundown we were all at our journey's end. And how glad my sister and I were the next morning when we did not have to get up and move on again.
"Now began hardships and privations that lasted for years; hardships that no one can fully understand unless placed in simi-
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lar circumstances. No schools, no churches, no newspapers, no books, society, nor amusements. We had the lakes with all their beauty, the forests with all their grandeur and solitude, and they really were companions for me. In early spring we went winter- greening, in summer we rambled in the woods and gathered wild berries, in the fall we went nutting and gathered cranberries (which we could not use for want of suger), and in winter we lis- tened to the lonely howling of wolves,-the most dismal sound one can imagine. Indians came to our house often; sometimes they would camp on the south side of the lake for several days at a time and at night we could hear them laugh and whoop and splash the water in their play. The second summer we were here was what was known for years as the sickly summer; every family had its share, we were all sick, everybody was sick, but we all lived through.
"After awhile we began to have a school here and there in the forest, and, though a long way for some to go all were glad of the opportunity. My sister and I had one girl friend, Sarah Ann Swift. We were together a great deal; we roamed the woods, played around the lakes and attended school together nearly all of our school days. After a time we began to have spelling schools. This was quite an item for us, as it broke the monotony of pioneer life. We were always first in spelling, we knew what the first call would be-it would be Harriet Cook or Sarah Ann Swift, or vice versa, and this was a source of much pleasure and usefulness to us; and in time we were far ahead of others in spelling. After a time we had township libraries and here began my taste for read- ing. After many hard struggles we began teaching school,- worked so hard for so little-just one dollar per week and 'board round.' My sister Sarah taught thirteen years, summer and win- ter. She taught the first school ever taught in the village of De- catur and the second one ever taught at Porter Center.
"I taught six summers-the first two at Lagrange, Cass county, the next at Williams' Corners on the territorial road in Antwerp, then one term of four and one half months in the valley, then two summers at the Corners again, making in all just twelve months at that place."
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