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 43
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Mr. Clement has been twice married. He married first, in 1855, Sarah Baxter, who was born either in Pennsylvania or Ohio, a daughter of James Baxter, a pioneer settler of Bloomingdale, Mich- igan. She died in 1886, leaving three children, namely : John J., who married Stella Brown, and is the father of three children. Mabel, Leo and Ora; Martin W. married Carrie Smith, and they have three children, Frank, Carrie and Lysle; and Edwin, who mar- ried Jennie Herron, and has two children living, Bertha and Marie. Their only son, Clark, died at the age of sixteen years. Mabel Clement, John J. Clement's oldest child, married George Pomeroy, and has one child, Clement Pomeroy. Frank Clement, a son of Martin W. Clement, married Frances Weaver, and they are the parents of two children, Helen and Harold.
Mr. Clement married for his second wife, in 1890, Mrs. Mary (Knapp) Dilworth, who was born in Hamlin, Monroe county, New York, a daughter of Jonas Knapp and granddaughter of Silkman Knapp, a life-long resident of New York state. Her father was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Hamlin, New York, for many years, residing there until his death. which was the result of a rail-
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road accident. The maiden name of Jonas Knapp's wife was Polly Sigler. She was born in New Jersey, a daughter of James D. and Betsey (Taylor) Sigler, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and New York. She lived until seventy years of age, and reared nine children, as follows: Mary, now Mrs. Clement; Hannah; James; Catherine; John; Louisa; George; Urias; and Betsey. At the age of sixteen years Mary Knapp began teaching school, and was quite successful in her chosen work. When twenty-four years old she was united in marriage with William Dilworth, who was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, but subsequently located in Hamlin, Monroe county, New York, where he was engaged in farm- ing until his death, at the age of forty-two years.
GEORGE W. SCHOOLCRAFT .- Living on his pleasant homestead in Pine Grove township, George W. Schoolcraft is numbered among the successful agriculturists of Van Buren county, where for many years he has been employed as a tiller of the soil, finding both profit and pleasure in his independent calling. A son of Elijah Schoolcraft, he was born May 16, 1825, in Stanbridge, province of Quebec, Canada, of honored New England ancestry. His grand- father Schoolcraft migrated from Massachusetts to Stanbridge, Canada, and having purchased land was there engaged in farming during the remainder of his life.
One of a family consisting of four sons and two daughters, Elijah Schoolcraft was born in Massachusetts, and as a youth went with his parents to Canada. Securing work as a sawyer, he was em- ployed in saw mills in different capacities, and on one occasion, while rafting logs down the Pike river, was carried over a dam and crippled for life. Removing from Canada, he lived for a time in Essex county, New York, from there coming to Van Buren county, Michigan, and spending the remainder of his days in Pine Grove township, his death occurring here at the venerable age of eighty-two years. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Dia- mond. She was born in Canada, where her father, George Dia- mond, settled on immigrating to America from England. Subse- quently making his way to the wilds of Michigan, Mr. Diamond bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cooper township, Kalamazoo county, and there lived until his death. In the mean- time he saw wonderful transformations in the face of the country roundabout, the dim woods giving way to well cultivated fields rich with grain, and small hamlets growing into thriving villages and populous cities. When he first arrived in Cooper township a large tract of land now included in the heart of the business por- tion of Kalamazoo was offered to him for a pair of horses, but he refused the offer. the horses being of much more value to him than the land. Elijah Schoolcraft lived to be nearly ninety years old, and his wife attained venerable years. They reared nine chil- dren. as follows: George W., the special subject of this sketch ; James; Freeman; Maria; William; Juliet; Sarah; Melissa; and Guy.
Beginning his school life in Canada, George W. Schoolcraft was twelve years old when his parents moved to New York state, where
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he completed his early education. There, while yet in his teens, he began earning money by chopping wood at forty cents a cord, after which he was engaged in freighting by boat on Lake Cham- plain. In 1851 he followed the trail of the pioneer to Michigan, coming as far as Kalamazoo, then a small village with one hotel, by rail, and from there with teams to Allegan county. Buying forty acres of heavily timbered land in Trowbridge township, Mr. School- craft erected a log house, his first home in this state. His brother James, who accompanied him to Trowbridge, bought forty acres of adjoining land, and the two worked together, clearing and im- proving their property. Mr. Schoolcraft was an expert hunter and trapper, and he spent much time in those pursuits, leaving his brother to work on the land, dividing the proceeds received from the game that he killed or trapped. Deer, wild turkeys and other game were very plentiful, and on one occasion Mr. Schoolcraft killed four large bucks in one day, while oftentimes he killed as many as three on one expedition. Large flocks of wild pigeons often flew across the country, and mink were abundant and profit- able game, their skins selling at ten shillings apiece. For twenty- five years Mr. Schoolcraft trapped and hunted winters and farmed summers, continuing to live on his original farm until 1867. Com- ing then to Van Buren county, he purchased, in section twenty- seven, Pine Grove township, the farm which he now owns and occu- pies. Twenty acres only were cleared when he made the purchase, and he has now seventy-five acres under cultivation, and in addition owns a few acres of swamp and wood land.
Mr. Schoolcraft first married Julia Loomis, who was born in the state of New York. Her father, Wareham Loomis, immigrated to New York from England and settled in Essex county. He was by trade a carpenter and sawyer, and for a few years worked in dif- ferent mills in New York state. Coming with his family to Michi- gan in 1853, he improved a farm in Trowbridge township, Alle- gan county, and there resided many years. When nearly eighty years of age he returned to New York state to visit friends and relatives, and was there taken ill and died. His wife, whose maiden name was Joanna Dean, was born in New England, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Schoolcraft, at the age of seventy- five years. She reared a large family of children, as follows: Lu- cretia, Daphne, John, Sylvia, Thomas, Julia, Jane, Richard, Charles and Harriet.
Mrs. Loomis died, leaving four daughters: Lucina, the first born, married Martin Hulett, and she died in California, leaving one son, named Alvah P. Amanda married George Heald, and she died leaving one son, Fred. Ora married Marb Thayer and has one son, Jay. Lillie married John Bowles. In October, 1864, Mr. Schoolcraft married Harriet Loomis, a sister of his first wife and who was born in Essex county, New York.
Nine children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schoolcraft, four of whom are living, Elmer, Albert, Fred and Mabel. Elmer married Eliza Hunt, who died in early life, leav- ing one child, Ethel. Albert married Jennie McElroy, and they have five children, Bertha, Bessie, Glen, Blanche and Bernice.
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Fred married Almira Ward and they have one child, Colia. Mabel wife of Phil Sunlin, has four children, Ruth, Grace, Clyde and Fred. Two of Mr. Schoolcraft's grandchildren are married, Ethel, who married Warren Minor, having three children, Ralph, Mary and Ora, while Bertha, wife of Leon Shirley has one child, Doris Shirley. The five deceased children of Mr. and Mrs. Schoolcraft were: Freeman, the fourth child born, who died at the age of two years and eight months; Charlie, the fifth child, died aged sixteen months; Clyde, the seventh, died aged seventeen months; Claude, the eighth, died aged three months; and Millie, the ninth, died, aged three years.
RALPH E. JENNINGS .- It is to such men as Ralph E. Jennings that this part of Michigan owes its reputation for fine cattle and live stock. He is, in fact, one of the most important and successful Jersey cattle breeders, all of his cattle being registered. He owns one hundred and thirty-eight of the best acres in Waverly and Almena townships and is known not only as a successful man but as a good citizen. He is the scion of one of the old Waverly town- ship families, his birth having occurred on the very farm upon which he now resides, on April 8, 1872. He is the son of Henry HI. and Leonie A. (Hopkins) Jennings, and the grandson of Eph- raim and Clarissa (Davis) Jennings. Ephraim Jennings was born in Vermont in. 1816 and at the age of four years came with his par- ents to western New York. They were poor people and they brought all their belongings in a little express wagon, which they pulled by hand. At the age of eight years Ephraim was bound out until he should reach the age of twenty-one, but at the age of eleven he ran away and secured work on a farm to pay for his "board and keep." When he was older he helped to build the Erie Canal. He was married in 1839 and in 1840 came to Paw Paw and later purchased a farm in Waverly township. For four years after he arrived in the state he was employed by one Isaac Williard, with the exception of a short period when he returned to the Empire state. Since 1850, when he bought his farm, the property has been in the Jennings name. This fine old homestead is located in sec- tion 13. There Ephraim Jennings resided until his death, on Jan- uary 9, 1908, at a very advanced age. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1889. When he bought his farm it was all dense woods, but he courageously attacked the Herculenean task of bringing it to a state of cultivation and habitableness, and with true pioneer philosophy met the many hardships of his lot. Two sons were born to him and his wife, namely: Henry H., the father of the immediate subject of this review, and Frank, who died at the age of nine years.
Henry H. Jennings was born September 14, 1840, in the state of New York. He was brought here an infant in arms, was reared amid the rural surroundings of his father's farm; received his edu- cation in the Paw Paw schools; became a teacher and taught in the schools of Van Buren county. He continued his pedagogical serv- ices for twenty-five years in connection with his farming. For a time he acted as township school inspector. He was married No- Vol. TI-22
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vember 11, 1863. At the time of the Civil war, in the prime of young manhood, he enlisted in Company G, of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics and was in active service until the close of the war, having a record as a brave and gallant soldier of the Union. He was a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was affiliated with the Waverly Free Baptist church, helping greatly in its organization and the building of the church edifice. The demise of this honest and good man occurred on December 5, 1903, but his memory will long remain green in this section.
Three children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jennings. Lillie E .. a graduate of the Paw Paw high school of the class of 1886, became a teacher and is now the wife of William L. Nelson, of Lawton, Michigan, a prominent ice dealer and fruit grower. Ralph E. is next in order of birth; and Lottie M., a grad- uate of the Paw Paw high school (class of 1897), is the wife of H. B. Buck, a printer, living in Kalamazoo.
The old Jennings homestead was the scene of the birth of the subject and upon it he remained until the age of ten years, when his parents removed to Antwerp township, where he attended the Paw Paw high school and was graduated with the class of 1889. In the fall of that year he entered the philosophical and musical department of Hillsdale college and was a student there for four years, during the last two being employed as tutor in the musical department. He possesses musical ability of high order and did some concert work after his education was concluded. Following that he sold pianos and organs on various sections of Michigan and then began to devote his energies to farming and stock-raising, in which field he has encountered success and prosperity. For more than ten years he has been associated with the loaning de- partment of the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company of De- troit and the Michigan Trust Company of Grand Rapids and has engaged extensively in negotiating farm loans. In his political alle- giance Mr. Jennings is found marching under the standard of the "Grand Old Party," to which he has given all his loyalty since his earliest voting days. He is secretary of the South-West Michi- gan Pedigreed Stock Association, and secretary of the Michigan Jersey Cattle Club as well. He and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist church, attending at Waverly and the subject is secretary and field worker of the Sunday-school Association. Mrs. Jennings is a member of the Paw Paw Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
On December 16, 1897, Mr. Jennings was united in marriage to Jennie Beistle, who was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, April 4, 1876, the daughter of John W. and Phoebe (Long) Beistle. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and came west when a young man. He had learned the profession of a dentist and when he reached Niles he had but one dollar in money. He had brought with him his dentist's chair and that dollar he was obliged to pay to a farmer for taking the chair to Berrien Springs, where he lo- cated, this leaving him with no money whatever. But he deter- mined to succeed and started at once to practice and so successful was he that he continued with unabated success for over a quarter
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of a century and retired from his profession with a competence. He subsequently removed to Buchanan, Michigan, and is now vice- president of the First National Bank and one of the prominent men of that town. Mrs. Jennings is one of a family of three children, Elmer I. is a graduate of the dental department of the University of Michigan and is practicing at South Bend, Indiana. Clayton W. is a dentist and lives at Schoolcraft, Michigan. Jennie E. graduated from the Buchanan high school in 1894. When she was but three and a half years old Mrs. Jennings had the misfortune to lose her mother. To the subject and his admirable wife have been born two sons :- John Maxwell, on October 10, 1902, and Howard H., on December 17, 1907, promising little lads who will doubtless assist in making the future history of Van Buren county.
JAMES O. RHOADS .- Noteworthy among the enterprising and thrifty agriculturists of Van Buren county is James O. Rhoads, of Bloomingdale township, who is industriously engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the wealth and support of our nation largely depends, and in which he is meeting with unques- tioned success. He was born March 7, 1853, in Wolcott, Wayne county, New York, very near the birthplace of his father, Solomon Rhoads.
Oren Rhoads, his paternal grandfather, was, it is supposed, born in Massachusetts, having been of New England birth and lin- eage. Moving to Wayne county, New York, when young, he bought a heavily timbered tract of land in the town of Wolcott, where he was a pioneer, and on the farm which he redeemed from its orig- inal wildness lived and labored until 1858. Coming then to Michi- gan, he spent his last years with one of his sons. To him and his wife fourteen children were born and reared.
Solomon Rhoads became interested in farming when young, and continued a resident of Wolcott, New York, until 1853. In that year, following the example of his ancestors, he turned his face westward, coming to Van Buren county, Michigan and settling in Almena township. Buying a piece of timber, he erected a log cabin, and immediately began the arduous task of clearing a farm from the forest. At that time the few people hereabout depended largely for their subsistence upon the productions of the soil and the wild game to be found in the woods, and in the fall of 1854, while he was out on a hunting expedition, he was accidentally killed, being then in manhood's prime. He married Betsey Haw- ley, a native of New York, and she survived him many years. To the parents of our subject there were born two children, James O. and Sarah M.
James O. Rhoads was but an infant when his parents came to Van Buren county to live. He acquired a practical education in the pioneer schools of Eaton township, after which he served an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, which he followed for a time. Locating then in the northeast quarter of section twenty-six, Bloomingdale township, Mr. Rhoads cleared a large tract of tim- bered land, erected a substantial set of buildings, and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1906. Buying then his present
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property, which is located in the southeast quarter of the same section, he has here continued his agricultural labors with eminent success, having his land under a good state of cultivation, and all the necessary buildings for carrying on his work satisfactorily.
Mr. Rhoads married, December 2, 1873, Freelove Burns, who was born in Almena township, Van Buren county, Michigan, a daughter of Abel and Sarah (Bidgood) Burns, who migrated from New York, their native state, to that township in pioneer days. She died in 1884, in early womanhood. Mr. Rhoads subsequently mar- ried for his second wife Irene Tucker. She was born in Ridge- ville township, Lorain county, Ohio, a daughter of Luther W. and Helen (Reynolds) Tucker, natives of Ohio, and a granddaughter of Reuben and Eliza (Perkins) Tucker. By his first marriage Mr. Rhoads has three children, namely: Riley M., who married Nora. Trins, and has three children, Lester, Willard and Delia; Ivy. wife of John Arch Holmes, has two children, Freelove I. and Frank J .; and Iris, who married Harry Shyrock, has one child, Lulu May. By his second marriage Mr. Rhoads has one son, Orrin J. Rhoads. Fraternally Mr. Rhoads is a member of Bloomingdale Lodge, No. 221, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
JOHN P. Goss .- After a long and useful career in Bangor town- ship, Van Buren county, during which he was busily engaged in developing the land from the raw timber, John P. Goss, an hon- ored veteran of the Civil war, is now living in comfortable retire- ment in his beautiful home in the village of Bangor. Mr. Goss is a notable example of the good, practical agriculturist who so arranges his affairs as to be able to spend the last years of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early labors, and he is a welcome addition to the public-spirited citizens of the village, who recognize in him a man of superior abilities and honest principles. John P. Goss is a product of the Buckeye state, having been born in Portage county, May 29, 1841, a son of Ormond and Roby (Haven) Goss, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont.
Mr. Goss' parents were married in the state of Ohio, and came to Michigan in 1854, settling in Bangor township and taking up wild land. Here the father was engaged in farming for many years, accumulating eight hundred and thirty acres before he died, and also operated a hotel at Paw Paw for three years. He died April 28, 1873, and his wife, November 6, 1890. They were the parents of six children, namely: Henry, Ruth, Anson, Fred- crick, Polly and John P.
John P. Goss, who is the only survivor of his parents' children, was reared to the life of an agriculturist and received his educa- tion in the district schools of Ohio and Michigan. At the age of eighteen years he began farming on his own account, and so con- tinued until his enlistment, September 17, 1861, in Company C, Third Michigan Cavalry, under Captain Hudson, serving with that organization until February 12, 1866, when he was discharged at San Antonio, Texas, and received his muster out at Kalamazoo, Michigan. During a long and strenuous service Mr. Goss par-
This log cabin was the first home of Mr. John P. Goss in Bangor township on section six. He still owns the old homestead with a large two-story building now standing where this log cabin formerly stood.
.
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ticipated in many hard-fought battles, including New Madrid, Iuka, Corinth and the first and second battle of Grenada, and during his entire service he displayed traits of bravery, faithfulness and cheerfulness that endeared him to his comrades and made him respected by his officers. After being mustered out of the service Mr. Goss returned to Bangor township, where he purchased eighty acres of farming land, and to this he added from year to year until he owned two hundred and thirty acres of fine property, all devoted to general farming and stock-raising. In 1899, feeling that he had earned a rest from his strenuous activities, Mr. Goss rented his land and located in the village of Bangor, where he has a fine home.
On March 6, 1864, Mr. Goss was married to Miss Harriet Wood, daughter of Mason and Adeline (Mason) Wood, natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 1836 and settled in Jackson county. Two years later Mr. and Mrs. Wood came to Bangor township, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and there continued to live the rest of their lives, Mr. Wood passing away April 25, 1853, and his widow April 2, 1888. They had a family of five children, as follows: Daniel M., who is deceased ; Harriet, who married Mr. Goss; Polk and Dallas, twins; and Maria, the wife of Hiram Baker, of Lebanon, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Goss have had two children : Mason O., who resides on the old homestead in Bangor township; and Edna M., who married Jay Lafler, of Geneva township.
Mr. Goss has always been a great friend of education, and for twenty-two years served as a member of the school board in Bangor township, where his fellow citizens also elected him to the office of highway commissioner. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and he takes an active interest in the success of his party in Bangor and is considered an influential worker in the ranks of the organization. He is a popular comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, an enthusiastic member of the local Grange, and a consistent attendant of the Christian church.
M. O. Goss .- Some of the most successful farmers of Van Buren county, Michigan, are those of the younger generation, who are now profiting from the sacrifices made for them by their ancestors who came here during the early settlement of the county and braved the hardships and privations of pioneer life in order to establish homes for those who should come after. One of the old and honored families of Bangor township is that of Goss, a worthy representative of which is found in the person of M. O. Goss, who was born on the old family homestead in section 6, Bangor town- ship, August 11, 1872.
Ormond Goss, the grandfather of M. O. Goss, was born in Penn- sylvania, from whence he went to Ohio, and was there married to Roby Haven, a native of Vermont. They came to Michigan in 1853, settling in Bangor township, where O. Goss acquired eight hundred and thirty acres of land, and at the time of his death was one of the prominent and influential citizens of his district. He died April 28, 1873, and his wife, November 6, 1890. Their six children were: Henry, Ruth, Anson, Frederick, Polly and
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John P., the latter being the father of M. O. and the only sur- vivor of the six children of his parents. For three years O. Goss was also a hotel keeper in Paw Paw, his hostelry being well and favorably known throughout this part of the country.
John P. Goss was born in Portage county, Ohio, May 29, 1841, and began farming for himself at the age of eighteen years. On September 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Third Michigan Cavalry, with which he served until February 12, 1866, and on being mustered out of the service at Kalamazoo, Michigan, he returned to Bangor township, purchased eighty acres of land, and until 1899 was engaged in farming and stock raising, but since that year has lived retired in the village of Bangor. He became one of the prominent and influential farmers and land owners of Bangor township, having accumulated two hundred and thirty acres of land, and for many years served as school director and highway commissioner. On March 6, 1864, he was married to Miss Harriet Wood, daughter of Mason and Adeline (Mason) Wood, who settled in Bangor township as early as 1838, and two children were born to this union: Mason O. and Edna M., the latter of whom married Jay Lafler and resides in Geneva township.
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