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 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Mr. Monroe is a native of the "Empire State." He was born in Livingston county, New York, July 31, 1839, a son of Samuel and Laura (Swift) Monroe, both natives of New York. By trade his father was a carpenter and builder, at which he worked in early
1027
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
life, but later settled down to farming. In 1856 he moved with his family to Michigan, and that year bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 15, Arlington township, Van Buren county, where he carried on general farming the rest of his life. Of his four children, Miles is the youngest. The eldest, Cornelia, is de- ceased; Bethia, the second born, is the wife of G. W. Monroe, of Arlington township; the third child died in infancy. The mother of this family died when Miles was a babe. He was eighteen when he came with his father to Michigan, and since then his home has been on the farm on which his father settled, eighty acres of which he now owns. In addition to this land he has an interest in a forty- acre tract in section 16. And here he has carried on general farm- ing and stock raising, cultivating the crops common to the locality and meeting with a fair degree of success.
October 15, 1860, he married Christiana De Haven, daughter of Joel and Christiana De Haven, who traveled life's pathway with him for nearly thirty-six years. She was called to her last home February 15, 1896, and was laid to rest in the Hopkins Cemetery in Arlington township. Two children were the fruits of their union-Samuel E., a farmer of Arlington township, and Catherine, wife of Charles J. Palmer, who lives at the old homestead with her father.
Politically Mr. Monroe has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and in his younger days took an active interest in local af- fairs, having at different times served efficiently in such offices as township treasurer, highway commissioner and justice of the peace. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order.
JOHN H. SHUVER is one of the prominent farmers of Arlington township, where he has lived since 1881. He has had a varied ca- reer, having been engaged in the railroad business, in carpentering, in the saw mill industry and in farming. If a man is competent there is need of him somewhere, and Mr. Shuver changed location as well as occupation until finally he found the niche into which he fitted.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Shuver's birth occurred November 5, 1845. His parents were John and Catherine Shuver, the father a Frenchman, while the mother hailed from Prussia, Germany. They were married in Europe and several years after marriage lived in Alsace-Loraine. where Father Shuver plied his trade as a cooper and carpenter until the revolution of 1845 determined him to try his fortunes in America. At that time he had a family of six children,-George and Nicholas, who settled in Ohio; Mitchell and Antonio, also in Ohio; Joseph, residing in Tennessee; Elizabeth, now deceased. The family landed in New York in 1845, settled in Ohio and the father abandoned his trade and commenced to farm. Shortly after their arrival in America, John H. Shuver was born, and a little more than a year later. in December, 1846, Father Shuver passed away. His widow survived him almost a quarter of a century. her death having occurred in 1870.
Deprived of a father's care before he appreciated its value, John H. Shuver was reared by his mother and his older brothers. His
1
1028
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
education was received in the district schools of Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade. After thus working for two years he then entered the em- ploy of the A. & G. W. Railroad Company. After one year's service with this corporate concern he took up carpentering, continuing at that trade until he was twenty-one years of age. On attaining his majority he left his boyhood home, came to Michigan, settled in Paw Paw and for the ensuing fifteen years he was engaged in the saw- mill business. In 1881 he sold out his holdings, came to Arling- ton township, where he bought eighty acres of land, and commenced to farm. He makes a specialty of cattle raising and breeds fine horses and Poland China hogs, shipping great numbers of cattle each year.
On the 1st day of May, 1873, Mr. Shuver was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle M. Scott, daughter of John and Isabelle Scott, old settlers of Van Buren county. In 1886 Mrs. Shuver died, leav- ing her husband and two children to mourn her loss. Frank S. Shuver, the first born, resides in Washington; and Catherine Isa- belle is at home with her father, his companion and housekeeper. On March 12, 1891, Mr. Shuver married Miss Charlotte I. Walker, who departed this life after five years of wedded happiness.
Mr. Shuver is a Methodist in his religious adherence; his fra- ternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he being a member of Tillitson Lodge, No. 165, and for twenty-five years he has been connected with the Grangers, of which time he has been master of Bangor Grange two years and for eight years was master of the Van Buren County Pomona, No. 13. His politi- cal allegiance is rendered to the Republican party, who have appre- ciated his sterling character and his acknowledged ability hy elect- ing him Township Drain Commissioner.
CHARLES E. MONROE, deceased, was born in South Dansville, Steu- ben county, New York, June 24, 1842, and died in Arlington town- ship. Van Buren county, Michigan, where he was a well-known and highly respected citizen.
Mr. Monroe's parents, Zebulan and Cinthia (Townsend) Monroe, natives respectively of Connecticut and New York, came to Michi- gan in 1863 and made settlement in Van Buren county. Here Zeb- ulan Monroe bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec- tion 15, Arlington township, upon which he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising. Here he died December 29, 1880. His good wife had died on December 27, 1879. Of their nine children the record is as follows: Lyman, deceased ; Emily, widow of Caleb Lin- coln, of Saginaw, Michigan; Orinda, Julia A. and Margaret, de- ceased ; George W., of Arlington township; Benjamin B., of Hop- kins, Michigan; Charles E. and Sarah A., deceased.
Charles E. Monroe in his youth attended the district school near his home in New York and assisted his father with the farm work. He accompanied the family on their removal to Michigan, and re- mained with his father, managing the farm, until his father's death.
1029
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
after which he continued farming the rest of his life, in which he met with a fair degree of success.
On November 17, 1869, Charles E. Monroe and Hattie E. Palmer were united in marriage, and to them were given nine children, namely : Myrtle A., wife of F. W. Robbins, of Greenwood, Michi- gan; Effie J., wife of Hiram F. Crawford, on the home place with her mother; Homer A. and Murry A., twins, both of Arlington township; the fifth child died in infancy, and the next three, Ida B., Erma and Lura R., are deceased; the youngest, Pearl, married Louis C. Miller and lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mrs. Hattie E. Monroe is a daughter of Jared and Adeline (Whitman) Palmer, natives of New York state. Her father, by trade a miller and car- penter, was for years engaged in mercantile life in Paw Paw and Dowagiac. He died January 18, 1869. Her mother had died Feb- ruary 1, 1846, when Mrs. Monroe was only ten months old. In the Palmer family were six children : Alfred B., now a resident of Bangor, Michigan; William W., deceased, was lost at sea ; Richard O. and Estella J., both deceased ; Martin W., and Mrs. Monroe.
Mrs. Monroe is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Monroe affiliated with the Grangers and the Pa- triarchs. and, politically, he was a Republican. For a number of years he filled the office of highway commissioner, and he also served as township treasurer.
FRED KROGEL is one of the progressive farmers in Arlington township. There is very little in connection with farm work that he does not know, but he is not one of those men who feel sure that they "know it all." If any one has anything better in the way of methods of work or modern improvements he is always glad to look into the matter and he tries to keep up-to-date in his methods and his machinery. He is greatly respected by the people in the community which he honors by his residence.
The birth of Mr. Krogel occurred in Prussia, Germany, August 9, 1856. His parents, John and Etta Krogel, were both born in the same good old Fatherland, where they spent their youth and the early years of their wedded life, coming to America in 1866. The family settled in Geneva township, Van Buren county, Michi- gan, where the father engaged in farming, the occupation which he followed all his life. He owned sixty acres of land. Father and mother Krogel reared a family of four children, of which number three are living today,-Gottlieb, residing in Geneva township on the old homestead where he spent his boyhood; Henry, also a resi- dent of Geneva; and Fred, the immediate subject of this biography.
The first ten years of the life of Fred Krogel were spent in his native land, on his father's little farm. He has but slight recollec- tion of the home where he was born and spent his childhood days, but he remembers the trip across the ocean and the new experiences on his arrival in America. He attended the district school of Geneva township, also assisted his father with the cultivation of the soil and later became interested with his father in farming and continued for some years. In the meantime he paid off the mortgage which his father had been obliged to put on the place, Vol. II-26
1030
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
and remained there, superintending the management of the farm until 1891. At that time he sold a part of the old homestead to his brother and then removed to Bangor township and lived there five years, coming then to Arlington township, where he bought sixty acres of land. He does general farming and stock raising and has prospered in his undertakings.
On May 25, 1884, Mr. Krogel formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Theresa Zuhl, daughter of Herman and Bertha (Schebel) Zuhl, natives of Germany; they are now deceased. Mrs. Krogel is the eldest of a family of eight children, of whom the following note is made :- Bertha, Minnie and Hannah are living in Germany ; Augusta, the wife of William Kahlert, resides in Minnesota. as does her brother Carl; and Marie and Gustaf are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Krogel have three children,-Ella, wife of Louis Orton, of Arlington township; Emma, who married George Burrell, of Ar- lington township; and Carl, at home with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Krogel have ever remained true to the religious faith in which they were trained and hold membership in the Ger- man Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has never cared to dabble in public affairs, though he is ever inter- ested in aiding any enterprise which aims towards the betterment of the county in which he lives.
ALFONSO CROSS .- The manufacturing, financial and industrial in- terests of any community are the source of great pride to its citi- zens, but it is to the farms that the country must eventually turn for its support, and in the hands of the agriculturists lies the pos- sibility of the country's prosperity or depression. Van Buren county is well supplied with farmers who know how to get the best out of their land and to insure this part of the land with a bright future, and among these may be mentioned Alfonso Cross, of Arlington township, who has resided here all of his life. Mr. Cross was born in Arlington township October 6, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Skinner) Cross. natives of England.
The parents of Mr. Cross came to the United States shortly after their marriage, first settling in New York and later making their way to Michigan. Settling in Van Buren county, after a few years Henry Cross purchased eighty acres of land in section 36, of Arlington township, and added thereto from time to time as his finances would permit until at the time of his death, in 1888, he was the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of well-im- proved land. Six children were born to Henry and Elizabeth (Skinner) Cross, namely: Two who died in infancy ; William, also deceased; Alfonso and Edward, engaged in farming in Arlington township; and Rena, who married George Jacobs, also an Arling- ton township farmer.
Alfonso Cross received his education in the public schools of his native township, and was reared to the life of an agriculturist. Remaining on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age. at that time he began farming on his own account, and when he had attained his majority he rented the old homestead. After cultivating this land for two years he purchased forty acres of the
Chloe Lane,
Alice Cross.
Alfonso Cross,
Elizabeth Stearns
Gale Cross,
Jessie Beeching,
Elmer Cross
1031
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
old homestead where he now lives and twenty acres from an ad- joining neighbor. He owned forty acres on section 23 and at the time of his brother's death came into possession of forty acres of the Worthey estate, the old home. He also owns one hundred acres in Waverly township. In addition to carrying on general farm- ing, he has operated a threshing machine on farms of his town- ship, and he has been successful in both lines. Mr. Cross has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, erecting excellent buildings and using scientific methods in tilling the soil. Like other wide-awake farmers he recognizes the value of science in farming as well as in other occupations, and he also believes in the use of modern machinery.
On August 28, 1880, Mr. Cross was married to Miss Alice Worthey, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Raymond) Worthey, the former a native of England and the latter of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Worthy had five children : Frances, the wife of H. S. Wallace, a resident of Arlington; Alice, who married Mr. Cross; and three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Cross have been the parents of five children : Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Stearns, residing in Lawrence; Elmer, who lives in Arlington township; Chloe, the wife of Glenn Lane, residing on the old homestead ; Jessie, the wife of Frank Beeching, of Arlington township; and Gale, who lives at home and attends the high school at Lawrence.
Mr. and Mrs. Cross are devout members of the Baptist church. He is a Republican in his political views and has held numerous township offices, his standing being high among the citizens of his township. The same progressive views that he has used in work- ing his land have characterized his public life, and all movements of benefit to his community have received his hearty support. Fra- ternally he is a popular member of the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F.
LEWIS H. VINING .- New England, with its hosts of associations from the early history of our nation, was the birthplace of Lewis H. Vining, and in him are apparent those stanch and admirable characteristics which distinguished our Colonial forebears. He has lived in Michigan for the greater part of his life, having come here as a youth and he is very loyal to her institutions. His farm of sixty acres is located in Covert township, section 11, and is the scene of general farming, stock raising and fruit growing.
On March 24. 1851, occurred the birth of Mr. Vining in Hamp- shire county, Massachusetts, his parents being Marcus R. and Elizabeth (McGuire) Vining. the father a native of the Bay state and the mother of Ireland. The father at the present time main- tains his residence in Adams, Massachusetts, having attained to the advanced age of eighty-eight years, and being an honored and venerable gentleman. He has been engaged during almost the course of his entire life in milling, principally in paper mills. The devoted wife and mother has been deceased for over a decade, her death having occurred in March, 1899. They became the parents of two sons,-he whose name inaugurates this brief review : and Robert, who resides in Adams, Massachusetts.
Mr. Vining received his education in the schools of his native state. In 1870, when less than twenty years of age, he became favorably impressed with the developing northwest and concluded
1032
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
to sever old associations and take up his residence in Michigan. He located in Covert township, Van Buren county, and in the early years made his livelihood in saw-mill work, being one of the few men who effectually worked up the saw-mill business in this town- ship. By the exercise of industry and thrift the young man event- ually found himself in a position to become a property owner and he secured as his own eighty acres in section 1, Covert township, fifty acres of which he still owns, and on this tract engages in the cultivation of fruit and also in stock raising and general farming. He is one of the loyal supporters of the Republican party and is interested in all such public affairs as affect the welfare of the com- munity. He and his family worship with the Congregationalists when attending church.
Mr. Vining was first married to Fannie Rood, and the death of this estimable lady occurred on November 1, 1905. This union was fruitful of three children, namely: Ernest, now located in Boise City, Idaho; Robert, of Kalamazoo; and Alice, wife of Ellsworth Butler, of Boise, Idaho. On July 22, 1908, Fannie Smith, daughter of William W. and Mary ( Adams) Smith, both deceased, was united with the subject. The present Mrs. Vining is the representative of a family well and favorably known in this county and she is one of eight children, who are as follows: Sarah, deceased in 1907; Mary, widow of J. W. Pedrick, of Bangor; Amelia; Edgar, of Bloomingdale; Frank; George, of Stanley, Idaho; and Sidney, of Breedville. Mr. and Mrs. Vining hold high place in popular con- fidence and esteem.
EZRA SRACKANGAST is one of the prosperous farmers of Van Buren county, where he has resided for upwards of a quarter of a century. Commencing his independent life as an agriculturist without any outside help, and with no capital except the habits of industry, the enterprise and ability which have stood him in such good stead, he has been enabled to make a success of his farm and is today one of the most notable examples of rewarded merit.
Having passed practically his entire life in Michigan, the birth of Ezra Srackangast occurred in Berrien county, that state, on the 5th day of August, 1859. His parents, George and Asenath (Gard) Srackangast, settled in Berrien county about 1855, the father a native of Virginia, while the mother originally hailed from Ohio. Father Srackangast engaged in agricultural pursuits and at the time of his death, in 1886, he was possessed of one hundred and twenty acres of good farm land. His widow survived him almost twenty years, her demise having occurred in 1905. She was the mother of five children,-Olive, the wife of Henry Hard, of Findlay, Ohio; Ezra, the subject of this sketch ; Warren and James, residing in Montana; and Daniel, who died in infancy.
The first twenty-two years of the life of Ezra Srackangast were passed on his father's farm, during which time the youth attended the district school in the winter months and assisted with the cul- tivation of the soil during the summer time. In 1884 he left the parental roof and went to Kansas, of whose agricultural possibili- ties he had formed a high estimate; taking up one hundred and
.
1033
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
sixty acres of land, he farmed until the death of his father two years later recalled him to Michigan. He did not return to Kansas, believing that he could do better in Michigan, and for the ensuing two years he worked by the month, laying by his earnings, so that in 1889 he was enabled to stock a one hundred acre farm in section 19, Arlington township. After thirteen years of persevering ef- forts he bought the farm which up to that time he had rented, and there he resides today, making a specialty of raising stock and also doing general farming.
On February 7, 1889, Mr. Srackangast was united in marriage to Miss Martha Layman, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Mar- quis) Layman, of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Srackangast has one brother, William, residing in Berrien county ; and a sister, Amanda, who also maintains her home in Berrien county. There was another daughter in the family, Sophronia, and she died in the year 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Srackangast have one son, Fred L., born July 1, 1890, and he married Mirth Burges. They live at South Haven, Michigan.
Mr. Srackangast is a Republican in his political sympathies, but he has been too busy attending to the cultivation of his farm to have found time to take any active part in public matters, though he is ever interested in the progress of the county in which he has resided for so many years. Mr. and Mrs. Srackangast in a fra- ternal way are affiliated with the Grangers and with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah Lodge. Having been a farmer all his life, it is natural that he should be regarded as an expert in regard to all matters connected with agriculture, and in- deed there is very little about farm work that he does not know. He is both popular and respected in the community.
JOHN M. TRUEX .- " If he were born in Ohio. watch out for him." used to be a political prophecy ; but it might even more safely be said : "If he's a Van Buren county citizen, one may easily hazard that either he or his father were born in New York." Of course there are several exceptions to the rule. John M. Truex is a rep- resentative citizen, for he was born in Cayuga county, New York. on October 15. 1850. IIe is the son of Adam and Mary Ann (Strong) Truex, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father, whose vocation was that of a farmer, was one of the martyrs of the Civil war, his death having occurred in Salisbury Prison, North Carolina, on January 21. 1865. At the outbreak of the great struggle between the states he bade farewell to his family and enlisted in a New York regiment to do his share to preserve the integrity of the Union. His fate was that of a million others of the flower of American manhood. The mother, so long widowed. sur- vives and makes her home in New York state. Mr. Truex is one of a family of four children and the eldest in order of birth, the others being : Alforetta, widow of L. P. Howe, of Cayuga county. New York ; William C .. who died February 20, 1910; Adda, wife of George W. Bell, of Cayuga county.
Mr. Truex grew to manhood on a farm in his native county and there acquired those habits of industry and thrift which have in-
ยท
1034
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
sured his success in life. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade and in 1871, when only about twenty-one, he came to Michi- gan and located in Niles, but only for a short time. The following year he removed to Covert and secured a position in the Packard saw mills, which he retained for twenty-one years. During this time he had purchased land and owned a small but excellent farm of forty-nine acres in Covert township, section 2. Upon concluding his association with the Packards he moved upon this tract and has successfully followed farming and fruit raising ever since that time.
Mr. Truex married Hettie M. Boswick on November 7, 1872, his chosen wife being a daughter of William R. and Sarah Eliza (Thorp) Bostwick, both of whom were natives of Ohio and both of whom are now deceased. The Bostwicks are one of the old families, their arrival in Michigan having occurred in the early '50s. They located in Allegan county and were the parents of the following children : Lucretia, residing in this township; Mrs. Truex; and two deceased. Into the home of Mrs. Truex were born eight children, but the five eldest were removed from the household by the "Grim Reaper." Three survive: Gertrude is the wife of George Wiars, of Covert: Harry M. resides in South Haven; and Ollie R. is also a resident of South Haveu. He married Hazel Pierson on June 14, 1908, and they have two small daughters,-Bernice, born Septem- ber 4, 1909; and Evaline Georgia, born March 22, 1911, which gives to the subject the proud distinction of grandfather.
Mr. Truex is loyal to the policies and principles of what its ad- mirers are pleased to call the "Grand Old Party" and his lodge is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a good citizen and true to the best interests of the community.
LESLIE SCOTT, of the firm of Leslie Scott & Sons, owners and operators of the Arlington Farm, one of the finest improved farms in Van Buren county, Michigan, furnishes an example of what can be accomplished by well directed and persevering energy along a congenial line of endeavor. By virtue of the position he occupies as one of the leading stock and fruit farmers in Southern Michigan, biographical mention of him is of especial interest in this volume.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.