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 61
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section. Mr. Cook is one of the prosperous general farmers and progressive citizens and has made a successful career.
He was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, May 6, 1870. His parents were Richard and Lottie J. (Ridenour) Cook. His mother, who is a native of Berrien county, is still living. His father, who died in 1906, was born in Canada. There were ten children in the family and all are living at this present writing, as follows: Lulu is the wife of George E. Howard; John R. is second in the family; Charles A. married Hattie Jennings; Fred D. married Elsie John ; Frank is single; Anna is the wife of Jesse W. Cobb; Russell married Maud Shaffer; Dr. William, who is a dentist at Coldwater, Michigan, married Bernice Warner; Mary is the wife of Paul Landgraft; Josephine is a graduate of the Law- rence high school and of the Kalamazoo College in music and art.
When John R. Cook was seven years old the family moved to Lawrence township, Van Buren county, and here he was reared and began the career of thrift and industry which has led to pros- perity. He attended the public schools of the township until he was nineteen years old, and then devoted all his time to the pur- suits of agriculture and the cultivation of fruits. On September 2, 1891, when he was twenty-one years old, he married Miss Fannie Howard. She is a daughter of Turner W. and Marcia (Place) Howard of Lawrence township, and she was born in this township November 13, 1870, and received her education in the pub- lic schools. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of four children : Myron H., who was born in 1894, is a graduate of the Lawrence high school; Lyle T., born in 1896, is a student of the same school; Effie A. was born in 1899 and attends the grade schools; and Mildred E. was born in 1907.
Mr. Cook affiliates with the Rising Sun Lodge No. 119, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are esteemed members of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 256. His political allegiance is given the Demo- cratic party. For seven years Mr. Cook was highway commissioner. Public duties and private business he has attended to with equal conscientious care and diligence, and he has long been one of the valuable citizens of this community.
DANIEL W. ALLEN, a representative man of Waverly township, is a dairy-farmer, whose well-situated, well-kept estate is in sec- tion 3, of this township. One must go far to find a better citizen, one more liberal and broad-minded, altruistic by nature and gen- erous and public-spirited in his attitude towards the affairs of the community. He is the friend of good government, the cham- pion of the best education possible and is truly typical of the citizens who have made Waverly township one of the favored por- tions of earth. The Allen family is of Welsh origin and the Amer- ican founder of this particular branch was among the earliest colonial immigrants, coming sometime in the sixteenth century.
In the state of New York, Daniel W. Allen first opened his eyes to the light of day in Providence, Saratoga county, May 7, 1845. He is the son of Job and Hannah M. (Odell) Allen, while his paternal grandparents were Daniel and Susannah ( Almey) Allen. Daniel
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Allen was born in Washington county, New York, and was a black- smith by occupation; his death occurred in Providence, New York. The father, Job Allen, was a manufacturer of chairs; he was mar- ried in New York and came to Michigan about the year 1865, lo- cating in Kalamazoo county, where he rented a farm and remained for four years. He then removed to Van Buren county, where he purchased forty acres of land, on which his son, Joseph C. Allen now resides. On the homestead mentioned he passed on to the life eternal in 1886, his beloved wife and life companion surviving un- til September, 1895. They were the parents of seven children (six of whom were living in 1911), namely: Daniel W .; Joseph C .; Susan, who died at the age of sixteen years; William C., of New Haven, Connecticut ; Alberta L., wife of J. L. MeKnight; Lydia, wife of George Scott, of South Haven, Michigan; and Job S., of Waverly township.
Daniel W. Allen came with his parents to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, at a time when he was learning his trade, which was that of a carpenter. Shortly thereafter he returned to his native state and there completed his apprenticeship. He remained there until 1877 and then returned to Van Buren county. In the mean- time he had married, the young woman to become his wife being Katie Hughes, of Saratoga county, New York, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was left an orphan at the age of three years. She remained in the city of her birth until about eleven years of age, then lived with Mr. and Mrs. Geer until her mar- riage. She has proved an ideal wife and mother, possessing grit, energy, capability and cleverness in marked degree and she is re- spected most by those who know hier best. She is devoted to her children in whom she has ever placed implicit confidence. It might be said in this instance, slightly to paraphrase the words of the poet,
"Happy they
With such a mother! faith in womankind Beats with their blood, and trust in all things high Comes easy to them."
Mrs. Allen's father was of Scotch descent. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Allen has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, Mina M., who is now the wife of Rev. D. G. Wakeman, and resides in Worthington, Indiana. They have four children; Alberta L., the second daughter, is the wife of Dr. Hugh Smith, of Gobleville, Michigan, and they have two children.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are not members of any particular church, but they attend the churches and support them and are essentially moral people. In politics Mr. Allen is in harmony with the tenets of the Democratic party. He has given the most enlightened serv- ice as a member of the Bangor school board and his work while connected therewith was greatly appreciated. He is a stanch friend of the cause of securing the best education possible. He is a great reader and keeps abreast of the issues of the day. He and his wife are rightly known as friendly, courteous and hospitable people.
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DR. MARSHALL J. HARVEY .- That field of usefulness in which Dr. Marshall J. Harvey has played an active and satisfactory part in Waverly for many years is that of a veterinary surgeon, and in this capacity, so necessary to an agricultural community, he has proved conscientious and enlightened. That which may be said of so many of Van Buren county's best citizens may be said of him-he is a native of the state of New York, his birth having oc- curred in Genesee county, November 23, 1839. He is the son of Norman and Louise ( Wright) Harvey, both of whom were born in the Empire state and the latter in Byron, Genesee county. The father came to Michigan at a much later date than his son, his ar- rival within its boundaries being in 1887. He made his home with Mr. Harvey until summoned to a better land. The mother died in 1844. They were the parents of three children. Reuben P. was a member of Company H, of the Eighth New York Regiment and in 1864 gave up his life for the salvation of the Union on the bat- tlefield of Lookout Mountain. Louise, wife of Wilson Martin, lived in New York until her death.
Marshall J. Harvey was reared upon a farm in Genesee county and received his education in the district school. At the age of twenty-two years he left the home of Dr. Peter Crowell who had reared him and began life for himself. Esteeming the acquisition of a loyal and helpful wife the first element towards a successful career, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Root, on August 25, 1861. Mrs. Harvey was born in Hamlin, Monroe county, New York, February 8, 1842, and received her education in the district schools. On November 1, 1866, a little over five years after their marriage, Dr. and Mrs. Harvey severed old associations in the Em- pire state and came to Van Buren county, Michigan, where they engaged in farming shortly after they went back to the old home, but remained in New York only two years, and subsequent to that came back to Michigan where they have ever since remained. With his uncle, Dr. Peter Crowell, Dr. Harvey made a study of veterinary science and ever since finishing his preparation he has engaged in its practice. He resides in Waverly township, sec- tion 1, southwest quarter of northwest quarter.
In his children, Dr. Harvey has given a number of good citizens to the community. The union of himself and his wife was blessed by the birth of five sons and one daughter and four sons survive. Charles, who married Rosa Beardsley of Waverly township, makes his home at Waverly ; Frank, took as his wife Hattie Weatherwax, and resides at Waverly; Ray is unmarried, living with and being associated in business with his father; and Martin, who married Dessie Herrington, is also located at Waverly. The daughter, Hattie, became the wife of Bert Cleveland, and an admirable life was ended in untimely fashion by death. Dr. Harvey and his wife have several grandchildren to perpetuate the good name and high principles of the head of the house.
In the matter of politics Dr. Harvey is a Democrat, but he has never taken an active part in public life, other than to give to all public-spirited measures his sincerest support. He and his wife enjoy high standing among the good citizens of Van Buren county
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and are well entitled to a place in this record of its representative men and women.
ADOLF HERZOG .- In the development of our agricultural re- sources, the most valuable asset of our prosperous country, the German-Americans have had a share which cannot easily be meas- ured and one of Keeler township's representative men of this profession is Adolf Herzog. Baden, Germany, was his birthplace and that of his six sisters as well. The parents were Valentine and Katherine (Dietche) Herzog, who lived and died in Germany. The father was a farmer and served in the German army. He died in 1904, eleven years after the death of his wife. Both were members of the Catholic church. All the children are living; three of them in America.
Adolf Herzog was the youngest in the family as well as the only son. At the age of fifteen, in 1882, he sailed from Antwerp and arrived in this country after a voyage of thirteen days, with a capital of less than fifty dollars. He came to Van Buren county and began to work at a salary of $10 a month and he continued to be a wage earner until his marriage. This event took place in 1893, on April 20, the bride being Mrs. Mary Hahn. She too was born in Germany, in Prussia, on January 16, 1865. At the age of seventeen, she came to America with her parents, Ferdinand and Katherine Steffens Thar. They embarked at Bremen and landed thirteen days later in New York, from which place they came to Berrien county, Michigan. The father is still living on his farm there but the mother is dead. They began life with less than $75 and that in a new country and with mostly small children to care for. Their history is another chapter in the literature of success.
Mr. and Mrs. Herzog too began their wedded life with little capital. They were obliged to go into debt to purchase their orig- inal eighty acres but now they have wiped out all indebtedness and have improved their place and made it one of the homelike and com- fortable residence of this section. Their three children are all re- ceiving excellent educations and are able to take high places in scholastic honors. Katherine E. has finished the public school course and is now a student in the state normal at Kalamazoo and is a student also of instrumental music. Harry J. is one of the best students in the Watervliet high school and a member of the class of 1914. Emma E. is in the seventh grade.
In politics, Mr. Herzog is a Republican. For five years he served as treasurer of the school district. The father and mother are members of the Catholic church and their children have been brought up in the same faith. Their church is St. Joseph's of Watervliet and the children were confirmed by Bishop Kelly. All who know Mr. and Mrs. Herzog accord them a high place in their regard and esteem and no home is a more pleasant and pop- ular resort for the friends and neighbors of its owners.
GOODWIN S. TOLLES, general farmer and stock-raiser, residing in the vicinity of South Haven, supervisor and justice of the peace of Geneva township, is one of the well-known citizens of Van Vol. II-31
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Buren county, Michigan. He was at one time engaged in the lum- ber business, but has found a more congenial occupation in the great basic industry of agriculture. Mr. Tolles was born in Bur- ton township, Geauga county, Ohio, on February 6, 1858, the son of Goodwin S. and Clarinda (Tracy ) Tolles, both natives of the Buckeye state. The family removed to this state in 1865, just following the termination of the conflict between the states, and located in Geneva township. The father owned at one time three hundred and twenty acres of land, and during the most of his ae- tive career was in possession of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He eventually sold his holdings and at his death was living a retired life, enjoying in ease and quietness the fruits of his former industry and thrift. He passed to the Great Beyond in the year 1895 and his wife's death occurred in 1909. To their union were born four children, namely : Mary, deceased; Good- win S .; one who died in infancy ; and James, who resides in Geneva township.
Until the age of twenty-one years Goodwin S. Tolles, the sub- ject, devoted his energies to securing an education and to assisting his father in the work of the farm. Upon the attainment of his majority he embarked in the lumber business and was identified with the lumber camp in Bangor township for four years. Sub- sequent to this he purchased eighty acres of land in Geneva town- ship and removed to this well-situated farm where he has ever since maintained his home and which is the scene of successful and in- telligent operations in the line of general farming and stock-raising.
On August 9, 1883, Mr. Tolles laid the foundations of a con- genial life companionship by his marriage to Miss Clara Warner. daughter of A. and Olive Warner, both natives of the state which has given to Van Buren county a large proportion of its stanchest and finest citizenship,-New York. Mrs. Tolles is one of a family of six children, the others of the original household having been as follows: Husam, a citizen of South Haven; Frank, who makes his home in Geneva township; Lucy, who is the wife of John Meyers, of Kibbie, Michigan; Lilly, who is the wife of W. V. Chaddock, of Geneva township; and Emma, who married Claude Lockwood, of Geneva township. Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tolles was born one son, Shirley E., who is associated with his father in his farming operations. On July 1, 1907, the younger Mr. Tolles married Myrtle Wilkins, daughter of George and Mary Wilkins and they have a small son and daughter-Mary Morie. born August 20, 1908; and Ralph Goodwin, born April 11, 1910.
Mr. Tolles takes a helpful and public-spirited interest in all the affairs of the community and can ever be depended upon to give his support to all such measures as are likely to be of general bene- fit. He is affiliated with the ancient and august Masonic order and also with the Maccabees. His religious conviction is that of the United Brethren church. Mr. and Mrs. Tolles maintain a pleasant and hospitable home, their address being South Haven, R. R. No. 5. Mr. Tolles has since his earliest voting days given his whole- hearted allegiance to the policies and principles of the Republican party and he has several times been entrusted with public office.
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He is at the present time supervisor and in times past he has given valuable service as township clerk and highway commissioner.
FLOYD HARRIS .- Although he has been actively and successfully engaged in farming almost ever since the dawn of his manhood. and has gone at the work and conducted his operations as if he never had any other purpose in life, Floyd Harris of Porter township, this county, did not begin his efforts for advancement in a worldly way in this department of useful endeavor, or seek his education as if he had only it in view. But the pulse of life is so rapid and the currents are so various in American enterprise that no man's destiny, and scarcely any one's vocation can be predicted for any length of time with any degree of certainty in this country. This condition, to the man who is made right, is, in itself, largely an advantage. Such a man usually enters upon the stage of action prepared for usefulness in almost any possible contingency.
Mr. Harris was born in Porter township, Van Buren county, Michigan, on February 27, 1884, and is a son of Lafayette and Cora B. (Glover) Harris, the former born in Mattawan on March 26, 1856, and the latter born in Lawton, July 14, 1866. The father was a son of Leonard M. and Esther (Munger) Harris, and the first born of their three children, the other two being William Henry, who lives in Kalamazoo, and Flora L., whose life ended some years ago. Lafayette Harris has passed the whole of his life to this time (1911) on a farm, and is still engaged in tilling the soil with energy, skill and progressiveness, and prospering in the occupation. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Van Buren county.
The mother is a daughter of Jonathan and Lovina ( Fifield) Glover. Mr. Glover was born in Canada and Mrs. Glover in Pier- pont, St. Lawrence county, New York. Mr. Glover served in an Indiana Regiment in the Civil war. He came to Michigan. 1866. and engaged in farming in Porter township and spent his last years here. Mrs. Glover still resides in this county. Mr. Harris's par- ents were residents of this county until 1908, and in all respects so passed their years among these people as to win their cordial and lasting regard for their fidelity to their family, their wisdom and care in rearing their children, and their serviceable interest in the community around them. Mr. and Mrs. Harris became the parents of three children : Their son Floyd ; their daughter Ethel May, who married with William Ferre and now has her home in California ; and their other son, Mack, who is deceased.
Floyd Harris began his academic education in the district school in the vicinity of his father's home and completed it at the Coloma (Michigan) State Normal School. After leaving the Normal school he pursued a course of special training at a business college in Kalamazoo. He then taught school for two years and a half, but at the end of that time felt such a yearning for the farm that he returned to it. Since then he has made farming his prin- cipal occupation, but has done something in the way of raising live stock for market in addition. He has also given attention to the public affairs of his township in the way that every citizen
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should and every good citizen does, by zealous support of what- ever is best for the locality and the people who live in it, and by aiding in the development of its resources and the quickening of its progress and improvement.
On May 10, 1905, Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle Copenhaver, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Kline) Copenhaver, and the fourth born of their seven children, only one of whom, Charles, has died. Those who are living, besides Mrs. Harris, are: Jennie May, the wife of Oliver Everhart of St. Joseph county, Michigan; Emma Eugenia, the wife of Lewis Jones of Battle Creek, Michigan; Carrie, the wife of Luther Thomas of Schoolcraft, Michigan; and Merle and Earl, twins, both of whom are living in Porter township, this county.
Mr. Harris is a Republican in his political faith and gives strong allegiance to his party because he believes firmly in its prin- ciples and theories of government. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Order of Gleaners, and in church connection a Methodist. He and his wife have two children: Zorma E., who was born on April 28, 1906; and Maxine L., whose life began on April 26, 1910. The parents are esteemed throughout the town- ship and in other parts of the county for their genuine worth, their upright lives and the helpful interest they show in everything that contributes to the enduring welfare of the locality in which they live and the people by whom they are surrounded.
FRANK A. BUTTERFIELD .- Waverly township, Van Buren county, has no more loyal citizen than Frank A. Butterfield, whose highly improved farm of one hundred and fifty acres is located in section 18. Mr. Butterfield is one of that large representation in this county who came from the state of New York and who have proved one of the most potent factors in the achievement of the prosperity which the section enjoys. He was formerly engaged in the hotel business. Mr. Butterfield was born on November 24, 1858, in Orleans county, New York, and is the son of Chauncey W. and Clara A. (Wright) Butterfield. Both parents, likewise, were natives of the Empire state, their births having occurred in Orleans and Cattaraugus counties, respectively. A few years after their marriage they came to Van Buren county, Michigan (in April, 1864), and located upon the very farm upon which their son now lives, and there made their residence for many years. In 1866 and 1867 Mr. Butterfield was supervisor of Waverly township. In 1904 he and his wife retired from the more active endeavors of life and located in Paw Paw, where on July 24, 1907, the father passed on to the Undiscovered Country. The admirable wife and mother still survives. They were the parents of six children, five of whom were living in 1911, namely: Frank A .; Ida E., wife of Henry Fox, who makes his home at Rome; Arthur A., who is mar- ried to Mrs. Alice Green, of Grand Rapids, and lives in Grand Rapids; Olin E., who married Flora McKnight, of Hastings, Mich- igan ; and Gertrude E. is the wife of Percy Orton and they live on part of the homestead; Cora A., died in 1887.
Frank A. Butterfield was a small boy when he came to Mich-
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igan and upon his father's farm he was reared, under the tutelage of the elder man becoming well grounded in the many departments of agriculture. He received his education in the district schools and as soon as his school days were ended gave his entire atten- tion to the occupation in which he has found such success. On September 22, 1880, he laid the foundations of a happy marriage, the young woman to become his wife being Mary Bucknum, then living in Union City, Branch county, Michigan, but whose birth occurred in Jackson county, Iowa, on June 5, 1859. They share their home with one son, Harold L., born April 21, 1895.
Mr. Butterfield takes no small amount of pleasure and profit from his lodge affiliations. He holds membership in Paw Paw Lodge, No. 18, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both be- long to the Maccabees and to the Rebekahs. Mr. and Mrs. But- terfield spent ten years in Paw Paw, where, as before mentioned, they were engaged in the hotel business, the former being land- lord of the Clifton and Union Hotels. In his political affiliation he is a Republican and he is the champion of good government, giving his support to all measures which he believes likely to prove conducive to the general welfare. .
Mrs. Butterfield is the daughter of Jerome Bucknum and his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Humphrey. Mr. Buck- num is the son of Samuel Bucknum, a pioneer of Jackson county, Michigan, and a highly esteemed citizen. He came to the state as early as 1839. He was the son of a German physician. Margaret Humphrey's father was John Humphrey.
CHARLES KIETZER .- If the secret of the success of the German- American farmer is sought it will be found in the qualities of his character. He is primarily a home-maker and he has besides a real liking for work. His native land is not large enough to permit of waste and so he is trained to make the most of all that comes to his hand. When he brings his capacity for taking pains-which Carlyle declared to be the definition of genius-to the pursuit of farming he makes a signal success of that industry, upon which all our economic life depends and so becomes a potent factor in our industrial prosperity. Van Buren county is fortunate in having a number of such farmers, among whom Charles Kietzer holds a high place.
The family to which he belonged are natives of Prussia. He is one of four sons born to Michael and Minnie (Dahms) Kietzer. In 1881, the family decided to come to America to take advantage of the greater opportunities here and accordingly sailed from Bremerhaven and landed at Baltimore after a voyage of three weeks. They came directly to Berrien county, Michigan, and rent- ing a home, supported themselves by working by the day. In time, the father purchased eight acres of land and there he lived until his death. He was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church in his native land. When he came to America, he joined the German Evangelical body of the Christian church. He died at the age of 77, but his faithful wife is still living. All four of the sons, Michael, John, Charles and Frederick are farmers and
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