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 65
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
His home farm is known as the "Elmwood Farm, " and is located five miles and a half from Hartford and the same distance from Keeler. He is independent in politics locally, casting his ballot for the man he deems most fit for the office sought and most likely to look after the best interests of the locality. For in all things he is essentially a good citizen and eager to contribute in every way he can to the substantial and enduring welfare of the people among whom he lives and labors. All classes of residents in Van Buren and Cass counties know his merit and esteem him in proportion
1138
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
to it, regarding him as one of the best and most useful citizens among them and one of the truest representatives of their most elevated, high-toned and productive manhood.
HERMAN LANGELAN .- In proportion to its population, Van Buren county has as great a number of substantial and intelligent agricult- urists as any county of its size in Michigan, and among its number is Herman Langelan, of Keeler township, the owner of a farm of excellently well-cultivated land, which he has operated with such judgment as to have made him, financially, a successful and sub- stantial man. Mr. Langelan was born in Westphalia, Germany, July 3, 1856, the fourth in order of birth in the family of six chil- dren born to Wilhelm and Carolina (Krohne) Langelan. All of these children are living except one son, and the survivors reside in Michigan with the exception of Mr. Langelan's sister, Caroline, the wife of Herman Ahrends, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Langelan's parents never came to the United States, but both died in the Fatherland, where Wilhelm Langelan was an agriculturist all of his life.
Herman Langelan received a good education in the German language, and as a lad of sixteen years decided to come to the United States, having heard of the excellent opportunities offered in the new country. In 1872 he sailed from Bremen, and when he landed in New York City, he was not only without capital, but was $120 in debt. Coming to Berrien county, Michigan, by way of Cincinnati, he became a wage earner, and soon engaged in the mill- ing business with his brother, continuing therein for eight years and also spending one year in Minnesota. During this time he prac- ticed the strictest economy, and was able to clear off his indebted- ness, and he then purchased eighty acres of farming land in Berrien county, for which he went into debt to the extent of $1,600. In 1894, having sold his Berrien county farm, he came to Keeler town- ship and bought eighty-seven acres of land, to which he has since added another tract of seventy-three acres, and he now has it all under cultivation. This property, which is known as the "Maple Avenue Farm," is located ten and one-half miles from Dowagiac, ten miles from Hartford, and one mile from Sister Lakes, and is one of the best farms in Keeler township. Mr. Langelan has been ably assisted in his operations by his estimable wife, whose advice and counsel have done much to help him to succeed. They stand high in the esteem of their neighbors, who recognize and appreciate their many good qualities, and they have been active workers in church and charitable work, and have reared a family that would do credit to any community, giving their children good, practical edu- cational advantages, and teaching them lessons of honesty and hon- orable living. Mr. Langelan is an adherent of Republican princi- ples. Fraternally, he is a member of the Keeler Camp, M. W. A., holding a policy for $3,000 therein, while his wife has a policy for $1,000 in the Dowagiac Assembly No. 1, International Congress. They are faithful members of the German Lutheran church, and have liberally supported all movements of a benevolent nature that have been worthy of their consideration.
1139
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
On January 9, 1885, Mr. Langelan was married to Miss Angeline Kettler, and to this union there have been born five sons, one of whom is deceased, the survivors being : Henry Fred, educated in the public schools and now a salesman in a grocery store at Sisters Lakes; Clarence, a graduate of the public schools, who is now at home assisting his father in the work of the home farm; Ernest, who is now attending public school ; and Herman, the youngest, at home.
EDWIN J. DAYTON, farmer and stock-raiser of Waverly township, was born near Cleveland, Ohio, on January 5, 1860. His father, Allen G. Dayton was born in the vicinity of the same city in 1826. It was here that he was married to Fannie H. Slitor, born Novem- ber 6, 1832, in the state of Connecticut, the daughter of James and Flavia Slitor. Her mother died when Fannie was two years old and her father some years later. Of the five children born to Allen G. and Fannie Dayton, only Edwin is living at present. Three grew to maturity and the others died in childhood. The father of this fam- ily moved to Michigan in 1862 and after living four years at Hills- dale county, moved to the farm in Van Buren county which is now part of Mr. Dayton's place. He lived there the rest of his life and it is still the home of his wife Fannie Slitor Dayton, who has been a resident of the township for forty-five years.
Until he was ten years old, Edwin Dayton attended school. From that age until he was sixteen, he attended only a part of each term and then at seventeen, he entered the high school at Paw Paw and completed the four years' course in three years, graduating in 1880. He paid his own way while in school by milking cows and deliver- ing the milk for Mrs. L. L. Hall. He became a teacher in the pub- lic schools of Van Buren county where he taught for six winters. He saved the small salary he received and increased his capital by working at other things and in time was able to invest in some valu- able lands. At present he owns 260 acres of land all in Waverly township and he has remodeled the farm home where he lives and made it one of the most attractive places in the county. Besides gen- eral farming, Mr. Dayton is a breeder of high grade cattle and sheep and he has done much to improve the stock in this district. He is a stockholder in the Paw Paw Savings Bank and altogether one of the substantial members of the community.
In April, 1887, Mr. Dayton married Lura, the only daughter of Truman and Harriet Sinclair Allen, mentioned elsewhere in the history of the county. She was born January 9, 1861, and was edu- cated in the schools of Paw Paw. Two sons have been born to her and her husband. Allen D. is a student in the Bangor high school, a member of the class of 1915, and is sixteen years of age; Charles, aged thirteen, is attending the district school.
Mr. Allen belongs to the Masonic order, his lodge being the Bloomingdale, No. 221 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. As an enterprising and progressive farmer, he is influential in the Grange. He has made a signal success of all that he has under- taken and he is of that admirable class who are termed hustlers. What he has and what he is are due entirely to his own work and character. "Character is fate" said the old Greek, so Mr. Dayton's
1140
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
success is not so surprising. In the eminence he has attained, he has been ably assisted by his wife, who like himself, is esteemed for her neighborly kindness and for her sterling worth.
BURR BENTON .- For a quarter of a century has Mr. Benton been a resident of Van Buren county, Michigan. He is called the "King Raiser of Peaches;" is a progressive citizen and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Benton is a native of Berrien county, where he was born April 5, 1857, and he is the fourth in a family of seven children, two of whom were sons and five daughters -the offspring of Burr and Louisa (Juday) Benton. Of this num- ber four are living: Theodore, an agriculturist and a member of the Baptist church, is a resident of Oklahoma; Mary Ann, wife of George Vandestyn, is a resident of Keeler township and the mother of four children; Burr is next in order and Louisa is the wife of B. J. Smith, a farmer.
The father was a native of the Green Mountain state his birth having occurred in 1812 and his death in 1872. He came to Michi- gan as a boy in 1820 and was among the pioneers. At that time there was not a frame building in Niles. He was the first sheriff of the county, being elected in 1832 when only twenty years of age and one of the tax receipts issued by him to a neighbor has been seen by his son Burr. On the land entered from the government by his father Burr Benton, the immediate subject, was born. At that early date deer and wolves were plentiful and life still wore a rather ad- venturous aspect and even years later these wild creatures were seen, for not so many years ago this part of Michigan was a wilderness. Father Benton was a Jackson Democrat and an enthusiastic Union man and during the Civil war he made speeches and raised troops to put down the rebellion. Among the many public services of this prominent citizen was that of many years as justice of the peace. He owned eighty acres of land and a team or two of oxen were among his faithful servitors. He was a resident of Berrien county for over half a century and in that time witnessed great develop- ment and many changes. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and benevolent in his proclivities.
Mrs. Benton, the mother, was a native of Pennsylvania of stanch old Pennsylvania-German stock. She was born about 1830 and died in 1872, her demise occurring but sixty-two hours after that of her husband. Thus this devoted couple, so happy together in life, were not separated by death. She was but a girl when her parents came from the Keystone state to Berrien county and here practically all her life was spent. Both of these good people are interred in that county where a beautiful stone stands sacred to their memory. They were fine pioneers of the type which so well paved the way for Michigan's present high standing. Father Ben- ton was a great hunter and it is related that one morning before breakfast he killed four deer and in one memorable day he killed five bears. Many and many a time he conversed and mingled with the redmen.
Until the age of twenty-six years, Mr. Benton remained in his native Berrien county. He had the advantage of receiving in his
1141
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
youth a training in the work he meant to follow and no one could be better fitted for it. He now devotes his energies to agriculture and horticulture and has been eminently successful. When he began life independently he had about two hundred and fifty dollars in cash and that was the nucleus of his present prosperity.
Mr. Benton has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Luella M. Dempsey and their only child was Martha L. She is now the wife of A. A. Burbank, of Whiting, Indiana. Mr. Burbank was in San Francisco at the time of the earthquake. They have a small son, Cecil J. On June 8, 1878, Mr. Benton was a second time mar- ried, the lady to become his wife being Miss Martha Henderson. To this union have been born three children, a son and two daughters. The son, John F. Benton, is deceased. His lamentable demise oc- curred March 1, 1906, when only about twenty-two years of age. He had been educated in the public schools, was an excellent mu- sician and had adopted agriculture as his own life work. Zelma A. is the wife of O. H. Mathayer, a resident of the vicinity of Sister Lakes and their three children are Elsie, Fae and Claire. Louisa B. is the wife of John Harrold, a farmer, and their two children are Beatrice and John Burr.
Mrs. Benton is a native of Marion county, Ohio, and was born November 3, 1856. She is the eldest of seven children, five of whom are sons and two daughters, born to Joseph R. and Sarah (Long) Henderson, more detailed mention of whom is given in the bio- graphical record of P. H. Henderson (Mrs. Benton's brother) given on other pages of this work. Mrs. Benton was a little girl of eight when she came with her parents to Michigan and here she was reared and educated. When she and her husband began life it was on the Benton homestead in Berrien county, a partially improved farm of eighty acres. There they resided five years and cleared twenty- five acres, which they sold and then came to Keeler township, where they purchased forty acres. As Mr. Benton's capital at that time consisted of only about $800, he was forced to go partly in debt. A part of his property was a blind team, but he managed very well. As he was able he added to his property from time to time and now is one of the prosperous agriculturists in this locality. In the early days he raised garden truck and disposed of much by peddling. All the fine improvements which his farm now boasts were brought about by him, with the aid of his estimable wife, even the trees be, ing set out by them. In February, 1907, they purchased their pres- ent excellent place of one hundred acres, which property was in a deplorable state when they took it. They have expended upon it much thought and honest toil and money. It is largely devoted to fruit and is one of the best fruit farms in the township. There are no less than one hundred and seventy-five apple trees and sixteen hundred peach trees, twelve hundred and fifty of which are bearing trees. The varieties represented in the latter are the Champion, the New Prolific, the Kalamazoo, the English Mammoth, the Alberta Gold Drop, the Lemon Tree, the Bismarck, and the Salloway. It is the general opinion that Mr. Benton is the most skilled peach grower in all Van Buren county. He is a born horticulturist. Mr. and Mrs. Benton have surely prospered, for whereas they began Vol. II-33
1142
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
without practically any capital, they today, in 1912, have not a dol- lar's indebtedness against their fine farm and pretty home. This estate had been rented for years and had run sadly to waste, fences being down and buildings dilapidated. It is now neat, well-kept, and well-improved. In addition to their property, they have money in the bank and their children are in pleasant homes of their own. No small amount of credit is due to the faithful aid of the noble wife and mother.
Mr. Benton is a Republican in his political sentiment and cast his first vote for James A. Garfield, the martyred president. Frater- nally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Keeler, and Mrs. Benton belongs to Rebekahs. Both Mr. Benton and his wife are generally respected and it is well that the record of their lives be preserved in this History of Van Buren County, Michigan.
GEORGE WELDIN .- The life of George Weldin, one of the most prominent and successful agriculturists of Van Buren county, Mich- igan, presents a striking example of enterprise, industry and integ- rity, conducing to eminent success, and of business consistencies based on enlightened and moderate views-views at all times com- patible with a generous toleration of the rights of others, and com- manding general confidence and esteem. Mr. Weldin was born No- vember 20, 1839, in Lenawee county, Michigan, and is a son of L. H. and Betsy (Merritt) Weldin, natives of New York and Pennsyl- vania, respectively.
L. H. Weldin came to Michigan in 1837, and in 1839 located in Porter township, Van Buren county, buying a farm of 170 acres which he cultivated until 1850. In this year he went West, where he remained for a short time, but eventually returned to Porter township and bought another farm of 160 acres on which he was engaged in agricultural pursuits at the time of his death in 1867. His wife, who passed away in 1850, was the mother of nine children, as follows : Jewel, who is deceased; Almira, the wife of L. R. Day, of Nebraska; Augustus I., Hannah, Polly and Eliza, deceased; George; and Susan and Clara, deceased.
George Weldin was reared on his father's farm, attending school each winter when he could be spared from the duties of the home place, and when he had reached the age of twenty-two years pur- chased eighty acres of land at Pine Grove, Michigan, which he still owns. As the years went by, Mr. Weldin's operations grew rapidly, and from time to time he added to his land until he became one of the heaviest taxpayers in the county, owning 497 acres of well cul- tivated land in addition to considerable other real estate, although he had disposed of a great deal of property, now having 136 acres of farm land, most of which is devoted to the growing of grapes. In addition to his home and the lots on which it stands in Lawton, he is the owner of twenty building lots in this town. He has always been alive to and identified with the promotion of the best inter- ests of Van Buren county, of which he has so long been a resident and where he has seen so many changes for the better.
On February 3, 1862, Mr. Weldin was married to Margery Tur-
1143
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
ner, and to this union there have been born four children: Lewis H., a merchant of Battle Creek, Michigan; Cora, the wife of Henry Mock, of Fort Morgan, Nebraska, the owner of a 1,600-acre ranch; Nora, the widow of J. Dorsey, of Battle Creek; and Merritt, living in Porter township. Mr. Weldin's first wife died in 1887, and he was married in July, 1891, to Manila Ray, born in Lake county, Ohio, daughter of G. C. and Elizabeth (Bellington) Ray, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of New York.
In his political views, Mr. Weldin is independent, and his fra- ternal connection is with the Maccabees. Since his twenty-second year he has been a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he assisted materially in the construction of the church of that denomination at Lawton. Mr. Weldin has a comprehensive knowledge of realty valuations in Van Buren county, and perhaps no man in the county can boast of an opinion which carries more weight or advice which is deemed more reliable.
EDWARD H. KING is a leading photographer of Van Buren county and one of the best known in the state of Michigan, this having been achieved through the exercise of his natural ability to which he has made telling addition through study and observation. He was born in Fremont, Ohio, October 3, 1855. His father, Samuel King, was born in Columbus, Ohio, and followed the occupation of farm- ing in Sandusky county, where he passed his life and where his de- mise occurred at the age of sixty-two years. In his political views he was a stanch Republican and Protectionist, taking an active part in political affairs and serving faithfully and with efficiency in a number of township offices. He married Mary Moore, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel Moore, a Sandusky county farmer, in which section he spent his entire life. Mrs. Samuel King was one of a large family and the mother of eight chil- dren. They are as follows: John, who is a builder and contractor in California; James, a farmer in Gratiot county, Michigan; Laura, deceased; Charles, who is one of the prominent men of Montcalm county, holding the office of sheriff and being the proprietor of a hotel ; Edward, of this review; Ella, who resides at Battle Creek, Michigan; and two who died in infancy. The mother, now eighty- eight years of age, also resides in Battle Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Sam- uel King were attendants of the Advent church.
Edward H. King's father died when he was but seven years old and he spent his early years on a farm, was educated in the public schools and being of a musical bent, he early turned this talent to advantage by teaching singing, both individually and in classes. After following this occupation for a few years and discovering that he possessed an artistic temperament in another direction, he began the study of photography in 1887 at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he later established himself in business and conducted the same successfully for twelve years. He was then out of business for a year and subsequently removed to Belden, where he built up a large business, which he later sold out. Some idea may be gained of the prominence to which he had risen, when it is related that the gen- tleman who bought out his business made prints from his negatives
1144
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
and exhibited them at a convention, where in competition with a large number of others they took first prize. Mr. King was then out of business for four years and then went to Grand Rapids, where he erected a building fitted with all the latest appliances for making the highest grade of portraits. This building was declared by com- petent authorities to be the most complete of its kind to be found in the United States. After conducting this for a time, he sold out and in 1908 removed to Paw Paw, where he has since resided.
His work has evoked the highest praise from all who have exam- ined it and he not only ranks among the best as an all-round pho- tographer, but he is easily and by far the leader in his specialty as an artist in the line which is an art in itself and to which he has given a vast amount of attention, that of making his subject forget that he is sitting for a picture and removing him from every vestige of camera embarrassment with the result that he produces a likeness which is so strikingly natural as to call forth the highest commenda- tion from even the most critical.
He is known far and wide as the photographer who is capable of placing at perfect ease even the most nervous person and thereby making a portrait which is a pleasing likeness and gives the highest satisfaction possible.
FRED W. BANKS .- Holding high rank among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Van Buren county is Fred W. Banks, one of the leading farmers and dairymen of Bloomingdale township. A son of Captain Will H. S. Banks, he was born May 8, 1866, in Lawton, Michigan. He comes of excellent ancestry, being a grand- son of William Hughes and Rebecca (Snyder) Banks, of whom a brief account may be found on other pages of this volume, in con- nection with the sketch of Jacob F. Banks.
Born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Will H. S. Banks was brought up and educated in his native state. Coming to Michigan in early manhood, he located in Cass county at a time when the greater part of the land in that region was covered with heavy timber. At the outbreak of the Civil war he raised the Twelfth Regiment of Michi- gan Volunteer Infantry, but becoming ill could not join its ranks. He subsequently organized a company of cavalry, which was at- tached to the regiment, and he was commissioned its first lieutenant, later, on the death of the captain of the company being promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Banks was a gallant and faithful soldier, serving ably in any position to which he was called. He served as quartermaster in General Kilpatrick's division, was with Sherman on his march to Atlanta and thence on to the sea, and on through the Carolinas to Washington, in the meantime taking an active part in many fiercely-fought engagements. At the close of the conflict he was honorably discharged from the service and re- turned to his home in Lawton, Van Buren county, Michigan, where he farmed for awhile. Removing subsequently to the South, Cap- tain Banks embarked in the wholesale grocery business in Colum- bia, South Carolina, from there going to Patrick county, Virginia, where he established himself in business as a manufacturer of botanical oils and shipper of herbs. In 1890 the Captain returned
1145
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
to Van Buren county, Michigan, locating in Columbia township, where he has since been successfully employed in general farming.
Captain Banks married Ellen Mary Hicks, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, a daughter of Perry and Margaret Hicks and granddaughter of John and Caroline Hicks, life-long residents of England. Margaret Hicks, whose maiden name was Nieve, was born in Norage, England, near London. Caroline Hicks was a daughter of Commodore Perry. Perry Hicks, who was educated in Oxford, England, was born at Plymouth, Lands End, England, and in 1831 immigrated to America, settling first in Ohio, but later becoming a pioneer of Cass county, Michigan. Mrs. Ellen Mary Banks died in Columbia, South Carolina, leaving but one child, Fred W. Banks.
Very young when his mother died, Fred W. Banks was educated in the public schools of Virginia. In 1888, in the fresh vigor of early manhood, he returned to Michigan, his sole wealth at that time having been good health, a keen intellect, strong hands and a willing heart. Thus equipped, he began working by the month, and at the end of two years, through industry and economy, had saved two hundred dollars. His father, perceiving that he was inclined to be thrifty and wise, then gave him four hundred dollars in cash and the rent for one year of a farm that he owned in Bloomingdale township. Mr. Banks immediately embarked in farming on his own account, and was so successful in his undertakings that at the end of a year he bought seventy acres of the land now included in his present estate and at once assumed its possession. Fortune has since smiled upon all his ventures, and he has since added more land to his original purchase, his farm now containing one hundred and ninety acres of rich and highly productive land, of which he has made improvements of a substantial character, including the erection of good farm buildings. Mr. Banks has stocked his farm with a high grade of cattle and makes a specialty of dairying, find- ing this branch of agriculture quite profitable.
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.