A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 31

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 808

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In the meantime his aunt had died, so that he was again left without a home. He returned to Michigan, however, and in the fall of 1865 entered Adrian College. He lacked one term of completing the work of the sopho- more year when he left that institution and started out in the business world on his own account. On the 13th of March, 1869. he was married to Miss Lida J. Rankin, who was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1847. and when nine years of age was taken to Rives township, Jackson county. Michigan, by her parents, Peter and Eliza ( McClellan) Rankin. Her father was born in Scotland and her mother in Reading, Pennsylvania, and both died in Jackson county, this state.

At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lyman located in Rives township. Jackson county, and for twenty years he worked at the carpen- ter's trade through the summer months, while in the winter season he engaged in teaching school. In the spring of 1889 he came to his present farm of twenty acres on section 8. Casco township, then wild land but now largely under cultivation, mainly devoted to horticultural pursuits. The Paragon Fruit Farm is justly celebrated and Mr. Lyman has made a spe- cialty of strawberries, which he occasionally markets in October and No- vember, as well as in the spring, raising two crops out of doors. He also makes a specialty of currants and peaches, and he has an attractive home in the midst of his well developed farm.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lyman have been born eight children: Cecile. now the wife of L. B. Paquin, of Park Falls, Wisconsin ; Rankin G., living in Cleveland, Ohio: Anna G., the wife of G. N. Breidenstein, of Casco town- ship : Edwin D., of Park Falls, Wisconsin : Roy, who is associated with his brother Edwin in farming, dairying and lumbering under the firm name of Lyman Brothers : Grace, the wife of C. E. Rice, of Casco township : Nina L .. the wife of W. R. Irey, of Bangor township; and Henry C., who died at the age of four years.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Lyman has stanchly supported the Republican party and its principles, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He had been reared amid a Freesoil influence and in an atmosphere antagonistic to slavery, and he has always stood by the party that liberated the slaves and preserved the Union and

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which has since been the party of reform and progress. While living in Rives township he filled the office of clerk and was school inspector in Jackson county. He has served for four years as clerk in Casco township and for two years as treasurer, and his official duties are always faithfully performed. He belongs to the Liberal United Brethren church, to the Grand Army Post of Ganges, and was formerly identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Strong in his honor and his good name, he deserves mention among the representative and prominent citizens of Alle- gan county.

JAMES E. BLACK, a representative agriculturist of Casco township, who has done effective service in behalf of the cause of education, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 6, 1850. His father, Peter Black, was born at Castle Douglas, Scotland, and lost his parents when quite young. As a boy he came to the United States, and from New York made his way to Michigan with the Montieths about 1848. He remained a resident of this state until his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was about eighty- three years of age. He was married in New York to Miss Mary A. Ed- wards, who was born in Birmingham, England, March 24, 1822, and who at the age of twenty-eight years crossed the Atlantic to New York on a visit to her sister. Here she became acquainted with Mr. Black and was married. She was a daughter of Enos Edwards, the chief engineer of the Birmingham (England) fire department, and his father and grandfather held the same position before him, and all three occupied successively the same house. All the members of the Edwards family are mechanics and machinists. Mr. and Mrs. Black were the parents of eight children, but only three reached years of maturity: James E., of this review ; John, who died at South Haven in 1880, and William, a resident of Benton Harbor.

James E. Black attended school in his native county until about sixteen or seventeen years of age, when he made his way into the forests of Allegan county with his parents in the fall of 1866. They took up their abode upon the present farm on the 13th of November, and here James E. Black has since resided. The place originally comprised one hundred and seventy acres of rich and productive land, but Mr. Black has since sold all save eighty acres on sections 35 and 36, Casco township. His entire life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits. All of his farm has been cleared and placed under cultivation by himself, his brother and his father, and the place is now devoted to the raising of cereals and fruit. In the early days Mr. Black worked at lumbering and logging and his life has been a period of earnest and unremitting toil, in which he has made steady progress be- cause he has closely applied himself to the work at hand and has made the best use of his opportunities.

In his political views Mr. Black is a Republican and has served as a delegate to the conventions of his party from his township. He was elected justice of the peace and proved in that office a capable official. He acted as a delegate to both the conventions which chose candidates for the state legis- lature from Casco township, and his efforts have been far-reaching and effective in behalf of the interests which contribute to the general welfare and improvement in this part of the state.

Mr. Black was married, in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Bliss, who was born

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

in Chautauqua county, New York, near Dunkirk, in 1856, and who was brought to Michigan when only three months' old by her parents, Joel and Rosetta (Ellis) Bliss, who were natives of New York, but spent their last days in Geneva township, Allegan county, Michigan. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Black have been born four children : Myrtie, who died at the age of thirteen years; Ralph, of Benton Harbor; Minnie, who is a school teacher, and Neila, at home. Mr. Black has ever been interested and active in the support of educational affairs, and for twelve years has been a di- rector of district No. 4. He has also acted as moderator. It was during his administration that the practice of "boarding round" was abolished in the seventies, and he has done much to advance, the system of public education in this locality, there being now between eighty and ninety pupils in the school district.

WILLIAM ALBERT OVERHISER is the proprietor of the Maple Ridge Fruit Farm, one of the excellent properties of Casco township. His home is on section 14, and orchards and fields give every evidence of his careful super- vision. A native of Indiana, he was born in Blackford county on the 11th of January, 1857. His father, Henry Overhiser, was born in Steuben county, New York, January 2, 1834. and now resides upon a farm in Casco township, about three miles south of Mr. Overhiser's present home. The mother bore the maiden name of Sarah McKee, and was born in Ohio. She died in Casco township, March 4, 1885, at the age of forty-nine years. The parents were married in Blackford county, Indiana, and had three children prior to their removal to Michigan, while here other children were added to the household, so that the family record is as follows: Lonson M., who is living in Casco township: William Albert : Mrs. Olive Jane Galbreath, of the same township; Mrs. Ida May Osborn, of Casco township; Grant, who died in infancy; Charles, of Casco township; Mary Ann, who died at the age of eighteen years, and Minnie Baker, who is living in Seattle, Wash- ington.

William A. Overhiser was a little lad of only three summers when the parents removed from Indiana to Allegan county. Michigan, settling about two miles northwest of the village of Allegan. There they remained through the winter and in the spring removed to Casco township, taking up their abode about three miles from the present home of our subject. There they lived for three years, and in the spring of 1864 settled upon the farm where William Albert Overhiser now resides. He has continuously lived upon this place since that time, was reared to the occupation of farming and has never desired to make a change in his life work. He has sixty acres of the original one hundred acres owned by his father and situated on section 14. Casco township. When his father made the purchase it was a tract of wild land which he bought from a speculator at five dollars per acre. All of the work of clearing and improving has been done by Mr. Overhiser and his father, and it is now a well improved property, on which are substantial buildings and many modern accessories, including the latest improved ma- chinery. The place is known as the Maple Ridge Fruit Farm and is well named because of the fine maple trees upon the place : also the excellent orchards. He has fifteen acres planted to peaches and ten acres to cherries, while there are also many pear, apple and plum trees upon the place. Al-

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most cvcry year brings forth a good fruit crop and his horticultural inter- csts thus add materially to his financial resources. Hc likewise carries on general farming and has some well cultivated fields.

Mr. Overhiser has been married twice. In 1886 hc wedded Miss Alta May Usher, who was born in Illinois, and dicd in Casco township, Allegan county, at the age of twenty-eight years. She was a daughter of James Usher, of Casco township, and by her marriage she became the mother of three children: Maxwell Glen, who died in his twelfth year; Rosco Glen, who died at the age of two and a half years, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Overhiser lost his wife and two children within nine months. In 1896 he was again married, his second union being with Daisy Galbreath, a native of Kosciusko county, Indiana, and a daughter of Samuel Galbreath. They have one son, William McKinley, born December 25, 1896.

The name of the son is indicative of the father's political views and affiliation, for Mr. Overhiser is a stalwart Republican, interested in the growth and success of the party, yet never secking office for himself. He belongs to the United Brethren Church at Leisure, assisted in building the new house of worship and is one of the church trustees. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also with the Knights of the Maccabees, both at Leisure. In the various lincs of life into which his activity and interests have led him he has always been found as a reliable and trustworthy man, fully mcriting the cstecm which is uniformly accorded him. In his agricultural interests he is regarded as a most enter- prising farmer and has a fine place.

JOSEPH JOSH, who is engaged in general farming on section 5, Casco township, was born in Terrington, St. Clemens, Norfolk county, England, May 22. 1857, his parents being Isaac and Rebecca ( Hanson) Josh, who spent their entire lives in Norfolk county. The son acquired his education in the common schools and left home at the age of thirteen years to make his own way in the world. He was first employed at farm labor and later at railroad work, while subsequently he secured employment in the iron stone mines of Roscdale Abbey, Yorkshire, England. He remained a resident of his native country until 1887, when, thinking to improve his opportunities in the new world, he came to America, landing at Quebec on the 22d of May, the thirticth anniversary of his birth. For three weeks he was employed on the canal and then came to South Haven, Michigan. His limited financial resources made immediate employment a necessity and he began work as a farm hand by the month, being thus employed until he was married. At different times he was engaged in farm labor and also in the Pullman car shops at Pullman, Illinois, and in the steel works at South Chicago. He likewise spent two winters in the lumber woods and scorned no employment that would yield him an honest living. In fact, he would accept any occupa- tion that would bring him a fair return and thus he made a good start in life. Later he rented a farm for ten years, and in 1897 he located upon his present farm, securing forty acres of land on section 5, Casco township, known as the Goodland Farm.

On the 4th of February, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Josh and Miss Maggie Gibney, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, August 20, 1868, and camc to the United States with her parents at the age of five

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

years. She was a daughter of Samuel and Mary Jane Gibney, who were natives of Ireland but were married in Brooklyn, New York, and there passed away. Mrs. Josh was the youngest of their seven children. She was three years of age when taken to Indiana, and a year later came to Michigan to live with her aunt, Mrs. Margaret Fox, who was her mother's only sister. and the wife of Sampson Fox, who came from Essex. England. and took up his abode in Allegan county, Michigan. This was in 1864. He secured the farm which is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Josh when it was wild land, and performed the arduous task of transforming it into cultivable fields. As the years passed he continued the work of improve- ment and development. residing here until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Josh has been born one son, John Henry, whose birth occurred in Casco township. July 12, 1894. Another son, Sampson Marion, born May 13. 1896, died July 9. 1897. In a review of the life work of Joseph Josh it will be seen that he is a self-made man, and as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well. Dependent entirely upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years, he early developed a strength of character and of purpose which constituted a good capital, and as the years have advanced he has so improved his opportunities that he is today in com- fortable financial circumstances, owning and controlling a good farm prop- erty. from which he derives a satisfactory annual income.

JAMES E. BAILEY, whose life of intense and well-directed activity has won him a place among the prosperous farmers and fruit raisers of Casco township, is living on section 15. He is of English lineage, the family being descended from Governor Bailey, of England, who built the famous "old Bailey" prison at London. The paternal grandfather. James Bailey. was a native of New York, who died in Kalamazoo county. Michigan. The father, Edward H. Bailey, was born at Half Moon, on the Hudson. in Saratoga county, New York, in 1819. and there remained until his eigh- teenth year, when he came to Michigan with his parents in 1838 and located a tract west of Augusta, in Kalamazoo county. He became familiar with pioneer life in its various phases and was married in that locality. In. 1866 he removed to Allegan county, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred on the 14th of February, 1876. He was a mechanic and farmer and owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in this county, which he partially improved. In community affairs he was actively and helpfully interested and served as highway commissioner. He kept well informed on political, religious and other questions and possessed a most retentive memory. In 1846 he was united in marriage to Miss Corrissanda Crow, who was born in Wayne county, New York, November 2, 1824. and came to · Kalamazoo county with her parents in 1844. She was a daughter of Elijah and Sallie (Robinson) Crow, the former born in 1798 and the latter in 1796, while their marriage was celebrated in November. 1823. Mrs. Bailey long survived her husband and died upon the old home farm in Allegan county on the 29th of March, 1897. By her marriage . she became the mother of the following named: Mrs. Helen Ockford. now deceased : Mrs. Fidelia Dodge, who is living in Augusta. Michigan : Sarah Lee, deceased : James E., of this review : Henry, who died at the age of two and a half

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years ; Joseph, who is living in Casco township; Mrs. Susan Beers, of Mont- calm county, Michigan, and Simpson, a resident of Kalamazoo county.

James E. Bailey was born at Howlandsburg, Kalamazoo county, Michi- gan. April 8, 1854, and there remained until the spring when he was twelve years of age, at which time his parents removed to Allegan county, and the family home was established on section 16, Casco township. He resided under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, after which he started out in life on his own account, and for one year was employed on a farm at Bangor. He then returned home, and in 1877 he purchased the property which is still his place of residence, comprising about sixty acres of land on section 15. Casco township. Of this about eight acres was under the plow when it came into his possession and a log house and slab stable had been built upon the place. With characteristic energy he began its fur- ther development and improvement and brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. He also added many substantial, modern buildings, includ- ing two dwellings, a barn, granary, tool house and other outbuildings. The place is called the Cherryvale Farm, and is largely devoted to fruit, Mr. Bailey having engaged successfully in horticultural pursuits for the past ten or fifteen years. He makes a specialty of peaches and small fruit and has about twenty-five acres planted to fruit at the present time. He has resided continuously in this county from his boyhood days save for two winters spent in the south, largely in the vicinity of Galveston, Texas. He is a man of industry and enterprise, whose labors constitute the basis of a very gratifying success. He now has about twenty acres of his land planted to fruit and usually harvests good crops of peaches and cherries, so that during the packing season his farm is a very busy place, and during the other por- tions of the year he is never idle, his time being fully occupied with the care and pruning of his trees and bushes and with the other work of the farm.

Mr. Bailey is also interested in community affairs and has capably served in various offices. He was supervisor of his township in 1893 and has been township clerk for two terms. At one time he was identified with the greenback party, and he afterward became connected with the silver movement, although he was trained and reared a Republican. For twenty years he has been identified with the citizens' party and has ever been an opponent of special privileges and monopolistic interests. He held member- ship in the Grange as long as it existed and he is a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees, at Leisure.

Mr. Bailey was married in December, 1880, to Miss Alice Eastman, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 20th of July, 1854. and came to Allegan county in 1877 with her brother. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eastman. Her father was born at Rodman, Jefferson county, New York, March 14, 1825, and there resided until his removal to Allegan county, Michigan, in 1878. He was for some time a resident of Casco township, but eventually took up his abode in South Haven, Michigan, where he died November 12, 1893, at the age of sixty-eight years, one month and twenty-seven days. He followed farming throughout his entire life as a means whereby to provide for the support of himself and family. He was married in Ohio, where he spent a year for his health, the lady of his choice being Miss Juliette Eastman, a distant relative, who was born at Wolcott,

MRS. JAMES K. BARDEN

JAMES K. BARDEN

RESIDENCE OF JAMES K. BARDEN

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Wayne county, New York, October 11, 1819, and who died at South Haven, Michigan, November 28, 1892, at the age of seventy-three years, one month and seventeen days. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have but one child, Laura. who is now the wife of Charles A. Ferris, of Kalamazoo.

Mr. Bailey has spent his entire life in this part of the state, and has continuously been a resident of Allegan county for forty years, and during the greater part of the time has lived in Casco township, where he now owns an excellent farm, which is the visible evidence of his industry and thrift, his perseverance and his diligence in his business affairs.

JAMES K. BARDEN is one of the most prominent fruit raisers of Alle- gan county, and is living on section 8, Casco township. His birth occurred in Pavilion township. Kalamazoo county, Michigan, July 15, 1849, his parents being Richard and Elizabeth (Kinney) Barden, who were born near Penn Yan, New York, and were reared and married there. They became residents of Kalamazoo county in 1837, and the father cleared and cultivated a farm of two hundred acres, which he sold in 1853, removing at that time to Allegan county. Here he and his wife spent their remaining days. his death occurring when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-four years. They reared a large family and their relatives at one time were so numerous in New York that they could go five miles without leaving farms belonging to the Bardens. The surviving members of the father's family are Henry C. and James K. A sister, Mrs. Olive Wood. is deceased, and two sisters died in infancy.

James K. Barden was but six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Allegan county in 1855, since which time he has resided continuously upon the old farm homestead. He today owns and operates a farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres on section 8, Casco township. This was a part of his father's property. On coming to Allegan county the father bought four hundred and forty acres of wood land and retains possession of three eighty-acre tracts, which he brought under culti- vation, clearing away the timber and plowing the fields. James K. Barden of this review is now one of the leading agriculturists of Casco township, and has in the midst of his farm a magnificent residence modern in all of its appointments. This palatial home contains eighteen rooms and was erected by Mr. Barden in 1895. He also built a barn forty-eight by thirty-six feet for his horses, and he has also another barn thirty-two by forty-four feet. His packing house is forty-five by twenty-four feet, and he has other out- buildings upon the place for the shelter of grain and stock. In fact, there is no accessory of a model farm of the twentieth century lacking on his place, and the Southview Fruit Farm, as he calls it, well deserves the reputation which it bears. About sixty acres has been planted to fruit, mostly to peaches, and he and his brother, H. C. Barden, are the largest peach growers in this part of the state, having marketed twenty thousand bushels of peaches in a single year. He also has some other fruit, including pears and apples, and he likewise carries on general farming. His land is gravelly, sandy loam, the soil and location being just right for the growing of peaches, and each year he harvests a crop, there having been no complete failures. The soil is also well adapted to the raising of potatoes and corn, which he has produced in large quantities, digging eleven hundred bushels of potatoes in

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the present year from five acres, while the corn has given a yield of one hun- dred bushels to the acre in the present year. In addition to his other busi- ness interests he is a director of the Citizens' State Bank of South Haven, having been connected therewith in that capacity since its organization.

In 1882 Mr. Barden was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Hadway, who was born in Indiana, January 1. 1857, and in her childhood days came to Allegan county with her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth ( Goodwin) Had- way, who were natives of England, but were married in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Barden have four children : Floyd M., who is now a junior in the State Agricultural College, and has made an excellent record, while in fra- ternal circles and throughout the school at large he is very popular ; Naomi and Viola, twins, and Ruby, who completes the family.

Mr. Barden votes the Prohibition ticket, for he is a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance and believes the question to be one of the most important before the people of the country today. He belongs to the Liberal United Brethren church, of Casco, in the work of which he takes a very active and helpful part. Although not holding the office at the present time, he was for twenty years superintendent of the Sunday school, and his son succeeded him. James K. Barden also served as class leader for sixteen years, and at the present writing is a trustee of the church. His life has been honorable, his actions sincere and manly and investigation into his life record shows a trustworthiness in business and a fidelity of purpose that are most commendable.

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A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 31

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 808

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 808