A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 32

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

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CLARK M. SHEFFER, who for many years was a representative of agri- cultural interests in Allegan county, owning and conducting the Octagon Fruit Farm, departed this life May 20, 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years. He was born in Oneida county, New York, August 9. 1829, a son of George and Polly ( Chamberlain) Sheffer, natives of Penn- sylvania and Vermont, respectively. The father followed the trade of shoe- making in early life. He was a transmedium and was one of the first lec- turers on Spiritualism in the state of Michigan. His death occurred in Lenawee county. this state, while his wife passed away in Allegan county.

Clark M. Sheffer was one of nine children and was reared in New York to the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Lenawee county, this state. He then learned the currier's trade, and when a young man of twenty years returned to the Empire state, fol- lowing his trade there and in the New England States for several years, after which he came to southwestern Michigan, where he continued in the same pursuit until his health became impaired and he was forced to abandon his trade, and he then decided to locate on a farm, hoping that the outdoor life would benefit his health. In 1850, during the time of his residence in the east, he had made a trip to Michigan and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, situated on section 36. Casco township. Allegan county. This tract was covered with timber, and in 1852 Mr. Sheffer took up his abode thereon, although he disposed of eighty acres to his brother, retain- ing possession of eighty acres, to which, in 1854, he added a tract of fifty acres, situated on section 35, bordering the shores of Lake Michigan. When Mr. Sheffer located his first purchase of land he made the trip from Breeds- ville, Michigan, in company with two companions, the journey being made

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on horseback. They forded the Black river at South Haven, and at night took refuge in an old house on the opposite side of the river from where he purchased his farm. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of this state, when the Indians were more numerous than the white settlers, and wolves and other wild animals were still roaming through the forests. Mr. Sheffer erected a small shanty on his place, in which he took up his abode, and began clearing his land of the trees and brush and disposing of his bark, which was shipped on the river to the city market. As fast as he cleared his land he would place it under cultivation, and he likewise set out a large apple orchard, this being one of the first orchards in this part of the state. He later set out peaches and other fruit, having altogether forty acres devoted to horticultural pursuits, and this branch of his business proved a profitable source of income to him. He later disposed of portions of his farm at various times, the land being used as summer resorts, and the famous resort known as Sleepy Hollow is located on this farm, so that the tract now comprises seventy-five acres, which includes a fine grove covering four acres and borders Lake Michigan. In 1872 he erected an elegant resi- dence, which was built in an octagon shape, and thus the farm takes its name of the Octagon Fruit Farm.

Mr. Sheffer chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Roxina A. Knapp, the marriage ceremony being celebrated in 1857. Her birth occurred in Oswego county, New York, October 10, 1838, where she was reared to the age of eight years, when she accompanied her parents, Chauncey and Rosetta (Hale) Knapp, on their removal from the Empire state to Watertown, Wisconsin. Her parents were natives of Vermont, and after their removal to Watertown, Wisconsin, Mrs. Sheffer remained with them until she had reached the age of eighteen years, when she came to South Haven, this state, where she has resided to the present time, with the exception of two years spent with her husband in California, where they went in the interest of their son's health.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born three sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Nettie Roxina. now the wife of D. D. Ludwig, residing near Watervliet, in Van Buren county, Michigan ; Woodman, a resident of South Haven, where he conducts the Bellmont resort, and has also assisted in the operation of the home farm during the past two years : Sherman, of Alva. Oklahoma, and Frank I., of Oacoma, South Dakota.

Mr. Sheffer formerly gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, but later became a Bryan Democrat. He was deeply interested in educational progress and served as school officer for many years, but aside from this was never active in office holding. In religious faith he was a Spiritualist from his boyhood days, and ever took a deep interest in the work and teachings of that denomination. He was devoted to his home and family, and his greatest delight was in doing whatever would enhance their pleasure and happiness. He was a kind neighbor and faithful friend, and was well known in Allegan county, where he had lived and labored for more than a half century, and thus his death, which occurred May 20, 1906. was the occasion of deep and wide felt regret, for he had long been asso- ciated with the development and progress of this section of the state, for he came here in the early fifties, when the land was still in its wild and unim- proved state and when no roads had as yet been laid out. It was on his

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farm that two streets were laid out, one of which bears the name of Sheffer avenue, being named in his honor. This highway runs east and west, while the other runs north and south and is called Pioneer street, so called be- cause of the pioneer conditions which here existed, our subject having burned the first brush in this district.

Mrs. Sheffer still survives her husband, and yet makes her home on the farm, being assisted in its operation by her son. She, too, is actively inter- ested in Spiritualism, and for eight years served as treasurer of the State Spiritualists' Association of Michigan, and during that period missed but one quarterly meeting of that body. She was likewise for twelve years treasurer of Van Buren and the adjoining counties' Spiritualist Association, resigning the office when she took a trip to the Pacific coast. She is widely known because of her interest and work in the cause, not only in this state but throughout other states as well, and in this connection has been brought in contact with many of the national leaders of the movement.

CORNELIUS BUYS dates his residence in Michigan from 1849, and since 1858 has resided upon his present farm on section 6, Casco township. He is therefore one of the early settlers of the county, and has been much inter- ested in what has been accomplished here, bearing his full share in the work of general development as time has passed by. A native of New York, he was born May 4, 1836, in Sodus township, upon a farm about three miles north of the village of Sodus and on the shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne county. His paternal grandfather, John Buys, was the founder of the family in America and died in this country at the age of one hundred and five years. He was a well-preserved man up to the last, never finding it necessary to walk with a cane. He was twice married, Peter Buys, the father of our sub- ject, being a son of the second marriage. There were four sons of that union, of whom three died in Michigan and one in Arizona. John Buys was of German birth and crossed the Atlantic during the colonial epoch in the his- tory of this country. He served for seven years as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war and was commissioned captain. He afterward located on the farm where occurred the birth of our subject, and cleared and developed it, making it his home until his death. He had two sons who served in the war of 1812, one son in the Mexican war, and one son in the Black Hawk war, while ten grandsons were soldiers of the Civil war, and one great- grandson was in the Spanish-American war in Cuba.

Peter Buys was born in 1801, his birthplace probably being in New York, and he passed away in Allegan county in 1882. By occupation he was a farmer and carpenter, and through following those pursuits he sup- ported his family. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church. and throughout his life adhered thereto. Peter Buys was married to Electa Chrouch, a native of Sodus Center, Wayne county, New York, and her last days were spent in Van Buren county, Michigan. Their children were six in number; Mrs. Elizabeth Lutz, deceased; Cornelius, Mrs. Sophia Cook, who has passed away ; William Wallace, a resident of northern Michigan ; Frank, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and James, who enlisted in the Eighth Mich- igan Cavalry and died of black measles while in Knoxville, Tennessee, while in the army.

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Cornelius Buys, whose name introduces this record, remained in the county of his nativity until 1849, when at the age of thirteen years, he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Paw Paw, Van Buren county. Mich- igan. His father there worked for about a year at the carpenter's trade, after which he removed to Bangor township, Van Buren county, where Cornelius Buys continued to reside for about two years. During that period he was employed in various ways by the job and by the month. In 1856 the family removed to South Haven, and while he was living there he scraped sand with an ox team to make a channel at the mouth of the harbor that would be large enough to permit of a vessel passing in and out-a vessel that could carry twelve cords of wood. The first time he ever visited South Haven there were two log cabins there but no frame buildings. In 1858 Mr. Buys purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and four acres on sections five and six, Casco township. He has since disposed of a part of this to his son so that he now has sixty acres. There was no road cut to the farm when he took possession. He paid two dollars and a quarter per acre for the unde- veloped land and built thereon a cabin eighteen by twenty-four feet. He now has the entire farm under cultivation and there are good buildings upon it. The land is devoted to the production of fruit and grain and he is classed with the leading agriculturists of the community. The only inter- ruption to his life of intense and well directed business activity was his serv- ice in the Civil war. His spirit of patriotism being aroused, he responded to the country's call for aid and enlisted from Casco township, September 14, 1861, as a member of Company C, Third Michigan Cavalry, under Captain G. J. Hudson, of the Army of the West. He took part in the en- gagements in New Madrid, Island No. 10, the siege of Corinth and battle of Corinth, Iuka, and many others and at length was discharged, owing to disability, after twenty-two months spent in service. He has suffered from the effects of his military experience ever since but has never regretted the sacrifice which he made for his country, and throughout his entire life he has been a most loyal and public-spirited citizen, stanchly adhering to the Stars and Stripes.

On the Ist of January, 1865, Cornelius Buys was married to Miss Mary Jane Lonsbury, who was born in Lenawee county, Michigan. May 18. 1839. and died at South Haven, December 19. 1904. She was a daughter of Henry and Anor (Minor) Lonsbury, natives of New York. Their children are: Ernest, who is living in the neighborhood of his father's farm : Edith. the wife of Arthur Dodge, of Ganges township; Olive, the wife of James Leiter, of South Haven township: Addie, the wife of Justin Waller, of Ganges township, and Anna, at home.

Cornelius Buys is a Republican, having supported the party since cast- ing his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Casco, these associations in- dicating much of the character of the man and the principles which have guided his conduct and shaped his actions. He is known for his fearless defense of whatever he believes to be right and he gives unfaltering advo- cacy in the interest which he endorses. He has now reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten but is still an active, energetic business man, carefully conducting his farming interests.

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WILLIAM H. HESS .- The rich lands of southwestern Michigan offer excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and horticulturist and many there are who have improved their advantages in this direction and have gained substantial reward for their labor. Among this number is William H. Hess, who is living on section two, Casco township. He was born in Cattaragus county, New York, January 8, 1846, his parents being Conrad and Mary (Straight) Hess, who were natives of Steuben county, New York. The father devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits save for the period of the Civil war, when he became one of the "squirrel hunters" of Ohio. He had one brother who died in Libby prison during the strife for the perpetuation of the Union. Conrad Hess lost his parents when only seven years of age and from that time was dependent upon his own resources so that whatever success he achieved was the merited reward of his labor. At the same time he developed a character that commanded for him universal confidence and respect. He was for nearly forty years a faithful member of the United Brethren church and he passed away" March 18, 1906, in his eighty-ninth year. His widow still survives and now makes her home with a daughter in Casco township, Allegan county, at the age of eighty-four years. In their family were three children : William H., Matilda, the wife of Orenso Wellington, of Casco township, and Cal- vin, who is living in the same township. Thus the surviving members of the family are not widely scattered, all living in Casco township, Allegan county.

William H. Hess was a little lad of only three years when his parents removed from the Empire state to Ashtabula county, Ohio. He was there reared and educated and remained at home until March, 1864, when, at the age of eighteen years, he offered his services to the country, enlisting as a teamster for services in the Civil war. He was sent to Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, and on to Nashville, Tennessee, but while there became ill and was sent home. In March, 1865, having recovered his health, he re-enlisted as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry under Captain Jacob Bollard. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee but was in no regular engagements and after the close of hostilities Mr. Hess was mustered out in August, 1865, at Camp Bradford. Baltimore, Maryland. Immediately afterward he re- turned home and on the day of his arrival became ill and found it necessary to call a physician who pronounced his disease typhoid. He was very sick for some time but eventually recovered and retained his residence in Ohio until 1868, when he came to Allegan county, Michigan. Here he purchased eighty acres of woodland and in the midst of the forest built a house, living with his father and mother. After four years he sold the property and bought forty acres elsewhere. He has lived on various farms in the neigh- borhood and he now owns two hundred and eight acres of good land on section two, Casco township, divided into four farms, on which are three sets of good farm buildings. In addition to this property Mr. Hess has given to his sons sixty acres of land and has sold forty acres, so that he had a total of over three hundred acres. A large portion of this he has cleared and improved and his life has been one of untiring industry and perse- verance. He has made a specialty of fruit raising and general farming and his place is properly called the Maple Ridge farm. His entire time and at-

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE H. COMPTON

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tention are given to the work of improving his property and caring for its crops and for a number of years he has operated a threshing machine. He likewise has a feed mill upon his place and each year finds him busy at the tasks which the place bring, his diligence and perseverance constituting the keynote of his success. He came here empty-handed and all that he pos- sesses is the reward of his earnest labor.

In 1871 Mr. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Hattie A. Pattison, who was born in New York, in August. 1845, a daughter of Orenzo and Polly (York) Pattison, who were natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Hess have six children : Albert, now at home ; Herman and Orville, who are liv- ing in Casco township; Viola, the wife of Stephen Verriell, of Bravo, Michigan : Lora. at home, and Harry, who completes the family.

Mr. Hess is a valued member of Jacob G. Fry Post No. 46, G. A. R., of Ganges. He gives his political support to the Republican party, of which he has been a stalwart advocate and he has filled various local offices. serving on the board of review, as school director for eighteen years and as justice of the peace for four years. That his decisions were fair and im- partial is indicated by the fact that his fellow townsmen re-elected him to the office but he refused to qualify, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests. When he came to Michigan he saw hard times for all merchandise sold at a high figure and life in the woods brought many hardships and trials. He would carry groceries' on his back from South Haven, twelve miles away. He worked mostly with ox teams, doing con- siderable logging and lumbering in an early day and this brought him in some ready money. The usual privations hardships of the lumber camp and life on the frontier were experienced by him but he resolutely continued his work, making for himself a home here, and now he is one of the men of affluence in Casco township, with good farming property to show as the re- sult of his life of earnest, persistent toil.

GEORGE H. COMPTON has for forty-five years been a resident of Alle- gan county, so that he is largely familiar with its history and with the story of its growth and progress. He was born in Howard township, Steuben county, New York, March 20, 1844, a son of George Henry Compton and a grandson of George Compton, the latter a native of Rhode Island. He became a pioneer settler of New York and died in the western part of the state. The name of George Henry is a family one that was given to the eldest son for various generations. The ancestry can be traced back to Scotland, and the family was established in America in carly colonial days.

George Henry Compton, father of our subject. was born in New York. February 24, 1810, and afterward removed to Steuben county, that state. where he resided until coming to Michigan on the 20th of March, 1863. He settled on section 4. Casco township, Allegan county, and spent the last fourteen years in the home of his son, George H., passing away here June 8, 1904. Throughout his entire life he made farming his chief occupation and this was the source of income of his success. In younger days he trained in New York with the State Militia. His early political allegiance was given to the Whig party and upon the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks. His religious faith in early life was that of the Methodist church, but later he became identified with the United Brethren

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church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dorcas C. Hill, was born in Steuben county, New York, February 22, 1816, and died here in Casco township, January 25, 1872. Both were people of the highest respectability, held in warm regard wherever known. Their family numbered eleven chil- dren : John, who died in infancy; Sarah, Hanna and Hulda, all deceased ; George H., David, of Casco township; Daniel, Joseph and Albert, who are residents of California ; William, living in Casco township, and Mary E., who has also passed away.

George H. Compton, whose name introduces this review, remained a resident of the Empire state to the age of nineteen years, spent the first six years in the place of his nativity, and afterward lived in Jasper township of the same county. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, arriving on the nineteenth anniversary of his birth. The family home was established on a farm about a mile east of his present place of residence, and George H. Compton has since lived in Casco township. He now owns and operates twenty acres of land on section 5, and also the old homestead of forty acres on section 4, giving his time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of both farms. His place is known as the Highland Ridge Fruit Farm and is devoted to general horticultural pur- suits, having at one time been all planted to fruit.

Mr. Compton was married December 8, 1878, to Miss Helen A. Carter, who was born in Wayne county, Michigan, September 27, 1853, and came here with her parents, William and Hannah (Chrouch) Carter, natives of England and New York respectively. Both her father and mother died in Allegan county. Mr. and Mrs. Compton have had two sons, George Jerome, of Chicago, whose wife is deceased, and they had one son, George H. ; and Orville, at home.

Mr. Compton is a member of the radical United Brethren church of Casco township, in which he is serving as a trustee, while his political en- dorsement at the polls is given to the men and measures of the Republican party. He has been without aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business interests. He took his farm in its wild state and now has a fine home here, the result of his close application and unfaltering diligence.

WILLIAM HENRY STICKEL .- A well improved farm property is that owned and operated by William Henry Stickel on section 10, Casco town- ship. A native of Indiana, he was born in Lake township, Kosciusko county, near the village of Silver Lake, February 4, 1865, his parents being John M. and Hannah Amanda (Sebring) Stickel. The Stickel family is of Ger- man lineage. The grandfather, John Stickel, was born in Pennsylvania but his parents were natives of the fatherland. The maternal grandfather, War- ren A. Sebring, was a native of New Jersey and his father was born in England. Warren Sebring died at the remarkable old age of one hundred years, ten months and twenty-nine days, and his second wife, who was the grandmother of our subject, was in her ninetieth year at the time of her demise. The father of our subject was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, while the mother's birth occurred in Wabash county. Indiana. For many years he resided in the latter state and died in Kosciusko county in 1900 at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Stickel still survives and is now living on

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the old homestead. The family numbered eight children, of whom two died in infancy, and William Henry is the eldest, the others being Mrs. Margaret Alice Groninger, of Wabash county, Indiana ; Warren A., who is living on the old home place in that state ; Mrs. Rebecca Ann Groninger, of Kosciusko county ; Mary Bell, who is at home with her mother. and Mrs. Ella May Wagner, who resides in Sidney, Indiana.

William Henry Stickel resided in the county of his nativity, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and came to Michigan. His educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools and after qualifying for teach- ing he followed the profession for two years in the neighborhood in which he was reared. He came to Allegan county in April, 1887, and has since resided upon the farm which is now his home. He at first secured eighty acres of land on section 10, Casco township, about one-half of which had been cleared. There is now only about twelve acres of unbroken land. His place is known as the Excelsior Farm, and the name is indicative of its ex- cellent appearance and the care and labor which are bestowed upon it. In 1900 Mr. Stickel built a large barn, forty by sixty feet, and in 1904 he erected his present commodious and beautiful brick residence, which is one of the fine country homes of this part of the county. His farm is largely devoted to horticultural pursuits. He had over forty acres planted to fruit until 1905 and now has about twenty acres given to fruit culture. In all of his work he is practical and enterprising and his success is the measure of his activity and diligence, for he owes his prosperity entirely to his own labors.

On the 10th of February, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stickel and Miss Mabel L. Widener, who was born upon this farm in Casco township. Allegan county, that is now her place of residence. Her natal day was January 10, 1868, and her parents were Henry J. and Martha J. (Funk) Widener, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father died upon this farm in March, 1872, and Mrs. Widener is living in Texas. They were married in Pierceton, Indiana. whence they came to Allegan county in 1867. Mrs. Stickel is their only living child and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children : William Paul, who is now a student in the high school at South Haven; Anetta Mabel; Martha Ruth, Ada Alice and a baby not yet named.

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A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 32

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