A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 34

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

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second in order of birth in a family of three children, but his sisters, Mrs. Mary Drew and Jane Ann, are both deceased.

As previously stated, William Van Blarcum accompanied his father on the removal from Washtenaw to Allegan county, the family home being established about a mile east of Otsego. He remained there until he attained his majority, when he took up his abode in the village of Otsego and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for about four years, during a part of which time he conducted a shop of his own. He after- ward removed to Martin's Corners, where he conducted a shop for two years. He was married in Otsego before coming to the Corners, and later he returned to Otsego, where he worked at his trade for a number of years. While there he lost his wife. Subsequently he took up his abode at Bloom- ingdale, Michigan, having married for the second time, and was proprietor of a blacksmith shop at that place for about four years. He likewise con- ducted a hotel there for a year and remained altogether in that town for about eight years. He lost his second wife there after about seven years of married life, and upon returning to Allegan county he settled in Casco township in 1886, and for three years carried on blacksmithing at Leisure. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode upon the farm which is still his home and was married again. The farm comprises forty-two acres of land on section 14, Casco township, all of which is under cultivation and is well improved, having substantial build- ings and modern equipments upon it. The place is known as the Cloverdale farm, having been named for Samuel Clover, the original owner. Mrs. Van Blarcum's first husband purchased the place from Mr. Clover's widow, and at the death of her first husband it came into possession of Mrs. Van Blarcum. It is a stock and fruit farm and in addition to the cultivation of the orchards Mr. Van Blarcum is now extensively and successfully engaged in raising good horses, in which he takes great pride, making a specialty of draft horses.

Mr. Van Blarcum was first married in 1866 to Miss Cornelia Rouse, a native of Otsego, Michigan, and they had two children, Nettie May, the wife of Arthur Orcott, of Otsego, and Alfred Burt, who is living in Casco township. For his second wife Mr. Van Blarcum chose Elizabeth Evans, a native of Canada. In 1886 he wedded Mrs. Celia (Janes) Ruell, who was born at Homer, Calhoun county, Michigan, October 14, 1842, a daughter of David and Nancy ( Bacon) Janes, natives of Vermont and New York re- spectively. They were reared and married in the east and made the journey westward to Calhoun county, Michigan, with ox teams, spending their re- maining days there upon a farm which Mr. Janes entered from the govern- ment. Their daughter Celia became the wife of William Ruell, a native of Pittsford, New York. They were married, however, in Calhoun county, Michigan, and came to Allegan county in 1866, settling upon a part of the farm which is still the lady's home. By her first marriage she had two chil- dren : Fred, who is living in Casco township, and Florence, the wife of Casper Overhiser, of Casco township.

Mr. Van Blarcum has always given his political support to the Dem- ocratic party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no at- traction for him and he has concentrated his energies upon his business af- fairs. He is now prospering in the raising of fruit and stock, his business

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having reached quite extensive proportions. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county and for more than a half century he has watched the changes which have taken place here, transforming it from an unclaimed and unbroken wilderness into one of the leading counties of this great com- monwealth.

THOMAS HAGGER, residing on section 14, Casco township, has a good farm of one hundred and thirty acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation. His life record began in Cambridgeshire, England, April 15, 1844, and he was the eighth in order of birth in a family of thirteen chil- dren whose parents were Thomas and Letitia (Saunders) Hagger, who spent their entire lives in England.

When about three or four years of age Thomas Hagger was taken by his parents to Huntingdonshire, England, where he lived until he came to America. He attended school until fourteen years of age and entered business life as a clerk in a general mercantile store, where a stock of dry goods, drugs and other commodities were handled. He was thus employed until he crossed the Atlantic in 1866. He landed at New York and for four years Thomas Hagger remained a resident of Rensselaer county, New York, being employed at farm labor. Thinking that he might have still bet- ter business opportunities in the middle west, he then came to Casco town- ship, Allegan county, and purchased forty acres of timber land, constituting a part of his present farm. This he at once began to clear in order to place the fields under the plow and he also erected a good dwelling. He now has one hundred and thirty acres of land which is rich and productive. Of this eighty acres lies on section 14, Casco township, and is the home place. He also has ten acres of timber land on section 13, Casco township, and forty acres on section 17, Lee township. The home farm is a valuable property, all of which is under cultivation save for the ten-acre tract of timber land. He has kept in touch with the trend of modern progress in his farm work and has erected here a comfortable dwelling and substantial barns. His time and energies are devoted to the raising of fruit and to general farming and he has thirty acres of peaches, cherries, berries and apples. His place is known as the Evergreen Fruit Farm and is equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories.

In October, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Thomas Hagger and Miss Rodella Yerdon, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, May 15, 1853, and when three years of age accompanied her parents on their re- moval to Cass county, Michigan. She was a young lady of seventeen years when they came to Casco township. She is a daughter of Warner and Sarah Jane (Bowers) Yerdon, both of whom were natives of New York and have now departed this life. Her father devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and was the owner of eighty acres of land in this county, which he improved. The family numbered two children, the younger being Javes, who died at the age of twenty-three years. The only daughter is Mrs. Hagger, who by her marriage has become the mother of seven children : Jane, now the wife of Commodore Coppock, of Casco town- ship; Nettie, the wife of Alfred Wellington, a resident of South Haven ; Frank Melville, Sanders, Nellie and Lula, all at home.

Mr. Hagger is independent in politics and cares nothing for office. He,

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however, is not remiss in the duties of citizenship but on the contrary gives his support to those measures and movements which are calculated to prove of public good. He is a man of action rather than theory and when others plan he performs. He leads a strenuous life and his unremitting diligence and activity have gained him wealth. He is now most comfortably situated in life and no agriculturist of the county exceeds him in activity or business management.

EDWARD HAGGER .- Since the forests have been cleared away it has been found that Michigan soil is splendidly adapted for farming and fruit- raising and many there are who have met with prosperity through the care- ful conduct of business interests along those lines. Among this number is classed Edward Hagger, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England, August 18, 1844, being the sixth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children who were born unto Thomas and Letitia (Sanders) Hagger, who spent their entire lives in England, where the father successfully carried on farming pursuits. When thirteen years of age Edward Hagger accompanied his parents on their removal from Cambridgeshire to Huntingdonshire, Eng- land, where he resided until he came to the United States in February, 1862, when in his eighteenth year. He attended school until sixteen years of age and then learned the tailor's trade, which he followed until he came to the United States. He made the voyage alone, attracted by the broader busi- ness opportunities of the new world. He went direct to Hillsdale county, Michigan, and he was offered fifty dollars per month in Hudson to work at his trade but he preferred a wage of eleven dollars per month on the farm. He continued upon the farm until the 4th of August, 1861, when he was enrolled as a soldier of the Union army, enlisting from Adrian, Michigan, as a member of Company A, Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Knickerbocker. The command was sent to Decatur, Alabama, and met the enemy there under Hood. Mr. Hagger took part in a number of minor engagements and skirmishes but no regular battles and the regiment was transferred to Texas in July, 1865, and discharged at Detroit, Michigan, in June, 1866.

When the war was over and the country no longer needed her military aid he returned to Hillsdale county, Michigan, and again worked by the month at farm labor until he was married in 1867. On the 2d of November of that year he came to his present farm, securing forty acres of timber land on section 14. Casco township. This he cleared and placed under the plow, erecting good buildings thereon and further carrying forward the work of improvement until he now has a splendid farm known as the Highland Park Fruit Farm-the name indicating the use to which it is put, for he has ex- cellent orchards upon his place and annually harvests good fruit crops. .

Mr. Hagger was married in 1867 to Miss Mary Chase, who was born in Somerset, Hillsdale county, Michigan, June 5, 1848. Her parents were Daniel and Elmina (Perkins) Chase, the former a native of Saratoga county, New York, and the latter of Greenfield, lower Canada, and of Scotch de- scent. Mrs. Chase was a descendant of Robert Bruce in the paternal line, and her maternal grandparents were the first of the family to come to the United States. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hagger have been born seven children: Eugena, the wife of James Holliday, of Woodstock, Illinois; Minerva, the

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widow of Stephen Morlan, and now at home; Amy, who is a nurse in Kala- mazoo, Michigan; Edward Lee, of Park Falls, Wisconsin; Mildred, who is the wife of Harkless Dalrymple, of Lee township; Pansy, who died in in- fancy, and Robert, at home.

In former years Mr. Hagger gave his political allegiance to the Green- back party but is now a stalwart Republican. He was elected township clerk, but refused to serve, caring nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office as he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business in- terest, in which he is meeting with signal success. At one time he was a member of the Grand Army post at South Haven but is now demitted. His business interests fully claim his time and attention yet he is not remiss in the duties of citizenship and his influence is on the side of political in- tegrity and of progress and improvement in the county.

JAMES MARSHALL, who for many years was a representative of farm- ing interests in Allegan county, departed this life February 2, 1906, when in his seventy-ninth year. His many sterling traits of character had gained him the confidence, respect and good will of those with whom he was asso- ciated and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, April 15, 1827, a son of James and Elizabeth ( Buzzard) Marshall, in whose family were the follow- ing named sons and daughters, Robert, Samuel, John, Joseph, James, Wil- son, Andrew Kells and Clarissa.

In his boyhood days James Marshall accompanied his parents on their removal from Ohio to Greene county, Indiana, where he resided until 1854. In that year he became a resident of Henry county, Illinois, where he re- mained for five years and then took up his abode in Wells county, Indiana. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he continued to engage in farming in the Hoosier state until the fall of 1871, when he came to the farm on section 2, Casco township, which is now occupied by his son, Thomas N. Marshall. He secured eighty acres of land, of which about fifteen acres had been cleared, while upon it was a small board house, consti- tuting all of the improvements. The entire farm is at this writing under cultivation, save for eight acres of woodland. Mr. Marshall erected a com- fortable residence here and carried on general farming, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and thus annually garnering therefrom good crops. He was drafted for service while living in Wells county, Indiana, and became a member of Company B, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry. The war closed after he had been at the front for nine months and with this ex- ception he continuously gave his life to farm work and as the years passed he prospered in his undertakings.

As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Marshall chose Miss Elizabeth Dennis, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 13, 1826. They long traveled the journey of life together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and they were separated in death for only a brief period, for Mrs. Marshall survived her husband for but little more than two months, passing away April 27, 1906. Their children were: Mrs. Eliza Herring, now deceased; Mary J., the wife of George Wellington; Thomas Newton, who operates the old homestead farm and to whom we are indebted for the material furnished for the his-

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tory of his parents; Elizabeth, the wife of Barney Herring, of Casco town- ship ; Martha Ann, the wife of Elmer Hahn, of Bangor, Michigan; Marinda, the wife of Wallace Hogle, of Casco township; George, who is living in the same township; John W., who is married and resides upon the home farm, and Eli, who died in infancy.

James Marshall gave his political allegiance to the Democracy through- out his entire life. He was a member of George Fry Post, G. A. R., of Ganges township, and took much pleasure in meeting with his old army comrades. His life was quietly and uneventfully passed and yet his life rec- ord contains lessons that are worthy of emulation, for at all times he was faithful to the duties which each day brings and he was ever straightforward in his treatment of his fellowmen in any business transaction.

CHARLES L. McNITT, a farmer on section 27. Casco township, is one of the worthy citizens that the Empire state has furnished to Michigan. He was born in Wheatfield, Niagara county, New York, August 15, 1845. His father, Sylvester McNitt, was a native of Seneca county, New York, and died in Hartford township. Van Buren county. Michigan, in 1865, at the age of fifty-two years. His life was devoted to farming and carpentering, and after coming to Michigan he secured one hundred and forty acres of land in Van Buren county, which he developed and improved. He "came of Scotch-Irish ancestry and was a representative of one of the old New York families. In his life he displayed many of the sterling traits of character that have characterized the Scotch and Irish people, and he worked diligently and successfully in the development and improvement of his farm. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and was called to various minor offices. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Brown, was born in Canada, and died in Van Buren county, Michigan, at the advanced age of eighty- two years. In their family were twelve children: Orville, who enlisted from Van Buren county as orderly sergeant and was promoted to the rank of captain, died a few years ago in Shelby, Michigan. Mrs. Eveline Strat- ton resides in Hartford township. Van Buren county. William, going to California in the days of the early mining excitement dug gold there for five years and in 1865 returned to Michigan, his last days being spent in Pentwater. Livira, living in Watervliet, Berrien county, owns one hundred acres of good land, which is a part of the old farm homestead. Charles L. is the fifth in order of birth. Thaddeus lives in Bangor township. Mrs. Julia Curtis is a resident of Hartford township, Van Buren county. Mrs. Jane Adams died at Vanderbilt, Michigan. Alpheus resides in Keeler town- ship, Van Buren county. Archibald lives in Chicago. Mrs. Flora Hoover resides in Hartford township, Van Buren county. Frank was killed by fall- ing in a well when only five years of age.

Charles L. McNitt was a little lad of five summers when taken by his parents to Van Buren county, Michigan, the family home being established in Hartford township about twenty miles south of his present place of resi- dence. They crossed the lake from Buffalo to Detroit on the steamer, the Buckeye State, and by train proceeded to Decatur, Michigan. when they con- tinued their journey with teams to the farm in the midst of the forest. Mr. McNitt remained there with his parents until 1866, when he went to Lawton and was employed in a livery stable for a year. He was then married in

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1867 and began farming on his own account on a tract of rented land in Hartford township, where he remained for a year. He afterward spent five years upon another rented farm in the same township, and came to his pres- ent place of residence in Casco township in 1873, having one hundred acres of land on sections 27 and 22. He at first bought forty acres of wild land, which he cleared and developed. On this he erected a good set of farm buildings and as he prospered in his undertakings he added to his property until he now has one hundred acres of good farm land all under cultivation. Fruit-raising is an important feature of his place and he now has thirty acres devoted to peaches and apples, the farm being known as the XXXX Fruit Farm. In addition to horticultural pursuits he carries on general farming and has fields which return good harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon them.

It was on the 29th of December, 1867, that Mr. McNitt wedded Miss Mary Ann Dolan, who was born in Hemingford, Quebec county, Canada, April 12, 1844. When she was nine years of age she removed to Peru, Miami county, Indiana, with her parents, Thomas and Esther ( McGartland) Dolan, who were natives of Ireland, in which country they were reared and married, removing to Canada, after the birth of their eldest child. Mr. and Mrs. McNitt have one son and two daughters. Ellsworth E., who owns fifty acres adjoining his father's farm, is married and has three children, Lucile, Fern and Leland. Alice May is the wife of H. W. Phillips, of Almo township, Kalamazoo county, who is railroad agent there and they have two children, Donna L. and Lola M. Susie E. is the wife of Joseph Mort, of Casco township, and has four children, Erving, Neil, Clarinda and Harold.

Mr. McNitt has been a life-long Democrat, casting his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, and for each candidate at the head of the ticket since that time save at the last election. He has never sought or de- sired office for himself yet he is interested in those movements which he be- lieves will prove of public benefit and to such gives his hearty co-operation. Almost his entire life has been spent in this section of Michigan, so that he has a wide acquaintance, while his many good qualities have gained for him the favorable regard of those who through business or social relations have been brought into contact with him.

HENRY C. Dow, born in Beaver township, Crawford county, Pennsyl- vania, September 15, 1846, is now living upon a farm on section 1, Casco township, and is classed with the representatives of agricultural interests in this part of Allegan county. His parents were Willis and Mary Jane (Genough) Dow, natives of the Empire state, who were born near Batavia. Their son Henry was the sixth of their seven children, three of whom are now living. He had two brothers and a brother-in-law who served in the Civil war. Richard G. Dow, of Ohio, became a member of the One Hun- dred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, afterward went to the west, where he was drafted and served until the close of the war. Charles Albert was in the three months' service and then re-enlisted for three years in the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on the first of June, 1862. He continued with that command until he lost his life at the battle of Mal- vern Hill while acting as color bearer of his regiment. He had a premoni- tion that he would be killed in that fight and he told the boys that he had

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eaten his last ration and asked a friend to send his effects home. They urged him not to go into the fight but to use the furlough which he then had in his pocket, but he refused, declaring it was his duty to carry the colors even though he felt that it would be certain death.

Henry C. Dow lost his mother while an infant and his father when but seven years of age. When five years old he was taken to Ashtabula county, Ohio, by his foster parents and there remained until the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. When in his eighteenth year he joined the army in June, 1864, and was assigned to duty with the Eleventh District Mississippi Squadron on the gunboat, General Grant. He continued in the navy until the close of the war and was in the paymaster's depart- ment at Bridgeport, Alabama, for a part of the time, also spending six months in the hospital at Bridgeport. He participated in the naval engage- ments on Mobile bay and Tennessee river, and also near Chattanooga, and at the close of the war he returned home. So rigorous had been his military experience that for two years he was incapacitated for business.

In 1867, however, Mr. Dow went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and after- ward to the upper peninsula, looking for government land. He returned home and afterward came to Allegan county, purchasing a part of his present farm on the Ioth of June, 1868. That fall he returned to Ohio, where he was married in September and then brought his bride to his present place of residence, where he has since remained. In order to secure property he incurred an indebtedness upon twenty acres of land, which was partially cleared, while a little log cabin constituted the only improvement upon it. He saw some hard times in starting life in the forest, but he persevered and improved every opportunity. At one time, however, he was out of work owing to an injury on the hand. He had no money and an empty flour bar- rel but was tided over this crisis by a benevolent neighbor who loaned him flour. At that time he had with him his foster parents, for he had determined to reciprocate their kindness in caring for him in his youth by caring for them in their old age. He persevered, however, and owing to his diligence and careful management he has been enabled to add to his farm until he now has three hundred and forty acres in farm land, the greater part of which has been placed under cultivation by him. Much of it lies on sections I, II and 12, Casco township and he also has forty acres on section 6, Lee township. This is all in one body excepting the forty acres in Lee township, and is one of the excellent farms of the locality. Mr. Dow has also pur- chased considerable woodland, from which he has cut the timber and bark, later disposing of the land. In this way he has cleared a total of about twelve hundred acres in this vicinity. In all of his business dealings he has been thoroughly reliable and trustworthy until his name has become a syno- nym for honesty and business integrity wherever he is known. He now has one of the largest and finest farms in Casco township known as the Ashland Farm. He makes the raising of fruit and stock the principal features of the place and for the past fifteen years he has been engaged in the nursery busi- ness, handling from three to five carloads of nursery stock each year. He is likewise a breeder of Jersey cattle and Shropshire sheep and also good horses, and his stock-raising interests form an important part of his busi- ness. In 1893 he erected his present large brick residence, which is finished

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with the choicest native wood selected by him during his previous years of lumbering in the forests.

In September, 1868, Mr. Dow was married to Miss Flora Ann Hogle, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1845, a daughter of Ira and Patty Hogle. Four children were born of this marriage, of whom two died in infancy. Ira Earl, the surviving son, is a resident of Casco township, living in the vicinity of his father's home. He is married and has three children, Eric, Thelma and Flora Ethel. The daughter, Evelyn, is the wife of Charles Stennett, of Casco township, and they have three children, Henry C., Arthur and Lee George.

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A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 34

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