A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 47

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

USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 47

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).

In 1890 Mr. Jackson was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the 13th of March, after they had traveled life's journey together for nearly thirty-five years. On the 12th of November, 1891, he married Mrs. Lucy M. Beebe, whose maiden name was Farnsworth. She was born in Defiance county, Ohio, and came to Michigan, where lived her two sisters, Mrs. Royal Taylor and Mrs. Jason Martin. The children of Mr. Jackson are: Mary, now the wife of Christian C. Knoblock ; Charles, who is living on the old homestead farm; James, who was drowned July 4th, 1879, in the Kalamazoo river at Allegan when sixteen years and two months of age in company with Eddie Knoblock, a son of Adam Knob- lock ; Minnie Belle, who is clerking in Dendel's store in Hopkins; Carlotta, the wife of Elmer Stevens, a resident of Hopkins; Frank, who died in his twenty-first year, and Joseph, who died aged two years. Mrs. Jackson also has three children by her first marriage, but none live in Allegan county, Miles H., Charles L. and Lena E. An adopted daughter, Belle Beebe, who was taken by Mrs. Beebe in infancy, was a maiden of fourteen years when

335

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

her foster mother married Mr. Jackson. She is now the wife of Frank Edgerton, of Allegan.

Mr. Jackson is a Republican in his political views and has served as school officer, but has never been an aspirant for the honors and emolu- ments of public office. His time and energies have been fully claimed by his extensive and important business interests, and few men can show as good a record for unremitting activity and unfaltering diligence. His labors, too, have been of a character that have contributed in no small degree to the substantial development of the county and those who know him honor him because his record has been characterized not only by indus- try, but unquestioned probity.

DANIEL TIEFENTHAL, who follows farming in Hopkins township and is numbered among the native sons of Allegan county, was born in Monte- rey township, August 24, 1862, his parents being William and Louisa Tiefenthal. He was only four years of age when the family removed to the vicinity of Minor Lake, in Allegan township, where he resided until eighteen years of age. He afterward spent a few months in Wexford county, where he engaged in lumbering. after which he returned to Otsego township, Allegan county, where he followed farming for eight months. He afterward lived in Hopkins township and at different times in Monterey and in Cheshire townships. He was also employed in a sawmill in Allegan for three months and engaged in farming in Schoolcraft. Returning thence to Cheshire township, he worked by the month until his savings jus- tified his purchase of a farm, which he improved through modern methods of cultivation and through the erection of good buildings thereon. He lived upon that place for eight years and then sold his personal property. after which he went to Chicago. He was identified with business interests there, first as a milk dealer, having a route in that city, getting his supplies from farmers who made shipments to the depot. He started the enterprise with six cans, which increased until he utilized fifteen cans of milk daily. This enterprise proved a success and he made money, continuing in the business for nine and a half years. He also enlarged the scope of his ac- tivities by establishing a confectionery and stationery store on Western · avenue, between Van Buren and Jackson streets, but he worked too hard. so that his health demanded a change. In the meantime he had purchased his father's old home farm in Hopkins township, comprising eighty-eight acres, a mile and a half southeast of the village. He made the purchase about two and a half years before locating thereon in March, 1902. At that time he closed out his Chicago business and took charge of the farm. The succeeding year he sold his Cheshire farm. He has since made many substantial improvements on the home place and now has a valuable prop- erty, of which sixty acres is under cultivation. Here he carries on general farming, including the raising of grain, fruit and stock, and he is also oper- ating a milk route in Hopkins, keeping eight cows for this purpose.

Some twenty-three years ago Mr. Tiefenthal was married in Cheshire to Miss Carline Edward, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Edward. She died in Chicago after fourteen years of happy married life, passing away at the age of thirty-six. They had one daughter, Amber Viola, who is now a young lady at home, and they also lost a son in childhood, Garf Dewain,

336

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

who was born March 27, 1887, and died September 13, 1888. On the 23d of June, 1901, Mr. Tiefenthal was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Hills, nee Woodward. By her first marriage she had three children : Lulu, now the wife of Charles Bentley, of Allegan, and Frank and Raymond Hills. Her son Raymond was killed by the breaking of a singletree while driving a team at the age of eleven years, while Frank is at home on the farm. Mr. Tiefenthal has led a life of unremitting activ- ity and enterprise, has made steady progress in. business and is now com- fortably situated, being in control of important and profitable farming inter- ests.

HENRY E. SCHAFER was born on the farm on which he now resides, adjoining the village of Hopkins, January 31, 1877, and is a son of George and Margaretha Schafer, who were reared in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The father settled upon the old home farm when it was covered with the original growth of forest trees and there were but two houses in the vicin- ity. He placed seventy acres of land under cultivation, built three barns upon the place and otherwise improved it, continuing its further develop- ment and cultivation until his death, which occurred in September, 1905, when he was sixty-eight years of age.

Our subject's boyhood and youth were spent in his father's home and his educational privileges were thus afforded by the public schools. At the time of his father's death he and his brother Amos received through the terms of the will the home farm on condition that they were to purchase the interest of the other brother and sister. After the settlement of the estate Henry E. and Amos Schafer divided the property, Amos claiming as his share one hundred and twenty acres of land in Monterey township, while Henry received sixty acres of the old homestead at Hopkins. Both brothers had remained with the father until they attained their majority. Henry E. Schafer now devotes his farm to the raising of corn, hay and other products. He has recently erected a new house upon the place and has removed two of the three barns to the new location at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. He now has a well improved property in harmony with the spirit of modern progress along agricultural lines. He keeps every- thing about his place in excellent condition and the entire farm is charac- terized by an appearance of neatness and thrift which indicates his careful supervision and practical methods.

On the 23d of December, 1902, Mr. Schafer was married to Miss El- freda Piischel, of Otsego, Michigan, and they have two children, Ruth and Anna. The young couple are both well known in this part of the state and enjoy the friendship of the large majority of those with whom they have come in contact.

FRANK B. GATES, a retired farmer living in Hopkins, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, April 22, 1835, his parents being William and Har- riet W. (Bundy) Gates, both of whom were natives of Otsego county, New York. They were married in Ohio, to which state they had removed in their childhood days with their respective parents, becoming residents of the western reserve when it was first settled. Jacob Gates, the grandfather, died in Geauga county in 1816, his being the first death in the township of

337

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

Parkman. He settled there in 1804, and Frank Gates attended the Centen- nial celebration of the settlement on the Ist of October, 1904. In June, 1854, after a long residence in Geauga county, Ohio, William Gates and his eldest son, Addison, came to Michigan and made a settlement in Cheshire town- ship, Allegan county, about seven miles southwest of the village of Allegan. This was all wooded land and their nearest neighbor, except a Mr. Buck, lived three miles distant. William Gates secured two hundred acres of land from the government, for which he paid the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. Upon the claim he and his son built a log house, after which they returned to Ohio, and on the 4th of November, the family en- tered the new home, having driven across the country from Ohio with horse teams. There were the father, mother and seven children, and also Z. S. Thompson, whose wife was a sister of F. B. Gates, and settled in the same district. It was a frontier district, for the country was being rap- idly settled up and in the same fall several farmers came in. Fine land could be had at a nominal price. The soil was rich and productive and the ground was covered with hardwood timber. When it was cleared away the land was found to be very arable, responding readily to the culti- vation bestowed upon it. Mr. Gates remained upon his father's claim for five years, and in 1859 removed to Monterey township, where he had thirty acres of land that had been cleared. He began the further development of the property and placed sixty acres under cultivation. Ilis life was devoted to general farming pursuits and after the war he was for three years con- nected with his son Frank in carrying on lumbering in this county. His last years were passed in the village of Hopkins, and his death occurred in 1890, when he was in his eighty-fourth year. His wife died in January, 1883, when seventy-four years of age. In their family were four sons and two daughters, who are yet living, namely: Emma, the wife of James Holesworth, of South Haven, Michigan; Abbie, the wife of E. I. Hewson, a merchant of South Haven; Addison, who is living three miles west of Hopkins with his son-in-law, John Bodine, on the Frank Gates place, known as the Chestnut Grove farm : Frank, of this review ; Austin, a produce dealer of Hopkins, and Augustus W., who is living upon a part of the old home- stead farm in Monterey township.

Frank B. Gates, reared and educated in Geauga county, Ohio, came to Michigan with his parents in 1854. He afterward returned to Ohio in June, 1856, and went back and forth two or three times. He was there in 1859 when the family removed to Monterey township, but he soon after- ward returned to this county and the greater part of his life has here been passed. On the 19th of January, 1862, in Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, he was married to Miss Louisa Bills, who was born in Hiram, Ohio, June 6, 1840. In March, 1861, Mr. Gates had purchased his present farin prop- erty in Monterey township, having at first forty acres and covered with standing timber. Only a little actual farm work had been done, while the house upon the place was a log cabin. To this pioneer home he took his bride at the time of their marriage and there they began life in true pioneer style. As time passed and his financial resources permitted he added to his land until he owned eighty acres called the Chestnut Grove farm. The old log cabin is still a part of the present residence. He built to it, however, on three sides and transferred it into a modern home. It is one of the oldest

338

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

log cabins of the county, having been built about fifty-five years ago. His life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he placed about seventy acres of his land under cultivation. He did lumbering as a side issue, making general farming his principal means of financial resource. The farm comprises the west half of the southwest quarter of section 23, Monterey township and is pleasantly and conveniently located about three miles west of the village of Hopkins. There Mr. Gates continued to carry on the work of tilling the soil until 1890, when he left the farm and came to the village, where he has since lived. He has a neat home here and is now comfortably situated in life.

Mr. and Mrs. Gates have no children of their own but reared a young girl, who came to them when fourteen years of age and lived with them until her marriage. She is now Mrs. George Hoyer, of Trowbridge town- ship. Mrs. Gates is an own cousin of General B. B. Pritchard, of Allegan. For nearly a quarter of a century Mr. Gates has been a devoted and ex- emplary member of the Masonic fraternity and he and his wife .hold mem- bership relations with the Eastern Star Chapter at Hopkins, of which Mrs. Gates is an officer. She is also connected with the Woman's Relief Corps and with the Maccabees, while Mr. Gates is a member of the Grange at Monterey. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party but he has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business affairs that have been to him a goodly source of rev- enue, bringing him the competence that now enables him to live retired.

DORR.

Dorr township, though without permanent settlement up to 1845, and with only 124 inhabitants in 1850, has for the past thirty-five years been one of the more populous of Allegan's townships. As the principal occupation of the people, since the lumbering industry declined, has been agriculture, there has been only such concentration of population as a rural community demands, and the two hamlets of Dorr and Moline, on the railroad, are the only places that deserve description in this connection.

Dorr, being the natural center of the township, has existed as a settle- ment and somewhat of a center for fifty years. Frank Neuman was the first settler, and his wagon shop was the first enterprise to bring other settlers to this point. In 1869 Frank and Clara Neuman platted the village of Dorr on the east side of southeast quarter section sixteen, Dorr township. The survey was made by J. W. Hicks September 20-21, 1869. The plat was laid east of the railroad. An addition was made in the same year just south of the original plat on section twenty-one. Dorr now has a popula- tion of about 300, has six stores, a postoffice, and is a shipping and trading point for a considerable territory, especially for the country to the west, where there is no railroad.

When the railroad was completed in 1870 a little village sprang up on the southern edge of the township by the name of Moline, which now, with a population of 175, is a center for many people living in south Dorr and north Hopkins. The village plat was laid in July, 1872, Alfred Chapple,

HON. ERASTUS NEWTON BATES, proprietor of Maple Ridge Stock Farm, of Dorr township, Allegan county, was born in Chester, Geauga county,

339

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

Ohio, March 1, 1845. His father, Abner Curtis Bates, a native of North- ampton, Massachusetts, removed to Ohio about 1839 with his brother John Bates. He was a mechanic by trade, but later in life followed lumber man- ufacturing at Cleveland, Ohio. At Chester, that state, he was married to Laura Wellman Baker, of New York birth, and soon after the birth of their son Erastus N. they removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where they resided until their removal to Lena, Fulton county, Ohio, in 1856, while two years later, in 1858, they made their way direct to Dorr township. Allegan county, Mich- igan. After his arrival here Mr. Bates purchased a farm in the southeast corner of the township, formerly the property of a Mr. Scheiren, where they lived two years and then removed to the northeast part of the township, and there he continued to make his home until his life's labors were ended in death, when he had reached the age of eighty-one years, although during the last twenty years of his life he was totally blind. His widow survived him for seven years, dying at about the same age. In their family were eight children, namely: Lovisa, who became Mrs. Almen Bisbee and died at the age of thirty-seven years : Marcus W., an insurance agent at Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Leonard Falconer, and after his death she married Melville Ford and died at about the age of fifty years : E. N., whose name introduces this review : Ward Beecher. a farmer 'of Benzie county, Michigan: Frank W., who was an agricultural imple- ment dealer at Moline, Michigan, and died at the age of thirty-five years ; Albert C., a mechanic at Benzonia, Michigan and Lucy A., the wife of A. D. Loucks, also of Moline.

Erastus N. Bates worked for others from the time of reaching his ma- jority until the outbreak of the Civil war, enlisting February 18. 1864, as a member of Company C, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, his brother Marcus being in command of the company. His brother took part in the battle of Chattanooga, was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea and participated in the last battle at Bentonville, where he was severely wounded. Our subject was left in the hospital at Savannah, Georgia, for four months. and then joined the army at Washington and took part in the Grand Review. After the close of his military career Mr. Bates returned to Dorr township and purchased eighty acres of land adjoining his parents home, which he cleared and improved, and while thus engaged he also taught eight winter terms of school. Soon after his marriage he located upon his father-in- law's farm, which has ever since continued to be his home with the ex- ception of about eight years when he was engaged in general merchandising at Moline, Michigan. Previous to embarking in that occupation, however, he had erected a cheese factory there, and he was engaged in the manufac- ture of cheese for fifteen years. His farm now contains two hundred and three acres. It is known as the old Gilbert homestead. and was cleared and improved by Bradley Gilbert, who took up his abode thereon in 1855, and all the buildings which now adorn this valuable place were built by him. Mr. Bates is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, being an extensive feeder of beef cattle, which he buys when one year old and feeds for one year, they then weighing about one thousand pounds. He feeds ensilage shelled corn. He has a herd of thoroughbred Short-horn registered cattle. and his beautiful farm is known as Maple Ridge. He is one of the repre-

.. 340

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

senative business men of Allegan county, and has attained the high posi- tion he now occupies by his own personal worth.

When a young man Mr. Bates became interested in politics, and has ever since been a strong supporter of Republican principles. He served as super- visor of his township for five years, for four years continuously, cach time receiving large majorities, and in 1885 he was elected to the legislature, be- ing a member of the sessions of 1885-7. During his first term in that posi- tion he was chairman of the committee on towns and counties, while in the second session he was chairman of the committee on municipal corporations. In 1889 he was made financial clerk of the House under Daniel Crossman, the first financial clerk of the state. He assisted Mr. Crossman at the desk in calling the roll, reading bills, etc. Mr. Bates also took an active interest in dairy matters, having been president of the Dairy Association and was responsible for the organizing of the Dairy Commission, which has been of great service to the state. He worked in harmony with the association, and it was urged that he be made the first dairy and food commissioner. He is the present nominee for the Eighteenth state senatorial district, including Van Buren and Allegan counties, both having strong Republican majorities. Mr. Bates married Flora I. Gilbert, a daughter of Bradley and Martha (Bates) Gilbert : and she was also born in Chester, Geauga county, Ohio, but when a child was brought to Michigan by her parents, and nearly her entire life has been passed on the farm where she now resides. The follow- ing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates: Arthur D., who died when two and one-half years old ; Martha Ella, a professional nurse at De- troit : Eustus Newton, a graduate of the Agricultural College at Lansing. Michigan, in the class of 1905, and now engaged in teaching in that institu- tion ; Clara E., the wife of William McRae, secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association in New Jersey ; Forest G., who has spent two years in the agricultural college and is now at home, and Flora I .. a student in the Agricultural College of Lansing. The family are members of the First Congregational church at Dorr.

EUGENE A. DAUGHERTY, supervisor of Dorr township, was born in the township in which he now lives December 21, 1858, a son of Charles and Armina (Inman) Daugherty, both natives of Ohio. In the spring of 1858 they came from Medina county, that state, to Allegan county, Michigan, locating on eighty acres of land on sections twenty-three and twenty-four. Dorr township. By subsequent purchases Mr. Daugherty became the owner of one hundred and ninety acres, much of which he placed under cultivation, although at the time of the original purchase only about thirty acres had been cleared. Their first residence was a little log shanty located near the site of the present commodious and pleasant residence, erected in 1875. Mr. Daugherty was, however, more of a lumberman than a farmer, having owned and operated a mill at Dorr for some time. He was also interested in a tract of pine land in Newaygo county, Michigan, which he sold at an advance. Both he and his wife now reside in Grand Rapids, having put aside the active cares of a business life and now enjoying the fruits of former toil. In their family were four children, namely: Tulia O., Mrs. Albert Averill, of Wayland ; Chester C., county treasurer of Wexford county, Mich- igan : Eugene A., whose name introduces this review, and Stella S., the wife

E. A. Daugherty

341

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

of Vine Harding, a resident of Mackinaw City, Michigan, where he is im- proving resort property. Mr. Daugherty gave his political support to the Republican party, and as its representative he served as a justice of the peace and as a delegate to conventions.

Eugene A. Daugherty received his education in the district schools of Dorr township, and after his marriage he continued to work on the home farm for eleven years, when he purchased eighty acres of land, continuing to operate both this place and the old home farm until six years ago, when he purchased the old Daugherty homestead, thus making him the possessor of one hundred and ninety acres of land. His land is under an excellent state of cultivation, a good and substantial residence has been erected, and every- thing about the place is neat and attractive in its appearance. In addition to his general agricultural pursuits, he is also engaged to some extent in stock raising.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Daugherty was united in marriage to Adeline M. Sproat, a daughter of Robert and Sarah Jane ( Miller) Sproat. who came to Dorr township some years before the arrival of the Daugherty family, and they were also from Ohio. The daughter Adeline was born in Dorr township, on a farm adjoining her parents present home, and was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. The following children have been born of this union, namely : Bessie A., a teacher for some years, having taught for two years in Wayland township and five years in Hop- kins township; Chester C., who died at the age of five years; Jane, a teacher in Leighton township, and Charles, Clark. Stella, Clarence and Cora at home. Mr. Daugherty is now serving his third year as supervisor of Dorr township, and although a Republican in politics he received at his first elec- tion a majority of thirty-five in this township which usually gives a Demo- cratic majority of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty. He also served as a school moderator for eighteen years, and was twice defeated for supervisor as the Republican candidate. He is a man of enterprise, indomitable energy and liberal views, and is thoroughly identified with the growth and prosperity of the community which has been his home through- out his entire life.

EDWARD AVERILL .- The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of Allegan county, which has been his home for many years. He was born in London, Canada, March 30. 1823. a son of David and Almira (Barnes) Averill, the mother also a native of Canada and the father of New York and of English parentage. David Av- erill had gone to Canada with his father as a ship carpenter, but subse- quently returned to a farm in the township of Greece, Monroe county, New York, where his son Edward was reared to manhood. When the last named had reached the age of twenty years the family removed to Medina county, Ohio, where Edward joined them two years later. In 1847 David Averill came with his family to Michigan, securing a tract of government land on section nine, Dorr township, Allegan county, and later purchasing land in section four adjoining, where the parents lived until old age. They cleared and improved eighty acres of land, and were numbered among the old and- honored pioneers of this section of the county.

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.

A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 47

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