A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 107

Author: Coolidge, Orville W
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1314

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careful management of his interests brought him success. His widow, who was three years his junior, survived him for only eight months. his death occurring June 3, 1901, while his wife passed away February 20, 1902. In their family were the following children : Andrew M .; Amelia, the wife of Jacob Hogaboom, of Van Buren county ; and Viola, the wife of Frank Burbank Hart- ford, living on the old homestead.

Andrew M. Hawks was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He mastered the branches taught in the public schools and remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twen- ty-five years of age, while his wife was but sixteen years of age. She bore the maiden name of Nettie McConnell, and was a resi- dent of Van Buren county, Michigan. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home. A few patches had been cleared but the most of it was still uncultivated. Mr. Hawks now has one hundred and ten acres of rich and productive land in the extreme northeast corner of Berrien county on section I Watervleit township. four miles north of the city of Watervliet. He now has eighty acres of the land under cultivation. For some years he helped his father on the home place and now his energies are concentrated upon the further development and improvement of his own home farm. He has many modern equipments here, including the latest im- proved machinery and he is successfully en- gaged in general farming.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hawks have been born seven children: Ervie, who is engaged in farming in Bangor township, Van Buren county ; Fern, the wife of Merrill Hunt, of Covert, Van Buren county ; Horace, who is living in Hartford, Michigan; Mattie, the wife of Morris Hunt, of Van Buren coun- ty; Stella, Ernest and Carrie, all at home.

Mr. Hawks exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy but has never been an of- fice seeker, preferring to devote his time

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and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He is a member of the Adventist Society.

WILLIAM C. DOCKTER, living in Bainbridge township, where the principal part of his homestead is devoted to the culti- vation of a variety of fruits, is an able horti- culturist, thoroughly conversant with the business, which he carries on in accordance with modern scientific ideas. He was born in Bainbridge township, April 18, 1865, his parents being Christian and Mary E. (Weber) Dockter, the former a native of Alsace, France, and the latter of Germany. They were married, however, in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, Michigan, Mrs. Dockter having come to Michigan at the age of eight years with her father, Charles Weber, who was a pioneer resident of Bain- bridge township. Her brothers, Charles and Jacob Weber, still reside in the same town- ship. Having attained womanhood, Mary E. Weber gave her hand in marriage to Christian Dockter, and when their son Will- iam was three years old the father bought the farm upon which William Dockter now resides. It was then a tract of timber land but no clearing had been made and there- fore in the midst of the forest he hewed out his farm, placing his land under cultivation until where once stood the dense trees of the forest were seen waving fields of grain. He placed about fifty acres under the plow and erected a good residence and barn, which is still standing. His life was one of activity and enterprise, crowned by successful ac- complishment and he continued to super- intend his farming operations up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 18th of October, 1905, when in his seventy-sixth year. His wife died in 1888, at the age of forty-four years. In the family were eight children, of whom two died in early life, while Carrie became the wife of Adam Elgos and passed away at the age of twenty-three years. The others of the family were: Al- fred, who owns a part of the old homestead in Bainbridge township; Ella E., who died at the age of eighteen years; Amanda, the wife of Joseph Kiser, of Bainbridge;

Charles, who is living near the old home- stead; Emma, who died at the age of eight years; and Lucy, who passed away when three years of age.

Reared under the parental roof William C. Dockter assisted in the arduous task of clearing and developing new land and gave his father the benefit of his services until he reached the age of twenty years, when he began to work by the month, thus provid- ing for his own support for eight seasons. He was married on the 27th of November to Miss Edith May Matrau, a daughter of Morgan W. Matrau, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. Before his marriage Mr. Dockter had charge of the old homestead. His father settled his business affairs before his death, dividing the old home between William and Alfred, and the former has added a forty-acre tract to his inheritance, so that he now has a valuable property of eighty acres. The principal part of his home place is in fruit. He raises, ap- ples, pears, plums and other fruit and is a well known horticulturist, whose labors are crowned with merited and gratifying suc- cess. He has made extensive improvements upon his place and it is one of the attractive, modern homes of the township.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dockter was blessed with a son and daughter, Roy W. and Ruth Amelia, aged respectively nine and three years. Mr. Dockter is a member of the Odd Fellows society at Bainbridge, in which he has passed all of the chairs, and he has likewise been a representative to the grand lodge, while both he and his wife are connected with the order of Rebekahs. In the community where he has always lived his acquaintance is wide and he is held in very favorable regard, for investigation into his history shows that the course he has fol- lowed has ever been an honorable and straightforward one and that his business life has been characterized by a close ad- herence to a high standard of commercial ethics.

HORACE W. GARLAND, starting out in life for himself at the age of twenty-two years, is now numbered among the sub-

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stantial farmers of Bainbridge township, having a good property well equipped with modern conveniences and accessories. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 5, 1855. his parents being Horace and Cath- erine Garland, the former a native of New Hampshire. The family was founded in America by five brothers, who came from England and settled at Rye, New Hamp- shire. Horace Garland, Sr., was a fruit- raiser, and on leaving New England re- moved to Iowa in 1855. After eight years he came to Berrien county in 1863 and set- tled one mile south and a mile east of Ben- ton Harbor. There he engaged in farming until he removed to California, where for three years he remained at Petaluma. On the expiration of that period he went to Kansas, where he spent his remaining days. He secured about forty acres of land near Benton Harbor and was one of the pioneer residents of this section of the state. His wife died in Iowa, leaving two children : Horace; and Edgar Garland, of Berrien Springs, who is president of that vil- lage. He sold his farm near Berrien Springs, where the Adventist College now stands, for ten thousand dollars. He is now comfortably situated in life and is living retired in Berrien Springs, having a compe- tence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and luxuries of life without re- course to further labor. He owns several buildings in Berrien Springs and these return to him a good rental. A half sister of the family is still living.

Horace W. Garland, spending the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, was educated in the common schools and gained practical experience in farm labor through the assistance which he rendered in the care and cultivation of the fields. When twenty-two years of age he was mar- ried to Miss Flora Kirkpatrick. a daughter of P. C. Kirkpatrick, a well known farmer of this county, who had come from Iowa to Michigan. Mr. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Gar- land removed from this state to Texas, and after a year spent in that state and in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Mr. Garland went to Kansas, settling in Harper county in 1879.

He proved up a claim of government land and continued his residence in Kansas for fifteen years. He also went to Oklahoma, where he opened up a farm and during the fifteen years mentioned he made considerable progress in business life. his financial resources increasing as the result of his careful management and discrimina- tion in business affairs. While living in Kansas his wife died and in 1894 he re- turned to Michigan, while two years later he located on his present farm near Spink's Corners in Bainbridge township, securing eighty acres of land about half of which is set out to fruit, there being thirty acres planted to peaches, grapes and berries. Mr. Garland sold goods in the town of Harper, Kansas, for nine years. He went to that state when it was largely a new and un- developed region and he lived in a sod house without doors or windows. His attention in later years has been devoted to fruit-raising and he is a horticulturist with good orchards, to the care of which he gives his supervision. He secures the best nursery stock and the fruit which is shipped from his place is noted for its excellent size. quality and flavor.

Mr. and Mrs. Garland were the parents of four daughters and one son : Carrie, now the wife of Charles Bishop, of Benton town- ship ; Lillian, the wife of Harry Crossman, of Bainbridge : Florence, who wedded Ruben Sutherland of Pipestone township; Ollie, the wife of Ed. Chivis, of Bainbridge town- ship; and Fred, at home. Mr. Garland has been again married, his second union being with Mary Line, of Ohio. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. His life has been somewhat eventful in its experiences in the west and the southwest and he is familiar with all that goes to make up a frontier existence. for in pioneer days in Kansas he contributed to the early development and progress of the locality in which he lived. He is now concentrating his energies upon horticultural pursuits in the care and man- agement of his farm here, and although his residence in Berrien county has not been con-

AR Nauler

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

tinuous he was first brought to the county in 1863 and with the passing years has been an interested witness of its growth and de- velopment and the changes which have here occurred.

HENRY PETERS, a resident farmer of Bainbridge township, was born in Water- vliet this county, on the IIth of February, 1852. His parents were John and Laura (Burroughs) Peters. The father, who was born on Deer Island, Canada, died in 1864 from wounds sustained in the battle of New Hope Church while defending the Union cause, thus giving his life to his country. The mother was left with ten chil- dren. She kept the family together, provid- ing for her sons and daughters as best she could and doing a mother's full part by them. One of her sons, Marcus de Lafayette, was a soldier in the same company and regiment as his father. Six of the number are yet living, four being still in Berrien county, and the mother now resides in Bainbridge, in the eighty-ninth year of her age, her home being upon the old farm upon which she settled in 1856. For a half century she has lived upon this farm and has been an inter- ested witness of the changes that have oc- curred in the county. She is a well preserved woman and can read without difficulty, her eyesight being still very keen.

Henry Peters remained at home until he attained his majority, although he was employed at farm labor from the age of twelve years. His education was acquired in the common schools but his privileges in that direction were somewhat limited as it was necessary for him to enter business life. He spent two years in Kansas, going to that state in 1872, where for a time he hunted buffalo. He then returned to Michigan and in 1876 he went to Texas, where he re- mained for a year and a half, spending that time hunting on the buffalo range. He was also employed as a cowboy there for a time.

In the fall of 1880 Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Jane Casner, who was born in Ohio, and was reared in Indiana, and in her childhood days she came to Michigan. They spent one year at Covert,

afterward lived upon his mother's farm and in 1882 came to their present farm. It was wild land, on which only a few acres had been cleared. Much of it was low land, well adapted to the raising of corn, of which he annually harvested large crops. He now has fifty-five acres and has cleared about twenty-five acres. There is a creek which runs through the place and drains the low land which is not only well suited for the production of grain but for celery as well. This creek is fed by hundreds of springs and the farm borders a beautiful inland lake. About three years ago Mr. Peters erected a large residence and has since entertained summer boarders, his place being con- veniently and pleasantly located twelve miles east of Benton Harbor.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peters have been born five children : Edna, the wife of W. L. Hall, of Hamilton township, Van Buren county ; Walter, a carpenter at Sister Lakes; Charley ; Earl; and Irvin.

In his political views Mr. Peters is a Republican. Three generations of the fam- ily have settled in this county and the name has always been synonymous. with good citi- zenship as well as with activity and success- ful accomplishment in agricultural circles. The work which his father instituted in pioneer times he has carried forward, and although he started out in life empty-handed dependent entirely upon his own resources he is now in possession of a good farm prop- erty, while the annual sales of his products bring him a desirable income.

ALBERT RUSSELL NOWLEN, who has been the promoter of much of the im- provement which has been carried on in Benton Harbor, was born in Durham, Scho- harie county, New York, October 19, 1831, his parents being Ira and Sophia (Toles) Nowlen. His paternal grandfather, Joshua Nowlen, was a resident of Connecticut, and Ira Nowlen removed to New York, settled upon a farm in Schoharie county, where he remained for some time, or until he removed to Otsego county. His last years were passed in Benton Harbor, where he died at the age of seventy. On coming to Michi-

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gan he secured land where Albert R. Nowlen now resides and was engaged in the raising of fruit. His wife died here at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were five children : Addison J., who engaged in the practice of law in Benton Harbor and in Chicago but is now living retired; Almira F., the wife of Archibald Shaw, of New York; Albert Russell, of this review; Vic- toria S., the wife of John McCoy, a stock grower living in Kansas; and Louisa, who died when about thirty-five years of age.

Albert R. Nowlen of this review was reared under the parental roof, acquiring a common school education, and when twenty- two years of age was married to Miss Sarah Jane Pratt, a native of New Jersey. His father at the time of his marriage gave him the old home farm, which he cultivated for three years. He then removed to Oneonta, New York, where his father lived for two years and in 1859 made his way westward to Boone county, Illinois, to sell nursery stock for a cousin, who was a grower of such stock in that state. Mr. Nowlen thus spent two years. In the meantime he purchased land in Iowa but never located thereon.

His attention being attracted to Michi- gan on account of his fruit growing inter- ests, he secured land on Empire avenue out- side of the village where William Hamilton now resides. He at first had forty acres, of which twenty-five acres had been cleared. One acre was planted to peach trees, which were then thirteen years old. He had but one thousand dollars and had to go in debt to the amount of two thousand dollars in order to secure the place. He at once be- gan planting fruit, set out peach trees and also small fruit, having six acres each of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Finally he set out the entire farm to fruit and continued its cultivation for a consider- able period or until he sold it for six thou- sand dollars to William Hamilton. In the meantime the yellows had begun to destroy the orchards. He built the house which is now standing, it being at that time the best one south of the village.

In company with Dr. John Bell, Mr. Morton and Captain Lee, Mr. Nowlen pur-

chased considerable land and organized the Benton Harbor Improvement Association, his associates in this enterprise being Dr. John Bell, Captain J. H. Lee, J. Stanley Morton and Peter English. The last named, however, retired after a short time but the others continued in the company. This asso- ciation purchased several tracts of land which it sold, inducing several manufactur- ers to locate here and establish business en- terprises. The company would donate lo- cations and give bonuses. Some of these enterprises proved failures. In one instance they donated the location and sixteen thou- sand dollars. The association bought land which they platted and sold, Mr. Nowlen devoting his entire time to the interests of the company until its affairs were wound up. Since the dissolution of the association he and Captain Lee have purchased the Mc- Allister addition and built a number of houses thereon. The old homestead, too, has been divided into lots and many good houses have been erected there, Mr. Nowlen supplying the funds to H. M. Smith, a con- tractor, who builds and sells the dwellings. This is a very desirable residence section of the town. Mr. Nowlen is also a stock- holder in the State Bank, and through his land and property operations has contributed in very substantial measure to the improve- ment and upbuilding of Benton Harbor. After his father's death he secured the old homestead and erected his present residence at No. 245 Broadway.

Mr. Nowlen was married at the age of twenty-two years in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Miss Sarah Jane Pratt, a native of New York, and they lived together until her death in March, 1897. In the family were three children : Russell, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Ida N., who is the widow of Royce Allen, and she and her family of six children are living with her father. two of the children being now stu- dents in Oberlin College of Ohio: and Bert, who is engaged in the lumber business at Benton Harbor, his yard being located on the old site of the firm of Morton & Stevens, one of the pioneer lumber firms of this part of the state.

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Mr. Nowlen was one of the organizers of the Congregational church and served as one of its trustees until recent years, and has been a deacon since its organization. He donated an organ valued at thirty-five hun- dred dollars to the church. He has done much for the upbuilding of the church and its work here, being one of its prominent and influential members. In 1906 he gave one thousand dollars to the new hospital of Benton Harbor. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and has refused all local of- fices, though frequently solicited to serve in such positions. He has preferred to do his public service as a private citizen and his efforts in behalf of Benton Harbor have been far reaching and beneficial. The founders of a state or the builders of a city are not merely the men who handle the reins of government and control the public policy but are those who carry civilization into hitherto wild regions, who develop the natural resources of the state and who be- come builders and organizers of business interests. Such a man is Mr. Nowlen.

HON. THOMAS JEFFERSON WEST, deceased, who was one of the dis- tinguished and prominent citizens of Ber- rien county, successfully conducting agricul- tural interests and wielding a wide influence in public affairs, represented his district in the state legislature, while his opinions were a decisive factor in many questions of pub- lic moment. He died October 21, 1896, and the county thereby lost one of its men of sterling worth. He was born in Wayne county, New York, May 22, 1831, and when four years of age was brought to Mich- igan by his parents who settled in Kalamazoo county. His father, John West, became a farmer of Charleston township, where he successfully cultivated his land, but his last years were spent in the home of his son, Thomas J.

Upon the home farm Mr. West of this review was reared and his early attention was supplemented by study in Kalamazoo College. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching, which profession he fol- lowed for eleven years in the winter months

in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. When he sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Martha M. Williamson, and, successful in his wooing, they were married in Charleston township April 17, 1852. She was a daughter of Daniel and Katherine Williamson, and was born in Tioga county, New York, whence at the age of three years she was brought to Michigan, the family home being established at Port Huron and later in Charleston town- ship, Kalamazoo county, where they were neighbors of the West family. An early friendship ripened into love and she was married at the age of eighteen years. The young couple resided for a time in Calhoun county, after which they returned to the old West farm in Kalamazoo county, in 1865 they arrived in Berrien county and Mr. West purchased the farm in Bainbridge township, upon which his widow now resides, it being located eight miles east of Benton Harbor on Territorial road, which highway also led past their Kalamazoo county home, sixty- five miles further east. The tract which Mr. West secured in Berrien county was partially improved and he soon devoted it to the rais- ing of a variety of fruit. His attention was largely given to peaches first until the yel- lows destroyed his trees. From 1875 until 1878 he was engaged in the conduct of a general store at Coloma, after which he re- turned to his farm, and in 1893 erected the present residence. A few years later, after successfully conducting his farm, he turned the care of his place over to his son Fred and retired from active business life. The place is now devoted to the raising of fruit with seventy acres thus utilized, forty-five acres being devoted to peaches, while the re- mainder is given to apples and grapes. In his business affairs Mr. West was active, energetic and far-sighted and his laudable ambition and close application were the strong elements in his success.

A man of influence well fitted for leader . ship by reason of his devotion to the gen- eral good and his intimate and accurate knowledge of political issues, questions and possibilities, he became a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party, and

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in 1872 was elected upon that ticket to repre- sent his district in the state legislature. He served capably and creditably, and in 1874 was re-elected. He was much interested in certain legislative acts, especially the one con- cerning the division line between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, and he left the impress of his individuality upon the legislative his- tory of the commonwealth. He also served for several years as township supervisor and was interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of his township and county. He was an enthusiastic mem- ber of the Grange and was a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spink's Corners. His life was useful and honorable. It was never a negative quantity but was always an influencing force for good, as he stood as a stalwart defender of justice, truth, right and progress.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. West were born three children: Pratt W., who died at the age of nineteen years; Franklin H., who died at the age of sixteen years; and Fred L. The last named pursued a commercial course in Valparaiso Normal School and since attaining his majority has conducted the home farm, which at one time contained two hundred and eighty acres but his father

sold a portion of it and it now comprises one hun- dred and twenty acres. He is engaged in raising grass, grain and hay, as well as fruit, and he is a prominent member of the Berrien County Horticultural Society, in which he is now serving on the executive committee. He married Miss Anna E. Mor- ton, by whom he had two children, Martha Winifred and Hermie L. His present wife was Dorothy O. Wilder, of Berrien county, who is a graduate nurse. Mrs. Thomas J. West also survives and the family is a prom- inent one in the community, occupying an enviable position in social circles.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 107

Author: Coolidge, Orville W Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Coolidge, Orville W
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1314