A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 111

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

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Carl Forler Whetstone whose name in- troduces this review, was a student in the public schools of Niles and afterward at- tended the high school of this city and a business college in South Bend, Indiana.

He has for some years been connected to a greater or less extent with the conduct and management of the Forler Hotel.

Mr. Whetstone has since 1905 filled the office of city clerk in Niles, to which posi- tion he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He is a young man of progressive views, looking at life from a broad standpoint, and he is a valued representative of the Knights of Pythias and Masonic lodges in Niles.

CHARLES S. QUIMBY is one of the younger business men of Niles and is now successfully engaged in the dry goods trade. He was born in Port Davis, Texas, in 1874, and is a son of Captain Horace Dexter and Jennie (Smith) Quimby. The father was born in New Hampshire and enlisted for service in the late Civil war as a member of the Sixty-ninth Regiment of New Hamp- shire Volunteers. He served until the close of hostilities and then when the preserva- tion of the Union was an assured fact he enlisted in the regular army, joining the Twenty-fifth Infantry. He was thereafter identified with the military service of his country and was captain of his company until his death, which occurred at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in 1884. His wife, who was born at Richmond, Indiana, sur- vived him for about eleven years, passing away in 1895. In the family were four children, Charles S. being the only son. He has one living sister, Alice, who now resides in Niles.

Charles S. Quimby came to this city when ten years of age and acquired his pre- liminary. education here, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. Subsequently he was a student in Notre Dame University in Indi- ana, where he pursued a commercial course. On his return to Niles he entered upon his business career in the capacity of a clerk in the dry goods house of Dougan & Company, remaining with that firm continuously until 1889 and mastering every department of the business. In the year mentioned he pur- chased the store and has since enjoyed a good trade. He is now conducting a well

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equipped establishment, having a large line of dry goods, and his earnest desire to please his patrons has been an important factor in his success.

Mr. Quimby has always been an earnest and stalwart Republican and while never a politician in the sense of office seeking he has served as alderman from the second ward for one term. He is a prominent and valued representative of the Masonic fratern- ity, belonging to the lodge, chapter and com- mandery, in all of which he has been hon- ored with various offices. He is now a past master of the lodge and at the present writ- ing is high priest of the chapter and emi- nent commander of the commandery. He also belongs to the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. Making his home in Niles from his early boyhood he is well known as one of the enterprising and prosperous young business men of the city, justly meriting the confidence and business support which are given him. .

CHARLES E. WHITE, active in pro- fessional and political circles in Niles and prosecuting attorney for Berrien county, to which position he was elected in 1904, was born in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, in 1873. He is a son of Ephraim White, who was born in Ohio and came from that state to Michigan in 1861, locat- ing in Cass county, where he has since fol- lowed farming. The tract of land upon which he located forty-five years ago has continuously been his home and he has transformed it into a valuable and well im- proved property. He has never sought to figure prominently in public life, preferring to give his attention to his agricultural in- terests and in the community where he makes his home he is classed with the representative agriculturists. He mar- ried Margaret Coulter, who was born in Cass county upon the old home- stead, where they now reside and which was settled by her father, James Coulter, who went from Ohio to Cass county in 1836, set- tling in a district which was then an almost unbroken wilderness. There were few roads through the forests and the traveler largely followed the old Indian trails. Only here

and there had a cabin been built to show that the seeds of civilization has been planted. Mr. Coulter secured his grant from the government and at once began to clear his land and develop the farm, carry- ing on general farming pursuits until his death. His daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim White, still reside upon the old homestead, which is now their prop- erty. Unto them were born five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. There are three daughters and two sons: Florence; Eunice, the wife of Robert Torsley, of Cass county ; William O., a resident farmer of Cass county ; Charles E .; and Belle.

Charles E. White was reared upon the old homestead farm, which had been entered from the government by his maternal grand- father. He completed his literary educa- tion by graduation from the high school at Niles as a member of the class of 1894. He then studied law for one year with Hon. Edward L. Hamilton, who was practicing in Niles at that time and is now a member of congress from this district. Later Mr. White attended the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the law department with the class of 1897. The same year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the prosecution of his chosen calling in Niles, where he has been quite successful, a liberal clientage now be- ing accorded him. He is attorney for the Building and Loan Association, of which he is also a director, and he has a large pri- vate practice, in addition to which he is dis- charging the duties of the office of prose- cuting attorney for Berrien county, to which he was elected in 1904. In this position he is giving uniform satisfaction to the citi- zens of the county, performing his public service without fear or favor.

In his political allegiance Mr. White is a Republican and was elected and served for four years as justice of the peace, be- fore called to his present position. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fratern- ity, belongs to the Masonic order and is now serving as high priest of the chapter and captain general of the commandery. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian church.

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In October, 1899, in Niles, he married Claire Hoppin, a daughter of George S. Hoppin, of this city. The favorable judg- ment which the public passed upon him in his early connection with the bar has never been set aside nor in any degree modified but on the contrary has been emphasized by his careful conduct of important litigation, his candor and fairness in the presentation of cases and his zeal and earnestness as an advocate.

GEORGE M. BAITENGER, who is en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness in St. Joseph, was born in Woodland, Barry county, Michigan, in 1866, and early in his life he seemed to have come to a realization of the truth that the admonition of the old Greek philosopher "Earn thy re- ward, the gods give naught to sloth," there- fore he has worked persistently as the years have gone by and his present position in commercial circles is the result of his close application and unremitting diligence, which have indeed won his success. His father, Melchoir Baitenger, was a native of Ger- many, where he spent the first seventeen years of his life. Attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its business privileges and opportunities he bade adieu to his native land and sailed for the United States. Reaching the eastern coast he then made his way to Barry coun- ty, Michigan, where he followed the trade of blacksmithing, which he had learned in his native country. He was married to Miss Mary Reiser, also a native of Germany, and they became the parents of five children, who are yet living, George M. being the only son and the only one now residing in Berrien county. The father continued his residence for many years in Woodland, where he died in 1882 at the age of fifty- four years. He is still survived by his widow who makes her home in Woodland.

It was in that village that George M. Baitenger spent his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools, thus preparing for life's practical and responsible duties, and on reaching manhood he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he entered the em- ploy of the Michigan Central Railroad Com-

pany. After some time there passed he re- turned to Woodland and with the money which he had saved from his own account as a furniture dealer and undertaker con- ducted his store for one and a half years. He then removed to Van Buren county, Michigan, and continued in the same line of business at Hartford for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he came to Ber- rien county, going first to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in the undertaking busi- ness for a year and a half and in 1901 he arrived in St. Joseph, Michigan, where in addition to his undertaking establishment he also conducted a novelty bazaar. He en- tered into partnership with Edward H. Kingsley July 1, 1905, under the firm name of The Baitenger & Kingsley Company and during the past year they have dealt in all kinds of furniture, carefully selecting their stock so as to meet the varied tastes of the public. They also have a picture frame de- partment and are conducting an undertak- ing business.

In 1891 Mr. Baitenger was married in Woodland, Michigan, to Miss Lydia D. Mil- ler, a daughter of the Rev. John Miller, an Evangelical minister. They now have two sons, Herbert M. and Harris G., both of whom were born in Hartford, Van Buren county, Michigan. Mr. Baitenger is inde- pendent in politics, preferring to cast his ballot without being bound to party ties. He is very prominent in fraternal circles and is classed with the valued representatives of different orders, including the Masons, the Eastern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. Through the whole course of his career the prime moving spirit that has prompted all his actions seems to have been improvement and advancement. The idea and intent of leaving whatever he has touched better than he has found it has been dominant with him. He has been pos- sessed of a laudable ambition to achieve suc- cess and at the same time he has followed methods which neither seek nor require dis- guise but will bear close investigation and scrutiny and today he is numbered among

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MR. AND MRS. AUGUST VETTERLY

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those to whom St. Joseph owes her business activity and prosperity. He is broad gauged in all his views, political, religious and social and he accords to others the right which he reserves to himself of forming his own opinions upon all matters of vital interest.

WINGATE W. NEWMAN, president of a private bank conducted by the firm of Snell & Company at Niles, was born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1852, a son of George S. and Elizabeth P. (Gear) New- man. The following year his parents, who were also natives of Ohio, removed to Gales- burg, Knox county, Illinois, and later be- came residents of De Witt county, Illinois. In the spring of 1881 the father was called to his final rest, at the age of fifty-five years, having up to that time devoted his energies to agricultural interests. His widow still survives him and yet makes her home in Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois.

Wingate W. Newman is the eldest child in a family of four and the only one living in Berrien county. He continued a resident of Galesburg, Illinois, until 1867, when, at the age of fifteen years, he accompanied his parents to De Witt county, where he con- tinued his education which had been begun in the schools of Galesburg. Following his graduation from the high school of Clinton, Illinois, as a member of the class of 1872, he turned his attention to farming, with which he had become familiar in the periods of vacation while assisting his father in the labors of the home farm. His attention was given to agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he took up his abode in Clinton, Illi- nois, where he was engaged in merchandis- ing until 1900. He was quite successful in that work, but ill health obliged him to sell out, and in the spring of 1901 he removed to Niles, Michigan, hoping to be benefited by the change. Here with others he or- ganized the Snell & Company Bank, a private institution, of which he became president with Richard Snell as vice president. Mr. Snell is a prominent financier of Clinton, Illinois, where he is president of the De Witt County National Bank. He became inter- ested with Mr. Newman in the establishment

of the bank at Niles which bears his name. Charles E. Wood is cashier of the institu- tion, while Thomas E. Cain, a nephew of Mr. Newman, is assistant cashier and book- keeper. On the 23d of March, 1901, the doors were opened to the public and a gen- eral banking business has since been carried on, the institution being attended with suc- cess from the beginning. Mr. Newman is the executive head of the bank, and his force of character, business methods and sound judgment have been the controlling factors in the institution, which has made for itself a very creditable place in financial circles in Berrien county. He is also a director in various building and loan associations in Niles and a director in the Niles Creamery.

In 1879 in De Witt county, Illinois, Mr. Newman was married to Miss Rachel C. Cain, a native of that county and a daughter of Michael and Rachel (Harron) Cain, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Newman are members of the Methodist church and in politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Niles, having trans- ferred his membership from Clinton lodge, Illinois. The lessons of industry, economy and integrity which were early instilled into his mind have borne fruit in an honorable and successful business career, and although one of the more recent arrivals in Niles he has become recognized as one of its most substantial and reliable citizens whose co- operation can be counted upon to further beneficial public measures, while at the same time he avails himself of every opportunity for advancement in his private business career.

AUGUST VETTERLY, living near the village of New Buffalo, owns valuable farm- ing properties in Berrien county, and his holdings are also extensive, embracing about three hundred acres. He was born in Can- ton Thurgan, Switzerland, in the little vil- lage of Wagenhausen, on the 22d of Febru- ary, 1838, and is the youngest of a family of eight children and the only one now liv- ing. The father, Rudolph Vetterly, was also born in the village of Wagenhausen and came here about 1849 with two sons. His

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

wife, accompanied by her son August and one daughter, followed about two years later. Rudolph Vetterly resided in New York un- til the removal of the family to Three Oaks, Michigan, where his remaining days were spent. He was born March 13, 1802, and died February 3, 1889, at the advanced age of almost eighty-seven years. He was a wagon maker by trade, but after coming to Michigan turned his attention to farming, which he followed for a long period. He owned a good farm of one hundred and forty acres at Three Oaks, Michigan, and placed it under a high state of cultivation. He held membership in the German Reformed Church and was a man of upright life and marked fidelity to principle. He wedded Miss Mary Meyer, who was born at Frauen- feld, the capital of the Canton of Thurgan, Switzerland, in 1797, and died in Three Oaks, Michigan, on the 4th of March, 1869. Eight children were born of this marriage, but only four reached years of maturity and came to the United States, as follows : John, who died at Three Oaks : Susan, who became the wife of Robert Lane, a farmer of New Buffalo township, where both passed away ; Edward, who died at Three Oaks; and August.

The only surviving member of the fam- ily is August Vetterly, who in accordance with the laws of his native country attended school until about fifteen years of age. In 1851 he came to the United States with his mother and sister, the father and two other sons having already crossed the Atlantic. They joined them in New York, locating near Schenectady, that state, but after a year passed there the family continued on their westward way to Three Oaks, Berrien coun- ty, Michigan, where Mr. Vetterly of this re- view resided until about sixteen years ago. He early became familiar with farm labor and assisted largely in cultivating and de- veloping the home place, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. Thinking to find other occupations more congenial, however, he worked on the Michigan Central Railroad as section foreman a part of this time, giving about fifteen years to railroad work. Saving his money, as the result of his diligence and economy, he was at length en-

abled to purchase a jewelry store, which he conducted for about ten years. In the mean- time he had purchased a farm of eighty acres and while living on the farm he also con- ducted the store in town. At length, how- ever, he disposed of his store and traded his original farm property for his present farm, comprising one hundred and seventy-eight acres. He had previously purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres here and he now has about three hundred acres in the home place. He has bought and sold a num- ber of farming properties in this county and at one time was the owner of four hun- dred acres of rich and valuable land. He now owns three hundred acres in one body on sections 18 and 19, New Buffalo town- ship, his home being between the Indiana state line and Lake Michigan in the south- west corner of the township, the county and the state. Nearly all was woodland and swamp when he came. There was wild marsh and underbrush and the district was in its primeval condition, the work of im- provement and progress having not yet been begun. Mr. Vetterly has placed one-half of his land under cultivation and has made this a productive farm which yields to him ex- cellent crops. He has a large and beautiful home and other modern equipments upon his farm and everything about the place is at- tractive in appearance, indicating his care- ful supervision and progressive methods. He is now giving his undivided attention to farm labor and was the first to live upon the farm which he is now improving.

In February, 1864, Mr. Vetterly, re- sponding to the call of his adopted country, enlisted for active military service as a mem- ber of Company E. Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He participated in no engagements, but took part in two skirmishes and was on duty in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee, being mustered out with his regi- ment following the close of the war and after about thirteen months' service. He became a member of the Grand Army post at Three Oaks, but has not identified him- self with the organization at New Buffalo. He is also a member of the Masonic fra- ternity at Three Oaks, and The Workmen's Aid & Benevolent Society there. He was

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one of the organizers of the German Evan- gelical Lutheran Church at Three Oaks and has been identified with various organiza- tions which have for their object the up- lifting of mankind and the promulgation of principles of mutual helpfulness and kind- liness. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he served as justice of the peace for four years in New Buffalo and as drain commissioner for two years.

On the 21st of March, 1859, Mr. Vet- terly was joined in wedlock to Miss Chris- tina Brodhagen, who was born October 30, 1842, at Buchhorn in Wittenberg, Germany. She came to the United States with her widowed mother and two sisters in 1857, the family home being established at La- porte, Indiana, but soon afterward they re- moved to New Buffalo. Her father was Frederick Brodhagen. In the family were five children, two of whom came to the United States prior to the arrival of Mrs. Vetterly, these being Christina, Minnie, Elizabeth, Regina and Mrs. Vetterly.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born the following named. Henry, who is section foreman and a farmer of Furnace- ville, Indiana, has three children : Lena, Lil- lian and Leland. August R. is married and lives at Kalamazoo, Michigan, being em- ployed as a passenger conductor on the Mich- igan Central Railroad. Annie is the wife of Charles Knott of Niles, Michigan, and has a son, Clarence. Alex is living in Omaha, Nebraska. John is a conductor for the Mich- igan Central and makes his home at Michi- gan City with his wife and four children, Clarence, Nina, Arthur and Earl. Jennie is the wife of William Precious, an engineer on the Michigan Central, living at Michigan City, by whom she has two children, Ralph and Eleanor. Minnie is the wife of Ernest A. Stick, a brakesman at Michigan City, by whom she has one child, Wallace. William is married and lives at Michigan City and is employed as a brakesman on the Michigan Central. May Elizabeth is at home.

Mr. Vetterly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and his life should serve as a source of inspiration and encour- agement to others, showing what may be

done when one has determination and enter- prise. He has depended entirely upon his own resources and the years have brought him success as a reward for his labor and enterprise supplemented by sound judgment.

JOHN F. DUNCAN, who is classed with the leading business men of St. Joseph, where he is now engaged in the hardware trade, was born in this city in 1853. His father, Robert B. Duncan, was a native of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and died in 1870, at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Rosa Kelley, was born in Canada and is still liv- ing. The father came to Michigan in 1834 in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company as a fur buyer and settled in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he afterward engaged in merchandising. He also established a store in Sodus township but later returned to St. Joseph, where he engaged in the grocery business and also dealt in general mer- chandising, continuing a factor in com- mercial life in this city up to the time of his death. He was active and influential in com- munity affairs, served as a member of the council and was also president of the vil- lage. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and by appointment of Presi- dent Buchanan he filled the office of col- lector. The father was twice married, first to Alice Fitzgerald, of Niles, by whom he had three children, one of whom, Mrs. D. C. Oswald, of Denver, Colorado, is living. By his second marriage there were seven children, six of whom are living, John F. being the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Will- iam Belyea, living in Grand Rapids; Mrs. Edward J. Head, of Denver, Colorado ; Mrs. D. E. Brown, living in St. Joseph; Frank R., of the same city ; and Robert B., who re- sides in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

John F. Duncan was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town and at the age of twelve years entered his father's store as a clerk and for two years after his death he continued the business. He then engaged in railroading in the employ of the Chicago & Lake Shore Railroad Company, now the Pere Marquette system, as baggageman on a mail train for one year. He afterward

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clerked for E. C. Hoyt in St. Joseph and subsequently was with T. T. Ransom, in whose employ he remained as a salesman for eight years, gaining thorough familiarity with the methods in vogue in commercial life. He later entered into partnership with James Forbes under the firm name of Forbes & Duncan, conducting a grocery store for eight years, when Mr. Forbes sold out and the firm became Duncan & Spring- steen. This relation was maintained for about two years, when they disposed of their store to Frank C. Burke and Mr. Duncan then engaged in the real estate and building business in St. Joseph, which he continued for two years, at the end of which time he purchased the King & Cooper grocery store, which he conducted in connection with their other business interests until 1892. In that year the grocery store was sold to the firm of Ankli & Duncan and in 1893 Mr. Duncan of this review purchased the hardware busi- ness of M. B. Rice, at the location which he now occupies. This business was established by C. C. Sweet some ten years before. Mr. Duncan has since conducted the store and is now one of the leading merchants of the city.

In politics he is independent, while fra- ternally he is connected with Masonic order and the Knights of the Maccabees. In 1883 in St. Joseph he was married to Miss Emma Gurnsey, who was born in this city and is a daughter of Hiram G. Gurnsey, who came from New York to Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Congregational church and are much es- teemed people here. He entered busi- ness life in an humble capacity but has gradually and steadily worked his way up- ward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determined and steady purpose.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 111

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