A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 112

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

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WILLIAM LYNN WILSON, M. D., physician and surgeon of St. Joseph, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1867, and is a son of Dr. John Wilson, whose birth oc- curred in Canada and who is now living in Detroit, Michigan. He is a graduate of McGill University at Montreal, Canada, and he completed his medical education in the Royal Physicians and Surgeons College in England. Thus well equipped for his

profession he returned to America and for the past twenty years has been engaged in practice in Detroit, Michigan, where he is now well known as a successful and able gen- eral practitioner. He has been an earnest and discriminating student in the line of pro- fessional knowledge and is quick to adopt the new and improved methods, which supple- ment rather than supplant the old and time- tried methods of practice. He married Miss Margaret M. Hunter, also a native of Can- ada, and they have become the parents of six children.

Dr. William Lynn Wilson, the second member of the family and the only one re- siding in Berrien county, is indebted to the schools of Toronto for his early educational advantages and he also attended the univer- sity there. Subsequently he became a stu- dent in Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1890, and he entered upon the practice of his profession : in connection with J. H. Carstens, M. D., at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he accepted the position of physician and sur- geon at the Champion Iron Works Company Hospital at Champion, Michigan, in the up- per peninsula, where he remained for a year. He afterward located at Midland, Michi- gan, where he entered into partnership with Dr. C. E. McCalum, this relation being maintained for two years, at the end of which time Dr. Wilson decided to come to St. : Joseph, and since 1895 has practiced contin- uously in this city. His professional ser- vice has won him the respect and confidence of the general public and he is now accorded rank with the prominent physicians of Ber- rien county. He was pension examiner of Midland, Michigan, and twice has been health officer of St. Joseph. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society and the Ber- rien County Medical Society. Of the last named he served as vice president and sub- sequently filled the presidency for one term.

Dr. Wilson is a Republican in his polit- ical views and as every true American citi- zen should do keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but is with- out aspiration for the honors or emoluments

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

of public office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and also holds membership relations with the Maccabees and the Foresters.

LUTHER I. McLIN, M. D., has de- voted his attention to a profession in which advancement depends entirely upon indi- vidual merit. In the practice of medicine one must commence at the very beginning, master all of the rudiments of the science and mark progress through close applica- tion, thorough mastery of the science and an untiring devotion to the work which prompts the faithful performance of each day's duty. Lacking in none of the requirements of the capable physician Dr. McLin has won a place among the leading representatives of the medical fraternity in St. Joseph. He was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1847, and is a son of Jacob McLin, a na- tive of Ohio, who is still living at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years, his home being in Huntington, Indiana, and is a grandson of Thomas and Mary (Jackson) McLin. The father devoted his life to gen- eral agricultural pursuits. In the year 1830 he came to the west, locating in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, with his parents, who cleared a farm there. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married to Miss Adelia Gage, who was born in New York and is a daughter of Isaac Gage, who settled in Kalamazoo county about 1835, thus cast- ing in his lot with its pioneer residents. He, too, was a farmer by occupation. The birth of Mrs. Adelia McLin occurred in 1822, so that she has therefore passed the eighty- third milestone on life's journey at the pres- ent time. In the family were two sons and a daughter : George H., who is now living in Huntington, Indiana; Mary H., the wife of Richard H. Gibbs, a resident of Arkan- sas; and Luther I.

Dr. McLin of this review acquired his early education in the public schools of Kal- amazoo county and afterward attended the Kalamazoo College, while later he matricu- lated in the University of Michigan for the study of medicine. His professional train- ing was continued in the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated in

the class of 1873. Immediately afterward he came to St. Joseph, where he has prac- ticed continuously since, covering a period of almost a third of a century. In his work he has been faithful and reliable, has ever. been careful and painstaking in the diagno- sis of a case and seldom at error in direct- ing the outcome of disease. He has a thorough and intimate knowledge of the component parts of the human system and in his practice has shown that he is well qual- ified to solve the intricate problems which continually confront the physician.

Moreover Dr. McLin has been active and influential in community interests and has been identified with many of the improve- ments of St. Joseph. His co-operation can ever be counted upon for the public wel- fare and his service has been of a practical beneficial nature. In politics he is an ear- nest and stalwart Republican and has held various offices, the duties of which have been discharged with promptness and fidel- ity. He was mayor of St. Joseph for four terms, giving to the city a business-like, pro- gressive and public-spirited administration, characterized by reform, progress and im- provement in various departments. He has been a member of the board of public works from its organization until the present time, and served as a member of the board of education for thirteen years. The cause of education found in him a warm and help- ful friend and in all his public services he has been intensely practical, accomplishing results by methods which would ever bear investigation and scrutiny.

Dr. McLin has been twice married. In St. Joseph in 1874 he wedded Miss Ada Napier, a daughter of Nelson WV. Napier. She died in 1882 at the age of thirty-six years, leaving one son, Nelson N., who was born in St. Joseph and married Carrie Schairer, of Benton Harbor, a daughter of John Schairer. On the Ist of January, 1885, Dr. McLin was again married, his second union being with Jennie B. Whitton, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and there is one son by this marriage, J. Whitton, also born in St. Joseph. Dr. McLin belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Knights of the Mac- cabees. Few men are more widely known in

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this city and the surrounding district by reason of his professional services, his efforts in behalf of the public good and his strong personal traits of character. With a nature in which optimism rather than pessimism is the dominant quality he looks upon the bright side of life and his cheering presence is an element for good in the sickroom. He wins friends by a genial manner, deference for the opinions of others and kindly con- sideration and moreover he possesses strong and forceful purpose as has been evidenced by his capable work in his profession and his resultant efforts in behalf of public pro- gress.

MOSES A. PRICE, a cigar manufac- turer of Benton Harbor, was born in St. Thomas, Canada, in 1865, and when a year old was brought by his parents to Ovid, Michigan. His father, Lewis N. Price, was born in Canada and died at Cedar Springs, Michigan, in 1871, when thirty-four years of age. He was at that time engaged in JOHN BURKE is now living retired hotel keeping as proprietor of the Central . in Niles but in former years was identified Hotel. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Ostrander, died in 1900 at the age of forty-nine years.

Moses A. Price, their only surviving child, was reared in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended the district schools there and in Tuscola county, whither his mother removed 'after the father's death. In early life he be- gan work on the railroad and was employed on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad as brakeman. Later he became freight con- ductor, so continuing for seven years, when he determined to abandon the road and came to Benton Harbor. Here he engaged in the hotel business, leasing the Higbee Hotel, which he conducted for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his at- tention to the manufacture of cigars, which he has followed with fair success since. He manufactures a brand called Chansonette, which he makes in six sizes and shapes. He has been engaged in the cigar business for the past twelve years in Benton Harbor, hav- ing both Havana and domestic-made cigars and he is meeting with the desired result that always follows close application and unremitting energy.

Mr. Price was married in 1894 in Ben- ton Harbor to Miss Mae Sowers, a daughter of William H. Sowers of this city. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity and is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the craft. His membership is now with the Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M., at Benton Harbor, Calvin Brittain Chapter, R. A. M., at St. Joseph and Malta Commandery, No. 44, K. T. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity of this city, to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His interest in political questions has led him to give his support to the Republican party, for he believes that its platform contains the best elements of good government. While his life has in a measure been quietly and uneventfully passes he yet belongs to that class of citizens who uphold the political and intellectual status of the community and promote its material pros- perity in advancing his individual interests.

with agricultural pursuits and with mer- cantile interests. He has a deep and strong attachment for Michigan, the state of huis birth. He was born on the St. Joseph river about five miles above Berrien Springs in Berrien township in 1845. His father, An- drew L. Burke, was a native of Virginia, born in 1810, and when twelve years of age; he went with his parents from the Old Do -! minion to Ohio and in 1828 came to Michi -; gan, settling in Cass county, where the grandfather purchased land. Andrew L. Burke was at that time eighteen years of age. Soon afterward he purchased a tract of land from the government and in Oronoko township about 1831 or 1832. It was a raw tract, entirely wild and unimproved, but he at once began to clear it of timber and in the course of time the sunshine fell upon plowed; fields and ripened the grain, so that golden harvests were gathered. He continued to! follow farming until his death, his life's la- bors being ended when he was seventy-seven years of age. He had become prominent in local political circles and served as super- visor of his township and in many ways con- tributed to the welfare and upbuilding o

JOSEPH SKALLA

JOHN SKALLA

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

the township and county. Various offices of trust and responsibility were conferred upon him and he represented his district in the state Legislature in the session of 1844-45. His political views were in accord with Dem- ocratic principles. In early manhood he had married Margaret Rogers, who was born in Virginia and was a daughter of Alexan- der Rogers, one of the first settlers of Cass county, Michigan. She died upon the home farm in that county in 1856, when thirty- six years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, of whom five are living: Eliza, who resides upon the old homestead; John, of this review; Alex- ander R., who is living with his sister upon the old home farm; Rebecca, a resident of Niles township, the wife of Thomas E. De Mott; and Martha, the wife of Robert Fos- ter, a resident farmer of Niles township. After losing his first wife, the father was married to Margaret Thompson, a daughter of Samuel Thompson, who came from Scot- land and settled in Niles in what was known as the Indian reservation. There were four children of this marriage: Lillie, the wife of Thomas Gillespie, a resident of Berrien township; Andrew L., of Illinois; Samuel T., of Chicago ; and Rachel, who is also liv- ing in Illinois.

John Burke acquired his education in the district schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He then started out in life for himself and in 1860 was married to Miss Sarah A. Fitch, who was born in Berrien. township and is a daughter of Nathan Fitch. This union was blessed with seven children : Clara, now the wife of Dr. E. M. Redding, of Chicago, Illinois, by whom she has one son, Edgar B .; Ruth, who is a teacher in a kindergarten school in Chicago; Lewis Nathan, who married Ada Stevens, a daugh- ter of James Stevens, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and has one child, Virginia; Ed- gar, who married Olive Gregg and has a son, John G .; Frank M. is living in Iowa; Al- mira G., the wife of William A. Stevens, of Benton Harbor; and Martha G., who com- pletes the family.

Following his marriage Mr. Burke fol-

lowed farming in Berrien township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, devoting his attention to the tilling of the soil from 1867 until 1880. He then removed to Niles, where he engaged in the agricultural imple- ment business and later engaged in deep well construction, continuing in the latter business for several years or until his health failed, when he retired from active business life. He is active in politics and socially is connected with the Masonic lodge of Berrien Spring's. His entire life has been passed in this county and his many friends include a large number of those who have known him from his boyhood days to the present.

JOSEPH SKALLA. Among the busi- ness enterprises which have made Niles an industrial center of Michigan is the large manufacturing establishment, of which Mr. Skalla is one of the proprietors, the business being conducted under the name of the Skalla Furniture Company. Throughout the entire period of his manhood he has been connected with this concern. He is a na- tive son of Niles, born in 1856. His father, Joseph Skalla, was born in Prague, Austria, March 19, 1816, and died February 14, 1899, when almost eighty-three years of age. 'He was reared and educated in his native land and became an expert cabinet-maker there. Soon after his marriage he made ar- rangements to come to America and after crossing the Atlantic continued his journey -into the interior of the country, choosing "Niles as his first place of location. After a brief period, however, he removed to Wis- consin, where he followed his trade for a short time. He then returned to Niles, where he began working as a cabinet-maker in the employ of others but he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and embraced eagerly every opportunity that led to this restilt. He had resided in Niles for only a short time when he began the manufacture of furniture on a very small scale. In fact he would make a piece of furniture and then take it out and sell it. By his thrift and progressive spirit he grad- ually extended the scope of his labors until he had a good furniture manufacturing es- tablishment. As the years went by he pros-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

pered and he was widely known as a most industrious man and upright and honorable citizen. He was thoroughly reliable and straightforward in all his dealings, con- scientious in all his work and his labor was characterized by capability in the line of his chosen trade. From a humble beginning he worked his way upward and eventually conducted a cabinet-making business in a room which is part of the old homestead. There he engaged in the manufacture of bed- room sets and gradually built up his trade until it became an important manufacturing concern of the city conducted under the name of the Skalla Furniture Company. He knew no such word as fail and possessed a spirit of determination and enterprise that enabled him to overcome all difficulties and surmount all obstacles in his path. At his death he left his business to his sons, who are now conducting it upon the same reliable plan, conservative basis and enterprising methods that were instituted by their father.

Joseph Skalla, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in Niles, attending the public schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in his furniture manufacturing enter- prise. Upon the father's death he and his brothers John, Albert and Frank succeeded to the business which they have since con- ducted and they have enlarged the scope of their undertaking by adding a sawmill. They are now extensively engaged in the manufacture of furniture the business hav- ing been established forty years ago and it has since been continually increasing. Their plant is well equipped with modern machinery and facilities for carrying on the work and furnishes employment to a number of people. Because of the excellent quality and reasonable prices the output of the house finds a ready sale on the market and the business has constantly grown in volume, importance and profit. John Skalla died June 14, 1900, at forty years of age.

Joseph Skalla was married in Niles in 1888 to Miss Hattie Moore, who was born in this city. This union has been blessed with two sons and two daughters. Frank, Jennie, Walter and Josephine, all born in Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Skalla have many

friends in this city where they have spent their entire lives and the hospitality of many of its best homes is cordially extended them. Mr. Skalla is independent in his political views but duties of citizenship are matters faithfully performed by him and he is in- terested in the growth and progress of Niles and of Berrien county to the extent of giv- ing active co-operation to many measures for the general good. His attention, how- ever, is most closely concentrated upon his business affairs and it will be readily noticed that he is a man of push and progress.

ABIAL C. COPELAND, living in Three Oaks, dates his residence in Michigan from 1865 and in this town from 1868, save that for a brief period he was in the west. He has valuable property interests in and near the village and gives his personal sup- ervision to his farms. A native of New York, Mr. Copeland was born in Jefferson county on the 7th of May, 1838, and repre- sents one of the old New England families. His paternal grandfather, Abial Copeland, was a native of New England, and became a pioneer settler of New York, riding from his old home to the Empire state on horse- back. He participated in the war of 1812, taking part in the engagement at Sacketts Harbor. He was a shoemaker by trade and for many years followed that pursuit, but spent the last years of his life in the home of his son, Alonzo, in Jefferson county, New York. Alonzo Copeland was the father of our subject and was born in Jefferson coun- ty, where he resided for a long period. He wedded Chloa E. Martin, also a native of that county and in the year 1865 they bade adieu to their old home in the east and came to Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father, who was born in 1812, died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, while the mother died in 1889 at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were six children : Lovira, who became the wife of Alonzo Wright and died in Three Oaks about a year ago; Abial C .. of this review ; Sylvester M., of Three Oaks, who enlisted on the 22d of August, 1862, for service in Company E of the One Hun- dred and Tenth New York Volunteer In-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

fantry, but was discharged in 1863 on ac- count of physical disability; William, who is living in Providence, Rhode Island; Ben- jamin, who died in childhood; and Letha.

Abial C. Copeland was a very young child when his parents removed from Jeffer- son county to Oswego county, New York, and there he was reared upon a farm which lies about five miles from Fulton. His edu- cation was acquired in the public schools and he early became familiar with farm labor. Throughout the greater part of his life his attention has been given to general agricul- tural pursuits. In 1859 he sought a com- panion and helpmate for life's journey and was married to Miss Lucretia Barrett, who was born in Cortland county, New York. The wedding was celebrated in Oswego county, New York, at the home of her parents, William and Elizabeth Barrett. The young couple began their domestic life in the Empire state and there con- tinued to reside until 1865, when they made their way westward to Hillsdale coun- ty, Michigan, accompanied by the two chil- dren who had been born unto them in the east. Three years were passed in that county and in 1868 they came to Three Oaks, lo- cating on a farm a mile east of the village. The tract comprises seventy-six acres of land and to its development and improvement Mr. Copeland devoted his energies until 1877, when he went to Nebraska, where he spent five years upon a homestead claim there. He was induced to return here by his brother and parents and has since resided in the village, his home being upon a farm of sixty acres which adjoins the corporation limits of the town. He also owns a farm of thirty-five acres on the lake side of Chik- aming township. His land is rich and pro- ductive and returns to him good crops which, finding ready sale on the market, bring him a gratifying financial return.

Mr. Copeland was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife about 1872. There were four children born of that marriage: Ad- die A., the wife of Jared Lee, of Illinois ; Warren Burton, who is living in Providence, Rhode Island; Edith Montella, the wife of Willard Hudson ; and Nettie, deceased.

On the 16th of December, 1890, Mr.

Copeland was united in marriage to Mrs. Emeline Warner, the widow of Condan War- ner and a daughter of Kingsley Olds, who was one of the pioneer settlers of this part of Michigan. Mrs. Copeland was born in Niles, Michigan, April 17, 1841, and most of her life has been spent in Berrien county. She had four children by her first marriage : Ella, now living in Chicago; Lola; Mrs. Frances Mills, of Minnesota; and Bertha, who died at the age of three years.

Abial C. Copeland is a Republican in his political views but without aspiration for office. He served, however, as highway commissioner for three years and is inter- ested in all that pertains to public progress and improvement. Fraternally he is a Ma- son and he belongs to the Blue Lodge at Three Oaks. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own persis- tency of purpose and capable management. He has resided continuously in this county since 1868 with the exception of the brief period spent in Nebraska and is classed with the respected and intelligent farmers of his community. It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the family history of Mrs. Copeland. Her father, Kingsley Olds, was born in Berkshire coun- ty, Massachusetts, January 21, 1794, and was the fifth son of Daniel Olds. He lived in the place of his nativity until eighteen years of age, when he made his way to the western country, settling first in Geauga county, Ohio, where he resided until after the outbreak of the war of 1812. He was then drafted for service and was mustered into the army, but only remained for about twenty days, after which he returned to his old home in Massachusetts. Soon his father gave him eighty acres of land, which was then an unbroken wilderness, the tract being situated in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. With characteristic energy he began to clear and improve it and had placed ten or twelve acres under cultivation when he traded this land to an older brother for an interest in a mill property situated on Grand river, Ohio. His attention was given to the operation of the mill for about six years, when through some mismanagement in business the brothers had to give up the property to the

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

former owners. Mr. Olds then secured em- ployment in a distillery in Trumbull county, Ohio, and while living there was elected jus- tice of the peace for a term of four years. He was afterward re-elected to fill a vacancy and served for two years more. About this time he married Miss Phebe Ross, of Trum- bull county, Ohio, and after working in the distillery and acting as justice of the peace for six years he removed to his father-in- law's farm, which he operated on shares for three years. Soon after the expiration of that period his wife died and he broke up housekeeping, returning again to his father's farm, where he remained for about a year or two, doing such work as he could find. Later, however, he determined to make his way to Michigan and journeyed toward that state, ultimately reaching the present site of the city of Niles. There he began the manu- facture of brick-the first in the place. There was not even a brick chimney in the town at the time. In the manufacture of brick he met with success and accumulated consider- able property, judiciously placing his capital in real estate.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 112

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