A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 121

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

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Mr. Harner has been identified with the making of the county in which his entire life has been passed, and his co-operation may always be counted upon in matters re-

lating to the general welfare. He votes with the Democracy and has acted as township treasurer. He has also been called upon to. settle many estates and his business integrity and trustworthiness stand as unquestioned facts in his career. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen camp at. Berrien Springs.

RODNEY P. HOADLEY is a well known dairy farmer, shipping his products. to Michigan City, and his place is known as. the Blue Grass Dairy. It is pleasantly situ- ated on section 25, Chikaming township, and is now a well improved, well equipped farm property. Mr. Hoadley is a native of Berrien county, having been born in Niles, on the 25th of January, 1857. His parents were Jared and Anna Debby (Hoagland) Hoadley, both natives of New York. The father was born in Onondaga county, New York, whence he removed to Ohio, and in 1837 became a resident of Niles, where he was engaged in merchandising for many years, becoming a representative, influential and prominent business man there. He also became connected with the first bank there and likewise conducted a warehouse. He had engaged in business as a dealer in dry goods and hardware at Goshen and at Elk- hart, Indiana, and established one of the first general stores in Niles. In early life he had engaged in teaching school and in every com- munity where he lived he was recognized as. a man of marked enterprise and excellent business capacity. He was active in both politics and religion yet was a man firm in support of his honest convictions. He died in Niles, January 7, 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years, having for more than a third of a century survived his wife, who died in 1860, at the early age of twenty- five years, after which Mr. Hoadley married again. There were three children by the- first marriage: Rodney P .; Mrs. Anna Cooper, deceased; and Mrs. Kate Brandes, of Wisconsin. There were also three chil- dren born of the second marriage: Willard E., a resident of Niles; Mary H. ; and Clara L., also of Niles.

Rodney P. Hoadley, born and reared in Niles, resided there until twenty-four years.

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of age. Much of his youth was devoted to the acquirement of an education, and after completing a high school course he engaged in teaching for three years. In 1881 he came to his present farm and has since resided upon this place, comprising two hundred and twenty acres of land on section 25, Chik- aming township. It was covered with brush but the timber had been cut when it came into his possession. Mr. Hoadley has brought it under a high state of cultivation and has erected good buildings thereon. However, he lost his barn by fire in 1905, his loss amounting to three thousand dollars. He continues his place as a dairy farm, keep- ing forty cows for this purpose and making shipments to Michigan City. The products of the Blue Grass Dairy Farm find a ready sale on the market and the business is now large and profitable.

In 1884 Mr. Hoadley was married to Miss Nellie M. Wright, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 17, 1864, and came to Michigan with her par- ents, Elmer H. and Mary Eliza (Barrett) Wright. Three children have been born of this union : Rodney W., born July 22, 1888; Fred F., September 19, 1892; and Mabel, July 25, 1896.

Mr. Hoadley does not consider himself bound by party ties when giving his support to any political measure. He has served as supervisor of his township for two years, as collector for three years, as justice of the peace for eight years and as treasurer for a number of years and as a member of the board of review, thus serving in all the town- ship offices save that of constable, the duties of the various positions having been dis- charged with promptness and fidelity. He holds membership with the Modern Wood- men camp at Three Oaks and is a man who in all life's relations commands and receives the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated, for he is worthy of public trust whether in the trans- action of business or in social life.

GEORGE F. STEWART, a veteran of the Civil war who in days of peace has been equally loyal to his country and her wel- fare, and who is now devoting his time and

energies to agricultural and horticultural pursuits in Bainbridge township, was born at Paw Paw, Michigan, April 27, 1843, his parents being Archibald and Eliza Ann (Tanner) Stewart. The father was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, the mother in Leroy, New York. They were married in the Empire State, October 20, 1836, and in 1838 came to Michigan, in which year the territory was admitted to the Union. They settled at Paw Paw, Van Buren coun- ty, where Mr. Stewart worked at the black- smith's trade and did work in that line on the grist mills at the time of their building. He continued his residence in Paw Paw until 1859, carrying on the smithy, and in com- pany with a brother-in-law, Mr. Mason, he built a foundry and engaged in the manu- facture of plows, which he sold all over southwestern Michigan in Van Buren and Berrien counties. He was thus associated with the early industrial development of this part of the state. In 1859 in company with others he went to Watervliet to assist in rebuilding the flouring mills of that place, doing the blacksmith and iron work in the plant. He afterward conducted a black- smith shop for about two years at Water- vliet, and in the fall of 1861 or 1862 re- moved to Coloma, where he conducted a smithy until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1888. He was a worthy representa- tive of industrial life of the community and was a respected citizen whose integrity and honor in all life's relations made him worthy the warm regard which was uniformly ten- dered him. Mrs. Stewart died July 28, 1894, at Coloma, in the seventy-ninth year of her age. Of their family of eight children only three are now living: Eliza, the wife of E. R. Havens, of Lansing. Michigan : Lucia D., the wife of Charles Merrifield. of Bloom- ingdale, Michigan; and George F., of this review. One son, William E. Stewart, was editor of the South Haven ( Michigan) Sen- tinel for many years, or until the time of his death. He was employed for several years in Berrien county as a typo in Niles and St. Joseph, and in the former place he enlisted at the call of his country, becoming a mem- ber of Company E. Twelfth Michigan In- fantry, as a private but was promoted to

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first lieutenant and afterward adjutant of the regiment. He was also captain in Com- pany D and as such was mustered out of service. He was married at Niles to Miss Emma Clark, and soon afterward became editor of the Sentinel at South Haven, con- tinuing in charge of that paper until his death. He passed away suddenly, while sit- ting at the supper table on the evening of July 1. 1899. He was a Republican in poli- tics and wielded a wide influence in the local ranks of his party both through personal effort and through the columns of his paper. He was also prominent in the Odd Fellows and Masonic societies and he left the impress of his individuality upon the different inter- ests with which he was connected. Archi- bald Stewart, another brother of the family, was also a printer and for a long time was associated with Major Duncan at Niles. He afterward became connected with the Chi- cago Tribune and was proofreader for sev- eral years for the Henneberry Publishing house. His death occurred in Colomo, Mich- igan. November 19, 1904.

George F. Stewart, whose name intro- duces this review, spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in his parents' home and in the public schools obtained his education. He was a young man of about nineteen years, when, in 1862, he offered his services to the government and followed the stars and stripes to the south. As a member of Com- pany I, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, which he joined at St. Joseph, he was mustered in as corporal in Captain Lysaght's Company and was promoted to sergeant, first sergeant and first lieutenant successively. He took command of Company F, which was formed of Kalamazoo men during the latter part of the service and had command of his old com- pany as sergeant. He had taken command of this company at Goldsboro. North Carolina, and was the commanding officer in Washing- ton in the grand review. He was largely en- gaged in active duty with the Army of the Cumberland under General Rosecrans and he was with his old command in all of the actions of the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. In March. 1863. he was taken prisoner at Springhill, Tennessee, where the entire brigade under Colonel

Coburn of Indiana was captured but was paroled on the field although they were sent to Libby prison and afterward to City Point. being held for twenty-six days. Lieutenant Stewart was really entitled to a captain's commission but was mustered out as lieu- tenant in charge of the company. He was constantly in active service for nearly three years during the hardest part of the war and was always with his command in the thickest of the fight. He never ordered his. men where he would not lead them and in fact he inspired them to deeds of valor by his own courage and bravery.

Lieutenant Stewart prior to the war had gone to Watervliet with his parents and afterward had made his way to Bainbridge to work for Hon. Newton R. Woodruff. It was while there that he enlisted for the army and when the war ended he returned to his uncle's place in Bainbridge township.

On the Ioth of April, 1866. Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Henriett L. Byers, of Bainbridge township, and they now live upon the old Byers farm, where they have resided continuously since their marriage. Mr. Stewart being one of the en- terprising agriculturists of this part of the- county. Since the war his attention has been largely given to the cultivation and improve- ment of the land and in its control he dis- plays excellent business ability.

Mrs. Stewart is a daughter of one of the old families of Berrien county. Her father, Martin Byers, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was married near Buffalo. New York. to Phebe Hauser. In 1849 they came to Michigan. taking up their abode on the 16th of June of that year on the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Stewart now reside. The present house was then standing and is one of the old landmarks of Bainbridge township. £ Mr. Byers already had two- brothers in Michigan, David Byers, who re- sided in Bainbridge township, and Tobias, of Keeler township, Van Buren county. They had come about five years before. Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Amelia Matrau, how- ever, are now the only living representatives of the family in Berrien county. Martin Byers and his wife spent their lives on the old homestead farm, where his death oc-

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curred December 8, 1895, when he was nine- ty-three years of age, while his wife passed away November 4. 1896, at the age of eighty- one years. They had but one child although there were other children by Mr. Byers' former marriage. His life was devoted to the development of his farming interests and he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty acres was in the homestead property. When it came into his possession there were no im- provements upon it save a dilapidated house. Mrs. Stewart was in her fifth year at the time of her parents' removal to this farm, so that her life has practically been passed thereon.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born five children: Stella, now the widow of Fred Weber, of Bainbridge township: A. M. Stewart, who resides upon an adjoining farm; Grace, the wife of Albert Weber, of Bainbridge township; Marvin, who is con- nected with the stave mill at Dowagiac; and Charles E., living at Riverside, California.

Mr. Stewart was township clerk for two terms and in 1885 was elected supervisor. He was then re-elected at twelve consecutive elections and filled the office until 1898. He served at different times as chairman of the board and was acting in that capacity at the time of the removal of the county seat from Berrien Springs to St. Joseph. He has also been active and influential in party conven- tions and has been a member of the county committee. He was also postmaster at Bain- bridge, and in his official work has put forth effective effort for the party and its success. In his fraternal relations he is an Odd Fel- low, who has passed through all of the chairs of the local lodge and been representative to the grand lodge, representing at different times the Keeler. Cobert and Bainbridge lodges. He was a charter member of the last two and his wife is a member of the Rebekahs and the Lady Maccabees. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stewart represent old families of southwestern Michigan and are prominent in the community where they reside, being numbered among those whose genuine worth of character entitle them to mention with the leading citizens of Berrien county. Mr. Stewart is a member of the G. A. R . Gar-

field post at Coloma, also a member of the Grange of which he has served as master.

EMERY FRANKLIN FERRY, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now living on section 15. Wesaw township, is num- bered among the prominent and representa- tive citizens of this part of the state. He was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1833. His grandfather. Ebenezer Ferry, was a native of Vermont and died in Pennsylvania when about eighty-seven years of age. He served through the war of 1812 and sustained injuries from which he suf- fered throughout his entire life. His son. Chiarles Ferry, was a native of Vermont and when twelve years of age removed to Penn- sylvania with his parents. He came to Michigan about two years prior to the ar- rival of his son Emery and spent the re- mainder of his days in Oronoko and Wesaw townships. He purchased land in the latter in 1866 and his death occurred at the home of his son Emery in this township when he was eighty-four years of age. His entire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Phoebe Slate, a native of Cortland county, New York, who died in Michigan at the age of sixty-three years. Her father was Thomas Slate, also a soldier of the war of 1812 and a resident of Penn- sylvania, where his death occurred. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ferry were six children : Emery F., of this review ; Mrs. Amanda Madison and Mrs. Maria Cochran, both deceased ; Chester, of Oceana county, Michigan ; Chauncey, who is living in New Troy, this county ; and Mrs. Jane Sid- ley, of Oceana county.

Emery Franklin Ferry, spending his boy- hood days in the state of his nativity, ac- quired his education in the public schools and remained a resident of Pennsylvania until the fall of 1856, when he came to Berrien county, settling in Oro- noko township. He had resided with his parents upon the home farm in the Keystone State until twenty-one years of age, when he was married. He brought his wife with him to Michigan and rented land in Oronoko township, whereon he lived for three years. his time being given to the

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

improvement of the farm. On account of his wife's illness he then returned to Penn- sylvania, where she died after six months. After an absence of a year Mr. Ferry again came to Berrien county and took up his abode upon a rented farm in Oronoko town- ship, where he lived for three years. He then purchased land which he operated until he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company K, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1863. The company was commanded by Captain McKinney and the first engagement in which Mr. Ferry participated was at Tibbs Bend, Kentucky, where a thousand Union troops were attacked by five thousand rebels. It was the hardest fight in which he partici- pated throughout the entire war. He fol- lowed Morgan through Indiana and after- ward returned to Lebanon, Kentucky, where for a time he was in camp. The divisions there organized and went south to Knox- ville, Tennessee, participating in an engage- ment on Mossy Creek. Subsequently they proceeded to Chattanooga and later partici- pated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign and went with Sherman on the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. With his command Mr. Ferry returned to Nashville, Tennessee, and almost the last engagement in which he participated was with Hood at Nashville. At Chattanooga he became ill with measles, which effected his eyes and his left lung. He was sent to the field hospital and did duty for four months afterward, but his eyesight kept failing and he was dis- charged at Madison, Indiana, in December, 1864. He returned home and about ten years later became totally blind. He was never able to do much work after his return, his eyes paining him very much as the sight was being gradually destroyed. He con- sulted many physicians and took treatment until he had to sell his farm in order to pay his physicians' bills. He came to Wesaw township in 1866 and has resided continu- ously since upon his present farm, which comprises one hundred acres on section 15. For years this tract of land has been oper- ated for general farming purposes and Mr. Ferry had the entire place cleared and put

under cultivation and the farm work has been carried on under his supervision with the result that it has brought him a good financial return, so that he has been enabled to enjoy the comforts of life. For a long time the government granted him a pension of only six dollars per month but he is now drawing a pension of one hundred dollars per month and this is certainly well deserved because of the fact that he made so great a sacrifice for his country.

Mr. Ferry was first married in 1855 to Miss Samantha Longwell, a native of Penn- sylvania, who died after a short but happy married life of four years. Their only child passed away in infancy. Mr. Ferry was again married in Pennsylvania to Miss Clara Jack- son and they had one son, Eugene, who died, leaving a widow and two children. For his third wife Mr. Ferry chose Martha Hazen and they had four children: Clara and Ida, both deceased; and two who died in infancy. For his fourth wife Mr. Ferry chose Martha Thaxton, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, who came to this county in early life. There were several children born of the last marriage, seven of whom are now living: John, a resident of Oronoko town- ship: May, the wife of William Flowers, of Carlisle Hill, Indiana ; Alfred, of this town- ship: Mrs. Maud Philippi, who died leaving a son, Ralph, who is living with his grand- father : Charles, who died of typhoid fever at the age of sixteen years; George, who remains at home and operates the farm; Nora, the wife of Charles Courteville, who rents a farm of her father in Wesaw town- ship; Mina, who died of typhoid fever at the same time her brother Charles passed away: Peter, Olive and Clyde, all at home; Clara, deceased : Etta; and Gertrude, who died at the age of three years.

Mr. Ferry has been a life long Repub- lican and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has never sought or desired office, preferring to give undivided attention to the supervision of his business affairs. He is a member of the Saints Church at Galien and belongs to the Grand Army Post there, of which he is a charter member. He is a man of fine physique,

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standing six feet and one inch, and his many good qualities have gained him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he is as- sociated.

MATHIAS RIST, whose home is on section 6, Three Oaks township, where he owns and operates a' valuable tract of land, dates his residence in this county from 1853 and is therefore numbered among its pioneer settlers. He was born in Bavaria, Ger- many. November 6, 1833, and is a son of John Baptist and Josephine (Lutter) Rist, who always remained residents of Bavaria, their native country. They had a family of three sons: Joseph, who came to the United States in 1865, is now living in Galien town- ship; Mathias, of this review, and Edward, who is living at the old home in Bavaria.

Between the ages of six and fourteen years Mathias Rist attended school and then herded cattle in the mountains until he came to the United States. He made his way alone to this country, attracted by its greater business oportunities and advantages and on the 6th of August, 1852, landed at New York from the sailing ship, Herman, which had weighed anchor at Bremen seven weeks before. He then proceeded westward to Detroit and went to work on the construc- tion of the railroad, which was being built out of Windsor. He worked on the railroad and chopped wood for a time, and in 1853 he came to Three Oaks, where he has since re- sided. His first purchase of land made him owner of thirty acres of his present farm, which now comprises two hundred and two and a half acres on section 3, Three Oaks township. He also has ninety acres on sec- tion 5 and one hundred and twelve and a half acres on section 5. He has cleared the most of this and has put all the buildings upon the property, making modern improve- ments in keeping with the present ideas of agricultural progress and development. The home farm lies just outside the corporation limits of Three Oaks. He first lived here in a log cabin in the woods and there was no town upon the present site of the now pros- perous village. He has devoted fifty-three years to the development of the home place and the farm in its splendid appearance in-

dicates his careful supervision, his practical methods and his unfaltering diligence.

Mr. Rist was married in 1859, to Miss Theresa Friedel, who was born in Bavaria, February 19, 1843, and came to Berrien county in 1853 with her mother to join the father, who had previously arrived. She is a daughter of Joseph and Cunigunda (Fur- tembech ) Friedel, both of whom passed away in this county. Ten children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Rist, of whom two died in infancy. The others are: John, a resi- dent of Michigan City; Joseph, of Three Oaks; Josephine, the wife of William Hed- rick, of Michigan City; Mary, at home; Frank, who operates the home farm ; Henry, who is a member of the firm of Rist Brothers, of Three Oaks; Mathias, a partner of Henry ; and Edward, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rist have also reared a niece, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Orin C. Keilson, of Niles.

Mr. Rist in 1905 made a trip back to his old home to visit his youngest brother and spent many happy hours in renewing the ac- quaintance of his youth and visiting the scenes amid which his childhood days were passed. In politics he is a Democrat and he belongs to the Catholic Church. No na- tive-born son of America is more loyal to the interests of this country than Mr. Rist, who has ever manifested strong allegiance to the stars and stripes, for under the banner of this country he has prospered and is now in possession of an excellent farm, whereon he has made his home for fifty-three years.

CHAUNCEY SMITH, who is located on section 19, Wesaw township, has de- voted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and although he has now passed the age of four score years he still gives personal supervision to his place. He was born in Oswego county, New York. March 21, 1824. his parents being David and Martha (Cable) Smith, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. In their family were seven children, of whom Chauncey Smith was the youngest and the only one now liv- ing. His boyhood and youth were unevent- fully passed and when about twenty years of age he went to Steuben county, New York, settling near Dansville. He lived in

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that vicinity until 1855, when he came direct to this township, settling upon his present farm in 1859. In 1892, however, he sold the place and removed to Allegany county, New York, but after nine years he returned to Berrien county, Michigan, and again pur- chased the old homestead. His entire life has been devoted to general farming and he now has forty acres of well improved land on section 19, Wesaw township. He has led a busy, useful and active life and what- ever he has undertaken he has accomplished owing to his perseverance and industry. At all times, too, he has been thoroughly reli- able in his business affairs, so that he has commanded the trust of his fellowmen.

In 1848 Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage to Miss Abigail Carroll, who was born in Allegany county, New York, October 17, 1830, a daughter of Richard and Dorcas ( Hoskins) Carroll, natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. This marriage has been blessed with the following named : Jay Willet, who is living in Hornell, New York, and travels for a publishing house. Ambrose Everett, a physician, who is prac- ticing in Olean, New York, where he is mak- ing a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat ; J. Hoskins of Chicago, who for eighteen years has been a teacher in the Eugene Fields school of that city; Amy, the wife of John A. Thursby, a travel- ing man residing in Madison, Wisconsin; and Wilbur R. C., of Atlanta, Georgia, who is at the head of the Trades Journal, in which all of the brothers are interested. All of the members of this family have been teachers and were reared here upon the home farm. The Doctor, J. H. and W. R. C. Smith, were all students in the State Agri- cultural College, the first two being gradu- ates of that institution, while the last men- tioned spent two years as a student there. Dr. Smith is also a graduate of Rush Medi- cal College and spent two years in special work in the line of his profession in New York city. The mother was also a success- ful school teacher in early life and was de- termined that her children should be pro- vided with excellent educational privileges. This plan was carried out and by liberal men-

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 121

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