A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 127

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

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of an active and useful career. He left a good property to his family, his wife and daughter now owning three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. There were six children in the family but two of the number died in infacy, and Maria, Lewis and Rosa are also deceased. The only sur- viving member of this family is Martha, who gives personal supervision to the inter- ests of the farm and is caring for her mother. The name of Garr has long been an hon- ored one in Oronoko township and no his- tory of this county would be complete with- out mention of Abel Garr, who was a promi- nent factor in public affairs during his life time, and of his wife, who is still an es- teemed resident of Oronoko township.

WILLIAM D. BREMER, who for a period of nine years has conducted an im- portant lumber business in Three Oaks, and is also the owner of a valuable farm property of one hundred and thirty-two acres, largely devoted to fruit, in Chikaming township. is a native of Hanover, Germany, born on the 23d of February, 1856. He is a son of Frederick and Katharine (Frees) Bremer, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. The father died when his son William was a little lad of only six years and the mother passed away in Wisconsin, when more than seventy-six years of age. In the family were thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters.

William D. Bremer spent the first seven years of his life in the fatherland, after which he came with his widowed mother to the United States, the family home being es- tablished in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He there resided until twelve years of age, when he made his way to the northern part of the state and although but a boy began earning his own living, working in the saw and shingle mills of the locality until he reached the age of fourteen years. He then began learning the butcher's trade at Green Bay, Wisconsin, following that pursuit until nine years ago. He went from Wisconsin to Chi- cago, Illinois, where he secured employment in a meat market and about twenty-seven years ago he removed to Three Oaks. In the period of his residence here he conducted

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three different meat markets, built up a good trade in each and also conducted a prosper- ous live stock business. He operated quite extensively in those lines and enjoyed a good patronage in the different stores of which he was the proprietor. He also made judicious purchases and profitable sales as a live stock dealer and nine years ago he established his present extensive lumber yards, which he is now conducting, having in this line secured a business that is very desirable. He like- wise owns a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres planted mostly to fruit, and his crops add materially to his annual income. In all of his business affairs he has shown adaptability, determination and un- flagging perseverance, and these qualities constitute a safe and sure basis upon which to build the superstructure of success.

In 1877, while in Chicago, Mr. Bremer was married to Miss Bertha Wischmann, who was born in Stattene, Germany, a lit- tle village near the city of Berlin, Germany, in the year 1855, and came to America with her parents when only about two years of age. She is a daughter of William and Bertha Wischmann. Four children have graced this marriage: Clara, now the wife of George Schobach, a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan; Otto, who is in partnership with his father ; Minnie and Bertha, both at home.

Mr. Bremer has been a Democrat since Cleveland's second term, and has served as a member of the village council. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church, to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen camp, and is recognized as a citizen whose co-operation can always be counted upon to further progressive public movements relating to the material, political, social or moral progress of the com- munity. He has been dependent upon his own resources from an early age. He started out with no special family or pecuniary ad- vantages to assist him and may well be called a self-made man, for his advancement is at- tributable entirely to his own labors and de- termination. He stands as one whose life record is creditable by reason of what he has accomplished and also by reason of the methods that he has followed, and he belongs to that class of citizens who, while advanc-

ing individual success also contribute to the general welfare.

JOHN J. NOTHDURFT, of Bain- bridge township, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, on the 24th of March, 1867, and spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native country, after which he came to the United States with an uncle and located in Niles, Michigan. The journey was made from Bremen to Glasgow on a small steamer and at the latter port they became passengers on the Anconia for New York. For ten years after his arrival in Berrien county Mr. Nothdurft was employed at farm labor, two years being spent in the service of Tobias Byers, of Keeler township, Van Buren county. He worked much of the time by the year, receiving two hundred dollars per year. He saved his earnings and thus in ten years had gained a nice start.

Mr. Nothdurft further completed his ar- rangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on the Ist of February, 1893, to Miss Henrietta Hildenbrant, a daughter of John and Mary Hildenbrant, of Niles township, her father being a prominent farmer of that locality. She was born and reared in that township about three miles southwest of the city of Niles. In June, 1893, Mr. Nothdurft purchased his present farm, which is the old Adam Miller place of eighty acres. It was to be sold at the ad- ministrator's sale and he made the purchase for twenty-one hundred dollars. This place is situated in Bainbridge township on the county line twelve miles east of Benton Har- bor and near the territorial road. It was patented by Martin Van Buren, then presi- dent of the United States, to Adam Miller, in 1839, and remained in the Miller family until purchased by its present owner, who now has in his possession the old patent signed by Martin Van Buren. It was one of the earliest developed farms of Berrien county and its original owner was one of the leading, influential men of this part of the state. Of his family one daughter, Della, survives and lives in Benton Harbor. The buildings were erected by Mr. Miller but have been improved and remodeled by Mr. Nothdurft. He has also brought the land

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under a high state of cultivation and now has fifteen acres in fruit, about half of which is planted to berries. He has increased his acreage in this regard for he has found the growing of berries to be a profitable indus- try. He is a practical farmer, having been familiar with the business from early boy- hood and his broad knowledge and unfal- tering energy are strong concomitants in his present success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nothdurft have been born five children, Lucile, Ellen, George, John and Raymond. In politics Mr. Noth- durft is independent, voting for the candi- date rather than for party. He is never neglectful of his duties of citizenship, how- ever, and gives active support to many meas- ures for the public good. The place upon which he lives is one of the old landmarks of the county and in its further development and improvement Mr. Nothdurft is display- ing the qualities of an enterprising agricul- turist.

Mr. Nothdurft has taken a lively interest in good roads and has on his place a fine gravel pit and has himself personally made a good gravel road of over a mile on the ter- ritorial road.

CHARLES D. SHIPPY belongs to one of the old and well known pioneer families of Berrien county and now follows farming in Bainbridge township. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, April 8, 1835. His father, William Shippy, died in the Em- pire State during the boyhood days of his son Charles, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Ingraham, after los- ing her first husband, was married to George Collis. By the former marriage she had eight children, and by the second union there were born three sons and two daughters. She always kept with her the children of her first marriage until they were old enough to care for themselves, and of this number six are yet living but only two are now resi- dents of Michigan, Charles and his sister, Mary Ann, who is the wife of John Suther- land, deceased, of Pipestone township, and the mother of Aubrey Sutherland, who was drowned in Lake Michigan, July 4, 1906. All of the surviving members of the Collis

marriage have left this state. On coming to Berrien county George Collis and his wife located at Spink's Corners, where Os- car Westcott now resides, and there Mr. Collis cleared up and improved the farm whereon he lived until the death of his wife in 1875, when she was sixty-three years of age. Mr. Collis subsequently went to Cali- fornia, where he died at the advanced age of more than eighty years.

Charles D. Shippy was a youth of only eight years when he came to Berrien county with his mother, remaining with her until he reached the age of eighteen. He was there- fore reared among pioneer environments and shared with the family in the hardships and trials incident to life on the frontier. Leav- ing home he worked by the month as a farm hand until his marriage. It was on the Ist of March, 1861, that he wedded Miss Lucy Barnes, a daughter of Charles and Amanda (Sutherland) Barnes, the latter a sister of John Sutherland. They were married in Broome county, New York, and came to Michigan in 1836, although two years be- fore Mr. Barnes had come to this state and built a sawmill at Breedsville, where he re- mained in the operation of the mill for one year. On again coming to Michigan he was employed at Kalamazoo, and afterward went to Cottage Hill, Illinois, where he re- mained for three years, while in 1882 he se- cured the tract of land in Bainbridge town- ship, Berrien county, which became his home, and which is now the home farm of Charles Shippy. He resided upon his farm but devoted his time to preaching the gospel, being a Methodist circuit rider, his duties in this connection taking him away from home to a large extent. He preached in Berrien and adjoining counties and did much for the early moral development of this part of the state. He made trips on horseback from one circuit to another and organized many classes and held many tent meetings. He preached the gospel in many localities and sowed the seeds of truth and virtue, which in the course of years have borne good fruit. At the out- break of the Civil war he enlisted as chap- lain in the Twelfth Michigan Regiment and was shot during the first day's battle at Shiloh, dying from the effects of his wounds.

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His remains were brought home in a metallic coffin and interred in Pen Yan cemetery. He was at that time fifty-one years of age. His widow was left with five daughters, for whom she made a good home, carefully rear- ing her children and doing for them to the extent of her ability and means. In early life she was engaged in teaching for two terms, holding one term of school in her own home in Illinois. She carefully trained her children in the lines of housework, in in- tellectual and in moral development and she was entertained in highest regard by her neighbors. She died August 27, 1875, at the age of sixty-three years. Her children were as follows: Mary, the wife of Charles Bishop, living in Pipestone township; Mrs. Lucy Shippy, who engaged in teaching for four years in Berrien and Van Buren coun- ties; Lazetta, the wife of John Collis, a half brother of George Collis, who with another brother, Melvin, and two half-brothers, George and Minot Shippy, were all engaged in active service in the Civil war; Lazetta is now the wife of Elbridge Dix, of Spink's Corners ; Rachel, the wife of George Shippy, a brother of Charles Shippy, living in Cali- fornia ; and Jeanetta, who became the wife of John Bradt and after his death married Clark Van Etten. She died at the age of twenty-five years.

Following his marriage Mr. Shippy be- gan to purchase parts of the old Barnes farm and he and his wife now own the en- tire tract. The present house was built when Mrs. Shippy was a child and with the exception of ten years she has always lived in this home. Mr. Shippy has added to the property until the farm now comprises one hundred and twenty acres, which is devoted to the raising of grain, fruit and stock and in all branches of his business he displays careful management and keen sagacity, re- sulting in prosperity. For seven years Mr. and Mrs. Shippy were in California engaged in the dairy business and he has made three trips to that state. With the exception of this period, however, his business connections have always been in Berrien county, where he is now well known as a representative agriculturist.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shippy have been

born six children: Ada, the wife of Oscar Westcott, who is living on the Collis farm near Spink's Corners; William B., of Bain- bridge township; Nettie, the wife of Nathan- iel Hicks, of Santa Cruz, California ; Maude, the wife of Edwin Mocker, of San Fran- cisco; Ross, who is operating the home farm; and Goldie, the wife of Frank Slankey, of Bainbridge township. There are now nine grandchildren.

Mr. Shippy as a pioneer resident of the county well deserves mention in that his- tory. In early days he spent considerable time in hunting deer, which were still num- erous in the forests. There were many other evidences of frontier life to be found in the homes, and Mr. Shippy's memory forms a connecting link between the primi- tive past and the progressive present.

JOHN BURG of Bainbridge township, whose place of eighty acres is devoted to general farming, was born in Stark county, Ohio, near Canton, on the 24th of Novem- ber, 1840. He is a son of Lewis and Re- becca Ann (Sumrill) Burg. The father, a native of Germany, was brought to Ohio by his parents in his boyhood days and in that state was married, his wife, however, being a native of Virginia, whence she, too, had gone to Ohio with her parents. During the infancy of their son John they removed to Spencer county, Indiana, where they lived for ten years and then became residents of Kosciusko county, that state. For another decade their home bordered the Tippecanoe river at the village of Etna Green. In his boyhood days John Burg drove a team on the grading of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad. In 1862 his father came to Mich- igan, settling in Bainbridge township. Ber- rien county, where his sons, Henry and Wil- liam, are now living. There he and his wife spent their remaining days. His birth had occurred July 5, 1812, and he passed away in 1874, at the age of sixty-two years, Mrs. Burg surviving him for about two years.

All through the period of his minority John Burg remained at home, and at the age of twenty-one years came to Michigan, hav- ing first lived here. To provide for his own support he worked by the month as a farm

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hand and as soon as possible he purchased forty acres of hemlock land, for which he paid four hundred and fifty dollars, making the payments by peeling hemlock bark. With characteristic energy he began to clear, cul- tivate and improve his original tract, and in 1868 he removed to his present farm. He is now the owner of eighty acres, the greater part of which he has cleared of the timber. He has about three acres of apples and three acres of peaches and has grown strawberries in former years but his attention is now given largely to general farming and bee culture, having now seventy-three stands. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and has devoted his attention to farm work during the greater part of his business career although he is a cooper by trade and has fol- lowed that pursuit to some extent. He erected his present residence about twenty- two years ago and it is situated about twelve miles southeast of Benton Harbor. His land is well located and borders Pipestone lake. The farm altogether is a valuable property, indicating in its neat and thrifty appearance the careful supervision of a progressive owner.

Mr. Burg was married near South Ha- ven, in Allegan county, Michigan, on the 12th of March. 1865, to Miss Juliette Had- ley, who was born in New Hampshire and came to this state in her girlhood days. The family lived for a time in Iowa but her father, Seth Hadley, spent his last days in Berrien county with his daughter, Mrs. Burg. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children. Alice became the wife of Horace Wise and died a few years ago but her husband is still living in Bain- bridge township. William E. Burg, the only son, follows farming near his father's place, and also operates a sawmill.

In his political views John Burg is a Democrat and has been active in township affairs. His wife is a member of the Free Methodist Church. He enjoys hunting and fishing and always keeps a good rifle. The country was full of deer when he settled here and he thus had ample opportunity to in- dulge his love of outdoor sports. He has seen hard times but has persevered in his work and made the most of his opportunities

so that as the years have gone by he has eventually prospered and is now the owner of one of the good farms of his community.

.....

CHARLES KLUTH, whose excellent farm is situated on section 10, Three Oaks township, was born in Mechlenberg. Ger- many, December 25, 1841, a son of Peter and Lana (Long) Kluth. The mother died in her native country and the father after- ward coming to America spent his last days in the home of his son Charles. In their family were six children, four of whom came to the United States: Fred, a resident of Three Oaks township; Charles, of this re- view; Sophia, who is living in Chicago; and Peter, who makes his home in Three Oaks township.

Charles Kluth acquired his education in the public schools of his native country, which he attended until fourteen years of age and then began working as a laborer on a farm, this pursuit claiming his attention until he was twenty-six years of age. He came to the United States with his wife and one child in 1867, making the voyage on a sailing vessel, which was seven weeks and four days in crossing the Atlantic. At length anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York and Mr. Kluth made his way direct to Three Oaks, Michigan. Here he has re- sided continuously since. He began chop- ping wood for other people and spent two years in that way, after which he operated rented land for nine years. After three years spent upon a rented farm he bought forty acres of land, subsequently adding a tract of twenty acres and eventually pur- chasing forty acres more, so that he now has one hundred acres, of which sixty acres is situated on section 10, Three Oaks town- ship, while forty acres is on section 15 of the same township. He has placed seventy acres under the plow himself and the fields present an excellent appearance, giving promise of golden harvests in the autumn. He has erected all of the buildings and made all of the improvements upon the property and everything about the place is in excellent con- dition, showing his careful supervision and practical, progressive methods. He has never been dilatory or negligent in his busi-

Peter Somer and Grand Daughter Irene.

Sarah women

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ness career and he owes his success entirely to his own labors, having justly won the honored American title of a "self-made man."

Mr. Kluth was married in 1865, to Miss Wilhelmina Witt, who was born in Mechlen- berg, Germany, on the 25th of November, 1843. Eight children grace this marriage : Lena, now the wife of Theodore Dryer, of Three Oaks; Mary, the wife of John P. Rist, of Michigan City; Fred, Robert, Charles, John, William and Henry, all of whom are married and are living in Three Oaks.

Mr. Kluth votes with the Republican party, having given his support to its men and measures since he became a naturalized American citizen. He is ever loyal to the stars and stripes and unfaltering in his alle- giance to America and her free institutions. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church and is a man of upright principles, who in the years of his residence in Three Oaks township, covering a period of more than a third of a century, has won the highest esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of fourteen years, he has progressed in the face of obstacles and difficulties which he has overcome by determination.

PETER WOMER. Many years have passed since Peter Womer became a resi- dent of Berrien county, so that he is today numbered among the old settlers, and his memory compasses a period of rapid growth and development here, for in the early days of its settlement there was much wild and uncultivated land with comparatively few improvements along agricultural lines, while the work of improvement in the towns and cities had scarcely been begun. His home is on section 7, Bertrand township, where he superintends excellent farming interests, his place comprising one hundred and nine- ty-seven acres of rich land.

His life record began in what is now Union county but was then Snyder county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of February, 1838, his parents being Michael and Eliza- beth Womer, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, and in their family were nine chil-

dren, the circle remaining unbroken by the hand of death until all had reached adult age.

Peter Womer of this review is the eldest of the family and was reared and educated in his native place, supplementing his pub- lic school advantages by study in Freeburg Academy. The hours of his youth when not spent in the schoolroom were largely occu- pied by farm labor and he remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when, think- ing to find other pursuits more congenial than farming he took up the carpenter's trade. Having learned this business he worked in Ohio and in Pennsylvania, and in 1866 he came to Michigan. During a part of the first year after his arrival in this part of the country he followed his trade in Elkhart, Indiana, and then coming to Bertrand township he resumed the occupa- tion to which he had been reared, purchas- ing a farm in this county. He has since carried on general agricultural pursuits, his energy and enterprise bringing him a good return. Mr. Womer was married first to Miss Sarah Rough, a daughter of David and Anna Rough, who were prominent and representative citizens of Buchanan. They traveled life's journey happily together for a number of years, and Mrs. Womer was then called to her final rest in 1893, leaving one son, William Allen, who is living with his father.

The following account of her life and death was published in the Daily Star.

"Mrs. Sarah Womer, wife of Peter Womer, who died at her home on Portage Prairie on Wednesday last ( November 29, 1893), was born in Buffalo township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1841, and emigrated with her parents, David and Anna Rough, to Bertrand township, Ber- rien county, Michigan, in 1849. She was married to her now sorrowing husband, Peter Womer, on March 10, 1867. Her age was fifty-two years, one month and three days. Mrs. Womer has been a great sufferer for a number of years from a complication of diseases, but the principle cause of her death was diabetes and lung fever. She was bed-fast for five weeks. Mrs. Womer was a consistent member of the Evangelical

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Church for thirty-five years. She leaves a husband, one son, one sister (Mrs. A. C. House), and two brothers, William R. and Solomon Rough. A large number of re- latives and friends attended the funeral serv- ices, which were conducted from the Zion Evangelical Church on Portage Prairie, on Saturday, December 2, by her pastor, Rev. W. H. Wagner, assisted by Revs. Frye, Presiding Elder Johnson, from Buchanan, and Rev. Stull, evangelist, from Philadel- phia."

It was in the year 1883 that Mr. Womer purchased the old David Vanderhoof farm, and in 1885 he began to improve the place, building thereon a house and barn as fine as any to be found in the township. In fact his is a palatial residence, his dwelling hav- ing been erected at a cost of about eight thousand dollars and Mr. Womer did most of the supervising of the carpenter work himself. His barn cost about twelve hun- dred dollars. He has where he lives four hundred and twenty-five acres of land and also one hundred and sixty acres in the old Adams farm in Bertrand township. He also has two hundred and twenty acres in St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the line of Ber- trand township, and in connection with A. C. House he owns the old Canada farm of one hundred and ninety-seven acres in Bertrand township and property in Buchan- an, also one hundred and sixty-one acres on sections 17 and 18 in Bertrand township. He has made judicious and extensive invest- ments in real-estate until he now has large holdings, his property returning him an ex- cellent income.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 127

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