A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 132

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

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settled in Pueblo, Colorado. He was at one time editor of the Pueblo City Press. His death occurred very suddenly as the result of heart disease when he was fifty-six years of age. He married Miss Anna E. Fisher, who was born in

Cambridge, New York, and she died in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, at the age of sixty years. In their family were five children, of whom four are yet living.

Bascom Parker, the only son, and also the only member of the family residing in Berrien county, pursued his education in the schools of Valparaiso, Indiana, and in early life engaged in the gas business. He has always been connected with the work of furnishing illumination for towns and private interests, and in early manhood was superintendent of the construction of the Valparaiso Gas Plant Company. After it was in working order he remained with the company as superintendent for the plant for some time. He has also been superintend- ent of other plants in various cities which were built by the same company. He be- came a resident of Niles in 1901 and the same year he organized the plant. The first electric light was turned on in Niles August 12, 1901. He continued as manager until 1904, when the city pur- chased the plant and Mr. Parker then bought the old gas plant in Niles, which had been established in 1868. He built up the busi- ness and conducted it until in September, 1905, when he sold his interest. He has for a number of years made a specialty of buy- ing old gas plants in different parts of the country, improving them and afterward sell- ing them and this speculation has brought to him a good financial return. He has bought plants at Valparaiso, Warsaw and Huntington, Indiana, Holland, Michigan, and South Haven, Michigan, all of which he has built up and then sold. In addition to the above he has purchased the old gas plants at Washington and Lamone, Indiana, and at Manistee, Michigan, all of which he still owns and is now conducting. He has led a very active and energetic business life. crowned with gratifying success. He thor- oughly understands the business in every de- partment both concerning the construction of a plant and its operation, and his efforts in this direction have brought him a fair measure of prosperity. In 1902 he estab- lished a stock farm just east of Niles; forty acres of the one hundred and thirty-six acres are within the city limits. His stock of

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forty horses are of the best strains of blood that money can buy.

Mr. Parker was married in 1886 in Huntington, Indiana, to Miss Annie E. Young, who was born in that city and is a daughter of Philip Young. Two children have graced this marriage : Carson, who was born in Huntington and is now seventeen years of age; and Bascom, who was born in Niles and is twelve years of age. In his political views Mr. Parker is an independent Democrat. He does not consider himself bound to party ties but reserves the right- which he also freely accords to others- that of forming his own opinions and sup- porting the public measures which he sees fit. Realizing the potency of expert knowl- edge and workmanship in any line of busi- ness which one would make the basis of suc- cess he has thoroughly qualified for his chosen work and has gained the desired re- sult which always accompanies earnest and capable effort.

RAY E. LEE, secretary and manager of the Linden Cereal Company at Benton Harbor and thus closely associated with one of the leading productive industries of the city which constitutes an important element in business activity here, was born in Dowagiac, Cass county, Michigan, in 1876. He is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the southern part of this State. His paternal grand- father, Mason Lee, was a native of Taun- ton, Massachusetts, but in early life removed to New York, where he established a home. Later, however, he determined to know something of the advantages of the west, of which he was constantly hearing favor- able reports, and made his way to Michi- gan, settling in Jefferson, Cass county, in 1833. He made a prospecting trip at that time when about forty-two years of age and it was five years later before he brought his family to the west, after which he estab- lished his home in Cass county.

Chauncey T. Lee, father of our subject, was born in New York in 1836 and was a young lad when he was brought by his par- ents to Michigan, so that his preliminary education was acquired in Jefferson. He

afterward attended school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and subsequently entered the Baptist Theological College, in which he pur- sued a four years' course of study. He en- tered upon his business career as a clerk in the first hardware store established at Dowa- giac and through earnest and persistent ef- fort developed a talent for working his way upward. In 1854 he engaged in business on his own account in Dowagiac, but later decided to enter professional life and took up the study of law under the direction of James Sullivan, who acted as his preceptor and afterward admitted him to a partner- ship. He continued in the practice of his profession until 1875, after which he con- centrated his energies upon the conduct of a banking business, organizing the banking firm of Lee Brothers & Company at Dowa- giac. The institution which they established is still in successful operation. In 1885, Mr. Lee purchased a magnificent farm prop- erty called the Dowagiac Stock Farm and has sheltered there many well bred horses, having commodious buildings and a fine half mile track. In fact this is one of the show places of Cass county. The Lees have been very prominent in Cass county, where they have splendid farms and attractive homes. They have also done much for the upbuilding, substantial improvement and permanent progress of the county where they still reside. Chauncey Lee has ever been a public-spirited citizen, possessing great energy and determination, qualities which enable him to carry forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes. His efforts and his influence have been a strong directing force in various business enterprises and matters of public concern, and he is today classed with the valued resi- dents of his part of the State. He married Miss Sarah H. Lockwood, a daughter of the late Dr. Henry Lockwood, who was a native of New York and settled in Cass county, Michigan, in 1837. For many years he was a prominent physician of that county, where he practiced until his death.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Lee have been born five children, all natives of Dowa- giac. Henry, who is associated with his father in the banking business at Dowagiac,

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married Miss Cora Bridges, of Green Cas- tle, Indiana, who died leaving one daugh- ter, Helen. Fred E., who is general man- ager of the Round Oak Stove Company of Dowagiac, one of the largest concerns of the kind in America, married Kate Beck- with of that city, who died leaving a daugh- ter. Mary, and since the death of his first wife he had wedded Mary Gray, of New York. Elma, married Lake Cahill, who died leaving two children, Lee and Mari- ette, and since the death of her first husband she has married Ralph H. Emery. Mabel C. is the wife of Dr. John H. Jones, a prac- tising physician of Dowagiac.

The fifth member of the family is Ray E. Lee, who was reared in his native city and acquired his elementary education in the public schools there. He afterward at- tended the Notre Dame University in Indi- ana and was graduated from the literary department in the class of 1896. Thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties, he entered the banking house of Lee Brothers & Company at Dowagiac as cashier. continuing in that position for some- time. In 1900 he came to Benton Harbor and was one of the organizers of the Citi- zens State Bank, which was later merged into the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Benton Harbor. He acted as one of the assistant cashiers and also as one of the di- rectors of the first named bank. In 1903 he purchased the business of the Linden Cereal Company, manufacturers of a coffee cereal. and in 1904 the company was incorporated with C. T. Lee as president. H. Rowe of Buchanan, Michigan, as vice president and Ray E. Lee as secretary and manager.

In 1898 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lee and Miss Mayme Vuylestake, a daughter of Adolphus Vuylestake, of Ben- ton Harbor. In politics a Republican. he is interested in the party but without politi- cal aspiration. A young man, he is thor- oughly alive to business conditions and pos- sibilities and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the commercial and in- dustrial life of Benton Harbor. Moreover, he is public-spirited to an eminent degree and is deeply interested in all plans which have their basis in a desire for general im-

provement. Watchful of the signs of the times, he is keeping in touch with modern progress and has already made in business circles a reputation and gained success which many a man of twice his years might well envy.

FRANK KNIEBES is the owner of eighty acres of land in Bainbridge town- ship devoted to general farming and fruit raising. His life record began on the 15th of August, 1854, his parents being Peter and Margaret (Smithberger) Kniebes, both of whom had come as young people from Germany to America about 1845 or 1846. The father was a barber by trade and worked at that occupation for two years at St. Joseph. In this county he married Miss Smithberger, the wedding ceremony being performed near Coloma by a justice of the peace. He had one hundred and forty-two acres of land in the midst of a densely wooded tract in the northern part of Bain- bridge township. There the young couple lived in pioneer style. He drove thirty miles with oxen in order to obtain mill products. Many difficulties and hardships were exper- ienced in the early days when this was still a frontier region but Mr. Kniebes aided in stibduing the wilderness and extending the frontier, working persistently and energetic- ally in his efforts to clear a farm and de- velop a good home for his family. He placed about one hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation and his life was devoted to the improvement of that farm and other lands in this county, including the present home of Peter Kniebes. His youngest son, Jacob Kniebes, is now living on the old home property. The members of his family are as follows: Peter G., who is now living in Benton Harbor ; Frederick. who has a farm in Watervliet township ad- joining the old homestead; Frank, of this review : Jacob, who resides on the old home place : Henrietta, who became the wife of Henry Arndt and died when past fifty years of age leaving a large family; Elizabeth. the wife of Jacob Krieger of Bainbridge township; Sophia, the wife of Peter Krieger of the same township; Caroline, the wife of John Umphrey, of Coloma; Margaret,

G. W. Roast

hus Josephine E Reise

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

who married Phillip Fernham and died at the age of thirty-three years; and Anna, the wife of Louis Umphrey, of Bainbridge. The father of this family died about twelve years ago and had at that time survived his wife for five years. The remains of both were interred in the Kniebes cemetery on a part of the old home property. They were worthy Christian people who held member- ship in the Evangelical association, and Mr. Kniebes was a Republican in his political views. He started out in life on his own account empty-handed but made steady pro- gress toward the goal of prosperity and lived retired for a number of years prior to his death, having accumulated a competence that provided him with the necessities and some of the luxuries of life.

Frank Kniebes spent his boyhood days on the farm to the age of twenty-one years. His father assisted him in securing land, for which he made him a deed a few years later. He was married at the age of twenty- two years to Miss Louisa Kehrer, a daugh- ter of John Kehrer, of Kessler township, Van Buren county. He built a little cabin in the woods, having there eighty acres of land, of which fifty-five acres has been cleared while twenty-five acres is still. covered with timber. Here he carries on general farm- ing with three acres devoted to small fruit, while his peach orchards contain two thous- and trees. His residence and other build- ings stand on an eminence, commanding a fine view of the valley and the farm is now splendidly improved, being equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. It is the visible evidence of the life of thrift and industry which Mr. Kniebes has led.

For twenty-seven years he and his wife traveled life's journey happily together and were then separated by death. There were five children of that marriage: Lydia, who became the wife of Alfred Docktor, and died at the age of twenty-six years; Mary, at home: Henry, a farmer living in Bainbridge township; Sophia, who died in infancy ; and Christina, at home. On the 22d of April, 1905, Mr. Kniebes was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Katie Sum- rill, a daughter of Christian Koerber, of

Bainbridge township and the widow of Allie Sumrill. She had one child by her former marriage, Allie Sumrill.

Mr. Kniebes is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Bainbridge. He is ac- tive in the work of his political party and has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, while for six years he served as township trueasurer, being three times elected to that office. No public trust ever reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his loyalty in office is as marked a characteristic in his life as his enterprise and activity in his business career.

REUBEN W. REESE. The specific history of the middle west was made by the pioneers, these hardy settlers who builded their rude domiciles, grappled with the giants of the forest, and from the wilds evolved the fertile and productive fields which have these many years been furrowed and refurrowed by the plowshare. The Reese family was among the first to locate in Berrien county, and Reuben W. Reese, but a babe at the time of their arrival, is therefore numbered among the honored pio- neers who have not only witnessed the re- markable growth and transformation of the region but have been important factors in its progress and advancement. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, Febru- ary 18, 1849, his parents being Martin and Hannah (Rulifson) Reese, both also natives of that county. In 1849 they established their home on the then frontier of Berrien county, Michigan, where the father secured a farm in Pipestone township, paying a dol- lar and a quarter per acre for his land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, and at the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-seven years old, he was the owner of one of the most fertile and well improved farms in the township. His wife reached the remarkable age of ninety years and six months ere she was called to the home beyond. In their family were fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to years of maturity and seven, three sons and four daughters. are now living.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Reuben W. Reese, the youngest son of the family, as before stated was but a babe when brought by his parents to Berrien county, and in Pipestone township he was reared to years of maturity, receiving his early educational training in its log school- house so common in those early days. He was thus reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and early began to perform his share in the arduous task of clearing and developing a new farm. During sixteen years of his early life he followed the pro- fession of teaching, entering upon that oc- cupation when but eighteen years of age, and in 1874 he went to Irving, Kansas, and there continued the profession for twelve years, when he returned to Berrien county and located a half mile west of Eau Claire. Here he resides and has a well improved farm of one hundred and forty acres known as "The Lamore Estate," the rich and pro- ductive fields annually returning to him bounteous harvests in return for the care and labor he has bestowed upon them. The name Lamore is of French origin. The original spelling of the name in France was "De Lamarre," then changed in Canada to "Lamarre," and more recently to "La- more," by which it is known at present.

Mrs. R. W. Reese was reared till wo- manhood in Berrien county, and here edu- cated. She was one of Berrien county's suc- cessful teachers in the years gone by. She married Eugene M. Hipp December 12, 1867, and they were schoolmates. To this marriage was born one daughter, Clara G., wife of William C. Hicks, a prominent at- torney of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and two children have been born, William C. and Robert Lamore. Mrs. Hicks was formerly married to Orrin W. Ludlow, and two children graced this union: Vera B., who will graduate in the class of 1907 in the Benton Harbor high school, and Eugene C., a member of the class of 1909. Mrs. Hicks is a lady of rare accomplishments, especially in literature and music. She was a ready and apt pupil and was ably assisted by her mother. Her first husband, Mr. Hipp, was a banker and dry goods merchant of Benton

Harbor and a gentleman highly esteemed for his manly attributes of character. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was interred under the auspices of that society. He died November 21, 1875.

Mr. Reese has been married twice, the first marriage being with Miss Eva S. Bick- ford, and one son was born to this union, Orville W., a resident of South Bend, In- diana, where he is well known in musical circles, being a leader in the Reese Band. Mrs. Reese died in 1881, and for his second wife Mr. Reese wedded Mrs. Josephine E. (Lamore) Hipp, June 30, 1899. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 18, 1847, and is the eldest of six children, three sons and three daughters born to Lewis and Sarah (Losey) Lamore. Five of the chil- dren are yet living, four in Berrien county, and her youngest brother, Gilbert N. La- more, is a resident of Idaho. Lewis Lamore was born in Canada, just across the line from Vermont, in 1822, and died in Berrien county January 24, 1899. He was one of the best ship carpenters in the west, and was one of the head carpenters who helped erect the first bridge across the St. Joseph river for the Michigan Central Railroad at Niles, Michigan. He was truly a self-edu- cated and self-made man, a gentleman of strong convictions, and was ever fearless in advocating measures of right. He was a pronounced student and original thinker. Politically he was an ardent Republican. Fraternally he was a member of the I. O. O. F., and took high ground on the subject of temperance. He died on his old home- stead and was interred under the auspices of the I. O. O. F. The following brief re- view of his wife was published in one of the local papers at the time of her death :

"Sarah Losey was born in the State of New York, January 19, 1823, and when fourteen years of age removed with her parents to Michigan, locating about two miles from Detroit. In her journey from New York her father's family made the trip by wagon, the subject of this sketch walk- ing much of the distance and for a portion of the way along the Erie Canal, where she

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saw the workmen excavating for the great waterway which has made New York State famous.

"On May 17, 1846, she was married to Louis Lamore, and located in Detroit, where she resided until 1850. At this latter date she removed with her husband to Ber- rien county locating in Pipestone township near what was then known as Shanghai.

"In 1851 the family removed to their farm west of Eau Claire, about one-half mile west, and with the exception of about one and one-half years in which the family resided at what is known as the Haskins grist mill, have lived continuously on the old farm, and where this subject passed to her reward Saturday, October 6, 1906, at 10:20 p. m., aged eighty-three years, eight months and seventeen days.

"Mrs. Lamore is survived by one brother, Sylvester Losey, of Dearborn, and one sister, Mrs. E. L. Willard, of Detroit, Michigan; two daughters, Mrs. R. W. Reese, of Eau Claire, and Mrs. S. M. Ro- dell, of Maple Grove; three sons, Charles L., of Hartman, George S., of Eau Claire, and Gilbert N., of Clearwater, Idaho; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"Sarah Lamore was a woman of re- markable qualities. Absolutely honest, un- deviating in her purpose, shrewd in her cal- culations, and with a keen intellect and memory was a synonym for a thorough business woman.

"Although an invalid for the past four years she was at all times alert to her busi- ness interests which she managed with sin- gular and unerring success, and relin- quished command only when death inter- vened.

"She was patient in sickness, and brave in the hour of death, and a remembrance of her womanly virtues should be an inspir- ation to those who survive her."

From the time of reaching his majority Mr. Reese has been an active supporter of Republican principles, and his fraternal re- lations connect him with the Masonic order, the Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has served as president of the Old Set- tlers' Association, also of the Berrien Coun-

ty Farmers' Institute, and for eight years has served as a notary public. He has spent almost his entire life in this county, has watched the transformation of wild land into beautiful homes and farms, and in the work of growth and upbuilding he has ever borne his part.

JOSEPH W. HAUSER, deceased, was at one time a resident of St. Joseph town- ship. As his name indicates, he was of German lineage, his birth having occurred in Hesse-Nassau, May 11, 1843, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth Hauser. The father was an alderman of the town of Stein- bach and held other public offices, being prominent and influential in the community.

Joseph W. Hauser acquired his educa- tion in the schools of his native country and there learned the wagon-maker's trade, pay- ing seventy-two dollars for his instruction and training during two and a half years' apprenticeship. He afterward spent three years working at his trade in the southern part of Germany and in accordance with the laws of his native land he served in a German army. In 1867, when twenty-four years of age, he came to the United States, thinking to enjoy beter business opportuni- ties in the new world, for he had heard favorable reports concerning the conditions which here existed. For three years he re- mained in New York and then went to Chi- cago, whence he came to Benton Harbor and opened a wagon-making shop.

On the 7th of January, 1869, Mr. Hauser was united in marriage to Miss Frances Paczkoroaka, a native of Poland. They had twelve children, of whom eight are now living. For three years Mr. Hauser engaged in wagon-making in St. Joseph and while living there served as alderman of the city for two years. Closing out his wagon- making business he retired to his farm south of the city and gave his attention to the cul- tivation of fruit. Throughout his remaining days his life was devoted to general horti- cultural pursuits and his orchards produced excellent crops. As the years went by he prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of a valuable fruit farm, which,

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in its excellent appearance, indicated his care and supervision. In his business affairs he was always thoroughly reliable as well as energetic and was never known to take ad- vantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction. In his death the community lost one of its valued citizens. He had never attempted to figure promi- nently in public affairs but had always dis- played sterling traits of character that work for good citizenship as well as for honor in private life.

SAMUEL MCGUIGAN, deceased, was at one time the wealthiest citizen in Benton Harbor. He was associated with various and important business enterprises of Ber- rien county and his labors were of direct and immediate serviceableness in public af- fairs as well, promoting the general pros- perity and material upbuilding of the county. No history of this section of the state would be complete without mention of his life. He was born in Donegal, Ireland, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that country. When about twenty-one years of age he came to America, crossing the Atlan- tic in 1849. He was the first of the family to reach this country and he landed at Cas- tle Garden with one dollar in his pocket. By trade he was a millwright and he fol- lowed that pursuit in the Empire State for some time, during which period he lived frugally and economically, so that he had a small capital when he came to Michigan. Here he purchased raw land, constituting the farm upon which Murray Stewart now resides. It is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres known as the old mill farm. He built a sawmill, being associated with his cousin, William Stewart, and also his brother. Samuel McGuigan, however, was the first of the three to reach Michigan. His mill was operated successfully for many years or until the timber was all cleared up in this part of the State. One unfamiliar with the details of the lumber business can scarcely realize the volume of arduous labor de- manded in making roads and completing ar- rangements for the cutting and shipment of the logs and timber. Especially was this

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 132

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