A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 133

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

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a difficult task in the days when there were few railroads. In company with Samuel Grayer of Chicago, Mr. McGuigan estab- lished a retail lumberyard on Canal street in that city at the time of the rebuilding of Chicago after the great fire. In order to quickly transport his lumber to the city market he purchased a sailing vessel, the Cynthia Gordon, commanded by Captain McDonald, and sailed that across the lake, loaded with cargoes of lumber. After a time the sawmill was transferred to what is known as the Patchore farm, which he cleared by cutting away the timber. His cousin, Samuel Stewart, acted as his fore- man and was continued in connection with the brother for a long time. James Down- ing, who died in Little Rock, Arkansas, while serving as a soldier in the Civil war, left an estate and farm, and his widow, Mrs. Downing, conducted the boarding house for the mill men. Samuel McGuigan of this review boarded with her on his old farm.

In the fall of 1876 he purchased the old Lorder place two miles south of Ben- ton Harbor on the Pipestone road, now known as the Dukeshire farm, and that place afterward became Mr. McGuigan's home, Mrs. Downing continuing to act as his housekeeper as she had previously done on the mill farm and on the Patchore farm. After the work was discontinued at the mill on the Patchore farm his causin and old foreman, Samuel Stewart, removed to Ben- ton Harbor, building what is now known as the Phoenix hotel.

In the meantime Mr. McGuigan had cleared up the Murray Stewart farm, which he continued to operate and improve. He was a man of resourceful business ability, capably superintending varied interests and he extended his efforts to a number of busi- ness affairs which were profitably conducted by him. About 1890, in connection with Ed Brant, he erected Hotel Benton in Ben- ton Harbor and at various times he pur- chased property in that city and also in the county. He invested considerable money in the building of the Eastman Springs Street Railroad and he was a partner of Captain

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

McDonald in the lumber trade in Benton Harbor. His keen business discernment was manifest in the readiness with which he solved difficult business problems and in the capable manner in which he carried forward to successful completion whatever he under- took.

Samuel Stewart, his cousin, married Miss Mary Downing, the daughter of Mrs. Margaret Downing, who acted as Mr. Mc- Guigan's housekeeper. This marriage was celebrated soon after the arrival of Mr. Stewart in the county and when he ceased to act as foreman for Mr. McGuigan. He removed to Benton Harbor, where he con- ducted a grocery business. He afterward took possession of a farm and Mr. Mc- Guigan lived with him. The latter spent his last two years in Benton Harbor with a niece, dying in that city on the 5th of June, 1901. His life had indeed been one of intense and well directed activity and he became the wealthiest resident of Benton Harbor, having extensive business and prop- erty interests, including several farms.

In his political views Mr. McGuigan was a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party, and he was an influential factor in public life and opinion. He was the first president of Benton Har- bor after its incorporation as a village, and his efforts in behalf of public progress were always of an effective and beneficial nature. He had been reared in the faith of the Epis- copal Church and although he never held membership in any denomination he as- sisted in building and supporting different churches. His remains were interred at Crystal Springs, near his former home, and thus a life of much usefulness was ended but the extent of its influence is immeasureable. Three years before his death he settled his two farms upon his cousins, the children of Samuel Stewart, Murray Stewart receiving the old Mill farm on Napier avenue, while Fannie Stewart, now the wife of P. Duke- shire, is living on the Lorder farm at Lorder Corners. It is with her that Samuel Stew- art, the veteran lumberman and pioneer set- tler, now makes his home. When Murray Stewart was a child of two years he was sent to live with his grandmother, for his

father, who was then conducting a hotel in Benton Harbor, was fearful that he would fall in the creek near by. His grandmother was Mrs Downing, with whom Mr. Mc- Guigan lived, and from that time on Mur- ray Stewart made his home with Samuel McGuigan, whom in his boyhood prattle he called "Gogin" and the name was ever after- ward retained between them. Mr. Mc- Guigan took a deep interest in the child and also his sister Fannie and did everything in his power for their comfort, happiness and welfare. After this it seemed that his ideal centered upon the thought of giving them good farms. Upon the Mill farm he erected the present fine residence and barns for Mur- ray Stewart, making daily visits to the place and finding much pleasure in preparing the home for his young cousin.

Murray Stewart was born on the site of Hotel Benton, where his father then con- ducted a grocery store. He was married on the 24th of December, 1897, to Miss Bertha Bertram, who left two children, Fan- nie and Larue. The wife and mother died March 17, 1903, and Mr. Stewart was mar- ried July 24, 1904, to Miss Queenie Young, of Fair Plains, Michigan, who was born in Illinois and was brought to Benton Harbor in her childhood days by her father, Albert Young, who removed his family to this county. Mr. Stewart is carefully conduct- ing his farming interests. He has one thous . and peach trees upon his place, and while he is quite extensively engaged in the culti- vation and sale of fruit he has made dairy- ing the leading feature of his business in connection with his general farming. For some months he engaged in railroad work on the Santa Fe and is familiar with all mechanical devices and engines. He oper- ates a threshing machine and corn sheller upon his farm and has a splendidly improved property. His political views are in accord with Republican principles.

FRANK H. WHIPPLE, serving as postmaster at Bridgman in Lake township, is the owner of a farm of sixty-six acres two and a half miles south of the village and also the owner of a half interest in a large general store. He is thus an important fac-

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tor in the business life of the town and his enterprise and activity are a valued element in commercial progress here. He was born near Bridgman September 20, 1868, a son of Henry H. and Carrie V. ( Watson) Whip- ple, natives of New York and of Indiana re- spectively. The father died when his son Frank was only six years of age and the mother still resides in Berrien county. In the family were but two sons and the young- er. Fred, was killed when only six years of age.

Frank H. Whipple was reared upon the home farm by his parents to the age of six- teen years, when thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial than the work of the fields he began railroading on the Chicago and West Michigan railroad, spend- ing about six years in that way, acting as telegraph and station agent at various points. He was afterward with the Antrim Iron Company at Mancelona, Michigan, for about four years in the capacity of bookkeeper and on the expiration of that period he came to Bridgman and established a general mer- cantile business in connection with his step- father, S. Mandlin, under the firm name of S. Mandlin & Company. He started in busi- ness in 1893 and the partnership was con- tinued until the death of the senior partner on the 5th of August, 1906. Mr. Whipple still carries on the store, which is a large and well appointed establishment for a vil- lage of this size. The trade is drawn from a large surrounding territory and owing to the earnest desire of the owner to please his customers combined with his fair and rea- sonable prices he is now enjoying a very liberal and well merited patronage. He likewise owns sixty-six acres of land pleas- antly situated two and a half miles south of Bridgman and the farm returns to him a good income.

In June, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Whipple and Miss Minnie E. Plummer, a native of Mancelona, Michigan, and a daughter of John W. and Martha Plummer. Four children have been born of this mar- riage : Lynn M., Martha Jane, Olive Vir- ginia and Frank Plummer.

In April, 1891, Mr. Whipple was ap- pointed postmaster of Bridgman and has

filled the office continuously since. He has been a life-long Republican, active in the work of the party and recognized as one of its local leaders. He has served as county committeeman for the past eight years and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. He has likewise been a member of the Congrega- tional Church in Bridgman and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of this place, with the Knights of Pythias at Benton Harbor, the Modern Woodmen of Bridgman and the Masonic fraternity at St. Joseph, in all of which he is accounted a valued representative because of his unfaltering allegiance to the basic ele- ments of these organizations.

GILBERT A. EIDSON. The land of Oronoko township is cultivated by a class of citizens whose industry and enterprise have converted it into a rich agricultural and horticultural district, yielding excellent returns for the care and labor bestowed upon it, and among the wide-awake, progressive farmers within its borders is numbered Gil- bert A. Eidson, who lies on section 10. He was born in this township, March 22, 1851, and is the eldest of a family of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Of the num- ber two died in infancy, while eight are still living. The parents were William B. and Hattie (Weaver) Eidson, the former a na- tive of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Eidson spent his boyhood days in the Buckeye State and came to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1835, when twenty-one years of age, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this county, for southwestern Michigan was then in the initial stages of its development, the work of reclamation having scarcely been begun, for the Indians still visited the neighborhood and indicated the proximity of the county to the primitive condition when the white man was unknown within its borders. Mr. Eidson began work- ing by the month and later carried on farm- ing on his own account. He lived for some time upon a farm in Oronoko township, and afterward engaged in the livery business in Berrien Springs for a number of years. In the winter seasons he was engaged in the

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

manufacture of brooms and thus led a life of industry, which constituted the source of his success. He died in Berrien Springs in his eighty-third year, and his wife departed this life when more than seventy-six years of age. Their deaths occurred within twenty-four hours of each other, and thus the worthy couple who had long traveled life's journey together were separated for but a brief period by the grim reaper. The surviving members of the family are Hattie, Frances, John L., Edward D., William, George, Herbert and Gilbert A. Of this family John L. is a resident farmer of Oronoko township.

Gilbert A. Eidson was reared in Oro- noko township near Berrien Springs and attended the public schools of the village. His youth was passed upon his father's farm and he assisted in its improvement un- til he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. He was mar- ried August 12, 1877, to Miss Emeline Morrow, a daughter of W. T. and Mariette (Carey) Morrow. The father was a native of New Jersey, born March 10, 1807, and died June 19, 1880. He was a merchant and late in life an agriculturist. He was a well educated man and was a Democrat in his political views. He and his wife were de- vout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was a native of New Jersey, born February 3, 1819, and died October 13, 1887. They were both reared in New Jersey. Mrs. Eidson was born in New Jersey, June 19, 1853, and was brought to Berrien county when about eight years of age. She was educated in the com- mon schools of her township, and also at- tended the Ladies' Seminary in Madison, New Jersey, and the High School at Fair- plains, near Benton Harbor. She engaged in teaching school between the ages of six- teen and twenty-four years and was recog- nized as one of the capable educators of this part of the State. She followed that occupation for eight years, three years at Berrien Springs, and during all that long period only taught in five different places. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eidson have been born three children: Gilberta May was educated in the common schools and was also a stud-

ent in the Berrien Springs high school and the Niles high school. Her husband, Wil- liam Judd, is a mechanic of Elkhart, Indiana. Walter H. received a diploma at Berrien Springs in 1898, at the age of sixteen years. He then entered Benton Harbor high school and afterward spent two years in Albion College. Arthur is now a student in the Berrien high school, a member of the class of 1907. He will then enter college. Mr. and Mrs. Eidson have given their children the benefit of good educations. It was in the year 1899 that they erected their beauti- ful country residence, which is modern in style of architecture and neatly and cosily furnished, which makes one of the model homes of the township. The pretty country seat is known as Maple Villa. They have two of the old fashioned coverlets which are close to a century old.

The farm comprises eighty acres devoted general farming and fruit raising. There are four hundred pear trees upon the place and other good fruit, and in the cultivation of his orchards as well as his fields Mr. Eid- son has displayed excellent business ability and competent understanding. In his early years he gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, but is now a stanch Pro- hibitionist. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is iden- tified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Berrien Springs. In all life's relations he has shown himself to be an honorable and straighforward man, worthy of the trust of his fellow citizens, and his years of labor have been crowned with a measure of prosperity that now makes him a substantial resident of his native town- ship.

ELLIOTT H. CALDWELL, post- master and general merchant at Hinchman, and also well known as a raiser of Shetland ponies, was born in Niles township near the city of Niles, November 20, 1870. His paternal grandfather, Hugh Caldwell, on coming to Michigan located with his family near Breedsville, in Van Buren county. His son, James C. Caldwell, was born in Ohio and came to Michigan with his parents. In this State, however, he left home and was

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reared at Niles by Isaac Snorff. At the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and en- listed as a member of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry. He joined the army as a private and went to the south but was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and on account of dis- ability occasioned thereby he was honorably discharged. When no longer able to aid his country in a military capacity he returned to the north and located near Niles, where he was engaged in general farming until 1870. He then removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he conducted a livery busi- ness for a number of years, selling out in 1899 prior to his removal to Chicago. In the latter city he engaged in business as a dealer in buggies and carriages and is still continuing in that line of trade. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Snorff, a native of Ohio, born near Dayton, and she, too, survives at the time of this writing, in 1906. They were the parents of two children, the daugh- ter being Imogene, the wife of H. E. Pin- nell, of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Elliott H. Caldwell, the younger child and only son, was reared and educated at St. Joseph, Michigan, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. For five years he was employed in a clerical capacity in the St. Joseph post- office and in 1897 he came to Hinchman, since which time he has carried on general merchandising and stock-raising. His busi- ness interests are carefully managed and he now has a well equipped general store, car- rying a large and select line of goods, for which he finds a ready sale among the vil- lage people and the citizens of the outlying districts. He makes a specialty of the rais- ing of Shetland ponies and has upon his place twenty-eight thoroughbreds. His

business interests in both branches are care- fully conducted and have resulted in grati- fying success. Mr. Caldwell is also acting as postmaster at Hinchman, to which office he was appointed by President Mckinley in 1900 and re-appointed by President Roose- velt in 1904.

On the 17th of August, 1900, Mr. Cald- well was married to Miss Jessie June

Harner, a daughter of W. H. and Mary Ann ( Feather) Harner. She was born in Oronoko township, where she was also reared and educated and has spent most of her life. Two children grace this union, James William and Vernon Edward.

In politics Mr. Caldwell is a stanch Re- publican, active in the interests of the party since age gave him the right of franchise. He does all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the party and is thoroughly informed concerning the questions and issues of the day. He co- operates in many movements for the gen- eral good and in his business life manifests a spirit of enterprise and activity which has been the strong element in his success.

M. S. BEDINGER is a prominent farmer residing at Hinchman in Oronoko : township. He was born in Darke county, ! Ohio, January 4, 1848, and his father, Adam Bedinger, a native of Pennsylvania, became one of the early settlers of the Buckeye state. He was also a pioneer resident of Berrien county, Michigan, where he arrived on the 6th of September, 1851, making his way to Berrien Springs. Soon afterward he rented a farm, which he operated for three years and he then purchased a farm four miles west of Berrien Springs, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until after the breaking out of the Civil war. Watching the progress of events and noting that the war was to be no holiday affair but was to be a long and bitter struggle, he felt that his first duty was to his country, and in 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Af- ter six months he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to his home. He came of a family of German de- scent, and in his life manifested many of the sterling traits of his German ancestry. His death occurred when he was in his seventy- fourth year, while his wife passed away in her eighty-second year. She bore the maiden name of Rachel Christopher, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, where she was reared and married, and she was likewise of German descent. In the Bedinger family

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

865

were eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, all of whom reached manhood or womanhood, the subject of this review being the seventh child and second son.

M. S. Bedinger was in his fourth year when he came to Berrien county, Michigan, and upon the home farm in Oronoko town- ship he was reared, acquiring his education in the district schools, which he attended through the winter months, while in the sum- mer seasons he worked in the fields. He re- mained at home to the age of twenty-three years, assisting in the farm work and was then married on the IIth of January, 1871, Miss Alice Murphy becoming his wife. She was born in Lake township, Berrien county, a daughter of George and Mary (Mattox) Murphy. For three years following his mar- riage Mr. Bedinger lived in Jefferson coun- ty, Missouri, where he was engaged in bridge building for the Iron Mountain Railroad. He then returned to Oronoko township, where he engaged in carpenter work and building operations, his time being thus oc- cupied for five years. He then began farm- ing on the old homestead and continued actively in the work of the fields until 1891, when he sold out and removed to Manistee county, Michigan, where he spent one year. He then returned to Oronoko township and bought a farm, upon which he now re- sides, a valuable property which is well im- proved and which indicates in its neat and thrifty appearance the careful supervision of the owner.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bedinger have been born four children: Maggie, now the wife of Frank Harner, of Oronoko township; Paul, of the same township; Claar and Frank, both at home.

In his political views Mr. Bedinger is a Democrat and has served as supervisor of Oronoko township for two years and as treasurer for four years. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and political questions and is well known in the county as a leader in public thought and action, be- ing recognized as a most influential citizen of Oronoko township. He holds member- ship with the Masonic fraternity at Berrien

Springs and is identified with the Lutheran Church at Hinchman.

ROLAND B. TABER, M. D., physician and surgeon of Benton Harbor, was born in Benton township, Berrien county, in 1872. His father, Roland T. Taber, is also a native of this county, born in 1847, and the family was established in Michigan at an early period in its improvement and development. The greatgrandfather, Jonathan Taber, with his wife, Rebecca Thomas, came from New York to Michigan at the time that Roland T. Taber arrived here and continued a resident of Berrien county up to the time of his

ROLAND B. TABER.

demise. Both he and his wife died in Sodus township, the former at the age of eighty- four years, the latter when eighty years of age. Jonathan Taber had been a soldier of the war of 1812 and was granted a pension in recognition of his services. He also re- ceived a land warrant, which he exchanged for a farm, but it is not known where the land was located. His son. John T. Taber, grandfather of Dr. Taber, was born in New York and, removing westward in 1832, be- came a resident of Chicago, Illinois, where

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

he learned the blacksmith's trade. Four or five years later he became a resident of Bain- bridge township, Berrien county, Michigan, where he purchased a farm and also erected the first blacksmith shop in the township, conducting business in the line of his trade for many years and also superintending his agricultural interests. He was married in Chicago to Miss Ellen Foley, a relative of Bishop Foley, of Detroit, Michigan. She died in 1848 at the age of thirty-two years.

Among the children of this worthy couple was Roland T. Taber, whose birth occurred on the family homestead in Bainbridge town- ship in 1847. When five years of age he went to live with his uncle, Jonas Inman, in Benton township, and there remained until ten years of age. In early manhood he ac- quired the old homestead which his uncle had owned and added to that property, which he transformed into a good farm. He at first carried on general agricultural pursuits, but afterward engaged in raising fruit and vegetables. About twelve years ago he took up his abode in Benton Harbor, where he is now living retired. He has been prominent and active in influential affairs and is recog- nized as an enterprising progressive citizen. In 1871, in Galesburg, Illinois, he married Melissa E. Burridge, a native of Indiana, who died in February, 1905, at the age of fifty-three years. They had a son and daugh- ter, the latter being Mrs. Lizzie M. Kake- beeke, the wife of James H. Kakebeeke of Benton Harbor.

The son, Dr. Roland B. Taber, was reared upon the old home farm in Benton township and obtained his early education in the country schools, after which he at- tended Benton Harbor College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. Later he attended the University of Michigan and was graduated therefrom 1896, completing a course in pharmacy and chemistry. Subse- quently he attended the University of Illi- nois, where he pursued a course in medicine and surgery, being graduated with the class of 1900.

Dr. Taber located for practice in Benton Harbor, where he has since remained, en- joying a large and growing practice, his

patrons including many of the best families of the city. He was appointed by Governor Bliss to the position of surgeon to the Michi- gan state navy and at the present time is city health officer, which position he has filled since 1901.

Dr. Taber was married in Benton Harbor in 1903 to Miss Bernice Worth of this city and their pleasant home is justly celebrated for its generous and attractive hospitality. Dr. Taber is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while in his political views he is a Republican.

HARRY K. GRAHAM, who follows farming on section 24. Oronoko township, and is one of its native sons, was born Feb- ruary 22, 1860, his parents being George and Mary (Garrow) Graham, who are men- tioned on another page of this work. The home farm in Oronoko township remained his playground in youth and his training school for life's practical duties. His mental discipline, however, was obtained in the dis- trict schools and at Urbana University, at Urbana, Ohio. Returning to his home on the completion of his education Harry K. Graham became a clerk in a general store in Berrien Springs and he afterward spent eight years in southeastern Kansas, clerking for two years in a store, while during the re- mainder of the period he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. Returning at the end of that time to Berrien Springs he once more became connected with agricul- tural interests in this county and located upon his present farm in Oronoko township. He has here one hundred and eighty-five acres of land well adapted to the raising of grain, fruit and stock, and his farm is well equipped for these different departments of agricul- tural life. He has a peach orchard of fif- teen acres and considerable other fruit, in- cluding ten acres of apples. His fields are carefully tilled and he has good stock upon his place. In fact the farm is equipped with all modern conveniences, including the latest improved machinery and everything about the place is indicative of the spirit of enter- prise which characterizes the owner and has

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 133

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