A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 134

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

led him to accomplish desired results in a useful business career.

On the 31st of December, 1891, Mr. Gra- ham was married to Miss Mary E. Dunn, a daughter of Edward and Mary Dunn. She was born in Berrien county, Michigan, in April, 1862, and by her marriage has be- come the mother of one son and two daugh- ters, Mary, James and Edith, all at home. Neglectful of none of the duties of citizen- ship, Mr. Graham has contributed to the ad- vancement of various plans for the gen- eral good and he votes with the Republican party, believing its principles most condu- cive to good government. He has taken the Master Mason degree in Berrien Springs lodge and in all life's relations is recognized as a man whose goods traits of character far outnumber those on the reverse side and he is therefore well worthy the esteem and trust of his fellow townsmen.

GEORGE P. SATTLER. The consen- sus of public opinion accords George P. Satt- ler a place among the leading farmers of Oronoko township. He is actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 17, and was only four years of age when brought by his parents to this county. He was born in Buffalo, New York, November I, 1855, the second son and fourth child of Phillip and Christine (Ernst) Sattler, who in connection with the sketch of Lewis Satt- are mentioned on another page of this work ler. He was reared upon the old homestead farm and acquired his education in the dis- trict schools of Oronoko township. He as- sisted his father in the farm work until nine- teen years of age, when he began earning his own living by working by the month at farm labor. In the year 1877 he won a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage to Miss Estella Wyers, a daughter of Andrew and Betsy (Boyd) Wyers. She was born in Oronoko town- ship, where her parents located at an early period in the development and progress of the county.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sattler began their domestic life in Oronoko township, where they remained for two years

and then removed to Berrien township, where he purchased a farm upon which they lived for ten years. He there carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits until a decade had passed by, when he sold that property and purchased where he now resides on section 13, Oronoko township. He has here eighty acres of land but rents the farm to his son, while he is practically living retired. His in- dustry and activity in former years brought him a comfortable competence so that he does not need to resort to the strenuous ef- forts of farm life at the present day in order to provide a livelihood.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sattler have been born two children: Cora, now the wife of Charles Soorick, of Oronoko township; and Arthur, who married Isla Tuttle, and resides upon the old home farm. Mr. Sattler votes with the Republican party and is deeply in- terested in its success and growth, doing all in his power to promote its influence. He holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America at Hinchman and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church there. He has lived in the county for forty- six years and is therefore largely familiar with its history from the early days down to the present time.

LEWIS SATTLER, who deserves classification with the prominent farmers of Oronoko township, owns and operates a tract of land of eighty acres on section 9, constituting the old Sattler homestead. He was born in Buffalo, New York, June 26, 1848. His father, Phillip Sattler, was a na- tive of Alsace, Germany, and was but ten years of age when he came with his parents to the new world, crossing the Atlantic to New York and thence making his way to Buffalo. He became a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit in Buffalo for a num- ber of years, but in 1860 left New York and came direct to Berrien county, Michigan, settling in Oronoko township. Three years before he had purchased the farm upon which he now took up his abode, turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits. As the years passed his fields were cleared and cultivated and he was engaged actively

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and successfully in general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. He married Miss Christine Ernst, who was born in Ba- den, Germany, and was brought to America in her early girlhood days, being reared in Buffalo, New York. She died in Oronoko township when more than seventy-six years of age and her death was regretted by many friends, for she was a lady of many estima- ble traits of character. In the family were four sons and three daughters, of whom five still, survive, Lewis being the eldest. The others are: Caroline, the wife of D. Moyer, a resident farmer of Royalton township, Berrien county ; Christine, the wife of Wil- liam Sullivan, of Stevensville, Michigan; George P., a farmer living in Oronoko town- ship; and Julia, the wife of Edwin Myers, who lives in Berrien township.

Lewis Sattler was a youth of only twelve years when he became a resident of Oronoko township, accompanying his parents on their removal to Michigan. He had begun his education in the public schools of Buffalo, New York, and he continued his studies in the district schools of Oronoko township. During the periods of vacation his attention was largely given to farm labor and he re- mained at home until twenty years of age, when he returned to Buffalo and worked at the tanner's trade.

Mr. Sattler was first married in that city to Miss Jennie McPherson. Unto them was born a son, George WV. Sattler, who is now a merchant and the postmaster at Stemm, Michigan. In 1876 Mr. Sattler was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife and later he married Miss Maria Col- · lins, by whom he had three daughters: Mag- gie, now the wife of Clayton Stover, of Oro- noko township; Clara, the wife of Milton Feather, of the same township; and Edna Pearl, at home.

arable and he has carried on the farm work with excellent success, adding many mod- ern equipments and accessories to his place and gathering from his fields rich and abundant harvests. He is a stanch Republi- can, well informed on the issues and ques- tions of the day, but without aspiration for public office. He belongs to the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen at Berrien Springs and his residence in the county covers about forty-six years, during which time his good qualities as manifest in citizenship and in his business and private life have gained for him an enviable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen.

RUDOLPH WETZER, one of Michi- gan's native sons now living in Berrien coun- ty, his home being on section 9, Three Oaks township, where he has an excellent tract of land responding readily to the care and cul- .. tivation which he bestows upon it, was born September 24, 1852, near Detroit, Michigan, and the same year his parents removed to Berrien county, since which time Rudolph ' Wetzer has been a resident of Three Oaks township, with the exception of a brief per- iod of three years spent in Chicago. He is a son of Maximillian Wetzer, who was born in Byrne, Germany, May 24, 1820, and came to the United States in 1852. He crossed the Atlantic with a party of German emi- gants and remained in Detroit, Michigan, for a few months. He afterward worked at railroad construction in Canada and thence came to Berrien county. Soon after his ar- rival here he purchased fifteen acres on what is now Main street in Three Oaks. Subse- quently he sold that property and purchased the present home place, comprising about eighty-seven and a half acres. It was tim- ber land and the trees and brush had to be be cleared away before the work of cultiva- tion could be begun. It is now well im- proved with good buildings and the fields were richly tilled. He spent the most of his life on this farm with the exception of three years passed in Chicago, when his son was in the meat business there, and his death oc- curred July 20, 1904, thus passing away

Mr. Sattler lived in Huey, Clinton coun- ty, Illinois, for about eight years and was engaged in general agricultural pursuits, but eventually he sold his farm there and pur- chased the old homestead property in Oro- noko township, where he now resides. He has eighty acres of land which is rich and one of the pioneer residents of the county,

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who for long years had been an interested witness of its development and progress. He exercised the right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and he was a member of the Catholic Church. He was married to Miss Dominie Weizner, who was born in the same part of Germany as her husband, and died in Berrien county in her sixtieth year. In their family were four children : Paul, who died in Germany ; Rudolph, who was the first one born in America; Adaline, who is the wife of Jacob Wedder, a resident of Chicago; and Cynthia Josephine, who is keeping house for her brother Rudolph.

Upon the old home farm in this county Rudolph Wetzer was reared, while in the public schools he acquired his education. He has continuously devoted his time and en- ergies to general agricultural pursuits with the exception of three years passed in Chi- cago, where he was engaged in the conduct of a meat market in partnership with his brother-in-law, Jacob Wedder, under the firm style of Wedder & Wetzer. When three years had passed by he sold out to Mr. Wedder and returned to the farm where he has since remained. He worked in the woods during the early years of his residence here and was thus identified with the task of reclaiming the wilderness. His attention is given to his farm labor and his fields give promise of bounteous harvests as the reward of his labor and energy. His political alle- giance is given to the Democracy.

LOUIS RICKERT, operating a good farm on section 5, Three Oaks township, was born near the village of Three Oaks, on the 30th of April, 1863, and has always lived in this township, remaining at home with his parents until about thirty years of age. He is a son of Frederick and Barbara ( Behler) Rickert, natives of Wurtemberg, who came here in the spring of 1853 and were married in Niles in the same spring. The remainder of their lives was spent in this county and much of the time they were residents of Three Oaks township, where they took up their abode in the fall of 1853. Both died in this county, the father reaching the ripe old age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed

away when sixty-seven years of age. In his business affairs Mr. Rickert prospered and had about two hundred acres, becoming one of the extensive agriculturists of his community. In their family were the fol- lowing children : Barbara, now the wife of August Witt, of this township; Fred, de- ceased; John, of Three Oaks township; Louis; and Henry, deceased.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Louis Rickert in the days of his boyhood, youth and manhood. He acquired his education in the public schools and when not busy with his text-books his attention was largely given to the work of the fields and after his educa- tion was completed he continued to assist his father for some time. He also worked on the railroad for about a year, likewise in sawmills and at carpenter work but gave most of his time to general agricultural pur- suits. He acquainted himself with the black- smith's and shoemaker's trades and in these lines displayed much skill and ingenuity, possessing much natural mechanical ability. Farming, however, has been his real life work. His home is a fine brick residence, on the Fred Lusso farm, belonging to the estate of his father-in-law, of which Mr. Rickert is the administrator. He also owns two forty-acres tracts on sections 10 and 13, respectively. The former tract adjoins the Sherwood addition to Three Oaks. He is now operating altogether one hundred and seventy-three acres of land and gives his full time and attention to the raising of grain and stock. He has prospered in both depart- ments and whatever he undertakes he accom- plishes, allowing no thought of failure to enter his mind. He is one of the world's workers, leading a busy, useful life and his labors are meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity.

In September, 1887, Mr. Rickert was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Lusso, who was born July 4, 1864, upon the farm which is yet her home, her parents being Frederick and Sophia (Kuppemuss) Lusso, both of whom were natives of Mecklenberg, Germany. Coming to the new world in early life they were married in Canada, where they lived for two years and six months, re-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

moving to Three Oaks, arriving here about 1856. In their family were seven children, of whom six are yet living, namely : Mrs. Sophia Moser, who is living in Bainbridge this county; Mrs. Anna Steck, of Three Oaks; John, of Colorado; Mrs. Rickert; Mrs. Mary Hellenga, of Three Oaks; and Martha, who died at the age of eighteen years.

In matters of citizenship Mr. Rickert is public-spirited and withholds his aid from no movement which he deems will promote public progress. He is a Republican in his political views and affiliation and has done effective service in behalf of public instruc- tion as a school officer. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Patricians.

CHAUNCEY B. REESE. Among the old settlers of Berrien county is numbered Chauncey B. Reese, who is living on section 33, Pipestone township. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, August 18, 1844, and is a son of Martin Reese, who was likewise born in that county, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah Rulifson, who was also born in Montgomery county. In the year 1849 they came to Berrien county, settling on the farm where their son, C. B. Reese, now resides. Here they built a log house about twenty-four by twenty feet, it being one of the first in the township and amid pioneer surroundings and conditions they began life on the frontier, remaining upon the farm until they were called to their final rest. The father died at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife was more than ninety years of age when called to her final home. In their family were thirteen children but only six now survive.

C. B. Reese, the tenth child of the fam- ily, was but four years old at the time of the removal from the Empire state to Berrien county and has since been a resident of Pipe- stone township, continuously living on the farm which is yet his home. He attended the district schools of the township but owing to the unsettled condition of the county his educational privileges were some- what limited. He was a young man of about twenty years, when his patriotic spirit was

aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, and he en- listed as a member of Company B, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, when he received an honorable discharge at Camden, Arkansas, and returned to his home. He has always devoted his life to general agri- cultural pursuits and has a well improved farm on which none of the equipments and accessories of a model property are lacking.

In 1875 Mr. Reese was married to Miss Caroline Schell, a daughter of Daniel and Dorothy Schell, who were pioneer settlers of this county, coming from New York in 1844 and locating in Pipestone township. Mrs. Reese was born in this township, March 14, 1847, and her girlhood days were spent within its borders, while the public school system afforded her her educational privileges. She first gave her hand in mar- .. riage to Levy Slye, whose people were iden- tified with the early settlement of Berrien county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Reese took up their abode on the old farm homestead and here two children have been born unto them: Mabel R., now the wife of Rev. L. M. Wilds, a minister of the Christian church in Kansas; and Dr. John A. Reese, a practicing physician of Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Mr. Reese has always been a Republican since age gave to him the right of franchise and while not active as an office seeker he has always been interested in the ---- growth and development of the county and has co-operated in many movements for the general good. He belongs to Berrien Center Post, No. 36, G. A. R., in which he has filled most of the chairs and he likewise holds mem- bership with the Odd Fellows lodge at Ber- rien Center and the Modern Woodmen camp at Eau Claire. His farm comprises seventy- nine acres of well improved land and he has resided thereon for fifty-seven years, during which time he has witnessed many remark- able changes in the county as the evidences of pioneer life have been replaced by the improvements of modern civilization, and the land has been converted from the forests and the prairie into richly tilled fields, in the midst of which reside a contented and pros- perous people, whose homes and farms are

6 B Reen

Mers. C. B. Reese.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

indicative of the productiveness of the soil and the success that may be achieved through through its cultivation.

WILLIAM COOK, farmer, dairyman and fruit raiser of Bainbridge township, was born at Coldwater, Branch county, this State, October 24, 1854. When he was sev- enteen years old the family removed to Clyde, in Allegan county, and his father, George Cook, being a carpenter by trade, he followed that occupation as well as farming during early manhood. He also learned blacksmithing, and in his early years alter- nated between these different pursuits.

At the age of twenty-nine Mr. Cook married Miss Lucy L. Matrau, a daughter of Joseph Matrau and a sister of Morgan and E. N. Matrau. For the next eight years Mr. Cook rented land of Morgan Matrau and others and then bought the farm, which is a part of the old Joseph Matrau homestead. For this eighty acres he paid thirty-five hun- dred dollars, and he has since rebuilt the house and moved and remodeled the barn and made various improvements. General farming and considerable fruit raising are both secondary to the dairy business with Mr. Cook, who was one of the organizers of the Watervliet creamery and is one of its steady patrons.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children, Mary A., Benjamin F. and Grace A., all at home. Mr. Cook and family are members of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, and his political views are Republican.

CHARLES L. PATTERSON, carry- ing on general agricultural pursuits on sec- tion 21, Berrien township, was born in Darke county, Ohio, on Christmas day of 1859. His father, James O. Patterson, was also a native of that county and came to Michigan about 1861, locating in Berrien county, where he carried on business as a farmer and carpenter. He was identified with building operations for twelve years and is now living retired from the duties of an active business career. He makes his home in Dowagiac, Michigan, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife, who

in her maidenhood was Susan Keltner, a na- tive of Ohio, died in 1875. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom four sons and three daughters are yet living.

Charles L. Patterson is the fourth in a family of eleven children and was about two years of age when he came to Berrien coun- ty with his parents. He was reared in Ber- rien township and attended the district schools there, also assisted in the work of the farm throughout the period of his boy- hood and youth. He likewise was employed at farm labor to some extent and thus made; a start in life. On the Ist of January, 1884, he located on the farm where he now lives. He first owned but twenty-three acres but has added to the place through five different purchases, thus extending the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises two hundred and six acres of well improved land.

Just prior to taking up his abode upon this place Mr. Patterson was married, on the 25th of December, 1883, to Miss Gusta Hoover, a daughter of M. W. and Margaret (Smith) Hoover. Mrs. Patterson was born in Indiana but was reared in Cass county, Michigan, and they traveled life's journey happily together for about nine years, when, in 1892, they were separated by the death of the wife. Two children have been born unto them, Charles O. and Margaret A., both of whom are at home. Mrs. Patterson was a lady of many excellent traits of character and her good qualities of heart and mind made her esteemed by all who knew her, so that her death was deeply regretted by many friends.

Interested in the affairs of the community bearing upon its development, progress and substantial improvement, Mr. Patterson has given his co-operation to many movements for the public good. He was president of the school board for twelve years and has done effective work in behalf of the cause of education. In politics he is a stalwart Re- publican, while socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center. A life-long resident of this county he has so di- rected his labors that he has gained a good farm property and comfortable competence, and investigation into the methods that he has followed shows that they have ever been

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

in conformity with a high standard of busi- ness ethics.

OLIVER F. WELLINGTON, engaged in general farming on section 17, Oronoko, his native township, was born May 11, 1864, and is descended from English ancestry. His father, Socrates L. Wellington, was a native of England and with his parents came to America in his boyhood days, the family home being established in Portage county, Ohio, where S. L. Wellington was reared. He assisted in building the Mahoning canal and afterward operated boats on that waterway. He was married in Ohio to Miss Jane Ernest, a native of Portage county, where her girlhood days were passed. On leaving the Buckeye State Mr. and Mrs. Wellington came to Berrien county, Michi- gan, about 1860, settling in Oronoko town- ship, where he engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred when he was in his sixty-fourth year. His political sup- port was given to the Democracy and he was well known in the township as a leader in political ranks and as an active factor in agricultural circles. His widow still sur- vives him and now lives on Broadway in Benton Harbor. In the family were three children, of whom one died in infancy, while the daughter, Ellen, is now the wife of Miles Bailey.

Oliver F. Wellington, the youngest of the family, was reared in Oronoko township and completed his education in the district schools. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he began work in the fields and aided in the task of plow- ing, planting and harvesting, continuing upon the old homestead until a number of years after his marriage. It was May II, 1884, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Lizzie Wetzel, a daughter of Nathan Wet- zel, a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wellington took his bride to the old home farm, where for seven years he remained, and in the spring of 1891 he bought the farm upon which he now re- sides from Daniel Moyer. It comprises eighty acres of land, and about the same time he made purchase of the Hastings farm of

forty acres. He has since added to his hold- ings until his farm property now comprises three hundred and twenty acres of well im- proved land and he personally supervises and manages the home farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and fruit-rais- ing. His fields are well tilled and his or- chards present a thrifty appearance. Every- thing about the place is kept in excellent condition and the enterprise and labors of the owner are indicated in the attractive ap- pearance of the place.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welling- ton has been blessed with one son, Howard E., who is at home and aids in the farm work. Throughout his entire life Mr. Well- ington has lived in Oronoko township and has been closely associated with its develop- ment and progress along agricultural lines. He has never been neglectful of any duties of citizenship and at national elections votes for the candidates of the Republican party, while at local elections he casts an independent bal- lot, regarding only the capability of the can- didate for the discharge of the duties that devolve in connection with the public busi- ness. Fraternally he is a Woodman and his wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors. Religiously he is a Lutheran, and these as- sociations indicate much of the character of the man, showing him to be in sympathy with those principles of conduct which de -. velop upright character, which work for good citizenship and which indicate a kindly, charitable disposition in matters of relations with his fellow man.

LEVI BATTEN, the well-known farmer of section 1, Galien township, is one of those citizens who believes in the poet's words that "to stay at home is best-home-keeping hearts are happiest." Successful in his busi- ness as a farmer, alert and enterprising, broad-minded and contented, he has never- theless never been off his home estate longer than six days at a time and never further away than Tecumseh, this State. When the land was still new he helped take out the stumps and clear the soil for cultivation, and his beautiful estate of eighty acres in sec- tion I of Galien and forty acres in section

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 134

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