A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 135

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

6 of Bertrand, rewards him fully for the toil and attention bestowed upon it. He has ex- ceptionally good buildings, a fine barn thirty by ninety-two feet with cement base- ment floor, costing twenty-five hundred dol- lars, and all other improvements needed for successful grain and stock farming. Re- spected in the community, notwithstanding his independence in politics, evidenced by his changing from a long course as a stanch Democrat to an adherent of Roosevelt, he has served as justice of the peace and has several times refused offices.

Mr. Batten was born on his present homestead June 8, 1853. His father, John Batten, was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 21, 1821, and came to this loca- tion in Berrien county in 1850, so that he really belonged to the pioneers. He is still living, making his home with his son Levi. He was a successful man, owning two hun- dred and eighty acres of land in this vicinity, which he has since divided among his chil- dren. His entire career was devoted to farm- ing, although when a boy he learned the art of distilling whiskey, and at the age of six- teen made regular trips with a four-horse team from Cincinnati to South Bend, carry- ing freight. He was of the old type of De- mocracy, having voted for the revered An- drew Jackson.

The Battens are of Virginia ancestry, the grandfather Thomas settling in Butler county, Ohio, from the Old Dominion, and he and his wife, Blanch ( Windsor), spend- ing their last days in Berrien county.

Mr. Levi Batten's mother was Elizabeth Hardy, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 5, 1820, and died in this county August 21, 1890. Her father, James, was a native of Virginia and an Ohio pio- neer, and during the war of 1812, being in danger of capture by the enemy, he was buried alive for a short time until the foe had passed on.

Levi was the fourth of his parents' five children, the others being: Thomas, who died in infancy ; James and William, twins, the former of Buchanan and the latter on part of the paternal estate ; Louisa, who died at the age of two and a half years. There is a noteworthy similiarity in the physiques

of the three brothers. Each is five feet two and a half inches high, and their weight is constant between 102 and IIO pounds the year around. All can wear the same clothes and shoes and hats.

Mr. Levi Batten married, September 24, 1874, Miss Emma J. Best, who was born in Milton township, Cass county, June 29, 1852. Her parents, David A. and Almira (Lemon) Best, natives of Pennsylvania, were pioneers of Cass county, Mr. Best be- ing a blacksmith by trade. There were twelve children in their family.

Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Batten three are living, namely: Liz- zie A., wife of Leroy Bulhand, of South Bend, was born December 28, 1876; Theron N., a barber of Spearfish, South Dakota, was born January 2, 1879; John A., a but- termaker of Morris, Michigan, was born October 15, 1880. All received good ad- vantages preparatory to entering life. John has been very successful in buttermaking, and has won two state prizes. Mr. Batten has three grandchildren, one by each child, their names being, Ruby Bulhand, Delos Victor Batten and John Hillis Batten.

It is a matter of considerable personal pride with Mr. Batten that he has never drank intoxicating liquors. As a boy he was very fond of dancing, and his mother per- mitted him to indulge in his desire after gaining from him a pledge that he would neved drink, a promise he has faithfully kept.

WILLIAM F. ENDERS is living in Watervliet, his native township. He was born March 29, 1860, being the fifth in the family of Adam Enders. He remained upon the old homestead to the time of his mar- riage, which occurred on the Ist of Decem- ber, 1881. when he was twenty-one years of age, Miss Emma R. Arney becoming his wife. She was born in Ohio but was reared in Bainbridge township, her parents being Benedict and Elizabeth Arney. When she was but seven years of age her mother was burned to death, leaving a family of seven children. Her father remarried and Emma then lived with other families to the time of her marriage, which occurred when she was twenty years of age.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Enders began their do- mestic life upon a farm, which his father had purchased for him two years before. He first built a small house, which he occupied for a long period and twelve years ago he erected his present handsome residence, which is splendidly located on an eminence, com- manding a fine view of the surrounding country. It is on the Watervliet road about a mile southwest of Coloma and is supplied with all modern conveniences and equip- ments. He has a water works and a wind- mill upon his place, so that the house is sup- plied with running water and there are many other modern and model conveniences. The waterworks are so arranged as also to sup- ply his melons while starting under glass. He has two tanks, one in the house furnish- ing water in the bathroom and other parts of his residence, while the second tank sup- plies his melons. His home place comprises forty-two acres of land and he also has twenty-two acres adjoining, together with forty acres near Coloma. He operates all this and is justly accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive horticulturists of this part of the State. The home place is devoted to fruit and melons, growing from eight to twelve acres of the latter, and he has glass sufficient to start the plants for ten acres of melons. His gross sales from eight acres in 1905 amounted to about fif- teen hundred dollars. He has thirty acres set out to fruit, including two thousand peach trees and five thousand apple trees, together with grapes and berries. Mr. Enders has a contract with a wholesale fruit man of Grand Rapids to whom he sends all his melons, which are shipped under guarantee. He buys only to supply the amount that he does not grow and he makes a specialty of the Osage melon. He shipped over two thousand crates in 1905, nearly all of his own raising.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Enders have been born five children, Neely H., Elmer E., Syl- via B .. Myrtle Edna and Dorthy Irene, all at home. The sons have attained their ma- jority but remain with their father, assisting him in the operation of his farms. In poli- tics Mr. Enders is a Prohibitionist, being an

earnest advocate of that party, because he is a stanch champion of the temperance cause. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful inter- est and their lives are actuated by high prin- ciples in conformity with their professions.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of Mrs. En- ders' parents. Her father, Benedict Arney, was born in Switzerland, whence he emi- grated to the United States. He was mar- ried in Ohio to Elizabeth Hoplitzley, and three children were born to them in that state. They afterward removed to Portage Prairie, in Indiana, and subsequently to Bainbridge Center, Michigan, where they arrived when Mrs. Enders was but three years old. Four years later while engaged in making soap one day Mrs. Arney's dress caught fire and she was burned to death. Two years later Mr. Arney was again mar- ried. He owned a farm at Bainbridge Cen- ter until 1905, but now resides at Fair Plain with his daughter. In the family were seven children : Mary, the wife of Henry Seel, of Fair Plain, Michigan ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Mulhagen, now of Kansas; Em- ma, now Mrs. Enders: George, a fariner of Watervliet township: Amanda, the wife of Henry Butzbach, of California : Lucinda, who became the wife of William Seel and died at the age of thirty-two years ; and Wil- liam, who died in childhood.

THOMAS TAYLOR. Although one of the more recent arrivals in Berrien coun- ty, Thomas Taylor has already gained a place among the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state, for he possesses the thrift and energy which is ever characteristic of the Irish race. He was born in County Mead, Ireland. August 28, 1844, where he was reared and educated. He learned the trades of a tanner and cur- rier in his native land, which he followed in that country until he had reached the age of twenty-four years, when, believing that he might enjoy better business advantages in the new world and more quickly acquire a competence, he decided to leave the Emerald

Thomas Taylor

Thomas

Taylor

MR. AND MRS. THOMAS TAYLOR'S CHILDREN.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Isle and accordingly crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which landed in New York city. He had but fifty cents in money when he arrived in this country but he possessed willing hands and a courageous spirit and being undaunted by conditions which would have disheartened many another of less resolute purpose, he started out to accustom himself to the new manners and customs which confronted him, and at once made his way to Peoria county, Illinois, where he se- cured employment on a farm, receiving twenty dollars per month for his services, which was a good wage. He was indus- trious and economical, and at the end of three years, having saved a capital sufficient to justify his embarkation in business on his own account he purchased a team of horses, on whch he made a payment, and then rented a farm, which was located fif- teen miles north of the city of Peoria, on the banks of the Illinois river. Having familiarized himself with the best methods of carrying on agricultural pursuits he was well prepared for the duties which he now undertook, so that his labors resulted in a gratifying measure of success, and in the course of years he was enabled to assume greater responsibilities. He then purchased a farm of eighty acres, which was situated in the same county and about the same dis- tance from the city as the tract which he had formerly leased. He at once began to im- prove his place by the erection of buildings and the cultivation of his fields and each year he annually harvested good crops, so that his financial resources were materially increased. Finding an opportunity to dis- pose of his land there, in 1882 he sold his farm and invested in a quarter section of land in Ford county, that state. This was bottom land, for which Mr. Taylor paid thirty-one dollars per acre. He at once set to work to tile and drain his land, sparing no expense in making it a valuable property, and one on which he could raise good crops. This proved a profitable venture for him, and foreseeing the possibilities for farm land in that state, he added eighty acres to his original purchase, and at the end of fifteen years he sold the property for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per

acre, bringing him a total of thirty thous- and dollars in cash. In 1903 he removed to Berrien county, Michigan, and invested in his present farm, comprising two hundred and fourteen acres, for which he paid sixty dollars per acre, and which was formerly the property of Horace Tabor. He has also greatly improved this property since taking up his abode thereon, and in September, 1906, he had an offer of one hundred dollars per acre, which he refused to accept. He also purchased a tract of one hundred and fifty acres in Pipestone township, which is situated north of Eau Claire, but of this he has given eighty acres to his brother, and forty acres to his eldest son. On his home place Mr. Taylor is engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and he also has consider- able of the place set out to fruit, and a portion of the land is devoted to pasturage for he is engaged quite extensively in the raising of good grades of stock. He is meeting with excellent success in his busi- ness affairs and is ever watchful of oppor- tunities that will result beneficially to him.

It was during his residence in Peoria county, Illinois, that our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Mooney, a daughter of Thomas Mooney. Her father was prominent and influential in politics and was one of the early settlers of the city of Peoria. He served as city and county clerk and likewise filled the office of police magis- trate. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six daughters, all of whom now survive, and five sons, all living with the exception of the youngest, namely: Fran- ces, Mary Jane, Lena, Thomas, Abigail, Nettie, Ella, Henry, Emmett, Rosco, and Eddie, deceased. All the daughters are married with the exception of Abigail.

Mr. Taylor may well be termed a self- made man, for, coming to a strange country when a young man, without capital or friends to aid him, he has steadily worked his way upward from year to year, and today his excellent farm of two hundred and fourteen acres, which lies on section 35, Sodus township, is an indication of what he has accomplished through industry, economy and perseverance. Almost four decades have come and gone since he left

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his native country and he has never felt regret for having made the change, for here he has found ample opportunity for the ac- quirement of success and today he is en- abled to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. During his resi- dence in Peoria county, Illinois, he took a very active part in public affairs and was honored by his fellow citizens with several public offices, serving his township as col- lector, road commissioner, drain commis- sioner and he likewise served as school trus- tee. In all these positions he was as reliable and straightforward as in carrying on his private business interests. and thus gave to the public general satisfaction.

ADAM ENDERS was one of the old settlers of Berrien county and a self-made man, who owed his success entirely to his own efforts. He utilized the means at hand for advancement and through diligence and perseverance worked his way upward. He was born in Limbach. Nassau, Germany, March 20, 1825, and came to the United States in 1848. when a young man of twenty- three years. His sister Dorothy, the wife of Jacob Hiler, had lived in Bainbridge town- ship for three or four years and it was this that led Adam Enders to locate in this lo- cality. He worked at the shoemaker's trade in Bainbridge, and being an expert work- man secured a good patronage in that line.

On the 7th of June, 1849. Mr. Enders was married to Miss Theresa Solomon. He secured fifteen acres of land in Bainbridge township but afterward sold that property and bought what is known as the present homestead farm in Watervliet township, two miles south of Coloma. His wife was two months his junior and came to America from Germany with her mother. Philip Enders. a brother of Adam Enders, was also of the party. Philip Enders had lost his wife in Germany and his two children were cared for by Mrs. Solomon and her daughter Theresa. Philip Enders was a tailor by trade and on coming to Michigan settled in Keeler township. Van Buren county, where he lived to an advanced age.

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Enders began their domestic life upon a farm, and in 1851 he

purchased eighty acres on contract. In the early years of his residence the crops were poor and he had hard luck. He lived in a log cabin and worked persistently and ener- getically. His life record proves that unfal- tering diligence and strong determination will overcome all obstacles. As the years passed his financial resources were somewhat increased, and in 1864 he was able to build the main part of the present residence which stands upon the old home farm, paying twenty per cent interest on the money. He was drafted for service in the Civil war and it cost him three hundred dollars to send a substitute. This and other handships im- peded his progress somewhat but he made the best use of his opportunities and from time to time bought more land. He assisted each one of his sons in securing a farm and as time passed he placed his own farm under a high state of cultivation and added many modern improvements. His attention was given to the cultivation of fruit as well as grain and he paid for the erection of a barn costing seven hundred dollars with the pro- ceeds of a peach crop, having received one dollar per peck basket for his peaches.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Enders were born ten children : Kate became the wife of Dorsy Arney, now deceased, and her death oc- curred when she was forty-five years of age. Henry died in childhood. Carrie is the wife of G. S. 'Laymore. John and Will are living near Coloma. Jacob is a merchant at St. Joseph. Daniel resides on the old home- stead. Joseph is conducting a store at Ben- ton Harbor. Mary, twin sister of Joseph, is the wife of George Kenney, and Samuel is proprietor of a store at Coloma but makes his home in St. Joseph.

In his political views Mr. Enders was a stalwart Republican and active in the work of the party. Both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical association in Bainbridge, took an active part in its work and contributed generously to its support. For twenty years Mr. Enders was class leader in the church and also was active in the work of the Sunday-school. The only original members of this church are Philip Butzbach and his wife and Mrs. Enders. Mr. Enders passed away June 2, 1889. His

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widow, however, still survives and is living at the old homestead with her son, Daniel. She is a bright, active lady, well preserved, whose life has been devoted to her family, and throughout the neighborhood in which she has lived she is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Enders was widely respected as a man of genuine personal worth, whose life rec- ord demonstrated the value of labor, economy and careful management as factors in a suc- cessful business career. Coming to this county in pioneer times he shared in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and he knew what it was to be deprived of many other things which are regarded as essential to comfortable living but he possessed a determined purpose and strong will, and as the years went by he made for himself a place among the substantial farm- ers of the county and at the same time gained an honored name.

Daniel Enders, living on the old home- stead, was born January 10, 1864, just after the new house had been completed. He has always resided upon the home farm and has purchased the interest of the other heirs in this property. He has also added twenty acres adjoining, so that he now has eighty- five acres. This is a fruit farm, about fifty acres being devoted to fruit, and his peach crop in 1905 was over three thousand bush- els, while his sales for that year amounted to about twenty-five hundred dollars. He is also well known as a melon raiser and his ef- forts in this direction have brought him over five hundred dollars in a single season. He likewise raises grain and hay and has a splen- didly developed farm, a glance at the place indicating that he is thoroughly familiar with progressive methods of agriculture and of horticulture.

In September, 1890, Mr. Enders was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Shiflet, who was born in Eau Claire, Michigan. Their children are Cleo, Harold, Clifford and Jennie. Mr. Enders is a Republican and has attended some of the conventions of his party. He has filled a number of township offices and has served in various school offi- ces, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is a worthy representative of a prominent pioneer family,

the name of Enders having been closely and honorably associated with substantial pro- gress in this part of the State for almost six decades.

WILLIAM WALTON, who was one of the leading citizens of Berrien county in earlier years and aided in promoting its sub- stantial improvement and business progress, was born in Cumberland county, England, December 8, 1806, and died upon his farm on section 36, Lake township, August 8, 1860. He crossed the Atlantic to New York with his brothers, Richard and Thomas, and there remained in England one brother, John, and two sisters, Mary and Jane, al- though the last named afterward became a resident of Michigan.

While living in the Empire State Wil- liam Walton was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Filkins Husted, who was born in New York. She had three children by her former marriage : Mrs. Louisa Hunter, who is now living in Buchanan, Michigan; Caroline, de- ceased; and Mrs. Ann Boyle, a resident of Buchanan township.

The year 1844 witnessed the arrival of William Walton in Michigan. He drove all the way across the country from New York and brought with him over a hundred head of sheep. He located about four miles east of Berrien Springs and in 1845 removed to the farm which has since been the family homestead. He began its further develop- ment and improvement, continuing active in the work of cultivation there up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 8th of August, 1860. He owned two hundred and fifty-four acres on section 36 and through- out his entire life followed the occupation of farming, making all of the property himself. His success was due entirely to his own la- bors and he deserves classification with the representative citizens of Berrien county, whose labors have been of direct and last- ing benefit in its substantial improvement.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walton were born six children: Richard, who was born No- vember 5, 1843, and resides on the old home- stead; William Henry, who was born Feb- ruary 17, 1845, and is also living on the old home farm; Thomas, who was born August

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25, 1846, and died on the 4th of December following; Mrs. Sarah Jane Boyle, of We- saw township, who was born January 8, 1848; Mrs. Mary Ann Witt, of Port Alle- gany, Pennsylvania, born July 10, 1849; and Thomas Filkins, who was born February 6, 1850, and is living in Lake township.

William and Richard Walton own and operate the old home farm and are enter- prising agriculturists. The latter was mar- ried in 1870 to Miss Lucinda Allen, a native of Schoharie county, New York, who came with her mother to Michigan. She was a daughter of John and Ruth Allen.

Following his arrival in this county Wil- liam Walton, the father, took up two hun- dred and fifty-five .acres of timber land, of which about fifteen acres had been cleared, while a cabin had been erected thereon. He cleared the farm and placed it under culti- vation with the aid of his sons, the three working harmoniously together in the con- duct of their agricultural interests. Three good dwellings have been built upon the farm by William and Richard Walton and other excellent improvements have been made. The brothers are now engaged in the raising of grain, fruit and stock and are carefully conducting their business affairs. Both are independent in politics as far as regards of- fice holding, but in matters of citizenship re- lating to substantial improvement and up- building they take a deep interest and co- operate in many movements for the public good.

ALBERT E. CHAUNCEY, of the firm of Chauncey & Baldwin, general mer- chants of Bridgman, possesses the enter- prising spirit which keeps him in touch with modern progress in the business world, and in the management of his store he is alert and energetic, so that a desirable and grati- fying measure of success is attending his efforts. He was born in Lincoln township, this county. November 24. 1868. He pa- ternal grandfather, Micajah Chauncey, died when on his way to California. The vessel on which he sailed was shipwrecked and he was buried on an island in the sea. His son, Edmund Chauncey, father of our subject. was born in North Carolina in 1825, and

when only three years of age was taken by his parents to Indiana, the journey being made in a wagon after the primitive manner of travel at that time. The family became residents of St. Joseph in 1836. He lived upon the present site of Benton Harbor, where he and his father each had eighty acres of land, for the city had not yet been laid out. This land they cleared and improved and Edmund Chauncey there resided until after he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to California but still retained the ownership of property in this county. He married a Miss Smith and made the journey to the Pacific coast in 1849, spending fifteen years in California, during which time he was connected with various lines of business. He then returned to Benton Harbor, sold a part of his interests there and for a short time lived in St. Joseph, after which he re- moved to a farm on the lake shore, whereon he continued to live until 1878. He is now living retired and makes his home in Bridg- man with his son. After losing his first wife he married Miss Matilda Brightup, a native of Ohio, who in her childhood days came with her parents to this county, where she has since resided. Edmund Chauncey had five children by his first marriage; and there were four children of the second union : Lulu E., Estella L., Florence May and Al- bert.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 135

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