A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 138

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 138

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After his discharge from the war Mr. Clawson returned to his home in Pipestone township, and assisted his mother in the operation of the home farm and in the care of the younger members of the family until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life on his own account by working as a farm hand for two years. In 1872 he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Aumack, a native of Mont- gomery county. New York, and a daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Lewis) Aumack. She accompanied her parents on their re- moval from the Empire state to Michigan, when a child, the father taking up his abode in Pipestone township, where the mother

Ida Clawson

Sullivans M Clawson

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passed away in 1896. Of their four chil- dren two are deceased, Clowie and Johnnic, while William H. and Clana, the wife of Walter Inman, of Pipestone township, sur- vive. Mr. Clawson was again married, his second union being with Ida Hartsell, a daughter of John R. and Mary (Suther- land) Hartsell. There is one son of this marriage, Kenneth C., now four years of age.

In 1872 Mr. Clawson began work as a carpenter and joiner, being associated in this business with W. A. Hess, which rela- tion was maintained for twenty-five years. They were connected with many building operations in this section of the country, adding to the improvement of Berrien coun- ty, and today many buildings stand as monuments to their work. In May, 1900, however, he retired from all active busi- ness connections and took the census in Pipestone township and in the village of Eau Claire. He has always given his politi- cal support to the Republican party and has been deeply interested in the growth and success of its work. He has been called to a number of position of trust, having served for eight years as justice of the peace. For many years he has been sent as a delegate to the Republican county convention and has also been a delegate to many state con- ventions, being present at the time Mr. Pin- gee was nominated for governor of the state. He is a member of Lake Shore lodge, No. 298, of Masons at Benton Harbor and also of the Grange in Pipestone township. He has always taken a very active and helpful interest in matters of public concern and has aided in many progressive measures for the advancement of Berrien county. He has always been found reliable in all his busi- ness transactions and trustworthy in the dis- charge of official duties, and all who know him speak of him in terms of highest praise.

WILLIAM W. KNAPP, who started out in life for himself at an early age and has since depended entirely upon his own resources and labors for the success which he has achieved and enjoyed, is now living in Watervliet township, where he is

engaged in the growing of fruit, grain and stock, his place being known as the W. W. Knapp Stock Farm. He is one of Michi- gan's native sons, his birth having occurred in Hartford township, Van Buren county, May 14, 1853. His parents were John W. and Marlaette ( McKee) Knapp, who were married in Watervliet in 1848. The father came to Michigan from Genesee county, New York, when ten years of age, arriving in 1837, at which time he took up his abode in Spring Arbor township, Jackson county, where he was reared to adult age. Coming to Berrien county, he operated a mill at Watervliet. He had previously been em- ployed by I. N. Swayne in Jackson county. Mrs. John W. Knapp was a daughter of W. W. McKee, whose wife was a sister of Mr. Swayne, and kept a boarding house for Swayne's mill men in Watervliet.

After some years' connection with the milling business in Watervliet Mr. Knapp returned to Jackson county but afterward came again to Berrien county, and in 1879 purchased his present farm, upon which he has lived for twenty-six years, yet occupy- ing that place. His wife died about seven or eight years ago.

William W. Knapp started out upon his business career at the age of fourteen years, when he began working in a saw mill, his wages going to the support of his father's family. At the age of eighteen years he se- cured a position in a store at Burr Oak. in St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he re- mained for two years, and in 1873 he re- turned to Watervliet, being employed for four years by W. W. Allen. In 1878, in company with Dr. Tucker, he engaged in the drug and grocery business, conducting the store for two years, or until he located upon the farm. His father purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, of which W. W. Knapp took sixty acres. About half of the tract had been cleared. There were no buildings, however, upon the place and the work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun, for previous to this time the land had been rented. Mr. Knapp of this review has since purchased thirty acres of land in another tract about a mile

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distant from his home farm. This he has also cleared and tiled, thirty acres having been muck land, upon which he has placed about six hundred rods of tiling. His home place is mainly high land, well suited to the cultivation of fruit and he has from thirty- five to forty acres planted to fruit, peaches being his main crop. He also raises about seven acres of melons each year. His sales in fruit in 1905 amounted to thirteen hun- dred dollars, of which one thousand dollars came from his sale of peaches. His farm is on high land south of Watervliet, between that point and Coloma, being pleasantly and conveniently situated about a mile and a half from the former. He has made many excellent improvements upon his place, in- cluding the erection of a bank barn with a cement foundation and cement floor, with running water throughout. It is thoroughly modern in all its equipments and all of the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century may be found upon his place.

On the 7th of May. 1874, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Julia Spencer, a daughter of E. T. Spencer. She was born in Ohio, and was twenty-one years of age at the time of her marriage, previous to which time she had been employed in the Elgin watch factory and was also engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have no children of their own but have reared two adopted children, Claude and Bertha Olcam- paugh, the elder being six years of age, when, in 1890, he became a member of the Knapp household. Claude has married Miss May Crum and has one child, Lois. When he was twenty-one years of age Mr. Knapp gave him twenty acres of land, and his time and energies are given to the operation of the home farm, thus assisting his foster father.

In his political views Mr. Knapp was formerly a Prohibitionist but is now inde- pendent. He has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, which are capably managed, and he is known as one of the leading fruit, grain and stock farmers of this section, having a well im- proved property, while his large sales of

fruit indicate that he is one of the foremost representatives of horticultural interests here.

DWIGHT BOYER, living in Water- vliet township, was born August 1. 1847, in the county which is still his home, his parents being Austin and Adelia (Wetmore) Boyer. Three brothers, Justin, Norman and Austin Boyer, came from Jefferson coun- ty, New York, to Michigan, and, like most of the pioneers of the early '40s, all secured land. They remained together and spent the residue of their days in this county, each improving a good farm. They were all ship carpenters and all worked in the yard at St. Joseph, hiring others to develop and improve their lands. The last survivor of the three brothers was Austin Boyer, who died at the age of seventy-six years. He had a number of years before sold his land and removed to Kansas, but returning to Michigan he operated a saw mill at Coloma. Later he went to California but died at the home of his daughter. Mrs. P. O. Bowe, near Watervliet. Mrs. Bowe and Dwight Boyer are the surviving members of the family of three children, the eldest son, Sey- mour, having died while in the service of his country as a member of the Fourth Mich- igan Cavalry in the Civil war. He enlisted on the day that he was twenty-one years of age and he died at Nashville, Tennessee, when twenty-three years of age.

Dwight Boyer pursued his education in a schoolhouse in Bainbridge township about two and a half miles southwest of Coloma and remained upon the home farm until it was sold when he was twelve years of age. He was afterward in Kansas until about the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, or until the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, and later he was connected with his father in the operation of the mill at Coloma. In the fall of 1879 he went to California and for four years was engaged in hydraulic mining in connection with his father, who had a mine there. The father made his first trip to the Pacific coast in 1852, and in 1879 went for the third time, when he was accompanied by his son

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Dwight. They did not win rapid success in their business interests there although they met with fair results, when Mr. Boyer of this review brought back with him some handsome gold nuggets, which, however, were later stolen from him by some thieves.

When twenty-two years of age Mr. Boyer was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Niver, who was born in Will county, Illinois, and came to Berrien county at the age of fifteen years, while at the age of eighteen she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Boyer. For two years he remained in the mill at Coloma and then rented land, which he continued to farm for seven years. On the expiration of that period he came to his present farm three miles north of Watervliet. He had purchased a tract of land lying mainly in the woods on which only a small clearing had been made. This was in 1876. The best timber had been cut, still he realized enough from the timber that still remained to assist him materially in se- curing a farm. He now has one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, the greater part of which is under cultivation and his success in business is due entirely to his own efforts, his indefatigable industry and perse- verance standing as the salient features in his business career. He has carried on gen- eral farming, devoting his entire time and attention to this work, and he also raises apples and peaches.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Boyer has been blessed with two sons: A. D., who follows farming, and he married Lulu Crandall, by whom he has two children, Aline and Doris; and Forest C., whose natural inclination seems to be in the direc- tion of mechanics.

Earlier generations of the Boyer family were Whigs and afterward Republicans, and in the faith of the latter party Dwight Boyer was reared but he now gives his allegiance to the Prohibition party. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and he holds membership with the Masonic fra- ternity. He is a broad minded man, of gen- erous spirit and kindly disposition, enterpris- ing in his business affairs and careful in the management of his interests. He has

worked earnestly and persistently year after year from the days of early youth, and the success which he is now enjoying has come to him as a reward of his own efforts.

ABRAM YATES is one of the venerable citizens of Berrien county, having reached the eighty-first mile stone on life's journey and moreover he has been the architect and builder of his own fortunes. That he has won success is due entirely to his unre- mitting labor and unfaltering perseverance and now he is in possession of a comfortable competence which supplies him with many of the luxuries as well as the necessities of life. His natal day was the 3d of October, 1825, and the place of his nativity Rensselaer county, New York. He came to Michigan in 1854 when a young man of twenty-nine years and although reared on a farmheearly learned the inason's trade, which he fol- lowed for several years. He continued at home until fifteen years of age, after which he started out in life on his own account. For some time he. found it difficult to earn a living and was unable to save little but as the years passed he prospered in his un- dertakings.

Mr. Yates was married at the age of twenty-eight years to Miss Eliza M. Wooden, of Monroe county, New York, then twenty years of age. This marriage was celebrated on the 16th of February, 1854. In the previous autumn Mr. Yates had come to Michigan and purchased land, becoming owner of a tract that is now within the corporation limits of the village of Hart- ford. Five years were devoted to clearing and improving that place, after which, in 1859, he removed to his present farm, con- veniently and pleasantly situated about three miles north of the village of Watervliet. It comprised seventy acres, nearly all of which had been cleared, and he afterward added three eighty-acre tracts, making in all over three hundred acres, constituting a single farm. All of the land was wild ex- cept the first seventy-acre tract which he purchased and a small clearing upon one of the eighty-acre tracts. He sold wood, sawed timber and did other work connected

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with the clearing and improving of land. He placed about two hundred acres under cultivation, making about two hundred and seventy acres which were cleared. He also enlarged his present residence and he has upon the place a good barn and other sub- stantial outbuildings. His time and atten- tion have been given to general farming and he has made a specialty of raising wheat and other grains. He also has large apple orchards and he has continued the work of improvement along lines of modern progress and development, making his home place one of the fine farms of this part of the county. In more recent years he has divided his tract into three farms, the home place being now owned by one of his sons, Charles D., while his other son, Edson, has eighty acres adjoining. Mr. Yates retains possession of the remainder and his farm property is valu- able.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yates have been born two sons, who are yet living, and they lost their daughter, Edith M., when she was twenty years of age. In his political views Mr. Yates is a Democrat but has had no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs in which he has met with signal success. He has been identified with the Masonic fra- ternity for over forty years, having been made a Mason at Coloma, and throughout the intervening decades he has always been loyal to the teachings of the craft. exem- plifying in his life its beneficent spirit. While he has lived the quiet life of the farmer, giving almost his entire attention to its further development and improvement, he has also done his full share toward ad- vancing the interests of the county, standing as a supporter of all those measures which are calculated to prove of general benefit. His residence here covers more than a half century and he has therefore witnessed the greater part of the county's growth as modern civilization has wrought many changes. The settlers from the east and south have reclaimed wild and unimproved land and transformed it into productive farms and good village property and in all those interests which work for material de-

velopment and good citizenship Mr. Yates has borne a part.

Edson A. Yates, the elder son, was born on the old homestead farm March 6, 1864, and spent his boyhood days there, early be- coming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he assisted his father during the period of his boyhood and youth, and at the age of twenty- five years he was married to Miss Mary Nutt of Mishawaka, Indiana. In their fam- ily were five children, Hazel, Helen, Edith, Marion and Earl. His farm of eighty acres adjoins his father's place and has good build- ings upon it, which were erected by his father. His attention is given to general agricultural pursuits and his farm presents a neat and attractive appearance, indicating his careful supervision. He, too, is identified with the Masonic fraternity.

Charles D. Yates, the younger-son, was born February 4, 1872, in the house which he yet occupies and his youth was spent in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, the public schools affording him his educational privileges. He was married at the age of twenty-seven years to Miss Min- nie Hoffman, of Newaygo county, Michi- gan, and they reside with his father, who lost his wife April 22, 1902, after they had traveled life's journey happily together for nearly a half century. Charles D. Yates makes dairying and sheep-raising the prin- cipal features of his business and is accounted one of the enterprising young business men of his locality. Like his father and brother he is a representative of the Masonic fra- ternity.

EUGENE W. AUSTIN. The Walnut Grove farm is one of the attractive farm properties of Berrien county, especially pop- ular as a summer resort. It is pleasantly and conveniently situated near Watervliet, and its genial proprietor in the careful con- duct of his business interests has found that success is ambition's answer. He was born at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, February 18, 1861, and the following year his parents removed to Watervliet, Michigan, where his father, Thomas Austin, followed the blacksmith's

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trade for a time. He afterward removed to a farm, which he cultivated but continued also to carry on his shop until 1865. He died upon his farm at the age of seventy- three years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jeanette Wilson, passed away seven years previously. They were the parents of eight children, who reached adult age, and all are yet living, three being residents of Berrien county, namely : Eugene W .; Cora, who is the wife of J. W. Smouse ; and Grace, the wife of Merritt Summerill. Two sons, George and Albert, are photog- raphers, while Amos is a farmer of Van Buren county, and O. E. Austin is a resident of Iowa.

Eugene W. Austin, whose name intro- duces this record, spent his boyhood days on the home farm to the age of eighteen years, after which he worked by the month as a farm hand in Berrien county for five years, or until his marriage. At the age of twenty-three years he was joined in wed- lock to Miss Elizabeth Scherer, who was then twenty years of age and she was a daughter of Charles Scherer of Benton Harbor.

Mr. Austin purchased forty acres of land at Watervliet, which he improved, setting out a good orchard there. After seven years he sold that property and bought his present farm in 1890. He has lived thereon for sixteen years and now has a valuable prop- erty lying east of Paw Paw lake and two miles from Watervliet. It comprises sev- enty-one acres, a part of which he has him- self cleared. His attention is devoted to general farming, which he successfully car- ries on and through all the years he has kept summer boarders, erecting a large frame residence, accommodating thirty or more people. The Walnut Grove farm is always well patronized through the summer seasons and is a popular resort, excellent accommodations being afforded to those who wish to enjoy the quiet of country life and at the same time have the pleasures which may be secured through residing in close proximity to a beautiful body of water.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Austin have been born two children : Lydia E. and Woodbury

E., the former now the wife of Benjamin Rogers, of Watervliet. Mr. Austin has never cared to mingle actively in politics. On the contrary he has concentrated his time and energies upon his business affairs which have been capably controlled and which have made him one of the well-to-do citizens of his part of the county. The Walnut Grove farm is attractive in all of its equipments and indicates the careful and practical super- vision of the owner, who is thoroughly up- to-date in all his work as well as in his entertaining of summer guests.

ROBERT H. SHERWOOD is the pro- prietor of the Lake View farm, situated upon the bank of Paw Paw lake. His place comprises about four hundred and fifty acres of land, constituting one of the largest and best improved fruit farms in the State and the owner may well be classed as one of the leading representatives of horticultural interests in Michigan. He is a man of excellent business ability and marked enter- prise as is shown in the splendid appearance of his place which is lacking in none of the modern equipments that go to make up a model farm of the twentieth century.

A native of Syracuse, New York, Mr. Sherwood was born January 12, 1864, and is descended from Scotch ancestry, who came to America from the north of Ireland. His parents were H. C. and Elizabeth K. (Al- vord) Sherwood, who arrived in Berrien county in 1875. The father was engaged in the grocery business at Syracuse, New York, and in the west engaged in the lum- ber business. In 1865 he took up his abode upon the farm where his son Rob- ert now resides, securing four hundred and fifty acres of land, of which he placed three hundred acres under cultivation. developing a splendid farm property. He erected thereon the buildings which are now seen here and made many improvements, indicating a spirit of progress and enter- prise which constitute him one of the lead- ing farmers of this portion of the State. Moreover in all his business dealings he was very reliable and was seldom at fault in a matter of business judgment. He also

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figured prominently in public life and broad culture, who, though denied a college wielded a wide influence, being recognized as a leader in public thought and action. He served as State senator in 1882 and 1883. having been elected to the office on the Democratic ticket, and in 1884 he was the nominee from his district for congress. He was a candidate for governor at the con- vention held at Grand Rapids-a joint convention-but a fusion ticket placed an- other man, Hon. George L. Yaple, in the field. Mr. Sherwood was very strong in campaign work and was well fitted for lead- ership. He kept thoroughly informed on the questions and issues of the day, having a statesman's grasp of affairs and he used most practical methods in working toward ideals. He was a delegate to the St. Louis convention which nominated Grover Cleve- land for the presidency, and his opinions regarding political questions were often de- cisive factors in local political circles. At all times his life was actuated by high and honorable principles as manifest in both his public and private career. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at Syra- cuse and following his removal to the west acted with both the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational Churches at Watervliet. Robert H. Sherwood, reared under the parental roof, was a lad of about eleven years when his parents located upon the farm which is now his home. He attended and was graduated from Olivet College with the class of 1885, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon him. He afterward went to Grand Rapids, where he was connected with mercantile interests until his father's death brought him back to the farm. His mother still survives and now makes her home in Grand Rapids. Robert H. Sherwood, however, resides upon the old homestead property, and on the 12th of June, 1889, he was married to Miss Mary V. Brown, of Brooklyn, New York, who was formerly a teacher in the schools of that city. On taking charge of the farm Mr. Sherwood brought to his new task the same spirit of enterprise and determination which characterized him in his horticultural career. He has extended its acreage until now three hundred acres instead of forty are planted to fruit. The farm altogether comprises He stood for all that is helpful and bene- ficial in man's relations with his fellowmen and through his business interests he con- tributed in substantial measure to the mater- ial progress and prosperity of the county. He became recognized as one of the fore- most horticulturists of this section of the state and was one of the first to set out apple and peach trees together. He lived to see the trees which he planted come into bearing and a forty-acre apple orchard which he planted was converted into a very valuable property. He was optimistic, yet conservative, and his opinions were sound regarding matters of public moment as well as business considerations. He delighted in the beauty of his home location and found genuine pleasure in adorning his farm with evidences of progressive agriculture and horticulture. Trees and shrubs also added to the attractive appearance of his place and he became a close student of botany in order to be familiar with them. He was a man of

education, supplemented this lack by broad and varied reading, bringing him into touch with modern thought and advanced ideas. His life in Michigan was crowned with a gratifying measure of success. He possessed indefatigable energy, had strong and stead- fast purpose and allowed no obstacle to brook his path if it could be overcome by earnest and honorable effort. His life was one of great activity and in fact his death was oc- casioned by overwork. He placed too great a strain upon his physical and mental pow- ers, for while not busy in the supervision of his farming interests his time was given to study, reading and investigation. He was a director in the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank at Benton Harbor from its organiza- tion. He accomplished much more than the ordinary man does in a lifetime and he commanded under all conditions the respect, confidence and good will of those with whom he was associated. Of strong and forceful individuality he left the impress of his char- acter upon the material development, the in- tellectual progress and the political advance- ment of Berrien county, and his name is now enrolled among its honored dead.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 138

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