A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 141

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schaus have been born ten children and with the exception of one who died in infancy all are now living, namely: Oscar, Ella, Anna, Alice, Jacob. Chauncey, Oren, Philo, Eveline and Wal- lace. In his political views Mr. Schaus is an earnest Republican, in this respect fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father, who was the first German to vote the Republican ticket in Bainbridge township. although his influence brought many others to vote in the township throughout his remaining days,

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placing fifty acres of the land under culti- vation. He died on the old homestead in 1879, at the age of eighty-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty- six years. A log house stood upon the farm when it came into his possession. There was a stump still in one corner of the build- ing. In 1858 he erected a frame building and as opportunity offered he carried for- ward the work of improvement upon his farm. He had been reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church but after com- ing to the United States he assisted in the building of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. He was also one of the first mem- bers of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in his vicinity and his political allegiance was given to the Democracy. In his family were the following named: Mary, who be- came the wife of Jacob Shaus, and died at the age of seventy-two years; Elizabeth, who married first Christian Kneibes, and after his death Henry Ashup, and is a resi- dent of Royalton township; Charlie, who died in 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years; Philip, who died at the age of fifteen years; Fred, living in Riverside, Michigan; John, of Benton Harbor; William, of Mus- kegon, Michigan; and Louise, the wife of Charles Heyn, of Stevensville, Michigan.

Henry Dukesherer accompanied his par- ents to the United States when twelve years of age and remained at home to the age of twenty-seven years, when he was married on the 3d of December, 1860, to Miss Char- lotte Tebbe, who was born in Prussia, came to America at the age of twenty-two and was married when twenty-five years of age. Henry Dukesherer received from his father sixty acres of land and lived continuously upon that farm until about ten years ago. He later bought the old homestead of his brother John and he also had an eighty acre farm in Watervliet township. He now makes his home in Benton Harbor. Unto him and his wife were born nine children : William, who died at the age of thirty years ; August ; John, of Benton Harbor; Edward, who is living on the old homestead; Anna, the wife of R. E. Woodruff, of Benton Har- bor ; Louise, the wife of Ed McFall, of South Bend, Indiana; Sophia; Dorothy, the wife

of Albert Elen, a resident of South Bend, Indiana; and Minnie, the wife of Ed Fox, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The father of August Dukesherer was a member of the Baptist Church and assisted in building the church in Bainbridge which stood upon land donated by him. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he is one of the representative and prom- inent citizens of this county, where for more than six decades he has made his home.

August Dukesherer remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age but in the meantime he had worked by the month, his earnings going to his father. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Lydia Orth, a daughter of Rev. John Orth, of the Evangelical association, and was pas- tor of the big brick church in Bainbridge, which was built through his efforts. He is now retired from the active work of the min- istry and is living at Howell, Michigan. Fol- lowing their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Duke- sherer lived upon a rented farm for four years and in 1893 he purchased his present farm, which is the old Asof Woodruff homestead and was formerly the property of Deacon Woodruff, the father of all the Woodruffs in Bainbridge township. The place comprises eighty acres, for which Mr. Dukesherer paid four thousand dollars. He has placed fifteen acres under cultivation himself and he now has about eighteen acres in apples, twelve acres in peaches, two and a half acres in grapes, four acres in black- berries and two acres in raspberries. His sale of peaches in 1905 amounted to over nine hundred dollars and other crops were proportionately large. He is now erecting a fine new residence in the midst of a beauti- ful grove of pine and maple trees and al- together has a well improved farm and is ac- counted one of the successful agriculturists of this locality.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dukesherer have been born six children : Anna, Ruth, Evan- geline, Milan, Henry and Mildred. Mr. Dukesherer is active in township affairs, has served as drain commissioner, was township treasurer and was justice of the peace. He has been a delegate to all the county con- ventions of the Republican party for the past

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sixteen years. Mr. Dukesherer belongs to the Evangelical association and his mem- bership relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county, is popular with his fellow citizens and is recog- nized as a leader in local political circles as well as one of the enterprising young busi- ness men of this portion of the State.

JOHN W. BEDFORD. Agriculture is the source of all business activity. Without the cultivation of rich crops there is always a depression in the industrial and commer- cial markets and therefore much depends upon the enterprising and progressive farmer. Among the representatives of this class in Pipestone township is numbered John W. Bedford, who lives on section 24. He was born in Silver Creek township, Cass county, Michigan, May 24, 1846. His father, George Bedford, was a native of England, and when twenty-three years of age came to America, settling first near Syracuse, New York, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was married in England to Miss Ann Smith, also a native of that country, and after living in New York for several years they came to Michi- gan in 1841, taking up their abode in Silver Creek township, Cass county, where Mr. Bedford was engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was well known in that county and was closely identified with its early his- tory, its improvement and development. His wife was seventy-four years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were eight children, six daughters and two sons, all of whom reached manhood or woman- hood, while at this writing there are four daughters living.

John W. Bedford, however, is the only living son and was the fourth child of the family. He was born in a log cabin and his early years were passed amid surround- ings common to a frontier existence. His education was obtained in the district schools of Dowagiac, and he afterward benefited by training in Albion College. His

education completed, he began farming and remained upon the old homestead for about three years, or up to the time of his mar- riage, which was celebrated in October, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Rosilla Walter, a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Dewey) Walter. Mrs. Bedford was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, her people having been among the early settlers of this county. Her grand- father, Henry Dewey, was one of the first residents of Cass county, so that the name is closely interwoven with the history of pioneer progress and improvement in this part of the state. Mrs. Bedford was reared in the place of her nativity and supplemented her common-school education by study in Dowagiac. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where he now resides. In 1863, in company with his father and his brother, George E., he be- gan the improvement of this place, and most of the equipments and buildings upon the farm are monuments to his skill, labor and enterprise. He is now the owner of over seven hundred acres of valuable land, some ! of which lies in Silver Creek township, Cass county, while one tract of eighty acres is in Berrien township although the greater part of it is in Pipestone township. He engages in the raising of both fruit and grain and has been very successful as an agriculturist as well as a horticulturist. Both branches of his business are capably conducted and show his thorough under- standing of the, work and his practical methods. He is also interested in the West Michigan Nursery and in the Michigan and Alabama Package Company, and in addition to his other business interests he loans money and is connected with other enter- prises. A man of resourceful business abil- itv he carries forward to successful comple- tion whatever he undertakes and with strong purpose and unfaltering diligence he is meet- ing with splendid success in his business life.

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Mr. Bedford always takes an active and helpful interest in public affairs and is a Democrat in his political views. He has never been an office seeker and in fact has refused to become a candidate for political honors but his party in 1902 and 1904

ohn W. (Bedford

Mozilla Bedford

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

nominated him as representative from the seventh district of Berrien county. He is well known in this portion of the state and is a typical son of Michigan, possessing the alert, enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the rapid and substan- tial upbuilding of the middle west.

CHARLES MOSER, owing his suc- cess to his own labor, has advanced from a humble financial position to one of affluence. He resides in Bainbridge township, where he now has a good farm property, which he has developed from a wild and uncultivated place until it is now a very productive tract, on which he raises fruit and melons as well as grain. He has moreover done consider- able work as a mason and his life has been one of intense and well directed activity. He was born in Prussia, April 7, 1839, and became a resident of the United States in 1868, making his way direct to Bainbridge township, Berrien county. His father was a contractor, and in his youth Charles Moser learned the stone mason's trade, at which he worked until 1868. He was induced to come to America by Frank Arndt, who had crossed the Atlantic in 1867. He was a friend of Mr. Moser in Germany and wrote for the latter to come to the new world, be- lieving that he might enjoy better business opportunities in this country. Accordingly the journey was made in 1868 and Mr. Moser cast in his lot with the residents of Berrien county, where he has since lived and labored, his efforts being crowned with a measure of success that indicates untiring. activity, perseverance and sound judgment.

In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Charles Moser and Miss Marguerite Wag- goner, who was born near Friedberg, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany. She came to the United States in 1871, and made her home in Berrien county. In 1872 Mr. Moser pur- chased ten acres of his present farm, for which he paid five hundred dollars. It was all in grubs but land brought a high price, owing to the fact that peaches were being profitably raised, the value of Michigan soil for fruit production having been demon- strated. Mr. Moser had but one hundred dollars with which to make a payment on the property but he resolutely set to work to

earn the sum that would free him from all indebtedness. He had to cut out the grubs in order to have a place cleared on which to build his two-story frame house. Working at the mason's trade he thus secured ready capital and as opportunity offered he cleared and developed his land, planting his ten acres to fruit. He made some advance in this way but it was about fourteen years before he purchased more land. He then bought ten acres for five hundred and fifty dollars, the tract having already been cleared. About thirteen years age he added twelve acres, so that he now has a good property of thirty- two acres, of which about ten or eleven acres is planted to fruit. He grows berries, peaches, grapes, melons, etc., and has cleared one thousand dollars or more per year from the products of his place. He has also done mason work by the job, building many chim- neys and executing other such contracts in this part of the county. His home is now one of the best in this vicinity. It borders the old territorial road and is seven and a quarter miles east of Benton Harbor. Neat and thrifty in appearance, it indicates the careful supervision of the owner, who has been most progressive in his business meth- ods and through his careful management has steadily progressed until he is now num- bered among the substantial horticulturists of Bainbridge township.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moser have been born eight children. Carrie is the wife of Henry Russell, of Benton Harbor; Otto, who was formerly engaged in packing apples for seven years, is now operating the home farm. Libbie is the widow of Charles Hiler, who died June 24, 1904, in Colorado, since which time his widow has returned to her father's home. Margaret is the wife of Sam- uel Krieger, of Bainbridge township. Al- vin died July 19, 1904, at the age of twenty- five years, having been employed with a rail- road construction company in Chicago. The other children of the family died in early age, and were Alfred and two infant daugh- ters.

Mr. Moser is a Republican in his political views and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day but has no aspira- tion for the honors and emoluments of pub- lic office. Both he and his wife are mem-

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bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Bainbridge and are highly esteemed in the community where they reside. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for in this country he has found good opportunities, which he has embraced and improved, steadily work- ing his way upward until he is now enabled to enjoy the comforts of life and some of its luxuries.

HORACE M. WISE, owner of the Walnut Hill fruit farm, of which about forty acres is devoted to fruit, eighteen acres being planted to small fruit, while the remainder is utilized for the cultivation of apples, pears and peaches, is well known in Bainbridge township and other sections of the county. He was born October 20, 1855, on the old homestead property belonging to his father. His parents were George and Mary (Yund) Wise. The mother was formerly the wife of a Mr. Dodge, of New York, and the mother of Balaam Dodge, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The old homestead is now owned by Benja- min Seel, although Mr. Wise of this review has a part of the place. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land and was improved wholly by his father, George Wise, who always lived on the opposite side of the territorial road. George Wise was the owner of about four hundred acres of good land and improved about three hun- dred acres of that tract.

Horace M. Wise was reared to the oc- cupation of farming and acquired a pub- lic-school education. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the old home place of what remained at the time of his father's death, although about eight years previously he had erected thereon good buildings. His place is now known as the Walnut Hill fruit farm and comprises about forty acres of land devoted to fruit. Of this about eighteen acres is given to small fruit and he also raises apples, pears and peaches. Each year he sets out new trees and uses only the best nursery stock. He usually sells from fifteen to twenty hundred crates of small fruit in a single season, while his sales have reached as high as three thous- and crates. In 1896 and 1897, however,

the crop was grown at a loss, but usually has been satisfactory, bringing a good finan- cial return. That part of the farm which is not given over to horticultural pursuits is devoted to general farming and the place lies along the old territorial road about eleven miles and a half east of Benton Har- bor. Mr. Wise has spent his entire life upon this farm with the exception of about a year and a half passed in Missouri and Nebraska.

In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of Horace M. Wise and Miss Alice Burg, who died in 1892, leaving a daughter, Leona. In 1897 Mr. Wise was again married, his sec- ond union being with Mrs. Lizzie Seel, the widow of Ed Seel. They have one son, Bryan. Mr. Wise belongs to the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all of the chairs, has been represen- tative to the grand lodge and for twenty- eight years has been connected with this fraternity as one of its exemplary members. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Bainbridge township and the extent and importance of his business interests indicate his ability, his enterprise and his thrift.

CYRUS B. GROAT has been identified with the educational interests of this part of the state for many years, and his labors have been effective in raising the standard of the schools until the educational system is one of which every citizen of the locality has reason to be proud. He was born on section 13 of Berrien township, April 6, 1844, his father being James Groat, who was a native of Canada and came to Ber- rien county, Michigan, in 1836, while three years later, in 1839, he took up his abode in the township of Berrien. His death oc- curred when he had reached the age of eighty-three years. He chose Lucinda Pin- nell as his wife, she being a native of Vir- ginia, but in her maidenhood, in 1836, she came to Berrien county, her parents having been numbered abong the honored early pio- neers of the county. She still survives her husband, and has now reached the venerable old age of eighty-eight years.

Cyrus B. Groat, the second child and second son of his parents eight children, three of whom are living, spent the early years of his life in Berrien township, and

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the early educational training which he re- ceived in the district schools was supple- mented by a course in the high schools of his native county. He remained at home is an honor to the district which has so often he began teaching, and for twenty-five years followed the teacher's profession in Berrien county. The first position to which he was elected was that of , superintendent of schools of Berrien township in 1870, for four years was county superintendent of schools, and for eight years was a member of the board of school examiners. For a period of six years Mr. Groat maintained his residence in Niles, where he served as a director of the city schools, as a school trus- tee and as a member of the board of public works. For twelve years he was supervisor of Berrien township, and is now holding the office of justice of the peace, while he is also a candidate for representative of the second district.

In 1867 Mr. Groat was married to Eliza- beth Stutsman, and they have one son, Max, a graduate of the Niles public schools and who also took a two years' course in the Michigan Agricultural College. In his polit- ical affiliations Mr. Groat has been a life- long Republican, his first presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln, and fraternally he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Niles. For years Mr. Groat has been accorded a prominent position in the educational cir- cles of southern Michigan, and his career is an honor to the district which has so often honored him with official positions.

WILLIAM P. BARKHOUSE, whose home farm on section 30, Wesaw township, is a well developed property which, owing to the cultivation he bestows upon it, yields to him a good return, was born in Nassau, Germany, January 8, 1848. His parents were John and Katharine (Shnatz) Bark- house, who were likewise natives of Nassau, but both died in Berrien county, the father at the age of eighty-four years and the mother when eighty-three years of age. In their family were the following named : William P .; Katharine, the wife of John Miller, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Henry, who is living in Breedsville, Van Buren county,

Michigan; Laura, the wife of John Shaber of Toledo; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Specht, of Cleveland, Ohio.

When four years of age William P. Barkhouse was brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being estab- lished at Green Springs in Seneca county, Ohio, where they lived for about eight years. On the expiration of that period they re- moved to Ottawa county, Ohio, and there William P. Barkhouse remained for about fourteen years upon the farm, which he as- sisted his father to clear and develop. It was in the black swamp country and re- quired much effort to bring the land under cultivation. The year 1879 witnessed his arrival in Wesaw township, Berrien county, to which place he made his way with his family, while his parents followed about a year later. Since that time Mr. Barkhouse has resided upon a farm which is yet his home. He owns two farms of forty acres each on sections 30 and 31, Wesaw town- ship. This includes the father's old home- stead, which he purchased and he personally operates both farms. He cleared half of his original forty acre tract of land and erected the buildings thereon. In fact all the evidences of care and cultivation about the place are indications of his handiwork and progressive spirit and he is justly ac- counted one of the leading agriculturists of his community.

Mr. Barkhouse was united in mar- riage in 1871 to Miss Clarissa Whitinger, who was born in Ottawa county, Ohio, Jan- uary 23, 1850, a daughter of John and Sarah Whitinger, who were likewise na- tives of Ohio. The following children have graced this marriage: Henry, owns his own farm and is married and has one child, Alice; Emma, the wife of William Luther, of Wesaw township, by whom she has five children; Elizabeth, who was born April 15, 1874, and died July 11, 1878; Rosetta, the wife of George Meyers of Chicago; Kath- arine, of Three Oaks; and Minnie of Kala- mazoo.

In his political views Mr. Barkhouse is a Democrat, recognized as one of the active and able workers in the local ranks of the party. He was elected as treasurer of his township for one term but resigned, has

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been highway commissioner for two terms, has held other minor offices and has been a member of the school board for four years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and helpful friend. He is likewise connected with the Knights of the Maccabees of New Troy. His residence in this county covers a period of more than a quarter of a cen- tury and throughout the entire time he has been actively identified with agricultural interests in successful manner, so that he is now accounted one of the leading agricul- turists of his community.

BALAAM DODGE, deceased, whose life of activity was crowned with success and the respect of his fellowmen, was born in Monroe county, New York, near Roch- ester, June 23, 1836, and died in Berrien county, Michigan, September 14, 1904. He lost his father in early childhood, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Yound, was a second time married, becom- ing the wife of George Wise in New York. In 1843 they came to Michigan, making their way direct to Berrien county and set- tled in the western part of Bainbridge town- ship. The surface of the land is much more broken in this part of the county. It was thought in New York that rolling land was better, and hence Mr. Wise made his choice of land in that locality. The old home stood about a half mile from the late resi- dence of Mr. Dodge, who was the only child of his mother's first marriage. He remained with his mother and stepfather through the period of his youth. The latter died a num- ber of years ago but Mrs. Wise survived until July 3, 1906, passing away at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years, six months and sixteen days. She was one of the last survivors of the early pioneers of the county and was the last living member of a family of five brothers and sisters, most of whom came to Berrien county. Her brother, Samuel Yound, was an early resident of Bainbridge township. He died four years ago, but his widow is still residing in Lin- coln township.

Balaam Dodge spent his youth on the Wise farm, remaining at home until he had attained his majority and assisted in the arduous task of clearing the Wise farm as

well as his own. He was of a happy dis- position, always singing at his work as he cut down the trees and chopped up the branches. At the age of sixteen years he thought of leaving home but Mr. Wise promised him forty acres of land if he would remain until he reached adult years, which he did, but he never received the forty-acre tract. He had nothing else with which to start in life save laudable ambition and de- termination, but he resolutely met life's battles.

On the 3Ist of December, 1859, Mr. Dodge was married to Miss Lydia Ann Yer- rington, a daughter of John and Laura (Vester) Yerrington, and a sister of the late George Yerrington. She was born near Findlay, Ohio, came to Michigan in early life and for some years was a neighbor to the Wise family of which Mr. Dodge was a member. The young couple began their domestic life in a little board cabin in the midst of the woods. This was afterward replaced with a log house and the moving from the one room shanty to the log house was a proud event in their lives. The extra room was duly appreciated, more so than when the family moved from the log cabin to the present brick residence. Mr. Dodge became the owner of two hundred and seventy-six acres of land in the home farin and also bought land in Keeler township. He devoted his entire attention to general agricultural pursuits and was also one of the early peach growers, while later he set out a large peach orchard although it did not come into bearing until after his death. Corn was his principal product and he real- ized money from his timber as well as from his crops.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 141

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