A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 142

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dodge were born five children, all of whom passed away in childhood except one daughter, Mary, who was born in the old log house. She re- mained at home until fifteen years of age, when she became the wife of Peter J. Smith, who was born in the same locality, a son of Philip Smith, a pioneer resident of Berrien county. The Smith family was located near Sister Lakes in Bainbridge township. Mr. Smith met his death under peculiar cir- cumstances. On the IIth of July, 1901, he was at work cutting wheat, when he was

Or a Hless

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

shot while operating his machine. He died At the age of twenty he learned the carpen- a few hours later, not knowing who his ter's trade in Crawford county, serving a regular apprenticeship, and later he began business when a young man as a contractor and builder. He did much carpenter work there, erecting many buildings in the county, his skill and efficiency being such as to se- cure for him a liberal patronage that con- nected him with leading building operations in that part of the state. assassin was. It later developed that it was a neighbor who was laboring under insan- ity and whose body was found a few days later, he having committed suicide. Mrs. Smith now lives on her father's old home- stead and has charge of the operation of the farm, which she is carrying on successfully. She has two daughters: Lida, now the wife of Wooda Cook, who works the home farm, and by whom she has one child, Bernice Eleanor; and Ruth Smith, the other daugh- ter, is a young lady at home.

In his political views Mr. Dodge was a Republican. He never cared to hold office but kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He belonged to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows at Keeler and was a man of genuine personal worth, who in an active business career demon- strated the value of industry and integrity as factors in winning success. His wife died June II, 1902, and he passed away on the 14th of September, 1904. Thus' were called from this life two of the worthy, prominent and valued pioneer residents of Berrien county. Their daughter, Mrs. Smith, still occupies the home farm, which is being operated by her son-in-law.

WILLIAM A. HESS, a carpenter, con- tractor and farmer residing on section 20, Pipestone township, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, February 18, 1836. His father, Andrew Hess, was a native of West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Harrison county, Ohio. After attaining his majority he located in Craw- ford county, Ohio, and was there united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, a native of Carroll county, Ohio. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Crawford county, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother at the age of eighty-three. In their family were twelve children, of whom ten reached adult age, while two died in infancy.

William A. Hess is the second of this family and was reared in his native county, obtaining a common-school education there.

While living in Crawford county, Will- iam A. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bell, a daughter of Pharo and Cath- arine (Couts) Bell, and a native of the county in which the marriage was cele- brated. For three years thereafter they re- mained in Ohio and then came to Berrien county, Michigan, locating at Berrien Cen- ter, where Mr. Hess followed the trade of contractor and builder. In 1875 he re- moved to a farm in Berrien township and in 1880 he located in Pipestone township, on the farm which he now makes his home. He has always continued his building opera- tions, which have been the more important branch of his business, farming being mere- ly a side issue. Many important contracts have been awarded him and in many parts of the county are seen evidences of his skill and handiwork. He now owns one hun- dred and twenty acres of land on section 20, Pipestone township, which is well culti- vated and adds materially to his income.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess have been born three children : Homer E., a farmer and supervisor of Pipestone township; Cora B., who died in childhood; and Pearl, the wife of Fred A. Bowman, a resident farmer of Pipestone township. Mr. Hess has been a life-long Republican and active in the inter- ests of the party. Upon its ticket he has been elected to various local offices, serv- ing as highway commissioner and in other positions. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center, and at one time was a member of the Grange. For over forty years he has been a resident of Ber- rien county and has been closely identified with its material improvement and progress. He has erected more buildings in Berrien and Cass counties than any other contractor

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

of the two counties, a fact which is indi- cative of his foremost position as a repre- sentative of the builders art, and of the honorable methods which he follows in all his business transactions.

JACOB M. PAUL. Occupying an en- viable position in the business circles of Eau Claire, Jacob M. Paul is honored and re- spected by all with whom he has had busi- ness dealings. He has so directed his efforts that his business interests have grown with the progress of the locality, and Berrien county now places him among the leaders in industrial circles. Connected with the gen- eral mercantile interests he is well known in this and surrounding localities. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Colum- bus, March 1, 1854, being a son of John Paul, also a native of that state and a farmer by occupation. He was of German descent, and his father was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. John Paul lived to the age of eighty-three years. He married Emily Watson, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Jacob Watson, of English and Scotch descent. In their family were eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom are living at the present time, and Jacob M. Paul, of this review, is the third child and third son in order of birth.

The last named spent the early years of his life in the place of his nativity, the early educational training which he received in its public schools being supplemented by a course at the Ohio Western University at Delaware, that state. After putting aside his text books he went west and taught school at Carroll City, Iowa, also serving as principal of the schools there for four years. During this time Mr. Paul had taken up the study of law and he was admitted to the bar at Carroll, after which he located at Aberdeen, South Dakota, where for twelve years he was numbered among the leading and prominent law practitioners. In March, 1889, he took up his abode in Eau Claire, taking charge of the stock of goods belonging to P. Stapleton, deceased, while four years later he purchased the busi- ness, and is now the leading merchant in the city. He carries a large line of dry goods, clothing, groceries, crockery, etc.,

and his well directed efforts have been at- tended with success.

In 1886 Mr. Paul was married to May J. Jillson, a native of Berrien county, Michi- gan, and a daughter of Job Jillson. Two children have been born to bless this union, Helen and Marion J. Mr. Paul is a Repub- lican in his political affiliations, taking an active interest in the work of the party, and while in South Dakota he served as chair- man of the state board of regents. Fra- ternally he holds membership relations with the Woodmen of the World.

DAVID B. FLEWELLING. The life history of David B. Flewelling is closely identified with the history of Berrien coun- ty, which has been his home for many years. He was born in Marion county, Ohio, De- cember 13, 1830. His father, John Flewell- ing, was a native of New York and was a carpenter by occupation. In 1832 he came to Michigan, establishing his home on a farm in La Grange township, Cass county, where he followed his trade of carpentering while his sons conducted the farm work. In 1846 he sold his land there and pur- chased a farm in Berrien township, Berrien county, Michigan, which was his home for many years, but his death occurred in Silver Creek township, Cass county, when he had reached the age of seventy-four years. His wife bore the maiden name of Eleanor Brady, and was born and reared in New Jer- sey. Her death occurred in Berrien town- ship in her eighty-ninth year. They were the parents of nine children.

David B. Flewelling, the eldest of the children, was but two years of age when the family home was established in La Grange township, Cass county, Michigan, and there he remained until he was sixteen years of age, since which time he has been a resident of Berrien county. For sixty years he made his home on one farm, but he subsequently sold his land and retired from the active duties of a business life, content to relegate to others the duties which he had so long borne, and he now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Ritter.

Mr. Flewelling married Sarah Layman, and they became the parents of three chil- dren, but only one is now living, Mrs.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Martha A. Ritter. The following is taken from one of the local papers :

"William Ritter passed away at his farm home in Berrien township Thursday even- ing at 6 o'clock, after an illness of just a week with paralysis.

"Mr. Ritter has seen much sickness in the past few years, and only a few months ago his brother, J. J. Ritter, of this city, was appointed his guardian that he might have less care and worry.

"The deceased was fifty-six years of age, and he leaves a wife and two children. The children are Ray and Nellie, both grown. He has but one brother, J. J., of this city.

"Many of the best years of Mr. Ritter's life have been spent on his farm just across the Berrien county line near Indian lake. Here he prospered until locomotor ataxia came in late years to afflict him.

"The funeral was at the house at 10 o'clock Saturday. After the services the party came to Dowagiac for burial at River- side cemetery."

The wife and mother died about three years ago. Mr. Flewelling is a stanch sup- porter of Democratic principles where na- tional issues are involved. He is now num- bered among the honored pioneers who aided in laying the foundation on which to erect the superstructure of Berrien coun- ty's present prosperity and progress. Through the period of early development he was an important factor in the improve- ment and advancement of this section, and was also connected with the broader inter- ests which had to do with the welfare of the commonwealth.

SAMUEL Z. WALTZ. To Samuel Z. Waltz has come the attainment of a distin- guished position in connection with the busi- ness interests of Berrien county, he having achieved that success which is the result of enterprise, resolute purpose and straight- forward methods. He has been steadily ad- vancing forward until he now occupies an enviable position in the business circles of Berrien Center, where he is the proprietor of a grain and elevator business. He was born in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, October 23, 1853, being a son of

Michael and Sarah (Peck) Waltz, both of whom were natives of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. In 1867 they came to Michi- gan, establishing their home one mile north of Berrien Center, where the father followed blacksmithing and farming. In their fam- ily were four children, two sons and two daughters, but only the two sons are now living, the brother of our subject being John M. Waltz.

Samuel Z. Waltz, whose name intro- duces this review, their third child and sec- ond son, was about fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, where he con- tinued his education in its public schools, and as soon as old enough began to work in the fields, assisting in the work of the old home farm from the time of early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the fall, thus continuing until 1885, most of the time on the homestead. In 1886, however, he embarked in the grain business in Berrien Center, after which he spent one year in Elkhart, and and a half years in Kal- amazoo, but for the past twenty years he has been numbered among the leading grain dealers in Berrien Center. He handles flour by the car load lots, and is conducting an extensive business.

The marriage of Mr. Waltz was cele- brated in 1877, when Mary Jane Cuthbert became his wife, she being a daughter of George and Ann Cuthbert, natives of Eng- land and early settlers of Berrien county, their home being now near Eau Claire. Mrs. Waltz was born in Rochester, New York, and came with her parents to this county. She became the mother of two chil- dren, but both are now deceased, and the wife and mother has also passed away, dy- ing in 1895. Two years later, in 1897, Mr. Waltz was again married, Calla Rogers be- coming his wife, and she is a native of Ohio. Mr. Waltz has given a life-long support to the Republican party, active in its work, and for one year he served as school inspector, while for a number of years he was con- stable. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the Encamp- ment and Rebekahs, and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a member and an

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

active worker in the Lutheran Church, in which he has long served as an elder and is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

JOHN F. WYANT. One of the prom- inent old pioneer families of Berrien county is that of the Wyants, well represented in Berrien township for many years. They have ever borne their part in the upbuilding and development of this region, and have invariably been exponents of progress and liberal ideas upon all subjects. A scion of this worthy old pioneer family is John F. Wyant, who has long been numbered among the leading business men of this section of the county. He was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, Michigan, on the 28th of January, 1858, the eldest son and second child of William and Alvira (Tut- tle) Wyant, whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. When but six years of age the son, John F., was brought by his parents to Berrien township, and to its schools he is indebted for the early educa- tional privileges which he enjoyed. His educational training was, however, quite meager, for at the early age of fifteen years he started out to earn his own living, leav- ing the parental roof and working at any occupation which would yield him an honest living. He afterward returned to the home farm and was engaged in its cultivation un- til reaching his twenty-first year. On the 22d of February, 1882, he was married to Susie McCoy, the daughter of Nathan and Amanda (Hull) McCoy, the former a na- tive of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The father was numbered among the early pio- neers of Berrien county, coming here as early as 1837, and he entered land from the government. He was twice married, his first wife having been Hepzibah Vickars. Five children were born to Nathan and Amanda McCoy, of whom Mrs. Wyant was the youngest in order of birth, and she was born on the farm on which she now resides. Two children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wyant,-Beatrice A. and Sylva E.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wyant took up their abode in Berrien Cen- ter, where they resided for six months, and

for the following seven years they resided on the old McCoy homestead. They then bought a part of their present home farm, being now the owners of sixty acres of rich and well improved land, where Mr. Wyant is engaged in general farming, but gives the greater part of his time and attention to the butchering business, carrying on a wholesale trade at Niles, Dowagiac and South Bend. He annually buys about ten thousand dol- lars worth of stock, all of which is slaugli- tered upon his farm, from where it is hauled to market. In the winter months he makes a specialty of slaughtering calves and beef. He is well known in Berrien and the sur- rounding counties as a wholesale butcher, and thus for many years he has been an active factor in its industrial interests, con- tributing to the general prosperity through the conduct of enterprises which furnish employment to others. In his political affiliations Mr. Wyant is a Democrat, but votes for the man rather than party in all local affairs. He possesses a social, genial nature, and the circle of his friends is al- most co-extensive with the circle of his ac- quaintances.

SOLOMON L. SNAVELY. The life history of Solomon L. Snavely is closely identified with the history of Berrien county, which has been his home for many years. His business career has been one of untiring activity, but he is now living retired in Ber- rien Center, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose en- terprise and abilities have brought to the community the prosperity which it now en- joys. He is, however, a native of Pennsyl- vania, his birth occurring in Dauphin county on the 2d of August, 1837, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Nisley) Snavely, natives also of that commonwealth, and there they both passed to their final reward, the mother dy- ing in 1846. The father was twice married, having seven children by the first union and six by the second, and the subject of this re- view is the fourth child and third son by the first marriage.

Solomon L. Snavely spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity, receiving his education in its com-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

mon schools, and giving his time and atten- tion thereafter to the tilling of the soil, hav- ing worked in the fields from his early youth. In 1864, in response to his country's call for aid, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-second Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the struggle in 1865. In the following year he came to Berrien county, Michigan, establishing his home on a farm in Berrien township, but subse- quently removed to and purchased land in Pokagon township, Cass county, this state, which he farmed . for about four years, thence returning to Berrien township. He made farming his life occupation, but in 1905 he put aside the active cares of a busi- ness life to enjoy the fruits of former toil, although he is still the owner of ninety-five acres of rich and productive land.

In November, 1868, Mr. Snavely was united in marriage to Almeda Murphey, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Jenkins) Mur- phey, whose history will be found in the sketch of Erastus Murphy in this volume. Mrs. Snavely was born in Berrien township March 30, 1848, the ninth in order of birth of the thirteen children born to her parents, and she has therefore been a life-long resi- dent of this locality. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snavely, namely : Maggie, the wife of Oren Myers, of Oro- noko township, Berrien county; Bell, wife of Zera Webster, of Berrien Center: Al- bert M., of Berrien township; Anna, wife of John Stemm, also of Oronoko township; Julia, the wife of John Rutter, a merchant at Berrien Center; and Lester, of Berrien township. In his political affiliations Mr. Snavely is a life-long Republican and is a zealous advocate of the policy and principles of the party. He holds pleasant relations with his old army comrades who wore the blue by his membership in the G. A. R. Post, No. 36, and he is also a member of the Grange. Few men have more devoted friends than he, and none excells him in un- selfish devotion and unswerving fidelity to the recipients of his confidence and friend- ship.

BRADFORD H. WOOD is an honored veteran of the Civil war whose valor was manifest on many a southern battlefield. He is now devoting his time and energies to general horticultural pursuits, having a fine fruit farm of forty-two acres on section 36, New Buffalo township .- He is situated on the lake and on the township line and it has been his place of residence since 1893. He owns a fine home here and is meeting with success as a fruit grower.

Mr. Wood is a native of Erie county, New York, having been born about nineteen miles from Buffalo on the Ist of January, 1839, in the village of Collins Center. His parents were Lemuel and Katharine (Se- coy) Wood, both of whom were natives of New York and the father was a colonel in the war of 1812. He and his wife spent their entire lives in the Empire state, Mr. Wood being a cabinet maker by trade, which pursuit he followed in order to provide for his family. He died when his son Bradford H., was about twelve years of age. In the family were six sons and three daughters. The eldest brother, Gabriel, is now a prac- ticing lawyer, and the others were carpen- ters and farmers.

Bradford H. Wood spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Cattaraugus county, New York, to which place he had removed with his parents at an early day. There he resided until 1861. When a youth of four- teen years he began learning the carriage maker's trade, which he followed at inter- vals for a quarter of a century. After the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the military forces which had been organized to defend the Union and crush out the spirit of rebellion in the south. He became a member of Company K, Sixty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, un- der Captain William T. Mancher, Army of the Potomac. In 1862, however, he became ill with typhoid fever and was therefore hon- orably discharged. When he had recovered his health, however, he re-enlisted in the army, joining Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York Volunteer In- fantry, in August, 1862. He was wounded

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

at the battle of Chancellorsville, a ball pierc- ing the lower part of his body, while another ball struck him in the neck. He was in the field hospital for a time and was then trans- ferred to Washington. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered he rejoined his regi- ment and was with Sherman's army in the quartermaster's department. Thus engaged he went through Georgia and proceeded northward to Raleigh, North Carolina. Not able to march, however, he took a train to New York and returned to his old home in Cattaragus county. Later he went to James- town, Pennsylvania, and afterward to Elks Falls, Kansas. In Pennsylvania he owned three or four oil wells which he eventually sold, after which he removed to Kansas, where he spent nine years. There he was engaged in the stock business for almost a decade, when he returned to Michigan, set- tling in New Buffalo, where he lived for five years, devoting his time and energies to the livery business. In 1893 he removed to his present farm, comprising forty-two acres on section 36, New Buffalo town- ship and here he has a beautiful country home in the midst of fine orchards, his attention being given to the raising of fruit.

Mr. Wood was married to Miss Lena Hobert, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her grandparents. Five children have graced this marriage: Retta, now the wife of I. B. Alder, a banker at Rossville, Kansas; Cornelius, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Margaret, the wife of Dr. O. F. Mascot, of Clyde, Kansas; Georgiana, the wife of Dr. Carpenter, a dentist of Kansas; and Cortez, a physician of Eldorado, Kansas.

Mr. Wood, since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, has given his sup- port to the Republican party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and was formerly identified with the Odd Fel- lows and the Masonic lodges. His life has been one of activity, characterized by enter- prise in all of his business undertakings and by loyalty in citizenship as well as in mili- tary service. His many good traits of char- acter have won for him high regard and

the circle of his friends in Berrien county is an extensive one.

JOHN J. MURPHY. This honored cit- izen of Berrien county is one of its sturdy pioneers and native sons, his birth occurring in Berrien township on the 30th of March, 1841, the fifth of the thirteen children born to Isaac and Eliza (Jenkins) Murphy. The father, a native of Virginia, was taken by his parents to Ohio when only four years old, and when he reached the age of twenty- one years he took up his abode in Cass county, Michigan, but a short time after- ward removed to Berrien township, Berrien county. While living in Cass county he was married. He was born in 1811, and his death occurred in February, 1893, at which time there passed away one of the honored old pioneers of Berrien county. For several years after the organization of the township of Berrien he served as its constable. He was ever found loyal to the cause of right and truth, and his influ- ence was used for the good and well being of those in any way associated with him. His wife, who was born in 1815, also died in 1893.

John J. Murphy received his early edu- cational training in the old log school houses of Berrien township, and with the exception of ten years spent in Sodus town- ship his entire life has been passed within the borders of Berrien. In 1862 he was married to Nettie Snow, and to them were born four sons,-Chester, of Dowagiac, Michigan; Claire, of Berrien Center ; Miles I., a resident of Berrien township, Berrien county ; and John Merle, also of Dowagiac. The wife and mother passed away in 1876, and the father afterward married her sister, Ellen Snow, but no children were born of that union. Mr. Murphy continued as an agriculturist until 1893, when he embarked in the real estate business, but he still owns one hundred acres of rich and well improved land in Berrien township. He has given a life-long support to the Republican party, and for six years in Sodus township served as highway commissioner, and for four years was drain commissioner in Berrien

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 142

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