A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 143

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

township. For twenty-eight years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for many years was a member of the Grange.

FRANK A. McKINDLEY has been a witness of the growth and development of Berrien county through many years and has been a leading representative of horticul- tural interests. He was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, on the 15th of December, 1846. His father died when the son was very young and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ellis, after- ward became the wife of Hiram Tubbs. Her grandfather Ellis was a pioneer and in an early day became a resident of that section of New York which is now called Ellis- burg township, Jefferson county. In March, 1854, Hiram Tubbs came with the family to Michigan, making his way first to Branch county, where he remained for a year. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming and after his removal from Branch county he spent one year on the Sherwood Snyder place. In those pioneer days Mr. McKindley made his way to schools by means of marked trees called a blazed trail, for the track lay through the dense forest. When his stepfather had re- sided for a year in this county he purchased forty acres of land, for which he paid three dollars per acre, Phineas Pearl being the agent for the property. After beginning the work of improvement and development there Mr. Tubbs finally sold and later he owned and then sold two or three more farms. About 1859 or 1860 he came to his present place of residence, where he has since re- mained and now at the age of eighty-three years he is living with his daughter, Mrs. Chevis. His wife, the mother of Frank A. McKindley of this review, died in 1895. By her first marriage she had two sons, the elder being John E. McKindley, who is now living in Osakis, Minnesota. By her mar- riage to Mr. Tubbs she became the mother of four children, all of whom are yet liv- ing. Her life was devoted to her family and she did everything in her power to promote

the comfort and secure the happiness of her children.

Frank A. McKindley was reared by his mother and stepfather and through the win- ter months he attended what became known as the Tubbs school. At different times he worked out as a farm hand and he was thus engaged until on the 13th of February, 1864, when he enlisted as a member of Company D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Western Sharp- shooters. The company was formed of Michigan men, although it was attached to an Illinois regiment, Mr. McKindley was but sixteen years of age at the time. The members of the regiment were armed with heavy rifles and with the command Mr. Mc- Kindley went to the front, serving in the Army of the Tennessee. He took part in the battle of Pulaski, Tennessee, and in other engagements and movements in that part of the country, after which he went on the Sherman campaign to Atlanta and on to the sea, continuing with his company up to the time of the capitulation of the city of Atlanta. He took part in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, where he was wounded on the 22nd of July, 1864, but he did not leave his command and was discharged with the regiment. However, he was granted a furlough and returned home, but at the end of thirty days he found that he was not able to again take up active field work and re- mained at home altogether for sixty days, after which he rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina, going by way of New York and Hiltonhead. He was with the regiment in all of its movements from Raleigh to Washington, D. C., and was in that city at the time of the Grand Review.

When the war was over Mr. McKindley returned to his home with a creditable mili- tary record, for he had ever been found loyal at his post and never faltered in the per- formance of any military task assigned him no matter how difficult it was. He returned to Benton Harbor, where he has since re- mained. He has never voted outside of the township. His first farm comprised twenty- five acres, which is now a part of his pres- ent farm. It was sold once but he after- ward purchased it. For twenty-five years

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

he lived on a forty acre farm. During that time he bought several tracts of land and developed his present property. He now owns one hundred acres of very rich and attractive land in the extreme southeastern part of Benton township, seven miles south- east of the city of Benton Harbor. This farm is improved with excellent buildings and indeed is equipped with all modern ac- cessories and conveniences. He is quite well known as an extensive and successful fruit raiser and shipper, having now forty acres in fruit, including peaches and apples. This tract brings to him a good financial re- turn annually. It lies just right for the pur- pose for which it is adapted. His apples are old trees, having been in bearing condition for nearly forty years. The orchard has paid well, the Baldwin apple proving exception- ally valuable. For twenty-five years he has successfully engaged in the cultivation of apples and his crops of this character an- nually bring to him a very gratifying re- turn.

On the Ioth of November, 1868, Mr. McKindley was united in marriage to Miss Helen Howard, a daughter of John F. and Sylvesta (Easton) Howard. The mother had four children, but never saw any of them, for she was blind for sixty years. She died February 2, 1902, at the age of eighty- six years and six months. John F. Howard and his wife were both natives of New York, being married in Jefferson county, that state and they lived successively in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, coming eventually to the last mentioned state in 1852. A child was born unto them in each of the four states. Mr. Howard was for many years crippled with rheumatism. However, he possessed ability in the line of carpenter work that amounted almost to genius. He could only walk aided by a chair, but he would sit in a chair and cut the largest trees on his forty acres. He cleared much of this land, but he died young, passing away at the age of forty-five years on the 3d of September, 1859. The eldest child, Helen, was then fourteen years of age, the eldest son only ten and the youngest child three years of age. The mother would spin

and knit for the neighbors and she did every- thing possible for her family, being very handy in many ways despite her blindness. The daughter Helen did the farm work and was also employed in different homes in the neighborhood. After Helen was married the brother, Frank A., purchased the home place, which he has since sold to his son- in-law, Mr. Nutting. Helen had to be the head of the family and she gave a home to her mother. Her two sisters died in child- hood. Her brother, R. S. Howard, is now living in Coloma.

In the McKindley family were two child- ren : Mary, who is now the wife of Earl Nutting, who resides upon the old Howard homestead, and William Howard McKind- ley, who married Miss Cynthia Wees and operates the old home place with his father. There is one child of this marriage, a son, Myrl, while Mrs. Mary Nutting has two children, Francis McKindley and Ethelyn. The family is one of prominence, having been long been represented in the county, while genuine worth was won for its mem- bers a gratifying position in public regard. Mr. McKindley was highway commissioner of his township and is a Republican. He never missed but one election in Benton Harbor. For over a half century he has lived here and has witnessed many changes as the forest has been cut away, the land cleared and the farms developed, transform- ing Berrien county into a rich agricultural and horticultural district.

JOHN J. CLAYPOOL is numbered among the old settlers, for his birth occurred in Berrien township on the 26th of March, 1835. He is still living in the same town- ship, his home being on section 19, where he has a good farm property. His father, George H. Claypool, was a native of Vir- ginia, and in early life was bound out to a man by the name of Jacob Lybrook, by whom he was reared in Ohio. He came to Berrien county in company with John Ly- brook about 1823, and they were the first white people to establish homes in this dis- trict. Later they returned to Ohio, where

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Mr. Claypool remained for two years, when he again came to Berrien county and settled in what is now Berrien township, about two and a half miles from the village of Berrien Springs. This was in the year 1827. He took up land from the government, cleared the fields, turned the first furrows and im- proved the farm, performing all the ardu- ous labor incident to the development of a new farm in a forest district. He was mar- ried in Berrien township to Miss Fanny Johnson, also an early settler of the county. She, too, was born in Virginia and is num- bered among the pioneer residents of south- western Michigan. The death of Mr. Clay- pool occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-nine. In their fam- ily were seven children, of whom six reached adult age, Mr. Claypool of this review be- ing the third in order of birth.

Reared upon the old homestead farm in Berrien township, John J. Claypool in his boyhood days pursued his studies in a log school house, which was a typical "temple of learning" in those days. In his youth he assisted his father in clearing the farm and cultivating the fields and remained un- der the parental roof until he had attained his majority, gaining a full knowledge of scientific farm work through practical ex- perience. Upon reaching man's estate he entered upon an independent business career by clearing land under contract, and has prepared for the plow many an acre in Berrien township. His life has indeed been one of earnest toil and the success which he has enjoyed is richly merited.

On the 30th of June, 1859, Mr. Clay- pool was married to Miss Mary E. Frank, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Simp- son) Frank. She was born in Ohio, June 30, 1841, and was brought to this county when but three months old, the years of her maidenhood being here passed. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Claypool took up their abode upon a farm belong- ing to his uncle, Daniel Johnson, where they lived for six years, during which time Mr. Claypool carried on general agricultural pur- suits. In 1864 he went to Council Bluffs, and on returning to Berrian township rented

a farm from Arthur Miller. A year later he settled upon a farm belonging to Mrs. Hass, on which he lived for nine years, af- ter which he removed to Buchanan town- ship, where he bought the first farm that he ever owned. There he lived for six years, when he sold the property and purchased a tract of land in Berrien township. He lived on it for a while but later sold it and bought his present farm on section 19. Here he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and has a well developed property, which yields him a gratifying financial annual income by reason of the care and labor he has bestowed upon the fields.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Claypool have been born seven children : Ida, the wife of David Michell, of Iowa; Ralph, at home; Ora, the wife of George Wright, of Pipestone town- ship; Alma, the wife of Laurel Webster, of Benton township; and Margaret, the wife of Henry Barnhart, of Berrien Springs ; and two who died young. Mrs. Claypool's father was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1810 and died in 1901. He came with his parents to Ohio and there married. He was a blacksmith. He was a Whig in his political views but voted in the later years of his life for the Democratic party. Mother Frank was born in Maryland in 1804 and died in 1896 in Berrien county. She was eighteen years of age when she came to Ohio and was educated in the com- mon schools. She was a devoted member of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Clay- pool was educated in the common schools and is a member of Long Lake Union Church in Berrien township. She is an able helpmate to her husband.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Claypool has given liis political support to the Democracy and has served as road commissioner. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity at Berrien Springs and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. With the exception of a brief period passed in the west he has lived for seventy-two years in Berrien county, being one of its oldest native sons, and the story of its pioneer experiences and conditions is familiar to him because of active participa- tion therein.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

DR. J. M. MURPHY, a veterinary sur- geon and one of the prominent early pio- neers of Berrien county, was born in Lick- ing county, Ohio, September 29, 1828. His father, William Murphy, was a na- tive of Maryland, born near the Virgina border line, and was about fourteen years of age when he removed with his parents to Xenia, Ohio, and thence to Licking county, that state, where he was married to Nancy Rogers, a native of Virginia, her parents coming from Scotland. After their mar- riage the young couple took up their abode in Henry county, Indiana, near Muncie, returning thence to Licking county, Ohio, and in 1850 came to Berrien township, Ber- rien county, Michigan, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of eighty years, while the mother passed away when seventy-seven years of age. In their family were seven children, but one daughter died at the age of about six years, while four grew to years of maturity and two are now living, the brother of our subject being Harvey Murphy, who is now in his eighty-fourth year and a resident of Berrien county. He was married in Lick- ing county, Ohio, and accompanied his par- ents on their removal to this county.

Dr. Murphy, their fourth child in order of birth, remained in his native place until about nineteen years of age, and was the first of the family to come to Berrien county, dating his arrival here in 1847, when he was a boy of nineteen years. He immediately took up his abode in Berrien township and immediately began the task of clearing from its virgin wildness a farm one mile east of where he now lives, there directing his la- bors until 1886. In that year he located on his present homestead in Berrien Center. When but a boy Mr. Murphy began prac- ticing veterinary surgery, which he after- ward continued in connection with his agri- cultural pursuits, but during the last seven- teen years he has given almost his entire at- tention to the profession and is well known in this and surrounding counties as a skill- ful veterinary surgeon.

The marriage of Dr. Murphy was cele- brated in Ohio, in 1851, when Julia Kibler became his wife. she being a native of the same county as her husband, and they have

three children, James Edward, Frank Eu- gene and Rosa. The sons are farmers of Berrien township, and the daughter is the wife of John H. Crall, of Indianapolis, In- diana. For fifty-eight years Dr. Murphy has made his home within the borders of Berrien county, in that time witnessing much of its growth and development, and he has long been recognized as one of its most valued citizens. He has given his political support to the Democratic party, and as its representative has served as con- stable and as school inspector. The Doctor has a remarkable record in that he has never used tobacco in any form, nor has ever taken a drink at the bar, this being a record scarcely equaled by any other man in the county. His homestead farm consists of about seventy-six acres, three of which are located within the corporate limits of Ber- rien Center, and he has also given one of his sons a farm of fifty-one acres.

GERALD HANDY, proprietor of the Sodus Fruit Farms and a well known resi- dent of the town of Sodus, was born in Allegany county, New York, January 22, 1857, a son of Samuel Handy, a native also of the Empire state and a fruit farmer by occupation. He subsequently took up his abode in Dupage county, Illinois, and in 1874 came to Berrien county, Michigan, first establishing his home in Benton township and afterward in Hagar township. There his death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Henrietta Buell. was a native of Connecticut, but was reared in New York, and she still survives her hus- band. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living and the subject of this review is the youngest son in order of birth.

Gerald Handy was but eight years of age when he moved with his parents to Du- page county, Illinois, and on reaching the age of eighteen years he came to Berrien county. His educational training was re- ceived at Downers Grove, Dupage county, Illinois, and this was supplemented by a course in the Northwestern College at Naperville, that state. For three years

Mrs Gerald Handy dy

Gerald Handy

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

thereafter he was in the employ of a street car company in Chicago, Illinois, while the following seven months were spent in the south. After taking up his abode in Benton township, Berrien county, he engaged in fruit farming, and in 1891 purchased the place where he now resides, locating thereon three years later, in 1894. He has improved his place to its present high state of cultiva- tion, has planted all of his orchards, and now has about ninety-two acres devoted to fruit culture, raising all kinds of fruit adapted to this soil and climate. Mr. Handy is secretary of the Michigan and Alabama Fruit Packing Company, which owns a mill at Eau Claire, Michigan, and one at Troy, Alabama. He is also interested to some extent in the lumbering and saw- milling business in Lake township, Berrien county, and in his many and varied relations he has been eminently successful.

The marriage of Mr. Handy was cele- brated in Benton township, Berrien county, Michigan, in 1885, when Cynthia M. Can- field became his wife, she being a daughter of Leavitt, and Caroline Canfield. Mrs. Handy is a native of Canada, but was only four years old when brought to Berrien county. They have become. the parents of four children,-Fred R., Bessie M., Kittie M. and Alice. The Republican party re- ceives Mr. Handy's hearty support and co- operation, and in 1901 he was elected to the office of supervisor, to which he was re- elected in 1905-6. For four years he was a member of the board of commissioners, also served as highway commissioner, and has ever taken an active interest in the work of his party. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding membership in the chapter at St. Joe and the Commandery and Blue Lodge in Benton Harbor.

HEZEKIAH McCOMBS, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Berrien county, was born in Mckeesport, Pennsyl- vania, May II, 1862, a son of Wilson and Mary Ann (Zummerley) McCombs, the father a native of Washington county and the mother of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish and Swiss descent respect- ively. Of the eight children born to this

couple, five sons and three daughters, Hezekiah McCombs was the fourth child and second son in order of birth. The early years of his life were spent in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, receiving his education in the city schools, and when but a small boy he engaged in the glass business in that city. When about seventeen years of age he be- gan working at the window glass business, moving to Marion, Indiana, where, with other workmen, he organized a company for the manufacture of glass, but three years later, on account of the ill health of his wife, he sold his interest therein and came to Ber- rien county, Michigan, purchasing and lo- cating upon a farm of seventy-nine acres at Berrien Center, a part of which is now in- cluded in the corporate limits of Berrien Center. He now rents his land, and during a few months in the winter he works at his trade of a glass blower.

On the 9th of December, 1884, Mr. Mc- Combs was united in marriage to Margaret Lemon, a native of Ireland, born near Bel- fast, county Down, and of Scotch-Irish de- scent. One child has been born of this union, but is deceased, and they are rear- ing and educating a little girl, his niece, Kit- tie. Mr. McCombs is well known in the lo- cality where he makes his home, has taken an active interest in its public affairs, and has been a life-long supporter of the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows fraternity, has been a member of the Knights of Labor for many years, and was connected with the old L. A. 300, one of the well known labor organizations and which was instrumental in the passing of the child labor and the contract laws. There are few men who can more justly claim the proud American title of a self-made man than Mr. McCombs, who at an early age started out in life for himself, but today he ranks among the lead- ing business men of Berrien county, and his creditable life work has won him the respect and commendation of all who are familiar with his history.

DAVID CRALL, a retired farmer liv- ing in Eau Claire, has been prominent in the public life as well as in the business circles

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

of Berrien county, and is leaving the im- pressof his individuality for good uponmany lines of progress and advancement in the city where he makes his home. A native of Crawford county, Ohio, he was born on the 23d of February, 1848. His grandfather, Henry Crall, claimed Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, but subsequently re- moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer by occupation. His son and the father of him whose name introduces this review, Simon Crall, was also a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and in 1845 he drove from that state to Crawford county, Ohio, being ever afterward identified with the in- terests of that locality, and there his death occurred when he had reached the seventy- fifth milestone on life's journey. For his wife he chose Elizabeth Becker, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of Jacob Becker. She preceded her hus- band to the home beyond many years, dying when her son David was but seven years of age.

David Crall, the youngest of his parents six children who grew to years of maturity, remained at home assisting in the develop- ment and improvement of the home farm during his boyhood and youth, his educa- tional privileges being limited to attendance in the district schools of his locality. He also followed farming in Seneca county, Ohio, for four years, after which he re- turned to Crawford county to take charge of the old homestead, remaining there until 1885, in which year he took up his abode within the borders of Berrien county, pur- chasing and locating upon a farm near Ber- rien Center. From that time until 1899 he was there extensively engaged in the tilling of the soil, but on the expiration of that period retired from agricultural pursuits and established his home in Eau Claire, al- though he still owns ninety-six acres of land adjoining the city. He had previously sold his farm in Berrien Center, and after locat- ing in Eau Claire engaged in the sale of farm implements, and he has also served as treasurer of Berrien township for four years. He gives a stanch and unfaltering support

to the principles of the Republican party, and has long been recognized as one of the most popular and efficient public men in the locality where he makes his home, always in- terested in all measures advanced for the good of the people. He is now treasurer of the village board of Eau Claire and was president one year.

In Seneca county, Ohio, in 1872, Mr. Crall was married to Euphema E. Snyder, a native of that county and a daughter of William and Mary E. Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of three children,-Nina M., wife are Fleming W. Mussetter, of Fostoria, Ohio; Elizabeth M., the wife of William B. Mosher, of Ber- rien Center; and Eltie, who for eight years has followed the teacher's profession at Harvey, Illinois. The wife and mother died on the 18th of June, 1892, and July 15, 1896, Mr. Crall married Mrs. Rebecca A. McFallon, a daughter of George and Ann (Spence) Cuthbert. Mr. Crall and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work, and he is now serving as trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday-school.

ERASTUS MURPHY, a prominent farmer and old settler, residing on section 16, Berrien township, was born on section 15 of the same township, July 18, 1842. He represents an old family from the south. His father, Isaac Murphy, was a native of Hardin county, Virginia, and was reared in Greene county. Ohio, going there with his mother when a little lad of six years. On coming to Michigan he settled on Pokagon Prairie in Cass county when it was still largely a wild and undeveloped region. He remained there for only a short period, however, when he located in Berrien town- ship, Berrien county, establishing his home on section 16, where he entered land from the government. He improved this place and was engaged in farming during his en- tire life, transforming the wild and uncul- tivated tract into richly improved fields. He married Miss Eliza Jenkins, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Baldwin Jenkins, one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 143

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