A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 144

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

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Murphy became the parents of thirteen chil- dren, but only seven reached adult age.

Erastus Murphy is the second of the liv- ing children, and was reared in Berrien township, where he has resided continuously save for a brief period of two years spent in Galien township. He pursued his education in log schoolhouses common at that early day, where he mastered the elementary branches of English learning. The duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the play- ground and the work of the fields claimed his attention in his youth, and he remained at home until his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 19th of April, 1866, Miss Mary Johnson becom- ing his wife. She was a daughter of John and Anna (Lybrook) Johnson, who were natives of Virginia, and after residing for some time in Ohio became early residents of Berrien county, Michigan. Mrs. Murphy was also born in Berrien township and was the sixth of eight children, five daughters and three sons. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children: Ada, now the wife of W. H. Patterson, of Berrien Springs ; Henry C., a resident of Indianapo- lis, Indiana, being secretary and bookkeeper for the E. H. Eldredge Lumber Company ; Lena A., the wife of Frank W. Miller, of South Boardman, Michigan; Myron E., who operates the home farm; Sylvia M., the wife of V. J. Blanchard, of Berrien Center ; and Cordelia, the wife of John A. Walter, of Silver Lake, Indiana.

Following his marriage Mr. Murphy continued to reside upon the old homestead. until about 1875, when he located on the farm where he now resides. He has made all of the improvements here, building the house and barns and clearing the land. He has now lived here for almost a third of a century and has carried on his farming with good results. He owns eighty acres in the farm upon which he resides and forty acres of the old homestead. He has also fre- quently been called upon to settle estates, a fact which indicates the confidence and trust reposed in his business integrity and capa- bility. In politics he is a stanch and unfalt- ering Republican, active in the work of his party. He was elected supervisor in 1900

and again in 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905, serving in all for five years. He has been justice of the peace for sixteen years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that he has "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." He has been township clerk for three years and served for four years as township treasurer and the various official duties that have devolved upon him have always been promptly and faith- fully performed. He belongs to the Grange and to the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center. For fourteen years he served as school director and has always taken an active part in educational affairs and in pub- lic interests relating to the general good. He has been a life-long resident of the coun- ty and has been actively, honorably and helpfully associated with its development.

JOHN L. BISHOP, superintendent of the poor at Berrien Center, has filled the office of supervisor and has been active and influential in those interests which have di- rect bearing upon the public welfare. In former years he was closely associated with agricultural interests and in his business life and public career he has made a credit- able record. He was born in Dauphin coun- ty, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1847. His father, Peter Bishop, was a native of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, and died at the place of his nativity. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Millizen, was likewise a native of the Keystone state and spent her entire life within its borders. In their family were seven children, of whom two of the daughters are now deceased.

John L. Bishop, the youngest of the fam- ily, was reared in the place of his nativity to the age of twenty years, when he started out in life for himself and has since made his own way in the world. He came to Ber- rien county in 1867 and remained until the fall of 1868, when he returned to Pennsyl- vania. In his native state he was married. in November, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Parthemore, a native of Pennsylvania. and in 1875 the young couple came to Berrien county, settling in Berrien township, where Mr. Bishop still resides. He learned the carpenter's trade in early life and for a num-

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ber of years was identified with building operations. In 1881 he returned to Penn- sylvania, where he again spent four years, and he once more came to Michigan, settling at Berrien Center, where he was engaged in merchandising for about eight years. The business was carefully conducted and he had a well appointed general store. When al- most a decade had passed he withdrew from commercial pursuits and has since lived re- tired save for his active connection with public affairs.

His fellow townsmen recognizing his worth and ability have frequently called him to office. He acted as supervisor for six years and was treasurer of the township for two years. He has been superintendent of the poor for nine years and in these various offices has discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that have made him a most respected and trustworthy official. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Center and to the encampment at that place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have been born six children, two are yet living: Mar- tha, the wife of J. D. Myers, of Wabash, Indiana; and Endie who is at home. The success which Mr. Bishop has achieved and enjoyed in life is attributable entirely to his own labors and capable management, and he has made a creditable record in business af- fairs and in public office. He possesses a genial, jovial manner and all who know him entertain for him warm respect, while the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances.

HARVEY R. MURPHY, who is now living a retired life on his pleasant farm in section 14, Berrien township, was born in Licking county, Ohio, February 27, 1822, a son of William Murphy, a native of Hardy county, West Virginia. After the death of his father William Murphy moved the family to Ross county, Ohio, and later to Licking county, that state, where he was married to Nancy Rogers, a native of Penn- sylvania. After their marriage they re- moved to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1836, but about 1842 returned to Ohio and in 1850 came to Michigan, establishing their

home in the then woods of Berrien town- ship, Berrien county. There the father passed away in death when he had reached the age of eighty-one years, his wife having preceded him to the home beyond, dying when seventy-seven years of age. Of the eight children born to them, seven sons and one daughter, only two are now living, Har- vey R. and his brother Dr. J. M. Murphy.

Harvey R. Murphy, whose name intro- duces this review, came with his parents to Michigan in 1850, and about three years after his arrival here took up his abode on the farm where he now lives. He was a carpenter by trade, and his first house in this county was a little one-story house in the woods, sixteen by sixteen feet. To estab- lish a home amid such surroundings and to cope with the many privations and hardships which were the inevitable concomitants, de- manded an invincible courage and fortitude, strong hearts and willing hands. All those were characteristics of the pioneers, whose names and deeds should be held in perpetual reverence by those who enjoy the fruits of their toil. In the work of growth and up- building Mr. Murphy has ever borne his part, has been honorable in business, loyal in friendship, faithful in citizenship, and now in his declining years he can look back over the past with little occasion for regret.

In Licking county, Ohio, in 1847, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Laura Buckland, a daughter of William and Anna (Lewis) Buckland, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Murphy, the third daughter and sixth child of their seven children, four sons and three daughters, was born in Licking coun- ty, Ohio, August 1I, 1828, and was reared and educated in her native place. Three children were born to bless this union: Charles, who was born in Ohio, and died in Berrien township, Berrien county, in No- vember, 1905. He married Emma Pem- brook, and they had one son, Alvah L. Emma is the wife of Isaac M. Smith, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this vol- ume. William H., born May 24, 1860, in Berrien township, was married March 23, 1884, to Agnes E. Ober, a daughter of David and Barbara (Brunner) Ober, and they have one child, Eda R. Mr. Murphy

George Parsons-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

gives his political support to the Democratic party, his first presidential vote having been cast for James K. Polk, and he has been honored by his party with many political offices, having served as township treasurer for six years, was justice of the peace for four years, and was supervisor of Berrien township one year. He is a member of the Berrien Center Baptist church, of which he was one of the first trustees, holding that position for forty-two years, while for forty years he was secretary of the church, for many years was its treasurer and he is now trustee.

GEORGE PARSONS, of Watervliet, whose business record is such as any man might be proud to possess, stands at the head of the firm of Parsons & Baldwin, bankers. This firm also has large farming interests and has operated extensively in lumber and merchandising in former years.

A native of New York, George Parsons was born at Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, on the 28th of January, 1830. His family is descended from Joseph Parsons, of England, who in 1636 became a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, and in 1655 removed to Northampton, that state. George Parsons was a lad of nine years at the time of his parents' removal to Genesee county, settling in Genesee valley at Perry. He at- tended the common schools and at the age of fifteen years entered upon an academic course. He attended various academies, in- cluding Homer Academy, where Willard Fillmore, afterward president of the United States, was a student. When nineteen years of age Mr. Parsons came to Michigan, making his way to Detroit, where for three years he acted as clerk in a store. In 1852 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he became a member of a wholesale grocery firm and acted as bookkeeper and manager of the financial department for a year. In the meantime he had a brother who established a bank at Keokuk, and following his father's death he joined his brother as a partner in the bank, which institution they successfully conducted until the financial panic of 1857. when, like thousands of other business men throughout the country, they were forced to

close out the enterprise. Mr. Parsons then returned to Detroit, and in 1860 became a partner in the firm of Smith, Root & Par- sons, wholesale dry goods merchants, who developed a fine trade. He was connected with that house until his brother-in-law, who. was an old merchant af Gouverneur, New York, died, and he was sent for to close up: his estate. At one time he had been the richest man in that place. He died insolvent in March, 1861, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. Parsons spent three and a half years in closing up his affairs and suc- ceeded in saving the property for his wife. He and his brother purchased the claims of the creditors, sold out the goods, turned the property to advantage and thus secured a gratifying competence for the widow and children.

In May, 1864, however, Mr. Parsons returned to Michigan, having formed a deep attachment for the state of his adoption. Since that year he has been associated with Warner M. Baldwin in extensive business interests. They became proprietors and operators of the large lumber mill in com- pany with I. N. Swain and B. A. Olney. The business was conducted under the name of Swain, Olney & Company for ten years, the partner of Mr. Swain being B. A. Ol- ney. Mr. Swain continued operating in lumber for a number of years and then sold out to the Chicago company. Mr. Parsons had known Mr. Swain previous to his re- turn to , Michigan, in 1864. In company with Mr. Baldwin he secured a half interest in the lumber business. The enterprise was carried on extensively, handling from two to three million feet of lumber annually. This was rafted upon the Paw Paw river to St. Joseph and thence shipped across the lake to Chicago. At times fifty teams would be utilized in conveying the lumber from the in- terior. In 1872 the railroad was built through and thus better shipping facilities were secured. For many years the lumber industry was one of the most important sources of income in this part of the state, and Mr. Parsons was a prominent represen- tative of this line of trade. A store was also conducted in connection with the mill and not only was lumber manufactured but

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

also a grist and flouring mill was operated. In 1874 the business was divided and the company dissolved. Mr. Parsons and Mr. Baldwin retired, taking all the outside property, including one thousand acres, also the store and a large farm that had been cleared from the thousand acres, while the milling interests were retained by the other partners. The firm of Parsons & Baldwin continued to carry on the store successfully until about 1891 or 1892, covering a period of thirty years, but at length it was destroyed by fire and at that time they concentrated their energies upon the development of a banking business, having already done con- siderable business as private bankers. They have likewise continued their farming in- terests to the present and now concentrate their energies upon their financial and agri- cultural pursuits, in both of which lines they are operating extensively. In the building of the railroad the old firm of Swain, Olney & Company, contributed ten thousand dol- lars. In 1893 the store was destroyed by fire and in the same year a bank was organ- ized at Watervliet by Mr. Parsons and Mr. Baldwin. It is the only bank here, and is a private institution, conducting a general banking business. Every dollar owned by the partners is behind the bank, which ren- ders it a most safe and reliable financial in- stitution.

Mr. Parsons was married in Livingston county, New York, to Miss Emily L. Bar- num, a relative of P. T. Barnum, the famous showman. Her death oc- curred April 1, 1904, after they had trav- eled life's journey happily together for forty-eight and a half years. They had two sons: Willis Edward Parsons, D. D., and George F. Parsons. The former is a graduate of Olivet College, and pursued a theological course in Princeton University. For nine years he was pastor of the church at Albion, Michigan, for eleven years at Danville, Illinois, and for two years has been at the head of Parsons' College, at Fairfield, Iowa, as its president. This col- lege was founded by Lewis B. Parsons, the father of George Parsons, who was a mer- chant in New York for many years, and spent a year or two in Iowa. He was much

pleased with the state and its prospects and at his death, in 1856, left property to his three sons to found an institution of learn- ing in that state. He was a most zealous member of the Presbyterian church and in- dicated that the management of the school should be left to trustees who were con- nected with that church. Two sons, Charles Parsons, late of the State National Bank of St. Louis, Missouri, and General Lewis B. Parsons, still living in Illinois, at the age of eighty-nine years, were made trustees, the former serving until his death, while the latter is still connected with the institution in this capacity. At General Parsons' sug- gestion Rev. Willis E. Parsons was made a trustee. After meeting four or five times with the trustees he was unanimously chosen as president of the institution which was founded by his grandfather and is now de- voting his attention to that college, which, under his able management, is making sub- stantial advancement and doing splendid work as a factor in the educational life of Iowa. The college has a large endowment fund and also a Carnegie library. George F. Parsons, now located at Jacksonville, Florida, is state agent for the Fidelity Mu- tual Life Insurance Company. He is also a graduate of Olivet College.

For forty years George Parsons, whose name introduces this review, has served con- tinuously as superintendent of the Sunday- school, which was established as a union Sunday-school and so continued until 1885, when the Congregrational Church was or- ganized, of which he became a charter mem- ber. He has been untiring and most effi- cient in his efforts to advance the cause of Christianity and uplift his fellowmen and is just entering upon his forty-first year as a Sunday-school superintendent. In 1889 he and his wife attended the World's Sunday- school Convention held at London. One of his old co-workers of the Berrien County Sunday-school Association is E. K. Warren, of Three Oaks, Michigan, who in 1904 was instrumental in holding a Sunday-school convention at Jerusalem. and was its presi- dent. Mrs. Parsons was also very active . in Sunday-school work, and was always an able assistant to her husband in his efforts

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to advance the growth of the church and promote its activities in any direction. At her funeral there were four pallbearers and three members of the choir, all people in middle life, who had been pupils in her pri- mary class in Sunday-school. She was also very active in women's missionary work in the Congregational church.

There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which is uniformly accorded to George Parsons. With him success in life has been reached by his sterling qualities of mind and a heart true to every manly principle. He has never deviated from what his judgment would in- dicate to be the right and honorable be- tween his fellowmen and himself. He has never swerved from the path of duty and now after a long and eventful career he can look back over the past with pride and en- joy the remaining years of his earthly pil- grimage with the consciousness of having gained for himself by his honorable, straightforward career the confidence and respect of the entire community in which he lives.

JACOB B. CRALL, who is living re- tired on his "Shady Lawn" farm in section IO, Berrien township, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, near the capital, De- cember 21, 1830. The founder of the Crall family in America came from Switzerland in 1743 and settled in Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm of Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn. The father of our subject, Simon Crall, was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, born in 1808, and at the same place his father, Henry Crall, was also born. Simon Crall married Elizabeth Becker, also a native of Harris- burg and a daughter of Jacob Becker, who removed from the county of Lancaster to Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. To this couple were born nine children, seven of whom grew to years of maturity and five are now living. The mother died when forty-seven years of age, but was survived many years by her hus- band, who reached the ripe old age of seven- ty-five years.

Jacob B. Crall, the eldest child and also the first grandchild in the Crall family, re- mained in the place of his nativity until fif- teen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Crawford coun- ty, Ohio, continuing his education in its pub- lic schools and then entering Otterbein Uni- versity. On the 18th of October, 1855, he was married to Delilah Hess, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and they became the parents of four children: Alice E., the widow of S. W. Bishop and a resident of Benton Harbor ; M. Ellen, the wife of Henry Nisley, of Berrien township; John H., a resi- dent of Indianapolis, Indiana ; and Florence M., the wife of W. O. James, of Chicago, Illinois. The wife and mother died, and on the 22d of October, 1889, Mr. Crall married Juliette Enos, a daughter of Dr. Morgan and Elizabeth ( Clark) Enos, natives of New York. In 1836 they removed from that state to Michigan, taking up their abode in Pipestone township, Berrien county, where the father was numbered among the early pioneer physicians, and here his death oc- curred when he was sixty-four years old, while the mother survived until she had reached the age of seventy years. Mrs. Crall, the third of their five children, was born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, Michigan, January 28, 1842, and thus has been a life-long resident of the county and one of its noble pioneer women. For forty- five years Mr. Crall has resided on the farm which is yet his home, which he has trans- formed into a valuable and beautiful home- stead, and here he and his estimable wife are spending their declining days surrounded by the comforts and luxuries which former la- bor have brought to them. Mr. Crall gave his political support to the Republican party until the Prohibition party was formed, since which time he has cast his ballot for its support, and for many years he has served as a member of the school board. Both he and his wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He has taught the Bible class in various Sabbath-schools for thirty years, and Mrs. Crall is also a Sunday-school teacher, now teaching the Young People's class at Berrien Center.

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THOMAS B. WYNN. One of the he re-enlisted, entering the same company boys in blue of the Civil war, and at all times and regiment, and at the battle of Shiloh he was captured and taken as a prisoner to Macon, Georgia. After about seven months. spent in Libby Prison he was paroled and returned to his command, with which he continued until he was mustered out in 1866. He entered the ranks as a private, but was. discharged as first sergeant of Company C. The military career of Mr. Wynn, which covered a period of four and a half years, was one which will ever redound to his. honor as a loyal and devoted son of the re- public. When his services were no longer. needed he returned to his home in Berrien county and was thereafter engaged in farni- ing and lumbering until his removal to Eau Claire about 1889. In this city he resumed his lumbering operations, in which he was engaged until about 1893. A few years. thereafter, in October, 1897, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Eau Claire, and is the present incumbent. a loyal citizen, true to the interests of coun- ty, state and nation, Thomas B. Wynn is numbered among the leading citizens of Berrien county, and he is now acceptably filling the position of postmaster of Eau Claire. He is a native son of the county, his birth occurring in Niles township on the 7th of November, 1839. His father, Mor- gan Wynn, was born in Ohio, but as early as 1835 he took up his abode within the bor- ders of Berrien county, locating at first at what is known as Paw's Mills, where he was engaged in lumbering. He later established his home three miles west of Niles, on the St. Joseph river, where he improved a farm and spent the remainder of his life, passing away in death about 1845. No state of the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than Michigan. Their privations, hardships and earnest labors have resulted in establishing one of the foremost common- wealths of the nation, and one which has still greater possibilities before it. But their work is nearly complete, and every year sees new graves filled by those who helped to build an empire, and soon will the last of these sturdy pioneers be laid away. Mr. Wynn was married to Elizabeth Cottrell, a native of Ohio, but who subsequently re- moved to Indiana, and there she gave her hand in marriage to Morgan Wynn. To- gether they journeyed to Michigan, and here they lived and labored to establish a home. The wife and mother still survives, having reached the eighty-seventh milestone on the journey of life, and of the seven children which she bore her husband, four sons and three daughters, all grew to years of matur- ity and six are now living.

Thomas B. Wynn, the second child and second son in the family, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Niles township, receiving his education in its district schools, and in Berrien county he has spent his entire life. In 1861, in response to his country's call for troops, he enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, his military career continuing until 1866. At Little Rock, Arkansas, in December, 1863,

In 1869 Mr. Wynn was married to Har- riet Smith, a daughter of Asa Smith, and they have had four children,-Richard, a resident of Truman, Arkansas; Bertha, who died in infancy; Frank, also deceased, pass- ing away at the age of twenty-seven years; and Ethel, the wife of J. Jennings, of Pipe- stone township, Berrien county. In his po- litical affiliations Mr. Wynn has been a life- long Republican, active in the work of his party, and as its representative he has served in a number of official positions, having been constable and assessor of the village of Eau Claire, and at one time was a candidate for. sheriff, being second on the list. He is a member of Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., in which he maintains pleasant relations. with his old army comrades, and has filled all the chairs in the order. He has also membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been honored with all the official positions therein, and in the county where he has spent his entire life he is well known and has hosts of friends.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 144

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