A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 147

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

made his way to the frontier, settling at White Pigeon, Michigan, where he went to work at his trade. He served his time as a millwright and in 1831 came to Berrien county, settling in Niles township. After a short period he removed to what is now know as the Ballard farm on the Buchanan road, where he resided for five or six years, when he took up his abode about one and a half miles west of Niles, and in 1854 lo- cated in Pipestone township, becoming one of its first settlers. He located on section 17 and there continued to reside until his death occurred, when he was in his seventy-fifth year. He filled the office of justice of the peace and he built many mills in the county. After coming to Pipestone township he turned his attention to the lumber business and purchased a sawmill, which he operated until 1861. He then retired from active busi- ness life to enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of his former labor. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active interest in its work and upbuilding. He held various church offices and did every- thing in his power to advance the cause of his denomination. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother a native of Penn- sylvania. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sabrina Park, and was born in Massachusetts in 1807. From that state she moved to New York and afterward o Lake county, Ohio, where she was reared. Her last days were spent in Pipestone town- .hip, where she died at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. In the family vere seven children but only three reached adult age-William H. and his two sisters, Mary and Eliza. The former became the wife of Orland Boughton, and is now de- ceased. Eliza became the wife of John Rec- tor, who has also passed away.

William H. Cassiday is the only living representative and was the second child and second son. He spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in the township and the vil- lage of Niles, attending the district schools and also select schools in the village. He re- mained with his parents until he had attained his majority and after he became of age his father gave him an interest in the business, and he thus became closely associated with

the work of the farm and also of the trade of a millwright. He was thus an active fac- tor in the industrial life of the community. Upon the father's death the property was divided, his two sisters sharing in the estate. William H. Cassiday was eighteen years of age when he came to Pipestone township and he has remained here continuously since, cov- ering a period of more than half a century .. He was married in 1864 to Miss Almeda N .. Gardner, a daughter of Davidson and Eletha. Gardner, who were early settlers of Michi- gan, locating first in Cass county and after- ward removing to Pipestone township in an early day. They were the parents of seven children : Davidson, living in Berrien coun- ty ; Theodore, whose home is in Pipestone township : Eletha, the wife of William Treat, of Buchanan; Mary, the wife of Fred Sherer; of Mason county, Michigan; Pearl, who married Bell Buckman, and resides in Sodus township; Carl, who wedded Vern Hess, a daughter or Homer Hess; and Flor- ence, at home. All were born on the old farm homestead.

Mr. Cassiday has been a life-long resi- dent of Berrien county, having lived within its borders for seventy-one years. Few men have therefore been witnesses of its develop- ment and progress and been more actively interested in its history. He has voted with the Democracy and also with the Prohi- bition party but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for about forty years and has filled all of its offices, serving as steward, trustee and in other po- sitions. He is the oldest settler of Berrien county now living in Pipestone township, his memory forming a connecting link be- tween the primitive past and the present. while his memory bears the impress of the early historic annals of this portion of the state. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days when instead of well tilled fields and good orchards were seen wild land covered with native prairie grasses or else with dense forests. It was still to some extent the hunting ground of the Indians. and various kinds of wild animals were seen, while several kinds of wild game could be had in abundance. The homes were largely

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

log cabins, heated by fireplaces and but rudely furnished when compared with fur- nishings of the present time. Mr. Cassiday recalls many interesting incidents of the early days and is largely regarded as author- ity on matters relating to the pioneer history of the county.

GEORGE L. FRANZ, who is giving his time and energies to general farming and dairying, has a good property on sections 19 and 20, Pipestone township. He was born in Wayne county, Michigan, February 24, 1862, and is the eldest son of John G. and Barbara (Smith ) Franz. He was only three years of age at the time of his parents' re- moval to Pipestone township, and when he was a youth of six years his father re- moved to Nes township, where the son was reared. The educational privileges of the district school were first afforded him, and he also attended the Morris Chapel Sunday- school, whereby he added not a little to his knowledge through intellectual as well as moral development. From the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn his attention was largely given to the work of the fields upon the old home place and after attaining his majority he worked for a few months for his father for wages. He then bought the place where- on he now resides, becoming the owner on the Ist of June, 1887.

The same year Mr. Franz was married to Miss Mary Brenuing. of Ypsilanti, Mich- igan, and his license was the seventh that was taken out in Wayne county. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which has since been their home, cov- ering a period of nineteen years, and during this time Mr. Franz has made all the im- provements upon the place, erecting a very large barn in 1906, it being one of the best in the county. He has a modern two-story frame residence and this stands in the midst of well tilled fields, comprising one hundred and five acres of land. He makes a specialty of the dairy business and stock-raising, and also cultivates some fruit. He is likewise engaged quite extensively in raising chickens and has an excellent chicken house twelve by sixty feet. He has some very fine breeds

of fowls and this is an important branch of his business.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Franz have been born six children, who are yet living: Harvey G., John J., Emma, Freeda, Marie and Paul. Mr. Franz's views on political questions ac- cord with Democratic principles but at local elections he frequently votes for the candi- (lates whom he regard's as best qualified for office. Most of his life has been spent in this county and his constantly increasing ac- quaintance has brought him a constantly widening circle of friends, while his close application and enterprise in his business af- fair have gained for him a very creditable and desirable measure of success.

MILO A. JENNINGS. The long years of his residence in this county constitutes Milo A. Jennings one of the early settlers. He lives upon section 17, Pipestone town- ship, and his time and energies are given to general agricultural pursuits, having one hundred and forty-five acres of land which is richly cultivated and improved. He was born in Lorain county, Ohio, February II, 1844. His father, Charles E. Jennings, was a native of Pennsylvania, in which state he was reared. In early manhood he removed to Ohio, taking up his abode there some time in the '20s. He was married in that state to Miss Rebecca Warner, a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and they began their domestic life in that county, where they resided contin- uously until 1855, when. thinking to enjoy still better business opportunities in Mich- igan, they made their way to Berrien county and located on section S, Pipestone township. Here they resided until the death of the father, who was born in 18II and passed away in his seventy-sixth year. His wife, who was born in 1817, died in the eighty- fourth year of her age. They were the par- ents of five children, all of whom reached adult age, and one daughter is now the wife of James H. Gardner, who is mentioned on another page of this work. The three eld- est sons of the family were valiant soldiers of the Civil war, and Elwood gave his life as a ransom to his country, dying in the ser- vice at Little Rock, Arkansas. Charles is

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

now county commissioner of schools in Ber- rien county.

Milo A. Jennings is the third child and second son of the family. He was eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Pipestone township, and in the district schools he was educated. In October, 1862, in response to the country's call for aid, he offered his services to the Union and joined the boys in blue of the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He went to Pittsburg Landing and participated in the battle of Shiloh, after which he was honorably dis- charged. He then returned home and for one year lived with his grandparents in Ohio, during which time he attended the Baldwin University. Having regained his health he again enlisted, this time becoming a member of the Twenty-fifth Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry. He was in the Sherman campaign from Chattanooga and Atlanta, participating in the capture of the latter city. Afterward with his regiment he re- turned to Nashville, and on the 15th of De- cember, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Nashville by a gunshot wound through the right leg. He was then taken to the hos- pital at Nashville and received an honorable discharge at Detroit, Michigan, in June, 1865, after the war had been brought to a close and his military aid was no longer needed.

Mr. Jennings made a creditable record as a soldier, and returning to his home in Pipestone he once more took up the pur- suits of civil life and has since been engaged in farming. He was married November 15. 1867, to Miss Sarah Gardner, a sister of James H. Gardner and a daughter of Dav- idson and Eletha ( Hendrix) Gardner. Mrs. Jennings was born in Pokagon, Cass county, Michigan, February 21, 1850, and by her marriage has become the mother of four sons, Orla E .. J. M., Lyle D. and Clair E. The eldest son is now a commercial traveler and resides in Grand Rapids. The second son is on a farm, and the two youngest are at home, but Lyle is a student in the Agri- cultural College at Lansing.

Mr. Jennings now has one hundred and forty-five acres of rich and productive land,

which he is tilling, and the soil responds readily to his care and cultivation, so that he annually harvests good crops. He formerly owned two hundred and two acres before dividing with his sons. He has one of the best improved farms in the county, the build- ings and other improvements upon his place being valued at over ten thousand dollars. He has been very successful in his business interests and he cleared upon his peach crop in ten years about fifteen thousand dollars. In addition to his farming interests he is also engaged in the dairy business. A life-long Republican he is inflexible in his support of the principles of the party. An earnest Christian gentleman, he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school for fifty-one years and most active in its work throughout that entire period. His identification with the Methodist church dates from the age of fifteen years, and he has been one of its most active and helpful work- ers, holding various offices in the church, working untiringly for the extension of its influence and contributing liberally to its support. He and his sister, Mrs. Gardner, are charter members of the Sunday-school, which was organized more than fifty-one years ago. His life has been passed in har- mony with his professions and his is an hon- orable name, while over his record there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil, as in life's relations he has been true to high and honorable principles.

ROY CLARK is numbered among the old settlers of Pipestone township by reason of the fact that he has spent forty-six years upon the farm that is now his place of resi- dence. It was here that he was born, his natal day being August 7. 1860. and the house which he yet occupies was that in which he first opened his eyes to the light of day. It is situated on section 17. Pipestone township, and the place is one of the old im- proved properties of the county, the land having been converted from its primitive condition into cultivable and richly produc- tive fields. His father. Theodore Clark, was a native of Manlius, New York, and when about five years of age was taken to Ohio

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

by his parents, Orange and Mary Clark, who located in Lorain county, where Theodore Clark was reared and educated. When he had attained his majority he wedded Miss Sarah Warner, a native of Lorain county, where her girlhood days were passed. Her natal year was 1836 and in 1856 she accom- panied her husband on his removal to Pipe- stone township, their home being established on the farm which is now the residence of Roy Clark. There were scarcely any im- provements upon the place at that time and their first home was a log cabin. There in the midst of the wilderness the father hewed out a farm, clearing the fields and bringing the land under cultivation. It was an ardu- ous task in the early days but with the pass- ing years improved farm machinery ren- dered labor less difficult. He remained upon the old homestead until his death, which oc- curred in his seventy-ninth year. He had served as highway commissioner before the division of Pipestone and Sodus townships and was also township clerk and justice of the peace. His decisions in the last named office were fair and impartial and he took an active interest in public matters relating to the general welfare, upholding the legal and political status of the community and sup- porting those interests which work for its material, intellectual and moral progress. He was a life-long Republican from the or- ganization of the party and was deeply in- terested in its welfare. His wife passed away July 12, 1894, in her sixty-seventh year. In the family were four children, of whom two died in infancy, while two sons reached adult age. One of these, Eljen, died August 26, 1906, at Eau Claire, Michigan.

Roy Clark of this review is the youngest of the family and is now the only surviving member. At the usual age he began his education in the public schools of Pipestone township and subsequently he continued his studies in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he remained for three years. When not busy with his text-books his time was largely oc- cupied with the work of the farm and thus the days of his boyhood and youth passed. He was married on the Ioth of January, 1881, to Miss Jennie Grow, a daughter of

Ralph and Mary (Miller) Grow, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Lon- don, England. Their daughter, Mrs. Clark, was born in Aledo, Illinois, December 26, 1858, but was reared in Berrien township, Berrien county.

Mr. Clark owns and operates a farm of two hundred and two and a half acres of well improved land, a part of which is the old homestead. His life has been active and his labors resultant, and he is now in posses- sion of a good property. His fellow towns- men recognizing his worth and ability have frequently called him to office and he has served as supervisor of Pipestone township for four years and also as justice of the peace. In 1904 he was nominated for sheriff but was defeated. A prominent Mason, he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He belongs to the Blue Lodge at Berrien Springs, the chapter and council at St. Joseph and the commandery at Ben- ton Harbor, while his affiliation with the consistory and shrine is in Grand Rapids. He is the only Mason of this rank in Pipe- stone township. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Grange, as is also his wife. He has missed but one caucus and primary since eighteen years of age and he has served as a member of both the county central com- mittee and the executive committee. He has ever been most active and helpful in his work in the interests of the Republican party and his name is a synonym for all that is pro- gressive and helpful whether accomplished through party lines or as an independent. movement. His acquaintance is wide and his friends speak of him in favorable terms, indicating that his life has been honorable and upright.

WALLACE A. PRESTON, who for forty-one years has been engaged in the lumn- ber business in St. Joseph, has throughout this period sustained an unassailable reputa- tion in commercial circles. His efforts to- ward advancing the material interests of the city are so widely recognized that they can be considered as being no secondary part of his career of signal usefulness. While

RESIDENCE OF WALLACE A. PRESTON

W. A. PRESTON

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

practical politics have claimed much of his time, and while his stalwart Republicanism has been exceedingly valuable to the party, his service in that direction must necessarily be held secondary to those of much greater importance as implied in his public spirit, progressiveness and liberality.

A native of the city of St. Joseph, he was born October 22, 1842, his parents be- ing Fowler J. and Anjenette ( Loomis) Pres- ton, who were natives of Massachusetts. The paternal grandfather, Joel Preston, was also a native of the old Bay state and was a valiant soldier of the Revolutionary war. He died at Whately, Massachusetts, when about ninety-two years of age.

Fowler J. Preston, the father, was a contractor and builder, and as early as 1829 came to the territory of Michigan, settling at St. Joseph. He was the first sheriff of Berrien county, and was otherwise closely connected with its pioneer history. He died in 1843. He was a man of distinct and forceful individuality, of marked character and determination and left an impress for good upon the public life of this part of the state. He served his country as a soldier in the Black Hawk war, when the Indians rose in rebellion against the encroachments of the white race in the middle west. His wife was one of the well known pioneer women of Berrien county and died in 1891, at the age of eighty years.

Wallace A. Preston spent his early school days in St. Joseph and afterward en- gaged in clerking in a store for a time. Later he was a sailor for six years upon Lake Michigan, and during the Civil war he was for eighteen months in the naval service. At the close of hostilities he returned to St. Joseph, in May, 1865, and in that year be- came connected with the lumber trade and also established a planing mill. He has since been engaged in the lumber business, covering a period of forty-one years. He is a man of broad capabilities as his extensive business interests indicate and his manage- ment of affairs has shown him to be a man of keen discernment, who forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution.

In January, 1874, Mr. Preston was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. King, a daughter of William P. King, a pioneer of Benton town- ship. They have seven children, as follows : William W., Loomis K., Maud E., Arthur G., Nathan E., John D. and Calvin H. Mr. Preston is a member of the Masonic and the Odd Fellows fraternities. In politics he has always been a stalwart Republican and for two terms he served as treasurer of St. Joseph, while in 1880 he was president of the village. In 1893 he was elected mayor of the city and re-elected in 1894, and he gave a public-spirited, business-like and help- ful administration. He was a member and chairman of the harbor commission board in 1894, 1895 and 1896, and he has always taken an active, leading and influential part in public affairs, and St. Joseph has no truer or more devoted friend. He is at all times approachable and patiently listens to what- ever a caller may have to say, always cour- teous and always a gentleman in the truest and best sense of the term. He cares not for notoriety nor is there about him the least shadow of mock modesty, and when called to office he has faithfully performed his duties to the best of his ability and for the interests of the community at large.

WILLIAM LAVANWAY, a promi- nent old settler of Berrien county, where he owns a farm of one hundred and twenty- five acres, situated on section 16, Pipestone township, was born in Huron county, Ohio, his natal day being December 8, 1837. He is a son of Charles and Elizabeth Lavanway, both natives of Vermont, where they were reared and married. Hoping to enjoy bet- ter business opportunities in a new country, they removed to Huron county, Ohio, where they lived for a time, and later. in 1853, made their way to Berrien county, Michigan, locating in Pipestone township. In their family were twelve children, eight of whom reached manhood or womanhood. Both the father and mother died in this township, the former having reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away at the age of seventy-seven years.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

William Lavanway, the third child in his father's family, was a youth of sixteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Ohio to this state. He was reared to the occupation of farming, which has always been his life work. After reaching man's estate he started out in life to make his own way in the world, first lo- cating on the farm on which Marion Jen- nings now resides. He was persistent in his labors and careful in the management of his business affairs, so that as the years passed he prospered in his undertaking's until he was finally enabled to purchase land of his own, becoming the possessor of his present valuable tract, constituting one hundred and twenty-five acres, situated on section 16, Pipestone township, which has since con- tinued to be his place of residence.

As a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Sarah Kelsey, to whom he was married in 1864. She is also a native of the Buckeye state, and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons and a daughter, Clark, Ralph and Helena. The year following his marriage -- 1865 -- Mr. Lavanway responded to the country's call for troops during the Civil war, joining Company K, Twelfth Michi- gan Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of hostilities, at which time he re- turned home, having made a most creditable military record. He has always given his allegiance to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, always taking an active and helpful interest in the work of the party. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church, in which he is serving as a trustee.

Having spent almost his entire life in Berrien county, where he has lived for more than a half century, he has been a witness of many changes that have here been made, and he has not only been a witness but has been an active factor in the work of de- velopment along all lines pertaining to the welfare and improvement of this section of the state. He has a wide acquaintance throughout the county, where he is known for his fair dealing and for his many good traits of heart and mind.

JAMES H. GARDNER, one of the old settlers now living on section 8, Pipestone township, is numbered among Michigan's native sons, his birth having occurred in La- grange township, Cass County, on the 4th of March, 1838. His father, Davidson Gardner, was a native of Pennsylvania and became a resident of Cass county when but eighteen years of age. He was a pioneer resident there, being one of the first white men to locate within its borders when the Indians still held dominion over much of the country and used the forests as a hunting- ground. Mr. Gardner was married in Cass county, where he continued to reside until 1860, when he came to Berrien county, set- tling in Pipestone township. There he died in the same year at the age of sixty-three. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eletha Hendrix, was a native of Indiana, and lived to be about seventy years of age. There were ten children, three daughters and seven sons, in their family and all reached manhood or womanhood.

James H. Gardner, the second child and second son, was reared in Cass county to the age of twenty-one years and there were many evidences of pioneer life in his boyhood days, while the work incident to the develop- ment of the farm embraced the clearing of the land and the tilling of the virgin soil. His education was acquired in one of the primitive log schoolhouses of the early days and his privileges in that direction were somewhat meager owing to the unsettled condition of the county. On attaining his majority he came to Berrien county, locating in Pipestone township, so that he is a pio- neer settler of the two counties. He was married in Berrien county to Miss Josephine Jennings, and they began their domestic life upon the farm which is now their home. They have but one son, Elwood H., who re- sides upon the old homestead and assists in its improvement and cultivation.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 147

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