A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 149

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

His wife long survived him and passed away in 1878. In their family were eight children, five of whom were born on the farm which is now occupied by their son Edwin. Only four of the family, three sons and a daughter, are yet living.

Edwin Burton is the seventh child and third son and he was reared upon the old home place, which is now his farm. His ed- ucation was acquired in the district schools and the delights of boyhood days such as the playground afforded were enjoyed by him when he was not busy with his text-books or with the labors of the fields. In 1881 he was married to Miss Alice Evans, a du .. ghter of Thomas and Margaret (Jones) Evans, both of whom were natives of Wales. Mrs. Burton was born in Pipe- stone township, Berrien county, and was reared and educated here. By this marriage there are two children: Ethel, who is now engaged in teaching ; and Harold, in school.

Mr. Burton has spent his entire life upon the farm which is still his place of resi- dence, with the exception of a brief period of three years passed in Benton Harbor, and two years in the lumber woods of central Michigan. He has seventy-eight acres of land which is well tilled and brings forth good harvests, and he is still actively carry- ing on the work of the farm. His political allegiance has been given to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he is recognized as one of its stalwart champions and effective workers in this locality. He has also been honored with several local offices, being township treasurer for two years and high- way commissioner for two years, while for six years he was a member of the board of review. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp at Eau Claire and has many friends both within and without the border. Many incidents concerning Pipestone town- ship and Berrien county which to others are matters of history are to him matters of personal experience or observation for his memory goes back to the time when there were various evidences of pioneer life in Berrien county, the early settlers being en- gaged at that period in reclaiming the dis-

trict following the domains of the red men for the uses of the white race.

JOHN E. BARNES. Among the en- terprising and progressive business men of Benton Harbor is numbered John E. Barnes, and the extent and influence of his activities have been an element in the business pro- gress and development here. His life is an- other indication of the fact that no matter what may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the requirements which are sought in schools and in books he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own charac-

JOHN E. BARNES

ter, and this is what Mr. Barnes has done. A native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, he was born in a little log cabin in Penn township, November 27, 1842, a son of John E. and Anna ( Ross) Barnes. The father's birth occurred in Shepherdstown, Virginia, in 1794 and he was reared at Harpers Ferry, Maryland, whence he re- moved westward by wagon to South Bend, Indiana, in 1836. He settled about seven miles south of the city and gave his atten- tion to making a home in the then wilderness of Indiana. He was a captain in the Mary- land State Militia, receiving his commission

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

from James K. Polk. He died at Buchanan, Michigan, in Ioy _. Ihis wife, Anna, who was born in Witamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1808, was a daughter of Isaac Ross, a sol- dier of the Revominoba y war. Her death occurred in Buchanan, Michigan, in 1871.

John E. Barnes acquired his early edu- cation by walking two and a half miles to the log school house on Palmers Prairie. The school was taught by Clem Studebaker, later of. the Studebaker Wagon Works of South Bend, Indiana. Ile ony received such ad- vantages as were afforded by the district schools, and in 1854 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, Mich gan, the family home being established on a farm four miles south of Berrien Springs. There he worked at farm labor and as opportunity offered pursued his studies in the country schools during the winter months until 1858. In that year the family removed to Buchanan, settling on a small farm of seventeen acres, which they (perated in addition to a tract of eighty atres in Niles township. John E. Barnes aidled in the work of the farm until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he en- listed as a member of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, serving as a private until August, 1865. He was then hen tably discharged, his term of service having expired. Returning home, he cared for his aged parents. thus repaying them by filial love and devotion for the care which they had bestowed upon him in youth.

Mr. Barnes having learned the carpen- ter's trade, he worked at that until 1868, when he entered the employ of C. H. & S. H. Black, manufacturers of furniture. He was busy in the factory until 1870, when he went to Kansas and pre-empted one hun- dred and sixty acres of land near Howard City. There he followed farming and car- pentering until 1872, when he returned to Buchanan and was engaged in carpenter work until 1875. At that date he purchased the half interest owned by A. Willard, of the firm of Spencer & Willard, retailers and job manufacturers of furniture and house material. He immediately commenced to build up the business, which was now con-

ducted under the firm style of Spencer & Barnes, and was thus carried on until 1891. In that year Spencer & Barnes moved their plant to Benton Harbor, and he has been financial manager from 1875 until the pres- ent time. Thus almost his entire life has been devoted to the furniture business and his success from the beginning of his resi- dence in Benton Harbor has been uniform and rapid. He has persevered in the pur- suit of a persistent purpose and gained the most satisfactory reward. He was con- stantly alert to the opportunities which have presented, has kept in touch with the trend of modern progress and at all times has manifested an aptitude for successful man- agement that has been a salient feature in the growth and prosperity of the concern which he now represents. He is now presi- dent of the Benton Harbor Development Company, president of the Spencer & Barnes Company, and president of the Buchanan Cabinet Company, at Buchanan. Thus his business interests are quite extensive and are elements in the activity and commercial growth of this part of the state.

In 1866 Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Susie J. Perrott, a native of Michigan, who died in October. 1868. Mr. Barnes was married in February, 1869, to Mrs. Maloan Perrott. By the second marriage there is one living child, Zella D., now the wife of IV. S. Waite, of Benton Harbor.

Mr. Barnes was a member of the school board of Buchanan and also acted in the same official capacity in Benton Harbor. He has served from the fourth ward as a mem- ber of the board of aldermen of Benton Harbor, is a member of the board of public works, and in office and out of it has con- tributed to the advancement of the commun- ity and its substantial progress. He has the esteem of his friends and the confidence of the business public. is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally have for him warm regard.

CHARLES HENRY RECTOR. Of the stanch and hardy pioneers who settled in the wilds of Berrien county in an early day none are more worthy of mention in

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

this work than the Rector family. One of its representatives. Charles Henry Rector, was born on the old homestead farm in Sodus township, September 20, 1845, and thus for over sixty-one years he has re- sided within its borders, prominently identi- fied with its growth and development. He is the eldest son of David and Sarah Rector, whose history will be found on other pages in this volume. The elementary educational training which Charles H. Rector received in the district schools of his locality was supplemented by attendance at the schools of St. Joseph and at an institution at Niles pre- sided over by a Mis Prown. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age, as- sisting in the work on the form. He was married on the 18th of October. 1868. to Re- becca A. Sullivan, a nati, e of Niles, MFchi- gan, and a daughter of Wyley Sullivan. Her parents both d'ed when she was about nine years of age on' she was reared by Robert and Sauter Cassady, of Pipestone township, Ferrien count :. Font children have been born to the union-Henry, David R., Sarah L. R . E. F.r. Rors, Alice R. and Edward S., al natives of Saus town- ship.

After his manage M .. Rector con- tinued to reside a S des township, where he was engaged in the prist-mill business for about two and a half years. In 1873 he took up his al le on the firm where he now resides, and bene he has lived and labored since, les felle annually returning to him bounteous harvests in return for the care which he has bestowed upon them. He. is one of the wife t native citizens of Ber- rien county, having throughout his entire life been identified with its growth and de- velopment, and he deserves a fitting recog- nition among those whose enterprise and abilities hele negen well esults. He is now a Socialist in the political views, and since 18,4 bas hoch a member of the Grange.

ALBERT SCHELL, a well known pio- neer settler of Berrien county, having here spent more than six decades is the owner of a well improved farm of eighty acres,

situated on section 24, Sodus township. He is a native of Erie county, New York, hav- ing been born September 22, 1842, a son of Daniel and Dorothea ( Ryther) Schell, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The family located in Berrien county in 1844, where the father purchased a farm in Pipestone township, and there both passed away, the former when he had reached the age of seventy-one years, while the mother died when more than seventy- two years of age. Their family numbered nine children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth and the third SO11.

Albert Schell was only two years old when he was brought by his parents to this state, the family home being established in Pipestone township, Berrien county, where the son was reared and pursued his studies in the common schools near his father's home. He was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, assisting in the work of the farm from the time of early spring planting until the crops were gathered in the late autumn. He remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, when, in 1862, he offered his services to the govern- ment for duty in the civil war, becoming a member of Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He participated in all the princi- pal movements of the regiment with the ex- ception of the battle at Winchester, at which time he was in the hospital at Clairsville, Maryland, being incapacitated for duty for about eight months. He served until the close of hostilities, when he was honorably discharged at Detroit, Michigan, in 1865.

After the war he returned to his old home in Berrien county, where he was mar- ried the following year, January 2, 1866, to Mrs. Mary J. Neer, a daughter of William Garrison, her first husband having died dur- ing his service in the army. Mr. Schell located on a farm, which he purchased, and since that time he has bought and sold sev- eral farms in Sodus and Buchanan town- ships, which has added not a little to his financial resources. In 1906 he purchased his present farm, comprising eighty acres, situated on section 24, Sodus township, and

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

here he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and is meeting with very desirable success. He has added many modern and substantial improvements to his property since it came into his possession and now has one of the fine country homes of this section of the state. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children but all are now deceased, and they have three grand- children.

Mr. Schell has been a life-long Repub- lican, giving active and helpful support to his party and in public affairs he has ever manifested a deep interest, aiding in every movement or measure that tends toward the advancement of local progress. He served as highway commissioner for two years and has filled other township offices. Mr. Schell has resided in Berrien county for sixty-two years and therefore has a wide and favor- able acquaintance, commanding the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Like many another he has en- countered difficulties and obstacles in his business career, but through determination and close application he has been enabled to overcome these and has worked his way upward from year to year until today his fine farm is evidence of the success which he has achieved, and he has accumulated a competence that provides him with all the comforts of life.

D. SIDNEY RECTOR, JR., a pros- perous farmer of Sodus township, where he owns a valuable and well improved property of eighty acres, situated on section 2, in addition to which he operates a tract of sixty acres belonging to his wife, is a native son of the township in which he still makes his home, his birth having here occurred on the Ioth of July, 1852. His father, David S. Rector, was born in Sodus, New York, and in 1835 made his way westward by lakes and canal, locating in Berrien county, Michigan, where he purchased a farm lying on section 14. Pipestone town- ship. The township was afterward given the name of Sodus, being named by Mr. Rector in honor of his native city in the east. He took a very active part in the develop-

ment and improvement of this township and was one of the prominent pioneer settlers of this portion of the state. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Tabor, and was born in Syracuse, New York, December II, 1819, and died in Berrien county, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, while Mr. Rector lived to be seventy-five years old. Their family numbered five sons and four daughters, of whom our subject is the sixth in order of birth.

D. Sidney Rector was reared in this township, and was early trained to the dut- ies of the home farm, assisting his father in its operation during the period of his boy- hood and youth, and thus becoming familiar with practical and modern ideas of agricul- ture, which qualified him for carrying on a business of this character when he started out in life on his own account. From 1864 until 1872 he pursued his studies at Flint, Michigan, and was graduated from the schools there in the latter year. Mr. Rector now owns a farm of eighty acres, situated on section 2, Sodus township, and since purchasing this property he has added many substantial and modern improvements.

which have greatly enhanced its value, and here he is engaged in carrying on general farming and he also raises considerable fruit. In addition to his own farm Mrs. Rector also owns a tract of sixty acres, so that together they have a valuable piece of property, which is being successfully oper- ated by Mr. Rector.

On the 10th of September, 188.4. oc- curred the marriage of Mr. Rector and Miss Sophia A. Krohne, who was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, July 9, 1859. Her father. William Krohne, was born in Berlin, Ger- many, and when a youth of eighteen years crossed the Atlantic to the United States. For a time he was employed in Cuba and Florida, subsequent to which time he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was married. His wife's maiden name was Engel First, whose parents came to Cincinnati, Ohio. from Menden. Germany, when she was three years of age, and she resided in that city until she was married. She died No- vember 14. 1897, the same day Mr. Rector's

D.S. Rector.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

mother died, and both were interred on the same day. In 1868 Mr. Krohne made his way to Berrien county. Their family num- bered eight children, of whom Mrs. Rector is the second in order of birth and she was a little maiden of nine years when she ac- companied her parents on their removal to this state. By her marriage she has become the mother of three sons: Glen, who was born July 20, 1885; Willie, who was born November 28, 1894; and Rolla, born Oc- tober 10, 1900.

Mr. Rector is alert and enterprising, ever watchful of opportunities for advance- ment, and by his close application and care- ful business management he is today in pos- session of a fine property, and is numbered among the prosperous farmers of this por- tion of the state.

JOHN F. HOGUE, proprietor of Riverbrook Farm, located on section I, Sodus township, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1848. His father, James W. Hogue, was a native of Ohio, and was there married to Hannah Moore, who was born in Virginia but was reared in Ohio. The Hogue family was es- tablished in this country by the grandfather of our subject, who came from Ireland and established his home in Youngstown, Ohio. He was a tailor by trade. On the maternal side Mr. Hogue is of English descent. After his marriage James W. Hogue, who was a wagon-maker by trade, located in Pennsylvania, where he followed the occu- pation of farming. In September, 1854, he arrived in Berrien county, Michigan, where he purchased two hundred acres of land in Pipestone township, placing it under a higli state of cultivation, and there making his home for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he sold his place there and came to Sodus township, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy years. He took an active part in the public affairs of his community, was a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and for a number of years held the office of justice of the peace. He was one of four who voted that ticket in the township in which he lived in Pennsylvania. His re- 61

ligious connection was with the United Brethren church, and being a natural musi- cian he led the singing in the church choir for many years and was able to play on ai- most any instrument. Mr. and Mrs. Hogue were the parents of eight children, four sons. and four daughters.

John F. Hogue, whose name introduces this review, was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Berrien county, and for twelve years thereafter their home' was in Pipestone township, where he at- tended the district schools and assisted in the work of the farm. When he reached his eighteenth year the family established their home in Sodus township, and after his marriage Mr. Hogue removed to a farm in the northern part of that township, but three years later, in 1883, he located on the farm on which he now lives, owning one hundred and ninety-seven acres, while his brother, L. M. Hogue has one hundred and thirty- three acres adjoining his land. His place is known as the Riverbrook farm, and he carries on general agricultural pursuits. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and he has served as treasurer of Sodus township and in other local offices.

In December, 1879, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Hogue and Miss Flora Har- mon, she being a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Stump) Harmon, who came to Sodus township, Berrien county, in 1854. Here Mrs. Hogue was born on the 24th of June, 1860, and she is the third in order of birth of her parent's five children, four sons. and one daughter. She has spent most of her life in Berrien county, where she re- ceived her education and also attended school at Benton Harbor. Mr. and Mrs. Hogue have two children-Edith, attending school at the Northwestern University in Chicago, and Harry, at home.

ERNEST TABOR is well known throughout this section of Berrien county as the owner of Tabor Farm Summer Resort, located on section 27, Sodus township. It is beautifully situated on the banks of the St. Joseph river, ten miles south of Benton Harbor and on the St. Joe Traction Rail- road. Mr. Tabor was born in Bainbridge

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township, Berrien county, Michigan, Feb- ruary 14, 1845. His father, Wallis Tabor, a native of Onondaga county, New York, took up his abode within the borders of Ber- rien county as early as 1835, when nineteen years of age. His first stop on his west- ward journey, however, was at Chicago, Illinois, where he resided for a short time, thence continuing on to Bainbridge town- ship, Berrien county, Michigan. A short time afterward he established his home in Sodus township, where he spent the remain- ing years of his life. his life labors being ended in death when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. His wife bore the maiden name of Julia McKies, and she, too, was a native of the Empire state, born at Syracuse, New York. She still survives her husband, having now reached the eighty-fifth milestone on the journey of life and is a resident of Kansas. Of the eight children born to her and her husband six are now living and are proving worthy rep- resentatives of this honored pioneer couple.

Ernest Tabor, whose name introduces this review, obtained his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of Pipestone township, tnis being supplemented by an attendance of one year in the Michigan Uni- versity at Ann Arbor and at a private school in Royalton, this county. Thus with an excellent education with which to begin the active duties of life he began farming and lumbering on a small piece of land in Deer- field township, Van Buren county, Michi- gan, which he purchased, and where he im- mediately began cutting the timber and sell- ing the land. After the completion of this work he located on a tract of land in Sodus township, which he rented for two years and then purchased the farm where he now lives, his landed possessions first consisting of one hundred and two acres, but as the years have passed by he has been enabled to add to his original purchase until he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres. This land is well known as a beautiful sum- mer resort, the Tabor Farm Summer Re- sort, on which is located twelve cottages besides a large residence and other build-

ings, this constituting one of the finest sum- mer resorts in the county.

In 1872 Mr. Tabor was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Mar- garet Stump, and they had two children, Myrtle and May. For the second wife he chose Mrs. Hettie (Ryerson) Angell, Oc- tober 31, 1902. She was born in Sterling, Illinois, and a daughter of Martin Ryerson, one of the best known business citizens of Sterling, Illinois. He was well known as a benefactor to the public. Mrs. Tabor was educated in Sterling, Illinois, and was an instructor in the public schools of that city and very successful. She is a lady of accom- plishments in free hand crayon, oils and water colors, and her pretty home is adorned by her handiwork. By her first marriage she had two children : Ethel is the wife of Charles Goutevenier, an accomplished artist. She was educated in Austin high school, and has one little son, Charles Arnold. Arnold is a resident of Chicago, associated in a high manner in the well known firm of A. H. Andrews & Company. He is a man of more than ordinary attainments. Mr. Tabor gives his political support to the Republican party and is an active worker in its ranks.

EDWIN SHARAI was born on section 22, Sodus township, Berrien county, on the farm which is still his home on the 13th of September, 1848. His father, Tanos Sharai, was a native of Canada, his birth having occurred near Toronto, and he came as a boy with his parents to Berrien county, the family home being established in Bainbridge township. The father of our subject pur- chased a farm on the bank of the St. Joe river, and there continued his home for twelve years, after which he removed to the farm where the son Edwin was born and where he has continued to make his home. Tanos Sharai was married to Miss Louisa Wheeler, a native of New York state, who came with her parents to this state at an early day, the family home being estab- lished in St. Joe, where her father, John Wheeler, was a lumberman, and was one of

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

the pioneer settlers of Berrien county. Both parents are now deceased, the father having passed away at the age of seventy-four years, while the mother died at the age of sixty- nine years. Their family numbered five children and with the exception of one all are now living.

Edwin Sharai, whose name introduces this record, was the second child and second son of his father's family, and was reared and educated in his native township. He, however, started out at the early age of twelve years to earn his own living by work- ing by the day and month at farm labor. During his youth he also learned the car- penter's trade and for sixteen years was con- nected with the building operations of this county. In 1864, at the time of the Civil war, his private business interests were in- terrupted, when, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted for service, joining Com- pany H, Twenty-fourth Michigan Volun- teer Infantry as a private and he served until the close of hostilities, taking part in the battles of Weldon Road, Hatch's Run, Petersburg, and many other important en- gagements, and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities, being mustered out at Detroit, in July, 1865.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 149

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