A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 150

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

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Returning to his home in Sodus town- ship, Mr. Sharai then resumed his work at the carpenter's trade for several years, meet- ing with good success in his work. In 1870 Mr. Sharai was united in marriage to Miss Jennie I. Welch, who died, leaving three children, Clara, Bert and Maude, and he afterward wedded Margaret Hanson, who was born in St. Joseph, Berrien county, a daughter of C. W. and Rachel ( Hender- son) Hanson. Her father was born in Sil- ver Creek township, Cattaraugus county, New York, August 1, 1838, and was only a year old when brought to Berrien county, the family home being established in St. Joseph, where Mr. Hanson is still making his home. His family numbered eleven chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Sharai is the sixth in order of birth, and all were born in St. Joseph, this state.

In 1876 Mr. Sharai removed with his family to California, settling in the San Jose valley, where he remained for two

years, working at the carpenter's trade. He then returned to Berrien county, where he continued his work in that line for several years, and in 1891 he and his wife made a second trip to the Pacific coast, remaining in the west for about six months. They made the return trip by team, camping along the way, the journey requiring four months and two days. He is now making his home on the old homestead property, situated on section 22, Sodus township, where he carries on general agricultural pur- suits, and here he also entertains summer boarders.

He is a member of General H. Thomas Post, No. 14, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is a stalwart Re- publican, giving active and helpful support to his party, and is interested in all that tends to promote the progress of his home locality. With the exception of about three years, a part of which time was spent on the Pacific coast, our subject has always resided in Berrien county, covering a period of al- most six decades and he is well known in social and business circles. Although start- ing out at the early age of twelve years, dependent entirely upon his own resources for a living, he has worked his way steadily upward until he is today in possession of a valuable property and is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state.

ALFRED J. SHARAI, a prominent fruit farmer residing on section 26, Sodus township, is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Berrien county. He was born in the township which is still his home, April 8, 1856. His father, Luke Sharai, was a native of Montreal, Canada, but at an early period in the development of this section of the state he came to Ber- rien county, locating at St. Joseph, where for about twenty years he was engaged in boating on the St. Joseph river. He then purchased a farm in Sodus township, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter per acre, and here he lived and labored during the remainder of his life, being called to his final rest when he had reached the age of

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seventy-eight years. He was of French origin. Mr. Sharai married Matilda Beeny, a native of England, but who emigrated with her parents to New Jersey during her girlhood days, and thence came to Michigan. Her life's labors were ended in death when she reached the age of sixty-four years. They became the parents of three children, our subject being the only son and second child.

Alfred J. Sharai, whose name introduces this review, grew to manhood on the old home farm in Sodus township, assisting his father in its development and improvement until his marriage, which occurred in April, 1876, Ida Tabor becoming his wife. She too, is a native of Berrien county, and a daughter of Wallace Tabor, who was num- bered aming the early pioneers of the county. Two children have been born of this union, Lena, the wife of Burt Rector, of Sodus township, and Farmer, at home. Mr. Sharai owns ninety-five acres of land on section 26, Sodus township, which he has placed under an excellent state of culti- vation, and here he is engaged in general farming. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and he is an active worker in its ranks.

MRS. ABBIE SEEGMILLER is a lady of excellent business ability, carefully managing her farming interests on section 22, Sodus township, which was once the property of her father, Luke Sharai, who was born in Canada and came to Sodus township, Berrien county, this state, at an early day. He first located in Bainbridge township, where he made his home for a time, and upon his marriage to Miss Ma- tilda Beeny, who was born in Ohio, he located on the farm which is now owned by their daughter, Mrs. Seegmiller, and here the father and mother both passed away, the former having reached the very advanced age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away at the age of fifty-eight. Their family numbered two daughters and one son : Emily, the wife of I. M. Allen, of Sodus township; and Alfred, whose sketch appears on another page of this work.

Abbie Sharai, the youngest member of

her father's family, was born on the farm which she now occupies, November 3, 1858, where she was reared, receiving practical training in the duties of the household, which prepared her to later care for a home of her own. She acquired her education in the district schools near her father's home, and here in May, 1874, she gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Seegmiller, a native of Canada, who crossed the border into the United States about 1868, taking up his abode in Berrien county. He was a well educated man and after arriving in Sodus township followed the profession of teaching for several years and was also en- gaged in farming here.

By her marriage Mrs. Seegmiller has. become the mother of three children: Al- len, who resides in Minnesota; Clyde, of Iowa; and Ruth, who is at home with her mother. Mrs. Seegmiller has a farm of ninety-five acres, which she rents and from which she derives an income sufficient to. supply her with the necessities and many of the comforts of life. She has carefully reared her family and has provided all with good educational advantages. With the ex- ception of three years passed in Canada, Mrs. Seegmiller has spent her entire life in Berrien county, where she is highly re- spected by all who know her, for she pos- sesses many sterling traits of heart and mind which have endeared her to all with whom she has been associated. She possesses ex- cellent business ability and executive force. and manages her business interests in a cap- able and creditable manner.

JOHN W. SHARAI is numbered among the oldest settlers of Berrien county, where. he owns a farm of thirty-five acres, situated on section 22, Sodus township, and he also. owns forty-two acres of the old homestead property. He was born in St. Joseph, Ber- rien county, this state, December 9, 1845, a son of Tanos and Louisa (Wheeler) Sharai, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work in con- nection with the sketch of his brother, Ed- win Sharai.

John W. Sharai, whose name introduces. this record, was the eldest of five children.

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born of his father's family, and was very young when he was brought to this town- ship by his parents, the family having prev- iously lived in Pipestone township, this county. Here he was reared under the par- ental roof, assisting his father in the duties of the farm, being assigned such duties as his age and strength permitted of, and when not occupied at farm work he pursued his studies in the district schools near his father's home, there acquiring the education which fitted him to later carry on his busi- ness affairs, when he started out in life on his own account. He continued as a member of his father's household until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, choosing as his vocation the work to which he had been reared. He purchased thirty-eight acres of land on section 22, Sodus township, and he is also operating an additional forty-two acres, which was a part of the old homestead and which was inherited by him from his father's estate. Here he is engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and each year he harvests good crops as the result of the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He is practical and progressive in carrying on his work, using the best machinery to facilitate his labors, and he is accounted one of the enterprising citizens of his community, where he has taken a deep and helpful interest in all that pertains to general progress along agricultural lines.

Mr. Sharai has been twice married, his first union being in 1869, when he wedded Rebecca Seeley, who died leaving two chil- dren : Willie and Lula, the wife of Nels Wikoff. For his second wife Mr. Sharai chose Miss Josephine Thebo, and unto them have been born five children, as follows : Johnie, who wedded Nellie Eckright ; Laura, the wife of Amos Thomas; Clarence. who married Etta Taylor; and Lenora and Letha, both of whom are with their parents.

Our subject is a Democrat in his politi- cal views, giving active and helpful sup- port to the principles of his party, while in his fraternal relations he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- low's and the Grange. Mr. Sharai has spent

his entire life in Berrien county, which covers a period of fifty-one years and there- fore is widely known. He has always been an industrious and hardworking man, ac- complishing whatever he has undertaken, for he has allowed no obstacles to deter him in his pursuits, and today his farm is an in- dication that his has been a successful career.

JAMES P. VERSAW, proprietor of the Farm Home, constituting a valuable tract of fifty acres, on which he carries on horticultural pursuits, the property being situated on section 15. Sodus township, was born in this township, October 17, 1847. The name Versaw is really Versailles, of French origin, but is now known as Ver- saw. His father, Francis Versaw, was born in Canada, in 1813, and in 1835 crossed the border line into the United States, making his way to Berrien county, this state, where he was married to Miss Rebecca McDougal, who was a native of New York. After their marriage the father followed the river for some time, being employed on various boats and made his home on the banks of the St. Joe river, at the place which now bears the name of King's Landing. He later pur- chased land in Sodus township, and in 1852 purchased another farm which was located on section 15, of the same township. There they reared their family which numbered eleven children, and nine of the number reached years of maturity, while eight are still living. Here the parents continued to make their home, the father carrying on general agricultural pursuits there through many years and on this farm both passed away, the father having reached the very advanced age of eighty-eight years, while the mother passed away when she had reached the age of seventy-eiglit.

James P. Versaw, whose name intro- duces this record was the third in order of birth in his father's family, and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors of field and meadow, and during the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools of his native township. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of seventeen years, when he responded

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

to his country's call for troops in the Civil war and enlisted in Company K, Twenty- eighth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until June 8, 1866, being honorably discharged at Detroit. During his service he participated in many impor- tant battles, including the battles of Nash- ville, Tennessee, and Kingston, and gave valiant and loyal service in defense of the Union.

After the war he returned to his home in Sodus township and resumed agricultural pursuits for several years, after which feel- ing that his earnings justified the purchase of property, he invested in his present farm of fifty acres, which he has made a valuable and well improved property, which is de- voted entirely to the raising of fruit. He is thoroughly conversant with the best methods of horticulture so that he annually yields good crops of fruit, for which he finds a ready sale on the market.

In 1871, the year following his purchase of land, he further completed his arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Emma Proctor, a daugh- ter of Ibison and Mary Proctor, both of whom were natives of England. Mrs. Ver- saw was likewise born in the fatherland and was only five years of age when her parents crossed the Atlantic to the United States, the family home being established in Ber- rien county, where she was reared and edu- cated, and by her marriage she has become the mother of nine children, William, Har- ry, Earnest, Otis, Pearl, Clarence, Susan, Walter and Chester.

Mr. Versaw gives his political support to the Republican party and takes an active and helpful interest in all that tends to ad- vance its growth and upbuilding. He served his township as drain commissioner for five years and filled the office of con- stable for ten years, and his official duties were ever discharged in a capable and effi- cient manner. He likewise served as school officer for several years and the cause of edu- cation finds in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is identified with General H. Thomas Post. No. 14, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor, and takes great delight in meeting with his old comrades who gave such valiant

support to the Union at the time of the Civil war. He has spent his entire life in Ber- rien county and has been an active factor in the development and progress which this. section of the state has enjoyed during the last half century. He has been industrious and persistent in his efforts to acquire suc- cess and that he has accomplished his aim is evidenced by his fine fruit farm which he is today successfully controlling.

CARLTON E. TABOR, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, situated on section 22, Sodus town- ship, which is called Bluff Resort, was born in the house in which he now resides, March 8, 1858, a son of Wallace and Julia (Mc- Keis) Tabor, whose history is given on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Ernest Tabor, a brother of our subject.

Mr. Tabor was reared on the farm which is yet his home, assisting his father in its operation, and thus gaining practical knowledge which fitted him in later years to carry on business on his own account. He was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, working in the fields during the period of plowing, planting and harvesting crops, and during the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools near his. father's home. He always remained with his father, assisting him in the manage- ment and care of the property and he is. now in possession of the farm, and is here engaged in carrying on general agricultural pursuits, and in addition entertains summer boarders, having converted much of his land into a summer resort, which is known as. Bluff Resort. He has erected on his farm five neat little cottages, which he rents dur- ing the summer months and he has placed many conveniences and equipments which add to the comfort as well as the pleasure of his guests, thus making it a popular resort for those who wish to leave the city during the heated season and enjoy the quiet and rest of a rural existence.

Mr. Tabor was happily married in 1884, to Miss Celia Tyler, a daughter of Calvin and Sarah Tyler. She was born near Elgin, Illinois, where she was reared and spent her

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life until her marriage. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children : Leon, deceased ; Maude, of Elgin ; Leonard ; Mary ; and Ella. Mr. Tabor gives his politi- cal support to the Republican party, and in his fraternal relations is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the camp at Sodus. Having spent his en- tire life on his present farm, which has be- come endeared to him through the associa- tions of his boyhood and youth as well as those of later manhood, Mr. Tabor is well known in his home locality, and he and his estimable wife enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of this section of the county.

ISAAC LIGHT. This well and favor- ably known citizen of Eau Claire, Berrien county, is now living retired from the active duties and cares of life, enjoying the fruits of his years of toil in the past. He is of Swiss-German descent, and is descended from two brothers named Light who were banished from their country on account of their religious faith and came to America, becoming the founders of the family in this country. The father of him whose name introduces this review, Henry Light, was born and reared in Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, where he followed farming as a life occupation, and there his death occurred when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Leon Eber- soll, and she too was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. Her death occurred when she had reached her eighty-eighth year. In their fam- ily were ten children, but only six of the number grew to years of maturity, and Mr. Isaac Light of this review was the fifth in order of birth.

The last named was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1836, re- ceiving his education in the common schools of his native place, and he remained at home assisting in the work of the farm until he reached the age of maturity, when he began farming for himself on the old homestead. The date of his arrival in Berrien county, Michigan, was March 23, 1870, at which time he purchased and took up his abode on

an eighty acre farm, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, giving his time to its cultivation and improvement for a number of years thereafter. In 1881 he was appointed superintendent of the Ber- rien county home for the poor, continuing in that position for twenty-five years to the very day, when he resigned his position and located in Eau Claire. He is, however, the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, the work of which is carried on by his son, who lives on the place.

On October 8, 1861, Mr. Light was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lygon, who was also a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where she was born on the 9th of August, 1840, and was there reared and educated. They have three children- Minerva J., the wife of Howard Simpson, of Benton Harbor; Calvin Henry, a resi- dent of Sodus township, Berrien county ; and Venetta Adell, the wife of William Dean, of Berrien township. Mr. Light is a Republican in his political affiliations, active in the work of the party, but at local elec- tions he votes for the man whom he regards as best qualified to discharge the duties com- mitted to his care. He is well known throughout the entire county of Berrien, of which he has been a resident for thirty-six years, and during twenty-five years of that time he has been a public officer. His re- ligious connections are with the United Brethren church.

ISRAEL M. ALLEN. one of the old settlers of Berrien county, where he owns and operates a well improved farm of eighty acres, which is devoted to horticultural pur- suits, is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Seneca county, March 25, 1834. His father, John Allen, was a native of Connecticut, where he was reared, and he was married in New York, to Miss Anna Greenleaf, a native of that state, and a daughter of Tillie Greenleaf, of English birth, and her ancestry can be traced back through four centuries. After his marriage John Allen located in New York, where he continued his residence until 1835, in which year he made his way to the west, taking up his abode in Ypsilanti. Mich-

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igan, where he followed the occupation of farming, being numbered among the first set- tlers of that portion of the state. After a year, however, he removed with his family to Portage county, Ohio, where the mother of our subject died in 1850, and the father afterward married Sarah Edwards, and in 1854 came to Berrien county, this state, where in the spring of 1855, he located on a farm in Pipestone township, and the father's death there occurred in 1862. In this fam- ily were five sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the youngest.

Israel M. Allen was but one year of age when brought to this state by his parents, and accompanied them on their removal to Portage-county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated to the age of thirteen years, when he started out in life on his own re- sponsibility, being first employed as a driver on the canal but owing to his ability he was promoted from time to time until he became pilot, and he followed the canal altogether for eight years. In 1855, a year after his father had returned to Berrien county, Israel M. Allen made his way to this state, making the journey with teams. He located in Pipestone township, where, in the spring of that year he purchased a farm of forty acres, on which stood a log house but was other- wise unimproved. Mr. Allen began the work of development and improvement and soon placed his land under a high state of cultivation, erected good buildings and made his farm an excellent property. He continued his general farming pursuits until 1861, when, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining as a pri- vate of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry. On account of the illness of his father he hired a substitute and re- turned home, where he remained until 1864, when his father having died in the mean- time, he again enlisted in the same company and regiment and served until the close of the war, in 1865, when he was honorably discharged.

After returning from the war he sold his farm in Pipestone township and invested his money in his present place, which is

situated in Sodus township, and comprises eighty acres of valuable land. He has added many modern improvements since his resi- dence here, erecting substantial and con- venient buildings, and he has also set out a fine orchard containing apples, plums and small fruit, and he makes horticultural pur- suits his principal business interest, although he engages to some extent in general farm- ing. The fruit which he produces is of the finest quality, and he finds a ready sale on the market for the products of his farm, and his financial resources are thus being materi- ally increased year by year. In his work he follows practical and progressive ideas which are always sure to bring the best possible results.

Mr. Allen has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Sarah Rector, in May, 1862, and her death occurred two years later while he was in the army. She became the mother of two children, one of whom sur- vives-Anson, who is a musician, and re- sides in Chicago, while the younger child, Ural S., died at the age of two years. Mr. Allen was married a second time, December 25, 1866, at which time he wedded Miss Emily Sharai, a daughter of Luke Sharai, of Berrien county, and by this marriage there is a son and daughter : Chilli, now the wife of Fred Gleason; and Luke, who is an engineer on the Graham & Morton line, and resides in Benton Harbor, wedded Helen Thomas.

Mr. Allen is a Democrat in his political views and affiliations and takes an active and helpful interest in public affairs. He has resided in Berrien county for fifty-one years and has been identified with much of its development and improvement along many lines that have been of direct benefit to his community. He has displayed ex- cellent judgment in the management of his business affairs and is today in possession of a good property and a comfortable com- petence which enables him to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life.

EMERSON HOGUE, who is exten- sively engaged in agricultural pursuits at his pleasantly located farm on section 35, Sodus township, Berrien county, is a native

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son of this locality, his birth occurring in Sodus township on the 7th of February, 1862. His father, Charles Hogue, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, was reared there un- til he was eighteen years of age, when he came with his parents, William and Sarah Hogue, to Berrien county, Michigan, locat- ing in Pipestone township. They were num- bered among the early settlers of that lo- cality, and were identified with much of the early history of the township. Charles Hogue married Hannah Gano, a native of Portage county, Ohio, and she is still liv- ing, but her husband died when forty-eight years of age. William Hogue, the grand- father of our subject, lived to the good old age of ninety-three years, while his wife also attained a ripe old age ere she was called to the home beyond. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hogue were six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters, but one son died at the age of seventeen years and one daughter at about the age of nine- teen years. Two sons are living, the brother of our subject being Clayton M., a resident of Eau Claire.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 150

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