A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 151

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

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Emerson Hogue, the second child and eldest son in his parents' family, has spent nearly his entire life in Sodus township, and he remained at home until he was nineteen years of age. In 1904, he purchased the farm where he now lives. His home place consists of forty acres of rich and well cul- tivated land, and he also owns another tract of forty acres in the same township, which is devoted exclusively to fruit culture. Mr. Hogue gives his political support to the Republican party, and for three years was clerk of the township, while for two years he was its treasurer. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Center.

In 1886 Mr. Hogue was married to Miss Della Carmichael, also a native of Sodus township and a daughter of B. P. and Lydia Carmichael. Two sons have been born of this union, Claire, occupying a good posi- tion in the stock yards at Chicago. and Burwell, who is at home attending school.

J. H. McCARTNEY, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine in Sodus, is a

native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, hav- ing been born in South Bend, May 31, 1861. His father, John McCartney, was a native of Scotland, and when a young man he came to the United States, where he was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Stanton, who was born in Buffalo, New York. They became early settlers of St. Joseph county, Indiana, where the father engaged in farming. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters, but only three of the number are now living.

Dr. McCartney, the third in order of birth in his father's family, acquired his early education in the public schools of his native place, and, having reached man's es- tate and deciding upon the study of medi- cine as a life work, he pursued a course of study at Painesville, Ohio, subsequent to which time he entered the Indiana Medical College of Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1895. He then located at Sodus, where he began the practice of his profession, and here he has been en- gaged to the present time. He has a gen- eral practice, which is constantly growing in volume and importance, and now amounts to about thirty-five hundred dollars per year. He keeps himself thoroughly informed con- cerning the most modern ideas of practice, through constant reading and investigation, so that the results which follow his labors are most satisfactory, thereby gaining for him not only the confidence of the general public but of his professional brethren as well.

Dr. McCartney is a member of the Ber- rien County Medical Society, and is acting as medical examiner for several old line in- surance companies, including the Mutual, New York Life, and others. In his fra- ternal relations he holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Benton Harbor, and in all these different organizations he is popular with the brethren of the craft.

Dr. McCartney was united in marriage in July, 1879. to Miss Fanny P. Smith, a daughter of Henry and Julia (McDonald) Smith, who was born near Painesville. in Lake county, Ohio, February 28, 1861. Her

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father was a native of New York, while the mother's birth occured in England. Thei family numbers three daughters and one son, of whom Mrs. McCartney is the third in order of birth. Both the Doctor and his wife are popular among their many friends, to whom the hospitality of their own pleasant home is freely extended. While the Doctor is numbered among the younger members of the medical fraternity, he is making substantial progress and the future undoubtedly holds in store for him still greater success.

WILLIAM H. COOK is well known to the residents of Sodus township, Berrien county, which has been the family home for many years, and he has won an honored name for the many excellent qualities which he possesses. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Oswego county on the 25th of July, 1844. His father, William J. Cook, was born in Vermont, near Brattleboro, his people being originally from Massachusetts and of English descent. His mother was Lydia Thomas, while his wife bore the maiden name of Catharine Dunbar and was a native of Scotland, but was brought to Canada when young. The parents were there married, and the mother died at the early age of forty-four years, while the father reached the age of eighty-seven years. In an early day they came to Michigan, tak- ing up their abode in the woods of Hamil- ton township, Van Buren county, where they secured a small farm. There the mother died, and in the fall of 1861 the father removed to Bainbridge township, Berrien county. In their family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely : Lydia A. Whitten : Melissa J. Pierce ; Cynthia M. Olds; William H .; Dar- ius A., who was killed by lightning about 1884; Myron W., manager of the Clover Leaf Freight Department Depot at St. Louis, Missouri; and Alice Babcock, of Mishawaka, Indiana.

William H. Cook, whose name intro- duces this review, was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Hamilton town- ship, Van Buren county, Michigan, which continued as his home until the fall of 1861.

In the following year, 1862, enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a mem- ber of Company G, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years, doing active service throughout the entire time, being mustered out on June IO, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He was taken prisoner in 1863 and incarcerated in Libby prison until May of the same year. He was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea, and took part in many of the historical battles of the war, among them being Resaca, Newhope Church, Burnt Hickory, Golgotha, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Bentonville and Averysboro. Mr. Cook was but eighteen years of age when he entered the service of his country, and weighed but ninety-five pounds. He served until the close of the war or for three years, and participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D. C. He was detailed at Savannah, Georgia, as forager through North and South Carolina, and was discharged at Washington June IO, 1865.

After the close of his military career Mr. Cook returned to Bainbridge township, Berrien county, and engaged in farming. In 1894 'he came to Sodus and retired from the active duties of a business life. He has taken an active part in the public affairs of his locality, and is a life-long Republican. In 1876 he was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace, holding that position con- tinuously for sixteen years in Bainbridge township, and the following spring after his arrival in Sodus township he was again elected to the office and was its incumbent for twelve years, so that for the long period of twenty-eight years he was a justice of the peace in Berrien county. For nine years he was a school director in Bainbridge township. In 1874 he became a member of the Grange, in which he has served many times as master, and for twenty years has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Cook was first married on the 18th of August, 1866, to Nancy Roberts, and they had one child, Effie, the wife of Milton Park, of Dowagiac, Michigan. The wife and mother died in 1891, and on the 8th

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of October, 1894, Mr. Cook married Laura Kennedy, of Sodus, and a daughter of Will- iam H. King. Mr. Cook has been identi- fied with the interests of Van Buren and Berrien counties since 1854, and is well and favorably known to their residents.

CHARLES McGOWAN has been so closely identified with the interests of Ber- rien county that it feels a just pride in claiming him among her native sons. He stands today at the head of one of the lead- ing industrial concerns of Sodus township, being the proprietor of a large general mer- chandise store in the village of that name and also its postmaster. His birth occured in Pipestone township on the 30th of Jan- uary, 1856, a son of Hamilton and Hannah (Garrison) McGowan, both natives of Ohio. They came to Berrien county, Michigan, about 1854, locating in what was then Pipe- stone township, where the father was en- gaged in farming. The mother died at the age of sixty-six years, but the father passed away in 1865, when only about thirty-one years of age. He was of Scotch-Irish de- scent, his father having been a native of Scotland and his mother of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. McGowan were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, but the last named is deceased.

Charles McGowan, the only representa- tive of the family in Berrien county, started out to earn his own living at the age of eighteen years, working by the month on a farm in this county until he was twenty-six years of age, and thus he has been distinct- ively the architect of his own fortunes. In 1881 he engaged in the mercantile business at Sodus, opening a small general store, but as the years have passed by his interests have grown apace with the progress which has dominated this section of the state, and he now carries a large general line of goods, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, farm implements, paints and drugs. He is the pioneer merchant of the town, and is well and favorably known through the surrounding country. In ad- dition to this large business he is also the owner of a fruit farm of twenty acres ad- joining the village of Sodus.

In 1888 Mr. McGowan was married to Hattie Tidey, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Burwick) Tidey, and they have five children-William Spencer, Anna, Elsie, Ruth and Vinas. In 1883 Mr. McGowan was appointed postmaster of Sodus, to which position he was reappointed in 1892 and again in February, 1894, having thus discharged the duties connected with that office for about nineteen years. He is a stanch Republican in his political affilia- tions, active in the work of his party, and in 1888 he was elected treasurer of Sodus township, while for ten years he served as agent of the Big Four. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Patricians at Benton Harbor. He well deserves to be ranked among the lead- ing business men of his native township.

R. SMITH PENNELL, residing in Berrien Springs, having retired from active farm life, still owns a valuable property of one hundred and ninety acres in Berrien township, which he rents to his eldest son. He was for many years closely associated with agricultural interests in this county and his success is attributable to his own earnest labors and close application. Born in Cay- uga county, New York, on the 30th of June, 1848, he was the youngest of the three sons of Abram and Elizabeth (Smith) Pennell. During his infancy his parents brought their family to Berrien county, settling in Lake township. R. Smith Pennell was reared in Lake and Oronoko townships and was edu- cated in the public schools. When not busy with his text-books his time was devoted to farm labor and he remained at home. assist- ing in the work of the fields up to the time of his marriage.

On the 21st of December, 1869, Mr. Pennell was joined in wedlock to Miss Ethel E. Tuttle, a daughter of Riley J. and Mel- vina C. (Brown) Tuttle. She was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 20. 1852, and came with her parents to Berrien county when about eight years of age. In their family are seven children, Orson D., Oscar J., Carl S., Laura R., Lloyd B., Hattie E. and Lyle A.

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At the time of his marriage Mr. Pennell located on a farm and for many years was actively associated with general agricultural pursuits, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation, adding to the farm many modern equipments and accessories to facili- tate the work and promote the success at- tendant therewith. He became the owner of one hundred and ninety acres in Berrien township, which is a valuable tract of land and which he now rents to his eldest son so that he derives therefrom a good income. He has been almost a life-long resident of Berrien county, having lived here for more than fifty-seven years and with its interests he has been closely associated, delighting in the progress that has been made as the years have gone by. In his political views he has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential ballot and has labored for the local interests and the growth of the party. He served as justice of the peace in Berrien township and was highway com- missioner in Oronoko township.

FRED FELTON. Since the old days of Puritan rule when our New England forefathers attempted to eliminate from life as something frivolous and not to be tolerated all that was joyous and pleasure- able there has come a tendency in the other direction, to recognize the modest enter- tainments as a source of pleasure and re- creation. It is acknowledged that progress has been made on the stage in the character of plays presented as well as in every other walk of life. Not only must one have an appreciation for the art as manifest in act- ing but must also possess keen business ability and discernment to successfully manage theatrical enterprises. In both these directions Fred Felton is well qualified and is now successfully managing the Grand Opera House at Traverse City, Michigan, and the Bell Opera House at Benton Har- bor. while at the same time he makes the bookings for a large number of other theatres. He makes his home in Benton Harbor, where he has resided since 1902.

Mr. Felton was born in Louisiana, and acquired a common school education. When about twelve years of age he joined the

Stowe circus and was later with the Cole circus. He continued in the circus profes- sion until about eighteen years of age, and afterward was for a number of years a scenic artist, at the same time occasionally appearing on the stage as an actor. He finally attained considerable distinction on the stage, taking leading parts with differ- ent companies with which he was connected. From 1876 until 1893 he was manager for his own companies upon the road, and dur- ing these years made several professional visits to Benton Harbor. He was so well pleased with the place that he finally located here as a permanent place of residence. In 1893 he organized the Central City Show Printing Company, at Jackson, Michigan, of which he was president and general man- ager. During the time he was thus con- nected he was also manager of Jackson theaters. In 1902 he located in Benton Harbor, since which time he has been iden- tified with many of the interests of the city, and has also been the manager for the Bell Opera house, as well as of a circuit in the northern part of Michigan.

Mr. Felton was married in 1875 to Miss Margaret Brush, of Louisville, Kentucky, of which city she is a native. They have one child, Helen De Forest, who was educated at Indianapolis, and at Jackson, Michigan, and is now assisting her father in business.

In politics Mr. Felton is a gold Demo- crat and fraternally he is connected with Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and with the Knights of Pythias. Since starting out in life for himself at the early age of twelve years he has made steady pro- gress in the business world ix the extent and importance of his operations and is now con- ducting a large and successful business as theatrical manager.

FRANK P. CUPP, supervisor of Lin- coln township, in which capacity he has demonstrated his public-spirited citizenship and devotion to the general good, is also well known in business circles in Stevens- ville as a lumber dealer and fruit grower. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, No- vember 14, 1859, and his youth was largely passed in Columbus, that state, his education

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being acquired in the high school at Colum- bus and the State University, although he did not cemplete a university course. When but a boy he clerked in a store and has largely been dependent upon his own re- sources from an early age. He was left fatherless when a lad of about four years. His father, Colonel Valentine Cupp, lieu- tenant colonel of the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, was killed at Chicka- mauga in September, 1863, while leading his troops into battle. Pierced by rebel lead he died a few hours later. Ohio honored his memory by placing a monument on the battle ground, erected by the state to the regiment. He had followed farming in Fairfield county, Ohio, and at the outbreak of the civil war he assisted in organizing the regiment and was elected captain of the company. Later, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and thus served until he lost his life while in command of the First Ohio at the battle of Chickamauga. His widow was left with the care of four children.

Frank P. Cupp at the time of his father's death went to live in the home of an uncle, and at the age of fifteen years moved to Columbus, Ohio. At intervals throughout the period of his youth and early manhood he was connected with mercantile life, and about eight years ago he came to Michigan. He had a desire to engage in fruit growing in this state and started with a tract of land of twenty acres, all planted to fruit, the principal crops being peaches and grapes. His fruit sales were very satisfactory and he has prospered in his undertakings and has placed many modern improvements up- on his land. In 1904 he erected a new resi- dence supplied with all modern equipments and facilities which add to the conveniences of a home at the present day. His place is located on the Lake Shore drive, adjoining Stevensville on the north, and for six years Mr. Cupp has been engaged in commercial circles in the town, carrying a full assort- ment of lumber and building materials. He has a liberal patronage in this connection and his honorable business methods and reasonable prices are the salient features in his success.

Mr. Cupp was married in western Kan- sas, in April, 1888, to Miss Eleanor Rawl- ings, a native of Illinois, and they have be- come the parents of three children, Eleanor, Frank V., and Kinnaird. The parents hold membership in the Episcopal church at St. Joseph and Mr. Cupp is a valued represen- tative of various fraternal organizations, be- ing connected with the Masons, the Kniglits of Pythias and the Knights of the Macca- bees. In politics he is a Republican and is now serving for the second term as super- visor of Lincoln township. He is an earnest champion of the good roads movement which became a factor of the election of 1906 and was carried in his township. As- tive in the work of the party and a staunch advocate of Republican principles he never- theless places the general good before par- tisanship and the public welfare before per- sonal aggrandizement. He has great faith in Michigan as a fruit raising state and feels no regret that he changed his place of resi- dence from Ohio to Berrien county. On the contrary he has prospered in his business undertakings here and as a merchant and horticulturist as well as a citizen he holds an enviable position in the public regard.

S. C. REAMS, numbered among Mich- igan's native sons, is now living on section. 17, Pipestone township, which farm lias been his home continuously since 1866. He was born in Cass county, Michigan, October 4, 1832. His father, Josses Reams, was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and became one of the worthy pioneer residents of Cass county, establishing his home there when almost the entire surface of the county was unbroken prairie or dense forest tracts. He raised one of the first crops raised in Jef- ferson township and aided in transforming the county from a wild and unimproved re- gion into one of rich fertility. He lived in Cass county until about 1844. when lie re- moved to Pipestone township. Berrien coull- ty, and purchased a farmi. By trade, how- ever, lie was a carpenter and joiner and he built many of the early houses in the county. being well known for his good workmanship as well as his unassailable lionesty in bus- iness and his good traits of citizenship.

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About 1854 he went to Washington Terri- tory, where he died at the age of forty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hulda Colyar, was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and died at the age of eighty- five years. She was twice married and was twice a widow. In the Ream family were nine children, eight of whom reached ma- ture years.

S. C. Reams, the eldest of the family, was a youth of about fourteen years when he became a resident of Pipestone township. He was educated in the common schools but being the eldest son his opportunities in that direction were somewhat meager, for he had to look after the farm. He has, however, by reading and study at home and by experi- ence and observation added greatly to his knowledge, making himself a well informed man, conversant with the current issues and questions of the day.

Mr. Reams was married in 1856 to Miss Samantha M. J. Tapman, who died in 1902, leaving two children, Grace Arabell, now the wife of Clarence Tibbs; and J. T. Reams, At the time of the Civil war Mr. Reams of this review gave tangible evidence of his loyalty to the Union by his enlistment on the 30th of August, 1864, as a member of Company E, Thirteenth Michigan Veteran Volunteers. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea and also at Savannah, Georgia, assisting in the capture of the city. He was wounded at Bentonville, North Carolina, by a gunshot in the right knee and was sent on a hospital steamer to New York city. He was afterward in the hospital at Detroit from April until June and then re- turned to his home. In the spring of 1866 he located on a farm, where he now lives. and it has been his home continuously since. covering a period of four decades. He still owns one hundred and twenty acres of land here but has practically retired from active business. The farm, however, returns him a good income and he is thus supplied with the comforts of life. He has been a stalwart Republican since Lincoln's first election and has voted for each presidential nominee of the party through forty-five years. Matters of public moment are of interest to him and he has been faithful in his allegiance to every

movement that tends to promote the welfare of the county, manifesting the same loyalty in citizenship in days of peace that he dis- played when on southern battle-fields he fol- lowed the old flag.

HOMER E. HESS, supervisor of Pipe- stone township, resides on section 20, where he owns a well improved farm of two hun- dred and thirty acres. In its care and culti- vation he displays keen discrimination and thorough understanding of the best methods of conducting farm work and his labors are therefore bringing him a gratifying meas- ure of success. He was born in Crawford county, Ohio, April 31, 1859, and is the only son of William A. and Susan ( Bell) Hess, who are mentioned on another page of this work. He was but seven years of age when he came to Berrien county, the family home being established in Berrien township, after which he mastered the usual branches of English learning in the district schools and in Berrien Center. He remained with his parents carrying on the home farm, and be- came thoroughly familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops.

On the 27th of November, 1879, Mr. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Etta B. McIntyre, a daughter of Patrick and Mar- garet McIntyre, and a native of Crawford county, Ohio. She became a resident of Michigan when a young lady of seventeen years, accompanying her parents on their removal to Berrien county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hess located on a farm which has since been their home, here living for twenty-six years. He devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and to stock-raising, and also has considerable fruit upon his place. Every- thing about the farm is well kept and it re- quires only a glance to indicate to the passer- by that the owner is a man of progressive spirit and practical methods. The farm com- prises two hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land and constitutes a valu- able property of Pipestone township.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess has been born a daughter, Vern L., now the wife of Carl Cassidy, a representative of one of the old

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families of Berrien county. In his political views Mr. Hess is a stalwart Republican, in- terested in the growth and success of his party and doing all in his power to extend its influence. He has been honored with a number of local offices, having for eleven consecutive years filled the office of town- ship clerk. In 1899 he was chosen super- visor and has been elected each year since that time, so that he is now serving for the seventh year. No public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his re-election is proof conclu- sive of his capability as well as fidelity. He is one of the directors of the Berrien and Cass Counties Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany and has been a member of the school board since he came to Pipestone township. He has always taken an active part in pub- lic affairs and is now serving as a member of the Republican county central committee. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen and a fraternal spirit is always manifested in his relations with others out- side of the order. Forty years have come and gone since he came to the county and of its progress he has been an interested wit- ness, while in many movements of direct benefit to the county he has been an active participant.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 151

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