A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 153

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

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JACOB TIBBS, whose residence in this county dates from an early period in its development, now resides on section 17, Pipestone township. He has traveled far on life's journey and a review of his record shows that throughout his life he has dis- played many sterling traits of char- acter and good qualities which make him well worthy of the confidence and esteem which are uniformly accorded him. His birth occurred in Hamilton county, Ohio, about four miles from the city of Cin- cinnati, on the 27th of June, 1826, and he was the fifth child and second son in a fam- ily of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The parents were James and Sarah (Allen) Tibbs, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New Jersey. James Tibbs was reared in the land of his birth and became a farmer by occupation. Following his emigration to America he set- tled near Cincinnati, Ohio, which, however,

was then a small town, while the country side was largely a frontier district.

Jacob Tibbs was reared in the place of his nativity but at a very early age was left an orphan, being only four years old at the time of his father's demise and but six years of age when his mother died. He lived with Newton Stites until fourteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, working by the month and doing anything that he could do that would yield him an honest living. For a time he was employed in a brickyard in Memphis, Ten- nessee. The year 1855 witnessed his arrival in Michigan, at which time he located four miles north of Niles. It was in the same year that he was first married, the lady of his choice being Miss Maria Ferris, whom he wedded on the 16th of August, 1855. They became the parents of seven children, Henry, Ella, Alonzo, Martha, John, Ed- ward, and one who died in infancy. After losing his first wife Mr. Tibbs was married May II, 1873, to Mrs. Eliza Long, a daugh- ter of Daniel Raihborn. There were two children of this marriage, Irvin T. and one who died in infancy.

Since coming to this county Mr. Tibbs has continuously followed farming save for the period of his services in the civil war. His patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union he enlisted in 1861, becoming a private of Company K, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He served for four years, five months and twenty days-certainly a most creditable record-and he was in many im- portant engagements, including the battles of Shiloh and Little Rock, Arkansas. He was also detailed for hospital service but wherever duty called he was found a loyal advocate of the Union, faithful to its best interests.

When the war was over Mr. Tibbs re- turned to his family and his farm but in the meantime participated in the grand review in Washington, the most celebrated mili- tary pageant ever seen on the western hem- isphere. He has been a resident of Berrien county for fifty-one years and has been iden- tified with its best interests. A life-long

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Republican, he has given unfaltering sup- port to the party since attaining his majority and has held various local offices in the township, the duties of which have been dis- charged with promptness and fidelity. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county where for more than a half cen- tury he has lived, and while his life has in a way been quietly passed the record yet contains many lessons worthy of emulation, for he has been found persistent, active and honorable in business life and faithful in friendship.

JACOB AUMACK is one of the old settlers of Berrien county, and has helped to bring about the improved conditions which exist here at the present time. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, May II, 1821. His grandfather, Abram Aumack, was a native of Holland, and served in the Revolutionary war. He lived to the extreme old age of one hun- dred years. His father, Andrew Aumack, who was in the war of 1812, was born in New Jersey, while his wife, Hannah Pool, was a native of Montgomery county, New York, and was of German descent. The parents always remained in the east, the father dying at the advanced age of ninety- two years, while the mother passed away when about seventy-five. In their family were eleven children, and with the excep- tion of one all reached manhood or woman- hood.

Jacob Aumack, the fifth child in his father's family was reared and educated in the county of his birth, and was there mar- ried in 1844, to Miss Harriet Lewis, like- wise a native of Montgomery county. There they began their domestic life and remained for five years, at the end of which time, in 1849, they removed to Berrien county, Michigan, locating in Pipestone township, where Mr. Aumack engaged in general agricultural pursuits for some years. As the years passed by the improvement of the opportunities here afforded he prospered in his work and thus secured capital suffici- ent to purchase a home of his own, when in 1854, he bought and removed to the farm on which he now makes his home, the years

of his residence here covering a longer per- iod than that of any other resident of the county on one farm. He has added many modern improvements to his place, for when he took possession there were few buildings upon it. However, as the county has ad- vanced he has kept abreast with the times and has made his property one of the valu- able farming tracts of Pipestone township.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Aumack were born three sons and four daughters, namely : John, who died while serving in the Civil war; Mary, deceased; Ruth, the wife of A. J. Wiest; Smith, a resident farmer of Pipe- stone township; Emma, the wife of Jacob Runnels, of Eau Claire; Edwin, who assists in the operation of the home farm and wedded Miss Martha Tibbs; and Elizabeth, now the wife of Henry Tibbs, of Mason county, Michigan. In 1894 the family was called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother ; her death occurred on the 12th of November of that year, and thus passed away one of the worthy and highly esteemed women of the county.

Mr. Aumack enlisted in the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry in 1864, at Sommerville, and his regiment was in the Trans-Mississippi Department in Arkan- sas. He served his country one year and received his honorable discharge and returned home. His son John was a mem- ber of the same regiment, which he joined in the winter of 1864, and died in June, I864.

Mr. Aumack gave his early political allegiance to the Whig party and upon its dissolution joined the ranks of the new Republican party, casting a vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has supported each presidential candidate since that time. He has been called to a number of township offices, the duties of which he has discharged to the satisfaction of the general public as well as reflecting credit upon himself. He has been a member of the Masonic order for many years. Having been a resident of the county for fifty-seven years no other resi- dent has done more for the interests of his section of the state, for at the time he took up his abode here there was much arduous work to be done in the way of clearing the

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land and preparing it for cultivation. In the years that have passed he has not only worked for his own individual interests but for the progress and improvement of the county at large and he has lived to see Ber- rien county placed in the foremost rank of agricultural, industrial and commercial de- velopment. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance and is held in high esteem by all who know him not alone for the success which he has achieved, but for his many sterling traits of character for he is known to be strictly reliable in all his trade trans- actions and is today classed among the pros- perous agriculturists of this portion of the state.

GEORGE SHARP, who owns and con- ducts a good farm on section 28, Pipestone township, was born in England, September 3, 1845. His father, James G. Sharp, was likewise a native of that country and was there reared and educated. He was mar- ried to Miss Sophia Cox, also a native of England, and in 1847 they crossed the Atlantic to America, establishing their home at Rome, New York. In 1856 Mr. Sharp brought his family to Michigan, settling first at Grand Rapids, where he worked at the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He also conducted a greenhouse for some time at Grand Rapids and was a well known fac- tor in business circles in that city for a long period. About 1885, however, he returned to his native country, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His wife had passed away in Grand Rapids when sixty-seven years of age. In the family were six children, all of whom reached adult age and all are yet living with the exception of one, James W., who died in Anderson- ville prison while serving as a member of the Union army in the Civil war.

George Sharp, whose name introduces this record, was the third member of the family and the second son, and was only two years old when brought by his parents to America. He spent the first decade in Rome, New York, and was afterward in Grand Rapids, Michigan, until 1862, when he responded to the country's call for aid and enlisted on the 20th of September with

the boys in blue of Company B, Sixth Mich- igan Cavalry. He joined the army as a private at Grand Rapids and served for three years, his regiment being attached to the Army of the Potomac, General Custer's famous brigade, doing. active duty on the plains. Mr. Sharp was also in the Army of the Potomac under General Phil. Sheridan

and participated in many of the historic bat- tles, including the engagements at Gettys- burg, the Wilderness, Brandy Station, Cold Harbor and Cedar Creek. He was in the battle of Five Forks and was also in the engagements at Appomattox, resulting in the surrender of General Lee, and the prac- tical close of the war. His record was one of continuous and active service from the time he enlisted until he received his honor- able discharge at Jackson, Michigan, after the close of the war. He participated in the grand review at Washington, where thousands of the boys in blue marched down Pennsylvania avenue and past the review- ing stand where the president and other dis- tinguished men of the nation gave greeting to the loyal soldiers who had followed the old flag on southern battle fields and had been the defense of the Union through four of the darkest years in the history of the nation.

Following the close of the war Mr. Sharp returned to Michigan, and in 1868 located in Pipestone township, Berrien county. He had absolutely no capital at the time of his arrival here but he was am- bitious and willing to work and that his life has been busy and useful is indicated by the fact that he is now the owner of a valuable tract of land of eighty acres. This con- stitutes a well improved farm, for he has placed the fields under a high state of cul- tivation and has added many modern equip- ments and accessories.

Mr. Sharp has been married twice. In 1869 he wedded Miss Angeline Beals, who died in 1871, leaving one son, Frank. In 1873 Mr. Sharp wedded Miss Hannah Buz- zard. They have two sons, Perry A. and W. G. For nearly four decades Mr. Sharp has been a resident of Berrien county, dur- ing which time many marvelous changes have been wrought as the work of improve-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ment and upbuilding has been carried for- ward by the enterprising, progressive citi- zens. He is a member of Berrien Center post, G. A. R., and he also belongs to the United Brethren church as do his wife and sons, while two of them, Frank and Perry, are ministers of the gospel, being prominent preachers, well known in their denomina- tion. Mr. Sharp of this review is one of the trustees of the church and takes a most active and helpful part in its work. His political allegiance is given to the Repub- lican party, of which he is a stanch and un- faltering advocate and he is now serving as justice of the peace from Pipestone town- ship. He has ever taken an active interest in public affairs and his influence is always found on the side of justice, truth and right. His creditable military record would alone entitle him to representation in this volume but throughout the period of his residence here he has always been known as an enter- prising citizen and one who deserves much credit for working his way upward from a humble financial position to a place of affluence.

BURTON A. CRANDALL, a well-to- do farmer of Berrien county, owning a tract which comprises two hundred and twenty acres, is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Pokagon township, Cass county, this state, August 21, 1878. His father, Able Crandall, was a native of Indiana, whence he accompanied his parents to Cass county, Michigan, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza Harmon, a native of this state, her birth having occurred in Cass county. Following his marriage the father . took up his abode in Palmyra township, Cass county, where he was engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits until about 1880, when he located in Sodus township, Ber- rien county, where he purchased the tract of land which is now owned by our subject, and which was known as the Brubaker farm. He there continued his work along agricultural lines, and was accounted one of the prominent and influential residents of this part of the state. The mother passed away in 1890, and the father in 1887, and

the son, Burton A., was left an orphan at about the age of nine years.

Following the death of his father, an uncle of our subject, M. R. Crandall, then located on the farm and reared his brother's son, Burton A., who was early trained to the work of the farm and in the district schools he pursued his studies. He remained with his uncle to the age of nineteen years, at which time he took charge of the farm, which he inherited when he had attained his majority, for he was the only child of his father's family. The farm comprised nine- ty-nine acres of rich and productive land, and here our subject carried on general agricultural pursuits and he has since set out considerable fruit upon the place, and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of income to him. Mr. Crandall added a tract of forty acres, which his father had purchased, located sixty rods north of the tract which he inherited, and later he added a second tract known as the Gano farm, and comprising eighty acres, this being located on section 9, Sodus town- ship, thus making in all two hundred and twenty acres. He rents a portion of his land, from which he derives a gratifying in- come and he is engaged in general farming and fruit-raising on a part of his property. He has a well developed and improved farm. being one of the fine country homes of this part of the county.

On October 24, 1897, Mr. Crandall was united in marriage to Miss Lillie M. Fisher, a daughter of J. A. and Hattie Fisher, and unto them have been born two interesting children, Victor Guy and Vera Echo. Mr. Crandall is a Republican in his political views and affiliations, keeping well informed on the current events of the day, and he takes a deep and helpful interest in matters pertaining to the public welfare.

WILLIAM J. FEATHER. Among those formerly closely associated with agri- cultural interests in Berrien county and now living ·retired in Berrien Springs, is num- bered William J. Feather, who is a native son of Oronoko township. His life record began on the 21st of May, 1841. His father, Joseph Feather, was born at Selin's

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Grove, Union county, Pennsylvania, where the family had been established at an early day and where the name was originally spelled Fetter. In the place of his nativity Joseph Feather was reared and educated and there he learned the trade of carpenter- ing and cabinet-making. Thinking to en- joy better business opportunities in a pio- neer district he made the journey on foot to Berrien county, Michigan, and took up land in Oronoko township. There he worked at his trade for a number of months and the following year returned to Pennsyl- vania. In the succeeding spring he came again to Michigan, bringing with him his sister, a yellow dog, a long gun, a cow, one horse and a wagon, reaching Berrien Springs about June, 1833. There he fol- lowed the dual occupation of cabinet-mak- ing and carpentering until his health failed, when he located on his land one mile west of Berrien Springs. There in the outdoor life his health improved and he continued the cultivation and development of his farm, lying on section 33, Berrien township, until old age. He was married in Berrien Springs to Miss Anna Freed, on the 3d of December, 1833. She was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abram Freed, who was a prominent merchant of Phila- delphia, and was of German descent. Mr. Feather . passed away in his eighty-fourth year, while his wife died in her eighty-second year. They were among the worthy pioneer residents of Berrien county and were closely identified with its early history. They lived here when the Indians still visited the neighborhood and when only here and there had a log cabin been built and a little clear- ing made to show that the work of civili- zation had been begun. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and the timber had been cut on but few tracts. The family shared in all of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and as the years passed by succeeded in re- claiming a tract of land for the uses of civilization by transforming it from a tim- bered region into richly cultivated fields. In the family were seven children, four daugh- ters and three sons. The eldest was Benja-

min F. Feather, who was the first white male child born in Oronoko township, the date of his birth being October 10, 1834. The others of the family are: Mary E., born July 11, 1836; Lydia Ann, August 28, 1839; William Joseph, May 20, 1841 ; Har- riet E., April 28, 1843; Reuben Perry, Feb- ruary 18, 1846; and Eliza Jane, June 26, 1851. All are yet living but the eldest daughter, Mary, who died June 22, 1868.

William J. Feather was reared amid the usual conditions and environments of pioneer life upon the old homestead farm in Oro- noko township and attended school in Ber- rien Springs. During the periods of vaca- tion his labor was a factor in the develop- ment and cultivation of the farm and he worked at home until twenty-seven years of age. He was then married and started out in life on his own account, settling upon a farm in Oronoko township, which he cul- tivated and improved. He converted the wild land into productive fields and con- tinued in his farm labor until 1892, work- ing persistently and energetically year after year. On putting aside the active cares of the farm he removed to Berrien Springs, where he is now living retired, and in 1904 he sold the old home property.

On the 24th of December, 1868, Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Smith, a daughter of Charles and Clarinda (Brown) Smith. Her father was born in Marlboro, Ulster county, New York, and the mother in Locke, Cayuga county, New York. She died in the Em- pire state in 1856, while the father died in Berrien Springs in 1878. There were five children in their family, a son and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Feather was the third in order of birth. She was educated in the district schools of her native place and in the Friends Seminary, at Union Springs, New York. She taught in the Empire state and came to Berrien county in 1864, following the profession of teaching here. She devoted ten years altogether to that work, entering the schoolroom as a teacher at the age of sixteen. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Feather was cele- brated in New York and they at once came

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to Berrien county and established their home upon a farm in Oronoko township. Unto them were born the following named: Mer- ton K., a real-estate dealer in Elkhart, In- diana; and Gordon L., who died in 1877, at the age of two years and four months. They also had an adopted daughter, Fannie, who became the wife of C. H. Ireland, and died in 1904. at the age of twenty-six years.

Mr. Feather has been a life-long resi- dent of Berrien county and an interested witness of the events which have established its history and formulated its policy. He has voted with the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise and has been connected officially with the schools of the village. He and his fam- ily are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon and trustee, while in all of the various church activities he takes a helpful part. Both he and his wife are members of the National Protective Legion of Waverly, New York, and in this county are widely known, while the esteem of an extensive circle of friends is freely accorded them. In his business affairs Mr. Feather has ever been found prompt and faithful, fully meet- ing every obligation that devolves upon him and never making an engagement that he has not filled. He is thus respected as a reliable citizen, one whose word is as good as his bond.

CYRUS C. HODGES, who has filled various positions of honor and trust in New Buffalo, where he is now serving as post- master, was born in Troy township near the city of Troy in Huron county, Ohio, December 21, 1840. He comes of German ancestry, the family having been established in New York at an early period in the de- velopment of the new world. His parents were Luther and Luhena (Parker) Hodges, who were natives of Onondaga county, New York, and the mother was a relative of General Parker of Revolutionary war fame. Both the father and mother were reared in the Empire state and following their mar- riage they spent much of their lives in Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Both he and his wife died in

Canada at an advanced age, Mrs. Hodges passing away when seventy-six years of age, while he was about five years older. Cyrus C. Hodges was the youngest in the family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and is the only one now living. His brother Perry served as a soldier of the Civil war.

Cyrus C. Hodges was only three months old when his parents removed to Ontario, Canada West, and there he resided until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted in September, 1861, as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under com- mand of Captain Hawley and Colonel Boss. He was principally engaged in duty in Ten- nessee and Kentucky. He took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and during the second day of the battle at Stone River. He was also in the Atlanta campaign and after the fall of the city returned to Nash- ville, Tennessee. Later the regiment to which he belonged was sent to Texas, where he remained until the close of the war. On the expiration of his first term of three years he had veteranized and remained with the army until the cessation of hostilities, being continuously with his regiment except for a brief period when home on a furlough and also for the period spent in a hospital at Louisville. He was wounded and after- ward was sent to the hospital. When the war ended he was mustered out at Indian- apolis, Indiana, in October, 1865.

Mr. Hodges then returned to his old home in Michigan and has since lived in Berrien county, covering a period of about four decades. For about thirty-seven years he worked in a furniture factory and went with that factory to Missouri, where he continued for six years, after which he re- turned to Michigan, residing here continu- ously since. He conducted a meat market for a time and has been connected with vari- ous other occupations and lines of business. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office and he is now serving as post- master, having first been appointed to the position in April, 1893, under General Ben- jamin Harrison and again during Cleve- land's administration. He was re-appointed

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

by President Mckinley and by President Roosevelt and thus has long served as post- master, proving a capable official. He has been a life-long Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party and its principles and for about twenty-six years has served as justice of the peace. During that time he was appointed supervisor of his town- ship and acted in that capacity until chosen for the position of postmaster, when he re- signed the office. He has also been presi- dent and trustee of the village and has been very active in public affairs, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare, while in the discharge of his duties he has been so prompt and efficient as to win uni- form confidence and commendation.

Mr. Hodges was married in Berrien county in 1870 to Miss Emma Phillips, who was born in New Buffalo, April 15, 1848, a daughter of R. F. and Katharine ( Brown) Phillips, who were natives of Virginia and became early settlers of Berrien county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have one child, Mary L., who is now filling the posi- tion of bookkeeper in South Bend, Indiana.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 153

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