A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 20

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 20

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He was one of the county judges of Niagara county, New York, and was always known in Niles as "Judge Bond." He was a genial and polite gentleman of the old school, and an entertaining conversationalist.

The distinguished Swedish novelist, Frederica Bremer, in her volume on travels in this country, in 1844, speaks of meeting Judge Bond and makes reference to his polite manners and conversational powers.

His two sons, George N. Bond and Henry Bond, who came with him, bought property in Niles and laid out the addition known as Bond's Addition. George N. Bond was for several years a supervisor.

A daughter of Henry Bond, Caroline, lives in Niles and for some years has been a teacher in the public schools.

The two brothers, George N. and Henry, died many years ago.

Joseph Mansfield came from Ticonde- roga, New York, in April, 1835. He was a dentist, skilled and learned in his trade, and established a large practice. In 1866 he re-

moved to a farm in Benton township where he died in 1880. His son Henry, who is a teacher by profession, and a daughter, Mrs. Asa Hamilton, both reside in Niles.

Captain Henry Coolidge, a native of Massachusetts, came to Niles in 1835. For many years he was a sailor. Shortly after his arrival at Niles he purchased the Carey mission farm from the government, and tore down twenty-seven buildings, consist- ing mainly of log cabins, which had once been occupied by the teachers and employes of the mission.

Captain Coolidge in the thirties pur- chased the steamboat "Matilda Barney" of the owners, William Beeson and Erasmus „Winslow, and ran it for some time on the river. At one time he owned all the flouring mills in the county. He died many years ago. A daughter, Sally, who married Robert Gephart, is now living at Niles, and is still active and vigorous in her seventy-ninth year. Her recollection of the early life of Niles is still vivid.

Robert Gephart was a son of Daniel Gep- - hart, who came to Niles in 1836, and for a time kept a hotel. Robert was engaged for many years in mercantile business. Another son, Henry Gephart, was a captain in the Twelfth Regiment during the Civil war, and prominent in local affairs. For many years before his deathi. he lived on a farm about a mile northeast of Niles. -

The following named persons came to Niles in 1836: Benjamin F. Fish, William G. Ferson, Henry. A. Chapin, George S. Babcock, Royal T. Twombly, Jacob Gelt- macher and Rodney C. Paine, Dr. Stillman Richardson, Charles Jewett and William Hurd.

Rodney C. Paine was born in Connec- ticut in 1806. In 1837 he removed to St. Joseph where he had charge of a branch of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank. In 1842, he returned to Niles where he soon estab- lished a private bank which did an immense business, and which he conducted until his

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

death in 1873. He was elected county treas- urer in 1836. was state senator in 1855, pres- ident of the village from 1848 to 1854 and mayor of the city in 1873, the year of his death.

He was prominently connected with educational work and was director of the Union school district continuously for nearly twenty years. He was a man of culture and intellectual ability, and of sterl- ing integrity. Although somewhat aristo- cratic in his bearing, he was kind and accom- modating to poor as well as rich and was universally esteemed by the people of Niles. He may be regarded as the principal factor in placing the schools of Niles in the front rank. He was a prominent and consistent member of the Episcopal church. He was originally a Whig but upon the dissolution of that party, became a Democrat. He was never, however, a bitter partisan and was somewhat independent in his choice of can- cidates for local office. He had ten children, only one of whom is now living, Frederic William, engaged in the banking business at Duluth, Minnesota.

Dr. Stillman Richardson, a native of New York, came to Niles in 1836. Here he practiced his profession till his death in 1875. He was a skillful physician and had an immense practice. He had a rough ex- terior and extremely brusque manners, but was kind hearted. He made no attempt to collect from his patients and the result was that he died poor. His friends, after his death, erected a monument to his memory in Silver Brook cemetery. His wife was a leading spirit in church, temperance and charitable work.

William G. Ferson, a native of Mass- achusetts, located in Niles in 1836, and at first purchased goods in New York City which he sold to merchants in Niles. In 1838 he went into partnership in the mer- cantile business with Bacon Wheeler. He shortly after carried on a store at Berrien Springs for a few years. Returning to Niles,

he opened up a dry goods store which he carried on for many years. He died several years ago at an advanced age. He was a man of iron constitution, although small of stature, and was actively engaged in busi- ness till a short time before his death. His widow Caroline (Coan) is now living in Niles. Three children of Mr. Ferson are now living, Margaret, who married Theu- dore Finley, now of Greenville, Texas ; Jen- nie, who married Professor S. E. Miller, of Michigan City, Indiana, and Nettie Beiger. of Mishawaka, Indiana. Mr. Ferson was an active member and elder of the Presbyterian church and prominent in the social and busi- ness interests of the place for sixty years.

Charles Jewett, a native of Vermont, a lawyer and a graduate of Middlebury Col- lege, became a resident of Niles in 1836. He was appointed district attorney the same year and served till 1845. He was county judge from 1848 to 1852 and probate judge from 1860 to 1864. Two children survive, Irwin of Kansas City, Missouri, a prominent railroad official. and Ada. who married Will- iam E. Jones, of St. Louis, also a prominent railroad official.

Royal T. Twombly, a native of Maine, who had been a sailor on the ocean, came to Niles the same year ( 1836) and became a prominent dry goods merchant. He was state senator in 1853. and mayor of the city in 1877. He was a jovial man and fond of practical jokes. In 1878 he moved to Texas, where he died some years since.

Henry A. Chapin and his wife Ruby. came from Ohio to Niles in 1836, but re- moved almost immediately to Edwardsburg, Cass county, where Mr. Chapin engaged in the mercantile business. He returned to Niles in 1846 and carried on a heavy dry goods business for about twenty years. He afterwards went into the insurance business with his son Charles.

About the year 1878, mineral lands in the upper peninsula, which he had owned many years, were found to contain large

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

veins of valuable iron ore, and these were leased to a company, which at once began to mine and ship the ore. The mine proved to be a very valuable one. Mr. Chapin and his son became the owners of manufacturing industries and other valuable properties, re- ferred to elsewhere in connection with local history. In politics, he was a Republican. In early life he was a Methodist but nearly forty years before his death became a Pres- byterian and an elder in that church during most of that time. He was one of the orig- inal trustees of the board of education and held the position for several years. He was a man of fine presence, although of simple habits, and of much natural strength of char- acter. He died in 1898 in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Mrs. Chapin died in 1902. His son, Charles A. Chapin, in 1898 moved to Chicago, where he now resides.

Jacob Geltmacher was a native of Vir- ginia. Shortly after he came to Niles, he went into the flouring mill business which he conducted till the time of his death. He was proprietor of the Dacotah mills for many years, and for a time was associated with one of the Laceys in the business. He was mayor of the city in 1867. He died many years since.

Benjamin F. Fish came to Niles in 1836. He went to Chicago at a very early day and became a member of the Old Set- tlers' Association of Cook county, Illinois. He resided also in St. Joseph for some years, and was township clerk of St. Joseph in 1842. He moved subsequently to Niles and was judge of probate from 1856 to 1860. He was engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business for many years before his death, which occurred in 1906. He was in his eighty-seventh year when he died. His widow is now living at Niles.

George S. Babcock came from Genesee county, New York, in 1837. He was re- corder of the village in 1847. In 1858 he removed to a fine farm in the northeast part of the city, where he died a few years since,

at the advanced age of ninety-one. He was a typical representative of the pioneer ele- ment, strong physically and mentally. Four children are now living. Miss Phebe W. Babcock, Mrs. Mary B. Fisher, James M., of Niles, and Stephen H., of Denver, Colo- rado.

James M. is the present supervisor of the first ward of Niles city and has held the po- sition for seventeen terms, nine of which have been continuously.

George W. Platt was a native of Mass- achusetts and in 1837 settled in Niles, where he conducted a tin shop. He subsequently went into the hardware and agricultural im- plement business, in which his sons, Henry and William E., subsequently became inter- ested. He was a member of the common council for several years and mayor of the city. He was public spirited and connected with many of the manufacturing interests of the city, and a director of the Citizens' National Bank. He died in 1887. Four children are now living, William E., and Alonzo of Niles, Mollie Hall of Chicago, and George, of Benton Harbor.

The oldest business carried on at the same site is that of the drug business estab- lished by Joseph C. Larimore in 1838, on the corner at the southwest intersection of Main and Second streets.

In 1848 Henry M. Dean from New Jer- sey, became a clerk in this store and in 1860 a partner with Mr. Larimore. Mr. Dean subsequently became the sole owner of the business and about twenty years ago his son, Fred C., became a partner with his father. Henry M. Dean died in 1902. He was a man of liberal education and culture, of wide acquaintance and influence and a leader in all the religious, political and business activ- ities of the city. His judgment was sound and his counsel widely sought after. He was mayor of the city in 1864 and a member of the board of education for many years. He was an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian church.

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His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah Coan, is now living in Niles. Two sons. Fred C. and Henry M., carry on the drug store, established sixty-eight years ago by Mr. Larimore.

The grocery business at the northwest corner of the intersection of Main and Fourth streets has been carried on for nearly sixty years. In 1849, Otto Moore came from St. Joseph, and established a grocery at this point. In 1852 he sold out his interest in the business and removed to Chicago, where he carried on an extensive wholesale grocery for twenty years. His stock of goods and residence were burned in the great fire of 1873 and the next year he returned to Michigan and purchased a farm about two miles south of the city where he resided till the time of his death. He was a man of genial temperament and of sterling char- acter. His widow and a daughter, Belle, now reside in the city. Mr. Moore was a native of Vermont and came in 1843 to St. Joseph, where he engaged in a mercantile business. Mrs. Moore was a daughter of N. S. Compton, a merchant, who was one of the earliest settlers of Cass county and who removed to St. Joseph about 1843.

In 1853, John and Edgar Woodruff, natives of New York, established a grocery business at this site. This business was con- ducted by them in partnership until the death of Edgar and after his death by John till 1897. when the grocery stock was pur- chased by George B. Winter.

In 1868, the Woodruffs erected a fine three-story building which is still owned by the heirs of John Woodruff. John was a member of the common council for many years and a man universally esteemed for his sterling qualities. He died in 1906, leaving two children surviving. Mrs. Louise Jerome and Miss Helen, who both reside in Niles.

William Hurd was a native of New York, who came to Niles in 1836. Soon

after his arrival he purchased a large tract of heavily timbered land in section sixteen of Niles township where he built a saw mill and was engaged in the lumbering business for many years. In 1857 he moved to these lands, where he lived till his death in 1876. He was a man of superior intellect and thoroughly independent, forming and ex- pressing his opinions with little regard to the opinions of others. He was prominently connected with early educational work in Niles and was one of the first trustees of the Union school. He pertinaciously in- sisted on the purchase of large school grounds, and although he was opposed at first by the majority of the board, finally converted them to his opinion. To his per- severence we owe the selection of ample and beautiful grounds, containing the only nat- ural park which exists in the city. A daugh- ter, Clara, is now living at Luray, Virginia.

The two residents of Niles who have been actively engaged in business the long- est are Joseph S. Tuttle and Elijah Murray.

Mr. Tuttle, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Niles in 1848 and worked at his trade as a currier till 1850, when he en- gaged in the leather and hide business for himself. He has been engaged in this busi- ness ever since, but has added to it the fur business. He is in his eighty-first year, but is still active and vigorous and able to carry on an important business, requiring a num- ber of hands. He was for many years a member of the school board and also a member of the common council.

Elijah Murray came to Niles in 1850 and in 1852 engaged in the business of wagon making. At one time he employed forty-five men, and turned out over one hundred thousand dollars worth of work annually. He had the reputation of doing excellent work and his vehicles were never cheaply or poorly constructed. Lately he has been engaged in the business of repairing wagons and carriages. He is over eighty

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

years old, but still actively engaged at his occupation. He was a member of the com- mon council for two terms.

The oldest in years of those who have been merchants in Niles and who are still living, is Stephen Moore, who is in his ninety-first year. He emigrated from New York to Kalamazoo in 1834, and came to Niles where he engaged in the mercantile business. For many years he carried a heavy stock of dry goods and did a large business. In 1866, he retired from mercantile busi- ness and laid out an addition in the eastern part of the city, upon a portion of which he now resides with his wife.

The oldest physician in the city is Dr. John H. Richardson, although he has not practiced his profession for many years. He was a Virginian by birth and came in 1856 to the city of Niles, where he has ever since resided. He has held various offices. He was a member of the common council for several years, recorder for six terms, and also a justice of the peace. His intelli- gence and courtesy of manners, combined to make him a model official. He is now in his eightieth year. He has been during his res- idence in Niles an active member of the Episcopal church, often reading the church service.

Some reference to the prominent de- ceased attorneys and physicians not already mentioned is fitting.

Joseph N. Chipman, a native of Ver- mont and a graduate of Middlebury College, came to Niles in 1836 and resided in Niles till his death in 1870. He was a member of the state senate in 1844, prosecuting attor- ney in 1846 and 1848, and a circuit court commissioner and a justice of the peace for many years, both of which offices he held at the time of his death. He had a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of the common law and made an able justice. He died in 1870. A daughter, Laura, is residing at Niles and has been a teacher in the public schools for several years.

Franklin Muzzy was a native of Maine and a brilliant lawyer. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College, studied law in the office of Hannibal Hamlin and in 1843 came to Niles, where he took a front rank as an at- torney. He was extremely eccentric, and remained a bachelor until his death. He was state senator in 1858 and mayor of the city for four years. He received the latter position as a reward by the people for an ag- gressive fight against the Michigan Central Railroad Company. He had remarkable legal acumen and sagacity, was a powerful cross-examiner and had for many years an immense practice. His powers of sarcasm and ridicule were unlimited and these he em- ployed relentlessly and unmercifully. With all these rich endowments which might have brought him high honors in the state and nation, he was too aggressive and vindictive, making bitter enemies in his own party and preventing him from securing those posi- tions which would have gratified his am- bition and fulfilled the bright promise of his earlier days. From some cause originating perhaps in early life, he was inclined to be misanthropic. He was originally a Whig, but became a Democrat after the organiza- tion of the Republican party. He died in 1878. Mr. Muzzy had many excellent traits of character. He had no love of money, was kind hearted toward the poor, and pub- lic-spirited.

Edward Bacon was a son of Judge Nathaniel Bacon, and was born in Rochester in 1830. He graduated at Michigan Univer- sity in 1850 and studied law in his father's office. He enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war and became a lieutenant colonel in the service. His men- tal make-up was eccentric and unique and in some of its phases was indicative of orig- inal genius of a high order. His intellect was not logical and he was not a graceful speaker, but any defects in these respects were made up by intuitive perception, great learning, remarkable memory and tireless

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industry. He was especially skilled in real estate law and practice and was largely em- ployed in important cases. His brain was fertile and suggested all the points that could arise in a case, both material and im- material. He was an accomplished lin- guist, being able to converse fluently in French, German and Spanish. Outside of his profession, he was fond of philosophic speculation, and his monologues upon this branch of his studies were interesting. He was remarkably amiable in temperament and disposition and universally loved and es- tecmed by the last generation of lawyers who employed him largely as counsel. He died in 1901. Originally he was a Demo- crat, but after the war belonged to no party, with Republican proclivities, however, most of the time. Religiously, he was a Presby- terian. He was city attorney for many years under both Republican and Democratic ad- ministrations. His widow, Mrs. Mary Bacon, is now living in Niles.

Hiram F. Mather was a native of New York, where he had been a member of the State Senate before coming to Niles. He resided in Niles from 1844 to 1853. when he removed to Chicago. He was an able law- yer, a graceful speaker, a courteous gentle- man and highly esteemed.

Levi B. Taft came to Niles in 1849 and was elected prosecuting attorney the same year. He was a partner of Mr. Mather and a lawyer of ability. He removed from Niles in 1853 and afterwards became a circuit judge in Oakland county.

Cyrus Dana was born in Owego. New York, and came to Niles in 1838. He was a man of learning and ability and acquired an extensive practice. He was highly esteemed for his sterling qualities and courteous man- ners. In politics he was a Whig, in religion a Presbyterian. He died at Niles in 1847. His son. Eugene Dana. is living at Niles.

James Brown was a native of New York and a graduate of Union College. He settled in Niles in 1838, was judge of probate from

1844 to 1852 and prosecuting attorney from 1845 to 185 -. In his prime he was an enter- taining speaker, having a fine voice, a good delivery and an excellent command of lan- guage. These qualities enabled him to at- tain quite a practice as a jury lawyer for a time. At the time of his death he had been a justice of the peace for several years.

James Sullivan, a native of New Hamp- shire, in 1838 came to Niles, where he re- mained three years and then removed to Cass county. He possessed a legal and logi- cal mind of high order and for a time, he ranked as one of the ablest attorneys of southwestern Michigan. His arguments before the court were models of clear cut logic expressed in the choicest legal diction. In later life he was troubled with deafness which seriously interfered with his success as a trial-lawyer.

Henry H. Coolidge was a native of Massachusetts and educated by the avails of his own labor, at Amherst College. He spent three years at Montreal teaching music and came to Niles in 1836, where he clerked in the dry goods store of George W. Hoff- man. He removed in 1837 to Edwardsburg, Cass county, where he studied law with James Sullivan, after having been engaged in teaching and mercantile life. He was prosecuting attorney of Cass county in 1852. He removed to Niles in 1859. In 1867 he was elected a member of the state consti- tutional convention, in 1862 prosecuting at- torney and in 1872 circuit judge of the sec- ond judicial circuit, a position which he held six years. He had an immense practice be- fore his election to the bench, and was a man of great natural sagacity and force of character. He excelled in the careful prepa- ration of his cases before trial and in the ex- amination of witnesses. He and his wife both died in 1884. he being seventy-nine years of age and having been actively en- gaged in practice till two months before his death. Politically, he was a Republican. Religiously, he was an active member of the

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Presbyterian church, always attending and frequently addressing its devotional meet- ings when at home. He was a teacher in the Sunday school over forty years and a con- stant student of the Bible. He was fond of all kinds of sports and innocent amusements. He was a natural musician and for many years taught singing schools in the winter evenings.

In his earlier days he conversed fluently in the French language, which he learned while teaching among French families at Montreal and he imbibed some of their man- ners and gestures which he preserved throughout life. Two children are now liv- ing, the writer of this sketch and Emily, the wife of Charles A. Chapin of Chicago. A daughter, Helen, died in 1903.

George H. Jerome, a native of New York, and a graduate of Hamilton College, came to Niles in 1847, where he practiced his profession till 1851, when he moved to Chicago. In 1856, he removed to Iowa City, where he became the proprietor and editor of the Iowa City Republican, the lead- ing Republican journal of the state. He was peculiarly adapted for this position and wrote powerful and sparkling editorials. After a few years, he returned to Niles and in 1873 was appointed commissioner of state fisheries. This position he held for many years.

He was a brilliant writer and speaker and bubbled over with sparkling wit and repartee, always arousing enthusiasm at his frequent addresses before large gatherings. His first report as fish commissioner at- tracted general attention, not only for its literary finish and originality, but for its valuable and timely suggestions. He died many years since.

David Bacon graduated at Jefferson Col- lege, Pennsylvania, in 1852, came to Niles the same year and was admitted to the bar in 1854. In 1856, he was elected prosecuting attorney. He was a captain in the Sixth Michigan Regiment during the Civil war,

was seriously wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge and promoted to lieutenant- colonel for meritorious services. On his re- turn from the war he engaged in real estate business and was a justice of the peace for eleven years before his death. He was a man of rare intelligence, excellent judgment and a gentleman of culture and fine address.

William J. Gilbert, a native of Vermont and a graduate of Middlebury College, was admitted to the bar in Berrien county in 1870 and lived at Niles from that date till his death in 1901. He was recorder two terms, mayor in 1898 and 1899 and circuit court commissioner for many years. For several years he was a partner of Mr. Muzzy. He was a lawyer of ability, although in- clined to pursue the more quiet departments of the profession. He had an extensive of- fice business, due to his sagacity, good judg- ment and fidelity as a counsellor. A daugh- ter, Julia, now resides in Niles.

Theodore G. Beaver was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Niles in 1858 and was admitted to the bar in 1868. For some years he was a partner with Mr. Muzzy. He was city recorder in 1864, and twice mayor of the city. He died in Septem- ber last in his seventy-second year. He was a justice of the peace for several years be- fore his death. He was bright and active and for some years had a considerable prac- tice. He excelled in the careful preparation of pleadings which he studied while in the office of Mr. Muzzy. He was also noted for his attention to dress, always wearing a silk hat and always being neatly and tastily at- tired.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 20

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