A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 28

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 28

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One settler was permitted to locate in- side the "reservation" before the Indians ceded it to the government. This was Sam- uel Street, who was permitted to select a home in section nine, range seventeen, by Pokagon, as compensation for labor per- formed for the Indians. He was a member of the state house of representatives in 1851 and a supervisor of the township. He died in 1861.

John De Armond, from Ohio, settled near Dayton in 1834. He kept a small store and carried on an extensive trade with the Indians until their removal. His goods were brought from Cincinnati. Ten days were occupied in making the trip and ten days in returning. He died many years since. One child, Mrs. Elizabeth Haines of Walkerton, Indiana, is now living. Mr. De Armond was supervisor in 1841.

Frederic Howe, a native of Massachu- setts, but a resident of New York, in 1834, started on a tour with a horse and buggy, intending to locate in the state of Illinois. In passing into Bertrand township he becane so much pleased with the country that he shortly after located on a farm in section eleven, range eighteen. He brought his family, consisting of a wife and eleven children, and settled on the place in 1835. A rude cabin had been put up by a previous squatter. The fire place of this cabin was made of split logs, the chimney of split stakes plastered on the inside with clay, the roof of split shingles, or "shakes" four feet in length and the floor of split basswood logs fastened down by wooden pins.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Mr. Howe was the first supervisor of the township. He acquired about two hundred and forty acres of land, but in his later years moved into the village of Buchanan, where he died in 1864. His wife died in 1869.

One child is now living. Charles F. Howe, who was supervisor of the township for six terms, and who now resides at Buchanan.

In March, 1835, Alanson Hamilton, from New York, located in section seventeen, range eighteen. Later he lived on section six. He was elected a justice of the peace at the first township election and held the office for fourteen years. He died in 1874. His only child living is Nathaniel A. Hamilton, who moved into Buchanan in early life, and is now the oldest continuous resident of that village. He is in his eighty-sixth year, and is still quite active and vigorous. He is re- ferred to in connection with the sketch of Buchanan.

Samuel Redden settled in Bertrand vil- lage in 1835, and moved to the west part of Bertrand township in 1838.

Two sons are now living in the county, "Samuel W., who has been a prominent mer- 'chant at Buchanan where he resides, and John, a heavy land owner in the western part of Bertrand township.

Benjamin Franklin, a native of New York, settled in the township in 1835. A son Freeman has been a supervisor, and is still living in the township.

William Batson came to the township in 1836.

In 1836, Enos Holmes came from New York and purchased one hundred and thirty- five acres, part of which lay in Bertrand township and part in Buchanan, but the larger part lay in section four, Bertrand township. He shortly after returned to New York, but in 1846 again moved to Michigan and located on the farm which he purchased. He died in 1869.

A son, Enos Holmes, is living in Ber- trand township and is a large land owner.

Another son. John G. Holmes, was editor of the Berrien County Record for many years, but removed west a few years since.

In 1838 Isaac Faurote located at Day- ton and established a blacksmith shop, but shortly afterwards removed to Hamilton, Indiana.

A son, George L. Faurote, is vice-presi- dent of the Niles City Bank and actively connected with its business at its office.

Isaac Faurote is now living at Niles with his son.

Among the exciting events of the early history of the township was the detection of a gang of counterfeiters, who made their headquarters for business in the township, although their homes were generally else- where. The favorite resort of this gang was a lonely wooded island in Topinabee lake, afterward called by the old settlers "Bogus Island." An extensive system of counter- feiting had been carried on at this point for some time before detection. The leader of the gang. Dr. Harrison, a prominent phy- sician of Buchanan, was finally arrested, tried and convicted for counterfeiting in the fed- eral courts, with others, and the business was then broken up.

About the year 1844 the emigration into Bertrand of a peculiar and distinct class of settlers commenced. It was that of the so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch," who subse- quently made up a considerable portion of the population of the township. Many of this class of settlers when they came to Ber- trand were unable to talk intelligible English although their ancestors had settled in Penn- sylvania at least a century before.

The history of this class of people is pe- culiarly interesting. It consisted of various sects of Protestant Germans who emigrated to this country from their native land in the latter part of the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth century. and mainly poured into the Quaker province. The first emigration consisted of Mennonites, who re- sembled the Quakers strongly in their re-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ligious belief and customs, and who were known as German Quakers. Then followed the Dunkers, known here as Dunkards or German Baptists. Subsequently a large stream of immigration poured in from the Palatinate, consisting of Lutherans. At the close of the Revolution one-third of the pop- ulation of Pennsylvania was German or of German descent.

These people mostly went into the valley of the Susquehanna and made settlements of their own, mingled and intermarried with the English race but little, and developed a peculiar dialect which was High German with an odd admixture of English. This peculiar language was not only spoken, but printed and taught in the schools. The "Pennsylvania Dutch" adhered to their lan- guage and habits with such tenacity that the state was not able to substitute English schools or overthrow the force of old habits till about sixty years ago.

They were generally honest and thrifty farmers and good citizens. Among this class of settlers in Bertrand the Roughis were the most numerous. John R. Rough came first. He was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated in 1844 to Bertrand township where he purchased a farm upon which he lived till his death. At the time of his death he was ninety-five years old.

David Rough, a native also of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, emigrated to Bertrand township in 1849 and located in sections twelve and thirteen. He became quite wealthy and at the time of his death in 1876, owned nearly twelve hundred acres.

Three children are now living, William R. and Solomon of Buchanan, and Eliza, wife of Amos C. House.

William and Solomon were for many years engaged extensively in the manufac- ture of wagons at Buchanan. William was at one time president of the village.

Jacob Rough, a brother of David, also came from Pennsylvania, and settled in Ber- trand township in 1849.

His son, George W., was treasurer of the county for two terms, from 1879 to 1883, and has also been supervisor of his township. These families were followed by other members of the Rough families in Pennsylvania, by Amos House, Peter Womer, Isaac Long, Stephen Amy, Daniel Bressler, the Houseworths, the Cauffmanns, A. Leiter, and others.

Three brothers, Charles, Cyrus E. and Mahlon Gillette, settled in the township at an early day, the two former locating in section four and the latter in section ten. They became prominent farmers of the com- munity. A son of Charles, Joel, was super- visor of the township for three terms, county register from 1893 to 1897 and representa- tive to the state legislature from 1901 to 1905. He resides at present in the city of Niles.

In 1842, four brothers, Stephen, Lewis, Hiram and Charles Baker came to Bertrand and located at what is known as "Baker- town," a mile southwest of Buchanan. Here they built a saw mill and a carding mill which they operated for some time. All of them lived to advanced ages. Charles, the last survivor, died a few months since at South Bend.

One of the oldest settlers of Bertrand township now living is Samuel Messenger. He was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1844, he came with his widowed mother to Berrien county, where they located on Portage Prairie. Here Mr. Messenger acquired a valuable farm of about two hundred acres, and became a prosperous and influential farmer. He is now living in the city of Niles.

James Badger, a prominent settler of Bertrand township, came from New York in 1844 and purchased a farm on Portage Prairie, although he did not locate on it till

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

1845. He was subsequently president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance As- sociation and the Berrien County Agri- cultural Society, and held various local of- fices. He died in 1888. Two children now live in the county, Chester Badger, one of the present county superintendents of the poor, and Mrs. Fannie Knox.

Among prominent and early settlers who located in the township may be mentioned David A. Best, Daniel Bressler, Patrick Cunan, Archibald Dunbar, John Dye, Oliver Dalrymple, Eli and Enoch Egbert, Michael Herkimer, John Keller, Isaac Long, Amos House, James L. Parent, C. G. Pope, George Potter, Isaiah Rhodes, Moses Shook, G. C. and J. B. Stryker, Michael Swobe, N. Wil- son, Peter Womer and William Haslett.

Michael Herkimer came with his father, George R. Herkimer, to Bertrand township from New York, at an early day. He was a prominent man in the community. His son, George R. Herkimer, is a prominent physi- cian of Dowagiac and at present the Demo- cratic candidate for congress in the fourth congressional district.

William Haslett was supervisor of the township for fourteen terms, eleven of which were continuous.

The following named persons have been supervisors of the township of Bertrand dur- ing the years designated :

Fred A. Howe 1836-1839

John Barbour 1840

John De Armond 1841

Jos. G. Ames 1842

Lewis Bryant

1843

Samuel Street

1844

Abram Ogden

1845

F. A. Howe

1846-1847

Luther R. Palmer

1848-1849

Enos Holmes

1850-1851

Herman Baker

1852-1853

Daniel Terrierre

1854

William Haslett

1855-1856

Daniel Terrierre

1857

William Haslett

1858-1868

Jacob Young

1869

William Haslett

1870

Freeman Franklin

1871-1873

C. F. Howe

1874

W. D. Badger

1875-1876

Peter Womer

1877

C. F. Howe

1879-1881

J. H. Gillette

1882

Freeman Franklin 1883

C. F. Howe

1884-1885

Freeman Franklin 1886

J. H. Gillette

1887-1888

Peter Womer

1889-1891

C. H. Wells

1892

G. W. Rough

1893-1894

Peter Womer 1895-1896

A. F. Howe 1897-1902

C. W. Matthews

(present incumbent. ) 1903-1906

1878

J. H. Young

CHAPTER XIII

BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP.

This township is bounded on the north by Oronoko township, on the east by Niles, on the south by Bertrand and on the west by Weesaw. It contains thirty-six sections of land, of which about four lie east of the St. Joseph river. The surface is generally rolling and the township contains no large level tracts of land. The soil is generally rich and productive and is well watered by several small lakes and streams. The highest point is Moccasin Bluff, located on the St. Joseph river, about one mile north of the village of Buchanan. When the first set- tlers arrived, the village of one of the leading Pottawatomie chiefs, Moccasin, was located on the flat below the bluff. Another Indian village called Mishaquaka was located just south of the village.

The first person to settle in the township is said to have been Charles Cowles, who came to Niles in 1832 from Vermont and located on the present site of Buchanan vil- lage in 1833, where he erected a cabin. He shortly afterwards built a shingle mill on McCoy's creek. In 1834 John Hatfield lo- cated near Cowles and built a saw mill on the creek. In 1835 Cowles and Hatfield sold their claims to Dr. C. C. Wallin.

Russell McCoy came from Virginia to Pokagon Prairie in 1829 and in 1830 to the Carey mission. After working at the Mission a short time he engaged in boating on the St. Joseph river. In 1833 he located

a claim and cleared a small tract of land at the mouth of McCoy's creek, which empties into the St. Joseph river at the present site of the village of Buchanan. In 1834 he and Hiram Wray built a log cabin upon the land and in 1835 a saw mill at the mouth of the creek. He shortly after moved to Missouri but returned in 1839. He engaged in farm- ing for some years, then kept a store in Bu- chanan and also a hotel. About 1856 he with others, bought two hundred acres on the bank of Clear Lake, three miles west of Buchanan, and built a steam saw mill. He died in Buchanan in 1873.

Leonard Madden in 1835 located a claim in section twenty-five, and built a log cabin. In 1836 he sold his claim to Andrew C. Day. Mr. Day was a native of Connecticut and came to Buchanan in 1836. He worked on the saw mill at the mouth of the creek some time and in 1839 he and John Hamil- ton erected a grist mill with two run of stones on the creek. For a time he was engaged in mercantile business. In 1875, he, in connection with William R. Rough, and Solomon Rough, established a wagon factory, which for several years carried on a large business and employed a large num- ber of workmen. He was a prominent citi- zen and for many years one of the village board of trustees. A daughter, Mrs. Mary Matthews, now lives in Denver, Colorado.

John Hatfield and one Atkins came to

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Buchanan in 1835 and put up a saw mill. In 1834 Seth S. Sherwood, from New York, located one mile north of Moccasin Bluff, where he lived till his death in 1856. He was the first settler in his neighborhood and was the father of Hon. Alonzo Sher- wood, who was a member of the State Leg- islature in 1879 and who then lived in Wee- saw township. Our late county treasurer, Alva M. Sherwood, who died during the past year while holding this position, was a son of Alonzo Sherwood. The latter is now living in the state of Nebraska.

John Hamilton, a millwright by trade, came from Virginia, in 1837, to Niles and in 1839 moved to Buchanan and in partner- ship with Andrew C. Day built the grist mill, already referred to. Mr. Hamilton laid out the first village plat in 1842. He also built the first grist mill in Bertrand township, southwest of Bertrand village.

T. J. Hunter came with his father and family in 1831 and located in Niles town- ship, but moved to the west side of the river in 1835, locating on section ten. Among other settlers who came about this time were William Wagner, who built a saw mill in section seven, Levi Sanford and A. Colvin.

John Weaver came from Ohio in 1829 and located on the St. Joseph river in Niles township. In 1837 he located a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-eight. His children, Samuel, Esther, married Russell McCoy, Fanny, who mar- ried Charles Clark, Polly, who married John Juday, and David Weaver, all lo- cated in or near Buchanan. David Weaver moved to Dayton, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years.

One of the oldest settlers of Berrien county and Buchanan township was Russell Babcock, a native of New York, who came to Berrien county in 1828. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Bulkley, came from Ohio to this county in 1834. and was married to Mr. Babcock in 1836 in Bu- chanan. This was the second marriage in

Buchanan. They lived for several years after their marriage in section seven. Mr. Babcock was one of the first to pre-empt land in the township. He subsequently moved to the neighborhood of New Troy where he died three years ago in his ninetieth year. His wife is now living at New Troy in her eighty-ninth year. Two daughters, Mrs. Dr. J. H. Royce and Mrs. Lucinda Cox, are now living at New Troy.

In 1836 Peter Critchet moved from La Porte county to Buchanan and resided there till 1849, when he removed to Galien.

- Jacob Dragoo, from Virginia, located in the township in 1834. but lived but a few years after. His son, Uel Dragoo, came in 1835 from Virginia. In 1844 he bought a tract of land on Moccasin Flat. John F. Dragoo in 1840 also located in the same neighborhood. A son of Uel Dragoo, Lib- erty, is living in Buchanan township.

John Juday, a tanner by trade, settled upon sections seven and eighteen in 1835- He was supervisor in 1842, 1845 and from 1848 to 1851. Two children are now living. Mrs. Harvey Haskins and a son, Harvey.

David Sanford settled in 1836 near the village of Buchanan.

Godfrey Boyle in 1835. settled on section six. He soon moved to Lake township and is referred to in the chapter on that town- ship.

Joseph Coveney, a native of Ireland, in 1835. located in the northern part of the township where he subsequently acquired about six hundred acres of choice lands. He had thirteen children, of whom several are now living. In his religious belief he was a follower of Thomas Paine. During his lifetime he erected a handsome monument in the cemetery at Buchanan, costing about three thousand dollars, upon which were in- scribed some of his atheistic sentiments in his own vigorous language. Some one de- faced the monument and Mr. Coveney at- tributed the act to the son of a minister. He died in 1894. Two of his sons, John Cov-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

eney and Joseph Coveney, now residing upon lands located by their father, have entered into the cultivation of fruit extensively and have the largest peach orchards in the town- ship, each containing about forty acres.

Darius Jennings emigrated from New York at an early day to St. Joseph, where he was engaged in boating on the river and was captain of the "Mishawaka." In 1835, he located near Moccasin Bluff. He was lib- erally educated and was supervisor in 1838- 39-40-43 and 1855 and held other prominent positions in the township. He removed sub- sequently to Illinois.

Dr. C. C. Wallin, a physician, moved to Buchanan in 1835. He practiced his pro- fession there till 1843 when he removed to Berrien Springs. He went to Chicago in 1849. While he lived in Buchanan he was connected with various industries and es- tablished a grist mill at a very early date. He was the first supervisor of the township.

In 1836 Watson Roe came from Indiana and first settled in Bertrand township. Shortly after, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-seven in Bu- chanan township. A few years later other members of the Roe family from Indiana settled in Buchanan, among whom were Eli Roe, Dr. J. M. Roe, J. H. Roe, E. J. Roe and J. J. Roe. Eli was a brother of Watson Roe.

The Roe family was prominent in the history of the village. Dr. J. M. Roe had an extensive medical practice.

A. C. Roe, a prominent attorney of Bu- chanan and former prosecuting attorney of the county, is a son of Dr. Roe. Several of the Roe family have been ministers or ex- horters in the Christian Church.

The Roes were a musical family and many years since several of them formed a glee club called the "Roe Family," which for several years frequently gave concerts and often sung at popular entertainments and on public occasions, in Michigan and Indiana. This club was deservedly popular.

In 1837, Hiram Weese from Indiana lo- cated one mile northeast of Buchanan on the east side of the river. In 1840 he moved across the river and built the first blacksmith shop in this region. He also built a log house in which school was taught in 1841 and 1842 by Angelina Bird, a popular school teacher in the early days. Weese was post- master and justice for some time and died at an advanced age several years since.

The oldest resident of the village of Bu- chanan now living there is Nathaniel A. Hamilton. He came with his father, Alan- son Hamilton, from the state of New York and settled in Bertrand township in 1835. About six years after N. A. Hamilton moved into the village of Buchanan where he has ever since lived. For many years he was a prominent and popular auctioneer conduct- ing sales in all parts of the county. He has also held various local offices. He is now in his eighty-sixth year. In his boyhood days he often attended service at the old Catholic Church in Bertrand township and was well acquainted with the Indian chief, Pokagon.

In 1844, Garrett Morris, a native of Ohio, came to Buchanan and built the first hotel in the village, called the "American House." He had previously carried on a grocery at New Carlisle, Indiana, where he located in 1837. He was also appointed postmaster at New Carlisle in 1840 and Schuyler Colfax was deputy under him for three years. Mr. Morris conducted a store also for some time at Buchanan. His son, John Morris, resides at Buchanan and until recently has been engaged in the mercan- tile business.

One of the oldest residents of Buchanan who settled in Berrien county at a very early date is Homer N. Hathaway. He came with his father, Nadah Hamilton, to Ber- rien county in 1842, from the state of New York. His father settled in the southwest corner of Niles township (now Buchanan) and died in 1849. Homer Hathaway moved into Buchanan in 1856 and was engaged for

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

many years in the threshing business. He was village marshal for many years and held various local offices. Mr. Hathaway's mem- ory, although he is seventy-three years of age, is vivid and he has furnished the writer many items as to the early history of Bu- chanan. A brother, W. G. Hathaway, is also living at Buchanan.

Another old resident is Myron S. Mead, who has lived in the village for over fifty years. He has been engaged in the saw mill business for many years and was a former president of the village.

Charles S. Black was extensively en- gaged for many years in the manufacture of bedsteads and other furniture. He was president of the village from 1873 to 1876. He is now living at Buchanan.

The first dry goods store in the village was opened in 1842 by the firm of Stanley, Staple and Twombly. Twombly was then a prominent merchant at Niles and did not remove to Buchanan.

A distillery was established about 1840 by Julius Russell, with whom Charles Clark was afterward associated. Mr. Clark be- came a prominent merchant and was for sev- eral years in partnership in the mercantile business with L. P. Alexander. Mr. Clark was president of the village and also a super- visor of the township.

The first physician in the place was Dr. William C. Harrison. Dr. Har- rison was a man of unusual ability, but was arrested by the federal authorities for coun- terfeiting money and tried and convicted for the offense. He was evidently at the head of a gang of counterfeiters who for some time carried on an extensive system of coun- terfeiting.

The first attorney in the village was John Grove. He was an able lawyer and was a member of the state house of representa- tives in 1845 and 1846. His health failed while he was still young, and he died about forty-five years ago. His wife was a daugh-

ter of David Vanderhof and died recently at an advanced age.

The village of Buchanan was platted by John Hamilton in 1842 and contained about forty acres. The original village has been greatly enlarged by subsequent additions. The village was incorporated in 1858 and at the first election James M. Matthews was chosen president.

Among the prominent early settlers of the village were Edward Ballingee, L. P. Alexander, and John D. Ross.

Mr. Ballingee came from Virginia and located at Berrien Springs in 1833, where he carried on a store with Thomas Love. In 1833 he moved to Buchanan and was elected supervisor and justice of the peace. Subse- quently he lived in Lake township and at New Buffalo, and in 1853 went to Califor- nia where he resided till 1866, when he re- turned to Buchanan where he lived most of the time till his death. He was a justice of the peace for many years.

L. P. Alexander came from New York and settled in Buchanan in 1841, first work- ing at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. Subsequently he engaged in carrying on a general store in partnership with Charles Clark. He was supervisor of the township from 1846 to 1852. He again served in that capacity from 1861 to 1866 and from 1871 to 1878. In 1860 he was a member of the house of representatives in the state legis- lature, in 1867 a member of the state con- stitutional convention, and a member of the state senate in 1870. He was also for ser- eral years postmaster. He was an active and influential leader of the Republican party.

John D. Ross was one of the earliest set- tlers of the county. He came to Niles in 1834 where he engaged in blacksmithing. He remained there but a short time and went to Hamilton, St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he engaged in mercantile business till 1847 when he moved to Buchanan and be-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

came engaged in the same business with his son Frank, under the firm name of J. D. Ross & Son. In 1852, in partnership with T. M. Fulton, he started a private bank. Afterward, for a short time, it was merged into a National Bank. In 1873, the bank again became a private bank under the name of J. D. Ross & Son. Mr. Ross was a mem- ber of the legislature in 1855. His son Frank carried on the bank for several years after his father's death, but removed west some years since.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 28

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