A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 29

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 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1847 James Reynolds and John, his brother, established a store in Buchanan which was managed by James. These broth- ers had emigrated with their father to La Porte county, Indiana, in 1833. James Reynolds remained at Buchanan three years and then moved to Dayton, where he en- gaged in mercantile business for six years. In 1861, he purchased a large tract of land in St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he re- sided till his death which occurred during the past year.

He acquired the ownership of several thousands of acres of land located in St. Joseph and La Porte counties, Indiana, in Berrien county, Michigan, and also had im- portant landed interests in Chicago and South Bend. In 1853 he was married to Nancy Howe, a daughter of Frederic Howe, one of the earliest pioneers of Bertrand township. A daughter, Estelle, was married to Clyde Baker, a prominent merchant of Buchanan. Another daughter, Clara, who died some years since, was married to Dick- son S. Scoffern, cashier of the Niles City Bank.

Mr. Reynolds was for many years presi- dent of the First National Bank of Bu- chanan, and was the first president of the Niles City Bank, in which his estate is a stockholder.

Among the prominent men of Buchanan at an early day, may be also mentioned Wil- liam S. Merrill, Charles Clark, George A.

Demont, William Pears, Charles S. Black,. Samuel W. Redden.

Mr. Merrill was supervisor of the town- ship in 1854, judge of probate from 1864 to 1868 and was a justice of the peace for many years before his death. He was a man of ability.

Charles Clark settled in Buchanan in the early '40s and went into mercantile business. He was supervisor of the town- ship and president of the village. For sev- eral years he was a partner of L. P. Alex- ander in the dry goods business.

Sanford Smith has lived in Buchanan since 1847. His father was one of the old- est residents of the territory, having come into Michigan in 1830. Mr. Smith is now in his ninetieth year of age.

Samuel W. Redden has lived in the vil- lage of Buchanan since 1859. He is one of the oldest residents of the county, having come with his father, in 1835, to Bertrand village. In 1838, his father moved to the western part of the township. Mr. Redden was for many years engaged in the grocery business and in the manufacture of furni- ture. He is now in his seventy-ninth year.

Among other prominent business men who were identified with important indus- tries in the village were William M. Bainton, George H. Richards, A. Willard, Charles Black and H. S. Black. Mr. Bainton at an early day built a flour mill known as "Bain- ton's Mills." The business is still carried on by his sons, W. F. and Charles.

Mr. Richards came to Buchanan in 1855, and shortly after established, with others, an important factory for the manufacture of zinc collar pads, the first of its kind in this country. After his death in 1888, his son, Joseph L. Richards, carried on the business till his death during the past year. Joseph was president of the village for two terms and supervisor of the township for several terms.

One of the prominent justices of the

218

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

peace of the village in the early days was David Terriere. This position lie held for many years. He was also county clerk from 1861 to 1863.

In 1860 A. Willard, Charles Black and H. S. Black started a factory for the manu- facture of furniture. The business had been originally established in New Buffalo in 1855, but removed to Buchanan in the year stated. In 1865 Willard sold his interest to Charles Black, but subsequently joined the firm again. Charles Black was presi- dent of the village from 1873 to 1876. He retired from business some years ago and is now living at Buchanan.

William Pears, a native of England, in partnership with Solomon Rough and George H. Rough, about 1868 established a grist mill which did an extensive business. Subsequently Mr. Pears acquired the ex- clusive ownership of the mill. He was presi- dent of the village and a man of native saga- city and ability. Charles F. Pears, the pres- ent president of the village and president of the City National Bank of Niles is a son of William Pears.

Among prominent professional men who settled in Buchanan at an early day was Hon. J. J. Van Riper, who located in that village in 1872. He was a native of New York and came with his father to La Grange, Cass county, in 1856. He subsequently studied law and practiced at Dowagiac some years before locating at Buchanan. He soon established a reputation as an able lawyer and secured a large practice. He has held many important official positions in county and state, the duties of which he has dis- charged with ability and fidelity.

He was a member of the state constitu- tional convention in 1867, prosecuting at- torney from 1877 to 1881. attorney general of the state from 1881 to 1885, regent of the State University for six years and judge of probate from 1893 to 1901. His home has been at Niles for nineteen years and he has been the city attorney for several years.

Among the prominent deceased attorney's of Buchanan may be mentioned John Groves, Emery M. Plimpton and David E. Hinman.

Mr. Groves was the first attorney in the place and has already been referred to. Mr. Plimpton come from the state of Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1853, and practiced in Buchanan for the greater part of his active life, although he was for a time at Niles and Benton Harbor. He was a fluent and en- tertaining speaker and was always in demand in political campaigns. He had considerable legal practice for several years. He was prosecuting attorney in 1856 and a member of the state house of representatives in 1868. In his younger years he was a teacher and also taught music.

David E. Hinman was admitted to the bar in 1868, and had a large office business. due to the confidence of the people in his good judgment and integrity. He was county clerk from 1873 to 1877 and judge of probate from 1885 to 1893.

CHURCHES.

The first church organized in the village- was the Methodist Episcopal, organized in 1842. In 1853 a brick edifice was erected. The first pastor was Rev. Richard Meek.

The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847. In 1850 a church edifice was erected. The first pastor was Rev. Porter B. Parry.

The church of the Disciples of Christ was organized in 1854. The first edifice was built in 1859. The first pastor was Rev. William M. Roe. This sect is commonly known as the "Christian" and sometimes called "Campellite" after the name of the founder.

The church of the United Brethren was organized in 1846. and the first edifice erected in 1849. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Tenel.

The Advent Christian Church was or-

219

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ganized in 1851 by Rev. D. R. Mansfield and his wife. They became pastors of the church in 1856. This society became the largest of that denomination in the west, and a religous journal was started in 1863, by T. V. Himes of Boston, a leader of the sect, called the "Voice of the West," which had a circulation of six thousand. In 1853 a division occurred, a number seceding and forming a new church called the "Church of God." Buchanan became the headquarters of the Adventists in Michigan for a time but in a few years Mr. Himes removed to Chi- cago.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. !

A most important industrial feature of the place is the electrical power plant lo- cated on the St. Joseph river.

In 1891 and 1892 a dam across the river at Buchanan was built by English and Holmes, who were the promoters of the pro- ject.

The dam is a timber one of the gravity type and has approximately ten feet head. The Beckwith estate purchased it in '94 or '95 and have used about one hundred horse power since then in the Lee & Porter Axle Works at Buchanan. In 1900 it was pur- chased by Charles A. Chapin, who imme- diately had plans drawn with the idea of de- veloping and using the power. Construction was started in 1901 and was completed in I903.

The new power house makes possible the development of a maximum of about two thousand horse power, while the minimum amount of power available is considerably less than this in low water times. The elec- trical power is sold locally in the village of Buchanan and the surplus is transmitted to South Bend where it is sold to the South Bend Electric Company. It is also trans- mitted to St. Joseph, Michigan, where it is sold to the Benton Harbor-St. Joe Electric Railway & Light Company. The plant is

now owned by Charles A. Chapin of Chi- cago. It is operated in conjunction with what is known as the Twin Branch dam, seven miles above Mishawaka and the Elk- hart dam at Elkhart, Indiana, so that it is now possible for the cities of Berrien county to have power transmitted to them from the two dams above mentioned in Indiana in which Mr. Chapin is interested.

The largest factory in the place is the Buchanan Cabinet Company. It was or- ganized in 1892 by John E. Barnes, W. S. Wells and Alfred Richards. The company manufactures sideboards, desks, book cases, kitchen and sewing cabinets. It employs from seventy to eighty men. Late improve- ments and additions to the factory have been made very recently and the company expects to employ from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five hands. The present officers are, John E. Barnes, president ; John M. Rough, vice president, and Alfred Richards, secretary and treasurer.

The Zinc Collar Pad Company was formed in 1870 by Dexter Curtis (the pat- entee), George H. Richards and Henry Gil- man. In 1878 Mr. Richards became the sole owner. In 1888 Mr. Richards died and his son Joseph L. Richards became the sole owner in 1902. It is the only establishment of the kind in the west and sales are made throughout the country and abroad to the wholesale saddlery trade. Joseph L. Rich- ards died in 1906 and the business is carried on by his sons, George H. Richards and Joseph Richards.

The George Rich Manufacturing Com- pany, whose office is located at Chicago, has its factory at Buchanan and manufac- tures machine shop appliances, mainly chucks, drills and drill presses. It employs about forty men. M. L. Hanlin is the man- ager, residing at Buchanan.

A large nursery, known as the Jaquay Nurseries, is located about three and a half miles north of Buchanan. It consists of two hundred and ninety-two acres which ex-

220

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

tend to the St. Joseph river. It was estab- L. P. Alexander 1875-1877

lished in 1895 and incorporated in March, 1906, as the "Irving Jaquay Company." The stockholders are Irving Jaquay, Mrs. I. J. Stosser and Mrs. Margaret Jaquay. The orchards set out for bearing purposes contain about sixty acres, the balance being devoted to the nursery business. The com- pany has been so far successful and is doing an extensive business.

The Lee and Porter Manufacturing Company was organized by Fred E. Lee and Henry H. Porter of Dowagiac as co-part- ners in 1894. The company manufactures carriage and wagon steel axles and wire wheels for light vehicles, and employ on an average fifty-five men. The company has an extensive business in Australia, New Zea- land and South Africa. In 1895 a stock company was formed. The present officers are, Fred E. Lee, president and general manager; H. E. Porter, vice president, and J. S. Clary, secretary and treasurer.

The following named persons have been supervisors of Buchanan township for the years designated :

C. C. Wallin

1837

Darius Jennings

1838-1840

Henry Vanderhof

1841

John Juday 1842

Darius Jennings 1843

Edward Ballengee 1844

John Juday

1845-1846

Geo. A. Demont 1847

John Juday 1848-1851

WVm. S. Merrill 1852

L. P. Alexander 1853

W. S. Merrill 1854

Darius Jennings 1855

John Newton 1856

D. E. Hinman

1895

J. L. Richards

1 896

E. W. Sanders

1897

IV. H. Keller

1898-1899

M. S. Mead 1900

G. H. Black

1901-1903

L. P. Alexander

1873

N. B. Collins

1874

L. P. Fox 1878

B. F. Fish 1879

J. W. R. Lister 1880

A. Richards

L. P. Alexander 1881-1885

J. P. Beistle 1886-1889

G. B. Richards

1892-1895

Jos. Beistle 1896-1897

B. D. Harper

1898-1899

Jos. Richards 1900-1903

J. P. Beistle 1904

A. F. Howe

1905

J. E. French

1906

PRESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF BUCHANAN.

The following named persons have been presidents of the village of Buchanan at the dates mentioned :

Jas. M. Matthews 1858

J. D. Ross 1859

Daniel Terriere 1860

J. D. Ross 1861-1863

N. B. Collins 1864-1865

J. D. Ross

1866

Chas. Clark

1867-1871

Wm. Pears

1872

C. S. Black

Wm. Pears

1873-1876

1877

F. H. Berrick

1878

J. D. Ross

1879-1882

WVm. Osborn 1883

D. E. Hinman 1884

J. J. Van Riper 1885

J. E. Barnes 1 886

Geo. Churchill 1887

B. D. Harper 1888-1889

WV. R. Rough

1890-1892

J. L. Richards

John Rough .1893

1894

L. P. Alexander

1857-1858

Chas. Clark 1859-1861

John Newton 1862

G. F. Hemmingway 1863

A. H. Clark

1864-1872

B. R. Desenberg 1904

Chas. Pears

1905-1906

------

1890-1891

CHAPTER XIV

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

This township is bounded on the north by Chikaming, on the east by Three Oaks, on the south by the state of Indiana and on the west by Lake Michigan. The soil on the shore line of Lake Michigan is sandy and shifting, frequently forming into dunes, varying in height, often reaching forty or fifty feet.

The present village of New Buffalo lies on the lake at the mouth of Galien river. The first person to take note of its commer- cial advantages was Captain Wessel Whit- taker, of Hamburg, New York, who for many years was a captain on the lakes.

I here subjoin a sketch of the early set- tlement of New Buffalo, furnished by Hon. Henry Chamberlain of Three Oaks. This sketch was mostly published in the his- tory of Berrien and Van Buren counties nearly thirty years ago.

"In the fall of 1834, Wessel Whittaker was in command of the schooner "Post- Boy" (partly owned by Barker and Willard, of Buffalo). During a heavy gale when the vessel was liable to be driven ashore, they ran for the mouth of a stream now known at State Creek. They were beached, how- ever. The weather was intensely cold and the captain and crew left the vessel and walked to Michigan City, where they pro- cured a conveyance, proceeded to St. Joseph, and notified the underwriters of the loss of the vessel. While passing the mouth of the

Galien river, Captain Whittaker, after study- ing the surroundings, was impressed with its advantages for a harbor. After trans- acting his business at St. Joseph, he visited the land office and entered the land on which the village of New Buffalo now stands, and soon after proceeded to Buffalo, New York. He laid out the land into blocks and lots on paper, and called it New Buffalo. He then exhibited the plan to his friends, expatiated on its advantages, and persuaded Jacob A. Barker and Nelson Willard, who were part- ners in business, to engage with him in the new enterprise, and sold to them the un- divided one-half interest in the property for fifteen thousand dollars, afterwards reduc- ing it to thirteen thousand dollars. Captain Whittaker, Truman A. Clough, William Hammond and Henry Bishop started from Buffalo and Hamburg on the 18th day of March, 1833, overland, and arrived at New Buffalo the first week in April, calling, on their way at Bertrand, on Alonzo Bennett, a surveyor and old acquaintance, and em- ploying him to go with them and survey the village. Henry Bishop, afterwards of Kalamazoo, was a clerk in the employ of Barker and Willard, and was sent by them to manage their interests. A log cabin, fif- teen feet by twenty-four feet, was first built, at the corner of Whittaker avenue and Mer- chant street, north of Seaman's square. Along one side of the cabin, pine brush was

222

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

laid for a bed. and a fireplace was built in one corner. A road was then cut through from the lake to Talbot's mill, a distance of about five miles from whence lumber was procured. Some lime was burned from marl found a short distance from this mill. Whit- taker & Company erected a frame building for a store and warehouse, on lot number one, at the foot of Whittaker avenue. In this building was placed a stock of goods. Another building was erected adjoining, with an alley between. In this latter build- ing Mr. Whittaker put a tenant, Mr. Cum- mings and wife, who opened their house for entertaining travelers. A sign was painted on a rough board by Mark Beaubien, since of Chicago, representing a man holding a horse, and also a decanter and glasses. Soon after this, Russel Goodrich, Truman A. Clough, Dr. Reuben Pierce, Myel Pierce, Simeon Pierce. Moses G. Pratt, and Festus A. Holbrook came by vessel from Buffalo, and soon bought lots. Building commenced rapidly. Russel Goodrich bought block twelve, and erected a hotel on lot two. Whittaker built a house for his family, on block twenty-four, lots seven and eight, near a spring of good water, by the west ravine that runs through the town plat north and south. Moses G. Pratt built on lot two.

block eleven. Dr. Reuben Pierce built on the corner of Barker and Merchant streets, on block twenty-three and lots one and two; Simeon Pierce, on block twenty- three, adjoining; Thatcher Abbott,

a brother-in-law of Whittaker, adjoining. on the same block and on lot five; F. A. Hol- brook and Alonzo Bennett, both on block thirteen. The family of Mr. Whittaker, consisting of his wife and four children, under the care of William Ratcliff came from Hamburg, by Lake Erie, to Detroit, where they procured a team, and proceeded thence overland, arriving at New Buffalo in June, 1835.

"Mr. Ratcliff carried the first mail to Michigan City, and Moses G. Pratt drove

the first stage and mail wagon through to that place. At this time there were a num- ber of others gathered in the new settle- ment, some unmarried. Their occupations were as follows: A. Bennett, surveyor ; Henry Bishop. clerk; T. A. Clough, specu- lator; R. Goodrich, hotel keeper; Hender- son, F. A. Holbrook, Mundle, Doty. Dun- ham, A. and E. McClure, Ezra Stoner and Washburn were carpenters; Haight. plas- terer ; R. Pierce, physician; S. Pierce and J. Hixson, sailors; Pratt, teamster ; Whittaker & Willard, proprietors; Ira P. Warner, agent. The lots were valued and sold at from one hundred and fifty dollars to three hundred dollars each, one-third down. In the summer and fall of 1833 important ac- cessions were made to the settlement in the persons of James Little and Jacob Gerrish, of Boscawen, New Hampshire; Richard L. Phillips of Erie county, New York, a na- tive of England; and in the spring of 1836, of Francis and Joseph G. Ames and Alvin Emery. of Canterbury, New Hampshire ; and Ezra Stoner of Frederick county, Mary- land. A demand for the improvement of the harbor was soon started. Meetings were held and many speeches made, but the usual delay followed this action.

"During the year 1835. Whittaker, Mc- Givens & Company, built a mill on section one. on the south branch of the Galien river. At the time of their preparation for this mill, they were warned by Governor Mason to ap- pear at Niles and assist in the retention of the ten-mile strip along the Ohio line. Mr. Whittaker informed the Governor that he should arm his men with handspikes on the day set, which he did. He was also inter- ested in a mill at State Creek, owned by the State Creek Mill Company.

"In March. 1836. the township was or- ganized, and the first election held at Good- rich's hotel. In this year also, Isaac O. AAdams, a native of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, but last from White Piegon. E. T. Clark, and Timothy Harris built a house on

223

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

lot ten, block five which was known as Bachelor's Hall, and which afterwards be- came famous as a convivial headquarters. The building remained until it was re- moved to make way for the railroad.

"In the fall of 1837, the Virginia Land Company, composed mostly of natives of Virginia, but the majority of whom lived in LaPorte, Indiana, purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, and laid it out into lots, Joshua R. C. Brown coming there to reside as agent. The members of the company were David Robb, Dr. G. A. Rose, Courtlandt Strong, DeWitt Strong, Major John Lemons, Joshua R. C. Brown, Daniel Brown, James Whittam, and Jacob Haas.

"The books of Mr. Whittaker for 1837, from which these facts are gleaned, give the prices at that time, which may be of intesest : Potatoes, 75 cents; oats, $I; corn, $1.50; butter, 371/2 cents; bacon 16 2-3 cents ; board $3.50 per week; salt, $7 per barrel; beef, 6 cents per pound, by the quarter ; whisky, 41 cents per gallon, by the barrel, and 75 cents at retail; team-work, $4 per day ; common labor, $I per day. Between the dates of May 22 and July 26, in 1837, 95 consecutive entries occur of stage-fare charged varying from $4 to $12. This en- try also occurs; Schooner Oregon left New Buffalo with 2358 bushels of oats, 1246 bushels to be delivered in Milwaukee bay; also delivered 2312 bushels of corn. Left New Buffalo in April, and delivered oats at Milwaukee from the Ist to the 10th of May, 1837. Hiram and Solomon Gould were charged for use of lighter and labor in June, 1837. They owned a mill at New Troy, rafted their lumber down the river, and shipped to Chicago from the former place.

"Not far from this time Lieutenant T. B. W. Stockton, of the regular army, was sent by the war department to examine as to the feasibility of constructing a harbor at New Buffalo, and the report of the navy department was received May 1, 1838. Lieu- tenant Berrien and Lieutenant Rose were

sent soon after to make a survey, and re- ported favorably. A lighthouse was built in 1839.

"In June, 1837, Elder Hascall preached in the dining room of Mr. Goodrich's hotel, and, as the bar-room was near, some of the party were often thirsty, and retired for a few moments.

"The panic of 1837 had a depressing effect upon New Buffalo, as well as upon the whole country, but the company strug- gled along, firm in the faith that the plan was essential to the well being of the uni- verse. Prices ruled high, no help came, and in the winter of 1842-43 but two families were residents of the place, Jacob Gerrish and Russell Goodrich. But the spring found a respectable number in the village, and from twenty to thirty votes were cast at the election. About 1840 the effect of specula- tion ceased, and money became very scarce. About the only thing that brought money into the country was non-resident taxes. Inhabitants took contracts for building roads at their own prices. The business of the country was carried on by barter and credit. About 1844 the schooner 'Saranac' was built by Joseph Oates and - Austin ; in 1845 the sloop 'Buffalo,' by Amos Johnson ; and in 1855, the schooner 'Ellen Pike,' by Alonzo Bennett.

"About 1844. George W. Allen, of La- Porte, Indiana, purchased the interest of Barker & Willard, and spent a large sum of money in improving a road from New Buf- falo to Springville, Indiana. They built a grain warehouse, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet and four stories high, on the north fraction of section nine, near the foot of Willard street, hoping to make this an important shipping point for Indiana grain. During the same year Alonzo Bennett, Thomas Comins, and J. R. C. Brown bought several thousand cords of wood. at sixty- two and a half cents per cord, which was lightered out and delivered to vessels for the Chicago market; but even at this low cost

224

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

the business did not prove successful. This wood was beech and maple and cut at places two or three miles away from the docks where it was delivered. Most of it was hauled on wagons by oxen. Such was the condi- tion of the roads that a half cord made a good load for one yoke of oxen. Choppers received twenty-five cents a cord for cutting and teamsters thirty-seven and a half cents for hauling. By working long days the latter earned about one dollar a day.

REAL ESTATE IN NEW BUFFALO IN 1836 :

"Upon the purchase of the land on which New Buffalo is situated by Captain Wessel Whittaker, in 1843, he proceeded to plat it, and induced Jacob A. Barker and Nelson Willard, of Buffallo, New York, to invest with him as before mentioned.

"On May 31, 1836, a division and valu- ation of the lots was made.

"The seventy-nine lots, located in dif- ferent parts of the village, belonging to Mr. Willard were valued at twenty-nine thous- and five hundred and twenty dollars. The prices of a few of the lots are given :

"Lot 2, in block 3, $500; lot 5, in block 13, $275; lot 12 in block 16, $500; lot 7, in block 22, $600; lot 2, in block 28, $800; water-lot 33, $900; lot 8, in block B, $375; lot 7, in block C, $475; lot 7, in block K, $300. Water-lots Nos. 18, 22, 25, 26, 29 and 30, belonging to Mr. Barker, were valued at $1.000 each.

"In 1837, Russell Goodrich was offered in cash ten thousand dollars for block twelve. At this time there were on the premises a frame house of two stories about forty-five by twenty-five feet, and a small frame stable.

"The lands purchased by the Virginia Land Company in 1837 were as follows : The west half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion II, northeast quarter of section 10, east half of southeast quarter of section 10, south- west quarter of section 10, and southeast

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 29

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