A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 35

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 35

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The township is bounded on the north by Chikaming, on the east by Weesaw and Galien, on the south by the state of Indiana, and on the west by New Buffalo. It was a part of the township of New Buffalo till 1856, when it was set apart into a separate township by the board of supervisors. The name of the township was derived from that given to the postoffice by Henry Chamber- lain in 1854. The name was suggested to Mr. Chamberlain by the fact that three white oak trees stood near the site of the postoffice, and so near together as to give the impression when in full leaf of being one tree.

The territory was originally covered by dense forests of valuable timber, consisting of maple, beech, cherry, ash, sycamore, whitewood, oak, elm, hickory, basswood, black walnut and other varieties. There was but little marsh, mainly existing in the northeast part of the township. The soil tion.

was generally rich and fertile and well adapted for the production of corn and wheat. Deer wcre abundant during a por- tion of the period of early settlement. The severe winter of 1843 nearly exterminated them, but they again became plentiful in a few years. It is stated that during the years 1854 and 1855 three hundred deer were killed within a radius of about five miles, of which the present village of Three Oaks was the center. R. B. Goit, who lived just over the state line, killed twenty-seven in the fall and winter of 1854-55. The number de- creased, till they disappeared shortly after the close of the Civil war. During the per- iod of the early settlement black bear were occasionally seen, and large gray wolves were numerous before 1843. Wolves were commonly caught in steel traps or wolf pens. Mink were numerous, otters and wild cats of a large size were occasionally found and muskrats and skunks were abundant; all of these animals were generally captured by traps. Raccoons were sometimes abundant and sometimes scarce. Foxes and porcu- pines were occasionally found.

The trees which originally grew in the woods in the southwest portion of the coun- ty were generally large. Mr. Chamber- lain has made some memoranda of those of the largest which he saw himself, or con- cerning which he derived accurate informa-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

All of these were perfect in form and adapted for lumber or timber.

A white oak in New Buffalo township was fifteen feet in circumference and the first limb about seventy feet from the ground. The Martins cut from an oak growing in Three Oaks, seventy railroad ties, a part of which were switch ties twelve feet long and twelve feet face.

A walnut tree in Three Oaks township was twenty-five feet in circumference. A white ash in the same township was about four feet in diameter.

Large whitewood trees were common, often being three or four feet in diameter. One in Weesaw was over five feet in diame- ter and cut six twelve foot logs.

S. D. Hammond cut five hundred cords of wood (bodies and limbs) on three and three-quarters acres in sections eleven, eight and twenty. Silas Sawyer from ten acres in sections 10, 7 and 20, cut off and sawed four hundred thousand feet of whitewood. The value of this lumber at this time would be about $24,000 .. Four twelve-foot white- wood logs drawn to the mill by Zachariah Kinne of Galien township, and cut from one tree, made four thousand thirty-one feet board measure. From a whitewood tree about four feet at the butt, he cut six twelve- foot and one ten-foot logs.

William H. Valentine of Three Oaks, had a hollow black walnut tree growing on his premises, which measured twenty-nine and one-half feet in circumference. He also reported that he had sawed another which was sound, and which was six feet in di- ameter at the butt, and that he obtained four twelve-foot logs. The sassafras tree as we generally see it is small and diminutive. Mr. Chamberlain speaks of having seen the stump of one which measured four feet across and from which three twelve-foot logs had been taken. A grove of these trees grew in Chikaming township in which they grew from eighteen to twenty-five inches in diameter.

Black ash grew to a diameter of thirty- six inches; red oak, forty-two inches; hick- ory, four feet; maple, three and one-half feet ; basswood (linden), three and one-half to four feet ; sycamore, four feet. Hollow sycamores were occasionally found six to eight feet in diameter.

I have given these interesting memor- anda for the purpose of illustrating the char- acter, enormous production and value of the timber products of the county. Similar products of the forest existed in most of the townships of the county at an early day. The value of the timber today, even if a tenth part could have been preserved, would amount to a sum which would appear fabu- lous. But the lands were denuded of the most valuable timber many years ago. It is a singular fact that of the numerous men who engaged in the lumber business in the southwestern part of the county, in the days when timber was plenty, few succeeded in making the business profitable, and most of them failed or became embarrassed. The lumber was sold at prices which seem to us absurdly cheap. Choice whitewood lumber which today brings $60 per thousand, was sold at from $8 to $10 per thousand. But "low prices" was not so much the cause of loss to the lumbering men, as attempts at speculation handling too much timber, finan- cial panics and engaging in too many enter- prises at once.

The first settler in the township was Richard Love a native of Ohio. In 1835 he purchased land in section twenty-four and settled upon it. He died many years ago. Descendants still live upon the lands originally occupied by Mr. Love.

In 1836 Sylvester Shedd, a native of Massachusetts, who resided for a few years, however, in New York, emigrated with his wife and children to Michigan and located in section twenty-three of Three Oaks township. Mr. Shedd had been a sol- dier in the war of 1812. He devoted him- self to agricultural pursuits in his new home,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and died in 1866. His wife died in 1875. Two sons, Erasmus N. Shedd and Harry H. Shedd, who emigrated from New York with their parents, became prominent farmers in the township. Erasmus was for several years a justice of the peace.

The following named persons settled in the township shortly after the settlement of Mr. Shedd. John Hatfield, a native of Vir- ginia, P. G. Magness of North Carolina, Vincent Nash and Enoch Lewis, both of Virginia, Levi Paddock of New York, Jo- seph Love and Robert R. Larue of Tennes- see, William Hammond, and John Love, a son of Joseph Love. Joseph Love was a man of considerable native ability, but deficient in education. He became involved in some petty litigation and was not satisfied with the decisions of the justices. Desirous of being elected to the office of justice of the peace, he broached the subject to one of his neighbors. His neighbor replied: "You may know law enough, Uncle Joe, but you cannot read or write." "No matter about that," replied Uncle Joe, "Jake (his son) can read and John can write and I can judge them all like the d-1." The people, how- ever, did not relish the idea of Uncle Joe being justice, and he was defeated.

Moses Chamberlain, a native of New Hampshire, made a trip to southwestern Michigan, visited New Buffalo and pur- chased five quarter sections or about eight hundred acres of land located within the present limits of the townships of New Buf- falo, Three Oaks and Chikaming. He did not, however, settle in the community at that time. In 1843, he and his wife Rebecca (Abbott) and three children, Henry, William and Elizabeth, emigrated from New Hampshire to New Buffalo. Here he went into the mercantile business with Jacob Gerrish, a cousin of Mrs. Cham- berlain. He continued, however, in the mercantile business but a short time. In 1844 Hale E. Crosby, a son-in-law of Mr. Chamberlain, came from New Hampshire

with a stock of merchandise and took charge of the business. Mr. Chamberlain disposed of his interest in the store the same year and moved into section fifteen, Three Oaks township, where he erected the first frame house built in the township. He died in I866. He was a man of great native strength of character, public spirited, phil- anthrophic, and of sterling qualities of mind and heart. He was strongly anti-slavery in his convictions and in 1844 voted for James G. Birney, the abolition candidate for presi- dent. Upon the organization of the Repub- lican party he identified himself with that party. He was a Congregationalist, and was prominent in the early organization of a Congregational Church at New Buffalo, subsequently transferred to Three Oaks.

His son, Henry Chamberlain, well known throughout the county and state, is now living at Three Oaks. He was nine- teen years of age when he came with his parents to New Buffalo in 1843. He re- mained in New Buffalo till 1850 and was elected supervisor in 1845, just as he had attained his majority. He was supervisor of that township for three terms. In 1850, he had an offer to furnish two thousand cords of wood at seven shil- lings and six pence per cord to be deliv- ered at the cars on the side track where the village of Three Oaks now stands. This offer he accepted. At this time, he owned lands at this point and while furnishing wood under the conract, was enabled to clear his land without additional expense. In 1854 he and Joseph G. Ames, erected a store at this point and commenced selling goods. This was the starting point of the village of Three Oaks, and the place was first known as Chamberlain's station. The first plat of the village was made by Mr. Chamberlain in 1857.

Mr. Chamberlain has continued to live in the village from 1850 to the present time. He is now in his eighty-third year, vigor- ous in mind and body. For many years his

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

life was one of great activity. He was en- gaged in an extensive mercantile business for nearly twenty-five years and at the sanie time the owner of large improved farms in the vicinity, the cultivation of which he sup- erintended. At one time he was the owner of about three thousand acres and is still the owner of a large and valuable tract of land southeast of the village. He super- vised the clearing of over a thousand acres, doing a part of the work himself. Mr. Chamberlain is one of the most prominent and well known men of the state. In early life he became identified with the Demo- cratic party, although nearly all of his near relatives were of an opposite political faith. He was supervisor of Three Oaks township for six terms, and in 1849, a member of the legislature. In 1868 and 1870 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Fourth district. In 1874 he was candidate for governor of the state and was defeated at the election by only six thousand votes. He also received in the legislature, the vote of the Democratic members for United States Senator, three different times. He was emi- nently qualified to fill any of the positions named with credit and ability. He was for many years a member of the State Board of Agriculture.

William Chamberlain, a younger brother of Henry, was nine years old when his par- ents came to Three Oaks. Upon arriving of age, he carried on farming at the old homestead till 1864, when he moved into the village of Three Oaks and went into the mercantile business with his brother, Henry. He was elected president of the village at its first election in 1868. and was subsequently supervisor of the town- ship. He was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1871 and 1873 and of the State Senate in 1879 and 1881. He was president pro tem of the last body in 1879.

In 1893, he was appointed to the im- portant position of warden of the State Peni- tentiary at Jackson and held this office from

1893 till his death. He was well fitted to dis- charge the duties of this office. For many years before his appointment he had been frequently a member of boards and of legis- lative committees which supervised or in- vestigated our penal and charitable institu- tions and had become intimately conversant with their management and needs. While holding the office he became a prominent figure at the annual meetings of the wardens of the United States, as the reports of these meetings abundantly testify. He was a man whose private life was beyond reproach and was universally esteemed by the community in which he lived for his sterling qualities. While he held some important official posi- tions from the time he became of age till his death, and was recognized as a leader in the Republican party, he belonged to no faction and obtained recognition purely by his merits.

In 1855, Samuel Hess started the first shoe shop in Three Oaks. He was a native of Switzerland and his father, John Hess, had settled on a piece of land in Three Oaks township in 1852.

Samuel carried on a shoe store for many years and also was engaged in carrying on a farm near town. He was a man of great energy and industry and became a prominent man in the township and county. He was supervisor for three terms and was a justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. In 1868, he was elected county treasurer and filled the office for three terms.

His nomination for that position by the Republican county convention in 1868 was in a certain sense accidental, as he was not a candidate for the position till after the convention had actually assembled. A refer- ence to this occurrence may not be out of place. as an illustration of the fact that nominations have been made at county con- ventions without any preparation whatever.

As the writer of this sketch was entering the gate of the court house yard at Berrien Springs in the fall of 1868, to attend the

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

afternoon session of the Republican county convention which had been formally organ- ized in the forenoon, he was met by the dele- gates from Three Oaks who requested him to present the name of Samuel Hess as a candidate for nomination for the office of register of deeds. Mr. Coolidge informed them that this he could not do, as he had pledged himself to support Roscoe Dix for the position. The delegates replied that they did not expect to nominate Mr. Hess, but that they wished to have his name launched before the convention with reference to sub- stantial recognition in the future. Mr. Coolidge then suggested that Mr. Hess have his name presented for nomination as county treasurer. Mr. Hess, upon consultation, ac- cepted the suggestion. A ticket had been carefully arranged and slips prepared for a strong and popular candidate for treasurer, who appeared certain of nomination. Mr. Coolidge urged the nomination of Mr. Hess upon the ground that he was eminently competent to fill the position and that being competent, his nomination would be a timely recognition of the German element. He was followed by William K. Sawyer of Three Oaks and others, urging especially the lat- ter point. This point caught the convention and Mr. Hess was triumphantly nominated to the surprise of himself and his friends. The nomination appeared to the leaders at the time to throw matters into confusion, as well-made plans and geographical considera- tions were somewhat upset. However no harm was done Mr. Hess being elected, made an admirable officer, and served three con- secutive terms, giving universal satisfaction.

James L. McKee was a native of Mis- sissippi. In 1854 he came with his parents to Three Oaks, and commenced clerking for Henry Chamberlain, and subsequently be- came a partner of the latter in the mercantile business. He has continued in this business ever since, having first been a partner with Mr. Chamberlain, then with E. K. Warren and lastly with E. H. Vincent. Since the

death of the latter in 1893, he has carried on the business alone. Mr. McKee has been supervisor of the township for five terms, president of the village and was a member of the State House of Representatives from 1885 to 1889. Politically Mr. McKee is a Democrat, religiously, an active member of the Congregational Church.

The recent growth and prosperity of Three Oaks is largely due to the establish- ment of the Warren Featherbone factory by E. K. Warren in 1884. Mr. Warren dis- covered that the quill of a turkey was pre- ferable to whalebone in the construction of a dress-stay and commenced that year to manu- facture the article in the village. The busi- ness of this institution has developed into mammoth proportions. Branch factories have been established at different times at Chicago, Porter, Middleville and other places, and distributing offices established in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. The business is also operated in Europe. The official head- quarters of the business, however, are at Three Oaks, where Mr. Warren resides. The home factory at that place employes from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty hands. Recently a handsome three story office building has been constructed of brick, stone and marble, richly furnished and finished. It is the most elegant office building in the county. The extent of the business now carried on throughout the world is immense. Mr. Warren, the orig- inal inventor of the process used by the factory, in the manufacture of its product, is the son of a Congregational minister, Walter Warren of Vermont, who came to Michigan as a home missionary in 1858. Edward, on coming to Three Oaks, clerked for Henry Chamberlain and subsequently en- gaged himself in the mercantile business till his establishment of the Featherbone factory. He has been a prominent figure in the com- munity. He has served as supervisor of the township and as president of the village.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

While prominent in business and official affairs, he is perhaps best known by his con- nection with Sunday school work. He has been president of the county Sunday School Society, chairman of the State Executive Committee, chairman of the World's Execu- tive Committee and president of the World's Sunday School Convention. In 1905, he con- ceived the idea of holding a world's Sunday school convention at Jerusalem. His pro- ject was carried out under his supervision, and a convention was held at Jerusalem at- tended by fifteen hundred delegates.

Since 1899. the village of Three Oaks has had no saloon. In that year Mr. Warren offered to pay into the village treasury an- nually, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, the amount of the saloon license money going to the village, so long as no license for saloons should be given. Since that time, saloons have been prohibited, and Mr. Warren has annually paid two hundred and fifty dollars into the village treasury.

Among the early settlers of Three Oaks township, were Fred Ruhlow, John Abram, Sherwood Martin, Gilbert B. Avery, Thomas Love, William H. Valentine, Sam- uel P. Webb and Asa H. Jacobs.

The three Martins were brothers and na- tives of New Jersey. They settled in Ber- rien county about 1847. Isaac WV. Martin, son of Sherwood, was supervisor in 1872 and 1873.

Gilbert Avery, a native of Connecticut, was for twenty years a master mechanic of the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1854, he and Thomas Love built a steam saw mill in the northeast part of the township on the line of the railroad. The station at this point was for many years called "Avery's Station" and an extensive lumbering business was done here for several years.

Mr. Love was one of the foremost men of the county, and one of its earliest settlers. He was a native of Virginia and came in 1831 to Berrien Springs, where he engaged in mercantile business with Edward Bal-

lingee. He was county clerk from 1843 to 1847, county treasurer from 1841 to 1843, supervisor of Three Oaks in 1857 and 1858 and county surveyor from 1875 to 1877, and a justice of the peace for many years before his death. He was a man of native ability and extensive information.

Henry H. Pike engaged in mercantile business with J. M. K. Hilton for some years. Mr. Pike subsequently moved to Niles where lie built a hotel called the "Pike House," well known as a favorite resort of commercial travelers. This he carried on for several years, but subsequently established a hotel at Topinabee in the northern part of the state, where for many years he carried on a profitable business.

Dr. Hiram B. Wilcox, a physician, who had practiced in Indiana for over twenty- five years, settled in the village of Three Oaks in 1860 and had an extensive practice for many years.

Levi Paddock settled within the limits of the township before 1840. He was a man of great physical strength and was super- visor of New Buffalo township in 1844. He removed subsequently to Indiana, where he died some years since, in his ninetieth year.

Among men who settled somewhat later than the foregoing, and who were prominent in the community, were Thomas C. Bradley, Samuel W. Chamberlain. Dr. J. D. Greena- myer. William H. Breece, Dr. O. Churchill, R. B. Goit, Samuel H. Martin and William K. Sawyer.

Mr. Bradley was an extensive land owner and at one time a supervisor of the township, Samuel W. Chamberlain, who was a cousin of Henry Chamberlain, engaged in mer- cantile business for some years, and was a man of ability. Dr. J. D. Greenamyer. com- menced the practice of his profession in Three Oaks, but removed to Niles in 1876, where he has had a large practice ever since. W. W. Breece was the first attorney in the place and practiced there several years. He was prosecuting attorney of the county in

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

1875-76. He removed to Michigan City, Indiana, many years since. Mr. Goit was a prominent grocer. Dr. Churchill settled in Three Oaks nearly forty years ago and has been a druggist nearly all that time, besides practicing his profession. W. K. Sawyer was a cabinet maker by trade, but was ad- mitted to the bar many years ago. For a few years he lived at St. Joseph and was a justice of the peace for many years. Latterly he has lived at Three Oaks.

S. N. Martin for many years kept a livery and was also engaged in other pursuits. He was supervisor in 1872 and 1873. Messrs. S. W. Chamberlain, Breece and Dr. Greena- myer were also supervisors.

The township has a large population of Germans by birth or descent. They are mostly farmers. It is estimated that three- fifths of the rural population are of German origin. The first German settlers were Jacob Houser, Joseph Streble, Max Wetzer, Jacob Ruhlow. These men settled at an early day.

CHURCHES.

A Union Church was organized in New Buffalo in 1844 by Moses Chamberlain and others. In 1848, it was converted into a Congregational Church and was transferred subsequently to Three Oaks. In 1870 a church edifice was erected. The church has always been a strong one with many active and intelligent members.

A Methodist Church was organized at Spring creek school house about 1850. In 1867 a church was organized at the village of Three Oaks and a brick edifice put up in 1878.

A Baptist Church was organized in 1867 in Chikaming township, but was transferred to Three Oaks subsequently, and a church built at the latter place in 1870.

A United German Evangelical Church was organized in 1866 and a church edifice built in 1877.

A church of the Disciples was organized in 1868.

In the northern part of the township a considerable settlement of Hollanders was made some years since, and these people or- ganized a Dutch Reformed Church.

The following named persons have been supervisors of Three Oaks township for the years designated.

Henry Chamberlain 1856

Thos. Love 1857-1858

Henry Chamberlain 1859

J. L. Hicks 1860

T. C. Bradley 1861

Henry Chamberlain I862

J. L. McKie 1863-1864

S. W. Chamberlain 1865

Henry Chamberlain I866

Samuel Hess 1867-1868

J. L. McKie 1869

J. M. K. Hilton 1870

E. K. Warren

187I

I. W. Martin

1872-1873

J. D. Greenamyer 1874

Peter Strehle 1875-1876

W. H. Breese

1877-1878

J. L. McKie 1879-1880

Wm. H. Chamberlain 188I

C. W. Conner 1882

Samuel Hess 1883

E. H. Vincent 1884

S. H. Martin 1885-1886

F. H. Vincent 1887-1893

W. C. Hall 1894-1895

D. H. Beeson 1896

E. S. Heckman 1897-1900

Isaiah Rynearson 190I

E. S. Heckman 1902

G. L. Stevens . 1903-1905

E. S. Heckman 1906

CHAPTER XXIV

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP.

Chikaming township is bounded on the north by Lake, on the east by Weesaw, on the south by Three Oaks and New Buffalo, and on the west by Lake Michigan. This township was a part of New Buffalo till 1856 when it was erected into a separate township. The name "Chikaming" is Indian, and means "lake." A large portion of the township especially the northern por- tion, was originally heavy timbered with whitewood. ash, beech, maple and other woods. In the southern part white and black oak grew largely.

For several years the lands were owned pricipally by non-residents and mill owners in other townships. Among those who made original entries of government lands to any considerable extent in the township, were George Kimmel. Sherwood & Company. Moses Chamberlain, Calvin Britain and Vin- cent L. Bradford.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 35

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