A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 38

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

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On the IIth of August, 1868, Mr. Han- ley was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Broceus, a daughter of Abram and Abigail (Smith) Broceus, and who was born in Buchanan township, Berrien county, July 12, 1850. Her parents were among the pioneer settlers of Berrien county, coming from Ohio, but were natives of Pennsylvania. They had ten children, six daughters and four sons, all of whom reached manhood or womanhood. All lived to be married and the first death in the family occurred in

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1903, when Mrs. Rough passed away at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Han- ley have two children: Gertrude, now the wife of F. E. Newberry, of St. Louis, Mis- souri ; and Fred, who married Iola Magnus, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Mr. Hanley is a member of William Par- rett Post, G. A. R., of Buchanan. His resi- dence in Berrien county covers forty-two years and during this period he has largely followed agricultural pursuits, becoming recognized as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of his community. He now was fifty-six acres where he lives and one hundred acres on his farm north of town and his property interests are proof of a life of thrift and enterprise, for he had little cap- ital when he started out on his own account. In matters of citizenship he has ever dis- played the loyalty that characterized his con- duct when as a soldier on southern battle- fields he followed the old flag.

FREDERICK C. FRANZ, numbered among the prominent farmers of Niles township, where he is also serving as sup- ervisor, makes his home on section two, where he owns ninety acres of richly cultivated land. This constitutes a val- uable property but does not embrace all of his realty holdings, as he is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres in Mason county, Michigan. It was upon the farm where he now lives that his birth occurred, his natal day being January 8, 1871. His father, John G. Franz, was a native of Ger- many and came to America in the year 1855, settling in Berrien county in 1865, at which time he took up his abode in Pipestone town- ship. There he cleared and cultivated a tract of land which he purchased from a Mr. Lan- don. After three years, however, he sold out and spent the succeeding year in Berrien township. On the expiration of that period he located in Niles township, settling on a farm which is now the home of his son, Frederick, and there he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was about sixty-two years of age. In early manhood he wedded Miss Barbara Smith, also a na- tive of Germany. She is still living and of

the seven children, four sons and three daughters, born of this marriage, six are yet living.

Frederick C. Franz, the sixth child and third son of the family, was reared upon the old farm homestead and acquired a common- school education. He also studied German and for some time attended the select school in Berrien Center. When not busy with his text-books his attention was given to the labors of the fields and he became familiar with all the work of farming from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested in the late autumn.

As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Franz chose Miss Bertha M. Dean, to whom he was married on the 17th of April, 1895. Her parents were George and Julia (Ward) Dean. Mrs. Franz was also born in this county and pursued a pub- lic-school education. Five . children have · been born of this marriage, Ruth, Lucile, Dean, Julia and Mildred, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. The family home stands upon a good tract of land.of ninety acres situated on section two, Ber- rien township, which was once in possession of Mr. Franz's father and in addition to this property he owns one hundred and eighty acres in Mason county, Michigan. In his farm work he is practical, accomplishing re- sults with methods which neither seek nor require disguise.

Mr. Franz is a Democrat in his political views and has taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the party, regarding it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to uphold the principles in which he believes and which he deems of the greatest value to the government. He has been called to a number of township offices, being chosen clerk for three years, while in 1905 he was elected township supervisor and re-elected in 1906, so that he is now fill- ing the position. He has ben connected with the Farmers' Institute, of which he served as president for two years and as secretary for two years. He has frequently been called to administrate estates. and thus the confidence and trust of the public is indicated. A life- long resident of Niles township he is re-

N.c. Martin

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CIT. '& BENTON HAI MOR

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CITY OF BENTON HARBOR

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garded as one of its leading citizens and is a man of genuine worth, valuing his own self-respect and the esteem of his fellow- men more than wealth, fame or position.

LUCAS BEYRER was for a long period connected with agricultural inter- ests in Niles township, and is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has fur- nished to the new world. He was born in Wurtemberg, on the 6th of January, 1833. His father, Lucas Beyrer, Sr., was also a native of Germany, and in the year 1856 the family emigrated to America, becoming resi- dents of Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, where Lucas Beyrer carried on general farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beyrer were born six children : Mary, who is now in Kalamazoo; Katherine, the wife of Charles A. Rogers, a resident of Cass county, Michigan; Louisa, the wife of Henry Kehrer, whose home is in Van Buren county, Michigan; Minnie and Sarah, both at home; and William G., an electrician living in Wilmette, Illinois. All were born in Berrien county. The family has a farm of eighty acres of cultivable land and ten acres of timber in Berrien township. They are all members of the Congregational Church, at Niles, and are interested in the Lucas Beyrer spent the period of his minority in the fatherland, acquiring his ed- ucation there, and in 1851, when about eighteen years of age, he crossed the At- lantic from Germany to the new world, for he had heard favorable reports concerning moral progress and development as well as in the material advancement of the commun- ity. Mr. Beyrer was well known in the county and was identified with its early history. He served for six months in the war of the Rebellion but throughout the America and its prospects and resolved to . remainder of his residence in America was identified with farming interests and be- came known as an active and substantial agriculturist whose labors resulted in suc- cess, so that his family was left in comfort- able circumstances.

try his fortune here. He first worked by the month for different farmers and from his wages he saved some money until he had a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm in Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan. This he did and began farming on his own account.

Having made arrangements for a home of his own, Mr. Beyrer was married in 1861 to Miss Catherine Schultz, who was born in Bayern, Germany, August 20, 1835, and is a daughter of Frederick and Sophia (Nieb) Schultz, who were also natives of that coun- try and came to America in 1871, locating in Bertrand township, Berrien county. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beyrer located in Bertrand township, where he be- gan farming and day after day he performed such duties and labors as devolved upon him, until he had transformed his land into a very productive tract, from which he annu- ally harvested good crops. He was thus en- gaged in farming until about 1875, when he sold out and purchased the place where Mrs. Beyrer now resides. All his life was given to agricultural pursuits and he was practical as well as progressive in his methods, per-

forming labor that resulted in the acquire- ment of a good property. He died in Feb- ruary, 1904, leaving his family in comfor- table financial circumstances.

HENRY C. MORTON, was closely con- nected with the movements, measures and plans resulting in progress in Benton Har- bor and Berrien county and witnessed the development of the city from a tiny hamlet of primitive environments to one of the thriving metropolitan centers of the state, with all the conveniences of modern life. He was instrumental in projecting and building the Benton Harbor ship canal and likewise contributed of his time and means to the development and successful establish- ment of many other important enterprises. He thus came to be recognized as one of the valued and prominent residents of Benton Harbor and was so widely and favorably known that his death came as a personal bereavement to the large majority of his fellow townsmen in the city and county of his residence.

Born in New York in 1817, he was a

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son of Eleazer Morton, who in 1842 owned the only house on the east side of the river on the present site of Benton Harbor. This was a log tavern and its proprietor, then in the prime of life, was one of the most prom- inent men in the county-a man whose counsel was sought by all his neighbors-a man of commanding presence, strict integ- rity and strong will. He was also an author of some note and for years a correspondent of the New York Tribunc. He assisted all who came to him in distress, but woe to the man who abused his hospitality. All passenger traffic from as far east as De- troit passed his door-for Benton Harbor was the terminus of the Territorial road.

It was in the year 1834 that Eleazer Morton removed with his family from Ohio to Michigan, remaining for about a year in Kalamazoo. Henry C. Morton was then seventeen years of age. There was no wagon road at that time to Lake Michigan, but the following year congress appropriated twenty thousand dollars and opened the . road from Detroit to St. Joseph. The fam- ily remained in St. Joseph that winter and in the spring of 1835 came to Benton Har- bor, building a large log house in the woods. At that time there was not an inhabitant in Hagar, Sodus or Pipestone townships and only two families in Benton township.

Upon reaching manhood Henry C. Mor- ton became interested with his father in the development of Benton Harbor and from that time until his later years he was an im- portant factor in its material growth and progress, generously donating large amounts of money for every improvement of im- portance and in several instances aiding St. Joseph financially in times of stringency. In 1866 he was appointed postmaster of the village of Benton Harbor and Stanley Morton, then a boy, acted as mail carrier between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The following year Charles Hubbard was appointed postmaster but died before receiv- ing his commission and H. C. Morton was reappointed. He continued in the office, with his son Stanley as deputy, until April. 1873. when he resigned. In the meantime lie had removed the office to a business

block which he had erected. Among the most notable improvements with which he was identified was the building of the ship canal. The idea was suggested at that time by Sterne Bronson, and Charles Hull was also concerned in the project. These three men worked harmoniously and indefatiga- bly, receiving little or no encouragement from their fellow townsmen but by their heroic efforts they made Benton Harbor, one mile inland, a great shipping point. To Mr. Morton. more than to the others, is due the credit for this great work. In the ac- complishment of his object he never way- ered but spent his fortune and some of the best years of his life for the work and it is fitting that his son, J. Stanley Morton. of the Graham-Morton Transportation Com- pany, should now be reaping the benefit of his father's labors in the utilization of the canal for shipping purposes.

Henry C. Morton did not stop his work for the benefit of the city and county when the canal was completed but directed his energies into other lines. He did effective work in securing the extension of the West Michigan (Pere Marquette) Railway to Benton Harbor. He was also one of the largest factors in securing the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, making munificent donations thereto. He was also instrumental in building the first swing bridge across the St. Joseph river at its mouth. He was also a promoter of jour- nalism here.

Mr. Morton gave his early political al- legiance to the Whig party and on its disso- lution joined the ranks of the new Republi- can party of which he was an earnest ad- vocate. He was elected to the state legis- lature in 1862, but declined to again become a candidate. His ambition was not in the line of office holding and he filled no other H positions save that of postmaster. preferred to do his public service as a pri- vate citizen and no official has ever labored more effectively and beneficially for the wel- fare and substantial progress of the county.

In early manhood Mr. Morton was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Stan- ley, and unto them were born four children,

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but only one is now living, J. Stanley Mor- ton, with whom the father spent his last years, the wife and mother having passed away in 1859. The family home was built by Eleazer Morton more than a half cen- tury ago and is therefore one of the oldest landmarks of the city. Mr. Morton died in May, 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years,, and many there were who mourned the loss of a trusted, loved and honored friend, while his death marked the passing of one of the county's most valued pioneer residents. He left the indelible impress of his individuality upon the public life and his efforts were followed by tangible results and his influence and his labors were far- reaching and beneficial.

J. STANLEY MORTON is the secre- tary and treasurer of the Graham-Morton Transportation Company-a name familiar to all residents of the middle west, being al- most synonymous with steamboat traffic on the Great Lakes. He has, moreover, been connected with various enterprises of direct and permanent benefit to Benton Harbor and the name of Morton has been associated with the city's substantial development and progress from early days, his grandfather, Eleazer Morton, having been one of Ben- ton Harbor's pioneers.

J. Stanley Morton spent his boyhood days in Benton Harbor, and was a student in the public schools between the ages of six and fifteen years. He then entered bus- iness life, in which he was destined to achieve success, not because of any fortu- nate combination of circumstances or ad- vantageous environments, but because of close application and the exercise of his na- tive talents supplemented by a laudable am- ition. When a youth of fifteen he accepted a clerkship in a general store, where he re- mained for four years and at the age of nineteen he engaged in the drug business, opening a store which he conducted suc- cessfully until 1873, when he sold out. He soon became interested in the steamboat business, which is one of the important in- dustries of Benton Harbor because of its proximity to the lake, affording excellent

opportunities for marine traffic. He entered into partnership with John H. Graham under the firm name of Graham, Morton & Company. In 1880 the name of the firm was changed to the Graham & Morton Transportation Company and as such car- ried on an extensive business both in pas- senger and freight traffic until 1893. In that year Mr. Morton retired from the com- pany, in which for several years prior to his withdrawal he had served as secretary and treasurer. Later with others he became in- terested in the Excelsior Gas Company, of which he was also secretary and treasurer. For several years he was vice-president of the First National Bank, of Benton Harbor, and has been identified with various enter- prises of the city, which have contributed to general commercial prosperity as well as to individual success. He has keen insight into business opportunities and conditions and has used his advantages in the best pos- sible way. He was vice-president of the Stevens & Morton Lumber Company, was treasurer of the Alden Canning Company, one of the organizers of the Benton Harbor Improvement Company and financially and officially interested with a number of other business concerns. He later returned to the steamboat business and is now the secre- tary and treasurer of the Graham-Morton Transportation Company, which has a num- ber of passenger and freight boats upon the lakes and is doing a most extensive and profitable business.

On the 21st of June, 1871, Mr. Morton was married to Miss Carrie Heath, of Ben- ton Harbor, a daughter of Salmon F. and Julia Heath. In politics Mr. Morton is a Republican and fraternally is connected with Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M. He is very enterprising and public- spirited, having the welfare of the city, county and state at heart and co-operating in every legitimate enterprise that tends to promote public progress. His money and influence are freely given in this direction and his business interests, too, have been of a nature that have contributed to the up- building and substantial development of his native city. He has a very wide and favor-

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able acquaintance in Benton Harbor and Berrien county, the circle of his friends be- ing almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance. Noting his descent from one of the earliest pioneer families, we find in the grandfather the frontiersman; in the father, the founder; in the son, the pro- moter. A typical representative of present- day progress, he is a figure containing, in potency at least, the stanch qualities of his two rugged forbears-that prompted the grandfather to leave the east for the frontier and cause the father to institute new methods and establish new projects. His own power to group and co-ordinate has made him a man of affairs and yet he has also found time to cultivate graces subtler than those of commercialism.

JONAS H. HOLDEN, who, as a member of the firm of Beeson & Hol- den, is extensively engaged in the cul- tivation of peppermint, having about three hundred acres devoted to the raising of that herb, was born in Cornwall, Ontario, on the 6th of February, 1860. His father, George R. Holden, was a native of Rutland, Ver- mont, and remained in that locality until about twenty-five years of age. He was married at Fort Jackson in St. Lawrence county, New York, and afterward went to Canada, where he resided for a few months, during which time the birth of our subject occurred. He afterward returned to New York and thence went to Manteno, Illinois, in 1863. He moved to Three Oaks, Berrien county, in 1865, where he resided until 1870, going from there to Michigan City, Indiana, and afterward returning to Three Oaks. He owned a half interest in a featherbone factory in connection with E. K. Warren and was thus identified with the productive industries of this part of the county. A jeweler by trade, he followed that business from the time he first left Three Oaks until he returned, having learned the trade in this place under the direction of Mr. Fred War- ren, a brother of E. K. Warren. He died at Toronto, Ontario, September 4, 1904, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. Trask,

was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and now resides in Jacksonville, Flor- ida, at the age of sixty-five years. Jonas H. Holden is the eldest of their four children, the others being De Etta, the wife of H. W. Cook, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ninah May, the wife of A. G. Cummer, of Jack- sonville, Florida, and John P., of Toronto, Canada.

Jonas H. Holden was only about four weeks old when his parents removed from Cornwall, Ontario, to St. Lawrence county, New York, and three years later they arrived in Manteno, Illinois, reaching there in 1863. They spent two years in this city, and after- ward went to Three Oaks, Michigan, where Mr. Holden continued to make his home for about seven years. He acquired a high school education and at the age of eighteen years took up the trade of a jeweler, which he followed until twenty-one years of age. He then came to Three Oaks, where he has made his home continuously since. His father became interested in a featherbone fac- tory and Mr. Holden of this review accepted a position in the factory and became general superintendent, acting in that capacity con- tinuously until about two years ago, when he severed his connection with manufactur- ing interests and turned his attention to ag- ricultural pursuits, his specialty being the raising of peppermint, in connection with D. H. Beeson, under the firm style of Beeson & Holden. They have about three hundred acres in Galena and Weesaw townships de- voted to the cultivation of that plant, which has become an important industry and is bringing to theni a very gratifying financial return, for their product finds a ready sale on the market.

In 1885 Mr. Holden was married to Miss Matilda Caroline Haring, a native of Mich- igan City, Indiana, and a daughter of August Haring. This union has been blessed with four children: Leona H., who is now at- tending St. Mary's school at Notre Dame, Indiana; Mary E., a student in the same in- stitution : Kenneth H. and Arthur J. H., who are students in the schools at Three Oaks. Mr. Holden has a fine home in the village, which he erected in 1876, and its hospitality

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is greatly enjoyed by the many friends of the family, who occupy an enviable position in social circles here. Mr. Holden has given his support to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise. He belongs to the Congregational Church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest, and he is also a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, be- longing to the blue lodge in Three Oaks and the commandery at Niles. In his life he ex- emplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft, being in thorough sympathy with its teach- ings and tenets. He has always been a busy man, giving unfaltering attention to the duties of an active business career, and as the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings, becoming one of the sub- stantial residents of the village, in which he has made his home from early manhood.

WILLIAM BECHT, who is living in Watervliet township not far from the village of Coloma, was born at "The Hemlocks," his father's home in Van Buren county, Michigan, on the 28th day of December, 1860. He is a son of Christian and Louise Amelia (Mitchell) Becht, who were natives of Germany and came to the United States fifty-two years ago. Making his way westward, the father worked in a sawmill and was thus early identified with the lumber interests of the state, which con- stituted the first important course of living to the settlers in Michigan. His first home "The Hemlocks" was given in payment of a doctor bill, for his wife was ill for twenty- six years. He enlisted in the service of the Union army of the Civil war and remained with the army for three years. He was injured by a horse falling upon him while fording a river. After removing from Van Buren to Berrien county, he settled on a tract of land of thirty acres west of Coloma, building a little board cabin there. He is a shoemaker by trade and has since followed that business, yet making his home upon his farm near Coloma. His wife passed away March 18, 1905, in the seventy-third year of her age, while Mr. Becht has at-

tained the advanced age of seventy-five years. His wife was an invalid for more than a quarter of a century and required constant attention, her daughter Lucy acting as her nurse. She also had charge of the house from the age of ten years and sacrificed her own pleasure and prospects in life for the care of her mother and the younger chil- dren of the family. There were nine chil- dren born unto Mr. and Mrs. Becht, all of whom are yet living.

William Becht, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until fifteen years of age, after which he was employed by J. D. Emery two summers, and then be- gan working for H. W. Williams. He was employed in the lumber woods, rafting logs down the river and also working in a saw- mill for six years. His time was thus spent until his marriage which important event in his life occurred on the first of January, 1885, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara Brant, a daughter of Edward and Martha Brant, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Becht was em- ployed by Mr. Brant for three years, after which he rented the Brant farm until he purchased the property, comprising one hun- dred acres of land. He also operates another farm of two hundred acres from Mr. Brant, who lives in Benton Harbor, having charge of the interests of his father-in-law in this part of the county. In his agricultural pur- suits he is enterprising, active and progres- sive and is devoting his attention to the rais- ing of corn, cattle and hogs. He also has twenty acres planted to peaches, plums and apples, and in addition there is an old orchard upon the place. He keeps eleven cows, also has high grades of horses as well. as cattle. In his business he is meeting with creditable success and his close application and enterprise constitute the basis of his prosperity.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 38

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