A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 39

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Becht has been born a son, Lincoln Edward Becht, who is now twelve years of age. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Becht is a Democrat but without aspiration for office. He displays in his life many of the strong and commendable traits of character of his German ancestry and at

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the same time has a progressive spirit and ready adaptability which have ever marked the American people. The success he has won is due entirely to his own labor and an analyzation of his history shows that he has placed his dependence upon the safe and sure qualities of determination and industry. He has never trusted to chance or any for- tunate combination of circumstances and through earnest labor has won a creditable position as an agriculturist of Berrien county.

HENRY EMLONG, living on section four, Lake township, has through the exercise of industry, perseverance and keen business judgment developed a well improved and profitable farm. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, May 3, 1858, and when twelve years of age was brought to Lake township by his parents. Henry and Fannie (Mathews) Emlong, the father a native of Germany, born near Alsace, while the mother was a native of Switzerland. With their respective parents they came to America and were married in Toledo, Ohio, where they resided until about 1870, when they came with their family to Berrien county. Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. Mr. Emlong passed away at the age of sixty-five years and his wife when seventy-two years of age. In their family were ten children, of whom four died in Toledo and six became residents of Ber- rien county, namely : Emma and Mary, now deceased; Henry, of this review: Charles, who is living in Lincoln township; John, of Lake township ; and Hartwell.

Brought to this county when a lad of twelve years, Henry Emlong was reared on his father's farm and in his youth began working by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed for about ten years, making his home, however, with the family. He now owns a farm of eighty acres. Twenty- three years ago he purchased forty acres and has since added another forty-acre tract just across the road, so that he now has eighty acres situated on sections four and five Lake township. Of this, sixty-five acres is under cultivation. He has given his attention to the raising of fruit and grain and has a well

developed farm property. He has erected a good residence and substantial barn and has made many other excellent improvements which add to the value and attractive appear- ance of the place. In all of his farm work he is progressive and enterprising and his efforts have resulted in the acquirement of a gratifying measure of success.

Mr. Emlong was married on the twenty- second of December. 1886, to Miss Mary Myer, who was born in Lake township. Aug- ust 24. 1867, a daughter of George Henry and Margaret ( Bachman) Myer, who were natives of Germany. They came to this country in early life and were married in Michigan. The father died at the age of fifty-nine years, but the mother is still liv- ing and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Emlong. Unto our subject and his wife has been born four children : Pearl Mae, Clyde Edward, Ralph Raymond and Viola Edythe.

In his political views Mr. Emlong is an earnest Republican and for eighteen years has served as school treasurer. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Bridg- man and to the Modern Woodmen camp. as- sociations which indicate much of the char- acter of the man and the principles which permeate his life and shape his conduct. mak- ing him a respected and valued resident of Lake township.

FRANCIS A. DANIELS. When the tocsin of war sounded and men from all parts of the country and in all walks of life responded to the call of the Uuion, Francis A. Daniels was among the number who of- fered his services to the government and fol- lowed the stars and stripes on southern bat- tlefields. His last days were spent on sec- tion six and seven. Wesaw township. where he owned a farm of one hundred and eight acres known as the Maple Grove farm. In his demise the county lost one of its most valued and respected citizens. He was born near Detroit, Michigan, August 14. 1839, and passed away at New Troy. May 3. 1889. He was a son of James and Isabel Daniels and the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children. Reared to farm life near

BELL OPERA HOUSE

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BELL OPERA HOUSE

John Bell M. B. M &,

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Detroit, he lost his parents when still a young lad of about thirteen years. When fifteen years of age he went to Freeport, Illinois, and lived with a brother for several years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Forestor, Iowa. He had en- gaged in clerking in a store with his brother in Illinois and also assisted in the operation of a flour mill and he contiued in the latter business in Iowa until he enlisted for ser- vice in the Civil war, joining the Ninth Iowa Infantry as a member of Company A. He was at the front for about one year with the division under Gen. Curtis and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and in other en- gagements. He sustained a bullet wound in the arm and contracted heart disease, by rea- son of which physical troubles he was dis- charged. He then returned to the north, making his home at Oak Park, Illi- nois, now a suburb of Chicago, and he was married at River Forest an- other suburb on the west side of the metropolis. Subsequently he was em- ployed in his brothers sawmill at Ford River, Michigan, for a year and lived in Chicago for two years, where he conducted a store. Becoming ill he removed to New Troy, Mich- igan, where he continued the operation of a sawmill. Turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he purchased a farm of one hundred and eight acres on section six, Wesaw township and continued actively in its operation until his death, the Maple Grove farm becoming one of the valuable proper- ties of this part of the countv.

Mr. Daniels was married in 1863 to Miss Mary A. Steele, who was born in Chicago, her father at that time being sheriff of Cook county. Her natal day was September 8, 1840, and she lived in Chicago and at River Forest until her marriage. Her parents were Ashbel and Harriett (Dawley) Steele, the former a native of Connecticut and the lat- ter of England. The father spent his boy- hood days in the state of his nativity and afterward removed to Rochester, New York, where he was married. Subsequently he went to Chicago in 1833 and spent his re- maining days in that city and in the JOHN BELL, M. D. When the name suburban town of River Forest. His of Dr. John Bell was added to the roll of

political allegiance in early life was given to the Whig party, and he was a rec- ognized leader in its ranks and was serv- ing as sheriff of Cook county at the time of the birth of his daughter, Mrs. Dan- iels. He also held other public offices, the duties of which were discharged with promptness and fidelity. He found condi- tions very primitive in Chicago at the time of his removal there. Hotel accommodations were very poor and there were few good buildings to rent. He erected a number of good homes there, which he afterward sold. He build twelve in one year, which was con- sidered an extensive building business for those days. In his family were eight daugh- ters and two sons, Mrs. Daniels being the seventh daughter and seventh child.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were born six children : Flora A., now the wife of L. A. Addison, of Chicago; Clara Louise, the wife of Solomon McKeen, of the same city ; Eunice, the wife of Charles Peterson of Chicago; George, who operates the home farm; John H., who died at the age of seven years : and Emma J., the wife of Peter J. Pierce of California.

Mr. Daniels was a resident of Berrien county from 1868 until his demise. The Grand Army post of New Troy was named in his honor, showing the regard in which he was held by his comrades of the war. In politics he was a Republican but not active as an office seeker, although he was deeply interested in the success of the principles of the party. He was an earnest worker, how- ever, in the Methodist church and acted as class leader for many years and was trustee at the time of his death. He was a man who stood high in public regard, for he was worthy the confidence of his fellow towns- men and lived a life characterized by all that is commendable in man's relations with his fellowmen. His widow still owns the Maple Grove farm and, like her husband. enjoys in New Troy and the surrounding commun- ity the warm friendship of many with whom she has become acquainted.

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honored dead Benton Harbor lost her "best beloved citizen" and Berrien county her most distinguished member of the medical fraternity. Known and honored for many years as a citizen of virtue, integrity and manly strength, such were his leading char- acteristics that his friends may well feel

"This was a man; take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again."

He entered life in Milton, Halton county, Ontario, September 25, 1840. His father, Joseph Bell, was a native of England, whence he crossed the Atlantic to Canada in early life and there followed the occupa- tion of farming, so that the son was reared to agricultural pursuits. His education was gained in the grammar school of his native city and, ambitious for further in- tellectual advancement and progress, he en- tered the Toronto University, wherein he completed a full course in medicine. Think- ing to find better business opportunities across the border, Dr. Bell located for prac- tice in St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1861, and from that time until his death, covering a period of forty-one years, he was an able member of the medical fraternity of Ber- rien county and moreover a man whose kindly spirit, generous impulses and broad humanitarian principles endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. After prac- ticing medicince for two years in St. Jo- seph, ambitious to attain a still higher de- gree of proficiency, he matriculated in the medical department of the University of New York City, where for two years he con- tinued his studies, the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine be- ing conferred upon him by that institution.

Returning to Michigan, Dr. Bell opened an office in Benton Harbor, where for thirty- eight years he continued in active practice. During his younger days his opportunities for obtaining a theoretical knowledge of medicine were the best obtainable and he availed himself to the utmost of every op- portunity. His thorough education together with a comprehensive system of reading, which he kept up to the day when he was stricken with his last illness, made him a successful physician. Unlike many physi-

cians who cease their scientific reading after they reach middle age, he continued a close, earnest and discriminating student of his profession, constantly broadening his knowl- edge and promoting his efficiency, so that the demand for his professional service continu- ally increased and he ranked as the fore- most member of the medical fraternity in Berrien county. He held membership in the Berrien County Medical Society and the Michigan State Medical Society, before which body he often appeared in the dis- cussion of questions of vital interest to the profession. He was also for a long period a prominent member of the American Med- ical Society.

Moreover, Dr. Bell was a business man of enterprise and keen foresight and through his close and active identification with various business interests he contributed in substantial measure to the growth and ma- terial progress of the city. At the time of his death he was connected with two busi- ness enterprises of importance, being a mem- ber of the firm of George M. Bell & Com- pany, druggists of Benton Harbor, and also the owner of a half interest in the Bell Opera House. At a time when it seemed that the need of the city for an opera house was greater than any other municipal need he undertook the task of meeting this want and associated with George A. Mills erected the Bell Opera House, which stands as a mon- ument to his enterprise and his devotion to Benton Harbor.

It is said that no citizen among those who followed the pioneers and founders of the town took as deep and helpful an inter- est in Benton Harbor's welfare as did Dr. Bell. He was continually suggesting meth- ods for its improvement and he had the ability to combine and co-ordinate plans and forces with the result that successful accom- plishment was achieved. For a time the city seemed at a standstill, or in fact suf- fered a period of retrogression. In the fall of 1890 there were one hundred and twenty empty houses in Benton Harbor, and a pub- lic meeting was called for the purpose of instituting a plan that would secure new manufacturing plants for the city and thus

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promote its growth. Twenty men organ- ized what was known as the Benton Har- bor Improvement Association, each pledging one thousand dollars, which was paid in notes and the notes cashed at the bank. With this twenty thousand dollars factory bonuses were contracted to the amount of eighty thousand dollars. A special election was called and the citizens voted fifty thousand dollars to be used in paying these bonuses contracted, but the will of the people was thwarted by an injunction secured by Charles H. Godfrey on the ground that pub- lic enterprises could not be encouraged from the public purse. The improvement asso- ciation was thus made bankrupt with a debt of sixty thousand dollars against it. A meeting of the stockholders was called to consider the situation. There was no law which bound the men as individuals to pay the debts of the corporation, but Dr. Bell, J. S. Morton, J. H. Lee, A. R. Nowlen and Peter English declared that the debt must be paid in full, as the credit of the city was at stake. None of these men were at that time able to put up twelve thousand dol- lars without restraining their resources and their credit, but they kept faith with the manufacturers and paid the money. One who knew Dr. Bell well, in speaking of what he did in this connection, said : "The paying out of that twelve thousand dollars made Dr. Bell a poor man and he never recov- ered from the financial stress. He lived very economically and never took a vaca- tion. I often have asked why he did not get away and rest but he would always re- ply, 'I am in debt and must work.' " George A. Mills, long a partner of Dr. Bell, said : "Dr. Bell is a man that few of us really appreciate. You couldn't get to know him well in four or five years. When you come to know him twenty years and have business relations with him, then you learn his true worth. Much has been said since his death concerning his character but the half has not yet been told. It would take a long time to tell of all the good that man has done. Few people know that it was Dr. Bell personally who secured the Milwaukee, Benton Harbor & Columbus Railway for

Benton Harbor. No one besides Dr. Bell had much faith in the project. But he stuck by it in his characteristic manner and the road came here. That is only one thing he did in public life. It would take years to tell all the good that he did in his private life. Most of it we will probably never know."

Dr. Bell was also closely associated with the political progress of the city. He was a stalwart Republican but never aggressive, and he never suffered from the bitter at- tacks of an opposing party, for such was his private life and his devotion to his honest belief. He was not an office seeker and whenever he filled a position of political preferment it was at the earnest request of a great majority of the citizens. In 1877 he was chosen by popular suffrage president of the village, and twenty years later was elected mayor by a handsome majority, fill- ing the office so acceptably that he was re- elected for the succeeding year, giving the city a practical and business-like adminis- tration with due regard to conservatism in public expenditures without neglect for pub- lic progress. At the time of his death he was president of the city board of health. He was a man of keen insight and realized the possibilities of the city, foreshadowing these in the address which he delivered to the council upon his retirement from the office of chief executive. He said: "While Benton Harbor is at present of no great magnitude, we have the nucleus of what is destined to be a city of fifty thousand people in a few years. Our position on the lake, our railroad facilities and other very im- portant advantages lead me to this claim and it is not only my opinion but also the opinion of many others. I cannot but advise the incoming city council to bear this in mind and whatever they may be called upon to do, always hold in view the probabilities of the hereafter. * There is one paramount subject that should engross the attention of the incoming council. I refer to the water supply of our city. We are well aware of the insufficient amount of water, and something should be done very soon to remedy it, to make the supply sufficient for

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our present needs and also to prepare for the future. It may require the expenditure of considerable money. It is not probable that a sinking fund could be maintained to liquidate the water bonds when matured and it is my opinion it is not advisable to attempt it. Let future generations pay off that indebtedness, but see to it that we have sufficient and good water for city require- ments." He also expressed himself very strongly on the question of city lighting and also concerning the indebtedness of the city. During the campaign much had been said by the rival party concerning the debt which hung over the city. Dr. Bell stated that although the city was bonded to the extent of one hundred and forty thousand dollars at that time, the income from the improve- ments causing the bonds to be issued was meeting all expenses of the bonds, paying off a portion of them and would in due time pay the bonds and other expenses and return a revenue to the city. This has been the case in many instances. "The person who would make a statement derogatory to the city finances, through the public press, to go broadcast through the country, is no friend to the city," said he in righteous indignation over the attacks that had been made upon his beloved city, for the good of which he had labored the best part of his life. "When we commenced doing business two years ago there was a floating debt against the city of eight thousand dollars. During the two years you have paid this off together with bonds and other indebtedness coming due, amounting in all to twenty-three thousand five hundred dollars, and this has been done without any increase in taxation. From the day my lot was cast here up to the present moment when I lay down an authority given to me without my desire or solicitation and accepted at my own pe- cuniary loss and personal discomfort, I have clone what I could for Benton Harbor- days of earnest work and such financial as- sistance as I could afford have been at the service of this community. Together with the older citizens, many of whom have passed away. I labored to start our little town at the end of the ditch and have shared

in the pride of our newer inhabitants of the development of that little town into a city. Of the burdens which our continual growth has forced upon us, I have borne my share without complaint."

While progressive in citizenship and in business and while holding friendship in- violable, his best traits of character were reserved for his own fireside, and in De- cember, 1867, when he was united in mar- riage to Miss Anetta, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Dickinson) Hopkins, of Trumansburg. New York, he entered upon an ideal married relation. He was a man of most kindly and generous spirit. The poor and needy found in him a friend and he did not hesitate to give his professional service even when he knew that no re- muneration would be received. He was valued in fraternal circles. He held mem- bership with Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., St. Joseph's Council, R. & S. M., Calvin Brittian Chapter, R. A. M., and Malta Com- mandery, K. T. He was also a member of the Benton Harbor lodge of Elks, one of the charter members of Bell Lodge. Knights of Honor, to which organization his name was given, and he became one of the highest ranking Knights of Pythias in the world. He joined that organization soon after its inception and labored untiringly for its ad- vancement. In 1898 he received from the major general of the supreme lodge, uni- form rank of the order, the appointment as brigadier general and surgeon general of the supreme body. He was the highest rank- ing surgeon in the order in the entire world and a few other officers in the order preceded him in rank. He served several terms as master of the blue lodge and was one of the best informed Masons in Michigan. It is said that he did more in behalf of fraternity than any other man in Berrien county.

The death of Dr. Bell came after a brief illness, on the 29th of December, 1901. During his illness the foremost specialists of the west were called in consultation but nothing could be done to prolong his life. He underwent severe suffering without a word of complaint and in his dying hours his thought was more for his family than

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for himself. His remains lay in state fn the opera house, where hundreds of his fellow citizens passed by the casket to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had long known and honored, and the funeral cortege was one of the most impos- ing ever seen in Berrien county. The opera house was suitably decorated, the prosce- nium arch and boxes being draped in black, while the orchestra pit was covered with a solid bank of flowers. Perhaps no better indication of the character of Dr. Bell could be given than the words of the funeral eulogy as pronounced by the Rev. W. P. French, who said: "There have been many deaths in this city of prominent citizens in the past but never one that has been more deeply deplored than that of the man whose loss we mourn today, and if ever I desired talent of eulogy it is on this occasion, that I might be capable of properly placing be- fore you and of paying a fitting tribute to the memory of Benton Harbor's most highly esteemed and best beloved citizen, Dr. John Bell. But I cannot do this. I can only hint at a few of the many com- mendable traits of his magnificent charac- ter. Now I have little sympathy with that sentimentality that defies either the living or the dead but there are characters which bear the closest scrutiny and the severest tests, which have been tried in the furnace and been proven true, which have been weighed in the balance and have not been found wanting, which have been declared sterling by general consent. These we love and prize, and such was the man whose loss we mourn today. There was a beauty, a charm about his character and life that won the hearts of all. This is why it is there is such a general expression of sorrow at his death. I say general, for it is confined to no class of our citizens, both old and young, rich and poor alike feel that they have sus- tained a personal loss. It is as if the sorrow of death had entered every home. Strong men wept when they learned of his death. Many tears have been shed by people who do not ordinarily weep over the death of any outside of their own home circle, but all through these two cities and the county

where he was known, persons that perhaps the deceased never suspected cherished such kindly regard and esteem for him, have given expression to their feelings of deepest sorrow. Dr. Bell was indeed a remarkable man, possessing a character complete and symmetrical in all its parts. In the first place he was a truthful. man. He had the highest regard for his word. Of him it can truly be said his word was as good as his bond. As one said to me before I became intimately acquainted with the deceased, what Dr. Bell tells you, you can believe, and I have found this statement true. He always spoke the truth in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and his example in this particular is worthy of imitation and is a stern rebuke to the falsehoods and shams practiced by too many. Dr. Bell never lost friends by being two-faced. There were no subterfuges, no double dealings in his con- duct, but he gained the confidence of all by always speaking the truth. Again Dr. Bell was an honest man. There is abroad in this materialistic money-getting age a prevalent idea that success in accumulating property is the thing to be attained. Hence, when a man dies the question is asked, what was he worth? By this is meant, what was his financial standing, for how large an amount could he draw his check ? The world has too little to do with questions as to the methods by which this success was reached. Dr. Bell did not believe in or act on this principle. He was a man of thor- ough honesty, a man in whom the business public and all had confidence. He jealously guarded his reputation in this particular by meeting promptly all his obligations, and on one occasion at least he even drew upon his own resources to such an extent as to seriously inconvenience himself financially, to protect the credit of his city. Again Dr. Bell had a kind, tender and loving heart. No one in need who called upon him was ever denied or turned empty handed away, and in the practice of his profession he re- sponded any hour of the day or night to the calls of the poor as promptly as to those of the rich and I venture the assertion that on his books today are thousands of dollars

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 39

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