A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 40

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

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he never attempted to collect because he ing medicine under the direction and knew the persons were unable to pay. He in the office of his brother, Dr. John Bell, a practitioner of Benton Har- bor. As a further preparation for his chosen calling he matriculated in the medical de- partment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1869 and there pursued his studies with perseverance and arder. He was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1870 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and during the following year he pursued a course of lectures in the Chicago Medical College, from which he was also graduated. The winter of 1874-5 he at- tended Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, from which institution he was graduated in 1875. He has had every ad- vantage which thorough training can give, and is a man of broad and thorough erudi- tion in the line of his chosen calling. believed in and practiced the golden rule, which teaches brotherhood broader than all human dogma, deeper than all isms and lasting as eternity. Dr. Bell was also a man of genuine public spirit. He was always ready to do service in the public behalf with- out compensation other than the conscious- ness of duty performed. No man in the history of this city ever did more to build up or took a greater pride in Benton Har- bor. Mother never loved her child with fonder affection than he cherished for his beautiful home city. It was a love, too, that did not evaporate in mere sentiment of good wishes for its prosperity while he self- ishly hoarded and attended strictly to his own duties, but with time and money worked and gave to beautify and improve it. Dr. Bell was also very largely what we term a self-made man, and in this his life has a les- son for our young men today. The days so often spent by thoughtless and indolent young men in idleness, trashy reading or other forms of dissipation, he with energy and application devoted to study, laying with painstaking earnestness, perseverance, the foundation of that sturdy indomitable char- acter which in later life placed him in the front rank of his profession. And with all he was ever the perfect gentleman, genial and courteous in his conversation and inter- course with others, polished in his manner, intelligent, educated, refined and affable. No wonder then the community is in tears for the loss of one whose noble life and char- acter endeared him to the hearts of all who knew him."

GEORGE M. BELL, M. D., practicing along modern scientific lines in Benton Har- bor, was born in Milton, Halton county, in the province of Ontario, Canada, September 9, 1848, his parents being Joseph and Mary (Teetzel) Bell. His childhood days were passed in Canada, where he acquired his elementary education. At the age of fifteen years he came to Berrien county, Michigan, and after completing his more specific- ally literary education he began read-

Dr. Bell entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Benton Harbor, where he has since continued, and although he is a general practitioner he has given spe- cial attention to the diseases of children. He has been surgeon for the Big Four Railroad Company for fifteen years and has been a member of the board of pension examiners since 1886. He is also surgeon to the Ben- ton Harbor & St. Joseph Electric Railway system. Since the death of his brother, Dr. John Bell, he has conducted alone the drug store which they had carried on together for so many years. He has long been recog- nized as holding a foremost position among the physicians and surgeons of southwestern Michigan, where his eminent abilities and broad knowledge are universally recognized and admired. He is one of the most devoted disciples of the science of therapeutics and has not only won from his profession the laurels of success but has also been instru- mental in affecting advancement along lines of scientific medical practice. His studies have been extensive and thorough and it has ever been his aim to keep abreast with every advancement made in the profession.

In May, 1876, Dr. Bell was married to Miss Anna Nichols, a daughter of Edgar and Anna Nichols, formerly of New York. Mrs. Bell was born in San Antonio, Texas,

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GEORGE M. BELL

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and they now have one son, John Bell. So- cially Dr. Bell is a Mason, belonging to Lake Shore Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M .; Cal- vin Brittian Chapter, No. 56, R. A. M., at St. Joseph; the Knights of Honor, and the Maccabees. In politics he is independent. It is well that his profession has deep in- terest for him, as it leaves him little leisure time for public service or social enjoyments, yet he is a man of genial nature whose friends are many. In his practice he has been very successful and his life record is another proof of the statement of Goethe that "merit and success go linked together."

JOHN SHAFER was numbered among the worthy citizens that the fatherland furnished to Berrien county. His birth occurred in Wittenberg, Germany, Janu- ary 1, 1844. His parents were John and Jacobina (Boyle) Shafer, natives of Germany. They came to the United States with their two children about 1845 and made their way direct to Lake township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father became one of the extensive property owners of the locality and was worth at one time sixty thousand dollars. He was a leading and influential resident of the community and belonged to that class of representative men who while promoting individual success also advance the general prosperity. In the family were nine children: Anna, deceased; John, of this review ; Mrs. Katherine Kramer, of St. Joseph; William, who has passed away and whose life record is given elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Eva Reck, of Lake township; Levi, who is living in Oronoko township; Gottlieb, of Oronoko; Mrs. Mary Feather ; and Mrs. Olive Myers, of Lake township.

John Shafer was only three years of age when brought by his parents to America, the family home being established in Lake township, where he spent the remainder of his life. The occupation to which he was reared he chose as a life work and was always connected with farming interests. He owned two farms, comprising one hun- dred acres in the home place on section twenty-four and eighty acres a half mile dis-

tant on section twenty-three, Lake township. He personally conducted both places for general farming purposes, carrying on the work with the aid of his sons. He was prac- tical in all that he did and was a very in- dustrious, hard-working man. He started with only fifty acres of wood land that his father gave him but his diligence and enter- prise enabled him to add to his property and as the years went by he gained a place among the substantial residents of this part of the state. During the last nine years of his life, however, he was an invalid and his sons operated the farm.

Mr. Shafer was united in marriage, July II, 1872, to Miss Mary Rymer, and they became the parents of four children: Fred, who cultivates the old home place; Laura, the wife of Melvin Boyle, of Buchanan; Almeda, the wife of George Brady, of Oro- noko; and John, of Lake township. After losing his first wife, Mr. Shafer was mar- ried in 1889 to Miss Sarah J. Fleisher, a native of Center county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Shafer voted with the Democracy but did not take a very active part in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business interests. As stated, he became the owner of two valuable farms and his success was largely attributable to his own labors. He was a kind-hearted man and his good qualities made him well liked by all. He died May 12, 1906, and for many years to come his memory will be cherished by those who were associated with him and knew him well in the active affairs of this life.

JOHN B. NIXON was born Decem- ber 5, 1856, in a log house on the farm on section twenty-seven, Lake town- ship, on which he still makes his home. He is a grandson of John B. Nixon. His paternal great-grandfather, John Nixon, Sr., was a native of Scotland and when a young man came to the United States. after which he was married in South Carolina to Chris- tina Gregory. He was a carpenter and mill- wright, following those pursuits throughout his business life and for many years he made his home in New Jersey, where his death

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occurred. His son, John B. Nixon, was born in South Carolina, November 17, 1789, and in his youth went with his parents to New Jersey, where he was married to Nancy Peck. Subsequently he removed to Conners- ville, Indiana, and in 1836 came to this county, casting in his lot with its pioneer resi- dents. He followed the trade of shoe-mak- ing during the greater part of his life and died at Berrien Springs, October 31, 1847. His son, John H. Nixon, was born in Con- nersville, Indiana, August 24, 1819, and in 1836, at the age of seventeen years, came to Berrien county with his father, walking the entire distance. He purchased what is known as the old home farm and spent his remaining days thereon, it being his place of residence from 1855 until his death, which occurred on the first of June, 1905. He had here one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting a well developed and a highly improved property. He was a mason by trade and followed that pursuit to some extent in early days. He assisted in erect- ing the first brick building in St. Joseph- the Hoyt Bank-and in his later years his attention was confined to farming operations. He and his sons cleared the home farm and placed it under cultivation. In politics he was a stanch Democrat for many years but his early political support was given to the Whig party. He was always active in polit- ics and held a number to township offices, serving as supervisor. treasurer, township clerk and in other positions of public trust. He wedded Mary O. Keef, who was born in Ireland near Dublin, December 13, 1824, and died in this county, February 28, 1903. She came to America at the age of nine years with her parents. settling first in Camden, New Jersey. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were born eight children : Mills H., who is living in Holland, Michigan; Mary L., who died unmarried; Lewis B., a resident of South Bend, Indiana; John B., of this re- view; Charles M., Henry, Frank and Dick, all of whom are now deceased, although all lived to years of maturity.

John B. Nixon was reared amid pioneer environments, remaining with his parents on the home farm until 1882, when at the age

of twenty-six years he left the parental roof and removed to Chikaming township, where he purchased forty acres of land, upon which lie resided for about five years. He then went to New Troy, where he engaged in general merchandising for about five years and also acted as postmaster during that time under the administration of President Cleve- land. On selling out his store he returned to his present farm, whereon he has since resided, having here seventy acres of the original homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-seven. Lake township. He has a fine brick residence which was erected in 1880, and which was the first brick dwell- ing to be built in the township. His place is devoted to general farming purposes, and the raising of fruit and stock are made special features of his business. The orchards and fields are kept in excellent condition and everything about his place indicates his care- ful supervision and his excellent business methods.

Mr. Nixon was married in 1879 to Miss Mary English, a native of this county, and unto them was born a daughter, Inez. now the wife of Harry Castleman, a resident of Benton Harbor. For his second wife Mr. Nixon chose Miss Sarah Collier, to whom he was married in 1894. She is a native of this county and a daughter of R. D. Collier. Two children grace this union: Valeria and Grace May.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Nixon has given his sup- port to the Democracy. He was appointed supervisor four years ago and at the next regular election was defeated for that office, but has been elected twice since that time, so that he is now serving for the third term and he is giving to his constituents a most capable service. He has also been highway commissioner for one year, was drain com- missioner five years and served for one year to fill out a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Ordor of Odd Fellows and in the county where his entire life has been passed he is widely and favorably known.

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MRS. HELEN VAIL, who occupies a beautiful home in the southern part of St. Joseph and has a fifty acre farm in Berrien county devoted to the rais- ing of pears, has spent her entire life in this portion of the state. She is a daugh- ter of Samuel Russell, who became one of the pioneers of this section of Michigan and for many years was closely identified with the work of upbuilding and development. He was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, and was about thirty-two years of age when in 1835 he came to Michigan, hoping to find in the west better business opportunities than he enjoyed in the east. He was a tailor by trade and located at St. Joseph, where he set up a shop. The town then lay all along the flats below the hill along the old channel of the river and was but a small village but was favorably situ- ated and he believed that a good future lay before it. Mr. Russell continued to work at the tailor's trade until that line of business was superceded by ready made clothing es- tablishments. In the early days he had an excellent trade drawn from the best class of citizens of this locality and his life was characterized by industry, perseverance and enterprise.

Little was known concerning the ances- tral history of the family. In 1839, Mr. Russell was married in this county to Miss Rebecca Jennings, a daughter of Elijah and Hester (Henderson) Jennings. From 1837 until 1839 Mr. Russell was the operator of the old ferry which afforded the only means of travel across the St. Joseph river. Afterward he purchased a farm in Benton township, carrying on its cultivation and im- provement until his death, which occurred when Mrs. Vail was only ten years of age. Mr. Russell had reached the age of seventy years when called to his final rest. His widow survived him several years, dying about 1873. Mr. Russell was closely con- nected with the early business interests of St. Joseph and is yet well remembered by many of the old settlers. He was one among those who laid the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county and he stood as the champion of all the progres-

sive movements which contribute to general development. In this family were four chil- dren.

Mrs. Helen Vail, now the only member of the family living in Berrien county, was born in St. Joseph and attended the little old red schoolhouse between the ages of five and fifteen years, being instructed by Mr. Hawley, who was one of the old noted teachers of this city. The school contained but one room and was a private institu- tion. It stood in the rear of the present Methodist Episcopal church and many of the children of an early day pur- sued their education there. In the same school Mrs. Doctor Parker taught for a number of years. Mrs. Vail began teach- ing at the age of twenty years in the country schools and for four years was one of the capable and successful educators of the county. At the same time Mrs. Sarah Springstein and Mrs. George Smith were also teachers.

On the 29th of November, 1866, Helen Virginia Russell gave her hand in marriage to Elijah S. B. Vail, who was born in New York city, September 30, 1821, and was a representative of an old English family. His mother bore the maiden name of Nancy Totten, and in 1855 Mr. Vail removed to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he purchased land and was engaged in the real estate busi- ness for a number of years. In 1864 he came to St. Joseph to engage in fruit raising and the growing of trees, becoming agent for various nurseries of the east. He pur- chased land and devoted his attention to horticultural pursuits, having sixty acres on the lake shore, all of which he planted to fruit, making a specialty of peaches at a time when big prices were received for that crop. The yellows, however, took the or- chard about 1871 or 1872. He had planted about one half of his land to pears and after the peaches were destroyed set out the re- mainder to pears. His place became a noted pear farm and in fact he was one of the larg- est pear growers on the lake shore. His life was devoted to the raising of fruit. He made a close study of pears, continually im- proving upon the fruit raised and in ex-

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hibits he easily carried off the honors for variety and choice fruits. He set out ten thousand pear trees of various varieties. He never lacked faith in this section of the country and his own work demonstrated its possibilities in fruit production. He was very sanguine concerning this region as a horticultural center and gave his preference to pears. He also again planted peaches after it was demonstrated that they could be raised. His farm was very favorably located along the border of Lake Michigan and pre- sented a splendid appearance because of the well kept condition of the orchards and the fine fruits produced. He always found a ready sale on the market for his crops, which were packed with greatest care and were therefore shipped in excellent condition.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vail were born two sons and a daughter: Alfred T., who is living in St. Joseph; Grace, who is with her mother ; and Paul R., also at St. Joseph. Mr. Vail was an enthusiastic Democrat in his political views. He was reared in the faith of the Whig party, but in early manhood joined the ranks of the Democracy and was an earnest and capable political worker. He stood as a high type of the successful horti- culturist of Berrien county, proving the value of this section of the state as a fruit producing center and by capable management of his individual interests acquired a gratifying competence. He passed away March 18. 1886, and there- by the community lost a progressive busi- ness man, his neighbors a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father. Mrs. Vail still retains fifty acres of the old home property extending along the lake shore and continues in the cultiva- tion of pears. She has erected a beautiful home in the south part of St. Joseph and is here residing. She represents one of the old pioneers families of the county and her en- tire life has here been passd, so that she has a wide acquaintance. while her many good qualities of heart and mind have gained her a large circle of warm friends.

ABIJAH BIRDSEY, a resident of St. Joseph township, is one of the vener-

able citizens of Berrien county, having passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey. He is moreover entitled to special mention in this volume because of an honorable and upright business career and by reason of the fact that he was one of the early fruit growers of this locality. He was born in Seneca county, New York, near Waterloo, on the 7th of May, 1819. and is descended from Connecticut ancestry, the Birdsey family having removed from the Charter Oak state to New York. When twenty-one years of age Abijah Birdsey was married to Miss Jane Ann Curtis, and four children were born unto them in New York. Mrs. Birdsey lived for twenty-six years after her marriage and died in St. Joseph.

It was in the year 1852 that Mr. Bird- sey located upon his present farm. His wife's father, Daniel Curtis, had come to Michigan in 1850, settling in Royalton, and his death occurred in 1853, soon after the arrival of our subject and his family. Mr. Birdsey purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid eighteen hundred dollars cash. This tract lay along the Niles road three and a half miles southeast of St. Joseph and near the St. Joseph river. It is now in St. Joseph township at Royalton Heights. As the years have passed Mr. Birdsey has added to his property until he now has one hundred and ninety acres in the home farm. He has purchased new land at low prices and has placed nearly all of it under cultivation. He has been extensively engaged in horticul- tural pursuits and he sold to one man off of an eight-acre tract of land peaches to the value of fourteen hundred dollars. Curtis Boughton of St. Joseph was about the first man to grow peaches successfully in Michi- gan and Doctor Collins was also one of the pioneer fruit growers. Their success led others to engage in the same enterprise and the various peach raisers found the business a profitable one until the yellows cleaned out the orchards. When Mr. Birdsey met with this reverse in his business career he turned his attention to the production of apples. Later he again set out peaches, but the prices have never been as good as they formerly were. He has sold eight hundred barrels of

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apples in a single season. In later years he has grown hay and has also engaged in dairying and general farming. He has put up one hundred tons of hay per year and he keeps eighteen cows for dairy purposes. His son operates the farm at the present time. Mr. Birdsey has always confined his atten- tion to his farm and be built his present home about twenty-eight years ago. This remains one of the handsome and desirable residences of the county and he has a splendidly de- veloped farm property, everything about his place indicating his thrift and enterprise and his careful supervision.

As before stated, Mr. Birdsey lost his first wife after they had been married twenty- six years. She left three sons and three daughters: George W., who enlisted for service in the Civil war and died in Libby prison after having been confined there for several months, during which time he suf- fered all the privations and horrors of prison life in the south ; Phoebe, the wife of Lucius Vesey, a carpenter and joiner residing in St. Joseph township; Lafayette, who was a livery man of Benton Harbor and died at the age of fifty years, leaving a widow and two children; Sarah, the wife of Charles Bort, a painter residing in St. Joseph; Lillie, the wife of William Howland, who is serving on the police force of St. Joseph ; and Adel- bert, who was born and reared on the home farm which he now operates. He married Miss Rose Martin and has three children by that marriage and one son by his first mar . riage. Abijah Birdsey of this review chose for his second wife Miss Matilda Whittaker, who passed away about twelve years ago. He has since married Mrs. Sarah Sisson, of Chicago, whom he wedded ten years ago.

In his political affiliations Mr. Birdsey is a Republican, giving unfaltering support to the party, but has never had aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business pursuits. He has lived in the county for more than a half century and has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development as its forest lands have been converted into fine fields and orchards and as the work of industrial and commercial development has been carried forward in the towns and cities. He has ever

been interested in what has been accom- plished and at the same time he has carried forward his private business affairs in a man- ner to insure success, being for many years a prosperous fruit grower of the country. He is now living retired, leaving the active work of the farm to his son, while at a vener- able age he is enjoying a well-merited rest.

WARREN A. SMITH, M. D., en- gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Berrien Springs in accord- ance with modern, scientific ideas, is a native of Berrien township, where his life record began on the 28th of October, 1876. His father, W. B. Smith, was born in Cass county, Michigan, and was a son of George Smith, who came to this state from Delaware at an early day. He was one of three brothers who settled in Milton town- ship, becoming a pioneer resident of Cass county. After living there for a number of years, W. B. Smith removed to Berrien county, settling in Berrien township in 1875. He married Miss Maria Walker, who was born in this county and is a representative of one of its old and prominent families, her parents being Joseph and Catherine Walker, who during an early epoch in the develop- ment of this portion of the state took up their abode in Berrien county. Her mother lived to the very advanced age of ninety- seven years. Her father, Joseph Walker, was born in England and crossed the Atlantic from that country to Canada, where he was married. He settled in Canada and after- ward removed to Ohio, whence he later came to Michigan. His wife was born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Smith still survive and reside upon a farm in Berrien township, being worthy farming people of that community. In their family were two sons and a daughter:

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 40

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