A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 41

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

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Dr. Smith, the eldest child, was reared to farm life and at the usual age began ac- quiring a knowledge of the common branches of English, learning as a student in the dis- trict schools. Later he entered the high school at Berrien Springs, from which he was graduated in 1897, and, determining up- on the practice of medicine as a life work,

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in 1899. he entered Hahnemann College, of Chicago, from which he was graduated in the class of 1903. The same year he located for practice at Berrien Springs. He had read medicine for a year under Dr. Ull- rey, at Niles, before entering college, and his thorough preparation made him well fitted for the arduous and important duties which devolved upon the conscientious phy- sician. He has been in practice here for three years and his patronage has steadly grown in volume and importance.

Dr. Smith was married in 1905 to Miss Maud Hoopenganer, a native of Indiana and a daughter of J. C. Hoopenganer, of Berrien Springs. The young couple oc- cupy an enviable position in social circles and have a wide and favorable acquaintance in this locality. Dr. Smith is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraterni- ties. In politics he is a Republican. His practice is making greater and greater de- mands upon his time and energies, for his professional service is regarded as of much value throughout the community.

ELMER H. WRIGHT. whose farm on section thirty-five, Three Oaks town- ship. has been his place of residence since 1867. was born in Volney, Oswego county. New York, March 24, 1834. and is a representative of old families. He descended from English ancestry in both the paternal and maternal lines. His grand- father. Smith Wright, was born in New Jer- sey, whence he removed to New York state, where he followed farming until his death. Elmer H. Wright's parents were Louis and Ann Maria (Hubbell) Wright. the former a native of New York, and the latter of Con- necticut. The mother passed away in Os- wego county. New York. at the age of forty- five years, while his father's death occurred in Berrien, Michigan, when he was ninety- three years of age. In their family were six sons : Oscar. deceased : Elmer H. : Carl- ton. who is living in Colorado; Almond. of Three Oaks: Sylvester, of New York; and Chester, of Colorado.

Elmer H. Wright remained a resident of his native county until he was about

thirty-one years of age. His father was a cooper by trade and when he became large enough he also learned that pursuit and engaged in the manufacture of barrels of all kinds. He likewise followed farming and his early years were a period of industry and enterprise. When he was twenty-two years of age he was married and began farming on a tract of timber land. He cut and cleared away the trees and continued to engage in farming and coopering in the east until his removal to Michigan. where he arrived in 1865. He left home on the 26th of December, and arrived at Three Oaks in January. 1866. He has resided in Three Oaks township continuously since. In 1867 he built a home in Three Oaks, which he exchanged for his farm of eighty acres on section thirty-five. Three Oaks township. He afterward sold twenty acres to his son, and now has a well improved farmu of sixty acres. This was all covered with timber when it came into his possession, but he cleared away the trees, took out the stumps, plowed the land and in due course of time harvested good crops. He has also engaged in the raising of stock in addition to general farming. Whatever he undertakes he car- ries forward to successful completion and his farm is the visible evidence of his life of enterprise and thrift.

On the 2d of September. 1856. Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eliza Barrett, who was born in Cortland county. New York, September 2. 1835, a daughter of William and Eliza (Farr) Bar- rett, the former a native of Madison county. New York, and the latter of Cortland county. that state. They were farming people and spent their last days in Oswego county, New York. The children of Elmer H. Wright and wife are Orla. Nellie and Verner. all now living. and William, who died at the age of three months. Orla, who is now liv- ing in Oceana county. Michigan, was mar- ried at Three Oaks, Michigan, to Mary In- gersoll. now deceased. by whom he had two children, Bert and Hattie. He was again married. to Miss Tillie Jensen, by whom he has the following children. Fay. Nellie. and baby. Nellie, wife of Rodney P. Hoad-

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ly, of Chika ning, Berring county, Michi- - gan, has three children, Rodney, Fred and Mabel. Verner lives on a farm adjoining his father's farm, comprising twenty acres of the old homestead. He was born upon the old home farm May 30, 1874, and was married at Three Oaks, Michigan, February 14, 1895, to Amelia Wangerin, by whom he has two children, Howard and Earl.

Mr. Wright has been a believer in Re- publican principles since voting for John C. Fremont, and votes for the candidate of the party. He holds membership in the Con- gregational church at Three Oaks. His residence in Three Oaks township covers forty years and he has therefore a wide ac- quaintance, being held in warm regard by the friends who know him and who are acquainted with his excellent business methods and social qualities.

JOHN C. HOOPENGANER is the genial and popular proprietor of Hotel Berrien and his business enterprise and ability arc well known in Berrien Springs and to the traveling public. He was born in Steuben county, Indiana, amidst the beautiful lake region, on the 22d of February, 1858. His father, J. J. Hooper- ganer, was a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and became one of the early residents of Steuben county, Indiana. He st+11 sur- vives and now makes his home with his son John. His wife bore the maiden name of Ellen Brown. She, too, was a native of Ohio and she passed away at the age of seventy-six years. In their family were three sons, who still survive.

John C. Hoopenganer of this review Was the second son and was reared in Butler, Indiana, from the age of seven years, acquir- ing his education in the schools there. After putting aside his tex .- books he became con- nected with the drug business in Butler, con- tinuing therein until 1886, when he came to Berrien Springs and purchased the Hotel Berrien of which he has since been proprie- tor, covering a period of two decades. He has made this a hostelry worthy of the public patronage and it has found favor with the traveling public because of the earnest

and effective efforts which he puts forth to please his patrons and administer to their comfort.

In 1888, Mr. Hoopenganer was married to Miss Mary Hastings, a daughter of James Hastings, and unto them have been born two sons, John and Charles. By a former mar- riage Mr. Hoopenganer had two daughters : Maud, now the wife of Dr. Warren A. Smith; and Millie, who is assistant post- mistress at Berrien Springs.

Politically Mr. Hoopenganer is a Demo- crat, active and influential in the local ranks of his party, and for some time served as one of the village trustees. He has been a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows society at Berrien Springs for four years and has taken an ac- tive part in its public affairs, relating to its material progress and advancement along those lines of life which lead to good citizen- ship or which promote the social interests of the community.

GUY C. MARS, postmaster of Ber- rien Springs, was born in Berrien town- ship, April 30, 1871, and is the young- est of six children, three sons and three daughters, born unto Andrew W. and Susan (Kimmel) Mars, who became resi- dents of this county in 1831. The son was reared in Berrien Springs and after attend- ing the high school spent one year as a stu- dent in the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. He was with the Michigan Central Railroad Company as sur- veyor for three years, and at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war enlisted in the army as a member of Company I, Thirty- third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made corporal. He was in the ser- vice for four months, half of which time was spent in active duty in Cuba. Following his return home Mr. Mars was assistant post- master of Berrien Springs under his father for six years, and in March, 1905, was ap- pointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, being the incumbent of the office at the pres- ent time and giving a public-spirited and satisfactory administration.

On the 23d of September, 1901, Mr. Mars was married to Miss Edna Kessler, a

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daughter of Keleon and Flora ( Fisher) Kes- sler, a pioneer family of Berrien county. Mrs. Mars was born in Berrien township, and they have one son, Guy Allan. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Mars occupy an envi- able position, having a wide and favorable acquaintance in the village and throughout the surrounding district. Mr. Mars has al- ways been a stanch advocate of Republican principles. The first office he ever held was that of clerk of Oronoko township, while in 1900 he was census enumerator. Fraternally he is conected with the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows at Berrien Springs and with the Modern Woodmen, and is popular with the brethren of those organi- zations.

HENRY KEPHART. The name of Kephart has figured in conection with the commercial interests of Berrien Springs since 1843, when the present drug business of which Henry Kephart is now proprietor was established and all through the passing years the name has been a synonym for com- mercial integrity as well as business activity and enterprise. Mr. Kephart, now the senior partner in the store, was born in Berrien Springs, May 26, 1847, and comes of Swiss ancestry. The family was founded in America, however, at an early period in the colonization of the new world, and the paternal grandfather, a resident of Mary- land, there followed the miller's trade. His son, Dr. Philip Kephart, was born in Maryland, in which state he spent his boy- hood and youth, coming thence to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1842. He studied and practiced medicine and on locating in Ber- rien Springs he also established a store for the sale of dry goods and drugs. Soon after his arrival here he gave up the actice practice of medicine to devote his attention to his commercial interests and continued active in the business up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy- third year. He was a prominent and influ- ential factor in public life and was the first president of the village of Berrien Springs. He did much to establish the early policy of the state and to promote its substantial

growth and improvement, and he may well be named and honored with the founders of the town. He married Miss Susan Kimmel. a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of George Kimmel, who was also born in the Keystone state and was of German descent, Mrs. Kimmel was reared in Pennsylvania, and in Michigan gave her hand in marriage to Dr. Kephart, whom she survived for a number of years. passing away March I, 1906, in her eighty-fourth year. In the family were ten children, all of whom reached adult age.

Henry Kephart, the fourth member of the family and the second son, was reared in Berrien Springs. He has been a life-long resident of this town, and in its public schools acquired his early education, which was supplemented by study in Kalamazoo and in a commercial college in Chicago. Be- ing thus well trained for the duties of a mer- cantile career he joined his father in busi- ness and was admitted to a partnership in 1874. This relation was continued until the death of his father, when his brother Walter became a partner and remained in the firm for about six years, when Henry Kephart bought him out and became sole proprietor. This was in 1886 and Mr. Kephart continued alone in business until 1903, when he ad- mitted his son Phillip to a partnership under the present firm style of Henry Kephart & Son. This commercial establishment has ever maintained a foremost place in mer- cantile circles in Berrien Springs. It is the oldest established business of the town, hav- ing had a continuous existence from 1843, and Phillip Kephart is of the third genera- tion in the ownership and control of the busi- ness. He is a graduate of the pharmacy department of the State University at Ann Arbor, and was also graduated in the Era course in pharmacy in New York city.

In 1876, Henry Kephart was married to Miss Ellen R. Northrope, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Smith) Northrope, of Portage county, Ohio. She was born in Portage county, January 1, 1854, and when six years of age was brought to Berrien county. Michigan. Her education was ac- quired in a private school in Rochester, New

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York, and she is a lady of superior culture and refinement. Two sons were born of this marriage: Philip, who is in partnership with his father ; and Lewis E., now studying civil engineering at Purdue University in Indiana.

In his political affiliation Mr. Kephart has been a life-long Republican and has served as president of the village council and also of the school board for many years. He is active and influential in public affairs and his influence is ever found on the side of progress, improvement and reform. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in fraternal as well as in busi- ness and social circles occupies an enviable position. He is one of the best known men of Berrien Springs and his business integ- rity and honor, combined with his personal worth makes him one of its most popular and honored citizens.

WILLIAM DESTER, proprietor of a livery stable at Berrien Springs, was born in Paris, Stark county, Ohio, Aug- ust 6, 1833. His father, Jacob Dester, was native of Germany, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to Amer- ica, locating in Stark county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of shoemaking that he had learned prior to his emigration to the new world. He came to Michigan in 1842, settling in Oronoko township, three miles north of Berrien Springs, upon a farm which was then but slightly improved but which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He carried on general agricultural pursuits for a long period, his labors attended with excellent results, and he died at the venerable: age of about eighty-two years. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Kogel, a na- tive of Germany, the wedding being cele- brated in Stark county, Ohio. She too, lived to a very advanced age, being in her eighty- sixth year at the time of her demise. There were two daughters in the family: Julia, the wife of Jacob Bechtal, of Berrien Springs ; and Josephine, now deceased.

William Dester, the youngest child and only son, was nine years of age at the time of his parents removal from Ohio to Berrien

county. He was reared upon the home farm in Oronoko township and pursued his educa- tion in the public schools, his time being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the fields upon the home place. He assisted in the farm work until after the in- auguration of the Civil war, when, the fires of patriotism burning brightly in his breast, he enlisted as a member of Company C, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry in 1862. He served as a private until the close of the war in 1865 and participated in a number of important engagements and mil- itary movements. He was detailed for spec- ial duty at Louisville, Kentucky, and while on the Georgia campaign he became ill and was taken to a hospital at Knoxville, Ten- nessee, where he remained until the war was brought to a successful termination.

Mr. Dester then returned to his home at Berrien Springs in August, 1865, and for a time was upon his father's farm. Later he established a grocery store in Berrien Springs, which he conducted for eighteen years and he was also in the lumber business for five years. In 1901 he purchased the livery barn of J. C. Wycoff, and has since remained its owner, conducting a large busi- ness which by reason of its extent and im- portance is also very profitable.

On the 15th of December, 1866, Mr. Dester was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Warner, a daughter of Major L. F. and Elizabeth Warner, and a native of St. Joseph, Michigan. Her father was an early settler of Sister Lakes, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Dester have three children : Linus W .; Arthur, who married Bertha Ocker, and reside in Laporte, Indiana; and Maud, who is at Saginaw. She is blind and is a graduate of the Lansing school for the blind. At the present time she is teaching in the sewing department of the institution for the blind at Saginaw.

Mr. Dester is a Democrat and keeps well informed on the political issues and questions of the day. He was treasurer of his town- ship for two terms and was postmaster un- der President Cleveland for four years. He has served as a member of the board of trus-

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tees and in other local offices in the village, and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. On the con- trary he has proven a competent and faith- ful officer, never neglectful of any duty de- volving upon him. He belongs to the Ma- sonic lodge at Berrien Springs, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to Kil- patrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., and has filled all of the chairs in the first named. A resi- dence of fifty-four years in Berrien county entitles him to rank with its early settlers, and his identification with many business in- terests and progressive public movements have made him a leading resident of Berrien Springs, while his genuine per- sonal worth entitles him to the regard which is uniformly extended to him by his fel- lowmen.

DANIEL G. W. GAUGLER. Each community has its enterprising citizens- men who are recognized as the leaders in commercial life and activity of the town, whose business capacity and enterprise con- stitute an important element in the growth and proseprity of the community which they represent. Such a man in Berrien Springs is Daniel G. W. Gaugler, who is conducting an undertaking and furniture business. He was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1836, and was the tenth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all of whom reached adult age, while four sons and one daughter are yet living. The father, Wil- liam Gaugler, was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and served as a pri- vate in the war of 1812, while his father, George Gaugler, also a native of Montgom- ery county, and of Holland descent, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. William Gaugler was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Ever, who was likewise a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. She was born July 4, 1801, and was of Holland lineage. The death of William Gaugler oc- curred in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, in 1870, when he was seventy-seven years of age, and his wife died on the 9th of July.

1890, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.

Daniel G. W. Gaugler was reared in his native state, where the public schools at- forded him fair educational privileges. He lived in Pennsylvania until after his mar- riage, which occurred in 1858, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Ott, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth Ott. A week later the young couple left the east and came to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where they arrived on the 5th of August, 1858. The father made the first brick for the county buildings at that place. In 1860 he pur- chased a small tract of land of eighty acres, of which about six acres had been cleared and he then gave his attention to general farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted on the 12th of Octo- ber, 1861, as a member of Company I, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He joined the army as a private and was pro- moted to the rank of corporal and sergeant. being discharged as first sergeant. He served for four years, one month and one day, or until the close of hostilities. Although he was never wounded he sustained a sunstroke, which caused blindness for five months, be- ing unable to see at the time that he returned to his home. He was in the battle of Shiloh, the seige of Vicksburg, the battle of Little Rock and many other engagements, which proved the strength of the Union arms and contributed to the final successes which eventually attended the northern forces. He saw four years' service without a wound nor was he ever taken prisoner. He made a most excellent military record for bravery and fidelity and when the war was over was honorably discharged at Detroit.

Mr. Gaugler on being mustered out went to Pennsylvania and afterward to Elmira, New York, whence he made his way again to Berrien Springs. Here he was appointed postmaster by Andrew Johnson, the office coming to him unsolicited. In 1870 he es- tablished a furniture and undertaking busi- ness, in which he has since continued with excellent success. He carries a well selected line of furniture, and his undertaking de-

familton

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partment is equally well equipped. His store is tasteful in its arrangement, and his progressive business methods, his keen dis- cernment and enterprise, combined with his earnest efforts to please his customers, have secured him a constantly growing and grati- fying trade.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gaugler have been born nine children: Frank O., at home; Herman E., who is located at Straw, Mon- tana; Gordon, at home; Rena B., the wife of A. O. T. Anistenius, of Chicago; and Adessa, at home; the other children are de- ceased. Mr. Gaugier is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Kilpatrick Post, No. 39, G. A. R., in which he has filled all of the chairs. He has been a member of the township board of trustees, was town- ship clerk for four years and has held other local offices, taking an active and helpful interest in public affairs. He is one of the charter members of the Evangelical church, and has labored earnestly for its growth and the extension of its influence, contributing also generously to its support. He assisted in organizing the Odd Fellows lodge and became one of the original mem- bers of the Grand Army of the Republic, thus figuring actively in fraternal circles. What he has done for the county has been done from public-spirited measures and with- out desire for personal preferment or honor. His efforts have been effective and far-reach- ing and during a residence of forty-eight years in this section of the state he has al- ways been recognized as a valued, prominent and representative citizen.

HON. EDWARD L. HAMILTON was born in Niles township, Berrien county, Michigan, December 9, 1857. He was edu- cated in the public schools, and read law in the office of Judge Henry H. Coolidge, be- ing admitted to the bar in 1884: He con- tinued in the active practice of his profession until his election to the fifty-fifth congress in 1896. Since that time he has been re- elected to the fifty-sixth, fifty-seventh, fifty- eighth and fifty-ninth congresses.

As a member of the insular committee Mr. Hamilton assisted in framing the act

for government of the Philippine Islands, also was actively connected with legislation relating to Porto Rico, and as a member of the committee on territories assisted in fram- ing the organic actof theterritory of Hawaii. Subsequently, as chairman of the committee on the territories, he introduced and had charge of the bill to enable the people of Oklahoma and Indian Territory to become a state to be known as the state of Oklahoma, and the people of Arizona and New Mexico to become a state to be known as the state of Arizona, which bill became a law June 16, 1906.

In addition to statehood legislation this : committee also has general jurisdiction of legislation relating to the territories of Ari- zona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Indian Ter- ritory, Hawaii and Alaska; and among other important bills reported, a bill to provide a delegate for Alaska which became a law dur- ing the first session of the fifty-ninth con- gress.

During Mr. Hamilton's service in con- gress speeches delivered by hiin on the tariff, on trusts and on the money question have been printed by the Republican national committee for campaign purposes, one of them to the number of four million copies. So far as Mr. Hamilton's efforts on behalf of the fourth district of Michigan are con- cerned, he has obtained for its three harbors, St. Joseph and. Benton Harbor, South Haven and Saugatuck, appropriations ag- gregating practically a million dollars, being by several times, more than the total sum appropriated for them in their entire history prior to 1896.

Immediately following the inauguration of the rural free delivery of mail by the gov- ernment, in 1897, Mr. Hamilton secured the establishment of experimental routes in the fourth district, which was one of the first in the state to secure such service. There is now complete service in the six counties of the district with two hundred and forty-three routes.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 41

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