A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 47

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

York, while her mother was reared in this county from the age of one year. Her birth occurred in Indiana.

At the time of their marriage Mr. Young and his bride located on a farm in Niles township, a mile and a half north of the town and after a year and a half they removed to their present place west of Niles. Here they have one hundred and eighty acres of land, constituting a valuable and well developed tract of land. Mr. Young carries on general farming and is also en- gaged in the dairy business, and both branches are proving profitable, showing him to be a man of diligence, enterprise and sound business judgment.

Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of five children : Arthur, John. Harry, Homer and Lyle, and all are still at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Young is a Republican, in thorough sym- pathy with the principles of the party, and in its work he has taken an active interest, contributing to the forward movement which results in political victories. He has served as deputy oil inspector for Berrien and Cass counties, under appointment of Governor Pingree, but has not sought office as a reward for party fealty. He is a char- ter member of Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 900, and a worthy representative of the order. Both he and his wife are descended from prominent old pioneer families of the county and in this part of the state where their entire lives have been passed they en- joy the warm regard of many friends.

HON. JAMES B. THOMSON. who in public office has made an excellent record as a citizen of unquestioned loyalty to the gen- eral good and of progressive methods for the betterment of his town and county, re- sides on section 32, Niles township, and is numbered among the prominent old settlers of this part of the state, for he has lived in Niles township for more than a half cen- tury. He was born August 19. 1853. on the farm where he now resides. and is of Scotch lineage. His father, Samuel Thomson, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. and was born in 1798. He remained in the land of

hills and heather until after his marriage, Miss Lillian Atkins becoming his wife. She was also born in Glasgow. Mr. Thomson was a weaver by trade and became a land surveyor and merchant, conducting a store about five miles out of Glasgow. He also acted as magistrate and was thus connected with various interests in his native country. The favorable reports which he heard con- cerning America and its opportunities led him to the new world in 1844. He located on the farm where his son James now re- sides. At that time there was a log cabin on the place and a small portion of the land had been brought under cultivation. With characteristic energy he began its further improvement and development and as the years went by he shared in the usual hard- ships and privations of pioneer life and later enjoyed the benefits of his own labor as manifest in a highly improved farm that re- turned him a good income. He continued to devote his time and energies to farming until his death, which occurred on Christ- mas day of 1882. He was a life-long mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and his Christian faith permeated his entire career and made him straightforward and honor- able in all of his relations of life. He voted with the Democracy and served as justice of the peace and in other local offices. the duties of which were promptly and faith- fully performed. His wife survived him for a long period and died on the 13th of March, 1900, at the very advanced age of ninety-eight years. There were eight chil- dren in the family. all of whom reached manhood or womanhood but only three of the number are now living, the brother of our subject being Samuel C. Thomson, who resides in Howard township, Cass county, where he follows farming. Agnes B. Thom- son makes her home in Niles city.

James B. Thomson was the youngest of the eight children. No event of special im- portance occurred to vary for him the rou- tine of farm life in his boyhood days. He was reared upon the old homestead farm where he now resides and here he has spent his life, his attention being given to gen- eral agricultural pursuits. As the years

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

went by he more and more largely aided in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops were har- vested in the late autumn. He was edu- cated in district school No. 6, in Niles town- ship, and after attaining his majority he cared for his parents, thus repaying them by filial devotion for the care and love which they bestowed upon him in his youth. In December, 1893, he was married to Miss Julia Herkimer, a daughter of Michael and Jane Herkimer. She was born in Bertrand township, Berrien county, her people being early settlers of this part of the state, cast- ing in their lot with its pioneer residents. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson has been born a son, Thomas H., whose birth occurred June 24, 1895. The family home is a com- fortable and attractive residence situated on section 32, Niles township, and here Mr. Thomson owns one hundred and eighty acres of land, which is devoted to general farming. His fields are well tilled and re- spond readily to the care and improvement which are bestowed upon them, thus making his property a valuable and productive farm.

Mr. Thomson is, moreover, recognized as a leader in political circles, being a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. He does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. The first public office that he ever filled was that of school inspector, and in 1887 he was elected supervisor, serving for five years. On the expiration of that period he was re- elected and he has been chosen to the office for five years. He was elected the the State Legislature in 1892, representing the second district of Berrien county. At that time he was filling the office of supervisor but he resigned. He was once more elected super- visor, in 1898, and served until 1904, mak- ing an incumbency in that office of eleven years in Niles township. No higher testi- monial of capable service · could be given than the fact that he has been again and again elected by popular suffrage, and when a member of the general assembly he made a creditable record as one who places the general good before personal aggrandize- ment and desires rather the welfare of the

state at large than the advancement of in- terests which benefit but few. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presby- terian church at Niles. He has a very wide acquaintance in Berrien county, having been a life-long resident here, and the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance, for his career has been characterized by a loyal citizenship, by honesty in business and by fidelity to duty in every relation of life.

AARON CLARK, a representative of a pioneer family of Berrien county and now engaged in farming on section 29, Niles township, was born in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, August 23, 1855. His father, David Clark, was a native of Maryland and was there reared, after which he removed to Ohio, where he maintained his residence until he came to Michigan in 1868. At that time he settled in Buchanan township, Berrien county, and was engaged in farming up to the time of his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wise, was also a native of Maryland and she, too, has passed away. There were thirteen children in the family, only seven of whom are now living.

Aaron Clark was the twelfth in order of birth and is the youngest surviving member of the family. He was a youth of thirteen years when he came with his parents to Michigan and upon the homestead farm in Buchanan township he was reared, assist- ing in its early development and improve- ment. He also worked in a sawmill in Bu- chanan for about six years and was early trained to habits of industry, economy and perseverance-qualities which have been essential factors in his later success.

In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Aaron Clark and Miss Harriet Pears, a daughter of John W. Pears. She was born in London, England, where she remained to the age of fourteen years, when, with her parents, she came to the United States, the family home being established in Buchanan township, Berrien county, Michigan. Fol-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

lowing their marriage Mr. Clark and his bride took up their abode in Buchanan, where they remained for six years and then removed to the Judson farm in Niles town- ship. There for a time Mr. Clark carried on general agricultural pursuits and later he rented the Pears farm for eight years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm in Niles township on section six, and when he sold that property he bought the place on which he now resides, known as the Blake farm and comprising fifty-one acres of land. In addition to this property he cultivates seventy acres, which he rents. He carries on general farming and his fields are well developed, while the utmost care and precision are manifest in the manage- ment of his property interests. He is prac- tical in all that he does and as the years have gone by his persistency of purpose and in- domitable energy have been the means of bringing him a gratifying competence.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been blessed with two sons: Elmer E., who was born in Buchanan township, July 10, 1886; and Frederick, born July 12, 1888. Both are still under the parental roof and as- sist their father in his farm labor. Mr. Clark has been a resident of Berrien county for thirty-six years and has always been the champion of progressive public movements. In politics he is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the growth of the party and its successes, and wherever known he is held in high esteem because of his loyalty, his hon- est convictions and his reliability in business transactions.

ORVILLE CURTIS. M. D. who after careful and thorough preparation is engaged in the successful conduct of a large practice in medicine and surgery in Buchanan, was born in Ballston, Sara- toga county, New York, April 18. 1867. His father. Albert S. Curtis, was a na- tive of the same county and a farmer by occupation. He is now residing at Round Lake, New York, but his wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna M. Betts and was born in Saratoga county in 1833, passed away May 3, 1906. In their

family were four children, two daughters and two sons: Nettie, deceased: Dr. P. C. Curtis, living at Round Lake, New York; Harriet M., the wife of Dr. Baldwin, of Niles, Michigan; and Dr. Orville Curtis.

The youngest of the four children, Dr. Curtis of this review, was reared in his na- tive county and began his education in a private school at Burnt Hills, New York. He afterward attended the Troy Confer- ence Academy at Poultney, Vermont, and the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. His specific preparation for his profession was made in Albany Medical College, New York, from which he was graduated in the class of 1893. and thereafter he practiced for sixteen months in Albany Hospital and for eight months in St. Mary's Hospital in New York, during which time he added broad practical training and experience to his theoretical knowledge. He likewise con- tinued in private practice to some extent in the metropolis of the east, and in 1896 came to Buchanan, where for the past decade he has been in active practice as one of the more successful representatives of the profession. His learning is wide, his judgment sound and his effort as a practitioner was attended with gratifying results when viewed from both a professional and financial standpoint.

In 1904 Dr. Curtis was married to Miss Susan Butler, a daughter of Charles A. and Anna (Dick) Butler, and a native of Bu- chanan, Michigan. Highly esteemed, they occupy an enviable position in social circles, enjoying the hospitality of many of the best homes of Berrien county and the sur- rounding country. Dr. Curtis is identi- fied with many of the social organizations of Buchanan, including the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree as a member of the commandery at Niles. He is a Republican and a member of the school board at Buchanan, while for four years he served on the city council and took an active part in public affairs as a sup- porter of progressive measures of reform and development. In the line of his profes- sion he is connected with the Berrien County Medical Society and the American Medical

DAVID SCHERER AND FAMILY AND FRONT VIEW OF RESIDENCE

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Association and he is examiner for most of the lodges at Buchanan. Laudable ambi- tion, which is the spur of all endeavor, has been manifest throughout his professional career, and broad reading and continued re- search have promoted his efficiency until the consensus of public opinion is altogether favorable regarding his ability and accom- plishments.

JOHN GARWOOD, one of the farm- ers of Niles township, who is alert and enterprising . in his business interests, re- sides. on section II. He was born in the neighboring state of Indiana, the place of his nativity being St. Joseph county and the date of his birth April 23, 1840. The great-grandfather of our subject was a native of England. The family was founded in America by three brothers who came to the United States, while one re- mained in England and never married. His paternal grandfather was Stacy Garwood, who was born in Ohio and was a farmer by occupation. He married and spent his en- tire life in Ohio, devoting his energies to the tilling of the soil. Abner .Garwood, father of our subject, was born in the Buckeye state and became one of the early settlers of St. Joseph county, Indiana. He had, however, in the meantime, taken up · his abode in Pokagon township, Cass county, whence he removed to the Hoosier state! He was a pioneer in this section of the country and aided in the work of transform-" ing the wilderness into a richly cultivated district supplied with all the evidences of a modern civilization. He carried on farm- ing as a life work and died in the eighty- fifth year of his age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Cruse, was a na- tive of Delaware and was of Irish and Scotch lineage. They were married in Ohio and Mrs. Garwood lived to the age of sev- enty-three years. In - the family were ten children, of whom John was the sixth in the order of birth and the third son.

Reared in the county of his nativity, John Garwood spent the days of his, boy- hood and youth in the usual manner of farmer lads, his time occupied with such

duties and pleasures as were consistent with his years. At the age of twenty-nine he went. to Kansas, locating in Cloud county, where. he purchased a farm of one hundred : and sixty acres, improving the same by breaking prairie, cultivating the fields, planting hedge fences and adding other equipments. He re- mained there for „eighteen years engaged in general farming, feeding his corn to hogs. During this time his land greatly appreciated in value and on his removal from the. state he sold his farin of one hundred and sixty acres for forty-five hundred dollars, while the sale of that property netted him sixteen hundred dollars. Returning from the west he again located in St. Joseph county, In- diana, but soon afterward came to Niles township, Berrien county, and purchased the farm whereon he now resides. He has one hundred and twenty acres but rents his land to his son-in-law, while he is practically living retired from active business cares.

On the 13th of November, :1865, Mr. Garwood was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Rupe, and they have one daughter, Sarah E., who is now the wife of Joseph Webber, and has three children, Jessie, Marie and Arthur.

Mr. Garwood has now been a resident of Berrien county for twenty years, during which period he has gained a avide acquaint- ance and enjoys the favorable , regard of many friends. In politics he is a Republican where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, supporting the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for the discharge of the business of city and county. He holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Niles, and has been one of its officers for nineteen years, acting as trustee and in other, official posi -. tions ... . He has also been steward and . his connection with church work covers a- per- iod of thirty years. . He has been untiring in his labors to promote its growth and .ex- tend its influence and his life has been in constant harmony with his professions.

DAVID SCHERER is one of the native sons of Berrien ; county whose life record proves the attractiveness of this

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

district as a place of residence, for he age. In early youth he became familiar has always remained within its borders, with hard toil and his unremitting labor was a valuable element in the successful im- provement of the fields. He was married February 20, 1873, to Miss Louisa Arent, a daughter of Frank Arent, of Lake town- ship, Berrien county. Prior to his mother's death he had purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property and he has since added an adjoining tract of forty acres and a valuable piece of timber land. In 1878 he built a large bank barn, and in 1888 erected the residence which was built at a cost of five thousand dollars. It is a large twelve-room brick house finished throughout in hard wood and is altogether one of the best and most attractive homes in Bainbridge township. It occupies a fine location, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country. The farm is largely devoted to horticultural pursuits, there being sixteen hundred peach trees upon the place and three acres of apple trees. In addition to the care of his or- chards Mr. Scherer is engaged in general farming and is also a breeder of Poland China hogs. He likewise holds property in Benton Harbor and in Watervliet and has thus made judicious investments until he is today one of the substantial citizens of the community. enjoying its opportunities and profiting by the business conditions here afforded. He was born March 8, 1849, on the farm where he now lives, his parents being David and Magdalena (Arent) Scherer, who were na- tives of Prussia. They came to America in 1846, accompanied by Karl Scherer, grand- father of our subject, who died in 1849. Seven children had been born to them in the old country. One sister, Mrs. Mary Heff- ner, the wife of Christian Heffner, had been in this country for six years. Later a brother, David Scherer, came to the United States and went to Indiana. After reaching Ber- rien county David Scherer, Sr., purchased the present homestead farm, comprising one hundred and ten acres of land lying on the north township line and unimproved, being covered with a native growth of timber. In the midst of the forest Mr. Scherer built a log cabin, in which he lived and died, pass- ing away in 1860, at the age of sixty years. The widow and her younger children re- mained on the farm and carried on the work there. She erected a frame residence there in 1863 and made it her home until called to her final rest on the 7th of September, 1873, when she had reached the age of sixty-seven years and three months. The members of her family were as follows : Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scherer have been born eight children : Frank D., who is mar- ried and is a merchant at Springport, Michi- gan; Rosa, the wife of Frank Heffner, of Watervliet; Minnie, who is engaged in clerking in Watervliet; Carrie, the wife of John Klipp, of Watervliet; George W., who is engaged in general merchandising at Francisco, Michigan; Arthur J., who is clerking in a drug store in Benton Harbor ; Harry G. and Clyde C., both at home. Peter, a farmer of Bainbridge township, who died at the age of sixty-six years; Jacob, who spent his life on the old homestead farm and died at the age of seventy-three years; Louisa, who became the wife of Charles Russell and passed away at the age of twenty-nine; Charley; Carrie, who mar- ried Stephen Boyle and died in Benton Har- bor March 31, 1906, in her seventieth year; Henrietta, the wife of Charles Krieger, of Chicago; Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Hadlow, now residing at Benton Harbor ; David, of this review ; and John, a farmer of Watervliet township.

David Scherer, whose name introduces this record. remained at home during his mother's life and was her main assistant on the farm after his father's death, which occurred when he was but eleven years of

In his political views Mr. Scherer is a Democrat · with independent tendencies, vot- ing for the man whom he regards as best qualified for office at local elections but cast- ing a party ballot for national candidates. Fraternally he is connected with Coloma tent of the Knights of the Maccabecs. From an early age he has been dependent upon his own resources, leading a busy, useful

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and honorable life, and his diligence and perseverance have constituted him one of the prosperous farmers of Bainbridge township.

W. E. HOADLEY is one of the native sons of Niles township, Berrien county, his birth occurring on section twenty-eight, January 29, 1864. His father, Jared Hoadley, was a native of Vermont, and after residing for some time in Indiana .

removed from that state to Berrien coun- ty. His first visit to this county was made in 1837, and he became one of its earliest settlers. He taught school for a short time and then went to Elkhart, Indi- ana, where he engaged in merchandising for about four years. He afterward returned to Berrien county and became the proprietor of a ·warehouse at Niles, which he conducted for some years before the railroad was built to the town. Later he purchased a farm on section twenty-eight, Niles township, and devoted his remaining days to general ag- ricultural pursuits. He was born in 1817 and reached the advanced age of seventy- eight years, passing away in 1895. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Houghland, by whom he had three chil- dren, two daughters and a son: Rodney, who is living in the county ; Anna, deceased; and Kate, the wife of Charles Brandess, of Wisconsin. After Mr. Hoadley lost his first wife he married Miss Susan Ashcraft, a na- tive of New York, who came to Michigan with her parents when about twelve years of age. By the second marriage there is a son and two daughters, the sisters of our subject being Mary, who is a teacher in the schools of Logansport, Indiana ; and Louise, the wife of William Gillett, who is residing on the old homestead in Niles township.

W. E. Hoadley is the eldest of the three children of the fathers' second marriage and was reared in his native township, obtain- ing his education in the public schools of Niles. In 1896 he was married to Miss Effie Dickey, a daughter of B. F. and Ella (Stowe) Dickey. Mrs. Hoadley was born in Ohio and was brought to Berrien county by her parents when about seven years of age. Her preliminary education, acquired

in the public schools of Niles, was supple- mented by study in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Indiana, and later she engaged in teaching for a number of years in the public schools of Niles. In 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Hoadley removed to Echo, Oregon, where he was engaged in merchandising. He also served as post- master of that town and conducted a ware- house. He remained on the Pacific coast for about three years and then returned to Berrien county, after which he took up his abode on the farm where he now makes his home. He has ninety-three acres of land, which is devoted to the production of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate. He again visited the Pacific coast in 1905, spending six months in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.

Mr. Hoadley gives his political alle- giance to the Democracy and served as town- ship clerk of Niles, also as township treas- urer for two years and in other local posi- tions. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias at Niles.

JOHN M. ROUCH, engaged in the lumber business in Buchanan, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1840, and has found in the business conditions of the west opportunities which he sought and which through their utili- zation have led to substantial results. He comes of an old family of the east. His ancestry can be traced back to Germany in 1642, and from the fatherland at a very early period in the colonization of the new world representatives of the name came to America and took up their abode in Penn- sylvania. It was in that state that Henry Rouch, father of our subject, was born and reared. He was married there to Miss Eliza Zering, also a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was of German descent, while her mother was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Rouch made their home in Penn- sylvania and became the parents of five sons and two daughters, but the daughters died in early life and one son when about six years of age, while the other four reached manhood.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 47

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