A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 49

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 49

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In 1887, Mr. Cart was united in mar- riage to Miss Mattie Blanchard, of Howard township, Cass county. They have resided in Berrien county for eighteen years and Mr. Cart has been deeply interested in all that pertains to its upbuilding and progress. In politics he has been a life-long Republican. Wherever known he is held in high esteem because he is loyal to the principles which

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govern upright manhood, which mark for success in the business world and which pro- mote good citizenship.

OTIS W. BALLARD, an old settler whose active participation in the work of general progress and in events which pro- mote public improvement makes him well entitled to representation in this volume, now resides on section 34, Niles township. He is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Lebanon, Madison county, on1 the 21st of December, 1833. His father, Jere- miah Ballard, was also a native of Madison county, New York, where he was reared. By occupation he was a farmer and in the year 1852 he came to Berrien county, Michi- gan, locating on a farm where his son Otis now resides. He died in his ninetieth year. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to William Ballard, who came from England to America in 1650. He was the father of Jeremiah Ballard and the grand- father of Jeremiah Ballard, Jr., who was born in Salem, Massachusetts. The last named was the father of Dane Ballard, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts and was a farmer by occupation. . His son, Samuel Ballard, became the father of our subject and in early manhood he wedded Clarissa Huston, who was also a native of Madison county, New York, while her father, Thomas Huston, was born in England. Like her husband, Mrs. Ballard spent her remaining days in Berrien county, where she died in her seventy-fourth year. There were four children in her family, three sons and a daughter, all of whom reached adult age. Thomas S. Ballard, the eldest, was born in Madison county, New York, and after re- siding for a time in Berrien county went to Texas but subsequently returned to Ber- rien county. Later he was a resident of New Buffalo, Michigan, for some time, but eventually again took up his abode in Niles city, where his death occurred in 1861. Milton M. Ballard, the second son, was born in Madison county, New York, and came with the family to Michigan in 1852. He married Miss Ellen J. Chapman, a daughter of Arvin Chapman and located on the old homestead, where he carried on gen-

eral farming. He was associated with his brother Otis in his farming operations until his death, which occurred on the 2Ist of December, 1871. His widow is still living and there were four children of the family, as follows : Edward M., who died in 1890; Fred, a contractor and builder in Berwyn, Illinois : Harry, who wedded May Thomas, of Decatur, Michigan, and resides upon a part of the old homestead property of Otis Ballard; and Ralph, who was born in Niles township, Berrien county, July 5, 1870, and was married in 1898 to Mary Huston, a daughter of Oliver Huston, of Andover, South Dakota.

Otis W. Ballard, the youngest, spent the first nineteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, Michigan, in 1852. He had acquired his education in the common and select schools and since coming to this state he has re- sided continuously upon the same farm, de- voting his time and energies to general agri- cultural pursuits and the dairy business. He is now quite successfully engaged in the dairy business in connection with his neph- ews and for this purpose they keep twenty- five cows. Mr. Ballard's farm comprises one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining Niles city and it is a rich and fertile tract, the fields producing good crops, while ex- cellent pasture is afforded for the stock. Mr. Ballard is well known in this part of the state, having been a resident of Niles township for fifty-four years, during which period he has been closely identified with its growth and development. Mr. Ballard and his nephews, Harry and Ralph, are oper- ating in partnership the farm of one hun- dred and fifty acres and in addition are conducting a dairy business which is now a large and profitable industry. His life has been characterized by activity and useful- ness and his careful control of business in- terests has made him one of the propserous residents of Niles township. Moreover he deserves mention in this volume as one who from pioneer times has been a witness of the growth and development of this part of the state, having for fifty-four years resided upon the farm which is yet his home. He-

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has seen the forests cut down and the land converted into rich fields whereon are an- nually gathered abundant harvests. He has seen roads opened up, bridges built, the telegraph and telephone introduced , while enterprises of all kinds have been established in the towns and cities and thus the work of progress and improvement has been car- ried steadily forward until the county today with its splendid advancement bears little resemblance to the locality in which Mr. Ballard arrived more than a half century ago.

J. A. GARLAND, M. D., who in the successful practice of his profession has demonstrated his broad knowledge of medical principles and approved methods of the healing art, was born in Peoria, Illinois, June 15, 1871, and is the only child of Asa and Marietta (McClelland) Garland. The father, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, spent his boyhood and youth in that country and came to Amer- ica when about thirty years of age. He was married in Peoria, Illinois, in 1869, to Miss Marietta McClelland, who was born in this country but was of Scotch lineage. His death occurred March I. 1871, and his widow, still surviving him, resides with Dr. Garland.

In the public and high schools of Chicago Dr. Garland continued his studies and sup- plemented his preliminary education by pro- fessional training in the Northwestern Uni- versity, being graduated from the medical department in 1895. He afterward pursued post graduate work in Chicago for a year and in June, 1896, came to Buchanan, since which time he has continued in active prac- tice with a patronage that is constant grow- ing in volume and importance. The public opinion concerning his ability is generally favorable and his skill has been demonstrated in his successful care of many intricate cases and his solution of many difficult medical problems.

On the 27th of November, 1901, Dr. Garland wedded Miss Gertrude Friesleven, who was born in Chicago, and is a daughter of Justus Friesleven, a native of Germany. Dr. Garland has been a Mason for ten years, belonging to the blue lodge, and is also con-

nected with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen. His political allegiances is given to the Republican party and for many years he has served as town- ship health officer. In the line of his pro- fession his membership relations are with the Berrien County Medical Society, the Missis- sippi Valley Medical Association, the Amer- ican Medical Association and the Red Cross Society, and he is neglectful of no profes- sional duty but maintains a high standard of ethics as a representative of the medical fraternity.

THEODORE METZGER carries on general farming on section 29, Niles town- ship, where he owns and operates one hundred and three acres of good land. He dates his residence in this county since 1858, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm which is now his home. He was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, December 18, 1847, and comes of German lineage, in both the pa- ternal and maternal lines. His father, Ferd- inand Metzger, was a native of Germany and came to America when about twenty- four years of age, locating in St. Joseph county, Indiana. After his arrival in the new world he followed the business of re- pairing clocks but later located on a farm in St. Joseph county, where he carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits for some time. His last days, however, were passed in Bertrand township, Berrien county, Michigan, where he died when about forty-eight years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Barbara Santley, was also born in Germany and lived to be about forty-five years of age. Their marriage was blessed with four children.

Theodore Metzger, the youngest child, was only about one year old at the time of the father's death and was left an orphan at the early age of three years. He was then reared by his uncle, John Metzger, in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and is indebted to the public schools of that locality for the educational privileges he received. In 1863, at about seventeen years of age, when the country was in the throes of rebellion, he offered his services to the government, en-

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listing in Company H, Seventeenth Michi- gan Volunteers, and his regiment was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac. He was in the old Seventeenth Regiment for about six months. He then enlisted in Com- pany H, of the Thirtieth Michigan Regi- ment and was in service till the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge June 23. 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. Metzger remained with his uncle until twenty-one years of age, when he began rail- roading as brakeman on the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. He was afterward employed by the Lake Shore Railroad, acting as fire- man for a time, while later he won promo- tion to the position of engineer. For three years he was thus connected with the Lake Shore and Northwestern Railroads and he spent altogether about eight years in the railroad service but was obliged to aban- don that occupation on account of impaired eyesight. Accordingly he sought other business interests and turned his attention to farming in St. Joseph county, where he rented land for a time. In 1888 he removed to the farm on section twenty-nine, Niles township, where he now resides and in the interim he has successfully carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits. He has been en- gaged in threshing for about twenty-three years and has one of the best outfits for this purpose in the county or state. The farm comprises one hundred and three acres and is devoted to the production of general crops, such as are best adapted to soil and climate.

In 1884 Mr. Metzger was united in mar- riage to Miss Addie Metzger, and they have six living children, while they lost their eldest son, Clarence. The others are Gene- vieve. Florence, Theodore, Lawrence, Marie and Edith, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Mr. Metzger votes with the Democracy and is an ardent champion of party principles and policy. He has served as highway commissioner of Niles town- ship but otherwise has held no public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs, which claim from him close application and energy and which in return yield him a gratifying annual in- come.

MRS. POLLY YERINGTON re- sides in Bainbridge township, and is the widow of George W. Yerington, who was classed with the leading citizens of this part of the state for many years. He was born September 29, 1842, and died September 24, 1905, his loss being deeply regretted throughout the community where he was so widely and favorably known. His parents were John and Laura (Vester) Yerington, both natives of New York, whence they removed to Ohio. Their son George was born near Findlay, Ohio, whence he came to Michigan, but after three years here passed he removed to Iowa. In about 1858, however, the mother with her four children returned to Michigan, where her brother-in-law, Edwin Yerington, was living, making his home in Benton town- ship, where his family still resides. Mrs. Laura Yerington having lost her husband, afterward became the wife of James Brewster, who lived in Bainbridge township. She survived to the age of sixty years. Her four children were George W .; Lydia Ann, who became the wife of Balaam Dodge; Emma, the wife of Ed. Disbrow, of Ban- gor, Michigan; and Angeline, the wife of Joseph Marion, of Battle Creek, this state.

George Yerington, reared under the pa- rental roof, went to Michigan and afterward to Iowa with his parents, and with his mother returned to Berrien county. At the outbreak of the Civil war, feeling that his first duty was to his country, he enlisted in Company D, of the Western Sharpshooters, and served throughout the period of hos- tilities, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He always kept in touch with his regiment by attending its various reunions. This was a noted military organization, of which Alonzo Vincent, later warden of the State penitentiary, and others were members. Fourteen of his old comrades of the company to which he be- longed attended his funeral and acted as his pallbearers. When at the front he was a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the performance of any military duty as- signed him, and he thus nobly aided in de- fense of the stars and stripes.

Returning to the north, Mr. Yerington

GEORGE W. YERINGTON AND FAMILY

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was married March 4, 1866, to Miss Polly Wise, a sister of H. M. and Samuel Wise, and a half sister of Balaam Dodge. She was born in Bainbridge township and was married just before reaching the age of twenty-one years. Her parents were George and Mary (Yund) Wise. The latter was a daughter of Solomon and Polly (Shafer) Yund, and was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1818. When seven years of age she accompanied her parents on their removal to Livingston county, New York, and on Christmas day of 1836 she gave her hand in marriage to George Wise. In 1843, with their four chil- dren, they took passage on a canal boat for Rochester and for Buffalo, New York, and while enroute their eldest daughter, Katie, then five years of age, was killed by a low bridge. They proceeded to Erie, Pennsyl- vania, where they were joined by Mr. Wise's parents, Leonard and Barbara Wise, and two sisters, Lucetta and Sallie, also John Lewis, a brother-in-law, and his family. They started for Detroit, going by way of Mackinac and Chicago and crossed the lake on the steamer Champion, Captain Eben B. Ward commanding, to St. Joseph, Michi- gan, and thence proceeded to Keeler town- ship, Van Buren county, where they re- mained for a summer. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Wise took up their abode in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, where his death occurred October 1, 1895, while Mrs. Wise passed away July 3, 1906, at the very ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years, five months and sixteen days.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yerington lived for forty years upon the farm where the widow now resides. When they took up their abode there it was all cov- ered with timber save that a small clearing had been made and a little cabin had been built, in which they resided until the pres- ent residence was erected two or three years later. Mr. Yerington placed seventy acres of his land under cultivation, and in order to clear the fields he burned much valuable tim- ber. He personally did the hard work in- cident to preparing the fields for the plow and placing them under cultivation and al- ways led a very active life. For thirty-five

years he was the principal thresher in this vicinity, using at first an old horse power engine, later a portable engine and subse- quently a traction engine. In this work he covered a wide area, doing much threshing in Silver Creek township, Van Buren county, as well as in various parts of Berrien county. He threshed for different farmers for nearly thirty years.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yerington were born two sons and a daughter, George, now in Keeler, and Horace, in Bainbridge, while Ada Ann is the wife of C. J. Pitcher, of Sisters Lakes. Mr. Yerington belonged to the Odd Fellows Society of Keeler and his funeral services were conducted under the auspices of that order, Rev. Silkwood of Keeler officiating. His remains were in- terred in Bainbridge cemetery. He trav- eled life's journey for almost sixty-three years and was very active and enterprising, moreover he was straightforward and relia- ble in all his dealings. His life entitled him to the respect which was uniformly given him and he left to his family an untarnished name. His widow yet remains upon the old homestead, renting her fields. Her residence is on the old territorial road ten miles east of Benton Harbor, situated in a picturesque district, well adapted to the raising of fruit and grain, so that the countryside presents a most attractive picture of fertility.

GEORGE W. NOBLE is a man of action rather than of theory, and his spirit of enterprise and determination are constantly manifest in the conduct of his business interests in Buchanan, where he is well known as a merchant, carrying a stock of clothing, boots and shoes and men's furnishing goods. Born in Albion, New York, on the 9th of October, 1842, he is a son of William Noble, also a native of Albion and a grandson of James Noble. The paternal great-grandfather, was Joseph Noble, who came to this country with Gen- eral John Burgoyne. William Noble was a farmer and mechanic and in the year 1871 came to Michigan, settling in Ann Arbor, where he engaged in contracting and build- ing, erecting some of the university build- ings in that city. His death occurred there

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when he was sixty-three years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Polly D. Bragg, was born in Monroe county, New York, and was reared in Orleans county, that state. She is now eighty-five years of age and still makes her home at Ann Arbor. In the family were three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter, of whom the last named died at the age of three years. The brother, A. L. Noble, became a promi- nent business man of Ann Arbor and died in 1894.

George W. Noble, who was the eldest of the family, was reared in the place of his nativity and acquired his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools, after which he attended the Genesee College. He came to Michigan in 1863, locating first in Van Buren county, where he engaged in teach- ing school for three years, when, abandon- ing the profession, he directed his energies to the field of commercial pursuits, and in 1865 purchased an interest in a shoe busi- ness in Paw Paw. Selling out there in 1868 he removed to Buchanan and established his present store, which he has conducted successfully for the past thirty-eight years, being the oldest business man in the town. He now carries a large and well selected line of clothing, men's furnishing goods. boots and shoes, and is one of the leading representatives of business interests here. his enterprising spirit and determination combined with close application, enabling him to carry forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes. He also has a store in Niles.

In November, 1864. Mr. Noble was united in marriage to Miss Ophelia A. Ross, a daughter of Samuel G. and Phebe Ross. who were natives of Orleans county. New York. They have two sons and two daugh- ters: Walter A., who is conducting his father's branch store at Niles: Lillian E .. the wife of H. E. Starrett, of Oak Park. Illinois : George W., who is engaged in the lumber business at Evanston, Illinois, and who married Clara, daughter of Albert G. Lane of that place; and Winifred M., the wife of Fred Setchell. of Chicago. Mr. Noble is accorded a position of prominence in the public life of Buchanan, and for eight

years served as postmaster under appoint- ment of Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt. During his connection with commercial in- terests here, covering a period of nearly forty years, he has gained and maintained a high reputation for business integrity. His views upon questions of public policy are pronounced and his influence may always be counted upon in behalf of good government and the advancement of the interests of the home people.

THOMAS F. HOUSWERTH, who devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and makes his home oil section eighteen, Bertrand township, is one of the worthy citizens that Indiana has furnished to her neighboring state of Michi- gan. He was born in Bristol, April 24. 1872. and is one of the two sons of William and Sarah (Meiser) Houswerth, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Re- moving to the middle west the father set- tled in Elkhart county, Indiana, about 1866. and in 1875 came to Berrien county. Michi- gan. He is now, however, residing in Bris- tol, Indiana, but his wife passed away in 1893. They had two sons, and Albert is now a resident of South Bend.

Thomas F. Houswerth was but three years old when brought by his parents from Indiana to Berrien county, and upon the home farm in Bertrand township was reared. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and when not busy with his text-books, his time was largely occupied in farm labor, so that he early became famil- iar with the duties that devolve upon the agriculturist in his care of the fields and of the stock. He has made farming his life work and has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he cultivates various cereals and also makes a specialty of rais- ing potatoes, the soil being especially adapted for the production of this tuber.

On the 25th of February. 1896. Mr. Houswerth was married to Miss Zelma Dempsey, a daughter of Wesley and Libbie (Dakin) Dempsey. She was born in Bert- rand township. Berrien county, where her parents located at an early day. In the fam- ily are two children, Ernest and Fern. Both

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Mr. and Mrs. Houswerth have many warm friends in the community and a wide ac- quaintance. They are members of the Evan- gelical church and his political allegiance is given to the Democracy. His life has not been marked by events of exciting interest but has been characterized by' a devotion to duty in all relations which makes him worth the confidence and good will which are uniformly extended to him.

JOHN J. HASTINGS, deceased, was one of the old settlers of Niles township, and the history of the early days demands that he be given representation, for he took an active part in the pioneer development and progress. A native of Ireland, he came to America when a young man and was about twenty years of age when he arrived in Berrien county. He was married to Miss Margaret McCue, and they began their domestic life upon a farm in Niles township, where they lived for many years, rearing a family of eight children. Throughout the period of his residence here Mr. Hastings carried on general agricultural pursuits and he aided in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. He shared in all the hardships and privations incident to pio- neer life and the progress in keeping with the spirit of advancement, which has wrought great changes in Michigan. He was about sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, while his wife passed away when about fifty years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hastings were born the following named children: Nellie, Mary, Bessie, Thomas, Lawrence, Lloyd, Paul and Margaret.

Thomas Hastings, the eldest son of the family, was born on the old homestead farm in Niles township, on the 29th of April, 1885. He was reared and educated in his native place, obtaining his education in the country schools. About one hundred and twenty acres of land was inherited by him and the other members of the family, and Thom J. Hastings has charge of the farm, while his sisters engage in teaching. He car- ries on general agricultural pursuits, raising both grain and stock and the home is on section 24. Niles township, where all his

brothers and sisters were born. The family are communicants of the Catholic church in Niles and are highly esteemed in the community where so many years have been spent by them. The family has figured in connection with the development and pro- gress of this part of the state since pioneer times, and Thomas Hastings, as well as his father, bears an excellent reputation as an enterprising agriculturist.

BENJAMIN F. BUTZBACH, of the Battlement Drug Company of Benton Har- bor, was born in Bainbridge township, Ber- rien county in 1871. He is classed with the wide-awake and enterprising young business men of the city and has attained to a position of prestige in commercial cir- cles through his own unaided efforts. As the name indicates, he is of German lineage. His father, Philip H. Butzbach, was born in Germany in 1828 and came to America when twenty years of age. He was a son of Henry Butzbach, who crossed the At- lantic after the emigration of his son Philip, and spent his last days in Bainbridge town- ship, Berrien county. upon the old homestead farm, where he died when more than seventy years of age. Philip H. Butzbach settled in Bainbridge township, where he took up a tract of government land, comprising one hundred and eight acres, which was entirely wild and unimproved. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of the county and like his neighbors he performed the arduous task of clearing and cultivating new land. He placed most of that property under the plow and he now has a fine fruit orchard of twenty acres, raising all kinds of fruit including apples and peaches, which he ships in large quantities. He planted the orchard himself and it is now in excellent bearing condition. His fields, too, are pro- ductive, yielding good crops and he is still accounted one of the successful farmers of this county, in which he has made his home for almost six decades. Great changes have occurred during this period by reason of the building of the railroads, the introduction of the telegraph and telephone and also of improved machinery which facilitates the work in various departments of business

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 49

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