A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 50

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

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

life. He married Miss Blondine Harmon, a native of Germany, who came from the fatherland and settled in Bainbridge town- ship, Berrien county, in pioneer times. Mrs. Butzbach is still living and has for many years traveled life's journey with her hus- band. They have reared a family of thirteen children, of whom two have passed away. Those who yet survive are Jacob; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Friday; Henry; Louise, the wife of Charles Christian; George; Lydia, the wife of Peter Christian, and a brother of her sister's husband; Philip H .; Anna, the wife of E. L. Miller; Mary, the wife of George Morlock; Benjamin F .; and Albert.

Benjamin F. Butzbach is the tenth in order of birth of the surviving members of the father's family. He was reared upon the old homestead and one can picture him as a farmer boy attending the district schools, interested in his lessons and equally interested in the games of the playground. In the summer months as he grew in strength and age his time was demanded for the ser- vice of the fields. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in Benton Harbor College, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1891. His taste was for a commercial rather than an agri- cultural career and following the completion of his college course he accepted a clerkship in the drug store of George M. Bell & Com- pany. No higher testimonial of his active service and faithfulness to duty could be given than the statement of the fact that he remained in the employ of that firm for eleven years, leaving it to engage in busi- ness on his own account, when, in 1902 he purchased an interest in the Battlerent Drug Company of Benton Harbor and be- came manager of the store, which he has since successfully conducted. He has made his place of business an attractive one to the general public by reason of the neat and tasteful appearance of the store, his straight- forward business dealings, his earnest de- sire to please and his uniform courtesy to his patrons.

In 1902. in Benton Harbor, occurred the marriage of Mr. Butzbach and Miss Ada Whitely, of Muskegon, Michigan. They

are well known in the social circles of the city and the number of their friends is coll- stantly increasing as the number of their acquaintances grow. In his political views Mr. Butzbach is a Republican but without aspiration for office. Matters of local pro- gress, however, are of deep interest to him and he is never remiss in the faithful per- formance of the duties of citizenship.

ELMER E. ROUSE. From humble clerkship have come some of the most promi- nent merchants of the country and it is not an unusual thing in an American common- wealth for a man to rise from a humble position to rank with the leaders in com- mercial pursuits, political circles or in those walks of life wherein are developed the in- tellectual forces of a community. Elmer E. Rouse belongs to that class of men who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of discourage- ments and opposition. He is a native of Minnesota, his birth having occurred in Eden Prairie in 1862. He represents one of the old families of the state, his father Philander H. Rouse, having been born in Saline township, Washtenaw county, Michi- gan, where in early life he followed the occupation of farming. but afterward lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and subse- quently carried on general agricultural pur- suits in Benton township. Berrien county, He married Miss Flora Bell, a native of Al- bany. New York. His death occurred in Ben- ton Harbor in 1900, when he was sixty-nine years of age. but his widow still survives and now makes her home in Wisconsin. In their family were ten children, seven of whom are living: Belden, a resident of Kalamazoo. Michigan: Elmer E., of this review : Howard M. : Winthrop B., who re- sides in Benton Harbor, Michigan ; Myrtle, the wife of F. J. Hendershot. of Marblehead, Missouri, who is principal of a school there, while his wife is the musical instructor in the same school; Charlotte, who married Herman Stopple and resides in Walworth, Wisconsin ; and Roscoe R., also making his home in Walworth.

Elmer E. Rouse was reared in Minne- sota to the age of two years, and then in

George Bridgeford

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Wisconsin till ten years of age, and then came to Michigan, completing his education in the schools of Washtenaw county. He clerked in a drug store in Saline township, Washtenaw county, spending six years in that way, after which he came to Benton Harbor in 1888, being employed as a clerk in a drug store in this city for two years. In 1891 he engaged in the drug business on his own account as a member of the firm of Lowe & Rouse, having a store at the corner of Main and Pipestone streets, where the Red Cross drug store is now located. He continued in this business for seven or eight years and in the summer of 1898 he embarked in the manufacture of ice cream for the trade on a small scale. In this busi- ness he has since continued and has ex- tended the field of his activity by including the manufacture of soft drinks. He like- wise deals in all kinds of soda fountain sup- plies and from a small beginning has de- veloped a well equipped plant for the suc- cessful conduct of a business that is now the largest of its kind in southwestern Michi- gan. He noted the demands of his trade and set to work to meet these and has car- ried forward his business undertakings along lines that have been entirely satis- factory to his patrons and have brought him gratifying prosperity.

Mr. Rouse has been married twice. In 1889, in Benton Harbor, he wedded Miss Florine Winans, a daughter of the late Dr. Richard Winans. She died on the 5th of December, 1900, at the age of forty years, leaving two children, Carrie Belle and Mon- tello E., both of whom were born in Benton Harbor. In May, 1902, in this city, Mr. Rouse was again married, his second union geing with Ida M. Brooks, a daughter of Dr. William E. Brooks, D. D., of Benton Harbor.

Mr. Rouse belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Maccabees Tent . He is a Republican in politics and was supervisor for two years, while for one year he served as treasurer of Benton town- ship. In his business life there have been no especially helpful conditions, and in fact he has had to formulate his own plans and carry them forward without any assistance. His

life, however, proves what intelligence, dili- gence and probity may accomplish in the way of success in life.

GEORGE BRIDGEFORD is a vet- eran of the Union Army who, when the tocsin of war was sounded, offered his services to the government and ably de- fended the stars and stripes, making a most creditable military record. He re- sides in Bainbridge township, where he is now engaged in general farming and fruit- raising. His birth occurred in West Sparta, Livingston county, New York, September 10, 1839, and in the fall of 1857, when a youth of eighteen years he came with the family to Michigan, their destination being Bainbridge township, while the following year they located upon the farm which is still his home. His parents were George and Catherine (Wise) Bridgeford, the latter a sister of George Wise, a well known pioneer resident of Bainbridge township. The father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 25, Bainbridge town- ship, and began the development of a farm, which he continued to cultivate suc- cessfully until his later years. He died in 1876, in his eighty-second year, and thus passed away one of the early settlers and re- spected citizens of his locality. His son, George Bridgeford, Jr., and his brother William, who had but one arm, bought the home place, which was all covered with tim- ber when it came into their possession. They paid for this tract three dollars and a half per acre. Their mother had died when our subject was a young lad and there was an- other son in the family, Henry Bridgeford, who was reared by his grandparents after his mother's death. He, too, became a sol- dier of the Civil war, serving in the same company and regiment as Mr. Bridgeford of this review, and he died in the hospital at Rome, Georgia, when but twenty-four years of age.

George Bridgeford and his brother reso- lutely undertook the task of clearing, de- veloping and cultivating their land, and at the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war they had thirty acres under culti- vation. On the 23d of September, 1861, at

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President Lincoln's first call for troops to serve for three years, he offered his sery- ices to the government, believing that his first duty was to his country. He therefore put aside all business and personal consid- erations and joined Company B, of the Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharpshooters. being constantly on duty with his company until the expiration of its term of service. On the 9th of May, 1864, he was wounded on the skirmish line before the battle of Resaca, a musket ball piercing his right side. He was sent to the hospital and finally was transferred to the hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he remained for three months. As soon as he had sufficiently re- covered his health he rejoined his regiment at Atlanta and was with that command on the march to the sea. He also participated in the Carolina campaign and went to Wash- ington, where he took part in the grand re- view, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. His first term of enlistment having expired he had veteranized with the same company and he remained a faithful, loyal and valorous advocate of the Union cause until the war was ended and the country no longer needed his service.

Mr. Bridgeford then returned to the home farm and lived with his brothers and sisters upon this place. His brother Will- iam died December 20, 1900, in his seventy- fifth year. There were ten children in the father's family, but only two ever married. Those who remained upon the home farm were William, George, Susan and Amanda, and the last named died upon the old home- stead at the age of forty-five years. The sister Susan is now living with her brother George, acting as his housekeeper. The farm comprises one hundred and thirty- seven acres of land, all of which is now owned by George Bridgeford of this review, who has purchased the interest of the other heirs. He has about one hundred acres under cultivation and thirty-seven acres in a second growth of timber. The farm was all originally covered with heavy timber, which he sold to the amount of four thou- sand dollars, although he lost twelve hun-

dred dollars of this. He now rents his fields, while he devotes himself to building fences. He has rebuilt over three miles of fence since his brother's death. Before his broth- er's death all their business interests were in partnership, but Mr. Bridgeford of this review is now sole owner of the farm, which is a valuable and productive property.

In his political views he is a pronounced Republican, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has never been called on to serve on the jury, has never had a lawsuit, nor has he ever been sued nor sued any man. His life has been devoted to the farm and yet in all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag upon the battlefields of the south.

FRANK H. PLATT. one of the native sons of Berrien county, is a practical and successful business man, connected with in- surance interests in Benton Harbor. His birth occurred in Niles. February 19. 1861. His father. George W. Platt. Jr., is also a native of Niles and now makes his home in Benton Harbor. The mother bore the maiden name of Jane E. Crandall and was born in New York. In the family were three children, of whom two are living. the sister of our subject being Mrs. Eva Huntington. For a number of years the father was en- gaged in the hardware business at St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, but is now living a retired life in Benton Harbor, where he and his wife occupy a pleasant home in the enjoyment of the fruit of his former labor.

The paternal grandfather. George W. Platt, was one of the early settlers of Michi- gan. He was born in Pittsfield. Massa- chusetts, and his ancestors for many genera- tions were natives of the old Bay state.

In the public schools of St. Joseph, Mich- igan, Frank H. Platt acquired his prelimi- nary education, which was supplemented by study in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Chicago, Illinois, from which in- stitution he was graduated in 1878. He then engaged as city buyer with a wholesale carriage and hardware house in Chicago, which he thus represented for two years,

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and upon his return to Benton Harbor he assisted his father in the hardware business from 1882 until 1889. He afterward en- gaged in other business pursuits for some time, and in 1890 he became a member of the Benton Harbor Milling Company, of which he was afterward made secretary and treasurer. He was one of the incorporators of the company which was organized in 1887 with George B. Tatman as president and Norman Sage as vice president. In 1896 Mr. Platt organized, with others, the Patri- cians, an insurance and fraternal order, which was incorporated with the following officers: W. C. Hicks, president; R. J. Jarvis, vice president ; Frank H. Platt, sec- retary and A. N. Woodruff, treasurer. These gentlemen still occupy their respective positions and the business of the company has continually grown and has been securely established upon a safe and paying basis.

Mr. Platt has been married twice. On the 17th of July, 1885, in Benton Harbor, he wedded Miss Jennie Kingsly, who was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and died July 17, 1887, leaving one son, George Fern- leigh. Her father was George W. Kingsly, of St. Joseph. On the 25th of October, 1890, Mr. Platt was married to Wilhelmina Meech, a daughter of George and Mary J. Meech and a native of New York. There were two children born of this union, but one has passed away, the living daughter being Helen Marie, whose birth occurred in Benton Harbor.

In his political views Mr. Platt is a stalwart Republican and fraternally is prom- inent, being a valued member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges in Benton Harbor, the Court of Honor, the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees. Early realiz- ing that truth as set forth centuries ago by the old Greek philosopher, "Earn thy re- ward; the gods give naught to sloth," Mr. Platt has worked persistently and energetic- ally and in his business career has made a creditable name as well as gained a desirable competence. Moreover he has developed a character which is worthy of the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, which are uniformly given him throughout Benton Harbor and wherever he is known.

FRED R. BELKNAP, M. D., practic- ing along modern scientific lines, has gained more than local reputation by reason of his active and effective service in connection with investigation of sanitary conditions and the articles which he has written upon these subjects. He has been a member of the Michigan state board of health and in all his public work has been actuated by a spirit of definite and immediate service- ableness.

Dr. Belknap was born in Rochester, Ver- mont, on the 27th of November, 1862. His father, Dr. Simeon Belknap, was a native of the village of Barnard, Windsor county, Vermont, born October 16, 1837. His an- cestors on the paternal side emigrated from England to America at an early period in the colonization of the new world and made settlement in the Green Mountain state, where Seymour Belknap, grandfather of Dr. Belknap of this review, and Simeon Belk- nap, the great-grandfather, opened their eyes to the light of day. Thus for several gen- erations the family was represented in Ver- mont. Seymour Belknap married Miss Lydia Campbell, a daughter of Sylvanus Campbell, who was a native of Vermont but came of Scotch lineage.

Dr. Fred Rice Belknap, whose name in- troduces this review, spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity, and in 1873 accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, the family home be- ing established in Niles. He was afforded liberal educational privileges, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the Nor- wich University at Northfield, Vermont, and his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city. Following his graduation from that institution he spent one year abroad, taking special work in the line of his pro- fession at the Hygenic Institute and Uni- versity at Berlin, Germany, and at the Lon- don School of Gynecology. He also visited clinics and colleges in other European cities, where he had the advantage of study under the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world. At a meeting of the board of trustees at the Norwich University in July, 1898, the degree of Master of Science

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was conferred upon Dr. Belknap. In his profession he has won notable distinction not only by reason of his success in practice but also by reason of his research and in- vestigation, the outcome of which has been given to the world in valuable scientific papers. He is practical in all that he does in the sickroom and moreover he possesses the tastes and habits of a scholar. The great questions of social, economic and polit- ical interest have awakened his deepest at- tention. He has been a member of the Mich- igan Political Science Association and of the Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine, is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion and has been president of several local, political and other organizations. He now holds a commission as first lieutenant is- sued by the governor of Vermont. Dr. Belknap was appointed by Governor Pin- gree, of Michigan, on the 28th of April, 1897, serving as a member of the board of health for six years, since which time he has taken an active part in the board of edu- cational work, especially along the line of sanitary conventions held in various parts of the state under the auspices of the board. He has written several papers upon the question of public health, the most recent of which is one entitled Healthy Homes, which was read at the sanitary convention of Tawas City, Michigan, in January, 1898, in which he deals with the sanitary location, construction and care of the home. His time as a member on the state board of health expired on the Ist of February, 1903.

In April of the preceding year Dr. Belk- nap removed from Niles to Benton Harbor, where he has practiced continuously since, becoming the successor of the late Dr. John Bell, who was one of the oldest among the leading physicians of the city. Dr. Belknap has been accorded a liberal practice, his repu- tation having preceded him, while his ability has been demonstrated in his methods of handling important cases entrusted to him.

On the 26th of December, 1888, occurred the marriage of Dr. Belknap and Miss Mabel Brown, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Halsey Brown, who is a promi- nent citizen of the Green Mountain state. The wedding was celebrated in Northfield,

Vermont. and has been blessed with one son, Robert B. Belknap, who was born in Niles. The doctor and his wife are ac- corded a prominent social position in Ben- ton Harbor. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally is connected with the Ma- sons, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees and Woodmen. Possessed of a studious nature and laudable ambition he has made constant progress in the line of his profession and his life has been one of eminent service crowned with professional honors and success.

MILTON THOMPSON CAREY, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Benton Harbor, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1867. His father, Dr. Milton Thompson Carey, Sr., was born in Shelby county, Ohio, and prepared for his profession as a student in the Medical Col- lege of Ohio, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1851. Through- out his entire professional career he re- mained in Ohio and his splendid qualifica- tions and devotion to his chosen calling made him one of the most successful members of the medical fraternity in his part of his state. His patronage was extensive and he was thus enabled to leave his family a large estate when in 1901, at the age of seventy years, he was called to his final rest. At the time of the Civil war he had espoused the cause of the Union and went to the front. At the battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Land- ing, he was captured and was confined in prison for some time. He served as surgeon of the Forty-second Ohio Infantry with the rank of major and rendered valuable aid to the ill and wounded soldiers of that com- mand. When the war was over he returned to his native state, locating at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, where he successfully practiced for many years. He was also ac- tive and influential in community affairs and served as coroner of the county both before and after the war. He married Miss Cornelia Burnet, who was born in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and died at the age of sixty-four years. In the family were four children, one of whom has now passed away. Those still living are: Mrs. D. T. Wil- liams, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs.

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Lydia K. Davis, who makes her home in Boston, Massachusetts; and Milton T., of this review.

In his boyhood days Dr. Carey of Ben- ton Harbor was a public school student in Cincinnati, Ohio, and prepared for a life of service in behalf of his fellow men by a thorough course of study in the Medical Col- lege of Ohio, of which he is an alumnus of 1888. His father had graduated from the same school thirty-seven years before. Dr. Carey located for practice in his native city, where he remained until 1902, when on ac- count of the health of his wife he removed to Michigan, settling in Benton Harbor. He has a well equipped office here for scientific practice and he is thoroughly in touch with modern thought concerning the principles and practices of medicine and surgery. His judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault in his diagnosis of a case or in foretelling the out- come of disease. With a conscientious sense of the obligation that devolves upon the physician he has performed his profes- sional labors and his efforts when viewed from both a scientific and financial stand- point have been gratifying.

Dr. Carey finds pleasure and recreation in the management of his excellent fruit farm, which he purchased in 1896. It com- prises thirty acres of land at what is called Twelve Corners in Hagar township, and here he has fine orchards which almost each year yield bountiful crops. He also has a fine poultry house, which is fitted up in modern style and he raises some of the best breeds of poultry. He is also a great lover of dogs and has at his home forty-five or more valuable thoroughbred dogs. He also breeds them and obtains high prices for them. His kennels contain greyhounds, Pomeranine, fox terriers, Chihuahua (a Mexican breed) and French and Russian poodles, all of fine pedigree.

In September, 1902, Dr. Carey was mar- ried at Fishkill Landing, New York, to Miss Dolly Watson, who, however, was a native of the west. They occupy a prominent social position and the social functions of their own home are greatly enjoyed by many friends. In politics Dr. Carey is a Repub- lican and was recognized as a leader in party

ranks in Cincinnati, where he held various offices of trust, but since his removal to Michigan has largely left political service to others, however, keeping well informed on all the questions and issues of the day. He was a member of the Knights f Pythias fraternity at Cincinnati and in the line of his profession he is connected with Ohio Medi- cal Society, the Alumni Association of the Ohio Medical College, and is a member of the American Medical Association. His is a well rounded nature, not so abnormally developed in any direction as to become a genius and yet showing that strength of character and firm purpose which assures success in any undertaking and proves a valuable factor in public as well as private life

CHARLES NEWTON SOWERS, physician and surgeon of Benton Harbor, was born in Corsica, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 10, 1859, his parents being Franklin H. and Susan (McDonald) Sowers. The father, a native of Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania, died in Oceana county, Michigan, in October, 1901, in his seventy-fifth year. He possessed natural mechanical ingenuity and became a carpenter and contractor. In 1864 he removed from the Keystone state to Michigan, and on arriving in this state he purchased a farm in Van Buren county, af- ter which he carried on general agricultural pursuits in connection with his business as a contractor. He resided upon that farm until 1882, when he retired, spending his remain- ing days upon a farm at Hart, Oceana coun- ty, Michigan. He was very active in town- ship affairs, served as a member of the school board, was also supervisor, school inspector and township health officer. In his political views he was a stalwart Republican, and his activity in behalf of public progress was a tangible element in general development and improvement. His wife, who was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, is still living, making her home with a daughter in Cass county, Michigan, and also spending a part of her time with her other children. In the family were five children, of whom four are yet living : Mrs. Alice Wheaton, who resides in Cass county, Michigan; Mrs.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 50

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