A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 55

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

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E. W. Young is a Republican in his political views. His father, Isaac. was originally a Whig but joined the Republican party on its organization. He is likewise a member of the Odd Fellows Society and his wife is a member of the Universalist church. Few men have more intimate or accurate knowledge of pioneer experience and condi- tions in Berrien county in the years when this section of the state was emerging from a wild and unsettled region into one of rich fertility and possibilities. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and as an honored early settler and successful business man and a worthy representative of one of the early families who well de- serves mention in this volume.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

CHARLES K. FARMER, ex-city treas- urer of Benton Harbor, is accounted as one of the alert and enterprising business men, being a representative of real estate inter- ests and a member of the firm of Merwin & Farmer. He has furthermore been con- nected with other business enterprises which have demonstated his ability and which have felt the beneficial stimulus of his co- operation and keen business insight. His birth occurred in Brooklyn, New York, on the 25th of November, 1861, his parents being Francis V. and Sarah (Van Ness) Farmer, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and are now deceased:

In the city of his nativity Mr. Farmer acquired his education, and in 1887, then a young man of twenty-five years, came to Michigan. While in New York he had oc- cupied a business position with the Butterick Company, the noted pattern manufacturing house. He had also occupied a position with the Anchor Line Steamship Company and had subsequently gone upon the road as a traveling salesman, representing a rail- way supply house of New York. In this capacity he traveled all over the United States, representing that house for three years. On the expiration of that period he resigned his position to accept the position of purchasing agent for the Valley Railroad Company at Cleveland, Ohio. He after- ward returned to New York and took charge of the New York office of the Leatheroid Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of mill, railroad and electric supplies. He oc- cupied that position for some time, or until failing health caused him to resign. He then came to Michigan and for five years was engaged in a general store at Hartman, Berrien county, during which time he was called to public office, being elected clerk of Pipestone township. He filled the office for one term and also acted as supervisor of the township for one term. He afterward went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he engaged in the fruit, produce and commission busi- ness with L. F. Adams & Company, subse- quent to which time he engaged in news- paper work. He remained for two years

in Indianapolis, and upon his return to Michigan settled in Benton Harbor.

In 1895 Mr. Farmer was appointed sup- erintendent of the Seymour Transporta- tion Company, running a steamboat line be- tween Benton Harbor and Chicago, which position he held until the company went out of business two years later. He then engaged with the Graham & Morton Trans- portation Company as purser, occupying that position on various steamboats of its line until the Wolverine Sugar Factory was established in Benton Harbor, when he be- came one of its first employes. He had charge of the office of the company and re- mained with the house until the factory was removed to Canada three years later, when he resigned and accepted his old position as purser with the Graham & Morton Trans- portation Company, again serving in that capacity for two years. He then once more resigned to enter the drug business as a partner in the Red Cross Drug Company in Benton Harbor. The directors of the Linden Cereal Company, manufacturers of cereal coffee, wished him to accept a position as manager of that company, which he did, acting in that capacity until the 15th of Septmber, 1903, when he resigned and pir- chased a third interest in a real estate busi- ness, conducted under the firm style of Hub- bard, Merwin & Farmer, but which has since been succeeded by Merwin & Farmer. They are the leading real estate brokers of the city and are conducting an extensive busi- ness.

In 1883, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Farmer was united in marriage to Miss Athenaise Mitchell, a native of North Caro- lina, and unto them were born three children, of whom two are living: Marie, whose birth occurred in Brooklyn, New York; and Louise, who was born in Benton Harbor. Mr. Farmer is a member of the various Ma- sonic bodies of this city, also of the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Patricians. In politics he has ever been a stalwart Republican and is now serving for the second term as treasurer of Benton Harbor, to which position he was first

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elected in 1904. He has taken a very active interest in military affairs, joining the naval reserves of Benton Harbor in 1899. This organization is known as the Fourth Divi- sion State Naval Brigade, which was organ- ized through his efforts. He enlisted in the ranks and after holding all the non-com- missioned offices of the division was elected Ensign. Later he resigned to accept the po- sition of lieutenant, junior grade, and that position he also resigned to accept the com- mand of the division, which is his present connection with the organization. Mr. Farmer is a typical citizen of the middle west, exemplifying in his life the spirit which has led to the rapid upbuilding of this section of the country. In his business he has made continuous advancement, being constantly watchful of his opportunities and ever manifesting a recognition of the fact that success depends upon merit. In politi- cal circles he has been public spirited, placing the general good before partisan measures and the welfare of his community before self aggrandizement. He is popular in business, social, political and military cir- cles and is greatly esteemed by all who know him.

JULIUS E. DUNBAR, who is engaged in business in Benton Harbor as proprietor of a meat market, was born in New York in 1856. His father, Jonathan Arnold Dunbar, was a native of the same state and spent his last days in Benton Harbor, where he passed away in 1899. He came to Michigan in 1855, settling at Eau Claire, Berrien county. There he secured forty acres of land in Ber- rien township, one mile south of Pipestone township. He engaged in farming for forty- four years, and last year his son, Julius E. Dunbar. shipped six thousand baskets of grapes from this place-the first from the vines. After living in Pipestone township for a brief period the father settled at Eau Claire, where he purchased land and made his home until he came to Benton Harbor. This was about 1889 and he spent his re- maining days in quiet retirement from further labor up to the time of his death. In early manhood he had wedded Harriet

Patton, who still survives her husband and now makes her home with her son, Julius E. Dunbar, who is the only surviving member of the family save the mother. She was born in Connecticut and by her marriage became the mother of two sons and a daughter, but the daughter died in infancy. The elder brother, William Steuben Dunbar, was born in New York and in his early manhood was a cattle buyer, representing a firm in St. Joseph, Michigan. He traveled all over this county, buying cattle for the meat markets owned by the firm by whom he was em- ployed. Subsequently he engaged in busi- ness on his own account at St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, continuing in the conduct of his market for about seven years and car- rying on both a wholesale and retail trade. Subsequently he became interested in the manufacture of fertilizers in St. Joseph and later was engaged in the produce business, dealing in all kinds of vegetables and fruits, which he sold to the wholesale trade and in car load lots. At the time of the Cuban war he went south and shipped supplies of all kinds to the soldiers at Savannah, Georgia. On account of ill health he spent two winters in Florida and two or three winters in Georgia and at this time purchased three hundred acres of land in Alabama, on which he set out ten thousand peach trees. This was in 1900. In the winter of 1903, while taking care of his peach trees. he became ill and never again fully recovered his health. He returned home, however, to St. Joseph, Michigan. where he died in 1904. He was quite extensively engaged in the produce business, shipping peaches by car load lots and was in a fair way to become famous by reason of his extensive shipments of peaches and other fruit. His son. Edward F., now cares for the orchard left by the father. He had married Alice Frost, of Eau Claire, Michigan, who makes her home in St. Joseph. Three children were born unto them: Lulu, the wife of George Karrick; Edward F. : and Roxie.

Julius E. Dunbar was reared to farm life, acquired his early education in the district schools and at the age of seventeen years joined his brother at St. Joseph, Michigan,

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remaining in his employ for four years. At the end of that time Andrew Patterson pur- chased the business of the brother and Julius E. Dunbar remained with him through the succeeding year. He then came to Benton Harbor and began in the meat business on his own account on West Main street, where he soon secured a good trade, remaining at that situation for five years. Later he ad- mitted Edward White to a partnership under the firm style of Dunbar & White. They opened a market on Pipestone street, where they remained for four years, enjoying a constantly increasing and profitable trade, at the end of which time Mr. Dunbar sold out to Mr. White and agreed not to go into busi- ness for a year. He then re-entered the em- ploy of Andrew Patterson in St. Joseph, where he remained until the expiration of the year agreed upon, after which he purchased Rowe Brothers store on Pipestone street in Benton Harbor, where he is now located. This transfer of property occurred in 1890 and Mr. Dunbar has since been a prosperous business man of this city, now having the largest meat trade in Benton Harbor. His office is well equipped with a refrigerating plant and with every facility for the suc- cessful conduct of his business and he car- ries a good grade of meats, so that his trade is constantly increasing and when once pat- ronage is given to him he can count upon the retention of the trade. Mr. Dunbar votes with the Republican party, and though neither seeking nor desiring office he is in- terested in the city's good and is an active worker in behalf of general progress and im- provement, his labors being far-reaching and beneficial. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp and the Maccabees tent and al- though not a member of the church he con- tributes liberally to the support of the Con- gregational church, of which his wife is a member. He was married December 10, 1885, to Miss Anna G. Forbes, a native of Benton Harbor, and this union has been blessed with six children: Wallace A. and Harriet A., both born in Benton Harbor ; Erma, born in St. Joseph; Lois, Josephine B. and Raymond J., all born in this city. Mr. Dunbar is a genial man of social disposition,

always having a friendly word for those with whom he comes in contact, and the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance. During the greater part of his life he has lived in Berrien county and has become recognized as a man of liberal and progressive views, who has made an untarnished record and unspotted reputation as a business man.

SAMUEL E. DAIGNEAU, the man- ager and principal stockholder of the Daig- neau Laundry at Benton Harbor, was born in Vermont in 1852 and when but two years of age was brought to Michigan by his par- ents, John M. and Vitlie M. (Dion) Daig- neau, both of whom ivere of French ancestry. Upon coming to Michigan they settled at Battle Creek, where the father followed the mason's trade. Subsequently he removed to the province of Quebec, Canada, but after- ward returned to Michigan, and in 1902 came to Benton Harbor, where he now re- sides. In his family were five children, Samuel E., Charles L., Mrs. Dora Hindman, Mrs. Alma Armitage and Clifford E. Daig- neal.

Samuel E. Daigneau acquired his early education in the schools of Battle Creek and also at the French schools in the east. In early life he learned the trade of broom- making, which he followed until his arrival in Benton Harbor in 1891. Here he pur- chased the small plant of the Tibbetts Laundry and has by hard work, energy and thrift established a large and growing pat- ronage. In fact he has the most extensive and best equipped laundry in southwestern Michigan, supplied with the latest improved machinery and all modern accessories for the successful conduct of a business of this char- acter. He is a thorough going business man, wide-awake and progressive and at the same time thoroughly reliable in all his business transactions. In January, 1903, he incor- porated his business under the name of the Daigneau Laundry, admitting his son and his father to a partnership. This is a close concern, no stock being held outside of the family, and Mr. Daigneau of this review is the principal stockholder and also the active

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manager of the business. A liberal patron- age has been secured and the efforts of the house to do satisfactory work have resulted in the establishment of a business that is now large and profitable. In addition to his other business interests he is one of the executive committee of the Benton Harbor Development Company.

On the 3Ist of December, 1874. Mr. Daigneau was married in Hillsdale, Michi- gan, to Miss Carrie Stone of that place, a daughter of George Stone. They now have one son. Floyd E. Daigneau, who was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, married Minnie Belle Felts and is associated with his father in buisness. In community affairs Mr. Daig- neau is interested to the extent of giving hearty and valuable co-operation to various movements for the general good. He was for some time a member of the board of public works, was alderman of the second ward of the city and is now one of the city supervisors. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he re- gards it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to uphold the princi- ples which he deems of greatest good in pro- moting the general welfare. He has also been willing to contribute of his time and means to undertakings that would increase the prosperity of the city and add to the comfort of its inhabitants, and he has gained the favorable regard of the large majority of his fellow townsmen during the period of his residence in Benton Harbor.

ELDEN C. HARNER, who since 1902 has been engaged in the real estate and in- surance business in Benton Harbor with growing success that has already made him a leading representative of this line of activ- ity,. was born near Berrien Springs. Michi- gan. in 1881. He is a son of Augustus A. Harner and a grandson of Michael Harner, The latter was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1837. when this part of the state was a wild and unimproved dis- trict. He secured from the government a large tract of land of six hundred acres in Berrien township. which at that time was all covered with dense timber. No roads had

been laid out and there were only Indian trails to guide the traveler or settler as he made his way through the forests or across the prairies. Mr. Harner cleared the greater part of his land and thus contributed in sub- stantial measure to the subjugation of the wild district and its reclamation for the pur- poses of civilization. He was one of the earliest settlers of the county and has left the impress of his individuality for good upon the work of public improvement.

Augustus A. Harner, father of our sub- ject, was born upon the old family home- stead which was developed by his father west of Berrien Springs. He assisted in the work of the fields there, performing much of the arduous labor incident to the improvement of a new farm. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Charlotte Van Patten, whose birth occurred upon a farm west of Berrien Springs in Berrien township, her father being Aaron Van Patten, who was one of the first settlers of that locality. He came to the west from New York and cleared a large tract of land, so that he, too, was an important factor in general progress here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Augustus A. Harner were born two children, the eldest being Edna, now the wife of Carl Pennell, of Ber- rien Springs, by whom she has one child, Letha.

Elden C. Harner, the only son of the family, acquired a district-school education and afterward continued his studies in the Berrien Springs high school, from which he was graduated. He next became a student in the state normal school at Ypsilanti, where he completed his course by graduation in 1900. He then taught in the Benton Harbor high school for a year, after which he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, opening an office in 1902. Here he has built up a good clientage and has thoroughly informed himself concerning realty values, so that he is qualified to bring to his patrons a knowledge of property which they desire, or to effect sales where one wishes to dispose of realty.

Mr. Harner was married in 1902 to Miss Mary Comrock of Ypsilanti, a daughter of Charles Comstock of that city. They are

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prominent socially and the hospitality of many of the best homes of Benton Harbor is freely accorded them. In politics Mr. Harner is a Democrat, and is now serving as a member of the county board of school examiners. He is a young man of strong intellectual force and of acquired ability, ambitious and energetic, and his laudable determination to win success has been one of the salient and commendable features in his business career.

FRANK D. CONGER has been con- nected at various times with varied interests of Benton Harbor and is now a factor in the financial affairs and successful manage- ment of the Hopper Stationery Company. His life is a living illustration of what ability, energy and force of character can accomplish and his city and state have been enriched by his example, for it is to such men that the west owes its prosperity, its rapid pro- gress and advancement. Benton Harbor has certainly profited by his efforts here, for he belongs to that class of representative Amer- ican men who, while advancing individual interests also promote in large measure the public good.

A native of the middle west, his birth occurred in Illinois in 1848, his parents be- ing Lorentus and Mary (Hurd) Conger. He came from Illinois to Michigan thirty- seven years ago, and was married to Elia M. Riford the same year. He purchased here a fruit farm, part of which had belonged to his wife's father. He became owner of twelve acres, which was then situated in the country some distance from Benton Harbor, but with the growth of the city it has be- come the center of the town and upon this tract Mr. Conger has erected eight dwelling houses with all modern improvements. It is called Conger's addition and is one of the desirable residence portions of Benton Har- bor. Mr. Conger also owns other real estate known as the Riford and Morton addition. At one time he sold his original farm, but later he purchased it again and made the improvements designed above. The Conger addition is located at the corner of Pipestone

street and Vineyard avenue, and will always remain as a monument to the thrift and en- terprise of the subject of this review. Mrs. Conger had charge of the building of these houses, drew the plans and superintended their construction. She is a lady of keen insight, excellent business ability and artistic taste.

Along many other lines Mr. Conger has contributed to the general welfare and up- building of Berrien county, being a man of resourceful business ability, whose efforts have touched many lines of activity. He was proprietor of the first exclusive shoe store in Benton Harbor and was engaged in the manufacture of boots. Later he entered the banking business and subsequently became connected with the Graham & Morton trans- portation enterprise, being for twenty years the confidential clerk with that company, He is now interested in the business of the Hopper Stationery Company, having a large plant in Benton Harbor. In fact this is one of the leading industries of the county, its payroll being perhaps the largest in the city. The company has many plants throughout the United States, but Mr. Conger is inter- ested in only the one in Benton Harbor.

In 1869 occurred the marriage of Frank D. Conger and Miss Elia M. Riford, the wedding being celebrated in the first church ever built in the city, her father drawing the lumber for the construction of this house of worship. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Burridge) Riford and the mother traces her ancestry back to royalty in Europe. Her father, Joseph Riford, was born near Montpelier, Vermont, in 1810, and died in 1884 at the age of seventy-four years. He removed from the Green Mountain state to Indiana and while living there represented his district in the state legislature. Thirty- nine years ago he came to Benton Harbor, being one of the early settlers of this place. He was instrumental with others in securing the building of the canal and was one of the principle promoters of the city's progress and improvement, being interested in all plans for its development and substantial upbuilding. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conger

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have been born three children, but only one is now living. Alta C., who has one child, Elia M. Conger.

Mr. Conger votes with the Republican party and at one time served as city treasurer, but has never been a politican in the sense of office seeking. He is a brother of the Hon. Edwin H. Conger, who has a national reputation. He has, however, never sought to figure prominently in public affairs, pre- ferring to concentrate his energies upon local business interests and finding ample op- portunity for the exercise of his talents in the duties of the work-a-day world. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense of that term, his prosperity in life being due to in- dustry and integrity. In everything pertain- ing to the upbuilding of Benton Harbor he takes an active part and is a liberal contrib- utor to the enterprises which insure its pro- gress. The business policy which he has maintained has brought him prosperity. He is methodical and systematic and the plans which he has pursued commend themselves to the judgment and respect of all.

STEPHEN V. BURDICK has had an eventful career fraught with many interesting incidents because of his early operations in lumber pursuits and his trip to California in search of gold soon after the discovery of the precious metal on the Pacific coast. He is now occu- pying a pleasant home in Hagar township, Berrien county, and has passed the age of seventy-nine years. He was born at Sum- herhill, Cayuga county, New York, on the 18th of July. 1827. His father, Daniel Burdick, was a descendant of one of the passengers on the Mayflower and the family had its origin in Wales. Representatives of the name settled in Cayuga county soon after the Revolutionary war, although Daniel Burdick was born in Verr ont. He was reared, however, in the Ei pire state, and was married to Miss Charlotte Steward. Daniel Burdick followed the occupation of farming as a life work and upon the old homestead Stephen V. Burdick was reared to the age of eighteen years. He was a youth of ten summers when the parents re-

moved to Lake county, Ohio, where he at- tended the academy. When eighteen years of age he started out in life on his own ac- count, working by the month. He made his way to the pine woods of Wisconsin, and acted as cook in a lumber camp in the pineries. When twenty-one years of age he returned home and in the meantime had saved from his earnings sufficient capital to enable him to make a start in business life. With this he went to Van Buren county, Michigan, in 1848, and purchased a tract of wild land near Decatur. He took his par- ents with him and made a home for them on his place. There he carried on farming until 1850, when, attracted by the gold ex- citement on the Pacific coast, he went to California, where he spent one summer, tak- ing his outfit from home. On the trip, while at Fort Laramie, he had his team stolen and with only his trunk left he worked his passage as far as Salt Lake City. There he left his employer and secured work in that city for a short time, being employed in a blacksmith shop, where he cut bolts for Brigham Young's carriage. He had known Young at Kirkland, Ohio, and had attended school with some of his children and on reaching Salt Lake City he renewed his ac- quaintance with the Mormon leader. While there he met Jim Blair, of Ohio, and helped him to drive his ox team to California, pay- ing him one hundred and fifty dollars to carry him through to Placerville, California. While five men of the party were on guard about a mile and a half from camp taking care of the cattle, they were attacked by twenty-five Indians, who succeeded in se- curing thirteen head of cattle. They were running them off to the mountains when the five men started in pursuit and a fight oc- curred, and after the original five were re- inforced by other officers from the camp they killed or drove off the Indians and re- covered the stock. Mr. Burdick, however, was wounded with an arrow in the side, a wound that troubled him for two years.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 55

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