A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 56

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

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The company with which he traveled was made up of thirteen Irish and twelve Americans. As soon as the Irish could get liquor a fight was started among them. Mr.

8. V. Bauchekt. "life.

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Blair, was in command of the party, and Mr. Burdick attempting to part two of the combatants one by one the others of the party were all drawn into the quarrel until the entire number became mixed up in it. The Americans, however, drew their revolv- ers and the Irish were thus scattered. As soon as the Irish gave up, peace was declared and the remainder of the trip was resumed without further incident of this character.

Mr. Burdick remained for six years in California. For a time he conducted a bakery at Volcano, and during the remain- der of the time was engaged in mining and prospecting. He met with success until the mountain fever disabled him but he returned with more than average results. On the return trip he rode a mule across the plains. This was in the summer of 1856, and he made his way to his farm in Van Buren county, Michigan.

On the 8th of April, 1857, Mr. Burdick was married in that county to Miss Philena M. Tucker, who was born in Dryden, La- peer county, Michigan, and when two years of age was taken by her parents to Van Buren county. Her father was a wood con- tractor on the Michigan Central Railroad, located at Decatur.

Mr. Burdick remained for six years in his farm and then returned to California in 1862, making the trip for the improvement of his health. He spent four years on the coast, his wife joining him there in 1863. He was engaged in mining, as before, with fair success, and in 1866 he again came to Michigan, locating once more upon his old farm in Van Buren county. There he con- tinued to reside for four years, when he sold out. His mother had died in 1858, and his father passed away in 1872, dying near Coloma, in Berrien county.

In 1870 Mr. Burdick of this review had removed to his present farm in Hagar town- ship. The timber had been cut off, but he had to clear the place of stumps and he be- gan farming upon forty acres of new land. He has since devoted his attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and he now owns one hundred acres of rich and productive land, his home being on the original tract.

His first house was a plank structure and the present dwelling was erected about twenty years ago. It stands in a fine loca- tion and his entire farm is now under cul- tivation. He carries on general agricul- tural pursuits and to some extent raises fruit. He has laid about two hundred rods of tiling all on forty acres, about half of the tract having been formerly considered of no value, but today it is the best land he has. He paid as high as fifty dollars per acre, owing to the fruit prospects. He has done some lumbering by the job but the greater part of his time and energies have been de- voted to general agricultural pursuits dur- ing his residence in Michigan, and he has here valuable property interests. In politics he is a Republican but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undi- vided attention to his business affairs.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burdick have been born six children : May M., who is now the widow of J. Brown and lives in Aberdeen, Mississippi; Nettie, the wife of M. L. Brant, of Bainbridge township; Kate C., the wife of Gaylord E. Frisbie, of Pearl Grange; Ed- ward S., who is living in Hagar township; Lillie Belle, who is a twin sister of Edward and is with her sister in Aberdeen, Missis- sippi, doing fine needlework; and Harry A., who is upon the home farm. In her early womanhood Mrs. Burdick taught school in Van Buren county, and also followed that profession while residing in California, teaching in all for about six years. The

eldest daughter fitted herself for teaching and for seventeen years followed that pro- fession, being for three years connected with the schools of Benton Harbor, one year being spent as a teacher in the high school. . She is a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti and holds a first grade life certificate.

The history of Mr. Burdick if written in detail would furnish many a thrilling chapter of unusual incidents and adventure, for he has experienced all the hardships of pioneer life and has moreover intimate knowledge of the experiences which came to the early seekers of gold in California as they made the long and arduous trips across

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the plains and over the mountains to the Pacific coast, and delved for the precious metal in the placer mines of the Golden state. In more recent years his time has been devoted to farming and his labors have resulted in the acquirement of an ex- cellent property from which he derives a good annual income.

ANDREW M. SPINK is a representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of Ber- rien county and for more than sixty years the name has figured in connection with material progress and substantial develop- ment in this part of the state. He was born on the old family homestead in Bainbridge township in 1850. His father had located there a number of years before and the place was called in his honor Spink's Corner. He is a son of Oresmas Spink, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, whence he came westward to Michigan, arriving in Ber- rien county in 1844. He was left an orphan when very young and in consequence noth- ing is known concerning the early ansectral history of the family. On removing to Michigan he was accompanied by his broth- ers, John and Samuel, who also took up their abode in Bainbridge township. These chil- dren were left in destitute circumstances up- on the death of their parents and the hope of finding better business opportunities led them to seek a home in Michigan, where Oresmas Spink found the advantages which he sought. He settled in Bainbridge town- ship and from that time to the present has been a respected citizen of the community. He began to clear his land and yet carries on general farming, having placed his fields under a high state of cultivation, so that they respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them, yielding rich harvests annually. He married Harriet Bishop, who was born in Watertown, New York, a daugh- ter of A. Bishop, also one of the early set- tlers of Bainbridge township. Mr. Spink attained the venerable age of seventy-five years and in his community was widely known. In the family were eight children, of whom Andrew M. Spink is the youngest. Four are now living, the others being : Hora-

tio A., who resides in Chicago; Mrs. Helen Dix, who is living on the old homestead; and Edwin S., who resides in Benton Har- bor. One son of the family, Frank Spink, was a soldier of the Civil war. He enlisted as a private in the Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to duty with Company B, serving in that regiment until killed at the battle of Dalton, Georgia, on the 14th of May, 1864.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Andrew M. Spink in his boyhood days. At the usual age he entered the district schools and when his attention was not occupied by his text- books his services were needed upon the farm, so that he early became familiar with the work of the fields. He followed farming until about thirty-five years of age, when, thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial and remunerative, he came to Benton Harbor in 1885 and engaged in business for himself, establishing a bakery and restaurant on East Main street. He con- tinued in this trade for a year, after which he entered the employ of a Chicago house, for which he bought and sold fruit in car load lots. In that business he continued five years with good success, after which he turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of Kreiger & Spink. Later the firm became A. M. Spink & Brother and subsequently George S. Bassett was admitted to a partner- ship under the firm style of Bassett & Spink. These gentlemen have since conducted a gen- eral real estate and fire insurance business, also loan money on mortgages and have se- cured a good clientage. They are well versed on realty values and have negotiated some important property transfers.

In 1872, in Bainbridge township, Mr. Spink was married to Miss Elvira Mary Lewis, a daughter of Samuel Lewis, who came from Williams county, Ohio, to Michi- gan and settled in Bainbridge township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spink have been born three children. all natives of Bainbridge township. Ada A .. the eldest, is now the wife of Harry Dilley, of Berrien Springs, this county and they have three children.

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Lillian, Raymond and Milford, aged respec- tively seven, five and two years. Lewis F. Spink married Pearl Adams and resides in Benton Harbor. Glennie H. still resides with his father and completes the family. Mr. Spink gives his political adherence to the Republican party, and is well informed on questions of the day, but is without aspira- tion for the honors and emoluments of office. A worthy native son of the county, he has ever stood for good citizenship and with public progress the name of Spink has long been associated. His good qualities have gained him strong friendships.

WILLIAM HENRY CASE is one of the venerable citizens of New Buffalo and has passed the eighty-seventh milestone of life's journey, his birth having occurred in Cambridge, Washington county, New York, on the 30th of March, 1819. His paternal grandmother was a French Huguenot, who was banished from Canada and walked all the way from that country to Rhode Island when about sixteen years of age. The par- ents, William and Sophia ( Blackman) Case, were natives of Rhode Island and New York respectively and both died in the Empire state, the former passing away at the age of eighty-six years and the latter at the very advanced age of ninety-three years. In their family were eight sons and three daughters, as follows: Isaac, Joe Russell, Charles and Werdin, all deceased; William Henry, of this review ; Rhoda, of Iowa; Nancy, who is living in Kansas; Martha, whose home is in Cattaraugus county, New York; Martin, a twin brother of John, both now deceased ; and Sidney, who died in Nebraska.

William Henry Case, the second in order of birth, was about two years old when his parents removed to Onondaga county, New York, where he spent two years. The family afterward lived for two years in Allegany county and when he was eight years of age removed to Cattaraugus county, where he resided until 1841. He lived in the midst of the wilderness in the western part of the state and attended the old time schools which were held in log buildings. In 1840 he was married in New York to Miss Sybil 26

Hulett Howe, whose birth occurred in Onon- daga county, New York, in 1821, her parents being Parley and Deborah (Hulett) Howe, natives of Massachusetts.

In 1841, with his wife and baby, Mr. Case started westward for Wisconsin, locat- ing first in Walworth county. He drove a team of horses from Cattaraugus county, New York, and was about five weeks in making the trip. He pre-empted eighty acres of land from the government, having one year to pay for this. He engaged in splitting oak rails at one dollar per hundred in order to get money to pay for his land and meet his daily living expenses. He put the entire eighty acres under fence and the greater part of it under cultivation, but after living upon that property for six years he lost it and by way of the lakes returned to New York. He again took up his abode in Cattaraugus county, where he remained until the fall of 1856, when he went to St. Clair county, Illinois, where he spent two years engaged in farming. He afterward resided for two years upon a farm in Warren county, Indi- ana, and in 1863 came to Berrien county, Michigan, where he has since made his home. Settling on a farm in New Buffalo township. he devoted his energies to the cultivation of the fields and the improvement of the prop- erty until 1884, when he retired to private life. He is now enjoying well-earned rest, having for many years been an active and energetic agriculturist and through his labors he accumulated the competence that now en- ables him to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Case were born the following named: Henry Harlan, who en- listed in 1861 as a member of Company E. Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died of typhoid fever at Redman, Kentucky. Marvin, a practicing physician at Attica, In- diana, who enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company D. Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war : Amanda Augusta, the wife of William H. Sigler, of Kansas; Nancy Jane, the widow of Melvin Lyon, of Salem, Michigan ; Lina, the widow of Albert W. Tanner; and Americus William, who died in 1877 while

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studying for the ministry. Mr. Case also has many grandchildren and great-grand- children.

In his political views he was originally a Whig and for many years has given his support to the Republican party. His first presidential ballot was cast for William Henry Harrison and he voted for Fremont and for Lincoln, since which time he has never failed to cast his vote for the nominees at the head of the Republican ticket. He holds membership in the Baptist church and has served as one of its deacons. His life has been honorable and upright characterized by manly principles, by righteous living, by good deeds and by thorough reliability in business affairs. His worth and work have made him respected by all who know him and he certainly deserves mention in the his- tory of New Buffalo and Berrien county, being one of its most venerable citizens.

GEORGE HORN, now living retired in New Buffalo, was born near Hamburg, Ger- many, September 13, 1824, his parents be- ing John and Hannah ( Hennings) Horn, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, who was born in 1783, died in 1868 after devoting his life to general agri- cultural pursuits. In the family were five children : Peter, who died in Germany ; John, who came to America after the arrival of his brother George and died in Berrien county ; Christian and Margaret, who passed away in Germany ; and George of this review.

When only six years of age George Horn lost his mother, but continued to spend his boyhood and youth within his father's home. He attended school until fifteen or sixteen years of age and then learned the trade of bricklayer, which he followed for some time or until twenty-four years of age, when thinking that he might have better business opportunities and advantages in the new world he came to the United States in 1848, sailed from Hamburg to New York. He was six weeks on the water and made the trip with a colony of German emigrants who located in Wisconsin, forming the settlement of New Holstein in the midst of the wilder- ness. After two weeks there passed, how- ever, Mr. Horn made his way to Detroit,

Michigan, and afterward to Kalamazoo, this state. He was employed on the construc- tion of the Michigan Central Railroad for about two years. In the meantime he pur- chased a land warrant in Wisconsin and, going there, he disposed of his property in that state, after which he returned to Ber- rien county and worked on other railroads. In 1851 he was married and settled in New Buffalo, where he has since made his home.

Mr. Horn was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Helen Miller Sefkein, a widow, who had two children. Three children were born of this marriage, but all died in infancy. Fol- lowing his marriage Mr. Horn conducted a hotel in New Buffalo until 1859, after which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land near the town on section 16. All was woodland, which Mr. Horn cleared from the timber and placed under a high state of cultivation, giving his undivided at- tention to general agricultural pursuits and in the improvement of his property until the death of his wife in 1892. He afterward sold his farm and took up his abode in New Buf- falo. Right after his wife's death he made a trip to San Francisco but returned shortly and has since lived in Berrien county. He has built a half dozen houses here and sold them, realizing a good financial return from his investment.

Mr. Horn votes with the Republican party. In 1864 he was drafted for service in the Civil war but sent a substitute, to whom he paid one thousand dollars. He served as township treasurer for a number of terms and in matters of citizenship has been pro- gressive and helpful, doing all in his power to advance the general good. He is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church. When he landed in America he was in debt but now lives upon the interest of his money. As the years have gone by he has won suc- cess because he has worked untiringly and persistently and in the evening of his life he receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to those who have traveled far on life's journey.

DWIGHT WARREN, a real estate dealer and loan agent at Three Oaks, is an honored veteran of the Civil war and one

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whose citizenship at all times has been char- acterized by a loyalty that is above question, was born in Bath, Steuben county, New York, March 21, 1831. His father, Phineas Warren, was a native of Vermont and spent his life in the Green Mountain state and New York. He was a successful farmer and also became well known as a manufacturer. He commanded the Ninety-sixth Regiment of the New York State Militia, and came of a family that has a splendid military record. His father, Phineas Warren, was a major of the Twenty-fourth Regiment in the war of 1812, and his father, Jonathan Warren, was a captain of the Seventh Vermont Regi- ment in the war of the Revolution. Thus four successive generations of the family held commissons as officers in military ser- vice of the war. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to 1060, when William the Conqueror went from Normandy and took possession of the English isle. One of the family was a captain in the English army and the family was founded in America in 1630. In the maternal line Mr. Warren is also descended from an old New England family. His mother bore the maiden name of Mary Ann F. Bean, and was a native of New Hampshire. Her father, Isaac Bean, was a prominent merchant of that state, but was ruined by the embargo act and removed from New Hampshire to New York. Unto Phineas and Mary A. Warren were born seven daughters and two sons, Dwight War- ren being the third in order of birth. All were natives of Bath, New York.

In taking up the personal history of Dwight Warren we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this county. He re- mained a resident of his native city until the fall of 1865, and remained upon the home farm until he had attained his majority. He attended the common schools to the age of thirteen years, during the period when the teachers "boarded round" in the homes of their pupils. When a youth of fourteen Mr. Warren began rafting on the Susquehanna and Coshocton rivers, and also rafted at times on the canals. He was thus engaged in connection with farm work up to the time of his marriage. He left home on attain-

ing his majority with nothing but an ax, and his limited financial resources rendering immediate employment a necessity, he se- cured a job at chopping cord wood. In the following spring-the year 1852-he began railroading, and making his way westward to Michigan he there saw the old plank roads, at which time the city of Grand Rapids was in its infancy. He made the trip in order to see the country and went to Madi- son, Wisconsin, where the railroad ended. He afterward traveled on foot from that point to where the town of Ironton now stands. Later he returned and made his way into Michigan, traveling on foot and by stage. He engaged in rafting to some ex- tent and on various occasions came in con- tact with the Indians but always found them friendly because he treated them well. In 1857 he located in Lowell, Michigan, and began work on the construction of the De- troit & Milwaukee Railroad. After three days he was made foreman, buying and sell- ing for the company and also letting con- tracts for the work. Subsequently he re- turned to his old home in New York, where he remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war.

His patriotic spirit being aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, Mr. Warren enlisted at Bath, New York, August, 1862, as a private of Company F. One Hundred and Sixty-first New York Volunteer Infantry. On the 27th of October, following, he was appointed orderly sergeant and went to Camp Elmira, New York, where he remained until the Ist of November. Mr. Warren, together with several other members of the command was taken ill with typoid fever and for six weeks suffered from that disease. He then re- joined his regiment, sailing from New York in January, 1863. They encountered a severe storm at sea off Cape Hatteras and were eight days in making the trip from New York to Key West. Several passengers died on the journey and Mr. Warren nar- rowly escaped with his life. The troops landed at Fort Taylor. Key West, and after three days started for New Orleans by boat, encountering another severe storm during that voyage. They reached their destination

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in safety, however, and the regiment was stationed at Baton Rouge and attached to the Ninteenth Army Corps, Third Brigade, First Division. On the 14th of March, 1863, they made a stand at Port Hudson and wit- nessed the blowing up of the ship Mississippi on board of which was Admiral Dewey of Manila fame. In May they made a general attack on Port Hudson. Mr. Warren was under fire during the entire seige at that place and was also in the second engage- ment at Bayou La Fourche. On the 30th of July, 1863, owing to disability, he was hon- orably discharged and in August returned to his home.

Mr. Warren remained at Bath, New York, until March, 1864, when he went to Jersey City, New Jersey, where he took charge of the stockyards for the firm of Beech & McPherson, continuing there until July. He then gave up his position, which was a fine one, and re- turned home in order to aid in organiz- ing Company C of the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York Infantry, with which he went out as second lieutenant. The command was sent to Washington and he afterward participated in the engagements at Hatcher's Run, Weldon Railroad and the eight days' raid, which was almost a con- stant skirmish. In December the troops went into camp and on the 28th of March following broke camp in the last campaign against Lee. This embraced the engage- ments at Skunk's Hollow, Lewis' Farm, Gravelly Run and Five Forks. In January, 1865, Mr. Warren was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and in this capacity com- manded his company as captain for some time. He participated in the engagement at Appomattox, and was at this time a mem- ber of the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, the division that received the surrender of Lee's army, received the captured property and paroled the prisoners. He afterward participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. It was a memorable occasion never to be for- gotten by any who witnessed it, for thousands of victorious Union soldiers marched through the streets of the city, cheered by the watching crowds, and across

Pennsylvania avenue hung a banner which read "there is one debt that we can never pay, that is the debt we owe the soldier." Lieutenant Warren was mustered out at Washington and with a most creditable mili- tary record returned to his home.

In the fall of 1865 he again made his way to the middle west, his destination at that time being Princeton, Illinois. For two. years he engaged in farming in that locality and subsequently removed to Galesburg, Michigan, where for two years he was en- gaged in the implement business. He also conducted a similar enterprise in La Porte, Indiana, for two years and in November, 1870, came to Three Oaks, where he has since resided. For about ten years there- after he devoted his attention to the sale of fruit trees and he also opened a lumber camp- for E. K. Warren, whom he represented as foreman for two and a half years. In 1890 he was appointed postmaster and served in that position for four and a half years, since which time he was engaged in real estate- operations and in loaning money. He also hal a fruit farm which brought him a good return. His life has been one of industry and enterprise and his business interests. have been capably conducted.

On the 18th of November, 1852, in Bath, New York, Mr. Warren was united in mar- riage to Miss Angeline Grant, who was born in New York. June 14, 1830, and died De- cember 30, 1900. Her father, Steven Grant, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was a native of Maine. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warren have been born two daughters : Mrs. Alice D. Perry, living in Three Oaks ; and Mrs. Jennie L. Russell, whose home is in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 56

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