A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 61

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

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on Sixth and Territorial streets and has made a success in both his farming opera- tions and his property investments.

In Ontario, in 1872, Mr. Greenfield was married and his wife died in Kansas. About two years later he was married in that state to Miss Mattie Downey, who was an Illi- nois girl and went to Kansas with an uncle. They have had no children of their own, but from the age of two years have reared an adopted daughter, Carrie M. She was pro- vided with excellent educational advantages, having attended the Benton Harbor College. She then taught two years, after which she pursued a business course in Ferris Insti- tute at Big Rapids, Michigan. She mar- ried Christian Williams, who died two years later. She is now owner and manufacturer of the Spencer Patent Bluing Paddle. with headquarters in Chicago. Mrs. Greenfield is a member of the Methodist Church. In his political views Mr. Greenfield is a stanch Republican but not a politician. However, he served as drain commissioner for two years and a half and carried out the plans for public improvement in this line per- fectly. He is a home man of strongly do- mestic tastes and finds his greatest enjoy- ment at his own fireside. He has made a study of the details of fruit culture and few men are better informed concerning the best methods of raising fruit in this section of the state than is Mr. Greenfield, whose labors have been attended with a very gratifying measure of prosperity. He started out in life empty-handed and his finances were extremely meager when he came to Michigan, but in the years which have since come and gone he has worked his way up- ward, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by strong and determined purpose.

JOHN C. DICK. Many states of the Union have furnished their representatives to Michigan but no more worthy residents of Berrien county can be found than those who claim Virginia as the state of their nativity. Mr. Dick is a son of the Old Dominion, his birth having occurred in Winchester, Fred- erick county. on the 25th of June, 1843. The family is of Scotch lineage and was

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

founded in America by the grandfather of our subject, who established his home in Virginia. His son, Lewis Dick, was also a native of Winchester and became a me- chanic by occupation. After leaving Vir- ginia he spent six years in Kentucky and subsequently resided in Indiana, whence he came to Michigan in 1857, locating in New Buffalo. He remained a resident of this county for more than a third of a century and died in Buchanan in 1894 at the vener- able age of eighty-one years. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Octavia Carter, was born in Virginia and was of English lin- eage. She died in Laporte, Indiana, in Feb- ruary, 1857. There were seven children, four daughters and three sons, all of whom are living at this writing: Mary E., the wife of Gustave Willard; John C., whose name introduces this review ; Lewis E., who resides in Mishawaka, Indiana; William I., living in Marion, Indiana; Anna C., the widow of Charles E. Butler, of Buchanan, who was killed in July, 1881 ; Emma S., the wife of Squire Vinton, of West Point, Mis- sissippi ; and Ida F., the wife of E. M. Biggs, of Portland, Oregon.

John C. Dick, the eldest son and second child in his father's family, accompanied his parents on their various removals, and in 1858 became a resident of New Buffalo, Michigan. He learned the printer's trade in Laporte, Indiana, and followed that pur- suit for some time, or until about 1872. He was also engaged as bookkeeper for some time. During the last year of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union and aided in the military service of his country. He has lived continuously in Buchanan since 1872 and has been prominent and influen- tial in public life and official service here. He has served as justice of the peace and notary public, and for a considerable period has been engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness. He writes a large amount of insurance each year and is a prominent representative of this department of business activity. His political allegiance is given to the Democ- racy, and in 1880 he was a candidate for the position of county clerk. In 1892 he was a candidate for judge of the probate court and again in 1904. He served for four

years as postmaster under President Cleve- land and in the various offices to which he has been elected he has proven most capa- ble, discharging his duties with ability and fidelity that argue well for his public-spirited citizenship. He is a member of William Perrett Post, No. 22, G. A. R., and Buch- anan Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F. Anything which tends to promote- civic development or those movements which are a matter of civic virtue and pride receives his endorse- ment, and he has long been accounted an in- fluential factor in public life of the village in which he makes his home.

ALBERT A. WORTHINGTON. Ac- tive in the movements which contribute to public progress and development in Buch- anan and an influential factor in the advance- ment of many measures which are of direct benefit to the city, Albert A. Worthington is well known as a prominent attorney and as postmaster. He is one of Michigan's na- tive sons and displays the spirit of enter- prise which has been the dominant factor in the growth of the middle west. His birth occurred in Battle Creek on the Ist of May, 1857. His father, Henry Worthington, was a native of Agawam Corners, Massa- chusetts, but was reared in Ohio, and be- came a resident of Michigan about 1840, when the state was still under territorial rule. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and in pioneer days aided largely in the moral development and pro- gress of various communities, contributing in substantial measure toward the work of planting the seeds of a Christian civilization upon the frontier. He remained a resident of Michigan until he was called to his re- ward, passing away July 10, 1881, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. In early manhood he had wedded Jane Mills, who was probably a native of Calhoun county, Michigan, and their union was blessed with four children, three sons and a daughter, of whom Albert A. is the youngest.

Reared amid the refining influences of a cultured home, Albert A. Worthington of this review continued his education until he had become a high school student, and de- termined upon the practice of law as a life

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work he began studying with that end in view in Buchanan in 1877, his preceptor being J. J. Van Riper. Aiter thorough pre- liminary reading he was admitted to the bar June 16, 1879, in Berrien Springs, and lo- cated for practice in Buchanan, where he entered into partnership with his former pre- ceptor, Mr. Van Riper, who was then prose- cuting attorney, and he afterward became attorney general of Michigan. In 1887 Mr. Van Riper removed to Niles, Michigan, since which time Mr. Worthington has been alone in practice. He is a lawyer of con- siderable ability, being a close and discrimi- nating student of the principles of jurispru- dence, while in his application therein to the points in issue he is seldom at error. He presents his cause in clear, cogent and logi- cal manner and his citation of authorities and his correct conclusions never fail to leave an impress on the minds of judge and jury. These qualities have gained him a large and gratifying clientage, making his legal business one of distinctively represen- tative importance.

Mr. Worthington was married in 1882 to Miss L. E. Van Riper, daughter of J. J. Van Riper, and a position of leadership in social circles is accorded them, while the hos- pitality of the best homes of Buchanan is freely extended to them.

Mr. Worthington has been a life-long Republican, and at one time served as clerk of Buchanan township. In 1894 he was nominated for prosecuting attorney but did not accept the nomination. On the 6th of March, 1906, he was appointed postmaster of Buchanan, and while capably discharging the duties of the position he also faithfully performs the tasks which devolve upon him in connection with a large law practice. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the third degree of the Blue Lodge and he is a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, also holding membership with the Modern Woodmen of America. His residence in Buchanan covers a period of three decades, during which time he has been closely asso- ciated with its intellectual, social and moral progress. He is identified with the Metho- dist Episcopal church, is active in its work

and has served as president of its board of trustees. His name is synomous with busi- ness honor and with loyalty in citizenship. He is a man firm in support of his honest convictions and while according to others the privilege of forming an unbiased opinion he retains for himself the same right.

W. A. PALMER, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Buchanan, was born in Parish, Oswego county, New York, August 27, 1842, and is the youngest of a family of four children, whose parents were Squire and Fannie (Goit) Palmer. The father, a native of Oswego county, New York, was a brother of Professor A. B. Palmer, being of the faculty of the University of Michigan. Squire Palmer was reared in Otsego county, New York, and died in Parish, that state, April 22, 1853, when sixty-two years of age. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Pal- mer, was likewise a native of New York, was of English descent and was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject was born in New York, and died in Parish in 1855, at the age of fifty-two years. There were four children in the family: Millie Ann, the widow of Marcus Rulison, who died in 1867; Angeline, who was the wife of Daniel Savage, of Three Oaks, Michi- gan, and died in 1902; and Austin, who died in 1846.

WV. A. Palmer, the youngest of the fam- ily, was only twelve years of age when he came to Berrien county. He remained a resident of Three Oaks township until 1862, after which he spent two years in Hudson township, Laporte county, Indiana. In 1871 he came to Buchanan, his business connec- tion being that of general agent for Bort Moody & Sons, of Lockport, New York. In the fall of 1879 he opened his present office and has since conducted a real estate and insurance business with excellent success, having a large clientele in both departments. He has negotiated many important realty transfers and is thoroughly informed con- cerning property values in this part of the country, so that he is enabled to aid his clients in making judicious investments and profitable sales.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

On the 12th of September, 1862, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage to Miss Hulda A. Hinman, a sister of the late Judge Hinman, of Buchanan. She was born near Rochester, New York, and with her parents came to Michigan, the journey westward being made with ox teams in 1844, when she was but an infant. Her father took up his abode upon a farm in Hudson township, Laporte county, Indiana, where Mrs. Pal- mer spent her girlhood days. She died April 16, 1873, leaving a daughter, Grace who is now a resident of Chicago.

Mr. Palmer has been a life-long Repub- lican, active in the interests of the party and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He served as under- sheriff through appointment of James R. Clark, from 1880 until 1884, and for four years was deputy under sheriff Benton R. Sterns, and two years under Charles Whit- comb. At the same time he was acting as deputy United States marshal under James Monroe, and for four years filled the same office under James R. Clark. For fourteen years he acted as game and fish warden of the state and has been a member of the city council of Buchanan for six years. He has always taken an active interest in public af- fairs and has exercised his official preroga- tives for law and order, for progress and im- provement, for substantial development and for civic virtue. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, his membership being in the lodge at Buchanan. His residence here covers thirty-four years and he is well known not only in the county but also in many parts of the state, especially in southwestern Michi- gan, where his capably conducted business interests and official service have gained for him the respect and confidence of his fel- low men.

ALONZO F. HOWE, secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Berrien, Van Buren and Cass counties, and a resident of Buchanan, was born in Ber- trand township, Berrien county, November IO, 1862. He represents one of the old pioneer families of this portion of the state, his paternal grandfather, Frederick Howe, having come from New England to Michi-

gan at an early epoch in the develop- ment of this locality. He settled in Ber- trand township and secured land from the government. There he aided in planting the seeds of civilization which have ripened and borne fruit in later years in the present advancement and progress of the county. His son, Frederick A. Howe, a native of Massachusetts, was reared in Michigan upon the frontier, and was married in Bertrand township to Miss Sarah A. Smith, a daugh- ter of John Smith, who came from Penn- sylvania to the middle west and settled in South Bend, Indiana, in 1843, later remov- ing to Bertrand township, Berrien county. Mrs. Howe was born in the Keystone state in 1836, and was a little maiden of only seven summers when she became a resident of this county. She is still living and is one of the worthy pioneer women of this por- tion of Michigan, where she has lived for almost two-thirds of a century. By her marriage she became the mother of three sons, one of whom has passed away, while George E. Howe is now residing in Kala- mazoo, Michigan.

Alonzo F. Howe and his mother are the only ones living in Berrien county. He was reared upon the old homestead farm in Bertrand township, and various tasks con- nected with the development and cultivation of the land were assigned him from time to time as his years and strength increased. After attaining his majority he was en- gaged in farming and in the stock business until 1903, when he came to Buchanan and retired from agricultural interests save for the supervision which he gave to his farm. He was president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company from February, 1904, until December, 1905, and at a later date was appointed secretary of the company to fill a vacancy. He acted in that capacity until February, 1906, when he was elected to the office, which position he is now filling and in this connection he is giving capable service, bringing new business discernment and enterprise to bear upon the onerous and important duties which devolve upon him in this connection. He has a farm of one hun- dred acres in Bertrand township.

Mr. Howe was married on the 15th of

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

March. 1903, to Mrs. Anna M. Glover, nee Simmons. He is a Democrat in his political proclivities and active in the local ranks of the party. He holds membership with Buchanan Lodge, No. 68, A. F. & A. M., and in the line of official service has made a creditable record. He filled the office of supervisor of Bertrand township from 1897 until 1902, and was elected supervisor of Buchanan in 1905. He was also township clerk for two terms in Bertrand township and was chosen chairman of the county board of supervisors in 1902. His interest in public affairs is that of a citizen of known devotion to the general good and his zeal in behalf of public progress has been a con- spicuous and valuable factor in the work of development and improvement. He has been a life-long resident of Berrien county and has carried forward the work which was in- stituted by his grandfather and continued by his father from pioneer times down to the present time, so that the name of Howe is a respected one in Berrien county, stand- ing always for good citizenship.

WILLIAM C. KIMBEL, filling the po- sition of postmaster at Glendora, is recog- nized as one of the enterprising young men of the town and in the discharge of his offi- cial duties is giving a public-spirited and satisfactory administration. He is a son of Martin W. and Harriet (Weller) Kim- bel, both of whom were natives of Snyder county, Pennsylvania. They reside in Glen- dora and their son William makes his home with them. He was only about two years of age when they removed from the Key- stone state to New Troy, Berrien county, and about six years ago they came to Glen- dora, where they have since remained. His education was acquired in the . common schools and in Benton Harbor Commercial College. About ten years ago he began merchandising at New Troy and six years ago removed the business to Glendora. He continued successfully and actively in this line until June 14, 1905, when he sold the store to his father and is now giving his entire attention to the duties of postmaster. to which office he was appointed on the roth of April, 1901. He has served continu-

ously since by re-appointment and is prov- ing a most capable and efficient officer. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Gleaners at Glendora, and with the Knights of the Maccabees at New Troy. As is indicated by his official service, he is an advocate of the Republican party and is one of the lead- ers in its local ranks.

WILLIAM M. PARRISH, who in former years was actively and successfully identified with commercial interests but is now practically living retired at his old home in Lincoln township, is one of Berrien coun- ty's native sons, his birth having occurred near Morris Chapel in the vicinity of Niles. December 16, 1842. His parents were Gould and Mary (Archer) Parrish, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of Vermont. They were married in New York in 1833, although the father was reared from boyhood near Sandusky, Ohio. In 1837 he became a resident of Niles. where he worked at the carpenter's trade and for some years he was closely associated with building operations in Berrien county. He aided in building the first bridge and the first court house at Berrien Springs, and finally, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, in 1844 he settled upon his farm in the southeastern part of Lincoln township. There his attention was given to the cultiva- tion of the soil for about eight years, when. in 1852, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, he made an overland trip to California with a party of Berrien county men and spent three years in that state. He did not meet with the success he had anticipated, however, and returned to Michigan, his family having remained in Berrien Springs during his absence in the far west. Again he took up farming and con- tinued to devote his energies to general agri- cultural pursuits until his demise, which oc- curred on the 3rd of March, 1895. His wife passed away on the 13th of June fol- lowing. and like her husband, was in her eighty-fifth year. They had traveled life's journey together as man and wife for about sixty-two years, their mutual love and con- fidence increasing as time passel by. The

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farm which Mr. Parrish owned comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved but at a more recent date he sold eighty acres, his son Wil- liam having purchased the homestead about ten years prior to the demise of the father. A life-long, zealous and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Gould Parrish became a local preacher and was thus identified with the denomination for fifty years, taking the greatest interest in church work. The family numbered eleven children, as follows: James A., a car- penter, now living at Everett, Washing- ton; Edith B., the wife of L. Heming- way, formerly county surveyor and civil engineer now living in Benton Harbor; Wil- liam M., of this review; Arza G., who died at the age of forty-two years at Emerson, Iowa, where he was editing a paper, and who was also a minister of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, having previously preached in Frankfort, Michigan; Theresa, the wife of Henry Williamson, of Grand Rapids; Ezra B., who was a minister and attorney-at-law in Iowa and had been prin- cipal of the school at Malvern, that state, his entire life being devoted to professional labors until he passed away at the age of forty years; Adelaide, the widow of William Applegate, and a resident of Benton Har- bor; and four who died when young: Wil- liam P., born in 1838, died when six weeks old; Mary, born in 1839, died when two weeks old; Franklin G., born in 1840, died in 1848; and Martha A., born in 1852, died in 1870.

William M. Parrish, reared on the old homestead in Berrien county, largely de- voted his time and energies to the duties of the school room and the work of the fields until he enlisted at the age of nineteen years as a soldier in defense of the Union cause. It was in November, 1861, that he joined Company K, of the Twelfth Michigan In- fantry, serving for seventeen months. He was captured at Shiloh and was held as a prisoner for more than seven months at Montgomery, Alabama, and Macon, Geor- gia, after which he was paroled and ex- changed at Camp Chase, subsequent to which time he was honorably discharged. 28

His brother, James A., had a similar experi- ence and was discharged at the same time. Because of the parole neither were able to return to the regiment and Mr. Parrish again made his way to the old home farm. He had had a varied and eventful military experience and was not yet twenty-one years of age when he again reached home.

On attaining his majority Mr. Parrish married Miss Mary E. Whipple, who was born in the vicinity of Elgin, Illinois, and was a daughter of the Rev. Lorenzo Whipple, of the Lake River conference of Illinois, who died in Michigan in 1895, at the age of eighty-six years. Mr. Parrish bought a farm in Lincoln township, which was new land and after improving it for five or six years he sold it. In 1875 he went to St. Joseph, where he clerked for two and a half years in a grocery store, and in 1877 he es- tablished a general store in Stevensville, where as a partner of J. E. Corrigan he erected a business block. They put in a branch store at Baroda, and continued in business successfully together until 1895, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Parrish retaining the Baroda store, while Mr. Corrigan took the Stevensville store. Mr. Parrish continued as a merchant in Baroda for five years longer, or until 1900, when he sold out, after continuous connec- tion with mercantile life covering more than a quarter of a century, save for a brief in- terval of two years. He found this a satis- factory source of income and devoted his time and energies assiduously to the business until failing health caused him to withdraw. He has since lived retired at Stevensville, where he has a neat residence. In 1885 he purchased the old home farm in the south- eastern part of Lincoln township which was once owned and occupied by his father.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish has been blessed with two sons, Herbert L. and Alphonso G., both of whom were form- erly in the store with their father. The elder son is now a traveling salesman living at Benton Harbor, while Alphonso is a trav- eling salesman for a Detroit house. Mr. Parrish is a stalwart Republican and has frequently been a delegate to the conven-

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tions of his party. He served as postmaster for seven years, beginning in 1878 and retir- ing from the office at the time of President Cleveland's election. He was also township treasurer for some time and he has frequent- ly been a delegate to the conventions of his party, where his opinions are often a decisive factor in shaping its policy. He belongs to A. W. Chapman Post, G. A. R., and fra- ternally is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Through a long and active business career he made a splendid record for reliability and enterprise and through his close application and persistency of purpose he advanced from a humble financial position to one of afflu- ence.

BENAJAH HIATT SPENCER, con- nected with one of the leading pro- ductive industries of f Benton Harbor, is now extensively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of furniture and his business interests are of a character which contribute to the general development and prosperity as well as to individual suc- cess. The welfare of any community de- pends upon its commercial and industrial activity and the real upbuilders and pro- moters of a town are those who establish and successfully control important business interests. Mr. Spencer may therefore well be classed among the representative men of Benton Harbor and as such we present the record of his life to our readers.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 61

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