A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 65

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

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Mr. Schwenk was married in 1872 to Miss Barbara Gropp, who was born in San- dusky, Ohio, June 5, 1848, a daughter of Frederick and Barbara Gropp, who were na- tives of Baden, Germany, and on coming to the United States settled in Ohio, whence they afterward removed to Indiana and later to Michigan, spending their last days in Berrien county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schwenk were born two sons: Charles F., who is residing on his father's farm in In- diana ; and John R., at home.

In his political views Mr. Schwenk has been a lifelong Democrat and is now serv- ing his ninth term as supervisor of the township. He had filled the office for five terms, after which he resigned and took a trip to Louisiana, where he spent the winter. Following his return he was again chosen to the office and is now at this time serving for the fourth consecutive term. He was township treasurer for three terms and commissioner for five years. For thirty- five consecutive years he has been school director of district No. 4. He has served as delegate to the various county conven- tions and has done all in his power to pro- mote the growth and insure the success of his party. He is a charter member of the Maccabees Tent, No. 231, at New Buffalo, and he was reared in the Lutheran faith and helped to build the church in New Buf- falo, but is not a member. He has been honorable and straightforward in all his business dealings and has labored diligently and energetically to win success that he might provide his family with a comforta- ble living. He has prospered in his under- takings and as the years have gone by he has also enjoyed to the full extent the re- spect and trust of his fellowmen, as has been manifest by the many times in which he has been elected to public office.

JOHN STUCK. The attractiveness of Berrien county as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained here and have become successful business men. Among this number is John Stuck, who was born February 27, 1859, on the farm on which he now resides on section 12, New Buffalo township. Here he has made his home throughout his entire life, giving his atten- tion to general agricultural pursuits, and his carefully directed business labors are resulting in the acquirement of very desira- ble prosperity. He is the son of Hans Stuck, who was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1833, and came when a young man alone to America, being at that time about twenty- one years of age. He made his way direct to New Buffalo and spent his remaining days upon a farm in Berrien county, passing away here when sixty-eight years of age. He owned sixty acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, becoming one of the active and energetic agricultur- ists of the communtiy. His political allegi- ance was given to the Democracy, and he belonged to the Lutheran church. He was married in this county to Miss Lena Friece, who was born in Holstein in 1843 and came to the United States in early womanhood, spending her remaining days here, her death occurring when she was forty years of age. In the family were eight children : Henry, now a resident of Peoria, Illinois; John, of this review; Anna and Charles, both deceased; Mary, the wife of Henry Forsome, of Chicago; Ellen, the wife of Frank Swartz, of South Bend, Indi- ana; Rosa, of Virden, Illinois; and Louisa, deceased.

Mr. Stuck, whose name introduces this record, was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, giving his attention to the work of the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he acquired his education in the public schools. After leav- ing school he gave his entire attention to the work of the home farm and eventually bought forty acres of the old homestead on section 12. New Buffalo township. In ad- dition to this he owns eighty acres on sec- tion 7, and thirty acres on section 18 of the

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

same township, so that his landed possessions aggregate one hundred and fifty acres. He carries on general farming, raising various cereals, and he has upon his place good buildings and modern equipments, using the latest improved machinery in the care of the fields and the harvesting of the crops. He has altogether one hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation and his farm is very productive. In 1888 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stuck and Miss Dora Schultz, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and came to the United States with her parents when eighteen years of age. Her father is Frederick Schultz, of Indiana. Three children grace this mar- riage: Fred, Irving and Edna, all yet with their parents.

Mr. Stuck has always supported the Democracy, but has not been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He served for four years as a school officer but other- wise has held no public or political positions, preferring to concentrate his energies up- on business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He belongs to New Buffalo Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., and holds membership in the Lutheran church, and the tenets of the society and the teach- ings of the church are permeating influences in his life, making him a man of upright character and genuine worth.

THOMAS H. MARTIN, who for twenty-eight years was proprietor of the Martin House at Three Oaks, is now living retired, for his activity in former years se- cured to him a goodly bank account, so that his income is sufficient to enable him to enjoy a well-earned rest. He was born near Brantville, Ontario, Canada, on the Ioth of February, 1844, and was only four years of age at the time of his father's death. With his widowed mother he then . removed to St. Lawrence county, New York, the family home being established near Ogdensburg. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. His brother, James, became a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, and died at

Memphis, Tennessee, while in the service of his country.

Between the ages of four and ten years Thomas H. Martin resided with his wid- owed mother in St. Lawrence county, New York, near Ogdensburg, and then went to Batavia, Illinois, where he resided for seven years or until after the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. He then removed to Furnaceville, Indiana, with his mother and was principally employed as a teamster un- til he enlisted in the Union army in August, 1862, becoming a member of Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, under command of Col. George B. Hoag. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, in the engagement at Little Rock, Arkansas, and in a fight south of Memphis, Tennessee, beside many others of minor importance. He served altogether for two years and ten months and was taken prisoner at Eastport, Tennessee, after which he remained for six months in the rebel military prison at Cahaba, Alabama. He continued with his command until hon- orably discharged on the 6th of June, 1865. when with a most creditable military rec- ord he returned to his home in Indiana.

When the war was over and the coun- try no longer needed his aid Mr. Martin en- gaged in farming in the Hoosier state, hav- ing purchased a tract of land while in the army. There he carried on general agri- cultural pursuits until 1872, when he came to Three Oaks. He afterward engaged in teaming for two years for the firm of Ben- nett Brothers in connection with the mill and when that period had passed he estab- lished a boarding house and conducted a boarding house and a hotel for twenty- eight years, but about two years ago sold the Martin House, of which he had so long been proprietor and retired from active busi- ness life to enjoy a well-earned rest. He owns a good home on Main street and also has two buildings which he rents and which return to him a good income.

On the 7th of September, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Thomas H. Mar- tin and Miss Rosa Siberts, who was born in Ohio, December 4, 1842. They have no children of their own, but have reared two.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Mr. Martin votes with the Republican party, having given to it his allegiance since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a public spirited citizen, interested in local progress as well as national advance- ment, and his co-operation has been given to many measures that have had direct bear- ing upon the welfare and upbuilding of this locality. He has become very widely known in his business career and was a popular landlord, whose efforts to add to the com- fort of his guests made his hostelry a fav- ored one with the traveling public. In citizenship he has been as loyal to his coun- try as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields and in all life's relations he has gained warm friendships that have made him one of the respected residents of this part of the county.

JOSEPH MULHOLLAND, who since 1896 has resided on his present farm on section 10, New Buffalo township, was born in county Tyrone, near Dublin, Ireland, December 24, 1842, his parents being John C. and Isabelle (Miller) Mulholland, who left their native country and crossed the Atlantic to Toronto, Canada, when their son Joseph was about a year old. Both died when he was five years of age, passing away within six weeks of each other. They had five children; Robert, now residing in Ohio; John C. and Rachel, both deceased; Jo- seph, of this review; and James, who was a soldier in the same regiment to which his brother Joseph belonged. He served for three years and was then discharged but the hardships and rigors of war had under- mined his health and he died soon after- ward.

At their death the parents left five young children and two years later all went to live with an uncle, John Dunlap, of Ken- ton, Ohio. Mr. Mulholland of this review was therefore reared upon a farm in the Buckeye state, where he remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused he responded to the country's call for aid and joined the boys in blue of Company A, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Robinson. He took part in thir-

ty-three important engagements during the four years of his service, including the bat- tles of Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Chancel- lorsville, the second battle of Bull Run and in the march under General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He afterward proceeded northward through the Carolinas and Vir- ginia and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., where thousands of Union soldiers with victory perched on their banners marched past the stand on which the president and other distinguished states- men were standing to cheer the return of the army. At Gettysburg he was knocked down but was not seriously wounded, but he permanently injured his back in tearing up a railroad in South Carolina and has suffered therefrom continuously since. Af- ter serving for three years he veteranized with most of the company and regiment and participated in every engagement ex- cept one of the thirty-four in which the regiment took part and was prevented from doing so on that occasion by an attack of typhoid fever. He was always a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the perform- ance of any duty that was assigned him whether it called him to the lonely picket line or stationed him in the midst of danger on the firing line.

After the war Mr. Mulholland returned to his old home in Ohio and two years later was married. He went to Kansas in 1871, settling in Mitchell county, where he home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres before the county was organized. In fact he as- . sisted in organizing the county and the township of Solomon Rapids where he re- sided. He was one of a committee of nine that acted as a vigilance committee that ran down the famous outlaw Bender. Mr. Mul- holland continued to live in Kansas until after the grasshopper scourge of 1874, when all crops were completely destroyed and he then returned to Ohio. He engaged in farming in the latter state until 1881, when he removed to northern Michigan, settling in Osceola county. There he lived for sev- enteen years and in 1896 came to Berrien county, taking up his abode upon the farm which has since been his place of residence. He has here eighty acres of section 10 ad-

Haway. Je Hampball

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

joining the corporation limits of New Buf- falo. He has erected and improved the buildings upon the place, has cleared the land and transformed it into productive fields from which he annually harvests good crops. He now has a well improved and attractive property, which in its thrifty ap- pearance indicates his careful supervision and enterprise.

On the 28th of September, 1867, Mr. Mulholland was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Eastman, who was born in Lima, Ohio, March 7, 1847, a daughter of Jona- than O., and Rachel Ann (Huston) Mul- holland, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They were of American birth and their respective families had lived in the United States for five generations, the fore- fathers on both sides arriving in colonial days.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland have been born six children: Mrs. Anna Isa- belle Warner, who is living in Niles; Carrie Amelia, of San Antonio, Texas; Rachel Ida, the wife of Rev. B. F. Fowler, a preacher of the United Brethren church, now at Waterloo, Michigan ; John C., a trav- eling man representing a Chicago house; Ada J., a school teacher of Berrien county ; and Mary Frances, who is also engaged in teaching school.

Mr. Mulholland votes with the Repub- lican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lin -: coln in 1864 and has since supported each nominee at the head of the ticket. He served for one term as justice of the peace, was highway commissioner two terms in New Buffalo township and also held the same office while living in Northern Michigan, where he served for three terms. He be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the Odd Fellows society at New Buffalo, also the Rebekah lodge, and Post No. 315, G. A. R., thereby main- taining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His life has been one of activi- ty, directed by sound judgment and stim- ulated by a laudable ambition for success and as the years have gone by he has made

a creditable place in business circles and is now in possession of a good farm.

HARVEY J. CAMPBELL. The in- dustrial life of Benton Harbor finds a worthy representative in Harvey J. Camp- bell, who is now connected with its manu- facturing interests as a member of the Campbell & Naylor -Garment Company, manufacturers of overalls and men's fur- nishing goods. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1854, a son of Charles W. and Sarah (Jones) Campbell. The father died at the age of seventy-five years, but the mother is still living. The former was a prominent wholesale dry goods merchant of St. Joseph, Missouri, for many years, carrying on an extensive business, but eventually he retired from trade some years prior to his death and spent his last days in Florida. In the family were seven children, of whom five are yet living.

Harvey J. Campbell, the eldest son and the only one now living in Berrien county, pursued his education in the schools of his native city and on attaining his majority he entered business life as an employe in a wholesale dry goods establishment there. He had pursued his education in the public schools, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. Following his entrance into busi- ness life he became connected with John S. Lemon under the firm name of John S. Lemon & Company, which relation was maintained for some time, after which Mr. Lemon withdrew in order to engage in the banking business in St. Joseph. In 1896 Mr. Campbell left that city and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for two years, also engaged in the wholesale dry goods business. Removing to Chi- cago, he became indentified with the whole- sale dry goods house of J. V. Farwell & Company, who were also large manufactur- ers of overalls. This company established a factory in Benton Harbor, of which Mr. Campbell was made manager and so con- tinued until the spring of 1904, when the business was closed out. At that time Mr. Campbell joined William D. Naylor, who

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

was formerly superintendent of the factory of J. V. Farwell & Company in Benton Harbor, in the establishment of the present Campbell & Naylor Garment Company, manufacturers of overalls and men's fur- nishings in Benton Harbor. They are con- ducting business in the old Farwell factory and that their trade has reached extensive proportions is indicated by the fact that they now furnish employment to from sixty to seventy operatives. Their trade is con- stantly growing and has already become an important industry of Benton Harbor.

In 1880, in Winchester, Virginia, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Mary Denny, a native of the Old Dominion. They have resided in Benton Harbor since 1900 and have won for themselves an enviable posi- tion in social circles. Mr. Campbell is a Democrat in his political views but has neither time nor inclination for office, pre- ferring to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs. A man of strong in- dividuality and indubitable probity, he has attained a due measure of success in the affairs of life and is today a leading repre- sentative of the productive industries of Ber- rien county. He possesses, moreover, a genial and social nature and is most appre- ciative of the amenities which go to make up the sum of human happiness.

W. K. WHITEHEAD, a retired farm- er living in Three Oaks, was born in Mor- ris county, New Jersey, on the 12th of Oc- tober, 1829, and there made his home for about thirty years. His parents were David and Mary (King) Whitehead. The father, a native of Manchester, England, came to the United States when eighteen years of age with one brother. He spent the re- mainder of his life in New Jersey and was a gardener, dependent upon that business for the income wherewith he met his daily expenses. He died at the venerable age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away in New Jersey at the age of forty years. She was born in that state and had always resided there. Her mother was a sister of General Grant's father, so that she and the general were own cousins. W. K. White- head was the eldest of a family of seven

children, the other six being: Caroline, the deceased wife of William Jones; Elma, the widow of Charles Overton and a resident of Albany, New York; David, who is living in New Jersey; Mrs. Harriet Roberts, a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut; Mar- garet, who married George Raymond, of Norwalk, Connecticut; one who died in in- fancy.

William K. Whitehead began his educa- tion at the usual age and continued his stud- ies to the age of fifteen years, when he be- gan providing for his own living as an em- ploye in the Dover Iron Works, Dover, New Jersey. He acted in various capacities in connection with that industry and contin- ued his residence in New Jersey until 1850, when he went to California by way of the isthmus route. He spent about four years mining on the Pacific coast and then re- turned on a visit to New Jersey. He crossed the isthmus at the time the railroad was being built, it having been constructed a part of the way on the return trip. Again taking up his abode in New Jersey he was once more employed in the iron works un- til he came to Michigan in 1876. Settling in Three Oaks, he has since made his home here. He purchased a general store, which he conducted with a partner for a time but later he purchased his partner's interests and carried on business alone for about eighteen years. He was one of the wide awake and enterprising merchants of the town, having a good establishment, in which he carried a well selected line of goods and thereby gained a liberal support. At length he sold out and bought seventy acres of land about one mile from town. Locating thereon, he gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits for some time, but in March, 1906, sold his farm and returned to the town, where he is now living a retired life, having justly earned the rest which he is now en- joying.

In 1860 Mr. Whitehead was married to Miss Mary Alice Searing, who was born in New Jersey February 1, 1837, and is a daughter of Jacob and Phoebe (Martin) Searing, who were likewise natives of New Jersey. Unto them were born two children : Margaret Elma, the wife of Rev. I.T.Weldon

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of Elsie, Michigan, who is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they have two children, Alice M. and William W .; and William S., living in Boise City, Idaho, where he is engaged in the drug and fruit business, also dealing in live stock. He has two children, Donald S. and Alice R.

Mr. Whitehead belongs to the Metho- dist church and is deeply interested in its work and progress. His political support is given to the Republican party. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey and and well merits the rest which has been vouchsafed to him. In the management of his property interests and business affairs he has displayed excellent ability and enterprise and has gained there- by a comfortable competence, being now a substantial citizen of Three Oaks. He has lived here continuously for thirty years, which has given ample opportunity to the public to judge of his worth and qualifica- tions and the consensus of opinion is very favorable.

DIX H. BEESON, proprietor of a drug store at Three Oaks, was born one mile west of Cassopolis, in Cass county, Michi- gan, May 1, 1863, his parents being Ben- jamin F. and Jennie E. (Banks) Beeson, the father a native of Richmond, Indiana, and the mother of Chenango county, New York. Benjamin F. Beeson was taken to Cass county in his infancy and for many years was a farmer there, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits un- til his demise, which occurred in 1896, when he was sixty-four years of age.

His widow still survives him and now makes her home in Goshen, Indiana, at the age of sixty-nine years. In their family were three children: Mrs. Grace Ashley, living in Goshen; Dix H., of this review; and Otis J., also living in Goshen, where. he is engaged in the drug business.

Dix H. Beeson was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools and thus acquired a good practical education. He was for a time a student in Hillsdale College, and when a young man

of twenty-two years he removed from his native county to Berrien county, where he arrived in the fall of 1885. Locating at Three Oaks, he was engaged in the cream- ery business for three years as an employe, and on the expiration of that period invest- ed the capital which he had saved from his earnings in the drug store, which he is still conducting. He was first located three doors south of his present place of business but later purchased the building in which he is now conducting his store and to which he removed four years ago. It is a two- story frame structure, ninety by twenty-four feet. Until the last year Mr. Beeson has devoted considerable time to farming, and is the owner of five hundred acres of valua- ble land in connection with Jonas H. Hol- den. This is devoted to the cultivation of peppermint, and the experiment is proving a very profitable one. Mr. Beeson also owns a branch store at New Buffalo, and is meeting with success in his mercantile ventures, having a liberal patronage in both places.

In 1885 was celebrated the marriage of Dix H. Beeson, and Miss Ella J. James, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and a daughter of Edward K. and Katharine ( McFarren) James. They have three children, Paul, Lois and Helen. Mr. Beeson votes with the Republican party, and has served as supervisor of his township for one term. He has also been township treasurer for several terms and a member of the village

council. £ He was also a member of the board of education, and the public schools have found in him a warm and stalwart friend, who has put forth effective effort in their behalf. He regards a public office as a public trust and has been most loyal to the confidence reposed in him through his offi- cial service. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also to tlfe Ma- sonic lodge, and his brethren of these fra- ternities regard him as a man worthy their entire confidence and respect. In business life he has placed his dependence not upon speculation or upon any fortunate combina- tion of circumstances, but has relied upon energy and close application to bring to him the success which he is now enjoying and

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 65

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