A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 71

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. French have been born two children: Mabel A., who is now the wife of Frank W. Bosworth, a merchant carrying on business at Plymouth, Indiana ; and George Walter, who is an engineer and resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. French have as valuable relics an old teapot, which is over a century old, and also a spinning wheel over sixty years old on which Mrs. French spun in her girlhood days.

Mr. French has been a life-long Re- publican, casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, since which.

time he has voted for each nominee at the head of the ticket. He has taken an active interest in Republican politics, earnestly de- siring the success of the party, yet always declining to hold office himself. However, he consented to become a candidate for the office of supervisor in 1906 and was elected by a majority of ninety-nine over Democ- ratic and Prohibition candidates. He is now serving also as a member of the village council as a capable official with due appre- ciation for the duties and responsibilities which devolve upon him. He belongs to the Masonic lodge in Buchanan, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. His residence in Berrien county covers a half century and he is hardly less widely known in other parts of the state. A genial manner, social and courteous disposition and genuine personal worth have gained him many friends wherever he has gone and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his life.

- THOMAS LYON, deceased, who was a resident of Benton Harbor, was born in Spittlefield, Perthshire, Scot- land on the 22d of May, 1837, and died September 27, 1895, at the age of fifty- eight years and four months. He was reared in his home town in a well-to-do family amid an atmosphere of culture and refinement. He was carefully trained as to the value of integrity, industry and morality, his people being of the Presbyterian faith, and the children were imbued with prin- ciples of righteous living. He acquired his education in his native country and at the age of eighteen years came to America in company with his father. They made their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the father soon afterward returned to Scotland. He had come to America to buy land in or- der that his son might engage in farming, but Thomas Lyon did not care for agricul- tural pursuits. The father therefore re- turned to Scotland, where he had another son living, and remained a resident of the land of hills and heather until old age, when he was called to his final rest. As his son Thomas was averse to following the life of an agriculturist he did not leave him any

THOMAS LYON

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

property and, thrown upon his own re- sources, Mr. Lyon of this review resolutely set to the task of providing for his own sup- port and winning a competence. In a short time he secured a position as fireman on a steamboat and later became an engineer, act- ing as such on different vessels or as a mill engineer. He came to Benton Harbor with the firm of Wright Brothers, who estab- lished the washboard factory and who placed Mr. Lyon in charge of the engine room. He continued to act as engineer in that factory for some time and afterward went to Graham's mill as engineer. He also ran the "Berrien," a vessel belonging to the Graham Company and making trips between Chicago and Grand Haven, Michigan. He was thus engaged after his marriage, but his wife objected to his life on the water and he therefore gave up the position and secured a place as engineer of an electric light plant at South Chicago. While thus engaged he sustained an electric shock from a dynamo. He did not feel any serious effect therefrom for a year and a half, when it began to show itself, for he would fall if he attempted to stand, and from that time forward he was confined to his home, his death finally resulting from the electric shock which he had sustained six years before.

Mr. Lyon was married on the 15th of February, 1861, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Miss Henrietta Zillman, who was then a young lady of seventeen years. She was born near Berlin, Germany, and came to America at the age of three years, being reared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the home of her father, William Zillman, who was one of the foremost brick manufactur- ers of Milwaukee, and was educated in the Lutheran schools. She still survives her husband and is well known in Benton Har- bor. Mr, Lyon had purchased ten acres of land on the bluff north of the city and later bought another tract adjoining along the Paw Paw river, extending on to the bluff overlooking the valley and city. This made about sixty-seven acres, which he planted to fruit, giving his attention to the cultiva- tion of his orchards. Since his death Mrs. Lyon has platted and sold all of the land

but three acres. There are now five homes occupying sites on this tract and she has also sold a portion of the land to the beet sugar company. She has likewise built a residence for her own use on the high bluff, which commands an excellent view of the surrounding country. In addition to this property she owns one hundred and ten acres of good land in Pipestone township, where her daughter lives. This is a stock and grain farm upon which there is also some fruit.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lyon was born but one child, Jeanette, who is the wife of Charles Thompson, also a native of Scot- land. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born eight children.

Mrs. Lyon is a member of the Lutheran church, becoming one of its original sup- porters in Benton Harbor. She has ever since taken an active and helpful part in its work and her labors in its behalf have been effective and far reaching. Mr. Lyon remained in the old Presbyterian church in which he had been reared. He was a man of domestic tastes, devoted to his home and family and when not occupied with busi- ness cares he found his greatest enjoyment at his own fireside. He read quite exten- sively, keeping well posted on all events of current interest and keeping abreast with the times in all respects. His life was one of untiring activity, and while he was left without inheritance he depended upon his own business capacity and strong determina- tion to gain a good living and win a com- fortable measure of success. He thereby displayed considerable strength of char- acter and his enterprise and courageous spirit were most commendable.

EMORY J. GLIDDEN is a member of the firm of Glidden Brothers, general mer- chants at Lakeside, where he is. also serving as postmaster. He has made a creditable business record, winning a gratifying measure of success and also an untarnished name through his straighforward methods. His birth occurred in Porter township, Van Buren county, April 16, 1863, and he there resided until he became a resident of Ber- rien county in 1873. His parents were

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Stephen M. and Harriett L. (Raub) Glid- den, natives of New York. The father is still living, making his home with his son Emory, at the age of eighty years, but the mother passed away in 1904, when seventy years of age. In their family were six chil- dren : Asa C., who is a member of the firm of Glidden Brothers and has charge of the grocery and meat market owned by the firm at Michigan City; Martha Belle, who died at the age of twelve years; Orin S., who is engaged in business as a proprietor of a bakery at Michigan City; Hattie, the wife of M. L. Wiese, of Oklahoma ; and Robert Franklin, who is also a member of the firm. The three brothers, Emory, Asa and Frank, carry on extensive business interests under the firm style of Glidden Brothers.

As before stated, Emory J. Glidden, re- mained a resident of his native county until, at the age of ten years, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Berrien county, locating at Harbert in this township. After a year he became a resident of Lakeside, where he has now lived for thirty-two years. In the winter months he attended school and thus acquired a fair English education, while in the summer seasons he was trained to farm labor. Four years ago he became connected with mercantile interests, joining his brothers, who had established the busi- ness two years before. The store was started six years ago by Orin S. Glidden, who a year later admitted his brother Frank to a partnership, while after two years Emory J. Glidden became one of the owners. They conduct not only a general store at Lake- side but also an extensive business in Michi- gan City. All four of the brothers were in business for two years, at the end of which time Orin S. Glidden retired and established a bakery business at Michigan City, where he has since continued. Mr. Glidden of this review is an active factor in the successful management of the general mercantile store at Lakeside. where they carry an extensive and well selected stock and are now enjoying a good patronage. They also own a good farm in the vicinity of Lakeside and derive therefrom a most gratifying income.

In 1890 occurred the marriage of Emory J. Glidden and Miss Carrie E. Gibson, who

was born near Racine, Wisconsin, and came to Berrien county with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Gibson. This union has been blessed with one daughter, Ruth. The par- ents are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and in his political views Mr. Glidden is an earnest Republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was ap- pointed postmaster three years ago to suc- ceed his brother Orin upon his removal to Michigan City. The business methods of the house of which he is a partner are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, neither seeking nor requiring dis- guise, and the firm is now enjoying an ex- tensive and well merited trade.

SAMUEL W. REDDEN, who is now living retired in Buchanan, owes his suc- cess to his own well directed efforts and may truly be called a self-made man, merit- ing all the praise which the term implies. He has now almost reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey, having been born near Dover, in Kent county, Delaware, on the 12th of November. 1827. His paternal grandfather was born in Ireland and was a Revolutionary soldier. He came to America when a young man, locating in Delaware. His father. Samuel Redden, also a native of Delaware, came to Berrien county in Sep- tember. 1835. and cast in his lot with its pioneer settlers, for at that time the work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun. There were still large tracts of land covered with the native timber or as yet uncultivated, while many of the now thriving towns and villages had not yet sprung into existence. Samuel Redden lo- cated in Bertrand township, where he pur- chased land and in connection with his gen- eral agricultural pursuits he also carried on carpentering and merchandising in the vil- lage of Bertrand. His capable direction of his business affairs and his economy and dili- gence made him a prosperous citizen and he became a large landowner of the county. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Curtis, was a native of Delaware and was of Swedish lineage. She lived to be about forty-four years of age. In the family were

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seven children, all of whom reached adult age save two.

Samuel W. Redden, the second child and eldest son, was only about seven years of age when the family came to Berrien county. His youth was passed in Bertrand township, where he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He shared in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and obtained his education in such schools as were common at that period. In early life he engaged in farming on his own account and in 1853, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast with ox teams in company with Julius Cathcart, Charles Graves, Judge Ballenger, John Ballenger, Jason Ingersol, Euree Dragoo and Dr. Dragoo. They started on the 20th of March and were upon the way until the 7th of September, when they arrived at Diamond Springs, about one and a half miles from Placerville, California. Mr. Redden began the search for the precious metal and remained on the Pacific coast until October, 1859, when he returned by way of the water route and the Isthmus of Panama.

On again reaching this county Mr. Red- den located in Buchanan, where he engaged in the grocery business, opening one of the first grocery houses of the city. He con- tinued in this line of trade until 1864, when he returned to the farm, where he remained through the summer and fall. He then again engaged in the grocery business and later turned his attention to the dry goods trade, which he carried on for several years. He was at different times associated with part- ners and he carefully managed his com- mercial interests so that a very desirable competence resulted from his labors. He continued actively in trade until about 1886, when he retired and has since enjoyed a well earned rest.

Mr. Redden was married October 21, 1868, to Miss Sophia Fraser, a daughter of Alexander Fraser. They have two children : Charles Fraser, a traveling salesman, now re- siding in New York city ; and Zula, at home, a graduate of Buchanan high school.

Mr. Redden figured prominently for many years in the business life of Buchanan,

and contributed in large measure to its com- mercial prosperity. He was one of the pro- moters of the Citizens Bank, at Niles, and he owns much property in Buchanan. His political allegiance has always been given to the Democracy. His residence in Berrien county dates from 1835, therefore covering a period of more than the allotted Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. He has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and the changes which time and man have wrought as a wild and unimproved dis- trict has been converted into a region of rich fertility supplied with all evidences of industrial, agricultural and commercial progress. Throughout an active business career he has maintained a reputation that classes him with the respected and sub- stantial residents of the county.

DR. AUGUST WILLIAM BIRK- HOLZ whose life work has been of a nature to render him a benefactor to mankind, has with a full realization of the duties and ob- ligations of man to his fellowmen so directed his labors that hundreds have been benefited thereby. His reputation as a healer has gone abroad throughout the land and from all sections of the country patients have come to him and been healed. He has been spoken of as "a man of destiny," and it seems that because of his marvelous gifts nature in- tended that he should devote his time, energies and talents to the work which he is now doing.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was born on the 21st of April, 1856, and is a son of August and Caroline ( Youre) Birkholz, both of whom were natives of Prussia, Germany. The mother had been previously married and had lost her first hus- band and three children of cholera while liv- ing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She after- ward married Mr. Birkholz, who came to this country a single man, crossing the At- lantic about 1854. Their wedding was cele- brated in 1855 and in order to provide for his family Mr. Birkholz gave his attention to farming. He died at New Buffalo, Feb- ruary 26, 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years and his widow still survives, now mak- ing her home with her son, Dr. Birkholz,

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at the very advanced age of eighty-six years. In the family were four children, namely : Dr. Birkholz, of this review; Gustave, a traveling salesman representing a Chicago house : Julius, who died in childhood; and Amel, a fruit grower of New Buffalo.

Dr. Birkholz was only three years of age when his parents removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he resided until thirteen years of age, during which period he at- tended the public schools. The family after- ward located on a farm in Chikaming town- ship, where he continued to reside until twenty years of age, and during that period he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for two years in St. Joseph. He afterward went to Saugatuck, Michigan, and for ten years devoted his time and energies to fishing. On the expiration of that period he removed to New Buffalo and continued as a fisherman for five years, subsequent to which time he went to Annapee, Wisconsin, where he continued in the same business for three years. He next located at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where he continued as a fisher- man for two years and then went upon the road as a traveling salesman. representing a wholesale house in Grand Rapids.

About that time Dr. Birkholz began the investigation of spiritualism in Grand Rapids and was told by the spirits that he would be- come a master of the healing art. After three years the spirits told him they wanted him as a healer. He treated John Rennehan, an attorney of Grand Rapids, and cured him of a stiff leg after he had not walked for three years. Thus he made his start. Mr. Rennehan, being a prominent attorney, gave Dr. Birkholz good reputation and he has continued as a healer to the present time with constantly growing success. He has devoted his time exclusively to healing. first in Grand Rapids, where he remained for a year, then in Detroit for a year, in Chicago for four years, in Cincinnati, Ohio, for one year, and is now residing on his fine farm in New Buf- falo township temporarily to recuperate. His farm comprises three hundred and forty acres on the state line in New Buffalo town- ship and in Indiana. This is conducted as a stock farm and he also has a fruit farm of twenty acres adjoining the corporation limits

of New Buffalo. He has a beautiful home in New Buffalo which he erected, it being the finest home in the village and indeed one of the finest in the county. Dr. Birkholz has made all that he has since taking up his spirit work and he is advised in his healing by the spirit of Dr. J. R. Newton, the once famous healer.

In 1876 Dr. Birkholz was married to Miss Marion Shuler, who was born in Luxemburg, Germany, April 15, 1857, and came to the United States with her parents when only a year old. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mausen) Shuler and by her marriage has become the mother of five children : Grace, who is now the wife of Henry Siegmund, of New Buffalo town- ship: Nora, the wife of Edward Rowe of New Buffalo: Mamie, the wife of William Behler of New Buffalo; Henry, of the same place, married Mary Leathers, daughter of Bertha Bawda, and Arthur, at home. Dr. Birkholz is now enabled to surround his fam- ily with many of life's comforts and luxuries owing to the success which he has made as a healer. He has been blessed bountifully in temporal things as well as in the power which enables him to cure disease. A contemporary biographer has said: "He has possessed the power he is now manifesting so abundantly since his boyhood days, and even when a boy could relieve pain by the 'laying on of his hands.' He commenced the work of heal- ing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he successfully treated many thousands. Then he removed to the city of Detroit, where he remained a year, treating on an average of about a hundred patients daily, the most of whom had been given up by the attending physicians to die and pronounced incurable before visiting Dr. Birkholz, as may be seen by reading the testimonials-nearly all of which were stated to the representatives of newspapers that were desirous of noting in their publications the 'marvelous' things that occurred-which are but the very few of the many thousands treated and cured by Dr. Birkholz. It must be remembered that this manner of treatment and healing is 'too good to be believed,' and very few accept of it till all hope has fled of recovery under the ordinary manner of treatment with medicine

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and surgery. But, as men and women are becoming educated in the 'best methods' of restoring health, they are abandoning 'pill, powder and the scalpel' and seeking health where it may be found. Dr. Birkholz holds none of his methods in secret, but courts investigation from the ablest medical practitioners in the country as well as from members of psychical research societies and all scientific societies that have a desire to' advance in a knowledge of truth and the up- lifting and advancement of the human race. Dr. Birkholz holds that one 'demonstrated fact' is worth many thousand 'theories' that have never been demonstrated. His methods are based upon demonstrable, scientific prin- ciples. It is not easily understood by the 'uninitiated' who have given this line of 'truth' but little, if any, consideration ; be- cause it is only by long and continued re- search that one becomes master of the truth of the 'fine forces.' To those who have given psychic laws careful and long consideration, the manner employed by Dr. Birkholz for the healing of disease is and will be readily understood; and to such does Dr. Birkholz court earnest investigation, with the assur- ance that right conclusions will be reached. Incredulity, caused from lack of knowledge of certain laws, incredulity that judges with- out a hearing, that biased, prejudiced feel- ing possessed by many who rather 'make a dollar' than to give one thought along the line of human progression, it is that prefers solace in 'ignorance' than to give considera- tion to 'scientific principles' that will bring to the human race health and happiness. By the daily exercise of this wonderful 'gift' possessed by Dr. Birkholz, the power to heal is daily increasing and it is a common occur- rence for men and women to be brought to him on stretchers and rise at his touch and walk away, or to come to him on crutches, pronounced incurable by the ablest physicians in the land, and drop the crutches and leap for joy when touched by the doctor. Can- cers, that the most skilled physicians gave up and pronounced incurable, and which they at the very best impede but for a season, are cured under the magic touch of this great instrument of heaven."

JOHN S. GIBSON is a self-made man, who has been identified with various busi- ness interests but is now largely living re- tired, making his home at Lakeside in Chik- aming township. He has displayed unfalter- ing energy and perseverance in his business career and has carried forward to success- ful completion whatever he has undertaken. He was born in Loudon, New Hampshire, September 24, 1833, and is a son of Jedediah T. and Hettie ( Rollins) Gibson, also na- tives of New Hampshire. Becoming resi- dents of the west about 1838, they settled in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, making the journey by team from their old home in the Granite state to the Erie canal, proceed- ing over that waterway to Buffalo, by boat to Detroit and thence across the country with teams to their destination, being about six weeks on the way. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gib- son spent their remaining days in Wiscon- sin, where the father died in 1849, at the age of forty-nine years, while the mother reached the very advanced age of ninety years. He was engaged in buying and selling cattle in New Hampshire but after his removal to the west turned his attention to the lum- ber business in Wisconsin. In their family were six children : Mrs. Mary Jane Mygatt, now deceased; Mrs. Caroline Lathrop Crane, living in Chicago ; Mrs. Harriett Holman, of Chikaming township; John S., of this re- view ; Genevieve, who died in childhood; and Francis A., of Wisconsin.

John S. Gibson was a little lad of only five years when his parents started for the west. He accompanied them on the six weeks journey to Wisconsin and remained a resident of that state until 1855, when he went to Minnesota, where he remained for three years. He then returned to the Bad- ger state and lived within its borders until 1871, when he came to Berrien county, Mich- igan. His time and energies were devoted to farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, in 1862, he was drafted for service but he could not pass the physical examination, being rejected on account of a poor knee. He afterward worked for the railroad for three years at the shop in Ra- cine, Wisconsin, acting first as night watch-

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man and afterward as switchman for two years. He then began work at the carpen- ter's trade, which he had previously learned and he was identified with building opera- tions up to the time of his removal to Michi- gan in 1871. He built his present home in Lakeside in 1873, and has since occupied it. Here he has devoted considerable at- tention to agricultural pursuits and owns. now two hundred acres of valuable land, which returns to him a good annual income. At one time he owned four hundred acres, but has since sold half of this. Soon after coming to Berrien county he purchased a sawmill of Mr. Wilkinson, and operated it for about ten years in the manufacture of lumber. He then sold the plant. In the meantime, however, he had purchased tim- ber land, from which he cut the trees and sawed the lumber, shipping it across the lake to the city markets, after which the land was utilized for farming purposes. He still owns about one hundred acres of timber land and lis property lies on sections 19, 20 and 22, Chikaming township. For many years Mr. Gibson was an active and energetic factor in business life in this section of the county but during the past year he has retired, merely supervising his fifteen-acre orchard and his investment. He was empty handed when he started out in life on his own ac- count and he has made all of his property through his persistency of purpose, un- tiring energy and straightforward business methods.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 71

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