A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 72

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1855 occurred the marriage of Mr. Gibson and Miss Ann Jones, who was born in England in August; 1834, and who be- came a resident of Burlington, Wisconsin, at the age of nine years, in company with her parents, Matthew and Mary Jones. For more than a half century Mr. and Mrs. Gib- son have now traveled life's journey to- gether, and as the years passed their mar- riage was blessed with a family of five chil- dren, namely : Arvilla, now the wife of John C. Morgan, a resident of Traverse City; William, who is living in Three Oaks; Car- rie, the wife of Emory J. Glidden, who is postmaster and a leading merchant at Lake- side; Emily, who died in childhood; and

Frances, the wife of C. J. McCarron, of Chicago.

In his political views Mr. Gibson is a Republican, who has supported the party since casting his ballot for Fremont in 1856. For four years he was justice of the peace, has been township clerk for one term and highway commissioner for one term. He was also postmaster of Lakeside for nine- teen years and the postoffice was established through his efforts about 1878. He then continued in charge as postmaster through the succeeding nineteen years, occupying that position through Cleveland's adminis- tration although he is a stalwart Republi- can. Mr. Gibson has now passed the sev- enty-third milestone on life's journey and his has been a useful, active and honorable career, in which unfaltering purpose and strong determination supplemented by un- flagging diligence have been the strong ele- ments in his success. He has made good use of his opportunities and as the years have passed has achieved a measure of pros- perity that now enables him to live retired, enjoying not only the comforts of life but also the respect and good will of those who are familiar with his history.

PETER GORDON, engaged in general farming on section 25, Chikaming town- ship, is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Columbia county, New York, July 11, 1836. He is a son of Peter and Margaret (Wheeler) Gordon, the former born in New York city, and the lat- ter in Columbia county, where they were . married. Both spent their last days in Mich- igan. passing away in Genesee county. Peter Gordon was the second in the family num- bering five daughters and two sons and he accompanied his parents on their removal to Onondaga county, New York, and later to Cortland county, New York. There he remained until about twenty years of age, when he became a resident of Genesee coun- ty. Michigan, arriving in the year 1856. He established his home there and made it his place of residence until 1890, when he took up his abode in Benton Harbor, where he resided until about four years ago, when he

MR. AND MRS. JOHN J. BROOKS

495

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

located on his present farm. He has owned farm land since the age of twenty-one years, and for a quarter of a century he has en- gaged in building operations as a carpenter and joiner. While in Benton Harbor he owned a fruit farm. He learned his trade of his father and followed it in Three Oaks, and by reason of good workmanship secured a liberal patronage. Business and personal considerations, however, were put aside by him in 1862, when he responded to the coun- try's call for aid, enlisting at Flint, Michi- gan, as a member of Company H, First Michigan Engineers. He took part in sev- eral engagements and a number of skir- mishes while building and repairing bridges. He served for over three years and was ever faithful to the duties that devolved upon him in that connection. Four years ago Mr. Gordon located at his present place of residence, having twenty acres on the lake. This is a fine place, well improved and equipped with all modern accessories, and all the improvements here are the work of his hands. He has erected good buildings, has cleared his land and has brought it under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Gordon has been married three times. When twenty-one years of age he wedded Mary Decker, who died a short time afterward. Nine years later he was joined in wedlock to Miss Frances E. Begole, a niece of Governor J. W. Begole, of Michi- gan. There were three children of that mar- riage, two of whom died in infancy, while one is yet living, Charles, who is an under- taker at Massillon, Ohio. He is married and has two children, Julian Francis and Allen Owen. In 1901 Mr. Gordon was again mar- ried, at which time Mrs. Mary Gordon, a widow of his cousin, became his wife. She is a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Grim- mitt) Steadman, natives of New York and England respectively.

In his political views Mr. Gordon is a stalwart Republican, which party he has stanchly supported since the Civil war. He served as sheriff of Genesee county for seven years, has been drain commissioner and has held a number of minor offices, including that of township treasurer of St. Joseph township. He has also been treasurer of

Chikaming township and was the first Re- publican to be elected in this township in fifteen years. He was likewise justice of the peace in St. Joseph township for four years and in all of the offices which he has filled he has discharged his duties so promptly, faithfully and effectively that he has won uniform commendation. He holds membership in the Grand Army of the Re- public and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades, and he is also a Mason, both fraternal relations being maintained in Genesee county. His life has been active and useful and his business methods and principles have always been honorable and straightforward.

JOHN J. BROOKS, residing in Watervliet township, where he owns and operates a good fruit farm, was born in Burlington, Vermont, on the 24th of June, 1829, and spent his early youth upon his father's farm. When twenty years of age he went to Massachusetts in order that he might gain a better wage than could be secured at farm labor in his native state. He turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1857 he came from Massachusetts to Michi- gan, settling at Paw Paw, where he worked in the factories and subsequently began car- pentering and building at Watervliet. He was also for a time at Dowagiac, Michigan, and was thus identified with building opera- tions in -the southern part of the state.

Mr. Brooks was married in .Watervliet to Miss Eveline Redding, who died at . Dowagiac after three. years of happy mar- ried life, leaving a little daughter, Minnie E., then nine months old. She is now the wife of James Herring, who operates the . Brooks farm. They have three children : Margaret E., John P. and Lyle J. Mr. Brooks also had an adopted son, Willie Fisher, who lived with him for seven or eight years and is now in Watervliet. On the 30th of April, 1865, Mr. Brooks was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary E. Lincoln, the widow of Charles Lincoln, who died as the result of his military experience just two weeks after reaching home. They had been married in

496

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

1853 at Coloma. Mr. Lincoln was born in Jackson county, this state, was a shoe- maker by trade and had served as head sawyer in a sawmill. In 1856 he removed to a farm which was then in the midst of the forest and began hewing out the fields. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary E. Harris and is a daughter of Uriah S. and Phoebe (Wilkes) Harris. She was born in Morgan county, Ohio, and had been brought to Coloma, Michigan, in 1850. Her father, who was a farmer of Coloma, that village having been built on a part of his farm, there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1865. In addition to his daugh- ter, Mrs. Brooks, three others of the family are now in Berrien county, namely : Mrs. Phoebe Osgood, Mrs. Levinia Sutton and Samuel Harris. The Indians cleared the first ten acres of Mr. Lincoln's farm and he paid for the labor by work at the bench on rainy days and nights. He had placed twenty-five acres under cultivation when he enlisted for service in the Civil war and he gave his life in defense of his country just as surely as the men who were killed upon the battlefields.

Mr. Brooks has added forty acres to the farm which he cleared and on which he built a house that he gave to his daughter. The Brooks farm extends from the road a half mile north to Paw Paw Lake. Beach- wood Point, which is a summer resort cov- ered with cottages, was once a portion of this farm. Quite a tract of his land still lies along the lake front and has been platted for building purposes. The farm is also situated between the two towns of Coloma and Watervliet, being about a mile and a quarter distant from each.

In his political views Mr. Brooks was originally a Whig and later he became a Republican, but for years has been a stanch and unfaltering advocate of the Prohibition party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Water- vliet, Mrs. Brooks having been identified with this denomination at Coloma and Wa- tervliet for fifty-six years. For some years after her first marriage, however, she was a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Brooks has passed the seventy-seventh mile-

stone on life's journey and is yet a well- preserved man, retaining his mental facul- ties largely unimpaired. He has long lived in the county and has been closely identified with its building interests and agricultural pursuits. He has worked earnestly and per- sistently as the years have gone by and his labors have been attended with a measure of success that is indicative of his strong purpose and careful management.

B. O. ERICSSON, M. D., practicing along modern scientific lines, is the only representative of the medical fraternity in New Buffalo. He has an excellent and lu- crative patronage in this part of the county and his thorough and correct understanding of the principles of the medical science is demonstrated in the excellent results which have attended his labors. He was born in Abo, Finland, November 3, 1865, and was the third in order of birth in a family of five children. His parents were Martin and Johanna (Lundgren) Ericsson, who re- moved from Sweden to Finland after their marriage. The father was cashier of a bank there and was a prominent business man of the town in which he made his home. His death occurred in Finland but his widow still survives. One son of the family came to America and resided in California for seventeen years, after which he returned to his native country.

Dr. Ericsson is therefore the only rep- resentative of the family in the United States and came from Finland to the new world in 1892. He had been provided with excel- lent educational privileges in his native coun- try, having completed the course in the ly- ceum of Abo, after which he entered the University of Helsingfors in 1885. In order to perfect himself in his chosen calling he matriculated in Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1897. He afterward put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test by active service in the Moses Taylor Hospital at Scranton. Pennsylvania, where he remained for about a year, during which time he was ambulance surgeon with the Railroad and Mine Hospital. Subsequently he went to Moscow, Pennsylvania, where

497

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

he continued in active practice until 1899, when he removed to. North Dakota, where he spent about two years. In the fall of 1901 he came to New Buffalo, where he has since remained in active and successful practice, being the only physician here. He has a splendidly equipped office with all modern apparatus, including the electric and X-ray machines. He has made a close and dis- criminating study of the principles of the profession, is correct in their adaptation and is very careful in the diagnosis of a case, being seldom, if ever, at error in matters of professional judgment. Dr. Ericsson was married in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1900 to Miss Nettie Coleman and unto them have been born two children, Elizabeth and Emma Jermyn, but the later died in in- fancy. Both Dr. and Mrs. Ericsson have a wide and favorable acquaintance here, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. He has made a success since locating for practice in New Buffalo and his devotion to his profession stands as one of the commendable character- istics of his practice. He finds in the faith- ful performance of each day's duty inspir- ation and courage for the work of the suc- ceeding day and his labors have been at- tended with a measure of success that classes him with the leading members of the medical fraternity in Berrien county.

CHARLES EDWARD WHITTEN, a leading nurseryman at Bridgman, Michi- gan, with a business which in extent and volume indicates his position as one of the foremost representatives of this department of commercial activity in Berrien county, was born in Hamilton township, Van Buren county, this state, on the 23d of July, 1860. He is descended, however, from one of the oldest families of Maine. His paternal great-grandfather, Joshua Whitten, was one of thirteen sons who were prominent in the Pine Tree state. The paternal grand- parents were David and Mary A. (Rhodes) Whitten. The latter was a descendant of Lord Rhodes, in whose honor Rhode Island was named. By her marriage she became the mother of three children. Joshua Whitten, father of our subject, was born in

Rhode Island, April 28, 1837, and with his parents removed to Vermont, where he lost his father. He afterward became a resident of Van Buren county, Michigan, and lived for some time at Paw Paw. When fifteen years of age he began learning the cabinet maker's trade at Marshall, Michigan, and when twenty years of age he was married to Lydia Ann Cook, a native of Canada and a daughter of William J. and Katharine (Dunbar) Cook, who were natives of New York. Mrs. Whitten now resides in South Bend, Indiana, but Joshua Whitten passed away in February, 1904. Following their marriage they settled at Lawrence, Michi- gan, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of furniture. In 1860 he went on a trip to California but returned within a year and removed to Niles, Michigan, where he worked at his trade until he took up his abode in Lake township in 1867. He con- ducted a tannery until 1869 in connection with his brother and brother-in-law under the firm style of Webster, Whitten & Com- pany. Subsequently he followed the car- penter's trade until 1873 and then bought a small farm and entered the fruit business. He was one of the pioneer horticulturists of this part of the state, setting out the first small fruits in this section. He continued successfully in the business up to the time of his death and did much to promote the horticultural interests of Michigan, now one of the most famous fruit growing states of the Union. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church and politi- cally he was a Republican. He held some school offices and the cause of education al- ways found in him a warm and stalwart friend. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Whitten had a family of five children, of whom three are still living: Lilly E., the wife of O. A. Jef- feries, of South Bend, Indiana; Charles Ed- ward of this review; and Herbert W., who is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is now a professor of Greek and Latin.

Charles Edward Whitten was but a young lad when his parents removed from Van Buren county to Niles, Michigan, and in 1866 became residents of Lake township. Since 1867 he has resided in the same vil- lage and since 1882 upon his present farm,

498

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

which comprises fifty acres on section 19, Lake township. This is operated as a nur- sery known as the C. E. Whitten nursery. He conducts an expensive mail order busi- ness with a catalogue as a means of intro- ducing his goods to the public, having no traveling representatives upon the road. He has built up a good trade and now ships to all parts of the United States and Canada. Only seven acres of the land was cleared when he purchased the farm in 1882 but he has transformed it into a valuable prop- erty, making it a model nursery character- ized by neatness and thrift in every depart- ment. He produces the best nursery stock and he has upon his place a fine home which he erected, together with other large, com- modious and substantial buildings.

In September, 1883, Mr, Whitten was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia B. Hebb, who was born in Lake township and is a daughter of Thomas C. and Angeline (Smith) Hebb, who were natives of Ver- mont and Ohio. Her paternal grandparents came from England. Mrs. Whitten is a graduate of the St. Joseph high school and engaged in teaching until her marriage. Three children have been born of this union : Thomas Joshua, who died at the age of two and a half years; Winifred Elinor; and Roger Charles. The daughter is a graduate of the St. Joseph high school and is now a student in Ypsilanti Normal.

The parents are members of the Congre- gational church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. Mr. Whit- ten has served as deacon and trustee of the church and has filled the office of church clerk since 1883. He belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen camp and has always stood for progress and improvement in local af- fairs. In politics he is a Republican. For the past twelve years he has been school moderator, has been chairman of the board and was a stalwart champion of the move- ment for the building of a new school house. He believes in advancement in all lines of life that relate to material, intellectual, so- cial and moral progress, and his influence is ever on the side of justice. truth and honor.

JOHN P. RAU, living on section 6, New Buffalo township, where he gave his time and energies to agricultural pursuits for many years but is now practically re- tired, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 21st of February, 1832, and has there- fore passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey. His parents were John and Ursula (Endres) Rau, who spent their en- tire lives in the fatherland. In their family were six sons and two daughters, who reached years of maturity and were all liv- ing when John P. Rau, the youngest of the family, left his native country. Sixteen children were born to the parents, but four of the number died in early life. A brother, Joseph, and a sister, Barbara, came to the United States.

Mr. Rau of this review remained a resi- dent of Germany until he attained his ma- jority. At the age of four years he went to live with a Catholic priest, with whom he remained until twelve years of age and he acquired a good education in Latin and Ger- man, pursuing his studies until eighteen years of age. His father conducted a farm and also operated a brewery and hotel and for some time John P. Rau was his assistant in these lines of business. He learned the cooper's and brewer's trades in early life and followed those pursuits in the fatherland until he made arrangements to come to America. His father was comfortably sit- uated financially and furnished Mr. Rau the means with which to come to the United States. He made the voyage alone and in New York joined an uncle, who was con- ducting several breweries. The year 1853 witnessed his arrival, and for a year he re- mained with an uncle. He afterward spent one season working on the Erie canal and later engaged in steamboating on the lakes from Buffalo, eventually reaching Chicago. After taking up his abode in the latter city he worked for two years in a wholesale and retail establishment and then came to Michi- gan on a hunting expedition. Being pleased with this district he decided to remain, and about that time was married in Three Oaks township. He worked in sawmills for some time, being thus connected with lum-

499

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ber manufacturing until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1864 he enlisted for active service as a member of Company E, Twelfth Michigan Infantry, under Captain Borstick and Colonel Graves. He did scout duty until taken ill, when he was sent to the general hospital at Duvall's Bluff, Ar- kansas, in 1865. He received an honorable discharge in July of the same year, after which he returned to Michigan, making his way to Greenbush, where he was engineer in a sawmill. In the fall of that year, how- ever, he came to his present farm on sec- tion 6, New Buffalo township. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of land and his sons have forty acres on section 6 and section I. When he took possession of the property it was a tract of timber land, but with characteristic energy he began to clear and improve it and has placed the entire amount under cultivation save about forty acres, which is still covered with timber. He has made all of the improvements here and now has a valuable farm property. For many years he was actively engaged in the work of the fields but has given over the farm work to his sons and merely super- vises his place, while enjoying a well-earned rest from arduous labor. He is a man of good business ability, of marked industry and unfaltering diligence and these have been the qualities which have won him suc- cess.

About 1855, in Three Oaks, Mr. Rau was married to Miss Eliza Richner, who was born in Switzerland in 1835 and started to the United States with her par- ents. Her mother, however, died on the ocean, while making the voyage to the new world. Her father, Jacob Richner, con- tinued his journey to the United States. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rau have been born the following children : John, who went to California about twenty-five years ago, aft- erward went to Alaska but has not been heard from in several years; Mrs. Ella Evans, who is a resident of Iowa; and Jo- seph and Edward, who are at home. They also lost one child, Eliza, their first born, who died in infancy at Three Oaks.

Mr. Rau votes with the Republican

party. In July, 1906, he was elected school treasurer of district No. 5, Chikaming and New Buffalo townships. He has served as school inspector but has never desired of- fice, as he has always preferred to give close and unremitting attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with success. Coming to the United States with little capital, he has worked his way steadily up- ward and is now in possession of a good farming property, which is the visible evi- dence of his life of thrift and enterprise. He is now enjoying well-earned rest, leav- ing the farm work to his sons and the prop- erty returns a good financial income that en- ables him to secure all of the good financial income that enables him to secure all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.

GEORGE L. STEVENS, a veteran of the Civil war, equally loyal in citizenship as in times of peace, is one of the enterprising business men of the village of Three Oaks, being indentified with various enterprises here. He is now engaged in dealing in wool, seeds and grain, to which business he has devoted his energies for the past six- teen years. He was born in Mason town- ship, Cass county, Michigan, June 30, 1847, his parents being David R. and Eleanor E., (Roberts) Stevens, the former a native of Oswego county, and the latter of Oneida county, New York. They came to Michi- gan with their respective parents about 1835, and settled in Cass county, where they became acquainted and were married in Ma- son township. For many years the father there devoted his life to general agricul- tural pursuits. At the time of their mar- riage they began housekeeping in the midst of the green woods. The paternal grand- father, Lyman Stevens, had entered land from the government and upon his claim spent the remainder of his days. David Stevens gave his time and energies to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and reached the ripe old age of seventy-six years, his birth having occurred in 1822. His wife was born in 1827. In their family were three children : Harriet E., the wife of John Ashley, of Concordia, Kansas; George L.,

500

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

of this review; and John L., who is living upon the old homestead farm in Mason township, Cass county.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for George L. Stevens in his boyhood days. He re- mained on the old homestead until twenty- two years ago and his mother still resides there. She is now the head of five genera- tions. The home place comprises two hun- dred acres of land, and through the period of his youth and early manhood George L. Stevens gave his time and energies to the cultivation and development of the fields. At the time of the Civil war, however, when a youth of seventeen years, he put aside all personal considerations and with patriotic zeal responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company A, Sec- ond Michigan Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and he proceeded as far south as Macon, Georgia. After one year's active service he returned to the farm, where he resided until twenty-two years ago, when he re- moved from Cass county to Three Oaks and established the first creamery. here. He organized the Three Oaks Creamery Com- pany, and was connected therewith for four years as owner. On the expiration of that period he sold out and turned his attention to dealing in grain, wool and seeds. He has now been engaged in this line of trade for sixteen years and has built up a good business; which is proving a profitable source of income. He was also a director of the Three Oaks Bank for four years and is a man of sound business judgment and keen discrimination, who recognizes and improves his opportunities and has there- fore made steady progress. He owns two good business houses in the village and also his residences in the town.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 72

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