A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 73

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

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In Ohio, in 1870, George L. Stevens was united in marriage to Miss Harriet E. Beals, who was born in Cuyahoga county, near the city of Cleveland, in 1846, a daughter of Abner and Jane (Shepard) Beals. Her grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution- ary war, lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and eighteen years, and died in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Unto Mr. and

Mrs. Stevens has been born a daughter, Gertrude, who is now the wife of Morris McGawn, of Three Oaks, and they have two children, Ethel E., and Alice G.

In his political views Mr. Stevens is a stalwart Republican, having given his sup- port to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as supervisor of his township for three terms and is now filling the office of town- ship treasurer. He has also been a mem- ber of the town council for two terms and as a public official has exercised his preroga- tives for the support of all progressive pub- lic measures. He is active in the party councils and conventions and his influence has been of no restricted order in local party ranks. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church, takes a helpful interest in its work and has held various offices therein. He has also been an office holder in Charles Woodruff Post, No. 85, G. A. R., at Three Oaks, and is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen camp. In these organizations he is a valued representative, and is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the differ- ent fraternities which are based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. Hav- ing spent his entire life in southwestern Michigan he has a wide acquaintance, and during the twenty-two years of his residence in Three Oaks has become known as a sub- stantial and representative citizen, making steady progress toward the objective point of success by reason of his determination and capable methods.

JACOB M. SCHWENK, proprietor of a saloon and livery business in New Buf- falo, was born in the village where he now makes his home February 11, 1865, his par- ents being John and Elizabeth (Reuss) Schwenk, who were natives of Germany. In their family were ten children, of whom Jacob M. is the ninth in order of birth. He resided in his native village until after his father's death and then went to what be- came known as the old homestead farm, where his brother now resides. He lived upon the farm for about two years with his mother and stepfather, Jacob Hiler, and they

P. O. Bows of Wife

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

removed to the vicinity of Bainbridge, this county, living with the family there until the return of his mother and her second hus- band to New Buffalo. Mr. Schwenk then at- tended school here. Subsequently he made his home with his older brother, John, on the farm and largely gave his attention to general farm work between the ages of eight and seventeen years. He afterward went to Missoula county, Montana, where he joined an uncle and engaged in farming there one season. He afterward took six head of horses and went to Rocky Grade, after which he assisted in grading on the Northern Pacific Railroad under Fish, Bask & Com- pany. He was thus engaged for a few months and continued to work for that com- pany for some time. Subsequently he was employed in the Eclipse livery barn for a year, after which he again aided in the con- struction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He next went to Butte City, Montana, and drove teams for a mining company for a few months. He did teaming on various lines for big enterprises in those days and spent about four years in the northwest.

December 25, 1885, Mr. Schwenk re- turned to Michigan. For a number of months he was ill with fever, after which he worked for his brother in a lumber camp for one season. Subsequently he went to La- porte county, Indiana, settling in Spring- field township, where he rented his brother's farm, which he conducted for a year. He then came to New Buffalo township and rented a farm which he operated on the shares, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits until 1892. In the spring of that year he entered his pres- ent business, opening a saloon, in which he had a partner for one year. Since then he has been alone in the saloon business, which he is now carrying on. He has also for the past ten years conducted a first class livery stable, having a large barn, forty by eighty feet. It is a cement structure and was erected in 1895. Mr. Schwenk also owns the building in which he carries on his saloon and a cottage which he occupies.

On the 21st of January, 1891, was cele- brated the marriage of Jacob M. Schwenk and Miss Lily Susan, who was born in this

county, a daughter of Stephen and Mary Ann Susan. Two children graced this mar- riage: Mamie Ethel, now at home; and Clara, who died in infancy.

In his political affiliation Mr. Schwenk has always been a Democrat, active in the work of the party and doing everything in his power to advance its growth and secure its success. At one time he served as trustee of the village. He belongs to Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., and to the Evangelical Lutheran, church. His life has been one of activity and his labor has been the basis of the suc- cess that he has enjoyed. He had no special advantages in his youth, but early came to a realization of the fact that enterprise and diligence constitute a safe foundation upon which to build the superstructure of pros- perity.

PROSPER O. BOWE, who is the owner of valuable and productive farming interests in Watervliet town- ship, was born in Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, March 26, 1842, his parents being Horace and Susan (Clark) Bowe. The family is of French descent, which has been represented in Connecticut through many generations. The grandfather soon after the war of 1812 removed from New England to Clayton, New York, where he died at the venerable age of eighty years. The postoffice there was named for an uncle, Prosper Bowe, who died at Minne- apolis, Minnesota, in his one hundredth year. Horace Bowe, who was born in Con- necticut in 1802, became a resident of Wa- tertown, New York, in 1848, and in 1855 removed to Michigan, where he had many old friends living. He settled in Bain- bridge township, Berrien county, and in . 1862 took up his abode at Bangor. His last two years were spent in the home of his son, Prosper O. Bowe, where he died at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1882, at the age of seventy-six years, after they had traveled life's journey together as man and wife for almost six decades. All three of their sons served in the Civil war as defenders of the Union cause. Seth Bowe, who died in 1905, was a member of Com- pany D, Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharpshooters,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and Gilbert was likewise a member of the same company.

Prosper O. Bowe spent the first eight- een years of his life in his father's home, and on the 17th of October, 1861, enlisted for service in the Union army. General Fremont ordered a regiment of sharpshoot- ers to be composed of a company from each of the western states, and Mr. Bowe joined the company from Michigan. This was or- ganized and drilled at Benton Barracks. They were armed with Demicks target shooting rifles and later they armed them- selves with the Henry sixteen shooters. The company was attached to the famous Sixty- sixth Illinois Sharpshooters and with his command Mr. Bowe participated in the en- gagement at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the advance on Corinth. He re-enlisted at Pulaski, Tennessee, took part in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. He was also at Bentonville, North Carolina, and in the movements which led up to the close of the war, after which he marched to Washing- ton to take part in the Grand Review. For twenty-two years Company D, which was made up of Michigan men, has held its an- nual re-unions in the yard surrounding Mr. Bowe's home. The company was con- manded by Captain Andrews, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign. Of the one hundred and eighty-six men that joined the company as recruits at its organization twenty-nine of them met at Mr. Bowe's home in 1905, and again in 1906. During two months of his military service he was held as a prisoner of war at Jackson, Missis- sippi, and he experienced all of the hard- ships, dangers and privations which were meted out to the soldier.

After the close of the war Mr. Bowe located at Coloma, Michigan, where for five years he was engaged in the operation of a sawmill. In 1867 he began to purchase land, buying sixty-four acres, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres in one body which borders Paw Paw lake and Paw Paw river within a half mile of the lake front. All of this is now platted and over fifty cottages have been built upon it, nearly all of which

have been sold. This tract is known as Bowe's Landing and it commands a splendid view of the lake, affording a broader view of Paw Paw lake than any place which bor- ders that body of water. This section cf the state is southwestern Michigan's most popular summer resort, visited annually by thousands of tourists. The lake has a shore line of twenty miles, though it has a straight stretch of but three miles of water. Mr. Bowe carries on general farming and fruit raising, and is also engaged in stock raising and in dairying. He has erected a hand- some modern residence on a point of land commanding the finest view of the lake and surrounding country. It is modern in all respects and is one of the most desirable and beautiful homes in the county. The farm produces splendid crops of wheat and other grains, and fine fruit is also raised here, so that in his business affairs Mr. Bowe is meeting with very desirable pros- perity.

On the 7th of February, 1864. while home on a furlough granted him after his re-enlistment for service in the Civil war, Mr. Bowe was united in marriage to Miss Jane Boyer, a daughter of Austin and Adelia (Wetmore) Boyer, also of Clayton, New York. Her people were old friends of the Bowe family in the east. In 1844 her father came to Michigan and was prominent and influential in public affairs for many years. He served as justice of the peace and held other offices. In 1852 he went to California, where he remained for four years. He was a very active man, and in Michigan carried on ship carpentering. For some time he lived in Kansas and in 1879 again went to California, where he engaged in mining and in the conduct of a lumber business. His last years were passed in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bowe. where he died November 6, 1893, while his wife survived until July 21, 1899.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bowe have been born the following named: Anna E. is the wife of Frank Hunt, a merchant at Water- vliet. Harriet is the wife of W. C. Spreen, postmaster and merchant at Watervliet; Mary M., the wife of Byron Pierce, a mem- ber of the firm of Pierce & Son, hardware

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

merchants of Watervliet. Lizzie, who was a student in the normal school at Ypsilanti, was the wife of C. L. Weaver, a teacher at Eau Claire, Michigan. He

was a teacher in the Alva Normal School at Alva, Oklahoma, and his wife taught for eight years in Wat- ervliet, having charge of the first primary. For two years she was a teacher in the country schools. She died at Alva, Okla- homa, November I, 1904, leaving. a son, Malcolm B., who since his mother's death has been with his grandparents. Myrtle is the wife of W. E. Johnson, who operates the Bowe farm. Nellie and Julia are at home. Lucy is the wife of Louis Kime, a carpenter and architect at Hartford, Michi- gan. Nellie taught school for seven years in Watervliet and spent some time in Okla- homa, being there at the time of her sister's death. All the family possess natural musi- cal talent and taste. Mr. Bowe is a mem- ber of Garfield Post, No. 30, G. A. R., at Coloma, of which he is a past commander, and he has attended the national reunions at Detroit, Washington and Milwaukee. His has been a most creditable military rec- ord. His citizenship has been characterized by the same loyalty and fidelity which marked his course when on southern battle- fields he defended the Union cause. In business he has been reliable and energetic and is today one of the prosperous represen- tatives of agricultural and horticultural in- terests, with a fine property which is the vis- ible evidence of his life of thrift and in- dustry.

DR. FREDERICK F. SOVEREIGN is one of the prominent and distinguished rep- resentatives of Berrien county, living at Three Oaks. He is recognized as an able representative of the profession and more- over is a leader in political circles, having served his district in the state senate, where his devotion to the interests of his constit- uents and of the commonwealth at large stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. A native of Indiana, he was born in Bristol, Elkhart county, on the 27th of August, 1846. His father, Lewis H. Sovereign, was born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1812, and be-

came a resident of Bristol, Indiana, in 1842, when that part of the state was largely an unimproved region. He was married there to Miss Flora Cathcart, whose birth occurred in Indiana, July 4, 1820. Both have now passed away, the father having departed this life in Michigan City in 1886, while his wife died in Chicago in 1895. He had resided at Bristol for twenty years and at Valparaiso, Indiana, for nine years, and spent his re- maining days in Michigan City. He was a graduate of Queens College, Ontario, and afterward of the Pennsylvania University, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for many years was recognized as an able physician of Indiana, keeping abreast with the progress of the profession and rendering valuable aid to his fellowmen in the restoration of health through the application of effective remedial agencies. In his family were three children, of whom Dr. Sovereign of this review is the eldest. The second son, Allen J., is now as- sistant superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Staples, Minnesota. The daughter, Jessie, is the wife of J. H. Snyder, assistant superintendent of the Michigan Central Railroad at Detroit.

Dr. Sovereign of this review remained in Bristol, Indiana, until his sixteenth year and acquired his early education in the vil- lage schools. In 1862 he removed to Val- paraiso with his parents and was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School from 1862 until January, 1864. At a later date he enlisted for active service in the Civil war and became a member of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana In- fantry, under command of Captain Goodwin and Colonel Sweet. His regiment was at- tached to the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Cumberland, and on the ex -. piration of his term of service he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Infantry. In September, 1865, he was mustered out, the war having ended. He had rendered valuable aid to his country and with a credit- able military record returned to his home. He then re-entered college and was gradu- ated in June, 1866, after which he began preparation for his chosen profession, ma- triculating in Rush Medical College, at Chi-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

'cago, in October of that year. He pursued the regular three years' course there and was graduated in February, 1869. He began practice in Michigan City with his father, remaining there until July, 1874, when he re- moved to Three Oaks, where he has prac- ticed continuously since, having therefore during almost a third of a century been a member of the medical fraternity here, en- joying a large practice, his business con- stantly growing in volume and importance as the years have gone by. He has always kept abreast with the progress of the medical fraternity in its efforts to solve the intricate problems connected with the position and is interested in all that promises to bring to man a solution of the complex mystery which we call life.

On the 28th of October, 1869, Dr. Sovereign was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Rhinhart, a native of Cass county, Michigan, born in 1846. She is a daughter of Samuel Rhinhart, a pioneer resident of Cass county. They had one daughter. Alice J., now a resident of Lansing, Michigan. The wife and mother passed away April 26, 1902, and on the 27th of September, 1905, Dr. Sovereign was again married, his sec- ond union being with Miss Ella Horn, of New Buffalo township. The family home is a fine brick residence on Main street, which was erected by Dr. Sovereign in 1890. He has also built two other buildings here which he rents and which return to him a good income.

In his political views Dr. Sovereign has always been a stalwart Republican and cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1868. He has been township clerk and school inspector, and since 1883 has served as a member of the board of education. He has long been recognized as a leader of his party and further political honors awaited him, for in the fall of 1900 he was elected to the state senate, where he rendered such signal and able service that he was re-elected in 1902. He gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and stood as an able defender of the best interests of the commonwealth, making a creditable record as a legislator, his devotion to the interests of his constituents standing

as an unquestioned fact in his political record. He is also active in local politics and is a man of influence in his community. Socially Dr. Sovereign is a Mason, having attained high rank in the order. He belongs to the blue lodge at Three Oaks and to the chapter and commandery at Niles, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Con- sistory at Grand Rapids, where he is also connected with the Mystic Shrine. He like- wise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees, and is a popular and valued representative of these various .organizations. Few men have a wider acquaintance in this part of the county and none are more favorably known than Dr. Sovereign, whose prominence in political, professional and social circles is the direct result of his capability and genuine worth.

DR. WILLIAM L. HELKIE, engaged in the general practice of medicine and sur- gery, and also interested in various manu- facturing enterprises, possesses good busi- ness ability as well as professional skill. He was born in Essex, Ontario, July 9, 1870, and was reared to farm life, his parents be- ing Charles and Mary Ann (Vodden) Hel- kie, who were likewise natives of Ontario. The father was of German lineage. how- ever, while the mother was of English de- scent. and they are still residents of Essex. In their family were nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom the Doctor was the fifth in order of birth and eight of the number are now living, all being resi- dents of Ontario with the exception of Dr. Helkie of this review and Mrs. A. B. Cooper of Detroit, Michigan.

In taking up the personal history of Dr. Helkie we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known here by reason of his professional ability and his many admirable personal traits. He was reared to farm life, making the old homestead his home until about 1892. during which time he attended the high school of his native city. He was engaged in teaching for three consecutive years in the country schools and in 1892 went to

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Detroit, taking out naturalization papers. In the same year he entered the Detroit Col- lege of Medicine, and completed his course in 1895. During his senior year he was appointed house physician of St. Mary's Hospital, and acted in that capacity until he came to Three Oaks in May, 1895. Here he entered upon general practice and is a member of the Kalamazoo Academy of Med- icine and of the Berrien County and State Medical Societies. He keeps in touch with the progress of the profession through con- stant reading and research, and his labors have been of direct benefit to his fellowmen as the years have gone by, a liberal patron- age being accorded him. He is likewise in -. terested in various manufacturing enter- prises, some of which are located in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and others in Kala- mazoo, Michigan.

Dr. Helkie was married in Three Oaks, in 1896, to Miss Parla Belle Sheldon, a na- tive of Kansas, and a daughter of Rev. James Blakeslee Sheldon, a minister of the Presbyterian church, who died in Kansas, after which his widow came to Michigan with her three children. Dr. and Mrs. Hel- kie have no children of their own but have an adopted son, Donald Lawrence. The family occupy a pleasant residence, which is owned by Dr. Helkie, who also has some good business property in town. His politi- cal support is given to the Republican party, and as every true American citizen should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has the same loyalty for the stars and stripes which is manifest by those who were born under the folds of the American banner, and his in- terest in community affairs is deep and sin- cere, leading, to active co-operation in many measures for the general good. He is identi- fied with a number of local fraternal orders and is also a consistent member of the Con- gregational church.

CHARLES CLOSE is numbered among the pioneers of Three Oaks and Berrien county, having arrived in the county in the fall of 1855. In the years that have come and gone through judicious investment, profitable sales and through untiring indus-

try and enterprise he became one of the most substantial farmers in all the county and is now living retired, enjoying at his pleasant home in Three Oaks the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Baden, Germany, De- cember 20, 1834, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Hecker) Close, who spent their entire lives upon a farm in Baden. In their family were four children: Christian, Charles, Emma and Caroline, but Charles is the only one who ever came to America. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world and possessing perhaps a more ad- venturous spirit than the other members of the family, he sailed for the United States in 1854 when a young man of nineteen. He was anxious to enjoy the opportunities which he had heard might be secured in the new world and he settled in Sandusky City, Ohio, where he engaged in general labor for six months. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also spent six months and later took up his abode in Laporte, Indiana, whence he afterward came to Berrien coun- ty, in the fall of 1855. Here he worked at farm labor in the employ of others for a time, but when his diligence and frugality had brought him sufficient capital he made purchase of a farm of his own, which he afterward traded for town property. He has recently sold three hundred and twenty acres. He has now a farm of two hundred acres in Three Oaks township and at one time he had about six hundred acres of valu- able land. All that he has possessed has been acquired through his own efforts and he is certainly one of the successful self-made men. He owns his own home and four other dwellings in Three Oaks and for six years has resided in the town, in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. For a long period he was actively engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits, placing his land under a high state of cultivation and adding to his prop- erty as his financial resources increased. The income derived therefrom now enables him to live retired, surrounded by the comforts and many of the luxuries which go to make life worth living.

Mr. Close was married in 1863 to Miss Caroline Cablin, who was born in Baden, Germany, on the 15th of December, 1846,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and came to the United States with her par- ents when nine years of age. She is a daugh- ter of George and Minnie Cablin, and by her marriage has become the mother of five chil- dren : Charles A., who is a teacher in De- troit Agricultural College; Fred, who is liv- ing near Bay City, Michigan; Emma, the wife of Ernest Hamann, of Three Oaks; Elizabeth, the wife of Howard Shelley, liv- ing in Michigan City; and John, who owns and operates a fine barber shop, the best in Three Oaks.

Mr. Close is a Democrat in his political views and has served on the village council and also as a member of the school board. He belongs to the A. U. V., a German so- ciety. His life has been one of untiring activity, crowned with success, and his record proves what may be accomplished by determination and earnest purpose in a land where labor is not hampered by caste or class.

WILLIAM SHAFER, who spent his entire life in Lake township, was born on the IIth of October, 1848, and throughout the intervening years was connected with agricultural interests. His parents were John and Jacobina ( Boyle) Shafer, natives of Germany. They came to the United States with their two children about 1845 and made their way direct to Lake township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. The father became one of the extensive property owners of the locality and was worth at one time sixty thousand dollars. He was a leading and in- fluential resident of the community and be- longed to that class of representative men who while promoting individual success also advance the general prosperity. In the fam- ily were nine children: Anna, deceased ; John, who has passed away and whose life record is given elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Katharine Kramer, of St. Joseph; William, of this review ; Mrs. Ena Reck, of Lake township; Levi, who is living in Oronoko township; Gottlieb, of Oronoko township: Mrs. Mary Feather; and Mrs. Olive Myers, of Lake township.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 73

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