A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 75

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

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so when Daniel Wright, father of our sub- ject, sold his property in the east he also came to Michigan. A daughter, Caroline, had also come and lived with her grand- father. She was engaged in teaching here in pioneer times and she later married Nel- son Newlan, late of Benton Harbor. Her son is William Newlan, the well known real estate dealer of Benton Harbor.

When George Wright was on his way to Michigan after visiting his old home in New York he read in the Niles paper of his father's death, reaching Millburg a few days after his father had been laid to rest. After looking about the country to some extent Mr. Wright purchased the farm which is still in possession of his family. After ar- riving here, however, he devoted some time to teaching. He had devoted his leisure and evening hours to study in his little cabin while engaged in mining and had thus ac- quired a good knowledge which qualified him for educational work. He taught school in the Pearl district and also at Spinks Cor- ners, and his sister Caroline, who were the only two surviving members of the family, lived upon his farm and both were early school teachers of the county, aiding in the intellectual development of this section of the state in pioneer times. During the Pike's Peak excitement in 1859, Mr. Wright joined a company going from Berrien county to Colorado. They made their way to St. Joseph, Missouri, and were there preparing to start across the plains. but some of the company became ill and others discouraged and they turned back. all except Mr. Wright, who secured a school in Missouri. The next year he went on foot across the plains with a pack on his back to Pike's Peak. Even- tually he reached Denver and thence pro- ceeded southward to the gold digging, but he failed to find a prospect that suited him, so he worked by the day in the mines at Central City. Colorado. He was absent from Michigan for about six years, during which time he received good returns for his labor in the west.

In the spring of 1864. Mr. Wright re- turned to Berrien county. In the meantime his sister, Caroline, had married and on the 27th of November, 1864, Mr. Wright was

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married in Millburg to Miss Eliza J. Hess of that place and a daughter of George W. Hess, who is mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Juan Hess. The young people had been acquainted before Mr. Wright went to Colorado and they became engaged through correspondence during his absence. Mr. Wright had by this time twenty acres of land cleared and planted to fruit and had already built a plank house upon his place. He en- gaged in teaching school at Pearl, through the next winter living upon his own farm after which he devoted his undivided at- tention to clearing, cultivating and improv- ing his eighty acres of land. Finally he placed it all under cultivation and he kept setting out fruit trees until he had thirty acres devoted to peaches and apples. Later he replaced his apple orchards with peaches, having thirty acres in peaches, for which he obtained high prices on the market and thus made considerable money. He was thus en- gaged extensively and successfully in the cultivation of that fruit until 1872-3, when his orchards were destroyed by the yellows. Several years passed and as soon as he saw that peaches could be again grown profit- ably he set out forty acres to that fruit and continued raising peaches until they became his staple crop. His returns were good and for years he was also an extensive melon grower, in which branch of his business satisfactory results were obtained. His life was devoted to his farm and the improve- ment of his place and he became well known as one of the leading horticulturists of his part of the county. His residence is situated four miles from the postoffice in Benton Har- bor on Brittain avenue and five miles from Lake Michigan. The elevation is such that a fine view is gained of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and the interesting country which surrounds them. They can also see the lake vessels coming and going and the place has been appropriately named Grand View, for it commands a splendid view of the sur- rounding country with its orchards, vine- yards and cultivated fields. In 1887 he erected the present large residence that stands upon the farm. It is a brick dwelling,

containing fourteen rooms and is one of the best country homes in the county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born four daughters. Georgiana, who was form- erly a teacher, is now the wife of Charles Canfield, who lives upon a farm adjoining the old homestead and they have two chil- dren, Harold and Alice. Mary L. and Alta- vine are at home. Winefred is principal of the Lincoln school in St. Joseph. Mrs. Wright and her daughters still reside upon the farm and are making a success of the business. Mrs. Wright began teaching at the age of seventeen years and followed that profession each year until her marriage, making in all fifteen terms in Berrien coun- ty, having charge of schools in Benton and Bainbridge townships. Her parents had twelve children, of whom ten were teachers, all in Berrien county. Her mother was also a teacher before her marriage, so that the family have done an important work in pro- moting the educational interests of this part of the state.

Mr. Wright died March 15, 1905, after an illness of four years, though all through that period he superintended his business in- terests. His remains were interred in Mill- burg cemetery. He was identified with no church nor fraternity, but was a good Bible student and contributed to the support of and attended the services of various churches. He had been reared in the strict Baptist faith but was liberal in his views. His early political allegiance was given to the Democracy, but during the winter which he spent in Missouri he became a champion of the Republican party and continued one of its supporters until his death. He took an active interest in educational questions, served as school inspector and did all in his power to advance the cause of education in the county. He was familiar with the his- tory of Berrien county from pioneer times and did much to promote its improvement at an early day. As the years passed by he kept in touch with the progress made in fruit culture and was long acknowledged one of the leading horticulturists of his community, who not only thoroughly understood the best methods of raising fruit but at the same time

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managed the financial part of his business so as to gain a comfortable competence and leave to his family an excellent property.

CLAUS H. SCHULTZ, has been

a leader in the German settlement at New Buffalo, Berrien county, and his influence has been felt as a moving factor in business life and political inter- ests, his entire career being characterized by an allegiance to those principles which everywhere command respect and confidence. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 29th of September, 1842, a son of Claus Henry and Mary (White) Schultz, also natives of Germany. The mother died when her son Claus was only four years of age and the father married again before coming to the United States. There were two sons and three daughters of the first marriage but no children were born to the sec- ond union. The members of the family were : Detlof, who served in the Ninth In- diana Infantry for the first three months of the war and was disabled, his death oc- curring later in Indiana; Johanna, who re- sides at Rolling Prairie, Indiana; Sophia, the wife of Christopher Freeze also of Rolling Prairie, who was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in the same company with the subject of this review; Claus H .; and Lena, the wife of John Rickert, who makes his home in Laporte, Indiana.

Claus H. Schultz spent the first seven years of his life in his native country and then came to the United States with his father in 1849 on the sailing vessel Anna Mary, which was nine weeks and four days in making the voyage from Hamburg to New York. The family located at Buffalo, New York, where they remained for three years and thence came to New Buffalo, Berrien county, Michigan, about 1852. Here Mr. Schultz of this review has re- sided since, with the exception of a few years. He acquired his education in the common schools, after which he turned his attention to farming, following that pur- suit in the midst of a district covered with stumps, for this had been a timber tract and the trees had been cut down in order that the farmer might plant his grain and

cultivate his crops. When eighteen years of age Mr. Schultz learned the trade of blacksmithing at Laporte, Indiana, and fol- lowed it continuously until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Union army, en- rolling his name at Laporte on the 4th of August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served under Colonel Hathaway and Captain G. C. Gladwin. He was engaged in the battles at Lexington, Kentucky, Pen- ville, Kentucky, Cumberland Gap, Stone River, Murfreesboro, and was wounded by grape shot, resulting in the fracture of three ribs on the left side. On account of his injuries he was in the hospital at Nash- ville for seven months, after which he re- turned to his regiment, but he was not able to carry his equipment. He had the closest calls not in battle but in skirmishes, at Lar- kinsville, Alabama, on the 14th of April, 1865, and in a big skirmish on the 24th of the same month when seven Union men were attacked by eighty rebels and it was with difficulty that Mr. Schultz and his com- panions managed to extricate themselves from the dangerous position in which they had been placed. He served for three years as a loyal and able defender of the Union cause and was then honorably dis- charged at Nashville and mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana, in July, 1865.

Mr. Schultz returned home with a most creditable military record and for a year thereafter engaged in farming. He then went to Laporte, Indiana, where he was em- ployed as a clerk in a confectionery store. Subsequently he bought a grocery store, which he conducted for three or four years and about that time he was married and returned to Michigan, where he began farm- ing, giving his attention to agricultural pur- suits for four years. He was then obliged to abandon that business on account of the difficulty which he experienced on account of the wounds that he had sustained in battle.

Taking up his abode in New Buffalo, Mr. Schultz here began the manufacture of or- namental rustic work for floral purposes. He also grew and raised wild grasses and imported flowers and grasses. He continued

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in the business for twenty-four years on an extensive scale, his products being sold in all of the states of the Union. He sold to the wholesale trade and in job lots, having a good patronage in Chicago and other large cities. He employed from ten to fif- teen men and carried on a profitable busi- ness, being a leading representative of the industrial and commercial interests of his town.

Since retiring from the trade Mr. Schultz has filled a number of local posi- tions of honor and trust. His political sup- port has always been given to the Repub- lican party, and he has filled nearly all of the township offices. He was justice of the peace for twenty-eight consecutive years and his decisions were strictly fair and im- partial, winning him high commendation. He served as supervisor of his township in 1883 and 1884 and again in 1904 and 1905. He has been township clerk and treasurer for a number of terms and the confidence reposed in him has been well placed, as is proven by the capable, prompt and reliable manner in which he has discharged his duties. In April, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Claus H. Schultz and Miss Anna M. Holck, who was born in Holstein, Germany, October 8, 1843, and in 1865 came to the United States with her parents, John and Anna Holck. The children of this marriage are: Carl J. Schultz, who is now filling the position of county treasurer and makes his home in St. Joseph; Mary, the wife of W. W. Dickinson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is purchasing agent for the Michigan Central and New York Cen- tral railroad lines; Henry D., who is en- gaged in the insurance business at Los An- geles, California, and is a graduate of Kala- mazoo College, having thus prepared for the Baptist ministry ; Emma C., who is a gradu- ate of music and is now teaching piano in Oak Park, Illinois. All of the sons have had college educations and have thus been well equipped for life's practical and re- sponsible duties.

Mr. Schultz was at one time owner of ninety acres of land and also had several farms, but sold them. He now has about thirteen acres planted largely to peaches,

and in addition he owns village property, including residences and public buildings. His interest in community affairs is deep and sincere and has been manifest by active co-operation in many movements for the general good. He served as president of the village for a number of years until he declined to longer accept the office and dur- ing his incumbency he gave a public-spir- ited administration, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare. He belongs to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, and has been both president and secretary of the congregation, filling the former posi- tion since 1873. He was at one time a member of Minor Pratt Post, G. A. R., and was its first commander. The post has ceased to exist owing to the few members in this part of the county. Since 1867 he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, No. 231, at New Buffalo. His name is closely associated with the material progress and political ad- vancement of the community and an investi- gation into his life history shows many elements that are worthy of emulation. He has ever had due regard for high and honor- able principles and he awakens the confi- dence and esteem of his fellowmen by his allegiance thereto. He is a man of influence among the German-American citizens and belongs to that class of the sons of the fatherland who have proven a valued acqui- sition to the citizenship of the new world.

EDSON BUSHNELL JEWETT is one of the leading fruit farmers of Benton coun- ty, living near Benton Harbor. He owns the "Grand View" farm comprising forty- nine acres and bordering the Paw Paw river and also has another farm of thirteen acres on the lake shore devoted to fruit, making a specialty of apples, peaches and plums. In his horticultural pursuits he has met with gratifying measure of success and his in- dividual labors have resulted in making him a substantial citizen of his adopted county. Mr. Jewett is a native of New England, his birth having occurred in Weybridge, Vermont, June II, 1837. He was there reared upon a farm near the ancestral home

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of the family, for he is descended from some of the first settlers of Weybridge. His pa- ternal grandfather, Colonel Thomas Jewett, lived in the Green Mountain state in colonial days and accepted the sword of Colonel Baum at the surrender of the British at the battle of Bennington. The family has been prominent in public life for many years. One of the number, Judge Charles Jewett, was late judge of the circuit court over which Judge Coolidge now presides and was an uncle of E. B. Jewett of this review. An- other member of the family is John G. Saxe, the poet, a son of the only sister of Philo Jewett, the father of our subject. Philo Jewett became one of the extensive and prosperous farmers of Weybridge, as was his father, Colonel Thomas Jewett, and uncles of our subject were also closely, actively and successfully connected with agricultural pur- suits there. Solomon Jewett, one of the uncles, was an importer of fine sheep, while Samuel Jewett, a brother of our subject, was an extensive breeder of high grade sheep at Independence, Missouri.

Edson Bushnell Jewett was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties of cultivating the soil and caring for the stock. He acquired a public school edit- cation and at the age of twenty-three years was married to Miss Mary Gillette, of Bridgeport, Vermont, a daughter of Reuben Gillette, a farmer and sheep breeder, who was not only well known as a successful business man but also as a public officer in Bridgeport. He was the son of Reuben Gillette, who captured a sword in the Revo- lutionary war which is now in possession of Mrs. Jewett. He was one of the founders of the church in Bridgeport, locating there on its first settlement. He went to Vermont from Massachusetts, while his wife was from Connecticut and was a daughter of Lord Talbot of England. Mrs. Jewett is the only survivor of her father's family. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom reached mature years but all have now passed away. Mrs. Jewett engaged in teach- ing school for a time prior to her marriage. Following the wedding Mr. Jewett began farming on the old Gillette homestead, for his father-in-law died a short time prior to

the marriage and his mother-in-law soon afterward. He continued to conduct the old Gillette farm of two hundred acres at Bridge- port, Vermont, for several years, but in 1876 came to Michigan and took up his. abode on a farm near Benton Harbor. He as well as his father had loaned money on farms in Michigan and had thus come into possession of the property. Mr. Jewett's uncle, Judge Jewett, induced them to come to the west and live upon one of the farms which they had secured under the mortgage. This first farm was situated along the lake shore and Mr. Jewett retained his residence thereon until the spring of 1894, after which he lived for three years in Benton Harbor, when he secured his present farm, just north of the city and adjoining the corporation limits. It comprises forty-nine acres of land and is known by the name of Grand View. It borders the Paw Paw river and is im- proved with a large and substantial resi- dence, good barns and other modern equip- ments. It is the old Dr. Winans property and is one of the valuable tracts of land in the vicinity of Benton Harbor. In addition to this Mr. Jewett owns a tract of thirteen acres on the lake shore. His farm is de- voted to horticultural pursuits, his specialty being apples, peaches and plums and from an orchard of four and a half acres in 1905 he sold nearly nine hundred bushels of peaches and has in other years produced as much. The fruit industry has proven quite- satisfactory as a source of income and in addition to his horticultural interests Mr. Jewett is engaged in keeping cows and other stock. He sets out trees from time to time. so as to keep his orchards in excellent con- dition and his time and energies are devoted to the farm, for he finds this a congenial pursuit as well as a good source of income.

Unto Mr .. and Mrs. Jewett have been born two daughters. Eliza Sophronia is the wife of Charles Wing, of Bridgeport, Ver- mont, who now owns the old Gillette farm and is there engaged in the dairy business. They have two sons and a daughter. Lucy H. is the wife of George H. Burwell, a cement manufacturer of Lansing, Michigan. His father. Henry C. Burwell, deceased, was from Bridgeport, Vermont, and was a noted-

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and extensive importer of French and Austrian Merino sheep. He was widely known all over the United States in this connection and won more prizes and honors as a breeder of fine sheep than any other importer in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Bur- well have three daughters.

Mrs. Jewett is a granddaughter of a Revolutionary officer who served for five years in the struggle for independence and the daughter of a soldier of the war of 1812, her father having participated in the battle of Plattsburg. Both received pensions from the government. Mrs. Jewett is therefore entitled to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution but has not con- nected herself with the organization.

In his political views Mr. Jewett is a Republican, stanch and earnest in support of the party since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, but he has never sought or desired political preferment as a reward for party fealty. Throughout his en- tire life he has been connected with agri- cultural and horticultural interests and mani- fests excellent business capacity in the man- agement of his farms.

JOHN C. LAWRENCE, living in Ben- ton township, Berrien county, his home be- ing on the Territorial road about two miles east of Benton Harbor, was born in War- ren county, Ohio, August 24, 1843. In 1857 he was brought to this county by his parents, Daniel and Jane (Crawford) Lawrence. The father was born in Canada and was of English parentage. Crossing the border into the United States, he be- came a resident of Cincinnati and was mar- ried in Ohio to Miss Jane Crawford, whose birth occurred in Warren county, that state, her people having lived in Ohio from an early day. Her father was of English line- age, while her mother was from Ireland. Daniel Lawrence was a blacksmith by trade and later learned and followed the shoemak- er's trade. Subsequently he turned his at- tention to farming and in 1857, on coming ing to Michigan, he purchased the present home of John C. Lawrence on the Territorial road near Benton Harbor. The land was only partially cleared and upon the place

was a frame house but few other improve- ments. He paid sixteen hundred dollars for eighty acres. With characteristic energy he began the further development and culti- vation of the farm and lived in the original home until his death, which occurred on the 6th of August, 1887, when he had reached the age of eighty-two years, eleven months and sixteen days. His wife had passed away March 17, 1886, at the age of seventy- five years, one month and seventeen days. In his political views Mr. Lawrence was. a Democrat and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. In the family were four sons and four daughters, seven of whom reached years of maturity, while two sons and two daughters are yet living, but only two of the number are now residents of Berrien county, namely: John C., of this review; and his sister, Juditha the wife of John Osborn, of Sodus town- ship. Of the others Samuel died in North Dakota; Margaret became the wife of James Silver and died in Benton Harbor; William, whose whole life was spent upon the home farm in Benton township, there died April 8, 1905, at the age of sixty- nine years; Robert is a practicing physician at Hartford, Michigan, and for some years was a teacher. Hadassah is the wife of John G. Withey, a fruit grower of Santa Clara county, California.

John C. Lawrence came to Michigan when a youth of fourteen years. When a boy he was shot in the right hand, causing him the loss of the member. His early edu- cation was acquired in the public schools and he attended the district schools ot St. Joseph, later continued his studies in South Bend, Indiana, and also studied in the Northern Indiana College, pursuing a normal course. When nineteen years of age he began teaching, receiving a first grade certificate. He first had charge of the school in his home district. He taught altogether for twenty-four consecutive years and with the exception of three terms spent the en- tire time in Benton township, while all of his teaching was done in Berrien county. He taught in Benton Harbor in 1868 at a time when there were but two teachers in the schools there, the assistant being Miss

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Alma Bowman. At length Mr. Lawrence was elected commissioner of schools and in that capacity had to visit each school in the county twice a year to settle school diffi- culties when the township inspectors failed to do so. He received a salary as commis- sioner of twelve hundred dollars per year and that service closed his connection with the schools. While acting in that capacity he held teachers' institutes each summer. He retired from office in 1900 and in 1901 was elected township supervisor after previ- ous service in the office, making his incumb- ency on the board of supervisors cover a period of eleven years. He has also served for two years as township treasurer and thus has been long connected with the official

service. In 1891 the law was changed, whereby the county school commissioner was appointed by the board of supervisors and Mr. Lawrence received the appoint- ment. He acted as a member of the board of of supervisors nine years in Benton town- ship, when he resigned and for two years filled the position of commisioner. In that capacity he had two assistant examiners and conducted all the examinations whereby the teachers were licensed to enter the profes- sion. Through all these years Mr. Law- rence resided at the old home where he still resides. He served as a member of the county board of school examiners from 1882 until 1891, at which time there were three members of the board, his associates being C. B. Groat and Henry C. Crosby, the former of Berrien township and the latter of New Buffalo. These gentlemen were members of the board as long as it existed and all licenses to teach were issued by the board.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 75

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