A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 78

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born three children, Iva, Hazel and Leah. Mr. Sutherland is a Mason and be- longs to Pearl Grange. His political al- legiance is given to the Democracy, but he has never been an aspirant for office, pre- ferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs. He is a worthy represen-

tative of the well known and prominent pioneer family and as such and by reason of his genuine personal worth deserves men- tion in this volume.

STERLING L. SUTHERLAND, who is well known as one of the leading fruit growers of Berrien county, his home being in Benton township, where ! he has eighty acres of land, was born in this

county on the 23d of February, 1861, and is the eldest of the six children whose parents were Lewis and Ma- tilda A. Sutherland. The father is now liv- ing retired in Benton Harbor after giving many years to general agricultural and hor- ticultural pursuits. He dates his residence in Michigan from 1836 and in Berrien county from 1840. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, on the 28th of February, 1831, and was a son of Lott and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The grand- father was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire state, when in 1836 he came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo. After four years he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living. He voted with the Democracy but was never active in politics.

Lewis Sutherland, father of our subject, was reared and educated upon the frontier, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse. He assisted in the farm work, aiding in the arduous task of developing new fields and caring for the crops and throughout his active business career he carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. Be- coming convinced of the adaptability of the county for horticultural pursuits, he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable business. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

his sons. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at the time of Mr. Sutherland's arrival here. Only at rare in- tervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. Wild ani- mals roamed through the forest and herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game were seen. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since those early days, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forest but finds instead well culti- vated orchards, bearing their fruits in sea- son and the change is due to the enterprise and labors of such men as Lewis Suther- land. In 1860 he married Matilda A. How- ard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children : Sterling, of this review; Darwin B., largely engaged in the cultivation of peaches in this county; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township; Mrs. Addie Pearl; and two children who died in youth.

Lewis Sutherland, while practically re- tired from business cares, is a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor and has been an active representative of Masonry since 1852. He belongs to the Uni- versalist church and has been a champion of many progressive measures. His ballot supports the Democracy, and he has served as highway commissioner and as school di- rector. He is numbered today among the honored and prominent pioneer settlers of the county.

Sterling L. Sutherland remained at home until he had attained his majority. He pursued the greater part of his education in the common district schools but was also for two winters a student in the high school in Benton Harbor. He early became famil- iar with farm labor in its various depart- ments gaining that practical knowledge which has been the source of his success in later years.

After reaching man's estate Mr. Suth- erland was married on the 28th of Decem- ber, 1881, to Miss Elma D. Pearl, a daugh-

ter of Major Pearl. He settled on a farm at Pearl Grange upon land belonging to his father and he also worked his father's farm for three years, the two places adjoining. His father then gave him forty acres of land which was comprised in the old Ripley farm on Brittain avenue, where he at once began the task of clearing and developing his place, ditching and -draining it and erect- ing thereon good buildings. He lived there for seven years, at the end of which time he purchased his present farm comprising eighty acres located on the township line and situated about six miles from Benton Harbor. It adjoins the old homestead and is known as the old Jonathan Rose farm, Mr. Rose having converted it from a tract of wild land into a good farm property. Mr. Sutherland has cleared thirty acres of this land and now all is under cultivation. He rebuilt the barn in 1891 and erected a new house in 1905. It is a modern struct- ure, thoroughly up-to-date in every partic- ular and constitutes one of the fine coun- try residences. It contains ten rooms, is heated with a furnace and supplied with many modern equipments and in fact is one of the best homes of the county. Mr. Suth- erland is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation of fruit, although he raises hay and grain to some extent. He makes a specialty, however, of peaches, plums and apples, all of which he has set out himself. He has fifteen acres planted to young apple trees, one thousand peach trees, seventeen hundred pear trees and one hundred

plum trees. From a peach orchard of six acres he sold in 1905 fruit to the value of fifteen hundred dollars. He is now planting six acres to grapes, so that he will soon have one half of this land in fruit. The land is especially suited for the production of pears, plums and grapes and in 1905 he gathered five hundred bask- ets of grapes from forty-eight plants. Dur- ing the summer season his fruit farm is cer- tainly a most attractive place with its splendid crops of fine fruit. He plants only the best varieties and his fruit therefore in size, quality and flavor is unsurpassed and finds a ready sale on the market, command- ing high prices.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Mr. Sutherland in 1892 was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the IIth of January of that year, leav- ing two sons, one of whom died the same year. The other, Era L., is still living at the age of fourteen. On the 21st of Sep- tember, 1892, Mr. Sutherland was again married, his second union being with Miss Sarah Archer, a daughter of Dovis Archer, township treasurer of Pipestone township. It was in that township that Mrs. Suther- land was born and her entire life has been passed in this county.

In his political affiliations Mr. Suther- land is a Democrat, unfaltering in his ad- vocacy of the principles of the party and has frequently been sent as a delegate to county conventions and takes an active in- terest in local elections. He is a Mason, be- longing to Lake Shore lodge, six residents of his neighborhood taking the degrees of the lodge in the winter of 1905-6. He is also an Odd Fellow, having been identified with the order since he attained his major- ity, and he has passed all of the chairs in Benton Lodge, No. 132. He is likewise con- nected with the Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Sutherland has always lived in Benton township and is well known to its citizens, by whom he is held in high regard, enjoy- ing the friendship of many with whom busi- ness and social relations have brought him in contact. Work, persistent, earnest, in- defatigable work, has been the key that has unlocked for him the portals of success, making him one of the substantial fruit raisers of Benton township.

January 24, 1898, Mr. Sutherland left Michigan for Alaska, where he remained several months returning home March 29, 1 899.

ROBERT PULLEN. In a history of the men of the past and present who have contributed to the development and upbuild- ing of Berrien county mention should be made of Robert Pullen, who for many years was connected with the development of the fruit industry of this section of the state. He was born in Kent, England, May 1, 1829, and when he passed away on the IIth of December, 1904, at the age of seventy-five

years his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. He was reared to man- hood in his native country, learning the shoemaker's trade in early life. He came to America at the age of twenty-eight years, landing at New York, after which he worked at his trade in Syracuse, New York, for a time. Subsequently he took up his abode near Rochester and about a year later was married there to Miss Lizzie Tyler, also a native of England. They had been friends in that country and had become engaged prior to their emigration to the new world. Mrs. Pullen crossed the Atlantic with her parents and soon after she gave her hand in marriage to Robert Pullen, they came to the middle west, settling first in Racine, Wis- consin, where Mr. Pullen worked at the shoe- maker's trade. After a happy married life of five years the wife passed away, leaving a daughter, Lizzie, then four years of age. She was reared by her grandparents in Wis- consin but often visited in Berrien county and since her father's death has made her home at Fair Plain.

Mr. Pullen afterward returned to Syra- cuse, New York, and at Brighton, near Rochester, where he had first married, he was again married, on the 9th of February, 1864, his second union being with Mary Bounds, a native of Northamptonshire, Eng- land, who came to the United States with her parents, William and Ann ( Powell) Bounds, who settled in Brighton when she was seven years of age. Both her father and mother died at Poplar Grove, Illinois, the. former passing away in February, 1904, and the latter only six days later. Mr. Bounds was eighty-eight years of age at the time of his demise, while his wife had reached the. age of eighty-six years. They had removed to Illinois soon after their daughter's mar- riage and for a long period were residents of that state. The year 1904 was fraught with much sadness for Mrs. Pullen, for not only did her parents pass away in February but a brother at Appleton, Wisconsin, died about the middle of the year and her hus- band in the latter part of the year. From the age of seven years until her first mar- riage Mrs. Pullen lived in Brighton. She married George Pullen, a younger brother-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

of Robert Pullen, and within two years he enlisted for service in the Civil war and was wounded at the battle of the Wilder- ness, the injuries causing his death four years later. He served in the army for nearly two years. He left his wife and one son George E. Pullen, six months old, at his father's home when he went to the front. After their marriage in 1864 Mr. and Mrs. George Pullen removed to Poplar Grove, Illinois, and engaged in the cultivation of a grain farm there in connection with his brother, Frank. In 1867, however, the property there was sold and Frank Pullen came to Michigan to secure a fruit farm. The same year Robert Pullen came and pur- chased a farm devoted to the cultivation of peaches. This property lay in Fair Plain and later was exchanged for the present home of his widow in the vicinity of the original farm. Here Mrs. Pullen still re- sides and she has ten acres of land on Col- fax avenue, Fair Plain. Robert Pullen also invested in other land and devoted his at- tention to fruit growing. For many years he engaged in the raising of peaches, but later the crop was taken by the yellows and he grew berries. Subsequently, however, he gave considerable attention to grapes and again set out peaches, his fruit growing in- terests proving a success from a financial standpoint. He looked after his business in- terests up to the time of his death, employ- ing hired help, however, to do the active work in the orchards. He found the climate conditions and society satisfactory at his new home and was always interested in the wel- fare of the county. He greatly enjoyed his work, bringing to it a zeal and energy which were salient features in his success.

In his political views Mr. Pullen was a Republican but had no inclination to seek public office, his time and attention being devoted to his home and to other duties. He became a member of the Baptist church in early life, but later was identified with the Second Adventist Society, although there was no organization of that denomination in Benton Harbor. His connection with the church, however, continued for twenty years and he left one thousand dollars to that so- ciety to be used in the Advent Christian Bap-

tist Publication at Mendota, Illinois, to ad- vance Christian work. Unto Robert Pullen and his second wife were born no children, but Mrs. Pullen has a son, Rev. George E. Pullen, who is now a minister of the Second Adventist Christian Church and resides at Fair Plain. He is secretary of the Western Advent Christian Publication Association and is a regular weekly contributor to the paper, Our Hope. He married Ella Harris, of Berrien county, and they have two chil- dren, Ray and Hazel. Mrs. Pullen has taken part in various church activities and for many years she and her husband devoted one tenth of their income to the church work. She has a pleasant home and is a popular lady, esteemed for her many excellent traits of heart and mind. In all his life Mr. Pullen was straightforward in his dealings and hon- orable in his relations with his fellowmen, while in his family he was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his household. To his friends he was considerate and kindly and while carefully and successfully con- ducting his business interests he at the same time developed a character which made him a man of worth, respected by all with whom he came in contact.

FRANK PULLEN. The Gables, the at- tractive home of Frank Pullen, is one of the best residences of Fair Plain and is indicative of the spirit of enterprise and progress which are dominant factors in the life and work of the owner, who has valuable fruit farming interests in Benton township. He was born at Tenterdon, County Kent, England, about fifty miles south of London, on the 2d of December, 1834. In his boyhood he served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade, working at the start for a few shillings per week. When he had completed his ap- prenticeship he was employed as a journey- man in various towns in England, but am- bitious to enjoy the best possible advantages he determined to seek a home in America, thinking that he might have superior busi- ness opportunities in this country. In his native land he received from three to five dollars per week, from which he had to pay all of his expenses and it took him two or three years to save the funds to meet the ex-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

penses of his passage to America on a sail- ing vessel, which was thirty-two days in making the voyage in the spring of 1854. He landed at New York city with but meagre capital and after reaching his destina- tion-Brighton, New York,-he had but one shilling left. He worked for six months as a journeyman at the shoemaker's trade and also was employed in a nursery. In the fall of the same year he made his way west- ward to Racine, Wisconsin, by way of the lakes and secured employment as a shoe- maker, but the following spring removed to a farm. He remained for sometime in Wis- consin and also visited Illinois, working as he could find opportunity until 1864. In that year he re-visited New York and in 1865 he came to Michigan and purchased five acres of land which was covered with stumps. He had a brother-in-law who had visited this state and it was his report that led Frank Pullen to come to Berrien county. He paid one hundred and forty dollars for his land. It was then thought that fruit growing could not be profitably followed to any great extent here. Mr. Pullen made a small payment on his farm, but had to incur an indebtedness to secure the property. He erected a little dwelling and planted his land to small fruits. Finally he set it out to peaches, but the yellows destroyed his orchard. He lived upon that place on the St. Joseph side of the river for three or four years, after which he secured his pres- ent land at Fair Plain, it being set out to fruit at that time. He continued to own the former place about two miles distant and finally planted it to fruit, after which he sold it for less than he had paid for it. Subse- quently he bought ten acres of land border- ing the river at six hundred dollars, which he afterward sold for three thousand dol- lars. This farm he planted to berries and grapes and both yielded big crops which brought good prices and thus he gained a position of affluence. During the same time he invested in twenty acres of land on Napier avenue, for which he paid two thousand dol- lars and which he still owns. This has re- peatedly paid him in large crops of black- berries, peaches and grapes. His different tracts of land have brought good returns

and altogether he has prospered as the years have gone by. After operating the river place for twenty years he sold it for three thousand dollars. His home place is set out to peaches and grapes and he has grown for commercial purposes. When the peaches were destroyed by the yellows people were very despondent, but it was soon found that berries could be profitably raised and many of the horticulturists gave their attention to the small fruits until peaches again became a profitable crop. Mr. Pullen operates his own farm, giving to it his personal attention. He has also invested to some extent in real estate and has loaned money. He has erected his present home, a fine residence known as The Gables, which is one of the best in Fair Plain.

Mr. Pullen was married in Wisconsin to Miss Mary Tyler. with whom he traveled life's journey happily together for thirty years, when she died in Fair Plain. They had no children who reached adult age. His second wife, who bore the maiden name of Helen Scribner Ricks, was a native of Hampshire, England, and Mr. Pullen re- turned to that country for her. He was formerly a member of the Baptist church and his wife was reared in the Episcopal church, but neither are now sectarians. In his political views Mr. Pullen is a Repub- lican, but does not seek or desire office, pre- ferring to give his attention to his business affairs, which are now bringing to him a very desirable income.

CLARENCE D. BIRKHOLM, of Fair Plain, was born on the farm where he now lives on the St. Joseph river about two and a half miles south of Benton Harbor, his natal day being July 7, 1876. His father was Captain Emil Birkholm and his mother Mrs. J. Birkholm. The father was a native of Denmark and when twelve years of age became a sailor. He followed the sea for twelve years, during which time he visited almost every country on the face of the globe and seven times rounded the Cape of Good Hope. He was in several shipwrecks and had many narrow escapes on various occa- sions. After becoming a resident of Amer- ica he was connected with the fishing trade

Burton Diddings MD.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

and was also a sailor on the lakes. It was in the latter capacity that he came to Benton Harbor and here he formed a partnership with James Stevens in the lake coast traffic and became owner and captain of a boat run- ning up the St. Joseph river. In the mean- time he purchased land but continued sail- ing for a considerable period. Finally, how- ever, he gave his attention to clearing and developing his property and built a pleasant little home in which he resided for thirty years or more, although he was absent much of the time on other business duties. At in- tervals he would sail again upon the lakes and was thus engaged until within a short time prior to his death. The year before he died he was captain of the Starlight, a three masted yacht. He died at Benton Har- bor at the age of seventy-two years and his widow is still living in Fair Plain. He was one of the well known characters of this part of the state, his connection with lake and river traffic bringing him wide acquaintance. Unto him and his wife were born ten chil- dren, who were reared at the family home at Fair Plain.

Clarence D. Birkholm was next to the youngest in this family. He remained with his mother until he was married. She had a . fruit farm and he assisted her in gathering the fruit and in caring for the place. At the early age of eighteen he began to buy fruit on the streets and would buy orchards from time to time. He continued in the business up to the present time for himself. Nine years ago he purchased his present farm, which was his father's old home, and has since devoted the land to horticultural pur- suits. He has it all reset and it is devoted to peaches, pears and grapes. The farm has given very satisfactory returns, especially in grapes, and he has bought in some seasons large quantities of fruit, valued at more than forty thousand dollars.

Mr. Birkholm was married on the 4th of October, 1899, to Miss Helen Gross, a daughter of James and Mary (Pender) Gross. Mrs. Birkholm was born in Ten- nessee, where her father died of yellow fever. In her girlhood days she was brought to Benton Harbor, where her mother spent her last days and here the daughter was reared

becoming a seamstress, which pursuit she followed until her marriage. There are three children of this union : George J., John F. and Marian.

Mr. Birkholm is a Republican in his political views and is active in party conven- tions, wherein his opinions carry weight. He has always kept well informed on questions and issues of the day and has held some local offices in St. Joseph township, serving al- most continuously in positions of public trust since attaining his majority. In 1905 he was township treasurer. He is a member of the Baptist church of Benton Harbor and holds membership with the Gleaners. He has recently erected a nice residence on his farm and his land extends back to the bluff, commanding a beautiful view of the sur- rounding country.

DR. BURTON D. GIDDINGS, en- gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Niles, where at the present writing he is serving as city physician and city health of- ficer, was born in Edinburg, Portage county, in the northeastern part of Ohio, which is known as the Western Reserve, in 1873, and although a young man he has already at- tained a creditable position in the pro- fessional ranks in this part of Michigan. His father, John R. Giddings, is also a native of Ohio, who has followed the occupation of farming for many years and has been identi- fied with various interests in his native state. He married Julia E. Gano, also a native of Ohio, where they are still living. In their family were three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom Burton D. and Lyle Clinton are still living.

Dr. Giddings of this review supple- mented his early education by study in Hiram College in Ohio, in which institution James A. Garfield was once a student and later president of the college. Dr. Giddings then followed school teaching for a period and in the World's Fair year went to Idaho. He afterward attended the University of Idaho for a year and then taught school near Spokane Falls, Washington. In 1895 he returned to Ohio and became inspector for an extensive bicycle establishment in Cleve- land, occupying that position for two years.

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He then spent one summer sailing on the Great Lakes, following this pursuit largely on account of his health, which had become somewhat impaired. In the meantime he had devoted his leisure hours largely to the study of medicine, and after his retirement from the lakes he went to Chicago, where he carried on his studies in a practical way. There, however, he became ill with typhoid, while a student at the Bennett Medical Col- lege, and was somewhat delayed in his prep- aration for the profession. He attended the Bennett Medical College for a period of three years and then entered the Hahnemann Medical College mainly because of superior clinical facilities, from which he won the degree of M. D. on the 16th of January, 1903.

Dr. Giddings located for practice in Hinchman, Michigan, where he remained for only a brief period, coming in the same year to Niles, where he entered into part- nership with Dr. Z. L. Baldwin, under the firm name of Baldwin & Giddings, this re- lation being continued until August, 1905, when the partnership was dissolved. Dr. Giddings has since practiced alone with ex- cellent success, being the regular family physician in many households. He is also city physician and city health officer of Niles, having been appointed to the latter position in April, 1905, and he is examining physi- cian for the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Maccabees, holding membership in the local organiza- tions of these orders in Niles. He likewise belongs to Berrien County Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., at Niles. His political support is given to the Republican party, and he keeps well informed on all questions and issues of the day but has no aspiration for office aside from the line of his profession.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 78

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