A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 79

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

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Dr. Giddings was married in 1900 in Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Lavinia S. Har- per, who was born in Ontario, Canada, and at the time of their marriage was a trained nurse, having graduated from the Bennett Hospital training class of Chicago. Dr. and Mrs. Giddings have won many friends during their residence in Niles and receive the esteem which is uniformly accorded in recognition of intelligence and genuine

worth. With a sense of conscientious obli- gation regarding his profession he has in his chosen field of labor faithfully performed each duty, maintaining a high standard of professional ethics and has made a credit- able name as a representative of the medical fraternity.

SAMUEL J. QUADE is the owner of one of the most desirable properties along the St. Joseph river. Lying in the great Bend, it has a long water frontage and is a sightly place, splendidly situated for a resort or country residence. Here Mr. Quade is devoting his attention to horticultural pur- suits with excellent results. He was born in the city of Buffalo, New York, on the 30th of December, 1856, and was reared in the city. He learned the trade of a finisher, varnisher and gilder, serving a regular ap- prenticeship and thoroughly mastering the business. He worked in Buffalo as a journeyman until 1881, when he came to the middle west, settling in Chicago, where he was employed until 1899. He acted at dif- ferent times as foreman in several finishing departments in which a number of men were employed under his supervision. In 1889 he came to Benton Harbor and did finishing work on the Graham block, and in the spring of 1890 he purchased his farm in Fair Plain. Each spring, however, from 1891 until 1900, he had charge of the boat finishing work on the Graham and Morton line of vessels. His farm is part of the old Elmer J. Jakway tract of land in the bend of the St. Joseph river two miles south of Benton Harbor and about one half of his forty-two acre tract is planted to fruit. He makes a specialty of peaches and grapes and has sold as high as two thousand bushels of peaches in a single season. No fruit was upon the place when he purchased the land and all has been set out by him. His orchards and vineyards are now in excellent condition, for he has pur- chased good nursery stock and has carried on his work along progressive lines in keep- ing with the most advanced ideas of horti- culture.

On the 20th of May, 1878, Mr. Quade was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Ermeling, who was born in Chicago. They now have

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seven children : Bertha, who is a saleslady in Marshall Field's dry goods house in Chi- cago; Martha, the wife of Benjamin F. Ber- tram, of Franklin, Texas; Ella, at home ; Samuel J., in Texas; Minnie, Herbert and Edward, also with their parents.

Mr. Quade is active and prominent in Masonic circles and is an exemplary repre- sentative of Lake Shore lodge of Benton Harbor. He was made a master Mason on the 2d of October, 1900, and he passed all of the chairs and was elected worshipful master in 1905, so that he is at present "in the east." He has taken the degrees of the York Rite, belonging to the chapter, council and commandery, and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, has served as justice of the peace and school inspector, and is frequently a delegate to the Republican conventions. His life has been one of un- tiring business activity crowned with a de- sirable measure of success and with an early realization of the value of labor and persever- ance he has worked on steadily year after year until he is now owner of a good prop- erty, which annually returns to him a gratify- ing income.

JOSEPH RICHARDS, living at Fair Plain, where he is successfully engaged in horticultural pursuits, was born in County Cornwall, England, November 6, 1848, and his youth was spent as a farm lad upon the old homestead belonging to his father, who was extensively engaged in farming. The son remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, but had little op- portunity for acquiring an education after he reached the age of ten years. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic to America, making his way to Ontario, Canada, where he worked out until the spring of 1871, when he came to Benton Harbor, where his brother. W. H. Richards, was engaged in contracting and building. He was one of the early contractors of this part of the coun- try and for a time was connected with build- ing operations in Chicago, after which he came to Benton Harbor, where he still re- sides.

Following his removal to Michigan, Jo-

seph Richards engaged in cultivating land now within the city limits and thereon raised fruit and vegetables. He afterward became a solicitor for a Chicago buyer, purchasing fruit on the streets of Benton Harbor for fifteen years. For one year he was engaged in the grocery trade in partnership with John Herr and then became an independent fruit buyer with experiences similar to that of the average man in this line of business. Gradually his financial resources were in- creased and in 1891 he came to his present farm in Fair Plain at the corner of Napier and Fair Plain avenue. He owns ten acres of land which was a part of the old Napier farm and has devoted it to fruit raising, making a specialty of peaches. He also keeps summer boarders, having from twenty-five to thirty boarders during the summer season. The place is known as the Richards resort and has become popular, be- ing now well patronized through the sum- mer months. Mr. Richards is a commercial grower of fruit and his products find a ready sale on the market.

In Benton Harbor occurred the marriage of Joseph Richards and Miss Helen Noe, a daughter of Elzever and Mary (Crittenden) Noe, who came to Michigan when their daughter was eleven years of age from Sum- mit county, Ohio, where her birth occurred. Locating at Fair Plain, the father cleared and developed the farm now owned by R. C. Thayer. After residing thereon for twenty years he removed to Benton Harbor. He had conducted a wagon shop on his farm and later continued in the same line of busi- ness in Benton Harbor, being well remem- bered there as a representative of industrial interests. He died in 1893 at the age of seventy-two years and his widow passed away three years later at the age of sixty- seven years. The members of their family were : Helen, now Mrs. Richards; Anna, the wife of John Herr; Leverett, who had been engaged in the wagon making business with his father in Benton Harbor and died at the age of thirty years; and Clara, the wife of Frank Wilkinson, of St. Joseph.

Mrs. Richards was educated at Fair Plain and taught school for a short time. By her marriage she has become the mother

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of six children: Clara Jane, who attended the high school and also the state normal, has for seven years been engaged in teach- ing in the schools of St. Joseph. James Arthur, a graduate of the high school, is an electrician and also a farmer living at home. May was married April 14, 1906, to Harry Mess of Fair Plain, and is now resident of Chicago. Lucy P., a graduate of the high school and a student at Kinder- garten Institute, Chicago, is also engaged in teaching. Elizabeth, a high school grad- uate, is at home. Charles is still attending school. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics Mr. Richards is independent with Prohi- bition tendencies. He has no use for the saloon but at elections votes for the party whereby he thinks the best results can be secured. His success is attributable to his wife's efforts, for he started out in life empty handed and whatever prosperity he has achieved is attributable entirely to her well- directed labors.

WILLIAM P. VAN NAMEE, for many years an enterprising and successful farmer of Benton township, was born near Watertown in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 9, 1842, and died on the 6th of July, 1903. The years of his boy- hood and youth were spent in his native lo- cality and his educational privileges were those afforded by the public schools. He remained at home until after the inaugura- tion of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused he responded to the country's call for aid and became a member of Com- pany C, Twentieth New York Cavalry, be- ing one of six brothers who served in the army. He continued with his command for nearly four years and was then honorably discharged. On one occasion his horse fell through a bridge and in the fall Mr. Van Namee was so injured that his health was ever afterward affected. He was sergeant of his company and his service was largely in Virginia, his regiment being a part of Buell's army. He had a wide experience and underwent the usual hardships of war when the soldier, putting aside all the com- forts of home, meets difficulties and dangers

upon the battlefield, and in camp life is denied those things which are commonly re- garded as essential to comfort and welfare. The injury which he sustained through the giving way of the bridge caused him to be honorably discharged, and in March, 1865, he returned to his home.

On the 12th of October, 1866, Mr. Van Namee was married to Miss Fannie L. Pearl, a daughter of Warren and Minerva E. (Randall) Pearl, of Benton township, who resided near Pearl Grange. They were among the early pioneer settlers of the lo- cality. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Van Namee had cut a farm out of the heavy timber, near the present site of Pearl Grange. Warren Pearl was born at Little Falls, New York, and was a son of Phineas Pearl, who became the first settler in his part of the country when he removed from the east to Michigan. The journey west- ward was made in a coach which he had built himself when a young man. Warren Pearl was a young man at the time of the removal to the west. He was married in 1847, in St. Joseph. Michigan, to Miss Randall, who was then living with an uncle, James Ran- dall, a ship carpenter at that place. Later her mother came on from Canada and lived in Millburg until her death. About the time of his marriage Warren Pearl took up a tract of wild land near his father's place and after working for a time at ship carpen- tering in St. Joseph he began the work of developing and improving a farm. He hewed out his fields in the midst of a dense forest and met all the difficulties and ob- stacles of pioneer life, but persevered in his labors and in due course of time gathered rich harvests, where formerly were seen the tall forest trees. With several others he made the trip overland to California, the party numbering several people from this locality, including Keyes Hade. Sterling Howard and Simeon Wilson, of St. Joseph. He spent four years in California and upon his return built a sawmill on his farm, it standing near the southern edge of his prop- erty. His was the principal mill of the vicin- ity and he sawed much of the timber cut in this part of the state. He disposed of his cut largely to carriage-making firms. The

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

country was covered with oak, hickory and whitewood timber and for many years the lumber industry was a very important one here. As the land was cleared Mr. Pearl cultivated his fields and in course of time de- veloped one of the best farms in Benton township. In the early days he grew peaches before the yellows largely destroyed crops, but finally the disease carried off his orchards. On the same ground is now to be found one of Roland Morrill's celebrated orchards. The present Pearl cemetery is where his first peach orchard stood. This cemetery was set off by Mr. Pearl on the occasion of the first death in his own fam- ily. Others desired a burial place in the same tract of land and he finally platted the cemetery, which now bears his name. For many years he was an active and enterpris- ing resident of this part of the state, his labors being a factor in its early develop- ment and improvement. He aided in the reclamation of the wild land and in the ex- tension of the frontier and his work proved of direct and permanent good. He died June 10, 1883, at the age of sixty-four years and one month, while his wife, who was born in Prescott, Canada, September 24, 1826, died April 21, 1882, at the age of fifty-five years and six months. In his fam- ily were six who reached maturity, namely : Fannie L., now Mrs. Van Namee; Ellen L., who became the wife of Roland Morrill and died when about forty years of age ; Gilbert, who owned and operated a large farm in Kansas, where he died when about thirty years of age, leaving one child, May Pearl, who is now the wife of Aubrey Sutherland, of Benton Harbor; James Warren, who is a civil engineer residing in Benton Harbor ; Irving Randall, who was the owner of a part of the old homestead and died in No- vember, 1905; and Nancy B., the wife of Harry Ely, of Benton Harbor.

After his marriage Mr. Van Namee worked for ten years for his father-in-law in connection with the operation of the saw- mill and the placing of the product on the market. He hauled lumber to St. Joseph when the road to that city lay across the bottoms and was little more than a cause- way, the water in the case of storms often

beating up over the road and even as high as the wagon bed. Indeed Mrs. Van Namee remembers crossing the road when the water came into the wagon bed. After ten years spent upon the farm Mr. Van Namee purchased a part of the present farm, to which he afterward added. With deter- mined purpose he set to work to clear his land, making it a very -desirable property, which he transformed into a fine home. Considerable fruit has been set out here and the land is also well adapted to general farming. A part of the old homestead is now leased to Roland Morrill, a brother-in- law of Mrs. Van Namee.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Namee were born three children : Claude W., born May 16, 1869; Jessie M., who was born June 20, 1872, and is the wife of J. Rogers, of Seneca county, Ohio, who is now living in Benton Harbor; and Pearlie, who was born August 24, 1877, and is now the wife of William Gilbert, who operates the Van Namee farm. By this marriage there have been born four children: Carl William, James B., Fannie E. and Jessie A. Gilbert.

Mr. Van Namee worked persistently and energetically year after year, making the most of his opportunities and putting forth his efforts along well directed lines of labor until a gratifying measure of suc- cess was accorded. He was thus enabled to leave his family in comfortable circum- stances and Mrs. Van Namee is the owner of an attractive and valuable farm, which was once the old Pearl homestead. She is a representative of one of the oldest fam- ilies of the county and the circle of her friends is an extensive one, for she has a very wide acquaintance here.

ERNEST VANDERVEER, one of the energetic and successful farmers of Berrien county, owns an excellent property consti- tuting a very fine farm. It is improved with good buildings and in its midst stands an attractive country residence. The prin- cipal industry of this county is fruit raising and to this business Mr. Vanderveer gives his attention. He was born on the old family homestead in Benton township, May 24, 1865, his parents being James and

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Nancy C. (Young) Vanderveer, who were married in Battle Creek, Michigan, about 1850. He is a representative of one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York, his ancestors having come from Hol- land to America in colonial days. James Vanderveer, the father, was born in Mont- gomery county, New York, and about 1848 made his way westward to Battle Creek, Michigan, being then a lad with no capital but possessing strong purpose and an earn- est determination to win success. In the course of a few years he found it possible to engage in business on his own account and for five years he was connected with the hardware trade in Battle Creek, carrying a large and carefully selected stock valued at forty thousand dollars. On one occasion he went to New York city to buy goods and while there his store was destroyed by fire and because of a flaw in the policy the in- surance company refused to pay him his insurance and the loss therefore was very heavy. Being forced to begin life anew, Mr. Vanderveer than came to Berrien county and purchased a small farm of one hundred and twenty acres, formerly the Sterling Howard property. He at once be- gan to clear and cultivate the fields and in the course of time was gathering good har- vests. After raising grain for some time he began raising peaches and later turned his attention to the cultivation of apples, carry- ing on that business on an extensive scale, Although he was in debt when he came to this county he regained more than he had lost in Battle Creek and not only discharged all indebtedness but became the owner of very valuable property interests. In addi- tion to his home place he owned three or four other farms, which were operated un- der his immediate supervision. He voted with the Republican party, but the extent and importance of his business interests left him little time for political work, although he served in several minor offices. His

death occurred May 5, 1901, and his widow is now living with her son, William N. Of their eight children only four are living : John; William N., who is represented else- where in this work; Ernest, of this review ; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Downing.

Ernest Vanderveer was reared upon the old family homestead in Benton township and early gained practical experience con- cerning the work of the fields and of the or- chards. His early educational privileges, afforded by the common schools, were sup- plemented by one year's study in the North- ern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and he afterward engaged in teaching for four years in Bainbridge and Benton town- ships, spending two years of that time in the home district.

On the Ist of January, 1889, Mr. Van- derveer was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Barrett, of Benton township, a daughter of G. W. Barrett, now of Benton Harbor. For a year after his marriage Mr. Vanderveer continued teaching and then lived upon his father's farm, and later gave supervision to his present farm and one at Grange Hall. He removed to his present place of residence in 1895, this being just across the road from the farm owned and occupied by his brother, W. N. Vanderveer. He has put all of the improvements upon the property and has cleared about one half of the sixty acres. He grows fruit, having twenty acres planted to orchards, twelve acres being in peaches and in 1905 he sold twenty-five hundred bushels from his place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vanderveer has been born one son, James G. Mr. Vanderveer belongs to Pearl Grange, in which he has passed all of the chairs and is the present secretary. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. His life is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and strong determination and his painstaking and pro- gressive methods are manifest in the excel- lent appearance of his farm. Each year after the season's crops are upon the market he with several others goes to the northern peninsula on a hunting expedition and thus he finds rest and recreation after the labors of the year.

WILLIAM N. VANDERVEER. who won a medal at the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position at St. Louis for an exhibit of apples, is recognized as one of the foremost fruit raisers of Benton township and Ber- rien county, carrying on his business along

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

modern scientific lines and through practical means and measures.

His father, James Vanderveer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, and was descended from Holland ancestors, who were among the old Knickerbocker families of the Empire state. About 1848, he came alone to Michigan, although but a boy, and made his way to Battle Creek, where later he was connected with the hardware trade for five years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Nancy C. Young, also a native of the Empire state, the wed- ding being celebrated about 1850. He was very prosperous for some time in the con- duct of his mercantile interests in Battle Creek and carried a stock valued at forty thousand dollars, but when in New York city buying goods for his store it was de- stroyed by fire and the insurance company refused to pay him a cent of insurance be- cause of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien county, and purchaser a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing property. This is an old landmark on the county and in the early days was known as the Sterling Howard farm. James Vanderveer at once began the cultivation and improvement of the property, devoting his attention in the earlier years to the raising of grain and later to the production of apples. He also owned other farms, operating three or four farms himself, having land near Coloma as well as in Benton township. He was indeed an earnest and indefatigable worker and good business man and in his farming operations he prospered, becoming quite successful and accumulating an estate greater than that which he lost in Battle Creek. During his last years he lived retired. He continued a resident of Berrien county for about forty years and was respected for what he accom- plished and by reason of his genuine per- sonal worth. He was a man of marked in- dividuality and force of character and though the fire and its consequent loss was enough to discourage a man of much reso- lution of spirit he nevertheless in determined manner set to work to retrieve his loss and built up a good estate for his family. He died May 5, 1901, respected and hon-

ored by all who knew him and his widow still survives, now making her home with her son, William N. In their family were eight children, four of whom reached ma- ture years, namely: John, William N., Ernest and Elizabeth, the last named being the wife of John Downing. The father was a Republican and held minor offices. He took a deep interest in the success and growth of his party and delighted in the progress made by the county along all lines of substantial and permanent improvement. He was very practical in all of his methods and far sighted and sagacious in his busi- ness affairs. He made excellent improve- ments upon the home property and after de- voting his attention to the production of grain for a number of years he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, raising first peaches but afterward engaging in the production of apples on an extensive scale.

William N. Vanderveer was born upon the old family homestead, April 19, 1861, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, attending the Benton Harbor high school and also the Valparaiso Normal College, where he pur- sued a commercial course and bookkeeping. He worked with his father and made the present improvements on eighty acres of land. This is his present home place, on which is a fine orchard. He has about twenty acres in fruit, fifteen acres being planted to peaches and in his horticultural pursuits he has met with satisfactory re- sults. He sold one thousand barrels of ap- pels in one year and in the year 1905 sold sixteen hundred bushels of peaches. He

also grows melons, and the products of his place find a ready sale on the market because! . of size, quality and flavor. He has erected upon his farm fine buildings including a very commodious and comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain, fruit and stock. No higher testimonial of his fine fruit could be given than the fact that he won a bronze medal of award for a display of apples at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904.

On the 6th of June, 1888, Mr. Vander- veer was married to Miss Fannie M. Baker,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

a daughter of Jabez Baker, formerly of go in debt for about one half of his place Coloma and a native of Adrian, Michigan. Unto them were born three daughters and one son, but Florence died at the age af fifteen years. The others are Ruth, Edith and John. Mr. Vanderveer votes with the Democracy and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but takes no active interest in political work, concen- trating his energies upon his business af- airs, which are bringing him a gratifying measure of success. He has always lived in this county and is widely known. In his dealings he is found thoroughly reliable and his perservance and energy constitute ele- ments in his life record well worthy of emulation.

CHARLES A. SPENCER is a promi- nent representative of horticultural inter- ests in Berrien county. His thorough under- standing of the business combined with his close application and indefatigable energy have made him a prosperous fruit grower. He resides in Benton township on section 25, his farm bordering Napier avenue and also the boundary line of Bainbridge town- ship. A native of New York, he was born in Clayton township, Jefferson county, on the IIth of May, 1830, his parents being Sidney and Asenath (Davis) Spencer. The father was a native of Washington county, New York, and a son of John Spencer, a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Asenathı Spencer was born in Oneida county, New York. They were married in the Empire state, where they continued to reside until 1844, when they came to Michigan. Jason Spencer, a brother of Sidney Spencer, was then living in Bainbridge township, where he had made his home for two years, and it was through the reports that he gave con- cerning this part of the country that the lat- ter was induced to come to Michigan. He settled on section 19, Bainbridge township, paying six hundred and fifty dollars for one hundred and twenty acres of land. Upon this tract was a log house and twenty acres had been broken. Sidney Spencer lived in that house for a number of years in true pio- neer style, sharing in the hardships and trials incident to life on the frontier. He had to

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 79

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