A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 81

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 81

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

the enemy's lines all day, but at night suc- ceeded in making his escape. His regiment according to official reports captured more than twenty-one hundred men in excess of the capture of any other Michigan regiment and they traveled over twenty thousand miles.

On the 19th of January, 1864, Mr. Stouffer was honorably discharged on the expiration of his three years' term, but he veteranized at LaGrange, Tennessee, and rejoined his old command. He was then granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at home, and he was honorably dis- charged at Jackson, Michigan, on the 16th of March, 1866, having been mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1866, his regiment having been sent to the Lone Star state in August, 1865. His grandfather had been a soldier in the war of 1812 and his great-grandfather in the Revolutionary war, and with the blood of military ancestors in his veins, his own spirit aroused by intensely patriotic feelings, he at once became an advocate of the Union cause at the outbreak of the Civil war and remained a loyal defender of the government and all it represented until after the close of hostilities. Of the origi- nal sixty-one men who enlisted in the com- pany in 1861, only sixteen of the number re- turned with the company in 1866 and but one other is still living in this section of Benton county. Mr. Stouffer was never wounded nor disabled, although he was often in battles where the bullets fell thick as hail stones. He still has his last muster- ing out report to the government, for it was not sent owing to an ink blot. As sergeant he had to keep the muster roll and make up the reports. Since the close of the war Mr. Stouffer has attended several re-unions, in- cluding four national encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus he has kept in touch with his old army com- rades, taking great delight in meeting with those who wore the blue uniform upon the battlefields of the south.

In 1866 Mr. Stouffer, having returned from the war, purchased land and has since given his attention to farming and fruit

549

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

raising. He now has thirty acres, consti- tuting a fine fruit farm on Pipestone road, also a seventeen acre farm near by and thirty acres in Bainbridge township devoted to fruit with over one thousand peach trees upon the home farm. He also has an apple orchard, pears and other fruits and he origi- nated the Stouffer Favorite strawberry, which for years was considered the finest berry grown and on the market. He has continually striven to improve his fruit in size, quality and flavor and his efforts have been attended with excellent results, his be- ing one of the finest fruit farms of this part of the county.

On the IIth of October, 1868, Mr. Stouffer was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Doxsee, a daughter of Nelson Doxsee, of Benton township, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio. In their family were five children, but three of the number died of diphtheria in early life. The two yet living are: Ada, now the wife of William Rush, of Bainbridge township; and William Stouffer, who married Inez Peters and oper- ates the home farm.

In days of peace as well as in days of war Mr. Stouffer has been a valued and representative citizen, standing as a high type of American manhood. He made a splendid military record during the Civil war and at all times he has been loyal to his country and her welfare. His interest in public affairs of the community has been deep and sincere and his co-operation can be counted upon as a factor in general im- provement.

ANSON F. BITHER, manager for the Niles Board and Paper Company, at Niles, Michigan, has advanced from an humble po- sition to a place of prominence in industrial circles. Nothing is impossible to him who wills to win and allows no thought of de- feat to find lodgment in his mind, and this statement finds abundant verification in the life records of such men as Mr. Bither.

A native of New York, he was born in Albany, February 12, 1846, a son of John and Frances (Spath) Bither. The father, born in Germany, learned the weaver's trade

in his native land and in 1830 came to America, settling in Albany, New York, where he was engaged in the manufacture of paper for a quarter of a century. Later in life he removed to a farm in Columbia county, New York, and retired from active connection with industrial interests. His wife died in 1870.

Anson F. Bither, the eldest of a family of eight children, spent his boyhood days in Albany and Chatham, New York, where he attended school for a short time, but at the early age of eleven years he became an employe in a paper mill in the Empire state, where he remained until twenty years of age, gradually working his way upward as he thoroughly mastered the different duties entrusted to him. In 1866 he went to Wis- consin, settling in Beloit, where he built the Beloit Strawboard Company's works, after which he remained for two years in the em- ploy of the Rock River Paper Company of Beloit which was connected with the Beloit Strawboard Company. Later he worked for the same company in Marshall, Michi- gan, and for six years conducted an exten- sive and profitable business in the manu- facture and sale of roofing, carpet lining and building paper, the output of the house be- ing quite large. For two years Mr. Bither was located at Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he was employed by the Michigan Paper Company, engaged in the manufacture of manila paper. In 1878 he came to Niles to accept the superintendency of the Niles Pa- per Mill Company, which position he filled until its consolidation with the Ohio Paper Company, since which time he has been manager, and it is now known as the Niles Board and Paper Company. Through his carefully directed labors the business of the house has been largely increased, better facil- ities for conducting the business have been secured, improved machinery has been in- troduced and the entire business systematized and managed with the idea of producing maximum results with minimum expendit- ure of time and money-which is the basis of all success. Mr. Bither's thorough understanding of the business in all of its departments has enabled him to accomplish

550

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

this result and he regards no detail of the business as too unimportant to receive his personal attention, if it is needed.

While his business duties require his al- most undivided attention Mr. Bither main- tains an intelligent interest in public af- fairs and gives his support to all enter- prises originated on behalf of the com- munity in general. He has served as presi- dent of the Building and Loan Association and he personally owns much valuable real estate in Niles, beside other desirable prop- erty, and through well directed business in- terests has accumulated a competency.

Mr. Bither was married, in 1869, to Miss Rachel Mangold, of Chicago, a daugh- ter of George H. Mangold, and they have two children : Fred H. and Bernice M., the former being superintendent of the Allegan Paper Mills. Mr. Bither is a member of Berrien County Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., also Encampment No. 3, at Niles, and is likewise connected with the Select Knights. In politics he is an earnest and unfaltering Republican, and has been elected to various offices of trust and responsibility on that ticket. He served for four years as alder- man from the third ward and manifests a spirit of patriotism in his devotion to the general good. Starting out in life on his own account at the early age of eleven years, his course has been one of steady pro- gress and he has now reached the plane of affluence.

L. KELLY is the owner of a valuable fruit farm of eighty-nine acres, on which he raises fruit of all kinds. The place is situated in Benton township not far from Benton Harbor and is a well developed property. Investigations into his methods show that he is thoroughly familiar with the science of horticulture and his labors have resulted in the harvesting of splendid fruit crops annually. He was born in Har- wichport, Massachusetts, on the 12th of October, 1855, and is a son of Moses C. and Adelia A. (Nickerson) Kelly. The father, a native of Massachusets, was a sailor who lived and died in the east. The maternal grandfather, Elhanah Nickerson, came to

Michigan with the subject of this review and settled first in St. Joseph, where he lived for a short time, after which he purchased the farm upon which Mr. Kelly now resides. He and Dr. Reuben Parker took up one thousand acres of land, which they gradu- ally sold as the country became more and more thickly settled. At the time they lo- cated here, however, the farm was in the midst of the forest and there was only one store at Benton Harbor, showing that the work of improvement and development had been scarcely begun.

Mr. Kelly has resided upon his present farm since 1862. He was educated in the common schools, being but seven years of age when brought by his grandfather to Michigan. He completed his educational course in the high school at St. Joseph, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875, since which time he has car- ried on fruit farming, raising all kinds of fruit. His trees are in excellent bearing condition and he utilizes the most advanced methods to keep his soil productive and thus secure the best of crops. By reason of the improvements that he has placed upon the property the land has greatly appreciated in value until it is now worth about five hundred dollars per acre.

In 1880 Mr. Kelly was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Rosevelt, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (White) Rosevelt. Two children were born of that union. Car- roll L., now at home; and Lila, deceased. After losing his first wife Mr. Kelly was again married, his second union being with Miss Ada Baker, to whom he was married on the 9th of January, 1901. Her parents were Dr. P. A. and Belinda Baker. The family have a pleasant and attractive home which stands in the midst of a valuable fruit farm of eighty-nine acres. His or- chards are in excellent condition and the high grades of fruit which he produces bring to him a very satisfactory financial re- turn annually.

Mr. Kelly votes independently, nor is he an office seeker. In his religious faith he is a spiritualist and fraternally he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of

55I

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

America. He has witnessed many changes during his residence in the county as the fruit industry has developed, supplanting the old lumber industry which in the early days was successfully prosecuted in this part of the state. He stands as a typical representative of horticultural interests and his labors have been attended with a grati- fying measure of prosperity.

JOHN B. JERUE, proprietor of Wal- nut Grove farm on section 8 of Galien town- ship, and one of the wealthy men of Berrien county, was born at St. Michel, thirty miles south of Montreal, Canada, June 4, 1849. In 1855 his parents left Canada, and by way of St. Lawrence river and the Erie Canal, train to Niles, and wagon to King's Landing, arrived at their destination in this county. The family lived on rented farms in Sodus township a number of years, until the father made a purchase of a small farm of fifteen acres in that township.

Mr. Jerue lived with his father until his marriage, April 13, 1876, and two or three years later came to Galien township. Mr. Jerue has been very successful in his farming enterprises and is one of the ex- tensive land owners of the county. A num- ber of years ago he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Galien township for fifteen hundred dollars, and the same tract with its first-class improvements is now worth several times that amount. His Ber- rien county lands now comprise two hun- dred and sixty-seven acres, in Galien and Three Oaks townships, besides two village lots in Galien. He has made mint culture one of the profitable features of his farm, having one hundred and twenty acres de- voted to peppermint growing and from it distils a valuable quantity of mint oil. In 1897 or 1898 he shipped thirty-three car- loads of cabbage to New Orleans, and he has visited the city three times. His cattle and sheep, his substantial farm buildings and all the improvements show his ability as a busi- ness farmer. In politics Mr. Jerue is a Dem- ocrat, and his church affiliation is with the Catholic church at Three Oaks.

Mr. Jerue's parents were Francis and

Mary (Fortchv) Jerue, both of them na- tives of the District of Montreal. The mother died in 1891, at the age of seventy, while the father is still living in Sodus town- ship, aged eighty-six years. Their seven children are: Frank, of Galien township; Mary Fonger, of Benton Harbor; Bosilla, who died at the age of thirty; John B., Adolphus, of Benton Harbor; Sovereign, of Sodus; and one that died in infancy.

By his first wife, whose maiden name was Flora France, a native of Galien town- ship, Mr. Jerue had six children, namely : May, deceased; Lucretia, deceased ; Francis, Clara, Milton and Henry. In November, 1901, Mr. Jerue married Emma Keefer, also a native of Galien township, and their two children are John and Mary.

L. G. MOULTON. Among the promi- nent residents of Benton Harbor well de- serving of mention among the representa- tive citizens of Berrien county is numbered L. G. Moulton, who was formerly identified with mercantile interests in this city and is today the owner of a valuable fruit farm adjoining Benton Harbor. He came to Michigan when the site of this city was en- tirely covered by a fruit orchard. His birth occurred in Genesee county, New York, on the 30th of May, 1835, his parents being Daniel and Pauline (Riddle) Moul- ton. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and removed from New York to Illi- nois at an early period in the development of the latter state. There he not only en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits but also operated a sawmill. He reared a fam- ily of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, L. G. Moulton being the only one . now living.

When a young lad Mr. Moulton of this review accompanied his parents on their emigration westward and spent his youth largely in Illinois. He was educated in the common schools and in 1859 he came to Michigan, settling first in St. Joseph, where he remained for a few years, when he re- moved to his present place of residence in Benton township near the town of Benton Harbor. On locating in St. Joseph he pur-

552

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

chased a hardware store, which he con- ducted for about three years, but in 1862 a disastrous fire destroyed this store, causing him a loss of about three thousand dollars worth of property. Removing to the farm he has since carried on the cultivation of fruit in the center of the fruit belt of Michi- gan. No state in the Union produces finer fruit than can be raised in this locality and Mr. Moulton has always been a leader in the work, never following in the beaten paths that others have traveled, but seeking out new methods and embracing every op- portunity for advancing his business inter- ests. He has always raised fruit of the fin- est quality and size and the products of his farm have found a ready sale on the market. He now owns twenty acres of land worth over four hundred dollars per acre and ad- joining Benton Harbor on the south. He cleared and improved the place and trans- formed his farm into a splendid orchard. When he came to Berrien county the entire site of Benton Harbor was an orchard and he has witnessed many changes that have occurred here as the city has grown and developed and as it has progressed along modern lines, making this one of the rich sections of the state.

Mr. Moulton has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Lavena Plumb and unto them was born a son, Chester O., who is now a telegraph operator in Chicago. In 1853 Mr. Moulton was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Day, a daughter of Henry Day, a native of Eng- land, who with his family removed to Illi- nois, settling upon a farm there. There have been four children born of the second marriage : Emily, Ella, Caroline and Ad- die, all yet living.

Mr. Moulton now has a fine home on his fruit farm, it being one of the attractive residences of Benton township and his splendidly improved property is an indica- tion of an active and well-spent life. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor and since the organization of the Re- publican party has been one of its stanch and inflexible advocates. He belongs to the

Masonic fraternity and was instrumental in establishing the Union League in St. Jo- seph, this being the first organization of the kind in this part of the state. For two years he served as its president. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey and, looking back over the past in a review of his career, one notes many salient elements that are commenda- ble. He has worked earnestly and persist- ently and his business affairs at all times have been characterized by integrity and straightforward dealing.

JAMES J. WEIR, M. D., a most suc- cessful practicing physician and surgeon now living in Millburg, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, November 25, 1838, the place of his birth being near Minerva. His par- ents, William and Elizabeth (Irwin) Weir, were both natives of Ireland and leaving that country they sailed for the United States in 1825, making their way from the Atlantic coast to Carroll county, Ohio. where they took up their abode. The father followed farming and died at the venerable age of eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away at a comparatively early age, her death occurring when she was but thir- ty-five. Mr. Weir was a successful agri- culturist, carefully directing his business interests, so that as the years passed he won a gratifying measure of prosperity.

James J. Weir was educated in the com- mon schools of Carroll county, Ohio, and afterward attended the Warren Collegiate Institute at Warren, Illinois, also the Ec- lectic Medical College of Cincinnati. De- termining upon the practice of medicine as a life work. he carefully prepared for his chosen calling and following his graduation in 1878 he opened an office for practice at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he re- mained for one year. He afterward pract- iced at Edmore, Montcalm county, Michi- gan. for three years and then removed to Kalamazoo. Subsequently he took up his abode in Dowagiac, where he continued in practice for two years and later he located in Millburg, where he has since resided.

553

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

He has a very fine practice, being the only physician in Benton township outside of Benton Harbor.

Dr. Weir has been married twice. In 1864 he wedded Margaret Davis and unto them were born six children: James H., who is engaged in business in Grand Rap- ids ; B. Vern, a painter by trade; Cora P., who is now in Detroit; and three deceased, one who died in childhood, one died aged nine years, and another aged six months. In 1900 Dr. Weir was again married, his sec- ond union being with Mrs. Alta Enos. They have a pleasant home in Millburg, Benton township, and their residence stands in the midst of a fine lawn of four lots, which is well kept, making theirs one of the attract- ive places in the town. Dr. Weir has built up a very fine practice, his professional du- ties making constant demand upon his time and attention until he has almost more than he can do. He has served as health officer for four years and he has kept in constant touch with the progress made by the medical fraternity as investigation, research and ex- periment have broadened the knowledge of its representatives and promoted their effi- ciency. His labors are attended with ex- cellent results, for he is very careful in the diagnosis of his case and correct in his application of his knowledge to the needs of his patients. In his political views he is a stalwart and earnest Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Woodmen of the World, the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has gained the favorable regard of his brethren of the profession and the consensus of pub- lic opinion concerning him both socially and professionally is entirely favorable.

JOHN GLEESON. The subject of this review is a well known farmer of Chik- aming township. Berrien county, whose skill and ability in his chosen calling are plainly manifest in the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place. He was born in the city of Hamilton, Canada,

on the 9th of April, 1850, a son of Patrick Gleeson, a native son of Ireland. He was married in his native country to Johanna Dwyer, a native of the same place as her husband, and about 1848 they emigrated to Canada, where the wife and mother died in 1856, at the age of thirty-nine years. The father afterward came to Berrien county, and here the remainder of his life was passed, his death occurring in Chika- ming township at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a blacksmith and machinist by trade, following those occupations in his early life, but after coming to Michigan he engaged in farming. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gleson -- John, whose name introduces this review; Maggie, the deceased wife of John Sweeney; and Wil- liam J., a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.

In 1862 Mr. Gleeson accompanied his father on his removal to Berrien county, Michigan, and for thirty-five years he has resided on his present home farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile and well tilled land on sections 28 and 29. This land was purchased of Jacob Beeson, of Niles, and at that time was cov- ered with a dense growth of timber, but with the assistance of his father Mr. Gleeson has cleared the entire place and has placed the same under a high state of cultivation. He is a defender of the principles of the Democratic party. For four years he dis- charged the duties of the office of township supervisor, for four years was highway com- missioner, two years township treasurer, and ten years a school officer, facts which attest his great popularity and the confidence of the people in his capability and trust- worthiness. He is a member of the A. H. T. A., of which he served as secretary for thirteen years. He is a member of the Cath- olic church at Three Oaks.

CAPTAIN JAMES McDONALD was born in Canada on the 30th of June, 1845, and is a son of James and Isabella (Leach) McDonald. The father was a native of Scotland and possessed all of the sterling characteristics of that race. For many

554

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

years he conducted a hotel, but about 1843 brought his family to America, settling at Port Colborne, Canada, where occurred the birth of his son James. He purchased a hotel there and continued its active manage- ment up to the time of his death in 1844. His widow subsequently removed with her family to Buffalo, New York, and in 1852 came to Berrien county, Michigan, settling on a farm in Benton township. A year later she went to St. Joseph, Michigan, with her children and afterward took up her abode in Sodus township, where her remaining days were passed, her death there occurring when she had reached the very advanced age of eighty-six years.

Captain McDonald spent his youth in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he secured his education, but his school privileges were somewhat limited and in the school of ex- perience he has learned many valuable les- sons. At the age of twelve years he be- came a sailor and spent some time on Lakes Michigan, Erie and Huron, continuing on the water altogether for twenty-three years. He worked his way steadily upward and for fifteen years was master of a vessel. He began upon the lakes as steward and served in successive positions until he became master of a vessel. He continued to run a schooner between Benton Harbor and Chi- cago and was noted for making quick trips. In fact he has the record of making the fastest time upon the lakes by a boat of that character. In 1872 he ran the schooner Cynthia Gordon and made thirty round trips in sixty days in succession, carrying lumber and other freight. He continued in business until 1880, when he sold the schooner and retired from the lakes. He then turned his attention to the lumber busi- ness and was the first to ship a carload of lumber into any yard in St. Joseph or Ben- ton Harbor, the cargo being white pine from the north, which he sold to the firm of Wal- lace & Barnes. He also shipped the first carload of lumber from the north to Captain N. Robbins. By this time he was buying and selling lumber by the cargo but shortly afterward, in 1880, he established a lumber- yard in Benton Harbor, forming a partner-

ship with A. S. and W. O. Packard, under the firm name of McDonald, Packard & Company. They conducted a wholesale and retail lumber business in this city and Cap- tain McDonald was connected with the trade for seven years, when he sold out and em- barked in business as an independent dealer. Later he admitted P. W. Van Deuser to a partnership under the firm style of McDon- ald & Van Deuser, this relation being main- tained for two years, at the end of which time Captain McDonald bought his part- ner's interest and continued alone until 1898. He later formed a partnership with Samuel McGuigan under the firm name of Mc- Guigan & McDonald, and they not only con- tinued in the lumber trade but also built the McGuigan & McDonald Block in the center of the city. This is a three-story brick structure seventy-five by eighty feet with stores on the ground floor and offices above.

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

A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 81

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