A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 82

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

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Captain McDonald is a man of resource- ful business ability, who has been quick to recognize and improve business opportuni- ties in the line of real estate building and dealing. He is now the owner of much val- uable realty in Benton Harbor, including a number of dwellings. He continued in the lumber trade, the firm of McGuigan & Mc- Donald carrying on business where the Pen- insular Lumber Company now conducts their yard. In 1901 Captain McDonald bought his partner's interest and in 1903 re- moved his lumberyard to a point on South Pipestone street, where he continues to carry on a large business, having been very suc- cessful. His patronage in this line is very extensive, the trade having long since reached large and profitable proportions. He has also built or been interested in the erection of over one hundred and fifty dwell- ings in Benton Harbor which have contrib- uted in large measure to the development and improvement of the city. His opera- tions as a speculative builder have been of direct and permanent good to Benton Har- bor as well as a source of individual profit and he is widely recognized as one of the most enterprising and capable. business men here.

On the 29th of November, 1870, oc-

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curred the marriage of Captain McDonald and Miss Ann E. Rector, a daughter of William H. Rector, a native of Berrien county. They now have three children : Flora Isabelle, who was born in St. Jo- seph; William R., who was born in Benton Harbor and is principal of a school at San Francisco, California; and Ora M., who was born in Sodus township, Berrien county, and is the wife of Dr. L. Frank Ray, of St. Joseph. Captain McDonald and his family attend the Methodist church and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men and Elks lodges. He votes with the Republican party and in 1896 served as alderman from the second ward but he pre- fers to do his public service as a private citizen, finding many opportunities to put forth aid in behalf of general progress and improvement.

HARRIS S. WHITNEY, practicing at the bar of Berrien county, has gained recog- nition as an able attorney of broad legal learning, who in the trial of his case shows correct application of his knowledge to the points in litigation. He was born in Canada in 1870 and is a son of Edward R. and Mary J. (Harris) Whitney. The father was a farmer and lumberman. He partici- pated in the Fenian Raids in Canada and served as captain of a company. He was always interested in military affairs and ever kept well in formed on questions con- cerning such matters. He was a son of Ebenezer and Charlotte (Parker) Whit- ney. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Peter and Frances (Mitchell) Harris.

Harris S. Whitney came to Michigan in 1890, settling in Benton Harbor, where his education was acquired, his preliminary studies being supplemented by a course in the Benton Harbor College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1898. He thus gained a broad literary knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning and, having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, he became a student in the office and under the direction of W.

C. Hicks, of Benton Harbor. He afterward took the examination before the state board of examiners, whereby he secured his ad- mission to the bar in 1900. Locating for practice in Benton Harbor, he has met with a fair measure of success for a man of his years, having a good clientage connecting him with considerable important litigation. His devotion to his clients' interests is prov- erbial and he prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care. It is the work done in the courtroom-the public addresses to court and jury and the cross examination which impresses the general public, but the real work of the lawyer is done in his office in the preparation of his case, in the mar- shalling of his facts and in ascertaining the law applicable thereto. In this task Mr. Whitney shows unfaltering diligence and his comprehensive research is evidenced by the results which he wins in the court- room.

Interested in political questions, Mr. Whitney keeps well informed on the issues of the day and gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He is a member of the Republican city committee and also the county central committee, acting in the lat- ter capacity for two years. He was also a member of the Young Men's Republican Club during the two campaigns in which William McKinley was presidential nomi- nee. He is secretary of the Berrien County Bar Association, and has just been selected justice of the peace, commission to take effect July 4, 1906. Mr. H. S. Whitney was admitted to the bar April 15, 1906. Fraternally he is connected with Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Benton Harbor.

In 1902 Mr. Whitney was married in this city to Miss Dora B. Rackliff, a daugh- ter of H. A. Rackliff, who was formerly register of deeds of Berrien county. They have one child, Robert A., born in this city. Earnest effort, close application and the exercise of his native talents have won Mr. Whitney considerable prestige as a lawyer, and his legal learning, his analytical mind and the readiness with which he grasps the points in an argument combine to make him a capable representative of the bar.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

GEORGE A. PARREN. One of the honored residents of Berrien county, George A. Parren, is a native of Chikaming town- ship, his birth occurring on the 4th of No- vember, 1869, and in this portion of the State his entire life has been passed. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Tatro) Parren, natives respectively of Quebec and Illinois. The mother's death occurred in this town- ship when she had reached the age of about thirty-eight years, but the father is still liv- ing, making his home on a farm in this township. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Joseph, who makes his home in Wesaw township: George A., whose name introduces this review ; Charles, a resident of the state of Washington; Al- bert, of Chikaming township; Henry, whose home is in Benton Harbor ; Agnes, at home; and William.

The old farm in Chikaming township continued as the home of George A. Parren until he was eighteen years of age, and the educational training which he received in its schools was supplemented by an attendance at Notre Dame, South Bend, for one year. He entered on his business career as a clerk in a store at Sawyer, where he remained for one year, going thence to St. Joseph, where a similar period of time was spent, and for the following three years he was a resident of Three Oaks. He subsequently became the proprietor of a general store in Dayton, but after one year there he removed to Three Oaks, where for about seven years. he was numbered among the leading general merchants. After spending one season on a farm he took up his abode in St. Joseph, and there for a time was engaged in the fuel business, while during the succeeding year he was the proprietor of a general store in Sawyer. On the expiration of that period Mr. Parren located on his present farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres on sec- tion II, Chikaming township. Most of the improvements now seen upon this place are the work of Mr. Parren, including all the buildings and most of the clearing. In addition to his general farming operations he is also extensively engaged in stock rais-

ing, buying and shipping cattle by the car load lots. He is now erecting a residence in Three Oaks, where he will spend the winter months, while the summers will be passed at his farm.

Mr. Parren was married May 10, 1892. to Miss Mary Sheler, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a daughter of Hiram and Mary Sheler. Their union has been blessed with three children-Vera. Opal and George. Mr. Parren gives his political sup- port to the Democratic party, and for five consecutive years he served as the clerk of Three Oaks township, while for one year he held the same office in Chikaming town- ship. He is a gentleman of excellent educa- tion, is broad-minded and patriotic, and merits the genuine regard which everyone accords him.

EDWARD CLARK SISSON, assist- ant secretary and assistant general manager of the Peter Lumber Company of Benton Harbor, was born in Spring Lake, Ottawa county, Michigan, on the 12th of September 1872. His father, George D. Sisson, was a native of Ohio and coming to Michigan, became connected with the lumber industry in the northern part of the state. He lived for about one year in Benton Harbor, where he was also connected with the lumber busi- ness. His death occurred in 1898, when he had reached the age of fifty-eight years, and he is still survived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret E. Clark. She was born in Elgin, Scotland, and is now living with her son, Edward C., at the age of sixty-six years. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, of whom five are yet living: Wil- liam H., who was born in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, and is now residing in Indiana, where he is connected with the lumber trade; Edward C .; George D., who was born at Spring Lake, Michigan, and is now living in Indianapolis, where he, too, is connected with the lumber business; Georgia S., the widow of James Campbell; and Jessie, the wife of Major R. B. Gillette, who is repre- sented on another page of this volume. All

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three of the sons have followed in their father's footsteps in business life, becoming connected with the lumber trade.

At the usual age Edward Clark Sisson entered the public schools in his native city, where he mastered the elementary branches of learning. Later he became a student in the schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passing through successive grades until he had com- pleted the high school course. He after- ward attended a business college in that city and on putting aside his text books he entered upon his business career as an en- ploye in the wholesale department of the dry goods house of Spring & Company at Grand Rapids, acting in that capacity for two years. Later he began working for the Chicago & Western Michigan Railroad in the auditing department, his connection with the corporation continuing for seven years, after which he went to Indianapolis, Indi- ana, and joined his father in the lumber business there. They were thus associated until 1898, the year of the father's death, after which Mr. Sisson entered into the business relations with the Peter Lumber Company, of Benton Harbor, of which he was assistant secretary and assistant gen- eral manager. The Peter Lumber Com- pany sold out their business May 15, 1906, and Mr. Sisson and W. C. Hovey organized the Hovey & Sisson Lumber Company, wholesale dealers in lumber. He has put forth strenuous and effective effort for the development and growth of the business, and his labors are an important factor in its success. From his boyhood days to the present time he has been largely connected with the lumber trade, having gained con- siderable knowledge of the business in his youth through association with his father.

In his political views Mr. Sisson is an earnest Republican, very active in the work of the party, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its suc- cess. It was he who nominated Judge Coolitz at the last election for judge of the circuit court. In 1905 Mr. Sisson was ap- pointed to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. Cole, deceased, in the office of alderman, and in the spring of 1906 he was elected

alderman from the first ward. His inter- est in public affairs has been manifest in the tangible effort for the general good and, in all of his public work as in his business inter- ests he is intensely practical and far-sighted. he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and in the last named has served for the past two years as exalted ruler. He is a favorite with his brethren of these organizations and his interest in their work is of a helpful and beneficial nature.

THOMAS LEE WILKINSON, who is engaged in the abstract business in St. Joseph, was born in Berrien Springs, this county, on the 7th of November, 1855. His father, Thomas Lee Wilkinson was born near Germantown, Pennsylvania, and is descended from Quaker ancestry. He removed from his native state to Michigan in the year 1840. He was married there to Miss Elizabeth Ann Hagadorn, a native of Allegany county, New York, who is still living, having for many years survived her husband, who died in 1862 at the age of forty-seven years. Mr. Wilkinson was a cabinet-maker by trade and in the early days manufactured furniture. He had a large shop employing several men, and made most of the furniture used in central Berrien county from 1840 to 1860. Walnut and cherry were used exclusively in making good furniture in those days, and the for- ests around Berrien Springs furnished an abundance of these woods. In their family were eight children.

Thomas Lee Wilkinson was only about eight years of age at the time of his father's clemise. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in 1876 be- came a partner in the abstract business under the firm name of Dix & Wilkinson, opening what was known as the Berrien

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County Abstract Office. This office was removed to St. Joseph in 1894 and Mr. Wil- kinson is still connected with this line of business. In 1890 in Berrien Springs, in connection with Roscoe D. Dix, he estab- lished a private bank called the Berrien Exchange Bank, which is still con- ducted, at the same time carrying on the abstract office in St. Joseph. Mr. Dix re- sides in the former place looking after the banking interests there, while Mr. Wilkin- son has control of the business in' St. Jo- seph. Both branches are proving a source of profit and are factors in business circles in the two cities.

On the Ist of November, 1893, in Ber- rien Springs, Mr. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Miss Adeline Graham, a daugh- ter of George Graham of that place. Unto them were born three children: Phyllis, who was born in Berrien Springs and is eleven years of age; Frances, who was born in Berrien Springs and is seven years of age; and Mary Elizabeth, who was born in St. Joseph and is three years of age.

Mr. Wilkinson votes with the Republi- can party, but is without aspiration for of- fice, although, as every true American citi- zen should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Berrien Springs, also to the Wood- men camp, and the Maccabees tent at that place, while in St. Joseph he has member- ship relations with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. His entire life has been passed in this county, and while there have been no exciting chapters in his life history he belongs to that class who uphold the local and political status of the commu- nity and whose aid and co-operation can be counted upon to further progressive pub- lic measures, while in business circles he is thoroughly reliable and just.

JOHN BURKHART, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Three Oaks and also serving as justice of the peace and notary public, has been a valued factor. in community affairs, standing as a repre- sentative of progress and improvement

along all substantial lines. He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the IIth of August, 1841, and is a son of John and Christina (Hahn) Burkhart, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, in which country they were reared and married. The year following their marriage they came to the United States and established their home in Pennsylvania, where they spent their re- maining days, both passing away in Schuyl- kill, when seventy-nine years of age. Mr. Burkhart was five years her husband's ju- nior and survived him for that length of time. In their family were six sons : Christian, now deceased; John, of this re- view; Charles, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run, while serving in the Union army; Fred, who for four years was a sol- dier of the Civil war; Mathias, of Pennsyl- vania; and Adam, who is also living in Pennsylvania.

John Burkhart was reared on the old home farm in Pennsylvania to the age of

, twelve years and his parents removed to Schuylkill Haven, that state, settling in Pine Grove, where he remained until seventeen years of age. Thinking to have better busi- ness opportunities in the west, and ambi- tious to attain success, he made his way to South Bend, Indiana, where he began work as a farm hand. He was thus employed for about two years prior to his marriage, and for one year after his marriage.

Mr. Burkhart was married at South Bend, April 28, 1861, to Mrs. Susanna Goodwin Hatfield, who was born in Mary- land, about fifteen miles south of Baltimore, in 1829, the widow of James H. Hatfield and a daughter of George and Susan ( Pap- let) Goodwin. She had five children by her first marriage, four of whom lived to maturity, while three are now living. The record of the family is as follows : Emeline, who died at the age of nine years; Carrie, the wife of William H. Holden, of Bellview, Michigan; Abram A., deceased; John, liv- ing in Three Oaks township; and James H., who is president and general manager for the Kalamazoo Corset Company, at Kala- mazoo, Michigan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart have been born two children but

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Olive died in 1883, at the age of nineteen years, and the living daughter, Anna B., is now the wife of Charles O. Hess, of Three Oaks.

Following his marriage Mr. Burkhart worked for two years in a meat market in South Bend, and afterward located on a farm on Portage Prairie, four miles north of South Bend, where he rented land until 1869, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits. In that year he removed to Walk- erton, Indiana, where he resided for a year on a farm. On the expiration of that period he removed to a farm four miles north of Laporte, and on the 19th of January, 1871, he took up his abode at Three Oaks, Michi- gan, where he has since resided. For one and a half years he engaged in farming and then purchased a half interest in a meat market in connection with William H. White, conducting the business under the firm name of Burkhart & White for two years. He then purchased his partner's in- terest and continued in business alone until 1885, when he admitted his son-in-law to a partnership under the firm style of Burkhart & Hess. They were associated until March, 1905, when Mr. Burkhart sold out and has since conducted his present real estate and insurance business, writing considerable in- surance each year and also negotiating many realty transfers. He is likewise just- ice of the peace and notary public. He has been honored with a number of local of- fices, serving as constable for twelve years. He has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty years, and in April, 1906, was elected for the succeeding four years. He discharges the duties of the office with strict regard for the law and equity and his service has won him the commendation of all interested in justice and good government. He has likewise served on the village council for two years and every trust reposed in him has been faithfully executed.

Mr. Burkhart is a prominent Mason and belongs to the Elks lodge in Michigan City, holding a life membership with that organi- zation. He also belongs to the A. U. V., a German association, of which he has been

treasurer for fifteen years, and for the past four years he has been president of the Anti- Horse Thief Association of this county. Mr. Burkhart owns two business places and six dwellings in the heart of the village and has made every dollar that he possesses. His life has been indeed an industrious one and from the age of seventeen years he has de- pended entirely upon his own resources, working persistently and earnestly, knowing that diligence and perseverence are a safe basis upon which to build success. What- ever he undertakes he carries forward to completion and his life record contains many elements worthy of emulation, show- ing what may be accomplished through de- termination and force of character.

JUDSON SAWIN, deceased, was for a long period a respected and valued resi- dent of Three Oaks township. He was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, New York, December 4, 1816, his parents being Rev. Benjamin and Sabra (Holman) Sawin. The father, a native of Connecticut, was the first Baptist clergyman in Laporte, Indiana, and devoted over fifty years to preaching the gospel, his life of zeal and consecra- tion making him a prominent representative of the Baptist clergy, and one whose labors were of far-reaching benefit to his fellow- men. His wife was a native of Massachu- setts and both died at Laporte, Indiana. In their family were nine children.

Judson Sawin remained upon the home farm with his parents until sixteen years of age, when he left Otsego county, New York, and removed to Aurora, that state, not far from Buffalo. There he continued until twenty-one years of age, when he went with his parents to Laporte, Indiana, where he re- sided for twenty-five years. For a number of years he was connected with his brother- in-law, Levi Jones, in the operation of a planing mill under the firm style of Sawin & Jones. Prior to this time, however, he and his brother were engaged in the wagon and buggy business quite extensively in Laporte and later devoted their attention to the building of freight cars for the Michi- gan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad,

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as the line was then called. While in Buf- falo, New York, he had studied law with his brother and was connected at different times with a number of legal cases. As the years passed and he successfully carried on his business affairs in Laporte he made ju- dicious investment there and owns consid- erable property in Laporte county but lost heavily by going security for friends. It was this that caused him to close out his business in Indiana and remove to the farm on section 15, Three Oaks township, taking up his abode there in 1863. Berrien county thereby gained a valued citizen, and for forty years he carried on general agricult- ural pursuits. He had eighty acres in the home place, also owned one hundred and fifty-five acres on section 17, and likewise had eighty acres near the village of Three Oaks. At one time he owned nearly four hundred acres of land in this locality. All this indicates the success which attended his efforts and the excellent business quali- ties which he displayed in the conduct of his business affairs. He was watchful of opportunity and as indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature he worked resolutely and persistently to achieve suc- cess and retrieve the losses that he had ex- perienced while in Indiana. He became one of the representative agriculturists of his community and his business integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his career.

Mr. Sawin was married in Laporte, In- diana, in 1861, to Miss Barbara Carrier, who was born near Strasburg, France, August 4, 1844. She came to the United States when nine years of age with her par- ents, David and Barbara Carrier, the fam- ily home being established at Crown Point, Indiana, whence they afterward removed to Laporte. Her father and mother were both natives of France and spent their last years in Three Oaks, Michigan. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sawin was blessed with seven children: John, who died at the age of eleven years; George, who died when twenty-two years of age; Benjamin, of Three Oaks township; Julia, who is the wife of Henry Hoffer, a resident of Chicago; Louisa, the wife of Irving Annable, of La-

porte county, Indiana; Bessie, the wife of Rov Foster, their home being upon the farm with her mother; and Frank, who is in Chi- cago in the government employ, being in the appraiser's office in the customs house.

Mr. Sawin was deeply interested in pol- itics and in the great questions which af- fect the welfare of State and nation. He studied closely the condition of needs in the south relating to slavery and long prior to the Civil war was a pronounced advocate of abolition and took great interest in the fect the welfare of state and nation. He stood for justice, for truth and right, and desired honesty and progress in public as well as in private affairs. His early polit- ical allegiance was given to the Whig party, while later he supported the Republican party, afterward the Democratic party and eventually the People's party. He never feared to announce his honest convictions and support the principles in which he be- lieved and was a man whose integrity of purpose was never questioned. He was a strong believer in Christianity although not a church member. He did not base his views upon dogma or creed but he believed in the eternal principles of truth, justice and : mercy and of the right of any individual to , interpret Bible teaching for himself. He . was always a student, reading broadly and : thinking deeply, and was moreover a fine

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 82

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