A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 84

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

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BENJAMIN C. GEYER. devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits on section IS, Niles township, is a reliable business man and an able farmer, who owes his success largely to his own well-directed efforts. He has a tract of land of ninety acres that is splendidly improved. His birth occurred in St. Joseph county, In- diana, May 25, 1862. His father, J. M. Geyer, was a native of Germany and when about twelve years of age came to America, locating in Indiana. He made the voyage in company with his parents, who established their home in St. Joseph county, and having

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

arrived at years of maturity, J. M. Geyer was married in that county to Miss Phoebe Cole, a native of Ohio. In 1867 he removed to Niles township, Berrien county, where he died at the age of forty-nine years. His widow, surviving him for some time, passed away at the age of fifty-nine years. There were eleven children in their family, ten of whom reached adult age.

Benjamin C. Geyer is the sixth child and was in his sixth year at the time of the re- moval of the family to this county. He is now the only living representative of the family in Berrien county or in Michigan and he was reared upon the old family home- stead where he yet resides. No events of special importance occurred to vary the rou- tine of farm life for him in his boyhood days, his attention being given to the labors of the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools. In early manhood he wedded Rhoda C. Calvin, who became the mother of two sons, Floyd and Ebern, the former now deceased, while the latter attended school at Buchanan and is now a student at Notre Dame. The wife and mother passed away and Mr. Geyer afterward wedded Miss Mary McNally a daughter of Thomas Mc- Nally and a native of Niles, Michigan.

Following his first marriage Mr. Geyer lived upon the Calvin farm in Niles town- ship, where he now resides. He has always carried on general agricultural pursuits and is an industrious farmer, whose ninety acres of well-improved land indicate the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner in their appearance. In politics he is a stanch Republican and is active in the interests of the party. He belongs to the Woodmen camp and is a member of the Presbyterian church of Buchanan-asso- ciations which indicate much of the char- acter of the man and the motives which prompt his actions. ,

MILTON J. BLISS, interested in gen- eral farming on section 18, Niles township, was born three miles southwest of Buchanan in Buchanan township, Berrien county, his natal day being January 28, 1870. His

father, DeBert Bliss, was a native of New York and was reared in the Empire state until 1864, when he came to Michigan with his parents, Hiram and Anna (Ross) Bliss, who located on the farm where the birth of Milton J. Bliss occurred. The grandpar- ents were not long permitted to enjoy their new home, for they passed away soon after their arrival. DeBert Bliss was married in Buchanan township in 1865 to Miss Nancy Smith, a native of New York and a daugh- ter of James Smith. For some time Mr. Bliss engaged in farming in Buchanan township and afterward removed to Bu- chanan, where he lived for a year. He then purchased the farm upon which Benjamin Geyer now resides, while later he sold that property and bought the place upon which Milton J. Bliss now makes his home. There he continued to reside up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1887, when he was fifty-one years of age, for he was born in 1836. In politics he was a life-long Re- publican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party, and did all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. A man of deep public spirit, he took an active interest in affairs relating to the general upbuilding and improvement of the county and was known as a valued citizen. Mrs. Bliss is still living and resides in New Mexico. The children of that marriage were Anna and Milton J., the former the wife of Joseph Geyer, of New Mexico.

Milton J. Bliss, the only son and the only one of the family still living in Michi- gan, was reared in Niles township, being but two years old when his parents removed to this township. He spent his youth upon. the farm which is yet his home, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the dis- trict school. He began working in the fields when but eleven years of age, putting in twenty-two acres of wheat unassisted. He has been a life-long farmer and the early practical experience which he obtained has been of immense value to him as he has continued the business on his own account. His farm comprises ninety-six acres of land, which is rich and productive, and he carries

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

on general farming; his labors being at- was ninety years of age, while his wife tended with very desirable success.

On the 9th of June, 1891, Mr. Bliss was united in marriage to Miss Julia Feather, a daughter of John H. Feather, who was born in Oronoko township, Berrien county, Michigan, October 15, 1869, and was there reared. Her people were early settlers of the county, having arrived in 1836. They were the first white people living within six miles of Berrien Springs, but there were many Indians in the locality and wild ani- mals were numerous-conditions which in- dicated that the district was a pioneer set- tlement and that little had yet been done to subdue the wilderness and extend the frontier. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss have become the parents of one son, Lloyd F., who is at- tending school and who was born July 4, 1895. Mr. Bliss has always voted with the Republican party and when twenty-four years of age he joined the Modern Wood- men camp at Buchanan, with which he has since been identified. He has always lived in this county and its interests are dear to his heart. He manifests a public-spirited citizenship in regard to all matters pertaining to local progress and to national advance- ment as well, and in citizenship, in business affairs and in private life he has made a creditable record.

NICHOLAS DICKERMAN is the owner of a fine farm just outside the corpora- tion limits of Three Oaks, and there is en- gaged in the raising of vegetables for the market, his products being sold principally in the village. He was born in Calumet, now a suburb of Chicago, September 15; . 1860, and has been a resident of Three Oaks since 1867, when he came to Berrien county with his parents, William and Dena (Slotama) Dickerman, both of whom were natives of Holland. The father was mar- ried twice in his native country, and in the year 1852, coming to the United States, he made his way westward to Chicago. For a time he resided at Grand Haven, Michigan, but returned to Calumet, south of Chicago, where both he and his wife passed away, the death of Mr. Dickerman occurring when he

passed away at the age of sixty-four years. In their family were three children, but their son Nicholas was the only one who reached adult age.

Nicholas Dickerman came with his par- ents to Berrien county in 1868, and has since resided on his present farm in Three Oaks township, comprising sixty-nine and a half acres of land, which lies on sections 2, 34 and 35. This is known as "the vegetable farm" and is an excellent and productive tract of land lying just outside the corporation limits of Three Oaks and devoted to the produc- tion of vegetables of all kinds, for which he finds a ready sale, owing to the superior size and quality of the products which he raises and because of the fact that they are early placed upon the market.

On the 19th of May, 1885, occurred the marriage of. Nicholas Dickerman and Miss Minnie Bekema, who was born in Holland. She came with her parents to Chicago when fifteen years of age, and it was there that Mr. Dickerman made her acquaintance. Her father, Walter Bekema, was born in Gron- ingen, Holland, September 15, 1838, and came to the United States in 1881, making his way to Chicago, accompanied by his wife and two children. He resided for three years in that city but is now living in Kala- mazoo, Michigan. He married Lovina Lewis, also a native of Groningen, Holland, and her death occurred in Kalamazoo in 1893. when she was sixty-four years of age. In the family were two children : Minnie. now Mrs. Dickerman, who was born in Hol- land, December 27, 1867; and Walter, who died in 1897, at the age of twenty-nine years. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman, three of whom died in in- fancy, and those living are Lovina, in the millinery business at Three Oaks, Dena, William, Elizabeth, Walter, Frederick and Henry. Mr. Dickerman has an exception- ally fine farm home. About four years ago his dwelling was destroyed by fire, and all of the buildings have been replaced since that time, making this a splendidly im- proved property equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. His political

MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS DICKERMAN

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allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he and his family are members of the Congregational church. They are well known in this community and occupy an enviable position in social circles, while the hospitality of their own home is greatly en- joyed by all who know them.

WILLIAM E. FILE, a prominent farmer residing on section 10, Niles town- ship, is numbered among the native sons of the county, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Berrien township on the 3d of September, 1860. His father, Peter File, came to Berrien county from Ohio, and settled in Berrien township, being then about twenty-five years of age. He married in that township Miss Adeline Webster, a native of Virginia, who in her early girl- hood days came to Michigan with her par- ents and was reared in this county. Her people were pioneer settlers here and the father died in Berrien township when fifty- six years of age, while the mother also passed away when about the same age. In their family were thirteen children, of whom Wil- liam E. is the eighth in order of birth and the second son.

Reared in his native township, W. E. File acquired his education in the common schools and remained at home until he at- tained his majority, assisting in the work of the home farm. Thus he acquired a knowledge that proved practical and bene- ficial to him when he started out in life on his own account.

March 1, 1883, Mr. File was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cox, a daughter of Church and Elizabeth (Dean) Cox, the father born in Ohio and the mother in New York. Mrs. File was born May 10, 1864, and was reared upon the farm where she and her husband now reside. Following their marriage they lived for about a year and a half on the old File homestead in Ber- rien township and then located upon the place where they have since remained, Mr. File devoting his attention to the tilling of the soil. In plowing, planting and harvest- ing the years pass and his labors have re- sulted in the careful improvement and de-

velopment of one hundred and sixty acres of rich land on section 10, Niles township. He is persevering and energetic and as the years go by they bring him a fair measure of success as the just return for his labor.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. File have been born six children, of whom four are now living : Georgia and Leslie, the second and third in order of birth respectively, being both now deceased. Those still living are Alva R., Russell, Joe and Tina.

Mr. File has been a life-long Republi- can, giving loyal support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise, and in its work he is deeply and help- fully interested. Both Mr. and Mrs. File are members of the South Berrien Center Union church in Berrien township; both are connected with the Knights of the Macca- bees at Niles and have long been residents of this county, where they have many friends. Mr. File has taken an active part in public affairs and an analyzation of his record displays many good traits of char- acter whereby he is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is uniformly held.

SPENCER F. SPARKS has for more than a half century been a resident of Ber- rien county, and in fact is numbered among its native sons. He now resides on section 17, Niles township, and was born in Bu- chanan township, June 30, 1850. His father, Spencer Sparks, was a native of Wayne county, Indiana, where he remained to the age of thirteen years, when, in the fall of 1828, he came to Berrien county with his parents, Cornelius and Susanna (Ste- phens) Sparks, who were early settlers in Berrien county. They located in Niles town- ship, where they remained three years and then removed to what is now Buchanan township, the grandfather purchasing land from the government at one dollar and a quarter per acre. He undertook the arduous task of developing and improving a new farm and resided thereon up to about 1856, and then lived in Buchanan to the time of his death, which occurred on the old homestead when he was seventy-six years of age. His son, Spencer Sparks, was reared in Bu-

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chanan township from the age of thirteen years and shared with the family in the hard- ships and privations incident to pioneer life amid the environments of the frontier. He was married in 1839 to Miss Sarah Hunter, a daughter of John and Martha Hunter, who came to this county in 1832. Mrs. Sparks was born near Columbus, Ohio, and her grandfather was one of the founders of that city, assisting in laying it out. Mrs. Spencer Sparks came to Berrien county with her parents when about sixteen years of age, and after her marriage she went with her husband to a farm in what is now Buchanan township, where they remained for ten years. They afterward located in what was Niles township but which became Buchanan township a short time ago. There as farming people they spent their remain- ing days, the father passing away at the age of fifty-six years, while the mother died when about seventy-eight years of age. They were among the pioneer residents of that locality and were actively identified with the early history of the county. Mr. Sparks took a helpful part in promoting general progress and improvement. He labored earnestly and persistently for the public wel- fare and was highly regarded by all who knew him.

In the family were six children, four of whom reached adult age. Spencer F. Sparks, the fifth in order of birth and the youngest son, was reared in Niles township and acquired his education in the district schools of the same locality. He remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, assisting in the work of the farm when not occupied with the labors of the schoolroom. He was married in 1879 to Miss Clare Burke, a daughter of Andrew L. Burke, of Berrien township, where Mrs. Sparks was born and reared. Her people came to Michigan in 1828, locating in Cass county, and there lived amid pioneer en- vironments for about eight years, when, in 1836, the father removed with his family to Berrien county. For about nineteen years, Mr. and Mrs. Sparks traveled life's journey happily together and were then separated by the death of the wife in 1898. Two

daughters had been born of this marriage, Lilias and Ruth J., both at home.

Mr. Sparks has a farm of one hundred acres. He has been a life-long agricultur- ist, becoming acquainted with the work of the fields in early boyhood and continuing his labors along that line to the present time. Where national issues are involved he votes with the Republican party but at local elec- tions casts an independent ballot. He is well known in this county, where he has lived for about fifty-five years, remaining a resident here from his infancy to the present time. Berrien county is therefore endeared to him from the associations of his boyhood and youth as well as those of later manhood, and he has found in its business conditions the opportunity for advancement and has labored persistently to make for himself a place among the substantial residents of his county.

M. E. HARGER is a successful farmer whose life is another proof of the fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well directed effort, guided by sound busi- ness judgment. He is living on section 23. Niles township, and is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, born September 29, 1853. His father. William Harger, was a native of Massachusetts and was there reared. When a young man he went to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's trade. He was mar- ried in Lorain county to Miss Charlotte French, a native of Virginia, who was reared, however, in Ohio. Her father was Henry French, who was descended from New England ancestry, although several generations of the family had lived in the south. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harger located on a farm in the town of Columbia, and in 1854 came to Michigan, locating near Pokagon, in Cass county. They lived there for several years, when they removed to Pipestone township, Berrien county, where they spent their re- maining days, the mother passing away at the age of fifty-seven years. The father af- terward departed this life in his eighty- eighth year, in the home of his son, M. E. Harger. In their family were six children,

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four daughters and two sons, and by a former marriage the father had two chil- dren, a son and a daughter, the former hav- ing died while in the service of his country during the Civil war. Laura became the wife of Jonathan Hartsell and resides at Glendora, in Berrien county, Michigan. The children of the second marriage are: Clara, the wife of John Burbank, of Bu- chanan, this county, where he is serving as drain commissioner; Eliza, deceased; M. E., of this review; Adelbert, who has passed away; Flora, the wife of Wilfred Young, of Berrien township; and Sarah, the wife of Clyde Young, of Eau Claire, Mich- igan.

M. E. Harger, the third child and eldest son of the family, was only about eight months old when his parents brought him to Michigan. Most of his life has been spent in this county. He was educated in the dis- trict schools and remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, assist- ing in the labors of the home farm until he had attained his majority. Resolving to engaged in general agricultural pursuits on his own account he then rented a farm in Niles township belonging to Frank Mc- Clung. He also rented a farm from Mrs. Orton in the same township.

On the 30th of March, 1881, Mr. Har- ger was united in marriage to Miss Inez D. Young, a daughter of John H. and Delia (Snow) Young, She was born in Niles township, her parents being among the early settlers of Berrien county.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Harger located on a farm where he now lives, and in 1881 he bought fifty-three acres of land in partnership with his brother-in-law, Wal- ter D. Young. In 1883 he purchased Mr. Young's interest in the fifty-three acres and has been adding to his farm from time to time until he now has one hundred and eighty acres of finely improved land, where- on he is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and dairying, his fields being highly tilled. He keeps from fifteen to thirty cows and he has been very successful as a farmer and dairyman, the products of the dairy finding a ready sale on the market because

of the excellence of quality, while his field products are also easily disposed of.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harger have been born five children : Blanch Delia is the wife of O. C. Waltsgott, of South Bend, Indiana, who is engaged in the insurance business there. Claud Walter married Lulu L. Starr of Niles township, Michigan, a daugh- ter of John V. Starr, and they have a little son, Marvin Lee, the only grandchild in the Harger home. Carroll Y. is attending school at the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, taking a course in civil engineering. Flor- ence, who is living in South Bend, Indiana, is a bookkeeper and stenographer. Reginald is a student in Niles city high school.

Mr. Harger has spent most of his life in Berrien county. He is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for about eight years, while in public life he has taken active interest in those things relating to the gen- eral progress and improvement. He has a well improved farm and all of the buildings, which have been erected by him, stand as monuments to his life of thrift and enter- prise. All that he possesses has been ac- quired through his own labors and as the years have gone by he has become one of the substantial and valued farmers.

DR. L. E. PECK, physician and sur- geon of Buchanan, was born in Berrien Cen- ter, Berrien county, October 16, 1870, and is one of the eleven children born unto John F. and Angeline (Stober) Peck. The father was born in Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, and became a resident of Michigan in 1866. He had previously served as chaplain in the One Hundred and Seventy- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for about two years and on removing to the west he settled in Berrien township, where he purchased a farm which for some years he cultivated and improved. He is now liv- ing retired in Buchanan in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife is a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. By their marriage they became the parents of eleven children who reached adult age. One of the num- ber died at the age of thirty-seven years,

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while the remainder, five sons and five daughters, are still living.

Dr. Peck, the tenth child and youngest son of the family, was reared in his native township to the age of about fifteen years, when his parents removed to Buchanan and he continued his education in the public schools, while later he had the benefit of in- struction in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso. The profession of medicine attracting him with its opportuni- ties, he entered upon preparation for the practice, and, matriculating in the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, he was there graduated from the medical depart- ment in 1894. He then located at New Buf- falo in Berrien county in 1895, and con- tinued in active practice there until his re- moval to Buchanan in 1896. Here he has practiced continuously since with a con- stantly growing patronage that is indicative of his skill and ability as acknowledged by the public and as proven in his professional labors.

Happy in his home relations Dr. Peck was married in 1895 to Miss Maud Mow- rey, a daughter of Hiram and Ann Mowrey. She was born in Buchanan and they have two daughters and two sons, Alene, Doris, Edwin and Hubert. Dr. and Mrs. Peck have many warm friends in Buchanan and other parts of the county, and their own pleasant home is noted for its generous and warm hearted hospitality. The Doctor is examiner for many of the fraternal societies and is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. He is well known as a stanch Re- publican and is now serving as health offi- cer of Buchanan township.

ELMER BUTTS, living on section 17, Niles township, gives his time and energies to general farming and has a valuable tract of land of two hundred and twenty-eight acres. He was born in Lawton, Michigan, September 17, 1852. His father, Jacob Butts, was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his parents to Michigan when a young man. He was reared in Van Buren county, this state, and afterward removed to Cass county, settling in Milton township,

where he was engaged in farming. He wedded Miss Mary Jane Truitt, who was born in Delaware and came to Cass county with her father, Peter Truitt, in 1831, be- ing at that time an infant. She was there- fore reared in Cass county and she lived to be sixty-seven years of age, while Jacob Butts was fifty-four years of age at the time of his death. In their family were seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom five reached adult age and are yet liv- ing.

Elmer Butts of this review is the eldest child and was reared in Milton township, Cass county, acquiring his education in the public schools. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age and during that period gained intimate knowledge of the best methods of carrying on the farm, for he as- sisted in the work of the fields and in all de- partments of farm labor.

On the 30th of March, 1876, Mr. Butts was united in marriage to Miss Flora Cranston, a daughter of Sylvester H. and Jenette (Peck) Cranston. Her parents were born in New York and came to Michigan about 1847, locating in Jackson county. Mrs. Butts was a granddaughter of Dennis Cranston, one of the pioneer residents of Jackson county, while the grandfather of our subject was a pioneer of Cass county and thus both represent old families of this part of the state. Her parents removed to Cass county in 1871, settling in Milton township. The father was a teacher as well as farmer, giving his life to the dual occupa- tion. There were four children in his fam- ily, all of whom are yet living. Mrs. Butts, who is the second child, was born in Jack- son county, Michigan, May 18, 1851, and there spent her girlhood days, while the common schools provided her with her early educational privileges and later she attended the Grass Lake high school and a select school. For one year she engaged in teach- ing prior to her marriage.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 84

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