A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 86

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

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MR. AND MRS. JOHN CLARK

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

resident of Berrien county and has not only labored for his individual success as a farmer but has also put forth effective effort for general improvement. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party. The Sparks family is one of the oldest in the county and has been represented here through four successive generations, the name standing ever for good citizenship and for business honesty.

JOHN CLARK is well known in Ber- rien county, where for more than a half cen- tury he has been connected with agricultural and horticultural pursuits, while in public affairs he has figured prominently, wielding a wide and beneficial influence in lines of public thought and action resulting in gen- eral progress and improvement. While still owning a valuable farm in the county, from which he derives a good income, he now makes his home in Benton Harbor.

Mr. Clark was born in Loraine county, Ohio, October 14, 1838. His father, Orange Clark, was a native of Massachu- setts, born in Berkshire county, and was about thirteen years of age when his par- ents removed to the state of New York. He was married there to Miss Charlotte Wash- burn, a native of that state, and they resided in New York until about 1831, when they removed to Lorain county, Ohio, where they continued to make their home until 1854. That year witnessed their arrival in Pipestone township, now Sodus township, Berrien county, Michigan, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of sixty-eight years and the mother when sixty-nine years of age. In their family were five sons and five daughters, all of whom reached adult age. Five were born in New York and five in Ohio. Of this family John Clark is the ninth child and fourth son.

He was fifteen years of age at the time of the removal of his parents from Ohio to Michigan, previous to which time he had attended the district schools of his native county. As their home was only eight miles from Oberlin, Ohio, many of the teachers were students from Oberlin College, and the

advantages enjoyed by the children of the district were thereby of a superior order to those usually afforded in a country school. For two winters Mr. Clark was a student in the district schools of this county and spent two years as a student-in Niles, after which he engaged in teaching for five terms in Berrien county. His first school was two miles from Niles, in the Thomson district, and his third term was at Pipestone, while for one term he was teacher in the home dis- trict. He taught his first term in the winter of 1859-60, and in August, 1861, he re- sponded to the country's call for aid, en- listing as a member of Company A, Elev- enth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, as a pri- vate. He served for three years in the same company and participated in many hard- fought battles, including the sanguinary con- flicts at Stone River and Chickamauga. In the latter he was wounded and, being left on the field, was taken prisoner. The tenth day after the battle he was paroled and taken to the hospital at Chattanooga. He was wounded in September and the last of Octo- ber he was granted a thirty days' furlough and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until the following February. He was then sent to his regiment, but after two weeks was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where he arrived on the 16th of March, 1864. On the 20th of May the government ordered an exchange of prisoners, after which Mr. Clark joined his regiment at Kenesaw Moun- tain, remaining with his command from that time until the expiration of his term of serv- ice. He was honorably discharged Septem- ber 30, 1864, after serving for three years, one month and six days, and suffering all the hardships and rigors of war. Mr. Clark had three brothers in the service, Don A., who was wounded before August, 1864, and died of wounds December 25, 1864, Theo- dore and L. N.

When mustered out Mr. Clark returned to Berrien county and, settling in Pipestone township, rented land for a year. He then located on his farm on section 8 of that township, and improved the place. He now owns one hundred and sixty-seven and a

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half acres of valuable land, from which he derives a good income, but since 1896 he has made his home in Benton Harbor. In that year he was elected county treasurer and filled the office for four years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents. He has also been township clerk, township superintendent of schools, town- ship school inspector, highway commissioner and justice of the peace, and has made a most commendable record as a public official, standing for opposition to misrule in public office and discharging his duties with the utmost fidelity, precision and accuracy.

On the 23d of March, 1865, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Helen Webster, a daughter of Robert L. and Aurelia Web- ster. Mrs. Clark is a native of Hillsdale county, Michigan, and for ten years prior to her marriage taught school in this county. Her parents were both born in Maine, and came to Michigan about 1837 and to Berrien county in 1848. Both died in Pipestone township, the father at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother when a little more than eighty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of two sons : Lowell, of Denver, is in the employ of the government, in the quarantine department of the bureau of ani- mal industry, in which capacity he has juris- diction over the three states of Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, making his head- quarters at Denver; Glenn is farming the old homestead.

Mr. Clark has been identified with the agricultural and horticultural interests of this county for fifty-two years and has taken an active interest in its material progress as well as in the advancement of his individual interests. He followed the admonition of the Greek philosopher who, centuries ago, said : "Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to sloth." He has labored persistently and diligently and his present rest from active business cares is therefore well merited. His interest in the matters of public moment has been manifest by tangible support of every movement instituted for the general good. He belongs to Benton Harbor Post, G. A. R., of which he has been commander, and he is one of the charter members of the Ber-

rien County Grange, which he assisted in or- ganizing. He believes in united effort for the common good, as is manifest in the Grange and other movements and individ- ually and in co-operation with others he has put forth effective effort for the welfare of the county in which he has made his home from boyhood days.

JAMES WHALEN, representing the farming interests of Niles township. his home being on section 4, is a native of Ire- land, the date of his birth being September 14, 1850. His father, William Whalen, also a native of the Green Isle of Erin, came to America in 1850, at which time he took up his abode on Ed Hamilton's farm on section 12, Niles township. He bought the place whereon his son James now resides in 1857 and continued to devote his time and energies to it until the time of his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-five years of age. He married Cather- ine Hunt, also a native of Ireland, who died in Niles city, when about twenty-five years of age. After losing his first wife Mr. Whalen was married again, his second union being with Mary Burns, unto whom was born a son, William, who is now residing upon a part of the old farm homestead with his mother.

James Whalen of this review is the eldest of the two sons of the father's mar- riage, his brother John being now a resident of Colorado. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed in the usual manner of farm lads on the old homestead, and as his age and years increased he aided more and more largely in the work of the home place. He was less than a year old when his par- ents brought him to Berrien county, and at the usual age he became a pupil in the district schools of Niles township. pursuing his studies for about three months in the year, the remainder of the time being given to farm labor. He remained at home until of age, assisting in the farm work and at different times he has followed various em- ployments, including brick making. He also learned distilling, which he followed for some time. The greater part of his life,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

however, has been given to farm labor and he is an enterprising agriculturist, thorough- ly practical in his methods and accomplish- ing whatever he undertakes. He now has an excellent property of one hundred and twenty acres and the land has been brought under a high state of cultivation. He has carried on general farming and his business methods have always been straightforward and reliable, so that his fellow townsmen have marked trust in his business integrity as well as enterprise.

On the 14th of December, 1882, Mr. Whalen was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of Michael O'Brien, who was born in Piketon, Ohio, but was reared in Kentucky. Seven chil- dren have graced this marriage, Catherine, Max, Eva, Forest, Gordon, Gertrude and Grace, all of whom were born upon the farm and in the house where Mr. Whalen now resides. There has been no death in the family for twenty-five years.

Mr. Whalen has been a life-long resi- dent of Niles township and has been closely identified with its upbuilding and progress, taking great interest in what has been ac- complished and feeling manifest pleasure in its substantial improvement. In politics he is a Democrat in his endorsement of the principles of the party but at local elections votes an independent ballot, supporting the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for office regardless of political views and affili- ation. He has been school director for about twenty years and has taken an active inter- est in public affairs, the cause of education finding in him an especially warm friend. He has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a quarter of a century and is now a member of Berrien Lodge No. 6. He is likewise a Master Mason, holding membership in St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., at Niles. Thoroughly in sympathy with the principles and purposes of these organiza- tions he exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit which has its root in a desire for mutual and helpful and brotherly kind- ness.

HORACE J. ADAMS. The farming interests of Niles township find a worthy representative in Horace Adams, who is living on section 10. A native of New York, he was born in Genesee county on the 29th of March, 1834, and was of Eng- lish descent in the paternal line. His father, Horace Adams, Sr., was a native of Oswego county, New York, and was a farmer by occupation. He devoted his entire life to tilling the soil and for a considerable period was a resident of Genesee county, New York, where he passed away, when about sixty-five years of age. The mother of our subject, Betsy Coy, born in Genesee county, New York, also died when sixty-five years of age. Both the father and mother were twice married, and from the first marriage of the father there were four children, while the mother by her first marriage had one child. By the second marriage there were seven children, and with one exception all reached manhood or womanhood.

Horace Adams of this review was the second child born unto Horace and Betsy (Coy) Adams, and was reared in the place of his nativity, acquiring his education in the common schools. He remained at home, assisting in the farm work and in 1865 he went to Ohio, where he entered the services of the Fort Wayne Railroad, with which he was connected for about a year. In 1865 he bought the farm whereon he now resides and about 1866 he came to Berrien county. Here he has resided continuously since and has followed general farming, having now one hundred and twenty-eight acres of good land. All of the improvements thereon he has made and the farm is now a valuable property.

Mr. Adams was married in this county about 1868 to Miss Lottie Ford, a daughter of John Ford, and they have two children : Emma, now the wife of Edwin Bair, of Niles township and Charles, who is living with his father. Mr. Adams has been a resi- dent of Niles township for about forty- three years and has been closely associated with its history, for his interest in matters relating to the general welfare has been

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

manifest in tangible effort for the public good. He has held various local offices in his township and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

ROBERT A. WALTON, a prominent farmer residing on section 9, Niles town- ship, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, on the IIth of November, 1832, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza Ann (Houston) Walton, who were also natives of Sussex county. In their family were seven chil- dren, of whom Robert A. Walton was the third son and fifth child. In the year 1836 the father brought his family to Michigan, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, for the work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun when he located here. He took up his abode in Howard township, where he purchased a tract of land, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he was killed by the falling of a tree in 1838, being at that time about thirty-three years of age. His widow lived to be eighty-three years of age and passed away in 1886. After losing her first husband she became the wife of O. Albert and had one child by that mar- riage, Henry C., who was killed in the Civil war while defending the Union cause. There were three sons and four daughters of the first marriage, six of whom reached adult age.

Robert A. Walton was only about four years old when brought by his parents to Michigan. He was reared in Howard town- ship about two miles from Niles city, just over the line in Cass county. He worked by the month at farm labor, attending the district schools in the winter, while the sum- mer seasons were devoted to the tilling of the soil and other farm work. After the outbreak of the Civil war, his patriotic spirit being aroused, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company F, Twelfth Michigan Volun- teer Infantry. He joined the army as a pri- vate but was promoted to the rank of ser- geant and for one year served as corporal. He was with his command for two years and then .re-enlisted in the same company

and regiment, serving until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Pitts- burg Landing, Little Rock and other im- portant engagements and was wounded by a shell in the right shoulder. He was con- tinuously on active duty with the exception of about six months spent in the hospital and he received an honorable discharge in February, 1866, having made a most credit- able military record.

When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Walton returned to Berrien county and was married in 1866 to Miss Melvina Ribble, a daughter of Christopher and Mary (Sparks) Ribble. She was born in Ber- rien county, Michigan. Her people were old settlers of the county. Mr. Walton located first in Wesaw township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. The following spring he sold out, locating on the place where he now lives. He re- moved into a log house and in true pioneer style began life in this section of the state. He is now the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and seventy-nine acres, one of the valu- able farm properties of the county, equipped with all modern accessories and conveni- ences. There are good barns upon the place, a substantial residence and all mod- ern equipments. About 1892 Mr. Walton purchased another tract of land of eighty acres and has now in all about two hundred and fifty-nine acres. He is one of the repre- sentative agriculturists of the community, having since the close of the Civil war given his entire time and attention to general farming with the result that he has pros- pered as the years have gone by.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been born six sons. Byron A. is now a promi- nent lawyer of Webster, South Dakota. Jay E. is engaged in the jewelry business in Niles. Herbert F. is operating the old home farm. Roy H. is a rural mail carrier and news dealer of Niles. Dwight M. is with the Studebaker Wagon Company at South Bend, and Arthur is associated with his brother Roy. None of the sons have ever used tobacco in any form or strong drink of any kind and the parents have reared a family indeed creditable to their name.

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Mr. Walton is a member of Frank Graves Post, No. 64, G. A. R., at Niles, and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee for many years and for a long period as steward. He has taken a very active and helpful part in church work and his life has been honorable and upright. In politics he is a strong Republican and holds equally pronounced views on the temperance ques- tion, believing in the prohibition of the liquor traffic. He is well known in the county where he has lived for so many years and is highly regarded as a citizen of worth and intelligence, who stands as a champion of justice, truth and right.

WILLIAM SHEARER is one of the old settlers of Berrien county and is widely known as a prominent citizen, enjoying in full measure the confidence and good will to which he is entitled by a well spent life. His home is on section 16, Niles township, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, January 12, 1832. His father, John H. Shearer, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio and afterward to Indiana, locating in St. Joseph county. In 1853 he became a resi- dent of Berrien township, Berrien county, and locating on a farm he there lived to the age of seventy-four years. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and was of Ger- man descent. John H. Shearer was united in marriage to Margaret Baker, who was likewise born in the Keystone state and was of German lineage. She lived to be about seventy-six years of age. By her marriage she became the mother of six sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult years, but only four are now living.

William Shearer, the fourth child and fourth son, was reared in Ohio until about fifteen years of age, when he went to Indi- ana, settling in St. Joseph county. He was about twenty-one years of age when he came to Berrien county, and in the country schools he had acquired his education, gain- ing a good knowledge of the common branches of learning which fit one for life's

daily duties. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age and then estab- lished a home of his own by his marriage.

It was October 22, 1857, that Mr. Shearer was joined in wedlock to Miss Lydia Johnson, a native of this county and a daughter of John Johnson, who was one of the pioneer settlers here, having located in Berrien county when there was nothing but a fort on the present site of Niles. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer began their domestic life in Niles township, where he purchased a farm. He has cleared thirty acres of this land, the place comprising one hundred and twenty acres, which he has transformed in- to a valuable property. The fields are pro- ductive and he annually harvests good crops. Everything about the place is indicative of his careful supervision and his labors have been of the most practical and progressive character. He has been engaged in thresh- ing for many years, beginning the business before he was twenty-one and following it continuously to the present. There is no man in the county who has done as much threshing as Mr. Shearer, and he operated the first engine in this section of the county. He has thus become well known in agricul- tural circles and has numbered among his patrons for many years a number of the leading farmers in this portion of the state.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shearer have been born six children: Minnie, now the wife of J. I. Skinner, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Emma and Ettie, both deceased; Belle, the wife of Guy Irwin, of the Indian Territory ; Nellie, who is the widow of William House, and is a stenographer in the employ of the Studebaker Company, of South Bend; and- Gertrude, a music teacher, residing at home. Mr. Shearer has been identified with the interests of Berrien county during the long years of his residence here. His early polit- ical allegiance was given to the Whig party, and when the Republican party was formed he joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart advocates. He has been a member of the Free Baptist church for about forty years and for a long period has been one of its deacons and has taken a most active and helpful part in its work.

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His life has been honorable, his actions manly, and in all his relations he has been sincere and trustworthy. The years have brought him a goodly measure of success, which he owes entirely to his own diligence and earnest effort.

EDGAR L. SNUFF is a prominent farmer residing on section Io, Niles town- ship, and the years have brought him a good return for his labor in the fields. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 1, 1851. His father, George Snuff, a native of the same county, arrived in Berrien county in 1864. He was a son of Isaac Snuff, who was supposed to have been a native of Penn- sylvania, while the great-grandfather of our subject was born in Germany, and was the founder of the family in the new world. George Snuff upon his arrival in Berrien county took up his abode on section 18, Niles township, where he remained for a year, and in 1865 he located on section 3 of the same township, where he died in his seventy-fifth year. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy. In early man- hood he wedded Catharine Cook, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Anthony Cook, who was born in England, and on coming to America settled in New Jersey, where he resided for a time. Later he re- moved to Warren county. Ohio, where his daughter, Mrs. Snuff, was reared. She is still living and resides upon the old home- stead on section 3, Niles township. By her marriage she became the mother of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters, but only three are now living, namely : Nana J., the wife of Wilber F. Long, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Edgar L .; and John W., who is residing on section 3, Niles township.

Edgar L. is the second child and eldest son in his father's family and was about thirteen years of age when his parents left the Buckeye state and came to Berrien county, Michigan. The remainder of his youth was therefore passed upon the old homestead place on section 3, Niles town- ship. His early education was acquired in the district schools and he afterward at- tended a select school in Niles. He re-

mained at home until he attained his major- ity, assisting in the work of the fields and then sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being married February 18, 1875, to Miss Sarah Foster, a daughter of George and Margaret (Johnson) Foster. Mr. Foster was born in County Down, Ire- land, December 27, 1817, and died Novem- ber 1, 1891. Mrs. Foster was born in Vir- ginia, August 5, 1823, and died June 26, 1888. Both are interred in Niles cemetery. Mrs. Snuff was born in Niles township, February 4, 1855, where she spent her girl- hood days. Mr. Snuff operated his father's farm for some time and eventually bought the farm where he now lives. Here he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty acres is situated on section 10, and forty acres on section II, Niles township. He carries on general farming and his wife also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres ad- joining his place. In his work he is practi- cal and his efforts are attended with a meas- ure of success that makes him one of the substantial residents of his community.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snuff have been born two children who are yet living. and they also lost one child. The son, Clyde J., one of the successful teachers in North Da- kota, was educated in South Bend, and at the Valparaiso Normal. Edith M. is the wife of David Walker, who resides upon her mother's farm. Mr. Snuff votes with the Democracy on questions relating to the weal or woe of the nation but casts an indepen- dent ballot at local elections. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's at Niles and he and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge. He is well known in the county where for forty-two years he has made his home.

JOHN J. FOSTER, a prominent farmer and old settler living on section 3, Niles township, was born in this township, July 13, 1852. His father, George Foster, was a native of Ireland and came to Amer- ica when twelve years of age with his par- ents, Robert and Margaret Foster, who took up their abode in Niles township at a

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 86

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