A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 91

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

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church and is most widely known in this part of the county, where she has many warm friends. She is in fact very popular, her social qualities as well as her business characteristics winning her very favorable regard.

R. CLARKE ALLEN, M. D., is one of the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in St. Joseph but his years do not seem a bar to his progress nor success for he has already attained a position in the ranks of the medical fraternity that many an older practitioner might well envy and it does not require the gift of prophecy to enable one to predict a successful future for him. He was born in Breckinridge, Mis- souri, in 1878, and is a son of the Rev. James Allen, who was born in England and came to America at an early age, acquiring his education in the schools of the east. De- termining to devote his life to the active work of the ministry he became a Methodist clergyman and has always followed his holy calling, being now pastor of the church in Centerville, Michigan, where he has labored zealously for the belief which he entertains. He married Miss Minnie Clarke, a native of Canada, who died on the 14th of February, 1894, in northern Michigan, when forty- five years of age. By their marriage had been born four children, of whom Dr. Allen is the youngest. One has now passed away and the other surviving members of the family are: Mrs. S. W. Rose, who is liv- ing in St. Joseph; Rittenhouse and Mrs. Charles Rittenhouse, whose home is in De- troit, Michigan.

In his early boyhood days Dr. Allen ac- companied his parents on their removal from Missouri to Michigan and acquired his pre- liminary education in the schools of Traverse City. His father in accordance with the cus- tom of the Methodist church was stationed at different points in pastoral work and thus Dr. Allen's education was not pursued con- secutively in one place. He attended school for a time in Detroit and then having the determination to enter upon the practice of medicine as a life work he began prepara- tion for this calling as a student in the De- troit Medical College, from which he was

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graduated in the class of 1904. Immediately afterward he went to Harbor Springs, Mich- igan, but in the fall of that year came to St. Joseph. It seems that he has made no mis- take in his choice of a location, for he has succeeded to the practice of Dr. D. N. Bar- rett here and has met with most flattering success during the short period of his resi- dence in Berrien county. He engages in gen- eral practice, and is thoroughly conversant with modern methods employed by the mem- bers of the medical fraternity. He is now serving as health officer and city physician of St. Joseph and he is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and the Na- tional Medical Association. At the present writing he is serving as vice president and general secretary of the Berrien County Medical Society. He has won the favorable regard of his brethren of the fraternity and his ability in his chosen calling has been put to the test in many difficult cases, in which he has rendered a correct diagnosis and fol- lowed methods that led to the result which the physician is always striving to attain- the restoration of health. Dr. Allen belongs to the F. & A. M., Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a popular young man, whose unfailing courtesy, genialty and deference for the opinions of others have gained him favorable regard and his circle of friends is constantly increasing.

REV. DENNIS OWEN MULCAHY, priest of St. John's Catholic Church at Ben- ton Harbor, was born in Kingston, New York, March 4, 1856, a son of James and Margaret (Manning) Mulcahy, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former born at White Church, County Cork, and the latter at Skibbereen, in the same county. James Mulcahy came to America in 1849 in company with a brother of the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She crossed the Atlantic in 1852 and though they had been born and reared almost neighbors they had never met until they became acquainted in the new world, their marriage being cele- brated in Kingston, New York. After reaching this country James Mulcahy and his companion worked in the stone quarries

at Kingston and the former became an ex- pert workman, commanding large wages. He saved his money and afterward came west with his brother Thomas, settling at Hazelton, Shiawassee . county, Michigan, where both purchased farms. James Mul- cahy then turned his attention to the im- provement of his land, which he continued to cultivate and develop up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1885 when he was fifty-eight years of age. His wife died in 1890 at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were ten children, who reached adult age.

Rev. Mulcahy, the only member of the family now living in Berrien county, was reared to manhood in Shiawassee county, Michigan, and pursued his early education in the district schools, while later he at- tended the high school at Flint, this state, being graduated therefrom in the class of 1879. He afterward entered the Sandwich Assumption College at Ontario, Canada, where he remained for six years or until his graduation in 1885. He then continued his studies in St. Mary's Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland, and afterward completed his course at Mount St. Mary's at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he finished his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on the 9th of March, 1900, at St. Alberta's Church at Detroit, Michigan, by the Right Rev. John S. Foley, now bishop of that dio- cese.

Rev. Mulcahy, following his ordination, went as assistant to the Very Rev. Dean O. Brian of St. Augustus Church at Kalama- zoo, Michigan, and later was appointed to take charge of St. Agatha's Church at Gage- town, Huron county, Michigan, in June, 1891. After remaining at that place for thirteen months the bishop promoted him to the charge of St. Mary's Church at Paw Paw, Michigan, and he remained there from 1892 until October 1, 1895, when on account of his successful efforts and ability he was transferred to Benton Harbor, Michigan, to take charge of St. John's Catholic Church in this place. The church was heavily in debt and otherwise hampered in its work, but the earnest and untiring labors of Father Mulcahy have cleared the church of all in-

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debtedness and it is now in splendid finan- cial condition. It's different societies are in good working order and St. John's Catholic Church is now a potent influence in the moral development of the community. Father Mulcahy is highly esteemed by his parishioners, who have aided him willingly and cheerfully in his struggle to put the church where it is today and he is esteemed as well by all the citizens of Benton Harbor of other denominations with whom he has come in contact. Through his efforts the church has acquired ten acres of land, which has been converted into what is now known as Calvary cemetery. His zeal and conse- cration in his work and his untiring efforts have been productive of much good and he is one of the strong representatives of the Catholic church in southwestern Michigan.

GEORGE F. SONNER was born in Ohio in 1837, his parents being William and Annie (Caley) Sonner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The father removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio at an early date in its development and improvement and in the schools of that state his son, George F. Sonner, acquired his preliminary education, which was supple- mented by further study at the South Salem (Ohio), Academy. Subsequent to the war he continued his education in Washington- Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, but in the meantime all personal considerations had been put aside that he might aid his country in her dark hour of peril. He enlisted in 1861 in the Sixtieth Ohio Infantry as the first sergeant of Company A, joining the army for a year, and on the expiration of that period he re-enlisted in the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, in which he was made second lieutenant. Thirty days later he was promoted to the rank of captain and so continued until the close of the war. Dur- ing the first year of his connection with the Union army he was in the Shenandoah val- ley of Virginia and drove the rebel General Jackson and his army nearly to Richmond, Virginia, but he escaped at the battle of Cross Keys, and by way of Richmond joined Lee's army at Antietam and took prisoners

later the troops at Harper's Ferry, to which place they returned before battle at An- tietam. He was mustered out of the Sixtieth at Columbus, Ohio, following the cessation of hostilities. At the time of the assassina- tion of President Lincoln he was stationed at Fort Saunders at Knoxville, Tennessee, where he fired the national salute as a mili- tary token of respect and honor to the martyred president.

On his return from the war, Captain Sonner located in Highland county, Ohio, where he secured the position of station agent at Linden, also having charge of the express business there. He was likewise postmaster of the town and remained there for some time, after which he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was en- gaged in business as a wholesale and retail grocery merchant until April, 1875. In that year he came to Benton Harbor and ac- cepted a position of bookkeeper for the Ing- ham & Leslie Company (later was and is the Colby-Hinkley Company), with whom he continued for a year. On the expiration of that period he purchased the store of Eugene Hipp and entered into partnership as a member of the firm of Pitcher, Jones & Sonner. While continuing his interests in that store he became an Indian trader and went west to the Black Hills district, where he continued in business for four years, meet- ing with many trials and unusual experi- ences during his residence in the northwest. On his return to Benton Harbor he, in com- pany with Mr. Jones bought the interest of Mr. Pitcher. The firm then became Jones & Sonner. The firm had been very successful and Captain Sonner had also prospered in his undertakings in the Black Hills district. Later he bought what is now the Jones and Sonner block at the corner of Main and Pipestone streets. He also owns much other real estate, having made judicious invest- ment in realty and is one of the prosperous and influential citizens of Benton Harbor.

Mr. Sonner is deeply interested in church affairs and is a liberal supporter of charita- ble and benevolent movements. He belongs to the Congregational church, in which he is serving as a trustee and has been superin-

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JeJe Parkway

Jakway

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

tendent of the Sunday school for many years. He is president of the public library board and vice-president of the new hospital to which he gave $5,000 in 1901, mak- ing the hospital a success in construction, and the people give Captain Sonner credit for making it (the new hospital) possible, as the old board tried hard for years to get it, the old hospital being much too small. In politics he is a Republican.

JAMES JAKWAY, who is filling the office of supervisor of Benton township and is well known as a fruit grower of Berrien county, makes his home about six miles southeast of the city of Benton Harbor, where he has valuable and well improved property. He was born in the house where he now lives, his natal day being May 20, 1863. His parents were James H. and Mary (Pearl) Jakway, the latter a sister of Major Lewis and Warren Pearl. The paternal grandfather, Stephen Jakway, was a native of Onondaga county, New York, the old home of the family being at the head of Skaneateles lake. On leaving the Empire State he came direct to Michigan, arriving in Berrien county about the same time the Pearl family was established here. His son James H. Jakway was at that time a youth of about sixteen years. The family home was established in the village of Millburg on the territorial road and comprised the prop- erty now owned by Mrs. Hoag. At one time the farm was owned by Elmer Jakway, an older brother of James H. Jakway. The grandfather, Stephen Jakway, invested quite largely in lands, making judicious purchases from time to time, his possessions including the present home farm of our subject. He was closely associated with the early develop- ment and progress of the county and con- tributed to the substantial improvement, which has constituted a safe foundation upon which to build the present progress and pros- perity of this part of the state. In addi- tion to his son previously mentioned there were others in the family. William, one of the number, is now living at New Carlisle, Indiana. Stephen and Thomas both went to California during the excitement over the dis-

covery of gold there. Elmer was noted as a money-maker. He had various interests, in- cluding mills and lands and it seemed that everything he touched or became interested in prospered. In addition to his agricultural and industrial interests in Berrien county he also owned sailing vessels with yards in Chicago. His enterprise, activity and busi- ness discernment proved an important factor in the material prosperity of the county as well as his individual success. During his later years he lived in Benton Harbor and in his old age he was blind. None of his sons are now living in Berrien county.

James H. Jakway, father of our subject, spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Empire State and then came with his par- ents to Michigan. In early manhood he wedded Miss Mary Pearl, a daughter of Phineas Pearl, who was the first settler of the southeastern part of Benton township and the head of the Pearl family in the county. He, too, was prominent and influential in community affairs and he acted as agent for lands of non-resident citizens. James H. Jakway received a tract of land from his father. In early life he had been engaged in the sawmill business, operating for others and later he had a mill of his own on Blue creek. He likewise operated the mill belong- ing to Warren Pearl in the same vicinity and he cut the timber from his own farm, including some of the best white wood lum- ber ever grown. For many years he was thus associated in the lumber industry of Michi- gan and in the meantime he cleared and im- proved his own farm. The present house erected in 1861 was built by timber cut by himself on his own place and the old barn was constructed of similar lumber. The old Pearl schoolhouse built of white wood planks is still in use, being a tenement house upon the Jakway farm. It was in this house that James Jakway of this review attended school. This is made of hewed white wood logs with a solid frame and is one of the pioneer structures that still remains as a mute wit- ness of the great changes which have oc- curred from the era of development down to the present time. The farm of James H. Jakway comprised one hundred acres which

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he placed under a good state of cultivation, carrying on his agricultural interests in addi- tion to his milling business. He was likewise prominent and influential in community af- fairs and took an active and helpful part in promoting the welfare and development of his township. His early political allegiance was given to the Republican party, while later he joined the ranks of the Greenback party and he frequently attended county con- ventions. He was one of the early members of the Grange and he likewise held mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Spinks Corners. He was twice married, his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Pearl, dying when her son James, their youngest child, was but four years of age. There were several children by that mar- riage. For his second wife James H. Jakway chose Mrs. Olive Crossman nee Taylor, who was a war widow, her first husband having given his life for the Union cause in the Civil war. There was one child born of the sec- ond marriage.

James Jakway was reared upon the old homestead farm and supplemented his early educational privileges by study in the State Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan. He obtained his father's consent to enter that institution and therefore worked out by the month as a farm hand in the summer, spending the winter season in the lumber woods so that in the succeeding spring he might be enabled to pursue his collegiate course. He devoted three years to study at Lansing and during that time spent a short time each year in teaching. He paid his own way in college and the elemental strength of his character was shown in this way. After three years he went to California, where he remained, however, for less than a year. He then returned home to aid his father and resumed the profession of teach- ing in Berrien county, which he followed for about twelve years, spending about eight months each year in this way. His educa- tional work was done principally in Berrien and in Van Buren counties and for a time he was connected with the graded schools at Kendall, Michigan, where his wife was his assistant.

Mr. Jackway wedded Miss Nettie Clos- son, who was educated in Benton Harbor and is a daughter of George W. Closson, a real-estate dealer of that city. She taught both before and after her marriage and was a capable educator. After following the teacher's profession for twelve years Mr. Jakway returned to the farm. While teach- ing he had spent some time in a commission house and had also spent two years upon the road buying fruit. He purchased the old homestead property of his father, later set- tling with the heirs, and he now owns one. hundred and four acres of rich and pro- ductive land in the home place and ninety acres on Paw Paw river, which he has im- proved. This is a hay and grain farm, while- the home property is devoted to horticul- tural pursuits. While he raises all kinds. of fruit he makes a specialty of peaches and berries, having fifty acres planted to peaches. and twelve acres to berries. His pear orchard also covers twenty acres and the fruit shipped from his farm is of fine size and quality. His land slopes well to the south, with ample- elevation and a few acres are retained as a sugar bush. The gross sales of his fruit amount from six to seven thousands dollars. annually and the actual expense of produc- tion and shipment are about one-half of that stim, so that he is now conducting a pros- perous business. He is thoroughly con- versant with the best methods of producing fine fruit and his is one of the farms which contribute to the splendid reputation which Berrien county bears as the center of the- fruit belt of Michigan.

On the 9th of July, 1888, Mr. Jakway was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Clos- son, and unto them have been born two daughters, Clara and Beatrice. The home is. pleasantly located about six miles southeast of Benton Harbor and theirs is one of the- desirable country residences of the county. In his social affiliation Mr. Jakway is a Mason and is also connected with the Odd Fellows and with the Grange. In his politi- cal views he is a Democrat, and is now serv- ing for the fourth year as township super- visor in a strong Republican township. There are about seven hundred Republican:

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voters in the township and about one hun- dred and fifty Democrat voters, but the per- sonal regard entertained for Mr. Jakway and the trust reposed in his loyalty and fidel- ity in citizenship have been the source of his retention in an office which he is most cap- ably filling. His plan has been to scale the valuation on a fair percentage. He is the first Democratic supervisor of his township since the war. The board is evenly divided, there being sixteen Democrats and sixteen Republicans. His policy has resulted in a reduction of percentage of taxation, making a saving of fourten hundred dollars in state and county taxation for one year in Benton township. He brings to his public duties the same keen discrimination and business sagacity which are manifest in the control of his private interests, and that the value of his public service is recognized is shown by that fact that he is now serving for the fourth year in the office of supervisor. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his efforts as to win signal success in business and the uniform regard of his fellowmen.

WILLIAM HENRY SEITZ, a pro- duce commission merchant of Benton Har- bor, is a native son of the middle west whose life-record is typical of the pro- gress and rapid development which has ever characterized this section of the country. He was born in Dupage county, Illinois, on the 19th of September, 1854, and is

a son of John William Seitz. As the name indicates, the family is of German lineage and the father was born in Baden, Germany, in 1819. Ambitious to improve his condition and enjoy better op- portunities than were afforded in the old world, Mr. Seitz came to America alone when a youth of seventeen years, settling first in Pennsylvania, where for a time he worked at anything that he could find to do. Realizing the value of skilled labor he afterward learned the carpenter's trade in Pennsylvania and followed that pursuit as a journeyman in the Keystone state until his marriage, which occurred in 1845. He

then made his way westward to Illinois, lo- cating in Dupage county, where he carried on carpentering until his labor had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to pur- chase a farm. He accordingly invested in land in Dupage county and continued its improvement until 1855, when he returned to Pennsylvania, spending the succeeding thirteen years in that state. He afterward went again to Illinois, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he had reached the advanced age of eighty- six years. He married Miss Caroline Schuster, who was born in Alsace province, in France, now a part of Germany and with her parents came to America when fifteen years of age, the family settling in Penn- sylvania and after her marriage her parents came with Mr. and Mrs. Seitz to the mid- dle west. Mrs. Seitz died at the venerable age of seventy-nine years, about one year prior to her husband's demise. In their family were three children, one of whom has now passed away. The living are : Charles, a resident of Dupage county, Illi- nois ; and William H., of this review.

Upon the home farm in his native county William Henry Seitz spent much of his boyhood and youth. He attended school for a short time in Pennsylvania and after returning to Illinois with his parents in 1868 he again became a public school student. The periods of vacation were de- voted to farm labor and he was thus en- gaged until twenty years of age, when he began learning the trade of cheese-making in Illinois. He was thus employed for two . years, at the end of which time he accepted a position as manager for a cheese and but- ter factory at Barber's Corner, in Will county, Illinois, while later he was at Lock- port, Illinois, where he continued for three years.

About that time Mr. Seitz was married, in 1879, to Miss Mary A. Smoke, who was born in Royalton township, Berrien county, Michigan, a daughter of Isaac W. Smoke, one of the early settlers of this locality, coming from eastern Ohio to the Wolver- ine state. Following his marriage Mr. Seitz made his home in Illinois until the

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fall of 1881, when he removed to Michigan and purchased the old homestead of his father-in-law at Royalton. In the follow- ing spring he built a cheese factory, which he operated for two years. He then re- moved to Pipestone township, where he es- tablished a creamery and conducted both the cheese factory at Royalton and the creamery in Pipestone township for a year. On the expiration of that period he sold the former and the following year disposed of his creamery. He then removed to Benton Harbor, where he became a wholesale dealer in butter and cheese, securing the products which he handled from the creamery and cheese factory, of which he had formerly been proprietor. A year later, because of the failure of the party to whom he had sold, to successfully conduct the creamery he returned to Pipestone town- ship and again took charge of the plant there. While thus engaged he went to Stockton, Minnesota, where he erected a creamery, which he operated for two years, when he disposed of the business to his brother-in-law. Later he gave up the cheese factory and concentrated his energies upon the cultivation of peaches upon his farm at Royalton. In 1897 he once more came to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in the produce commission business under the firm name of Brown & Seitz, which connec- tion was continued for a year, when Mr. Seitz purchased Mr. Brown's interest and later sold a half interest to Eugene Roninger, the firm becoming Seitz & Roninger, which continued for three years. They then consolidated with the firm of Butzbach & Schaus, who were engaged in the same busi- ness. Later Mr. Schaus became a member of the firm and the produce commission business has since been controlled by the firm Seitz, Schaus & Roninger. This is the leading commission house of the kind and the business is now extensive and profitable.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 91

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