A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 95

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

USA > Michigan > Berrien County > A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan > Part 95

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

In 1887 Mr. Littleson was united in mar- riage to Miss Lena Hanson, of Chicago. In his political views Mr. Littleson is a Repub- lican and never fails to cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the

party but does not seek office for himself. He and his wife are members of the Luth- eran church and he belongs to the National Union, is also a Mason in Chicago and an Elk in Benton Harbor. For years he gave un- remitting attention to his business, laboring assiduously to develop his commercial in- terests but now he is taking life more easy and he greatly enjoys his work as a fruit- grower. In his undertakings he has pros- pered owing to his intense and well directed activity and has now valuable property in- terests in this county.

THOMAS HOLLINRAKE, a farmer of Bainbridge township, well known in Masonic and political circles, having ex- erted wide and beneficial influence in both, was born in Haywood, Lancashire, Eng- land, August 14, 1837. He was a son of a foreman of a cotton mill, and at the age of fourteen began to operate a loom in the mill of which his father had charge. He worked at the loom as long as he remained in Eng- land but believing that he might have better business opportunities elsewhere he made arrangements to leave his native land and came to the United States in October, 1858, induced to take this step by a widowed aunt, then living in Michigan. He had intended to go to Australia, but instead came to America to operate a farm belonging to his aunt, who was the widow of John Walton, a pioneer settler of Berrien county. She had lived in the United States for seven- teen years and her farm was near the place upon which Mr. Hollinrake now resides. He cultivated and improved the land for her for four years, or until the time of his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 28th of August, 1864, Miss Arzelia Vincent becoming his wife. She was a cousin of Alonzo Vincent, late warden of the state prison, and a daughter of Joseph Vincent, of Bainbridge. She was born in Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, in 1840, and was brought to this county in 1844.

About a year after his marriage Mr. Hollinrake began working in a sawmill for Warren Pearl, and in 1866 he purchased

633

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

forty acres of wild land whereon he now re- sides. It was then all covered with heavy timber and he began to clear away the trees and prepared the land for the plow. He sold the timber, which gave him capital with which to continue his farm work. He not only cultivated his fields but also worked at clearing land and cutting out ties and at different times was employed in saw- mills, being thus employed for ten years. His time was thus occupied but when a dec- ade was passed he concentrated his ener- gies upon his farming interests and has since devoted his attention entirely to his agri- cultural pursuits. He has owned other lands outside of his home property and he now has sixty acres. He has cleared altogether about eighty acres from the wild timber and has thus contributed in substantial manner to the development and progress of the county. His own land is devoted to general farming. It is a level tract requiring drain- age and he has laid two or three miles of tiling upon it, so that it has been made very productive and yields excellent crops. Mr. Hollinrake is also a noted sheep shearer and for forty years has carried on that business, his neighbors always depending upon his services at the shearing season.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hollinrake have been born seven children: Cecelia Hollin- rake, the eldest, died at the age of one year. Hartley is a wheat grower of Cass county, North Dakota. Joseph is operating the home farm. His wife was Irene McKyes, who died five years ago, after a happy mar- ried life of seven years, leaving two sons, Vineus and Eldon. Joseph Hollinrake has always given his attention to farm work. Seth P. Hollinrake, the fourth member of the family, is a railroad station agent at Caryville, Florida. When seventeen years of age he went to Florida, where he joined his uncle, Hartley Hollinrake, the only brother of his father in the United States. He was a railroad man in Florida and it was through him that Seth P. Hollinrake gained an acquaintance of the business which he is now following. Lillian Hollinrake, at home, was for twelve years a teacher in the schools of Berrien county. She was former-

ly a student in Benton Harbor College and in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, Michigan, and she taught for eleven consecutive years, being for one year principal of the high school at Shanghai, Michigan. Lutie May is the wife of Harland Hoadley, at Frank- lin, Texas. William E. Hollinrake is sup- erintendent of the prison school and assis- tant hall master in the state penitentiary at Jackson, Michigan. He was also a teacher for a number of years in Berrien county and was called to his present position by the late warden, Alonzo Vincent. Mrs. Hollin- rake, the mother of these children, died January 27, 1906, after traveling life's journey for nearly forty-two years with her husband. Her life was devoted to her home and her family and she was a most able helpmate to Mr. Hollinrake. Her kindly disposition and generous spirit made her popular with her many friends and by filial love and devotion she gave to her parents a home for several years, both dying while members of her household, her father, Joseph Vincent, being more than ninety-two years of age at the time of his death. He was a life-long farmer and was one of the last survivors of the early settlers of Ber- rien county.

Mr. Hollinrake is a Republican in his political views and has served as highway commissioned for ten years. He has been a delegate to the Republican county conven- tions for twenty years and for a long period has been a member of the Republican county committee. He has often been made chair- man by the township delegation and is recognized as one of the strong and influen- tial men of the party in his locality. He has frequently served as delegate to the state conventions but though he wielded a wide influence in political circles he has never sought or desired office for himself. He is, however, deeply interested in the questions of the day and always keeps well informed on the issues which divide the two great parties, so that he is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument and is al- ways found well equipped to parry a politi- cal attack. He belongs to Bainbridge Lodge, No. 63, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past

634

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

noble grand, and forty years ago he became a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Watervliet. In these organizations he is a valued representative, being true and loyal to the basic elements upon which they are founded. He finds great pleasure in fishing and it is to him a source of delightful rest and recreation. Mr. Hollinrake is a inan whose honesty of purpose is never called in- to question and his political opponents en- tertain for him the warmest respect, owing to his fidelity to his honest convictions. In business affairs he is reliable as well as energetic and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he has found and improved good business opportunities lead- ing to prosperity.

LOUIS S. HAMILTON, who is en- gaged in the plumbing and steam-heating business in Niles, where he has worked up a good trade until his business has now reached gratifying proportions, bringing to him a desirable financial return, is a native son of Niles and a representative of one of the old families of the county. His paternal grandparents came to Michigan in the early '40s, settling in Berrien county, where Asa D. Hamilton was born in 1844. He was reared to the occupation of farm- ing, which he followed as a life work. He wedded Mary E. Fowler, a native of Min- nesota, and they became the parents of two sons, the younger being Asa Frank Hamilton, who was born in Niles in 1878. The mother is still living, but the father died in 1898, at the age of fifty-four years. The brother of our subject married Mary Lauterbach and resides in Niles, Michigan.

Louis S. Hamilton, born in 1869, en- tered the public schools at the usual age and was promoted to consecutive grades until he had become a high school student. He also attended the commercial college at Angola, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1884, when about fifteen years of age. He then fol- lowed farming for about five years, when at the age of twenty, thinking to find other business pursuits more congenial, he began learning the plumbing trade in Niles and

followed it as a journeyman until 1903, when he entered into partnership with James Hatch, under the firm style of Hatch & Hamilton, which relationship continued until 1905, when Mr. Hamilton purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone, continuing with the business with marked success. He is an expert workman in his line, having thoroughly mastered the business both in principle and detail, and the excellent service which he has rendered his patrons has secured him a continuance of trade from those who have once given him their business support.

In 1892, in Niles, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Shee- han, a daughter of Daniel Sheehan. Six children grace this union, all born in Niles, namely : Asa D., Lawrence, Margaret G., Frances, Mary Gertrude and Ruth. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. The family home is a hos- pitable one, a cordial welcome being ex- tended to their many friends. The family attend the Catholic church and Mr. Hamil- ton gives his political support to the Repub- lican party. Like all true American citi- zens should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but he is without political aspiration, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the upbuild- ing of a business which will enable him to acquire a competence and provide liberally for his family. He belongs to the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and the Wood- men of America and is in hearty sympathy with the purposes and plans of those orders.

GEORGE A. MILLS, a general con- tractor of Benton Harbor, was born in Rochester, New York, on the 12th of De- cember, 1859. His father, John C. Mills, was born in Scotland in 1807 and inherited habits of industry from a long line of an- cestry. In 1832 he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Kingston, Can- ada, in 1832. Subsequently he removed to Rochester, New York, where he engaged in buying fruit, which he shipped to By- town, now Ottawa, at a day prior to the erection of the Parliament buildings there. In fact he was the first to ship fruit to the

635

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

Ottawa market. He continued in business for a long time and died when on a visit to Canada in 1889, when eighty-two years of age. In his native country he had learned and followed the weaver's trade but during his residence in the new world was con- nected with the production and sale of fruit. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Labar, was of French descent, born in Vermont and her death occurred in Rochester, New York, when she was sixty- four years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were four children, of whom three are now living; Frank H., deceased; Robert W .; George A .; and Sarah, the wife of Charles Worvey.

George A. Mills acquired his education in the place of his nativity and at the age of eighteen years went to sea, shipping be- fore the mast. He made a trip covering two years upon a merchant vessel which sailed on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He went on voyages to foreign lands as a sailor, visiting the East and West Indies, Australia, China, and other coun- tries. On his return home to Rochester, New York, he engaged in mason work until llis removal from the Empire state to the middle west. He first went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was employed at mason work for two years. In 1884 he came to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in general contracting. As the years dem- onstrated his capability his patronage in- creased both in volume and importance and he has erected many of the good business blocks and residences of this city. He was also the builder of the Catholic church and other public edifices and was successfully engaged in contracting about twenty-two

years. In 1900 he built the Bell Opera House in Benton Harbor. He also erected the Mills Block on Pipestone street in Ben- ton Harbor. In 1903 he admitted his son, Arthur H. Mills, to a partnership and the business is now carried on under the name of Mills & Son.

Mr. Mills has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Fannie E. Haines, who was born in Rochester, New York, and was a daughter of Edward and Charlotte

Haines. There were two children born of this union: Arthur H., who married Dessa Kimball, of Michigan City, by whom he has two children, Donald and Evyline; and Robert G. For his second wife Mr. Mills chose Edith Tillotson, of Eaton county, Michigan, by whom he has three children : Jim and Jack, twins, who were born upon the farm in Hagar township which was at that time owned by Mr. Mills, and Mildred who was born at 120 Cherry street. He has since sold that farm but is now the owner of a fruit farm in Benton township south of the city.

In his political views Mr. Mills has al- ways been a stalwart Demecrat and is now serving as a member of the board of build- ing inspectors in this city. He is a very prominent Mason, belonging to Lake Shore Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Calvin Brittain Chap- ter, R. A. M., St. Joseph Council, No. 44, R. & S. M., and Malta Commandery, K. T. He has likewise taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is a mem- ber of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. He also affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. His eldest son, Arthur, is very prominent and active in Masonry and is the youngest man in this part of Michigan to have taken the consistory degrees, and is a member of all the Masonic bodies up to the thirty-third degree.

FRANK BRACELIN, a member of the Berrien county bar, practicing in St. Joseph, where he is also filling the office of justice of the peace, was born in Watson township, Allegan county, Michigan, on the 28th of July, 1846. He comes of Irish ancestry, his father, Daniel Bracelin, having been born in county Donegal, Ireland, whence at the age of twenty years he came to America, attracted by the broader business oppor- tunities of the new world. In his native land he had learned and followed the weaver's trade but in the new world became identified with agricultural interests, set- tling in Essex county, New York, where he engaged in general farming until his removal to Michigan in 1835. He took up his abode in Kalamazoo county, and after-

636

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

ward removed to Allegan county, where he followed farming throughout his remaining days, passing away in 1865, when about sixty years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Nancy McLaughlin, who was also a native of Ireland, where her girlhood days were passed. They were mar- ried in that country and on the following day started for the United States, crossing the Atlantic as passengers on a sailing ves- sel which was nine weeks in making the voyage, dropping anchor in the harbor of Quebec, Canada, whence they crossed the boundary line into the United States and established their home in New York. As the years passed by ten children were added to the household, of whom Frank Bracelin was the youngest and the only one now liv- ing in Berrien county.

Upon the home farm Frank Bracelin re- mained until fifteen years of age, and dur- ing that period acquired his preliminary education in the public schools, while subse- quently he attended the Pine Grove Semi- nary, at Allegan, Michigan. He remained for three years as a student there, qualify- ing for the profession of teaching, after which he followed that calling for two terms. Matriculating in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, he was a student in the law department from the fall of 1866 until the spring of 1868, when he was grad- uated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and soon afterward was admitted to the Michigan bar in Allegan county. In 1868 he located for practice in Muskegon, Mich- igan, where he continued as an active repre- sentative of the profession until 1878. He then located at White Lake, in Montague Village, Muskegon county, where he en- gaged in the publication of a newspaper called the Montague Lumberman. This he conducted while carrying on his law prac- tice, winning success both as a journalist and attorney. He was recognized as one of the prominent business men and also as one of the important factors in public life in his community, and his devotion to the gen- eral good found recognition in his election to the presidency of the village board for a term of two years. He also served for

three years on the board of school examiners of Muskegon county and retained his resi- dence there until 1890, when he removed to Menominee, in the upper peninsula.

Mr. Bracelin continued in the practice of law at Menominee until he came to Ber- rien county in the fall of 1897. He located first in Benton Harbor but after a short time removed to St. Joseph in the fall of that year, and has practiced here continu- ously since, with the exception of a brief period of three years spent as a traveling salesman. On the expiration of that period he returned to his profession, which he is now following with success. In 1904 he was elected justice of the peace.

On the 20th of December, 1871, in Monterey, Michigan, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bracelin and Miss Eliza Helena Van Middlesworth. They have five children. Gertrude E., is the wife of Jolın O. Davis, a member of the Miller- Davis Printing Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they have one child, Dor- othy. Grace Evelynne is the wife of Robert M. Ankeny, of the firm of Wyman, Part- ridge & Company, of Minneapolis, and they have one child, Robert B. Genevieve Eliza, beth and Vera Helena are at home. Frank, who married Bessie Hilderbrand, of Niles, Michigan, is now manager of the telephone company at Anoka, Minnesota.

Mr. Bracelin votes with the Democracy and is in hearty sympathy with the princi- ples of that great party organization. In the Masonic fraternity he has taken the de- grees of the lodge, chapter and command- ery and he holds membership relations with the Maccabees, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. His social qualities -- a genial nature and kindly disposition-com- bined with his ability in the line of his pro- fession have made him a representative and respected citizen of St. Joseph.

JOSEPH W. FRENCH. Perhaps no citizen has done more for Three Rivers in the line of material development and pros- perity than has Joseph W. French, who for many years was numbered among its most prominent and progressive residents, and

---- -

637

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

now makes his home in Niles. He may well be termed one of the founders of the city, for he has been the promoter of a number of its leading enterprises and the growth and development of a city always depends upon its commercial and industrial activity. His connection with any undertaking in- sures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he is associated with. He has won for himself a reputation as a careful man of business and in his deal- ings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen. Now he has practically retired from busi- ness and since 1905 has been a resident of Niles.

A native of Connecticut, Joseph W .- French was born in Oxford township, New Haven county, June 8, 1833, a son of David and Elizabeth ( Wooster) French, who were likewise natives of the Charter Oak State. The mother died at Three Rivers, Michi- gan, at the age of seventy-five years, having long survived her husband, who passed away in Connecticut at the age of fifty years. In their family were five children, of whom four are living.

Joseph W. French, the third member of the family and the only one now residing in Berrien county, was reared in Connecti- cut and at the age of seventeen years started out in life on his own account, since which time he has depended entirely upon his own resources, and the splendid business record which he has made is therefore very credit- able. He taught school for one winter in his native town and afterward went to live with an uncle at Deep River, Connecticut, where he remained for five years, complet- ing his education there at the high school. He afterward learned the trade of making paper boxes and also became a polisher of ivory combs. In 1854 he came to Michigan, settling at Three Rivers, where he pur- chased an interest in the manufacturing business, devoted to the manufacture of spokes and carriage material, also ax han- dles. Two years later he began the manu- facture of wagons, carriages, omnibuses and

hearses, and in this enterprise was asso- ciated with Julius D. Shailer, of Boston, Massachusetts. The firm was J. W. French & Company and they carried on a very ex- tensive manufacturing - enterprise, which brought a gratifying measure of success. Mr. French was thus connected with trade interests until 1857, when he closed out the business and turned his attention to the manufacture of paper. In 1854 Julius D. Shailer, in connection with his associates, had erected a paper mill at Three Rivers, having purchased the water power there and a large amount of real estate. Mr. Shailer appointed Mr. French, with power of at- torney, manager of all his (Shailer's) busi- ness interests. Previous to this Mr. Shailer sold a half interest to Bradner, Smith & Com- pany, of Chicago. In 1861 Bradner, Smith & Company purchased a half interest in the business of J. W. French & Company, man- ufacturers of wagons, carriages, etc. In 1865 Mr. French bought the entire interests of Mr. Shailer at Three Rivers and organ- ized the J. W. French Manufacturing Com- pany, manufacturers of paper. He owned one-half of all the capital stock and the other half was owned by Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago. In 1872 Bradner, Smith & Company, in connection with Mr. French, purchased a third interest in the water power at Niles, having previously manufactured the first wood pulp at Three Rivers. This was the first wood pulp made west of New York. It was after that time that the paper mill was built at Niles. In 1885 Mr. French bought out Bradner, Smith & Company and organized a new company known as the Three Rivers Paper Company. Mr. French retained the greater part of all the stock and was elected president of the company, with Willard W. French as gen- eral superintendent, F. J. French as treas- urer and J. E. Scott and Mrs. J. W. French as directors. On retiring from the wagon and carriage making business Mr. French began the manufacture of printing paper, erecting a plant and carrying on a very ex- tensive business for twenty years. Prior to that time Mr. French had become inter- ested in flour mills in Three Rivers, continu-

638

HISTORY OF. BERRIEN COUNTY

ing his connection therewith until the de- struction of the plant by fire. He was also a contractor and builder of the Michigan Air Line from Jackson to South Bend by way of Niles, and as long as he was a resi- dent of Three Rivers he was a director of the Michigan Central system. As before stated, in 1872, in connection with the firm of Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago, while they were together as the J. W. French Manufacturing Company, they organized the Michigan Wood Pulp Company and pur- chased a third of the water power at Niles. They erected here a plant for the manufac- ture of ground wood pulp and Mr. French also became president of this company. In 1880 the paper mills were erected and were continuously operated until 1905, when the charter having expired a new company was formed under the style of the French Paper Company, the stockholders being Mr. French of this review and his sons. Mr. French became president, W. J. Willits, vice- president, F. J. French, treasurer and J. E. French, secretary. Theirs is one of the largest industries of Berrien county, em- ploying two hundred and fifty skilled work- men, and the plant is operated night and day. Mr. French was also one of the or- ganizers of the Marinette Paper Company, of Wisconsin, of which he became a large stockholder. He also organized the com- pany which established a paper mill at Tip- pecanoe, Indiana, and became general man- ager of that business.

Mr. French is a man of resourceful busi- ness ability, displaying ready recognition of opportunities and utilizing advantages to the best purpose. He organized the Manu- facturers' National Bank at Three Rivers, of which he became the vice-president, while J. B. Willard was president. On sell- ing his interest in that enterprise he organ- ized the Three Rivers National Bank, of which he became president, and on dispos- ing of his stock therein he organized the First State Bank of Three Rivers, of which he became vice-president, while his nephew, W. J. Willits was president. This bank is still being conducted and is in a flourishing

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

A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 95

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