USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 53
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Alfred Shockley was the sixth in order of birth and was a little lad of five summers when brought to Cass county, Michigan, by his parents. He was reared in Milton township and early became familiar with the experiences of pioneer life. The family had removed from Delaware to Richmond, Indiana, when he was only a year old, and in 1833 they came to Cass county, since which time the family name has figured in the records of this part of the state and has been a synonym for good citizenship and for progressiveness. The Indians were numer- ous in this section of the state during his boyhood days and he has many times seen wigwams and has had in his possession various things made by the Indians. IIe came to know much of their manners and customs of living and in course of time saw them supplanted by the white race, while they sought reservations farther west. His education was acquired in one of the old-time log school houses, in which the methods of teach- ing were primitive, as were the furnishings of the little building. He assisted on the faim when he became old enough and remained upon the home place until his father died. On the 16th of September. 1861. in response to the country's call for aid, Mr. Shockley offered his services and was enrolled as a member of Company L. Second Michigan Cav- alry. He served as a private until August, 1865, having re-enlisted in the same company in 1862, continuing with the command until after the cessation of hostilities. He was offered a promotion but would not accept it, content to do his duty in the ranks. He drove a team most of the time and was with the Army of the Cumberland.
After receiving his final discharge at Jackson, Michigan, Mr. Shockley returned to his old home in Milton township. Cass county, and engaged in general farming on the place where he now resides. Hc made further preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 5th of November, 1865. to Miss Victoria Bower, the only child of John and Mary (Gardner) Bower and a native of Goshen. Indiana. She was reared, however, in Niles, Michigan. Since the war Mr. Shockley has resided continuously in the home which he now occupies, with the exception of one year spent in Niles. His farm comprises one hundred and thirteen acres of land, which is rich and productive and which he now rents, thus leaving the active work of the fields to others. As the years went by the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shockley was blessed with eleven children : Addie, now the wife of James W. Brown, who re- sides in Clay township. Elkhart county, Indiana: Emily J., who has
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passed away; Elizabeth E., the wife of Jehu Huff, of Niles; Elias J .; Alfred C., a member of the police of Nilcs; Victoria May, the wife of William Needles, of Milton township; George B., who is living in Milton township; Sylvester W., of Niles, who served for three years with the regular army in the Philippines; Charles H., who is a rural mail carrier on route No. I from Niles; Eva E., the wife of Julius Leech, of Milton township; and Cora A., who is at home. All of the family were born on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Shockley now reside.
In his political affiliations Mr. Shockley is a Democrat and has served as constable and as a school officer in an early day. He has been a resident of the county for seventy-three years and well may he be num- bered among its pioneers, having aided in making the county what it is to-day. He has been active in its upbuilding and development and has done much hard work in clearing land and promoting its agricultural interests, especially in his boyhood, youth and earlier manhood. He is now the oldest settler of Milton township and is well known in the county as a man of genuine worth, whose life has been well spent. He has always been busy and energetic and his life of usefulness has won for him the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been asso- ciated. Almost three-quarters of a century have passed since Mr. Shockley came to this county to cast in his lot with its pioneers. Peo- ple of the present time can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the dif- ficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and con- veniences. To the pioneer of the early times, far removed from the priv- ileges and conveniences of city or town, the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one and these men and women must have possessed in- domitable energy and sterling worth of character, as well as marked physical courage, when they voluntarily selected such a life and suc- cessfully fought its battles under such circumstances as prevailed in the northwest.
M. H. CRISWELL, M. D.
It is contended by many that the practice of medicine is the most important work to which a man may direct his energies, and all accord the profession high rank. Not only must the successful physician pos- sess broad and accurate knowledge concerning the great principles which underlie the medical and surgical science, but he must also possess a broad humanitarian spirit, a ready sympathy and a cheerful nature which inspires hope and courage and proves a valued supplement to his technical knowledge. In these qualities Dr. Criswell of Cassopolis is well equipped. A native of Knox county, Ohio, he was born on the Ioth of August, 1863, his parents being Benjamin F. and Mary E. (Walker) Criswell, the former a native of Stark county, Ohio, and the
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latter of Fredericktown, Knox county. The father was a merchant tailor by trade and devoted his life to that occupation, passing away at Akron, Ohio, when seventy-one years of age. He was of Scotch lineage. His wife died when only forty-one years of age. In their family were six children, of whom one died in infancy.
Dr. Criswell is the youngest of the surviving members of the fam- ily and his youth was passed in Canton, Ohio, where he acquired his literary education as a public school student. He began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. A. V. Smith at Canton and subse- quently spent one term as a student in a medical college. He afterward devoted three years to the business of a traveling salesman, and in 1887 he resumed his medical studies and was graduated from the Home- opathic College in Chicago with the class of 1891. He then located for practice in Edwardsburg, Michigan, where he remained for about nine years, when he removed to Cassopolis in 1900. Here he has since been located, and his business has reached gratifying proportions, as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health. He is a member of the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Medical Associations and also the American Medical Association, and through the reports of those bodies he keeps in touch with what is being done in the line of medical and surgical prac- ticc. He is quick to adopt any new method or idea which he believes will prove of practical benefit in his work and at the same time he is slow to discard the old and time-tried methods whose value has been proven.
In 1891 occurred the marriage of Dr. Criswell and Miss Kate Stophlet, a daughter of David Stophlet. In social circles they occupy an enviable position, the hospitality of the best homes of Cassopolis and vicinity being extended them. Dr. Criswell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of the Maccabees, of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he gives his political support to those men who are pledged to support the principles of the Republican party. For fourteen years he has practiced in Michigan with constantly growing success, and in Cass county is accorded a position of prominence among the representa- tives of his chosen profession.
LOT BONINE.
Few men are more prominent or more widely known in Penn town- ship than Lot Bonine, who has been an important factor in agricultural circles, having conducted extensive interests as a stock raiser, especially in the line of the sheep industry. In him are embraced the character- istics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags, and while capably conducting his business affairs he is at the same time recognized as a public spirited citizen, thoroughly inter-
Lol Bonne
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ested in whatever tends to promote the welfare of his adopted county. He is a western man by birth and training, and in his life has exemplified the spirit which has led to the rapid and substantial upbuilding of this section of the country. He lives on section 34, Penn township, and is numbered among the old settlers of the county. His birth occurred in Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, on the 18th of July. 1825. His father. Isaac Bonine, was a native of Tennessee, born at the family home on the Holstein river. The family is of French descent, and the paternal grandfather was Daniel Bonine, who for many years resided in Tennessee. There Isaac Bonine was reared and it was subsequent to his marriage that he sought a home in Indiana, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Wayne county. Again he took up his abode upon the frontier, when in 1840 he came to Cass county, Michigan, locating in Penn township. He then purchased a tract of fand, a part of which had been improved, and he at once began the task of its fur- ther development and cultivation. In his work he prospered, and as his financial resources permitted he purchased more land from time to time, becoming the holder of extensive realty possessions. He was born and reared in the faith of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and was very active and earnest in the church work. He manifested the kindly, considerate and gentle spirit so characteristic of the follow- ers of that sect, and he bore an unassailable reputation for integrity, not only in business, but in all life's relations as well. He voted with the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party, continuing one of its stalwart supporters until his demise. He was called to the office of highway commissioner, but was never an aspirant for the honors nor emoluments of office. content to do his public service as a private citizen. He married Miss Sarah Tolbert, also a native of Tennessee, and, like her husband, a birthright Quaker. She was a daughter of Jacob Tolbert and was of English lineage, so that there is an intermixture of French and English blood in the veins of our subject. Isaac Bonine lived to be about eighty-three years of age, while his wife reached the age of eighty-two years, and in the passing of this venerable couple Cass county lost two of its most es- teemed pioneer settlers. In their family were eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom two died in childhood.
Lot Bonine was the sixth in order of birth and is the only one now living. He was fifteen years of age when he came to Cass county, Michigan, with his parents in 1840. He had gained his education in the schools of Richmond, Indiana, and after coming to Michigan he spent the winter months as a student in a little log schoolhouse, which was a typical "temple of learning" of a frontier district. Throughout the remainder of the year his time and energies were given to farm work, as ile took his place in the fields when the work of early spring planting was begun. In fact he assisted in the work of clearing and
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developing the home farm, upon which he remained until the time of his marriage, which was celebrated in 1845, this being one of the early weddings of the county. The lady of his choice was Miss Susan Donnell, who died a number of years later. There had been six children born of that union, of whom five are still living, namely : Jonathan D., John N., Sarah L., James M. and Rose E. The deceased daughter was Estella. After losing his first wife Mr. Bonine was again married, his second union being with Miss Amanda I. Price, a daughter of James and Rose A. (Emery) Price. Her father was born in Clark county, Ohio, near Dayton, and came to Cass county, Michigan, in 1829, locating in what is now Penn township, as one of its pioneer settlers. Michigan was still under territorial rule at that period. It required men of considera- ble courage and determination to brave the dangers and hardships of pioneer life in a country where the work of improvement had as yet been scarcely begun. There were large bands of Indians still in the state, the forests were uncut, the streams unbridged, and the prairies unculti- vated. Mr. Price belonged to that class of honored pioneer residents to whom the state owes a debt of gratitude for what they accomplished in the early development of the commonwealth. He gave his attention to farming and was recognized as one of the leading early residents of Cass county. His father was John Price, a carpenter by trade, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but was reared in New Jersey, where he resided until his removal to Ohio, whence he came to Cass county in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Bonine have become the parents of two daughters. but one, Effie I., is now deceased. The other, Arlie I. Bonine, is living in Penn township, and is the wife of James O. Graham. She graduated in the class of 1901 in the Vandalia High School.
At the time of his marriage Lot Bonine and his bride began house- keeping in a little log cabin which stood upon a tract of land in Penn township. There he lived for about a year, devoting his time to the cultivation of the farm and then removing to his father-in-law's farm, upon which he lived for two years. Following the discovery of gold in California he was attracted to that state by its mining and other busi- ness opportunities, and went via New York and the isthmus in 1851, but after a year spent in California he returned to Cass county and once more settled in Penn township. locating upon the farm on which he now lives in that year-1853. Again his home was a log cabin, but though it was of small dimensions it sheltered brave hearts and will- ing hands. With determined courage to make the most of his oppor- tunities Mr. Bonine hegan clearing his land, which he had owned from the time that he was eighteen years of age. He now has a valuable farm property of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has trans- formed from a raw state into one of rich fertility and productiveness. He has added many modern improvements, including good buildings and fences and the latest improved machinery. In connection with
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the tilling of the soil he has been largely interested in the raising of stock, making a specialty of sheep, having had sheep upon his farm for over sixty years.
Mr. Bonine votes with the Republican party, to which he has given earnest and stalwart support since its organization, while pre- vious to that time he was an old-line Whig. He has held a number of local offices including that of highway commissioner and has opened up several roads in his township. In public affairs he has been deeply interested and his co-operation could always be counted upon as a help- ful measure. He has ever worked for the good of the county, in which he has now lived for sixty-five years, and he has paid large sums in taxes, whereby the work of public improvement has been carried on. He assisted in building the school house at Vandalia and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He is also a member of the Friends church and his life has been in conformity with its teachings and faith. There have been many interesting chapters in his record be- cause of the connection with pioneer experiences, and also by reason of his sojourn in the far west in the early days of mining excitement there. Throughout much of his life, however, his labors have been concentrated entirely upon agricultural and stock raising interests and he has found ample opportunity for the exercise of his talents in the every-day duties of life. He has won success through earnest and per- sistent labor, and moreover he is rich in the more desirable qualities of character-the integrity and justice and consideration which work for honorable manhood and have won respect and esteen in every land and clime.
GEORGE W. GARD.
Cass county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Michigan, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to con- serve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity and in this connection the subject of this review demands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsibility. He is now filling the office of county treasurer, to which he has heen elected for a second term. His birth occurred in Volinia township April 4. 1848. and he is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this portion of the state. His paternal grandfather. Jonathan Gard, was born in Ohio and became a pioneer resident of Cass county. He had lived for some time in Indiana and on removing to Cass county settled on what is known to this day as Gard's Prairie. There he entered land and improved a farm, remaining there up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-five years of age. His son, M. J. Gard, was born in Indiana and came with his
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father to Cass county in 1829, being about seven years of age at the time of the removal. He was therefore reared and educated here and almost his entire life was passed in Volinia township, where he died when more than seventy-five years of age. He was a prominent citizen, who held all the offices in the township, including that of supervisor. while for many years he was township clerk. His study of the political issues and questions of the day led him to give a stalwart support to the Republican party from the time of its organization until his death. Prior to its formation he had voted with the Whig party. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason. His wife bore the maiden name of Olive Green and her death occurred when her son George was but three years of age. The family was well known in the county and the name of Gard has been closely interwoven with the history of development and progress here from early pioneer times. George W. Gard was the only child born unto M. J. and Olive (Green) Gard, but the father was a second time married, his second union being with Susan Fox, by whom he had seven children.
In taking up the personal history of George W. Gard we present to our readers the life record of one who is very widely and favorably known in this part of the state. He was reared and educated in his native township and acquired his education in the common schools. He afterward engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed for one hundred and twenty-two months, devoting the winter seasons to that work, while in the summer months he engaged in farming. He had charge of the largest district school in the county. There was an as- sistant teacher and an enrollment of ninety-seven pupils. His fitness for leadership and for public service also led to his selection for various of- fices. He served as supervisor for nine years, was justice of the peace for fourteen years and also township clerk. In 1902 he was elected county treasurer and discharged his duties with such ability and fidelity that in 1904 he was re-elected and is still holding the office.
Mr. Gard was married in 1872 to Miss Rachel Kirby, a daughter of the Rev. John and Mary ( Rouse) Kirby and a native of St. Joseph county. Michigan. There is but one living child of this marriage, Olive, who is now acting as bookkeeper for Mr. Smith in Cassopolis. The son, Manley B., died at the age of thirteen years.
Mr. Gard in connection with his property in Cassopolis owns a farm of eighty acres and the income therefrom, together with his salary. enables him to provide a very comfortable living for his family. He is a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his devotion to the principles of the party. and in addition to the other offices which he has filled he has served as secretary of the schools of the county in 1888-9. He is also prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the Blue Lodge of Volinia, No. 227, also Kingsbury Chapter at Cassopolis, No. 78, and he was a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees lodge at Volinia. While acting as justice of the peace he settled more cases by compromis-
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ing than in any other way, always advising such a plan rather than recourse to the courts. In all of his public service he has been actuated by an earnest desire to serve his constituents faithfully and well and to promote the general good of the community which he has represented. Men know him as a gentleman of unfaltering honor and integrity, and with pleasure we present the record of his life to our readers.
CHARLES O. HARMON.
Charles O. Harmon, who since 1898 has been numbered among the representative citizens of Cassopolis, where he is now engaged in the practice of law and also in the abstract business, was born in Porter township, Cass county, on the 6th of March, 1866. His father, John B. Harmon, was a native of Wabash county, Indiana, and came to this county with his parents when about six months old. He was reared in Porter township and became a teacher by profession, following that calling for a long period and contributing in substantial measure to the intellectual progress of his community. He was married in Porter town- ship to Miss Catherine Eby, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Gabriel and Caroline (Wagner) Eby, who were early settlers of Porter town- ship, coming to Cass county in 1848. Her father still resides in that township, being one of the honored pioneer settlers and venerable cit- izens of his community. John B. Harmon, the father of our subject, was deeply interested in politics and for about eighteen years served as supervisor of his township. In 1898 he was elected county clerk and served in that office for two years and one month, when his official serv- ice was terminated in death on the 28th of June, 1901. He was a most earnest and zealous advocate of Republican principles, never faltering in his allegiance to the party. In the family were four children.
Charles O. Harmon, the eldest, was reared in Porter township, where the family was established in early pioneer days, his grandfather, William Harmon, having been one of the earliest settlers of Cass coun- ty, where he followed the occupation of farming throughout the re- mainder of his life. He was of German lineage. Mr. Harmon of this review acquired his early education in the public schools and afterward attended the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. Indiana. He taught school to a considerable extent between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two years, being thus closely associated with intellectual progress in Cass county. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office and he was chosen register of deeds in 1888. He entered upon the duties of the position on the Ist of January, 1889, when only twenty-three years of age, and capably served until the Ist of January, 1893, when he retired from office as he had en- tered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He then went to the department of state at Lansing and occupied a position in the compiling room until July, 1896. During that time he devoted his
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leisure hours to the study of law and was admitted to the bar at Lansing, after which he resigned his position there and removed to Dowagiac, Michigan, where he opened an office and entered upon general law practice. In December of the same year he removed to Marcellus, Mich- igan, where he remained until November, 1898, and then came to Cassopolis, where he entered into partnership with Judge Harsen D. Smith. In December of the same year they bought the abstract books of Cass county. This partnership was continued until 1901, when Mr. Harmon purchased Judge Smith's interest in the abstract business. In April of that year he was elected county clerk to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father and served throughout the remainder of the term, or until the 3Ist of December, 1902, since which time he has devoted his attention to the abstract business and the practice of law. He has thoroughly qualified himself for the legal profession and his labors have been attended with the success that results from close dil- igence, unremitting effort and marked capability in handling the in- tricate problems that continually confront the lawyer and judge.
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