USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 56
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In taking up the personal history of Thomas J. Lilley we present to our readers the life record of one who has a wide and favorable ac- quaintance in Cass county, for during long years he has lived within its borders, shaping his life in accordance with rules of upright conduct, of honor in business, loyalty in citizenship and devotion to all that is commendable in friendship and home life. In the period of his youth he assisted his father in carrying on the work of the farm and in early manhood sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being married in 1867 to Miss Nancy Hurdle. a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Brown) Hurdle. Her father was born on the ocean while his parents were crossing from Germany and the mother was a native of Ohio. They became residents of Cass county in 1833, settling in Wayne township, where they cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers. Mr. Hurdle did his full share in improving and developing this region and his value in the work of reclamation was acknowledged by all who knew of his career. Mrs. Lilley was born on the family homestead in Wayne township, June 29. 1848, and has lived all her life in Cass county. In their family were three daughters: Lora, the wife of John Shephard, who resides upon the old homestead in LaGrange town- ship; Birdie, at home: and Sadie. the wife of Dr. L. C. Simmons, of Shelbyville, Indiana. All were born in LaGrange township, where Mr. Lilley has spent his entire life. He has carried on farming throughout his entire business career, but leaves the more active work of the fields to others at the present time. His possessions embrace four hundred
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and forty-six acres of rich and arable land under a high state of culti- vation and well improved with modern equipments. He has prospered in his business affairs and he now rents his farm, resting in the en- joyment of the fruits of his former toil and in the competence which comes to him from the rental of his place. He has erected many build- ings in the county and has lived a life of untiring industry and enter- prise resulting in success. Ile votes with the Democracy but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He started out on his own account at an early age and has steadily worked his way upward undeterred by the difficulties and obstacles that one always meets in a business career. These on the other hand seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort and his purposeful action and sound judgment have made him one of the prosperous residents of the community.
JOSEPH H. JOHNSON.
Joseph H. Johnson, living on section 8, Penn township, is a native of Monroe county, New York, his birth having occurred about six miles east of Rochester on the 2nd of March, 1840. Ifis father, Job John- son, was a native of England, and when a young man came to America, for he had heard favorable reports concerning business opportunities in the United States and hoped to better his financial condition by emi- grating to the new world. When a young man in England he learned the blacksmith's trade and thus had a good foundation upon which to build the superstructure of success after crossing the Atlantic. Being favorably impressed with his adopted land, he afterward returned to England for his bride and was married there to Miss Andulusia Greg- ory, a native of England, whom he then brought with him to the United States, arriving here about 1838. They located in Monroe county, New York, where they resided continuously until the spring of 1852. when they came to Cass county, Michigan. Mr. Johnson secured land about a mile south of Vandalia, where he was engaged in farming. There he (lied at the age of fifty-three years, while his wife passed away in her fiftieth year. By the first marriage of Mr. Johnson there were born five children, and by his second marriage-Miss Fannie Doyle becoming his wife-there were born three children.
Joseph H. Johnson is the eldest of the first family, and in Monroe county, New York, he spent the first twelve years of his life, becoming a public school student there. Subsequently he continued his studies in Cass county following the removal of his parents to Michigan. His mother died, however, when he was only about thirteen years of age, and he then started out in life on his own account. He worked by the month during the summer seasons and in the winter attended school. Desirotis of gaining a good education and realizing its value as a factor in a successful business career, he attended Hillsdale College in
J. H. Johnson
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1864, providing for the expenses of the college course by his own labor. After his marriage he rented the Bonine farm for six years, and then with the capital which he had acquired through his own earnings he bought a tract of land of eighty acres. Later he spent four years in a jewelry store at Columbus, Indiana, after which he returned to Cass county and purchased a second farm, becoming owner of the property which he now occupies. Later he again spent two years in Columbus as a bookkeeper in a large flouring mill, but once more he again took up his abode in Cass county, making his home with his brother.
In 1867 Mr. Johnson married Miss Caroline Davis, a daughter of Allen and Hannah Davis. She died December 25, 1869, leaving one child that died in infancy.
Mr. Johnson is now the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of land in Penn township and also forty acres in LaGrange township. He is likewise one of the directors of the First National Bank of Cassopolis, in which he has been a stockholder for over thirty years. In fact he is one of the oldest stockholders of the institution. In his business life he has been thoroughly reliable and all that he possesses is attributable to his energy and careful management. Since age gave to him the right of franchise he has been a Republican, actively interested in the work of the party and its success and doing all in his power for the extension of its local influence. He has served as township supervisor for one term and was also township treasurer for two years, and he is now a member of the county central committee, with which he has been thus allied for a number of years. His interest in behalf of public progress and improvement has been manifest by active co-operation in many movements for the general good. Starting out in life for himself at the early age of thirteen years, he soon became acquainted with earnest and unremitting toil and gained a realization of the fact that only through close and persistent effort may honorable success be achieved. He has used his opportunities to the best possible advantage, and as the years have gone by he has wisely invested in property that is now classed with the fine farms of Penn township.
BENJAMIN F. GARWOOD.
Among the early settlers who have long been witnesses of the growth and development of Cass county is numbered Benjamin F. Garwood, who now makes his home on section 3. Penn township, where he owns a well improved farm of ninety acres. He still gives personal supervision to the property and the cultivation of the fields and his life record in this respect should put to shame many a man of much younger years, who, having grown weary of the struggles of a business career, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear. Mr. Gar- wood has now passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey
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but is yet a factor in agricultural circles here, giving supervision to the care of his farm.
A native of Logan county, Ohio, he was born on the 19th of May, 1827, and was third in order of birth in a family of eleven chil- dren, five sons and six daughters, all of whom with one exception reached adult age. Their parents were William and Elizabeth ( Brown) Garwood, the father born in Virginia and the mother in North Caro- lina. The father was reared, however, in Logan county. Ohio, and was there married to Miss Brown. They resided for a long period in Ohio, whence they came to Cass county, Michigan, about 1845, locat- ing in Jefferson township, but Mr. Garwood soon afterward purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Penn township. to which farm he removed his family, but afterward was a resident of Missouri for some time. continuing there about two years, when he returned to Penn township to reside up to the time of his demise. His widow sur- vived him and died in Missouri.
Benjamin F. Garwood was about eighteen years of age when he came with his parents to Michigan. He had attended the district schools of Logan county and he continued his studies in the district schools of Jefferson township, Cass county, which he attended through the winter months, while during the remainder of the year he worked at farm labor. He continued to assist in the cultivation of the fields and in harvesting the crops until his marriage on the 27th of October. 1853, to Miss Catharine Lamb. There were four sons and four daughters born of that marriage: Elvira, Mary Ann, William, Charles, Lydia, Warren, Euceba and John A. The mother passed away Octo- ber 8. 1881. On the 12th of April. 1883. Mr. Garwood was again married, his second union being with Malinda T. Bonine, who was born in Henry county, Indiana. December 2, 1835, and was a daughter of Simeon and Olive ( Elliott) Thomas. Her first husband was Jacob Bonine and to them were born two children: Lot J. and Olive. Mrs. Garwood came to Michigan about 1854. Both Mr. and Mrs. Garwood are old settlers of Cass county and are widely and favorably known. His first presidential vote was cast for a Republican candidate. He is a member of the Friends' Church and his life has been in sympathy with that religions sect, whose followers exemplify a spirit of Christian patience. consideration and virtue that has made them widely known and has awakened a universal feeling of respect for the denomination which they represent.
ULYSSES S. EBY.
Ulysses S. Ehv. engaged in the practice of law in Cassopolis, where his thorough understanding of judicial principles and careful preparation of cases have been manifest in the able manner in which he has handled in the courts the litigated interests entrusted to his care, was born in Porter township, this county, on the 7th of August, 1864.
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his parents being Gabriel and Caroline ( Wagner) Eby. The father came to this county in 1842 and has remained on his farm ever since. He was born in Ohio, while his wife is a native of Germany, having been born near the Rhine.
AAfter attending the common schools U. S. Eby became a student in Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, and was graduated in law in June, 1900. Prior to this time he had successfully engaged in teaching school in Cass county and following his admission to the bar he entered at once upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has continued since with a large and distinctively representative clientage. The true measure of success is determined by what one has accomplished and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, there is par- ticular interest attaching to the career of the subject of this review. since he is a native son of the county where he has passed his active life and so directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of the representative citizens and able lawyers of Cassopolis. In 1896 he was elected county clerk and hell the position for two years. In 1900 he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of prosecuting at- torney, in which capacity he also served for two years, while for three years he has been a member of the board of education.
On the 26th of September. 1888. Mr. Eby was married at Union, Michigan, to Miss Clara .A. Loupee, a daughter of Oscar Loupee, of Vandalia. Michigan. and they have one son, Ulysses Guy Eby. born August 25, 1889. Mr. Eby is a member of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees, which he joined in 1892 as a charter member at Jones. Michigan. For two years he was commander of the tent. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, although his seven brothers are all Re- publicans. In 1890 he joined the Free Baptist church at Union, Mich- igan. and is still identified therewith. He is a respected and worthy citizen of Cassopolis, where his professional labors, his political service and his fidelity to social and moral obligations have made him a man worthy of the high regard and esteem which is uniformly accorded him.
PETER EBY.
Peter Eby, who for fifty-eight years has been a resident of Porter township, may well he termed one of the old settlers of the county and has demonstrated his right in many ways to rank with its represent- ative citizens, for he belongs to that class of men who in the faithful performance of each dav's duties of every public task devolving upon him, manifests his loyalty and interest in the general good. He re- sides on section 6, south Porter township, and is a native of Elkhart county, Indiana, born on the 9th of August, 1848. He is the eldest son of Gabriel and Caroline (Wagner) Ebv. and was only about two months old when the parents removed from Indiana to Michigan,
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settling in Porter township. He has therefore been a lifelong resident of Cass county and yet resides in the township where his boyhood and youth were spent. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age and assisted in clearing up and improving the farm. When he was about twenty-five years of age he bought the land upon which he now resides. In the winter seasons he attended the early schools of the township, spending about three months each year in school, while the remainder of the time was given to the task of plowing, planting and harvesting. He continued to work in the fields for the benefit of his father until he attained his majority.
Mr. Eby won a companion and helpmate for life's journey when, in 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Carman, a daughter of Chauncey and Elsie J. (Adams) Carman, who was born in Win- nebago county, Illinois, and was there reared to the age of thirteen years, at which time she came to Porter township, Cass county, with her parents. Mr. Eby has a farm of eighty acres, upon which he has made all of the improvements. There are now substantial buildings upon the place, good machinery and well tilled fields. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also has some good stock upon his place, but his attention is chiefly given to the cultivation of his fields.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eby have been born three children: Florence, the wife of George Wagner, of Mason township; Raymond, who is upon the home farm and who married Lois E. Richardson, a daughter of Jesse and Clara Richardson, well known residents of Porter town- ship; and Ralph C., who is attending college in South Bend, Indiana. The attractiveness of Cass county as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders and Mr. Eby may be classed with this number, as he was but two months old when brought to Michigan. He early became familiar with the best methods of cultivating and improving land and on at- taining his majority determined to devote his life to the occupation to which he was reared. Not to the fact of any fortunate combination of circumstances has he prospered, but through his own unfaltering labor, perseverance and diligent effort-qualities which may be cultivated by all and which ever produce the best results. In his political views Mr. Eby is a Republican, active in the support of the party, with which he has been allied since attaining his majority. He has never been away from his present farm for more than four weeks at a time and with persistent purpose has carried on his work, being today one of the representative agriculturists of the community.
HIRAM SMITH.
Hiram Smith, who is engaged in farming on section 20, Calvin township, was horn in Genesee county, New York, January 5. 1836. His father. Samuel Smith, was a native of the Empire state and came
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to Cass county in 1835, locating his land in Calvin township. He found here a pioneer district, but was pleased with its prospects and in- dications for future development and resolved to make his home here. He then returned to the Empire state and brought his family to Mich- igan, taking up his abode upon the farm now known as the James Bullen place. He lived to be seventy-two years of age and his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, whereby he provided a comfortable living for his family. His wife bore the maiden name of Fannie Fore- man and was also a native of New York. She died in 1893.
Hiram Smith of this review was the eldest of a family of thir- teen children, eleven of whom reached adult age and only one was born outside of Cass county, that heing the subject of this review. who was but six months old when he was brought to Michigan. The family home being established in Calvin township, he was reared under the parental roof and pursued his education in the public schools, the little "temple of learning" being a log building such as was common in the early days. He continued to make his home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, but in the meantime worked as a farm hand by the month or day, his earnings going to his father. He early learned the value of earnest, unremitting toil and upon that quality has builded his success in later life.
Mr. Smith was married the first time in 1859. the lady of his choice being Mrs. Hannah J. Haden, a daughter of Samuel Lincoln and the widow of Joseph Haden. She died leaving three children who were born of her second marriage, while by her first marriage she had six children. These were: Esther Ann, who died when about two years old: George, also deceased: Addie, the wife of Jesse Parker, of Calvin township; William B., a hardware merchant of Cassopolis; James G., a prominent and distinguished citizen of this county, who is represented elsewhere in this work : and Mattie, the wife of Jacob Keen. The children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were: Charles, a resident of Cassopolis : Freddie, a farmer of Calvin township; and Edward, of Elkhart. Indiana, who is in the employ of the railroad company. After losing his first wife Mr. Smith wedded Miss Alfretta Allen, a daughter of Jerry Allen, and unto them were born five children : Stephen : Dell, deceased : Harmon : Clark; and Frank.
Mr. Smith has been a resident of Calvin township for seventy years and is its oldest citizen who was not born in this county. He has a very wide and favorable acquaintance and has always taken an active and helpful part in measures and plans for the public good. His political allegiance has been given to the Republican party since its organization and he has held several school offices in the township, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He be- longs to Mathews Artin Post. G. A. R., at Calvin Center. being en- titled to membership therein by reason of the fact that he enlisted in 1864 as a member of the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry and
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served unul the close of the war. He has been equally loyal to his country in days of peace, and local advancement and national progress are both causes dear to his heart. Through his business career he has carried on farming and is now the owner of ninety-two acres of good land under a high state of cultivation. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and his labors are attended with a measure of success that indicates his capable management and unremit- ting diligence.
REV. WALTER CLARK.
Rev. Walter Clark is numbered among the capable agriculturists of Penn township, living on section 5 and for many years he has also de- voted much of his time to the work of the ministry as a preacher of the Brethren church. llis life record is indeed worthy of emulation. commanding for him the respect, confidence and good will of all. He was born in New York, September 23. 1837. His grandfather, Eli Clark, was a native of the Empire state and died in Ohio. His father, William 1 .. Clark, was a native of New York and removed to Cass county, Michigan, about 1844. settling on section 4, Penn township, where he developed a tract of land hitherto wild and unimproved. He turned the first furrows upon various fields, planted his seed and in due course of time gathered good crops. After residing there for a number of years he removed to Bertrand township. Berrien county. Michigan, but afterward returned to Cass county and settled in Silver Creek township. This was about 1852, and in 1856 he removed to Penn township, where he resided until 1861. In that year he became a resident of Pipestone township, Berrien county, Michigan, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he had reached the age of about seventy-eight years. The wife of William L. Clark was in her maidenhood Miss Almira West and she, too, was born in the Empire state, while her death occurred in September, 1860, when she was forty-six years of age. In their family were eight children, of whom Walter Clark is the eldest son and also the eldest now living.
When ahout seven years of age Walter Clark of this review re- moved with his parents to Cass county and here he has since lived with the exception of the brief intervals spent in Berrien county when a small boy. He returned to Cass county in 1856 and was married here in 1861 to Miss Maria Gould, who was born in the state of New York. They began their domestic life upon the farm where they vet reside and their marriage was blessed with one daughter. Almira, now the deceased wife of Samuel Rice. There was one daughter by this mar- riage. Verna Rice.
Rev. Clark has a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres situated on section 5. Penn township, and his land is productive, yielding good harvests annually. He has also added many modern improvements to his place and he uses good machinery in cultivating the fields and
Walter blank
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caring for the crops. He also has good grades of stock upon his farm and the property is the visible evidence of his well-directed labor and life of thrift. He cleared the land, erected a residence and barns and has fenced the tract. first enclosing it with a rail fence made of rails which he himself split. Industry has been the dominant factor in his life and his Christian faith has been the keynote of his character. He has long been a member of the Brethren church. in which he has served as elder and minister and in the work of which he has taken a very active and helpful part, devoting about forty years to the work of the ministry, during which time he has exerted a wide and beneficial influence in behalf of the religious development of the community. He has also been instrumental in erecting three houses of worship in Cass county. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, casting his bal- lot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and again in 1864 and for each presi- dential candidate of the party since that time. He has been officially connected with the schools, and while serving as a member of the board of education has done all in his power to promote the cause of public instruction in his locality.
SAMUEL B. HADDEN.
Samuel B. Hadden, who is engaged in general agricultural pur- suits in Ontwa township, is a native son of New York, his birth hav- ing occurred on the 5th of October, 1837. His father, Charles D. Hadden. was born in Westchester county. New York, in 1811 and he, too, was a farmer by occupation, devoting the greater part of his life to the work of tilling the soil. In early manhood he was married in Tompkins county, New York, to Miss Nancy Blythe, a native of Ire- land, who came to this country when a little girl and was reared in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hadden became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, Mary. George M .. Charles A .. deceased, Elizabeth and James G., all of whom are natives of the Empire state. In the year 1867 the father left New York and came with his family to Cass county. Michigan. settling on section 7. Ontwa township, where he secured three hundred and ninety-seven acres of rich land, much of which had been improved. With characteristic energy he took up the task of further cultivating and developing this place and con- tinned to make it his home until his death. He took an active interest in political questions and in the work of the party, and was a stanch Republican. While residing in New York he served as supervisor of his township for three years but he never sought office after coming to the west as his time was fully occupied by his business cares in relation to the farm. He died January 29. 1878. and was survived by his wife until December, 1887. when she. too, was called to her final rest.
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