USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 60
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
treasurer and filled the office of township clerk for about seven years, the duties of the different positions being discharged in a capable, prompt and able manner.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have been born three sons, two of whom are yet living, namely : Barnard, of Constantine, Michigan, and Frank Raymond, who is living in Townsend, Montana, where for about ten years he has occupied a position as clerk in the employ of one firm, a fact which indicates his fidelity to duty. Rufus K. died at the age of nineteen years. The home farm comprises one hundred and sixty aeres of land on section 16, Porter township, and he has a well im- proved property, equipped with many evidences of progress along agri- cultural lines. With the exception of his first year Mr. Bowen has resided continuously in Porter township throughout his entire life, and the farm upon which he yet resides is endeared to him through the asso- ciations of his boyhood as well as those of later manhood. He has always been a busy man, working persistently and earnestly, realizing that there is no excellence without labor. It has been said that merit and success go linked together, and the truth of this assertion is proven in the life history of such men as H. H. Bowen, who has prospered by reason of his diligence and sterling worth, and he well deserves mention in this volume as one of the representative early settlers.
JAMES J. MINNICH.
The Germans and their descendants have always been noted for their thrift and enterprise. To the German farmer the middle west is. indebted for the beautiful and well-improved farms, in the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Minnich is a true represen- tative of this class of citizens in Cass county, Michigan. He comes from Pennsylvania German ancestry and is possessed of those requisites which go to make the successful stockman and farmer. He is a native of the Keystone state, born in Snyder county, October 3, 1856, and the third in a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, born to Elias and Sophia (Garman) Minnich. There are eight children living, namely : Peter, a resident of Three Oaks, Michigan, is a farmer and fruit grower and is married. Mr. Minnich is next. Andrew, a resident of Mason township, Cass county, is a manufacturer of eider and jellies, and is prosperous. He is married. Carrie, wife of Rev. W. C. Swenk, a resident of lda, Michigan, and is pastor of the Evan- gelical church. Charles G., a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is a composer and teacher of music. He graduated under Prof. A. P. Barlow. He is married. Ellsworth, a resident of Berrien Springs, Michigan, is a manufacturer of eider and jellies, the firm being styled the American Cider Company, and he is married. Jane is the wife of William Stover, a resident of Berrien county. John, a resident of Los Angeles, California, is a machinist and millwright, being foreman in
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. J. J. MINNICH.
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a box factory known as the California Fruit Association. He is the youngest living.
Father Minnich was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and he is yet living at the age of seventy-two. He was educated in both the German and English languages, and was a teacher of writing in the early years of his manhood. He had great musical talent. His chosen vocation was that of a farmer. When he had reached man's estate, the age of twenty-one, he had no capital. He was about four- teen years of age when he came with his parents to Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and was reared and married there, May 20, 1853, to Miss Sophia Garman. In 1866 he emigrated to the middle west and located at Bristol, Indiana. He purchased seventy-two acres of land in Mason township, Cass county, it being partially improved, and then traded it for one hundred and eighty acres in the same township. He there resided for fourteen years, and then sokl and invested in forty acres in Berrien county, but later sold thirty-three acres and kept seven acres, and is now living retired in comfortable circumstances. He is a Republican in politics. He and his wife are devout members of the German Evan- gelical Association. Mother Minnich was born in Snyder county, Penn- sylvania, May 20, 1835, and is living. . She is a kind and affectionate mother, and has reared her children to lives of usefulness.
Mr. Minnich, of this review proper, was about nine years of age when he became a resident of Bristol, Indiana. His parents being poor, he was called early in life to aid them in making a home. He remained with his parents and gave them his care and wage till the age of twenty-two, which indicates that he surely did a son's part in the care of his aged father and mother. He received a very meager education, mostly obtained through the aid of his estimable wife. At the age of twenty-one he could not exhibit ten dollars as a foundation to begin life. He chose for his companion in life Miss Eliza Kissinger, who has proven to be a wife who has aided him with her wise counsel and advice in the years past, in the building of their pretty home. They were married July 30, 1876, and when they began life for a short time they resided with his parents. Then, concluding to have a home of their own, they took twenty dollars of the fifty dollars which Mrs. Minnich had saved and purchased a little cheap outfit of furniture and set up a little home of their own, but after a short time they returned to reside with Mr. Min- nich's parents. They began very modestly as renters, as is oftentimes said, began at the lowest round of the ladder of life, but they made a firm resolution to make a success of their lives. The first land they purchased was thirteen acres near the village of Sailor, Michigan, in 1888, and they went in debt for most of it. There was not a sign of an improvement on the little place. They entered into the work with zealousness and erected a good residence and excellent outbuildings, and resided there two years, then renting it, and removed to Berrien
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county, and there they lived four years, and then returned to Mason township, this being in 1892, and here resided till 1904, when they sold their little place. They then moved upon the farm where they now re- side, which comprises one hundred and ten acres of fine land, which at that time was terribly run down,-dilapidated fences, tumble-down buildings, and the whole place presenting a very discouraging proposi- tion.
Mr. and Mrs. Minnich set to work with that true German charac- teristic to make a model farm, which they surely have done. They have erected a pretty country residence, fitted up in city style, with large and commodious rooms, nicely and cosily furnished, and handy and homelike for the housewife, an excellent cemented cellar, the water piped through the house, and the grounds nicely laid out, which indi- cates hard and unremitting toil. New fences have been built, also a new windmill, the outbuildings have all been overhauled, and the sur- rounding's now present the healthy, clean appearance of a model country home, as the accompanying engraving indicates. Mrs. Minnich is one of the most careful and efficient wives, who knows how to manage and superintend her home. She is a native of Elkhart county, Indiana, born September 2, 1858, and she is the eldest in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, born to William and Caroline ( Stoner) Kis- singer. There are five of the children living, viz .: Mrs. Minnich is the oldest ; Frances, widow of Cullen Green, a resident of Elkhart, Indiana ; Mary, wife of William Skeer, a resident of Elkhart, Indiana, and he is a mechanic ; Charles A., a resident of Elkhart, Indiana, and a moulder by trade, wedded Miss May Finch; Jolm E., a resident of Mishawaka, Indiana, who owns property in that place and also in South Bend, Indiana, is a pit moulder and is a receiver of high wages. He wedded Miss Jennie Lintsenmeyer. He is the youngest.
Father Kissinger was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1830, and died July 28, 1895. He was an agriculturist. He came to Stark county, Ohio, with his parents when but a boy and was reared and educated in that county. He received a good education in the common schools, and also a short course in college. He was mar- ried in Stark county. He was a soldier in the Civil war, serving his country till he received his honorable and final discharge, and was an ardent Republican in politics. In the early years of his life he was a member of the Dunkard church. He came to Elkhart county in an early day and there died. Mrs. Kissinger was born in Stark county, Ohio, November 31, 1840, and died October IT. 1878, in Elkhart county. She was reared in old Stark county. She was always known as a good and kind woman, good and charitable to the poor and needy. Mrs. Minnich was born, reared and educated in Elkhart county, Indiana. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Minnich have been born three sons, all living, viz .: Charles W., who
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was educated in the common schools. He is a practical stockman and farmer. He is now located at Gray's Harbor, Washington, near the Pa- cific ocean. He controls three hundred and eighty acres of land near there and owns one hundred and sixty acres in Idaho. He is a very prosperous young man. He wedded Miss Ida Traub, and they have one little son, Paul. Edwin J. is located in Aberdeen, Washington, and has four lots in the town and two hundred acres near Elma, Washington. He wedded Miss Myrtle Ullery. He was a soldier in the Philippine con- test, being there and on the ocean for eighteen months. He received his honorable discharge, and was always true to the "Stars and Stripes." Herbert F. is the youngest and is also located at Aberdeen, Washington. He is a young man who commands many friends by his open and frank disposition. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich may well be proud of their sons.
Mr. Minnich is a Republican, true and loyal to the principles of this grand old party, and cast his first presidential vote for Hayes, hav- ing always upheld the banner of Republicanism. Officially he served as highway commissioner for two terms. For his honesty of character the St. Louis & S. W. Railroad Company in the years 1900 and 1901 se- lected him as immigration agent in the states of Arkansas, Texas and the Southwest, and presented him quarterly passes over all their lines. For his efficiency they offered him a good salary to take up the work, but he preferred to pursue his calling, that of a farmer. Fraternally he belongs to the Grange. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church at Sailor, Michigan, and have always been active in the Sunday-school work. He is a lover of good stock and has the Duroc swine and good standard bred horses and cattle.
In the years 1900 and 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Minnich took an ex- tended journey to the Pacific slope to visit their children and meet their son Edwin on his return from the Philippine war. They had a lovely trip, crossing the straits to Vancouver Island, and then returning to the east through Canada, via the Canadian Pacific, passing through some of the most beautiful scenery in the great northwest. We are pleased to present this review of this worthy couple to be recorded in The Twen- tieth Century History of Cass County, Michigan.
ERNEST SHILLITO, M. D.
Dr. Ernest Shillito, whose capability in the practice of his profes- sion is indicated by the liberal patronage accorded him and by the favorable mention made of him throughout the community in which he makes his home, was born in Espyville, Pennsylvania, in 1864, his parents being George and Amanda (Slocum) Shillito, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. The father, whose birth occurred in Espyville, was of Irish descent, his father having emi- grated from the Emerald Isle to the United States in 1800. George Shillito was a farmer by occupation and became well-to-do through the
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careful management of his agricultural and stock buying interests. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and gave his politi- cal support to the Republican party. He died in 1893, at the age of seventy years, and is still survived by Mrs. Shillito, who is living in Grove City, Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-four years. She is of English descent and members of the family served in the Revolutionary war. She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and has been a devoted wife and mother and earnest Christian woman. In the family were the following children: Arthur M., attorney-at-law of Chicago; Fred, a practicing physician at Kalamazoo; Amos G., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Independence, Iowa: Georgiana, the wife of Edward Fithian, a manufacturer of gas engines of Grove City, Pennsylvania : Ernest, of this review, and Hosaih, deceased.
Dr. Shillito, whose name introduces this record, was reared upon his father's farm and after attending the country schools became a high school student in Linesville, Pennsylvania, while subsequently he at- tended the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and also Allegheny College in that state. In 1886 he entered the medical depart- ment of the state university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was gradu- ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago in 1888. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Marcellus in July of that year, and has since followed his chosen calling here with splendid success.
In 1897 Dr. Shillito was married to Miss Sadie M. Warsom, who was born in Sturgis, Michigan, in 1875. Her father was a pioneer farmer of Indiana. Dr. Shillito is a Republican in his political views but has never sought or desired office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the State Medical Association, and through his con- nection with the latter keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the medical fraternity. He has never sought activity outside of the regular routine of active practice, but with an ability that enables him to master the difficult problems of medical and surgical practice he has gained a gratifying patronage.
RAYMOND S. HALLIGAN, M. D.
Although one of the younger members of the medical fraternity in Cass county, Dr. Halligan, who is practicing in Marcellus, seems not to be limited by his years in the extent of his practice or in the ability with which he copes with the difficult problems that continually confront the physician. He has been very successful in his work, and is now accorded a gratifying patronage. He was born in Albion, Ne- braska, in 1878, and is a son of John and Ellen Halligan, the former a native of Ireland and a farmer by occupation.
After acquiring his literary education in the district schools, Dr. Halligan, of this review, having determined upon the profession of
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medicine as a life work, spent three years as a student in the medical department of the University of Michigan, and was afterward a student in the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois, in 1902. He then entered upon the active work of his profes- sion in Sault Ste. Marie, where he remained for eight months, and was then interne at a hospital at Saginaw, Michigan. While interne he graduated from Saginaw Medical College in 1903. On the Ist of June, 1903, he came to Marcellus, where he has since been remarkably suc- cessful in his chosen field of endeavor. In 1904 Dr. Halligan was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kalthoff, a daughter of Caspar Kal- thoff, of Erie, Pennsylvania. She died September 12, 1904, and Dr. Halligan wedded Miss Ethel Apted, of Marcellus, May 17, 1906. They have won many friends among the residents of Marcellus, the hospi- tality of the best homes of the city being extended to them.
Dr. Halligan belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and the Mac- cabees tent, and he is medical examiner for both orders. In politics he is a Republican, but without political aspiration, preferring to give his time and attention to his professional duties.
FRANK ENGLE.
The farming interests of Pokagon township have a worthy repre- sentative in Frank Engle, who is living on section 14, where he owns and operates a good farm that is equipped with modern conveniences and improvements. He is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Van Buren county on the 16th of September, 1855. His father, Benjamin Franklin Engle, was born in Allegany county, New York, on the 2nd of April, 1833, and was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children. In June, 1844, when a youth of eleven years, he became a resident of Van Buren county, Michigan, to which district he removed with his parents. There he spent about twenty-one years, and in 1865 he came to Cass county, taking up his abode in LaGrange township. Upon this place he built a house and then with characteristic energy began the improvement of his eighty-acre farm, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. In addition to the tilling of the soil and the raising of cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also devoted considerable attention to fruit culture. He was married on the 23d of December. 1854, to Miss Lovina Elliott, a daughter of Jonathan Elliott. This union was blessed with five children. Frank. Mav, Silas, Hattie and Laura, but the last named is now deceased. All were born in Van Buren county, but were reared and educated in Cass county. In the course of an active business career Mr. Engle was always respected by reason of his genuine worth and fair dealing, never being known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any trade transaction. In politics he voted with the Republican party, hut was without aspira- tion for office for himself. His wife passed away February 3. 1901.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Frank Engle spent the first ten years of his life in the county of his nativity and then with his parents took up his abode on what is known as the old farm homestead in LaGrange township. He assisted in the arduous task of clearing the fields and planting the crops, and remained on the old home farm until 1896, when he removed to his present place of residence -- a well improved farm of eighty acres in Pokagon town- ship. His time and attention have since been given to the further de- velopment of this property and through the rotation of crops, the use of modern machinery and the exercise of practical common sense in his work he has won a comfortable competence and made for himself a place among the substantial agriculturists of his community. He has set out a good orchard on his place which yields its fruits in season, and he has also made other improvements in keeping with the modern spirit of agricultural progress.
On the 28th of March, 1878, Mr. Engle was married to Miss Lou M. Tremmel, a daughter of Jacob and Martha (Woods) Tremmel. The Woods family were the third white family to settle in Berrien county, Michigan, and they came to Cass county in 1854. taking up their abode in Howard township. It was upon that place that Mrs. Engle was born and reared, being the third in a family of eight children, of whom two are now deceased. Her father died in December, 1879, and was survived by his wife until January, 1883, when she, too, passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Engle have become the parents of three children. of whom two are living: Lena, born August 31, 1879; and Mable, born April 25, 1886. The youngest, Walter, was born January 21. 1889, and died on the 13th of June, 1904. Mable and Walter were born in Morgan county, Indiana, while Lena's birth occurred on the old home farm in this county.
Mr. Engle is a stanch advocate of temperance principles, as is indi- cated by the fact that he exercises his right of franchise in support of the candidates of the Prohibition party. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Pokagon, and holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Dowagiac. In all life's relations he is found loyal to the trust reposed in him, and he earnestly espouses and sup- ports every cause in which he believes.
SAMUEL F. SKINNER.
Samuel F. Skinner, who is successfully carrying on general farm- ing on section 12, Porter township, was born October 16, 1853, in this county, his parents being Nathan and Sophia (Dayhuff) Skinner. He is the youngest in a family of four children, one of whom died in in- fancy. His youth was passed in his native township and his education was acquired in the district schools, where he mastered the usual branches of English learning. He was trained to farm work and early learned the best methods and time of planting and cultivating the fields, so
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that when he began farming on his own account he had good practical experience to aid him. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Rachel Maria Roof, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Eberhard) Roof, the parents being early settlers and well known farm- inig people of Porter township, where Mrs. Skinner was born. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living, and has reached the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Skinner is the only daughter and the younger of two children, her brother being David Roof. One daughter has been born of this union, Mary R., who graduated in the high school at Vandalia in the class of 1895, and she spent almost two years in Albion College studying music, and is now a teacher of instrumental music. It was November 26, 1874, that Rachel M. Roof gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Skinner, and they located upon the old homestead farm, where they lived for one year. On the expiration of that period they removed to section 2, Porter township, where he carried on general farming, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation. There he resided until he again located upon the old homestead farm, where he remained until 1890, when he removed to his present place of residence on section 12, Porter town- ship. Here he has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and the soil is rich and alluvial, responding readily to the cultivation placed thereon, so that he annually harvests good crops. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of high grade hogs. In hoth branches of his business he has met with very gratifying success and is now one of the prosperous and enterprising agriculturists of Porter township.
When age conferred upon Mr. Skinner the right of franchise he identified his interests with those of the Republican party, which he has continuously and loyally supported. As every true American citizen should do, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has taken an active and helpful part in the support of the party in which he believes. He was justice of the peace for several years, ren- dering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. He was also constable, and in 1901 he was elected township supervisor, to which position he has since been re-elected, so that he has held the office continuously for five years, being the incumbent at the present time. He has also served as school officer since he attained the age of twenty- one years, and the cause of education finds in him a warm and helpful friend, for he does all in his power to advance the success of the schools through the employment of good teachers and upholding the standard of instruction. He belongs to Tent No. 805. Knights of the Maccabees, at Jones, and Mrs. Skinner to the L. O. T. M .. Hive No. 353. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in that village, and is very active and helpful in church work, serving as one of the trustees and co-operating in various lines of church activity. During fifty-two years
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he has lived in Porter township, and that his life has been honorable and upright is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood to the present time.
EDWARD T. MOTLEY.
Edward T. Motley is now the owner of a well improved farm comprising two hundred and thirty-one acres, situated on section IO, Porter township, and his careful supervision and practical labors are indicated in the neat and thrifty appearance of the place. He is one of the native sons of this township, his birth having here occurred on the 7th of October, 1848. In the paternal line he comes of English lineage. His father, James Motley, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in .August, 1805, was there reared and educated, and in that country was first married. He had one daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Samuel H. Gilbert, one of the early settlers and worthy citizens of Porter township. It was in the year 1837 that James Motley came to Michigan, settling first in Washtenaw county, where he remained for three years, when, in 1840, he took up his abode in Porter township, Cass county He was married a second time, Miss Bethesda McNiel becoming his wife in New York. She was born in New York and was a daughter of John McNiel, who was of Scotch descent. The parents of our subject took up their abode on section 23, Porter township, in 1840, and there they spent their remaining days, both attaining an ad- vanced age, James Motley passing away at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife was in her eighty-first year when she was called to her final rest. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom reached maturity, while four of the number are yet living at this writing, in 1906.
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