USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 61
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Edward T. Motley, the seventh child and fourth son of the family. was reared in the usual manner of farm lads in a pioneer locality. He had few advantages, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He lived with his parents on the old homestead and acquired his early education in the district schools, while later he enjoyed the benefit of a course in Kalamazoo College. He was engaged in teaching in the winter seasons for about ten years in Cass county, and in Washington, near Walla Walla, while in the summer months he followed farming on the old homestead, and there resided continuously until about 1901.
Mr. Motley was first married in 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Florence Sharp, and unto them was born a daughter, Florence. The wife and mother passed away in 1885. and in 1896 Mr. Motley was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah A. Driskel. a daughter of Peter Smith and the widow of Oscar P. Driskel. They resided on the old home place until 1901, when Mr. Motley purchased the farm whereon he now resides. It comprises two hundred and thirty-one acres of good land, and upon the place is a substantial resi-
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dence, also barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The farm is well fenced, there is good improved machinery, and in fact all of the equipments of a model farm are found upon this place and indicate the progressive spirit of the owner. He is practical in his methods and has therefore accomplished excellent results, being now one of the substantial agriculturists of his community.
In his political views Mr. Motley is an earnest and unfaltering Republican, and has been called to various township offices. The first position which he ever held was that of township clerk, serving therein for two years. He was also township supervisor of schools and high- way commissioner for seven years, and for sixteen years he acted as justice of the peace, in which office he was strictly fair and impartial, rendering decisions which were seldom reversed by the higher courts. He was also school inspector, was township treasurer for one year and has been supervisor. He was elected to the last named office in 1879, and was re-elected in 1886 and again in 1887. Then after an interval of seven years he was chosen for the same office in 1898, 1899 and 1900, making his incumbency in the office cover a period of eight years. No higher testimonial of capability could be given than the fact that he has been so many times chosen to positions of political preferment. He is a member of the Grange and at one time was connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. He has been a lifelong resident of Cass county and is a worthy representative of a prominent pioneer family. The name of Motley has ever stood for advancement and improvement, not only in agricultural lines but also in general citizenship, and like the others of the family, Edward T. Motley has given his allegiance and support to many movements which have had direct and important bearing upon the welfare and upbuilding of the county.
BYRON FIERO.
Byron Fiero is a prominent farmer residing on section 5, La- Grange township. His birthplace was a little log cabin in this town- ship and his natal day September 8, 1853. His father was Abram Fiero, and the family history is given on another page in this work in connection with the sketch of John Fiero, a brother of the subject of this review.
Byron Fiero was the second child and second son in his father's family and was reared upon the old homestead farm, while in the dis- trict schools of LaGrange township he began his education, which was afterward completed in the high school of Dowagiac. Later he en- gaged in teaching school for seven terms, spending five terms of that time as teacher in district No. 6 and the remainder of the time in the Dewey and Maple Grove districts. When still a youth he became familiar with all the work incident to the development and cultivation of a farm, and during the greater part of his life has carried on general agricultural
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pursuits. He was, however, engaged for three years in the dairy busi- ness, delivering milk to Dowagiac. He has one hundred and eighty acres of land, most of which is under cultivation, and the well tilled fields return to him golden harvests for the labor that he bestows upon the land.
On the 24th of December, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fiero and Miss Emma Webster, a daughter of Nelson and Mary Webster. She died leaving one child, Winnie, who is now the wife of Harry Larzalere, of LaGrange township. In 1888 Mr. Fiero was again married, Miss Iva Wright, a daughter of Milton and Elizabeth Myers Wright, becoming his wife. They have a pleasant home in the midst of a good farmi. and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Fiero was reared in the faith of the Republican party, but for some time has given his political allegiance to the Democracy. He became candidate of his party for probate judge in 1896, but lost the election by twenty-one votes. He has filled the office of township treas- urer in LaGrange township for two terms, and in the discharge of all public duties has been prompt and faithful, and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to general progress and improvement. He be- longs to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Dowagiac, and is well known in the county where his entire life has been passed. He has largely con- centrated his efforts upon the management of his farm, and has been found reliable in business, at the same time ever manifesting those traits of character which have made him best liked where best known.
SILAS H. THOMAS.
The connection of Silas H. Thomas with the interests of Cass county dates back to an early period in its development and settlement. He is now a resident of Vandalia, where he is enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil. He was for many years closely asso- ciated with agricultural interests in the county and kept in touch with the onward march of progress along agricultural lines. His birth oc- curred in Grant county, Indiana, on the 14th of May, 1832. His pa- ternal grandfather was Elijah Thomas, a native of South Carolina, who removed from that state to Indiana, taking with him his family and casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Wayne county. He was the father of Samuel Thomas, who was also born in South Carolina and was a young lad at the time of his parents' removal to the west. He was therefore reared and educated in the Hoosier state and after arriv- ing at years of maturity was married there to Miss Sarah Bogue, a na- tive of North Carolina and a daughter of Benjamin Bogne, whose birth occurred in the same state. In religious faith they were Friends or Quakers. Soon after his marriage Samuel Thomas located in Grant county, Indiana, where the town of Marion now stands, and there he was engaged in farming until his removal to Penn township, Cass
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Sibas de Thomas mas & B Thomas
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county, in 1842. Here he located on a part of the land now comprised within the corporation limits of Vandalia in the eastern part of the town. He reached the age of only forty-nine years and then passed away, leav- ing behind the priceless heritage of an untarnished name, for his entire life was in harmony with his professions as a member of the Friends' church. He took a very active part in its work and was very deeply interested in the cause of moral development as well as material prog- ress in his community. His wife long survived him and passed away when about seventy-three years of age. In their family were seven chil- dren, six sons and a daughter, and with one exception all reached adult age, while four are still living.
Silas H. Thomas of this review was the third child and third son of the family. He continued a resident of his native county during the first ten years of his life, after which he accompanied his parents on their removal to Cass county. He was reared in Penn township, sharing in the hardships and privations of existence on the frontier. When he was about seventeen years of age his father removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, and there Silas H. Thomas remained for six years, after which he returned to Penn township. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boy- hood days. He pursued his education in the public schools and worked in the fields during the summer months, performing the farm labor with such primitive agricultural implements as then existed. The work of the farm was at that time inuch more arduous than at the present, when the agriculturist can ride over his fields upon the planter or mower and when improved machinery of various kinds takes the place of hand labor.
On the 7th of May, 1856, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Elvina Bogue, a member of one of the well known and prominent pioneer families of southern Michigan, her parents being Stephen and Hannah (East) Bogue. She was born in Penn township January 19, 1836, and has spent her entire life in this township. Her parents came to Cass county in 1831, and took up their abode on Young's Prairie when much of the land was still in its primitive condition. The break- ing plow had not yet turned the furrows upon many a tract and it was only here and there in the edge of the forest that clearings had been made. The Bogues were pioneer settlers and the name is closely asso- ciated with the early and substantial development of this portion of Michigan. Mr. Bogue made the journey on horseback from Preble county, Ohio, and afterward returned in the same manner to his old home, where he then made arrangements to bring his family to the wilds of Michigan. Mrs. Thomas was the third in a family of six children. Her father was married twice and Mrs. Thomas was born of the second marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas took up their abode upon a rented farm, on
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which they lived for three years, after which they removed to the woods on section 34, Penn township, their home being a little log cabin twenty by twenty-four feet. In that house they resided until 1871, when the present commodious and attractive good farm residence was built. As the years passed Mr. Thomas continued the work of clearing and culti- vating the land and he added to his original purchase until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres. He placed the fields under a liigh state of cultivation, fenced his land and added modern equipments and accessories. His time and energies were devoted to farm work until he retired from active business, locating in Vandalia in 1904. In the mean- time, however, he had lived in the village for seven years and had then again taken up huis abode on the farm, where he continued, as before stated, until he came to occupy his present home in 1904.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born six children: James Arthur, now deceased; Edwin F., who has also passed away: May E., the wife of Rev. R. W. Gammon, of Pueblo, Colorado, a minister of the Congregational church now located in Decatur, Illinois; Blanche A., the wife of C. M. Ratliff, an attorney at law of Marion, Indiana, and a leading worker in the ranks of the Republican party, now serving as chairman of the county central committee and a member of the commit- tee for the congressional district comprising Grant and Blackford coun- ties, but now retired from the practice of law and now a farmer; Flor- ence A., the wife of Rev. Frank Fox, a minister of the Congregational church at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Cora A., who died in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas also have the following grandchildren, namely : Grace B., Carlton R., Claude F., Genevra and Mark H. Ratliff, and Florence E., Harold W., Clement S., Mary A. and Rachel Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas reared their family in Penn township and the liv- ing children were all married there with one exception. Mr. Thomas is a stalwart Republican. His father and also his wife's father were iden- tified with the Abolition party and their homes were stations on the famous "underground railroad," whereby they assisted many a fugitive negro on his way to freedom in the north, being strongly opposed to the system of slavery. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Society of Friends or Quakers and he has been an elder in the church for twenty-five years and in its work has taken a very active and help- ful part. He is an honest man, fearless in defense of what he believes to be riglit, active in support of many measures and movements for the general good, and his personal worth of character has endeared him to a large circle of warm friends.
Since the above was written Mr. Thomas lost his dear companion in life. They had almost passed a half century together as husband and wife, traveling together hand in hand, and had shared alike the joys and sorrows of this life as loving husband and wife. The family cir- cle is now broken, and the vacant chair is seen in the home. The place
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of mother and wife can never be filled again. We append the obituary of Mrs. Thomas, which appeared in The Cassopolis Vigilant April 19, 1906:
" Elvira Bogue was born in Penn township January 19, 1836, and married Silas H. Thomas, who survives her, May 7, 1856. She died at her home in Vandalia April 12, 1906. Six children were born to this union. Three preceded the mother by many years and three, Mrs. Gam- mon of Decatur, Illinois, Mrs. Ratliff of Fairmount, Indiana, and Mrs. Fox of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were with her the last few days of life to comfort and console her in her great suffering. There were also at her bedside her sister, Mrs. Amos Smith, and brothers, W. E. and S. A. Bogue. Mrs. James E. Bonine, another sister, was unable to be pres- ent. While her life had many shadows, there was much of sunshine and deep love for family and friends. A few more weeks would have brought the fiftieth anniversary of her married life. Instead there is a grand reunion over vonder. \ life-long member of the Friends' church, and a faithful officer in the same, she worked and prayed and overcame and now rests. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Stephen Scott at the Friends' church, Vandalia, Saturday at ten o'clock. Interment at Prairie Grove cemetery. Fifteen members of the Valentine Associa- tion attended the funeral and each one impressively placed a floral offer- ing on the casket of the departed member."
DAN M. HARVEY.
A valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Porter township, is the property of Dan M. Harvey, who is accounted one of the leading and representative agriculturists of his community, early gaining recognition of the fact that success is the outcome of in- dustry, determination and laudable ambition, who has throughout an active life so directed his efforts that excellent results have attended his labors. His life record began on the 18th of February, 1842, in Constantine township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, and he represents one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the state. His paternal grandfather, Ephraim Harvey, was a native of Vermont, and was a son of Philip Harvey, who was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, who came to America from the north of England, and when the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression he fought for independence. Norman Harvey, father of our subject, was also a native of Vermont. In early manhood he heard the "call of the west," and imbued with the hope of enjoying better business privileges in this sec- tion of tlie country, he made his way to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph county in 1832. The entire district was largely wild and unimproved and he took up land from the government, after which he located upon his claim, where he lived for some time. He was not only connected with agricultural interests, however, but also became a promoter of
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industrial interests and built the first factory and was a partner in the first carriage foundry and woolen mills in that county. He also built and operated a large grist mill and established the first hardware and tinware store in Constantine, Michigan. His activity and enterprise proved strong and potent elements in the development of his part of the state and he was recognized as one of the leading men of his community, who wielded a wide influence and left the impress of his individuality for good upon the work of upbuilding. As he prospered in his under- takings he placed considerable money in the safest of all investments- real estate-and at one time owned more land than any other man in the county. He was extremely successful in his business affairs in accumu- lating money and land, and his prosperity was well merited, not only by reason of the fact that he possessed keen discernment in business affairs and unfaltering diligence, but also because his methods were ever straightforward and honorable, and would bear closest investiga- tion and scrutiny. He also aided many others in buying farms, and in this way contributed to the settlement of the county. He was a good man, honest and honorable at all times, and was never known to take advantage of the necessities of another in any business transaction. He had a very wide and favorable acquaintance in the county, and his deatlı was the occasion of deep regret, when at the age of sixty years he was called from this life. He laid out many roads in the county and otherwise contributed to its material improvement. He started the first bank in Constantine, and afterward organized the First National Bank. His business interests were of a character that contributed not only to individual success but also to the public prosperity, and his name is inseparably interwoven with the history of St. Joseph county, where he lived and labored to such goodly ends. His early political sup- port was given to the Whig party, but upon the organization of the new Republican party he joined its ranks and remained one of its stalwart advocates. He held many township offices and he also figured in mili- tary circles, being captain in the state militia. In early manhood he married Miss Rhoda Moore, a native of Rupert, Vermont, and a daughter of Seth Moore, who was also born there and was of Welsh (lescent. Mrs. Harvey passed away at the age of fifty-four years, and like her husband was held in warm regard, for she possessed many estimable qualities of heart and mind. This worthy couple became the parents of thirteen children, most of whom reached adult age.
Dan M. Harvey, the eighth child of the family; was reared in Con- stantine township in St. Joseph county, and was educated in the Union schools at Constantine and in Hillsdale College. He also pursued a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's College at Detroit, Mich- igan, and was thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties when he entered upon his business career. He was thus con- nected with the hardware trade at Constantine, where he established a store and conducted business for some time. On disposing of his hard-
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ware stock he engaged in the lumber business and also carried on farm- ing and stock raising. He remained a resident of St. Joseph county until 1871, when he removed to his present farmi on section 3, Porter township. He purchased four hundred and fifty acres of land, but in recent years, wishing to retire from active business life, has sold part of the place and now owns two hundred and twenty acres. All of this land he operates himself.
On the 25th of July, 1867. Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Mary E., daughter of Philo Hovey, and they have four children : Helen, died in infancy; Delia, now the wife of Rev. Charles Eastman, a Baptist minister; D. Elbert, living in Constantine ; and Mary Alice, the wife of Rev. O. V. Wheeler, a minister of the Baptist denomination, who occupies the pulpit of a prominent church in Chicago, and his wife is also a worker in the church. The children have all received collegiate training. D. Elbert, the son, is foreman in the Carholite Factory in Constantine, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have several of the old parchinent deeds executed under the hand and seal of President Andrew Jackson, which are valuable souvenirs in the family.
Mr. Harvey has always voted the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies the benefi- cent spirit of the craft. He is well known in Cass county, where he has now lived for many years, and he has gained a large number of friends by reason of his cordial manner, kindly disposition and affability. In business life he has displayed excellent qualifications and now he is living retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
BRUCE BEEBE.
Bruce Beehe is an honored veteran of the Civil war and a citizen well worthy of representation in the history of Marcellus and Cass county, because he displays many sterling traits of character and the qualifications of good citizenship as well. He was born in Huron county, Ohio. August 27. 1840, and has been a resident of Marcellus since the spring of 1848, when he came to Michigan with his parents, Roswell R. and Mary (Young) Beebe. The father was a native of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, born on the 3d of November, 1806. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio. Both his father and mother were natives of Connecticut, were of English descent and were representatives of ancestry that was connected with New England his- tory from early colonial days. When a young lad Roswell R. Beebe accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, where he was reared and married. He devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, thus providing for his family. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. continuing one of its stanch supporters until his death in April, 1803. He had for more than a half century survived his wife,
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
who passed away in 1840, when her son was only two weeks old. The father afterward married again. He had three children by his first marriage and two by the second, and the family record is as follows: Gideon T., now living in Marcellus: Sally Lee, deceased: Bruce, of this review ; Byron R., who is also living in Marcellus; and Mrs. Wealthy Currier, who is also living in Marcellus.
As previously stated, Bruce Beebe was a lad of eight years when he came with his father to Michigan. There was no village on the present site of Marcellus, the entire tract being covered with the natural forest growth. The family home was established on section I, Marcellus township, on a farm of two hundred and sixty acres. from sixty acres of which the timber had been cut. Upon that farm Bruce Beebe aided in the arduous task of further developing the land and bringing it under a high state of cultivation. He shared in all the work of the fields and after he had attained his majority continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits. He resided upon the old home place until Sep- tember. 1897. when he removed to the village of Marcellus. He still owns, however, eighty acres of the farm and his brother, Byron R., also owns eighty acres of it. Bruce Beebe likewise has two acres within the corporation limits of Marcellus, and has a good residence which he erected. His entire life throughout his business career has been devoted to general farming pursuits with the exception of three years which were spent in the army.
It was on the LIth of August, 1862, that Mr. Beebe, prompted by a spirit of patriotism and loyalty, tendered his services to the govern- ment and became a member of Company D, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Orlando H. Moore. He participated in various important engagements, including the battles of Mumfordsville. Kingston. Tennessee. Mossy Creek, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face, Georgia, Resaca, Cassville, Ottawa River, Altoona, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Culp Farm, Kenesaw. Atlanta, East Point, Otter Creek, the siege of Atlanta and the battles of Jonesboro, Rome and Cedar Bluff. He was thus in many hotly contested engage- ments and was often in the thickest of the fight. never faltering in the performance of any military duty assigned him, whether it called him to the firing line or stationed him on the lonely picket line. After about three years war service he became ill and was sent to the hospital, from which he was discharged on the 3Ist of March, 1865. He then rejoined his regiment and was honorably discharged from the army after the close of the war, on the 26th of June, 1865, being at that time in North Carolina. He returned home with a most creditable military record, and he deserves the credit and praise which should ever be bestowed upon the loyal soldier who defended the Union.
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