USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 62
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On the 11th of October, 1869, Mr. Beebe was married to Miss Gertrude Lutes, who was born in Marcellus, October II. 1851, a daughter of William H. Lutes. Her father married Mrs. Eugene Sat-
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
terlie, who was a widow and bore the maiden name of Schofield. She was a native of New York. Mr. Lutes arrived in Michigan in 1844, and they were married in this state. Both died in Cass county, Mr. Lutes at the age of eighty-one years, while his wife passed away when fifty-eight years of age. He was born in Wayne county, New York, October 30, 1824, and died in Marcellus, March 26, 1900. When twenty years of age he removed with his parents to Cass county and largely made his home in the vicinity of Marcellus from that time until liis death. When twenty-four years of age he married Mrs. Eugene Satterlie, who died September 7, 1884, and on the 16th of October, 1888, he wedded Mrs. Emily Sweet, who survives him. He was the father of two children, both of whom are living, John and Mrs. Beebe. He also had an adopted daughter, Mrs. Hattie Moore, now of Chicago. An earnest Christian man he joined the United Brethren church in early life, and some years afterward he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was ever afterward a devoted and faithful member. At the time of the Civil war, his sympathy being with the Union cause, lie offered his services to the government but was rejected. In con- nection with Mr. Kester and Joseph Cromley he planted the three trees in front of the Methodist Episcopal church, which add so much to its beauty.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beebe have been born a son and daughter: William R., who is living upon his father's farm and is married and has one child. Olin: and Grace K., the wife of Edward Bond, a resident of Marcellus. The family is widely and favorably known in this part of the county, Mr. Beebe having long been a worthy and prominent repre- sentative of agricultural interests. In politics he is a Republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. In times of peace he has been as faithful to his country as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields, and in military service and in private life has made a creditable record.
HENRY J. FRENCH.
Henry J. French, proprietor of the Eagle Lake Resort. is a native of Ontwa township. Cass county, born on the 16th of December, 1863. The father. Caleb French, was one of the old settlers of this part of the state and contributed in substantial measure to the material development and progress of the community. He was a native of Lancastershire, England, born on the 16th of May, 1828. and in his native place was reared. After arriving at manhood he was married in England to Miss Martha Iles, also a native of that country, and two children. Charles and Thirza, were born unto them ere they crossed the Atlantic to the United States. When they came to the new world they settled in Baltimore. Maryland, where they lived for about a year, and in 1856 arrived in Cass county, Michigan, settling in Edwardsburg. There the father followed the mason's trade, which he had learned in his native
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country. After about a year spent in Edwardsburg he removed to near Eagle lake, where he purchased eighty acres of land, the greater part of which had been improved. His first wife died during the early period of lis residence upon that farm, passing away in 1861, and in March, 1863, he was again married, his second union being with Hannah Salm- onson, a native of Ohio, born March 8, 1830. Her father was Richard Salmonson, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the state, and she was reared in Ontwa township amid the conditions and environments of pioneer life. Henry J. French was the only child born of the father's second marriage. In his political views Caleb French was a Democrat, but never sought or desired public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests, and he died upon the old home farm in February, 1882. He was well known and well respected in Cass county and enjoyed in large measure the trust and good will of his fellow men.
Henry J. French was reared upon the farm which is now his home, and worked with his father until the latter's death. He then rented the farm from the other heirs for ten years and in 1892 by purchase be- came possessor of the property. In 1897 he converted the tract near the lake into a summer resort, calling it the Eagle Lake Resort, and has many visitors here during the summer months. He has made this a very productive place, supplied with many of the accessories which add to the pleasure and comfort of the summer sojourner. In his general agricultural pursuits he has also met with a creditable measure of suc- cess, having conducted his interests so carefully and practically that he has gained very gratifying prosperity.
On the 31st of October, 1886, Mr. French was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle D. Lowman, a native of Jefferson township, Cass county, born January 29, 1866, and a daughter of John Lowman, whose birth occurred in Ohio in 1844. He was brought to Cass county when ten years of age and was reared in Jefferson township. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Miss Nancy Keene, who was born in Calvin township, Cass county, in 1844. Mrs. French was the eldest of four children, two sons and two daughters, and by her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Ford, who was born September 8, 1892; and Harry, who was born April 8, 1895, both on the old home- stcad.
In his political affiliation Mr. French is an earnest Democrat and kecps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but is with- out aspiration for public office. He belongs to the Woodmen camp at Edwardsburg and has many friends among his brethren of the fra- ternity. His entire life having been passed in Cass county he is widely known, and he has made an excellent reputation as a thoroughly relia- ble, energetic and progressive business man.
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GEORGE M. HADDEN.
George MI. Hadden, a practical and progressive farmer who is profitably conducting his business interests on section 13, Milton town- ship, is a native son of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Wayne county on the 4th of August, 1841. 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 the following children: 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, Mich- igan, 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 continued 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 re- siding 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.
George M. Hadden spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the . east, acquired a good practical education in the public schools and when twenty-six years of age came with his parents to Michigan, the family home being established in Cass county. He settled with his father upon the farm in Ontwa township and helped to clear and cultivate that place. There he resided continuously until 1875. when he removed to his pres- ent farm in Milton township. The place originally comprised one hundred and twenty acres of land. but he has since extended its bound- aries by additional purchase until he now has a valuable property of two hundred acres. Here he carries on general farming and raises such stock as is needed for home consumption and for carrying on the work of the farm. In all his methods he is practical and diligent and his energy and perseverance have been the strong and salient factors in a successful career.
On the 27th of December, 1871. Mr. Hadden was united in marriage to Miss Jane Foster, a daughter of Andrew Foster, who entered from the government the farm which adjoins the homestead property of Mr. Hadden. Mr. Foster was one of the honored pioneer settlers of Cass county. coming to this state from Pennsylvania in 1832. Few were the residents in this locality at that time. Occasionally in the midst of
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
the forest the smoke might be seen ascending from the fire in some little cabin home, but there were long distances between the farms and the greater part of the country was covered with its native timber growth. Mr. Foster took an active and helpful part in reclaiming the region for the purposes of civilization and in the improvement of his business inter- ests, developing an excellent farm, which gave him a good income. He built the house and barn which are still standing upon his old home place. This is one of the landmarks of the county, having for long years been a mute witness of the changes that have occurred and illus- trating by contrast the rapid progress that has been made. In his polit- ical views Mr. Foster was an earnest and stalwart Democrat, and was one of the stockholders in the National Democrat. Mrs. Hadden was born and reared on the old farm homestead and was the youngest of eight children, six of whom were born upon this farm. Unto our sub- ject and his wife were born four sons and two daughters, namely : Charles B., Mary, Andrew F., Robert A., Margaret, and George L., all natives of Cass county, five having been born on the old homestead farm in Milton township. The elder daughter is now the wife of Victor D. Hawkins.
Mr. Hadden exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and for one term was township treasurer, but has had little aspiration for office, although in citizenship he is always loyal and progressive. He belongs to the Woodmen camp at Edwardsburg and is an active and honored member of the Presby- terian church there, in which he is now serving as elder.
J. FRED EMERSON.
J. Fred Emerson, one of the early residents of Cass county, who has long witnessed the growth and development that have wrought many changes here and brought about an advanced state of civilization, was born in Ontwa township, where he still lives, owning and operating one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. His father, Matthew Emerson, was a pioneer resident of Cass county, coming to Michigan when this portion of the state was largely a wild and unimproved district. He was born in Concord county, New Hampshire, on the IIth of December, 1808, and was there reared upon his father's farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Emer- son, was likewise a native of the Old Granite state and became a farmer, devoting his entire life to the tilling of the soil. He married Miss Su- sanna Harvey, a descendant of Dr. Harvey, the celebrated discoverer of the system of the circulation of the blood. Their son Matthew was the second in order of birth in a family of five children and was reared and educated in New Hampshire, where he early became familiar with farm work, also giving a portion of his time to milling and school teach- ing, following the latter profession for two or three terms. He was
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
also employed in a hardware store in Albany, New York, and in 1839, attracted by the business opportunities of a new but rapidly developing western country, he came to Cass county, Michigan, taking up his abode near Edwardsburg. He there planted a crop of wheat on what is now the Harris farm. In 1841 he removed to the old farm homestead on section 13, Ontwa township, at first purchasing eighty acres of par- tially improved land. He made most of the improvements upon the place, however, and converted it into a splendid property. In 18448, ow- ing to ill health, he was compelled to rent his farm, and he then entered the employ of M. G. & M. Sage, of Adamsville, remaining in their serv- ice for five years, when, his health being greatly improved, he returned to the farm in 1853. He was then engaged in its cultivation and further development until his life's lahors were ended in death on the 17th of March, 1877. He had prospered in his undertakings and at his demise left a valuable property of one hundred and twenty acres. In 1841, in Adamsville, he had married Miss Alzina Allen, who was born in Ver- mont January 27, 1823, and was twelve years of age when she came to Cass county with her parents. She was a daughter of Reuben Allen, who came of the same stock as Ethan Allen, the noted hero of Ticon- deroga in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Emerson was the eldest of three children, the brother being Joseph Allen, who died in 1889, and the sister Antinette, now the widow of Murry Morse, of Jefferson town- ship, Cass county. It was in the year 1835 that the Allen family was established in Mason township. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson became the parents of three sons, of whom the second died in infancy. J. Fred is the eldest and Allen at present lives in Buchanan, Michigan. He com- menced to learn the trade of coach and carriage making at seventeen years of age in the city of Buffalo, New York. In September, 1879. he went to Buchanan and worked at his trade a number of years, while at present lie is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. He married Miss Ida Weaver, a member of an old and very highly respected family of the vicinity. The father was a Democrat in his political views and served for many years as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Baptist church.
J. Fred Emerson was reared upon the old farm homestead, work- ing in the fields through the summer months, or until after the crops were harvested in the late autumn. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He was married October 23, 1878, going to Vermont for his bride, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Delia A. Thomas. She was born January 27, 1847, and died November 24. 1900. She was a daughter of Horace and Anna (Wainwright) Thomas. farming people of the Green Mountain state. With his young wife Mr. Emerson returned to Cass county, and the marriage has been blessed with two children: Ralph W., who was born November 8, 1879, and is now a bookkeeper in Elkhart, Indiana; and Fred Ray, who was born
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February 14, 1885, and is at home, assisting his father in the operation of the farm.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Emerson has devoted his attention and cnergies to the occupation to which he was reared, and is to-day the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Ontwa township, all improved. Upon the place are substantial buildings, good farm machin- ery and other modern equipments that facilitate the work of the farm. Mr. Emerson votes with the Democracy and like his father has served for a number of years as justice of the peace, "winning golden opinions from all sorts of people" by his "even-handed justice." His life has been largely passed in a quiet manner, and yet he has displayed the sterling characteristics of an honorable manhood and loyal citizenship.
CARLETON W. RINEHART.
Carleton W. Rinehart, county clerk of Cass county and a resident of Cassopolis, was born in Porter township on the 22nd of November, 1869. His paternal grandfather was a native of Germany and his mater- nal grandfather was born in Scotland. The former, John Rinehart, be- came a pioneer resident of Cass county and entered from the govern- ment what is now known as the James Bonine farm in Penn township, selling it some years later to the gentleman whose name it bears. He then removed to Porter township and improved another farm. His son, Abraham Rinehart, was born in Virginia and when thirteen years of age removed with his parents to the vicinity of Dayton, Ohio. About 1829 the family came to Cass county, and he was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Owen, of Illinois, who died about a year later, and he after- ward inarried Hannah E. Denton, who was born in the state of New York and was brought to Cass county in her girlhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart then located in Porter township upon a farm, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for many years, his last days being spent upon the old homestead there. He died September 3. 1895. at the age of seventy-eight years, respected and honored by all who knew him. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and he was a prom- inent representative of the Baptist church, becoming a charter member of the Baltimore Prairie church. In its work he took an active and help- ful interest, and his life was ever characterized by honorable, strong and manly principles. In his family were eleven children, six of whom reached adult age.
Carleton W. Rinehart. the youngest of the family, was reared in his native township, early becoming familiar with farm work in all of its departments, and when he was nineteen years of age he joined his brother Clarence in the purchase of all the stock and farming imple- ments of the old homestead, after which they carried on general farm- ing. The partnership in the management of the farm was maintained
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for four years, at the end of which time Carleton W. Rinehart bought his brother's interest and operated the farm alone for a year. On the expiration of that period he removed to Mason township, where he was engaged in farming until elected county clerk in 1904. In addition to the tilling of the soil he engaged quite extensively in raising, buying and shipping fruit, and his business was profitably conducted.
On the 25th of November, 1891, Mr. Rinehart was married to Miss Grace MeKissick, a daughter of Moses and Clara ( Wilkinson) McKis- sick. Mr. Rinehart has been a lifelong Republican, active in the inter- ests of the party, and his efforts have been effective and far reaching in its behalf. As a public officer he is most loyal to his duty, and over the record of his public career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He belongs to the Freewill Baptist church at Union and is temperate in his habits. It will thus be seen that his years have been characterized by upright manhood and by strict fidel- ity to a high standard of moral conduct.
JOHN W. MECHLING.
John W. Mechling is now living retired in the village of Union but for many years was closely identified with industrial interests, de- voting his time and energies to many business duties, with the result that success attended his work and now enables him to rest without recourse to further labor. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania on the 28th of July, 1828. His father, Phillip Mechling, was a native of Pennsylvania and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that state. Removing to the west he took up his abode in Elkhart county, Indiana. He spent the first winter, however-that of 1835-in South Bend. He then located four miles east of Elkhart and remained a resident of that locality until called to his final home, lack- ing but one month of being ninety years of age at the time of his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Shoemaker, died in 1844. In their family were thirteen children. of whom John W. was the youngest of a family of seven daughters and six sons, but all are now deceased with the exception of Mr. Mechling of this review and his sister, Mrs. Mary Jones, who is now eighty years of age and makes her home in Porter township.
John W. Mechling spent the first seven years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, where he lived for a decade. About 1845 he came to Cass county, settling in Union, where he worked at any business that he could find to do. He was afterward engaged in the operation of a sawmill and also gave his attention to buying and selling produce. but in 1861 he put aside all business cares and personal considerations and offered his aid to his country, then engaged in the Civil war. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south, had noted
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the threatening attitude of the slave-holding community and determined that if an attempt was made to overthrow the Union he would strike a blow in its defense. He therefore enlisted as a member of Company A, Chandler's Horse Guard, serving for three months. He afterward carried the mail from Bristol to Union for eight years and subsequently was engaged for a number of years in blacksmithing at Union.
Mr. Mechling was married in 1861 to Miss Lovisa V. Dibble, and unto them were born two daughters and one son, but Lydia L. and Lottie L. are both deceased. The son, John D., still resides with his father. The wife and mother passed away April II, 1904. She was an estimable lady, having many good traits of character and hei loss was regretted by many friends.
Mr. Mechling is now retired from active business after a busy and useful life. He receives a pension of seventeen dollars per month because of ill health incurred by his service in the war. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has taken a very active and helpful part in public affairs, his political allegiance being given to the Democracy, of which he is a stanch advocate. He served as deputy sheriff for six years, has been school director and also treasurer of school district No. 9 for fourteen years. He was likewise road overseer for many years. He has been a resident of Cass county for six decades, and is well known in the county as one of its pioneer settlers. He has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey and is a venerable and re- spected man, having many friends in Union and throughout this por- tion of the state.
H. SYLVESTER CHAPMAN.
H. Sylvester Chapman, owner of one hundred and thirty acres of as fine land as can be found in Cass county, resides on section 17, Penn township. He was born in Medina county, Ohio, December 5, 1839. and represents one of the old families of New England, his ancestors having been represented in this country through various generations. His great-grandfather was Benjamin Chapman, a native of Vermont. Ilis grandfather, Levi Chapman, who was also born in the Green Moun- tain state, was a farmer by occupation and removed to Ohio with his family at an early date in the history of Medina county, where he took up his abode.
Amory H. Chapman, his son, was horn in Enosburg, Vermont, and was about five years of age at the time of his parents' removal to the Buckeye state. He was reared and educated in Medina county and was married there to Miss Lucinda Hastings, a native of New York and a daughter of Walter Hastings, who was likewise born in the Empire state. He was a lumber merchant, who engaged in rafting lumber down the Susquehanna river to Baltimore. For three years after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Amory H. Chapman lived in Ohio, and then came to
Mas 4. S. Chapman.
A. S. Chapman
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Cass county, Michigan, in 1845, settling in Newberg township. Mr. Chapman took up the work of farming, tilling the soil which hitherto was uncultivated and unimproved. For many years he was an active factor in agricultural circles and his death occurred in Newberg town- ship when he had attained the advanced age of eighty years. He was a man of good principles, who fearlessly espoused any cause in which he believed and he left to his family an untarnished name. When age gave to him the night of franchise he voted with the Whig party, which he supported until the organization of the Republican party. He was closely identified with the upbuilding of the county, settling in the midst of the forest upon liis arrival here, making a clearing and in due course of time developing a good farm. He performed all the arduous labor incident to such a task, shared in the hardships and trials of fron- tier life and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the pres- ent development and progress of this part of the state. In his family were but two sons, the brother being Herman L. Chapman, of Mar- cellus, Michigan.
H. Sylvester Chapman, the elder son, was but five years old when his parents left Ohio and came to Cass county. In his early youth he attended school in Vandalia and afterward pursued his studies in Cassopolis. Through the periods of vacation he aided in the farm work and he remained at home until nineteen years of age, when he began contracting and building, possessing considerable natural mechanical ingenuity that well qualified him for this work. He built what is now known as the Chapman school in Newberg township and also other build- ings of the locality, and was thus identified with that line of business until the time of his marriage.
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