USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 80
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provements at the resort, which he conducted successfully until January, 1886, when he disposed of this interest. Since that time he has lived retired from the active management of business affairs save for the supervision of his investments.
Mr. Pardee was married in 1853 to Miss Lydia Rice, a daughter of Moses and Annis Rice, and a native of New York, in which state hier girlhood days were passed. Her death occurred April 4, 1901. In his political views Mr. Pardee was a Republican until the Cleveland administration. He has served as assessor of the city and was alderman in 1870. He has a wide acquaintance in the county, where he has now resided for fifty-four years and has taken an active and helpful interest in its growth and the promotion of its welfare. He occupies a fine resi- dence, which was built in 1861 and is one of the best homes in Dowagiac. During the forty years of his connection with Cass county he has trav- eled in all of the western states, making fourteen trips to the Dakotas, Montana and the northwest. He has traveled altogether more than one hundred thousand miles on hunting trips, which was the occasion of his many visits to the northwest. He has seen the Rocky mountains and the bad lands of Dakota, has crossed the plains about six times and hunted buffaloes on the western prairies until they were extinct. He began making these western trips in 1872 and continued to do so each year until 1883. His experiences have been of a varied and interesting nature and have to some extent been fraught with the hardships, dangers and privations incident to western frontier life. He has carefully man- aged his business affairs, however, as the years have gone by and his labors are now crowned with success, which makes it possible for him to enjoy well-earned ease amidst the fruits of his former toil.
EUGENE B. GILBERT.
Eugene B. Gilbert is mimbered among the early settlers of Cass county. The story of pioneer life has never been adequately written and only those who have gone through such experiences can really know of the conditions that exist upon the frontier, which has little or no railroad communication with older points and must therefore be deprived of many of the advantages and comforts that are found in districts which have long been settled. Mr. Gilbert's memory forms a connecting link between the progressive present and the primitive past when the settlers were denied many of the comforts and conveniences which are now enjoyed by the citizens of Cass county. He lives on section 29, Silver Creek township, where he owns a good farm. His birth, how- ever, occurred in the town of Springfield in Otsego county, New York. September 21, 1833, and he is a son of W. B. Gilbert, hetter known as "Uncle Tommy" Gilbert. His paternal grandfather was a sea captain and the owner of the ship on which he sailed. The vessel, however, was confiscated and he was thrown inte an English prison at the time
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of the Revolutionary war. He lost all his wealth and died while being held as a prisoner of war. Ilis wife afterward returned to England, where her last days were spent. Mr. Gilbert, however, was of French birthi but had become a citizen under the English government.
W. B. Gilbert was born in New York state and was reared by an uncle, Jimmie BeGau, in Otsego county, New York. When a young man he engaged in teaming to Michigan from Albany and Buffalo, New York, prior to the era of the building of the canal. He also en- gaged in burning lime, furnishing all of the lime for George Clark on Lake Otsego and for many buildings of that period. His children were all born in Otsego county. He served in the war of 1812, enlisting as a private, but became an officer, and later he was granted a pension and given eighty-six acres of land in Michigan in recognition of the aid which he rendered the government during the second military struggle with England. On leaving the east he came to Michigan in 1838 and in 1839 removed his family to Cass county, settling in Silver Creek township when there was not twelve acres of land cleared in the entire township. He bought five eighty-acre tracts, all wild and unimproved, and at once hegan converting the raw land into productive fields. He had to clear away the timber and upon his farm he built a log house. Nearly all of the homes in the county were thus constructed in that early day. The task of developing and improving a farm was a very arduous and strennous one, but he carried on his labors unfalteringly and in the course of time his land became rich and productive. The trading was done at Niles and at St. Joseph, Michigan, which were then the nearest commercial centers. Mr. Gilbert continued a resident of this county up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy-fourth year. He was justice of the peace for many years and his decisions were characterized by the utmost fairness and impartiality -a fact which is indicated by his long continuance in office. He was one of the prominent and influential men of his day, and his efforts for the community and its development were far-reaching, effective and beneficial. He engaged in speculating in land to a considerable extent, buying and selling property and making his money in that way. He became very familiar with land values and was seldom at error in mat- ters of business judgment. In politics he was a Whig in early man- hood and upon the dissolution of the party he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, of which he became a stanch advocate. He was, moreover, a well-read man and had a library of fifteen hundred volumes in New York. He was interested in everything pertaining to his country and her welfare and his reading not only embraced social, economic and political problems but also took in much of the literature of the past and present. He married Miss Cynthia Sammons, a native of New York, who was born on the banks of Sharon Springs, her father clearing a place there. He was Casey Sammons, and was of German birth, while her mother belonged to an old Prussian family. Mrs. Gil-
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
bert was in her seventy-third year at the time of her death. She was a worthy pioneer woman who bravely shared with her husband in the hardships and trials incident to frontier life and did her best to care for her family and provide a comfortable home for them. She became the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity, but only two of the number are now living, namely : Mrs. Jane Cushing, who is mentioned on another page of this work; and Eugene B.
In taking up the personal history ot Eugene B. Gilbert we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this county. He was the fifth child in his father's family and the third son, and was in his sixth year at the time of the removal from New York to Cass county. He began work when a very young lad, for his services were needed upon the home farmi and he was fourteen years of age before a school was built in this township. To a limited extent he pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse, but his educational privileges were meager and it has been through his own efforts, his reading, observation and experience that he has broadened his knowl- edge, becoming a well informed man. He assisted in clearing the land which his father secured on coming to the county and has resided con- tinuousty upon the old homestead from the age of five years.
On the 20th of February, 1864, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Susan Tice, a daughter of Isaac and Sallie Ann (Lockwood) Tice, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, her mother having been born in Newberg. They came to Michigan about 1850, settling in Niles, and afterward removed to Silver Creek township. Mrs. Gilbert was born in Albany, New York, August 9, 1843, and came with lier parents to Cass county when about seven years of age. She was here reared in a pioneer home in the midst of the forest and thius became acquainted with the conditions of frontier life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have been born a daughter and son: Mary L., who is now the wife of Louis Rudolph, of Dowagiac ; and William I., who resides upon the home farm. He married Miss Lizzie Bissett, a daughter of Alex- ander and Isabelle ( Barker ) Bissett. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William Gilbert has been born a little daughter. Ione.
As stated, Engene B. Gilbert has followed farming throughout his entire life and is today the owner of about five hundred acres of valu- able land, of which one hundred and sixty acres is located in Berrien county and the remainder in Cass county. His house is on the east bank of Indian Lake and is known as Gilbert Castle. It is one of the land- marks of the county, being the second house built on the banks of the lake. Few men have more intimate knowledge of the history of the comtiity and events which have formed its annals. He can remember when the Indians were very numerous in this part of the state and remembers seeing the chief "Lo Pole" Pokagon. His father assisted in removing the Indians to Kansas under government contract. Mr. Gil-
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bert has lived in this part of the state for sixty-seven years, has been closely identified with its interests and has done much for its substantial development and improvement. In politics he is a Republican, but he would never accept office, although he could undoubtedly have filled public positions very creditably had he consented to become a candidate. He is a man of independent spirit, not bound by any creed, belief or fraternal ties. He forms his own opinions and is honest in upholding them and his life has been characterized by principles of integrity and honor, while his business career has displayed unfaltering diligence and perseverance.
MYRON STARK.
Myron Stark, living retired in Dowagiac, although for many years he was a leading and enterprising merchant here, was born in New York, May 30, 1836. He represented an old family of the Empire state, as it is definitely known that his great-grandparents lived in New York, for it was there that his grandfather, John Stark, was born, reared and made his home. Erastus Stark, his father, also a native of New York, came to Cass county, Michigan, in 1838, locating at Summer- ville, and in 1840 he purchased a farm in Silver Creek township, where he cultivated and improved his land. He was one of the first settlers of that township and aided in subduing the wilderness and extending the frontier. As the years passed he developed a good property. his fields being very productive, and he remained upon that place until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-four years of age. He also built a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber in connection with farming interests. He filled the office of justice of the peace for many years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active part in its work, and he was also an exemplary Mason. He married Matilda Cook, a native of New York, who died in 1839, when about twenty- seven years of age. There were three sons by that marriage. Philander died in 1850. John K., who was born in central New York in October, 1833, came to Michigan with his parents in 1848 and assisted in clear- ing and developing the home farm, now known as the Robert Bielby property. In the winter seasons he cut and hauled logs and in the summer months engaged in the active work of tilling the fields and caring for his crops. He married Eliza J. Cushing, a daughter of Otis and Clarissa Cushing, in the year 1855. and in 1857 removed to Mis- souri, but in 1859 returned to Michigan. In June, 1861. he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Second Michigan Cav- alry and a year later received an honorable discharge on account of disability. In 1869 he joined the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and has become one of the most prominent church builders of that denomination. His first charge was the Paw Paw church. and since that time he has served various churches, both on the
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country circuit and in large cities, becoming one of the strong divines representing Methodism in this state. His wife died in 1884. Six chil- dren were born unto them, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living with the exception of the youngest, who died in 1902. Rev. Stark was again married in 1895. He is now chaplain in the Soldiers' Home at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Myron Stark, whose name introduces this record, was the youngest of the three sons of his father's family and was only two years old when brought to Cass county by his parents. He remained at home until nineteen years of age, assisting in the sawmill and in the farm work. He then went to London, Canada, in 1855, remaining for a year in that locality, after which he returned to Cass county and en- gaged in farming in Silver Creek township. In 1862 he established a wagon and blacksmithing shop at Cushing Corners, where he remained until 1877. In 1876 he patented what is known as Stark's Common Sense Sand Band, and removed to Dowagiac the following year, after which he devoted five years to handling this patent, which he sold in every state in the Union, and also in Canada, France and Germany. He started without capital, but he built up a fine business and in 1883 sold his interest and retired with a handsome competence. The business, however, is still being carried on. In that year Mr. Stark purchased the grocery store of Mart Green in Dowagiac and was identified with commercial interests in the city until 1888, when on account of ill health he sold his store, since which time he has been retired from active busi- ness cares. His inventive mind is continually reaching out along new lines of thought and progress, and in 1900 he patented a tire machine, which is being manufactured on a royalty basis at Lansing, Michigan. The machine is for taking off and replacing tires on heavy wheels.
On Christmas day of 1857 was celebrated the marriage of Myron Stark and Miss Sarah Harris, a daughter of Alvin and Peggy (Shull) Harris. She was born in New York and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: Henry, now deceased; Matilda, the wife of Chester Southwork, of Dowagiac: Ida, Almira and Amanda, all de- ceased ; and Jessie, the wife of Wiley Messenger, of Dowagiac, who is a traveling man.
Mr. Stark has been a life-long Republican and has taken an active interest in the party, holding various official positions through many years. At the present time he is county agent for the state board of corrections and charities. is game warden for Cass county and the ad- joining counties and is superintendent of the poor for the city of Dowag- iac. ]Ie is also superintendent of the humane society of the county and his official labors have been of a far reaching and beneficial nature. Ile has been a Mason since 1860 and for several years served as master of the Dowagiac lodge. His residence in Cass county covers a period of sixty-eight years and no man has been more closely or honorably identified with its interests and development. He has made a creditable
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name in business circles, has manifested his loyalty and patriotic spirit in office and in private life has displayed those sterling traits of char- acter which everywhere win regard and command confidence.
JAMES H. KINNANE.
James H. Kinmane, successfully practicing law in Dowagiac, was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1859. His father, Patrick Kinnane, is a native of Ireland, and in 1856 came to the United States, locating upon the farm in Kalamazoo township, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on which he yet resides at the venerable age of eighty-three years. He has always devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, has prospered in his undertakings and now in the evening of life is en- joying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. His political views accord with the principles of the Democracy, and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He wedded Miss Mary Sullivan, a native of Ireland, who is now seventy-two years of age. She crossed the Atlantic in 1855, becoming a resident of Kalamazoo county, Michi- gan, where in 1858 she gave her hand in marriage to Patrick Kinnane. She, too, is a communicant of the Catholic church.
James H. Kinnane, the eldest in their family of nine children, was reared upon the home farm and attended the district schools, subse- quent to which time he entered the high school in the city of Kala- mazoo, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881. He after- ward spent a year at the Baptist college in Kalamazoo and then entered the law department of the Michigan university at Ann Arbor in the fall of 1883. He was graduated with the class of 1885, after which he opened an office in Kalamazoo, practicing there for ten years. In 1896 he was appointed by President Cleveland as special agent for the allot- ment of land in severalty to the Indians under a general act of congress. He continued in the position for two years. In 1898 he came to Do- wagiac, where he has been in practice continuously since, with more than ordinary success. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Winans as one of the three commissioners to revise the highway laws of the state and did effective service on the committee.
In 1887 James Kinnane was married to Harriet E. Blaney, whose birth occurred in Kalamazoo county in 1864, her parents being John H. and Mary ( Robinson) Blaney, the former a native of the United States and in business a well known real estate dealer of Kalamazoo. He was also active in public life there and filled the offices of city mar- shal and city treasurer. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kinane have been born two sons and a daughter: Charles, Catherine and Robert. The parents are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Kinnane belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He has been a Republican since 1896, previous to which time he was a stalwart advocate of Democratic principles, and for
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Six vous mal acted as chairman of the Democratic county central com- mittee of Kalamazoo county. Ile is a man fearless in defense of his honest convictions, however, and when he became convinced in his own mind that Republican principles were more conducive to good govern- ment he fearlessly renounced his allegiance to the Democracy. While Inving in Kalamazoo he served as justice of the peace in 1886-7 and was city attorney from 1889 until 1891. In Dowagiac he has served as city attorney for the past three years and the various duties of a public nature which have devolved upon him have been faithfully, promptly and efficiently performed. He is president of the Cass County Bar AAssociation and also a member of the Michigan Bar Association and one of its board of directors, and his official connection with the former is an indication of his standing with the profession in the county in which he makes his home. Popular in social circles, he has many friends and in his grasp and greeting there is always welcome. He is genial, companionable and entertaining and is recognized as a popular citizen as well as a prominent lawyer of Dowagiac.
FRANK L. HARTSELL.
Frank L. Hartsell, a contractor of Dowagiac, who for many years has been connected with building operations, so that many of the fine residences and leading structures of the city stand as monuments to his ability, skill and labor, is a native son of Cass county, his birth having occurred in Silver Creek township on the Ioth of July, 1858. His father, John Hartsell, who was born in Ohio, came to Cass county about 1835 and was one of its first settlers. The days of chivalry and knighthood in Europe cannot furnish more interesting tales than our own western history, and yet the establishment of homes upon the frontier meant sacrifices, hardships and sometimes death; but there were some men, however, brave enough to meet the conditions that must be faced and undertake the task of reclaiming the wild west for the purposes of civilization. Among this number was John Hartsell, who, coming to Cass county, entered upon the work of clearing and developing a farm in the midst of the wilderness. As the years passed he placed his land under cultivation and his fields became rich and productive. In politics lie was a Democrat, but without aspiration for office. He married Aliss Mary Ann Bach, a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of five children, all of whom reached adult age. The father passed away at the age of seventy-seven years, but the mother is still living in her seventy-fifth year.
Frank L. Hartsell was the fourth child and ekdlest son in the father's family. He was reated in his native township to the pursuits of farm life until seventeen years of age. When a young lad of six he entered the public schools and therein mastered the common branches of learn- ing. Ile also early took his place behind the plow and continued to aid
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in the work of the fields until he had attained the age of seventeen, when, thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial, he left home and took up his abode in Dowagiac to learn the carpenter's trade. He lias since followed the business, and when twenty-four years of age he began contracting on his own account, so that he is today one of the oldest contractors in years of connection with building operations in Dowagiac. He has erected many buildings in Cass county and at De- catur, Niles and Buchanan, and other places in adjoining counties. In fact, he is one of the best known contractors and builders in this part of the state, and the important work that he has done is indicated in many fine and substantial structures. His work has always been char- acterized by thoroughness and he has kept resolutely to the terms of a contract. being thoroughly reliable in all his business undertakings.
Mr. Hartsell was married in 1893 to Miss Lettie Schook, and unto this union have been born three children : Lelia M., Helen P. and Harold H. In addition to his home Mr. Hartsell has other property in Dowagiac, including three houses and lots. His own residence is a fine dwelling on Main and Pokagon streets, and is the center of a gracious, charming and cordial hospitality. In his political affiliation Mr. Hart- sell is a stalwart Democrat, earnestly working for his party and its interests, and he is now serving as a member of the board of aldermen. His labors in behalf of public progress have been far reaching and beneficial and he has intense sympathy with every movement calculated for the general welfare and substantial development of the county. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of the Maccabees. His entire life has been passed in Cass county, and he has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development, his memory going back to a time when this district was sparsely settled. That many of his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from his boyhood down to the present time is an indication that his life has been straightforward and up- right.
J. O. BECRAFT.
J. O. Becraft, postmaster of Dowagiac and secretary of the Round Oak Stove Company, was born April 27, 1850, in the city in which he yet makes his home. His father, Isaiah S. Becraft, was a native of New York and came to Cass county. Michigan, in 1848, as one of the first settlers of Dowagiac. He was connected with mer- cantile interests here for many years and contributed in substantial measure to the material progress and to the upbuilding and ad- vancement of the city. He held many offices and was one of the prominent and influential residents of Dowagiac. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1864, he was serving as deputy provost mar- shal and special agent for United States secret service. In politics he was a stalwart Republican from the organization of the party and fra-
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ternally was a prominent Mason, who exemplified in his life the benefi- cent spirit of the craft. His death occurred when he was fifty-two years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Caroline Wallace, was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of James and Betsy (Belknap) Wallace. Mrs. Becraft lived to the advanced age of seventy- two years. In their family were seven children, six of whom reached adult age.
J. O. Becraft is the third child and second son of the family. He was reared in Dowagiac and pursued his education in the schools of this city. He started out upon his business career as a clerk in a grocery store and spent about two and a half years as station agent at Cassop- olis and a similar period at Dowagiac. He afterward accepted a clerical position in the postoffice here and later became assistant postmaster, which position he capably filled for many years. He was first appointed postmaster by Benjamin Harrison, was re-appointed by President Mc- Kinley and is now serving for the third term in that office by appoint- ment of President Roosevelt. The consensus of public opinion is alto- gether favorable concerning the service which he has rendered in this connection, for he has given a businesslike administration, has system- tized the affairs of the office and care and promptness are exercised in the performance of all the duties connected with the care of the mails.
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