USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich. > Part 71
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EVERT B. DYCKMAN.
Evert B. Dyckman was born in Greenbush, N. Y., September 25, 1799. When a child his parents moved to Onondaga county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, enjoying only limited means of education. When twenty years of age he purchased one hundred acres of timber land, upon which he built a rude house to accommodate him- self and his father and mother, who lived with him. During the first three years the land, which had been purchased entirely on credit, was paid for, the family supported, and some comforts secured. At this time Mr. Dyckman was mar- ried to Harriet Hinckley, of Liverpool, N. Y. Soon after this. the Oswego canal was located through his land. This furnished an opportunity for his genius and enterprise. He assisted in the construction of the canal, and upon its comple- tion established a boatyard, and was engaged in boating for several years, and also carried on an extensive coopering business. He was, at the same time, engaged in the mercantile business, which was successfully conducted.
In 1836 he fell in with the tide of emigration then settling west; came to Detroit, purchased a pony, and rode through the state, looking for a desirable location for future operations. In 1838 he closed up his business in New York, and, with his family moved to Paw Paw, Van Buren county, where he purchased one thousand acres of land. While he resided in New York his wife had died, leaving seven children. Six of these, with his father and mother, two nephews and two nieces, made a family of thirteen, which he brought to Van Buren county, a very respectable addition to a frontier neighborhood. Mr. Dyck- man changed his residence to Schoolcraft in 1841, where he resided until his death. His business interests have been scattered throughout several counties in the state. He had important interests in Van Buren county. At Paw Paw he built a grist mill and store and the Dyckman House. In 1853 he made an important purchase at South Haven of some six hundred acres of land, which includes what is now the principal portion of the village. He erected a steam saw mill, a store, and several houses ; improved the river, built a pier,
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etc. He was interested in timber lands and a mill at Pine Grove. At Schoolcraft he was interested in the firm of M. N. Duncan & Company in dis- tilling high wines, in the firm of I. W. Pursel & Company in milling and buying and selling prod- uce and merchandise, and also in other manufac- turing. He was interested in the banking firm of M. R. Cobb & Company from 1867 until the First National Bank was organized ; he was presi- dent of this bank during the five years it was do- ing business, and president of the private bank of E. B. Dyckman & Company from the time it was organized until his death in 1881. He was active in politics and interested in the affairs of the county; was elected representative from this county and voted for the removal of the capital from Detroit to Lansing. He was very active in promoting railroads and other improvements, spending much time and money in getting the railroad from Three Rivers to Kalamazoo estab- lished. When the village of Schoolcraft was first incorporated in 1866, Mr. Dyckman was elected as the first president.
HENRY J. DANIELS.
This well known and respected pioneer of Wakeshma township is a native of Hampshire county, Mass., born on August 27, 1824. His parents were Barney and Mayheptibal (Lincoln) Daniels, also natives of Massachusetts. The father was a shoemaker and farmer, and followed those lines of industry in his native state until 1832, when he moved to Medina county, Ohio, where he located on a tract of wild land of which he made a fine farm, and on which he passed the rest of his life, dying at the age of ninety-five years. He was the first treasurer of Chatham township, Medina county, and was also treasurer of the county, and filled other local offices. His church affiliation was with the Congregationalists, and he was a trustee of the congregation to which he belonged. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat. An earnestly patriotic man, he enlisted for the war of 1812, but he was not called into active service. Of his six children, three sons and one daughter are living, all being residents of
Ohio but Henry J. He grew to manhood in Me- dina county, Ohio, attending the common schools and for a short time a select school, and began life as a teacher, following that occupation four years. He then worked at the carpenter trade and farmed in Ohio until 1864. In that year he came to Kalamazoo county and bought his present farm in Wakeshma township, which he has since greaty improved and continuously occupied, ex- cept for a period when he made his home at Vicksburg. He has a fine dwelling and good barns and other buildings on his place, making it one of the desirable homes of that part of the county. He owns more than six hundred and fifty acres of good land in this county and St. Joseph, and town property in addition. In 1849 he was married in Ohio to Miss Eunice M. Hall, a native of St. Lawrence county, N. Y. They had three sons and a daughter. The sons, who are liv- ing, are Albert E., a farmer of Brady ; William H., of Milwaukee ; and Franklin D., of St. Joseph county. The daughter, who is now deceased, was Ida E., the wife of Elmer J. Kimble. Mr. Dan- iels is a leading Democrat and has served several years as supervisor and a justice of the peace. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Fulton. Hav- ing lived for more than forty years in the county, and ever borne well and faithfully his part as a good citizen, he is widely known and highly es- teemed in all parts of the region and among all classes of its people.
MOSES RUSH COBB.
Moses Rush Cobb was born July 9, 1815, at Springfield, Vt. He came to Schoolcraft, Mich., in 1837, and was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with his brothers until 1845. He then spent nearly four years in Wisconsin. Returning in 1849, he was again in the mercantile business until 1851. In 1851, in company with M. N. Duncan, E. B. Dyckman and Henry. Brecse, the firm of M. R. Cobb & Company was formed. They built a large distillery, and started an ex- tensive dry goods business, which was continued until Mr. Cobb withdrew in 1857. The business was then continued under the name of M. N.
HENRY J. DANIELS.
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Duncan & Company. Mr. Cobb spent part of 1857-8 in Missouri. He returned in 1858 and was married to Elizabeth Dyckman. From 1859 to 1865 he was interested in the drug business with O. R. Hatch, the firm name being O. R. Hatch & Company. He was in the grocery busi- ness with M. Hale for one year, part of 1865-6. In 1867, in company with E. B. Dyckman, M. Hale and I. W. Pursel, the bank of M. R. Cobb & Company was formed, and he was cashier of this bank until the First National Bank was or- ganized in 1870. He was cashier of the First National for the five years they were doing busi- ness, and then cashier of the private bank of E. B. Dyckman & Company from 1875 to 1882. From 1882 until his death in 1904, his time was spent with his family.
HON. NATHANIEL A. BALCH.
Mr. Balch was born at Athens, Vt., January 2, 1808, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John den Bleyker, in Kalamazoo, February I, 1894. Mr. Balch made the most of his early educational advantages, and at seventeen years of age commenced teaching and preparing for col- lege. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1835, and from this institution received the de- grees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. As a broad foundation for a jurist, he not only read law, but medicine and theology as well, an example which members of the profession would do well to emulate more than they do. After graduation he taught for a time in Vermont, be- ing principal of Bennington Academy. In 1837 he came to Kalamazoo and taught in the Huron Literary Institute, which afterward became Kala- mazoo College. Mr. Balch made profession of religion while in college and united with the Congregational church. Afterward, for the greater part of his mature years, he was identi- fied with the Presbyterian church, and was active and prominent in the religious and social meet- ings. He was a remarkable Bible student, and always a successful Bible-class teacher. Some of us, members of the bar, used to be ungenerous enough to think, in the exciting contests in court,
he sometimes got Bible and Shakespeare badly mixed. He was admitted to the bar at Centre- ville, St. Joseph county, in March, 1840; was elected prosecuting attorney of Kalamazoo county in 1842, and afterward appointed to that office for Barry county by the circuit judge; represented his district in the state senate in 1847, and took a prominent part in the business of the legis- lature ; was postmaster of Kalamazoo in 1857 and held that office for nearly five years ; was Demo- cratic candidate for congress in 1860; president of the village of Kalamazoo; president of the board of education of the village and of the Kalamazoo Bar Association for more thantwenty- five years. He was a life-long Democrat of the old line. His strong individuality, partisanship, and naturally antagonistic spirit rendered him a candidate who could not overcome Republican majorities, and barred him from the higher offices. His early partners were Walter Clark, Samuel Clark, afterward member of congress, and Wil- liam H. Deyoe. Mitchel J. Smiley, Walter Balch, his son, Hon. William G. Howard and William Shakespeare were later partners.
Among the members of the bar of the county there has never been a more classical and thor- ough scholar than Mr. Balch, and few equally well-read attorneys. His practice was large and extended into surrounding counties. No one im- pressed himself more upon the practice in the trial of causes than he, though had the manner been toned down the practice would have been the gainer. It was a hot fight from call of case to verdict of jury. His client was an angel and the other party little less than a demon. The oppos- ing attorney must be ever ready to give and take. . This was born in him, a part of his being, and was an unfortunate characteristic; unfortunate espe- cially for himself, and unpleasant for all. But it can truly be said that the strife was all forgotten when the trial ceased, that there was no remain- ing bitterness on his part, and scarce ever any on the part of his brothers at the bar.
Mr. Balch was a strong, honest man, a strong, though not polished speaker, public spirited, kind of heart, sympathetic, ready to help the unfor- tunate and to aid any good cause.
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JUDGE B. F. GRAVES.
Benjamin F. Graves, like a large portion of the carly settlers of Michigan, was from the state of New York. He was born in Gates, just west of Rochester, in Monroe county, N. Y., October 18, 1817. The farm was his home, with only such meagre advantages as country life then af- forded a boy and young man. That those advan- tages were made the most of, his after life gives ample proof.
Being unfitted for manual labor, and possessed of a spirit that could not be satisfied with farm boundaries, he struck out from the farm home in the spring of 1837, and entered a law office in Albion. Orleans county, N. Y., and combined gen- eral study with law and clerical work. After a few months lie entered the law office of M. F. Delano, of Rochester, N. Y., and in January, 1838, became senior law student in the office of Gardiner & Delano, one of the ablest law firms of the state. Judge Addison Gardiner for several years had been circuit judge and vice chancellor of the eighth district. In October, 1841, young Graves was admitted to the supreme court, and the winter following was journalizing clerk in the senate at Albany. In May, 1843, he located in the then little hamlet of Battle Creek, Mich., where was his home during his active professional and official life, and until his removal to Detroit to spend his evening days in the families of his chil- dren. There he now lives, the same bright, gen- ial, lovable citizen and friend as in his more active years. Any friend who calls, as was the privilege of the writer, can hardly spend a more enjoyable season than with him. Reviewing the men and incidents of social, professional and court life of earlier days is delightful. He is the same bright, warm, jovial friend as in years gone by.
The larger part of Judge Graves' active life was spent in judicial positions. The old fifth judicial district, and the state of Michigan gen- erally, are greatly his debtors. The meager sala- ries he received were small compensation for serv- ices rendered. He was circuit judge from Janu- ary. 1858, till July 1, 1866, when he resigned. In the spring of 1867 he was elected to the su-
preme bench for the term of eight years, and at the close of that term became his own successor, receiving the support of both political parties- sixteen years on the bench of the supreme court. Hle declined a third term. The reports of that court bear ample testimony to his industry, broad learning and ability. His culture is not confined to his chosen profession, but reaches out, broad and well rounded. Whatever was for the general good of the community received his hearty and efficient support.
Though never a resident of Kalamazoo county, we used to feel that he belonged to us, and some of us, as did the writer, received our first lessons in practice under him. It is a great pleasure to review those freshman days. No circuit judge did more to establish and improve the practice in the circuit court, and no one has to a fuller meas- ure enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the com- munity and bar, both as to integrity and ability, than has Judge Graves.
HON. CHIARLES SEDGWICK MAY.
Mr. May was born at Sandisfield, Mass., March 22, 1830. When four years old he re- moved with his parents to Richland, Kalamazoo county, Mich., and spent his boyhood days on the farm. After completing his academic educa- tion at the Kalamazoo branch of the University of Michigan, he studied law at Bennington, Vt., and Battle Creek, Mich. While thus engaged he be- came thoroughly enlisted in the anti-slavery movement, and contributed various articles upon that subject to the journals of the state. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, and after about a year's practice of his profession became associate political editor of the Detroit Daily Tribune, and the Washington correspondent from November, 1855. to October following. He returned to his professional work in 1856, practicing both at Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. In November, 1860, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Kalamazoo county and held that office till Janu- ary. 1863. He helped to raise the first volunteer company from Kalamazoo-Company K. Second Michigan Infantry, of which he was commis-
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sioned captain. Mr. May lead his company with honor in the battles of Bull Run and Blackburn's Ford, and was the first officer of his regiment to be recommended for promotion by Major Gen- eral Richardson. Ill health necessitated his leav- ing the army, and in the summer or fall of 1861 he returned to the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1863 he was elected lieutenant gov- ernor of the state, and presided over the senate at the sessions of 1863-4. In August, 1866, he pre- sided at the Republican state convention at Detroit.
Mr. May was an active Republican from the organization of that party to the presidential campaign of 1872, when he became an active Democrat, and candidate for presidential elector, and continued to labor with that party so long as he took an active part in politics. In 1877 he was the Democratic candidate for United States sen- ator. He was an effective political speaker and rendered valuable service for the party to which he was allied.
Mr. May's chief distinction as a lawyer lay in his ability to present a case to a jury, and in this he ranked high. He had little relish for the drudgery of preparing a case for trial, or deter- mining what law writers or the courts had said on the legal questions involved. In his particular sphere he hardly had a peer at'the Kalamazoo bar, unless it was the Hon. Charles E. Stuart. His literary ability and oratorical powers were of a high order. The classical quality of his style, the strength and often pungent quality of his sentences and logic, and purity and effectiveness of his imagery and diction, with pleasing, well modulated voice and gesture, and often intense earnestness, rendered him a leading public speaker and orator, whether before a jury or on the plat- form. Quite a number of his addresses were published, popular and widely circulated, but those which gained him his greatest reputation were extemporaneous.
Mr. May was of a very sensitive nature, true to his convictions of propriety and right, and led a pure life. He was easily irritated, and there- fore not always as happy as he would otherwise have been. His ability entitled him to higher
political positions than he attained; and greater success was hindered by himself, his aspirations and disposition to prematurely force promotion. He could not brook disappointment, or the failure of young men, of somewhat his own age and standing, to coincide with his views, both as to position to be sought and time for effort. Too much allegiance and ignoring of their own inter- ests and individuality were demanded. In that way he drove from him those whose support he could illy afford to lose.
For several years Mr. May was vice-presi- dent of the national Unitarian conference ; and in 1870 he was selected by the national committee to fill the vacancy in the office of president of the conference, vacated by the death of Hon. Thomas D. Elliott.
In 1888, on account of failing health, Mr. May retired from active practice of his profession and built a country home, "Island View," on a favor- ite elevation overlooking Gull lake. Here, amid restful and congenial surroundings, he devoted himself to literary work, contributing to leading papers and magazines many valuable articles. His interest in public affairs was keen to the last. Not long before his death Mr. May published a volume entitled, "Speeches of the Stump, the Bar and the Platform," followed by "How We Are Governed in State and Nation." His final illness, heart disease, was of short duration. He passed away on the 25th day of March, 1891, three days after his seventy-first birthday. The wealth of personal tributes and testimonials showed the wide-spread esteem in which he was held.
HON. JOSEPH MILLER.
The subject of this sketch was born about 1817, in Winsted, Conn. The family removed to the territory of Michigan in the early '30s, and settled in Richland, Kalamazoo county. His fa- ther was a lawyer, as was also a brother, James, a prominent lawyer at Grand Rapids, Mich. Hon. Eli R. Miller, long a prominent citizen of Rich- land, and member of the legislature, was also a brother. Mr. Miller did not have the advantage of a liberal education. He read law in his home
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and in office in Kalamazoo. For a time he was clerk in one or more of the public offices of the county. Shortly after being admitted to the bar he entered into partnership with Charles E. Stu- art, afterward member of congress and United States senator. The firm was very prominent for many years, and did an extensive business in Kalamazoo and adjoining counties.
Mr. Miller was a Democrat, and while he stood firmly by his convictions, he was not a bitter parti- san, but liberal toward those who disagreed with him. He held the office of prosecuting attorney of the county, and was United States district at- torney for Michigan during President Buchanan's administration. The state then formed one judi- cial district. He performed his official duties with fidelity and special ability. A well read, strong, well rounded lawyer, he was at home and success- ful in all branches of the profession. Oratory was not his fort, but his fair, strong way of pre- senting a case to court and jury carried conviction.
Mr. Miller died April 9, 1864, while the strug- gle for the Union was still on. He was cut off before reaching the position which his ability, in- tegrity and industry fitted him to attain. Neither his brother attorneys, nor the community gener- ally, had reason to complain of treatment at his hands. He was public spirited, and highly re- spected by all. It is a pleasure for the writer to pay tribute to the memory of Joseph Miller.
VAN BOCHONE & SONS.
Van Bochone & Sons, proprietors of a build- ing and contracting enterprise with a planing mill and plant for the manufacture of house fur- nishings attached, which is one of the oldest and best known industrial concerns in the city, have a high rank in the business world for the energy and progressiveness of their methods and the spirit of fair dealing which characterizes all their transactions. The business as now conducted was founded in 1893 as a stock company with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. The present officers are Richard Van Bochone, pres- ident, Benjamin Van Bochone, vice-president, and Sanborn Van Bochone, secretary and treasurer. The
father, Richard Van Bochone, was the original proprietor and started the business in 1871, con- fining his operations to contracting and general building. The next year the planing mill and the plant for making house furnishings was add- ed, and in 1890 a lumber yard with a large stock of all kinds of lumber. The father is a native of Holland, born in 1818 near Nieuwe Beijerland. He was reared in his native land where he re- ceived a limited education in the state schools and learned the trade of a millwright. He was then engaged in the construction of the old Dutch windmill in various parts of Holland until 1846, when he came to the United States. After pass- ing two years there in carpenter work he became a resident of Kalamazoo in 1853 and began con- tracting and building on a small scale, putting up some of the carlier buildings of consequence click street and the gravel house for Dr. Sill. He in the town, among them the gas house on Bur- returned to the East for a short time, but in 1861 again came to Kalamazoo which has ever since been his home and the seat of his laudable and serviceable enterprise. In politics he is a Re- publican of firm convictions and great activity, and before the Civil war he was a zealous aboli- tionist. He aided in organizing the Republican party in this state and from its formation has given its principles and candidates his loyal and unswerving support. Although not desirous of official station of any kind, he has been prevailed on at times to accept a local office and has per- formed its duties with credit to himself and ad- vantage to the people. In church affiliation he is connected with the Congregational church. In 1848 he was married in New York city to Miss Johanna Emaus, of the same nativity as himself. They have six sons and two daughters living and all are residents of Kalamazoo but one who lives in Grand Rapids. The two sons connected with the company are Benjamin and Samuel. They have been in the business since 1872. Benjamin was born in New Jersey and came to Michigan with his parents in 1853. He and his brother are also part owners of the Van Bochone Building & Real Estate Company, a limited corporation with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars,
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which owns property on Vine and Portage streets. They, like their father, are ardent Republicans but not office seekers. The business of their main enterprise has grown from a small begin- ning to an annual volume of one hundred thou- sand dollars. The company, although organized many years ago, is not behind the times or want- ing in the most progressive enterprise, but is up-to-date in all respects and in every way worthy of the high regard in which it is held.
Since the above article was prepared, Van Bochone & Sons have disposed of the business.
HON. FREDERICK W. CURTENIUS.
Few men in the state of Michigan have served their country as loyally and faithfully as did Colonel Frederick Curtenius, of Kalamazoo, Mich. He was born on September 20, 1805, in New York city, inheriting from both grand- fathers, who distinguished themselves in the Revo- lutionary war, great patriotism and love for his country. His paternal grandfather, who was a merchant in New York, upon hearing of the poverty in the army, and their inability to carry on the campaign for lack of funds, sold his entire stock, which amounted to sixteen thousand dol- lars, which he gave towards purchasing supplies for the recruits. He gave the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in New York city. and was one of the principal band of rebels that took the leaden statue of George III from its pedestal, cut it into pieces, and had it molded into bullets for the use of the rebel army. Fred- erick W. Curtenius' father, Peter Curtenius, was a general in the war of 1812, and commander of the troops in the barracks at New York, after- ward being marshal of the state of New York, at which time he arrested Aaron Burr for treason. He was repeatedly elected to the state legisla- ture, and while there was an intimate friend of President Van Buren. By the death of his father, Frederick Curtenius was left an orphan at the age of eleven years. He attended Hamilton Col- lege in New York, but because he stoutly refused to give the names of some comrades of his that had been in some college pranks, the faculty re-
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