History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 122

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821

USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 122
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 122

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

O. M. SIKES.

PHOTOS. BY CHAS. F. PRITCHARD.

MRS. O.M. SIKES. (DECEASED . )

MRS. O. M. SIKES.

RES. OF O.M. SIKES, KEELER, MICHIGAN,

485

TOWNSHIP OF KEELER.

Orrendo Montague Sikes, the oldest son of Zenas and Nancy (Janes) Sikes, who were married in East Hampton, Mass., in 1813, was born in West Hampton, in the same State, in 1815. His brother John died in 1838, and his sister Lucina in 1848. His brothers, Pliny and Samuel, are living in Michigan, and Loring, Zenas, and Charles in California. In 1837, O. M. Sikes came with his father to Michigan, and settled on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 20, in the township of Keeler. On the 8th of January, 1846, he was married to Ann Elizabeth George, daughter of Woodbridge C. George, an early set- tler of Berrien Co., Mich. She was born in Orleans, Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., Aug. 18, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Sikes lived until 1855 in Benton township, Berrien Co., on a farm, but in the latter year returned to Keeler, and Mr. Sikes now resides on the old homestead of the family. They be- came the parents of the following children : William Arthur Sikes, born in Benton, Berrien Co., Mich., Oct. 10, 1847 ; Lucina Elizabeth Sikes, born at the same place, May 23, 1849, married, in December, 1870, to Albert F. Hurlbut, and now living near Fort Worth, Tex .; Kate Isabel Sikes, born in Benton, May 8, 1852, died March 14, 1860; Lelia Orra Sikes, born in Keeler, Jan. 27, 1864.

Mrs. Sikes died Dec. 6, 1867, and in 1871 Mr. Sikes was married to Mrs. Susan E. Parmelee, widow of Byron L. Parmelee, of Benton, Berrien Co. By her he has had one child, Lyman Montague Sikes, born in Keeler, June 27, 1872. Mr. Sikes, who was a Democrat originally, be- came a Republican on the formation of the latter party. He has been a justice of the peace since 1856, and has been chosen to other offices. He is at present secretary of Salathiel Lodge, No. 233, F. and A. M., at Keeler, and overseer of the county grange. He has always led the life of a farmer. Mrs. Sikes is a member of the Methodist Church. The parents of Mr. Sikes were both members of the Congregational Church, and he, although not a mem- ber, is a trustee of the Congregational Church at Keeler.

ORMAN V. ROSEVELT.

Jacob Rosevelt, the grandfather of Orman V., was a native of Germany, and came to America in company with his brother, settling quite early at Schenectady, N. Y. His children numbered six,-five sons and one daughter. His youngest child, Isaac Rosevelt (the father of Orman), was born at or near Schenectady. He was married, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., to Maria Veeder, and removed with her to the town of Barre, Orleans Co. Mr. and Mrs. Rosevelt were the parents of three children. Orman, the oldest, was born in Saratoga Co., Sept. 6, 1821 ; Jacob, in Onondaga Co .; and John, the youngest, in Orleans Co. Isaac Rosevelt died in Orleans Co., Aug. 20, 1828, and his widow moved back to Saratoga County, where she died, June 24, 1832.

Orman V. Rosevelt was but seven years old when his father died, and when his mother returned to Saratoga County he stopped with her brother, near the village of Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., and lived with him at that place until he was fourteen, when he moved with him to. Rochester, in the winter of 1835-36. He remained with

his uncle until he was twenty-one years of age. In the spring of 1844 he came to Michigan, and located in the township of Keeler, Van Buren Co., where he had pre- viously purchased land. The township had at that time but few settlers, and Mr. Rosevelt's land was unimproved. His home has since been in this town, and he has not been absent from it three weeks at a time. Oct. 28, 1847, Mr. Rosevelt was married to Nancy Sloan, daughter of Alex- ander Sloan, an early settler in Hamilton township, having moved to Michigan from Ohio. Mrs. Rosevelt was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 25, 1825. In the spring of 1848, Mr. Rosevelt settled, with his wife, on section 27, in Kee- ler, and in 1855 located on the place he now occupies,-the south half of section 22. Mr. and Mrs. Rosevelt are the parents of three children,-George, Maria, and Frank. The latter is living at home, and the others are married and reside in Keeler township. Mr. Rosevelt is a Demo- crat in politics. He has held several of the offices in his township,-pathmaster, commissioner of highways, assessor, etc. From his childhood his occupation has been that of a farmer. The first thrashing-machine which was brought into the township of Keeler was owned by him, and for eighteen years he operated it . for the accommodation of others. He also owned a breaking-team, and aside from breaking up all of his own land, he did good service in that line for many of the settlers in the vicinity. He is now . the possessor of a pleasant, comfortable home near Keeler Centre.

CHARLES DUNCOMBE.

Mr. Duncombe's father, Moses Duncombe, was a native of Norwalk, Conn., and married Sarah Oliphant, who was born in Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. To them were born eight children,-three sons and five daughters .- Soon after their marriage (about 1816-17, in Saratoga Co., N. Y.), they removed to Ancaster, near Hamilton, Ontario. About 1824 they returned to Waterford, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and in 1833 removed again to Canada, locating at Blenheim. In the fall of 1844 they came to Michigan, and located at what is now Keeler Centre, on a place which Charles Dun- combe had purchased, and the same which he now occupies. The family was the first to settle at Keeler Centre. Mr. Duncombe was a tanner, currier, and shoemaker by trade, and after coming here worked at that business winters and made improvements on the farm during the summers. He was a very industrious man, an active politician, and a re- spected citizen. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he became a member of the latter. He was never an office-seeker. Mrs. Duncombe died in Keeler in 1848; Mr. Duncombe's death occurred in Hart- ford (Van Buren Co.) in 1866.

Charles Duncombe, the third child in his father's family, was born May 30, 1822, at Ancaster, Canada, and until he was thirty-five years old aided greatly in supporting the family. In 1849 he went to California and engaged as a dealer in stock, dry goods, miners' furnishings, etc., return- ing to Michigan in 1852. In October, 1855, he was mar- ried to Frances S. Knights, of Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N. Y., where she was born on the 30th of January, 1830.

486

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Her father, Aaron N. Knights, came to Keeler a few years later, and is now living in Decatur, Van Buren Co. His wife (Mrs. Duncombe's mother) died in Keeler township. The place on which Mr. Duncombe now resides has been his home since he came to Michigan. For several years he was cashier of the First National Bank at Decatur, but is not now connected with that institution. He is one of the proprietors of the " Decatur Mills," and owns a hotel and several stores at that place. Decatur owes many of its improvements to him, he having taken great interest in their projection. In the summer of 1879 he erected a brick-store building in that village. He at present operates several fine farms. In 1867 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and has been active in political matters. He was supervisor of Keeler township for twelve or fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Duncombe are the parents of six children,-three sons and three daughters. These are all living except one son, who met a painful death from scalding when quite young. The others reside with their parents, except one daughter, Fannie E., who is now the wife of Seth Taft, and living in the neighborhood.

ALBERT E. GREGORY.

Stephen Gregory, the father of the above, was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., and married Mary Stevens, a native of the same county. They became the parents of nine children,-four sons and five daughters,-of whom three sons and one daughter are now living. In the fall of 1846, Mr. Gregory removed with his family to Michigan, and settled in Keeler township, Van Buren Co., on the farm now owned by his son, Albert E. Gregory, on section 34. No improvements whatever had been made on the place, and it was as much of a task to make it habitable and a source of prosperity as if the surrounding region had not before witnessed the arrival of a white settler. Mr. Greg- ory's occupation was always that of a farmer. His death occurred in April, 1869, and that of his wife in May, 1873.

Albert E. Gregory, who was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., was of very tender age when his father removed to Michigan. With the exception of three years, his home in Michigan has always been upon his present place. Mr. Gregory has been twice married, and has two children,-a daughter, Bernice E., by his first wife, and a son, Donald F., by his second. His last marriage was with Cora Force, the daughter of Rev. James P. Force, a Methodist clergy- man ; this occurred Oct. 27, 1873. Mrs. Gregory was born at Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind., Nov. 27, 1853. In political matters Mr. Gregory is a Republican.

TOBIAS BYERS.

The great-grandparents of this gentleman were from Germany, and settled at an early day in the State of Penn- sylvania (Lancaster County). Jacob Byers, the father of Tobias, was a young man at the time of the Revolutionary

war. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and did work of that kind in the army. He was married in Lancaster County to Fannie Zimmerman, and lived afterwards in Centre County, removing finally to Livingston Co., N. Y. He was the father of twelve children,-seven sons and five daughters. He and his wife both died in the county last mentioned.

Tobias Byers, the youngest son of Jacob and Fannie Byers, was born Feb. 9, 1808, in Centre Co., Pa., and when four years of age (1812) removed with his father to Livingston Co., N. Y., where the family were among the earlier settlers. Mr. Byers attended the district schools in the neighborhood of his home in New York, and does not recollect that he ever went to school in any but a log build- ing. When . he became of sufficient age he assisted his father on the farm, the latter working most of his time at his trade. After he became of age, Tobias Byers worked his father's farm on shares for two or three years, after- wards teaming a portion of the time for four years to Rochester. In February, 1835, about four years after his father's death, he left home and started for Michigan, pro- ceeding by private team to Buffalo, thence by stage to Cleveland, and thence on by team through Michigan to Illinois, extending his journey as far south as Peoria. In June, 1835, he returned to Michigan and purchased the farm on which he now lives, on section 13, Keeler town- ship, Van Buren Co., purchasing also on sections 15 and 19, the whole amounting to four hundred and forty acres, -all from government. He settled at once on section 19, built a log house, and lived in it several years. He had company occasionally, when settlers, with their families, would stop with him for a few days. In March, 1856, Mr. Byers was married to Jeannette M. Wilson, who had come to the township the year previous, from Allegany Co., N. Y., in company with her sister, Mrs. John Baker, who, with her husband, is still living in Keeler township. Mrs. Byers' grandparents were from Massachusetts, her parents from Wayne Co., N. Y. She was born Jan. 5, 1832, in Independence, Allegany Co., N. Y., and taught school from her fifteenth to her twenty-fourth year. Mr. Byers at the time of his marriage was living on the place where he now resides, which has since been his home. His busi- ness has always been that of a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Byers are the parents of five children, as follows : Charles, born Aug. 2, 1857, died Nov. 26, 1857; Flora I., born June 24, 1858, died Feb. 28, 1865 ; Nellie I., born June 23, 1862, died Feb. 17, 1865 ; Birney F., born May 21, 1866; Eddie, born Nov. 29, 1871, died Jan. 28, 1872. Mr. Byers is a Democrat in politics, and has held several offices in his township, among them that of justice of the peace about fifteen years. Neither he nor his wife belong to any religious society. He is a member of the sub- ordinate and county granges, as is also his wife. Mr. Byers was the first permanent settler in the township of Keeler. His home-farm contains two hundred and thirty- three acres, and he is the owner, in the aggregate, of five. hundred and thirty-three acres, in various localities.

MRS. TOBIAS BYERS.

MASTER BYERS.

TOBIAS BYERS.

RESIDENCE OF TOBIAS BYERS, KEELER, MICH.

487

TOWNSHIP OF LAWRENCE.

CHAPTER LXIII.

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP .*

Boundaries and General Description-Indian Mounds-Pioneers and Early Settlements-Roads-Boating on the Paw Paw River-Van Buren Centre-Township Organization and Officers-Lawrence Village-Religious Societies in Lawrence-Schools.

TOWN 3 south, range 15 west, is the designation applied in the original government survey to the township now known as Lawrence. It embraces thirty-six full sections and a fractional section in the northeast corner,-thus ap- portioned, doubtless, so that the Paw Paw might be the boundary line at that point between Lawrence and Arling- ton. On the north of the township is Arlington, on the south Hamilton, on the east Paw Paw, and on the west Hartford.

The country, originally heavily timbered with beech, maple, whitewood, basswood, elm, ash, black walnut, and butternut, covers a region of gently-rolling lands, whose rich, sandy soil makes the township's agricultural interests exceedingly profitable. Wheat averages from fifteen to twenty-five bushels per acre. Fruit grows in abundance, especially apples. Peaches were at one time cultivated ex- tensively, but disease among the trees has cut the crop down to insignificant proportions. There are also at Law- rence village milling interests which contribute not a little to the sum of local prosperity. Excellent water-power is gained from Brush Creek, the most important tributary of the Paw Paw in Lawrence. The river itself flows through the northern portion of the township, which is watered also by numerous river tributaries, and a half-dozen or more lakes, the largest of which are Taylor's Lake, Lake George, and Prospect Lake. Prospect Lake, in sections 25, 26, 35, and 36, is a mile and a half in length and half a mile wide. It was earlier known as Crystal Lake, because of the clearness and purity of its waters, and is now a place of popular resort for anglers and pleasure-seekers.

The township contains but one village,-Lawrence, t- which is connected by railway with the Michigan Central line at Lawton, and by a daily stage with Hartford, on the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad. The population in 1874 was 1726, and the assessed value in 1879 was $531,100.

INDIAN MOUNDS.

Some traces of Indian mounds may still be seen in Law- rence, on sections 7 and 18, and old settlers say that before the plow had disturbed these elevations they were in some cases very clearly defined, and contained, moreover, numer- ous Indian relics. Just north of Sutton's Lake, on section 7, were three of these mounds, each about four feet high and twenty feet in diameter, sloping gradually to the level. They were located about ten rods apart, and in combination

formed a triangle. On the northeast quarter of section 18 were three smaller mounds, but similar in location and shape to the others. In 1840 one Wetherby, a hunter, opened these mounds, and found within them human bones and flint arrow-heads. At that time beech-trees sixteen inches in diameter were growing on some of the mounds. Between these two groups of mounds extended a ridge of land about forty rods wide, and in this ridge of land the plow has turned up from time to time considerable quanti- ties of flints. Many thoughtful observers declare that at some remote period a battle was fought there, but by what race of beings (if by any) conjecture even has not seen fit to indicate, save in a general way that the race was savage.

PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Although the early settlements in the township concen- trated upon the site of Lawrence village, the first settlement in the township was made on the west shore of Prospect Lake, on section 26, by Stephen Fountain, a bachelor, in June, 1835. Very little can be said about Fountain's rep- resentation as a Lawrence pioneer, for he tarried in his new quarters but a short time, and when he left, traces of his existence in Lawrence disappeared with him. It was also in June, 1835, that John Allen founded the village of Mason, now the village of Lawrence; but as early settle- ments upon that spot receive mention elsewhere in this chapter the recital that follows will deal with the pioneers of the interior.

The summer and fall of 1835 saw the arrival also of John R. Haynes, Thomas S. Camp, George and John Reynolds, and others. Haynes located on section 10, Camp on section 4, and the Reynolds family on section 13. Mr. Haynes became one of the most prominent men of the township, and was for some time one of the associate judges of the county court. He was postmaster at Law- rence many years, the second coroner of Van Buren County, also a merchant and miller. He held many local offices of trust, and lived in the village until his death, in 1856.

Sept. 1, 1835, James Gray, with his wife and six chil- dren, started from Lenawee Co., Mich., for Lawrence, and after a tiresome journey of ten days, made in a lumber- wagon drawn by two yokes of oxen, and over roads which the hardy Gray himself had ofttimes to make, they reached section 11, in Lawrence, where Mr. Gray had located a farm. Gray's cabin was in size 10 by 15 feet, roofed with tree-boughs, boasting the country's soil for a floor, and adorned with a blanket, which served as a door, before the only opening the establishment had. The roof let in the rain, and sometimes so freely that the tenants were actually afloat within the domicile. Gray did odd jobs as a carpen- ter, and also farmed industriously, but bad luck overtook him, and, being forced to sell his farm, he moved to Breeds- ville, whence he returned to Lawrence village, and there died in 1873. Gray did something in the early days of his settlement in the way of flat-boating on the Paw Paw, and it was owing in part to his poor success in that branch of traffic that he succumbed to financial misfortune.

Eaton Branch, of Ann Arbor, came to Lawrence in 1835, with his wife, and worked for John Allen a year, making roads, underbrushing at Mason village, and doing

# By David Schwartz.

t The village of Van Buren was laid out on the north side of Pros- pect Lake, in Lawrence, in the flush times of 1836-37, with plenty of streets and lots, but no houses. In 1839 it was owned by T. E. Phelps, R. Christie, and Charles Chadwick, and assessed in the aggregate at $1135, according to the county records. The streets were named Water, Broad, Park, and Forest. The village failed to appear in any later documents.

488

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

what else came to his hand, living meanwhile in the house vacated by Ephraim Palmer. In 1836 he entered 160 acres of land on section 4, and rather than go around by the section line, he bought of Judge Haynes the right of way through section 9, and cut a road to his farm. As this road happened to be chosen subsequently by the high- way commissioners for a town road, Branch got his money back. On the farm he then entered Mr. Branch has ever since lived. He was actively concerned in township affairs, and, as highway commissioner for several years, laid out many of Lawrence's first roads. Israel Branch, brother to Eaton, came, in March, 1836, to Lawrence, with his wife and three children, and, setting up a cooper-shop in the village, worked at his trade several years. He then settled on section 4, where he died in 1873. Luther Branch, an- other brother, came from Oakland County in 1837, worked a while as a cooper in the village, and eventually located upon a farm in section 14. He moved to a place on sec- tion 5, where he died in 1845. Vine Branch, the father, became a resident of Lawrence in 1836, and with his wife made his home at the house of his son Eaton, where he died in 1852.

Orrin Sutton was a settler upon the Holland Purchase, N. Y., and in 1834, coming West with his family, located first in Washtenaw Co., Mich., and in 1836 in Mason village. He helped John Allen build the first saw-mill at Mason, worked about the neighborhood a short time, and then settled upon a farm in section 7, returning, however, to the village, from which he migrated to Hart- ford, where he died in 1868, and where his son Luther (editor of the Day Spring) now resides. Orrin Sutton was the first township clerk of Lawrence, and during his residence therein served extended terms as justice of the peace, town treasurer, and in other local offices.

Horace Stimson, who became distinguished as the first postmaster at Lawrence, moved from Kalamazoo to section 1 in Lawrence, in 1836. Orrin Sutton built a double log house for Stimson, and finished it just in time to be used for the first town-meeting, held April 3, 1837. Stimson moved out of the township soon after, selling his place to Daniel Buckley, who died in Allegan County.

Thomas S. Camp, hailing from Connecticut, came to Law- rence in 1836 and made purchase of considerable land in the township, and lived upon a farm in section 4. July 12, 1861, while fishing with a Mr. Brown, in Monroe's Lake, he was drowned. One of his daughters, Mrs. Eliza West, lives on section 4.

In the Reynolds family were George, the father, and four sons,-John, George, William, and Burr. The elder Rey- nolds put up a log tavern on the Territorial road in section 13 early in 1836, and there for many years kept the old Reynolds tavern. His sons lived with him a while, and then all but John moved out of the township. John Reynolds, who had in early life been a boatman on the Ohio, renewed that occupation when he settled in Lawrence, and for some time was actively engaged in flat-boating on the Paw Paw between Lawrence and St. Joseph. His river experience elevated him to the dignity of flat-boat " captain," and he was a man of some local river fame for that reason. He was by trade a baker, and when he left Lawrence he opened

a bakery in Paw Paw. He now lives on a farm south of that village.

J. R. Monroe, one of Lawrence's most eminent and honored citizens, was for forty years closely identified with the most progressive interests of not only Lawrence town- ship, but of Van Buren County. At the age of twenty (in 1826) he was engaged at Detroit with Gen. Cass and Cam- pau in locating Western lands. He went back to New York in 1828, and in 1830, returning to the West, he undertook an exploration of Michigan, making his home at Prairie Ronde. In 1833 he entered the land upon which the vil- lage of South Haven now lies, and in 1835 laid out a road from Prairie Ronde to South Haven. That road passed through Lawrence township in the northeast corner, and crossed the Paw Paw on the west line of section 1. He built the first house ever put up in South Haven.

His permanent settlement, however, in Michigan was made in Lawrence in 1837, upon land in section 2, through which the road from Prairie Ronde to South Haven had its course. On that farm he lived until his death, in Oc- tober, 1876. Mr. Monroe was a large land-holder, and a man of mark in the community which was proud to claim him as a member. He was an earnest supporter and pro- moter of beneficent public enterprises, did much for the en- couragement of public education, assisted in the foundation of both the State and Van Buren Agricultural Societies, occupied the judicial bench (sitting as associate judge in the first court held in the county, June 6, 1837), filled numerous local public trusts (serving twenty-five years con- secutively as county commissioner of the poor), and stood until his death at the head of the County Pioneer Associa- tion, which he called into existence, and of which he was the only president during his life.

During Judge Monroe's extended service as poor com- missioner, he frequently provided at his own house for the wants of indigent poor, and to such his residence came to be known as the poormaster's house. One day, while the judge attired in shabby garments was at work in a ditch on his farm, he was accosted by an apparent traveling pauper with the inquiry, " Where is the poormaster's house ?" and upon the judge pointing it out without revealing himself, continued, with a look of curious examination, " Do you work for him ?" " Yes," replied the judge. " And what does he give you for working ?" "Oh, he gives me just what he has himself," was the judge's answer ; " pork and beans, potatoes, johnny-cake, and old clothes." " Well," exclaimed the tramp, preparing to move off, " if that's all a fellow can expect, I'll be goll-darned if I stop with the old hedge-hog." And away he went, determined that the county shouldn't support him on those terms.

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 122

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 821

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821