USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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TRAVELER AND HERALD.
In 1874 the St. Joseph Herald was consolidated with the Traveler, the resulting journal being known as the Traveler and Herald. It was owned by Horace W. Guernsey, the former proprietor of the Herald, and Charles Stewart, who had become the owner of Mr. Reynolds' in- terest, under the firm-name of H. W. Guernsey & Co. Subsequently, Mr. L J. Merchant purchased Mr. Stewart's interest, and the firm became Guernsey & Merchant. In June, 1877, the office of the Traveler and Herald was entirely destroyed by fire. Mr. Guernsey then disposed of his interest to Mr. Merchant, by whom the paper is still published under the name last given. Like its predecessor, the Traveler, it is a strong Republican journal, and ably advocates the principles of that party.
ST. JOSEPH PIONEER.
The St. Joseph Pioncer was established mainly as a Democratic campaign paper, in 1863. It was owned by a joint-stock company, and was under the management of a board of control. D. A. Winslow, Pincus Herioch, and Thomas H. Botham constituted the board during its publi- cation. D. A. Winslow was chosen editor by the stock- holders, and the board of control selected Wallace H. Per- kins as the publisher. The first number was issued Feb. 14, 1863.
Mr. Perkins published the Pioneer twenty-seven weeks and then withdrew. From Aug. 15 to Oct. 3, 1863, its publication was suspended.
At the urgent solicitation of the stockholders and of his associates in the board of control, Mr. Winslow assumed the publication of the Pioneer, and performed the duties of both publisher and editor from Oct. 3, 1863, until after the presidential election of 1864. The last number was issued Nov. 19, 1864.
In his valedictory Mr. Winslow said, " The Union is the one great desire of our hearts, and object of our efforts ; and if that object can better be attained by the success of the opposition party, then we sink party in patriotism, and bow a most willing obedience to the will and judg- ment of the people."
LAKE SHORE INDEPENDENT.
A weekly paper of this name was established at St. Joseph, in November, 1873, by Charles M. Winslow. In
January following he sold his press and type to William Ricaby and Thomas H. Botham, who began the publica- tion of the paper described below.
ST. JOSEPH REPUBLICAN.
This paper was established in January, 1874, by William Ricaby and Thomas H. Botham, as an advocate of Repub- lican principles, the material being that of the Lake Shore Independent. In June of that year Robert Ricaby pur- chased the interest of Mr. Botham, and the paper continued under the management of William and Robert Ricaby until January, 1875, when the firm became William Ricaby & Son, by whom the Republican is still continued.
It was originally a five-column quarto, but in April, 1876, it was changed to an eight-column folio. In November, 1876, it changed from the advocacy of Republican to that of Democratic principles, but still retains its original name.
ST. JOSEPH DAILY NEWS.
This little sheet is issued from the office of the Repub- lican by K. & W. Ricaby. The first number was dated Dec. 4, 1879.
The Lake Shore Daily News is mentioned among the Benton Harbor papers.
THE VINDICATOR.
In the year 1857, J. M. Patton established a newspaper at New Buffalo, called The Vindicator, published it about a year, and stopped. Mr. Patton removed to Buchanan, but the press went into the possession of Alonzo Bennett, and was used for a time for job-work.
BUFFALO INDEPENDENT.
In 1859, Alonzo Bennett started a paper at New Buffalo called the Buffalo Independent. The first number contained the first account in this section (outside of Chicago) of the execution of John Brown. After about a year it was discontinued, and the press was removed to Buchanan.
NEW BUFFALO INDEPENDENT.
On the 9th day of September, 1875, A. C. & J. R. Hill issued the first number of the New Buffalo Independent. This paper maintained a feeble existence about a year and a half, when it was discontinued. The press and type were removed to Three Oaks, where they were employed for the publication of the Michigan Independent.
BUCHANAN VINDICATOR.
The first paper established in Buchanan was started in the early fall of 1858, by J. M. Potter. It was Republican in its politics, and was known as the Buchanan Vindicator. It was not very prosperous, and was finally absorbed in the paper next noticed.
BUCHANAN WEEKLY UNION.
This journal was started in 1862, by Lloyd & Turner. It flourished under their management until 1866, when it was purchased by Daniel A. Wagner. In February, 1867, Mr. Wagner changed its name, as stated below.
BERRIEN COUNTY RECORD.
On the 28th of February, 1867, Mr. Wagner, in place of the Weekly Union, issued the first number of the Berrien
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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
County Record. In 1869 the Record was changed from a quarto to a folio. On the 29th of December, 1870, Mr. Kingery was taken into partnership, the firm-name being Wagner & Kingery. Mr. Wagner's connection ceased on the 30th of April, 1874, when John C. Marble purchased his interest. On the 28th of May, 1874, Mr. Marble sold to Mr. Lindley, who also sold, on the 28th of January, 1875, to John G. Holmes. Upon Mr. Kingery's death, Aug. 18, 1876, Mr. Holmes purchased the interest of the heirs, and has since published the Record in his own name. A new steam-press has just been obtained. The Record has a circulation of about one thousand.
THE INDEPENDENT.
In 1860, Alonzo Bennett established at Buchanan The Independent, a weekly paper, in the interest of the Democ- racy. It expired in 1862, aged two years, one month, and two days.
VOICE OF THE WEST.
The village of Buchanan had become, in 1864, the head- quarters of the denomination of Adventists in the West, and in the summer of that year Joshua V. Himes, long a publisher and editor in Boston, established the Voice of the West (weekly), as the exponent of the views of that class of Christians. The circulation soon reached between five and six thousand. About a year afterwards a company was formed called the " Western Advent Christian Publishing Association," which assumed the publication of the Voice, and also issued numerous minor documents. Mr. Himes was chosen president of the company and editor of the paper. Several million pages of tracts were issued by the association and distributed over the land.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN TIMES.
About 1870 the name Voice of the West was changed to Advent Christian Times, and in 1871 the paper was removed to Norwood Park, a suburb of Chicago. The office was at first in the second story of what is now the Dunbar House. Later the association purchased the building now used as a factory, which then stood on the ground now occupied by the Advent church.
BUCHANAN NATIONAL.
On the first day of May, 1878, a paper by the above name was established at Buchanan, in the interest of the Greenback party, by M. R. Scullin. It maintained its existence only until the 28th of February, 1879.
BUCHANAN REPORTER.
On the day last named Dr. F. H. Berrick, having pur- chased the material of the National, commenced the pub- lication of the Buchanan Reporter, of which he is still the editor and proprietor. It is independent in politics, and has reached a circulation of seven hundred and fifty.
BENTON HARBOR PALLADIUM.
This paper was first issued on the 9th day of October, 1868, by L. G. Merchant, being then a six-column, four- page weekly. In December, 1869, it was sold to J. P. Thresher, who increased the number of columns on a page to seven. In 1872 it became the property of Alvin Stur-
tevant, who enlarged it to its present size,-four pages, of eight columns each. The Palladium is Republican in poli- tics, and since May, 1874, has been edited and published by Charles E. Reeves.
BENTON HARBOR TIMES.
The first issue of this paper appeared on the 17th day of July, 1875. It was a seven column folio, of which Wil- liam and Thomas Hurley were the proprietors. On the 1st of October, 1875, A. H. Potter became the proprietor, and so continued until the 1st of February, 1877, when he sold out to A. C. Webb & Co. These gentlemen continued the publication until the 30th of September, 1877, when William Hurley, one of the original owners, became the proprietor, and has remained so till the present time. Thomas Hurley has been the editor during the same period. The Times is independent in politics.
LAKE SHORE DAILY NEWS.
This diminutive but enterprising journal was issued at Benton Harbor on the 2d day of May, 1876, by William Dudley and Charles E. Reeves. The latter soon sold his interest to James Jennings. In May, 1879, Frank L. Thresher became one of the proprietors, and the firm-name has since been Dudley, Jennings & Thresher. The press was removed to St. Joseph in the autumn of 1878, but an editorial office is still maintained at Benton Harbor.
GOLD AND SILVER.
The first local newspaper of Berrien Springs was a monthly publication called Gold and Silver (a four-page, twenty-four-column journal), started in 1873 by Frederick McOmber, the printing being done in Niles. It was dis- continued at the end of six months.
BERRIEN COUNTY JOURNAL.
In May, 1874, Mr. McOmber, the publisher of Gold and Silver, together with L. E. Barnard, founded the Berrien County Journal, as a Republican weekly paper. It started with twenty-eight columns, but was subsequently enlarged to thirty-two. In August, 1874, Mr. McOmber withdrew, and Mr. Barnard carried on the Journal alone until his death, in April, 1876. It then passed into the hands of G. H. Murdock, who has since then been its proprietor and editor. It is now independent in politics, with Democratic proclivities. It is issued at Berrien Springs every Satur- day
BERRIEN SPRINGS ERA.
This is a twenty-eight-column weekly journal, published `every Wednesday by Frederick McOmber, who founded it in January, 1876, as an advocate of Republican principles, and such it still remains.
WATERVLIET JOURNAL.
In 1876 a Mr. Sheffield, of Indiana, was induced by the promise of liberal support to begin the publication of a weekly newspaper in the village of Watervliet, which he called the Watervliet Journal. It was independent in poli- tics, and set out with a promising assurance of success. But, although Mr. Sheffield obtained the respectable num- ber of five hundred subscribers, he found himself unable to make his income equal his expenses; so, after publishing
141
THE MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS.
the Journal a year at a loss, he withdrew himself and his paper from that field.
MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT.
In April, 1877, J. R. Hill brought from New Buffalo to Three Oaks the press and material with which he had been publishing the New Buffalo Independent at the former place. With them, on the 19th of April, he began the publication of the Michigan Independent at Three Oaks. The paper still flourishes under that name. It is independ- ent in politics, and has now a circulation of about a thousand.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS.
Early Physicians of Berrien County-Berrien County Medical Society -Eclectic Physicians-Homoeopathic Physicians-The Bar of Ber- rien County.
EARLY PHYSICIANS OF BERRIEN COUNTY.
IN the day-book of Walling & Lacey, headed " Pog-wa- tigue" (now Niles), occurs an entry, June 8, 1829, of the sale to Dr. James M. Martin of one saddle blanket and cer- tain articles apparently to be used in his practice. No fur- ther knowledge of this physician can be obtained. In the same book, under date of June 9, 1831, occurs the name of Dr. E. Winslow. He was a native of Vermont, and came to practice in Niles in the spring of 1831. In the next year he became associated with Dr. William B. Bee- son. The latter soon afterwards went into partnership with his brother Jacob, in the mercantile business, and gave up practice. Dr. Winslow remained at Niles until 1840, and then removed to Peoria, Ill., where he died.
Dr. James Lewis, a native of Vermont, studied medicine and graduated in that State. He practiced twelve years at Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., before removing West. He came to Niles in 1835, and opened a drug-store, but did not practice his profession here. With the exception of a year or two, he was in the drug business until 1857, when he retired. He is now living in Niles.
Dr. Talman Wheeler came to Niles in 1832, but did not practice in this region. He engaged in commercial pur- suits at Niles and St. Joseph, and was prominent in the development of navigation on the St. Joseph River.
Dr. Amos S. Amsden, a native of New York, emigrated to St. Joseph in 1832, but did not practice after coming to Michigan. He was identified with the progress of St. Jo- seph until his death, which occurred at Millburg, in 1849.
The first physician to locate and practice in St. Joseph was Dr. B. Y. Boyd, from Kentucky, who came in 1834, remained a few years, and went away, not having met with much success.
Dr. Lowell S. Lillibridge emigrated from Ohio in 1836. He commenced practice at St. Joseph, and continued until 1849, when he removed to California. He was interested in town affairs and filled several official positions. He was a successful practitioner, and commanded the respect and confidence of the community.
Dr. J. W. Finley was a physician of considerable emi-
nence before coming to Niles, having previously practiced five years in Chillicothe, Ohio, and filled the chair of chem- istry and natural history in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., from 1828 to 1830. He came to Niles in 1835, and com- menced a practice which continued without interruption for twenty years. In 1855 he removed to Pittsburgh, and served three years as surgeon in the army during the war of the Rebellion. In the year 1864 he resumed practice in Niles, and in 1870 opened a drug-store, in which he is still interested. Dr. Finley is now in the city of Niles, though he retired from the active practice of his profession several years ago.
Dr. Reuben Pierce came to New Buffalo in 1835, on the first vessel that ran into that port. He practiced there with much success till 1840, when he removed to Terre Coupee, and died in 1858. His son, Dr. Reuben W. Pierce, is now a practicing physician in Buchanan.
Dr. Stillman Richardson studied medicine in the State of New York. He came to Michigan in 1836, and located in Niles, where he continued in practice during the remainder of his life. As a practitioner, he was quick to discern, prompt to act, and excellent in judgment. By these qual- ities he rose to the first rank in his profession, and by his thorough honesty and sturdy championship of the right on all occasions, he endeared himself in a remarkable degree to the people among whom he lived. He died at Niles in 1875.
Dr. Morgan Enos settled in Pipestone, and commenced the practice of medicine in 1837. He was a good physi- cian, and for many years the only one in the township. He retired from active practice a few years before his death, which occurred in 1868.
Dr. Andrew J. Murray, who came from Pennsylvania about 1836, first opened an office at Berrien Springs, where he practiced till about 1839. He then removed to St. Joseph, and subsequently, in 1848, to Niles, where he died in 1854. He was a man of fine education, good ability, and a successful practitioner. He represented his district in the Legislature in 1849.
Dr. James Bloodgood, a graduate of the New York Col- lege, came to Michigan about 1844, and located in practice at Niles, where he remained until 1854, when he removed to Dowagiac, and practiced there until his death.
Dr. Hiram B. Wilcox, a native of Ohio, graduated at Cleveland. In 1836 he came West, settled in Indiana near the line of Michigan, and commenced a practice which ex- tended into the southern towns of Berrien County. In 1860 he removed to Three Oaks, where he still resides.
Dr. Philetus P. Maillard, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., came to Niles about 1840. He was an eminent physician, and had practiced several years in the West Indies before that time, but after his settlement at Niles he did very little in the way of his profession, though he was frequently called to council in dangerous cases. After residing several years at Niles he returned to Philadelphia.
Dr. Samuel Niles, a physician of the eclectic school, graduated at Laporte, Ind. He came to Niles about 1846, and commenced the practice of medicine. He was prom- inent in educational affairs, and much interested in the public schools of Niles. He died about 1861.
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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Dr. Joel Loomis, also an eclectic physician, came to Niles about 1848, and practiced there many years. He died in 1876.
Dr. Jabez Barron, an Englishman by birth, came to St. Joseph in 1838, and practiced medicine in that place till December, 1839, when he removed to Niles and continued in practice till his death, which occurred about twenty years later.
Dr. David B. Crane, a native of New Jersey, graduated at Fairfield Medical College, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and practiced in that State for several years. In 1832 he came to Albion, Calhoun Co., Mich., where he practiced till about 1852, when he removed to St. Joseph, where he is still re- siding, at the age of seventy-seven years. Dr. Crane is a fine scholar, an accomplished linguist, and during the many years of his practice has been regarded as an excellent phy- sician.
Dr. Thomas C. Sachse. a German of fine education and a good linguist, came to Niles in 1854. He practiced here about seven years, and removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he now lives.
Dr. J. H. Crawford came to Watervliet about 1841, and settled on a farm a mile south of Coloma, not intending to follow his profession, but appeals were often made to him for aid, and he finally yielded and practiced for several years. On account of sickness he returned to Ohio, his former place of residence, and was succeeded in Watervliet by Dr. J. H. Wheeler, who came to that place in 1846.
Dr. Charles C. Wallin came in the spring of 1835 to Buchanan, where he lived and followed his profession sev- eral years. He removed to Berrien Springs in 1843, opened an office, and practiced until 1849. He is now living in Chicago.
Dr. J. M. Roe, in February, 1851, settled in Buchanan, and is still in practice there.
Dr. Ansel Winslow came to Millburg in 1851, and prac- ticed there till about 1866, when he removed to near Lan- sing, Mich., where he is still in practice.
Dr. Lyman A. Barnard came to Berrien Springs at the time of its first settlement. He studied medicine, was ad- mitted to practice in 1847, and became one of the village physicians. He is still there, though not in practice. In 1850, Dr. S. C. Bartholomew came to the same place, and practiced till his death in 1858.
Dr. Corydon Parker, who graduated at Geneva, N. Y., came to St. Joseph about 1849, and practiced there until his death, which occurred in 1851. He was succeeded by Dr. Reuben D. Parker, who came to attend his brother in his sickness and remained after his death, taking his practice. Dr. Parker retired in 1874, but is still living at St. Joseph.
Dr. C. H. Bostwick located in the central part of Wee- saw township about 1845. He is still in practice, and resides in the same township, near the village of New Troy.
In the above mention of early physicians it has been the intention to include those who commenced practice in Ber- rien County during the first quarter of a century of its existence. Of most of those who came later the names will be found in the membership list of the medical asso- ciation and the several township histories.
BERRIEN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
On the 2d day of April, 1874, a number of physicians met at New Buffalo, for the purpose of organizing a medi- cal society. A committee was appointed to draft a consti- tution and by-laws, and one was also appointed to notify and request every physician in the regular practice to unite with them at Berrien Springs, April 30, 1874, to complete the organization of a society. At the adjourned meeting an organization was effected, the following being the original members : A. H. Scott, John Bell, W. P. Mason, L. H. Dunning, J. D. Bowman, W. F. Reiber, Thomas W. An- derson, L. A. Barnard. The officers elected were Dr. A. H. Scott, President ; Dr. John Bell, Vice-President. Drs. Bell, Anderson, and Greenamyer, Executive Committee ; Drs. Bowman, Mason, and Dunning, Committee on Medical Ethics ; Drs. Bell, Bowman, and Barnard, Committee on Admission ; Dr. L. H. Dunning, Secretary.
The names of the present members of the society are here given, with the colleges at which they graduated, as far as can be ascertained : Alexander H. Scott, B. C. Smith, W. A. Neal, H. G. Clippinger, Henry M. Marvin, Thomas W. Anderson, John D. Greenamyer, Wakeman Ryno, J. F. Berringer, University of Michigan ; John Bell, William P. Mason, University of New York ; L. H. Dunning, Fred. F. Sovereign, George H. Riley, Rush Medical College, Chicago; John D. Bowman, Queen's College, Ontario ; William F. Reiber, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia ; Robert F. Stratton, Medical Department Harvard College; James B. Reeves, Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio; Lewis W. Baker, Medical College of New York ; R. R. Lawrence, E. J. Bonine, Robert Henderson.
List of physicians not members of the medical society who are practicing in the county : Drs. A. K. Webster, Lyman Collins, David Crane, - Roberts, St. Joseph ; J. W. Egbert, A. J. Mead, O. P. Horn, J. Simpson, J. H. Richardson, Simeon Belknap, Niles ; Moses Clark, New Buffalo ; C. H. Bostwick, New Troy; H. Wilcox, Three Oaks ; George Bell, R. Wyman, Benton Harbor ; - Warner, Millburg ; Platt B. Myers, J. M. Roe, R. W. Pierce, - Van Riper, Buchanan.
Eclectic Physicians : Dr. Samuel W. Holland, St. Joseph ; Dr. E. B. Dodd, Dr. Leroy Dodd, Buchanan.
HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS.
The physicians of the homoeopathic school have no county organization and are comparatively few in number.
In 1855, Samuel Camp commenced practice in St. Jo- seph, and remained two or three years. Dr. L. A. Sexton succeeded Dr. Camp, but was there only one year.
Dr. R. Pengilly came to St. Joseph in 1861, and was in practice for three or four years. Drs. Charles Chamberlain and B. M. Pettit came to St. Joseph about 1867. The latter is still in practice there. Dr. Ludwig, a German, and a man of considerable ability, was in St. Joseph prior to 1865. He afterwards went to Michigan City, and is now near Dowagiac.
The first to settle in Niles was Dr. James E. Westervelt. He was a native of Tompkins Co., N. Y., graduated at the homoeopathic college in New York City, and removed to Plymouth, Ind. About 1856 he came to Niles and com-
143
THE MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS.
menced practice. He remained until 1864, when he re- moved. Dr. Craig, a graduate of the same college, came in 1864 and succeeded to the practice of Dr. Westervelt. He remained about ten years, and removed to Grand Rap- ids, and from there to Detroit, where he is still in practice.
The homoeopathic physicians at present practicing in the county are Dr. B. M. Pettit, St. Joseph ; Dr. L. I. McLin, St. Joseph ; Dr. F. W. Berrick, Buchanan ; Dr. H. W. Whitworth, Niles ; Dr. E. A. Clark, Benton Har- bor ; Dr. Allen, Berrien.
THE BAR OF BERRIEN COUNTY.#
In preparing a history of the Berrien County bar, it is impossible to make it as complete as is desirable. The first court in the county was held in July, 1832, but the court journals prior to 1836, as well as for the fall term in 1839, and for the year 1840, are not to be found in the county, rendering it impossible to ascertain what attorneys were ad- mitted during those years. And as there is no attorneys' roll kept, there is no means of ascertaining the names of the attorneys except by reference to the court journals, and in absence of the journals, to the judgment records. We, therefore, give the names of the attorneys known to have been residents of the county during the time for which no journals are found, yet we trust the record will be very full and complete.
Francis B. Murdock was the first lawyer in the county. He was born in Cumberland, Md., in March, 1804; ad- mitted to the bar of Pennsylvania at Bedford in 1825; came to Berrien County and settled at Berrien in 1830. He immediately entered into practice, and his name appears as attorney in the first judgment records of the county. He was the second probate judge in the county, receiving his appointment from the Governor and Council in 1833. He left the county in 1835, and after practicing his profes- sion three years in Alton, Ill., and ten years in St. Louis, he went to California in 1852, and now lives at San Jose, in that State. He long since abandoned his profession and entered the field of journalism ; and although now seventy- six years old, he yet retains his physical and mental powers in a remarkable degree.
Thomas Fitzgerald was the second lawyer in the county. He was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., in April, 1796 ; moved to Indiana in 1819, and was admitted to the bar of that State in 1821. In 1828 he was a member of the Legislature of Indiana. He afterwards came to this county, and settled at St. Joseph in 1832, and his name appears as attorney, with Mr. Murdock's, in the first judgment re- cords of the courts of the county. In 1832 he was ap- pointed lighthouse-keeper at St. Joseph ; in 1834 he was appointed, by Governor George B. Porter, clerk of this county ; was regent of the State University in 1837, and in 1838 was appointed bank commissioner. In 1848 he was appointed United States senator, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Gen. Cass, and held the posi- tion two sessions, and until Gen. Cass was re-elected in 1850. Col. Fitzgerald moved to Niles in about 1851. In 1852 he was elected judge of probate, which office. he held at the time of his death, in March, 1855. In the war of
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