History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

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 48
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 48

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).

Church of the United Brethren .- This church was or- ganized about 1846, by the Rev. Josiah Terrel and the Rev. Mr. Babcock. The Rev. Mr. Terrel had preached at this place occasionally prior to the organization of the class. The first members were John Hatfield and wife, Mrs. Charles Cowles, Mrs. Hess, Mrs. Capt. Ingersoll, and Mrs. Maria Dutton.

Meetings were first held in John Hatfield's house (that stood across the street from where Andrew C. Day lives), and part of the time in a carding-mill, across the street from where the grist-mill owned by John Kingery now stands. In 1849 the present church was erected, being the first church built in the village.

The church was supplied by ministers on the circuit until Sept. 15, 1866, when it was detached from Berrien circuit, and made a mission station. Rev. George Sicka- foose was the first pastor after the change. He was suc- ceeded by J. T. Bartmess, W. Terflinger, George Sicka- foose, and Robert C. Barton, the present pastor. The church numbered 57 in 1873, but is now reduced to about 25.

The following are among the ministers who preached while the church was under charge of the circuit: Jesse B. Sleight, Emsley Lamb, - Snip, - Johnson, Wells, - Freeman, and - Thomas.

Advent Christian Church .- In 1851 or 1852 the Rev. D. R. Mansfield and Mrs. M. S. Mansfield, his wife, came to the village of Buchanan from Union Mills, Ind., and preached the views of the Adventists in the church of the United Brethren. From that preaching began the movement that soon culminated in the organization of a society, by Alfred Richard, J. R. Lister, George B. Cottrel, and 12 or 15 others, mostly members of other denominations. Services were held in the church of the United Brethren for a time, afterwards in the ball-room of the hotel. J. R. Lister was the first pastor. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield were here quite often for a year or two; and in about 1856, Rev. Mr. Mans- field and his wife became settled over the church, and re- mained for some time. They were succeeded by Darius

Matthewson, Dr. F. H. Berrick, J. S. Mendell, and George Cole.

About 1863 the church membership had increased to 282, and the society was the largest in the West. About this time the Voice of the West was started here. A division on doctrinal questions sprang up, and about 100 went off from the main body and organized a society. About 1855 their first house was built, west of the Dis- ciples' church. In May, 1866, the present building was commenced, and was dedicated Nov. 3, 1867. Mrs. M. S. Mansfield delivered the dedicatory sermon.

The church was legally organized April 5, 1866. H. J. Howe, Philip Holler, E. M. Griffin, P. M. Weaver, San- ford Smith, Alfred Richards, and J. V. Himes were elected trustees. In 1875 the membership was 147.

Baptist Church .- A church of this denomination was organized in the spring of 1869, with about 40 members. The right hand of fellowship was given by the Rev. Mr. Russell. The services were held in the Methodist church. The regular meetings were held for several years in the hall now known as Kinyon Hall and in the Advent church. The pastors who have served the church are the Revs. - Russell, - Maybin, and - - Smith. The church is now without a pastor, and has but few members. Covenant meetings are held once a month.

Dunkards .- This denomination was numerous through the northern part of Indiana at an early day, and upon the advent of settlers here some of them held their views. A prominent man among them was John Weaver, at whose house they met as early as 1838-39, he being the minister who preached to them. The society soon increased to 12 or 15 members. Meetings were held in the Berks school- house, Oronoko, and Wagner school-house, Buchanan, and they are still held there, as the society has no meeting-house nearer than the Portage Prairie brick church. They now number about 80 in the county, and communion and soup feast are held once a year at Jacob Weaver's house. The name Dunkard is universally applied to this sect, but they are otherwise known as " The Brethren."

The Church of God .- The history of this church is contained in the history of the Advent Church until March 16, 1853, when a division occurred, and from that there were two distinct societies. This one contained 13 mem- bers, and they retained the church. J. W. R. Lister and R. Bronson were elders in the old society, and continued to hold the position in this society. J. W. Lister was the first pastor after the division, and he was succeeded by the Rev. J. W. Stevenson, F. H. Berrick, and J. W. R. Lister, who is the present pastor. The society has now 31 mem- bers.

Religious Societies in Buchanan in 1865 .- A report made by the Rev. William Fuller in 1865 showed the numbers and condition of the several religious denomina- tions in Buchanan at that time to be as follows :

United Brethren, about 20 members ; a house, and preach- ing once in two weeks.

Methodist Episcopal Church, about 80 members ; a good brick house, and preaching every Sabbath.

Presbyterian Church, about 56 members ; a comfortable house, and preaching every Sabbath.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Campbellites, or Christians, about 180 members ; a good house, and preaching every Sabbath.

Second Adventists, No. 1, about 135 members ; a poor chapel, and preaching two Sabbaths in a month.

Second Adventists, No. 2, about 50 members; the same poor chapel, and preaching every other Sabbath.

Besides, there were two local Protestant Methodist min- isters, with a few brethren of that order, and some Univer- salists.

SERVICES OF A BUCHANAN LADY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Mrs. . Hannah L. Carlisle was born in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1823. The family removed to Orleans Co., N. Y., when she was four years old. In 1850 she came to Cassopolis, and in 1852 married Daniel Carlisle, and in 1854 removed to near Buchanan on a farm. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion she was strongly impelled to offer her services as nurse, and upon the or- ganization of the 2d Michigan Cavalry she left her home and family and went with the regiment, Nov. 14, 1861, to St. Louis. After reaching the city she was assigned to the regimental hospital, where she remained until the regiment was transferred to Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, when she returned home. On the night of July 14, 1862, she received a telegram from the Sanitary Commission in Chi- cago, asking her to report for duty the next day. She did so, and was met by a gentleman at the train, and reported at the Massasoit House. Orders were soon received to report at Post Hospital No. 1, Columbus, Ky., under the charge of Dr. Ransom, of Roscoe, Ill., and Gen. Quimby, in charge of Fort Halleck. Mrs. Carlisle remained at this hospital until the close of the war, when she entered the Freedmen's Department as superintendent and teacher, and remained in that connection one year, and returned to the duties of home July 3, 1866. Mrs. Carlisle is now living in Buchanan.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. LORENZO P. ALEXANDER

was born in Angelica, Allegany Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1820. His father, Thomas P. Alexander, was a native of New Hampshire; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a de- scendant of the Alexanders of Glasgow, Scotland. His mother's maiden name was White; born and raised in Boston, Mass., and was a descendant of the Whites of Belfast, Ireland. When he was seven years old, his pa- rents moved from Angelica to Belfast, in the same county, locating on the Genesee River. His father was postmaster in Belfast from 1833 until 1857. In September, 1841, at the age of twenty-one, he left home and friends for the West, and on the 11th of October following landed in Buchanan, Berrien Co., Mich., where he still resides. At that time, what is now the village of Buchanan consisted of four cabins, a grist-mill, saw-mill, and distillery. Being a car- penter and joiner, he went to work at his trade the fol- lowing winter, putting up a foot-lathe, and manufacturing splint-bottom chairs and rakes,-this being the first enter-

prise of the kind in that part of the State. In 1824 he married Miss Rachel Cooper, daughter of Price Cooper, and a school-mate in his school-days in the East. Three children were born to them,-two sons and a daughter,- viz., Theodore, who was drowned at the age of ten years ; the youngest, Carlton, died of croup at the age of four years ; Emily Kate is the wife of Henry C. French, a hardware merchant of Cassopolis, Mich., to whom she was married in 1870; Mrs. L. P. Alexander, died, 1859, at the age of thirty-eight years. He married Miss Helen M., daughter of John Burns, of Belfast, N. Y., Aug. 26, 1860. They have one son, John Burns, now twelve years of age.

In 1846, Mr. Alexander erected a frame dwelling-house on Main Street, Buchanan, in which he resided until 1864. In 1848 he, in company with J. D. Ross, erected a two- story stone building on Front Street, Buchanan, engaging the same year in the manufacture of boots and shoes in com- pany with Dr. C. C. Wallin. In 1850 he engaged in the general mercantile business with J. D. & T. S. Ross, under the firm-name of J. D. Ross & Co. In 1858, T. S. Ross withdrew from the firm, after which the business was con- ducted in the firm-name of Ross & Alexander. They did a large business, averaging seventy thousand dollars annu- ally for several years. In 1858 they erected the first three- story brick block in the place, on the corner of Front and Main Streets, and occupied it as a store-room. In 1862 they built another brick block, called " Union Block," on the south side of Front Street. During the erection of the second block the first one burned down. In 1862 they purchased forty acres of land within the corporate limits of the village, laying the same out in town lots, being known as Ross & Alexander's addition to Buchanan, which is now a central part of the residence portion of the village. In 1865, Mr. Alexander built a two-story brick dwelling-house on Front Street, which he occupied as a residence until 1873, then selling it for six thousand five hundred dollars. In 1875 he again erected a dwelling on Front Street, in the most central part of the town, in which he now resides. Mr. Alexander was the contractor and builder of the High School building erected in 1871, built of brick, three stories high above basement, costing thirty-five thousand dollars ; and person- ally superintended the work.

Politically, he was in early life a Democrat, voting with that party until 1852. But when the South, aided by Northern Democrats in Congress, repealed the Missouri Compromise, thereby extending slavery into free terri- tory, he ceased to act with that party, and in 1854 took part in the newly-organized Republican party, being one of its first and most active supporters in the place. In 1844, at the age of twenty-three, he was elected captain of Company E, 27th Regiment Michigan militia, to which he was com- missioned by Governor Barry ; he was soon promoted and commissioned by the Governor, colonel of the 28th Regi- ment, 14th Brigade, 17th Division of Michigan militia.

Mr. Alexander enjoys the respect and confidence of those around him, as will be seen by the many offices of honor and trust he has been called by them to fill,-all of which he has filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to his friends. From 1847 to 1851 he was constable and township treasurer. In 1851, 1853, and 1855 he was elected

TOWNSHIP OF BUCHANAN.

185

supervisor. From 1848 to 1859, director of schools. In 1860 was elected by the Republicans of the second district of Berrien County (comprising Niles City) representative in the State Legislature, and was, therefore, a member of the House of Representatives during many long and extra sessions, on account of the important legislation during that time of war.

From 1863 to 1866 he was postmaster of Buchanan dur- ing Johnson's administration ; was removed by Postmaster- General Randall for not complying with a request to sanc-

Niles, one of the most popular men in the county, and the hardest to defeat. In 1873 he was one of the commis- sioners appointed by the President to receive proposals and locate the site for the government buildings and post-office buildings at Grand Rapids, Mich. He was elected super- visor of Buchanan in 1872, '73, '74, "75, '76, and 1877 ; was assessor of the village and justice of the peace during the time; and, as the records show, was elected each time by nearly a unanimous vote. All of these offices he re- signed in 1877. He is now a member of the school board

Photo, by H. E. Bradley, Buchanan.

Lerlezander

tion the so-called Philadelphia Convention, he being opposed to allowing late rebels to occupy front seats in the councils of the nation. In June, 1864, he was chosen one of the Michigan delegates to the Republican National Convention held at Baltimore, Md., which nominated President Lin- coln, and was honored by the convention with a position on the committee to wait upon the President and other nominees, and formally notify them of the action of the convention.

In 1870 he was elected State senator from Berrien County, his competitor being the late Hon. R. C. Paine, of

and director of the graded and high school, which position he has held for the past five years.

In 1877 he was commissioned by President Hayes post- master of Buchanan, which office he now holds. He was for many years one of the village trustees.

After all these years of labor, Mr. Alexander-now fifty- nine years of age-is an active, stirring business man, and it is the earnest wish of his many friends that his days may be long on the earth, and that when, at last, his sun sinks behind the western horizon, it may descend to rise in the first resurrection.

JACOB J. VAN RIPER,

of Buchanan, Mich., attorney at the Berrien County bar, was born at Haverstraw, Rockland Co., N. Y., March 8, 1838. His parents were John and Leah Van Riper; his father an inventor of some repute, and a manufacturer of woolen goods. Jacob J. went to New York at an early day, and continued to reside there and at Brooklyn until he was nineteen, then removed to Cass Co., Mich.

He received a good academic education in New York, attending the New York Conference Seminary and Colle- giate Institute. After his removal to Michigan he taught school, and in 1860 commenced the study of law, attend- ing law lectures in the University of Michigan in 1860-61, and was admitted to practice in January, 1863, opening an office in Dowagiac, Cass Co., where he practiced until Sep- tember, 1872, at which time he removed to Buchanan,

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

where he now resides. Some of the most important cases in this section of the county have been given him. He has also had an extensive practice as a jury advocate, and has in this been eminently successful. While abhorring political rings and trickery, he has been more or less interested in politics. During the war he held the office of deputy collector of

road aid schemes of the State. These arguments were highly spoken of by the press of Detroit and other places, and he received letters of congratulation from Governor Crapo and others. Since that time he has refused all offices except in the line of his profession. In the fall of 1876 and 1878 he was elected by the Republican party

Photo. by H. E. Bradley, Buchanan.

JACOB J. VAN RIPER.

internal revenue for Cass County, and subsequently that of assistant assessor of internal revenue.

In 1867 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Michigan, in which he was next to the youngest member. While serving on the judiciary committee and the committee on bill of rights he gained considerable reputation by his arguments against the rail-

prosecuting attorney for Berrien County, which position he now holds.

In November, 1858, he married Miss Emma E. Bronner, an estimable lady of New York Mills. They have one son and two daughters. Mr. Van Riper is a hard student and worker in his profession. He has a large confidential business, and has made his life a success.

GEORGE H. RICHARDS

was born in Bristol, England, July 10, 1817. His father, Henry Richards, was a native of Bath, England, and his mother, Sarah Burge, of Bristol, England. Both were of Quaker parentage, his mother still remaining a Quaker, and living at this date, 1879. The family moved to this country when the subject of this sketch was an infant, settling in Delaware, near Wilmington. When he was eight or nine years old the family returned to England on account of the father's health, remaining there about a year and a half. During that time he attended a Quaker school, then re- turned to New York City. Most of the time during which the family remained in the city he attended an academy between Harlem and Manhattanville, receiving early a fair English education. When he was about thirteen or four- teen years of age his father moved to Pennsylvania. From there he was sent to Wilmington, Del., to attend school.

While in Wilmington he conceived the idea of learning a trade, and served a regular apprenticeship at jobbing black- smithing at Brandywine village, Del. Shortly after be- coming of age he went to New York City, and worked a short time at machine-work. From there he went to Bridgeport, Conn., and worked at carriage-smithing, re- maining until the spring of 1839, when he went to Ma- rietta, Ohio, to work at this branch of business, and follow- ing it until 1842, when he engaged in engine- and machine- work of various kinds, and also did the iron-work for several vessels ; ironing two vessels at Marietta, and two at Point Pleasant, Va. One of the latter was a double-decked bark, loaded at the mouth of the Big Kanawha, W.Va., with corn, for Cork, Ireland, during the Irish famine. Feb. 27, 1845, he married Lucy Wood Rickard, of Marietta, Ohio. His family consists of eight children,-six girls and two boys,- Sarah D. Richards, Joseph L., Martha E., Lucy B., Hattie

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TOWNSHIP OF BENTON.

L., Kitty F., Mary E., and George H., all living. Lucy Wood Rickard was born at Marietta, Dec. 11, 1821.

Having acquired a good knowledge of machinery, and being a practical master mechanic, he commenced setting up engines on steamboats, and going South on them during the winter. He spent several winters in the South at va- rious places,-New Orleans, Red River, Ouachita, Yazoo River, and many bayous, in the cotton and sugar trade. Tiring of this and of being so much away from his family, he conceived the thought of moving West. Selecting a farm just outside the then small village of Buchanan, he very soon found the change from active life in me- chanism and steamboating to opening up a new farm too great, and, as favorable opportunities offered, he again engaged in putting up and working machinery, and in manufacturing ; the first work of importance being the run- ning of a large saw-mill at Charlotteville, and doing its general business three summers. Other parts of the years when not compelled to be on the farm were spent in put- ting machinery in order in mills of different kinds and dis- tilleries. Finding that his business was again leading him from home, and that farming was not suited to his family, he sold his farm and moved to Buchanan, engaging in merchandising. Not liking the confinement of the store, he again engaged in working upon machinery, and took charge of the factory of Smith & Elston, remaining with one of the firm until the fall of 1870, when he engaged with the patentee of the Zinc Collar Pad to mature the pad and introduce it on the market. To speak of their success it will not be amiss to state that they were the largest con- sumers of zinc in the West for the years 1871, '72, and '73, using in the three years over four hundred thousand pounds of zinc made expressly for them.

During the years of his life spent in Buchanan, he has been one of the representative men of the place, having been early selected in the interests of its schools, occupying the position of president of the school board most of the time, until he declined being a candidate for re-election. He has also identified himself with the prosperity and growth of the village, and its now extensive manufacturing interests, assisting the latter by freely taking stock, and serving the former as one of the members of the board of trustees for a number of years with credit to himself. In January, 1875, he became connected with the First National Bank, occupying the position of vice-president, which he still holds in the organization known as the Farmers and Manufacturers' Bank, which succeeded the First National in January, 1879.

CHAPTER XXVII. BENTON TOWNSHIP .*

Pioneer Settlers-Civil Organization and List of Officers-Highways -Benton Harbor-Village Incorporation-List of Village Officers- Fire Department-Commerce and General Business of Benton Harbor-Millburg-Societies-Schools-Religious History.

THIS township was named in honor of Col. Thomas H. Benton, of the United States Senate, March 11, 1837. In

the government surveys it is designated as town 4 south, in range 18 west. A small part of the northwestern corner of the township is cut off by Lake Michigan, reducing the area to about thirty-five and a half full sections. It is bounded on the north by Hagar, east by Bainbridge, south by Sodus, and west by St. Joseph. Benton partakes of the general characteristics of this part of the county, the surface being mainly level or slightly undulated by hills of moderate height. A limited portion is swampy, and not susceptible of cultivation without artificial drainage. In other parts the land lies high and is well drained. The principal stream is the Paw Paw River. It enters the township from the north near the centre of section 3, and flows in a tortuous course to the centre of the west line of section 18, where it passes into St. Joseph township. Its banks are low and the contiguous land marshy. Tributary to this stream are Blue and Ox Creeks, both having a gen- eral northwesterly course. The former flows from Bain- bridge, near the centre of the east line, and for several miles its course in Benton is marked by high and almost precip- itous banks, affording, for its volume, good water-power. It derives its name from the bluish tinge of its waters, caused by a peculiar earth found in its banks. Ox Creek is a smaller stream, and has its source in the lowlands of the southern part of the township. The surface of the township was originally covered with heavy forests of the common hard woods, and a considerable portion of pine, which made the work of clearing up the ground slow and burdensome. The soil is corresponding, varying from a light sand to a clayey loam, with small belts of stiff clay and alluvium. It is adapted for a wide range of products, and the greater portion is especially favorable for fruit culture.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

The sturdy pioneer did not rear his humble cabin in Benton as early as in some of the adjoining townships which offered more favorable conditions for settlement ; and for many years after a beginning was made the ratio of the increase of population was very small. In 1840 there were only 237 souls within the bounds of Benton, and ten years later the number had not been doubled. Jehiel Enos first came to this part of the county, with a party of seven land- seekers, in 1828, but returned to Ann Arbor without making a location. In the following year he returned to this part of the State, to assist Lucius Lyon in surveying the country between the St. Joseph and the lake, which had been but recently ceded to the United States by the In- dians. In 1830 he moved to St. Joseph, but soon changed his residence to Royalton, where he resided three years. In 1834 he became the first settler of Benton, and since 1836 has resided on his present homestead, on section 13. He is the oldest settler of this part of the county, and one of the few remaining pioneers of this part of the State. Four of his children attained mature years. One of his sons, Buel, died in the army in 1863; another, Rolland, is a citizen of Pipestone; and a daughter is married to Simeon Woodruff. Joab Enos, a brother of the above, came to Benton in 1835, but after a few years moved to Pipestone, and from there to the West.

In 1836, Henry B. Enos, their father, came from New

* By John L. Rockey.

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

York, but in a year took up his residence with his son, Dr. Morgan Enos, in Pipestone, where he died in 1849.

James H. Enos came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1835, to look at the country, and in the spring of 1836 moved to Benton with his family, consisting of his wife and two daughters, Juliette and Matilda. The latter has been dead many years, and Juliette is the wife of L. W. Pearl, of this township. Mrs. Enos died in 1871, but James H. Enos is yet living, with Mrs. Pearl, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

Eleazer Morton came from Medina Co., Ohio, in 1834, and settled in Kalamazoo County. The following year he moved to St. Joseph, and in the spring of 1836 to the Morton homestead, on section 18 in Benton, where he died July 4, 1864. His wife died in September, 1856. At the time of their settlement in Benton they had ten children, one of the daughters being the wife of Thomas Conger, of St. Joseph. Of the five sons, Charles A., James M., and W. E. are deceased ; George C. is a resident of Chicago, and Henry C. of Benton Harbor. He is the second oldest living settler in the township, and has been very promi- nently identified with it from the time when a handful of struggling settlers in the forest were its only inhabitants, until its present advanced position as one of the leading townships of the county.

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

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