History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 64

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 64
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 64

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).

George F. Niles.

Myers Nelson

Peter J. Piscator.

Samuel B. Parkerton

B. M. Pennell

Nathan Pratt 14

Comfort Pennell 12

Z. B. Rathbun. 21

George Raymond David Smith. 21 28 11

Michael Sassaman

Henry Sassaman 11 Samuel Sassaman. Lewis Strong 11 36 12

Gabriel Starr.

John Shafer.

Daniel Stannard.

Caleb Inman.

Lewis Johns.

John Terry

George W. Wicks.

William Weston, 30 John Lemon

12 15 13 25 30

William Hendrickson.

24 24 24

George Neidlinger.

Alfred Murray. 16

251

TOWNSHIP OF LAKE.

on section 13, which afterwards became the property of John Shafer, but is at present idle.

On the southern township line, on section 32, a good steam saw-mill was erected about 1865, by Alonzo Sher- wood, which was operated until the timber supply in that locality was exhausted. The lumber was conveyed to the lake by means of a tramway. At Brown's Station, O. R. Brown formerly had a mill, and at present one is operated there by A. L. Drew. Farther in the interior of the town- ship Painter & Curtiss had an extensive lumber-mill, which was removed after a few years' operation. At that time the locality was known as Paintersville, and was the scene of busy activity.

In the northern part of the township, at Morris Station, H. F. Mead has at present in operation a steam saw-mill capable of cutting 8000 feet per day. At this point was formerly another mill ; and in other localities in the town- ship saw-mills were kept in operation a short time or until the surrounding forests had been manufactured into lumber.

The largest lumber-manufacturing establishment was near the present village of Bridgman. In the fall of 1856, George Bridgman, Warren Howe, and Charles F. Howe formed the "Charlotteville Lumber Company," and here began operations by building a steam saw-mill, at a cost of $20,000. At a point west, on the lake, a pier was con- structed five hundred feet long, which was connected with the mill by a railroad more than a mile in length; and to various points in the forest a railway was made, the entire length of track being about seven miles. The rolling stock consisted of thirty-three cars and the engine "John Bull," which, it is claimed, was the first locomotive ever run in the United States .* The improvements cost $70,000, and the mill had a capacity of 25,000 feet per day. About seventy men were employed in the business, and the lumber found a ready sale in Chicago, whither it was con- veyed from the pier by schooners. In 1863 the mill was destroyed by fire, and two other mills which were erected on the same site shared a like fate, the last one being con- sumed in 1870. The lumbering business here having de- clined, on account of the consumption of the forest prod- ucts, a mill of smaller capacity was erected the same season (1870) by Mordecai Price. This was also burned in 1871. Soon after Whipple & Medaris put up a mill which was burned after a year's operation ; and a third mill, on this site, put up by O. D. Rector, was also burned in 1878. The present mill was put in operation in January, 1879, by Codd & Price. Its capacity is 8000 feet per day.

In 1870 a stave and heading factory was built east of the railroad station at Bridgman, which has been owned by various parties, and is at present operated by Hinkley, Higman & Co. The product is several million pieces per year, and more than a dozen hands are employed.

In 1869, Webster & Whiten erected a tannery at Char- lotteville, which was discontinued after several years' opera- tion, and the building removed in 1878. The other manu- facturing interests of the township are confined to the ordi- nary mechanic pursuits. A grist-mill is soon to be built at Bridgman.

VILLAGES.

In 1848 a village was projected on section 25, which re- ceived the name of Livingston. Eighty blocks were laid out, but nothing further was done to advance its claims to a place among the villages of the county, and the site soon became common farm property.

Charlotteville, on section 19, was the first village in the township. It was founded by the " Charlotteville Lumber Company," in 1856, and for a number of years was com- posed wholly of the various interests connected with the business of that firm. The name was bestowed in compli- ment to Charlotte Howe, the wife of one of the proprietors. The place never attained great size, but was at one time the seat of considerable business. In 1870 another of the original proprietors, George Bridgman, platted a village half a mile east, on the railroad, where a station was located that year. The survey was made by E. P. Morley, and the village and station received the name of

Bridgman .- This place has absorbed whatever interests were formerly at Charlotteville, and the entire locality is now known by the name of Bridgman. It contains a fine school-house with a number of business places and other interests, noted below. There are about 200 inhabitants.

The Bridgman post-office was established in 1861 with the name of Laketon, but ten years later took the name of the village. Elijah Cowles was the first postmaster, and was succeeded in 1863 by George Bridgman, who held the office until 1870. The postmasters following have been George Wood, George Wells, William Babcock, and the present incumbent, Mrs. E. A. H. Greene.

The first merchandising in the township was carried on by the " Charlotteville Lumber Company," from 1857 till the company discontinued, about five years later ; and trade was thereafter continued by the successive mill owners Dexter Curtiax, Loop & Daniels, Sawyer & Mead, and D. B. Plummer. Meantime other stores were built, and in 1869 there were three general business houses, by C. M. Smith, George W. Wells, and M. C. Traver. Dr. J. F. Berringer had opened a drug-store before that period, which is yet continued in Bridgman by him.

In 1871, Charles M. Smith put up the first store at the station, which is at present occupied by Benjamin Lemon. The next store was built several years later by Benjamin Weed, in which he engaged in trade, and was followed by Edward Palmer and Henry Chapman. In 1875, Thomas Hebb built the third store, and trade was there begun by Hebb & Howlett. The stand is at present occupied by J. T. Barnes & Co. Others in trade are Seekell, Sparr & Co.

The first regular tavern in the village of Bridgman was opened in 1872 by George Maisner, and kept a few years. Near the depot the Thompson House had entertained the public since 1875.

The township did not have any professional men prior to 1856. That year Dr. J. H. Royce engaged in the practice of medicine, and has continued since residing in the eastern part of the township. The second physician was Dr. Sol- omon Maudlin, who located at Bridgman, and still resides there, although not in active practice. The present physi- cian there is Dr. J. F. Berringer, and other practitioners in the township have been Drs. Sober and Imme.

* This statement, however, is clearly erroneous.

252

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

The first and only attorney in the township has been George W. Bridgman, who has maintained a law-office at Bridgman since 1872.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

Lake Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1870. Its membership increased rapidly, and the lodge has flourished steadily since its organization. The meet- ings are held in a hall in the western part of the village of Bridgman.

Bridgman Lodge, No. 794, I. O. G. T., was organized in October, 1879, with 64 charter members. Joseph Codd, W. C. T .; T. C. Bridgman, W. V. T .; J. Duest, Sec. ; and Charles Wheelock, Treas. At present the members number 90.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In May, 1846, the school inspectors, Comfort Pennel, Edward Ballengee, and Henry Lemon, reported that they had divided the township into three school districts, No. 1, containing sections 35, 36, 25, and 26; No. 2, contain- ing sections 23, 24, 13, and 14; and No. 3, containing sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12. In October, the same year, Edward Ballengee, the director of District No. 1, . made report that the children of school age (from four to eighteen years) in the district were 16, of whom 14 at- tended school. A term of three months' school had been taught, at a total expense of $15. Daniel Phillips, the di- rector of District No. 3, reported that the children of school age in his district were 19.

In 1848, No. 1 had 25 children of school age; No. 2, 19; and No. 3, 16.

A few years later a number of new districts were formed and school-houses provided. These were at first rude and plainly furnished, the entire cost seldom exceeding $100. A better class of buildings took their place, and the appro- priations for the maintenance of schools were liberally in- creased. The condition of the schools in 1878 is shown by the following, which we quote from the school report of that year :

Number of districts. 8

" children of school age .... 392

Total value of school houses. attending school. 260 $4900

During the year 5 male and 11 female teachers were employed, and the schools were reported to be in a pros- perous condition.

Since 1867 the school inspectors have been M. J. Mor- ley, Isaac Hathaway, Japhet Godfrey, Franklin L. Weston, J. W. Whipple, Harvey L. Drew, Wm. M. T. Barthol- omew, N. E. Landon, Solomon Maudlin, and David S. Evans. Those who have been elected to the office of su- perintendent have been George W. Bridgman, Wm. Wil- liams, Jeremiah Nodine, Michael B. Houser, and David S. Evans.

BURIAL-GROUNDS.

The cemeteries of the township are small, and were con- veniently located to afford interments in the several neigh- borhoods formed by the early settlers. The first was opened in 1850, on the northeast quarter of section 25; the next was opened three years later, at the Phillips school-

house; and a few years thereafter one was located in the western part of the township. Some of these are neatly kept, and contain appropriate monuments to the memory of those who had been among the pioneers of the county.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The Methodists were the first to maintain public worship within the present bounds of Lake township. As early as 1846 a class of this faith was organized, at the school-house in the southeastern part of the township, by the Rev. George King, at that time preacher in charge of the Berrien circuit. Seeley H. Curtis was appointed leader, and the members consisted of persons belonging to the Hyatt, Heathman, Ballengee, and other families residing in the eastern part of Lake and the western part of Oronoko. In the course of a few years a revival ensued, which resulted in the conver- sion of nearly 100 persons. A class of Methodists has ex- isted in the eastern part of Lake ever since, the place of worship being changed from one to the other school-house, to suit the convenience of the members in the respective localities. At present the meetings are held at the Rug- gles school-house. The class has eight members, and Clinton Hyatt is the leader. Here, also, is maintained a Sunday- school of nearly 100 members, which is superintended by Sarah Bartholomew.

In 1848, or later, a class was formed west of the Great Meadows, which had among its members the Williams, Shoemaker, and Sherwood families ; but as these soon after removed the class here went down. The class at Bridg- man became an organized body in 1865, V. P. Mead being the first leader. Here are at present 17 members, under the leadership of R. W. Plumb. The Sunday-school has 25 members, and Frank Weston is the superintendent. The services at this point are also held in the school- house.

There is no church building in the township of Lake, but a few years ago the Methodists erected a parsonage at the village of Bridgman, which is near the centre of the present circuit.

The boundaries of the Methodist circuits in this and the adjoining townships have been subject to many changes. The circuits have borne various names, and generally em- braced from six to eight appointments, numbering at present six, namely : Bridgman, Ruggles, Tryon, South Lincoln, Lincoln Avenue, and Stevensville.

The names of the circuits and pastoral connection have been as follows :

Berrien Circuit .- 1846, Rev. George King; 1847, Revs. A. C. Shaw, A. Campbell, C. K. Ercanbrack ; 1848, Revs. R. C. Meek, - Tappan ; 1849, Revs. H. Hall, B. F. Doughty; 1850, Revs. H. Hall, S. A. Lee; 1851-52, Revs. S. A. Osborne, S. Hendrickson ; 1853, Rev. F. Glass; 1854, Rev. R. Pengelly ; 1855, Revs. J. T. Robe, Thomas H. Bignall; 1856, Revs. W. C. Bliss, E. L. Kel- logg ; 1857, Rev. T. T. George; 1858, Rev. G. A. Van Horn; 1859, Revs. D. S. Haviland, D. Engle; 1860, Rev. L. M. Ben- nett; 1861, Rev. N. Cleveland ; 1862, Rev. E. Beard.

Charlotteville Circuit. (New Troy, Charlotteville, Lake, Spears, Tryon, Lincoln Avenue, Weesaw) .- 1865, Rev. John Byrns ; 1866-67, Rev. Irving H. Skinner; 1868, Revs. William Friend, George Patterson ; 1869, Rev. J. S. Valentine.

Stevensville Circuit .- 1870, Rev. J. S. Valentine; 1871, Rev. Irving H. Skinner; 1872, Rev. H. Taylor.

VIEW FROM THE SOUTH WEST.

RESIDENCE OF ISAAC HATHAWAY, LAKE, MICHIGAN .

TOWNSHIP OF LAKE.

253

Laketon Circuit .- 1870-71, Rev. J. W. H. Carlisle ; 1872, Rev. N. Mount.

Bridgman Circuit .- (above united) 1873-74, Rev. V. H. Helms ; 1875, Rev. Thomas E. Shenston ; 1876, Rev. J. F. Wallace; 1877, Rev. J. R. Skinner.#

The cause of Methodism in the above circuits has been greatly promoted by the labors of the Revs. Wm. Penland, Gould Parrish, Allen Conley, E. Allen, and Wm. M. Con-

nelly, local preachers residing in this part of.the county, the former two yet living in Royalton and Lincoln.

Since 1850 the United Brethren in Christ have main- tained services in school-house No. 2, in connection with appointments in other townships, forming a circuit. Among the early members were the Pennells, Lemons, Browns, Wal- tons, and others, being at one time a large and flourishing congregation. At present the membership is small.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LITTLE

ISAAC HATHAWAY.

ISAAC HATHAWAY

was the third in a family of seven children, and was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, on the 7th day of August, 1833. His father, Z. Hathaway, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born in 1802. He removed to Ohio in 1825.1

As he grew up, young Isaac assisted his father on the farm until he was eighteen years old, attending the district school in winter until sixteen years of age, when he entered Seneca County Academy, where he spent a part of two years. Wishing to buy a farm and make a home for him- self, he visited Michigan in 1851, where he remained during the winter, examining various portions of the State. He was well pleased, and decided to locate in Berrien County as soon as he could earn enough to buy a home. Returning to Ohio, he started immediately for California, where he worked in the mines four years, sending his father the money to purchase from government the tract of four hundred and sixty acres on which he now resides.

Returning from California, young Hathaway removed to his new home in Michigan in the fall of 1856, and began the improvement of his place, living with a family whom he had employed to " keep house" for him. On the 13th day of September, 1859, he married Miss Delia Hand.

MRS. ISAAC HATHAWAY.

One child only blessed this union, who was born on the 8th day of June, 1872, and died on the 3d day of the fol- lowing month. Mrs. Hathaway's parents were natives of New York, who had removed to Michigan in 1845, and located in Lake township. They reared a family of six children, Mrs. Hathaway being the youngest girl.

Mr. Hathaway is not a member of any Christian denomi- nation. In politics he is a Democrat. He has filled the office of supervisor three terms, and that of justice of the peace fifteen years, having married seventy couples in that time. He has also represented his party as a delegate in several conventions, and is generally looked on as a leader of the people in this section.

JOHN H. NIXON.

The father of John H. Nixon was John B. Nixon, who was born in the State of South Carolina on the 17th day of 'November, 1789. His mother, whose maiden name was Peek, was a native of New Jersey, and was born on the 11th day of February, 1792. She was married to John B. Nixon about the year 1811. John H. Nixon was the fifth child in a family of nine, and was born in Fayette Co., Ind., on the 24th day of August, 1819. At the age of thirteen years he went to learn a trade, selecting that of mason. At sixteen, May, 1836, he accompanied

* The above has been compiled from data furnished by Rev. J. R. Skinner, preacher in charge Bridgman Circuit.

t The following year he was married, his wife being a native of the State of New York.

254

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

his father to Michigan. His father remained during the ' summer and fall, then returned home, and in the fall of 1842 brought his family back with him, John H. remain- ing until 1852. In that year, being then thirty-three years

LITTLE

JOHN H. NIXON.

old, he went to California, where he remained one year and eight months, working in the mines and at his trade during that time. He found, however, that gold was not to be picked up on every side, nor wealth to be had in a few days, but that labor of the hardest kind must be performed and the most severe privations must be endured. Many

MRS. JOHN H. NIXON.

indeed there were who, in those days of excitement, sought that renowned El Dorado, their minds filled with visions of wealth and splendor, but whose bones whitened the inter- vening plains, or who, if so fortunate as to reach their desti- nation, were rewarded only with poverty, disappointment, and despair. In 1854, Mr. Nixon made his first purchase of land in Michigan, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is still his home. His advantages were few, and his education was acquired after he was twenty-one

years old. He has never sought notoriety of any kind, and is rather retiring in his nature. Yet his fellow-citizens have, at divers times, insisted on his accepting various minor offices, he having filled all the official positions in his township, except that of supervisor. Mr. Nixon was form- erly a Whig, then joined the Democratic party, and is now a Conservative. On the 7th day of February, 1849, Mr. Nixon married Mary, daughter of J. and Mary O'Keefe, who were of Irish descent. Eight children have been born to them, all of whom are now living,-viz., Mills H., born Oct. 16, 1850; Mary L., born Sept. 6, 1852; Louisa B., born Nov. 23, 1854 ; John B., born Dec. 5, 1856; Charles M., born Nov. 27, 1858 ; Harvey C., born March 21, 1862 ; Frank, born March 16, 1864; and Dick, born Feb. 25, 1866.

NORMAN E. LANDON.

The subject of this sketch was born in 1824, at Salis. bury, Conn. He was the youngest of a family of seven children-three boys and four girls. His father was a native of Connecticut, and his grandfather, Rufus Landon, was a soldier of the Revolution, serving under Gen. Schuyler when he marched to the relief of Arnold in Canada. At

LITTLE

Photo. by Bradley, Buchanan.

NORMAN E. LANDON.

seventeen years of age Norman quitted the old homestead and commenced life for himself. Going to Kinderhook, N. Y., he learned the carpenter's trade, working there seven years and in Connecticut nine years. In 1858 he removed to Lake township, Mich., where he turned his attention to farming. He made his first purchase of land in 1858, be- coming the owner of eighty acres on section 27, his present homestead. He has since added eighty acres to this. While in Kinderhook, Mr. Landon married, in March, 1847, Miss Allen, daughter of Horace and Clara Allen. Four children were born to them,-three girls and one boy. Mrs. Landon died May, 1868, in Berrien Springs. Mr. Landon married, as his second wife, Mrs. Laura, widow of Myers Nelson. He has no children by this marriage. Mrs. Nelson is a daughter of Lemuel and Ann Church, and is a

255

TOWNSHIP OF LINCOLN.

native of Ohio, being the fourth in a family of nine children. By her first marriage she was the mother of six children. Mr. Landon is a Democrat. He has been the supervisor of his township nine terms, and its treasurer and present jus-

Photo. by Bradley, Buchanan. MRS. NORMAN E. LANDON.

tice of the peace, having filled that office six years. In 1864 was nominated by his party for county treasurer. Mr. Landon received his education outside of schools, as his ad- vantages for an early education were few. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1856. Mr. Landon has ever been industrious and economical. By hard work and prudent management he has become possessed of a pleasant home, and he is justly esteemed by his neighbors as a good, practical farmer and a worthy, intelligent citizen.

CHAPTER XXXV.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP .*

Location and Topography-Settlements and Settlers-Organization and Officers of the Township-Manufacturing Enterprises-Fruit Interests-Hamlets and Villages-Patrons of Husbandry-Schools -Religious Societies.

THIS is one of the lake-shore townships, lying south of St. Joseph and north of Lake. Until 1867 it constituted a part of Royalton, which forms the eastern boundary. In the government survey it is designated as township 5 south, in range 19 west. It is a fractional township. The east half of the eastern tier of sections is embraced within the limits of Royalton, and on the west Lake Michigan re- duced the territory to an area two and a half miles on the north and about five miles on the south line. The general surface is level, and in places low and swampy. A belt of land of this nature extends through the township from south to north, about a mile west of the eastern line, being bordered on the west by Hickory Creek, which affords the principal drainage. Until recently it was unfit for cultiva-

tion, but since the country has been cleared up and dykes cut much has been rendered tillable. On the east line is a strip of clayey loam land, the beauty and fertility of which are not surpassed in the county. Here are a number of well-improved farms. West of Hickory Creek most of the country was originally barren, and was not improved until lately, the sterile appearance of the soil causing settlers to give other localities the preference. It has been found to be well adapted for fruit culture, and by proper treatment has been made very productive. In this part were formerly forests of pine, and clusters of these trees yet remain. The other parts of the township were timbered with the com- mon woods, which formed in places dense forests, and the labor of clearing the ground was everywhere difficult. Besides Hickory Creek, there are a number of small brooks in the township, the St. Joseph River, in the extreme northeast, and in the southwest three lagoons, which, with the marshes bordering them, bear the name of the Grand Marais. They are sluggish sheets of water and render that part of the township swampy.

Within the present territory of Lincoln one of the earliest settlements in Berrien County was made, as early as 1827, by Maj. Timothy Smith, who came from Ohio, and had been for a time a teacher at the Carey Mission. His location was in the northern part of what is now the township of Lincoln, near the east bank of Hickory Creek. His house was the place designated for the holding of the" first election for the township of (old) St. Joseph, which at its erection covered all of Berrien County north and east of the St. Joseph River. Maj. Smith was interested in the laying out of a paper village on the lake-shore in the western part of the town, but his project was not successful. Mr. Smith was the justice of the peace who performed the first marriage ceremony in the township of St. Joseph,-that of Calvin Bartlett to Pamelia Ives. He removed to New Buffalo, and was lighthouse-keeper at that place in 1839. Not long after the year 1849 he removed to California. For a number of years after Maj. Smith located in what is now Lincoln settlements in the territory of the town- ship were made but slowly, and what few there were were for a long time wholly confined to the eastern part.

Among the pioneers who succeeded Maj. Smith were Martin Lounsbury and Samuel Davis. The former settled on section 24 in 1842, on the place which has been occu- pied by David Myers since 1862. The only surviving member of the Lounsbury family is a son, residing in Kal- amazoo. Davis settled on the section south the same year, but removed to Berrien after the county began to be set- tled. Two of his sons, Nelson and Andrew, are at present residents of Berrien village.

In 1838, Gould Parrish moved to Berrien from Ohio, and worked on the new court-house, which was then build- ing ; after living in various parts of the country he settled on the southwest quarter of section 36 in 1843, and has lived there almost continuously since, being the oldest set- tler in the township. He reared eight children,-James A., of Mills Co., Iowa ; William M., living at Stevensville ; Arza G., editor of the Mills County Republican ; and Ezra B., living in the same county. Three daughters attained womanhood, viz. : Mrs. Luther Hemmingway, of Sodus ;

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 64

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