History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 78

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 78
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 78

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).

1876 .- Supervisor, Henry Ashoff; Clerk, Carlton L. Bunker ; Treas- urer, George H. Scott; School Inspector, Henry Ashoff; Justices of the Peace, John Bort and Nicholas Miller.

1877 .- Supervisor, A. H. Carlton ; Clerk, A. J. Dispennett; Treas- urer, Henry Ashoff ; School Inspector, J. W. Hollywood ; Justices of the Peace, John M. Hankins, A. Sinn, G. C. Rockey.

1878 .- Supervisor, A. H. Carlton; Clerk, A. J. Dispennett; Treas- urer, Henry Ashoff; School Inspector, W. Martin ; Justices of the Peace, Henry Ashoff, W. Penland, D. Keller, R. Phil- lips.

1879 .- Supervisor, A. H. Carleton; Clerk, A. J. Dispennett; Treas- urer, A. Sinn; School Inspector, J. W. Smoke; Justices of the Peace, George Merwin (Henry Ashoff and Wm. Pen- land also justices in 1879); Highway Commissioner, Wil- liam Matthews; Drain Commissioner, Andrew J. Penland; School Superintendent, A. H. Carlton; Constable, Fayette Bort.

The affairs of the township are conducted by a Town- ship Board, whose members, in 1879, were Wm. Penland, Albert Carlton, and A. J. Dispennett, who also composed the Board of Health. On April 1, 1879, the town was clear of debt, and had in the treasury, including school funds, the sum of $323.35. Two miles north of Tryon's Corners is the town hall, a neat but plain frame edifice, which is the only public building in the town. The assessed valuation of property in Royalton in 1879 was $160,475.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in the central portion of the town is supposed to have been conducted in a log school-house near Tryon's. Corners, by a Mr. Wilson, whose advent oc- curred in about 1840. His successor in the same school was one William Price, of whom it is said that he was an able school-teacher. An early teacher in the northern part of the town was Miss Hastings,-now Mrs. James Stevens, -who taught in a log school-house on the St. Joseph road, in section 18.

Royalton has now one fractional and five full school dis- tricts. The school directors are A. H. Carlton, Lewis Sco- field, H. A. Smith, David Kelley, Geo. T. Pallen, and J. H. Evans. Statistics touching these schools, as per report of Sept. 1, 1879, are herewith given, as follows: number of scholars of school age, 381; average attendance, 325; value of school property, $4400; amount paid for teachers' wages, $1024.

CHURCHES.

About 1844, Rev. Thomas J. Babcock, a traveling mis- sionary, organized a United Brethren class in a log school- house on Rowland Tryon's place, but the organization failed to prosper, and was short-lived. Previous to that-

MRS. WILLIAM H. TRYON.

William Ho Tryon

WILLIAM H. TRYON.

Among the many prominent men whose portraits and biographies appear upon the pages of this book, none is more worthy of note than William H. Tryon, who was born in Stanford, Fairfield Co., Conn., May 15, 1816.

Some lives are spent where they first see light, but Mr. Tryon does not belong to that class, he having lived in the following States : Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Indiana.

In 1836 Mr. Tryon settled on land in Royalton town- ship, section 29, where he now resides.

Roland Tryon, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Michigan in 1836, bringing only a part of his family ; the others followed soon after. He entered eighty acres of land that his son William now owns ; he also entered land in other townships, living long enough to see his family all well settled. He died at the advanced age of ninety-four years. William has added eighty acres to the entry of his father ; erected a large brick house in the place of the small and inconvenient one that was first built ; has improved his farm and made of it a very desirable place; has been one of the largest fruit-growers in the township. Mr. Tryon has not only been engaged in farming and fruit-raising, but carried on a general store in Royalton for six years. He has also been a grain-dealer in Chicago.

His neighbors, and the citizens of the township and county, have ever regarded him as a man whom they could trust, and have placed him in many positions of honor. Among the offices he has filled are the following : director of

the National Bank at St. Joseph, two years ; justice of the peace, four years ; township treasurer, two years; coroner, six years ; and notary public, six years, holding this office at the present time. He has all his life taken a decided politi- cal stand, and is an out-and-out Republican. He is also a member in good standing of the Masonic lodge in St. Joseph, and also of the Odd-Fellows. On the 17th of April, 1844, he married Mary E., daughter of Jonathan and Deborah Kent. Four children blessed their union, but death invaded the family circle and claimed two, viz. : Wil- liam R. and Orleanna A. Minte is the wife of Jesse B. Hamilton, living in Lansing, Mich. ; Charles E. married Miss Celestine P. Collier, and is living at home with his parents. Mrs. Tryon was born in Chatham, Morris Co., N. J., Sept. 7, 1826; and in 1851 joined the Methodist Church.

In the early settling of this State there was plenty of wild game; this afforded sport for many of the people, none enjoying it more than Mr. Tryon, who was a very successful hunter. As an instance of his success, he narrates making a score of thirty-seven deer, sixteen coons, six wild turkeys, and nine swarms of bees in a forty-days' hunt; also, as an experience of the early days, of having made a visit to New Jersey from Michigan by the way of the lakes, being thirty-seven days on the way ; the cause of this being the condition of the boat; after starting out it was discovered to be leaking, and the water had to be bailed out by the men, it taking them twenty-four days to go from St. Joseph to Detroit.

309

TOWNSHIP OF ROYALTON.

in 1832, or soon after-Rev. William Davis, of Indiana, with other traveling missionaries of the United Brethren Church, used to preach at John Pike's house once in four weeks. The congregations were small, of course, but the members thereof were faithful attendants, and held in high esteem the precious privilege of public worship, although they enjoyed it but once a month, and traveled in some cases a long way to do it. After a while a United Brethren congregation was organized, but lapsed after a brief exist- ence. Rev. Mr. McCoole, a Methodist Episcopal mission- ary, preached occasionally in the town in 1833 and 1834, and after that other preachers of that faith made visits, but no class was formed until 1864. The Baptists have been wor- shiping for some time past in the town hall, and for a year or more have had preaching once in two weeks by Rev. J. E. King, of Sodus, but they have as yet effected no organiza- tion.

The Evangelical Association .- A German Church was organized in Royalton in January, 1860, by Rev. C. Ude, and the class then formed, with Henry Ashoff as leader, was called the Emanuel Class of the Evangelical Association in North America. In 1860 a house of worship was erected upon Henry Ashoff's farm, where it is still located. Since the organization of the church Mr. Ashoff has served as the class-leader the most of the time, and for an extended period as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Among the preachers who have occupied the church pulpit have been Revs. Ruh, Alsbach, Reigel, Spech, Haug, Gomes, Meek, Paullin, and others. The church membership is now about 30, and is composed exclusively of Germans. Church services are always conducted in the German lan- guage, save as occasion demands a change at protracted meetings. The Sabbath-school includes about 50 scholars, and is in charge of 7 teachers, the exercises being con- ducted in the German language. The school was organized in 1861, when Gottleib Hettler was chosen superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized April 8, 1866, by Rev. John Byrnes, and was attached to the Michi- gan Conference in the Niles district. Previous to that, May 23, 1864, a Methodist Episcopal class was formed, with 11 members, but dissolved shortly thereafter.

The names of those who joined Mr. Byrnes' class in 1866 are given, as follows : G. Hettler, William and Cathe- rine Penland, Laura Stanley, Ansel Scott, Debbie Parsons, Phoebe Covert, Mary Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Reug- lands, W. C. Penland, Caroline Boswell, Joan Tryon, S. W. Stanley, G. Foster, D. H. Fogle, Nancy Baker, Elizabeth Reese, Martha A. Hettler, Mary Tryon, Elizabeth Fogle.

March 25, 1867, when the class was revised by Rev. Irving Skinner, it contained 28 members. Mr. Skinner was the pastor two years, and was followed by Revs. Friend, Valentine, Shinston, Wallace, and Joseph Skinner. Wor- ship has always been held in the Tryon school-house, save for a period of three years, when the location was at the Risley school-house. Preaching is now provided once every two weeks. The members number now 16. The class-leader is Ansel Scott; the steward, William Penland. The Sabbath-school, which meets every Sunday, comprises from 30 to 40 scholars, under the charge of Superintendent Ansel Scott and three teachers.

The Christian Church, now worshiping in the Risley school-house, has a membership of 70, which was its strength when organized Oct. 28, 1878, by Rev. Reason Davis. Mr. Davis is still the pastor and preaches once a month. Mrs. Anderson preached, for about a year, a monthly sermon, so that the church was enabled to have worship once a fortnight. Mrs. Anderson's visits have been recently discontinued, but it is thought that Mr. Davis will be en- gaged to preach once a fortnight instead of monthly. Carl Bunker is the present elder, J. H. Evans and Samuel Spry the deacons, and David Shearer the secretary and treasurer.

POST-OFFICE.

A post-office was established in Royalton in 1843, and Mr. Boughton appointed postmaster. He kept tavern on the St. Joseph road, where A. H. Carlton now lives, and had the post-office in his tavern. John Wetherell suc- ceeded him both as tavern-keeper and postmaster, at the same place, where, too, Gould Parrish was the third incum- bent. After Mr. Parrish's time the office was discontinued until 1861, when George H. Scott secured its revival and his appointment as postmaster. He held the office until 1865, when it was again discontinued. In 1874 it was re- established at Tryon's Corners. A. J. Dispennett, who was then appointed, is still the postmaster. The office has now daily mail communication.

FRUIT GRANGE, No. 104.

This, the only secret order in the township, was organ- ized in 1873, with the following members : J. S. Beers, M .; J. W. Robards, O .; A. Scofield, S. ; J. Knight, G. ; B. S. Green, Sec .; L. B. Tryon, Treas. ; J. M. Brown, Asst. S .; Ella Brown, Lady Asst. S .; H. Rantfrow, Chapl .; R. M. Ballinger, Lect. ; E. Corywell, Ceres ; Anna Fogle, Flora ; Celeste Tryon, Pomona ; Mrs. R. M. Ballinger, Mrs. Mary Robards, Mrs. Martha Scott, Mrs. Harriet Knight, Mrs. Lavina Rantfrow, Mrs. Grace Tryon, Mr. and Mrs. V. R. Cromer, and George Cromer.

The grange is flourishing, with a membership of 50, and owns a commodious hall at Tryon's Corners. The officers chosen for 1879 were: J. M. Brown, M .; L. B. Tryon, O. ; A. Scofield, Sec .; M. Sherman, Treas. ; Charles Brown, S .; George Fogle, Asst. S .; Nancy Sherman, Chap- lain ; George Rockey, Lecturer; S. Knight, G .; Mrs. L. Rantfrow, Lady Asst. S. ; Mrs. M. E. Ross, Ceres; Mrs. R. J. Dispennett, Pomona ; Mrs. George Rockey, Flora.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DR. EDWARD HALL

was born near Manchester, England, April 15, 1830, and emigrated to the United States in the fall of 1838, with his mother, five brothers, and three sisters ; his father, Thomas P. Hall, having preceded them one year. After a very stormy passage of sixty-one days they landed at Boston, on Thanksgiving day, and it was truly a thanksgiving day to those storm-tossed pilgrims. The family proceeded at once to Lowell, and all that were old enough went to work with

310

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

their father (who followed calico-printing for forty-five years) in the celebrated Merrimac Print-Works. After the death of their mother, which occurred in November, 1843,

INIAMS

DR. EDWARD HALL.

the family was broken up for about a year, when they came together again near Worcester, Mass. After a residence there of a year the father and six of the children emigrated, in a wagon, to Monroe Co., Mich. After remaining there one year and a half, two sons, Edward and Thomas, started again westward, and, walking across the State of Michigan,

GEORGE H. SCOTT.

GEORGE H. SCOTT

was born in East Poultney, Vt., June 19, 1817. Spent his early life at home. When fifteen years old he entered the store of Wm. P. Myers, in East Poultney, as a clerk ; stayed three years, at a salary of fifty dollars a year, with boarding and washing. At the end of this time he decided to learn a trade. Selecting that of tinner, he contracted for three years' apprenticeship, for which he was to receive one

found employment on farms near Laporte, Ind. Edward worked for Dr. B. C. Bowell three years, when he began the study of medicine, which he continued for four years. Graduating at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, he began the practice of medicine at Delhi, Dela- ware Co., Iowa. In 1855 he was joined by his father and four brothers, who lived with him until the winter of 1856-57, when they all removed to Lyon Co., Kansas, where they remained until 1861. Then the doctor moved back to Laporte, Ind., and in 1862 removed to Berrien Springs. Here he remained eight years, and, by close attention to his profession and strict integrity, built up a large practice, and was surrounded by a host of very warm friends. In the spring of 1870, in consequence of failing health, he removed to Royalton township and engaged in fruit-raising.

His family consists of a wife and six children, having married Lorinda C. Roe, Aug. 24, 1854. Their children are four sons, viz., W. C., T. H., E. L., and A. R., and two daughters, Lorinda E. and Mary E. Hall.

Dr. Hall says of his father, " He was a native of London, England, lived to the age of eighty-seven years, and had not a day's sickness in his long life, and only a day or two at its close."

The doctor has led an active, useful life in his profession, than which none gives more opportunities for doing good. He has been faithful to this profession, and the years of his practice have been wholly devoted to his work, losing no time by sickness, not having been confined to his bed twenty-four hours in forty years.

LITTLE

MRS. GEORGE H. SCOTT.

hundred and fifty dollars. At the end of two years his brother, Reuben Scott, decided to move West, and urged George to accompany him. He not having filled his con- tract as to his trade, had to make some arrangement about that. Mr. Judd, his employer, gave him one hundred dollars for the two years he had spent in his shop, charging him ninety dollars for the time yet to be made up, leaving George but ten dollars for his two years' labor.

311

TOWNSHIP OF ROYALTON.

The two brothers left Vermont May 1, 1837, arriving at St. Joseph, Mich., in twelve days, coming by stage to Schenectady, N. Y .; thence to Buffalo by packet on the Erie Canal, taking stage again to Erie, Pa. ; then to To- ledo by boat, to Niles by stage, and from Niles to St. Jo- seph by steamboat on the St. Joseph River. Here the brothers decided to go into business, opening a hardware- store, which business they engaged in three years, when they were burned out, losing heavily. In 1840 bought out a grocery, running this four years. In 1843, George built a vessel, selling his interest out to his brother as soon as it was completed, again engaging in business in the firm of Warren Chatman. At the end of the first year another partner was taken into the business-Francis Finegan ; re- mained here until 1850; then selling out, he went to spec- ulating in cord-wood, shipping to Chicago; the business increasing, he took Curtis Boughton as a partner. In an- other year's time they bought a saw-mill, taking as partners in this L. F. Warner and Riley F. Gragg. At the close of the year this firm dissolved, leaving the firm Scott &

LA TLE

JOHN BORT.

Among the many gentlemen whose biographies appear on the pages of this history, none better deserve mention than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born Nov. 25, 1810, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. ; his early life was spent on a farm. At the age of twenty he left his father, hiring as a farm-hand for two years at thir- teen dollars per month. He then went to Canada, working in a saw-mill at twenty-six dollars per month.

Oct. 10, 1832, married Mariette, daughter of Otis and Mary Smith. Mrs. Bort was born Feb. 24, 1826, in Her- kimer Co., N. Y. After his marriage Mr. Bort rented his father's farm, remaining there two years. At this time his father-in-law dying, he was appointed administrator of his estate; seven years passed before this was settled, there being a minor heir. For four years he engaged in farming, first in Jefferson and then in Herkimer County. Removing

Warner. At the end of two years, the war of the Rebel- lion breaking out, and troops being called for, Warner en- listed, selling his interest to Scott, who managed the busi- ness until 1871. In 1854, Scott and Boughton bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, Scott moving on the farm in 1861. In the transfer of their property Scott re- tained fifteen acres of the original purchase, to which he has since added eighty acres. He also owns other land,- one farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is the home of his son, George M. In all he has two hundred and seventeen acres.

In politics Mr. Scott is a Republican, and has filled sev- eral offices of trust, among which are the following: post- master in Royalton for seven years, town treasurer three years, deputy postmaster at St. Joseph (1840) two years.

On the 14th day of December, 1843, he married Eliza, daughter of David and Charlotte Gragg. Of this union were born five children, viz. : George M., C. H., Emily L., Charles R., Linda M. All are living. Mrs. Scott died Sept. 19, 1872.

MRS. JOHN BORT.

to Peters' Corners, he engaged in harness-making; from that he went to traveling, selling fanning-mills and pumps.

In 1844, Mr. Bort settled in this county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in Niles town- ship ; he sold this and removed to Royalton township, now Lincoln, where he bought one hundred and forty-four acres ; again buying one hundred and sixty-four acres in Royalton township, to which he removed, and on which he is now living. His principal employment while on the Lake farm was raising fruit.

Feb. 1, 1848, Mrs. Bort died, leaving four children, viz. : Otis S., Sophronia M., Mary J., and Charles E.

Jan. 2, 1850, he married, for his second wife, Sophronia, daughter of George Getman. Of this union were born six children, viz. : Albert, Fayette, Harrie G., Eddie G., Jay E., and Mariette. Albert is living in Nebraska, the others are at home with their parents. Mr. Bort's father raised a

312

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

family of twelve children,-all living but one; two living in Michigan, one in Iowa, one in Wisconsin, and the others in New York. Mr. Bort is the ninth child, and he is now sixty-nine years old. His father died in 1870, aged eighty- three years, having been twice married, his first wife dying in 1823, and the second in 1877.

Mr. Bort is an active, energetic man, anxious for the ad- vancement of the country around him. He organized the first school on the lake, opening the school with only three scholars ; has been school director and commissioner for two years. It has been his fortune nearly every time he has changed his residence, to stop where they had a school- house to build, and he has assisted in building four school- houses.

Mr. Bort was ambitious to improve both his mind and his circumstances ; this led him to employ diligently both his time and means, and as a result he has achieved a suc- cess in life which favorably contrasts with the beginning of his career.

CHAPTER XLI.

ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP .*

Description of the Township, its Settlement, and Pioneers-Organiza- tion and Township Officers-Early Roads and Road Districts-St. Joseph Village - Manufacturing Interests - The Railroad -- St. Joseph Secret Orders-The Public Schools-Religious Societies- Cemetery.

THIS is the smallest township in the county, and is situ- ated on the lake-shore, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, from which it takes its name.} In the government survey it is known as town 4 south, in range 19 west. It has a triangular shape, and is bounded on the east by Ben- ton, and south by Lincoln and Royalton townships. Only a little more than seven full sections are embraced within its limits. The principal streams are the St. Joseph and Paw Paw Rivers and Hickory Creek. The former enters the township from the south, nearly a mile west of the southeast corner, and after flowing almost parallel with the lake for two miles and a half, turns to the west and, receiving the waters of the Paw Paw, which flows from the northeast, discharges into Lake Michigan. In its course through the township it embraces several islands and bayous, and there is not sufficient fall to afford water- power. The peninsula formed by this stream is a plateau elevated from forty-eight to fifty-five feet above the lake. Its soil is a rich sandy loam, with occasional small belts or outcroppings of clay. It was originally well covered with oak, maple, beech, whitewood, ash, and hickory, with small clusters of pine. Most of these have been removed, and the surface presents an open and well-improved landscape. On the peninsula formed by the Paw Paw River the surface is less elevated, and the soil is sandy and comparatively

sterile, much of it being unfit for cultivation. Along the rivers the surface is somewhat marshy, but upon the eastern line of the township there is a belt of very fine land, which has been highly improved. Although the soil is adapted to the cereals, market-gardening and fruit culture have be- come the leading industries of the people outside of the village of St. Joseph. At this point the first settlement was made. An account of the Jesuit Mission, and other early occupancy, is given in the general history of the county, as also of Capt. Hinckley's entrance to the harbor in the fall of 1827, while on his way to Fort Dearborn (Chicago) with supplies for the garrison. The harbor was at that time called "Saranac" by the sailors. William Burnett and his son James also had a trading-post here from about 1785 till after 1825.

The old Burnett trading-post was something more than one mile up the river, in an apple-orchard set out by the elder Burnett. A part of the orchard still exists, and the remains of the trading-post are-or were in recent years- to be seen.

James Burnett, son of William Burnett, was here in 1829. He laid no claim to land, but followed his occupa- tion of a trader with the Indians, and was traveling from place to place.

THE PIONEER SETTLERS

were Calvin Britain and Augustus B. Newell. The former was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1800, and came to Michigan in 1827. For a short time he was connected with the "Carey Mission," and was at St. Joseph in 1827 and 1828, but in 1829 pre-empted land at that place with Augustus B. Newell. The lands were surveyed by govern- ment in 1829 and 1830, and Sept. 30, 1830, they purchased the lands they had pre-empted. Mr. Britain took up his residence here in 1829, and remained a citizen of the town- ship until his death, Jan. 18, 1862. He was a member of the Legislative Council of the Territory, which office he held till Michigan became a State, and served in the Legis- lature as a representative and senator under the old consti- tution. In 1852 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor. He remained a single man. In 1837 his father, Gen. Calvin Britain, came to St. Joseph to live, but died in 1840, at the age of seventy years.

Maj. Britain had his home with Augustus B. Newell, who came in 1829, and built the first house (which was of logs), intended for permanent use in the township. He also built the first tavern, but died soon after, in 1832. Benjamin Chandler came in the early part of 1829, and built a house near Newell's, but farther up the bluff. He died in the place many years ago. In May, 1829, Capt. Daniel T. Wilson came from Niles, where he was engaged with his brother in a tanning business. He settled in St." Joseph, and, with the exception of a few years, lived there until his death, Oct. 25, 1878. At the time he came one Leephart, a trader, lived on the east side of the river. In September, 1829, his father came to live in the township, but died in the course of four or five years. Calvin Bart- lett came the same season. In November, 1830, he married Pamelia Ives, who had come with Mr. Nelson's family. The ceremony was performed at the " Mansion House," by Maj. T. S. Smith, and was the first wedding in the town-

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 78

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