USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88
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1877 .- Supervisor, S. P. Merrifield ; Clerk, Sawyer Ball; Treasurer, W. M. Baldwin ; Justice of the Peace, Abram Smith.
1878 .- Supervisor, S. P. Merrifield ; Clerk, John Thomas; Treasurer, William Baldwin ; Justice of the Peace, R. N. Van Matter. 1879 .- Supervisor, W. M. Baldwin ; Clerk, William A. Baker; Treas- urer, John W. Knapp; Justices of the Peace, E. H. Gold- man, Oscar Terry.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Coloma. - The early records of the Coloma Methodist Episcopal Church are lost, and the fragments of history obtainable about the first days of the organization are necessarily meagre. About the year 1844 a Methodist class was formed at a school- house about a mile west of Coloma, and from the fact that a hill near there, known as Mount Hope, was donated to the church for a cemetery, the class was named Mount Hope. It may be here observed that the soil of Mount Hope proving unsuitable for the purpose, the proposed cemetery was not established there. Among the members of the Mount Hope class whose names can be recalled were Martin Musser and wife, Robert and Eliza Merri- field, James S. Johnson and wife, Jeremiah Smith and wife, Alfred Sensebaugh and wife, J. H. Crawford and wife, -Martin Musser being the class-leader.
After Coloma began to assume the dignity of a village, the class changed its place of worship to that point, and continued to use the township school-house until the com- pletion at Coloma, in 1859, of the Congregational church edifice, which from that time until October, 1879, served as the place of meetings. At the time last mentioned, the Methodists dedicated a handsome church of their own, which they had built at Coloma during the summer. From 1844 to 1847, when the church was attached to the Silver Creek circuit, the pastors were Revs. A. C. Shaw, I. C. Abbott, and E. House. From 1847 to 1856, when it was attached to the St. Joseph circuit, the pastors were Revs. T. P. McCool, E. L. Kellogg, Ransom Goodall, Geo. King, B. F. Doughty, Charles Barnes, Thomas Clark, J. W. Rob- inson, W. F. Jenkins, Milo Corey, T. H. Bignall, R. Wat- son, S. Hendrickson, T. G. Jakeway, Charles Barnes. Since 1856 the church has been attached to the Coloma circuit,
and the pastors have been Wm. Stafford, T. G. Jakeway, E. L. Kellogg, J. Hoyt, H. M. Joy, A. J. Eldred, H. Caldwell, Rowland Soule, G. S. Harder, H. Penfield, D. C. Woodward, E. D. Bacon, F. Glass, H. Hall, T. Edward, J. P. Force, C. C. Olds, V. Mason, I. B. Tallman, G. C. Elliott, G. W. Gosling. A. R. Boggs,-the latter being the pastor, October, 1879.
The membership is now 60, and church affairs are pros- perous to a gratifying extent. The officers are as follows : Class-Leader, Delos Bryant; Trustees, J. M. Guy, T. Becker, J. M. Worden, T. R. Gilson, S. Bachman, E. Carter, A. W. Crumb, D. Bryant, T. Carter; Stewards, J. M. Guy, T. Becker, S. Bachman, J. M. Worden, A. E. Kingsley. The pastor holds services each Sunday, and preaches each Sunday also in Watervliet village.
A Union Sunday-School, supported by the Congrega- tionalists and Methodists, has sessions each Sunday in the Congregational church. The scholars number 40, and are under the charge of Sawyer Ball, superintendent, and a corps of 8 teachers.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Watervliet .- The church now worshiping at Watervliet village, and attached to the Coloma circuit, was organized about the year 1846, although the exact date of that event, as well as early events of interest, cannot be recited, for the reason that the early church records are lost. James I. Redding was the first class-leader, and for twenty-three years, or until 1869, the church met for worship in the Watervliet school-house. In the year mentioned the church edifice now in use was erected. The list of pastors who have served the church will be found identical with that given in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Coloma, since both churches have always been in the same charge. The church trustees are now W. W. Allen, Oscar Terry, S. C. Price, Sebastian Smith, and J. J. Brooks. W. W. Allen, Oscar Terry, and A. N. Woodruff are the Stewards, C. H. Johnson the Class-Leader, and John Worden the District Steward. The church membership is 69.
A Union Sunday-School, with a flourishing membership of from 80 to 100 scholars, meets in the church every Sabbath. Mr. George Parsons is the superintendent, and is assisted by 12 teachers.
The First Congregational Church .- Pursuant to a call to organize a Congregational Church in Watervliet, a coun- cil convened in Coloma, June 16, 1853, with Rev. Wm. C. Denison as moderator and Rev. Eleazer Andrus as secretary. Certificates were presented by Rev. William H. Osborn, Charles C. Johnson, Ives Wallingford, James Scott, Lucina Marvin, Lucina Marvin Osborn, Maria Wallingford, Mrs. Scott, Lucy Ann Crumb, Sarah M. Johnson. Rev. William H. Osborn, formerly a Free-Will Baptist minister, was en- gaged as pastor, and Charles C. Johnson chosen deacon. The first sacrament was administered by Rev. Thomas Jones. Preaching was at first held in the " Dickerville" school-house. March 26, 1854, 10 members were received into the church. Rev. Mr. Osborn ceased his labors with the church in June, 1856, from which time to June, 1857, there was no minister. Elder A. Rowe was then called to the charge, at which time the church membership was ex- ceedingly feeble and scattered, and, to quote from the church
349
TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.
records, " religion was in a low state." Jan. 9, 1858, there was an upward movement, when 13 members were added, and James Patterson elected deacon. In 1855 the erection of a church edifice was begun, but the completion lagged until 1859, when the house was dedicated ; the Home Mis- sionary Aid Society eventually coming to the assistance of the church in the matter, while members of the Methodist Church likewise gave some aid, wherefore the structure was known as the Union Church. Elder William B. Campbell began his term as pastor in 1860. From 1865 to 1867 there was no regular pastor, but in the latter year Rev. E. M. Shaw assumed charge, and remained one year. Upon the retirement of Mr. Shaw the church ceased its active existence, although still retaining its organization, and this condition of affairs endured until December, 1876, when Rev. W. B. Williams, superintendent of missions, revived the church, preached a few times, restored a measure of the lost strength, and in September, 1877, secured Rev. N. D. Lamphear as pastor. Mr. Lamphear was in charge October, 1879, when the membership was 25. At that time, E. P. Luce and J. L. Marvin were officiating as deacons.
Christian Church .- In 1857, 35 persons met in the red school-house, just over the river from Coloma, and by Elder B. I. Curtis were organized as the Christian Church of Coloma. Jesse Woodward, who was then chosen deacon, has continued in that office to the present, James Stalker being now a deacon with him. Succeeding Elder Curtis the pastors have been Elders Ira B. Winch, - Mc- George, - Wilson, - McDaniel, G. W. Sherman, - Norman, and Reason Davis. Upon beginning his term of service, in March, 1878, Mr. Davis inaugurated a spirited revival, and so fruitful were his labors that at the close of the revival 130 persons had been received as mem- bers of the church. Mr. Davis still serves as pastor, and preaches in the school-house "across the river"; and al- though the membership of the church is claimed to be 125 no church edifice has yet been erected. Previous to 1875, when the members of the faith in Deerfield worshiped with this congregation, the membership reached at times as high as 200. A flourishing Sabbath-school, in charge of James Stalker, is attached to the church. Jesse Wood- ward, one of the first members of the church, served as su- perintendent of the Sabbath-school fifteen years previous to 1876.
BURIAL-GROUND.
The village grave-yard first used is still to be seen, but it has long been a disused, forlorn-looking place. Four or five weed-covered graves, surrounded by a picket fence, are there, and near there is what is said to be an Indian mound, where Indian bodies were once buried, and where bones have been turned over by the pioneer plowshare. In the old grave-yard John Stronner buried two children, and there also Mr. Miller, a brother of James Redding's wife, was buried.
SCHOOLS.
Reference has already been made elsewhere to the first school and first school-teacher in Watervliet. Especial at- tention is called to the fact that in its earliest days Dicker- ville was chosen as the location of a select school of some
pretensions. Charles Bostwick erected in 1849 a good- sized building, which he opened as a school, and of which he promised something more than ordinary in the way of educational achievements. Bostwick himself was a teacher, and to assist him in conducting the school he engaged S. P. Merrifield, then, as now, a resident in the neighborhood. Under their administration the institution flourished for a time, but upon the establishment of common schools it lost its prestige, and being discontinued, was succeeded in the same structure by a tavern, now the Osgood House. The condition of the schools of Watervliet, Sept. 1, 1879, as shown in the report for that year, was as follows: Number of districts, 7 (5 whole, 2 fractional). Number of children of school age, 570. Average attendance, 442. Value of school property, District No. 1, $1500; No. 2, $2500; No. 3, $100; No.4, $500; No. 5,$250; No.7,$600; No. 8, $800; total, $6350. Whole number of teachers, 16. Amount paid for teachers' wages, $1693.50. School directors, District No. 1, S. Shoup ; No. 2 (graded school), Oscar Terry ; No. 3 (fractional), Ch. Becht; No. 4, Perry Johnson ; No. 5 (fractional), Milo Baker; No. 7, J. H. Jones ; No. 8 (fractional), G. W. Blackman.
SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.
Coloma Lodge, No. 162, F. and A. M., was chartered Jan. 13, 1865, with the following members : John L. Mar- vin, W. M .; W. W. McKee, S. W .; Milo Bratton, J. W .; Archibald Stewart, A. I. Brush, Gilson Osgood, Marcus Osgood, J. C. Pike, J. H. Marvin, and B. B. Tucker.
The Worshipful Masters who have served since 1865 have been J. L. Marvin, B. B. Tucker, J. H. Marvin, W. W. McKee, Milo Bratton, H. M. Marvin, Archibald Stewart. The membership Oct. 1, 1879, was 34, when the officers were J. L. Marvin, W. M .; Archibald Stew- art, S. W .; James Hanna, J. W .; Marcus Osgood, Sec. ; Jesse Woodward, Treas .; H. M. Marvin, S. D .; Thomas Becker, J. D. ; George Golden, Tiler.
Henry Chamberlain Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 308, was organized Jan. 17, 1873, when B. B. Tucker was chosen Master, B W. Sutherland, Senior Warden, and J. W. Knapp, Junior Warden. The Masters of the lodge since organization have been B. B. Tucker, B. W. Sutherland, and S. D. Walden. The membership is now 22, and the officers are S. D. Walden, M .; B. W. Sutherland, S. W .; John Hammill, J. W .; L. J. Barnard, Sec. ; J. S. Burnside, Treas. The lodge holds its sessions in Watervliet village.
Coloma Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F., received its charter Jan. 20, 1871, and as charter members had I. B. Winch, J. O. Keith, Jesse Woodward, George Strong, and E. Brant. There are now 45 members, and officers as follows : G. G. Duvall, N. G .; R. R. Hewson, V. G .; M. V. Bu- chanan, R. S .; J. M. Luce, P. S .; Martin Miller, Treas. Regular sessions are held every Wednesday.
Degree Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca, No. 19, was char- tered Feb. 22, 1879, with 20 members, but worked from February, 1874, under dispensation, as Lodge No. 73. The membership was 30 in October, 1879, when the officers were Mrs. S. E. Miller, N. G .; Mrs. M. V. Buchanan, V. G .; Agnes Duval, R. S .; Mrs. George Hewitt, Treas. ; Mrs. S. Shupe, F. S .; J. H. Jones, D. G. M.
350
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Oviatt Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., was organized April 27, 1871, with the following members : R. C. Brown, N. G .; T. A. Pockett, V. G .; W. W. Allen, Sec .; Cortes Hawks, Treas. ; and H. E. Holland, Wesley Vincent, and C. H. Johnson. Members received at the first meeting were S. D. Walden, D. C. Johnson, H. B. Bradt, J. V. Hone, Darius Chatfield. The lodge worked under dispen- sation until Jan. 18, 1872, when a charter was granted. The Noble Grands of the lodge since its organization have been R. C. Brown, T. A. Pockett, S. D. Walden, C. H. Johnson, D. S. Newton, H. B. Bradt, S. C. Price, Darius Chatfield, D. C. Johnson, H. E. Holland, Henry Gammer, J. D. Wigeant, D. A. Wright, D. Randall, and Darius Chatfield.
The membership is now 28 and the officers as follows : D. Randall, S. P. G .; D. Chatfield, N. G ; P. O. Bowe, V. G .; H. B. Bradt, Sec .; Lute Jaffrey, P. Sec. ; Charles Johnson, Treas. ; Duane Wigeant, I. G. Regular meet- ings are held every Monday night in Watervliet village.
The Watervliet Silver Cornet Band flourished briskly for a space of six years. It was organized by S. D. Wal- den in 1872, with 13 pieces, and until 1878, under the leadership of Mr. Walden, was an affair of some conse- quence. In that year the band. was dissolved and the property sold.
Home Grange, No. 188, P. of H., was organized Dec. 30, 1873, at the house of Michael Smith, in Hagar town- ship. The charter members were Lyman Cole, Lucinda Cole, William Jeffrey, Almira Jeffrey, De Witt Guy, A. Barnum, S. A. Barnum, Alfred Smith, Mary Smith, Isaac Farnum, Angeline Farnum, Michael Smith, Margaret Smith, George Merrifield, Belle Merrifield, Roswell Curtis, C. H. Curtis, Emma Curtis, C. D. Stanley, M. R. Stanley, Franklin Ripley, Leonard Dade, Sarah Dade, J. C. Lewis, Porter Buckley.
May 12, 1877, Coloma was declared to be the centre of jurisdiction, and the grange domicile was therefore removed to that village, where it has since remained. The member- ship Oct. 1, 1879, was 30 ; the officers were Miram Fish, Master; J. L. Mckean, Lecturer; H. W. Peck, Steward ; E. Buckley, Assistant Steward ; I. K. Shimer, Overseer ; Mrs. Deetrick, Chaplain ; William Collier, Treas .; Helen Finch, Sec .; R. Lee, Gate-Keeper ; Mrs. Jane Huyck, Ceres; Sarah Fish, Pomona; Mahala Collier, Flora ; M. M. Shimer, Lady Assistant Steward.
Watervliet Grange, No. 149, was organized in 1873, and in 1876 losing much of its membership to newly-organized granges in the neighborhood, was dissolved that year.
Watervliet Lodge, No. 903, I. O. G. T., was organized Oct. 28, 1875, with members as follows : S. M. Shirey, L. Reuseau, C. A. Hawks, Mrs. Delano, E. Shirey, F. Grif- fith, A. Griffith, H. Gammer, S. H. Dill, E. Delano, L. Delano, E. N. Delano, M. S. Slater, G. Hutchinson, E. Hutchinson, E. R. Holland, D. C. Johnson, Mrs. Gammer, S. L. Randall, D. S. Wigeant, C. F. Teetzel, W. Griffith, S. S. Dill, D. A. Wright, L. E. Dill, I. M. Dill, W. Teet- zel, J. E. Dill, Flora Johnson, P. L. Delano. The Past Worthy Chief Templars are D. C. Johnson, S. L. Randall, S. H. Dill, Mrs. Knapp. The present membership is 45. The officers are D. C. Johnson, W. C. T .; Mrs. Delano, W.
V. T .; Mrs. Bradt, W. Chap .; Hayes Dill, W. Sec .; L. E. Delano, W. A. S .; R. E. Wigeant, W. F. S .; Uriah Wood, W. T .; Mertie Burke, W. M .; John McDonald, W. D. M .; Tempie Wigeant, W. I. G .; Perry Newcomb, W. O. G .; Minnie Brooks, W. L. H. S .; Myra Spencer, W. R. H. S .; Mrs. Knapp, P. W. C. T.
Coloma Lodge, I. O. G.'T., No. 652, was organized in 1859, but thriving poorly, lapsed into inactivity. In 1869 there was a reorganization, with 14 members, and for a few years matters prospered ; but in 1877 another era of inaction set in, and from that time to the present the lodge has had no meetings.
The Order of United American Mechanics, said to be the only one of its kind in the State, was organized March 9, 1878, with 24 members, and for a time held regular sessions at Watervliet village, while a permanent pros- perity appeared to be assured. After a time, the interest of the members flagged, and sessions of the organization have been very few during the past year. Efforts are being made to revive the matter, but the show for success is by no means flattering.
CURIOUS RELIC.
A curious relic was discovered at Watervliet in 1837, during the digging of the race for Smith & Merrick's mills. Joseph Matran, one of the workmen, and now a farmer of Bainbridge, turned up with his spade a tooth of enormous size. It passed into the hands of scientific men, and was produced for discussion in numerous assemblies of the learned, who decided that it had belonged to some creature larger by far than the elephant or any other beast of the present day, and among whom it created for a time a very marked sensation.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
EDWARD BRANT.
This gentleman is the son of Mason and Almira (Tobias) Brant, and one of a family of six children. He was born in Ionia Co., Mich., May 7, 1845. His father was a na- tive of New York, and his mother of Ohio. The elder Brant was a farmer by occupation, and removed to Ionia Co., Mich., in 1838. He went to California in 1849 and died there, leaving his wife and children to struggle for their own maintenance. Mrs. Brant again married, sold her home in Ionia, and came to Berrien County, accom- panied by four of her children.
Edward Brant remained with his mother until he had reached the age of thirteen years, when his services were hired by a man named Andrews, and for six months' work he received a shirt and a pair of overalls ! His stipulated wages were five dollars a month, but were never paid. His subsequent experience was more encouraging, Messrs. Cas- sidy and Pearl paying him in full for his labor. For six years he was in the employ of Pierce & Co., extensive lumber dealers, who furnished work for sixty men, Mr. Brant being their foreman. At the age of twenty-one he married Miss Martha Carpenter, of Covert township, Van
VIEW OF ORCHARD & LAKE.
VIEW OF VINEYARD .
"LAKE VIEW FARM"- RES. OF HARVEY. C. SHERWOOD, WATERVLIET TP, BERRIEN CO., MICH.
351
TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.
Buren Co. Her parents, who were natives of Canada, had a family of eight children, and settled early in Michigan. Her mother died when the child was but three years old, and her father's death occurred in 1869. About the time of his marriage Mr. Brant purchased twenty acres of land, which is included in his present farm of three hundred and sixty-three acres. This place has an excellent grain-pro- ducing soil, and is well adapted also to the raising of stock. Its owner has at present a fine flock of sheep, and besides his farming operations is extensively engaged in lumbering. His possessions in timber-land aggregate about eight hun- dred acres, in Berrien and Montcalm Counties, and he gives employment during the entire year to about forty men. Mr. and Mrs. Brant are the parents of four children, viz. : Mason, born Jan. 7, 1867; Carrie, born Nov. 11, 1869 ; Ida, born Aug. 7, 1871; Mertie, born May 15, 1879. The meaning of the appellation " self made man" is often perverted, but in the case of Mr. Brant the title is deserv- edly appropriate, and the result of his labors is an excellent example of what may, through industry, perseverance, and shrewd business tact, grow from a small beginning.
HARVEY C. SHERWOOD.
Mr. Sherwood, who is the son of Amos and Mary. (Campbell) Sherwood, and the seventh in a family of eleven children, of whom six are now living, was born Feb. 9, 1835, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., of which his mother, who was of Scotch descent, was also a native; his father was born in Connecticut, but was of English descent. His parents were married in Onondaga County, Jan. 25, 1821. Mr. Sherwood remained at home until he was of age, and was given a thorough academical and scientific education, attending different seminaries and the academies at Homer and Onondaga Valley, graduating in the year 1853. His father, who in early life was a merchant, became afterwards a farmer, but remained an active business man, and died about the time his son reached his majority. H. C. Sher- wood then went to Syracuse and engaged in business with his brother, Le Grand Sherwood. In 1865 their copart- nership was dissolved by mutual consent, and H. C. Sher- wood continued in business as a wholesale and retail grocer until 1870, being quite successful. In the latter year he disposed of his business in Syracuse and came to Michigan, and began improving his present fine farm, known as " Lake View," on the bank of Paw Paw Lake. Until 1875 he only spent his summers here, returning for the winters to Syracuse, but in that year he removed with his family- consisting of his wife and one son, Robert H., born Jan. 12, 1864, who is now at Olivet College-to Michigan, where he permanently located.
Mr. Sherwood was married, Sept. 4, 1861, to Elizabeth, youngest child of D. Alvord, one of the first to engage in the manufacture of salt at Syracuse, and who settled in Onondaga County in 1796.
The present home of Mr. Sherwood consists of four hun- dred acres, lying on sections 11 and 12, in the township of Watervliet, and is especially adapted to fruit-raising. Mr. Sherwood already has forty acres set with peach, apple,
and pear-trees, and sixteen acres of peach-trees are in fine bearing condition, the net profit from this source alone having been over ten thousand dollars in three years. This farm, when it became the property of Mr. Sherwood, was covered by a thick growth of timber, but at present about three hundred and fifty acres are improved and in a state of cultivation. Mr. Sherwood also pays considerable attention to the introduction of fine stock, which none ap- preciate better than he, and he is the present owner of two hundred Merino sheep, thirty head of cattle, and nine horses, some of the latter being of the famous Percheron Norman breed of draft horses. He raises considerable grain of various kinds ; also owns a tract of fine timber- land lying in Allegan and the southern part of Berrien Counties. He takes great pride in his farm, and labors to make it a model of its class. He is a member of the State Pomological Society, and takes deep interest in its affairs. He is also a member of the executive board of the Western Michigan Agricultural and Industrial Society. Politically, he has been a life-long Democrat. He and his wife united with the First Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N. Y., soon after their marriage.
W. W. ALLEN
may be justly ranked among the self-made men of Water- vliet township. He was born Aug. 28, 1836, in Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., and was the oldest in a family of four children. His parents-Albert and Sophronia (Tanner)
TTLE
W. W. ALLEN.
Allen-were natives of New York. In 1837 his father came to Michigan and located at Jackson, where he re- mained about one year and removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, where he died in 1844. His occupation bad been that of a miller. Two of his children, a son and a daughter, also died within the same time, and his widow was left with two children and but little means. She returned to Genesee
352
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
County, N. Y., and W. W. Allen made his home with an uncle, on the latter's farm. His mother with her youngest child moved to Paw Paw, Mich., where she was married to Mr. N. R. Woodruff, and settled in the town of Bainbridge, Berrien Co. Her son remained with his uncle until he was twelve years old, when he followed his mother to Michigan, and for seven years lived with them in Bain- bridge. At the end of that time-or at the age of nine- teen-he engaged as clerk in the store of E. Smith & Co., at Paw Paw, and remained with them five years. In 1860, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., he was married to Miss Jennie Irving, who was the youngest in a family of four children. Her parents had formerly resided in Canada, but were of Scotch descent, and removed to New York when the daughter was quite young. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of two children : Irving W., born April 26, 1863, and Blanche W., born Feb. 4, 1867. After his marriage Mr. Allen settled in Watervliet, and engaged in the mer- cantile business, which he has since continued, with marked success. His stock has been enlarged at various times until he has at present one of the finest stores in the county, and its name-" The Centennial Store"-is familiar to all. Mr. Allen began with a limited capital, but his credit was ex- cellent and he was proved worthy of confidence, and his success in business is indeed gratifying. His early educa- tional advantages were extremely limited, and beyond " sub- traction" the principles of arithmetic were a blank to him. Politically he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for the lamented Lincoln. For nine years he held the office of postmaster, and finally resigned, as his business affairs occupied his time too fully to admit of his attending to the office. Mr. Allen and his wife united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1874. The parents of Mrs. Allen died when she was young. Mr. Allen is now the only living representative of his father's family,-except his mother,-his brother's death having occurred in the winter of 1873.
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