USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 38
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him to raise a company of men and did so, going to the front in September, 1861, as Captain of Company A of the Michigan Twelfth Infantry. Upon May. 27, 1862, he resigned and received a discharge for disability. His army experience was unfortunate in that it undermined his health and he was for two years a sufferer with diseases which threatened very serious consequences. In 1864, with a view to the im- provement of his health, he went to Montana, and for three years followed mining. The experiment was successful, and he returned so benefited that he is to-day as hale a man for his years as can be found in the State. In the spring of 1869, Capt. Harper was appointed Postmaster of Cassopolis, an office which he held until January, 1878. Since that time he has not been actively engaged either in pub- lic or private employment. Capt. Harper now, at the age of more than three score years and ten, as we have implied, preserves in a remarkable degree his physical powers and mental faculties. His memory is wonder- fully retentive-a storehouse full of the facts accumu- lated by the observation and reading of a long life-time. His accurate recollection of local affairs has been of peculiar value in the preparation of this work, and it is safe to say that no one man in Cass County has been able to contribute so much of reliable information for the benefit of the historian and for posterity. And now in the old age of a correct life, with family and friends about him, he enjoys both the present and the past. Religiously, Capt. Harper has been an al- most life-long believer in the principles of Christianity, and has striven to conform his daily life to them. Capt. Harper was married October 25, 1836, to Miss Caroline Guylford, a native of Massachusetts, born September 4, 1816. Her parents were early settlers of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and came from there to Michigan. The offspring of the marriage were four girls, of whom three are living in Cassopolis. Emily S., the eldest, is the wife of J. B. Chapman ; Melissa C., is Mrs. Joseph Graham; Janette, Mrs. C. L. Morton, died February 27, 1880; Maryette is the wife of L. H. Glover, Esq.
WILLIAM P. BENNETT.
William P. Bennett, or Judge Bennett, as he is familiarly known, was born in Maulmein, British East India, October 17, 1831, and was the son of Cephas and Stella (Kneeland) Bennett, both natives of the State of New York. The elder Bennett was a printer by occupation, and, in 1829, was sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions with the first iron printing press over operated in Central Asia. In 1840, he returned to America with his family,
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and, after a stay of about a year and a half, returned to India, leaving William P. at New Woodstock, N. Y., where he remained until 1845, when he came to Tecumseh, Mich., but subsequently returned to New York. He was educated at the Cortland, Woodstock and Groton Academies and at the Oneida Conference School at Cazenovia. October 5, 1850, he was mar- ried to Miss Louisa Brokaw, of Cayuga County, N. Y., and, in 1851, the young couple came to Michigan and, in October of 1852, settled in Marcellus Town- ship, then a new country, and began the construction of a home. His ability was soon recognized by the people, and for ten years he was their representative on the Board of Supervisors.
In 1868, he was elected to the most important and responsible position in county affairs, that of Probate Judge, and such has been the appreciation of the people of the manner in which he has discharged the duties of the office that he has held the position unin- terruptedly since. In politics, Judge Bennett is an unswerving Republican. He takes a deep interest in political matters, using the term in its broadest and best sense, and has always been active in advancing the best interests of the community. He is a man of large reading, and his acquaintance with general literature seems as intimate as his knowledge of the topics of the day. He is not a church member, but a man of good habits and morals and of sturdy char- acter. His mode of thought is vigorous and his con- versation plain and direct. He is a man in whom dignity is finely tempered with kindness and affability, and the pleasant vein of humor in his composition renders him engaging in his manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have a family of three chil- dren-Alton W., a resident of Big Rapids, Mich .; Frank M., a graduate of the Naval School at Annap- olis ; and Stella M., now Mrs. Lieut. Douglas Roben, an officer on the retired list of the United States Navy.
SYLVADOR T. READ.
The grandfather of the subject of this biography, Gilbert N. Watkins, when the war of the Revolution opened, was living in Massachusetts. He took up arms to defend the patriot cause, received a commis- sion as Captain signed by John Hancock and was assigned to report to Gen. Gates. He served through the whole war, a period of seven years and six months, and was one of those who signed a receipt for the full amount of pay without receiving it. He was afterward offered a land warrant but refused it, and before his death made a codicil to his will enjoining his heirs from receiving any bounty or pension from the Government, on pain of being deprived of other
benefits of the will. After the close of the war, Gilbert N. Watkins and his wife, Sarah, settled in Tompkins County, N. Y. There the former died in 1827. His wife survived, and emigrated to Michi- gan. Esther, the fourth child of this couple, was married in 1814 to Titus R. Read, a native of Peru, Mass. He was a soldier, and worthy of the daughter of so gallant and patriotic a man of arms as Gilbert N. Watkins. Mr. Read served in the war of 1812 as a First Lieutenant, being wounded at the battle of Queenstown. He was one of the two-thirds of the force present who volunteered to go over the line and, the Captain being killed, led the company.
Sylvador T. Read was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., January 12, 1822, and was the third child and first son of Titus R. and Esther (Watkins) Read. The family removed to Erie County, Penn., and from thence, in 1831, to Michigan. While they were passing through Ashtabula County. Ohio, Mrs. Read was taken sick and died. The bereaved husband journeyed on to Michigan and located in Leonidas, St. Joseph County. He subsequently removed to Volinia, Cass County, and put out a nursery on Little Prairie Ronde, grafting improved stock upon the roots of crab-apple trees. He was doubtless the first man in the county who undertook this method of fruit propagation. He was a resident of Cass County until his death, which occurred January 6, 1863, when he was in his seventy-third year.
But to return to the immediate subject of our sketch. Sylvador T. Read, upon the death of his mother, returned to New York, and for a short period lived in Ontario County. In 1832, he came to Michi- gan with his grandmother and uncle, Nathan G. Watkins. Subsequently he went to school for three years in Erie County, Penn., and there became acquainted with the lady who was to be his wife --- Rhoda A. Hayden. They were married in 1843, and the same year settled in Calvin Township, where Mr. Read, who had several times passed through the county, had bought land. Farming was for a number of years Mr. Read's chief occupation, but he also followed " breaking" as a regular business, and guided the great plow, weighing 500 pounds, through many acres of Cass County grubs. He dealt largely in horses and cattle and other live stock. In 1848, he took a large drove of cattle to Chicago, and in the following year drove a fine lot of horses to Oswego, N. Y. These were the first horses raised in Cass County which went to an outside market. In 1854, he drove a herd of cattle, consisting of over a hundred head, to California, and disposed of them to good advantage. In 1855, he returned, located in Cassop- olis, and immediately went into business. His first
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
stand was in the building latterly known as the Davis restaurant. He rented this of Maj. Joseph Smith, bought the store fixtures, put in a new stock of goods. Four years later, he moved to the store now occu. pied by Mr. French as a wareroom, and there remained until January, 1870, when he sold out to Orson Rudd and W. W. McIlvain. In August, 1871, he opened his present store in company with John Yost. In addition to his other business, Mr. Read carried on extensively for about fifteen years, subse- quent to 1857, the shipping of cattle, sheep and hogs to New York, and he built for that purpose a shipping yard at Dowagiac.
Large as Mr. Read's private business has been, it | has not claimed all of his attention or activity. To him Cassopolis and Cass County are indebted beyond any doubt for the Grand Trunk Railroad, a brief his- tory of which is given in a chapter of this work. It was he who first suggested to the President of the Canadian Railway, which had its terminus at Port Huron, the scheme of crossing the Michigan Penin- sula and reaching Chicago, and it was due almost entirely to Mr. Read that, when that project was decided upon, the line was run through this county. He gave liberally both of his time and money to effect that end.
The subject of our sketch has been an earnest and energetic worker in every measure or project in which he has engaged, and the people, recog- nizing that quality in his nature, combined with shrewd common sense, have frequently placed him in positions where his energies might be of value to the public. He has served upon the Cassopolis School Board for twelve years and as a member of the Council for eight years. Before he took up his residence in the county seat, he held various offices in the gift of the people of Calvin Township. While taking a deep interest in political affairs, he has never been an aspi- rant for political office. The office of Sheriff might easily have been his at one time had he not refused the nomination, and various other positions of honor and trust would have been given to him had he cared to accept them. ITis political affiliations have been with the Abolitionist and Republican parties.
Mr. Read has been associated with the Presby- terian Church for forty-two years, and is a member of the organization of that denomination in Casso- polis.
We have already mentioned the fact that Mr. Read was married in 1843 to Rhoda A. Hayden. Their children are Helen Jane (Mrs. W. W. Mellvain), Ophelia A. (Mrs. Orlando Phelps), Martha (deceased), Sarah I. (Mrs. H. D. Smith), Frank (deceased), and Nettie N.
JOSHUA LOFLAND.
Mr. Loffand was born in Milford, Del., September 8, 1818. At the age of eighteen, he was placed in a store, and for several years remained in that position, gaining the rudiments of a practical business educa- tion. In 1836, with his mother and the rest of the family, he removed to Michigan. Ilis first business was the management of a grocery store in Cassopolis, which belonged to Lucius Hoyt, of Niles. When that business closed, he visited his old home in Delaware, remaining there several months, during which time he connected himself with the M. E. Church. In 1840, he returned to Cassopolis, and was employed as a clerk by Jacob Silver. In 1841, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Silver, to continue five years, Mr. Sil- ver furnishing all of the capital. At the end of the time specified, the firm dissolved, and divided $16,000 equally. During this co-partnership, Mr. Lofland was elected County Treasurer. In 1841, he married Lo- retta, daughter of Josiah and Polly Silver. In April, 1847, Mr. Lofland formed a partnership with Henly C. Lybrook, under the firm name of Loffand & Ly- brook, in the dry goods business. In June, 1850, this firm began business in Dowagiac, and soon after took a half-interest in a dry goods store in Cassopolis, which Mr. Lofland managed. In 1854, they closed out their business in Dowagiac. Not long afterward, Mr. L. bought the Vanderhoof farm, on La Grange Prairie, and lived there the rest of his life, making a successful farmer. He died February 27, 1862, after long suffering with consumption. Mr. Lofland was a very popular man among the people of Cassopolis and others with whom he was associated, and possessed the respect of all who knew him. His excellence of char- acter is very frequently spoken of by old residents.
JOSEPH SMITHI.
The late Joseph Smith, commonly spoken of by old settlers as Maj. Smith, was born in Botetourt County, Va., April 11, 1809. His parents, Henry and Sarah (Shaffer) Smith, carly removed to Clark County, Ohio, and settled near Springfield, where his father engaged in farming. Joseph Smith obtained only the rudiments of a school education. At the age of eighteen, he left home, and spent two years in clearing for different owners heavily timbered lands in his own and adjacent counties. With a capital of about $350, he removed, in 1829. to the locality now known as Northampton, Ohio, built the first house there, and opened a small store. In 1832, he removed to Cass County, where he bought a saw- mill, which he carried on for about two years. At the end of that time, he sold out and bought 1,000
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
acres of land in Jefferson Township. He then began farming, and continued it about eighteen years, toward the close of that period establishing a mercan- tile business in Cassopolis. This he carried on very successfully until 1875. He bought large tracts of land near the village, and became the owner of a very extensive property, which, as well as his mer- cantile and general business, he managed with signal ability. He was a Captain of militia in Ohio, and Major of the regiment of militia organized in Cass County in 1841. He was a member of the first Legislature elected under the State Constitution in 1836, and was re-elected in 1837. In local affairs, he took a prominent part, being several times elected to such offices as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, and President of the village. In politics, he always acted with the Democratic party. His death occurred in April, 1880. Maj. Smith was married in February, 1830, to Jemima Lippincott, daughter of Obadiah Lippincott, of Clark County, Ohio, who still survives. They were the parents of eleven children, the first two of whom died in infancy. 'The others are-Lewis Davis, merchant of Cassopolis; Eliza J. (widow of John Shaw), also of Cassopolis ; John Henry and Emily, deceased ; Margaret (wife of Lester Graham, of Jefferson Township) ; Sarah (Bell), deceased ; Thomas J., Sabrina (Mrs. E. R. Graham), and James P., of Cassopolis.
EBER ROOT.
Mr. Eber Root was an early hotel-keeper of Cass- opolis, whose name is frequently mentioned in the history of the village; he came here in the year 1832, from Huron County, Ohio, and was the builder of the old log jail, or " gaol," as it is called in the Supervisors' records, and was Sheriff in 1835. Mr. Root was a man of good character, and a genial, pleasant landlord. His first wife, Mary Gamble, who came with him from Ohio, died in 1834, and hers was the second death which occurred in Cass- opolis. His second wife, Eliza Wells, who came from Edwardsburg, is still living. Mr. Root retired to a farm in La Grange Township early in the fifties, and died there June 19, 1862, aged sixty-three years. His children are Isabella (Mrs. J. P. Osborn), Mary (Worthington) and Jane (wife of L. D. Smith).
S. A. TURNER.
The subject of this sketch, one of the early resi- dents of Cassopolis, was born in Northampton County, N. C., July 5, 1791, and was reared in Southampton County, Va. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, und served under Gen. Wade Hampton. He was in
the battle of Plattsburg, and one of the party engaged in the retaking of the brig from the British in Buffalo Harbor. At the close of the war, he received an hon- orable discharge at Covington, Ky., and soon after settled in Franklin County, N. Y. In 1835, he came to Michigan, and in 1836 to Cass County, locating at the county seat. He followed the trade of harness making, and for many years lived in the house now occupied by Capt. Joseph Harper. For a long period, he was a Justice of the Peace, being several times re-elected. He died May 10, 1851, mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. Turner was a man of fine character, and universally respected in the community in which he dwelt.
JOHN TIETSORT.
Mr. Tietsort was born in Miltonville, Butler County, Ohio, November 22, 1826. and was the oldest son of Abram Tietsort, Jr. (see history of La Grange Township). He came with his father to Niles, Mich., in April, 1828, and from there to what is now Cass- opolis in the spring of 1830, the family being the first settlers on the site of the village. Mr. Tietsort has ever since resided in Cassopolis, with the excep- tion of two years spent in California, whither he went in 1850, with Joseph Harper and others. He has lived longer in the village than any other resident. During the greater part of the period from 1846 to 1873, he was engaged in the mercantile business. He has been one of the most useful and popular citi- zens of the place. A man of generous impulses, and always having the best interests of the community at heart, he has done much for the benefit of Cassopolis. The citizens are largely indebted to him for the beauti- ful arrangement of the village burying-ground and its admirable condition. His services have usually been bestowed without the expectation of or the desire for remuneration.
Mr. Tietsort has been married three times. His first wife, with whom he was joined November 25, 1852, was Ellen Silver Sherman, daughter of Elias B. Sherman. She died August 26, 1862. He was married to Eleanor Robinson, January 26, 1864. Her death occurred October 27, 1869, and upon July 17, 1871, Mr. Tietsort married Addie Silver Robin- son. He has three daughters and one son, all living in Cassopolis.
CHARLES KINGSBURY.
Mr. Kingsbury was born, May 14, 1812, in Nor- folk County, Mass., and remained in the vicinity of his native place until he arrived at years of maturity, when he went to Augusta, Me., with a small stock of
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
miscellaneous goods, such as were then commonly kept in "general" stores. After he had remained there a few years, he closed out, with the intention of going to Chicago, and started on a journey for that purpose. After long and wearisome travel, he stopped at Cassopolis, to see his brother Asa. He gave up his original intention of going to Chicago, and re- solved to go into business with his brother in this then small village. This was in the fall of 1837. He purchased and cleared land just west of the vil- lage, on the north side of State street, and built the house still standing upon the hill, which was his home for about thirty years. He was married to Sarah Miller, at the house of her father, J. P. Miller, in Jefferson Township, by Elder Jacob Price, March 12, 1851. His death occurred December 23, 1876. Charles Kingsbury was a man of quiet habits, a great reader and well informed in history, politics and gen- eral literature. During the whole of his mature life, he spent a portion of each day in reading the Bible, and he considered its precepts man's best guide, spir- itually and morally governing his life thereby. He was always kind to the poor and suffering, and never refused them aid when it was in his power to extend it, often suffering financially by reason of his benevo- lence. His attachments for home and friends were very strong. He had a large musical talent, was a good singer and played readily upon almost any instrument. Politically, be was a Whig and after- ward a Republican, adhering to the principles of the latter party until his death.
MOSES MCILVAIN.
Mr. McIlvain is of Scotch-Irish descent, his an- cestors having emigrated from Scotland to Ireland during one of the turmoils that occurred in their country in early times. His grandfather emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, and, going to Kentucky soon after the settlement of that State, was captured by a band of Indians who made a raid from Ohio, and kept in bondage by them for two and a half years. He afterward made a permanent settle- ment near Lexington. It was in that locality that the subject of this sketch was born in 1802. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Cham- paign County, Ohio, where he resided for thirty-one years, or until coming to Michigan in 1836. Mr. McIlvain settled in Jefferson Township and lived there until 1867, when he removed to Cassopolis, where he has since resided with his son. Mr. McIlvain is a quiet, unassuming man, who has always commanded the respect of the people among whom he has dwelt. He has held several positions of honor and trust. He
was married in Ohio to Charity Carmichael. Their living children are William W., Nancy J., the wife of Henry W. Smith, and Mary E. (Gregg)-the last mentioned of whom is at present a resident of Rock- well City, Iowa.
William W. Mellvain, the well-known merchant of Cassopolis, has been in business here since the close of the war. He served in the army nearly four years, enlisting in Company D, of the Sixth Michigan In- fantry as a private, and being promoted to the posi- tion of First Lieutenant. He was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson.
JOSEPH K. RITTER.
Joseph K. Ritter was born in Berrien County, Mich., May 7, 1829, and was the son of John and Sarah (Lybrook) Ritter, who came to Michigan in October, 1828. They settled first at Niles ; but, in August, 1829, removed to La Grange Township, Cass County. John Ritter was killed by a stroke of light- ning on the 31st of the same month. Joseph K., the subject of this brief sketch, came to Cassopolis in 1851, and for the following ten years was engaged in the dry goods business. During the first four years, he was in partnership with Joshua Lofland, Henly C. Lybrook and G. C. Jones, under the firm name of J. K. Ritter & Co., and afterward was alone until 1858, when he took into partnership B. F. Beeson, who remained with him until 1861. In 1862, Mr. Ritter was elected County Treasurer, and served in that capacity for four years. In 1865, he again went into business, having, as a partner, for a brief period, A. E. Peck. He continued in active mercantile life until 1875, and since that time has been engaged in buying grain. Mr. Ritter was married September 18, 1856, to Amanda F., daughter of Asa Kingsbury.
THE GRAIIAM FAMILY.
Samuel and Edward Graham have been residents of the village, respectively, since the years 1847 and 1850. Samuel Graham was born, in Erie County, Penn. Since coming to Cass County, he has resided at the place which is now his home, enjoying at once the advantages of farm and village life. His first wife was Anna Taylor ; his second, Emma Jane (Hancock). nee Deacon. He had by his first wife nine children, of whom one, Marvin M., lives in Cassopolis ; and by his second, four, of whom three are living in town. Edward Graham was born Sep- tember 11, 1810. His wife was Desire Ilisted. They have nine children, all of whom reside in Cassopolis, or its vicinity. viz .: Henry C., Lester, William, E. R., Raensallaer, Florence, Joseph, Frank and David,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
CHARLES G. BANKS.
Mr. Banks was born in McDonough, Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1825. He came to Cassopolis in 1844. He followed surveying, taught school for four or five years, and clerked for S. T. & L. R. Read. From 1863, in company with John Tietsort, he carried on a successful mercantile business. Mr. Banks has been prominently identified with the best interests of the village, and has taken an active part in educational affairs. He was married to Amanda, daughter of Pleasant Norton. John O., Harlow and Aaron, brothers of Charles G. Banks, have resided at different periods in Cassopolis, and the first named was one of the prominent school teachers of the village.
HORACE B. DUNNING.
The subject of this sketch was a son of Isaac Dun- ning, and was born near Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., September: 18, 1802. In 1834, the family emigrated to Cass County and settled near Edwards. burg. Upon October 12, 1836, Horace B. was mar- ried to Sarah A. Camp, who lived six miles west of Buffalo, N. Y. In 1837, he was elected Probate Judge, in which office he served until January, 1841. In 1840, he was elected County Clerk ; began his duties in that position in January, 1841, and soon after removed to Cassopolis. He was for several years Acting Treasurer. In 1844, he bought out the drug business of Alexander H. Redfield, which he carried on until his death. He was appointed Postmaster in 1861. Mr. Dunning's death occurred May 30, 1868. His children were Helen C. (Draper), now living in Big Rapids ; Delia and Huldah (deceased), and Sarah L., widow of the late A. B. Morley.
WILLIAM W. PECK.
Mr. Peck was born in Shelby County, Ohio, Sep- tember 22, 1830, and came to Cassopolis in 1853. His first employment was as a clerk with Joshua Lof- land and J. K. Ritter. In 1860, he went into the mer- cantile business for himself, and carried it on success- fully for a number of years, during a portion of the time having Albert Magannis as partner. He was elected and served acceptably as County Treasurer. Mr. Peck took an interest in public affairs to the ad- vantage of the community, and was especially active in enhancing educational interests. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Peck's death occurred April 6, 1879, after a long and ex- ceedingly painful illness. He was married, December 27, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of Pleasant Norton, who survives him.
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