USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume I > Part 37
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Thomas B. Wolf. Subsequently, Daniel died and Amos C. Wolf withdrew from the business, which, about 1889, was reorganized as Wolf Brothers' Bank, the members of which were Josiah, John F. and Samuel J. Wolf and H. P. Stewart. This association re- mained unbroken until the death of John F. Wolf in 1894; Josiah Wolf passed away March 7, 1904, and his son, Samuel J. Wolf, June 28, 1908.
On April 1, 1908, was organized Wolf Brothers' State Bank, with a capital of $30,000 and the following officers: Frank Wolf (son of Samuel J.), president; H. P. Stewart and E. I. Wolf, vice presidents ; C. D. Mosher, cashier. President Wolf also controls the state banks at Mendon and White Pigeon, and is vice president and general manager of the Central National Bank, of Battle Creek, Michigan.
JOSIAH WOLF.
Josiah Wolf was so potent in fashioning the social, moral and business activities of his home community, that the following biography of his life is given. It was published at the time of his death, March 7, 1904: "In the weaving of the social, industrial and financial web of history of St. Joseph county, perhaps no one person has wrought more effectively than Josiah Wolf, whose death we today chronicle. His achievements have not been heralded with the blare of trumpets or in a blaze of light, but patiently, almost ploddingly, he bent his energies to his everyday work, and by tact, prudence and foresight has accomplished re- sults which, with less resolution and skill, would have been im- possible. In our local financial world he has been pre-eminently successful and there have been few matters of importance in which he was not interested, and in many of them he was the real power, although perhaps not so recognized by the public.
"He began life under adverse circumstances, but has lived to be the head of many valuable and important enterprises. In bank- ing circles his achievements have been most marked and at the time of his death he was president and chief stockholder of Wolf Brothers' Bank at Centerville and the First State Bank of Mendon. He was also a considerable stockholder in the Central State Bank of Geneseo, Kansas, the Old Detroit National Bank of Detroit, the National Bank of North America of Chicago, the Commercial National Bank of Detroit, and the Central National Bank of Bat- tle Creek, Michigan. Notwithstanding these large financial in-
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terests he was pre-eminently a farmer, and nothing would tempt him to abandon a farmer's life, in which he had achieved his first success. He owned several farms. The home farm was very dear to him and he made it one of the most perfect in appointments, culture, and beauty in St. Joseph county. He delighted in dis- pensing its hospitality to his friends in his quiet, unassuming man- ner. Mr. Wolf was never a social lion, but by his sterling in- tegrity, good advice and correct example has exercised an in- fluence which eternity only can measure. No word of slander or profanity ever crossed his lips and his most severe reproof to his loved ones was a kindly word of admonition which meant much from his mild lips.
"Mr. Wolf was born in North Branch, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1819, and was the eldest of ten children, only two of whom now survive. He came to Michigan with his father's family in 1833, locating on a farm west of this village. On December 13, 1842, he was married to Mary Ann Wescott, who was to him a helpmeet indeed, and most ably seconded his every endeavor and whose death twelve years ago was the greatest sor- row of his life. Their one son, Samuel J., was 'the apple of his eye,' and between them a bond existed which not even death can sunder.
"Through his final illness, his son's name was always on his lips during consciousness and delirium, and his ministrations were unceasing. His interest in the life and work of his only grandson, Frank, kept him young and alert. He was a fountain of resource- fulness and helpfulness, and his advice was always sought by his children and friends and always found valuable. For the past year his health has not been vigorous and during the past summer he was very seriously ill and only the most tender care and skillful treatment preserved his life. A complication of his old kidney troubles and la grippe caused his death, March 7, 1904, after a struggle in which every power of love and science had been ex- hausted. His death leaves a great vacancy in home, neighbor- hood and financial circles.
"His funeral occurred at his beautiful home on Thursday, and was conducted by his old friend and pastor, Rev. G. W. Tuthill, of Nashville, Michigan. His pall bearers were the employees of the Centerville and Mendon banks. He rests in Prairie River cemetery, by the side of his beloved wife."
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
PATERNAL ANCESTORS OF WOLF FAMILY.
The American ancestor of the Wolf families, various members of which have done so much for St. Joseph county, was John Wolf, who was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, April 18, 1769, and emi- grated to America with his parents when he was but two years old, settling with them in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he died April 18, 1824. His maternal ancestor, whose name was Catherine Hoan, a daughter of David Hoan, was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 8, 1776, and died in Lockport township, Michigan, Sep- tember 28, 1835.
The John Wolf, whose later life is identified with the early his- tory of this county, was born November 17, 1794, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he lived nearly forty years. He was educated in the German language, and the only knowledge he ever obtained of the English tongue was such as was communicated to him by his children in after years, and by intercourse with his neigh- bors who spoke that language. He learned the trade of a miller, and followed it exclusively during the last nine or ten years of his resi- dence in Pennsylvania.
In the spring of the year 1834, John Wolf removed from that state to St. Joseph county, locating 320 acres in section 27, in the southeastern part of the township of Lockport, on which he resided until his decease, October 16, 1851. He followed agriculture prin- cipally during his life in Michigan, but his practical knowledge in milling brought his service into requisition frequently to dress the stones in the different mills in the county and to put them in oper- ation.
In the year 1815 Mr. Wolf was united in marriage to Barbara Drescher, by whom the following children were born to him: Sam- uel, who died August 17, 1839; Stephen, who died September 20, 1828, when but ten years old; Josiah; Catharine, afterwards Mrs. Isaac Fort of Lockport; Daniel, John F., Aaron, Amos C., Mary Ann, afterwards the wife of David D. Antes, of Centerville, and Thomas B. All of the sons, except Stephen and Aaron, became very prominent as bankers, farmers and splendid citizens and their traits have descended to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Wolf, the wife of John, was born in August, 1790, in the state of Pennsylvania, where she was married. The family arrived at P. H. Hoffman's, in Lockport township, May 28, 1834, after a wearisome journey of a month in wagons, which latter vehicles and
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a small board shanty furnished them their only shelter during the first summer. In the fall of the year they removed into a frame house Mr. Wolf had built himself, for, although a miller by trade, his skill was not by any means confined to that branch of handiwork, but he was adept at anything in mechanics necessary to be done in a new community.
Mrs. Wolf died on the 24th of April, 1866, in Centerville, at the residence of her son, Daniel F. Wolf, with whom her home had been for eight years previously. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were members of the Methodist church at the time of their death; Mr. Wolf being one of its stewards for many years. They united with the church in Pennsylvania some years before they removed west.
In politics Mr. Wolf was a Democrat, but not being a strict partisan, he voted for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," in 1840. He filled offices of trust in the township, and assisted in laying many of its early roads, being one of the highway commissioners for several years.
This pioneer pair filled their station in life, well and quietly, without ostentation or parade, giving all who came to their house a hospitable welcome, unstinted in measure and unalloyed in quality ; and they left behind them naught but pleasing memories.
VILLAGE OF TO-DAY.
Centerville is a village of about seven hundred people, situ- ated just north of the Michigan Central Railroad and south of the Prairie river, lying partly in Nottawa and partly in Lockport townships. It is in the geographical center of St. Joseph county and an ideal county seat in many respects.
Its business houses are chiefly located opposite the court house square, and besides the manufactories already mentioned, it is the center of quite an extensive mint oil industry. Morris D. Wolf and George Engle have large mills in the vicinity of the place. Alexander Sharp also operates a cider mill, three miles south.
The Centerville Water and Electric company is more strictly a village institution, although managed by private parties. It was incorporated in 1897, with a capital of $10,000, and its plant was put in operation January 10, 1898. The president of the company is H. J. Hampson. and the secretary, E. L. Clapp.
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The first cemetery was laid out in the village in 1833, the lots being donated by the county on condition that the people of the town or village enclose the grounds with a picket fence. This answered its purposes until 1870, when the local board of health bought the elevated tract of land northeast of the village, which has since been so beautifully improved under the name of Prairie River cemetery.
THE CENTERVILLE PRESS.
It was from Centerville that the second paper published in St. Joseph county issued into the world. Its ambitious title was the Peninsula-an indication that it intended to extend its in- fluence at least over southern Michigan. Its first number appeared July 2, 1836, and E. Van Buren issued it until the December fol- lowing, when it was suspended until April, 1837. A Mr. Knappen then resumed its publication for a short time; and then it died, Mr. Van Buren having, in the meantime, gone to White Pigeon and started the Gazette.
In 1845 the St. Joseph County Republican was established by D. S. Weston, and endured for about two years.
In April, 1869, another Republican was founded by H. Ega- broad, who continued to publish and edit it for many years. Dur- ing the later period of its existence the firm was H. & S. H. Ega- broad.
W. Irving Ashley is one of the bright and influential men of the county, who is an old and popular member of the press. He is a native of Centerville, learned the printer's trade in Chicago, and afterward identified with the Republican, and in 1890 estab- lished the Leader. He has kept it firmly attached to Republican policies, and has not only given the people of the county a good newspaper, but has well served it in various official capacities. He is now (1910) treasurer of the county.
CENTERVILLE SCHOOLS.
The first school house within the present limits of the village, was built in 1841, Harvey Cady "shaving" the shingles for its roof. It was in district No. 1, fractional, Nottawa and Lockport townships. Deacon H. W. Hampson, the contractor, finished the building for about five hundred dollars, its site in block 29 costing fifty dollars.
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The first public school was taught by Mrs. Mary Chapin in the summer of 1843, and she received two dollars per week for teaching the eighty-three pupils in the district. In 1848 a new school house was built by Deacon Hampson and William Laffry, for which they received eight hundred dollars cash and the old school lot and building. The new structure was two stories in height, thirty-four by fifty-six feet on the ground. Hiram Hamil- ton, the first teacher in the new school house, received four hun- dred dollars for ten months' work, and was assisted by two ladies -his wife and Mrs. McMarter.
CENTERVILLE UNION SCHOOL
On September 5, 1870, at the annual meeting of the district trustees, the question of a still better school house began to be agitated, and, after much discussion and balloting, the "Grove" was purchased of C. H. Starr for $1,000. A suitable site was thus provided, and in 1874 the large three-story building now occupied, was completed at a cost of $22,000.
W. A. McLean is superintendent of the combined high school and grammar and primary departments, the entire system compris- ing the usual twelve grades; the curriculum embraces the studies of the modern high school and grammar courses, with music and drawing as specialties. Of the 160 pupils in attendance, about forty are high school students.
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THE METHODIST CHURCH.
In 1841 the Methodists built the first house of worship in the village of Centerville; but in 1830, more than a decade before, a class of that denomination had been formed at the house of Will- iam Hazzard, on the prairie, by Rev. Erastus Felton, the old-time missionary. Five members composed this first Methodist class, Amos Howe, who joined it afterward, being its first regular leader. Services were held fortnightly at private and school houses, and finally in the court house, Erastus Kellogg being the preacher in charge when the skeleton of the little church was raised in 1838, and the structure completed in 1841.
In 1856 the principal building of the present house of worship was completed, the dedicatory services being conducted by Rev. J. K. Gillett on September 20th of that year. This occurred under the pastorate of Rev. J. I. Buell. In 1871 the original building was materially improved, lecture and class rooms being added, and since that year repairs and improvements have been made as re- quired by the growing needs of the society.
The following is a list of the pastors of the church since and including 1873: Revs. William Riley, H. C. Peck, W. I. Cogswell, E. L. Kellogg, William Prouty, J. Clubine, J. F. Orwick, J. K. Stark, H. H. Rood, W. L. Barth, Delos Cronk, G. W. Tuthill, J. C. Newcomer, James Allen and Carl S. Risley. The last named has been pastor of the church since 1906; membership, 160.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Until the fall of 1909, the Presbyterian church of Centerville, was what is known as the Reformed Church of North America. The latter, in turn, was originally organized as the Dutch Re- formed church on April 8, 1839, although services had been held as early as the winter of 1835-6 by Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum. Mr. Ketchum was sent from the Mohawk valley, by the New York Missionary Society of the Dutch Reformed Church, and after his family moved to Centerville in 1836, he continued to preach to the people until the regular church organization was effected in 1839. Subsequently, he was the Indian agent for a time. His daughter married John W. Talbot.
On May 25, 1839, a consistory was held at the court house, composed of Rev. Asa Bennett, president; Dr. S. Cummings, Peter
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Cox and Jacob D. Kline, elders, and Alfred Todd and William Van Deusen, deacons, who formed the "First Protestant Reformed Dutch church of Centerville" and admitted sixteen persons to membership. In 1845 a church building was completed, at a cost of $1,100. A bell was bought for the church in 1853, and two years later a parsonage was built, improvements to the original edifice keeping pace with the needs of the society.
Rev. Asa Bennett, the first minister, completed his pastorate in September, 1843; Rev. B. C. Taylor, who succeeded him, re- mained but a year; Rev. David McNeish concluded his labors in January, 1847, and was succeeded by Rev. Safrenus Seeber. The pastors during the following two decades, who served the "First Protestant Reformed Dutch Church" were: Rev. John Minor, 1848-52; Rev. J. N. Schultz, 1852-5; Rev. J. H. Kershaw, 1855-65; Rev. A. H. Van Vranken, 1865-80. Mr. Van Vranken died at Centerville, October 24, 1880.
In 1867 the name of the society was changed to the Reformed Church of North America, and during that year a noted revival was conducted by Rev. Van Vranken, who was most highly re- spected and much loved during his long service for the church and the community.
Rev. Asa Bennett, the first pastor, served the church at Con- stantine after leaving Centerville, his lamented death occurring January 6, 1858. One of his sons, Dr. John Bennett, became a leading physician, and another, Cornelius D., a successful mer- chant.
The Reformed church of Centerville, was served, after the conclusion of Rev. A. H. Van Vranken's pastorate, by Revs. A. Page Peeke, Henry Sonneme, H. S. Bailey, Garrett Kooiker and H. A. Simpson.
On September 8, 1908, under Mr. Simpson's pastorate, the con- gregation of the Dutch Reformed church voted to join the Presby- terian denomination. A year afterward Rev. E. F. Lilley suc- ceeded Mr. Simpson as minister of the Presbyterian church, which has a present membership of over 130.
BAPTISTS AND LUTHERANS.
The Baptists of Centerville had enjoyed preaching by various missionaries of their faith from 1838 to 1852, before they formally organized a society. In February of the latter year Perrin M.
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Smith, Henry W. Hampson and Henry J. Cushman, in behalf of several other communicants, addressed a letter of invitation to Rev. G. N. TenBrook, inviting him to become their settled pastor. Mr. TenBrook accepted the invitation and began his labors July 1, 1852, a regular organization being effected at Mr. Smith's house on the following 28th of August.
In 1853 the brick church, east of the public square, was erected, and a chapel was built in 1887.
Rev. Mr. TenBrook died in the service of the church, April 3, 1857. The society has not been strong for a number of years.
The Lutherans also have a small society, in charge of Rev. Mr. Neuchterlein.
MASONS OF CENTERVILLE.
Mount Harmon Lodge, No. 24, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under dispensation in 1848 and chartered January 10, 1849. Its first officers were as follows: Benjamin Osgood, W. M .; Ezra Cole, S. W .; S. C. Coffinberry, J. W. The lodge has a present membership of one hundred and the following officers: Miles C. Rider, W. M .; Miles Bowersox, S. W .; Samuel Cross, J. W .; W. I. Ashley, treasurer; William F. Myers, secretary; John H. Senf, S. D .; E. C. Engle, J. D .; H. D. Wescott, tiler.
Centerville Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., was instituted under dispensation in July, 1852, and received its charter February 1, 1853-Solomon Cummings being its first high priest, Benjamin Sherman, the first scribe, and John Belote, the first king. In 1856 the chapter was moved to Constantine, where it remained until 1858, when it was returned to its original location. It has now a membership of about sixty, with the following officers: Thomas G. Greene, high priest; Samuel Cross, king; J. B. Dockstader, scribe ; R. F. Butler, treasurer; William F. Meyer, secretary.
There is also an Eastern Star lodge, of which Mrs. Nannette Rider is W. M .; Thomas G. Greene, W. P .; Mrs. Sarah Fundy, secretary, and Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, treasurer.
THE MACCABEES.
Star Tent, No. 89, K. O. T. M., was organized March 29, 1883, and at present has a membership of over ninety, with the follow- ing officers : George Deuel, C .; A. H. Kinney, L. C .; John Lang- ton, P. C .; W. Y. Craig, F. K .; George R. Reuel, R. K .; Robert Sengstock, sergeant.
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Hive No. 741, Ladies of the Maccabees, was organized Decem- ber 10, 1891, and Nottawa Tent, No. 670, K. O. T. M., on the 30th of April, 1892.
G. A. R. AND W. R. C.
The G. A. R. post and the Woman's Relief Corps occasionally meet, but more in the form of social gatherings than as organized bodies.
NOTTAWA AND WASEPI.
Nottawa and Wasepi are two stations on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, with small settlements clustered around them.
Nottawa occupies the former site of the village of Oporto, which once had considerable "prospects." In the early times it had a store and a postoffice, the latter being removed to Hopper's Corners, with the decline of Oporto. It assumed its present name with the building of the railroad through the township in 1867, and is now the center of quite a produce and mint-oil trade.
Wasepi is at the junction of the Michigan Central and Grand Rapids lines, and was platted in December, 1874. Besides being a junction point, it has long been the shipping station for considerable cider and dried fruit.
BURR OAK VILLAGE.
As a village, Burr Oak is of rather recent origin, when com- pared to the other similar corporations of the county. It was first platted on the southeast quarter of section 23, in 1851, on land owned by William Lock; and in the following year an addition was made by Henry Weaver, who platted part of the northeast quarter of the same section. It was surveyed by J. H. Gardner and Hiram Draper.
William Betts erected the first frame house on the site of the original village the year before it was platted, and, soon after the survey had been made, John Talbot opened the pioneer store, and Julius A. Thompson the first tavern. In 1852 the postoffice was moved from Thompson 's Corners to the new village of Burr Oak.
Burr Oak was a railroad town, being platted at the time the Michigan Southern road was in course of completion through the county.
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THE CORPORATION.
The village was regularly incorporated October 11, 1859, and the first annual meeting for the election of officers was held on the first Monday in March, 1860. The result was the selection of the following : E. J. Goff, president; George Boardner, Henry P. Sweet, Ira C. Abbott, Chester A. Ward, William Fuller, and Julius A. Thompson, trustees; Gilbert M. Lamb, clerk; Allen C. Arnold, treasurer; and Henry T. Williams, assessor.
Some twenty years after its incorporation, the village con- tained five dry goods stores, two drug stores, one jewelry store, two
BURR OAK IN THE FIFTIES
hardware stores, two groceries, one boot and shoe store, two shoe shops, one agricultural implement depot, three hotels, one saw-mill, one grist-mill, one foundry, one wagon-shop, three blacksmith shops, one exchange bank, three lawyers and five doctors, and five churches.
The village has to-day a population of about eight hundred. Its business houses are substantially built and well stocked, its homes neat, and its residence streets beautified with not only the oaks, which have given the locality wide fame, but with numerous hard maples of luxuriant and graceful growth. A number of flour- ishing manufactories are located at Burr Oak, including the Shef- field Company ; it has a solid lumber company (the C. A. Boyer) ;
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a neat little opera house; a well conducted school; a complete tele- phone exchange; a public library; an electric light and power plant; religious privileges for all; and last, but by no means least, a good local paper-The Burr Oak Acorn-whose very name is sug- gestive of originality. The village is the center of an unusually large potato trade. During an average season, it is estimated that 300,000 bushels are marketed at this point.
SHEFFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The leading manufacturing industry of Burr Oak is the Shef- field Manufacturing Company, established in 1891, by George S. Sheffield, after he withdrew from the enterprise at Three Rivers which has culminated in the great aggregation of plants known as the Sheffield Car Works. In the initiation of the business at Burr Oak, Mr. Sheffield associated with himself, A. C. Heimbaugh. The enterprise was incorporated in 1898, with Mr. Heimbaugh as presi- dent and manager; Mr. Sheffield as vice president and Arch Heim- baugh as secretary and treasurer; capital, $50,000.
In 1902 the first building of the present large plant was erected, much of the machinery therein being actually built by Mr. Sheffield himself. President Heimbaugh is the presiding financier ; he is also at the head of the First National Bank and a young man of remarkable business ability. The main products of the factory are the famous Sheffield hand corn and potato planters and garden cultivators, although for the past few years the manufacture of steel hand sleds has been greatly expanded.
The other industries of Burr Oak include the City Mills of which J. E. Wright is proprietor; the saw-mill operated by Wil- fred Thomas; the Baird Skirt Company and the Whitehouse Under- wear Mills.
GARMENT FACTORIES.
The Baird Skirt Company was incorporated in October, 1909, with a capital of $3,500, and under the energetic management of W. J. Hoshal has been placed on a substantial and progressive basis. Viloris Baird is the originator of the skirt turned out by the factory, and some 1,200 garments are now produced annually. Other officers of the company : C. A. Boyer, president; Ansel Fer- ris, secretary and treasurer.
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