USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume II > Part 11
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came to Michigan, making the long trip with teams. He located in Park township, St. Joseph county, purchased a tract of heavily wooded land, and began to clear and improve a homestead. About a year later he made a business trip to Pennsylvania and while there was taken ill and died. He married Hannah Hower, who was born in Pennsylvania, and to them eleven children were born, eight sons and three daughters. His widow survived him many years, dying in Michigan.
George Slote, father of George W., was born in Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, and as a boy and youth received excel- lent educational advantages. Entering upon a professional career while young, he was one of the pioneer teachers of St. Joseph county, teaching school eighteen consecutive winters. For many years after he came here with his parents the people lived in a very primitive manner, much of the travelling being performed on foot or horseback. There were no railways in this section of the country, and Detroit was the nearest marketing place. A flour mill, however, had been built at Three Rivers in 1836, and to this mill he used to take wheat to be ground, rafting it down the St. Joseph river. When ready to establish himself perma- nently in life, he rented land, but afterwards he purchased the interest of the remaining heirs in a part of the old homestead, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1861.
George Slote was twice married. He married first Margaret Fair, who was born in Ireland, and came with her father, Robert Fair, to the United States, living for awhile in New York City, from there coming to St. Joseph county. She died in 1850, leav- ing three children, namely : James; George W., the subject of this brief sketch; and Margaret. Mr. Slote married second Mary Waldron, who survived him, passing away in 1876.
George W. Slote was born, October 1, 1844, in Nottawa town- ship, St. Joseph county, where, during his boyhood, he attended the district schools. He obtained a practical common school edu- cation, and on the home farm acquired an excellent knowledge of the various branches of agriculture. Subsequently buying land in Florence township, Mr. Slote was there prosperously employed in general farming until 1896, when he removed to Fabius town- ship, locating in section thirty-five, on the Lewis K. Brody home- stead, where he has since resided.
Mr. Slote has been twice married. He married first, Novem- ber 11, 1877, Kate Hartman, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1891, leaving one daughter, namely: Myrtle, who married
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William Harder, and has one child, La Verne Harder. Mr. Slote married second, February 19, 1896, Miss Arabella Brody, who was born in Fabius township, a daughter of Lewis K. and Rebecca (Crawford) Brody, of whom a brief sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. After the death of her mother, Mrs. Slote remained with her father, caring tenderly for him in his declining years, and has since succeeded to the ownership of the parental estate, known as Oak Hill Farm, which is one of the most valuable and desirable pieces of property in the county. Mr. Brody had made valuable improvements on the farm, including the erection of a fine set of buildings, and Mr. and Mrs. Slote are keeping up the place in the same good way, constantly adding to the improve- ments already inaugurated, everything about the premises indi- cating the existence of cultivated tastes and ample means. In his political views Mr. Slote is independent, voting according to the dictates of his conscience. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Slote are adherents to the Reformed church.
LEWIS K. BRODY .- An honored representative of the early pio- neers of St. Joseph county, Lewis K. Brody, late of Fabius town- ship, was a true type of the energetic, hardy and enterprising men who actively assisted in the development and growth of this fer- tile and productive agricultural region. When he first came to this vicinity the wild beasts of the forest had not fled before the advancing steps of civilization, but, with the dusky savage, habited the vast wilderness. In the grand transformation of the forest-covered country that gradually ensued he took an import- ant part, and at the same time, by his sagacity and foresight, he was enabled to accumulate a good property. A native of Ohio, he was born, June 4, 1808, in Columbiana county, where he grew to manhood.
James Brody, father of Lewis K., was one of the original set- tlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, living there a number of years. Migrating then to Michigan, he bought a tract of heavily timbered land, and upon the farm which he redeemed from the wilderness spent the remainder of his life, passing away at a ripe old age.
When, in the early thirties, Lewis K. Brody came to St. Joseph county the country roundabout was in its pris- tine condition, being a veritable wilderness, where few, if any, evidences of civilization existed. Now, through the judi- cious labor of its settlers, flourishing towns and cities, and mag- nificent agricultural communities have usurped the place of the
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forest, while the well-cultivated acres yield abundantly and to spare. Beginning life here even with the world, Mr. Brody found employment clearing the land and tilling the soil. Industrious and economical, he saved his earnings, and in due course of time invested his money in land, buying a tract of timber in section thirty-five, Fabius township. Making an opening in the forest, he erected a humble log cabin of typical pioneer style, hanging a blanket across the doorway, and in this lived for a time. Bears, deer, wild turkeys and other game were plentiful, and Indians were numerous though seldom unfriendly. There were neither railways nor canals for many years thereafter, all produce and supplies being transported to and from market on river boats. Laboring with courage and perseverance, Mr. Brody cleared a good homestead, and after awhile erected a more substantial house of logs, which, in turn gave way to a commodious frame house. He possessed excellent judgment, and made judicious in- vestments, adding to his estate until he became owner of upwards of eight hundred acres, all lying in Fabius and Constantine town- ships. Meeting with undisputed success as an agriculturist, he continued his operations throughout his active career, living on his home farm until his death, August 1, 1901.
Mr. Brody married Rebecca Crawford, who was born in Virginia, February 13, 1813, a daughter of Robert Crawford. Robert Crawford was a native, it is supposed, of Virginia, where he spent the earlier part of his life. He subsequently came with his family to St. Joseph county, Michigan, making the journey overland with teams, a part of the family riding in the wagon, while his wife and daughter took turns in riding horseback. He died March 26, 1841, aged sixty-five years. His wife, Mary Craw- ford, survived him, passing away October 28, 1850, aged sixty years. Mrs. Brody passed to the higher life February 7, 1884, leaving eight children, namely: Lucina; Louisa; Amanda E .; James P .; Lewis K .; William S .; Adalia R .; and Arabella, wife of George W. Slote, of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found on another page of this work. Politically Mr. Brody was a Democrat.
WILLIAM W. MARANTETTE .- A member of one of the best known pioneer families of St. Joseph county, William W. Maran- tette is the owner of the Wakeman Hotel, in the village of Mendon, and he is well known and held in unqualified esteem in the com- munity that has represented his home since the time of his birth.
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Mr. Marantette was born in Mendon township, this county, on the 21st of July, 1844, and is a son of Patric and Frances (Montaw) Marantette, both of whom were of French lineage. Patric Maran- tette was one of the first settlers in Mendon township and was a citizen of prominence and influence in the pioneer days. Both he and his wife continued to reside in Mendon township until their death, and there he reclaimed a farm from the virgin wilds. He was a Democrat in his political proclivities and both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church.
William W. Marantette was reared to maturity on the home farm and is indebted to the public schools of his native township for his early educational discipline. After his marriage he was engaged in the mercantile business at Mendon for a period of five years, after which he was for a time located on the farm of eighty acres, which he had inherited from his father. In 1876 he sold his farm and engaged in the hotel business in Mendon. He has since continued in this line of enterprise and his hotel, modern in its equipment and service, caters to a large and appreciative patron- age. Mr. Marantette is one of the veteran hotel men of his native state and enjoys marked popularity with the traveling public as does he also in his home county. He has ever shown a deep inter- est in public affairs of a local order and is one of the influential citizens of the village of Mendon. His political support is given to the Democratic party and both he and his wife are communicants of St. Edward's Catholic church.
On the 5th of February, 1868, Mr. Marantette was united in marriage to Miss Celia Reeves, who was born in Ohio and who is a daughter of Lucian B. and Susan Reeves. Her father died when she was a child and her mother later became the wife of Adam Wakeman : they passed the closing years of their lives in St. Joseph county, where Mr. Wakeman was a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Marantette have two children-Edward G., who was born on the 26th of October, 1868, married Miss Elizabeth Harold, and they have two children,-Mignon and Edward, Jr., they now reside in Binghamton, New York; Jessie, who was born on the 8th of Octo- ber, 1884, remains at the parental home and is one of the popular young ladies in the social circles of Mendon.
FRANCISCO KLADY, a prominent farmer of Nottawa township, is a native of that township, born March 12, 1841. His father, William Klady, was born in New York state, in 1810, and was of German descent. He removed from New York to Kalamazoo
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county, Michigan, and later located in Nottawa township, St. Joseph county, on a farm. Later he sold his farm and settled at the station, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a car- penter by trade, and in politics was a Whig and later a Republi- can. Mr. Klady was a member of the Reformed Church of Cen- terville, was greatly interested in the schools, and held various school offices. He married Nancy Knickerbocker, in New York, and they came to Michigan together; she was born March 17, 1800, and her parents were well-to-do farmers. Mr. Klady and his wife had children as follows: Hugh A., died in 1872, was married; Isaac, also married, died in 1864; Ray, died in infancy ; Francisco; Schram, died in infancy; and Lee, living retired, at Sturgis, Michi- gan, is unmarried.
Francisco Klady received his education in the district schools of Nottawa and Colon townships, and has spent most of his life on a farm. He spent two years learning the trade of cabinetmaker. In August, 1861, Mr. Klady enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and after December of that year went to Kentucky and camped the remainder of the winter. For three years he took part in all the important battles, and was in the cam- paign before Atlanta; he was with the Army of the Cumberland and with General Thomas the remainder of his time, and was mus- tered out September 30, 1864. He always carried a Springfield rifle.
After his marriage Mr. Klady bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cleared himself, and he has built the houses, barns, etc., now on the land, which he keeps in good order, as he also does his fences. He has made modern improvements, and has handsome lawns and other surroundings. He is an expert farmer, and pays close attention to his work on the place. He is a Republican and for two years held the office of township treas- urer. He is a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic David Oaks Post No. 135, at Centerville.
In September, 1865, Mr. Klady married Katherine Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret McKercher, farmers, who died before the war. She was born in Moscow, Hillsdale county, Mich- igan ,April 14, 1840, and lived there until she was thirteen years of age, when she came to St. Joseph county. She received her edu- cation at Moscow and Albion, Michigan, taught school eight terms in the district schools of Nottawa and Lockport townships, one year in Hillsdale county and one year in Jackson county. She purchased a farm on the Centerville and Nottawa road. Her
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father, a Republican, served ten years as supervisor of Nottawa township. Mr. Klady and his wife have two children, Florence Elizabeth, born September 23, 1866, and William C., born August 15, 1870. Florence E. is the wife of C. C. Andrews, a salesman, of Sturgis, and William C. is a carpenter and lives at home; he married Winnie Agnes Lohr, and they have one child, Mildred Agnes.
DR. WILLIAM H. SNYDER, a rising young physician of White Pigeon, was born in Jefferson township, Wells county, Indiana, January 16, 1871, and is a son of Solomon J. and Elizabeth (Mal- lonee) Snyder, the latter born in Adams county, Indiana. The parents came to St. Joseph county, Michigan, in 1905.
The primary education of William H. Snyder was obtained in the district schools of Wells county, Indiana, and he graduated from the high school of White Pigeon, Michigan, in 1893. He taught in the district schools some time, and in 1897 graduated from the State Normal School of Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1902 he entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he graduated with degree M. D. in 1906. Dr. Snyder first practiced his profes- sion in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and in 1909 located at White Pigeon. He has built up a good practice, and has a high standing in his profession. He belongs to the County, State and American Medical Societies and gives his best attention to the vocation which he has made his life work.
In August, 1902, Dr. Snyder married Bernice Fisher, of Battle Creek, Michigan ; she is a graduate of the State Normal School, and was a teacher of prominence and success. Dr. Snyder is a member of the Maccabees, Tent No. 919; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an enthusiastic worker in both church and Sunday School affairs. In politics he is a Demo- crat as to principles, but in local matters votes independent of party. He is a public-spirited citizen, and highly respected.
CHARLES D. CUTLER, a prominent merchant of Nottawa, was born October 21, 1881, son of Thomas D. and Eva (Dickinson) Cutler, both natives of St. Joseph county. Thomas D. Cutler was born in Centerville, in 1854, and died August 31, 1905; his wife was born February 18, 1855, and died April 8, 1906. They were married February 19, 1880. The father was a general merchant at Nottawa, and lived there from 1878 until his death. Previous to entering into business on his own account he was postmaster and five years a clerk.
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The father of Thomas D. Cutler was born March 25, 1815, and settled at Colon, Michigan, where he became a miller. In 1854 he sailed from New York to California, and was gone six months. He returned to Michigan and spent a few months with his family, when he again went to California, this time by the overland route. He spent some time at various points and then located at Redwood Falls, where he owned a half interest in a mill. He died Septem- ber 11, 1865, and through the good offices of the Masonic Order, of which he was an honored member, his business interests were disposed of and the proceeds sent home to his family in Michigan. He married. October 28, 1840, at Colon, Michigan, Desire A., daughter of Abel Belote of Nottawa, born October 28, 1824.
Thomas D. Cutler and his wife had five children, namely : : Charles D .; Robert Walter, born December 15, 1883, is married and engaged in general merchandise business at Wawaka; George Irving, born June 23, 1886, lives in Colorado; William Lloyd, born May 17, 1888, also in lumber business in Colorado, single; and Frank Harold, born June 22, 1897, is single and makes his home with Charles D.
Charles D. Cutler received his education in Centerville high school and spent one year at Kalamazoo College. After leaving college he came to Nottawa and engaged in business in company with his father, in the line of general merchandise. After the death of his father he continued the business in partnership with his brothers. They keep the leading store of the town, and deal in produce, wool, grain, oil and general merchandise. They also buy and ship potatoes. They do a prosperous and constantly growing business, and have proven themselves possessed of good business ability and judgment. Socially Mr. Cutler is a member of Her- man Lodge No. 24, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
June 21, 1904, Mr. Cutler married Neva McIntosh, born Janu- ary 16, 1882, daughter of Milton and Mary (Onley) McIntosh, re- siding at Wasepi; they have two children, Lucille and Arnold.
JOHN M. LAIRD .- St. Joseph county's strength is in great part due to her substantial and progressive agricultural element and standing as a stanch and estimable representative of his calling is John M. Laird of Mendon township. He was born September 2, 1851, his parents being H. W. and Susan M. (Brown) Laird, both of them natives of Maryland. The father had been a slave-owner and a man of property in his native state, but becoming a convert to the cause of abolition, he freed his slaves, even though at
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great personal loss, and moved westward, locating in Ohio. This was in the early '30s. He eventually came to Michigan and be- came the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred acres located on the prairie. He was a man of influence and one of the pro- moters of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. His wife was a worker in the Methodist church. Mr. Laird was one of a family of nine children, these being as follows: William H., George C., Gilbert W., James M., John M., Charles W., Caroline F., Samantha and Mary J. All are alive with the exception of Samantha and Mary J.
John M. Laird in the fashion of the usual young American received his education in the public schools and remained under the home roof until his marriage in 1884. He spent ten years farming on the old homestead, and removed to the Bacon farm, which he operated very successfully for fifteen years. Desiring to become an independent land owner he bought eighty acres of ex- cellent land and has ever since engaged in general farming. He gives his support to the men and measures of the Republican party and belongs to the K. O. T. M.
Mr. Laird laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage April 1, 1882, to Miss Alice J. Simpson, daughter of John and Lydia A. (Vondermark) Simpson. The date of Mrs. Laird's birth was May 30, 1859. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Bessie Happle, born Decem- ber 20, 1884; Charles H., born June 11, 1887; Winifred M., born December 18, 1890; John P., born February 8, 1893; and Alice M., born March 28, 1894.
FRANK MENDENHALL .- Well worthy of representation in this volume is Frank Mendenhall, the genial, accommodating, and popular agent of the Lake Shore Railroad at Moore Park. A native of Indiana, he was born February 20, 1866, at Lima, now Howe, La Grange county, coming from honored Virginian stock.
His father, Thomas Mendenhall, was born and bred in Vir- ginia. Emigrating in early manhood to Indiana, he learned the miller's trade, and subsequently operated mills in different parts of the state, being in Bristol a number of years. Finally locating in Van Buren, he purchased a mill, and was there actively em- ployed until his death, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Calista Wheeler, was born in New York state, and died, at the age of seventy-nine years, in Michi-
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. FRANK MENDENHALL MOORE PARK, MICHIGAN
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gan. Five children were born of their union, as follows: Mary Althea, deceased; Thomas, Fred, Ella and Frank.
After completing his studies in the public schools, and as a student at the Northern Indiana University, at Valparaiso, Frank Mendenhall learned the trade of a house and carriage painter, which he followed a short time, in 1886 entering the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company, as painter, being located at Elkhart. Soon afterwards, Mr. Mendenhall began studying telegraphy at the Flowerfield railway station, and when proficient was given a position at Grand Rapids, where he con- tinued as an operator until 1889. In that year he accepted the office of station agent at Moore Park, and has served continuously since, giving entire satisfaction to the company, and to the general public. He is also agent for the American Express Company, and for the Western Union Telegraph Company.
December 3, 1891, Mr. Mendenhall was united in marriage with Lillie May Weinberg, who was born in 1872, at Three Rivers, Michigan, a daughter of Monroe and Sarah (Bramer) Weinberg. In a sketch of Mrs. Mendenhall, on another page of this biograph- ical work, further history of her parents may be found. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall, one of whom, Adrian, died in infancy; Vera, the other child, is living.
In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall formed a partnership in the mercantile business, opening a store, which Mrs. Mendenhall has since conducted in an able manner, Mr. Mendenhall's railway and express business occupying his entire time and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall are also interested in real estate, owning a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Park township, which is well improved and in a high state of cultivation. This farm, which is operated by a tenant on shares, yields them a good annual income. Fraternally Mr. Mendenhall is a member of Moore Park Camp, No. 9,972, M. W. M., and he is Clerk of the Camp.
MRS. LILLIE MAY (WEINBERG) MENDENHALL .- An accom- plished and enterprising business woman, Mrs. Lillie May Men- denhall, of Moore Park, St. Joseph county, is well known in both commercial and social circles, and, in partnership with her hus- band, Frank Mendenhall, is carrying on a substantial mercantile business, of which she has the sole charge. A daughter of Monroe Weinberg, she was born March 21, 1872, in Three Rivers, coming from German ancestry. Her grantfather, George Weinberg, Jr., was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where her great
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grandfather, George Weinberg, Sr., a native of Germany, spent his last years.
George Weinberg, Jr., resided in Northampton county, Penn- sylvania, until 1836, being engaged as a contractor and builder. Going then to Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, he bought land, and carried on general farming for ten years, at the same time following his former occupation to some extent. Disposing of his interests in that locality in 1846, he came to St. Joseph county, Michigan, accompanied by his family, making the long journey with teams, bringing all of his worldly possessions, and camping and cooking by the wayside. He located at Three Rivers, where, but six months later, his death occurred. He married Susanna Switzer, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, and was there bred to habits of thrift. After the death of her husband, she removed with the children to Flower- field township, bought a tract of land, and at once moved into the only building on the place, a small granary that had been previously erected. She occupied that during the winter, and in the spring built a frame house. The sons at once began clearing the land, working so earnestly and diligently that in due course of time they had a well-improved, productive homestead. There she spent the remainder of her life, passing away at the age of sixty-three years. She reared seven children, as follows: Samuel, Mary Ann, Leander, Reuben, Monroe, George H., and Jerry.
Monroe Weinberg gained an excellent knowledge of the various branches of agriculture in his youthful days, and when ready to start in life for himself, bought land in Park township, this county, and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1867. Removing then to Three Rivers, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for five years, when he became a resident of Moore Park, where he was actively and successfully engaged in buying and shipping grain until his death, June 8, 1908. He married Sarah Bramer, who was born in Park township, a daughter of George and Margaret (Fetter) Bramer, natives of Pennsylvania. She died in December, 1903, leaving five children, as follows: Eliza- beth, Darius E., Chailon, Lillie May, and Merle M.
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