USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume II > Part 14
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THOMAS H. BOLES .- Familiarly known to the residents of Fabius township as one of its most prosperous, enterprising and progressive agriculturists, Thomas H. Boles owns and occupies a well-improved homestead, and in its management has ever shown much ability and superior judgment. Coming from thrifty pi- oneer stock, he was born on the farm where he now resides, May 31, 1835, a son of James Boles.
Born June 9, 1790, in Pennsylvania, James Boles was there brought up and married. Soon after his marriage he moved to Ohio, and was a resident of Marion for a number of years. In 1835 he took advantage of the cheap land for sale by the Govern- ment in the territory of Michigan, and came with his family to St. Joseph county, being one of the first settlers of Fabius town- ship. The land was in its pristine wildness, with only an occa- sional householder. He entered the northwest quarter of section 28, paying the regulation price of $1.25 an acre, and after build- ing a rude log house, began the improvement of a homestead. He had made but little progress, however, when, in 1841, his death
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occurred, while he was yet a comparatively young man. His wife, whose maiden name was Phyannah Hamilton, was born in Penn- sylvania, and died on the farm, in Fabius township, in June, 1885, in the ninety-first year of her age, her birth having occurred September 4, 1794. To her and her husband ten children were born, as follows: Samson, John, Robert R., James C. S., Washing- ton, Thomas H., Sophia, Elizabeth, Henry and Clarissa.
But five years of age when his father died, Thomas H. Boles acquired his early education in the pioneer schools of his day, and as soon as physically able began to assist in the farm labors. At the age of fourteen years he assumed the entire management of the homestead, which at that date had only twenty acres cleared, although plenty of grain had been raised for the family use. Deer, wild turkey, and other kinds of game were then abundant, supplying the family larder with what in these days would be called luxuries. Since that time Mr. Boles has witnessed many wonderful transformations in the face of the country, the pathless forests having given way before the axe of the pioneer; the log cabins of the fathers being replaced by commodious frame houses; while the hamlets of early times have developed into thriving vil- lages and populous cities and towns. Succeeding in course of time to the ownership of the home farm, he has cleared the land, putting it in a high state of cultivation, and further enhanced its value by the erection of a good set of farm buildings. Of recent years, with his son, he has become interested in tree planting, having set out several thousand forest trees of different varieties, including black walnut, catalpa, yellow locust, white oak, red oak, hickory, pine, willow, elm, ash, and white maple.
On February 19, 1858, Mr. Boles married Rachel V. Trattles, who was born November 28, 1833, in Yorkshire, England, which was also the birthplace of her father, William Trattles. Learning the trade of a wagon maker when young, William Trattles fol- lowed it a very short time, and then turned his attention to farm- ing. Leaving his native shire in 1844, he emigrated with his wife and six children to America, embarking on the sailing vessel "Joseph Cunard," and battling with the wind and waves eight weeks and two days before arriving in New York harbor. From there he proceeded by way of the Hudson river and Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake boat to Detroit, and from there by railway to Adrian, the western terminus of the road. Going then by team to Cass county, Michigan, he visited his wife's brother, William Hebron, who had previously located there. He purchased forty
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acres of land, known as the Oak Opening, built a log house, and had just begun to clear the land when, in April, 1845, his death occurred. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Hebron. She was born in Yorkshire, England, a daughter of William and Ann Hebron, and she and her brother were the only members of the family that ever came to the United States. She survived her hus- band many years, dying in Porter township, at the home of a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Trattles reared twelve children, namely : Jane, William, Ann, Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Thomas, Hannah, Eliza- beth, Rachel V., Ruth and Daniel. All were born in England, and seven of them came to the United States, William being the first to emigrate.
Mr. and Mrs. Boles have three children, namely: Florence A., wife of Eugene Hutchinson, of Portland, Oregon, has two sons, Frederick Boles and Howard; Frances L., wife of Harry C. Hay- man, of Constantine township, has one child, Rachel Marie; and Thomas Frederick, a wholesale lumber dealer in Chicago, Illinois, married Annette Hinman, and they have two children, Marion B. and Winifred B. Mrs. Boles was one of the successful teachers of St. Joseph county for five years and her daughters were also teachers, Florence being a teacher in Muskegon for seven years, and Frances also at Muskegon and for several years in Nebraska. Frederick was a teacher in St. Joseph county for years. Mrs. Boles is a member of the Congregational church in Constantine.
Mr. and Mrs. Boles have in their possession one of the old deeds executed under the hand and seal of President Van Buren, and dated September 10, 1838. They also have a fine collection of Indian arrow heads, about fifty-five in number, all collected from their own farm. These are arranged in an attractive cabinet. The homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Boles is known as Forest Home.
LEVI W. PITTS, a prosperous hardware merchant of Centerville, was born in Florence township, St. Joseph county, September 20, 1855. His parents, Hiram A. and Eliza (Thompson) Pitts, were natives of New York state, and came to Michigan with their parents, about 1832. Hiram's father, Gardner Pitts, entered land in St. Joseph county, and died about forty-five years ago. Hiram Pitts was a Democrat and held township and school offices, and died at the age of seventy-four years. He had children as follows : Maria, deceased; Luella, deceased; Jerome, a railroad clerk, lives in Indianapolis; Levi W .; and Mary Louise, wife of William Mowry, of Branch county, Michigan.
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Levi W. Pitts received his education in Florence township and at Constantine, and lived at home until the death of his father. He carried on the farm until 1889 and then moved to Centerville, where, with the exception of one year when he had a meat market, he has since carried on a hardware business. He also buys and sells grain, and does a profitable business. Mr. Pitts takes an active interest in public affairs, and is a Jackson Democrat. He is now supervisor of Nottawa township, for ten years served as moderator of the school board and four years as deputy sheriff under William Addison. Mr. Pitts is a member of the Knighted Order of Tented Maccabees, Star Tent No. 89, in Centerville. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
April 21, 1877, Mr. Pitts married Rosanette Mooney, born in July, 1857, in Sandusky, Ohio, and they have three children, namely : Emery, in business with his father, married Lulu Weber; Zoa and Arley, living at home, unmarried. Zoa is a stenographer in Kalamazoo, and Arley is engaged in business with his father.
MYRON H. BARKER .- Among the substantial and energetic citizens who have achieved noteworthy success and who have ex- hibited unlimited interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the community in which they reside, Myron H. Barker has shown himself well capable of maintaining the prestige of the fine old name which he bears.
Mr. Barker was born on the 7th of April, 1840, and is a son of Joseph S. and Margaret (McConnell) Barker, natives of Massa- chusetts and Maryland respectively. The former was born on the 16th of October, 1810, and the latter on the 29th of February, 1811. The paternal grandparents were Elisha D. and Thankful Barker, who immigrated from England to the old Bay state, and who were the founders of the family in America. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell, maternal grandparents of Myron H. Barker, were both representatives of stanch old Scotch ancestry and they came to America about 1800 and settled in Maryland, where the mother of the subject was born and reared to maturity. Joseph Barker and Margaret McConnell were married in New York in 1832, and they became the parents of children whose names are here recorded in order of birth,-Alexander, William B., Betsy, Eliza, Byron V., Myron H. (subject of this sketch), and Thankful S. Betsy died at and early age and Thankful S. is the wife of L. Libbert of St. Joseph county, Michigan.
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Myron H. was one of triplets and he remained at the paternal home until he had attained his legal majority, in the meanwhile duly availing himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county, and early exhibiting the sterling traits of character so pronounced in his fore-fathers. Mr. Barker initiated his adventurous career by enlisting in Company A, of the Eleventh Regiment of the Michigan Volunteer Infantry, at the in- ception of the Civil war. He proved himself a valiant soldier in the battles at Franklin and Chattanooga and was one of the faith- ful followers in Sherman's historic march to the sea. He also participated in the battle of Chickamauga and at the end of the three years, for which he had first enlisted he further showed his loyalty to the cause of the Union by re-enlisting and finishing the * war. He saw much active service and was wounded in the battle at Kingston, Georgia. He received his honorable discharge in 1865, and thereafter followed with profit for forty-five years the trades of masonry and carpentry, which he had learned.
On the 8th of October, 1871, in New York, was solemnized the marriage of Myron H. Barker to Miss Lucinda Phillips, who was born on the 29th of February, 1857, and who died on the 5th of October, 1884. To this union were born two children, both of whom died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Barker married Mrs. Louise Jacobs, who was born on the 22nd of August, 1857, and who was a daughter of Loremus Whiting. Mrs. Barker died on the 4th of February, 1896, and is survived by one daughter, Minnie.
ELIAS WAGNER, who owns one of the most productive farms and most interesting homesteads in St. Joe county, consisting of one hundred and eight acres on the shores of Palmer lake, near Colon, is a native of the county, born October 30, 1836. His birth- place was an old log house in Colon, near the mill race, and the event took place about seven months after his parents had come from Pennsylvania to make this new western country their home. The month of their arrival was March. Peter Wagner, the father, had been born in the Keystone state in 1810; married Catherine Peters, also of Pennsylvania, and for many years engaged in farming about a mile west of Colon, where both he and his wife died. They were the parents of the following: Mary Ann, who was born in Pennsylvania, became the wife of John Wagner, of Mendon, this county, and is now deceased; Joshua, also a native of that state born in 1835, who is now farming west of Colon and is the father
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of five children (two being deceased) ; Elias, of this sketch; Cath- erine, born in 1838, who died in 1905 as the wife of Charles Frye, of Batavia; Edwin, married, who also lives west of Colon, as does also Isabel; Addie, wife of Edward Bennett; Julia, Mrs. Edward Staminger, the latter a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania; Ellen (Mrs. Charles Shuck) and Daniel, both living near the old homestead west of Colon, and Mrs. Maggie Lepley, a resident of Colon, and has two sons, Glenn and Fred. The father of this family, who died in 1879, devoted most of his time to farming, although he ac- complished much in the upbuilding of Colon, his residence for some years being the third house built in the place. Although his edu- cation had been neglected, he was a man of decision and native force, and always inspired respect. He was a Democrat and an active member of the Reformed church.
Elias Wagner has also been engaged since his youth in some form of agriculture, having been a general farmer, a raiser of live- stock and a horticulturist. For a number of years he has followed all of these pursuits, to a greater or less extent. Mr. Wagner has occupied his present farm since he was a comparatively young man ; has erected all the buildings of the homestead himself and has always maintained them according to advancing requirements, so that they are now models of convenience. His place is also beautified by the so-called Wagner's grove and includes a fine vine- yard. In the latter is a grapevine which is said to be the largest in Michigan. Among the attachments to his farm, which he also greatly prizes, is a hog which good judges pronounce the biggest animal of his kind in the county; literally speaking, he is so attached to his pen that he is all but a fixture. Mr. Wagner can show a ton of hay in good condition which he cut in 1873, a fine collection of Indian relics many of which were gathered in the vicinity of his home, and other curiosities, agricultural and his- toric, which make a visit to his comfortable homestead both in- teresting and instructive.
In 1862 Mr. Wagner married Miss Nancy Arney, who is a na- tive of Ohio, born February 2, 1843, and they have become the par- ents of four children. Franklin A., their eldest, was born in 1865, and first married Miss Hattie Ward and secondly, Harriet Long. The three daughters by his first wife, Nina, Pearl and Gladys, are all living in Colon. Lydia Ann, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Wagner, was born in 1867; is now the wife of John Smith, a resi- dent of Idaho, and the mother of Grace, Moe, Wave, Ray and Fred. Catherine, born July 7, 1871, married Elmer Walters, an
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electrician of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and, besides the parents, the family consists of Zoe L., born April, 1890; Carl, in January, 1894; Kenneth, born in 1896, and Grace, born in 1904. Isabel, the fourth born to Mr. and Mrs. Elias Wagner, July 11, 1878, is a resident of Colon, the wife of John Watson, but has had no chil- dren.
ALBERT BEERSTECHER, a leading merchant of Centerville, was born there June 15, 1878, and is a son of Charles Adolph and Mary (Huff) Beerstecher, the former a native of Switzerland. Charles A. Beerstecher was born July 8, 1832, in Berne, Neuveville, and came to the United States at the age of twenty-four years, locating at Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he engaged in bookbinding. He came to Centerville in the later sixties, and continued this busi- ness until seven or eight years ago; he still resides in Centerville. His wife was born June 20, 1846, in Germany, and came to the United States when three years old, with her parents. They spent one year at Chicago, and then removed to Lake county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Beerstecher and his wife were married in 1866, at Kalamazoo. He was a Re- publican and a member of the Presbyterian church. To them were born children as follows: Charles David, a painter and paper- hanger, living at Three Rivers; Frederick Henry, a telephone lineman living at Three Rivers; Mary Louise, unmarried, teaching in the city schools, educated at Kalamazoo Normal School; and Albert.
Albert Beerstecher received his education in Centerville, and at the age of eighteen years began working as clerk in a grocery store; he started in business on his own account when twenty years old, as grocer, and has since continued at the same location. He keeps a good stock and pays close attention to the wants of his customers. Mr. Beerstecher has a growing trade, and is consid- ered one of the substantial citizens of Centerville. In politics he is a Republican, and holds the office of township clerk, which he has filled four years; he has also served three years as village as- sessor. He is a member of Mount Herman Lodge No. 24, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also of the Knighted Order of Tented Maccabees, Star Tent No. 89 at Centerville. He married Miss Daisy E. Welty, January 22, 1910.
JOHN S. WILL .- Sterling integrity of character in a man with business ability are the cardinal points of success in life. This ex-
MRS. JOHN S. WILL
John. S. Will
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
cellent combination is the possession of John S. Will, one of Not- tawa township's most influential citizens. Mr. Will can trace his lineage to the sturdy Scotch. He is, however, a native of Flat Rock, Ohio, his birth having occurred in that place, February 18, 1853, and the names of his parents being Benjamin and Margaret (Spayd) Will. The father was born in Center county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1830, and died in 1898. Although reared as a farmer, he took up the trade of carpenter and joiner. His removal to Ohio was made in 1857 after his marriage and he purchased a lot in Flat Rock, erected a house and there pursued his trade. Later he came to Michigan and purchased forty acres of land near Three Rivers. He sold that and bought eighty acres in Park township which he disposed of in turn to buy one hundred and twenty acres likewise in Park township. The latter property went the way of all the rest (was sold), and for the next two years Benjamin Will worked at his trade. But the memory of former agricultural experiences was attractive and he bought land again,-one hundred and fifty- two acres near the corporate limits of Mendon, one hundred and four acres not far distant, and one hundred and sixty acres in sec- tion 8, just across from the property now possessed by Mr. Will. This made him the possessor of three hundred and twelve acres in Mendon and Nottawa townships. Benjamin Will was independent in politics and cast his vote for the man he considered best fitted for the office, irrespective of party. He was an ardent friend of the public school and a member of the Masonic lodge of Mendon.
The mother was also a Pennsylvanian, her birth occurring in 1828 and her demise in 1895. She was a true wife and a tender and affectionate mother. She and her husband are interred in the Mendon cemetery and a beautiful monument stands sacred to their memory. They were the parents of four children, three of whom survive as follows: Fietta, wife of D. W. Langdon, a retired farmer, residing in Mendon; John S .; and George B., a farmer residing in Mendon.
Mr. Will was a child but two years of age at the time of the family's removal to Michigan, which means that he was reared and educated in the "Wolverine State." Following in his father's footsteps he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and for some eight years made his livelihood in its pursuit, the scenes of his activity in this line being St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties and the city of Chicago. He went to Chicago in the fall of 1871, shortly after the great fire and his residence there lasted for about a year and a half.
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Mr. Will and his brother George purchased the present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 8, Nottawa township, and finally divided the farm, each taking half. They had worked to- gether harmoniously for five or six years. Subsequently he traded his eighty acres for one hundred and fifty-two acres near Mendon, this farm being land belonging to the father, and upon it Mr. Will resided and operated it for about three years. In course of time he traded this farm for his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres; he has two other tracts of forty and eighty acres. He thus has two hundred and eighty acres, all in Nottawa township.
Mr. Will was married August 10, 1880, in Detroit, Michigan, to Miss Mary House, their union being solemnized in the Episco- pal rectory by Rev. George Worthington, D. D.
Mrs. Will was a native of Onondaga county, New York. When she was but three years of age death deprived her of her mother and her father is now also deceased. She was educated in the public schools of her native county, later came westward and after her marriage spent the remainder of her life upon the beautiful Will homestead. She died Wednesday, April 6, 1910, after an invalidism of about five years' duration, having been a great sufferer and confined to her bed a considerable por- tion of the time. To quote from the Centerville Observer of April 14, 1910: "All that love or science could suggest has been done for her, but only death could give her relief and entrance into peace and rest and the joy of the Redeemer. The funeral occurred at the pretty home on Sunday the 10th inst., and was conducted by Rev. Fries, of Mendon, a long-time and intimate friend of the family. Brother members of the Masonic fraternity, J. R. Truck- enmiller, Herman Cruse, Joseph Timm and John Person acted as pall bearers. A delegation of ladies of the Eastern Star of which order Mrs. Will was a member acted as escort. The interment was in the family burial lot in the Mendon cemetery."
Mrs. Will was a lady of high aspirations and godly character and her married life was one of pleasure and joy. She was of a cheerful and sunny nature and always tried to make her home a welcome haven for her husband and her friends. She was a de- vout member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mendon. For over a quarter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Will traveled the jour- ney of life together, sharing alike the joys and sorrows of life. The vacant chair of a loving and affectionate wife is hard to fill.
Mr. and Mrs. Will had no children, but in the kindness of their hearts adopted a little boy four years of age, whose name is
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Fred S. Will. They have reared and educated him, the latter be- ing accomplished in the common and high schools of Mendon. He is one of the active young men of the community and gives valuable assistance to his father in the farm duties.
Mr. Will is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mt. Hermon Lodge, No. 24, and Centerville Chapter No. 11, R. A. M. both of Centerville and he belongs to the Eastern Star in which his wife also had membership, the lodge number being 305. He is a member of the Methodist church, he and his wife having joined at the same time. Methodist services were frequently held at the Will residence.
Mr. Will is the possessor of a very ancient parchment deed made to Daniel Will for eighty acres in Pennsylvania, the Daniel Will in question being Mr. Will's grandfather. It is a valuable and interesting heirloom.
Mr. Will is classed among the successful agriculturists and stockholders of St. Joseph county. He is truly a self-made man and whatever he possesses he came by, by hard work and strict economy. He stands high in the estimation of the people and his word is considered as good as his bond. It is a pleasure to pre- sent the full record of this gentleman's life to be preserved and saved in the genealogical record of the history of St. Joseph county, Michigan.
CHARLES A. PALMER .- In glancing over the history of St. Joe county, Michigan, it becomes apparent that the greater part of the bone and sinew of the county, consists in those men and women who are native to it. Charles A. Palmer, of this review, a success- ful merchant of Wasepi, who was born in Nottawa township, St. Joseph county, July 31, 1841, the second in a family of seven chil- dren,-six sons and a daughter,-born to Cyrus and Mary (Schreder) Palmer. All of them are living at present. George W. (married) is a resident of Wasepi, Michigan, an agriculturist and sawyer; Charles A. is the second in order of birth; Harvey D. (married) is a Chicagoan and is foreman of the Sherwood Manu- facturing Company, this firm being engaged in the manufacture of school furniture. Celia L. resides in Wasepi and has the care of the aged mother. Cyrus A., (married) is a citizen of Detroit and a machinist in an automobile plant. Ellis A. lives in Montcalm county, Michigan, and is an agriculturist; he, also, is married. Fred A. is a resident of Wasepi, Michigan, he and his wife being landlord and landlady of the "Palmer House."
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
The father of this family traces his lineage to English stock, but his immediate progenitors were natives of New England, the cradle of so much of our national history, Connecticut being the scene of their activities. The Palmers of the early days were sol- diers and patriots and figured as heroes in the Revolutionary war. The father, Cyrus P. was born in Wayne county, New York, May 7, 1816, and was summoned to his eternal rest, October, 1886. He was reared and educated in his native state until he became eight- een years of age, and at that age came westward with his father, John Palmer, to Lenawee county and there they entered four hun- dred acres of land from the government. There were eleven sons in the family and no daughters. The grandfather and grand- mother resided there until their demise. Cyrus Palmer was in the first place an Old Line Whig and an ardent member of the Know- Nothings and at the birth of the Republican party he joined its ranks. He was a public-spirited man and a great friend of the public schools. He was a member of the state militia of Michigan and was successful in all the relations of life. It was in 1833 that he and his brother John entered one hundred and sixty acres of land-eighty acres apiece-and at the death of John, Cyrus pur- chased his half and since that time the land has never changed hands, always remaining in the name of Palmer. The Palmers re- tain the original deed, executed by President Andrew Jackson, a valuable document. The land entered in St. Joseph county was northwest quarter section 13, in Nottawa township, and at that time the county was a wilderness and the Indians were more plen- tiful than the white people. Deer and other wild animals were abundant and the pioneer settler sometimes lived high indeed.
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