USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume II > Part 8
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William H. Barnard was the third child and the elder son of his parents, and lived on the old homestead and received his edu- cation in the union schools of Constantine. After leaving school Mr. Barnard spent nine years in the grocery business, five years in the hardware business and five years in real estate business, in Con- stantine. In January, 1909, Mr. Barnard took his present posi- tion in the milling company. The capacity of the company's plant is two hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day; W. M. Spencer is president and Ed S. Hotchin vice president. For the past four years Mr. Barnard has held the office of manager of the Constan- tine Creamery Company. He is a man of keen business judgment,
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and unquestioned honesty and uprightness, having the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Barnard is a stanch Republican and an active worker for the party. He has served as village treasurer, and is now serving his seventh year as supervisor of the township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic Order, Blue Lodge and Chapter. Having been a lifelong resident of the county he is well known, and is well thought of in the community. Mr. Barnard married, in 1894, Amelia Dragert, daughter of Fred Dragert, of Sturgis, Michigan, and they have one son, Harold D., now attend- ing school.
GEORGE E. MILLER, of the firm of R. R. Pealer & George E. Miller, Attorneys, of Three Rivers, was born in Mendon township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, February 16, 1865. His father, James W. Miller, was born also in St. Joseph county, and is a resi- dent of Three Rivers. James W. Miller is a son of John Miller, a native of Virginia, and one of the first settlers of St. Joseph county, Michigan ; he having come to the county in 1837. He took up land on Nottawa Prairie, on the "Indian Reserve." James W. Miller married Sarah A. Benfer, a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, who came to Michigan with her parents in 1857, when about twelve years of age; they located near Mendon. After his marriage James W. Miller located on a farm in Mendon township, where he re- mained until 1868 and then removed to Park township and there engaged in farming until 1883. In the latter year he sold his farm and retired to live in Three Rivers. Mrs. Miller died in 1908. They became parents of two sons and one daughter, namely : George E., Anna, and John G., the last-named a resident of Porter town- ship, Cass county, Michigan.
George E. Miller was reared on a farm, and received a common school education ; at the age of thirteen years he began working on his own account, at various things, farm work, etc., and thus earned his way through high school, graduating at Three Rivers in 1884. He then worked as clerk and bookkeeper, and in 1885 entered Michi- gan University, from which he was graduated in 1890, from the law department. He had previously graduated from the high school at Ann Arbor, in a special literary course. After taking his degree in law, Mr. Miller entered the office of R. R. Pealer, and so well demonstrated his ability that the following year he became a member of the firm, which has since continued.
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Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He served three terms as city at- torney and one term as circuit court commissioner. He and his partner are leading attorneys and have a large practice. Mr. Mil- ler is interested in the public welfare, and has interests outside his practice; he is interested in the telephone company and is a direc- tor and stockholder of the First State Bank of Three Rivers. He is considered one of the substantial business men of the city and a public-spirited, progressive citizen. Mr. Miller is a member of the Castle Hall No. 43, Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 80, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Tent No. 87, Knighted Order of Tented Maccabees.
September 27, 1887, Mr. Miller married Mrs. Emma Frances Arnold, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Fowler) Chrysler, born in Dunkirk, New York. Mr. Miller and his wife have two children, both at home, Mark M. and Roxie.
JOHN A. MILLS .- The late John A. Mills, of Three Rivers, Michigan, who passed away, October 9, 1909, had retired from his farm but a few days and located in Three Rivers to enjoy a well- earned rest. He was one of the highly respected citizens of the community. Mr. Mills was born near Seneca Falls, New York, February 29, 1828, son of Isaac Mills, and of Quaker descent. Isaac Mills was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and his father, Dan- iel Mills, was born in the same house. Daniel Mills' parents were from Switzerland, and among the earlier settlers in New Jersey. He was a Quaker, but at the time of the British invasion of Trenton his feelings got the better of his religious scruples, and it is re- lated of him that he removed his coat and laid it aside, with the remark, "Lie there, Mr. Quaker, I must help drive the British out of Trenton." Five of his sons served in the Revolution. Some years after his wife's death Daniel Mills removed with two of his sons to Seneca county, New York, and bought a farm, where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away at the age of one hundred and three years. He reared fourteen sons and one daugh- ter, and three of his sons lived to be over one hundred years of age. Isaac Mills was the youngest of the family, and was three years old when his sister removed to New York, where he was reared and married, and he lived in that state until about 1832, when he and his wife, with their five children, moved to Ohio, via the Canal and lake as far as Huron, thence by team to Fitchville, Huron county, where they were among the earliest settlers. In 1846 they removed
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to Michigan, by wagon and ox-team, bringing their household goods. He bought forty acres in Florence township, of which twenty acres were cleared. The land also contained a log house, and this was the extent of the improvements. The family contin- ued to live in this log house until the death of Mrs. Mills. After the death of his wife Isaac Mills lived with a daughter, Charity, until her death, and then lived with a son-in-law in Fabius. Mrs. Mills was born in the state of New York and her last days were spent in Michigan. Her maiden name was Leah Connor and she had been married before her union with Mr. Mills, having one son by her first marriage.
John A. Mills grew to manhood in Ohio and was eighteen years of age when he removed to Michigan with his parents. At the time the family located in the latter state much of the land was in its wild state, and most of the houses were of log. He began as a youth working out by the day or month, clearing the land or farming.
August 24, 1861, Mr. Mills enlisted in Company A, Eleventh Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, went south with his regiment, and served his full enlistment of three years. He partici- pated in many important battles of the war, among them: Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. After the last-named Mr. Mills became ill and was sent to the field hospital at Nashville. As soon as he was able to do so he was allowed to wait on the table in the mess room and later was detailed to take charge of a squad of picked men selected to guard a building filled with army supplies, in charge of which he remained until the expiration of his term of service.
Returning home after his service for his country, Mr. Mills bought land in Cass county, and lived there about ten years, after which he bought land in sections 19 and 30 of Fabius township, and resided there until 1909, when he sold out and settled in Three Rivers, where he died soon after. Mr. Mills had spent a long and useful life, and was an honest, upright, hard-working man, who performed his full duty in all relations of life. He was a useful public-spirited citizen in times of peace, and proved his earnest patriotism by risking life and happiness to serve in the fight for the preservation of the Union. He is kindly remembered by many, and had the fullest esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Mills is survived by one daughter.
October 30, 1867, Mr. Mills married Mary Elizabeth Masser, who was born near Three Rivers, Michigan, January 8, 1839, and
A. B. Hagenbuch
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was a daughter of John Masser, a native of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and a pioneer of St. Joseph county. Mrs. Mills died April 2, 1887, leaving one daughter, Sarah Catharine, who cared for her father in his last days.
J. MURRAY BENJAMIN, cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of White Pigeon, was born in Florence township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, September 16, 1862, and is a son of William W. and Mary D. (Murray) Benjamin. William W. Benjamin came to Michigan with his parents in 1835, when four years of age; they located on a farm in Florence township, and he grew up to the occupation of farming. The Murray family were from New York. To William Benjamin and his wife were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. One son, William H., Jr., became a teacher and farmer in St. Joseph county, where he still resides.
On a farm J. Murray Benjamin was reared and he attended district school, after which he became a pupil in White Pigeon high school, from which he graduated in the class of 1880. He be- came a teacher, and for six years was principal of the grammar schools in Dickinson county, Michigan. In 1896 he returned to White Pigeon and accepted a position as clerk of the State Bank; upon the failure of that bank he was appointed receiver, which position he still holds. In 1904, upon the organization of the Farm- ers' Savings Bank, incorporated as a state bank, under the state laws, Mr. Benjamin was offered the position of cashier, which he still holds.
In 1893 Mr. Benjamin married Maude A. Calhoun, and to them were born two children, Willie, born April 28, 1894, and Agnes, June 12, 1899. Willie is a student in the high school. Mr. Ben- jamin is one of the leading citizens of White Pigeon, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and is held in high esteem. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, being one of the elders. He is affiliated with White Pigeon Lodge No. 104, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a past master, and a member of Constan- tine Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; both he and his wife belong to the Order of Eastern Star. In politics he is a Republican, though he has never taken an active part in such matters.
SAMUEL B. HAGENBUCH, president of the First State Bank, of Constantine, is a native of the county, born in Constantine town- ship, one mile south of the village, February 9, 1855. His father, Aaron Hagenbuch, was born in Briarcreek, Columbia county,
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Pennsylvania, and came to St. Joseph county, Michigan, in 1838. He purchased land on White Pigeon Prairie, and in 1840 moved his family to the farm; at this time the nearest railroad was at Detroit. He made several trips to Detroit by team. Mr. Hagen- buch improved several farms in the county, was very successful and became a leading citizen. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, in 1864, and at one time was its presi- dent. He died in his eighty-third year, widely mourned. He was identified with the early history of the county and was known all over the state. Mr. Hagenbuch married Rachel Hill, also a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, who died at the age of seventy- one years. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity.
Samuel B. Hagenbuch is the third child and second son, and was reared and educated in Constantine and Hillsdale College. After his marriage he located on a farm in Fabius township, and for twenty-five years was engaged in farming; he then moved to Constantine. Mr. Hagenbuch was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Constantine, also the First State Bank at Three Rivers, and in 1899 he became president of the First State Bank of Constantine. He is a stockholder still and director in the First State Bank at Three Rivers. Besides these interests, Mr. Hagenbuch owns about four hundred acres of good farming land in Fabius township, St. Joseph county, which he rents. He is a strong adherent of the Republican party, and is a prominent and leading citizen of the village.
In 1872 Mr. Hagenbuch married Rosa C., daughter of Wil- liam and Sarah (Gauger) Fox, a native of Pennsylvania, who came with her parents to Constantine township, St. Joseph county, in 1865. They have one daughter, Catherine B., wife of Henry E. Lintz, a merchant of Fort Scott, Kansas.
HENRY CALEB GLEASON .- A prominent and thriving agricul- turist of St. Joseph county, Henry C. Gleason is the owner of a large and well-appointed farm in Fabius township, where he holds high rank among the enterprising and energetic men who are con- tributing largely toward the development of this industrial inter- est of this section of the state. A son of Alvah Gleason, he was born, November 27, 1842, in New York state, which was also the place of birth of his father, and, probably, of his grandfather, Caleb Gleason, who was a life-long farmer, and a veteran of the war of 1812.
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Alvah Gleason was brought up on a farm, and being very near sighted adopted farming as his life work in preference to learning a trade. Emigrating with his family to Michigan in 1846, he drove across the country from Allegany county with teams, locating in St. Joseph county, which was then very thinly populated. He bought forty acres of land in Mendon, assumed possession of the small house standing in the clearing that had been made, and occupied it three years. Coming to Fabius in 1849, he purchased eighty acres of heavily wooded land on section twenty-five, and having made an opening in the forest put up a small frame house before a stick of timber was cut from the place. Settlements were few and far between; Three Rivers was a mere hamlet; and the nearest railroad was at Kalamazoo, then a small village. Devot- ing his time and attention to the improvement of his place, he placed a large part of his land under culture, erected a substantial set of farm buildings, and was here a resident until his death, at the venerable age of seventy-nine years. He married Laura Ann Greene, who was born in New York state, a daughter of Timothy Greene. She died at the age of seventy-five years, leaving four children, namely : Mary; Henry Caleb, the subject of this sketch ; Timothy ; and Otis.
Three years old when he was brought by his parents to Mich- igan, Henry C. Gleason was reared and educated in Fabius, living with his parents until his marriage. He then began housekeeping on a farm, located on section twenty-five, in Fabius township, which he had previously purchased. That farm, which contains , eighty-seven acres of choice land, with substantial and convenient buildings, Mr. Gleason still owns. He has since purchased the adjoining farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres, and on it has made various valuable improvements, including the erection of commodious barns and outbuildings, and has enlarged and re- built the house, rendering the place one of the most attractive and desirable in the community. Here Mr. Gleason is actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, in his operations meeting with genuine success.
Mr. Gleason married, April 29, 1866, Mary Cornelia Burrow, who was born, October 11, 1841, in Bethel, Sullivan county, New York, a daughter of John Burrow, Jr. Her grandfather, John Burrow, Sr., was born in England, where his parents spent their lives. After emigrating to this country, he followed his trade of a carpenter and joiner for awhile, afterward becoming a con- tractor and builder. Moving, finally, to Sullivan county, New
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York, he bought land, and on the farm that he improved spent the remainder of his years. He married Mary Jackson, a native, also, of England. She survived him, and after her second mar- riage came to Michigan, and spent her last days in Constantine.
John Burrow, Jr., was born in New York City, but was edu- cated in Sullivan county, N. Y., where he subsequently began his active career as an agriculturist. In 1849 he came with his family to Michigan, coming up the Hudson river to Albany, thence to Buffalo by the Erie canal, then by lake boat to Detroit, where he changed his mode of travel, going by railway to Kalamazoo, and from that place driving across the rough country to St. Joseph county. Locating in Fabius, he bought government land in the northwest corner of the township, the improvements made on the tract that he purchased having been a log cabin, and seven acres of girdled trees. After occupying the cabin a number of years, he built a set of good frame buildings, and lived on the homestead until after the death of his wife. He subsequently made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Gleason, passing away at the age of eighty-six years. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Maria Denniston. She was born in New York City, and was there brought up and educated. Her father, Alexander Denniston, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. After emigrating to this country, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City, and soon became prominent in military affairs. He served in the War of 1812, receiving a commission of colonel of his regiment. Sub- sequently removing to Bethel, Sullivan county, he bought land, and was there employed in agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life. He married Anna Maria Parker, who spent her entire life of sixty-three years in New York state.
Mr. and Mrs. Gleason are the parents of two children, namely : Lillian and Harry Otis. Lillian married Leslie McJury, and has three children, Iva, Gladys, and Florence. Harry O. married Lucy Champion, and they have three children, Helen, Elsie and Henry. Politically Mr. Gleason is a Democrat, and religiously he and his wife belong to the Methodist Protestant church.
ELMER L. ELDRIDGE, an agriculturist of Mendon township, en- joys in fullest measure the consideration of his associates, both as a man and a progressive representative of his estimable calling. He is of distinguished family, his mother, Jerissa Grover, being one of the Grovers of Massachusetts and a cousin of the late President Grover Cleveland who received his Christian name from that source
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The father was Frank Eldridge and his parents, Sylvester and Sybil Eldridge, were also natives of Massachusetts who came to the state of New York in early pioneer times and took their farm from the virgin forest, enduring the peculiar pleasures and pains of the pio- neer. Frank Eldridge was a small boy at the time of the family's removal from the Bay State. He was one of a family of six chil- dren. Minerva is the wife of Samuel Newton of the state of New York; Sylvester is deceased; Lorenzo who was a citizen of Illinois is deceased; and Francis, James and Ira F. are also deceased.
Elmer L. Eldridge was born March 7, 1861, spent his youthful years upon his father's farm and secured his education in the village schools. He remained under the paternal roof tree until the twenty- sixth year of his age when he severed old associations and came on to Mendon township. For a number of years he made his liveli- hood by working upon a farm and for four years after his marriage in 1894, made his home with his wife's parents and assisted in the management of their farm. He then purchased two hundred acres of land well situated in Mendon township and for the past sixteen years has engaged successfully in its cultivation. Mr. Eldridge makes it a point to keep in touch with the issues of the day and in the matter of politics gives his support to the Republican party. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge was celebrated March 7, 1894, the latter's name previous to her marriage having been Ida Simpson. The date of her birth was December 19, 1859. Her par- ents were Josiah and Jane (Gibson) Simpson, both natives of Ire- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge have been born two children, Harold J., born March 22, 1896, and Edith L., born January 19, 1900. The beautiful and attractive homestead is named "Ingle- side," a very appropriate name for such a tasty farmstead.
ROSCOE B. GOODRICH .- It is pleasing to record that Roscoe B. Goodrich of this review is residing upon the farm which was the place of his birth and that he has proved a worthy representative of the agricultural industry in the county in which his paternal grandparents took up their residence in 1837, which year repre- sented the admission of Michigan to statehood. He has well upheld the prestige of the family name and is a worthy scion of a family whose identification with the history of St. Joseph county has been of the closest order.
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Roscoe B. Goodrich was born on his present homestead farm, in section 14, Nottawa township, on the 13th of February, 1852, and is a son of Luther B. and Mary Helen (Doughty) Goodrich, both of whom were born in the state of New York, whence they came to Michigan in the pioneer days, the paternal grandparents settling in Nottawa township, St. Joseph county, and the maternal grandparents settling in Burr Oak township. Luther B. Goodrich was reared to maturity under the conditions and environments of the pioneer days in this section of the country and he became one of the successful farmers and stock-growers of St. Joseph county, where both he and his wife continued to reside until their death. He was summoned to the life eternal about 1884 and his wife passed away about 1852. Of their children the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Charles D. is a representative physician and surgeon of Elkhart, Indiana; Helen is the wife of Marion Grabber, a prosper- ous farmer of Colon township, this county; Hector died at the age of twelve years; and Clyde is engaged in the drug business in Mar- cellus, Cass county, Michigan. Luther B. Goodrich was a man of sterling integrity and ever commanded a secure place in the confi- dence and esteem of the community which represented his home during the major part of his life. He identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Roscoe B. Goodrich learned the lessons of practical industry under the grateful influences of the home farm and his early edu- cational privileges were those afforded in the public schools of the locality. His entire life thus far has been one of consecutive and fruitful identification with the agricultural industry and he has maintained his home on the old homestead from the time of his birth, having purchased the interests of the other heirs about 1880. His farm comprises one hundred and twenty-two acres of land, which is unexcelled in fertility by any in the county and upon the place he, individually, has made improvements of the best modern type, including a spacious and attractive residence. The old house, long occupied by his parents, is now used for tenant purposes. As a farmer and stock-grower Mr. Goodrich has brought to bear most enterprising ideas and has availed himself of modern machinery and other facilities with the outcome that he has gained the best results from his efforts and is numbered among the leading farmers of his county. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the princi- ples and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor
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and cast his first presidential vote for Tilden. Both Mr. Goodrich and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 25th of December, 1879, Mr. Goodrich was united in marriage to Miss Eva Rogers, who was born in Colon township and who is a daughter of George and Adeline (Huntley) Rogers; her father was long numbered among the substantial farmers in Not- tawa township, where both he and his wife continued to maintain their home until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich have no children. The pretty homestead is known as "Idlewild."
EVERARD GEER, retired from active business life and residing in Constantine, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, December 26, 1829. His father, Harry Geer, was a native of Penn- sylvania. He was a farmer and he died at the age of ninety-four years and was buried in Wayne county, New York. He was a son of Levi Geer, a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupa- tion, who removed to New York state. The family were of Scotch descent, and tradition says that three brothers came to America from Scotland, agreeing each to spell the name in a different way, as Geer, Gear and Gere. Harry Geer married Angeline Roys, a native of Massachusetts; her ancestry is unknown. They had ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, Everard being the second child and oldest son.
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