Samuel Y. BOWER. This gentleman is one of the young enterprising but prosperous farmers of Colon Township, and is the owner of a well-kept farm of 120 acres in extent, situated upon section 12. His father, Samuel BOWER, was born in the year 1779. On the 28th of August, 1855, he became the husband of Elizabeth BRUMGARD, of Clinton County, Pa., where she was born on the 11th of February, 1831. After their marriage they settled in Union County, Pa., and there lived until their removal to Colon in 1880.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of John and Mary (BARNER) BRUMGARD. They were the parents of twelve children and their daughter Elizabeth was their sixth child. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel BOWER had in their family circle six children, of whom our subject was the fourth. He was born in Union County, Pa., on the 24th of August, 1859. He received a common-school education and started in life for himself when seventeen years of age, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits.
Our subject was married in Colon, on the 30th of November, 1882. His wife, who is a native of that place, was Adell, the daughter of Samuel and Matilda (SHIPMAN) HAFER. Mr. and Mrs. HAFER were married in Buffalo Township, Union Co., Pa. and afterward settled there upon a farm, where they made their home for ten years. At the end of that period they removed to Colon, and settled on section 8, in the township of that name.
Mr. and Mrs. BOWER settled on section 12, in Colon Township, in the fall of 1883. Their family includes two children, who bear the names of Maude E. and Amy F. Mr. and Mrs. BOWER are not members of any religious denomination, but are friendly to all orthodox organizations and systems, and firm friends of whatever will sustain and advance the higher types of morality and assist in the preservation and upbuilding of society.
The political aspirations of our subject are in accord with those of the Democratic party, and he usually votes that ticket. He takes the greatest possible interests in his farm and devotes himself chiefly to its improvement and cultivation. His farm buildings are substantially built and well arranged. They are supplied with a multitude of appliances, conveniences and implements familiar only to the modern and progressive farmer.
Page 380-381
EL. GODFREY, M. D., a practicing physician and surgeon of Colon, is one of the leading members of the homeopathic school of medicine in St. Joseph County. He is very popular here, and has an extensive and lucrative practice. He succeeded his father, the widely known physician, Dr. L. M. GODFREY, a representative of the same school. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia WARREN, is also living, beloved and respected by a large circle of friends. They are natives of Wyoming County, N. Y., but in July, 1855, they left their old home in that State and came West, locating first in Wisconsin, remaining there two years and then coming to Michigan. Dr. GODFREY first established himself in Bronson, Branch County, where he practiced his profession until 1861. In that year he removed to Colon and opened an office, and for several years was one of the leading physicians in this part of the county.
Our subject was born in Attica, N. Y., in 1852, the eldest of the three children of his parents. He comes of sterling stock, his forefathers on both sides of the house being representatives of families of good standing in the East. He was a mere child when his parents came to Michigan, and he was reared in this State. He received the preliminaries of his education in Colon, and was then sent to the Jackson Business College, whence he was graduated after pursuing a through business course, but when it came to choosing a career in life, he determined to adopt the medical profession, having a decided taste for it, perhaps both acquired and inherited. To fit himself for his work he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, where he was a careful and hard student until he was graduated with honors won for ripe scholarship in February, 1876. He immediately settled in Colon, where he would not only have the prestige of his father’s name and the advantage of his wider, experience and wise counsels, but would step into a good practice among people with whom he was reared, who welcomed him again to their midst as an old friend, and regarded him with trust and confidence. The Doctor is the only representative of the homeopathic school of medicine in Colon. During his twelve years’ practice by constant attention to his duties, he has accumulated a fine property, his superior business talents and training enable him to invest his money in a judicious manner. In 1885 he built a handsome brick residence, in which he and his pleasant family dispense a generous hospitality to their many friends.
The Doctor was married, in September, 1873, to Miss Belle M. GROVER, a native of Branch County, Mich., where she was born in 1852. She was the second child of the five born to Joseph and Harriet (BENEDICT) GROVER, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. They came to Michigan in pioneer days, and her father still resides in Colon, where he is engaged in farming. Her mother died in 1884, at the age of sixty-four years. To the Doctor and his wife five children were born, as follows: Clare E., thirteen years old; Ina A., eleven; J. L., nine; Glenn E., six; Eva E., four. Mrs. GODFREY departed this life Oct. 28, 1888, leaving a husband and five children, and a large circle of friends to mourn her death as a kind, affectionate mother and living companion, and good citizen.
Our subject and his wife occupied a leading position in the society of Colon, and he is a prominent member of the A. F. & M. of this town. He does not take a very active part in politics, but he always casts his vote with the Republican party. He is entirely engrossed in his profession, and although he has a large practice, he is still a student, and keeps abreast of the times in everything pertaining to medicine.
Page 381-382
Richard M. DICKINSON. The history of White Pigeon Township would not be complete should the biography of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch be omitted. He resides on section 6, White Pigeon Township, and is one of the representative agriculturists of the county, and a gentleman well and favorably known on account of the interest that he takes in all matters pertaining to the substantial advancement and improvement of the country. He was born in Florence Township, St. Joseph Co., Mich., Feb. 24, 1846.
The subject of this sketch is the son of George and Sarah (JOHNSON) DICKINSON. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to America in 1883, settling in this county. For many years he drove the stage between Detroit and White Pigeon. He died May 3, 1861. The mother was a native of Liverpool, England, and came to America, where she met and married our subject’s father. The children were: Richard, our subject; Sarah, Mrs. PUTNAM; George; Annie, Mrs. KELLOGG, and Charles E. The mother was a widow before her marriage with our subject’s father; at the time of her second marriage she was the mother of one daughter, Mary A. BOWMAN. This daughter was the wife of J. J. DAVIS, of White Pigeon, but is now deceased. (See sketch of J. J. DAVIS on another page in this work.) The mother died Jan. 12, 1867, aged fifty-three years.
The education the subject of this sketch received was obtained in the common schools, and he eagerly availed himself of every advantage offered. Besides the time spent in school his entire life was passed in farming, excepting about eighteen months, during which time he operated a meat-market in White Pigeon. He was successful in venture, but felt that he could spend his life to better advantage and more profit on the farm; in consequence he closed the business in town and went back to the farm, where he has since lived.
Mr. DICKINSON married Miss Ellen FIELDHOUSE, Jan. 7, 1869. She is a daughter of William FIELDHOUSE, who was one of the earliest settlers in the county, and is now deceased. They are the parents of one child, Jennie E., who was born Aug. 21, 1879. He and his family reside in a comfortable frame house, handsomely furnished, and containing all of the latest improved devices to lighten the labor of housekeeping, and add to the comfort and pleasure of the inmates. The grounds surrounding his residence are beautified with a large number of ornamental trees, shrubbery and flowers. The barns and other necessary out-buildings are conveniently located, and nicely designed for the purposes for which they were intended, and are very substantially and solidly built. He owns a farm of 204 acres, which he devotes to general farming and stock-raising, giving particular attention to feeding sheep, of which he has a large number, and their appearance gives evidence of the great amount of care bestowed upon them by their owner.
This gentleman, and also his wife, are the descendants from the most popular families of old settlers in the county, and it is a matter of pride to them to refer back to their ancestors who settled in Michigan at an early date, and have contributed so largely to the present glory of the State. In his domestic affairs he is exceptionally fortunate; his wife is refined, elegant lady, devoting herself in every way possible to the best interests of her 1850. The young people began the journey of life together, but Mrs. WAGNER survived her marriage only a few months, her death taking place in May, 1851. She was the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (HINKLE) HAFER, who were natives of Union County, Pa.
The second marriage of Mr. WAGNER was with Miss Louisa, a daughter of Benjamin MARKS, who with his wife, Tina (PACKARD) MARKS, was a native of New York State, and is deceased. Of this union there were born one child, a son, Alston, who died at the age of five years. The third marriage of Mr. WAGNER, which took place Aug. 28, 1858, at Colon, in this county, was with Miss Caroline FRYE, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (BOTHMAN) FRYE, natives of Schuylkill County, Pa. Mrs. Caroline WAGNER was the seventh of a family of eight children.
To Emanuel and Caroline WAGNER there were born two children; Elmer E. and Tillie E. The former assists his father in the operation of the farm; he married Miss Sophia L. TELLER, and they have one child, George C. Tillie E. is the wife of I. W. TELLER, who lives in Colon Township; they have one child, John E. Mr. WAGNER is an uncompromising Democrat, politically, and has held the various school offices of his township. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity, being connected at present with Blue Lodge No. 73, at Colon. The homestead includes ninety acres of well-cultivated land, upon which Mr. WAGNER has made all the improvements, which are viewed with interest by the passing traveler.
Page 384-385
John M. WELLS, a prominent citizen of St. Joseph County, with whose best interests he has been identified for many years, is widely and favorably known in business and social circles, and he has been an important factor in extending and sustaining the large commercial interests of Southern Michigan. He is a member of the firm of Wells & Calam, Constantine Village. They have a fine, well-appointed, double store, and carry a full stock of well-assorted goods, of many classes, and are thus enabled to meet in every respect the demands of a large custom, which they have drawn to themselves by inspiring confidence in their patrons by their strict, honorable and upright methods in their dealings.
Our subject was born July 4, 1818, at White Creek, Washington Co., N. Y., his parents being Joseph and Lucy (HOLLISTER) WELLS, for whose history see sketch of F. WELLS. When their son, of whom we write, was four years old they moved to Granville, and a year later to Salem, Washington County, and there the father was engaged in keeping hotel. In that town most of the boyhood days of our subject were passed. In 1837 he came with his father’s family through by teams to St. Joseph County, and lived in their pioneer home on his father’s farm in Mottville until about 1840, when he went to Constantine, and established himself in the hotel business on the corner known as "Langley Corner." He remained there about seven years, when he built the hotel known as the Romaine House, which he managed successfully until 1850. In that year he leased the hotel, and went overland to California for the purpose of mining. He remained in the Golden State only a short time, however, returning in the same fall to Michigan. He turned his attention to farming, which occupation he conducted profitably until 1853, when he again engaged in the hotel business. Two years later, in 1855, he and his brother Franklin embarked together in the mercantile business, continuing for about six years, when they dissolved partnership, and our subject, in the winter of that year (1861) formed a partnership with T. H. Calam, under the firm name of Wells & Calam, and they have ever since carried on the business with gratifying success, as we have seen. Their house, which has been in existence for nearly thirty years, must be one of the oldest established in the vicinity. Our subject was appointed Postmaster of Constantine in 1862, and held that office with much satisfaction to the people until his resignation three years later. In politics he is a strong Republican, and voted in 1840 for William H. Harrison, as he did in 1888 for his grandson, Benjamin Harrison.
Mr. WELLS and Lydia ARNOLD were united in the bonds of matrimony in Constantine, in 1843. Mrs. WELLS is the daughter of the late Inman ARNOLD, who came to Constantine from New York in 1843, and she was born in Unadilla, Otsego Co., N.Y. Mr. and Mrs. WELLS have three children living, as follows: John H., who married Miss Hattie LYKE, and lives with his parents; Lucy, the wife of J. H. HAHN, of Detroit; Leda, the wife of T. H. PURPLE, of Chicago, Ill.
Mr. WELL’s life record is that of a man who places honor and honesty above all things, and his character is without stain. He is at once cautious and enterprising in his business, and these traits have brought him success. He owns a handsome and commodious residence, and lives surrounded by all the comforts of life. Both he and his wife, who is a pleasant, prepossessing lady, are exceedingly hospitable and entertaining to the stranger within their gates.
Page 385-386
Milton McINTOSH. Self-preservation may be the first law of nature; self-dependence is one of the vital factors of nature- at least of human nature. The present sketch designs to present the salient features in the life of one whose self-reliance has enabled him to succeed where a less determined man would have failed. A manly independence of thought and action has been, and is, one of the traits of his character and notable features of his history. He is today one of the enterprising and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of St. Joseph County, and operates 160 acres of land on section 14 of Nottawa Township.
The father of our subject, Peter McINTOSH, was born at Navarre, Ohio, and the mother, whose maiden name was Sarah MEESE, was also a native of Ohio. They were residents of DeKalb County, Ind., for about forty years. The family circle included six children, of whom our subject was the second. He first saw the light in Smithfield, in the above county, on the 19th of April, 1857. His early days were spent on the farm, and he has been from his youth brought in contact with agricultural labor in all its various departments.
The education of our subject was received in the common schools of DeKalb County, and upon its completion he remained with his parents until sixteen years of age, when he struck out for himself, and began life in earnest. For fully seven years he worked out as a farm hand, and in 1882 came to Nottawa Township, and here purchased 160 acres, which he began at once to improve, and in which he saw much more success than he had anticipated or considered possible. Although he has always given some attention to general farming, he devotes his efforts mainly to stock-raising, making a specialty of breeding thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, which he does in large numbers, and is abundantly rewarded for every effort which his enterprise leads him to undertake.
The subject of this sketch was first married, in Nottawa Township, to Mary OLNEY, a daughter of the late Joseph OLNEY. This lady presented him with two children, but one of them died in infancy. The name of the living child is Neva M. His wife departed this life on the 8th of July, 1885, after which he contracted a second alliance, and was united with Lena SPIKE, of Kalamazoo. This event took place in 1888.
Mr. McINTOSH was elected Justice of the Peace, but felt compelled to resign the office. He is a member of the Democratic party, and takes no little interest in public affairs, especially where the welfare or honor of the people is involved. Both as a man and citizen he is held in high regard, and enjoys a high social position.
Page 385-386
Bliss N. STONE is one of the much esteemed citizens of Burr Oak Township, who have borne the burden and heat of the day in the rush of business life, and is now living in retirement, enjoying the competency he has been privileged to accumulate. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in Madrid Township, on the 30th of April, 1826, and is the son of Solomon S. and Nancy (NASH) STONE.
The father of our subject was brought up and educated in his native county, where he first settled in life, and continued to live, following farming until 1840, when he started upon a prospecting tour. He returned, and shortly after was taken sick and died. His wife, the mother of our subject, was a native of Vermont. She became the mother of eight children of whom four are living, viz: Louisa, now Mrs. William STACEY, of Brecksville, Ohio; her husband was a soldier in the late war, and lost his life at Chantilla. Our subject; Harriet, the wife of Julius WHITE, of Brecksville, Ohio; and Stanley G., of the same place. The four deceased were: Lucinda, who was the wife of Guy CARPENTER, of Blissfield, died at Blissfield, Mich., at the age of thirty-eight years; Celestia was married to Mr. Joseph CARPENTER, of the same place, and died leaving one child, Hattie; Marvin, of the same place, died at Blissfield, and Lorenzo, who was a merchant.
Mr. STONE came to Michigan in May, 1847, and lived in Branch County for about three years, after which he came to Burr Oak, where he embarked in the mercantile business, and not without seeing a large measure of prosperity. He first came to Michigan in 1847. Before he settled he saw considerable of the country, and made himself fully acquainted with the condition of the soil, etc., as to its being favorable or otherwise for his purpose, and finally located in Burr Oak.
In 1850 Mr. STONE was united in marriage with Lucy C. WEBB, the excellent daughter of H. B. WEBB, Esq., of Blissfield. There was born to them a daughter, Bell, who is now the wife of B. D. MISNER, also of Burr Oak. For nine years Mr. STONE held the position of Postmaster at Burr Oak, and later became a Justice of the Peace. He has seen much of the checkered experience of life, and has developed a fine character, that wins for him from all who know him the most cordial admiration and regard.
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